Effect of Sprouted Trigonella foenum graecum L. Incorporation into the Diet on Milk Production of Rabbit Does and Growth of Young Rabbits in the Northeast of Algeria

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sprouted fenugreek incorporation into the diet of rabbits on their dairy and growth performances. Data from 24 lactations performed by 8 Californian rabbit does were studied. They were divided into 2 homogeneous groups, a control (batch C) having received an ordinary ration and an experimental (batch E) having received the same ration supplemented with sprouted fenugreek. Growth rates of suckling pups were also recorded. Then, Growth performance of 152 young rabbits’ issue from these females was monitored. They were divided into 4 homogeneous groups, one control having received an ordinary diet (batch C) and 3 experimental having received the same diet with substitution of 12%, 15% and 25% (batch E1, E3 and E3) of the concentrate by sprouted fenugreek. The results showed an improvement in the dairy performance of the rabbit does of batch E, with an average peak lactation of 287 g/d vs 236 g/d in batch C (p <0.01). The daily weight gain of suckling pups was better in batch E (13 g/d vs 11.7 g/d; p <0.01). Likewise, the weaned young rabbits of the experimental batches recorded higher growth rates than the control batch (p <0.01). Sprouted fenugreek incorporation into the rabbit’s ration allowed to improve their performances.

Effect of 5 + 2 Intermittent Fasting Mode on Body Weight of Chinese Overweight/Obese Adults Under Meal Replacement Mode: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objectives 5 + 2 intermittent fasting is a safe and effective method for weight loss (eat normally for 5 days, and give 1/4 of the required calorie for the other 2 consecutive days in 1 week). However, because of the obvious hunger and poor energy control, it is difficult to implement the plan. This study hypothesis that based on the 5 + 2 intermittent fasting mode, replacing the ordinary diet with an equivalent energy meal replacement product can reduce the sense of hunger and improve the implementation capability by adjusting nutrition composition and ratio. Methods This study was a parallel randomized control design. A total of 100 participants were included, and they were randomly divided into meal replacement (MR) group and ordinary diet (OD) group according to the random number table method for a total of 12-week observation. At baseline, height, body weight (BW), grip strength (GS), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), laboratory-related indicators, and body composition (BC) were measured. Follow-up was performed at week 4, 8, and 12, and BW, GS, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), BP, HR, BC, hunger, satiety, and dietary satisfaction scores were measured. Laboratory indicators were retested at week 12. Physical exercise was not forced during observation. Results After 12 weeks, the MR group lost 5.1 ± 3.31 kg, and the average weight loss rate was 6.6%. It was significant difference to the baseline (P &lt; 0.0001). The OD group lost 4.89 ± 4.5 kg, and the average weight loss rate was 6.1% (P &lt; 0.0001). There was no significant difference in weight loss between two groups (P = 0.114). The reduction in BMI between two groups was increased with the observation time, and the difference between two groups gradually increased, but the difference was not significant at week 12 (P = 0.668). Compared to the baseline, differences in visceral fat area and body fat ratio between my two groups were significant (P &lt; 0.0001). There were no significant differences in HR, BP, GS, WC, HC, blood lipid and blood glucose, hunger, satiety, and dietary satisfaction scores between the two groups at each follow-up. Conclusions The effect of 5 + 2 intermittent fasting mode on weight loss was significant without physical exercise. Safety and efficacy of weight loss in MR group were equivalent to OD group, but meal replacement was more convenient for those who could not prepare their own meals. Funding Sources None.

Effect of atherosclerosis and the protective effect of the antioxidant vitamin E on the rabbit cerebellum

Background Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular disease and one of the commonest causes of mortality in the world. Speech, balance, fine motor control and cognition are affected by atherosclerosis of cerebellar arteries. This study investigated the protective role of vitamin E against induced atherosclerosis in the rabbit cerebellum. Materials and methods Forty Rex New Zealand adult male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (10 rabbits each). Group I was designated as the control and received an ordinary diet. Group II received an ordinary diet, but with vitamin E (12 mg/kg/day) added. Group III were given an ordinary diet along with 1% cholesterol powder for 6 weeks. Finally, group IV received an ordinary diet with both 1% cholesterol powder and vitamin E (12 mg/kg/day). Cerebellum samples were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and examined using light microscopy, along with quantitative immunohistochemical assessments of the expression of caspase-3, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Results Cerebellum sections from cholesterol-treated rabbits showed ischaemic changes as fibre density decreased, with vacuolation of the molecular layer, and deformed and shrunken Purkinje cells. A significant increase in caspase-3, GFAP and iNOS immunoreactivity was found. However, vitamin E administration reduced these ischaemic manifestations. Conclusions The results demonstrate the neurological protective role of vitamin E therapy in atherosclerosis.

The Role of Zinc Sulfate in improving the blood proteins and immune response to Newcastle disease in broiler under heat stress

The study aimed to determine the effect of zinc sulfate supplementation in different levels on blood proteins and immune status in broilers, (120) broiler chicks one day old were used with (38) gr. Initial weight divided randomly into (5) treatment groups (24 chick/each) with 3 replicates (8 chick /each) . The dietary treatment groups were:T1: ordinary diet (control), T2: ordinary diet +30 mg/kg Zinc sulfate, T3: ordinary diet +45 mg/kg Zinc sulfate, T4: ordinary diet +60 mg/kg Zinc sulfate, T5: ordinary diet +75 mg/kg Zinc sulfate. The blood samples were collected at 5, 15, 25, 42 day of study for detecting the post albumin, γ_ globulin, and antibody titration for Newcastle disease in serum. The results showed that there were significant increase P≤0.05 in γ_ globulin and antibody titration for ND in the serum of T2, and T3 and with significant decrease P≤0.05 in post albumin compared with the rest treatments. Hence the study showed that the zinc sulfate is important for improving immune status and disease resistance in broiler under heat stress.