This study was performed to investigate the effects of potassium diformate (KDF) on growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients, serum biochemical indices, and intestinal microflora of Cherry Valley ducks. In total, 144 female healthy 1-day-old Cherry Valley ducks were divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates per group and 8 ducks per replicate according to the principle of similar body weight. The control group was fed a basic diet. In the 2 experimental groups, 0.8% and 1.2% KDF was added to the basic diet, respectively. The trial period was 6 wk and the pretrial period was 3 wk. The final weight and ADG were significantly higher in the 0.8% KDF group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The feed-to-gain ratio was significantly lower in both KDF groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). The apparent digestibility of CP was significantly higher in both KDF groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). The apparent digestibility of calcium was also significantly higher in the 0.8% KDF group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and total protein were significantly lower in the 0.8% KDF group than in the control group (P < 0.05), the IgM content was significantly higher (P < 0.05), the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and urea levels were significantly lower (P < 0.01), and the glucose level was significantly higher (P < 0.01). The serum total protein level was significantly higher in the 1.2% KDF group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Patescibacteria in the gut of ducks was significantly higher in the 0.8% KDF group than in the control group (P < 0.05), the relative abundance of unclassified Erysipelotrichaceae and Lactobacillus was significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the relative abundance of Fusobacteriota was significantly lower (P < 0.05). However, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the gut of ducks was significantly higher in the 1.2% KDF group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of unclassified Erysipelotrichaceae and Clostridium sensu stricto 1 was significantly higher (P < 0.01), as was the relative abundance of Fusobacteriota and Proteobacteria (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the addition of 0.8% KDF to the diet can improve the growth performance of Cherry Valley ducks, promote the absorption of nutrients, change the structure of the microflora in the cecum, and increase the relative abundance of dominant bacteria. It was also shown that there was a significant difference between the 0.8% and 1.2% KDF levels which suggest that the safety margin for overdosing is quite low.

Supplementing poultry diets with certain natural phytogenic additives has positive impacts on performance parameters like feed intake, egg production and quality of layer hens.
The study aimed to examine how supplementing papaya seed as phytogenic feed additive (PFA) to the diets of layer chickens affected their egg production, quality and blood serum biochemical parameters.
One hundred twenty 28-week-old Bovans brown laying hens were randomly assigned to one of four treatments with varying levels of papaya seed supplementation at 0 g/kg (T1), 5 g/kg (T2), 10 g/kg (T3) and 15 g/kg (T4) in a complete randomized design.
Layer chickens supplemented with 0.5% (T2), 1% (T3) and 1.5% (T4) papaya seed as a PFA had significantly (p < 0.05) improved dry matter intake, egg production%, egg mass and feed conversion. On the other hand, papaya seed supplementation decreased (p < 0.05) the bodyweight gain of laying hens. Papaya seed supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) increased egg weight, length, width, yolk height and yolk colour compared to the control group. Serum total protein on T4 and liver enzyme of alkaline phosphatase on T3 were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than in the control group. However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in serum albumin, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and aspartate aminotransferase levels among treatments laying hens.
Papaya seed can be a potential candidate as a PFA at 5-15 g/kg of the basal diet to improve egg-laying performance and quality without deteriorating effect.

BACKGROUND: Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip. (T. parthenium) is an aromatic perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, also known as feverfew. It is widely distributed in various regions of Europe and other parts of the world. The plant has a rich background in the traditional medicine of many nations and has been used as a remedy for fever, pain, inflammation, asthma, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, etc. Methods: GC-MS analysis was conducted to determine the chemical composition of the isolated essential oil (EO). Using the method proposed by Litchfield and Wilcoxon, the average lethal dose (LD50) of the EO on Wistar rats was determined for two routes of administration: oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.). The subacute toxicity of the EO was also tested by oral administration of a daily dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight (BW) for 28 days. The toxicity of the EO was evaluated by observing and evaluating changes in behavior, body weight, basic hematological and serum biochemical parameters, and histopathological changes of the internal organs.
RESULTS: Thirty-seven volatile organic compounds representing 94.58% of the total oil composition were tentatively detected in the obtained T. parthenium EO. The dominant compounds were camphor (45.47%), trans-chrisantenyl acetate (21.65%), camphene (9.48%), and cis-isogeraniol (5.42%). The results showed that the EO was not toxic when administered in acute oral doses. The acute mean lethal dose for intraperitoneal administration was LD50 i.p. = 2.13 g/kg BW. In the subacute study involving administration of an oral dose of EO for 28 days, there were a number of changes in the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of the blood compared with the control group of animals. However, no symptoms of toxicity, changes in the body weight of the rats, death, or pathological changes in the histological indicators of the examined organs-brain, heart, stomach, liver, spleen and kidney-were found. Extrapolating the results obtained from the rat experiments, we can state that the EO is safe for use in doses below 1 g/kgBW for a period not exceeding one month.

In the study, the physical characteristics, nutritional composition, mineral elements, volatile substances, and serum biochemistry of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) after rearing for two months were compared and analyzed to reveal the differences in muscle nutritional quality and serum biochemical indices between fish raised in traditional ponds (TP) and land-based container recirculating aquaculture systems (C-RAS). One hundred fish were selected from each aquaculture mode for the following experiments. Results show that: in terms of physical properties, C-RAS frozen seepage rate was significantly lower than that in TP (P < 0.05), the chewiness, gumminess, springiness, resilience, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, and shearing of C-RAS group were significantly higher than in TP (P < 0.01). Regarding muscle nutrients, the moisture, the crude lipid contents of C-RAS group were significantly lower than that of the TP group (P < 0.05), and the crude protein content of C-RAS group was extremely significantly higher than that in TP (P < 0.01). The saturated fatty acids (ΣSFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (ΣPUFA) in the muscle of C-RAS were significantly higher than that in TP (P < 0.01), and monounsaturated fatty acids (ΣMUFA) of C-RAS were significantly lower than that in TP (P < 0.01). Methionine content in C-RAS was significantly higher than that in TP (P < 0.05). In terms of mineral elements, the contents of K and Se in C-RAS were significantly higher than those in TP, and the content of Zn in C-RAS was significantly lower than that in TP (P < 0.05). In terms of volatile substances, nonanal, octanal, and benzaldehyde in C-RAS were significantly lower than those in TP(P < 0.01), 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine, ethyl 3-methylpentanoate, butyl formate were significantly higher than those in TP (P < 0.01). In terms of serum biochemistry, the glucose index in C-RAS was extremely significantly lower than that in TP group, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and triglyceride were extremely significantly higher than those in TP (P < 0.01). Experiments show that the aquaculture mode has a large impact on the physical properties of the common carp, nutrients, mineral elements, volatile matter, and serum biochemical. In conclusion, the common carp cultured in C-RAS systems had better muscle nutritional quality, which provides a reference for future regulation of fish nutritional quality by C-RAS.

The world population is increasing, leading to competition between humans and animals for the use of farm produce. The use of non-conventional resources in poultry feed is increasingly being explored. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) have been studied in layers and broilers feed. However, there is very little information on the impact of the leaves on breeder hens.
This study was conducted to determine the effect of M. esculenta leaf meal (MELM) on breeder hen performance, hatching egg quality and blood parameters.
A total of 180 hens and 24 cocks Sasso breeders at 32 weeks of age were used and equally assigned into two dietary treatments having six replicates of 15 hens and two cocks each. The dietary treatments were basal diet supplemented with 0% MELM and basal diet supplemented with the MELM group (5% MELM). Data were collected on feed intake, egg production, feed conversion ratio as well as egg quality indices during the experiment. The blood samples were collected from 18 birds per treatment (three3 per replication) for the determination of total protein, uric acid, triglycerides and total cholesterol at 45th week of age.
The results showed that there was no significant difference on the feed intake of the birds across the treatments. Average egg weight and egg production were higher with a lower (p < 0.05) feed conversion rate in the MELM group hens. Total protein, uric acids, total cholesterol and triglyceride level increased significantly (p < 0.05) in hens fed 5 % of MELM. The proportions of yolk, egg shell and Haugh unit showed no significant difference between the treatments, while the proportion of albumen and yolk colour increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the MELM group hens.
It was concluded that 5% MELM can be used as feed ingredients in formulating breeder hen diets to improve productive performance.

Heat stress is one of the most critical problems confronting the poultry industry. Stinging nettle (SN) is a medicinal plant with potent antioxidant properties.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary SN at two different levels (2 and 4%) on the serum levels of cortisol and some selected parameters of broilers exposed to chronic heat stress.
A total of 240 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six dietary groups as follows: (1) control: fed the basal diet; (2) HS: heat-stressed broiler fed the basal diet; (3) HS-SN2: heat-stressed broiler fed 2% dietary SN; (4) HS-SN4: heat-stressed broilers fed 4% SN; (5) SN2: no heat-stressed broilers fed the basal diet supplemented with 2% SN; (6) SN4: no heat-stressed broilers fed the basal diet supplemented with 4% SN. Diet supplementation with SN was performed from days 14 to 35 and chronic heat stress was induced from days 22 to 29. The serum parameters were evaluated on days 14, 21, 29 and 35.
HS had higher serum levels of cortisol, total cholesterol (TC), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase (CK) compared to the other treatments. HS-SN4 had significantly lower cortisol, TC, alanine aminotransferase and CK compared to HS and HS-SN2.
The inclusion of 4% SN powder in the broilers\' diet alleviated the negative effects of heat stress by decreasing cortisol, TC and tissue damage indices. It seems that dietary SN could be used as a feed additive in the poultry diet for improving the health status and defence mechanisms of the birds under stressful conditions.

Chilika buffalo is native to the Eastern coast of India and well adapted to the largest coastal brackish water lagoon of Asia, Chilika Lake. We present here a report on the Chilika buffalo breed emphasizing the conservational urgency based on unique biochemical and molecular evidence related to liver and kidney functions while comparing it with tropically adapted other water buffalo breeds (Bubalus bubalis) of India. It is found that the Chilika buffalo breed has a better ability to withstand a long dehydration period as evident from its better glomerular filtration and higher expression of the ion transport channel. Mitochondrial D-loop sequencing results have shown these buffaloes being closer to swamp-type buffaloes of Bangladesh and northeast India and represent a unique \"hybrid zone\" on the eastern coast of India. Conservation of such uniquely adapted germplasm is crucial owing to the current global trend, where the introduction of exotic breeds has negatively impact \"sui-generis\" germplasm and they require higher managerial resource consumption for maintaining higher productivity. Further, the introduction of unconventional fisheries activities has proved detrimental to the lagoon ecosystem, potentially causing more threat to the buffalo\'s population.

This study aimed to determine whether high-fat diet (HFD) could cause growth, behavioural, biochemical and morphological changes in young female rabbits. Thirty-six female rabbits were randomly divided into two groups fed with either a high-fat diet (HFD) or a standard normal diet (SND) for 5 weeks. Growth and behavioural changes were recorded during the 5-week feeding period. Tissue samples, including blood and adipose tissue, were obtained after slaughter. HFD rabbits weighed more by the end of the feeding period, had a higher percent body weight and adipose tissue weight change and had longer body and bust lengths than SND rabbits. HFD rabbits significantly reduced their feed intake and feeding frequency during the fourth and fifth weeks. HFD rabbits also showed lower frequency of drinking and resting and increased stereotypical behaviour. Besides, HFD rabbits showed significant physiological abnormalities. HFD rabbits had higher serum cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) levels than SND rabbits at the end of the feeding period, and higher free fatty acid (FFA) levels than rabbits in the SND group after the third week of feeding. Serum thyroxine (T4) increased significantly in week 2 and week 5 and triiodothyronine (T3) increased significantly in week four. However, there was no significant change in serum glucose (GLU) and insulin (INS) levels. Additionally, HFD reduced the area and diameter of perirenal and subcutaneous fat cells and increased their density. Our findings suggest that HFD rabbits had higher weight gains, accumulation of fat, and more behavioural changes than SND rabbits. Although high levels of fat in the diet had a low impact on hyperglycaemia, it could lead to hyperlipidemia and hyperthyroidism. Our results also suggest that sustained HFD may cause the proliferation of adipocytes in young female rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Frequent use of antibiotics to stimulate growth and health of animals leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant populations of microorganisms. In this context, alternatives like herbs and spices to antibiotics are of importance, as they are natural products. Therefore, the present experiment was designed to evaluate the performance, carcass traits, hematology and serum biochemical parameters of broilers fed ration containing varying levels of Lepidium satvium (Garden cress) seed powder as feed additive up to the age of 42 days.
METHODS: A total of 204 Cobb-500 day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four treatments with three replicates of 17 chicks each. Garden cress (GC) was included in the ration at 0 (0GC), 0.75 (0.75GC), 1.50 (1.5GC) and 2.25 % (2.25GC) in each treatments. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, heamatology, serum biochemical and economic efficiency parameters were observed.
RESULTS: The crude protein, ether extract and crude fiber content of GC were 22.4, 25.7 and 10.5 %, respectively. Daily dry matter intake and average daily gain during the entire experimental period were affected (p < 0.01) by the treatment diet. Dry matter intake increased with increasing GC level in the ration. Average daily gain for the entire period was greater (p < 0.005) for 0.75 and 1.5GC than 0 and 2.25GC. Groups consumed GC containing ration had better (p < 0.004) drumstick percentage. However, most carcass parts and giblet weight were not affected (p > 0.05). Sex differences were significant for eviscerated, carcass and kidney percentages with greater values for females than males. All hematological parameters were within the normal range. However, inclusion of GC improved (p < 0.05) hemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood cell count. Group consumed GC containing ration exhibited significant decrease in serum glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol concentration.
CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of GC up to 2.25 % result in no any adverse effect on the health of broilers. Based on the production parameters used in the study, GC can be included as feed additive at a level of 0.75 % in the total ration for better and positive results on biological performance and health status of broilers.

A subchronic toxicity study was carried out to assess hepatic and renal functions of rats during oral exposure to glyphosate with zinc for the period of 8 weeks. Forty-eight Wistar rats used for the study were randomized into six groups of eight Wistar rats each, and each group had equal number of male and female Wistar rats. The Wistar rats administered with distilled water at 2 ml/kg body weight served as the control group (DW); others were administered with zinc at 50 mg/kg body weight (Z) group, glyphosate at 375 mg/kg body weight (G) group, a combination of zinc and glyphosate at 50 and 375 mg/kg body weight, respectively (Z + G), group, glyphosate at 14.4 mg/kg body weight (GC) group, and a combination of zinc and glyphosate at 50 and 14.4 mg/kg body weight, respectively (Z + GC), group. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from each rats; from which, sera samples were obtained and assayed for total protein, albumin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, Na+, K+, Cl-, [Formula: see text], Ca2+, [Formula: see text], urea and creatinine using autoanalyzer, and globulin was calculated. The albumin concentration was significantly high (p < 0.05) in GC group compared to DW group, and this change was ameliorated following supplementation with zinc. The total protein and globulin concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05), and the relative changes were ameliorated by supplementation with zinc. The alkaline phosphatase activity was relatively low in GC group; however, supplementation with zinc in Z + GC group made it to be significantly high (p < 0.05) compared to GC group. The alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in G and GC groups were relatively high compared to DW group, which were ameliorated by supplementation with zinc. The relatively low Ca2+ concentration in G and GC groups compared to DW were ameliorated in Z + G group, and it was significantly high in Z + GC group at p < 0.01 compared to DW, p < 0.001 compared to G and GC groups and p < 0.05 compared to Z + G group. There were only slight changes in the electrolytes concentrations (Na+, K+, Cl-, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]), which were differentially ameliorated by zinc supplementation. The reasons for the various changes recorded were discussed. It was concluded that subchronic oral exposure to glyphosate caused both hepatic and renal functions toxicity in rats, which were ameliorated by zinc supplementation.