The effect of Eucommia ulmoides leaf supplementation on the growth performance, blood and meat quality parameters in growing and finishing pigs

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Eucommia ulmoides leaf (EUL) supplementation on the growth performance, blood and meat quality parameters in growing and finishing pigs. Ninety gilts (L × LW × D, 20 kg initialBW) were housed 10 per pen in a front‐open building with three replicate pens per treatment. Experimental treatment was started from the beginning of the growing stage (20 ± 3 kg) by supplementing EUL at 0(C), 3(T1) and 5% (T2) to the growing and finishing diet. Pigs were slaughtered by electrical stunning at 105 ± 3 kg live weight. Average daily feed intake (ADFI, kg/day) decreased (P < 0.05) by addition of EUL in growth performance, average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) was lower (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. In hematology, leukocytes (WBC, 10³/mm³) decreased (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. Erythrocytes (RBC, 10⁶/mm³), hemoglobin (HGB, g/dL) and hematocrit (HCT, %) increased (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. Platelet (PLT, 10³/mm³) was lower (P < 0.05) in T2 than in C and T1. In biochemical composition of serum, total protein (g/dL), r‐GTP (μ/L), total cholesterol (mg/dL) and triglycerides (mg/dL) were lower (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. On longissimus dorsi muscle, crude protein was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 than in C. Crude ash was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. Yellow to blue color scale (CIE b*) in meat color was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in C. CIE b* in back fat color was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in the other treatments. In sensory evaluation scores for fresh meat, the values of meat color, fat color, drip loss and marbling were not significantly affected by addition of EUL. In cooked meat, the values of chewiness and overall acceptability were higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. The results indicate that the addition of EUL affected growth performance, blood parameters and meat quality parameters in growing and finishing pigs.     

Carcass characteristics of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) from different sex conditions, raising altitudes and slaughter seasons

This study was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) from different sex conditions, raising altitudes and slaughter seasons. The total number of cattle used in this study was 3608 heads which comprised of 1336 bulls and 1660 steers. The data was analyzed according to sex condition (bull and steer), raising altitude (low: 0–100 m and high: 700–800 m) and slaughter season (spring, summer, autumn and winter). At 24 h post-slaughter, the carcasses were weighed and evaluated for carcass traits according to the Korean carcass grading standard by an official grader. Carcass weight, ribeye area, yield index and grade, and meat color, firmness and maturity scores of carcass from bulls were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those from steers. Inversely, the backfat thickness, marbling score and quality grade of carcass from steers were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those from bulls. The maturity score of carcass from a high area was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that from a low area. The ribeye area of carcass from summer was significantly smaller (P < 0.05) than that from other seasons. The maturity score of carcass from the summer season was highest among that from other seasons and the lowest was that from the winter season. Marbling score and carcass quality grade from the winter season were highest among those from other seasons and the lowest were those from the autumn season. There were no significant interactions between sex condition and raising altitude on carcass traits except the ribeye area. There were significant interactions between sex condition and slaughter season on marbling score and carcass quality grade. There were no significant interactions between raising altitude and slaughter season on all of the carcass traits. There were significant interactions among sex condition, raising altitude and slaughter season on meat color score. It was concluded that sex condition affected muscle and fat depositions on the carcass, raising altitude affected maturity and slaughter season affected ribeye area, maturity and marbling.     

Bioactive Cembranoids,Sarcocrassocolides P–R,from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

New cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides P–R (1–3) and four known compounds (4–7) were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 3–5 and 7 were shown to exhibit cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and all compounds 1–7 displayed potent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein. Compound 7 also showed significant activity in reducing the accumulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in the same macrophage cells.     

Improving efficiency of sow productivity: nutrition and health

This reviews research focused to understand the nutrient requirement and balance to meet the needs of fetal growth, mammary growth, and milk production. This summary will handle how feeding strategies can be adjusted according to the nutrient needs for a sow to enhance productivity and health. Most research data used in this summary are based on the studies conducted by the authors between 1996 and 2013. Nutrient requirements of sows are affected by stage of gestation and parity of sows. Dietary antioxidant concentrations need to be re-evaluated for its sufficiency in sow diets especially to prevent excessive oxidative stress during late gestation and lactation. When feeding sows, consideration of phase feeding of gestating sows and parity feeding of lactating sows could enhances production longevity and health of sows. Use of selected nutrients and additives seems to help productivity and health of sows.