Influence of incrementally substituting dietary soya bean meal for rapeseed meal on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, growth performance and ammonia emissions from growing-finishing pigs

A completely randomised design experiment was performed to examine the effects of replacing different levels of soya bean meal (SBM) with rapeseed meal (RSM) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, apparent nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance and manure ammonia emissions of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (n = 336; mean live weight 42.1 kg) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments containing per kg diet: 210 g SBM; 140 g SBM and 70 g RSM; 70 g SBM and 140 g RSM; and 210 g RSM. All diets were formulated on an ileal digestible amino acid, net energy and available phosphorus basis. There was no significant treatment effect on average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics. There was a linear decrease in gross energy digestibility (p < 0.01) as RSM increased at the expense of SBM in the diet. There was a linear decrease in urinary N excretion (p < 0.01), N digestibility (p < 0.05), total N excretion (p < 0.05) and N retention (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of RSM. There was no effect of dietary treatment on manure ammonia emissions. The results of this study indicate that RSM can be used as a direct replacement for SBM with no associated depression in performance, when formulated on an ileal digestible amino acid and net energy basis. Consumption of diets containing incremental levels of RSM linearly decreased urinary N and total N excretion, reflecting the associated decrease in crude protein concentrations.     

The nutritional value of narrow-leafed lupine (Lupinus angustifolius) for fattening pigs

The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient digestibility of seeds of four varieties of narrow-leafed lupines (Lupinus angustifolius) and the possibility of soya bean meal (SBM) substitution by lupine seeds alone and in combination with rapeseed meal (RSM) in the diets of pigs. The seeds of the lupine varieties Kalif, Sonet, Zeus and Boruta were analysed. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was determined on 50 cross-bred pigs using the difference method with titanium dioxide as a marker. The substitution of SBM by lupine seeds alone (at 0 – 100%) was tested on 60 pigs (20–105 kg body weight (BW)) and by a combination of lupine seeds and RSM on 180 fattening pigs (35–80 kg BW). The chemical composition of lupine seeds differed considerably, especially in terms of crude protein and mineral content. All seeds contained less than 0.05% alkaloids and 9.3% oligosaccharides in dry matter. The ATTD of protein ranged from 70% to 74%, those of ether extract from 36% to 55% and those of gross energy from 77% to 84%. The entire replacement of SBM by lupine seeds (var. Sonet) did not have a negative effect on the performance of grower and fattener pigs. The substitution of SBM by a combination of lupines and RSM reduced the performance of growing and finishing pigs significantly.     

Comparative digestibility of energy and nutrients in diets fed to sows and growing pigs

The objective of this research was to compare values for digestible energy (DE) and metabolisable energy (ME) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in 11 diets fed to both growing pigs and gestating sows. Three diets were based on corn, wheat or sorghum and eight diets were based on a combination of corn and soybean meal, canola meal, conventional distillers’ dried grains with solubles, low-fat distillers’ dried grains with solubles, corn germ meal, corn bran, wheat middlings or soybean hulls. A total of 88 gestating sows (252 ± 24.2 kg BW; parity two to six) and 88 growing barrows (40 ± 4.7 kg BW) were used and randomly allotted to the 11 diets with eight replicate sows or pigs per diet. Faecal and urine samples were collected for 4 d following a 19 d adaptation period. The DE, ME and ATTD of gross energy (GE), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and crude protein (CP) in the 11 diets were calculated. Gestating sows had greater (p < 0.05) ATTD of GE and CP and DE values for all diets compared with growing pigs. Gestating sows also had greater (p < 0.05) ME values than growing pigs for the three grain diets and the diets containing wheat middlings and soybean hulls. No differences were observed in ATTD of ADF and NDF between gestating sows and growing pigs for any of the diets, except that gestating sows had greater (p < 0.05) ATTD of NDF than growing pigs when they were fed the four protein diets. The ATTD of GE and CP and DE values in gestating sows may be predicted by using equations generated from the values of ATTD of GE and CP and DE values obtained in growing pigs. Results of this research indicate that ATTD values of CP and GE obtained in gestating sows are greater than the values obtained in growing pigs, but values for ATTD of ADF obtained in growing pigs are not different from values in gestating sows.     

Amino acid utilization and body composition of growing pigs fed processed soybean meal or rapeseed meal with or without amino acid supplementation

Feed ingredients used in swine diets are often processed to improve nutritional value. However, (over-)processing may result in chemical reactions with amino acids (AAs) that decrease their ileal digestibility. This study aimed to determine effects of (over-)processing of soybean meal (SBM) and rapeseed meal (RSM) on post-absorptive utilization of ileal digestible AAs for retention and on body AA composition of growing pigs. Soybean meal and RSM were processed by secondary toasting in the presence of lignosulfonate to obtain processed soybean meal (pSBM) and processed rapeseed meal (pRSM). Four diets contained SBM, pSBM, RSM or pRSM as sole protein source. Two additional diets contained pSBM or pRSM and were supplemented with crystalline AA to similar standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA level as the SBM or RSM diet. These diets were used to verify that processing affected AA retention by affecting ileal AA digestibility rather than post-absorptive AA utilization. The SID AA levels of the protein sources were determined in a previous study. In total, 59 pigs were used (initial BW of 15.6±0.7 kg) of which five were used to determine initial body composition at the start of the experiment. In total, 54 pigs were fed one of six experimental diets and were slaughtered at a BW of 40 kg. The organ fraction (i.e. empty organs plus blood) and carcass were analyzed separately for N and AA content. Post-absorptive AA utilization was calculated from AA retention and SID AA intake. An interaction between diet type, comprising effects of processing and supplementing crystalline AA, and protein source was observed for CP content in the organ fraction, carcass and empty body and for nutrient retention. Processing reduced CP content and nutrient retention more for SBM than for RSM. Moreover, processing reduced (P<0.001) the lysine content in the organ fraction for both protein sources. Supplementing crystalline AA ameliorated the effect of processing on these variables. Thus, the data indicated that processing affected retention by reducing digestibility. Correcting AA retention for SID AA intake was, therefore, expected to result in similar post-absorptive AA utilization which was observed for the RSM diets. However, post-absorptive AA utilization was lower for the pSBM diet than for the SBM diet which might be related to an imbalanced post-absorptive AA supply. In conclusion, processing negatively affected nutrient retention for both protein sources and post-absorptive utilization of SID AA for retention for SBM. Effects of processing were compensated by supplementing crystalline AA.     

Effects of mannan level and β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance,apparent total tract digestibility and blood metabolites of growing pigs

The exogenous enzymes are less consistent in their effects as their beneficial effects depend upon the types and level non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) present in the diets. Therefore, exogenous enzymes should be selected on the basis of types and amount of the NSP in the pig diets. The objectives of the present experiments were to investigate the effects of dietary level of mannan and β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients, and blood metabolites of growing pigs. In Exp. 1, 96 barrows were randomly allotted to four treatments on the basis of BW. There were four replicates in each treatment with six pigs per replicate. The dietary treatments were a corn–soybean meal (SBM)-based control diet and three other diets consisted of the control diet supplemented with 400, 800 or 1600 U of β-mannanase/kg diet. The final BW, average daily gain (ADG) and blood glucose increased (linear, P<0.05) with increasing concentrations of dietary β-mannanase. The ATTD of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE) and β-mannan was higher (linear, P<0.05) with increase in dietary β-mannanase concentrations. In Exp. 2, 288 barrows were allotted to six treatments in a 2×3 factorial arrangement of mannan level (high v. low) and addition of β-mannanase (0, 400 or 800 U/kg diet). There were four replicates in each treatment with 12 pigs/replicate. Pigs were fed corn–SBM-based low-mannan diet (6.1 g/kg) or high-mannan (25.2 g/kg) diet in which corn and SBM were partially replaced with 50 g/kg diet palm kernel meal. All diets were fed in meal form for 42 days. Pigs fed diets supplemented with β-mannanase had greater (P<0.05) final BW, ADG, feed to gain (F : G), the ATTD of DM, GE, and β-mannan and blood glucose concentration compared with pigs fed diets without β-mannanase. In addition, the final BW, ADG, F : G and the ATTD of GE and β-mannan were reduced (P<0.05) in low mannan level. The dietary level of mannan and the β-mannanase supplementation had no effects (P>0.05) on the concentrations of blood total cholesterol, triacylglycerides and blood urea nitrogen. These results indicate that supplementation of β-mannanase to low- or high-mannan diets have potential to improve the performance of growing pigs. In addition, palm kernel meal may partially replace corn and SBM without reducing pig performance if β-mannanase is added to diet.     

Environmental impact of replacing soybean meal with rapeseed meal in diets of finishing pigs

The major impact of the livestock sector on the environment may be reduced by feeding agricultural co-products to animals. Since the last decade, co-products from biodiesel production, such as rapeseed meal (RSM), became increasingly available in Europe. Consequently, an increase in RSM content in livestock diets was observed at the expense of soybean meal (SBM) content. Cultivation of SBM is associated with high environmental impacts, especially when emissions related to land use change (LUC) are included. This study aims to assess the environmental impact of replacing SBM with RSM in finishing pig diets. As RSM has a lower nutritional value, we assessed the environmental impact of replacing SBM with RSM using scenarios that differed in handling changes in nutritional level. Scenario 1 (S1) was the basic scenario containing SBM. In scenario 2 (S2), RSM replaced SBM based on CP content, resulting in reduced energy and amino acid content, and hence an increased feed intake to realize the same growth rate. The diet of scenario 3 (S3) was identical to S2; however, we assumed that pigs were not able to increase their feed intake, leading to reduced growth performance. In scenario 4 (S4), the energy and amino acid content were increased to the same level of S1. Pig performances were simulated using a growth model. We analyzed the environmental impact of each scenario using life-cycle assessment, including processes of feed production, manure management, piglet production, enteric fermentation and housing. Results show that, expressed as per kg of BW, replacing SBM with RSM in finishing pig diets marginally decreased global warming potential (GWP) and energy use (EU) but decreased land use (LU) up to 12%. Between scenarios, S3 had the maximum potential to reduce the environmental impact, due to a lower impact per kg of feed and an increased body protein-to-lipid ratio of the pigs, resulting in a better feed conversion ratio. Optimization of the body protein-to-lipid ratio, therefore, might result in a reduced environmental impact of pig production. Furthermore, the impact of replacing SBM with RSM changed only marginally when emissions related to direct (up to 2.9%) and indirect LUC (up to 2.5%) were included. When we evaluated environmental impacts of feed production only, which implies excluding other processes along the chain as is generally found in the literature, GWP decreased up to 10%, including LUC, EU up to 5% and LU up to 16%.     

Digestibility and utilisation of diets composed of wet distillers' solids or soyabean meal and supplemented with liquid lysine product for growing pigs

A digestibility and balance trial was carried out to study the nutrient digestibility and utilisation of protein and energy in wet distillers' solids derived from barley or soyabean meal. Eight growing pigs (30–72 kg liveweight) were used in an 8 × 6 cyclic change-over experimental design, in which eight experimental diets were arranged 2 × 2 × 2 factorially. The corresponding factors were the protein source (wet distillers' solids (DS) or soyabean meal (SBM)), protein supply (130 or 162 g crude protein (CP) kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM)) and liquid lysine product supplementation.DS and SBM contained 565 g and 485 g CP kg⁻¹ DM, respectively, and the respective lysine contents in CP were 39 g and 64 g per 160 g N. The liquid lysine product contained 527 g CP kg⁻¹ DM and lysine in CP 193 g per 160 g N.No differences were found in the total tract digestibility of the nutrients or energy among diets composed of DS or SBM without lysine supplementation. Those diets with liquid lysine product supplementation, however, had opposite effects on the digestibility of the diets composed of the different protein sources. Lysine supplementation improved the digestibility of ash (P < 0.001), ether extract (P < 0.05) and crude carbohydrates (CCH) (P < 0.05) in diets composed of DS and adversely impaired the digestibility of organic matter and CCH (P < 0.05) in diets composed of SBM. The calculated digestibility of CP and gross energy were respectively 91.2% and 88.3% in SBM and 90.2% and 85.0% in DS. The digestible and calculated net energy contents were respectively 18.16 MJ kg⁻¹ DM and 10.73 MJ kg⁻¹ DM for SBM and 19.31 MJ kg⁻¹ DM and 10.40 MJ kg⁻¹ DM for DS.The pigs on the diets composed of DS had higher total (P < 0.001) and urea (P < 0.01) nitrogen (N) excretion in urine and lower daily retention of N (P < 0.001) than the pigs on the diets composed of SBM. The liquid lysine product supplementation of the diets decreased the total and urea N excretion in urine (P < 0.001) and improved the daily N retention (P < 0.001). With lysine supplementation, the protein utilisation of the diets composed of DS was improved to the level of the diets composed of SBM. No differences were observed in the utilisation of energy among the diets composed of different protein sources.It is concluded that DS is highly digestible, but its protein is efficiently utilised only with lysine supplementation.     

Amino acid availability of protein meals of different quality for adult and growing mink (Neovison vison)

ABSTRACT

Protein and amino acid (AA) availability of three protein meals of expected different quality were evaluated in young growing and adult mink. Lamb meal (LM), poultry meal (PM) or fishmeal (FM) were used as main protein sources in three extruded diets investigated by determining apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and nitrogen balance in 12 growing mink males aged 8–11 weeks in a Latin square design. In adult mink, ATTD of the diets was determined. The diets had lower protein content than recommended for growing mink, protein contributing 23% of total metabolisable energy (ME), to ensure differences in growth response. The LM diet with expected low protein quality revealed lower content of essential AA than the PM and FM diets. The ATTD of major nutrients and essential AA was significantly affected by diet, with the poorest values for LM, intermediate for PM and the highest values for FM. Mink kits revealed lower ATTD values than adults for protein, AA and especially fat, resulting in lower dietary ME content for kits than for adults. The mean difference was greatest for the LM diet with lowest ATTD and smallest for the FM diet with the highest ATTD. Nitrogen retention and growth rate differed significantly among diets and was lowest for diet LM and highest for diet FM, respectively. Different dietary essential AA contents and ATTD, especially of methionine, were the main factors to explain the difference in growth response. Generally, plasma essential AA concentrations did not clearly reflect the different dietary supply and the different growth response. The study shows that a recommended level of 0.31 g apparent total tract digestible methionine per MJ ME covers the minimum requirement with a safety margin. To obtain optimal growth, the lower digestive capacity in young mink kits should be considered when choosing feed ingredients.     

Effects of ileal endogenous nitrogen losses and dietary amino acid supplementation on nitrogen retention in growing pigs

The relationship between ileal endogenous nitrogen (N) losses and N retention was studied in two experiments with growing pigs of 40 to 60 kg. In Experiment 1, 13 ileal cannulated castrated males were fed diets based on maize starch, containing either soyabean meal (SBM) with a low trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), a mixture of toasted and untoasted soyabean meal with a high TIA (mSBM), a commercial batch of peas, or rapeseed expeller cake (RC). Ileal endogenous N recovery was measured using the ¹⁵N-isotope dilution technique. Apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein (CP) for the SBM, mSBM, pea and RC diets were 82.8, 72.0, 76.7 and 68.7% (P < 0.05). True ileal CP digestibility for the diets was 96.5, 93.0, 94.0 and 87.5% (P < 0.05), and the recovery of ileal endogenous N was 3.08, 6.01, 4.55 and 5.36 g/kg DMI (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, sixteen castrated males were used to determine N retention, using almost similar diets as in Experiment 1. The diets contained either SBM, mSBM or peas and were balanced for the contents of apparent ileal digestible (ID) CP (96 g/kg) and ID essential amino acids (EAA; at least 85% of requirement values). The fourth treatment was a diet with mSBM as protein source, but supplemented with EAA to the level of 95% of the requirement values (diet mSBMs). Apparent faecal CP digestibility for the SBM, mSBM, pea and mSBMs diets was 88.6, 87.2, 86.1 and 86.0% (P < 0.05). Urinary N excretion and N retention for these treatments were 0.39, 0.59, 0.40, 0.53 (P < 0.05) and 0.87, 0.80, 0.85, 0.84 g/kg^0.75/day (P < 0.05), respectively. Utilization of dietary ID N for N retention were 79.8, 73.3, 78.2 and 77.6% (P < 0.05), respectively. The study showed that increased ileal endogenous N losses are associated with higher losses of urinary N and with a lower N retention. Supplementation of extra essential AA to a diet causing a relatively high flow of ileal endogenous N, may compensate for the lower N utilization under these conditions, and thus limit effects on N retention.     

Response of goats to partial replacement of dietary protein by a leaf meal mixture containing Leucaena leucocephala,Morus alba and Tectona grandis

This study investigated the effects of Leucaena leucocephala–Morus alba–Tectona grandis (2:1:1) based leaf meal mixture as a protein supplement to partially (50%) replace conventional supplements on the performance of female goats. Local female goats (12) were divided into three groups in a completely randomized design to receive either a leaf meal mixture (LMTM) based supplement, or groundnut cake (GNC) or soybean meal (SBM) incorporated concentrate, and wheat straw as basal diet for a period of about 4 months. Blood enzymes and immunological profile were monitored in all goats at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days of feeding. While dry matter intake (DMI) (g kg^−0.75 BW) of goats given LMTM was higher (P<0.05) than SBM, it was comparable to their counterparts fed GNC. Digestibility of nutrients, except for depressed crude protein digestibility (P<0.05) in SBM group, was comparable among dietary treatments. Nitrogen intake and fecal excretions were similar irrespective of supplements, the urinary excretion of N in goats given GNC was significantly higher than comparable excretion in goats on LMTM and SBM. Balance of N (g per day) remained positive in all goats, however it was significantly higher in animals on LMTM as compared to GNC. The DCP, TDN and ME values of the composite diets were comparable among dietary treatments. Intake of DCP, TDN and ME was close to stipulated NRC requirements. Blood enzymes (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) and serum protein electrophoresis pattern (albumin, α-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin) did not differ significantly due to the replacement of 50% dietary protein by LMTM throughout the experiment. It may be concluded that leaf meal mixture could be used inexpensively as a vegetable protein supplement to wheat straw based diets for goats without any adverse effect on voluntary intake, nutrient utilization, serum enzymes and immune status.     

Influence of dietary fibre level and pelleting on the digestibility of energy and nutrients in growing pigs and adult sows

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of pelleting on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients according to the dietary fibre (DF) level in growing pigs (experiment 1) and in adult sows (experiment 2). Four diets based on wheat, barley, maize and soybean meal and supplemented with increased contents of a mixture of wheat bran, maize bran, soybean hulls and sugar beet pulp (116, 192, 268 and 344 g NDF/kg dry matter (DM) in diets 1 to 4) were tested. In experiment 1, 32 growing pigs (62 kg average BW), in two replicates and according to a factorial design, were fed one of the four diets, either as mash or as pellets. The digestibility of energy, organic matter (OM) and all nutrients decreased with DF increasing for both feed forms; the reduction was about 1% for each 1% NDF increase in the diet (P < 0.001). Pelleting improved moderately the digestibility of energy and OM (+1.5% and +1.0%, respectively; P < 0.05) in connection with greater DF (+5%; P < 0.05) and fat digestibility (+25%). Thus, pelleting improved the digestible energy content of diets on average by 0.3 MJ/kg of feed DM (P < 0.01). In experiment 2, four adult dry sows (235 kg average BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design and fed the four diets used in experiment 1 as pellets. The digestibility of energy, OM and macronutrients also decreased with DF increase (P < 0.001; -0.4% per 1% increase of dietary NDF for energy) while the digestibility of DF (i.e. crude fibre (CF) or ADF) increased (P < 0.001) or remained at a high level. In conclusion, increasing DF in diets decreases the digestibility of nutrients and energy in pigs and in sows. Although positive, the pelleting impact is minor on the energy and nutrients digestibility of fibre-rich diets in growing pigs, even in high-DF diets.     

Low-glucosinolate rapeseed products for pigs — A review

This review embraces work on the use of low-glucosinolate rapeseed meal (LG-RSM) for pigs, mainly published since 1977. Areas discussed are nutritive value, palatability, LG-RSM in starter and growing-finishing diets, effects of different supplements or treatments on the value of RSM, anatomical and physiological effects, meat quality and reproduction when feeding with LG-RSM. Finally, work on fullfat or partially defatted LG rapeseed (RS) is reviewed. The nutritive value of RSM varies between experiments owing to different cultivars, processing techniques and methods of determination. The average value found for crude protein digestibility in LG-RSM was 79% and most values of metabolizable energy (ME) content were in the range 10.5–12.5 MJ/kg DM.Palatability is a limiting factor in starter diets and when growing-finishing pigs are fed ad libitum, but not with a restricted feeding regime at practical levels of LG-RSM inclusion. It seems possible to replace at least half of the supplementary protein with LG-RSM in cereal-based diets for growing-finishing pigs without impairing performance, provided that the lower ME content of RSM is balanced. In starter diets part of the protein supply may be given as LG-RSM (～ 5% of the air-dry diet). Information on sows is less extensive than on growing animals, but seems to justify the inclusion of up to at least 10% of LG-RSM in the ration.Treatment of RSM with chemicals such as propionic acid, ammonia and formaldehyde, generally impaired nutritive value or palatability of RSM. The thyroid gland and liver of pigs given LG-RSM are enlarged, but to a smaller extent than with older types of RSM. However, recent reports suggest that the thyroid function may be impaired despite a limited enlargement.Reported values of ME content in fullfat LG-RS vary between 17 and 20 MJ/kg DM. Limited amounts (< 10% of the diet) of fullfat or partially defatted LG-RS can be used without impairing performance, but meat quality (taste, structure and fatty acid profile) will be adversely influenced even at lower levels of RS inclusion.     

The effects of rapeseed meal and legume seeds as substitutes for soybean meal on productivity and gastrointestinal function in rabbits

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of soybean meal (SBM) substitution by a mixture of rapeseed meal (RSM), white lupine seeds (WLS) and pea seeds (PS) on productivity, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and gastrointestinal function in Hyplus rabbits. The Control diet (SBM₁₅) contained 15% SBM, whereas Diet SBM_7.5 contained 7.5% SBM, 5% RSM, 4% WLS and 3% PS. In Diet SBM_0, SBM was completely replaced by RSM, WLS and PS (10%, 8% and 6%, respectively). A production trial was performed on 90 Hyplus rabbits aged from 35 to 84 d (45 each sex; 953 ± 4.6 g). A digestion and balance trial was conducted on 30 rabbits. Additionally, several parameters of the gastrointestinal tracts from eight animals from each group were analysed, where special attention was paid to the enzymatic activity of microbiota and the short-chain fatty acids concentration in caecum and colon. The experimental diets did not cause significant differences regarding performance parameters evaluated in vivo and post-mortem, and in the nutrient and energy digestibility or nitrogen retention. The observed changes in the enzymatic activity of large gut microbiota, including the selective increase in secretion of glycoside hydrolases by bacterial cells, seem to be responsible for the unchanged growth performance of rabbits fed diets where SBM was substituted by a mixture of RSM, WLS and PS. The obtained results indicate that in rabbit diets SBM may be, partially or completely, successfully replaced by a feed mixture of RSM, WLS and PS.     

四种植物蛋白对中华绒螯蟹幼蟹生长性能、氨基酸沉积率和抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了筛选适宜于养殖中华绒螯蟹幼蟹的饲料植物蛋白源,探究不同植物蛋白源饲料对幼蟹生长性能、氨基酸沉积率和抗氧化性能等方面的影响,以50%的鱼粉配制基础饲料（记为FM）,分别采用30.5%发酵豆粕、32.5%豆粕、28%棉粕和39%菜粕替代基础饲料中鱼粉总量的50%,配制成4种等氮等能的饲料（分别记为FSBM、SBM、CSM和RSM）,投喂初始体重为（0.249±0.003）g的中华绒螯蟹幼蟹8周。结果表明:（1）与FM组相比,FSBM、SBM和CSM组的增重率、特定生长率、饲料系数、蛋白质效率和蛋白质沉积率均没有显著性差异;RSM组的增重率与FM组相比差异不显著（P>0.05）,但显著低于SBM组（P < 0.05）,而其饲料系数则显著高于FM、FSBM及SBM组（P < 0.05）,蛋白质效率显著低于其他各组（P < 0.05）,蛋白质沉积率显著低于SBM和CSM组（P < 0.05）。（2）不同植物蛋白组的总必需氨基酸沉积率和FM组相比差异不显著（P>0.05）,而RSM组总必需氨基酸沉积率显著低于FSBM和CSM组（P < 0.05）。（3）与FM组相比,不同植物蛋白组蟹的血清和肝胰腺中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-PX）活性和肝胰腺丙二醛（MDA）含量并没有显著的影响,而RSM组血清丙二醛（MDA）含量显著的高于其他各组（P < 0.05）。结果表明,在幼蟹饲料中,豆粕、发酵豆粕和棉粕替代基础配方中鱼粉的50%后并未对幼蟹的生长性能、氨基酸沉积率及抗氧化能力造成负面的影响,发酵豆粕、豆粕和棉粕可以作为替代鱼粉的适宜蛋白源,且添加水平约在30%左右。菜粕替代后降低了饲料的利用和氨基酸沉积效率,这可能是由于菜粕的蛋白质消化率低、含有相应的抗营养因子和添加水平过高所致,建议使用前应适当进行脱毒处理,并与或和其他植物蛋白配伍使用。     

Ileal and total tract digestibility and nitrogen utilisation in blue fox (Vulpes lagopus) fed low-protein diets supplemented with DL-methionine and L-histidine

ABSTRACT

To formulate low-protein diets for blue foxes with sufficient amounts of amino acids (AA), AA digestibility and AA requirements of the animals are crucial information. Therefore, a digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance trial was conducted with 20 blue foxes to determine the macronutrient and AA digestibility and N utilisation in low-protein diets supplemented with DL-methionine (Met) and L-histidine (His). In addition, plasma urea and plasma AA were measured. The diets were designated as P24 (control), P20, P20M, P16M and P16MH and contained energy from digestible crude protein (DCP) at 24%, 20% or 16% of total dietary metabolisable energy (ME). The 20% protein level was fed with or without Met and the 16% protein level was fed with Met and with or without His. The apparent total-tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein linearly decreased with decreasing dietary protein level. The ATTD of dry matter, organic matter and crude carbohydrates increased when wheat starch was added as a replacement for protein. The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and ATTD methods were compared to determine the AA digestibility. The decreasing dietary protein supply decreased the ATTD of most of the AA: threonine, tryptophan (Trp), valine, alanine (Ala), aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid, glycine (Gly), proline (Pro), serine (Ser) and total AA. The AID of the AA was constant between diets. Diverging AA showed higher or lower digestibility when determined in the AID or ATTD methods. Isoleucine, lysine, Met, Ala and tyrosine showed higher levels of AID. Arginine, His, cysteine (Cys), Trp, Asp, Gly, Pro and Ser showed higher levels of ATTD, which may reflect the net loss of these AA in the large intestine. Met and His supplementation improved the ATTD and AID of the AA in question, respectively, but did not affect the other variables examined. N retention did not differ between diets and renal N excretion decreased with decreasing protein level; thus N utilisation improved. It was concluded that the protein supply and AA composition in low-protein diets with supplemented Met were adequate for adult blue foxes, since the lower protein supply improved N utilisation and did not affect N retention. However, His supplementation failed to reach the designed level and therefore showed no clear results.     

Attributional versus consequential life cycle assessment and feed optimization: alternative protein sources in pig diets

Purpose

Feed production is responsible for the majority of the environmental impact of livestock production, especially for monogastric animals, such as pigs. Some feeding strategies demonstrated that replacing one ingredient with a high impact, e.g. soybean meal (SBM), with an alternative protein source, e.g. locally produced peas or rapeseed meal, has potential to reduce the environmental impact. These studies, however, used an attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA), which solely addresses the direct environmental impact of a product. A replacement of SBM with alternative protein sources, however, can also have indirect environmental consequences, which might change environmental benefits of using alternative protein sources. This study aims to explore differences in results when performing an ALCA and a CLCA to reduce the environmental impact of pig production. We illustrated this for two case studies: replacing SBM with rapeseed meal (RSM), and replacing SBM with waste-fed larvae meal in diets of finishing-pigs.

Methods

We used an ALCA and CLCA to assess global warming potential (GWP), energy use (EU) and land use (LU) of replacing SBM with RSM and waste-fed larvae meal, for finishing-pigs. The functional unit was 1 kg of body weight gain.

Results and discussion

Based on an ALCA, replacing SBM with RSM showed that GWP (3%) and EU (1%) were not changed, but LU was decreased (14%). ALCA results for replacing SBM with waste-fed larvae meal showed that EU did not change (1%), but GWP (10%) and LU (56%) were decreased. Based on a CLCA, replacing SBM with RSM showed an increased GWP (15%), EU (12%) and LU (10%). Replacing SBM with waste-fed larvae meal showed an increased GWP (60%) and EU (89%), but LU (70%) was decreased. Furthermore, the results of the sensitivity analysis showed that assumptions required to perform a CLCA, such as definition of the marginal product, have a large impact on final results but did not affect the final conclusions.

Conclusions

The CLCA results seem to contradict the ALCA results. CLCA results for both case studies showed that using co-products and waste-fed larvae meal currently not reduces the net environmental impact of pork production. This would have been overlooked when results were only based on ALCA. To gain insight into the environmental impact of feed, animal nutritionists can use an ALCA. If policy makers or the feed industry, however, want to assess the net environmental impact of a potential feeding strategy, it is recommended to perform a CLCA. Feed and food markets are, however, highly dynamic. Pig feed optimization is based on least cost optimization and a wide range of ingredients are available; diet compositions can, therefore, change easily, resulting in different environmental impacts. Ideally, therefore, a CLCA should include a sensitivity analysis (e.g. different feed prices or different marginal products) to provide a range of possible outcomes to make the results more robust.

     

The nutritive value of Tower rapeseed meal for swine

Two experiments involving 144 Yorkshire × Lacombe gilts, with an average initial weight of 20 kg, were conducted. In Experiment 1 the gilts were allotted to a control diet containing soya bean meal (SBM) or to diets in which either 50% or all of the supplementary protein was provided by Tower rapeseed meal (RSM). In the second experiment the two diets had either SBM or Tower RSM as the supplementary protein source. In a third diet Tower RSM was supplemented with sufficient lysine to equal the calculated available lysine level of the SBM control diet. In Experiment 1, gilts given the SBM diet grew from 20 to 60 kg significantly faster (P<0.01), and had better feed conversion efficiency (P<0.01), than those given the RSM diets. A 50% replacement of SBM by Tower RSM gave intermediate results. Partial or total replacement of SBM by Tower did not significantly affect the growth rate or feed conversion efficiency of the gilts when growing from 60 to 100 kg liveweight. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations of the gilts at 100 kg were lower in pigs fed on the RSM diets but the differences were not significant. In the second experiment, total replacement of SBM by Tower RSM, with or without the addition of lysine, significantly (P<0.001) reduced growth rate and feed conversion efficiency during the growing period (20–60 kg) but did not significantly affect performance during the finishing period (60–90 kg). Serum T3 concentration was not significantly affected by the addition of Tower RSM to the diet but T4 concentrations were significantly reduced (P<0.01). None of the carcass parameters studied were significantly affected by the addition of Tower RSM to the diets.     

Undecorticated cottonseed meal as a substitute for soya bean meal in diets for weaner and growing-finishing pigs

Fifty-six weaner and growing-finishing Large White × Landrace pigs were used in two growth studies and a digestibility study to determine the value of undecorticated cottonseed meal (UCSM) as a protein supplement replacing soya bean meal (SBM). In a 35-day feeding experiment with pigs averaging 18.8 kg, four lots of six pigs were individually fed on isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% UCSM. Daily feed intake (FI) did not differ significantly between treatments. Daily gain and feed/gain did not differ significantly between the control and the 10% UCSM diets but the control group gained significantly more than the 20 or 30% UCSM diets (P < 0.05).

In a second growth experiment lasting 35 days, 24 cross-bred pigs averaging 53.1 kg were fed on diets containing 0, 20, 30 and 41.1% UCSM (without SBM) in a randomized design involving six individually fed pigs per treatment. There were no differences in FI across the treatments. Weight gain was significantly depressed with only 20% UCSM and both gain and feed/gain declined linearly with increasing proportion of UCSM. The growth studies showed that 10% was the optimum level of inclusion of UCSM in the diets. These were supported by the results of the metabolic studies.     

Digestibility of phosphorous in cereals and co-products for animal feed

Feed ingredients used in swine diets contain various levels and availabilities of nutrients. Nutritional precision evaluation of each ingredient is necessary for formulating diets of pigs. Especially, phosphorous (P) is one of important nutrients for metabolism. However, current data of P digestibility were most apparent digestibility. Therefore, this study was aimed to estimate the coefficient of total tract standardized digestibility (CTTSD) of P in cereals and various co-products used in pig diet. Twelve barrows (initial BW?±?SD, 46.70?±?3.21?kg) were used in this experiment. The experimental design was a 12?×?8 incomplete Latin square with 12 diets and 8 periods. Experimental diets were consisted of barley, wheat, lupine kernel (LK), soybean meal (SBM), almond meal (AM), corn gluten meal (CGM), corn gluten feed from China (CGF-C), corn gluten feed from Korea (CGF-C), wheat bran (WB), rice bran (RB), lupine hull (LH) and P-free diet. The CTTAD of Ca was higher in AM than RB and CGF-K. The LK and CGM showed greater CTTSD of P than RB and LH. In conclusion, our results indicated that the cereals and co-products as P sources were the ideally used as an ingredient in mixed diets of the growing-finishing pigs.     

Replacing soybean meal with flax seed meal: effects on nutrient digestibility,rumen microbial protein synthesis and growth performance in sheep

Flax seed meal (FSM) is rich in various nutrients, especially CP and energy, and can be used as animal protein feed. In animal husbandry production, it is a long-term goal to replace soybean meal (SBM) in animal feed with other plant protein feed. However, studies on the effects of replacing SBM with FSM in fattening sheep are limited. The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of replacing a portion of SBM with FSM on nutrient digestibility, rumen microbial protein synthesis and growth performance in sheep. Thirty-six Dorper × Small Thin-Tailed crossbred rams (BW = 40.4 ± 1.73 kg, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned into four groups. The dietary treatments (forage/concentrate, 45 : 55) were isocaloric according to the nutrient requirements of rams. Soybean meal was replaced with FSM at different levels (DM basis): (1) 18% SBM (18SBM), (2) 12% SBM and 6% FSM (6FSM), (3) 6% SBM and 12% FSM (12FSM) and (4) 18% FSM (18FSM). The rams were fed in individual pens for 60 days, with the first 10 days for adaptation to diets, and then the digestibility of nutrients was determined. There was no significant difference in DM intake, but quadratic (P < 0.001) effects on the average daily gain and feed efficiency were detected, with the highest values in the 6FSM and 12FSM groups. For DM and NDF digestibility, quadratic effects were observed with the higher values in the 6FSM and 12FSM groups, but the digestibility of CP linearly decreased with the increase in FSM in the diet (P = 0.043). There was a quadratic (P < 0.001) effect of FSM inclusion rate on the estimated microbial CP yield. However, the values of intestinally absorbable dietary protein decreased linearly (P < 0.001). For the supply of metabolisable protein, both the linear (P = 0.001) and quadratic (P = 0.044) effects were observed with the lowest value in the 18FSM group. Overall, the results indicated that SBM can be effectively replaced by FSM in the diets of fattening sheep and the optimal proportion was 12.0% under the conditions of this experiment.