Higher Final Body Weight Research Articles

Blackspot seabream ( Pagellus bogaraveo) lipogenic and glycolytic pathways appear to be more related to dietary protein level than dietary starch type

The lipogenic potential of carbohydrate type on blackspot seabream was determined using two isolipidic (10%) and isonitrogenous (45%) diets containing either crude (CS) or gelatinized corn starch (GS). A third diet containing a lower protein level (35%) and gelatinized starch (GS) was also tested to determine if any lipogenic effect detected was due to carbohydrate and not from excess dietary protein. The three diets were formulated to have similar energy (21 kJ g − 1 DM) content. Triplicate groups of fish (24 g initial body weight) were fed each dietary treatment by hand to apparent satiety for 90 days. Both starch type and dietary protein level significantly affected growth. Fish fed the CS diet increased voluntary feed intake (VFI) and digestible protein intake resulting in both higher final body weight (FBW) and daily growth index (DGI). Although the lower protein level (35%) increased VFI, this increase was not enough to reach the same digestible protein intake observed in fish fed the high protein level (45%), resulting in lower FBW and DGI. Despite the differences observed in growth, nutrient gain and hence whole body composition were not affected by starch type (CS vs GS) or dietary protein level (35 vs 45%). Similarly, glycaemia was not affected by starch type or dietary protein level in any of the treatments, with the highest values being observed at 4 h post feeding. On the other hand, both starch type and dietary protein level significantly affected insulin levels 2 h after feeding. Plasma lipid levels showed no significant differences at 2 and 24 h post feeding, regardless of dietary treatment. A reduction of 10% dietary protein level (45 to 35%) markedly depressed (> 40%) hepatic activities of lipogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PD; malic enzyme, ME; fatty acid synthetase, FAS), and significantly increased PK activities at each postprandial time (2, 4 and 24 h). Starch type did not cause any significant effect on hexokinase (HK), glucokinase (GK), pyruvate kinase (PK) (glycolysis) or glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) (gluconeogenesis) postprandial hepatic activities. Blackspot seabream lipogenic and glycolytic pathway regulation appear to be more related to dietary protein level than to dietary starch type.

Slaughter performance and meat quality of three Italian chicken breeds

A trial was carried out to study the slaughter performance and the meat quality of three Italian dual-purpose chicken breeds: Ermellinata di Rovigo (ER), Robusta lionata (RL) and Robusta maculata (RM). Females were studied from June to October from 47 days of life until slaughtered age, at 138 (I age) and 168 (II age) days of age. Each genotype had access to outdoor and indoor spaces. RL and RM birds showed a higher final body weight, and provided heavier carcass and commercial cuts than ER (P<0.01), at both ages. The dressing-out percentage of RL and RM females was more favourable than ER ones, in particular at II age (P<0.01). Differences in carcass conformation were observed at II age: the ER carcass showed a higher (P<0.01) proportion of leg and wing. The RM carcass had a higher (P<0.01) proportion of breast. The thigh meat/ bone ratio was higher in RL at I age (P<0.01) and II (P<0.05) age. Significant differences in breast colour were observed among the breeds; ER thigh showed the highest (P<0.05) a* value. At II age, lipids were lower (P<0.01) in ER breast; thigh lipids were similar among the groups. Slaughtering at I age seem to be more advantageous for the ER breed since it is more precocious.

Effect of Application of Onion Bulbs and Birch Twigs on Production Performances of Rabbits

Gugolek, A., Lorek, M.O. and Janiszewski, P. 2008. Effect of application of onion bulbs and birch twigs on production performances of rabbits. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 189–192. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of onions and birch twigs on the welfare of intensively reared New Zealand White rabbits. Control group (C) were fed a complete pelleted diet without additives, while the rabbits in experimental groups received birch twigs (B) or onions (A) every other day. The best reproduction results were reported for females receiving an onion-supplemented diet. These females were characterized by better rearing performance expressed as the number of kittens born alive and weaned. Young rabbits of group A had higher final body weights. Coccidian oocyst counts per lg of faeces were lower in group A, which was correlated with the lowest mortality rate. The number of rabbits with fur damage was lower in groups A and B. Environmental enrichment devices positively affected the production results of both females and growing rabbits. Whole onion bulbs provided to rabbits can be considered a novel enriching stimulus that exerts a beneficial biological influence on their growth and reproduction.

The Effects of Supplementation of Grass Hay with Different Levels of Brewer’s Dried Grain on Feed Intake Digestibility and Body weight Gain in Intact Wogera Lambs

The effects of supplementation of different levels of brewer’s dried grain on feed intake, digestibility and body weight change were studied using 20 yearling male local (‘Wogera’) lambs weighing 16.96 ± 2.4 kg (Mean ± SD). Lambs were blocked based on their initial body weight into five blocks of four animals each, and randomly allocated to four dietary treatments, that consisted of feeding of lambs in T1 (control) with grass hay ad libitum and lambs in T2, T3, and T4 with grass hay ad libitum plus 100, 200 and 300 g DM brewer’s dried grain (BDG) per lamb per day, respectively. Treatment rations were offered in two equal portions at 0800 and 1600 h and lambs had free access to water and mineral licks at all times. The results showed that the daily total dry matter intake (DMI) and crude protein intake (CPI) increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of BDG, which correspondingly resulted in significantly higher (P< 0.05) final body weight (23.16 kg) and daily body weight gain (93.99 g/d) than the control group. Supplementation with 200 and 300 g DM BDG resulted in improved (P< 0.05) daily weight gain (70.44 and 93.99 g/d), respectively compared to supplementing with 100 g DM BDG (44.40 g/d). The un-supplemented group lost weight (3.0 g/d), even though their hay DMI was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the lambs supplemented with 200 and 300 g DM BDG. The feed conversion efficiency was also significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the BDG supplementation. The apparent digestibility coefficient of CP was higher (P < 0.05) for lambs supplemented with 200 and 300 g DM BDG compared to those supplemented with 100 g DM BDG and the un-supplemented group, but no significant effect of BDG supplementation was observed for the apparent digestibility coefficients of NDF, ADF, OM and DMD. Based on DM and nutrient intakes, improved body weight gain and nutrient digestibility, it could be concluded that a daily supplementation of 300 g DM BDG might improve feed intake and nutrient utilization, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of yearling Wogera ram lambs.

Effect of ascogen on the growth performance and carcass yield of Japanese quails

A study was conducted to determine the effect of ASCOGEN, a biogenic performance enhancer, on growth, weight gain, feed conversion and processing performances of heavy-strain Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Six hundred quails were divided into three groups and fed a basal diet (24,5% CP and 12 MJ/kg ME) or a basal diet supplemented with 500 ppm and 1000 ppm Ascogen, from day 1 until 35 days of age. The group fed 1000 ppm Ascogen achieved at 35 days of age a significantly higher (P<0.05) final body weight, carcass weight (P<0.05), carcass yield (P<0.01), wing weight (P<0.01) drumstick weigh (P<0.05) compared to the control group. It exhibited also a lower feed consumption (by 3.61%), more efficient feed conversion (by 6.68%) and higher average daily weight gain (by 3.81%). The group fed 500 ppm Ascogen had a higher carcass weight (P<0.05), carcass yield (P<0.01) higher final body weight (+2.25 %), more efficient feed conversion (+3.2%) and higher daily weight gain (+2.18%) compared to the control group.

Long-term monitoring of individual fish triggering activity on a self-feeding system: An example using European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax)

In two experiments, a computerized on-demand feeding system coupled with a PIT tag monitoring device was used to continuously record the triggering activity by ca. 50 individual sea bass for 55 days (Exp. 1, initial average body weight and coefficient of variation, CV: 299 g, 15%) and 69 days (Exp. 2, 157 g, 13%). Each group was stocked in 1 m 3 tanks and exposed to a water temperature of 21 ± 1 °C and a light regime of 16:8 LD. Only 5% of the triggering activity was not associated with simultaneous PIT tag detection. Although each individual was detected via PIT tag during the experiment, only 67% and 74% of the fish actuated the trigger at least once in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively. Moreover, only two fish in Exp. 1 and one fish in Exp. 2 accounted for 82% (43 + 39) and 77% of the total triggering activity, respectively. These three, high-triggering individuals did not exhibit a higher specific growth rate or agonistic behavior as observed by video monitoring. Indeed, zero-triggering fish had either a slightly higher SGR (Exp. 1) or a higher final body weight (Exp. 2) compared with low- and high-triggering fish.

Effects of feeding intensity and time on feed on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Simmental bulls

Seventy two Simmental bulls, weighing 489 kg and approximately 15 months old fed extensively or intensively on maize silage and concentrate mixture for 100 or 138 days, were divided into four groups to assess the effect of time on feed and feeding intensity on the performance, carcass and meat quality traits. Bulls intensively fed for 138 days before slaughter had higher final body weight (673.7 kg) compared with the other three groups (610.6 kg, as overall mean). Intensive feeding significantly increased the average daily gain (1371 g/day) and improved the feed efficiency (6.95 kg DM/kg gain) compared with extensive feeding (943 g/day and 7.97 kg DM/kg gain). No significant differences were detected by time on feed. Hot carcass and kidney fat weights were significantly higher for intensively fed bulls compared with extensive ones. Dressing percentage significantly increased for 138 day groups compared with 100 day groups. Carcass conformation and fatness scores significantly improved by intensive feeding. L and b * values were not affected by time on feed or feeding intensity. Slaughtering after 138 days on feed significantly elevated the meat redness value ( a *). Intensive feeding significantly decreased moisture and increased fat content of the longissimus dorsi muscle. Shear force, collagen content, juiciness, flavour and sarcomere length did not differ by time on feed or feeding intensity, while inconsistent effects were observed on tenderness and solubility of collagen.

Influence of dietary Vitamin E level on egg production of broiler breeders, and on the growth and immune response of progeny in comparison with the progeny from eggs injected with Vitamin E

Broiler breeders were allocated at random to one of four experimental diets containing graded levels of supplementary Vitamin E (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg −1) between 24–54 weeks. At 40 weeks of age, eggs from breeder hens receiving 25 mg kg −1 diet were subjected to in ovo injection of Vitamin E at a level of 0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg per egg. Hen housed egg production, egg weight, hatchability, neonatal chick weight and performance of offspring broilers were not influenced by the levels of Vitamin E in the breeder diets. The Vitamin E content in the eggs was significantly ( P≤0.001) increased by the increasing supplements of Vitamin E up to 75 mg kg −1. The chicks hatched from the eggs of the breeders receiving dietary supplement of Vitamin E or from the eggs injected with Vitamin E at a level of 2.5 or 5.0 mg per egg were used to determine growth and immune response to 21 days in battery brooders and growth performance to 42 days in floor pens. No significant difference in growth performance at 21 days were observed due to the dietary Vitamin E supplements or Vitamin E injection in the eggs. The antibody titers to killed Newcastle disease vaccine were significantly ( P≤0.05) increased by the level of Vitamin E supplements in the diets or direct injection into eggs and, in ovo administration was more efficient in increasing the immune response. Higher final body weight at 42 days, feed conversion efficiency and reduced mortality ( P≤0.05) were observed with the broilers hatched from eggs injected with Vitamin E.

Influence of Level and Type of dietary Protein, and of Level of Feeding on Feed Utilization by Rainbow Trout

In the first experiment, diets with 40%, 50% and 60% protein containing herring and soybean meals, and diets with 50% and 60% protein containing herring and soybean protein concentrates were fed at 100%, 85% and 70% of the ad libitum intake. Both increasing the protein level and using the concentrated protein sources resulted in lower gains, and in increases in the amounts of digestible protein and energy consumed for the deposition of protein and energy in the fish carcasses. This difference between the herring and soybean meals, and protein concentrates was not due to differences between their digestibilities. Restriction of feed intake reduced gain, but within these lower levels of gain, the 50% and 60% protein diets have higher final body weights than the 40% protein diet. Restriction of feed intake resulted in carcasses with higher protein and lower fat contents. In the second experiment, two series of diets containing either 40%, 35%, 30% or 25% protein from both herring and soybean meals, or 35%, 30% and 25% protein from herring meal were fed. Reducing the protein level below 40% resulted in lower final body weights, higher feed: gain ratios and carcasses with more protein and less fat. Comparisons of the isonitrogenous pairs of diets showed no differences in final body weights, feed: gain ratios and carcass composition. Reducing the protein level in the diet reduced the amount of protein consumed per unit protein level in the diet reduced the amount of protein consumed per unit protein deposition, but increased the amount of gross energy per unit energy deposited in the carcass.