Low-cost Diet Research Articles

Effect of a Low Cost Diet on the Quality Control of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella for Improving the Sterile Insect Technique

Effect of a Low Cost Diet on the Quality Control of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella for Improving the Sterile Insect Technique

Rosa roxburghii trattresidue: A novel feed resource for cattle indicated by the non-deleterious performance and blood metabolites.

Rosa roxburghii tratt residue (RRTR) is a regional and uncommon byproduct in Guizhou. Little information is available on whether RRTR can be used as feed for ruminants. In this study, the feasibility of using RRTR as a new feed resource for cattle was investigated by chemical composition analysis, in vitro gas production (Trial 1) and animal feeding experiments (Trial 2). In trial 1, compared to the commonly used fruit residues, RRTR had a proximate nutrient level; the in vitro gas production curve and dynamics fell within the normal range. In trial 2, 16 cattle were allocated to the control and treatment groups, with 8 replicates of 1 cattle each. Cattle in the control group were fed a basal diet without RRTR, while those in the treatment group were fed a diet containing 30% RRTR to replace 30% whole corn silage in basal diet. Feeding RRTR had little effect on the growth performance of the control and treatment cattle (P > 0.05). The feed-to-gain ratio was greater in the treatment group than in the control group throughout the trial period (P < 0.05). The plasma urea levels in the treatment group were lower (P < 0.05) than that in control group, and the levels of other plasma biochemical metabolites were not different between the two groups of cattle (P > 0.05). The in vivo rumen fermentation parameters did not differ between the control and treatment groups (P > 0.05). Our findings indicate that RRTR has a nutritional profile (crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber) similar to that of commonly used fruit residues (such as apple, pineapple, and citrus residue et al.); improves plasma protein utilization efficiency; and has no negative impact on growth performance, albeit with limited effects on feed conversion; blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation parameters in cattle. Accordingly, we conclude, based on the above-mentioned result, that RRTR can serve as a novel feed alternative resource when considering the affordability and as a practical choice for low-cost diets for cattle.

Adherence to the EAT-Lancet index is associated with lower diet costs in the Mexican population

SummaryBackgroundPoor diet quality contributes to morbidity and mortality and affects environmental sustainability. The EAT-Lancet reference diet offers a healthy and sustainable solution. This study aimed to estimate the association between diet cost and dietary quality, measured with an EAT-Lancet Index.MethodsAn EAT-Lancet index was adapted to assess adherence to this dietary pattern from 24-h recalls data from the 2012 and 2016 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys (n = 14,242). Prices were obtained from the Consumer Price Index. We dichotomized cost at the median (into low- and high-cost) and compared the EAT-Lancet index scores. We also used multivariate linear regression models to explore the association between diet cost and diet quality.ResultsIndividuals consuming a low-cost diet had a higher EAT-Lancet score than those consuming a high-cost diet (20.3 vs. 19.4 from a possible scale of 0 to 42; p < 0.001) due to a lower intake of beef and lamb, pork, poultry, dairy, and added sugars. We found that for each one-point increase in the EAT-Lancet score, there was an average decrease of MXN$0.4 in the diet cost (p < 0.001). This association was only significant among low- and middle-SES individuals.ConclusionsContrary to evidence from high-income countries, this study shows that in Mexico, adhering to the EAT-Lancet reference diet is associated with lower dietar costs, particularly in lower SES groups. These findings suggest the potential for broader implementation of healthier diets without increasing the financial burden.

Rosa roxburghii tratt residue as an alternative feed for improving growth, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, and slaughter performance in Hu sheep.

The utilization of agro-industrial by-products, such as fruit residues, presents a promising strategy for providing alternative feed to ruminants amidst rising prices and limited availability of traditional roughage. In this study, we investigated the effects of Rosa roxburghii tratt residue, a local fruit residue in Guizhou province of China, on the growth, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, and slaughter performance of Hu sheep. Ninety-six sheep were randomly divided into four groups, namely control, treatment 1, treatment 2, and treatment 3, and fed diets containing 0, 10, 20, and 30% Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue, respectively. Feeding varying levels of Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue showed no significant differences in dry matter intake, average daily gain, or the ratio of dry matter intake to average daily gain. However, sheep in the group fed with 30% Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue showed the highest gross profit. Plasma albumin content was lower in groups fed with Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue-containing diets compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, diet treatment 3 decreased plasma creatinine levels compared to control and treatment 1 (p < 0.05). Sheep in treatment 2 and treatment 3 exhibited higher plasma high-density lipoprotein level than control and treatment 1 (p < 0.05), as well as increased total cholesterol levels compared to control (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other plasma metabolites. Rumen pH, N-NH3, volatile fatty acids, and methane levels did not differ significantly among the four groups. However, feeding diets treatment 2 and treatment 3 resulted in decreased water holding capacity and increased shear force compared to control and treatment 1 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pH, red chromaticity (a*), yellowness index (b*), and luminance (L*) were unaffected among the four groups of sheep. In conclusion, the inclusion of up to 30% Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue had no adverse effects on growth performance, allowing for feed cost savings without impacting rumen fermentation parameters. Rosa roxburghii tratt residue also showed benefits in improving plasma protein efficiency and enhancing lipid metabolism, albeit with limited effects on meat quality. Considering its affordability, Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue presents a practical choice for low-cost diets, ensuring economic returns.

Diet impact on the reproductive characters of male red claw Cherax quadricarintus during the juvenile-adult transition

Male decapod reproduction involves gametogenesis, spermatozoa packaging in spermatophores, changes in cheliped´s growth, and specific behaviors such as courtship, male-male agoniztic interactions, and territory defense. These reproductive-related morpho-functional processes are supported by feed, one of the higher operative costs in aquaculture. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive variables during the juvenile-mature transition of the male red claw Cherax quadricarinatus fed with two low-cost diets (T1 and T2). Pre-adult males (∼7 g) were individually distributed in plastic containers and fed a diet with fish silage (T1) (n = 9), a diet without fish silage (T2) (n = 8), and a commercial diet for ornamental fish used as a reference diet (T3) (n = 7). The proximal composition of T1, T2, and T3 was 34 %, 28 %, and 47 % for crude protein; 13 %, 9 %, and 6.5 for lipids; and 34 %, 47 %, and 28 % for carbohydrates, respectively. All males acquired sexual maturity with a body weight between 16 and 21 g. All groups showed similar chelae growth (based on the evaluation of the chelae height, and chelae thickness indexes) and red patch development. The gonadosomatic index was significantly lower in the T2 group with respect to T1. The lowest proportion of mature testicular lobes (filled with spermatids/spermatozoa) was detected in the T2 group (49 %), followed by T1 (59 %) group. There was also a lower protein content (∼ 27 %) in the vasa deferentia of the T2 group. However, all males showed a well-developed reproductive system and the histology of the testes and vasa deferentia showed no evidence of structural differences among groups. Under transmission electron microscopy analysis, both the primary and secondary layers of the spermatophore did not show qualitative differences among groups, including the spermatozoon morphology and acrosome size. This study highlights that males fed low-cost diets (0.56 and 0.65 U$S kg− 1, for T1 and T2 respectively), in particular T1, showed reproductive performances as good as the group fed on the reference diet. This is the first analysis of a pool of morpho-functional and biochemical reproductive variables in red claw males, to evaluate the effects of formulated diets on male sexual maturation.

Food insecurity is associated with glycemic markers, and socioeconomic status and low-cost diets are associated with lipid metabolism in Mexican mothers

The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and chronic disease has recently become more evident in middle- and low-income countries. We hypothesized that poor socioeconomic conditions, such as food insecurity, low educational level, or low SES, may restrict access to a healthy diet and may be associated with cardiometabolic risk independently of body fat. This study examined the relation between socioeconomic indicators, body fat, and cardiometabolic disease risk markers in a random sample of mothers living in Queretaro, Mexico. Young and middle-aged mothers (n = 321) answered validated questionnaires to determine SES, food insecurity, and educational level and a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire to determine dietary patterns and the cost of individual diet. Clinical measurements included anthropometry, blood pressure, lipids profile, glucose, and insulin. Obesity was present in 29% of the participants. Women with moderate food insecurity had higher waist circumference, glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance than women with food security. High triglyceride concentration and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with lower SES and lower educational level. Women who consumed a lower carbohydrate diet had higher SES, higher education, and better cardiovascular risk markers. The higher carbohydrate diet profile was the least expensive diet. There was an inverse association between the cost and energy-density of foods. In conclusion, food insecurity was associated with glycemic control markers, and lower SES and education were related to a low-cost, higher carbohydrate diet and to a greater cardiovascular risk. The influence of the social environment on obesity and cardiovascular diseases needs to be further explored.

Dieta de alto grão e inclusão de óleo residual de fritura na alimentação de cordeiros

Abstract In animal production, a large part of financial resources is destined to animal feed, so the use of low-cost diets with maximum production efficiency is crucial. The present study evaluated the effects of a high-grain diet and the use of residual frying oil on the productive performance and carcass characteristics of lambs. Fifteen lambs were distributed into three groups in a completely randomized design in which they were fed a control diet, a high-grain diet, or a diet with the inclusion of residual frying oil, for 40 days. There was no difference (P &gt; 0.05) between the control and frying-oil diets regarding the daily intakes of dry matter, crude protein, mineral matter, neutral detergent fiber, or total carbohydrates. The high-grain diet reduced the intake of dry matter and nutrients, negatively affecting weight gain. The highest means for final weight, total weight, and daily weight gain were obtained with the control diet and the diet containing residual oil, which did not differ from each other (P&gt; 0.05). Slaughter weight and hot and cold carcass weights decreased with the high-grain diet. There was an effect (P &lt; 0.05) of frying oil inclusion on the carcass characteristics of the lambs. The diets did not affect (P &gt; 0.05) carcass yields. The animals on the high-grain diet showed unsatisfactory production performance, with impaired carcass characteristics. The inclusion of frying oil led to greater weight gain as well as more attractive carcass characteristics, making it the most viable alternative in this research.

Study of Serum Electrolytes and Blood Sugar Changes in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition

The purpose of this study was to look at the serum electrolyte status of malnourished children with and without diarrhoea/vomiting in order to manage serum electrolyte abnormalities in cases of severe acute malnutrition. This prospective observational hospital based study (n=112) carried out at a tertiary care hospital. The enrolled subjects was divided into 2 groups: those who had diarrhoea and/or vomiting (Group A; 42: 37.5%) and those who did not (Group B; 70: 62.5%). 1.5 mL of venous blood in an EDTA vial and 2 mL of venous blood in a plain vial were drawn and sent straight away for further analysis. All patients had the following tests: Blood glucose; CBC; Serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Ca++). Other investigations, like KFT, ESR, LFT, Urine (R/M), and Stool (R/M) were undertaken to corroborate the diagnosis whenever clinical indicated. Males (65; 58.03%) outnumbered females (47; 41.96%). 73.21% of the patients were between the ages of 6 and 24 months. SAM is more common in lower socioeconomic status 74 (66.07%).SAM was associated with hypokalemia in 7 children, (16.66%), hyponatremia in 6 children (14.28%), hypernatremia in 2 children (4.76%), hypocalcemia in 3 children (7.14%) and hypoglycemia in 3 children (7.14%) in group A (n=42). SAM in Group B (n=70) were associated with hypokalemia in 3 children (4.28%), hyponatremia in 9 children (12.85%), hypernatremia in 5 children (7.14%), and hypocalcemia in 4 children (5.71%). Out of 112 SAM children, 79 children were cured (70.53%). 60 of the 79 cured children (or 75.94%) had achieved their target weight, but just 8 of the 30 defaulter children (or 26.66% of them) had. Electrolytes changes are prevalent in malnourished children, and they can be subclinical or manifest during diarrhoea/vomiting. Although frequency of hypoglycemia was low, measurement of blood sugar and serum electrolytes are helpful to avoid life threatening situation. Despite recent breakthroughs in medicine and technology, severe acute malnutrition remains a problem. Faulty feeding habits, poor supplementary feeding practises, confusion about children's nutritional needs, frequent illnesses, big family size, and low socioeconomic level are all predictors of severe malnutrition. Aside from literacy, there is an urgent need to educate mothers on nutrition, low-cost diets, and breast-feeding methods in order to prevent and treat childhood malnutrition.

Hematological Changes in Sika Doe and Suckling Fawn Fed with Spent Mushroom Substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus.

Simple SummarySika deer velvet antler is a highly valued nutraceutic in traditional Chinese medicine with extremely high market value. Therefore, it is very important to find low-priced feed and reduce the feeding cost of sika deer to improve profitability. Mushrooms can be grown on agricultural wastes such as straw, cottonseed hull, and corn stalks, but with the process of cultivating mushrooms, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) has also been produced. Improper handling of SMS could still cause environmental pollution. The results show that SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP) can be digested by sika doe and has no adverse effect on suckling fawn. At the same time, SMS-MP reduces the feeding cost of sika doe and avoids the pollution caused by SMS-MP to the environment.Sika deer velvet antler is the most important animal nutraceutic in traditional Chinese medicine. Reducing the breeding cost of sika deer by looking for a low-cost diet is the main research direction at present. The purpose of this experiment was to find an alternative diet for sika deer and reduce the cost of the diet by using spent mushroom substrate (SMS) as a concentrate supplement. The apparent digestibility for sika doe and the hematological changes of sika doe and suckling fawn were measured by replacing 10% of the concentrate supplement with SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP). Compared with the control group, the digestibility of dry matter (DM), total protein (TP), globulin (GLO), and cholesterol (CHOL) of sika doe were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and glucose (GLU), alanine (Ala), phenylalanine (Phe), and proline (Pro) of sika doe were significantly increased (p < 0.05) after the replacement of SMS-MP. Compared with the control group, the serum GLU of suckling fawn was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the phosphatase (ALP) was significantly increased after the replacement of SMS-MP (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the immune globulin and amino acid of suckling fawns between the two groups (p > 0.05). The present findings confirm the applicability of SMS-MP as a sika doe concentrate supplement. At the same time, using SMS, a waste resource, can not only reduce the breeding cost of sika doe, but also make full use of SMS to reduce environmental pollution.

Nutritional Crispy from Fish Scales for Human Diet

ABSTRACT Development of affordable foods for low-income communities is indeed necessary for the overall human societal development. Fish scales, generally considered as a waste from the fish industry, were used for the development of ready-to eat crispy. The crispy was developed in a three-step process of acid treatment, drying, and frying. Standardization of acid treatment was done using 1%, 5%, and 10% citric acid. With increase in acid concentration, the overall sensory acceptability of the samples increased. The in-vitro protein digestibility was 84% for the crispy with highest acid concentration. The developed crispy had an essential amino acid index of 0.77 and was a good source of Ca, P, Na, Mg, and K. The instrumental hardness was 0.57N, and the TBARS value was 0.47 mg malonaldehyde/Kg. Thus, a nutrient rich, low cost diet can be developed from fish scales.

Impact of low-cost diets on maturation of the red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus: An integrative approach during a long-term study

The onset of sexual maturity represents a complex step in animal life involving morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes. From this point onward, the energy income from food will be involved in three energetic-demanding-competing processes: metabolism-homeostasis, growth, and reproduction. Hence, in cultured species formulated feeds need to cover all nutritional requirements of the growing phase and the additional cost demanded by reproduction. Two low-cost diets, AD1: 0.56 and 2 CE: 0.64 U$S kg−1 manufactured with local supplies specifically formulated for Cherax quadricarinatus, were evaluated in a prolonged assay with females at the transition from juvenile to mature. Protein content was 440,2 and 380 g kg−1 and lipid content was 134,8 and 114,9 g kg−1 for AD1 and AD2, respectively. Females were obtained in the laboratory from our reproductive stock and were fed daily at 1.5% of their weight/day. The female mean initial total length was 6.5 ± 0.6 cm and mean body mass was 6.8 ± 0.7 g, which represents juveniles at the beginning of vitellogenesis. The experiment ended after three molting events when females achieved the full mature condition (⁓16–20 g). Somatic indices, growth, feed efficiency, biochemical composition of the ovary and hepatopancreas, ovarian growth, and histological alterations in hepatopancreas were analyzed. Both diets demonstrated that the high demands of both somatic and ovarian growth in maturating females were not covered, contrasting with previous results in early juveniles. This highlights the enormous energetic cost of vitellogenesis at the start of sexual maturity and the differential nutrients demand during crayfish growth. Biochemical analysis demonstrated a lower oocyte quality due to the experimental diets, as well as decreased reserves both of lipids and carbohydrates and a possible impact on carotenoids content. The hepatopancreas also showed partial histological damage and differences in its biochemical content. Although further analysis is required, lower embryo survival, hatching rate, and early performance of juveniles are expected in progeny from females fed with both diets. The low-cost diets tested are useful as a baseline from which modified formulations can be considered to achieve a more adequate composition enhancing somatic and gonad growth as well as feed efficiency in maturing females.

Development and quality evaluation of a micronutrient rich traditional Indian product by utilization of locally available food resources

ABSTRACT Malnutrition is a severe matter of concern among various countries due to modern lifestyles, especially the consumption of rapidly processed fast food. In 2018, a WHO and UNICEF study concluded that the SDG objective of eradicating all forms of malnutrition by 2030 was aspirational but unattainable and set targets for malnutrition indicators up to 2030 based on current trends. The present situation demands products rich in micronutrients, meet growth and development requirements, and are readily acceptable. A critical reason for such use of rice flour is its nonallergenic nature. A small proportion of the population is allergic to wheat gluten. Rice is widely used in baking for such wheat-intolerant people, i.e., those suffering from the coeliac disorder. Its nonallergenic property also makes rice one of the first cereals to be used in infant feeding. In this scenario, rice flour is preferred as the foremost choice for required sensory acceptability and a low-cost diet. Food-based approaches are recognised as an essential part of an urgently needed, more comprehensive strategy for improving nutrition by increasing the availability and consumption to combat calcium, iron, phosphorus and other micronutrient deficiencies. The combination of rice flour, beaten rice, banana, jaggery contains a high amount of energy protein with calcium and iron content. Such a combination of foods can enhance the nutritive value of homemade products, which can be beneficial for the malnourished population. The present study was undertaken to develop anarsa by combining banana, jaggery and rice flour using the air frying method. The developed product was evaluated for sensory attributes by a panel of 10 judges on 9 points hedonic rating scale. The calculated nutritive value from Indian Food Composition Tables (2017) showed that the product (100g) was not only had a high level of macronutrients, i.e. energy (3123.6 Kcal), carbohydrate (172.5g), protein (12.24g), fat (4.52g) but also rich in micronutrients like calcium (262.8mg), phosphorus (294.4mg) and iron (6.52mg). The product was packed and stored for 15 days at ambient temperature in an airtight container. At pre-evaluation, all the sensory parameters at the 9-point hedonic rating scale were found to be highly acceptable between 'liked moderately' (rating 8) to 'liked very much. After 15 days of storage, all sensory parameters changed and were lying in-between 'liked slightly' (rating 6) to 'liked moderately' (rating 7). The changes in sensory parameters may be due to the darkening of jaggery and changes in the flavour of the product. Thus, it can be concluded that the development and consumption of novel foods from rice flour in combination with other foods like may banana, jaggery and poppy seeds may provide cost-effective and acceptable options for combating macro and micronutrient deficiencies. Keywords: Rice flour, jaggery, banana, energy dense, mineral profile, sensory evaluation, malnutrition

High protein krill meal as a tool to optimize low cost formulas for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei diets farmed under semi-intensive conditions

ABSTRACT To investigate the potential of high-protein krill meal (HPK) to improve growth in low-cost diets for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), a commercial control and a 3% HPK diet were compared. To simulate a semi-intensive culture system, a total of 4,500 shrimp with a body weight (BW) of 3.07 ± 0.01 g were stocked with 25 animals/m2 in 20 cages in a 2.16-ha pond. After 60 days of rearing, the 3% HPK diet achieved a significantly higher yield (22,094.0 ± 130.35 g/cage) in comparison to the control diet (19,301.6 ± 272.28 g/cage) (P < 0.05). When the feed cost per kg shrimp produced was compared, it was significantly lower in the 3% HPK group (US$1.01/kg shrimp) when compared to the control group (US$1.11/kg shrimp). The results indicate that low feeding cost diets can profit from the partial replacement of fish meal by HPK to optimize shrimp growth performance without increasing formula cost.

Effect of a low cost diet on the cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrosis virus pathogenicity and sterile insect technique

BackgroundMass rearing cost of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the critical methods for the successful utilization of Baculovirus pathogenicity and sterile insect technique (SIT). Effectiveness of both SIT and S. littoralis Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (SpliNPV) was assessed in response to plant-based diet and substitution of agar with commercial sources of gelling components as feed.ResultsPupal and adult recoveries produced by castor bean leaves were significantly high, followed by the agar-based diet. Moreover, larval durations were significantly prolonged for (starch + gelatin)-based diet than the other dietary diets. Obviously, SpliNPV pathogenicity against the larvae reared on (starch + gelatin)-based diet was 2.5 and 2 times higher than those reared on castor leaves and agar-based diet, respectively. Contrary to expectation, the sterility doses of male moths produced by castor leaves and agar-based diet were relatively similar.ConclusionThe findings suggest that the lowest cost diets (starch + gelatin)-based diet could be used effectively for increasing the SpliNPV pathogenicity, while either castor leaves or agar-based diet could be considered as a promising choice for SIT program.

Larval rearing of fringe‐lipped carp,Labeo fimbriatus(Bloch) with low cost diets including green bottle flyLucilia sericata(Meigen) larvae meal incorporated diet

A study was conducted with non-conventional ingredients to test their efficacy as fishmeal (FM) replacers in the diet of fringe- lipped carp. Labeo fimbriatus first feeding larvae and fry were reared for 30 and 60 days in indoor, 50 L, aerated, circular plastic tanks at 100 and 30 numbers tank−1, respectively. In the first feeding larvae to fry rearing experiment (Exp. 1), the fish were fed with either of the following isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets – live plankton, FM diet, green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) larvae meal (GBFLM) diet and silkworm pupa (SWP) diet. The fry to fingerling rearing (Exp. 2), was also conducted using the same diets described above except live plankton. All compounded diets were formulated to contain 40% crude protein for the experiment 1 and 35% for experiment 2 and were fed ad libitum. Triplicate tanks were maintained for each treatment in both the experiments. In Exp. 1, the mean final weight of fry was higher with plankton and FM diets, while no difference (p > .05) was observed between FM and GBFLM diets. Weight of fish fed SWP diets was not statistically different from those fed GBFLM diet. No difference (p > .05) in final length, survival and condition factor was recorded. Analysis of digestive enzyme activity of whole fish revealed lower (p < .05) activity of amylase in fish fed plankton. In Exp. 2, no difference (p > .05) was observed between the different diet groups in terms of mean final weight, length, survival and condition factor. Analysis of digestive enzyme activity of whole fish revealed no difference (p > .05) in the activity of digestive enzymes between the treatments except a lower (p < .05) activity of trypsin in FM diet and lipase in FM and GBFLM diets. Since the survival and condition factors of animals is the most important aspect during nursery rearing, similar (p > .05) values recorded in different treatments indicate the possibility of incorporation of these non-conventional protein sources in the diet of L. fimbriatus during first feeding larvae to fry and fry to fingerling rearing.

Implications of a Soy-Based Diet for Animal Models.

The use of animal models in fundamental or pre-clinical research remains an absolute requirement for understanding human pathologies and developing new drugs. In order to transpose these results into clinical practice, many parameters must be taken into account to limit bias. Attention has recently been focused on the sex, age or even strain of each animal, but the impact of diet has been largely neglected. Soy, which is commonly used in the diet in varying quantities can affect their physiology. In order to assess whether the presence of soy can impact the obtained results, we studied the impact of a soy-based diet versus a soy-free diet, on diastolic function in a rat model based on transgenic overexpression of the β3-adrenergic receptors in the endothelium and characterized by the appearance of diastolic dysfunction with age. Our results show that the onset of diastolic dysfunction is only observed in transgenic male rats fed with a soy-free diet in the long term. Our study highlights the importance of the diet’s choice in the study design process, especially regarding the proportion of soy, to correctly interpret the outcome as low-cost diets are more likely to be highly concentrated in soy.

Evaluation of egg production and egg quality of Sasso and Kuroiler chickens fed three diets at varying levels of supplementation under a semi-intensive system of production in Tanzania

Context Genetically improved chickens raised under a semi-intensive system have been shown to maintain performance in terms of egg production and egg quality by feeding low-cost diets at different levels of supplementation, but reports on the supplementation regimes by using low-cost diets are limited. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation regimes on egg production and egg quality of genetically improved dual-purpose chickens under a semi-intensive system. Methods A total of 480 female chickens aged 20 weeks were randomly assigned to 24 treatment combinations in a 2 × 3 × 4 factorial experiment with two replicates each. The treatments were breeds (Sasso and Kuroiler), diets (D1 – commercial, D2 – medium-cost and D3 – low-cost) and levels of supplementation (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%). Key results The results show that breed, diet and level of dietary supplementation had a significant effect (P &lt; 0.05) on age at first lay and egg production parameters. Sasso chickens showed higher hen-day egg production and hen housed egg production values across all diets and levels of supplementation. Diet and levels of feed supplementation significantly affected egg weight (P &lt; 0.05), with 100% supplementation level resulting in the heaviest eggs and 25% supplementation level resulting in the lightest eggs. All internal egg qualities except Haugh units were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) influenced by the level of supplementation, whereas the effect of diets was only significant (P &lt; 0.05) for a few internal egg quality variables, such as yolk weight and yolk diameter. The cost of production was higher for commercial diet-fed and highly supplemented birds. Conclusion Egg productivity and egg quality traits were significantly improved by breed, diet and higher levels of supplementation. However, less-supplemented (25% and 50%) birds gave numerically higher income over feed compared with those on higher levels of supplementations for the first 20 weeks of production. Implication These findings have the potential to reduce the cost of egg production for dual-purpose improved chicken breeds while maintaining good egg quality under a semi-intensive system of production.

Evaluation of growth performance of Sasso and Kuroiler chickens fed three diets at varying levels of supplementation under semi-intensive system of production in Tanzania.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of breed, diet, and level of feed supplementation on growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and survivability of Sasso and Kuroiler chicken. The study was conducted in two separate phases, i.e., the starter phase (0-6weeks of age) and grower phase (6-20weeks of age). One thousand sixty-day-old Sasso and Kuroiler chicks were raised until 6weeks under intensive management system with three dietary treatments. At the age of 6weeks, a total of 960 birds (480 Sasso and 480 Kuroiler) were randomly selected from each treatment diet and assigned to four feed supplementation levels, i.e., 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% with two replicates each having 20 birds. Beginning week 7, birds were allowed to semi-scavenge from 6:00am in the morning to 6:00pm in the evening with free access to open grass area of 1 bird/4m2. Grower rations based on the three categories, i.e., commercial, medium-cost, and low-cost formulation, were fed from 7th to the 20th week of age. During 0 to 6weeks of the growing phase, the breed and diet significantly (p < 0.05) influenced 6-week live weight, live weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Birds given commercial diet (D1) excelled in live weight, total live weight gains, and feed conversion ratio followed by medium-cost (D2) and low-cost (D3) diet respectively. During the 7th to 20th weeks of the growing phase, the breed, diet, and supplementation levels had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on the live weight and weight gain at 20weeks of age. Feed cost per kilogram gain increased with an increase in the level of supplementation. Days taken by birds to reach market weight (2kg) with 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% level of dietary supplementation were 16, 18, 20, and more than 20weeks respectively. The survival rate for Sasso and Kuroiler was 99.80% and 97.13% respectively. It is concluded that appreciable growth performance can be attained for semi-scavenging Sasso and Kuroiler chickens when supplemented with medium- or low-cost diets at the level of 50 to 75% of their daily feed requirements.

Impact of nutrition interventions and dietary nutrient density on productivity in the workplace.

The global spread of diet-related noncommunicable diseases represents a threat to public health and national economies alike. The elimination of poverty and the eradication of hunger, two key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, cannot be accomplished without a well-nourished labor force. Easy access to low-cost diets that are energy dense but nutrient poor has resulted in hidden hunger, in which micronutrient deficiencies coexist with obesity or overweight. Workplace interventions in low- and middle-income countries have addressed nutrient adequacy and micronutrient deficiencies, often using fortified foods. Workplace interventions in high-income countries have largely focused on weight loss, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and physical activity. Even though improvement of productivity may have been the ultimate goal, relatively few interventions in high-income countries have explored the likely impact of improved dietary nutrient density on workplace performance. Given that optimal nutrition benefits both physical and mental health, interventions to improve diet quality ought to have a measurable impact on the productivity of the labor force. The present review examines the evidence linking workplace dietary interventions with workplace productivity measures.

America’s “Thrifty Food Plan”: Hunger, Mathematics, and the Valuation of Nutrition Assistance

The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) determines maximum entitlements (i.e., food stamp allotments) for participants of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); it was last modified in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP). The TFP is a low-cost diet generated from a geometric program that incorporates data on current consumption patterns, federal nutritional and dietary guidelines, nutrient profiles of food groups, food prices, and predetermined budgets for seventeen age–sex groups. Scholars have previously critiqued the TFP for excluding labor time, underestimating household food waste, and ignoring geographical variation in food prices. In this article, I apply literatures from critical food studies and political economy of food to further deconstruct the TFP data and geometric program. I argue that the TFP reifies an industrial neoliberal capitalist valuation of food via federal dietary guidelines and relative price data. Moreover, the CNPP’s use of current consumption data as a proxy for palatability works to naturalize and depoliticize the structural and social inequalities of national and global food systems. Finally, a critical evaluation of the TFP mathematics reveals an unstable geometric program that requires multiple subjective manipulations to solve. This analysis shows that the TFP calculation reproduces a food budget insufficient for SNAP households to procure nutritious, culturally appropriate diets, essentially doing work to perpetuate hunger and poverty in the United States. I offer recommendations for changing this national valuation of food and nutrition assistance. Key Words: EBT, food justice, food security, food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.