Effect of K-diformate in starter diets on acidity, microbiota, and the amount of organic acids in the digestive tract of piglets, and on gastric alterations

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of K-diformate on the intraluminal pH, microbial composition in digesta and feces, organic acids along the digestive tract, and alterations of the gastric epithelium of pigs. Pigs (n = 36) weaned at 28 d of age were allotted to two groups and fed without (control diet) or with 1.8% supplemental K-diformate. Fecal samples were taken from the rectum on d 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 postweaning. Half of the animals from each group were killed on d 7 and the other half on d 29 postweaning. Growth performance was not different for both groups (P > or = 0.73). The gastric epithelium was not negatively affected by K-diformate (P = 0.25). Potassium-diformate decreased (P < or = 0.04) or tended to decrease (P < or = 0.10) the counts of total anaerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and yeasts in feces and digesta samples from the stomach, distal small intestine, cecum, and middle segment of the colon. The pH along the gastrointestinal tract of piglets was not affected by K-diformate (P > or = 0.30). On d 7, the concentration of lactic acid along the gastrointestinal tract was similar with both diets (P = 0.15). On d 29, the concentrations of lactic acid tended to be lower along the small intestine (P < or = 0.08) and the stomach (P = 0.11) of the pigs fed K-diformate. Formic acid in digesta was detected at significant levels only in the distal segment of the small intestine of the control pigs (from 4 to 11 mmol/kg of wet digesta), whereas considerable amounts were measured in the stomach (from 23 to 40 mmol/kg of wet digesta) and all segments of the small intestine (from 7 to 25 mmol/kg of wet digesta) in the K-diformate-fed pigs on both days. On d 7, pigs fed the K-diformate diet had a tendency (P < or = 0.08) to have higher concentrations of organic acids (acetic + propionic + butyric) in the digesta of the distal small intestine, cecum, and proximal colon. On d 29, both groups had similar concentrations of these acids, irrespective of the segment of the gastrointestinal tract (P = 0.95). Our study showed that the addition of K-diformate to a starter diet for piglets decreased total anaerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, and yeasts in feces and in digesta from various segments of the gastrointestinal tract, without affecting the gastric or intestinal pH.     

强制补饲对早期断奶仔猪腹泻及消化道的影响

选用二元杂交仔猪10窝,随机分为对照组和试验组,8日龄时开始补饲,对照组自由采食,试验组在自由采食基础上,增加强制补饲至21日龄.结果表明,强制补饲可明显增加28日龄断奶仔猪断奶前的饲粮采食量:试验组(600.6±29.97)g,对照组(202.6±16.59)g(P<0.01);断奶前后日增重显著提高(P<0.01);断奶后仔猪腹泻频率显著降低:试验组(14.78±2.13)%,对照组(45.75±6.26)%(P<0.01);28日龄胃内pH值低于4,显著低于对照组(P<0.05);肠道内大肠杆菌数量显著低于对照组(P<0.01);35日龄时,试验组胃质量显著大于对照组(P<0.05),胃和十二指肠黏膜绒毛显著高于对照组(P<0.05).     

谷氨酰胺对早期断奶仔猪血清GPT、AKP活性的影响

试验选用80头平均体重为6．16±0．13kg的长白×约克夏仔猪,28±1 d断奶后,按体重相近原则随机分为 5个处理,研究了不同水平的谷氨酰胺(Gln)对断奶仔猪血清中谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性的影响。 Gln的添加量分别为0％、03％、0．6％、0．9％和1．2％。试验期为21 d。于试验的第7、14和21天,分别测定血清中 GPT、AKP活性。结果表明,日粮中添加Gln能够显著提高断奶仔猪断奶后7、14、21 d血清中谷丙转氨酶活性(P≤ 0．05)。第7、14天时,在日粮中添加Gln,对碱性磷酸酶的活性影响显著(P≤0．05)。谷氨酰胺在断奶仔猪日粮中最适宜添加量为1．2％。     

Utilization of medium-chain triglycerides by neonatal piglets: II. Effects of even- and odd-chain triglyceride consumption over the first 2 days of life on blood metabolites and urinary nitrogen excretion

In two experiments, 144 neonatal pigs were force-fed 12 ml of triglyceride containing fatty acids of even (C8, C10) or odd (C7, C9) medium-chain length (even-MCT, odd-MCT, respectively) or long- (greater than or equal to C16) chain length (LCT). Pigs were individually caged for measurement of urinary N excretion and(or) blood metabolites over 24 h. In Exp. 1, pigs were force-fed immediately after birth and were not allowed to suckle. Supplementation with triglyceride decreased 24-h N excretion compared with control animals given 12 ml of water, suggesting decreased breakdown of body protein and improved energy status. Blood glucose increased over 24 h in all pigs (P less than .05), but more in pigs given MCT (1.38 mM) than in those given LCT (.61 mM) or in controls (.85 mM) and more in animals given even-MCT (1.87 mM) than in those given odd-MCT (1.14 mM). In Exp. 2, pigs were allowed to suckle and were force-fed at 6, 18 or 48 h of age. An apparent improvement in utilization of even-MCT was observed between 6 and 18 h, as evidenced by a twofold vs a sixfold increase in 3-OH-butyrate (BHBA) concentration 1 h after dosing and a twofold vs 12-fold increase in plasma fatty acid concentration. This was not seen in pigs given odd-MCT. The BHBA response with odd-MCT was approximately half that observed with even-MCT in pigs 18 and 48 h old, but not in pigs 6 h old. No change in BHBA concentration (P greater than .1) was observed in pigs after force-feeding LCT at either 6, 18 or 48 h of age. Collectively, these data suggest that MCT may be better utilized than LCT and that there may be a differences in the utilization of even-MCT vs odd-MCT, depending on the age of the neonate. This could be related to chain length effects on digestion and absorption because plasma decanoate concentration changed very little, even though it composed 25% of the even-MCT supplement.     

The effects of dietary supplementation with porous zinc oxide on growth performance,intestinal microbiota,morphology, and permeability in weaned piglets

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with porous zinc oxide (HiZox) on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, morphology, and permeability in weaned piglets. A total of 128 weaned piglets [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of (6.55 ± 0.25 kg; 21 d of age) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: (1) a corn‐soybean basal diet; (2) basal diet + 3,000 mg/kg conventional ZnO; (3) basal diet + 200 mg/kg HiZox; (4) basal diet + 500 mg/kg HiZox. The experiments lasted for 28 days. Incremental HiZox in the diet increased ADG (linear p = 0.015; quadratic p = 0.043) and ADFI (linear p = 0.027; quadratic p = 0.038), and the diarrhea index decreased linearly and quadratically (p < 0.01) as HiZox supplemented increased. Furthermore, supplementation with HiZox increased the amounts of Lactobacillus spp. (p < 0.05) in the ileum and cecum in comparison with that of control treatment or 3,000 mg/kg ZnO treatment, while decreased the populations of Escherichia coli, Clostridium coccoides, and Clostridium. leptum subgroup (p < 0.05) in the ileum and cecum relative to those in control treatment. The addition of HiZox increased the villus height and villus‐to‐crypt ratio (VC) of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p < 0.05), while decreased the crypt depth of jejunum (p < 0.05) and tended to reduce the crypt depth of duodenum (p < 0.10) compared with the control treatment. Piglets fed with 500 mg/kg HiZox had lower serum D‐lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) than those fed with basal control diet or 3,000 mg/kg ZnO diet (p < 0.01). The results suggested that supplementation with HiZox modulated intestinal microbial composition and improved intestinal morphology, which may exert protective effects on the integrity of the mucosal barrier function of weaned piglets, was as efficacious as pharmaceutical doses of ZnO in enhancing growth performance, indicating that the HiZox may be a promising alternative to pharmaceutical doses of ZnO.     

微生物源性抗氧化剂对断奶仔猪生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响

试验旨在探讨微生物源性抗氧化剂对断奶仔猪生长发育和抗氧化能力的影响。选择12窝21日龄杜洛克×长白仔猪,随机分为2组,每组6窝(重复),对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加20 g/kg的微生物源性抗氧化剂。试验从仔猪21日龄开始,27日龄断奶,至断奶后2周结束。结果表明,添加微生物源性抗氧化剂可显著提高仔猪采食量和日增重(P<0.05),降低料重比(P<0.05);显著提高仔猪断奶1周时血清SOD和GSH-Px活性以及血清NO水平(P<0.05),显著降低血清MDA含量(P<0.05)。由此可见,微生物源性抗氧化剂可以提高仔猪的抗氧化能力,减少断奶应激和氧化损伤,促进仔猪的生长发育。提示添加微生物源性抗氧化剂可有效减缓仔猪的断奶应激。     

猪肝和蚯蚓对黄鳝诱食效果的研究

黄鳝具有喜食动物性活饵的习性,然而活饵的数量有限,且转化率低,不能作为规模养殖的取向。人工配合饲料虽然转化率高、成本低、原料易得,但由于黄鳝不喜食,同时由于饲料易漂浮分散,难以定点投喂,污染水体。本研究着重探讨猪肝和蚯蚓对黄鳝的诱食效果。     

饲喂母猪不同类型和水平的有机铁对仔猪生长和贫血状态的影响

本研究旨在评估母猪饲料中添加两种不同水平螯合态的有机铁对仔猪生长性能和改善仔猪贫血效果的研究。选取体重相近、胎次相近、遗传结构一致、健康的二元杂母猪30头,随机分为5组。对照组1组,在基础饲料中添加硫酸亚铁100 g/kg;处理组2、3、4、5分别在基础饲料中添加甘氨酸亚铁80 g/kg和100 g/kg、复合氨基酸螯合铁80 g/kg和100 g/kg。结果表明,母猪饲料中添加有机铁甘氨酸亚铁100 g/kg和复合氨基酸螯合铁80 g/kg可提高21日龄断奶仔猪体重,分别提高12.26%和10.3%;母猪饲料中添加有机微量甘氨酸亚铁和复合氨基酸螯合铁可改善母猪生产时和产后21日龄以及仔猪初生和断奶后体内血液红细胞数量(RBC)、血液平均红细胞的体积(MCV)和血液中红细胞压积(HCT),其中母猪日粮中添加甘氨酸亚铁80 g/kg和复合氨基酸螯合铁100 g/kg组仔猪血液红细胞数量(RBC)在初生和21日龄断奶分别提高6.06%和9.29%;母猪饲料中添加有机微量甘氨酸亚铁和复合氨基酸铁都可提高母猪初乳和常乳中乳铁的含量,其中添加甘氨酸亚铁100 g/kg和复合氨基酸螯合铁100 g/kg组初乳中铁浓度分别提高276%和346%。综上,通过提高母猪乳中有机铁含量可提高初生仔猪体内的铁储存与代谢以达到仔猪抵抗贫血风险的作用。     

The comparative profile of lymphoid cells and the T and B cell spectratype of germ-free piglets infected with viruses SIV,PRRSV or PCV2

Lymphocyte subsets isolated from germ-free piglets experimentally infected with swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) or porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were studied and the profile of these subsets among these three infections was monitored. Germ-free piglets were used since their response could be directly correlated to the viral infection. Because SIV infections are resolved even by colostrum-deprived neonates whereas PRRSV and PCV2 infections are not, SIV was used as a benchmark for an effectively resolved viral infection. PRRSV caused a large increase in the proportion of lymphocytes at the site of infection and rapid differentiation of B cells leading to a high level of Ig-producing cells but a severe reduction in CD2^—CD21⁺ primed B cells. Unlike SIV and PCV2, PRRSV also caused an increase in terminally differentiated subset of CD2⁺CD8α⁺ γδ cells and polyclonal expansion of major Vβ families suggesting that non-specific helper T cells drive swift B cell activation. Distinct from infections with SIV and PRRSV, PCV2 infection led to the: (a) prevalence of MHC-II⁺ T cytotoxic cells, (b) restriction of the T helper compartment in the respiratory tract, (c) generation of a high proportion of FoxP3⁺ T cells in the blood and (d) selective expansion of IgA and IgE suggesting this virus elicits a mucosal immune response. Our findings suggest that PRRSV and PCV2 may negatively modulate the host immune system by different mechanisms which may explain their persistence.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0091-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The applicable merit of untreated, HCl-treated and partly-hydrolysed straw meal in the feeding regimen of piglets after early weaning. 4. Histological findings in the digestive epithelium of the piglet

In studies with piglets of the country race the applicability of variously treated straw materials was tested in comparison with conventional concentrate feeding (I) after an early weaning date (30th-35th day of life) over an 8-week period (1st-8th week of keeping). In the rations containing 10% straw (straw-concentrate mixtures), untreated (II), HCl treated (III: HCl treatment without steaming) and partly hydrolyzed straw meal (IV: HCl treatment with subsequent steaming) were used in the feeding. Samples were taken of 4 killed animals each in the 2nd and 8th weeks of keeping for the qualitative histologic assessment of palatum durum, oesophagus and stomach, duodenum and caecum, colon ascendens, colon descendens and rectum. Although significantly lower pH values in the stomach were registered after the feeding of feed mixtures III and IV due to increased acidity (pH value decrease by 1.3 to 1.5 units) in comparison to the values in I and II, the lamina epithelialis of the palatum durum remained intact in all groups and without any signs of cauterization. Equally, considerable changes in the comparison of the feeding groups could not be detected in the structures of the oesophagus and the stomach walls or in the qualitative histologic assessment of the duodenum and the caecum. However, there were clearly distinguishable group specifics with regard to the formation of lymphoreticular tissue in the stomach and for the colon ascendens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The merit of using untreated, HCl-treated amd partly-hydrolyzed straw meal in the feeding regime for piglets after early weaning. 3. Parameters of protein, fat, carbohydrates and mineral metabolism in the blood serum of the piglet

In parallel studies with piglets of the country race the applicability of variously treated straw materials was tested in comparison with the conventional feeding of concentrate (I) after an early weaning date (30th-35th day of life) over a feeding period of 8 weeks (1st-8th week of keeping). In the rations containing 10% straw (concentrate-straw mixtures), untreated (II), HCl treated (III:HCl treatment without steaming) and partly hydrolyzed straw meal (IV:HCl treatment with subsequent steaming) were tested. In the 2nd and 8th weeks of keeping blood samples were taken from 4 animals of each group and selected parameters of the protein, fat, carbohydrate and mineral metabolism were subsequently ascertained from the blood serum. About half of the total of the 13 selected parameters showed reactions of the intermediary metabolism of the test groups caused by the feeding. With the parameters on the whole varying in the normal physiologic range, a decrease in the blood urea and creatinine concentration and an increase in the blood glucose level were detected after the use of the concentrate-straw mixtures (III and IV) in comparison with the sole feeding of concentrate (I) and partly also in comparison with untreated straw meal (II), their intensity varying in dependence on feeding and test duration. Particularly towards the end of the experiment, an increase of the activity of alkaline phosphatase was also characteristic, which was in negative correlation with the P content of the serum and in positive correlation with growth performance. The physiologic parameters are discussed in connection with the higher growth performance at reduced concentrate expenditure achieved in III and IV in comparison to I and II.     

黄芪多糖对断奶仔猪免疫功能及腹泻的影响

研究了在断奶应激模式下添加黄芪多糖 (APS)对断奶仔猪免疫功能及腹泻的影响。试验分 3组 :对照Ⅰ组 (2 8日龄不断奶 ) ,对照Ⅱ组(2 8日龄断奶 )以及试验组 (2 8日龄断奶 +APS)。结果 :试验组与对照Ⅱ组相比 ,在断奶后第 7、 1 4天淋巴细胞百分数分别增加 7 7% (P >0 0 5)、 1 8 2 % (P >0 0 5) ;中性粒细胞百分数分别减少了 1 5 2 % (P >0 0 5)、 2 8 6 % (P >0 0 5) ;断奶仔猪的SRBC抗体效价分别提高 0 47、1 49(P <0 0 5)个滴度 ;单核细胞增殖率分别提高 1 1 % (P >0 0 5)、 2 5 % (P <0 0 5)。腹泻率在 3组间差异不显著 ;APS添加组腹泻频率显著低于对照Ⅱ组 (P <0 0 5) ,与对照Ⅰ组相比 ,差异不显著     

The effects of early and late maturity on the protein requirements of pullets

Growing pullets were exposed to two light patterns which caused a difference in sexual maturity of 5 weeks. From 28 to 38 weeks of age they were fed diets containing crude protein levels of 7.0, 8.5, 10.0, 11.5, 13.0 and 14.5 per cent. Yellow maize provided 45 per cent and soyabean meal 55 per cent of the protein in all six diets.

Rate of lay, egg weight and body weight were greater in the late maturing flock than in the early flock at the start of the assay and throughout the assay period. The late maturing pullets required more protein to reach and maintain their maximum potential than the early birds, presumably because their potential output was greater. The late birds showed a diminishing but continued response to protein up to the highest level fed (14.5 per cent corresponding to 23 g. protein per bird day). The early maturing pullets showed no response to dietary protein levels beyond 11.5 per cent and their estimated protein requirement was about 16 g. per bird day.

When limiting amounts of protein were fed (7.0–10.0 per cent of the diet) the two flocks achieved similar levels of egg output. In both flocks and throughout the assay, body weight and egg weight fell at the two lowest levels and increased at the three highest levels of protein.

It is concluded that the protein requirements of early maturing and late maturing flocks of pullets may differ, but only in a way which corresponds directly with their different potential outputs. In the late flock, which had the higher protein requirement, excellent production was obtained with a diet containing 14½ per cent crude protein all of which came from vegetable sources.     

Pharmacokinetics of the novel COX‐2 selective inhibitor vitacoxib in cats: The effects of feeding and dose

The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and dose‐scaling model of vitacoxib in either fed or fasted cats following either oral or intravenous administration. The concentration of the drug was quantified by UPLC‐MS/MS on plasma samples. Relevant parameters were described using noncompartmental analysis (WinNonlin 6.4 software). Vitacoxib is relatively slowly absorbed and eliminated after oral administration (2 mg/kg body weight), with a T_max of approximately 4.7 hr. The feeding state of the cat was a statistically significant covariate for both area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) and mean absorption time (MAT_fed). The absolute bioavailability (F) of vitacoxib (2 mg/kg body weight) after oral administration (fed) was 72.5%, which is higher than that in fasted cats (F = 50.6%). Following intravenous administration (2 mg/kg body weight), Vd (ml/kg) was 1,264.34 ± 343.63 ml/kg and Cl (ml kg^?1 hr^?1) was 95.22 ± 23.53 ml kg^?1 hr^?1. Plasma concentrations scaled linearly with dose, with C_max (ng/ml) of 352.30 ± 63.42, 750.26 ± 435.54, and 936.97 ± 231.27 ng/ml after doses of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg body weight, respectively. No significant undesirable behavioral effects were noted throughout the duration of the study.     

The effects of stress on gastric ulceration, T3, T4, reverse T3 and cortisol in neonatal foals.

Sixteen neonatal foals stressed by disease underwent endoscopic examination of their stomachs and blood was assayed for triiodothyronine (T3), reverse T3 (rT3), thyroxine (T4) and cortisol, to determine the effects of severe physiological stress and the occurrence of gastric ulcers. compared with eight age-matched controls, six foals had abnormal cortisol, seven had abnormal T3 and 12 had abnormal T4. Eleven of 13 foals had rT3 outside the 95 per cent confidence interval for clinically normal foals of comparable ages. Gastric lesions were seen more frequently in stressed foals, and gastric glandular mucosal lesions were noted in 40 per cent of the stressed foals. Previous studies report low (3 per cent) occurrence of gastric mucosal lesions. The frequency of squamous mucosal lesions was not different from that reported previously, indicating that stress has little effect on the development of lesions at this site.     

复合植物提取物及抗生素类药物对体重15～30 kg仔猪生产性能的影响

本试验拟研究以植物提取物取代抗生素类药物添加剂的可行性,为生产实践提供依据。1 材料与方法1.1 试验场地及时间 试验于2002年8～9月