Ornithine metabolism, but not arginine synthesis, is affected by the addition of ornithine to an arginine-deficient diet in enterally-fed piglets

In a previous study, ornithine addition to an arginine-deficient diet did not improve whole-body arginine status in enterally-fed piglets; however, the metabolic fates of the supplemental ornithine were not studied. This experiment determined the metabolic fates of the supplemental ornithine and whether ornithine metabolism was affected by the addition of -ketoglutarate. Male piglets (n = 20, 1.8 kg), fitted with gastric catheters for diet and isotope infusion, portal vein catheters for isotope infusion and femoral vein catheters for blood sampling (d 0), received 2 d of a complete diet, followed by 5 d of 1 of 4 test diets: the arginine-deficient diet (basal), or the basal diet with either -ketoglutarate [ +  - KG; 4.6 mmol/(kg d)], ornithine [ + Orn; 9.2 mmol/(kg d)] or both [ +  - KG/ + Orn; 4.6 mmol/(kg d)  - ketoglutarate + 9.2 mmol/(kg d) ornithine]. Piglets received primed, constant infusions of [1-¹⁴C]ornithine infused intragastrically (either d 5 and d 7) to determine ornithine kinetics, and [guanido-¹⁴C]arginine intragastrically to measure arginine flux (d 6). Piglets receiving the ornithine-containing diets had a higher intragastric ornithine flux (P < 0.0001) and ornithine oxidation (P < 0.05). Ornithine supplementation did not increase arginine synthesis, although the ornithine supplemented piglets had a greater conversion of ornithine to proline (P < 0.0001). The fates of supplemental ornithine in piglets fed an arginine-deficient diet appear to be oxidation and proline synthesis; this was not affected by the presence of -ketoglutarate.     

Effect of low levels of dietary tyrosine on the hair colour of cats

Experiments were conducted to investigate the basis for the change in hair colour of black cats to reddish-brown. Black cats were given purified diets based on gelatin, casein plus lactalbumin, or crystalline amino acids as protein sources. Diets that caused the colour of hair to change to reddish-brown were associated with a reduction in melanin in hair (observed by direct microscopic examination), a decreased total melanin concentration and low concentrations of tyrosine in plasma. Reddish hair coat was induced in black kittens born to queens given a tyrosine-deficient diet during pregnancy. Black hair colour was maintained or restored by diets containing a high concentration of tyrosine or phenylalanine. Current dietary recommendations for dietary tyrosine and phenylalanine for cats are below those required to support maximal melanin synthesis in black cats. The requirement appears to be greater than a combination of 4.5 g tyrosine plus 12 g phenylalanine/kg diet but less than 24 g phenylalanine alone/kg diet.     

Gut ecology, feed digestion and performance in weaned piglets fed liquid diets

Gut environment and microflora, digestibility, and performance were studied in weaned piglets in Central Vietnam fed a dry control diet (CO), a naturally fermented liquid diet (FE), and a liquid diet with inclusion of rice distiller's residue (RDR). Digesta samples were collected at the start (day 0) and at the end of experiment (day 42). Diet FE had a lower pH than diet RDR, contained more organic acids, had the lowest counts of E. coli and total coliforms (P < 0.05), and the highest counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (P < 0.05). Piglets fed diets FE and RDR had lower pH (P < 0.05), and higher concentrations of organic acids in the stomach, ileum and mid-colon (P < 0.05) than piglets fed diet CO. Counts of LAB in stomach and ileum were higher in animals fed diets FE and RDR than CO (P < 0.05), while the number of E. coli and total coliforms along the gastrointestinal tract was reduced. The ileal digestibility of crude protein and organic matter was improved in piglets fed diet RDR (P < 0.05) compared with piglets fed diet CO. Piglets fed diet RDR had a higher weight gain (P < 0.05) and a better feed utilization (P < 0.05) than piglets fed the other diets. The present findings support the contention that fermented diets and/or fermented feedstuffs can be used for dietary manipulation to improve gut health and animal performance.     

中草药复方对断奶仔猪回肠末端食糜氨基酸含量的影响

试验选用60头21日龄断奶的三元杂交仔猪(杜×长×大),按完全区组设计分为3组,处理1饲喂添加0.2%的中草药复方日粮、处理2饲喂添加0.02%的粘杆菌素日粮及处理3饲喂基础日粮,于第7天、第14天和第28天每组随机取5头试猪,放血处死后迅速剖开腹腔,采集回肠末端食糜备测氨基酸含量,以研究中草药复方对早期断奶仔猪氨基酸消化吸收能力的影响。结果表明:中草药复方组回肠末端食糜中氨基酸的含量逐渐低于粘杆菌素组和对照组,至28d时,Leu、Ile、Val、Ala、Asp、Glu、His、Lys和Ser的含量显著低于粘杆菌素组和对照组(P<0.05)。     

低粗蛋白质氨基酸平衡日粮对仔猪生长性能、血液指标、营养物质表观消化率和腹泻率的影响

为研究不同水平低粗蛋白质（CP）氨基酸平衡日粮对10~25 kg仔猪的生长性能、血液指标、营养物质表观养分消化率和腹泻率的影响,选取320头10 kg健康的"杜×长×大"三元杂交断奶仔猪,随机分为4个处理,每个处理4个重复,每个重复20头仔猪。对照组饲喂基础日粮,CP水平为20.1%,其他组饲喂低CP补充氨基酸日粮,CP水平分别为18.3%、14.9%、13.2%,除根据需要补充L-赖氨酸、DL-蛋氨酸、L-苏氨酸、L-色氨酸外,还补充L-缬氨酸、L-异亮氨酸、L-苯丙氨酸和L-组氨酸等,共计8种晶体氨基酸,各处理氨基酸水平均达到或超过NRC（1998）猪营养需要量标准,试验期24 d。结果显示：①20.1% CP组仔猪平均日增重（ADG）显著高于13.2% CP（P<0.05）;各组间料重比（F/G）、平均采食量（ADFI）差异均不显著（P>0.05）。②20.1% CP组仔猪血清尿素水平最高,13.2% CP最低,二者差异极显著（P<0.01）;各组间总蛋白（TP）、白蛋白（ALB）、球蛋白（GLB）、白蛋白/球蛋白、胰岛素、血糖、免疫球蛋白（IgA）、IgG、IgM水平均差异不显著（P>0.05）。③13.2% CP、14.9% CP组仔猪CP表观消化率极显著低于20.1% CP组（P<0.01）;其余指标差异均不显著（P>0.05）。④20.1% CP组仔猪腹泻率最高,13.2% CP组腹泻率最低,且差异显著（P<0.05）。综上所述,日粮CP水平降低至14.9%时对仔猪的生长性能无不良影响;血清尿素水平、CP表观消化率均极显著对于对照组（20.1% CP）,仔猪腹泻率大大降低。因此10~25 kg断奶仔猪氨基酸平衡日粮CP水平可降低至14.9%,不影响仔猪的生长性能。     

复方中草药制剂对早期断奶仔猪蛋白质合成能力及抗应激能力的影响

本试验旨在研究复方中草药制剂对早期断奶仔猪蛋白质合成能力及抗应激能力的影响。选用平均体重为（7.27±0.18）kg、断奶日龄为（28±2）d的长白猪×约克夏猪仔猪126头,采用单因素完全随机区组试验设计,分为7组,每组3个重复,每个重复6头猪。日粮中中草药复方制剂剂型为水煎剂和散剂2种。试验1组为空白对照组;试验2、3、4组为水煎剂添加组,添加量分别为0.05%、0.10%、0.15%;试验5、6、7组为散剂添加组,添加量分别为0.05%、0.10%、0.15%。试验期21 d。结果表明,与对照组相比,复方中草药制剂可显著提高早期断奶仔猪血清中碱性磷酸酶（AKP）、谷草转氨酶（GOT）、谷丙转氨酶（GPT）的活力及总蛋白（TP）、白蛋白（ALB）的含量（P<0.05）,显著降低血清中尿素氮（BUN）含量（P<0.05）;显著降低早期断奶仔猪血清中肌酸激酶（CK）活力及葡萄糖（GLU）含量（P<0.05）。综上所述,在本试验条件下,复方中草药制剂能显著促进早期断奶仔猪机体蛋白质的合成,降低断奶仔猪的应激,且中草药剂型散剂优于水煎剂,最适添加比例为0.15%。     

Postprandial oxidative losses of free and protein‐bound amino acids in the diet: interactions and adaptation

Postprandial oxidation of dietary free amino acids or egg white protein was studied using the [¹³CO₂] breath test in rats, as well as in humans. Thirty‐eight male rats were assigned to four dietary test groups. Two diets only differed in their protein fraction. Diet I contained 21% egg white protein. For the breath test egg white protein, intrinsically labelled with [1‐¹³C]‐leucine, was used as a substrate. Diet II contained the same amino acids as diet I, though not as egg white protein but in free form. Free [1‐¹³C]‐leucine was used to label this diet. In addition, two 1:1 mixtures of both diets were used. During the breath test either the free amino acid or the protein fraction was labelled as in diets I or II. The animals were breath‐tested following short‐term (day 5) and long‐term adaptation (day 20) to their experimental diet. For all diets, including the mixed diets, postprandial oxidative losses on day 5 were significantly higher for the free leucine compared with the protein‐derived leucine. Differences between free and protein‐derived leucine oxidation had, however, largely disappeared on day 20. The human subjects were breath‐tested without any adaptation period to the diets. The oxidative losses of free leucine were also higher than those of protein‐derived leucine. None of the studies showed any indication for an interaction between the oxidation of protein‐derived amino acids and free amino acids. It is concluded that free and protein‐derived amino acids in the diet are mainly metabolized independently.     

Estimation of endogenous protein and amino acid ileal losses in weaned piglets by regression analysis using diets with graded levels of casein

Background

Many studies have investigated endogenous loss of proteins and amino acids (AAs) at the ileal level in growing pigs. However, only a few studies have researched this subject in piglets. Knowledge regarding AA ileal digestibility in piglets would be helpful during the formulation of diets for weaning piglets, rather than just using coefficients obtained in growing pigs. Therefore, in this study, we sought to estimate endogenous protein and AA ileal losses in piglets. Furthermore, apparent and true ileal digestibility (AID and TID) of protein and AAs from casein were measured.

Results

The average flow of protein was 20.8 g/kg of dry matter intake (DMI). Basal protein loss, as estimated by regression, was 16.9 g/kg DMI. Glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid (2.2, 1.4, and 1.2 g/kg DMI, respectively) were the AAs for which greater losses were seen. The AID of protein and AAs increased as the protein level in the diet increased. A higher increment in AID was observed between diets with 80 and160 g CP/kg of feed; this finding was mainly attributable to increases in glycine and arginine (46.1% and 18%, respectively). The TID of protein was 97.8, and the TID of AAs varied from 93.9 for histidine to 100.2 for phenylalanine.

Conclusions

The basal endogenous protein loss in piglets was 16.9 g/kg DMI. Endogenous protein was rich in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and arginine, which represented 32.7% of endogenous protein loss in weaning piglets. The TID of casein was high and varied from 93.0 for histidine to 100.2 for phenylalanine.     

Estimation of endogenous protein and amino acid ileal losses in weaned piglets by regression analysis using diets with graded levels of casein

Background： Many studies have investigated endogenous loss of proteins and amino acids （AAs） at the ileal level in growing pigs. However, only a few studies have researched this subject in piglets. Knowledge regarding AA ileal digestibility in piglets would be helpful during the formulation of diets for weaning piglets, rather than just using coefficients obtained in growing pigs. Therefore, in this study, we sought to estimate endogenous protein and AA ileal losses in piglets. Furthermore, apparent and true ileal digestibility （AID and TID） of protein and AAs from casein were measured. Results： The average flow of protein was 20.8 g/kg of dry matter intake （DMI）. Basal protein loss, as estimated by regression, was 16.9 g/kg DMI. Glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid （2.2, 1.4, and 1.2 g/kg DMI, respectively） were the AAs for which greater losses were seen. The AID of protein and AAs increased as the protein level in the diet increased. A higher increment in AID was observed between diets with 80 and160 g CP/kg of feed; this finding was mainly attributable to increases in glycine and arginine （46.1% and 18%, respectively）. The TID of protein was 97.8, and the TID of AAs varied from 93.9 for histidine to 100.2 for phenylalanine. Conclusions： The basal endogenous protein loss in piglets was 16.9 g/kg DMI. Endogenous protein was rich in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and arginine, which represented 32.7% of endogenous protein loss in weaning piglets. The TID of casein was high and varied from 93.0 for histidine to 100.2 for phenylalanine.     

Passive protection against porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus in piglets by colostrum from immunized cows.

The effects of hyperimmune cow colostrum (HCC) on experimentally induced porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) were investigated in piglets. In experiment 1, four 2-day-old piglets fed HCC containing an antibody titer of 1:512 and another four piglets fed unimmune cow colostrum (UCC) were orally inoculated with 10LD50 of PED virus. The piglets were given colostrum three times a day at 4 hr intervals. Half of the piglets fed HCC showed diarrhea and recovered, and all piglets survived. In contrast, all piglets fed UCC developed diarrhea and three of them died. In experiment 2, 2-day-old piglets fed HCC containing antibody titers of 1:512, 1:128 and 1:32, and UCC were inoculated with PED virus, and survival rates after challenge were 100, 75, 50 and 0 %, respectively. In experiment 3, 1-day-old piglets fed HCC with 1:512 antibody titer or UCC were inoculated and necropsied at 24, 48 and 72 hr after the inoculation for pathological examination. Piglets fed HCC remained healthy and PED virus antigen was not detected in the epithelial cells of the small intestine, and the length of the villi in small intestine was normal. On the other hand, in piglets fed UCC, villous atrophy and PED virus antigen were observed in epithelial cells of the jejunum and ileum from 24 hr. It was concluded that oral administration of HCC to piglets was effective in preventing PED virus infection and reduced their mortality.     

Influence of toltrazuril treatment on parasitological parameters and health performance of piglets in the field--an Austrian experience

Porcine coccidiosis caused by Isospora suis is one of the leading causes of neonatal diarrhea in suckling piglets. Currently the only registered drug for metaphylaxis is toltrazuril. To evaluate the effect of treatment on piglets from 7 Austrian farms without and 8 Austrian farms with toltrazuril application we examined oocyst excretion (including determination of oocysts per gram of feces; OPG), diarrhea (fecal score FS 1-4 with 3 and 4 being diarrhea), and general health (health score HS 1-4 with 3 and 4 describing poor health). Both groups included farms with different levels of hygiene. Samples from 265 litters without treatment, comprising 1588 individual samples, and 1548 samples from 258 treated litters were taken twice (around the 14th and the 21st day of life, respectively), examined by autofluorescence and, if positive, by McMaster counting. In both groups animals had less diarrhea and lower health scores during the second sampling but the treated piglets were always significantly healthier and had less diarrhea. The percentage of weaned piglets was higher in treated animals although this was not significant (p=0.052). In the first round of sampling 17.8% of the individual samples from untreated piglets were positive for oocysts (with a maximum prevalence on the 12-15th day of life) while in the treated piglets only 0.4% shed oocysts p<0.001). At the second sampling only 2.1% of the untreated animals and none of treated piglets excreted I. suis (p=0.083). Positive animals shed up to 8 × 10(3)OPG. There was an increased risk for infected piglets to develop diarrhea (odds ratio, OR 4.73) and poor health (OR 5.05) in untreated piglets, and poor hygiene without disinfection was identified as a risk factor for poor health (OR 1.90), diarrhea (OR 1.42) and oocyst excretion (OR 1.73). The risk of poor health (OR 2.89) and diarrhea (OR 1.44) was also increased for piglets under poor hygienic conditions receiving toltrazuril, so both metaphylaxis of coccidiosis and good hygiene are necessary to effectively control neonatal diarrhea. The costs of treatment are considerably lower than the estimated financial production losses. Therefore, treatment is recommended for farms where clinical coccidiosis is diagnosed.     

不同粉碎粒度的豆粕对断奶仔猪生长性能和养分消化率的影响

本试验研究不同粉碎粒度的豆粕对断奶仔猪生长性能和养分消化率的影响,选用26～28日龄断奶(7.9±0.7)kg杜×长×大健康仔猪80头,按体重、性别相同原则随机分为4个处理,每处理设5个重复,每个重复4头猪。各个处理组采用相同的日粮组成,对照组饲喂含常规粉碎豆粕(目标粒径为750μm)的日粮,处理1、2、3分别饲喂含目标粒径为150、30、6μm豆粕的日粮。结果表明:使用粉碎粒度低于30μm豆粕的日粮提高了断奶仔猪日增重(P<0.05),明显提高采食量(P>0.05),降低饲料增重比(P<0.05),显著降低断奶仔猪的腹泻频率;使用粉碎粒度低于30μm豆粕的日粮提高断奶仔猪日粮氮、磷表观消化率(P<0.05),改善能量消化率(P=0.063)和有机物表观消化率(P=0.082),显著提高必需氨基酸的表观消化率(P<0.05)。粉碎粒度低于30μm的超微粉碎豆粕可显著提高断奶仔猪日粮蛋白质的消化效率,提高断奶仔猪的生长性能,改善了豆粕作为蛋白质营养源的生物适应性。     

不同比例低蛋白氨基酸平衡日粮对断奶仔猪生长性能及氮平衡的影响

为了解不同比例低蛋白氨基酸平衡日粮对断奶仔猪生长性能及氮平衡的影响,试验将96头初始体重9.8 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪随机分成4个处理,每个处理分别饲喂含不同蛋白水平的玉米-豆粕型饲粮(20%CP、19%CP、18%CP和17%CP),通过补充合成氨基酸,使各处理组的氨基酸与要求相一致。正式试验期为28 d,测定断奶仔猪生长性能、氮平衡指标。结果表明,日粮蛋白水平降至18%时,不会影响断奶仔猪生长性能,且显著降低尿氮、粪氮和总氮排放量(P<0.01);但随着日粮蛋白水平进一步降至17%时,显著降低仔猪平均日增重(P<0.01),显著增加料重比(P<0.01);18%CP组与17%CP组总氮排放量、氮表观利用率、氮表观生物学效价差异不显著(P>0.05)。说明添加合成氨基酸满足断奶仔猪需要,将日粮蛋白水平降至18%,不仅不会影响仔猪生长性能,而且还会降低氮排放,减少环境污染。     

Cold resistance and environmental temperature preference in diarrheic piglets

Piglets aged 12 to 72 h in which diarrhea had been induced by enteric Escherichia coli infection or sucrose gavage were studied with respect to cold resistance and thermal-circulation index in a 90-min test in a 6 C environment (Exp. 1) and free-choice environmental-temperature preference during a 60-min test in a 24 to 44 C thermocline (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, diarrhea lowered the piglet's ability to maintain body temperature during the cold test. Also, diarrheic piglets tended to have lower thermal circulation index values at the end of the cold test, indicative of a greater vasoconstrictive response to the cold environment. In Exp. 2, mean preferred environmental temperatures were 35.7, 34.9 and 34.5 C, respectively, for piglets in sham-control, E. coli-infected and sucrose-gavaged groups. For reason(s) still unknown, diarrheic piglets did not choose to locate themselves in a warmer niche than did normal piglets; in fact, they did the opposite. Results of the two experiments indicate that diarrheic neonatal piglets need even more attention and care in terms of the thermal environment than do healthy ones.     

Efficiency of amino acid utilization in the growing pig at suboptimal levels of intake: branched-chain amino acids, histidine and phenylalanine + tyrosine

Five balance experiments on growing pigs were carried out to study the marginal efficiency of utilization of isoleucine, leucine, valine, histidine and phenylalanine + tyrosine and to estimate their requirements for maintenance. Purified diets based on casein and crystalline amino acids as the sole source of N contained graded levels of each amino acid, corresponding to protein accretion rates of 0, 33, 66, 99 and 132 g/day, respectively. All other essential amino acids were given in a 30% excess. N retention increased linearly (p < 0.01) as the dietary concentration of the limiting amino acid increased. Based on linear regression equations relating amino acid deposition in body protein to amino acid intake, marginal efficiencies of ileal digestible amino acid utilization were calculated to be isoleucine - 0.81, leucine - 0.81, valine - 0.82, histidine - 1.17 and phenylalanine + tyrosine - 0.67. Extrapolating the regression equations to zero N retention, the daily requirements of amino acids for N equilibrium were estimated to be (mg/kg0.75) isoleucine - 18, leucine - 33, valine - 23, histidine - 14 and phenylalanine + tyrosine - 43.     

Body weight, total body water and hematocrit in diarrheic piglets

Piglets aged 12 to 72 h in which diarrhea had been induced by enteric Escherichia coli infection or sucrose gavage were studied with respect to body weight, total body water concentration (determined by tritiated-water dilution) and hematocrit. Sucrose-induced diarrhea reduced body weight by 13 to 17%, and E. coli diarrhea, by 8 to 9%. Neither age nor diarrheal treatment affected total body water concentration, although diarrheic piglets tended to have higher hematocrit values at all ages. There was a significant daily cycle in the piglets' hematocrit values, so hematocrit might be a less valid reflector of neonates' whole body hydration status than of adults'. It was concluded that diarrheic neonatal piglets lose body water and dry matter in a ratio similar to that of normal body water and dry matter concentrations, thus their bodies have normal total body water concentrations and normal average specific heat values.     

Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin after oral administration in recently weaned piglets with experimentally induced Escherichia coli subtype O149:F4 diarrhea

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of Escherichia coli subtype O149:F4-induced diarrhea on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered amoxicillin in affected piglets relative to that of uninfected piglets. ANIMALS: 22 healthy 4-week-old recently weaned Danish crossbred piglets. PROCEDURE: 12 piglets were orally inoculated through gastric intubation with 10(9) CFUs of an E. coli O149:F4 strain and responded by developing diarrhea 12 to 16 hours later. Piglets were dosed with amoxicillin trihydrate solution (20 mg/kg) by gastric intubation. A control group of 10 age-matched piglets without signs of diarrhea was dosed similarly. Blood samples were obtained before amoxicillin administration and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after amoxicillin administration. The plasma concentration of amoxicillin was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: A significant 39% decrease in the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve of amoxicillin was observed in piglets with diarrhea relative to that of control piglets. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was significantly (52%) lower in piglets with diarrhea, compared with control piglets, while the elimination rate constant, time to reach Cmax, and elimination half-life were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea may decrease systemic bioavailability of amoxicillin. Escherichia coli bacteria attach to the intestinal epithelial cells. Because it is assumed that the concentration of the antimicrobial at the site of infection reflects the systemic concentration, higher doses of amoxicillin in the treatment of piglets with E. coli O149:F4-induced diarrhea may be appropriate.     

Metabolism of leucine by bovine adipose tissue: Effects of media supplementation and insulin

Leucine metabolism in comparison to glucose, and with substrate and insulin supplementation, were studied in bovine adipose tissue slices obtained from the tailhead region. In addition, leucine metabolism by isolated adipocytes in a Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) buffer was compared to metabolism in Medium-199. Slices oxidized leucine and incorporated the amino acid into cellular protein and lipid, though at much lower rates than for glucose. Glucose addition increased leucine oxidation and its incorporation into lipid but did not affect protein synthesis. Insulin, up to 100 ng/ml, had no effect. Isolated cells convened a higher proportion of the leucine utilized to lipid, and less to protein, than did slices. Absolute rates of oxidation and lipid synthesis were lower, and protein synthesis higher, for Medium-199 than for KRB. Of the total leucine utilized, conversion to lipid represented the largest percentage in both buffers. Insulin had no effect in either buffer system. Bovine adipose tissue, the major site of fatty acid synthesis in this species, was found to both oxidize leucine, and utilize the amino acid for synthesis of cellular components. The isolated adipocyte, free of connective tissue, directs this “ketogenic” amino acid primarily towards lipid synthesis, by mechanisms which appear to be insulin insensitive in the adult bovine, as studied under short-term, in-vitro conditions.     

Porcine group C rotavirus as a cause of neonatal diarrhea in a Quebec swine herd.

A porcine group C rotavirus was found to be the unique cause of a problem of enzootic neonatal diarrhea in a minimal disease herd composed of 190 sows on a continuous farrowing program. During the outbreaks of diarrhea, 10 to 80% of the litters were affected with a morbidity rate of 100% and case fatality rates of 5 to 10%. Clinical signs began 24 to 48 h after birth and were characterized by a profuse yellow diarrhea lasting a few days. Piglets from different outbreaks of diarrhea were necropsied. They had multifocal villous atrophy in the small intestine, especially in the ileum. Group C rotavirus was demonstrated by direct immunofluorescent staining of frozen intestinal sections and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of viral RNA extracted from the intestinal contents of diarrheic piglets. The infection with clinical illness and lesions was reproduced experimentally in newborn piglets by oral inoculation of a suspension prepared from a pool of intestinal contents from diarrheic piglets.     

Tryptophan requirement of growing swine as determined by the oxidation of an indicator amino acid

The tryptophan requirement of growing swine was determined using the oxidation of L-[1-14C]-phenylalanine as an indicator of the adequacy of the dietary tryptophan level. Forty crossbred boars (30 to 45 kg) were fed a basal diet containing 16% protein supplied by corn and gelatin. A series of experimental diets containing .05, .08, .10, .15, .20 and .25% L-tryptophan were prepared. The diets were supplemented with crystalline amino acids to provide 135% of the recommended levels. Release of 14CO2 was measured for 1 h following a meal of the experimental diet containing 20 microCi 14C phenylalanine. Increasing dietary tryptophan from .05 to .13% decreased release of 14CO2. Further increases in dietary tryptophan concentration did not significantly influence 14CO2 production. Regression analysis using a two-phase linear regression crossover model indicated that phenylalanine oxidation was minimized by a dietary tryptophan concentration of .13%. It was concluded that at a concentration of .13%, tryptophan was no longer limiting the retention of the other amino acids, thus this is the requirement for maximum protein retention by the young, growing boar.