Board-invited review: the ethical and behavioral bases for farm animal welfare legislation

Concerns about farm animal welfare vary among individuals and societies. As people increasingly consider the values underlying current farm animal production methods, farm animal welfare policy debates have escalated. Recent food animal protection policies enacted in the European Union have fueled highly contentious discussions about the need for similar legislative activity in the United States. Policymakers and scientists in the United States are apprehensive about the scientific assessment, validation, and monitoring of animal welfare, as well as the unforeseen consequences of moving too hastily toward legislating farm animal welfare. The potential impact of such legislation on producers, food prices, animals, and concerned citizens must also be considered. Balancing the interests of all stakeholders has therefore presented a considerable challenge that has stymied US policymaking. In this review, we examine the roles of ethics and science in policy decisions, discuss how scientific knowledge relative to animal behavior has been incorporated into animal welfare policy, and identify opportunities for additional refinement of animal welfare science that may facilitate ethical and policy decisions about animal care.     

Board-invited review: Peptide absorption and utilization: Implications for animal nutrition and health

Over the last 50 yr, the study of intestinal peptide transport has rapidly evolved into a field with exciting nutritional and biomedical applications. In this review, we describe from a historical and current perspective intestinal peptide transport, the importance of peptides to whole-body nutrition, and the cloning and characterization of the intestinal peptide transporter, PepT1. We focus on the nutritional significance of peptide transport and relate these findings to livestock and poultry. Amino acids are transported into the enterocyte as free AA by a variety of AA transporters that vary in substrate specificity or as di- and tripeptides by the peptide transporter, PepT1. Expression of PepT1 is largely restricted to the small intestine in most species; however, in ruminants, peptide transport and activity is observed in the rumen and omasum. The extent to which peptides are absorbed and utilized is still unclear. In ruminants, peptides make a contribution to the portal-drained visceral flux of total AA and are detected in circulating plasma. Peptides can be utilized by the mammary gland for milk protein synthesis and by a variety of other tissues. We discuss the factors known to regulate expression of PepT1 including development, diet, hormones, diurnal rhythm, and disease. Expression of PepT1 is detected during embryological stages in both birds and mammals and increases with age, a strategic event that allows for the immediate uptake of nutrients after hatch or birth. Both increasing levels of protein in the diet and dietary protein deficiencies are found to upregulate the peptide transporter. We also include in this review a discussion of the use of dietary peptides and potential alternate routes of nutrient delivery to the cell. Our goal is to impart to the reader the nutritional implications of peptide transport and dietary peptides and share discoveries that shed light on various biological processes, including rapid establishment of intestinal function in early neonates and maintenance of intestinal function during fasting, starvation, and disease states.     

酪蛋白酶解物与胎儿宫内发育迟缓

胎儿宫内发育迟缓(Intrauterinegrowthretardation,IUGR)会阻碍动物和人的生长发育,一直是畜牧兽医学和人医等学科的难题。本文综述了酪蛋白酶解物的生物学功能,及其在IUGR补偿生长方面应用的可能性,提出酪蛋白酶解物可能对IUGR的治疗有重要意义,具有良好的应用前景。     

猪宫内生长迟缓及其防治研究进展

宫内生长迟缓(IUGR)是养猪生产中的主要问题之一。由于胎源性调控效应,胎儿生长受阻可降低新生仔猪的成活率,永久性阻碍仔猪的生长,降低饲料转化率和危害其身体健康。并对体组成和肉质产生不利影响。认识IUGR的发生机制对预防其发生,提高机体健康状况,从而提高生产性能具有重要意义。开展多学科交叉的创新研究,对设计新一代营养平衡的妊娠日粮、发展新型的管理方案将发挥重要作用。     

Cbfa1对成骨细胞调控作用的研究进展

核心结合因子α1(Cbfa1),是成骨细胞发生和分化的特异性转录因子。Cbfa1/p56能激活T细胞特异性基因表达,Cbfa1/p57的超表达能诱导多潜能间充质干细胞向成骨细胞表型分化,并激活骨钙蛋白、I型胶原蛋白、骨桥蛋白、骨唾液蛋白等成骨基因转录。Cbfa1基因反义寡核苷酸则阻止OB分化和骨化形成,如果Cbfal基因缺失,将导致形成以破骨细胞、软骨细胞和软骨组织为主而缺乏成骨细胞的骨骼系统。骨形态发生蛋白、转移生长因子、肿瘤坏死因子α、成纤维细胞生长因子2、甲状旁腺激素、糖皮质激素地塞米松和l,25(OH)2D3等因子可上调或抑制Cbfal的表达,在骨的发育和组织钙化过程中起着重要的调节作用。     

Board-invited review: Applications of genomic information in livestock

The availability of whole genome sequences for individual species will change the landscape for livestock genomic research. Animal scientists will have access to whole-genome sequence-based technologies such as high-throughput SNP genotyping assays, gene expression profiling, methylation profiling, RNA interference, and genome resequencing that will revolutionize the scale upon which research will be conducted. These technologies will also alter the ways we think about addressing industry and scientific problems. In this review, we discuss the scientific bases for these emerging technologies and present recent highlights of their application in human, model species, and livestock as well as their potential for future applications in livestock. Additionally, we discuss strategies for their use in the genetic improvement and management of livestock. In particular, we present a strategy for the simultaneous identification of causal mutations underlying phenotypic traits in livestock and discuss issues that will arise in the application of whole genome selection for the prediction of genetic merit in livestock. We also point out that the statistical analysis that underlies the whole genome selection methodology is a sophisticated enhancement of single marker association mapping analysis to allow the entire genome to be simultaneously analyzed.     

Board-invited review: the biology and regulation of preadipocytes and adipocytes in meat animals

The quality and value of the carcass in domestic meat animals are reflected in its protein and fat content. Preadipocytes and adipocytes are important in establishing the overall fatness of a carcass, as well as being the main contributors to the marbling component needed for consumer preference of meat products. Although some fat accumulation is essential, any excess fat that is deposited into adipose depots other than the marbling fraction is energetically unfavorable and reduces efficiency of production. Hence, this review is focused on current knowledge about the biology and regulation of the important cells of adipose tissue: preadipocytes and adipocytes.     

Board-invited review: Using behavior to predict and identify ill health in animals

We review recent research in one of the oldest and most important applications of ethology: evaluating animal health. Traditionally, such evaluations have been based on subjective assessments of debilitative signs; animals are judged ill when they appear depressed or off feed. Such assessments are prone to error but can be dramatically improved with training using well-defined clinical criteria. The availability of new technology to automatically record behaviors allows for increased use of objective measures; automated measures of feeding behavior and intake are increasingly available in commercial agriculture, and recent work has shown these to be valuable indicators of illness. Research has also identified behaviors indicative of risk of disease or injury. For example, the time spent standing on wet, concrete surfaces can be used to predict susceptibility to hoof injuries in dairy cattle, and time spent nuzzling the udder of the sow can predict the risk of crushing in piglets. One conceptual advance has been to view decreased exploration, feeding, social, sexual, and other behaviors as a coordinated response that helps afflicted individuals recover from illness. We argue that the sickness behaviors most likely to decline are those that provide longer-term fitness benefits (such as play), as animals divert resources to those functions of critical short-term value such as maintaining body temperature. We urge future research assessing the strength of motivation to express sickness behaviors, allowing for quantitative estimates of how sick an animal feels. Finally, we call for new theoretical and empirical work on behaviors that may act to signal health status, including behaviors that have evolved as honest (i.e., reliable) signals of condition for offspring-parent, inter- and intra-sexual, and predator-prey communication.     

日粮添加姜黄素对宫内发育迟缓断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道组织形态的影响

为了解姜黄素对宫内发育迟缓(intrauterine growth retardation,IUGR)断奶仔猪肠道组织形态和生长发育的影响,选取16头正常初生体重(normal birth weight, NBW)仔猪和16头IUGR仔猪,公母各半;26日龄断奶,分别饲喂基础日粮或姜黄素日粮(基础日粮+400 mg/kg姜黄素),即N(NBW+基础日粮)、NC(NBW+姜黄素日粮)、I(IUGR+基础日粮)和IC(IUGR+姜黄素日粮),每组8头,饲养至50日龄屠宰取样。结果显示:日粮添加姜黄素可以显著降低肠道隐窝深度(CD)(P0.05),显著升高肠道长度以及十二指肠绒毛高度(VH)和绒毛高度/隐窝深度比值(VCR)、空肠回肠VH和VCR的值(P0.05),显著提高干物质、粗蛋白、脂肪和总能量的表观消化率(P0.05);日粮添加姜黄素还可以提高肠道二糖酶活性、回肠黏膜胰岛素样生长因子(IGF-1)的含量以及IGF-1 mRNA表达量,增加肠道绒毛、微绒毛长度。提示:姜黄素可以改善IUGR断奶仔猪的肠道组织形态和消化吸收功能,促进生长发育。     

Board-invited review: Estrogen and progesterone signaling: genomic and nongenomic actions in domestic ruminants

Progesterone and estrogens play key roles in regulating various physiological phenomena related to normal growth, development, and reproduction of domestic animals. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which progesterone and estrogens regulate the reproductive processes in these animals. The majority of research on the actions of progesterone and estrogens on the reproductive systems of cattle, sheep, and pigs has been genomic in nature and represents attempts to better understand how these steroids regulate gene expression. Results of recent research suggest that progesterone and estrogens can alter target cell responses nongenomically via membrane receptors. The characteristics of membrane receptors for progesterone and estrogen in various cell types are described and the intracellular signal pathways defined. Estrogens acting via membrane receptors can suppress LH secretion by gonadotropes and stimulate rapid increases in uterine blood flow. Progesterone acting via a membrane receptor has been shown to inhibit binding of oxytocin to oxytocin receptors in isolated endometrial plasma membranes and stimulate capacitation of spermatozoa. Results of research suggest that progesterone and estrogens can act nongenomically to alter target cell responses in domestic animals. The biological implications of this mode of action in these animals are discussed.     

Board-invited review: Recent advances in biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids within the rumen microbial ecosystem

Recent advances in chromatographic identification of CLA isomers, combined with interest in their possible properties in promoting human health (e.g., cancer prevention, decreased atherosclerosis, improved immune response) and animal performance (e.g., body composition, regulation of milk fat synthesis, milk production), has renewed interest in biohydrogenation and its regulation in the rumen. Conventional pathways of biohydrogenation traditionally ignored minor fatty acid intermediates, which led to the persistence of oversimplified pathways over the decades. Recent work is now being directed toward accounting for all possible trans-18:1 and CLA products formed, including the discovery of novel bioactive intermediates. Modern microbial genetics and molecular phylogenetic techniques for identifying and classifying microorganisms by their small-subunit rRNA gene sequences have advanced knowledge of the role and contribution of specific microbial species in the process of biohydrogenation. With new insights into the pathways of biohydrogenation now available, several attempts have been made at modeling the pathway to predict ruminal flows of unsaturated fatty acids and biohydrogenation intermediates across a range of ruminal conditions. After a brief historical account of major past accomplishments documenting biohydrogenation, this review summarizes recent advances in 4 major areas of biohydrogenation: the microorganisms involved, identification of intermediates, the biochemistry of key enzymes, and the development and testing of mathematical models to predict biohydrogenation outcomes.     

Maternal imprinting of the neonatal microbiota colonization in intrauterine growth restricted piglets:a review

Early colonization of intestinal microbiota during the neonatal stage plays an important role on the development of intestinal immune system and nutrients absorption of the host. Compared to the normal birth weight(NBW)piglets, intrauterine growth restricted(IUGR) piglets have a different intestinal microbiota during their early life,which is related to maternal imprinting on intestinal microbial succession during gestation, at birth and via suckling.Imbalanced allocation of limited nutrients among fetuses during gestation could be one of the main causes for impaired intestinal development and microbiota colonization in neonatal IUGR piglets. In this review, we summarized the potential impact of maternal imprinting on the colonization of the intestinal microbiota in IUGR piglets, including maternal undernutrition, imbalanced allocation of nutrients among fetuses, as well as vertical microbial transmission from mother to offspring during gestation and lactation. At the same time, we give information about the current maternal nutritional strategies(mainly breastfeeding, probiotics and prebiotics) to help colonization of the advantageous intestinal microbiota for IUGR piglets.     

Board-invited review: St. Anthony's Fire in livestock: causes, mechanisms, and potential solutions

After a brief history of ergot alkaloids and ergotism, this review focuses on the metabolism and mechanisms of action of the ergot alkaloids. The authors provide models of how these alkaloids afflict grazing livestock under complex animal-plant/endophyte-environmental interactions. Alkaloid chemistry is presented to orient the reader to the structure-function relationships that are known to exist. Where appropriate, the medical literature is used to aid interpretation of livestock research and to provide insight into potential modes of action and alkaloid metabolism where these are not known for livestock. In closing the paper, we discuss management of ergot alkaloid intoxication in livestock and future research needs for this field of study.     

Board-invited review: recent advances in management of highly stressed, newly received feedlot cattle

Morbidity and mortality from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and associated losses in performance and carcass merit continue to plague the beef cattle industry. Several viral/bacterial agents are responsible for BRD, and interactions occur among the agents. Viral agents often predispose animals to bacterial infections, and Mannheimia haemolytica is the most frequently isolated organism in cattle with BRD. Laboratory tests are available to characterize organisms causing BRD using easily obtained nasal swab samples. Testing for persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus can be done by a 2-stage technique using PCR and immunohistochemistry. Preconditioning programs that include preweaning viral vaccination programs along with castration could have a significant influence on decreasing BRD in the cattle feeding industry. Metaphylactic antibiotic programs continue to be effective; however, antibiotic resistance is a public concern, and additional management options (e.g., direct-fed microbials or other compounds with antimicrobial properties) deserve attention. Diets with an increased energy concentration achieved by decreasing the dietary roughage concentration may slightly increase the rate of BRD morbidity; however, these diets also increase ADG, DMI, and G:F compared with lower-energy, greater-roughage diets. The extent to which performance and BRD morbidity are affected by dietary protein concentration needs further study, but low and high protein concentrations should probably be avoided. Several trace minerals (e.g., Cu, Se, and Zn) affect immune function, but the effects of supplementation on performance and immune function in model challenge systems and in field studies are equivocal. Adding vitamin E to receiving diets at pharmacological levels (e.g., >1,000 IU x animal(-1) x day(-1)) seems beneficial for decreasing BRD morbidity, but it has little effect on performance. Given the limited ability to consistently modify immune function and BRD morbidity through dietary manipulations, we recommend that the diets for newly received cattle be formulated to adjust nutrient concentrations for low feed intake and to provide optimal performance during the receiving period.     

Stress-induced and emotional eating in animals: A review of the experimental evidence and implications for companion animal obesity

Eating in response to stress or negative emotional states is well-documented in humans as well as animals in experimental settings and has been shown to work by alleviating the unpleasant emotional experience. This type of eating behavior, termed stress-induced or emotional eating, is linked to the development of obesity. Standard approaches to companion animal obesity have failed to incorporate this concept. Not every animal given more food than they need will become overweight, which raises the critical question: Why does the animal that overeats do so? If it is to help alleviate stress or negative emotional states, then the standard obesity management approach of restricting food intake without alleviating the emotional distress may actually exacerbate the distress by removing one of the animal's coping mechanisms. Moreover, because emotional eating is a coping mechanism, overeating may be a sign that an animal's psychological well-being is impaired.     

Mycotoxins: their implications for human and animal health

Mycotoxins contaminate various feed and food commodities, due to the global occurrence of toxinogenic molds. They exert adverse health effects in human and animals. The nature of these toxic effects varies depending on the chemical structure of the toxin. The degree of these adverse effects is not only determined by the toxin concentration present in foods and feeds, but also by the time of exposure. Whilst in animals, next to acute intoxication, losses in productivity, reduced weight gain and immunosuppression are considered as most important feature of mycotoxicoses, genotoxic effects and the involvement of certain mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, ochratoxins and fumonisins in the etiology of human cancers have obtained particular attention. This implies that recent research activities concentrate on mechanistic aspects of mycotoxin-induced pathologies, rather than compiling analytical measures of mycotoxin concentrations in food and feeds.     

Mycotoxins: Their implications for human and animal health

Abstract

Mycotoxins contaminate various feed and food commodities, due to the global occurrence of toxinogenic molds. They exert adverse health effects in human and animals. The nature of these toxic effects varies depending on the chemical structure of the toxin. The degree of these adverse effects is not only determined by the toxin concentration present in foods and feeds, but also by the time of exposure. Whilst in animals, next to acute intoxication, losses in productivity, reduced weight gain and immunosuppression are considered as most important feature of mycotoxicoses, genotoxic effects and the involvement of certain mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, ochratoxins and fumonisins in the etiology of human cancers have obtained particular attention. This implies that recent research activities concentrate on mechanistic aspects of mycotoxin‐ induced pathologies, rather than compiling analytical measures of mycotoxin concentrations in food and feeds.     

Board-invited review: Sensitivity and responses of functional groups to feed processing methods on a molecular basis

In complex feed structures, there exist main chemical functional groups which are associated with nutrient utilization and availability and functionality. Each functional group has unique molecular structure therefore produce unique molecular vibration spectral profile. Feed processing has been used to improve nutrient utilization for many years. However, to date, there was little study on processing-induced changes of feed intrinsic structure and functional groups on a molecular basis within intact tissue. This is because limited research technique is available to study inherent structure on a molecular basis. Recently bioanalytical techniques: such as Synchrotron Infrared Microspectroscopy as well as Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform molecular spectroscopy have been developed. These techniques enable to detect molecular structure change within intact tissues. These techniques can prevent destruction or alteration of the intrinsic protein structures during processing for analysis. However, these techniques have not been used in animal feed and nutrition research. The objective of this review was show that with the advanced technique, sensitivity and responses of functional groups to feed processing on a molecular basis could be detected in my research team. These functional groups are highly associated with nutrient utilization in animals.