Dietary Supplementation of Oregano and Sage Dried Leaves on Performances and Meat Quality of Rabbits

The aim of this research was to evaluate the dietary supplementation 1% （w/w） of oregano and sage dried leaves on performances and meat quality of broiler rabbits. A feeding trial, which lasted 48 d, was carried out on 105 male Bianca Italiana rabbits randomly divided in seven groups and fed ad libitum. At the end of the trial ten animals per group were slaughtered and samples of dorsal muscle were taken in order to perform laboratory analysis. Mortality rate did not statistically differ between groups. Growth performances of animals fed diets supplemented with aromatic plants were higher （P〈0.05） than those of animals of control group, whereas carcass parameters were not affected by treatments excepting for the slaughter weight that showed the same trend as growth performances. Meat quality traits, oxidative lipid stability and fatty acid proifle were not inlfuenced by aromatic plant supplementation. In conclusion, oregano and sage in form of dried leaves can be used in rabbit without adverse effects on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits.     

Amylose contents of cereals; influence of household processing on the amylose contents of these foods

Amylose is a food starch found in cereals, legumes and root vegetables. Keeping in view the importance of amylose for various food industries as well as its importance on domestic level, the current study was conducted to analyze the amylose content of common cereals e. g rice （sela, coarse and basmati）, maize yellow, Kisan and Azam varieties and wheat （Tatara, Fakhr-e-sarhad and Bakhtawar-92） varieties as well as quantifying the influence of cooking/boiling procedures on the amylose contents of cereals. The maximum amylose content were observed for wheat variety Tatara （24.28%） followed by Bakhtawar-92 （22.74%） and Fakhr-e-sarhad （19.77%）. Among maize and rice varieties studied, Kisan and course rice were rich in amylose content with values of 27.19 and 30.48% respectively. The chapti of Tatra wheat were scored highest for appearance （7.6）, flavor （7.5）, texture （7.6） and overall acceptability （7.55）. The roti of Kisan and Azam varieties got maximum appearance score of 7.6 as compared to 7.4 for maize yellow variety. Basmati rice was scored highest regarding appearance （8.4）, flavor （8.6）, texture （8.6） and overall acceptability （8.53. The moisture content ranged from 10.61 （Azam） to 8.01% （wheat variety Fakhr-e-sarhad）. Cooking reduced the amylose content of wheat bread from （19.77%-24.28%） to （15.47%-15.94%） with cooking time of 5 min, maize bread from （21.48%-27.19%） to （19.53 %-25.85%） with maximum cooking time of 10 min and boiled rice from （24.90%-30.48%） to （24.18%-30.19%） with cooking time ranging from 12 to 20 min. It can be inferred from these studies that the reduction in amylose content were more in chapti/roti preparation of wheat and maize varieties as compared to boiling of rice varieties and that significant varietals differences exist in amylose content of the uncooked samples.     

Effect of Crossbreed on the Muscle Quality （Chemical Composition） in Yun- Ling Black Goats

Twenty castrated male goats, each of Yun-Ling Black goats （YLB goat）, N × YLB hybrid goats （Nubian ♂ ×Yun-Ling Black goats 9） and B × YLB hybrid goats （Boer ♂× Yun-Ling Black goats ♀）, were used to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding on the meat chemical composition in the YLB goats of China. After weaning of 90 days, all the experimental goats were reared on natural pasture when they were slaughtered at an age of 730 days. The longissimus dorsi （LD） and biceps femoris （BF） muscles were sampled from each carcass to determine chemical compositions. Both hybrid goats had higher protein content （P 〈 0.01） and lower fat content （P 〈 0.05） than the YLB goats in the two types of muscle. The inosinic acid contents of LD muscle for the YLB goats and the B × YLB hybrid goats were significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than that for the N × YLB hybrid goats. The LD muscle from the YLB goats contained higher essential amino acid （P 〈 0.01）, total amino acid （P 〈 0.01）, and some individual amino acid （P 〈 0.05） than those from the hybrid goats. The concentration of unsaturated fatty acid （USFA） of LD muscle from the N × YLB hybrid goats was significantly higher than the other two goat breeds （P〈0.05） but did not differ between the other two goat breeds （P〉0.05）. The YLB goats had significantly higher （P〈0.05） concentrations of oleic acid （C18：1） and linolenic acid （C18：3） of LD muscle than the hybrid goats, had significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） proportion of mono-unsaturated （Sum for C 16：1 and C 18：1） than the B ×YLB hybrid goats, and tended to be higher than the N × YLB hybrid goats （P 〉 0.05）. In contrast, the proportion of poly-unsaturated in the YLB goats was significantly lower （P 〈 0.05） than that in the hybrid goats.     

Frictional Behavior of Sunflower Seed and its Kernel as a Function of Moisture Content,Variety and Size

The object of this study was to investigate the frictional properties （repose angles and friction coefficient） of Iranian sunflower seed and its kernel （Fandoghi, Azargol and Shahroodi） as a function of moisture content, size and variety. The static coefficient of friction were determined on five structural surfaces including aluminium, plywood, galvanized iron, polyethylene and rubber when moisture content varied between 3 and 14 % d.b. The obtained results showed that static coefficient of friction on five studied surfaces increase linearly as moisture content increase from 3 to 14% for both seed and kernel. Among the applied surfaces, rubber showed the highest value of friction coefficient for both sunflower seed and kernel followed by plywood, polyethylene, galvanized iron and aluminium. The obtained values of emptying and filling angles of repose increase linearly with an increase in moisture content. Furthermore, the values of empting and filling angles of repose for small sizes were higher than big sizes in all levels of moisture content for both seed and kernel. Also, the emptying angle of repose assumed higher values than the filling angle of repose for all varieties and categories.     

Rapid and Sensitive Identification of Horse and Donkey Meat in Iraqi Markets Using SSR and PCR-RFLP Based on Mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome B Gene

This study was carried out at the Genetic Engineering Lab, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah. DNA was extracted from samples containing meat of commercial products in the Basrah markets. The products subjected to analysis using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） with species specific repeat （SSR） and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） techniques based on the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene （mtDNA cyt b gene）. Then digestion with the Alu l restriction enzyme to establish a differential diagnosis detects and discriminates between meat species and adulteration in the products. SSR primers were applied, has been detected amplification of the encoded gene product, generated 221 bp in some imported minced and canned meat samples. The results show that SSR analysis produced a pattern that allowed a direct identification of horse and donkey meats in some imported minced and canned meat samples （Hana, Monde and Bavaria）. The amplified 359 bp gene of mtDNA cyt b gene from samples in different product was cut using Alu 1 restriction enzyme resulting in restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP）. Alu 1 was used to distinguish between the animals meat that belong to the family or one species. The digestion of the PCR product showed differences between products. Where the fragment length generated were 74, 76 and 189 bp. It belonged to horse meat. The fraud was detected in Hana, Monde and Bavaria products available in Basrah markets showing the presence of horse meat in these products that labeled as beef meats 100%. This revealed mtDNA cyt b gene as highly conserved and consequently a good molecular marker for diagnostic studies. Thus, this technique can be applied to food authentication for the identification of different species of animals in food products.     

Extending Shelf Life of Chilled Pork by Combination of Chitosan Coating With Spice Extracts

The effects of spices（cinnamon,rosemary,clove）extracts and chitosan on microbiological growth,drip loss,color,and lipid oxidation of fresh chilled meat stored for 28 days at 4℃were investigated.There were four treatments：control,coated with spices（cinnamon 1.5 g·L^-1＋rosemary 1.5 g·L^-1＋clove 1.0 g·L^-1）,coated with 0.5%chitosan,coated with spices and chitosan.Chitosan coating resulted in significant inhibition of microbial growth（P〈0.05）,while the lowest microbial counts were obtained in the samples containing both chitosan and spices,indicating a possible synergistic effect.Chitosan and its combinations with spices also showed the most intense antioxidative effect when compared to the controls（P〈0.05）.Meanwhile,chitosan coating could decrease water loss and keep better color of chilled meat.The combined spice extracts and chitosan coating could effectively extend the shelf life of chilled meat.     

Fruit Nutritional Value of Cornelian Cherry Genotypes （Comus mas L.） Selected in the Vojvodina Province

This paper reviews results of some morphometric properties and chemical analyses of natural populations of the Cornelian cherry collected in the Vojvodina Province in 2008. Purpose of this study was the selection of the best genotypes for future breeding program until the final goal and that is standardizing Cornelian cherry cultivars. Chemical content has been found to depend on the genotype. Total sugar content in fruits ranged from 11.77% （CPC16） to 41.62% （BPC7）, vitamin C from 17.15 mg/100 g （APC8） to 42.30 rag/100 g of fresh fruit （APC2）, Ca pectat from 0.17% （APC6） to 2.52% （KC 1 ） and anthocyanin from 22.65 mg/100 g （APC4）to 96.30 rag/100 g of fresh fruit （BPC1）. Cornelian cherry fruits have an especially high content of minerals compared with other fruit species： the potassium content （in ppm） ranges from 2330 （APC6） to 11487 （APC4）, the calcium content from 33.80 （APC6） to 1307.70 （BPC1）, the sodium content from 22.82 （BPC8） to 273.48 （APC8）, the magnesium content from 10.20 （APC6） to 372.80 （APC8） and the iron content from 2.38 （KC2） to 14.40 （APCS）. The balanced content of nutrients, a wide range of food products made from the Cornelian cherry and an extremely high nutritional value make this fruit species a highly recommendable food item, especially if it comes from organic production.     

Study on the Effect of Moisture Conditioned for Brown Rice on Milling Characteristic

The effect of moisture conditioned for brown rice （moisture content of 1.45%） on milling characteristic was studied in this paper. Milling experiments were conducted for the brown rice, which were conditioned under different amount of humidification and duration. Software SAS was used to analyze the effect of amount of humidification and duration on the head rice yield and energy consumption of milled brown rice. The reasonable parameters including amount of humidification of 1.45% and duration of 60-90 rain were obtained, which decreased energy consumption by 30% and increased head rice yield by 10%. Therefore, the method of moisture conditioned can improve milling quality of stored paddy due to the hardness and crisp of paddy reduced.     

Impacts of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and avian influenza on U.S. meat demand

This paper examines the U.S. meat demand impacts of the announced outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy(BSE) and avian influenza(AI). Findings indicate that beef and chicken demand was negatively affected by BSE and AI disease outbreaks. Specifically, in the short run, U.S. consumers shift demand due to both outbreaks but more so due to domestic disease outbreaks than for outbreaks occurring overseas-the impact of U.S. AI outbreaks is about 0.5% for beef and the impact of U.S. BSE cases is around –0.42% for beef and 0.4% for pork, respectively. Regarding the BSE shock on meat demand, there is a high rate of beef demand adjusted from disturbance to the long-run equilibrium and a lower adjustment rate for chicken demand because of the repeated outbreaks of AI worldwide. In the long run, information related to severe, persistently recurring overseas animal disease outbreaks changes U.S. consumers' meat consumption patterns. Although effects of animal diseases on U.S. meat demand were statistically significant, the magnitudes were small-the impact of WHO reported human death numbers for AI is 0.005% for beef, –0.002% for pork, and –0.006% for chicken and the impact of U.S. BSE cases is 1.1% for pork and –0.7% for chicken.     

Growth Performance,Carcass Yield and Meat Quality of Korean Native Duck

This study was carried out to investigate the growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality of large-type Korean native ducks （KND）. A total of 420 day-old ducklings were divided into four treatments （seven replicates/treatment, 15 birds/replicate） by strains （A and B） and gender （male and female） in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement under complete randomized design. The body weight （BW） of female KND was higher at week 2 and for male it was higher in week 8 （P 〈 0.05）. BW gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of male KND were higher than those of female KND （P 〈 0.05） during week 0 to week 8. The carcass yield of both strains increased from 6 weeks to 8 weeks （P 〈 0.05）. The breast meat ratio was the highest at week 8 whereas the leg meat ratio was the highest at 6 weeks of age in both strains （P 〈 0.01）. Lightness （L＊）, yellowness （b＊） and juiciness of meat were the highest at 6 weeks （P 〈 0.05）. Moisture, ash and fat contents of meat were the highest at 7 weeks （P 〈 0.05） and protein content was the highest at 8 weeks （P 〈 0.01）. These results may provide the basic data on growth performance and meat quality of large-type KND, which can be used for genetic improvements and rearing at commercial scale.     

Determination and Difference Analysis of DNA Methylation Content Both in Blood and Muscle Tissue of Pigs

In this experiment, DNA samples from parental lines Large White, Landrace, and Meishan pigs, and their hybrids Large White × Landrace, Landrace × Large White, Large White × Meishan, and Meishan × Large White pigs were used for the determination of DNA methylation content in both blood and muscle tissue. The differences about DNA methylation content between parental lines and their hybrids were analyzed. These will offer theoretical support from molecular level for heterosis. High performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was firstly used to detect DNA methylation content. The average DNA methylation content in 163 DNA samples of muscle tissue was 16.92%, whereas, the average DNA methylation content in 182 samples of blood was 6.49%, the difference between which was especially prominent （P 〈 0.01）. In blood, the methylation content was lower than 10%, with the highest level of 9.93% in Landrace x Large White and the lowest of 2.97% in Landrace. The difference between Large White and Landrace was highly significant （P 〈 0.01）, but not significant between Large White and Meishan; and the differences between reciprocal cross hybrids in both hybrid systems were significant （P 〈 0.05）. In muscle tissue, the differences in methylation content among three parents were not significant （P 〉0.05）; and the differences between reciprocal cross hybrids in both hybrid systems were not significant （P 〉 0.05）, but between different hybrid systems, the hybrids had a significant difference （P 〈0.05）. The average methylation content in muscle samples was higher than that in blood samples, and the methylation in different tissues was different.     

Effect of Humulus scandens for Traditional Fiber Sources on Digestion, Diarrhea, and Performance of Growing Rabbits

This work was to determine which concentration of a mixture of fresh Humulus scandens （HS） and fresh alfalfa could be included in diets for rabbits. The fresh forage of three experimental diets is composed of 100% alfalfa, 50% alfalfa ＋ 50% HS, 100% HS, respectively. 30 rabbits [（1.42 ± 0.056） kg] were used to determine nutrient digestibility. A feeding trial was carried out using 90 weaning rabbits [35 d of age; （512±6.5） g]. Increasing content of HS in the diet did not affect digestibility of DM （dry matter）, CF （crude fiber）, CP （crude protein）, GE （gross energy）, and EE （ether extract）. But diarrhea decreased markedly （P〈0.01） compared with the diets that had no HS. ADF1 （average daily feed intake） increased by 4.3% （P 〈 0.05） and 3.6% （P 〈 0.05） when rabbits fed the diet with 100% HS of fresh forage compared with the diets containing 0 and 50% HS, respectively. Feed efficiency improved significantly （P 〈 0.05） by 2.07 and 5.30% when rabbits fed 0 and 50% HS of fresh forage, respectively, compared with 100% HS. There was no effect on ADG （average daily weight gain）. In conclusion, the mixture （50：50） of HS and alfalfa constitutes an alternative source of fiber for fattening rabbits and prevents diarrhea effectively.     

Correlation Analysis on Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of CAPN1 Gene and Meat Quality and Carcass Traits in Chickens

The selection of meat quality has received considerable focus in chicken breeding. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of CAPN1 gene on meat quality traits in chicken populations. Primer pairs for 3 UTR in CAPN1 were designed from database of chicken genomic sequence. Polymorphisms were detected using PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing. A mutation at position 9 950 nt （G/A, locus A） was found among individuals in each population. The allele and genotype frequencies significantly differed among eight lines with higher frequencies of allele A2 and genotype AIA2 （P〈0.01）. The least square analysis showed that there was significant difference （P 〈 0.05） in muscle fiber density and some carcass traits among genotypes and that the breast muscle fiber density （BFD） of birds ofAIA1 genotype was significantly higher （P〈0.05） than that of birds ofA2A2 genotype. It was concluded that the CAPN1 gene was the major gene affecting the muscle fiber traits of chicken or was linked with the major gene. These results were useful for studying the molecular mechanism that influences meat traits and were used as the base of molecular-assisted selection to meat quality traits. So, this site may be a potential marker affecting the muscle traits of chickens.     

Effects of Dietary Isoflavone Supplementation on Meat Quality and Oxidative Stability During Storage in Lingnan Yellow Broilers

To investigate the effects of a synthetic isoflavone （SI） on meat quality and oxidative stability, 1 500 43-d-old Lingnan yellow male broilers were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments： diets supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg SI kg-1, fed ad libitum for a period of 3 wk. After refrigerated storage, a＊ value of the meat increased with dietary SI supplementation using 10 and 40 mg kg-1 level （P〈0.05）, L＊ value decreased （P〈0.05）, and 40 mg kg-j increased the pH （P〈0.05）. Supplementation with SI, at all levels, increased water holding capacity （P〈0.05） and decreased lactic acid content of meat （P〈0.05）. The concentration of malondialdehyde at 72 h decreased linearly （P=0.005） and quadratically （P=0.004） with increasing levels of SI. Dietary SI at 20 and 40 mg kg-1 levels enhanced total superoxide dismutase activity in meat （P〈0.05）. Meat pH quadratically decreased as the storage time increased （P〈0.05）, with the highest value at 24 h （P〈0.05）. Lactic acid and malondialdehyde concentrations of meat increased over time, with value at 96 h being far higher than at earlier times （P〈0.05）. Supplemental SI linearly and quadratically increased the mRNA abundance ofglutathione peroxidase （GPX） （P=0.001 and P=0.002） and catalase （CAT） （P=0.003 and P=0.006） in breast muscle. The results from this study indicate that dietary supplementation with SI can improve meat quality during refrigerated storage by decreasing lipid peroxidation and enhancing oxidative stability and, for male broilers from 43 to 63 d of age, the optimal level of SI was 40 mg kg-1.     

Ethylene Stimulation of Rubberwood （Hevea brasiliensis） Increases the Water Permeability of Lumber

Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. is an important industrial crop for natural rubber production. Latex biosynthesis occurs in the cytoplasm of highly specialized latex cells and latex bleeds out when the bark is tapped. Ethylene stimulation acts by increasing latex flow to the cells of inner bark from the latex cells, increasing yield and may affect the physical properties of rubberwood. The aim of this work was to assess the permeability properties of ethylene treated rubberwood （TRW） relative to untreated rubberwood （URW）, because in wood industrial technology, permeability relates to bondability and wood preservative treatments. The Hevea samples were of PRIM 600 strain, from 20-25 years old rubber trees. The TRW rubber trees had been stimulated by ethylene gas for six years. The rubberwood specimens were collected at a single plot of plantation to minimize variations in soil fertility, environmental exposures and silvicultural treatments at Tumbon Chaibury, Amphor Chaibury, Suratthani Province, Thailand. The moisture contents （MC） of fresh rubberwood were significantly different （P 〈 0.05） at 75% for TRW and 64% for URW. The permeability experiment followed Darcy＇s law, and the hydrostatic pressure was controlled. The average 0.005 Darcy water permeability of TRW was significantly higher than the 0.001 Darcy for URW. Water absorptions during 4 h water immersion of rubberwood blocks differed significantly, and TRW had higher absorption than URW also across 6 d of immersion. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） imaging showed anatomical effects that contribute to the fivefold permeability increase.     

Identification of QTLs for Starch Content in Sweetpotato （Ipomoea batatas （L.） Lam.）

Sweetpotato （Ipomoea batatas （L.） Lam.） breeding is challenging due to its genetic complexity. In the present study, interval mapping （IM） and multiple quantitative trait locus （QTL） model （MQM） analysis were used to identify QTLs for starch content with a mapping population consisting of 202 F1 individuals of a cross between Xushu 18, a cultivar susceptible to stem nematodes, with high yield and moderate starch, and Xu 781, which is resistant to stem nematodes, has low yield and high starch content. Six QTLs for starch content were mapped on six linkage groups of the Xu 781 map, explaining 9.1-38.8% of the variation. Especially, one of them, DMFN 4, accounted for 38.8% of starch content variation, which is the QTL that explains the highest phenotypic variation detected to date in sweetpotato. All of the six QTLs had a positive effect on the variation of the starch content, which indicated the inheritance derived from the parent Xu 781. Two QTLs for starch content were detected on two linkage groups of the Xushu 18 map, explaining 14.3 and 16.1% of the variation, respectively. They had a negative effect on the variation, indicating the inheritance derived from Xu 781. Seven of eight QTLs were co-localized with a single marker. This is the first report on the development of QTLs co-localized with a single marker in sweetpotato. These QTLs and their co-localized markers may be used in marker-assisted breeding for the starch content of sweetpotato.     

Effect of Waxy Wheat Flour Blends on the Quality of Fresh and Stale Bread

Starch is the major component in the wheat kernel, which is mainly composed of amylose and amylopectin. The wheat without amylose in its endosperm was called ＂waxy wheat＂. Waxy wheat can be used to adjust the amylose content and improve the wheat-based food quality by adding to non-waxy wheat flour. In order to investigate the effect of waxy wheat flour on the quality of fresh and stale bread, waxy wheat flour was added into the flour of Canadian Spring Wheat 2 at 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 30.0, and 35.0% to make breads. The physicochemical properties were adjusted to suitability by adding Yangmai 158 flour, and breads were evaluated for sensory quality, crumb firmness, loaf volume and weight loss over a period of 0, 2, 4, and 6 days. The result showed that the best total score of fresh bread was 82.9 by adding waxy flour at 7.0%, though no significant difference was found among blends with 0.0-15.0% of waxy flour. Breads with the addition of 22.0% waxy flour had lower firmness, and decreasing loss of weight. Waxy wheat flour blend at 15.0% was optimal in retarding staling without significant decreasing fresh bread quality in comparison to the control.     

Cultivar and Environmental Variation of β-glucan Content in Chinese Barleys

β-glucan is a polysaccharide compound closely related to the quality of barley used as malting,feed and food. Low β-glucan content is expected for brewing and feed barley, while high β-glucan content is desirable for food barley. The β-glucan content of barley genotypes collected from various areas of China as well as from Canada and Australia were assayed. Meanwhile a multi-locations trial was conducted to determineβ-glucan content of 10 barley cultivars in 8 locations for two successive planting years. The results showed that barley genotypes from Tibet and Xinjiang had higher β-glucan content and the genotypes with higher than 8%of β-glucan content were detected in Tibet barleys, being valuable for use in the development of healthy food.Barley cultivars being planted now in winter-sowing areas of China had basically the same β-glucan content as those from Canada and Australia. Barley seeds produced in Hangzhou had lower β-glucan content than seeds from the original areas. There was a highly significant difference in β-glucan content among 10 barleys, 8locations and between years. On an average of two years, Xiumei 3 and Kongpei 1 had the highest and lowestβ-glucan content, respectively, and Taian and Hangzhou produced the highest and lowest β-glucan content barley seeds, respectively. Analysis of AMMI model showed that interaction effect between cultivar and environment was highly significant in both experimental years, and was dependent on cuitivar, suggesting that it is important to plant the suitable cultivars in a particular area in order to obtain barley seeds with reasonableβ-glucan content.     

QTL Mapping of Isoflavone,Oil and Protein Contents in Soybean （Glycine max L. Merr.）

Soybean （Glycine max L. Merr.） is the world＇s foremost source of edible plant oil and proteins, meantime, the biologically active secondary metabolites such as saponins and isoflavones are benefit to human health. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci （QTL） and epistatic interactions associated with isoflavone, protein, and oil contents in soybean seeds. An F13 recombinant inbred line （RIL） comprising 474 lines was derived from a cross between Jindou 23 and Huibuzhi cultivars. SSR technique was employed for mapping of the QTLs. The QTLs for isoflavone, protein, and oil contents were analyzed and 23 QTLs were detected based on the constructed linkage map. Six QTLs for isoflavone content were localized in linkage groups J, N, D2, and G, eleven QTLs for oil content were localized in the linkage groups A1, A2, B2, C2, and D2, and six QTLs for protein content were localized in linkage groups B2, C2, G, and H1. The correlative analysis demonstrated that the isoflavone content had significant correlation with protein content, while significantly negative correlations was existed between oil and protein content, and significantly positive correlations was existed between protein and oil content. All these findings have laid an important basis for the marker assisted breeding in soybean. The phenotypic correlations of quantitative traits may be resulted from the correlation of the QTL controlling those traits.     

Replacement of Forage Fiber Sources with Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles and Corn Germ Meal in Holstein Calf Diets

This study was carried out to determine the effect of replacement of forage fiber sources from alfalfa and Leymus chinensis with nonforage fiber sources（NFFS） from dried distillers grains with solubles and corn germ meal on calves growth, rumen development and blood parameters. 48 female and 12 male calves（（110.55±15.36） kg of body weight and 12 wk of age） were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments（15 calves/treatment） in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were： 0% NFFS（control）, 9% NFFS（group 1）, 18% NFFS（group 2）, 27% NFFS（group 3）, and contained equivalent neutral detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients, respectively. The dry matter intake was similar among diets, averaging 3.33 kg d-1, and no differences were detected for body weight, withers height, body length and heart girth. In addition, the development of rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum also were similar among diets. Dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities increased with the increasing levels of NFFS in the experimental diets, but had no significant effect. Blood urea nitrogen, total protein and glubulin were not affected by the dietary treatment, but group 3 resulted in the highest（P〈0.05） concentrations of glucose and the lowest（P〈0.05） concentrations of triglycerides and albumin. In conclusion, dried distillers grains with solubles（DDGS） and corn germ meal（CGM） were available and alternative fiber sources for Holstein calf diets.