Particle size heterogeneity in milled barley and sorghum grains: Effects on physico-chemical properties and starch digestibility

The average particle size of ground grains is known to influence properties related to processing (e.g. water absorption and solubility) and nutritional value (e.g. starch digestion rate) of human foods and animal feeds. The purpose of this study was to identify the contributions made by individual size fractions of hammer-milled barley and sorghum grains to average bulk compositional, hydration, rheological, and enzyme susceptibility properties. Barley and sorghum grains were each hammer-milled through a 4 mm screen and subsequently fractionated on a set of eight sieves ranging from 0.125 mm to 2.8 mm. Individual fractions were characterised for (1) starch, aNDF, and water content, (2) water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI), (3) viscosity profile during cooking and cooling in excess water, and (4) in vitro starch digestibility. Weighted average values based on fraction yields and property values for WAI, WSI, and starch digestibility were not significantly different from values obtained for non-fractionated ground grains of both barley and sorghum. Glucose yields from starch digestion varied about ten-fold between the smallest and largest particle fractions, and WAI and WSI had value ranges of 1.9–2.8 g/g (sorghum), 2.1–4.0 g/g (barley) and 1.3–4.5% (sorghum), 0.7–10.3% (barley), respectively. Viscosity profiles for milled sorghum grain fractions were dominated by starch swelling which became increasingly restricted as particle sizes increased. Viscosity profiles for milled barley grain fractions did not exhibit typical starch-based behaviour and were most likely dominated by soluble fibres. Taken together, the results show that there is considerable potential for designing combinations of hydration, rheological and digestibility properties of ground grains through informed selection of appropriate grains and particle size distributions.     

Influence of caecectomy and dietary protein concentration on apparent excreta amino acid digestibility in adult cockerels

1. The influence of caecectomy and dietary crude protein content (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g/kg diet) on the apparent excreta amino acid digestibilities in adult cockerels fed on semi‐purified diets containing soyabean meal (SBM) or cottonseed meal (CSM) as the sole source of protein was investigated.

2. Caecectomy had no influence on the apparent digestibilities of most amino acids in SBM, the exceptions being histidine, arginine and lysine, but lowered the apparent digestibility of amino acids in CSM.

3. The protein content in assay diets has a strong influence on the apparent amino acid digestibility values for poultry. Apparent values are lower when the dietary protein content is low.

4. The use of a single endogenous amino acid output value, generated by regression analysis or protein‐free diets, for true digestibility adjustments across a wide range of protein intakes is questioned. In particular, such an application will penalise estimates of apparent digestibility when the dietary protein content is high.     

对兽药地方标准清理工作的思考

当前兽药地方标准清理工作已进入攻关阶段,但在清理地方标准的实际工作中尚存在一些问题,笔者分析了这些具体问题,认为在升标工作中,政府应当给予合理的政策扶持,加快地方标准清理工作进度,保护企业利益;企业应当着重做好品种筛选,合理安排临床试验资金投入;企业通过采取联合参与升标方式,减少资金投入;对于移植外省标准,可采取不同措施妥善解决;为保证升标工作顺利进行,农业部和各省兽医行政管理部门应做好升标培训指导工作.     

Influence of age on the apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of feed ingredients for broiler chickens

The apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in 8 feed ingredients was determined using 14-, 28- and 42-d-old male broiler chickens. The ingredients included three cereals (wheat, sorghum and maize), one cereal by-product (mill run), three oilseed meals (canola, cottonseed and soybean meals) and one animal protein meal (meat and bone meal). Dietary crude protein in the assay diets was supplied solely by the test ingredient. All diets contained 20 g/kg acid-insoluble ash as an indigestible marker, and each diet was offered ad libitum in mash form to 5 replicate pens from 11 to 14 d, 25 to 28 d and 39 to 42 d post-hatching. There were 12, 6 and 6 birds per pen for the 14, 28 and 42 d samplings, respectively. The results suggest that the age of broilers significantly influenced the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids. The effects, however, varied among amino acids and ingredients. In wheat, the digestibility of most amino acids was higher in 14- than in 28- and 42-d-old broilers. In maize, the digestibility coefficients of amino acids were higher at 28 and 42 d than at 14 d. The digestibility coefficients in maize and wheat at 28 and 42 d were similar. The digestibility of amino acids in sorghum at 42 d was higher than those at 28 d, but similar to those at 14 d except for histidine, lysine, serine and glycine, which were significantly higher at 42 d. Digestibility of amino acids in sorghum was similar between 14 and 28 d except for isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid and alanine. The digestibility of amino acids in mill run at 42 d was significantly higher than those at 14 and 28 d. There were no differences in digestibility between 14 and 28 d. In general, the digestibility of amino acids in canola meal, soybean meal and, meat and bone meal was higher at 28 and 42 d compared to those at 14 d, and similar between 28 and 42 d of age. In cottonseed meal, age had no effect on the digestibility coefficient of amino acids, except for lysine and arginine, which increased with age. Analysis of the combined results for the 8 feed ingredients showed that, in general, the digestibility coefficients of amino acids increased with advancing age of broiler chickens.     

The method of application and short term results of tympanostomy tubes for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs

Primary secretory otitis media is an uncommon disease affecting predominantly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. Current treatment recommendations include repeated manual removal of the mucoid effusion from the tympanic cavity through a myringotomy incision and topical or systemic corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tympanostomy tubes to provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media in three dogs. Tympanostomy tubes were placed within a myringotomy incision in the pars tensa with the aid of an operating microscope. Clinical signs resolved rapidly in all cases following the procedure and all cases were asymptomatic at the time of follow-up, 8, 6 and 4 months later. Results of this study indicate that tympanostomy tubes provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage and may be an acceptable alternative to repeated myringotomy for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media.     

Outcome of a dog with urinary bladder osteosarcoma treated with a total cystectomy and ureterocutaneostomy

A 10-year-old, neutered female, French bulldog was presented with a history of dysuria, hematuria, stranguria, and pollakiuria. Diagnostic tests revealed a large mass at the neck of the bladder without any evidence of metastatic disease. Total cystectomy with bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy creation was elected. Histopathology of the bladder mass revealed extraskeletal osteosarcoma, which was resected completely. Neither recurrence nor metastasis had been detected as of 65 months after surgery. Extraskeletal osteosarcomas are typically malignant and carry a poor prognosis. This is the first report of bladder osteosarcoma in a dog treated by total cystectomy and ureterocutaneostomy with excellent long-term control.     

猪细小病毒基因组结构及检测技术研究进展

猪细小病毒是引起母猪繁殖障碍性疾病的主要病原体之一,对猪细小病毒的基因组、转录、编码的结构蛋白和非结构蛋白、转录的调控及血清学诊断、分子生物学检测技术方面的研究进展予以综述,以期对其进一步研究有参考价值。