Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Prepartum Supplementation and Yeast Fermentation Products on the Progesterone-Modulated Transfer of Passive Immunity in Bos indicus Cows.","authors":"Latino G S Coimbra, Fran C Cowley, Geoffry Fordyce, Luis F P Silva","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.70065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inadequate colostrum intake increases risks of calf morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the effects of prepartum and early postpartum supplementation and yeast fermentation products on late-pregnant Bos indicus cows, and the role of progesterone in mediating passive immunity transfer. Thirty-six Brahman cows were allocated to three treatment groups: Control (ad libitum Rhodes grass hay), Supp (Control plus 1 kg/day supplement) and SCFP (Supp plus 14 g/day Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products). Treatments started 30 days before the expected calving date and continued until 14 days postpartum. Cow plasma samples were collected three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), and modelled to reflect daily changes in progesterone leading up to calving. Calf plasma samples were taken twice within the first 5 days of life, and colostrum samples were collected 6-12 h post-calving. Live weights of both cows and calves were measured three times a week for 14 days before and after calving. Data were analysed using a linear mixed-effects model, and plasma progesterone concentration was assessed with a segmented mixed model. Supplementation (Supp vs. Control) improved cow nutritional status during the prepartum period, increasing dry matter, protein and metabolizable energy intake (p < 0.05), resulting in higher plasma urea (p < 0.01) and lower plasma non-esterified fatty acids (p < 0.01) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (p = 0.01) during the last week before calving. Supplementation reduced plasma progesterone concentration during the 3 days before calving (p < 0.05), which was associated with enhanced transfer of maternal IgG into colostrum (p = 0.03) and improved calf growth (p = 0.01). Yeast fermentation products (SCFP) further improved passive immunity transfer to calves (p = 0.02). These findings highlight the effectiveness of short-term prepartum supplementation, especially with yeast fermentation products, and the important role of progesterone in mediating passive immunity transfer.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147673611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Cross-Sectional Study on Parakeets Feeding and Housing Practices in Italy.","authors":"Erdem Danyer, Daniele Lauria, Davide Stefanutti, Diego Cattarossi, Rebecca Ricci","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Italy has one of the largest companion bird populations in Europe. This study aimed to investigate feeding and housing practices among Italian parakeet owners. An online questionnaire was distributed, yielding 433 voluntary responses. Participants were classified as hobbyists (HBY; ≤ 13 birds owned) or breeders (BRD; > 13 birds owned) to evaluate differences between groups. All BRD and 67.4% of HBY owned more than one bird (p < 0.001), while 74.9% of HBY and 30.5% of BRD (p < 0.001) reported owning only one bird species. Budgerigars were the most frequently reported species (overall: 40.2%), followed by lovebirds (overall: 37.9%). Birds were housed in cages cleaned once or twice per week by 44.1% of owners, whereas food provision and water refreshment occurred 6-7 days per week in 43.2% and 49.0% of cases, respectively. Feeders, water dispensers and environmental enrichments such as perches, swings and ramps were commonly used by both groups. Most birds (58.4%) were fed seed mixes, primarily to provide enjoyment. However, this feeding strategy allows selective consumption of individual components and may predispose birds to nutritional imbalances. A combination of seed mixes and extruded or pelleted complete diets was reported by 17.6% of owners, while 9.9% fed exclusively extruded or pelleted complete diets, following veterinary advice. Approximately 80% of owners used dietary supplements, most commonly cuttlebone; grit and vitamin-mineral supplements were frequently provided, particularly among BRD. Foxtail millet was the most commonly offered snack (80.6%). Overall, 43.2% of participants reported at least one health issue in their birds, most frequently feather-related problems (24%), with no differences between groups. In conclusion, although housing and enrichment practices were generally appropriate, the widespread use of mixed seed-based diets may increase the risk of nutritional imbalances. Owners' priority often appears to be birds' apparent satisfaction, highlighting the need for improved nutritional guidance and professional advice.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147521086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ruminal Magnesium Transport Revisited: Apparent Absorption and Estimate of Requirement.","authors":"H Martens","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pathogenesis of hypomagnesemia is caused in most cases by impaired magnesium (Mg) absorption and not by an insufficient Mg intake. Recent improved knowledge about the site and mechanism of ruminal Mg absorption allows studies of modulating factors regarding Mg absorption in vitro, in vivo, with the washed-rumen technique, and with classical balance studies. The obtained data show: a depressive effect of K excess and Na deficiency, transient inhibition by high ammonia concentration and stimulation by CO₂ and short-chain fatty acids, the impact of pH and solubility of Mg in the rumen fluid and the influence of the rumen volume and the outflow on Mg absorption. Current knowledge allows a reliable prediction of apparent Mg absorption with increasing K intake and the recommendation of an adequate Mg intake for dairy cows. Furthermore, the analysis of data from studies with dairy cows shows that the content of nitrogen, Na (≥ requirement) or fat in the diet has no effect on Mg absorption. However, hypomagnesemia is still a problem in grazing ruminants without sufficient supplementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147503685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Cannabidiol Supplements Use in Small Animals Practice in Portugal.","authors":"Maria Inês Santos, Ana Luísa Lourenço","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to assess the current use of cannabidiol supplements (CBDS) by Portuguese small animal veterinary practitioners. An anonymous online survey questioning the frequency of CBDS use, purpose of use and the perceived outcome was developed using Microsoft Forms, and targeted veterinarians currently working in small animal clinics in Portugal. Among the 186 responses obtained, 166 met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. From the responses included (n = 166), 5% (8/166) never used CBDS. From the ones using CBDS, 71% (112/158) used it frequently or with high frequency in dogs and 59% (92/158) in cats. In a multiple selection question from respondents that never used CBDS, 75% (6/8) cite lack of knowledge about their properties and applications as the main reason for not using them, suggesting that a lack of knowledge is preventing 4% (6/166) of the respondents from considering the CBDS as a therapeutic tool. Many respondents reported to be satisfied or very satisfied in using CBDS for: oncological diseases (93%; 106/114), management of chronic pain (92%; 144/156), behaviour changes/stress (83%; 90/109), or as an anti-inflammatory drug (76%; 83/109). Additionally, in an open-answer question, some respondents referred to the use of CBDS for other purposes, namely: cognitive dysfunction, appetite stimulant, feline gingivostomatitis, geriatric animals, senility and wound healing. The most frequent adverse effects were hypersialia/sialorrhea (28%; 44/158) and apathy (25%; 39/158). About 34% (53/158) of respondents did not identify any adverse effects. This survey revealed that a significant proportion of Portuguese companion animal veterinarians are already prescribing CBDS in their clinical practice with a perceived benefit in oncological diseases, chronic pain, behavioural changes/stress and anti-inflammatory effects. These findings indicated widespread awareness and confidence in using these products among Portuguese companion animal veterinarians. No conclusions on the actual efficacy of CBD can be drawn from the present study.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147503687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-Dependent Increase in Small Intestinal Permeability and Sex-Dependent Absorptive Capacity in Cats (Felis catus)","authors":"Keely Patterson,&nbsp;Emma N. Bermingham,&nbsp;Karl Fraser,&nbsp;Daniel Bernstein,&nbsp;Karin Weidgraaf,&nbsp;Anna K. Shoveller,&nbsp;David G. Thomas","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpn.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Age-associated changes in intestinal permeability and function have not been studied in domestic cats, leaving a key factor in the relationship between age and digestive health in cats unexplored. Due to factors not currently understood, mature and senior cats may experience a loss of fat and protein digestibility, along with a loss of body weight (BW), impacting lifespan and quality of life. Therefore, to establish the relationship between age and intestinal health, intestinal permeability and absorptive capacity were quantified in young and senior cats using a differential sugar absorption test (SAT) on cat plasma. A solution containing four different sized sugars was orally administered to 36 healthy mixed-breed domestic shorthair cats (male (<i>n</i> = 21) and female (<i>n</i> = 15)) split into two groups by age, young 2.40 ± 0.758 (<i>n</i> = 21) and senior 11.23 ± 1.896 (n = 15) years (mean ± SD). Blood was collected before and again 3 h after dosage and plasma was analysed using liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS). Intestinal permeability was higher (<i>p</i> = 0.004) in senior cats than young cats, and was not affected by sex (<i>p</i> = 0.288), sampling date (<i>p</i> = 0.652), or BW (<i>p</i> = 0.951). Absorptive capacity was higher (<i>p</i> = 0.033) in male cats than females, and was not affected by age class (<i>p</i> = 0.440), sampling date (<i>p</i> = 0.580), or BW (<i>p</i> = 0.652). In conclusion, intestinal permeability was higher in older cats and suggests age-related changes in intestinal barrier structure and function. These findings highlight the need to further consider increased intestinal permeability as a cause of reduced nutrient digestibility in older cats, offering a new target for interventions to enhance their health and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":"110 2","pages":"169-176"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13001013/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioactive Feed Additives in Poultry Reproductive Physiology","authors":"Wenjie Lu,&nbsp;Hui Peng,&nbsp;Diqi Yang","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70038","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpn.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This review synthesises current knowledge on the application of bioactive feed additives to enhance poultry reproductive efficiency, addressing both physiological mechanisms and practical challenges. In male poultry, additives such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and amino acids improve semen quality by mitigating oxidative stress, enhancing mitochondrial function, and regulating steroidogenesis through pathways involving Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc). For female reproduction, phytochemicals and probiotics optimise egg production and quality via gut microbiota modulation, nutrient absorption efficiency, and anti-oxidant defence systems, thereby improving eggshell integrity and yolk composition. Emerging sustainable alternatives, including microbial-derived enzymes and insect-based proteins, offer cost-effective solutions to replace traditional additives while maintaining productivity. However, challenges persist in balancing economic viability, regional feed resource variability, and the need for precision in oxidative stress manage-ment. Future research must prioritise interdisciplinary strategies to develop regionally tailored formulations that integrate molecular insights with farm-scale feasibility. By aligning with global sustainability goals and animal welfare standards, these innovations hold potential to sustainably meet the growing demands of poultry production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":"110 2","pages":"250-261"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpn.70038","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145762829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutrient-Enriched Spirulina Platensis for Poultry: A Review on Health Benefits With In-Silico Validation","authors":"Qin Fu,&nbsp;Chunmei Tan,&nbsp;Yanchong Mao,&nbsp;Xiaohui Ma,&nbsp;Jameel Ahmed Buzdar,&nbsp;Muhammad Asif Arain,&nbsp;Chunlei Yao,&nbsp;Bin Lu","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70025","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpn.70025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Spirulina platensis</i>, a filamentous blue or green microalgae, naturally found in alkaline lakes of tropical and subtropical regions, has attracted considerable attention as a sustainable feed resource for poultry production. Beyond its long history of use as a human food supplement, <i>Spirulina</i> is now gaining recognition in animal nutrition owing to its exceptional nutrient profile, including high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. With the global demand for high-quality animal protein rising, nutrient-enriched <i>Spirulina</i> provides a sustainable alternative to conventional feed additives. This review highlights current knowledge of <i>Spirulina's</i> applications in poultry nutrition, emphasizing its role in enhancing growth performance, immune competence, gut microbiota modulation, and overall product quality. Particular attention is given to its potential in biofortification, reduction of antibiotic dependence, and contribution to functional poultry products with added health benefits. Moreover, the article identifies critical research gaps and outlines future perspectives, emphasizing the need to explore the underlying mechanism of action, optimize dosage, evaluate synergistic effects with other feed additives, and assess large-scale feasibility in commercial production. By integrating recent advancements, the present review highlights the importance of continued research on <i>Spirulina</i> as an innovative feed additive, enhancing poultry health and productivity while promoting sustainable and eco-friendly production practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":"110 2","pages":"237-249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpn.70025","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145668692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Diet Composition With Physical, Haematological and Biochemical Analysis of Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in Brazil","authors":"Fernanda Mara Aragão Macedo Pereira,&nbsp;Danyele Karoline Avante Mangueira,&nbsp;Alexandre Luiz da Costa Bicudo,&nbsp;Débora Regina Yogui,&nbsp;Miriã Ribeiro Costa,&nbsp;Arnaud Desbiez,&nbsp;Priscylla Tatiana Chalfun Guimarães-Okamoto,&nbsp;Carolyne Assis Eigenheer Pinke Testa,&nbsp;Ellen Sue Dierenfeld,&nbsp;Alessandra Melchert","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70035","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpn.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The giant anteater (<i>Myrmecophaga tridactyla</i>) is an insectivorous species whose maintenance under human care is impaired due to the difficulty of reproducing their natural diet, associated with the challenge in developing an adequate and replicable diet. A wide variety of nutrition-related diseases are reported, but with few confirmed causal relationships. Moreover, little is known about the clinical parameters of the species and its relationship with diet. The aim of this study is to describe the haematology and blood chemistry of wild and captive giant anteaters in Brazil, correlating them with their physical condition and composition of the diet presented to the animals. We assessed 21 free-range and 22 captive giant anteaters, and compared results of bodyweight, biometry, haematology and serum biochemistry. Diets offered in captivity, and the stomach contents of nine wild road-killed anteaters were analyzed for chemical composition of macronutrients and minerals. When comparing data between free-range and captive animals, we found important differences in size and in haematological and biochemical analyses. Free-living anteaters were ~25% smaller compared with captives, both in BW (32.4 ± 4.7 kg and 42.6 ± 8.0 kg; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and measurements (thorax, abdomen and forearm circumferences). In addition, the composition of the stomach contents of wild animals differed significantly from the diet offered to captive animals, containing significantly less fat, energy and nutritional minerals in free-living animals. Diet seems to reflect directly on the physical parameters and laboratory results of giant anteaters.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":"110 2","pages":"262-269"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145762888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preference and In Vitro Digestibility of Leaves of Woody Plants by Sheep in the Northern Sudanian Zone","authors":"Linda C. Gabriella Traore,&nbsp;Sita Sanou,&nbsp;H. Oumou Sanon,&nbsp;Regina Roessler,&nbsp;Valérie Bougouma-Yameogo,&nbsp;Eva Schlecht","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70032","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpn.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In West Africa, trees and shrubs are important for feeding ruminant livestock during the dry season. This study aimed to determine the in vitro digestibility of organic matter from eight woody species using a gas test with and without the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and evaluate their preference by sheep using a cafeteria test. Plants cited by farmers as being palatable to sheep were <i>Lannea microcarpa</i> (La), <i>Ficus sycomorus</i> (Fi), <i>Pterocarpus erinaceus</i> (Pt), <i>Khaya senegalensis</i> (Kh), <i>Azadirachta indica</i> (Az), <i>Bombax costatum</i> (Bo), <i>Guiera senegalensis</i> (Gu) and <i>Ziziphus mauritiana</i> (Zi). For the preference test, two groups of fresh and dried leaves from each time four species were offered in a 4 × 4 Latin square to four 18–24-month-old rams for 8 days each. The in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was determined using the modified Hohenheim gas test. The quantity of dry matter ingested within 30 min, along with consumption time, ingestion rate, and the preference coefficient, served as indicators of leaf preference. Bo, Kh, and Zi leaves had the highest preference coefficients both in the dried (0.7, 0.3 and 0.2) and fresh (0.7, 0.5 and 0.3) state. Fresh Fi leaves had a higher preference coefficient (0.4) than dried ones (0.1), while the reverse was observed for Pt leaves (fresh: 0.1, dried: 0.6). PEG addition increased IVODM and in vitro methane production of ligneous forage plants by 1.2% (Kh) to 44.7% (La) compared to the incubation without PEG. In conclusion, fresh and dried leaves of <i>B. costatum, K. senegalensis</i>, and <i>Z. mauritiana</i> are highly palatable to sheep, making them good candidates for inclusion in dry season rations, despite their moderate IVOMD. In contrast, <i>L. microcarpa</i> and <i>G. senegalensis</i> exhibit both low preference and poor IVOMD, rendering them less recommendable as forage resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":"110 2","pages":"200-212"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13000971/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145633402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Astragalus Polysaccharides Enhance Broiler Performance Through Antioxidant Modulation and Gut Health Improvement: A Meta-Analysis","authors":"Xin Feng,&nbsp;Lijun Ou,&nbsp;Jie Tang,&nbsp;Yanrong Jing,&nbsp;Rong Hua","doi":"10.1111/jpn.70034","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpn.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production make the exploration of safe and effective alternatives necessary. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), as bioactive macromolecules, have attracted significant interest from poultry scientists. In the current study, a multilevel meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the effects of APS administration on broiler performance, antioxidant status, and gut health. The results revealed that APS supplementation significantly improved average daily gain (ADG; SMD = 0.64 [0.13, 1.15]) and feed conversion ratio (FCR; SMD = −1.20 [−2.03, −0.35]) of broilers. The observed benefits directly correlated with increased superoxide dismutase activity (SOD; SMD = 1.35 [0.78, 1.92]) and decreased malondialdehyde levels (MDA; SMD = −1.07 [−1.54, −0.60]). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that dietary supplementation was more effective than injection for improving ADG and the villus height to crypt depth ratio (VCratio), indicating the importance of direct gut-level interaction of APS. Nonlinear dose–response modelling identified an optimal dietary APS range of 1000−1500 mg/kg for maximising growth and antioxidant parameters. This meta-analysis suggests that APS shows promise as an antibiotic alternative for improving broiler growth performance, warranting further direct comparative studies with antibiotics. In addition, further large-scale trials are required to confirm its consistent efficacy on gut health and microbial composition due to substantial heterogeneity in current datasets.</p>","PeriodicalId":14942,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition","volume":"110 2","pages":"225-236"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpn.70034","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145654342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}