Increased Protein Percentage Research Articles

Impact of Fish Feed Formulated with Microalgae Biomass in Experimental Tanks with (Oreochromis Niloticus) Tilapia Culture

This project aims to evaluate a fish feed developed in CIATEJ with little modification, which included algal biomass and vegetal protein. This product was tested at the laboratory scale and the pilot-scale upscaling was needed for use with impact assessment studies in real ambient conditions. This food has antioxidant capacity due to the inclusion of microalgae. Additionally, it is nutritionally balanced with plant-based protein sources, partially replacing fishmeal. The feed, compared to commercial feed, has a higher protein content (5%) and lower fat content (3%). Evaluating this feed was of great importance to corroborate its consumption, which can reduce oxidative stress, reduce water contamination, and improve the growth rate and quality of the meat in fish. FCR values of almost 1 were reported here, indicating the more efficient utilization of formulated feed by Oreochromis niloticus. The main component of tilapia meat was moisture 74.31%, followed by protein 14.44%, lipids 6.24%, carbohydrates 0.10%, fibre 1.39%, and ash 3.62%. in experimental feed. In our results in fish filate, we found a 12% increase in protein percentage and a 29% decrease in fat percentage compared to the commercial feed, as expected from the higher protein and lower fat formulated feed. The amount of protein increment in fish filet we achieved in 2 months, the experimental diets significantly influenced the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids at 2.4% while saturated fatty acids were 1.3%. Omega 6 and Omega 9 were 2.33% and 1.73% respectively. The polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio was also higher.

The effect of a low-calorie, high-protein diet on psychometric variables in obese individuals: a Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Introduction The last decade has seen the increased prevalence of obesity as a public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, studies have shown that there is a two-way relationship between low-calorie diets and depression in obese individuals. This study was designed and implemented to investigate the effect of a low-calorie high-protein diet on psychometric variables in obese individuals. Materials and methods The present study is a Randomized Clinical Trial. Individuals meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (low-calorie diet with increased protein percentage) or the control group (standard protein percentage) using block stratification. Psychometric characteristics of the participants were evaluated using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Results There were no significant differences in enrollment between the two groups with respect to anthropometric variables, body composition, and physical activity (p-value > .05). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of psychological variables (depression, anxiety and stress) (p-value > .05). However, the intervention groups had significantly lower depression and anxiety scores 15 days into the intervention (p-value < .05). After 30 and 60 days of intervention, significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of depression, stress, and anxiety (p-value < .05), indicating a relative improvement in psychometric variables in the intervention group (p-value < .05). Conclusion The results of this study showed that low-calorie diets with a high-protein percentage can significantly improve psychometric variables in obese people. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20221101056371N1..

Economic and energy estimation of the effect of seeding rates of spring peas in the south of the Rostov region

For Russia, peas are traditional legumes, used both in the food industry for its excellent taste, and in animal husbandry for the high content of feed units and balanced protein, which allows reducing the cost of animals’ feeding. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the effect of the seeding rates of peas on its productivity, feed value of its beans, economic and bioenergetic cultivation efficiency. The current paper has presented the study results obtained in the laboratory for cultivation technology of row crops (FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”) in 2019–2020 where there was studied the effect of seeding rates on productivity of the middle maturing pea variety ‘Aksaysky Usatii 5’ of the Don breeding. The soil of the experimental plot was favorable for growing peas with 3.36% of humus in the arable, with 7.0 pH, 24.4 mg/kg of soil of P2O5, 360 mg/kg of soil of K2O. The studied seeding rates influenced yield structure elements of peas, protein percentage in seeds and yield of feed units. At seeding rates of 1.2-1.8 million of germinating seeds per hectare, there was an increase in protein percentage in seeds on more than 1.0% in comparison with the norms of 0.8-1.0 million of germinating seeds per hectare. In the same variants of the trial, the yield of digestible protein was at the level of 528-579 kg/ha, compared with that of 390-456 kg/ha when sown with a rate of 0.8-1.0 million of germinating seeds per hectare. The maximum productivity (2.07 t/ha) was recorded with a seeding rate of 1.4 million of germinating seeds per hectare. In the same variant of the trial, there were identified the maximum indicators of energy and economic efficiency, such as 2.07 of energy efficiency coefficient and 97.4% of profitability with the lowest production cost of 7600 rubles/ton.

Effect of chromosome substitutions from Gossypium barbadense L., G. tomentosum Nutt. Ex Seem and G. mustelinum Watt into G. hirsutum L. on cottonseed protein and oil content

Cottonseed is the second-most common plant protein source after soybean, and the fifth-most common oil source after soybean, palm tree, colza and sunflower. There has been little economic incentive until recently to breed for cottonseed nutritional components. In our previous studies we used chromosome substitution (CS) lines to associate novel traits of importance with specific substituted chromosome. The objective of this research was to study the effect of chromosome or chromosome segment substitutions from Gossypium barbadense, G. tomentosum and G. mustelinum on cottonseed protein and oil content in Upland cotton (G. hirsutum). Nine euploid CS lines, TM-1, the recurrent parent line, and ‘UA48’, were experimentally compared using a randomized complete block design with four replications at each location in Florence, SC and Mississippi State, MS. Acid delinted cottonseeds were analyzed for protein and oil using near-infrared reflectance. Our overall results showed that an increase in protein percentage is normally associated with decrease in oil percentage or opposite effect in most of the CS lines. We discovered that specific chromosome or chromosome segment substitutions from the wild species of G. tomentosum and G. mustelinum were associated with altered protein and oil percentages, possibly indicating chromosomal associations with protein and oil percentage gene(s). Results revealed that CS-M08sh line had increased protein and oil percentages at MS, whereas changes in protein and oil percentages are normally in opposite directions. However, CS-M08sh line had highest oil percentage among all lines but with moderate protein percentage at SC. Novel germplasm with the gene(s) for improved protein and oil percentage was developed from wild species of Upland cotton’s primary gene pool.

The estimation of the peas varieties (Pisum Arvense L.) on protein percentage in grain: correlation between economic-valuable traits and weather conditions

Peas as a valuable component of animal feed with a high protein percentage is of great importance in solving the problem of increasing protein percentage in grain fodder produced in the country. The current paper has presented the estimation the peas varieties on protein percentage t in seeds. There has been studied the correlation between protein percentage and seed productivity, between 1000-grain weight and length of growing season. There has been identified the influence of weather conditions and the correlation between them and protein percentage t in peas seeds. The trials were conducted at the experimental plots of the peas nursery belonging to the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Agriculture in 2016–2018. The objects of study were 15 peas varieties of domestic and foreign breeding. In the trial there were identified the peas varieties with high protein percentage (28.0–30.0%), with small seeds; the late-ripening varieties, and the varieties with low protein percentage (22.9–23.9%); the early-ripening varieties of a leafy morphotype with large seeds. There has been established a very weak negative correlation (r = –0.010) between protein percentage and grain productivity. There has been identified a very strong negative correlation (r = –0.818) between 1000-grain weight and protein percentage. The protein percentage in pea seeds has got a positive correlation with the length of growing season (r = +0.860). The leafy varieties showed a positive correlation between protein accumulation due to amount of precipitation (r = +0.714…+0.989) and the sum of positive temperatures above 10 ºС (from low, in some cases to high). The leafless pea varieties, at the same time, have got an inverse correlation at the increased humidity.

Evaluation of effects of Mycoplasma mastitis on milk composition in dairy cattle from South Australia

BackgroundMycoplasma mastitis is increasingly posing significant impact on dairy industry. Although the effects of major conventional mastitis pathogens on milk components has been widely addressed in the literature, limited data on the effects of different Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma spp. on milk quality and quantity is available. The aim of this study was to determine the casual relationship of Mycoplasma spp. and A. laidlawii to mastitis and compare them to subclinical mastitis caused by conventional mastitis pathogens from a single dairy herd in South Australia; Mycoplasma spp. and A. laidlawii were detected using PCR applied directly to milk samples. The herd had mastitis problem with high somatic cell count and low response rate to conventional antimicrobial therapy. A total of 288 cow-level milk samples were collected aseptically and used in this study.ResultsConventional culture showed a predominance of coagulase-negative staphylococci, followed by coagulase-positive staphylococci, Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. PCR results showed a high prevalence of mycoplasmas (76.7%), including A. laidlawii (10.8%), M. bovis (6.2%), M. bovirhinis (5.6%), M. arginini (2%), and (52.1%) of cows were co-infected with two or more Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species. Mycoplasma co-infection significantly increased somatic cell counts (SCC) similar to conventional mastitis pathogens and compared to non-infected cows with 389.3, 550.3 and 67.3 respectively; and decreased the milk yield with 29.0, 29.9 and 34.4 l, respectively. Mycoplasma co-infection caused significant increase in protein percentage, and significant decrease in fat percentage and total milk solids, similar to other conventional mastitis pathogens. In contrast, changes in milk composition and yield caused by various individual Mycoplasma species were non-significant.ConclusionsMycoplasma mastitis had on-farm economic consequences similar to common conventional mastitis pathogens. Results of our study indicate that co-infection Mycoplasma mastitis caused similar effect on milk composition to other mastitis pathogens and we hope these findings raise the awareness of the importance of their detection on routine diagnostic panels.

Short communication: Short-term intravenous amino acid infusions as a method to detect limiting amino acids in dairy cattle diets

We hypothesized that the addition of limiting AA increases dry matter intake (DMI) by reducing anaplerosis and hepatic oxidation. Accordingly, the objective of this work was to examine the effects of short-term intravenous infusions of Met, Lys, and His (which are considered the most limiting AA) on DMI as a method to detect whether specific AA are limiting in dairy cow diets. We conducted 4 experiments using Holstein cows in the immediate postpartum period to address this objective. The first experiment used 4 cows 6 to 10 d postpartum (PP) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 1-d periods including 12 h for infusions and 12 h for recovery. Treatments were continuous infusions of 5 (low), 10 (medium), or 15% (high) of the calculated requirement of metabolizable Met, Lys, and His or 0.9% saline (control, CONT). In the second and third experiments, 8 cows (4-12 d PP) were divided into 2 groups of 4 cows, and each group received a different diet formulated to either be low in Lys (experiment 2) or Met (experiment 3). Each experiment was a crossover design with two 1-d periods with 12-h infusions (continuous) and 12 h for recovery. Treatments were 15% of the calculated requirement of metabolizable Met, Lys, and His (high), or 0.9% saline (CONT). In the fourth experiment, 5 cows (4-14 d PP) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Periods were 2 d in which treatments were continuously infused for the first 46 h. Treatments were 0.9% saline (CONT), all (Lys, Met, and His), LM (Lys and Met), LH (Lys and His), and MH (Met and His); dosages were equal to the estimated shortage in each specific AA. In each experiment, feed intake was recorded by a computerized data acquisition system, milk yield was recorded, and milk composition was analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentrations. Treatments did not affect DMI or yield of milk or milk components in the first experiment. In the second experiment, AA treatment increased protein percentage and reduced lactose percentage but had no effect on protein and lactose yields or DMI. In the third experiment, the AA treatment tended to increase yields of milk, lactose, and protein as well as MUN concentration but did not affect DMI. In the fourth experiment, no effects were detected for DMI and milk yield, whereas the all, LH, and LM treatments reduced milk lactose concentration compared with CONT, and MH increased MUN concentration compared with CONT and other treatments. These results failed to provide support for our hypothesis that short-term addition of these potentially limiting AA will increase DMI. This may be due to our hypothesis being inaccurate or to other factors; other limiting AA could have prevented the effects of Lys, Met, and His infusions or the infusion periods could have been too short to induce a response in DMI. Accordingly, short-term infusion of AA is probably not a sensitive method to detect limiting AA in dairy cow diets.

Shredded beet pulp substituted for corn silage in diets fed to dairy cows under ambient heat stress: Feed intake, total-tract digestibility, plasma metabolites, and milk production.

The effects of substituting increasing concentrations of dried, shredded beet pulp for corn silage on dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and milk production of lactating dairy cows was evaluated under conditions of ambient heat stress. Four multiparous (126±13d in milk) and 4 primiparous (121±11d in milk) Holstein cows were used in a 4×4 Latin square design experiment with 4 periods of 21d. Each period had 14d of adaptation and 7d of sampling, and parity was the square. Dietary treatments were (dry matter basis): 16% of dietary dry matter as corn silage without BP (0BP, control diet); 8% corn silage and 8% beet pulp (8BP); 4% corn silage and 12% beet pulp (12BP); and 0% corn silage and 16% beet pulp (16BP). Alfalfa hay was included in all diets (24% dietary dry matter). Dietary concentrations of forage neutral detergent fiber and nonfiber carbohydrates were 21.3 and 39.2% (0BP), 16.5 and 40.9% (8BP), 14.1 and 42.2% (12BP), and 11.7 and 43.4% (16BP), respectively (dry matter basis). The ambient temperature-humidity index indicated that the cows were in heat stress for almost the entire duration of the study. Dry matter intake and nutrient digestibilities were similar across treatments and between multi- and primiparous cows. Mean rumen pH tended to decrease with increasing proportions of beet pulp in the diet. Also, increasing proportions of beet pulp in the diet linearly decreased acetate and butyrate concentrations in the rumen and increased propionate concentrations, leading to a linear decrease in acetate:propionate ratio. Milk yield linearly increased (38.5, 39.3, 40.9, and 39.6kg/d for 0BP, 8BP, 12BP, and 16BP, respectively), but fat content linearly decreased (3.46, 3.47, 3.27, and 2.99), such that we observed no effect on fat-corrected milk. Substituting beet pulp for corn silage increased the neutral detergent insoluble crude protein content of the diet, leading to a decrease in rumen concentration of ammonia-nitrogen and milk concentration of urea, corresponding to an increase in percentage of protein in milk. Compared with multiparous cows, primiparous cows had greater rumen pH, metabolite concentrations in plasma (glucose, cholesterol, urea nitrogen, total protein, and globulins), milk production, and concentrations of milk components. Substituting beet pulp for corn silage at up to 12% of dietary dry matter can be beneficial during heat stress conditions.

EFFECT OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION LEVELS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUNFLOWER CULTIVARS (Helianthus annuus L.)

The study included two field experiments for sunflower crop conducted during spring growing season of 2008 in two locations. The first was in AL-Rashidia (20 km) west north Mosul city, the second ones was in AL-Hamdanea (30 Km) east of Mosul city. The main objective was to find out the effect of potassium fertilization levels on growth, yield and quality of three sunflower cultivars. Each experiment was conducted according to factorial experiment in a randomized completely block design with three replications. It included three levels of potassium (0, 30 and 60 kg k per hectare -1 ) were applied to the soil during the sowing period, with three cultivars of sunflower crop (Saturn, Gordis and Majak). The results could be summarized as follows: The cultivar Gordis gave a high level for most growth, yield and quality parameters in both locations. Application of 30 kg K per hectare -1 led to a significant increase in plant height, leaf area, disc diameter, number of seeds per head, weight of thousand seed, seed yield, oil percentage and oil yield, while increasing concentration of potassium up to 60 kg K per hectare -1 caused a significant increase in protein percentage in AL-Rashidia and AL-Hamdanea locations. The interaction between the cultivars and potassium fertilization levels was significant in some growth, yield and quality parameters, the Gordis cultivar with potassium application to the soil with concentration 30 kg k.ha -1 was superior and gave highest values for plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of seeds.head -1 , weight of thousand seed, oil percentage, oil yield, protein percentage

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-1 and its attributes through simple correlation and stepwise regression analysis were evaluated. The results indicated that the percentages of oil and protein in the seeds were significantly affected by water regimes and caused a decrease in oil percentage and increase in protein percentage. In addition, both oil and protein output per unit area was significantly reduced, as water regimes increased. The results showed that skipping irrigation during vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages had no effect on economic yield and save 14% from total irrigation costs of soybean production, but skipping two or three irrigations during vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages had effect on economic yield of soybean production under the environmental conditions of Giza region. Results revealed that Giza 111 proved to be the best cultivar followed by Giza 21 among the six cultivars included in the test under different water regime. Simple correlation analysis indicated that seed yield ha -1 was positively correlated with number of branches plant -1 , number of pods plant -1

Effects of polymorphism in the 5′-flanking region of the IGF-I gene on milk-production traits in Chinese Holstein cattle

Milk and milk products are major components of human dietary intake and have a potential influence on health. In our experiment, associations between insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) gene polymorphism and milk-production traits were analysed in Chinese Holstein cattle. A polymorphism, transition at position g.1407 T &gt; C, was identified in the 5′-flanking region of the IGF-I gene by pooled DNA sequencing. The identified single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS) methods from 752 individuals. Significant associations between IGF-I genotypes and 305-day milk yield, fat yield and protein yield were found. Homozygous cows with TT genotype showed the highest milk, fat and protein yields, with increases of 532.75 kg, 23.57 kg and 14.69 kg, respectively, as compared with homozygous CC cows. Heterozygous CT cows had intermediate yields. Allele substitution showed that the C allele decreased milk yield (255.23 kg), fat yield (11.37 kg) and protein yield (7.05 kg), whereas it increased protein percentage (0.01%). The results suggest that IGF-I is a candidate gene that influences milk-production traits, and provides useful information to be implemented in breeding programs to improve the performance of the Chinese Holstein.

Environmental conditions affect semolina quality in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum L.) cultivars with different gluten strength and gluten protein composition

Sowing time may impact semolina and pasta cooking quality by changing the environmental conditions during grain filling. The effect of an optimum and a delayed sowing time on semolina quality was studied by comparing six cultivars under irrigation, in order to isolate temperature from drought effects. Protein content was higher in the old cultivars and in the late sowings, according to the number of days with temperature between 30 and 40 °C during ripening. Gluten index increased as temperature rose to a threshold of about 30 °C, then decreased under higher temperatures. Mixograph parameters were less sensitive to high temperatures. Gliadin:glutenin correlated with gluten strength. Spaghetti firmness and protein content were positively correlated independently of sowing date. Cultivars Trinakria and Cappelli had the highest spaghetti firmness (900 and 828 g). Late sowings may represent a way of increasing pasta cooking quality whenever they place grain filling under thermal conditions able to increase protein percentage, although the accompanying decrease in yield may represent a drawback in environments prone to drought stress during ripening. The lower protein percentages of modern durum wheat cultivars under conventional sowing times results in a lower pasta cooking quality despite higher gluten strength.

Effect of Increasing Protein Percentage Feed on the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of the Broiler Chicks

Effect of Increasing Protein Percentage Feed on the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of the Broiler Chicks

Effects of DGAT1 and GHR on milk yield and milk composition in the Chinese dairy population

Previous studies have demonstrated that the p.Lys232Ala substitution in the acylCoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) gene and the p.Phe279Tyr mutation in the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene are the causative quantitative trait loci underlying milk yield and composition on BTA14 and BTA20 respectively. To examine their applications in the genetic improvement of Chinese dairy cattle productivity, we herein investigated the effects of the DGAT1 p.Lys232Ala and GHR p.Phe279Tyr mutations on milk, fat and protein yield, as well as fat and protein percentage in the milk of 1222 Holstein cows. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP for DGAT1 or primer-introduced restriction analysis (PCR-PIRA) for GHR. With a mixed animal model, the significant associations of the DGAT1 p.Lys232Ala substitution with 305-day milk, fat and protein yield were identified (P = 0.0001). The DGAT1 allele that encode lysine at position 232 was associated with increased 305-day milk fat yield, but with decreased 305-day milk and protein yield, whereas the GHR p.Phe279Tyr mutation was found to be significantly associated with protein percentage (P = 0.0014). The allele substitution effect of p.279Phe by p.279Tyr may lead to a significant increase in protein percentage. Our findings indicate that DGAT1 p.232Ala and GHR p.279Phe could be used to increase milk yield and protein yield of Chinese Holstein cows.

Increasing the Value of Hominy Feed as a Coproduct by Fermentation

Hominy feed is a low value ($83.7/metric ton) coproduct of the corn dry milling process that accounts for nearly 35% of the starting corn quantity. The average composition of hominy feed on a dry basis is 56.9% starch, 25.2% neutral detergent fiber, 11.1% protein, and 5.3% fat. Starch in hominy feed can be fermented to ethanol thus increasing its levels of protein and fat. The increase in protein and fat percentages may increase the market competitiveness and price of hominy feed. Hydrolysis and fermentation were performed on nine hominy feed samples collected from three corn dry milling plants in the USA. The original hominy feed samples and postfermentation solids were analyzed for starch, protein, fat, and fiber content. Compared to the original hominy feed, the percentage increase in protein, fat and fiber in postfermentation solids of nine samples ranged from 10.4 to 21.3, 6.78 to 10.6, and 12.6 to 28.7% (dry basis), respectively. Ethanol yields varied from 271.7 to 380.2 l/metric ton for the nine hominy feed samples. These results indicate that the value of hominy feed as an animal feedstock can potentially be increased with fermentation and can produce more profit per metric ton than currently being derived by its sale as a low protein feed ingredient.

Protein content and gluten quality of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) as affected by sowing date

AbstractThe end use quality of durum wheat is sensitive to the environmental conditions pertaining before and during grain filling, and can therefore be modified by manipulation of cultivar and sowing date. A field trial was carried out to study the effect on protein content and gluten quality of varying both sowing date (October, December and March) and cultivar (Simeto, Colosseo and Creso). A delay in sowing date was associated with a decrease in mean grain weight, but not in grain nitrogen content, thus leading to an overall increase from 10.7 to 14.7% in grain protein percentage. Independent of sowing date, over 78% of the grain nitrogen was derived from re‐translocation from vegetative tissue. The similar amounts of nitrogen accumulated in each grain at maturity were set by the similarity in the amount of nitrogen available at anthesis. The observed increase in protein percentage partly explained the greater dough strength (alveographic W) observed in material harvested from the latest sowing. The gluten index, on the other hand, decreased as sowing was delayed. Given the parallel increase in glutenin percentage, we propose that temperatures above 30 °C at the end of the grain filling period have a negative effect on the gluten polymerisation process. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

Differential accumulation of sulfur-rich and sulfur-poor wheat flour proteins is affected by temperature and mineral nutrition during grain development

Hard red spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum cv Butte86) was grown under controlled environmental conditions and grain produced under 24/17 °C, 37/17 °C or 37/28 °C day/night regimens with or without post-anthesis N supplied as NPK. Flour proteins were analyzed and quantified by differential fractionation and RP-HPLC, and endosperm proteins were assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). High temperature or NPK during grain fill increased protein percentage and altered the proportions of S-rich and S-poor proteins. Addition of NPK increased protein accumulation per grain under the 24/17 °C but not the 37/28 °C regimen. However, flour protein composition was similar for grain produced with NPK at 24/17 °C or 37/28 °C. 2-DE of gluten proteins during grain development revealed that NPK or high temperature increased the accumulation rate for S-poor proteins more than for S-rich proteins. Flour S content did not indicate S-deficiency, however, and addition of post-anthesis S had no effect on protein composition. Although, high-protein flour from grain produced under the 37/28 °C regimen with or without NPK had loaf volumes comparable to flour produced at 24/17 °C with NPK, mixing tolerance was decreased by the high temperature regimen.

Mannanoligosaccharides and aflatoxin B1 in feed for laying hens: effects on egg quality, aflatoxins B1 and M1 residues in eggs, and aflatoxin B1 levels in liver

Ninety-six laying hens were allocated to 4 groups and fed diets (control diet (0-0), diet supplemented with 2.5 ppm aflatoxin B1 (0-AF); diet supplemented with 0.11% mannanoligosaccharide (MOS-0); diet supplemented with 0.11% MOS and 2.5 ppm aflatoxin B1 (MOS-AF) for 4 wk to evaluate the effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), mannanoligosaccharide (MOS), or both on egg quality and the in vivo efficacy of MOS to interact with an oral administration of AFB1. After 2 and 3 wk, egg weight decreased (P < 0.05) in the group fed MOS-0 versus groups on 0-0 and 0-AF. Egg shell weight was lower (P < 0.05) in the group fed 0-AF. Aflatoxin influenced color parameters, which were probably related to interference of AFB1 with lipid metabolism and pigmentary substances deposition in yolk. MOS appeared to increase protein percentage in albumen. No AFB1 or aflatoxin M1 (AFM1; a polar metabolite of AFB1) residues were found in eggs of the experimental groups. Livers from groups 0-0 and MOS-0 always tested negative for AFB1 and AFM1. Differences (P < 0.01) were found between AFB1 hepatic levels of group 0-AF (mean ± SD: 4.13 ± 1.95 ppb) and group MOS-AF (mean ± SD: 2.21 ± 1.37 ppb). The data demonstrated the ability of MOS to adsorb and degrade AFB1, reducing gastrointestinal absorption of AFB1 and its levels in tissues.

Association of the Protease Inhibitor Gene with Production Traits in Holstein Dairy Cattle

Positional, comparative candidate gene analysis and previous quantitative trait loci linkage mapping results were used to search for candidate genes affecting milk production and reproduction traits in dairy cattle. The protease inhibitor (PI) gene was chosen for examination, and 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in coding regions of the gene by direct sequencing of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products from a wide range of cattle tissues. A total of 6 different intragenic haplotypes were identified in North American Holstein population, and these were examined for associations with milk production traits in 24 half-sib families comprising 1007 sons utilizing a granddaughter design. One common haplotype was associated with increased milk and fat yields, increased productive life, and decreased somatic cell score. Another common haplotype was associated with decreased productive life and increased somatic cell score. One rare haplotype was associated with decreased milk, fat, and protein yields and increased milk protein percentage; another rare haplotype was associated with decreased milk yield, increased protein percentage, and decreased productive life. The observation that the PI gene is associated with analogous traits in humans demonstrates the effectiveness of the positional comparative candidate gene analysis that utilizes information about genes present in chromosomal regions with conserved synteny in other species.

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Changes in the protein, sugar and cellulose of three agro-industrial by-products after fermentation with Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp. in solid state were determined. Cellulose was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in all the agro wastes by all the fungi after 14 days. Highest percentage reduction was achieved by A. niger in all the agro wastes; 36.51% for wheat offal (WO), 35.87% for brewers dried grain (BDG) and 35.80% for maize offal (MO). There was a corresponding build up of all the soluble sugars in the substrate up to 14 days. Beyond day 14, the sugar level began to fall and there was no more significant degradation of the cellulose. The crude protein of the BDG, MO and WO increased significantly (P<.0.05). After 14 days, the highest percentage increase in protein (41%) was obtained in WO inoculated with A. niger. Results of the study indicate the possibility of enhancing the feeding value of these by-products by a simple, inexpensive and easily adaptable technique.