The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of SOD (superoxide dismutase)-rich melon feed supplement on some performance parameters, serum biochemical and antioxidant indexes, and meat quality characteristics of weaned Tuj lambs. An independent measures design (between groups) was used to determine these effects of treatment. After one week of the adaptation period, twenty-four weaned lambs at the age of 60 ± 5.0 days with a body weight of 23.14 ± 0.5 kg were divided into two groups, i.e., the control group (CON) fed basal diet and experimental group (EXP) fed with basal diet + SOD-rich melon (n = 12 per group). The results revealed a decrement in the (p < 0.05) feed efficiency ratio (5.88 ± 0.40 vs. 6.59 ± 0.86 kg weight gain/kg feed) and higher carcass yield (61.76 ± 0.80 vs. 60.11 ± 1.07%) in the EXP group as compared to the CON group. Additionally, the EXP group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum glucose and high-density lipoprotein levels, while there was a reduction in cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels when compared to the CON group. The serum malondialdehyde was lowered (5.53 ± 0.47 vs. 5.98 ± 0.79 mmol/L) significantly (p < 0.05), while glutathione concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in the EXP group (17.82 ± 1.51 mmol/L) when compared to the CON group (16.54 ± 1.59 mmol/L). The cooking loss was also significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the EXP group when compared to the CON group. In conclusion, the results indicate that SOD-rich melon supplement (30 g/ton of the concentrate feed) can considerably improve carcass yield, some serum biochemical parameters, and meat quality characteristics in Tuj lambs. Thus, the supplementation of lamb diets with a SOD-rich melon additive may be used as an effective nutritional approach to improve their performance and health.

The world’s population is continuously growing, resulting in an increasing need for meat, particularly poultry. As the poultry industry expands to fulfill this demand, it faces the dual challenge of increasing production while reducing its environmental impact. Even though broiler production has comparatively lower environmental impacts than other livestock species, it remains a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions and nutrient losses occur at various stages of chicken production, emphasizing the need for effective management strategies to minimize environmental impact. Natural feed additives are viable solutions to this issue. These additives enhance nutrient utilization and improve gut health, resulting in better broiler performance and reduced emissions. By optimizing digestive efficiency and minimizing waste by-products, natural feed additives offer a promising approach to lowering the environmental footprint of poultry production. The chapter compiles recent research findings, showing the effectiveness of these additives in broiler production in mitigating the environmental impacts. By integrating these innovative solutions, the poultry industry can sustainably meet the growing demand for meat, thereby contributing to global food security while reducing its environmental impact.

In recent years, the search for alternative feed resources has increased, primarily due to the rise in the prices of protein materials. Spray-dried plasma (SDP) has emerged as a valuable feed additive for broiler production, serving as a natural and effective alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. SDP is a rich source of nutritious substances and has peptides, amino acids, immunoglobulin, albumin, fibrinogen, lipids, growth factors, enzymes, and other components that have specific biological activities. These bioactive compounds enhance growth performance, immune status, and gut health of broiler chickens. This chapter provides a comprehensive discussion on the structure, safety of production, and mechanisms of action of the SDP, with a particular emphasis on its effects under both normal and challenging conditions in broiler chickens. Recent studies have suggested that supplementing broiler diets with SDP at lower dosages over extended periods promotes nutrient digestibility, gut integrity, modulation of inflammatory responses, and reduction in oxidative stress, thereby improving feed conversion ratio (FCR) and overall well-being of broilers. Moreover, the effects of SDP on broilers were more pronounced under challenging conditions than under normal production conditions. Additionally, this chapter evaluates the efficacy of SDP in addressing various production and microbial challenges, establishing it as a biosafe and sustainable component of poultry nutrition.

The main objective of the study was to determine the growth, hematological parameters, and gut-associated attributes in Italian quails fed chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) (CS). Two hundred mixed-sex, 1-day-old Italian quails were randomly distributed into four treatment groups (n=50 birds/group) kept in five replicate pens with 10 birds per pen from day 1 to 35, under a completely randomized design. The control group received a basal diet with no CS, whereas the other groups were fed diets containing 1%, 2%, and 3% CS. Results revealed that for the 0-5 weeks study period, the live weigh, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P = 0.05) improved with supplementation of 3% CS. However significant (P < 0.05) difference was noticed within groups for slaughter live weight, hot carcass, cold carcass, dressing percentage, heart and liver weight, and pH of carcass at the time of slaughter and after 24 hours. Similarly, breast meat dry matter, ash percentage, cooking loss, and water holding capacity were also not influenced (P < 0.05) by supplementation of CS. Regarding gut associated attributes, the ileal villus height (VH) of the control diet is higher compared with those fed CS means supplementation of CS resulted in reduced (P < 0.05) VH, whereas crypt depth (CD) was reduced (P = 0.001) quadratically. The total protein and cholesterol profile significantly (P = 0.001) improved, and the lipids profile decreased significantly (P = 0.001) with the supplementation of CS. The CS-fed groups had substantially greater values of myristoleic acid, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, PUFA, USFA, PUFA/SFA, UFA/SFA, and omega 6 (n6), whereas lower values of palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, eicosanoic acid, erucic acid, SFA in breast meat of quails compared to the control group. In conclusion, the supplementation of 3% CS resulted in better growth performance, improved blood parameters, and enhanced nutritional profile of quail breast meat for human consumption.

This book prepared to explore the therapeutic, prophylactic, and functional use of probiotics which hold a significant place in human and animal health, provides up-to-date data and literature about their use as preventive/supportive agents in animal production. The effects of probiotics, which have been widely used in veterinary sciences in recent years for health, performance, and animal production purposes, and the production methods of recently trending strains are investigated, and important information about the functions and definition of probiotics are presented. This book will be beneficial to academicians, students, researchers, and industry stakeholders interested in the fields of Biochemistry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology, Genetics, Animal Nutrition, Animal Health, Economics and Management, Internal Medicine, and Parasitology in Veterinary Medicine. İnsan ve hayvan sağlığında önemli bir yeri olan probiyotiklerin terapötik, profilaktik ve fonksiyonel etkinliklerinin incelenmesi amacıyla hazırlanan bu kitapta, hayvansal üretimde koruyucu/destekleyici ajan olarak kullanımları hakkında güncel verilerle literatür bilgileri verilmiştir. Son yıllarda Veteriner bilimlerinde kullanımı yaygınlaşan probiyotiklerin, sağlık, performans ve hayvansal üretim amacıyla kullanımlarının etkileri ile son zamanlarda trend olan suşların üretim yolları araştırılarak probiyotiklerin fonksiyonları ve tanımı hakkında önemli bilgiler sunulmaktadır. Kitap, Veteriner Hekimlik alanındaki Biyokimya, Doğum ve Jinekoloji, Fizyoloji, Genetik, Hayvan Besleme, Hayvan Sağlığı Ekonomisi ve İşletmeciliği, İç Hastalıkları ve Parazitoloji bilimleriyle ilgili olan akademisyenlere, öğrencilere, araştırmacılara ve sektör paydaşlarına fayda sağlayacaktır.