Bulky Diet Research Articles

Evaluation of clinical profiles, surgical experience and outcomes of ileosigmoid knotting in low-resource setup: A retrospective cohort study at Jimma University Medical Center.

Bowel obstruction is a mechanical or functional blockade of intestinal contents from evacuation to the adjacent distal bowel or external environment. It poses significant morbidity and mortality in both high-income and low-to-middle-income countries. Ileosigmoid knotting is a special form of obstruction where the small bowel often ileum wraps around the sigmoid colon or vice versa. It is the severest form of bowel obstruction, involving both the small and large bowels in a compound manner. It is common where sigmoid volvulus is common and geographic areas with a bulky diet. An institution-based retrospective cohort study was employed among purposively selected 40 surgical patients with ileosigmoid knotting records from July 2020 to July 2023 at Jimma University Medical Center. To estimate and compare the survival probabilities, the Kaplan-Meir method and log-rank test were used. A Cox-regression analysis was fitted to identify independent predictors of time to death. Among a cohort of 40 patients followed for 347 person-days at Jimma University Medical Center, 11 (27.5%) had died. The overall incidence rate of death was 3.2 (95% CI 1.8, 5.7) per 100 person-days. In multivariable Cox-regression analysis, age (AHR=1.15; 95% CI: 1.04-1.28), shock at presentation (AHR=30.50: 95% CI 1.25-742.54), comorbidities (AHR=5.81; 95% CI 1.19-28.23), pulse rate intraoperatively (AHR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.01-1.40), postoperative pulse rate (AHR=1.07; 95% CI: 1.01-1.14) were independently associated with time to death. The incidence of death among surgical patients with ileosigmoid knotting was high and also had a shorter median survival time. Age, shock at presentation, comorbidities, pulse rate intraoperatively, and postoperative pulse rate were found to be statistically significant predictors of time to death and outcome among surgical patients with Ileosigmoid knotting.

Dietary fiber during gestation improves lactational feed intake of sows by modulating gut microbiota

BackgroundThe feed intake of sows during lactation is often lower than their needs. High-fiber feed is usually used during gestation to increase the voluntary feed intake of sows during lactation. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of bulky diets on the appetites of sows during lactation have not been fully clarified. The current study was conducted to determine whether a high-fiber diet during gestation improves lactational feed intake (LFI) of sows by modulating gut microbiota.MethodsWe selected an appropriate high-fiber diet during gestation and utilized the fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) method to conduct research on the role of the gut microbiota in feed intake regulation of sows during lactation, as follows: high-fiber (HF) diet during gestation (n = 23), low-fiber (LF) diet during gestation (n = 23), and low-fiber diet + HF-FMT (LFM) during gestation (n = 23).ResultsCompared with the LF, sows in the HF and LFM groups had a higher LFI, while the sows also had higher peptide tyrosine tyrosine and glucagon-like peptide 1 on d 110 of gestation (G110 d). The litter weight gain of piglets during lactation and weaning weight of piglets from LFM group were higher than LF group. Sows given a HF diet had lower Proteobacteria, especially Escherichia-Shigella, on G110 d and higher Lactobacillus, especially Lactobacillus_mucosae_LM1 and Lactobacillus_amylovorus, on d 7 of lactation (L7 d). The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was reduced by HF-FMT in numerically compared with the LF. In addition, HF and HF-FMT both decreased the perinatal concentrations of proinflammatory factors, such as endotoxin (ET), lipocalin-2 (LCN-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The concentration of ET and LCN-2 and the abundance of Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella were negatively correlated with the LFI of sows.ConclusionThe high abundance of Proteobacteria, especially Escherichia-Shigella of LF sows in late gestation, led to increased endotoxin levels, which result in inflammatory responses and adverse effects on the LFI of sows. Adding HF during gestation reverses this process by increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus, especially Lactobacillus_mucosae_LM1 and Lactobacillus_amylovorus.

Towards the prediction of feed intake capacity of modern broilers on bulky feeds

The use of alternative, often bulky ingredients is becoming widespread in poultry diets as the industry seeks to reduce its economic and environmental costs. Consequently, there is an increased need to accurately predict the performance of birds given such diets and identify their maximum capacity for bulk. We offered diets diluted with a range of bulky ingredients to male Ross 308 broilers to assess their capacity for bulk and identify a bulk characteristic responsible for limiting intake. Four hundred ninety-five day-old broilers allocated into 45 pens, were offered a common starter diet until day (d) 7, and 1 of 9 grower diets from d 8 to 29 (Period 1). Each of the grower diets was diluted with either 30 or 60% of oat hulls (OH), wheat bran (WB), or grass meal (GM), or a mixture of 2 bulky ingredients at an inclusion level of 30% each (OHWB, OHGM, WBGM). From d 29 to 43 (Period 2), all birds were offered the bulkiest diet (GM60). A number of bulk characteristics were measured on the diets. Feed intake was measured daily, and birds were dissected on d 29 and 43 for organ and carcass measurements. During d 8 to 14 diet water-holding capacity (WHC) was more consistent in predicting feed intake when scaled per unit of body weight than any other bulk characteristic. However, this was no longer the case during d 15 to 28. In Period 2, the response and adaptation to the bulkiest diet was determined by previous experience to bulk. Birds offered a bulkier diet during Period 1, were better able to adapt the size of their digestive organs and increase scaled feed intake, such that there were no differences between these birds and those offered the GM60; the converse was the case for birds on the least bulky diets. We conclude that WHC is able to predict maximum intake on bulky diets in unadapted birds. Adaptation to bulky diets can be very fast, so that their high bulk content no longer limits feed intake and performance.

Nutrition al manipulation of feeding behaviour of birds

A research to manipulate the feeding behaviour of laying hens from nutritional perspective was conducted with 504 ISA Brown. Seventeen (17) week old ISA brown with weights ranging between 1590 and 1812 g were allocated to six dietary treatments. There were seven replicates per treatment with 12 birds each making a total of 42 pens in all. Experimental diets differed in the levels of energy, levels insoluble Non Starch Polysaccharide (NSP) and the particle sizes of the NSP. Birds had free access to water and feed during which feeding observations with video cameras were made to observe and record the feeding behaviour of birds at 17, 21, 25, 29, 33 and 35 weeks of age. A computer software programme called Observer 5.0 was used to analyze the observations by one person for 30 minutes per cage. In order to gain more insight in the feeding behaviour of laying hens, 60 laying hens were used for a passage rate experiment using titanium dioxide as an inert marker: Five birds were used for each dietary treatment, and replicated twice. At t=0, three titanium capsules were offered to each bird. After five different time points (30, 90, 180, 270 and 360 minutes), these birds were sacrificed and dissected. The gut (titanium) contents from different segments of the GIT (crop, gizzard, ileum, colon and caeca) of each bird were analysed using spectrophotometer at an absorbance of 408 nm. Results from the study indicate that the feeding behaviour of laying hen can be manipulated nutritionally. Bulky diets (10.6 MJ/kg) significantly (P<0.05) increased the eating time of laying hens by 15% compared with normal energy content (11.8 MJ/kg) and this led to consumption of more feed (average 2355g) than those of normal energy diets (2175g). Similarly, the separate effect of NSP, NSP coarseness and interaction between low energy; NSP and NSP coarseness influenced the eating behaviour. Feeding layers with low density diet containing a combination of low energy high NSP coarse NSP increased the amount of time birds spent feeding by 32% and consequently increased the feed intake by 11% (average feed intake of 135g ) above normal energy low NSP mixture diet (average feed intake of 120g). The passage rate experiment showed that Low energy High non starch polysaccharide coarse (LeHnspcoarse) diet reduces the gut transit time, thus birds quickly feel hungrier after a period of satiety, possibly resulting in a short inter-meal interval. Conclusively, the interaction between low energy, high NSP and NSP coarseness influence birds' feeding behaviour necessitating increase in eating time and faster passage rate via the GIT

Prediction of maximum scaled feed intake in broiler chickens based on physical properties of bulky feeds

ABSTRACT 1. A trial was conducted to investigate the capacity of broiler chickens to consume bulky feeds during three stages of growth. These phases were from 1 to 15 d, 16 to 30 d and from 31 to 45 d. 2. A basal feed was serially diluted (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10% or 15%) with one of five diluents (cellulose fibre, sawdust, rice husk, sand or vermiculite) to produce 25 feeds which were supplied on an ad libitum basis to the birds in each phase. Cobb 500® strain chicks were used, and, within each phase, each feed was given to nine individually-caged birds, 225 in total, distributed in a completely randomised design. 3. Intake increased initially, and then declined, as the proportion of each diluent increased. The consumption of feeds that limited intake were directly proportional to metabolic body weight and so a scaled feed intake, expressed as g/BW0.67 per day, was calculated. There were large effects of feed type on intake, in the short term, with consumption of a bulky feed leading to higher intakes. 4. It was concluded the Water Holding Capacity (WHC) content of the feeds could be appropriate measurement of ‘bulk’ responsible for limiting intake and could be used to predict maximum feed intake capacities of broiler chickens fed bulky diets.

Modified ketogenic diet in solid tumors: A Veteran Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System case series.

e14217 Background: Cancers prefer glucose due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Ketogenic diets fuel normal cells while starving cancer. Sparse data exists on ketogenic diets in solid tumors. Methods: Studied 5 advanced solid tumor patients on a modified ketogenic diet plus standard of care chemotherapy. Daily carbohydrate limited to 20-40 grams, no sweets or starch. Histories and clinical courses are presented. Results: Case 1: 70 year old male, medically inoperable Stage IIIA poorly differentiated squamous cell lung cancer and non-hodgkins lymphoma. Treated with radiation and paclitaxel/carboplatin. After 5 months, lung cancer relapsed in a neck mass, treated with chemoradiation plus the diet. At 46 months, scans and blood counts were normal. Case 2: 42 year old, 417 lb. male diabetic stage IV colon cancer, spread to lungs and liver. Progressed on 5FU/bevacizumab/oxaliplatin, irinotecan, tipiracil/trifluridine, regorafenib but responded to 5FU/irinotecan rechallenge plus liver chemoembolization. Dieted, mild ketosis but lost 64 lbs, stable disease at 6.5 years. Case 3: 42 year old male, Stage III BRAF V600 E melanoma, Vemurafenib intolerant. Bulky axillary nodes resected plus diet for 3 years. Complete remission at 7 yrs 9 months. Case 4: 57 year old male, medically inoperable liver cancer, normal AFP values and normal scans after 5 months of sorafenib. AFP later increased to 690 ng/ml. Advised to change treatment but he refused and started the ketogenic diet with the sorafenib. After 5 months, AFP improved to 445 ng/ml. Sorafenib and diet interrupted for 3 months, AFP rose to 1017. At 7 yrs, 4 months, back on sorafenib and diet, AFP 1520 mg/ml, negative scans. Case 5: 49 year old male, aggressive digital papillary skin adenocarcinoma, multi-organ metastases. Had side-effects with many chemotherapies (paclitaxel/bevacizumab/carboplatin, sorafenib, gemcitabine, oxaliplatin/5FU, cyclophosphamide) Stable disease on diet despite multiple therapy changes. At 34 months, he was off the diet, tumors grew plus new brain lesions (resected). Alive on atezolizumab at 36 months. Conclusions: Ketogenic diets in human solid tumors seem well tolerated and may improve response and survival after standard therapy.

Prepartum dietary energy intake affects metabolism and health during the periparturient period in primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of prepartum plane of energy intake on metabolic profiles related to lipid metabolism and health in blood and liver. Primiparous (n=24) and multiparous (n=23) Holsteins were randomly assigned by expected date of parturition to 1 of 3 prepartum energy intakes. A high energy diet [1.62 Mcal of net energy for lactation (NEL)/kg; 15% crude protein] was fed for either ad libitum intake or restricted intake to supply 150% (OVR) or 80% (RES) of energy requirements for dry cows in late gestation. To limit energy intake to 100% of National Research Council requirements at ad libitum intake, chopped wheat straw was included as 31.8% of dry matter for a control diet (CON; 1.21 Mcal of NEL/kg of dry matter; 14.2% crude protein). Regardless of parity group, OVR cows had greater concentrations of glucose, insulin, and leptin in blood prepartum compared with either CON or RES cows; however, dietary effects did not carry over to the postpartum period. Prepartum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were lower in OVR cows compared with either CON or RES cows. Postpartum, however, OVR cows had evidence of greater mobilization of triacylglycerol (TAG) from adipose tissue as NEFA were higher than in CON or RES cows, especially within the first 10 d postpartum. Prepartum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) was not affected by diet before parturition; however, within the first 10 d postpartum, OVR cows had greater BHBA than CON or RES cows. Prepartum diet did not affect liver composition prepartum; however, OVR cows had greater total lipid and TAG concentrations and lower glycogen postpartum than CON or RES cows. Frequency of ketosis and displaced abomasum was greater for OVR cows compared with CON or RES cows postpartum. Controlling or restricting prepartum energy intake yielded metabolic results that were strikingly similar both prepartum and postpartum, independent of parity group. The use of a bulky diet controlled prepartum energy intake in multiparous and primiparous cows, improved metabolic status postpartum, and reduced the incidence of health problems. When metabolic profiles are considered collectively, cows overfed energy prepartum exhibited an “overnutrition syndrome” with characteristics of clinical symptoms displayed by diabetic or obese nonruminant subjects. This syndrome likely contributed to metabolic dysfunction postpartum.

Dietary fiber for pregnant sows: Influence on sow physiology and performance during lactation1

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding sows a bulky diet during gestation on their physiological and metabolic adaptations during the peripartum period, and to determine how these effects may relate to sow and piglet performances. From d 26 of gestation until farrowing, gilts were fed diets that contained 2.8 or 11.0% crude fiber (control and high-fiber diets, respectively, n = 9/group). Daily feed allowance provided the same amount of DE daily (33 MJ of DE/d). Throughout lactation, sows were allowed to consume a standard lactating sow diet ad libitum. Litters were standardized to 12 piglets beyond 48 h after birth. On d 105 of gestation, a jugular catheter was surgically implanted. Preprandial blood samples were collected from d 109 of gestation to the day after farrowing and on d 4, 18, and 26 of lactation. Meal tests and glucose tolerance tests were performed on d 109 of gestation and d 4 and 18 of lactation. During gestation, BW and backfat gain did not differ between treatment groups. During lactation, sows fed the high-fiber diet ate an average of 0.94 kg/d more than control sows (P < 0.02). Piglets born from sows fed the high-fiber diet grew faster than piglets from control sows (P = 0.03). Body weight and backfat losses did not differ between the 2 treatment groups. Sows fed the high-fiber diet during gestation had lesser concentrations of leptin before farrowing than control sows (P < 0.01). Leptin concentrations were negatively correlated with feed intake during lactation (P < 0.05). The prepartal increase in prolactin concentrations tended to be greater in sows fed the high-fiber diet than in control sows (P < 0.1). Preprandial concentrations of glucose, NEFA, lactate, and IGF-I fluctuated over time without significant treatment effect. Glucose half-life was shorter in late gestation than during both stages of lactation, but did not differ between sows in the 2 groups. In late gestation, the postprandial increases in glucose and insulin were delayed, and smaller, after a high-fiber meal than after a control meal. During lactation, glucose and insulin profiles after a standard meal did not differ between sows from treatment groups. In conclusion, the greater appetite of lactating sows fed a high-fiber diet during gestation does not seem related to changes in glucose and insulin metabolism and may be partly due to decreased secretion of leptin. The greater feed consumption was accompanied by a faster growth rate of piglets without sparing effect on maternal body reserves.

Feeding behavior in primiparous lactating sows: Impact of a high-fiber diet during pregnancy1

Voluntary feed intake of hyperprolific sows can be insufficient to cover the requirements for milk production and maintenance of body condition. A bulky diet fed during pregnancy is known to prepare sows for an ad libitum feed supply after parturition as shown by the increased feed intake during lactation. The aim of this study was to investigate the feeding behavior of young sows during their first lactation to evaluate the further impact of the feeding experience acquired during pregnancy, through the addition of dietary fiber in the diet. Analysis of the feeding pattern and the profile of feed intake tested the hypothesis that lactating sows would exhibit different feeding strategies depending on the diet during pregnancy. During pregnancy, 24 primiparous sows (Large White x Landrace) were offered either 2.4 kg of a control diet/d containing 3.16% crude fiber or 2.8 kg of a high-fiber diet/d containing 12.42% crude fiber. All sows received 33 MJ of DE/d. From the first day postpartum until weaning, all sows were offered the same lactation diet ad libitum. The feeding pattern during lactation was recorded as ADFI, meal frequency, and meal size. In lactation, the ADFI did not differ according to the treatment. Compared with control sows, high-fiber sows consumed their diet in more (P < 0.05) but smaller meals (P < 0.05). In both treatments, ADFI and the number of daily meals increased over weeks of lactation (P < 0.001). All sows presented a strong diurnal and bimodal feeding activity evolving toward 2 distinct feeding periods occurring from 0500 to 0900 and from 1400 to 1800 and accounting for 0.64 of the total daily feed intake during the third week of lactation. The provision of a fibrous diet during pregnancy pointed out the role of an early feeding experience on the development of feeding behavior during the first reproductive cycle.

Nutritional development of feeding strategies in arctic ruminants: digestive morphometry of reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, and muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus

Reindeer have been classified as intermediate feeders and muskoxen as grazers based on differences in digestive morphology and consumption of fibrous plants. We hypothesized that the digestive morphology of young (<2 months) reindeer and muskoxen anticipates transitions in diet and determines the feeding strategy of each species at adulthood. We compared structural morphology and rates of cell division in the rumen, abomasum, duodenum and liver of reindeer and muskoxen as neonates (1 day old), during the transition from milk to forage (30–60 days old) and in adults (>7 yr). Development in utero provided the neonate with a functioning mucosa of the gastric abomasum and duodenal mucosa with high surface enlargement for digestion and absorption of concentrated milks. Transition to forage was preceded by changes in ruminal papillae structure that increased surface area and likely contributed to active fermentation by 60 days of age. The abomasum also increased in acid-secreting parietal cells during the transition to forage, which may enhance digestion of plant and microbial proteins. Rates of cell division also indicated a sustained differentiation of tissue structure during the transitional period. Young arctic ruminants expressed digestive structures that preceded full function, which indicated the ultimate feeding strategy of each species. For example, the rumen of young muskoxen had thick cornified epithelia and muscle layers that would provide ruminal mucosa with better protection from fibrous abrasion and enhance motility of bulky diets. Conversely, young reindeer had more complex papillary shapes in the rumen and more foliate villi in the duodenum, indicating a greater absorptive capacity of these structures than in muskoxen. Ontogenetic programs, therefore, play the primary role for digestive development of reindeer and muskoxen and determine the nutritional strategies of adults.

The influence of dietary fibre and the provision of straw on the development of stereotypic behaviour in food restricted pregnant sows

The inability of sows to appropriately express feeding motivation has been identified as one of the major contributory factors in the development of stereotypic behaviour. It has been proposed that the development of these repetitive behaviours may be mitigated either by reducing feeding motivation, for example by feeding sows bulky diets which increase gut fill, or by providing sows with a foraging substrate. Forty-eight nulliparous sows were used in a 2×2 factorial design comparing the interactive effects of a high fibre diet and the provision of straw on the behaviour of food restricted pregnant sows. Sows were fed the same daily weight of iso-energetic conventional (C) or high fibre (H; containing 600 g of unmolassed sugar beet pulp per kg of food) diets during gestation and were housed in pens with straw (S) or without straw (N). Behaviour was recorded by direct observation and video during their second gestation. Levels of chain and bar-directed behaviour were highest in the hour immediately following food presentation. Although no difference was found in activity levels or levels of chain and bar manipulation between dietary treatments, sows fed the high fibre diet spent less time manipulating straw (C vs. H; 46.3 vs. 37.0%, P<0.05) than sows fed the conventional diet, after adjustment for the time spent feeding (C vs. H; 20.0 vs. 29.4%, P<0.001). In addition, increasing dietary fibre tended to reduce the level of manipulation of substrates other than straw, but only in the final hour of observation. This suggests that fermentation of sugar beet pulp may play a role in maintaining levels of satiety later in the day, when the satiety levels of conventionally fed sows are starting to decline. The provision of straw significantly reduced levels of chains and bar manipulation (S vs. N; 14.4 vs. 35.3%, P<0.01), and levels of non-manipulative oral behaviour (S vs. N; 0.4 vs. 3.8%, P<0.05). Although the daily provision of fresh straw may provide a reliable way of reducing pen component manipulation and the development of stereotypic behaviour, it is unclear to what extent welfare is improved by exchanging excessive pen component manipulation with the excessive manipulation of straw.

Both energy content and bulk of food affect stereotypic behaviour, heart rate and feeding motivation of female pigs

We determined if high-fibre diets decrease feeding motivation and feeding related stereotypic behaviour of gilts. Forty gilts were fed either a concentrate diet (CONC) or high-fibre diets balanced for energy (WHEAT: wheat bran and corn cobs; OAT: oat hulls and oat) or with a lower energy content (OAT-LE). Daily intake of major nutrients was the same in the CONC, WHEAT and OAT diets. Duration of eating was increased by all three bulky diets ( P < 0.01). Before meals, the total duration of chain manipulation was lower for gilts on the OAT diet compared to gilts fed CONC and OAT-LE ( P < 0.05). After meals, duration of chain manipulation was lower in OAT and OAT-LE gilts than in CONC gilts ( P ≤ 0.05), with a tendency ( P = 0.09) for less stereotypies with WHEAT gilts. When eating time and the diet were included in a multiple regression model to predict the duration of chain manipulation after the meal, only time spent eating was significant. During an operant conditioning test, more rewards were received before the meal by CONC gilts than by WHEAT gilts, but both OAT and OAT-LE diets reduced operant performance after meals more than did the CONC diet ( P < 0.05). Heart rates before the meal were significantly lower in the OAT-LE gilts than in CONC and OAT gilts. With the arrival of the food, heart rates increased and were higher in CONC gilts than in gilts on all other diets ( P < 0.01). In conclusion, bulky diets reduced hunger and post-feeding stereotypies as well as heart rate responses to feeding, while low-energy diets increased pre-feeding stereotypies and decreased baseline heart rates. Therefore, adding fibre in the diets of sows will be effective only if the nutrient requirements of the animals are met.

Eating behavior of lactating sows receiving growth hormone-releasing factor: effect of meal frequency and high-fiber gestation diets

Forty-eight Yorkshire × Landrace gilts were used in an experiment with a factorial design (2 × 2 × 2). The treatments were control or bulky diet during gestation (4.1 vs. 15.3% crude fiber), the number of meals served daily in lactation (2 or 4) and three daily s.c. injections of saline or of 1 mg of a human growth hormone-releasing factor analog (GRF) from day 3 to day 29 of lactation. The animals were video-recorded for 30 s every 5 min over a 24-h period and observed continuously at feeding time at weeks 2 and 4 of lactation. Injections of GRF to lactating sows decreased the time spent eating after feed distribution (P = 0.007) but not eating frequency over 24 h. GRF-treated sows performed more oral non-feeding activities after feed distribution and over 24 h (P &lt; 0.05). Sows fed four times a day spent less time eating and more time lying per feeding period than sows fed twice (P &lt; 0.05) but the total eating time over the day was similar. Lying frequency did not decrease in GRF-treated sows fed at 23:15 h, contrary to saline-injected sows (P = 0.02). Feeding high-fiber diets during gestation had no effect on eating behavior during lactation. In conclusion, GRF injections during lactation modified the eating behavior of sows. However, using a bulky diet during gestation or increasing meal frequency during lactation did not counteract the decrease in eating time due to GRF. Key words: Meal frequency, fiber, growth hormone-releasing factor, eating behavior, sows

The effect of dietary inclusion of sugar-beet pulp on the feeding behaviour of dry sows

AbstractFeeding behaviour of six sows receiving a diet with a high inclusion (500 g/kg) of sugar-beet pulp (SBP) was compared with that of six sows receiving a conventional cereal-based diet (control). The feeding rate was determined for both the rate of consumption of the daily food allowance (SBP or control diet) and of a test portion (of control diet) offered at different intervals after the daily food allowance. SBP sows consumed their daily food allowance more slowly than control sows, SBP sows also consumed the test portion more slowly than control sows, when this was offered immediately after the daily food allowance. Prolonging the time taken to eat the control diet, by presenting it in meal form, did not change the feeding rate of the test diet. Offering the test portion 2 h after the daily food allowance, increased the feeding rate of the test portion for both control and SBP sows, with a smaller but still significant treatment difference. Gastric distension appeared to be a major factor in regulating intake when feeding a diet containing SBP. The extent to which feeding rate could be used as an index of feeding motivation and the welfare consequences of using bulky diets for sows are discussed.

Lactation performance of sows fed a bulky diet during gestation and receiving growth hormone-releasing factor during lactation.

Forty-eight crossbred gilts were used in an experiment with a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were control or bulky diet during gestation (4.1 vs 15.3% crude fiber), number of meals served daily in lactation (2 vs 4), and three daily s.c. injections of saline or of 1 mg of a human growth hormone-releasing factor analog (GRF-AN) from d 3 to 29 of lactation. Weights of pigs were recorded weekly until weaning on d 33. On d 29 of lactation, milk yield was estimated and a milk sample was obtained the next day. Jugular blood samples were collected from the sows on d 3 and 28 of lactation. Feed and water intake of sows were recorded throughout the study. Feeding the bulky diet decreased water intake in gestation (P < .001) and increased feed intake in lactation (P < .03). The number of meals served daily had no effect on feed intake during lactation (P > .1). Injections of GRF-AN increased IGF-I concentrations in blood (P < .01) and in milk (P < .001) and decreased backfat thickness (P < .001) and feed intake (P < .001) of sows during lactation. Pigs from sows injected with GRF-AN weighed more on d 14 (P < .05) and had a tendency to weigh more on d 7 (P = .09) and d 21 (P = .06). The incidence of sows showing estrus within 10 d of weaning was reduced with exogenous GRF (P < .01). The use of exogenous GRF in lactating sows may therefore have beneficial effects on growth of the pigs, yet the optimal nutritional and hormonal conditions needed for GRF to exert its full potential still need to be determined.

Response of rat colonic mucosa to a high fiber diet.

Secreting lubricating mucins, colonic crypt goblet cells, contribute to the intestinal protection against mechanical challenge. After feeding germ-free (GF) and specific pathogen-free (SPF) AS/Ztm rats for 6 weeks, the proliferative response of colonic goblet to a commercial bulky diet (37.1% fiber) was compared to that of a standard diet. (4.4% fiber). An increased uptake of the high fiber diet by GF rats significantly augmented the capacity for mucin secretion as indicated by the amount and length of crypts, crypt cells and mature goblet cells. The response of SPF rats was limited to a crypt elongation, generated by more crypt cells. In both study groups, the goblet cell replication activity was similar to their controls. The increase in the mucin-secreting capacity, induced by a constant mechanical challenge, highly suggests an improved intestinal protection.

Vegetarian Diets and Children

Although the general health and development of vegan and vegetarian children seem to be normal, there may be subtle differences compared with omnivores. They are at increased risk of iron deficiency, and impaired psychomotor development associated with iron deficiency has been reported in macrobiotic infants. Fortunately, this impairment is not permanent, and follow-up studies have reported higher-than-average intelligence quotients among older macrobiotic children. Several other hazards of vegetarian diets have been identified, including vitamin B12 deficiency, rickets, and a bulky diet that can restrict energy intake in the first few years of life; however, these pitfalls can be avoided easily, and children can be successfully reared on vegetarian diets.

Effect of bulky diets based on wheat bran or oat hulls on reproductive performance of sows during their first two parities1

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of different degrees of bulkiness in the gestation diet on reproductive performance of sows during their first two parities. The density of the diets was modified by incorporating a high proportion of fibrous ingredients (wheat bran and corn cobs in Diet 2 and oat hulls and oats in Diet 3). A diet without fibrous ingredients was used as a control (corn and soybean meal in Diet 1). Although all the gestation diets were formulated to provide the same daily intake of the major nutrients, sows fed Diet 3 were the lightest and had the lowest backfat thickness (P < or = .05) during both parities, and those fed Diet 2 were the heaviest and the fattest (P < or = .05) during the second parity. These results seem to indicate an overestimation of the calculated nutritive value of Diet 3, whereas those obtained with Diet 2 seemed to be linked to its marked effect on behavior of sows during the second parity. There was no marked effect (P > .11) of treatments on the number of pigs born alive, on preweaning mortality, or on the weaning-to-estrus interval. At parturition, total litter weight was similar among treatments in the first parity, whereas in the second parity it was greater (P < or = .05) in sows fed Diet 2 than in those fed Diets 1 and 3. In both parities, feed intake of the common lactation diet given during lactation was 5% higher (P < or = .05) for sows fed Diet 3 during gestation than for sows fed the other diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

High-fibre diets for sows: effects on stereotypies and adjunctive drinking

The effects of feeding bulky high-fibre regimens to pregnant gilts and sows on persistent hunger and the development of abnormal behaviours were studied. Ninety-one gilts were mated at their second or third oestrus and were fed during two gestations a diet containing either a low level of fibre (corn and soybean meal (1)), a high level of fibre (wheat bran and corn cobs (2)), or a very high level of fibre (oat hulls and oat (3)). The total daily intake of major nutrients was calculated to be the same in the three regimens. Daily allowances in the first and second parities were, respectively, 2.0 kg and 2.2 kg in Diet 1; 2.9 kg and 3.2 kg in Diet 2; 3.4 kg and 3.7 kg in Diet 3. The animals were videorecorded for 30 s every 10 min over a 24-h period at Weeks 5, 10 and 15 of gestation and during 1.5 h before and after mealtime at 108 days of gestation during the two parities. During both parities, bulky regimens reduced stereotypies over 24 h ( P<0.0007), Regimen 2 being more effective than 3 in the first parity. Around mealtime, Regimens 2 and 3 had no effect on the duration of stereotypies in Parity 1, whereas in Parity 2, both bulky diets reduced ( P<0.003) stereotyped behaviours before and after feed distribution. Sows fed Diet 3 had less postural changes around mealtime than sows fed Diets 1 or 2. The number of high stereotyping sows increased with parity in Regimen 1 ( P=0.007), but not in 2 and 3. Bulky feed also reduced the time spent drinking ( P<0.02) and water intake ( P<0.0004) over 24 h during both parities. Finally, sows fed Diet 2 were resting, on average, for 76.4% of observation time, as compared with 69.7% for 3 and 66.5% for 1 ( P<0.005). These results indicate that bulky feed may have beneficial effects on the welfare of sows.

How Do Frugivores Process Fruit? Gastrointestinal Transit and Glucose Absorption in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)

-We used image-intensification radiology to examine gut function in six Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) fed artificial fruits that contained barium-labeled pulp and seeds. Despite the absence of an anatomical crop, waxwings were able to store fruits orad to the gizzard in a distensible portion of the esophagus. By doing so, they were able to increase meal sizes above what their gizzards could contain at any one time. Thus, they could partially overcome the digestive bottleneck that results from a bulky diet. Gizzard contraction increased in frequency with gizzard fullness. Seeds and pulp were separated in the gizzard; most pulp passed into the intestine before the seeds. Once in the intestine, however, seeds moved especially quickly (x = 0.14 cm/s) into the rectum. Both pulp and seeds resided for a relatively long time in the rectum, where antiperistalsis was clearly visible. Unlike other birds that have been studied, the functions of antiperistalsis in waxwings probably do not include cecal filling, since ceca of waxwings are minute. We hypothesize that the function of antiperistalsis in waxwings (and other fruit-eating birds) is to mix digesta in the intraluminal zone adjacent to the rectal mucosa, thereby increasing nutrient absorption. This hypothesis is consistent with the observation that fruit-eating birds typically have low digestive efficiencies. In particular, absorption of nutrients in the rectum may be important, given that digesta therein may still contain significant amounts of nutrients. Indeed, active uptake of D-glucose, a primary constituent of fruit pulp, was as high in the rectum as elsewhere in the gut. We also found that waxwings typically defecated only the distal 50% of rectal contents. Presumably, digesta in the proximal portion was higher in nutrients and so was retained longer for more thorough absorption. This pattern contrasts to most other vertebrates in which the rectum empties completely and sugar uptake in the rectum is negligible. We suggest that functional adaptations to frugivory (i.e. how fruit is processed) are likely more important than structural adaptations. Received 9 May 1991, accepted 15 December 1991. FRUITS ARE a unique food source that combine a large proportion of well-protected seeds with a nutritious, easily digestible covering. Presumably, fruit-eating birds possess gut adaptations that allow them to efficiently process this mix of high and low digestibility components. Many studies have attempted to find such adaptations, but there is little agreement among them. For example, some researchers report that fruit-eating birds have especially short guts (e.g. Walsberg 1975, Pullainen et al. 1981), others that they have long guts (e.g. Al-Dabbagh et al. 1987, Jordano 1987), and yet others that they have guts of normal length (Herrera 1984). Apparently, there are few (if any) general morphological adaptations of avian guts to frugivory. The major adaptations may be functional, relating to how fruit is processed rather than to gut structure (Herrera 1984, Karasov and Levey 1990). Little is known about functioning of the gut in fruit-eating birds. Most studies have simply treated birds as black boxes-patterns of ingestion and defecation are compared, then transit and digestive processes are inferred (Johnson et al. 1985, Bairlein 1987, Worthington 1989, Levey and Grajal 1991). For example, retention time is one of the most important parameters of food processing (Van Soest 1982, Penry and Jumars 1987). The statistic that is usually reported is the mean time from ingestion to defecation. Yet, what is needed for accurate interpretation is the time a meal spends in each segment of the gut (Penry and Jumars 1987, Martinez del Rio and Karasov 1990). This type of information can yield new insights. In the case of hummingbirds, for example, if cropemptying time determines foraging bout frequency, these birds would likely be energy maximizers rather than foraging-time minimizers (Diamond et al. 1986, Karasov et al. 1986). Image-intensification radiology (IIR) allows