Germinated brown rice (GBR) has gained considerable attention as a functional food due to both nutritional and bioactive profiles as well as health‐promoting properties. The present narrative review is aimed at summarizing and discussing available research on GBR, focusing on bioactive composition and potential to support human well‐being. Based on available data, the germination process of brown rice enhances the bioavailability of key bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, γ ‐aminobutyric acid, γ ‐oryzanol, vitamins, and dietary fibers. Additionally, a substantial body of evidence supports the ability of GBR to exert beneficial physiological effects on the host, such as modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities, and positive influences on gut microbiota composition. The use of GBR in formulating functional foods and nutraceutical supplements further highlights its versatility as a promising strategy in supporting human well‐being.

Pistachio skin is a by-product that is considered a promising novel feed ingredient for ruminants; however, its role in shaping the lamb gastrointestinal tract microbiota is poorly studied. The present study aimed to investigate, through a metagenomics approach, the effects of integrating pistachio skin into the diet on the faecal and ruminal microbiota of healthy lambs. Faecal samples, collected at the beginning (d0) and 58 days after the start of the dietary treatment (d58), and ruminal samples, collected after slaughter, were subjected to Illumina MiSeq analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. The results revealed that, although temporal variations were observed, the supplementation of pistachio skin did not markedly affect the overall faecal microbiota structure. Conversely, specific rumen taxa were selectively modulated by the experimental diet. In conclusion, the use of pistachio skin as a feed ingredient can be considered a suitable and sustainable dietary strategy that modulates specific rumen microbial groups, thereby preserving the stability of the gut microbiota in lambs.

Preserving the Apulo-Calabrese (AC), an endangered Italian autochthonous pig breed, requires sustainable nutritional strategies that improve pork quality without compromising productive performance. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with extruded linseed, alone or combined with grape pomace powder, rich in antioxidants, on growth performance and carcass traits in purebred Apulo-Calabrese (AC) pigs and Apulo-Calabrese × Goland (AC × G) crossbred pigs. Two independent feeding trials were conducted using three dietary treatments: a control diet (CTR), a diet containing 5% extruded linseed (SL), and a diet containing 5% extruded linseed plus 0.2% grape pomace powder rich in polyphenols (SLXI). Thirty-six purebred AC pigs reared outdoors, and 30 AC × G crossbred pigs reared indoors were included in the study. Body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were recorded throughout the trials, while hot carcass weight (HCW), carcass yield (CY), pH45, pH24, and backfat thickness (BF) were evaluated at slaughter. Data were analyzed separately for the two trials using Linear Mixed Models. Feed intake was complete in all groups, indicating good diet palatability. In purebred AC pigs, dietary treatment significantly affected overall ADG, with CTR pigs showing higher ADG than SLXI animals, while SL displayed intermediate values not significantly different from either CTR or SLXI. BW and carcass traits were not significantly influenced by diet. In addition, a significant Diet × Time interaction was detected for ADG (p = 0.010), indicating diet-dependent growth patterns over time. Sex did not significantly affect BW, ADG, or carcass traits in purebred pigs. In crossbred AC × G pigs, dietary treatments could not be evaluated inferentially due to the lack of pen-level replication; therefore, growth and carcass data are presented descriptively. However, Sex significantly affected carcass yield, with males showing higher CY than females (p = 0.004), while BW, ADG, and the remaining carcass traits were not influenced by Sex. The results suggest that extruded linseed, alone or combined with low-dose grape pomace powder, can be included in diets for purebred and crossbred pigs without compromising growth performance or basic carcass traits. These findings support the use of powdered grape pomacein feeding strategies aimed at the valorization and conservation of Apulo-Calabrese pig genetic resources. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of these dietary strategies on meat fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, sensory quality, and shelf life.

Background/Objectives: In food-producing animal (FPA) environments, healthy animals can act as reservoirs of potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli, which can be transmitted through the food chain to humans. This study aimed to evaluate cloacal E. coli in healthy Sicilian lambs subjected to an experimental feeding regimen by assessing bacterial levels, antimicrobial resistance, virulence traits, and the clonal relationships, as well as the impact of a pistachio skin as an agro-industrial by-product supplement during a 58-day feeding trial. Methods: A total of 295 E. coli isolates from the control (CTRL) and treatment (Treated) groups at initial time (T0) and final time (T1) were phenotypically and genotypically characterized using Kirby–Bauer antimicrobial testing, multiplex PCR for virulence genes, and PFGE for clonal analysis. Results: The feeding regimen did not significantly influence the prevalence, abundance, or virulence of the E. coli isolates. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) were the most common pathotype, mainly carrying the stx1 gene, while the Enteroinvasive (EIEC) type was detected only sporadically. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) predominated at T0, while enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) at T1, and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), initially prevalent in Treated samples, disappeared by T1. Antimicrobial resistance profiles varied among isolates, with the highest resistance observed in the CTRL group. However, both groups exhibited high resistance to streptomycin, and 9% of CTRL isolates were multidrug resistant. A notable reduction in overall resistance rates, especially in the Treated group, was observed, indicating a dietary effect on the E. coli resistome. PFGE genotyping showed high genetic diversity, with resistance traits more frequently detected than virulence factors. Conclusions: This study highlights that healthy lambs serve as reservoirs for potentially human-pathogenic E. coli and suggests that dietary regimes could effectively reduce antibiotic resistance.