ME Content Research Articles

Dietary energy sources affect the partition of body lipids and the hierarchy of energy metabolic pathways in growing pigs differing in feed efficiency1,2

The use and partition of feed energy are key elements in productive efficiency of pigs. This study aimed to determine whether dietary energy sources affect the partition of body lipids and tissue biochemical pathways of energy use between pigs differing in feed efficiency. Forty-eight barrows (pure Large White) from two divergent lines selected for residual feed intake (RFI), a measure of feed efficiency, were compared. From 74 d to 132 ± 0.5 d of age, pigs (n = 12 by line and by diet) were offered diets with equal protein and ME contents. A low fat, low fiber diet (LF) based on cereals and a high fat, high fiber diet (HF) where vegetal oils and wheat straw were used to partially substitute cereals, were compared. Irrespective of diet, gain to feed was 10% better (P < 0.001), and carcass yield was greater (+2.3%; P < 0.001) in the low RFI compared with the high RFI line; the most-efficient line was also leaner (+3.2% for loin proportion in the carcass, P < 0.001). In both lines, ADFI and ADG were lower when pigs were fed the HF diet (-12.3% and -15%, respectively, relatively to LF diet; P < 0.001). Feeding the HF diet reduced the perirenal fat weight and backfat proportion in the carcass to the same extent in both lines (-27% on average; P < 0.05). Lipid contents in backfat and LM also declined (-5% and -19%, respectively; P < 0.05) in pigs offered the HF diet. The proportion of saturated fatty acids (FA) was lower, but the percentage of PUFA, especially the EFA C18:2 and C18:3, was greater (P < 0.001) in backfat of HF-fed pigs. In both lines, these changes were associated with a marked decrease (P < 0.001) in the activities of two lipogenic enzymes, the fatty acid synthase (FASN) and the malic enzyme, in backfat. For the high RFI line, the hepatic lipid content was greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the HF diet than in pigs fed the LF diet, despite a reduced FASN activity (-32%; P < 0.001). In both lines, the HF diet also led to lower glycogen content (-70%) and lower glucokinase activity (-15%; P < 0.05) in the liver. These results show that dietary energy sources modified the partition of energy between liver, adipose tissue, and muscle in a way that was partly dependent of the genetics for feed efficiency, and changed the activity levels of biochemical pathways involved in lipid and glucose storage in tissues.

Energy concentration and amino acid digestibility in corn and corn coproducts from the wet-milling industry fed to growing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine DE and ME and the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and AA in corn and corn coproducts (high-fat corn germ [HFCG], corn bran, liquid corn extractives [LCE], and a mixture of corn germ meal and LCE [CGM-LCE]) fed to growing pigs. In Exp. 1, 40 growing barrows (initial BW: 33.4 ± 5.77 kg) were housed individually in metabolism cages and randomly allotted to 1 of 5 diets. A corn-based diet (97.4% corn) and 4 diets that contained both corn and each of the corn coproducts were formulated. Each diet was fed to 8 pigs. Feces and urine samples were collected using the marker to marker method with 5-d adaptation and 5-d collection periods. The DE and ME were calculated using the difference procedure. The concentrations of DE and ME in HFCG, corn bran, LCE, and CGM-LCE were less (P < 0.05) than in corn. Among corn coproducts, the concentration of DE in HFCG was greater (P < 0.05) than in corn bran, but the DE in corn bran was not different from DE values in LCE and CGM-LCE. No differences were observed in the ME concentrations among corn coproducts. In Exp. 2, 6 growing barrows (initial BW: 96.6 ± 1.16 kg) with a T-cannula in the distal ileum were randomly allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 diets and 6 periods. A N-free diet and 5 diets that contained corn, HFCG, corn bran, LCE, or CGM-LCE as the sole source of CP and AA were formulated. Each period lasted 7 d and ileal digesta were collected on d 6 and 7 of each period. The SID of CP and all indispensable AA was greater (P < 0.05) in corn than in all corn coproducts with the exception that the SID of Lys in corn was not different from the SID of Lys in HFCG, and the SID of Trp in corn was also not different from the SID of Trp in CGM-LCE. Among corn coproducts, the SID of CP, Arg, and Lys were greater (P < 0.05) in HFCG and CGM-LCE than in corn bran, the SID of Lys and Val was greater (P < 0.05) in LCE than in corn bran, and the SID of Arg was greater (P < 0.05) in HFCG and CGM-LCE than in LCE, but for the remaining indispensable AA, no differences among corn coproducts were observed. In conclusion, the corn coproducts used in these experiments contain less ME and have reduced SID of most AA compared with corn, but there are no differences in ME among corn coproducts and only few differences in the SID of indispensable AA among HFCG, corn bran, LCE, and CGM-LCE.

Influence of thermally oxidized vegetable oils and animal fats on energy and nutrient digestibility in young pigs.

A total of 108 barrows (6.67 ± 0.03 kg BW) were assigned to 12 dietary treatments in a 4 × 3 factorial design plus a corn-soybean meal control diet to evaluate the effect of lipid source and peroxidation level on DE, ME, and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, GE, ether extract (EE), N, and C in young pigs. Main effects were lipid source (corn oil [CN], canola oil [CA], poultry fat [PF], and tallow [TL]) and peroxidation level (original lipids [OL], slow oxidation [SO] of lipids heated for 72 h at 95°C, or rapid oxidation [RO] of lipids heated for 7 h at 185°C). Pigs were provided ad libitum access to diets for 28 d followed by an 8-d period of controlled feed intake equivalent to 4% BW daily. Diets were formulated based on the ME content of CA with the standardized ileal digestible Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, total Ca, and available P:ME balanced relative to NRC (1998) recommendations. Lipid peroxidation analysis indicated that compared with the OL, SO and RO had a markedly increased concentrations of lipid peroxidation products, and the increase of peroxidation products in CN and CA were greater than those in PF and TL. Addition of lipids to diets increased (P < 0.05) ATTD of EE and tended to improve (P = 0.06) ATTD of GE compared with pigs fed the control diet. Feeding CN or CA increased (P < 0.05) ATTD of DM, GE, EE, N, and C compared with feeding TL, while feeding PF improved (P < 0.05) ATTD of GE and EE and tended to increase (P = 0.06) ATTD of C compared with TL. Pigs fed CN had increased (P = 0.05) percentage N retention than pigs fed TL. No peroxidation level effect or interaction between lipid source and peroxidation level on DE and ME was observed. Lipid source tended (P = 0.08) to affect DE but not ME values of experimental lipids (P > 0.12). Digestible energy values for CA (8,846, 8,682, and 8,668 kcal/kg) and CN (8,867, 8,648, and 8,725 kcal/kg) were about 450 kcal/kg greater than that of TL (8,316, 8,168, and 8,296 kcal/kg), with PF being intermediate (8,519, 8,274, and 8,511 kcal/kg), for OL, SO, and RO lipids, respectively, respectively. In conclusion, lipid source affected ATTD of dietary DM, GE, EE, N, and C, and N retention and tended to influence the DE value of the lipid but did not significantly affect their ME value. Rapid and slow heating of lipids used in this study increased lipid peroxidation products but had no detectable effects on nutrient and energy digestibility as well as DE and ME values of the various lipids.

Involvement of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in desensitisation of µ-opioid receptors in the rat locus coeruleus.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been recently shown to enhance µ-opioid receptor (MOR) desensitisation in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. The aim of this study was to evaluate by single-unit extracellular recordings in rat brain slices whether the neuronal NO synthase is involved in MOR desensitisation in LC neurons. As expected, a high concentration of the opioid agonist Met(5)-enkephalin (ME; 10 µM, 10 min) strongly desensitised the inhibition induced by a test application of ME (0.8 µM, 1 min), whereas lower ME concentrations (1 and 3 µM) only weakly desensitised it. The neuronal NO synthase inhibitors 7-nitroindazole (10-100 µM), S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (0.01-10 µM) and N(ω)-propyl-L-arginine (1-10 µM) attenuated ME (10 µM)-induced opioid desensitisation, although the endothelial NO synthase inhibitor N(5)-(1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine (3-30 µM) failed to change it. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside (1 mM), but not its inactive analog potassium ferricyanide (1 mM), enhanced the ME (3 µM)-induced desensitisation and prevented the effect of S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (10 µM). Sodium nitroprusside (1 mM) failed to change the desensitisation of α2-adrenoceptors by noradrenaline (100 µM, 10 min). These results suggest the contribution of NO and a neuronal type of NO synthase in homologous MOR desensitisation in rat LC neurons.

Using a computer-controlled simulated digestion system to predict the energetic value of corn for ducks

Two experiments were conducted to develop a computer-controlled digestion system to simulate the digestion process of duck for predicting the concentration of ME and the metabolizability of gross energy (GE) in corn. In a calibration experiment, 30 corn-based calibration samples with a previously published ME concentration in 2008 were used to develop the prediction models for in vivo energetic values. The linear relationships were established between in vivo ME concentration and in vitro digestible energy (IVDE) concentration, and between in vivo metabolizability of GE (ME/GE) and in vitro digestibility of GE (IVDE/GE), respectively. In a validation experiment, 6 sources of corn with previously published ME concentration in 2008 randomly selected from the primary corn-growing regions of China were used to validate the prediction models established in the calibration experiment. The results showed that in calibration samples, the IVDE concentration was positively correlated with the AME (r = 0.9419), AMEn (r = 0.9480), TME (r = 0.9403), and TMEn concentration (r = 0.9473). Similarly, the IVDE/GE was positively correlated with the AME/GE (r = 0.95987), AMEn/GE (r = 0.9641), TME/GE (r = 0.9588), and TMEn/GE (r = 0.9637). The coefficient of determination greater than 0.88 and 0.91, and residual SD less than 45 kcal/kg of DM and 1.01% were observed in the prediction models for ME concentrations and ME/GE, respectively. Twenty-nine out of 30 calibration samples showed differences less than 100 kcal/kg of DM and 2.4% between determined and predicted values for 4 ME (AME, AMEn, TME, and TMEn) and for 4 ME/GE (AME/GE, AMEn/GE, TME/GE, and TMEn/GE), respectively. Using prediction models developed from 30 calibration samples, 6 validation samples further showed differences less than 100 kcal/kg of DM and 2% between determined and predicted values for ME and ME/GE, respectively. Therefore, the computer-controlled simulated digestion system can be used to predict the ME and ME/GE of corn for ducks with acceptable accuracy.

Hacia los orígenes de la concentración mediática en Argentina

Este artículo se propone examinar críticamente los inicios del proceso de concentración mediática en Argentina, por medio del estudio de las políticas de comunicación implementadas en el marco de la adopción del modelo económico neoliberal. Para ello se realiza un análisis de la conformación accionaria y de la evolución en términos de facturación y ranking empresarial de los grupos mediáticos que obtuvieron las licencias de los canales de televisión abierta de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires tras su paso a manos privadas. Se evalúa en qué medida las características particulares de esta privatización redundaron en beneficios económicos para las empresas adjudicatarias e influyeron en la configuración del mapa de medios argentino.

Effect of nutrients level and source on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, rumen profile, blood metabolites and growth in Bhadawari buffalo female calves

In a nutritional experiment 15 Bhadawari female calves (77.47±6.92 kg; 11.0 months age) divided equally into 3 dietary groups (G1, G2 and G3) were fed wheat straw- berseem- concentrate mixture (CM) based diets to evaluate the response of dietary protein and energy concentrations on intake, nutrients digestibility, rumen metabolites and growth. Calves in G1 were offered were offered wheat straw, berseem and concentrate mixture to meet protein and energy requirements (ICAR 1985), while in G2 and G3 calves were given 25% less nutrients than G1. In G2 50% of CM was replaced with green berseem, while in G3 100% of CM was replaced with berseem and given 500 g maize grain as energy source. In G1, G2 and G3 protein was met through CM: berseem (75: 25), CM: berseem (50: 50) and berseem (100%), respectively. DMI (g/kg w 0.75) was 86.97, 77.47 and 79.18 in G1, G2 and G3, respectively. DM, CP, NDF, ADF and cellulose digestibility of calves on different diets was similar. Nitrogen metabolites concentration in rumen liquor of calves was higher in G1 than G2 and G3, while TVFA concentration was 100.0, 110.0 and 90.0 meq/l in G1, G2 and G3, respectively. Total protozoa counts were comparable, while sporangia counts in rumen liquor of buffalo calves were higher in G1 than G3. Blood glucose, protein and urea were similar in calves of all the groups. Calves growth rate was higher in G1 than G2 and G3. Dietary DCP and ME contents were similar, while feed and nutrients conversion ratio for body weight gain was relatively lower for G1 than other dietary groups. Study showed that there was no significant effect of levels and sources of nutrients from the present diets on calves’ intake, nutrients digestibility and growth rate, however rumen liquor N contents and, sporangia counts - were higher in G1 than G2 and G3 groups.

Effect of graded inclusion of dietary soybean meal on nutrient digestibility, health, and metabolic indices of adult dogs1

Two studies were conducted using adult dogs to evaluate the effect of increasing the inclusion of soybean meal (SBM) in an adult dog food on body composition, hematological and biochemical blood analyses, and total tract nutrient digestibility. Nutritionally complete and balanced diets were formulated with commercial-grade SBM (48% CP) to replace 0, 10, 20, or 30% of the protein provided by dried chicken protein resulting in final SBM inclusion of 0, 6.0, 11.5, and 17.0% (as-fed basis), respectively. In study 1, diets were fed during a 24-wk feeding trial using 36 female (spayed), adult hounds to evaluate food intake, BW, body composition, and blood measurements. There were no diet-related differences in food intake or BW. Body composition responded in a quadratic manner to increased dietary SBM inclusion with the percentage (%) of lean mass responding positively (P < 0.05) and absolute amounts of fat mass and percent body fat responding negatively (P < 0.05). All diagnostic blood components remained within normal physiological ranges for healthy, adult dogs. Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein and IGF-1 were similar among diets. In study 2, diets were evaluated in a digestibility study using 12 adult dogs in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Increased SBM inclusion was associated with linear increases in the digestibility of CP (P < 0.05) and fat (P < 0.05) and CP retention (P < 0.05). Linear reductions in fecal DM content (P < 0.01) and increased fecal output (P < 0.05) were noted with increased SBM inclusion. All diets were similar in DE and ME content, but a quadratic trend was noted with increased SBM inclusion when DE (P = 0.083) and ME (P = 0.062) were expressed per unit of metabolic body size. Overall, it can be inferred from these results that the partial replacement of dried chicken protein with SBM in a nutritionally complete and balanced diet does not compromise the nutritional status and long-term health of adult dogs.

Application of Central Composite Design to evaluate the antilisterial activity of hydro-alcohol berry extract of Myrtus communis L.

The antimicrobial activity of the hydro-alcohol extract of Myrtus communis L. (ME) berries was investigated against six Listeria monocytogenes strains (2 type strains and 4 isolates). Sub-lethal ME concentrations reduced L. monocytogenes counts by at least 2 log cycles. A Central Composite Design was used to investigate the combined effects of sub-lethal concentrations of ME (0.039–0.195 mL/100 mL), NaCl (0–2.0 g/100 mL) and pH (5.0–7.0) on strains growth. ME affected growth parameters, generally extending lag phase length and reducing maximum growth, sometimes with interactive effects with pH. The highest ME concentrations (0.117–0.195 mL/100 mL) combined with the lowest pH values (5.0–6.0) strongly reduced or even inhibited strains growth.Total phenolic content (TPC) and radical scavenging activity were also determined. ME had a TPC of 5315 ± 20 mg/kg of gallic acid equivalent, and malvidin-3-O-glucoside was the most abundant anthocyanin. In vitro radical scavenging activity, determined by TEAC assay, was stable during 70 days of refrigerated storage.In conclusion, low ME concentrations, combined with salt and pH, were effective in reducing or containing cell growth. This antilisterial effect has interesting perspectives on industrial application; ME hydro-solubility can be considered a useful feature when antilisterial strategies are applied in food formulation.

The effect of dietary lipid saturation and antioxidant source on the nutrient digestibility of lamb finishing diets

The influence of a synthetic or natural antioxidant and lipid saturation on the apparent digestibility of nutrients in a standard lamb finishing diet was investigated. The four dietary treatments consisted of the same basal diet, providing 187 g CP-, 355 g NDF- and 71 g EE per kg DM, but differing in supplemental lipid source (30 g/kg of either saturated beef tallow or unsaturated soybean oil) and type of antioxidant included (125 g/ton of either a synthetic or natural antioxidant). The digestibility study was conducted over a period of 12 days (including a 4-day adaptation to the faecal collection bags). Twenty-eight S.A. Mutton Merino lambs (45.1 ± 3.0 kg) were randomly allocated to the four dietary treatments (n = 7 lambs/treatment). Composite feed, feed refusal and faecal samples of individually penned lambs were collected for chemical analysis. The apparent digestibility coefficients, digestible nutrient and available energy content were calculated accordingly. The DMI of the lambs did not differ significantly between the various experimental diets. The inclusion of unsaturated soybean oil reduced the apparent digestibility of NDF in the diet. The apparent digestibility of NDF seems to be higher when a natural antioxidant was included in the diet. The comparatively negative effects of the unsaturated lipid source and synthetic antioxidant on the apparent digestibility of NDF were associated with a significantly lower digestible NDF content in the experimental diet. Accordingly, soybean oil resulted in a significantly lower ME content in the diet. However, estimating ME from DE with a constant factor of 0.8 probably underestimates the ME content of diets supplemented with lipids rich in unsaturated fatty acids. The latter are known to reduce methane production, and hence, energy losses.Keywords: Beef tallow, fatty acid, flavonoid, methane, soybean oil

Energy efficiency of growing ram lambs fed concentrate-based diets with different roughage sources

Poor-quality roughages are widely used as fiber sources in concentrate-based diets for ruminants. Because roughage quality is associated with the efficiency of energy use in forage-based diets, the objective of this study was to determine whether differing the roughage source in concentrate-based diets could change the energy requirements of growing lambs. Eighty-four 1/2 Dorper × 1/2 Santa Inês ram lambs (18.0 ± 3.3 kg BW) were individually penned and divided into 2 groups according to primary source of dietary roughage: low-quality roughage (LQR; sugarcane bagasse) or medium-quality roughage (MQR; coastcross hay). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (2.6% N) and to meet 20% of physically effective NDF. After a 10-d ad libitum adaptation period, 7 lambs from each group were randomly selected and slaughtered (baseline). Twenty-one lambs in each diet group were fed ad libitum and slaughtered at 25, 35, or 45 kg BW. The remaining 28 lambs (14 from each diet group) were submitted to 1 of 2 levels of feed restriction: 70% or 50% of the ad libitum intake. Retentions of body fat, N, and energy were determined. Additionally, 6 ram lambs (44.3 ± 5.6 kg BW) were kept in metabolic cages and used in a 6 × 6 Latin square experiment designed to establish the ME content of the 2 diets at the 3 levels of DM intake. There was no effect of intake level on diet ME content, but it was greater in the diet with LQR than in the diet with MQR (3.18 vs. 2.94 Mcal/kg, respectively; P < 0.01). Lambs fed the diet with LQR had greater body fat (g/kg of empty BW) and energy concentrations (kcal/kg of empty BW) because of a larger visceral fat deposition (P < 0.05). Using a low-quality roughage as a primary source of forage in a concentrate-based diet for growing lambs did not change NEm and the efficiency of ME use for maintenance, which averaged 71.6 kcal/kg(0.75) of shrunk BW and 0.63, respectively. On the other hand, the greater nonfibrous carbohydrate content of the diet with LQR resulted in a 17% better efficiency of ME use for gain (P < 0.01), which was associated with a greater partial efficiency of energy retention as fat (P < 0.01). This increased nutritional efficiency, however, should be viewed with caution because it is related to visceral fat deposition, a nonedible tissue.

Comparison of Energy Estimates of Mixed Diets Obtained from RIVGPT and in-vivo Digestibility Trials in Lactating Cows

To compare the energy estimates of mixed diets obtained from rumen in vitro incubation for gas production (RIVIGP) and digestion trial (DT) in lactating cows, six cows in mid lactation were divided in to three groups of two each. Three mixed diets were prepared by using finger millet straw (FMS) and concentrate supplements (CS) in the ratio of 41:59 (Diet-1&3) and 43:57 (Diet-2). These diets were tested in three periods in a switch over design. Each period lasted for four weeks with an adjustment period of three weeks and digestion trial for one week. The metabolisable energy (ME, MJ kg-1 DM) content of FMS was 6.6 and CS ranged from 10.5 to 11.4. The ME content of mixed diets at maintenance level of intake obtained by DT for diets-1,2 and 3 were 9.3, 9.7 and 9.5 MJ/kg DM respectively. The corresponding ME values obtained from RIVIGP were 8.9, 9.3 and 9.4 respectively. The mean ME output (Maintenance + 4%FCM yield + weight gain) for the diets-1,2 and 3 were 104.9, 112.3 and 106.9 MJ/d respectively. The ME intake estimated from ME obtained from DT and RIVIGP for the diets-1,2 and 3 were 107.7 and 111.9; 116.6 and 116.9; 103.1 and 110.2 respectively. Hence, the observed performance of growing ram lambs expressed in terms of the total ME output was accountable to the extent of 99.5 and 95.4% of ME intake estimates obtained from ME values derived by DT and RIVIGP respectively.

Evaluation of Dual-purpose Sorghum Hybrids for Nutritional Quality, Energetic Efficiency and Methane Emission

Present study evaluated 25 dual-purpose sorghum hybrids for their nutrient contents, in sacco DM digestibility, nutritive value and methane emission potential. The CP, OM, EE, NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin contents of the hybrids differed significantly (P<0.05) and mean values were 99.0, 924, 15.0, 604, 334, 264 and 42.5 g kg−1 DM, respectively. Carbohydrate content and its fraction varied across the hybrids significantly (P<0.05). The hybrids differed (P<0.05) in terms of DM intake (DMI), leaf to stem ratio and digestible DM (DDM) with the values ranging between 1.78 to 2.32%, 11:89 to 26:74 and 59.4 to 67.2%, respectively. In sacco degradability of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF and cellulose varied (P<0.05) amongst the hybrids. Relative feed value (RFV) and TDN varied (P<0.05) from 81.9 and 55.7 for the hybrid 716A x NTI-2 to 120 and 67.9% for 685A x ICSR89 hybrid. The hybrids differed (P<0.05) in their DE and ME contents with the mean values being 12.2 and 10.0 kJ g−1 DM, respectively. Net energy efficiency for maintenance (NEm), lactation (NEl) and growth (NEg) of tested hybrids differed and ranged between 5.52 to 7.11, 5.19 to 6.53 and 2.51 to 4.10 kJ g−1 DM, respectively. The methane production varied (P<0.05) significantly and ranged from 45.8 to 82.1 g kg−1 DDM. Male sterile lines viz. 686A, 685A and 716A resulted in higher values for CP, nutrient degradability, DMI and RFV in their respective hybrids. Results indicated that hybrids 686A x IS 697, 685A x ICSR 89 and 685A x GP 65072 are nutritionally superior with low to moderate methane production potential.

A Comparison of Various Energy and Protein Concentrations in Diets on the Performance, Bone Mineral Density and Blood Characteristics of Broiler Chicks

본 실험은 육계의 서로 다른 농도의 에너지와 단백질이 생산성과 혈액성상 및 BMD에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 두 차례 실시하였다. 실험 1에서 총 480수의 Ross <TEX>${\times}$</TEX> Ross 병아리를 무작위로 6처리구(5반복; 16수/펜)로 나누어 배치하였다. 처리구는 사료 내 ME는 3,000, 3,100, 3,200 kcal/kg 수준으로 하였고 CP는 초기 22, 23%, 전기 20, 21%, 후기 18, 19% 수준으로 하였다. 실험 2에서는 실험 1과 유사하게 병아리와 CP를 적용하였으며, 사료 내 ME 수준을 변형하였다(초기 : 3,000, 3,050, 3,100 kcal/kg, 전기 : 3,050, 3,100, 3,150 kcal/kg, 후기 : 3,100, 3,150, 3,200 kcal/kg). 두 실험에서 처리구당 10수씩 혈액과 경골 샘플을 채취하였고, 혈액성상과 BMD를 분석하였다. 실험 1에서 증체량과 사료섭취량은 3,000 kcal/kg의 에너지를 급여한 처리구에서 증가되었다(P<0.05). 혈청 총 단백질과 albumin 농도는 CP의 수준이 증가함에 따라 수치적으로 증가하였다. 총 콜레스테롤과 HDL의 함유량은 에너지 함유량의 증가에 따라 수치적으로 증가하였다. 실험 2에서 증체량은 일관되게 에너지와 단백질 수준의 증가에 따라 수치적으로 증가하였다(초기 <TEX>$3,000{\t</TEX><TEX>imes}23$</TEX>, 전기 <TEX>$3,050{\times}21$</TEX>, 후기 3,100 kcal/kg ME와 19% CP). 혈청 glucose 수준은 에너지 수준이 높아짐에 따라 증가됐다(P<0.05). 따라서 혈청 총 단백질, albumin, triglycerides, 총 콜레스테롤 그리고 HDL 함유량은 사료 에너지 증가에 따라 증가하는 경향이 있다. Two experiments were conducted separately with different concentration of dietary energy and protein to evaluate the performance, blood characteristics and bone mineral density (BMD) of broiler chicks. In experimentr 1, a total of 480 heads one-day-old Ross <TEX>${\times}$</TEX> Ross broiler chicks were randomly divided into 6 treatments (5 replications; 16 birds/pen). Three concentration of ME (3,000, 3,100 and 3,200 kcal/kg) and two of CP (pre-starter 22, 23%, starter 20, 21% and finisher 18, 19%) in a <TEX>$3{\times}2$</TEX> factorial arrangement of treatments were used. In experiment 2, similar chicks and CP concentration was used but ME concentration was changed (pre-starter; 3,000, 3,050 and 3,100 kcal/kg, starter; 3,050, 3,100 and 3,150 kcal/kg, finisher; 3,100, 3,150 and 3,200 kcal/kg) in the diet. In both experiments, 10 blood and tibia samples were collected per treatment and blood characteristics and BMD were analyzed. In experiment 1, weight gain and feed intake were increased by the 3,000 kcal/kg ME in the diet (P<0.05). Serum total protein and albumin levels were increased numerically with the level of CP in the diet. Total cholesterol and HDL content were increased numerically with the energy content in the diet. Consistently in experiment 2, weight gain was increased numerically by the energy and protein level (prestarter <TEX>$3,000{\times}23$</TEX>, starter <TEX>$3,050{\times}21$</TEX> and finisher 3,100 kcal/kg ME and 19% CP) in the diet. Serum glucose level was increased with the energy level in the diet (P<0.05). Therefore, serum total protein, albumin, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL contents were tended to increase with the energy increments in the diet.

Oxidative stability of the meat of broilers supplemented with rosemary leaves, rosehip fruits, chokeberry pomace, and entire nettle, and effects on performance and meat quality

Prevention of lipid oxidation needs special attention because a high proportion of fatty acids in broiler meat are unsaturated. A feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant effect of dietary addition of rosemary, chokeberry pomace, rosehip, or nettle in comparison with vitamin E. Male Ross PM3 broilers caged in groups of 6 (4 replicated cages per treatment) were fed a balanced diet supplemented with 25 g/kg of herbal additive, 200 IU of α-tocopheryl acetate/kg, or without supplementation from d 7 to 35. Intake, performance, and with the help of excreta samples, apparent fiber digestibility, ME content, and metabolizability of nitrogen and energy were recorded per cage. Feed was analyzed for total phenols and tocopherols. In each bird (n = 24 per treatment), carcass weight and relative organ weights were recorded, and skin and liver color were assessed. Abdominal fat was analyzed for induction time (h) of lipid oxidation (Rancimat). Breast meat was analyzed for total tocopherol content (mg/kg) and development of TBA reactive substances (TBARS; μg of MDA/kg) over 9 d of storage. Data were subjected to ANOVA considering treatment and, where applicable, storage time. Rosemary supplementation reduced oxidation (TBARS d 9: 201; induction time: 2.48) and elevated tocopherol content (5.72) of the meat compared with control (470, 1.87, and 3.53, respectively). Rosemary-treated birds had a slightly lower carcass weight and a reduced nitrogen and energy metabolizability. Rosehip addition numerically decreased TBARS (319) and enhanced carcass weight (1.71 kg) compared with rosemary-treated birds (1.54 kg). Only a trend in antioxidant activity could be ascribed to chokeberry pomace, although dietary phenolic content was highest. Nettle did not improve oxidative stability (TBARS: 506; induction time: 1.91), although tocopherol content was elevated (6.51). Nettle treatment strongly intensified skin yellowness (b* of 20.6) compared with the control treatment (10.8). Clearly, rosemary is the most suitable dietary antioxidant investigated in this study, yet chokeberry and rosehip also exhibited interesting properties.

Using complete diet and Sibbald methods to determine the metabolizable energy of 5 Iranian wheat varieties

SUMMARY To determine the ME contents of 5 Iranian wheat varieties (Alvand, Zarrin, Sabalan, Sardari, and Azar2), 2 experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, the AMEn content of 5 wheat varieties was determined by complete diet method containing 62.06% of a test cereal grain (with or without an appropriate commercial enzyme). Diets were consumed ad libitum by sixty 21-d-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks. The AMEn values (kilocalories per kilogram of cereal grain, DM basis) were determined from gross energy of diet and collected excreta during 56 h at the end of the experiment. In experiment 2, 36 adult roosters were used to determine the TMEn content of the varieties by the precision feeding method. The AMEn content was not significantly affected by varieties. The AMEn of wheat varieties without enzyme supplementation varied from 3,120 to 3,191 kcal/kg. The AMEn was significantly affected by enzyme supplementation. Enzyme addition produced an average increase of 11.45% AMEn content of wheat varieties. The TMEn of wheat varieties varied from 3,788 (Sabalan variety) to 3,947 kcal/kg (Zarrin variety), and TMEn content was affected significantly by wheat varieties. Strong correlation was seen between broiler chick performance and AMEn of wheat varieties that determinate with the complete diet method in wheat-based diets. It is suggested that the AMEn obtained from the complete diet method should be applied in young broiler diets formulation.

Phosphorus digestibility and concentration of digestible and metabolizable energy in corn, corn coproducts, and bakery meal fed to growing pigs1

Two experiments were conducted to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P and the concentration of DE and ME in corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, and corn germ meal fed to growing pigs. In Exp. 1, 84 barrows (initial BW: 13.7±2.3 kg) were placed in metabolism cages and allotted to 14 diets with 6 replicate pigs per diet in a randomized complete block design. Seven diets were formulated to contain corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, DDGS, corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, or corn germ meal as the sole source of P. Seven additional diets were similar to the initial 7 diets with the exception that 600 units of microbial phytase was included in each diet. The STTD of P was greater (P<0.05) in DDGS, corn gluten meal, and corn gluten feed than in corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, and corn germ meal, and the STTD of P was also greater (P<0.05) in bakery meal than in corn and hominy feed. Addition of phytase increased (P<0.05) the STTD of P in corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, and corn germ meal but not in corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, or DDGS. In Exp. 2, 56 barrows (initial BW: 14.6±2.2 kg) were placed in metabolism cages and allotted to 7 diets with 8 replicate pigs per diet in a randomized complete block design. A corn-based diet consisting of 97.5% corn and vitamins and minerals was formulated. Four additional diets were formulated by mixing corn and DDGS, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, or corn germ meal, and 2 diets were based on hominy feed or bakery meal. The concentration of ME was 3,891, 3,675, 3,655, 3,694, 4,400, 3,169, and 3,150 kcal/kg DM in corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, DDGS, corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, and corn germ meal, respectively. The ME (DM basis) in corn was greater (P<0.05) than in hominy feed, bakery meal, corn gluten feed, and corn germ meal, but less (P<0.05) than in corn gluten meal, and the ME in hominy feed, bakery meal, and DDGS was greater (P<0.05) than in corn gluten feed and corn germ meal. In conclusion, DDGS, corn gluten meal, and corn gluten feed have a greater STTD of P than corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, and corn germ meal, but phytase can be included in diets containing corn, hominy feed, bakery meal, and corn germ meal to improve P digestibility. The ME in corn gluten meal is greater than in bakery meal, corn, and other corn coproducts.

Effects of single cell protein replacing fish meal in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the ME value, standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) of fish meal, and the effects of single cell protein (Prosin and Protide) replacing fish meal in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned piglets. In Exp. 1, twenty-four barrows with initial BW of 30.8±2.6 kg were allotted to one of four dietary treatments. Diet 1 contained corn as the only energy source. The other three diets replaced 20% of the corn in diet 1 with one of the three protein feeds (fish meal, Prosin and Protide), and the DE and ME contents were determined by difference. In Exp. 2, eight barrows (initial BW of 25.6±3.2 kg) were fitted with ileal T-cannulas and allotted to a replicated 4×4 Latin square design. Three cornstarch-based diets were formulated using each of the protein feeds as the sole source of AA. A nitrogen-free diet was also formulated to measure endogenous losses of AA. In Exp. 3, one hundred and eighty piglets (initial BW of 7.95±1.59 kg) weaned at 28±2 d were blocked by weight and assigned to one of five treatments for a 28-d growth performance study, each treatment was fed to six pens with six pigs (three barrows and three gilts) per pen. The five treatments consisted of the control group (CON), which was a corn-soybean meal diet containing 5% fish meal, and the other four treatments, which replaced a set amount of fish meal with either Prosin (2.5% or 5%) or Protide (2.5% or 5%). The diets were formulated to provide same nutrient levels. The results showed that on a DM basis, both of the DE and ME contents were lower in Prosin and Protide than that of fish meal (p<0.05). The SID of CP and all essential AA were greater in fish meal than in Prosin and Protide (p<0.05). The pigs fed CON diet had greater weight gain and lower feed conversion rate (FCR) than pigs fed 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets (p<0.05). The digestibility of CP was greater in pigs fed CON, 2.5% Prosin and 2.5% Protide diets than the pigs fed 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets (p<0.05). Villus height in jejunum and ileum, and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum were higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed CON, 2.5% Prosin and 2.5% Protide diets compared with the 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets. Pigs fed CON diet had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum than the pigs fed 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets (p<0.05). In conclusion, although Prosin and Protide contained lower ME content and SID of AA than fish meal, Prosin and Protide replacing 50% of fish meal in diet with identical nutrient levels could obtain similar performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs.

Intracoronary injection of encapsulated antagomir-92a promotes angiogenesis and prevents adverse infarct remodeling in a pig model of myocardial infarction

Background: Intravenous antagomir-92a based-therapy enhanced neoangiogenesis and improved left ventricular contractility in a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction (MI), but its effect on postMI remodeling is unknown and clinical translation limited by the need of repeated administration and potential systemic adverse effects (AE). We investigated whether a single intracoronary administration of antagomir-92a encapsulated in microspheres (Antag92aME) could prevent deleterious myocardial remodeling one month (1mo) after MI. Methods and results: We developed poly-d,-lactide-co-glycolide 9 μm ME with 7-10% loads of 3 mg Antag92a. In a first phase, ME were injected in the LAD coronary artery of healthy pigs. Repetitive injections to a total dose of 240 mg were used (n=3) to rule out persistent effects in myocardial contraction (intramyocardial piezoelectric crystals), LAD flow (Doppler probe) or necrosis (histology), and fluorescence labeled ME injection (n=4) showed no ME content in myocardium outside the LAD territory or in lung, spleen or liver (fluorescence microscopy). Finally, miR-92a expression was quantified by RT-PCR in 3 pigs euthanized at 1, 3 and 10 days after Antag92aME injection demonstrating local and sustained miR-92a inhibition (> 8x and >4x fold at 1 and 10 days). In a second phase, MI was induced inflating a 2.5/12 mm balloon (49 min) in LAD of 27 closed-chest minipigs, randomly to blind receive Antag92aME, placeboME or saline administration, 5 minutes after reperfusion. Intravascular echocardiography was performed during ischemia, reperfusion and repeated 1mo later immediately before the animals were euthanized and the hearts excised, ex-vivo MRI was performed (maximum necrotic wall thickness (Tmax), largest diameter (D) between remodeled and contralateral wall (DR) and its largest perpendicular D between unaffected walls (DN) were measured in short-axis transverse ventricular slices) and ventricle histologic sections were obtained. Mortality was 23% (1, 2, 3 died in Antag92aME, placeboME and saline). Antag92aME induced vessel growth (161.57±58.71 vessels/cm2, 68.49±23.56, 73.91±24.97; p=0.001) reduced regional wall motion dysfunction (28.6% and 76.9% of dyskinesia in treated vs non-treated p=0.03) and prevented adverse remodeling 1mo after injury (Tmax: 9.01±0.6, 5.61±0.5, 6.07±0.9 p=0.006, DR/DN: 1.29±0.1, 2.02±0.2, 1.93±0.2 p=0.03). Conclusions: Early intracoronary administration of Antag92aME in a pig model of reperfused MI prevents ventricular remodeling with no local or distant AE emerging as a promising therapeutic approach to translate to patients that suffer a large MI.

Dietary lipid sources and levels for weanling pigs

Collaborative studies comprising growth performance and metabolism experiments were conducted to reevaluate growth performance and nutrient and energy utilization responses of nursery pigs to dietary lipid sources and levels. Two lipid sources (soybean oil or tallow) were included at the rate of 1%, 3%, or 5% at the expense of cornstarch in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement for 6 diets, and Lys was added to maintain a constant calorie:Lys ratio. A growth performance experiment (d 0 to 7, d 7 to 21, and d 21 to 35 postweaning) involving a total of 822 crossbred pigs was conducted at 9 research stations. Each station contributed 2 to 7 replicate pens with 4 to 6 pigs per pen, resulting in a total of 28 replicate pens per diet. The initial BW ranged from 5.9 to 7.3 kg, and the final BW ranged from 20.9 to 28.9 kg. Diets fed during d 7 to 21 and d 21 to 35 were evaluated with 120 barrows in 2 metabolism experiments with 10 individually fed barrows per diet to determine digestibility and retention of nutrients and energy. Lipid source and the interaction between lipid level and source did not affect growth performance. Lipid did not affect growth performance from d 0 to 7. There was a quadratic decrease (P < 0.05) in ADG with increasing level of added lipid only during d 7 to 21 postweaning. The ADFI was decreased (P < 0.01) both during d 7 to 21 and d 21 to 35 postweaning with increasing level of lipid supplementation. A linear improvement (P < 0.001) in G:F with increasing level of lipid supplementation occurred during both d 21 to 35 and d 0 to 35 postweaning. There was a linear increase in DE, ME, and nitrogen-corrected ME (MEn) of diets fed during d 7 to 21 postweaning with increasing lipid level regardless of lipid source. For diets fed during d 21 to 35 postweaning, there were interactions (P < 0.05) between lipid source and level for digestibility of DM, N, lipid, and energy and for DE, ME, and MEn of diets. The improved feed efficiency was, perhaps, partly attributable to the increase in ME content of the diets with added lipids. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between lipid source and level for efficiency of energy use for BW gain for diets fed during d 21 to 35. The efficiencies of use of DE, ME, and NE for BW gain were not affected in pigs fed diets containing increasing levels of soybean oil; however, there were linear increases in these response criteria for pigs fed diets containing increasing levels of tallow. These results indicate that the energy values of soybean oil from the 2012 NRC study used in formulating these diets were fairly accurate.