Archives of Animal Nutrition最新文献

The comprehension of the digestive strategy of red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria) is necessary for effective dietary practices, which prevent metabolic disorders often seen in captivity. The present study evaluated the effects of three extruded diets (high in fibre [Control], high in starch [Starch], and high in fat [Fat]) on the tortoises' preference, nutrient digestibility, faeces quality, fermentation products, and gastrointestinal transit time (GTT). Eighteen adult red-footed tortoises (9 males and 9 females) were used to compare diet palatability. Tortoises were randomly divided into three groups of six, balanced for sex and assigned to one of the experimental diets. The total tract apparent digestibilities (TTAD) of nutrients and energy was measured using chromium oxide (0.25%) as a marker, while GTT was assessed with ferric oxide (2.5%). Faeces were collected for analysis of short and branched-chain fatty acids, lactate, ammonia, and pH. Data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were compared using Tukey's test (p < 0.05). Diet preference was evaluated with paired t-test, and first-choice preferences by the Chi-square test (p < 0.05). The tortoises showed preference for the Starch and Fat diets, consuming less of the Control diet, high in fibre (p < 0.05). The TTAD of dry matter, organic matter, and gross energy was highest for the Starch diet, intermediate for the Fat diet, and lowest for the Control diet (p < 0.05). The TTAD of fat was lowest for the Fat diet, which resulted in faeces with a high fat content (33.9 ± 2.64% faecal DM; p < 0.05). Tortoises fed the Control diet showed a trend towards a longer GTT, nearly three days longer than those on the other diets (p = 0.075). Short- and branched-chain fatty acids, and faecal lactate, were similar across diets (p > 0.05), though ammonia concentration was lower in the Control diet compared to the Starch diet (p < 0.05). In conclusion, red-footed tortoises showed a preference for diets high in starch and fat over the high fibre formulation. Fat TTAD was limited, decreasing with higher fat intake. Faecal concentrations of fermentation products remained consistent across diets, suggesting extensive absorption of these compounds due to the tortoises' long GTT and the reverse peristalsis.

Cashew nut is a co-product of the cashew (Anacardium occidentale) industry, with high fat (40%) and protein (23%) contents. During processing, the nuts can break down, generating the cashew nut granules (CNG). Considering the effort for rational use of food resources, the present study investigated the use of CNG as an ingredient in extruded dog diets. Four formulations with similar chemical compositions were used, a control (CO) based on poultry by-product meal and poultry fat, and three inclusion levels of CNG as protein and fat source: 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (on an as-fed basis). Due to its high fat content, the implications of CNG to the extrusion process was investigated. Twenty-four beagle dogs were used to determine total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD), faeces characteristics and fermentation products, and a panel of 39 dogs were used for palatability comparisons. The results of extrusion, TTAD, and faecal traits were submitted to variance analysis and means compared by polynomial contrasts according to the CNG inclusion level (p < 0.05). In the palatability test, the first intake was compared by the Qui-square test and the intake ratio by the Student's t-test (p < 0.05). The CNG addition increased the internal fat content of the raw material mixture from 9.5% to 12.6%. This induced a linear reduction in mechanical energy transference, which in turn reduced mass pressure and temperature at extrusion (p < 0.01), which compromised kibble formation with lower expansion and higher density (p < 0.01). Starch gelatinisation did not reduce but in fact increased, explained by a linear increase in thermal energy application (p < 0.01). The TTAD of nutrients did not differ between diets (p > 0.05). Faeces pH, production and score did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05). Acetate, butyrate, and lactate increased quadratically (p < 0.01) in the faeces, with higher values for animals fed the 2.5% CNG feed. In the palatability test, only CO, 2.5% CNG and 5% CNG treatments were compared, and diets with CNG had higher preference than CO (p < 0.01). By conclusion, up to 10% inclusion of CNG did not alter TTAD of nutrients or faeces formation and increased diet palatability, supporting the use of this co-product in extruded diets for dogs.

This study was conducted to evaluate fat supplements differing in fatty acid (FA) composition on nutrient digestibility, milk yield and composition, and milk FA profile in dairy cows. Twenty-four Holstein cows (149 ± 85 d in milk, 35.6 ± 6.29 kg/d milk yield and 671 ± 93.4 kg body weight) were distributed in 8 Latin squares according to parity number, milk yield and days in milk, and enrolled in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment with 21-d periods. Cows within block were randomly assigned to treatment sequences containing: 1) control (CON), no fat supplement and 2.44% ether extract (EE, dry matter basis (DM)); 2) calcium salts of palm oil (CSPO), CSPO at 2.60% diet DM and 4.49% EE diet DM; and 3) encapsulated fatty acids (EFA), EFA at 2.60% diet DM and 4.30% EE diet DM. Fatty acids from EFA are derived from soybean oil, palm oil, and tallow. The primary differences in FA profiles between CSPO and EFA were related to stearic acid (4.26 and 31.7 g/100 g FA, respectively), oleic acid (32.7 and 8.80 g/100 g FA, respectively), and linoleic acid (8.81 and 19.1 g/100 g FA, respectively). Fat supplements were included in the concentrate mix and cows were fed a total mixed ration (48:52 of forage to concentrate ratio). Data were analysed using mixed models and treatment differences were evaluated by orthogonal contrasts (CON vs. fat-supplemented diets and CSPO vs. EFA). Dry matter intake and digestibility were not affected by treatments; however, EE intake and digestibility were higher with the inclusion of fat supplements. Fat supplementation increased milk yield (34.1, 35.8, and 35.9 kg/d for CON, CSPO and EFA, respectively). Fat supplementation also improved the yield of milk components and feed efficiency. Cows fed EFA had higher milk protein concentrations compared to those fed CSPO. Cows fed fat supplements exhibited higher concentrations of unsaturated FA and lower concentrations of de novo FA in milk compared to CON group. The concentration of de novo and odd-chain FA in the milk of cows fed CSPO was lower than in those fed EFA. Cows fed EFA had lower concentrations of trans-11 C18:1 and cis-9 C18:1 FA compared to the CSPO group. Fat supplements increased milk yield, feed efficiency and unsaturated FA concentration in milk without affecting DM digestibility. Supplementing cows with either CSPO or EFA resulted in similar performance.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of including extruded-expelled soybean meal (ESBM) as the main protein source in a total mixed ration (TMR) offered to sheep on digestive and metabolic parameters, in comparison to protein sources with known nutritional properties: solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM; high ruminal degradability) and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; low ruminal degradability). Five Corriedale × Suffolk crossbreed male sheep (33.7 ± 4 kg body weight) fitted with ruminal catheters and duodenal cannulas were used in an incomplete double 3 × 3 Latin square design, comprising three experimental periods of 20 d each. On a dry matter basis, the TMR was composed of corn silage (0.60) and a mixture of concentrate feedstuffs (0.40), which included ground corn and one of three protein sources: ESBM, SBM, or DDGS. The sheep receiving TMR with ESBM showed intermediate organic matter digestibility compared to SBM and DDGS and lower neutral detergent fibre digestibility together with DDGS (p <0.05). Rumen fermentation and digestion variables were similar between ESBM and SBM, but the N use efficiency tended to be higher in ESBM (p <0.08). Compared to ESBM and SBM, DDGS decreased the N digestibility, the concentrations of ruminal ammonia-N and the urinary N losses, and increased the duodenal flow of non-ammonia non-microbial N (NANMN) and α-amino N (p <0.05). In conclusion, replacing SBM with ESBM in TMR offered to sheep did not impact most of the rumen fermentation and digestion variables whereas improved the efficiency of N utilisation. In contrast, replacing SBM with DDGS in TMR for sheep has been shown to reduce N losses through urine, increase the duodenal flow of dietary N, and improve N utilisation efficiency.

Biomass from cultivated edible mushrooms can be sustainably produced using residual lignocellulosic sidestreams from agri-industrial and wood processing and is a rich source of a variety of bioactive compounds. While edible mushrooms have a long history as a tasty and healthy food for humans, the potential of mushrooms (fungal fruiting bodies), fungal mycelia and by-products from mushroom production (stem residues, spent mushroom substrate) as feed component for poultry is less acknowledged. Based on this, the present review aims to describe the role of filamentous fungi in circular feed production, characterise the nutritional value of fungal biomass, and provide up to date evidence about the efficacy of feeding fungal biomass on performance of broilers. Feeding studies with healthy and parasite-infected broilers using fungal fruiting bodies, mycelia, stem residues or spent mushroom substrate nearly equally showed either positive or neutral effects on growth performance, whereas impairments of performance and carcass parameters were not reported. Improvements of broiler performance in response to feeding fungal biomass were at least partially associated with a beneficial modulation of the gut microbiota community structure - effects that are most likely attributed to the presence of fermentable polysaccharides and phenolic compounds with prebiotic and selective antimicrobial activities, respectively. Based on the evidence from literature presented in this review, the inclusion of fungal biomass, particularly inexpensive by-products from mushroom production like stem residues and spent mushroom substrate, in broiler diets can be recommended, because even if no growth-promoting effects are induced the partial replacement of less sustainably produced feed components by fungal biomass improves the environmental impact of broiler production. Considering that the number of broiler studies showing either positive or neutral effects of fungal biomass on growth performance is broadly balanced and divergent study outcomes are reported even for biomass from the same fungal species, future studies are necessary to identify the specific requirements of fungal biomass responsible for promoting broiler performance.

This study assessed how fermentation and exogenous enzymes affect nutrient digestibility and energy values of palm kernel cake (PKC) in growing pigs. Eighteen pigs were fed six diets: a basal diet, PKC (100 or 200 g/kg), fermented PKC (FPKC; 100 or 200 g/kg), or enzymolysis PKC (EPKC; 100 g/kg). Chromium oxide was used to determine digestibility coefficients. Results showed that PKC inclusion linearly reduced apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and gross energy (GE), while fermentation or enzymatic hydrolysis mitigated these effects. The regression-estimated digestible energy (DE) values were 11.39 MJ/kg DM for PKC and 12.84 MJ/kg DM for FPKC; metabolisable energy (ME) values were 11.03 and 12.60 MJ/kg DM, respectively. Hindgut fermentation contributed 5.42 MJ/kg DM (PKC) and 4.11 MJ/kg DM (FPKC). Fermentation and enzymatic treatments improved PKC energy utilisation, suggesting their potential as cost-effective alternatives in pig diets.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of chitosan (CH), with or without the inclusion of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) sources, on intake and digestibility, ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, milk production and composition, and ruminal dynamics and flow in lactating Jersey cows. Five rumen-fistulated Jersey cows [average days in milk = 105 ± 45 days; milk production = 18.0 ± 0.47 kg/day; body weight = 350 ± 25 kg] were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design with 21-day periods. Five experimental diets were evaluated: (1) Control (CON), basal diet including 30 g/kg of palm oil; (2) (SOCH-) inclusion of 30 g/kg soybean oil (SO) without CH; (3) (WSCH-) inclusion of 160 g/kg whole raw soybeans (WS) without CH; (4) (SOCH+) inclusion of 30 g/kg SO and 2 g/kg CH; (5) (WSCH+) inclusion of 160 g/kg WS and 2 g/kg CH. There was a CH and UFA interaction effect on acetate (C2) concentration (p = 0.005), propionate (C3) concentration (p = 0.008), the C2:C3 ratio (p < 0.001), and the milk fat content of trans-9 C18:1 fatty acid (FA) (p = 0.004). The inclusion of SO, with or without CH, proved to be more active in improving ruminal fermentation patterns by increasing propionate concentration. Furthermore, incorporating SO into the diets of lactating Jersey cows increased CLA, particularly cis-9, trans-11, in milk fat, offering health benefits. We recommend further research to assess the effects of UFA supplementation in combination with CH.

The cis-9 trans-11 and trans-10 cis-12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are associated with anticancer and lipolytic effects in tissues, respectively, but in lactating cows, the latter isomer reduces the milk fat concentration, a detrimental aspect for the dairy industry, as it reduces the yield of milk derivatives. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of providing protected palmitic acid (PA_P) to grazing lactating Holstein cows supplemented with soybean oil as a source of conjugated linoleic acid, on milk production, fat concentration and mitigation of milk fat depression. Nine multiparous Holstein cows were used, distributed in three groups of three cows each, with initial means of days in milk, live weight, milk production, and number of calvings: 124 ± 16 days, 494 ± 53 kg, 20.9 ± 1.3 kg, and 3.2 ± 2.2, respectively. A crossover design with three treatments was used: control (base diet, BD, = grazing +4 kg concentrate without soybean oil + 2.5 kg corn silage), soybean oil (BD with inclusion of 300 g dry basis soybean oil cow^-1 day^-1), and soybean oil + PA_P (BD with inclusion of 300 g dry basis soybean oil and 412 g PA_P cow^-1 day^-1). The groups of cows were on rotational grazing in a mixed pasture of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). The variables evaluated were as follows: dry matter intake (DM), milk production, concentration of protein, fat and lactose in milk, and milk fat profile. Statistical analysis was through PROC MIXED and comparison of means with Tukey's test (p < 0.05). There were no differences (p > 0.05) between treatments in dry matter intake, milk production or milk protein and lactose content. But the addition of PA_P in the cow diet increased fat-corrected milk production (p = 0.010), yield (p = 0.030) and fat concentration (p = 0.040), and improved the milk fatty acid profile, by increasing (p = 0.010) the concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk fat. Soybean oil supplementation in the diet of grazing lactating cows showed no differences in productive variables, and did not cause the expected milk fat depression. However, combining soybean oil with PA_P improved the fatty acid profile, increasing the cis-9, trans-11 isomer CLA and palmitic acid in milk fat, with higher yield and fat concentration.

Press cake silage (PCS) is a by-product of biorefining, which can substitute unprocessed grass or grass-clover silage (GCS) in ruminant feeding. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of including re-ensiled PCS from GCS in dairy cows' diet on feed intake, milk production and composition, feed conversion, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) as well as feed sorting and rumination behaviour compared to a control ration. Three total mixed rations (TMR) were tested in this experiment differing in PCS and GCS proportion in forage: 0% PCS and 50% GCS (CON), 25% PCS and 25% GCS (PCS25) and 50% PCS and 0% GCS (PCS50). The study was designed as a cross-over trial with six Holstein Friesian and nine Simmental cows (average 624 ± 68 kg body weight and 60 ± 20 days in milk at the start of the trial). The experiment consisted of three experimental runs, each lasting for 35 days with a 14 days adaptation phase and a 21 days measurement period. Diets were fed as TMR containing 37% grass silage, 26% concentrates and differing proportions of PCS or GCS depending on experimental group (37% GCS in CON, 18.5% PCS and 18.5% GCS in PCS25, 37% PCS in PCS50). Dry matter intake of dairy cows was higher in the PCS25 compared to the PCS50 group with both groups being not different from the CON treatment. Energy-corrected milk (ECM) production was lowest in the PCS50 group but did not differ significantly between treatments. Milk composition was also similar in all three treatments, except for milk urea content, which was lower in the PCS50 group. Moreover, ATTD of crude protein and ruminal nitrogen balance as well as phosphorus intake and the phosphorus effort for production of 1 kg ECM decreased with rising PCS inclusion in the diet. In contrast, no differences between treatments were found for dry matter, crude protein and energy effort for ECM production as well as for feed sorting and rumination behaviour. In conclusion, replacing GCS by re-ensiled PCS in TMR-diets did not affect ECM production and feed conversion of dairy cows while increasing the utilisation of crude protein and phosphorus. Therefore, re-ensiled PCS can substitute GCS in dairy cows' TMR-diets. However, the long-term effects of decreased phosphorus intake and ATTD of crude protein in cows fed PCS-rich diets should be examined in future studies.

The effects of exogenous phytase (PHY), xylanase (XYL) and protease (PRO) alone and in a combination, when supplemented to diets based on three field bean cultivar samples with different chemical composition, on dietary metabolisable energy (ME), nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, feed intake (FI), weigh gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were studied. Diets based on beans with lower phytic acid and fibre content had higher ME, fat (p < 0.05) and dry matter retention (p < 0.001) coefficients, which coupled with greater feed efficiency, e.g. reduced FCR (p < 0.001). Dietary PHY alone reduced FCR (p < 0.001) and XYL alone improved dietary ME (p < 0.05). An interaction (p < 0.05) between enzymes regarding FI and WG occurs, but PHY seems to be the main contributor to improved performance. There was an interaction (p < 0.05) between bean cultivars and enzymes regarding nitrogen retention (NR) as PHY produced a greater coefficient when supplemented with a low phytate diet. The overall weight of the total GIT was not changed by the enzymes or bean cultivars (p > 0.05). The changes observed in different GIT segments are unlikely to have biological significance.