Genetically modified feeds in animal nutrition 2nd communication: Glufosinate tolerant sugar beets (roots and silage) and maize grains for ruminants and pigs

Abstract

To analyse substantial equivalence of genetically modified sugar‐beets and maize, in which the glufosinate‐tolerant (Pat) gene is inserted, crude nutrients, the amino acid and the fatty acid profiles as well as the composition of the NDF‐fraction of maize grains were determined and compared with those of the corresponding non‐transgenic cultivars. Due to the genetic manipulation differences in crude nutrient contents including sugar and starch were not detected. The amino acid profile of maize grains was analysed to be the same. Fatty acid profile and composition of cell wall constituents did not show any influences as well. Digestibility of Pat‐sugar‐beets and maize grains for pigs did not demonstrate meaningful differences as compared to the corresponding non‐transgenic cultivars. Digestibility of sugar‐beet roots and sugar‐beet top silage for ruminants proved to be also in the scope of natural variance. As the digestibility of the macro nutrients remained unaffected, the Pat‐gene introduction into both crops did not show an influence on the energetic feeding value. For pigs the ME‐content of Pat‐sugar‐beets was determined to be 14.1 MJ/kg DM versus 13.7 MJ of the non‐transgenic cultivars. ME‐content of Pat‐maize grains was 16.0 MJ/kg DM versus 15.8 MJ for controls. For ruminants the feeding value of Pat‐sugar‐beets was found to be 8.5 MJ NEL/kg DM or 13.2 MJ ME/kg DM, regardless of whether the Pat‐gene was inserted or not. The corresponding energy values of sugar‐beet top silage ranged between 5.2 and 5.5 MJ NEL/kg DM or 8.6 and 9.1 MJ ME/kg DM, with differences considered in the biological range.