Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) on growth performance, carcass traits, and fat deposition in white-feather broiler chickens.Methods: A total of 480 male one-day-old white-feather broiler chickens were selected randomly and divided into four groups with six replicates of 20 chickens in each. The experimental chickens were fed diets including 3%, 6%, or 9% FCSM fermented by Candida tropicalis until 42 days old. In the experiment, the chickens of the control group were fed soybean meal.Results: FCSM supplementation linearly decreased the feed conversion ratio from d 15 to 21 and d 36 to 42, respectively (p<0.05). The percentage of carcass and semi-eviscerate increased in response to dietary FCSM supplementation at d 21 (p<0.05). The percentage of eviscerated and semi-eviscerate of 3FCSM was higher than that in other groups at d 35 (p<0.05). At the age of 42 d, the percentage of carcass increased in a quadratic way among increasing FCSM in diets (p<0.05). The subcutaneous fat thickness linearly decreased with the increasing levels of FCSM at d 21 (p<0.05). Gompertz and Logistic functions provided a better fit on abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat, respectively. The best fitted equation predicted that the maximum growth rate of abdominal fat weight and subcutaneous fat thickness occurred at d 28. FCSM had no significant effects on the shape of growth curve of abdominal fat weight and subcutaneous fat thickness, but reduced the height of the curve. Birds receiving the 6FCSM diet for 21 d had smaller adipocyte surface and lower serum glucose as well as triglyceride concentration.Conclusion: FCSM is beneficial for broiler chickens as it positively affects their growth and carcass in addition to altering their fat deposition.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Streptococcus bovis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, bacterial communities, and predicted metabolic pathways of whole-plant triticale silage ( Triticosecale Wittmack ). Fresh triticale harvested at the milk stage was ensiled in sterile distilled water (CON), Streptococcus bovis (ST), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), and a combination of S. bovis and L. plantarum (LS) for 3, 7, 15, and 30 days. During ensiling, the pH and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content in the inoculated groups was significantly lower than those in the CON group ( P < 0.05), especially in the LS group ( P < 0.05). After 7 days of ensiling, the ST and LS groups had lower ( P < 0.05) starch content and higher ( P < 0.05) concentrations of lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA). Inoculation with S. bovis and L. plantarum , either alone or in combination, increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Pediococcus while reducing the abundance of Weissella , Rosenbergiella , Pantoea , and Enterobacter . Metabolic prediction analysis indicated that inoculation with S. bovis enhanced starch and sucrose metabolism during the early stages of ensiling. The abundance of Streptococcus positively correlated with LA ( P < 0.05) and AA concentration but negatively correlated with starch content, pH, and propionic acid (PA) concentration ( P < 0.05). S. bovis inoculation increased starch hydrolysis and carbohydrate metabolism during the early stages. S. bovis and L. plantarum synergistically improved the fermentation characteristics and bacterial communities of triticale silage. Therefore, S. bovis can be used as an additive or for a fast start-up agent to improve silage fermentation quality. IMPORTANCE: Ensiling is a widely used method for preserving fresh forage. Silage quality is determined by the chemical and microbial composition. Studies have shown that S. bovis grew faster than commercial species, thereby creating advantages for other lactic acid bacteria during ensiling. Therefore, we believe that S. bovis and L. plantarum can synergistically improve the fermentation characteristics and bacterial community in silage. However, few studies use high-throughput methods to explain the impact of S. bovis on silage fermentation. Results showed that S. bovis significantly affected the fermentation parameters, bacterial community, and metabolic characteristics of triticale silage. S. bovis and L. plantarum synergistically accelerated the fermentation, reducing pH and WSC while increasing lactic acid and acetic acid concentrations in the early stages of ensiling. Additionally, co-inoculation increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Pediococcus and carbohydrate metabolism. This study emphasizes the synergistic role of S. bovis and L. plantarum in enhancing triticale silage quality, providing scientific support for novel silage additives.

Triticale (Triticosecale Wittmack) is a versatile forage crop valued for its high yield, balanced nutrition, and environmental adaptability. However, the dough-stage triricale has higher dry matter and starch content but lower water-soluble carbohydrate levels than earlier stages, posing fermentation challenges that may impair silage quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria inoculation on the fermentation quality, bacterial community, and metabolome of whole-plant triticale silage at the dough stage. Fresh triticale was ensiled for 30 days without or with an inoculant containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Streptococcus bovis. Fermentation quality, bacterial succession, and metabolic profiles were analyzed at multiple time points. Inoculation significantly improved fermentation quality, characterized by a rapid pH drop, increased lactic acid production, and better preservation of fiber components. Microbial analysis revealed that inoculation successfully established Lactobacillus as the dominant genus while suppressing spoilage bacteria like Enterobacter and Clostridium. Metabolomic analysis on day 30 identified numerous differential metabolites, indicating that inoculation primarily altered pathways related to amino acid and purine metabolism. In conclusion, inoculating dough-stage triticale with this LAB combination effectively directs the fermentation trajectory. It enhances silage quality not only by optimizing organic acid profiles and microbial succession but also by modulating key metabolic pathways, ultimately leading to improved nutrient preservation.

Early weaning disrupts gut microbiota homeostasis and increases oxidative stress and inflammation in calves, thus negatively affecting their growth performance and health. Resveratrol is a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that modulates gut microbiota and metabolites. In the present study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in early-weaning calves. Thirty-six newborn Simmental × Holstein F₁ generation female calves were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups: conventional weaning at 63 d of age (CON), early weaning at 49 d of age (EW), or early weaning at 49 d of age with 2 g/d resveratrol supplementation from d 7 to d 49 (EWR). The results revealed that the final BW, ADG, and feed efficiency were greater in the EWR group than in the CON group, and diarrhea incidence was significantly reduced. The EWR treatment decreased the concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and the oxidative damage product malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, resveratrol supplementation increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4, catalase, and the total antioxidant capacity in early-weaning calves, which were not significantly different from CON group. In addition, EWR increased the abundance of Parabacteroides, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Christensenella, and Ruminococcaceae, as well as increased concentration of butyric acid, valeric acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, and total branched short-chain fatty acids. Metabolomic analysis revealed that resveratrol significantly enhanced the tryptophan metabolic pathway. Correlation analysis suggested that Parabacteroides was closely related to the modulatory effects of resveratrol in early-weaning calves through its involvement in tryptophan metabolism. In conclusion, dietary resveratrol supplementation improves growth performance and reduces diarrhea in early-weaning calves by alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress, modulating gut microbiota, and enhancing microbial tryptophan metabolism.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing corn silage with triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) silage on lactation performance, milk fatty acid profile, and rumen microbiome-metabolome interactions in dairy cows. In this study, 27 mid-lactation dairy cows were used in replicated 3 × 3 Latin squares with 3 28-d periods and 3 treatments, in which 0, 25, or 50% of the corn silage (DM basis) was replaced with triticale silage. Replacing 25% of corn silage maintained DMI and milk yield, whereas 50% replacement reduced both variables. Diets containing triticale silage lowered SCC and increased the proportion of oleic acid in milk fat. The 50% replacement further increased the proportions of linoleic acid (LA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), and milk protein concentration. In the rumen, the 50% replacement increased pH and NH₃-N concentration, and triticale diets increased the proportions of ALA and several C18:1 and C18:2 biohydrogenation intermediates, resulting in a greater UFA proportion and a lower SFA: UFA ratio in rumen fluid. Metataxonomic analysis revealed higher relative abundances of Butyrivibrio_A, Ruminococcus_E, and Prevotella in triticale diets, whereas metabolomic profiling indicated enrichment of pathways related to LA, ALA, and amino acid metabolism. Correlation analysis associated Butyrivibrio_A and Ruminococcus_E with LA oxidation products and amino acid derivatives, indicating the involvement of rumen microbiome-metabolome interactions in shaping the milk UFA responses. Overall, partial replacement of corn silage with triticale silage improved the milk fatty acid profile and udder health indicators without compromising performance at 25% inclusion, indicating that winter triticale is a promising component of forage systems.