Protein Source Research Articles

293 Impact of black soldier fly larvae meal in a dry extruded food on nutritional quality and health in adult cats

Abstract Insects like the black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens; BSFL) have been proposed as protein-rich feed ingredients to support the growing demand for meat. The BSFL hold also promise for use as a protein source in pet foods and, as such, it has been studied for palatability, nutritional quality and health effects in dogs and cats. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of including BSFL meal in a dry, extruded food on nutritional quality and health in healthy adult cats. Two similar compositions of dry, extruded foods were formulated to meet the FEDIAF nutrition guidelines for adult cats of which one was chicken meal-based (control, with 34.3% chicken meal) and the other BSFL meal-based (inclusion of 37.5% BSFL meal). BSFL meal contained 95.0% dry matter, 53.1% crude protein, 14.3% crude fat, 6.0% ash (Protix, Dongen, The Netherlands). Two groups of four cats were each fed one of the two foods for two 28-d periods in a crossover design, with sample collection during the last 7 d of each period. Cats were housed in groups of the same sex during the first 21 d of each period. Both foods were well-accepted by the cats. No health problems (including coat and skin condition) were noted throughout the study. Food type did not impact body weight (P = 0.850). Food intake was greater when cats were fed the BSFL-based food (P < 0.001). Consistency scores of fresh feces were optimal and did not differ between the foods. Compared with the control food, the food with BSFL meal had decreased apparent fecal digestibility values for dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, and gross energy (P < 0.05) although all values were high. Digestibility values for acid-hydrolyzed fat were similar for both foods (P = 0.628). Diets resulted in changes in fermentation product concentrations, like fecal ammonia was less when cats fed this food compared with the control food (P < 0.001), but the fecal concentrations of the short-chain fatty acids and biogenic amines were generally increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, reduced fecal bacterial diversity and affected bacterial relative abundance suggested that inclusion of BSFL meal steered the microbial composition in the distal gut of cats. It was observed increased relative abundance of bacteria genus considered beneficial for host health like Bifidobacterium (P < 0.001) and Megasphaera (P < 0.036); and inhibition of genus Negativibacillus and Lachnoclostridium (P < 0.001), previously associated to digestive issues and negative for gut health. Overall, the data gathered in this study suggests that BSFL meal is an adequate alternative ingredient for extruded dry cat foods and may exert a prebiotic effect on intestinal microbiota.

304 Amino acid digestibility and protein quality of fermented soybean-based ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay

Abstract Fermented soybean-based ingredients may serve as an alternative protein source for pet foods because of their high-quality protein content. The amino acid (AA) content and protein quality of fermented soybean-based ingredients may vary depending on their composition and processing, however, so testing is required. Our objective was to measure the AA composition, AA digestibility, and protein quality of fermented soybean-based ingredients using the precision fed cecectomized rooster assay. The University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved all animal procedures prior to experimentation. Cecectomized roosters (n = 36; six roosters per substrate) were randomly allotted to one of five test substrates: 1) autoclaved soybean (ASB); 2) fermented soybeans (FSB); 3) fermented soybeans with probiotics (FSBP); 4) fermented soybean meal (FSBM); 5) fermented soybean meal with probiotics (FSBMP). After 26 h of feed withdrawal, roosters were tube-fed test substrates. Following crop intubation excreta samples were collected 48 h. Endogenous loss corrections for AA were made by using five additional cecectomized roosters. All data were analyzed using SAS version 9.4. All substrates had increased AA digestibilities, with all indispensable AA digestibilities being >80% except for lysine (78.1% to 86.9%). Tryptophan digestibility was less (P < 0.05) in FSB than other substrates, but other AA digestibilities were not different. Digestible indispensable AA score (DIAAS)-like values were calculated to determine protein quality according to nutritional guidelines for adult dogs, adult cats, growing puppies, and growing kittens. The most limiting AA was the same for all ingredients. In adult dogs, methionine was the most limiting AA based on National Research Council (NRC; DIAAS: 33.4-35.1), European Pet Food Industry Nutritional Guidelines (FEDIAF; DIAAS: 49.6-52.1), and Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO; DIAAS: 60.2-63.2) guidelines. In adult cats, phenylalanine was the most limiting AA (DIAAS: 59.5-63.2) when using NRC guidelines, but DIAAS were above 100 for FEDIAF and AAFCO guidelines. In growing puppies, methionine was most limiting according to NRC (DIAAS: 56.7-59.6) and FEDIAF (DIAAS: 78.8-82.7) guidelines, but threonine was most limiting according to AAFCO (DIAAS: 68.8-72.3) guidelines. In growing kittens, methionine was most limiting according to NRC (DIAAS: 70.9-74.4) and AAFCO (53.4-56.0) guidelines, but phenylalanine was most limiting according to FEDIAF (DIAAS: 66.7-70.8) guidelines. Our results demonstrate that fermented soybean-based ingredients are high-quality protein sources. Even though they have one or more limiting AA, they would serve as strong complementary proteins for pet foods. Further research in dogs and cats is necessary to confirm sufficient palatability and digestibility, but these data suggest that they are valuable sources of protein for pet food.

494 Long-term effects of canola meal inclusion in gestation and lactation diets on sow and piglet performance over two reproductive cycles

Abstract The experiment was conducted to determine the long-term effects of dietary canola meal (CM) inclusion as the main protein source in gestation and lactation diets on sow and litter performance. Sows (n = 68) from two baches were randomly allotted 1 of 2 diets on d 80 of pregnancy. The two diets were a corn-barley and soybean meal control diet (CTRL) and a corn-barley and CM treatment diet (CCM). All diets were formulated to be similar in standardized ileal digestible amino acid and net energy contents. Sow body weight (BW) and backfat (BF) thickness were determined on d 1, 35, 80, and 111 of pregnancy, on d 1 and 21 post-farrowing. Piglets were weighed on d 0 and at weaning (d 21). Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 for a randomized complete block design with repeated measures. Over the two reproductive cycles, dietary treatments did not influence sow BW and BF thickness on d 80 and 111 of pregnancy, as well as d 1 and 21 post-farrowing (P > 0.10). However, sows fed the CCM diet had less (P < 0.05) BW and BF thickness on d 1 and 35 of pregnancy in the second reproductive cycle than sows fed the CTRL diet. The CCM diet decreased gestation gain from d 80 to d 111 of pregnancy compared with the CTRL diet over the two reproductive cycles (P < 0.05). No dietary effect on litter size or litter performance was found during the experimental period (P > 0.10). However, reproductive cycle had significant effects (P < 0.05) on BW gain and BF thickness from d 80 to 111 of pregnancy as well as BW and BF thickness on d 1 of lactation. In addition, litter weight at birth and after cross-fostering were significantly improved during the second reproductive cycle compared with the first cycle (P < 0.05). An interaction between dietary treatment and reproductive cycle on BW gain and BW on d 1 of lactation was observed (P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding gestation and lactation diets containing CM as the main protein source to sows over two reproductive cycles supported similar sow reproductive and litter performance as the control.

165 Characterizing protein quality with in vitro methodologies

Abstract Nutritional assessment of the quality of a protein source is a complex process with different requirements depending on the jurisdiction being discussed. The Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) is a growth measurement required in Canada, whereas the United States uses the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS), which requires the determination of the amino acid profile and digestibility of the protein source. Notably both PER and PDCAAS are in vivo methods, necessitating the use of animals for measurement of growth and protein digestibility. Understandably there is significant interest from both industry and consumers to reduce reliance on animal experimentation for content claims. It is notable that outside of North America there are multiple examples of in vitro protein quality assessment. In Europe protein content claims are based on whether the protein content contributes >12% of the total energy, and in Australia content claims begin at 5 g of protein per serving. As the use of in vitro techniques for protein quality assessment has not led to indices of protein malnutrition in Europe and Australia, should be possible to use in vitro techniques in methods such as PER and PDCAAS thereby removing the reliance on animal use for quality assessment in North America. This can be accomplished by using in vitro methods in the assessment of protein digestibility and relying on recent changes by Health Canada to allow for calculation of PER from PDCAAS values. This presentation will introduce how protein quality is calculated via PER/PDCAAS, and subsequently discuss modifications of these methods to incorporate in vitro techniques to generate values indicating their nutritional quality with positive correlations to in vivo data.

The Effect of Feeding Native Grass, Jackfruit Leaves and Leguminosa on Daily Weight Increase and Body Sizes of Goats

The use of foliage and legumes in goat diet is essential to serve protein sources for maintenance and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of providing native grass, jackfruit leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus), and different legumes such as Leucaena leucocephala and Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson on average daily gain (ADG) and weekly increased body measurements) of four female Kacang goats (5-7 months old; average body weight 6.98?± 1.44 kg) kept in individual pens (1 m x 1.2 m × 1.2m (length x width x height) with a soil base. A 4 x 4 latin square design with four treatments: T0 (100% natural grass), T1 (100% lamtoro leaves), T2 (100% jackfruit leaves), and T3 (100% spinach) were used. The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance. The results showed that feeding goats with different type of forages had a significant effect (P<0.05) on ADG, in which the goats fed jackfruit leaves showed the highest ADG value (142.85 ± 15.43 gr/head/day) (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the ADG of goats fed native grass, L. leucocephala, and A. gangetica leaves were not significantly different (P>0.05). The results also showed that different forages had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the weekly increase in body size measurements, including body length, shoulder height and chest girth. It can be concluded that giving jackfruit leaves can increase the ADG of Kacang goats. The use of jackfruit leaves solely can be recommended to increase the growth of goats.

375 The effects of protease supplementation on weaned piglet performance and intestinal function fed greater amounts of lower digestible protein sources

Abstract The present study investigated the impact of dietary protease supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal function of weaned piglets when fed a diet comprising high levels of low digestible protein sources, in comparison with a standard commercially representative piglet diet. A total of 180 weaned piglets, 21 d old, of Duroc × Large White × Landrace crossbreeds, with an initial body weight (BW) of 6.27 ± 0.45 kg, were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: 1) a standard commercial positive control (PC) diet comprising 22.2% soy protein, 5% whey protein, and 3% fish meal, 2) a negative control (NC) diet comprising 30.1% soy protein without whey protein and fish meal, and 3) a NC diet supplemented with 0.02% protease (NC + PROT). The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric and were pelleted at conditions of 0.4 MPa and 75°C. The experimental design employed a completely randomized design with 6 replicate pens per treatment, each pen containing 10 piglets. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA, with differences between means assessed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P < 0.05). In terms of piglet performance, feeding the NC diet, containing high levels of low digestible protein sources, resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in final BW, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) by 3.1%, 8.2%, and 5.2%, respectively, compared with piglets fed the PC diet. Conversely, the NC diet significantly increased (P < 0.05) the feed-to-gain ratio and incidence of diarrhea by 3.4% and 88.3%, respectively, relative to PC. However, the supplementation of protease in the NC + PROT diet restored final BW, feed-to-gain ratio, and incidence of diarrhea to the same level as PC, while ADG and ADFI were increased (P < 0.05) by 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively. Regarding intestinal function, relative to PC, piglets fed the NC diet exhibited significantly less (P < 0.05) duodenal villus height, crude protein digestibility, and gene expressions of duodenal peptide transporter PepT1 and jejunal amino acid transporter b0,+AT, while blood urea nitrogen and diamine oxidase concentrations were greater (P < 0.05). However, the addition of protease in the NC diet reinstated measures of intestinal function, as NC + PROT-fed piglets showed similar duodenal villus height, crude protein digestibility, gene expressions of duodenal peptide transporter PepT1 and jejunal amino acid transporter b0,+AT, as well as blood urea nitrogen and diamine oxidase concentrations to PC. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of protease in weaned piglets fed higher levels of lower digestible protein sources mitigated losses in growth performance and intestinal functionality by enhancing intestinal development, protein digestibility, nutrient transport efficiency, and overall health status of piglets.

376 Effects of multi-carbohydrase and protease supplementation on ileal digestibility of amino acids in expeller-pressed canola meal fed to growing pigs

Abstract Expeller-pressed canola meal (ECM) is a co-product obtained from expeller-pressing canola seeds to obtain canola oil, and it has potential as a cost-effective feedstuff in swine diets. Also, ECM may be a superior protein source compared with solvent-extracted canola meal due to its greater digestible amino acid (AA) contents. However, limited information is available on the effects of enzyme supplementation on AA digestibility in ECM for pigs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of multi-carbohydrase (MC) and protease supplementation on the apparent (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in ECM when fed to growing pigs. A total of 12 barrows (65.9 ± 5.0 kg initial body weight), each fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum, were allocated for 2 studies: the current study (4 treatments) and another study with 8 treatments. Pigs were arranged in a 12 × 6 incomplete Latin square design with 12 diets and 6 periods, resulting in 6 observations per dietary treatment. Four dietary treatments were: 1) basal ECM diet; 2) ECM diet with MC supplementation (1 kg/tonne); 3) ECM diet with protease supplementation (250 g/tonne); and 4) ECM diet with both MC and protease supplementation. A casein diet was fed to all 12 pigs for 1 wk after feeding experimental treatments to quantify endogenous losses of AA. All diets contained 0.3% titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. Pigs were fed 1 of the 4 diets during each of the 7-d periods, and ileal digesta were collected on d 6 and 7 from 0800 to 1700 h. Pigs were fed the diets at 2.8 times maintenance energy requirement based on their body weight at the beginning of each period. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED of SAS. The statistical model included MC, protease, and their interaction as fixed effects, and replication, animal within replication, and period within replication as random effects. Protease supplementation did not affect AID or SID of AA in ECM. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in MC supplementation on AID and SID of AA, except for a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the AID of Gly with MC supplementation compared with the non-supplemented diet. No interactive effects were found between MC and protease supplementation on the AID and SID of AA in growing pigs. In conclusion, the digestibility of AA in ECM fed to growing pigs with and without enzyme supplementation did not differ, and no interactive effects were observed. Future studies will aim to investigate the dose-effect to accurately determine whether the absence of an effect was attributable to improper enzyme-to-substrate ratio.

491 Processing and stomach pH influenced in vitro gastric protein solubilization kinetics in sunflower meal

Abstract The study aimed to evaluate the effect of processing and pH on gastric protein solubilization kinetics in sunflower meal (SFM) products using porcine digestion simulation model. The SFM samples were derived from diverse processing approaches: 1) dehulled-cold pressed (SFM_CP), 2) dehulled-solvent-extracted (SFM_SE), and 3) application of electrostatic separation technology on SFM_SE to generate high crude protein (CP) version (SFM_SEP). Soybean meal (SBM) was included for reference comparison (Table 1). Considering the complex factors influencing retention time, gastric pH, and pepsin secretion, the study employed multiple sampling times, and pH levels. A total of 500 mg CP equivalent of each sample (in triplicates) was mixed with 25 mL of 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) and 2 mL of pepsin (27 mg/mL). The pH was adjusted to either 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 using 1 M HCl and placed in incubator shaker (200 rpm) at 39°C. Samples were taken at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, stored frozen, later thawed at 4°C, centrifuged (15,000 × g for 10 min) and supernatants analyzed for CP. The data were analyzed using Proc GLIMIXX in SAS while Gompertz equation was used to describe the gastric protein solubilization kinetics. The model included the fixed effects of protein source or processing, stomach pH and their interaction on the gastric CP solubility at 90 min and gastric protein solubility kinetics (A-maximum solubilized CP, Wo- initial CP solubility, Ku- solubilization rate, Ti- time to inflection). The analyzed CP SBM, SFM_CP, SFM_SE, and SFM_SEP, were 514.4, 524.4, 393.5, and 484.2 g/kg DM, respectively. Gastric CP solubility increased with lower pH and longer incubation time (P < 0.05), which corresponded well with the optimum pH of pepsin activity around 2. Compared with SFM, SBM had the least (P < 0.05) gastric CP solubility at pH 4.5 and 3.5, and the least predicted maximum gastric CP solubility (A) at pH 4.5, 3.5 and 2.5 (P < 0.05; Table 2). SFM_CP showed the greatest predicted initial gastric CP solubility at 0 h (Wo) and A (P < 0.05). Electrostatic fractionation of SFM_SE (SFM_SEP) enhanced gastric CP solubility at pH 3.5 and 2.5 and reduced the solubility time to inflection point (Ti; P < 0.05). In conclusion, data indicated that cold pressing SFM increased gastric CP solubility relative to solvent extraction. However, electrostatic fractionation of SFM_SE improved protein gastric solubility. While SBM remains a standard, incorporating the studied sunflower meals with their fast CP digestion kinetics in feed formulation could improve protein utilization in young animals with high stomach pH. In vivo studies, particularly on ileal amino acid digestibility, are crucial to validate these findings. Sunflower meal tables_FMN.pdf

Rapid Tryptophan Assay as a Screening Procedure for Quality Protein Maize.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid deficient in cereals, especially maize. However, maize (Zea mays L.) is the main source of protein in some developing countries in Africa and Latin America. In general, the nutritional profile of cereals is poor, because they are deficient in essential amino acids such as tryptophan and lysine due to a relatively higher proportion of alcohol-soluble proteins. Quality protein maize (QPM) has been developed through genetic manipulation for the nutritional enrichment of maize to address these problems. Nevertheless, methods for protein, lysine and tryptophan are time-consuming and require relatively large amounts of samples. Therefore, we have advanced here a simple, cheap, fast, reliable and robust procedure for the determination of protein and tryptophan in the same biuret supernatant, which can also be used for chemical characterization of other cereals. Samples of 50 mg maize ground to pass through a 0.1 mm screen were sonicated for 5 min. in eppendorf vials with 1.5 mL of a biuret reagent each. After centrifugation and protein determination by biuret, 0.2 mL of supernatant was treated with 0.8 mL of a tryptophan reagent. Both total protein and tryptophan can be determined in microplates at 560 nm to speed up the measurements. The main advantage of the new micro-method is the rapid estimation of the nutrient quality of maize samples by a single weighing of a small amount of valuable plant materials.

Parasites of African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) cultured in selected homestead ponds in Rivers State, Nigeria

Fish are a major source of protein to humans and one of the constraints to improved fish production in Nigeria are parasites/parasitic diseases. A study to evaluate the parasites of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) cultured in selected homestead ponds in Rivers State, Nigeria was conducted from January to June, 2023. One hundred and twenty catfish were randomly selected from two homestead ponds (sixty fish per pond) and categorized (sex, weight and length); each fish was analyzed for parasites (ecto and endo) using standard parasitological techniques. Descriptive analyses (mean and percentages) were used to represent data obtained and chi-square test was used to determine the level of significance with a P<0.05 considered significant. An overall parasite prevalence of 30 (25.0%) was recorded in this study (P<0.05) and four parasites were observed; Ichthiphitrius 14 (11.7%), Chilodinella 6 (5.0%), Trichodina 6 (5.0%) and Crytobia 4 (3.3%). Male and female fish had parasite prevalence of 8 (16.0%) and 22 (31.4%) respectively (P>0.05).According to weight, parasite prevalence values of 4 (16.0%), 4 (17.4%), 8 (28.6%), 8 (30.8%) and 6 (33.3%) were recorded for 140 – 160g, 161 – 180g, 181 – 200g, 201 – 220g and 221 – 240g respectively while according to length, parasite prevalence values of 8 (21.1%), 10 (24.4%), 7 (26.9%) and 5 (33.3%) were recorded for 20 – 22cm, 23 – 25cm, 26 – 28cm and 29 – 31cm respectively (P>0.05). Proper management practices should be adhered to in aquaculture to increase yield and reduce the detrimental effects of fish parasites.

Captive spawning, early development, and larviculture of largescale blackfish, Girella punctata (Gray, 1835), and effects of macroalgae and alternative protein sources on its juvenile growth performance

The largescale blackfish, Girella punctata (Gray, 1835), inhabits rocky substrates in the coastal waters of Japan and northeastern Taiwan. Despite its commercial significance, there is limited knowledge regarding its reproductive biology due to the sparse occurrence of broodstocks in its natural environment. This study investigated the reproductive performance and embryonic development of G. punctata, assesses its feeding preferences through controlled feeding trials, and evaluates the impact of various feed types on its growth performance. In total, 124 wild-caught G. punctata were reared for 3–4 years, and their reproductive performance was assessed in 2015 and 2016. Their egg production increased with a sudden water temperature change from 17 ℃ in 2015–22 ℃ and 2016. The total and daily average egg production weights were 3589.22 and 40.79 g, respectively, whereas the total and daily average fertilized egg production weights were 1630.72 and 18.59 g, respectively; moreover, the hatching rate was 42.61 %. During embryonic development, the eggs hatched 45 h post fertilization at 19 ℃. Newly hatched larvae were 2.26 ± 0.04 mm in length with a yolk sac of 1.09 ± 0.02 mm in length. The yolk sac was almost completely absorbed 3 days post hatch (dph), when the larvae grew to a length of 3.42 ± 0.06 mm. We found that fish meal with 40 % protein was the optimal G. punctata fish diet. The weight gain in juveniles fed Cladophora fascicularis ranged from 47 % to 52 %, which was significantly higher than that in those fed Hypnea charoides (p < 0.05). The present study provided a practical guideline on the conditions required for successful fertilization and early development of G. punctata embryos and other larval stages. This information should help ensure greater survival and a higher proportion of healthy G. punctata larvae for mariculture applications.

Milk Lipid Regulation in Dairy Goats: A Comprehensive Review.

The growth, development, and milk production traits of dairy goats, which are important sources of high-quality animal protein, are significantly influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is imperative to identify key genetic loci that govern economically valuable traits in order to enhance breeding programs. Despite advancements in genomic technologies, there are still gaps in knowledge regarding the interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences, particularly in relation to the regulation of milk production and quality. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to synthesize advancements in the genetic and environmental factors affecting milk production and quality in dairy goats and identify key regulatory mechanisms. This review summarizes the recent progress on the identification of genes associated with milk production traits using whole-genome resequencing, the use of transcriptomic profiling to identify genes linked to milk production, the exploration of regulatory mechanisms of lipid metabolism in goat mammary epithelial cells, and the evaluation of the influence of nutritional factors on milk quality. A comprehensive understanding of these interactions is essential for enhancing breeding strategies and ensuring the sustainability of dairy goat farming. Future research should incorporate multi-omics approaches to unravel the intricate regulatory processes governing milk production and adapt practices to meet global demand while upholding economic and environmental sustainability.

Infestation of ectoparasite of Probopyrus (Isopoda: Bopyridae) in Macrobrachium amazonicum (Caridea: Palaemonidae) in the Amazon River

Introduction: Macrobrachium amazonicum is widely distributed in South America, occurring in the Orinoco, Amazon and Paraguay river basins, being used as an important source of protein for feeding riverside populations. This prawn is host to the crustacean ectoparasites Probopyrus pandalicola, Probopyrus floridensis and Probopyrus bithynis (Bopyridae) that infest the gill cavity of the species. Objective: To report the prevalence and abundance of ectopasites (P. pandalicola, P. floridensis and P. bithynis) and the condition factor in M. amazonicum from the Amazon River, Eastern Amazon. Methods: The prawns were collected from May 2017 to April 2018, with the artisanal trap matapi in the municipalities of Mazagão (state of Amapá) and Santarém (state of Pará), Brazil. Results: 216 prawns infected with ectoparasites were captured, 133 in the Mazagão region (53 P. pandalicola, 48 P. bithynis and 32 P. floridensis) and 83 in the Santarém region (45 P. pandalicola and 38 P. bithynis). In Mazagão, the highest prevalence values were recorded in May (1.98 %) for P. floridensis, July (2.18 %) for P. bithynis, and March (1.93 %) for P. pandalicola. In the Santarém region, the highest prevalence values were recorded in February, 3.47 for P. pandalicola and 2.89 for P. bithynis. Regarding the abundance of parasites, there was no difference between the species grouped between the regions (t = 0.32, p = 0.739). Parasitized prawns from Mazagão and Santarém presented condition factors below expectations, with an average of 0.85 ± 0.55 for Santarém and 0.88 ± 0.44 for Mazagão. Conclusions: During the study it was found that P. pandalicola, P. bithynis and P. floridensis were present in M. amazonicum throughout the year. Furthermore, there was an effect of parasitism on M. amazonicum in the study areas.

Microbial community profiling in intestinal tract of indigenous chickens from different villages

Village chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) are commonly reared in rural households of South Africa and other developing countries. They play a vital role as a primary source of protein through the provision of meat and eggs. The chicken gut microbiota plays an important role in chicken’s immune system, its health, physiological development of the gut, digestion of food, nutrient absorption and productivity. Thus, it is imperative to critically investigate the chicken microbial composition in order to develop effective disease control measures and increase production. In this present study, microbial DNA was isolated from 34 non-descript mixed gender matured village chickens’ intestinal contents followed by high throughput Illumina sequencing targeting 16S rRNA gene. Senwamokgope village had the largest microbiota composition as compared to Itieleni and Thakgalang villages. Overall, Firmicutes (74%) was the most abundant phylum observed, followed by Proteobacteria (8%), Actinobateria (5%), and Bacteroidota (3%). At the genus level, Lactobacillus was the dominant bacteria. Other genera found included Sphingomonas (7%), Cutibacterium (4%), and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 (2%). The richness of female intestinal microbiota was higher compared to the male microbiota. The findings of this study provide baseline information that can assist to better understand the chicken gut microbiota and its interaction with diseases and parasites.

Potential response of Mexican consumers to a Ban on genetically modified Maize imports

Mexico enacted a decree to ban the sale of genetically modified (GM) maize seed and maize for human consumption. Maize is particularly important to the average diet in Mexico as it is the main feed for the primary source of protein (poultry) and the main ingredient for the primary source of calories (corn tortillas). This study aimed to assess consumer awareness of the decree, support for the decree, and sensitivity of support given possible economic outcomes related to the decree. Additionally, we estimate the premiums consumers were willing to pay (WTP) for non-GM products relative to GM products (i.e., chicken meat, eggs, and corn tortillas). Results show that 54% of the Mexicans were unaware of the ban and that 77% of those aware supported the ban. Many consumers were willing to pay premiums to cover potential price increases due to the ban; however, not all low-income consumers would pay the potential premiums. Focusing on low-income consumers is particularly important, given they will likely be affected disproportionately more by the burden of increased food prices.

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of yeast protein in comparison to animal and plant proteins using growing rats and INFOGEST model

Yeast, identified as a microorganism, boasts a considerable protein content, positioning yeast protein as a highly promising alternative in the quest for sustainable protein sources. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the protein quality of yeast protein and compare it with animal proteins (whey concentrate/isolate proteins) and plant proteins (soy, wheat, pea proteins). Notably, yeast protein exhibits the highest ratio of indispensable/dispensable amino acids (IAAs/DAAs, 0.91). However, in both in vivo and in vitro digestion experiments, yeast protein demonstrated lower true protein digestibility (TPD) and true ileal digestibility (TID) compared to other proteins. Despite this, the yeast protein's amino acid score (AAS, 1.37 for >3 years), protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS, 100 % for >3 years), and digestibility-corrected amino acid score (DIAAS, 82.42 % for >3 years) of yeast protein surpassed those of plant proteins, yet remained lower than animal proteins primarily due to its lower digestibility.

Snacking insects? A global market investigation

The world population is expected to grow rapidly and exceed 10.4 billion by 2100. In this scenario, greater environmental pressure and natural resource scarcity are inevitable. A possible solution suggested by international authorities is the use of novel protein sources for conventional production, such as the use of edible insects as food, in Western countries. The present work investigates recent market trends in the edible insect sector, in terms of a growing focus on sustainability, product offerings, diversification of insect-based products, and increasing consumer awareness. The Mintel Global New Product Database was used to identify newly launched products in the global market that incorporate insects as ingredients. The market analysis focused on the food category with the highest number of newly launched products, the insect snack bar category. The results of a global market investigation on insect snack bars are further presented including the market analysis of several aspects, such as price, country distribution, nutritional values, and communication strategies. Finally, market considerations are provided that could interest stakeholders in the insect supply chain, including retailers, manufacturers, and policymakers.

Zootechnical Performance, Protease Activity and Proximate Composition of Nile Tilapia Fed Diets Containing Fish Silage Produced from Fish Waste

The present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of fish silage (FS) on the growth performances, protease enzyme activity and muscle compositions of Nile tilapia. In this regard, FS was produced from the waste parts of carp, pangus and tilapia and five iso-nitrogenous (containing 35% crude protein) diets were formulated in which fishmeal (FM) was used as the primary protein source in the control diet (0% FS, T1). The remaining four diets were formulated by replacing 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4), and 100% (T5) FM protein with the FS. These diets were fed to tilapia at 8-6% of their body weight rearing them in glass tanks at the density of 15 fish/tank in triplicates. After fifty-days feeding trial, survival (%) of fish remained unaffected among the dietary treatments. Tilapia fed with 75% FS based diet showed improved growth and lower FCR, whereas those fed a diet with 100% FS exhibited lower growth rates. Notably, protease enzyme activity (mg/ml/min) increased with higher levels of FS inclusion. Increased crude protein content was observed in the fish fed the 75% FS diet. These findings underscore the potential of including FS up to 75% to enhance the growth performance of Nile tilapia.

Chicken meal is not an appropriate reference protein for estimating protein quality of ingredients used in extruded diets intended for dogs.

The indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been used to determine metabolic availability (MA) of amino acids in feedstuffs for pigs, humans, and preliminarily for cats. Peas are a commonly used protein source in grain-free extruded dog diets. However, peas have a poor sulfur amino acid (AA) ratio (methionine [Met]:cysteine) with Met being the first limiting AA. Furthermore, little is known about the MA of Met in peas fed to dogs. Therefore, our objective was to compare the MA of Met in peas to chicken meal (CM), as a gold-standard reference protein. The study was done as a replicated 5 × 5 complete Latin square design. Ten neutered male mixed-breed dogs (1.5 years old; 26.0 kg ± 2.4kg body weight; BW) fed to maintain ideal BW received all dietary treatments: BAS: lamb-based diet (deboned lamb and lamb meal) providing Met at 50% of its requirement (0.27g/100g dry matter [DM]), CHK: CM and lamb-based diet, and PEA: ground dried pea and lamb-based diet both providing Met at 68% of its requirement (0.35 and 0.37g/100g DM, respectively). Two other treatments were created by blending BAS with PEA (BAP) and the BAS with CHK (BAC) to create diets with Met at 59% of requirement (0.32 and 0.31g/100g DM, respectively). This resulted in three graded levels of Met for both CM and peas to allow for a slope-ratio assay approach to quantify MA with the BAS diet as the common first point. All other AAs were provided to meet at least 120% of the AAFCO recommendations for adult dogs. The BAS diet, with supplemental DL-Met, was fed for a 2-wk wash-in period. After 2 d of diet adaptation IAAO was performed. Dogs were fed 13 small meals where meal 6 contained a priming dose (9.4mg/kg BW) of L-[1-13C]-phenylalanine (Phe; 99%) as well as a constant dose (2.4mg/kg BW) in meals 6-13. Breath samples were collected and enrichment of 13CO2 was measured using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry to calculate the rate of Phe oxidation (F13CO2 umol/kg BW/h). Oxidation was analyzed via SAS using PROC GLIMMIX with dog and period as random effects, and diet, %Met, and their interaction as fixed effects. Unexpectedly, the slope of Phe oxidation, in response to increasing Met intake, from CM was 31% of that of peas, indicating a lower MA for Met in CM as compared to peas. This finding may be due to damage of AAs during rendering. At this time, CM in extruded diets is not an acceptable reference protein to determine MA of AAs in dogs, and the MA of Met from peas cannot be confidently assessed.

Molecular Regulation of Shoot Architecture in Soybean.

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) serves as a major source of protein and oil for humans and animals. Shoot architecture, the spatial arrangement of a plant's above-ground organs, strongly affects crop yield and is therefore a critical agronomic trait. Unlike wheat and rice crops that have greatly benefitted from the Green Revolution, soybean yield has not changed significantly in the past six decades owing to its unique shoot architecture. Soybean is a pod-bearing crop with pods adhered to the nodes, and variation in shoot architecture traits, such as plant height, node number, branch number and number of seeds per pod, directly affects the number of pods and seeds per plant, thereby determining yield. In this review, we summarize the relationship between soybean yield and these major components of shoot architecture. We also describe the latest advances in identifying the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying soybean shoot architecture and discuss possible directions and approaches for breeding new soybean varieties with ideal shoot architecture and improved yield.