Assessing Tennessee Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Food Protection

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Recent Advances in Probiotic Application in Animal Health and Nutrition: A Review

Biotechnological advances in animal health and nutrition continue to play a significant role in the improvement of animal health, growth, and production performance. These biotechnological advancements, especially the use of direct-fed microbials, also termed probiotics, those genetically modified and otherwise, have minimized many challenges facing livestock production around the world. Such advancements result in healthy animals and animal products, such as meat, for a growing population worldwide. Increasing demand for productivity, healthy animals, and consumer food safety concerns, especially those emanating from excessive use of antibiotics or growth promoters, are a driving force for investing in safer alternatives, such as probiotics. The advent of vastly diverse pathogens and bacterial organisms, some of which have acquired antimicrobial resistance due to therapeutic use of these antibiotics, has had a negative impact on the animal and food industries. Probiotics have been chosen as substitutes to counter this excessive use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Over the last decade, probiotics have gained recognition, increased in importance, and stimulated growing interest in the animal health and nutrition industry. Probiotics are considered to be favorable live microorganisms by the host organism by maintaining microbial homeostasis and healthy gut, and can be a viable alternative to antibiotics in addition to providing other growth-promoting properties. Even though various studies describe the modes of action of probiotics, more research is needed to illuminate the exact mechanism of action of probiotics and how they benefit the host. This review describes the importance of probiotics in animal health, nutrition, and in growth and production performance. It also provides a thorough review of recent advances in probiotics research and application in animal health and nutrition and future directions on probiotic research to enhance animal performance

Recent Advances in Probiotic Application in Animal Health and Nutrition: A Review

Biotechnological advances in animal health and nutrition continue to play a significant role in the improvement of animal health, growth, and production performance. These biotechnological advancements, especially the use of direct-fed microbials, also termed probiotics, those genetically modified and otherwise, have minimized many challenges facing livestock production around the world. Such advancements result in healthy animals and animal products, such as meat, for a growing population worldwide. Increasing demand for productivity, healthy animals, and consumer food safety concerns, especially those emanating from excessive use of antibiotics or growth promoters, are a driving force for investing in safer alternatives, such as probiotics. The advent of vastly diverse pathogens and bacterial organisms, some of which have acquired antimicrobial resistance due to therapeutic use of these antibiotics, has had a negative impact on the animal and food industries. Probiotics have been chosen as substitutes to counter this excessive use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Over the last decade, probiotics have gained recognition, increased in importance, and stimulated growing interest in the animal health and nutrition industry. Probiotics are considered to be favorable live microorganisms by the host organism by maintaining microbial homeostasis and healthy gut, and can be a viable alternative to antibiotics in addition to providing other growth-promoting properties. Even though various studies describe the modes of action of probiotics, more research is needed to illuminate the exact mechanism of action of probiotics and how they benefit the host. This review describes the importance of probiotics in animal health, nutrition, and in growth and production performance. It also provides a thorough review of recent advances in probiotics research and application in animal health and nutrition and future directions on probiotic research to enhance animal performance

A Review on Effects of Aloe Vera as a Feed Additive in Broiler Chicken Diets

Prohibition of application of antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken diets has resulted in increased use of herbs as natural additives in broiler feeds over the recent years. Researchers particularly look for herbs that can affect such parameters as growth performance, immune response, or treatment of certain diseases. Aloe vera is a well-known herb characterized by properties such as anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, wound-healing, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic effects. During the past years, attention has shifted toward Aloe vera as a natural additive to broiler diets, and studies have shown that Aloe vera can improve immune response and growth performance in broilers. In addition, Aloe vera is an excellent alternative for antibiotic growth promoters and anticoccidial drugs. Since Aloe vera can be used for broilers in the form of gel, powder, ethanolic extract, aqueous extract, and a polysaccharide contained in Aloe vera gel (i.e. acemannan), more studies are required to determine the best form and to compare Aloe vera with other medicinal herbs. This paper reviews effects of Aloe vera on intestinal microflora, growth performance, immune response, and coccidiosis in broiler chickens

Recent Advances in the Application of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing System in Poultry Species

CRISPR/Cas9 system genome editing is revolutionizing genetics research in a wide spectrum of animal models in the genetic era. Among these animals, is the poultry species. CRISPR technology is the newest and most advanced gene-editing tool that allows researchers to modify and alter gene functions for transcriptional regulation, gene targeting, epigenetic modification, gene therapy, and drug delivery in the animal genome. The applicability of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in gene editing and modification of genomes in the avian species is still emerging. Up to date, substantial progress in using CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been made in only two poultry species (chicken and quail), with chicken taking the lead. There have been major recent advances in the modification of the avian genome through their germ cell lineages. In the poultry industry, breeders and producers can utilize CRISPR-mediated approaches to enhance the many required genetic variations towards the poultry population that are absent in a given poultry flock. Thus, CRISPR allows the benefit of accessing genetic characteristics that cannot otherwise be used for poultry production. Therefore CRISPR/Cas9 becomes a very powerful and robust tool for editing genes that allow for the introduction or regulation of genetic information in poultry genomes. However, the CRISPR/Cas9 technology has several limitations that need to be addressed to enhance its use in the poultry industry. This review evaluates and provides a summary of recent advances in applying CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology in poultry research and explores its potential use in advancing poultry breeding and production with a major focus on chicken and quail. This could aid future advancements in the use of CRISPR technology to improve poultry production

Effect of floor density on growth performance of Pearl Grey guinea fowl replacement pullets

Little is known of the optimal floor density for the Pearl Grey (PG) guinea fowl pullet. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying floor density on the growth performance of PG guinea fowl pullets. In 3 replicates, 1-d-old guinea keets (n = 786) were weighed individually and randomly assigned to floor pens covered with pine wood shavings at 80, 69, 60, and 53 birds/pen, equivalent to densities of 18, 15.6, 13.6, and 12 birds/m2, respectively. The birds were allowed feeder space of 2.3, 2.7, 3.1, and 3.5 cm/bird, respectively, and water space of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 cm/bird, respectively. The photoperiod was 23 h at 0 to 11 wk of age (WOA) and 8 h at 12 to 16 WOA. Birds were fed diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 0 to 4 and 5 to 8 WOA, respectively, and 24% CP. At 9 to 16 WOA, the diets comprised 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and 18% CP. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Overall, BW gains were higher (P \u3c 0.05) and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were significantly lower in birds reared at a floor density of 18 birds/m2 than in birds reared on other treatments at 0 to 8 WOA. However, at 9 to 16 WOA, birds at floor densities of 12 birds/m2 exhibited higher BW gain and feed consumption and lower FCR (P \u3c 0.05) than those at floor densities of 13.6, 15.6, and 18 birds/m2. Therefore, this study suggests an optimum floor density of 18 and 12 birds/m2 at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively, to achieve the highest possible FCR for the PG guinea fowl replacement pullets

Effect of a direct-fed microbial on performance of single comb white leghorn chickens

Six experiments were carried out with Single Comb White Leghorn laying chickens to assess the effect of feeding a source of direct-fed microbials (Lactobacillus; Lacto) and its carrier [condensed cane molasses solubles (CCMS)] on the retentions of fat, nitrogen and several minerals; on the status of the pH of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; on the phytase activities in the Lacto and in the crop and in the intestinal contents and intestinal, pancreatic and liver tissues; on the histological and anatomical changes of the GI tract and on the production performance. Feeding 1,100 mg Lacto/kg diet (ppm) and 2,200 ppm Lacto in corn-soya bean meal (C-S) diets to layers stimulated appetite, improved egg production (in Experiment 1 only), egg mass, egg weight, egg size, internal egg quality and fat, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus retentions (P < .05). Production performances were not different between the layers fed the 1,100 ppm diet and those fed the 2,200 ppm Lacto diet. Supplementing Lacto diets with 1 and 3% fat reduced feed consumption, provided better feed conversion, egg production, egg masses, egg size, body weight gains, and nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus retentions. Feeding 1,100 ppm Lacto barley-corn-soya bean (B-C-S) layer diets improved body weight gains and the retentions of fat, phosphorus and manganese and increased the rate of passage of digesta (P < .05). Feeding Lacto C-S and Lacto B-C-S layer diets increased cellularity of Peyer's patches in the ileums of the layers which may stimulate the mucosal immune system. No changes in length and weight of the intestine were observed. Daily feed consumption and body weight gains were improved when pullets were fed 1,100 ppm Lacto from 7 to 19 wk of age (WOA). When these pullets were continued on the Lacto feed during the laying period (20 to 59 WOA), increased feed consumption, egg size, nitrogen and calcium retentions, increased cellularity of Peyer's patches, decreased length and weight of intestine were observed (P < .05). Presence of phytase activity was higher in condensed cane molasses solubles (CCMS)- Lactobacillus premix than the carrier (CCMS). Feeding the CCMS-Lacto diets to layers decreased the pH of the GI tract, increased phytase activities in the GI tract and intestinal tissues and improved shell thickness and phosphorus retention (P < .05). The production performance of layers fed .45% and .25% available phosphorus (AP) diets were not different except for body weight gain. Phosphorus retention was better for layers fed diets containing .25% AP with CCMS-Lacto than the .45% AP control diet. According to these studies, feeding Lacto to pullets and layers improved their performance and the retention of nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen which subsequently reduced the cost of feeding

Evaluation of drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in retail poultry and beef

There has been increasing concern on the emergence of multidrug-resistant foodborne pathogens from foods of animal origin, including poultry. The current study aimed to evaluate antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from raw retail chicken/turkey parts (thigh, wings, breast, and ground) and beef meat (ground and chunks) in Middle Tennessee. Resistance of the collected Enterobacteriaceae to a panel of antibiotics was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. Retail meats were also assayed for the presence of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Two hundred thirty-seven samples representing 95.2% of the total of 249 samples tested were positive for Enterobacteriaceae. The level of contamination with Enterobacteriaceae in raw meats ranged from 3.26 log10 cfu/g to 4.94 log10 cfu/g with significant differences in counts among meat types (P \u3c 0.05). Contamination was significantly greater (P \u3c 0.05) in ground beef, beef chucks, ground chicken, chicken breast, and turkey wings (4.92, 4.58, 4.94, 4.75, 4.13 log10 cfu/g, respectively) than ground turkey and chicken wings (3.26 and 3.26 log10 cfu/g, respectively). Klebsiella oxytoca, Serratia spp., E. coli, and Haffnia alvei were most prevalent contaminants at 27.4, 14.3, 12.1, and 11.4%, respectively. Resistance of the Enterobacteriaceae to antimicrobials was most frequent with erythromycin, penicillin, and ampicillin at 100, 89, and 65.8%, respectively. Few (2.7%) of the Enterobacteriaceae were resistant to chloramphenicol. Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7, Morganella morganii, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Vibrio parahemolyticus exhibited multiple drug resistance. This investigation demonstrates that raw poultry and beef are potential reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae