Evaluation of vegetable protein in canine diets: Assessment of performance and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility using a broiler model

Recent technological advances in the human food industry with respect to meat processing have decreased the availability of animal proteins to the pet food industry which typically formulates diets with an excess of animal protein. In the long term, this is not sustainable; thus, alternative protein sources need to be investigated. This study examined three canine diets, comparing a typical animal protein‐based diet (control) with two experimental diets where the animal protein was substituted in part with vegetable protein (formulated based either on total protein or amino acid content) using a broiler model. Each diet was fed to six cages each containing two birds from day 15, 18 cages in total (36 birds). Excreta were collected from days 19 to 21. On day 23, birds were euthanized and weighed, and their ileal digesta were collected and pooled for each cage. In addition, one leg per cage was collected for evaluation of muscle mass. Results showed no significant difference in animal performance (feed intake or live weight gain) or muscle to leg proportion across the diets. Birds fed the control diet and the diet balanced for amino acid content exhibited the greatest coefficients of apparent metabolizability for nitrogen (p < .001). Birds fed the diets that contained partial replacement of animal with vegetable protein generally had greater ileal digestibility of amino acids compared to birds fed the control (animal protein) diet. Analysis of excreta showed no dietary difference in terms of dry matter content; however, birds fed the diet balanced for total protein and the diet balanced for amino acid content had significantly greater excreta nitrogen than the control (p = .038). Overall, the study suggests vegetable proteins when formulated based on amino acid content are a viable alternative to animal proteins in canine diets.     

Evaluating the nutritive profile of three insect meals and their effects to replace soya bean in broiler diet

This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effect of maggot meal, silkworm meal and mealworm as dietary protein source on the production performance and some aspects of meat quality in broilers. In this regard, maggot meal was reared on chicken offal and poultry waste. Silkworm meal was obtained from silk industry, while mealworm was developed through beetles rearing. A total of 120‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups where soya bean meal (M0) was replaced with maggot meal (M1), silkworm meal (M2) and mealworm (M3) respectively. Each group was further divided into three replicates. The study was carried out for a period of 5 weeks. Diets containing mealworm significantly reduced overall feed consumption and resulted into higher weight gain (p < .05). Lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded for birds fed with mealworm diet (p < .05). Tenderness and juiciness of meat were higher (p < .05) in M3 compared to the control and other treatments. Mortality did not vary between the control and the treated groups. Therefore, it is concluded that insect meal is rich in essential nutrients and could be successfully used in broiler ration without compromising acceptability. In the light of this study, mealworm is the best choice in broiler ration, in comparison with maggot and silkworm.     

Effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the body temperature of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions

Feed intake and diet composition appear to affect the body temperature of pigs. Two trials were conducted to analyse the effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the intestinal temperature (IT) of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions. Ten pigs (64.1 ± 1.3 kg initial body weight) fitted with an ileal cannula were used. A thermometer set to register the IT at 5‐min intervals was implanted into the ileum through the cannula. In both trials, the ambient temperature ranged from 19.1 to 21.6°C and the pigs were fed at 07:00 and 19:00 hr (same amount each time). In trial 1, the pigs were fed daily 1.2 or 1.8 kg of a wheat–soybean meal diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along a 24‐hr period regardless the feed intake level. The IT rapidly increased up to 0.61 and 0.74°C after the morning meal and up to 0.53 and 0.47°C after the evening meal in pigs fed 1.2 and 1.8 kg/d respectively. The postprandial IT was higher in pigs fed 1.8 kg after each meal (p < .05). In trial 2, pigs were fed daily 1.8 kg of a low (11%) or a high (22%) crude protein diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along the 24‐hr period regardless the dietary protein level. The postprandial IT did not differ between pigs fed the low protein or the high protein (p > .10). The IT rapidly increased up to 0.66 and 0.62°C after the morning meal in pigs fed the high‐ and low‐protein diet (p < .05), but there was no change after the evening meal (p > .10). In conclusion, the feed intake level affected the IT of pigs housed under TN conditions, but the dietary protein content had no effect.     

Amino acid profiles of rumen undegradable protein: a comparison between forages including cereal straws and alfalfa and their respective total mixed rations

Optimizing the amino acid (AA) profile of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) can positively affect the amount of milk protein. This study was conducted to improve knowledge regarding the AA profile of rumen undegradable protein from corn stover, rice straw and alfalfa hay as well as the total mixed ratio diets (TMR) based on one of them as forage source [forage‐to‐concentrate ratio of 45:55 (30% of corn stover (CS), 30% of rice straw (RS), 23% of alfalfa hay (AH) and dry matter basis)]. The other ingredients in the three TMR diets were similar. The RUP of all the forages and diets was estimated by incubation for 16 hr in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated lactating cows. All residues were corrected for microbial colonization, which was necessary in determining the AA composition of RUP from feed samples using in situ method. Compared with their original AA composition, the AA pattern of forages and forage‐based diets changed drastically after rumen exposure. In addition, the extent of ruminal degradation of analysed AA was not constant among the forages. The greatest individual AA degradability of alfalfa hay and corn stover was Pro, but was His of rice straw. A remarkable difference was observed between microbial attachment corrected and uncorrected AA profiles of RUP, except for alfalfa hay and His in the three forages and TMR diets. The ruminal AA degradability of cereal straws was altered compared with alfalfa hay but not for the TMR diets. In summary, the AA composition of forages and TMR‐based diets changed significantly after ruminal exposure, indicating that the original AA profiles of the feed cannot represent its AA composition of RUP. The AA profile of RUP and ruminal AA degradability for corn stover and rice straw contributed to missing information in the field.     

干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用和D1蛋白的调控效应

为了揭示干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用的保护机制,采用溶液培养的方法,以驻玉309为试验材料,研究外源油菜素内酯(BR)预处理及20% PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫后玉米幼苗的生长参数、叶绿素含量、光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数及D1蛋白含量的变化。结果表明,与干旱胁迫处理(PEG)相比,BR+PEG处理的玉米苗株高增加45.87%,根长增加20.56%,总干物质积累增加8.01%,叶片相对含水量提高4.50%,叶绿素a含量增加26.32%,光合参数(Pn、Gs、Ci、Tr)分别提高9.57%,38.23%,30.19%,28.12%,光合系统Ⅱ(ΦPSⅡ)活性提高了20.48%,最大光化学效率提高了0.66%,光合系统Ⅱ绝对电子传递速率(ETR(Ⅱ)和相对电子传递速率r ETR(Ⅱ))分别提高20.40%和31.02%;D1蛋白含量增加37.34%(P0.05)。说明在干旱胁迫条件下叶片喷施BR可以改善玉米幼苗的生长发育,减缓光合系统的损伤,促进D1蛋白质的稳定,从而提高玉米幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应性。     

极细链格孢激活蛋白对大豆光合特性、叶绿素荧光参数及产量的影响

为探讨激活蛋白对大豆生长、产量的影响,以大豆冀豆17为研究对象,利用光合仪与称重法测量了不同浓度极细链格孢激活蛋白(1,2,3,4,5,6μg/m L)处理后大豆的光合特性、叶绿素荧光参数及产量。结果表明,随着施用的极细链格孢激活蛋白浓度的增加,大豆叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、最大光化学量子效率(Fv/Fm)、有效量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学猝灭系数(q P)呈先上升后下降的趋势。施用1,2,3,4μg/m L浓度的极细链格孢激活蛋白不仅提高了大豆叶绿素含量,而且增加了大豆叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率,同时还能提高叶绿素荧光的最大光化学量子效率(Fv/Fm)、有效量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学猝灭系数(q P)。其中以3,4μg/m L浓度的处理效果最好。施用更高浓度的激活蛋白(5,6μg/m L),上述光合特性与叶绿素荧光促进效果下降或者消失。施用中浓度激活蛋白(3,4μg/m L)大豆产量增加了11.21%~14.76%。结果表明,喷洒合适浓度的极细链格孢激活蛋白是一种促进大豆增产的有效措施。     

稻麦两熟制条件下钵苗机插方式对不同类型水稻品种米质的影响

为探明钵苗机插方式在稻麦两熟地区对水稻米质性状的影响及其品种类型间差异,本文以常规粳稻、杂交籼稻和籼粳交水稻为材料,比较了钵苗机插、毯苗机插和机械直播3种种植方式在稻麦两熟制高产栽培条件下的稻米加工品质、外观品质、营养品质、蒸煮食味品质特性变化及其品种类型间差异。结果表明,钵苗机插的整精米率比毯苗机插和机械直播分别提高1.6%和4.9%(P0.05),整精米产量分别提高7.8%和25.9%(P0.05),改善了稻米加工品质;与毯苗机插和机械直播相比,钵苗机插的稻米垩白米率、垩白面积和垩白度显著增加,对稻米外观品质有不利影响,但钵苗机插精米蛋白质含量较高,有利于稻米营养品质的改良,其精米蛋白质产量分别比毯苗机插和机械直播提高8.7%和28.0%;3种种植方式相比,钵苗机插稻米蒸煮食味品质表现出一定程度的变优趋势,其中,稻米直链淀粉含量、消减值和糊化温度呈钵苗机插毯苗机插机械直播的趋势,胶稠度、峰值黏度、热浆黏度、最终黏度和崩解值呈钵苗机插毯苗机插机械直播的趋势;食味值于种植方式间无显著差异,呈籼粳交水稻和常规粳稻钵苗机插毯苗机插机械直播,杂交籼稻毯苗机插钵苗机插机械直播的趋势。由此得出,钵苗机插不仅能增加稻谷产量,还能改善部分稻米品质特征,是稻麦两熟地区实现高产高效优质协调水稻生产的潜力型机械化种植方式。     

青花菜锌指蛋白基因BoCCCH1的克隆和表达分析

CCCH锌指蛋白广泛存在于真核生物中,在植物的生长、发育和逆境胁迫响应中起着重要作用。为获知青花菜CCCH转录因子基因的序列特征和表达特性,从青花菜叶片中克隆到1个CCCH基因,命名为Bo CCCH1,同时,利用RT-PCR方法研究了其在不同器官及霜霉菌侵染叶片中的表达模式。序列分析结果表明,Bo CCCH1的基因组全长为1 568 bp,包含1个长度为599 bp的内含子,2个长度分别为627 bp、342 bp的外显子,编码322个氨基酸,蛋白质的分子量与等电点分别为35 296.42 Da和8.47;Bo CCCH1有2个锌指结构,类型均为C-X8-C-X5-C-X3-H。系统发育分析结果表明,Bo CCCH1与其它植物的21条同源序列在进化树上分为6组,来自十字花科的CCCH与Bo CCCH1处于同一分支。基因表达结果表明,Bo CCCH1在叶、花茎、嫩角果、花蕾和花中表达,其中花茎和嫩角果的表达量最高,但在根中未检测到表达;在霜霉菌侵染下,叶片Bo CCCH1的表达量升高,到24 h和36 h时达到最大,推测Bo CCCH1与霜霉病抗性相关。本研究为进一步探明Bo CCCH1在霜霉病抗性反应中的功能奠定了基础。     

促进玉米子粒脱水的农艺措施研究进展

作为我国玉米的主要产品类型,子粒用玉米收获时含水率是决定玉米子粒机械化直收质量、储藏安全和经济效益的关键因素,收获期子粒含水率高已经成为制约我国机械化粒收技术大面积推广应用、影响玉米及其制品质量与安全生产、限制玉米产业提质增效发展的重要经济与技术问题。对国内外促进玉米子粒脱水的农艺措施相关研究进行总结与分析,认为未来玉米全程机械化生产过程中,在选用适宜子粒机械化直收优良品种的前提下,应结合各区域不同熟期品种的精细化布局,通过不断改进种植模式、优化养分和水分精准运筹方式,创新适时冠层结构调控措施,研发高效促脱水化学调控产品等关键栽培技术途径,建立生育后期子粒灌浆和脱水动力学协同关系,营造通透群体微区环境,加速子粒水分散失;收获时间调节方面,除了依据不同品种生理成熟前后的子粒脱水动力学进程、种植规模、市场供需格局和农机调度管理等因素外,还应充分考虑田间倒伏、落穗、穗腐、虫害及野生动物破坏导致的产量损失;此外,应加强与关键技术措施相配套的轻简化农机装备的有效研制,将农艺农机深度融合,进一步推动玉米子粒机械化直收技术应用,促进我国玉米及其制品质量与安全,提升玉米生产竞争力,实现玉米产业可持续发展。