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PubMed1983

Diallel cross of six long-term selected leghorn strains with emphasis on heterosis and reciprocal effects.

Six strains under long-term selection for egg production and other economically-important traits were crossed in a full diallel, and tested with two commercial stocks and two control strains at two stocking rates (1 bird per 20.3-cm cage and 3 birds per 30.5-cm cage) and two diets (with and without an oyster shell supplement). The mean of the 30 strain crosses exceeded the mean of the six selected strains for egg production and egg quality traits, sexual maturity and viability, which in turn exceeded the performance of both of the control strains. The performance of several of the 30 strain crosses was similar to the commercial stocks. The only significant genotype X environment interaction was for Haugh units at 450 d. Performance at the lower stocking rate was generally superior to that at the higher stocking rate. General combining ability was important for the complete array of traits measured. Specific combining ability was important for the majority of traits. Heterosis was important for all traits except specific gravity, Haugh units, blood spots and laying house viability to 272 or 496 d at the higher stocking rate. The magnitude of heterotic effects was generally greater at the higher stocking rate. Reciprocal effects were important for egg production traits, sexual maturity, egg quality traits and viability. The dietary oyster shell supplement resulted in an improvement in shell quality as measured by specific gravity.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Urinary output during induced labour in normotensive women: a prospective pilot study.

All fluid intake and urine output were monitored and measured in 103 consecutive women with normal blood pressure and without a history of pre-existing renal disease during induced labour for various indications. Epidural analgesia was administered in all these women and labour was augmented with oxytocin infusion. All urine specimens passed were tested for specific gravity. The temperature of the labour rooms was between 25 and 27 degrees C. Analysed results (from 50 women) shows that at a mean fluid intake of 75 ml/hour (standard deviation (SD) 21.84), oliguria (urine output <30 ml/hour) occurred in 42 (84%) of the women. There was a positive correlation between fluid intake and urinary output (r(2)=0.8515, P<0.0001). Urinary specific gravity was high (>1010) in all the specimens throughout the study. This study suggests that oliguria may be a common component of labour managed in this manner and its interpretation in pre-eclamptics in labour may be viewed in this context. Oliguria may therefore be a poor indicator of renal function or worsening pre-eclampsia during labour and its management needs to be limited to the severe and persistent variety to avoid renal complications. We believe from this study that relevant urine and blood biochemistry are better correlates of renal function in labour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

[Effects of physical loads on the urinary excretion of metabolites from organic solvents. Part I. Change in the urinary excretion of glycine conjugate, hippuric acids, and glycine after a physical burden].

Effects of physical loads on the excretion of urinary glycine conjugates, which are commonly used as an index of organic solvent intake, were examined. After physical exertion by Kendo exercise university students for about 2 hours, urinary protein excretion changed from the levels of (-) or (+) before the exercise to (+) to (formula: see text) after the exercise revealed by the test-tape semi-quantitative indication, and the levels of urinary creatinine increased to approximately 1.9 time and initial level. Under the present experimental conditions, the following results were obtained. 1) Statistically no significant change was observed in the levels of urinary hippuric acid, but an increasing trend was recognized. 2) The glycine levels in the urine decreased and the significance was stressed when the values were adjusted with reference to the specific gravity of urine or to the levels of urinary creatinine. 3) The ratio of hippuric acid to the glycine in the urine increased almost twice as high as the initial ratio and the physical load seemed to promote the glycine conjugation. 4) As to the adjusted levels of urinary metabolites, especially due to several organic solvents, values adjusted with reference to the specific gravity of urine and those to the levels of urinary creatinine correlated well in the samples collected before the exertion. But a poor correlation was observed in the samples collected after the exertion. Therefore, a notice should be given when the adjustment of the values with reference to the levels of urinary creatinine, which is widely used in the health administration practice for organic solvent workers to assess the levels of exposure, since the adjusted values were lowered unnecessarily by excess excretion of creatinine after the physical exertion and the tendency would be exaggerated especially under the low level exposure to organic solvent vapours in the work yard.

Glycine↗
PubMed1992

Temporary cerebral ischemia. Effects of pentastarch or albumin on reperfusion injury.

Recent investigations have proposed that, after temporary ischemia, pentastarch may reduce microvascular permeability and reperfusion injury. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in the brain. Accordingly, after 180 min of temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion, the effect of pentastarch or albumin on blood-brain barrier permeability and cerebral injury was investigated in isoflurane-anesthetized rats. One of the following was maintained for the final 60 min of occlusion and throughout reperfusion: control-hematocrit was not manipulated; pentastarch-hematocrit was decreased to approximately 30% with pentastarch; or albumin-hematocrit was decreased (approximately 30%) with albumin. Part A (n = 21): 30 min of reperfusion was allowed, and blood-brain barrier permeability was determined with the indicator dye Evans Blue. Part B (n = 14): in different animals, 120 min of reperfusion was allowed, and cerebral injury (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain) and edema (specific gravity) were assessed. Part C (n = 4): in different animals, the blood-brain barrier was evaluated by electron microscopy. Evans Blue (micrograms per gram brain tissue, mean +/- SD) was greater in the control (20.8 +/- 9.0) and albumin (15.5 +/- 7.3) groups versus the pentastarch (4.7 +/- 2.7) group (P less than 0.05). Brain injury (percent of hemisphere ipsilateral to occlusion) was less and specific gravity greater in the pentastarch (33 +/- 8 and 1.040 +/- 0.003 respectively) versus the albumin group (45 +/- 6 and 1.035 +/- 0.003). This study supports the hypothesis that during temporary cerebral ischemia, pentastarch decreases brain injury and edema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Albumins↗
PubMed2004

Effects of dietary copper on production and egg cholesterol content in laying hens.

1. This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of diets supplemented with different amounts of copper on egg production, food intake, food conversion ratio, egg weight, damaged egg ratio, specific gravity, mortality and cholesterol concentration in yolk. The experiment lasted 90 d and 400 Hisex-Brown hens, aged 27 weeks at the start of the study, were used. 2. There were no statistically significant effects of supplementary copper on egg production, food intake or food conversion efficiency. 3. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of damaged eggs, egg weight, specific gravity and live weight. 4. At the end of the experiment, the lowest yolk cholesterol concentrations were obtained in the 150 kg/kg copper group and the greatest concentrations were in the control group. 5. Consequently, the use of supplementary copper to provide 150 kg/kg in poultry diets was concluded to decrease yolk cholesterol concentrations without any effect on production performance.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

A Comparison of Thermoregulation With Creatine Supplementation Between the Sexes in a Thermoneutral Environment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of creatine supplementation on thermoregulation in males and females during exercise in a thermoneutral environment. DESIGN AND SETTING: Male and female subjects participated in 30 minutes of cycle ergometry in nonsupplemented (NS) and creatine-supplemented (Cr) conditions at 70% to 75% of predetermined peak oxygen consumption. SUBJECTS: Ten male and ten female subjects were evaluated with and without creatine supplementation. MEASUREMENTS: Analyses were performed during exercise for core temperature and mean skin temperature using two 2 x 2 x 7 mixed-factorial analyses of variance (ANOVAs). We compared mean differences between NS and Cr conditions and sex for heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure using 3 2 x 2 x 4 mixed-factorial ANOVAs. Three 2 x 2 mixed-factorial ANOVAs were computed to examine differences between sex and conditions for the following variables: nude body weight and blood urea nitrogen before and after exercise and urine specific gravity. RESULTS: Significant time effects were found for core temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, and diastolic blood pressure. Time effect and difference between the sexes for systolic blood pressure were both significant. Differences in nude body weight and blood urea nitrogen before and after exercise were greater for males, but there was no difference between conditions. No significant difference between sex and condition for urine specific gravity was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term creatine supplementation did not affect thermoregulation between the sexes when exercising in a thermoneutral environment. Differences in changes in nude body weight before and after exercise may be due to a higher sweating rate in males versus females. Differences in blood urea nitrogen before and after exercise between the sexes may be due to a reduced glomerular filtration rate coupled with greater muscle creatine breakdown in males.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Laboratory detection of marijuana use. Experience with a photometric immunoassay to measure urinary cannabinoids.

The urinary excretion of cannabinoids was determined using a photometric immunoassay technique among adolescents and young adults who had an abrupt and closely supervised cessation of drug use on entering a strict rehabilitation program. No falsely positive urine test results were encountered among 70 persons admitted consecutively to the program. Among five subjects with a history of chronic, heavy marijuana use (approximately 56 g/mo [approximately 2 oz/mo]), urinary cannabinoids were detected for an average of 13 days (range, nine to 25 days), following cessation of use. Among four subjects with a history of moderate marijuana use (approximately 28 g/mo [approximately 1 oz/mo]), test results remained positive for an average of 4.7 days (range, two to eight days). Test results were negative 48 hours after cessation in two subjects with a history of infrequent use (less than 7 g/mo [0.25 oz/mo]), who had smoked marijuana within the preceding two days. The specificity of the method for detecting recent marijuana use appears excellent; the sensitivity depends on the potency of the cannabis preparation, the time of last use, the frequency of previous use, and the specific gravity of the urine specimen. On the basis of this preliminary experience, positive test results for more than eight consecutive days suggest either surreptitious continued use or previous chronic, heavy use in a newly abstinent person. Purposeful adulteration of known-positive urine specimens with bleach, blood, vinegar, salt, and liquid soap produced falsely negative results. Unless samples are collected under direct observation, urine color, temperature, specific gravity, and dipstick tests for blood and pH should be recorded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Dixyrazine, a phenothiazine derivative, can prevent brain oedema induced by intracarotid injection of protamine sulphate.

The present study was performed to determine whether an opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) induced by intracarotid infusion of protamine sulphate necessarily leads to brain oedema and, if so, whether dixyrazine, a phenothiazine, can prevent the oedema. Evans blue albumin was used to detect BBB opening. Endogenous serum albumin was determined in CSF sampled before and after protamine infusion. The brain specific gravity, a sensitive indicator of brain oedema, was determined one hour after intracarotid infusion of 5 or 10 mg protamine sulphate in 100 or 200 microliters solvent in rats. Both doses opened the BBB and the CSF albumin was significantly increased (p less than 0.05 for 5 mg and p less than 0.01 for 10 mg protamine sulphate). However, only 10 mg protamine significantly reduced the specific gravity in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia in the right (injected) hemisphere. Pretreatment with dixyrazine 10 mg/kg completely prevented the brain oedema and significantly reduced the albumin increase in CSF. We conclude that a) a moderate opening of BBB induced by 5 mg protamine sulphate does not lead to brain oedema and b) dixyrazine can prevent the brain oedema induced by 10 mg protamine sulphate.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Absence of cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities and spinal cord lesions after iotrolan cervical myelography in normal cats: an open placebo-controlled study.

Iotrolan (Isovist 300, Schering AG) at a volume of 0.5 ml/kg B.W. was injected into the cerebellomedullary cistern of 12 cats (Isovist group); the same volume of normal saline was injected in four other cats (control group). Two ml of CSF was collected from each anaesthetized cat by cisternal tap immediately before, and 7 and 15 days after, injection. The physical characteristics, specific gravity, total cell count and total protein concentration of each CSF sample were recorded. The cats were euthanized on day 15 immediately after CSF samples and spinal cord specimens had been obtained. Spinal cord histopathology was examined with the aid of light and transmission electron microscopy. The physical characteristics of all the CSF samples were within the reference range. No significant differences were found for CSF specific gravity, total cell count and total protein concentration between the pre-injection samples and those collected 7 and 15 days post-injection in both groups; no spinal cord lesions were detected in histopathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effects of feeding graded levels of vitamin D3 on egg shell pimpling in aged hens.

Pimpled egg shells are one of the various types of egg shell problems in the industry today. In this study, graded levels of vitamin D3 (D3) (0, 138, 275, 550, 2200, 22,000, 44,000, and 88,000 ICU of D3/kg of feed) were fed in a corn-soy ration to Single Comb White Leghorn hens (78 weeks of age), randomly assigned to one of the eight treatments. Feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and pimple score were determined at weekly or biweekly intervals for a 10-week period. At termination of the experiment, calcium, sodium, potassium, and ash content of the uterus and serum calcium levels were assayed. Results showed that a significant (P less than .05) linear increase in pimple score, uterine ash, and serum calcium occurred as dietary levels of D3 increased. Egg production and egg specific gravity were correlated to D3 level in a quadratic fashion. Uterine sodium levels declined with increased D3 in the diet, while potassium values showed no differences. Calcium levels of uterine tissue tended to increase with increased D3. The lowest (0 ICU/kg) and highest level of D3 (88,000 ICU/kg) significantly decreased feed consumption. It was concluded that egg shell pimpling is directly related to level of cholecalciferol (D3) in the diet.

Aging↗
PubMed2003

Effect of dietary moisture and sodium content on urine composition and calcium oxalate relative supersaturation in healthy miniature schnauzers and labrador retrievers.

The aim of this series of studies was to evaluate two possible feeding strategies as methods for reducing the risk of calcium oxalate (CaOx) formation in two breeds of healthy dog. The studies compared the effect of dietary moisture (Study 1) and dietary sodium (Na), (Study 2) on urine composition of labrador retrievers (LR) and miniature schnauzers (MS). A nutritionally complete dry dog food was fed to 16 dogs (eight LR, eight MS; Study 1) and 15 dogs (seven LR, eight MS; Study 2) for 24 days (Study 1), or 36 days (Study 2). The dogs were fed the diet alone (7% moisture, 0.06 g Na/100 kcal), or supplemented with deionised water to 73% moisture (Study 1), or dietary Na, to deliver 0.20 or 0.30 g Na per 100 kcal (Study 2). Urine pH, volume, specific gravity, and concentrations of 12 analytes were measured for each dog. Urinary relative supersaturations (RSS) with CaOx were calculated from these values. The effects of supplemental Na or water were established using t tests (Study 1) or analysis of variance, and multiple range tests (least significant difference) (Study 2); P<0.05 was considered significant. Increasing dietary moisture significantly increased total moisture intake (P=0.001), and reduced urine specific gravity (P=0.003), urinary oxalate concentration (P=0.04), and CaOx relative supersaturation (P=0.04) in the MS. Urinary parameters remained unchanged in the LR, indicating that feeding a high moisture diet may reduce the risk of CaOx formation in high-risk breeds. Increasing dietary Na led to production of urine with a significantly lower CaOx RSS in both breeds, indicating that sodium supplementation to dry diet formats may reduce the risk of CaOx formation. These feeding strategies should be considered when evaluating methods for preventing CaOx formation within high-risk groups.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

Electrical impedance measurement of urinary bladder fullness.

A tetrapolar 75-kHz, 0.2-mA constant-current electrical impedance measuring system was used to monitor urinary volume change over 12 four-hour sessions in 20 male and 20 female normal human subjects. Two spot voltage electrodes (E) and two spot current electrodes (I) were applied 5 cm above the symphysis pubis at 15 cm interelectrode distances, 7.5 cm bilaterally from the midline. Five measurements of impedance and skin temperature were made at 15-minute intervals over 4 hours. Specific gravity, impedance change, and volume were recorded with each voided specimen. Suprailiac and infrascapular skinfolds, and circumference at iliac crests were measured. The subjects drank 175 ml of fluids per hour during the testing session. Subjects remained in the supine position during measurements. They walked to the lavatory to void. Bladder fullness is defined as the urge to void. Results include: (1) a poor negative correlation between specific gravity of urine and impedance (r2 = 0.1240, p less than or equal to 0.01); (2) baseline impedance was dependent upon individual subject characteristics: in males skin area, skinfold thickness, and suprailiac circumference; in females skinfold thicknesses and time since last menstrual period; (3) impedance decreased with urinary bladder filling and increased upon voiding (p less than or equal to 10(-10)); (4) the cumulative sum test (CUSUM) predicted time to void in 78.9% of voids (p less than or equal to 0.05) and no void (when voiding did not occur) in 66.8% of no voids (p less than or equal to 0.05). Overall accuracy of the CUSUM test was 74.6% (p less than or equal to 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Chemical analysis of adnexal cyst fluid.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine if adnexal cyst fluid glucose, protein, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels can discriminate between cancerous and noncancerous adnexal masses. METHODS: Intracystic fluid was aspirated from adnexal masses immediately after operative excision. Patient age and menopausal status, mass size, and cyst fluid specific gravity were recorded. Cyst fluid and intraoperative serum glucose, protein, and LDH levels were measured. Masses were grouped by histopathologic diagnosis. Cyst fluid chemical levels and cyst fluid/serum ratios were compared among and between the groups. RESULTS: Fifty-eight adnexal masses were analyzed: 15 nonneoplastic (group 1), 23 benign neoplastic (group 2), and 20 malignant (group 3). There were no significant differences among the groups with regard to patient age, menopausal status, or cyst fluid specific gravity. Cyst size (cm2) was significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.01), with the largest mean size found in the cancer group. No significant differences in cyst chemistries or cyst fluid/serum ratios were found between groups 1 and 2. Comparing groups 1 and 3, all values were significantly different (P < 0.05), with the greatest level of significance attained by comparison of cyst fluid LDH levels (P < 0.001). Groups 2 and 3 statistically differed in cyst fluid levels and cyst fluid/serum ratios of both protein and LDH, with the highest levels of significance achieved by comparisons of cyst fluid levels and ratios of LDH (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The cyst fluid LDH level was found to be the best single chemistry for distinguishing noncancerous (groups 1 and 2) from cancerous (group 3) adnexal masses. A cyst fluid LDH level of >/=451 U/L imparted a 90% sensitivity and 71% specificity for detecting malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of adnexal cyst fluid LDH may help to distinguish benign from malignant adnexal masses. More cases are needed to adequately assess the predictive value and clinical utility of this approach.

Adnexal Diseases↗
PubMed1990

NMR studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: factors which contribute to T1 and T2 values.

To determine the factors which may alter NMR relaxation times in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions we measured the proton T1 and T2, specific gravity (SG), and histology in the central nervous system (CNS; 13-19 levels per animal) in the myelin basic protein (MBP) and CNS-induced acute and relapsing EAE models in 44 juvenile Hartley guinea pigs. In the MBP model, T1 is unchanged but T2 is prolonged before symptoms and pathological changes occur. T2 remains prolonged during the acute phase of MBP-induced EAE. In the acute CNS model, T1 and T2 were not different from control despite advanced pathological changes of inflammation and demyelination and changes in specific gravity, indicating a marked change in tissue water content. No single variable, pathological or SG, could predict T1 or T2 values in the CNS-induced model. In active disease in the MBP model, when edema occurs in the presence or absence of parenchymal infiltration, T2 values are increased. However, as the factors which influence tissue NMR characteristics are complex in these MS models, it is likely difficult to infer specific pathological events from MRI findings in patients with MS.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Passage and digestibility of lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay in Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) and sheep under restricted feeding.

The mean retention time (MRT) of stained hay through the whole digestive tract and its digestibility were measured in Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) and were compared with those in sheep when lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay was fed at 10, 20 and 30 g/kg body-weight. The recoveries in faeces of plastic particles with five specific gravities were also measured in deer. MRT for deer was significantly shorter than that for sheep at 10 and 20 g/kg feeding levels. The digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral-detergent fibre were significantly lower for deer than for sheep at 30, 30 and 10 g/kg feeding levels respectively. The recovery rates of plastic particles were increased, but the ruminated rates were decreased, with increasing specific gravity in deer. These results suggest that the lower digestibility of lucerne hay in Japanese deer may be due to a shorter MRT compared with sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Repetitive ischaemia of cat brain: pathophysiological observations.

The cumulative effect of repetitive ischaemia on brain injury was studied in halothane-anaesthetized cats submitted to three episodes of global cerebro-circulatory arrest. Ischaemia of 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 min duration was produced at hourly intervals by intrathoracic clamping of the innominate and subclavian arteries, and the resulting pathophysiological changes were evaluated by recordings on the electroencephalogram (EEG), blood flow and specific gravity. During each episode of ischaemia EEG flattened within 15 s. After ischaemia the latency of EEG recovery increased with the duration and with the number of repetitions of each ischaemic episode, indicating cumulation of electrophysiological impairment. The flow studies revealed a minor degree of hyperaemia after each ischaemic episode, followed by severe hypoperfusion in the caudate nucleus but not in the cerebral cortex. Brain oedema - as assessed by specific gravity measurements - developed in the hippocampus after three episodes of 5 min ischaemia, and in all grey matter structures investigated after three episodes of 10 min ischaemia. To evaluate the resistance of the ischaemically injured brain to respiratory hypoxia, total oxygen was repeatedly reduced to 5% for 5 min. During these episodes EEG activity progressively declined as a function of the length and the repetition of ischaemia. Parallel n.m.r. spectroscopic measurements in the same model have demonstrated that disturbances of brain energy state during the hypoxic episodes are minor even after three episodes of 10 min ischaemia. EEG suppression, in consequence, is an electrical shut-down phenomenon for the maintenance of cerebral energy state under critical conditions of oxygen delivery.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effects of iso-osmolal intravenous fluid therapy on post-ischemic brain water content in the rat.

This study evaluated the effects of different iso-osmolal solutions used for intravascular volume replacement on post-ischemic cerebral edema. Fasted Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 10 min of severe (near-complete) forebrain ischemia (bilateral carotid artery occlusion and hemorrhagic hypotension). At the completion of ischemia, 40% of the estimated total blood volume was replaced by iso-osmolal saline, 6% hetastarch, or blood. Plasma osmolality remained similar between groups throughout the experiment, while saline infusion resulted in a significant but transient decrease in colloid oncotic pressure. At 1.5 h, 6 h, and 24 h post-ischemia (PI), specific gravity was determined for tissue samples taken from the hippocampus, caudoputamen, and neocortex. Normal values were obtained from rats receiving anesthesia only. The ischemic insult resulted in a significant increase in regional water content at 1.5 h PI in animals receiving blood. These values were not different from rats receiving saline or hetastarch. At 6 h PI, partial resolution of the edema was observed, with no differences in regional specific gravity occurring between fluid groups. At 24 h PI, again, no difference between fluid regimens was seen in the hippocampus or neocortex. However, in the caudoputamen, hetastarch produced a significant increase in water content relative to both saline and blood. With that exception, the authors' results indicate that early post-ischemic cerebral edema remains generally independent of iso-osmolal fluids used for resuscitation in this model of global ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The effect of using different levels of shrimp meal in laying hen diets.

The shrimp industry in Central America has grown significantly. Much waste is generated by this industry because of the high percentage of shrimp heads, exoskeletons, and soluble components lost during processing. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of substituting different levels of shrimp meal (SM) for soybean meal (SBM) in layer diets. A control corn-soybean layer diet and four different levels of SM substituted for SBM were fed to Single Comb White Leghorn hens from 18 to 38 wk of age. The SM replaced 0, 20, 40, 60, or 80% of SBM. The hens were housed three per cage, 30.5 cm wide x 45.7 cm deep. The five treatments were assigned randomly to three contiguous cages in each of eight rows in a randomized complete block design. Egg production was recorded daily, and feed consumption was recorded for an entire week every 21 d. Egg weight, specific gravity, and yolk pigmentation were recorded for three consecutive days every 21 d. Mortality was recorded daily. Our results showed that the different levels of SM in the diet did not significantly affect egg production. Feed consumption increased significantly (P < 0.01) only when 40 or 80% SM was used in the diet. Feed conversion was poorer for the same treatments. No significant differences were observed for mortality. Egg weights and specific gravities did not differ significantly among the treatments. Yolk pigmentation increased significantly (P < 0.001) as the levels of SM increased in the diets. In conclusion, properly processed SM can be used in relatively high levels to replace SBM in layer diets without causing detrimental effects on layer performance.

Animal Feed↗