Influence of variable content of dietary zinc on copper metabolism of weanling foals

The influence of variable zinc content (29.1, 250, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg of dry weight) in a basic diet containing 7.7 mg of copper/kg on the ability of weanling foals to maintain normal copper balance was investigated. Serum copper and zinc concentrations were monitored, and terminal hepatic copper and zinc contents were measured in 4 weanling foals fed the basic diet containing 29.1 mg of zinc/kg and in 2 foals each fed the higher-zinc diets. Foals fed the lower-zinc diets (29.1 and 250 mg/kg) maintained normal serum copper and zinc concentrations for 14 to 15 weeks, whereas those fed the 2 higher-zinc diets became hypocupremic within 5 to 6 weeks and were lame within 6 weeks, owing to cartilaginous disease characteristic of osteochondritis dissecans. Serum zinc concentration in the foals fed the 2 higher-zinc diets increased to greater than 2 micrograms/ml within 2 weeks. Foals fed the high-zinc diets became lame after serum copper concentration had remained at 0.3 micrograms/ml for greater than 1 week. Serum copper concentration in these arthritic foals was less than or equal to 0.2 micrograms/ml at the end of the study. In lame foals, fractures of the cartilage of the articular and growth physes occurred through the zone of hypertrophic cells, and varied from bilateral to unilateral and from small to large. Free masses and flaps of cartilage attached to one side were numerous.     

Growth performance and health status in weanling piglets fed spray-dried porcine plasma under typical Northern European conditions

The effect of inclusion of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in diets for weanling piglets was studied. The objectives were to determine whether SDPP would have positive effects on post-weaning piglet performance and health under typical Northern European conditions. In experiment 1, 160 weanling piglets were assigned randomly to a control diet or a diet containing 3% SDPP, which was added at the expense of both fishmeal and dried skim milk. In experiment 2, 264 weanling piglets were assigned to a control diet containing whey protein, a diet without whey protein but with SDPP or a diet containing both whey protein and SDPP. In essence, SDPP was added to the test diets at the expense of either whey protein or fishmeal. Piglets were fed the diets for 3 weeks. In experiment 1, the piglets fed the SDPP diet had a 7% higher average daily gain (ADG) and a 4% lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) during the first 3 weeks after weaning than did those fed the control diet. There were no differences in leucocyte counts or γ-globulin. In experiment 2 there were no significant differences in ADG and FCR among the dietary treatments. It is concluded that low amounts of SDPP in weanling diets can have positive effects on growth performance under Northern European conditions.     

Effects of a whey protein product and spray-dried animal plasma on growth performance of weanling pigs

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of a high-protein, whey protein product (WPP; 73% CP, 6.8% lysine, 12.8% fat, and 5% lactose) and spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) on growth performance of weanling pigs. In all experiments, pigs were fed experimental diets from d 0 to 14 after weaning in a pelleted form and then a common diet in meal form for the remainder of the experiment. Dietary treatments were established by substituting WPP or SDAP for dried skim milk (Exp. 1) or soybean meal (Exp. 2, 3, 4, and 5) in the control diet. In Exp. 1, we maintained a constant level of lactose in all diets by adjusting the amount of added crystalline lactose. The amount of lactose in diets used in Exp. 2 through 5 varied slightly by the addition of WPP. In Exp. 1 and 2, 180 weanling pigs (initially 5.8 kg and 19 +/- 1 d of age or 5.5 kg and 17 +/- 1 d of age, respectively) were used. Treatment diets contained SDAP (2.5 and 5%) or WPP (2.7 and 5.4% in Exp.1, and 2.5 or 5.0% in Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, from d 0 to 7 after weaning, ADG and ADFI increased with increasing SDAP (linear, P < .01). No other treatment effects were observed during the d 0 to 14 period. In Exp. 2, from d 0 to 14 after weaning, ADG and G:F increased (linear, P < .04) with increasing SDAP or WWP. In Exp. 3, 305 weanling pigs (initially 4.1 kg and 12 +/- 1 d of age) were used. The control diet contained 2.5% SDAP. The experimental diets were similar to the control diet but contained an additional 2.5 or 5.0% SDAP or 2.5 or 5.0% WPP. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, ADG, ADFI, and G:F increased (quadratic, P < .05) with increasing SDAP up to 5.0%. Increasing WPP increased ADG (quadratic, P < .07) and ADFI (linear, P < .09). In Exp. 4 and 5, 329 and 756 weanling pigs (initially 4.1 kg and 12 +/- 1 d of age and 5.2 kg and 18 +/- 1 d of age, respectively) were fed diets in which WPP was substituted for 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (Exp. 4) or 0, 50, and 100% (Exp. 5) of the SDAP in the control diet. In Exp. 4 and 5, from d 0 to 14 after weaning, pigs fed a 1:1 blend of each protein source had better ADG (quadratic, P < .04) than those only fed SDAP. In conclusion, WPP can be used in combination with or as a total replacement for SDAP in diets for weanling pigs without reducing performance.     

The effects of sorbic acid in high moisture sorghum grain diets on performance of weanling swine

Three experiments were conducted with 288 weanling pigs to determine the effects of sorbic acid (SA) added to dry (DSG), high moisture (HMSG) or reconstituted (RSG) sorghum grain diets on gains and feed conversion. Dietary treatments for Exp. 1 were: DSG with and without .1% SA; HMSG with .1% SA and RSG with .1% SA. The DSG diets were fed ad libitum. The HMSG and RSG diets were mixed fresh from oxygen-limiting storage every 3 and 7 d and were also fed ad libitum. Pigs fed RSG diets consumed more feed than those fed HMSG diets (P less than .08). Performance was similar between pigs fed DSG diets without or with SA. Dietary treatments for Exp. 2 and 3 consisted of sorghum grains reconstituted to two moisture contents (MC), with additions of either 0, .05 or .1% SA. The diets were mixed fresh from oxygen-limiting storage every 7 d and fed ad libitum. In Exp. 2 and 3, pigs fed the higher MC diets were more efficient in feed conversion (P less than .03) than those fed the lower MC diets. In Exp. 3, a quadratic response (P less than .04) for average daily gain and average daily feed intake was observed for the main effect of SA. Feed efficiency improved (P less than .05) in a linear fashion as SA levels were increased in the diets. The results of these experiments indicate that weanling pigs may be fed HMSG or RSG without adverse effects on pig performance. Inconsistencies in pig response to SA were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of pelleting and pellet conditioning temperatures on weanling pig performance

We conducted two experiments to study the effects of pelleting and pellet conditioning temperature on weanling pig performance. In Exp. 1, 252 weanling pigs (PIC, L326 x C22) averaging 6.0 +/- 1.3 kg and 21 +/- 3 d of age were used to evaluate six corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 15% dried whey and formulated to contain 1.4% lysine. Treatments consisted of a control diet without spray-dried animal protein (SDAP) fed in meal form, a diet with 5% SDAP fed in meal form, and four diets with 5% SDAP that were conditioned at 60, 66, 71, or 77 degrees C for 10 s prior to pelleting. Pellets had a 3.97-mm diameter. The experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 14 after weaning, and all pigs were fed a common diet in meal form from d 14 to 28 after weaning. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, pigs fed diets containing SDAP had greater ADG, gain/feed (P < 0.001), and ADFI (P < 0.05) than pigs fed the control diet. No differences (P > 0.10) were observed between pigs fed the pelleted diets and those fed the SDAP diet in meal form. Conditioning temperature had no effect (P > 0.10) on weanling pig performance from d 0 to 14, and the diet fed from d 0 to 14 had no effect on overall performance (d 0 to 28). In Exp. 2, 252 weanling pigs (6.3 +/- 1.5 kg and 22 +/- 4 d of age) were used to evaluate diets with same composition as in Exp. 1, but treatments consisted of diets with or without SDAP conditioned at 60 degrees C before pelleting, and four diets containing 5% SDAP that were conditioned at 68, 77, 85, and 93 degrees C before pelleting. As in Exp. 1, conditioning lasted 10 s, pellets were 3.97 in mm diameter, and experimental diets were fed for the first 14 d of the 28-d experiment. From d 0 to 7, pigs fed the SDAP diet conditioned at 60 degrees C had greater ADFI (P < 0.05) and tended (P = 0.12) to have greater ADG than pigs fed the diet without SDAP and conditioned at 60 degrees C. From d 0 to 7, ADG (quadratic effect, P < 0.03) and ADFI (linear effect, P < 0.002) decreased as conditioning temperature increased, with the largest decrease observed above 77 degrees C. From d 0 to 14 and 0 to 28, ADG was not affected (P > 0.10) by pellet conditioning temperature or SDAP fed from d 0 to 14. The results of these studies suggest that conditioning diets containing 5% SDAP at temperatures above 77 degrees C decreases weanling pig growth performance.     

日粮锌源和锌水平对断奶仔猪血清及组织铜、铁、锌沉积的影响

选用临床检查健康的(26±2)日龄"杜×长×大"三元杂交断奶仔猪100头,按体质量和性别随机分为5组,每组20头,分别饲喂基础日粮、基础日粮+2000mg/kg氧化锌、基础日粮+3000mg/kg氧化锌、基础日粮+250mg/kg蛋氨酸锌、基础日粮+500mg/kg蛋氨酸锌。试验期14d。于断奶后0,7,14d,经前腔静脉采血,用原子吸收光谱仪检测血清中铜、铁、锌水平。试验结束时,每组选5头仔猪放血致死,取心、肝、肾、脑、脾、胸腺组织,测定铜、铁、锌含量。结果显示,仔猪断奶后,血清中铜、锌水平显著或极显著下降(P0.05或P0.01);添加不同锌源和锌水平的高锌日粮能提高断奶仔猪肝、肾、脑、血清锌的含量,显著或极显著降低仔猪血清铜和心、胸腺铜以及脾铁水平(P0.05或P0.01),对血清铁及其他组织铁含量无明显影响。这表明高锌日粮能增加断奶应激仔猪体内锌水平,降低部分组织中铜、铁含量。     

Effects of yeast culture on performance, gut integrity, and blood cell composition of weanling pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of yeast culture (YC) and modified yeast culture [YC + cell wall product (CWP) containing mannan oligosaccharides] in pig diets on the performance, gut integrity, and blood cell composition of weanling pigs and to determine whether these dietary supplements could replace antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) in pig diets. A total of 480 weanling pigs (27 d old and 7.8 +/- 0.1 kg of BW) were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental treatments: 1) diets without AGP or YC (control diet); 2) control + AGP; 3) control + 0.125% YC; and 4) control + 0.125% YC + 0.2% CWP. Piglets were fed experimental diets for 5 wk after weaning. Blood samples were collected from 8 piglets at weaning and from 8 piglets per treatment on d 14 and 35 after weaning for blood cell composition. These piglets were slaughtered for measurement of villous length and crypt depth in the jejunal mucosa and microbial profiling on the intestinal digesta. Average daily gain (P = 0.06) and G:F (P = 0.02) were improved for piglets that were fed the supplemented diets compared with piglets that were fed the control diet. Average daily feed intake was unaffected by dietary treatment. Performance was similar in piglets fed diets supplemented with AGP, YC, and YC + CWP. Blood cell composition, villous length, crypt depth, and microbial composition in the gut were unaffected by dietary treatment, but they were affected by time after weaning. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit value, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, percentage of lymphocytes in the leukocyte population, villous length, and crypt depth were greater (P < 0.05) at 5 wk after weaning than at 2 wk after weaning. Eosinophils (P = 0.06) in the leukocyte population tended to be greater at 5 wk after weaning. Concentration of neutrophils in the leukocyte population and percentages of CD4 and CD8 cells were lower (P < 0.02) at 5 wk after weaning. The CD4:CD8 ratio (P = 0.07) tended to be lower at 5 wk after weaning. Results suggest that yeast culture could be an alternative to AGP in the diets of weanling pigs and that addition of CWP to diets containing YC would not improve the performance or health of weanling pigs above that of YC alone. Thus, more insight into the mode of action of YC is needed.     

不同蛋白源饲粮下断奶仔猪小肠中增食欲素受体2的表达特征

为探讨不同蛋白源饲粮对断奶仔猪小肠中增食欲素受体2（HCRTR2）的表达特征,研究采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测HCRTR2的mRNA在断奶后分别饲喂动物蛋白替代30％总蛋白饲粮（处理1）及全植物性蛋白饲粮（处理2）0、3、7、14日龄大约克猪空肠中的表达特征。结果表明,不同蛋白源饲粮对日CR豫2基因mRNA的表达均有影响;与断奶0日龄相比．在处理1中,断奶3、7和14日龄时,HCRTR2的表达分别上升了4.30、6．60和4．12倍;处理2中,断奶3、7、14日龄HCRTR2基因mRNA的表达量分别为断奶0日龄时的0．71、1．44和4．50倍。结论：不同蛋白源饲粮对HCRTR2基因mRNA的表达均有影响。     

湿喂法在断奶仔猪生产中的应用

断奶仔猪采用湿喂法能提高仔猪的生产性能 ,改善其健康状况。一方面 ,液体日粮容易被仔猪接受 ,这样可以防止仔猪断奶后采食量的急速下降。另一方面 ,加水后成液态的饲料在自然条件下会发酵 ,这导致饲料中的乳酸菌数量增加、乳酸浓度上升、pH值下降。与喂干粉饲料相比 ,给断奶后仔猪喂液体日粮能够改善仔猪消化道的内环境 ,减少疾病 ,提高干物质采食量和日增重。     

低聚木糖对断奶仔猪肠道pH和肠黏膜形态结构的影响

本试验通过在日粮中添加低聚木糖探讨其对早期断奶仔猪肠道结构功能的影响。试验选用72头35日龄、体重9.81±0.41 kg杜＆#215;长＆#215;大三元杂交仔猪,随机分配成4组,每组3个重复,每个重复6头仔猪,公母各半。第1组为对照组,饲喂玉米-豆粕基础日粮;其余3组分别在各组日粮中添加0.01%、0.02%、0.04%低聚木糖作为试验组。试验预饲期2 d,正试期为28 d。于试验的最后1 d从各重复中随机选取1头仔猪屠宰,并测定胃、十二指肠、空肠、回肠、盲肠和结肠内容物的pH及十二指肠、空肠和回肠黏膜上皮的绒毛高度和隐窝深度。试验结果显示,试验组猪的胃及各肠段的pH比对照组均有所降低,尤其是0.02%低聚木糖组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;试验组各肠段的绒毛高度均高于对照组,差异显著（P＜0.05）,隐窝深度低于对照组,但差异不显著（P＞0.05）,绒毛高度与隐窝深度之比显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。本试验结果表明,在早期断奶仔猪的日粮中添加低聚木糖,能降低胃肠道内容物的pH,改善早期断奶仔猪肠道的形态结构,以0.02%低聚木糖组效果最为明显。     

赖氨酸采食量对早期断奶仔猪生长发育及胰腺内分泌机能的影响

将55头21日龄断奶的雄性仔猪随机分为5组，各组仔猪饲喂赖氨酸含量为0．60％、0．80％、1．00％、1．20％和1．40％的试验日粮21d。42日龄结束饲养试验时进行葡萄糖灌注试验，观察赖氨酸采食量对早期断奶仔猪生长发育和胰腺内分泌的影响。结果表明：早期断奶仔猪体增重与赖氨酸采食量为强正相关，根椐体增重指标，21～42日龄阶段，仔猪的赖氨酸采食量不应低于3．16g／d，日粮赖氨酸含量不应低于1.40％。赖氨酸严重缺乏(采食量小于1．45g／d)时，胰岛素的分泌量下降，对高血糖应激的反应能力降低。     

Evaluation of conjugated linoleic acid and dietary antibiotics as growth promotants in weanling pigs.

An experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as a growth promotant in weanling swine. Weanling pigs (n = 192; 7.6 kg and 29 d of age) were randomly assigned to four treatments that were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial. Concentrations of dietary CLA (0 or 0.6%) and antibiotics (+/-) constituted the main effect variables. Dietary CLA treatments consisted of a 1% addition of an oil containing 60% CLA isomers or 1% soybean oil, and dietary antibiotic treatments were antibiotics or no antibiotics. The experimental diets were fed for 9 wk in four phases (1, wk 1; 2, wk 2 and 3; 3, wk 4 through 6; and 4, wk 7 through 9), after which all pigs were fed identical medicated diets for the duration of the finishing phase. Live weights were recorded at wk 17 postweaning and at marketing to determine any residual effects of dietary treatments on finisher ADG and days to market. Medicated diets fed during phases 1 and 2 contained 55 mg carbadox/kg; during phase 3 contained 299 mg tilmicosin/kg; and during phase 4 contained 110 mg tylosin and 110 mg sulfamethazine/kg. Pigs fed medicated diets had higher overall ADG than pigs fed unmedicated diets for wk 0 through 9 (P < 0.03). Gain:feed (G:F) was greater for pigs fed medicated diets than for pigs fed unmedicated diets during phase 1 (P < 0.03) and for the duration of the nursery phase (P < 0.03). There were no effects of CLA on ADG, ADFI, or G:F. There were no residual effects of nursery CLA or antibiotics on finisher ADG and days to market. Blood samples collected from a subset of pigs (n = 72) at the completion of phases 2, 3, and 4 were assayed for serum IGF-I and antibody concentrations to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. There was a tendency for pigs fed medicated diets to have greater IGF-I concentrations than pigs fed unmedicated diets at the completion of phase 4 (P < 0.06). Pigs fed CLA had greater antibody titers (P < 0.02) to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae at d 63 than pigs fed diets without CLA. These results indicate that feeding 0.6% dietary CLA did not enhance growth performance in weanling swine and that the use of dietary antibiotics can increase production efficiency in nursery pigs. Furthermore, there were no interactions between CLA and dietary antibiotics on the variables addressed in this study.     

Effect of salmon protein hydrolysate and spray-dried plasma protein on growth performance of weanling pigs

Two experiments, each consisting of 2 trials, were conducted to determine the effect of salmon protein hydrolysate (SPH) and spray-dried plasma protein (SDPP) fed during the first week postweaning and their subsequent effect on the growth performance of weanling pigs. Pigs were fed in a 3-phase feeding program with durations of 7 d for phase 1 in both Exp. 1 and 2; 14 or 15 d for phase 2 in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively; and 7 or 8 d for phase 3 in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Dietary treatments were fed only during phase 1, whereas the same diet was fed to all pigs in phases 2 and 3. Pigs were blocked by initial BW and sex, and littermates were balanced across treatments. Data from the 2 trials within each experiment were combined and analyzed together; no treatment × trial interactions (P > 0.10) were observed. In Exp. 1, a total of 324 weanling pigs (10 replications of 5 or 6 pigs per pen) with an average initial BW of 6.4 ± 1.3 kg were assigned to 1) a control diet with no SPH or SDPP, 2) 1.5% SPH, 3) 3.0% SPH, 4) 1.5% SDPP, 5) 3.0% SDPP, or 6) 1.5% SPH + 1.5% SDPP. Experiment 2 was similar to Exp. 1, but red blood cells were removed from all diets to reduce diet complexity. In Exp. 2, weanling pigs (n = 320, 14 replications of 5 or 6 pigs per pen) with an average initial BW of 5.4 ± 1.2 kg were assigned to 1) a control diet with no SPH or SDPP, 2) 1.5% SPH, 3) 1.5% SDPP, or 4) 1.5% SPH + 1.5% SDPP. Three batches of SPH were used, and each batch was analyzed for AA composition. In Exp. 1, the inclusion of SDPP or SPH during phase 1 did not affect (P > 0.10) ADG, ADFI, or G:F compared with those of pigs fed the control diet. No carryover effects on growth performance were observed in any of the subsequent phases. Overall, G:F was greater (P = 0.08) in pigs fed the 1.5% diets compared with those fed the 3.0% diets. In Exp. 2, no differences (P > 0.10) were observed in ADG, ADFI, or G:F among pigs fed the SPH or SDPP diets compared with those of pigs fed the control diet. Pigs fed the combined diet had greater (P < 0.10) overall ADFI compared with that of pigs fed the control diet, but ADFI was similar to that of pigs fed the SPH and SDPP diets. These results indicate that inclusion of up to 3% SDPP or SPH in diets fed during the first week postweaning did not affect the growth performance of weanling pigs, and no subsequent carryover effects were observed. Salmon protein hydrolysate did not affect the growth performance of weanling pigs and may be considered an alternative protein source in diets for weanling pigs.     

Morphologic and biochemical study of sternal cartilage autografts for resurfacing induced osteochondral defects in horses.

Using biodegradable pins, sternal cartilage autografts were fixed into osteochondral defects of the distal radial carpal bone in ten 2 to 3-year-old horses. The defects measured 1 cm2 at the surface and were 4 mm deep. Control osteochondral defects of contralateral carpi were not grafted. After confinement for 7 weeks, horses were walked 1 hour daily on a walker for an additional 9 weeks. Horses were euthanatized at 16 weeks. Half of the repair tissue was processed for histologic and histochemical (H&E and safranin-O fast green) examinations. The other half was used for the following biochemical analyses: type-I and type-II collagen contents, total glycosaminoglycan content, and galactosamine-to-glucosamine ratio. On histologic examination, the repair tissue in the grafted defects consisted of hyaline-like cartilage. Repair tissue in the nongrafted defects consisted of fibrocartilaginous tissue, with fibrous tissue in surface layers. On biochemical analysis, repair tissue of grafted defects was composed predominantly of type-II collagen; repair tissue of non-grafted defects was composed of type-I collagen. Total glycosaminoglycan content of repair tissue of grafted defects was similar to that of normal articular cartilage. Total glycosaminoglycan content of nongrafted defects was 62% of that of normal articular cartilage (P less than 0.05). Repair tissue of all defects was characterized by galactosamine-to-glucosamine ratio significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than that of normal articular cartilage. These results at 16 weeks after grafting indicate that sternal cartilage may potentially constitute a suitable substitute for articular cartilage in large osteochondral defects of horses.     

饲粮赖氨酸水平对生长獭兔生长性能、氮代谢及血清免疫和生化指标的影响

本文旨在探讨饲粮赖氨酸水平对生长獭兔生长性能、氮代谢及血清免疫和生化指标的影响。选用平均体重为（６６５±１２３）ｇ的断奶獭兔 ２００只,随机分成 ５组（每组 ４０个重复,每个重复 １只）,分别饲喂赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％、０．７０％、０．８５％、１．００％和 １．１５％的试验饲粮。预试期 ７ｄ,正试期 ５３ｄ。结果表明：饲粮赖氨酸水平对平均日采食量、平均日增重和料重比无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。饲粮赖氨酸水平显著或极显著影响食入氮（Ｐ＝０．００６５）、氮沉积（Ｐ＝０．０４５９）和氮生物学效价（Ｐ＝０．０２２６）,而对粪氮排出量、尿氮排出量、可消化氮、氮表观消化率和氮利用率无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。饲粮赖氨酸水平为 １．００％和 １．１５％的组的食入氮极显著高于饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％和 ０．７０％的组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．７０％、０．８５％、１．００％和 １．１５％的组的氮沉积和氮生物学效价显著高于饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％的组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。饲粮赖氨酸水平极显著影响血清免疫球蛋白 Ａ（Ｐ＜０．０００１）、免疫球蛋白 Ｇ（Ｐ＜０．０００１）和免疫球蛋白 Ｍ 含量（Ｐ＜０．０００１）。饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．７０％、０．８５％、１．００％和 １．１５％的组的免疫球蛋白 Ａ、免疫球蛋白 Ｇ和免疫球蛋白 Ｍ 含量均极显著低于饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％的组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。饲粮赖氨酸水平除显著影响血清胆固醇浓度（Ｐ＝０．０１６７）外,对血清总蛋白、球蛋白、尿素氮含量以及谷丙转氨酶活性均无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。综合考虑本试验所测指标,生长獭兔的饲粮适宜赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％ ～０．７０％。     

Effect of dietary mannan oligosaccharides and(or) pharmacological additions of copper sulfate on growth performance and immunocompetence of weanling and growing/finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) fed at two levels of Cu on growth and feed efficiency of weanling and growing-finishing pigs, as well as the effect on the immunocompetence of weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 216 barrows (6 kg of BW and 18 d of age) were penned in groups of six (9 pens/treatment). Dietary treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial consisting of two levels of Cu (basal level or 175 ppm supplemental Cu) with and without MOS (0.2%). Diets were fed from d 0 to 38 after weaning. Blood samples were obtained to determine lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. From d 0 to 10, ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed (G:F) increased when MOS was added to diets containing the basal level of Cu, but decreased when MOS was added to diets containing 175 ppm supplemental Cu (interaction, P < 0.01, P < 0.10, and P < 0.05, respectively). Pigs fed diets containing 175 ppm Cu from d 10 to 24 and d 24 to 38 had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI than those fed the basal level of Cu regardless of MOS addition. Pigs fed diets containing MOS from d 24 to 38 had greater ADG (P < 0.05) and G:F (P < 0.10) than those fed diets devoid of MOS. Lymphocyte proliferation was not altered by dietary treatment. In Exp. 2, 144 pigs were divided into six pigs/pen (six pens/treatment). Dietary treatments were fed throughout the starter (20 to 32 kg BW), grower (32 to 68 kg BW), and finisher (68 to 106 kg BW) phases. Diets consisted of two levels of Cu (basal level or basal diet + 175 ppm in starter and grower diets and 125 ppm in finisher diets) with and without MOS (0.2% in starter, 0.1% in grower, and 0.05% in finisher). Pigs fed supplemental Cu had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F during the starter and grower phases compared to pigs fed the basal level of Cu. During the finisher phase, ADG increased when pigs were fed MOS in diets containing the basal level of Cu, but decreased when MOS was added to diets supplemented with 125 ppm Cu (interaction, P < 0.05). Results from this study indicate the response of weanling pigs fed MOS in phase 1 varied with level of dietary Cu. However, in phase 2 and phase 3, diets containing either MOS or 175 ppm Cu resulted in improved performance. Pharmacological Cu addition improved gain and efficiency during the starter and grower phases in growing-finishing pigs, while ADG response to the addition of MOS during the finisher phase seems to be dependent upon the level of Cu supplementation.     

Fermented wheat in liquid diets: effects on gastrointestinal characteristics in weanling piglets

Effects of adding fermented wheat to liquid diets on gastrointestinal characteristics in weanling piglets were studied. Gastrointestinal characteristics of 40 28-d-old weanling piglets were measured at the day of weaning (d 0) and at d 4 and 8 after weaning. Piglets were group-housed and fed twice daily. Feeding level was based on the average metabolic BW of piglets per group. Groups were fed a liquid diet with either 45% unfermented wheat (FERM_0) or 45% fermented wheat (FERM_45). The other 55% of the diet was identical. To ferment wheat, water at 30 degrees C was added to milled wheat in a 1:2.2 ratio. The pH and contents of lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid were measured in the digesta of the stomach, three parts of the small intestine, cecum, and large intestine. In addition, changes in microbial populations in the digesta were studied during the period after weaning. Moreover, villus height, crypt depth, and villus shape were studied in the small intestine. Piglets fed FERM_45 showed lower gastric pH (P < 0.05) at d 4 and higher gastric lactic acid content (P < 0.001) at both d 4 and 8. Piglets fed FERM_45 showed in the first part of the small intestine higher villus height (P < 0.01) at d 8 and higher villus:crypt ratio (P < 0.001) at both d 4 and 8. Villus shape tended (P < 0.10) to be favorable for piglets fed FERM_45. The present study indicates that feeding a partly fermented liquid diet to weanling piglets may be a concept to prevent undesirable changes in mucosal architecture after weaning.     

Effects of Feeding Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles on Growth and Feed Efficiency of Weanling Horses

The effects of replacing corn and soybean meal with distiller's dried grains and solubles in the weanling horse diet were examined. Sixteen weanling horses, 12 fillies and four colts, were fed completely pelleted diets consisting of 50% alfalfa in addition to 50% of a concentrate containing either corn and soybean meal (CS), or 30% of the concentrate replaced with distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS). There were no significant differences (P > .05) between the two diets in either average daily gain or gain-to-feed ratio. The CS diet had a higher apparent dry matter digestibility (P < .0001), and higher apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < .01). It was concluded that replacing a portion of the corn and soybean meal with distiller's dried grains with solubles in the weanling horse diet did not lead to significant growth depression. However, the diet containing DDGS had reduced apparent digestibility of dry matter, CP, and fiber. Therefore, it was concluded that it may not be advisable to replace more than 30% of the concentrate portion or 15% of the total diet with distiller's dried grains and solubles when alfalfa is used as the forage source constituting 50% of the weanling diet. Even less DDGS may be desirable to substitute for corn and soybean meal in weanling horse diets if the forage source is one with lower protein quality than alfalfa. It is possible that using DDGS for less than 30% of the concentrate portion of the diet along with high-quality alfalfa forage may produce comparable gain and feed efficiency results with less depression of apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and fiber.     

Tissue engineering: new treatment of cartilage alterations in degenerative joint diseases in horses--preliminary results of a long term study

Degenerative alterations in fetlock joints of the forelimb are common diagnoses for horses. The hyaline cartilage has a low capacity to regenerate and the treatment by veterinarians is often insufficient. As a final result, horses with articular cartilage defects are often not able to take part in competitions anymore. To establish an autologous cartilage repair method, we set artificial lesions (8 mm in diameter) into the fetlock joints of the forelimb of three horses. These defects were closed with autologous chondrocyte implants, which were fixed with titan-suture-anchors. After 3, 12 and 24 months, biopsies were taken by arthroscopy. One horse was euthanized after 9, another one after 24 months. The repair tissue was examined histologically and by biochemical analysis of hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan, which are typical cartilage related substances. After 9 months, the integration of the implant into native cartilage was demonstrated by electron microscopy. After 24 months, histological staining showed a similar morphology of the cartilage repair tissue compared with the surrounding native cartilage. Biochemical analysis of typical cartilage matrix molecules revealed formation of hyaline-like cartilage within tissue engineered autologous chondrocyte transplants.     

Effect of a reduction of dietary particle size by substituting a mixture of fibrous by-products for lucerne hay on performance and digestion of growing rabbits and lactating does

The effect of a reduction of dietary particle size by the substitution of a mixture of paprika meal, sugar-beet pulp and soya bean hulls for lucerne hay was evaluated in rabbits. Four isonutritive diets were formulated containing a decreasing proportion of large particles (> 0.315 mm) 24.1%, 22.0%, 20.6% and 18.9%. Nutrient digestibility, caecotrophy and caecal traits were determined using 9 growing rabbits per diet. Growth and lactation performance was determined in 45 weanling rabbits and 13 rabbit does per diet, respectively. The diet with the shortest particle size increased by 20% the weight of caecal contents and reduced feed intake of fattening rabbits, lactating does and suckling rabbits (21–30 d of age) by 7%, 10% and 30%, respectively, with respect to the average of the other three diets. It also decreased growth in fattening rabbits, milk production and litter weight at weaning by 6%, 13% and 18%, respectively. Feed efficiency decreased by 7% in rabbit does and was not affected during fattening, as the decrease in performance was parallel to a higher (+ 3%) digestible energy concentration in this diet. Reduction of particle size also increased NDF digestibility and caecal volatile fatty acid concentration. It is concluded that a minimal proportion of large particles (> 0.315 mm) of 20.6% is required to maximise growth and lactation performance in rabbits.