Platycodon grandiflorum polysaccharide (PGP) extracted from Platycodon grandiflorum, which has the advantages of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and no side effects on the organism. This study evaluated whether dietary PGP alleviate weaning-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets. A total of 18 newly weaned piglets (6.46 ± 0.31 kg) were allocated to 3 treatments (n=6/group) for a 28-day feeding trial. he control group (CON) received a basal diet, while the L-PGP and H-PGP groups were supplemented with 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg PGP, respectively. On day 28, piglets were electrically stunned and euthanized by exsanguination; spleen, liver, and colon samples were collected to assess inflammatory/antioxidant markers, barrier-related genes, and colonic microbiota. The supplementation of PGP increased the average daily gain (ADG) (P<0.05) , and reduced the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) of weaned piglets. In addition, PGP significantly reduced the expression of splenic IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-4 (P<0.05). This effect was associated with significantly upregulated mRNA levels of the key tight junction proteins Occludin, ZO‑1, and Claudin‑1 in the colonic mucosa and tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression levels of PKC, Nrf2 and KEAP1 in the colonic tissue of weaned piglets were significantly increased in the H-PGP (P < 0.05). More importantly, H-PGP supplementation increased the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, while decreasing the abundance of Proteobacteria. Moreover, Spearman correlation analysis revealed that SCFA-producing commensal genera (Faecalibacterium) were negatively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and signaling genes, but positively correlated with antioxidant genes. Conversely, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was negatively correlated with the mRNA expression of PKC, Nrf2, and Keap1(P<0.05). PGP can alleviate the weaning stress in piglets, by modulating the colonic microbiota and enhancing systemic anti-inflammatory capacity and intestinal barrier function.

Sensor systems have increasingly been explored as tools to support precision livestock farming, particularly in monitoring cow health and improving decision-making. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate advancements in sensor systems for detecting health conditions in dairy cows especially on mastitis, fertility, locomotion, and metabolic disorders. Relevant articles published between 2014 and 2024 were identified from Scopus. Each article was categorized by health condition and assigned to one of four development levels: sensor technique (Level I), data interpretation (Level II), integration of information (Level III), and decision making (Level IV). Relevant information from the articles was systematically reviewed and discussed. We identified 132 articles published in the past 10 years, describing a total of 151 sensor systems. Most sensor systems were aimed at mastitis and reproduction, followed by locomotion and metabolic disorders. The far majority of the articles were at level II (data interpretation) presenting research on (novel) algorithms to detect disease. A large number of different statistical, machine-learning or deep-learning models were described and evaluated, among others random forests. Level II systems applied statistical analysis or machine-learning/deep-learning models (e.g., random forests, you only look once, support vector machine, or convolutional neural network). These algorithms used a wide range of sensor data. Only a few articles aimed at level III research, integration of information and decision support. The Level III sensor systems integrated information from the sensor with economic information and other information (i.e., medication dosage, cost per disease, and supplier selection) and simulated various treatment scenarios. This review highlights the need for sensor systems research to be driven by real-world requirements for on-farm decision making. To move from proof-of-concept toward practical, future research must integrate sensor outputs with herd records and financial models, validate systems across multiple farms and at higher data frequencies, and embed economic evaluation alongside sensitivity and specificity metrics. Addressing these technical, integration, and economic challenges is essential before sensor systems can fully support automated, value-driven health management on commercial dairy farms.

The objective of this study is to investigate the nutritional metabolism and growth development of broiler chickens under different methionine (Met):cysteine (Cys) ratios, with a focus on proteomic alterations in the hypothalamus and ileum to elucidate potential regulatory mechanisms. A total of 216 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomized into three groups: low (LMCR, 0.34%:0.56%), medium (MMCR, 0.45%:0.45%), and high (HMCR, 0.53%:0.37%) Met:Cys ratios, with total sulfur amino acids fixed at 0.9%. Each group comprised 6 replicates of 12 chicks, and the experiment spanned 21 days. Results demonstrated that HMCR significantly improved average daily gain (ADG, p< 0.05), reduced feed conversion ratio (F:G, p<0.05), and enhanced protein/lipid utilization efficiency. Mechanistically, HMCR promoted hypothalamic neurodevelopment, downregulated key components of the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway (P< 0.05) and leptin expression (p< 0.001), while upregulating growth hormone and gastrointestinal hormone secretion. Through the hypothalamic-hormonal-ileal axis, HMCR modulated ileal cell physiology by upregulating inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R, P< 0.05) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K,p< 0.05), thereby enhancing ileal villus morphology and nutrient absorption capacity. The improved ileal structure further augmented energy utilization efficiency (p< 0.05). In conclusion, a dietary Met:Cys ratio of 0.53%:0.37% optimizes broiler growth performance by coordinately regulating metabolic pathways in the hypothalamus and ileum, as well as modulating brain-gut peptide signaling. These findings provide a scientific foundation for formulating sulfur amino acid-optimized diets to enhance poultry productivity and feed efficiency.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of compound probiotics on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, fecal pathogenic microorganisms, and serum parameters in newborn calves. A total of 48 healthy newborn calves with similar body weights (mean ± SD: 37.0 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 16 per group). Control group (CON), yeast group (CP1), Bacillus licheniformis + yeast group (CP2). The feeding trial lasted for 60 days. Growth performance, diarrhea incidence, fecal scores, and serum parameters were assessed on days 1, 30, and 60 of the trial, while fecal samples collected on days 15 and 30 were analyzed for pathogenic microorganism positivity. Compared with CON group, calves in the CP2 group had higher body weight (BW; day 30; p<0.05), average daily gain (ADG; days 1-30; p<0.05), and feed efficiency (FE; days 1-30; p<0.05). Compared with CON group, the incidence of diarrhea and fecal scores (days 1-60) were lower in both CP1 and CP2 groups (p<0.05). Fecal samples from these groups also exhibited reduced positive rates of pathogenic microorganisms (rotavirus, coronavirus, cryptosporidium). Notably, compared with CON group, serum antioxidant and immune markers, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were elevated (p<0.05), whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were decreased (p<0.05), and serum diamine oxidase (DAO) levels were also reduced in the CP1 and CP2 groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, compared with the CON group, calves in the CP2 group exhibited lower serum cortisol (Cor) and higher growth hormone (GH) levels (p<0.05). No interactions between treatment and period were observed. The combined use of Bacillus licheniformis and yeast exerts synergistic effects by promoting growth and development in newborn calves, reducing diarrhea incidence, enhancing antioxidant and immune functions, and improving overall health.

Salmonella Thompson is a major cause of large-scale foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide; however, research on S. Thompson remains limited. This study investigates the development of a predictive model for the growth of S. Thompson in unpasteurized liquid egg products, such as liquid egg white, liquid egg yolk, and liquid whole egg, to understand the associated health risks. Unpasteurized liquid egg products, confirmed to be free of Salmonella spp., were inoculated with S. Thompson and incubated at various temperatures. Growth kinetic parameters were estimated using both primary and secondary predictive models, including the Baranyi and Roberts model and second-order polynomial models. The effects of environmental factors on S. Thompson growth were analyzed to establish a comprehensive risk assessment framework. The growth curves of S. Thompson exhibited a typical bacterial sigmoidal pattern characteristic of bacterial proliferation, with the Baranyi model providing the best fit for describing the growth kinetics. The secondary model accurately predicted the effect of temperature on growth rate, demonstrating that S. Thompson proliferates rapidly under specific environmental conditions. Model validation indicated high accuracy, confirming the reliability of the developed model for risk assessment applications. The established predictive model enables quantitative assessment of the growth behavior of S. Thompson in unpasteurized liquid egg products. This model can be used in risk assessment and food safety management strategies to mitigate the risk of foodborne pathogen contamination in the food industry.

This study analyzes the dynamic expression profile and functional mechanisms of circular RNA (circRNA) in the liver of young goats during development from birth to the early weaning stage. This study performed transcriptome sequencing on liver tissues from Laiwu Black goats at five key developmental stages after birth (1 day, and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks). A total of 178 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified across the five developmental stages. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the source genes of these circRNAs are involved in key pathways such as immune response, lipid metabolism, and cell signaling. Persistently upregulated circRNAs (cluster 9) are related to tryptophan metabolism, potentially influencing the inflammatory response and energy homeostasis during weaning stress in young goats. In contrast, persistently downregulated circRNAs (cluster 0) may promote the change in liver metabolism from glucose to fatty acid oxidation by relieving inhibition on pathways such as AMPK and insulin signaling pathway. Based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, the study constructed a regulatory network consisting of 20 circRNAs, 15 microRNAs, and 21 mRNAs. Specifically chi-miR-532-3p/CYP8B1/circ101504503815046736, chi-miR-542-5p/ACACB/circ10_21217626_21219471, and miR-542-5p/ACACB/circ10-21217626-21219471 were identified as potential key ceRNA axes. Furthermore, this study confirmed the regulatory relationship among chi-miR-532-3p, CYP8B1 and circ10-21217626-21219471 through dual luciferase reporter gene experiments. This study reveals the dynamic expression profile of circRNA during goat liver development, suggesting its potential role in regulating metabolic and immune pathways through the ceRNA mechanism. This offers a novel perspective on post-transcriptional regulation in ruminant in liver development.

The Animal Bioscience editorial board has named Prof. Cheol-Heui Yun as the new editor-in-chief (EiC), succeeding Prof. Jong Kyu Ha, who has served in this role for 25 years. The term as a new editor-in-chief will begin on January 1, 2026.

This study investigated the effect of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) prepared through solid-state fermentation using Bacillus subtilis (BS) and Aspergillus oryzae (AO) to replace SBM in broiler chickens' diets on production, digestibility, and cecal microbial profile. In total, 160 sex-mixed day-old chicks of Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four groups, four pens (replicates; 10 birds each pen), and were raised for 35 days under tropical conditions. The treatments were control (basal diet; CON) or SBM replaced by FSBM produced using AO (AO group), BS (BS group), and their combination (AO+BS group). Birds fed the AO+BS diet resulted in higher (p = 0.003) body weight (BW) while the BS diet tended (p = 0.063) to have higher final BW than CON or AO. Similarly, birds fed FSBM prepared under either BS or AO+BS had higher feed intake (p<0.01) than the CON group. No difference was found in feed conversion ratio. Relative organ weights including heart, liver, abdominal fat, and total inner organs were lower (p<0.01) in birds fed the AO+BS diet than the CON group, but relative carcass weight was unaffected. Treatments with BS or AO+BS increased dry matter (DM; p = 0.032), organic matter (p = 0.016), and crude protein (CP; p = 0.044) digestibility, while AO did not affect DM and CP digestibility. Broilers fed the AO+BS diet showed greater abundance of Firmicutes phylum and Bacteroides genus than the CON group. Several microbial taxa biomarkers were identified via linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis, including higher abundance of Enterococcus and Bacillus in the AO+BS group but lower abundance of Erysipelatoclostridium, Odoribacter, Ruminococcaceae bacterium, Staphylococcus, and Clostridium methylpentosum group in the CON group. B. subtilis and A. oryzae could synergistically enhance the nutritional quality of SBM, positively alter cecal microbiota, and improve the production performance of broiler chickens.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between colonic microbiota and estrous cycle transition in rabbits by integrating 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomic analyses to identify key microbial taxa and metabolites involved in estrus regulation. Sixteen female New Zealand white rabbits were divided into diestrus and early estrus groups based on vulvar mucosa color and serum estradiol (E2) concentration. Colonic microbiota dynamics were assessed via 16S rRNA sequencing, while metabolomes of colonic contents were profiled using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed by oral administration of colonic contents from diestrus or early estrus rabbits to mice with disrupted estrous cycles to evaluate the regulatory effects of microbiota. Exogenous indole- 3-acetic acid (IAA) was administered to both mice and rabbits to assess its role in estrus onset and cyclicity restoration. Colonic microbial composition differed significantly between diestrus and early estrus rabbits. The genera Anaerostipes and Ruminiclostridium were enriched in early estrus, while the genera Oscillospirales UCG_010 and UCG_005 were more abundant in diestrus. FMT from early estrus donors restored cyclicity in mice with disrupted cycles, whereas diestrus FMT did not. Metabolomics identified IAA as a key elevated metabolite in early estrus, and this metabolite accelerated estrus onset and restored cyclicity in both mice and rabbits. These findings demonstrate that gut microbiota restructuring regulates the estrous transition in rabbits, providing a basis for developing microbiota-targeted strategies to enhance reproductive efficiency in rabbit production and optimize animal reproductive management.

The objective was to determine the optimal dietary organic zinc (Zn) concentration to maximize growth performance and skeletal Zn deposition in broilers. A total of 240 one-d-old broiler chicks were assigned to 5 dietary treatments for a 20-d feeding trial, with 8 cages per treatment. All diets met or exceeded recommended nutrient requirement estimates for broilers, except for Zn. The 5 treatments were as follows: (1) a corn-soybean meal-based diet with 40 mg/kg inorganic Zn from ZnSO4·7H2O; (2) a corn-soybean meal-based diet without supplemental Zn; (3-5) treatment 2 supplemented with 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of organic Zn from Zn proteinate. Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured from d 0 to 20. On d 20, tibia samples were collected, and Zn concentration in tibia ash was determined. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to evaluate linear and quadratic responses to increasing supplemental organic Zn. Pairwise contrasts were performed between diets containing 40 mg/kg of inorganic Zn and those containing either 10 or 20 mg/kg of organic Zn. The optimal supplemental level of organic Zn for tibia Zn concentration was estimated using a one-slope broken- line model. Average daily gain, feed intake, and tibia Zn concentration increased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing organic Zn. Broilers fed 10 mg/kg organic Zn exhibited similar growth to those receiving 40 mg/kg inorganic Zn, but lower tibia Zn concentration (p<0.001). In contrast, 20 mg/kg organic Zn supported both growth and bone Zn deposition equivalent to the inorganic Zn group. A one-slope broken-line analysis indicated that 16.5 mg/kg organic Zn was the minimum level required to maximize tibia Zn concentration. Bioplex Zn was more bioavailable than inorganic Zn from Zn sulfate, and 16.5 mg/kg was sufficient to optimize both growth and skeletal Zn deposition in broilers.