The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of supplementing different levels of protein and energy sources on blood biochemical profiles of Brahman crossbred cattle

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has impacted poultry and wild birds globally. The number of H5 HPAI virus (HPAIV) infection cases in wild birds in Hokkaido (Northern Japan) was high in the last two seasons, contributing to virus spillover to resident birds and poultry. Therefore, H5 HPAIVs in birds and mammals in Hokkaido in winter 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 were monitored and viruses were phylogenetically, antigenically, and pathogenetically characterized. Thirty HPAIV isolates were subtyped and pathotyped by sequencing the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of viruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed that all isolated HPAIVs were categorized into clade 2.3.4.4b and divided into three groups (G2b, G2c, and G2d). Most isolates belonging to subgroup G2d clustered with isolates in winter 2021–2022 in Hokkaido. The other isolates were categorized into two subgroups, G2b and G2c, mainly composed of isolates in Honshu Island in winter 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, respectively. Two H5 HPAIVs isolated in Eastern Russia in spring and autumn 2022 were genetically close to most Hokkaido isolates (G2d), and a virus isolated in Hokkaido in November 2023 was also grouped in subgroup G2d. Further analysis of all eight gene segments identified six types of gene constellations. Cross‐hemagglutination inhibition test indicated that the antigenicity of H5 HPAIVs isolated in the last several seasons was similar within them but slightly different from that in the 2010s. Three chicken breeds were intranasally challenged with four representative isolates to assess their pathogenicity. All chickens except one broiler chicken were dead until 5‐day postchallenge with different pathogenicity of these viruses. The pathogenicity of one HPAIV strain was significantly lower in broiler chickens than in layer chickens. The mixture of multiple characteristics of HPAIVs in Hokkaido was confirmed by bird migration routes. Thus, many HPAIVs can be brought and scattered anywhere on Earth.

Background and Aim: Probiotic species have been proven to be beneficial on broiler performance; however, most studies have focused on industrial chickens with fast growth, whereas little information concerning the use of these species on native chickens is available. This study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) on the mortality, growth rate, and carcass characteristics in native Noi chickens challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Materials and Methods: We divided 420 1-day-old Noi chicks into seven different treatment groups (n = 60): negative control (no S. Typhimurium, no probiotics or antibiotics); positive control (PC, S. Typhimurium infection, no probiotics or antibiotics); and S. Typhimurium infection and supplementation with LP, BS, LP + BS, enrofloxacin, and commercial probiotics, respectively. Treatment was for 96 days, and the chicks were orally challenged with S. Typhimurium at 22 days old. Results: No deaths occurred during the 4 weeks post-infection in the negative control, LP, or LP+BS groups. The PC group had the highest mortality rate (20%). Re-isolation of S. Typhimurium from the liver, spleen, and heart showed reduced bacterial counts at 1 week post-infection in the LP, BS, and LP + BS groups. The lowest body weight gain was observed in the PC group (949 g/bird), and chicks in the LP group gained 1148 g/bird. An improved feed conversion ratio was noted in the groups receiving probiotic supplementation (3.42–3.50 kg feed/kg gain). There was little evidence that probiotics affected carcass percentage and related parameters, such as breast, thigh and drumstick, and wings. Conclusion: Lactobacillus plantarum or BS dietary supplementation to native Noi broilers resulted in a lower mortality rate and improved body weight gain but did not affect carcass characteristics.

Aim: This study was conducted to identify the diversity of feather color and to determine the relationship between plumage color and egg yield as well as eggshell patterns and internal egg quality traits of Japanese quails. Materials and Methods: For investigating phenotypic diversity, a total of 600 quails from five breeding farms were evaluated to record head feather, shank, and plumage color. An on-station experiment was also conducted on 360 laying quails to examine the relationship between plumage color and egg production and egg weight during 24 weeks of laying. Eggs collected during this period were also used for identifying eggshell patterns and examining their relationship with internal egg quality characteristics. Results: Plumage color was primarily wild-type, with the highest proportion being 56.3% (p<0.001). Brown color was also found at a relatively high proportion in the population (16.7%), followed by black color (11.3%). The egg production and laying rate of quails with wild-type and brown plumage colors also significantly (p=0.001) differed from those of quails with other plumage types. Egg weight was also higher in these quail groups, especially than that of quails with yellow plumage color. Four patterns of eggshell were identified, among which spotted and dark eggshells were predominant (45.2% and 43.1%, respectively); however, patterns did not affect internal egg quality characteristics. Conclusion: Plumage color was primarily wild-type in both male and female quails. Egg yield over a 24-week laying period was superior in quails with wild-type and brown plumage colors, whereas a relationship between eggshell patterns and egg quality traits could not be established.

The inhibitory effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid phosphate (5-ALA), an important amino acid for energy production in the host, against viral infections were previously reported. Here, the antiviral effects of 5-ALA against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) belonging to the genus Pestivirus in the Flaviviridae family and its possible mechanisms were investigated. CSFV replication was suppressed in swine cells supplemented with 5-ALA or its metabolite, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). The infectivity titer of CSFV was decreased after mixing with PPIX extracellularly. In addition, the activities of the replication cycle were decreased in the presence of PPIX based on the CSFV replicon assay. These results showed that PPIX exerted antiviral effects by inactivating virus particles and inhibiting the replication cycle. To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of 5-ALA, pigs were supplemented daily with 5-ALA for 1 week before virus inoculation and then inoculated with a virulent CSFV strain at the 10^7.0 50% tissue culture infectious dose. The clinical scores of the supplemented group were significantly lower than those of the nonsupplemented group, whereas the virus growth was not. Taken together, 5-ALA showed antiviral effects against CSFV in vitro, and PPIX played a key role by inactivating virus particles extracellularly and inhibiting the replication cycle intracellularly.