Correlation between carcass conformation and fat cover degree, and muscle fatty acid profile of yearling bulls depending on breed and mh-genotype

The objective was to study the relationships between the actual European beef carcass classification scale, which classifies carcasses with regard to conformation and degree of fat cover scores, and muscle fat quality, depending on breed and mh-genotype. For this purpose samples from 100 yearling bulls from “Asturiana de los Valles” (24 AV(mh/mh), 26 AV(mh/+), 25 AV (+/+)) and “Asturiana de la Montaña” (25 AM) were analysed. The results of the study showed that breed or genotype affect carcass measurement scores and muscle fatty acid profile through its important effect on animal overall fatness. Homozygous double-muscled animals produced carcasses with high conformation and low intramuscular (IM) fat content. While early-maturing and rustic AM animals produced low carcass yield and high IM fat content. The other genotypes (mh/+, +/+) showed, in general, intermediate characteristics. Referring to correlations, carcass conformation was negatively related to saturated (SFA) (r = − 0.69, P < 0.001) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (r = − 0.69, P < 0.001) groups, and positively to polyunsaturated (PUFA) (r = 0.72), n-6 (r = 0.72), n-3 (r = 0.71) and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) (r = 0.69) groups, being all of them significant (P < 0.001). However, carcass degree of fat cover was positively related to SFA (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) and MUFA (r = 0.62, P < 0.001), and negatively to PUFA (r = − 0.61), n-6 (r = − 0.60), n-3 (r = − 0.62) and UFA (r = − 0.53) groups, being all of them significant. Moreover, simple and low-cost prediction equations were calculated for a rapid and sufficiently accurate fatty acid group (SFA, MUFA, PUFA, n-6, n-3, UFA) estimation (R² > 0.46, P < 0.001). In general, meat obtained from double-muscled animals display a more appropriate IM fatty acid profile from the nutritional point of view according to actual recommendations, but it could happen the disability of these lean animals to deposit sufficient IM fat to ensure consumer overall liking or acceptability.     

Effect of feeding different levels of foliage of Moringa oleifera to creole dairy cows on intake, digestibility, milk production and composition

An experiment was conducted in Nicaragua to determine the effect of feeding different levels of foliage from Moringa oleifera Lam (synonym: Moringa pterygosperma Gaertner) to dairy cows on intake, digestibility, milk production and milk composition. The treatments were: Brachiaria brizantha hay ad libitum, either unsupplemented or supplemented with 2 kg or 3 kg of Moringa on a dry matter (DM) basis. Six Bos indicus cows of the Creole Reyna breed, with a mean body weight of 394 ± 24 kg were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Supplementation with Moringa increased (P < 0.05) DM intake from 8.5 to 10.2 and 11.0 kg DM day^− 1 and milk production from 3.1 to 4.9 and 5.1 kg day^− 1 for B. brizantha hay only and supplementation with 2 kg and 3 kg DM of Moringa, respectively. Milk fat, total solids and crude protein and organoleptic characteristics, smell, taste and colour, were not significantly different between the diets. Apparent digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF increased (P < 0.05) in the diets supplemented with Moringa compared with B. brizantha hay alone. The results showed that the inclusion of Moringa as a protein supplement to low quality diets improved DM intake and digestibility of the diet and increased milk production but did not affect milk composition.     

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on in vivo organic matter digestibility and milk yield in buffalo cows

The influence of a dietary supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) during the first and the second phase of lactation on dry matter (DM) intake, organic matter digestibility, milk yield and quality and haematological profile was evaluated in buffalo cows. Lactating buffaloes (n = 190), 118.7 days in milk (DIM), were randomly divided into Group C (control, n = 95) and Group T (fed diet supplemented with 98 billion CFU of S. cerevisiae, n = 95). Eight buffaloes for each group (Groups T1 and C1), 85.4 DIM, were used to study the in vivo digestibility and the haematological profile. No differences were found for DM intake (16.5 kg·day^− 1) and haematological profile. The SC supplementation increased milk yield (7.9 ± 0.2 vs. 7.4 ± 0.2; P < 0.01) but did not affect milk fat and protein. SC supplementation increased OM digestibility, mainly, in the first phase of lactation (< 135 days), thus allowing a higher energy availability for milk yield and reduced fat mobilization.     

Effect of an enzyme complex derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum on ileal digestibility of amino acids and non-starch polysaccharides in piglets

A digestibility trial on piglets was conducted to study the effect of an enzyme complex derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum (Roxazyme G2) supplemented to a rye-based diet on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids and NSP-constituting sugars. Enzyme supplementation at 200 mg kg^− 1 increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility of total amino acids from 67.1 to 70.8. As the dietary concentration of Roxazyme G2 increased from 0 to 100 mg/kg, the ileal digestibility of the NSP constituents gradually increased. No further increase was observed with the supplementation level of 200 mg/kg. The improvement in the digestibility of arabinose + xylose (685%, P < 0.05) was much higher than that of the remaining sugars (110%, P < 0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility of galactose was positively influenced by Roxazyme G2 but it remained negative in all dietary treatments, presumably due to the high concentration of galactose in endogenous secretions. It is concluded that Roxazyme G2 effectively degrades non-starch polysaccharides in upper digestive tract and marginally improves amino acid availability in young pigs.     

运输后禁食与非禁食对肉兔应激水平、肉品质和行为的影响

本试验以伊拉肉兔为研究对象,探究肉兔运输后在禁食与非禁食条件下对其应激水平、肉品质和行为的影响,探索合理的肉兔运输后的处理方式。试验选取80只体重相近（（2.5±0.5） kg）的伊拉公兔,随机分为8个组：对照组、运输后0 h组、非禁食6 h组、非禁食24 h、禁食6 h组、禁食24 h组、禁食行为观察组和非禁食行为观察组（做行为观察,不屠宰）。预试期为7 d,正式期的运输时间为2 h。结果发现,在血清生化测定中,和对照组相比,运输后0 h组血清ALT、AST、TG、Glu、CK、LDH水平无显著变化（P>0.05）,而运输后0 h组血清TP浓度显著下降,皮质醇浓度显著上升（P<0.05）。非禁食24 h组血糖水平高于禁食24 h组（P<0.05）、血清CK浓度低于禁食24 h组（P<0.01）,非禁食6 h的LDH水平低于禁食6 h组（P<0.05）。在肉品质测定中,运输后0 h时肌肉pH显著上升（P<0.05）,肌肉L^*、a^*水平显著下降（P<0.05）,而非禁食24 h组的L^*、a^*和b^*值显著高于禁食24 h组。而禁食组与非禁食组的肌肉pH、失水率、蒸煮损失率和剪切力等无显著差异（P>0.05）。在基因表达方面,运输后0 h时JNK、Caspase-3的mRNA水平显著上升（P<0.05）。非禁食相比于禁食降低了JNK mRNA相对表达量（P<0.05）,对Caspase-3水平无显著影响（P>0.05）。在行为学方面,非禁食相比于禁食降低了肉兔的食粪行为（P<0.05）,对于肉兔刻板行为改变不明显（P>0.05）。本研究提示,在运输后静养期间,24 h非禁食能一定程度降低肉兔的应激、减少机体损伤、改善兔肉品质,有利于提高肉兔的福利水平。     

The correlation between passage rate of digesta and dry matter digestibility in various stages of swine

The relationship between passage rate of digesta (PRD) and apparent faecal dry matter digestibility (DMD) was investigated in five trials. In trial 1, 2, and 3, 36 weanling (16.9 ± 3.0 kg), 24 growing (51.3 ± 8.8 kg), and 23 finishing (104.8 ± 5.2 kg) barrows were housed in metabolic crates. The beginning and end of 5-day collection periods were marked by the addition of 0.5% indigo carmine to the feed for total faeces collection and PRD determination by observing the time required for the marker to appear. In trial 4 and 5, 21 gestating gilts (215.0 ± 15.0 kg), and 19 lactating sows were individually penned. Addition of 0.5% chromic oxide to the feed enabled indirect determination of DMD and PRD. The PRD, which ranged from 12 to 80 h, was positively correlated with DMD in weanling (R² = 0.483, P < 0.001), growing (R² = 0.425, P < 0.01), and finishing (R² = 0.553, P < 0.001) pigs. Body weight and DMD were not significantly correlated in weanling (R² = 0.001, P = 0.893), growing (R² = 0.000, P = 0.995), or finishing (R² = 0.092, P = 0.156) pigs. A positive correlation between PRD, which ranged from 27 to 102 h, and DMD occurred in gestating gilts (R² = 0.231, P < 0.05), but not in lactating sows (R² = 0.014, P = 0.633). The results indicate that longer retention times of digesta improve DMD in swine. Also the results indicate the importance of PRD as a potential independent variable in digestibility assessments.     

Effect of adding Lactobacillus plantarum or a formic acid containing-product to fermented liquid feed on gastrointestinal ecology and growth performance of piglets

A study was carried out to investigate whether adding a starter culture or a formic acid containing-product to fermented liquid feed of suboptimal microbial quality could improve the characteristics of the mixture and the gastrointestinal ecology and growth performance of piglets. Four experimental diets were prepared: Feed and water were mixed in the ratio 1:2.5 (w/w) in four closed tanks. Diet 1) Three times daily, 50% of the mixture stored in the tank was removed and then replaced with an equal amount of fresh feed and water, (FLF), positive control; Diet 2) Three times daily, 95% of the mixture stored in the tank was removed and then replaced with an equal amount of fresh feed and water. Escherichia coli K12 (1 × 10⁶/g) was added every morning (COLI); Diet 3) as the COLI treatment and added Lactobacillus plantarum VTT E-78076 (1 × 10⁶/g) every morning (+PLANTARUM); and Diet 4) as the COLI treatment and added 0.26 g AIV/KemiSile 2 plus/100 g mixture three times daily (+ACID). One hundred and sixty weaners were used. On day 14, one littermate from each pen was killed and the gastrointestinal tract removed. The remaining piglets were used to measure the effect of the experimental diets on growth performance during the first six weeks post-weaning. The +ACID diet had lower numbers of lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, higher numbers of yeasts, and lower concentration of lactic acid and acetic acid than the COLI and +PLANTARUM diets. Feeding the +PLANTARUM and the +ACID diets increased daily weight gain during the six weeks post-weaning (P ≤ 0.02) compared to feeding the COLI diet. The +ACID group showed the highest numerical daily feed intake in all periods. The gain/feed during the six weeks post-weaning tended to be lowest in the COLI group (P < 0.10). The counts of lactic acid bacteria able to grow at 20 °C were lowest in the stomach (P ≤ 0.003) and distal small intestine (P ≤ 0.06) of the +ACID group. The counts of yeasts able to grow at 37 °C in the stomach were highest in the +ACID (P ≤ 0.01) and FLF groups (P ≤ 0.09). The number of yeasts able to grow at 20 °C in the stomach and distal small intestine was highest in the FLF fed piglets, followed by the +ACID group. This study showed that addition of L. plantarum VTT E-78076 or AIV/KemiSile 2 plus to fermented liquid feed of suboptimal microbial quality improved growth performance without affecting the gastrointestinal ecology of piglets substantially.     

鸭胸肌肉色性状全基因组关联分析

试验旨在利用全基因组关联分析（GWAS）定位影响鸭胸肌肉色性状的候选基因及分子标记,探究肉色性状的遗传基础。本研究中,共测定了555只北京鸭×野鸭F2代资源群体的3种胸肌肉色性状（包括红度a^*、黄度b^*、亮度L^*）。利用北京鸭×野鸭F2代资源群体胸肌肉色性状数据并结合全基因组重测序数据进行全基因组关联分析,检测影响胸肌肉色性状的相关基因及可能的因果变异位点。结果显示,肌肉亮度L^*、红度a^*、黄度b^*均属于低遗传力性状,遗传力分别为0.23、0.12、0.13,且肌肉黄度b^*变异系数较大（26.18%）。通过相关性分析可知,肌肉黄度与红度存在较强正表型相关（r=0.52）,肌纤维直径与肌肉黄度存在弱负相关性（r=-0.16）。利用混合线性模型进行GWAS,发现了1个SNP与肌肉黄度b^*潜在显著关联（-log₁₀ P=8.28）。对最高效应SNP进行连锁不平衡检验,发现42个SNPs与最高点SNP存在高相关性（r²>0.4）,这些SNPs位于9号染色体0.37~0.43 Mb之间,区间中共包含7个基因。通过转录组测序数据分析,发现只有5个基因在胸肌组织中表达。对这5个基因进行功能注释,确定硒蛋白T（SELENOT）基因为影响肌肉黄度的候选基因。该结果为解析鸭胸肌肉色性状和提高鸭肉品质的遗传改良提供重要参考。     

Effects of tropical climate and water cooling methods on growing pigs'' responses

We report a study on crossbred growing pig ((Duroc × Pietrain) × Large White) that measured the effect of tropical conditions on respiration rate (RR), skin temperature (ST), rectal temperature (RT) and productivity and determined the efficacy of two simple cooling methods. The experiment was a randomized complete block design using 120 growing pigs. The factors were cooling system and pen design. The effects of two cooling systems (water bath (WB) and sprinkling (S)) were evaluated and compared with a control (CON). Cooling systems were tested in pens with (Y) or without an additional outdoor yard (NY). The pens were similar to those used in small-scale pig keeping in South-East Asia. The inside pen size was 2.5 × 3 m, the yard was 2.5 × 2 m. The same experimental design was used in two blocks: one block was in the wet season with average ambient temperature (T) of 27.5 °C and average relative humidity (RH) of 74.7% and the other was in the dry season with average T of 28.7 °C and average RH of 62.8%. In each block a batch of 60 pigs was reared in 12 pens (five pigs per pen). Pigs had free access to feed and water. Results showed that cooling and pen type significantly affected most parameters. The bath and S reduced RR by 4.2 and 5.2 min^− 1, respectively (P < 0.01), and ST by 0.3 and 0.4 °C, respectively, (P < 0.05). Rectal temperature was not influenced by any treatment. The bath significantly reduced number of defecations and urinations in the resting area in pens NY (P < 0.001). A yard reduced the number of excretions in the resting area (P < 0.01). There were significant interaction effects of cooling and pen type on lying, lateral lying, and huddling (P < 0.01; P < 0.001; P < 0.01, respectively). Daily weight gain was 6 g d^− 1 more with WB and 50 g d^− 1 more with S (P < 0.05). The biggest daily weight gain was achieved when S was combined with a pen NY (P < 0.01).

We conclude that the physiologic and behavioral responses and hence productivity of group-housed growing pigs raised under tropical climate conditions benefited from the simple cooling systems tested and were affected by the presence of a yard. A fall in the high respiration rate indicated that cooling with the bath or sprinkling alleviated the pigs' heat stress.     

Postnatal changes in electromyographic signals during piglet growth, and in relation to muscle fibre types

This study uses non-invasive evoked surface electromyography (SEMG) to investigate postnatal muscle development in pigs, and to assess any correlation between recorded signal parameters and muscle fibre types in two different skeletal muscles. Four litters (n = 43) of Large White × Landrace pigs were used. Evoked SEMG measurements were taken on days 2, 5, 14, 26, 60 and 151 post partum from m. Longissimus dorsi (LD) and on days 14, 26, 60 and 151 post partum from m. Biceps femoris (BF). A third of each litter was slaughtered at days 27, 61 and 153 post partum. Biopsy samples for LD and BF were taken to categorize muscle fibre types. For LD there was a significant increase in compound muscle action potential (CMAP) parameters from day 2 to day 5 post partum, whilst for BF significant increases occurred from days 14 to 26 post partum. Fibre type development in both muscles showed a significant decrease in type IIA fibre number (P < 0.001) and an increase in type IIB fibre number (P < 0.001). Analysis of CMAP parameters in relation to fibre type percentages showed significant positive correlations between percentage of type I fibres in BF and CMAP Area (r = 0.71; P = 0.05), SlopeL (r = 0.79; P = 0.02) and Corr Peak (r = 0.78; P = 0.02) and a negative correlation with SlopeT (r = 0.89; P = 0.003) at day 151. A greater CMAP Area and Corr Peak as well as steeper leading and trailing slopes were on the other hand correlated to fewer type IIB fibres.

It is concluded that 1) changes in the evoked CMAP are muscle-specific during early postnatal development in the pig, and 2) in spite of a small sample size, the correlations between CMAP signal parameters and fibre type percentages warrant further investigation.     

Effect of weaning age, protein nutrition and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli challenge on the health of newly weaned piglets

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether decreasing dietary protein content and increasing weaning age could improve piglet health and decrease the occurrence and severity of post-weaning colibacillosis (PWC) in the absence of in-feed antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). The experiment consisted of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial combination of weaning age (4 vs 6 weeks), dietary protein content (H vs L; 230 vs 130 g CP/kg) and experimental enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) challenge (+ vs −). On day 3 post-weaning half of the piglets were challenged per os with 10⁹ cfu ETEC. A sample of piglets was euthanased on days 0 and 6 to assess digesta pH and lactobacilli to coliform (L:C) ratio. ETEC excretion persisted longer in the 4-week-weaned piglets than those weaned at 6 weeks (P = 0.003), and the numbers of ETEC shed tended to be higher on the H than L diet, especially in the 4-week-weaned piglets (P = 0.093). Decreasing protein level led to significantly firmer faeces, decreased pH and increased L:C ratio of proximal colon digesta. These results suggest that in the absence of AGPs, increasing weaning age and decreasing dietary protein level, especially in earlier weaned piglets, may help to minimize the effects of PWC.     

Microbial activity in the gut of piglets: II. Effect of fibre source and enzyme supplementation

Twenty four Duroc × Landrace male piglets, aged 21 days, were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental diets. Diets 1 and 2 contained 150 g kg^− 1 wheat bran and diets 3 and 4 contained 90 g kg^− 1 maize cobs as the major fibre source. All diets contained 480 g kg^− 1 wheat and 200 g kg^− 1 soybean meal. Diets 2 and 4 were supplemented with the following enzyme complex: 800 U/kg cellulase, 1800 U/kg glucanase and 2600 U/kg xylanase.

The replacement of wheat bran by maize cobs increased the acetic (P < 0.05) and decreased the butyric acid production (P < 0.05) in the cecum. Piglets fed diets with maize cobs had lower (P < 0.05) levels of butyric acid in the colon than those fed wheat bran.

The xylanolytic, pectinolytic and cellulolytic enzyme activities were higher (P < 0.05) in the cecum and colon of piglets fed the wheat bran based diets. The supplementation of the diet with the enzyme complex did not significantly affect the levels of short chain fatty acids formed in the small intestine and there was a non significant increase of the levels of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in the cecum and colon of piglets (P < 0.10). No interactions were present between fibre sources and enzyme addition.

The results suggest that the enzyme supplementation of the diet did not bring significant benefits to the animals and that when maize cobs replaces wheat bran in diets it negatively affects butyric acid production and fibre-degrading enzyme activity in the hindgut of piglets.     

脱氧雪腐烯醇(DON)对牛卵母细胞体外成熟及发育能力的影响

本试验旨在探究脱氧雪腐烯醇（DON）对牛卵母细胞体外成熟发育的影响及其作用机制。将牛卵丘卵母细胞复合体分别在含DON浓度为0、50、250、500、1 000 ng·mL^-1的体外成熟培养液中进行体外成熟,检测卵丘细胞扩展程度及第一极体排出率,构建DON毒性模型。然后,借助此模型研究DON对卵母细胞的线粒体分布及后续受精卵裂率、囊胚发育率的影响,探究DON对牛卵母细胞体外成熟及后续发育能力的影响;通过检测体外成熟卵母细胞内的氧化相关因子（ROS、GSH）水平和抗氧化基因CAT、GPx4的mRNA表达量,揭示DON影响牛卵母细胞体外发育能力的分子机制。结果表明,250、500 ng·mL^-1的DON显著抑制卵母细胞的第一极体排出（P<0.05）,1 000 ng·mL^-1的DON极显著抑制第一极体排出（P<0.01）; 250 ng·mL^-1的DON显著抑制卵丘卵母细胞扩展（P<0.05）,500、1 000 ng·mL^-1的DON极显著抑制卵丘细胞扩展（P<0.01）;后续试验选取DON浓度为500 ng·mL^-1作为毒性模型（DON组）,与不含DON组（对照组）进行比较研究,结果发现,对照组与DON组的线粒体均匀分布比例（60.2%vs.40.0%）存在显著差异（P<0.05）;试验组较对照组的受精卵裂率（33.6±3.6%vs.（67.7±2.6）%）及早期囊胚率（（0.0±0.0）%vs.（18.3±2.2）%）均显著降低（P<0.05）;试验组较对照组,卵母细胞内ROS水平（1.6 vs.1.0）显著升高（P<0.05）,GSH相对水平（0.4 vs.1.0）显著降低（P<0.05）,抗氧化基因CAT与GPx4的mRNA相对表达量（0.0 vs.1.0;0.6 vs.1.0）显著降低（P<0.05）。以上研究表明,DON对卵母细胞的体外成熟及早期胚胎发育具有抑制作用,其作用机制与DON破坏牛卵母细胞内抗氧化系统平衡相关。     

The effects of increasing the level of dietary wormwood (Artemisia montana Pampan) on intake, digestibility, N balance and ruminal fermentation characteristics in sheep

This study investigated the effect of replacing concentrates with dry wormwood (Artemisia montana) on the performance of sheep. Four Corriedale × Polwarth sheep (41.3 ± 1.3 kg) were fed diets with an 8 : 2 straw to supplement ratio, for four, consecutive 16 d periods (10 d adaptation, 6 d collection) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplements were made by substituting 0 (Control), 30 (LW), 50 (MW) or 100 (HW) g/kg DM of concentrate (15.6% CP, 72.1% of TDN) with dried, ground wormwood. Ruminal pH, NH₃–N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured on d 6 of collection. Ether extract (EE) intake was linearly decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing wormwood inclusion, otherwise intake was unaffected. The Control diet had lower (P < 0.05) DM and CP digestibility than LW and MW diets and lower EE digestibility than the LW diet. Retained N (P < 0.05) and microbial N yield (P < 0.01) linearly increased with dietary wormwood level, but efficiency of microbial N synthesis linearly decreased (P < 0.001). Mean concentrations of rumen NH₃–N, total VFA and propionic acid were quadratically increased (P < 0.05) by increasing wormwood inclusion. Replacing concentrates with 30–50 g/kg DM of wormwood increased N retention, microbial N yield and EE digestibility.     

The effect of dietary protein supply on carcass composition, size of organs, muscle properties and meat quality of pigs

This study investigated the effect of dietary protein supply on growth performance, carcass composition and size of organs in pigs slaughtered at the age of 165 ± 2 d. In addition, we analysed muscle fibre properties and glycolytic potential of light muscles longissimus lumborum (LD), semimembranosus (SM), and gluteus superficialis (GS), and dark muscles infraspinatus (IS) and masseter (M) of 20 gilts and 20 barrows. Of these pigs, 16 were Finnish Landrace, 16 were Finnish Yorkshire, and 8 were crosses of these breeds. The pigs were fed low-or high-protein diets formulated to contain 6.0 and 9.5 g of apparent ileal digestible lysine/feed unit (1 fu = 9.3 MJ NE), respectively. The pigs were fed according to a restricted weight-based feeding scale (13–30 MJ NE/d). Lean meat, fat, bones, and skin of the carcasses as well as organs were dissected and weighed. The pH value was measured 45 min post mortem from LD, and 24 h post mortem from LD, SM and GS. Drip loss, lightness (L) and redness (a) were measured from LD, SM and GS. Pigs with a low-protein supply showed a lower growth rate (P < 0.01), carcass weight (P < 0.01), and carcass lean meat content (P < 0.01), but higher carcass fat content (P < 0.01) and smaller kidneys (P < 0.01) than did pigs with a high-protein supply. In LD, the differences in cross-sectional areas in all muscle fibre types (P < 0.05) between the feeding groups were significant; in GS we found significant differences in cross-sectional areas of type IIA and type IIB (P < 0.05), while in SM we found no differences in muscle fibre cross-sectional areas between the feeding groups (P > 0.05). We found no such differences in the dark muscles studied. We also took into account the effect of both the breed and sex on the studied properties. The low-protein diet increased glycolytic potential in porcine LD and SM, and decreased the pH value measured 45 min post mortem from LD. The dietary protein supply affected no other meat quality traits studied. A more rapid drop in pH in LD resulted in a lighter and less red meat with higher drip loss.     

Na(+), K(+)-ATPase content in skeletal muscle of dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

Several hormones regulate Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase content in the muscle cell membrane, which is essential for maintaining muscle cell excitability. Chronic glucocorticoid excess is associated with muscle weakness and reduced endurance. We hypothesized that chronic glucocorticoid excess affects Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase content in canine skeletal muscle, and contributes to reduced endurance and muscle weakness associated with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) in dogs. Therefore, Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase content in skeletal muscle was evaluated before and after hypophysectomy and hormone replacement (cortisone and l-thyroxin) in dogs with PDH (n = 13), and in healthy controls (n = 6). In addition, baseline and exercise-induced changes in plasma electrolyte concentrations and acid–base balance were evaluated before and after hypophysectomy in dogs with PDH. Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase content of gluteal muscle in dogs with PDH was significantly lower than in control dogs (201 ± 13 pmol/g versus 260 ± 8 pmol/g wet weight; P < 0.01). Similar differences were found in palatine muscle. After hypophysectomy and on hormone replacement, Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was increased (234 ± 7 pmol/g wet weight). Both plasma pH and base excess in dogs with PDH (7.44 ± 0.01; 1.7 ± 0.6 mmol/l, respectively) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than after hypophysectomy and hormone replacement (7.41 ± 0.01; −0.2 ± 0.4 mmol/l, respectively). Exercise induced respiratory alkalosis, but did not result in hyperkalemia in dogs with PDH. In conclusion, chronic glucocorticoid excess in dogs with PDH is associated with decreased Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase content in skeletal muscle. This may contribute to reduce endurance in canine PDH, although dogs with PDH did not exhibit exercise-induced hyperkalemia. Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase content normalized to values statistically not different from healthy controls after hypophysectomy and hormone replacement.     

复合氨基酸对断奶仔猪肝脏能量状态、游离氨基酸含量及其相关基因表达的影响

为进一步探明复合功能性氨基酸的应用效果与机理，在前期研究的基础上，本试验研究了日粮中添加复合氨基酸对断奶仔猪肝脏能量状态、游离氨基酸及相关基因表达的影响。将16头体重相近的（21±3）日龄断奶仔猪随机分为对照组和复合氨基酸组，每组8个重复。分别饲喂添加0.99%丙氨酸（与试验组等氮）和1.00%复合氨基酸（谷氨酸：谷氨酰胺：精氨酸：甘氨酸：N-乙酰半胱氨酸=5：2：2：1：0.5）的基础日粮。于试验第21天前腔静脉采血，屠宰取肝脏样品，待测。结果表明，与对照组相比，复合氨基酸显著降低了仔猪血浆ALT和AST活性（P<0.05）；显著提高了仔猪肝脏总蛋白含量、RNA/DNA和总蛋白/DNA（P<0.05），显著降低了仔猪肝脏MDA和H₂O₂含量（P<0.05）；显著提高了肝脏精氨酸和二磷酸腺苷（ADP）含量（P<0.05）；显著上调了肝脏氨基酸转运载体b^0，+AT和y⁺LAT2基因、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶ω2基因（GSTO2）、干扰素γ基因（IFN-γ）、脂蛋白酯酶基因（LPL）的表达（P<0.05），显著下调了脂肪酸合成酶基因（FASN）的表达（P<0.05）。以上结果表明，日粮中添加1.00%复合氨基酸可以改善肝功能，提高抗氧化能力，可以调控仔猪肝脏能量状态及游离氨基酸代谢，并可能影响肝脏的脂肪代谢和免疫功能。     

不同脱脂米糠水平日粮对苏淮猪胴体性状及肉品质的影响

旨在研究不同脱脂米糠水平日粮对苏淮猪胴体性状及肉品质的影响。选取35头初始体重为（62.9±0.8）kg的健康纯种苏淮阉公猪,随机分为5组,每组7个重复,每个重复1头猪,使用奥斯本种猪生产性能测定系统（OTSS）饲喂。对照组（CTRL）饲喂不含脱脂米糠的基础日粮,试验Ⅰ~Ⅳ组分别饲喂7%、14%、21%和28%脱脂米糠的试验日粮,5组日粮的中性洗涤纤维（NDF）水平分别为8.89%、11.80%、12.93%、14.35%和17.94%,各组日粮除纤维水平不同外,其他营养成分基本一致。试验预饲期10 d,所有猪饲喂基础日粮;正式期28 d,分别饲喂基础日粮和试验日粮。试验结束屠宰全部试验猪,测定其胴体性状（胴体重、屠宰率、胴体直长、胴体斜长、眼肌面积、平均背膘厚和皮厚）;采集肉样用于测定肉质性状（滴水损失、剪切力、熟肉率、肌内脂肪含量、pH和肉色）;采集背最长肌样品用于猪滴水损失主效基因磷酸化酶激酶γ1（phosphorylase kinase gamma1,PHKG1）表达分析。结果表明：1）日粮脱脂米糠水平对苏淮猪的胴体重、屠宰率、胴体直长、胴体斜长、眼肌面积、平均背膘厚和皮厚等胴体指标没有显著影响。2）随脱脂米糠水平的提高,苏淮猪背最长肌的滴水损失呈先降低后上升的二次曲线变化（P<0.05）,猪肉的剪切力线性降低（P<0.05）;熟肉率、pH_{24 h}随脱脂米糠水平的增加呈线性增加的趋势（P=0.061,P=0.068）;日粮脱脂米糠水平的增加有降低L_{24 h}^*的趋势（线性,P=0.085）,脱脂米糠水平对其它肉质指标均无显著影响。3）PHKG1基因的相对表达量随脱脂米糠水平的增加趋于二次方升高（P=0.085）。综上所述,日粮脱脂米糠水平对苏淮育肥猪的胴体性状无显著影响,但在日粮中适度添加脱脂米糠可降低苏淮猪猪肉的滴水损失及剪切力,改善苏淮猪猪肉品质,但其背后的机制还有待进一步深入研究。     

The C bicarbonate dilution technique to determine energy expenditure in young bulls validated by indirect calorimetry

We explored the applicability of the ¹³C bicarbonate dilution technique for determination of energy expenditure (EE) in young bulls in comparison to whole body indirect calorimetry (IC). Twelve bulls of a F2 German Holstein x Charolais cross (4.5 months, 332 ± 16 kg BM) received a diet providing 1000 kJ ME d^− 1 kg BM^− 0.75 and 4.3 g crude protein d^− 1 kg BM^− 0.75. Bulls were housed in respiration chambers and received an intravenous bolus of NaH¹³CO₃ (A: 3 μmol kg BM^− 1 (n = 2), B: 7 μmol kg BM^− 1 (n = 4), C: 17.5 μmol kg BM^− 1 (n = 6), 99 at.% ¹³C) into the jugular vein to measure EE. Simultaneously, EE was determined by IC. After the ¹³C administration blood samples and breath gas were collected from the animals in the respiration chamber during a 24-h period (7.00–7.00 h). The recovery of ¹³C in breath CO₂ (% of ¹³C dose) was irrespective of NaH¹³CO₃ dose (A: 69.7 ± 2.7%, B: 70.5 ± 4.5%, C: 75.0 ± 4.9%; P > 0.05). Only small amounts of ¹³C were excreted in urine (3.4 ± 2.6%) and feces (2.0 ± 1.3%). The EE determined by the ¹³C bicarbonate method using breath and blood ¹³C recovery rates as correction factors was not different from that measured by IC (816 ± 81 [blood] or 827 ± 101 [breath] vs. 820 ± 90 kJ d^− 1 kg BM^− 0.75). Bland–Altman analysis showed a 95% confidence interval for EE of ± 99 and ± 109 kJ d^− 1 kg BM^− 0.75 based on blood and breath ¹³C recovery, respectively. In conclusion, the ¹³C bicarbonate dilution method is appropriate to obtain reliable estimates of EE in young bulls using blood CO₂ or breath CO₂ under standardized experimental conditions, i.e. in the fasting state.     

低聚壳聚糖替代抗生素对樱桃谷肉鸭生长性能、屠宰性能、肠道屏障功能和肌肉品质的影响

本试验旨在探究日粮中添加50 mg·kg^-1的低聚壳聚糖（chitosan oligosaccharide,COS）替代抗生素对樱桃谷肉鸭生长性能、屠宰性能、血清生化指标、肠道屏障功能和肌肉品质的影响。选取540只1日龄的樱桃谷肉鸭,随机分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复30只鸭,分别饲喂基础日粮（对照组,control group）、基础日粮+40 mg·kg^-1杆菌肽锌（抗生素组,antibiotic group）以及基础日粮+50 mg·kg^-1 COS （COS组,COS group）,试验期42 d。试验结束时,从每个重复中随机选取1只公鸭（接近平均体重）称重,采集血样、肠道与肌肉样品用于血清生化、肠道屏障功能和肌肉品质等指标的测定。试验结果表明：1）与对照组和抗生素组相比,日粮中添加COS显著提高了樱桃谷肉鸭的平均日采食量（ADFI）、平均日增重（ADG）、脾脏指数和胸腺指数（P<0.05）,但对肉鸭屠宰性能影响不显著（P>0.05）。2）与对照组相比,日粮中添加COS或抗生素显著提高了血清球蛋白（GLB）含量、腿肌超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）（P<0.05）以及十二指肠黏膜分泌型免疫球蛋白A （sIgA）和免疫球蛋白G （IgG）含量（P<0.05）,降低了血清尿素氮（BUN）含量和A/G值、腿肌丙二醛（MDA）含量和滴水损失（P<0.05）。3）与对照组和抗生素组相比,日粮中添加COS显著提高了空肠和回肠黏膜的免疫球蛋白M （IgM）含量（P<0.05）,显著降低了血清二胺氧化酶（DAO）和脂多糖（LPS）含量（P<0.05）。与对照组相比,日粮中添加COS显著提高了十二指肠黏膜咬合蛋白（OCLN）基因mRNA表达水平和腿肌a^*值（P<0.05）,显著降低了血清D-乳酸含量（P<0.05）。此外,抗生素组的空肠黏膜OCLN基因表达水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。结果指出：日粮中添加COS提高了樱桃谷肉鸭的生长性能,增强了免疫力,改善了肠道屏障功能和肉品质。COS可以替代抗生素用于樱桃谷肉鸭生产。