Blood Meal Diets Research Articles

RESPONSE OF EARLY WEANED PIGS TO FULL-FAT SOYBEAN DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH DIFFERENT ANIMAL PROTEIN SOURCES

24 Large White X Landrace pigs weaned at 28 about 10% of the total feed is said to offer days with initial liveweight of 5.27±0.23 kg were valuable additional micro-nutrients such as fed four animal protein concentrates (fish meal However, almost all the fish (FM), Chicken offal meal (COM), fresh blood meal (FBM) and parboiled blood meal (PBM) diets based on full-fat soybean (FFSB) for 8 prices weeks to test different animal protein sources of protein and for early weaned pig. The diets contained 23% crude protein and 3100 Kcal ME/kg diet. Blood meal slightly reduced weight gain and feed intake but compared favourably with fish meal and chicken offal meal in efficiency of feed utilization. Parboiling of the blood slightly (P>0.05) depressed the performance of the pigs;even when the pigs had the same feed intake.. Fish meal increased (P<0.05) serum total protein and serum albumin levels.This study indicated that early weaned pigs fed soybean based diets supplemented with chicken offal meal and blood meal gave similar performance to those fed diet supplemented with fish meal.

Plant nutrient quality impacts survival and reproductive fitness of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti

BackgroundIn a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector dengue, malaria, and Rift Valley fever. Herein, we have expanded on this study by investigating the role of three of the plants, Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae), and Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae), on the survival, fecundity, and egg viability of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti.MethodsWe tested these effects using females that received (i) an initial three rations of blood meals and (ii) no blood meal at all. Two controls were included: age-matched females fed on glucose solution with or without an initial blood meal and those fed exclusively on blood meals. Data were collected daily over a 30-day period. The amino acid contents of Ae. aegypti guts and their respective diets were detected by coupled liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.ResultsFemales fed on P. dulce and an exclusively blood meal diet had a shorter survival than those fed on glucose. On the other hand, females fed on L. nepetifolia survived longer than those fed exclusively on blood meals, whereas those fed on O. ficus-indica had the shortest survival time. With an initial blood meal, females fed on L. nepetifolia laid 1.6-fold more eggs while those fed on the other diets laid fewer eggs compared to those fed exclusively on blood meals. Hatching rates of the eggs laid varied with the diet. Mass spectroscopic analysis of gut contents of mosquitoes exposed to the different diets showed qualitative and quantitative differences in their amino acid levels.ConclusionOur findings highlight the central role of plant nutrients in the reproductive fitness of dengue vectors, which may impact their disease transmission potential.Graphical

The effect of graded levels of bovine blood meal on growth performance, haematology and cost benefit of broiler chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of graded levels of bovine blood meal diets on the growth performance, haematology and cost-benefit of broiler chickens production. A total of sixty broiler chickens of 4 weeks old were used in a 28 days feeding trial. The birds were randomly allotted to four treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated three times and each replicate had five birds. T1 (Control) contained 0% bovine blood meal. T2, T3 and T4 contained 5%, 10% and 15% bovine blood meal, respectively. The data such as feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, daily protein intake and protein efficiency ratio were generated. The haematological indices such as haemoglobin counts, packed cell volume, red blood cell, white blood cell, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocyte and eosinophil were evaluated. The feed cost - benefit analysis was performed on the following: feed cost/kg weight gain, total cost of production and net returns. All the data generated were subjected to statistical analysis using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Mean values were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). Results showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in all the growth performance parameters except the total feed intake and average daily weight gain. There were no significant differences observed among the haematological parameters studied. The result of the feed cost analysis showed that feed cost/kg weight gain and total cost of production decreased as the levels of inclusion of bovine blood meal increased. The total revenue and net returns increased with the increasing levels of dietary inclusion of bovine blood meal. It was therefore observed that 15% inclusion level of bovine blood meal is adequate for finisher broiler chickens without adverse effect on their normal growth and development. It was also observed that it is relatively cheaper to feed broiler chickens with bovine blood meal based diets rather than the diet containing fish meal as protein source ingredient alone.

17 Challenges and implications of feeding diets with excess concentrations of leucine to growing-finishing pigs

Abstract Excess dietary leucine stimulates the key enzymes involved in branched-chain catabolism causing breakdown of all branched-chain amino acids, including isoleucine and valine. Branched-chain amino acids share a common brain transporter with other large neutral amino acids (LNAA). Excess levels of one of the LNAA increases brain uptake of that amino acid and decreases the uptake of the other LNAA, including tryptophan. Thus, excess leucine can impact the requirements for many amino acids. From a practical basis, this effect was first demonstrated with diets containing blood meal, but was thought to be of limited concern unless high blood meal diets were fed. Use of corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) or high protein DDGS in corn-based diets results in diets containing excess leucine. These high leucine levels are of limited concern if adequate levels of other branched-chain amino acids and LNAA are fed, which is often the case if the diet consists largely of intact protein sources. Feed grade amino acids, such as L-lysine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, DL-methionine, L-valine, and L-isoleucine have been widely adopted as a means to lower nitrogen excretion and diet cost. Including these amino acids in diets containing corn products reduces dietary leucine; but the resulting diets are formulated near the requirement for the first 6 limiting amino acids, including valine, isoleucine, and tryptophan, while still being high in leucine. The excess leucine increases the requirements for valine, isoleucine, and possibly other LNAA, such as tryptophan and possibly others. The exact relationship between these amino acids and how to handle them in practical diet formulation is still being elucidated; however, recent meta-analysis and experimental data confirm the importance of these ratios and provide useful direction for future research.

Amino acid composition and digestible amino acid content in animal protein by-product meals fed to growing pigs1.

An industry survey and animal experiment were conducted to evaluate the amino acid (AA) compositional variability and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in animal protein by-products fed to growing pigs. Animal protein by-product meals (212) were categorized into 8 groupings (blood meal, chicken by-product meal, chicken meal, feather meal, meat and bone meal, meat meal, poultry by-product meal, and poultry meal) and analyzed for total AA. Amino acid analysis among (e.g., Lys in blood meal averaged 9.20% compared with 2.31% for feather meal, DM basis) and within (e.g., Lys range of 1.54% in blood meal and 1.44% in feather meal, DM basis) the by-product classifications varied as expected, but on average the total AA values were similar to that reported in the literature. For the determination of the SID of AA, 15 barrows (average initial and final BW of 31.6 and 78.7 kg, respectively) were fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and allotted to 15 diets over nine 7-d periods, resulting in 9 replications per diet. Pigs were fed a basal diet based on soybean meal and dehulled-degermed corn, 13 diets containing 17.5% animal protein by-product meal to partially replace a portion of the soybean meal and dehulled-degermed corn in the basal diet, or a N-free diet. Pigs were re-allotted to diets based on minimizing the number to times that the N-free diet would precede or follow feeding either of the blood or feather meal diets because of concern with inadequate diet consumption, as well as to prevent diets from being re-fed to the same pig during the next or subsequent periods. Values for the apparent ileal AA digestibility of each diet were determined, adjusted to SID based upon the endogenous AA losses determined by feeding the N-free diet, and the SID of AA in each animal protein by-product meal calculated using the difference procedure. The SID of AA varied among (e.g., SID of Lys averaged 91% in chicken meal but 47% in feather meal) and within (e.g., SID of Lys in three meat and bone meals was 80%, 71%, and 54%) the animal protein by-product meals, as would be expected and are consistent with variation reported in the literature. Overall, the data provide total AA composition for 212 samples and SID of AA for 13 samples of animal protein by-product meals, including data on their variability, which is critical for their use in feed formulation programs.

Artificial diets for neonatal black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae

This study determined the optimal nursery diet for neonatal black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larvae. The standard specifications of a poultry layer hen (feed source often used for larvae rearing) was used for the formulation of the control diet (L120), whilst an iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diet was formulated that included animal protein (10% spray dried blood meal; L120B). Also, the carcass milling technique was used to determine the ideal amino acid profile of the animals. Two diets were subsequently formulated according to this profile i.e. a plant protein based diet (IAAP) and a diet containing 10% spray dried blood meal (IAAPB). Thirdly, the addition of sterols to the diets were tested with the addition of sterols in the form of pork brains (3%) to both the L120 and IAAP diets. Lastly, a commercial store bought layer mash was used as a second control diet. These seven treatments were replicated eight times in 100 ml pill pots, each pot being inoculated with 100 neonates. Results obtained showed that the inclusion of animal protein in the diet significantly increased survivability by 25% from 69.8±3.98 to 91.3±4.26% in layer mash diets which was similar to that of the other blood meal diets (92.0±3.98 and 93.9±3.98%, respectively). The treatments that included a sterol source yielded the lowest number of larvae. The change in physical characteristics of these diets probably resulted in the low yield rather than the sterolsper se and further research in this regard is recommended. In this study cheaper, more efficient feeds were developed for feeding BSF neonates using the ideal amino acid profile of the animals which resulted in the establishing of an initial matrix for the nutrient requirements of these animals.

Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fed Diets Containing Blood Meal as a Replacement of Fish Meal

<p>A 100 days experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding blood meal (BM) as a replacement of fish meal (FM), as the main source of animal protein, on growth rate and economic performance of Nile tilapia in fertilized pond. Three isonitrogenous diets (35% crude protein) were formulated using either FM as the main source of animal protein (Diet 1); 50% replacement of FM with blood meal (Diet 2); or 100% replacement of FM with BM (Diet 3). Three hundred Nile tilapia fingerlings (12±3 g) were randomly distributed into three groups of four replicates of 25 fingerlings per cage. The groups were randomly assigned the 3 diets which were fed at 2% of their biomass at 10 am and 4 pm every day. Percentage daily weight gain (DWG), relative growth rate (RGR), specific growth rate (SGR), survival rate and feed utilisation efficiency were measured. Fish fed diet 1 were larger (50.69 g) (P < 0.05) than those fed diet 2 (48.47 g) and 3 (40.37 g). Replacement of FM with 50% and 100% BM reduced the incidence cost (45.55, 37.83 and 31.88, respectively). The profit index was highest with 100% (9.42) replacement of FM, compared to 50% (7.95) and 0% (6.69). Although replacing FM with BM was associated with reduced growth, the economic return was better (P < 0.05). Based on the present results, it was economical to use BM as a major protein source instead of FM in formulating fish feed.</p>

Apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and amino acids of six rendered by-products in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, crude protein (CP), and amino acids (AA) were evaluated in diets with six rendered by-products used to feed juvenile Pacific white shrimp: two poultry meals (poultry meal 1, 69% CP; poultry meal 2, 72% CP), two feather meals (89% CP), one blood meal (96% CP), and one pork meal (57% CP). Experimental diets were formulated with 30% of the test ingredient and 70% of a commercial diet supplemented with 1% of chromium oxide as inert marker. AA contents in ingredients, diets, leached diets, and feces were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Preprandial AA losses attributed to leaching were higher in the blood meal diet (15%) and pork meal diet (10%). Poultry meal diets 1 and 2 showed mean AA losses of 3% and 5%, respectively, while the reference diet had a mean AA leaching of 6%. The AA that had the highest leaching rates were lysine (21%), methionine (15%), and histidine (12%). The ADC of dry matter was higher for poultry meals 1 (70%) and 2 (73%), followed by pork meal (69%), feather meals (61%), and blood meal (57%). The digestibility of CP was higher for poultry meals (78–80%), followed by pork meal (76%), and blood meal and feather meals (65–67%). The digestibility of CP in the reference diet (83%) was higher than that observed for all the animal by-product meals except the poultry meals. The ADC of the sum of AA adjusted for nutrient leaching fluctuated from 65% for blood meal to 80% for poultry meals.

Relative quantification of the effect of blood meal iron on protein expression in the ovaries of Aedes aegypti (778.8)

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are estimated to kill more than 2 million people annually. The vector for dengue, Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito), is found in the desert Southwest of the continental United States. One approach to limiting the spread of disease is to reduce the numbers of mosquito vectors. Our area of research is iron metabolism. Our long term goal is to use molecular techniques to alter the expression of iron related proteins in mosquitoes to reduce mosquito fecundity and survival. Our hypothesis is that female mosquitoes require iron in the blood meal as an essential nutrient to aid in egg development. Although the iron is necessary for fecundity it is also highly oxidative and toxic in biological systems unless the mineral is strictly regulated to mitigate its oxidative potential. We are currently analyzing tissue‐specific, iron regulated proteins of the mosquito ovary 24 h post‐blood meal fed on artificial blood meal diets supplemented with no iron or low iron, or a porcine blood meal (high iron). Measurement of the blood meal iron effect on ovarian protein expression was carried out using Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) which permits simultaneous identification and relative quantification of proteins during LTQ Velos Orbitrap LC‐MS/MS analysis. This research will contribute to our understanding of mosquito development in general, as well as ovarian iron metabolism.Grant Funding Source: Supported by funds from the Arizona Ag Experiment Station and CALS

Effect of creatine addition in feeds containing animal meals on the performance and carcass yield of broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed exclusively vegetable diets and diets containing animal meal with the addition of creatine or not after day 8. In the experiment, 1080 one-day-old male chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design into six treatments with six replicates each. A control diet based on corn and soybean meal was formulated, to which animal meals and creatine were included or not. Diets were formulated to contain equal mineral (calcium, phosphorus and sodium) and amino acid (available methionine + cystine, lysine and threonine) levels. The following treatments were applied: A. control (diet based on corn and soybean meal); B. control + creatine (600g/ton); C. inclusion of 5% meat and bone meal (MBM), D. inclusion of 5% MBM + creatine (600g/ton), E. inclusion of 5% blood meal (BM), F. inclusion 5% BM + creatine (600g/ton). Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, carcass yield and viability were evaluated. At 42 days of age, BM dietary inclusion impaired weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The inclusion of MBM affected only feed conversion ratio. The addition of creatine ito the diet with BM improved weight gain when compared with the BM diet with no creatine. The addition of creatine to the diet containing 5% BM improved weight gain when compared with the same diet without the use of the additive.

Effects of substituting soya bean meal (SBM) with blood meal (BM) on biochemical profile of pregnant pigs

Twenty-four Large White × Landrace crossbreed primigravid pigs, aged 7.50 to 8.00 months weighing between 86.15 and 88.24 kg were used to study the effects of feeding graded levels of soya bean meal (SBM) replaced blood meal (BM) diets on serum biochemical profile in gestating pigs. The pigs were randomly allotted to four finisher diets formulated such that BM replaced SBM at 0.0, 50.0, 75.0 and 100.0 %, respectively. The diets were T1 (100.0 % SBM, 0.0 % BM), T2 (50.0 % SBM, 50.0 % BM), T3 (25.0 % SBM, 75.0 % BM) and T4 (0.0 % SBM, 100.0 % BM). Individual animal's daily ration of the test diets was 2.20, 2.00 and 2.50 kg at stages one, two and three of gestation. Blood sampling and analysis for the effects of the test diets on biochemical profile of the experimental animals were carried out prior to conception, at weeks 3, 7 and 11 of gestation, respectively. The result showed no significant (P ≥ 0.05) dietary treatment effects on total protein, albumin, globulin fraction, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and urea profile of the pigs fed with BM diets when compared to the control fed with 100.0 % SBM. There was however a significant (P ≤ 0.05) variation in these biochemical indices in all the experimental groups at different stages of gestation. It was concluded that BM can replace 100.0 % of SBM in the diets of pregnant pigs in the tropical humid environment without any deleterious effect on their health.

Tissue distribution and transmission routes for the tsetse fly endosymbionts

The tsetse fly Glossina is the vector of the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei spp., which causes Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan African countries. To supplement their unbalanced vertebrate bloodmeal diet, flies permanently harbor the obligate bacterium Wigglesworthia glossinidia, which resides in bacteriocytes in the midgut bacteriome organ as well as in milk gland organ. Tsetse flies also harbor the secondary facultative endosymbionts (S-symbiont) Sodalis glossinidius that infects various tissues and Wolbachia that infects germ cells. Tsetse flies display viviparous reproductive biology where a single embryo hatches and completes its entire larval development in utero and receives nourishments in the form of milk secreted by mother’s accessory glands (milk glands). To analyze the precise tissue distribution of the three endosymbiotic bacteria and to infer the way by which each symbiotic partner is transmitted from parent to progeny, we conducted a Fluorescence In situ Hybridization (FISH) study to survey bacterial spatial distribution across the fly tissues. We show that bacteriocytes are mono-infected with Wigglesworthia, while both Wigglesworthia and Sodalis are present in the milk gland lumen. Sodalis was further seen in the uterus, spermathecae, fat body, milk and intracellular in the milk gland cells. Contrary to Wigglesworthia and Sodalis, Wolbachia were the only bacteria infecting oocytes, trophocytes, and embryos at early embryonic stages. Furthermore, Wolbachia were not seen in the milk gland and in the fat body. This work further highlights the diversity of symbiont interactions in multipartner associations and supports two maternal routes of symbiont inheritance in the tsetse fly: Wolbachia through oocytes, and, Wigglesworthia and Sodalis by means of milk gland bacterial infection at early post-embryonic stages.

Assessment of amino acid supplementation on rumen microbial efficiency and nitrogen metabolism using a continuous-culture system

Differing levels of feed-grade crystalline amino acids (FAA) were evaluated for effects on microbial efficiency (MOEFF) and nitrogen metabolism in the rumen environment. Six treatments were evaluated (n = 24, n = 4) using a continuous-culture system with a fractional dilution rate of 0.06. A basal diet of ground corn (57%), soybean meal (35%), and soybean hulls (8%) was fed (50 g/d) with additional amounts of an equal mix of l-Lys, l-Arg, and dl-Met at 0, 3, 6, 12, or 18% (FAA). A 6% blood meal diet was fed as a positive control. After 4 d of acclimation, NH3 and pH of fermenters were analyzed 1 h before and 4 h after feeding for 3 d. Nitrogen, OM, and purines were analyzed in diets, bacteria, and effluent to calculate MOEFF. Ammonia concentration increased as FAA supplementation in the diets increased (P < 0.01). Microbial efficiency tended to be greater for 6 and 12% FAA and blood meal diets (P = 0.10) and least for 3 and 18% FAA. An increase was measured in total bacterial amino acid (AA) composition, but the ratio of AA in bacteria remained similar with the exception of Arg, Asp, and Orn (P < 0.03). Escape of AA from fermenters was greatest (P < 0.01) in 0% FAA and blood meal diets, leading to the conclusion that FAA supplementation does not supply a viable source of RUP to the animal. Rumen undegradable nitrogen was greatest in 0 and 3% FAA; this along with increased NH3 levels lead to the conclusion that supplemental FAA provided excess nitrogen, which did not result in a direct improvement of MOEFF. Our data agreed with previously published data concluding AA degradation rate was more rapid than AA outflow at feasible feeding levels.

Production Performance of Single Comb White Leghorn Chickens Fed Growing Diets Containing Blood Meal and Supplemental Isoleucine

Laying performance of Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) chicks fed diets containing blood meal supplemented with isoleucine from hatch to ten weeks of age (WOA) was evaluated. In 4 replicates, 480 SCWL chicks were fed corn-based diets whose protein sources were 100% soybean meal (control), 100% blood meal (BM), 50% soybean meal+50% blood meal (SMBM), and 50% alfalfa meal+50% blood meal (AMBM). These diets contained 2,900kcal metabolizable energy (ME) per kg and 20% crude protein (CP). Blood meal comprised 16.8, 11.0 and 14.3% of the dietary composition in BM, SMBM, and AMBM diets, respectively. At 11-14, 15-18 and 19-46WOA birds in all treatment groups were fed corn-soy based diets containing 3,000, 3,080 and 2,900kcal ME/kg and 17.5, 16.5, and 17% CP, respectively. The birds were provided a 23, 8, and 16 hr light regimen at 0-10, 11-14, and 15-46WOA, respectively. Feed and water were provided at free choice and mortality was recorded as it occurred. At first egg, birds were observed for age, body weight and egg weight. Thereafter hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg mass, egg grade, internal egg quality and egg shell thickness were measured over five 28-day laying periods. Birds fed BM diets had 6.08, 5.24 and 2.63% higher (P<0.05) hen-day egg production than those fed the control, AMBM, and SMBM diets, respectively. Mean egg mass of BM fed birds was 5.65, 5.49 and 2.34% higher than that of the control, AMBM, and SMBM birds, respectively. Therefore, feeding diets containing blood meal and supplemented with isoleucine to SCWL chicks at 0-10WOA significantly improved their subsequent egg production performance, but depressed their internal egg quality and egg shell thickness.

The Obligate Mutualist Wigglesworthia glossinidia Influences Reproduction, Digestion, and Immunity Processes of Its Host, the Tsetse Fly

Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors for trypanosome parasites, the agents of the deadly sleeping sickness disease in Africa. Tsetse also harbor two maternally transmitted enteric mutualist endosymbionts: the primary intracellular obligate Wigglesworthia glossinidia and the secondary commensal Sodalis glossinidius. Both endosymbionts are transmitted to the intrauterine progeny through the milk gland secretions of the viviparous female. We administered various antibiotics either continuously by per os supplementation of the host blood meal diet or discretely by hemocoelic injections into fertile females in an effort to selectively eliminate the symbionts to study their individual functions. A symbiont-specific PCR amplification assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis were used to evaluate symbiont infection outcomes. Tetracycline and rifampin treatments eliminated all tsetse symbionts but reduced the fecundity of the treated females. Ampicillin treatments did not affect the intracellular Wigglesworthia localized in the bacteriome organ and retained female fecundity. The resulting progeny of ampicillin-treated females, however, lacked Wigglesworthia but still harbored the commensal Sodalis. Our results confirm the presence of two physiologically distinct Wigglesworthia populations: the bacteriome-localized Wigglesworthia involved with nutritional symbiosis and free-living Wigglesworthia in the milk gland organ responsible for maternal transmission to the progeny. We evaluated the reproductive fitness, longevity, digestion, and vectorial competence of flies that were devoid of Wigglesworthia. The absence of Wigglesworthia completely abolished the fertility of females but not that of males. Both the male and female Wigglesworthia-free adult progeny displayed longevity costs and were significantly compromised in their blood meal digestion ability. Finally, while the vectorial competence of the young newly hatched adults without Wigglesworthia was comparable to that of their wild-type counterparts, older flies displayed higher susceptibility to trypanosome infections, indicating a role for the mutualistic symbiosis in host immunobiology. The ability to rear adult tsetse that lack the obligate Wigglesworthia endosymbionts will now enable functional investigations into this ancient symbiosis.

Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility Assay for the Growing Meat Chicken - Assessment of a New Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility Assay for Broiler Chickens

The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients in dietary formulation for broiler chickens. Two relatively poor quality protein sources, a meat-and-bone meal and a dried blood meal were used. The meals were subjected to the ileal assay and respective mean coefficients of digestibility of 0.58 and 0.67 were found for the first-limiting amino acid methionine+cysteine. Subsequently, each of the meals was the sole source of protein in semi-synthetic maize starch based diets. A casein containing semi-synthetic maize starch based control diet was also formulated. The two test diets and the casein diet contained equal amounts of methionine+cysteine, which was clearly first-limiting. Methionine+cysteine was supplied at 60% of the NRC requirement for the growing bird. Two further semisynthetic maize starch-based diets were formulated, which contained either the meat-and-bone meal or the blood meal as the main sources of protein, but synthetic methionine was added so that the digestible methionine+cysteine content equaled that in the casein-based control diet. All amino acids other than methionine+cysteine were supplied in moderate excess of the requirements of the growing bird. The experimental diets were fed to broiler chickens in a conventional growth trial. Daily feed intakes were adjusted to achieve comparable feed and metabolizable energy intakes across all the diets. The significantly lower growth performance for birds on the unsupplemented meat-and-bone meal and blood meal diets indicated that the actual digestible methionine+cysteine level was lower in those diets compared to the control. That supplementation with synthetic methionine to give equal amounts of dietary ileal digestible methionine+cysteine restored parity in growth performance is evidence for the accuracy of the new ileal digestibility assay.

Growth Performance of Single Comb White Leghorn Chicks Fed Diets Containing Blood Meal Supplemented with Isoleucine

The suitability of blood meal supplemented with isoleucine as protein source for Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) chicks was evaluated. In four replicates, four hundred and eighty SCWL chicks were fed diets containing blood meal with supplemental isoleucine from day-old to 10 weeks of age (WOA). The experimental diets were corn-based with the protein sources being 100% soybean meal (control), 100% blood meal (BM), 50% soybean meal+50% blood meal (SMBM), and 50% alfalfa meal+50% blood meal (AMBM). Blood meal comprised 16.8%, 11.0% and 14.3% of the total ration in BM, SMBM, and AMBM diets, respectively. Experimental birds were provided a 23 hr light regimen and feed and water were provided at free choice. Feed consumption (FC) and body weights (BW), from which feed conversion ratios (FCR) and body weight gains (BWG) were calculated, were measured weekly. Shank lengths (SL) were measured weekly and mortality was recorded as it occurred. Birds fed the BM diet exhibited significantly lower (P SMBM>AMBM>Control. Based on this study, substitution of up to 50 percent of soybean meal with blood meal supplemented with isoleucine in corn-soy based diets did not adversely affect growth performance of SCWL chicks from day-old to 10 WOA.

Cataract preventative role of mammalian blood meal, histidine, iron and zinc in diets for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) of different strains

In the period from winter 1996 to autumn 1999, three feeding trials were conducted to study the possible role of mammalian blood meal in preventing lens opacities in Atlantic salmon. In addition to blood meal supplemented feed, experimental diets were formulated, aiming to mimic the total concentrations of selected elements present in blood meal (BM) enriched diets; the amino acid histidine (His) and the mineral iron (Fe). In addition, these diets were supplemented with Zn. The trials included different rearing conditions, sizes and strains of Atlantic salmon; one small scale feeding experiment with pre-smolt of Strain A in fresh water (Trial 1) and two semi large trials with sub-yearling (S0s) and yearling (S1s) smolts of Strains A and B in seawater (Trials 2 and 3). The trials included duplicate or triplicate feeding groups and lasted 6–12 months. Standard commercial diets not supplemented with BM were used as controls. High prevalence of cataract developed over time in all three studies, with end point ranges as follows; Trial 1: 40–52 %; Trial 2: 51–83 %; Trial 3: 63–100%. The cataracts normally first appeared in the anterior and/or posterior cortical region and later affected the perinuclear region. In all the experiments, there was a significant cataract preventative effect of both the BM supplemented and experimental diets compared to the respective control diets. To some extent, cataract incidence was reduced, but primarily cataractogenesis was less severe in these groups. A concurrent positive effect on growth of both added BM and experimental diets was observed in the two seawater trials, probably related to maintaining vision and feed uptake ability. In one of the trials, there were significant differences in cataract susceptibility between the two strains, measured both as frequency and severity of cataractous changes. Our data suggest that elevated concentrations of dietary His and/or Fe mitigate cataract formation.

Effects of urea, isolated soybean protein and blood meal on growing steers fed a corn-based diet

A short term feeding trial was conducted to assess effects of nitrogen (N) supplementation on growing cattle and the ability of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) to predict responses. Four corn-based diets were used: (1) a 30% ruminal N-deficient control diet; (2) a urea supplemented diet; (3) a urea+isolated soy protein (ISP) diet; and (4) a urea+ISP+blood meal (BM) diet. Four Holstein steers (average initial body weight of 251 kg) were randomly assigned in a 4×4 Latin Square treatment design. Steers were fed 95% of ad libitum intake on an hourly basis, and 500 μg of oestradiol-17β were administered twice daily. Average daily gain (ADG) increased ( P<0.05) when urea was added to the diet, but including urea+ISP was not better than the control or urea alone ( P>0.05). The urea+ISP+BM diet was better than the control or urea+ISP diets ( P<0.05), but it was not better than urea alone ( P>0.05). Addition of ISP or ISP+BM to the urea diet did not increase whole tract true digestibility of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, or apparent digestibility of the dietary non-structural carbohydrate fraction ( P>0.05). The addition of urea, ISP or ISP+BM to the control diet caused an increase in N intake ( P<0.05), but faecal N did not increase ( P>0.05). Urinary N excretion increased 2.8-fold compared to the control diet when urea, ISP or ISP+BM were added ( P<0.05), but there was no difference between these latter three treatments ( P>0.05). Urea, ISP and ISP+BM increased N retention ( P<0.05), and ISP+BM was higher than urea and ISP ( P<0.05). The numerical difference in N retention between urea and urea+ISP was not significant ( P>0.05). When urea, ISP or ISP+BM were added, plasma urea N increased ( P<0.05), but these three treatments had no effect on glucose, non-esterified fatty acids or insulin ( P>0.05). Results show that a ruminal N-deficiency can have a negative impact on ADG, and this effect was consistent with predictions made by the CNCPS. Substitution of urea by ISP did not cause an increase in ADG, indicating that ISP may not be as ruminally degradable as urea. Blood meal increased ADG, consistent with CNCPS predictions. Because ISP could have been a source of ruminally undegradable protein rather than ruminal peptides and amino acids, the peptide stimulation predictions of the CNCPS could not be evaluated.

Effects of dietary ingredients on manure characteristics and odorous emissions from swine.

Two feeding studies were conducted to examine the impact of dietary inclusion of specific feed ingredients on manure characteristics and manure odor. In one study, 72 finishing pigs were used to evaluate the effects of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on pig performance, manure characteristics, and odorous emissions. Three diets containing 0, 5, and 10% DDGS were fed during six 4-wk feeding periods. Week 1 served as a dietary adjustment period. Animals were housed in two feeding rooms (six pigs/room) with one treatment/room. A new group of animals (average initial BW = 85.8 kg) was used for each feeding period. Diets were replicated four times. Rooms were equipped with individual shallow manure storage pits that were cleaned once weekly (d 7). On d 4 and 7 of each week, manure pit samples, for chemical analyses, and air samples, for olfactometry analysis, were collected from each room. Odor dilution threshold was greater on d 7 than on d 4 of manure storage across all treatments (P < 0.01). No treatment differences in manure composition were noted. In the second study, weaned pigs (approximately 5 wk old) were fed isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 1.5, or 3% bloodmeal. Pigs were housed by diet (three pigs/diet) in one of four individual feeding rooms. A new group of pigs was used for each of the two, 4-wk feeding periods. During period 1, the 3% bloodmeal diet was fed in two of the four rooms; the 0% bloodmeal diet was fed in two rooms during period 2. Manure samples, for chemical analyses, and air samples, for olfactometry analysis, were collected 2 d per week (d 4 and d 6) from each room during wk 2 through 4. No significant treatment differences were observed for odor dilution threshold (P = 0.30). Longer manure storage time, 6 d vs 4 d, resulted in a larger odor dilution ratio (P < 0.01). Manure composition was unaltered by storage time. Results suggest that odor intensifies during storage.