This study aimed to investigate the effects of diets supplemented with different levels of rosemary extract (RE) on the growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidative capacity, and immunological capacity of Cherry Valley meat ducks. A total of 525 healthy Cherry Valley female meat ducks at 1 d of age were selected for this study. Ducks were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 7 replicates per treatment, and each replicate had 15 ducks. All replicates were randomly assigned to treatments. The study was designed as a dose response experiment. Treatment 1 (CON) was fed with the basal diet, and Treatment 2 to 5 (RE250, RE500, RE750, RE1000) were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 g/t RE, respectively. The whole experiment lasted 42 days with early stage (1–21 d) and late stage (22–42 d). Results showed that during 22 to 42 d, ducks that were fed over 500 g/t RE had significantly lower feed gain ratio than the ones in CON (P = 0.006). In addition, ducks in RE750 had significantly lower L* and a* in leg muscle compared with the ones in CON (P < 0.05). Besides, ducks that were fed between 250 and 750 g/t RE had significantly lower total protein level in serum compared with the ones in CON (P = 0.005). Ducks in RE250 and RE750 had significantly lower albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in serum compared with the ones in CON and RE1000 (P < 0.05), and significant quadratic relationships were noticed between albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and dietary RE level (P < 0.05). Moreover, ducks that were fed between 500 and 750 g/t RE had significantly higher levels of interleukin-2 in serum compared to the ones in CON and RE1000 (P = 0.003). Ducks in RE250 and RE750 had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin G in serum compared to the ones in CON and RE1000 (P < 0.001). Ducks that were fed over 500 g/t RE had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin A in serum compared to the ones in CON (P = 0.001). Finally, ducks that were fed between 500 and 750 g/t RE had significantly higher serum levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05) compared to the ones in CON. Ducks that were fed over 250 g/t RE had significantly lower serum level of malondialdehyde compared to the ones in CON (P = 0.020). Collectively, dietary supplementation of RE improved the growth performance and meat qualities of meat ducks during 22 to 42 d, which were possibly associated with the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of RE. Based on the serum antioxidative and immunological parameters, we suggested that 500 to 750 g/t was the optimal supplementation rate for RE in diets for meat ducks aged 22 to 42 d.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary grape seed polyphenols (GSP) supplementation during the late gestation and lactation period on reproductive performance, antioxidative status in serum, nutrient composition, and Ig content in colostrum of multiparous sows. On day 80 of gestation, a total of 64 sows with similar body condition were allocated to a completely randomized block design with 4 dietary treatments (n = 16 sows per treatment): 1) basal diet (CON, control group); 2) basal diet supplemented with 200 IU/kg vitamin E (200VE, positive control group); 3) basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg GSP (200GSP); and 4) basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg GSP (300GSP). The trial lasted 56 d until the piglets were weaned on day 21 of lactation. Reproductive performance, parameters of antioxidative status, and levels of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) in serum, nutrient composition, and Ig content in colostrum of sows were determined. The number of dead fetuses was reduced, and farrowing survival was significantly improved in the litters from 300GSP-fed (P < 0.05). Preweaning survivability significantly increased in the litters from sows fed 200GSP and 200VE (P < 0.05). The activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the serum was significantly increased in sows fed 200GSP and 300GSP (P < 0.05). The activity of GSH-Px in the serum also significantly increased in sows fed 200VE (P < 0.05). Sows fed 300GSP had the greatest levels of P4 and E2 in the serum, which was significantly greater than sows fed 200VE and CON (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found among treatments for the content of solids-not-fat, fat, protein, and lactose in colostrum (P > 0.05). However, sows fed GSP had greater IgM and IgG content in colostrum compared with sows fed 200VE and CON (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary GSP supplementation during late gestation and lactation improved the farrowing survival and preweaning survivability, enhanced the antioxidant status and hormone levels in serum, and increased the IgM and IgG content in colostrum of sows.

In an effort to further understand of the differences of meat flavor and texture between Linwu ducks and Pekin ducks at market age, we investigated t

The present study investigated the effects of ferulic acid (FA) on the growth performance, serum cytokine profile, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota in ducks at the growing stage. 300 female Linwu ducks at 28 days of age with similar body weights were randomly divided into five groups. Each group contained six replicates of 10 birds. The dietary treatments were corn-soybean-based diet supplemented with FA at the concentrations of 0 (control), 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg diet. The results demonstrated that dietary FA at the levels of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg increased the average daily gain (P = 0.01), 400 and 800 mg/kg FA increased the final body weight (P = 0.02), 100, 200, and 800 mg/kg FA increased the serum glutathione (P = 0.01), and 100, 400, and 800 mg/kg FA increased the glutathione peroxidase activities in birds (P < 0.01). Additionally, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg dietary FA lowered the serum levels of interleukin-2 (P = 0.02) and interleukin-6 (P = 0.04). Moreover, the morphometric study of the intestines indicated that 400 mg/kg FA decreased the crypt depth in jejunum (P = 0.01) and caecum (P = 0.04), and increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in jejunum (P = 0.02). Significant linear and/or quadratic relationships were found between FA concentration and the measured parameters. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary FA increased the populations of genera Faecalibacterium, Paludicola, RF39, and Faecalicoccus in the cecum (P < 0.05), whereas decreased the populations of Anaerofilum and UCG-002 (P < 0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis indicated that phylum Proteobacteria were negatively, but order Oscillospirales, and family Ruminococcaceae were positively related to the parameters of the growth performance. Phylum Bacteroidetes, class Negativicutes and family Rikenellaceae were negatively associated with the parameters of the antioxidative capability. And phylum Cyanobacteria, Elusimicrobia, and Bacteroidetes, class Bacilli, family Rikenellaceae, and genus Prevotella were positively associated with the parameters of the immunological capability. Thus, it was concluded that the supplementations of 400 mg/kg FA in diet was able to improve the growth performance, antioxidative and immunological capabilities, intestinal morphology, and modulated the gut microbial construction of Linwu ducks at the growing stage.

After the legislative ban on the utilization of antibiotics in animal feed, phytochemical substances gained increasing attention as alternatives to antibiotics because of their bioactivities and safety for animals. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary rosemary extract (RE) on growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidant and immune capacities, and gut microbiota composition of broilers. By exploring connections among RE, physiological characteristics of broilers, and key microbiota, we sought to provide evidence for the utilization of RE in poultry feed. A total of 280 1-d-old female AA broilers were randomly separated into five groups, and were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg of RE, respectively. Results showed that with regard to growth performance, both 500 and 750 mg/kg RE reduced the broiler feed-to-gain ratio from 1 to 21 d (P = 0.018). Regarding meat quality, all compositions of dietary RE reduced cooking loss of breast muscle (P < 0.01), and 500 and 1,000 mg/kg RE reduced the cooking loss of thigh muscle (P = 0.045). Regarding serum biochemical indexes, 500 mg/kg RE reduced ALB, TCHO, HDL-C, and LDL-C, and 750 mg/kg RE reduced GLU, TP, ALB, UA, TG, TCHO, HDL-C, and LDL-C (P < 0.01). Regarding antioxidant and immune capacities, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg RE increased T-AOC, GSH-Px, SOD, CAT, IL-2, IgA, IgG, and IgM levels (P < 0.01), and decreased serum MDA level (P < 0.01). RE at 750 mg/kg showed similar effects on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidative and immune capacities, but a better influence on serum biochemical indexes of broilers compared with 500 mg/kg. Further analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of 750 mg/kg dietary RE on the gut microbial composition of broilers, and the results showed that 750 mg/kg RE reduced the relative abundance of g_Lachnoclostridium, g_Escherichia_Shigella, and g_Marvinbryantia (P 2), which were negatively correlated to antioxidative and immune-associated parameters (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 750 mg/kg dietary RE was shown to have certain beneficial effects on growth performance and meat quality, and hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects on broilers. Furthermore, dietary RE improved antioxidant and immune capacities, which was partially attributed to the reduced abundance of certain pathogenic bacteria in broilers.