Guinea-pig productivity under traditional management

Results of a 12 month study of traditional guinea-pig production in the western highlands of Cameroon are reported. The mean age of guinea-pigs (Cavia porcellus L.) at first parturition, kidding interval and litter size at birth were 126.30±10.40 d, 64.8±1.70 d and 1.63±0.26 kids respectively. The annual reproductive rate was 9.18 kids/breeding doe while the doe post-partum weight was 530 g. Mean body weights at birth, presumed weaning (21 d) and 15 weeks of age were 78.36±3.20, 147.51±8.10 and 418.88±32 g respectively. Type of birth and sex had a significant effect on body weight at all ages. Birth weight dropped significantly from 83.88±2.87 g for singles to 81.57±3.40 g for twins, 74.25±2.39 g for triplets and 73.75±4.12 g for quadruplets. These differences were maintained to maturity (15 weeks). Males were generally heavier than females. Mortality rates were relatively high among kids: 24% at birth, 39% at 3 weeks and 40% at 15 weeks. Productivity indices were 0.827 kg of young weaned per doe per year, 1560 g of young weaned per kg of doe per year and 2.52 kg of young weaned per kg metabolic weight (kg^0.75) of female per year.     

Effect of adding different levels of rumen protected choline to the diet on productive and reproductive performance of female goats and growth of their kids from birthing to weaning

Forty female goats in the third parity were randomly divided into four similar groups. The experiment was started 20 days before mating and lasted until the end of the suckling period for 60 days and weaning their kids. The first group were fed diet without supplementation and kept as control while in the second, third and fourth groups, each doe was fed diets with rumen protected choline (RPC) at the rate of 10, 20 and 40 g/day, respectively. Results showed that number of doe kidding twins and triplets and litter weight of kids born per group increased with increasing the level of RPC in the diet of goats and viability rate of born kids during the suckling period improved due to RPC supplementation in the diets of their mothers. Duration of estrous, days from weaning to estrous, days from kidding to estrous and kidding interval decreased significantly, while conception rate increased due to adding RPC. Milk choline concentrations and total choline secretion though milk were progressively increased significantly with increasing the level of RPC supplementation. Live body weight and daily body gain of their suckling male and female kids at weaning increased significantly with increasing RPC levels in the diets of their mothers.     

Reproductive and health traits among Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goat does under humid, subtropical pasture conditions of the southeastern United States

Boer (n = 132), Kiko (n = 92), and Spanish (n = 79) straightbred does were studied across 6 yr to assess doe fitness on southeastern US pastures. Does were exposed to Boer, Kiko, and Spanish bucks in a complete 3-breed diallel mating scheme each fall for spring kidding in March or May. A total of 1,041 doe-yr units were observed with does (ranging from 2 to 8 yr of age) managed together in a semi-intensive manner. The proportion of buck-exposed does delivering at least 1 live kid was less (P < 0.01) for Boer does (80%) than for Kiko (96%) and Spanish does (94%). Litter size and litter weight at birth were not affected (P > 0.15) by breed of dam. By weaning at 3 mo, the proportion of available does weaning at least 1 kid was less (P < 0.01) for Boer does (53%) than for Kiko (84%) and Spanish does (82%). For does weaning kids, litter size at weaning was greater (P = 0.01) for Spanish does (1.74 kids) than for Kiko (1.59 kids) and Boer does (1.47 kids). Litter weaning weight was lighter (P < 0.01) for Boer dams (23.0 kg) than for Kiko (27.2 kg) and Spanish dams (26.5 kg). The efficiency ratio of litter weight to dam weight at weaning differed (P < 0.05) among all 3 dam breeds: Boer = 51%; Kiko = 62%; Spanish = 68%. Annual rates of lameness, endoparasitism, and attrition, respectively, were greater (P < 0.01) for Boer does (69, 53, and 28%) than for Kiko (32, 24, and 10%) and Spanish does (42, 22, and 11%). Postpartum fecal egg counts for endoparasite loads were less (P < 0.05) for Spanish dams (346 eggs/g) than for Kiko (524 eggs/g) and Boer does (675 eggs/g). Whole-herd annual doe productivity based on all available does was less (P < 0.01) for Boer does (11.7 kg weaned/doe) compared with Kiko (22.0 kg weaned/doe) and Spanish does (21.1 kg weaned/doe). Boer does expressed substantially decreased levels of fitness compared with Kiko and Spanish does when semi-intensively managed on humid, subtropical pasture. Kiko and Spanish should be preferred as maternal breeds in meat goat production systems under conditions reflective of this study.     

Acanthopanax senticosus extract as a dietary additive enhances the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in weaned piglets

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) extract as a dietary additive on serum contents and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids (AA) in weaned piglets. In Exp. 1, 60 piglets with an average body weight (BW) of 5.64 kg were randomly assigned into 3 treatment groups who received maize-soybean-based diets supplemented with 0 or 1 g/kg of AS extract or 0.2 g/kg of colistin (n = 20 in each group). Blood samples were randomly collected from 5 piglets per group on days 7, 14 and 28 after the initiation of supplementation to determine the serum contents of free AA. In Exp. 2, 12 barrows with an average initial BW of 7.64 kg were also randomly assigned into 3 dietary treatment groups after being surgically fitted with a simple T-cannula at the terminal ileum. Samples of terminal ileal digesta were collected on day 7 for analysis of the AID of AA. The data showed that the serum contents and AID of most AA in the AS extract-supplemented group gradually increased by 15.3–80.8% and 4.1–30.8%, respectively, as the experiment proceeded in comparison with the colistin-supplemented group and/or control group. In conclusion, these findings indicated that AS extract could enhance the digestion and absorption of AA, which may be a potential mechanism of growth promotion.     

Breeding goals for the Kenya Dual Purpose goat. II. Estimation of economic values for production and functional traits

Economic values for production traits (milk yield, MY, kg; 12-month sale weight, LW, kg; consumable meat percentage, CMP) and functional traits (doe live weight, DoWT, kg; number of kids weaned, NKW; kidding frequency, KF; kidding rate, KR, %; doe weaning rate, DoWR, %; doe survival rate, DoSR, %; post-weaning survival rate, PoSR, %; pre-weaning survival rate, PrSR, % and; residual feed intake of yearlings, RFIgamma, kg and does RFId, kg) were estimated for the Kenya Dual Purpose goat (KDPG) for systems under two bases of evaluation. The production systems included smallholder low-potential (SLP), smallholder medium-potential (SMP) and smallholder high-potential (SHP), while the bases of evaluation considered were fixed flock-size and fixed feed resource. Under both bases of evaluation, economic values were highest in SMP apart from the economic values for feed intake-related traits (RFIy and RFId). In SMP, the economic values under fixed flock-size scenario were KSh 71.61 (LW), 20.90 (MY), 45.20 (CMP), 13.68 (NKW), 3.61 (KF), 6.52 (KR), 12.39 (DoWR), 22.96 (DoSR), 22.87 (PoSR), 13.18 (PrSR), -2.76 (RFIy) and -3.00 (RFId). The corresponding economic values under fixed feed resources scenario were KSh 73.28, 29.39, 45.20, 16.91, 4.76, 9.45, 13.84, 25.67, 25.15, 16.19, -2.76 and -3.00. Generally in all production systems, economic values for most traits were higher under fixed feed resource than under fixed flock-size scenario. In all systems, the economic values for most of the traits were sensitive to changes in prices of feed, milk and meat. The positive economic values for most traits under fixed flock-size scenario and fixed feed resource indicates that a unit increase in genetic merit for the traits would have a positive effect on the profitability of the systems.     

Designing a treatment protocol with voriconazole to eliminate Aspergillus fumigatus from experimentally inoculated pigeons

To investigate the efficacy of voriconazole for the treatment of aspergillosis, three groups of six racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were inoculated in the apical part of the right lung with 2 × 10⁷ conidia of an avian derived Aspergillus fumigatus strain. The minimal inhibitory concentration of voriconazole for this strain was 0.25 μg/ml. In two groups, voriconazole treatment was started upon appearance of the first clinical signs and continued for fourteen days. The third group was sham treated. The voriconazole-treated pigeons received voriconazole orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) q12h (group 1) or 20 mg/kg BW q24h (group 2). Sixteen days post-inoculation all surviving pigeons were euthanized. Weight loss, clinical scores, daily mortality, lesions at necropsy and isolation of A. fumigatus were compared between all groups. In both voriconazole-treated groups, a significant reduction in clinical signs and lesions was observed. Administering voriconazole at 10 mg/kg BW q12h eliminated A. fumigatus and administering voriconazole at 20 mg/kg BW q24h reduced A. fumigatus isolation rates. Mild histological liver abnormalities were found in group 1 (10 mg/kg BW q12h), while mild histological as well as macroscopic liver abnormalities were found in group 2 (20 mg/kg BW q24h).In conclusion, voriconazole at 10 mg/kg BW q12h in pigeons reduces clinical signs and eliminates A. fumigatus in racing pigeons experimentally infected with A. fumigatus.     

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum infections in adult goats and their implications for neonatal kids

During the kidding season between January and April 2003, 10 farms were selected and divided into two groups of five. The farms in group A had had serious diarrhoeal illness and losses in neonatal kids the previous year, and there were Cryptosporidium parvum infections in kids associated with diarrhoea during the survey. On the farms in group B, there was no history of diarrhoeal disease the previous year and neither C parvum oocysts nor diarrhoea were detected in neonatal kids during the survey. Faecal samples were collected once from 10 adult goats aged between one and seven years on each farm. To assess more accurately the pattern of output of oocysts of C parvum and cysts of Giardia duodenalis by periparturient adult goats, one farm was selected from each group, faecal samples were collected weekly before and after kidding from 12 goats on the farm in group A and from 10 goats on the farm in group B. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of G duodenalis cysts between the group A farms (14 per cent) and the group B farms (12 per cent), and the numbers of cysts excreted ranged from 143 to 400 cysts per gram of faeces (cpg) on the group A farms and 72 to 334 cpg on the group B farms. There was a significant difference (P=0.03) in the prevalence of C parvum oocysts at the group level between the group A farms (20 per cent) and the group B farms (6 per cent). All the adult goats excreted cysts and oocysts at some date around the kidding period; the number of animals excreting cysts of G duodenalis or oocysts of C parvum increased when they gave birth, and seven to 10 times more cysts and oocysts were shed in the three weeks around kidding than in the period more than three weeks from kidding (P<0.001).     

Energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth of Boer crossbred kids

Meat production by goats has become an important livestock enterprise in several parts of the world. Nonetheless, energy and protein requirements of meat goats have not been defined thoroughly. The objective of this study was to determine the energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth of 34 (3/4) Boer x (1/4) Saanen crossbred, intact male kids (20.5 +/- 0.24 kg of initial BW). The baseline group was 7 randomly selected kids, averaging 21.2 +/- 0.36 kg of BW. An intermediate group consisted of 6 randomly selected kids, fed for ad libitum intake, that were slaughtered when they reached an average BW of 28.2 +/- 0.39 kg. The remaining kids (n = 21) were allocated randomly on d 0 to 3 levels of DMI (treatments were ad libitum or restricted to 70 or 40% of the ad libitum intake) within 7 slaughter groups. A slaughter group contained 1 kid from each treatment, and kids were slaughtered when the ad libitum treatment kid reached 35 kg of BW. Individual body components (head plus feet, hide, internal organs plus blood, and carcass) were weighed, ground, mixed, and subsampled for chemical analyses. Initial body composition was determined using equations developed from the composition of the baseline kids. The calculated daily maintenance requirement for NE was 77.3 +/- 1.05 kcal/kg(0.75) of empty BW (EBW) or 67.4 +/- 1.04 kcal/kg(0.75) of shrunk BW. The daily ME requirement for maintenance (118.1 kcal/kg(0.75) of EBW or 103.0 kcal/kg(0.75) of shrunk BW) was calculated by iteration, assuming that the heat produced was equal to the ME intake at maintenance. The partial efficiency of use of ME for NE below maintenance was 0.65. A value of 2.44 +/- 0.4 g of net protein/kg(0.75) of EBW for daily maintenance was determined. Net energy requirements for growth ranged from 2.55 to 3.0 Mcal/kg of EBW gain at 20 and 35 kg of BW, and net protein requirements for growth ranged from 178.8 to 185.2 g/kg of EBW gain. These results suggest that NE and net protein requirements for growing meat goats exceed the requirements previously published for dairy goats. Moreover, results from this study suggest that the N requirement for maintenance for growing goats is greater than the established recommendations.     

影响哺乳期羔羊生长的母羊因素分析

为探索母羊因素对哺乳期云上黑山羊羔羊生长发育的影响,根据母羊体重、胎次分别选取云上黑山羊初生羔羊90只和120只,公、母各半,从出生开始直至90日龄断奶,每10天进行1次体重测定,进行生长发育分析。结果表明:(1)母羊产后体重对羔羊初生重、哺乳期体重具有显著影响(P<0.05)。母羔中,38~45 kg母羊组和48~62 kg母羊组的羔羊初生重、平均日增重均显著高于28~35 kg母羊组(P<0.05)。公羔中,38~45 kg母羊组的羔羊初生重显著高于其他两组羔羊(P<0.05),48~62 kg母羊组其羔羊平均日增重显著高于其他两组羔羊(P<0.05)。(2)母羊胎次对母羔初生重没有显著影响,但对母羔哺乳期体重均有显著影响(P<0.05),母羔中,3胎、4胎母羊组的羔羊平均日增重均显著高于1胎和2胎母羊组;母羊胎次对公羔的影响不显著。说明母羊产后体重显著影响羔羊胎儿期和哺乳期的生长发育,合适的母羊体重可以为羔羊提供充足的营养;母羊胎次仅对哺乳期母羔具有显著影响,母羊的母性行为随胎次的增加而完善。     

Replacement of soybean meal with levels of inclusion of soya waste in the diet of growing goats

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal with soya waste at different levels on intake, digestibility and growth in goats. Eighteen male goat kids with initial body weight (BW) of 13.0 kg were distributed equally to three dietary groups. They were fed Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and concentrate mixture, and each goat was assigned to an individual pen. Soybean meal in the concentrate mixture was replaced with soya waste at 0% (T1), 50% (T2) and 100% (T3) levels in respective dietary groups. These diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Results showed that animals fed T3 diet exhibited higher Napier grass intake than those fed T1 or T2 diet. There was no influence on total intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), metabolic BW, per cent BW and metabolisable energy by the dietary groups. However, there was an increasing trend on intake and digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) with increasing levels of soya waste in the diets. Animals fed T3 diet showed higher intake and digestibility of NDF than those fed T1 diet. There was no influence of the dietary groups on digestibilities of DM, OM and CP. Similarly, there was no effect of them on the final BW, total BW gain, daily BW gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost. Soya waste can replace 100% soybean meal in diets for growing goats, because no change was observed in nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance; inclusion of soya waste enhanced the intake and digestibility of NDF.

     

Efficiency of feeding <Emphasis Type="Italic">Duddingtonia flagrans</Emphasis> chlamydospores to control nematode parasites of first-season grazing goats in France

A field trial, conducted over two consecutive years, was aimed at assessing the efficacy of the administration of spores of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans to young goats for the control of nematode parasite infections on a French commercial dairy goat flock. For both years, the first-year grazing kids were divided into two similarly managed groups (fungus and control groups): in 2003 a daily dose rate of 5 × 10⁵ spores/kg body weight was given to the fungus-group animals, while in 2004 a daily dose rate of 10⁶ spores/kg body weight was used; the other half of the kids, acting as control, did not receive the spores. Parameters measured every 3 weeks included nematode egg excretion, larval development in faecal cultures and pasture larval counts. Additionally, at the beginning, the middle and the end of each grazing season, the goats were weighed and blood samples for pepsinogen determination were collected. In 2003, similar results were recorded for all the measured parameters in the control and fungus groups. In contrast, in 2004, the kids receiving the spores showed lower faecal egg counts and pepsinogen levels at the end of the season and higher growth rate compared to kids of the control group.     

地衣芽孢杆菌对发酵床饲养仔猪生长性能、消化酶活性及肠道主要菌群数量的影响

本试验旨在研究发酵床饲养模式下日粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌对仔猪生长性能、胰腺和小肠黏膜消化酶活性及肠道主要菌群数量的影响。选用108头体重13kg左右的35日龄健康苏钟猪,随机分为3组,每组3个重复,每个重复12头,分别饲喂基础日粮(对照组)、基础日粮+40mg/kg杆菌肽锌+20mg/kg硫酸黏杆菌素(抗生素组)、基础日粮+300mg/kg地衣芽孢杆菌(益生菌组)的试验日粮。预试期7d,正试期52d。结果表明:1与对照组相比,日粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌能够在一定程度上提高仔猪平均日增重、平均日采食量,降低料重比,但各组间差异均不显著(P0.05)。2与对照组相比,日粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌能够极显著提高仔猪胰腺中淀粉酶活性、十二指肠黏膜中麦芽糖酶活性和空肠黏膜中乳糖酶活性(P0.01),十二指肠黏膜和空肠黏膜中蔗糖酶活性显著提高(P0.05)。3与对照组相比,日粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌能够显著提高仔猪盲肠芽孢杆菌数量(P0.05);乳酸杆菌数量较对照组提高4.09%,大肠杆菌数量较对照组降低4.86%,但均未达到显著水平(P0.05)。综上所述,在本试验条件下,日粮中添加300mg/kg地衣芽孢杆菌能够提高发酵床饲养仔猪胰腺、小肠黏膜消化酶活性及盲肠芽孢杆菌数量,同时仔猪生长性能也在一定程度上有所改善。     

Estrus Synchronization in Sheep and Goats Using Combinations of GnRH,Progestagen and Prostaglandin F2α

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of GnRH, progestagen and prostaglandin F_2α on estrus synchronization in sheep and goats. Sixty Awassi ewes and 53 Damascus does were used in the study. The experiment started at the beginning of the breeding season (June/July). The same treatments were applied to sheep and goats as follows: no treatment (CON), 14‐day progestagen sponges and 600 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (S), gonadotropin releasing hormone followed 5 days later by prostaglandin F_2α (GP) and gonadotropin releasing hormone, progestagen sponges for 5 days and prostaglandin F_2α on the day of sponge removal (GSP). None of the ewes in the S group lambed from mating during the induced cycle. A greater lambing rate (p < 0.05) was observed in the GSP group compared with the CON and S groups while the GP group was intermediate. The number of lambs born per lambed ewe was similar among the CON, GP and GSP groups. However, the number of lambs per exposed ewe was greater (p < 0.05) in the GSP than the remaining groups. The induced cycle kidding rate was 77% for all treatments combined. Similar kidding rate were observed among treatments. The numbers of kids born per kidded and exposed doe from mating during the induced estrus were also similar among treatments. Greater numbers of multiple births were observed in the GP and GSP than in the S group. In conclusion, a combination of GnRH, progestagen sponges and PGF_2α can be effective in synchronizing estrus and improving fecundity in sheep and goats. Although the use of GnRH–PGF_2α was effective, the addition of progestagen sponges at the time of GnRH administration appeared to improve reproductive parameters.     

Genetic and phenotypic aspects of early reproductive performance in Raeini Cashmere goats

This study used pedigree information and data collected from 1979 to 2012 at the Raeini Cashmere goat breeding station, located in Baft City in Kerman Province in southeastern Iran. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for early reproductive traits of breeding does, including total numbers of kids born at first kidding (LSB1), total numbers of kids weaned at first kidding (LSW1), total birth weight of all kids born at first kidding (LWB1), total weaning weight of all kids weaned at first kidding (LWW1), and age at first kidding (AFK), were estimated using a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling. Posterior means for heritability estimates of LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, LWW1, and AFK were statistically significant, with values of 0.12, 0.23, 0.17, 0.15, and 0.46, respectively. Low-to-moderate additive genetic variation was present for the studied reproductive traits. Estimated genetic correlations among LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1 were statistically significant and ranged from 0.12 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.72 between LSB1 and LSW1. Corresponding phenotypic correlation estimates were also statistically significant and ranged from 0.04 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.55 between LSB1 and LSW1. Posterior means of genetic and phenotypic correlations between AFK and other studied traits were statistically significant only for LSB1 and LWB1. For LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1, we conclude that genetic and phenotypic improvement in any of these traits in Raeini Cashmere does would favorably influence all of the other traits. However, does that first kidded at younger ages have smaller litters at birth and lower litter birth weights at their first parity.

     

Analysis of size and conformation of native Creole goat breeds and crossbreds used in smallholder agrosilvopastoral systems in Puebla,Mexico

Liveweight (LW) of does and bucks of the native Creole goat breed and crosses of Creole does and Nubian bucks, aged 1.5–5 years, were recorded and body traits including: head length (HL), head width (HW), body length (BL), trunk length (TL), chest girth (CG), abdominal perimeter (AP), rump length (RL), and height at withers (HW) were measured to develop equations for predicting LW from the body measurements. Weight, sex, breed and kidding date of 354 kids were recorded at birth, and LW of the kids was measured monthly for one year to determine the effect of kidding season on growth rate. Bucks had higher (p < 0.05) body measurements than the does (HL 15.1 ± 0.1 vs 16.6 ± 0.2 cm; BL 97.6 ± 0.4 vs 104.6 ± 1.2 cm; CG 78.8 ± 0.4 vs 79.9 ± 1.0 cm; AP 82.4 ± 0.5 vs 87.2 ± 1.1 cm; HW 62.7 ± 0.4 vs 70.1 ± 0.8 cm). With the exception of TL, F₂ does had higher (p < 0.05) body measurements and LW (28.8 ± 1.5 vs 27.7 ± 0.5 kg) than Creole does. The body traits of the F₁ does were similar (p > 0.05) to those of Creole does with the exception of HL, BL and HR. The F₂ kids were heavier (p < 0.05) at birth (3.31 ± 0.1 vs 2.60 ± 0.1 kg) and grew faster than the Creole kids. Male kids were heavier (p < 0.05) at birth (3.21 ± 0.10 vs 2.73 ± 0.13 kg), and grew faster than female kids. Season had a significant effect on birth weight. The results showed that LW of Creole goats and Creole × Nubian does could be estimated in the field using body traits. Birth weight and growth rate of kids could be improved by management practices that affect season of kidding.     

Energy requirements of early‐weaned Dorper cross‐bred female lambs

The net and metabolizable energy (NE and ME) requirements of Dorper cross‐bred female lambs with BWs of 20–35 kg were assessed in a comparative slaughter trial. Thirty‐five Dorper × thin‐tailed Han cross‐bred female lambs weaned at ~50 days of age (20.3 ± 2.15 kg BW) were used. Seven randomly selected lambs were slaughtered at the start of the trial (baseline group). An intermediate group consisting of seven randomly selected lambs fed ad libitum was slaughtered when the lambs reached an average BW of 28.5 kg. The remaining 21 lambs were allotted randomly to three levels of dry matter intake: ad libitum or restricted to 70% or 40% of the ad libitum intake. All the lambs were slaughtered when the sheep fed ad libitum reached a BW of 35 kg. Total body energy, nitrogen, fat, ash and moisture content were determined. In a digestibility trial, an additional 15 Dorper × thin‐tailed Han cross‐bred female lambs (28.7 ± 1.75 kg BW) were housed in metabolism cages and used in a completely randomized design experiment to evaluate the ME value of the diet at the three feed intake levels. The maintenance requirements for NE and ME were 245.5 and 380.3 kJ/kg metabolic shrunk body weight (SBW^0.75) respectively. The partial efficiency of energy use for maintenance was 0.645. The NE requirements for growth ranged from 1.18 to 5.18 MJ/d for the lambs gaining 100–350 g/d from 20 to 35 kg BW. Partial efficiency of ME for growth was 0.44. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the NE requirement for maintenance and growth of Dorper early‐weaned cross‐bred female lambs is lower than the current AFRC and NRC recommendations.     

Dietary supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus extract enhances gut health in weanling piglets

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) as a dietary additive on gut health in weanling piglets by examining diarrhea frequency, intestinal microbiota and morphology. A total of 96 Duroc× (Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets weaned at 21 days of age with an average initial body weight (BW) of 5.6 ± 0.4 kg were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups with 4 duplicates of 8 piglets each. The piglets were fed basal diet to which had been added 0 or 1 g/kg of ASE, or 0.7 g/kg antibiotics, respectively. Fecal consistence was monitored twice daily and the frequency of diarrhea was calculated. On day 21 after the initiation of supplementation, 8 piglets were randomly selected from each treatment group (2 piglets per pen) and slaughtered. The jejunum, ileum, colon and cecum were then excised and fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution to determine villus height and crypt depth, after their contents were collected to determine microbiota. The results showed that dietary supplementation with ASE increased (P < 0.05) the density of bacterial populations that co-migrated with Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium lituseburens, but decreased (P < 0.05) those co-migrating with Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Ruminococcus forques, and E. coli O157:H7 in the PCR-DGGE profiling analysis when compared with the control group. The villus height of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum increased (P < 0.05) by 14.8, 13.7 and 10.0%, while the crypt depth decreased (P < 0.05) by 17.9, 9.1 and 12.1%, respectively, in response to dietary ASE supplementation. Additionally dietary supplementation with ASE or an antibiotic decreased (P < 0.05) the frequency of diarrhea by 55.6 and 52.2%, respectively, compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that dietary supplementation with ASE could regulate the microbiota composition and maintain a normal morphology of gut mucosa in weanling piglets, thereby decreasing diarrhea that resulted from weaning stress.     

Ghrelin,insulin and pancreatic activity in the peri‐weaning period of goat kids

Two groups of 3‐day‐old Saanen goat kids (MILK and WMIX) were studied in order to investigate the effect of weaning on plasma ghrelin and insulin and on pancreatic activity. MILK kids received goat milk to age 50 days; WMIX kids were initially fed milk but started weaning at 30 days and were completely weaned by 48 days. Dry matter intake and body weights were recorded, and plasma samples were analysed for metabolites, ghrelin, insulin, leptin and α‐amylase. At 50 days, all the animals were slaughtered, pancreas samples were analysed for α‐amylase, zymogen, DNA and ribosomal capacity (RNA/zymogen). Seven days after the beginning of the weaning program, dry matter intake in the WMIX group began to decrease in relation to the MILK group. Nonetheless, body weight did not differ throughout the study period. Weaning significantly decreased plasma levels of glucose, amino acids, urea and insulin, but increased creatinine and ghrelin. In weaning kids ghrelin secretion may help minimize the negative consequences of the new diet on dry matter intake. Pancreatic zymogen and ribosomal capacity did not differ between the groups, whereas pancreatic amylase activity was over three times higher in MILK than WMIX kids even though the former had no dietary starch. This finding could be a consequence of lower pancreatic secretion of amylase in the MILK group due to the lack of dietary starch, resulting in pancreatic accumulation, but could also be due to higher plasma insulin in the MILK group, suggesting a role for insulin in the functional development of the pancreas in weaning goats.     

Effect of polyethylene glycol 4000 supplementation on the performance of indigenous Pedi goats fed different levels of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia nilotica</Emphasis> leaf meal and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ad libitum</Emphasis> Buffalo grass hay

In a first of two experiments, twenty yearling male Pedi goats weighing 21.3 ± 0.5 kg live weight were used in a 37-day study in a 2 (levels of PEG 4000) × 2 (levels of Acacia) Factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomised Design to determine the effect of the level of Acacia nilotica leaf meal supplementation plus 23 g polyethylene glycol 4000 on diet intake and digestibility, and growth rate of Pedi goats fed ad libitum Buffalo grass hay. Acacia nilotica leaf meal contained high amounts of total phenolics (2.04 % DM) and low amounts of condensed tannins; both extracted (0.37 % DM) and unextracted (1.83 % DM). Supplementation with PEG 4000 increased (P < 0.05) crude protein intake as the level of Acacia nilotica leaf meal increased from 80 to 120 g. Similarly, treatment with PEG 4000 improved (P < 0.05) DM, OM and CP digestibilities when compared to 80 g Acacia nilotica leaf meal. Supplementation with PEG 4000 resulted in an increase (P < 0.05) in blood urea concentrations. Polyethylene glycol 4000 has the potential to improve the feeding value of A. nilotica leaf meal and can, therefore, be used in the feeding systems for ruminant animals. The second experiment determined the effect of A. nilotica leaf meal supplementation on in vitro digestibility of the diets similar to the actual ratios of the first experiment. Level of A. nilotica leaf meal supplementation plus 23 g PEG 4000 supplementation improved (P < 0.05) in vitro DM, OM and CP digestibilities where 120 g A. nilotica leaf meal was supplemented. Similarly, 23 g PEG 4000 supplementation also improved (P < 0.05) in vitro CP digestibility where 80 g A. nilotica leaf meal was supplemented. In vivo DM and OM digestibilities were best predicted from in vitro DM and OM digestibilities while in vivo CP was explained by in vitro OM and CP digestibilities. It is, therefore, concluded that in vitro DM and OM digestibilities have good capacity to predict in vivo DM and OM digestibilities while OM and CP digestibilities have good capacity to predict in vivo CP digestibility.     

Influence of Energy and Protein Supplementation on Growth Rate,Empty Body Composition and Ruminal and Blood Metabolites of Goat Kids Fed Hay Diets

A comparative slaughter experiment was conducted with 28 Spanish kids (BW = 20.6 kg) fed a hay-based diet to determine the effects of supplemental energy and protein on growth rate, body composition, and ruminal and blood metabolites. After 84 d, kids were harvested, digesta contents removed and empty body weighed and ground. Samples were freeze-dried and analyzed for DM, CP, ether extract, ash, and gross energy. All kids had increased BW gains. However, unsupplemented kids lost empty BW and weight of all body components except ash. Kids supplemented with energy or protein increased (P<0.05) empty BW, body water, protein, fat, ash, and gross energy when compared with unsupplemented kids. The percentages of body water and ash decreased (P<0.05) when supplemental energy or protein was fed. The percentage of body protein was reduced (P<0.05) by supplemental energy and unaffected (P=0.81) by supplemental protein. Supplemental energy reduced (P<0.05) ruminal acetate and increased (P<0.05) propionate and butyrate. Supplemental protein increased (P<0.05) concentrations of ruminal ammonia N, plasma urea N, and all ruminal volatile fatty acids. Regression equations suggest that intake of 144 kcal of ME and 6.0 g of CP per kilogram of empty BW^0.75 are necessary to maintain empty BW.