Nutritional quality of extruded kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Pinto) and its effects on growth and skeletal muscle nitrogen fractions in rats

The influence of extrusion cooking on the protein content, amino acid profile, and concentration of antinutritive compounds (phytic acid, condensed tannins, polyphenols, trypsin, chymotrypsin, alpha-amylase inhibitors, and hemagglutinating activity) in kidney bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Pinto) was investigated. Growing male rats were fed diets based on casein containing raw or extruded kidney beans with or without methionine supplementation for 8 or 15 d. Rates of growth, food intake, and protein efficiency ratio were measured and the weight of the gastrocnemius muscle and the composition of its nitrogenous fraction was determined. Extrusion cooking reduced (P < 0.01) phytic acid, condensed tannins, and trypsin, chymotrypsin, and (alpha-amylase inhibitory activities. Furthermore, hemagglutinating activity was abolished by extrusion treatment. Protein content was not affected by this thermal treatment. Rats fed raw kidney bean lost BW rapidly and the majority died by 9 d. Pretreatment of the beans by extrusion cooking improved food intake and utilization by the rats and they gained BW. Supplementation of extruded kidney bean with methionine further enhanced (P < 0.01) food conversion efficiency and growth. However, BW gains and muscle composition still differed (P < 0.01) from those of rats fed a high-quality protein.     

Influence of growing season,tannin content and autoclave treatment on the nutritive value of near-isogenic lines of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) when fed to leghorn chicks

1. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of heat-treatment (autoclaving) on the utilisation by chicks of near-isogenic lines of faba beans that were either tannin-free (Winter-white or Spring-white) or had tannins in the seed coat (Winter-coloured or Spring-coloured). The effect of heat treatment on a common tannin-containing cultivar, Diana, was also studied. 2. The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) values of diets containing 600 g faba beans/kg diet were affected by tannin content and autoclave treatment of faba beans, with 59% of total variance in AMEn being attributable to the effect of autoclaving. The AMEn values were 9% higher for chicks fed on the autoclaved compared with those fed on diets containing the raw faba beans, 5% higher for the near-isogenic faba beans with no tannins compared with those with tannins, and 4% higher for the Winter compared with the Spring cultivars. 3. The above study was carried out on droppings obtained by total collection. Similar but not identical trends were obtained when AME was calculated using the chromic oxide index method ( r = 0.91). 4. Both autoclaving and the use of tannin-free faba beans improved the apparent protein digestibility (APD) of the diets by similar amounts (4% as determined by the total collection method and 6% as determined by the chromic oxide index method). 5. The digestibility of most amino acids either alone or together was affected by a culti- var X tannin X processing interaction. The cultivar by tannin interaction demonstrated that autoclaving increased the digestibility of amino acids to a greater degree when the tannin-containing (for example, 9% for lysine) than when the tannin-free faba beans (4% for lysine) were used in the diets. 6. The improvements in AMEn , APD and total amino acid digestibilities of faba beans following heat treatments ranged from 18% to 33%, 5% to 16% and 5% to 11%, respectively. The results demonstrate that the method of analysis can affect the values obtained but that they do not change the overall pattern of results. The results also suggest that, in most cases, more than half of the response to heat treatment is associated with the inactivation of tannins while the balance of the response is attributable to an effect of heat treatment on the non-tannin-containing factors. In summary, heat treatment can improve the utilisation of faba bean by chickens especially when they contain tannins. 7. Chicks, unlike rats, do not seem to adapt to tannins as the excretion of 3 amino acids that are the main constituents of a proline-rich protein were not affected by dietary tannins.     

Diets containing leguminous seeds influence chromium content in the rat femur bone

Leguminous seeds contain a lot of antinutritional factors (ANFs) such as protease inhibitors, lectins and condensed tannins which can affect bioavailability of nutrients. Detrimental effect of protease inhibitors can be decreased by sulphur amino acids addition. Moreover, most of the leguminous ANFs are thermolabile. Hence, legumes tested in our study were extruded and/or diets were supplemented with methionine and cystine (0.15% + 0.15%). The present experiment was performed for 28 days on 90 Wistar rats divided into nine feeding groups. Semipurified diets (10% casein) were supplemented (10%), except the control one, with soybean (S) or faba bean (F), raw (R) or extruded (E), with addition of sulphur amino acids (SAA) or without them. The Cr concentration was determined in the femur bone. Total feed intake during whole trial widely varied among the groups and was the lowest in SR (289 g) and FR (294 g) groups. There was no correlation between feed intake and Cr content in the femur bone. Generally, 10% soybean in the diet decreased Cr concentration in the bones, and faba bean increased it. The SAA addition to diets generally increased femur Cr content. However, there was a significant interaction between SAA supplementation and extrusion of faba bean, hence, the effect of their combination was unclear.     

Effect of raw soya bean particle size on productive performance and digestion of dairy cows

Differing soya bean particle sizes may affect productive performance and ruminal fermentation due to the level of fatty acid (FA) exposure of the cotyledon in soya bean grain and because the protein in small particles is more rapidly degraded than the protein in large particles, which influence ruminal fibre digestion and the amounts of ruminally undegradable nutrients. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of raw soya bean particle size on productive performance, digestion and milk FA profile of dairy cows. Twelve Holstein cows were assigned to three 4 × 4 Latin squares with 21‐day periods. At the start of the experiment, cows were 121 days in milk (DIM) and yielded 30.2 kg/day of milk. Cows were fed 4 diets: (i) control diet (CO), without raw soya bean; (ii) whole raw soya bean (WRS); (iii) cracked raw soya bean in Wiley mill 4‐mm screen (CS4); and (iv) cracked raw soya bean in Wiley mill 2‐mm screen (CS2). The inclusion of soya beans (whole or cracked) was 200 g/kg on dry matter (DM) basis and partially replaced ground corn and soya bean meal. Uncorrected milk yield and composition were not influenced by experimental diets; however, fat‐corrected milk (FCM) decreased when cows were fed soya bean treatments. Soya bean diets increased the intake of ether extract (EE) and net energy of lactation (NE_L), and decreased the intake of DM and non‐fibre carbohydrate (NFC). Ruminal propionate concentration was lower in cows fed WRS than cows fed CS2 or CS4. Cows fed cracked raw soya bean presented lower nitrogen in faeces than cows fed WRS. The milk of cows fed WRS, CS2 and CS4 presented higher unsaturated FA than cows fed CO. The addition of raw soya bean in cow diets, regardless of the particle size, did not impair uncorrected milk yield and nutrient digestion, and increased the concentration of unsaturated FA in milk. Cows fed cracked raw soya bean presented similar productive performance to cows fed whole raw soya bean.     

Effect of soybean variety and processing on growth performance of young chicks and pigs

The objective of this study was to determine whether soybeans without the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor and lectins could be fed effectively to young chicks and pigs. Specifically, we compared the growth performance of chicks and pigs fed diets containing modified soybeans: Kunitz trypsin inhibitor-free (KF), lectin-free (LF), lectin and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor-free (LFKF), conventional soybeans (CSB), and commercially obtained, dehulled, solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM). A 7-d chick experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of CSB, KF, LF, LFKF, and SBM. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design, with four replicates, five treatments, and six male chicks per pen (n = 120). The five treatments consisted of 23% CP dextrose-soybean-based diets containing KF, LF, LFKF, CSB, or SBM as the source of dietary protein. A 28-d pig experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of CSB, LF, LFKF, and SBM. Pens of four pigs were assigned randomly to a control, corn-SBM, or one of six corn-soybean diets containing raw or extruded soybean varieties as a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with five blocks per treatment (n = 140). Chicks fed diets containing any of the raw soybean varieties gained less weight (P < 0.05) than chicks fed SBM (22.81 g/d for SBM vs. 14.17 g/d for the raw soybeans combined). Among the raw soybean treatments, there was a greater effect on growth performance (P < 0.05) by removing both lectins and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (ADG of 16.56 g for LFKF) than by removing each antinutritional factor separately (ADG of 14.38 and 14.11 g for KF and LF, respectively). Pig growth performance was different (P < 0.001) for SBM (ADG of 409 g) and all the varieties when extruded (ADG of 450 g for CSB, 417 g for LF, and 408 g for LFKF) compared with the raw soybean treatments (ADG of 101 g for CSB, 165 g for LF, and 266 g for LFKF). Among the raw soybean treatments, growth performance improved (P = 0.003) as the antinutritional factor, lectin, was removed from the soybean and improved further (P = 0.045) when both lectins and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor were removed. The growth-inhibiting effect of feeding modified soybeans to young animals was more detrimental for pigs than for chicks in our experiments. Soybeans without the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor and lectins cannot be fed successfully to young chicks and pigs without heating.     

Methodological impact of starch determination on starch content and ileal digestibility of starch in grain legumes for growing pigs

Background: Grain legumes represent a valuable energy source in pig diets due to their high starch content. The present study was conducted to determine the content and apparent ileal digestibility(AID) of starch in different grain legume cultivars for pigs by means of both a polarimetric and enzymatic method for starch determination.Methods: Three experiments were conducted with six barrows each which were fitted with ileal T-cannulas. In total, 18 diets including six different cultivars of faba beans(Vicia faba L.) and peas(Pisum sativum L.), five different cultivars of lupins(Lupinus luteus L., Lupinus angustifolius L.), and one diet with a soybean meal(SBM) were fed.Results: The starch content of faba beans and peas was greater(P 0.05) when determined polarimetrically than enzymatically(438 vs. 345 g/kg dry matter(DM) in faba beans and 509 vs. 390 g/kg DM in peas, respectively).Considerable lower starch contents were obtained in lupins and SBM, with 82 and 48 g/kg DM(analyzed polarimetrically) and 1.1 and 3 g/kg DM(analyzed enzymatically), respectively. Mean values for contents of neutral detergent fiber(NDF) and acid detergent fiber(ADF) in grain legumes ranged from 111 and 79 g/kg DM in peas to248 and 207 g/kg DM in lupins, respectively. Contents of condensed tannins in the colored flowered faba bean cultivars ranged from 2.1 to 7.4 g/kg DM. The AID of starch was greater(P 0.05) in pea than in faba bean cultivars,and using the polarimetric starch determination method resulted in greater(P 0.05) digestibility values than using enzymatic starch analysis(84 vs. 80% in faba beans and 86 vs. 83% in peas). Moreover, AID of starch differed(P 0.05)within pea cultivars and starch digestibility in faba beans decreased linearly(P 0.05) as the content of condensed tannins increased. However, there was no relationship between contents of NDF and ADF and AID of starch in pea and faba bean cultivars.Conclusion: Both contents and AID of starch in grain legumes can vary as influenced by the analytical method used for starch determination. Generally, starch digestibility is greater when measured by polarimetric rather than enzymatic methods.     

Effect of common antinutritive factors and fibrous feedstuffs in pig diets on amino acid digestibilities with special emphasis on threonine

Most feedstuffs contain antinutritive factors (ANF) such as insoluble fibers, lignins, tannins, and lectins. Intake of these ANF has the ability to reduce nutrient digestibility and to increase endogenous protein losses, such as through increased intestinal mucus secretion. The objective of this experiment was to determine the apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of AA of 6 ANF-enriched diets to estimate endogenous protein loss associated with these ingredients in diets for young pigs. Forty-two 10-kg BW pigs fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 casein-based diets with: no supplement (control), 100 g/kg of canola meal (CM), 100 g/kg of wheat bran (WB), 150 g/kg of barley (BR), 22.5 g/kg of lignin (LG), 15 g/kg of kidney beans [as a lectin (LE) source], and 15 g/kg of tannins (TN). All diets were formulated to be similar in N, indispensable AA, and caloric contents. After a 7-d adaptation to the test diets, N balance was conducted for 5 d, followed by 24 h of collection of digesta for analyses of AA. Pigs fed BR had 17% lower ADG and 15% lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) compared with control and CM pigs. Pigs fed diets containing WB and BR had lower N retention as a percentage of absorbed N compared with all other groups (P = 0.03). The AID for CP was lower in BR, WB, and LE pigs compared with control. Of the AA, AID of Thr was notably lowest in BR, WB, and TN pigs (P < 0.05). The standardized ileal digestibility was lower in WB and BR pigs for most indispensable AA. Altogether, these data suggest that hemicellulose fiber, at concentrations typical in commercial swine diets, reduces AID of AA by increasing endogenous losses. Understanding the differential effects of ANF on endogenous losses of individual dietary AA will improve the accuracy of diet formulation.     

Effect of tannins on starch digestibility and tmen of triticale and semipurified starches from triticale and field beans

1. The effects of field bean tannin‐containing hulls (T‐hulls), non‐tannin hulls (NT‐hulls) and tannin extract on starch digestibilities and TMEn of triticale and semipurified starches from triticale and field beans were evaluated with adult cockerels and 3‐week‐old‐chicks.

2. For both cockerels and chicks, the digestibility and TMEn of semipurified starches from triticale were higher than those from beans. Starch digestibilities of triticales (range 99.1 to 97.7%), of semipurified starches from triticales (range 96.5 to 89.9%) and from field beans (range 75.4 to 71.6%) were similar for both cockerels and chicks.

3. The addition of NT‐hulls improved, in general, the digestibility of semipurified starches for both chicks and cockerels, which suggests that fibre improves the digestion of semipurified starches.

4. The effects of tannins of T‐hulls on semipurified starch from beans and from triticale were different. Tannins always decreased the digestibility and TMEn of semipurified starch from field beans but only decreased the digestibility and TMEn of semipurified starch from triticale when fed to chicks, but not when fed to cockerels.

5. The addition of tannin extract always decreased the digestibility of semipurified starches by a greater amount than T‐hulls, which supports the idea that the effect of tannins depends on the quantity of tannin ingested.     

Effects of cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) feeding on the pancreatic exocrine secretion of pigs

Introduction   Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a valuable protein source that can contribute towards overcoming a predicted protein deficit equivalent to more than 1 000 000 t oilcake in Southern Africa by the year 2000 (N ell et al. 1992). However, like most other legumes, cowpeas contain antinutritional factors (ANFs) (M akinde et al. 1996). It has also been shown that feeding raw cowpea causes reduced growth and histomorphometric changes in the various segments of the intestine (M akinde et al. 1997) attributable to ANFs. The major ANFs in the cowpea are trypsin inhibitors, tannins and phytates (A letor and A ladetimi 1989). Although the protease inhibitors are found in most legumes, only soybean inhibitors have been thoroughly investigated (L iener and K akade 1980), and trypsin inhibitors in other legumes have received little attention.     

Effects of toasting,inclusion levels and different enzyme supplementations of faba beans on growth performance of broiler chickens

Faba beans (Vicia faba) are an alternative protein source that likely can be used to a higher extent in broiler diets. White-flowered faba beans contain antinutritional substances (ANS) such as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), trypsin inhibitors, and lectins, which might limit its inclusion level. Lectins and trypsin inhibitors are heat labile and previous studies have shown that steam-pelleting and enzyme treatment improves the nutritional value of faba beans. However, alternative to pelleting would facilitate for farmers to add faba beans on-farm. Currently, there are machines available for toasting faba beans on-farm, which might be used for broiler mash diets. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of inclusion level (0, 10, 20 and 30%), toasting (140°C 5.5 min) and different enzymes (xylanase + phytase vs. xylanase, phytase, amylase, protease) of faba bean diets on growth performance and organ parameters in broilers. To test this, 2 experiments 34 and 35 days, using a total of 480 chickens were performed. Feed intake, body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio were registered weekly, in addition, organ and carcass weights were registered at slaughter. The results showed that inclusion of 20% faba beans is possible in a pelleted diet with maintained broiler growth performance. When 20% was included in a mash diet, feed intake and BW decreased compared to chickens fed pelleted diets, irrespectively of pre-toasting of the beans. It can be concluded that toasting cannot replace pelleting. Supplementation of protease and amylase in addition to xylanase and phytase did not improve the nutritional value of faba beans.     

Ruminal fermentation and degradation patterns, protozoa population and urinary purine derivatives excretion in goats and wethers fed diets based on olive leaves

Olives leaves, accrued during the processing of olive harvests for oil extraction, are poor in N, rich in crude fat and ADF (1.19, 8.03 and 28.2 g/100 g of DM, respectively), and relatively low in condensed tannins (11.1 mg/g of DM). Three experiments were conducted in a 2 x 3 (two animal species: goats vs. wethers; and three experimental diets: olive leaves without or with polyethylene glycol supply and olive leaves supplemented with barley and faba beans) factorial design to evaluate ruminal degradation and passage kinetics (Exp. 1), fermentation pattern and protozoa population (Exp. 2), and urinary purine derivatives excretion (Exp. 3). Polyethylene glycol was supplied to evaluate the effects of condensed tannins contained in olive leaves. Ruminal degradability of CP was low in both goats and wethers, although goats showed higher (P < 0.05) values than wethers. Supplementation of olive leaves with barley and faba beans increased (P < 0.001) ruminal degradability of DM and CP. Both goats and wethers fed olive leaves showed similarly low particulate fractional passage rates (0.021 and 0.023/h, respectively). Ingestion of olive leaves promoted low NH3-N and VFA concentrations, which reflect poor microbial activity. These concentrations, especially that of VFA, increased when barley and faba beans were added. Ingestion of olive leaves affected ruminal protozoa: Entodiniomorphida showed low concentrations and Holotricha completely disappeared. When animals received a diet based on olive leaves, barley, and faba beans, Holotricha appeared in the ruminal liquor and Entodiniomorphida increased (P < 0.001). In goats and wethers fed olive leaves alone, urinary allantoin excretion was very low (163 and 164 micromol/kg BW0.75 in goats and wethers, respectively), and moderate values (352 and 389 micromol/kg BW0.75 in goats and wethers, respectively) were observed when a diet of olive leaves, barley, and faba beans was fed. The polyethylene glycol supply did not have an effect in goats or in wethers, indicating the lack of an effect of condensed tannins in olive leaves. Ingestion of olive leaves promotes a low microbial activity, although its supplementation with readily degraded carbohydrates and protein improves microbial activity and, as a consequence, increases its ruminal degradation. In general, for most of the measured variables, there were no animal species x diet interactions. Thus, goats and wethers had similar ruminal activities when fed diets based on olive leaves.     

Effects of pea extrusion and enzyme and probiotic supplementation on performance,microbiota activity and biofilm formation in the broiler gastrointestinal tract

ABSTRACT

1. The effects of supplementation of broiler chicken diets with pea meal, carbohydrase enzymes and a probiotic were investigated for potential performance improvement.

2. Raw or extruded pea meal (cv Model, grown in Poland) was included in a wheat-soybean meal-based diet at 250 g/kg. The diets were unsupplemented (control) or supplemented with either carbohydrase enzymes (200 U/kg xylanase and 10 U/kg β-glucanase in feed) or a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis), or both. The diets were fed to Ross 308 broilers aged 9–28 days.

3. After two additional days, chick gastrointestinal tracts were excised and analysed for the presence of Bacillus subtilis biofilm; and the ileal and caecal digesta were analysed for bacterial enzyme activities and to determine the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

4. Feeding the pea-based diet supplemented with the probiotic compromised feed utilisation, due to higher feed intake. The addition of enzymes to the raw, but not the extruded, pea containing diet partially ameliorated this effect (pea form × additives; P < 0.002).

5. In the ileal digesta, interactions between the dietary treatments were observed for the activities of all bacterial glycolytic enzymes and for SCFA concentrations. β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase were highest in birds fed the diet containing extruded pea supplemented with the probiotic and enzymes (pea form x additives; P = 0.018 to P < 0.006). In the caecal digesta, interactions were observed for bacterial enzyme activities, but not for total SCFA concentration. Biofilm formation in the caecum indicated that the probiotic strain was metabolically active in the broiler gut.

6. In conclusion, supplementation of diets containing raw or extruded pea meal with enzymes and a Bacillus subtilis spore-based probiotic modulated microbiota activity but had no clear effects on broiler performance. Probiotic administration did not cause excessive fermentation in the ileum and caecum but enhanced Bacillus subtilis spp. biofilm formation in the caecum, which may be indicative of a beneficial effect on gut health.     

Modification of the lipid profile and antioxidant status of the blood plasma of turkey hens fed mixtures with raw or extruded linseed

The aim of the study was to determine the most beneficial proportion of raw linseed in complete feed mixtures for turkey hens on the basis of lipid and redox indicators in the blood. In experiment 1, the turkey hens received the complete mixture with 2%, 4% or 6% linseed. On the basis of the results obtained in experiment 1, we selected the most effective proportion of linseed, which was given to the birds in the group receiving a 4% linseed additive. In experiment 2, the birds were fed mixtures with a 4% addition of raw or extruded linseed. The use of 4% raw linseed was found to improve production effects (improvement of weight gain, and lower feed conversion ratios), while extruded linseed in the diet of turkey hens did not affect growth performance. The use of linseed (4% and 6%) as a feed component for turkey hens led to an increase in indicators of antioxidant potential, that is the total antioxidant potential of the plasma, vitamins E and C, bilirubin and creatinine. A benefit resulting from the use of linseed, particularly in the amounts of 2% and 4% was a marked improvement in lipid indicators in the blood. The reduced percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (n‐3) following the use of extruded linseed resulted in a decrease in lipid peroxidation (lower content of malondialdehyde, superoxide and vitamins C and E in the blood). The most effective dose and form of linseed in the diet of turkey hens is 4% raw linseed.     

The influence of dietary chestnut and quebracho tannins mix on rabbit meat quality

Tannins were recently evaluated as feed additives in order to increase antioxidant compounds in animal diet, mainly to enhance resistance to lipid oxidation in meat. Rabbit meat is one of the most susceptible animal products, thus the main aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of tannins to elongate shelf life of rabbit meat. Ninety hybrid rabbits were fed with three different diets: basal diet (control, C) and basal diet supplemented with 0.3% or 0.6% of tannins mix. Meat samples were refrigerated as raw at 4°C up to 11 days and analysed both as raw and cooked for physical‐chemical characteristics, fatty acids profile, lipid oxidation and antioxidant capacity. Results showed that dietary tannins affected meat colour of raw samples (mostly yellowness). Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) of raw samples was lower in tannins group than C group; a further inhibition of peroxidation was showed also in cooked samples only by the highest dose of tannins mix. Moreover, antioxidant capacity (ABTS) of raw samples increased with the percentage of tannins. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.6% of tannins mix seems to positively affect the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of meat without modifying the intrinsic characteristics of rabbit meat.     

The possible role of methionine in the detoxification of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) tannins in chick diets

1. A metabolism trial was designed to investigate the role of methionine as a specific detoxifying agent of the condensed tannins present in faba beans (Vicia faba L.).

2. A 5 x 5 factorial approach was employed where 5 concentrations of dietary methionine were obtained (ranging from 3.9 to 12.15 g/kg diet dry matter) by the addition of DL‐methionine, and 5 concentrations of condensed tannins (ranging from 0.5 to 19.7 g/kg diet dry matter) by altering the ratio of tannin‐free and tannin‐containing faba bean hulls added to a basal diet.

3. The intake of condensed tannins had a significant, depressive effect on apparent available nitrogen (P< 0.001) and nitrogen corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME_n ) (P< 0.001). There was no interaction between methionine and tannin (P>0.05). Thus the depressive effect of tannin was independent of methionine levels in the diet.

4. Methionine does not act as a specific detoxifier of faba bean condensed tannins.     

The enhancement of the nutritive value of mango seed kernels for poultry by thermal treatment and radiation processing.

Raw seed kernels of local mango varieties (Magnifera indica L.) were analyzed for composition, levels of trypsin inhibitors, tannins, cyanogenetic glucosides, in vitro protein digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy (AMEN) as being effected by boiling, autoclaving as well as irradiation at 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy. The air-dry mango seed kernels (MSK) contained CP 70 g kg-1, EE 128 g kg-1, and tannins 67 g kg-1. Compared with raw kernels the contents of trypsin inhibitory activity (30 TIU g-1) and cyanogenetic glucosides, measured as hydrocyanic acid (71 mg kg-1), were lowered by boiling, autoclaving and radiation treatments. Tannin content (67.2 g kg-1 in raw kernels) was decreased only by boiling or autoclaving, but irradiation did not introduce any effect. The low in vitro protein digestibility and AMEN values of raw MSK were enhanced by processing. The improvements were paralleled to reductions in trypsin inhibitory activity, cyanogenetic glucosides and tannin contents. Greater improvements were noticed with boiling and autoclaving than with irradiation alone. Autoclaving for 30 min plus irradiation treatment up to 20 kGy increased the in vitro protein digestibility and AMEN by 139% and 72%, respectively. These results indicate that tannins, trypsin inhibitors and cyanogenetic glucosides are responsible for the poor nutritive value of MSK. The effects of feeding 200 g kg-1 raw or processed MSK on the performance of broiler chicks were examined. The inclusion of raw kernel affected body weight gain and feed consumption, while weight gain of birds fed the autoclaved (30 min) plus irradiated (20 kGy) kernels was significantly more improved than by the other treatments. However, feed conversion ratio was not significantly different between groups fed the processed MSK. The results showed that the combination of autoclaving for 30 min plus irradiation up to 20 kGy upgraded the nutritive value more than the other tested treatments and that this method is most effective in processing MSK to be used as animal feed.     

The feed value in growing pigs of a new cultivar of field beans (Vicia faba L.) supplemented with DL-methionine or DL-methionine-hydroxyanalog

Investigations in growing pigs on the feeding value of a new cultivar of field beans (Vicia faba L.) supplemented with DL -methionine or DL -methionine-hydroxyanalogue
A basal control mixture of barley, soy bean meal and soy bean oil was replaced by 25% of the new field bean-cultivar `Divine' and the resulting two mixtures were supplemented with minerals, trace elements, vitamins and amino acids according to the ideal protein concept. The control diet was adjusted with DL -methionine ( DL -Met), the field bean mixture either with DL -Met or DL -methionine-hydroxyanalogue ( DL -MHA) assuming biological equivalence on a molar basis for both supplements. The three experimental diets were fed to growing pigs (35–40 kg bwt.). Spontaneous urine samples were analysed separately for determining parameters that characterize the acid-base status of the pigs. There were no significant differences between experimental groups in nutrient digestibilities. The level of bacterially fermentable substances was increased in the diets containing field beans. The field beans contained 14 mg ME/kg DM. There were no significant (p < 0,05) differences in N- and mineral-retentions (Ca, P, Na, K) between the treatments. The stronger alkalinity found in urine after feeding the field bean mixtures resulted from a higher electrolyte balance of the diet.     

In situ ruminal degradability and intestinal digestion of raw and extruded legume seeds and soya bean meal protein

An experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of extrusion and carbohydrate addition on rumen degradation and intestinal digestion of raw legume seeds and solvent extracted soya bean meal (SBM) protein. Whole soya beans (WSB) without or with maize added (75:25) (WSB-M), peas, lupins and SBM were extruded at 140 degrees C. Protein rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility of unprocessed and extruded protein sources were measured by in sacco and mobile bag procedures, respectively, in two dairy cows cannulated in rumen and duodenum. Between 12 and 15 polyester bags with 4 g of each protein source were incubated in rumen for 12 h and the residues, pooled by feed, were introduced into the duodenum in small nylon bags after pre-incubation in a pepsin solution, and recovered from faeces the day after. Extrusion significantly (p < 0.001) reduced N degradation of all protein sources, from 98.1%, 91.6%, 90.5% and 64.8% to 53.1%, 73.8%, 70.3% and 44.2% for peas, lupins, WSB and SBM respectively. The addition of maize to WSB strengthened the effect of extrusion on rumen N degradation, from 88.2% to 52.6%. Residues from rumen incubation of extruded feeds showed a higher (p < 0.001) intestinal N digestibility except for SBM (87.0%, 82.9%, 66.3%, 85.0% and 97.2%, and 99.1%, 95.8%, 96.8%, 97.8% and 98.7%, respectively, for non-extruded and extruded, peas, lupins, WSB, WSB-M and SBM). In conclusion, the extrusion of studied legume seeds and SBM promotes a clear and significant increase of their metabolizable protein value, particularly in peas, and the inclusion of a source of carbohydrates before extrusion increase this response.     

Raw mung beans as a protein source for bred gilts

A study involving 546 crossbred gilts from six seasons was conducted to evaluate raw mung beans as a partial replacement for soybean meal in diets for gilts during gestation. Gilts were randomly allotted to either a control sorghum grain-soybean meal diet or a diet in which a portion of the soybean meal was replaced with mung beans. In the first three seasons, gilts were fed diets in which the protein supplement was totally soybean meal or 89% mung beans (high level) and 11% soybean meal. In the last three seasons the level of mung beans in the supplemental protein was reduced to 61% mung beans with 39% soybean meal (moderate level). Feeding the high level of mung beans decreased (P less than .05) weight gain during gestation and reduced (P less than .05) weight loss during lactation compared with gilts fed the control diet or the moderate level of mung beans. Little difference was noted in litter size at birth, but litter size at 21 d for gilts fed moderate levels of mung beans was less (P less than .05) than for gilts fed the control diet or the high level of mung beans. Little difference was noted in survival rate to 21 or 42 d or individual and litter weights at birth and 21 d. Pig and litter weights at 42 d, however were reduced in gilts fed the high level of mung beans (P less than .05 and P less than .10, respectively) compared with the control diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cull Great Northern Beans for Finishing Steer Calves

Two hundred eighty-eight British crossbred steer calves were used in a randomized design to evaluate four concentrations of cull great northern beans (GNB). Beans were included in the dietary DM at 0, 5, 10, and 15% and were substituted for corn. Over the 30-d trial, feed intake and ADG decreased linearly (P<0.001) as the level of GNB increased. Feed efficiency increased linearly (P<0.001) as the bean concentration increased in the diet. Because there was a dramatic reduction in performance and a watery diarrhea associated with feeding the beans, the trial was terminated after 30 d.In a second trial, 64 Hereford steers (345 kg) were used in a four-treatment randomized design with 16 individually fed steers per treatment. Cull GNB were included in the dietary DM at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, and 2%. Feed intake increased (P<0.05) linearly as the concentration of beans increased in the diet. Feeding beans improved ADG quadratically as the concentration increased to 1% and then declined at the 2% concentration for d 0 to 28 and d 0 to 113. Feed efficiency improved quadratically (P<0.05) as the bean concentration increased to 1% and then increased at the 2% level. Feeding GNB at ≥2% of the dietary DM in finishing diets is contra-indicated.