Coenzyme Q10: Regulators of Mitochondria and beyond

The role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was relatively unknown except its involvement in the oxidative phosphorylation at electron transport chain. Recent researches revealed its association in conditions like maintenance of cardiac and pulmonary functions, regulation of cell proliferation to cancer prevention, etc. CoQ10, a potent lipophilic antioxidant, prevents the cellular biomolecules viz., DNA, RNA, lipid bilayers, etc. Endogenous de novo synthesis will be sufficient to maintain the daily body needs; however, synthesis showed age-dependent reduction. Commercial preparations are available for oral consumption; there are even food-grade preparations for cattle, swine and poultry. A major concern with oral intake of CoQ10 was bioavailability due to its lipophilic nature. CoQ10 has been recommended for patients under continuous statin therapy as these drugs inhibit the pathway of CoQ10 biosynthesis. The use of CoQ10 in various cardiac and tumor conditions indicates that its activity is not only due to its antioxidant activity but also due to its apoptosis property. Apart from human uses, CoQ10 is now used in food animals especially broilers as they were fed with high energy dense diet there will be leakage of electrons at electron transport chain level which adversely affects the bird’s performance and also used in treatment of ascites mortality

Rumen microbes: Exploring its potential for productivity and commercial use

Ruminant animals are known for their dairy and meat products worldwide. They are the best converters of poor quality fibrous feed ingredients, and presence of rumen, the anaerobic chamber that harbours vast category of microbes, is attributable to this phenomenon. The microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archaea and bacteriophages that work on synergistically for optimal performance of ruminant animals. These microbes help not only in digestion of fibrous materials, but also involved in various biological functions, such as probiotic activity, antimicrobial metabolite production, synthesis of health promoting bioactive fatty acid molecules, biomass conversion, etc. Earlier, the probiotic organisms used in food animals (calves, sheep, goat, swine and poultry) were mainly originated from dairy products but today organisms of autochthonous origin are being used, as they show better adaptability. Since, rumen do possess organisms with probiotic and fibre utilising activity, these organisms are now explored for their suitability as a probiotic and fibrolytic agent in monogastric food animals. Diversity of rumen microbes was not properly understood through the conventional culture methods, however with advancement in ‘Omic’ technologies, researchers could identify new class of organisms from the rumen and their potential use for the commercial and industrial purposes

Crop–livestock-integrated farming system: a strategy to achieve synergy between agricultural production, nutritional security, and environmental sustainability

IntroductionClimate change, nutritional security, land shrinkage, and an increasing human population are the most concerning factors in agriculture, which are further complicated by deteriorating soil health. Among several ways to address these issues, the most prominent and cost-effective means is to adopt an integrated farming system (IFS). Integrating farming systems with livestock enables a way to increase economic yield per unit area per unit of time for farmers in small and marginal categories. This system effectively utilizes the waste materials by recycling them via linking appropriate components, thereby minimizing the pollution caused to the environment. Further integrating livestock components with crops and the production of eggs, meat, and milk leads to nutritional security and stable farmer's income generation. So, there is a dire need to develop an eco-friendly, ecologically safe, and economically profitable IFS model.MethodsAn experiment was conducted to develop a crop–livestock-based integrated farming system model for the benefit of irrigated upland farmers in the semi-arid tropics for increasing productivity, farm income, employment generation, and food and nutritional security through efficient utilization of resources in the farming system.Results and discussionThe IFS model has components, viz., crop (0.85 ha) + horticulture (0.10 ha) + 2 cattles along with 2 calves in dairy (50 m2) + 12 female goats and 1 male goat (50 m2) + 150 numbers of poultry birds (50 m2) + vermicompost (50 m2) + kitchen garden (0.02 ha) + boundary planting + supporting activities (0.01 ha) in a one-hectare area. The model recorded a higher total MEY (162.31 t), gross return (689,773), net return (317,765), and employment generation (475 mandays). Further negative emissions of −15,118 CO2-e (kg) greenhouse gases were recorded under this model. The study conclusively reveals that integration of crop, horticulture, dairy, goat, poultry, vermicompost production, kitchen garden, and boundary planting models increases the net returns, B:C ratio, employment generation, nutritional security, and livelihoods of small and marginal farmers

Transportation stress: Impact on behaviour and welfare in meat-type chickens under indian scenario

In order to find standard transport time and its effect on the welfare, 480 marketable commercial broiler chickens (CARIBRO VISHAL; avg. 2.0 kg body weight) were transported for 2, 4, 8h and without transport in crates in three replicates in a completely randomized design. Transport affected welfare as well as behaviour of broiler chickens. Transport stretch impacted the gait score and tonic immobility with maximum aggravation with extended duration. Runaway results shown that 8h group exhibited more run-away time (279.20sec). Number of birds affected by physical injuries increases with the duration. Bodyweight change was significant among transported groups, especially 8h travelled group exhibited more (−8.21%) body weight loss. It is concluded that a transport period of more than 4h in Indian conditions is not recommended as its causing a significant level of stress in the birds leading to stress, production loss and hampering welfare of broilers

Seasonal variations on semen quality attributes in turkey and egg type chicken male breeders

A biological experiment was carried out in twenty-four adult healthy breeder males each in turkey (Beltsville small white) and egg type chicken (White Leghorn Babcock) in order to assess the seasonal influence on semen production and quality. The birds were maintained in individual cages under uniform husbandry conditions throughout the year. The birds were fed with breeder ration and water ad libitum was offered with a constant photoperiod of 14 h/day. Physical and biochemical characteristics of semen, serum hormones (testosterone and thyroxine), and antioxidant activity (catalase and lipid peroxidation) were evaluated throughout the year (January-December). Based on the THI calculations, the observations were classified under three different seasons, namely, winter (November-February), spring (March, April, and October), and summer (May-September). Semen physical parameters, sperm concentration, motility, live sperm percentage, and sperm plasma membrane integrity were superior during the winter season. In seminal plasma, biochemical parameters (phosphorus, ALT, ALP, AST, and uric acid) had a significant (P \u3c 0.05) difference between seasons. There was a significant difference (P \u3c 0.05) among serum hormones (testosterone and thyroxine) that were higher during the winter season. Significant variation was observed in catalase and lipid peroxidation antioxidant enzyme activities (seminal and blood plasma) in winter than in the other two seasons. Both the turkey and egg type chicken breeders exhibited superior seminal characteristics, sex hormone profile, and antioxidant enzyme activity during winter seasons

Use of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Herb as a Feed Additive in Poultry: Current Knowledge and Prospects

Supplementation of livestock and poultry diets with herbal plants containing bioactive components have shown promising reports as natural feed supplements. These additives are able to promote growth performance and improve feed efficiency, nutrient digestion, antioxidant status, immunological indices, and poultry health. Several studies have used complex herbal formulas with the partial inclusion of licorice. However, the individual use of licorice has been rarely reported. The major problem of the poultry industry is the epidemiological diseases, mainly confined to the respiratory, digestive, and immune systems. Licorice has certain bioactive components such as flavonoids and glycyrrhizin. The roots of this herb contain 1 to 9% glycyrrhizin, which has many pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antiviral, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice extracts (LE) have a positive effect on the treatment of high-prevalence diseases such as the immune system, liver, and lung diseases. Studies showed that adding LE to drinking water (0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 g/L) reduced serum total cholesterol (p < 0.05) of broiler chickens. Moreover, LE supplementation in poultry diets plays a significant role in their productive performance by enhancing organ development and stimulating digestion and appetite. Along with its growth-promoting effects, licorice has detoxifying, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other health benefits in poultry. This review describes the beneficial applications and recent aspects of the Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) herb, including its chemical composition and role in safeguarding poultry health