Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum

Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on the hosts. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods.

Nutritional Value of Extruded Dog Food with Mechanically Separated Chicken Meat or Meat By-products.

The objectives of this study were: (a) to evaluate the effect of inclusion of mechanically separated chicken meat (MSCM) in dry dog food on fatty acid profile, in vivo and in vitro digestibility, and palatability as compared with dry dog food containing meat by-products (MBP); (b) to determine, whether or not, the inclusion of the one or the other ingredient changes the microbiology and the storage quality of the two food products; (c) to propose a new system (DaisyII Incubator) to measure the in vitro digestibility of the two products. Their similar chemical composition notwithstanding, the MSCM product had lower palatability but better nutritional quality (with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid [PUFA] content and lower saturated fatty acid [SFA] content) than the MBP product. Microbiological risk assessment showed no microbiological hazards for either product. After 6 months storage, polyamine values were found to be higher in the MSCM than in the MBP. Finally, the DaisyII Incubator proved a valid instrument for the study of in vitro digestibility also for dogs; since it provided data simply, quickly with less variability and cost than obtained with in vivo trials, it could represent the future for pet food digestibility studies. Our results indicate that inclusion of MSCM or MBP as the main protein ingredient in extruded pet food may be used advantageously in product formulations.

Pengaruh Waktu Ekstraksi dan Konsentrasi Ekstrak Rambut Jagung (Corn Silk) Terhadap pH, Total Fenol Dan Aktivitas Antibakteri

<p>The growth of microorganisms in foodstuffs can lead to profitable changes such as nutritional improvements in food, digestibility or storage. In addition, the growth of microorganisms in food can also lead to undesirable physical and chemical changes, so the food is not worth consuming. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are the bacteria that often cause infection in humans. To prevent this it is necessary to have bioactive components that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Active compounds such as saponins, triterpenoids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids are known to have antibacterial activity. Several studies have reported the chemical content found in corn hair. Corn hair is part of a corn plant that has not been used effectively because it is considered as waste. Based on research, corn hair contains proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, calcium salts, potassium, magnesium, and sodium, essential oils, steroids such as sitosterol and stigmasterol, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids. So presumably corn hair extract has antibacterial activity.</p><p>This study aims to determine the effect of extraction time and concentration of corn hair extract on pH, total phenol and antibacterial activity.</p><p>The experimental design used in this study was Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 replications. The treatments used were Extraction Time A1 = 30 minutes, A2 = 40 minutes, A3 = 50 minutes and Concentration Extract (material: solvent) K1 = 75% (w / v), K2 = 50% (w / v), K3 = 25% (w / v). Furthermore, the data obtained were analyzed variant and if there was any difference between treatments followed by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) test at 5% level. The results showed that all treatments produced bioactive compounds and formed inhibit zone of each test bacteria. The best time to obtain an antibacterial antibacterial extract on corn hair is 50 minutes. This was supported by the lowest pH average of 5.1 and the highest mean total phenol obtained from treatment A3 (50 minutes) was 7288,64 μgGAE / g and at 75% concentration formed the largest bacterial inhibition zone in each test bacteria.</p>

Impact of faecal DM excretion on faecal calcium losses in dogs eating complete moist and dry pet foods – food digestibility is a major determinant of calcium requirements

The recommendations for the Ca supply for maintenance of dogs have been reduced by about 75 % in the last decades. An important factor for Ca requirements is faecal Ca losses. In previous studies with experimental diets faecal Ca losses depended on Ca intake and on faecal DM excretion. A predictive equation for faecal Ca losses in mg/kg body weight (BW) developed in a fibre model is: faecal losses = −33·8 + (13·6 faecal DM excretion (g/kg BW)) + (0·78 Ca intake (mg/kg BW)). The present study aimed at testing this equation in pet food with material from trials carried out for other purposes. Digestion trials with twenty-five dry and fifteen moist foods (326 observations in total) were evaluated retrospectively. Faecal DM excretion and faecal Ca losses were significantly correlated (r2 0·86; P < 0·001). There was a highly significant correlation (r2 0·87; P < 0·001) between the experimentally determined faecal Ca excretion and the faecal Ca excretion predicted by the equation of Kienzle et al. The data from the previous fibre model study could be transferred to prepared moist and dry dog food. Faecal DM excretion has a considerable impact on faecal Ca losses in a practical feeding situation. In conclusion, Ca requirements for maintenance may vary with food DM intake and digestibility.

Food digestibility and consumption rate in detrito-bryophagous groundhopper Tetrix subulata (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

Detrito-bryophagy represents a specific feeding strategy in orthopterans. We evaluated the consumption rate and digestibility of two main food components (detritus and moss) in a typical detrito-bryophagous groundhopper,

Influence of dietary flavours on sheep feeding behaviour and nutrient digestibility

The aim of the present study was to assess whether the feeding pattern displayed by sheep exposed to a monotonous ration is modified when the same ration is presented in a diversity of flavours and if such diversity influences nutrient intake and digestibility. Twelve commercial crossbred wether lambs were assigned to two groups. Six lambs/period (three lambs/group.period) were housed in metabolic crates during two successive periods. One group of lambs (Diversity, D) was fed simultaneously an unflavoured ration of alfalfa, barley, beet pulp and urea (55 : 35 : 9 : 1) and the same ration supplemented (0.2%) with one of the following two flavours: (1) sweet, and (2) umami. The other group (Monotony, M) received only the unflavoured ration. All animals were fed their respective rations ad libitum from 0800 hours to 1600 hours for 26 days in each period. Day 19 was used for assessing the lamb feeding pattern every 30 min for 8 h, and the last 6 days of the period were used for estimating in vivo food digestibility. Lambs in D tended to ingest more acid detergent fibre (ADF; P = 0.10) and to have a lower crude protein digestibility (P = 0.08) than did lambs in M. Nevertheless, average daily DM intake did not differ between treatments (P = 0.22) and lambs in M and D digested the same amount of DM, neutral detergent fibre, ADF and N (P > 0.10). Flavour diversity did not affect N retained, N retained/N consumed, or ruminal pH 1 h after feeding (P > 0.10). Lambs in D showed greater intakes than did those in M during 30 (P = 0.006), 60 (P = 0.02), 90 (P = 0.02), 120 (P = 0.04) and 180 min (P = 0.07) after offering the rations. Results suggest that changes in eating behaviour occurred only during the first part of the feeding period, leading to slight changes in ADF intake and crude protein digestibility, which did not impact nutrient utilisation.

Daily food intake of free-ranging wild rabbits in semiarid South Australia

Context Although the daily food intake of wild rabbits is broadly known, precise field estimates have not been made. Moreover, regressions based on metabolic body size and food intake of grazing herbivores in general are too imprecise to provide close predictions. Using such values could result in substantial errors when estimating grazing equivalents to sheep or cattle and resultant economic losses, or estimating the numbers of rabbits per hectare based on rates of deposition of faeces. Aim To re-analyse previously collected data on estimated food digestibility and food intake of rabbits, and provide a framework for better estimating economic and conservation losses attributable to wild rabbits. Methods Food intake of wild free-ranging rabbits was calculated from past measurements of water turnover obtained from dilution of injected tritiated water and estimates of the water content and digestibility of the food eaten. Key results During spring, male rabbits were estimated to eat 65.7 ± 12.5 g dry matter per corrected bodyweight (W–0.75) per day and lactating females ate 97.0 ± 19.4 g dry matter W–0.75 day–1. Similar results were obtained on repetition of trials at a second field site and from wild rabbits held in captivity. Conclusions The estimates of food digestibility and intake obtained, although not precise, are an improvement on theoretical expectations alone and help put previously published data in better perspective. Implications Improved estimates of food consumption provide more confidence in estimates of rabbit grazing pressure. Even moderate densities of rabbits (5 rabbits per ha) could remove about half the pasture produced in an average year in Australia’s arid-zone.

Fat digestibility is reduced in old cats with subnormal cobalamin concentrations

Fat digestibility is decreased in old cats for unknown reasons. Subclinical gastrointestinal diseases and pancreatic dysfunction, both related to ageing, can affect food digestibility. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the prevalence of subnormal cobalamin concentration and pancreatic disease in old cats and study the relationship between both markers and fat digestibility. A total of sixty-four cats without evident signs of gastrointestinal disease were included and grouped according to age: (1) fifteen middle-aged (MA), aged 3–7 years; and (2) forty-nine old, aged 10–17 years. All cats were tested for serum cobalamin, specific feline pancreatic lipase (fPL) and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity. Then, sixteen of the old cats were selected and grouped according to cobalamin and fPL concentrations: control (normal cobalamin and fPL); low vitamin B12 (cobalamin <290 ng/l; normal fPL); and high fPL (normal cobalamin; fPL >4 µg/ml). A food digestibility trial with a high-fat diet (21·6 %) was performed. In the old group, cobalamin was lower and fPL higher than in MA cats. Of the old cats (n 49), 14 % had subnormal cobalamin, 8 % had a severe increase in fPL, 2 % had both alterations and 14 % had a slight increase in fPL. By contrast, MA cats did not have cobalamin deficiency or an increase in fPL concentrations. Fat digestibility was lower in low vitamin B12 cats than control cats. Decreased fat digestibility is not present in all old cats but could be a characteristic of subclinical chronic gastrointestinal disease. Cobalamin concentration, as a marker of gastrointestinal disease, could be useful for the routine evaluation of old cats.