Improved Energy Balance Research Articles

The Effect of Energy Balance on Ovarian Activity in a Herd of Norwegian Cattle

The study involved 34 primiparous cows fed ad libitum grass silage and fixed amounts of concentrate per cow and stage of lactation. It revealed that number of days from calving to maximum progesterone concentration in first luteal phase was negatively related to (p < 0.05) energy balance summarized over weeks 3-12 post-partum. One standard deviation improvement of the summarized energy balance relative to the mean reduced the length of the anovulatory period by 12 days. Similarly, an improved energy balance enhanced progesterone secretion during the oestrus cycle and early pregnancy, as measured by 3 variables; 1) maximum progesterone concentration in first luteal phase, 2) cumulative progesterone secretion bounded by the maximum concentrations in first and in third luteal phase and 3) cumulative progesterone secretion in the first month of pregnancy. All results were supported by the estimated regression coefficients of the 4 ovarian activity variables on summarized non-estrified fatty acids and acetoacetate variables.

Effects of dietary fat on metabolic disorders and reproductive performance of dairy cattle

Improved reproductive performance and reduced incidence of metabolic disorders have been postulated to be benefits of feeding supplemental fat to dairy cows. Increased plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations during fat supplementation may result from incomplete tissue uptake of fatty acids after lipoprotein lipase hydrolysis of very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride; however, evidence suggests that net adipose tissue triglyceride hydrolysis may be increased during fat supplementation. Plasma 3-OH-butyrate concentrations remain relatively constant during fat supplementation but may have a tendency to be reduced if fat is supplemented to cows having relatively high basal plasma 3-OH-butyrate concentrations. Because plasma ketone levels usually increase when nonesterified fatty acid concentrations are elevated, it is hypothesized that potential antiketogenic effects of added fat are due to a glucose sparing effect. Supplemental fat does not seem to reduce hepatic lipid infiltration near the time of calving. Potential mechanisms by which supplemental fat may improve reproductive performance include stimulation of prostaglandin F2 a synthesis and secretion and enhanced utilization of blood cholesterol for progesterone synthesis. Days postpartum until first ovulation and luteal function of dairy cattle have been related to energy balance during the first 3 wk postpartum. Energy balance data for early lactation cows fed supplemental fat are not plentiful; however, slight but statistically nonsignificant increases have been observed when feeding fat. Cows fed supplemental fat that experience improved energy balance may begin to cycle sooner because of enhanced follicular growth and development. Applied studies examining the effects of supplemental fat on reproductive performance have provided inconsistent results.

New predictor/corrector algorithms with improved energy balance for a recent formulation of dynamic vehicle/structure interaction

AbstractA new class of predictor/corrector algorithms is proposed to solve the complex system of differential equations that arises from a Galerkin spatial discretization of the equations of motion in a recent formulation of dynamic vehicle/structure interaction. The applicability of the concept of a building‐block vehicle/structure interaction model developed in our previous work—where the vehicle nominal motion is not prescribed a priori, but is part of the unknown motion of the system—is demonstrated through the construction of a simple vehicle model. In the new algorithms, the presence of the accelerations of the vehicle component is eliminated in the predictor structural equations, making these equations different from the corrector structural equations. The special treatment of the predicted axial motion that provides an artificial damping to eliminate unstable oscillations in the numerical results as proposed in the old algorithms is avoided. Accurate results from numerical simulations using the new algorithms are obtained, and there are no unstable oscillations that were observed in some other predictor/corrector schemes. The system energy balance is also better preserved compared with the old algorithms.

Indirect Calorimetry Evaluation of Dietary Protein and Animal Fat Effects on Energy Utilization of Laying Hens

A multichamber indirect calorimeter was constructed and used to measure energy utilization of laying hens. Four basic diets were formulated by a least cost linear program for use in this study. The first diet was formulated to meet the 1984 National Research Council (NRC) recommendations and contained by analysis 14.5% protein, .58% TSAA, and .68% lysine (designated NRC). The second diet (NRCAA) was formulated to the same amino acid specifications without a protein restriction and contained 12.9% protein, .57% TSAA, and .69% lysine. Another pair of diets was formulated with higher protein (HP) and amino acid restrictions. The HP diet contained 16% protein, .67% TSAA, and .85% lysine; whereas the HPAA diet had 14% protein, .68% TSAA, and .86% lysine. Four additional diets were formulated with the inclusion of 3% animal fat, using the same protein and amino acid restrictions as were used to formulate the first four diets.Animal fat supplementation significantly (P<.05) improved energy balance (retention) of birds fed all formulations compared with the diets without added fat. Formulation of a diet based on amino acid restrictions significantly increased net energetic efficiency of birds fed amino acid levels higher than those recommended by the NRC (79.2 for HPAA vs. 62.1% for HP), but did not significantly affect net efficiency of birds fed the lower amino acid levels (NRC and NRCAA).

Heat Recuperation in the Process of Extraction and Deodorisation of Oils

AbstractEnergy has become more and more expensive, imposing the necessity of analysing the energy flow through all the steps of technological processes systematically, thus leading to improved energy balance, while using some rationalizations. This paper presents two conceptual designs for heat recuperation, which can lead to considerable heat saving in the process of extraction and deodorisation of oils with minimal investment.

Effect of dry, high-moisture and reconstituted normal and high-lysine corn diets and particle size on energy and nitrogen metabolism in growing swine.

Two metabolism studies were conducted with 24 (Exp. 1) and 36 (Exp. 2) crossbred barrows (initial weight 35 kg) to determine the effect of corn type--normal corn (NC) and high-lysine corn (HLC)--and storage method--dry (D), high-moisture (HM) and reconstituted (RC)--on energy and N digestibility. Diets fed in Exp. 1 were: 1, NC-soybean meal formulated at .78% lysine (dry matter basis); 2, HLC-soybean meal containing the same amount of corn as diet 1 (.87% lysine); 3, HLC-soybean meal with the same lysine level as diet 1. In Exp. 1, dry matter, energy and N digestibilities were not different between corn types or lysine levels (P greater than .16). These results indicate that energy and N digestibility of HLC in typical diets for growing swine are similar to those for NC diets when both are balanced on a lysine basis. Also, replacing NC with HLC on an equal-weight basis did not affect energy and N digestibility. In Exp. 2 six diets balanced on an isonitrogenous and dry-matter basis were tested. Normal corn and HLC diets, which had been stored by three different methods (D, HM and RC) were arranged in a 2 X 3 factorial plan. There were no differences between corn types in dry matter, energy and N digestibilities. The HM and RC treatments had larger particle sizes than the dry corn diets. For diets balanced on an isonitrogenous basis, dry corn storage improved energy digestibility (P less than .10). Reconstitution appeared to improve energy balance and N digestibility of HLC, while HM storage improved energy balance and N digestibility of NC.

Energy and Tissue Metabolism in Patients With Cancer During Nutritional Support

The present study evaluates the energy and skeletal muscle metabolism in malnourished patients, with and without cancer, in response to nutrition. The energy balance was positive in all patients receiving nutritional support. This led to an increase in body weight and body potassium levels. Glucose turnover increased in all patients. In patients with cancer, elevated glucose turnover reflected increased utilization of glucose preferentially for synthetic pathways rather than for oxidation. Protein synthesis and RNA content in skeletal muscles increased during nutrition. Nutritional support improved energy balance and protein synthesis capacity in skeletal muscles in patients with cancer to the same extent as in malnourished patients without cancer. Malignant cachexia seems to be a consequence of a relative lack of energy and not of impaired energy utilization in host tissues, at least early in the disease.