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Residual feed intake (RFI) is a crucial parameter for assessing the feeding efficiency of poultry. Minimizing RFI can enhance feed utilization and reduce costs. In this study, 315 healthy female ducks were individually housed in cages. Growth performance was monitored during the high laying period, from 290 to 325 d of age. The cecal transcriptome and microbiome of 12 ducks with high RFI and 12 with low residual feed intake (LRFI) were analyzed. Regarding growth performance, the LRFI group exhibited significantly lower RFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed intake (Fi) compared to the HRFI group (p < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences observed in body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and egg mass (EML) between the groups (p > 0.05). Microbiome analysis demonstrated that RFI impacted gut microbial abundance, particularly affecting metabolism and disease-related microorganisms such as Romboutsia, Enterococcus, and Megamonas funiformis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that varying RFI changed the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism, including APOA1, G6PC1, PCK1, and PLIN1. The integrated analysis indicated that host genes were closely linked to the microbiota and primarily function in lipid metabolism, which may enhance feeding efficiency by influencing metabolism and maintaining gut homeostasis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103726 | DOI Listing |
J Anim Sci
September 2025
Centre for Veterinary Systems Transformation and Sustainability, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria.
It is helpful for diagnostic purposes to improve our current knowledge of gut development and serum biochemistry in young piglets. This study investigated serum biochemistry, and gut site-specific patterns of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and expression of genes related to barrier function, innate immune response, antioxidative status and sensing of fatty and bile acids in suckling and newly weaned piglets. The experiment consisted of two replicate batches with 10 litters each.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Anim Sci
September 2025
Department of Animal Sciences, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
In pig production, weaning is a critical period where piglets face several environmental stressors. This transition leads to a significant growth reduction and can result in digestive disorders, including diarrhea. To formulate a feed that meets zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) requirements during the weaning period while minimizing their release into the environment, it became evident that a more bioavailable micro-mineral supplement is necessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTheor Med Bioeth
September 2025
Laboratory of Applied Epistemology, DADU, University of Sassari, Palazzo del Pou Salit, Piazza Duomo 6, 07041, Alghero, Sassari, Italy.
Orthorexia nervosa is defined as an exaggerated and obsessive fixation on healthy eating. In recent years, there has been growing debate over whether orthorexia nervosa should be considered a new psychiatric disorder. This paper discusses the conceptual issues that emerge from the attempt to identify the diagnostic criteria for orthorexia nervosa as opposed to non-pathological cases of healthy eating or 'healthy orthorexia'.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransl Anim Sci
May 2025
Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding dry-rolled hybrid rye grain (DRRG) as a replacement for dry-rolled corn (DRC) in beef cattle finishing diets. Two inclusion strategies for rye grain (RG) were evaluated: a total replacement of DRC for a limited time and a partial replacement during the entire feeding trial for Exp. 1 and 2, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransl Anim Sci
May 2025
Carthage Veterinary Service Ltd., Carthage, IL 62321, USA.
Soybean meal (SBM) contains many bioactive compounds, such as isoflavones, which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that may provide nutritional intervention to pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv). The disease results in abortions, stillborn piglets, and overall impairs reproductive success in sows. Today, there are no data available on feeding SBM to sows infected with PRRSv to mitigate the negative impacts of PRRSv on sow and litter performance.
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