Search Results (504)

Biogas production from lignocellulosic biomass, such as wheat and rapeseed straw, is an essential strategy for sustainable energy generation. However, the efficiency of anaerobic digestion depends on the physical characteristics of the substrate, particularly the particle size, which influences microbial accessibility and biogas yield. This study aims to optimize straw particle size for enhanced methane production by evaluating different fractionation levels. The straw was processed using a hammer mill and separated into three size fractions (2.4 mm, 1 mm) alongside non-separated and finely ground (2 mm) samples. The chemical composition was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and key parameters such as pH, dry matter (DM), and organic dry matter (ODM) were assessed. The results indicated that rapeseed straw had lower pH (6.05) and DM than wheat straw (7.01). Biogas yield analysis demonstrated that methane production varied with particle size. For rapeseed straw, non-separated samples achieved the highest methane yield (132.87 m³ Mg⁻¹), whereas for wheat straw, methane yield decreased with increased fragmentation, with the highest yield observed for non-separated material (206.65 m³ Mg⁻¹). The carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio was highest in rapeseed straw (153.82), potentially limiting microbial activity, while finer fractions had more balanced ratios. These findings highlight the importance of mechanical pretreatment in optimizing biogas production and provide insights into improving the efficiency of straw-based anaerobic digestion systems. Full article

A total of eight ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with an initial body weight (BW) of 33.06 ± 1.16 kg were placed in metabolism crates. The dietary treatments were structured using a 4 × 2 factorial design, which included two factors: four diet types (i.e., corn-based diet, CON; corn-plain bread meal (PBM)-based diet, PBMD; corn-sweet bread meal (SBM)-based diet, SBMD; and corn-biscuit meal (BM)-based diet (BMD) with or without 0.1% multi-enzyme supplementation). In this study, the concentrations of DE and ME were 4075 and 3981 kcal/kg dry matter (DM) in two-source bakery meals (i.e., PBM and SBM) and 4153 and 4075 kcal/kg DM in BM. The DE and ME (on a DM basis) in the bakery meals (i.e., PBM and SBM) and BM were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in corn. However, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the ATTD of DM, GE, and N among the dietary treatments, multi-enzyme, and their interaction. In summary, the bakery meals and biscuit meals investigated in this study have the potential to partially replace corn. Further research is necessary to ascertain the effects of multi-enzyme supplements on bakery meals and biscuit meals. Full article

Early weaning in intensive pig production induces stress, compromising gastrointestinal health. Poor fat digestion results from the piglets’ underdeveloped digestive system. Dietary emulsifiers can enhance fat utilization, and glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPGR) has been shown to improve pig performance. This study evaluated GPGR’s effects on intestinal health in weaned piglets in a commercial production farm. A total of 380 just weaned (21 days old) piglets were divided in two groups of 190 animals each (in four replicates) that received either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet + 350 g/ton GPGR pharmaceutical formulation as top dress. Blood samples were collected at pre-established days, and intestinal sampling occurred 15 days post-weaning. Plasma cortisol, citrulline, intestinal morphology, mucus quality, enzymatic activity, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and cecal microbiota were analyzed. GPGR did not alter plasma cortisol but increased citrullinemia (P: 0.024), suggesting greater enterocyte functional mass. GPGR piglets showed improved intestinal morphology (greater villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio, and intestinal absorption area, p < 0.05) and higher enzymatic maltase activity (p ≤ 0.014). VFAs, bacterial adherence to mucus, and goblet cell counts were unaffected. Dietary GPGR increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (P: 0.014 and P: 0.045, respectively) while reducing Proteobacteria (p < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary GPGR promotes intestinal health in weaned piglets by improving epithelial structure, digestive function, and microbiota balance, representing a promising strategy to support piglets in overcoming the early nursery phase. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary calcium (Ca) and crude protein (CP) levels on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, and digestive enzyme activities in goslings during the brooding period. A total of 972 one-day-old Jiangnan White goslings were assigned to a 3 × 3 factorial design with three levels of Ca (0.32%, 0.96%, and 2.88%) and three levels of CP (14.5%, 18.5%, and 22.5%). Results showed that moderate Ca (0.96%) and CP (14.5–18.5%) levels optimized growth performance, with higher body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI), while excessive Ca (2.88%) impaired growth and the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Intestinal morphology was enhanced by 0.96% Ca and moderate CP levels, as reflected by greater villus height and crypt depth. Digestive enzyme activities in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were significantly influenced by dietary treatments, with moderate nutrient levels supporting optimal enzymatic efficiency. Nutrient utilization analyses revealed that Ca and CP levels interacted to optimize calcium, phosphorus, and protein metabolism, with the highest utilization rates observed at 0.96% Ca and 14.5% CP. These findings emphasize the importance of balanced dietary formulations to enhance growth performance, nutrient absorption, and metabolic efficiency in goslings, providing practical insights for improving poultry production. Full article

In the context of struvite precipitation, the most significant gap pertains to the transfer of knowledge from scientific research to practical applications. The primary objective of this study is twofold: firstly, to identify the most critical process parameters influencing struvite precipitation and, secondly, to translate these parameters into a pragmatic tool for real-world applications. This study investigates the precipitation of struvite from digestion centrate to obtain information on the appropriate precipitation conditions for different initial chemical compositions. We carried out 24 lab-scale experiments to investigate the effect of varying pH value (7.0–8.5), temperature (5 °C and 33 °C) and initial phosphate concentrations (353; 165; 68 mg/L) on struvite precipitation. Varying the pH had the strongest influence on precipitation efficiencies. Adjusting pH from 7 to 8.5 increased PO₄-P removal from 1.4% to 98.8%, whereas temperature had little impact on PO₄-P removal. Furthermore, we found that a saturation index of at least 1.7 is imperative to precipitate at least 90% of the available PO₄-P. Based on the results, we developed a nomogram showing the resulting saturation index and the associated PO₄-P removal efficiency for variable initial PO₄-P and pH levels. The tool developed in this study enables users to directly identify the so-called ‘sweet spot’, which is the optimal balance between process effectiveness and resource efficiency, for each centrate. Full article

Sensitive and specific detection of DNA methylation is crucial for the early diagnosis of various human diseases, particularly cancers. However, conventional methylation detection methods often face challenges in balancing both sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we present a novel approach that integrates the high specificity of methylation-dependent restriction endonuclease (GlaI) digestion with the amplification efficiency of specific terminal-mediated polymerase chain reaction (STEM-PCR). This combination enables selective amplification of methylated DNA, which is then detected through lateral flow detection (LFD), providing a simple, visual readout. As a proof of concept, a STEM-PCR-LFD assay was applied to detect methylated Septin 9, a biomarker for colorectal cancer. The assay demonstrated a sensitivity of approximately 0.1% (10 copies of methylated template per reaction), with no cross-reactivity observed when 10,000 copies of unmethylated DNA were included as background. Furthermore, the assay was validated with ten formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples, achieving 100% consistency with standard real-time STEM-PCR. This method offers a highly sensitive, specific, and accessible platform for DNA methylation detection, with potential for early disease diagnosis. Full article

Twenty-four male piglets were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, with increasing Tetraselmis sp. incorporation levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). Following a 4-day adaptation period to metabolic cages, the animals were used in a 2-week digestibility trial and slaughtered for digestive tract measurements and sampling. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), N balance, small intestine digesta viscosity and histomorphology, and hindgut digesta volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile were determined. Polynomial contrasts were employed to examine linear and quadratic effects of Tetraselmis sp. dietary incorporation. The ATTD of most macronutrients and N retention efficiencies decreased linearly (p < 0.05) with Tetraselmis sp. dietary inclusion. The ileum villi height increased linearly (p < 0.001) and the hindgut VFA concentration increased linearly (p < 0.05) with dietary Tetraselmis sp. inclusion. The ATTD values estimated for Tetraselmis sp. biomass using the regression method were 68.3% ± 3.86 for dry matter (DM), 66.1% ± 5.11 for N, and 61.3% ± 4.28 for gross energy. The values calculated for digestible and metabolizable energy (MJ/kg DM) and digestible crude protein (% DM) for Tetraselmis sp. were 9.0, 8.8, and 18.3, respectively. Tetraselmis sp. biomass had lower ATTD values when compared to protein sources commonly used in swine nutrition. Full article

The gut plays a crucial role in digestion and immunity, so its balance is essential to overall health. This balance relies on dynamic interactions between intestinal epithelial cells, immune cells, and crypt stem cells. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which consists of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract closely related to immune dysfunction. Stem cells, known for their ability to self-renew and differentiate, play an important role in repairing damaged intestinal epithelium and maintaining homeostasis in vivo. Macrophages are key gatekeepers of intestinal immune homeostasis and have a significant impact on IBD. Current research has focused on the link between epithelial cells and stem cells, but interactions with macrophages, which have been recognized as attractive targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches to disease, have been less explored. Recently, the developing field of immunometabolism has reinforced that metabolic reprogramming is a key determinant of macrophage function and subsequent disease progression. The aim of this review is to explore the role of the macrophage–stem cell axis in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and to summarize potential approaches to treating IBD by manipulating the cellular metabolism of macrophages, as well as the main opportunities and challenges faced. In summary, our overview provides a framework for understanding the critical role of macrophage immunometabolism in maintaining gut health and potential therapeutic targets. Full article

The dichotomy of striking a balance between sustainable food crop production for the skyrocketing human population and ensuring agricultural practices that mitigate environmental degradation has prompted much research into sustainable crop production methods. The application of amendments has become an integral part of arable soil management in restoring declining soil fertility for sustainable and high-quality crop production. This study was conducted on lettuce and carrot cultivated on soil treated with three different amendments: cow dung, sewage sludge, and nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) mineral fertilizer. The vegetables were harvested at maturity at 60 and 110 days for lettuce and carrot, respectively, dried in a hot air oven, crushed, and then digested to obtain an aliquot sample. The level of macronutrients was quantified from the aliquots using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), Avio 550 Max, PerkinElmer, USA. It was observed that both soil treatment and types of vegetables significantly impacted the level of mineral contents in the vegetables. The highest values of 58.00 ± 8.36 mg/kg and 72.97 ± 12.53 mg/kg were recorded for Na and P in carrots from soil treated with sewage sludge, respectively. The highest values of 247.97 ± 17.07 mg/kg and 104.72 ± 4.12 mg/kg were recorded for Ca and Mg in lettuce from sewage sludge-treated soil, respectively. Similarly, the highest value of 546.75 ± 76.44 mg/kg for K was also recorded in lettuce, but from cow dung-treated soil. The overall pattern of mineral accumulation by vegetables shows that carrots accumulate more Na than lettuce, and lettuce accumulates more Mg, Ca, and K than carrots, while there was no significant difference in the level of P in both lettuce and carrots. The findings reveal that lettuce and carrots from soil treated with organic manure cow dung and sewage sludge accumulated higher mineral contents of most of the investigated minerals. It was also observed that lettuce accumulated higher contents of most of the minerals investigated. This study therefore concludes that organic manures are better alternatives to mineral fertilizers for vegetable production, which supports the effort to strike a balance between sustainable and ecofriendly agriculture. Full article

Reducing crude protein (CP) in weaner pig diets lowers post-weaning diarrhoea risk but may impair growth performance. This study aimed to identify the beneficial effects of organic acid (OA)-preserved grain and butyric acid supplementation on gut health and growth in low-CP diets. At harvest, grain was divided into two batches: one dried at 65 °C, the other treated with a propionic acid. Ninety-six piglets (28 days old) were assigned to four treatments: (1) dried grain, (2) OA-preserved grain, (3) dried grain + 3% butyric acid, and (4) OA-preserved grain + 3% butyric acid. On day 8, microbial composition, inflammatory markers, volatile fatty acids, and intestinal morphology were assessed. The OA-preserved grain improved feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05) increased beneficial gut bacteria (p < 0.01), elevated caecal butyrate (p < 0.05), reduced jejunal CXCL8 expression (p < 0.05), and enhanced nutrient digestibility (p < 0.01). Butyric acid reduced feed intake (p < 0.05), improved nutrient digestibility (p < 0.01), decreased colonic Proteobacteria (p < 0.05), and increased colonic propionate and butyrate (p < 0.01). Combining OA-preserved grain with butyric acid elevated ileal Proteobacteria and Pasteurellaceae (p < 0.05). In conclusion, while OA-preserved grain improves feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota, supplementing butyric acid enhances nutrient digestibility but reduces feed intake, and their combination may disrupt the microbial balance. Full article

Chlorella vulgaris is a source of potential bioactive compounds that can reach the large intestine and interact with colonic microbiota. However, the effects of consumption of this microalga on gastrointestinal function have scarcely been studied. This paper simulates, for the first time, the passage of C. vulgaris through the gastrointestinal tract, combining the INFOGEST method and in vitro colonic fermentation to evaluate potential effects on the human colonic microbiota composition by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and its metabolic functionality. The results show that the presence of this microalga increased the release of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetic, propionic, butyric, and isobutyric fatty acids, after 48 h colonic fermentation, being indicators of gut health. In correlation with the release of SCFAs, a significant reduction in bacterial groups causing intestinal imbalance, such as Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp., was observed. In addition, digests from C. vulgaris favored intestinal health-related taxa, such as Akkermansia and Lactobacillus. C. vulgaris is, therefore, a promising food ingredient for good intestinal health and the maintenance of a balanced colonic microbiota. Full article

The aim of this experiment is to investigate the effects of optimizing the dietary energy supply of Songliao Black growing and fattening pigs on their growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, energy metabolism and oxidation energy supply, slaughter performance, and meat quality at a low ambient temperature. Forty-eight 75-day-old Songliao Black growing barrows with an initial weight of 33.38 ± 1.29 kg were randomized into two groups, with four replicates in each group and six pigs in each replicate. Two groups (CON group: low fat, normal energy; TES group: high fat, high energy) were fed isonitrogenous diets with different energy levels and fat contents. The experimental animals were raised at the same ambient temperature (10 ± 1 °C) all day. After 5 days of pre-feeding, the formal experiment began. Four Songliao Black barrows weighing approximately 80 kg were selected from each group for a five-day experimental period for digestibility and metabolism and respiratory calorimetry tests. All pigs (185 days of age) were slaughtered simultaneously at the end of the 110-day experimental period when their average body weight reached approximately 110 kg. The results showed that the average daily feed intake of the TES group was lower than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the feed-to-gain ratio was lower in the TES group during the fattening period (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the crude fat digestibility, deposition energy, energy deposition rate, deposition energy of fat, and fat oxidation were higher (p < 0.05), and the intake and urinary nitrogen, carbohydrate oxidation, urinary energy, and protein oxidation were lower in the TES group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the serum high-density lipoprotein concentration, low-density lipoprotein concentration, and triglyceride concentration were higher in the TES group (p < 0.05), while alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations were lower in the TES group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the backfat thickness was higher in the TES group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the weight gain/digestible protein and live lean meat mass/digestible protein were higher in the TES group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the yellowness (b*_45min) value of the longissimus thoracis was higher in the TES group (p < 0.05), and the shear force was lower (p < 0.05). Therefore, at a low ambient temperature, appropriately increasing the levels of dietary fat and energy was beneficial for improving the production performance and energy utilization efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions and protein oxidation, saving protein resources of Songliao Black pigs. Full article

In the food market, significant changes have been observed in recent years, and what is more, they are associated with an increased “nutritional awareness” among consumers. The role of food producers is no longer limited to presenting consumers with a rich range of products; their composition is also not without significance. There is an increase in interest in the so-called “functional food”, which, in addition to traditional nutrients, also provides ingredients with specific properties that have a beneficial effect on human health. One of the types of such food is the so-called “probiotic food”. Probiotics play a key role in the design of functional foods of plant origin, as they can contribute to improving the health of the digestive system, strengthen immunity, and prophylactically act in the case of many civilization diseases. In the context of plant-based foods, particular attention is paid to the development of products that support the balance of the intestinal microbiota while providing the health benefits typical of plant-based products such as fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. It should also be mentioned that the functional food segment in question shows not only a high trend in development in terms of the diversity of the products offered but also fits into the trend of environmentally friendly production in line with sustainable development trends. This article aimed to present the possibility of using probiotics and prebiotics in the functional innovative development of plant products. The impact of the fermentation process on the health value of the plant-derived food matrix will be discussed, as well as the technological challenges associated with this issue. This article analyzes the potential health benefits resulting from the consumption of fermented plant products and the hygiene aspects of the production process with examples of innovative probiotic plant products. It should be recognized that plant food is a promising option to deliver probiotics, paraprobiotics, and prebiotics, providing health benefits to consumers. Full article

This study evaluated the impact of reduced crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with four essential amino acids (EAAs) on production efficiency and meat quality characteristics in Bamei pigs. Thirty-six castrated Bamei pigs (half male and half female, 100 days old, with an average body weight of 50.65 kg) were randomly assigned to three different dietary CP levels: control group (16.0% CP), group I (14.0% CP + EAA), and group II (12.0% CP + EAA). In both experiments, the group I and group II diets were supplemented with crystalline AA to achieve equal contents of standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan. After a 70-day feeding trial, the results showed that (1) low-protein diets of different levels supplemented with four EAAs had no significant effect on the growth performance of Bamei pigs (p > 0.05) but had a tendency to increase average daily feed intake (ADFI). (2) In terms of slaughter performance, compared with the control group, the low-protein amino-acid-balanced diet significantly reduced the pH of gastric contents (p = 0.045), and tended to increase the backfat thickness and dressing percentage (p > 0.05). (3) The effect of low-protein diets on muscle amino acids showed that group I was significantly improved, including increased Threonine, Serine, Glycine and Bitter amino acids. (4) Compared with the control group, the low-protein group increased the ratio of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA)/total fatty acids (TFAs), Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA)/TFA, and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA)/TFA, and the content of decanoic acid, myristic acid, and cis-11-eicosenoic acid in group II was significantly higher than that in the other two groups (p ≤ 0.012). (5) The total number of flavor compounds in the muscle of the low-protein group was higher than that of the control group, including Aldehyde, Alcohol, sulfide, Alkane, and Furan compounds. Among them, the relative contents of Hexanal, Heptaldehyde, Benzaldehyde, E-2-Octenal, 2,3-Octanedione, and 2-Pentylfuran in group II were significantly higher than in those groups (p < 0.05). Notably, the 14% dietary protein level group had the most significant effect on the meat quality and flavor of Bamei pigs. Therefore, under the condition of amino acid balance, reducing the use of protein feed raw materials and adding synthetic amino acids can not only improve the meat quality and flavor of finishing pigs, but also save the feed cost. Full article

Avocado seeds (which are discarded during fruit processing) generate residue that could be utilized in pig feeding. The objective of this study was to test the effects of dietary inclusion of dried-milled avocado seeds (DAS) on pig performance, nutrient and energy digestibility, plasma biochemical parameters, and carcass and meat traits. Twenty-four Landrace × Large White barrows (24 kg body weight, BW) were randomly allocated to three experimental treatments: control diet (CO; 18% CP, 1.12% Lys, and 14 MJ ME/kg), and two diets in which 100 or 200 g DAS/kg partially replaced a CO diet (S10 and S20, respectively). Pigs were individually housed (22 ± 1 °C), and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Animals were weighed weekly and individual intake was monitored daily. The total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) and nitrogen balance were determined. The experiment ended at 40 kg BW, when the animals were slaughtered for blood and tissue sampling. Voluntary feed intake was not affected by the addition of up to 200 g DAS/kg to the diet. However, growth, nutrient TTAD, and nitrogen retention were depressed at the highest DAS inclusion level. The nutritional characteristics of longissimus lumborum muscle were not affected by DAS ingestion. The inclusion of up to 100 g DAS/kg in the diets of growing pigs could be used to add value to this waste product. Full article