ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1797-1941
Current Organisations
Technological University of the Shannon
,
University of Nottingham
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2014
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 07-07-2014
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514001494
Abstract: Phytase (PHY) improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility and bone structure in pigs however, little is known about its effects on intestinal nutrient transporter gene expression. In the present study, a 44 d experiment was carried out using forty-eight pigs (11·76 ( sem 0·75) kg) assigned to one of three dietary treatment groups to measure growth performance, coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID), coefficient of apparent total tract nutrient digestibility (CATTD) and intestinal nutrient transporter gene expression. Dietary treatments during the experimental period were as follows: (1) a high-P (HP) diet containing 3·4 g/kg available P and 7·0 g/kg Ca (2) a low-P (LP) diet containing 1·9 g/kg available P and 5·9 g/kg Ca (3) a PHY diet containing LP diet ingredients+1000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of PHY. The PHY diet increased the average daily gain ( P 0·05) and final body weight ( P 0·01) and decreased the feed conversion ratio ( P 0·05) compared with the LP diet. Pigs fed the PHY diet had a higher CAID of gross energy compared with those fed the HP and LP diets ( P 0·001). Pigs fed the PHY diet had increased CAID of P ( P 0·01) and CATTD of Ca and P ( P 0·001) compared with those fed the LP diet. The PHY diet increased the gene expression of the peptide transporter 1 ( PEPT1 / SLC15A1 ) ( P 0·05) in the ileum compared with the LP diet. The LP diet decreased the gene expression of the sodium–glucose-linked transporter 1 ( SGLT1 / SLC5A1 ) and GLUT2 / SLC2A2 ( P 0·05) and increased the expression of membrane Ca channel ( TRPV6 ) and calbindin compared with the HP diet ( P 0·001). In conclusion, feeding a diet supplemented with PHY improves growth performance and nutrient digestibility as well as increases the gene expression of the peptide transporter PEPT1 .
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 12-09-2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 17-10-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114513003280
Abstract: Seaweed extracts (SWE) rich in laminarin and fucoidan have shown promise as a supplement for weaned piglets. However, successful application in pig nutrition depends on their bioactivity in the presence of additives such as ZnO. In the present study, a 2 × 2 factorial experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of the interaction between SWE and ZnO on the growth performance, digestibility and faecal characteristics of 192 weaned piglets (6·5 kg). The piglets were penned in groups of 4 ( n 12 pens). The study consisted of two phases after weaning: a starter diet period from the day of weaning (0 d) to 21 d and a transition diet period from 21 to 40 d. The dietary treatments were as follows: (1) control diet (2) control diet+ZnO (3) control diet+SWE (4) control diet+ZnO+SWE. Diets containing ZnO improved the faecal consistency of the piglets throughout the experimental period (0–40 d). An effect of the interaction between ZnO and SWE on several variable was observed. The diet containing only SWE or ZnO improved the feed conversion efficiency of the piglets during the transition diet period however, this effect was not observed when the diet containing both ZnO and SWE was fed. The diet containing only SWE increased the N and organic matter digestibility of the piglets however, this effect was not observed in the presence of ZnO. An interaction between ZnO and SWE was observed, whereby the faecal counts of Escherichia coli were decreased when piglets were fed the diet containing only SWE, but not when fed the diet containing both SWE and ZnO. In summary, SWE and ZnO improve growth performance when given alone, but not when given in combination. The biological effect of SWE on selected digestibility and faecal characteristics was markedly different when compared with that of ZnO.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 27-11-2017
DOI: 10.3390/ANI7120091
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2013
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.2527/JAS.53979
Abstract: Two 2 × 2 factorial experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction between xylanase (0 vs. 200 mg/kg) and protease (0 vs. 200 mg/kg) enzyme supplementation on growth performance (Exp. 1) and coefficient of ileal and total tract apparent digestibility in grower-finisher pigs (Exp. 2). One hundred and twenty-eight in idual fed pigs (BW = 34.2 kg n = 32) were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: basal diet (T1), T1 + xylanase enzyme (T2), T1 + protease enzyme (T3), or T1 + xylanase + protease enzymes (T4). The pigs offered diets containing protease enzymes had reduced daily gain (0.795 vs. 0.840 kg/d P < 0.05) and final body weight (96.4 vs. 99.1 kg P < 0.05) compared to pigs offered diets without protease enzymes. Pigs offered xylanase-supplemented diets had reduced daily gain (0.787 vs. 0.848 kg/d P < 0.05) compared to pigs offered diets without xylanase enzymes. In Exp. 2, the nutrient digestibility experiment consisted of 24 intact male pigs (n = 6 BW = 78 kg), offered identical diets to that offered in Exp. 1. Following the fecal collections, the pigs were slaughtered and digesta s les were taken from the ileum in order to measure apparent ileal N and GE digestibilities. Pigs offered diets supplemented with protease had increased coefficients of ileal digestibility of N compared to pigs offered diets without protease supplementation (0.583 vs. 0.449 P < 0.05). There was a xylanase × protease interaction (P < 0.05) on the apparent ileal digestibility of GE. Pigs offered diets containing protease only had increased apparent ileal digestibility of GE compared to basal fed pigs however, the ileal digestibility of GE decreased when protease was combined with xylanase. Neither xylanase nor protease enzymes had any effect on total tract digestibility of GE or N. In conclusion, xylanase and protease enzyme supplementation had no positive effects on grower-finisher pig performance.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 02-2011
Abstract: It was hypothesized that supplementation of an oat-extracted mixed-linkage (1 → 3), (1 → 4)-β-d-glucan (β-glucans) to a wheat-based diet may beneficially mitigate manure odor and ammonia emissions associated with intensive pig production, without depressing nutrient digestibility as has been observed with oat-based diets. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary β-glucan source and the inclusion of an enzyme composite containing β-glucanase on energy and nutrient digestibility, N utilization, distal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) fermentation, and manure emissions from finisher boars. Twenty-eight boars (BW = 74.2 ± 3.6 kg) were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (n = 7/treatment): 1) an oat-based diet (oat), 2) an oat diet + enzyme composite (OE), 3) a wheat-based diet + purified β-glucans (WG), and 4) a wheat-based diet + purified β-glucans + enzyme composite. The wheat-based diets containing purified β-glucans were formulated to contain concentrations of total β-glucans comparable with the oat-based diet. Consumption of the WG diet resulted in a greater digestibility of GE (P = 0.001) and an increase in the urine:feces N excretion ratio (P = 0.049) compared with the oat diet. In the distal GIT, pigs offered the WG diet contained fewer bifidobacteria (P = 0.027) and lactobacilli (P = 0.050) compared with the oat diet. Pigs offered the WG diet had increased manure odor emissions compared with the oat diet (P = 0.023). In conclusion, although supplementing wheat-based diets with extracted oat-β-glucan did not reduce nutrient digestibility, there was a negligible effect in beneficially influencing manure emissions from pigs when compared with a conventional oat formulation.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.2527/JAS.53956
Abstract: This study investigated if supplementing the diet with seaweed extracts (SWE) containing laminarin and fucoidan would promote growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal consistency in newly weaned piglets during 2 growth phases as compared with ZnO. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial with 2 levels of SWE (0 or 300 mg/kg laminarin + 240 mg/kg fucoidan) and 2 levels of ZnO [0 or added (3.1 g/kg for the starter diet and 2.5 g/kg for the transition diet)]. Dietary treatments were (i) basal diet, (ii) basal diet + ZnO, (iii) basal diet + SWE, and (iv) basal diet + ZnO + SWE. Newly weaned 6.5-kg pigs (n = 12 4 pigs per pen) were offered supplements in a starter diet from weaning (day 0) to day 21 and in a transition diet from day 22 to day 40. There was an interaction (P = 0.005) between SWE and ZnO on G:F whereby pigs supplemented with SWE and ZnO in idually had improved G:F when compared with the combination diet. There was an interaction between SWE and ZnO interaction on digestibility of DM (P < 0.01), N (P < 0.01), and NDF (P < 0.01). Pigs offered the SWE diets alone had a higher digestibility of DM, N, and NDF compared with pigs offered the basal diet. In summary, SWE induced a comparable growth performance pattern as obtained with ZnO inclusion. However, this was negated when supplements were offered in combination. Improvements in growth performance of pigs consuming SWE alone may reflect improvements in nutrient digestibility.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2011
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-10-2021
DOI: 10.3390/ANI11102986
Abstract: Feed efficiency (FE) is an important measure of productivity in the layer industry however, little is known about how FE differs between in idual hens during the egg-laying cycle and the implications for egg quality parameters. In idual 25-week-old ISA Brown hens were observed for 42 days, ranked into three FE groups (n = 48 per High (HFE), Medium (MFE) and Low (LFE) FE groups and then monitored later in the laying cycle from 35–40 weeks. The groups exhibited different feed to egg conversion ratios (p 0.001) from 35–40 weeks. Average daily feed intake and body weight were highest (p 0.001) in the LFE group compared to the MFE and HFE groups, while albumen height, Haugh unit and amino acid concentrations of the albumen were significantly higher in the HFE groups compared to the LFE cohort (p 0.001). This study concludes that FE status established in early lay is a stable variable until at least 40 weeks of age, and overweight, mid-laying hens that had poor FE produced inferior egg albumen quality measurements and composition. The distinct traits of the highly efficient hens and the poor feed efficient hens may provide important information to improving productivity in egg production.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-2011
Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that reducing dietary CP may improve N utilization and effectively diminish manure ammonia emissions however, the response of manure odor emissions to such dietary modifications has been inconsistent. The objective of the current experiment was to induce decreased lactobacilli (DL) numbers in the distal gastrointestinal tract (dGIT cecum + colon) of finishing pigs offered both high- and low-CP diets through consumption of chitosan, and examine the influence of this model on manure ammonia and odor emissions when compared with a positive control diet. It was hypothesized that an DL population would be accompanied by an increase in markers of protein fermentation. When compared with normal lactobacilli populations in the dGIT, generation of an DL population would result in increased manure odor emissions from pigs offered both dietary CP concentrations. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted to investigate the effect of including chitosan [0 (positive control) vs. 20 g/kg of feed] and high or low dietary CP concentration (200 vs. 150 g/kg of feed) on nutrient digestibility, N utilization, selected bacterial populations, and metabolite composition of the dGIT and manure emissions from finisher pigs (60.3 kg). Consumption of chitosan had no influence (P > 0.05) on nutrient digestibility or N utilization. In both high- and low-CP diets, consumption of chitosan decreased the lactobacilli-to-Enterobacteriaceae ratio (P < 0.01), generating an DL population, and increased pH (P < 0.01) in the dGIT and ammonia (P = 0.02) in the cecum compared with diets that supported normal lactobacilli populations. Consumption of chitosan decreased molar proportions of butyric acid (P < 0.01) and increased valeric acid (P 0.05) of chitosan consumption on manure ammonia emissions from 0 to 240 h. The current study demonstrates that dietary chitosan suppressed populations of lactobacilli in the dGIT. In response, a considerable increase in Enterobacteriaceae, markers of protein fermentation, and manure odor emissions was observed compared with the positive control diet. These effects were observed in pigs offered both high-and low-CP diets. The current study indicates a possible role for lactic-acid bacteria in modulating manure odor emissions relatively independent of the proportions of dietary CP available for fermentation in the dGIT.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 06-02-2014
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114513004224
Abstract: In the present study, two experiments were conducted to (1) evaluate the effect of laminarin and/or fucoidan on ileal morphology, nutrient transporter gene expression and coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients and (2) determine whether laminarin inclusion could be used as an alternative to ZnO supplementation in weaned pig diets. Expt 1 was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, comprising four dietary treatments ( n 7 replicates, weaning age 24 d, live weight 6·9 kg). The dietary treatments were as follows: (1) basal diet (2) basal diet+300 ppm laminarin (3) basal diet+240 ppm fucoidan (4) basal diet+300 ppm laminarin and 240 ppm fucoidan. There was an interaction between laminarin and fucoidan on the CTTAD of gross energy (GE) ( P 0·05) and the expression of sodium–glucose-linked transporter 1 ( SGLT1/SLC5A1) and GLUT1/SLC2A1 and GLUT2/SLC2A2 ( P 0·05) in the ileum. The laminarin diet increased the CTTAD of GE and increased the expression of SGLT1 , GLUT1 and GLUT2 compared with the basal diet. However, there was no effect of laminarin supplementation on these variables when combined with fucoidan. Expt 2 was designed as a complete randomised design ( n 8 replicates/treatment, weaning age 24 d, live weight 7·0 kg), and the treatments were (1) basal diet, (2) basal diet and laminarin (300 ppm), and (3) basal diet and ZnO (3100 ppm, 0–14 d, and 2600 ppm, 15–32 d post-weaning). The laminarin diet increased average daily gain and gain:feed ratio compared with the basal diet during days 0–32 post-weaning ( P 0·01) and had an effect similar to the ZnO diet. These results demonstrate that laminarin provides a dietary means to improve gut health and growth performance post-weaning.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-05-2018
DOI: 10.1093/JAS/SKY188
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2010
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1017/JNS.2015.16
Abstract: The experiment investigated the effect of maternal dietary supplementation of seaweed-derived polysaccharides (SDP) (–SDP v. +SDP, n 20) from day 83 of gestation until weaning (day 28) on selected sow faeces and piglet digesta microbiota populations, piglet small-intestinal morphology, and intestinal nutrient transporter and inflammatory cytokine gene expression at birth, 48 h after birth and weaning. The effect of maternal dietary treatment on the piglet gene expression profile of inflammatory cytokines in the colon following a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was also investigated. Dietary SDP reduced sow faecal Enterobacteriaceae gene numbers at parturition. Small-intestinal morphology, nutrient transporter and cytokine gene expression in newborn piglets did not differ between maternal dietary treatments ( P 0·10). At 48 h after birth, sodium–glucose-linked transporter 1 gene expression was down-regulated in the ileum of piglets suckling the SDP-supplemented sows compared with those suckling the basal sows ( P = 0·050). There was a SDP × LPS challenge interaction on IL-1 and IL-6 gene expression in the colon of piglets ( P 0·05). The gene expression of IL-1 and IL-6 was down-regulated in the LPS-challenged colon of piglets suckling the SDP sows compared with those suckling the basal sows ( P 0·05). However, there was no difference in IL-1 and IL-6 gene expression in the unchallenged colon between treatment groups. At weaning, piglets suckling the SDP-supplemented sows had increased villus height in the jejunum and ileum compared with those suckling the basal-fed sows ( P 0·05). In conclusion, maternal dietary SDP supplementation enhanced the immune response of suckling piglets and improved gut morphology, making them more immune competent to deal with post-weaning adversities.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-2012
Abstract: Conventional dietary strategies to reduce pig manure odor may either be costly, or impede nutrient digestibility. Additionally, the response of manure odor to such measures may be variable, indicating a complex relationship between environmental pollutant and diet. We hypothesized that dietary Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), with or without the inclusion of a purified oligofructose (inulin), may reduce odor without compromising nutrient digestibility. An experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted to investigate effects of dietary inulin (0 and 12.5 g/kg) and LP (0 and 0.5 g/kg) on nutrient digestibility, indicators of gastrointestinal tract fermentation, select fecal bacteria, manure content, and ammonia and odor emissions of 28 growing-finishing pigs (60.3 kg n = 7/treatment). Dietary treatments had no effect on nutrient digestibility. Dietary treatments containing inulin had decreased Enterobacteriaceae (8.60 vs. 9.67 log gene copy number/g fresh feces P = 0.03) when compared with unsupplemented diets. There was an interaction between dietary inulin concentration and LP supplementation on estimates of fecal Clostridia (P = 0.01). Pigs offered diets containing both inulin and LP in combination had increased Clostridia when compared with those offered the control diet. However, there was no effect of either LP or inulin fecal Clostridia when offered singularly. An interaction was also noted where diets supplemented with LP or inulin only reduced odor (P = 0.01) compared with the control diet. However, there was no effect of LP on manure odor emissions when offered in combination with inulin. In summary, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with either exogenous LP or inulin reduces manure odor but not when offered in combination.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1017/JNS.2016.4
Abstract: The algal polysaccharides laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) have potent anti-inflammatory activities in the gastrointestinal tract. Our objective was to examine the impact of prior consumption of LAM and/or FUC on pathology and inflammation following a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) challenge in pigs. Pigs ( n 7/group) were assigned to one of five experimental groups for 56 d. From 49–55 d, distilled water or DSS was administered intragastrically. The experimental groups were: (1) basal diet + distilled water (control) (2) basal diet + DSS (DSS) (3) basal diet + FUC + DSS (FUC + DSS) (4) basal diet + LAM + DSS (LAM + DSS) and (5) basal diet + LAM + FUC + DSS (LAMFUC + DSS). The DSS group had decreased body-weight gain ( P 0·05) and serum xylose ( P 0·05), and increased proximal colon pathology score ( P 0·05), diarrhoeal score ( P 0·001) and colonic Enterobacteriaceae ( P 0·05) relative to the control group. The FUC + DSS ( P 0·01), LAM + DSS ( P 0·05) and LAMFUC + DSS ( P 0·05) groups had improved diarrhoeal score, and the LAMFUC + DSS ( P 0·05) group had improved body weight relative to the DSS group. The FUC + DSS group ( P 0·001), LAM + DSS group ( P 0·05) and LAMFUC + DSS group ( P 0·001) had lower IL-6 mRNA abundance relative to the DSS group. The LAM + DSS group had reduced Enterobacteriaceae in proximal colon digesta relative to the DSS group ( P 0·05). In conclusion, FUC or a combination of FUC and LAM improved body-weight loss, diarrhoeal scores and clinical variables associated with a DSS challenge in pigs, in tandem with a reduction in colonic IL-6 mRNA abundance.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 26-03-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114513000834
Abstract: A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the interactions between laminarin (LAM 0 and 300 parts per million (ppm)) and fucoidan (FUC 0 and 240 ppm) levels on intestinal morphology, selected microbiota and inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the weaned pig. There was an interaction between LAM and FUC supplementation on the Enterobacteriaceae population ( P 0·05) and the abundance of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) strains ( P 0·05) in the colon. Pigs offered the FUC diet had a reduced Enterobacteriaceae population compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, the effect of FUC on the Enterobacteriaceae population was not observed when combined with LAM. Pigs offered the LAM diet had reduced abundance of AEEC strains compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of LAM on the abundance of AEEC strains when combined with FUC. There was an interaction between LAM and FUC supplementation on villous height ( P 0·01) and the villous height:crypt depth ratio ( P 0·01) in the duodenum. Pigs offered the LAM or FUC diet had an increased villous height and villous height:crypt depth ratio compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of the LAM and FUC combination diet on intestinal morphology. Pigs offered the LAM-supplemented diets had a lower IL-6 ( P 0·05), IL-17A ( P 0·01) and IL-1β ( P 0·01) mRNA expression in the colon compared with pigs offered the diets without LAM. In conclusion, supplementation with either LAM or FUC alone modified intestinal morphology and selected intestinal microbiota, but these effects were lost when offered in combination.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.2527/JAS.53949
Abstract: Previous studies have shown the benefit of combining seaweed extracts laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) on improving growth in piglets' performance after weaning. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction between FUC (0 and 240 mg/kg) and LAM (0 and 300 mg/kg) levels on gut morphology and colonic cytokine gene expression in the weaned pig. Twenty-eight piglets (6.9 kg BW) were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments for 8 d after weaning and then sacrificed. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) basal diet, (ii) basal diet + 240 mg/kg FUC, (iii) basal diet + 300 mg/kg LAM, and (iv) basal diet + 300 mg/kg LAM and 240 mg/kg FUC. There was an interaction (P < 0.01) between LAM and FUC supplementation on duodenal villous height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio. Pigs offered the LAM or FUC diet singularly had an increased villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of the LAM and FUC combination diet on morphology. Pigs offered the LAM-supplemented diets had a lower IL-6 (P < 0.05), IL-17 (P < 0.001), and IL-1β (P < 0.001) mRNA expression in the colon compared with pigs offered diets without LAM supplementation. In conclusion, the enhancement in intestinal structure and downregulation of inflammatory cytokine gene expression obtained suggest that LAM may provide a dietary means to improve gut health in weaned pigs.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.2527/JAS.53948
Abstract: A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protease (0 and 200 mg/kg) and xylanase (0 and 200mg/kg) in reducing manure odor and NH(3) from finisher pigs. Sixteen pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, (i) basal diet, (ii) basal diet + xylanase, (iii) basal diet + protease, or (iv) basal diet + xylanase + protease, for 24 d. The manure s les from pigs offered diets containing protease showed increased (P < 0.05) molar proportions of isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid, and branched-chain fatty acids in contrast to pigs offered diets without protease supplementation. The pigs offered diets with xylanase inclusion had reduced (P < 0.05) manure odor emissions compared to pigs offered diets without xylanase supplementation [598 vs. 1306 European odor units (OuE)/m(3)]. Pigs offered protease-supplemented diets alone had significantly higher NH(3) emissions compared to basal fed pigs. However, NH(3) emissions were reduced when protease was combined with xylanase. In summary, this study indicates that protease supplementation increased protein-derived VFA in manure and also increased manure NH(3) emissions when offered singularly. Consumption of diets containing xylanase reduced manure odor emissions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2008
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.2527/JAS.53802
Abstract: An unregulated T(h)17 inflammatory response has been highlighted as a major contributor to the underlying pathology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) whereas regulatory T (T(REG)) cells) have been highlighted as pivotal in suppressing autoimmune and inflammatory responses in the gut. Following dietary supplementation, β-glucans have been shown to reduce the T(h)17 signature molecule IL-17a in the porcine colon. To expand this observation we examined the effects of supplementing feeds with β-glucans derived from seaweeds Laminaria hyperborea and Laminaria digitata and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on gene expression of a range of cytokines, receptors, and signal transducing molecules relevant to the T(h)17 and T(REG) pathways in the porcine colon. All sources of β-glucans significantly decreased the expression of T(h)17-related cytokines (IL-17a, IL-17F, and IL-22), receptor IL23R, and IL-6. There was no alteration to the T(REG)-related target, Foxp3, or to TGF-β, although a significant reduction in IL-10 was observed in the L. digitata supplementation group.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.2527/JAS.53945
Abstract: A 3 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different ratios of dietary laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in newly weaned piglets. At weaning, 168 piglets (24 d of age 6.8 kg live weight) were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (n = 14/treatment): (i) basal diet, (ii) basal diet + 240 mg/kg FUC, (iii) basal diet + 150 mg/kg LAM, (iv) basal diet + 150 mg/kg LAM and 240 mg/kg FUC, (v) basal diet + 300 mg/kg LAM, and (vi) basal diet + 300 mg/kg LAM and 240 mg/kg FUC. Pigs offered 300 mg/kg LAM-supplemented diets had a higher ADG (P < 0.05) throughout the entire experimental period (days 0-35) compared with pigs offered diets with 0 and 150 mg/kg LAM supplementation. There was a significant interaction between LAM and FUC supplementation on G:F (P < 0.05) during the entire experimental period. Pigs offered the 300 mg/kg LAM-supplemented diet had a higher G:F than pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of the high level LAM on G:F when combined with FUC. There was a significant interaction between LAM and FUC supplementation on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of GE (P < 0.05). Pigs offered the 150 and 300 mg/kg LAM diet had an increased ATTD of GE compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of LAM on ATTD of GE when combined with FUC. Pigs offered the 150 and 300 mg/kg LAM-supplemented diets had an improved fecal consistency (P < 0.05) from day 7 to day 14 compared to pigs offered diets without LAM supplementation. In conclusion, the inclusion of LAM improved growth performance of pigs after weaning partially due to an increased ATTD of GE.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 03-02-2016
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 18-12-2009
Abstract: The objective of the current experiment was to evaluate the influence of dietary cereal sources of beta(1,3)(1,4)-d-glucan (beta-glucan) and enzyme supplementation on indices of environmental pollution from finisher pigs. An experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was initiated to investigate the effect of dietary source of beta-glucan (barley vs. oats) and enzyme supplementation (no vs. yes) on nutrient digestibility, N utilization, intestinal fermentation, and manure odor and ammonia emissions from finisher boars (n = 4 BW = 73.9 kg SD = 4.7). Sixteen boars were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (n = 4/treatment): 1) barley-based diet, 2) barley-based diet + exogenous enzyme, 3) oat-based diet, and 4) oat-based diet + enzyme. The enzyme supplement used contained endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase and endo-1,4-beta-xylanase. Experimental diets were formulated to contain similar concentrations of DE (13.5 MJ/kg) and digestible lysine (8.8 g/kg). Pigs offered oat-based diets had reduced digestibility of DM (0.795 vs. 0.849 SEM 0.007 P = 0.001), OM (0.808 vs. 0.865 SEM 0.007 P = 0.001), GE (0.806 vs. 0.845 SEM 0.006 P = 0.002), and NDF (0.233 vs. 0.423 SEM 0.033 P < 0.003) compared with those offered barley-based diets. Oat-based diets increased populations of Bifidobacterium spp. (7.26 vs. 6.38 log cfu/g of digesta SEM 0.201 P = 0.005) and Lactobacillus spp. (6.99 vs. 6.18 log cfu/g of digesta SEM 0.234 P = 0.022) in the proximal colon and decreased manure odor emissions [2,179.6 vs. 4,984.6 Ou(E)/m(3) (where Ou(E) refers to European odor units) SEM 653.7 P < 0.011] compared with barley-based diets. There was an interaction between cereal type and enzyme inclusion on manure ammonia emissions from 0 to 96 h (P = 0.050). Pigs offered barley-based diets containing an enzyme supplement had increased manure ammonia emissions compared with those offered unsupplemented barley-based diets. However, there was no effect of enzyme inclusion on oat-based diets. In conclusion, pigs offered oat-based diets harbored increased Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. populations in the proximal colon and had decreased manure odor emissions compared with those offered barley-based diets. Enzyme inclusion had no effect on manure ammonia emissions from pigs offered oat-based diets.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 27-10-2014
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514003171
Abstract: In the present study, a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal supplementation with seaweed extracts ( − SWE v. +SWE, n 20) from day 83 of gestation until weaning (day 28) on post-weaning (PW) growth performance, faecal score, faecal enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) toxin quantification, intestinal histology and cytokine mRNA of unchallenged and ETEC-challenged pigs. Pigs were ETEC challenged on day 9 PW. There was a maternal treatment × challenge (SWE × ETEC) interaction effect on growth performance and faecal score ( P 0·05). Pigs from SWE-supplemented sows and ETEC-challenged (SE) had higher average daily gain (ADG) during 0–13 d PW and reduced faecal score during 0–72 h post-challenge than those from basal-fed sows and ETEC-challenged (BE) ( P 0·05). However, there was no difference between unchallenged pigs from the SWE-supplemented sows (SC) and basal-fed sows (BC) ( P ·10). Pigs from the SWE-supplemented sows had reduced heat-labile enterotoxin gene copy numbers than those from the basal-fed sows ( P 0·05). Maternal SWE supplementation increased the villus height in the ileum of pigs ( P 0·05). There was a SWE × ETEC interaction effect ( P 0·05) on IL-6 mRNA and a SWE × gastrointestinal (GI) region interaction effect ( P 0·05) on transforming growth factor-β1 ( TGF-β1 ) and TNF-α mRNA. IL-6 mRNA was down-regulated in SC pigs than BC pigs ( P 0·05). However, there was no difference in IL-6 mRNA between SE and BE pigs. The mRNA of TGF-β1 and TNF-α was down-regulated in the colon of pigs from the SWE-supplemented sows compared with those from the basal-fed sows ( P 0·05). However, there was no difference in TGF-β1 and TNF-α mRNA in the ileum between the pigs from the SWE-supplemented sows and basal-fed sows. In conclusion, maternal SWE supplementation improves ADG and the aspects of GI health of weaned pigs following an ETEC challenge.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2011
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-10-2021
DOI: 10.3390/ANI11102991
Abstract: Laying hens require substantial quantities of calcium (Ca) to maintain egg production. However, maintaining recommended dietary Ca through inclusion of limestone may impede nutrient digestibility, including that of other minerals. It was hypothesized that providing a separate source of dietary Ca in the form of limestone grit would preserve Ca intake of hens offered diets containing suboptimal Ca concentrations. Furthermore, the impact of dietary phytase at a “superdosing” inclusion rate on the voluntary consumption of limestone grit was evaluated. One hundred and forty-four laying hens (19 weeks of age) were assigned to one of six dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement comprising three dietary Ca concentrations (40, 30, and 20 g/kg) and ±dietary phytase (3500 FYT/kg diet) on an ad libitum basis for six weeks. Limestone grit (3.4 ± 1.0 mm) was provided to all hens ad libitum. Hens offered diets containing phytase consumed significantly less limestone grit p = 0.024). Egg weight, rate of lay, and egg mass were unaffected by dietary treatment (p 0.05). Egg shell weight % (p 0.001), shell thickness (p 0.001), and shell breaking strength (p 0.01) decreased in line with dietary Ca levels. In summary, dietary superdosing with phytase reduced the consumption of a separate limestone source in in idually housed, early lay ISA Brown hens. Egg shell quality variables but not egg production worsened in line with lower dietary Ca levels.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2011
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-10-2020
DOI: 10.3390/ANI10101911
Abstract: While free-range laying hens frequently experience health and welfare challenges, the contribution of range use towards these risks are largely unknown. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the survival, health and welfare of commercial free-range laying hens and explore the association with early range use. Range use of 9375 Lohmann Brown hens housed within five flocks was assessed during 18–21 weeks of age and in idual hens were classified as “rangers” (frequent range users), “roamers” (intermittent range users), and “stayers” (rare/no range users) were then subject to necropsy at 74 weeks of age. Rangers and roamers were three times and 2.4 times more likely to survive than stayers, respectively (p = 0.001). Overall, rangers had significantly better feather cover and more lesions associated with spotty liver diseases compared to roamers and stayers (p = 0.001). Similarly, rangers and roamers had a higher prevalence of A. galli infection and less frequent signs of fatty liver syndrome compared to stayers. Rangers had a higher proportion of hens with full ovary follicle production compared to stayers and roamers (p = 0.035). This information is highly relevant to consider the targeted support of different flock subpopulations to improve hen health and welfare, directly affecting farm profitability. Further research on other farms is warranted to investigate the transferability of the observed results.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Cormac O'Shea.