Feeding Level Research Articles

The potential role of early life feeding patterns in shaping the infant fecal metabolome: implications for neurodevelopmental outcomes

Infant fecal metabolomics can provide valuable insights into the associations of nutrition, dietary patterns, and health outcomes in early life. Breastmilk is typically classified as the best source of nutrition for nearly all infants. However, exclusive breastfeeding may not always be possible for all infants. This study aimed to characterize associations between levels of mixed breastfeeding and formula feeding, along with solid food consumption and the infant fecal metabolome at 1- and 6-months of age. As a secondary aim, we examined how feeding-associated metabolites may be associated with early life neurodevelopmental outcomes. Fecal samples were collected at 1- and 6-months, and metabolic features were assessed via untargeted liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Feeding groups were defined at 1-month as 1) exclusively breastfed, 2) breastfed >50% of feedings, or 3) formula fed ≥50% of feedings. Six-month groups were defined as majority breastmilk (>50%) or majority formula fed (≥50%) complemented by solid foods. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 2 years. Changes in the infant fecal metabolome were associated with feeding patterns at 1- and 6-months. Feeding patterns were associated with the intensities of a total of 57 fecal metabolites at 1-month and 25 metabolites at 6-months, which were either associated with increased breastmilk or increased formula feeding. Most breastmilk-associated metabolites, which are involved in lipid metabolism and cellular processes like cell signaling, were associated with higher neurodevelopmental scores, while formula-associated metabolites were associated with lower neurodevelopmental scores. These findings offer preliminary evidence that feeding patterns are associated with altered infant fecal metabolomes, which may be associated with cognitive development later in life.

Optimization of Selenium Inclusion Level in the Larval Diet of Labeo rohita.

The nutritional requirement of fish larvae remains a limiting factor in advanced aquaculture. Micronutrients are crucial for early development, but their dietary inclusion level in the larval feed of carps has not been standardized. The present study was executed to determine the optimum dietary inclusion level of organic and inorganic selenium in the larval feed of Rohu, Labeo rohita. A 35-day feeding trial in triplicate under semi-control conditions was conducted in 21 troughs divided into seven groups. Each trough (capacity 4.0 L) contained 200 larvae (average body weight 0.4mg). The first group (control) was reared on nano-particulate basal diet (CP 50%), while three groups Se-Na(0.5), Se-Na(1), and Se-Na(1.5) were fed basal diet supplemented with graded levels (0.5-1.5mg/kg diet) of inorganic form of Se, sodium selenite (Se-Na). The last three groups (Se-Met(0.5), Se-Met(1), and Se-Met(1.5)) were fed organic form of dietary Se, selenium methionine (Se-Met) at the same inclusion level as Se-Na. Results indicated the curvilinear relationship of dietary Se levels with body weight, activity of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, lipases, and trypsin), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, and GSH-Px) activity, intestinal villi, width, and absorptive area. A positive correlation was observed with up to 0.5 and 1mg/kg diet of Se-Na and Se-Met, respectively; however, above these levels, a negative impact was observed. The upregulation of growth hormone mediator (IGF-1) and downregulation of heat shock protein (HSP-70) also followed a similar trend in response to Se-Na and Se-Met inclusion. Based on the results, 1mg/kg diet Se-Met could be considered the optimum level and is recommended for the early rearing of rohu larvae.

Comparative analysis of the hypothalamus transcriptome of laying ducks with different residual feeding intake

Feed costs account for approximately 60-70% of the cost of poultry farming, and feed utilization is closely related to the profitability of the poultry industry. To understand the causes of the differences in feeding in Shan Partridge ducks, we compared the hypothalamus transcriptome profiles of two groups of ducks using RNA-seq. The two groups were: 1) low residual feed intake (LRFI) group with low feed intake but high feed efficiency, and 2) high residual feed intake (HRFI) group with high feed intake but low feed efficiency. We found 78 DEGs were enriched in nine differential Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathways, including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, GABAergic synapse, nitrogen metabolism, cAMP signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, nitrogen metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, ovarian steroidogenesis, and gluconeogenesis. To further identify core genes among the 78 DEGs, we performed protein-protein interaction and co-expression network analyses. After comprehensive analysis and experimental validation, four core genes, namely, glucagon (GCG), cholecystokinin (CCK), gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit delta (GABRD), and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit beta1 (GABRB1), were identified as potential core genes responsible for the difference in residual feeding intake between the two breeds. We also investigated the level of cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY(PYY), ghrelin, and glucagon-like peptide1 (GLP-1) hormones in the sera of Shan Partridge ducks at different feeding levels and found that there was a difference between the two groups with respect to GLP-1 and NPY levels. The findings will serve as a reference for future research on the feeding efficiency of Shan Partridge ducks and assist in promoting their genetic breeding.

Optimization of dairy cows diets for crude protein

The influence of the composition of the diet on the productive indicators of cows, in particular on the chemical composition of milk, is analyzed. A reduction in the supply of succulent feed to 46.6% of the total energy nutrition and an increase in the proportion of concentrates (up to 53.4% of the exchange energy) for dairy cows were unacceptable. During the study, the level of milk productivity of black-andwhite cows increased very slightly – by 0.7 kg head /day. It is possible that in the first days of the change of the cow's diet, the total gross milk yield increases, but this period does not last long, and soon cows with acidosis and other metabolic disorders appear on the farm. The increase in the level of concentrated feed in the farm negatively affected the physico-chemical composition of milk, which became unsorted. A negative consequence of the change in the diet of cows was a deterioration in the quality of milk. Thus, the ratio of «fat – protein» has changed in the opposite direction, the urea content has increased (to 48.58–52.97 mg / 100 ml), the titrated acidity of milk has increased (to 19.49–21.04 °T) and the content of somatic cells in milk (to the level of 354.41–450.54 thousand / cm3) in cows of all lactations.

Productivity of the Tsigai sheep breed under different feeding regimens

In the present study, the influence of levels of feeding on the formation and development of economic and commercial traits of Tsigai breed was studied in the conditions of the southern steppe of Ukraine. The research was conducted on purebred sheep from birth to 14 months of age. For this purpose, 2 groups of 3.5-4 years old ewes of the first class were selected with 40 heads in each class. It was established that poor feeding of ewes (experimental diet and below standard nutritional levels) and their offspring at the early stage of ontogenesis had a negative effect on the formation and growth of productive qualities of lambs, means of live weight and wool productivity indicators. Qualitative and quantitative indicators of wool was better in ewes obtained from mothers of the control group (received a balanced diet in accordance with the standard of feeding). Advantage in length of wool in 12 months age was 29.3%, shearing of unwashed wool (26.7%), washed (26.5%), strength of wool at 4 months of age (10.5%), and in the 14th month aged was 5%. The improvement in housing and nutrition conditions in the control group proved that the counts were better and this had a very positive effect on the productivity of the sheep. In conclusion, full-fledged feeding of ewes of the Tsigai breed ensured good development of offspring at all stages of ontogenesis and contributed to the birth of healthy, viable lambs that are capable of high productivity. Any declines in nutrients of Tsigai sheep breed (from standards of commercial formula) can cause considerable deficiency in productivity of animal.

Upcycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from aquaculture sludge using the polychaete Hediste diversicolor (OF Müller, 1776) (Annelida: Nereididae)

IntroductionFocusing on circular bioeconomy and finding solutions for managing finite and scarce resources such as phosphorus are issues that need to be addressed across sectors to attain food security. Land-based aquaculture of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolt and post-smolt results in a large output of aquaculture sludge. These nutrient-rich side streams from aquaculture production constitute a valuable resource for cultivation of polychaetes Hediste diversicolor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of H. diversicolor to upcycle carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contained in aquaculture sludge from Norwegian salmon production.Material and methodsWe investigated the effect of two diets, smolt sludge and post-smolt sludge, which were supplied at four different feed levels, on the gain of C, N, and P in H. diversicolor and established uptake rates for the upcycling of these nutrients. Additionally, we examined how different feed composition (type of diet) and supply (feel level) influenced C, N, and P content as well as the elemental ratios of H. diversicolor.Results and discussionPolychaetes fed with both types of sludge were shown to incorporate C, N, and P from their diets into biomass. Incorporation of C, N, and P in polychaete biomass was highest at the highest feed levels, following specific growth rates. Uptake of diet C, N, and P into polychaete biomass was similar for both diets and across feed levels. On average, C and N uptake rates amounted to 2–10% and 2–15%, respectively, while values for P uptake were lower at 0.5–1.5%. C, N, and P content of polychaetes was not affected by different diets or feed levels while the C:N ratio increased with increasing feed supply. Overall, we found that H. diversicolor can successfully take up nutrients contained in aquaculture sludge and thus can be beneficial for upcycling of side streams from Atlantic salmon production.

Selection of antibiotic resistance in pigs after exposure to feed cross-contaminated with oxytetracycline

Due to possible cross-contamination of animal feedstuff with antibiotics, food-producing animals may be exposed to undesirable low concentrations of antimicrobials. These sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics can lead to the selection of resistant bacteria in the animal gut. The goal of this study was to assess, through analysis of the faeces of treated and control pigs, the risk of resistant E. coli being selected after daily exposure for three weeks to feed contaminated with oxytetracycline at 1% of the therapeutic dose. Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry was used to determine the oxytetracycline concentrations in faecal samples. In the treated group, concentrations were in the range of 4481.9 – 8671.2 µg/kg. In the control group, these concentrations were either below the method’s limit of quantification or up to 60.5 µg/kg. After a transient increase in resistance in both groups, microbiological analysis showed that the treated group had a significantly higher oxytetracycline resistance rate by the end of the study than the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the treated animals were found to select co-resistances to nalidixic acid and ampicillin. Finally, at tolerated antibiotic contamination levels of feed, the treated group had a higher proportion of multidrug-resistant isolates at the end of the study than the control one (p < 0.05). The present study demonstrates that, at the tolerated contamination rates, both antimicrobial resistance and multidrug-resistant bacteria can be selected and evidenced in the gut microbiota.

Effect of Supplementing a Bacillus Multi-Strain Probiotic to a Post-Weaning Diet on Nutrient Utilisation and Nitrogen Retention of Piglets

Probiotics are suggested to improve pig health, nutrient utilisation, performance, and they may reduce nitrogen (N) pollution. However, the effectivity of a single strain might be different from that of a multi-strain. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of a novel Bacillus multi-strain on nutrient digestibility, energy utilisation, and N retention in weaned piglets using an European diet. The experiment consisted of a control diet (CD) and a supplemented diet (SD). The probiotic used for SD consisted of B. amyloliquefaciens—516 and B. subtilis—541. A total of eight boars/treatment were weaned (day 0; 8.5 kg body weight). Only boars were used to ease the collection of urine. Until day 10, piglets were fed ad libitum and were housed in pairs; from day 11, piglets were fed semi ad libitum (feeding level 3.2× metabolic body weight) and were housed individually. From day 14, faecal and urine were collected twice daily. Piglets were humanely euthanised at day 19 (15.0 kg bodyweight) after which the jejunum, ileum, and colon content were collected. In faeces, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of, amongst others, DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), and subsequently net energy (NE) were calculated using titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. In the jejunum and ileum, the apparent digestibility of CP was estimated, and in the ileum, the apparent AA digestibility was measured. In urine, the N content was measured to determine N retention. The volatile fatty acid (VFA), branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA), and lactic acid content were analysed in the colon and faeces. The apparent CP digestibility in the jejunum and ileum was not affected by treatment (p &gt; 0.05), and no effect was observed on the apparent ileal digestibility of AA (p &gt; 0.05). Supplementation with the multi-strain probiotic improved the ATTD of DM (p = 0.01; +1.3%) and OM (p = 0.02; +1.2%) and tended to improve the ATTD of CP (p = 0.10; +2.2%) and NSP (p = 0.07; +1.9%). The multi-strain probiotic also improved the NE value (p = 0.02; +0.2 MJ/kg DM) and improved N retention (p = 0.05; +1.6%). Supplementation did not influence the VFA, BCFA, and lactic acid content in the faeces (p &gt; 0.05). However, in the colon, supplementation did influence the lactic acid content (lower; p = 0.01) and tended to influence the valeric acid content (higher; p = 0.09). In conclusion, results from the current study suggest that the multi-strain probiotic has the potential to contribute to improve nutrient efficiency in weaned piglets. More research needs to be conducted to identify the impact of the improved nutrient utilisation on gut health in post-weaned pigs as well as environmental pollution.

Undernutrition-induced substance metabolism and energy production disorders affected the structure and function of the pituitary gland in a pregnant sheep model.

Undernutrition spontaneously occurs in ewes during late gestation and the pituitary is an important hinge in the neurohumoral regulatory system. However, little is known about the effect of undernutrition on pituitary metabolism. Here, 10 multiparous ewes were restricted to a 30% feeding level during late gestation to establish an undernutrition model while another 10 ewes were fed normally as controls. All the ewes were sacrificed, and pituitary samples were collected to perform transcriptome, metabolome, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis and investigate the metabolic changes. PCA and PLS-DA of total genes showed that undernutrition changed the total transcriptome profile of the pituitary gland, and 581 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the two groups. Clusters of orthologous groups for eukaryotic complete genomes demonstrated that substance transport and metabolism, including lipids, carbohydrates, and amino acids, energy production and conversion, ribosomal structure and biogenesis, and the cytoskeleton were enriched by DEGs. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis displayed that the phagosome, intestinal immune network, and oxidative phosphorylation were enriched by DEGs. Further analysis found that undernutrition enhanced the lipid degradation and amino acid transport, repressing lipid synthesis and transport and amino acid degradation of the pituitary gland. Moreover, the general metabolic profiles and metabolic pathways were affected by undernutrition, repressing the 60S, 40S, 28S, and 39S subunits of the ribosomal structure for translation and myosin and actin synthesis for cytoskeleton. Undernutrition was found also to be implicated in the suppression of oxidative phosphorylation for energy production and conversion into a downregulation of genes related to T cell function and the immune response and an upregulation of genes involved in inflammatory reactions enriching phagosomes. This study comprehensively analyses the effect of undernutrition on the pituitary gland in a pregnant sheep model, which provides a foundation for further research into the mechanisms of undernutrition-caused hormone secretion and metabolic disorders.

Rancang Bangun Alat Pemberi Makan Entok Otomatis Berbasis Internet of Thing (IoT)

A system using Internet of Things (IoT) technology has been developed to assist farmers in efficiently feeding their pet ducks. This system based on the Internet Of Things (IoT) method, involves various components such as loadcell and ultrasonic sensors, servo motors, a real-time clock, LCD display, power supply, and the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller. The feeding process starts by filling the feed into a container hopper. The ultrasonic sensor detects the feed level and sends this information to the Blynk application. The application then opens servo motor 1 to drop the feed into a small container with a loadcell. The loadcell sensor measures the weight of the feed, and then servo motor 1 closes and servo motor 2 opens until the feed runs out, at which point servo motor 2 closes. The system continuously repeats this process and sends notifications to the Blynk application when the hopper is empty. Overall, this system helps to streamline the feeding process for pet ducks and improve efficiency for farmers.

PSXI-13 Growth and Onset of Puberty in Replacement Gilts Fed on Ad Libitum Or Restricted Bases Using an Electronic Sow Feeder

Abstract Replacement gilts are typically fed on an ad libitum basis until approximately 135 kg BW at approximately 200 d of age and are bred between 135 and 160 kg BW during their second estrus. The shift to group-housing of the breeding herd makes it difficult to manage animals individually. Thus, utilization of an electronic sow feeder (ESF) enables caretakers to manage animals individually in group-housing situations, by allotting predetermined amounts of feed. The objective was to determine the effect of feeding level on growth and sexual development in gilts. Crossbred gilts, assumed prepubertal, were moved at 150 d of age to an open pen measuring 44.3 m2 located in a curtain-sided building with partially slatted concrete floors and an ESF (ACCUTEAM, Osborne Industries, Osborne, KS). Gilts were acclimated to the ESF during a 10-d period, during which they received feed on an ad libitum basis. At 160 d of age, gilts were randomly assigned to receive feed on either an ad libitum (AD, n = 18) or restricted (2.73 kg/d; RS, n = 19) basis. Estrus detection was performed for 42 d. Feeding level had no effect on age at puberty (P = 0.23). The pubertal estrus length was similar between treatments (P = 0.23); however, AD gilts exhibited a longer second estrus period (P = 0.05) compared with RS gilts (37.6 vs 30.8 h, SE = 3.6). Estrous cycle length was not affected (P = 0.72) by feeding level. There were no effects of feeding level (P = 0.36) or feeding level x day (P = 0.53) on BW; however, there was an effect of day (P &amp;lt; 0.01), indicative of growing gilts. Feed disappearance was affected by feeding level (P &amp;lt; 0.01, 4.25 vs. 2.68 kg/d, SE = 0.05 for AD and RS, respectively), day (P &amp;lt; 0.01) and feeding level x day (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Total station visits were affected by feeding level x day (P = 0.05). Non-feeding visits were affected by feeding level (P &amp;lt; 0.01, 1.0 vs. 3.7, SE = 0.22) and day (P &amp;lt; 0.01) but not feeding level x day (P = 0.20). Feeding visits were affected by feeding level x day (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Data were then normalized to the 20-d period before second estrus. Feed disappearance was affected by feeding level x day (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with feed disappearance decreasing in AD, but not RS, gilts as they approached estrus. During this 20-d period, BW was affected by feeding level x day (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with AD gilts having improved growth compared with RS gilts. In this study, feeding level did not affect age at puberty; however, utilizing an ESF may augment current estrus detection methods by monitoring feeding behavior.

31 Importance of Good Sow Development: Focusing on Nutrition and Feeding from Gilt Development to Subsequent Parities

Abstract Continuous genetic progress leads to significant improvements in growth and efficiency of PIC Camborough gilts. As an example, gilt weight gain per day of age has increased dramatically in the past decade. This implies that gilts are heavier at a similar breeding age, which increases the likelihood of breeding overweight gilts. Additionally, sows have less backfat depth and are leaner compared with their predecessors. It has been reported that gilt retention rate until parity 3 declines when breeding gilts with over 160 kg of body weight. Hence, controlling growth rate of developing gilts could be helpful to achieve the target breeding weight (135 to 160kg). A recent study reported that reducing dietary nutrient density (ME and SID Lys) from 57 kg until breeding significantly reduced breeding weight by 4 kg (P &amp;lt; 0.05). The slower growing gilts had reduced stillborn (P &amp;lt; 0.01), had 0.79 more pigs born alive (P = 0.10), and weaned a total of 238 more pigs over three reproductive cycles. However, with the genetic trend for faster growth rate, it is inevitable to breed overweight gilts in production. Energy requirement for maintenance (MEm) of gestating sows is a function of body weight of the sow. Thus, heavier gilts at breeding need more energy for maintenance. An assessment using data from 2,475 gilts collected in commercial sow farms evaluated how different feeding levels satisfy the MEm of a gilt herd bred at 154 kg. The results showed that feeding 5.90 Mcal of ME/day or 4.40 Mcal of NE/day results in only a few gilts fed below maintenance from 90 to 112 days of gestation. However, if a decreased feeding level (5.17 Mcal of ME/day or 3.85 Mcal of NE/day) was adopted, which has been seen in production with a purpose of reducing body condition, almost all the gilts would be fed under maintenance from 90 to 112 days of gestation. Gilts are still growing and developing during their first gestation and inadequate feeding level may jeopardize their growth and development, which could lead to poor lifetime productivity. Heavier gilts become heavier sows in the subsequent parities; thus, the sows also require more energy for maintenance during subsequent gestations. Therefore, PIC recommends feeding gilts, ideal and fat sows with 5.90 Mcal of ME/day or 4.40 Mcal of NE/day throughout gestation. Feeding this level throughout gestation will result in an estimation of no overall caliper change. Whereas for thin sows that need to recovery condition, PIC recommends feeding 8.60 Mcal of ME/day or 6.50 Mcal of NE/day (Figure 1). Feeding this level throughout gestation will result in an estimated overall gain of 3 caliper units. In summary, the increased potential for growth and efficiency of PIC gilts warrants the adoption of multiple strategies to improve longevity and lifetime productivity.

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity and protein profiling of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) epidermal mucus under different feeds and culture systems (biofloc technology and earthen pond).

The mucus layers of fish serve as the main interface between the organism and the environment. They play an important biological and ecological role. The current study focuses on Nile tilapia epidermal mucus reared under different commercial feeds (coded A and B) and environments (biofloc technology and earthen pond systems). Crude protein levels in feed A and B were 30% and 28%, respectively. Water parameters in all culturing systems were suitable for tilapia throughout the study period. The antimicrobial potency of tilapia (n = 5 from each) epidermal mucus was tested invitro against human and fish pathogenic strains viz. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Francisella noatunensis, and Aeromonas hydrophila. To determine the antimicrobial activity, zones of inhibition (ZOI) were measured in millimetres and compared with two antibiotics (chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin). SDS-PAGE analysis was performed on skin mucus samples of tilapia to determine protein quantity and size (molecular weight). Results of tilapia skin mucus (crude and aqueous) revealed a strong antibacterial effect against all the selected pathogenic strains. However, variation has been observed in the mucus potency and ZOI values between the biofloc and pond tilapia mucus. The crude mucus of tilapia fed on feed A and cultured in the pond exhibited strong antibacterial effects and high ZOI values compared to the mucus of biofloc tilapia, aqueous mucus extracts and positive control chloramphenicol (antibiotic). The SDS-PAGE results showed that the high molecular weight proteins were found in the collected epidermal mucus of BFT-B (240 kDa) and EP-B (230 kDa). Several peptides in fish skin mucus may play a crucial role in the protection of fish against disease-causing pathogens. Thus, it can be utilized in the human and veterinary sectors as an 'antimicrobial' for treating various bacterial infections.

358 The Effects of Varying Levels of Cotton Gin Byproduct and Wet brewers’ Grains on Growth Performance of Growing and Finishing Steers

Abstract The abundance of craft breweries provides widespread availability of wet brewers grains (WBG) to be used by beef cattle producers as a potential feedstuff. Cotton gin byproduct (CGB) is a feedstuff typically reserved for mature beef cows due to its low and variable feed value. Both WBG and CGB have high cost of transportation but are sometimes used by producers near supply centers due to their low price. The objective of this study was to analyze animal performance of growing Angus steers fed total mixed rations with varying amounts of CGB and WBG. Sixty-four Angus steers (365 ± 26 kg) were allotted and blocked by initial body weight (BW) in a randomized complete block design to 8 dietary treatments and fed in 2 phases, growing phase (GP) and finishing phase (FP) (84-d and 69-d, respectively). Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial with two levels of CGB (0 or 25% of DM) and 4 levels of WBG (0, 10, 20 or 30% of DM). The control and base of all treatments were corn, corn silage and soybean meal. Body weights were recorded on two consecutive days at the beginning and end of GP and FP. Feed samples were collected, and refusals were weighed weekly. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with main effects of CGB, WBG, and the interaction. The linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of increasing levels of WBG and CGB were tested with polynomial contrasts. Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ among dietary treatments (0, 25% CGB and 0, 10, 20, 30% WBG) for GP, (1.67, 1.61, and 1.67, 1.57, 1.74, and 1.60 kg/d, respectively) (P &amp;gt; 0.3031), FP (1.53, 1.61 and 1.56, 1.53, 1.61, and 1.58 kg/d) or the overall trial (1.61, 1.62 and 1.62, 1.55, 1.68, and 1.60 kg/d). The addition of CGB increased GP dry matter intake (DMI; 11.06 vs 11.99 kg/d; P = 0.0011), while the addition of WBG linearly decreased GP DMI (11.81, 11.69. 11.81, and 10.81 kg/d; P = 0.0292). There was an interaction between CGB and WBG (P = 0.0206), with increasing levels of WBG at 0% CGB exhibiting a cubic effect (P = 0.0127), but no effect at 25% CGB. Inclusion of CGB decreased feed efficiency (FE) in the GP (6.77 vs. 7.69; P = 0.0008) but had no carry-over effect in the FP. There was no effect of WBG on FE in GP or FP. In conclusion, CGB increased DMI, reduced FE, and maintained ADG. Increasing quantities of WBG did not reduce ADG or FE, but decreased DMI with increasing feeding level. Therefore, WBG and CGB can be considered viable options for cattle producers seeking to lower input costs.

17. The impact of pellet size and moisture level of creep feed on post-weaning performance of pigs

17. The impact of pellet size and moisture level of creep feed on post-weaning performance of pigs

Effects of energy levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of Holstein steers at different slaughter ages.

We investigated the effect of energy levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of Holstein steers at different slaughter ages. Forty Holstein steers with an average body weight (BW) of 234.21 ± 7.42 kg and 7.78 ± 0.22 months were randomly allocated to two experimental groups; a 22-month-old experimental group and a 24-month-old experimental group. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) for each group were set to 70% (T1) and 72% (T2) during fattening phase and 74% (T3) and 76% (T4) for the finishing phase, respectively. No difference was observed in the final BW between the experimental groups during the fattening phase. However, in the finishing phase, the final BW of T4 (820.31 kg) group was significantly higher than that of T1 (745.57 kg; p < 0.05). The average daily gain (ADG) of T2 group in the finishing phase and overall period were 1.27 kg and 1.26 kg, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of T1 (1.11 kg and 1.12 kg; p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and TDN conversion ratio of T2 group in the finishing phase also decreased by 10.23% and 7.73%, respectively, compared to those of T1. The cold carcass weight of T4 group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of T1, whereas back fat thickness, longissimus area, and marbling score were not significantly different among groups. No differences were observed in physicochemical characteristics of the carcass including moisture, crude protein, and crude fat content among groups. However, the composition of fatty acids differed significantly between the groups. The content of C18:0 was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in T4 than in T1 group, and the content of C18:2 was higher in T4 than in T1 and T3 (p < 0.05). Therefore, feeding Holstein steers at a high-energy feeding level during the fattening and finishing phases improves ADG and reduces the slaughter age from 24 months to 22 months.

Aflatoxin levels in poultry feed: a comparison of mash and pellet forms

The current research was conducted to determine the aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolates and the frequency of aflatoxin levels (B1, B2, G1, G2), in main feed ingredients (corn and soybean meal) and poultry finished feed (in mash and pellet forms). Eighty-five samples of corn, soybean meal, and poultry finished feed was randomly collected from feed mills in Iran. Regarding macro and microscopic morphological criteria, Aspergillus isolates were identified, and aflatoxins were determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All of poultry feed samples were contaminated with different levels of aflatoxins, ranging from ND (they were not detected in those samples) to 5.58 µg/kg. At all stages of processing, the poultry feed had lower levels of aflatoxins in comparison with the accepted/residue levels of poultry feed mills. Higher amounts of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, and total) were detected in pelleted feed, compared to other poultry samples (P < 0.05). The total toxin level in mash feed samples reached a maximum of 3.31 ppb. The results indicate that finished feed samples in pellet form may pose a greater risk than their individual ingredients in poultry feed, particularly when suboptimal conditions exist for eliminating fungal populations. So, the prevention and reduction of (Aspergillus section Flavi) are highly important in maintaining quality control of poultry feed, as the production of aflatoxins can occur during the process of converting raw ingredients into finished feed.

Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Status Gizi Balita (Bawah Lima Tahun) di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Naioni Kota Kupang

Inadequate Nutritional status of Children under five is still a public health issue in Kupang City. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors related to the nutritional status of toddlers (under five years) in the working area of ​​the Naioni Health Center, Kupang City. This study used an analytic observational method with a cross sectional study approach. The total sample of 93 people was selected using the cluster random sampling technique. The results of bivariate analysis using the chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between mother's knowledge and toddler nutritional status (p-value=0.024), mother's education (p-value=0.003), family income (p-value=0.005), exclusive breastfeeding (p-value=0.010), and a history of infectious diseases (p-value=0.019). Mother's knowledge is the most related factor to the nutritional status of toddlers. The variable that has no significant relationship is the mother's occupation (p-value = 0.138). Therefore the conclusion of this research is mother’s knowledge, mother’ level of health education, family income, and exclusive breast feeding are variables which have significant relationship with toddles nutritional status while mother’s occupation is a variable which has no relationship with toddler nutritional status in Naioni Health Centre. It is suggested to the health officer to increase health promotion about nutritional status to the community.

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Kejadian Stunting Pada Balita Di Dusun Kelapa Dua Kecamatan Kairatu Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat

Stunting is a condition of failure to thrive in children due to chronic malnutrition that results in a child's height not in accordance with their age. Stunting is not only caused by one factor but by multifactors. This study aims to determine the relationship between maternal education level, maternal knowledge, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding and family economic status with the incidence of stunting in Kelapa Dua Hamlet, Kairatu District, West Seram Regency. The research design used was cross sectional. This study consisted of 100 samples with probability sampling technique. Data analysis was performed with the Chi-square test. The results showed that there was a relationship between the incidence of stunting and the level of maternal education (p-value = 0.000), maternal knowledge (p-value = 0.000), exclusive breastfeeding (p-value = 0.001) and complementary feeding (p-value = 0.000). However, family economic status (p-value = 0.511) has no relationship with the incidence of stunting in toddlers in Kelapa Dua Hamlet, Kairatu District, West Seram Regency.

220 Impact of Bump Feeding During Late Gestation on Reproductive Performance of Over-Conditioned Sows

Abstract Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bump-feeding during late gestation on reproductive performance of multiparous over-conditioned sows. A total of 220 PIC Camborough sows were assigned to one of three feeding levels in a completely randomized design. Caliper was individually collected at d 90 of gestation from a larger group of sows to assess body condition, and only sows from parity 1+ and considered over-conditioned by the sow caliper were selected for the study. Sows were equally balanced by parity (P1 and P2 as young, and P3+ as mature) when allocated to treatments. All sows were fed a common gestation diet containing 3.20 Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME) per kg and 0.56% standardized ileal digestible lysine, but feed drop-boxes were adjusted to different feeding levels according to treatment. Treatments consisted of 5.09 Mcal of ME/d (1.59 kg/d; CONTROL), 6.54 Mcal of ME/d (2.04 kg/d; 0.45kg-BUMP), or 8.00 Mcal of ME/d (2.49 kg/d; 0.90kg-BUMP); and fed to sows from d 90 of gestation until they were moved to the farrowing room. Sows were housed in crates during gestation. Sow body weight (BW) and caliper measurements were collected at pre-farrowing and weaning, and their difference was calculated. Additionally, post-farrowing 48h BW was predicted using the following equation: 48h post-farrow BW = -20.81 + (0.98 × pre-farrow BW). Total born, born alive (BA), stillborn (SB), and mummified were collected for each sow at farrowing. Individual piglet BW were recorded at birth, at cross-foster, and at weaning. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model considering sow as the experimental unit. Models included treatment, parity group, and their interaction as fixed effects. Covariates were included if they were statistically significant and improved model fit. There was no treatment by parity group interaction for any response criteria. There was no evidence for differences between treatments for caliper at d 90 of gestation, caliper pre-farrow, caliper at weaning, or caliper change between d 90 to pre-farrow and pre-farrow to weaning (P &amp;gt;0.10; Table 1). Sows that received 0.90 kg-BUMP were marginally heavier at farrow than CONTROL sows (P &amp;lt; 0.10), with those receiving 0.45 kg-BUMP intermediate. CONTROL sows lost less BW during lactation compared with 0.45kg-BUMP sows (P &amp;lt; 0.05), with 0.90 kg-BUMP sows intermediate. Sows receiving 0.45kg-BUMP from d90 of gestation to farrowing had greater percentage BA piglets and decreased percentage SB compared with sows receiving 0.90 kg-BUMP (P &amp;lt; 0.05), with CONTROL sows intermediate. There was no evidence (P &amp;gt;0.10) for treatment differences for piglet birth weight, litter and piglet BW gain, or percentage weaned piglets. In summary, increasing the feeding level for over-conditioned sows during late gestation did not impact sow reproductive or litter performances.