Animal Intake Research Articles

Dietary intake of total, animal, and vegetable protein and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes: using iso-energetic substitution models.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of dietary intake of total, animal-based, and vegetable-based protein on cardiometabolic risk factors in diabetic patients, using iso-energetic substitution models. This cross-sectional study was a part of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study with 8,894 subjects. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between total, animal, and vegetable protein intake (per 5% energy) and cardiometabolic risk factors. All analyses were carried out at a 95% confidence level using STATA software version 14.2. In diabetic patients, higher intake of total protein increased the risk of hypertension by 2.48 times compared to the reference group (p = 0.03). Besides, the association between the consumption of one unit of energy (5% energy) from protein at the expense of one unit of energy from fat and the risk of cardio-metabolic risk factors, showed an increase in dyslipidemia and CVDs by 65 and 48%, respectively. The substitution for carbohydrates also causes a reduction in obesity and abdominal obesity by 28 and 53%, respectively. In diabetic and non-diabetic patients, different associations were observed following the substitution of protein. In diabetic patients, the substitution protein for fat increased the risk of dyslipidemia and CVDs and carbohydrate replacement increased the risk of dyslipidemia. The highest vs. the lowest intake of animal protein decreased the risk of obesity and abdominal obesity, whereas regarding plant protein a direct link was found with dyslipidemia. However, prospective studies are needed to clarify the cause-and-effect links.

Geographic Transitions of Domestic Cats in Urban Areas through Animal Adoption Centers and the Implications for Population Dynamics

ABSTRACT Animal shelters address animal welfare in communities through the intake and outcome of companion animals, but these efforts affect population dynamics of companion animals based on the distance animals are moved and the factors that underlie intake and outcome. Using data from an animal shelter in Washington, DC we analyzed cat intakes and outcomes based on geographic and socioeconomic factors. Most intakes were stray cats (59%) and cats relinquished by owners (38%) and most outcomes were adoptions (84%). The highest number of intakes were in high development, low-income neighborhoods, whereas the lowest number of intakes were in low development, high-income neighborhoods. The highest number of outcomes were to high-income neighborhoods and there was a trend toward more outcomes in neighborhoods further from the shelter. Cats returned to the shelter were more likely to originate from areas near the shelter whereas cats that were relinquished originated from areas further from the shelter. Stray intakes were less common, and returns to shelter were more common, in high-income, high development areas. Seized cats originated from low-income neighborhoods. Relative to adoptions, the proportion of returned to owner outcomes was higher in low-income neighborhoods that were closer to the shelter as well as high-income neighborhoods that were distant from the shelter. Our results highlight the factors underlying cat intakes and outcomes in shelters that ultimately determine where, when, and how animals are moved across one urban area; these factors must be considered when developing cat population management plans to reach animal welfare and societal goals.

Intake of animal and plant proteins and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: results from NHANES.

There is little and inconsistent data on the relationship between protein intake and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Our goal was to look at the relationship between consuming plant- and animal-based proteins and the risk of all-cause death in patients with type 2 diabetes. We included 4646 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥20 years participating in continuous NHANES from 1999 to 2018. All-cause mortality was ascertained through linkage to National Death Index until December 31, 2019. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95%CIs. Over an average follow-up of nine years, 969 deaths took place. The multivariable-adjusted HRs of all-cause mortality across quartiles of plant protein intake, were, respectively, 1.00 (reference), 0.77 (95%CI: 0.65, 0.93), 0.79 (95%CI: 0.64, 0.97), and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.58, 0.93) (Ptrend = 0.022). Intake of animal protein was not linked to all-cause mortality. The HR was 0.94 (95%CI: 0.81, 1.08) for replacing 5% of energy from animal protein with plant protein. Intake of protein from individual animal- and plant-based foods was not related to the risk of all-cause mortality, nor was replacing 5% of energy intake from red meat protein with those from other foods. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, a higher intake of plant protein is linked to a lower risk of death from all causes. Nevertheless, the results should be interpreted with caution because some subgroups did not show an inverse relationship, and observational studies have limitations.

Nutritional composition of New Zealand native shrubs edible portions with fodder potential for ruminants

ABSTRACT In New Zealand, willow and poplar are used on hill farms for erosion control and to supplement pasture during low pasture periods. Some native shrubs are browsed by wild herbivores but remain unexplored for farmed ruminants. We evaluated the seasonal nutritional composition of five native New Zealand shrubs (Karamū, Pāpāuma, Karo, Whauwhaupaku, and Houhere) and compared them with willow (Kinuyanagi). Leaf and edible stem were analysed for nutritional composition and in vitro digestibility following AOAC procedures. Results showed that except Houhere, all other native shrubs leaves had lower crude protein (CP) (11 MJ/ kg DM) than Kinuyanagi. Kinuyanagi leaves were comparable to Houhere in ME and CP in spring but had lower CP in summer. Stem nutritional composition was similar across all shrubs. Acid and neutral detergent fibres in edible portions were comparable to those in common pastures, fodder crops, and forages in New Zealand. The findings suggest native shrubs could supplement low ME in summer pastures or winter herbage scarcity, but further research is needed on animal preference and intake.

Examining the Relationship Between Social Vulnerability and Animal Shelter Intakes and Outcomes: Patterns and Implications.

(1) Background: This study investigates the impact of social vulnerability, as quantified by the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), on animal shelter intakes and adoptions, and the flow of animals between SVI groups at seven shelters within the United States. Understanding how social vulnerability influences these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions to improve shelter outcomes and community support programs. (2) Methods: The research analyzed intake and adoption data from multiple animal shelters to assess the relationship between the social vulnerability at intake and adoption locations based on Census Tract obtained from addresses, focusing on comparison across strays, seized animals, and owner surrenders. Effect sizes were calculated to determine the magnitude and practical implications of these relationships. The study also examined the distribution of outcomes and reasons for animal surrender in relation to SVI levels. (3) Results: The analysis found that animals tended to enter shelters from areas of higher vulnerability while being adopted out to homes from all levels of vulnerability. Stray animals and those seized by authorities were more likely to come from high-SVI areas and showed a stronger disparity between intake and adoption SVI levels than owner surrenders. Racial/ethnic minority status and socioeconomic status were the components of the SVI that produced the strongest differences between intake and adoption vulnerability levels. Adoptions, however, were evenly distributed across different SVI levels, suggesting equitable access to adoption services. The study also identified that animals from high-SVI areas were not euthanized at higher rates compared to those from lower-SVI areas. (4) Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for further investigation into the high numbers of stray adult dogs in areas of communities that are most socially vulnerable as well as programs to address the volume of young animals originating from these areas. The equitable distribution of adoptions across SVI levels suggests that shelters are effectively engaging with socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse communities. Future research should focus on exploring the dynamics of stray animal intakes and enforcement patterns to enhance community and animal welfare initiatives.

PSX-22 Boosting techniques for prediction of dry matter intake of cattle in confinement settings and SHAP analysis on the models’ output

Abstract Measurement of individual dry matter intake (DMI) is critical to improving the management of the beef herd and is necessary to determine the feed efficiency of individual cattle. Combining machine learning models and proxies for DMI (e.g., water intake, body weight, climatic variables) has the potential to replace the need for dedicated feed intake equipment. It would also open the possibility of measuring DMI in situations like grazing where quantifying DMI directly is not possible. In this study, we examined the relationship between DMI, animal variables and environmental variables. In this study, we developed and tested machine learning models based boosting techniques to develop approaches to predict DMI in cattle, using the same data we have previously published results from Random Forest techniques in the past. The dataset included both bulls and steers. The developed models include both regular boosting regression models and random effects boosting models. The regular boosting technique models such as gradient boosting regression, light gradient boosting regression, extreme gradient boosting regression. Similarly, random effects boosting machine learning model Gaussian process boosting (GPBoost) was developed to consider the random effects associated with the intake behavior of the animals. The extreme gradient boosting model outperformed other regular boosting regression models with a r2 of 0.81 and 0.48 on training and testing datasets respectively. However, it does not consider the random effects associated with the longitudinal nature of the animal intake and weather variables and prone to overfitting. GPBoost model variants were tested and developed to avoid overfitting and to incorporate a random effects model, which we propose as the overall best performing model. The GPBoost generalized well on the training and testing datasets with r2 scores of 0.55 and 0.54 respectively. To further understand the model’s performance on the unseen dataset, we used SHAP analysis on the GPBoost. The SHAP analysis revealed that water intake, full body weight and age of the animals contributed significantly to predicting unseen data.

393 The role of on-animal sensors in understanding feed intake, behavior, and performance of grazing livestock

Abstract Intake by grazing animals is difficult to reliably measure in the field, particularly in more diverse grazing systems where pastures vary greatly across time and space in resource availability, which in turn leads to greater variation in animal time budgets and intake patterns. Advances in remote livestock monitoring (e.g., on-animal sensors, walk -over-weighing), and advanced analytics such as machine learning algorithms can contribute to the development of robust, adaptable tools for better understanding of animal performance and behavior in grazing systems. Many existing tools for predicting livestock production require estimates of feed intake, and while estimates based on forage sward characteristics have been developed and used for temperate, relatively homogenous pastures, they are less well defined for more diverse rangelands. These diverse pastures are more difficult to characterize due to their greater variation in quantity and quality; consequently, animal selectivity is greater in more variable pastures. However, such feedback loops between pasture diversity and animal behavior may not yet be adequately represented in biophysical models. On-animal sensors such as accelerometers and GPS devices can be used to develop new ways of assessing relative intake by providing accurate estimates of animal location and behavior profiles, such as the use of machine learning algorithms to detect how much time is spent grazing, walking, ruminating, or resting. Measurements of animal behavior could then be combined with other animal-based methods such as walk-over-weighing and fecal NIR to improve estimates of intake and production for a wide range of extensive grazing environments. Sensor-derived measurements of animal movement could also be used to improve estimates of the energetic costs of grazing, thereby improving estimates of energy available for growth. As an example, data on recent activity and paddock use from on-animal sensors could be entered into a model to estimate current feeding requirements, then combined with weather and pasture quality forecasts. The ensuing baseline could then be used to explore the potential variability of these projections and generate a range for possible expected performance over the next month or season. This approach could be repeated over time, and animal performance and behavior measures used to update model estimates and improve forward projections. These methods could also be used in conjunction with estimates of animal energy requirements to provide real-time prediction of relative feed intake, which would provide a step-change in modelling livestock production in extensive grazing systems. For these approaches to be successful, additional calibration data are needed across a wide variety of environments and species, and the tools must be cost-effective to implement. In summary, on-animal measurements provide an adaptable, data-driven approach that could be integrated with existing tools to improve our understanding of feed intake, behavior, and performance of grazing animals.

125 Could yeast derivatives change beef cattle water intake in different scenarios?

Abstract Adequate water intake is linked to greater dry matter intake, heat loss, and productivity. To measure the water intake of beef cattle reared in groups, two experiments were carried out in Brazil (South East/Middle East) using water throughs coupled with scales (Intergado, Betim, Brazil) and RFID individual identification systems, allowing the recording of individual water intake of animals. In experiment 1, young bulls (n = 96; 105 d on feed - feedlot) were randomly assigned to four treatments: 1) Control, no yeast derivative; 2) AY – 7 g·animal⁻¹·d⁻¹, Autolyzed Yeast grown on sugarcane molasses (RumenYeast, ICC, Brazil); 3) YM – 3 g·animal⁻¹·d⁻¹, yeast rich in soluble Yeast Metabolites; 4) YB – 5 g·animal⁻¹·d⁻¹, Yeast Blend (live Yeast plus autolyzed Yeast). Diets (adaptation, growing, and finishing) x treatments were treated as fixed effects on the complete randomized design. In experiment 2, backgrounding bull calves (n = 32) reared on grazing and 710 g/d of protein supplements (90 d) were randomly assigned to two treatments: 1) Control, no yeast derivative; 2) AY – 7 g·animal⁻¹·d⁻¹, Autolyzed Yeast (RumenYeast), the means were subjected to ANOVA analyses. In both experiments, additives were inserted into the diet (mineral premix or supplement), animals were the experimental unit, and differences were declared significant at P < 0.05. Yeast derivatives increased (P < 0.05) water intake in both experiments (Figure 1). The average increment in water intake (L·animal⁻¹·d⁻¹ was 13.9%. Interestingly, the increment in relation to control was noted for all yeast derivatives and scenarios covered by the experiments (feedlot adaptation diet, feedlot growing diet, feedlot finishing diet, and grazing system). Until now, there seems to be no literature explanation for our findings. However, these results could help to explain the positive effects of yeast derivatives on rumen pH, protein microbial flow, and thermal stress since greater water intake increases the passage rate of rumen fluid and body heat loss. Statistical correlations may not be understood as a cause-consequence link. However, when dealing with a new question, correlations may give us a path to go on and investigate. Malheiros et al. (2023) noted a negative correlation between water intake and rumen dimethylamine. Autolyzed yeast can strongly decrease the concentration of rumen methylamines in cows facing subacute acidosis (Humer et al., 2018). Niacin metabolism should also be investigated since its supplementation enhances cows’ blood niacin levels and water intake. Yeast derivatives are rich in niacin, and autolyzed yeast supplementation can increase blood niacin and body heat loss during summer (Dias et al., 2018), probably increasing water need. In conclusion, yeast derivatives increased the water intake of beef cattle, and this finding adds to the understanding of how yeast derivatives supplementation benefits ruminants.

459 A new approach to measuring dry matter intake, from drylot to pasture: Activities of the alliance for regenerative livestock

Abstract The current state of feed intake measurement for cattle in confinement relies on expensive monitoring systems. There is no effective method for measuring feed intake in grazing animals. To address these limitations, our research aims to tap into the potential of passively collected data, such as data from the Internet of Things (IoT), to address practical challenges in animal agriculture. This includes improving livestock management, optimizing resource allocation, and reducing ecological footprints. The benefits of our research extend beyond improved livestock management to include reducing ecological footprints, such as water, carbon, and environmental footprints. Grazing livestock have a crucial role in nutrient cycling in grasslands and advancing more sustainable livestock production systems. This requires innovation of research methods for quantifying intakes of animals housed in a variety of systems including confinement facilities that lack expensive feed intake systems and for grazing animals. Currently, the industry standard for determining feed intake are equations published in the Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle (NASEM, 2016). Our recent efforts using machine learning approaches (Blake et al., 2023) dramatically outperforms the equations. Using the same dataset, the NASEM (2016) approach overestimates intake by 34%. We have developed a predictive algorithm utilizing data collected from animals in confinement where individual feed intake (ground truth) is known. We have developed machine learning models such as Repeated Measures Random Forests (RMRF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) to better predict feed intake in confined cattle. We have also used these predictive algorithms to determine feed intake of grazing animals and animals in confinement without feed intake systems and validated the predictive value of the approach.

418 Evaluation of an automated system for measuring individual animal water consumption

Abstract SmartWater is an automatic watering station that measures the volume of water consumed by individual animals when visiting the system. The self-contained, portable system is constructed of a steel frame, two load cells, and a stainless-steel water trough that measures 0.1 m3 with a water capacity of 113 L. SmartWater refills automatically when the water mass is below 55 L, refilling for 120 s, or until the water mass reaches 70 L. The flow rate of water entering the system and the weight of the bin are measured every second in L/s and L, respectively. When the bin is being refilled, animals are still able to drink from the system. Animal water intake during a visit is measured by summing the amount of water dispensed into the bin and the difference in bin weight at the start and end of the visit. Water intake days are considered valid if the unknown percentage is less than 5% of the total daily water intake, where unknown intake is defined as feed mass disappearance that cannot be assigned to an EID. Invalid days are excluded from final datasets. System performance was evaluated using 17 Angus heifers (body weight = 248 ± 37 kg) in a 55-d trial period. Animals were given ad libitum access to two SmartWater systems, and all animals successfully adapted to the system. Mean daily visitation was 2.7 ± 0.4 and average visit length was 87 ± 175 s. Mean water consumption over the trial period was 13.7 ± 1.8 L. The coefficient of variance of water consumption between animals was 12.8%. The average standard deviation water consumption within animals between days was 5.9%. SmartWater provides an accurate and efficient way to measure water intake of animals in extensive and intensive systems, eliminating the need to manually monitor water levels and refill watering stations.

387 Impacts of rumen protected omega-6 fatty acid supplementation on cow reproduction and calf growth

Abstract Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is crucial for proper fetal development. Rumen protected omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids (FA) may improve health and reproductive success in beef cattle. Previous research studied the effects of supplementing ω-6 on cow production either during late gestation or post-breeding but not during both stages. Our objective was to determine the effects of ω-6 supplementation during late gestation and post-breeding on cow reproduction and calf pre-weaning growth. Eighty cows were assigned to either a saturated FA control (C) or rumen protected ω-6 supplements for 40 d before parturition (PRE) and/or 35 d after artificial insemination (AI, POST) using a 2 × 2 factorial: PRE C-POST C(n = 19); PRE C-POST ω-6(n = 19); PRE ω-6-POST ω-6(n = 17); PRE ω-6-POST C(n = 18). Cows were fed ad libitum hay and water when on/off supplementation periods. Supplements were provided in low moisture tubs. Individual animal intake of supplement was measured by a GrowSafe system. Cow body weights and plasma FA concentrations were measured prior to and after supplementation during each period. Calves were weighed at birth, branding, 150 d old and weaning. Reproductive measurements included postpartum estrus activity, estrus response at fixed-time AI (FTAI), and pregnancy rates. Blood plasma for progesterone analysis was collected on d 7 post-AI on all cows. Corpus luteum (CL) area was measured on d 7 via transrectal ultrasonography on a subset of cows during the POST period (PRE ω-6-POST ω-6 n = 8; PRE C-POST C n = 8; PRE C-POST ω-6 n = 8; PRE ω-6-POST C n = 8). The relationship between supplement intake and plasma FA concentration was analyzed via linear regression, and all other variables were analyzed via ANOVA. Supplement intakes within treatments and between the PRE and POST supplemental periods were highly variable. Body weights remained similar for cows (P = 0.52), but POST ω-6 calves had larger weaning weights than POST C calves (P = 0.02). There was a positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.14, P < 0.03) between supplement intake and plasma FA for PRE ω-6 and POST ω-6. Positive linear relationships between intake and plasma ω-6 FA concentration were observed for PRE C (r2 = 0.11, P < 0.05), PRE ω-6 (r2 = 0.2, P < 0.007) and POST ω-6 (r2 = 0.31, P = 0.0005). Post-partum estrus activity was similar (P = 0.81) between PRE C and PRE ω-6 cows, and estrus response at FTAI was similar (P = 0.13) between POST C and POST ω-6 cows. POST ω-6 cows had larger CL areas than POST C cows (P = 0.03); however, blood progesterone concentrations at d 7 did not differ between treatments (P = 0.65). There was no difference in conception to FTAI between POST C and POST ω-6 (P = 0.08). These results indicate that free choice ω-6 FA supplementation during late gestation and post-AI result in large variation in intake between cows that influence plasma concentrations, but did not markedly alter reproductive measures in mature beef cows.

EFFECT OF DIETS CONTAINING PYRIDOXINE AND ASCORBIC ACID AT GRADED LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS

Vitamin C and B6 play crucial roles in enhancing appetite and promoting feed intake of ruminant animals. These vitamins are involved in the regulation of various biological processes, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters that control hunger and satiety. By providing an adequate amount of Vitamin C and B6 in the diet, West African Dwarf goats are likely to exhibit improved feed intake, resulting in a greater nutrient intake and better growth performance. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of diets containing ascorbic acid and pyridoxine at graded levels on the growth performance of WAD goats. A total of twenty (20) West African Dwarf (WAD) goats aged less than a year old were used for a feeding trial that lasted for 12 weeks. This study was carried out at the Small Ruminant Unit of the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria. The goats were randomly allotted on weight equalization into four (4) dietary treatments consisting of five (5) goats per treatments which were: basal concentrate diet (control), basal concentrate diet (100kg) + 50g of ascorbic acid, basal concentrate diet (100kg) + 50g of pyridoxine, basal concentrate diet (100kg) + 25g of ascorbic acid + 25g of pyridoxine. Data were collected on feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% probability level. Results obtained also showed that the treatments had no significant (P<0.05) effect on all the growth performance parameters under consideration. Goats fed diets containing 50g of pyridoxine had highest value for total feed intake (248.29g/day) and total protein intake (22.18g/day) while goats fed diets containing 50g ascorbic acid had higher mean values for majority of growth performance parameters which were final weight (8.20kg), metabolic weight gain (4.45g/day/W0.75), metabolic final weight (4.84g/day/W0.75), daily weight gain (20.40g/day). The results of this study indicated that the inclusion of Ascorbic Acid at 50g inclusion rate (T2) is best in supplementing concentrate diets for a better growth performance.

The Skin Histopathology of Pro- and Parabiotics in a Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis.

As it has been revealed that the activation of human immune cells through the activity of intestinal microorganisms such as pro- and prebiotics plays a vital role, controlling the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and suppressing harmful bacteria in the intestine has become essential. The importance of probiotics, especially for skin health and the immune system, has led to the emergence of products in various forms, including probiotics, prebiotics, and parabiotics. In particular, atopic dermatitis (AD) produces hypersensitive immunosuppressive substances by promoting the differentiation and activity of immune regulatory T cells. As a result, it has been in the Th1 and Th2 immune balance through a mechanism that suppresses skin inflammation or allergic immune responses caused by bacteria. Furthermore, an immune mechanism has recently emerged that simultaneously controls the expression of IL-17 produced by Th17. Therefore, the anti-atopic effect was investigated by administering doses of anti-atopic candidate substances (Lactobacilus sakei CVL-001, Lactobacilus casei MCL, and Lactobacilus sakei CVL-001 Lactobacilus casei MCL mixed at a ratio of 4:3) in an atopy model using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene and observing symptom changes for 2 weeks to confirm the effect of pro-, para-, and mixed biotics on AD. First, the body weight and feed intake of the experimental animals were investigated, and total IgG and IgM were confirmed through blood biochemical tests. Afterward, histopathological staining was performed using H&E staining, Toluidine blue staining, Filaggrin staining, and CD8 antibody staining. In the treatment group, the hyperproliferation of the epidermal layer, the inflammatory cell infiltration of the dermal layer, the expression of CD8, the expression of filaggrin, and the secretion of mast cells were confirmed to be significantly reduced. Lastly, small intestine villi were observed through a scanning microscope, and scoring evaluation was performed through skin damage. Through these results, it was confirmed that AD was reduced when treated with pro-, para-, and mixed biotics containing probiotics and parabiotics.

Protein Intake and Mortality in Older Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

Avoiding high protein intake in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may reduce the risk of kidney function decline, but whether it can be suboptimal for survival is not well known. To estimate the associations of total, animal, and plant protein intake with all-cause mortality in older adults with mild or moderate CKD and compare the results to those of older persons without CKD. Data from 3 cohorts (Study on Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Frailty in Older Adults in Spain 1 and 2 and the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen [in Sweden]) composed of community-dwelling adults 60 years or older were used. Participants were recruited between March 2001 and June 2017 and followed up for mortality from December 2021 to January 2024. Those with no information on diet or mortality, with CKD stages 4 or 5, or undergoing kidney replacement therapy and kidney transplant recipients were excluded. Data were originally analyzed from June 2023 to February 2024 and reanalyzed in May 2024. Cumulative protein intake, estimated via validated dietary histories and food frequency questionnaires. The study outcome was 10-year all-cause mortality, ascertained with national death registers. Chronic kidney disease was ascertained according to estimated glomerular filtration rates, urine albumin excretion, and diagnoses from medical records. The study sample consisted of 8543 participants and 14 399 observations. Of the 4789 observations with CKD stages 1 to 3, 2726 (56.9%) corresponded to female sex, and mean (SD) age was 78.0 (7.2) years. During the follow-up period, 1468 deaths were recorded. Higher total protein intake was associated with lower mortality among participants with CKD; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for 1.00 vs 0.80 g/kg/d was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.79-0.98); for 1.20 vs 0.80 g/kg/d, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.66-0.95); and for 1.40 vs 0.80 g/kg/d, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.57-0.92). Associations with mortality were comparable for plant and animal protein (HRs, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.65-0.98] and 0.88 [95% CI, 0.81-0.95] per 0.20-g/kg/d increment, respectively) and for total protein intake in participants younger than 75 years vs 75 years or older (HRs, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.85-1.04] and 0.91 [95% CI, 0.85-0.98] per 0.20-g/kg/d increment in total protein intake, respectively). However, the hazards were lower among participants without CKD than in those with CKD (HRs, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.79-0.92] and 0.92 [95% CI, 0.86-0.98] per 0.20-g/kg/d increment, respectively; P = .02 for interaction). In this multicohort study of older adults, higher intake of total, animal, and plant protein was associated with lower mortality in participants with CKD. Associations were stronger in those without CKD, suggesting that the benefits of proteins may outweigh the downsides in older adults with mild or moderate CKD.

Polystyrene nano-plastics impede skeletal muscle development and induce lipid accumulation via the PPARγ/LXRβ pathway in vivo and in vitro in mice.

Nano-plastics (NPs) have emerged as a significant environmental pollutant, widely existing in water environment, and pose a serious threat to health and safety with the intake of animals. Skeletal muscle, a vital organ for complex life activities and functional demands, has received limited attention regarding the effects of NPs. In this study, the effects of polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) on skeletal muscle development were studied by oral administration of different sizes (1mg/kg) of PS-NPs in mice. The findings revealed that PS-NPs resulted in skeletal muscle damage and significantly hindered muscle differentiation, exhibiting an inverse correlation with PS-NPs particle size. Morphological analysis demonstrated PS-NPs caused partial disruption of muscle fibers, increased spacing between fibers, and lipid accumulation. RT-qPCR and western blots analyses indicated that PS-NPs exposure downregulated the expression of myogenic differentiation-related factors (Myod, Myog and Myh2), activated PPARγ/LXRβ pathway, and upregulated the expressions of lipid differentiation-related factors (SREBP1C, SCD-1, FAS, ACC1, CD36/FAT, ADIPOQ, C/EBPα and UCP-1). In vitro experiments, C2C12 cells were used to confirm cellular penetration of PS-NPs (0, 100, 200, 400μg/mL) through cell membranes along with activation of PPARγ expression. Furthermore, to verify LXRβ as a key signaling molecule, silencing RNA transfection experiments were conducted, resulting in no increase in the expressions of PPARγ, LXRβ, SREBP1C, FAS, CD36/FAT, ADIPOQ, C/EBPα and UCP-1 even after exposure to PS-NPs. However, the expressions of SCD-1and ACC1 remained unaffected. The present study evidenced that exposure to PS-NPs induced lipid accumulation via the PPARγ/LXRβ pathway thereby influencing skeletal muscle development.

Impact of growth implants and low-level tannin supplementation on enteric emissions and nitrogen excretion in grazing steers.

The primary objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of a growth-hormone implant (Revalor-G, Merck Animal Health., Rahway, NJ, USA) and tannin supplementation (Silvafeed BX, Silva Team, San Michele Mondovi CN, Italy) on enteric methane (CH4) emissions and estimated nitrogen (N) excretion in grazing steers. Steers (n = 20; initial body weight [IBW] = 343 ± 14kg) were acclimated to use a portable automated head-chamber system (AHCS) to measure CH4 and a SmartFeed Pro automated feeder for dietary supplementation (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA). After the training period, steers were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangements of treatments, with 2 levels of growth-hormone implants, no-implant (NO-IMP) or implanted (IMP), and 2 levels of tannin supplementation, no tannin supplementation (NO-TAN) or tannin supplementation (TAN). This created 4 treatment groups: (1) NO-TAN and NO-IMP, (2) TAN and NO-IMP, (3) IMP and NO-TAN, and (4) TAN and IMP. Tannin was offered daily at 0.30% dry matter intake (DMI) through 0.5kg/hd/d sweetfeed supplement (Sweetfeed Mix, AgFinity., Eaton, CO, USA) with a targeted tannin intake at 48g/hd/d. No (P ≥ 0.05) implant × tannin interaction was detected for any dependent variable, so only the main effects of implant (NO-IMP vs. IMP) and tannin supplementation (NO-TAN vs. TAN) are discussed. Implant status did not affect (P ≥ 0.56) final body weight (FBW) or average daily gain (ADG) during the 90 d grazing period. There was no effect (P ≥ 0.15) of growth implant on CH4 production or emission intensity (EI; g CH4/kg gain). Additionally, IMP steers tended (P ≤ 0.08) to have less CH4 yield (MY; g CH4/g DMI) and higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) than NO-IMP steers. Tannin supplementation did not impact (P ≥ 0.26) FBW or ADG. However, NO-TAN steers tended (P = 0.06) to have a greater total DMI than steers supplemented with tannin. No effect (P ≥ 0.22) of tannin supplementation was observed for CH4 production and EI. Nitrogen utilization as measured through BUN, urine N, fecal N, or fecal P was similar (P ≥ 0.12) between TAN and NO-TAN animals. The findings indicate that low-level dietary supplementation to reduce enteric emissions is difficult in grazing systems due to inconsistent animal intake and that growth implants could be used as a strategy to improve growth performance and reduce EI of steers grazing improved pasture.

Gut-Microbiota-Related Metabolite Phenylacetylglutamine and Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease among Women.

Phenylacetylglutamine (PAGln) is a novel metabolite derived from gut microbial metabolism of dietary proteins, specifically phenylalanine, which may be linked to risks of adverse cardiovascular events. We investigated whether higher plasma levels of PAGln were associated with a greater risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and tested whether adherence to a plant-based diet, which characterizes habitual dietary patterns of animal and plant food intake, modified the associations. We examined associations between plasma PAGln and risk of incident CHD over 11-16 years in a nested case-control study of 1520 women (760 incident cases and 760 controls) from the Nurses' Health Study. Separately, we analyzed relations between PAGln and dietary intakes measured through dietary records in the Women's Lifestyle Validation Study (n=725). Higher PAGln levels were related to a greater risk of CHD (p <0.05 for dose-response relationship). Higher PAGln was associated with greater red/processed meat intake and lower vegetable intake (p <0.05 for all). We found a significant interaction between PAGln and adherence to plant-based diet index (PDI) on CHD (Pinteraction=0.008); higher PAGln levels were associated with an increased risk of CHD (relative risk per 1 SD: 1.22 [95% CI: 1.05, 1.41]) among women with low PDI but not among those with high PDI. Higher PAGln was associated with higher risk of CHD, particularly in women with dietary patterns of eating more animal foods and fewer plant-based foods. Adherence to plant-based diets might attenuate unfavorable associations between a novel microbial metabolite and CHD risk.

Replacement Nellore heifers receiving supplementation under different herbage allowance: effects on forage characteristics, performance, physiology, and reproduction

In Brazil, heifers typically calve at 36–48 months. Due to the high demand for meat and the need to reduce slaughter age, high supplementation has become commonly used in beef cattle farming. However, the literature remains scarce on studies that explore the impact of grazing management during the background phase on the productivity and reproductive efficiency of young Nellore heifers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two-herbage allowances (HA) on forage characteristics, performance, physiology and reproductive parameters of replacement Nellore heifers. Ninety weaned heifers [169 ± 19 kg of shrunk body weight (SBW); 210 ± 28 days of age] were blocked by initial BW and randomly assigned to receive different HA: (1) High herbage allowance (HHA: 7.2 kg DM/kg BW) and (2) Low herbage allowance (LHA: 3.3 kg DM/kg BW); and divided into six paddocks, totaling 12 paddocks. The experimental period was divided into the growing phase (D173) and the reproductive season (D83). Continuous stocking with a variable stocking rate was used. The supplement was provided daily with expected intake of around 10 g/kg of BW. The HHA pasture showed greater values of canopy height, greater HA, and lower values of CP and CP: in vitro digestible DM ratio than the LHA pasture over the days of the study (P ≤ 0.05). Herbage mass and the green stem proportion were lower in LHA pasture (P < 0.01), while the green leaf (g/kg DM) and senescent stem proportions (g/kg DM) were higher (P = 0.080) when compared to HHA pasture. Heifers maintained on HHA pasture had a higher average daily gain (P < 0.01), forage intake (P < 0.003), higher SBW (P < 0.01), Longissimus area (P < 0.01), and 12th-rib fat thickness (P < 0.01) than those kept in the LHA pasture. The proportion of heifers that reached the weight at maturity on D173 (P = 0.027) and the proportion of pubertal pregnancy heifers (P = 0.042) were greatest in the HHA treatment. The blood urea nitrogen (P = 0.002) was higher in heifers maintained in the LHA pasture. Heifers maintained in HHA pasture showed higher values of relative abundance of mRNA for UGT1A6 (P = 0.004) and IGFBP3 (P = 0.072). The use of HHA criteria increased forage intake, body gain, and carcass attributes of animals, which led to better reproductive performance of Nellore heifers.

Association between total, animal, and plant protein intake and type 2 diabetes risk in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Background and AimsWhile clinical studies indicate that dietary protein may benefit glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes (T2D), the impact of dietary protein, including whether the protein is of animal or plant origin, on the risk of T2D is uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the associations of total, animal, and plant protein intakes with the risk of T2D. MethodsA systematic search was performed using multiple data sources, including PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with the data cut-off in May 2023. Our selection criteria focused on prospective cohort studies that reported risk estimates for the association between protein intake and T2D risk. For data synthesis, we calculated summary relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for the highest versus lowest categories of protein intake using random-effects models. Furthermore, we conducted both linear and non-linear dose-response analyses to assess the dose-response associations between protein intake and T2D risk. ResultsSixteen prospective cohort studies, involving 615,125 participants and 52,342 T2D cases, were identified, of which eleven studies reported data on intake of both animal and plant protein. Intakes of total (pooled effect size: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.24) and animal (pooled effect size: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.09-1.27) protein were associated with an increased risk of T2D. These effects were dose-related – each 20-gram increase in total or animal protein intake increased the risk of T2D by ∼ 3% and ∼ 7%, respectively. In contrast, there was no association between intake of plant protein and T2D risk (pooled effect size: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89-1.08), while replacing animal with plant protein intake (per each 20 gram) was associated with a reduced risk of T2D (pooled effect size: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.76-0.84). ConclusionsOur findings indicate that long-term consumption of animal, but not plant, protein is associated with a significant and dose-dependent increase in the risk of T2D, with the implication that replacement of animal with plant protein intake may lower the risk of T2D.

The cross-sectional association between dietary total, animal, and plant-based protein intake and the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in Dutch adults with type 2 diabetes: The Hoorn Diabetes Care System cohort

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate cross-sectional associations of total, animal, and plant-based protein intake and depressive symptoms in Dutch adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). MethodsWe included 1137 individuals with T2D (aged 68.6 ± 9.0) from the Hoorn Diabetes Care System cohort. Energy-adjusted protein intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10 and/or anti-depressant use) and the severity of depressive symptoms (continuous PHQ-9 score). Associations between total, animal, and plant-based protein (quartiles) with depressive symptoms were assessed using multiple logistic and linear regression. ResultsHighest intake of total, animal, and plant-based protein was not associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms, compared to lowest intake (e.g., total protein, ORQ4vsQ1:0.75, 95%CI 0.42;1.32). For the severity of depressive symptoms, highest total protein intake was significantly associated with lower PHQ-9 scores (ORQ4vsQ1:0.87, 95%CI 0.75;1.00), compared to lowest intake. Animal protein was not associated with the severity of depressive symptoms (β ∼ 1), while the association for plant-based protein was marginally non-significant (βQ4vsQ1:0.88, 95%CI 0.76;1.02). ConclusionIn individuals with T2D, higher total protein intake was associated with reduced severity of depressive symptoms, but not with the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Further prospective research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these associations.