Yeast cell walls can strengthen the immune system and promote agglutination of gastrointestinal tract pathogens, thereby improving animal health and

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different trace mineral supplementation sources in the diet of broiler breeders on their pe

One of the greatest challenges for nutritionists is ensuring that breeder hens consume the quantity of nutrients necessary to ensure proper developme

Metabolite profiles of chicken breast extracts and water mobility in breasts were studied using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy and time-domain NMR (TD-NMR) relaxometry, respectively, using normal breast (NB), and wooden breast (WB) and white striping (WS) myopathies in broilers. One thousand eight hundred sixty broilers were raised to commercial standards, receiving the same diets that were formulated as per the different growth stages. At 49 D of age, 200 animals were slaughtered following routine commercial procedures, and at 4 h postmortem, the whole breast (pectoralis major muscle) was removed and visually inspected by an experienced meat inspector who selected NB (without myopathies) and samples with the presence of WS and WB myopathies. Fifteen breasts (5 each of NB, WS, and WB) were analyzed through TD-NMR relaxometry, and samples of approximately 20 g were taken from each breast and frozen at −80°C for metabolite profiling through 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the effect on water relaxometry and metabolite profile in accordance with the presence and type of myopathy in the breast. 1H-NMR data showed that the metabolite profiles in WS and WB breasts were different from each other and from NB. This pilot study shows that myopathies appear to be related to hypoxia, connective tissue deposition, lower mitochondrial function, and greater oxidative stress compared with NB. The longitudinal and transverse relaxation time of the breasts determined by TD-NMR relaxometry was shorter for NB than that for WS and WB, indicating greater water mobility in breasts affected by myopathies. 1H-NMR spectroscopy can be used to differentiate the metabolism of WS, WB, and NB, and TD-NMR has the potential to be a fast, simple, and noninvasive method to distinguish NB from WB and WS. As a practical application, the metabolomic profile as per the occurrence of breast myopathies may be used for a better understanding of these issues, which opens a gap to mitigate the incidence and severity of WS and WB. In addition, the present study brings an opportunity for the development of a new and objective tool to classify the incidence of breast myopathies through TD-NMR relaxometry.

The gastrointestinal tract has the largest surface area of the body and if it is subjected to continuous stress, it will activate the immune system. The intestinal barrier, the immune system, and the microbiota together form a line of defense against infection in order to maintain a healthy balance between the host and the microbiota. Nutritional strategies such as feed additives can be applied to maintain homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract. When this equilibrium is disrupted, metabolic dysfunctions can occur. Postbiotics—the metabolic and/or structural compounds of microorganisms—can stimulate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and enzymatic effects, providing a safe alternative to establishing intestinal eubiosis. In addition, postbiotics can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets by maintaining productive performance under challenging conditions. This review provides an overview of the postbiotic concept, mechanism of action and production, the evidence for the action in the gastrointestinal tract, and applications in poultry production.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of canthaxanthin and cholecalciferol (25OHD3) to broiler breed