High‐fibre sunflower meal as a replacement for soyabean meal in layer diets

1. Dietary fibre content of a layer diet was increased by substituting a high‐fibre sunflower meal for soyabean meal.

2. Gizzard weight and intestine length were significantly increased by increased dietary fibre.

3. Efficiency of food conversion decreased but egg production, egg weight, shell breaking strength and mortality were not affected by dietary sunflower meal.     

Relative bioavailability of selenium yeast for broilers fed a conventional corn–soybean meal diet

The present study was conducted to assess the relative bioavailability of selenium (Se) as Se yeast (SY) relative to sodium selenite (SS) for broilers fed a conventional corn–soybean meal diet. A total of 360 one-d-old Arbor Acres commercial broilers were randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design involving a 2 (Se sources: SY and SS) × 2 (added Se levels: 0.20 and 0.40 mg Se/kg) factorial design of treatments plus 1 (a Se-unsupplemented control diet) for 42 days. The results showed that Se concentrations in plasma, liver, heart, breast muscle, pancreas and kidney of broilers on d 21 and 42, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the pancreas on d 21 as well as in the breast muscle and pancreas on d 42, and GSH-Px mRNA levels in the liver, heart, breast muscle and pancreas on d 21 increased linearly (p < .03) as levels of added Se increased. Furthermore, a difference (p ≤ .05) between SY and SS was detected for Se concentrations in plasma, liver, heart, breast muscle, pancreas and kidney, GSH-Px activity in pancreas on both d 21 and 42, as well as pancreatic GSH-Px mRNA level on d 21. Based on slope ratios from the multiple linear regressions of the above indices, the Se bioavailabilities of SY relative to SS (100%) were 111%–394% (p ≤ .05) when calculated from the Se concentrations in plasma, liver, heart, breast muscle, pancreas, kidney and GSH-Px activities in pancreas on d 21 and 42, as well as GSH-Px mRNA level in pancreas on d 21. The results from this study indicated that the Se from SY was more available for enhancing the Se concentrations in plasma or tissues and the expression and activity of GSH-Px in pancreas of broilers than the Se from SS.     

Prevention of Salmonella contamination of finished soybean meal used for animal feed by a Norwegian production plant despite frequent Salmonella contamination of raw soy beans, 1994–2012

Background

Salmonella contaminated animal feed is a major source for introducing Salmonella into the animal derived food chain. Because soybeans frequently are contaminated with Salmonella, soybean meal used as animal feed material, a by-product of a “crushing plant” which produces oil from soybeans, can be important source of Salmonella in the animal feed.We report the successful control of Salmonella from 1994 to 2012 in a Norwegian crushing plant producing soybean meal from imported soy beans. The results are based on an officially supervised HACCP based program including annual testing of around 4000 samples.

Results

During the 19-year period, 34% of samples collected during unloading of ships delivering soybeans yielded Salmonella; the proportion of samples from ships that yielded Salmonella varied from 12-62% each year. Dust samples from all shiploads from South America yielded Salmonella. In total 94 serovars of Salmonella were isolated, including nine (90%) of the EU 2012 top ten serovars isolated from clinical cases of salmonellosis in humans, including major animal pathogenic serovars like Spp. Typhimurium and Enteritidis.The effectiveness of the HACCP based control was indicated by a low prevalence of Salmonella contamination in the clean area of the plant, which is considered to be the main reason for the successful prevention of Salmonella in the end product. Despite extensive testing, no sample from the finished soybean meal product was found to be Salmonella contaminated.

Conclusions

This study shows that a HAACP-based control program in a soybean crushing plant can produce Salmonella free soybean meal despite frequent Salmonella contamination of raw soybeans. That approach is suggested as an effective way to minimize the risk of Salmonella exposure of the animal feed mills and contamination of the subsequent animal feed chain.     

Metabolisable energy content of rapeseed meal,soyabean meal and white‐flowered peas determined with laying hens and adult cockerels

1. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) contents of 5 protein‐rich ingredients were determined with laying hens and the true metabolisable energy (TME) with adult cockerels. The test materials consisted of one batch each of winter‐grown high glucosinolate rapeseed meal (HG‐RSM), summer‐grown HG‐RSM, low glucosinolate rapeseed meal (LG‐RSM), soyabean oil meal (SBM) and white‐flowered peas (WFP).

2. In a separate study the endogenous energy losses (EEL) of adult Rhode Island Red (RIR) and adult broiler roosters were measured when given a supply of energy.

3. AME value for RSM tended to be lower for cockerels than for hens, whereas the opposite was noted for SBM and WFP.

4. This study showed that AME of ingredients could be influenced by choice of technique. These differences are accentuated for some ingredients, such as SBM and RSM, although there was no difference in ranking ingredients tested within the AME and TME systems.

5. Assuming that birds are receiving an energy source, the EEL0 per kg metabolic body weight (W0.75) did not differ between adult broiler cockerels and adult Rhode Island Red cockerels.

6. The AME0 values with laying hens for winter HG‐RSM, summer HG‐RSM, LG‐RSM, SBM and WFP were 7.0, 7.6, 8.7, 11.5 and 11.3 kJ/g dry matter. TME0 values with cockerels for the respective ingredients were 8.4, 8.5, 9.5, 12.6 and 13.4 kJ/g dry matter.     

Responses of gross‐bred layers fed at specific meal times

1. Three meal‐feeding regimens were applied to cross‐bred layers from 20 to 68 weeks of age. Birds were fed either for 4 h in the morning, 4 h in the evening, or 2 h in the morning plus 2 h in the evening, and egg production and anatomical variables compared with those of control birds fed ad libitum.

2. Food intake restriction ranged from 22% in birds fed only in the morning to 13% in birds fed twice daily. However, egg production of birds fed twice daily was only marginally reduced compared with control birds. Giving free access to food from 69 to 84 weeks increased the total 20 to 84‐week egg production of the latter birds to greater than that of controls.

3. Birds fed only in the evening ate more and laid more and heavier eggs than birds fed only in the morning. However, a high proportion of the eggs from these former birds were laid in the evening.

4. The only anatomical adaptation to meal feeding was the larger crops observed in both groups of birds given one meal daily.     

Modern biotechnology: a new box for Pandora?

In a bird's-eye view attention has been paid to a number of items of biotechnology. Amongst others to the beginning of the recombinant DNA technology or genetic modification. Mentioned are the bull Herman, the American tomato 'Flavr Savr' and the sheep Dolly. And further something about the supporters and the opponents of genetic modification and the safety of it. The why of transgenic plants and animals. The legislation and the Netherlands as possible transgene-production country.     

Does the length of time dried distillers' grain with solubles substitution for soybean meal affect physiological indicators and meat quality in finishing lambs?

This study examined how inclusion of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in finishing lamb diets for different periods affects some physiological indicators and meat quality. A total of 40 male lambs were divided into four groups according to feeding regimen during the 120-day finishing period as follows: C120: no DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D120: DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D75: no DDGS included in diet for 45 days + DDGS included in diet for 75 days; D45: no DDGS included in diet for 75 days + DDGS included in diet for 45 days. Dietary inclusion rate of DDGS was 27.5%. Fattening performance and rumen parameters were not affected by treatment. Feeding regimens had no significant effect on meat quality except the instrumental tenderness and juiciness score. DDGS fed lambs had higher level of total trans fatty acids and n-6/n-3 ratio in meat. 10t-C18:1, 11t-C18:1 and 9c,11t conjugated linoleic acid contents of adipose tissue were higher in all the DDGS groups compared with C120 lambs (p < .001). These results suggest that soybean meal can be replaced with corn DDGS in lamb diets for up to 120 days during the finishing period with no adverse effects on some physiological response feedlot performance and meat quality.     

Fermented mulberry leaf meal as fishmeal replacer in the formulation of feed for carp Labeo rohita and catfish Heteropneustes fossilis—optimization by mathematical programming

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Search for cost-effective, eco-friendly and sustainable plant resources as potential feedstuff to replace fishmeal in the formulation of feed for fish has...