Archives of Animal Nutrition最新文献

This study aimed to evaluate the intake, digestibility, ingestive behaviour, productive performance, rumen fermentation and carcass yield of lambs fed diets with Parkia platycephala pods (PP) replacing ground corn. For this, twenty-eight castrated male lambs (18.34 ± 4.81 kg, 120 days of age), were distributed in randomised blocks with 4 treatments and 7 replicates. Four diets were formulated replacing ground corn with PP (0, 33, 66, and 100%) on a roughage: concentrate ratio of 30:70 on a dry matter basis. The feedlot period lasted for 60 days, and the animals were slaughtered consecutively. The replacing of ground corn with PP reduced the intakes of ether extract and metabolisable energy, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, total digestible nutrients, isovalerate, and omental + mesenteric fat, while it increased the digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrates, carcass finishing, and the yields of rumen, reticulum, and omasum (p < 0.05). A quadratic effect was observed for the time of chews per rumen bolus, number of rumination chews per day, number of rumination chews per bolus, and number of rumination chews per minute, propionate (p = 0.002), butyrate (p < 0.01) and total short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (p < 0.05) according to the increase in PP levels replacing ground corn in diets offered to lambs. The rumen pH was reduced and the NH₃-N increased according to the evaluation period (p < 0.05). The highest concentration of total SCFA was observed in the collection carried out at 09 h (p < 0.05). The use of up to 100% PP in diets offered to lambs is recommended as it provides nutrient intake, weight gain, and carcass yield similar to ground corn.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase with traces of endo-1,4-beta-glucanase on the performance of 240 piglets (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) with an initial body (BW) of 5.90 ± 0.6 kg. The mixed sex piglets were randomly assigned to 3 treatments with 10 replicates per treatment, and 8 heads per replicate pen. The dietary treatments include (1) corn-wheat-soybean meal (SBM) basal diet without xylanase (XYL) enzyme as positive control (PC), (2) corn-wheat-SBM diet deprived -90 kcal/kg metabolizable energy without XYL enzyme (NC), and (3) corn-wheat-SBM diet deprived -90 kcal/kg metabolizable energy + 0.02 XYL (DG2). The diets were administered in mash form for 42 d (split into 2 phases) as phase 1, d 0-21, and phase 2, d 22-42. All the experimental diets were designed to fulfil the nutrient requirement by NRC 2012. The results show XYL supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.05) final body weight and overall average daily gain (ADG) while enhancing feed efficiency (G/F) compared to the negative control group (NC). Nutrient digestibility was notably improved, with significant increases (p < 0.05) in gross energy (GE), xylan, and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) digestibility in both phases. The incorporation of XYL also increased monosaccharide and xylooligosaccharide levels in the ileum and caecum, indicating enhanced carbohydrate breakdown. Additionally, XYL supplementation improved the gut microbiota profile by showing higher tendency (p = 0.066) for beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus with a tendency (p = 0.052) for lower Escherichia coli counts. Overall, XYL supplementation effectively enhanced growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weanling pigs on a low-energy diet.

The objective was to investigate the effect of rainfall on sodium (Na) dissolution and total losses by runoff of loose mineral mixtures (MM) available in uncovered feeders to grazing cattle, as well as the possible impacts on their growth performance and fulfilment of Na nutritional needs. Experiments (n = 7) were conducted to quantify the amount of Na lost due to rainfall and to evaluate the effects of different Na levels in the MM (35, 70, 105, and 140 g Na/kg) on MM assumed intake and growth performance. Cattle grazed Brachiaria sp. pastures and received free-choice MM in uncovered feeders throughout four to nine evaluation periods lasting 14 to 21 d each. MM assumed intake from the feeder was measured in each period as the difference between the supplied MM mass and the unconsumed MM mass. A new methodology was proposed to measure MM losses by runoff (exclusion feeder). The mass of runoff MM and the volume of runoff rainwater were both determined and analysed for their mineral content. The dietary Na requirement was estimated using different feeding systems. The minimum MM Na content to meet dietary Na requirements was estimated in different scenarios. Sodium chloride composed 28% of the runoff MM mass, in average. The action of rain may reduce MM Na content by 28% in a single rainfall event. Na content strongly affected MM assumed intake and, possibly, growth rate. MM losses by runoff were estimated at 25.5%, according to the exclusion feeder methodology. The minimum required MM Na content for meeting dietary Na needs may reach up to 87.3 g Na/kg. About 27% of evaluated periods may have failed to fully meet cattle Na requirements. The action of rain in unsheltered loos MM may result in unbalanced mineral consumption and unmet Na needs, leading to impaired mineral nutrition of grazing cattle, especially in tropical conditions.

An experiment was conducted to determine the digestible energy (DE) of insect fat (IF) from black soldier fly larvae (BSLF) for growing pigs. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were the dominant group of fatty acids in the IF, with lauric acid (C12:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) comprising the greatest concentrations in this group. Linoleic acids (C18:2) and oleic acids (C18:1) were the main unsaturated fatty acids. The IF contained 37.63 MJ/kg gross energy and 2.55 g/kg nitrogen. During the experiment, a DE bioassay was performed wherein growing pigs were fed one of the two experimental diets (either a maize-wheat-barley-soy basal diet or a diet containing 50 g/kg IF plus 950 g/kg of the basal diet). The DE of the IF was calculated based on the differences between the DE values of basal and test diet (substitution method). The DE of the IF was determined to be 36.86 MJ/kg. The IF contains a DE level comparable to vegetable oils, including soybean, rapeseed, corn and palm oils. The results showed that the examined fat from BSLF is a good source of available energy and can be incorporated in pig diets as an alternative energy source.

Two experiments were conducted to determine net energy (NE) values of wheat bran ingredients and develop a prediction equation for NE of wheat bran. In each experiment, 12 multiparous pregnant sows were allocated to two 3 × 6 Youden squares with three consecutive periods and six diets in each square. The study consisted of six diets, including a corn-soybean meal basal diet and five diets formulated with 29.2% wheat bran. Each period lasted for 10 d, with 5 d allocated for adaptation and followed by 5 d for heat production measurement. Sows were provided feed at 604 kJ/kg BW^0.75·d^-1. On day 10, sows underwent fasting to measure fasting heat production. Results indicated that the inclusion of wheat bran in the diets significantly reduced digestibility of energy and nutrients in (p < 0.05). The average net energy (NE) content of wheat bran was determined to be 8.8 MJ/kg DM. A regress equation NE = 7.968 + 0.28 × CP + 0.607 × EE - 0.782 × ash - 0.05 × hemicellulose (R² = 0.98, p < 0.01) was found to accurately predit the NE value when feeding pregnant sows with wheat bran-based diets. In conclusion, the net energy content of wheat bran fed to pregnant sows ranged from 7.24 to 10.67 MJ/kg DM and can be effectively estimated using proximate analysis methods.

This study investigated the effects of dietary _L-valine (Val) supplementation and sanitary conditions with lipopolysaccharide injection on growth performance, immune response, and intestinal bacterial profiles and metabolites in weaned pigs. Thirty-two weaned pigs (6.98 ± 0.47 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement based on dietary Val levels and sanitary conditions (low or high). The pigs were fed either a basal diet containing the standard levels of Val suggested by (NRC), (2012) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.1% _L-Val. A room designated as a high sanitary room was washed weekly, whereas the designated low sanitary room was not washed throughout the experiment and 5 kg of manure from the nursery pig barn was spread on the pen floors on day 1. All data were analysed using a mixed procedure of SAS, with the individual pen as the experimental unit. The pigs raised in low sanitary conditions exhibited a lower (p < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio and a higher (p < 0.05) incidence of diarrhoea than those raised in high sanitary conditions during the 14-d experimental period. The pigs in the low sanitary group also had a lower (p < 0.05) concentration of butyrate in the jejunum and a higher (p < 0.05) concentration of NH₃-N in the colon than those in the high sanitary group. Dietary Val supplementation was reduced (p < 0.05) plasma interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist concentrations as well as isovalerate and NH₃-N concentrations in the colon, regardless of sanitary conditions. Interactions between dietary Val supplementation and sanitary conditions were observed in the abundances of mRNA-encoding β-defensins 113, 125 and 129 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary Val supplementation beneficially modulates inflammatory responses and microbial metabolites regardless of sanitary conditions while transcriptional levels of β-defensins are regulated by dietary Val supplementation in a manner dependent on housing hygiene conditions.

A study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and feeding value of rapeseed meal (RSM) batches produced at the same plant when fed to turkey poults. In total, seven RSM samples were obtained from a single manufacturer within a period of 90 days. Although the manufacturer followed the same procedures during oil extraction and RSM production, different batches of rapeseed were used. A balancer feed (BF) was formulated to contain 11.85 MJ/kg ME and 265 g/kg crude protein. Seven nutritionally complete test mash diets were prepared by mixing 200 g/kg of each RSM batch sample with 800 g/kg of the BF, totalling 8 diets. Diets were fed to female B.U.T. Premium turkeys from 12 to 21 d of age. Each diet was fed to six raised floor pens, housing two birds, following randomisation. During the experiment, a nitrogen corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) assay was performed using a total collection technique. The AMEn in RSM samples was calculated based on the differences between the AMEn values of basal and test diets. Associations were examined between AMEn and the chemical composition of the RSM samples. The overall determined AMEn value of the RSM ranged from 5.50 MJ/kg DM to 8.53 MJ/kg DM, giving an average AMEn of 7.29 MJ/kg DM. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in AMEn content between batches. There was a negative correlation (r = - 0.864; p < 0.05) between AMEn values and the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of the RSM samples. The results suggest that the NDF could be a good predictor of the AMEn of industry produced RSM. It may be inferred that processing rather than cultivar could be the main factor determining the feeding value of RSM for turkeys.

In vitro studies of gas production (GP) using rumen fluid obtained from rumen-cannulated animals are common in feed evaluation for ruminants. The objective was to compare sheep faeces with rumen fluid from dairy cows as inocula in the Hohenheim gas test (HGT) using a large number of different-quality feeds. It then was evaluated whether GP obtained by using rumen inoculum (RI-GP) can be estimated from GP using faecal inoculum (FI-GP). Ninety feeds for ruminants including roughages (n = 27), total mixed rations (n = 6), commercial compound feeds for dairy cows (n = 18), cereal grains (n = 10), energy-rich by-products (n = 5), legume grains (n = 6), oilseed meals (n = 6), and other protein-rich feeds (n = 12) were incubated with either rumen inoculum (RI) or faecal inoculum (FI), and GP was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Nonlinear equations were fitted to the GP data to determine GP kinetic parameters. Correlations between RI-GP and FI-GP were calculated for different time points. Linear regressions were calculated to estimate RI-GP from FI-GP using the entire data set or subsets of roughages and concentrates. GP kinetic parameters were lower for all feed categories when incubated with FI instead of RI. On average of all feed samples, the potential GP was 9 mL/200 mg dry matter (DM) lower and the rate of GP was 3.1%/h lower with FI than RI. The estimation of kinetic data for FI included a lag phase of 1.51 h on average, whereas no lag phase was estimated for RI. Estimated parameters indicated an overall lower fermentation activity of FI than RI. However, there was a very similar progression of GP curves of RI-GP and FI-GP. RI-GP after 24 h was significantly correlated with FI-GP in the time period of 24 to 60 h (r = 0.973 - 0.982, including all feed samples). Linear regression analysis showed that RI-GP after 24 h can be estimated from FI-GP after 24 h (Slope = 1.02, R² = 0.97) and 48 h (Slope = 1.1, R² = 0.97) including the complete data set. Splitting the data set into roughages and concentrate feeds did not lead to distinctly higher estimation accuracy. In conclusion, sheep faeces can be used as an alternative inoculum for studying a wide range of different-quality feedstuffs. The standard gas test may be modified without the need for rumen-cannulated animals.

Environmental issues and concerns about animal welfare display current challenges in animal husbandry and feeding. Rye, a cereal that has scarcely been used in animal feed in recent decades, could help address some of the challenges in pig feeding as a climate friendly and health promoting feed ingredient. Distinct constituents of rye - especially its non-starch-polysaccharides (NSP) - are fermented in the large intestine while short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are produced in that process. This can promote gut health and the feeling of satiety in pigs. To examine the site of the digestion of rye within the digestive tract in comparison to wheat as a widely used ingredient in pig diets, two diets with high shares of either wheat or rye (each 69.0%) were fed to ileo-caecally fistulated, adult minipigs. Ileal digesta and faeces were collected and ileal, total tract and postileal digestibility rates were calculated. In the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), significant differences were only found for organic matter (OM) and Nitrogen-free extract (NfE) with lower values for the rye-rich diets (77.2 ± 2.00 vs. 73.8 ± 2.01% and 79.8 ± 2.56 vs. 75.3 ± 2.61%, respectively). These differences could not be recovered for the total tract digestibility (ATTD - 90.2 ± 2.16 vs. 89.8 ± 1.94% and 93.0 ± 1.69 vs. 92.8 ± 1.37%, respectively), resulting in an elevated postileal digestibility which was significant for NfE (13.2 ± 2.42 vs. 17.5 ± 2.77%). Therefore, rye can be used to promote hindgut fill and fermentation in pig feeding, especially in restrictively fed animals such as pregnant sows.