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Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 29327

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fazul Nabi

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal 90150, Pakistan
Interests: nutraceuticals; veterinary medicine; poultry science; gene expressions; poultry medicine; animal nutrition

Dr. Valentina Caprarulo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Environment, Land Planning and Mathematics, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Interests: animal nutrition; dairy cow; weaned piglets; choline; transition period; phytogenic additives; anitibiotics; tannins; humic acids; tributyrin

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The livestock sector, including beef and dairy cattle, pigs and poultry, plays an important role in satisfying the increased demand of high biological value protein, also in terms of food safety and security which could lead to improve human health and preserve the environment. However, this sector is facing several challenges due to the high cost of feed ingredients, medicine, and management, as well as the emergence of a range of diseases, which lead to reduced production.

Nutraceuticals, including biological compounds, extracts, minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins, have received increased interest due to their numerous health and nutritional benefits, including their ability to help to maintain health and physiology and prevent disease, as well as improving animal production and performance.

Recent developments in this field have established a new scope for the current and future direction of nutraceuticals administration to overcome global challenges in promoting the transition to sustainable livestock systems, thus creating new opportunities for research scholars, and increasing the connection among scientist, feed industry and feed additive industry.

This Special Issue will publish original research papers and review articles related to the application of in feed nutraceuticals in livestock. The interconnections among nutrition, health, physiology, immunity, productivity, and the environment will also be covered with both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Areas of interest include nutraceuticals, biological compounds, natural extracts, minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins.

We invite original research papers and review articles addressing aspects of the use of nutraceuticals as animal feed ingredients in farm animals.

Dr. Fazul Nabi
Dr. Valentina Caprarulo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

nutraceuticals
natural extracts
minerals
carbohydrates
amino acids
vitamins
feed additives
food additives
livestock

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Capsaicin-Based Phytogenic Solution Improves Performance and Thermal Tolerance of Heat-Stressed Growing Pigs

by Miguel Cervantes, Panagiotis Sakkas, Moisés Soto, Alejandra Jaquelin Gómez, Reyna L. Camacho, Néstor Arce, Nicolas Quilichini and Adriana Morales

Animals 2024, 14(6), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14060973 - 21 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1644

Abstract

Exposure to heat stress (HS) detrimentally affects pig performance. This study explored whether a dietary phytogenic solution based on Capsicum spp. (PHY) could enhance the thermal tolerance of heat-stressed growing pigs. Forty-two individually housed pigs were randomly assigned to three treatments: thermoneutral pigs on a control diet (TN-C) and pigs subjected to HS fed the control diet either without (HS-C) or with supplemental PHY (HS-PHY). The TN-C group exhibited increased average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake (FI) compared to both HS-C (p < 0.01) and HS-PHY pigs (p < 0.05) and better feed efficiency compared to HS-C pigs only (p < 0.01). However, the HS-PHY pigs showed significantly higher FI (p < 0.01) and ADG (p < 0.05) compared to HS-C pigs. HS pigs displayed higher body temperatures (BTs) than TN pigs (p < 0.01), yet HS-PHY pigs experienced a lesser increase in BT compared to HS-C pigs (p < 0.05). Supplementation with PHY mitigated some effects of HS, increasing serum superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, reducing HSP90 expression in longissimus dorsi muscle, and elevating jejunal villus height compared to HS-C pigs (p < 0.05), reaching levels akin to TN-C pigs. Additionally, PHY supplementation resulted in lower serum urea levels than HS-C pigs (p < 0.01) and similar myosin gene expression to TN-C pigs (p > 0.1), suggesting enhanced amino acid post-absorptive utilization for lean tissue growth. In conclusion, dietary PHY supplementation partially offset the adverse effects of HS on pig performance by improving thermal tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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9 pages, 241 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Enhancing the Production Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Laying Hens by Augmenting Energy, Phosphorous and Calcium Deficient Diets with Fungal Phytase (Trichoderma reesei) Supplementation

by Shoaib Ahmed Pirzado, Guohua Liu, Muhammad Adanan Purba and Huiyi Cai

Animals 2024, 14(3), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030376 - 24 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1622

Abstract

A ten-week trial was conducted to evaluate the enhancement of production performance and nutrient utilization of laying hens through augmenting energy, phosphorous, and calcium deficient diets with fungal phytase (Trichoderma reesei) supplementation. 720 Hy-line Brown hens aged 28 weeks were randomly divided into 5 groups; each group had 8 replicates of 18 hens. Five experimental diets were prepared and fed to corresponding groups. A positive control (PC) diet contained 3.50% of calcium (Ca), 0.32% of non-phytate phosphorus (NPP), and apparent metabolic energy (AME) of 11.29MJ/kg, while a negative control (NC) diet contained 3.30% of Ca, 0.12% of NPP, and lower AME of 300 kJ/kg. The other three diets were supplemented with 250 FTU/kg phytase (PHY-250), 1000 FTU/kg phytase (PHY-1000), and 2000 FTU/kg phytase (PHY-2000) in addition to a regular NC diet. Results indicated that the positive control (PC) diet group had higher body weight gain, egg weight, and average daily feed intake. However, laying rate, egg mass, and FCR were most improved in the PHY-2000 group, followed by the PHY-1000 and PHY-250 groups (p < 0.05). Improved yolk color was most notable in laying hens fed the diet with PHY-1000 as opposed to the PC and NC groups (p < 0.05), but no overall difference was found among all of the phytase treated groups. The apparent availability of dry matter, energy, phosphorus, and phytate P was significantly higher in the PHY-2000 group than in the PC and NC groups (p < 0.05). Compared to the PC group, nitrogen retention was significantly higher in the PHY-1000 group, while calcium availability was higher in the PHY-250 group. The results suggested that the addition of phytase to diets with low P, Ca, and AME improved laying performance and apparent availability of dietary nutrients. Thus, it was concluded that the laying hen diet could be supplemented with 1000–2000 FTU/kg phytase for improving laying production and nutrient availability and mitigating the negative impact of reduced nutrient density in laying hen diets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

13 pages, 3966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Maternal Supplementation with Organic Trace Minerals including Zinc, Manganese, Copper, and Cobalt during the Late and Post-Partum Periods on the Health and Immune Status of Japanese Black Calves

by Amany Ramah, Tomohiro Kato, Urara Shinya, Mahmoud Baakhtari, Shoichiro Imatake, Arvendi Rachma Jadi and Masahiro Yasuda

Animals 2023, 13(23), 3679; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233679 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1653

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effects of supplementation of the maternal diet with organic trace minerals including Zn (zinc), Mn (manganese), Cu (copper), and Co (cobalt) on the health and immune status of beef calves. We examined 19 pregnant cows, which were divided into a group of 9 cows fed a basal diet (control) and 10 cows fed a diet with organic trace minerals (treated). Cows were fed for a period of 45 days before the predicted calving date until 45 days after calving. The number of treatments needed for respiratory and digestive diseases within 14 days of birth was significantly lower in the treated group (p < 0.05) than the control group. In addition, the concentration of serum zinc in the treated group on day 1 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the control group. The numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells in the treated group on days 30 and 60 were significantly increased (p < 0.01) compared with those in the control group, as was the number of γδ T cells on days 1 and 30 (p < 0.05). The number of IgM⁺ cells in the treated group on days 30 and 60 was significantly increased (p < 0.01) compared with that in the control group, as was the number of MHC class II⁺ cells on day 60 (p < 0.01). The number of NK cells in the treated group on day 60 was also significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. The expression levels of mRNAs encoding interlukin-2 (IL-2), interlukin-4 (IL-4), interlukin-12 (IL-12), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the treated group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05) on days 1 and 60. The results indicate that maternal supplementation with trace minerals is a promising approach for producing highly disease-resistant calves and enhancing calf immunity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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12 pages, 798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Lemon (Citrus limon, L.) Peel Powder on Oocyst Shedding, Intestinal Health, and Performance of Broilers Exposed to E. tenella Challenge

by Abdul Hafeez, Israr Ahmad, Shabana Naz, Rasha Alonaizan, Rasha K. Al-akeel, Rifat Ullah Khan and Vincenzo Tufarelli

Animals 2023, 13(22), 3533; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223533 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2096

Abstract

To date, no study has reported the anticoccidial effect of lemon peel powder in broilers. Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species, is the prevalent enteric parasitic disease in poultry. Although certain chemical drugs have been used for their control, concerns regarding drug residues and the development of resistance in chickens have arisen among consumers. In this study, a total of 300 Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five groups (five equal replicates of 12 animals). The first group served as the control and did not receive any specific treatment (NC). The second group, referred to as the positive control (PC) group, was deliberately exposed to Eimeria tenella. The third group was challenged with E. tenella and also received treatment with amprolium (1 g/kg) and was designated as AT. The fourth and fifth groups were challenged with E. tenella and simultaneously supplemented with lemon peel powder at a dosage of 3 g/kg (LPP3) and 6 g/kg (LPP6). Sporulated E. tenella oocysts (5 × 10⁴/mL bird) on day 22 of the experiment were administered to the infected broiler chickens. The results indicated that in comparison with the NC, all Eimeria-treated birds exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower growth performance. However, a notable improvement was observed when infected birds also received a supplement of LPP3 and LPP6 in their feed. Both LPP3 and LPP6 supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) reduced mortality, lesion scores, and oocyst per gram (OPG) of feces compared with the PC group. Additionally, the histological features of the cecum revealed that villus height, villus width, and crypt depth were partially restored under supplementation with LPP3 and LPP6 in the infected birds. Overall, the results demonstrate that Eimeria-infected birds supplemented with LPP3 and LPP6 exhibited improved growth performance, reduced OPG, lowered intestinal coccidiosis lesion scores, and enhanced intestinal histological features. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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10 pages, 243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dried Blueberry Pomace and Pineapple Pomace on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens

by Yaodong Hu, Shi Tang, Wei Zhao, Silu Wang, Caiyun Sun, Binlong Chen and Yuxing Zhu

Animals 2023, 13(13), 2198; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132198 - 5 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dried blueberry pomace (BP) and pineapple pomace (PP) on the growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 240 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 10 replicates per treatment group and 8 birds per replicate (4 males and 4 females). The three groups were the control (CON) group, the 3% BP group, and 3% PP group. The entire trial period lasted 42 days. The results show that the average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed-to-gain ratio of the BP group and the PP group were not significantly different from those in the CON group (p > 0.05). Adding BP to the diet significantly reduced the proportion of liver and giblets (p < 0.05). Adding PP to the diet significantly reduced the proportion of liver, while the proportion of gizzard significantly increased (p < 0.05). The pH^24h and L* of breast muscles were significantly lower in the PP group than in the CON group (p < 0.05). The water-holding capacity of the leg muscles in the BP group and the PP group was significantly lower than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). The crude protein content of breast muscle and the ether extract content of leg muscle in the BP group were significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 3% BP and PP to broiler chickens’ diets had no adverse effects on growth performance or meat quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

15 pages, 2600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Synergistic Effects of the Combination of L-Carnitine and Lycopene on the Lycopene Bioavailability and Duodenal Health of Roosters

by Wael Ennab, Nanwei Ye, Haoze Wu, Saif Ullah, Tavakolikazerooni Hadi, Anthony Pius Bassey, Sheeraz Mustafa, Jingle Jiang, Quanwei Wei and Fangxiong Shi

Animals 2023, 13(8), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081274 - 7 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2346

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Lycopene and L-Carnitine, individually or in combination, on various physiological and molecular factors related to intestinal health and absorption ability in Roosters, such as intestinal morphology, serum biochemical parameters, genes involved in Lycopene uptake, nutritional transport genes, and tight junction genes. The findings of the study revealed that the combination of L-Carnitine and Lycopene supplementation had been found to increase the serum concentration levels of TP and ALB. Interestingly, the relative mRNA expression of genes responsible for Lycopene uptakes, such as SR-BI and BCO2, was higher in the LC group compared to other groups. Additionally, the expression of specific nutritional transport genes in the duodenum was significantly affected by both CAR and LC supplementation groups. The tight junction gene OCLN showed a significant increase in expression in the combination group compared to using either Lycopene or L-Carnitine alone. This study concludes that using Lycopene and L-carnitine in combination in poultry feed can potentially improve intestinal morphology and serum biochemical parameters, increase Lycopene bioavailability, improve nutrients uptake, and enhance the integrity of duodenal tight junctions in Roosters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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12 pages, 2258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nutraceutical Effect of Resveratrol on the Mammary Gland: Focusing on the NF-κb /Nrf2 Signaling Pathways

by Muhammad Umair Ul Hassan Malik, Nighat Hashmi, Marium Khan, Zain ul Aabdin, Rokayya Sami, Amani H. Aljahani, Rasha A. Al-Eisa, Mamdoh S. Moawadh and Naseh A. Algehainy

Animals 2023, 13(7), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071266 - 6 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2133

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the defensive role of resveratrol, which is antagonistic to the oxidative stress and inflammation that is prompted by LPS in mammary tissue of female mice. Thirty adult mice were distributed into three groups (n = 10) control (CON), lipopolysaccharides at 2.5 mg/kg (LPS), and lipopolysaccharides at 2.5 mg/kg with 2 mg/kg of resveratrol (RES + LPS). The treatments were applied for 15 consecutive days. Spectrophotometry was used to quantify ROS in the blood, and proinflammatory cytokines concentrations were determined through radioimmunoassay. NF-κB, Jnk, IL-1β, Erk, IL-6, Nrf2 and TNF-α were quantified by RT-qPCR, and Western blots were used to quantifyP65 and pP65 protein intensities. MDA production was considerably increased, and the activity of T-AOC declined in the LPS treatment in comparison with the CON group but was significantly reversed in the RES + LPS group. Proinflammatory cytokines production and the genes responsible for inflammation and oxidative stress also showed higher mRNA and pP65 protein intensity in the LPS group, while Nrf2 showed a remarkable decline in mRNA expression in the LPS versus the CON group. All these mRNA intensities were reversed in the RES + LPS group. There were no remarkable changes in P65 protein intensity observed between the CON, LPS, and RES + LPS groups. In conclusion, resveratrol acts as a protective agent to modulate cellular inflammation and oxidative stress caused by LPS in mammary tissue of female mice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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18 pages, 4701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Schisandra chinensis Polysaccharide-Conjugated Selenium Nanoparticles on Intestinal Injury in Mice

by Hongxu Du, Xiaoyan Tan, Zhangxun Li, Hong Dong, Lijuan Su, Zhengke He, Qi Ma, Shiqi Dong, Mythili Ramachandran, Juan Liu and Liting Cao

Animals 2023, 13(5), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050930 - 4 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2347

Abstract

Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) is an experimental therapeutic for the treatment of intestinal injury. Selenium nanoparticle modification can improve the bioactivity of polysaccharides. In this study, SCP was firstly extracted and purified by a DEAE-52 column, then SCP-Selenium nanoparticles (SCP-Se NPs) were prepared, and the procedure was optimized. Thereafter, the obtained SCP-Se NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influence of different storage environments on the stability of colloidal SCP-Se NPs was also investigated. Finally, the therapeutic effects of SCP-Se NPs on LPS-induced intestinal inflammatory injuries in mice were evaluated. Results showed that the optimized SCP-Se NPs were amorphous, uniform, spherical particles with a diameter of 121 nm, and the colloidal solution was stable at 4 °C for at least 14 d. Moreover, SCP-Se NPs could more effectively alleviate LPS-induced diarrhea, intestinal tissue injury, and tight junction destruction and decrease the elevated expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 compared with SCP. These results demonstrate that SCP-Se NPs may alleviate LPS-induced enteritis through their anti-inflammatory effects, indicating that SCP-Se NPs can serve as a good candidate for preventing and treating enteritis in the livestock and poultry industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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11 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Lipase and Lysolecithin Supplementation with Low Energy Diet on Growth Performance, Biochemical Attributes and Fatty Acid Profile of Breast Muscle of Broiler Chickens

by Aziz Ahmad, Gulfam Ali Mughal, Rani Abro, Shamsuddin Bughio, Huma Rizwana, Imdad Hussain Leghari and Shoaib Ahmed Pirzado

Animals 2023, 13(4), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040737 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2417

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary lysolecithin (LYSO) and lipase supplementation on productive performance, nutrient retention, and meat quality of broiler chicken fed a low energy diet. For this purpose, a total of 360 chicks were randomly alienated into six treatments, having six replicates (no = 10) birds each replicate. The dietary treatments were followed as control (CON fed as normal energy diet), LE (CON—100 kcal/kg from BD. basal diet), LIP 0.04 (LE + 0.04% lipase), LYSO 0.04 (LE + 0.04% lysolecithin), LIP + LYSO 0.04 (LE + 0.04% lipase and lysolecithin), and LIP + LYSO 0.08 (LE. + 0.08% lipase and lysolecithin). The birds fed with LIP + LYSO 0.04 exhibited higher weight gain than LYSO 0.08 and CON (p < 0.05), and higher feed intake (F.I.) was also observed in LIP + LYSO 0.04 than CON. However, lipase and emulsifier dietary effects were non-significant on FCR. (p > 0.05). Effects of experimental diets on dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and fat digestibility were also non-significant (p > 0.05). Similarly, the blood biochemical profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL) of the broiler showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Similarly, liver enzymes, AST and A.L.T., were also not statistically significant (p > 0.05) among all dietary treatments. Similarly, supplementation of LIP and LYSO had a non-significant (p > 0.05) effect on breast meat fatty acids composition. Conclusively, adding LIP + LYSO 0.08 to a low energy diet could demonstrate better growth performance and reduce the negative impact of a low-energy diet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

25 pages, 3589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yeast Cell Wall Compounds on The Formation of Fermentation Products and Fecal Microbiota in Cats: An In Vivo and In Vitro Approach

by Fernando González, Amanda Carelli, Alina Komarcheuski, Mayara Uana, Rodolpho Martin do Prado, Diogo Rossoni, Márcia Gomes and Ricardo Vasconcellos

Animals 2023, 13(4), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040637 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3134

Abstract

The effects of yeast cell wall compounds (YCWs) being added to cat food on hindgut fermentation metabolites and fecal microbiota were assessed in in vivo Experiment 1 (Exp. 1) and in vitro Experiments 2 and 3 (Exp. 2 and 3). In Exp. 1, the cats’ diets were supplemented with two dietary concentrations (46.2 and 92.4 ppm) of YCWs (YCW-15 and YCW-30, respectively), and a negative control diet with no compound in three groups (six cats per group) was used to assess the fecal score, pH, digestibility, fermentation products, and microbiota. In Exp. 2, feces from the cats that were not supplemented with YCWs (control) were used as an inoculum. A blend of pectin, amino acids, and cellulose was used as a substrate, and the YCW compound was added at two levels (5 and 10 mg). In Exp. 3, feces from cats fed YCWs were used as an inoculum to test three different substrates (pectin, amino acids, and cellulose). In Exp. 2 and 3, the gas production, pH, and fermentation products (ammonia, SCFAs, and BCFAs) were assessed. YCW-30 resulted in a higher digestibility coefficient of the crude protein, organic matter (OM) (p < 0.05), and energy of the diet (p < 0.10). Regarding the fermentation products, YCW-15 showed a trend toward higher concentrations of propionate, acetate, lactate, ammonia, isobutyrate, and valerate, while YCW-30 showed a trend (p < 0.10) toward higher levels of butyrate and pH values. The bacteroidia class and the genus Prevotella were increased by using YCW-30 and the control. At the gender level, decreased (p < 0.01) Megasphaera was observed with YCW inclusion. The microbiota differed (p < 0.01) among the groups in their Shannon indexes. For beta diversity, YCW-30 showed higher indexes (p = 0.008) than the control. The microbiota metabolic profile differed in the pathway CENTFERM-PWY; it was more expressed in YCW-30 compared to the control. In Exp. 2, the YCWs showed a higher ratio (p = 0.006) of the fermentation products in the treatments with additives with a trend towards a high dose of the additive (10 mg). In Exp. 3, the effects of the substrates (p < 0.001), but not of the YCWs, on the fermentation products were observed, perhaps due to the low dietary concentrations we used. However, the marked responses of the fermentation products to the substrates validated the methodology. We could conclude that the YCWs, even at low dietary concentrations, affected fecal SCFA production, reduced the fecal pH, and modulated the fecal microbiota in the cats. These responses were more pronounced under in vitro conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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17 pages, 2005 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Supplementation with Bee Pollen and Propolis on Growth Performance and Serum Metabolites of Rabbits: A Meta-Analysis

by María Inés Sierra-Galicia, Raymundo Rodríguez-de Lara, José Felipe Orzuna-Orzuna, Alejandro Lara-Bueno, Rodolfo Ramírez-Valverde and Marianela Fallas-López

Animals 2023, 13(3), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030439 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3097

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bee pollen (BP) and propolis (PRO) supplementation on rabbits’ productive performance and serum metabolites through a meta-analysis. Sixteen peer-reviewed publications were included in the data set. The rabbit strains used in the studies included in the data set were New Zealand White, V-line, Rex, and V-line crosses. Weighted mean differences (WMD) between treatments supplemented with BP or PRO and control treatments were used to assess the magnitude of the effect. BP supplementation decreased (p < 0.001) daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR); however, increased (p < 0.001) average daily gain (ADG) and hot carcass yield (HCY). PRO supplementation reduced DFI (p = 0.041) and FCR (p < 0.001), and increased ADG (p < 0.001) and HCY (p = 0.005). In blood serum, BP supplementation increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC; p = 0.002) and decreased serum creatinine concentration (p = 0.049). Likewise, decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected in response to BP supplementation (p < 0.05). PRO supplementation increased the TAC in blood serum (p = 0.018); however, decreased serum concentrations of AST, ALT, and MDA were observed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, BP or PRO supplementation can be used as a natural growth promoter in rabbits, and both can also improve rabbits' antioxidant status. However, BP or PRO supplementation does not affect rabbits' renal or hepatic health status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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Review

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14 pages, 682 KiB

Open AccessReview

Oregano Essential Oil in Livestock and Veterinary Medicine

by Huan Cui, Cheng Zhang, Kai Su, Tingli Fan, Ligong Chen, Zitong Yang, Mingda Zhang, Jiaqi Li, Yuxin Zhang and Juxiang Liu

Animals 2024, 14(11), 1532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111532 - 22 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

With a growing global concern over food safety and animal welfare issues, the livestock and veterinary industries are undergoing unprecedented changes. These changes have not only brought challenges within each industry, but also brought unprecedented opportunities for development. In this context, the search for natural and safe products that can effectively replace traditional veterinary drugs has become an important research direction in the fields of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. Oregano essential oil (OEO), as a natural extract, is gradually emerging in the fields of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine with its unique antibacterial, antioxidant, and multiple other biological activities. OEO not only has a wide antibacterial spectrum, effectively fighting against a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, but also, because of its natural properties, helps us to avoid traditional veterinary drugs that may bring drug residues or cause drug resistance problems. This indicates OEO has great application potential in animal disease treatment, animal growth promotion, and animal welfare improvement. At present, the application of OEO in the fields of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine has achieved preliminary results. Studies have shown that adding OEO to animal feed can significantly improve the growth performance and health status of animals and reduce the occurrence of disease. At the same time, pharmacokinetic studies in animals show that the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion processes of OEO in animals shows good bioavailability. In summary, oregano essential oil (OEO), as a substitute for natural veterinary drugs with broad application prospects, is gradually becoming a research hotspot in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. In the future, we look forward to further tapping the potential of OEO through more research and practice and making greater contributions to the sustainable development of the livestock and veterinary industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals in Animal Nutrition: Impact on Health, Physiology, and Productivity)

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