Dietary L-arginine supplementation beneficially regulates body fat deposition of meat-type ducks

1. Unlike mammals, uricotelic species, such as the duck, cannot synthesise endogenous arginine (Arg). This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that dietary L-Arg supplementation might regulate body fat deposition in ducks without affecting their fast growth rate. 2. A total of 160 21-d-old male and female White Pekin ducks were assigned randomly to two treatments: a non-supplemented control and supplementation at 10 g/kg L-Arg of a maize and soybean meal-based diet. 3. The 3-week feeding trial showed that the addition of L-Arg had no significant effect on feed intake, but significantly increased body weight gain by 5·2 %, breast muscle weight relative to live body weight by 9·9%, carcase crude protein content by 9·2%, ether extract content in breast muscle by 11·9%. Arg supplementation significantly decreased skin with fat and abdominal fat pad contents by 7·6% and 4·9% respectively and the ether extract content of carcase by 7·2%. 4. The results of this study indicate that a diet with 10 g/kg supplemental L-Arg could reduce the fat deposition of carcase and abdominal adipose cell size (diameter and volume), enhance intramuscular fat in breast muscles, as well as increase muscle and protein gain. The decreased fat depot in the carcase may be attributed to a reduction of hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity.     

Effects of ambient temperature and restricted feeding on the growth of feathers in growing turkeys

1. Male turkeys were reared to 6 weeks of age at 15 degrees C and 26 degrees C and fed ad libitum or restricted to 0.5 of the body weight of birds fed ad libitum. Basal metabolic rate was determined by indirect calorimetry at an ambient temperature of 20 degrees C. 2. Turkeys at 15 degrees C were lighter than those kept at 26 degrees C. Feather lengths and weight were similar in both groups. Fasting heat production corrected for both metabolic body size and activity was greater in turkeys reared at 15 degrees C than those at 26 degrees C. 3. Cranial breast feathers were significantly longer in restricted birds than in those fed ad libitum in contrast to a proportional decrease in the lengths of other feathers of 0.1 to 0.3. Feather weight as a proportion of body weight was 0.072 in restricted turkeys compared with 0.046 in birds fed ad libitum. There was no difference in basal metabolic rate between ad libitum and restricted turkeys. 4. It was concluded that feather growth was maintained in preference to body and muscle growth and that rearing birds at 15 degrees C did not improve breast feather cover. It is suggested that the growth of breast feathers in turkeys fed ad libitum is impaired.     

Describing the growth and molt of modern domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) primary wing feathers

The use of feathers as noninvasive physiological measurements of biomarkers in poultry research is expanding. Feather molting patterns and growth rates, however, are not well described in domestic poultry. These parameters could influence the measurement of these biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the juvenile primary feather molting patterns and feather growth rates for domestic turkeys. The 10 primary wing feathers of 48 female turkeys were measured weekly from week 1 (0 d of age) to week 20. Feathers were manually measured, and the presence or absence of each primary feather was recorded weekly. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate if feather growth differed between the primary feathers. The molting of the juvenile primary feathers followed a typical descending pattern starting with P1 (5 wk of age), while P9 and P10 had not molted by the end of the study (20 wk of age). The average feather growth rate was 2.4 cm/wk, although there was a significant difference between the 10 primary feathers (P < 0.0001, 2.1 to 2.8 cm/wk). Over time, feather growth followed a pattern where the growth rate reaches a peak and then declines until the feather is molted. The results of this study provide a critical update of patterns of molting and feather growth in primary wing feathers of modern turkeys. This can have implications for the interpretation of physiological biomarkers, such as the longitudinal deposition of corticosterone, in the feathers of domestic turkeys.     

Effect of dietary dried oregano leaves on growth performance, carcase characteristics and serum cholesterol of female early maturing turkeys

1. A study was conducted with 120 female early maturing turkeys to test the effect of dietary dried oregano leaves (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) on body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), carcase characteristics and serum cholesterol concentration. Dried oregano leaves had a content of 3.6 ml essential oils/100 g, while the carvacrol content was 855 g/kg of the total essential oils. 2. From 1 to 84 d of age, the turkeys were fed on 4 diets varying in oregano content (OR0, no oregano--control; OR45, 1.25 g oregano/kg; OR90, 2.5 g oregano/kg; OR135, 3.75 g oregano/kg). Birds were given feed and water ad libitum. 3. BW was unaffected by oregano throughout the experiment. FI and FCE were similar among all treatments until 42 d of age. From 43 to 84 d of age and for the overall experimental period, FI decreased linearly in treatment OR135 and FCE increased linearly with dietary oregano content. Body and carcase weights, carcase yield, and the relative weights of the heart and liver were not significantly affected by oregano content. The relative weights of the gizzard and small intestine decreased linearly with oregano content. Serum cholesterol content was similar among all treatments. 4. In the present study, dietary oregano (1.25, 2.5 and 3.75 g/kg) improved FCE in female early maturing turkeys between 43 and 84 d, with the lowest oregano inclusion (1.25 g/kg) giving the most cost effective diet. Thus, dried oregano leaves may be used as a natural herbal growth promoter for early maturing turkeys.     

Can betaine partially replace or enhance the effect of methionine by improving broiler growth and carcase characteristics?

1. Growth rates and carcase characteristics were measured in male broiler chickens fed on a control diet deficient in methionine (c. 2·8 g/kg methionine) or a series of diets containing graded levels of betaine or DL-methionine or both additives. 2. We aimed to answer 2 main questions. First, can betaine replace part of the methionine in a broiler ration? Secondly, is there a synergism between methionine and betaine? 3. Birds given the control diet or that supplemented only with betaine ate less, grew more slowly, had higher food convension ratio (FCR) and varied more in mass at 42 d than birds fed diets with DL-methionine. Adding 1·2 g/kg DL-methionine to the control ration produced the heaviest birds at 42 d (2500 g) with the 2nd heaviest breast muscle (366 g). 4. After correcting for treatment differences in body mass (analysis of convariance), birds fed on the control diet and the diet supplemented with betaine only, had relatively lighter breast muscles but relatively heavier abdominal fat pads than those of birds given diets supplemented with DL-methionine. However, adding betaine to diets containing added methionine further improved the relative breast muscle yield. 5. After correcting for differences in body mass between treatments, birds fed on diets containing most methionine had lighter viscera than birds fed diets deficient in methionine. This demonstrated gut plasticity, suggesting that the viscera enlarged to sequester methionine from low-methionine diets. 6. Our data refute the hypothesis that betaine can substitute for methionine in broilers fed diets that are marginally deficient in methionine plus cystine. However, betaine may improve carcase composition, especially breast meat yield.     

饲粮精氨酸与丙氨酸对环江香猪肉质、氨基酸组成及抗氧化功能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮精氨酸与丙氨酸对环江香猪肉质、氨基酸组成及抗氧化功能的影响,选用体重为 ２８～３３ｋｇ的环江香猪 １６头（公母各占 １／２）,按体重相近原则随机分为 ２组,每组 ４个重复,每个重复 ２头猪。丙氨酸组在基础饲粮中外源添加 １．７１％的 Ｌ－丙氨酸（等氮对照）,精氨酸组在基础饲粮中外源添加 ０．８３％的 Ｌ－精氨酸和 ０．８８％的米糠。试验期为 ４５ｄ。结果表明：与丙氨酸组相比,精氨酸组瘦肉率显著提高（Ｐ＜０．０５）,脂肪率和背最长肌中粗脂肪含量显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）;肝脏丝氨酸、缬氨酸、亮氨酸和异亮氨酸含量显著提高（Ｐ＜０．０５）;血浆过氧化氢酶活性显著提高（Ｐ＜０．０５）,丙二醛含量显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）。上述结果提示,饲粮中适宜水平的精氨酸可提高环江香猪瘦肉率,降低脂肪率,增强机体抗氧化功能,从而改善部分肉品质指标。     

Effect of dietary protein content on growth and body composition of fast and slow feathering broiler chickens

1. Broilers were produced from two lines of breeders selected for three generations for fast and slow feather growth. The base population foundation stock originated from a commercial pedigree female line, which carried only the dominant sex‐linked late feathering gene K. Three isoenergetic (12.7 MJ AME/kg) starter and grower diets were formulated to contain 280, 240 and 200, and 260, 220 and 180 g/kg protein, respectively, and fed to 156 broilers of each sex to give three starter‐grower combinations.

2. Broiler performance in terms of growth, food conversion ratio, carcase meat, fat and protein content was optimised on the 240 to 220 g/kg protein starter‐grower series of diets.

3. Birds of the slow line were significantly (P<0.05) heavier at 48 d of age and had the same food intake and food conversion ratio as birds of the fast feathering line.

4. The slow line birds had significantly (P<0.01) shorter feathers and less total plumage weight at 48 d. The slow line birds had significantly (P<0.001) less carcase fat and significantly (P<0.05) more carcase protein than the fast line. The slow line had significantly more carcase meat (P<0.01) within which a greater breast meat yield was evident (P<0.001).     

Analysis and Evaluation of Nutrient Composition of Muscles of Two Kinds of Mallard

This experiment was aimed to study the nutritional content and value of the muscles of two mallards (White feather mallard and mallard),and provide basic data and theoretical basis for the development and utilization of mallard meat products.60 White feathered mallards and mallards (30 for each breed,half of male and female) were chosen,and the composition and content of pectoral muscle crude protein,crude fat,cholesterol,amino acids,fatty acids,trace elements and vitamins were determined according to national standards and the nutritional values of muscle were evaluated.The results showed that the content of crude protein in muscle of White feather mallard was significantly lower than that of mallard (P<0.05).17 kinds of amino acids with contents higher than 0.01% were detected in the muscles of the two kinds of mallards,among which the contents of threonine,histidine,serine and proline in the muscles of the White feather mallard were significantly higher than those of mallard (P<0.05).The contents of lysine,glutamate and arginine were significantly lower than those of mallard (P<0.05).13 kinds of fatty acids with contents higher than 0.01% were detected,and the contents of stearic acid and oleic acid were significantly lower than those of the mallard.9 mineral elements (sodium,magnesium,potassium,calcium,manganese,iron,copper,zinc and selenium) in two kinds of mallards were detected,and there was no significant difference between the two kinds of mallards (P>0.05).8 kinds of vitamins were detected,and the content of vitamin B₁ in muscle of White feather mallard was significantly higher than that of mallard (P<0.05),but the contents of vitamin D and vitamin E were significantly lower than that of mallard (P<0.05).The ratio of amino acids in muscle of two kinds of mallards was close to the ideal model recommended by WHO,which was rich in mineral elements and vitamins for human body,and had a broad prospect of development and utilization.     

析因法研究9~12周龄皖西白鹅氨基酸需要量

为评估9~12周龄皖西白鹅氨基酸需要量，本研究基于析因法原理选取9周龄皖西白鹅84只和成年健康公鹅16只，通过生长鹅屠宰试验和成年鹅氮平衡试验测定9和12周龄皖西白鹅胴体和羽毛氨基酸含量与成年公鹅排泄物氨基酸和肌酐含量。结果表明：9周龄皖西白鹅胴体和羽毛氨基酸组成（模式）与12周龄相比无显著差异（P>0.05）；9~12周龄皖西白鹅生长氨基酸需要量（模式）为：赖氨酸（Lys）1 803.16 mg/d（100）、蛋氨酸（Met）464.85 mg/d（26）、胱氨酸（Cys）775.56 mg/d（69）、苏氨酸（Thr）1 032.40 mg/d（57）、组氨酸（His）482.37 mg/d（27）、缬氨酸（Val）1 200.68 mg/d（67）、亮氨酸（Leu）1 862.72 mg/d（103）、异亮氨酸（Ile）1 043.63 mg/d（58）、精氨酸（Arg）1 203.58 mg/d（67）、苯丙氨酸（Phe）660.97 mg/d（37）、丝氨酸（Ser）1 322.75 mg/d（73）、脯氨酸（Pro）824.05 mg/d（46）；维持氨基酸需要量（模式）为：Lys 172.29 mg/d（100）、Met 161.14 mg/d（94）、Cys 633.05 mg/d（367）、Thr 398.08 mg/d（231）、His 70.52 mg/d（41）、Val 548.26 mg/d（318）、Leu 626.06 mg/d（363）、Ile 362.46 mg/d（210）、Arg 506.62 mg/d（294）、Phe 299.31 mg/d（174）、Ser 882.53 mg/d（477）、Pro 693.37 mg/d（402）；9~12周龄皖西白鹅饲粮氨基酸水平为：Lys 0.77%、Met 0.24%、Cys 0.55%、Thr 0.56%、His 0.21%、Val 0.68%、Leu 0.97%、Ile 0.55%、Arg 0.66%、Phe 0.37%、Ser 0.83%、Pro 0.59%。     

析因法研究9~12周龄皖西白鹅氨基酸需要量

为评估9~12周龄皖西白鹅氨基酸需要量,本研究基于析因法原理选取9周龄皖西白鹅84只和成年健康公鹅16只,通过生长鹅屠宰试验和成年鹅氮平衡试验测定9和12周龄皖西白鹅胴体和羽毛氨基酸含量与成年公鹅排泄物氨基酸和肌酐含量。结果表明:9周龄皖西白鹅胴体和羽毛氨基酸组成(模式)与12周龄相比无显著差异(P>0.05);9~12周龄皖西白鹅生长氨基酸需要量(模式)为:赖氨酸(Lys)1803.16 mg/d(100)、蛋氨酸(Met)464.85 mg/d(26)、胱氨酸(Cys)775.56 mg/d(69)、苏氨酸(Thr)1032.40 mg/d(57)、组氨酸(His)482.37 mg/d(27)、缬氨酸(Val)1200.68 mg/d(67)、亮氨酸(Leu)1862.72 mg/d(103)、异亮氨酸(Ile)1043.63 mg/d(58)、精氨酸(Arg)1203.58 mg/d(67)、苯丙氨酸(Phe)660.97 mg/d(37)、丝氨酸(Ser)1322.75 mg/d(73)、脯氨酸(Pro)824.05 mg/d(46);维持氨基酸需要量(模式)为:Lys 172.29 mg/d(100)、Met 161.14 mg/d(94)、Cys 633.05 mg/d(367)、Thr 398.08 mg/d(231)、His 70.52 mg/d(41)、Val 548.26 mg/d(318)、Leu 626.06 mg/d(363)、Ile 362.46 mg/d(210)、Arg 506.62 mg/d(294)、Phe 299.31 mg/d(174)、Ser 882.53 mg/d(477)、Pro 693.37 mg/d(402);9~12周龄皖西白鹅饲粮氨基酸水平为:Lys 0.77%、Met 0.24%、Cys 0.55%、Thr 0.56%、His 0.21%、Val 0.68%、Leu 0.97%、Ile 0.55%、Arg 0.66%、Phe 0.37%、Ser 0.83%、Pro 0.59%。     

Effect of dietary methionine on performance, carcase characteristics and breast meat composition of heterozygous naked neck (Na/na+) birds under spring and summer conditions

1. Heterozygous naked neck (Na/na+) birds and their normally feathered counterparts (na+/na+) were fed from 0 to 7 weeks on 3 diets differing in methionine concentrations. From 0 to 3 and 3 to 7 weeks, respectively, the concentrations were: low containing 4.3 and 3.3 g/kg; optimum containing 5.0 and 3.8 g/kg and; high with 5.7 and 4.4 g/kg under spring (optimum ambient temperature) and summer conditions (high ambient temperature). Performance, carcase characteristics and breast meat chemical composition were determined. 2. Summer rearing resulted in a decrease in body weight, body weight gain, food consumption, and yields of carcase and breast. The summer temperature effect was more pronounced in males. Under summer temperatures, the protein content of the breast decreased while the fat content increased compared to birds reared in spring. 3. By 7 weeks of age, both genotypes reached similar body weights in the spring experiment while, in summer Na/na+ birds were 3.3% heavier and gained more in the period from 3 to 7 weeks than na+/na+ birds. Carcase and breast yields of Na/na+ birds were greater than in na+/na+ birds. 3. Second order polynomial coefficients of the dietary methionine effect were found to be significant for body weight at 3 and 7 weeks. Daily body weight gain between 3 and 7 weeks was linearly affected by the dietary methionine concentration. There was no interaction between genotype and methionine. 4. Methionine had no significant effect on carcase yield. Second order polynomial coefficients of the dietary methionine effect were found to be significant for breast yield while the methionine effect on abdominal fat was linear. Na/na+ females fed on the low methionine diet had lower protein content than the Na/na+ males. 5. It is concluded that the methionine requirement of Na/na+ birds did not differ from that of their normally feathered counterparts under either spring or summer ambient temperature conditions.     

日本沼虾的蛋氨酸需求量

通过研究饲料中不同蛋氨酸水平对日本沼虾(Macrobrachium nipponense)生长、饲料效率、全虾体组成、肌肉氨基酸组成和肝胰脏消化酶活性的影响,确定了日本沼虾的适宜蛋氨酸需求量。以酪蛋白、明胶、鱼粉、小麦面筋粉和晶体氨基酸为蛋白源配制了6组蛋白质水平为36.07%、能量为18.09 kJ/g的等氮等能的半纯和饲料,各组蛋氨酸实际含量分别为0.38%、0.47%、0.56%、0.64%、0.75%和0.88%。以初始体质量为0.30 g的日本沼虾为试验对象,每组设4个重复,每个重复50尾虾,养殖在规格为0.6 m×0.6 m×0.6 m的网箱中,试验期56 d。结果表明:当饲料中蛋氨酸水平由0.38%升高至0.88%时,日本沼虾的增重率、特定生长率和饲料效率均显著升高(P0.05);饲料蛋氨酸水平为0.64%时,三者均达到最大值;随着饲料中蛋氨酸水平进一步升高,三者均呈下降趋势。当饲料蛋氨酸水平为0.64%时,全虾粗蛋白含量最高,显著高于0.38%组(P0.05)。饲料蛋氨酸水平对全虾的水分、灰分、脂肪和肌肉的氨基酸组成均无显著影响(P0.05)。饲料中蛋氨酸水平显著影响日本沼虾肝胰脏蛋白酶的活性(P0.05),但对脂肪酶和淀粉酶活性均无显著影响(P0.05)。以增重率为评价指标进行一元二次回归分析,得出日本沼虾的蛋氨酸需求量为0.70%,占饲料蛋白的1.94%。     

A formal method of determining the dietary amino acid requirements of laying‐type pullets during their growing period

1. The amino acid requirements of laying type pullets during the growing period can be estimated by measuring the growth of different components of the body and making use of nutritional constants that define the amount of each amino acid that is required for the production of the tissues being formed.

2. In this experiment, carcase analyses of each of three breeds of pullets were conducted at weekly intervals throughout the growth of the pullets, to 18 weeks of age. Measurements were made of body weight, gut‐fill and feather weight, and chemical analyses consisted of water, protein, lipid and ash measurements of both the body and the feathers. Each age group comprised 10 birds of each breed.

3. Gompertz functions accurately estimated the growth of both body protein and feather protein, to 18 weeks of age, from which the rate of growth of these two components of the body could be estimated. The mature weight of pullets was overestimated by the Gompertz growth curve, which may indicate that a pullet ceases to increase in body protein content once sexual maturity has been reached.

4. Using allometric relationships between the chemical components of the body and of feathers, all the components of growth could be estimated from the growth of body protein and feather protein. These components were then added together to determine the growth rate of the body as a whole.

5. The daily amino acid requirements for 4 functions were calculated, namely, those for the maintenance of body protein and feather protein, and for the gain in body protein and feather protein. These requirements were then summed to determine the requirement of pullets on each day of the growing period.

6. Using the ‘effective energy’ system, the amount of energy required by these pullets was calculated for each day of the growing period, from which the desired daily food intake of the pullets could be predicted. By dividing the amino acid requirement by this daily food intake it was possible to determine the concentration of amino acids that would be needed in the diet in order to meet the requirements of a pullet.

7. The results indicate that the ratio between the requirement for lysine and for methionine and cysteine changes dramatically during the growing period, negating the concept of a fixed ratio between all the amino acids during growth.

8. The above process is the first step in determining the optimal feeding programme for a population of pullets of a given genotype. The constraining effects, of the diet being offered and of the environment in which the pullets are housed, on the food intake and growth rate of each pullet have to be estimated, and such a theory can then be expanded to include all the individuals in the population. Only by the use: of simulation models can all these constraining effects be considered simultaneously.     

Alleviation of body weight loss by dietary methionine is independent of insulin‐like growth factor‐I in protein‐starved young chickens

It is well known that in protein‐starved chickens, small amounts of amino acid supplement, especially methionine, reduces nitrogen excretion and thereby improves nitrogen balance. On the other hand, excess intake of methionine causes growth depression and the growth‐depressive effect of excess methionine can be alleviated by consumption of dietary glycine. Insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) is one of various growth‐promoting factors relating to the efficiency of animal production and is known to be very sensitive to changes in nutritional status. In the present study, the interactive effect of glycine on nitrogen sparing effect of methionine in protein‐starved chickens was examined. In addition, the relation of IGF‐I and its specific binding protein to the nitrogen sparing effect of supplemented methionine was also investigated. Two‐days refeeding of methionine supplemented to protein‐free diet could promptly alleviate body weight loss in protein‐starved chickens, and the alleviation of body weight loss by methionine was not improved by glycine supplements. Moreover, such acute alleviation of body weight loss by dietary methionine was independent of the change in plasma IGF‐I concentration.     

Effects of dietary protein content,addition of nonessential amino acids and dietary methionine to cysteine balance on responses to dietary sulphur‐containing amino acids in broilers

1. Two experiments were conducted with male broiler chicks from 2 to 5 weeks of age to determine the effect of dietary protein content and amino acid balance on the response to dietary sulphur‐containing amino acids (SAA) in terms of performance and carcase quality.

2. In experiment 1, 5 graded amounts of a DL‐methionine and L‐cysteine (1:1 by weight) mixture were added to basal diets containing 197 or 233 g crude protein/kg. The diets containing 197 g protein/kg were fed with or without the further addition of 36 g crude protein/kg from nonessential amino acids. The amino acid balance of all diets was kept constant for all essential amino acids except the SAA. In experiment 2, 5 graded amounts of SAA from either a crystalline source (DL‐methionine or a mixture of DL‐methionine and L‐cysteine) or from intact proteins were added to a diet containing 208 g protein/kg.

3. At each protein concentration there were significant responses to the SAA addition in weight gain, food conversion efficiency, and carcase quality. Non‐linear exponential regression analyses were used to describe bird responses to SAA concentration. The broiler chick's requirement for SAA increased with increasing dietary protein concentrations ranging from 197 to 259 g protein/kg.

4. The utilisation of SAA differed also with differences in origin (crystalline or peptide‐bound), and methionine:cysteine balances. Compared to DL‐methionine, a 1:1 mixture of DL‐methionine and L‐cysteine was only 81% or 86% as effective in supporting growth or food conversion, respectively. SAA from added protein was even less effectively utilised.

5. The addition of nonessential amino acids tended to decrease food intake without affecting SAA utilisation.

6. Slaughter yield and breast meat yield were clearly increased while fat deposition was clearly decreased, by SAA addition. The response in breast meat yield suggested an important economic benefit for further meat processing. Nitrogen retention was significantly enhanced by SAA supplementation from crystalline sources, and this led to reductions of up to 30% in the amount of nitrogen excreted per kg weight gain.     

Mechanistic modeling of turkey growth response to genotype and nutrition

Along with the fast genetic improvement, nutritional and environmental effects on poultry growth performance have made it necessary to develop growth models that have the flexibility to adapt to different genotypes and growing conditions. A mechanistic simulation model of energy and nutrient utilization in growing turkeys is presented herein. The model consists of simulating the average homeorhetic and homeostatic regulations associated with the utilization of circulating glucose, fatty acid, AA, and acetyl-CoA for protein and lipid retention in carcass, viscera, and feathers in a turkey population. Homeorhesis plays a major role in the control of protein and lipid turnover for the definition of genetic potential and feed intake, whereas homeostasis adjusts growth rate through protein and lipid turnover rates and, therefore, BW gain and feed intake to the growing conditions. Also, homeostasis enables the maintenance of a dynamic balance state during all the growing period through the control of circulating nutrient concentration. The model was developed and calibrated with experimental data that described energy utilization in male and female growing turkeys. Then, the ability of the model to adapt to genotypes and to predict the average response of a turkey population to dietary energy was evaluated. Model calibration showed simulations of energy and nutrient utilization that fitted well with the experimental data because ME was satisfyingly partitioned into heat production and energy retention as protein and lipid, and nutrient intake accurately partitioned BW gain into carcass, viscera, and feathers. The evaluation of the model was also satisfactory because BW gain and feed-to-gain ratio were globally in accordance with the observations in different male and female genotypes, in spite of an overestimation of the feed-to-gain ratio during the first weeks of age. Model evaluation showed that the BW gain and feed intake response of growing turkeys to dietary energy was accurately predicted. The model can therefore be used in different growing conditions as it is capable of simulating the growth of different turkey genotypes fed under changing environmental and nutritional contexts.     

Genotype and dietary lysine deficiency affect carcass and muscle amino acid composition of pigs growing from 10 to 25 kg body weight

Amino acid (AA) composition of body protein is considered constant although there are evidences that AA pattern in pigs may be altered by different factors. Pigs with different body composition and protein deposition rates—like fatty and lean pigs—may differ in AA composition, with possible consequences on their AA requirements. This work investigates effects of genotype and dietary lysine deficiency on AA composition of carcass and muscles of Iberian and Landrace × Large White pigs. Twenty‐eight barrows (10 kg body weight [BW]), 14 from each breed, were used. They were randomly assigned to two experimental diets according to a factorial arrangement (two breeds × two diets). Diets were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic (200 ± 1 g CP/kg dry matter (DM); 14.7 ± 0.1 MJ ME/kg DM) and with identical chemical composition except for lysine concentration (10.9 and 5.20 g lysine/kg DM, for lysine‐adequate (AL) diet and lysine‐deficient (DL) diet respectively). Pigs were individually housed, and daily feed allowance was adjusted on a weekly basis according to BW. Pigs were slaughtered at 25 kg BW. Isoleucine, valine and phenylalanine concentration were higher in carcass protein of Iberian pigs (p < .01). In longissimus muscle, higher concentration of arginine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, lysine and valine (p < .001–p < .05), and lower of methionine (p < .001) were detected in Iberian pigs, whereas phenylalanine, leucine, lysine, threonine and methionine concentration decreased and arginine increased (p < .001–p < .05) when pigs were fed DL diet. Genotype and lysine deficiency effects were moderate in the AA composition of protein of biceps femoris muscle. The results show that AA proportions in protein of carcass and longissimus muscle can be influenced by pig genotype and conditions of lysine shortage. The biceps femoris muscle, with different functional and metabolic properties, shows more constant AA composition than longissimus, which seem to prevail independent from genotype or nutritional challenges.     

Effects of chromium nicotinate on performance, carcase characteristics and blood chemistry of growing turkeys

1. The objective of this trial was to study the effects of chromium nicotinate (Cr) supplementation on the performance, carcase characteristics and blood constituents of 9 to 22 week-old male turkeys. 2. Fifty-four 8-week-old male turkeys weighing 2.9 +/- 0.28 kg were allocated at random into 9 groups with 3 dietary treatments and 3 replicates. The dietary treatment was different dietary concentrations of chromium in the basal diet, to provide 0 (control), 1 or 3 mg/kg. The feeding trial lasted for 14 weeks. 3. Results showed that 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly improved weight gain and food intake at 9 to 18 weeks of age but did not significantly influence performance at 19 to 22 week of age. The breast and thigh muscle were significantly increased in birds receiving 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation but were decreased by 3 mg/kg of supplementation. 4. Dietary chromium supplementation did not significantly influence other serum constituents, including insulin, HDL, VLDL+LDL, HDL-C, VLDL-C+LDL-C, total protein, albumin, and gamma-globulin at 18 and 22 weeks of age. 5. The serum triacylglycerol (TG) and uric acid contents were significantly increased, while glycerol and alpha-globulin were significantly reduced by 3 mg/kg chromium supplementation. However, 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly reduced serum cholesterol and glycerol at 18-weeks old. At 22 weeks of age, 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly increased serum glucose and decreased the uric acid concentration whereas 3 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly increased the creatinine concentration and decreased beta-globulin concentration.     

Investigations on feathering, feather growth and potential influences of nutrient supply on feathers' regrowth in small pet birds (canaries, budgerigars and lovebirds)

The aim of this study was to quantitate feathering in several companion birds. Besides the ratio of feathers to whole body mass, feather length as well as feather weight were of interest. Furthermore, data on feather loss and growth rates were estimated. In general, it could be observed that the proportion of feathers relative to body mass varied between 14 (canaries) and 7.4% (lovebirds). Feather losses (outside the moult period) amounted to an average of 6.65 (canaries), 8.98 (budgerigars), and 8.43 (lovebirds) mg/bird/day respectively or 37 (canaries), 20 (budgerigars), and 17 (lovebirds) mg/100 g body weight/day (values of interest in calculating of protein requirements for maintenance). In canaries, the average growth rate of the developing feathers amounted to 2 mm/day. In contrast to the onset of feather regeneration, the growth rate of new feathers leaving the follicle was not influenced by the supplements used here. The regeneration period (first measurable feather growth) of a plucked pinion can be used as an indicator and objective parameter to test potential nutritional influences. Parallel to the improvement of nutrient supply the rates of feather losses and also replacement increased, whereas the rates decreased when seed mixtures without any addition of minerals, sulphurous amino acids, and vitamins were fed.