Fermented Rapeseed Meal Improves Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Morphology of Broilers by Enhancing Nutritional Value and Reducing Antinutritional Factors

A broiler growth study was conducted to investigate the replacement value of canola meal (CM) for soybean meal (SBM) in broiler diets with or without the addition of two commercial enzyme products. A total of 3600 broilers were used in this experiment. Four isoenergetic diets replicated 10 times with 90 birds each were fed ad libitum as starter (Day 0–21) and finisher (Day 21–37) crumbles. All diets included a high proportion of sorghum as the main cereal component, and soybean meal (20% and 24.5%) or canola meal (35% and 28.9%) were included as the sole protein concentrate. At Day 38 selected birds from each dietary treatment were commercially processed and carcass yield and weight of selected meat portions were measured. The inclusion of CM in place of SBM and the addition of enzyme to CM-based diets did not affect feed intake, growth, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Mortality in birds fed the unsupplemented CM diet was significantly reduced compared with the mortality in birds fed the SBM control diet or the CM diets supplemented with enzymes. Birds fed the unsupplemented CM had significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced eviscerated weight, breast meat, and thigh yield and a significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced water-holding capacity of muscle tissue compared with the SBM control diet. The addition of Enzyme A to CM-based diets increased breast meat and the addition of Enzyme B significantly ( P < 0.05) increased dress yield, breast meat, and Marylands (thigh and drumstick portions). Carcass yield and quality on this diet was comparable to the SBM diet.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of mixed meal (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) replacement soybean meal on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum inflammatory factors and immunoglobulins, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal permeability, short-chain fatty acid content, and gut microbiota of finishing pigs. A total of 54 pigs with an average initial weight of 97.60 ± 0.30 kg were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups according to their initial weight, with 6 replicates in each group and 3 pigs in each replicate. The trial period was 26 days. The groups were as follows: control group (CON), fed corn-soybean meal type basal diet; Corn-soybean-mixed meal group (CSM), fed corn-soybean meal-mixed meal diet with a ratio of rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal of 1:1:1 to replace 9.06% soybean meal in the basal diet; Corn-mixed meal group (CMM), fed a corn-mixed meal diet with a ratio of Rapeseed meal, Cotton meal and Sunflower meal of 1:1:1 to replace soybean meal in the basal diet completely. The crude protein level of the three diets was maintained at 12.5%. Our findings revealed no significant impact of replacing soybean meal with the mixed meal (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) on the ADG (Average daily gain), ADFI (Average daily feed intake), and F/G (Feed gain ratio) (P > 0.05), or crude protein, crude fat, and gross energy (P > 0.05) in the diet of finishing pigs. Compared with the CON group, the serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) concentrations were significantly decreased in the CMM group (P < 0.05). However, there is no significant effect of the mixed meal (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) replacing soybean meal in the diet on the serum interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations (P > 0.05). Concordantly, there is no significant effect of mixed meal (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) replacing soybean meal in the diet on the serum antioxidant capacity, such as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of finishing pigs. Moreover, compared with the CON group, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels were significantly lower in the CSM group (P < 0.05) and their total bilirubin (TBIL) levels were significantly lower in the CMM group (P < 0.05). There is not a significant effect on serum D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) concentrations (P > 0.05). The next section of the survey showed that the replacement of soybean meal with a mixed meal (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) in the diet did not significantly influence the acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, isobutyric acid, and isovaleric acid in the colon contents (P > 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the CON group, the CMM group diet significantly increased the abundance of Actinobacteria at the phylum level (P < 0.05), U_Actinobacteria at the class level (P < 0.05), and U_Bacteria at the class level (P < 0.05). The result also showed that the CMM group significantly reduced the abundance of Oscillospirales at the order level (P < 0.05) and Streptococcaceae at the family level (P < 0.05) compared with the CON group. The Spearman correlation analysis depicted a statistically significant positive correlation identified at the class level between the relative abundance of U_Bacteria and the serum T. BILI concentrations (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant negative correlation was detected at the order level between the relative abundance of Oscillospirales and the levels of acetic and propionic acids in the colonic contents (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 and the relative abundance of the family Streptococcaceae (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that the mixed meal (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) as a substitute for soybean meal in the diet had no significant negative effects on the growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum immunoglobulins, serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal permeability, short-chain fatty acid content, and diversity of gut microbiota of finishing pigs. These results can help develop further mixed meals (rapeseed meal, cotton meal, and sunflower meal) as a functional alternative feed ingredient for soybean meals in pig diets.

Response of Litopenaeus vannamei to dietary Isothiocyanate: Growth, biochemistry, immunity and gene expression related to hepatopancreas and intestinal health.

Background: The escalating costs of soybean meal (SBM), coupled with environmental and socioeconomic considerations, necessitate exploration into alternative protein sources. Due to consistent increase in feed cost of SBM it was the need of hour to explore the alternatives for SBM. The present experiment was designed to evaluate the comparative study of rapeseed meal (RSM) and fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) replacing soybean meal in diet on performance of broilers. Methods: Four hundred twenty, day old Vencobb-430Y straight run broiler chicks were randomly distributed into seven treatment groups with four replicates in each having fifteen chicks. The seven treatments were control group (T1), basal diet with 5% RSM (T2), basal diet with 10% RSM (T3), basal diet with 15% RSM (T4), basal diet with 5% FRSM (T)5, basal diet with 10% FRSM (T6), basal diet with 15% FRSM (T7). Result: The live body weight and cumulative weight gain at the end of 6th week significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased in T4 (15% RSM) and T7 (15% FRSM) as compared to control group T1. At 6th week, significantly (P less than 0.01) better cumulative feed conversion ratio was recorded in groups T1, T2, T3, T5 and T6 as compared to groups T4 and T7. There were non-significant differences for dry matter digestibility (%), nitrogen retention (%), ether extract digestibility (%) and crude fibre digestibility (%) in all groups. The highest net profit per kg live body weight was observed in treatment group T5 followed by groups T6, T3, T2, T1, T7 and T4. Thus, it was concluded that the inclusion of RSM and FRSM up to 10% level with replacing soybean meal do not have any adverse effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and improved economics of broiler production. Moreover, the inclusion of 5% FRSM with replacing soybean meal in diet has more economically profitable without affecting production performance in broilers.

Dietary enzymatically treated Artemisia annua L. supplementation improved growth performance and intestinal antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets

This study investigated the effects of replacing soybean meal with fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) in the diets of sika deer (Cervus nippon) during the pre-antler growth period. A single-factor experimental design was employed. A total of 24 male sika deer aged 2-3 years were randomly divided into four groups with six deer per group, including a control group (0% substitution) and three treatment groups fed diets containing 2.8%, 5.6%, and 8.4% fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM), defined as the low (L-FRSM), medium (M-FRSM), and high (H-FRSM) substitution groups, respectively. The feeding trial lasted 63 days, with measurements collected on days 30 and 63. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical indices, and rectal fecal microbiota were determined. The results showed that the final body weight, total weight gain, and average daily gain L-FRSM were higher in the L-FRSM group than in the control group and other substitution groups (p < 0.05), accompanied by a reduced feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). In addition, body height and chest circumference were improved in the L-FRSM group. Regarding nutrient digestibility, the apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and dry matter at day 30, as well as calcium digestibility at day 63 were higher in the L-FRSM group compared to the control and higher-substitution groups (p < 0.05). In contrast, crude fat and dry matter digestibility were significantly lower in the H-FRSM group (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were observed among treatments in serum biochemical indices related to energy metabolism, protein metabolism, liver function, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, or humoral immunity (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were detected in core microbial composition or α-diversity of rectal fecal microbiota among groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, substituting soybean meal with 2.8% fermented rapeseed meal effectively improves growth performance and nutrient utilization without compromising health status or intestinal microbial stability in sika deer during the pre-antler growth period. The findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing dietary strategies and support the rational application of fermented rapeseed meal in sika deer production.

This study investigated the potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal to replace soybean meal in broiler diets by evaluating growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical responses. A total of 160 ten-day old Ross 708 chicks (216.74 ± 0.74, g) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0%, 20%, 40%, or 60% BSFL meal replacing soybean meal on a 100% equivalent basis, respectively, and evaluated during the starter (10-21 days), grower (21-42 days), and overall (10-42 days) phases. Carcass characteristics, meat color, and blood biochemistry were assessed on day 42. Data was analyzed using polynomial (linear and quadratic) contrasts. Increasing dietary BSFL levels resulted in significant reductions in body weight, average daily gain, and feed intake, while the feed conversion ratio increased linearly. Carcass yield decreased to higher inclusion levels, accompanied by a marked increase in gizzard weight. Meat color (L*, a*, b*) remained largely unchanged across treatments. Blood biochemical analysis revealed linear and quadratic shifts in key metabolites, enzymes, and electrolytes, including reductions in aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, and creatine phosphokinase, as well as altered calcium and phosphorus concentrations. Overall, BSFL meal inclusion as 20% replacement improved growth performance and stimulated beneficial lipid and protein metabolism adaptations in broilers.

Effects of partial replacement of soybean meal by flaxseed cake on growth performance, rumen function and meat quality of Simmental cows.

Use of combinations of canola meal and distillers dried grains with solubles in broiler starter diets

The environmental sustainability of soybean cultivation has been questioned as it has been linked to deforestation, eutrophication, pesticide use, and carbon dioxide footprint. Agri-industrial byproducts and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal are promising alternative protein sources that can be used to partly replace soybean in broiler diets. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of partial replacement of soybeans with agro-industrial by-products with or without the addition of BSF dried larvae meal on the meat quality, fatty acid and amino acid content, and sensory traits of breast meat of local chickens. A total of 252 one-day-old mixed-sex chicks from the Anadolu-T pure dam line were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets; a soybean-based Control diet, a diet in which soybean meal was partly replaced (SPR) with brewers' dried grain, sunflower seed meal, and wheat middlings and an SPR + BSF diet in which 5% of BSF dried larva meal was added to the SPR diet. All birds were slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse at 55 days and breast and drumstick muscles were sampled for meat quality analysis from 18 chickens/dietary treatments. No significant effects of diets were observed for the pH24 and lightness, redness, and yellowness of breast and leg meats. Thawing loss significantly decreased and cooking loss increased in the breast meat of chickens fed the SPR + BSF compared with those fed Control and SPR diets. Diets did not affect either texture profile or consumer sensory properties of breast meat. The chickens fed the SPR + BSF had the highest total saturated fatty acid and lower polyunsaturated fatty acid content in breast meat than those fed the Control and SPR diets. The essential and nonessential amino acid content of breast meat decreased by the SPR diet compared with the SPR + BSF diet. The chickens fed SPR + BSF diet had higher values of tasty, aromatic, and umami-related amino acids than those fed SPR and Control diets. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that agri-industrial byproducts with or without BSF larvae meal could be used to partially replace soybean meal in broiler diets without affecting technological meat quality traits. The addition of BSF larvae meal to the diet along with agri-industrial by-products improved the amino acid content of the breast meat of chickens but reduced polyunsaturated fatty acid levels.

Poultry feeds are formulated using soybean meal and animal by-products as sources of protein. Animal proteins like fish meal, blood meal, meat and bone meal are being shunned in formulating poultry feeds nowadays because they are associated with zoonotic diseases like salmonellosis and this has left soybean meal as the only source of dietary protein in broiler feeds. Soybean meal is in short supply in Zimbabwe and this country is relying on some soybean meal imports from South Africa and Zambia resulting in prices of poultry feed and broiler meat going upwards. Cheap and locally available alternative sources of protein to soybean meal must be found in order to reduce the cost of making poultry feed. The selected alternative source of protein must have protein which is highly digestible such that the bulk of this protein can be metabolized and utilized by broilers to synthesize meat leaving a little of it to be excreted through faeces and urine. Highly digestible protein is very important in broiler feed making because this reduces the amount of nitrogen lost through poultry excreta into the environment. Cowpea has been chosen to entirely or partially replace soybean meal in this review paper because it is locally grown, drought tolerant, cheap and its true protein digestibility (TPD) of 71% to 76% is generally comparable to 81% to 83% of soybean meal. Nowadays, people are concerned about protecting the environment from being polluted by wastes from industrial and agricultural activities. Poultry farming pollutes the environment with ammonia emitted from poultry excreta. The grain legumes used in formulating broiler feed such as soybean meal contain anti-nutritional factors which reduce protein digestibility and increase nitrogen excretion through poultry faeces. The nitrogen in faeces is volatilized into ammonia, emitted into the atmosphere and cause eutrophication of surface waters. Therefore, the effect of incorporating cowpea meal in broiler diets on environmental pollution by nitrogen excretion from broiler faeces needs to be explored.

Alternatives to antibiotics are urgently needed to maintain broiler growth and health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Lonicera flos and Curcuma longa L. extracts (LCE) as antibiotic substitutes on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune response in broilers. A total of 480 one-day-old female broilers (WOD168) were allocated to 3 treatments with 5 replicates of 32 birds for 35 days. The 3 treatments were: an antibiotic-free basal diet (control, CON), CON +50 mg/kg spectinomycin hydrochloride and 25 mg/kg lincomycin hydrochloride (ANT), CON +500 mg/kg LCE (LCE). During the entire experimental period, supplementation of ANT and LCE increased (p < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) and decreased (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR), thereby resulting in greater final body weight (BW) compared with CON. Dietary LCE supplementation increased (p < 0.05) serum (glutathione peroxidase) GSH-Px, (superoxide dismutase) SOD and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities, and decreased (p < 0.05) serum malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration at day 35 compared with CON. There was no significant difference in serum catalase (CAT) activity among treatments. Birds in LCE group had lower (p < 0.05) MDA concentration and higher SOD activity in liver than those in CON and ANT groups at day 35. Birds in LCE group had higher (p < 0.05) phagocytic index and serum antibody titers to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) than those in CON group. Lower (p < 0.05) concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and liver were observed in birds fed LCE diet than those fed CON diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of LCE improved growth performance by enhancing antioxidant capacity, strengthening immune system and alleviating inflammation, which has potential as antibiotic alternatives.

Rapeseed meal is a sustainable feed ingredient that can be used as an alternative to imported soybean meal in European pig production. The gut microbiota plays an important role on pig physiology and health but the impact on microbiota of using rapeseed in diets is still not well known. In this study, 84 purebred Norwegian Landrace pigs with average initial weight of 25 kg were divided into two groups and fed for approximately three months with either a control diet containing soybean meal (CON) or a high-fiber experimental diet where 20% rapeseed meal (RSF) was included as an alternative to soybean meal in CON. The composition and function of microbiome in gut digesta samples were analyzed by performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing and culturing of bacteria. The microbiota diversity and composition were similar between the dietary treatments; however, relative abundance of a variety of bacterial groups and imputed functions of microbiome in the ileum and large intestine were altered when the pigs were fed with a rapeseed-based diet. It was notable that the immune-inducing bacterial group Mucispirillum and anti-inflammatory stimulating bacteria Lachnospira were more abundant in the ileum and large intestine of the RSF group, respectively. Moreover, there was a higher abundance of major amino acid fermenters and amylolytic bacteria in the CON group and a high abundance of putative short chain fatty acid producers in RSF group. In comparison with the CON group, the gut microbiome of RSF group possessed an enhanced potential for carbohydrate and energy metabolism and a reduced potential for bacterial pathogenicity-related pathways.

ABSTRACTThe present study aimed to explore the protective effects of exogenous catalase (CAT) from microorganisms against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury and its molecular mechanism in weaned pigs. Fifty-four weaned pigs (21 days of age) were randomly allocated to CON, LPS, and LPS+CAT groups. The pigs in CON and LPS groups were fed a basal diet, whereas the pigs in LPS+CAT group fed the basal diet with 2,000 mg/kg CAT supplementation for 35 days. On day 36, six pigs were selected from each group, and LPS and LPS+CAT groups were administered with LPS (50 μg/kg body weight). Meanwhile, CON group was injected with an equivalent amount of sterile saline. Results showed that LPS administration damaged intestinal mucosa morphology and barrier. However, CAT supplementation alleviated the deleterious effects caused by LPS challenge through enhancing intestinal antioxidant capacity which was benefited to decrease proinflammatory cytokines concentrations and suppress enterocyte apoptosis. Besides, LPS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis was significantly shifted by CAT through decreasing mainly Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella. Our study suggested that dietary supplemented with 2,000 mg/kg catalase was conducive to improve intestinal development and protect against LPS-induced intestinal mucosa injury via enhancing intestinal antioxidant capacity and altering microbiota composition in weaned pigs.IMPORTANCE Exogenous CAT derived from microorganisms has been widely used in food, medicine, and other industries. Recent study also found that exogenous CAT supplementation could improve growth performance and antioxidant capacity of weaned pigs. However, it is still unknown that whether dietary exogenous CAT supplementation can provide a defense against the oxidative stress-induced intestinal damage in weaned pigs. Our current study suggested that dietary supplemented with 2,000 mg/kg CAT was conducive to improve intestinal development and protect against LPS-induced intestinal mucosa injury via enhancing intestinal antioxidant capacity and altering microbiota composition in weaned pigs. Moreover, this study will also assist in developing of CAT produced by microorganisms to attenuate various oxidative stress-induced injury or diseases.

Fermented rapeseed meal subjected to a biosorption process: A potential new feed additive with microelements for laying hens