Objective-To evaluate time-dependent alterations in gene expression of chemokines in bronchial epithelium of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-affected horses and whether alterations resulted from increases in gene expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in cells isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Animals-8 RAO-susceptible horses and 9 control horses. Procedure-In 2 experiments, both groups of horses were evaluated after being maintained on pasture and after being stabled and fed dusty hay for 1, 14, 35, and 49 days (experiment 1) or 14 and 28 days (experiment 2). In experiment 1, gene expression of IL-8, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in epithelium and IL-8, IL-17, and TLR4 in BALF cells was measured. In experiment 2, bronchial biopsy specimens were evaluated for IL-8 immunoreactivity. Results-In RAO-susceptible horses after 14 days of challenge exposure, there was a 3- and 10-fold increase in gene expression of IL-8 for epithelial and BALF cells and an increase in IL-8 immunoreactivity in epithelial cells. Challenge exposure failed to alter gene expression of CXCL1, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and TLR4 in epithelial cells of any horses at any time point. During challenge exposure, gene expression of BALF cell IL-17 was downregulated in control horses (day 1) and upregulated in RAO-affected horses (day 35). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Epithelial-derived IL-8 may promote airway neutrophilia, but the inciting stimulus is unlikely to be IL-17 because upregulation of this gene is subsequent to that of IL-8 in epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of drinking nutrient-enriched water (NW) on water intake and indices of hydration in healthy domestic cats fed a dry kibble diet ad libitum. ANIMALS 18 domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURES Group-housed cats were assigned to tap water (TW; n = 9) or NW (9) groups. All cats received TW at baseline (days −7 to −1). No changes were made to the food-water regimen for the TW group. The NW group received NW instead of TW from days 0 through 10, then received TW and NW in separate bowls (days 11 through 56). Food intake was measured through day 10; liquid consumed by drinking was measured throughout the study. Blood and urine samples were collected at predetermined times for analyses; 48-hour urine collection (days 28 through 30 or 31 through 33) was performed to assess output volume and aid endogenous creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determination. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS Baseline TW and calorie intake were similar between groups. The NW treatment was significantly associated with increased liquid consumption during the treatment phase. Mean urine output was significantly higher in the NW group (15.2 mL/kg/d) than in the TW group (10.3 mL/kg/d). Mean GFR (1.75 vs 1.87 mL/min/kg, respectively) did not differ between groups. Effects of treatment and time were each significant for urine specific gravity and osmolality and urine creatinine, phosphate, and urea nitrogen concentrations, with lower values for the NW group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that consumption of the NW can increase liquid intake and improve measures of hydration in healthy cats. These effects may offer health benefits to some cats in need of greater water consumption.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of restriction feeding of a moderate-protein, high-fiber diet on loss of body weight (BW), voluntary physical activity, body composition, and fecal microbiota of overweight cats. ANIMALS 8 neutered male adult cats. PROCEDURES After BW maintenance for 4 weeks (week 0 = last week of baseline period), cats were fed to lose approximately 1.5% of BW/wk for 18 weeks. Food intake (daily), BW (twice per week), body condition score (weekly), body composition (every 4 weeks), serum biochemical analysis (weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16), physical activity (every 6 weeks), and fecal microbiota (weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16) were assessed. RESULTS BW, body condition score, serum triglyceride concentration, and body fat mass and percentage decreased significantly over time. Lean mass decreased significantly at weeks 12 and 16. Energy required to maintain BW was 14% less than National Research Council estimates for overweight cats and 16% more than resting energy requirement estimates. Energy required for weight loss was 11% more, 6% less, and 16% less than American Animal Hospital Association recommendations for weight loss (80% of resting energy requirement) at weeks 1 through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 18, respectively. Relative abundance of Actinobacteria increased and Bacteroidetes decreased with weight loss. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Restricted feeding of a moderate-protein, high-fiber diet appeared to be a safe and effective means for weight loss in cats. Energy requirements for neutered cats may be overestimated and should be reconsidered.

Palm kernel cake (PKC) has long been known to be an importantingredient for the formulation of animal feeds. However the recommended levels of inclusion seem to vary from one reporter to another. This factor is considered important especially when formulating feeds for nonruminant diets. The variation of its major constituents such as protein, fibre and fat contents is said to depend on the sources, oil removal technology and the efficiency of oil extraction from the kernel. For comparison,a set of compilation data of 300 local PKC samples from the past years on these basic nutritional constituents were studied.Majority of the samples analysed were from southern region of Peninsular Malaysia meant for animal feeds. Mean percentagevalues and their respective standard deviations were as follows; crude protein 16.1±1.65, crude fibre 19.3±4.22, crude ash5.9±2.48, ether extract 5.6±3.36, dry matter 91.3±2.65, and metabolisable energy 7.75 MJ/kg. The objective of the study was to observe the distribution pattern of these values compared to other surveys. From this study, the highest relative standarddeviation (RSD) reached 60% for ether extract, followed by ash 42.1%, and crude fibre 21.8%. From the variation point of view,periodical results for quality control of PKC must be initiated as an useful indicator for its accuracy of each diet formulation.

This study was done to assess oxidative stress and haematologicalparameters of twenty male goats aged between eight and 22 months of the West African Dwarf breed reared under twomanagement systems. Ten bucks were reared under an intensive system, and another 10 bucks reared under an extensivesystem were used. The Hb concentration obtained in both groups was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the intensively managedgoats (12.39±0.02 gm %) compared to the extensively managed group. The total erythrocyte count in intensive goats, 35.34±1.36×106/μl, was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the value recorded in the extensive group (30.01±1.41×106/μl). Therecorded leucocytes counts in intensive goats of 10.26±0.70×103/μl was significantly (p<0.05) lower than 12.38±1.23×103/μlrecorded in the extensively managed goat, while the calculated value of MCV in intensive goat (9.8±0.73 fl) was significantly(p<0.05) higher than the recorded value in extensive group. The obtained value of MCH was significantly higher (p<0.05) in theextensively managed goats. The recorded neutrophil value of 5.00±0.50×103/μl in extensively raised goats was significantly(p<0.05) higher than 3.70±0.20×103/μl obtained in the intensively raised group likewise the lymphocyte count of 5.60±0.08 ×103/μl in intensively raised goats was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the value obtained in the extensively raised goat. The neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the extensive versus the intensive group viz. 0.75±0.03 asagainst 0.67±0.04. In the extensive group a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) value of 2.30±0.07 ng/ml was recorded and this was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the corresponding value of 1.28±0.11 ng/ml obtained in the intensively managed goats. The recorded value of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly (p<0.05) higher in theextensive group than those on the intensive group. The fragility test of the extensively managed goats shifts more towards rightand was significantly (p<0.05) highest at a sodium chloride concentration of 0.2-0.7% in extensively managed goats. It can beconcluded from the present study that the biomarkers of oxidative stress were higher in the extensively than the intensively managed goats.

This study was conducted to observe the occurrence of aflatoxin in chicken feed from Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 336 samples of chicken feed from Peninsular Malaysia were conveniently collected in this survey. The chicken feed represented the following three categories which are starter, grower and finisher. All samples werecollected from local poultry farms in East Coast Region (Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang), Northern Region (Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak), Southern Region (Malacca, Johor) and Central Region (Selangor, Negeri Sembilan) of Peninsular Malaysia for a periodof six months (July-December 2015). Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for screening of total aflatoxin (TA) in the samples. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector was used for determination of aflatoxin B and G. Moisture content of samples was determined using the hot airoven method (AOAC International, 2011). Overall, the incidence of positive TA >20 µg/kg in chicken feed is 14.9% (50 samples). The average level of TA was found significantly different between different states at p<0.05 for both broiler grower and finisher. Thechromatograph results showed that positive samples were found in broiler finisher from Kedah (94.6 µg/kg and 42.1 µg/kg) and Penang(56.4 µg/kg) with aflatoxin B1. In this study, the range of moisture content were around 6.5-27.3%. About 40% samples have more than12% moisture content. One of the predisposing factors for aflatoxin accumulation in chicken feed is moisture content. The results warrantthe need for surveillance and constant monitoring programmes for the prevention of aflatoxin incidence in poultry farms.

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary enzymes alter the caecal microbial profile of broilers fed sorghum-based diets. Four sorghum-based diets (918 g sorghum/kg diet) were prepared. One was the control diet and three had enzymes (xylanase, phytase andprotease) added. Broilers, 35-day-old, were reared (8 birds/cage) in an environmentally controlled shed and randomly allocated to replicated (n=4) assay diets and free access to feed and water all time. On day-42, birds were euthanized and caecal contents collected, pooled on a per/pen basis and frozen (-20 °C). The DNA was extracted from caecal samples using a bead-beating protocol and the V2V3 regionof the bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplified by PCR. Amplicons were separated on sequence difference using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and microbial profiles generated and compared.The DGGE profiles, when analysed, indicated that there was approximately 80% similarity between caecal microflora in all types of the diet treatments. This suggests that there was no overalldifference between any of the profiles and therefore the addition of different types of feed enzymes in a sorghum-based diet had no impact on the overall composition of the broiler caecal microflora.

Renal failure is one of the main causes of economic impacts in the poultry industry and complex syndrome with different severity of clinical signs caused by multiple nephropathogenic factors such as infectious bronchitis viral infection and excess salt and calcium in diet. To evaluate the correlation between severity of renal failure and the causative nephropathogenic factors, one-day-old specific pathogen free chickens were treated with either single causative factor or multiple causative factors described as above. Each group was designed as control for non-treated control, IB for infectious bronchitis virus (IB virus) infection, IBHNa for IB virus infection with high diet salt, IBHCa for IB virus infection with high diet calcium, IBHNC for IB virus infection with high diet salt and calcium, HNa for high diet salt, HCa for high diet calcium and HNC for high diet salt and calcium. Chickens were inoculated with IB virus at 1-day-old and remained on their respective diets until 21 day of age. Plasma Na+, Cl-, BUN, creatinine, calcium and uric acid values were examined. The results obtained were as follows; IB virus and high dietary calcium combined treatment showed elevated plasma uric acid. BUN and creatinine values were not characteristic on chicken renal failure. But plasma uric acid values were increased according to renal lesion. Hypercalcemia and hyperuicemia did not induce urate deposition and mineralization in the kidney.

Cost of feed is one of the primary stumbling blocks for goat farming in Malaysia. Stage feeding was introduced as a method to formulate feed at minimum cost based on the requirement of different stages of production to improve overall farm productivity. A study was conducted to evaluate 5 feeding rations formulated based on the requirements of different production stages on Katjang-Boer crossbred. Ration formulated of creep feed (CF) for a period of 101d, starter grower (SG) (70d), grower finisher (GF) (98d), flushing feed (FF) (97d) and maintenance feed (MF) (155d) were compared with commercial feed (CCF and CMF) as control. Results showed a significantly higher (P<0.05 preweaning bodyweight of 12.83 ± 3.61 kg in CF at 101 days of age. Post weaning also achieved significantly higher bodyweight (P<0.05 of 22.20±2.78kg and 31.5±4.67 in SG (223 days) and GF (361 days) of age respectively. Feed cost per kg gain obtain in CF (RM5.68), SG (RM9.03) and GF (RM6.57) were lower compared to CCM of RM6.14, RM10.27 and 12.99 respectively. FF showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) of 67.01 ± 14.42 g while MF was able to maintain body weight at minimum cost. Stage feeding proved to be able to meet nutritional needs through significantly higher body weight in CF, SG, GF and FF as well as lower feed cost per kg gain rendering it as a more economical option.

To investigate premium palm kernel cake (PKC) based diet’s effect on amino acid digestibility, this study conducted a feeding trial. Four groups of 150 day-old broiler chickens in every group were given four isocaloric diets using these formulation: Diet 1 - commercial feed for both starter and grower phase Diet 2 - broiler feed that contains 30% PKC for starter phase + commercial grower, Diet 3 - commercial starter + broiler feed that contains 45% PKC for grower phase (and Diet 4 - broiler feed that contains 30% PKC for starter phase + broiler feed that contains 45 % premium PKC for grower phase. During the experiment’s day 31, bird faeces’ samples were collected based on group diets in order to estimate the availability of amino acid as well as the digestibility of amino acids using balance experiment. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography with photo-diode array detector was used to analyse amino acid. The findings showed no significant difference in digestibility of amino acids with p<0.05 in the feed broiler chickens’ comparison with commercial feed in terms of different levels of PKC based diet. This study shows that by including 30-45% premium PKC in poultry diet, it could contribute as protein source in broiler feed production with suitable supplementation of essential amino acid. Further studies are encouraged to combine the analysis of excreta, ileal digesta and growth performance in order to achieve more concrete findings.