Estrogen receptor in bovine skeletal muscle

In connection with investigations of the anabolic action of estrogens, we examined skeletal muscle of veal calves for estradiol receptors. The high speed supernatant of muscle homogenate was incubated with .5 nM 3H-estradiol and for the determination of nonspecific binding with .5 nM 3H-estradiol plus 13 nM estradiol at 0 C overnight. After treatment with charcoal two times, the supernatant was analyzed by agar gel electrophoresis. Specific binding was found in the typical position of cytosolic estradiol receptor. Ninety percent of 3H-estradiol binding was suppressed by estradiol-17 beta, zeranol, estrone or diethylstilbestrol, but was not affected by testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, trenbolone or progesterone. The specific binding activity varied between .3 and 2.0 fmol/mg protein and the dissociation constant of the receptor was Kd = 60 pM. After an enrichment up to 42 fmol/mg cytosolic protein using heparin sepharose, the receptor remained unchanged as determined by agar gel electrophoresis. Although uterine tissue generally contains 1,000 times more estradiol receptors, these results clearly demonstrate that skeletal muscle also contains estradiol receptors with identical properties. This indicates that one possible component of the anabolic action of estrogens may be the direct stimulation of the muscle via the estradiol receptor.     

Characterization of somatotropin binding sites in pig skeletal muscle.

The present study was conducted to determine whether somatotropin (ST) binding sites are present in crude membrane preparations containing sarcolemma of pig skeletal muscle. Initial characterization experiments indicated that binding of bovine ST (bST) was time- and temperature-dependent and that binding was reversible. At 23 degrees C, binding was maximized between 36 and 48 h, whereas at 4 degrees C binding had not reached a maximum by 96 h. Somatotropin binding was stable between pH 5.5 and 8.5 and increased linearly between 100 and 600 micrograms of membrane protein. Addition of unlabeled bST decreased specific binding of [125I]bST in a dose-dependent manner (ED50: 1 to 1.6 ng/mL). The binding sites for bST were specific because porcine prolactin poorly inhibited bST binding. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of a single class of binding sites (Ka: 9 to 15 x 10(9)M-1; Bmax: 5 to 6 fmol/mg of protein). In summary, the present report is the first to demonstrate that specific ST receptors are present in pig skeletal muscle. The role that ST plays in directly stimulating muscle growth and(or) muscle synthesis of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in pST-treated pigs as opposed to changes that occur as the result of an increase in plasma IGF-I concentration remains to be resolved.     

Relationship of thyroid status to growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in plasma and IGF-I mRNA in liver and skeletal muscle of cattle

Steers were made hyperthyroid or hypothyroid to study the effects of physiological alterations in thyroid hormone status on plasma growth hormone (GH) profiles, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations, and relative abundance of IGF-I mRNA in skeletal muscle and liver. Eighteen yearling crossbred steers (360 to 420 kg) were randomly allotted to hyperthyroid (subcutaneous injection 0.6 μg/kg BW L-thyroxine for 10 d), hypothyroid (oral thiouracil; 0.25% diet plus 12.5 g capsule/d for 17 d), or control (subcutaneous injection 0.9% NaCl) treatment groups. Blood samples were taken for measurement of GH, IGF-I, thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃) by RIA. Samples of liver and skeletal muscle were taken by biopsy for measurement of IGF-I mRNA by solution hybridization. Steers receiving thiouracil had 57 and 53% (P<.05) lower T₄ and T₃, respectively, than control steers (84.1 and 1.7 ng/ml). The hyperthyroid steers had 228 and 65% greater (P<.05) T₄ and T₃ than control steers. Neither increased nor decreased thyroid status had any significant effects on plasma GH profiles, liver IGF-I mRNA, or plasma concentration of IGF-I. There was no effect of thyroid hormone alteration on skeletal muscle IGF-I mRNA concentrations. The results of this study suggest that short-term changes in thyroid status of cattle had no major impact on the GH-IGF-I axis or skeletal muscle IGF-I mRNA.     

Strain differences in whole-body protein turnover in the chicken embryo.

1. Whether or not there is a strain difference in embryonic whole-body protein turnover rates was tested using the chicken embryos of Rhode Island Red carrying a sex-linked dwarf gene (dwarf), White Leghorn (layer), and White Cornish X White Plymouth Rock (broiler) strains on day 12 of incubation. 2. Whole-body protein synthesis was estimated by injecting L-[15N]-phenylalanine either intraperitoneally or intravenously on day 12 of incubation in order to investigate the effect of the route of isotope administration. The results showed that the values for fractional and absolute synthesis rates were approximately 13% higher by intravenous injection than by intraperitoneal injection. 3. Whole-body protein turnover, both in terms of fractional and absolute rates, was significantly faster in dwarf than in broiler embryos, with intermediate values in layer embryos, although no growth differences were observed on day 12. 4. Difference in egg weight, measured before incubation, did not affect protein turnover. 5. It was concluded that the strain difference manifested in whole-body protein turnover of the chicken embryo would probably be a reflection of differences in genetic background.     

Effect of stresses before slaughter on changes to the physiological, biochemical and physical characteristics of duck muscle.

1. This experiment was designed to study the effects of fasting and enforced exercise on the physiological, biochemical and physical characteristics of duck muscle. 2. Sixty 75-d-old male ducks weighing 3.0 +/- 0.2 kg were assigned to three treatments: a control, and an 8 and 24 h fast plus enforced exercise for 10 min. The ducks were then sacrificed and the carcass stored at 4 degrees C for 24 h. 3. Although the pH and serum lactate contents gradually increased with fasting time the responses were not significant. The ultimate pH was elevated and the lactate of breast and thigh muscles was lower in stressed birds. 4. The activity of lactic dehydrogenase was significantly increased by the stress, and the activities of creatine phosphokinase and alkaline phosphatase were also increased slightly. However, no effect was found on the ATPase activity of the myofibrillar protein of either breast or thigh muscle as a result of the stress. The ATPase activity of myofibrillar protein of breast muscle significantly increased with storage time. 5. The extractability of myofibrillar protein increased with storage time for all treatments. The SDS-PAGE patterns of myofibrillar proteins were also studied. 6. Consequently DFD-like muscle was observed in the breast and thigh muscles of ducks which had been stressed.     

Androgen and estrogen receptors in bovine skeletal muscle: relation to steroid-induced allometric muscle growth

The presence of free androgen (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) was demonstrated in bovine skeletal muscle. Androgen receptor concentrations in neck muscle from cattle of different sexes and stages of development were related to hormonal status. In mature bulls (mean weight 600 kg), no free AR was detectable. Highest AR concentrations were measured in mature bulls (517 kg) castrated 24 h prior to slaughter (.85 +/- .21 fmol/mg protein). In female calves (155 kg), AR concentrations (.56 +/- .14 fmol/mg) were greater (P less than .01) than in male calves (.20 +/- .08 fmol/mg) of the same weight. Androgen receptors and ER in skeletal muscle of neck, shoulder, abdomen and hind leg of female and male calves were compared. There was no significant difference between AR concentrations in the neck, shoulder and hind leg, but concentrations were lower (P less than .05) in abdominal muscle. Estrogen receptor concentrations in neck, shoulder, abdomen and hind leg were not different between sexes (P less than .05). In male calves, ER content was lower (P less than .05) in abdominal than in other muscles. Estrogen receptor concentrations in muscles of female calves did not differ (P less than .05). The pronounced sensitivity to estrogens and androgens in the neck, shoulder, and hind leg of calves, being free of the respective hormone, may partly explain the characteristic conformation in calves treated with estrogenic and androgenic steroids and the sexual dimorphism of muscle growth.     

Insulin-like growth factor I receptor analysis of satellite cell-derived myotube membranes established from two lines of Targhee rams selected for growth rate

Ovine-derived fibroblasts were used to validate an insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) membrane-receptor binding assay system. Competitive binding using fibroblasts revealed that half-maximal inhibition of 125I-IGF-I binding by IGF-I was 2.3 nM. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of specific protein-associated 125I-IGF-I was consistent with the migration of 125I-IGF-I-labeled Type I IGF receptor alpha-subunits at Mr 133,000 daltons. Further, the efficiency of two cell solubilization methods was examined and time-dependent binding equilibrium was determined for the membrane assay system. Satellite cell-derived myotubes were subsequently isolated from primary satellite cell cultures established from the semimembranosus muscles of high and low efficiency-of-gain (EOG) Targhee rams, and IGF-I receptor dynamics were measured. A membrane competitive binding study revealed that half-maximal inhibition of 125I-IGF-I binding was achieved by 1-ng IGF-I for low, and 10-ng IGF-I for high, EOG myotube membrane preparations. Kd values were similar between the high EOG (4.78 nM) and low EOG (2.95 nM) groups; however, receptor concentrations (Bmax) appeared to differ between groups. High EOG membrane receptor Bmax was 3.88 pmole/micrograms protein (19.87 pmole/micrograms DNA), whereas low EOG membrane receptor Bmax was 1.22 pmole/micrograms protein (9.28 pmole/micrograms DNA). These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that genetic selection for EOG results in altered satellite cell responsiveness to IGF-I.     

Effect of three mycotoxin adsorbents on growth performance, nutrient retention and meat quality in broilers fed on mould-contaminated feed

1. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of an esterified glucomannan (EGM), a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and a compound mycotoxin adsorbent (CMA) on performance, nutrient retention and meat quality in broilers fed on mould-contaminated feed. Mould-contaminated diets were prepared by replacing half of the non-contaminated maize in the basal diets with mould-contaminated maize, which contained 450·6 μg/kg of aflatoxin B1, 68·4 μg/kg of ochratoxin A and 320·5 μg/kg of T-2 toxin. 2. The mould-contaminated diet significantly decreased body weight gain (BWG) between 10 and 21 d, feed intake (FI) between 35 and 42 d, the apparent retention of crude lipid and phosphorus, and the lightness (L*) value of breast and thigh muscle. It also significantly increased the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) value in breast muscle and the b* value in thigh muscle. 3. The addition of 0·2% HSCAS significantly increased FI between 35 and 42 d and the apparent retention of phosphorus. Supplementation with 0·1% CMA in the contaminated diet significantly improved BWG from 10 to 21 d, and increased FI from 35 to 42 d and from 10 to 42 d. CMA also significantly increased the apparent retention of crude lipid, crude protein, ash and phosphorus. All three mycotoxin-adsorbent treatments significantly improved the L* values of breast and thigh muscle when compared with the mould-contaminated group. Supplementation with 0·1% CMA in the contaminated diet significantly decreased b* value and improved tenderness in thigh muscle. 0·05% EGM significantly decreased b* value of thigh muscle compared to mould-contaminated group. 4. The results indicated that mycotoxins in contaminated feed retard growth, nutrient retention and meat quality, whereas the addition of 0·05% EGM, 0·2% HSCAS or 0·1% CMA prevents the adverse effects of mycotoxins to varying extents, with 0·1% CMA being the most effective adsorbent treatment.     

The effect of growth stimulators on the levels of various trace elements in chickens

Chickens, fattened for 56 days, were treated with nitrovin at the dose of 15 mg per kg of feed, cyadox at the dose of 20 mg per kg of feed, and virginiamycin at the dose of 10 mg per kg of feed. After the fattening, the chickens were studied for the contents of copper, zinc, and manganese in the blood serum, thigh muscle, breast muscle, and feathers. The contents of copper, zinc and manganese in the serum ranged within the limits of physiological values. As for the breast muscle, the content of copper increased but the content of manganese declined in both breast and thigh muscle, as compared with the control group. The feathers contained more manganese in all the groups, as compared with the controls.     

日粮中添加包被肉桂油对肉鸡屠宰性能、肌肉品质和风味的影响

为探究鸡日粮中添加包被肉桂油对肉鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、肌肉品质和肌肉风味的影响,试验选用168只1日龄罗斯308雏鸡,随机分成2个处理组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加300 mg/kg的包被肉桂油。结果显示:与对照组相比,试验组肉鸡活体重没有显著的差异(P>0.05);21日龄胸肌的a^*值和b^*值(P<0.05)和42日龄胸肌和腿肌的24 h pH值(P<0.05)提高,21和42日龄胸肌和腿肌的滴水损失(P<0.05)降低;21日龄胸肌中过氧化氢的含量和42日龄胸肌丙二醛含量(P<0.01)降低;腿肌中的甜味氨基酸(丝氨酸和甘氨酸)(P<0.05)和芳香族氨基酸(酪氨酸和苯丙氨酸)的含量(P<0.01)提高。研究表明:日粮中添加300 mg/kg的包被肉桂油能够改善肉鸡肌肉品质的部分指标,提高胸肌抗氧化力和腿肌风味。     

肉鸡品种对胴体性状和肉质的影响

本研究将清远麻鸡的两个纯系（A和B）与快速生长型AA肉鸡（C）杂交,在3个月的生长时间中测定了杂交品对肉鸡胴体性状、肌肉成分及氨基酸组成的影响。结果：杂交品系肉鸡的体重、屠体重、半净膛重、全净膛重、胸肌和腹脂重量均显著高于纯种品系（P＜0.05）。杂交品系肉鸡的肌纤维密度和剪切力较纯种品系显著提高了6.94%和7.98%（P＜0.05）。肉鸡品系对胸肌粗脂肪、肌苷酸、干物质、水分和粗蛋白质含量的影响均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论：杂交后代的大多数胴体性状高于纯种,各品系的剪切力、肌纤维密度和肉质性状均相似。     

Effects of a meal feeding regimen and the availability of fresh alfalfa on growth performance and meat and bone quality of broiler genotypes

1. The aim of this study was to identify a feeding regimen that encourages good pasture use in slow (SG) and fast (FG) growing broiler genotypes under free-range management.

2. SG and FG birds fed on either an ad libitum (ADB) or a meal feeding (MEF) programme were given free outdoor access with or without fresh alfalfa from day 22 to 72 and from day 22 to 45, respectively. In two consecutive trials, 800 birds of each genotype were included in a factorial design using groups of 40 birds replicated 5 times.

3. Fresh alfalfa consumption did not improve growth performance and meat quality attributes, whereas the feeding regimen had significant implications. When compared with their ad libitum-fed counterparts, meal-fed birds showed a significantly lower body weight at a considerably lower feed consumption rate, leading to a more favourable feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the course of the experiment.

4. The MEF regimen with a strong feed limitation significantly increased crop and gizzard weight in both genotypes. In FG birds, water holding capacity, drip loss, cooking loss and pH 45 in the breast and thigh meat were adversely affected by MEF; however, feed restriction demonstrated benefits with significant decreases in muscle fat accumulation. In SG birds, decreases in protein and dry matter content of the breast and thigh muscle with meal feeding were conclusive.

5. In both genotypes, there was no treatment-related effect on meat yield, mineral composition of the meat or bone mechanical properties.

6. In conclusion, MEF, irrespective of alfalfa intake, may provide a viable method to decrease FCR; it may be able to contribute to the production of chickens with lean carcasses but it was not capable of improving overall meat quality.     

Immunocytochemical localisation of carbonic anhydrase isozyme III in equine skeletal muscle

The location of carbonic anhydrase III (CA-III) in frozen sections of biopsies of Thoroughbred horse skeletal muscle was studied. Fibre types were determined by ATP-ase and succinate dehydrogenase staining. CA-III isozyme was detected using a peroxidase conjugated anti-CA-III antibody. CA-III was found to be localised in slow twitch oxidative fibres (ST), but was also present in fast twitch oxidative (FTH) fibres in small amounts. Fast twitch glycolytic (FT) fibres were stained lightly compared with control sections. The concentrations of CA-III in muscle and liver were 70 micrograms/mg protein and 4 micrograms/mg protein, respectively. CA-I and CA-II were not found in muscle extracts by the double immunodiffusion method.     

饲粮添加壳寡糖和干酪乳杆菌对肉鸡生长性能、肌肉品质及抗氧化性能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加壳寡糖与干酪乳杆菌对肉鸡生长性能、肌肉品质及抗氧化性能的影响。选用1日龄爱拔益加(AA)健康肉公鸡240只,随机分为4组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别在基础饲粮中添加120 mg/kg壳寡糖、2×106CFU/g干酪乳杆菌、120 mg/kg壳寡糖+2×106CFU/g干酪乳杆菌。试验期为42 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,单独添加壳寡糖或壳寡糖与干酪乳杆菌共同添加可显著提高肉鸡平均日增重、胸肌和腿肌红度(a*)值,肌肉脂肪和肌苷酸含量以及胸肌单不饱和脂肪酸和多不饱和脂肪酸含量(P0.05),显著降低胸肌饱和脂肪酸含量、腿肌黄度(b*)值(P0.05)。2)饲粮中单独添加干酪乳杆菌显著提高腿肌脂肪及胸肌单不饱和脂肪酸含量(P0.05),显著降低胸肌饱和脂肪酸含量(P0.05)。3)饲粮中单独添加壳寡糖、干酪乳杆菌或二者共同添加均可显著降低血浆、胸肌和腿肌丙二醛含量(P0.05),显著提高血浆、胸肌和腿肌总超氧化物歧化酶活性及总抗氧化能力(P0.05),显著降低血浆肌酸激酶的活性(P0.05)。综合分析表明,饲粮中添加壳寡糖、干酪乳杆菌或二者共同添加可提高肉鸡的生长性能和抗氧化性能,改善肌肉品质,而单独添加120 mg/kg壳寡糖效果最佳。     

Effects of different rearing systems on meat production traits and meat fiber microstructure of Beijing‐you chicken

Beijing‐you is a Chinese local chicken which is raised for both meat and eggs. In the present study, we detected the effects of different rearing systems on growth, slaughtering performances and meat quality of Beijing‐you chickens at 26–40 weeks of age. Six hundred Beijing‐you hens were randomly allocated into two groups at 16 weeks of age and raised in free range or battery cage systems. The body weight, slaughtering performance and meat quality were measured for each group at the ages of 26, 30, 35 and 40 weeks. Some of the traits were dramatically influenced by the two systems, although most of them did not show significant changes. For the meat fiber microstructure, we found that the diameter of thigh and breast muscle fiber in the free range group were significantly increased than in the cage group (P < 0.05) at 26 weeks of age. The ratio of fast muscle fiber in thigh muscle samples of the free range group was significantly reduced compared to that of cage group at both 35 (P < 0.01) and 40 (P < 0.01) weeks of age, indicating that the free range system could promote the transforming of fast muscle fiber to slow muscle fiber.     

Correlation between histochemically assessed fiber type distribution and isomyosin and myosin heavy chain content in porcine skeletal muscles.

Highly sensitive enzyme assays developed to differentiate skeletal muscle fibers allow the recognition of three main fiber types: slow-twitch oxidative (SO), fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG), and fast-twitch glycolytic (FG). Myosin, the predominant contractile protein in mammalian skeletal muscle, can be separated based on the electrophoretic mobility under nondissociating conditions into SM2, SM1, IM, FM3, and FM2 isoforms, or under dissociating conditions into myosin heavy chain (MHC) I, IIb, IIx/d, and IIa. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the histochemical method of differentiation of fiber types is consistent with the electrophoretically identified isomyosin and MHC isoforms. These comparisons were made using serratus ventralis (SV), gluteus medius (GM), and longissimus muscles (LM) from 13 pigs. Two calculation methods for the histochemical assessed fiber type distribution were adopted. The first method incorporated the number of fibers counted for each fiber type and calculated a percentage of the total fiber number (fiber number percentage: FNP). The second method expressed the cross-sectional area of each fiber type as a percentage of the total fiber area measured per muscle (fiber area percentage: FAP). Independent of the calculation methods, correlation analyses revealed in all muscles a strong relation between SO fibers, the slow isomyosin (SM1 and SM2), and MHCI, as well as between the FG fibers, the fast isomyosin (FM3 and FM2), and MHCIIx/b content (P<.05). There were no correlations between FOG fiber population assessed by histochemical analysis and intermediate isoform (IM) or MHCIIa content. The present results did not provide conclusive evidence as to which of the calculation methods (FNP or FAP) was more closely related to myosin composition of skeletal muscles. Despite some incompatibility between the methods, the present study shows that histochemical as well as electrophoretic analyses yielded important information about the composition of porcine skeletal muscle. The combination of the two methods may be essential to accurately characterize porcine skeletal muscles.     

Interaction of insulin-like growth factor I with turkey satellite cells and satellite cell-derived myotubes

Satellite cells, isolated from the superficial pectoralis muscle of growing Nicholas tom turkeys, were cloned to obtain a pure population of myogenic cells. These cells proliferated rapidly and differentiated (fused) into myotubes typically containing 92-98% fused nuclei. Competitive binding assays were performed on near-confluent satellite cell or myotube cultures in 35 mm diameter wells by adding [125I]IGF-I along with increasing concentrations of unlabeled IGF-I, IGF-II, or insulin. Following incubation, the cultures were washed to remove the unbound hormones, solubilized with 0.5 N NaOH, and the radioactivity specifically bound was determined. Total and fused nuclei number as well as total protein were determined in parallel cultures. Our results indicate that turkey satellite cell and myotube cultures possess specific binding sites for IGF-I. Displacement of [125I]IGF-I was in the order of IGF-I greater than IGF-II greater than or equal to insulin. Although the [125I]IGF-I association constants were similar for turkey satellite cells and myotubes, a 2.8-fold decrease in the number of receptors per nuclei was observed as satellite cells differentiated into myotubes. The 50% inhibition constants for IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin were 3.7 X 10(-9) M, 7.5 X 10(-8) M, and 8.7 X 10(-8) M for satellite cells and 3.1 X 10(-9) M, 7.5 X 10(-8) M, and 9.6 X 10(-8) M for myotubes, respectively. Receptor cross-linking analysis using disuccinimidyl suberate was performed on near-confluent satellite cell cultures incubated with [125I]IGF-I in the presence or absence of 1 X 10(-7) M IGF-I, IGF-II, or insulin. Receptor subunit species of Mr 130 kDa and 98 kDa were observed under reducing conditions (100 mM dithiothreitol) and at a Mr greater than 300 kDa (native receptor tetramer) under non-reduced conditions. Autoradiographic bands were displaced with IGF-I but not with equimolar levels of IGF-II or insulin. The results suggest that turkey satellite cells possess a type I IGF receptor.     

Pharmacokinetics and tissue depletion of florfenicol in Leghorn and Taiwan Native chickens

Chang, S. K., Davis, J. L., Cheng, C. N., Shien, R. H., Hsieh, M. K., Koh, B. W., Chou, C. C. Pharmacokinetics and tissue depletion of florfenicol in Leghorn and Taiwan Native chickens. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33 , 471–479. Florfenicol (Ff) is a synthetic antibiotic with a broad antibacterial spectrum and high therapeutic effectiveness that was specifically developed for veterinary use. In the present study, tissue residual levels and the pharmacokinetics of Ff after oral administration of 30 mg/kg to Leghorn and Taiwan Native chicken were studied. Furthermore, differential pharmacokinetics between leg and breast muscles were compared using samples collected from an optimized microdialysis model designed for avian species. Significant differences in C_max were detected between the plasma and muscle microdialysates, and between the breast and leg microdialysates of the Leghorn chickens by noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. After a single oral dose of Ff at 30 mg/kg, the drug was quickly absorbed and widely distributed with tissue penetration factors significantly different between leg and breast muscles. The serum protein binding of Ff was estimated to be 16.8 ± 1.2%. Significant breed differences in tissue depletion were noted and characterized by higher Ff concentration in the brain, lung, kidney and at least 12 h longer resident times in kidney, heart and spleen for Taiwan Native chicken. Results from this investigation demonstrate the practicality of using in vivo microdialysis in chickens for pharmacokinetic studies and reveal significant time‐dependent differences in the free concentrations of Ff in leg and breast muscles. The tissue depletion study signified breed differences in tissue residue concentration and detection times between Leghorn and Taiwan Native chickens. Therefore, currently used withdrawal times for Ff in chickens can not be assumed safe for Taiwan Native chickens.     

日粮硒水平对22~42日龄肉仔鸡生长性能及肉品质的影响

为研究日粮硒水平对22~42日龄肉仔鸡生长性能和肉品质的影响,试验选用380只1日龄Arbor Acres（AA）肉公雏,1~21日龄统一饲喂同种正常添加无机硒的玉米-豆粕型日粮（含硒0.47 mg/kg）,于22日龄从中选取体重接近的336只鸡,随机分成6个处理组,每组7个重复,每个重复8只鸡。分别饲喂不添加硒的玉米-豆粕型基础日粮（对照组,含硒0.015 mg/kg）和在基础日粮中分别添加0.10、0.20、0.30、0.40和0.50 mg/kg硒（以亚硒酸钠形式添加）的试验日粮,试验期21 d。结果表明,日粮中添加不同硒水平对22~42日龄肉仔鸡平均日增重、平均日采食量和料重比均无显著影响（P>0.05）;对42日龄肉仔鸡屠宰率、全净膛率、胸肌率、腿肌率和腹脂率均无显著影响（P>0.05）;日粮中添加不同硒水平对42日龄肉仔鸡腿肌剪切力和胸肌肉色L^*值有显著影响（P<0.05）,其中添加0.50 mg/kg硒处理组肉鸡的腿肌剪切力最低,添加0.20和0.50 mg/kg硒处理组肉鸡的胸肌肉色L^*值最低,但其他肉质性状指标在各组间均无显著差异（P>0.05）。综上所述,玉米-豆粕型基础日粮中添加不同水平硒对22~42日龄肉仔鸡生长性能与42日龄肉仔鸡胴体性状均无显著影响,但日粮中添加0.50 mg/kg硒降低了腿肌剪切力和胸肌L^*值,对肉品质有一定的改善作用。