Weight Gain Response Research Articles

The effect of sarcoptic mange on growth performance, leukocytes and lymphocyte proliferative responses in pigs

The effects of a single artificial infestation with sarcoptic mite ( Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis DeGeer) on weight gain and lymphocyte blastogenic responses were studied in untreated and fenvalerate-treated pigs. Average daily feed intake, average daily gain and feed efficiency were monitored for 5 weeks in 32 infested and 16 uninfested pigs. Total and differential leukocyte counts were determined and lymphocyte proliferative responses, using a mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis assay, were evaluated in 24 pigs. Sarcoptic mite infestation or treatment for sarcoptic mange did not affect total or differential leukocyte counts ( P > 0.10). Differences were not observed in weight gain or lymphocyte blastogenic responses between infested and uninfested pigs.

Influence of forage level on response of feedlot steers to salinomycin supplementation.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of forage level on the response of feedlot cattle to salinomycin. Diets containing 10, 15 and 20% forage were compared with 0 or 11 mg/kg salinomycin. In trial 1, treatment effects on feedlot performance were evaluated using 108 crossbred steers (295 kg) in a crossover design experiment. There were no salinomycin X forage level interactions (P greater than .20). Weight gain response to salinomycin supplementation averaged 5.4, 5.3 and 6.9%, respectively, for diets containing 10, 15 and 20% forage. Corresponding values for feed conversion response to salinomycin supplementation were 5.1, 3.9 and 5.9%. Averaged across forage level, salinomycin supplementation improved rate of weight gain and feed conversion by 5.9 and 5.2%, respectively (P less than .01). In trial 2, treatment effects on characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion were evaluated in a 6 X 6 Latin-square design trial involving six crossbred steers (191 kg) with cannulae in the rumen and proximal duodenum. There were no interactions between salinomycin supplementation and forage level on characteristics of ruminal digestion (P greater than .20). Salinomycin supplementation did not influence synthesis of microbial N, ruminal digestion of organic matter, acid detergent fiber and starch, or molar proportions of acetate, propionate and butyrate (P greater than .20). Salinomycin supplementation increased passage of non-ammonia N to the small intestine (5.4%, P less than .10) and increased ruminal escape of feed N (24%, P less than .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absence of a vitamin B12 weight gain response in two trials with growing red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Abstract Extract Madam:- Cobalt deficiency has long been recognised in New Zealand as a disease in sheep and cattle which may occur when they graze pastures of low cobalt content 0.04 mg/kg DM respectively. (2) In recent years the farming of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on soil types known to be marginally, moderately or severely deficient(1) has raised the question of how susceptible these species are to cobalt deficiency. To the authors' knowledge there is no published information on the susceptibility of red deer to cobalt deficiency.

Absence of a weight gain response to vitamin B12supplementation in weaned beef cattle grazing pastures of marginal cobalt content

Abstract Forty female Angus crossbred calves aged 8 months were allocated to 2 groups based on liver vitamin B12 levels and bodyweight. The treatment group was given monthly subcutaneous injections of 2000 μg hydroxycobalamin. From each group, 5 animals were liver biopsied and 10 animals: serum and urine sampled at monthly intervals for 10 months. Pasture cobalt content in washed and unwashed samples averaged 0.051 mg/kg (0.866 μgmol/kg) and 0.061 mg/kg (1.04 p.mollkg) DM respectively over the trial period. Mean liver vitamin B 12 levels of the untreated group dropped during the spring and summer to 400 nmollkg, while the treated group remained above 640 nmollkg. Serum vitamin B12 levels of the untreated group during the spring and summer averaged 87 pmolllitre, with the lowest mean monthly level of 73 pmolllitre occurring in November. Mean urinary methyl malonic acid remained low (less than 36 p.molllitre) in both groups. There was no weight gain response to vitamin B12 treatment.

Detoxification of High Tannin Sorghum Grains

One in vitro and two in vivo experiments were conducted to determine appropriate methodology for and effects of detoxifying Darset, Redlan, and one commercial hybrid brown sorghum grain variety in threonine-deficient and nutritionally complete poultry rations. The detoxification procedure, which involves adding water to sorghum grain to bring dry matter to 70% and subsequent anaerobic incubation at 32 C, removes up to 100% of the chemically detectable tannin. Rate of tannin elimination was dependent upon sorghum grain variety with commercial brown sorghum requiring approximately 3 days longer than the Darset for tannin elimination. Detoxification of high tannin sorghum grains improved (P less than .05) growth rate and feed efficiency dramatically in threonine-deficient, crystalline amino acid-fortified rations; the same process applied to low tannin sorghum grains was without benefit. The desirable effects of this type of grain processing appear to be due to the reduced grain tannin content. Including detoxified sorghum grains in a practical-type broiler ration failed to elicit a weight gain response although feed efficiency was improved by 13% over untreated sorghum and 3% over corn grain. Lack of a gain response was likely due to the excess protein included in the basal diet. This type of grain processing offers an alternative method of reducing sorghum grain tannin content and is likely of greatest value in rations containing marginal indispensable amino acid and protein levels.

MINERAL PROFILE OF CANOLA AND SOYBEAN MEAL

Two experiments were conducted to compare the mineral profiles of canola and soybean meal. In a factorial arrangement, three supplemental levels of calcium (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) and three supplemental levels of available phosphorus (0.05, 0.1, and 0.15%) were fed with and without supplementation of 30 ppm of zinc. There was no response in weight gain, feed intake or percent bone ash, thus suggesting that zinc availability is unlikely to be a problem influencing the performance of poultry fed either of the protein supplements. Supplementation of both canola and soybean meal with either chloride, manganese, magnesium, iron or copper failed to demonstrate any meaningful responses which could be considered of interest in practical type diets in which the two protein supplements may substitute for one another. It is thus considered that none of the minerals investigated should be any more of a problem in practical type broiler diets in which canola meal is substituted for a portion of the soybean protein. Key words: Broiler chicken, canola meal, mineral profiles, mineral profile of soya and canola meals

Guar gum consumption in adolescent and adult rats: short- and long-term metabolic effects

Metabolic responses to short- and long-term guar gum consumption were studied in adolescent and adult rats. For the long-term study, male adolescent rats were divided into four groups (n = 60/group) and fed guar gum, cellulose, or bran diet for 67 weeks. Metabolic studies (food--water intake, feces--urine output, body weight, carbohydrate tolerance) were performed eight times during the 67 weeks. The guar gum group consumed less diet throughout the entire study and gained less weight over the first 20 weeks compared with the cellulose and bran groups. A second bran-fed group was food restricted over the first 20 weeks to match the reduced weight gain of the guar gum group and then fed ad libitum. Reduced plasma glucose excursions were measured for only the guar gum group after both fibre-free glucose and sucrose challenges at weeks 6, 12, and 18; from 24 to 64 weeks all four groups had similar glucose tolerance responses. Twenty-four hour urinary glucose excretion was similar during all eight metabolic studies up to 64 weeks for guar gum and cellulose groups. In the short-term study, male adolescent (200 g; n = 10/group) and adult (630 g; n = 15/group) rats were divided into five and four groups, respectively, and fed guar gum, guar by-product (GBP), cellulose, or bran diet for 6 weeks. A metabolic study was performed during the 6th week. Adolescent rats fed guar gum or GBP diets gained less weight than the cellulose group; only the guar gum group displayed improved carbohydrate tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The nitrogen requirement of the weanling kitten.

The nitrogen requirement of the weanling kitten was determined in a series of three experiments. In each experiment, diets were formulated to provide the growing kitten with the essential amino acids at or above the level of requirement. Expt 1 utilized a 4 x 4 balanced Latin square design with two groups of kittens (four male and four female). The crystalline L-amino acid diets were presented at four levels of dietary crude protein (N X 6.25) of 140, 160, 180 and 200 g/kg diet. The design for Expts 2 and 3 was a 6 X 6 balanced Latin square. For each of these experiments, groups of six male and six female kittens were assigned to diets. The six levels of dietary crude protein were 120, 140, 160, 180, 200 and 220 g/kg diet; dietary N was supplied by crystalline L-amino acids for Expt 2 and casein plus a supplementary amino acid mix for Expt 3. Food intake, weight gain and N retention were determined in each experiment. A sigmoidal model y = P1 + P2/[1 + e(P3 + P4 X chi] was fitted to the response of weight gain and N retention to dietary N. The calculated requirement (95% of the upper asymptote, P1 + P2) for these experiments varied from 170 to 230 g protein/kg diet with the majority of these values falling between 180 and 200 g protein/kg. On the basis of these three experiments, the kitten's requirement for dietary crude protein is between 180 and 200 g/kg diet (28.8-32.0 gN/kg) for purified diets which provide a calculated 21 MJ metabolizable energy/kg diet.

The Effect of Intermittent Lighting on Growth, Feed:Gain Ratio, and Abdominal Fat Content of Broiler Chickens of Various Genotypes and Sex

Intermittent lighting (IL) regimens were tested for rearing broiler chickens from 2 to 7 weeks of age. In Experiments 1 and 2, the effects of 6 cycles of light (L) and darkness (D) of 1L:3D vs. 12 cycles of .25L:1.75 D were compared on the performance of 2400 broiler chickens. Eight genotypes of 5170 mixed-sex broilers were used to compare effects of 6 cycles of 1L:3D vs. 1 cycle per day of 23.5L:.5D on broiler performance (Experiment 3).The sexes responded differently to two IL regimens in Experiment 1. Males had higher body weight, feed intake, and abdominal fat content with 1L:3D; in females, there was no difference in body weight or feed intake, but abdominal fat content was lower with 1L:3D regimen. In Experiment 2, no significant effect of lighting regimen on broiler performance was observed. In Experiment 3, most genotypes had lower feed intake and abdominal fat content for 1L:3D than for 23.5L:.5D, but response of weight gain was variable; one genotype had higher feed intake and another genotype had higher fat content with 1L:3D. It was concluded that sex and genotype should be considered in planning the use of IL techniques for broiler chickens.

AVAILABLE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IN CANOLA AND SOYBEAN MEAL

Two experiments were conducted to study the available sodium and potassium in canola- and soybean-meal-based diets containing no supplemental salt. A response in weight gain and feed: gain ratio was noted when potassium was added to soybean meal basal diets, but not when added to a 20% canola meal diet. This response depended upon the level of sodium supplementation. Supplementation of a soybean meal diet with up to 0.08% sodium resulted in improved performance of broiler chicks; however, only 0.06% sodium supplementation was required with a 20% canola meal diet to obtain a similar response. Calculations suggest that the availability of sodium in soybean meal is less than that found in Canola meal. Key words: canola meal, sodium and potassium

Economics of Optimization of Fat Levels in Turkey Diets

Although a good deal of empirical research is available on the measurement of turkey body weight gain response to fat supplementation, none has attempted to study the economics of optimizing fat level in turkey diets. This study focuses on deriving the optimal fat level in turkey diets. The methodology used should also apply to any nonruminant species (swine and poultry).

Prophylactic administration of hyperimmune serum when processing feedlot cattle

128 steer calves were given a commercially available hyperimmune serum (5 or 10 ml/100 lb body weight, s/c) immediately after processing at a feedlot, and 64 were processed but not treated. Processing included immunization with IBR IPV virus, bovine diarrhoea virus, parainfluenza-3 virus, Haemophilus somnus and clostridial toxoid vaccines. The hyperimmune serum had little or no effect on prevalence of respiratory disease, body weight gain or serological response to the vaccines.

Effects of Germination and Dietary Calcium on Zinc Bioavailability from Peas

ABSTRACTBioavailability of zinc was determined by rat weight gain and tibia Zn response from whole pea sprouts (WPS), heat treated peas (HTP) and purified diets (PD1 and 2) supplemented with Zn and phytate for similar phytate/Zn molar ratios (phy/Zn). With diets adequate Ca (0.75%), weight gains from WPS (phy/Zn = 24) and HTP (phy/Zn = 39) were equivalent or better to a nonphytate control (NPC). Tibia Zn decreased in order from: NPC, WPS, PD1, HTP and PD2. At the 1.5% Ca level reduced growth responses from WPS and HTP indicated interaction between Ca and phytate. Zn availability from peas may be superior to that from grains and other legumes previously reported. The decreased phytate and increased phytase resulting from germination may explain the enhanced responses from pea sprouts.

Effect of insecticide impregnated ear tags on horn fly populations and suckling calf performance (1984)

Three trials were conducted to determine the effect of insecticide impregnated ear tags on horn fly counts and weight gain of suckling calves. In trials 1 and 2, cow calf pairs on two Kansas ranches were assigned to these treatments: 1) Control - no tag, 2) Cows Only - 1 tag per cow, 3) Calf Only - 1 tag per calf, and 4) Cow and Calf - 1 tag each. Each tag treatment was in a separate pasture. All insecticide tag treatments reduced (P<.05) horn flies on cows and calves in July and August; however, by September the tags were only reducing (P<.05) flies on cows. While the weight gain response to tags was variable, when trials were combined, all tag treatments increased (P<.05) calf gains over controls. Using a single tag per cow was better (P<.05) than a single tag per calf, while tagging both the cow and calf was no better than either single tag treatment. Average fly counts for each pasture were negatively correlated with calf weight gains indicating a strong relationship between fly populations and calf performance. In trial 3, apparent horn fly resistance to the insecticide in the tags resulted in terminating the trial mid-summer. Research in Kansas and other states indicates that horn fly resistance to pyrethroid insecticides is becoming a common problem which means that producers may need to revert to previously used methods of horn fly control.

Lack of weight gain of sheep following iodine supplementation in inland regions of the South Island.

Weight gain response to iodine supplementation was investigated in five groups of sheep in different seasons. In only one spring period in one trial was a significant response obtained.

A correlativein vivostudy of the surface morphology and colonisation of the chicken trachea infected bymycoplasma gallisepticumstrains R and F

The pathogenic processes occurring in the chicken trachea as the result of infection by Mycoplasma gallisepticum were followed at frequent intervals over a 2-week period after introduction of the organism into the trachea. A correlation was made between changes in the surface morphology of the trachea, as seen by the scanning electron microscope, and mycoplasma colonisation of the upper respiratory tract, as evaluated in isolation studies. Effects of the clinical status of the birds were indicated by measurements of weight gain and humoral serological responses. In the case of pathogenic R strain colonisation was accompanied by severe changes in the tracheal wall as well as depression in weight gain and marked serological response. On the other hand, M. gallisepticum F (a less pathogenic strain used for vaccination in laying hens) profusely colonised the trachea but produced only moderate oedematous changes in the tracheal wall. There were no significant effects on weight gain and apparently no serological response could be detected during the experiment following F strain infection.

The choline requirement of the growing kitten in the presence of just adequate dietary methionine

This study was conducted to determine the level at which choline is required by the growing kitten fed a 33% soy protein diet containing methionine just at its required level and total sulfur amino acids in excess. All experimental diets were isocaloric with a calculated metabolizable energy of 5.0 kcal/g. The soy protein used in each diet contributed 0.04% choline by analysis, and six levels of added choline were studied: 0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30g choline per 100g of diet. Kittens were fed the diets for 30 days in a 4×6 randomized block design, and food intake and body weights were recorded three times weekly. At the end of the feeding period, the liver was removed and analyzed for water content and total lipids, and a heparinized blood sample was taken for subsequent analysis of plasma methionine, albumin, total protein, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activities. Weight gain and liver lipid response curves exhibited a plateau at approximately 0.2% added choline. GOT and GPT activities were significantly higher in the plasma of kittens fed the diet with no added choline than in any other of the groups. However, activities of both enzymes in that group were within normal range. No effect of dietary choline concentration was seen on any other plasma parameter measured. Assuming that the bioavailability of the choline contributed by the dietary protein is 100%, data presented indicate that 0.24% choline in a diet of 33% protein and 5.0 kcal/g, is adequate to support maximal weight gain and minimal liver fat in the growing kitten, when methionine is present just at its required level, and total sulfur amino acids are present in excess.

Some Effects of Feeding Deoxycorticosterone to Chickens

The feeding of 40 to 160 ppm of deoxycorticosterone to 5 to 8-week-old chickens resulted in increased weight gain, feed efficiency, lymphoid mass, and antibody response to red blood cell antigens. At an optimal environmental related dose, which was usually 80 ppm, there was increased resistance to Esherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Eimeria necatrix. Many of the responses to deoxycorticosterone, particularly growth rate and antibody response to antigens, were observed only when the chickens were adapted to their handlers and the experimental procedures.

The effect of trace elements on stock liveweight gain on West Coast soils

Abstract The results of trials investigating lamb and calf live weight responses to the trace elements selenium, copper, and cobalt are reported. Twenty-seven trials involved Se eight trials involved Cu, and four trials involved Co. When the trials were grouped on the basls of sod type the only concluslve result was a significant calf live weight gain response to Se on recent soils. However, there was a large variation in treatment effect between trials within soil types, and more trial work is required before discarding the posslblhty that effects other than soil type may exist.

Grazing cow and calf responses to zinc supplementation.

This experiment evaluated weight gain responses to supplemental Zn by cows and calves grazing forage containing less than 20 ppm Zn. One hundred cow-calf pairs in each of 2 years and 120 paird in a third year were pastured together over a 63- to 77-day preliminary period during which cows were exposed to bulls. Each experimental period began in mid-June after bulls were removed and continued for 125 to 154 days. During this period, cattle grazed mature dry forage containing less than 20 ppm Zn and were fed protein supplements with or without added Zn. Estimated Zn intake by each cow-calf pair in the control group ranged from about 140 to 260 mg/pair/day. Daily Zn intake was supplied by forage (100 to 200 mg), basal supplement (32 to 57 mg), water (4 mg), iodized block salt (1 mg) an soil (1 mg). Each cow-calf pair fed the supplement with added Zn received an additional 860 to 900 mg Zn/day. Calves fed Zn gained 6% more (P less than .05) weight (.04 kg/day) between the two groups. Clinical signs of Zn deficiency were not observed in any animals. Conception which occurred before the experimental period, and subsequent calving rates were not affected by Zn supplementation.