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Biomedical subjects

D H Baker

Publications and source records attributed to D H Baker.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Limiting order of amino acids and the effects of phytase on protein quality in corn gluten meal fed to young chicks.

An amino acid deletion assay, a protein efficiency ratio (PER) assay, and a slope-ratio growth assay were used to establish the limiting order of AA, and to determine the effects of microbial phytase on protein utilization in corn gluten meal (CGM) fed to chicks during the period of 8 to 21 d posthatching. In Assay 1, a 12% CP CGM diet was fortified with AA to fulfill the digestible AA ideal profile (only Phe + Tyr, Leu, and Pro exceeded requirements) for young chicks. Amino acids were then individually deleted, and all diets were fortified to 23% CP, with Glu varying as necessary. A Met-fortified 23% CP corn-soybean meal diet served as a positive control. No weight gain or feed efficiency differences were observed between the fully fortified CGM basal diet and the corn-soybean meal positive-control diet. The limiting order of AA established in CGM was 1) Lys, 2) Trp, 3) Arg, 4) Thr, 5) Val, 6) Ile, 7) His, 8) cystine, and 9) Met. In Assay 2, diets with 10% CP furnished by CGM or casein were fed in the presence and absence of 1,200 U/kg phytase. A protein source x phytase interaction (P < 0.05) was observed for weight gain, gain:feed, and PER, indicating positive responses to phytase when casein was fed but negative responses to phytase when CGM was fed. In Assay 3, graded levels of protein (8, 16, and 24% CP) furnished by CGM were fed in the presence and absence of 1,200 U/kg phytase. Weight gain and gain:feed increased linearly (P < 0.05) as a function of protein intake, but phytase supplementation had no effect on weight gain or gain:feed slopes. These results indicate that 1,200 U/kg phytase did not increase either CP or AA utilization in CGM for young chicks.

6-Phytase↗

CT appearance of congenital defect resembling the Hangman's fracture.

PURPOSE: Congenital defects of C2 are rare and can be confused with Hangman's fractures. CT has been advocated as aiding in differentiation between an acute fracture and congenital defects. METHODS: We present a case of a 2-year-old recent accident victim, who was erroneously diagnosed by plain film and CT as having a Hangman's fracture. RESULTS: The CT demonstrated an atypical appearance of a congenital defect. CONCLUSION: This case shows that the radiographic differentiation between a Hangman's fracture and a congenital defect is more difficult than previously described.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

Single versus multiple deficiencies of methionine, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin B-6 and choline elicit surprising growth responses in young chicks.

A soy-protein isolate diet that was deficient in methionine (Met), zinc (Zn), riboflavin, vitamin B-6 and choline for chick growth (Assay 1) was used to study individual or multiple deficiencies of several of these nutrients. In all cases, adding all three deficient nutrients together resulted in growth responses that were superior to those resulting from supplementation with any pairs of deficient nutrients. In Assay 2, single addition of Zn but not of methionine or riboflavin produced a growth response, but the combination of either Zn and Met or Zn and riboflavin resulted in growth responses that were greater than the response elicited by Zn alone. Assay 3 involved individual or multiple deficiencies of choline, riboflavin and vitamin B-6, and individual additions suggested that choline was first limiting. Choline + riboflavin supplementation, however, produced marked growth and gain:food responses that were far greater than those resulting from supplemental choline or riboflavin alone. Moreover, the growth response to a combination of choline + pyridoxine (PN) was also greater than that obtained from any of the three nutrients fed alone; even PN + riboflavin (in the absence of choline) produced responses greater than those observed with the unsupplemented negative-control diet. In Assay 4, chicks responded to individual additions of riboflavin, PN or Met, and in Assay 5, to either riboflavin or PN; all two-way combinations resulted in growth rates that were far greater than those occurring with any single addition. The data from these experiments show that unlike the situation with three deficient amino acids, the expected responses to first-, second- and third-limiting B-vitamins or deficient vitamins combined with deficient levels of Zn or Met do not follow the expected pattern of response to first-, further response to first- and second- and an even further response to first-, second- and third-limiting nutrients.

Animals↗

Dietary thiamin level influences levels of its diphosphate form and thiamin-dependent enzymic activities of rat liver.

This study was prompted by our incomplete understanding of the mechanism responsible for the clinical benefits of pharmacological doses of thiamin in some patients with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) and the question of whether thiamin diphosphate (TDP), a potent inhibitor of the activity of the protein kinase that phosphorylates and inactivates the isolated branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) complex, affects the activity state of the complex. Rats were fed a chemically-defined diet containing graded levels of thiamin (0, 0.275, 0.55, 5.5, and 55 mg thiamin/kg diet). Maximal weight gain was attained over a 3-wk period only in rats fed diets with 5.5 and 55 mg thiamin/kg. Feeding rats the thiamin-free diet for just 2 d caused loss of nearly half of the TDP from liver mitochondria. Three more days caused over 70% loss, an additional 3 wk, over 90%. Starvation for 2 d had no effect, suggesting a mechanism for conservation of TDP in this nutritional state. Mitochondrial TDP was higher in rats fed pharmacological amounts of thiamin (55 mg thiamin/kg diet) than in rats fed adequate thiamin for maximal growth. Varying dietary thiamin had marked but opposite effects on the activities of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KGDH) and BCKDH. Thiamin deficiency decreased alpha-KGDH activity, increased BCKDH activity, and increased the proportion of BCKDH in the active, dephosphorylated, state. Excess dietary thiamin had the opposite effects. TDP appears to be more tightly associated with alpha-KGDH than BCKDH in thiamin-deficient rats, perhaps denoting retention of alpha-KGDH activity at the expense of BCKDH activity. Thus, thiamin deficiency and excess cause large changes in mitochondrial TDP levels that have a major influence on the activities of the keto acid dehydrogenase complexes.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Maintenance lysine requirement and efficiency of using lysine for accretion of whole-body lysine and protein in young chicks.

Two bioassays were conducted to determine the maintenance requirement and efficiency of utilization of dietary Lys in young chicks. New Hampshire x Columbian males were used in Assay 1 and Avian x Avian males were used in Assay 2. In each assay, chicks were given free access for 10 d to crystalline amino acid (AA) diets containing graded levels of L-Lys.HCl. Doses of Lys represented 5, 40, 55, 70, and 95% of its ideal level in Assay 1; all other AA were set at 100% of their ideal levels, except for the lowest Lys level, in which the other AA were maintained at a 15% excess. In Assay 2, doses of Lys represented 5, 10, 40, 55, 70, and 95% of ideal; all other AA were maintained at minimized excess levels that were 15% (of ideal) above the various doses of Lys. After 24 h of feed deprivation, chicks were killed for whole-body protein and AA analysis. In Assay 1, protein accretion (r2 = 0.95) and Lys accretion (r2 = 0.98) were linear (P < 0.01) functions of Lys intake. Slope of the Lys accretion regression line indicated that 75.8% of the crystalline Lys ingested (above maintenance) was retained. The Lys required for zero protein accretion was 12 mg/d or 45 mg/d per kg3/4, whereas the Lys required for zero Lys accretion was 30.3 mg/d or 114 mg/d per kg3/4. With Avian x Avian chicks, protein accretion (r2 = 0.99) and Lys accretion (r2 = 0.99) were linear (P < 0.01) functions of Lys intake. Slope of the Lys regression line indicated that 79.3% of the Lys ingested was retained. The Lys requirement for zero protein accretion was 2.5 mg/d or 6.9 mg/d per kg3/4. The Lys maintenance requirement for zero Lys accretion, however, was 32.3 mg/d or 89.1 mg/d per kg3/4. The data demonstrated that at nitrogen equilibrium, chicks are in negative Lys balance but are in positive balance of glycine and proline.

Animal Feed↗

Maintenance sulfur amino acid requirements of young chicks and efficiency of their use for accretion of whole-body sulfur amino acids and protein.

Peterson x Hubbard male chicks were used in two bioassays conducted to determine the maintenance requirement and efficiency of utilization of dietary Met and Cys in young chicks. In each assay, chicks were given free access for 10 d to crystalline amino acid (AA) diets containing graded levels of DL-Met (Assay 1) or graded equal levels of DL-Met and L-Cys (Assay 2). Doses of Met represented 5, 10, 40, 55, 70, and 95% of its ideal level in Assay 1, with all other AA maintained at minimized excess levels that were 15% (of ideal) above the various doses of Met, except for Cys, which was maintained at 100% of its ideal level for all treatments. For example, when Met was fed at 40% of its ideal level, all other AA were fed at 55% of their ideal levels, and Cys was fed at 100%. In Assay 2, Met and Cys were fed at equal levels representing 5, 10, 40, 55, 70, and 95% of ideal with all other AA maintained at minimized excess levels that were 15% (of ideal) above the various doses of Met + Cys. After 24 h of feed deprivation, chicks were killed for whole-body protein and AA analysis. In Assay 1, Met accretion was a linear (P < 0.01) function of Met intake (r2 = 0.97). The slope of the Met accretion regression line indicated that 68% of the crystalline Met ingested (above maintenance) was retained. In Assay 2, increases in whole-body protein and whole-body TSAA were linear (P < 0.01) between dosage levels of 5 and 70% of the ideal TSAA level. Slope of the TSAA accretion line between these dose levels indicated that 52% of the TSAA was retained. The TSAA requirement for zero protein accretion was calculated to be 3.2 mg/d or 9.4 mg/d per kg3/4, whereas the TSAA required for zero TSAA accretion was 5.3 mg/d or 15.3 mg/d per kg3/4.

Amino Acids↗

Bioavailability of lysine from a liquid lysine source in chicks.

Two experiments were conducted to assess the bioavailability of lysine from a liquid lysine product (LLP; 60% lysine) relative to crystalline L-lysine.HCl. In the first experiment, four groups of five chicks were fed a lysine-deficient basal diet containing corn, soybean meal, and feather meal or the basal diet supplemented with 0.1 or 0.2% lysine from L-lysine.HCl or LLP from Day 8 to 22 posthatching. Weight gain and feed efficiency responded linearly (P < 0.01) to increasing levels of lysine from either lysine source, and multiple linear regression analysis of weight gain regressed on supplemental lysine intake indicated no difference (P > 0.05) in the response to lysine from L-lysine.HCl or LLP. Experiment 2 was conducted using a lysine-deficient basal diet containing corn, peanut meal, and feather meal, and all diets were fed to five groups of five chicks from Day 8 to 21 posthatching. Treatment additions again consisted of 0.1 or 0.2% lysine from L-lysine.HCl or LLP. Weight gain and feed efficiency responded linearly (P < 0.01) to increasing levels of lysine from L-lysine-HCl and LLP, and multiple linear regression analysis of weight gain regressed on supplemental lysine intake indicated no difference (P > 0.05) in the response to lysine from L-lysine.HCl or LLP. These data indicate that lysine from LLP is fully bioavailable relative to lysine from crystalline L-lysine.HCl, and could therefore be used as a source of lysine in practical poultry diets.

Animal Feed↗

Bioavailability of zinc in several sources of zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, and zinc metal.

Three zinc depletion-repletion assays were carried out with chicks to determine Zn bioavailability in five sources of ZnO, three sources of ZnSO4.H2O, and two sources of Zn metal. A standard 23% CP corn-soybean meal diet was fed during the first 3 d posthatching, after which it was replaced with a Zn-deficient soy concentrate diet (13.5 mg Zn/kg) until d 7. On d 8 after an overnight period of feed withdrawal, chicks were fed for 12 d the Zn-deficient basal diet containing 0, 4.76, and 9.90 (Assay 1); 0, 5.06, or 10.12 (Assay 2); or 0, 4.73, or 9.13 (Assay 3) mg/kg supplemental Zn from analytical grade (AG) ZnSO4.7H2O (22.7% Zn) to generate a standard response curve. The AG and feed-grade (FG) Zn sources being evaluated were then provided at a level that would fall within the standard curve. Weight gain (Assays 1, 2, and 3) and total tibia Zn (Assay 1) responded linearly (P<.01) to Zn supplementation from ZnSO4.7H2O. Weight gain regressed on supplemental Zn intake gave standard-curve equations with fits (r2) ranging from .94 to .97. In Assay 1, regression of total tibia Zn (Y, in micrograms) on supplemental Zn intake (X, in milligrams/12 d) gave the equation Y = 13.2+6.74X (r2 = .90). Standard-curve methodology was used to estimate relative Zn bioavailability (RBV), with RBV of Zn in the ZnSO4.7H2O standard set at 100%. Four sources of FG ZnO were evaluated: Source 1 (78.1% Zn, hydrosulfide process, U.S.), Source 2 (74.1% Zn, Waelz process, Mexico), Source 3 (69.4% Zn, China), and Source 4 (78.0% Zn, French process, Mexico). Analytical-grade ZnO (80.3% Zn) was also evaluated. Feed-grade ZnO Sources 1 and 4 as well as AG ZnO produced average RBV values that were not different (P>.10) from the standard, but average RBV values for FG Source 2 and FG Source 3 were only 34 (P<.05) and 46% (P<.05), respectively. All sources of ZnSO4.H2O, which included two FG sources (source 1, 36.5% Zn; source 2, 35.3% Zn) and one food-grade source (36.5% Zn), were not different (P>.10) in RBV from the ZnSO4.7H2O standard. Two Zn metal products, Zn metal dust (100% Zn) and Zn metal fume (91.5% Zn), were also evaluated, and they were found to have Zn RBV values of 67 (P<.05) and 36% (P<.05), respectively. Feed-grade sources of ZnO vary widely in color, texture, Zn content, and Zn bioavailability.

Animal Feed↗

Activity of various hydroxylated vitamin D3 analogs for improving phosphorus utilisation in chicks receiving diets adequate in vitamin D3.

1. Young chicks were used to evaluate the efficacy of 2 new vitamin D3 analogs relative to 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1 alpha-OH D3) for their ability to improve the bioavailability of phytate-bound phosphorus (P) when added to P-deficient maize-soyabean meal diets that were superadequate in cholecalciferol. 2. Both 20-epi-19-nor-1,25-(OH)2 D3 and 20-epi-19-nor-1 alpha-OH D3 were observed to have phytate-P releasing activity, as measured by bone ash responses. 3. However, the bioactivity of the 2 new analogs differed when compared with 1 alpha-OH D3. The 20-epi-19-nor-1 alpha-OH D3 analog had a lower (P < 0.05) phytate-P releasing activity (45%) than either 1 alpha-OH D3 of 20-epi-19-nor-1,25-(OH)2 D3, which did not differ. 4. A dietary concentration of 10 to 15 micrograms/kg 1 alpha-OH D3 was found to optimize phytate-P utilisation in 2-week-old chicks.

Analysis of Variance↗

Vitamin D3 requirement of young chicks receiving diets varying in calcium and available phosphorus.

1. Three battery experiments were conducted with broiler chicks during the 2nd and 3rd week of life. Graded amounts of cholecalciferol (D3) were added to maize-soyabean meal diets that were designed to be (a) severely deficient in available phosphorus (P), (b) marginally deficient in calcium (Ca) or (c) adequate in both available P and Ca. 2. With diets containing 1.0 g available P and 6.3 g Ca/kg (assay 1), graded doses of D3 between 0 and 37.5 mu/kg produced linear (P < 0.05) positive responses in both weight gain and tibia ash. With a D3 concentration of 1250 micrograms/kg, 250 times the requirement recommended by the NRC, bone ash was increased (P < 0.05) over that of birds fed 37.5 micrograms/kg, and neither weight gain nor food intake were reduced. 3. With a P-adequate diet (4.5 g available P/kg) containing 8.5 g Ca/kg (assay 2), weight gain and bone ash increased linearly (P < 0.05) upon supplementing the basal diet with 0, 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms D3/kg. Higher doses of D3 did not elicit further responses, and chicks fed on a diet containing 1250 micrograms D3/kg gained as fast and had bone ash values that did not differ from those of chicks receiving 5, 10, 20 or 40 micrograms D3/kg. 4. When the maize-soyabean meal basal diet was fortified with Ca and P to achieve adequate amounts of Ca (10.1 g/kg) and P (4.5 g available P/kg) in assay 3, dietary additions produced results similar to those obtained in assay 2 where P was adequate and Ca was slightly deficient. Again, chicks receiving a surfeit of D3 (1250 micrograms/kg) exhibited weight gains and bone ash values that were as great as those of chicks receiving 5, 10, 15 or 30 micrograms D3/kg. 5. It is apparent that young chicks have a high tolerance for excess D3, and chicks fed on diets that are severely deficient in available P continue to respond to D3 in excess of 37.5 micrograms/kg.

Analysis of Variance↗

Pretreatment of young pigs with vitamin E attenuates the elevation in plasma interleukin-6 and cortisol caused by a challenge dose of lipopolysaccharide.

The effect of a short-term, high-dose intramuscular injection of d-alpha-tocopherol was studied in pigs given a challenge dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Twenty-four pigs surgically fitted with jugular catheters were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Pigs received either 0 or 600 mg d-alpha-tocopherol by intramuscular injection for 3 d before receiving an intraperitoneal injection of saline containing either 0 or 5 microgram/kg body weight Escherichia coli LPS. Blood was collected from indwelling jugular catheters at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 h after injection of LPS. Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels were 13-fold greater (P < 0.01) at time 0 in pigs pretreated with 600 mg d-alpha-tocopherol (9.9 +/- 1.3 mg/L) than in those not treated with d-alpha-tocopherol (0.74 +/- 0.09 mg/L). Injection of LPS increased (P < 0.05) plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol at 2-h postinjection, regardless of vitamin E treatment. However, pigs that received alpha-tocopherol before the LPS challenge had substantially lower (P < 0.05) peak levels of IL-6 and cortisol than pigs not receiving alpha-tocopherol. These results suggest that supplementation with a surfeit level of vitamin E reduces the response of pigs to endotoxin.

Animals↗

Lipopolysaccharide-induced reductions in food intake do not decrease the efficiency of lysine and threonine utilization for protein accretion in chickens.

Exposure of animals to infectious agents induces immune responses that result in reductions in food consumption and weight gain. The effect of these changes on amino acid requirements and utilization remains unclear. Three assays were conducted with young chicks with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) used to stimulate the immune system. An initial study was conducted to evaluate the effects of LPS on animal performance. In a daily or alternate day injection regimen for 9 d, chicks were given intraperitoneal injections of sterile saline containing 0, 100 or 400 microgram LPS. Administration of 100 or 400 microgram LPS daily, or every other day, decreased both weight gain and food consumption. In two subsequent growth assays, chicks were fed graded levels of lysine or threonine and injected with either 0 or 400 microgram LPS every other day to evaluate the effect of LPS administration on the efficiency of amino acid utilization. At the three lowest amino acid doses, whole-body protein accretion was a linear function of supplemental lysine or threonine intake, and slopes of the accretion curves were not altered by LPS administration. The dietary lysine concentration required to maximize protein accretion was unaffected by LPS, but the absolute lysine intake required to maximize chick performance was lower in LPS-injected chicks than in saline-injected chicks. These results show that LPS administration reduces weight gain, food intake, efficiency of food utilization and the absolute quantity of lysine required to maximize these criteria. However, LPS administration does not affect the efficiency of amino acid utilization, nor does it affect the concentration of dietary lysine required to maximize performance.

Animals↗

Exercise training down-regulates hepatic lipogenic enzymes in meal-fed rats: fructose versus complex-carbohydrate diets.

The maximal activity and mRNA abundance of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) and other lipogenic enzymes were investigated in rats meal-fed either a high fructose (F) or a high cornstarch (C) diet. The diet contained 50% F or C (g/100 g), casein (20%), cornstarch (16.13%), corn oil (5%), minerals (5.37%), vitamins (1%) and Solka-floc (2%). Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 44) were randomly divided into C or F groups that were meal-fed for 3 h/d; each group was subdivided into exercise-trained (T) and untrained (U) groups. Treadmill training was performed 4 h after the initiation of the meal at 25 m/min, 10% grade for 2 h/d, 5 d/wk, for 10 wk. Rats were killed 9 h after the meal and 27 h after the last training session. F-fed rats had significantly higher activities of all lipogenic enzymes assayed and mRNA abundance of FAS and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) than C rats (P < 0.05). Concentrations of plasma insulin and glucose and liver pyruvate were not altered by F feeding. Proportions of the fatty acids 18:2 and 20:4 were lower, whereas those of 16:0 and 16:1 were higher, in livers of F than of C rats (P < 0.05). Training decreased FAS activity by 50% (P < 0.05), without affecting FAS mRNA level in C rats; this down-regulation was absent in the F rats. ACC mRNA abundance tended to be lower in CT than in CU rats (P < 0.075). L-Type pyruvate kinase activity was lower in FT than in FU rats (P < 0.05), whereas other lipogenic enzyme activities did not differ between T and U rats of each diet group. We conclude that hepatic lipogenic enzyme induction by high carbohydrate meal feeding may be inhibited by exercise training and that a fructose-rich diet may attenuate this training-induced down-regulation.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Bioavailability of zinc in two zinc sulfate by-products of the galvanizing industry.

Two Zn depletion/repletion assays were conducted with chicks to determine the relative bioavailability (RBV) of Zn from two new by-products of the galvanizing industry. Using a soy concentrate-dextrose diet, slope-ratio methodology was employed to evaluate two different products: Fe-ZnSO4 x H2O with 20.2% Fe and 13.0% Zn, and Zn-FeSO4 x H2O with 14.2% Fe and 20.2% Zn. Feed-grade ZnSO4 x H2O was used as a standard. Weight gain, tibia Zn concentration, and total tibia Zn responded linearly (P < 0.01) to Zn supplementation from all three sources. Slope-ratio calculations based on weight gain established average Zn RBV values of 98% for Fe-ZnSO4 x H2O and 102% for Zn-FeSO4 x H2O, and these values were not different (P > 0.10) from the ZnSO4 standard (100%). Slope-ratio calculations based on total tibia Zn established average Zn RBV values of 126% for Fe-ZnSO4 x H2O and 127% for Zn-FeSO4 x H2O, and these values were greater (P < 0.01) than those of the ZnSO4 standard (100%). It is apparent that both mixed sulfate products of Fe and Zn are excellent sources of bioavailable Zn.

Animals↗

Lipopolysaccharide-induced reductions in body weight gain and feed intake do not reduce the efficiency of arginine utilization for whole-body protein accretion in the chick.

The effects of repeated injections of 400 microg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on chick performance from 11 to 22 d posthatching were examined in chicks fed casein-based diets containing graded levels of arginine. Administration of LPS reduced (P < 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, and protein accretion, and there was a tendency (P=0.07) for LPS administration to be more growth-depressing at the higher than at the lower levels of supplemental arginine. Regression analysis of protein accretion for the first three doses of arginine indicated that protein accretion was a linear (P < 0.01) function of supplemental arginine intake for both saline-injected (r2=0.94) and LPS-injected (r2=0.93) chicks. Slopes of the best-fit regression lines for both treatment groups were equal, indicating that arginine utilization for protein accretion was not affected by LPS administration. The dietary arginine concentration required to maximize weight gain and feed efficiency was unaffected by LPS administration, with both saline- and LPS-injected chicks reaching plateaus in weight gain and feed efficiency at 0.90 and 0.98% digestible arginine, respectively.

Animals↗

Bioavailability of iron in cottonseed meal, ferric sulfate, and two ferrous sulfate by-products of the galvanizing industry.

Iron depletion-repletion assays were carried out with young chicks to establish Fe bioavailability values for Fe2(SO4)3.7H2O (22.7% Fe), Fe-ZnSO4.H2O (20.2% Fe, 13.0% Zn), Zn-FeSO4.H2O (20.2% Zn, 14.2% Fe), and cottonseed meal (200 mg Fe/kg). Standard hemoglobin response curves were established using feed-grade FeSO4.H2O (28.8% Fe) or reagent-grade FeSO4.7H2O (20.1% Fe) as standards such that relative bioavailability (RBV) could be assessed for the experimental sources of Fe. Weight gain, hemoglobin, and hematocrit responded linearly (P < 0.05) to Fe supplementation in all assays. Using hemoglobin as the response criterion, slope-ratio calculations established Fe RBV values of 126% for Fe-ZnSO4.H2O and 93% for Zn-FeSO4.H2O. The 126% value for Fe-ZnSO4.H2O was greater (P < 0.05) than the FeSO4.H2O standard (100%), but the 93% value for Zn-FeSO4.H2O was not different (P > 0.10) from the standard. However, evaluation of all criteria of response (hemoglobin, hematocrit, weight gain) suggested that neither Fe-ZnSO4.H2O nor Zn-FeSO4.H2O had different Fe RBV values than FeSO4.H2O. Standard-curve calculations were used for assessment of Fe RBV in Fe2(SO4)3.7H2O and cottonseed meal, as only a single level of Fe addition was studied for each of these products. Iron RBV in Fe2(SO4)3.7H2O was estimated to be 37%, whereas Fe RBV in cottonseed meal was found to be 56%. Both of these values were lower (P < 0.05) than the FeSO4 standard. The data suggest that the two new products, representing combinations of FeSO4.H2O and ZnSO4.H2O by-products of the galvanizing industry, are excellent sources of bioavailable Fe, whereas ferric sulfate and cottonseed meal are relatively poor sources of usable Fe.

Animal Feed↗

D-allothreonine has no growth promoting efficacy for chicks.

One hundred and sixteen crossbred male chicks were used in two battery trials to establish the biological efficacy and toxicity of D-allothreonine (D-allo-Thr) relative to L-Thr. In the efficacy trial, graded doses of D-allo-Thr or L-Thr were added to a Thr-deficient (0.24% L-Thr) chemically defined diet and fed to chicks during the period 10 to 21 d posthatching. Addition of 0, 0.09, and 0.18% L-Thr produced marked linear (P < 0.01) growth and feed efficiency responses, but addition of 0.18 or 0.36% D-allo-Thr did not elicit a response in either weight gain or feed efficiency. In the toxicity trial, 2% D-allo-Thr or 2% L-Thr were added to a conventional 23% CP corn-soybean meal starter diet. During an 11-d feeding period, neither weight gain nor voluntary feed intake were affected (P > 0.10) by 2% additions of either compound. This experiment demonstrates that chicks cannot metabolize D-allo-Thr to L-Thr and that neither L-Thr nor D-allo-Thr are growth depressing when provided in a large surfeit.

Animal Feed↗