This study determined whether adding condensed tannins to the diet of confined lamb improves performance, metabolism, health, and meat composition and quality. We used 24 Lacaune lambs with an average initial weight of 24.5 ± 0.24 kg. The animals were divided into 12 pens with two animals each. In the treatment group, a black wattle extract was added to the lamb concentrate (2.5 g/kg dry matter), while the control group received only the basal diet (without extract). Black wattle contained 98.6 g/kg of condensed tannin. There was no difference between the performance variables, which included weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency. However, the group fed on condensed tannins showed higher carcass yield and a higher percentage of linked intramuscular fat. In meat, a lower proportion of saturated fatty acids combined with higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids was observed in lambs of the condensed tannin group. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were no different; however, a higher PUFA/SFA ratio was observed in animals with condensed tannin intake, and a higher proportion of ω6 and ω3 was observed in the meat of these animals. The meat’s protein and ash content did not differ between treatments, as did the meat’s water retention capacity, color, and luminosity. Furthermore, animals that fed on condensed tannins had lower cholesterol levels and higher globulin content. The values of erythrogram variables were lower in lambs that consumed condensed tannins. More significant ruminal bacterial activity was also observed in the group receiving condensed tannins. The antioxidant effect was verified with lower thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels and more significant antioxidant enzyme activity. We conclude that adding condensed tannins improves carcass yield and increases the percentage of fat in the carcass, improving the fatty acid profile, which may be linked to the antioxidant effect, in addition to the health benefits of the consumer of this product.
The ruminal kinetics of protein sources may be changed by heat and sugar treatments. Thus, these processing methods may be used as alternatives to increase beef-cattle diets’ rumen undegradable protein (RUP). We aimed to evaluate the effects of processing cottonseed meals with autoclave, conventional, and microwave ovens, with and without using xylose, on the ruminal kinetics degradation parameters and intestinal digestibility (ID). In situ studies were conducted, and each sample was incubated in the rumen to determine dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) rumen degradation kinetics. In vitro studies were also conducted to evaluate ID. The control treatment had a greater soluble fraction for DM and CP than processed cottonseed meals (p < 0.05). The addition of xylose decreased both DM and CP water-soluble fractions (fraction A) of cottonseed meal heated in a conventional oven (p < 0.05). Compared to the control, we observed a decrease in effective degradability and increased RUP for all processed methods (p < 0.05). Furthermore, conventional and microwave ovens showed greater ID than the control. Moreover, xylose-treated groups heated in the autoclave and conventional ovens had greater ID than xylose-untreated cottonseed meal. Under these experimental conditions, cottonseed RUP was increased by the evaluated processing methods.
Abstract The present study aimed to determine whether the inclusion of a mixture based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae lysate, zeolite, silicon dioxide, propylene glycol, Carduus marianus extract, soy lecithin, and carbonate in the piglet diet would be able to minimize the negative effects caused by feed with aflatoxin; a study focusing on animal health and performance. Seventy-two entire male piglets (7.35 ± 1.17 kg) weaned with an average of 26 days were used, allotted into four groups, with six repetitions (pens) per group and three piglets/pen. The treatments were as follows: NoAfla-NoAntiMyc - negative control (without aflatoxin); Afla-NoAntiMyc - positive control (500 ppb of aflatoxin); NoAfla-AntiMyc - 1000 mg/kg of anti-mycotoxin mixture; Afla-AntiMyc - 500 ppb aflatoxin + 1000 mg/kg anti-mycotoxin. We evaluated the performance (feed intake - FI, weight gain - WG and feed:gain ratio- FGR) andblood variables (10 days between samples). On day 32, six pigs from each group (a total of 24 pigs) were slaughtered to collect fragments of the liver, intestine, and spleen for analysis of oxidants/antioxidants and histology. It was observed that piglets in the positive control group (Afla-NoAntiMyc) had lower body weight and weight gain when compared to the other groups during the experimental period. Also, piglets from Afla-NoAntiMyc consumed less feed between days 1 to 20 and 1 to 30 compared to NoAfla-NoAntiMyc. A considerable increase in liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the piglets' serum of Afla-NoAntiMyc compared to other treatments, which indicates that the anti-aflatoxin blend worked. Fewer neutrophils and an increase in monocyte were observed in the piglets of Afla-NoAntiMyc compared to NoAfla-NoAntiMyc; changes that were not seen in the animals of Afla-AntiMyc. We did not see any change in the oxidant and antioxidant status in the piglet serum during the experimental period; different from what happened in Afla-NoAntiMyc piglets in the liver (higher glutathione reductase activity and levels of reactive oxygen species - ROS), in the spleen (higher levels of ROS) and the intestine/jejunum (reduction of nitrate/nitrite levels - NOx). Intestinal morphometry revealed that piglets from Afla-NoAntiMyc had higher villus height than the other groups, while the folded size was smaller in this group. The crypt depth was greater in the intestine of piglets in both treatments that consumed aflatoxin. In general, it is concluded that the consumption of aflatoxin B1 by piglets has negative impacts on the health and, consequently, the animals' performance; however, supplementation of the contaminated feed with an anti-mycotoxin blend was able to protect the piglets, minimizing the negative problems caused by the mycotoxin.