Nguyen Cong Oanh

Poultry production is the second-largest contributor to total meat production in Vietnam after pig production, with slow-growing indigenous chicken breeds comprising over 80% of the national flock ...

The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in animal-derived foods are increasingly important for human health. Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.), rich in n-3 PUFA, is a promising feedstuff for producing n-3 PUFA-enriched animal products. However, research on dietary Sacha inchi oil (SIO) supplementation in laying hens remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of SIO on production performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid (FA) composition in laying hens. A total of 192 hybrid hens [(♂ White Leghorn × ♀ Egyptian Fayoumi); initial body weight: 1910 ± 22.14 g; age: 25 weeks old] were randomly assigned one of the four diets: a basal diet (CONT), and three tested diets based on CONT with the addition of 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5% SIO (as-feed basis) (SI15, SI30, and SI45, respectively). Each dietary treatment included 48 hens housed in 12 battery cages for 56 days with 4 birds per cage. Increasing dietary SIO levels significantly reduced average daily feed intake (p < 0.05). Egg yolk weight linearly increased (p < 0.05) with higher SIO inclusion, while other egg quality traits were unaffected. SIO supplementation significantly increased (p = 0.001) yolk n-3 PUFA level (from 0.79% to 8.29% on day 28, and from 0.87% to 9.13% on day 56) and substantially reduced the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio by about nine-fold on both 28 and 56 days. In conclusion, SIO is a promising n-3 PUFA-rich feed ingredient for egg production. Adding 3.0–4.5% SIO in laying hen diets can enhance egg yolk weight and n-3 PUFA level while reducing feed intake without negatively affecting egg production or quality.

This study was carried out to evaluate the dietary addition of herbal MIX product (Stemona tuberosa Lour, Platycodon grandiflorum, Codonopsis pilosula, Corium stomachichum Galli, Hovenia dulcis Thunb, Maltum, and Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) on growth performance, meat quality, and chemical compositions of crossbred Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) [D(LY)] pig meat. A total of 360 D(LY) pigs with initial body weight (BW) of 36.7 ± 0.17kg, were used in a 12-week experiment. Pigs were randomly divided in 4 experimental diets according to BW and sex, each consisting 90 pigs and 3 replicate pens. The experimental diets consisted of a DC diet (basal diet), a TN1 diet (DC + 0.1% MIX), a TN2 diet (DC + 0.2% MIX), and a TN3 diet (DC + 0.3% MIX). The pigs were fed a 2-period feeding program consisting of grower (0-6 weeks) and finisher (7-12 weeks). The results showed that in comparision with DC diet, pigs fed a diet supplemented with 0.1% MIX improved final BW (kg/pig), average daily gain (g/pig/day), and feed conversion ratio (kg/kg) (P <0.05). Lean meat percentage increase and backfat thickness like shear force decrease were observed in pigs fed diets with increasing MIX levels (P <0.05). Lipid content of meat decreased in pigs fed a diet with 0.3% MIX while within diets with MIX from 0.2% level downwards lowered cholesterol content of pork (P <0.05). The results showed that supplementing MIX in pig diet improved average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio (0.1% MIX), and enhanced meat quality (from 0.1 % MIX forwards).

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary soybean oil (SO) substitution with Sacha inchi oil (SIO) supplemented with herbal plants (HP, Bidens pilosa, Angelica sinensis, and Ramulus cinnamomi) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and pork quality parameters. A total of 144 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) crossbred pigs (63.1 ± 0.4 kg) were randomly allocated to one of the three dietary treatments: a basal diet containing 2% SO without HP (CONT), a basal diet containing 1% SO, 1% SIO and 1% HP (TRT1), and a basal diet containing 2% SIO and 1% HP (TRT2). Each treatment includes 4 replicate pens containing 12 pigs, balanced by sex and body weight. The experiment lasted for 70 days. The results show no effects of the dietary treatments on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed efficiency. Likewise, there were no differences in carcass moisture losses, lean percentage, pH, and colors between the dietary treatments. The pigs fed the SIO diets with HP had lower backfat thickness (p=0.02) than their counterparts fed the SO diet. In pork, a significant decrease in lipid and cholesterol, and an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially omega-3 and omega-6, were found (p

The current situation of goat production and supply chains in Vietnam, along with its difficulties and possibilities, is presented in this review paper. The data and reports of government agencies, scientific journals, and websites were analysed in order to determine the prevailing situation in goat production and marketing. Goats are mainly raised on small-scale farms (73.4% of the total goat population). Goat production is transforming from extensive grazing to cut-and-carry intensive systems. Goat meat and milk supplies have not fully met domestic demand. However, the scale of the domestic market is difficult to ascertain, due to the lack of market research and statistics. Goat marketing is mostly informal and overwhelmingly conducted by small-scale producers and traders, although there are numerous governmental agencies at both the national and local levels regulating formal marketing. The major challenges facing the goat industry are feed shortage; supply inconsistency; limited market infrastructure and research; a lack of sustainable breeding programmes, price incentives, and processing facilities; and competition from foreign suppliers. However, there are opportunities to expand and develop the industry, such as consumers’ health consciousness, increasing demand, high-value adding, and strong government support.

Background and Aim: Dietary supplementation with green tea by-product shows special effects on animal parameters. This study aimed to assess the effects of green tea by-products (GTBP) in the diet on some blood parameters, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs and on meat quality, and nutritional composition of pork. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty crossbred pigs with an initial body weight of 65.15 ± 0.38 kg, were distributed into four dietary treatments, with four replicates of 10 pigs each. The dietary treatments were a basal diet (control diet, CON), and three experimental diets (GTBP8, GTBP16, and GTBP24) based on the CON diet supplemented with GTBP at 8, 16, and 24 g/kg of feed. The studied parameters were examined during the experimental period of 10 weeks. Results: No statistical differences in average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were observed between the diet treatments (p > 0.05). Backfat thickness decreased (linear, p < 0.05) according to the GTBP levels but no other carcass parameters. Meat quality was not influenced by the GTBP levels (p > 0.05). However, pigs fed with GTBP had a decrease in cholesterol content and an increase in crude protein and total omega-3 content of pork compared to the CON diet (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with GTBP significantly decreased plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05), and trends for the decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and urea nitrogen were observed (linear, p = 0.08). Conclusion: Up to 24 g/kg GTBP in the diet for finishing pigs does not impair animal performance and makes carcass leaner with softer meat as well as positive effects on cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. Further experiments are needed to determine the optimal levels of GTBP addition in finishing pig diet to produce higher meat quality.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing dietary soybean oil (SBO) with sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil (SIO) supplemented or not with medicinal plant powder (MP, 60% cinnamon twig, and 40% star anise fruits) on broiler performance, carcass traits, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) content of breast meat. A total of 288 Ho × Luong Phuong broiler chickens (age and average body weight: 6 weeks old and 877 ± 13.4 g) were equally divided into three groups (6 replicates of 16 birds each), balanced by BW and sex. Each group was randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments: a 2% SBO diet (CON), a 2% SIO diet (SI), and a diet supplemented with 2% SIO and 1% MP (SIM). The experiment lasted for 70 days. Broiler performance, carcass traits, and technological meat quality were not affected by the diets (P > 0.05). However, colored broiler chickens fed the SIM diet had increased empty gizzard percentage (P < 0.05) compared to those fed the CON diet. Especially, the n-3 PUFA content of breast meat from broiler chickens fed diets containing SIO was higher than those of birds fed CON diet (P < 0.01). A significant decrease in cholesterol content was observed (P < 0.01) in broilers fed SIM diet compared to those fed CON diet. In conclusion, replacing 2% SBO with 2% SIO and 1% MP supplementation in broiler diets increased n-3 PUFA content and decreased cholesterol content in breast meat, without negative effects on bird performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Therefore, a combination of SIO and MP can be used as an effective strategy to ameliorate the meat quality of finishing broiler chickens by enhancing n-3 PUFA content and reducing the cholesterol content of breast meat.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a medicinal plant mixture (MP) (60% Bindens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus Cinnamomi, and 5% Illicium verum Hook. f.) as a feed additive to promote the growth performance and meat quality of grower-finisher pigs. Forty-eight crossbred pigs (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)), with initial live body weights of 30.3 ± 1.42kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary groups, with three replicates of each group and four animals per replicate. The experimental pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with MP powder at 0, 20, 40, or 60 g kg-1 of feed (T0, T20, T40, and T60) for 15 weeks. The growth performance, carcass quality parameters, chemical composition, fatty acids, and cholesterol contents of the pig meat were measured. There were no statistical differences (P> 0.05) in the final live body weight, overall average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio among the control and MP treatments. MP supplementation significantly increased the protein content (P = 0.02) and decreased the cholesterol content (P = 0.04) of raw longissimus dorsi muscle. The obtained results indicate that the dietary MP supplementation tested could have the potential to improve meat quality and decrease the cholesterol content in pork with no adverse effects on the growth performance.

The study was conducted to assess the effects of medicinal plants powder (MP) (60% Bindens pilosa L., 30% Urena lobata L. and 10% Ramulus cinnamomi) as a feed additive to promote growth performance and improve meat quality in pigs. Seventy-two crossbred pigs [Duroc × (Landrace ×...

Background and Aim: Dietary fiber has distinctive effects on the environment and microbiota of the pig's intestinal tract. This study was conducted at the naturally ventilated facility of the experimental station, National Institute of Animal Sciences, Vietnam, to examine the effects of fiber sources in diets on the intestinal microbiota of two different pig breeds raised in Vietnam. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 native and 18 exotic pigs with average initial body weights of 9.5±0.4 and 16.5±0.4 kg, respectively, were each divided into three dietary treatments, including a low-fiber diet containing approximately 200 g NDF per kg dry matter (DM) and two high-fiber diets containing cassava by-products or brewer's grains containing approximately 300 g NDF per kg DM. At the end of the experiment (28 days), the bacterial diversity of digesta samples collected from the stomach, ileum, and colon segments was analyzed through DGGE analysis of the V3 variable regions of 16S-rDNA and by cloning and sequencing. Results: Among the diets, significant differences were observed in the number of DNA bands in the stomach between the native and exotic pigs (p<0.05), but not in the ileum and colon. The dietary fiber affected the number of DNA bands in the ileum (p<0.05), but not in the stomach and colon. A significant interaction effect was found between diet and breed on the number of DNA bands in the ileum (p<0.05). Dietary fiber and breed had a greater effect on microbiota in the ileum and colon than that in the stomach. Conclusion: The fiber sources affected the number of DNA bands in the ileum, and breed affected the number of DNA bands in the stomach. The microbial compositions in the ileum and colon segments were significantly affected by the dietary fiber and breed.