Coconut oil has a high content of lauric acid, which has selective antibacterial activity. This study aimed to explore the effect of coconut oil ingestion on the gastrointestinal microbiomes of pigs. A 14-day-long feeding experiment included 19 pigs in two groups (9 on a normal diet and 10 on a diet supplemented with coconut oil). At the start and end of the experiment, a rectal swab sample was taken from each pig in both groups, and total bacterial DNA was extracted. We used 16S rRNA high-throughput amplicon sequencing to evaluate the microbiome changes during the feeding experiment. A total of 446 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected in the whole sample set. Shannon’s indices of bacterial diversity did not change significantly during the experiment. Changes in the bacterial community during the study period and in response to the coconut oil treatment were highly significant (p < 0.001). During the study, an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus was detected in the group treated with coconut oil. An increase in Alloprevotella, Bifidobacteriales, and Lactobacillales and a decrease in Corynebacterium, Mitsuokella, Psychrobacter, and Pseudomonadales were attributed to the coconut oil treatment. Although the addition of coconut oil to pig feed did not affect Shannon’s index of diversity, it had a positive effect on the abundance of bacterial groups that are considered to be commensal and/or probiotic.

The aim of this study was to find the effect of dried grape pomace (GP) feeding on the nutrients digestibility coefficients and biochemical parameters of sheep blood serum. The experiment was divided into three feeding periods—C (control), GP1 (1% grape pomace concentration), and GP2 (2% grape pomace concentration). Wethers in three groups in balance cages were housed for right feces collection. The C feed diet consisted of hay, ground wheat, soybean meal, mineral and vitamin lick. An experimental diet with 1% and 2% addition of GP from the daily dry matter intake was fed. After that, digestibility coefficients (in %) were calculated by the difference between nutrient intake and excretion. Furthermore, in the wethers’ blood, biochemical parameters (mineral, energetic, nitrogen, and enzymatic profile) were analyzed. After the GP2 feeding, statistically significant higher digestibility of CP (crude protein), NFC (nonfiber carbohydrates), NDF (neutral detergent fiber), and OM (organic matter) was found. However, the addition of dried GP increased significantly the content of Cl⁻ and decreased the value of glucose, nevertheless, their concentrations were within the reference interval. Parameters of the wethers’ blood serum nitrogen and enzymatic profile were not affected by GP feeding. Dried grape pomace in an amount of 2% diet dry matter can be considered a suitable source of nutrients in sheep feeding, which in addition should improve the digestibility of diet crude protein.

The aim of this study was to monitor the effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum (BB) and the combination of Lactobacillus sporogenes, Enterococcus faecium, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (LEB) on the health status and weight gain of calves, and the utilisation of nitrogenous substances. The experiment was performed in the period from April 2020 to September 2020. A total of 90 Holstein heifers, which were one to 56 days old, were used as experimental animals. Differences in live weight gain were significant if we compared the LEB vs. BB group and the LEB vs. C, the control group (86.23 ± 5.49 kg vs. 84.72 ± 6.22 kg, p < 0.05; 86.23 ± 5.49 kg vs. 82.86 ± 5.35 kg, p < 0.01). Considering the live weight gain, group BB was heavier than group C only (84.72 ± 6.22 kg vs. 82.86 ± 5.35 kg, p < 0.05). An effect on reducing the incidence and duration of diarrheal diseases was not demonstrated in this study (p = 0.1957). The administration of feed additives had no statistically significant effect on the amount of N excreted in the feces. The values of hematological and biochemical parameters were unaffected except for the first sampling of urea. Other blood parameters were not affected by the addition of probiotic feed additives. The bacterial populations in the feces 5 days and 56 days after birth were not affected by the inclusion of feed additives.

Background: The effects of humic substances (HSs) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of breast and thigh muscles were studied. Methods: In total, 200 pheasants were allocated to 4 treatments, each containing 50 birds. The control birds were fed a diet without additives (0% HS); the other treatment birds were fed diets containing HSs at 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0% from 1 to 90 days of age. At the end of the experiment, several carcass characteristics were measured and breast and thigh muscle samples were taken to determine the composition of several nutrients by standard laboratory methods and procedures. Results: The carcass weights of both males and females increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 0.50 HS and 0.75 HS groups after supplementation with HSs. The same effect of humic substances in the 0.50 and 0.75 HS groups was found in the weight of breast and thighs (p < 0.05). Significantly (p < 0.05), the highest carcass yield in males and females was found in the 0.50 HS group. Conclusions: Feeding with a diet containing HSs can have a beneficial influence on the carcass parameters, decrease the crude fat content in the meat and change the profile of bioactive fatty acids in the breast and thigh muscles of broiler pheasants.

Received: 2015-11-03 | Accepted: 2015-11-06 | Available online: 2016-03-24 dx.doi.org/10.15414/afz.2016.19.01.25-28 The goal of this study was to analysed and compared the nutrients content of dry dog foods with nutrient content, which is declared by the manufacturer of the dry dog foods. 15 dry dog foods bought in the Slovak republic were analysed for dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract and ash concentration. Nutrients analysis of dry dog foods were realised in Laboratory of Quality and Nutritional Value of Feeds. We found, that only 6 from 15 dry dog food samples were in interval ± 5% from declared crude protein concentration; no sample was in interval ± 5% from declared crude fat concentration; only 2 from 15 dry dog food samples were in interval ± 5% from declared crude fiber concentration; only 4 from 15 dry dog food samples were in interval ± 5% from declared ash concentration. Analysed dry dog food samples have very different nutritive value in comparison to declared nutritive value on bale. The highest shortage was detected by the fat concentration. The highest excess was detected by the fiber concentration. Keywords: dogs, dry food, nutrients concentration, evaluation References ALVAREZ, E. and SANCHEZ, P. (2006) Dietary fiber. Nutrición Hospitalaria, vol. 21, Suppl., pp. 60-71. BAUER, J.E. 2006. Facilitative and functional fats in diets of cats and dogs. In Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vol. 229, pp. 680-684. CASE, L. et al. (2011). Canine and Feline Nutrition: a resource for companion animal professionals. 3. ed. Missouri: Elsevier. HANUŠOVSKÝ, O. (2014). Changes in minerals in colostrum of sows. In XX. scientific conference of students of Faculty of agrobiology and food resources. Nitra 23.4.2014. Nitra: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, pp. 29 (in Slovak). HARLOW, J. (1997) US pet food trends. Proceedings of the pet food forum. Chicago: Watts Publishing, pp. 355-364. HERKEĽ, R., VARGA, B. and MAJLÁT, M. (2014). The analysis of fatty acids content in different plant oils. In IX. Scientific conference of PhD.-students with international participation. Nitra 14.11.2014. Nitra: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, pp. 34-37. KALLFELZ, F.A. (1989) Evaluation and use of pet foods: general consideration in using pet foods for adult maintenance. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, vol. 19, pp. 387-403. KRONFELD, D.S. (1982) Protein quality and amino acid profiles of common dog foods. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, vol. 18, pp. 679-683. LASEK, O., MILEJSKA, P. and KOWALSKI, Z.M. (2013) The use of gas-test techniques to study the fermentation process in the intestines of dogs. In DORSZEWSKI, P. et al. (eds.) Proc. conf. XLII Scientific Conference CAN CAS PAS. Bydgoszcz 18-20.9.2013. Bydgoszcz: University of Technology and Life Science, pp. 165-166. MUDŘÍK, Z. et al. (2014). Specification of calculating the energy needs for dogs used for a dogtrekking and canicross. In Lazar days of nutrition and veterinary dietetics XI. Košice 2-3.9.2014. Košice: University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, pp. 179-182. (in Czech). PÍŠOVÁ, A. 2015. Organic matter digestibility of corn silage for horses. In XXI. scientific conference of students of Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources. Nitra 22.4.2015. Nitra: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, pp. 48 (in Slovak). SAMUELSON, A.C. and CUTTER, G.R. (1991) Dog biscuits: an aid in canine tartar control. The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 121, pp. S162. TVAROŽKOVÁ, K. (2015) Evaluation of the nutritional content of the granules and comparison of the composition of selected rations for dogs. In XXI. scientific conference of students of Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources. Nitra 22.4.2015. Nitra: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, pp. 49 (in Slovak). TVRDÁ, E. et al. (2013) Mineral nutrients and male fertility. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Science, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-14. VARGA, B. (2014) Profile of fatty acids in olive and hemp oils. In XX. scientific conference of students of Faculty of agrobiology and food resources. Nitra 23.4.2014. Nitra: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, pp. 40 (in Slovak). Regulation of the Slovak Ministry of Agriculture no. 2145 / 2004 - 100 (2004) about sampling of feeds and about laboratory testing and evaluation of feeds, pp. 342 (in Slovak).

In our study the presence of bacteria, yeast, and microscopic fungi was evaluated. Three forms of corn silage were made including silage without additive, silage with microbial additive (lactic acid bacteria), and silage with nutritional additive (urea). Silage additives were applied to the matter within the recommended dosage, then the matter was ensiled into plastic bags and stored at a constant temperature. After 5.5 months of storage, average samples for microbial and mycotoxins analysis were taken. From microbiological points, the plate count agar method for enumeration of total count of bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, yeasts, and microscopic fungi and mass spectrometry for microbiota identification were used. In total, 43 species of bacteria and yeasts and 6 genera of microscopic fungi were identified from all samples of corn silages. The most isolated species were Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Kazachstania exigua from bacteria resp. yeasts and Aspergillus and Penicillium from microscopic fungi. Mycotoxins were determined by HPLC-MS/MS and divided into two groups as regulated and emerging. In the corn silages only Fusarium mycotoxins were observed. All corn silages, regardless of the addition of the additive, were the highest in nivalenol content. Deoxynivalenol and beauvericin with the highest concentrations were present in silage with urea. Although the mycotoxins content of the variants changed, these changes were not statistically significant. In general, addition of lactic acid bacteria Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Lacticaseibacillus casei and urea as silage additives affect the microbial diversity; however, the hygienic quality of whole crop corn silage was not negatively changed.