Effects of pistachio by‐products on digestibility,milk production,milk fatty acid profile and blood metabolites in Saanen dairy goats

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pistachio by‐products (PBP) on nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites and milk fatty acid (FA) profile in Saanen dairy goats. Nine multiparous lactating Saanen goats (on day 90 post‐partum, 45 ± 2/kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design with three treatment diets: 1) control diet (alfalfa hay based), 2) 32% PBP and 3) 32% PBP + polyethylene glycol (PEG‐4000; 1 g/kg dry matter). Each period lasted 21 days, including 14 day for treatment adaptation and 7 day for data collection. Pistachio by‐products significantly decreased (p < 0.01) crude protein (CP) digestibility compared with the control diet (64.4% vs. 58.7%), but PEG addition did not differ for CP digestibility of goats fed 32% PBP + PEG and those fed the two other diets. The digestibility of NDF tended (p = 0.06) to decrease for goats fed PBP compared with those fed the control diet. Yields of milk and 4% fat‐corrected milk were not affected by dietary treatments. Compared with the control diet, PBP supplementation appreciably changed the proportions of almost all the milk FA measured; the main effects were decreases (p < 0.01) in FA from 8:0 to 16:0 and increases (p < 0.01) proportions of cis‐9, trans‐11 18:2 and trans‐11 18:1, monounsaturated FA, polyunsaturated FA and long‐chain FA. The saturated FA, short‐chain FA and medium‐chain FA proportions were lower (p < 0.01) in goats fed the two PBP supplemented diet than in those fed the control diet and PEG addition led to intermediate proportions of saturated FA, unsaturated and monounsaturated FA. Inclusion of PBP in the diet decreased (p < 0.01) plasma concentrations of glucose and urea nitrogen compared with the control diet. It was concluded that PBP can be used as forage in the diet of dairy goats without interfering with milk yield. Inclusion of 32% PBP in the diet of dairy goats had beneficial effects on milk FA profile but PEG addition to PBP did not contribute to enhance further milk FA profile.     

Effect of Mediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus) ensilaging with two developed enzyme cocktails on feed intake,nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation in sheep

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of feeding Atriplex halimus (AH) silage treated with two developed enzyme cocktails to sheep on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation. The AH silage was treated without or with 2 L of ZAD1^® or ZAD2^®/1000 kg with 5% molasses and ensiled for 30 days. Barley grain (300 g/head/day) was fed as an energy supplement once daily at 10.00 hours and AH silage with or without enzyme treatment was offered ad libitum to animals twice daily at 09.00 and 16.00 hours. Sheep were fed on four experimental forage diets comprised of AH silage and barley (D1), AH silage treated with ZAD1^® and barley (D2), AH silage treated with ZAD2^® and barley (D3) and AH silage treated with a combination of ZAD1^® and ZAD2^® (1:1) and barley (D4). Ensiling AH with enzymes reduced its contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. The dry matter intake of AH of D2, D3 and D4 decreased (P < 0.001) as compared to D1. However, enzyme‐treated diets had greater total digestible nutrients intake (P < 0.001) as compared to D1. The nutrients digestibility for D2, D3 and D4 were higher than those for D1 (P < 0.001), and were higher for D3 as compared to both D2 and D4. Sheep fed on D3 had highest (P < 0.001) ruminal total volatile fatty acids concentration, ammonia nitrogen concentration and microbial protein yield. It could be concluded that AH silage treated with ZAD1^® or ZAD2^® improved digestibility and rumen fermentation in sheep.     

Effects of utilization of local food by‐products as total mixed ration silage materials on fermentation quality and intake,digestibility, rumen condition and nitrogen availability in sheep

Four wethers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to evaluate in vivo digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage with food by‐products for dairy cows, and the ruminal condition and nitrogen (N) balance were examined. Five by‐products (i.e. potato waste, noodle waste, soybean curd residue, soy sauce cake and green tea waste) were obtained. Four types of TMR silage were used: control (C) containing roughage and commercial concentrate, T1:20% and T1:40% containing the five by‐products replacing 20% and 40% of the commercial concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively, and T2:40% containing three by‐products (potato waste, noodle waste and soybean curd residue) replacing 40% of the commercial concentrate on a DM basis. The ingredients were mixed and preserved in oil drum silos for 4 months. The TMR silages showed 4.02–4.44% and 1.75–2.19% for pH and lactic acid contents, respectively. The digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrient content were higher (P < 0.05) for T2:40% feeding than for C feeding. Urinary nitrogen excretion tended to be lower (P = 0.07) for T2:40% than for C. The results suggested 40% replacing of commercial concentrate by using the three food by‐products can be most suitable for TMR silage.     

Effects of Compound Chinese Medicine on Growth Performance,Nutrients Apparent Digestibility,Immune Function and Slaughter Performance of Weaning Rex Rabbits

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of different levels of compound Chinese medicine on growth performance,nutrients apparent digestibility,immune function and slaughter performance of weaning Rex rabbits.70 healthy Rex rabbits at age of 60 days were divided into 7 groups with 5 replicates per group and 2 rabbits per replicate.Group Ⅰ was fed with basic diet as control group,group Ⅱ was fed the basal diet supplemented with antibiotic (contains 50 mg/kg milligrams bacitracin zinc,10 mg/kg colistin sulfate).The other five groups (Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ and Ⅶ) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1%,2%,3%,4%,5% compound Chinese medicine,respectively.The pre-test period lasted for 7 days and the trial period lasted for 45 days.The results showed as follows:①The ADG in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P< 0.05),the F/G in group Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in other groups (P< 0.05).②The apparent digestibility of DM in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅰand Ⅱ (P< 0.05),the apparent digestibility of DM in group Ⅶ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P< 0.05).The apparent digestibility of CF in group Ⅳ was extremely significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P< 0.01),the apparent digestibility of CF in group Ⅶ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P< 0.05).The apparent digestibility of NDF in group Ⅳ was extremely significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P< 0.01),and significantly higher than that in groups Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅴ and Ⅶ (P< 0.05).The apparent digestibility of ADF in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅴ and Ⅶ (P< 0.05).The apparent digestibility of CP in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P< 0.05).③ There were no significant differences in the contents of IgG,IgA and IgM of serum among all groups (P> 0.05),the spleen index in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅴ (P< 0.05).④There were no significant differences in the slaughter rate,half eviscerated slaughter rate and all eviscerated slaughter rate among all groups (P> 0.05).In summary,adding compound Chinese medicine and antibiotics in the feed both could improve the growth performance,nutrients apparent digestibility,immune function and slaughter performance of weaning Rex rabbits,and the appropriate compound Chinese medicine level in the diet of weaning Rex rabbits was 2%.     

DSC法研究水分含量对低分子量MUF树脂固化特性的影响

  目的  探究水分含量对低分子量三聚氰胺脲醛（MUF）树脂溶液固化特性的影响,为阐明树脂浸渍材在不同干燥阶段、不同空间层位中的树脂固化特性提供数据支撑。  方法  以实验室自制的MUF树脂溶液为研究对象,将其稀释成20%、30%、40%、50%后进行升温差示扫描量热测试（DSC）,通过外推法消除升温速率对峰顶温度的影响,拟合求解其最佳固化温度,定性阐述水分含量对MUF树脂固化特性的影响,并运用Kissinger微分法和Flynn-Wall-Ozawa积分法计算20%、30%、40%、50%树脂溶液固化反应的表观活化能,定量分析水分对树脂固化特性的影响。  结果  随着MUF树脂溶液质量分数的降低,DSC曲线中峰顶温度整体上呈现向高温方向偏移的趋势,但是在升温速率15和20 ℃/min条件下,20%树脂溶液DSC曲线的峰顶温度峰位置向低温区域发生了偏移;通过外推法得到的20%、30%、40%、50% MUF树脂溶液的最佳固化温度分别为93.99、90.71、85.46和79.71 ℃;运用Kissinger微分法计算得到其表观活化能分别为92.94、82.37、65.93和50.68 kJ/mol,其结果与Flynn-Wall-Ozawa积分法验算结果相近。  结论  整体上,消除升温速率的影响后,水分对树脂固化反应起阻碍作用,并且水分越多,阻碍效应越明显;但在较高升温速率（15和20 ℃/min）条件下,20%MUF树脂溶液的DSC测试结果表明水分促进树脂固化反应,这可能是由分子运动加剧造成的。      

An in vitro method to determine phosphorus digestibility of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) feed ingredients

An in vitro method was developed to assess the digestibility of phosphorus in 12 plant and animal feed ingredients for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). The method simulates the gastrointestinal tract of the rainbow trout with regard to pH and gastrointestinal enzymes. Phosphorus solubility was measured after acid digestion (pH 3) with and without gastric enzymes, after alkaline digestion (pH 9) with and without intestinal enzymes, and after a two-step process involving acid and alkaline digestion. Commercially available digestive enzymes from mammals were compared with digestive enzymes from rainbow trout. Correlating in vitro digestibility with in vivo digestibility showed that acid digestion with both commercial enzymes ( r ²=0.98, P  < 0.05) and trout enzymes ( r ²=0.94, P  < 0.05) predicted the in vivo digestibility of animal feed ingredients. Alkaline digestion with both enzyme systems (commercial r ²=0.79; trout r ²=0.74, P  < 0.05) or without ( r ²=0.82, P  < 0.05) enzymes predicted the in vivo digestibility of ingredients from animal byproducts but not those from plant products. The in vitro digestibility with two enzyme steps (acid and alkaline) predicted in vivo digestibility of plant and animal ingredients ( r ²=0.79 for commercial enzymes and r ²=0.74 for trout enzymes) better than did one-step acid or alkaline digestion.     

Strategies for further development of aquatic feeds

ABSTRACT: To date, aquatic feeds have depended heavily on fishmeal and fish oil as their source of protein and lipid. However, the feed industry is encountering shortfalls in the availability of these ingredients because of a decline in the number of fish captured in the wild and the increased human demand for some of the species currently being used for fishmeal and oil production. Therefore, efforts are now being directed in different parts of the world to finding alternative quality ingredients, which ideally are less expensive and readily available for use in practical diets. The data accrued have shown that a large proportion of both fishmeal and fish oil can be replaced by other protein and lipid sources. However, it is emphasized that an optimal essential amino acid balance be maintained and that the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid requirement be satisfied when combining economical protein and lipid ingredients. Newly developed feeds should aim at being nutrient-dense in order to reduce the output of solid, P and N waste. This can be done through improving nutrient availability, optimizing the digestible protein to energy balance of the diet, and replacing dietary fishmeal with alternate ingredients. These diets should also be effective for maintaining good health and improving disease resistance in fish through enhancement of immune responses. A wholesome approach to culturing fish would be to use appropriate feeding standards that are aimed not only at improving economic returns but also at developing a lasting cohabitation of sustainable aquaculture and a cleaner environment. Furthermore, in the 2lst century aquaculture would still retain its place as a prominent source of food protein, signifying that fish feed research remains a forceful area in discovering better feeds for the industry.     

Digesta viscosity, nutrient digestibility and organ weights in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fed diets supplemented with different levels of a soluble non-starch polysaccharide

The objective of the present study was to investigate if dietary soluble non‐starch polysaccharides (NSP) increase digesta viscosity, reduce nutrient digestibility and increase organ weights in African catfish. The fish (mean weight 80 g) were fed diets supplemented with the soluble NSP guar gum at three levels, 0 g kg^?1 (GG0), 40 g kg^?1 (GG4) and 80 g kg^?1 (GG8). Guar gum inclusion significantly increased digesta viscosity in the proximal (GG0: 1.7 centipoise or cP; GG4: 84.9 cP; GG8: 98.3 cP) and distal (GG0: 1.9 cP; GG4: 109.8 cP; GG8: 66.4 cP) intestine. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were significantly lower for the GG8 diet than the GG0 diet (dry matter: 52% versus 69%; protein: 77% versus 90%; ash: 41% versus 54%; energy: 60% versus 77%). The ADC of dry matter and energy were significantly lower for the GG4 diet than the GG0 diet. The relative growth rate of metabolic weight (14.5–15.4 g kg^?0.8 day^?1) and feed conversion ratio (0.8) did not differ between diets. Fish fed the GG8 diet had a significantly higher somatic stomach index than GG0 fish (0.71% versus 0.65% body weight). The intestinal somatic index tended to increase with increasing guar gum supplementation (GG0: 1.08%; GG4: 1.23%; GG8: 1.59%). In conclusion, high digesta viscosities in the guar gum fed fish may explain the observed reduced nutrient digestibilities and increases in digestive organ weights.     

Effects of formulating growing pig diet with increasing levels of wheat‐corn distillers dried grains with solubles on digestible nutrient basis on growth performance and nutrient digestibility

Formulating swine diets containing fibrous coproducts based on net energy (NE) and standardized ileal digestible amino acid (SID AA) values is recommended for optimizing pig performance. However, the effects of applying this approach to diets with increasing dietary levels of wheat‐corn‐derived distillers dried grains with soluble (wcDDGS) on pig performance have not been evaluated. Thus, 48 pigs with an average body weight [BW] of 25.5 kg were used to determine the effects of increasing wcDDGS (1:1 wheat to corn ratio) content in grower diets on performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients. Pigs were housed in pens of either 2 barrows or gilts balanced for BW and fed 4 diets within sex for 42 days. Diets were a nutrient adequate corn–barley–soybean meal‐based diet with 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% wcDDGS, and were similar in calculated NE and SID AA values. Acid insoluble ash was used as the indigestible marker. Final BW and overall average daily gain (ADG) linearly decreased (p < 0.05) and feed efficiency tended to decrease (p = 0.07) with increased dietary wcDDGS. Overall average daily feed intake was not affected (p > 0.10) by dietary treatment. The ATTD of dry matter and energy linearly decreased (p < 0.01), whereas the ATTD of neutral detergent fibre linearly increased (p < 0.01) with increasing dietary level of wcDDGS. Increasing dietary wcDDGS content did not affect (p > 0.10) ATTD of Ca and P. In conclusion, increasing dietary wcDDGS content reduced growth performance and ATTD of energy in growing pigs. Thus, the risks of high dietary wcDGGS content may not be completely alleviated by formulating growing pig diets on the basis of NE and SID AA systems.