Recently, the secondary use of by-products of the processing industry resulting from the production of poultry meat, which can be included in animal diets, has become a popular topic in the feed ...industry. For studying the effects of partial replacement of rapeseed cake (RC) with the by-product source of animal protein concentrate Agro-Matic (PCAM) on growth dynamics, nutrient absorption and nitrogen balance, as well as blood biochemical parameters during the growing period, a total of 48 Russian Ayrshire dairy heifers were selected for this experiment and they were divided into three experimental groups (16 in each group, including the control group). The heifers of the control group were fed the basal diet which contained rapeseed cake (30%), while the second (RC + PCAM) and third groups (PCAM + RC) were fed the basal diet after replacing a part of the rapeseed cake with 2.25% and 4.5% of protein concentrate Agro-Matic respectively. The results showed that the weight of heifers treated with PCAM at 3 months of age exceeded the control by 2.3 kg (p > 0.05) in group 2 by 4.4 kg (p < 0.05). Similar results were obtained at the age of 6 months of raising. Feeding 4.50% protein concentrate Agro-Matic has a positive effect on the digestibility of nutrients; in particular, there was a significant increase in the digestibility of crude protein in the PCAM + RC group (77.23 vs. 73.42%) compared with the control group. Moreover, a similar trend was found in the digestibility of nitrogen in the diet. At the age of 3 months, heifers showed a significant decrease in the concentration of ketone bodies in the second group (1.82 vs. 2.20 mmol/L) relative to the control group. Urea was significantly lower in the RC + PCAM group (5.05 vs. 6.62 mmol/L) relative to the PCAM + RC group, while acid capacity (alkaline reserve) was higher by 2.41% (p < 0.05) relative to the control. In the 10th month of age, a positive effect on the blood of heifers was observed, as in the second and the third experimental groups, β-globulin and phosphorus increased (p < 0.05), while in the second group aspartate aminotransferase decreased (p < 0.05). Consequently, replacing the rapeseed cake with the protein concentrate Agro-Matic revealed an improvement in the dynamics of growth, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance, and it has an effect on improving some biochemical parameters of the blood.
The main purpose of this study was to assess the impact of using the thermally modified mineral adsorbent shungite (MAS) and the dried seaweed meal Fucus vesiculosus (DSM) with different doses in ...Brown Nick cross laying hens’ diet on their productivity, nutrient digestibility, morphological and blood profile, immunity status, and egg quality. A total of 261,720 hens were used in this experiment at the age of 63 weeks, and they were randomly divided into 5 groups (feeding program) with six repetitions of 8724 chickens in each. The first served (control) as a control group where laying hens were fed the basal diet that was used on the farm only; the second and the third groups represented MAS+ and MAS++, where they received the basal diet supplemented by 0.1% and 0.25% (or 1.0 kg/t and 2.5 kg/t of feed) of the mineral adsorbent shungite (MAS) which was provided in the feed in powder form (5 microns) and was added to the feed at the feed mill; the fourth and fifth groups represented DSM+ and DSM++, which received the basal diet provided with 0.1% and 0.25% (or 1.0 kg/t and 2.5 kg/t of feed) of dried seaweed meal of F. vesiculosus algae (DSM). The average egg weight over the entire period of the experiment revealed significant differences between the experimental groups and represented in the control group 65.20 vs. 66.88, 66.87 and 68.10 and 68.13 g in the MAS+ and MAS++, and DSM+ and DSM++ groups, respectively. Once the dried seaweed meal F. vesiculosus (DSM) was used, the crude protein increased significantly (p < 0.05) in egg yolk by 2.64 and 2.67%, carotenoids by 1.13 and 1.20 mg/g DM. The inclusion of both MAS and DSM feed additives revealed a significant decrease in the level of crude fat (lipids) in their liver when compared with the control group. The level of erythrocytes (RBCs) increased (p < 0.05) in the MAS+ and MAS++ and DSM+ and DSM++ groups when compared to the control group. Similarly, a significant increase was noted in hemoglobin when DSM was supplemented when compared to the control one. Moreover, the number of heterophils increased (p < 0.05) in groups of MAS and DSM when compared to the control group. The percentage of phagocytic activity increased significantly by 5.39, 6.90, and 7.18% in MAS++, DSM+, and DSM++, respectively, relative to the control group. On the other hand, the phagocytic number decreased (p < 0.05) by 1.15 and 1.12 conditional units in MAS+ and MAS++ and by 1.03 and 0.83 conditional units in DSM+ and DSM++ when compared to the control group, respectively. Consequently, the inclusion of thermally modified mineral adsorbent shungite and the dried seaweed meal F. vesiculosus with different doses in Brown Nick cross laying hen diets improves the egg weight and egg quality, crude protein, carotenoids and vitamin A in the egg mass, the utilization of lysine and methionine nutrients, hemoglobin content, immunity status, while decreases the incidence of fatty liver occurrence.
To determine the level of application and the effectiveness of the use of plant feed additives from sweet chestnut wood extract (
) in the diet of Cobb-500 cross broiler chickens, four groups were ...formed via the balanced groups method. The chickens in the experimental groups were supplemented with sweet chestnut wood extract in the main diet rather than a feed antibiotic at an amount of 500 g per ton of compound starter feed and 250 g per ton of grower and finisher in the second experimental group; 650 g per ton of compound starter feed and 325 g per ton of grower and finisher in the third experimental group; and 800 g per ton of compound starter feed and 400 g per ton of grower and finisher in the fourth experimental group. Supplementation with phytobiotics led to an increase in the digestibility of the dry matter in the second and third groups compared to the first experimental group. Furthermore, broiler chickens supplemented with a medium dose of phytobiotics revealed a significant difference in both crude protein and fiber when compared to the second experimental group (91.95% and 12.11% vs. 88.98% and 10.07%, respectively). The preslaughter weight of the birds in the phytobiotics supplemented groups was higher than in those fed with the lowest dosage of phytobiotic by 5.47%, and the difference was significant. There were no significant differences in terms of the blood biochemical parameters between the groups. In summary, the inclusion of plant feed additives from sweet chestnut wood extract as a substitute for an antibacterial drug in the diet of broiler chickens did not deteriorate the blood biochemical parameters and improved the intensity of the nutrient digestion process. As a result, it enhanced the quality indicators of the broiler carcass during the entire growth period.
Our research purpose was to study the effect of the inclusion of a combination of phytobiotics in the form of dry
grits (FG) and a mineral adsorbent from the heat-treated mineral shungite (TMS) on ...milk productivity, nutrient digestibility, and biochemical parameters of the Suksun dairy cows. A total of 80 dry-hardy cows of the Suksun breed were divided into four groups (20 heads each), balanced primarily by breed, age, body weight, body condition score, and indicators of milk yield for the previous lactation. The selected cows were with an average live body weight of 512.0 ± 1.28 kg, BCS 3.0-3.5, and parities of 6250 kg milk. The control group (CON) were fed the basic ration only; the second (TMS), third (FG), and fourth (TMS + FG) groups were fed the basic ration provided by 50 g of the mineral adsorbent from heat-treated shungite, 100 g of Fucus grits (
), 50 g of the mineral adsorbent from heat-treated shungite, and 100 g of dry grits from
, respectively. The total protein content in milk was significantly higher in the group receiving
by 0.05% and the group receiving a combination of mineral adsorbent and
by 0.03%. The percentage of milk fat content recorded the highest significant value in (TMS) group when compared to the control and represented (4.37 vs. 3.95). The group of cows that received (TMS + FG) revealed a significant difference in the digestibility of both ether extract and crude fiber when compared to the control group and represented (54.74 vs. 51.71 and 60.68 vs. 55.15%), respectively. The cows supplemented with a mineral adsorbent or a combination of mineral adsorbent and
revealed a significant difference in the digestibility of ether extract and crude fiber in the group receiving TMS + FG by 3.0% (
< 0.05) and 5.5% (
< 0.05), respectively. The intake of nitrogen with the diet increased in (FG) and (TMS + FG) groups by 11.3 g (
< 0.05) and 13.4 g (
< 0.05) of nitrogen. There was an increase (
< 0.05) in the concentration of rumen ammonia in the control group compared to the other groups. The glucose content of those cows that received FG and TMS + FG combination increased (
< 0.05) by 0.76 mmol/L and 0.90 mmol/l in relation to the control group. The globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, and the level of triglycerides revealed a significant difference between the different experimental groups. In brief, the inclusion of a combination of phytobiotics in the form of dry
grits and a mineral adsorbent from the heat-treated mineral shungite in Suksun dairy cows' diets improved milk composition, digestibility of nutrients, utilization of nitrogen, and did not cause deleterious effects on blood biochemical indicators.
Searching for new feed products suitable for poultry nutrition is an important tool for improving productive and immunity status of poultry. Thus, our present study aimed to evaluate the impact of ...using the thermally modified mineral adsorbent shungite and the dried seaweed meal Fucus vesiculosus in different doses in the diets of Brown Nick cross laying hens on their productivity indicators, digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen utilization, morphological blood profile, immunity status indicators, and egg quality. Our results showed that the inclusion of the abovementioned feed additives improves both productive performance and immunity status of Brown Nick cross laying hens as well as decreases the incidence of fatty liver occurrence. The main purpose of this study was to assess the impact of using the thermally modified mineral adsorbent shungite (MAS) and the dried seaweed meal Fucus vesiculosus (DSM) with different doses in Brown Nick cross laying hens’ diet on their productivity, nutrient digestibility, morphological and blood profile, immunity status, and egg quality. A total of 261,720 hens were used in this experiment at the age of 63 weeks, and they were randomly divided into 5 groups (feeding program) with six repetitions of 8724 chickens in each. The first served (control) as a control group where laying hens were fed the basal diet that was used on the farm only; the second and the third groups represented MAS+ and MAS++, where they received the basal diet supplemented by 0.1% and 0.25% (or 1.0 kg/t and 2.5 kg/t of feed) of the mineral adsorbent shungite (MAS) which was provided in the feed in powder form (5 microns) and was added to the feed at the feed mill; the fourth and fifth groups represented DSM+ and DSM++, which received the basal diet provided with 0.1% and 0.25% (or 1.0 kg/t and 2.5 kg/t of feed) of dried seaweed meal of F. vesiculosus algae (DSM). The average egg weight over the entire period of the experiment revealed significant differences between the experimental groups and represented in the control group 65.20 vs. 66.88, 66.87 and 68.10 and 68.13 g in the MAS+ and MAS++, and DSM+ and DSM++ groups, respectively. Once the dried seaweed meal F. vesiculosus (DSM) was used, the crude protein increased significantly (p < 0.05) in egg yolk by 2.64 and 2.67%, carotenoids by 1.13 and 1.20 mg/g DM. The inclusion of both MAS and DSM feed additives revealed a significant decrease in the level of crude fat (lipids) in their liver when compared with the control group. The level of erythrocytes (RBCs) increased (p < 0.05) in the MAS+ and MAS++ and DSM+ and DSM++ groups when compared to the control group. Similarly, a significant increase was noted in hemoglobin when DSM was supplemented when compared to the control one. Moreover, the number of heterophils increased (p < 0.05) in groups of MAS and DSM when compared to the control group. The percentage of phagocytic activity increased significantly by 5.39, 6.90, and 7.18% in MAS++, DSM+, and DSM++, respectively, relative to the control group. On the other hand, the phagocytic number decreased (p < 0.05) by 1.15 and 1.12 conditional units in MAS+ and MAS++ and by 1.03 and 0.83 conditional units in DSM+ and DSM++ when compared to the control group, respectively. Consequently, the inclusion of thermally modified mineral adsorbent shungite and the dried seaweed meal F. vesiculosus with different doses in Brown Nick cross laying hen diets improves the egg weight and egg quality, crude protein, carotenoids and vitamin A in the egg mass, the utilization of lysine and methionine nutrients, hemoglobin content, immunity status, while decreases the incidence of fatty liver occurrence.
Micro-CT visualization allows reconstruction of eye structures with the resolution of light microscopy and estimation of tissue densities. Moreover, this method excludes damaging procedures and ...allows further histological staining due to the similar steps in the beginning. We have shown the feasibility of the lab-based micro-CT machine usage for visualization of clinically important compartments of human eye such as trabecular outflow pathway, retina, iris and ciliary body after pre-treatment with iodine in ethanol. We also identified the challenges of applying this contrasting technique to lens, cornea, and retina and proposed alternative staining methods for these tissues. Thereby this work provides a starting point for other studies for imaging of human eyes in normal and pathological conditions using lab-based micro-CT systems.
•Application of laboratory-based micro-CT imaging for the investigation of the human eye.•Advantages and disadvantages of iodine in ethanol (I2E) staining of the human eye structures for the further micro-CT imaging.•Identification of clinically important structures of the human eye based on 2D sections and 3D volume-rendering models.
The specifics of fracture of weld seam samples of aluminium-magnesium alloy, obtained by the friction stir welding (FSW) method at strain, have been studied. It has been shown that the weld seam ...contains aluminium-oxides, which are located on the surface of the conjugation of two sample parts. This imperfection leads to the effect when the initial crack spreads from the seam root over this surface of conjugation. The subsequent fracture proceeds over the basic metal of the seam.