Barley Diets Research Articles

High molecular weight barley β‐glucan supports bacterial populations beneficial for gut health (647.45)

Effects of short‐term consumption of barley β‐glucan (BBG) on gut microbiota were investigated using a controlled, single‐blinded, randomized crossover study consisting of four phases of 35 d intervention, each separated by 28d washout intervals. Subjects (n=22) received wheat and rice based control diet (CD), barley diet (BD) with 5g/d low molecular weight (MW) BBG, BD with 3g/d high MW BBG, or BD with 3g low MW BBG. DNA was extracted from feces taken at the end of each phase and the V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes amplified and subjected to illumina sequencing. Data were analyzed using MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS, PLS‐DA of SIMCA and PERMANOVA of PRIMER. β‐Diversity of microbiota was affected by treatments (P = 0.02) with the most significant difference observed between 3g/d high MW compared to CD. At the phylum level, 3g/d high MW decreased (P < 0.001) Firmicutes (77.7% vs. 88.8%) and increased Bacteroidetes (18.2% vs. 10.0%) compared to CD. Among the core genera, 3 g high MW increased Bactroides (11.3% vs. 6.7%; P = 0.01) compared to CD. Other taxa which were positively associated with 3g high MW BBG included Prevotella, Akkermansia, Rikenellaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Data suggest that consumption of 3g/d high MW BBG supports particular bacterial populations that are beneficial to gut health.

Addition of nonstarch polysaccharides degrading enzymes to two hulless barley varieties fed in diets for weaned pigs1

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of 2 hulless barley varieties, with or without the addition of a nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme complex (β-glucanase and xylanase), on growth performance of weaned piglets in a 42-d feeding study. The study was conducted with 140 piglets (PIC × Duroc). Pigs were allocated to pens (4 castrated males or 4 females per pen) based on BW and sex, and pens were assigned to 5 experimental diets with 4 pens of castrated males and 3 pens of females per treatment. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were compared: 1) control corn-based diet (CTR), 2) diet with corn and wheat bran replaced by the Astartis hulless barley variety (AS), 3) diet with corn and wheat bran replaced by the AS supplemented with the NSP enzyme complex (ASE), 4) diet with corn and wheat bran replaced by the Alamo hulless barley variety (AL), and 5) diet with corn and wheat bran replaced by the AL supplemented with the NSP enzyme complex (ALE). The diets were formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements and offered in 2 phases: d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 42. At the end of the study, pigs fed AS and AL had equal weights as pigs fed CTR. Pigs fed the hulless barley diets had greater (P < 0.05) ADG during the second phase (P2) and overall phase, BW at d 42, and G:F during the P2 than those fed the CTR. Pigs fed the ASE and ALE had greater (P < 0.05) ADFI during the P2 and overall ADG than those fed the AS and AL. The increases in ADG during the P2 and final BW obtained with NSP enzyme supplementation were greater in pigs fed the AS than those fed the AL (barley × enzyme, P < 0.05). On the other hand, the NSP enzyme complex increased G:F in pigs fed the AS during the P2 and overall phase, but it had no effect on those fed the AL (barley × enzyme, P < 0.05). In conclusion, hulless barley with or without the NSP enzyme complex can be a replacement ingredient for corn and wheat bran in weaned pig diets. Addition of the NSP enzyme complex to AS variety, but not AL variety, improved growth performance of weanling pigs.

マウスにおける接触皮膚炎モデルの検討と大麦摂取の効果に関する研究

【目的および方法】肥満とアレルギー疾患の関連性に着目した基礎研究は少なく，食物繊維としての大麦摂取による両者の抑制効果に関する研究も少ない．本研究では，BALB/cマウスとC57BL/6JマウスのF1であるCBF1マウスに高脂肪食(CO)，大麦添加高脂肪食(BF)を与え，ハプテンの反復塗布によってアレルギー性接触皮膚炎の病態を形成し，食事内容の違いがマウスにおける接触皮膚炎に及ぼす影響および大麦添加によるアレルギー症状抑制効果の有無の検討を行うことを目的とした．【結果】BF群はCO群に比べ体重増加量が低い傾向にあり，飼料効率，腹腔内脂肪総重量，副睾丸周辺脂肪重量，後腹壁脂肪重量が有意に低値を示した．両群ともにハプテン(TNCB;トリニトロクロロベンゼン)を塗布した右耳の肥厚は左耳に比べ顕著に増加したが，耳介のトルイジンブルー陽性細胞数はCO群に比べてBF群で有意に少なかった．BF群で盲腸内容物のLactobacillus属の菌数が有意に多く，Bifidobacterium属の菌数は多い傾向にあった(p=0.065)．BF群でClostridium coccoidesグループの菌数は有意に少なかった．Eubacterium属，Bacteroides属の菌数は，群間に有意差は見られなかった．【考察】マウスにおける接触皮膚炎の症状は食事内容および食餌性肥満と関連することが示唆された．また，大麦摂取によって肥満とアレルギー症状の両者が抑制されることが示唆され，その機構の一部に腸内細菌叢の状態変化が関与していると考えられた．

New insights in dietary-gluten-induced autoimmunity

Coeliac disease comprises intolerance against dietary wheat, rye and barley gluten and is one of the most common food-related life-long disorders in Western countries. In 2013, new knowledge of the clinical diversity of coeliac disease and further details about the autoimmune aspects of this disorder have emerged.

Effect of substituting barley with sorghum on starch digestion, rumen microbial yield and growth in Iranian Baluchi lambs fed high concentrate diets

This study investigated the effects of substituting barley (B) with sorghum (S) on site and extent of in vivo disappearance of dry matter (DM), starch and nitrogen in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), microbial protein synthesis and growth in finishing lambs. 18 male Iranian Baluchi lambs were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments in a complete randomized design (CRD). Dietary grain treatments were: barley (B) as control, barley: sorghum (BS) (in equal amount) and sorghum (S). At the end of the feeding trial, the lambs were euthanized and digesta contents in the different sections of the GIT were collected to determine DM, starch and nitrogen disappearance. Starch intake of lambs on barley (B) diet was lower than those fed S and BS but lambs on B diet had higher (P<0.05) ruminal DM content and starch disappearance resulting in lower (P<0.05) ruminal pH than those fed diets containing sorghum. Although lambs on B diet had higher (P<0.05) volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration in the rumen, highest ruminal microbial protein synthesis was recorded in lambs fed BS diet, presumably due to the more synchronized release of energy and nitrogen together with the higher rumen pH appropriate for microbial growth. Although a higher (P<0.05) outflow rate (g/d) of starch into the small intestine was observed for high sorghum (S) diet than the BS and control (B) diets, lambs on S diet had the lowest microbial-N flow to small intestine, resulting in the lowest N and starch digestibility in the small intestine and total track. There was a clear positive relationship between microbial N (MN) synthesis and starch disappearance in the small intestine, with BS lambs producing the highest and S lambs lowest MN yield (32.2 and 24.1g/d, respectively) and corresponding starch disappearance was 0.87 and 0.58, respectively. The majority of the post-ruminal nutrients (DM, N and starch) were hydrolyzed in the distal-duodenum and anterior segments of jejunum. It can be concluded that substitution of barley with 0.50 sorghum increased outflow of starch from the rumen, enhanced starch digestibility and absorption in the small intestine and resulted in higher growth rate as evident by the higher average daily gain (ADG) and more efficient feed conversion ratio (FCR) recorded for lambs on the BS diet.

Feeding barley grain-rich diets altered electrophysiological properties and permeability of the ruminal wall in a goat model

High-producing ruminants are commonly fed large amounts of concentrate to meet their high energy demands for rapid growth or high milk production. However, this feeding strategy can severely impair rumen functioning, leading to subacute ruminal acidosis. Subacute ruminal acidosis might have consequences for electrophysiological properties by changing the net ion transfer and permeability of ruminal epithelia, which may increase the uptake of toxic compounds generated in the rumen into the systemic circulation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of excessive barley feeding on the electrophysiological and barrier functions of the ruminal epithelium and serum inflammation and ketogenesis markers after a long-term feeding challenge, using growing goats as a ruminant model. A feeding trial was carried out with growing goats allocated to 1 of the 3 groups (n=5–6 animals/group), with diets consisting exclusively of hay (control diet) or hay with 30 or 60% barley grain. Samples of the ventral ruminal epithelium were taken after euthanasia and instantly subjected to Ussing chamber experiments, where electrophysiological properties of the epithelium were measured in parallel with the permeability of marker molecules of different sizes [fluorescein 5(6)-isothiocyanate and horseradish peroxidase] from luminal to apical side. Additionally, ruminal fluid and blood samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment as well as shortly before euthanasia. Ruminal fluid samples were analyzed for volatile fatty acids and pH, whereas blood samples were analyzed for lipopolysaccharide, serum amyloid A, and β-hydroxybutyrate. Electrophysiological data indicated that barley feeding increased the epithelial short-circuit current compared with the control. Tissue conductance also increased with dietary barley inclusion. As shown with both marker molecules, permeability of ruminal epithelia increased with barley inclusion in the diet. Despite a lowered ruminal pH associated with increased volatile fatty acids (such as propionate and butyrate) concentrations as well as altered epithelial properties in response to high-grain feeding, no signs of inflammation became apparent, as blood serum amyloid A concentrations remained unaffected by diet. However, greater amounts of grain in the diet were associated with a quadratic increase in lipopolysaccharide concentration in the serum. Also, increasing the amounts of barley grain in the diet resulted in a tendency to quadratically augment serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and, hence, the alimentary ketogenesis. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of barley inclusion in the development of subacute ruminal acidosis in relation to ruminal epithelial damage and the translocation of toxic compounds in vivo.

Effect of microbial phytase on phosphorus digestibility in non-heat-treated and heat-treated wheat–barley pig diets1

The objective was to evaluate effects of microbial phytase on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P in a non-heat-treated and a heat-treated wheat (Triticum aestivum)-barley (Hordeum vulgare) diet fed without inorganic P in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. The basal diet was ground and half of the batch was steam pelleted at 81°C and crumbled. Phytase was added at 0, 250, and 500 phytase units (FTU)/kg as-fed (Aspergillus niger). The study comprised 36 pigs from 6 litters. Pigs were housed in metabolism crates and fed 1 of 6 diets for 12 d: 5 d for adaptation and 7 d for total collection of feces. The ATTD of P was highest (P < 0.01) for the non-heat-treated diets and highest (P < 0.01) for the phytase-supplemented diets. Heat treatment reduced plant phytase activity by 25% whereby the ATTD of P decreased (P < 0.01) from 57 to 49%. Microbial phytase increased the ATTD of P to a maximum of 64 and 61% in the non-heat-treated and heat-treated diets corresponding to an increase of 7 and 12%-units. Responses for ATTD of P did not differ between 250 vs. 500 FTU/kg as-fed. In conclusion, processing of feed (meal or pellets) containing plant phytase should be considered to avoid over- or underestimation of effects of microbial phytase.

Effects of a 6-phytase on the apparent ileal digestibility of minerals and amino acids in ileorectal anastomosed pigs fed on a corn–soybean meal–barley diet

Phosphorus of plant-based feedstuffs for monogastric animals is mainly in the form of phytic P, which has a very low bioavailability. The nondigested phytic P may contribute to P pollution. Furthermore, phytic acid may reduce digestibility of other minerals and protein. This study evaluated effects of the microbial 6-phytase RONOZYME HiPhos on apparent ileal digestibility of P, phytic acid, Ca, CP, energy, and AA in six 60-d-old ileorectal anastomosed pigs. In a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, pigs had free access to alternatively a corn (Zea mays)-soybean (Glycine max) meal-barley (Hordeum vulgare)-based diet or this diet supplemented with RONOZYME HiPhos at either 500 units/kg (RH500) or 1000 units/kg (RH1000). Pigs fed diets supplemented with RH500 or RH1000 increased (P < 0.05) digestibility of P, Ca, and Lys. Pigs fed diet RH1000 increased (P < 0.05) digestibility of CP, total AA, indispensable AA, Glu + Gln, His, Gly, Ala, Tyr, Leu, Phe, and Met. Similar to growth trials with increased total tract digestibility of P and Ca, phytase increased apparent ileal digestibility of these indispensable minerals and phytate. The phytase increased digestibility of CP and indispensable AA indicating a better availability of plant-based proteins.

Effect of different single feeding diets on small intestinal mucosa of cocks: a histomorphometrical study

Diet composition as a major factor can affect histological status of the gut. The present study was conducted to evaluate histological changes of small intestinal wall of cockerels fed with high protein, high carbohydrate, or high fiber single diets. To this end, thirty Rhode Island Red cockerels, 70 weeks of age, were randomly allocated into three equal groups and hull-less barley, soybean meal, and sunflower meal supplemented to the basal diet of each group gradually during first week. Birds were fed with 100 % of each of the above diets for the next 2 weeks. At the end of the third week, all birds were sacrificed and small intestines were removed immediately and processed for histological study. Transverse sections from the middle parts of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were made and stained with H&E and PAS for light microscopic study. Villus height, villus width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and goblet cell number per unit area were determined. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA method. While hull-less barley and soy bean meal diets had no undesirable effect on histological parameters of small intestine, sunflower meal significantly decreased villus height/crypt dept ratio which may decrease nutrient absorption. In conclusion, single feeding with sunflower meal, but not hull-less barley and soy bean meal diets, adversely affects histological feature of intestinal mucosa of cockerels which may lead to decreased nutrient absorption and subsequently declined performance of the birds.

Rates of change in liver copper concentration in cattle given a copper-deficient diet, with or without pre-treatment with tetrathiomolybdate, for evaluation of two parenteral copper supplements

AIM: To minimise the impact of initial variation in liver copper (Cu) on assessments of Cu supplements for cattle in depletion/repletion experiments. METHODS: Efficacy of two Cu injections was assessed with 18 calves, weighing 200–250 kg, given a Cu-deficient barley diet, containing 4.1 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) and added molybdenum (3 mg/kg) and sulphur (3 g/kg). Initial liver biopsy Cu ranged from 3.15–14.17 mmol/kg DM and nine calves with the highest values were given three subcutaneous injections of 235 mg tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) after 42–46 days depletion to lower liver Cu. Untreated (L) and TTM-treated (H) calves were ranked separately for liver Cu after 50 days depletion and allocated to one of three treatments: 100 mg Cu given subcutaneously as CuCaEDTA in either a paraffin (CuP) or aqueous base (CuA) after 56 days depletion (Day 0) or no injection (O). Thereafter, plasma and liver biopsy Cu were measured every 2–4 weeks for 16 weeks. Responses in liver Cu to Cu injections were compared with and without loge transformation and by linear regression. RESULTS: Prior to Cu injection, the fractional decline in liver Cu concentration (FDLCu) after 50 days depletion was 0.64 (SE 0.066) and 0.80 (SE 0.090) in H and L calves, respectively (p=0.09) and mean liver Cu did not differ on Day −6 (6.65 (SE 0.516) and 4.91 (SE 0.681) mmol/kg DM, respectively). Mean plasma Cu was higher in H than L calves on Day 0 (16.6 (SE 0.52) and 13.3 (SE 0.49) μmol/L, respectively (p<0.001)). Rates of decline in loge liver Cu between Days 0–84 in treatments L and H were: 0.0138 and 0.0071 for Groups O; 0.0033 and 0.0016 for Groups CuP; 0.0073 and 0.0049 for Groups CuA (pooled SE 0.0014) mmol/kg DM/day, respectively. Between Days 84–114, FDLCu was uniformly high across experiments and groups (0.59 (SE 0.042)). Cu injections did not affect plasma Cu, which remained 3.1 (SE 0.41) umol/L higher in Experiment H than in L (p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The use of rates of change in liver copper concentrations improved the assessment of efficacy for two parental copper supplements and that of pre-treatment with tetrathiomolybdate, which, contrary to expectation, slowed Cu turnover by mechanisms that remain unclear.

Effect of barley and oats on feed intake, live weight gain and some carcass characteristics of fattening lambs

The influence of whole, crushed and ground barley and oats on intake, performance and carcass characteristics of lambs was examined. A comparison of diets was conducted with individually-fed male and female lambs in six groups. The study was repeated in three successive years (1995–1997) using the same experimental design. A total of 192 lambs of a mean initial age of 74 days (SD 13.0) and live weight 20.6kg (SD 4.54) were daily fed their respective concentrates, 72g dry matter (DM)/kg metabolic live weight (kgW0.75), for 98 days from weaning to slaughter. Hay was provided ad libitum.The lambs adapted more quickly to diets containing barley than to those containing oats. Compared to oats, the total daily DM intake was higher on barley (1162 vs. 990g DM/lamb, 89 vs. 78g DM/kgW0.75, P<0.001). Hay consumption was significantly lower on oats than on barley (182 vs. 344g DM/day, P<0.001). On oats the lambs experienced energy and protein deficiencies with their energy and protein intakes being 20% below feeding recommendations. On the barley diets the energy and protein requirements of the lambs were satisfied. When processed cereals were offered, there was no increase in the total DM, energy or protein intakes. Processing did not improve the organic matter digestibility of barley or oats.The growth rate (P<0.01), carcass weight (P<0.001) and slaughter percentage (P<0.001) were higher on a barley diet than on oats. A barley diet resulted in more kidney fat (P<0.01) and fattier carcasses. Processing had no positive influence on the live weight gain. On the contrary, lambs receiving crushed or ground barley or oats had a lower final live weight than those receiving whole grains (P<0.001). The utilisation of whole grain was more efficient than that of processed grain. There were no advantages in processing barley and oats for the feeding of lambs.

The influence of the different carbohydrate sources on utilization efficiency of processed broiler litter in sheep

In a completely randomized design, fifteen male Moghani sheep were used to determine the influence of supplementing processed broiler litter (BL) with different carbohydrate sources (i.e., corn, barley or molasses) on the nutrients digestibility, microbial protein (MP) production, ruminal parameters and blood metabolites. The three dietary treatments, which were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous, were corn diet (alfalfa hay, wheat straw, processed BL, corn grain), barley diet (alfalfa hay, wheat straw, processed BL, barley grain) and molasses diet (alfalfa hay, wheat straw, processed BL, molasses). The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber and MP in sheep fed molasses diet were higher (P<0.05) compared with those fed with diets containing corn or barley. However, sheep fed molasses diet had lower (P<0.05) ruminal pH ammonia concentration than those fed with other diets. Including various carbohydrate sources in the diets had no effect on volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations (P>0.05), except for total VFA and molar proportion of butyrate which increased (P<0.05) by molasses feeding. From blood metabolites only the blood urea-N concentration in sheep fed diet containing molasses was lower (P<0.05) than diet containing corn. In conclusion, adding molasses to processed BL-containing diet led to improved nutrient digestibility and MP production in sheep.

Effect of replacement of a conventional diet by granulated barley during finishing period on growth performance and carcass and meat characteristics in 130-kg gilts

A total of 48 Duroc×(Landrace×Large White) gilts of 40.5±0.69kg of initial body weight (BW) were used. During the growing period (40–100kg BW), all pigs ate a conventional feed and during the finishing period (100–130kg BW) animals received the experimental dietary treatments; a conventional feed based on barley, wheat and vegetable meals (control diet; 9.06MJ of net energy/kg and 10.78% of crude protein) or a feed with 98.5% of granulated barley (barley diet; 9.63MJ of net energy/kg and 8.96% of crude protein). There were twelve replicates of two pigs per treatment. Pigs were slaughtered at 130±1.66kg BW because they were intended for dry-cured ham production. For the overall period, no differences were observed for average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, although the average daily feed intake was lower (P<0.05) and also the feeding costs (P<0.01) in pigs fed granulated barley than in pigs fed control diet. The treatment had no significant effect on carcass characteristics except for sirloin weight and yield which were lower (P<0.01) in gilts fed barley diet than in those fed control diet. No differences between treatments were detected in meat characteristics or fatty acid profile of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat of the longissimus thoracis muscle (P>0.05). It is concluded that the replacement of a conventional feed by a diet based on barley from 100 and 130kg BW had scarce effect on carcass and meat traits, without any penalisation of productive performance and with reduced feeding costs. Therefore, the use of granulated barley provided during finishing period might be interesting for heavy pigs.

Influence of different carbohydrate composition in barley varieties on Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen colonisation in a “Trojan” challenge model in pigs

Based on previously performed in vitro studies, which showed that hulless barley varieties could reduce large intestinal Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen proliferation in pigs, two in vivo experiments were conducted to prove these observations. In Experiment (Exp.) 1, 126 weaning piglets were randomly allocated into pens of seven animals each and fed one of six experimental diets. Three diets contained (75% as-fed) one of three hulless barley varieties with β-glucan (BG) contents ranging from 5 to 11% and amylose from 5 to 40%, and two diets contained a low BG and amylose hulless barley supplemented with isolated barley BG or raw potato starch. A hulled barley diet served as a control. Two piglets per pen (“Trojan” pigs) were orally infected with Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen (ST). The remaining five pigs per pen were designated “Contact” pigs. The ST shedding was determined over one week after infection. On day 6, the two Trojans and two random Contacts from each pen were euthanised and intestinal contents and mesenteric lymph nodes cultured for ST. Intestinal volatile fatty acids and microbial composition were determined. In Exp. 2, 126 piglets were assigned to one of three diets based on hulled or hulless barleys. The timeline, infection, sampling and analyses were similar as in Exp. 1 except samples were taken from four Contact pigs. Hulless barley varieties with high BG and amylose tended to decrease ST persistence in Exp. 1. Clostridia from cluster I in the colon were reduced with high amylose hulless barley or diets supplemented with potato starch (p < 0.05), whereas other microbial groups were not. Propionate increased (p < 0.05) and acetate decreased (p < 0.05) with hulless barley inclusion. Exp. 2 revealed a reduced ST shedding and reduced number of clostridia for high BG hulless barley as compared to common hulled barley and a low BG variety (p < 0.05). In conclusion, high BG hulless barley do not prevent ST colonisation but might help to reduce transmission in pigs, likely by supporting an intestinal environment limiting growth of this zoopathogen.

EFFECTS OF INCLUSION OF HULL-LESS BARLEY AND ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION OF BROILER DIETS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTION AND DIETARY METABOLISABLE ENERGY CONTENT

Two trials were conducted to study the effect of inclusion of hull-less barley and exogenous enzyme to broiler diet on the growth performance, apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and Nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. The experiments were 3×4 factorial arrangements with three levels of enzyme (0, 300 and 600 g/ton) and four levels of hull-less barley inclusion (0, 10, 20 and 30%) in diet. The digestion trial was performed in battery cage with 648 male broiler chickens where twelve experimental diets were fed to the chickens from 15-21 (starter) and 35-45 (finisher) days of age. In the growth trial, the experimental diets were fed to 960 broiler chicks distributed in 48 pens for a 7-week feeding trial on growing (0-3 weeks), grower (4-5 weeks) and finisher (6-7 weeks) periods. Results showed that increasing the amount of hull_less barley inclusion decreased feed intake and live-weight gain both in the starter and grower period (P<.0.01) but, did not significantly influence in finisher period. At the overall rearing period (0-49 days), increasing amount of hull-less barley in diet significantly decreased feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (p<0.01). Increasing in hull-less barley inclusion rate, increased relative weight of gastrointestinal track, liver and ceca (P<0.01) but, did not influence the relative weight of abdominal fat and gizzard as well as the rate of mortality. Hull-less barley inclusion in diet decreased dietary AME and ileal and total tract digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, crude fat and starch in the starting period (p<0.01). The hull-less barley inclusion, however, did not significantly influence the nutrient digestibility (exclude crude fat) and AME in the finishing period. Enzyme supplementation did not show improvement in growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broilers. Increasing the amount of hull-less barley in the diet had the most negative effect on nutrient digestion of broilers at starter period and the reduction in broiler performance probably due to the depressed nutrient digestion. The magnitude of the reduction in digestibility and performance depends on the soluble NSPs concentration of hull-less barley containing diets.

The effect of granulated barley as single major ingredient in the growing or finishing diet on productive performance, carcass, meat and fat quality of heavy pigs

A total of 48 Duroc × (Large White × Landrace) gilts of 46.8 kg BW (86 ± 3 days of age) were used to investigate the effect of diet during the growing and finishing periods on growth performance and carcass, meat and fat quality. The control diet consisted of a commercial feedstuff and the granulated barley diet had that cereal as the single major ingredient. There were three treatments: (i) control diet provided from 45.6 to 127.8 kg BW (C group), (ii) control diet from 47.0 to 91.8 kg BW and granulated barley from 91.8 to 129.7 kg BW (C + GB group) and (iii) granulated barley from 47.9 to 93.1 kg BW and control diet from 93.1 to 135.1 kg BW (GB + C group). Each treatment was replicated eight times, with two pigs per replicate. The C group grew faster (P < 0.001) and had a better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001) than the GB + C group, with C + GB being intermediate. Carcasses from C + GB gilts had higher backfat depth than those from C gilts, with GB + C being intermediate (P < 0.05). Also, the main joints (ham + shoulder + loin) had a higher (P < 0.01) yield in carcass in the GB + C group than in the C group, with C + GB being intermediate. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content was higher (P < 0.001) in loin from C + GB and GB + C gilts than in C gilts. The IMF of loin from C + GB gilts had higher (P < 0.05) C18:1n-9 and total monounsaturated fatty acid (FA) proportions than that from C gilts, whereas the C18:2n-6 and total polyunsaturated FA percentages were lower (P < 0.05) in C + GB gilts than in the remaining gilts. The total saturated FA percentage was lower (P < 0.05) in loin from GB + C than in that from C gilts. Hams from C + GB and GB + C gilts had higher (P < 0.05) C18:1n-9 and total monounsaturated FA proportions and lower C18:2n-6 and total polyunsaturated FA contents than those from C gilts. We can conclude that granulated barley provided during the growing or the finishing period improved some carcass and meat characteristics of heavy gilts desirable for dry-cured ham production.

ALTERATION OF D-XYLOSE INTESTINAL ABSORPTION IN BROILERS WITH HIGH DIETARY BARLEY INTAKE

Low nutritive value and suitability of barley as a feedstuff for broilers is mainly due to its non-starch polysaccharides. An experiment was carried out to evaluate if diets high in barley alter the mechanisms responsible for the absorption of nutrients across the intestinal epithelium of broilers, using D-xylose absorption test. Thirty, 14-d old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) with similar body weights (430g ± 10) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 birds, each bird as one replicate. Each group was offered a diet based on maize, high quality wheat or barley as the main source of carbohydrate, for 14 days. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were weighed individually and Dxylose absorption test was performed. Following the test, all birds were sacrificed and the relative size and weight of digestive tract were measured. Those birds fed on barley diet had lower weight gain when compared with maize or wheat fed birds (p 0.05). No difference was also observed in absorption capacity of small intestine for D-xylose between the experimental groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that the differences observed in weight gain among the experimental groups was not related to the absorption capacity of intestine as this parameter was not changed. It appears that, in short term, barley antinutrients show their negative effect on growth performance of the birds by other means.

Glycemic index of starch affects nitrogen retention in grower pigs1

Three studies were performed to examine the effect of starch and protein digestion rates on N retention in grower pigs. In Exp. 1, the glycemic index (GI) of corn, a malting barley, and a slow-rumen-degradable barley (SRD-barley) were measured using 6 barrows (BW = 18.0 ± 0.5 kg). The GI of malting barley was greater (P < 0.05) than that of SRD-barley (71.1 vs. 49.4), and the GI of both barley cultivars was less (P < 0.05) than that of corn (104.8). In Exp. 2, the standardized ileal digestibility of AA and DE content of the 3 ingredients were determined using 5 ileal-cannulated barrows (BW = 20.7 ± 2.3). The apparent total-tract energy digestibility values of corn (86.1%) and malting barley (85.7%) were greater (P < 0.05) than that of SRD-barley (82.3%). The standardized ileal digestibility of Lys was 94.0, 92.6, and 92.4% for corn, malting barley, and SRD-barley, respectively, and did not differ among grains. In Exp. 3, 6 diets were formulated to equal DE (3.40 Mcal/kg), standardized ileal digestibility of Lys (8.6 g/kg), starch (424.9 g/kg), and digestible CP (180.0 g/kg) using the values obtained in Exp. 2. Three GI [high (corn), medium (malting barley), and low (SRD-barley)] and 2 rates of protein digestion [rapid (soy protein hydrolysate) and slow (soy protein isolate)] were tested in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 36 barrows (BW = 32.2 ± 2.5 kg). Pigs were fed 3.0 times the maintenance energy requirement daily in 2 meals for 2 wk and were housed in metabolic crates to collect feces and urine separately. At the end of the study, intestinal contents were collected from 4 equal-length segments of the small intestine. The percentage of unabsorbed CP in segment 1 relative to dietary CP was greater (P < 0.05) for the soy protein isolate diet than for the soy protein hydrolysate diet (170.3 vs. 116.5%). The percentages of unabsorbed starch in segments 1 and 2 were greater (P < 0.05) for the SRD-barley diet than for the malting barley or corn diet. Nitrogen intake and fecal N excretion were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the malting barley and SRD-barley diets than for pigs fed the corn diet. Urinary N excretion was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the SRD-barley diet than for pigs fed the corn or malting barley diet. Pigs fed slowly digestible starch (SRD-barley; 46.6%) had less (P < 0.05) net N retention than pigs fed corn or malting barley (54.7 and 54.1%, respectively). In conclusion, slowly digestible starch sources such as SRD-barley may not be suitable to support maximum protein deposition in restricted-fed grower pigs.

English

Performance,&nbsp;protein synthesis and mucosal DNA in small intestine&nbsp;of Leghorn hens may be affected by low quality feedstuff. An experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) in 2 &times; 2 factorial arrangement. Main factors included diets containing 20 and 40 % barley and black and blue strains of leghorn. Layer performance was recorded weekly up to eight weeks. Egg production (%), egg mass and egg number were significantly higher in black strain leghorn on 20% barley diet than blue strain with 40% barley diet (P&lt;0.05). Treatments blue &times; 40% barley and black &times; 20% barley showed lowest and highest egg production percentage, egg mass and egg number, respectively (P&lt;0.05). The lowest protein synthesis in small intestine was shown in blue &times; 40% barley treatment group. Small intestine mucosal DNA quantity in blue strain was significantly higher than that in black strain (P&lt;0.05). In contrast, protein synthesis in blue strain was lower than that in black strain (P&lt;0.05). It was concluded that lower performance in blue &times; 40% treatment group could be related to lower protein synthesis in small intestine in blue strain, and this may be due to the high barley (40%) contained in diet. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Performance, protein synthesis, mucosal DNA, small intestine.

Effect of supplementation of beef steer diets with oil containing n6 and n3 fatty acids and 48 h feed withdrawal treatments on animal productivity, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition

A 2×3 factorial experiment was conducted with 72 weanling (about 180d old), crossbred steers (with Hereford, Angus and Charolais genetics and initial body weight of 280.5±5.8kg) to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with a 50/50 mixture of flax and sunflower oils at 5% of diet, to steers in three feed withdrawal (FW) treatments on production factors, carcass characteristics, adipocyte marker; peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) RNA expression and fatty acid composition of muscle (Pars costalis diaphragmatis; PCD) and subcutaneous fat (SQ from brisket). The FW treatments were no FW, a single 48h FW (FW×1) before start of fattening or 48h FW at 8week intervals from weaning to start of fattening (FW×4). Individually penned steers were fed mixed hay and rolled barley diets containing no oil (Control; CON) or 5% oil (OIL) through growing, transition and fattening phases. Interaction of dietary oil and FW treatments did not affect any of the production factors. Decreased (P=0.008) dry matter intake (DMI) of the OIL diet was noted through the growing period; thus decreasing (P=0.019) total DMI by 112kg/hd for the experiment and improved gain per unit feed (P=0.019) for the growing period. The FW×1 treatment reduced (P=0.004) average daily gain (ADG) through the transition period, but ADG tended to improve (P=0.081) during fattening and steers in FW treatments gained 1.38±0.07 versus 1.25±0.06kg/d for those in the no FW treatment. Differences due to dietary oil or the FW treatments were not observed for any of the carcass characteristics. A diet×FW interaction (P=0.001) was observed for PPARγ expression in the PCD and SQ. Adipocyte marker expression was greater in PCD of steers in the FW×4 treatment with values for OIL fed steers being greater than of CON fed steers. Feeding the OIL diet increased (P=0.001) the weight percent of C18:1t10, C18:1t11, conjugated linoleic acid and n3 fatty acids by 178, 152, 66 and 32%, respectively. The n6:n3 ratio in PCD was decreased in OIL fed steers. Results indicate that repeated FW can enhance adipocyte marker expression in muscle thus improving the potential to increase marbling fat in steers, while oil, comprised of n3 and n6 fatty acids, increased biologically active fatty acids and decreased n6:n3 fatty acid ratios of tissues, without affecting productivity or carcass characteristics of the steers.