Nutritional myths

Owners are sometimes confused or misinformed about nutritional facts pertaining to pet foods, and three common nutritional myths have been propagated in the popular press. The first myth is that meat by-products are of inferior quality compared to whole meat. The second myth is that feeding trials are unnecessary, and the third myth is that pet food preservatives are bad. This paper examines the known facts related to these three myths and discusses the importance of food trials and the different classes and forms of antioxidants used in pet foods.     

Nutritional tips for veterinarians

As a herd‐living, nonruminant, hindgut fermenting, primarily grazing herbivore the horse has evolved with a specialised gastrointestinal tract capable of utilising a wide range of plant species, which are hydrolysed and/or fermented to yield energy and nutrients for bodily processes. Domestication has resulted in the horse often being fed and managed to suit human requirements rather than their own, which can lead to digestive, behavioural and clinical issues. Appropriate nutrition not only reduces the risk of a nutritional component being a limiting factor to performance, but it also supports the maintenance of health and appropriate behaviour. A basic understanding of the digestive processes therefore can be very valuable when deciding how to feed horses optimally for both health and activity. This article provides a general overview of the gastrointestinal tract from a nutritional perspective and points out a few key practical areas where knowledge of feeding practices can be helpful for veterinarians.     

Nutritional management of hyperlipaemia

Hyperlipaemia is a disease resulting from excessive mobilisation of triglyceride stores such that plasma clearance processes become overwhelmed. Consequently increased plasma triglyceride concentrations (>5.6 mmol/l), visibly cloudy plasma and a sick, anorexic or hypophagic subject follow. Epidemiological studies have identified many predisposing and triggering factors and the attentive carer or veterinary surgeon should be alert to such risk factors so that the disease can be prevented, or at least identified and treated at an early stage. Hyperlipaemic subjects are invariably in a negative energy balance, and nutritional management therefore plays a central role in both the prevention and resolution of the disease.     

Nutritional influences on immunity

There is no doubt that nutrient deficiencies and excesses can influence immune responses. Despite advances in the development of therapeutic agents, a competent immune system is crucial for prevention and resolution of disease. Leukocytes are some of the most metabolically active cells in animals. We know that growing animals require nutrients to sustain growth and reach their full potential, whether that is size, strength, speed, or agility. We do not expect kittens to grow or greyhounds to run without provision of adequate nutrients. To expect the immune system to function in the face of nutrient deficiency neglects our knowledge of the physiological needs of metabolically active tissues. Immune responses may be modified through dietary manipulations. However, the clinician must answer the question "to what end or consequence will the response be changed?" No "golden" nutrient ensures an appropriate immune response in all conditions, just as no "golden" drug heals all diseases. Our knowledge of nutrient-immune system interactions is increasing. Yet, for all of the current knowledge of nutrient effects on immunity, the words of Dr R.K. Chandra hold sterling advice, "Moderation is a good dictum in biology and medicine, and it applies equally to nutritional immunology."     

Nutritional myopathy in goats

A nutritional myopathy in unweaned fibre goats aged 2 to 4 mths is described in 3 flocks from the tablelands of New South Wales. Clinically affected animals were illthrifty and in circulatory failure prior to being found dead. At necropsy, there was pronounced ascites, pulmonary congestion and marked mottling of the liver. Chalky white streaks and patches were obvious in the myocardium, particularly in the right ventricular wall. Skeletal muscles varied from grossly normal to generally pale. Histologically, the myocardium exhibited areas of severe acute myonecrosis with mineralisation and adjoining areas of phagocytosis and fibrosis. In 2 of 3 flocks, some skeletal muscles showed a mild subacute myopathy. Marked hepatic congestion extended to periacinar haemorrhage and necrosis in some areas. Dietary imbalances of selenium, vitamin E and polyunsatured fatty acids were probable factors in the pathogenesis of the condition.     

玉米DDGS的饲用价值

<正>随着我国经济的发展,汽油的消耗量也在逐年增加。相对于需要量而言,不可再生的石油产量越来越少,而使用燃料乙醇替代汽油势在必行;同时,我国面临的石油资源紧缺、粮食过剩、环境污染严重三大难题,生产燃料乙醇和乙醇汽油是玉米等谷物原料的最好去路。     

龙须眼子菜营养价值评定

龙须眼子菜是多年生草本植物,可作为鱼、鸭饲料,还可入药,具有清热解毒功效。内蒙古自治区境内的内陆湖泊乌梁素海,总面积为29300hm2。近年来,由于携带大量化肥和富含氮磷营养盐的农田退水入湖,在充足的水分和光照条件下,大型水生植物生长茂盛,充塞整个水体空间,形成典型的富营养化草型湖泊。沉水植物中龙须眼子菜占到95%以上。每年可收获龙须眼子菜干草5万t,使利用沉水植物规模化生产草粉饲料成为可能。本试验对不同月份生长和经过脱灰处理的水草进行了全面营养分析及比较,为开发新的水生饲料资源提供营养技术参数。1材料与方法1.1材料内蒙…     

Nutritional support for patients

A good intake of fluids and essential nutrients in the first fourteen days is of vital importance to recuperating animals. Moreover, it is important to encourage cats and dogs to eat after illness or surgery, in order to promote optimal functioning of the gut and the immune system. Enteral nutrition is to be preferred to nasogastric feeding or parenteral nutrition. In the first stage of recovery, during the first 24 to 48 hours, it is important to feed the gut' with nutrients, and thereafter, in the second stage of recovery (after day 3), the calorie intake can be increased. Timely nutritional support with nutraceuticals, such as arginine, glutamine, taurine, long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotic fibres, can considerably shorten the recovery period of cats and dogs after illness or surgery     

Nutritional influences on folliculogenesis

Folliculogenesis is an intricate process that involves the proliferation and differentiation of both somatic and germ cells. This process depends on complex interactions between systemic factors such as both pituitary gonadotrophins and metabolic hormones and/or local factors produced by the ovarian somatic and germ cells, such as the IGF system and TGF-β superfamily members. In domestic ruminants, follicular development begins during foetal life with formation of primordial follicles from the association of germ cells and pre-granulosa cells. After follicular formation, folliculogenesis begins with a primordial follicle progressing into more developed stages (i.e. primary, secondary, pre-antral and antral) in a continuous, progressive process to either ovulation or, as in most cases, to atresia. Even early stages of follicular formation and subsequent development are influenced by both internal (e.g. genotype) and/or external environmental (e.g. nutrition and season) factors. Among these external factors, nutrition is one of the most important affecting reproductive function, and this is the focus of this review, because other reviews in this issue discuss other environmental factors. A number of studies have now shown that nutrition can have both positive and negative effects on follicular growth, oestrous activity, oocyte quality, blastocyst development and pregnancy outcome. Therefore, understanding the intricate processes involved during folliculogenesis and the ways in which factors, such as nutrition, affect them is leading to new opportunities to improve pregnancy rates by influencing follicle development and oocyte quality. This review will focus on follicular development from foetal to adult stages and the influences that nutrition has during some of these developmental stages.     

早期断奶仔猪的营养调控

本文综述了早期断奶仔猪的消化生理特点和引起早期断奶腹泻的主要原因，根据实际断奶日龄和体重进行营养调控的一些措施以及日粮配制技术。主要内容有：能量与蛋白质营养及调控，包括酸化处理，生物酶制剂、抗菌素、高铜高锌的应用以及提高仔猪免疫能力的营养途径。     

钴的动物营养学功能

钴作为动物体内一种必需的微量元素,虽然动物对其需要量并不大,但钴对动物的造血机能、免疫机能、生长发育及繁殖,特别是对反刍动物瘤胃微生物合成VB12等起着重要的作用,钴与其他微量元素合用会有更加明显的效果。钴缺乏会引起动物生产性能的下降,易给畜牧业带来很大经济损失,因此,随着科学研究的深入,钴的重要营养作用也逐渐被发现并受到人们的重视。就钴的生物学作用、钴的营养学作用机制、钴缺乏的发病机制、与其他营养素之间的关系及其在动物营养中的重要作用进行了阐述。