Archives of Animal Nutrition最新文献

This experiment was designed to study the effects of a hydroalcoholic fruit extract from Withania coagulans (WC) and α-tocopherol acetate (α-Toc) in diets containing oxidised oil on growth performance, immune response and antioxidant indices of broiler chickens. The experiment was arranged 2 × 3 × 2 factorial comprising the oxidised oil (0% and 2% diet), WC (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet) and α-Toc (0 and 200 mg/kg diet). A total of 600 1-day-old male broiler chickens of the Ross strain were randomly allocated to 12 treatments with 5 replicates of 10 birds each. On day 42, one bird from each replicate was sacrified to measure the lymphoid organ weights, intestinal morphometric characteristics, and malondialdehyde content in the thigh meat. Dietary inclusion of oxidised oil significantly reduced the body weight gain in birds receiving no dietary WC (p < 0.05). In contrast, dietary supplementation of WC at 100 mg/kg diet in birds fed with the diets lacking in WC and oxidised oil resulted in significant increase in body weight gain (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of WC significantly increased the total anti-sheep red blood cell titre (p < 0.01). The birds fed with the dietary oxidised oil revealed significantly higher values of malondialdehyde and lower glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (p < 0.05). Feeding diets containing WC resulted in a significant decrease in malondialdehyde content in thigh meat while conversely, increased the glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (p < 0.05). The findings indicated that the dietary inclusion of WC could be recommended as a potent alternative to synthetic compounds in order to improve broilers performance, immunity and meat quality under oxidative stress conditions.

Rye and rapeseed meal (RSM) are alternatives to wheat and soybean meal (SBM) in pig nutrition. The inclusion of rye and RSM instead of wheat and SBM may increase dietary fibre content in the feed, which may affect digestive physiology and intestinal function. However, research on the combined feeding of rye and RSM in piglets is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rye and RSM containing feed on growth performance, protein and amino acid digestibility, physical characteristics of the digesta and the intestinal morphology in weaner piglets. A total of 88 piglets aged 28 d were randomly allotted to four different feeding groups at weaning: wheat/SBM, wheat/RSM, rye/SBM, rye/RSM. Cereals were included at 48%, SBM at 25% and RSM at 30%. Body weight gain and feed intake were recorded weekly. After 33 d, piglets were euthanised for assessment of digesta and intestinal morphology. Rye did not affect performance, whilst RSM resulted in reduced weight gain (p = 0.024) and feed intake (p = 0.037). Apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acids was decreased by rye and RSM (p < 0.05). Rye caused an acidification (p = 0.045) and increased viscosity (p = 0.013) of small intestinal digesta, a lower dry matter content of jejunal and colonic digesta (p < 0.05) and an increased relative weight of the colon tissue (p < 0.001). In conclusion, performance was not reduced when rye was used as an alternative to wheat in diets for weaner piglets. The inclusion of RSM instead of SBM to piglets' diet lowered animal performance under our conditions. Further investigations are warranted to characterise the quality of rapeseed meal and the optimum inclusion level in the diet for young pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of silkworm pupae meal (SPM) and mealworm larvae meal (MLM) on the production results and function of the digestive system in rabbits. Thirty male New Zealand White growing rabbits were divided into three feeding groups: control (C) (10% soybean meal [SBM] in the diet), group SPM (5% SBM and 4% SPM) and group MLM (5% SBM and 4% MLM). Compared with group C, rabbits of groups SPM and MLM, were characterised by higher final body weight and daily body weight gains. They were also found to have better apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of ether extract, and acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Increased digesta viscosity was observed in these rabbits, as well as reduced extracellular activity of bacterial α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, α-arabinofuranosidase and β-xylosidase in the caecal digesta. Similar differences between groups were also noted for the intracellular activity of β-glucuronidase, total activity of β-xylosidase and α-glucosidase. The SPM and MLM treatments contributed to an increase in the extracellular and total activity of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) in the caecal digesta. The SPM and MLM treatments were characterised by increased extracellular/total activity of colonic bacterial NAGase as well as increased release rates of NAGase and β-cellobiosidase, compared with group C. The rabbits fed the MLM diet had the lowest caecal concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total short chain fatty acids (SCFA). The proportion of butyric acid in the caecal SCFA profile was significantly lower in group MLM than in group C. The SPM treatment reduced the colonic concentration of iso-valeric acid. Group C had the highest colonic SCFA pool. It can be concluded that an inclusion of 4% SPM and 4% MLM in rabbit diets improved their production results, as well as beneficially increased the ATTD of fat, ADF and ADL without compromising the ATTD of other nutrients and energy. Although both dietary insect-derived products caused a mobilisation of microbiota to utilise of chitin (see NAGase activity), they stifled the metabolism of large intestinal microbiota, as manifested by decreased enzyme activity and lower SCFA concentrations.

A study was conducted to 1) investigate the influence of rapeseed cultivar on the range of variation in the chemical composition and feed value of rapeseed meals (RSM) for broilers and 2) to compare between single-cultivar RSM and a batch of UK-sourced proprietary rapeseed meal. Chemical composition was determined for a total of 10 single-cultivar RSM produced via prepressed solvent-extraction and a proprietary RSM. To investigate RSM digestibility a total of 360 birds were housed, six birds per pen, and between day 13 to 21 of age they received a diet containing per kg 250 g RSM and 750 g basal feed based on wheat and soybean meal. Titaniumdioxide (7 g/kg) was added as an inert marker. For the determination nitrogen-corrected metabolisable energy (AMEn) total excreta and feed intake were quantified over the last 4 d of the experiment. On the final day of the experiment ileal digesta were collected for determination of preceacal crude protein digestibility (pcCPD). With the exception of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), glucosinolates and soluble non-starch polysaccharides the coefficients of variation (CV%) for all major components were similar across all RSM (0.5 < CV% < 0.6). Glucosinolate contents were highest in the 10 single-cultivar RSM whereas NDF levels were greater in the proprietary RSM. Across the 10 single-cultivar RSM there was no significant effect of cultivar on AMEn or pcCPD. Pre-planned orthogonal contrasts indicated that the mean AMEn content and pcCPD of the proprietary RSM was significantly lower than the 10 single-cultivar RSM (p < 0.001). In view of the above, processing rather than cultivar appears to be the main driver of nutritional value in RSM fed to broilers.

The occurrence of the Western corn rootworm and increasing frequency of summer droughts have reduced forage maize yields and quality in Central Europe in recent years. Therefore, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) has been increasingly used as alternative forage in ruminant feeding, although information on the nutritive value of whole crop sorghum silage (WCSS) under Central European climate conditions is scarce. This research project aimed to study differences between sorghum varieties and harvest dates regarding dry matter (DM) yield, chemical composition of fresh panicle, fresh stover, fresh whole plant and WCSS as well as whole tract digestibility and energy content of WCSS. For this purpose, six sorghum varieties, classified by their predominant use (biomass, silage, grain), were cultivated and harvested at three maturity stages (late milk stage, dough stage, full maturity). Furthermore, WCSS quality was compared with feed value of fresh and ensiled forage maize. Dry matter yield was higher (p < 0.05) in biomass sorghum (24.9 t/ha) compared to other sorghum varieties (12.4 to 16.7 t/ha). However, panicle proportion was lowest in biomass sorghum (10.5%), highest in grain sorghum (59.1%) and intermediate in silage sorghum. Fibre content declined and starch content increased with rising panicle proportion in fresh panicle, fresh whole plant and WCSS. Therefore, whole tract organic matter digestibility (66.8%) and metabolisable energy (ME) content (9.49 MJ/kg DM) were highest in grain sorghum silage. Especially low ME content was found in the biomass sorghum silage (7.43 MJ/kg DM). Dry matter yield of sorghum increased between late milk and dough stage of maturity, while it remained constant afterwards. Furthermore, ME content of WCSS rose tendentially (0.05 < p < 0.10) between late milk and dough stage of maturity and dropped again between dough stage and full maturity. Highest nutritive value of WCSS is achieved if grain sorghum varieties are used and both nutritive value and DM yield are optimised if harvest is carried out at dough stage of maturity. However, compared to forage maize, grain sorghum varieties have disadvantages both in DM yield and in nutritive value under common Central European climate conditions.

Precise and continual information on the energy supply from pasture is mandatory for managing grazing ruminants. Therefore, estimating the organic matter (OM) digestibility from faecal crude protein concentration using the regression equation, OM digestibility [%] = 79.76-107.7 · e^{(-0.01515 · faecal crude protein [g/kg OM])}, is known to be a suitable tool. However, essential information regarding faeces sampling times and the required number of samples are not yet available. We therefore analysed the OM digestibility data of an experiment with dairy cows grazing two pasture types and receiving two concentrate types over 6 d in three independent runs. Both pasture type and grazing day affected the OM digestibility estimates, whereas concentrate type and intake did not, indicating that this method reliably detects small changes in OM digestibility of pasture without being interfered by moderate concentrate supplementation, selective grazing behaviour or differences in feed intake. Likewise, as sampling time did not influence OM digestibility, faeces sampling once daily can be recommended to be sufficient for an accurate estimation of OM digestibility. The variance within pasture type and grazing day amounted for 1.1 percentage units of estimated OM digestibility, which enabled to define the minimum sample number required to detect given differences in OM digestibility with adequate statistical certainty. In conclusion, estimating OM digestibility from faecal crude protein concentration is an applicable and sensitive method to reliably detect differences in the quality of ingested pasture using a limited number of animals. Therefore, instructions for faeces sample collection  were provided.

The aim of the study was to compare the selenium (Se) status of beef cattle from conventional farms with the status of cattle from organic farms located in western Pomerania and to determine the ratios of Se concentration between soil, forage plants and animals at these locations. The mean total Se (Se_T) content in soil was 0.208 mg/kg dry matter (DM) on organic farms and 0.254 mg/kg DM on conventional farms. Animals from conventional farms had significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum Se concentration than those on organic farms. As Se deficiency were classified in 75% of animals from organic farms and in 42% animals from conventional farms. A lack of Se supplementation is associated with a serious risk of deficiency in ruminants, particularly in areas with low Se levels in the soil-plant system. Therefore, more attention should be devoted to increasing the bioavailability of Se for plants by enhancing the physicochemical properties of soil. In addition, the composition of swards for grazing should be adjusted to increase the share of forage plants capable of collecting larger amounts of Se from soil.

Fermentable fibres are used in commercial dog food to promote intestinal health by providing substrates for better metabolic activity of the gut microbiota. Brazil is the world's largest producer of oranges, from which it is possible to obtain fibre with a relevant soluble fraction. The present study compared the effects of two inclusions of orange fibre (1% and 3%, on as fed basis) with a negative control (without addition of fibre source) and two positive controls, beet pulp (3%) and purified inulin (1%), totalling five extruded diets for dogs. The experiment followed a randomised block design with 4 blocks of 10 dogs, 2 dogs per food in each block, totalling 8 dogs per diet. The apparent total tract nutrient digestibility was determined by total faecal collection. Faecal pH and fermentation product content were also measured. The digesta mean retention time (DMRT) was evaluated using plastic markers. The inclusion of a 3% fibre source in diets with 3% orange fibre and beet pulp reduced DM, OM, and energy digestibility (p < 0.05). Diets with 3% orange fibre, beet pulp and 1% inulin presented lower crude protein digestibility than the control (p < 0.05). Dietary fibre digestibility was higher for orange fibre-supplemented diets than inulin (p < 0.05). Beet pulp and 3% orange fibre inclusions resulted in increased moisture content in the faeces of dogs (p < 0.05) but did not alter DMRT. Total short-chain fatty acids were higher than the control in the faeces of dogs fed both orange fibre levels and the beet pulp-supplemented diet (p < 0.05), and the inulin diet-fed dogs presented intermediate values. Butyrate was higher in the faeces of dogs fed the diets supplemented with 1% and 3% orange fibre (p < 0.05), and similar values to the control were observed for beet pulp- and inulin-fed animals. Thus, it was concluded that orange fibre presented higher apparent total tract dietary fibre digestibility than beet pulp and had a fermentation profile in the colon that promoted the generation of butyrate, an effect not observed for inulin and beet pulp.

Prickly pear cactus peels (Opuntia ficus-indica, PPCP) are a powerful source of antioxidant components and available as a by-product in arid regions in large quantities. The current work investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of PPCP on feed efficiency, milk yield and composition, haematology, serum biochemical constituents and antioxidant status of lactating Barki ewes. Fifteen multiparous female Barki sheep (2-3 years old, body weight post partum 46.9 ± 0.59 kg) were individually and randomly distributed into three groups (five ewes each). The first group was the control without PPCP supplementation; the second and third groups were fed for 60 d diets supplemented with dried PPCP powder at daily doses of 5 and 10 g/ewe, respectively. The results revealed a significant increase in total dry matter intake (p ≤ 0.001) and numerical rise in total milk yield (p = 0.054) with PPCP addition at 5 g/ewe compared with the control group. The serum lipid profile was significantly altered by PPCP supplementation. Serum urea nitrogen decreased (p ≤ 0.001) with PPCP treatment. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.001) and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.001) with increasing PPCP supplementation levels in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, supplementation with 5 g PPCP improved total dry matter intake, serum lipid profiles and antioxidant status in Barki ewes during lactation.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of raw (PP) and fermented pomegranate pomace (FP) on performance, antioxidant activity, caecal microbiota and ileal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 175 male broiler chicks were allocated to five treatment groups with five replicates and seven birds per replicate in a completely randomised design. Dietary treatments included a soy-corn based diet (control), diets supplemented with PP at 5 (5PP) and 10 g/kg (10PP), and diets supplemented with FP at 5 (5FP) and 10 g/kg (10FP). Dietary PP and FP did not change the body weight and feed conversion ratio. Moreover, dietary PP and FP did not alter the serum glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels but decreased malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) in breast meat. Caecal Clostridium perfringens count was decreased in broiler chickens of groups 10PP, 5FP and 10FP (p < 0.05). However, PP and FP had detrimental effects on the ileum morphology of broiler chicks. The villus height was decreased in the 10PP, 5FP and 10FP groups compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Crypt depth was higher in the 5PP and 10FP groups than control and 10PP groups (p < 0.01). The villus height to crypt depth ratio was also decreased in 5PP, 5FP, and 10FP groups (p < 0.01). These results suggest that PP and FP have the potential to be used in broiler diets as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. However, detailed studies should be conducted to investigate the underlying reasons for the detrimental effects on ileal morphology.