Evaluation of the Effect of Synbiotic in Piglets’ Diet on the Nutritional Quality of Pork

The purpose of the study was to increase the nutritional quality of pork, and to investigate the effect of the synbiotic on the oxidative stability of lipid. A 4 weeks experiment was performed on 8 weaned piglets (age 47 days, TOPIGS), divided into 2 groups (C, E). The control group (C) received a conventional diet, while the experimental group (E) included a diet supplemented with organic Zn and 10 g/kg synbiotic mixture. The productive parameters were evaluated. After slaughtered, muscle (tenderloin, shoulder, loin, ham and belly) and organs samples (liver, spleen and kidney) were collected. The muscle and organs samples were analysed regarding the proximate chemical analysis (dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, and ash). The antioxidant capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were performed on shoulder and ham samples at first day of the trial, 4 and 7 days after refrigeration. The crude fat determined in the loin samples, recorded a significant increase in the E group compared to the C group. The ash was higher in the shoulder samples from C group than in E group. At 7 days of refrigeration, the MDA concentration was significantly lower in the shoulder and ham samples from E group than those from C group. The conclusion was that the diet supplemented with organic Zn and 10 g/kg synbiotic mixture contributed to the delay of the lipid oxidation process of the shoulder and ham samples during the refrigeration period.

Changes in the Antioxidant and Mineral Status of Rabbits After Administration of Dietary Zinc and/or Thyme Extract

This study was aimed at determining the impact of organic zinc (Zn) and thyme extract (TE) administration, given alone or together for 6 weeks, on the antioxidant and mineral status (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn) in the plasma and tissues of growing rabbits. A total of 96 rabbits of age 35 days were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: a control group (C), a Zn group supplemented with dietary zinc (50 mg/kg), a TE group receiving thyme extract applied in drinking water (1 ml/L), and a Zn + TE group treated with both additives. Lipid peroxidation in the plasma was influenced by Zn intake and in the kidney was affected by both the Zn and TE treatment (P < 0.05). Zn supplementation led to a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase activity (P = 0.017), total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.009) and total thiol groups level (P = 0.047) in the kidney, with the highest values occurring in rabbits receiving the combination Zn + TE. Administration of TE influenced Zn content in the kidney (P < 0.001), while zinc intake decreased Cu concentration in muscle (P = 0.021). In conclusion, the simultaneous administration of organic Zn and TE positively affected the antioxidant response of kidneys and can be used for improving the antioxidant status of growing rabbits.

Long-Term Zinc Fertilization in Calcareous Soils Improves Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Productivity and Soil Zinc Status in the Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) is considered as the furthermost vital system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South-Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Recently, the deficiency of micronutrients like zinc (Zn) has emerged as one of the prime limitations for the sustainability issues of this RWCS in Zn deficient calcareous soils, particularly in India, as a result of the calcareous typic ustifluvents taxonomic nature of the soils. Therefore, a new Zn fertilization approach for soils is very much needed in the intensive RWCS. Thus, a six-year-long investigation was designed with three different modes of Zn application, viz., the application of Zn only in the first year of study, application in alternative years, and application in every year. Four different rates of Zn applications in a hectare of area for a single year, viz., 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 kg ha−1 year−1, and times of Zn application, viz., only at first year, alternative years, and in each year. The major aims of the study were to determine Zn concentration in soil; yield; and Zn accumulation by wheat crop under different application methods of Zn. From this study, it was found that a large portion of the applied Zn was present in the residual fraction, and it was also revealed that increasing the frequency of Zn application resulted in the increment in the crystalline fraction. Significant correlation of water-soluble and exchangeable Zn (WS+EX-Zn), complexed Zn (COM-Zn), amorphous Zn (AMO-Zn), organic Zn (ORG-Zn), total Zn (TOT-Zn), grain yield, and grain Zn uptake by wheat indicated that these Zn fractions were dominant forms in the soil to be utilized by plants under rice–wheat rotation. Concerning yield and Zn uptake by wheat, it was noted that the Zn application at 10 kg ha−1 in alternate years was the best Zn application method, while application of Zn at 7.5 kg ha−1 in each year also resulted in comparable yield.

Does Herbal and/or Zinc Dietary Supplementation Improve the Antioxidant and Mineral Status of Lambs with Parasite Infection?

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed supplementation with a medicinal herbs mixture (Hmix) and organic zinc (Zn), alone or in combination, on the antioxidant responses and mineral status of lambs infected with the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus. A total of 24 experimentally infected lambs were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (n = 6). The diets included an unsupplemented control diet (CON) and the CON further supplemented with Hmix, Zn, or both Hmix + Zn. Antioxidant enzymes activities, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and microelement (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn) concentrations were analyzed in serum, liver, kidney, and intestinal mucosa. Zinc treatment elevated the superoxide dismutase activities in the duodenal mucosa and ileal TAC. Intake of Hmix resulted in higher kidney and ileal catalase activity and also influenced the TAC of the liver and intestinal mucosa. The inclusion of Hmix or Zn alone into the diet increased glutathione peroxidase activity in the blood, liver and duodenal mucosa. Tissue mineral uptake was not affected by herbal supplementation. Organic Zn intake increased the serum and liver Zn levels and influenced the Cu concentration in duodenal mucosa. Dietary supplementation with Hmix and/or Zn might promote the antioxidant status of lambs infected with Haemonchus spp.

Effect of Chelated and Inorganic Zinc, Selenium and Chromium on Antioxidant Status, Biochemical and Production Parameters in Broiler

In the present investigation we explore the use of organic and inorganic zinc, selenium and chromium to modulate antioxidant defense system, biochemical status and enhance production response of Broiler. Total 312 day old Cobb broiler chicks were used in the experiment. The results indicate that mean plasma superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidise and glucose concentration were non-significantly different in all groups. Significantly (p less than 0.05) higher mean plasma catalase concentration and TBA value was found in T13 and control group respectively. Mean plasma total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in organic Zn, Se and Cr (T13) followed by organic Cr (T10) supplemented group. Mean body weight gain, feed intake, FER and PI were significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in organic Zn, Se and Cr (T13) followed by organic Se (T7) supplemented group. In the present investigation organic Zn, Se and Cr supplementation showed systemic effects with a better biochemical status, which could be translated into better production performance and lower mortality.

The effect of different dietary zinc sources on mineral deposition and antioxidant indices in rabbit tissues

<p>The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of dietary zinc from inorganic and organic sources on the concentration of Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe in plasma, tissues and faeces of rabbits. Simultaneously, the activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), specific Cu/Zn SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in liver and kidney were also determined. Ninety-six 49-day-old broiler rabbits were allocated to 4 dietary treatments, each replicated 6 times with 4 animals per replicate. For the subsequent 6 wk, the rabbits were fed an identical basal diet (BD) supplemented with an equivalent dose of Zn (100 mg/kg) from different sources. Group 1 (control) received the unsupplemented BD, while the BD for groups 2, 3 and 4 was supplemented with Zn from Zn sulphate, Zn chelate of glycine hydrate (Zn-Gly) and Zn chelate of protein hydrolysate (Zn-Pro), respectively. The intake of dietary Zn sulphate resulted in an increase in Zn plasma concentration (1.85 vs. 1.48 mg/L; <em>P</em>&lt;0.05) compared to the control group. Feeding the diets enriched with Zn increased the deposition of Zn in the liver (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05), irrespective of the Zn source. The addition of Zn-Pro resulted in significantly higher Cu uptake in liver (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) than in the control and Zn sulphate group (56.0 vs. 35.0 and 36.7 mg/kg dry matter (DM), respectively). Neither Mn nor Fe concentration in plasma and tissues were affected by dietary Zn supplementation, with the exception of Fe deposition in muscle, which was significantly decreased (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) in rabbits supplemented with inorganic Zn sulphate compared to control and Zn-Gly group (9.8 vs. 13.3 and 12.2 mg/kg DM, respectively). Intake of organic Zn-Gly significantly increased the activities of total SOD (43.9 vs. 35.9 U/mg protein; <em>P</em>&lt;0.05) and Cu/Zn SOD (31.1 vs. 23.8 U/mg protein; <em>P</em>&lt;0.01) as well as TAC (37.8 vs. 31.2 μmol/g protein; <em>P</em>&lt;0.05) in the kidney when compared to that of the control group. The presented results did not indicate any differences between dietary Zn sources in Zn deposition and measured antioxidant indices in rabbit tissues. Higher dietary Zn intake did not cause any interactions with respect to Mn, Cu and Fe deposition in liver and kidney tissues, but did increase the faecal mineral concentrations. Dietary organic Zn-Gly improved the antioxidant status in rabbit kidney.</p>