Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Feeding on the Growth Performance and Meat Fatty Acid Profiles in Broiler: Meta-analysis

The effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) feeding on growth performance and fatty acid profiles in thigh meat of broiler chicken was investigated using meta-analysis with a total of 9 studies. Overall effects were calculated by standardized mean differences between treatment (CLA fed) and control using Hedges’s adjusted g from fixed and random effect models. Meta-regression was conducted to evaluate the effect of CLA levels. Subgroups in the same study were designated according to used levels of CLA, CP levels or substituted oils in diets. The effects on final body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were investigated as growth parameters. Total saturated and unsaturated fatty acid concentrations and C16:0, C18:0, C18:2 and C18:3 concentrations in thigh meat of broiler chicken were used as fatty acid profile parameters. The overall effect of CLA feeding on final weight was negative and it was only significant in fixed effect model (p<0.01). Significantly lower weight gain, feed intake and higher feed conversion ratio compared to control were found (p<0.05). CLA feeding on the overall increased total saturated fatty acid concentration in broilers compared to the control diet (p<0.01). Total unsaturated fatty acid concentration was significantly decreased by CLA feeding (p<0.01). As for individual fatty acid profiles, C16:0, C18:0 and C18:3 were increased and C18:2 was significantly decreased by CLA feeding (p<0.01). In conclusion, CLA was proved not to be beneficial for improving growth performance, whereas it might be supposed that CLA is effective modulating n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio in thigh meat. However, the economical compensation of the loss from suppressed growth performance and increased saturated fatty acids with the benefit from enhanced n-6/n-3 ratio should be investigated in further studies in order to propose an appropriate use of dietary CLA in the broiler industry

Effectiveness of Chitosan as a Dietary Supplement in Lowering Cholesterol in Murine Models: A Meta-Analysis

This study presents a meta-analysis of studies that investigate the effectiveness of chitosan administration on lifestyle-related disease in murine models. A total of 34 published studies were used to evaluate the effect of chitosan supplementation. The effect sizes for various items after chitosan administration were evaluated using the standardized mean difference. Using Cochran&rsquo;s Q test, the heterogeneity of effect sizes was assessed, after which a meta-ANOVA and -regression test was conducted to explain the heterogeneity of effect sizes using the mixed-effect model. Publication bias was performed using Egger&rsquo;s linear regression test. Among the items evaluated, blood triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol showed the highest heterogeneity, respectively. Other than blood HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride in feces, most items evaluated showed a negative effect size with high significance in the fixed- and random-effect model (p &lt; 0.0001). In the meta-ANOVA and -regression test, administering chitosan and resistant starch was revealed to be most effective in lowering body weight. In addition, chitosan supplementation proved to be an effective solution for serum TNF-&alpha; inhibition. In conclusion, chitosan has been shown to be somewhat useful in improving symptoms of lifestyle-related disease. Although there are some limitations in the results of this meta-analysis due to the limited number of animal experiments conducted, chitosan administration nevertheless shows promise in reducing the risk of cholesterol related metabolic disorder

Effectiveness of Chitosan as a Dietary Supplement in Lowering Cholesterol in Murine Models: A Meta-Analysis

This study presents a meta-analysis of studies that investigate the effectiveness of chitosan administration on lifestyle-related disease in murine models. A total of 34 published studies were used to evaluate the effect of chitosan supplementation. The effect sizes for various items after chitosan administration were evaluated using the standardized mean difference. Using Cochran’s Q test, the heterogeneity of effect sizes was assessed, after which a meta-ANOVA and -regression test was conducted to explain the heterogeneity of effect sizes using the mixed-effect model. Publication bias was performed using Egger’s linear regression test. Among the items evaluated, blood triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol showed the highest heterogeneity, respectively. Other than blood HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride in feces, most items evaluated showed a negative effect size with high significance in the fixed- and random-effect model (p &lt; 0.0001). In the meta-ANOVA and -regression test, administering chitosan and resistant starch was revealed to be most effective in lowering body weight. In addition, chitosan supplementation proved to be an effective solution for serum TNF-α inhibition. In conclusion, chitosan has been shown to be somewhat useful in improving symptoms of lifestyle-related disease. Although there are some limitations in the results of this meta-analysis due to the limited number of animal experiments conducted, chitosan administration nevertheless shows promise in reducing the risk of cholesterol related metabolic disorder.</jats:p

Development of prediction model for body weight and energy balance indicators from milk traits in lactating dairy cows based on deep neural networks

To develop a body weight (BW) prediction model using milk production traits and present a useful indicator for energy balance (EB) evaluation in dairy cows. Data were collected from 30 Holstein cows using an automatic milking system. BW prediction models were developed using multiple linear regression (MLR), local regression (LOESS), and deep neural networks (DNN). Milk production traits readily available on commercial dairy farms, such as energy-corrected milk (ECM), fat-to-protein ratio, days in milk (DIM), and parity, were used as input variables for BW prediction. The EB was evaluated as the difference between energy intake and energy demand. The DNN model showed the greatest predictive accuracy for BW compared with the LOESS and MLR models. The BW predicted using the DNN model was used to calculate the energy demand. Our results revealed that the day on which the EB status transitioned from negative to positive differed among cows. The cows were assigned to one of the three EB index groups. EB index 1 indicated that the day of EB transition was within DIM ≤ 70. The EB indexes 2 and 3 were 70 < DIM ≤ 140 and 140 < DIM ≤ 305, respectively. EB index 3 had the lowest EB, which is the slowest to transition from a negative to a positive energy balance compared with EB indexes 1 and 2. The highest ECM and feed efficiency were observed for EB index 3. The calving interval was the shortest for EB index 1. EB of individual cows during lactation can be estimated and monitored with moderately high accuracy using EB indexes

Optimization of Chinese Chive Juice as a Functional Feed Additive

Allium tuberosum, commonly known as the Chinese chive (CC) is often used as a traditional medicine in East Asia for its health benefits. To explore the potential of CC as a functional feed additive, antibacterial and antioxidant assays, untargeted metabolomics, and a 2 &times; 3 &times; 3 fractional factorial design (FFD) were conducted. In the present study, CC displayed stable DPPH radical scavenging activity with constant total phenolic content, however, the total flavonoid contents and the antibacterial activities were attenuated following heat treatment. The FFD results identified the solid content (SBM) as the main determinant of the antibacterial activity and moisture content of the CC products along with two other factors: drying time and temperature. Two CC products manufactured with 30% (w/v) SBM with 3 h drying at 80 &deg;C and 20% (w/v) SBM with 8 h drying at 60 &deg;C obtained the maximum antibacterial activity and least moisture content (&lt;5%). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry based multivariate analysis revealed 14 changed compounds in the non-heated and heated CC including flavonols, sinapinic acid, and lysophospholipids, which might affect the functionality. In conclusion, we propose an empirical approach to the pre-processing of CC juice that is suitable for blending in feed and simultaneously retaining its bioactivities

Effect of Encapsulating Nitrate in Sesame Gum on Rumen Fermentation Parameters

Encapsulation is a method used to protect material from certain undesirable environments, for controlled release at a more favorable time and place. Animal productivity would be enhanced if feed additives are delivered to be utilized at their site of action, bypassing the rumen where they are likely to be degraded by microbial action. A novel method of encapsulation with sesame gum was used to coat nitrate, a known enteric methane mitigating agent, and tested for the effect on methane reduction and other in vitro fermentation parameters using rumen fluid from cannulated Hanwoo steers. Orchard grass was used as basal diet for fermentation. The treatments were matrix (1.1 g sesame gum+0.4 g sesame oil cake) only, encapsulated nitrate (matrix+nitrate [21 mM]), free nitrate (21 mM), and a control that contained no additive. Analyses of fermentation parameters were done at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h time periods. In comparison to control, both free and encapsulated nitrate produced significantly reduced (p<0.01) methane (76% less) and also the total volatile fatty acids were reduced. A significantly higher (p<0.01) concentration of ammonia nitrogen was obtained with the encapsulated nitrate treatment (44%) compared to the free form (28%) and matrix only (20%) (p = 0.014). This might suggest slow release of encapsulated nitrate so that it is fully reduced to ammonia. Thus, this pioneering study found a significant reduction in methane production following the use of sesame gum encapsulated nitrate that shows the potential of a controlled release system in enhancing sustainability of ruminant production while reducing/eliminating the risk of nitrite toxicity