Effects of iron injection timing on suckling and subsequent nursery and growing-finishing performance and hematological criteria

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of Fe injection timing after birth on suckling and subsequent nursery and growing-finishing pig performance. The injectable Fe source used in both experiments was GleptoForte (Ceva Animal Health, LLC., Lenexa, KS). GleptoForte contains gleptoferron which is a Fe macromolecule complex. In Exp. 1, a total of 324 newborn pigs (DNA 241 × 600, initially 1.6 ± 0.04 kg body weight [BW]) within 27 litters were used. Two days after birth, all piglets were weighed, and six barrows and six gilts per litter were allotted to 1 of 6 treatments consisting of no Fe injection or 200 mg of injectable Fe provided in a single injection on d 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 of age. Pigs were weaned (~21 d of age) and allotted to nursery pens with all pigs in each pen having received the same Fe treatment. In Exp. 2, a total of 1,892 newborn pigs (PIC 359 × C40; initially 1.5 ± 0.02 kg BW) within 172 litters were used. One day after birth, piglets were weighed, and 11 pigs within each litter were allotted to 1 of 6 treatments consisting of no Fe injection or 200 mg of injectable Fe provided on d 1, 3, 5, or 7 of age, or 200 mg on d 1 plus 200 mg on d 12 of age. Pigs were weaned (19 d of age) and placed in a commercial wean-to-finish facility in a total of 15 pens with equal representation of treatments in each pen. In both experiments, not providing an Fe injection after birth decreased (P < 0.05) preweaning average daily gain (ADG), weaning weight, and hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared with all other treatments. In Exp. 1, increasing the age that piglets received an Fe injection until 4 or 6 d after birth provided marginal evidence for an improvement (quadratic; P = 0.070) in preweaning ADG. For the nursery period, increasing the age that piglets received an Fe injection improved (quadratic; P = 0.013) d 80 BW, but there was no evidence of a difference (P > 0.10) in d 173 BW at the end of the grow-finish period. In Exp. 2, increasing the age that piglets received a 200 mg Fe injection showed no evidence of difference (P > 0.10) for subsequent nursery and growing-finishing ADG. In both experiments, hemoglobin and hematocrit values were decreased (linear; P < 0.05) at weaning with increasing age when pigs received an Fe injection. These experiments suggest that providing a 200 mg Fe injection within 7 d after farrowing is sufficient for optimizing preweaning and subsequent growth performance.     

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Chemisch-mineralogische und mikromorphologische untersuchung einer eutrophen (Ramann-) braunerde des Budapester Hügellandes

In spite of the fact that Ramann's concept of Braunerde was extensively used throughout the world, some pedogenic processes and soil properties which are important for the formation and existence of Brown Forest Soils (eutrophic brown earths) are still not well known. Hence, a soil was investigated which was classified as a “Braunerde” by Ramann in 1909. The main question was, whether there might be soil constituents such as inorganic amorphous substances (allophanes) which are able to stabilize the brown-earth fabric, or to inhibit clay migration. From chemical data as well as from the magnitude of the pH-dependent CEC, it was deduced that there are no appreciable amounts of allophanes within the soil. The fabric, however, seems to be stabilized by colloid-chemical flocculation of the clay particles caused by large amounts of carbonates and silicates deposited with the parent material (loess). The decalcified solum is still rich in silicates, especially sand and coarse-silt-sized micas and feldspars (60–200 and 20–60 μm fractions, respectively). Since - in comparison - loesses and loess-derived soils of the Central German mountain region contain less silicates, mainly in fine and medium silt fractions (2–6 and 6–20 μm diameter, respectively), the coarser-grained silicates were assumed to be important for maintaining the Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ saturation of the soil by continuous weathering and thus stabilizing the brown-earth fabric.Although the soil is saturated predominantly with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions, clay migration proceeds within the upper horizons. This was shown by calculation of the amounts of clay formed by breakdown of micas originally present in the parent material (“clay formation balance”), as well as by micromorphological studies. Furthermore, micromorphological studies and x-ray diffraction data gave some evidence for the migration of preferably finest grained montmorillonitic clays (smectites) penetrated by organic substances (humus). This kind of “selective clay migration” was assumed to be caused by high Ca²⁺ (or Mg²⁺) concentrations in soil solution required for flocculation of humus-penetrated (humus-coated) smectites. From the occurrence of these “humus-smectites” the possibility was assumed that the soil studied has been developed from a former Chernozem type.Quantitatively, clay migration does not reach the amounts of clay formation (breakdown of micas) accompanied by precipitation of iron oxides on mineral surfaces (“Verbraunung”). Thus, the soil profile visually and macromorphologically clearly exhibits the features of brown earths. On the other hand, however, some clay migration was observed. Hence, the soil was classified as a “brown earth with some clay migration” (“schwach durchschlämmte Braunerde”).Judging from the results of the “clay formation balance” an appreciable pedogenic (autigenic) clay formation from weathering products of feldspars was excluded for the soil studied.     

Effect of graded nitrogen supplements on egg protein synthesis and body protein retention in broiler hens

In the top laying period (29th/30th week of life) egg protein synthesis and protein retention in the bodies of laying hens were ascertained. Based on egg-N analyses, the relation between N-intake/live weight0.67kg and egg-N discharge/kg LW0.67kg was regressively calculated and described. The subtraction of egg-N discharge/LW0.67kg from N-balance/LW0.67kg made it possible to estimate N-retention/LW0.67kg in the body. From the intersection of this curve with the chi-axis it follows that the broiler hen meets the N-requirement for maintenance and egg production with a daily consumption of 1,264.7 mg N/LW0.67kg, which corresponds to 15.8 g crude protein, and then neither loses nor retains body protein. At a daily intake of this amount of CP (15.8 g) the broiler hen produces 44.1 g egg per day. An energy intake of more than 70 EFUhen/animal and day resulted in fat retention in the broiler hen.     

Methodological aspects of the determination of nitrogen metabolism parameters from 15N-tracer experiments on swine based on nitrogen metabolism models. 2. Calculation of N metabolism parameters from the time of urinary excretion of 15N

After a 45-hour infusion of 15N-lysine and 15N-glycine resp. with pigs of 25 kg live weight, the infusion of the tracer was disrupted and a 3-day reduction phase was made part of the experiment. The N-metabolism parameters such as protein synthesis and decomposition quotas were calculated on the basis of the temporal development of 15N-amounts excreted in urine. The labelling and reduction phases were evaluated simultaneously. By means of including the total N-amount of the animal body the balance calculation becomes more stable. The possible influence of the tracer amino acid in connection with the 3-pool-model is discussed on the basis of the ascertained parameters.     

Nitrogen and amino acid resorption in the small intestine of growing swine. 1. Animal study method, nitrogen content and amino acid composition of the small intestine chyme by administration of various proteins

The amount of endogenous N in the chyme at the end of the small intestine and the amino acid composition of the ileum chyme were ascertained with growing pigs with ileorectostomy after feeding qualitatively differentiated protein sources. In dependence on the protein used, distinct differences turned out for some amino acids with regard to their content in the ileum chyme. Bacteriologic and histologic investigations subsequent to the dissection of the test animals showed that - in comparison to the control animals-the functions of the small intestine remained the same during the time of the experiment. The experiment method described appears to be suitable for absorption investigations up to the end of the small intestine of growing pigs.     

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Nitrogen and amino acid absorption in the small intestine of growing pigs. 2. Apparent and true crude protein digestibility and amino acid absorption to the end of the small intestine

Studies of the apparent and true ileal digestibility of crude protein and the apparent and true amino acid (AA) absorption were carried out with 7 female pigs in the live weight range between 22 and 34 kg after ileorectostomy. Protein sources of varied quality with regard to the method of treatment (toasted) and untoasted soybean oilmeal) and to the AA composition (vital gluten or vital gluten + L-lysine X HCl) were used. Distinct differences regarding the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and the apparent absorption of amino acids were discovered between the protein sources, the cause of which is to be seen in the different amounts of endogenous N. The true ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acid absorption were partly distinctly higher than the values of the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and AA absorption. On the whole one can say that the results of the investigation gained by means of ileorectostomy can be compared to the values gained from cannulated animals. Thus the experimental method used is suitable for studying the absorption process to the end of the small intestine of pigs.