Ground Wheat Research Articles

Effect of Ultrafine Grinding Pretreatment on the Cellulose Fibers and Nanocrystals from Wheat Straw

To investigate the effect of ultrafine grinding pretreatment on the isolation of wheat straw cellulose fibers and nanocrystals, wheat straw at cellular scale (50–30 m) were produced with different ultrafine grinding time prior to extract cellulose fibers and nanocrystals. Cellulose fibers were obtained by 4% sodium hydroxide and alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment from ultrafine ground wheat straw. Morphological changes were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the removal of non-cellulosic components and the rearrangement of hydrogen bonds in cellulose. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the decrease of crystalline index with grinding time prolonged and the formation of cellulose II in alkali treated 8.0 h ultrafine ground wheat straw. Cellulose nanocrystals were produced from these cellulose fibers using 64% sulfuric acid hydrolysis treatment. Morphological examination through atomic force microscope (AFM) showed that the length of rod-like CNCs decreased with prolonged ultrafine grinding time in 2.0 h and then increased due to the formation of cellulose II.

Effect of enriched-chromium yeast on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid profile in finishing Rambouillet lambs

• Supplementation of enriched-Cr yeast increased 12th rib back fat thickness by 23.3 %. • Intramuscular fat was decreased by 15.5 % in lambs supplemented with enriched-Cr yeast. • Enriched-Cr yeast marginally increased palmitic fatty acid in the meat. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of enriched-chromium yeast (YCr) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and Longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) composition of finishing lambs. Fourteen Rambouillet lambs (23.3 ± 2.9 kg BW) were assigned to two treatments in a completely randomized design with 7 lambs per treatment: (i) Basal diet (control), (ii) YCr (Basal diet+0.3 mg of Cr/kg DM). The Cr was supplied as enriched-Cr yeast during the 74 days of the feeding period. The basal diet (13.9 % CP and 7.83 MJ NEm/kg DM) contained 85 % concentrate (ground corn, canola meal, soybean meal, wheat bran, mineral and vitamin premix and sodium bicarbonate) and 15 % ground corn stover. Lambs were weighed on day 1, 42 and 74 of the feedlot experiment. Enriched YCr supplementation had no effect ( P > 0. 05) on animal performance and carcass characteristics of lambs. YCr tended to increase 12th rib back fat thickness ( P < 0.10), increased ( P < 0.05) LM pH 45 min postmortem and tended to increase LM pH 24 h postmortem ( P < 0.10). Meat chemical composition and shear force was not affected ( P > 0.05) but meat intramuscular fat tended to decrease ( P < 0.10) in response to YCr supplementation. For meat fatty acids profile, no effect was noted with YCr supplementation.

Laxative effects of wheat bran and psyllium: Resolving enduring misconceptions about fiber in treatment guidelines for chronic idiopathic constipation

Treatment guidelines for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) recommend an "increase in fiber intake" as a first-line therapy, but most epidemiologic studies fail to support an association between a high-fiber diet and a reduced risk of constipation. Furthermore, randomized controlled clinical studies show that most isolated fibers (e.g., supplements) are not different from placebo for a laxative effect, and several may be constipating. The objective of this review was to compare the effects of two isolated fibers, coarse wheat bran and psyllium, on stool output and stool water content in patients with CIC. This review will also address misconceptions about fiber that are perpetuated by treatment guidelines. A comprehensive literature review was conducted with the use of the Scopus, SciFinder, and PubMed scientific databases, limited to the previous 50 years (1968-2018; latest date included, December 31, 2018). In patients with CIC, nonfermented gel-forming psyllium was 3.4 times more effective than insoluble wheat bran for increasing stool output. Both psyllium and coarse wheat bran increased stool water content, a stool-softening effect, but finely ground wheat bran decreased stool water content, a stool-hardening effect. It is a misconception that dietary fiber and all isolated fibers provide a laxative effect in patients with CIC. Our analysis suggests that treatment guidelines for CIC should make specific evidence-based recommendations as it pertains to fiber. To do otherwise takes the risk of perpetuating myth and misunderstanding and depriving patients of an effective therapy for CIC. A generic recommendation to "increase fiber intake" is akin to a recommendation to "increase pill intake" without regard to therapeutic or adverse effects.

Effects of cassava foliage on feed digestion, meat quality, and antioxidative status of geese

As the by-product of cassava, cassava foliage (CF) has been widely used in livestock feed. However, little information is available on its utilization for geese. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of CF on the feed digestion, meat quality, and antioxidative status of geese. A total of 108 male Hainan indigenous geese (28-days-old) with similar body weight were randomly and evenly divided into 3 groups, and the geese were fed for 42 D on either the control diet (CON) consisting of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran, or the experimental diet composed of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran supplemented with 5% (CF1) or 10% (CF2) CF. Dietary nutrient digestibility, physicochemical properties, amino acid and fatty acid composition of meat, and antioxidative status of geese were evaluated. The results showed that supplementation of CF in goose diets enhanced the feed digestion and affected the meat quality. In addition, supplementation of CF had beneficial effects on the regulation of amino acid and fatty acid profiles in muscle tissues. Moreover, such supplementation had no significant effect on antioxidative status. Taken together, goose diet containing 5% CF was recommended based on feed efficiency and meat quality.

Inhibition of Rumen Protozoa by Specific Inhibitors of Lysozyme and Peptidases in vitro.

Defaunation studies have shown that rumen protozoa are one of the main causes of low nitrogen utilization efficiency due to their bacterivory and subsequent intraruminal cycling of microbial protein in ruminants. In genomic and transcriptomic studies, we found that rumen protozoa expressed lysozymes and peptidases at high levels. We hypothesized that specific inhibition of lysozyme and peptidases could reduce the activity and growth of rumen protozoa, which can decrease their predation of microbes and proteolysis and subsequent ammoniagenesis by rumen microbiota. To test the above hypothesis, we evaluated three specific inhibitors: imidazole (IMI), a lysozyme inhibitor; phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), a serine protease inhibitor; and iodoacetamide (IOD), a cysteine protease inhibitor; both individually and in combinations, with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a positive control. Rumen fluid was collected from two Jersey dairy cows fed either a concentrate-based dairy ration or only alfalfa hay. Each protozoa-enriched rumen fluid was incubated for 24 h with or without the aforementioned inhibitors and fed a mixture of ground wheat grain, alfalfa, and grass hays to support microbial growth. Live protozoa cells were morphologically identified and counted simultaneously at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h of incubation. Fermentation characteristics and prokaryotic composition were determined and compared at the end of the incubation. Except for IOD, all the inhibitors reduced all the nine protozoal genera identified, but to different extents, in a time-dependent manner. IOD was the least inhibitory to protozoa, but it lowered ammoniagenesis the most while not decreasing feed digestibility or concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA). ANCOM analysis identified loss of Fibrobacter and overgrowth of Treponema, Streptococcus, and Succinivibrio in several inhibitor treatments. Functional prediction (from 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences) using the CowPI database showed that the inhibitors decreased the relative abundance of the genes encoding amino acid metabolism, especially peptidases, and lysosome in the rumen microbiota. Overall, inhibition of protozoa resulted in alteration of prokaryotic microbiota and in vitro fermentation, and peptidases, especially cysteine-peptidase, may be targeted to improve nitrogen utilization in ruminants.

PSXI-27 Association of an increased marbling score by dietary glycerol supplementation with lipid metabolism gene expression in Korean cattle steers

Abstract This study investigated effects of dietary glycerol supplementation on liver, muscle, and adipose gene expression related with gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism and association of gene expression levels with marbling score in Korean cattle steers. Fourteen Korean cattle steers (average age 28.4 months; average body weight 733 kg) were equally assigned to two groups (0 and 5% glycerol supplementation). Glycerol was provided with glycerol (63%)-adsorbed ground wheat bran (37%, DM) by top dressing during roughage feeding. A concentrate (1.2% of body weight) and 1.0 kg of ryegrass were individually fed twice daily. After four months of study, steers were slaughtered, and marbling score was evaluated. Longissimus thoracis (LT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue at the 13th thoracic vertebra area and liver were collected and analyzed for mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR. Statistical significance was analyzed by analysis of variance. Correlations were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. Glycerol supplementation increased (P = 0.01) marbling score. In the LT, glycerol supplementation tended to increase (0.05 &amp;lt; P ≤ 0.10) lipid uptake CD36 and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA levels. In subcutaneous adipose tissues, glycerol supplementation increased (P ≤ 0.05) LPL, adipogenic sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), and lipogenic acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) mRNA levels and tended to increase (0.05 &amp;lt; P &amp;lt; 0.10) CD36, adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma (PPARG), and lipogenic fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression. It did not affect (P &amp;gt; 0.05) mRNA levels of hepatic gluconeogenesis genes. Marbling score showed significant positive correlations (0.57 &amp;lt; r &amp;lt; 0.68; P &amp;lt; 0.05) with mRNA levels of several genes including LPL, PPARG, SREBP1, and ACC in adipose tissues, but not with any genes examined in the LT. Our study demonstrates that lipid uptake, adipogenesis and lipogenesis may mainly contribute to the increased marbling score by glycerol supplementation.

Waste from renewable sources as a polyethylene filler

The paper presents research on the impact of three organic fillers from renewable sources, i.e. ground wheat bran, pumpkin seed husks and peanut shells, constituting production waste of the food industry, on selected mechanical and thermal properties of composite injection moldings based on LDPE. The basic strength properties were tested in a static tensile test, hardness and heat deflection temperature, Vicat softening point, and the microscopic structure of the obtained polymer compositions was analysed. The tests were carried out with a different mass content of fillers of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% and variable size of filler grains. Samples for testing were obtained in the injection molding process. An increase in the Young’s modulus and hardness as well as a decrease in the remaining tested strength properties along with an increase in the filler‘s share content were found.

Effect of cassava foliage on the performance, carcass characteristics and gastrointestinal tract development of geese

Cassava foliage is a by-product of cassava and has been widely used in animal feed. However, little information is available on its utilization for geese. In this study, we investigated the effects of cassava foliage on the performance, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal tract development of geese. A total of 108 28-day-old Hainan indigenous male geese with similar body weight were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 pens of 6 geese per group and fed for 42 D on either the control diet of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran or the experimental diet of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran supplemented with 5% or 10% cassava foliage, respectively. On day 70, their body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal tract development were compared. The results showed that cassava foliage diet significantly improved goose's BW (P < 0.05), ADG (P < 0.05), and ADFI (P < 0.05), affected carcass characteristics such as relative meat content (P < 0.05) and abdominal fat content (P < 0.05), and facilitated goose's gastrointestinal tract development. These findings suggested that incorporating cassava foliage into the diet of geese (day 28-70) could have positive effects, and supplementing 5% cassava foliage was more beneficial than 10%.

Decreased plasma serotonin and other metabolite changes in healthy adults after consumption of wholegrain rye: an untargeted metabolomics study

Wholegrain consumption has been associated with beneficial health effects including reduction of diabetes and cancer risk; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of wholegrain rye intake on circulating metabolites in a human intervention study using untargeted metabolomics. The intervention consisted of 2 successive 4-wk periods in a randomized crossover design, where 15 adults consumed wholegrain rye bread (WGR) or white wheat bread enriched with fermented rye bran (WW+RB), following a 4-wk rye-free period with white wheat bread (WW). Fasting plasma samples were collected at the end of each period and analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolic profiles were compared to identify compounds discriminating WGR from the WW+RB and WW periods. Because peripheral serotonin is produced mainly in the gut, a hypothesis of its altered biosynthesis as a response to increased cereal fiber intake was tested by measuring intestinal serotonin of mice fed for 9 wk on a high-fat diet supplemented with different sources of fiber (rye bran flour, ground wheat aleurone, or powdered cellulose). Five endogenous metabolites and 15 rye phytochemicals associated with WGR intake were identified. Plasma concentrations of serotonin, taurine, and glycerophosphocholine were significantly lower after the WGR than WW period (Q<0.05). Concentrations of 2 phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogens, PE(18:2/P-18:0) and PE(18:2/P-16:0), were lower after the WGR period than the WW+RB period (Q<0.05). The concentration of serotonin was significantly lower in the colonic tissue of mice that consumed rye bran or wheat aleurone compared with cellulose (P<0.001). Wholegrain rye intake decreases plasma serotonin in healthy adults when compared with refined wheat. Intake of rye bran and wheat aleurone decreases colonic serotonin in mice. These results suggest that peripheral serotonin could be a potential link between wholegrain consumption and its associated health effects.Data used in the study were derived from a trial registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03550365.

Degradation of gluten proteins by Fusarium species and their impact on the grain quality of bread wheat

The protein quality of wheat, the most important crop worldwide, is affected by the presence of fungi, mainly those belonging to the Fusarium genus. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of Fusarium spp. on ground wheat grains quality by measuring gluten strength and quantifying the gliadin/glutenin content. A total of 23 Fusarium spp. isolates and two bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes with contrasting baking quality were used in the investigation. The results of SDS sedimentation test (SDSS) revealed that the presence of Fusarium species significantly affected the gluten strength negatively; while F. pseudograminearum and F. graminearum are the species that predominantly affected the SDSS values. Principal component analysis of gluten composition showed that the effect of Fusarium species on gluten composition depended on the wheat genotypes analyzed. Cluster analysis revealed that all the Fusarium species used as inoculum produced severe effects on grain quality and gluten composition on both the genotypes. In summary, our results showed that the presence of Fusarium spp. impaired storage proteins affecting the wheat dough properties. Therefore, constant monitoring is necessary to reduce the presence of Fusarium in the food chain for reducing the negative potential impact on bread quality.

Characteristics of the non-carcass components of steers fed different sources of dietary carbohydrates

We evaluated the characteristics of the non-carcass components of 24 steers (Charolais × Nelore) fed different carbohydrate sources (ground corn, soybean hulls, or wheat bran) in the diet. The animals were 353.2 kg and 22 months of age at early termination, and had been fed forage consisting of sorghum silage at a forage:concentrate ratio of 40.2:59.8. The carbohydrate sources had no effect on the weights of the carcass, vital organs, and blood. The absolute weights of the intestines and rumen fat were higher (P &lt; 0.05) in animals fed corn than in those fed soybean hulls or wheat bran (10.87 vs. 8.89 and 8.87 kg and 5.26 vs. 4.12 and 3.64 kg, respectively). The same pattern was observed when these organs weights were adjusted for empty body weight. The weight of the omasum was highest (P &lt; 0.05) in the wheat bran-fed animals (6.02 vs. 4.70 and 5.49 kg in the corn- and soybean hull-fed animals, respectively). Animals fed soybean hulls had a higher absolute weight of kidney fat (1.6 kg) than steers receiving wheat bran (1.06 kg) or corn (0.79 kg). Wheat bran gave the highest leg weight compared with corn and soybean hulls (2.46 vs. 2.22 and 2.23 kg per 100 kg of empty body weight, respectively).

Effect of cassava foliage on the performance, carcass characteristics and gastrointestinal tract development of geese

Cassava foliage is a by-product of cassava and has been widely used in animal feed. However, little information is available on its utilization for geese. In this study, we investigated the effects of cassava foliage on the performance, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal tract development of geese. A total of 108 28-day-old Hainan indigenous male geese with similar body weight were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 pens of 6 geese per group and fed for 42 D on either the control diet of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran or the experimental diet of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran supplemented with 5% or 10% cassava foliage, respectively. On day 70, their body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal tract development were compared. The results showed that cassava foliage diet significantly improved goose's BW (P < 0.05), ADG (P < 0.05), and ADFI (P < 0.05), affected carcass characteristics such as relative meat content (P < 0.05) and abdominal fat content (P < 0.05), and facilitated goose's gastrointestinal tract development. These findings suggested that incorporating cassava foliage into the diet of geese (day 28-70) could have positive effects, and supplementing 5% cassava foliage was more beneficial than 10%.

Influence of the method of whole wheat inclusion on performance and caecal microbiota profile of broiler chickens

SummaryA study was conducted to investigate the effect of method of whole wheat inclusion on performance and caecal microbiota profile of broiler chickens. Fluorescencein situhybridisation analysis was used to characterise the microbiota by using genus-specific probes. Three treatments, namely, ground wheat (GW) or 200 g/kg whole wheat (WW) replacing GW before or after pelleting were evaluated. A total of 144, one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were allocated to 18 cages (eight broilers per cage) based on body weight and six cages were randomly assigned to each treatment. The diets were offeredad libitumfrom day 11 to 35 post-hatch. The WW fed birds, regardless of the method of inclusion, resulted in poorer weight gain (P &lt; 0.05) and reduced feed intake (P &lt; 0.001), but a similar feed per gain (P &gt; 0.05) compared to those fed the GW diet. The WW diet, regardless to the method of inclusion, had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on the populations ofLactobacillusandBacteroides spp.compared with the GW diet. TheBifidobacterium spp.population was higher (P &lt; 0.05) in birds fed the GW diet compared with WW feeding, regardless of the method of inclusion. A reduction (P &lt; 0.05) in the numbers of pathogenicClostridiumandCampylobacter spp.were observed in caecal samples from birds fed WW diets, regardless of method of inclusion, compared with those fed the GW diet, which was attributed to increased gizzard activity. Birds fed WW diets, regardless to the method of inclusion, showed a reduction in gizzard pH (P &lt; 0.05), microbial gas production (P &lt; 0.05), and an increase in gizzard weight (P &lt; 0.05) relative to the GW treatment. The results indicated that the gizzard has an important function as a barrier organ, one that prevents pathogenic bacteria from entering the distal digestive tract.

Cereals level and source effects on rumen fermentation, colostrum and milk properties, and blood metabolites in periparturient ewes

Optimal type and dietary inclusion rates of cereal grains for periparturient sheep are unknown. The objective was to determine effects of feeding diets with high (H) v. low (L) levels of ground corn grain (CN) v. combined ground wheat and barley grains (WB) on intake, rumen fermentation, colostrum and milk properties, and blood metabolites of periparturient sheep. Twenty Afshari×Merino ewes were used in a completely randomized design study from 24 days prepartum through 21 days postpartum. Ewes were kept indoors in individual boxes and received once daily at 0900 h total mixed rations. Treatments were mixed rations containing either (1) H or (2) L concentrate based on either (1) 100% CN or (2) 50 : 50 ratio of ground wheat : ground barley grains in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Each treatment group had five ewes including two twin-lamb ewes and three single-lamb ewes. Postpartal dry matter intake (DMI) increased by feeding high CN v. high and low WB, while high v. low CN improved postpartum DMI. The DMI during lambing tended to increase with the high v. low WB. Feeding CN v. WB, and feeding both CN and WB at L v. H level increased fecal pH. Postpartal rumen pH was lower with the high v. low WB (5.7 v. 6.2). Rumen concentrations of propionate were lower and of acetate were higher with L v. H grain levels. Increased dietary grain reduced urine pH for WB (7.24 v. 7.83) but not for CN (7.63 v. 7.52) prepartum. Colostrum properties, postpartal urine pH, lamb weight at birth and 21 days of age, and placental weight and expulsion time were unaffected. Milk yield increased and milk fat yield tended to increase by H v. L grain diets. Plasma glucose was increased by feeding high v. low WB, whereas CN v. WB tended to reduce peripartal plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and increased insulin to NEFA ratio. In conclusion, more cereal grains can be included in periparturient sheep diets and CN instead of WB may be fed to periparturient sheep to improve energy status. Findings suggest opportunities to optimize periparturient ewe physiology and performance through feeding certain cereals and avoiding high levels of WB.

Effects of increasing diet fermentability on intake, digestion, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and milk production of heat-stressed dairy cows

Heat stress is a major problem for dairy cows in hot climates, thus coping strategies are essential. This study evaluated the effects of increasing diet fermentability on intake, total tract digestibility, ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA) profile, blood metabolite profile and milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows managed under conditions of ambient heat stress. Nine multiparous cows (650 ± 56 kg BW; mean ± SD) averaging 102 ± 13 days in milk and producing 54 ± 6 kg/day were randomly assigned to a triplicate 3 × 3 Latin square. During each 21-day period, cows were offered one of three total mixed rations that varied in diet fermentability. The three levels of diet fermentability were achieved by increasing the proportion of pellets containing ground wheat and barley in the dietary DM from 11.7% (low), to 23.3% (moderate), and 35.0% (high) by replacing ground corn grain. Each period had 14 day of adaptation and 7 day of sampling. The ambient temperature–humidity index ( ≥ 72) indicated that the cows were in heat stress almost the entire duration of the study. Also, rectal temperature of cows was elevated at 39.2°C, another indication of heat stress. Increasing diet fermentability linearly decreased dry matter intake (22.8, 22.5, 21.8 kg/day for low, moderate and high, respectively; P ≤ 0.05) but increased non-fibre carbohydrate digestibility (P ≤ 0.05) and tended to increase digestibility of DM (P = 0.10) and crude protein (P = 0.06). As a result, the intake of digestible DM was not affected by the treatments. The production of 3.5% fat corrected milk (32.6, 33.7, and 31.5 kg/day) was quadratically (P ≤ 0.05) affected by diet fermentability with lower production for the high diet compared with the other two, which were similar. Rumen pH (ruminocentesis) and proportions of butyrate and isovalerate linearly decreased whereas propionate proportion linearly increased with increasing diet fermentability (P ≤ 0.05). The rumen concentration of NH3-N (11.0, 9.0, and 8.7 mg/dL) and blood concentration of urea linearly decreased with increasing diet fermentability (P ≤ 0.05). The activity of alkaline phosphatase increased (65.1, 83.2, and 84.9 U/l) and concentration of malondialdehyde decreased (2.39, 1.90 and 1.87 µmol/l) linearly with increasing diet fermentability (P ≤ 0.05), which indicated possible attenuation of the effects of oxidative stress with increasing diet fermentability. Overall, a modest increase of diet fermentability improved nitrogen metabolism, milk protein production and oxidative stress of heat-stressed dairy cows, but a further increase in diet fermentability decreased milk yield.

Effect of grinding on thermal properties of wheat grain

The aim of this study was to compare the thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, volumetric heat capacity and thermal diffusivity of whole and ground wheat grain. The bulk density of whole grain ranged from 0.758 to 0.828 g cm−1 (mean 0.806 g cm−1), gappiness ranged from 37.7 to 40.2% (mean 38.5%), length ranged from 5.99 to 7.23 mm (mean 6.54 mm) and width ranged from 3.32 to 3.89 mm (mean 3.53 mm). In whole grain, the thermal conductivity (0.125–0.174 W m−1 K−1), volumetric heat capacity (1.366–1.767 MJ m−3 K−1), thermal resistivity (6.058–7.893 m K W−1), and thermal diffusivity (0.091–0.101 mm2 s−1) differed significantly from the ground wheat grain (size of 0.2 mm) characterised by the thermal conductivity that ranged from 0.096 to 0.119 W m−1 K−1, volumetric heat capacity ranged from 0.992 to 1.179 MJ m−3 K−1, thermal resistivity ranged from 8.411 to 10.501 m K W−1, and thermal diffusivity 0.093 to 0.105 mm2 s−1, respectively.

Effects of lipopolysaccharide dosing on bacterial community composition and fermentation in a dual-flow continuous culture system

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) dosing on bacterial fermentation and bacterial community composition (BCC), to set up a subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) nutritional model in vitro, and to determine the best sampling time for LPS dosing in a dual-flow continuous culture system. Diets were randomly assigned to 6 fermentors in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square with three 11-d experimental periods that consisted of 7 d for diet adaptation and 4 d for sample collection. Treatments were control diet (CON), wheat and barley diet (WBD) to induce SARA, and control diet + LPS (LPSD). Fermenters were fed 72 g of dry matter/d. The forage:concentrate ratio of CON was 65:35. The WBD diet was achieved by replacing 40% of dry matter of the CON diet with 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barley. The LPS concentration in LPSD was 200,000 endotoxin units, which was similar to that observed in cows with SARA. The SARA inducing and LPS dosing started at d 8. The BCC was determined by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). The LPSD and CON maintained pH above 6 for the entire experimental period, and the WBD kept pH between 5.2 and 5.6 for 4 h/d, successfully inducing SARA. Digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein in LPSD were not different from WBD but tended to be lower than CON. Lipopolysaccharide dosing had no effect on pool of VFA concentrations and profiles but decreased bacterial N; the pattern changes of VFA and LPS in LPSD started to increase and be similar to WBD 6 h after LPS dosing. Pool of LPS concentration was around 11-fold higher in WBD and 4-fold higher in LPSD than CON. In the solid fraction, the BCC of LPSD was different from WBD and tended to be different from CON. In the liquid fraction, the BCC was different among treatments. The LPS dosing increased the relative abundance of Succinimonas, Anaeroplasma, Succinivibrio, Succiniclasticum, and Ruminobacter, which are main gram-negative bacteria related to starch digestion. Our results suggest that LPS dosing does not affect pH alone. However, LPS could drive the development of SARA by affecting bacteria and bacterial fermentation. For future studies, samples are suggested to be taken 6 h after LPS dosing in a dual-flow continuous culture system.

The effects of whole-grain compared with refined wheat, rice, and rye on the postprandial blood glucose response: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Whole grains are often referred to collectively, despite differences in their composition, physical structure, processing, and potential health benefits. The aim of this study was to compare the postprandial blood glucose response of whole-grain with refined wheat, rice, or rye, while controlling for the food delivery matrix and the processing of the grain (e.g., grinding, germination). Eleven electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies published up to and including November 2017. Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of whole-grain wheat, rice, or rye with those of each grain's refined counterpart on postprandial blood glucose area under the curve (AUC) were included. Pooled effect sizes were computed by using the difference in the blood glucose AUC after the consumption of the whole compared with the refined grain. Twenty publications were included, with 10, 14, and 5 strata (or active-control comparisons) on whole-grain wheat, rice, and rye, respectively. The consumption of ground (wholemeal) wheat, compared with white wheat, was not associated with a significant reduction in blood glucose AUC (-6.7 mmol/L ⋅ min; 95% CI: -25.1, 11.7 mmol/L ⋅ min; P=0.477). The consumption of wholemeal rye, compared with endosperm rye, was not associated with a significant reduction in blood glucose AUC (-5.5 mmol/L ⋅ min; 95% CI: -24.8, 13.8 mmol/L ⋅ min; P=0.576). The consumption of intact (whole-grain) rice, compared with white rice, was associated with a significant reduction in blood glucose AUC (-40.5 mmol/L ⋅ min; 95% CI: -59.6, -21.3 mmol/L ⋅ min; P<0.001). Compared with white rice, whole-grain rice significantly attenuates the postprandial blood glucose response. In most of the studies on wheat and rye, the postprandial blood glucose responses to foods formulated with wholemeal compared with refined flours were compared. Whether reductions in the blood glucose AUC can be achieved with whole-grain (as opposed to wholemeal) wheat and rye requires further investigation.

An Application of Solid State Fermentation and Elicitation with Some Microbial Cells for the Enhancement of Prodigiosin Production by Serratia marcescens

The present study provides an evidence for the successful utilization of interspecies interactions to enhance antibiotic production in solid state fermentation that previously established in liquid cultures. Ground corn, wheat bran, rice husk and soya bean ground were examined in order to choose the substrate that support the prodigiosin production from Serratia marcescens. Results revealed that maximum production of prodigiosin was obtained in wheat bran medium, starting from early hours of incubation and reaching its maximum of product yield 47.5 mg.gds-1 (mg per gram of dry substrate) after 48 h of incubation. An enhancement by 2.3-fold in prodigiosin production was obtained as a result of introducing, separately, live and dead prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial cells as elicitors to S. marcescens medium. The highest prodigiosin production (240mg.gds-1) was obtained when S. marcescens was cultured in wheat bran medium supplemented with sunflower oil (0.5ml.g-1 substrate) and live cells of Bacillus subtilis (0.4ml.g-1 substrate) as elicitor.

Use of poultry by-products as a protein source in the preparation of ruminant diets

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de los subproductos avicolas, sobre la ganancia de peso y rendimiento de la canal, bajo un sistema de estabulacion. Se emplearon 30 novillonas Cebu x Suizo, con un peso aproximado de 300 kg y 30 meses de edad, que fueron asignadas, bajo un diseno completamente aleatorio en tres tratamientos. T1 (testigo) concentrado energetico; T2 concentrado energetico+ 30% pollinaza y T3 concentrado energetico + 30% de harina de ave. La composicion del concentrado energetico se baso en sorgo molido, maiz en grano, salvado de trigo, paca molida y sal mineral. Cada tratamiento se ofrecio dos veces al dia a razon del 3% del peso vivo durante 90 dias. El promedio de ganancia diaria de peso (p ≤ 0.05) fue 0.964, 1.04, 1.15 kg/animal, respectivamente. Se observo un efecto significativo (p ≤ 0.05) sobre el porcentaje de rendimiento de la canal de 47.02; 49.08 y 52.03 %, para T1, T2 y T3, respectivamente. Los resultados indican que la suplementacion a base de harina de ave promovio un mayor rendimiento productivo en las novillonas suplementadas bajo un sistema de estabulacion.