In the present study, the effects of dietary heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137) on the productive performance, intestinal morphology, and cytokine gene expression of suckling-to-fattening pigs were investigated. A total of 100 suckling pigs [(Large White × Landrace) × Duroc; 4.5 ± 0.54 kg initial body weight (BW)] were used and assigned to each of the four dietary treatments as follows: (1) a control diet with antibiotics as a growth promoter (AGP) from the suckling phase to the grower phase and no supplement in the finisher phases; (2) a control diet without antibiotics as a growth promoter (NAGP); (3) a control diet with HK L-137 at 20 mg/kg from the suckling phase to the starter phase and no supplement from the grower phase to the finisher phases (HKL1); and (4) a control diet with HK L-137 at 20 mg/kg from the suckling phase to the weaner phase, at 4 mg/kg from the starter phase to the finisher 1 phase, and no supplement in the finisher 2 phase (HKL2). During the weaner–starter period, the pigs fed on the AGP and HKL2 diets showed significantly higher weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) than those in the NAGP group (p < 0.05). The pigs in the AGP, HKL1, and HKL2 groups showed greater ADG than those in the NAGP groups (p < 0.05) throughout the grower–finisher period. The suckling pigs in the HKL1 and HKL2 groups showed a higher platelet count (484,500 and 575,750) than in the others (p < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences in the other hematological parameters among the treatment groups. The relative mRNA expression level of IFN- ß of the suckling and starter pigs were significantly higher in the HKL1 and HKL2 groups than in the others (p < 0.05), while the IFN-γ showed the highest level in the HKL2 suckling pigs (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that a HK L-137 supplementation could stimulate the immune response in suckling and starter pigs and promote the growth performance in finishing pigs.

This study evaluated the effects of Bacillus toyonensis BCT-7112^T on laying duck performance, egg quality, ammonia emission, and cecal microbiota. Two hundred twenty 32-week-old Khaki Campbell ducks were assigned to four dietary treatments (0, 200, 500, or 1000 ppm Toyocerin^® 10⁹ premixture, containing 1 × 10⁹ B. toyonensis BCT-7112^T CFU/g) with five replicate pens of eleven birds each. Data on productivity, egg quality, and ammonia emissions were collected weekly, and cecal microbiota were analyzed at 44 weeks of age. Supplementation with 1000 ppm B. toyonensis BCT-7112^T significantly increased average egg weight (p < 0.001) and eggshell thickness (p = 0.007). Egg mass also improved at higher supplementation levels (p < 0.05), though feed intake, feed conversion, daily egg production, and most egg quality parameters were unaffected (p > 0.05). Ammonia emissions in litter decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with probiotic inclusion. Cecal microbiota analysis revealed higher diversity in ducks fed 1000 ppm, with a notable shift in predominant phyla from Bacteroidetes (35.12%) and Firmicutes (34.93%) in the controls to Bacteroidetes (40.52%), Firmicutes (34.08%), and Deferribacteres (9.54%) in the treated ducks. The findings suggest that 1000 ppm B. toyonensis BCT-7112^T enhances egg production, eggshell quality, and microbial diversity while reducing ammonia emissions in laying duck systems.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained popularity in veterinary medicine for its potential to alleviate stress, pain, and inflammation in dogs. However, its oral administration is limited by hydrophobicity, variable absorption, and extensive first-pass metabolism, which requires optimized delivery methods to enhance efficacy. This study investigated the effects of daily oral supplementation of CBD oil and CBD gel (each at 4 mg/kg), compared to a placebo, over 14 days in shelter dogs subjected to solitary confinement-induced stress. Both CBD formulations appeared safe under the study conditions, with no adverse effects on hematological and biochemical parameters. Post-stress cortisol levels were significantly lower in CBD-treated groups compared to controls, with CBD-infused gel showing a pattern toward greater attenuation. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct blood profile shifts in CBD-treated dogs, with PCA loadings indicating associations between CBD supplementation and lymphocyte percentages and IgG levels. These findings support gel-based CBD as a promising strategy for stress modulation in dogs. Further studies should explore its pharmacokinetics and long-term immune effects to optimize veterinary applications.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) emulsions enriched with hemp-derived phytocannabinoids, with or without monolaurin, on neonatal piglet growth, health, and behavior. Trial 1 used an augmented factorial design with 75 sows and 1063 piglets to compare a baseline MCT emulsion (MCTE) with a phytocannabinoid-supplemented emulsion (MCTE-P) at low or high doses against toltrazuril control. All MCT emulsions improved key performance indicators such as weight gain and survival rates compared to the control group. In particular, live-born piglets at 24 h in the MCTE-P groups showed significantly greater body weight gain and colostrum intake compared with controls (p < 0.05). While overall pre-weaning mortality rates were similar across groups, the incidence of diarrhea- and starvation-related deaths was significantly lower in MCTE-P piglets (p < 0.05). Based on these results, Trial 2 involved 36 sows and 509 piglets assigned to three groups: low-dose MCTE-P (the optimal regimen from Trial 1), low-dose MCTE-P supplemented with monolaurin (MCTE-PM), and a toltrazuril control. Both MCTE-P and MCTE-PM improved average daily gain at weaning relative to the control group. MCTE-PM showed the lowest pre-weaning mortality (14.3%) and diarrhea-related deaths (0.86%), compared with 29.4% and 10.4% in controls, respectively (p < 0.05). Hematological analyses indicated that eosinophil percentages were lowest in the MCTE-PM group (p < 0.05), while serum total protein and globulin concentrations remained elevated in emulsion-treated piglets (p < 0.001). Behavioral assessments of 108 low-birth-weight piglets showed prolonged latency to first suckling in emulsion-treated groups, while teat competition and facial lesion scores, reflecting aggressive interactions, were reduced compared with controls. Overall, these findings demonstrate that MCT emulsions supplemented with phytocannabinoids and monolaurin improved growth and survival in neonatal piglets, especially those of low to medium birth weight, and highlight their potential as nutraceutical alternatives to antibiotic prophylaxis in swine production.

The valorization of salted duck egg white (SDEW), a high-salt by-product of the egg industry, was investigated through desalting and enzymatic hydrolysis to produce protein hydrolysates with enhanced functional properties. The desalting process resulted in a 97.13% reduction in sodium content while maintaining protein integrity, confirming desalted SDEW (DS-DEW) as a suitable substrate for enzymatic modification. Two proteases with distinct catalytic properties were compared: Protease M “Amano” SD (MSD, a dual endopeptidase and exopeptidase) and Thermoase GL30 (GL, an endopeptidase). Both enzymes showed time-dependent increases in the degree of hydrolysis (DH), with GL achieving a higher final DH at 6 hours, while MSD exhibited a faster initial hydrolytic rate. Total amino acid (TAA) content increased in both groups, with MSD yielding consistently higher levels of free amino acid. Predominant amino acids included glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, and leucine, along with increased levels of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. Antioxidant activity evaluated by the DPPH assay was significantly higher in MSD-treated samples, peaking at 3 hours (88.36%). In contrast, GL-treated samples exhibited lower activity, which declined over time. These results demonstrate the potential of controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of DS-DEW for producing antioxidant-active hydrolysates and support the development of value-added functional ingredients, contributing to the sustainable and industrial-scale utilization of egg industry by-products within the bio-circular-green economic model.