Weaning Diet Research Articles

Nano-delivery of trace minerals for marine fish larvae: influence on skeletal ossification, and the expression of genes involved in intestinal transport of minerals, osteoblast differentiation, and oxidative stress response.

Currently, the larviculture of many marine fish species with small-sized larvae depends for a short time after hatching, on the supply of high-quality live zooplankton to ensure high survival and growth rates. During the last few decades, the research community has made great efforts to develop artificial diets, which can completely substitute live prey. However, studies aimed at determining optimal levels of minerals in marine larvae compound feeds and the potential of novel delivery vectors for mineral acquisition has only very recently begun. Recently, the agro-food industry has developed several nano-delivery systems, which could be used for animal feed, too. Delivery through nano-encapsulation of minerals and feed additives would protect the bioactive molecules during feed manufacturing and fish feeding and allow an efficient acquisition of active substances into biological system. The idea is that dietary minerals in the form of nanoparticles may enter cells more easily than their larger counterparts enter and thus speed up their assimilation in fish. Accordingly, we evaluated the efficacy of early weaning diets fortified with organic, inorganic, or nanoparticle forms of trace minerals (Se, Zn, and Mn) in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae. We tested four experimental diets: a trace mineral-deficient control diet, and three diets supplemented with different forms of trace minerals. At the end of the feeding trial, larvae growth performance and ossification, and the level of expression of six target genes (SLC11A2β, dmt1, BMP2, OC, SOD, GPX), were evaluated. Our data demonstrated that weaning diets supplemented with Mn, Se, and Zn in amino acid-chelated (organic) or nanoparticle form were more effective than diets supplemented with inorganic form of minerals to promote bone mineralization, and prevent skeletal anomalies in seabream larvae. Furthermore, nanometals markedly improved larval stress resistance in comparison to inorganic minerals and upregulated mRNA copy number of OC gene. The expression of this gene was strongly correlated with mineralization degree, thus confirming its potency as a good marker of bone mineralization in gilthead seabream larvae.

Effects of limestone inclusion on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and the jejunal transcriptomic profile when fed to weaning pigs

Plant ingredients contain low Ca levels and 1/3 may be bound to P phytate. Therefore, Ca has to be supplemented with animal or mineral sources, such as limestone or calcium phosphates. However, growth performance and feed intake has been reported by other authors to decrease linearly with increasing dietary Ca. To better understand the possible mechanisms underlying detrimental effect of including limestone in weanling diets, two experimental trials were performed to evaluate its possible impact on growth performance, colonic microbiota and, jejunal gene expression. In Trial 1, a total of 240 piglets (26 ± 2 d old, average body weight (BW) = 7.7 ± 1.04 kg) were distributed into 3 dietary treatments: 0% limestone, 0.8% limestone, and 1.6% limestone to provide 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2% total Ca, respectively. Feed intake and individual BW were registered during the pre-starter phase (d 0–14 post-weaning). Pigs fed diet with 1.6% of limestone (1.2% of total Ca) had lower BW, average daily gain (ADG), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) compared with pigs fed diets with 0.8 and 0% limestone (0.9 and 0.6% total Ca, respectively; P < 0.05). In Trial 2, a total of 18 pigs (28 ± 0 d old, average BW = 7.2 ± 0.24 kg) were allocated individually in cages and assigned to 2 dietary treatments: 0% limestone and 1.4% limestone to provide 0.6 and 1.2% total Ca, respectively. Piglets were fed for 14 d and then euthanized to obtain jejunum tissue for gene expression and colon digesta for 16SRNA gene microbiota analyses. Pigs fed 1.4% limestone (1.2% of total Ca) showed a higher beta-diversity and an increase on the Bacteroides genera in colon (P < 0.05). These animals also showed an up regulation of gene sets related to the cell cycle regulation, DNA and RNA transcription and inflammatory response in the jejunum. In conclusion, high levels of limestone inclusion in weaning diets, decreases growth performance without affecting feed intake in weaned pigs. Also, addition of limestone to diets for 14 d after weaning can upregulate the expression of genes related to the inflammatory response, and enlarge colonic beta-diversity with an increased Bacteroides genera.

A multifaceted approach towards interpreting early life experience and infant feeding practices in the ancient Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

AbstractInterpreting early life experience in the past is of considerable interest to archaeologists, yet remains fraught with difficulty. Children are sensitive barometers of population health in general. In addition, infant feeding practices, and stresses experienced during infancy and childhood, have important effects on adult health and demographic changes. Understanding how diet and physiological stress interact is therefore of significance, but most bony indicators of stress have non‐specific etiologies that cannot be tied to events during childhood. The recent advent of incremental isotopic techniques means we now have the potential to identify periods of stress and dietary change during childhood through changes to stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios during tissue formation. Being able to establish these individual weaning trajectories allows us to consider individuality in past weaning choices, giving the bioarchaeologist a more nuanced picture of the past. Here, we investigate whether combining paleopathological and isotopic data can give insight into the synergy between infant feeding and stress. We present a case study of a 5‐year‐old child from an early agricultural period archaeological site in the northern Atacama Desert, Chile. We show that, despite physiological stress likely affecting isotopic ratios in this individual, a weaning curve is visible and the interpretation of weaning behaviour is possible. In addition, we suggest that there is isotopic evidence for a micronutrient deficient weaning diet that may be correlated with bony evidence for pathology.

Weaning process and subadult diets in a monumental Brazilian shellmound

Studies on settlement patterns suggested that the fisher-hunter-gatherers who constructed the shellmounds (or sambaquis) scattered along the Brazilian Southeastern coast must have experienced considerable population growth by living in rich coastal settings. In this paper we assess, using stable isotopes, the weaning patterns and subadult diets of the sambaqui Jabuticabeira II (1214–830 cal BC to 118–413 cal AD) to test: 1) if weaning strategies are compatible with scenarios of high population density and 2) if there are evidences of dietary sex differences and sex-biased parental investment. Stable isotope data (δ15N, δ13Ccol, and δ13Cap) of 106 samples from 60 individuals (adults and subadults) were analyzed by combining bone cross-sectional and tooth serial-sectioning approaches to simulate a longitudinal study. Various analytical methods were used to describe weaning processes by identifying age-related changes in the diet of juveniles compared to those of adults. The isotopic results show that although exclusive breastfeeding length is variable, the introduction of a supplementary diet occurs around 6 months of age, whereas complete weaning was achieved for most children at approximately 2–3 years of age (more probably ~2.3 years of age). Little variability was observed in weaning and post-weaning diets. Differences between adult males and females suggest sex-biased dietary peculiarities. However, no clear cut difference in parental investment strategies favoring boys could be found. Because a weaning completion age of 2.3 years (and the presumed inter-birth interval that corresponds to) can be associated with slow to moderate growth, our reconstruction of weaning patterns and subadult diets of this sambaqui group partially supports a scenario compatible with high population growth.

Infant and childhood diet at the passage tomb of Alto de la Huesera (north‐central Iberia) from bone collagen and sequential dentine isotope composition

AbstractDuring the Late Neolithic (ca. 3500–2900 cal BC), the Rioja Alavesa region of north‐central Spain witnessed great demographic pressure and social unrest, manifested as widespread violent conflict. Drawing upon the ethnographic literature, it is possible that this situation impacted upon child‐rearing practices, both through food shortages and differential parental investment, favouring male infants. Here, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope measurements from bone collagen of 17 juveniles and from 163 serial microsamples of dentine from first and second molars of seven adults from the site of Alto de la Huesera are used to examine breastfeeding, weaning, and childhood diets. Bone and dentine collagen δ13C and δ15N isotope values both decrease from infancy to early childhood and increase slightly towards adolescence, but dentine provides a more time‐sensitive means of monitoring dietary changes. High δ13C and δ15N values compatible with exclusive breastfeeding are detected up to ca. 1 year, with a significantly shorter duration among males, suggesting differential sex‐related parental strategies from infancy. This is tentative given the small number of individuals being compared, but does suggest that further work would be worthwhile. A gradual decline in both δ13C and δ15N, compatible with the weaning process, is then observed up to ca. 4 years in both sexes. This delayed cessation of nursing is interpreted as a possible response to food shortage. With regard to postweaning patterns, shifts to lower δ13C and δ15N values in females at around age 9–11, and a general progressive increase in both isotope values from childhood to adolescence, are detected. These could be linked either with differential protein intake due to social age‐related nutritional practices or to physiological demand. The comparison between bone and dentine values shows differences between survivors and nonsurvivors in both isotopes, so that assessments based on deceased children may be biased by their potentially compromised health status.

To Evaluate the Intervention being Provided by AWCs Regarding Breastfeeding, Weaning and Child Diet in District Budgam of Kashmir Region (J&amp;K) (Based on Beneficiary Responses)

To Evaluate the Intervention being Provided by AWCs Regarding Breastfeeding, Weaning and Child Diet in District Budgam of Kashmir Region (J&amp;K) (Based on Beneficiary Responses)

330 Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Composition in the Ileum of Weaned Pigs Fed Microbially Enhanced Soybean Meal As a Potential Ingredient Replacement in Conventional Weaning Diets.

330 Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Composition in the Ileum of Weaned Pigs Fed Microbially Enhanced Soybean Meal As a Potential Ingredient Replacement in Conventional Weaning Diets.

Infant feeding recommendations – a time of change?

Infant feeding recommendations – a time of change?

Influence of various levels of milk by-products in weaner diets on growth performance, blood urea nitrogen, diarrhea incidence, and pork quality of weaning to finishing pigs.

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to evaluate various levels of milk by-product in weaning pig diet on growth performance, blood profiles, carcass characteristics and economic performance for weaning to finishing pigs.MethodsA total of 160 weaning pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc), average 7.01±1.32 kg body weight (BW), were allotted to four treatments by BW and sex in 10 replications with 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were fed each treatment diet with various levels of milk by-product (Phase 1: 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, Phase 2: 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively). During weaning period (0 to 5 week), weaning pigs were fed experimental diets and all pigs were fed the same commercial feed during growing-finishing period (6 to 14 week).ResultsIn the growth trial, BW, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the nursery period (5 weeks) increased as the milk by-product level in the diet increased (linear, p<0.05). Linear increases of pig BW with increasing the milk product levels were observed until late growing period (linear, p = 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in BW at the finishing periods, ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed ratio during the entire growing-finishing periods. The blood urea nitrogen concentration had no significant difference among dietary treatments. High inclusion level of milk by-product in weaner diet decreased crude protein (quadratic, p = 0.05) and crude ash (Linear, p = 0.05) of Longissimus muscle. In addition, cooking loss and water holding capacity increased with increasing milk product levels in the weaner diets (linear, p<0.01; p = 0.05). High milk by-product treatment had higher feed cost per weight gain compared to non-milk by-products treatment (linear, p = 0.01).ConclusionSupplementation of 10% to 5% milk by-products in weaning pig diet had results equivalent to the 30% to 15% milk treatment and 0% milk by-product supplementation in the diet had no negative influence on growth performance of finishing pigs.

Effect of diets supplemented with feed additives on growth, feed utilization, survival, body composition and intestinal bacterial load of early weaning European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax post-larvae

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of Garlen®, Diamond V XPC®, and Bactozyme® and their combination in the diets of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax larvae development in hatcheries on feed intake, growth performance, feed efficiency, intestinal bacterial, survival rate, and economics analysis. Dicentrarchus labrax juveniles (1.4 ± 0.5 mg) were distributed into eight experimental groups with a density of 2.5 larvae per liter. Eight iso-nitrogenous (55% crude protein) and iso-caloric (19.2 ± 0.2 MJ/kg, DM) weaning diets were formulated to contain the control diet (no feed additives), individually or mixed alternatively with three feed additives (Garlen®; Diamond V XPC®, and Bactozyme®). Each experimental diet was allocated to three tanks of fish and fed for 12 weeks. Growth and survival rate (S %) were improved for larvae fed the diets supplied with either (Diamond V XPC® + Bactozyme®) or (Garlen® + Diamond V XPC® + Bactozyme®), respectively compared to the control larvae group. The best FCR value was recorded for larvae fed a diet supply with (Garlen® + Diamond V XPC® + Bactozyme®), while the control larvae group recorded the worst FCR. The optimum significant (P ≤ 0.05) nutrient utilization values, larvae body crude protein content, activity test (ATV%), and profit index (PI) values were observed for larvae fed a diet containing Diamond V XPC® + Bactozyme® or Garlen® + Diamond V XPC + Bactozyme® compared to other treatments. The opposite trend was observed for total bacterial (TBC) and Vibrio sp. counts. No significant (P ≥ 0.01) difference was recorded in Aeromonas sp. count values in all experimental treatments. The results from this study show that (Garlen®; Diamond V XPC®, and Bactozyme®) individually or mixed alternately as growth promoters and immune stimulants in early weaning larval diets of European sea bass under hatchery conditions led to improve growth performance, feed utilization, survival, lowest intestinal bacterial load, and highest profit index (LE).

Growth, Survival, and Whole‐body Proximate and Fatty Acid Composition of Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L., Postlarvae Fed a Practical Microparticulate Weaning Diet

AbstractFurther development of high‐quality feeds for hatchery‐reared haddock in the North Atlantic would benefit from a standard formulation that can be used as a reference for hatcheries and laboratory studies. A practical microparticulate diet (PMD) developed and evaluated with newly metamorphosed juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L., postlarvae is proposed. Survival of fish fed PMD was just as high (88–89%; P &gt; 0.05) as those fed a high‐quality imported feed (Biokyowa). Alternatively, fish fed PMD had higher (P &lt; 0.05) final fork lengths (39.5 vs. 35.1 mm), wet weights (851.3 vs. 580.2 mg) and weight gains (1637.2 vs. 1115.7%). No differences (P &gt; 0.05) in whole‐body moisture (846–857 g/kg), ash (17–18 g/kg), or protein (101 g/kg) contents were found. Lipid content of fish fed PMD (26 g/kg) was higher (P &lt; 0.05) than those fed Biokyowa (21 g/kg) despite PMD containing 15 g/kg lower dietary lipid, suggesting higher intake and/or lipid retention. The PMD formulation proved to be a highly suitable weaning diet for haddock postlarvae based on high feed acceptance, survival, and fish growth. Given the economic and logistical difficulties associated with importing commercial weaning feeds, this easily produced practical weaning diet has good potential for use by laboratory researchers and farm managers for hatchery‐based nutrition research with haddock postlarvae.

Effects of diet complexity and multicarbohydrase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, intestinal morphology, and fecal score in newly weaned pigs1

To study the effects of diet complexity and multicarbohydrase (MC) supplementation, 144 piglets (6.70 ± 0.81 kg of BW) weaned at 21 ± 2 d of age (1:1 male to female ratio) were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement based on diet complexity (complex1, complex2, and simple) and MC addition (0 vs. 0.1% of MC). Diets were provided in a 2-phase feeding program with phase I (d 1 to 14) and phase II diets (d 15 to 28). Complex1 was formulated to mimic a conventional weaner diet with blood plasma, fish meal, dried whey, and skim milk powder, whereas complex2 partially or totally replaced these ingredients with various plant-based ingredients. The simple diet primarily comprised corn, wheat, and soybean meal. No interactions were found between diet complexity and MC supplementation (P > 0.10), except for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of ash and globulin concentration on d 28 (P < 0.05). Pigs fed the complex1 diet had greater (P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and G:F than those fed the other diets during the first week after weaning. However, no differences in ADG or ADFI were observed for pigs fed the complex1 and simple diets throughout the 28-d experimental period (P > 0.10), whereas the complex2 diet led to lower ADG and ADFI compared with the complex1 diet (P < 0.05). Overall, G:F was greater for pigs fed the simple diet compared with those fed the complex1 diet (P < 0.01). Pigs fed the simple diet showed ATTD of DM, OM, GE, and ash comparable to those fed the complex1 diet on d 14 (P > 0.10). In contrast, greater ATTD of DM, OM, NDF, GE, and ash was observed (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the complex1 diet than in those fed the complex2 diet or the simple diet on d 28. The simple diet increased the lymphocyte proportion in serum compared with the complex1 diet (P < 0.01) on d 14. Pigs fed the complex1 diet had a greater (P < 0.05) ratio of villus height (VH) to crypt depth (CD) in the ileum compared with the other diets. The complex2 diet decreased (P < 0.05) the fecal score during 3 wk of the postweaning period compared with the complex1 diet. Dietary MC supplementation increased (P < 0.05) G:F during the overall experimental period, VH in the ileum, VH:CD ratio in the duodenum, and ATTD of DM and GE but it reduced fecal score (P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding a simple diet resulted in BW comparable to feeding the complex1 diet, but it led to inferior intestinal morphology and ATTD of nutrients on d 28. Also, MC supplementation could be beneficial regardless of diet complexity.

Effect of dietary wheat bran inclusion on nutrient and energy digestibility and microbial metabolites in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to assess effect of including 40g/kg of wheat bran (WB) in weaner diet on nutrient and energy digestibility and on microbial metabolites. Six weaned piglets (7.3 ± 0.1kg of initial body weight) were surgically fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum. Pigs were fed 1 of 2 test diets consisting of: 1) control (a barley-wheat-corn-soybean meal-based diet), and 2) WB diet (40g/kg of coarsely milled WB; 1091µm), which were assigned according to a 2 × 2 Latin square design repeated 3 times. At the end of the second period, all pigs were fed a corn starch-based diet containing 50g casein/kg to estimate basal endogenous amino acids (AA) losses. Piglets fed the WB diet had lower coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and gross energy than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). Also, inclusion of WB tended to reduce coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility of OM and DM (P ≤ 0.10). Furthermore, the WB diet showed less digestible energy compared to the control diet (P < 0.05). There were no differences or trends in the coefficient of standardized ileal digestibility (CSID) of CP and AA between the 2 diets. Feeding the WB diet increased (P < 0.05) fecal acetate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations in feces and tended to increase (P ≤ 0.10) acetate, propionate, valerate, and total VFA in intestinal digesta compared with the control diet. In conclusion, results indicated that dietary inclusion of WB decreased nutrients and energy digestibility, but increased VFA production in the ileal digesta and feces.

Weaning and Early Childhood Diets at Two Early Period Sites: Implications for Parental Investment and Population Growth in Central California

Using stable isotope analysis of serial samples in permanent first molars, we reconstruct age of weaning and early childhood diets for eight individuals at CA-SJO-112, a 3,000–3,300 cal B.P. site in central California. We compare the results to previously published data from a nearby contemporary site, CA-CCO-548. Data show that, on average, children were weaned earlier at CA-SJO-112, but unlike at CA-CCO-548, boys and girls were eating similar types of foods and overall dietary composition was more homogenous among all children at CA-SJO-112. These differences suggest alternative parental investment strategies at the two sites, perhaps due to greater sharing and communal foraging at CA-SJO-112. Combined with low apparent infant mortality rates and similar rates of stress, as measured by rates of linear enamel hypoplasia, earlier weaning at CA-SJO-112 has important implications for population growth in the region.

Feeding response of marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata) to organic acids, amino acids, sugars and some classical taste substances

Weaning from live to formulated feeds is a major challenge in the culture of marble goby Oxyeleotris marmorata. It can be solved through dietary supplementation of suitable taste substance as feeding stimulant. However, there is still no information on the suitable feeding stimulant for this species. The present study was conducted to evaluate the feeding response of juvenile O. marmorata to 13 organic acids, 19 amino acids, 5 sugars and 2 classical taste substances in a concentration of 0.1M. The response was judged through behavioural observations to determine the potential feeding stimulant. Fifty O. marmorata were conditioned to accept agar gel pellet, and then tested with the agar gel pellets that contained each of the taste substances. Pure agar gel pellet was used as the negative control. All agar gel pellets with organic acids were fully ingested by the fish (100%). Among the 19 amino acids tested, aspartic acid attained the highest ingestion ratio (94%) which was significantly different (P<0.05) from the others. All sugars and classical taste substances were totally rejected (0%) by the fish. The taste preference of O. marmorata for organic acids seemed to be influenced by the feed pH. Strong negative linear correlation (r=−0.828; P<0.01) was detected between the ingestion ratio and pH of the agar gel pellets when the organic acids were tested at 0.01M. The ingestion ratio increased when the pH decreased, suggesting that the O. marmorata prefers acidic food. Evidently, all the organic acids and aspartic acid tested were potential feeding stimulants for O. marmorata. In developing weaning diets by using these taste substances, the dietary pH should be monitored as it may be one of the factors that influences the fish taste preference.

Toddlers in Transition: Linear Enamel Hypoplasias in the Hadza of Tanzania

AbstractBioarchaeologists often use linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) as a proxy for systemic physiological stress in prehistoric populations. Increased incidences of LEH have been observed in many cases associated with rapid social or environmental changes, such as with the Neolithic transition and agricultural intensification. Still, there have yet to be studies published of LEH incidence among living peoples in the process of transitioning from foraging to a farming economy. It is important to document LEH occurrence in living groups with known subsistence strategies to better contextualise interpretations of bioarchaeological populations. Here, we present LEH data for a sample of the Hadza of Tanzania. We compare LEH incidence and frequency on the permanent anterior teeth of individuals who spent their infancy and early childhood (i) in the bush consuming wild foods; (ii) in the village with a weaning diet dominated by domestic cereals; and (iii) transitory, dividing their time between the bush and village. Our results demonstrate that Hadza living in the bush during the period of tooth formation less frequently have LEH on these teeth, and have fewer of them on average, than do villagers. This is particularly so for the comparison of men. The transient group is intermediate in LEH incidence, although not significantly different from the bush and village samples. A lower LEH frequency in the bush Hadza is consistent with a diet that meets nutrient requirements of tooth formation, but higher incidence in the village sample suggests interruption of enamel secretion, most likely due to malnutrition. Such studies provide valuable context with which to interpret and understand bioarchaeological evidence, and to track effects of sedentisation on the biology of modern foragers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Influence of dietary mannan oligosaccharide and clinoptilolite on hematological, biochemical and gut histological parameters in weaned pigs

Background and Purpose: Yeast derivative mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and zeolite clinoptilolite (CPL) well known nutritional supplements acting as either prebiotic or immunobiotic, respectively, in animal husbandry. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not these agents referred to as potential alternatives to antibiotics may positively influence systemic immune parameters of weaned pigs without negatively affecting their hematological, serum biochemical and gut histological homeostasis. Materials and Methods: Sixty pigs from a commercial farm were divided into three groups comprising 20 pigs each and treated at 4 weeks of age as follows: controls received standard weaner diet, whereas diet for principals was supplemented with 0.2% of MOS or 0.5% of CPL. The experiment was conducted throughout 35 days and at either Day 7 or Day 35 intervals starting at Day 0 before the treatments hematological, serum biochemical and intestinal histopathological parameters were monitored, respectively. Results: Pigs fed CPL supplement had lower proportion of lymphocytes ( P <0.05), but higher proportions of neutrophils and eosinophils ( P <0.05) at Day 21. Neither MOS nor CPL affected values of hematological parameters. Serum levels of hepatic enzymes in pigs fed CPL supplemen, with exception of lower value of creatinine kinase (CK) at Day 35 ( P <0.01) were not changed. These pigs had lower level of total proteins ( P <0.05) at Day 28, but higher levels of urea ( P <0.05) and creatinine ( P <0.01) at Day 35. Generally, principal pigs had milder damages of villi, similar infiltration of lymphoid/myeloid cells within jejunal/ileal lamina propria and follicular hyperplasia in mesenterc lymph node, but more extensive proliferation within Peyer’s patches. Conclusions: MOS did not affect any of monitored parameters, and CPL only sporadically induced lymphopaenia and granulocytosis, decrease of CK and total proteins and increase of urea and creatinine levels, indicating that the agents were not associated with any harmful side effects on monitored blood and gut parameters and impairment in general health status of pigs.

Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides in early weaning diets on growth, survival, fatty acid composition and gut morphology of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) larvae

Early weaning of marine fish larvae with dry diets delays gut maturation and reduces growth rates. In juvenile and adult forms of several marine fish species, inclusion of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) improves gut integrity and functionality, but the effects of MOS inclusion in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) larval diets have not been addressed yet. Thus, this study assesses the effects of dietary MOS inclusion on survival, growth performance, gut morphology, feed acceptance and quality of gilthead sea bream larvae. For that purpose, 16 days post-hatched gilthead sea bream larvae were fed four graded levels of MOS (Biomos®, Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA) in weaning diets as follows: 0 g kg−1 MOS, 0.5 g kg−1 MOS, 1.5 g kg−1 MOS and 2 g kg−1MOS. Dietary MOS did not affect feed acceptance in gilthead sea bream larvae (P > 0.05). MOS supplementation was correlated in a dose-dependent way with higher larval survival (P = 0.026). After 15 days of feeding, dietary MOS increased whole larvae (P < 0.01) arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Gilthead sea bream larvae fed 2 g kg−1 MOS presented higher gut occupation with goblet cells after feeding compared with larvae fed the other dietary treatments. Overall, the results suggest that inclusion of MOS in early weaning diets for gilthead sea bream improves essential fatty acid utilization and may promote growth and final survival.

Early introduction of an inert diet and unenriched Artemia enhances growth and quality of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua ) larvae

The effects of two weaning diets and different weaning protocols on growth, survival, skeletal deformity and gut morphology of Atlantic cod larvae were studied in four groups from 16 to 45 days posthatch (dph). Cod larvae in groups 1 (early weaning with control diet) and 2 (early weaning with experimental diet) were used to evaluate the effects of different polar lipid content of weaning diets on larval and juvenile performance. Cod larvae in groups 2, 3 (early weaning with experimental diet + cofeeding with Artemia) and 4 (earlier weaning with experimental diet and earlier cofeeding with Artemia) were used to evaluate the effects of early introduction of dry diet and Artemia. From 45 to 170 dph, cod juveniles from all four groups were reared using a standard feeding protocol. No significant differences in growth, survival, deformities and gut morphology were found between cod larvae and juveniles from groups 1 and 2. Cod larvae fed on cofeeding regime with Artemia nauplii (groups 3 and 4) were bigger and had lower frequencies of jaw and neck deformities and higher foregut microvillus circumference than cod larvae from group 2. Our results demonstrate the importance of proper weaning protocols in producing better quality cod juveniles.

The effect of characteristics of proteins fed during gestation and lactation on development of metabolic syndrome in dams and male offspring of Wistar rats.

SummaryObjectiveThe objective of the study is to examine the role of characteristics of proteins in maternal and weaning diets on risk of metabolic syndrome in male offspring.MethodsPregnant Wistar rats were allocated to two groups (n = 12) and were fed the AIN‐93G diets based on either intact protein‐based diet (IPD) or mixed amino acid‐based diet (AAD) from day 3 of gestation throughout gestation and lactation. Male offspring were weaned to either an IPD or AAD diet for 18 weeks.ResultsIn dams, AAD group had lower body weight in post‐partum period and higher pulse rate compared with IPD group. In pups born to AAD dams, birth weight and body weight were significantly lower, and systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were significantly higher compared with those born to IPD dams. Fat/weight ratio, insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were not influenced by either maternal or weaning diet.ConclusionsThese results indicate that the physico‐chemical structure of proteins fed to dams is important in altering risk factors of metabolic syndrome in the offspring, while weaning diets do not seem to play a role. IPD had more favourable effect than AAD. These results may also indicate that dietary recommendations during development must be updated based on physiological properties of dietary proteins that are beyond their nutritional role.