Abstract Due to ethanol plants continuing to be more efficient extracting corn oil out of dried distillers grains and solubles (DDGS), it is necessary to understand how pigs are utilizing the energy in diets with increasing levels of current DDGS. A total of 1,120 finishing pigs (DNA 600 x 241, initially 17.5 kg) were used in a 120-day experiment to evaluate the effects of DDGS on growth performance from approximately 8 to 25 weeks of age. Dietary treatments consisted of a corn and soybean meal-based diet with either 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40% DDGS. Pigs were fed a seven-phase finishing diet program to meet their nutritional requirements. Dietary energy was allowed to fluctuate with changing levels of DDGS while maintaining a constant SID lysine to calorie ratio. Pens of pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of the 5 treatments, with 32 pigs per pen and 7 replicates per treatment. Sex was equally represented in each pen. Pigs were harvested (average final BW of 127 kg) at a commercial facility. Data were modeled in R (R Core Team, 2020) to test for both linearity and non-linear responses to DDGS levels in the diet. Models included DDGS treatment and trial start weight and pen was the experiment unit. Traits analyzed included average daily gain (ADG, kg/d), Gain to Feed (G:F), average daily feed intake (ADFI, kg/d), hot carcass weight (kg) and carcass yield (%). All traits were found to have linear trends with increasing DDGS inclusion levels (Linear: P ≤ 0.02; Quadratic: P ≥ 0.29). Overall, there was a reduction in ADG as DDGS inclusion increased from 1.00 (± 0.01) with 0% DDGS to 0.96 (± 0.01) kg/day for 40% DDGS (P = 0.04). There was a decrease in gain to feed ratio (0.39 to 0.35) with increasing DDGS inclusion (P < 0.001). Hot carcass weight decreased with increased inclusion of DDGS from 97.25 to 93.39 kg (P = 0.001), while carcass yield was not significantly different across DDGS inclusion levels ranging from 75.3% to 74.7% for 0% and 40% DDGS inclusion (P = 0.2), respectively. These data indicate that increasing levels of DDGS reduce ADG, feed efficiency, and carcass weight.

Abstract As number of piglets born alive increases, producers are faced with managing large litters in farrowing. Incorporating nurse sows is one strategy producers have used to assist with increased number born alive. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in sow farm productivity in farrowing rooms with 0% nurse sows (NoNurse) and rooms with 7% nurse sows (Nurse). Crossbred sows (n = 618), ranging from parity 1 to parity 6, were assigned to farrowing rooms based on farrow date (DNA L241, DNA Genetics, Columbus, NE). At birth, all pigs (n = 9109) were individually tagged and weighed. For both treatments, cross-fostering occurred within the first 24 hours after birth within treatment. Pig movements were limited as much as possible for sows, with born alive between 13 and 15 pigs, to maximize the number of sows lactating her own pigs. If cross-fostering was necessary, pigs were placed on sows to maximize functional teat count. Farrowing rooms had 14 crates. Nurse treatment left 1 crate open (7%) to bring in a nurse sow between days 3-5 of lactation. Pigs lagging in BW gain relative to their peers (fall-behind pigs) in the Nurse treatment room were identified, weighed, and moved to a nurse sow. In NoNurse treatment, fall-behind pigs were marked and weighed but remained on their original dam. Littermates of the fall-behind pigs were also weighed for both treatments. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21.5 days of age and weaning weights were recorded. Mortality reason and date were recorded throughout the trial. Birth weights of pigs were not statistically different (P = 0.29) between NoNurse and Nurse treatment rooms. However, birth weights for fall-behind pigs were on average 0.34 kg less than non-fall-behind pigs (P < 0.05) regardless of treatment. Fall-behind pigs in the NoNurse treatment were on average 0.75 kg (P < 0.05) less at weaning than the fall-behind pigs in the Nurse treatment. NoNurse treatment sows weaned on average 0.73 more pigs (P < 0.05) than Nurse treatments sows. There was no difference in pre-weaning mortality between the Nurse and NoNurse treatments (P = 0.48). Producers should continue evaluating strategies to assist with the increase in born alive due to the impact on weaning performance.

Abstract The use of nurse sows is one strategy producers use to manage increasing litter sizes. The impact of nurse sows on nursery finish performance is not well understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate differences in nursery performance given two different farrowing room management systems. Crossbred sows (n = 618) were allotted to farrowing rooms based on farrowing date (DNA L241, DNA Genetics, Columbus, NE). One treatment (NoNurse) had 0% nurse sows and the second (Nurse) had 7% nurse sows allocated per room. All pigs (n = 9,109) were individually identified and weighed at birth. Within 24 hours post farrowing, cross-fostering was allowed for both treatments. Pig movements were limited for sows with 13 to 15 live born pigs, which maximized sows rearing her own pigs. If cross-fostering occurred, pigs were moved within treatment to maximize functional teats. In both treatments, fall-behind pigs, those that were lagging in body weight gain compared with their peers, were identified, and weighed. Litter mates of the fall-behind pigs were also weighed. Fall-behind pigs were left in their original crates for the NoNurse treatment and were moved to a nurse sow for the Nurse treatment. Pigs were weaned and weaning weights were collected at approximately 21.5 days of age. At weaning, (n = 7,928) pigs were placed in commercial nurseries where mortality date and reason were recorded. Nursery mortality was not significantly different between NoNurse and Nurse treatments, with 2.34 % versus 2.64 % mortality, respectively (P = 0.48). Nursery mortality was also not significantly different for the fall-behind pigs and their litter mates in the Nurse (P = 0.80) or NoNurse treatments (P = 0.84). At approximately 10 weeks of age, a subset (n = 2,169) of pigs were placed in a research finishing barn and body weights were collected. Body weights at 10 weeks of age were 1.51 kg (P < 0.05) and 1.66 kg (P < 0.05) less for fall-behind pigs in comparison with their litter mates for the NoNurse and Nurse treatments, respectively. Body weights at 10 weeks of age for fall-behind pigs in the NoNurse treatment were 1.55 kg (P < 0.05) less than fall-behind pigs in the Nurse treatment. Management decisions can impact nursery finish performance, in this study it was observed that not utilizing nurse sows could negatively impact nursery growth, particularly for fall-behind pigs.

Sprouted grains are gaining popularity as functional food ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the lipid and fatty acid composition of eight sprouted grains (millet, amaranth, quinoa, wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, and oat). The method used was germination for up to 72 h at temperatures ranging from 19-23 °C. In general, the lipid content increased in the various grains sprouted, providing a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The % oil yield ranged from 1.17 ± 0.02% in sprouted rye to 5.71 ± 0.26% in sprouted amaranth. Germinated oat showed the greatest increase in fat content, 54.3%, compared to the control. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were more prevalent in whole grains (46.9-75.6%) than saturated fatty acids (10.1-25.9%) and increased with sprouting. The primary fatty acids detected in the grains, in order of abundance, were linoleic, oleic, palmitic, linolenic, and stearic acids. Millet sprouts contained the lowest total saturated fatty acids and the highest polyunsaturated fatty acids. Amaranth had the highest amount of saturated fatty acids, while buckwheat contained the lowest quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The lowest omega-6/omega-3 ratio was 7 to 1 in sprouted rye and 8 to 1 in sprouted barley.

A whole-grain diet is associated with the prevention of metabolic syndromes, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Sprouting improves the nutritional profile and bioactive properties of grains, which are important for use as raw ingredients in the food industry. The aim of this review was to examine the lipid and fatty acid composition of germinated grains. The methods discussed include germination and analytical procedures for determining fat and fatty acid contents of grains. The effects of sprouting on the fat content and storage stability of grains were also assessed. Lipid levels ranged from 1.43% to 6.66% in the sprouted grains. The individual fatty acid content of grains changed depending on the germination conditions (17-37 °C, 1-9 days). Limited findings showed that sprouting grains at higher temperatures (20-25 °C) and longer times generated a healthy balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which is beneficial to humans. Future studies are needed to determine the optimum incubation and germination periods specific to each grain to improve the omega-6/omega-3 ratio. Free fatty acids were produced more slowly and levels of oxidation products were lower in sprouted grains than in the raw ingredients when stored for a year. Additional studies are required to investigate the oxidative stability and shelf life of sprouted grains.

Two experiments were conducted in a 14,400 head nursery using 3,087 (experiment 1) and 988 (experiment 2) pigs to determine the effect of gruel feeding (experiment 1) and supplemental oral dextrose (experiment 2) on nursery pig survivability after weaning. Upon arrival to the nursery, for experiment 1, the smallest 10% of pigs were selected and randomly placed in pens with 61 to 108 pigs per pen. Pens of small pigs were assigned to one of two treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of gruel feeding two or four times per day for 14 d postplacement. At each gruel feeding, approximately 1.13 kg of solid feed was added to a round bowl (Rotecna S.A., Agramunt, Spain) located at the front of each pen and water added at a decreasing rate over time. In experiment 2, every other pig removed for welfare considerations (lameness, sick, or unthrifty) from the general population or pens of small pigs received a single 10 mL oral dose of a 50% dextrose solution (Vet One, MWI Animal Health, Boise, ID), as a source of glucose, before being placed in a removal pen. All removed pigs were tagged and weighed, body temperature recorded, and blood glucose concentration measured prior to and 30 min after entering removal pens. Overall, gruel feeding small pigs two or four times per day for 14 d postplacement did not influence (P > 0.10) mortality from weaning to the end of gruel feeding (3.78% vs. 4.25%, respectively). Likewise, dextrose administration did not influence (P > 0.10) pig mortality after removal to approximately 38 d postweaning (21.4% vs. 23.4% respectively), even though blood glucose concentration increased (P < 0.001) 30 min after removal for pigs administered dextrose. An interaction was observed for blood glucose concentration and body temperature (P < 0.001) where pigs with blood glucose concentrations less than 70 mg/dL had increased mortality as body temperature increased. In contrast, pigs with a blood glucose concentration of 70 mg/dL or greater had decreased mortality as body temperature increased. Pigs weighing less than 4.5 kg also had increased mortality (P < 0.001) compared with pigs weighing greater than or equal to 4.5 kg at removal. In summary, gruel feeding four times per day vs. two times per day or providing a dextrose supplement to pigs removed from the general population did not improve the survivability of pigs after weaning. Additionally, pigs removed with decreased body weight or with body temperature or blood glucose concentrations below or above the normal range had decreased survivability.

Coffee cherry is a rich source of caffeine and chlorogenic acids. In this study we investigate the structural analysis of caffeine-enriched whole coffee cherry extracts, CEWCCE by using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The changes in 1H chemical shift data in NMR spectra of CEWCCE compared to pure caffeine indicated the formation of complexes between caffeine and chlorogenic acids in aqueous solution. The effect of complexation on the peak position of caffeoylquinic acid and caffeine resonance with increasing addition of caffeine was investigated. 2D NOESY experiments show the presence of cross-peaks that are due to the proximity of chlorogenic acid and caffeine molecules in stable complexes in protic solvents. The quantification data of caffeine by 1H qNMR was found to be in close agreement with the data obtained by HPLC analysis.

Parasites are highly prevalent in poultry; thus, the management of parasites is a key component in the profitable production of poultry. The most common nematode parasite of poultry, Heterakis gallinarum, typically causes no direct pathology but is the vector of Histomonas meleagridis, a highly pathogenic protozoan parasite that causes blackhead disease. There are no approved treatments for H. meleagridis, making control reliant on controlling the helminth vector. In the United States, the benzimidazole anthelmintic fenbendazole (FBZ) is the only approved treatment for H. gallinarum. We were contacted by an industry veterinarian regarding clinical problems with histomoniasis despite frequent anthelmintic treatments. Given that we had recently diagnosed FBZ resistance in the closely related parasite Ascaridia dissimilis, we were interested to determine if H. gallinarum had also evolved resistance. An initial on-farm pilot study using 20 birds suggested that FBZ was poorly effective, therefore a larger controlled study was initiated. Heterakis gallinarum eggs were isolated from litter at the farm and used to infect 118 chicks. Treatment groups included a non-treated control, a label-, and a 2×-label dose of FBZ, with 36 birds per group divided into two replicates of 18 birds. Three weeks post-hatch, birds were infected with 150 embryonated eggs. Two weeks post-infection treated birds were administered either a label- or 2× label-dose of FBZ in water for five days (SafeGuard® Aquasol, 1mg/kg BW). To increase the likelihood that all birds consumed the full intended dose, the dosage was calculated using 1.25 times the average body weight. One-week post-treatment, birds were euthanized, and parasites enumerated. There were no significant differences in worm numbers recovered from any of the three groups (p-value=0.3426), indicating that both dosages of FBZ failed to provide the expected levels of efficacy. These data provide strong evidence that H. gallinarum has developed resistance to FBZ on this farm. Consequently, on this farm, or any farm with FBZ-resistant H. gallinarum, H. meleagridis will continue to cycle in an unrestricted manner despite administration of anthelmintic treatments. Given recent evidence of increasing problems with histomoniasis, and the fact that resistance was documented on the first farm we investigated, further investigations are needed to determine the prevalence of resistance in H. gallinarum on poultry farms. These data, when viewed together with our recent findings of FBZ resistance in A. dissimilis on multiple farms, suggest that drug resistance in ascarid nematodes may be an emerging problem in the US poultry industry.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible correlation between the bioactivity and the phytochemical profile of four betalain-rich extracts from Portulaca grandiflora Hook. The HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis indicated the presence of 19 betaxanthins and two betacyanins. The highest concentrations of betaxanthins (982 mg/100 g DE) and betacyanins (650 mg/100 g DE) were noticed in orange and purple flowers extracts, respectively. The HPLC-DAD-ESI-HRMS/MS analyses revealed the presence of a total of 71 compounds. Fifteen new betaxanthins and fifty other metabolites were identified for the first time. The antioxidant activity of the studied flower extracts increased in the sequence of yellow < orange < purple < red (0.066–0.176 mM TE/g DE). Betalains showed less effect on the antioxidant activity of extracts than other metabolites did. Extracts from yellow and orange flowers were more active against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC = 4–16 mg/L), whereas extracts from red and purple flowers were slightly more active against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC = 16–32 mg/L). All the extracts showed the same activity against yeasts (MIC = 32 mg/L). Betaxanthins were active against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas betacyanins were active against Gram-negative bacteria. Remaining metabolites also exhibited antimicrobial activities. The cytotoxicity assessment showed that the P. grandiflora extracts were non-toxic to normal VERO cells. No significant antiviral activity towards Human Herpesvirus type 1 was observed (62 µg/mL). Among the tested varieties, the purple one showed anticancer selectivity towards colon carcinoma cells (RKO).

Abstract A total of 988 nursery pigs were used to determine the effect of body weight, body temperature, and blood glucose on the survivability of pull pigs after removal. At weaning, pigs were transported to a 24,000 head hotel-style nursery and placed in rooms based on sow source. Over a 4-week period post-placement, every other pig removed from the general population for welfare considerations (lameness, sick, or fallback) were tagged, weighed, and their body temperature and blood glucose measured. Mortality was tracked through the end of the nursery or approximately 38 d post-placement. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with room as a random effect. The predictor variables of body weight, body temperature, and blood glucose were categorized into biologically significant categories and LSMeans were determined using a binary model with mortality as the outcome. Pigs with a body weight under 4.5 kg at removal had increased mortality rate (32.4%; P&amp;lt; 0.001) compared with pigs with a body weight between 4.5 and 5.4 kg (20.8%) or greater than 5.4 kg (14.6%) at removal. Pigs with a body temperature below 38.6°C or above 39.7°C at removal had increased mortality rate (33.4 or 26.8%, respectively; P &amp;lt; 0.001) compared with pigs with a body temperature between 38.6 and 39.7°C (17.7%) at removal. Pigs with a blood glucose greater than 120 mg/dL at removal had increased mortality rate (43.5%; P &amp;lt; 0.001) compared with pigs with a blood glucose less than 70 mg/dL (23.0%) or between 70 and 120 (17.9%) at removal. In summary, pull pigs with low bodyweight, high or low body temperature, or high blood glucose had decreased survivability. The results of this study indicate that there are metabolic differences between nursery pigs at the time of removal and that these differences may influence survivability.