黑水虻幼虫粉对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、蛋品质及血液生理生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加黑水虻幼虫粉对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、蛋品质及血液生理生化指标的影响。选取60周龄、健康、产蛋率接近的海兰褐蛋鸡1080只,随机分为4组,每组6个重复,每个重复45只鸡,对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组在基础饲粮中分别添加1%、2%、3%的黑水虻幼虫粉。预试期7 d,正试期60 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,试验Ⅱ、Ⅲ组蛋鸡产蛋后期的产蛋率显著提高(P<0.05),料蛋比显著降低(P<0.05),试验Ⅲ组的破软蛋率显著降低(P<0.05)。2)饲粮中添加黑水虻幼虫粉对蛋鸡产蛋后期的蛋壳颜色、蛋形指数、蛋白高度、哈氏单位、蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度、蛋黄相对重、蛋壳相对重及蛋黄胆固醇含量均无显著影响(P>0.05)。3)与对照组相比,试验Ⅱ、Ⅲ组蛋鸡产蛋后期血清中天冬氨酸氨基转移酶活性和葡萄糖含量显著提高(P<0.05),试验Ⅲ组血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量显著提高(P<0.05),但饲粮中添加黑水虻幼虫粉对蛋鸡的血液生理指标和其他血清生化指标均没有显著影响(P>0.05)。由此可见,饲粮中添加黑水虻幼虫粉可提高蛋鸡产蛋后期的生产性能,改善血清生化指标,且不会对蛋鸡机体内环境稳态产生不良影响。     

饲粮添加果寡糖对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、营养素利用率、血清生化指标和肠道形态结构的影响

本试验旨在探讨饲粮添加果寡糖对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、营养素利用率、血清生化指标和肠道形态结构的影响。选取384只65周龄、体重和产蛋率相近的健康海兰褐蛋鸡,随机分成4组,每组8个重复,每个重复12只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加0.2%、0.4%和0.6%的果寡糖。试验预试期1周,正试期12周。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,饲粮添加0.2%果寡糖显著降低试验后期(第7～12周)蛋鸡料蛋比(P<0.05),且料蛋比随果寡糖添加量的增加呈二次曲线变化(P<0.05)。2)试验期末(第12周末),蛋黄颜色评分随饲粮果寡糖添加量的增加呈线性升高(P<0.05)。3)与对照组相比,饲粮添加0.2%果寡糖显著提高了试验期末蛋鸡对饲粮的表观代谢能和粗蛋白质利用率(P<0.05),且表观代谢能和粗蛋白质利用率随果寡糖添加量的增加呈二次曲线变化(P<0.05)。4)试验期末蛋鸡血清总蛋白和球蛋白含量随果寡糖添加量的增加呈线性增加(P<0.05),血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯和高密度脂蛋白含量随果寡糖添加量的增加呈线性降低(P<0.05),其中0.4%果寡糖添加组和0.6%果寡糖添加组蛋鸡血清甘油三酯含量较对照组显著降低(P<0.05)。5)与对照组相比,饲粮添加0.2%果寡糖显著降低了试验第12周末蛋鸡空肠隐窝深度(P <0.05),显著增加了蛋鸡回肠绒毛高度(P <0.05)。由此可见,饲粮添加果寡糖可改善产蛋后期蛋鸡肠道形态结构,提高营养素利用率,调节脂质代谢,从而提高生产性能和改善蛋品质,且在试验后期效果更加显著。以生产性能为判断依据,推荐产蛋后期蛋鸡基础饲粮中果寡糖的添加量为0.20%～0.25%。     

虫草多糖对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、蛋品质和肠道形态结构的影响

本试验旨在研究虫草多糖对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质和肠道形态结构的影响。试验选取70周龄产蛋率相近的海兰褐蛋鸡270只,随机分为3个组,每组6个重复,每个重复15只鸡。试验设对照组(饲喂基础饲粮)、试验Ⅰ组和试验Ⅱ组(分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加0.01%和0.02%虫草多糖的饲粮)。预试期7 d,正试期45 d。以重复为单位每天记录蛋鸡产蛋数、破软蛋数和蛋重,每周记录其采食量,计算产蛋率、破软蛋率、平均日产蛋重、平均日采食量和料蛋比;试验结束后,蛋鸡禁食12 h,取其十二指肠、空肠和回肠,测定肠道绒毛高度、隐窝深度、肠壁厚度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验Ⅰ组和试验Ⅱ组的蛋鸡产蛋后期的产蛋率以及其空肠、回肠的绒毛高度和十二指肠肠壁厚度显著提高(P<0.05),料蛋比显著降低(P<0.05);试验Ⅱ组蛋鸡的平均日产蛋重显著提高(P<0.05),但饲粮中添加不同剂量的虫草多糖对蛋鸡产蛋后期的破软蛋率和蛋品质均无显著影响(P>0.05)。综上所述,蛋鸡产蛋后期饲粮中添加0.01%和0.02%的虫草多糖可提高其生产性能,改善肠道形态结构。     

槲皮素对蛋鸡蛋壳品质的影响

试验旨在研究槲皮素对蛋鸡蛋壳品质的影响。选择体重和产蛋率相近的240只29周龄蛋鸡,随机分4组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别在基础日粮中添加0.02%、0.04%、0.06%槲皮素。结果表明:①与对照组相比,产蛋高峰期试验2组的蛋壳相对重极显著提高(P<0.01);在产蛋后期各试验组的蛋壳厚度均显著提高(P<0.05),试验2、3组的蛋壳相对重分别提高0.27%(P<0.05)和0.48%(P<0.01),试验1、2组的鸡蛋破软壳率极显著降低(P<0.01)。②产蛋高峰期各试验组的蛋壳钙含量均显著升高(P<0.05);产蛋后期试验2、3组的蛋壳钙含量显著提高(P<0.05),试验3组蛋壳磷含量显著降低(P<0.05)。③产蛋高峰期和后期各试验组的血清钙含量均极显著提高(P<0.01);在产蛋高峰期试验2组的血清碱性磷酸酶(ALP)含量极显著提高(P<0.01);在产蛋后期试验1组的血清ALP含量极显著降低(P<0.01),试验2、3组的血清羟脯氨酸(Hyp)含量均显著降低(P<0.05)。因此,0.04%槲皮素可有效改善产蛋后期蛋壳品质。     

胆汁酸对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能的影响

本试验旨在研究胆汁酸对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能的影响。试验采用单因子随机分组试验设计,选取24000只55周龄的罗曼粉壳蛋鸡,随机分到2个处理组,各处理组12个重复,每个重复1000只鸡,正式试验期12周。采用玉米-豆粕型粉状饲粮,试验组在对照组饲粮基础上添加200mg/kg胆汁酸(含量30%).试验结果表明,蛋鸡产蛋后期(55.67周龄)基础饲粮添加200mg/kg胆汁酸,极显著降低死亡率25%(P<0.01),显著提高产蛋率4.02%(P<0.05),显著降低了料蛋比4.31%(P<0.05).产蛋后期饲粮添加200mg/kg的胆汁酸能较好地改善蛋鸡生产性能,特别是降低死亡率效果极为显著。     

复合微生态制剂对蛋鸡生产性能、 蛋品质及抗氧化性能的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加不同比例复合微生态制剂对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及抗氧化性能的影响。选取体重相近的26周龄健康罗曼粉壳蛋鸡240只,随机分为3组,每组设5个重复,每个重复16只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组分别在基础饲粮中添加1.5%、3%复合微生态制剂。预试期7 d,正试期42 d,分试验前期(0～21 d)和试验后期(21～42 d)。结果表明:①饲粮添加1.5%、3%复合微生态制剂对全期产蛋率和平均蛋重均无显著影响(P>0.05),但后期产蛋率显著提高(P<0.05),添加3%复合微生态制剂显著降低了全期平均日采食量(P<0.05),极显著降低了后期平均日采食量、料蛋比及全期料蛋比(P<0.01)。②与对照组相比,饲粮添加3%复合微生态制剂有提高试验第21 d蛋黄颜色和蛋壳厚度的趋势(0.050.05)。③饲粮添加1.5%、3%复合微生态制剂均显著提高蛋鸡血清总抗氧化能力(P<0.05),添加3%复合微生态制剂显著降低蛋鸡血清丙二醛含量(P<0.05)。综上所述,蛋鸡饲粮添加复合微生态制剂可提高蛋鸡饲料利用率、抗氧化性能及改善蛋品质,复合微生态制剂的添加水平为3%时效果较佳。     

饲料中添加发酵中草药对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、血清生化指标和脂代谢的影响

试验旨在研究发酵中草药对京红蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、血清生化指标和脂代谢的影响。选取体重相近、饲养管理水平一致的54周龄京红蛋鸡480只,随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复60只蛋鸡。对照组蛋鸡饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中添加4 g/kg发酵中草药。预试期10 d,正式试验期56 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,试验组蛋鸡产蛋率显著提高(P<0.05),蛋黄比例及蛋壳强度极显著升高(P<0.01),蛋白比例及蛋黄胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01)。与对照组相比,试验组蛋鸡血清总蛋白、白蛋白、球蛋白及钙含量极显著升高(P<0.01),血清总胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01),肝脏总胆固醇含量极显著降低(P<0.01),低密度脂蛋白、甘油三酯含量及肝脏指数显著降低(P<0.05),肝脏高密度脂蛋白含量极显著升高(P<0.01)。试验表明,京红蛋鸡产蛋后期饲粮中添加4 g/kg发酵中草药可以提高京红蛋鸡产蛋后期的产蛋率,改善蛋品质和脂代谢能力。     

饲粮添加丁酸梭菌对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及血清生化指标的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加丁酸梭菌(Clostridium butyricum)对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质和血清生化指标的影响。试验选取320只400日龄的罗曼蛋鸡,根据试验开始前各栏蛋鸡产蛋率情况随机分为2个处理,每个处理5个重复,每个重复32只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加1.0×108CFU/kg丁酸梭菌。预试期3 d,正试期42 d。结果表明:(1)饲粮添加丁酸梭菌提高了试验组蛋鸡平均日产蛋重(P0.05),并降低破蛋率(P0.05);添加丁酸梭菌有提高产蛋率的趋势(P=0.086);添加丁酸梭菌有提高合格蛋率、降低不合格蛋率的趋势(P=0.058);但两组之间存活率、平均日采食量、蛋均重、料蛋比、软蛋率、脏蛋率和畸形蛋率均无显著差异(P0.05)。(2)饲粮添加丁酸梭菌有提高蛋鸡试验第21 d蛋黄颜色的趋势(P=0.069)。饲粮添加丁酸梭菌提高了蛋鸡试验第42 d的蛋白高度和哈夫单位(P0.05);但对蛋壳颜色、蛋形指数、蛋壳强度、蛋黄颜色和蛋黄重量均无显著影响(P0.05)。(3)饲粮添加丁酸梭菌有提高蛋鸡试验第42 d血清中磷含量的趋势(P=0.059),但对血清中钙含量无显著影响(P0.05)。饲粮添加丁酸梭菌有提高蛋鸡试验第42 d血清中球蛋白含量的趋势(P=0.095),但对血清中总蛋白含量和白蛋白含量无显著影响(P0.05)。综上所述,饲粮中添加1.0×108CFU/kg丁酸梭菌可以改善蛋鸡产蛋后期的生产性能和蛋品质,并对营养物质的吸收利用、机体免疫功能具有一定的改善作用。     

白藜芦醇对产蛋后期蛋鸡组织脂质的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加白藜芦醇(Res)对产蛋后期蛋鸡的生产性能、蛋品质及蛋黄胆固醇含量的影响。选择360只体质量和产蛋率相近的60周龄健康京粉1号蛋鸡,随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每重复12只。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂在基础饲粮中分别添加Res 0.05%、0.10%、0.20%和0.40%的试验饲粮。预试期1周,试验期为8周。结果表明:在产蛋后期蛋鸡饲粮中添加Res可显著降低肝脂率(P0.05),对腹脂率和肝相对质量无显著影响(P0.05);可显著降低其肝和胸肌中总胆固醇的含量(P0.05),对肝和胸肌中三酰甘油的含量无显著影响(P0.05)。综上所述,饲粮中添加适量Res对产蛋后期蛋鸡的脂肪代谢起到积极调节作用。     

大豆黄酮对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、血液指标和经济效益的影响

本试验旨在探讨饲粮中添加大豆黄酮对产蛋后期蛋鸡生产性能、血液指标、经济效益的影响。选取体重、产蛋率相近的56周龄海兰褐蛋鸡640只,随机分为4组(每组8个重复,每个重复20只),对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂在基础饲粮中分别添加10、50、100 mg/kg大豆黄酮的试验饲粮,试验期12周。结果表明:添加10 mg/kg大豆黄酮能极显著提高蛋重(P<0.01);添加50 mg/kg大豆黄酮能极显著提高产蛋率、降低料蛋比(P<0.01)。添加大豆黄酮显著提高了蛋鸡血清总蛋白、磷、钙、总胆固醇含量(P<0.05),对采食量、血液常规指标及血清白蛋白含量、谷草转氨酶活性、甘油三酯含量、葡萄糖含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、雌二醇水平和孕酮水平影响均不显著(P>0.05)。从经济效益上看,添加50 mg/kg大豆黄酮最好。由此可知,在蛋鸡产蛋后期饲粮中添加50 mg/kg大豆黄酮可以改善生产性能,且能够获得较佳的经济效益。     

Evaluation of the safety of daily administration of capromorelin in cats

Capromorelin is a ghrelin receptor agonist that is FDA approved for appetite stimulation in dogs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of daily oral administration of capromorelin to cats over a range of doses and for an extended period. Two randomized, controlled studies were conducted: in Study 1, cats (n = 6 per group) received placebo or capromorelin at a dose of 9, 15, 30 or 60 mg/kg once daily for 14 days; and in Study 2, cats received capromorelin at 6 mg/kg (n = 8) or placebo (n = 4) once daily for 91 days. Cats were evaluated using clinical observations and clinical pathology test results for both studies, with the addition of postmortem examination in Study 1 and measurements of growth hormone and insulin‐like growth factor 1 in Study 2. Abnormal clinical observations were limited to emesis, hypersalivation, lethargy/depression, head shaking and lip smacking, which occurred more frequently in the capromorelin‐treated groups than in the placebo group. There were no clinically relevant differences in clinical pathology test results between the capromorelin and placebo groups in either study.     

Evaluation of Oxygen-dependent Immunodefences of the Polymorphonuclear Cells of Some Tropical Ruminants

Activation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) leads to the formation of superoxide, which is in turn dismutated to H₂O₂ by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and is partly responsible for oxygen-dependent microbicidal activity. However, no comparative information is available on the effect of SOD inhibition before PMN activation to allow simulation of the SOD defects that are known to occur in some ruminants. This paper attempts to examine the degranulative and phagocytic responses in buffalo, cattle and goat PMNs exposed to diethyldithiocarbamate, a known SOD inhibitor. The activity of glutathione peroxidase and reductase was increased in the presence of SOD inhibitor. On activation, H₂O₂ production increased significantly (p<0.01), while SOD inhibition before the activation of PMNs caused a significant decline in the production of H₂O₂ (p<0.05) in all the species studied. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the phagocytosis of Candida albicans spores by buffalo PMNs activated with opsonized zymosan. Activation of bovine PMNs after exposure to the SOD inhibitor resulted in a significant decline (p<0.05) in phagocytic activity; in the other species, the two values only approached significance. Among the activators, opsonized zymosan caused a significant increase in phagocytic activity as compared to lipopolysaccharide, particularly in the PMNs of buffaloes (p<0.05). Increased fungicidal activity (p<0.05) occurred with opsonized zymosan-activated PMNs of all the species studied. The fungicidal activity was found to decline in PMNs exposed to SOD inhibitor before activation (p<0.05). Interestingly, the phagocytic activity of caprine PMNs was found to be lower than that of PMNs from cattle (p<0.05).     

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Selected Plants on the Growth of the Mycelial Form of Histoplasma capsulatum Variety farciminosum in Ethiopia

Epizootic lymphangitis is prevalent in equines in Ethiopia, causing remarkable economic and welfare impacts but often neglected. Lack of effective treatment contributed to its continued occurrence, and hence, search for an effective treatment should be considered a priority area to minimize its impacts. Previous ethnobotanical studies have reported that Curcuma longa, Phytolacca dodecandra, and Datura stramonium were used to treat cutaneous fungal infections and reduce their incidence. The treatment effects of these plants against epizootic lymphangitis should be studied. The in vitro growth inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of the root of C. longa, berry of P. dodecandra, and leaf of D. stramonium were evaluated. Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum was isolated from clinical cases of epizootic lymphangitis in carthorses in central Ethiopia. The nested polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Serial twofold dilutions of the extract of berries of P. dodecandra and leaves of D. stramonium were done in sterile water, whereas dilution of the extract of roots of C. longa was done in dimethylsulphoxide. The effects of the plants on the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum were assessed by agar dilution assay. Culture media with no antifungal agent and media containing ketoconazole served as negative and positive control, respectively. The methanol extract of C. longa showed inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 5 mg/mL. Similarly, the methanol extract of P. dodecandra showed growth inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.156 to 5 mg/mL. That is, the growth inhibitory concentration of C. longa was 0.07 mg/mL, whereas that of P. dodecandra was 0.156 mg/mL. In contrast, D. stramonium showed no inhibitory effect. This preliminary observation showed that methanol extracts of C. longa and P. dodecandra showed inhibitory effects on the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum requiring further repeated in vitro evaluation so as to generate adequate evidence, which would justify in vivo trials.     

不同青贮玉米品种抗病性评价

对10个青贮玉米品种自然发病情况进行调查,并采用病级分类方法对抗病性分类。结果表明:对锈病表现抗性和中抗的品种有3个和5个,分别占供试品种的30%和50%;对大斑病表现抗性和中抗的品种有4个和5个,分别占供试品种的40%和50%;对褐斑病表现抗性和中抗的品种有6个和3个,分别占供试品种的60%和30%;对小斑病表现抗性和中抗的品种有6个和3个,分别占供试品种的60%和30%。多数品种对青贮玉米4种病害抗性表现较好,可从青贮玉米供试材料中选用优良抗病材料用于四川地区种植。     

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.     

Effects of the ruminal comminution rate and microbial contamination of particles on accuracy of in situ estimates of ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of feedstuffs

Effects of considering the comminution rate (k_c) and the correction of microbial contamination (using ¹⁵N techniques) of particles in the rumen on estimates of ruminally undegraded fractions and their intestinal digestibility were examined generating composite samples (from rumen‐incubated residues) representative of the undegraded feed rumen outflow. The study used sunflower meal (SFM) and Italian ryegrass hay (RGH) and three rumen and duodenum cannulated wethers fed with a 40:60 RGH to concentrate diet (75 g DM/kgBW^0.75). Transit studies up to the duodenum with Yb‐SFM and Eu‐RGH marked samples showed higher k_c values (/h) in SFM than in RGH (0.577 vs. 0.0892, p = 0.034), whereas similar values occurred for the rumen passage rate (k_p). Estimates of ruminally undegraded and intestinal digestibility of all tested fractions decreased when k_c was considered and also applying microbial correction. Thus, microbial uncorrected k_p‐based proportions of intestinal digested undegraded crude protein overestimated those corrected and k_c?k_p‐based by 39% in SFM (0.146 vs. 0.105) and 761% in RGH (0.373 vs. 0.0433). Results show that both k_c and microbial contamination correction should be considered to obtain accurate in situ estimates in grasses, whereas in protein concentrates not considering k_c is an important source of error.     

Effects of oral administration of different dosages of carvacrol essential oils on intestinal barrier function in broilers

Essential oils are widely used in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries, and many plant essential oils have shown that they have positive effects on broilers nutrition. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of orally administered different dosages of carvacrol essential oils on intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens. A total of eighty 28‐day‐old (1.28 ± 0.15 kg) ROSS 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four groups of 20 replicates each, with one chicken per replicate per cage, and all were fed with the same diet. Four experimental groups were orally administered 0, 200, 300 or 400 μl carvacrol essential oils at 18:00 hr every day during the 2‐week experimental period. As a result of which, the gene expression of the occludin, claudin‐1, claudin‐5, ZO‐1 and ZO‐2 in intestinal mucosa of small intestine (p < 0.05) and the goblet cell content in small intestine epithelium (p < 0.05) were significantly increased; test subjects with 300 or 400 μl carvacrol essential oils reduced the microbial counts of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli in the intestines (p < 0.05); Essential oils administration also significantly increased activity of the sucrase (p < 0.05) and lactase (p < 0.05) in intestinal mucosa. In conclusion, the carvacrol essential oils have positive effects on growth performance and intestinal barriers function of broilers; those effects may be related to the dosage, as administration of 300 or 400 μl was more effective than that of 200 μl.     

Effects of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on diarrhoea events of foals in their first weeks of life

Foal first diarrhoea is one of the most prominent problems in the early life of horses. Probiotics might have the potency to prevent or at least diminish neonatal diarrhoea. We hypothesised that the treatment of foals with probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium starting early after birth and then daily over 2 weeks would prevent or mitigate foal heat diarrhoea. The influence of this probiotic treatment on diarrhoea incidence and growth and health performance of young foals was investigated. Thirty‐four foals were randomly allocated to two groups. From day 1 to 14 of life, the foals received either placebo (PG, n = 16) or the probiotic treatment (TG, n = 18). Clinical examination was performed, and the faeces consistency score (FCS, 1–5; with diarrhoea defined by ≤3) was recorded once per day in weeks 1 and 2 and once weekly in weeks 3–8 of life (WL). The body height was measured at birth and after two and eight WL. Diarrhoea occurred in the 1st WL in 19% and 61% of PG and TG foals respectively. In the 1st WL, diarrhoea lasted 0.3 ± 0.8 and 1.6 ± 1.4 days in PG and TG foals respectively. In the 2nd WL, diarrhoea occurred in 94% and 84% of PG and TG foals, respectively, and lasted for 3.0 ± 1.5 and 3.7 ± 1.6 days respectively. At least two periods of diarrhoea developed in 33% and 65% of PG and TG foals respectively. The TG foals grew slightly slower than the PG foals. The results indicated that the probiotic treatment of neonatal foals as performed in this study was not suitable to reduce diarrhoea within the first two WL, because contrary to the hypothesis, the TG foals suffered more frequently and for longer periods from diarrhoea than the PG foals.     

Influence of a flooding dose of valine on key indicators of metabolic status in the growing pig

A key concern with the flooding dose technique for measuring protein synthesis is that a large dose of amino acid (AA) can potentially change the animals’ hormonal and nutritional status, which in turn can influence protein synthesis. Among stable isotope tracers, 1‐[¹³C]‐valine is the preferred AA for measuring protein synthesis in gut tissue and mucins. A study was conducted to determine the impact of a flooding dose of valine on the metabolic status of pigs. Six barrows [16.5 kg body weight (BW)] were randomly assigned to intravenous infusions of either 150 mm valine (1.5 mmol/kg BW) or physiological saline, following a crossover design. Blood samples were taken 10 min prior to infusion, at the end of infusion, at 10‐min intervals for 60 min post‐infusion, and at 90 and 120 min post‐infusion. Plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, AA, urea nitrogen and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured. Infusion of valine increased plasma valine concentrations (4129 vs. 582 μm ; P < 0.05) but had no influence on PCV (26.4% vs. 27.2%) and plasma concentrations of glucose (6.0 vs. 5.8 mm ) and insulin (8.2 vs. 8.5 μU/ml; P > 0.10). Plasma urea nitrogen concentration was reduced with valine infusion (8.5 vs. 7.8 mg/dl; P < 0.05). A flooding dose of valine had no impact on plasma concentrations of AA, and specifically branched‐chain AA such as leucine (240 vs. 231 μm ) and isoleucine (310 vs. 331 μm ; P > 0.10). There was, however, a slight increase in the plasma concentrations of threonine (224 vs. 263 μm ; P < 0.05) and a tendency towards reduced glycine (1387 vs. 1313 μm ; P < 0.10). The results indicate that a flooding dose of valine does not cause a substantial change in the metabolic status of growing pigs and is therefore suitable for measuring protein synthesis rates.     

Lack of postexposure analgesic efficacy of low concentrations of eugenol in zebrafish

Objective

To test the postexposure analgesic efficacy of low doses of eugenol in zebrafish.