• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1195-1204
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro fermentation profiles of different soybean oligosaccharides (SBOs) and their effects on skatole production and cecal microbiota of broilers. Methods: Five SBOs with varying main component contents were fermented using an in vitro batch incubation inoculated with broiler cecal microbiota. Gas production was recorded automatically, skatole, indole and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, and microbial changes were analyzed using 16S DNA gene sequencing. Results: The addition of SBOs increased (p<0.05) gas production, suggesting bacterial growth-stimulating activities. In addition, the concentrations of indole were significantly (p<0.05) decreased after SBO supplementation, and SBO III, with higher sucrose and stachyose contents, decreased (p<0.05) the skatole level. Our results also revealed that the fermentation of SBOs by cecal microbiota produced (p<0.05) SCFAs, which were dominated by propionic acid, butyrate acid and lactic acid compared to the control. In addition, SBO III increased (p<0.05) the abundance of Firmicutes and Subdoligranulum and decreased that of Bacteroides. Conclusion: These results suggest that SBOs with higher sucrose and stachyose contents are promising prebiotics in modulating gut microbiota and reducing odor emission in broilers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.470-476
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• 2010

The resistant dextrin NUTRIOSE$^{(R)}$, developed from starch, is expected to act as a prebiotic. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of NUTRIOSE$^{(R)}$ on cecal parameters, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and fecal excretion in rats. In an initial experiment, twenty-four male Fischer F344 rats were randomly assigned to one of the following four treatments for 14 days: G0 (control diet), G2.5 (control diet+2.5% of dextrin), G5 (control diet + 5% of dextrin), and G10 (control diet + 10% of dextrin). After 14 days, total cecal weight, cecal content, and cecal wall weight were significantly increased in G5 and G10 compared to G0. At the same time, cecal pH was significantly lower in G10 compared to G0. Total SCFA concentration was significantly higher in G10 than in G5, G2.5, and G0, and significantly higher in G5 than in G0. Acetate, butyrate, and propionate concentrations were significantly increased in G5 and G10 compared to the controls. In a second trial based on a similar design, eighteen male Fischer F344 rats were treated with a control diet supplemented with 5% of dextrin or 5% of fructo-oligosaccharide. The results obtained with NUTRIOSE$^{(R)}$ were similar to those obtained with the fructo-oligosaccharide. In a third experiment, two groups of 5 Fischer F344 rats were orally treated with 100 and 1,000 mg/kg NUTRIOSE$^{(R)}$, respectively, and from 18% to 25% of the dextrin was excreted in the feces. The results of these three studies show that the consumption of NUTRIOSE$^{(R)}$, by its effects on total cecal weight, cecal content, cecal wall weight, pH, and SCFA production, could induce healthy benefits since these effects are reported to be prebiotic effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2007

A growth trial (Expt. 1) and an in vitro fermentation experiment (Expt. 2) were conducted to determine the response of growth performance, cecal fermentation characteristics and in vitro gas production to incremental levels of substitution of digestible fiber for lignified fiber in the diet of weaned rabbits. Three diets, formulated by substituting soyhulls (SH; used as digestible fiber source) for soybean straw (used as lignified fiber source) at substitution levels of 0, 25 and 50%, were used in a factorial design. In the growth trial (Expt. 1), increasing levels of SH substitution resulted in a quadratic increase in daily body weight gain rate (p<0.04) and feed conversion efficiency (p<0.02), but in a numerical decrease in dietary DM intake (p=0.15). When SH were included in the diet at 25% substitution level, rabbits had the highest rate of liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency. As SH substitution level increased, pH values and ammonia-N of cecal contents linearly (p<0.001) decreased, but total VFA concentration linearly (p<0.03) increased. With incremental levels of SH substitution, the percentage of acetate and butyrate linearly (p<0.05) reduced, but the percentage of propionate and minor acids linearly (p<0.03) increased. Increasing the SH substitution levels tended to increase incidence of diarrhea. In the in vitro fermentation experiment (Expt. 2), regardless of origin of substrates fermented, increasing SH substitution level resulted in increased maximal gas production (p<0.001) and shortened gas production lag time, but had no effect on gas production rate (p>0.2). These observations suggest that incrementally feeding SH to rabbits could stimulate their cecal microbial activity, allowing cecal fermentation to shift towards favoring fiber digestion. In conclusion, digestible fiber from soyhulls may partially substitute for more lignified fiber, soybean straw, without having an adverse effect on cecal fermentative and microbial activity and growth performance. For growing rabbits, about 73% of total dietary NDF should be supplied by effective NDF, the remainder could come from digestible NDF, such as soyhulls.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2008

The effect of some peptides on hepatoprotection and cecal fermentation against D-galactosamine (GalN)-treated rats was studied. In acute hepatic injury tests, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotranferase (AST), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were remarkably increased after injection of GalN. However, potato and soybean peptides significantly decreased GalN-induced alterations of serum ALT and AST activities. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in GalN-treated groups fed potato and soybean peptides was significantly lower than that in GalN-treated control group. Hepatic glutathione level in the GalN-treated group fed potato peptide was significantly higher than that in GalN-treated control group. Furthermore, cecal Lactobacillus level in GalN-treated groups fed potato and soybean peptides was significantly higher than that in GalN-treated control group, and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations in GalN-treated group fed potato peptide were significantly higher than in GalN-treated control group. These results indicate that potato peptide may improve the cecal fermentation and prevent the GalN-induced liver damage in rats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of yeast with bacteriocin and Lactobacillus cultures (mixture of Lactobacillus agilis BCRC 10436 and Lactobacillus reuteri BCRC 17476) supplements, alone or in combination, on broiler chicken performance. Methods: A total of 300, 1-d-old healthy broiler chickens were randomly divided into five treatment groups: i) basal diet (control), ii) basal diet+0.25% yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (YC), iii) basal diet+0.25% yeast with bacteriocin (BA), iv) basal diet+Lactobacillus cultures (LAB), and v) basal diet +0.25% yeast with bacteriocin+Lactobacillus cultures (BA+LAB). Growth performance, cecal microbiota, cecal fermentation products, and blood biochemistry parameters were determined when chickens were 21 and 35 d old. Results: The supplementation of YC, BA, and BA+LAB resulted in a significantly better feed conversion rate (FCR) than that of the control group during 1 to 21 d (p<0.05). The LAB supplementation had a significant effect on the presence of Lactobacillus in the ceca at 35 d. None of the supplements had an effect on relative numbers of L. agilis and L. reuter at 21 d, but the BA supplementation resulted in the decrease of both Lactobacillus strains at 35 d. The BA+LAB supplementation resulted in higher short chain fatty acid (SCFA) in the ceca, but LAB supplementation significantly decreased the SCFA at 35 d (p<0.05). All treatments tended to decrease ammonia concentration in the ceca at 21 d, especially in the LAB treatment group. The BA supplementation alone decreased the triacylglycerol (TG) concentration significantly at 21 d (p<0.05), but the synergistic effect of BA and LAB supplementation was required to reduce the TG concentration at 35 d. The YC supplementation tended to increase the plasma cholesterol at 21 d and 35 d. However, the BA supplementation significantly decreased the cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level at 35 d. In conclusion, the BA+LAB supplementation was beneficial to body weight gain and FCR of broiler chickens. Conclusion: The effect of BA and LAB supplementation may be a result of the growth of lactic acid bacteria enhancement and physiological characterization of bacteriocin, and it suggests that the BA and LAB supplementation level or Lactobacillus strain selection should be integrated in future supplementation designs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.521-529
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate multi-microbe submerged liquid (SLF) and solid substrate (SSF) fermented probiotic products in broilers. The SLF and SSF probiotics were comprised of Lactobacillus acidophilus ($1.1{\times}10^9$ and $4{\times}10^8$ cfu/g), Bacillus subtilis ($1.1{\times}10^9$ and $4{\times}10^9$ cfu/g), Saccharomyces cerevisiae ($1.5{\times}10^7$ and $1.0{\times}10^4$ cfu/g) and Aspergillus oryzae ($2.6{\times}10^7$ and $4.3{\times}10^7$ cfu/g), respectively. In Exp. 1, 640 day-old Ross chicks were allotted to 4 treatments, each comprising 4 replicates (40 chicks/replicate). The basal diet was prepared without any antimicrobials (negative control, NC), and 20 mg/kg avilamycin (positive control, PC), 0.3% SLF and 0.3% SSF probiotics were added to the basal diets as treatments. Birds fed PC and SSF diets showed improved (p<0.001) overall weight gain and F/G than birds fed NC and SLF diets; whereas, birds fed SLF diet had better weight gain and F/G than birds fed NC diet. Retention of CP was higher (p<0.05) in birds fed the SSF diet than birds fed PC, SLF and NC diets. Birds fed the SLF diet tended to have higher (p<0.10) cecal total anaerobic bacteria than birds fed PC and NC diets; whereas, lesser cecal coliforms were noticed in birds fed PC, SLF and SSF diets than birds fed the NC diet. In Exp. 2, 640 day-old Ross chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatments in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. Each treatment had 4 replicates (40 chicks/replicate). Two different multi-microbe probiotic products (0.3% SLF or SSF) each with two different antibiotics (10 mg/kg colistin, or 20 mg/kg avilamycin) were used as dietary treatments. Birds fed the SSF diet had greater weight gain (p<0.001), better F/G (p<0.05), greater retention of energy (p<0.001) and protein (p<0.05), and lesser cecal Clostridium (d 35) than birds fed SLF diet. Birds fed the colistin-supplemented diet had less (p<0.01) cecal coliforms when compared with birds fed the avilamycin diet. Additionally, birds fed the avilamycin diet had greater energy retention (p<0.05) than birds fed the colistin diet. Thus, the results of this study suggest the multi-microbe probiotic product prepared by a solid substrate fermentation method to be superior to the probiotic product prepared by submerged liquid fermentation; moreover, feeding of probiotics with different antibiotics did not elicit any interaction effect between probiotic and antibiotic.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.596-604
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• 2022

Objective: To investigate the effects of enzyme-bacteria co-fermented feed on broilers, the basal diet (BF) was pretreated by microbial enzyme co-fermentation, and then different proportions of BF were replaced to study its effects on growth performance, nutrient metabolism and cecal microflora of broilers. Methods: Four hundred and eighty 1-day-old broilers were randomly divided into 6 groups. The control group was fed with BF, and groups 1 to 4 were treated with dried fermented feed (DFF) instead of 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% the BF, and group 5 was treated with wet fermented feed (WFF) instead of 10% the BF, named BF, 10% DFF, 15% DFF, 20% DFF, 25% DFF, and 10% WFF, respectively. The trial period was 42 days. Results: The results showed that the average daily feed intake and average daily gain of 10% DFF, 15% DFF, and 10% WFF groups were significantly higher than those of the control group at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days (p<0.05). Except for 10% DFF group, Firmicutes of all treatment were higher than that of control group. The Bacteroides of each treatment group were lower than that of the control group (p>0.05). At the same time, the nutrient apparent metabolic rate and cecal microbial abundance of each treatment group had an increasing trend (p>0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the feed fermented by enzyme and bacteria had a potential promoting effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.290-301
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• 2014

The first purpose of this review is to outline some of the background information necessary to understand the mechanisms of action of fibre-degrading enzymes in non-ruminants. Secondly, the well-known and understood mechanisms are described, i) eliminating the nutrient encapsulating effect of the cell wall and ii) ameliorating viscosity problems associated with certain Non Starch Polysaccharides, particularly arabinoxylans and ${\beta}$-glucans. A third, indirect mechanism is then discussed: the activity of such enzymes in producing prebiotic oligosaccharides and promoting beneficial cecal fermentation. The literature contains a wealth of information on various non starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme (NSPase) preparations and this review aims to conclude by discussing this body of work, with reference to the above mechanisms. It is suggested that the way in which multi- versus single-component products are compared is often flawed and that some continuity should be employed in methods and terminology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.274-276
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• 1997

The effects of cecectomy on nitrogen utilization and nitrogen excretion were examined in single comb white leghorn (SCWL) cockerels fed a 5% protein diet supplied with urea. The cecectomy tended to increase nitrogen balance and nitrogen utilization and significantly decreased uric acid excretion (p < 0.01). Urea and ammonia excretion tended to be about 60% increased and decreased by cecectomy in SCWL cockerels, respectively, but blood ammonia, urea and uric acid concentrations were not affected. The results are in good agreement with those obtained previously in cecum-ligated chickens. It is concluded that the improvement of nitrogen utilization and decreases in urinary uric acid excretion in cecectomized chickens do not result from the modification of cecal fermentation.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.162-170
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• 2016

The effects of dietary ${\beta}$-glucan, obtained from bacterial fermentation, on the intestinal mass, short chain fatty acids, lactate production and pH in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were evaluated. SD rats fed with 0% (control group), 1% or 5% ${\beta}$-glucan supplemented diets (w/w) for 3 weeks. The presence of ${\beta}$-glucan in the diets resulted in a significant increase in colonic contents in a dose dependent manner. The amount of short chain fatty acids increased in rats fed ${\beta}$-glucan diets. Rats fed the 5% ${\beta}$-glucan diets had higher levels of acetate, propionate and butyrate by 1.8, 1.7 and 3.0 fold of the control group in the cecum, and 2.2, 2.9 and 3.1 fold of the control group in the colon, respectively. The ${\beta}$-glucan diets also significantly increased the levels of cecal and colonic lactate by 1.4~3.4 fold, when compared to the control diet, indicating that dietary ${\beta}$-glucan stimulated the growth of lactic acid bacteria within the intestine. These results suggest that dietary ${\beta}$-glucan, by providing short chain fatty acids and reducing the cecal and colonic pH, may be beneficial in improving gut health, and provide evidence for the use of ${\beta}$-glucan as a dietary supplement for human consumption.