Additivity of standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in mixed diets containing multiple protein sources for growing pigs fed three crude protein levels

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) levels of semi‐purified diets on the additivity of values for standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in mixed diets from multiple protein sources for growing pigs. A total of 28 barrows (initial BW, 66.4 ± 1.3 kg) were surgically fitted with simple T‐cannulas at the distal ileum and assigned to a replicated 14 × 4 incomplete Latin square design with 14 diets and 4 periods. The 14 experimental diets consisted of a nitrogen‐free diet; a corn‐based diet (80 g CP/kg); nine semi‐purified diets containing soya bean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM) or corn distillers dried grains with solubles (cDDGS), each type (protein source) of semi‐purified diets supplied 80, 120 or 160 g CP/kg, respectively; three mixed diets based on corn, SBM, CM and cDDGS formulated to contain 120, 160 and 200 g CP/kg respectively. Pigs were fed each of the 14 diets during a seven‐day period, and ileal digesta were collected from 08:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m on day 6 and 7. Chromic oxide was added as an indigestible marker. Results indicated that the SID of CP and AA were not affected by CP levels (p > .05). Values for SID of AA were additive (p > .05) with the exception of His and Lys; Arg and Lys; Arg, Lys, Thr, Asp, Cys and Gly in the mixed diets containing 120, 160 and 200 g CP/kg respectively (p < .05). In conclusion, additivity of SID values of AA in the mixed diets at different CP levels was not affected by the CP levels of semi‐purified diets for growing pigs. Therefore, it is recommended that SID values of AA should be used to formulate practical diets containing multiple ingredients for pigs.     

A simple estimation of ideal profile of essential amino acids and metabolizable energy for growing Japanese quail

An experiment was conducted to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and amino acid requirements of growing Japanese quail based on ideal protein concept using artificial neural network and desirability function (D‐ANN). Seven‐day‐old quail chicks were assigned to nine experimental diets based on central composite design (CCD) containing five levels of AME (2809–3091 kcal/kg) and CP (19–24.8% of diet). The ratio of lysine (Lys) to CP was set at 0.053 among all treatments, and remaining essential amino acids (EAA) were adjusted to Lys. The experimental data of CCD were fitted to D‐ANN model to compute the optimal values for independent variables. The optimal values of inputs including AME, CP, digestible Lys (dLys), methionine (dMet), total sulphur amino acids (dTSAA), threonine (dThr), tryptophan (dTrp), isoleucine (dIle), valine (dVal) and arginine (dArg) for maximizing gain and minimizing feed conversion ratio were estimated at 2865 kcal/kg, 25, 1.32, 0.55, 0.88, 0.84, 0.20, 0.75, 1.04 and 1.45% of diet, respectively, with D (desirability function) = 0.94. The corresponding optimal amounts of amino acids based on total amino acids were 1.42, 0.59, 0.95, 0.90, 0.22, 0.81, 1.12 and 1.56% of diet respectively. The ideal pattern of essential amino acids to Lys was as follows: dMet: dLys = 0.42, dTSAA: dLys = 0.67, dThr: dLys = 0.64, dTrp: dLys = 0.15, dIle: dLys = 0.57, dVal: dLys = 0.79 and dArg: dLys = 1.09. The results of this study showed that amino acid requirements of modern quails might be higher than those reported by NRC.     

Regulation of free glutamate content in meat by dietary lysine in broilers

Regulation of taste is important for improving meat quality and glutamate (Glu) is one of the important taste‐active components in meat. Here, the effects of dietary lysine (Lys) content on taste‐active components in meat, especially free Glu, were investigated. Fourteen‐day‐old broiler chicks (Gallus gallus) were fed on diets containing 100% or 150% of the recommended Lys content for 10 days. Concentrations of free amino acids in plasma, muscle and liver were measured. The levels of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for enzymes related to Glu metabolism were determined in muscle and liver. The concentration of muscle metabolites was also determined. The free Glu content in muscle of chicks fed the Lys150% diet was increased by 44.0% compared with that in chicks fed the Lys100% diet (P < 0.01). The mRNA level of lysine α‐ketoglutarate reductase, which is involved in Lys degradation and Glu production, was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the Lys150% group. Metabolome analysis showed that the Lys degradation products, muscular saccharopine, pipecolic acid and α‐aminoadipic acid, were increased in the Lys150% group. Our results suggest that free Glu content in muscle is regulated by Lys degradation. These results suggest that a short‐term feeding of high‐Lys diet could improve the taste of meat.     

Limiting order of amino acids and the effects of phytase on protein quality in corn gluten meal fed to young chicks

An amino acid deletion assay, a protein efficiency ratio (PER) assay, and a slope-ratio growth assay were used to establish the limiting order of AA, and to determine the effects of microbial phytase on protein utilization in corn gluten meal (CGM) fed to chicks during the period of 8 to 21 d posthatching. In Assay 1, a 12% CP CGM diet was fortified with AA to fulfill the digestible AA ideal profile (only Phe + Tyr, Leu, and Pro exceeded requirements) for young chicks. Amino acids were then individually deleted, and all diets were fortified to 23% CP, with Glu varying as necessary. A Met-fortified 23% CP corn-soybean meal diet served as a positive control. No weight gain or feed efficiency differences were observed between the fully fortified CGM basal diet and the corn-soybean meal positive-control diet. The limiting order of AA established in CGM was 1) Lys, 2) Trp, 3) Arg, 4) Thr, 5) Val, 6) Ile, 7) His, 8) cystine, and 9) Met. In Assay 2, diets with 10% CP furnished by CGM or casein were fed in the presence and absence of 1,200 U/kg phytase. A protein source x phytase interaction (P < 0.05) was observed for weight gain, gain:feed, and PER, indicating positive responses to phytase when casein was fed but negative responses to phytase when CGM was fed. In Assay 3, graded levels of protein (8, 16, and 24% CP) furnished by CGM were fed in the presence and absence of 1,200 U/kg phytase. Weight gain and gain:feed increased linearly (P < 0.05) as a function of protein intake, but phytase supplementation had no effect on weight gain or gain:feed slopes. These results indicate that 1,200 U/kg phytase did not increase either CP or AA utilization in CGM for young chicks.     

5～8周龄固始鸡能量和蛋白质需要量的研究

本试验选用 4周龄固始肉鸡 972只 (公母各半 )。采用 3× 3因子设计 ,饲喂代谢能 (ME)和粗蛋白质 (CP)水平不同的 9种玉米—鱼粉—豆粕型日粮。通过饲养试验、比较屠宰试验和代谢试验 ,研究不同的能量和粗蛋白质水平对 5～ 8周龄的固始鸡雏鸡生产性能、屠体成分的影响 ,根据三个试验的研究结果 ,得出固始鸡在 5～ 8周龄阶段 ,其日粮适宜的能量和粗蛋白质营养水平分别为 :代谢能 12 .6 9MJ Kg,粗蛋白质 18.2 0 % ,蛋能比 14 .34g MJ。     

Selection of foods by broiler chickens following corticosterone administration

1. The effects of corticosterone (CORT) on diet selection of broiler chickens offered a choice of a high protein concentrate (381 g CP/kg, 17.5 MJ/kg ME) and whole wheat (113 g CP/kg, 15.9 MJ/kg ME) in relation to age were examined in two experiments.

2. Daily intramuscular injections of 2 and 4 mg/kg of CORT for a 5‐d period in both 2‐ and 5‐week‐old chickens resulted in increases in total food, protein and energy intakes. This led to a decrease in protein accretion in older but not younger chicks, an increase in total lipid contents of the carcase at both ages, and produced changes in internal organs.

3. CORT significantly reduced body weight gain of young but not old chickens, suggesting that mature birds respond better than young ones to the physiological changes caused by treatment, by making subsequent appropriate food choices.

4. Administration of CORT in young chicks increased wheat intake at 2 and 4 h after injection, while in older birds a similar increase was maintained up to 24 h after injection. Intake of HP food was decreased by both doses of CORT in young chicks but there was no significant effect in older chickens.

5. Changes in energy: protein ratio in the chosen diet appeared at 4 h after treatment in old chickens and at 24 h in younger chicks.

6. The results suggest that birds are able to detect metabolic changes caused by CORT administration and attempt to redress them by modifying their food pattern. The time course of the response of birds to these changes is age related. However, the food selection pattern did not completely compensate for the physiological defects.     

Determination and prediction of the apparent and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility in cottonseed meals fed to growing pigs

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in cottonseed meals (CSM) and to develop prediction equations for estimating AA digestibility for growing pigs based on the chemical composition and AA content of CSM. 10 CSM were collected from 10 provinces in China. 11 barrows (initial body weight: 34.4 ± 1.9 kg), fitted with an ileal T‐cannula, were allotted to 6 × 11 Youden square with 6 periods and 11 diets. The diets included one N‐free diet and 10 CSM test diets containing 40% CSM as the sole source of AA. The nitrogen‐free diet was used to measure the basal endogenous losses of CP and AA. The AID and SID for crude protein (CP), Lys, Met, Trp, and Thr among the 10 CSM differed (p < 0.05). With R² values exceeding 0.30, significant linear regression equations for CP, Lys, and Thr were obtained. The best fit equations for predicting the AID and SID of Lys were: AID of Lys = 82.94–0.65 neutral detergent fiber, with R² = 0.44, residual standard deviation (RSD) = 4.03 and p = 0.04; and SID of Lys = 135.34–1.01 neutral detergent fiber + 34.27 Thr – 58.06 Trp – 84.93 Met, with R² = 0.90, RSD = 1.42 and p = 0.01. In conclusion, the results of AID, SID and prediction equations could be used to evaluate the digestibility of CSM in growing pigs.     

低蛋白质补充合成氨基酸日粮对9～16周龄宁都三黄鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响

本研究旨在探讨蛋能比保持一定的情况下,低蛋白质补充前3种限制性氨基酸日粮对9～16周龄宁都三黄鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响。试验选用160羽体重为(573.1±11.0)g的9周龄健康宁都三黄母鸡,随机分为4个处理,每个处理4重复,每个重复10羽鸡。处理Ⅰ组(对照组)为玉米-豆粕型日粮,按照我国黄羽肉鸡饲养标准(2004)进行配制,其中代谢能为13.3 MJ/kg、蛋白质含量为16.5%(蛋白质/代谢能=12.3 g/MJ)。处理Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组(试验组)日粮蛋能比与处理Ⅰ组一致,代谢能分别为12.6、11.8、11.0 MJ/kg,蛋白质含量分别为15.5%、14.5%、13.5%。4组日粮均补充了蛋氨酸、赖氨酸和苏氨酸以满足三黄鸡对其需要。结果表明:(1)日粮蛋白质水平由16.5%降至14.5%,9～16周龄宁都三黄鸡日采食量、日增重和料重比无显著影响(P>0.05);当蛋白质降幅达3个百分点时,尽管补充了蛋氨酸、赖氨酸和苏氨酸,但宁都三黄鸡的生长性能受到显著影响(P<0.05);(2)日粮蛋白质水平降低3个百分点,宁都三黄鸡全净膛率显著升高(P<0.05),但对屠宰率、半净膛率、胸肌率及腿肌率影响不显著(P>0.05);(3)日粮蛋白质水平降低2个百分点及以上同时补充蛋氨酸、赖氨酸和苏氨酸时,宁都三黄鸡的腹脂率显著降低(P<0.05)。综合生长性能和胴体品质指标,在补充前3种限制性氨基酸的情况下,宁都三黄鸡日粮蛋白质降低的幅度不应超过2个百分点。     

True ileal amino acid digestibility and endogenous ileal amino acid losses in growing pigs fed wheat shorts- or casein-based diets

Use of dietary AA in growing pigs reflects digestion and use of digested AA for various body functions. Before evaluating dietary effects on use of digestible AA intake for body protein deposition, a digestibility study was conducted to investigate true ileal AA digestibility and endogenous ileal AA losses in growing pigs fed graded levels of wheat shorts (WS) or casein (CS; control). A casein-based basal diet (basal) was formulated to contain 0.27 g of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys per MJ of DE, to which extra Lys was added from WS (WS2, +0.10 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE; WS3, +0.20 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE) or casein (CS3, +0.20 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE). A fifth diet was formulated to be similar in CP level and source as CS3 but in which 6% pectin, a source of soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), was included at the expense of cornstarch (CS3 + pectin). Five Yorkshire barrows (17.5 +/- 1.5 kg of BW) were fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum and randomly assigned to 1 of the 5 experimental diets in a 5 x 5 Latin Square design. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID), true ileal digestibility (TID), and endogenous ileal protein losses (EPL) were determined using the homoarginine method. Diet CS level did not influence (P > or = 0.10) TID of most essential AA or EPL (10.4 g/kg of DM intake). Including pectin in the diet did not influence TID of AA (P > or = 0.10) but increased EPL (15.6 g/kg of DM intake; P > or = 0.01). Inclusion of WS in the diet reduced TID of most essential AA (P < 0.01). The TID values for most essential AA, however, were the same (P > or = 0.10) for both dietary WS levels, except for Lys and Met, which were further reduced at the greatest dietary WS level. Increased EPL (P < 0.01) was only observed for WS3 (16 g/kg of DMI). We concluded that (1) the effects of dietary protein source on AID of AA can be attributed both to reduced TID of AA and increased EPL, (2) the impact of dietary WS level on TID of AA and EPL does not seem to be linear, (3) soluble NSP from pectin or WS exerts a greater effect on EPL than insoluble NSP, and (4) because of the metabolic cost associated with EPL and the impacts of feed composition on microbial fermentation in the gut lumen, the effects of feed ingredients on the use of ileal digestible AA for protein deposition should be investigated further.     

Comparison of calculated and experimentally determined SID of CP and AA in complex diets differing in AA contents for grower finisher pigs

In practice, the content of standardized ileal digestible AA in complex feeds for pigs is calculated on the basis of tabulated values for individual feedstuffs. It comes into question, however, whether this truly reflects an accurate content based upon the estimate made for the individual feedstuffs. The objective of this study was to compare standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and selected AA in complex feeds for grower and finisher pigs either calculated or experimentally determined. Six diets with increasing AA levels were prepared for grower (BW from 30 to 70 kg) and finisher (BW from 70 to 120 kg) feed. Crystalline L‐lys, DL‐met and L‐thr were added to both diets, L‐trp and L‐val only to the grower feed. SID of both CP and AA was calculated from feed tables and experimentally determined in six adult minipigs (MINILEWE) with ileorectal anastomosis. With increasing AA levels, experimentally determined SID of supplemented AA increased (p < 0.05), but SID of CP (p ≥ 0.05) was not affected. In both grower and finisher feed, calculated and experimentally determined SID of CP, Met, Cys, Trp, Ile and Tyr differed by more than 2% units, but those of Lys and His only in the finisher feed. Yet this effect was not directly consistent. The margin of error following estimation of SID of AA via tabulated values for individual feedstuffs, however, seems to be acceptable for practical use.     

Investigation into the pathogenesis of Atrophic Rhinitis in pigs

Summary

In two groups of swine herds, herds with and without clinical AR the presence of Atrophic Rhinitis (AR) correlated with the presence of toxinogenic Pasteurella multocida (PM) and not with the Bordetella bronchiseptica (BB) infection.

Six BB‐ and eighteen PM‐strains have been investigated for AR pathogenicity. Broth cultures were injected intradermally in guinea‐pigs (GPST) orintranasally in 3‐week‐old colostrum deprived specific pathogen free (SPF) piglets.

The average atrophy of the ventral conchae (A VC) correlated with the GPST in 4BB‐ and 7 PM‐strains. One BB‐ and 2 PM‐strains were qualified as doubtful, the others as non‐AR pathogenic. With AR pathogenic BB‐ and PM‐strains clinical AR could be induced in 3‐ and 6‐week‐old piglets. AVC lesions (gradation> 1) could be induced with BB in piglets of 6 and with pathogenic PM in 16‐week‐old piglets. Six of seven AR pathogenic PM‐strains resembled Carter‐type D and one resembled type A. No significance was found between AR pathogenicity and somatic serotypes.

Intranasal instillations of cell‐free broth culture filtrates of AR pathogenic PM‐strains also caused AR in piglets. These filtrates also caused lethality in piglets and in mice lethalitytest (MLT) and induced a positive GPST. After heating the pathogenic effects of the filtrates disappeared. The name AR toxin has been introduced for this thermolabile, haemorrhagic dermonecrotic (HDNT) fraction of the AR inducing filtrates. The severity of the AR lesions depended on the amount of the AR toxin intranasally instilled in pigs.

Cross protecting antibodies obtained in rabbits against the AR toxins of two PM strains could be demonstrated by a toxin neutralisation test in the MLT and the GPST.

Broth cultures were injected intradermally in guinea‐pigs (GPST) or intranasally in 3‐week‐old colostrum deprived specific pathogen free (SPF) piglets.     

饲粮粗蛋白质、能量水平对3岁梅花公鹿鹿茸生长和体增重的影响

为探讨 3岁梅花鹿生茸期饲粮适宜营养水平 ,本研究采用 2 (CP∶2 1%和 19% )× 2 (GE∶16 74MJ/kg和 15 90MJ/kg)二因子交叉设计 ,选用 3岁 (二锯 )梅花公鹿 6 7头 ,分为 4个试验组 ,进行了饲养试验和消化试验。试验结果表明 ,饲粮蛋白质水平对鹿体增重有显著影响 (P <0 0 5 ) ,在本试验所设能量浓度范围内 ,饲粮蛋白质水平为 19%处理组鹿体增重显著高于 2 1%蛋白组 ;鹿茸产量组间差异不显著 (P >0 0 5 ) ;饲粮粗蛋白质水平对蛋白质消化率和能量消化率均有显著影响 (P <0 0 5 ) ;3岁梅花鹿生茸期饲粮中能量、蛋白质适宜水平分别为 15 9～ 16 7MJ/kg (GE)和 19% (CP) ;平均每头鹿每天对消化能和可消化蛋白质的需要量分别为 2 9 9～ 31 3MJ和 388～ 394 g。     

Muscle growth and plasma concentrations of amino acids, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin in growing pigs fed reduced-protein diets

Twenty barrows were used to determine if partial replacement of protein-bound AA with crystalline AA (CAA) reduces AA use for muscle tissue and whole-body growth. Barrows (44.2 +/- 1.3 kg of BW) were assigned to 4 diets in a randomized complete block design. Diets consisted of 16.1% CP with no CAA, and 12.8, 10.1, and 7.8% CP containing CAA. As the CP concentration decreased, CAA were gradually increased to meet requirements on a true ileal digestibility basis. Barrows were weighed on d 0 and 13. Blood samples were collected before the morning feeding on d 0, 6, and 12 (prefeeding), and 2 h after the morning feeding on d 13 (postfeeding). Pigs were euthanized on d 13, and liver and right LM were removed and weighed. The reduction in the dietary CP concentration linearly decreased (P < 0.01) ADG, G:F, LM weight, and the CP content of LM. Reducing the CP concentration decreased pre- and postfeeding plasma concentrations of IGF-I (linear, P < 0.01) and insulin (linear, P < 0.10). The reduction in the dietary CP concentration increased prefeeding plasma concentrations of Ala, Gln, Gly, and total AA but decreased Arg, Asn, His, Ile, Phe, Trp, and Tyr (linear, P < 0.05). Plasma concentration of total indispensable AA decreased initially and increased thereafter as the dietary CP concentration decreased from 16.1 to 7.8% (quadratic, P < 0.01). The reduction in the dietary CP concentration increased postfeeding plasma concentrations of Ala, Lys, Met (linear, P < 0.01), and Gly (linear, P = 0.073) and decreased Asn, Ser, Tyr, Arg, His, and Leu (linear, P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of Ile, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val decreased initially and increased thereafter as the dietary CP concentration decreased from 16.1 to 7.8% (quadratic, P < 0.05). In muscle tissue, concentrations of free Ala, Asp, Glu, Gln, Gly, and Lys increased (linear, P < 0.05) as the dietary CP concentration decreased. Concentrations of free His, Ile, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val in muscle tissue decreased initially and increased thereafter as the dietary CP concentration decreased from 16.1 to 7.8% (quadratic, P < 0.05). In summary, the reduction in the dietary protein-bound AA decreased whole-body and LM growth, altered the free AA pool profile in muscle tissue, and decreased plasma insulin and IGF-I. As the replacement of protein-bound AA with CAA increased, 1) free Ala and Gln in muscle tissue increased, indicating an increase of muscle tissue protein breakdown; and 2) utilization of indispensable AA in muscle tissue decreased.     

Biochemical and morphological developments are partially impaired in intestinal mucosa from growing pigs fed reduced-protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids

The objective of this study was to determine if a reduction in dietary CP, with partial replacement of the intact protein with crystalline AA (CAA), would alter growth, morphology, and free or peptide-bound AA concentrations of intestinal mucosa in growing pigs. Twenty-four barrows (37.0 +/- 1.5 kg of BW) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 24 d: 16.1% CP with no CAA, or 12.8, 10.1, or 7.8% CP (analyzed values, as-fed) containing CAA. As CP decreased, CAA were gradually increased to meet requirements on a true ileal digestible basis. Pigs were euthanized 2 h postmeal on d 24, and mucosal samples from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected. Reducing dietary CP decreased ADG, G:F, and final weight (linear, P < 0.05). With reduced dietary CP, mucosal protein concentration decreased in the jejunum (quadratic, P < 0.05) and tended to decrease in the ileum (linear, P = 0.062). Reduction of the dietary CP concentration from 16.1 to 7.8% tended to decrease the crypt depth (linear, P < 0.10) and decreased villus width (linear, P < 0.05) in duodenum and jejunum mucosa but did not reduce villus height or villus surface area in any regions of the small intestine. In the duodenum, a reduction in dietary CP increased free Lys, Met, and Thr (linear, P < 0.05) and peptide-bound Lys and Thr (quadratic, P < 0.10). In the jejunum, reducing CP decreased free Cys (linear P < 0.05) and tended to decrease free Asn and His (linear, P < 0.10) and peptide-bound His (quadratic, P = 0.061) and Ile, Leu, and Val (linear, P < 0.10). In the ileum, reducing CP decreased free Asn, Ser, Tyr, Arg, His, Phe (linear, P < 0.05), and Leu (linear, P = 0.054) and peptide-bound Gly and Ser (linear, P < 0.05) and tended to decrease peptide-bound Ile, Leu, Phe, Val (linear, P < 0.10), and Lys (linear P < 0.05). In conclusion, reduced-CP diets supplemented with CAA lead to a reduction in growth performance, associated with biochemical and morphological modifications of the intestinal mucosa.     

Effect of ascorbic acid or increasing metabolizable energy level with or without supplementation of some essential amino acids on productive and physiological traits of slow-growing chicks exposed to chronic heat stress

Four hundred and twenty, 21-day-old slow-growing chicks were divided randomly into seven treatments, each containing five replicates. Each replicate was kept in a 1 × 1-m floor pen. One treatment was kept under thermo-neutral conditions in a semi-open house and fed a corn-soybean meal diet (positive control). The other six groups were kept under chronic heat stress (CHS) at 38 °C and 60% RH for 4 h from 12:00 to 16:00 pm for three successive days per week. Chicks in CHS treatments were fed a corn-soybean meal diet without (negative control) or with increasing metabolizable energy (ME) level by oil supplementation alone, or also with increasing some essential amino acids (EAA) such as methionine (Met), methionine and lysine (Met+Lys) or methionine, lysine and arginine (Met+Lys+Arg) or supplemented with 250 mg of ascorbic acid (AA)/kg. CHS impaired (p < 0.05) growth performance, increased plasma triglycerides and total serum Ca while decreasing (p < 0.05) plasma glucose and total serum protein. Meanwhile 250 mg AA/kg diet or an increasing ME without or with some EAA partially alleviated (p < 0.0001) the negative effect of CHS on growth while increasing (p < 0.05) feed intake and improving (p < 0.05) feed:gain ratio (F:G) and crude protein (CP) digestibility (p < 0.05). AA or increasing ME with or without EAA increased (p < 0.05) percentage dressing, liver and giblets to those of the positive control. AA or increasing ME with or without EAA partially alleviated the negative effect of CHS on blood pH, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hgb), total serum protein and total Ca, plasma glucose and triglyceride, rectal temperature and respiration rate. Increasing ME level improved chickens' tolerance to CHS without a significant difference from those supplemented with AA. However, increasing Met, Lys and Arg concentration did not improve performance over that recorded with increasing ME level alone. Under CHS, 250 mg AA/kg diet or increasing ME level by addition of 3% vegetable oil could be an useful approach to improve productive and physiological traits of slow-growing chicks, which may be applicable also to fast-growing one.     

Effects of probiotic Bacillus cereus toyoi on abdominal fat accumulation in the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Effects of a commercial probiotic, Bacillus cereus toyoi on abdominal fat accumulation in the Japanese quail fed either a commercial control diet (crude protein (CP), 23.5%; metabolizable energy (ME), 11.7MJ/kg) or a high‐energy diet (CP, 23.0%; ME, 13.8MJ/kg) were investigated. Four‐week‐old male birds (n = 108) were divided into four diet groups: control diet, control with probiotic, high‐energy diet and high‐energy diet with probiotic. At 8 weeks and 12 weeks of age (4 and 8 weeks of probiotic supplementation period, respectively), abdominal fat, muscles and the liver were weighed. The weight of total fat and protein in the muscles and liver were also determined. A rectal temperature was recorded weekly. Bodyweight and feed intake in both diets were not affected by probiotic supplementation. At 8 weeks of age, birds fed the control diet with probiotic had significantly less abdominal fat than those fed without the probiotic, and a similar tendency was seen for both diet groups at 12 weeks of age. The decrease in abdominal fat coincided with an increase in rectal temperature. These results suggest that greater metabolizable energy was consumed through elevation of heat production by supplementation of B. cereus toyoi, with hardly any energy stored as body fat. Probiotic supplementation appears to induce greater muscle weight, higher protein and lower lipid content in muscles by 8 weeks of age, and lower lipid content in muscles and greater liver weight by 12 weeks of age, in the Japanese quail.     

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in European soya bean and rapeseed products fed to growing pigs

This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and standardized ileal digestibility coefficients (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) of European soya bean and rapeseed products in pigs. Six soya bean and two rapeseed products were used as the sole dietary source of CP and AA, including raw (FFSB) and roasted full‐fat soya beans (FFSB_Roasted), soya bean (SBC) and rapeseed cake (RSC), and rapeseed meal (RSM) from Bavaria (Germany), soya bean meal (SBM) from the Danube region (Austria; SBM_Austria), a commercially available standard SBM (SBM_Std) and an imported genetically modified organism‐free SBM (SBM_GMO‐free). Eight ileal‐ cannulated pigs with an initial body weight of 32 ± 2 kg were allotted to a row‐column design with eight diets and six periods of seven days each. Trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) ranged from 1.8 in SBM_Std to 24.5 mg/g DM in FFSB. The SID of CP and all AA in FFSB_Roasted were greater than in FFSB, but lower when compared to SBC and SBM_Austria (p < .05). The SID of CP and all AA (except glutamic acid) were not different between SBC and SBM_Austria, but the SID of CP and all AA (except methionine) were greater (p < .05) in SBC than in SBM_GMO‐free. Furthermore, the SID of CP and most AA showed a quadratic response with decreasing TIA, and there exists a quadratic response in SID of CP and all AA with increasing lysine to CP ratio and neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (p < .05). In conclusion, variation in chemical composition and SID of CP and AA was observed in different European soya bean and rapeseed products as influenced by differences in processing conditions. European SBC and SBM_Austria can be used as alternative to imported SBM_GMO‐free and SBM_Std in diets for growing pigs.     

1～21日龄爱拔益加×罗曼肉杂鸡饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸适宜水平研究

本试验旨在研究1~21日龄爱拔益加(AA)×罗曼肉杂鸡饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸的适宜水平。采用L_9(3~4)正交试验设计,饲粮代谢能水平分别为11.70、12.12、12.54 M J/kg;粗蛋白质水平分别为19.00%、20.00%、21.00%;蛋氨酸水平分别为0.45%、0.50%、0.55%;赖氨酸水平分别为1.00%、1.10%、1.20%。选取1日龄AA×罗曼肉杂鸡864只,随机分为9组,每组6个重复,每个重复16只,试验期21 d。通过饲养试验、屠宰试验等方法检测不同营养水平饲粮的饲喂效果。结果表明:1)饲粮粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸水平对试验鸡平均日增重有显著影响(P0.05),21.00%粗蛋白质水平组显著高于20.00%粗蛋白质水平组(P0.05),0.50%蛋氨酸水平组显著高于0.55%蛋氨酸水平组(P0.05),1.20%赖氨酸水平组显著高于1.10%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05)。2)饲粮代谢能水平对21日龄试验鸡活体总能含量有显著影响(P0.05),12.12 MJ/kg代谢能水平组显著高于12.54 MJ/kg代谢能水平组(P0.05);饲粮蛋氨酸水平对试验鸡活体粗脂肪含量有显著影响(P0.05),0.50%和0.55%蛋氨酸水平组显著高于0.45%蛋氨酸水平组(P0.05)。3)饲粮代谢能和粗蛋白质水平对21日龄试验鸡活体能量沉积率有显著影响(P0.05),11.70和12.12 MJ/kg代谢能水平组显著高于12.54 MJ/kg代谢能水平组(P0.05),21.00%粗蛋白质水平组显著高于20.00%和19.00%粗蛋白质水平组(P0.05);1.10%赖氨酸水平组的试验鸡活体赖氨酸沉积率显著高于1.20%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05)。4)饲粮赖氨酸水平对试验鸡血清葡萄糖、尿酸、尿素氮水平有显著影响(P0.05),1.00%赖氨酸水平组血清葡萄糖水平最高,显著高于1.20%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05),1.10%赖氨酸水平组血清尿酸水平最高,显著高于1.20%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05),1.20%赖氨酸水平组血清尿素氮水平最高,显著高于1.10%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05)。5)由回归分析得出1~21日龄AA×罗曼肉杂鸡饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸适宜水平的计算公式分别为ME=45.33W~(0.75)+183.84△W,CP=19.77 W~(0.75)+626.47△W,Met=1.44 W~(0.75)+10.31△W,Lys=3.01 W~(0.75)+21.28△W(M E为代谢能,W~(0.75)为代谢体重,△W为平均日增重,CP为粗蛋白质,Met为蛋氨酸,Lys为赖氨酸),根据公式计算得出饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸的适宜水平分别为11.90 MJ/kg、21.08%、0.51%和1.05%。     

Evaluation of standardized ileal digestible lysine requirement for 8–20 kg pigs fed low crude protein diets

Two experiments were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys) requirement for weaned pigs fed with low crude protein (CP) diet. In Experiment 1, 144 pigs were fed a normal CP (20%) diet with 12.3 g/kg SID Lys and five low CP (18.5%) diets providing SID Lys levels of 9.8, 11.1, 12.3, 13.5, and 14.8 g/kg, respectively, for 28 days. Reducing dietary CP from 20% to 18.5% enhanced (p < 0.05) the growth performance. The average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) increased (linear and quadratic; p < 0.05), serum urea nitrogen (SUN) decreased (linear and quadratic; p < 0.05) as SID Lys increased. The SID Lys levels required to maximize ADG and optimize G:F were 12.8 and 13.1 g/kg using a curvilinear plateau model, and to minimize SUN was 13.4 g/kg using a two‐slope broken‐line model, which averaged 13.1 g/kg SID Lys. In Experiment 2, 18 pigs were used in a 12‐day N balance trial and received the same diets of Experiment 1. Total N excretion was decreased when dietary CP reduced and further decreased when SID Lys increased. Collectively, 1.5% dietary CP reduction improved the growth performance and decreased the N excretion; the optimal SID Lys requirement was at 13.1 g/kg of 8–20 kg pigs fed with 18.5% CP diet.     

Effects of delaying post‐hatch feeding on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme mRNA expression in the pectoralis major muscle of newly hatched chicks

Excessive lipid peroxidation negatively affects the physiological response and meat quality of chickens. Delaying post‐hatch feeding was previously found to increase lipid peroxidation in the skeletal muscle of finishing broiler chickens. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of delayed post‐hatch feeding on lipid peroxidation and the mRNA expressions of antioxidant enzymes in the pectoralis major muscle of broiler chicks during the post‐hatching period. Newly hatched chicks either had immediate free access to feed (freely‐fed chicks) or had no access to feed from 0 to 2 days old (delayed‐fed chicks), after which both groups were fed ad libitum until 4 or 13 days old. The lipid peroxidation level was higher in the delayed‐fed than freely‐fed chicks at 2, 4, and 13 days old. At 2 days old, the mRNA expressions of Cu/Zn‐SOD, Mn‐SOD, and GPX7 were lower in the delayed‐fed than freely‐fed chicks, while catalase mRNA levels did not differ. Furthermore, at 4 and 13 days old, lower mRNA expressions of Cu/Zn‐SOD and Mn‐SOD were observed in the delayed‐fed than freely‐fed chicks. These results suggest that delaying post‐hatch feeding reduces the mRNA levels of Cu/Zn‐SOD and Mn‐SOD, consequently affecting muscle lipid peroxidation in chicks during subsequent growth.