animal nutrition

Thermophilic endo-chitinases are essential for production of highly polymerized chitooligosaccharides, which are advantageous for plant immunity, animal nutrition and health. However, thermophilic endo-chitinases are scarce and the transformation from exo- to endo-activity of chitinases is still a challenging problem. In this study, to enhance the endo-activity of the thermophilic chitinase Chi304, we proposed two approaches for rational design based on comprehensive structural and evolutionary analyses. Four effective single-point mutants were identified among 28 designed mutations...

INTRODUCTION: Amidst the challenging environmental conditions characterized by low oxygen levels and cold temperatures on the plateau, alterations in nutrient supply emerge as pivotal factors influencing the survival and reproduction of yaks. Intensive feeding stands out as a substantial mechanism for nutrient provision, initiating discernible changes in the host's rumen flora. Within the extreme natural conditions prevailing in the plateau area of northwest Yunnan, China, there exists a con-strained comprehension of the variations in rumen microflora, fermentation parameters, and growth responses exhibited by yaks subjected to intensive feeding...

There has been increasing recognition of gender-based inequity as a barrier to successful policy implementation. This consensus, coupled with an increasing frequency of emergencies in human and animal populations, including infectious disease events, has prompted policy makers to re-evaluate gender-sensitivity in emergency management planning. Seeking to identify key publications relating to gendered impacts and considerations across diverse stakeholders in different types of animal health emergencies, we conducted a non-exhaustive, targeted scoping review...

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to animal and human health, as well as food security and nutrition. Development of AMR is accelerated by over- and misuse of antimicrobials as seen in many livestock systems, including poultry production. In Vietnam, high AMR levels have been reported previously within poultry production, a sector which is dominated by small-scale farming, even though it is intensifying. This study focuses on understanding small- and medium-scale chicken farmers' knowledge and practices related to AMR by applying an item response theory (IRT) approach, which has several advantages over simpler statistical methods...

Selenium is an important and essential trace element in organisms, but its effects on organisms are also a "double-edged sword". Selenium deficiency or excess can endanger the health of humans and animals. In order to thoroughly understand the nutritional value and toxicity hazards of selenium, researchers have conducted many studies on the model animal zebrafish. However, there is a lack of induction and summary of relevant research on which selenium acts on zebrafish. This paper provides a review of the reported studies...

Feed utilization efficiency is an important trait in dairy production playing a significant role in reducing feed costs and lowering methane emission. One of the metrics used to measure feed efficiency in dairy cows is residual feed intake (RFI). This metric requires routine measurement of feed intake. Since there is a positive high correlation between heat production and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) production on the one hand and heat production and efficiency on the other hand, residual carbon dioxide (RCO2 ) might be a useful metric to improve feed efficiency...

PURPOSE: Pro-vegetarian (PVG) dietary patterns have shown health benefits, although the evidence concerning their association with mortality is scarce, particularly in older populations. We investigated the effect of three defined PVG patterns on all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality risk in an older Mediterranean population. METHODS: We analysed baseline data from 597 adults aged 65 and older who participated in a population-based cross-sectional study, and mortality during a 12-year period...

PURPOSE: It has been proposed that a higher habitual protein intake may increase cancer risk, possibly via upregulated insulin-like growth factor signalling. Since a systematic evaluation of human studies on protein intake and cancer risk based on a standardised assessment of systematic reviews (SRs) is lacking, we carried out an umbrella review of SRs on protein intake in relation to risks of different types of cancer. METHODS: Following a pre-specified protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42018082395), we retrieved SRs on protein intake and cancer risk published before January 22th 2024, and assessed the methodological quality and outcome-specific certainty of the evidence using a modified version of AMSTAR 2 and NutriGrade, respectively...

The gut microbiome is a key partner of animals, influencing various aspects of their physiology and behaviors. Among the diverse behaviors regulated by the gut microbiome, locomotion is vital for survival and reproduction, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we reveal that the gut microbiome modulates the locomotor behavior of Drosophila larvae via a specific neuronal type in the brain. The crawling speed of germ-free (GF) larvae was significantly reduced compared to the conventionally reared larvae, while feeding and excretion behaviors were unaffected...

Global warming threatens livestock production, especially in hot climates. This study evaluated the dose-dependent impacts of dietary curcumin nano-micelles (CNM) on rumen fermentation, nitrogen metabolism, and nutrient digestibility in heat-stressed fattening lambs. Thirty-two crossbred male lambs [ˆIle-de-France × (Dalagh × Romanov)] were utilized within the current study. The initial weight of lambs was documented as averaged by 31.2 ± 1.55 kg, while they were in their 4th to 5th months of age...

The global demand for white chicken meat along with the increase in the occurrence of growth-related breast muscle myopathies (BMMs) [namely white striping (WS), wooden breast (WB), and spaghetti meat (SM)] highlights the need for solutions that will improve meat quality while maintaining the high productivity of modern broilers. Guanidinoacetate (GAA), a precursor of creatine, is used as a feed additive and has previously shown the potential to affect the quality of breast meat. This study investigated growth performance, meat quality and the risk ratio for the development of BMMs in broilers assigned to two dietary treatments: control (CON) group, fed a commercial basal diet, and supplemented GAA (sGAA) group, receiving the control diet supplemented on top with 0...

With a history tracing back to at least the 18th century and a substantial global influence on various breeds, Polish Arabian horse population is of paramount importance for both breeders and conservationists. However, its genetic makeup and the population dynamics are still not well understood. This study presents an analysis of the modern Polish Arabian horse population using pedigree data, focusing on the breed's genetic diversity and population structure. Our analysis encompassed 1 498 individuals defined as the reference population (RP) and their 11 065 ancestors, which resulted in the dataset of 12 254 individuals (total population)...

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a common animal model in ageing research. Large populations of flies are used to study the impact of genetic, nutritional and pharmacological interventions on survival. However, the processes through which flies die and their relative prevalence in Drosophila populations are still comparatively unknown. Understanding the causes of death in an animal model is essential to dissect the lifespan-extending interventions that are organism- or disease-specific from those broadly applicable to ageing...

Interest in dairy cow health continues to grow as we better understand health's relationship with production potential and animal welfare. Over the past decade, efforts have been made to incorporate health traits into national genetic evaluations. However, they have focused on the mature cow, with calf health largely being neglected. Diarrhoea and respiratory disease comprise the main illnesses with regard to calf health. Conventional methods to control calf disease involve early separation of calves from the dam and housing calves individually...

BACKGROUND: The mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane membranes (MAM), is the central hub for endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria functional communicate. It plays a crucial role in hepatic lipid homeostasis. However, even though MAM has been acknowledged to be enriched in enzymes that contribute to lipid biosynthesis, no study has yet investigated the exact role of MAM on hepatic neutral lipid synthesis. OBJECTIVES: To address these gaps, this study investigated the systemic control mechanisms for MAM in neutral lipids synthesis by recruiting Seipin, focusing on the role of the Ip3r-Grp75-Vdac complex and their relevant Ca2+ signaling in this process...

Methionine (Met) supplementation is common practice in broilers to support nutrition, yet there are gaps in the understanding of its role in systemic physiology. Furthermore, several different Met sources are available that may have different physiological effects. This study evaluated the mode of action of Met deficiency (no Met-supplementation) and supplementation (0.25% DL- or L-Met, 0.41% liquid methionine hydroxy analog-free acid (MHA-FA)), and of Met source (DL-, L- or MHA-FA) in broiler chickens, via host transcriptomics...

Animal welfare encompasses the overall well-being of an animal, spanning both its physical and mental health, assessable through potential measurements. It stands in contrast to mistreatment, which involves actions, direct or indirect, that endanger an animal's well-being. This study sought to appraise the factors influencing the Brazilian population's understanding of dog welfare and mistreatment. The survey questions were adapted from the Animal Welfare Examination Protocol, utilized by veterinarians to evaluate suspected passive abuse cases in dogs...

In infants and children with feeding and swallowing issues, modifying solid foods to form a liquid or puree is used to ensure adequate growth and nutrition. However, the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of prolonged use of this intervention during critical periods of postnatal oral skill development have not been systematically examined, although substantial anecdotal evidence suggests that it negatively impacts downstream feeding motor and coordination skills, possibly due to immature sensorimotor development...

In insects and other animals, nutrition-mediated behaviors are modulated by communication between the brain and peripheral systems, a process that relies heavily on the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway (IIS). Previous studies have focused on the mechanistic and physiological functions of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in critical developmental and adult milestones like pupation or vitellogenesis. Less work has detailed the mechanisms connecting ILPs to adult nutrient-mediated behaviors related to survival and reproductive success...

PURPOSE: Previous studies suggest an association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the diverse stages of CKD and the cognitive performance of elderly American adults. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 were used. Multivariate adjusted logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and the restricted cubic spline model were used to assess the associations of CKD stage and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cognitive performance...