The evolution and application of enzymes in the animal feed industry: the role of data interpretation

ABSTRACT

1. Enzymes have been used commercially for nearly 40 years and save significant costs through sparing of expensive nutrients but the mechanism by which this is achieved is still debated.

2. The research focused on non-starch polysaccharidase (NSPase) enzymes is used as an example of where greater progress could have been made if the details of the work had been described more fully and the analysis of the data generated had been broader in scope and more critical.

3. Lack of standardisation of the details presented in the materials and methods has been identified as a significant barrier to meaningful retrospective analysis and thus limits advances in the understanding of the mode of action of these enzymes.

4. The identity of the enzyme employed and its activity is often lacking, and more importantly the purity is rarely disclosed. Contaminant activities which are neither listed nor assayed could play a significant role in the responses observed.

5. The dose optimum of most enzymes is often considerably higher than that employed in most studies. Thus studies claiming synergy between two ‘activities’ should ensure that the response is not related to each enzyme simply augmenting the dose of just one activity in the finished feed. This is a common problem, and coupled with the lack of factorial experiments to justify the presence of each enzyme in a multi-enzyme product, it is not surprising that there is still debate as to whether single or multi-enzymes are best suited poultry rations.

6. The three proposed mechanisms for NSPases (viscosity, cell wall and prebiotic) are discussed, and along with their strengths and weaknesses it is suggested that a re-evaluation of each is needed. Viscosity may have to be re-evaluated as being a function not only of the cereal being fed, but of the age of the animal as well. The cell wall theory as described is poorly modelled in vitro and hence the validity of these data is questioned. The prebiotic theory may need significant modification as it appears that the quantities of oligomers produced are insufficient to generate the additional volatile fatty acids (VFA)’s reported. It is likely that all three mechanisms play a role in the responses observed, but the prebiotic mechanism probably plays by far the most important part in low viscosity diets.

7. Future research would be improved if it considered all potential mechanisms when designing a trial. Significant failings are apparent as a result of adherence to tenets in explanation of the results. Most importantly, it should be emphasised that a hypothesis is there to be tested, not defended.     

高坡猪GH基因不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响

采用PCR-RFLP-ApaⅠ方法检测高坡猪GH基因-119~ 486 bp片段的多态性,探讨了不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响。结果表明:产生2个等位基因A(449 bp)和B(316 133 bp),其频率分别为0.54和0.46;3种基因型:AA、AB和BB,其频率分别为0.26、0.56和0.18;除6月龄腹围和背膘厚外,其余指标值均以BB基因型最高,AA基因型的6月龄腹围和瘦肉率与BB基因型相比差异显著(P<0.05),其他指标在各基因型间差异均不显著(P>0.05)。表明,A可能是小型猪的有利等位基因,B则可能是大型猪的有利等位基因。     

湖南小溪国家级自然保护区生态旅游资源的SWOT分析

对湖南小溪国家级自然保护区进行了生态旅游资源的SWOT分析,其优势是:良好的原始次森林和高品位的自然资源、森林浴的理想场所、优秀独特的人文资源、丰富的植物基因库存.但是可进入性差、知名度低、接待设施及能力较差.周边存在张家界国家森林公园和栖凤湖风景区的竞争威胁.分析了发展机会.     

云南哀牢山自然保护区南华片区项目建设必要性分析

对哀牢山国家级自然保护区南华片区的生物多样性、经营现状和经营管理进行评价,对项目建设必要性分析结果:项目建设有利于该保护区的整体效应;有利于对珍稀植物物种和生态系统的保护;有利于对候鸟迁徙通道的保护;有利于社会经济的可持续发展;是加强科研和宣教工作的需要。最后阐述了项目建设的主要内容。     

社会林业发展与林权制度安排

从人的价值及行为形成机制出发,分析认为影响林业发展的核心因素是产权安排,目前我国林权制度存在所有权主体虚置、林地产权的各项权能边界不清、林地权属四至界限不清等问题.发展社会林业,必须界定出明晰的林业权能边界,强化林地使用权,保障四大权能.     

湖北薤山自然保护区两栖爬行动物多样性调查

2005年8月对湖北省薤山自然保护区的两栖动物和爬行动物进行了专项调查.分别记录到两栖动物21种,隶属于2目8科;爬行动物31种,隶属于2目9科.对它们的物种组成、地理区系特点和保护等级进行了研究,并提出了保护建议.     

腾冲县集体林权制度改革中的技术要点初探

分析技术工作在林业乃至集体林权制度改革中的重要性.对集体林权制度改革中的技术工作流程:技术准备,工具、图纸等材料准备、外业宗地的区划,面积求算方法及精度要求,各种表册的填制,附图的绘制,成果图的绘制及质量检查的技术要点作了较详细论述.     

浅谈当前森林覆盖率计算的两个公式

介绍计算森林覆盖率的2个公式,指出应该用(2)式计算森林覆盖率.分析了有林地面积、国家特别规定灌木林地面积、灌木林地面积与森林覆盖率的关系.     

次生幼龄林封山育林后乔木层物种结构变化研究

1999年在浙江省仙居县俞坑村的封山育林区设置20 m×20 m的固定样地2块,对连续5年的调查数据进行统计分析,以其对次生幼林乔木物种结构变化进行研究.分析结果,乔木层物种丰富度指数增加了7～11,乔木物种增加了2～5科,3～8属.自然恢复为以壳斗科、杉科、山茶科、樟科、胡桃科、安息香科等物种为建群种或共建种的次生常绿阔叶林、针阔混交林.