Dietary Carob Pods on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Fattening Pigs

In this experiment the effect of dietary carob pods in the growth performance of fattening pigs and their meat quality, including steak chemical composition and fatty acid profile, were examined. A total of 160 weaning piglets, 30 days old, were allocated into four equal groups with 4 subgroups of 5 female and 5 males each. The animals were fed with isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, containing either 0 or 75 or 100 or 125 g of carob pods per kg of feed. At the end of the experiment, on the 180 day of age, carcass subcutaneous fat thickness, steak chemical composition and steak fatty acid profile were determined. The results of the experiment showed that the dietary addition of 75 or 100 g/kg carob pods increased body weight at slaughter and carcass weight. No significant effect was noticed on the other examined carcass parameters. Consequently, carob pods could be suggested as a potential feed for fattening pigs without any adverse effect on their meat quality

Evaluation of in-field efficacy of dietary ferric tyrosine on performance, intestinal health and meat quality of broiler chickens exposed to natural Campylobacter jejuni challenge

Campylobacter is an important pathogen commonly found in chickens that can cause severe acute gastroenteritis in humans. Despite intensive efforts to inhibit food-borne transmission of Campylobacter no effective strategy exists to reduce Campylobacter loads in farmed broilers. This study examined the capacity of a novel feed additive to lower Campylobacter jejuni populations and to improve growth efficiency of broiler chickens. A total of 384 male one-day-old broiler chicks were used in a 42-day trial. Birds were randomly allocated into four treatments with six replicates of sixteen chicks per pen. Three groups were fed the basal diets further supplemented with TYPLEX™ chelate (ferric tyrosine) at various concentrations (0.02, 0.05 and 0.20 g/kg, groups T2-T4, respectively). Control group (T1) was fed basal diets in mash form that did not contain added ferric tyrosine. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. At 20 days of age, broilers were exposed to natural C. jejuni challenge by introducing contaminated litter from a commercial farm. At day 25, pen litter samples analysed positive for C. jejuni, and the infection intensity was homogeneous among pens. At the end of the study C. jejuni counts in bird caeca were significantly reduced, by 2 log10 in the T4 group, compared to the T1 Control and T3 groups (p = 0.004). During this study, a natural infection with Eimeria tenella occurred at days 26-29. For animal welfare reasons all birds were treated with an anti-coccidial drug as recommended, for two consecutive days. At day 42, diarrhoea was observed on the litter in only 1 of 6 pens in the T4 group, but in 5 of 6 pens in the T1 Control group. In addition, autopsies showed that the T4 group had the highest percentage of birds with normal intestinal tracts. The T1 group had the lowest percentage of birds with infection-free tracts, and higher incidence of coccidiosis and bloody diarrhoea. At 42 days of age all birds were slaughtered and samples collected for further analysis. Birds in the T4 group tended to exhibit improved weight gain and feed efficiency, a result that warrants further investigation. Collectively, our data suggest that addition of ferric tyrosine at 0.20 g/kg exerts a protective effect against C. jejuni and coccidiosis

Study of the possibility of the combined use of acidifiers and mannan-oligosaccharides in the feed of reared quail

In order to investigate the possibility of the combined use of acidifiers and mannan-oligosaccharides in the feed of reared quail Coturnix japonica two experimentations were conducted. In the first experimentation, the combined use of acidifiers (calcium formate, calcium propionate) and mannan-oligosaccharides during the growing period was examined, to assess the impact of these substances, both individually and in combination, on the performance of quail and the quality of the carcass. Also, the effect of these substances on the function of the digestive tract and on some biochemical parameters of the blood was studied. In the second experimentation, the combined use of acidifiers (calcium formate, calcium propionate) and mannan-oligosaccharides during the laying period was examined, to assess the impact of these substances, both individually and in combination, on the performance of quail and the quality of the egg. The results of the two experiments showed that both the acidifiers calcium formate and calcium propionate and the mannan-oligosaccharides, individually and in combination, can be used in the nutrition of reared quail. The dietary supplementation of these substances can improve some aspects of the performance of quail, and certain carcass and egg characteristics. Moreover, a synergistic effect of the combined use of these substances was noticed. Finally, there were no adverse effects from use of these substances, individually or in combination.Με στόχο τη διερεύνηση της δυνατότητας συνδυασμένης χρήσης οξινοποιητών και μαννοζο-ολιγοσακχαριτών στη διατροφή των εκτρεφόμενων ορτυκιών Coturnix japonica διενεργήθηκαν δύο πειραματισμοί. Κατά τον πρώτο πειραματισμό μελετήθηκε η δυνατότητα συνδυασμένης χρήσης οξινοποιητών (μυρμηκικό ασβέστιο και προπιονικό ασβέστιο) και μαννοζο-ολιγοσακχαριτών κατά την περίοδο ανάπτυξης-πάχυνσης των εκτρεφόμενων ορτυκιών, με σκοπό την εκτίμηση της επίδρασης των ουσιών αυτών, τόσο ξεχωριστά, όσο και σε συνδυασμό, στις αποδόσεις των ορτυκιών, αλλά και στην ποιότητα του παραγόμενου σφαγίου. Παράλληλα, εξετάστηκε και η επίδραση των ουσιών αυτών στη λειτουργία του πεπτικού συστήματος των ορτυκιών, καθώς και σε ορισμένες βιοχημικές παραμέτρους του αίματος τους. Κατά το δεύτερο πειραματισμό μελετήθηκε η δυνατότητα συνδυασμένης χρήσης οξινοποιητών (μυρμηκικό ασβέστιο και προπιονικό ασβέστιο) και μαννοζο-ολιγοσακχαριτών κατά την περίοδο ωοτοκίας των εκτρεφόμενων ορτυκιών, με σκοπό την εκτίμηση της επίδρασης των ουσιών αυτών, τόσο ξεχωριστά, όσο και σε συνδυασμό, στις αποδόσεις των ορτυκιών, αλλά και στην ποιότητα των παραγόμενων αυγών. Από τους δύο πειραματισμούς προέκυψε το συμπέρασμα ότι τόσο οι οξινοποιητές μυρμηκικό ασβέστιο και προπιονικό ασβέστιο, όσο και οι μαννοζο-ολιγοσακχαρίτες, ξεχωριστά και σε συνδυασμό μεταξύ τους, είναι δυνατό να χρησιμοποιηθούν στη διατροφή των εκτρεφόμενων ορτυκιών. Η χρήση των ουσιών αυτών μπορεί να βελτιώσει ορισμένες παραμέτρους των αποδόσεων των ορτυκιών, αλλά και ορισμένα χαρακτηριστικά του σφαγίου και του αυγού τους. Επίσης, παρατηρήθηκε συνεργική δράση κατά τη συνδυασμένη χρήση των ουσιών αυτών. Τέλος, δεν παρατηρήθηκαν αρνητικές επιπτώσεις από τη χρήση των ουσιών αυτών, ξεχωριστά ή σε συνδυασμό μεταξύ τους

Aromatic Plants as a Source of Bioactive Compounds

Aromatic plants, also known as herbs and spices, have been used since antiquity as folk medicine and as preservatives in foods. The best known aromatic plants, such as oregano, rosemary, sage, anise, basil, etc., originate from the Mediterranean area. They contain many biologically active compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which have been found to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Currently, the demand for these plants and their derivatives has increased because they are natural, eco-friendly and generally recognized as safe products. Therefore, aromatic plants and their extracts have the potential to become new generation substances for human and animal nutrition and health. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature surrounding the in vivo and in vitro use of aromatic plants

Aromatic Plants as a Source of Bioactive Compounds

Aromatic plants, also known as herbs and spices, have been used since antiquity as folk medicine and as preservatives in foods. The best known aromatic plants, such as oregano, rosemary, sage, anise, basil, etc., originate from the Mediterranean area. They contain many biologically active compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which have been found to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Currently, the demand for these plants and their derivatives has increased because they are natural, eco-friendly and generally recognized as safe products. Therefore, aromatic plants and their extracts have the potential to become new generation substances for human and animal nutrition and health. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature surrounding the in vivo and in vitro use of aromatic plants

Microbiota “Fingerprint” of Greek Feta Cheese through Ripening

Feta is a Greek protected designation of origin (PDO) brined curd white cheese made from small ruminants’ milk. In the present research, Greek Feta cheese bacterial diversity was evaluated via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Analysis of 23 cheese samples, produced in different regions of the country, was performed in two ripening times (three or six months post-production). The identified microbiota were primarily constituted of lactic acid bacteria. A total of 13 different genera were obtained. The dominant species in both ripening times were Lactobacillus plantarum (100.0% and 87.0%, at three or six months post-production, respectively), Lactobacillus brevis (56.5% and 73.9%), Lactobacillus paracasei (56.5% and 39.1%), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (13.0% and 17.4%), Lactobacillus paraplantarum (4.3% and 26.1%), Lactobacillus curvatus (8.7% and 8.7%). Other species included Enterococcus faecalis (47.8% and 43.5%), Enterococcus faecium (34.8% and 17.4%), Enterococcus durans (13.0% and 17.4%), Enterococcus malodoratus (4.3% and 4.3%), and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (21.7% and 30.4%). The increased ripening time was found to be correlated to decreased total solids (r = 0.616; p = 0.002), protein (r = 0.683; p < 0.001), and PH (r = 0.780; p < 0.001). The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the core microbiota of Feta cheese

Growth performance, welfare traits and meat characteristics of broilers fed diets partly replaced with whole Tenebrio molitor larvae

The role of insects in animal nutrition has been reconsidered during recent years, paving the way for an increasing market for edible insects. Their protein and amino acid balance make them a promising source of protein for replacing high value proteins. Yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (TM; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae, have shown positive effects on broiler performance in several research studies and have a strong potential as a sustainable alternative protein source for monogastric animals. This study aimed to assess the effect of replacing various ratios of basal diets with T. molitor larvae on broiler performance as well as on several meat and welfare characteristics. For the study, 120 one-day-old male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated in 3 treatments and 4 replications (10 birds per pen). Birds of the control group (basal diet) were fed with typical commercial maize and soymeal-based rations in mash form. The other 2 groups were treated with the same diet, after replacing 5% and 10% with dried TM larvae, respectively. On d 35 (end of trial), meat samples were collected and analysed. Body weight, feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the periods of 1 to 10 d (starter period), 11 to 24 d (grower period), 25 to 35 d (finisher period) and 1 to 35 d (total period) were assessed. Pododermatitis, diarrhoea, feather score and litter conditions were also assessed during the trial. The results indicated that TM larvae inclusion in the broilers' diet positively affected body weight gain values, as well as the carcass yield, the meat composition and various welfare traits. Additionally, the dietary treatments with TM larvae favourably affected meat composition and colour parameters, whereas there were also some positive effects on lipid and protein oxidation. Saturated fatty acids were decreased by the dietary supplementation whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids to SFA ratio increased. In general, the study showed that whole TM larvae addition can provide a promising alternative to soybean meal in the diet of broilers, demonstrating a positive impact on growth, welfare and meat characteristics

Effects of Oregano, Attapulgite, Benzoic Acid and their Blend on Chicken Performance, Intestinal Microbiology and Intestinal Morphology

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of oregano, attapulgite, benzoic acid and their combination on broiler performance, microflora composition of jejunum and cecum, intestinal architecture and breast and thigh meat composition. A total of 400 one-day-old broiler chicks were used in a 42-day trial. They were randomly distributed into five treatments with four replicates of twenty chickens per pen: Control group; Attapulgite group; Oregano essential oil group; Benzoic acid group; Mixed group. At the end of the trial, total counts of bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacilli, and Clostridium perfringens were enumerated by real time PCR at both jejunum and cecum. Intestinal morphology was carried out in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, for villus height and crypt depth. Cell proliferation was also evaluated in the small intestine and the cecum. The results showed that oregano and benzoic acid improved some growth performance parameters. The combined use of the examined substances increased enterobacteria counts in the jejunum, and cell proliferation in the duodenum and the jejunum. Benzoic acid improved intestinal wall morphology in the ileum. In conclusion, the combined dietary supplementation with oregano, attapulgite and benzoic acid can be a novel tool to beneficially modulate broiler chickens performance