Search Results (1,265)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Flos lonicerae and Baikal skullcap extracts (PE) on laying performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, follicular development, estrogen secretion, ovarian metabolomics, and cecal microbiota in aged laying hens. The total number of 70-week-old XinYang Black-Feathered laying hens was 240. These hens were randomly divided into two groups, with each group consisting of six replicates of 20 birds. Control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, whereas the PE group received the same basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg of PE. The duration of the experiment was 10 weeks. The findings indicated that the supplementation of PE improved laying performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. This was reflected by significant increases (p < 0.05) in laying rate, feed conversion ratio, antioxidant indicators (such as glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase), and immunoglobulin levels. Additionally, there were notable decreases (p < 0.05) in the malondialdehyde levels and pro-inflammatory markers. Moreover, the PE group exhibited a greater number of large yellow and white follicles, as well as higher serum estrogen levels, compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that PE supplementation altered the composition of the cecal microbiota by increasing Ruminococcus_torques_group, Butyricoccus and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group abundances and decreasing Bacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Megamonas abundances (at genus level), which are primarily associated with short-chain fatty acid production. Ovarian metabolomic analysis showed that the major metabolites altered by PE supplementation were mainly involved in follicular development, estrogen biosynthesis, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Moreover, changes in both the cecal microbiota (at genus level) and ovarian metabolites were strongly correlated with laying performance, antioxidant status, and immune function. In conclusion, PE supplementation improved laying performance in aged hens by enhancing antioxidant, immune, and ovarian functions, promoting follicular development and estrogen secretion, and modulating the gut microbiota and ovarian metabolites. These findings will offer novel insights into the mechanisms that underlie egg production in the ovaries of aged poultry. Full article

In the chicken industry, sex determination significantly affects production efficiency and raises ethical concerns in poultry farming. As a key economic species, maximizing the advantages of each sex is vital in modern intensive breeding. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of sex determination and regulation is critical to advancing the poultry industry. Transcriptome analysis of 3.5-day-old White Leghorn chicken embryonic genital ridges (n = 30, 15 males and 15 females) was performed using sex-pooled samples (five embryos/replicate, three replicates/sex). Sequencing generated 39.6 GB of high-quality reads for inter-sex comparative analysis, revealing 283 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were primarily enriched in pathways such as ribosome biogenesis, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and TGF-β signaling, which are potential candidate pathways for the differentiation of chicken embryonic gonads. Key DEGs (including SMAD2Z, FREM1, NR2F1, SEMA6A, NFIB, RNF165, SMAD7B, SMAD2W, SPIN1W, and HINTW) were validated by RT-qPCR, confirming the transcriptome sequencing results. Among the DEGs, we predict binding sites for NR2F1 and NFIB within the DMRT1 gene promoter and suggest that these factors may serve as potential upstream activators for the expression of DMRT1, and they may initiate high DMRT1 expression in the subsequent stages of male embryos and regulate testicular development. In conclusion, this study investigated DEGs in the gonads of male and female chicken embryos after 3.5 days of incubation and found that NR2F1 and NFIB may serve as potential upstream activators for the expression of DMRT1, which is involved in the early determination of chicken sex. Full article

Backyard poultry systems (BPS) are the most widespread form of animal production worldwide, contributing to household economies and improving food availability. However, limited biosecurity measures and close human–animal interactions raise concerns regarding zoonotic disease transmission. In recent years, consumer-driven motivations have given rise to non-traditional BPS with differential attributes (BPS-DA), yet there is limited knowledge about their food production practices. This study aimed to characterize and compare practices across 25 BPS and 25 BPS-DA in the Metropolitan Region using surveys, interviews, and direct observations of egg collections and poultry slaughters. Eggs were the main animal product in both systems, with women primarily responsible for care. Poultry slaughter was reported exclusively in BPS (60%), generally performed under inadequate hygienic conditions and without veterinary oversight. These practices, (poultry slaughter, food production and handling), may considerably increase the risk of human exposure to zoonotic pathogens, such as avian influenza viruses. In contrast, BPS-DA prioritized birds as companion animals (60%), free-range rearing (68%), and hobby-based production (80%). While both systems showed limited biosecurity, significant differences were found in the use of dedicated footwear (p = 0.01; V = 0.35), egg collection sites (p = 0.04; V = 0.29), and refrigeration (p = 0.004; V = 0.41). Veterinary access was limited in both (32% in BPS; 44% in BPS-DA). These findings highlight critical gaps in health management and underscore the need for context-specific educational and regulatory strategies for safer backyard poultry production. Full article

Between 2019 and 2023, 163 cases of subgenotype VII.1.1 Newcastle disease virus infection were registered in backyard poultry in the Russian Federation within the framework of epizootiological monitoring. Subgenotype VII.1.1 Newcastle disease virus was reported in a total of 18 different subjects of the Russian Federation. Most of the Newcastle disease outbreaks caused by the viruses of this subgenotype occurred in the autumn and winter period (60%). Further tests allowed for the determination of complete F and HN gene nucleotide sequences for 40 isolates. The results were used to perform the Bayesian analysis of F gene sequences with BEAST v.1.10.4 software. The obtained nucleotide substitution accumulation rates were practically non-dependent on the selected nucleotide substitution model and varied appreciably depending on the applied molecular clock model (0.0018 and 0.002 site-1year-1). The conducted study established that the formation of the ‘Russian’ NDV isolates of subgenotype VII.1.1 followed several stages. In the early 2000s, ancestral viruses belonging to subgenotype VII-d were detected in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. From these, through intermediate forms identified in Iraq around 2007–2008, a group designated as subgenotype VII-L emerged. This group gave rise to two sister clades: the Iranian subgenotype VII-L and the cluster of isolates from Russia and Poland, whose immediate common ancestor likely existed around 2015–2016, probably in Asia. Full article

Egg weight monitoring provides critical data for calculating the feed-to-egg ratio, and improving poultry farming efficiency. Installing a computer vision monitoring system in egg collection systems enables efficient and low-cost automated egg weight measurement. However, its accuracy is compromised by egg clustering during transportation and low-contrast edges, which limits the widespread adoption of such methods. To address this, we propose an egg measurement method based on a computer vision and multi-feature extraction and regression approach. The proposed pipeline integrates two artificial neural networks: Central differential-EfficientViT YOLO (CEV-YOLO) and Egg Weight Measurement Network (EWM-Net). CEV-YOLO is an enhanced version of YOLOv11, incorporating central differential convolution (CDC) and efficient Vision Transformer (EfficientViT), enabling accurate pixel-level egg segmentation in the presence of occlusions and low-contrast edges. EWM-Net is a custom-designed neural network that utilizes the segmented egg masks to perform advanced feature extraction and precise weight estimation. Experimental results show that CEV-YOLO outperforms other YOLO-based models in egg segmentation, with a precision of 98.9%, a recall of 97.5%, and an Average Precision (AP) at an Intersection over Union (IoU) threshold of 0.9 (AP90) of 89.8%. EWM-Net achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.88 g and an R² of 0.926 in egg weight measurement, outperforming six mainstream regression models. This study provides a practical and automated solution for precise egg weight measurement in practical production scenarios, which is expected to improve the accuracy and efficiency of feed-to-egg ratio measurement in laying hen farms. Full article

Environmental enrichment, such as lighting, has affected the behaviors, welfare, and production of commercial broiler chickens. However, most studies have focused on constant light intensities to determine their effect on welfare and performance. Research indicates that the significant contrast of light intensities in broiler houses promotes pronounced daily patterns of behavior and activity, impacting broiler chicken health. Birds exhibited preference behaviors in bright-intensity light during active behaviors, such as eating and drinking, but in darker areas when resting. Light intensity preferences may be associated with the voluntary instinctive movement of birds by providing choices for birds. Increasing broiler chickens’ movement may boost welfare, especially leg health, which is a leading cause of culling and late mortality in commercial production. In this review, we discuss the progress and results of practical environmental enrichments, enrichment lighting, and huts in commercial broiler houses. We briefly address interpretations of improved welfare and performance and suggest directions for future research that may interest poultry scientists. Full article

Effective environmental monitoring is critical for preventing microbial and allergenic cross-contamination. However, manual swabbing methods, commonly used to verify hygienic conditions, are prone to inconsistent results because of variability in pressure, coverage, and techniques. Two novel solutions will be explored to address these challenges: a robotic swabbing system with tactile sensing control, and a fluorescence/absorbance spectrometer for non-contact, protein-based residue detection. The robotic system was evaluated against trained and untrained humans, measuring water pickup, surface coverage, and pressure consistency. Concurrently, the fluorescence system analyzed model poultry protein soil to correlate spectral patterns with contamination levels. The robotic system demonstrated statistically superior performance, achieving consistent force application and near-complete surface coverage, overcoming key limitations of manual sampling. The fluorescence system distinguished contamination with high sensitivity, validating its use as a rapid, non-contact assessment tool. Together, the robotic sample acquisition and the spectrometer’s sensitive analysis provide a dual-modality framework for enhancing hygiene monitoring in manufacturing facilities. Full article

Efficient control measures for respiratory diseases in humans and farm animals require accurate, specific, and rapid diagnostics. Traditional PCR-based molecular diagnostics are restricted to centralized laboratories, which results in significant, potentially catastrophic delays in test results. A case in point is the recent avian flu outbreak, which has culled more than 280 million poultry birds worldwide (over 157 million in the USA alone) since 2022; has spread to other farm animals, such as cattle; has further heightened the risk of a human pandemic; and threatens food security. To enable molecular diagnosis of bird respiratory diseases at the point of need, we employ loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in two platforms: (A) portable devices linked to a smartphone and (B) an inexpensive, disposable, electricity-free, instrument-free device with closed-tube, colorimetric detection that can be produced with minimal resources. Smartphone integration offers an unexplored opportunity for spatiotemporal disease mapping, equipping policymakers with critical data for outbreak control. Our assays demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity compared to the gold standard, lab-based, quantitative PCR (qPCR). We tested contrived samples of the avian flu H5N1 virus, laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) spiked into clinical samples, achieving a detection sensitivity adequate for early infection diagnosis in under 45 min. The test is simple, requires minimal training, and can be performed without refrigeration, making it well-suited for resource-limited settings. Full article

In November 2024, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in backyard poultry in Timiș County, Western Romania. The index cases involved chickens and domestic geese found dead with lesions characteristic of HPAI. Laboratory confirmation was achieved by real-time RT-qPCR targeting the matrix, H5, and N1 genes, followed by virus isolation in embryonated specific-pathogen-free eggs. Sequencing of the hemagglutinin cleavage site revealed the multi-basic motif PLREKRRKR/GLFG, consistent with a highly pathogenic phenotype. To investigate potential viral persistence, tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from apparently healthy selected backyard poultry (chickens, geese, ducks and pheasants). RNA extraction and RT-qPCR, performed using protocols validated by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, yielded negative results for all samples. Internal controls confirmed assay reliability, excluding the possibility of PCR inhibition. The investigation confirmed the occurrence of HPAI H5N1 in backyard poultry and demonstrated the absence of detectable viral persistence in surrounding flocks under the tested conditions. These findings highlight the importance of rapid molecular diagnostics, active surveillance, and strict biosecurity in limiting virus spread. Continued monitoring under the One Health framework is essential to mitigate the risk of avian influenza at the human–animal–environment interface. Full article

The widespread use of chemical fertilizers has raised concerns because of their environmental impacts, including soil degradation, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. The integration of organic amendments into agricultural systems provides a sustainable alternative. This study investigates the molecular and physiological traits underlying rapeseed responses to organic amendments based on poultry and plant material mixed with the soil. Plant growth, CO₂ assimilation, metabolic, proteomic, and soil microbial analyses were performed. Results show a significant stimulation of plant growth (100%) and leaf biomass (200%) following amendment application. This response is attributed to enhanced efficiency in light energy use for CO₂ fixation, increased carbohydrate and amino acid production, and improved biomass and yield. Increased upregulation of proteins and antioxidant metabolites such as abscisic acid (ABA) indicates an enhanced capacity to cope with oxidative stress. The amendments activated metabolic mechanisms that improved redox balance and homeostasis, including more efficient light energy use and enhanced antioxidant synthesis. Furthermore, the organic amendments promoted Actinobacteria in the soil, contributing to improved soil quality. These metabolic responses may enhance plant resilience against oxidative stress and environmental fluctuations. These findings highlight promising strategies to enhance crop productivity and resilience, advancing sustainable agriculture and strengthening future food security. Full article

Background: The use of antibiotics in livestock has contributed to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilms can play a role in its emergence and dissemination. This review aimed to map the literature on AMR, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic residues (ARs) in biofilms from drinking water distribution systems in poultry, swine, and cattle farms. Methods: The review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR extension. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Agricola, and Web of Science) were searched. Studies were screened in Rayyan. Results: The search yielded 1242 studies. After screening 732 studies, only 4 met the inclusion criteria. These studies focused on poultry (n = 3) and dairy cattle (n = 1), not on swine. Isolation relied on plating methods. Two studies complemented culturing with 16S rRNA sequencing. No studies applied culture-independent techniques. The number of biofilm-derived isolates across studies ranges from 6 to 102. Three studies performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing, using a wide range of antibiotics (16 to 31). One study analyzed ARGs; none quantified ARs. Conclusions: The limited number of studies and lack of standardized methods hinder the generalizability of the findings, underscoring the need for research to clarify biofilms’ role in AMR dissemination in livestock farms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Heat processing techniques can alter the energy and nutritional value of meat. This study examined the effect of various types of heat processing (water bath cooking WBC, oven convection roasting OCR, grilling G, and pan frying PF) on the content and retention of vitamins A, D, E, K, and cholesterol in White Kołuda^® goose breast meat without or with skin (n = 36). Methods: The contents of fat-soluble vitamins and cholesterol were determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Cooking loss (CL), retention, and the percentage coverage of the Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) for vitamins in adults by 100 g of meat were calculated. Results: The CL was higher (p ≤ 0.01) in goose breast meat with skin (43.2%) compared to skinless meat (37.1%). The contents of vitamins A, D, E, K, and cholesterol were also significantly greater (p ≤ 0.01) in meat with skin than in meat without skin. The G and PF resulted in the greatest reductions in A, D, E, and K compared with raw meat. The highest retention (>52%) was observed after WBC, whereas the lowest (<43.7%) occurred after PF, although the difference was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.01) only for vitamin D. While 100 g of raw goose breast meat provided the highest percentage of NRV for the analyzed components, WBC appeared to be the most favorable cooking method for consumers. Conclusions: Our research can help consumers choose goose meat as an alternative to red meat to diversify and balance their diet. WBC ensures the least loss of fat-soluble vitamins while ensuring the health safety of meat, which may be important information for consumers, the catering industry, and the poultry industry. Full article

Background: Argas persicus is a hematophagous ectoparasite of poultry and is the vector of several agents infectious to poultry. This study aims to explore the key genes affecting the ovarian development of A. persicus. Methods: RNA-seq was performed on the ovaries of A. persicus before blood-feeding, on the day of engorgement, and 6 days post-engorgement. Utilizing the threshold padj < 0.05 and|log₂(foldchange)| > 1, differentially expressed genes were identified, and hub genes were determined by constructing protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks. Results: A total of 1008 differentially expressed genes were obtained during the feeding period, including 448 up-regulated and 560 down-regulated genes. Further, 2179 differentially expressed genes were screened in the preoviposition stage, including 1957 up-regulated and 222 down-regulated genes. These genes are mainly annotated in functions such as peptidase activity (especially serine protease activity), protein folding, protein assembly, and cell component assembly, and enriched in pathways such as protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome, glutathione metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism. In addition, some proteins that are closely related to ovarian development, including heat shock protein 70, protein disulfide isomerase, paramyosin, troponin I, hexosaminidase, serine protease, Kunitz serine protease inhibitors, and vitellogenin, were obtained. Conclusions: These findings fill the gap in the biological data for the ovarian development of soft ticks, provide a reference database for subsequent proteomics research, and offer fundamental support for the screening and development of candidate antigens for anti-tick vaccines. Full article

This study investigated a compound low-protein diet (CLPD) strategy to reduce soybean meal (SBM) dependency in meat geese. Diets were formulated with crude protein (CP) levels decreasing from 16.5% (corn-soybean meal diet, CSD) to 9.8%, incorporating alternative ingredients such as rapeseed meal, corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), broken rice, and rice bran. All diets were balanced for limiting amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine, and valine) through supplemental synthetic amino acids. A total of 192 four-week-old Sanhua geese were randomly assigned according to a single-factor completely randomized design to four dietary treatment groups: the 16.5% (CSD) group and three CLPD treatment groups (14.0% CP, 11.5% CP, and 9.8% CP). Each treatment consisted of six replicate pens with eight geese per pen. During the six-week trial, evaluations included growth performance, organ weights, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemistry, amino acid profiles, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota composition. Results demonstrated that compared to the 16.5% (CSD) group, the 11.5% CP (CLPD) group significantly improved final body weight (p < 0.05), average daily gain (P_Linear < 0.01, p < 0.05), and feed conversion efficiency (P_Linear < 0.01, p < 0.05), alongside enhanced apparent digestibility of crude protein and amino acids (P_Linear < 0.01, p < 0.05). Organ weights were generally stable, though the 9.8% CP (CLPD) group showed reduced liver weight (p < 0.05) and increased abdominal fat (P_Linear < 0.01, p < 0.05). Serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased (P_Linear < 0.05, p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology improved in the duodenum and jejunum: in the duodenum, villus height and villus-to-crypt ratio were significantly increased, and crypt depth was significantly decreased (P_Linear < 0.01, p < 0.05); in the jejunum, villus height was significantly increased (p < 0.05) and crypt depth was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Cecal microbiota alpha diversity remained consistent. The dominant genera in the 9.8% CP (CLPD) group were unclassified_Oscillospiraceae and unclassified_Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.05), among which, Megamonas, Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group dominated in the 16.5% (CSD) group (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that a compound low-protein diet (CLPD) with 11.5% CP, precisely balanced for limiting amino acids, supports optimal growth performance, improves nutrient utilization, and maintains intestinal health in meat geese. Overall, this offers a viable approach to easing SBM reliance in poultry nutrition while enhancing resource efficiency. Full article

Aflatoxin contamination of animal feeds may impact broiler chicken health and production. The adverse impact of aflatoxin can be ameliorated and detoxified by adding capable binding agents, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A total of 648 mixed gender 1-day-old Ross-308 were assigned to a 3 × 2 factorial experiment to investigate the effect of aflatoxin B1 (AF) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SAC) on growth performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics. Chickens were randomly allocated to dietary treatments consisting of three levels of AF at 0, 20 and 60 µg/kg, and with or without SAC (10¹⁰ cells/kg) supplementation of 1 g/kg of dried yeast. Results showed that both AF and SAC increased average daily feed intake (both, p < 0.001) and reduced feed efficiency (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively), while only AF reduced average daily gain (p = 0.009). Supplementation with SAC improved the average daily feed intake in chickens subjected to AF60 (interaction, p < 0.001), suggesting that SAC could improve the appetite of broilers. Chickens fed AF had a lower carcass weight (p = 0.028) and heart weight (p = 0.031), but higher carcass-normalized weight of gizzard (p = 0.038) and liver (p = 0.010). Aflatoxin administration reduced white blood cells (p = 0.030), lymphocytes (p = 0.029) and basophils (p < 0.001), while increasing neutrophils (p = 0.009). SAC reduced neutrophils (p = 0.004) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (p < 0.001) while increasing lymphocytes (p = 0.003) and basophils (p = 0.015). The haematological results suggest that AF caused a disturbance in the immune system, compromising the health of the chicken, whereas SAC potentially mitigates these alterations. Dietary AF increased the activity of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (p = 0.009). These findings suggest a potential use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a natural binder to reduce aflatoxicosis in poultry production systems. Full article