A total of 320 1-day-old broilers were randomly divided into five groups. The control group (CON) received a basal diet, while the FAP4, FAP2, and FAP1 groups were provided with the basal diet supplemented with 4%, 2%, and 1% fermented Astragalus powder, respectively. The unfermented Astragalus powder (UAP2) group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 2% UAP. Each group contained eight replicates of eight chicks each. The results revealed that the final BW and ADG in the FAP 1 and FAP2 were higher than those in the UAP2 and CON groups, while reducing F/G from day 14 to day 42. On day 42, the thymus index in the UAP and FAP groups as well as the bursa index in the FAP4 group showed significant increases compared to those in the CON group. Supplementation with 2% FAP elevated serum IgA levels in broilers on day 28 and day 42, and it also increased serum IgG levels on day 42. Furthermore, supplementation with 2% FAP elevated serum albumin (ALB) levels in broilers, while supplementation with 4% FAP increased serum (glucose) GLU levels in broilers on day 28. The serum biochemical parameters and pathological observation of the liver and kidney in the groups did not show any adverse effects on broilers’ health. In addition, the serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level significantly increased in the FAP4 and FAP2 groups on day 28, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in both serum and liver tissue decreased in the FAP2 group on day 28 and day 42. Compared to the CON group, 2% FAP and 2% UAP supplementation reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroides and supplementation with 2% FAP increased the relative abundance of Alistipes on day 42. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of FAP can enhance the growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity and regulate microflora in broilers, of which 2% FAP is more effective. It indicates FAP exhibits significant application potential as a promising feed additive for broilers.

The seeds of Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds, a high-quality vegetable protein source, encounter application limitations due to their high molecular weight and anti-nutritional factors. This study focused on optimizing the fermentation process by investigating key parameters such as inoculation amount, inoculation ratio, material-to-liquid ratio, fermentation temperature, and fermentation time. Both single-factor experiments and response surface methodology were used to determine the optimal conditions. The effects of fermentation on particle size, surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy), water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, solubility, and emulsification properties of Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed protein were analyzed. In addition, acute toxicity was investigated at doses of 1.5 g/kg, 3 g/kg, 6 g/kg, and 12 g/kg. The results showed that the optimal fermentation conditions were an inoculum concentration of 10%, a ratio of Bacillus subtilis to Lactobacillus plantarum of 1:1, a material-to-liquid ratio of 0.8:1, a temperature of 35 °C, and a fermentation period of 4 days. Under these optimized conditions, the soluble protein content reached 153.1 mg/g. After fermentation, the functional properties of Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed protein improved significantly: the water holding capacity increased by 89%, the oil holding capacity by 68%, while the emulsifying activity and stability indices improved by 6% and 17%, respectively. The macromolecular proteins in the seeds of Zanthoxylum bungeanum were effectively broken down into smaller fragments during fermentation, resulting in a more folded and porous surface structure. In acute toxicity tests, all mice treated with fermented Zanthoxum seed protein survived for more than 7 days after injection, and there were no significant differences in body weight, organ index, and hematological tests between groups, but FZBSP of 1.5 g/kg~12 g/kg caused varying degrees of steatosis and inflammatory damage in the heart and liver. In conclusion, this study confirms that follow-up pilot studies using 1.5 g/kg FZBSP have the potential for further development and utilization.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Cordyceps militaris solid medium (CMM) on the growth performance, immunity parameters, intestinal health and gut microbiota of broilers.Methods: A total of 320 male broilers were randomly allocated into 4 groups, consisting of 8 replicates and 10 birds per replication. The broilers were fed diets comprising the Control group, 0.02% CMM group (Low CMM), 0.2% CMM group (Mid CMM), or 2% CMM group (High CMM). Samples were collected on 14d and 28d of the experiment. Serum was collected for the determination of biochemical indices and immunoglobulins, the intestinal morphology of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was observed, and cecum contents were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results: Over the course of the 28d trial, the broilers fed CMM had a higher average daily gain and lower feed conversion rate than the control broilers at Days 14 and 28. Notably, compared with those of the Control group, the Low CMM diet increased the thymus and bursa indices significantly (p<0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that CMM increased the IgA, IgM, and IgG levels in the serum, and the IgA level in the Low and Mid CMM groups was significantly higher than that in the Control group (p<0.05). A Low CMM diet showed the strongest ability to increase villus height (VH) and villus height/crypt depth, and CMM affected the relative mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors in jejunal tissue. The 16S rRNA results showed that the CMM group presented a greater relative abundance of Firmicutes and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio than did the Control group at 14 d and 28 d, and the Deferribacteres abundance also increased (14 d). At the genus level, a Low CMM diet decreased Bacteroides abundance (p0.05).Conclusion: These results illustrate that 0.02% CMM in the diet can promote growth performance, increase immunity, improve intestinal morphology, and regulate the intestinal flora of broilers.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, and resistant pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella enterica, and Shigella flexneri are acquired by humans through the food chain. AMR in poultry pathogens threatens both animal and public health, yet data on AMR in free-range systems, particularly forest-farmed chickens in understudied regions like Zhouqu County, China, remain scarce, poorly understood, and hinder targeted interventions. This study investigated bacterial and AMR prevalence in such a chicken-raising system to guide sustainable farming strategies. A total of 1,315 clinical samples, including oropharyngeal swabs (n=280), cloacal swabs (n=355), fresh feces (n=535), and intestinal contents (n=145), were collected from seven free-range farms experiencing severe health issues. Bacterial prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were assessed using standardized bacterial culture, the VITEK 2 system, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion tests, and PCR assays. The most prevalent isolates were E. coli (14.52%), followed by Shigella flexneri (6.54%) and Salmonella enterica (4.94%). Antibiogram analysis revealed that E. coli exhibited (100%) resistance to oxytetracycline, ceftiofur, and ampicillin, with high resistance rates to doxycycline (94.76%), neomycin (85.34%), and tylosin (61.78%). Shigella flexneri showed high resistance to neomycin (66.28%), oxytetracycline (61.63%), and penicillin (58.14%), while Salmonella enterica displayed resistance to neomycin (66.15%) and oxytetracycline (61.54%). Among the isolates, multidrug resistance (MDR) accounted for 27.27% of the total isolates. These findings highlight the high prevalence of AMR among E. coli and Shigella flexneri in free-range poultry farms, posing a critical concern for poultry health, productivity, and food safety. The study underscores the urgent need for stakeholder awareness and intervention strategies to mitigate infectious diseases and curb the emergence and spread of AMR in poultry farming systems.