Influence of elevated protein and tannin-rich peanut skin supplementation on growth performance,blood metabolites,carcass traits and immune-related gene expression of grazing meat goats

The aim of the present study was to define whether elevated rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) and tannin-rich peanut skin (PS) supplementation would affect animal growth performance, average daily gain (ADG), blood metabolites, carcass traits associated with lipogenic and immune-related gene expressions in meat goats grazing winter wheat (WW). Thirty-six Kiko-crossbreed male goats at approximately 6 months of age were blocked by body weight (BW; 25.6 ± 1.1 kg) and randomly assigned to one of the four treatments with two replicates based on a 2 × 2 factorial design. Diets contained PS replacing alfalfa meal (ALM), without or with RUP supplementation. Both PS and ALM were incorporated into grain mix portion of the diet and pelletized, with remaining diets fed ad libitum of WW forage for a period of 51 days. Lipogenic genes examined included SCD, ACLY, YWHAZ, PPIA and FABP4, while immune-related genes examined included ACTB (as a control gene), H3F3A, PPIA, IRF3, STAT2, HERC3 and IFIT3 antibody genes. The meat goats on PS-pellet-supplemented group with or without RUP supplementation grew 38.5% faster ADG (p < .001) when compared to control-supplemented group. When goats received PS diet, empty body weight, hot carcass, cold carcass, shoulder, hind shank, rack, loin and fat thickness were greater (p < .05) than control diet. Animals on PS-pellet had higher ACLY, YWHAZ, PPIA and FABP4 gene expression (p < .05) when compared to ALM-pellet control, with RUP by PS-pellet interactions (p < .01). Goats receiving additional RUP supplementation had increased (p < .05) STAT2 gene expression, whereas goats receiving PS-pellet supplementation showed increased STAT2 (p < .05) and a tendency to increase IRF3 (p = .07) gene expressions. In conclusion, the addition of PS-pellet or RUP supplementation has the potential to improve ADG and altered selected lipogenic and immune-related gene expressions.     

黑荆树皮单宁不同级分的生物活性研究

通过对黑荆(Acacia mearnsii)树皮单宁进行纯化和分级处理,研究了分子量及其分布范围不同的单宁各级分与明胶反应、抑酶、抑菌等生物活性差异,探讨了反应体系的pH值及反应物的质量比等因素对单宁生物活性的影响.研究表明,分子量大的单宁级分与明胶的结合能力强、对某些水解酶的抑制作用大;而分子量适中的单宁级分,对某些细菌的抑制作用最明显.     

Yield, persistency and chemical composition of Lotus species and varieties (birdsfoot trefoil and greater birdsfoot trefoil) when harvested for silage in the UK

The yield and chemical composition of thirteen Lotus corniculatus varieties and one Lotus uliginosus variety, when grown and ensiled in the UK, were investigated. Replicate plots of each variety were established in a randomized block design. Dry‐matter (DM) yield was measured over two harvest years. At cuts 1 and 2 of the first harvest year, 1 kg of each variety was ensiled and sub‐sampled for chemical analysis. At cut 2 of the second harvest year, sub‐samples of forage were analysed for condensed tannins. Two L. corniculatus varieties, Oberhaunstaedter and Lotar, had higher DM yields (with Oberhaunstaedter having the highest DM yield at cut 3) in both harvest years compared with other varieties (P < 0·001). Chemical analyses showed differences among silages of varieties of L. corniculatus (P < 0·001) and that the ammonia‐N concentration of L. uliginosus silage was higher than that of L. corniculatus (P < 0·001), despite its lactic acid concentrations being within the range observed for L. corniculatus (17 g kg^?1 DM vs. 13–19 g kg^?1 DM). Differences (P < 0·001) in HCl/Butanol test absorbance units were found among varieties of L. corniculatus, indicating possible differences in concentrations of condensed tannins. Overall, the variety Oberhaunstaedter was found to be the most suitable variety for silage production. Based on its agronomic performance, L. corniculatus does not compare well with other legumes such as red clover.     

Interaction between nutrition and gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep

Effects of gastrointestinal nematode infection on metabolism and nutrient utilisation in sheep are reviewed. Infection induces protein deficiency by increasing the demand for amino acids in the alimentary tract while reducing supply through depression of appetite. Mechanisms through which improved protein nutrition could improve the performance of the host are then discussed. Opportunities for capitalising on such effects are limited by our rudimentary understanding of the cell-mediated immune response in gastrointestinal epithelial tissue. Both resistance of the animal to larval establishment and performance in the face of larval challenge can be enhanced by improved protein nutrition. However, enhanced immune responses may not necessarily be synonymous with improved productivity except at luxurious levels of protein intake, because of apparently competing demands for protein. Such levels of protein nutrition are difficult to achieve in pasture-based systems, because of the protein limiting role of the rumen. Work with protein-protecting tannins to overcome this limitation is discussed. The much more limited evidence for effect of mineral nutrition, particularly copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co) and phosphorus (P), on outcome of larval challenge is also reviewed.     

Seasonal diet composition and forage selectivity of Boer goats in a semi-arid gypsophilous grassland

Botanical and chemical compositions of Boer goat diets, determined with repeated collection of forage samples taken from the goat’s mouth, were studied in a gypsophilous grassland during four seasons of the year. Ten pluriparous goats were used to collect selected forage species. Shrubs were a minor dietary component throughout the year (<7.5%). Goats selected more (p?<?0.01) grass during autumn and winter (34.2–37.8%) than during spring (21.2%) and summer (29.0%). During all seasons goat diets were dominated by forbs (>59%). Diets were lowest (p?<?0.05) in percentage of crude protein during spring, summer and autumn (13.2?±?3.5, 13.2?±?2.4 and 14.2?±?3.9, respectively) than winter (17.5?±?2.9) with levels above the recommended quantities for goats throughout the year. In vitro dry matter digestibility of forages selected by goats did not differ between seasons (range 47.4–53.3%). It was concluded that in this particular ecosystem goats preferred forb species over grasses across all seasons. In addition, goats maintained relatively stable diet quality by forage-class mixing of diets.     

单宁在反刍动物饲料中的应用前景

单宁是一类广泛存在于植物脉管中的多元酚类化合物,化学性质活泼,易于蛋白质结合,对反刍动物营养有特殊的功效。目前,国内外对单宁的研究主要包括两方面的内容:①单宁的生物学特性;②单宁对反刍动物营养学特性的研究。作者主要对这两方面内容作一简要综述,并对单宁在反刍动物饲料中的应用前景进行了展望。     

真菌诱导子对龙眼胚性愈伤组织中类黄酮、类胡萝卜素和单宁含量的影响

为探讨真菌诱导子与龙眼胚性愈伤组织中类黄酮、类胡萝卜素和单宁含量的相关性,以龙眼胚性愈伤组织细胞为材料,研究真菌诱导子种类、浓度及处理天数对龙眼愈伤组织细胞中类黄酮、类胡萝卜素和单宁含量的影响。结果表明：在固体培养基中加入 100 mg/L 拟茎点霉菌诱导子培养 35 d 时,最有利于类黄酮含量的积累,含量高达 8.58 mg/g;拟茎点霉菌诱导子浓度为 50 mg/L 时培养 35 d,最有利于类胡萝卜素含量的积累,其含量为36.83 μg/g;胶孢镰刀菌诱导子浓度为 50 mg/L 时的培养基中培养 35 d,最有利于单宁含量的积累,其含量为10.50 mg/g。液体悬浮培养条件下,胶孢镰刀菌诱导子浓度为 400 mg/L 的培养基中培养 7 d,最有利于类黄酮含量的积累,其含量为 6.29 mg/g;尖孢镰刀菌诱导子浓度为 200 mg/L 的培养基中培养 7 d,最有利于类胡萝卜素含量的积累,其含量为 49.21 μg/g;胶孢镰刀菌诱导子浓度为 400 mg/L 的培养基中培养 7 d,最有利于单宁含量的积累,其含量为 13.15 mg/g。本研究为将来龙眼胚性愈伤组织细胞工厂化生产类黄酮、类胡萝卜素和单宁等次生代谢物质奠定理论基础并提供技术指导。     

Pinewood nematode population growth in relation to pine phloem chemical composition

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, native to North America (NA), is now a major invasive pine pest in Eurasia. Pine species differ greatly in their susceptibility to B. xylophilus, and differences in susceptibility might be related to differences in phytochemistry. This study addressed two major questions: (i) which plant chemical profiles (including compounds that act as plant defences and those important for nutrition) favour pinewood nematode development; and (ii) are NA and Portuguese pinewood nematodes different in their capacity to subsist on plant tissues? For this, B. xylophilus isolates from NA and Portugal were tested on pine phloem and xylem of different pine species. It was found that unaltered pine phloem can sustain the population growth of B. xylophilus, but only in a few cases, and this was clearly related to distinct chemical profiles in some pine species. No evidence was found of evolutionary divergence between B. xylophilus populations in Portugal and NA. The pine species with phloem on which pinewood nematodes could grow tended to have low levels of total phenols, condensed tannins, flavonoids and lignin. Evidence was also found that nutrients such as N may be important.     

Niacin status of humans as affected by eating decorticated and whole-ground sorghum (Sorghum Gramineae) grain,ready-to-eat breakfast cereals

Niacin utilization to humans from whole grain ground sorghum flour and decorticated grain ground sorghum flour was studied. During two, randomly-arranged experimental periods of 14 days each, the 10 healthy adult subjects ate constant, laboratory controlled diets which included 28 g per day of either a ready-to-eat cereal prepared from whole-ground-sorghum flour or one prepared from decorticated (polished) sorghum flour. All subjects received both experimental treatments, made complete collections of urine and stools, and gave fasting blood samples at the ends of both experimental periods. Although the whole ground cereal contained higher amounts of niacin than did the decorticated cereal, urinary losses of N-methylnicotinamine were higher when the decorticated cereal was fed than when the whole ground cereal was used. Blood serum levels of nicotinamide and N-nicotinamide were higher when the whole ground cereal was fed than the feeding of the decorticated cereal was given. Therefore, it appears that the niacin of whole ground sorghum is absorbed but then the need for niacin is either increased or its urinary excretion is inhibited.Published as University of Nebraska Division of Agriculture Research Journal Series No. 9494. Supported by Nebraska Agriculture Research Division Project 91-031 and U.S.D.A. C.S.R.S. Regional Research Project No. W-143.     

Niacin,thiamin, iron and protein status of humans as affected by the consumption of tea (Camellia sinensis) infusions

The objective of the project was to determine the effects of tea (Camellia sinensis) leaf beverage consumption on the apparent utilization of niacin, thiamin, and protein in human subjects. During two randomly arranged experimental periods of 14 days each, 10 adult female human subjects were fed a constant (same foods each day), measured, laboratory-controlled diet. Tea was fed during one period while no tea was allowed during the other period. A dehydrated black tea infusion product (instant tea, 8 g/subject/day/dry weight basis) was used which subjects were allowed to dilute in water. Subjects made complete collections of urine and stools. Fasting blood samples were drawn at the end of each experimental period. No effects on protein status were demonstrated. Urinary thiamin losses were depressed with the use of tea but niacin losses were increased. Blood serum concentrations of thiamin diphosphate also were depressed during the tea drinking period as compared to values during the non-tea period. No significant effect on blood serum levels of nicotinaminde or N-methylnicotinamine were found but values tended to be lower during the tea than the non-tea period. These results suggest that tea consumption inhibits the utilization of thiamin. However, niacin availability was unaffected by tea drinking. Because of the decreased availability of thiamin, the need for niacin was depressed which caused a greater than expected urinary loss of this vitamin.Published as University of Nebraska Journal Articles Series No. 9496. Supported by University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division Project 91-031 and U.S.D.A. C.S.R.S. Regional Project W-143.