不同枣粉添加水平对陕北白绒山羊屠宰性能和肉品质的影响

为探讨日粮中不同枣粉添加量对陕北白绒山羊屠宰性能和肉品质的影响,选取初始体重为（20.15±1.63） kg的40只6月龄健康白绒山羊,随机分为5组,每组8只羊,分别饲喂枣粉添加量为0（对照组）、10%（Ⅰ试验组）、15%（Ⅱ试验组）、20%（Ⅲ试验组）、25%（Ⅳ试验组）的日粮,饲养试验预试期10 d,饲喂基础日粮,饲喂期70 d,饲喂试验日粮。试验结束屠宰全部试验羊,以羊背最长肌为试验材料,分别测定羊肉的基本营养成分、矿物质、肌纤维特性、外观品质、脂肪酸和氨基酸含量并进行比较分析。结果表明：1）Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ试验组的屠宰率和净肉率均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,对照组、Ⅰ和Ⅱ组的骨肉比显著高于Ⅲ和Ⅳ组（P<0.05）;2）对照组的肌内脂肪含量显著低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ组（P<0.05）;3）Ⅲ组的肌纤维面积、直径和剪切力值最小（P<0.05）;4）Ⅲ组中棕榈酸（C16：0）和硬脂酸（C18：0）的含量显著低于对照组和Ⅰ试验组（P<0.05）,花生四烯酸（C20：4n6）、α-亚麻酸（C18：2n6c）的含量显著高于对照组和Ⅰ组（P<0.05）;5）Ⅳ组羊肉中的天冬氨酸、谷氨酸和丙氨酸含量显著高于其他4组（P<0.05）。综上所述,枣粉添加改善了羊肉的嫩度,有利于羊肉中的矿物质、不饱和脂肪酸和氨基酸等营养成分的积累,从而使羊肉有较高的营养价值,综合考虑20%枣粉添加量时羊肉品质最好。     

不同来源纤维饲粮对福建黄兔表观消化率、十二指肠组织形态及盲肠纤维消化酶活性的影响

本试验旨在研究不同来源纤维饲粮对福建黄兔表观消化率、十二指肠组织形态及盲肠纤维消化酶活性的影响。试验选用200只健康、体重接近的断奶福建黄兔,随机分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复10只。4组分别饲喂由添加比例为25%的苜蓿草粉、甜菜渣、燕麦草、大麦糠为纤维饲料原料配制而成的饲粮。试验期为60 d,于试验第54天以全收粪法进行消化试验,屠宰后测定十二指肠绒毛高度、隐窝深度及二者比值,盲肠纤维素酶、半纤维素酶和果胶酶活性。结果表明：①苜蓿草粉与甜菜渣组的中性洗涤纤维（NDF）、酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）、不溶性纤维（IDF）、可溶性纤维（SDF）的消化率均极显著高于大麦糠与燕麦草组（P<0.01）。其中,甜菜渣组不溶性纤维、可溶性纤维的消化率最高,与苜蓿草粉组差异显著（P<0.05）。②苜蓿草粉与甜菜渣组的绒毛高度极显著高于大麦糠组（P<0.01）,但显著低于燕麦草组（P<0.05）,隐窝深度显著低于大麦糠和燕麦草组（P<0.05）,其中甜菜渣组隐窝深度最低。甜菜渣组的绒毛高度/隐窝深度（V/C）最高,极显著高于其他组（P<0.01）。③苜蓿草粉与甜菜渣组盲肠3种纤维消化酶活性均极显著高于大麦糠和燕麦草组（P<0.01）,其中甜菜渣组的3种酶活均极显著高于苜蓿草粉组（P<0.01）。综上所述,对比4种纤维饲粮,在饲粮配方中添加25%的甜菜渣能提高肉兔的表观消化率与盲肠纤维消化酶活性,并能改善十二指肠组织形态。     

Effects of water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation on post mortem glycolysis,AMP‐activated protein kinase and meat quality of broilers after transport during summer

Effects of water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation on post mortem glycolysis, adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and meat quality of broilers after transport during summer were investigated in the present paper. A total of 105 mixed‐sex Arbor Acres broilers were divided into three treatment groups: (i) 45 min transport without rest (T); (ii) 45 min transport with 1 h rest (TR); and (iii) 45 min transport with 15 min water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation and 45 min rest (TWFR). Each treatment consisted of five replicates with seven birds each. The results indicated that the water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation could mitigate the stress caused by transport under high temperature conditions during summer, which reduced the energy depletion in post mortem Pectoralis major (PM) muscle. This resulted in a higher energy status compared to the T group, which would decrease the expression of phosphorylation of AMPK (p‐AMPK). Furthermore, decreased the expression of p‐AMPK then slowed down the rate of glycolysis in post mortem PM muscle during the early post mortem period, which in turn lessened the negative effects caused by transport on meat quality. In conclusion, water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation may be a better method to control the incidence of the pale, soft and exudative meat in broilers.     

Assessment of interactions between glutamine and glucose on meat quality,AMPK, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of broilers under acute heat stress

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine and glucose on pectoralis major meat quality in broilers under acute heat stress. Three hundred 35-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Broilers in the positive control group were kept in a thermoneutral environment (23 ± 1°C, RH 45%–55%) and fed a basic diet, whereas the experimental (2 × 2) group was exposed to acute heat stress (34 ± 1°C, RH 65%–75%) for 12 h and fed the basic diet that contained glutamine (0 and 10 g/kg) and glucose (0 and 10 g/kg). Compared with the positive control group, acute heat stress without glutamine and glucose supplementation increased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations, but it decreased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of chickens. However, dietary glutamine (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations, while it decreased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations in heat-stressed chicken pectoralis major meat. Dietary glucose (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, and a* and b* values, while it decreased (P < 0.05) L* values and AMPK concentrations of pectoralis major meat in chickens exposed to acute high temperature. There were significant interactions between glutamine and glucose in the water-holding capacity, pH values, AMPK, and glutamine levels of pectoralis major meat in the heat-stressed chickens. The above results suggest that the addition of glutamine and glucose in the diet is necessary for broilers during acute heat stress condition.     

Effect of micronized pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) as a substitute of soybean meal on tissue fatty acid composition and quality of broiler chicken meat

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of micronized pea seeds introduced into feed mixes for broilers on the slaughter yield, blood lipid parameters, content of fatty acids in selected tissues, and meat quality. The studies involved 150 1‐day‐old Ross 308 chicks split into three groups (for 42 days). The feed rations differed in terms of the source of proteins: in the control group (C), it was post‐extraction soybean meal (SBM) 100%; in group I, SBM 50% and micronized peas 50%; and in group II, micronized peas only, 100%. Irradiated pea seeds added to the feed ration for chicks reduced the fattening grade of carcasses (P < 0.05). Additionally, significant improvement of blood lipid indices was recorded. The share of the irradiated pea seeds in feed mixes decreased the share of saturated fatty acids in the muscles and abdominal fat and had a positive effect on the n‐6/n‐3 ratio, hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic ratio, as well as the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (P < 0.05).     

Effects of apple pomace‐mixed silage on growth performance and meat quality in finishing pigs

We measured the growth performance and meat quality of 10 crossbred (Yorkshire × Duroc × Landrace) neutered male pigs to evaluate the effects of apple pomace‐mixed silage (APMS). The pigs were divided into two groups and were respectively fed the control feed and the AMPS ad libitum during the experiment. No difference was found in the finished body weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, back fat thickness or dressing ratio between the control and the AMPS treatments, but average dairy feed intake (dry matter) was significantly lower and feed efficiency was significantly higher using the APMS treatment (P < 0.05). With regard to meat quality, the APMS increased the moisture content but decreased the water holding capacity (P < 0.05) compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, the APMS affected the fatty acid composition of the back fat by increasing linoleic acid (C18:2n6), linolenic acid (C18:3) and arachidic acid (C20:0) levels, while decreasing palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and heptadecenoic acid (C17:1) levels, compared with the control treatment. These results indicate that feeding fermented apple pomace to finishing pigs increases the feed efficiency and affects the meat quality and fatty acid composition of back fat.     

Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary urea in sheep rations having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio. Sixty‐four Dorper × thin‐tailed Han crossbred ram lambs with an average body weight of 30.8 (±0.02) kg were randomly divided into four groups of 16 sheep each, and each group was fed one of the following diets: a basal diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 0.5% (0.5UTM), 1.5% (1.5UTM) or 2.5% (2.5UTM) urea. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, non‐carcass offals, meat quality and peptic tissue lesions were assayed. The average daily weight gains for CON, 0.5UTM, 1.5UTM and 2.5UTM were 216, 218, 200 and 170 g, respectively, with the CON and 0.5UTM groups higher than 2.5UTM group (p < 0.05). Sheep from the 2.5UTM treatment had a significantly lower dry matter intake (1.29 kg/day) than those from the CON and 0.5UTM treatments (1.42 and 1.43 kg/day, p < 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio in the 2.5UTM group was the highest (p < 0.05). Carcass characteristics, including shrunk body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dress percentage, and the absolute or relative weight (% body weight) of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not altered by the treatments (p > 0.05). The muscular pH of 2.5UTM was higher than that of CON (5.68 vs. 5.52, p < 0.05), and shear force in 0.5UTM was lower compared with CON and 2.5UTM (p < 0.05). The anatomical structure lesions in kidneys became more serious with the increasing dietary urea concentrations, with the 2.5UTM animals showing the most severe lesions compared with CON animals. Therefore, supplementary urea as a non‐protein nitrogen source for sheep should not exceed 1.5% of ration having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio to ensure efficacy and safety.     

Content and distribution of different phosphorus forms in broiler chickens

To understand the background value of phosphorus in chickens, the quantitative distribution of different phosphorus forms, including total phosphorus (TP), free phosphate (FP) and phospholipid (PL), in viscera, blood and bones of broiler chickens was investigated. Results showed that phosphorus contents exhibited significant differences in different parts of chickens. TP content of breast and thigh meat was over 5.0 g/kg, in which most of the phosphorus was in the form of water‐soluble phosphates. TP content in viscera was higher than that in meat, and spleen was observed to contain the highest amount of phosphorus (10.0 g/kg). In all tested organs, FP and PL contents in liver were the highest, ranging between 1207–1989 and 81–369 mg/kg respectively. TP content in chicken bone was in the range of 52 716–136 643 mg/kg, and FP content in the bone was relatively lower than that in chicken meat.     

Fractionation of the reference inoculum of epizootic rabbit enteropathy in discontinuous sucrose gradient identifies aetiological agents in high density fractions

Epizootic rabbit enteropathy (ERE) is a major cause of economic loss in intensive rabbit production. Since its first recognition in 1997, much work has been done to determine the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and to identify the aetiological agent(s). Unfortunately, the quest for aetiology has only met with limited success despite the ability to reproduce the syndrome by inoculation of intestinal contents from field cases. These intestinal inocula contain a huge number of microorganisms which could all be involved in the aetiology of ERE. To decrease the number of putative agents, the French reference inoculum TEC3 was fractionated on a discontinuous sucrose gradient so that seven fractions (supernatant, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and pellet) were obtained. Specific-pathogen-free rabbits were inoculated with three out of these seven fractions (supernatant, 30%, and pellet). The objectives were: (1) to characterise the seven fractions by bacteriological examination; (2) to verify whether the aetiological agent was present in the fractions by inoculation of rabbits; (3) to assign the aetiological agent of ERE to a morphological group of pathogens; (4) to identify a fraction which could replace the reference inoculum TEC3 in applications such as cell cultures or egg inoculation. The results strongly suggest that ERE is a bacterial disease and does not have a viral or parasitic aetiology.