Serine-to-glycine ratios in low-protein diets regulate intramuscular fat by affecting lipid metabolism and myofiber type transition in the skeletal muscle of growing-finishing pigs

Serine and glycine are 2 of the first-affected nonessential amino acids in low crude protein (CP) diets for pigs. Therefore, we explored the effects of different dietary serine-to-glycine ratios on growth performance and lipid metabolism in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 160 crossbred healthy barrows, with a similar body weight of around 59.50 kg, were randomly allotted into 1 of 5 treatments (8 pens per treatment and 4 pigs per pen). The serine-to-glycine ratios of the 5 dietary treatments were as follows: diet A (NORMAL group), 1.18:1 (16% CP); diet B (LOW group), 1.2:1 (12% CP); diet C (S2G1 group), 2:1 (12% CP); diet D (S1G2 group), 1:2 (12% CP); and diet E (S1G1 group), 1:1 (12% CP).We found that the pigs fed a low CP diet (12% CP), when maintaining serine-to-glycine ratio at 1:2 and a total amount of 1.44%, had the same average daily gain as the pigs fed a normal CP diet (16% CP) (P > 0.05), but they had increased intramuscular fat (P < 0.05). Furthermore, they exhibited higher expression of genes involved in lipid oxidation (P < 0.05), which was regulated by modulating methylation levels in the promoters of acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (ACADM). When compared with the pigs fed a normal CP diet, these pigs had more oxidative myofibers (P < 0.05), which were regulated by AMPK-PGC-1α and Calcineurin-MEF2/NFAT pathways in a coordinated manner. Our findings suggested that a dietary serine-to-glycine ratio of 1:2 is beneficial for improving meat quality in pigs fed a low CP diet.     

4种日粮条件下30～150日龄羔羊瘤胃消化代谢功能的变化

将16只30日龄体重约6～10kg装有瘤胃瘘管的罗姆尼与新疆美利奴羊杂交公羔分为4组，分别喂以不同消化能（DE，MJ／kg）和蛋白质（CP，％）水平的日粮（DE／CP：11．91／20、11．91／14、8．15／20和8．15／14），以15d为一研究时间段，每时间段的第9、10和11天在第一次喂料后的第0、1、3、6和9h采取瘤胃液样品，以研究30～150日龄期间羔羊瘤胃消化代谢的变化规律。结果表明，羔羊瘤胃液pH、氨态氮、丙酸、乙＋丙＋丁酸浓度随日龄而不断升高，在100日龄时趋于稳定，并且受日粮营养水平的影响。乙酸浓度的变化虽也受日龄和日粮营养水平的影响，但相对较小。羔羊瘤胃液体积在120日内几乎增加了15倍，并且也受日粮营养水平的影响。研究表明瘤胃消化代谢的发育是渐进性的，在100日龄时各项指标均趋于稳定，并且瘤胃液体积的增大对于瘤胃消化代谢能力的发育起着首要的作用。     

猪日粮中酵母硒应用的研究进展

酵母硒是饲料中优质的有机硒源,较无机硒具有更高的吸收率与生物安全性,可提高猪的生长、成活率和繁殖性能,而且可提高肉品质和营养价值。作者综述了酵母硒在猪日粮中的应用研究进展。     

不同形态及不同粗纤维水平日粮对1～50日龄鸵鸟生长性能的影响

比较不同形态及不同粗纤维水平日粮对1～50日龄鸵鸟生产性能的影响,为鸵鸟雏鸟的全价颗粒饲粮配制提供试验论证及合理的粗纤维水平数据。选取1日龄健康的鸵鸟160只,随机分为4个处理(1个对照组,3个试验组),每处理4个重复,每重复10只雏鸟,对照组日粮形态为精料(粗纤维为5%)+苜蓿青草,3个试验组的日粮形态为全价颗粒饲料(其粗纤维水平分别为4%、5%、6%)。饲喂精料+苜蓿青草形态日粮的雏鸟体增重和饲料效率显著高于饲喂全价颗粒饲料的各处理(P0.05),并且没有雏鸟死亡;3个不同粗纤维水平的颗粒料的采食量和体增重的差异都不显著(P0.05),其中粗纤维水平为5%的颗粒饲料饲喂的效果相对较好,但该组的死亡率最高,为15.0%。以精料+苜蓿青草形态的日粮饲喂1～50日龄鸵鸟的效果好于饲喂全价颗粒饲料的效果;全价颗粒饲料粗纤维水平过低会引起鸵鸟雏鸟的粪干便秘并造成死亡,本试验表明,1～50日龄鸵鸟饲料中的粗纤维水平不宜低于6%。     

Diet is a main source of vitamin D in Finnish pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

During the winter time in Finland, sunlight is inadequate for vitamin D synthesis. Many pet rabbits live as house rabbits with limited outdoor access even during summer and may therefore be dependent on dietary sources of vitamin D. The aims of this study were to report the serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Finnish pet rabbits and to identify factors that influence vitamin D status. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations from 140 pet rabbits were determined using a vitamin D enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. Eleven rabbits were excluded from the statistical analysis because of unclear dietary data. The remaining 129 rabbits were divided into groups depending on outdoor access during summer (no access n = 26, periodic n = 57, regular n = 46) as well as daily diet: little or no hay and commercial rabbit food ≤1/2 dl (n = 12); a lot of hay and no commercial food daily (n = 23); a lot of hay and commercial food <1 dl (n = 59); a lot of hay and commercial food ≥1 dl (n = 35). The range of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration was from 4.5 to 67.5 ng/ml with a mean of 26.1 ng/ml. Statistical general linear model adjusted for weight, age and season indicated that diet was associated with vitamin D concentrations (p = 0.001), but outdoor access during summer was not (p = 0.41). Mean 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration was significantly higher in the rabbits receiving a lot of hay and commercial food ≥1 dl (33.9 ± 13.2 ng/ml) than in rabbits in other diet groups (24.0 ± 8.5 ng/ml, 21.7 ± 8.1 ng/ml, and 22.2 ± 18.0 ng/ml, respectively). This investigation showed wide variation in 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations among Finnish pet rabbits. Diet remains a main source since outdoor access seems to be too limited to provide adequate vitamin D synthesis for most of them, and the use of vitamin D supplements is rare.     

促食物质和阻食物质相互作用对家蚕摄食性的影响

以 4龄起蚕取食饲料一定时间后的排粪量为指标 ,探讨了促食性物质和阻食性物质对家蚕摄食性的影响。结果表明 ,将桑叶粉、蔗糖、肌醇等促食物质同时添加到饲料中 ,对家蚕的取食有协同促进作用。脱脂大豆粉、柠檬酸等摄食抑制物质的阻食作用也具有累加性。而将促食物质和阻食物质混合添加时 ,二者表现为相互抑制效应。添加促食剂是减弱或消除阻食性物质的摄食抑制作用的有效途径。     

组合型木聚糖酶对21日龄黄羽肉鸡器官指数、内源消化酶活性以及肠道吸收功能的影响

通过对21日龄黄羽肉鸡器官指数和胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、胰脂肪酶、胰淀粉酶以及血清中木糖水平进行检测,研究酶制剂对动物内脏器官所产生的影响,以及组合酶和单酶之间的差异。木聚糖酶在小麦型日粮中添加,降低了肝脏、肌胃、腺胃、十二指肠、空肠和回肠的器官指数,增加了胰腺的器官指数;降低了胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶的分泌水平;组合酶比单酶降低小肠器官指数更明显,单酶增加了胰脂肪酶的分泌水平,组合酶降低了胰脂肪酶的分泌水平,差异不显著(P>0.05)。小麦型日粮饲喂组血清中木糖的水平高于玉米型日粮组和加酶组,酶制剂的添加降低了血液中的木糖水平,各处理组之间差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

家蚕种质资源品种的人工饲料摄食性研究

采用山东省蚕业研究所现有低成本人工饲料饲养本所家蚕资源品种,研究其摄食性,结果杂交种优于日系与中系,在收蚁与1龄期间是日系明显优于中系,至3龄起蚕日系的存活率也是明显高于中系,而在2龄期间存活下来的中系家蚕对人工饲料的摄食性优于日系。     

Midsummer Trophic Overlap Between Guanaco and Sheep in Patagonian Rangelands

Diet overlap estimation among species is important to understand interspecific interactions. Through these interactions, one species may extinguish others through competition or adapt through mechanisms such as resource partitioning. The introduction of domestic herbivores in a native assemblage may introduce competition for resources with wild herbivores. In southern Patagonian steppes, guanaco (Lama guanicoe) populations are increasing after a drastic demise during the past century. This is occurring in protected areas and extensive ranching areas for sheep, and in the latter ranchers have rising concerns regarding competition. In this observational study, we measured diet overlap, food selection and preferences, and niche width for guanaco and sheep to compare use of food resources during the summer season. Feces were analyzed through microhistological technique to determine sheep and guanaco diets. Diets of guanaco and sheep were dominated by tussock grass (Festuca gracillima, sheep > 60%, guanaco > 50%), the most abundant plant species. Although food niche widths, measured through Levin’s Index, were narrow, guanaco presented the broadest niche (P < 0.001). Of the 17 identified plant species present in guanaco and sheep diets, 5 were always selected by both ungulates and 1 was always avoided at the four study sites. Overlap between diets was high (> 0.90), evidencing potential competition. In addition, diet overlap coupled with our results of small variation in use and selectivity of food resources suggest the absence of resource partitioning. Therefore, both species might share resources or coexist, possibly due to high availability or spatial distribution of food resources and guanaco resilience to cope with numerically dominant competition from sheep. These findings offer new insight into the understanding of these species’ interactions. It is also a management challenge to emerging wild and domestic herbivores interactions, as well as livestock production concerns at large.     

Growing Degree Day: Noninvasive Remotely Sensed Method to Monitor Diet Crude Protein in Free-Ranging Cattle

The daily nutritional balance of free-ranging cattle is the net result of intake from available forage biomass and nutritive value weighed against the nutritional requirements of the animal. Plant phenology influences nutritive value. Plant phenology is dictated by time of year and an accumulation of photosynthetically active days. Growing degree day (GDD) is a concept that quantifies this relationship and has been used to predict nutritive value in perennial range grasses. GDD could be substituted for chemical analysis to inform grazing animal nutritional monitoring efforts. We hypothesized that in C4 grass-dominated rangelands, a cumulative GDD calculation would correlate with diet crude protein (CP) predictions obtained by fecal near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) from free-ranging cattle. Therefore, the objectives of our research were to evaluate the effectiveness of GDD to predict FNIRS-derived determinations of grazing cattle diet CP in 1) two groups of three individual animals grazing a small native pasture and 2) large commercial-scale herds grazing expansive rangelands. For the first objective, cumulative GDD and FNIRS-predicted diet CP were strongly correlated (r² = 0.76; P < 0.01). Relationships between cumulative GDD and FNIRS-predicted diet CP for the second objective varied considerably among ranches, ranging from a low r² of 0.05 (P = 0.871) to a high r² of 0.78 (P < 0.049). Similar values for individual ranch/year combinations were stronger; ranging from a minimum r² of 0.44 (P = 0.556) to a maximum of 0.95 (P = 0.051). The aggregate relationship between GDD and FNIRS-predicted CP for all ranch/year combinations was highly significant (r² = 0.37; P < 0.001), but the standard error was 1.86% CP. The noninvasive remotely sensed grazing animal nutritional monitoring method described here was accurate enough to inform tactical rangeland diet quality assessments but was not accurate enough to inform operational-scale grazing management decisions.