Soluble matrix of hen's eggshell extracts changes in vitro the rate of calcium carbonate precipitation and crystal morphology

1. Extra and intramineral eggshell matrix proteins were solubilised before and after demineralisation by sequential extractions using guanidine hydrochloride and EDTA.

2. The intramineral electrophoretic profile of SDS‐PAGE showed the presence of 80, 66, 43, 36 and 15 kDa bands with a predominance of a 17 kDa band. In the extramineral part, the major protein was the 15 kDa band.

3. The introduction of intramineral extract to a metastable solution of calcium carbonate delayed the rate of crystal growth. The delay in the rate of precipitation was elicited by a single fraction (MW 50–80 kDa), isolated by gel filtration chromatography, of eggshell extracts. Extramineral extracts had no effect.

4. Addition in vitro of intramineral eggshell extracts modified the morphology of calcite; the crystals aggregated and showed irregular surfaces.

5. These observations suggest that constituents of the eggshell matrix are involved in the control of calcite growth and crytallographic structure of the hen's eggshell.     

Influence of dietary osteolathyrogenson the eggshell quality of laying hens

1. Laying hens were fed osteolathyrogens, either semicarbazide hydrochloride at 0.3 or 0.4 g/kg or β-aminopropionitrile fumarate at 0.5 or 0.6 g/kg diet to examine their effects on eggshell quality. 2. Shell quality characteristics considered for evaluation were shell surface area, shell thickness, shell weight, percentage shell, shape index and the specific gravity of eggs. Measurement of shell quality traits revealed that the hens fed osteolathyrogens laid eggs with significantly lower specific gravities and proportion of shell by weight. These differences were not explained by differences in shell thickness or weight or the shape index of eggs. 3. It was concluded that osteolathyrogens cause hens to lay eggs with poor shell quality and such eggs are weak and fragile.     

Caecum odd-numbered and branched-chain fatty acid composition in response to dietary changes in fattening rabbits

The study aimed to describe the interactions between nutrition and caecal bacteria abundance using odd-numbered and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA). Following a 2 × 2 factorial design, 47 rabbits were fed diets with two levels of digestible fibre (DF, 180 vs. 260 g/kg DM) supplemented with soybean oil (SO, 20 g/kg) or not. At 77 days of age, fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in caecal contents. The microbial origin of OBCFA vs. dietary FA in caecal contents was illustrated by clustering of these FA in the loading plots of principal component analysis. The contribution of odd-numbered FA in the OBCFA pattern was increased (p < 0.05) for high DF diets, whereas that of branched-chain FA decreased (p < 0.05), indicating potential shifts in the relative abundance of Gram-negative and Gram-positive fibrolytic bacteria respectively. Soybean oil reduced the relative importance of OBCFA (p < 0.001) in total microbial FA; however, its effects appeared to depend on the readily available fermentable substrate, as indicated by the DF × SO interactions (p < 0.001). In conclusion, OBCFA may be potentially used as markers of caecum function, but further detailed studies are necessary to validate their use as diagnostic tools in rabbit nutrition.     

Morphological and histochemical observations of the organic components of ostrich eggshell

The organic component of the avian eggshell can be divided into 3 portions, the shell membranes, the matrix and the cuticle. These have been well characterised in the chicken but little has been published with regard to the ostrich (Struthio camelus). A number of recent studies have indicated that the cause of intra-shell embryonic deaths in the ostrich is similar to intra-shell embryonic deaths that occur in the chicken. These deaths in the chicken are associated with the loss of or damage to the waxy cuticle and other organic components of the eggshell, which is reported to be absent in the ostrich eggshell. In this study, preliminary morphological and histochemical analyses, at the level of the light and electron microscope, have characterised the various organic components of the ostrich eggshell. The results of the histochemical and electron microscopical analyses suggest that there may only be 1 shell membrane in this species, which could play a major role in the limitation of bacterial penetration to the embryonic chamber The shell membrane has a distinct elemental profile as determined by EDS analysis. The matrix is shown to decrease in mesh size from the mammillary layer to the vertical crystal layer. The closer packing of the mesh may indicate the presence of a morphologically discernible termination signal to calcification or the remnants of an evolutionary calcified cuticle. The matrix of the pores may also form a defensive barrier against bacterial invasion, which could be damaged as a result of dipping the eggs before incubation.     

Effects of dietary probiotic inclusion on performance, eggshell quality, cecal microflora composition, and tibia traits of laying hens in the late phase of production

Ninety-six White laying hens (64 weeks old) were used to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of Bacillus subtilis on performance and eggshell quality. Hens were randomly distributed into three treatment groups and fed basal diet (control), basal diet plus 0.5 g/kg B. subtilis (Probiotic-0.5), or basal diet plus 1 g/kg B. subtilis (Probiotic-1) for 10 weeks. Probiotic-1 group exhibited the maximum (P?<?0.05) increase in egg production, egg weight, egg mass, eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness, compared with Probiotic-0.5 and the control groups. During the last week of the study, eggshell densities were 94.9, 88.7, and 65.6 mg/cm² in Probiotic-1, Probiotic-0.5, and the control group, respectively. The average unmarketable eggs were 1.3 %, 2.2 %, and 6.4 % in Probiotic-1, Probiotic-0.5, and the control group, respectively. Tibia weight, density, and ash content increased significantly. The average time required by B. subtilis to establish a significant effect was 3 weeks for Probiotic-1and 6 weeks for Probiotic-5. B. subtilis improved gut microflora balance, which has the potential to improve gut health and absorption efficiency. It should be possible to improve egg performance and eggshell quality of aged laying hens by dietary inclusion of B. subtilis, which will be of importance for farmers.     

Response of pigs to dietary inclusion of formic acid and ammonium formate

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal inclusion rate of dietary formic acid-ammonium formate (composition by weight was 62% formic acid and 37% ammonium formate) in nursery and grower-finisher diets or grower-finisher diets only. At weaning (d 21 +/- 2), 224 pigs (equal numbers of gilts and barrows) were blocked by BW within sex (28 pigs per BW block, 4 pigs per pen) and assigned randomly to 1 of 7 dietary treatments within each block. Dietary treatments (TRT), listed as percentage of dietary formic acid-ammonium formate in the nursery (NR) and the grower-finisher (GRF) diets, were as follows (NR and GRF): TRT 1: 0.0 and 0.0; TRT 2: 1.2 and 1.0; TRT 3: 0.0 and 1.0; TRT 4: 1.0 and 0.8; TRT 5: 0.0 and 0.8; TRT 6: 0.8 and 0.6; and TRT 7: 0.0 and 0.6. During the grower 2 (GR2) period, pigs fed treatments containing formic acid-ammonium formate in the nursery diets (TRT 2, TRT 4, and TRT 6) had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F than pigs fed diets containing formic acid-ammonium formate in the grower period only (TRT 3, TRT 5, and TRT 7). Average daily feed intake tended to decrease (NR1, P = 0.07) or decreased (NR2, P < 0.05) for pigs fed formic acid-ammonium formate in the nursery (TRT 2, TRT 4, and TRT 6) compared with pigs fed control diets (TRT 1, TRT 3, TRT 5, and TRT 7). The ADFI also decreased (P < 0.05) during the GR1 and GR2 periods for pigs fed diets containing formic acid-ammonium formate compared with pigs fed control (TRT 1). In the combined nursery data, there was no effect (P > 0.10) of treatment on ADG. Pigs on diets containing formic acid-ammonium formate ate less feed (P < 0.05) and had improved G:F (P < 0.05) compared with pigs on the control treatments (TRT 1, TRT 3, TRT 5, and TRT 7). Combining the grower-finisher phases, G:F was greater (P = 0.05) for pigs fed diets containing formic acid-ammonium formate than for pigs fed the control feed. The efficiency of gain (i.e., G:F) was improved by 3.5% for pigs fed all formic acid-ammonium formate treatments and ranged from 2.3 (TRT 7) to 5.9% (TRT 4) compared with pigs fed control (TRT 1). Combining all phases from nursery to finisher, the G:F ratio tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for pigs fed formic acid-ammonium formate compared with pigs fed control. The efficiency of gain was improved by 3.0% for pigs fed all formic acid-ammonium formate treatments, ranging from 1.8 (TRT 7) to 5.2% (TRT 4), compared with pigs fed the control diet (TRT 1).     

The hen's egg: Relationship between shell thickness and the amount of organic matter in the shell

Percentage weight loss on ashing was measured in 110 shell segments: 4 segments per shell—broad polar cap, narrow polar cap and two halves of the “barrel” —from 28 shells from 4 strains of chicken. The membranes had been removed, by hand, from each shell segment and shell thickness measured with a biconvex anvil micrometer. For each segment the function γ = T (1 + Wodm/Wmdo) was calculated, where T is the mean thickness, Wo the weight loss upon ashing, Wm the ash weight, d0 the density of the organic matter in the shell (assumed to be 1.0075 g/cm3) and dm the density of the mineral matter (2.386 g/cm3). Govariance analysis of the regression of T on T for each shell segment within each strain showed that the regression was linear, that the lines did not differ in slope, but that there were significant differences between the adjusted means for strains and for segments. This is interpreted as demonstrating that (a) the amount of organic matter in incremental shell is constant, estimated at 0.68 per cent by weight, and (b) the amount of organic matter outside incremental shell is variable. The equivalent thickness of the latter was estimated for each segment of each shell with a standard deviation of 0.4 μm. Other evidence suggests that the variation in organic matter outside incremental shell is due mainly to variation in cuticle thickness. Implications for poultry breeding and for future research are discussed.     

有机微量元素在猪营养中的应用

本文主要综述了有机微量元素在母猪、仔猪、育肥猪中的应用研究。     

有机微量元素在断奶仔猪日粮中的应用

当前人们通常在猪的日粮中，加入无机形式的微量矿物元素（如氧化物、硫酸盐和氯化物），以满足猪对微量元素的需要，但无机微量元素的生物利用率低，常会对环境造成污染。随着公众日益关注集约化养猪对环境的影响问题，猪营养学家和饲料配制人员必须重新评价微量矿物元素的添加方案。最近有机微量元素受到了人们的重视，越来越多的预混剂和饲料生产厂商在使用有机微量元素来取代全部或部分无机微量元素。据认为，有机微量元素不但有较高的生物学利用率和生物学活性，而且可以提高生长速度、改善免疫功能、改善代谢状况和胭体品质，并且还可…     

有机微量元素在动物营养中的应用

目前对有机微量元素尚无统一定义。以往研究表明，有机微量元素有着良好的生物学稳定性，但对其在动物营养中的应用有着不一致的研究结果。     

有机微量元素的优越性及其应用

有机微量元素（Organic Trace Minerals）是金属元素与蛋白质、小肽、氨基酸、有机酸、多糖衍生物等配位体通过共价键或离子键结合而形成的络合物或螯合物。有机微量元素的研究始于20世纪60年代,到70年代之后,世界上许多国家,如美国、意大利、丹麦、荷兰等都在这一领域进行了深入研究,相继有数十种产品问世。我国研究此类产品始于20世纪80年代中期,经过多年努力探索,已有部分产品上市销售。有机微量元素由于其稳定性好、吸收利用率高、作用效果显著等优点,已大有取代无机盐（如硫酸盐）的趋势,文中将就有机微量元素在养猪生产中的应用研究概况作一综述,供广大同仁参考。     

有机微量元素对生长猪生长性能及微量元素排出量的影响

选用96头平均体重为（19.13±1.18）kg生长猪,分为处理1组（高剂量无机微量元素组）、处理2组（高剂量有机元素组）、处理3组（低剂量无机元素组）、处理4组（高剂量有机元素组）,每个处理3个重复,每个重复8头仔猪,试验期50 d,研究有机微量元素对生长猪生长性能及微量元素排出量的影响力。结果表明：处理1、2、4组的日增重分别比处理3组提高5.83%、7.03%、7.70%,均显著高于处理3组（P＜0.05）,其他处理组之间的日增重差异不显著。处理1、2、4组的料重比分别比处理3组降低5.28%、6.79%、7.92%,均达差异显著（P＜0.05）,处理1、2、4组之间的料重比差异不显著,处理4组的料重比最低。处理1组和处理2组粪中铜、铁、锌、锰的排泄量差异均不显著,处理3组和处理4组粪中铜、铁、锌、锰的排泄量差异均不显著,处理3组和处理4组粪中铜、铁、锌、锰的排泄量比处理1组和处理2组显著降低（P＜0.05）。     

不同类型有机微量元素对母猪乳中微量元素含量及其生产性能的影响

本试验选用"长大"二元杂交经产母猪,在母猪妊娠和哺乳期分别饲喂添加3种不同类型微量元素试验日粮:A组为对照组,饲粮中添加的微量元素分别为CuSO4、FeSO4、MnSO4、ZnSO4、Na2SeO3;B组(氨基酸螯合物组),饲粮添加的铁、铜、锰、锌和硒微量元素均为蛋氨酸螯合物;C组(蛋白质螯合物组),饲粮添加的微量元素为蛋白质螯合铁、蛋白质螯合锌、蛋白质螯合锰和酵母硒。结果表明:Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组分别较对照组初乳中锰含量高出了21.05%和5.87%,差异均不显著(P>0.05);Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组分别较对照组初乳中铁含量高于对照组,分别高出17.0%和8.4%,差异不显著(P>0.05);对初乳中锌没有明显影响;对于常乳中各种微量元素含量也无明显影响;提高了窝产活仔数、合格仔数,减少了死仔和干尸的数量,初生窝重Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组分别比Ⅰ组高0.78和0.48kg;Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组断奶窝重分别比Ⅰ组高4.12kg和0.28kg。     

蛋壳的钙化过程及蛋壳腺的钙代谢调控

蛋壳是一类生物陶瓷结构,是由在蛋壳形成早期阶段沉积于蛋壳膜表面无定形的碳酸钙颗粒,然后再转化为稳定的结晶状方解石晶体而形成的。钙既是蛋壳的主要组成成分,又是决定蛋壳质量的主要矿物质元素。此外,还探讨了蛋鸡子宫内钙的转运机制及其钙结合蛋白、钙泵和碳酸酐酶与钙离子转运间的关系。     

有机酸和益生元对蛋鸡生产性能和蛋壳质量的影响

文章旨在评估不同钙磷水平日粮中添加有机酸和益生元对蛋鸡产蛋量和蛋壳品质的影响。试验选择504只罗曼褐壳蛋鸡,根据产蛋率一致的原则随机分为14个组,每组36只鸡,采用蛋鸡单笼饲养。试验日粮采用2×7因子设计,即两个钙和磷水平(正常组和低水平组)以及不添加、添加0.8%的菊粉和低聚糖、0.5%挥发性脂肪酸中链脂肪酸、0.25%挥发性脂肪酸+0.25%中链脂肪酸、0.4%菊粉+0.25%中链脂肪酸,试验从26w开始到70w结束。试验结果发现,各处理组对产蛋率、采食量、饲料转化率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。低钙磷日粮显著降低了蛋壳百分率、蛋壳厚度、蛋壳密度和蛋壳强度(P<0.05)。日粮添加益生元和有机酸能显著改善46、58和70w蛋壳质量,其中菊粉和中链脂肪酸对蛋壳质量的改善最为显著(P<0.05)。日粮钙、磷水平与益生元和有机酸对各指标的影响无显著交互作用(P>0.05)。结果表明,日粮添加有机酸可以降低饲料pH,同时益生元可以调控肠道功能,从而对高龄高产蛋鸡蛋壳品质有改善作用。     

Performance of lactating sows in response to the dietary valine supply

In order to determine the requirement of lactating sows for valine (Val) the effects of graded Val supplementations on feed intake, milk yield and changes of body weight of sows and piglets were examined using 54 multiparous sows over a total of 72 lactations (35 days). The sows were randomly assigned to six treatments (1-6). Each group received the same basic diet, covering the requirements of energy and nutrients except Val (4.5 g native Val, i.e. 3.5 g apparent ileal digestible Val). Adding crystalline l-Val dietary Val concentrations of 5.5, 6.5, 8.5, 10.5 and 14.5 g/kg, respectively, were realized. Feed intake of the sows was determined daily, body weight was determined on day 110 of gestation and day 1, 22 and 35 of lactation. The piglets were weighed on day 1, 21 and 35. The intake of piglet feed, which was offered from day 21, was determined at day 35 for each litter. Milk yield was determined using the weigh-suckle-weigh-method at day 13, 14, 20 and 21, fat and protein contents were analysed in hand-milked samples with infrared spectroscopy. Feed intake (kg/day) of the sows during lactation averaged 2.9, 4.3, 4.6, 4.6, 4.9 and 5.1 for treatments 1-6, respectively. For treatments 1 and 2 body weight losses of the sows during lactation were higher (1207 and 805 g/day, respectively) and milk production was lower (7076 and 8686 g/day, respectively), compared with the average of treatments 3-6 (625 g/day body weight loss; 9263 g milk/day). Daily weight gain of the piglets was also lower (146 and 171 g/day vs. 200 g/day) leading to lower weaning weights of 6.6 and 7.5 vs. 8.5 kg. As a consistent growth depression of the piglets in Val deficiency must be assumed, at least 6.5 g Val corresponding to 5.5 g apparent ileal digestible Val per kg lactation feed must be recommended.     

维生素、微量矿物元素对猪生长和胴体品质的影响

养猪生产中,饲料维生素和微量元素通过各种方式影响动物体内蛋白质、脂肪和碳水化合物的合成和代谢,是动物生长和代谢所必需的营养元素。常规饲料原料中,各种维生素和微量矿物元素大部分不能满足猪生长的需要,必须在饲料中添加一定数量的维生素和微量元素添加剂预