Effect of dietary copper and vitamin E supplementation, and extensive feeding with acorn and grass on longissimus muscle composition and susceptibility to oxidation in Iberian pigs

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of dietary copper and/or vitamin E supplementation on composition and oxidation of M. longissimus in Iberian pigs and to compare it with meat samples from pigs produced extensively and fed with acorn and grass. Grass had the highest α-tocopherol content (> 150 mg/kg DM), while acorns had the highest copper concentration (78.1 mg/kg DM). Dietary treatment did not affect copper composition in muscle and no interactions were detected between copper and α-tocopherol. The α-tocopherol content in muscle from pigs fed diets supplemented with α-tocopheryl acetate (100 mg/kg feed) was 1.5 times greater (p < 0.0001) than those from pigs receiving a basel diet. M. longisssimus dorsi from pigs fed extensively had a higher concentration of α-tocopherol than those fed in confinement with the basel level of α-tocopheryl acetate, but lower values than pigs fed supplemented levels. Total n -3 fatty acids (p < 0.02) and hematin (p < 0.0001) concentrations were significantly higher in muscle from pigs fed extensively than when fed in confinement. Muscle homogenates from Iberian pigs fed in extensive conditions showed significantly (p < 0.02) higher susceptibility to oxidation than those from pigs fed mixed diets. Dietary α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation (100 mg/kg feed) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced lipid oxidation of muscle, while dietary copper concentration did not modify susceptibility to lipid oxidation.     

Oral administration recombinant porcine epidermal growth factor enhances the jejunal digestive enzyme genes expression and activity of early-weaned piglets

This study attempted to determine ingested porcine epidermal growth factor (pEGF) on the gastrointestinal tract development of early-weaned piglets. Thirty-two piglets (14-day weaned) were randomly allotted to supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg pEGF/kg diet. Each treatment consisted of four replicates with two pigs per pen for a 14 days experimental period. Piglets were sacrificed and gastrointestinal tract samples were collected to measure mucosa morphology, mRNA expression and activities of digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets at the end of the experiment. Diets supplemented with pEGF failed to influence growth performance but tended to increase jejunal mucosa weight (p < 0.09) and protein content (p < 0.07). Piglets supplemental pEGF induced incrementally the gastric pepsin activity (p < 0.05) and stimulated jejunal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactase activities accompanied with the increase of jejunal ALP and maltase mRNA expression. No effect of pEGF on the activities of all enzymes in ileum except the stimulation of ileal aminopeptide N mRNA expression. These results reveal that dietary pEGF supplementation might enhance gene expression and activities of digestive enzymes in the stomach and jejunum of piglets.     

Effect of added dietary threonine on growth performance,health, immunity and gastrointestinal function of weaning pigs with differing genetic susceptibility to Escherichia coli infection and challenged with E. coli K88ac

Threonine (Thr) is important for mucin and immunoglobulin production. We studied the effect of added dietary Thr on growth performance, health, immunity and gastrointestinal function of weaning pigs with differing genetic susceptibility to E. coli K88ac (ETEC) infection and challenged with ETEC. Forty‐eight 24‐day‐old weaned pigs were divided into two groups by their ETEC susceptibility using mucin 4 (MUC4) gene as a marker (2 MUC4^?/?, not‐susceptible, and 2 MUC4^+/+, susceptible, pigs per litter). Within genotype, pigs were fed two different diets: 8.5 (LThr) or 9.0 (HThr) g Thr/kg. Pigs were orally challenged on day 7 after weaning and slaughtered on day 12 or 13 after weaning. Before ETEC challenge, HThr pigs ate more (p < 0.05). The diet did not affect post‐challenge growth, but HThr tended to increase post‐challenge feed efficiency (p = 0.087) and overall growth (p = 0.087) and feed efficiency (p = 0.055). Before challenge, HThr pigs excreted less E. coli (p < 0.05), while after challenge, diet did not affect the number of days with diarrhoea and ETEC excretion. MUC4^+/+ pigs responded to the challenge with more diarrhoea, ETEC excretion and anti‐K88 IgA in blood and jejunal secretion (p < 0.001). HThr pigs had a higher increase of anti‐K88 IgA values in jejunal secretion (p = 0.089) and in blood (p = 0.089, in MUC4^+/+ pigs only). Thr did not affect total IgA and IgM values, morphometry of jejunum, goblet cells count in colon, total mucin from jejunum and colon, but varied jejunal goblet cells counts (p < 0.05). In the first two post‐weaning weeks, 8.5 g Thr/kg diet may be not sufficient to optimize initial feed intake, overall feed efficiency and intestinal IgA secretion and to control the gut microbiota in the first post‐weaning week, irrespective of the pig genetic susceptibility to ETEC infection.     

Effect of treating alfalfa silage with pistachio by‐products extract on Saanen dairy goats performance and microbial nitrogen synthesis

A lactation experiment was conducted to determine the influence of addition of pistachio by‐products extract (PBE) to alfalfa silage (AS) on performance, rumen fermentation, milk yield and composition, and microbial nitrogen synthesis. Eight multiparous dairy goats (1.8 ± 0.25 kg of milk yield) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to compare two types of AS (supplemented with or without PBE) with two levels of dietary crude protein (14% vs. 16% CP). Dietary treatments were (i) AS with 14% CP of DM diet without PBE (14%CP?PBE), (ii) AS with 14% CP of DM diet with PBE (14%CP + PBE), (iii) AS with 16% CP of DM diet without PBE (16%CP?PBE) and (iv) AS with 16% CP of DM diet with PBE (16%CP + PBE). PBE was sprayed on fresh alfalfa at a ratio of 500 ml/kg alfalfa DM to get the final concentration of 1% tannin as tannic acid equivalent on DM basis. Intake of CP was greater (p < 0.01) in goats fed 16% CP diets than those fed 14% CP diets, regardless of PBE supplementation. Supplementation of PBE tended to decrease (p = 0.09) rumen NH₃‐N concentration regardless of the level of CP in the diet. Supplementation of PBE tended (p = 0.09) to decrease total purine derivatives regardless of the level of CP in the diet with no significant change in microbial nitrogen supply. Efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis (EMNS) had a tendency (p = 0.07) to decrease in PBE supplemented diets. There was also a tendency (p = 0.10) for more EMNS in 14% CP fed goats than those fed 16% CP diets. Therefore, AS supplemented with PBE may lead to less concentration of ruminal NH₃‐N because of decreased degradation of CP by rumen micro‐organisms in response to pistachio by‐products tannins.     

Digestion and deposition of individual fatty acids in growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing either beef tallow or sunflower oil

The apparent digestibility and deposition in carcass of individual dietary fatty acids (FA) were determined in growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing either beef tallow or sunflower oil. The beef tallow was rich in saturated FA (SFA) and the sunflower oil had a high content of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). A total of 39 barrows was used. The experimental diets contained 5% (w/w) of the variable fat source and were fed ad libitum . The dietary fat type had no effect (p > 0.05) on growth performance, even though the apparent digestibilities of crude fat and crude protein were higher (p < 0.05) in the animals fed sunflower oil. The pigs fed the sunflower oil diet showed higher apparent digestibilities (p < 0.05) of the sum of SFA, monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and PUFA, but had a lower digestibility (p < 0.05) of stearic acid. The intakes of individual digestible FA were derived feed intake data, FA contents of the diets and the digestibility of individual FA. For the entire feeding period of 13 weeks, the ratio of deposition in carcass to intake of digestible FA was increased (p < 0.05) for palmitic and stearic acid in the pigs fed sunflower oil, but the ratios for oleic acid and linoleic acid were decreased (p < 0.001). In the pigs fed sunflower oil instead of beef tallow, the deposition:intake ratio was raised for the SFA (p < 0.001), but diminished for the MUFA (p < 0.05). The calculated minimum de novo synthesis of SFA was increased (p < 0.05) and that of MUFA decreased (p < 0.05) in the pigs fed sunflower oil. It is concluded that the feeding of a diet with sunflower oil instead of beef tallow improved apparent digestibility of SFA, MUFA and PUFA, increased the deposition:digestible intake ratio for SFA, but lowered that for MUFA and PUFA.     

OC4Influence of Seminal Plasma Added to Highly Diluted Semen on Sperm Motility of Young Boar Feed with Selenium and Vitamin E

High dilution rates have been documented as detrimental for boar spermatozoa, shortening their lifespan (Centurion et al. 2003, Biol Reprod 69: 640–646). Addition of seminal plasma (SP) to semen extenders, or selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) in diet of boars could increase motility of highly diluted spermatozoa (HDS). The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of seminal plasma on sperm motility of HDS from boars feed with Se and VE. Sixteen 12 month-old boars were designed to one of four dietary treatments: (i) control, Se 0 ppm–VE 0 IU/kg; (ii) Se 0–VE 250; (iii) Se 0.5–VE 250 and (iv) Se 0.5–VE 0. Boars were treated for 8 weeks before semen collection. Sperm rich fractions from each boar were diluted to 5 × 10⁶ sperm/ml in PBS medium and incubated at 37°C with or without 10% SP. The measurements were done at 0, 2 or 5 h. Data were analyzed as a mixed model for a factorial design [2 (Se) × 2 (VE) × 2 (SP) × 3 (h)]. Percentage of sperm motility (PSM) increases significantly (p < 0.001) with addition of Se (81.3 ± 1.52), VE (81.0 ± 1.62) and SP (81.5 ± 1.57) vs control (73.4 ± 1.61). There was significant interaction Se × VE (p < 0.001) and Se × VE × SP (p < 0.05) in PSM. However, PSM was affected significantly by time (0 h 83.4 ± 1.92; 2 h 80.7 ± 1.92 and 5 h 67.9 ± 1.92; p < 0.001). There was significant interaction SP × Time (p < 0.05) in PSM. These results indicate that Se, VE and SP improve seminal viability. Addition of 10% of SP maintains PSM at least during 5 hours.     

Effects of reducing dietary crude protein on growth performance, odor gas emission from manure and blood urea nitrogen and IGF-1 concentrations of serum in nursery pigs

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of reducing dietary crude protein on growth performance, odor gas emission from manure and blood urea nitrogen and IGF-1 concentrations of serum in nursery pigs. In experiment 1, the dietary treatments were (i) CON (CP 19.5%) and (ii) T1 (CP 16.0%). In feces samples, NH₃, H₂S, acetic acid and butyric acid emissions during the T1 treatment were lower than during the CON treatment ( P  < 0.05). In feces-urine samples, NH₃ emission during the T1 treatment was lower than during the CON treatment ( P  < 0.05). In experiment 2, 28 crossbred (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) pigs (13.58 ± 0.10 kg) were used for a 42-day growth trial. Throughout the entire experimental period, ADG and ADFI of the CON treatment were higher than the T1 treatment ( P  < 0.05). On day 14, N digestibility in pigs fed the CON diet was higher than that of pigs fed the T1 diet ( P  < 0.05). On days 28 and 42, DM digestibility of the CON diet was greater than the T1 treatment ( P  < 0.05). On dat 42, serum BUN concentration of pigs fed the CON diet was higher than that of pigs fed the T1 diet ( P  < 0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that reduction in dietary CP concentration decreased NH₃, H₂S and VFA emissions in feces and growth performance in nursery pigs.     

The effect of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 and phytase inclusion on pig performance,bone parameters and pork quality in finisher pigs

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementing both phytase and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25‐OH ‐D?) on pig performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, bone parameters and pork quality in finisher pigs. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial comprising of four dietary treatments. One hundred and twenty pigs (60 male, 60 female) were blocked according to live weight and sex and allocated to the following dietary treatments: low P (4.81 g/kg) diet (basal) (T1); low P diet + phytase (T2); low P diet + 25‐OH ‐D? (T3) and low P diet + phytase + 25‐OH ‐D? (T4). Pigs supplemented with phytase had a lower average daily feed intake (ADFI ) (2.45 kg vs. 2.59 kg; p  < 0.05) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR ) (2.74 kg/kg vs. 2.85 kg/kg; p  <  0.05) compared to pigs offered the nonphytase diets. Pigs offered phytase diets had a higher (p  <  0.05) coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD ) of ash, phosphorous (P) and calcium (Ca) compared with pigs offered the nonphytase supplemented diets. Pigs offered the 25‐OH ‐D₃ diets had a higher CATTD of N and ash. Pigs offered the phytase diets had increased (p  <  0.05) bone DM , ash, Ca, P and density compared to the nonphytase diets. There was a significant interaction (p  <  0.05) between phytase and 25‐OH ‐D₃ on cook loss. Pigs offered 25‐OH ‐D₃ had increased cook loss over the basal diet; however, there was no effect on cook loss when phytase and 25‐OH ‐D₃ were offered in combination compared to the phytase only diet. Pigs offered 25‐OH ‐D₃ exhibited higher (p  <  0.05) Warner Bratzler shear force values and lower (p  <  0.05) pork lightness (L *) surface colorimeter values. In conclusion, there was no benefit to offering a combination of phytase and 25‐OH ‐D₃ on pig performance, bone parameters or pork quality.     

Effects of dietary chromium picolinate supplementation on performance and plasma concentrations of insulin and corticosterone in laying hens under low ambient temperature

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of chromium (chromium picolinate) on performance and plasma concentrations of insulin and corticosterone of laying hens (Ross Brown) under a low ambient temperature (6.9 °C). One hundred and twenty laying hens (46 weeks old) were divided into four groups, 30 hens per group. The laying hens were fed either a control diet containing 710.3 p.p.b. chromium or the control diet supplemented with 100, 200 or 400 μg chromium/kg diet. Increasing supplemental chromium increased live weight change (p ≤ 0.001, linear) and egg production (p ≤ 0.001, linear) and also improved feed efficiency linearly (p ≤ 0.001). Live weight change and egg production also had quadratic responses (p ≤ 0.001) to increasing chromium supplementation. Plasma insulin concentration increased linearly (p ≤ 0.001), whereas corticosterone concentration decreased linearly (p ≤ 0.001) as dietary chromium supplementation increased. The results of this study indicate that supplemental dietary chromium, 200 p.p.b. in particular, had a positive effect on performance and increased the plasma insulin concentration of laying hens under cold stress.     

Supplementation of algae to the diet of pigs: a new possibility to improve the iodine content in the meat

Meat products with a higher iodine content can be produced through feeding animals with a diet supplemented with inorganic iodine salts or with algae containing high iodine. This may help to improve daily iodine intake and to control iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in man. In the present study a total of 40 crossbred pigs (Deutsche Landrasse × Piétrain) with an average body weight of 17 kg were allotted to either a control group, to two groups receiving potassium iodide (KI) at different concentrations (5 or 8 mg iodine per kg of feed) or to two groups receiving the algae Laminaria digitata containing the same amount of iodine. After pigs were fed with iodine-supplemented diets for 3 months, it was found that compared to the control group the iodine content increased by up to 45% in fresh muscle, by 213% in adipose tissue, by 124% in the heart, by 207% in the liver and by 127% in the kidneys. There was a significant (p < 0.01) higher concentration of serum thyroxine (T₄) and a lower concentration of serum triiodothyronine (T₃) in those iodine-supplemented groups. The iodine content of urine from all iodine-supplemented groups was also greatly increased. Furthermore, it was shown that the supplementation of algae into feed could increase daily body weight gain by 10% (p > 0.05). It is suggested that the carry-over of iodine through feeding pigs with an algae-supplemented feed could be beneficial to both the control of IDD and the improvement of pig production.     

Effect of supplementation of the laying hen diet with olive leaves (Olea europea L.) on lipid oxidation and fatty acid profile of α-linolenic acid enriched eggs during storage

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of the layer diet with olive leaves (Olea europea L.) on lipid oxidation and fatty acid profile of α-linolenic acid enriched eggs during refrigerated storage, and to compare this effect with α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation.

2. A total of 72 brown Lohmann laying hens, equally allocated to 3 groups, were fed on diets supplemented with 40?g/kg linseed oil, or linseed oil and olive leaves at 10?g/kg or linseed oil and α-tocopheryl acetate at 200?mg/kg. Collected eggs were analysed for fatty acid profile and lipid oxidation either fresh or following 60?d storage at 4°C.

3. Results showed that olive leaves or α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation reduced lipid hydroperoxide concentration in fresh eggs but had no effect on their fatty acid profile and malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared to controls.

4. Refrigerated storage for 60?d decreased the proportions of PUFAs but increased those of MUFAs in eggs from the control diet, whilst it had no effect on the fatty acid composition of eggs from the diets supplemented with olive leaves or α-tocopheryl acetate, which in turn showed decreased concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides and MDA.     

α-酮戊二酸对脂多糖应激断奶仔猪空肠黏膜蛋白合成和抗氧化能力的影响

试验研究日粮添加1%α-酮戊二酸(AKG)对多次脂多糖(LPS)刺激断奶仔猪空肠黏膜蛋白、RNA、DNA浓度和抗氧化能力的影响。选用24头健康杜洛克×长白×大白(7.25±0.23)kg断奶仔猪,随机分成3个处理,每个处理8个重复,公、母各半。对照组和LPS组饲喂基础日粮+1%淀粉、AKG组饲喂基础日粮+1%AKG,在试验第10、12、14、16天分别在LPS组和AKG组仔猪的腹膜注射80μg/kgBW脂多糖,对照组注射相应剂量的灭菌生理盐水。第17天清晨屠宰空腹仔猪,刮取空肠黏膜待测。结果表明:多次LPS刺激显著降低断奶仔猪空肠黏膜RNA/DNA、蛋白/DNA、蛋白质浓度及SOD活性(P<0.05),显著升高MDA含量(P<0.05),而日粮中添加AKG能在一定程度上抑制LPS刺激引起的空肠黏膜蛋白合成减少和抗氧化能力降低,维持肠道屏障完整性。     

The effect of dietary lysine restriction during the grower phase and subsequent dietary lysine concentration during the realimentation phase on the performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen balance of growing–finishing pigs

Two experiments (exp.) were conducted to determine the effect of dietary lysine restriction during the grower phase and subsequent dietary lysine concentration during realimentation on the performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen (N) balance of growing–finishing pigs. Seventy-two pairs of crossbred [meatline sires × (Large White × Landrace) dams] pigs (36 pairs entire male, 36 pairs female) were used in a 2 × 4 factorial performance study (exp. 1, 35 to 96 kg). The two factors were Diet1 (two lysine levels: LO or HI, day (d) 0 to 35) and Diet2 (four lysine levels: LO, M1, M2 and HI, d36 to slaughter). A further 30 boars were used in a 2 × 3 factorial N-balance study (exp. 2, 31 to 42 kg; Diet1: LO or HI; Diet2: LO, M3 and HI). The crude protein (CP) and lysine contents of the five isoenergetic (14.0 MJ DE/kg) diets were: LO (139 g/kg CP, 8.1 g lysine/kg), M1 (162 g/kg CP, 9.7 g lysine/kg), M2 (190 g/kg CP, 11.4 g lysine/kg), M3 (180 g/kg CP, 10.7 g lysine/kg) and HI (217 g/kg CP, 13.1 g lysine/kg). Diets were based on barley, wheat and soyabean meal with added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Ratios of amino acids relative to lysine were similar for all diets. From d0 to 35 in exp. 1, pigs fed LO had lower daily gains (ADG: 785 vs. 939 g/day; P < 0.001), daily lysine intakes (DLYIN: 14.4 vs. 22.6 g/day; P < 0.001) and poorer feed conversion ratios (FCR: 2.28 vs. 1.84 kg/kg; P < 0.001) than pigs fed HI. From d36 to slaughter, pigs initially fed LO had higher ADG than those initially fed HI (948 vs. 879 g/day; P < 0.01). However, from d0 to slaughter, pigs initially fed LO had lower ADG (868 g/day; P < 0.01) and DLYIN (19.1 g/day; P < 0.001) than those fed HI (913 g/day and 23.3 g/day respectively). There was a Diet1 × Diet2 interaction for FCR from d36 to slaughter and d0 to slaughter (P < 0.05). FCR of pigs previously fed LO improved with each increase in dietary lysine concentration up to 13.1 g/kg (HI), but improvement was only evident for lysine concentrations up to 11.4 g/kg (M2) for pigs previously fed HI. In exp. 2, Diet1 was fed for an initial 5-day collection period (after adjustment to crate; C1). Diet2 was then fed and immediately there were 2 successive 5-day collection periods (C2 and C3). A Diet1 × Time interaction (P < 0.001) indicated that although N retention (NRET) during C1 was lower for pigs fed LO, there was no difference during C2 and C3 in NRET of pigs initially fed either LO or HI (14.5 vs. 25.0 g/day; 23.2 vs. 23.0 g/day; 26.0 vs. 26.6 g/day, for C1, C2 and C3, respectively). However, a similar interaction indicates that although N excretion (NEX) was 23% lower for LO compared with HI pigs during C1, there was no residual reduction in NEX of pigs initially fed LO (P < 0.01: 8.9 vs. 11.6 g/day; 12.3 vs. 12.7 g/day; 13.8 vs. 14.0 g/day, for C1, C2 and C3, respectively). Exp. 1 indicated improved performance and an ability to respond positively to higher lysine concentrations during realimentation for previously restricted compared with unrestricted pigs, however, overall performance was reduced. However, exp. 2 indicated that although NRET of initially restricted pigs increased during realimentation, it did not surpass that of unrestricted pigs. This apparent discrepancy may have been due to the time period of the N balance study.     

Influence of dietary protein level, amino acid supplementation, and dietary energy levels on growing-finishing pig performance and carcass composition

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding reduced-CP, AA-supplemented diets at two ambient temperatures (Exp. 1) or three levels of dietary NE (Exp. 2) on pig performance and carcass composition. In Exp. 1, 240 mixed-sex pigs were used to test whether projected differences in heat increment associated with diet composition affect pig performance. There were 10 replications of each treatment with four pigs per pen. For the 28-d trial, average initial and final BW were 28.7 kg and 47.5 kg, respectively. Pigs were maintained in a thermoneutral (23 degrees C) or heat-stressed (33 degrees C) environment and fed a 16% CP diet, a 12% CP diet, or a 12% CP diet supplemented with crystalline Lys, Trp, and Thr (on an as-fed basis). Pigs gained at similar rates when fed the 16% CP diet or the 12% CP diet supplemented with Lys, Trp, and Thr (P > 0.10). Pigs fed the 12% CP, AA-supplemented diet had a gain:feed similar to pigs fed the 16% CP diet when housed in the 23 degrees C environment but had a lower gain:feed in the 33 degrees C environment (diet x temperature, P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, 702 gilts were allotted to six treatments with nine replicates per treatment. Average initial and final BW were 25.3 and 109.7 kg, respectively. Gilts were fed two levels of CP (high CP with minimal crystalline AA supplementation or low CP with supplementation of Lys, Trp, Thr, and Met) and three levels of NE (high, medium, or low) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. A four-phase feeding program was used, with diets containing apparent digestible Lys levels of 0.96, 0.75, 0.60, and 0.48% switched at a pig BW of 41.0, 58.8, and 82.3 kg, respectively. Pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diets had rates of growth and feed intake similar to pigs fed the high-CP diets. Dietary NE interacted with CP level for gain:feed (P < 0.06). A decrease in dietary NE from the highest NE level decreased gain:feed in pigs fed the high-CP diet; however, gain:feed declined in pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diet only when dietary NE was decreased to the lowest level. There was a slight reduction in longissimus area in pigs fed the low-CP diets (P < 0.08), but other estimates of carcass muscle did not differ (P > 0.10). These data suggest that pigs fed low-CP, AA-supplemented diets have performance and carcass characteristics similar to pigs fed higher levels of CP and that alterations in dietary NE do not have a discernible effect on pig performance or carcass composition.     

Effects of supplemental manganese on performance of growing-finishing pigs and pork quality during retail display

Crossbred barrows and gilts (n = 168) were used to test the effects of supplemental Mn during the growing-finishing period on performance, pork carcass characteristics, and pork quality during 7 d of retail display. Pigs were blocked by BW and allotted within blocks to pens (5 pigs/pen in blocks 1, 2, 5, and 6, and 4 pigs/pen in blocks 3 and 4). A total of 36 pens was randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments, where the basal diets were formulated with (PC) or without (NC) Mn in the mineral premix, and supplemented with 0 or 350 ppm (as-fed basis) of Mn from MnSO4 or a Mn-AA complex (AvMn). Pigs were slaughtered at a commercial pork packing plant when the lightest block of pigs averaged 113.6 kg. During fabrication, boneless pork loins were collected and transported to Oklahoma State University, where 2.5-cm-thick LM chops were packaged in a modified atmosphere (80% O2 and 20% CO2) and subsequently placed in display cases (2 to 4 degrees C) under continuous fluorescent lighting (1,600 lx) for 7 d. Pig performance was not (P > or = 0.44) affected by supplemental Mn; however, during the grower-II phase, pigs fed the basal diets including Mn consumed less (P < 0.02) feed and tended to be more efficient (P < 0.09) than pigs fed the basal diets devoid of Mn. Throughout the entire feeding trial, neither dietary nor supplemental Mn altered (P > or = 0.22) ADG, ADFI, or G:F. Chops from pigs fed the diets supplemented with MnSO4 received greater (P < or = 0.05) lean color scores and had a redder (greater a* and hue angle values), more vivid color than chops from pigs fed the diets supplemented with AvMn. Additionally, LM chops from pigs fed the PC diets supplemented with MnSO4 were darker (lower L* values; P < 0.05) than chops from pigs fed the NC diets or PC diets supplemented with 0 or 350 ppm of AvMn. Even though discoloration scores were similar during the first 4 d of display, chops from pigs fed the PC diets supplemented with MnSO4 were less (P < 0.05) discolored on d 6 and 7 of retail display than chops from pigs fed the PC or NC diets and diets supplemented with AvMn (dietary treatment x display time, P = 0.04). Results of this study indicate that feeding an additional 350 ppm of Mn from MnSO4 above the maintenance requirements of growing-finishing pigs does not beneficially affect live pig performance but may improve pork color and delay discoloration of pork during retail display.     

Dietary supplementation with phosphorylated mannans improves growth response and modulates immune function of weanling pigs

Phosphorylated mannans derived from the yeast cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae may beneficially modulate immune function in the weanling pig, possibly providing an alternative to the use of dietary growth-promoting antibiotics. Therefore, in this study, 32 pigs averaging 19 d of age and 5.7 +/- 0.2 kg initial BW were randomly assigned to 16 pens in an environmentally controlled nursery to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with phosphorylated mannans on growth and immune function. Average daily gain and G:F ratio increased (P < 0.05) when pigs were fed diets supplemented with mannans from d 0 to 14 after weaning and in the overall experiment. Percentage of neutrophils was lower (P < 0.08) and percentage of lymphocytes was higher (P < 0.05) in blood from pigs fed mannans than when pigs were fed the basal diet. Lamina propria macrophages isolated from pigs fed diets containing mannans phagocytosed a greater (P < 0.05) number of sheep red blood cells (2.63 +/- 0.11) than did lamina propria macrophages isolated from pigs fed the basal diet (2.31 +/- 0.11). On d 19 after weaning, pigs fed diets supplemented with mannans tended to have a greater (P < 0.10) percentage of CD14+ lamina propria leukocytes than did pigs fed the basal diet. On d 21 following weaning, the percentage of CD14+MHCII+ leukocytes isolated from lamina propria tissue tended (P < 0.10) to be lower when pigs were fed mannans than when pigs were fed the basal diet. Pigs fed diets containing mannans had a lower (P < 0.05) ratio of CD3+CD4+:CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from jejunal lamina propria tissue only on d 21 after weaning compared with pigs fed the basal diet. Supplementation of mannans in the diets of weanling pigs improved gain and efficiency, and intermittently affected selected components of the young pigs' immune function both systemically and enterically.     

Effect of dietary Rhodobacter capsulatus on cholesterol, triglycerides concentration, and meat quality of finishing pigs

The study was designed to investigate the effect of Rhodobacter capsulatus on serum and meat cholesterol, fatty acid composition in meat, as well as meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 16 120-day-old Landrace female pigs of about 60 kg initial body weight were randomly assigned into two groups. The pigs were fed a supplemented diet with 0.04% dietary R. capsulatus or a control diet for 60 days. Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration in serum was significantly lowered ( P  < 0.05) in the pigs fed the R. capsulatus supplemented diet compared to the control diet. Carcass weight, carcass length, shoulder fat, back fat and loin fat thickness, longissimus muscle (LM) area, and color score did not differ significantly between the pigs fed the R. capsulatus supplemented diet and control diet. Among the nutrient composition of LM meat, neutral fat and triglyceride concentration were significantly ( P  < 0.05) reduced in the finishing pigs by dietary supplementation of R. capsulatus . The proportions of n-6 PUFA were higher ( P  < 0.05) in the pigs fed the R. capsulatus supplemented diet than in the pigs fed the control diet. The supplementation of dietary R. capsulatus to finishing pig diet played important roles in reducing serum cholesterol and meat triglycerides, as well as in increasing polyunsaturated fatty acid content in LM meat.     

Effect of dietary copper source (cupric citrate and cupric sulfate) and concentration on growth performance and fecal copper excretion in weanling pigs

In each of two experiments, 924 pigs (4.99 kg BW; 16 to 18 d of age) were assigned to 1 of 42 pens based on BW and gender. Pens were allotted randomly to dietary copper (Cu) treatments that consisted of control (10 ppm Cu as cupric sulfate, CuSO4 x 5H2O) and supplemental dietary Cu concentrations of 15, 31, 62, or 125 ppm as cupric citrate (CuCit), or 62 (Exp. 2 only), 125 (Exp. 1 only), or 250 ppm as CuSO4. Live animal performance was determined at the end of the 45-d nursery phase in each experiment. On d 40 of Exp. 2, blood and fecal samples were collected from two randomly selected pigs per pen for evaluation of plasma and fecal Cu concentrations and fecal odor characteristics. In Exp. 1, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were increased (P < 0.05), relative to controls, when pigs were fed diets containing 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. Pigs fed diets containing 125 ppm Cu as CuCit had increased (P < 0.05) ADG compared with pigs fed diets supplemented with 15 or 62 ppm Cu as CuCit. The ADG, ADFI, and G:F did not differ among pigs fed diets containing 125 and 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 or 125 ppm Cu as CuCit. In Exp. 2, pigs fed diets containing 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 had improved (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and G:F compared with controls. In addition, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were similar when pigs were fed diets containing either 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 or 125 ppm Cu as CuCit. Pigs fed diets containing 62 ppm Cu as CuSO4 or CuCit had similar ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Plasma Cu concentrations were not affected by dietary Cu source or concentration, but fecal Cu concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) as the dietary concentration of Cu increased. Pigs consuming diets supplemented with 125 ppm Cu as CuCit had fecal Cu concentrations that were lower (P < 0.05) than pigs consuming diets supplemented with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. Fecal Cu did not differ in pigs receiving diets supplemented with 62 ppm Cu as CuSO4 or CuCit. Odor characteristics of feces were not affected by Cu supplementation or source. These data indicate that 125 and 250 ppm Cu gave similar responses in growth, and that CuCit and CuSO4 were equally effective at stimulating growth and improving G:F in weanling pigs. Fecal Cu excretion was decreased when 125 ppm Cu as CuCit was fed compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. Therefore, 125 ppm of dietary Cu, regardless of source, may provide an effective environmental alternative to 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 in weanling pigs.     

Supplementation with Calcium Salts of Linoleic and trans-Octadecenoic Acids Improves Fertility of Lactating Dairy Cows

Objectives were to evaluate effects of feeding a calcium salt rich in linoleic and trans -octadecenoic acids (LTFA) on synthesis of prostaglandin F_2α based on its metabolite (PGFM), uterine involution and pregnancy rates in lactating dairy cows. Five hundred and eleven Holstein cows were blocked according to parity, body condition score and milk yield in the previous lactation. Primiparous and multiparous cows were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments consisting of calcium salt (2% diet dry matter) of either palm oil (PO) or LTFA from 25 days prepartum to 80 days of lactation. Cows were time-inseminated at 70 ± 3 days postpartum. Feeding LTFA tended (p = 0.08) to decrease the incidence of puerperal metritis (15.1% vs 8.8%). Primiparous cows supplemented with LTFA showed larger increase in plasma PGFM concentration at day 1 postpartum (17018 vs 6897 p m ). Pregnancy rate after first insemination tended (p = 0.07) to be greater at 27 days after insemination (37.9% vs 28.6%), and was greater (p = 0.05) at 41 days after insemination (35.5% vs 25.8%) for cows fed LTFA compared with PO. These results indicate that unsaturated fatty acids fed in a rumen inert form have the potential to modulate reproductive events and improve pregnancy rates in lactating dairy cows.     

Effect of menhaden fish oil supplementation and lipopolysaccharide exposure on nursery pigs. II. Effects on the immune axis when fed simple or complex diets containing no spray-dried plasma

A trial using 64 weanling pigs (TR4×PIC C22) was conducted to determine the effects of menhaden fish oil supplementation and diet complexity on performance and immune response of nursery pigs. Pigs (17 days and 6.27±1.16 kg) were weaned into a segregated early wean facility and given free access to a complex diet for 7 days post-weaning. At day 0 (day 7 post-weaning), pigs were blocked by weight and allotted to 64 pens. Treatments (Trt) were arranged as a 2×2×2 factorial arrangement. Main effects included diet (complex versus simple), oil (menhaden fish (MFO) versus corn (CO)), and immunogen (saline versus lipopolysaccharide (LPS)). Experimental diets contained 6% oil (6% CO or 5% MFO+1% CO) and were fed for 14 days. On day 12, i.v. injections of either LPS (150 μg/kg) or saline were given, followed by blood collection at 30 min intervals for 6 h. After the immune challenge (day 14), pigs were placed onto a common corn-soybean meal fortified diet and growth performance was evaluated until termination of the study (day 28). Pigs were weighed and feed intakes recorded at 7, 14, and 28 days. Prior to immune challenge (day 12), there were differences in BW for pigs fed complex versus simple diets (P<0.01; 13.1 and 12.1 kg, respectively) and pigs fed CO versus MFO diets (P<0.05; 12.9 and 12.3 kg, respectively). During the challenge period, for pigs treated with LPS there was a Time×Immunogen×Oil effect (P<0.001) for serum cortisol with MFO fed pigs having lower serum cortisol as compared to CO fed pigs. Also, during the challenge period, for pigs treated with LPS there was a Time×Diet×Immunogen×Oil effect (P<0.001) for serum tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) with pigs fed complex diets supplemented with CO having higher serum TNF- as compared with pigs fed complex diets supplemented with MFO. At days 14 and 28, LPS-treated pigs had lower BW than saline injected controls (P<0.001 and 0.01, respectively). In addition, pigs fed simplified diets continued to have lower BW after challenge compared to pigs fed a complex diet. Interestingly, there were no differences (P>0.10) in BW after challenge in pigs fed MFO. This study suggests that MFO supplementation alters the immune response during LPS challenge and that simplified diets may compromise nursery performance.