Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide on inflammatory responses,milk production and milk quality in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory responses and milk production and quality in lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in a cross‐over experimental design. Cows were infused intravenously either with saline solution or with saline solution containing LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4 at a dose of 0.01 μg LPS/kg body weight for approximately 6 hr each day during a seven‐day trial. The clinical symptoms and milk production performance were observed. Milk samples were analysed for conventional components, fatty acids and amino acids. And jugular vein and mammary vein plasma samples were analysed for concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins. LPS infusion decreased feed intake and milk yield. An increase in body temperature was observed after LPS infusion. LPS infusion also increased plasma concentrations of interleukin‐1β, serum amyloid A, LPS‐binding protein, C‐reactive protein and haptoglobin. LPS infusion decreased the contents of some fatty acids, such as C17:1, C18:0, C18:1n9 (trans) and C18:2n6 (trans), and most amino acids except for methionine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, tyrosine and proline in the milk. The results indicated that a continued low dose infusion of LPS can induce an inflammatory response, decrease milk production and reduce milk quality.     

Effect of gut stress induced by oxidized wheat gluten on the growth performance,gut morphology and oxidative states of broilers

This study was to investigate the effect of oxidized wheat gluten (OG) on growth performance, gut morphology and its oxidative states of broilers. One hundred and eighty‐day‐old male broilers (10 chicks/pen) were randomly allocated into three dietary treatments: control diet (CON), diet with 8% wheat gluten (WG) and diet with 8% OG with six pens/treatment. Body weight (BW) (21 and 35 days) and average daily gain (ADG) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) decreased (p < .05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) increased (p < .05) in OG treatment. Feed intake (FI) decreased (p < .05) in WG and OG treatments during 22–35 days. However, FI was not influenced by dietary treatments during 1–21 days (p > .05). The OG‐fed broilers had a lower faecal pH value (p < .05) and higher faecal moisture content (p < 05) at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Villus height, crypt depth and V/C value were not different (p > .05) among treatments at 21 and 35 days. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) (21 and 35 days) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (35 days) content in crop of OG treatment increased (p < .05). Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (21 days), LPO (21 and 35 days) and MDA (21 and 35 days) content in ileum of OG treatment increased (p < .05). The reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) (21 days) and (GSH) (35 days) in ileum of OG treatment decreased (p < .05). The present findings indicate that OG might be a stressor for broiler gut, which could induce oxidative stress both in crop and in ileum, and the diarrhoea as well. The growth performance of broiler was consequently depressed.     

Effects of fat supplementation on plasma glucose,insulin and fatty acid analysis in ponies maintained on a forage‐based diet

The objective of this study was to observe how fat incorporated into an equine forage‐based diet through supplementation altered levels of plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acids. Five Shetland/Hackney cross pony mares were fed alfalfa pellet diets top dressed with commercially available vegetable oil (blend of soya bean, canola and corn oils) at 0%, 5%, 10% or 15% of diet. Ponies were randomly assigned one of four diets to start, with a 14‐day adjustment period between transitioning to another one of the four diets. Ponies were gradually adapted to the new diet within the 14‐day period before a five‐day trial period. Each pony received all four diets by the end of the study. Each trial was a five‐day period with a three‐day sample collection. Blood samples for each collection week were taken 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 and 270 min and at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 hr post‐feeding. Excess fat did not impact plasma glucose (p > .1), nor did it affect blood plasma insulin concentration. While there was no time alteration found for plasma fatty acid concentration (p > .1), C14:0 increased when ponies were fed 0% fat and C18:2 decreased when ponies were fed 0% fat. Plasma fatty acids (% of total FA) were higher in C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C20:1 in the added fat diets (p < .1). These findings suggest the amounts reported in this study of fat supplementation on a forage‐based diet did influence the fatty acid analysis within the pony, but did not negatively impact blood glucose and insulin concentrations.     

磷镁促释基质养分释放特性及种植效果

选用4种促释材料(W、Y、QW、FS)对磷矿粉、轻烧氧化镁混合物进行活化处理,配制促释材料含量分别为3%、5%的Ⅰ、Ⅱ型促释磷镁草花基质,通过淋溶试验、盆栽试验研究水溶性磷、镁素释放特性以及对夏堇(Torenia fournieri)、本地长春花(Catharanthus roseus)生长及开花的影响。结果显示,促释材料W、Y、QW、FS对磷矿粉均表现出良好的促释效果,磷镁促释基质水溶性磷淋溶总量较不添加促释磷镁显著增加了15.42%~27.10%(P0.05);添加4种促释材料对水溶性镁总量释放效果均不显著(P0.05)。促释磷镁W-Ⅰ不仅增加了夏堇开花数量,同时对本地长春花的冠幅增长、分枝以及地上部生物量积累有促进作用;FS-Ⅱ则有利于夏堇地上部生物量的积累;Y-Ⅰ则对夏堇、本地长春花生长无促进作用。综合考虑,草花基质添加促释磷镁W-Ⅰ、FS-Ⅱ应用效果最好,其最适添加比例分别为3.09、3.16 kg·m-3。     

羔羊日粮精粗比对其肉及脂肪组织中脂肪酸组成的影响

为了研究不同精粗比日粮对广河羊羔肉品质的影响,在广河县羔羊肉生产区,选择不同精粗比饲喂的6月龄健康陶寒杂交(陶赛特羊♂×小尾寒羊♀)断奶去势公羔各3只进行屠宰,取股二头肌、背最长肌、肱二头肌3个部位肌肉和肾周脂肪、皮下脂肪、尾部脂肪3个部位脂肪,用气象色谱法分析其脂肪酸的种类及含量。结果表明,在所有组织中均检测出38种脂肪酸,其中饱和脂肪酸17种,不饱和脂肪酸21种。脂肪组织中饲喂低精粗比日粮的亚油酸(C18∶2n6c)、α-亚麻酸(C18∶3n3)、饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)及其与饱和脂肪酸比值(P/S)、n3系多不饱和脂肪酸和n6系多不饱和脂肪酸均显著高于饲喂高精粗比日粮(P<0.05);饲喂低精粗比日粮的所有组织中花生四烯酸(C20∶4)的含量显著高于饲喂高精粗比日粮(P<0.05);与饲喂高精粗比日粮的羊羔肉相比,饲喂低精粗比日粮既节省了生产成本又明显改善和提高了羊羔肉中脂肪酸的营养价值。     

比格犬源芽孢杆菌对小鼠体重和组织脏器的影响

为验证比格犬源芽孢杆菌的安全性,以小鼠为试验动物,研究该菌对小鼠体重和组织脏器的影响。将40只30日龄SPF级小白鼠(雌雄各20只)随机分为4组,每组10只。对照组饲喂普通日粮;试验组在饲喂普通日粮的基础上,每只灌服0.2 m L比格犬源芽孢杆菌菌液(109 cfu/m L);每隔2 d测定体重;18 d后,将小鼠脱臼处死,取脾脏、肾脏称重;将肝脏、十二指肠、空肠和回肠用福尔马林固定,做组织切片试验。结果显示:试验组与对照组小鼠的体重差异不显著(P0.05);试验组小鼠肾脏重量有增加,肾脏指数与对照组相比,有显著性差异(P0.05);试验组公鼠脾脏重量增加明显,与对照组相比,差异极显著(P0.01);试验组小鼠肠绒毛较发达,肝小叶结构清晰,肝窦和门管区明显可见。试验证明,比格犬源芽孢杆菌对小鼠十二指肠、空肠、回肠和肝脏的正常结构未造成危害,说明比格犬源芽孢杆菌是安全可用的,且对组织脏器有一定的促生长作用。     

美国国家兽医认证计划及其主要制度

为给我国新型兽医制度建设提供借鉴,对美国国家兽医认证计划(NVAP)及其主要制度进行了研究。研究表明,美国认证兽医是经美国动植物卫生监督局(APHIS)法定程序认证,代表联邦兽医(官)和州动物卫生官(SAHO)实施流通动物检疫监管,协助政府兽医(官)控制动物疫病的执业兽医,具有官方兽医属性。目前,全美80%的兽医为认证兽医,总量高达6.8万名,有效弥补了政府兽医(官)力量的不足。《美国联邦法规》第161.1条规定,NVAP的管理主要涉及认证兽医的分类、职责、培训教育、认证、复审、纪律处分等制度。     

美国动物卫生保护制度框架浅析

基于对美国《动物卫生保护法》的研究,本文概述了其立法宗旨,动物疫病预防、突发疫情应急处置、国内流行病控制消灭等制度框架,以及生产经营者主体责任、调运监管制度、动物卫生实验室体系、兽医认证计划、监督执法制度、经费预算方式等保障措施,以期为完善我国立法体系提供借鉴。     

欧盟国家非洲猪瘟流行情况及对我国防控工作的启示

非洲猪瘟(ASF)1957年首次扩散到欧洲,2014年再次从高加索地区传入,并迅速在波罗的海周边国家蔓延,至2018年4月已扩散至欧盟8个成员国,且逐渐呈现地方性流行态势。本文重点介绍了欧洲国家的ASF扩散史,综述了病毒在欧盟国家扩散的主要途径,梳理了欧盟的ASF防控法规和措施,并对我国ASF防控提出了建议,以期为ASF防控提供帮助。