Intestinal health of broiler chickens fed red seaweed (Chondracanthus chamissoi) under dexamethasone-induced stress

Poultry Science · 2026-05-01

Functional feed additives such as seaweed are increasingly studied as alternatives to antibiotics to mitigate intestinal health challenges in poultry. In this study, Cobb500 broilers received in-feed dexamethasone (DEX) to induce stress and gut integrity impairment from day 14 to 21 post hatching. Seaweed (Chondracanthus chamissoi) was supplemented to evaluate its potential to mitigate DEX-induced changes in performance, intestinal permeability, and jejunal gene expression. In phase 1, a total of 384 broiler chicks were assigned to three dietary treatments (0%, 1%, or 2% seaweed) with 16 replicate cages of eight birds each from day 0 to 14. During phase 2, from d 14 to 21, 336 birds on the same diets from Phase 1 were reallocated to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with or without DEX challenge. Intestinal permeability was assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-D). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS, and factorial analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted for Phase 2. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts analysis was done to examine linear and quadratic trends associated with seaweed inclusion. Seaweed tended to linearly increase feed intake (P = 0.097) and improved the gain-to-feed ratio (P < 0.05) in phase 1. In phase 2, DEX increased (P < 0.0001) serum FITC-D concentration and reduced most of the physiological response variables. Seaweed tended to reduce serum FITC-D (P = 0.08), but did not influence intestinal morphology and growth performance variables. Seaweed reduced nutrient digestibility and elevated the mRNA expression of Zona occludens 1, Superoxide Dismutase 1, Glutathione Peroxidase-1 and glucose transporters. In conclusion, seaweed can potentially reduce oxidative stress in broiler chickens, but its effect is dose dependent.

188. Assessment of dietary Spirulina supplementation on growth, jejunal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal health-related genes in LPS-challenged weanling pigs

Animal - science proceedings · 2025-08-01

Dietary Spirulina inclusion in low-protein diets modulated the proportion of cecal propionic acid with a marginal effect on jejunal morphology in broiler chickens

Canadian Journal of Animal Science · 2025-12-11

This study assessed the effect of dietary Spirulina (SP) on the growth performance, cecal short-chain fatty acids, and the jejunal morphology of broiler chickens fed an adequate (195 g/kg) or low crude protein (LCP) diet (160 g/kg). Birds were fed a starter diet from day 1 to 8 post-hatching. Birds were assigned to four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two crude protein (CP) levels (195 or 160 g/kg CP) and two added SP levels (0 or 50 g/kg) from day 8 to 20 post-hatching. There were eight replicate cages per treatment with eight birds per cage. Dietary SP addition increased ( P &lt; 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio and ileal digestible energy in broilers, regardless of CP level. There was a tendency ( P = 0.091) for an SP × protein level interaction on the jejunal villus area of broiler chickens. Moreover, there was an SP × CP level interaction ( P &lt; 0.05) on the proportion of propionic acid in the cecal digesta of birds. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that an LCP diet with dietary SP inclusion altered cecal short-chain fatty acid proportion and marginally induced changes in jejunal morphology in broiler chickens.

Technical note: optimizing sample size for broiler chicken and pig intestinal histomorphometry and prediction equations

Journal of Animal Science · 2025-01-01 · 5 citations

Intestinal villi are subject to natural variation within the same sample, and there is no established standard for the number of unique measurements needed for reliable histomorphometry in broiler chickens and pigs. Furthermore, intestinal morphology assessment in monogastric animals typically focuses on villus height, crypt depth, and the villus height to crypt depth ratio. However, limited attention has been given to additional morphology indices, such as villus perimeter and area, largely due to the time and resources required for consistent estimates. Therefore, the objectives of this experiment were: 1) to estimate the minimum number of villi required to minimize the intra-sample coefficient of variation for each intestinal morphology index, and 2) to determine whether more complex metrics, such as villus perimeter and area, can be accurately predicted from linear measurements. A set of 1,283 intestinal morphology data points from 68 intestinal tissues of 4 animal experiments were used for the analysis in broiler chickens. For pigs, a set of 1,368 intestinal morphology data points was used from a single experiment involving 98 nursery-age animals. The NLIN, CORR, and REG procedures of SAS were used for broken-line analysis, correlation coefficients, and prediction equations, respectively. The analysis indicates that measurements from 11 villi per sample in broiler chickens and 10 villi per sample in pigs are necessary to minimize intra-sample variation. In jejunum and ileum, respectively, the villus height was highly correlated (P < 0.05) with villus perimeter (r = 0.95 and 0.87) and villus area (r = 0.77 and 0.63). Additionally, the coefficient of determination (R2) for predicting villus area in the jejunum and ileum using villus height, villus base width, and villus mid-width values were significant for broiler chickens (P < 0.01). The best-fit equation generated for predicting villus area in the jejunum was villus area = -0.136 + 0.195 × villus height + 0.123 × villus base width + 0.532 × villus mid-width (R2 = 0.92; RMSE = 0.01), while in the ileum, it was villus area = -0.069 + 0.136 × villus height + 0.122 × villus base width + 0.337 × villus mid-width (R2 = 0.86; RMSE = 0.02). In conclusion, this study provides the minimum number of intestinal villi required for consistent morphological assessment, relationships among intestinal histomorphometric indices, and equations for predicting villus perimeter and area from villi linear measurements.

163 Evaluating the interaction of branched-chain amino acids and nucleotide supplementation in nursery pigs fed low protein diets

Journal of Animal Science · 2025-05-01

Abstract In a six-week study, a total of 160 piglets (initial body weight, 5.79 ± 0.01 kg) were used to investigate the effects of dietary nucleotides and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation of low protein diets on growth performance, blood metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of nutrients (AID and ATTD). Following a 3-d adaptation period, pigs were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments using a randomized complete block design. Each treatment consisted of 8 replicate pens with 4 piglets per pen. The experimental diets included a high-crude protein (CP) Positive Control (PC) diet with CP at 22%, 20.5%, 19.4% for phases 1, 2 and 3, respectively; a BCAA-deficient low-CP Negative Control (NC) diet with CP at 16%, 14.5%, 13.4% for phases 1, 2 and 3, respectively; NC diet supplemented with crystalline isoleucine and valine (NC+BCAA); NC diet supplemented with 9 g/kg of dietary nucleotides (NC09); and NC diet supplemented with both BCAA and nucleotides (NC+BCAA+09). Body weights and feed intake were determined to calculate average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain-feed ratio (G:F). Fecal samples were collected on d 39, 40 and 41 to determine the ATTD of nutrients. Blood samples were collected on day 42 to measure blood metabolites and pigs were euthanized to determine the AID of nutrients and colonic SCFA. Low CP (LP) diets decreased the ADG, G:F and final BW in pigs (P &amp;lt;, 0.05). Pigs fed the PC diet had the highest overall ADG, G:F and final BW (397 g/d, 561 g/kg and 22.9 kg), with intermediate values in NC+BCAA+09 (337 g/d, 489 g/kg and 20.2 kg) and NC+BCAA (303 g/d, 470 g/kg and 18.6 kg), and the lowest values in the NC09 (246 g/d, 421 g/kg and 16.1 kg) and NC (227 g/d, 406 g/kg and 15.4 kg). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) with reduction in CP, while serum glucose, insulin and glutathione concentrations were not affected by treatments. The NC diet had decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, with partial recovery in the NC+BCAA diet and complete recovery in the NC+BCAA+09 diet, compared to PC. Additionally, the NC+BCAA+09 diet showed a tendency (P = 0.09) for increased serum uric acid concentration but had the highest ATTD of gross energy (GE), dry matter (DM) and phosphorus (P) as well as the highest AID of N and P. The NC diets had decreased the colonic SCFA concentration. In conclusion, supplementation with nucleotides and BCAA has beneficial additive effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs fed BCAA-deficient low-CP diets.

PSI-6 Temporal analysis of jejunal mucosal proteome reveals profile changes in piglets from birth to early postweaning stage

Journal of Animal Science · 2025-05-01

Abstract The intestinal mucosa is a dynamic and interactive structure that supports physiological processes essential for maintaining intestinal architecture, epithelial renewal, cellular metabolism, and mucosal immunity. As piglets age, the intestinal mucosa adapts to dietary changes and evolving physiological demands across different growth stages, partly through changes in proteome profiles. However, little is known about the dynamic changes of mucosal proteomes during the preweaning and postweaning stages in piglets. The aim of this study was to investigate temporal changes in jejunal mucosal proteomes during the suckling and early postweaning periods. On postnatal day (PND) 0 (within 24 h after birth), 10, 18, postweaning day (PWD) 7 and 14, six barrows were selected and euthanized for jejunal mucosa collection. Total proteins were extracted from mucosal samples and subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for shotgun proteomic analysis. A total of 5,498 proteins were detected across all time points. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering were applied to capture features representing the entire proteome across developmental stages. These analyses revealed age-related effects on the jejunal mucosal proteomes. Specifically, mucosal proteomes on PND 10 were distinct from those on PWD 7 and PWD 14, with PND 18 intermediate to PND 10 and postweaning profiles, while samples on PND 0 showed considerable variation. Analysis of the top 50 differentially expressed proteins revealed that mucosal proteins on PND 0 had the highest abundance of alpha-fetoprotein, Ig-like domain-containing proteins, MAM domain-containing 4, neural cell adhesion molecule 1, branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase, and melanotransferrin (FDR &amp;lt; 0.05). Additionally, the abundance of proteins involved in stress and antioxidant defense responses, amino acid metabolism, protein translation, and post-translational modifications or function as metabolic enzymes and proteasome components, increased from PND 0 to PWD 14 (FDR &amp;lt; 0.05). Gene ontology enrichment analysis indicated age-related changes in proteins associated with translation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolytic process, positive regulation of cell proliferation, immune response, and carbohydrate metabolic process (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Taken together, the shift in proteomes likely reflects an age-related upregulation of metabolic and stress responses and protein turnover that are critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis and resilience against age-associated oxidative stress. Overall, the findings may indicate age-associated physiological changes during intestinal maturation in piglets, including increases in antioxidant capacity, energy production, protein repair, and maintenance of tissue growth and integrity.

The use of quantitative computed tomography for bone ash quantification may avoid euthanasia of young broiler chickens

Poultry Science · 2025-07-24 · 1 citations

The objective of the current study was to compare bone ash and digital bone mineral content (BMC) calculated from clinical quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in young broiler chickens. A total of 576 male broiler chickens (initial BW = 190 ± 17 g) on d 8 post hatching were allotted to the 6 experimental diets in a randomized complete block design. The 6 diets included a phosphorus (P)-deficient basal diet based on corn and soybean meal, basal diet plus 0.9 or 1.8 g/kg of inorganic P from monosodium phosphate (MSP), and basal diet plus 500, 1,000, or 2,000 FYT/kg of exogenous phytase. On d 11 post hatching, 7 birds from each cage were euthanized and the 5 remaining birds were euthanized on d 18. The entire left leg was collected from the bird with median weight from each cage on d 11 and 18. Digital BMC of femur and tibia in the collected whole left legs was estimated using clinical QCT scan. Subsequently, the tissues attached to the left legs were manually removed using a scalpel, and bone ash of femur and tibia was analyzed. An interaction between bone trait (bone ash or digital BMC) and MSP or phytase was not observed. There was no statistical difference in femur and tibia on d 11 and 18 between digital BMC and bone ash. In conclusion, clinical QCT may replace sacrificing birds for bone ash estimation in young broiler chickens irrespective of their bone mineralization status.

Impact of partially defatted black soldier fly larvae meal on coccidia-infected chickens: effects on growth performance, intestinal health, and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology/Journal of animal science and biotechnology · 2025-02-26 · 5 citations

BACKGROUND: Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) stands out as a promising nutritional resource due to its rich bioactive substances and favorable protein profile. Nonetheless, its potential to mitigate coccidia infection in broilers remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of partially defatted BSFLM (pBSFLM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and intestinal health, focusing on morphology, immunology, and cecal fermentation in coccidia-infected broilers. METHODS: Over the initial 13 d, 480 newly-hatched Cobb 500 male birds were allocated to three diets with increasing pBSFLM concentrations (0, 60, or 120 g/kg). At d 13 post hatching, chicks within each dietary group were further allotted to non-challenge or challenge subsets, generating six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Challenged birds were orally administered oocysts of E. maxima, E. acervulina, and E. tenella (25,000:125,000:25,000). RESULTS: During the infection phase (d 13 to 19), linear interactions between Eimeria and pBSFLM were observed in gain to feed ratio (G:F) (P < 0.05) and cecal interferon-γ (IFN-γ, P < 0.05), with a tendency in cecal acetate concentration (P = 0.06). A quadratic interaction was observed in crypt depth (CD, P < 0.05). Incremental pBSFLM inclusion negatively affected G:F, CD, IFN-γ, and acetate productions in the ceca under coccidia challenge. Conversely in non-challenged birds, the impact of pBSFLM varied from neutral (e.g. G:F) to potentially advantageous (e.g. acetate). Challenged birds exhibited decreased (P < 0.01) BW, BW gain, feed intake (FI), and the apparent ileal digestibility and total tract nutrient utilization of DM, gross energy, and nitrogen (N). Eimeria challenge reduced (P < 0.01) serum carotenoid concentrations, decreased the villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD, P < 0.01), and increased concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids, specifically isobutyrate (P = 0.059) and isovalerate (P < 0.05) in the cecum. Dietary pBSFLM addition linearly reduced (P < 0.05) BW, FI, and N utilization. Tendencies (P < 0.06) were observed where pBSFLM linearly decreased VH:CD and reduced goblet cell density. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing pBSFLM supplementation, particularly at 12%, adversely affected growth, ileal morphology, cecal acetate production, and downregulated key cytokine expression in response to coccidia infection.

Author response for "Impact of Gestational and Lactational Live Yeast Supplementation to Sows on Litter Performance, Colostrum and Milk Proteome Profiles"

2025-06-10

179. Increasing exogenous phytase increases phosphorus digestibility but decreases hindgut digestion in phosphorus-deficient diets fed to growing pigs

Animal - science proceedings · 2025-08-01