对碘量法测定日粮、肠道食糜及排泄物中半胱胺盐酸盐含量的改进研究

试验旨在探讨碘量法测定日粮、食糜及排泄物中半胱胺盐酸盐(cysteamine hydrochloride,CSH)含量的改进方法,为评估包膜CSH在动物胃肠道内释放过程中CSH的定量提供参考。试验分3部分:试验一:检验包膜CSH的上样量对碘标准液消耗量的线性关系,以确定碘量法检验包膜产品的准确度,采用单因素完全随机设计,CSH的上样量设6个水平,分别为28.28、113.12、226.24、339.36、452.48和565.61mg;试验二:考察H2SO4预处理对消除日粮、食糜和排泄物对碘量法测定CSH含量的影响,采用单因素完全随机设计,日粮、十二指肠食糜、空肠食糜、回肠食糜及排泄物样品中CSH(试剂级)的含量均设3个水平,即30、100和300mg/2g,形成15个含有CSH的样品,H2SO4溶液(6mol/L)设3个水平,即0.1、0.5和1mL,每个处理设3个重复;试验三:考察传统碘量法与试验二建立的改进方法在测定日粮、食糜及排泄物中包膜CSH含量的差异,采用两样本试验设计,日粮、十二指肠食糜、空肠食糜、回肠食糜及排泄物中CSH的含量均设28.73、84.84、141.47和200.56mg/2g。结果表明:①CSH的上样量对碘标准液消耗量及CSH测定值均呈显著的线性关系(P0.01,R2=0.9999)。②在含有CSH的日粮中,H2SO4溶液处理后由碘量法测定的CSH质量对实际质量的回归均符合Y=X(P0.05)。在含有CSH的十二指肠食糜和回肠食糜中,所有H2SO4溶液处理下CSH质量对实际质量的回归均不符合Y=X(P0.05),但0.5和1.0mL比0.1mL H2SO4溶液处理使测定值更接近实际值。在含有CSH的空肠食糜及排泄物中,0.5和1.0mL H2SO4溶液处理使测定值对实际值的回归符合Y=X(P0.05),而0.1mL H2SO4溶液处理下CSH测定值显著低于实际值(P0.01)。③在含有CSH的日粮、十二指肠食糜、空肠食糜、回肠食糜及排泄物样品中,常规方法测定的CSH对实际质量均偏离Y=X(P0.05),而1.0mL H2SO4溶液处理后的测值对实际质量均符合Y=X(P0.05)。由此可见,采用适量H2SO4溶液进行处理后,可以排除日粮、食糜及排泄物对CSH测定的干扰。     

粗酶制剂对雏鹅小肠食糜粘度和pH的影响

18只 7日龄雏鹅 ,随机分成对照和试验两组。饲以大麦 (占 45 % )基础日粮 ,试验组添加 0 .1%的Biokyowa粗酶制剂。实验期为 7～ 2 1日龄 ,2 1日龄屠宰 ,测定小肠食糜中的粘度和pH值。结果显示 :对照组雏鹅小肠各段食糜粘度依十二指肠、空肠和回肠次序向后逐渐显著增加 (P <0 .0 1) ,十二指肠食糜的粘度较空肠和回肠食糜分别低 17.6 1%(P <0 .0 1)和 37.15 % (P <0 .0 1) ,而十二指肠食糜pH值则较空肠和回肠分别低 0 .75 % (P >0 .0 5 )和 5 .92 % (P >0 .0 5 )。试验组各段小肠食糜上清的粘度变化趋势与对照一致 ,十二指肠、空肠和回肠食糜的粘度较对照组分别低 17.6 1%(P <0 .0 1)、37.15 % (P <0 .0 1)和 5 9.46 % (P <0 .0 1) ;十二指肠、空肠和回肠食糜的pH值与较对照组分别低 4.2 1%、4.18%和 3 .79% ,但差异不显著 (P >0 .0 5 )。以上结果表明 :酶制剂通过解除饲料中β -葡聚糖等抗营养因子对消化的负面作用 ,改变了小肠食糜中理化特性 ,从而影响其化学性消化和吸收 ,提高了机体饲料的转化效率 ,有利于雏鹅的生长。     

不同日粮添加NSP酶对断奶仔猪食糜黏度、挥发性脂肪酸及肠道形态的影响

本试验旨在研究在玉米-豆粕型日粮和小麦-豆粕型日粮中添加非淀粉多糖(NSP)酶对断奶仔猪肠道食糜黏度、挥发性脂肪酸及肠道形态的影响。选用128头健康的杜×长×大三元杂交断奶仔猪,按性别、体重分为4个处理,即以玉米为基础日粮组(试验1组),玉米为基础日粮降低能量加酶组(试验2组)、小麦为基础日粮组(试验3组)及小麦为基础日粮加酶组(试验4组)。每组4个重复,每个重复8头猪。结果表明:玉米-豆粕型日粮加酶对空肠和回肠食糜黏度没有影响,但有降低趋势;小麦-豆粕型日粮添加NSP酶显著降低了空肠食糜黏度(P<0.05);2种日粮加酶均增加回肠和盲肠挥发性脂肪酸的浓度,提高十二指肠、空肠前段及空肠后段绒毛的高度(P<0.01)。结果提示,2种日粮中添加NSP酶,不同程度的降低肠道食糜黏度、增加回肠、盲肠挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)浓度并改善肠道形态。     

粮对肉牛小肠pH值及胰蛋白酶话性的影响

对肉牛饲喂不同日粮玉米秸,５０％玉米秸加５０％精料后小肠不同部位（十二指肠、空肠和回肠）ｐＨ值及胰蛋白酶活性进行了测定,结果表明：肉牛小肠不同部位的ｐＨ值不同,回肠ｐＨ值高于空肠,回肠和空肠ｐＨ值显著高于十二指肠（Ｐ〈０．０５）,饲喂５０％玉米秸加５０％精料日粮的牛小肠ｐＨ值低于喂单一玉米秸日粮;肉牛小肠不同部位的胰蛋白酶活性不同,空肠高于回肠,空肠和回肠显著高于十二指肠（Ｐ〈０．０５）,饲喂５０     

肉鸡和肉鸭消化道食糜的状态特性研究

为研究肉鸡和肉鸭各消化道（十二指肠、空肠、回肠、盲肠）食糜状态特性,试验选用体重相似的1日龄肉鸡和肉鸭各120只,分别随机分为10笼,每笼12只进行饲喂,并分别使用普通日粮,试验时间为5 w,之后分别采集各段消化道食糜检测。结果表明：肉鸡和肉鸭盲肠中食糜干物质含量分别高于十二指肠28.9%和10.6%,高于空肠70.7%和19.1%,高于回肠44.3%和9.4%(P <0.05);肉鸡和肉鸭回肠中食糜pH分别高于盲肠8.2%和15.6%(P <0.05);肉鸡盲肠中大肠杆菌含量高于十二指肠20.0%,空肠49.4%,回肠30.3%(P <0.05),盲肠中乳酸菌含量高于十二指肠86.8%,空肠36.1%(P <0.05),肉鸭盲肠中大肠杆菌含量高于空肠66.8%,回肠31.5%(P <0.05),盲肠中乳酸菌高于十二指肠27.1%,空肠63.5%,回肠21.8%(P <0.05);对食糜流变学特性测定发现,各消化道中食糜均表现出黏度随着剪切速率的不断增大先逐渐变小后基本不变的剪切稀化趋势,经过拟合Cross-Williamson模型得到的决定系数R-...     

日粮对肉牛小肠pH值及淀粉酶活性的影响

本文对肉牛饲喂不同日粮（玉米秸,５０％玉米秸加５０％玉米面）后小肠不同部位（十二指肠、空肠和回肠）ｐＨ值及粉酶活性进行了测定。结果表明：肉牛小肠不同部位的ＰＨ值及淀粉酶活性不同,回肠ＰＨ值高于空肠,回肠和空肠ＰＨ值显著高于十二指肠（Ｐ〈０．０５）,喂５０％玉米秸加５０％玉米面日粮的牛小肠ＰＨ值低于喂养一玉米秸日粮;空肠淀粉酶活性高于回肠,空肠和回肠淀粉酶活性均显著高于十二指肠（Ｐ〈０．０５）,饲喂     

苏姜猪早期消化酶分泌规律的研究

仔猪消化酶活性受日龄、日粮组成、断奶日龄、遗传等因素的影响。文内对苏姜仔猪0~75日龄消化酶分泌规律进行了全面研究。结果显示不同日龄小肠食糜消化酶活性差异显著,且十二指肠、空肠和回肠食糜消化酶活性变化规律基本相同,以空肠食糜消化酶活性最高。胰脏中消化酶活性的变化规律与小肠食糜的变化规律基本一致,断奶后60日龄各种酶活均有不同程度的下降,空肠的各项消化酶活性的指标均高于十二指肠和回肠,说明空肠在仔猪的消化吸收生理中有重要的作用。     

卵黄抗体添加剂对肉鸭小肠pH值及胰蛋白酶活性的影响

肉鸭日粮中添加卵黄抗体后对小肠不同部位(十二指肠、空肠和回肠) pH值及胰蛋白酶活性进行了测定, 结果表明, 肉鸭小肠不同部位的pH值不同, 回肠显著高于十二指肠和空肠(P<0 05), 而十二指肠略高于空肠, 差异不显著(P>0 05 ); 日粮中添加卵黄抗体后, 其pH值显著低于对照组(P<0 05)。肉鸭小肠不同部位的胰蛋白酶活性不同, 空肠最高, 其次是回肠和十二指肠; 日粮中添加卵黄抗体后, 各小肠段的胰蛋白酶活性都有所提高, 但以空肠的胰蛋白酶活性达到显著水平(P<0 05), 而回肠和十二指肠只有提高的趋势, 但差异不显著(P>0 05)。     

饲喂2种日粮条件下鸭小肠各段肠液组成差异的研究

通过研究在饲喂小麦-豆粕型日粮和玉米-豆粕型日粮条件下,北京鸭小肠各段肠液组成沿肠道纵向长度的差异,为模拟鸭小肠液的设计提供参考。试验采用完全随机设计,将30只成年北京公鸭随机分配到2个处理中,每个处理5个重复,每个重复3只鸭,分别随机饲喂小麦-豆粕型日粮和玉米-豆粕型日粮,在试验期的第19天屠宰后取十二指肠、空肠前段、空肠后段和回肠的食糜,离心后取上清液分析消化酶活性、离子浓度及pH。研究结果表明,十二指肠肠液与空肠前段肠液的淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性无显著差异(P>0.05),且显著地高于空肠后段肠液和回肠肠液的相应值(P<0.05)。空肠前段肠液与空肠后段肠液的胰蛋白酶活性无显著差异(P>0.05),且显著高于十二指肠肠液和回肠液的相应值(P<0.05)。空肠前段肠液的糜蛋白酶活性最高,其后依次为十二指肠肠液、空肠后段肠液和回肠液,且4种肠液中两两间差异显著(P<0.05)。沿小肠纵向长度,鸭肠液的pH从6.22至7.94逐渐升高,Na+和Ca2+浓度先升后降,K+浓度逐步下降,Mg2+浓度在十二指肠肠液中最低,显著地低于其他肠段肠液的相应值(P<0.05)。日粮组成对肠液中4种消化酶的活性及K+和Mg2+的浓度有显著的影响。由此可见,沿鸭小肠长度的纵向分布中,空肠液的4种主要消化酶活性最高,不同肠段肠液在离子浓度上存在显著差异。     

米糠日粮添加酶制剂对雏鹅胰腺和食糜酶活性的影响

将 16只 7日龄雏鹅 ,随机分成对照组和试验组。饲以米糠 (占 30 % )基础日粮 ,试验组添加 0 .2 %的浙江产品粗酶制剂。试验期为 2周 ,2 1日龄扑杀 ,采取胰腺组织和小肠食糜 ,测定其中的消化酶活性和pH值。结果显示 :与对照相比较 ,酶制剂使雏鹅 :①胰腺组织中蛋白酶活性低 7.4 3% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,空肠中高 14 .0 6 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ;②胰腺组织中脂肪酶活性低 2 7.2 0 % (P <0 .0 1) ,空肠和回肠食糜脂肪酶活性分别低 2 8.5 7% (P <0 .0 5 )和 13.6 4 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ;③胰腺组织中淀粉酶活性变化不大 ,十二指肠活性高 17.2 9% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,回肠低 14 .0 8% (P >0 .0 5 ) ;④各段小肠食糜pH值变化不大 (P >0 .0 5 )。以上结果表明 :酶制剂通过作用于米糠日粮中的抗营养因子 ,解除了抗营养效应 ,提高了十二指肠食糜中淀粉酶和空肠食糜中蛋白酶的活性 ,加强了对碳水化合物及其他营养物质的消化与吸收 ,从而提高了饲料的转化效率 ,促进了雏鹅的生长     

Validity of specifically applied rare earth elements and compartmental models for estimating flux of undigested plant tissue residues through the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants

The validity of using rare earth elements as flow markers of undigested residues was evaluated by comparing mean gastrointestinal residence time (GMRT) of rare earths specifically applied to cottonseed hulls (CSH) to that of the indigestible fiber of CSH. Feces were collected from five lambs fed a mineral supplemented diet of CSH containing 52 g CP/kg DM and five lambs fed a CSH plus cottonseed meal diet (CSH+CSM) containing 123 g CP/kg DM. Rare earth elements (La, Yb, and Tb) specifically bound to CSH were included in the diet for a 5-d period and then deleted from the diet for a 3-d period. Following the last fecal collection, lambs were slaughtered for collection of digesta from segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Potentially indigestible NDF (PIF) was determined in diets and digesta from each segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Mean turnover rate, time delay, and GMRT for each rare earth element was estimated by fitting an age-dependent compartment model to profiles of markers appearing in the feces (compartmental model-marker method, CMM). The GMRT also was computed by the indigestible entity pool dilution method (IEPD) as grams of PIF in sampled segment/mean intake rate of PIF proceeding slaughter, g/h. The GMRT computed by the CMM and the IEPD methods did not significantly (P < 0.05) differ (99.6 vs 94.8 h and 58.9 vs 59.5 h for CMM vs IEPD and CSH and CSH+CSM diets, respectively). Regression of GMRT estimated for rare earths vs PIF yielded a highly significant regression (P = 0.001) with a regression coefficient of 0.94 +/- 0.016. It was concluded that rare earth elements applied to specific feeds are valid flow markers for the undigested residues derived from such marked feeds.     

Ileal amino acid digestibility assay for the growing meat chicken--comparison of ileal and excreta amino acid digestibility in the chicken

1. The apparent and true amino acid digestibilities in sorghum, wheat, soyabean meal, meat-and-bone meal, fish meal and blood meal for growing meat chickens were determined using an assay based on the collection of digesta from the terminal ileum and comparison was made with digestibility values determined using an excreta-based assay. 2. Five-week-old meat chickens were given maize-soyabean meal basal diet or mixtures of the basal diet and test diets containing the 6 ingredients as the sole source of dietary protein (50:50 on weight basis). Apparent amino acid digestibility values of assay diets at ileal and excreta levels were calculated using chromic oxide as the indigestible marker. True digestibility values were calculated using endogenous outputs determined by feeding a protein-free diet. Amino acid digestibilities of the ingredients were calculated by difference. 3. The site of measurement had no influence on endogenous amino acid output, the exceptions being aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The output of these two amino acids was higher in the excreta. 4. Significant differences were found between ileal and excreta-based digestibility of certain amino acids in some ingredients, with excreta values being usually higher than the ileal values, indicating a net catabolism of amino acids in the large intestine. The degree of net amino acid disappearance was found to be variable among amino acids and ingredients. In general, threonine had the lowest digestibility at the ileal level and, compared with other amino acids, the highest degredation during passage through the hindgut. 5. The results showed that digestibility determination based on excreta collection will overestimate the uptake for some amino acids in some feeds. The degree of overestimation was often considerable, ranging from 8.9% (apparent digestibility of threonine in soyabean meal) to 56% (apparent digestibility of aspartic acid in wheat). It is concluded that digestibility values measured at the terminal ileum provide a more reliable measure of amino acid availability than those measured in the excreta.     

The effect of the amount of urea in the diet on the contents of amino acids and other components of duodenal digesta in young bulls

Young bulls of average live weight 130 kg, with rumen cannulae and re-entrant cannulae of the proximal duodenum, were fed on a diet of maize meal from whole plants, potato starch and a mineral mixture, containing 7.6% crude protein in DM (group IV). For three groups the diet was supplemented to contain about 17.5% crude protein with groundnut oilmeal (group I), grundnut oilmeal and urea, 27 and 31.2% of dietary N (group II) or urea alone (group III). The content of gross energy was similar in all diets. The amount of total N entering the duodenum in groups I to IV was 61.6, 59.2, 49.9 and 38.0 g/day and apparent digestibility of N in the stomachs was -0.4, 5.8, 21.6 and -44.4%. Total amount of amino acids in the duodenal digesta was, in the same order, 257, 261, 215 and 170 g/day, equivalent to 80, 116, 165 and 127% of intake. The ratio of the amounts of essential to nonessential amino acids was in feed 0.84 and in duodenal digesta in all groups 0.98. The amount of lysine in duodenal digesta was 1.5, 2.0, 3.5 and 2.5 times its intake in the same order of the groups.     

Subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase gene expression and fatty acid composition in calf- and yearling-fed Angus steers

We proposed that stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity dictates fatty acid composition of adipose tissue and muscle in beef cattle, regardless of ruminal or hepatic fatty acid hydrogenation or desaturation. Twelve Angus steers were assigned to a calf-fed (CF) group and slaughtered at weaning (8 mo of age; n=4), 12 mo of age (n=4), or 16 mo of age (n=4). Twelve steers were assigned to a yearling-fed (YF) group and slaughtered at 12 mo of age (n=4), 16 mo of age (n=4), and 17.5 mo of age (n=4; 525 kg, market weight). Data were analyzed based on time on the corn-based finishing diet, with terminal age as a covariate, and orthogonal polynomial contrasts were tested on the main effects of treatment group and time on the finishing diet. Fatty acids from duodenal digesta, plasma, liver, LM, and subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue were measured, and SCD gene expression was measured in intramuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissues. In duodenal digesta, palmitic and linoleic acids increased by 100% over the sampling period, α-linolenic acid decreased over the sampling period, and trans-vaccenic acid was greater in YF than in CF steers (all P < 0.01). The proportion of α-linolenic acid decreased over time in all tissues, including liver. The SCD index (ratio of SCD fatty acid products to SCD fatty acid substrates) increased over time in LM and in intramuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissues. The SCD:glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA ratio was virtually undetectable at the initial sampling periods in subcutaneous adipose tissue of YF and CF steers, and it increased over time (P < 0.01). The SCD index and SCD:glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase ratio were greater in intramuscular adipose tissue of CF steers than in that of YF steers. The SCD index did not change over time in liver and decreased over time in duodenal digesta. We conclude that, unlike essential fatty acids, the SFA and MUFA composition of adipose tissue is regulated by adipose tissue fatty acid desaturation, with little contribution from hepatic or duodenal fatty acids.     

Fragmentation and ruminal escape of particles as related to variations in voluntary intake, chewing behavior and extent of digestion of potentially digestible NDF in heifers

The distribution of particles of differing sizes in ruminal, duodenal and fecal samples, the efficiency of particle breakdown and ruminal escape and their relationships to voluntary intake, chewing behavior and extent of digestion of potentially digestible NDF were examined in six heifers (290 kg average BW) with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas. Animals had ad libitum access to corn silage, with or without 100 mg monensin head-1.d-1, in a two-period crossover design. Variations in voluntary intake by individual animals were positively related to size of digesta particles (median retaining aperture, MRA) in the dorsal rumen (P = .07) and rectum (P = .08), but not to MRA of particulate matter from the ventral rumen and duodenum. No significant relationships existed among eating or ruminating activities and distribution of particles of differing sizes in digesta from any of the digestive sites. The MRA of particulate matter in duodenal and rectal digesta were negatively related (P = .08 and P = .10) to extent of digestion of potentially digestible NDF (PDNDF) at these sites. Voluntary intake was related positively to efficiency of ruminative degradation of digesta particles appearing at the duodenum (P = .09) and to duodenal DM digesta flow per opening of the reticulo-omasal orifice (ROO; P = .02), the latter being negatively related to extent of digestion of PDNDF in duodenal digesta (P = .09). These results suggest that animals with higher intake capability are more efficient ruminators and can partially override constraining factors of particle size and byoyancy and thereby achieve a larger amount of DM flowing per opening of the ROO.     

Effects of Different Dietary Crude Protein Levels on the Nutrient Absorbability in the Small Intestine of Lambs

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of different dietary crude protein levels on the nutrient absorbability in the small intestine of lambs.Three Kazakh lambs (30 kg body weight) fitted with permanent ruminal,duodenal and ileal fistula were selected.3×3 Latin square design was adopted.A dual-phase marker system with LiCr-EDTA and Yb-Ac as the liquid-phase or particulate-phase digesta flows maker was adopted to measure the true digesta flows at duodenal and ileal fistula,respectively.The results showed that nitrogen intake,total tract apparent digestibility,N deposition,the apparent digestibility of dry matter and organic matter were significantly increased with increasing levels of dietary crude protein (P<0.05),but had no significant effects on intestinal digesta flows (P>0.05).Increasing dietary crude protein levels had significant effects on most part of nutrients of duodenal digesta except fat and purine (P<0.05),while it only significantly effected CP,Ash,dry matter,neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fiber of ileal digesta flows (P<0.05).In addition,intestinal absorbability of nutrients except for CP,Ash,dry matter,neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fiber were significantly affected with increasing levels of dietary crude protein(P<0.05).The test provided basis for further study of the effects of dietary CP level on the digestibility and utilization of lamb.     

不同粗蛋白质水平日粮对育肥羊小肠养分吸收率的影响

本研究旨在比较不同粗蛋白质（CP）水平日粮对育肥羔羊小肠养分吸收率的影响。选用体重30 kg左右,安装有瘤胃、十二指肠近端和回肠末端瘘管的3只哈萨克育肥羊为试验动物,采用3×3拉丁方试验设计,采用醋酸镱（Yb-Ac）、锂铬乙二胺四乙酸（LiCr-EDTA）分别作为消化道固相和液相食糜标记物测定小肠食糜流量。结果显示,增加全混合日粮中CP水平可显著提高育肥羊N的进食量、全消化道表观消化率和N沉积（P<0.05）,显著提高干物质（DM）和有机物（OM）的表观消化率（P<0.05）,但对小肠食糜流量无显著影响（P>0.05）;提高日粮CP水平对十二指肠食糜除EE和嘌呤外的营养成分流量均产生显著的影响（P<0.05）,仅对回肠食糜中CP、粗灰分（Ash）、DM、中性洗涤纤维（NDF）和酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）流量的影响显著（P<0.05）,且对CP、Ash、DM、NDF和ADF的小肠吸收率影响显著（P<0.05）。本试验为进一步深入分析增加日粮CP水平对其在育肥羊体内的消化利用奠定基础。     

Hydrolysis of phytic acid by intrinsic plant and supplemented microbial phytase (Aspergillus niger) in the stomach and small intestine of minipigs fitted with re-entrant cannulas. 2. Phytase activity

Hydrolysis of phytate in the stomach and the small intestine as influenced by intrinsic plant (wheat) and supplemented microbial phytase (A. niger) were investigated with six minipigs (40-50 kg initial BW) fitted with re-entrant cannulas in the duodenum, 30 cm posterior to the pylorus (animals 1, 4, 5, and 6) and ileocecal re-entrant cannulas, 5 cm prior the ileocecal junction (animals 1, 2, and 3), respectively. Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) diet 1, a corn-based diet (43 U phytase/kg DM); (2) diet 2, diet 1 supplemented with microbial phytase (818 U/kg DM) and (3) diet 3, a wheat-based diet (1192 U/kg DM). At 0730 and 1930 per animal 350 g diet mixed with 1050 ml de-ionized water were fed. Digesta were collected continuously and completely during 12 h after feeding. In the duodenal digesta, 70% of the microbial phytase (diet 2) and 45% of the wheat phytase (diet 3) were recovered within 12 h after ingestion of the phytases, whereas only negligible amounts were detected in the digesta of pigs fed the phytase-poor corn-based diet 1. Most phytase activity passed through the stomach within the first hour after feeding. Microbial phytase activity at pH 2.8 was less sensitive to acidic pHs, such as those found in the stomach, than phytase activity at pH 5.3. Phytase activities in the digesta of the distal ileum did not depend either on source or amount of dietary phytase activity.     

Evaluation of homoarginine as a marker for the determination of endogenous amino acid concentrations in poultry excreta

1. Endogenous amino acid losses in ileal digesta and excreta of adult cockerels fed on diets containing guanidinated forms of casein, soyabean meal and cottonseed meal were determined using homoarginine as a marker.

2. The ileal endogenous amino acid losses were markedly higher (P< 0–001) in birds given the cottonseed meal diet compared to those given the other two diets. The ileal endogenous protein was rich in aspartic acid, serine and glutamic acid.

3. Negative values were obtained for endogenous amino acid output in excreta. These aberrant values were caused by high concentrations of homoarginine in the excreta. A subsequent study with broiler chickens showed that the homoarginine in excreta was of urinary origin.

4. These results indicate that the homoarginine technique is not suitable for determining endogenous amino acid losses in excreta, but applicable when determinations are made in the terminal ileum.     

Indirect evidence for microbiota reduction through dietary mannanoligosaccharides in the pigeon, an avian species without functional caeca

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) on nutrient digestibility, intestinal pH, gut morphology and faecal bacteriology of pigeons, as model for birds without functional caeca. Sixteen adult pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were randomly allotted to either an extruded pellet diet with or without 0.4% MOS. After an adaptation period of 24 days, excreta were collected during 4 days. Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients were determined using total collection method. Further, excreta pH was measured and percentage of uric acid determined. Fresh excreta were cultured for measurement of colony‐forming units for Escherichia coli. At the end, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was excised and pH measurements performed on the separate GIT sections. Finally, pancreas, liver, gizzard and abdominal fat pad were weighed, and standardised segments of duodenum and jejunum were removed for microscopic measurement of crypt depth, villus height and muscularis thickness. Feed intake and water intake were similar between control diet and MOS diet. Intestinal pH was unaffected by MOS supplementation; however, excreta pH was significantly lower in pigeons on the MOS diet. Although nutrient digestibility was similar between treatments, uric acid content of excreta was significantly higher in the MOS group in relation to the control group. Further, duodenal crypt depth, villus height and muscularis thickness, as well as jejunal muscularis thickness were all significantly reduced by MOS supplementation. No effect of MOS supplementation was seen on the counts of E. coli. Furthermore, despite marked differences on both GIT morphology and uric acid content of excreta, apparent digestibility coefficients, and organ weights, were similar between treatments. It is suggested that the MOS‐induced changes on gut morphology and the reduced excreta pH reflect a reduced bacterial challenge in the intestine of pigeons. Supplementation of MOS, therefore, has potential as prebiotic strategy in birds without functional caeca.