Effect of different dietary ratios of sunflower and linseed oils on growth and carcass traits of rabbits

As part of an experiment aiming to modify the meat fatty acid profile, this work studied the growth and carcass traits as affected by various dietary ratios of sunflower oil and linseed oil. A diet without added oil served as a control (C). Four other diets were equally 4% oil-enriched but they differed in the incorporation ratios of sunflower oil (S) to linseed oil (L), i.e. 4% S to 0% L (diet 4%S), 3% S to 1% L (diet 3:1%SL), 2% S to 2% L (diet 2:2%SL) and 0% S to 4% L (diet 4%L). The oil-rich diets had slightly higher digestible energy contents (11.4 vs 10.6 MJ/kg) than the C feed. In each group 10 litters of 7 to 9 Pannon White kits per litter were studied in the pre-weaning period from 21 to 35 days old. Growth and slaughter traits were assessed with 50 and 30 rabbits per group, respectively. No significant effects of diets were found on litter and doe performances. The only significant differences in growth performance of the C, 4%S, 3:1%SL, 2:2%SL and 4%L rabbits were for the 35–49 day feed intake (88, 86, 84, 84 and 83 g per day, respectively, P = 0.046), the 35–84 day growth rate (36, 38, 37, 35 and 37 g/day, P = 0.034) and the 84-day body weight (2608, 2703, 2664, 2565 and 2628 g, respectively, P = 0.022). There were several significant differences in carcass traits including the weight of reference carcass (1357, 1391, 1388, 1380 and 1369 g, respectively, P = 0.004) and left longisimus dorsi meat (78, 79, 81, 81 and 76 g, respectively, P = 0.046) of rabbits. The diets had major effects on the L*, a* and b* colour values (lightness, redness and yellowness) of meat and fat. Carcass colour of the C and 4%S rabbits was closer and the 4%L rabbits was further from the European consumer's preference of light coloured, less red and slightly yellow rabbit meat. Our result reveals the importance of age and body weight at slaughter. Taking the growth and slaughter performances and, the recent belief of human health benefits from lower n− 6/n− 3 FAs dietary ratios into account, the 2:2%SL diet seems most appropriate if the interests of the raisers, meat processors and buyers are considered equally.     

Effects of toxic and non‐toxic blue mussel meal on health and product quality of laying hens

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are a potential protein source in poultry feeds because of their high methionine and cystein content. However, mussels may temporarily be contaminated with the toxin, okadaic acid. The aim of this small scale study was to evaluate the effects on animal health and morphology of the digestive tract of laying hens fed three different diets; a commercial feed and diets containing 15% normal or 15% toxic mussel meal, i.e. a concentration of 198.6 μg toxin per kg feed. Twelve laying hens were divided into six groups and fed the experimental diets for 8 weeks. Animal health, production performance and egg quality were recorded. At sacrifice, tissue samples were prepared for histological evaluation using light microscopy. Okadaic acid did not have any adverse effects on animal health or production parameters and no histological changes indicating disturbances in the digestive tract was observed. Internal egg quality was improved as eggs from hens fed either of the two mussel meal diets had an increased yolk colour. These results show that mussel meal functions as a novel protein source for laying hens and those toxic mussels at this level may be included in the feed without negative effects on parameters evaluated in this study.     

猪传染性胃肠炎病毒S基因核酸疫苗免疫小鼠体液免疫功能变化的研究

本实验对TGEV S基因核酸疫苗免疫后体液免疫功能变化进行了研究,同时比较了两种核酸疫苗单独免疫小鼠后体液免疫应答的变化,证明重组核酸疫苗诱导小鼠产生体液免疫应答。     

Effects of α-tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid on Equine Semen Quality after Cryopreservation

This study investigated the effects of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol supplementation on semen quality parameters of equine thawed-frozen semen. Semen was divided in seven different treatments in a final concentration of 100 × 10⁶ sperm/mL by using Gent extender containing no supplements (control) and the following supplements with three different concentrations: α-tocopherol (0.5, 1, and 2 mM) and ascorbic acid (0.45, 0.9, and 1.8 g/L). After thawing, all samples were maintained at 37°C, while analyses were performed at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. Evaluation of viability and acrosome status (using Pisum sativum agglutinin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide), mitochondrial membrane potential (5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′tetraethylbenzimidazolyl carbocyanine iodine [JC-1]), membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO; C₁₁-BODIPY^581/591), and stability of the plasmatic membrane (merocyanine 540 and Yo-Pro-1) of each sample was determined by flow cytometry. Relative to the control group, supplementation with α-tocopherol improved (P ≤ .05) postthaw membrane LPO, yet the higher concentrations of ascorbic acid (0.9 and 1.8 g/L, respectively) showed a negative effect on membrane LPO. Neither antioxidant significantly increased (P > .05) the acrosome integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, although supplementation with α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (0.9 and 1.8 g/L, respectively) had a positive effect on membrane integrity and stability (P ≤ .05). For all semen parameters, the lower concentration of ascorbic acid (0.45 g/L) did not show significant differences (P > .05) compared with the control. In conclusion, α-tocopherol seems to be an efficient antioxidant for reducing the oxidative stress provoked by cryopreservation, decreasing lipid peroxidation on equine spermatozoa.     

EFFECT OF OBSERVER VARIABILITY ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE MEASUREMENT BY RENAL SCINTIGRAPHY IN DOGS

Observer variation in kidney depth measurement for correction of soft-tissue attenuation and kidney region of interest (ROI) drawing was evaluated using 60 clinical dogs with a wide range of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for their effect on the calculated percentage uptake of 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and individual kidney GFR by scintigraphy. Kidney depth was measured separately on the lateral image using two color tables: a threshold and a continuous red-green-blue. Within-observer variability of the semi-automatic ROI drawing of the estimated total GFR was up to 10% for the right kidney (RK) and 9% for the left kidney (LK). The variability was lower between observers, 6% for RK and 8% for LK. Manual ROI drawing caused more within observer variation than semi-automatic: up to 14% for RK and 11% for LK. Continuous red-green-blue table caused more variation within and between observers than threshold table. Average within-observer variability from both observers of kidney depth measurement on different color tables could vary up to 5.5% and 6.5% variation of the GFR of RK and LK, respectively. Most variation affecting the DTPA percentage uptake came from the ROI drawing technique. Variations of the method because of the effects of both kidney depth and kidney ROI drawing were up to 8% and 10% for RK and LK, respectively. To minimize these variations a threshold scale should be used for the kidney depth measurement and an automatic or semi-automatic ROI should be used whenever possible. In sequential examinations the same person should make all the measurements.     

The effect of breed, stage of lactation and parity on sheep milk fat CLA content under the same feeding practices

The cis-9, trans-11 C_18:2 (CLA) content in milk fat of four pure sheep breeds (Awassi, Lacaune, Friesland and Chios) was examined. All sheep were kept indoors all year round under the same feeding practices, without any grazing at all. Sheep nutrition was based on alfalfa hay and concentrates. A total of 237 individual milk samples were collected at three sampling times (December, January and March) from sheep of different parity and different days in milk, for CLA determination. The results showed that: (a) there was a large variation in milk fat CLA content among individuals consuming the same diet, (b) the CLA content of milk fat was lower in Friesland breed, compared to the other three breeds but without any significant difference among the four sheep breeds, (c) the CLA content of milk fat was not affected by ewes parity or days in milk, (d) there was a negative but not significant correlation between milk fat and CLA concentration, (e) the CLA content of milk fat was not correlated with milk yield. In conclusion, no others factors, such as breed, parity, days in milk, etc., can affect CLA content in milk fat, which means that the dietary ones remain the sovereign factors explaining the highest proportion of CLA content variability in sheep milk fat.     

12份苜蓿种质材料的氨基酸分析

以新疆大叶苜蓿品种为对照,对通过田间综合农艺特性评价筛选出的12份优良苜蓿种质材料分别进行了其盛花期第一茬草和再生草茎、叶及植株(全株)的氨基酸分析.结果表明盛花期刈割供试种质材料(包括对照)植株总氨基酸平均含量为11.83%,叶总氨基酸平均含量为17.99%,茎总氨基酸平均含量为6.10%;再生草植株总氨基酸平均含量为13.78%,叶总氨基酸平均含量为20.17%,茎总氨基酸平均含量为7.19%;供试的12号、9号、3号、5号、2号和8号种质材料含有相对于新疆大叶苜蓿品种较高的总氨基酸, 来自前苏联的12号种质材料还含有较高的必需氨基酸.     

提高牛乳中共轭亚油酸含量的研究进展

共轭亚油酸已成为目前药物、食品及动物营养等研究领域的一个热点,其保健作用引起越来越多的关注和重视。作者阐述了现阶段提高牛乳中共轭亚油酸含量的各种方法和手段,为今后共轭亚油酸的深入研究作一参考。     

乳中共轭亚油酸生成的新型调控剂——菊科植物

共轭亚油酸(CLA)是一组含有共轭双键的亚油酸(linoleic acid)的几何异构体和位置异构体的总称.目前有研究报道,菊科植物及其提取物能增加乳中CLA的含量.笔者主要综述了CLA的营养调控方法及菊科植物增加CLA含量的研究进展.