• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.690-699
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) on growth performance, immune status, organs weights, and microarchitecture of lymphoid organs and small intestine. Methods: A total of 120, 1-d-old broiler chicks were distributed into the following four treatment groups: corn-soy based basal diet (BD) without supplement (control), or the same BD supplemented with 0.1 g/kg zinc bacitracin (ZnB), 0.5 g/kg SB (SB-0.5), or 1.0 g/kg SB (SB-1), respectively. Six birds/group were killed on d-21 and d-35, and samples were collected. Results: Cell-mediated immune response at 48 h post-Phytohemagglutinin-P injection, and antibody titer against Newcastle disease vaccine and sheep red blood cells on d-35 was noted higher (p<0.05) in SB-1 compared to ZnB and control. Lower (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) was attained by the supplemented groups. Thymus and spleen weighed more (p<0.05) in SB-1, and bursa registered more (p<0.05) weight in both SB groups compared to control. On d-21, areas of thymus medulla and spleen germinal centers were noted higher (p<0.05) in SB-1 group. The villus height and villus surface area increased (p<0.05) in duodenum and jejunum in both SB groups on d-21, and in SB-1 on d-35, respectively compared to ZnB and control. On d-21, number of goblet cells containing mucins of acidic nature increased (p<0.05) in all the segments of small intestines in SB-1 group compared to control, and on d-35 in ileum compared to other groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, SB improved growth performance and immunity as well as modulated morphology of lymphoid organs and gut mucosa in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1120-1127
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• 2011

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 grown on citrus-juice waste and corn-soybean substrate on growth performance, nutrient retention, caecal microbial population and intestinal morphology in broilers. Three hundred twenty d-old Ross chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatments on the basis of BW in a randomized complete block design. Each treatment had 4 replicates of 20 chicks in each. Experimental diets were fed in 2 phases, starter (d 0 to 21) and finisher (d 21 to 35). Dietary treatments were; negative control (NC: basal diet without any antimicrobial), positive control (PC: basal diet added with 20 mg/kg Avilamycin), basal diet added with 0.30% Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 grown on corn-soybean substrate (P1), and basal diet added with 0.30% Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 grown on citrus-juice waste substrate (P2). Overall BW gain, feed intake and FCR were better (p<0.05) in PC, P1 and P2 treatments as compared to NC. Moreover, overall BW gain and FCR in PC and P2 treatments were greater than P1. Retention of CP, GE (d 21, d 35) and DM (d 35) were increased (p<0.05) in treatments PC, P1 and P2 compared with NC. At d 35, caecal Clostridium and Coliform counts were lower (p<0.05) in treatments PC, P1 and P2 than NC. Moreover, Clostridium and Coliform counts in treatment PC was lower (p<0.05) than P1. Villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in both duodenum and ileum were increased (p<0.05) in treatments PC, P1, P2 as compared to NC. However, retention of nutrients, caecal microbial population and intestinal morphology remained comparable among treatments P1 and P2. It is concluded that Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 inclusion at 0.30% level had beneficial effects on broilers' growth performance, nutrient retention, caecal microflora and intestinal morphology. Additionally, citrus-juice waste can be used as substrate for growth of probiotic Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1484-1489
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• 2013

The study was conducted to determine the effects of chitosan on the concentrations of GH and IGF-I in serum and small intestinal morphological structure of piglets, in order to evaluate the regulating action of chitosan on weaned pig growth through endocrine and intestinal morphological approaches. A total of 180 weaned pigs (35 d of age; $11.56{\pm}1.61kg$ of body weight) were selected and assigned randomly to 5 dietary treatments, including 1 basal diet (control) and 4 diets with chitosan supplementation (100, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg, respectively). Each treatment contained six replicate pens with six pigs per pen. The experiment lasted for 28 d. The results showed that the average body weight gain (BWG) of pigs was improved quadratically by dietary chitosan during the former 14 d and the later 14 d after weaned (p<0.05). Furthermore, dietary supplementation of chitosan tended to quadratically increase the concentration of serum GH on d 14 (p = 0.082) and 28 (p = 0.087). Diets supplemented with increasing levels of chitosan increased quadratically the villus height of jejunum and ileum on d 14 (p = 0.089, p<0.01) and 28 (p = 0.074, p<0.01), meanwhile, chitosan increased quadratically the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and ileum on d 14 (p<0.05, p = 0.055, p<0.01) and 28 (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01), however, it decreased quadratically crypt depth in ileum on d 14 (p<0.05) and that in duodenum, jejunum and ileum on d 28 (p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicated that chitosan could quadratically improve growth in weaned pigs, and the underlying mechanism may due to the increase of the serum GH concentration and improvement of the small intestines morphological structure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.216-224
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hot melt extrusion (HME) nano-iron as an alternative for the common ferrous sulfate on iron (Fe) bioavailability, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota of weanling pigs. A total of 200 piglets (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc) were randomly allotted to seven treatments on the basis of initial body weight (BW) and sex. Treatments were the INO100 (100 ppm Fe as $FeSO_4$), HME-Fe levels (50, 75, and 100 ppm nano-Fe as $FeSO_4$). ORG100 (100 ppm Fe as iron methionine). In phase 1, the HME50 pigs showed the lowest Fe content in feed and feces. Plasma Fe concentration was increased in HME100 and ORG100 pigs. In phase 2, there were significantly lower concentration of Fe in feed and feces of HME50 pigs (p < 0.01). A lower Fe concentration in the plasma and liver were observed in HME50 pigs compared with HME100 pigs. Concentration of red blood cell (RBC) was the lowest (p < 0.01) for HME50 pigs. During phase 2, the HME100, HME75, and ORG100 pigs showed a higher RBC and hemoglobin values compared with HME50 pigs. Digestibility of gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) were significantly higher in HME100 pigs compared with HME50 pigs. There was an increased (p < 0.01) villus height in the duodenum and jejunum of HME100 pigs compared with HME50 pigs. It is concluded that dietary Fe does not improve growth performance of weanling pigs; however, increasing the dietary iron concentration in weanling piglets increased the RBC and hemoglobin. In addition, the potential ability of HME to be used at a lower level (HME75) was observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1540-1547
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of tannins and cellulase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, intestinal morphology, and carcass characteristics in Hu sheep. Methods: A total of 48 three-month-old meat Hu sheep ($25.05{\pm}0.9kg$) were blocked based on body weight, and randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 3 replicates of 4 sheep each. The experiment lasted for 80 d, and dietary treatments were as follows: i) CON, control diet; ii) TAN, CON+0.1% tannins; iii) CEL, CON+0.1% cellulase; iv) TAN+CEL, CON+0.1% tannins and 0.1% cellulase. Results: Compared with CON, CEL, and TAN+CEL had greater (p<0.05) final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain but lower (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio, while FBW of TAN+CEL was lower (p<0.05) than that of CEL. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter in TAN, CEL, and TAN+CEL groups were higher (p<0.05) than that in CON. CEL and TAN+CEL groups had greater (p<0.05) ATTD of crude fiber compared with TAN and CON, while TAN group had lower (p<0.05) ATTD of crude protein than other treatments. TAN, CEL, and TAN+CEL groups increased (p<0.05) serum globulin and alkaline phosphatase but decreased (p<0.05) albumin/globulin. Serum total protein was greatest for TAN+CEL, intermediate for TAN and CEL and least for CON (p<0.05). TAN+CEL group increased (p<0.05) dressing percentage compared with CON, while the backfat thickness of CEL was lower (p<0.05) than that of CON. The villus height of jejunum and ileum in CEL and TAN+CEL groups were greater (p<0.05) than that in CON, and the crypt depth and villus height: crypt depth of jejunum were increased (p<0.05) in TAN, CEL, and TAN+CEL groups. Conclusion: The addition of tannins and cellulase together promoted nutrient digestion, liver protein synthesis and intestinal development and thus improved growth performance and carcass characteristics.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.434-442
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• 2021

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the influence of dietary flavonoids on the growth performance, blood and intestinal profiles, and carcass characteristics of broilers by employing a meta-analysis method. Methods: A database was built from published studies which have reported on the addition of various levels of flavonoids from herbs into broiler diets and then monitored growth performance, blood constituents, carcass proportion and small intestinal morphology. A total of 42 articles were integrated into the database. Several forms of flavonoids in herbs were applied in the form of unextracted and crude extracts. The database compiled was statistically analyzed using mixed model methodology. Different studies were considered as random effects, and the doses of flavonoids were treated as fixed effects. The model statistics used were the p-values and the Akaike information criterion. The significance of an effect was stated when its p-value was <0.05. Results: Dietary flavonoids increased (quadratic pattern; p<0.05) the average daily gain of broilers in the finisher phase. There was a reduction (p<0.01) in the feed conversion ratio of the broilers both in the starter (linear pattern) and finisher phases (quadratic pattern). The mortality rate tended to decrease linearly (p<0.1) with the addition of flavonoids, while the carcass parameter was generally not influenced. A reduction (p<0.001) in cholesterol and malondialdehyde concentrations (both linearly) was observed, while super oxide dismutase activity increased linearly (p<0.001). Increasing the dose of flavonoids increased (p<0.01) the villus height (VH) and villus height and crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio (p<0.05) in the duodenum. Similarly, the VH:CD ratio was elevated (p<0.001) in the jejunum following flavonoid supplementation. Conclusion: Increasing levels of flavonoids in broilers diet leads to an improvement in growth performance, blood constituents, carcass composition and small intestinal morphology.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1235-1249
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protection of glutamate (GLU) against the impairment in intestinal barrier function induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stress in weaned pigs. Methods: Twenty-four weaned pigs were divided into four treatments containing: i) non-challenged control, ii) LPS-challenged control, iii) LPS+1.0% GLU, and iv) LPS+2.0% GLU. On day 28, pigs were treated with LPS or saline. Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, and 4 h post-injection. After blood samples collection at 4 h, all pigs were slaughtered, and spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and intestinal samples were obtained. Results: Dietary GLU supplementation inhibited the LPS-induced oxidative stress in pigs, as demonstrated by reduced malondialdehyde level and increased glutathione level in jejunum. Diets supplemented with GLU enhanced villus height, villus height/crypt depth and claudin-1 expression, attenuated intestinal histology and ultrastructure impairment induced by LPS. Moreover, GLU supplementation reversed intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte number decrease and mast cell number increase induced by LPS stress. GLU reduced serum cortisol concentration at 4 h after LPS stress and downregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal corticotropin-releasing factor signal (corticotrophin-releasing factor [CRF], CRF receptor 1 [CRFR1], glucocorticoid receptor, tryptase, nerve growth factor, tyrosine kinase receptor A), and prevented mast cell activation. GLU upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal transforming growth factor β. Conclusion: These findings indicate that GLU attenuates LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier injury, which is associated with modulating CRF signaling pathway.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1711-1724
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• 2022

Objective: The present study was to evaluate the effects of different rapeseed meal substitution (RSM) and glutamine (Gln) supplementation on growth performance, intestine morphology, and intestinal mucosa barrier of broilers. Methods: Four hundred and twenty Qiandongnan Xiaoxiang Chicken at 1 day of age with similar weight were chosen and were randomly assigned into 7 groups, consisting of 10 replicates per group and 6 broilers per replicate. Three groups were provided with diets separately containing 0%, 10%, and 20% RSM, and the other four groups were fed with diets separately supplemented with 0.5% and 1% Gln based on the inclusion of 10% and 20% RSM. At 21 and 42 days of age, 10 broilers per group were chosen to collect plasma and intestinal samples for further analysis. Results: The results showed that 10% RSM decreased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily weight gain (ADG) of broilers at 21 days of age (p<0.05). Furthermore, both ADFI and ADG of broilers at 21 and 42 days of age were decreased by 20% RSM, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) was increased (p<0.05). Besides, 10% RSM resulted in lower intestinal villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth, deeper crypt depth (p<0.05), combined with the lower mRNA expressions of occludin, claudin-1, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in broilers at 21 days of age (p<0.05). Similar results were also observed in broilers at 21 and 42 days of age fed with 20% RSM. However, 1% Gln improved the growth performance of broilers fed with 10% and 20% RSM (p<0.05), ameliorated intestine morphology and elevated mRNA expressions of occludin, claudin-1 and ZO-1 (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the increasing inclusion of RSM resulted in more serious effects on broilers, however, 1.0% Gln could reverse the negative effects induced by the inclusion of RSM.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.902-915
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• 2022

Objective: Diet acidification supplementation is known to influence intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and on phosphorus (P) utilization of broilers. Alterations in intestinal barrier and microbiota have been associated with systemic inflammation and thus regulating bone turnover. Hence the effect of acidifier addition to drinking water on tibia mass and the linkages between intestinal integrity and bone were studied. Methods: One-d-old male broilers were randomly assigned to normal water (control) or continuous supply of acidified water (2% the blend of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid, lactic, and phosphoric acid) group with 5 replicates of 10 chicks per replicate for 42 d. Results: Acidification of drinking water improved the ash percentage and calcium content of tibia at 42 d. Broilers receiving acidified water had increased serum P concentration compared to control birds. The acidified group showed improved intestinal barrier, evidenced by increased wall thickness, villus height, the villus height to crypt depth ratio, and upregulated mucin-2 expression in ileum. Broilers receiving drinking water containing mixed organic acids had a higher proportion of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as a lower population of Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, the addition of acidifier to drinking water resulted in declined ileal and serum proinflammatory factors level and increased immunoglobulin concentrations in serum. Concerning bone remodeling, acidifier addition was linked to a decrease in serum C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase reflecting bone resorption, whereas it did not apparently change serum alkaline phosphatase activity that is a bone formation marker. Conclusion: Acidified drinking water increased tibia mineral deposition of broilers, which was probably linked with higher P utilization and decreased bone resorption through improved intestinal integrity and gut microbiota and through decreased systemic inflammation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.753-760
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of essential oil coated with glycerol monolaurate (GML) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, and serum profiles of weaned piglets. Methods: A total of 144 weaned piglets (Duroc×[Landrace×Yorkshire], average weight 8.07±3.33 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups with six replicate pens and eight piglets per pen: i) CON: a corn-soybean basal diet; ii) LEG: with 1,000 mg/kg essential oil coated with GML; and iii) HEG: with 2,000 mg/kg essential oil coated with GML. Results: Results showed that average daily gain was increased (p<0.05) linearly by essential oil coated with GML supplementation on day 14 to 28 and day 0 to 28 compared with the CON group. Dietary supplementation with HEG increased (p<0.05) total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity on day 14, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgM concentration on day 28 and tended to increase IgG on day 28. In addition, the crypt depth in the jejunum was reduced (p<0.05), and villus height and villus height/crypt depth in the ileum were increased (p<0.05) in the HEG group compared with the CON group. Moreover, lower (p<0.05) concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-8, and IL-10 were observed in the jejunum of piglets supplemented with HEG compared with the CON group. In addition, dietary HEG tended to decrease IL-6 level in the jejunum of piglets compared with the CON group. Conclusion: Dietary essential oil coated with GML can improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Moreover, supplementing 2,000 mg/kg essential oil coated with GML was demonstrated to improve antioxidant ability, and intestinal morphology, and reduce jejunal inflammatory factor levels.