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This study was planned to investigate the effects of seaweed supplementation, genetic strain, heat stress and their interactions on laying hen performances, blood chemistry and hematology. In a short-term trial, laying hens of the two genetic lines Lohman LSL-Lite (White) and Lohman Brown-Lite (Brown) were supplemented with Chondrus crispus (CC) at 3% for 21 days, while a control group was not. In a long-term trial, the same two strains were assigned to control (0%), 3% red seaweed Chondrus crispus (CC) or 0.5% brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (AN)-supplemented diets for 41 weeks, concluding with a four-week control or heat-stress period. The White hens displayed higher egg production and a lower feed/egg ratio. The short-term inclusion of CC significantly reduced the feed intake, weight gain and feed/egg ratio. The long-term seaweed intake affected the plasma albumin and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p < 0.05), and there were significant strain-heat stress interactions; heat stress in the Brown birds was associated with reduced protein, globulin and glucose and increased cholesterol and GGT levels and higher heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratios (p < 0.05) in response to heat stress (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a long-term seaweed supplementation affected the plasma protein and enzyme profiles, yet had little effect on hen leukocyte counts and the overall performance.

Availability of a contiguous chromosome-level genome assembly is the foundational step to develop genome-based studies in American mink (Neogale vison). The main objective of this study was to provide a high quality chromosome-level genome assembly for American mink. An initial draft of the genome assembly was generated using 2,884,047 PacBio long reads. Integration of Hi-C data into the initial draft led to an assembly with 183 scaffolds and scaffold N50 of 220 Mb. This gap-free genome assembly of American mink (ASM_NN_V1) had a length of 2.68 Gb in which about 98.6% of the whole genome was covered by 15 chromosomes. In total, 25,377 genes were predicted across the American mink genome using the NCBI Eukaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline. In addition, gene orthology, demographic history, synteny blocks, and phylogenetic relationships were studied in connection with the genomes of other related Carnivora. Furthermore, population-based statistics of 100 sequenced mink were presented using the newly assembled genome. Remarkable improvements were observed in genome contiguity, the number of scaffolds, and annotation compared to the first draft of mink genome assembly (NNQGG.v01). This high-quality genome assembly will support the development of efficient breeding strategies as well as conservation programs for American mink.

Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of feed supplements for improving human and animal nutrition and health. Identification of nutrient biomarkers is a top priority to measure the biological and physiological effects of dietary components. Metabolomics is an objective and accurate tool to expand our knowledge of biological systems response to feed supplements by defining intestinal pathways and mechanisms. This review focuses on the impact of feed supplements on the host intestinal system and blood constituents, illustrating systemic changes in metabolic pathways and functionality. From scientific reports dealing with metabolomic data, the paper compiles evidence on feed additive effects on small intestine morphology, nutrient absorption, enzyme regulation and intestinal epithelium, as well as colon microbiota community. The review concentrates on the cellular and molecular functions to demonstrate the possible biological effects of feed supplements on health. The combinations of quantitative metabolomic assays are finding applications not only in animal and human nutritional sciences but also in agricultural, medical, and medicinal research.

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