Background and Aim: Many strains of probiotics have been exploited and used as animal dietary supplements for broiler production. The efficacy and survival of probiotics during production may reflect better activities of the probiotics in the host. This study investigated the effects of freeze- and spray-drying on the survivability and properties of probiotics and their ability to improve the growth and health performance of broilers. Materials and Methods: Probiotic powders of four strains of lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus faecium CA4, Enterococcus durans CH33, Ligilactobacillus salivarius CH24, Pediococcus acidilactici SH8, and Bacillus subtilis KKU213, were prepared using rice bran/chitosan/carboxy methyl cellulose as the carrier. The survival of each probiotic strain was investigated under stress conditions, including freeze-drying, spray-drying, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The body weight gain (BWG) and intestinal histomorphology were determined to assess broiler growth performance. Results: All dried probiotics yielded a high survival rate during freeze-drying (95.8-98.6%) and spray-drying (94.4-98.2%). In addition, an analysis of the main effect revealed that the effectiveness of freeze-drying was higher than that of spray-drying in minimizing the loss of cell viability. The antimicrobial activity of all immobilized dried probiotic strains against Salmonella was maintained. The immobilized probiotics tolerated a low pH value of 2.0 and 0.5% (w/v) bile salt. Probiotic administration of a mixture of the five dried probiotics to 1-day-old hatched male broilers at early and late ages resulted in potential colonization in the broiler intestine, and enhancements in the BWG, lipid metabolism, and gut health (villus height and cryptal depth) were observed in the probiotic-treated groups. Conclusion: The administration of three doses of the spray-dried probiotic mixture at days 15, 17, and 19 after hatching was sufficient to achieve long-term growth and health benefits in broilers. This finding might provide a cost-effective alternative to the administration of commonly used antibiotics in broiler production. Keywords: broilers, growth performance, immobilized probiotics, intestinal morphology, lactic acid bacteria.

The aim of this study was to develop a simple cryopreservation protocol for silver barb, Barbodes gonionotus, semen using a dry shipper. Freezing rates within the upper and lower chambers of dry shipper were recorded for 14 days post liquid nitrogen loading (dpl). To regulate freezing rates, straws (250 and 500 µl) wrapped with various insulators (polystyrene foam box, oxygen tube, silicone tube and electric wire) were frozen within the upper chamber. Straws containing semen diluted with Calcium‐free Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (Ca‐F HBSS) and 10% dimethyl sulphoxide were cryopreserved with or without insulators. Appropriate protocols were selected based on sperm quality during a 45‐day cryostorage. The upper chamber had potential as a freezing chamber within 9 dpl due to no significant (p > 0.05) change in freezing rates. High percentages of sperm motility and viability (p < 0.05) were observed when 250 µl straws with silicone tube (T4) frozen for 5 min, non‐insulated 500 µl straws (T9) and 500 µl straws with polystyrene foam box (T12) frozen for 1–5 min, having freezing rates of 43.1 ± 1.3, 71.3 ± 1.4 and 14.7 ± 0.4°C/min respectively. Dry shipper can be used as a freezing tool to cryopreserve silver barb semen.

Stream degradation increases with high anthropogenic activity and climate variability, while declines occur in biodiversity. However, few studies have been undertaken on tropical waterways, a major impediment to biodiversity conservation. The present study was conducted on 95 relatively pristine small streams in Eastern Thailand with 10 reasonably uncommon species of balitorid fishes. Measurements were made of 21 physical and chemical factors and the substrate particle size. Stepwise regression identified the direct importance of substrate particle size and nitrate on the species’ richness of balitorids, whereas its abundance was negatively related with iron concentrations. A Canonical Correspondence Analysis identified three fish groups: the 1st group was negatively correlated with ammonia and positively correlated with dissolved silica, the 2nd group was positively correlated with substrate particle size and negatively correlated with stream ambient temperature and ammonia concentration, and the 3rd group was negatively correlated with low dissolved silica, respectively. The results of this study may indicate the vulnerability of balitorids under climate warming and anthropogenic pressure that alter the water physicochemical factors and river degradation including the substrate type. Thus, a conservation framework should be provided regarding the limits for water temperature, ammonia, and iron in Thailand’s Water Quality Criteria to better protect its freshwater ecosystem. Balitorid is a potential bioindicator for evaluating the river temperature effect in combination with ammonia nutrient stressors as long as the way-of-life habits of the species are taken into account.

The novel probiotic strain Lactococcus lactis P611, isolated from papaya, demonstrated robust probiotic properties, including tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, potent antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, and self-aggregation. Safety assessments confirmed its nonhemolytic nature, antibiotic susceptibility, and low cytotoxicity. When used as a starter culture in milk fortified with wildflower honey and mixed berry powder, the fermented milk product maintained high probiotic viability (>106 log10 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/ml) and antioxidant activity (66.11%) over 15 days of storage. The addition of mixed berry powder, rich in prebiotics, enhanced the nutritional profile by increasing L-proline content and received positive sensory evaluations (overall preference 7.80). This study highlights the potential of L. lactis P611 as a safe and effective starter for producing functional dairy products with stable bioactivity. The combination of probiotic and prebiotic benefits supports health, consumer appeal, and market potential, warranting further research into fermentation optimization and scalability.

An investigation was conducted to clarify the role of oxidative stress and ultrastructural changes on the sperm of the silver barb, Barbonymus gonionotus caused by the cryopreservation. The sperm was cryopreserved using a dry shipper and 500‐μl straws loaded with 160 μl extended semen and 10% DMSO, frozen for 2 min within the upper chamber of the dry shipper, and immediately transferred into the lower chamber for cryostorage. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of silver barb sperm were affected by the freezing and cryostorage period, progressively increasing ( p < 0.01) throughout the 14‐day cryostorage. The ultrastructural defects, apoptotic, and necrotic cells were higher ( p < 0.01) in the post‐thawed sperm. There were inverse correlations between ultrastructural damage and the sperm qualities (motility; r = −0.84, p < 0.0001 and viability; r = −0.72, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this cryopreservation procedure had the effect on the oxidative and ultrastructural damage in the sperm cells. There is a need for antioxidants supplement to avoid the oxidative damage and ultrastructural alteration during freezing–thawing process.