藻类在猪和鸡养殖生产中的应用研究进展

文章总结了畜禽生产中可利用的藻类及其营养成分,重点介绍了含藻饲料对以猪和鸡为代表的畜禽生长、免疫、肌肉品质、产蛋性能和禽蛋品质等方面的影响,还指出了藻类在畜禽饲料应用中存在的问题并提出建议,旨在为藻类资源在猪、鸡养殖生产中的广泛应用提供参考。藻类分布广、易生长、产量大,尤其是海藻,含有陆生植物不具有的生物活性物质和营养物质。将富含不饱和脂肪酸和色素的微藻添加到饲料中能改善畜禽肉品质,提升禽蛋品质;将富含多糖等活性物质的大型海藻添加到饲料中有助于提升畜禽免疫力。饲料中添加少量藻类可提高饲料稳定性,提升畜禽生长性能和饲料利用率;当藻类添加量过高时,其所含的抗营养因子会对畜禽产生负面影响,但通过适当的预处理可消除部分抗营养因子,减轻负面效应。     

利用芳香族化合物估测反刍动物采食量的潜力

综述了芳香族化合物的发现过程、反刍动物饲草料、瘤胃和尿液中芳香族化合物的主要类型及存在形式.马尿酸是最早从家畜排泄物中发现的芳香族化合物.反刍动物的尿液中排出的苯甲酸几乎完全来源于日粮中的前体物.饲料日粮中芳香族化合物是酚酸、简单酚、香豆素、棉子酚、酚的生物碱、类黄酮、单宁酸和木质素.羟基肉桂酸和安息香酸是维管束植物中广泛存在的一类酚类化合物,其在禾本科牧草中的含量远高于豆科牧草,但禾谷类籽实中的含量却很低.瘤胃液和尿液中的芳香族代谢物主要是无酚的芳香酸、酚酸和苯酚,环己烷羧酸是惟一发现的脂环族酸.饲喂不同的日粮饲草料,反刍家畜以马尿酸形式排出的氮量大约占尿氮总量的6%,变化范围为1%～38%.测定尿中芳香族化合物特别是马尿酸对预测反刍家畜的采食量具有重要潜力和作用.     

Diet composition and breeding cycle of blacktail,Diplodus sargus capensis (Pisces: Sparidae), caught off St Croix Island,Algoa Bay,South Africa

The contents of the alimentary tracts of D. sargus capensis were analysed to establish diet composition. The importance of analysing stomach, intestine and total alimentary tract, separately, is emphasized. D. sargus capensis is an omnivore preying on lower intertidal and shallow subtidal benthic species. Cirripedia and algae were the most important groups and constitute ca. 60% of the total dietary composition. Ulva sp., Perna perna and Balanu, spp. were prefered species. A new index for ranking prey items, which combines the modified points method and the frequency of occurrence method, is suggested. It is especially useful for omnivorous fish where prey items sucl as seaweed and colonial organisms are difficult to enumerate. Ambosexual individuals differentiate into functional males or functional females. Active spermatogenesis in the ovo-testis suggests a special type of protandric development. D. sargus capensis has an extended breeding cycle with a peak spawning period from October to December.     

The role of seaweed as a potential dietary supplementation for enteric methane mitigation in ruminants: Challenges and opportunities

Seaweeds are macroalgae, which can be of many different morphologies, sizes, colors, and chemical profiles. They include brown, red, and green seaweeds. Brown seaweeds have been more investigated and exploited in comparison to other seaweed types for their use in animal feeding studies due to their large sizes and ease of harvesting. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that plant secondary compound-containing seaweeds (e.g., halogenated compounds, phlorotannins, etc.) have the potential to mitigate enteric methane (CH₄) emissions from ruminants when added to the diets of beef and dairy cattle. Red seaweeds including Asparagopsis spp. are rich in crude protein and halogenated compounds compared to brown and green seaweeds. When halogenated-containing red seaweeds are used as the active ingredient in ruminant diets, bromoform concentration can be used as an indicator of anti-methanogenic properties. Phlorotannin-containing brown seaweed has also the potential to decrease CH₄ production. However, numerous studies examined the possible anti-methanogenic effects of marine seaweeds with inconsistent results. This work reviews existing data associated with seaweeds and in vitro and in vivo rumen fermentation, animal performance, and enteric CH₄ emissions in ruminants. Increased understanding of the seaweed supplementation related to rumen fermentation and its effect on animal performance and CH₄ emissions in ruminants may lead to novel strategies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving animal productivity.     

Influence of dietary rapeseed meal levels on growth performance,organ health and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility in meat ducks from 15 to 35 days of age

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary rapeseed meal (RSM) inclusion levels on growth performance, organ health and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) in meat ducks from 15 to 35 days of age. Six hundred and eighty 15‐days‐old ducks were randomly allotted to five treatments based on body weight. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis by replacing 0% (the control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (based on fresh) of protein from soya bean meal (SBM) with protein from RSM. The corresponding levels of RSM in experimental diets were 0%, 6.66%, 13.32%, 19.98% and 26.64% respectively. With increasing dietary RSM levels, body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) linearly decreased (p < 0.001), whereas feed‐to‐gain ratio (F: G) linearly increased (p = 0.0078). Ducks fed the diets with 13.32% or more RSM had significantly lower (p < 0.05) BW, ADG and ADFI, or higher F: G than ducks fed the control diet. The maximum limit of dietary RSM supplementation was estimated to range from 4.27% to maximize ADG for 15 to 35 days to 11.69% to maintain feed intake for 15 to 35 days on the basis of a broken‐line model. At day35, the 4th primary wing feather length and SIAAD (except for Met, Thr and Val) linearly decreased (p < 0.001), and the thyroid glands weight (% of BW) linearly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary RSM levels. Ducks fed the RSM inclusion diets had significantly lower (p < 0.0001) serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities than ducks fed the control diet. These results suggested that the maximum limit of dietary RSM containing 7.57 μmol/g glucosinolates was estimated to be 4.27% to avoid growth reduction.     

Effect of dietary concentrate content on feed intake,feed efficiency,and meat quality of Holstein steers fattened in a hot environment

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding high and low concentrate diets on feed intake and feed efficiency, the morphological characteristics of the rumen papillae, and meat quality of Holstein steers fattened under hot climate conditions in Oman. Ten male Holstein calves, of 5 months of age, were selected for the experiment. The animals were fed concentrate and Rhodes grass hay and were divided into two groups of high concentrate (HC, n = 5) and low concentrate diets (LC, n = 5), in which their feed intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency were evaluated across three growing periods. Feed intake and efficiency and average daily gain (ADG) of the HC group were significantly greater than for the LC group and were affected by the diet (p < .01) and the period (p < .001). Across the fattening periods, ADG declined in both groups, with ADG improved by 35% for steers on the HC diet compared to steers on the LC diet. Carcass meat quality was not affected significantly by the dietary concentrate level. In conclusion, our results can be used to make improvements in feed efficiency of Holstein steers under hot climate conditions.     

Dietary lysine requirement for 7–16 kg pigs fed wheat–corn–soybean meal‐based diets

Two experiments were conducted to determine the lysine requirement of weaned pigs [Duroc × (Yorkshire × Landrace)] with an average initial BW of 7 kg and fed wheat–corn–soybean meal‐based diets. The experiments were conducted for 21 days during which piglets had free access to diets and water. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were determined on day 7, 14 and 21. Blood samples were collected on day 0 and 14 to determine plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentration. In experiment 1, 96 weaned pigs were housed four per pen and allocated to four dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment. The diets contained 0.99%, 1.23%, 1.51% and 1.81% standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine, respectively, corrected analysed values. The rest of the AA were provided to meet the ideal AA ratio for protein accretion. Increasing dietary lysine content linearly increased (p < 0.05) ADG and G:F. In experiment 2, 90 piglets were housed three per pen and allocated to five dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment. The five diets contained 1.03%, 1.25%, 1.31%, 1.36% and 1.51% SID lysine, respectively, corrected analysed values. Increasing dietary lysine content linearly increased (p < 0.05) G:F, linearly decreased (p < 0.05) day‐14 PUN and quadratically (p < 0.05) increased ADG and ADFI. The ADG data from experiment 2 were subjected to linear and quadratic broken‐lines regression analyses, and the SID lysine requirement was determined to be 1.29% and 1.34% respectively. On average, optimal dietary SID lysine content for optimal growth of 7–16 kg weaned piglets fed wheat–corn–SBM‐based diets was estimated to be 1.32%; at this level, the ADG and ADFI were 444 and 560 g, respectively, thus representing an SID lysine requirement, expressed on daily intake basis as, 7.4 g/day or 16.76 mg/g gain.     

Emerging feed markets for ruminant production in urban and peri-urban areas of Northern Ghana

Feed shortage in urban and peri-urban areas has triggered the emergence of feed markets in Northern Ghana. These markets were surveyed at three locations (Tamale, Bolgatanga, and Wa markets) to determine types and prices of feedstuffs sold across seasons; early dry (November–January), late dry (February–April), early wet (May–July), and main wet (August–October). Semi–structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Three samples of each feed type in the markets were bought from three different sellers per market in each season. The samples were oven dried to constant weight and price/kg DM of each feed determined. The total respondents were 169. Out of this number, 41% were feed sellers, 46% buyers, and 13% retailers. The feedstuffs found were crop residues (groundnut haulm and cowpea haulm), agro-industrial by-products (bran of maize, rice, and sorghum), fresh grasses (Rotteboellia cochinchinensis), and local browses (Ficus sp. and Pterocarpus erinaceous). Prices of feeds differed (P < 0.05) among markets and were higher in Bolgatanga than Tamale and Wa markets. Prices of cereal bran were not different (P > 0.05) in all seasons but that of crop residues were higher (P < 05) in early to late dry season than the wet season. Majority (90%) of respondents opined that the feed market will expand due to increasing number of livestock population in the peri-urban areas.

     

Bacterial Protein Grown on Natural Gas as Feed for Pigs

Bacterial protein meal (BPM) produced by a mixture of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), Alcaligenes acidovorans, Bacillus brevis and Bacillus firmus grown on natural gas, was studied as a protein source for pigs. Three growth trials were conducted, one with weanling pigs (Expt 1) and two with growing-finishing pigs (Expts 2 and 3). In Expt 1, 64 appetitefed weanling pigs (10.4 kg average initial weight) were used to determine the effect of adding BPM (0 g, 40 g, 80 g and 120 g kg^-1) to diets replacing traditional protein feedstuffs on growth performance. During week 0-2, adding BPM to diets increased average daily gain (ADG) (linear P < 0.03). During week 0-2 and week 0-4, the 120 g kg^-1 BPM diet increased (P < 0.01) average daily feed intake compared with the control and the 50 g kg^-1     

Effect of addition of a probiotic micro‐organism to broiler diet on intestinal mucosal architecture and electrophysiological parameters

Probiotics might be one of the solutions to reduce the effects of the recent ban on antimicrobial growth promoters in feed. However, the mode of action of probiotics still not fully understood. Therefore, evaluating probiotics (microbial feed additives) is essential. Thus the objective of this work was to investigate the efficacy of a new microbial feed additive (Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus reuteri) in broiler nutrition. The body weight (BW), average daily weight gain was relatively increased by the dietary inclusion of Lactobacillus sp. in broiler diets. Furthermore, the Lactobacillus feed additive influenced the histomorphological measurements of small intestinal villi. The addition of Lactobacillus sp. increased (p < 0.05) the villus height (VH)/crypt depth ratio and the VH was numerically increased in duodenum. The duodenal crypt depth remained unaffected (p > 0.05), while the ileal crypt depth was decreased by dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus sp. compared with the control. At the end of the feeding period, the basal and glucose stimulated short‐circuit current (Isc) and electrical tissue conductivity were measured in the isolated gut mucosa to characterize the electrical properties of the gut. The addition of glucose on the mucosal side in Ussing chamber produced a significant increase (p = 0.001) in Isc in both jejunum and colon relative to the basal values in Lactobacillus probiotic group. This increase in Isc for probiotic group in jejunum is equivalent to an increase of about two times that for the basal values, while in the control group is about half fold that for the basal value. In addition, the ΔIsc after glucose addition to the large intestine was greater than the ΔIsc in the small intestine in both control and probiotic group. Moreover in both jejunum and colon, the increase in Isc for birds fed Lactobacillus was higher than their control counterparts (p ≤ 0.1). This result suggests that the addition of Lactobacillus sp. to broiler diets increased the glucose transport. Additionally, the results indicated that the conductivity of jejunal and colonic tissues remained unaffected by the dietary inclusion of Lactobacillus and support the concept that this additive enhances the maintenance and function of the epithelial barrier. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of a microbial feed additive (L. salivarius and L. reuteri) slightly increased the growth performance and improved intestinal nutrient absorption which was in association with the intestinal architecture improvement.     

Does intra-ruminal nitrogen recycling waste valuable resources? A review of major players and their manipulation

Nitrogenous emissions from ruminant livestock production are of increasing public concern and, together with methane, contribute to environmental pollution. The main cause of nitrogen-(N)-containing emissions is the inadequate provision of N to ruminants, leading to an excess of ammonia in the rumen, which is subsequently excreted. Depending on the size and molecular structure, various bacterial, protozoal and fungal species are involved in the ruminal breakdown of nitrogenous compounds(NC). Decelerating ruminal NC degradation by controlling the abundance and activity of proteolytic and deaminating microorganisms, but without reducing cellulolytic processes, is a promising strategy to decrease N emissions along with increasing N utilization by ruminants. Different dietary options, including among others the treatment of feedstuffs with heat or the application of diverse feed additives, as well as vaccination against rumen microorganisms or their enzymes have been evaluated. Thereby, reduced productions of microbial metabolites, e.g. ammonia, and increased microbial N flows give evidence for an improved N retention. However, linkage between these findings and alterations in the rumen microbiota composition, particularly NC-degrading microbes, remains sparse and contradictory findings confound the exact evaluation of these manipulating strategies, thus emphasizing the need for comprehensive research. The demand for increased sustainability in ruminant livestock production requests to apply attention to microbial N utilization efficiency and this will require a better understanding of underlying metabolic processes as well as composition and interactions of ruminal NC-degrading microorganisms.     

Antioxidant effects of seaweeds and their active compounds on animal health and production – a review

Natural antioxidants applied as feed additives can improve not only animals’ health and overall performance but also increase their resistance to environmental stress such as heat stress, bad housing conditions, diseases, etc. Marine organisms, for example seaweeds – red, brown, and green macroalgae contain a plethora of biologically active substances, including phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and proteins known for their antioxidant activity, which can help in the maintenance of appropriate redox status in animals and show pleiotropic effects for enhancing good health, and productivity. The dysregulated production of free radicals is a marked characteristic of several clinical conditions, and antioxidant machinery plays a pivotal role in scavenging the excessive free radicals, thereby preventing and treating infections in animals. Supplementation of seaweeds to animal diet can boost antioxidant activity, immunity, and the gut environment. Dietary supplementation of seaweeds can also enhance meat quality due to the deposition of marine-derived antioxidant components in muscles. The use of natural antioxidants in the meat industry is a practical approach to minimize or prevent lipid oxidation. However, overconsumption of seaweeds, especially brown macroalgae, should be avoided because of their high iodine content. An important point to consider when including seaweeds in animal feed is their variable composition which depends on the species, habitat, location, harvest time, growing conditions such as nutrient concentration in water, light intensity, temperature, etc. This review highlights the beneficial applications of seaweeds and their extracted compounds, which have antioxidant properties as feed additives and impact animal health and production.     

反刍动物饲料产品和动物源性饲料产品中牛羊源成分检测

[目的]检测反刍动物饲料和动物源性饲料中牛羊源成分,掌握动物饲料安全情况。[方法]利用聚合酶链式反应法（PCR法）对反刍动物饲料产品（预混料、精料补充料、全价配合料等）和动物源性饲料产品（鱼粉、肉粉等）共计300个样品进行了牛羊源成分检测。[结果]牛羊源性成分检测合格率为99.33%。其中,反刍动物饲料产品260批次,牛羊源性成分合格率为99.23%;动物源性饲料产品40批次,均未检出牛羊源性成分。2个阳性样品均为牛源阳性。[结论]反刍动物饲料产品存在潜在的安全隐患。     

凝结芽孢杆菌对感染产气荚膜梭菌肉鸡生长性能、肠道病变及免疫器官指数的影响

本试验旨在研究日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌对感染产气荚膜梭菌肉鸡生长性能、肠道病变及免疫器官指数的影响。选用312只1日龄科宝500肉鸡公雏,随机分成4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复13只鸡。采用2×2双因子完全随机设计,产气荚膜梭菌分为无感染产气荚膜梭菌组和感染产气荚膜梭菌组,日粮中凝结芽孢杆菌水平分别为0和400mg/kg。试验期35d。结果表明,感染产气荚膜梭菌后15~35日龄肉鸡平均日增重显著降低(P0.05),28日龄肠道病变严重(P0.01),35日龄法氏囊指数极显著降低(P0.01);日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌可显著提高15~35日龄肉鸡平均日增重(P0.05),显著降低料重比(P0.05),能缓解感染导致的肠道损伤(P0.05),28日龄肉鸡胸腺指数极显著提高(P0.01),35日龄法氏囊指数极显著提高(P0.01)。肠道病变结果分析表明,日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌与感染产气荚膜梭菌有显著交互作用(P0.05)。综上所述,日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌能够提高感染产气荚膜梭菌肉鸡生长性能及免疫器官指数,增强动物免疫能力,并能缓解由于产气荚膜梭菌感染而导致的不利影响。     

反刍家畜对蛋白质和非蛋白氮的利用

通过对反刍家畜营养生理的认识,阐述如何提高饲料蛋白质和非蛋白氮在反刍家畜生产中的利用效率.     

Intact brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) in diets of weaned piglets: effects on performance, gut bacteria and morphology and plasma oxidative status

The aim was to assess the effects of intact dried Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed on piglet performances, gut bacteria and function and plasma oxidative status. A total of 160 weaned piglets (21 days, 6.59 ± 0.91 kg) were allocated to four dietary treatments with eight pen replicates of five animals each for 28 days: a control diet; based on cereals, soybean meal and milk products, and three basal diets supplemented with either 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g dried seaweed per kg. At day 12/13 one piglet from each pen was sacrificed. Plasma samples were taken to determine parameters of oxidative status. Digesta were sampled for microbiological plate countings onto selective media and molecular analysis using PCR‐DGGE. Small intestinal tissue was taken for morphological and electro‐physiological determinations. Data were analysed by a linear model with treatment as fixed effect. A. nodosum supplementation had no effect on daily weight gain, nor did it alter feed conversion ratio. Plate countings failed to reveal differences among treatments. Dendograms prepared using PCR‐DGGE banding patterns did not indicate clustering of microbial profiles based on diet supplement. Plasma oxidative status and outcome of morphology and of electro‐physiological measurements from gut tissues were similar for all treatments. Thus, the addition of A. nodosum seaweed to well digestible diets did not enhance performances of piglets nor some gut health parameters and plasma oxidative status.     

Studies on the Littoral Seaweed Epifauna of St Croix Island 2. Composition and Summer Standing Stock

The fauna associated with the littoral seaweeds of St Croix Island has been investigated in terms of numbers and biomass (grams and kilojoules). The seaweeds support an abundant and diverse epifauna dominated by crustaceans, nematodes, annelids, molluscs and mites. The summer standing stock of epifauna from the seaweeds occurring in three different metre wide vertical strips of shore was determined and found to tota 2,1— 4,6 x 10⁶ individuals (equivalent to 85—117 g dry mass or 1,2— 1,7 x 10³ kJ). The nature of the seaweed microenvironment influences the epifauna and algal turfs and tufted seaweeds supported more epifauna than seaweeds with flattened thalli. A model depicting feeding relationships and the role of seaweed epifauna in the littoral zone is given and suggests that epifauna feed on detritus, plankton, algae or other epifauna and are in turn preyed upon, selectively or non selectively, by littoral macrofauna and transient predators.     

色氨酸对5～10周龄扬州鹅生长性能和屠宰性能的影响

选用270只21日龄的扬州公鹅,随机分成6组,每组3个重复,每个重复15只鹅。采用2×3二因子试验设计,采用两种饲喂方式(自由采食和90%限制饲喂,限制饲喂组鹅饲料供给量为前一天自由采食组饲料消耗量的90%)和低、中、高3个色氨酸(Trp)水平(含量分别为0.14%,0.22%和0.30%),分别对3个不同生长阶段的生长性能和屠宰性能指标进行测定。结果表明,在28～42日龄,与低、高Trp组相比,中Trp组扬州鹅平均日采食量和平均日增重显著提高(P<0.05),饲喂方式和Trp水平对扬州鹅平均日采食量、平均日增重和饲料转化率有交互作用(P<0.05);在42～56日龄,自由采食组扬州鹅平均日采食量和饲料转化率极显著高于限制饲喂组(P<0.01),平均日增重显著高于限制饲喂组(P<0.05)。与低、高Trp组相比,中Trp组扬州鹅平均日采食量显著提高(P<0.05),Trp水平对平均日增重和饲料转化率无显著影响(P>0.05),饲喂方式和Trp水平对扬州鹅平均日采食量有交互作用(P<0.05);在56～70日龄,Trp水平对扬州鹅平均日采食量、平均日增重和饲料转化率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。饲喂方式和Trp水平对扬州鹅平均日增重和饲料转化率有交互作用(P<0.05);在28～70日龄,自由采食组扬州鹅平均日采食量和平均日增重极显著高于限制饲喂组(P<0.01)。与低、高Trp组相比,中Trp组扬州鹅平均日采食量和平均日增重显著提高(P<0.05),而Trp水平对饲料转化率无显著影响(P>0.05),饲喂方式和Trp水平对扬州鹅平均日采食量和平均日增重有交互作用(P<0.05)。自由采食组扬州鹅全净膛率、胸肌率和腹脂率显著高于限制饲喂组(P<0.01),随着Trp水平的增加,扬州鹅胸肌率显著增加(P<0.01),而Trp水平对其他屠宰性能指标无显著影响(P>0.05),饲喂方式和Trp水平对扬州鹅腹脂率有交互作用(P<0.01)。由此可知,饲粮中Trp水平过低或过高均会对扬州鹅生长性能产生不利影响,并且这种不利的影响具有阶段性,因此日粮添加适当水平的Trp能够一定程度改善扬州鹅生长性能。     

Evaluation of standardized ileal digestible lysine requirement for 8–20 kg pigs fed low crude protein diets

Two experiments were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys) requirement for weaned pigs fed with low crude protein (CP) diet. In Experiment 1, 144 pigs were fed a normal CP (20%) diet with 12.3 g/kg SID Lys and five low CP (18.5%) diets providing SID Lys levels of 9.8, 11.1, 12.3, 13.5, and 14.8 g/kg, respectively, for 28 days. Reducing dietary CP from 20% to 18.5% enhanced (p < 0.05) the growth performance. The average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) increased (linear and quadratic; p < 0.05), serum urea nitrogen (SUN) decreased (linear and quadratic; p < 0.05) as SID Lys increased. The SID Lys levels required to maximize ADG and optimize G:F were 12.8 and 13.1 g/kg using a curvilinear plateau model, and to minimize SUN was 13.4 g/kg using a two‐slope broken‐line model, which averaged 13.1 g/kg SID Lys. In Experiment 2, 18 pigs were used in a 12‐day N balance trial and received the same diets of Experiment 1. Total N excretion was decreased when dietary CP reduced and further decreased when SID Lys increased. Collectively, 1.5% dietary CP reduction improved the growth performance and decreased the N excretion; the optimal SID Lys requirement was at 13.1 g/kg of 8–20 kg pigs fed with 18.5% CP diet.     

Effects of soybean oligosaccharide,stachyose, and raffinose on growth performance and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens

This study was conducted to examine the effects of soybean oligosaccharide, stachyose, and raffinose on growth performance and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens. Three-hundred 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments: a basal diet (control diet); diets supplemented with soybean oligosaccharide, stachyose, or raffinose at levels of 0.6% total sugar content; and diet with soybean meals (positive control). Results showed that feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was improved (p < 0.05) in broiler chickens that received stachyose, but not raffinose, while addition of soybean oligosaccharide to the diet significantly (p < 0.05) resulted in decreases in the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG). Supplementation with soybean oligosaccharide, stachyose, or raffinose had a positive effect (p < 0.05) on the nutrient digestibility, but not on the blood immune parameters (p > 0.05). The results of the gene sequencing indicated that, at the family level, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Lactobacillaceae were comparatively present in all the treatments but the cecal microbial composition was changed after dietary addition of different oligosaccharides. Our study had led to a greater understanding of prebiotic effects of these oligosaccharides on growth and intestinal health.