Body Weight Treatment Research Articles

Effects of Alpha-Ketoglutarate on Glutamine Metabolism in Piglet Enterocytes in Vivo and in Vitro.

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) plays a vital part in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and is a key intermediate in the oxidation of L-glutamine (Gln). The study was to evaluate effects of AKG on Gln metabolism in vivo and in vitro. A total of twenty-one piglets were weaned at 28 days with a mean body weight (BW) of 6.0 ± 0.2 kg, and randomly divided into 3 groups: corn soybean meal based diet (CON group); the basal diet with 1% alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG treatment group); and the basal diet with 1% L-glutamine (GLN treatment group). Intestinal porcine epithelial cells-1 (IPEC-1) were incubated to investigate effects of 0.5, 2, and 3 mM AKG addition on Gln metabolism. Our results showed that there were no differences (P > 0.05) among the 3 treatments in initial BW, final BW, and average daily feed intake. However, average daily gain (P = 0.013) and gain:feed (P = 0.041) of the AKG group were greater than those of the other two groups. In comparison with the CON group, the AKG and GLN groups exhibited an improvement in villus length, mucosal thickness, and crypt depth in the jejunum of piglets. Serum concentrations of Asp, Glu, Val, Ile, Tyr, Phe, Lys, and Arg in the piglets fed the 1% AKG or Gln diet were lower than those in the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the mRNA expression of jejunal and ileal amino acid (AA) transporters in the AKG and GLN groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Additionally, the in vitro study showed that the addition of 0.5, 2, and 3 mM AKG dose-dependently decreased (P < 0.05) the net utilization of Gln and formulation of ammonia, Glu, Ala, and Asp by IPEC-1. In conclusion, dietary AKG supplementation, as a replacement for Gln, could improve Gln metabolism in piglet enterocytes and enhance the utilization of AA.

Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef fatty acid profile of grazing steers supplemented with corn grain and increasing amounts of flaxseed at two animal weights during finishing

The objective of this study was to determine (1) the effects of increasing flaxseed addition to the corn grain supplemented at finishing to grazing steers on animal performance, carcass characteristics and longissimus muscle (LM) fatty acid profile, and (2) whether dietary treatments effects are affected by animal body weight (BW) at supplementation. Forty eight steers were assigned to eight treatment combinations defined by four dietary treatments (CNTRL, no supplement; FLAX-0, 0.7% BW of cracked corn grain; FLAX-1 and FLAX-2, FLAX-0 plus 0.125% and 0.250% BW of unprocessed flaxseed, respectively) and by two animal BW treatments generated by supplementing steer in early spring (EARLY) or late spring (LATE). Steers assigned to EARLY received their dietary treatment when reaching 366±27.3kg BW (August, 3rd) and those assigned to LATE when reaching 458±42.8kg (October, 10th). After 70d on trial, carcass data and LM samples (12th rib region) were collected for fatty acid (FA) analysis. Total DMI was greater in supplemented treatments (FLAX-0, FLAX-1 and FLAX-2) than in CNTRL, with no flaxseed level effect. Dietary treatment effects on performance and carcass characteristics were not affected by BW treatments. Increasing flaxseed supplementation linearly increased subcutaneous fat thickness; whereas increasing BW at initiation of supplementation decreased average daily again, but increase final BW, hot carcass weight, and LM total fatty acid content. Animal BW at initiation of supplementation affected dietary treatments effects on LM n-6/n-3 ratio; ratio was highest in FLAX-0 and lowest in CNTRL and FLAX-2 in both BW treatments; did not differ between BW treatments in CNTRL and in FLAX-2, but was greater in EARLY than in LATE in FLAX-0 and FLAX-1. Trans-vaccenic acid proportion was greater in CNTRL than in supplemented treatments, but was not affected by flaxseed level; similar trend was observed for CLA cis-9, trans-11 proportion. Linolenic acid proportion did not differ between CNTRL and supplemented treatments, but was linearly increased with flaxseed level. Fatty acids changes with increasing animal BW at supplementation were associated with the increased in total muscle fatty acid content; total and individual polyunsaturated fatty acids were lower in LATE than in EARLY, whereas trans-vaccenic acid and CLA cis-9, trans-11 were greater. Adding flaxseed to the corn grain supplemented increase subcutaneous fat thickness of grazing steers without negatively affecting fatty acid profile, except for a reduction in trans-vaccenic acid proportion. Therefore, adding flaxseed to the corn supplemented to grazing steers increases carcass fatness while reducing the negative effect of corn supplementation on LM n-6/n-3 ratio but not on trans-vaccenic acid. Increasing BW at supplementation reduces supplementation effects on LM n-6/n-3 ratio.

Effects of dietary pomegranate byproduct silage supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing lambs

In an experiment with 24 male growing Florina (Pelagonia) lambs, effects of dietary pomegranate byproduct silage (PS) on performance, carcass characteristics and meat chemical and fatty acid composition were determined. In the 9 week experiment, lambs were allocated to one of three dietary treatments (PS0, PS120, and PS240) of 8 lambs each. Lambs had an initial body weight (BW) of 18.8±2.28kg, and were fed one of three isonitrogenous (crude protein 171g/kg, dry matter – DM basis) and isoenergetic (net energy for gain 5.62MJ/kg, DM basis) total mixed rations (TMRs) ad libitum. The PS was added to the TMR at inclusion levels (as mixed basis) of 0, 120, and 240g/kg DM for treatments PS0, PS120, and PS240, respectively. No differences (P>0.05) occurred among PS treatments in final BW (34.3kg), BW gain (0.24kg/day), DM intake (0.94kg/day), and FCR (3.95kg DM intake/kg BW gain). Moreover, carcass characteristics were not affected (P>0.05) with increased PS feeding, except for the fat color, fat firmness, wetness and overall acceptability of carcasses, which improved (P<0.05). Fat content of meat was linearly increased (P<0.001) with increasing PS in lambs TMRs. PS supplementation caused linear (P<0.05) and quadratic (P<0.01) effect on 11-Hexadecenoic concentration and a linear decrease (P<0.05) in 6-9-Hexadecenoic and cis-11, 14-eicosadienoic acids concentrations, in intramuscular fat. A linear increase (P<0.05) was observed in linoleic acid and trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (P<0.05) concentration, with increasing PS inclusion levels and a quadratic (P<0.05) and linear (P<0.01) effect on α-linolenic acid concentration. Meat total phenolic content increased linearly (P<0.05) and antioxidant activity was linearly (P<0.05) and quadratic affected (P<0.05), with maximum levels observed in intermediated group (PS120). Pomegranate byproduct silage supplementation, at levels up to 240g/kg DM of TMR, in isonitrogenous and iso (net energy) energetic diets for growing lambs did not affect their performance and carcass quantitative characteristics, but improved qualitative carcass characteristics. More significantly, dietary PS supplementation improved the nutritional and functional qualities, as well as the antioxidant potential of meat, as indicated by the increase in essential fatty acids, linoleic, α-linolenic acid and trans-10, cis-12 CLA, in intramuscular fat and the increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity.

Medidas repetidas no tempo realizadas por ultrassom em ovelhas de descarte em diferentes estágios fisiológicos

Some measurements carried out by ultrasound in the Longissimus dorsi between the 12th and 13th ribs were monitored, aiming to know the changes in the muscular and adipose tissues in that muscle and the connections of these measurements with body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) of ewes in different stages (physiological stages and experimental periods). Ewes were arranged into the following treatments: EL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered one day after weaning; EWL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and one more period of approximately 30 days without the lambs and slaughtered afterwards; and ENC = ewes which did not give birth during the year. Ultrasound measurements were carried out in the beginning, middle and end of the experiment (every 21 days), as well as BW and BCS of ewes. There was not interaction between periods and experimental treatments for BW and BCS of ewes. It was concluded that the use of ultrasound allows monitoring changes that occur with the subcutaneous fat and Longissimus dorsi of ewes. Those changes occur more frequently in intervals of 42 days (muscular and adipose tissues).

Phenolics-rich fraction of Khaya senegalensis stem bark: Antitrypanosomal activity and amelioration of some parasite-induced pathological changes

Context: The stem bark of Khaya senegalensis A. Juss (Meliaceae) is currently used for the treatment of trypanosomiasis by traditional practitioners in Nigeria.Objectives: The present study investigated the anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei activity of phenolics-rich fraction of K. senegalensis (pfks) and its ameliorative effects on trypanosome-induced pathological changes.Materials and methods: The fraction was initially analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A 60 min time course experiment was conducted with various concentrations of the fraction using a 96-well microtiter plate technique and was further used to treat T. brucei infected rats at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight (BW). Indices of anemia as well as hepatic and renal functions were analyzed in all experimental animals at the end of the experiment.Results: The GC-MS analysis of the pfks revealed that the most abundant phytochemicals are phloroglucinol (40.56%) and 3,4-(dihydroxyphenyl) acetic acid (41.76%). The fraction showed a concentration dependent in vitro antitrypanosomal activity. Interestingly, the fraction completely eliminated the parasites from the bloodstream of infected rats without relapse during the experimental period at the dose of 300 mg/kg BW and also kept the parasites consistently lower at 100 and 200 mg/kg BW than that was recorded in the untreated infected rats. Furthermore, the severity of T. brucei-induced anemia and hepatic damage was significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated in the 300 mg/kg BW treatment group whereas the parasite-induced renal damage was significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated in all treatment groups.Conclusion: Data from this study may suggest that phenolics play an important role in the antitrypanosomal activity of K. senegalensis.

Lactone-rich fraction from Vernonia blumeoides: antitrypanosomal activity and alleviation of the parasite-induced anemia and organ damage

The anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei activity in vitro and in vivo of a lactone-rich fraction of Vernonia blumeoides leaves (VBLF) and its potential in alleviating trypanosome-induced anemia and organ damage were investigated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of VBLF revealed the presence of a number of lactone-containing compounds. In an in vitro study, VBLF showed concentration-dependent activity and was further used to treat T. brucei brucei-infected rats. The VBLF treatments, especially at 300 mg/kg body weight (BW), significantly (P < 0.05) kept the parasites reduced during the entire experimental period compared with the infected untreated group. At the end of the experiment, the trypanosome-induced anemia and hepatic damage were significantly (P < 0.05) alleviated in all the VBLF treatment groups, but renal damage was only prevented in the 200 and 300 mg/kg BW treatment groups. Furthermore, the trypanosome-induced increase in the relative weights of liver, spleen and kidney were significantly (P < 0.05) alleviated by the 300 mg/kg BW VBLF treatment. It was concluded that orally administered VBLF, especially at 300 mg/kg BW, possessed antitrypanosomal activity and could alleviate parasite-induced anemia and organ damage.

Effect of thyroxine on munc-18 and syntaxin-1 expression in dorsal hippocampus of adult-onset hypothyroid rats

Adult-onset hypothyroidism induces a variety of impairments on hippocampus-dependent neurocognitive functioningin which many synaptic proteins in hippocampus neurons are involved. Here, we observed the effect of adult-onset hypothyroidism on the expression of syntaxin-1 and munc-18 in the dorsal hippocampus and whether the altered proteins could be restored by levothyroxine (T4) treatment. All rats were separated into 4 groups randomly: hypothyroid group, 5 μg T4/100 g body weight (BW) treated group, 20 μg T4/100g BW treated group and control group. The radioimmunoassay kits were applied to assay the levels of serum T3 and T4, and the levels of syntaxin-1 and munc-18 in hippocampus were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Both analysis corroborated that syntaxin-1 in the hypothyroid group was significantly higher. Munc-18 was lower in four layers of CA3 and dentate gyrus by immunohistochemistry. After two weeks of treatment with 5 μg T4/100g BW for hypothyroidism, syntaxin-1 levels were completely restored, whereas the recovery of munc-18 only located in two of the four impaired layers. Twenty μg T4/100g BW treatment normalized munc-18 levels. These data suggested that adult-onset hypothyroidism induced increment of syntaxin-1 and decrement of munc-18 in the dorsal hippocampus, which could be restored by T4 treatment. Larger dosage of T4 caused more effective restorations.

Induced ovulation in cultured tawny puffer Takifugu flavidus by injections of LHRH-a

To determine the effective LHRH‐a dosage for cultured tawny puffer ovulation, the effects of 10, 30, 50, and 70 I¼g kg−1 body weight (BW) LHRH‐a were tested with two injections in 2009, and by a single injection (5, 10, 30, 50, and 70 I¼g kg−1 BW) in 2010. Ovulation success and egg quality were assessed. All females spawned after being treated with 10 to 70 I¼g kg−1 BW LHRH‐a in 2009 and 2010. Ovulation success was only 20.0% with the 5 I¼g kg−1 BW treatment, significantly lower (P   0.05) among the 10, 30, 50, and 70 I¼g kg−1 BW treatment groups in terms of ovulation success, ovulation time, egg production, fertilization rate, hatch rate, and viability of 24 h post‐hatch larvae in 2009 and 2010. None of the treatments caused any mortality among the females during the experimental periods. Results suggest that the treatment using only LHRH‐a effectively and reliably induces ovulation in cultured tawny puffer broodstocks, whether through a single injection or through two injections. Effective and most economical dosage of LHRH‐a is 10 I¼g kg−1 BW. Determination of the effective LHRH‐a dosage is an important step in the development of tawny puffer fish culture.

Nutritional value of fermented olive wastes in growing lamb rations

In an experiment with 40 growing Florina (Pelagonia) lambs, effects of replacing barley grain, sugar beet pulp, and alfalfa meal with fermented olive wastes (FOW) and soybean meal on productivity and meat composition was determined. In the 45-day experiment, lambs were allocated to one of the four treatments of 10 lambs (5 male and 5 female) each. Male and female lambs had an initial body weight (BW) of 19.7 ± 0.8 and 19.5 ± 0.8 kg, respectively, and were individually fed a concentrate mixture ad libitum and alfalfa hay (0.18 kg/lamb/day, dry matter (DM) basis). The FOW was added to the concentrate mixtures at inclusion levels (as fed basis) of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg/t for treatments FOW0, FOW50, FOW100, and FOW150, respectively. Male lambs grew faster (P<0.01) than female lambs, but no differences (P>0.05) occurred among FOW treatments in final BW, BW gain, DM intake, or feed conversion ratio. Males had heavier (P<0.01) fasted BW and cold carcass weight, and lower (P=0.04) carcass yield than females, but no differences in carcass components among treatments were detected. FOW can be incorporated into concentrates for growing lambs, at levels up to 150 kg/t, with no adverse effects on performance or carcass characteristics.

Concentrate Supplementation Effects on the Performance of Early Weaned Calves Grazing Tifton 85 Bermudagrass

Early weaning of calves (Bos sp.) may increase pregnancy rates of primiparous beef cows; however, there is little information on nutritional management of the calf. The objective of this study was to evaluate calf responses to dietary supplement level [10, 15, and 20 g kg−1 of calf body weight (BW)] when ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) was the summer component of a pasture‐based system for raising early weaned calves. Supplement contained 146 and 700 g kg−1 of crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN), respectively. Soils were Adamsville and Sparr sands. Pastures were rotationally stocked using a 7‐d grazing and 14‐d rest period. A variable stocking rate was used to maintain similar herbage allowances across treatments. There were no differences among treatments in pregraze herbage mass, herbage accumulation rate, or herbage CP and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. Average daily gain (ADG, 0.52–0.65 kg), stocking rate [SR, 11.1–13.7 animal units (AU) ha−1], and liveweight gain (LWG, 1080–1550 kg ha−1) increased linearly, but grazing time decreased linearly from 193 to 147 min d−1 as supplementation increased from 10 to 20 g kg−1 Income (the value of calf gain − purchase cost of concentrate ha−1) was greater for the 15 g kg−1. BW treatment than the average of the 10 and 20 g kg−1 treatments. Gains of 0.65 kg d−1 were achieved when early weaned calves were fed concentrate at 15 g kg−1. BW while grazing Tifton 85 pastures that were managed to provide high nutritive value forage.

The use of extruded chickpeas in diets for growing-finishing pigs

The effect of partial and total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with extruded chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and partial replacement of SBM with raw chickpeas on pig growth and carcass characteristics was determined in a 17 week experiment. Sixty growing-finishing pigs were allocated to five dietary treatments: CKP0, ECKP100, ECKP200, ECKP300 and CKP100 of 12 animals each, and received a diet ad libitum. The diet for CKP0 treatment had no chickpeas (control), while those for treatments ECKP100, ECKP200 and ECKP300 included 100, 200 and 300 kg/t of extruded (at 120&amp;deg;C for 20 s) chickpeas, respectively, and for treatment CKP100 it included 100 kg/t of raw chickpeas. Body weight (BW) gain linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) with the inclusion of increasing levels of extruded chickpeas during the growing period. However, in both the growing and finishing period, there were no differences between extruded chickpea inclusion treatments in final BW, BW gain, daily feed consumption (DFC), FCR, and carcass yield traits. Partial replacement of SBM with raw chickpeas negatively affected (P &amp;lt; 0.05) BW gain and DFC during the finishing period. Extrusion offers a practical method for the heat processing of chickpeas for use in pig diets. Thus, extruded chickpeas can be used as an alternative protein source to SBM at inclusion levels up to 300 kg/t of diet. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;

Effect of dietary dried oregano leaves supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics of growing lambs

In an experiment with 45 male growing Chios lambs, the effect of dietary dried oregano ( Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) leaves supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics was determined. In the 10 wk experiment, lambs were allocated to 1 of 3 treatments (OR0, OR144, and OR288) of 15 lambs each. Lambs had an initial body weight (BW) of 17.5 ± 1.8 kg, and were fed a concentrate mixture ad libitum and alfalfa hay at 0.4 kg/(lamb d). The concentrate mixture for treatment OR0 was not supplemented with dried oregano leaves (control), while dried oregano leaves were incorporated into the concentrate mixture of treatments OR144 and OR288 at levels of 4 and 8 kg/t, respectively, to provide oregano essential oil at levels of 144 and 288 mg/kg of concentrate, respectively. No differences were observed among dried oregano leaves inclusion treatments in final BW (36.7 kg), BW gain (BWG, 275 g/d), dry matter intake (DMI, 1.09 kg/d), and feed conversion ratio (3.98 kg DMI/kg BWG). All carcass yield traits as kg/100 kg of BW were unaffected by treatment. Dried oregano leaves supplementation in isonitrogenous and iso (net energy) energetic diets for growing lambs did not affect their performance and carcass characteristics.

Effects of varying levels of undegradable intake protein on endocrine and metabolic function of young post-partum beef cows

Twelve Hereford×Angus heifers, 2.5 year, 492±17 kg (BCS=5±0.5), were randomly assigned to one of three supplements, stratified by calving date and calf sex. Treatments consisted of a daily equivalent of: (1) low undegradable intake protein (UIP) (L: 908 g per cow per day; 36% CP, 108 g UIP), (2) middle UIP (M: 908 g per cow per day; 36% CP, 165 g UIP), and (3) high UIP (H: 908 g M+243 g feather meal per cow per day; 46% CP, 335 g UIP). Cows were fed sudan grass hay (7.3% CP, as fed) daily at 2% BW (as fed). Supplement was individually fed twice weekly from Week 2 to Week 11 post-partum. Cow body weight (BW), backfat (BF) and rumpfat (RF) thicknesses decreased in all cows, ( P<0.05) yet did not differ among treatments ( P>0.10). There were no differences among treatments in calf BW ( P>0.10). Serum insulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), milk components and yield did not differ among treatments ( P>0.10). Area under the curve (AUC) for serum LH was greater ( P=0.07) in H versus L and M (809 versus 599 and 607±69 U, respectively). No differences were observed in FSH AUC or mean serum concentrations ( P>0.10). Uterine pH did not differ among treatments or between supplement versus non-supplement days ( P>0.10). Serum progesterone remained below 1 ng/ml for all cows indicating absence of return to estrus. Under the conditions of this study, BW, BF, RF, serum insulin, BUN, milk components, and yield, uterine pH and serum FSH were not affected by level of UIP. However, supplement containing high levels of UIP enhanced GnRH-induced LH release.

Intermittent treatment with human parathyroid hormone (hPTH[1-34]) increased trabecular bone volume but not connectivity in osteopenic rats.

Previous studies have determined that intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy increases bone mass and improves biomechanical strength in osteopenic animal models. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if intermittent human parathyroid hormone (hPTH[1-34]) therapy increased trabecular bone volume and connectivity in a rat model of established osteopenia using three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo in situ morphometry by X-ray tomographic methods (XTM). Six-month-old retired Sprague-Dawley breeder rats were used. Thirty animals were ovariectomized (OVX) and six were Sham operated. On day 56, post-OVX, a prePTH-treatment OVX groups was sacrificed. The remaining OVX animals were randomized into four groups of six animals each, given injections 5 out of every 7 days for 28 days of either vehicle or hPTH(1-34) at 4, 40, or 400 microg/kg of body weight (BW)/day and were sacrificed on day 84 post-OVX. At sacrifice, the left proximal tibias were harvested for XTM scans. hPTH(1-34) at medium and high doses significantly increased trabecular bone volume and trabecular thickness compared with ovariectomized animals treated with vehicle (p<0.05). The trabecular bone volume was equal to or greater than the Sham-operated animals in both hPTH(1-34) 40 and 400 microg/kg of BW treatment groups. Trabecular bone connectivity decreased by nearly 50% compared to the S ham-operated group at day 84 post-OVX and did not increase with any of the hPTH(1-34) treatments. Intermittent hPTH(1-34) treatment is osteopenic OVX rats increased trabecular bone volume to control levels or higher by thickening existing trabeculae. Human PTH(1-34) did not re-establish connectivity when therapy was started after 50% of the trabecular connectivity was lost. We hypothesize that to re-establish trabecular connectivity, a therapeutic intervention would have to be given before a significant distance between trabeculae has developed. Further studies will need to be done to refute or confirm our hypothesis.