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The present study evaluates the effects of natural extracts on reproductive performance, haematochemical parameters, and antioxidant status of rabbit does. A total of sixty New Zealand White second parity does were divided into three groups: the first group was fed a control diet (CON), the second (T1) and the third groups (T2) were fed the same diet supplemented with prebiotic polysaccharides from brown seaweeds (Laminaria spp.) plus phenolic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, and flavonoids from plant extracts (0.3% and 0.6%, respectively). The trial was conducted for two consecutive reproductive cycles (75 days). Reproductive performance was recorded. Blood samples were collected before the first insemination, 10 d after the first kindling, and 10 d after the second one. At the first reproductive cycle, productive parameters were negatively affected (P0.05) between dietary treatments on reproductive and productive performances were observed. Bilirubin was affected by dietary treatment (P

The effect of dietary supplementation with a biotechnological extract of Ajuga reptans on growth performance, oxidative status and immune parameters was evaluated in post weaning piglets. At weaning, 120 piglets with an average live weight of 8.1±1.3 kg, were assigned to one of three experimental groups. The first group was fed a control diet (C). The second and third groups were fed the same diet supplemented with 5 mg (T1) and 10 mg (T2) of teupolioside/kg feed from a biotechnological plant extract. Growth performances were recorded and blood samples were collected at the beginning, at 14 days, and at the end of the trial (56 days). Serum biochemical parameters, oxidative status and immunoglobulin titres were determined. Average daily gain tended to be higher (P=0.057) and live weight was higher in piglets (PAjuga reptans containing teupolioside has an antioxidant and immunomodulant effect.

Simple Summary In pig nutrition, alternative and safe supplements are needed to enhance the pigs’ health and welfare. Natural feed components, such as herbs and plant extracts, are of great importance in animal nutrition, and marine macroalgae can be considered as supplements positively influence animal health parameters. Seaweeds possess several bioactive molecules that are studied for their prebiotic, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Seaweed benefits are related to their content of sulfated polysaccharides, phlorotannins, diterpenes, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. This paper reviews the following biological functions of seaweeds and seaweed extracts in pig nutrition: prebiotics, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, promoting intestinal well-being and improving digestibility. Abstract Seaweeds are macroalgae, with different sizes, colors and composition. They consist of brown algae, red algae and green algae, which all have a different chemical composition and bioactive molecule content. The polysaccharides, laminarin and fucoidan are commonly present in brown seaweeds, ulvans are found in green seaweeds and, red algae contain a large amount of carrageenans. These bioactive compounds may have several positive effects on health in livestock. In order to reduce the antimicrobials used in livestock, research has recently focused on finding natural and sustainable molecules that boost animal performance and health. The present study thus summarizes research on the dietary integration of seaweeds in swine. In particular the influence on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, prebiotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities were considered. The review highlights that brown seaweeds seem to be a promising dietary intervention in pigs in order to boost the immune system, antioxidant status and gut health. Data on the use of green seaweeds as a dietary supplementation seems to be lacking at present and merit further investigation.

Growth performances, carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters from growing rabbit fed with two levels of dietary brown seaweed (Laminaria spp) and plant polyphenols were investigated. One hundred and forty-four New Zealand White rabbits were allotted into three dietary treatments containing 0 (C), 0.3% (T1), and 0.6% (T2) of brown seaweed and plant polyphenols mixture for 42 days. Growth performances and carcass weight were improved in T1 group. Vitamin A and E content in Longissimus thoracis and lumborum (LTL) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscle were enhanced in the treated groups. In the SM muscle, the oxidative stability was improved in rabbit fed with both dosages of dietary supplement, and the cholesterol content tended to be lower in T1 than in T2 and C groups. The LTL and SM muscle sensory characteristics were improved. In conclusion, dietary integration with a low dosage of brown seaweed and plant polyphenols is a valid strategy for enhance growth performance and produce healthier rabbit meat.

In the recent years, research has focused the attention on the use of substances able to improve both animal health and meat quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with natural extracts in rabbit does on reproductive parameters. Natural extracts have been widely reported to have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobic activities related especially to their phenolic content (Pereira et al., 2009). In rabbit production, does are normally inseminated 11 days after parturition, with kits being weaned at 35 days (Rebollar et al., 2006). The reproductive phase is a critical period because the animals have few days to reconstitute their body reserves (Castellini et al., 2003). Therefore, the interaction between nutrition and reproduction is crucial in this specie (Butler, 2000; Roche et al., 2000). The trial was performed at the Research Institute for animal production in Nitra (Slovak Republic). Sixty does were randomly selected, artificially inseminated and divided into three experimental groups. The first fed a basal diet (C), the second one (T1) received 0.3% of natural extracts mixture and the third one (T2) an integration of 0.6% of natural extracts mixture for gestation and lactation period (65 days) The animals were allocated in individual flat-deck cages with a closeable nest box. At parturition, the total number of kits born and stillborn and litters weights were recorded. The data were analyzed by one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SPSS (IBM.-SSPS Statistics 24). Dietary supplementation did not affect (P>0.05) number of kids born (8.0 ± 1.0 C vs 7.3 ± 0.97 T1 and 7.4 ± 1.0 T2) and birth weight (63 ± 2.0 g C vs 60.1 ± 2.3 g T1 and 61.0 ± 2.4 g T2). The administration of natural extract in does did not improve (P>0.05) the kits average daily gain (20.54 ± 1.3 g/d C vs 21.92 ± 0.5 g/d T1 and 20.93 ± 0.9 g/d T2) and body weight at weaning (829 ± 16.6 g C vs 834 ± 26.6 g T1 and 826 ± 26.8 g T2). These preliminary data showed that at the present dosage, the natural extracts mixture is not able to affect does reproductive performance. However, further research is needed to confirm the present data and explore the mechanism of action of this natural mixture., International Journal of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, V. 4, N. 1s (2017)

The decrease of the use of antibiotic has promoted the scientific research towards the identification and study of natural substances able to improve animal performance and welfare (Hashemi et al., 2011; Daglia, 2012; Maghin et al., 2014). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mixture of algae plus polyphenols (Algatan Mater®) on piglet and sow performance when used as dietary supplements to the sows. Eighty-four sows (42 per batch) were divided in two groups fed a control and Algatan Mater® supplemented diet. Feed intake, backfat thickness and blood samples at entry in farrowing room and at 21 days of lactation, and sows’ reproductive data until the next service were collected. Haematochemical parameters and antioxidant status of sows were analysed. Weight at birth, after cross-fostering and at 21 days of lactation were recorded to each litter. Backfat loss tended to be lower (P=0.07) in sows treated than control. The administration of algae plus polyphenols in sows improved (P, International Journal of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Vol 3, No 1s (2016)