Herein, the ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions affecting the yield of EUPS (Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide) were analyzed using a Box-Behnken response surface design. The alleviation effect of EUPS on diquat-induced oxidative stress in mice was also studied. A maximum EUPS yield of 2.60% was obtained under the following optimized conditions: an extraction temperature of 63 °C, extraction time of 1 h, and ratio of liquid to raw materials of 22:1. EUPS exhibited strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging ability (87.05%), 2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical-scavenging ability (101.17%), and hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability (62.92%). The administration of EUPS increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and decreased malondialdehyde levels in the livers of mice exposed to diquat. EUPS may inhibit the downregulation of NAD(P)H:quinoneoxidoreductase 1 and heme oxygenase 1 mRNA expression in the livers of diquat-administered mice through the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway. Moreover, the abundance of Firmicutes and Ligilactobacillus was enhanced, whereas that of Helicobacter decreased in the gut of the remaining groups of mice compared with that of the diquat-treated mice. Therefore, EUPS exhibited an antioxidant effect and improved oxidative stress and intestinal flora abundance in mice.

This paper offers an exhaustive review of various pivotal aspects of forage whole-plant maize silage. It commences with an exploration of the foundational elements of planting, including the growing environment, variety selection, planting techniques, management practices, and harvesting considerations. The paper assesses the nutritional value of maize silage, its effects on animal health, and its current applications in livestock farming. Additionally, it elucidates the principles of fermentation, pathogen control, and the impact of fermentation technology on silage quality. The paper also discusses utilization strategies and technological advancements. A historical perspective is provided, alongside an analysis of current challenges, opportunities, and the global market positioning of maize silage. Furthermore, the paper delves into future prospects by addressing sustainable development strategies, adaptation to climate change, and ethical and economic controversies. The primary aim is to serve as a comprehensive reference for further research, production practices, and industrial chain development in the domain of forage whole-plant maize silage.

In recent years, the use of corn DDGS has alleviated the problem of protein feed shortages to a certain extent; however, its high mycotoxin content seriously restricts its application in feedstuffs. In this study, the conditions of solid-state fermented corn DDGS were optimized to investigate changes in the nutrient composition of solid-state fermented corn DDGS and their effects on the growth performance and histological section of yellow-feathered broilers. The optimal strain ratio for solid-state fermentation was determined by orthogonal testing as 1:1:2 for B. desmois JA3:B. subtilis ANSB01G: and B. subtilis ANSB060, and the response value was the score of the degradation rate of Deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) weighted by 4:4:2. Optimal conditions for the solid-state fermentation of maize DDGS were determined by B-Behnken response surface design: the inoculum amount was 1%, the feed to liquid ratio was 1:1.25, the fermentation temperature was 37°C, and the fermentation time was 29.5 h. The optimal conditions for solid-state fermentation of maize DDGS were as follows: the inoculum amount was 1%, the material-liquid ratio was 1:1.25, the fermentation temperature was 37°C, the fermentation time was 29.5h, and the degradation rates of DON, ZEN, and AFB₁ in the fermented maize DDGS were 81.6%, 55.18%, and 41.14%, respectively. Moreover, solid-state fermentation significantly improved the nutrient content, in which the amounts of amino acids, crude ash, and crude fat were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and the content of crude fiber was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The in vitro digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and crude fiber increased significantly (P < 0.05); in addition, compared with the control group, the addition of fermented maize DDGS significantly increased the daily calorific intake of broiler chickens, the daily weight gain (P < 0.05); heart, liver and intestinal tissues underwent no obvious pathological changes.

Food allergy represents a prevalent immunological disorder, with current clinical management primarily emphasizing allergen avoidance and emergency pharmacological intervention. Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides, the principal bioactive constituents of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Eucommia ulmoides, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; however, their specific effects on food allergies remain inadequately characterized. A total of thirty-six female BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 12 per group): the control group (CON group, receiving saline treatment), the allergic model group (OVA group, subjected to ovalbumin sensitization), and the intervention group (OVA+PS group, undergoing OVA sensitization followed by Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides administration via gavage). The anti-allergic efficacy of Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides was comprehensively evaluated through clinical allergy symptom scoring, histological and pathological tissue analysis, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) for the assessment of key gene expression, and 16S rDNA sequencing. The findings indicated the following: (1) The allergy scores in the OVA+PS group were significantly lower than those in the OVA group (p < 0.01). Following OVA stimulation, the rectal temperature of mice in the OVA group decreased sharply, whereas the temperature decline in the OVA+PS group was more gradual compared to the model group. (2) The liver, kidney, spleen, and intestinal tissues of mice in the OVA+PS group exhibited normal morphology, consistent with the CON group, which suggests that Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides effectively mitigates the local inflammatory response induced by food allergy. (3) The expression of NICD in the spleen of mice in the OVA+PS group was significantly higher than in the OVA group (p < 0.05), while the expression of the Hes1 gene was significantly elevated in the OVA group compared to both the CON and OVA+PS groups (p < 0.05). In the OVA group, the expression level of Gata-3 was significantly elevated compared to both the CON group and the OVA+PS group (p < 0.05). Similarly, the expression of STAT5 in the OVA group was markedly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05). (4) Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides were found to modulate the intestinal microbiota composition in allergic mice, notably increasing the expression abundance of Enterobacter, Oscillibacter, and Butyricicoccus, while decreasing the expression abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Turicibacter. (5) There was a correlation between alterations in the intestinal microbiota of mice and the expression of key genes. Specifically, the relative abundance of Blautia was negatively correlated with the expression of NICD and Gata-3 genes (p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group was negatively correlated with the expression of the Hes1 gene (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides demonstrate potential in alleviating allergic symptoms, providing a scientific foundation for the development of novel natural anti-allergic functional foods.

The present study evaluated the effect of different dietary energy levels on reproductive performance in breeding pigeons, as well as growth performance and intestinal health in squabs. In total, 180 pairs of 12-month-old White King breeding pigeons were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, each with six replicates of six pairs of birds, and fed diets containing 11.60, 11.80, 12.00, 12.20, and 12.40 MJ/kg for 46 days, respectively. Energy content beyond 12.00 MJ/kg shortened the laying interval (linear and quadratic, P<0.05), while boosting 38-day, 42-day, and 46-day laying rates (linear, P<0.05) in breeding pigeons. Except for the early stage of lactation, feed intake showed a linear and/or quadratic negative relationship with dietary energy content (P<0.05). Body weight at 1 week of age, average daily gain during the early growth stages, and serum total protein of squabs increased with increasing dietary energy content (linear, P<0.05); whereas alanine aminotransferase activity decreased (quadratic, P<0.05). Jejunal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in squabs increased with increasing dietary energy levels (linear and quadratic, P<0.05), particularly in the 12.40 MJ/kg group. Higher dietary energy content increased jejunal malondialdehyde content (linear, P<0.05), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase activities (linear, P<0.05), as well as ileal T-SOD (linear and quadratic, P<0.05) and catalase (quadratic, P<0.05) activities in squabs. Hence, intakes greater than 12.00 MJ/kg altered the jejunal redox status. Finally, higher dietary energy content improved reproduction in breeding pigeons and intestinal morphology in squabs. Overall, 12.00 MJ/kg strikes the right balance as it promotes reproductive performance in breeding pigeons and intestinal health in squabs.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, severely contaminates grains and feed, posing a continuous threat to human and livestock health. In this study, the DON-degrading enzyme (DDE) gene from Devosia sp. JA3 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzyme kinetics revealed that DDE exhibited optimal activity at 37 °C and pH 7.0, with a Km of 0.32 mM and a Vmax of 563.3 nmol/(min·mg). Under optimized conditions, DDE efficiently oxidized DON to 3-keto-DON, achieving a degradation rate of 82.51% within 12 h. Further investigation in C57BL/6J mice showed that oral administration of 2 mg/kg DON significantly reduced antioxidant capacity, caused liver damage, impaired intestinal barrier function, induced intestinal inflammation and apoptosis, and disrupted the gut microbiota. DDE treatment effectively alleviated these DON-induced effects by restoring antioxidant capacity, ameliorating liver injury, downregulating pro-inflammatory and apoptotic genes, upregulating barrier-related genes, and restoring the gut microbiota balance, thereby protecting intestinal health. These findings demonstrate DDE’s excellent DON-degrading capacity and biosafety, providing new technical evidence for DON detoxification applications.