ABSTRACT This study investigated oxidative damage and exocrine dysfunction of fetal pancreas caused by maternal nutritional restriction. Eighteen ewes carrying singleton fetus were randomly divided into control group (CG, ad libitum, 0.67 MJ ME/BW0.75/d, n = 6), restricted group 1 (RG1, 0.33 MJ ME/BW0.75/d, n = 6), and restricted group 2 (RG2, 0.18 MJ ME/BW0.75/d, n = 6) at d 90 of pregnancy. Maternal undernutrition was imposed from d 90 to 140 of pregnancy. At 140 d of gestation, fetal blood and pancreas tissue were collected to determine fetal pancreatic extracellular matrix, antioxidant capacity, and indicators of exocrine dysfunction. With the decrease of maternal nutrition, the fetal body weight, pancreatic weight, and DNA content were reduced in RG2 compared with CG, and increased and thickened collagen fibers were observed in RG2. Fetuses in RG2 exhibited increased collagen 3 (COL3) and fibronectin (FN) levels relative to CG, and the COL1:COL3 ratio was lower than that of the CG. For RG1, we found increased COL3 compared with CG. Malondialdehyde, serum amylase, and serum lipase in fetal pancreas in RG2 increased, but the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) decreased compared with the CG. The impaired ovine fetal pancreas growth, antioxidant imbalance, and pancreatic exocrine dysfunction are induced by maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy.

ABSTRACT This study integrated four microarray datasets by Robust Rank Aggregation (RRA) method to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in bovine mammary epithelial (BME) cells in response to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus infection. Furthermore, the GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the integrated DEG were performed. Finally, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. A total of 72 integrated DEG were identified from the four datasets. The most significantly enriched terms within the integrated DEG were mainly involved in the immune response. The PPI network of DEG was constructed with 53 nodes. Seventeen genes, which constitute a significant module, were identified as hub genes. Among them, CD40, CXCL6, and NFKBIZ were further screened as the key genes and have the potential to become biomarkers of E. coli and S. aureus mastitis, considering the specificity of biomarkers for diseases. The identified key genes and pathways in this study can assist in the search for biomarkers for mastitis diagnosis and disease resistance breeding.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to evaluate the qPCR for detection and enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae using different milk samplings in comparison to the conventional microbiology. Four dairy herds with a history of subclinical mastitis caused by S. aureus and S. agalactiae were selected. Sampling approach included milk samples from bulk tank (BT), cow level (composite samples, CO), and mammary quarter level (MQ) from 785 lactating cows. Three consecutive monthly milk samplings were carried out, totaling 3347 MQ milk samples, 912 CO, and 12 from BT. All collected milk samples were subjected to conventional microbiology and qPCR for detection and enumeration of S. aureus and S. agalactiae. The qPCR showed 71.5% of diagnostic sensitivity for S. aureus isolated from MQ milk samples, 71.8% for CO, and 50% for BT milk samples compared with conventional microbiology methodology. Taken together, the diagnostic sensitivity for S. agalactiae isolated from MQ milk samples was 90.2, 87.7 for CO, and 90.9% for BT milk samples. In general, the qPCR methodology enabled the detection of S. aureus and S. agalactiae, regardless of the type of milk sampling. The direct use of milk samples to estimate the counting of S. aureus by qPCR demonstrated lower sensitivity than the counting of S. agalactiae, which can be explained by the pathogen infection dynamics and differences in milk sample type.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on metabolizable energy, feed digestibility, intestinal morphometric analysis, and antioxidant parameters in broilers. A completely randomized design with five treatments and eight replications of eight broilers (Cobb male) was used, and collections were carried out at 20 and 42 days of age. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde concentrations (mg/kg) were: 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improved apparent metabolizable energy but did not change protein and ether extract digestibility. Supplementation increased intestinal villus height and villi:crypt ratio; in which 100 mg/kg produced the greatest villus height. Serum uric acid levels were lower in birds receiving supplementation. Improvement in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase was observed, while lower uric acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species levels were observed. Microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improve apparent metabolizable energy and can be administered in broiler feed without risk to the bird’s health. These supplements may serve as alternative products to aid the performance of commercial poultry.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare two chemical preservatives in terms of their sample preservation capabilities, considering the individual bacterial count (IBC) and time and temperature variables. Samples were collected in expansion tanks in three commercial dairy farms located in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, characterized as G1: low IBC values, G2: average IBC values, and G3: high IBC values. The tanks were stored at three different temperatures (4, 10, and 25 °C) for 14 d. Samples supplemented with the preservative Azilat in G1 (lower IBC group) exhibited the best results at a temperature of 4 °C, whereas for G2 and G3, the results showed no statistically significant difference between temperatures 4 and 10 °C. The temperature 25 °C exhibited the worst results. For samples preserved with Azidiol, regardless of the studied group (G1, G2, and G3), the temperatures of 4 and 10 °C did not present a significant difference regarding the preservation of the samples, with the temperature of 25 °C exhibiting the worst results. Azilat was effective in keeping the samples conserved when they presented low IBC, being able to fluctuate with the increase in IBC and temperature variation. Azidiol was effective regardless of the initial IBC level.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effects of amylin, a pancreatic hormone polypeptide, on egg quality traits in laying hens. A total of 40 birds (14 wk of age) were randomly divided into two treatments with two replicates, 10 birds in each replicate. Twenty birds were subcutaneously injected with amylin at 75 µg/kg every other day (treatment 1), and the remaining animals (20 hens) were given only water as the control group (treatment 2). Eggs collected from the two groups (140 eggs per group) were examined for several quality performance traits such as egg weight, specific gravity, shape index, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, eggshell ash, eggshell weight, Haugh unit (HU), albumen index, yolk index, yolk color, and albumen height. The results indicated that amylin had a positive effect on some egg quality traits in laying hens. Specific gravity, eggshell thickness, eggshell weight, HU, albumen index, yolk index, and albumen height, which are all considered as important quality parameters from the consumer point of view, especially HU, were relatively improved in the amylin treatment group. These results showed that the injection of 75 µg/kg amylin has a significant effect on some egg quality traits. Considering that egg quality characteristics are crucial for the egg industry, this study can be a reference for the detailed investigation of the use of amylin in the different stages of egg production.

ABSTRACT In this study, we evaluated how guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) addition in diets with various metabolizable energy (ME) contents affects the performance of broiler chickens. We also estimated the equivalence of GAA in ME. We distributed 1,280 one-day-old broilers in a completely randomized design with eight treatments, eight replicates, and twenty birds per experimental unit. Treatments were based on ME levels (2,775-2,875-2,975 kcal/kg; 2,850-2,950-3,050 kcal/kg; 2,925-3,025-3,125 kcal/kg; or 3,000-3,100-3,200 kcal/kg, from 1 to 7, 8 to 21, and 22 to 42 days of age) and the inclusion of GAA (0 or 600 mg/kg). Supplementation of GAA increased weight gain in broilers at an energy level of 2,908 kcal/kg and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) at energy levels of 2,908 and 2,983 kcal/kg. There was a linear reduction in feed intake and an improvement in FCR of broilers with increasing levels of energy in diets, with and without GAA addition. Solving the equivalence equation, by applying each of the weighted average energy levels studied. indicates the GAA equivalence of 133, 103, 74, and 44 kcal/kg of diet. In conclusion, GAA supplementation improves broilers’ efficiency of energy use; the average ME equivalence of 600 mg/kg of GAA is 88.5 kcal/kg.

ABSTRACT To characterize the N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-related gene expression profiles in various tissues of Meishan pigs at different stages, m6A modification-related genes (METTL3, METTL14, METTL16, WTAP, RBM15, and FTO) were detected from newborn to physical maturity of Meishan pigs at eight important developmental stages (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 134, and 158 days old). The expression of m6A-related genes was tissue-specific. Furthermore, the level of METTL3 messenger RNA (mRNA) was higher on day 35 than in other stages in most tissues, and the expression of METTL14 increased after day 35, and FTO exhibited a peak on day 14 in muscle, intestine, lymph nodes, thymus, and kidney. This study provided a reference for an in-depth study of the expression patterns of m6A modification-related genes in Meishan pigs.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of nano-selenium (NS) on growth performance, antioxidant activity, biochemical parameters, and selenium content in Landes geese. A total of 120 80-week-old healthy Landes geese (4.44±0.03 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups, each with four replicates of 10 birds. The control birds were fed a basal diet without further dietary supplementation (0.0 mg/kg of NS) and the two experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with dietary NS at 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg of feed. The results demonstrated that NS dietary supplementation had no significant effect on growth performance. Increased total superoxide dismutase activity in serum, breast muscle and liver, glutathione peroxidase level in serum and liver, and catalase in breast muscle and liver were observed for both NS supplemented groups. Additionally, reduced malondialdehyde in serum, breast muscle, and liver was detected in both NS-supplemented groups. Compared with the control, the birds fed diets supplemented with NS had lower concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased. Furthermore, increased selenium, especially in the liver, was found in groups with dietary supplementation of NS. These findings suggest the supplementation of NS in diets can improve antioxidant status, biochemical parameters, and tissue selenium content, although it has no significant effect on growth performance of Landes geese.

ABSTRACT In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera essential oil (MOEO) supplementation to rations of Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) grown under heat stress (HS) on some adipokine (visfatin, adiponectin, and chemerin), intestinal (citrulline), 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulation hormone (TSH) levels in the serum. For this purpose, 320 day-old male quail chicks were used. The study was conducted over 42 days, including a 7-d adaptation period and a 35-d experimental period. Eight trial groups were established, each including 10 quail: CT (control temperature, 25 ℃), MOEO 200, MOEO 400, MOEO 600, HSC (HS control), SMOEO 200, SMOEO 400, and SMOEO 600. Based on the results, a dose-dependent decrease was observed on days 21 and 42 in serum adiponectin and T3 in the stress and stress-free groups compared with the control group due to MOEO supplementation. The lowest decrease was observed in the MOEO 600 mg/kg dose group. In addition, an increase in stressed groups was observed when examining serum citrulline levels, while chemerin levels did not have a statistically significant effect. While the decrease in serum visfatin, T4, and TSH levels on the 21st day did not have a statistically significant effect, a significant effect was determined on the 42nd day. The addition of MOEO at 600 mg/kg to the ration may be beneficial in preventing intestinal damage and inflammation that may occur due to HS.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to estimate the nutritional requirement of digestible methionine + cystine for Japanese quail during the growth phase and its residual effect on the laying phase. One experiment was conducted, including three phases: starter, from 1 to 14 days of age; grower, from 15 to 42 days of age; and laying, from 43 to 168 days of age. The experimental design was entirely randomized with five treatments (0.52, 0.64, 0.76, 0.88, and 1.00% of digestible methionine + cystine) and five replicates. In starter phase, 48 quail/experimental unit (box) were used; in grower phase, 31 quail/experimental unit (box) were used, which were reared until 14 days old, receiving conventional feed and, in laying phase, 12 quail/experimental unit were selected from grower phase to evaluate the residual effect. To evaluate animal performance, feed intake (g/bird), body weight (g), weight gain (g), feed conversion (g/g), and viability (%) were analyzed. At 14 and 42 days of age, the relative weight (%) of liver, spleen, and cloacal pouch organs, the birds’ warping (%) and body chemical composition (%) were evaluated. During laying, performance and egg quality were evaluated. In the starter and grower stages, quadratic effects were observed for all performance variables. Laying performance results confirmed the estimates obtained in the grower phase; however, there was no effect on egg quality. Considering the best feed conversion, the nutritional recommendation of digestible methionine + cystine for Japanese quail in the starter phase is 0.85% and in the grower phase, it is 0.77%, corresponding to daily intake of 50.43 and 158.5 mg of digestible methionine + cystine/day, respectively.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria preparations on microbial diversity and community structure of calves. On days 1 and 7 of the trial period, feces were collected into sterile tubes and labeled (Day 1: control group D1DZ, experimental group D1SY, and Day 7: control group D7DZ, experimental group D7SY). Twenty Angus calves (150±10 kg) were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 10 calves each. The control group fed a basal diet. In addition to feeding the basal diet, the experimental group was given 15 mL lactobacillus preparation orally at 09:00 and 16:00 h every day. Calves were allowed free feeding and drinking water. All other feeding environments and management conditions remained consistent with the experiment lasting for seven days. At the end of the experiment, the fecal microflora of the calves was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing techniques. The 16S rRNA analysis data were processed using the Excel 2007 software and analyzed by the IBM SPSS statistical software (Statistical Analysis System, version 22). The Alpha diversity index analysis showed that the Chao and the Ace indices were significantly different after feeding supplemented with lactic acid bacteria. The PCA analysis showed that the fecal flora structure differed significantly after supplementation with the lactic acid bacteria preparation. Further analysis showed that the lactic acid bacteria increased Firmicutes, Patescibacteria, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and prevotellaceae_UCG-003 in the feces. Therefore, we speculate that lactic acid bacteria preparations play an important role in animal production and are beneficial to the diversity of the fecal microflora of the calves.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the effects of relocation time (RT; Experiment 1) and storage time after relocation (ST; Experiment 2) on microbial population, fermentative characteristics, and chemical composition of corn silage. In experiment 1, corn silage was stored for 30 d, subjected to different RT (0–60 h), and stored again for 30 d. Thirty experimental silos were used in a completely randomized design, with three replicates per treatment. In experiment 2, after 150 d of ensiling, silage was removed from a bunker silo, exposed to air for 9 h, relocated to experimental silos, and stored for periods ranging from 0 to 128 d. Twenty-eight experimental silos were used in a completely randomized design, with four replicates per treatment. Relocation time had no effect on fungi counts and concentrations of lactic and propionic acids in corn silage but resulted in a significant increase in dry matter content. In experiment 2, dry matter recovery and concentration of non-fiber carbohydrates decreased in corn silage stored for more than 32 d after relocation. Exposure of corn silage to air during relocation for up to 60 h followed by 30 d of storage did not compromise the fermentation profile or nutritive value of the silage. Increased storage time of relocated corn silage (up to 128 d) consistently decreases its nutritional value. The storage period seems to have an increased impact on nutrient loss in relocated silage than the relocation period.

ABSTRACT The objectives were to evaluate the effects of monensin and virginiamycin, alone or combined, on supplemented Nellore cattle grazing tropical grass during the rainy season. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously to evaluate intake, digestibility, CH4 emissions, blood parameters, performance, and carcass characteristics (Exp. 1), and ruminal fermentation and relative abundance of ruminal microorganisms (Exp. 2). Animals (n = 92 Exp. 1 and n = 12 Exp. 2) were distributed in a completely randomized design and allocated in twelve paddocks composed of Urochloa brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Xaraés. A protein-energetic supplementation of 3 g/kg of BW per day was provided to all animals. Supplements were: without additives (WA), monensin alone at 80 mg/kg of product (MN), virginiamycin alone at 150 mg/kg of product (VM), and monensin (80 mg/kg of product) combined with virginiamycin (150 mg/kg of product; MNVM). Treatments did not affect intakes of total dry matter (DM), supplement DM, and nutrients. However, the intakes of forage DM and crude protein decreased in cattle fed MNVM compared with animals fed WA, MN, and VM. Total volatile fatty acids increased in animals fed VM. Ruminal NH3-N decreased, and pH increased in animals fed MN, VM, and MNVM. Relative abundance of total F. succinogenes and S. ruminantium decreased and R. flavefaciens increased in animals fed MN and VM at d 118. Treatments had no effect on enteric CH4 emissions. The average daily gain (ADG) and total gain were greater in cattle fed MNVM than in cattle fed MN. Combination of monensin and virginiamycin altered the rumen microbial populations but did not decrease enteric CH4 emissions. However, it decreased forage dry matter intake without altering the ADG and total weight gain, leading to an increase in feed efficiency. Results from this study indicate an advantage in including feed additives combined in the diet of supplemented Nellore cattle grazing tropical grass during the rainy season.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of milking hygiene practices, herd size, water hardness, and temperature-humidity index (THI) on the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of raw milk, and standard plate count (SPC) in milking machines of dairy farms in the central region of Mexico. Data were collected from fifty-three dairy farms during one year. The evaluated effects included milking hygiene conditions (good, medium, poor), herd size (1-50, 51-100, 101-150, ≥151 heads), water hardness (soft or moderately hard), and THI (comfortable or stressful). The increase in milking hygiene produced greater milk yield (MY) and energy corrected milk (ECM) but lower protein content, and decreased the individual bacterial count (IBC) and somatic cell count (SCC). The MY, ECM, protein content, IBC, and SCC were higher on bigger farms. The use of soft water reduced MY, IBC, and SCC, but improved fat, lactose, total solids (TS), and non-fat solids (NFS). Heat stress negatively affected fat, protein, TS, NFS, acidity, freezing point (FP), SCC, and methylene blue dye reduction test. Poor milking hygiene contributes to higher SPC in milking machine parts. Water hardness and THI did not affect SPC in all milking machine parts. Proper milking hygiene practices, larger herd size, softer water, lower THI, and adequate cleaning and disinfection of the milking machine parts benefits the physicochemical and microbiological quality of the milk.