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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Improvement of nutritive value of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) seed meal in the formulated diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings after fermentation with a fish gut bacterium.

Eight isonitrogenous (35% crude protein approximately) and isocaloric (4.0 kcalg(-1) approximately) diets were formulated incorporating raw and fermented grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) seed meal at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% levels by weight into a fish meal based diet and fed to rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings for 80 days and fish performance was studied. A particular bacterial strain (Bacillus sp.) isolated from the intestine of adult common carp (Cyprinus carpio) reared in the wild having significant amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic and proteolytic activities were used for fermentation of seed meal for 15 days at 37 degrees C. Fermentation of grass pea seed meal was effective in significantly reducing the crude fibre content and anti-nutritional factors, such as tannins, phytic acid and the neurotoxin, beta-ODAP and enhancing the available free amino acids and fatty acids. In terms of growth response, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, 30% fermented grass pea seed meal incorporated diet resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) better performance of rohu fingerlings. In general, growth and feed utilization efficiencies of fish fed diets containing fermented seed meal were superior to those fed diets containing raw seed meal. The apparent protein digestibility (APD) values decreased with increasing levels of raw seed meal in the diets. The APD for raw seed meal was lower at all levels of inclusion in comparison to those for the fermented seed meals. The highest deposition of carcass protein was recorded in fish fed the diet containing 40% fermented seed meal. The results indicated that fermented grass pea seed meal can be incorporated in carp diets up to 30% level compared to 10% level of raw seed meal.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2001

Efficacy of tilmicosin phosphate (Pulmotil premix) in feed for the treatment of a clinical outbreak of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in growing-finishing pigs.

A double-blind randomized clinical trial was carried out to investigate the efficacy of tilmicosin (Pulmotil premix) for the treatment of a clinical outbreak of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in growing-finishing pigs. The effects of tilmicosin administration in the feed at 400 mg/kg and an injection therapy of clinically diseased pigs with long-acting oxytetracycline (Terramycine LA) at 20 mg/kg bodyweight were compared. Both groups, totalling 147 pigs, were compared during a medication period of 15 days and a post-medication period of 11 days by means of different clinical and performance parameters. During the medication period, the tilmicosin group showed a significant advantage with respect to the number of new disease cases (P < 0.01), and a non-significant advantage regarding the number of removed pigs (P = 0.16), the number of sick pigs that recovered (P = 0.27) and the time to recovery (P = 0.42). During the post-medication period, the pigs of the tilmicosin group showed numerical non-significant benefits (P > 0.05) with respect to the clinical parameters. During the overall study period (26 days), the average daily gain and the feed conversion ratio were both significantly (P < 0.01) better in pigs from the tilmicosin group compared with pigs from the oxytetracycline group. This study demonstrated that in-feed medication of tilmicosin at a dosage of 400 mg/kg is efficacious for the treatment of a clinical respiratory disease outbreak of A. pleuropneumoniae infection in growing-finishing pigs. Compared with oxytetracycline injection of clinically diseased pigs, the tilmicosin treatment is particularly beneficial in the prevention of new disease cases while increasing or maintaining the performance of the pigs.

Actinobacillus Infections↗
PubMed2003

Dietary electrolyte balance for broiler chickens under moderately high ambient temperatures and relative humidities.

Cobb male broiler chicks (1,000) on new litter were used to evaluate effects of dietary electrolyte balance [DEB; Na+K-Cl, milliequivalents (mEq) per kilogram] under tropical summer conditions. Corn-soybean meal-based mash diets had salt (NaCl) alone or in combination with one or more supplements: sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), or potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3). A completely randomized design, with five starter and grower feed treatments (control: 145, then 130 mEq/kg; or 0, 120, 240, or 360 mEq/kg throughout) and four replicate pens (1.5 x 3.2 m) per treatment (50 chicks per pen), was used. Diets were analyzed for Na, K, and Cl for confirmation. There were no significant (P < 0.05) effects of treatments on mortality or processing parameters. Water intake increased linearly with increasing DEB, giving higher litter moistures and lower rectal temperatures. Blood HCO3 and pH increased with the highest DEB (360 mEq/kg) causing respiratory alkalosis. The DEB of 240 mEg/kg gave best weight gain and feed conversion ratio, and ideal DEB predicted by regression analyses were 186 and 197 mEq/kg from 0 to 21 d of age and 236 and 207 mEq/kg of feed from 0 to 42 d, respectively. These DEB corresponded to estimated (interpolated) values in predicted optimal 186 to 197 mEq/kg starter of Na 0.38 to 0.40% and Cl 0.405 to 0.39% (K = 0.52%), in 207 to 236 mEq/kg starter, Na 0.409 to 0.445% and Cl 0.326 to 0.372% Cl (K = 0.52%), and in grower Na 0.41 to 0.445%, Cl 0.315 to 0.267% (K = 0.47%).

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1993

[Significance of extruded feeds for trout nutrition and water protection].

Extruded feeds exhibit an improved starch digestibility and are more firmly bound due to the almost complete gelatinization of the starch. This results in fewer fines and longer water stability than pelleted feeds. Extruded pellets also have the advantage that they can soak up more oil than a conventional pellet. It is therefore possible to increase the maximum oil content to more than 20%. On the other hand extruding feeds is more expensive than steam pelleting. Gelatinized starch is a useful energy source in trout diets helping to reduce feed conversion ratios. Proportions up to 35-40% in the diet are tolerable. Using high dietary levels of both gelatinized starch and oil the non-protein energy of feed may be increased and thus a protein-sparing effect results. High-energy diets enable to reduce excretion of faeces and of nitrogen via gills. In addition a decrease of phosphorus level in feeds and thus of phosphorus excretion by fish is possible. Extruded high-energy diets therefore make a contribution to improve water quality.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

[Glycerol as a feed component in fattening pigs].

The production of motor fuel from rapeseed oil forms large amounts of glycerol as a waste product (about 100 g per kg oil). The aim of this experiment was to test glycerol as a component in diets of fattening pigs. In two experiments received 48 pigs (Pietrain x F1, Landrace x German breed) up to 30% glycerol in barley-soya bean oil meal diets. Six pigs per group with an initial weight of 32 kg (experiment 1) and 31.2 kg (experiment 2) in average received the diets semi ad libitum during the whole fattening periods. Barley was replaced by glycerol, that the content of glycerol in diets amounted 5 and 10% (1st exp.) and 5; 10; 20 and 30% in the 2nd exp. respectively. The feed intake was in order of groups up to slaughtering in exp. 1: 1.98; 2.17 and 2.23 kg DM/animal and day and in exp. 2 over 71 days: 2.26; 2.44; 2.54; 2.32 and 2.37 kg DM/animal and day. The sweet taste and the better feed structure of diets with glycerol supplementation is the reason for the higher feed intake in the groups with a glycerol supplement. The daily live weight gain was in the same order 631; 719; 754; 731; 770; 819; 704 and 598 g/animal resp. The feed conversion ratio was only in the group with 30% glycerol significant different from all other groups (3.96 against 2.95-3.30 kg DM/kg live weight gain). 30 min. after feeding the glycerol concentration in blood rose evident with higher glycerol content in diets. It was also found a higher glycerol content in the urine in dependence on the glycerol concentration in the blood. Glycerol in diets changed not the carcass yield and the meat quality. Pathological changes of liver and kidney of animals were not found after glycerol feeding. Amounts of glycerol up to 10% in the diet are recommended.

Animal Feed↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of protective immunity against Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina in White Leghorn chickens inoculated repeatedly with high doses of turkey coccidia.

Repeated inoculation (immunization) of 2-week-old white leghorn chickens with 10(6) oocysts of the turkey coccidia Eimeria adenoeides or E. meleagrimitis partially protected chickens against moderate challenge with E. tenella or E. acervulina oocysts, but not with E. necatrix oocysts. After challenge, mean weight gains of the immunized chickens and the unchallenged controls did not differ significantly, but weight gains of unimmunized chickens were significantly lower. The mean feed-conversion ratio of the immunized challenged chickens was 3.14, as compared with 4.42 for unimmunized challenged control chickens. In general, immunization did not markedly reduce intestinal lesions. Repeated inoculation of chickens with the turkey coccidium E. gallopavonis failed to produce statistically significant protection against challenge with E. tenella, E. acervulina, or E. necatrix, as determined by weight gain, feed-conversion efficiency, and lesion scores. Antibody profiles of individual chickens did not correlate with protection.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Components of feed efficiency in broiler breeding stock: influence of water intake and gastrointestinal contents.

An experiment was conducted with 3 lines of broilers to evaluate the potential roles of water intake and fill of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract on feed conversion ratio (FCR) as measured in a 1-wk FCR test. Birds were reared to juvenile selection age (41 d) and subsequently selected, with the best 18 to 29% of male chicks placed into cages for FCR testing. Feed and water intake were highly correlated in all lines, with each in turn highly correlated with weight gain on test. Although filling of the GI tract differed between the top and bottom halves of the FCR distribution, FCR as measured and corrected for weight of GI tract contents were highly correlated (r = 0.59 to 0.93). Differences between FCR classes were striking for weight gain, but differences between FCR class groups were subtle for starting weight and feed intake. These subtle differences are difficult to detect in a single generation, but may add up through generations of selection. Based on the results of the current and previous studies, it appears that selection for improved FCR works at multiple levels to improve efficiency of feed conversion in broiler breeding stock.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2003

Growth and apparent absorption of minerals in broiler chicks fed diets with low or high tannin contents.

Sorghum grains with low (0.28 per cent catechin equivalent (%CE) or high (1.36%/DCE)) tannin contents were used to study the effect of tannin on growth and on the apparent absorption of Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe and Co by chickens. High-tannin sorghum caused a highly significant (p < or = 0.01) reduction in the weight gain and feed intake of broiler chicks compared to low-tannin sorghum and increased the feed conversion ratio (p < or = 0.01). The amount of tannin did not affect mortality. The apparent absorption of Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe and Co was reduced (p < or = 0.01) by feeding sorghum grains with a high tannin content.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1992

Feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and sensory quality of lambs, with or without prolific ancestry, fed diets with different protein supplements.

Data were collected on 130 intact male lambs fed diets based on roughages supplemented with fish meal, soybean meal, or corn gluten-blood meal and slaughtered at 43 kg live weight. A nonsupplemented group served as a control. The lambs represented Romanov (R), Finnsheep (F), a new breed developed in Canada (DLS), Coopworth (C), and Suffolk (S), three first crosses of DLS with R, F, and Booroola Merino (B), and their backcrosses to DLS. Supplemented lambs consumed 16 to 22% less (P less than .05) silage than control lambs. Average daily gains of lambs fed fish meal (226 g) and corn gluten-blood meal (217 g) were higher and feed conversion ratio (4.99 and 5.11) lower than that of lambs fed soybean meal (189 g and 5.48) or control (186 g and 5.76) diets (P less than .05). The cost of feed per kilogram of gain or per kilogram of lean produced was similar in the four treatments but was between C $.23 and .65 cheaper in the protein-supplemented groups when the number of days to reach slaughter weight was considered. The effect of diet on carcass traits and meat quality were minimal. Meat of lambs fed the three protein supplements was less juicy than that of control lambs. With a few exceptions, most of the significant differences among genetic groups in growth, carcass, and sensory traits were mainly between prolific (R and F) and meat-type breeds (C, S, and DLS). Gain in weight was highest in S lambs (199 g/d), but F and R first crosses were the youngest at slaughter (196 and 198 d). The F lambs had higher dressing and kidney fat percentages than meat-type breeds. The DLS lambs had the largest longissimus muscle area (14.0 cm2), whereas C had the smallest (10.7 cm2). The B crosses had larger longissimus muscle area than R and F crosses. The R lambs had more lean and less fat in the 12th rib, whereas C lambs had the lowest lean and a high bone percentage. The toughest and the most tender roasts were those of R and B crossbred lambs, respectively. Roasts from F lambs had the most intense lamb flavor.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Effects of dietary retinol on hepatic retinol storage and on plasma and tissue alpha-tocopherol in pigs.

A feeding experiment was carried out with pigs to investigate the effects of graded dietary retinol supplements on hepatic and plasma retinol and on alpha-tocopherol in plasma and selected tissues. Four groups of twelve weanling pigs each with a mean body weight of 7 kg were fed a complete ration containing 54 IU vitamin E/kg and supplemented with 5, 10, 20 or 40 x 10(3) IU retinol/kg for Treatments 1 to 4, respectively. The feed was fed in restricted amounts for 150 days when the pigs were slaughtered at 105 kg body weight. Overall daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were 660 g and 2.49, respectively, without treatment differences (p less than 0.01). Hepatic retinol concentration (y, IU/g fresh weight) was linearly related to dietary retinol concentration (x, IU/kg feed) as expressed by y = -88.9 + 0.077 x [r2 = 0.94]. Total hepatic retinol (y, IU) and total retinol intake (x, IU) were linearly related as expressed by y = -194.9 x 10(3) + 0.4585 x [r2 = 0.98]. Hepatic retinol retention relative to intake ranged from 30.0% to 44.9%. Plasma retinol concentration was not affected by dietary retinol (p less than 0.01). Plasma alpha-tocopherol levels remained on a plateau for 42 days in all treatments. After 150 days plasma levels exceeded those at 42 days in Treatments 1 to 3, but not in Treatment 4. The effect of retinol on tissue alpha-tocopherol varied with tissues. While there was no effect on M. Longissimus and backfat, alpha-tocopherol levels in heart and liver showed an inverse relationship with dietary retinol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of dietary calcium propionate on performance, hepatic enzyme activities and aflatoxin residues in broilers fed a diet containing low levels of aflatoxin B1.

This study was undertaken to the study toxic effects of aflatoxins and reducing toxic effects of calcium propionate on performance, hepatic enzyme activities and aflatoxin residues in broilers. Two hundred and seventy 1-day-old hybrid Arbor Acor broiler chickens were fed conventional feed for 3 days. Broilers were then randomly divided into nine groups of 30 birds each. The nine dietary treatments consisted of (1) conventional feed as a negative control diet, (2) 0.25% calcium propionate, (3) 0.5% calcium propionate, (4) 50 ppb aflatoxin B1, (5) 50 ppb aflatoxin B1 plus 0.25% calcium propionate, (6) 50 ppb aflatoxin B1 plus 0.5% calcium propionate, (7) 100 ppb aflatoxin B1, (8) 100 ppb aflatoxin B1 plus 0.25% calcium propionate, (9) 100 ppb aflatoxin B1 plus 0.5% calcium propionate. Test diets were offered for 6 weeks continuously and the birds were sacrificed. Decreased body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were observed in aflatoxin treated groups whereas aflatoxin B1-calcium propionate supplemented diet groups increased, in comparison to the control group. Significant difference was observed after 4 weeks of feeding. Serum samples were tested for gamma glutamyl transferase (gamma-GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Gamma-GGT, AST and ALT were significantly increased in aflatoxin treated groups, in comparison among the dietary treated groups. Muscle and liver tissues were analyzed for aflatoxin residues. The residual levels of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 were significantly higher in liver than in muscle. The levels in the liver and the muscle were highest in the aflatoxin B1-supplemented groups and lower in the aflatoxin B1-calcium propionate supplemented groups. Results of this study indicate that addition of calcium propionate to diets containing aflatoxin B1 appears to be effective in reducing toxicity. Aflatoxin contamination in broiler feed may cause economic losses by lowering body weight gain. Therefore, lower levels of aflatoxin B1 in the chicken feeds should be required if all acceptable risk is to be avoided. Additionally, the risk of aflatoxins in broiler as a food appears to remain very low, although the levels of aflatoxins in human foods should be kept as low as possible to reduce the incidence of hepatic cancer.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed2005

Utilization of ensiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) leaves as a protein supplement in diets for growing pigs.

Four diets were formulated with protein from fishmeal (FM), groundnut cake (GC), ensiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)) leaves (SP) or ensiled sweet potato leaves with lysine (SPL). In experiment 1, 24 crossbred (Large White x Mong Cai) growing pigs were allocated randomly by sex into four groups of six pigs and given one of four diets. Experiment 2 was conducted using 16 crossbred pigs (Large White x Mong Cai) at four farms. On each farm, pigs were allocated to two experimental groups. One group was fed the FM diet and the other group the SPL diet. In experiment 1, the daily live weight gains (DLWG) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the FM and SPL treatments (542 and 536 g/day, respectively) than for the GC and SP treatments (464 and 482 g/day, respectively). Feed intake was highest (2.0 kg/day) for the SPL and lowest (1.7 kg/day) for the GC treatment (p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was highest (3.8 kg/kg gain) for SP and lowest (3.5 kg/kg gain) for FM (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences for carcase measurements among diets (p > 0.05). The feed cost per kg live weight gain was lowest for the SP and SPL diets compared to the FM and GC diets. The results of experiment 2 show that there were no significant differences in feed intake, DLWG and FCR between the two diets (p > 0.05). In conclusion, sweet potato leaves can replace fishmeal and groundnut cake in traditional Vietnamese diets for growing pigs.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

Modeling of parameters affecting phytate phosphorus bioavailability in growing birds.

The current study was undertaken to establish a population from an unselected random-mating chicken population for the development of a model to predict factors that affect phytate P utilization in growing birds. A population was established from a mating of 40 male and 200 female chickens from the Athens Canadian randombred population. At 4 wk of age, birds were housed in individual metabolic cages and fed a diet containing 1.06% Ca, 0.35% total P, and 0.03% available P. After 3 d of acclimatization, feed consumption (FC) was measured and excreta produced in 3 consecutive d were collected. Individual 4-wk BW, BW gain (BWG), phytate P intake (PPI), inorganic P intake (IPI), Ca intake (CaI), N intake (NI), and energy intake (EI) during the 3 d excreta collection period were also measured. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) and relative growth rate were calculated. Phytate P bioavailability (PPB), Ca bioavailability (CaB), and N bioavailability (NB) were estimated from the disappearance of the nutrients during the passage of feed through the gastrointestinal tract. Energy bioavailability (EB) was measured by bomb calorimetry as the difference in the gross energy of the feed and the energy of the excreta. The major factors affecting PPB were CaB and EB for both sexes. In the males, BW contributed significantly to PPB. However, in the females, NB also contributed significantly to PPB. Faster growing birds tended to have a reduced retention time of feed compared with slow growing birds, and as a result utilized phytate P less. Birds that are able to utilize phytate P better are putatively able to release P for energy utilization. Therefore, the birds that were able to utilize phytate P better were also better energy utilizers.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Different measures of energetic efficiency and their phenotypic relationships with growth, feed intake, and ultrasound and carcass merit in hybrid cattle.

Residual feed intake (RFI) has been proposed as an index for determining beef cattle energetic efficiency. Although the relationship of RFI with feed conversion ratio (FCR) is well established, little is known about how RFI compares to other measures of efficiency. This study examined the phenotypic relationships among different measures of energetic efficiency with growth, feed intake, and ultrasound and carcass merit of hybrid cattle (n = 150). Dry matter intake, ME intake (MEI), ADG, metabolic weight (MWT), and FCR during the test averaged 10.29 kg/d (SD = 1.62), 1,185.45 kJ/(kg0.75 x d) (SD = 114.69), 1.42 kg/d (SD = 0.25), 86.67 kg0.75 (SD = 10.21), and 7.27 kg of DM/kg of gain (SD = 1.00), respectively. Residual feed intake averaged 0.00 kg/d and ranged from -2.25 kg/d (most efficient) to 2.61 kg/d (least efficient). Dry matter intake (r = 0.75), MEI (r = 0.83), and FCR (r = 0.62) were correlated with RFI (P < 0.001) and were higher for animals with high (>0.5 SD) RFI vs. those with medium (+/-0.5 SD) or low (<0.5 SD) RFI (P < 0.001). Partial efficiency of growth (PEG; energetic efficiency for ADG) was correlated with RFI (r = -0.89, P < 0.001) and was lower (P < 0.001) for high- vs. medium- or low-RFI animals. However, RFI was not related to ADG (r = -0.03), MWT (r = -0.02), relative growth rate (RGR; growth relative to instantaneous body size; r = -0.04), or Kleiber ratio (KR; ADG per unit of MWT; r = -0.004). Also, DMI was correlated (P < 0.01) with ADG (r = 0.66), MWT (r = 0.49), FCR (r = 0.49), PEG (r = -0.52), RGR (r = 0.18), and KR (r = 0.36). Additionally, FCR was correlated (P < 0.001) with ADG (r = -0.63), PEG (r = -0.83), RGR (r = -0.75), and KR (r = -0.73), but not with MWT (r = 0.07). Correlations of measures of efficiency with ultrasound or carcass traits generally were not different from zero except for correlations of RFI, FCR, and PEG, respectively, with backfat gain (r = 0.30, 0.20, and -0.30), ultrasound backfat (r = 0.19, 0.21, and -0.25), grade fat (r = 0.25, 0.19, and -0.27), lean meat yield (r = -0.22, -0.18, and 0.24), and yield grade (r = 0.28, 0.24, and -0.25). These phenotypic relationships indicate that, compared with other measures of energetic efficiency, RFI should have a greater potential to improve overall production efficiency and PEG above maintenance, and lead to minimal correlated changes in carcass merit without altering the growth and body size of different animals.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1979

Experimental sarcoptes scabiei infestation in pigs: (2) Effects on production.

A study on the development and effect of experimental Sarcoptes scabiei var suis infestations in growing pigs is described. Pigs were infested at either weekly or fortnightly intervals throughout each experimental and individual growth rates and feed conversion ratios were determined. The animals were fed diets which contained either optimal or sub-optimal levels of protein. They were housed either intensively or extensively. In all experiments the majority of infested animals developed a generalised hypersensitivity to sarcoptes mites and performed significantly less efficiently than non-infested littermates. Mean growth rates were depressed from 9.2 to 12.5 per cent and feed conversion efficiencies by a similar margin. Well fed, intensively housed pigs developed a more severe hypersensitivity reaction than poorly fed, extensively housed pigs.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

Effects of adding various oils to the diet on growth, feed conversion and chemical composition of carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The suitability of various vegetable and fish oils was tested as feed components for one-summer-old carp fingerlings. Five diets were used: a basal diet, which served as control feed, was supplemented with 10% corn-germ oil, 10% sunflower oil, 10% fish oil or 10% rapeseed oil, respectively. By means of the lipid supplementation the crude protein content decreased from 35.5% in the basal diet to 31.9% in the test diets, whereas the gross energy level increased from 16.3 to 18.9 MJ/kg. The diets were fed over a period of 84 feeding days and water temperature was 23 degrees C. Weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein utilization were superior in all groups of carp which received the fat-enriched high energy diets. Considering the gain in % of the initial weight, the control fish reached less than 400% whereas all carp in the test groups, which consumed the oil-enriched diets, reached 455 to 485%. A significant influence of the kind of lipid on growth and feed conversion could not be recognized. The lipid-enriched diets with higher energy content resulted in increased fat levels of the carp. Fatty acid composition of the carp reflected that of the diets. In the control group and the fish oil group the levels of palmitic, palmitoleic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid were especially high corresponding to the fatty acid profile of the diets. In carp fed the diets supplied with corn-germ oil and sunflower oil linoleic acid was dominant whereas the carp fed the rapeseed diet were characterized by a high level of oleic acid.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Influence of whole wheat and xylanase on broiler performance and microbial composition and activity in the digestive tract.

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of different forms of wheat (airtight silo stored whole wheat, conventionally stored whole wheat, and ground wheat included in pellets) and dietary xylanase addition on production results and gastrointestinal characteristics of broiler chickens. Ileal viscosity, pancreatic digestive enzyme activities, and the composition and activity of the intestinal microflora were considered as response parameters. Differences between the 2 types of whole wheat with respect to the various measured parameters were marginal, whereas distinct differences were found between pellet-fed birds and birds receiving whole wheat. Whole wheat feeding improved feed conversion ratio and reduced water consumption (P < 0.001). Compared with pellets, whole wheat increased the relative weight of pancreas and gizzard and the dry matter concentration of gizzard content (P < 0.001). Whole wheat feeding reduced the pH in the gizzard contents (P < 0.01) and increased ileal viscosity. The addition of xylanase reduced ileal viscosity in birds receiving whole wheat to the same level as in pellet-fed birds. Whole wheat feeding resulted in lower activities of amylase in pancreatic tissue (P = 0.054), whereas xylanase addition increased chymotrypsin (P = 0.030) and lipase activities (P = 0.052). Whole wheat feeding resulted in lower intestinal numbers of lactose-negative enterobacteria (P < 0.05) and tended to reduce the ileal and cecal numbers of Clostridium perfringens (P < or = 0.08). It is concluded that whole wheat feeding stimulates gizzard function, which in turn prevents potentially pathogenic bacteria from entering the intestinal tract.

Amylases↗
PubMed2004

Toxicity of maize containing known levels of fumonisin B1 during force-feeding of ducks.

The toxicity of maize containing known doses of fumonisin B1 (FB1) was investigated in mallard ducks during force-feeding. Seventy-five ducks at 12 wk of age were randomly divided into 3 groups of 25, and received control maize, naturally contaminated maize containing 20 mg/kg of FB1, or a mixture of control and contaminated maize (50/50, vol/vol). Force-feeding was performed during 12 d that correspond to a final average feed intake of approximately 10 kg of maize per duck. At the end of the study, 8% mortality was observed in ducks fed 20 mg of FB1/kg of feed, whereas no mortality occurred in the other groups. Liver weight, and plasma concentrations of protein, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased by force-feeding, whereas feed conversion ratio appeared decreased by the toxin. Microscopic examination of the liver showed that steatosis was mostly macrovacuolar in control ducks, whereas it was microvacuolar in ducks fed 20 mg of FB1/kg of feed. Free sphingolipid concentrations were measured in liver and plasma. Sphinganine (Sa) and sphinganine to sphingosine (Sa/So) ratio were increased in all treatment groups. These parameters were not affected by force-feeding and all individual values obtained in the treated ducks were higher than those obtained in control ducks. Our results suggest that free Sa level and Sa/So ratio can be used to reveal exposure of ducks to FB1 at doses of 10 mg/kg or greater in feed.

Animals↗