AnimalsPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.3390/ani15091262
Lin Sun, Zhijun Wang, Shidi Qin, Chunhong Liang, Ayong Zhao, Ke He
{"title":"Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens.","authors":"Lin Sun, Zhijun Wang, Shidi Qin, Chunhong Liang, Ayong Zhao, Ke He","doi":"10.3390/ani15091262","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091262","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotic resistance has become a global health concern, driving the need for sustainable alternatives in animal husbandry. This study explores the potential of natural feed additives as a viable solution to enhance poultry growth and health while reducing reliance on antibiotics. Chinese herbal medicines and probiotics have been widely studied as green, healthy, and safe antibiotic alternatives in livestock and poultry production. A total of 120 chickens were randomly divided into four groups: a control group and three treatment groups supplemented with 1% <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i> powder, 3% fresh <i>Acer truncatum</i>, or 1% <i>Clostridium butyricum</i>. The results showed that <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i> powder significantly increased gamma-glutamylcysteine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), tyramine (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and leucine (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Acer truncatum</i> notably altered cecal metabolites, including L-tyrosine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), α-ketoisovaleric acid (<i>p</i> < 0.01), myristoleic acid (<i>p</i> < 0.01), glutathione (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and PGA1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> modified cecal metabolites such as L-glutamine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), riboflavin (<i>p</i> < 0.05), L-Carnitine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), ergocalciferol (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and α-tocotrienol (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071075/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143966427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Efficacy of Three Doses of Halquinol on Growth Performance, Diarrhea Incidence, Nutrient Digestibility, and Fecal Microbiome of Weaned Pigs.","authors":"Panumas Kongpanna, Uttra Jamikorn, Thitima Tripipat, Angkana Tantituvanont, Rakthai Ngampak, Dachrit Nilubol","doi":"10.3390/ani15091258","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The weaning period is a critical phase for nursery pigs that is characterized by rapid growth and alterations in the intestinal microbiome associated with nutrient utilization. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of halquinol, when used as an antibiotic (ABO), on the growth performance, diarrhea incidence, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), fecal volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and microbiota in pigs. A total of 210 healthy weaned pigs with an average initial weight of 6.9 kg and aged 28 ± 2 days were assigned to five treatments (six pens/treatment) in a complete randomized design, including a control group (T1, CON; feed with no ABO), a colistin group (T2, CLT; feed containing 120 ppm colistin), and three halquinol groups (T3 to T5, HAL; feed containing 180, 240, and 360 ppm halquinol, respectively). The experiment period lasted for 10 days. Field recordings, observation, and feces collection were performed on D1, D5, and D10. CATTD and VFA assessments were conducted on D10. The composition of the fecal microbiota was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina Miseq platform. The results demonstrated that the in-feed ABO groups exhibited a significantly lower ADFI (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Pigs fed the T3 and T4 diets had the lowest FCR (<i>p</i> < 0.01) on D5 and D10 and, thus, had reduced ADFI (<i>p</i> < 0.01). A quadratic contrast was found in ADFI and FCR on D5 and D10, indicating a negative correlation with HAL concentration (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Pigs fed CLT and HAL had significantly reduced levels of coliform (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and <i>E. coli</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Moreover, pigs receiving ABO also had a lower fecal score compared to those on the CON diet (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Dietary in-feed ABO had no effect on all the parameters of the CATTD on D10 (<i>p</i> > 0.05), except for fat digestibility in pigs that received T4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Pigs fed the T4 and T5 diets had higher propionate concentrations and lower A/P ratios than pigs fed T1, T2, and T3 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The microbial diversity shifted quickly through the early weaning period. The relative abundance of beneficial <i>Enterococcus</i> microbes increased in pigs fed in-feed ABO, whereas the relative prevalence of pathogenic bacteria, such as <i>Escherichia</i> and <i>Klebsiella</i>, decreased. <i>Escherichia</i> and <i>Bacteroides</i> were negatively correlated with carbohydrate digestibility and butyric and valeric acid production (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, the appropriate HAL dosage was 240 ppm (T4), and this antimicrobial can potentially be characterized as an in-feed colistin replacer that improves feed efficiency and fat digestion, enhancing VFA production, alleviating post-weaning diarrhea, and protecting ABO-resistant piglets.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071017/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143966359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnimalsPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.3390/ani15091259
Katiucia Cristine Sonálio, Leopoldo Malcorra de Almeida, Lucas Schmidt Bassi, Leandro Nagae Kuritza, Isabela de Camargo Dias, Chayane da Rocha, Alex Maiorka
{"title":"Effect of Putrescine Inoculation In Ovo on Hatchability, Hepatic and Muscular Glycogen Reserve, Intestinal Morphology, and Performance of Broilers.","authors":"Katiucia Cristine Sonálio, Leopoldo Malcorra de Almeida, Lucas Schmidt Bassi, Leandro Nagae Kuritza, Isabela de Camargo Dias, Chayane da Rocha, Alex Maiorka","doi":"10.3390/ani15091259","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this study was to evaluate the inoculation of nutrient solutions with increasing levels of putrescine on the hatchability, physiology, and performance of broilers during the initial phase. The study is composed of four treatments with increasing doses of putrescine (0.015; 0.030; 0.060, and 0.090%) and a control group. At hatch, hatchability rate; ratio between egg weight and chick weight; ratio between yolk sac, liver, breast and intestine weight, and chick weight; glycogen concentration in the liver and breast; and morphometric characteristics of the jejunum and ileum were evaluated. After hatch, 400 birds were housed in metabolic cages according to the treatments received, and feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were assessed at specific time points. Hatchability, chick performance at hatch, and organ weight were not affected by the inoculation of increasing levels of putrescine. Intestinal villi at hatch were higher in groups supplemented with putrescine (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The amounts of hepatic glycogen per gram of tissue at hatch were higher in groups with the lowest levels of putrescine and decreased with increasing doses (<i>p</i> = 0.017). Growth performance from 1 to 21 days was not influenced by the inoculation of putrescine.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143961858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Enhancing Genomic Prediction Accuracy with a Single-Step Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Model Integrating Genome-Wide Association Study Results.","authors":"Zhixu Pang, Wannian Wang, Pu Huang, Hongzhi Zhang, Siying Zhang, Pengkun Yang, Liying Qiao, Jianhua Liu, Yangyang Pan, Kaijie Yang, Wenzhong Liu","doi":"10.3390/ani15091268","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genomic selection (GS) is a genetic breeding method that uses genome-wide marker information to improve the accuracy of the prediction of complex traits. The single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) model, which integrates pedigree, phenotypic, and genomic data, has improved genomic prediction. However, ssGBLUP assumes that all markers contribute equally to genetic variance, which can limit its predictive accuracy, especially for traits controlled by major genes. To overcome this limitation, we integrate results from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) into an enhanced ssGBLUP framework, termed single-step genome-wide association assisted BLUP (ssGWABLUP). Our approach assigns differential weights to markers on the basis of their GWAS results, thereby increasing the contribution of effective markers while diminishing the influence of ineffective ones during the construction of the genomic relationship matrix. By incorporating pseudo quantitative trait nucleotides (pQTNs) as covariates, we aim to capture the effects of markers closely associated with major causal variants, leading to the development of the ssGWABLUP_pQTNs. Compared with weighted ssGBLUP (WssGBLUP), the ssGWABLUP model demonstrated superior accuracy and dispersion across different genetic architectures. We then compared the performance of our proposed ssGWABLUP_pQTNs model against both ssGBLUP and ssGWABLUP across various genetic scenarios. Our results demonstrate that ssGWABLUP_pQTNs outperforms other models in terms of prediction accuracy, particularly in scenarios with simpler genetic architectures. Additionally, evaluation using pig dataset confirmed the effectiveness of ssGWABLUP_pQTNs, highlighting its potential for practical breeding applications. The incorporation of pQTNs and a weighted genomic relationship matrix presents a promising and potentially scalable approach to further enhance genomic prediction, with potential implications for improving the accuracy of genomic selection in breeding programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070965/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143969137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnimalsPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.3390/ani15091257
Angela J Chapman, Pauleen C Bennett, Vanessa I Rohlf
{"title":"Workplace Strategies to Reduce Burnout in Veterinary Nurses and Technicians: A Delphi Study.","authors":"Angela J Chapman, Pauleen C Bennett, Vanessa I Rohlf","doi":"10.3390/ani15091257","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Veterinary nurses and technicians are at risk of burnout, which negatively impacts mental and physical health, turnover, and patient care. Workplace contributors to burnout have been identified in this population, but little is known about best practice management strategies. This study used the Delphi method to explore barriers to addressing burnout and develop expert recommendations for workplace management strategies. Forty participants with a minimum of 5 years' industry experience in leadership, or wellbeing, were recruited via purposive sampling from the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Participants completed two anonymous, online, mixed-methods surveys between October 2024 and January 2025. Qualitative survey data were analysed using content analysis to identify codes and categorise solutions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Barriers to addressing burnout included industry-wide barriers, such as lack of, or unclear, regulation and lack of leadership knowledge, and clinic-specific barriers, such as poor team culture, unwillingness for change, and existing burnout. Thirty-nine solutions were developed and rated as being highly, or very highly effective. These focused on themes such as improving communication, developing progression pathways, and providing leadership training and support. Existing workplace barriers must be evaluated prior to selecting strategies, to maximise effectiveness in specific contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071012/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143971979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Dietary Differentiation Mitigates Interspecific Interference Competition Between Sympatric Pallas's Cats (<i>Otocolobus manul</i>) and Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>).","authors":"Dong Wang, Quanbang Li, Jingyu Gao, Luyi Hou, Yanjun Zou, Xinming Lian","doi":"10.3390/ani15091267","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The comparative analysis of the feeding ecology among sympatric small carnivores reveals both differentiation and overlap in resource utilization patterns, which serves as a critical pathway for understanding interspecific interactions and maintaining ecosystem stability. In this study, we collected fecal samples from sympatric Pallas's cats (<i>Otocolobus manul</i>, <i>n</i> = 26) and red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, <i>n</i> = 13) within the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP) in China. Subsequently, DNA barcoding technology was employed to analyze the dietary composition and interspecific differences of these two small carnivores. The results demonstrated that both species primarily prey on plateau pikas (<i>Ochotona curzoniae</i>) and small rodents. Despite a high trophic niche overlap between Pallas's cats and red foxes (<i>O<sub>jk</sub></i> = 0.81), interspecific competition is mitigated through differentiate feeding proportions of shared prey species. Furthermore, the trophic niche breadth of red foxes (<i>B</i> = 267.89) exceeds that of Pallas's cats (<i>B</i> = 162.94), reflecting a greater diversity of prey resources utilized by red foxes. Consequently, the two small carnivores achieve sympatric coexistence via differentiated resource utilization. These findings enhance our understanding of the coexistence mechanisms within carnivore communities and provide a scientific basis for the conservation of wildlife in the SNP.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070941/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143952400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Population Demographics of Owned Dogs in Greater Bangkok and Implications for Free-Roaming Dog Population Management.","authors":"Elly Hiby, Tuntikorn Rungpatana, Alicja Izydorczyk, Valerie Benka, Craig Rooney","doi":"10.3390/ani15091263","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091263","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Greater Bangkok, Thailand, has large numbers of both owned and free-roaming dogs, two populations that intersect and overlap in complex and nuanced ways. A more robust understanding of owned dog populations is, therefore, important not only in supporting the welfare of owned dogs but also in managing free-roaming dog populations and protecting human health through the prevention of rabies transmission. Over 3200 residents were surveyed to explore the numbers and demographics of owned dogs in Greater Bangkok, plus owners' attitudes and reported behaviours related to their dogs; the acquisition and loss of owned dogs; and caretaking by owners (confinement practices, sterilisation, rabies vaccination, and other veterinary care). The study also considered dog owners' practices in relation to a Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR) programme designed to humanely manage dog populations and vaccinate dogs against rabies. Survey results indicate that there are approximately 1.3 million owned dogs in Greater Bangkok. Key findings include high reported rabies vaccination among owned dogs (84% in the past year). Fifty-three percent of owned dogs in the sample were reported to be sterilised, 66% were allowed to roam, and 46% of dogs acquired into households were adopted from the street. The CNVR programme appeared to impact the care and keeping of owned dogs in the community, as it was associated with greater confinement and sterilisation levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070910/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143952484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnimalsPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.3390/ani15091250
Francesca Menegon, Annalisa Scollo, Samuele Trestini, Rachele Urbani, Giuseppe Ru, Guido Di Martino
{"title":"The Economic Implications of Phasing Out Pig Tail Docking: A Pilot Study in Italy.","authors":"Francesca Menegon, Annalisa Scollo, Samuele Trestini, Rachele Urbani, Giuseppe Ru, Guido Di Martino","doi":"10.3390/ani15091250","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The European Commission's ban on routine tail docking has prompted this retrospective observational study to evaluate the short-term effects of transitioning to a fully undocked system. Twenty-two farms were assessed during three subsequent phases: total tail docking (step 1), subgroups of undocked pigs (step 2), and fully undocked pigs (step 3). Farmers received training in long-tail management and independently implemented it on their own farms. However, straw provision as environmental enrichment was mandatory, at least supplied during periods of pigs' restlessness. Overall, going through step 2 appears to be successful. However, transitioning to step 3 worsened mortality (<i>p</i> = 0.010) and the feed conversion ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.015) in weaners. Compared to step 1, the cost of producing 1 kg of meat in step 3 was 33.9% greater during weaning and 7.4% during fattening. Tail lesion prevalence at slaughter was greater in step 3 (41%), followed by step 2 (10%) and step 1 (1%). The hypothetical labour required to optimize straw management compared to the adopted system, ensuring its continuous availability, was estimated as 35 min/100 piglets/weaning cycle (EUR 4.37) and 10.5 h/100 pigs/fattening cycle (EUR 109). Under the conditions of this study, transitioning to a fully undocked system was not successful. Mandating only the non-continuous use of straw has proven insufficient, and greater efforts must be systematically implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070853/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143957246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnimalsPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.3390/ani15091253
Hyomi Jang, Seoyeon Kim, Yebeen Lee, Jongwon Park, Hyojun Kwon, Sunyoung Kim, Jiheui Sohn, Jong-In Kim, Dong-In Jung
{"title":"Successful Management of Recurrent Pyothorax in a Cat: Clinical Findings with Medical and Surgical Approaches.","authors":"Hyomi Jang, Seoyeon Kim, Yebeen Lee, Jongwon Park, Hyojun Kwon, Sunyoung Kim, Jiheui Sohn, Jong-In Kim, Dong-In Jung","doi":"10.3390/ani15091253","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091253","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feline pyothorax or thoracic empyema is a condition characterized by the accumulation of purulent exudate within the thoracic cavity due to infection [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143958280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnimalsPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.3390/ani15091264
Wnęk-Auguścik Karolina, Nasiłowska Justyna
{"title":"Rapeseed Meal as an Alternative Protein Source in Fish Feed and Its Impact on Growth Parameters, Digestive Tract, and Gut Microbiota.","authors":"Wnęk-Auguścik Karolina, Nasiłowska Justyna","doi":"10.3390/ani15091264","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As traditional protein sources such as soybean and fish meal become increasingly limited, there is growing interest in alternative protein sources, such as rapeseed meal, in aquaculture. This review offers an updated overview of rapeseed meal in fish diets, highlighting its nutritional value and impact on growth and the digestive tract. It also examines the effect of rapeseed meal supplementation on intestinal microflora, taking into account the latest trends in animal breeding focused on microbiota composition. While challenges exist in incorporating rapeseed meal into fish diets, its inclusion holds potential for improving sustainability and efficiency in aquaculture. However, its effects may vary depending on fish species, rearing conditions, and the level of inclusion in the diet. Based on this analysis, further research is recommended to explore the practical use of rapeseed meal as a reliable protein source in fish nutrition. Future studies should prioritize fish welfare and health, with an emphasis on natural methods, such as fermentation, to enhance the nutritional value of rapeseed meal. Consideration should also be given to incorporating activities, such as phytase supplementation, to enhance the use of rapeseed meal in fish feed.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070878/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143953721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}