Feed Control (Norway)

Cenchrus fungigraminus (Juncao) is a high-yielding, fast-growing forage crop with considerable potential for livestock feed; however, optimizing its processing is essential for cost reduction and quality enhancement. This study comprised three components: (1) a comprehensive analysis of 25 on-farm silage samples from five locations in Southwest China using Grey Relational Analysis (GRA); (2) an assessment of the effects of three cutting heights (low: 100–150 cm; mid: 150–200 cm; high: 200–250 cm) on silage quality; and (3) a comparison of silage quality between natural fermentation and microbial inoculant treatments using mature Juncao (250–300 cm). The results showed that: (1) in the on-farm silage samples, carbon supplementation was significantly positively correlated with total digestible nutrients (TDN), relative feed value (RFV), ether extract (EE), and sensory evaluation (p < 0.05), and the GRA identified the top-ranked treatments, including J2, J3, J6, X6, and J5; (2) in the cutting height trials, fiber content increased significantly with cutting height (p < 0.05), while crude protein (CP) and TDN decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The 200–250 cm group exhibited optimal fermentation quality, characterized by the highest total volatile fatty acids (total VFA) and lactic acid concentrations, alongside the lowest pH and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen ratios (NH3-N/TN); (3) in the inoculant comparison, the natural fermentation group demonstrated significantly higher degradation rates of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) compared to the microbial inoculant group, while also maintaining a lower pH, higher total VFA and lactic acid. Consequently, for on-farm production, carbon supplementation is recommended to improve silage quality. Although cutting Juncao below 200 cm provides higher nutritional value, a height of 200–250 cm is advised to ensure optimal fermentation characteristics. Furthermore, natural fermentation proves superior to microbial inoculant treatment for mature Juncao. Together, these measures offer an effective strategy for producing high-quality Juncao silage.

Introduction The use of insect-derived by-products as litter amendments may represent a sustainable strategy in broiler production. The present study evaluated the effects of supplementing wood shavings with different inclusion levels of yellow mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor ) frass on litter quality, growth performance, slaughter traits, and the meat quality of broiler chickens. Methods A total of 352 one-day old Ross 308 male broilers were allocated to 16 pens (4 replicates per treatment; 22 chicks per replicate) with four bedding treatments: 100% wood shavings (FO, control), or wood shavings supplemented with 10% (F10), 20% (F20), or 30% (F30) of frass. Individual live weight (LW) and daily weight gain (DWG), and pen-level daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded during the trial. At 42 days of age, chickens were slaughtered to assess carcass yield, cut proportions, and the occurrence of breast myopathies, while meat quality parameters were measured on breast ( pectoralis major ) and thigh ( iliotibialis lateralis ) muscles. Results and Discussion The DFI was significantly reduced at all frass inclusion levels compared to the control group. Final LW (P = 0.012), and overall DWG (P = 0.004) were significantly lower in F10 and F30 compared with FO, while overall FCR was not affected. Carcass and breast yields did not differ among treatments, while thigh yield was significantly reduced in FO group (P = 0.023). Breast myopathies and meat quality parameters remained unaffected by the bedding treatments. These findings indicate that yellow mealworm frass can be supplemented in conventional bedding materials in broiler production without compromising meat quality traits. However, in F30 group growth performance and breast yield were impaired, suggesting that frass inclusion should not exceed 20%.

This study investigates the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of essential oils (EOs) from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), basil (Ocimum basilicum), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and spearmint (Mentha spicata). Oxygenated monoterpenes were identified as the dominant compound class across all species, with the highest proportions in Mentha piperita (90.7%) and Mentha spicata (78.1%). Among individual compounds, 1,8-cineole was prominent, particularly in rosemary (29.7%) and sage (23.6%). Unique profiles were observed for linalool in basil (53.2%) and menthol in peppermint (50%), while carvone dominated in spearmint (65%). Antimicrobial assays showed that Mentha piperita exhibited the strongest activity, particularly against L. monocytogenes ATCC 7644, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 µg/mL. This activity is attributed to its high menthol content. In contrast, Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia officinalis exhibited limited or no activity against certain bacterial strains. E. coli O157:H7 NTCC12900 was identified as the most sensitive bacteria to the tested EOs, particularly peppermint and sage oils. These results highlight the promise of essential oils as natural antimicrobial agents. Their efficacy against foodborne pathogens suggests promising applications in food preservation. Incorporating EOs into packaging materials or directly into food products offers an innovative approach to extending shelf-life and ensuring safety. Such strategies align with the growing demand for sustainable, chemical-free preservation techniques.

Free radicals, withtheir high reactivity, offer a promising strategyfor tumor treatment by effectively circumventing drug resistance.Free-radical-based cancer therapies include radiotherapy, chemotherapy,and emerging approaches such as chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photodynamictherapy (PDT). Conventional PDT, widely used in cancer treatment,relies on excited photosensitizers generating reactive oxygen species(ROS) via electron or energy transfer to kill cancer cells. However,the generation of both Type I and Type II ROS critically depends onmicrooxic and normoxic conditions, and the hypoxic tumor microenvironmentseverely limits therapeutic efficacy. Enhancing the cancer-cell-killingeffect of PDT remains challenging. Herein, we constructed an S-rhodaminephotosensitizer activated upon photoirradiation and NADH induction,generating a sulfur-bridged xanthene-based triarylmethyl radical (TAM•) in an oxygen-independent manner. Acting as a broad-spectrumhydrogen atom abstractor, this radical attacks biomolecules withincancer cells more effectively than ROS by extracting hydrogen atomsfrom endogenous biological substrates, depleting intracellular NADHand glutathione (GSH), and causing critical DNA damage. These actionsinduce severe DNA damage and disrupt intracellular homeostasis, ultimatelyeradicating cancer cells through a combination of ferroptosis andapoptosis. It exhibited potent antitumor activity in the 4T-1 tumor-bearingmouse model. This design strategy for modulating the stability ofphotogenerated carbon radicals holds significant promise for the developmentof novel anticancer agents.

This study investigates the effectiveness of pre-expanded supraclavicular artery perforator (SAP) and combined with anterior SAP (a-SAP) flap for treating second- and third-degree burn-induced neck scar contractures. We conducted a retrospective observational study of 12 patients with severe second- or third-degree burn-induced neck contractures. All patients underwent an expansion technique in 2 stages. The first stage involved the surgical implantation of 2 tissue expanders: one was positioned above the muscular fascia within the deltopectoral fossa, and the other was above the cervico-acromion region's deep fascia. Upon achieving full expansion, a second-stage surgery was conducted. After complete release and resection of cicatricial neck contractures, the composite flap was then tailored to the wound dimensions and transferred after expander removal. Of the 12 cases, each patient received 2 rectangular tissue expanders ranging from 200 to 350 mL. The average inflation period was 21.1 weeks, resulting in an average total volume of 1244.5 mL. Expanded flap dimensions varied from 17 × 19 cm to 33 cm × 21 cm. In 10 patients, flaps exhibited primary healing with complete survival. Complications included venous congestion (2 case), distal end necrosis of the flap (1 case), subflap hematoma (1 case), all managed with conventional wound care or surgical debridement. The donor site was directly sutured and healed primarily in 9 cases, while a partial-thickness skin graft was used for closure in the remaining 3 cases. During a follow-up period ranging from 3 to 26 months, a significant improvement in range of neck motion was observed, along with satisfactory aesthetic outcomes. Integrating pre-expanded SAP and a-SAP flaps provides a promising reconstructive approach for severe cervical contractures. The proximity of the artery to the neck facilitates direct reconstruction without pedicle division, enhancing aesthetic results through improved skin texture and color matching.

Heat stress (HS) in dairy cows disrupts homeostasis and thermoregulation, negatively affecting milk production, health status, and metabolism. Dietary supplementation with phytoextracts such as polyphenols may offer an effective dietary strategy by stimulating the immune system, reducing oxidative stress, and ultimately enhancing welfare, metabolic function, and milk performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing mid-lactating Fleckvieh cows with rumen-protected grape extract (Nor-Grape BP-O, Nor-Feed) on milk performance, rectal temperature (RT), behavior, immunometabolism, rumen fermentation, and innate immune response under naturally occurring HS conditions (temperature-humidity index >72). Thirty cows were balanced by days in milk, milk yield, and parity, and randomly assigned to receive either 470 mg/cow per day of Nor-Grape BP-O supplementation (NG-BPO, n = 15) or a control diet without supplementation (CTR, n = 15) and monitored for 35 d. Both groups were cooled daily using forced ventilation and fans. Temperature-humidity index, milk yield, heavy breathing (HB), rumination, and eating time were recorded daily. Milk, blood, and rumen fluid samples were collected at different time points, and RT was measured. The NG-BPO cows exhibited greater milk production, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, and yields of fat and protein, alongside lower SCC compared with CTR cows. The NG-BPO cows exhibited improved thermoregulatory responses, reflected by significantly lower RT and reduced HB. Supplementation with Nor-Grape BP-O lowered inflammatory status and enhanced innate immune responses, as indicated by higher plasma zinc and myeloperoxidase levels, lower haptoglobin concentrations, and increased phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes compared with CTR cows. These findings were supported by higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1 β during peak HS periods, compared with CTR cows. In addition, the NG-BPO group had lower circulating platelet and eosinophil counts compared with the CTR group. In conclusion, supplementation with a low dose of rumen-protected dry grape extract-rich in low-molecular-weight polyphenols (oligomeric and monomeric flavanols, anthocyanins)-effectively supported milk production and quality in heat-stressed dairy cows. Moreover, supplementation improved thermotolerance during heat waves and enhanced innate immune functions while reducing inflammatory responses. These findings suggest Nor-Grape BP-O as an effective dietary strategy to mitigate the negative effects of HS by enhancing cow performance and welfare during periods of elevated environmental temperatures.

Supercritical assisted atomization (SAA) is a method that produces microparticles of bioactive compounds; when a polymer is also present, it can form a protective layer around the bioactive compound.Despite their bioactive potential, beet leaves have no commercial applications and are currently used for composting or as animal feed.Therefore, this study intended to encapsulate bioactive compounds extracted from beet leaves using SAA technology.The beet leaf extract (BLE), obtained through extraction with 70% ethanol, was mixed with the polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in different ratios (1:10, 1:20, and 1:30) and subjected to the SAA process for co-precipitation.The results showed that the SAA 3 formulation (1:30 ratio) performed better than the other ratios, with an average particle size of 6.37 m and a dispersion index of 1.56.This formulation also achieved a concentration of phenolic compounds equal to 5.50 g GAE (100 g) -1 and exhibited the best antioxidant activity, with a value of 15.98 mol TEAC g -1 .HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of ascorbic acid in the extract, and after the SAA process, the sample with a 1:30 ratio showed the highest ascorbic acid content, reaching 246.86 mg L -1 .The SAA process proved to be effective in forming BLE/PVP microparticles with potential for industrial application and the development of new products.