Effect of dietary stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen on the extent of their incorporation into tissues of rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different dietary ratios of ¹³ C to ¹² C or ¹⁵ N to ¹⁴ N on their relative incorporation into tissues. Eighty male rats were used in two 21-day feeding trials in which they were fed diets with either high δ¹³C levels (δ¹³C = −13.89‰ and δ¹⁵N = 2.37‰ in experiment 1 and δ¹³C = −19.34‰ and δ¹⁵N = 4.73‰ in experiment 2) or low δ¹³C levels (δ¹³C = −17.90‰ and δ¹⁵N = 3.08‰ in experiment 1 and δ¹³C = −21.76‰ and δ¹⁵N = 0.53‰ in experiment 2), meanwhile, the dietary δ¹⁵N levels were designed to two ranks. Blood, liver, adipose and muscle tissues were collected on day 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 for determination of ¹³ C, ¹² C, ¹⁵ N and ¹⁴ N isotopes. Rat growth rate, antioxidant capacity and metabolic parameters were also assessed. The results indicate that adipose tissue tend to deplete ¹³ C before the stable isotopic ratios achieved final equilibrium. Therefore, feeds with different isotopic signatures had different incorporation rates into tissues. Low dietary ¹³ C levels decreased tissue δ¹³C values whereas high dietary ¹³ C levels did not alter tissue δ¹³C values during the 21-d experiment. Blood δ¹⁵N values were a reliable parameter in assessing the relative contribution of dietary nitrogen to tissues. This study revealed a relationship between dietary isotopic signatures and their incorporation rates into rat tissues. However, more studies are needed to illustrate the mechanism through which dietary isotopic ratios influence the extent of isotopic incorporation into the tissues.     

氮素用量和密度对玉米营养体产量的影响

研究了氮素施用量和密度对玉米营养体产量的影响。结果表明，增施氮素和增加种植密度对玉米营养体产量有显著的增产效应，在密度为15万株／hm^2，施氮237kg/hm^2时，玉米营养体产量最高，为32584.7kg/hm^2，比常规种植密度9万株/hm^2增产26％。玉米营养体产量乳熟期最大，适宜收割期宜在灌浆期。营养体生产较籽实生产收获期提前了50d，利用玉米营养体收获后的生长余季（8月1日－10月20日）生产毛叶苕子营养体，二者合计生产绿色营养体3．88万kg/hm^2，粗蛋白5638．51kg/hm^2，分别是籽实生产的1．5，3．77倍。光，热，水生产效率较籽实生产提高了47．8％。     

饲粮不同氮硫比对藏羔羊空肠组织形态和空肠微生物区系的影响

肠道是动物重要的消化和吸收的器官.为探究饲粮中不同氮硫比对藏羔羊空肠组织形态和空肠微生物区系的影响,试验选择初始条件相似的60日龄藏羔羊150只,随机分为5组,分别用氮硫质量比为10.5?1(A)、9?1(B)、7.5?1(C)、6?1(D)、4.5?1(E)的饲粮饲养至180日龄,试验期结束每组随机屠宰6只,采集空肠组织和内容物分析饲粮氮硫比对空肠组织形态和空肠微生物菌群结构及功能的影响.结果显示:1)B组和E组的空肠绒毛长度和绒毛宽度显著高于其余3组(P<0.05),并且A、D组的绒毛长度显著高于C组(P<0.05);D组的隐窝深度显著高于其他4组(P<0.05);B、E组的绒毛长度/隐窝深度显著高于A、C、D组(P<0.05);B组和E组的黏膜层厚度显著高于C、D组(P<0.05);B组的肌肉层厚度均显著高于其他组(P<0.05).2)B、E两组的操作分类单元数(operational taxonomic units,OTU)、Chao1指数显著高于A、C组(P<0.05);B、E组的Shannon指数显著高于其他组(P<0.05);C、D两组的Simpson指数显著高于B、E组(P<0.05);B、D、E组的Ace指数显著高于A、C组(P<0.05).3)从门和属水平上分析空肠微生物菌群结构:在门水平下5组的优势菌门均为厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria).其中B组厚壁菌门的丰度显著高于C组(P<0.05);A、C组的放线菌门丰度显著高于B、E组(P<0.05);B组和E组拟杆菌门的丰度显著高于A、C两组(P<0.05);E组的变形菌门丰度显著高于B组和D组(P<0.05).在属水平下:5组的优势菌属均为红球菌属(Rhodococcus)、短杆菌属(Brevibacterium)、克里斯滕森氏菌R7菌群(Christensenellaceae-R-7-group)、Quinella属和理研菌科RC9肠道菌群(Rikenellaceae-RC9-gut-group).A、C、D组红球菌属的丰度显著高于B、E组(P<0.05),B组的克里斯滕森氏菌R7菌群丰度显著高于其他组(P<0.05),A、B组的Quinella丰度显著高于D、E组(P<0.05).4)16S rRNA基因组的PICRUSt功能预测结果显示,空肠微生物菌群功能主要集中在转录、碳水化合物运输与代谢、氨基酸的运输与代谢等方面,表明藏羔羊空肠细菌在提高宿主碳水化合物和蛋白质的代谢与吸收方面至关重要.综上,氮硫比在B和D水平下均有利于藏羔羊空肠组织形态的发育,并且可提高空肠微生物菌群多样性和丰富度,从经济效益上考虑,氮硫质量比为9?1时更符合藏羔羊的高效养殖.     

Evaluation of Clitoria, Gliricidia and Mucuna as nitrogen supplements to Napier grass basal diet in relation to the performance of lactating Jersey cows

A study was carried out at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Mtwapa in Coastal lowland Kenya to evaluate the effects of supplementing Napier grass variety Bana (Pennisetum purpureum) with Clitoria ternatea (Clitoria), Gliricidia sepium (Gliricidia) and Mucuna pruriens (Mucuna) on feed intake, diet digestibility and milk yield of lactating Jersey cows. Clitoria and Mucuna were compared with Gliricidia; a widely studied nitrogen supplement to roughage-based diets in dairy rations in coastal Kenya. Twelve lactating Jersey cows in their mid lactation were assigned to four groups balanced for initial milk yield and live weight in a completely randomised design. One group was fed Napier grass ad libitum and 3 kg of maize bran daily (control). The remaining three groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 8 kg of fresh Clitoria, Gliricidia or Mucuna. Mucuna had lower CP (180 g kg^{− 1}) concentration compared to Gliricidia (232 g kg^{− 1}) and Clitoria (218 g kg^{− 1}). Tannin concentration was higher in Gliricidia compared to the other legumes. They were however below the critical level of 6% hence were not expected to have any negative effect on animal performance. The total dry matter intake was not affected by legume supplementation (P > 0.05). Legume supplementation had no significant effect on organic and dry matter digestibilities (P > 0.05). Nitrogen supplementation (P < 0.05) increased daily milk yield by 20%, 27.5% and 32.5% for cows fed Gliricidia, Clitoria and Mucuna respectively. Results from this study show that Mucuna and Clitoria can give similar lactation performance to Gliricidia as nitrogen supplements Napier grass basal diet.     

Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on vitamin A status of lactating rats and their offspring

The absorption and metabolism of vitamin A is linked with that of lipids. It is known that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) affects the lipid metabolism in growing and lactating animals. In the present study, the hypothesis was investigated that dietary CLA influences vitamin A status of lactating rats and their pups during the suckling period. For this purpose, Wistar Han rats were fed either a control diet (control group, n = 14) or a diet containing 0.87% of cis‐9, trans‐11 and trans‐10, cis‐12 (1:1) CLA (CLA group, n = 14) during pregnancy and lactation. Vitamin A concentrations in various body tissues were determined 14 days after delivery in dams and 1, 7 and 14 days after birth in pups, and expression of selected genes involved in metabolism of retinoids was determined in dams. Vitamin A concentrations in liver, plasma and muscle were similar in control and CLA‐fed dams. Expression of genes involved in retinoid transport, storage and degradation in liver and adipose tissue in dams was also not different between control and CLA‐fed dams. Vitamin A concentrations in milk curd, sampled at d 1, 7 and 14 of lactation were not different between control and CLA‐fed dams. Vitamin A concentrations in liver, lung and adipose tissue were also not different in pups from control dams and pups from CLA‐fed dams. In conclusion, we show for the first time that dietary CLA has little effect on vitamin A concentrations and vitamin A metabolism in lactating rat dams and, moreover, does not influence tissue vitamin A concentrations in their newborn and suckling pups.     

日粮精粗比对瘤胃内环境及微生物区系影响的研究

瘤胃作为反刍动物体内的饲料加工厂,其内环境稳定和微生物区系的平衡影响着动物对饲料的利用,日粮精粗比的改变影响瘤胃内环境稳态以及微生物区系组成,从而影响反刍动物的生产效率。本文综述了日粮精粗比影响瘤胃pH、NH3-N浓度、VFA浓度和瘤胃微生物区系组成的研究进展,为在生产实践中提高反刍动物生产效率提供理论依据。     

Effect of dietary protein level on nitrogen metabolism in the growing bovine: II. Diffusion into and utilization of endogenous urea nitrogen in the rumen

Six Angus heifer calves (234 kg) were assigned to either a high (HP; 126.1 g N/d) or low (LP; 66.5 g N/d) protein intake to evaluate ruminal criteria associated with movement of blood urea-N (BUN)-derived NH3-N from the rumen wall into interior ruminal digesta. Calves received 4.8 kg DM/d of diets containing 30% cottonseed hulls and 70% cornsoybean meal in equal portions at 4-h intervals. Following single i.v. injections of 15N-urea, ruminal fluid was collected serially for 4 h postinjection from digesta located adjacent to the rumen wall (wall-proximate digesta; WPD) and from the center of the rumen digesta mass after manual agitation (center mixed digesta; CMD). Mean ruminal NH3-N (RAN) concentrations were higher (P less than .05) for HP than for LP, but were not affected (P greater than .05) by digesta sampling site. Ruminal urease activity was higher (P less than .05) for LP than for HP and tended (P = .14) to be higher for WPD than for CMD. Area under the 15N enrichment curve (AUC) ratios between sampling sites (WPD/CMD x 100) for RAN were greater (P less than .05) for LP than for HP. However, AUC ratios for bacterial N were not affected (P greater than .05) by protein level. Whereas BUN-derived 15NH3 appeared to thoroughly equilibrate with RAN in interior ruminal digesta with HP, there appeared to be a declining enrichment gradient for RAN from the rumen wall to the interior ruminal digesta with LP. Data are interpreted to suggest that bacteria at or near the rumen wall may preferentially utilize some BUN-derived NH3-N entering through the rumen wall in calves fed LP diets.     

不同n-3/n-6多不饱和脂肪酸对产蛋鸡免疫功能的影响

选用 16 8只 30周龄海兰褐蛋鸡 ,研究不同 n- 3/ n- 6多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA)对产蛋鸡免疫功能的影响。 n- 3/ n- 6比值分别为 1∶ 1,1∶ 4 ,1∶ 8,1∶ 16 ,1∶ 32 ,维生素 E添加水平为 30 mg/ kg和 30 0 mg/ kg。在试验开始后的第 5周和第 7周给每个处理组中的 6只鸡注射牛血清白蛋白 (BSA) ,并分别于注射后第 10天翅静脉采血 ,测定 BSA抗体效价。测定第 5周及第 10周时外周全血淋巴细胞增殖速度和蛋黄 Ig Y水平。在第 9周给每个处理中 4只鸡注射脂多糖 (L PS) ,并于注射后 6 h,12 h,2 4 h后采血测定血浆中抗体 Ig G水平。试验结果表明 ,随着日粮中 n- 3/ n- 6比值的下降 ,BSA抗体效价显著下降 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,全血淋巴细胞增殖速度在第 5周时有上升的趋势 ,但差异不显著 ,而在第 10周时显著上升 (P<0 .0 5 )。蛋黄中抗体 Ig Y水平有随 n- 3/ n- 6比值下降而下降的趋势。注射 L PS后各时间点血浆 Ig G浓度随着 n- 3/ n- 6比值下降而下降。当日粮中 n- 3/ n- 6比值在 1∶ 1～ 1∶ 8之间时 ,产蛋鸡具有较好的免疫功能     

放牧强度对内蒙古荒漠草原土壤碳氮及其稳定同位素的影响

为了探究不同放牧强度对荒漠草原土壤碳氮元素的影响,选取内蒙古希拉穆仁荒漠草原为研究对象,分析3种放牧强度(无牧、轻度放牧、重度放牧)对0～50 cm 土壤有机碳(Soil organic carbon,SOC)、全氮(Total nitrogen,TN)、稳定碳、氮同位素(δ13C,δ15N)的影响.结果表明:随着放牧...     

日粮与牛组织中稳定性碳同位素的相关性研究

研究了日粮中C₃和C₄饲料组成不同时,牛不同组织中δ¹³C值的变化规律。18头12~14月龄的青年牛随机分为6组,分别饲喂C₄植物含量为52.0%,61.6%,71.2%,80.8%,90.4%,100.0%的饲料,其他日粮成分为C₃植物,132 d后屠宰。利用同位素比值质谱仪测定了牛尾毛、脱脂牛肉、粗脂肪、各种饲料的δ¹³C值。结果表明,牛组织中碳同位素组成主要受饲料的影响,随着时间的延长,饲喂同一种饲料的牛个体间碳同位素组成差异减小;牛尾毛、脱脂肌肉、粗脂肪中的δ¹³C值随着C₄植物含量在牛饲料中的比例增大而升高,并且均与C₄植物含量呈极显著的相关性(P＜0.01);牛尾毛、脱脂肌肉、粗脂肪中的δ¹³C值依次递减,三者之间相关性达到极显著水平(P＜0.01)。用牛组织中的δ¹³C值可以预测日粮中C₄植物所占的比例,牛尾毛、脱脂肌肉、粗脂肪均可作为牛肉溯源的材料。     

Effects of dietary inclusion with rapeseed cake containing high glucosinolates on nitrogen metabolism and urine nitrous oxide emissions in steers

Two consecutive trials were conducted to investigate the effects of glucosinolates(GLS) in rapeseed cake(RSC) on nitrogen(N) metabolism and urine nitrous oxide(N₂O) emissions in steers. In trial 1, 8 steers and 4 levels of RSC, i.e. 0%, 2.7%, 5.4% and 8.0% dry matter(DM)(0, 6.0, 12.1, 18.1 μmol GLS/g DM) were allocated in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square. In trial 2, the static incubation technique was used for measuring the N₂O emissions of the urine samples collected from ...     

模拟增温对高寒草甸土壤性质的影响

全球变暖严重影响着草地生态系统碳氮循环,了解高寒草地生态系统碳氮循环对合理利用有限的草地资源有着极为重要的意义。为了探索全球气候变暖的背景下草地生态系统碳氮循环过程,本文采用开顶式增温小室（Open top champers,OTCs）连续四年模拟增温,对青藏高原高寒草地生态系统碳库（植物生物量碳库、土壤有机碳库和土壤微生物生物量碳库）动态变化及氮库（植物生物量氮库、土壤有机氮库和土壤微生物生物量氮库）动态变化进行研究。结果显示：模拟增温后,表层土壤年均温度增加了2.50℃,底层土壤年均温度增加了1.36℃。增温处理下植物-土壤-微生物生物量碳含量均高于对照,且土壤微生物生物量碳含量显著高于对照（P<0.05）。模拟增温处理下植物氮含量显著高于对照（P<0.05）。而土壤氮含量与微生物生物量氮含量均低于对照,差异不显著,说明高寒草甸碳氮对温度的响应较为明显。     

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.     

Effect of different levels of dietary nitrogen supplementation on the relative blood urea nitrogen concentration of beef cows

The objective of this study was to determine if individual beef cows in a herd have an inherent ability to maintain their blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration when exposed to different levels of dietary nitrogen supplementation. Ten Hereford and 12 Nguni cows, aged between 2 and 16 years, were utilized in two crossover experiments. In the first experiment, cows were exposed to two diets: a balanced diet with a crude protein (CP) level of 7.9% and a modified diet with a CP level of 14%, formulated by adding 20 kg of feed grade urea per ton of the balanced diet. At the end of the first crossover experiment, cows received the balanced diet for 1 week. The second component utilized the same cows wherein they were fed the balanced diet in addition to another modified diet containing only 4.4% CP. Blood urea nitrogen concentration was measured 22 times (twice weekly) from each cow during both components of the study. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess whether baseline BUN concentration (measured 1 week before onset of the study) was predictive of subsequent BUN concentration in individual cows. Breed, cow age, body condition score, and body mass were also evaluated for their effects on BUN concentrations. Albumin, beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), glucose, and total serum protein (TSP) were compared between diets within each breed. Baseline BUN concentration was a significant predictor of subsequent BUN concentration in individual cows (P = 0.004) when evaluated over both components of the study. Breed (P = 0.033), the preceding diet (P < 0.001), current diet (P < 0.001), and the week during which sampling was performed (P < 0.001) were also associated with BUN concentration. Results suggest that beef cattle (within a herd) have an inherent ability to maintain their BUN concentration despite fluctuations in levels of available dietary nitrogen.

     

日粮维生素A水平对肉鸡组织CaBP基因表达影响的研究

采用完全随机试验设计,将192只8日龄健康AA雄性肉鸡称重后随机分为4个处理组,每处理组6个重复,每个重复8只。在以玉米和豆粕为主要原料的基础日粮中分别添加VA1500,3000,15000和45000U/kg构成试验日粮,试验期5周。应用SYBR GreenI实时定量RT-PCR技术测定肉鸡胫骨、十二指肠组织中CaBP基因表达量,研究不同VA水平对肉鸡组织CaBP基因表达的影响。结果表明:随着日粮VA添加量的增加,十二指肠CaBP基因表达降低,当VA水平增加至15000,45000U/kg时,CaBP基因表达量有降低趋势(P>0.05),其中以45000U/kg添加组的CaBP基因表达量最低。虽然日粮VA水平对肉鸡胫骨组织中CaBP基因的表达影响较小,但当添加水平为45000U/kg时胫骨组织中CaBP基因表达量有降低的趋势。说明过量VA对骨骼代谢影响的机制之一是过量VA降低了与钙、磷代谢有关的CaBP的基因表达,进而影响钙、磷代谢和骨骼发育。     

Lung toxicity of nitrogen mustard may be mediated by nitric oxide and peroxynitrite in rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has previously been shown to be responsible for nitrogen mustard (NM)-induced tissue toxicity. Excessive amounts of NO are known to be able to produce peroxynitrite, an important reactive nitrogen compound, by reacting with superoxide. Previous studies reported that NO synthase inhibitors are able to prevent NM toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether peroxynitrite is also responsible for NM-induced lung tissue damage in rats. Wistar rats were divided into four groups. NM was injected intratracheally and was treated with the selective inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG) (intraperitoneal) or the peroxynitrite scavenger ebselen (intragastric). Control animals were exposed to saline only. NM injection caused both oxidative and nitrosative stress, reflected by dramatically increased levels of the lipid peroxidation end product malondialdehyde (MDA), iNOS activation and urine nitrite-nitrate (NOx) values. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated lung damage with NM exposure. AG blocked iNOS activation and decreased urine NOx levels, and resulted in less histopathological changes in the lung. Although the histopathological outcome was found to be similar to AG, ebselen did not change urinary NOx or lung iNOS levels. Furthermore, ebselen was more able than AG to protect against MDA accumulation. In conclusion, the ability of ebselen to prevent against lung damage without blocking NO synthesis suggests that peroxynitrites may have an important role in the pathogenesis of NM toxicity in addition to NO.     

Effect of different dietary ratios of sunflower and linseed oils on growth and carcass traits of rabbits

As part of an experiment aiming to modify the meat fatty acid profile, this work studied the growth and carcass traits as affected by various dietary ratios of sunflower oil and linseed oil. A diet without added oil served as a control (C). Four other diets were equally 4% oil-enriched but they differed in the incorporation ratios of sunflower oil (S) to linseed oil (L), i.e. 4% S to 0% L (diet 4%S), 3% S to 1% L (diet 3:1%SL), 2% S to 2% L (diet 2:2%SL) and 0% S to 4% L (diet 4%L). The oil-rich diets had slightly higher digestible energy contents (11.4 vs 10.6 MJ/kg) than the C feed. In each group 10 litters of 7 to 9 Pannon White kits per litter were studied in the pre-weaning period from 21 to 35 days old. Growth and slaughter traits were assessed with 50 and 30 rabbits per group, respectively. No significant effects of diets were found on litter and doe performances. The only significant differences in growth performance of the C, 4%S, 3:1%SL, 2:2%SL and 4%L rabbits were for the 35–49 day feed intake (88, 86, 84, 84 and 83 g per day, respectively, P = 0.046), the 35–84 day growth rate (36, 38, 37, 35 and 37 g/day, P = 0.034) and the 84-day body weight (2608, 2703, 2664, 2565 and 2628 g, respectively, P = 0.022). There were several significant differences in carcass traits including the weight of reference carcass (1357, 1391, 1388, 1380 and 1369 g, respectively, P = 0.004) and left longisimus dorsi meat (78, 79, 81, 81 and 76 g, respectively, P = 0.046) of rabbits. The diets had major effects on the L*, a* and b* colour values (lightness, redness and yellowness) of meat and fat. Carcass colour of the C and 4%S rabbits was closer and the 4%L rabbits was further from the European consumer's preference of light coloured, less red and slightly yellow rabbit meat. Our result reveals the importance of age and body weight at slaughter. Taking the growth and slaughter performances and, the recent belief of human health benefits from lower n− 6/n− 3 FAs dietary ratios into account, the 2:2%SL diet seems most appropriate if the interests of the raisers, meat processors and buyers are considered equally.     

Effect of fat supplementation on nitrogen utilisation of lambs and nitrogen emission from their manure

The effects of various fats on nitrogen digestion and metabolism of lambs and their manure were investigated in six isoenergetic diets (n = 6) with similar contents of absorbable protein. Treatments were either a control diet or diets containing 25 g/kg of additional ether extract from rumen-protected fat, coconut oil, rapeseed, sunflower seed or linseed. Fat supplementation resulted in trends for higher apparent nitrogen digestibilities (significant with coconut oil; P < 0.05, post hoc test) and body nitrogen retention (P < 0.1). Urinary nitrogen losses and their proportion of manure nitrogen did not differ significantly among groups as was also true for C / N ratio, dry matter, nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen contents of the manure. In the first week of manure storage, most fat supplements tended to decrease gaseous nitrogen emission as assessed by respiration chamber and mass balance measurements. These differences tended to be mitigated after 7 weeks of manure storage. Only the coconut-oil treatment still resulted in numerically lower nitrogen emissions. In conclusion, addition of fat source in the diet, in addition to increasing dietary energy and suppressing methanogenesis, can under certain circumstances decrease gaseous nitrogen emission from the manure.