Phenotypic and genetic relationships between growth and feed intake curves and feed efficiency and amino acid requirements in the growing pig

Improvement of feed efficiency in pigs has been achieved essentially by increasing lean growth rate, which resulted in lower feed intake (FI). The objective was to evaluate the impact of strategies for improving feed efficiency on the dynamics of FI and growth in growing pigs to revisit nutrient recommendations and strategies for feed efficiency improvement. In 2010, three BWs, at 35±2, 63±9 and 107±7 kg, and daily FI during this period were recorded in three French test stations on 379 Large White and 327 French Landrace from maternal pig populations and 215 Large White from a sire population. Individual growth and FI model parameters were obtained with the InraPorc^R software and individual nutrient requirements were computed. The model parameters were explored according to feed efficiency as measured by residual feed intake (RFI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR). Animals were separated in groups of better feed efficiency (RFI⁻ or FCR⁻), medium feed efficiency and poor feed efficiency. Second, genetic relationships between feed efficiency and model parameters were estimated. Despite similar average daily gains (ADG) during the test for all RFI groups, RFI⁻ pigs had a lower initial growth rate and a higher final growth rate compared with other pigs. The same initial growth rate was found for all FCR groups, but FCR⁻ pigs had significantly higher final growth rates than other pigs, resulting in significantly different ADG. Dynamic of FI also differed between RFI or FCR groups. The calculated digestible lysine requirements, expressed in g/MJ net energy (NE), showed the same trends for RFI or FCR groups: the average requirements for the 25% most efficient animals were 13% higher than that of the 25% least efficient animals during the whole test, reaching 0.90 to 0.95 g/MJ NE at the beginning of the test, which is slightly greater than usual feed recommendations for growing pigs. Model parameters were moderately heritable (0.30±0.13 to 0.56±0.13), except for the precocity of growth (0.06±0.08). The parameter representing the quantity of feed at 50 kg BW showed a relatively high genetic correlation with RFI (0.49±0.14), and average protein deposition between 35 and 110 kg had the highest correlation with FCR (−0.76±0.08). Thus, growth and FI dynamics may be envisaged as breeding tools to improve feed efficiency. Furthermore, improvement of feed efficiency should be envisaged jointly with new feeding strategies.     

Contributions of animal nutrition research in rostock to energetic feed evaluation

The Rostock research in animal nutrition has underlain in continuation and progressive development of Kellner's starch value system, net energy fat as measuring unit for energetic feed evaluation. Net energy‐fat was used as an uniform unit of measure for all farm animals with different performances. The scientific basis for the net energy‐fat system was created by numerous studies on energy retention and utilisation efficiency of pure nutrients and nutrients of feedstuffs and rations. For the estimation the energy content of feedstuffs and rations, multiple regression equations were derived on the basis of experimental results of the energy research group. The regressions for the estimation of energy values are used directly and modified in feed evaluation systems for practical use. The Rostock research group in energy metabolism created also essential contributions to factorial derivations of energy requirement of farm animals. In the presented paper selected results on maintenance energy requirement in relation to partial energy requirement values and utilisation efficiencies in growing, pregnant and lactating animals, especially cattle and pigs, are comprised. The Rostock results are compared to those from literature.     

Influence of host plants on development, fecundity and egg hatchability of the arctiid moth Diacrisia casignetum

Measurements were made of the differences between sunflower and climbing hempweed leaves for development, fecundity and egg hatchability of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar. Developmental time and weight gains of sunflower-fed larvae were respectively longer and greater than those of hempweed-fed ones. The development time and weight gain, attributable to differences in host plants, were statistically heterogeneous (P<0.05-<0.10). Relative fecundity and egg hatchability of sunflower reared insects were greater than those of hempweed reared ones, and these were also statistically heterogeneous (P<0.1 and <0.05, respectively). Hempweed leaves contained relatively high titres of phenols and low ratios of proteins to phenols. Ovaries were heavier in insects reared on sunflower than on hempweed, whereas the level of phenols incorporated into the ovary was higher in insects fed on hempweed than those on sunflower. The differences in these parameters may be due to variations in nutritional quality of these hosts and incorporation of ingested phenolic materials to ovary and insect biomass.

---

Résumé L'étude a porté sur l'évaluation de l'influence des feuilles de tournesol (Helianthus annuus) et de Mikana cordata sur le développement, la fécondité et l'éclosion des oeufs de D. casignetum Kollaz. La durée de développement et le gain de poids sur tournesol étaient plus importants que sur M. cordata. La durée de développement était statistiquement hétérogène (P<0.05), ce qui peut être dû à des différences entre plantes. La fécondité et le taux d'éclosion chez les insectes élevés sur tournesol étaient plus élevés que ceux observés sur M. cordata, dont les résultats étaient aussi hétérogènes (P<0.1 et<0.05 respectivement). Les feuilles de M. cordata contenaient des taux relativement élevés de phénols et des rapports protéines sur phénols bas. Tout ceci suggère que les différences observées sont attribuables à des variations dans la qualité nutritive de ces hôtes et dans l'incorporation à la biomasse de l'insecte de matériaux phénologiques ingérés.

     

Minimum area requirements of breeding birds in fragmented woodland of Central Argentina

The breeding avifauna of 25 woodland fragments (0.85–280 ha) was studied between 1996 and 2004 in Córdoba, Argentina. A distinctive feature of the avifauna of the fragments studied is the low area requirement of most of the species. Of the 54 woodland species recorded, 32 (59.3%) require c . 1 ha and 43 (79.6%) needed no more than 3 ha. Also noticeable is the relatively high number of individuals of most of the species. Both characteristics suggest a good tolerance to fragmentation. However, nine species (16.7%), the area-sensitive species, need fragments of 80 ha or larger. Moreover, eight resident species have apparently become extinct in the fragments that were studied, including the five large species that originally inhabited the area. Proportional odds and log linear models were fitted to relate the minimum area requirements of these species to various ecological characteristics (body size, diet, habitat use, migratory status, and nest type). Closed nesters, resident, woodland exterior, and medium-size species were the groups requiring larger areas. No apparent pattern was observed between area requirements and diet. A recent law prohibits woodland removal, which is a positive step towards the conservation of the fragments. The results suggest that as long as the present amount of woodland is maintained, the situation of the avifauna of the fragments is relatively secure, at least in the short term.     

Divergence in germination traits among arctic and alpine populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Koenigia islandica</Emphasis>: light requirements

Light is known to regulate conservative germination strategies and the formation of seed banks. Although these strategies are crucial to survival in tundra environments—especially for annuals—light requirements for germination in arctic–alpine species are seldom investigated. Furthermore, environmental differences between arctic and alpine regions are expected to lead to evolutionary divergence among conspecific populations in seed germination strategies. In this study, we report important differences in germination light requirements among six arctic and alpine populations of the annual Koenigia islandica. Light had little effect on germination of the seeds from Iqaluit (Nunavut, Canada), Yukon (Canada), and Jasper (Alberta, Canada), whereas the seeds from the most severe climates, Svalbard (Norway) and Colorado (USA), had strong light requirements. Stratification of the seeds had little influence on their germination light requirements, with the exception of the population from Dovre (Norway), in which it induced a strong light requirement. Possible adaptive explanations and some implications of these observed germination patterns are discussed.     

食用菌产业化生产的质量安全保障措施

总结多年食用菌生产实践经验,并在多项科研项目中运用和充实,制定了《安全食用菌产品生产技术要求(企业标准)》。在食用菌产业化示范中对安全食用菌生产场地环境、制种和菌种经营、栽培工艺、产品质量等提出了专业和具体的要求,为食用菌生产技术的升级换代和规范化提供技术参数和质量指标,为提高食用菌产品质量、保障消费者安全与健康提供依据。     

珠芽蓼果实营养成分分析

本文对珠芽蓼果实的营养成分进行了分析.结果表明,珠芽蓼果实含有丰富的蛋白质、总糖、氨基酸和矿质元素,是一种值得有效开发的野生植物资源.     

Lysine and threonine biosynthesis in sorghum seeds: characterisation of aspartate kinase and homoserine dehydrogenase isoenzymes

Aspartate kinase (AK, EC 2.7.2.4) and homoserine dehydrogenase (HSDH, EC 1.1.1.3) have been partially purified and characterised from immature sorghum seeds. Two peaks of AK activity were eluted by anion‐exchange chromatography [diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)‐Sephacel] with 183 and 262 mM KCl, and both activities were inhibited by lysine. Similarly, two peaks of HSDH activity were eluted with 145 and 183 mM KCl; the enzyme activity in the first peak in elution order was shown to be resistant to threonine inhibition, whereas the second was sensitive to threonine inhibition. However, following gel filtration chromatography (Sephacryl S‐200), one peak of AK activity co‐eluted with HSDH and both activities were sensitive to threonine inhibition, suggesting the presence of a bifunctional threonine‐sensitive AK–HSDH isoenzyme with a molecular mass estimated as 167 kDa. The activities of AK and HSDH were studied in the presence of lysine, threonine, methionine, valine, calcium, ethylene glycol bis(2‐aminoethylether)‐N,N,N′N′‐tetraacetic acid, calmodulin, S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM), S‐2‐aminoethyl‐l ‐cysteine (AEC) and increasing concentrations of KCl. AK was shown to be inhibited by threonine and lysine, confirming the existence of two isoenzymes, one sensitive to threonine and the other sensitive to lysine, the latter being predominant in sorghum seeds. Methionine, SAM plus lysine and AEC also inhibited AK activity; however, increasing KCl concentrations and calcium did not produce any significant effect on AK activity, indicating that calcium does not play a role in AK regulation in sorghum seeds. HSDH also exhibited some inhibition by threonine, but the majority of the activity was not inhibited, thus indicating the existence of a threonine‐sensitive isoenzyme and a second predominant threonine‐insensitive isoenzyme. Valine and SAM plus threonine also inhibited HSDH; however, increasing concentrations of KCl and calcium had no inhibitory effect.     

农作物需水量随气候变化的响应研究

利用甘肃省近80个气象站1961~2000年的常规气象观测资料以及夏秋主要粮食作物平均生育期资料,采用FAO推荐的Penm an-M on te ith公式结合作物系数,计算了各站夏秋主要粮食作物的需水量,分析作物需水量随时间和空间的变化特点以及对气候变化的响应.结果表明:农作物需水量与种植区的气候类型关系十分密切,从干旱-半干旱-半湿润-湿润地区其需水量呈现减小的趋势,越是干旱的地区作物需水量越大,越是湿润的地区作物需水量越小.作物需水量随气候变化的响应比较明显,在干旱、半干旱地区表现尤为突出.不同作物品种需水量相差较大,对气候的响应机制也有差异,一般来说夏粮的需水量小于秋粮,夏粮需水量对气候变化的响应比秋粮敏感.     

The impact of genetic stress by ATGL deficiency on the lipidome of lipid droplets from murine hepatocytes

We showed earlier that nutritional stress like starvation or high-fat diet resulted in phenotypic changes in the lipidomes of hepatocyte lipid droplets (LDs), representative for the pathophysiological status of the mouse model. Here we extend our former study by adding genetic stress due to knockout (KO) of adipocyte triglyceride lipase (ATGL), the rate limiting enzyme in LD lipolysis. An intervention trial for 6 weeks with male wild-type (WT) and ATGL-KO mice was carried out; both genotypes were fed lab chow or were exposed to short-time starvation. Isolated LDs were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine lipidomes, in that order, provided the best phenotypic signatures characteristic for respective stresses applied to the animals. This was evidenced at lipid species level by principal component analysis, calculation of average values for chain-lengths and numbers of double bonds, and by visualization in heat maps. Structural backgrounds for analyses and metabolic relationships were elaborated at lipid molecular species level. Relating our lipidomic data to nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases of nutritional and genetic etiologies with or without accompanying insulin resistance, phenotypic distinction in hepatocyte LDs dependent on insulin status emerged. Taken together, lipidomes of hepatocyte LDs are sensitive responders to nutritional and genetic stress.