Hyperglycaemia in transition dairy cows: Effects of lactational stage and conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on glucose metabolism and turnover

Supplementing conjugated linoleic acid ( CLA ) is supposed to spare glucose due to the milk fat‐depressing effect of the trans ‐10, cis ‐12 CLA isomer, and allows repartitioning nutrients despite an energy deficiency in early lactation. However, there is still a lack of knowledge in terms of the dynamic pattern of the glucose turnover in transition dairy cows. We hypothesized that dairy cows supplemented with CLA have an altered rate of glucose turnover and insulin sensitivity during early lactation. We conducted three consecutive hyperglycaemic clamps (HGC ) in weeks ?2, +2 and +4 relative to parturition in Holstein cows supplemented daily either with 70 g of lipid‐encapsulated CLA (6.8 g trans ‐10, cis ‐12 and 6.6 g of the cis ‐9, trans ‐11 CLA isomer; CLA ; n  = 11) or with 56 g of control fat ( CON ; n  = 11). From week ?3 up to week +4 relative to parturition, milk yield and dry matter intake (DMI ) were recorded daily, while body weight (BW ) and milk composition were obtained once weekly. Blood samples were taken once weekly and every 30 min during the HGC . Plasma was analysed for concentrations of glucose, fatty acids (FFA ), beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB ), insulin, triglycerides and cholesterol. The CLA supplementation did not affect performance and metabolic parameters except for BHB and cholesterol. Furthermore, insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity were affected by treatment. During the HGC in early lactation, insulin response was lower and decrease in FFA and BHB greater compared with the HGC in week ?2 although glucose target concentration achieved during the steady‐state period was similar for all three HGC . Our findings in terms of insulin and cholesterol suggest that body reserves are preserved through CLA feeding without restraining animal's performance. Furthermore, CLA effects on cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations indicated beneficial effects on hepatic lipid export contributing to an improved efficiency of prevailing metabolites in circulation.     

Effects of in ovo injection of chrysin,quercetin and ascorbic acid on hatchability,somatic attributes,hepatic oxidative status and early post‐hatch performance of broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of in ovo injection of chrysin, quercetin and ascorbic acid on hatchability, somatic attributes, hepatic antioxidant status and early post‐hatch growth performance of broiler chicks. Four hundred and eighty embryonated broiler breeder eggs containing live 18‐day‐old embryos were divided into six groups of 80 eggs each. One group remained intact and served as a control group (i), whereas the other five groups were injected with the prepared injection solutions as follows: (ii) 0.05 ml distilled water; (iii) 0.05 ml distilled water containing 6 mg ascorbic acid; (iv) 0.05 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); (v) 0.05 ml DMSO containing 4.5 mg quercetin; and (vi) 0.05 ml DMSO containing 4.5 mg chrysin. The hatchability rate, hatching weight, residual yolk sac weight, yolk sac‐free body weight, liver weight, hepatic glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase activities, as well as malondialdehyde concentrations, were not affected by the injected solutions. There were no differences between chicks hatched from the control and in ovo injected eggs in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio from 0 to 11 days of age. However, the specific contrast performed between the in ovo injected groups and intact eggs revealed that in ovo injection significantly increased hatchability rate (p = .0493). This finding also implies that our injection procedure was harmless. In conclusion, the intra‐egg injection of chrysin, quercetin or ascorbic acid at the injection rates used in this study did not have a significant effect on hatchability, somatic characteristics, early growth performance and hepatic antioxidant status of broiler chicks. However, the overall hatchability was higher in the in ovo injected eggs as compared to non‐injected ones. These findings also confirmed the harmlessness of the procedure developed for in ovo injection in this study.     

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.     

Evaluating the nutritive profile of three insect meals and their effects to replace soya bean in broiler diet

This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effect of maggot meal, silkworm meal and mealworm as dietary protein source on the production performance and some aspects of meat quality in broilers. In this regard, maggot meal was reared on chicken offal and poultry waste. Silkworm meal was obtained from silk industry, while mealworm was developed through beetles rearing. A total of 120‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups where soya bean meal (M0) was replaced with maggot meal (M1), silkworm meal (M2) and mealworm (M3) respectively. Each group was further divided into three replicates. The study was carried out for a period of 5 weeks. Diets containing mealworm significantly reduced overall feed consumption and resulted into higher weight gain (p < .05). Lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded for birds fed with mealworm diet (p < .05). Tenderness and juiciness of meat were higher (p < .05) in M3 compared to the control and other treatments. Mortality did not vary between the control and the treated groups. Therefore, it is concluded that insect meal is rich in essential nutrients and could be successfully used in broiler ration without compromising acceptability. In the light of this study, mealworm is the best choice in broiler ration, in comparison with maggot and silkworm.     

Effects of a DHA‐rich unextracted microalgae as a dietary supplement on performance,carcass traits and meat fatty acid profile in growing‐finishing pigs

Two 125‐day experiments of the same design were conducted to evaluate the effects of a heterotrophically grown microalgae (AURA) containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on pig performance, carcass traits and the fatty acid composition of lean and adipose tissue. In each experiment, 144 Hypor pigs were blocked by sex, allocated to three treatment groups, and fed 0, 0.25% or 0.50% AURA in isonutritive, isocaloric diets. Pigs were weighed on days 0, 28, 56, 84 and 112. Feed and water intakes were measured every 28 days. Pigs were slaughtered on day 125. Data from the two studies were analysed as a single data set. Performance and carcass traits did not differ between treatments. Both microalgae treatment levels enriched (p < .05) Longissimus lumborum (LL) and backfat in DHA and improved (p < .05) their ratios of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids.     

Amino acid profiles of rumen undegradable protein: a comparison between forages including cereal straws and alfalfa and their respective total mixed rations

Optimizing the amino acid (AA) profile of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) can positively affect the amount of milk protein. This study was conducted to improve knowledge regarding the AA profile of rumen undegradable protein from corn stover, rice straw and alfalfa hay as well as the total mixed ratio diets (TMR) based on one of them as forage source [forage‐to‐concentrate ratio of 45:55 (30% of corn stover (CS), 30% of rice straw (RS), 23% of alfalfa hay (AH) and dry matter basis)]. The other ingredients in the three TMR diets were similar. The RUP of all the forages and diets was estimated by incubation for 16 hr in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated lactating cows. All residues were corrected for microbial colonization, which was necessary in determining the AA composition of RUP from feed samples using in situ method. Compared with their original AA composition, the AA pattern of forages and forage‐based diets changed drastically after rumen exposure. In addition, the extent of ruminal degradation of analysed AA was not constant among the forages. The greatest individual AA degradability of alfalfa hay and corn stover was Pro, but was His of rice straw. A remarkable difference was observed between microbial attachment corrected and uncorrected AA profiles of RUP, except for alfalfa hay and His in the three forages and TMR diets. The ruminal AA degradability of cereal straws was altered compared with alfalfa hay but not for the TMR diets. In summary, the AA composition of forages and TMR‐based diets changed significantly after ruminal exposure, indicating that the original AA profiles of the feed cannot represent its AA composition of RUP. The AA profile of RUP and ruminal AA degradability for corn stover and rice straw contributed to missing information in the field.     

Using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique to study threonine requirements in horses receiving a predominantly forage diet

Threonine has been reported to be the second limiting amino acid in typical equine diets, but its actual requirement has not been determined in horses. To evaluate amino acid metabolism and requirements, the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been successfully used in other species. The objective of this research was to estimate threonine requirements in mature horses fed timothy hay and concentrate in 4:1 ratio using the IAAO method. Six Thoroughbred mares (579.9 ± 46.7 kg) received each of 6 levels of threonine intake, 41, 51, 61, 70, 80 and 89 mg/kg BW/day, in a randomly determined order. Each study period was 7‐day long, and on day 6, blood samples were collected before and 90 min after feeding to measure amino acid concentrations using HPLC. On day 7, horses underwent IAAO procedures, which included a 2‐hr primed, constant intravenous infusion of [¹³C]sodium bicarbonate to measure total CO₂ production and a 4‐hr primed, constant oral administration of [1‐¹³C]phenylalanine to estimate phenylalanine oxidation to CO₂. Blood and breath samples were collected to measure blood [¹³C]phenylalanine, using GC‐MS analysis and breath ¹³CO₂ enrichment, using an infrared isotope analyser. Increasing threonine intake levels did not affect plasma phenylalanine oxidation by the ANOVA test (p > 0.05) but resulted in a linear decrease in phenylalanine oxidation (p = 0.04) without a breakpoint by the orthogonal linear contrast. This study is the first attempt to evaluate threonine requirements in horses by the IAAO method; however, threonine requirements are still unknown in mature horses at this time.     

"三高两低"杂交油菜油研1220的选育与技术研究

油研1220是以黄籽双低隐性核不育系8078A与双低恢复系0202R配制成功的黄籽双低杂交油菜新组合。在贵州省2004~2006两年15点次试验中,增产点和增产8%以上的点分别为11个和8个,分别占总点数的73.3%和53.3%,两年平均产量达167.88 kg/667m2,比CK增产7.0%;产油量达70.72 kg/667m2,比CK增产13.87%。芥酸含量0.6%,硫甙含量28.28μmol/g.饼,含油量达44.03%,种子蛋白质含量达26.85%。选择含油率和蛋白质含量高的转育亲本,在后代分离世代中加强亲本含油率和蛋白质含量的定向选择是提高品种含油率和蛋白质含量的重要选育技术。     

二丁基羟基甲苯对雨生红球藻虾青素和油脂积累的影响

以雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)为对象,研究高光照、缺氮条件下,外源添加不同浓度的二丁基羟基甲苯(Butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT)对雨生红球藻生长、虾青素积累、油脂合成、脂肪酸组成、碳水化合物、蛋白含量以及虾青素和脂肪酸合成相关酶基因的影响。结果显示,添加不同浓度的BHT后,2 mg/L BHT添加组虾青素积累量为最高,显著高于其他实验组和对照组(P<0.05),达到31.66 mg/g,是对照组的1.87倍。油脂含量达45.56%,高于同期对照组(39.06%),脂肪酸组成变化不显著。在此条件下,虾青素合成关键酶基因dxs和bkt表达水平分别是对照组的5.19倍和2.04倍;脂肪酸合成关键酶基因kas和acp表达水平较对照组显著提高(P<0.05),分别是对照组的4.56倍和3.02倍。与对照组相比,2 mg/L BHT添加组的碳水化合物和蛋白含量均呈下降趋势。研究表明,在胁迫条件下,外源添加适量浓度的BHT能有效促进雨生红球藻中虾青素的积累,同时提高了藻细胞内的油脂含量。     

大菱鲆幼鱼对饲料中泛酸最适需求量的研究

为研究大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)幼鱼对泛酸的最适需求量,在基础配方中添加不同梯度的泛酸钙,制成6组泛酸含量分别为6.24、10.64、15.02、23.81、41.40和76.57 mg/kg等氮等能实验饲料,投喂初始体重为(24.73±0.10) g的大菱鲆幼鱼80 d。结果显示：1)泛酸对幼鱼成活率(SR)无显著影响(P>0.05),10.64~76.57 mg/kg饲料组增重率(WGR)和特定生长率(SGR)显著提高(P< 0.05);泛酸含量超过23.81 mg/kg时,肝体比(HSI)显著降低(P<0.05);2)随着饲料中泛酸含量的提高,全鱼粗蛋白、粗脂肪和肌肉粗蛋白均呈先升后降趋势,肝脏脂肪含量显著下降(P<0.05);3)肠道消化酶、Na+, K+-ATPase和肝脏胆碱酯酶(ChE)活力随泛酸添加量的增加呈先上升后下降趋势,10.64~76.57 mg/kg饲料组肠道肌酸激酶(CK)活力显著提高(P<0.05);4)血清、肝脏中过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力均呈先升后降趋势;6.24 mg/kg饲料组血清丙二醛(MDA)含量显著高于其他5组(P<0.05);5)随泛酸含量的增加,肝脏脂肪合成酶(FAS)基因表达量先升后降,脂蛋白酯酶(LPL)基因表达量显著上升(P<0.05)。研究表明,饲料中添加适宜的泛酸能显著增强大菱鲆幼鱼肠道消化、吸收能力和机体抗氧化能力,并可提高脂肪代谢相关基因的表达水平,从而提高其生长性能。以增重率为判据,经折线模型拟合得出,初体重为24.73 g的大菱鲆幼鱼对泛酸的需求量为16.08 mg/kg饲料。