Veterinary and Animal Science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of additives in rehydrated corn silage with industrial tomato waste on intake, digestibility, ruminal parameters, and performance of feedlot-finished lambs","authors":"Patrick Ferreira Cardoso ,&nbsp;João Paulo Sampaio Rigueira ,&nbsp;Vicente Ribeiro Rocha Júnior ,&nbsp;Jade Passos de Almeida ,&nbsp;Sérgio da Conceição Assunção ,&nbsp;Fredson Vieira e Silva ,&nbsp;Tiago Alves Corrêa Carvalho da Silva ,&nbsp;Thais Oliva Neres ,&nbsp;Jordânia Pereira da Silva ,&nbsp;Ronnie Antunes de Assis ,&nbsp;Flávio Pinto Monção","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100591","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100591","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are doubts as to whether or not rehydrated corn silage with industrial tomato waste (ITW) requires additives. Thus, study aimed to evaluate the effects of different additives in rehydrated corn silage with ITW on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal parameters, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior, and performance of feedlot-finished lambs. Twenty-four intact Dorper × Santa Inês crossbred male lambs, averaging 20.88 ± 1.84 kg of initial body weight and 100 days of age, were used. Four experimental diets were tested: (1) rehydrated corn silage with ITW and without additives; (2) rehydrated corn silage with ITW and a bacterial-enzymatic inoculant; (3) rehydrated corn silage with ITW plus 2% powdered sugarcane molasses; and (4) rehydrated corn silage with ITW including both a bacterial-enzymatic inoculant and 2% powdered sugarcane molasses, on a natural matter basis. The roughage-to-concentrate ratio was 50:50, based on dry matter (DM). The experiment followed a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates. No differences were observed among diets in dry matter intake (<em>p</em>= 0.33), crude protein intake (<em>p</em>= 0.83), non-fibrous carbohydrate intake (<em>p</em>= 0.16), or total digestible nutrient intake (<em>p</em>= 0.92). Final body weight, average daily gain, hot carcass weight, hot carcass yield, and feed efficiency were 32.02 kg, 0.232 kg day⁻¹, 14.21 kg, 44.42%, and 0.23 kg of DM kg⁻¹, respectively. These findings indicate that adding bacterial-enzymatic inoculant or powdered sugarcane molasses to rehydrated corn silage with ITW is unnecessary in feedlot diets for finishing lambs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100591"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Poultry gut health: industry drivers, management determinants, and emerging research directions","authors":"Mohammad Naeem Azizi ,&nbsp;Noor Aminullah ,&nbsp;Sadia Alam ,&nbsp;Faisal Danish","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gut health has emerged as a critical determinant of sustainable poultry production, directly influencing nutrient absorption, immune competence, disease resistance, and overall bird performance. Recent research has highlighted the central role of the gut microbiota in maintaining intestinal health and functions, with strategies such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, phytogenic compounds, and fermented feed ingredients demonstrating considerable promise in promoting microbial balance and enhancing gut integrity. Efforts to strengthen intestinal barrier function through modulation of tight junction proteins and improvement of gut morphology, including villus height and crypt depth, have been shown to enhance nutrient utilisation, reduce pathogen translocation, and support overall growth performance. The global trend toward antibiotic-free production has accelerated the development and application of safer alternatives, aligning poultry health management with consumer demands, regulatory requirements, and sustainable production goals. Environmental and management stressors, including temperature fluctuations, stocking density, litter quality, and water composition, remain significant challenges that can disrupt microbial equilibrium and intestinal barrier integrity. Precision nutrition, early gut health biomarkers, and non-invasive diagnostic tools are increasingly enabling proactive management strategies to optimise performance and disease resilience. This review provides an overview of current innovations in poultry gut health, evaluates the drivers and challenges influencing intestinal health management, and identifies future research directions. It emphasises integrated approaches combining nutritional, microbiological, environmental, and regulatory considerations to achieve sustainable, efficient, and welfare-oriented poultry production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100566"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological determinants of canine transmissible venereal tumor in Northeastern Brazil: Insights from a retrospective case–control analysis","authors":"Francisco Abner dos Santos Barbosa ,&nbsp;Márcio Phillip Andrade Correia ,&nbsp;Juan Vicente Arce Mayeregger ,&nbsp;Antônio Flávio Medeiros Dantas ,&nbsp;Gabriela Noronha de Toledo ,&nbsp;Almir Pereira de Souza","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) remains a prevalent neoplasm in several regions worldwide, particularly in areas with large populations of free-roaming dogs. This study aimed to identify demographic and environmental factors associated with CTVT occurrence through a case–control design involving 89 confirmed CTVT cases and 1243 controls. Variables evaluated included age group, sex, reproductive status, breed type, body size, living environment, street access, and body weight category. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were applied to determine adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals. The chi-square analysis revealed significant associations for sex, breed type, body size, street access, age, and weight category, while reproductive status and living environment were not significant. In the multivariate model, street access emerged as the strongest predictor, with dogs allowed unrestricted outdoor access showing markedly higher odds of developing CTVT. Mongrel dogs, medium-sized dogs, and adult or senior animals also demonstrated increased adjusted risk. These findings reinforce the epidemiological relevance of free-roaming behavior and population management in regions where CTVT remains endemic. Beyond confirming well-recognized risk factors, the study highlights the importance of integrating demographic profiling into local control strategies. Identifying high-risk groups may support more effective surveillance, prevention, and early diagnosis initiatives, particularly in communities with limited access to veterinary care. Overall, this work contributes updated epidemiological insights into CTVT dynamics and underscores the need for targeted public health interventions to mitigate disease spread.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100585"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146166970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review: Compliance standards for dairy cattle welfare in European countries","authors":"Letizia Debertolis,&nbsp;Louis Holighaus,&nbsp;Matthias Gauly,&nbsp;Thomas Zanon","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the last half century, animal welfare in livestock farming, particularly dairy cattle farming, has received increasing attention. Animal welfare legislation, as well as private and state-regulated standards and frameworks concerning animal welfare in dairy farming, has flourished globally, particularly in Europe. This study uses a modified systematic review approach to provide an overview of the various compliance frameworks (CFs) relating to dairy cattle welfare across Europe. These are classified according to the type of approach in: qualitative, or those that require only the achievement of a certain level of welfare; progressive, or those that encourage the constant improvement of welfare; disruptive, or those that propose a breakthrough in the management system, geared towards promoting welfare; and health monitoring programmes, considered separately. A qualitative assessment is conducted on nine selected CFs concerning the welfare of dairy cattle in five Alpine countries (France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Their different characteristics (organisation type and approach, interface with other relevant databases, covered subjects, and other qualitative features) are compared and presented in tabular form. This analysis reveals further differences between the CFs that transcend the type of approach adopted. Each country employs a personalised strategy. One distinction between the CFs is the presence of regulatory possibilities to integrate or compensate for shortcomings in certain areas, such as the absence of elements that promote welfare as regulated by the standard, with other virtuous practices. Furthermore, the comparison shows that health monitoring programmes are provided for in all states, thus underlining their continuing relevance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100587"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146182871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering autosomal and X-linked genetic effects of early growth traits in Murciano-Granadina goats via a multivariate animal model","authors":"Jamshid Ehsaninia ,&nbsp;Mohammad Bagher Zandi ,&nbsp;Moein Taned ,&nbsp;Alireza Bagheripour","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2025.100553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2025.100553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to quantify autosomal and sex-linked genetic parameters for early growth traits in the Murciano-Granadina goat breed. Data were collected from a commercial dairy herd in Ghaleh-Ganj, southern Iran. A total of 19,582 records for birth weight (BWT) and 9157 records for weaning weight (WWT) were analyzed, covering animals born between 2016 and 2023, descended from 460 bucks and 5382 does. Live weight measurements were used to calculate preweaning growth rate (PWGR), preweaning Kleiber ratio (PWKR), and preweaning growth efficiency (PWGE). Environmental effects were evaluated using <em>aov</em> package in R, and the optimal multivariate model was constructed by combining the best-fitting univariate models for each trait. Genetic parameters were estimated using this optimal multivariate animal model and the average information restricted maximum likelihood algorithm in WOMBAT software. Estimated direct autosomal heritabilities (<span><math><msubsup><mi>h</mi><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><mn>2</mn></msubsup></math></span>) were 0.05 for BWT, 0.08 for WWT, 0.06 for PWGR and PWGE, and 0.09 for PWKR. Corresponding direct sex-linked heritabilities (<span><math><msubsup><mi>h</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow><mn>2</mn></msubsup></math></span>) were 0.03 for BWT, 0.02 for WWT, 0.01 for PWGR, and PWKR, and 0.04 for PWGE. Excluding sex-linked chromosomal effects from optimal model led to a 3–14 % increase in autosomal additive genetic variance and a 7–20 % increase in the residual variance. Autosomal genetic correlations (r_a) ranged from -0.70 (BWT-PWGE) to 0.83 (PWKR-PWGR), while sex-linked genetic correlations (r_s) ranged from -0.75 (BWT-PWGE) to 0.93 (WWT-PWGE). These findings highlight the relevance of accounting for sex-linked additive inheritance in genetic evaluations, supporting more informed selection decisions and contributing to improved genetic progress in Murciano-Granadina goats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100553"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of the high dietary inclusion of wheat dried distillers’ grains with solubles with and without exogenous enzyme supplementation in broiler diet on performance, litter quality and certain animal welfare issues","authors":"Márk Tóth ,&nbsp;Yazavinder Singh ,&nbsp;Krisztián Balogh ,&nbsp;Erika Zándoki ,&nbsp;Szabina Kulcsár ,&nbsp;Benjámin Kövesi ,&nbsp;Zsolt Ancsin ,&nbsp;Tibor Pap ,&nbsp;Miklós Mézes ,&nbsp;Mária Kovács-Weber ,&nbsp;Márta Erdélyi","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2025.100557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2025.100557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study assessed the effects of high dietary inclusion of wheat dried distillers’ grains with solubles (WDDGS), with or without a non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) degrading enzyme (Enzyme) supplement, on broiler performance, carcass traits, meat quality, litter condition, and footpad dermatitis (FPD). Three diets: Control, 30 % WDDGS, and 30 % WDDGS+Enzyme, were fed to 312 Cobb 500 broilers over 42 days. From day 7 onward, WDDGS and Enzyme groups exhibited significantly higher body weight (BW) and weight gain (WG) compared to Control (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), with no differences in feed conversion ratio (FCR) or mortality. At day 42, slaughter, carcass, breast, and leg weights increased in WDDGS groups vs Control (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while relative yields remained unchanged. Breast meat pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), shear force, and proximate composition did not differ among treatments; however, meat yellowness (<em>b</em>*) decreased in WDDGS groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Litter moisture and FPD scores rose in the WDDGS group (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), but enzyme supplementation partially mitigated these welfare concerns, reducing both parameters though not to Control levels. These findings indicate that diets containing 30 % WDDGS can enhance growth performance and carcass weights without compromising meat quality, but may impair litter conditions and increase FPD incidence. Supplementation with NSP-degrading enzymes did not affect production or meat characteristics but improved litter moisture and reduced FPD occurrence. The nutritional feasibility of high-level WDDGS inclusion is confirmed; future research should address gut health, nutrient digestibility, and commercial-scale applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100557"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of milk yield and composition in three indigenous West African goat breeds under semi-intensive management","authors":"Helliot Kossi Dosseh ,&nbsp;Sedo Eudes Anihouvi ,&nbsp;Michel Kere ,&nbsp;Rodrigue Vivien Cao Diogo ,&nbsp;Mawule Sylvie Hounzangbé-Adoté ,&nbsp;Luc Hippolyte Dossa","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2025.100560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2025.100560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Milk production constitutes an essential component of livestock farming in Benin. Although goats are predominantly reared for meat, their milk represents a valuable nutritional alternative to cow’s milk, particularly for individuals with dietary sensitivities and children in food-insecure households. Nevertheless, despite the substantial goat population, caprine milk production remains significantly underexploited. This study assessed milk yield and composition of three indigenous West African goat breeds, Red Maradi Goat (RMG), West African Dwarf Goat (WAD), and West Long-Legged Goat (LLG), under semi-intensive systems in northern Benin to evaluate breed adaptability and support sustainable goat farming. Forty-eight goats (15 females and one male per breed) were selected from traditional farms and managed at an experimental station. Daily milk yield was recorded by hand-milking on days 8, 28, and 49 postpartum. A total of 318 milk samples were assessed for fat, protein, lactose, solids-not-fat (SNF), and pH using a Speedy Lab Milk Analyzer. The resulting data were then evaluated using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and correlation analysis. Milk yield differed significantly among breeds (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), with RMG and LLG outperforming WAD. While WAD goats produced milk with significantly higher fat content, RMG maintained stable composition across lactation, WAD showed declines in most components except fat, and LLG exhibited increasing fat with decreasing SNF and density. Breed and lactation stage influenced milk pH, indicating physiological differences. Strong correlations emerged among SNF, protein, lactose, and density. These results position RMG and LLG as promising for yield and compositional stability, while WAD may be preferable for high-fat milk production. Selective breeding and improved feeding management could improve dairy productivity and sustainability in West African goat production systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100560"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Complementary effects of probiotics and stimbiotics inclusion on carcass traits, meat quality and antioxidant activity in broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress","authors":"R.M. Mokonyama ,&nbsp;U. Marume ,&nbsp;G. Moonsamy","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study assessed the complementary effects of probiotics and stimbiotics inclusion in diets on carcass traits and meat quality in broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress. 600 day- old Cobb500 chicks were divided into five dietary groups; T1: Standard broiler diet, with no AGPs (NegControl); T2: Basal diet, with AGPs (PosControl); T3: Basal diet + 0.01% probiotics (Prob); T4: Basal diet + 0.01% stimbiotics (Stim) and T5: Basal diet + 0.01% (probiotics+ stimbiotics) (ProbStim). The birds were fed over a period of 42 days and then slaughtered for measurements of internal organs, carcass traits and meat quality attributes. The results revealed that dietary treatments had no effect on internal organs apart from the liver weight, duodenum and length of large intestine. Broiler chickens fed PosControl showed the heaviest liver, while those fed PosControl and ProbStim diets showed heavier duodenum weight. Carcass characteristics were not affected by diet apart from the wing weight. Broiler chickens fed Prob and ProbStim obtained heavier wing weight. With regards to meat quality, diet significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) affected the lightness (<em>L</em>*_i), yellowness (<em>b</em>*_i) and redness (<em>a</em>* _24hr). Diet also significantly influenced (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) the antioxidant activity of the broiler meat on FRAP and TEAC assay. Prob and Stim individually showed high ferric ion reducing power, while on TEAC assay, NegControl and Prob showed the most efficient scavenger of radicals. The findings suggest that probiotics and stimbiotics can improve carcass traits and meat quality parameters in broilers while mitigating negative effects of heat stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100575"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing South African giraffe Epididymal sperm preservation techniques\"","authors":"Ayanda Maqhashu ,&nbsp;Willem Daffue ,&nbsp;Charles Serrurier ,&nbsp;Luther Mashilo ,&nbsp;Edward Collin Albertyn ,&nbsp;Francois Deacon","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Giraffe populations have declined by 30–40% over the past three generations, resulting in local extinctions in many habitats. In contrast, the South African subspecies is stable and subject to culling in some reserves, creating opportunities for post-mortem gamete recovery to support conservation. This study evaluated the preservation potential of epididymal sperm collected from South African giraffe bulls. Paired testes from 12 bulls were collected post-mortem and placed at 5°C mobile fridge from the Sandveld Nature Reserve. Sperm was retrieved from the cauda epididymides by slicing immediately (<em>n</em> = 4), four hours (<em>n</em> = 4), six hours (<em>n</em> = 2), and eight hours post-mortem (<em>n</em> = 2). Samples were extended in tris-egg yolk (TEY) or Ark Biotechnology's proprietary flush buffer for liquid preservation at 4°C and cryopreservation. Sperm quality was assessed microscopically, and motility parameters were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Sperm quality was maintained up to six hours post-mortem, with total motility exceeding 75%. A sharp decline occurred at eight hours (&lt;20%). After 72 h at 4°C, Ark buffer preserved higher motility (62 ± 3.43%) than TEY (44 ± 3.21%). In contrast, TEY produced superior cryopreservation outcomes, with post-thaw motility of 70% immediately and 65 ± 2.55% after two hours, compared to Ark biotech buffer (25% and 0%, respectively). Epididymal sperm from giraffes can be effectively recovered up to six hours post-mortem without loss of quality. Ark Biotechnology's flush buffer is advantageous for short-term liquid preservation, while TEY is better suited for cryopreservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100578"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the effects of microencapsulated DL-methionine on productive performance, immunity, plasma amino acids, and hepatic growth-related gene expression in broilers","authors":"Mohammad Ali Khazab ,&nbsp;Hossein Ali Ghasemi ,&nbsp;Seyed Abdullah Hosseini ,&nbsp;Iman Hajkhodadadi ,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Alizadeh-Ghamsari","doi":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vas.2026.100593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A 42-day feeding trial was conducted to compare a diet supplemented with crystalline DL-methionine (<strong>control</strong>) with diets containing microencapsulated DL-methionine (<strong>MEM</strong>) supplied at 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 % of the commercially recommended level in broiler chickens. A total of 1260 one-day-old Arian broilers were randomly allotted to six treatments, with seven replicates of 30 birds each. Body weight gain (<strong>BWG</strong>), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (<strong>FCR</strong>) did not differ between birds fed the control diet and those fed MEM diets containing ≥70 % of the recommended level, whereas the 60 % MEM diet reduced BWG and increased FCR. Increasing the dietary MEM level resulted in a quadratic increase in leg yield and a linear decrease in abdominal fat, without affecting hematological traits or leukocyte differential counts. The 100 % MEM diet increased influenza (H9N2) antibody titers, and all MEM levels enhanced Newcastle disease virus titers compared with the 60 % MEM diet; moreover, titers in the 100 % MEM group also exceeded those of the control. Plasma methionine, serine, and total amino acid concentrations were higher in birds fed the 60 % MEM diet than in those fed the 90 % MEM diet, while plasma cysteine showed a quadratic response as MEM level increased. Diets providing 80–100 % MEM upregulated hepatic GHR expression, and diets providing 90–100 % MEM also increased mTOR expression compared with the 60 % MEM diet. Overall, microencapsulated DL-methionine enabled approximately a 30 % reduction in supplemental methionine without impairing performance, while higher inclusion levels (≥80 % of the recommended level) beneficially modulated immune responses and growth-related gene expression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37152,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary and Animal Science","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 100593"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}