Peas (Pisum sativum L.) as an alternative protein source in lamb diets: growth performances,and carcass and meat quality

Thirty weaned Barbaresca lambs were divided into three groups and fed diets that differed in their protein supplement source; the main protein source was soybean meal in SBM diet treatment, totally or partially replaced by peas in P39 and P18 diet treatments, respectively. Soybean meal and peas were present in the diets in the following proportions (on as fed basis): 16:0% (SBM), 0:39% (P39), 9:18% (P18).The diets were of different crude protein content: higher in SBM diet (16.96% DM) than in P39 (14.27% DM) and P18 (15.37% DM). Soluble protein was higher in P39 diet than in the other treatments (36.2, 27.4 and 23.14% CP in P39, P18 and SBM treatments, respectively) while the B₂-protein fraction was lower. The NDF-bound nitrogen was 17.36, 16.87 and 15.06% of crude protein in P39, P18 and SBM diet, respectively. The NDF content was similar among the diets. Growth and slaughter performances were similar among groups (250 g per day versus 219 and 218 g per day respectively in P18, P39 and SBM groups). Carcass fatness was comparable among treatments. Meat pH, colour parameters and cooking losses were comparable among groups. Drip losses were significantly higher (P<0.001) in meat from P39 and P18 than from SBM group. In the present trial, the replacement of soybean meal with peas did not significantly affect growth and slaughter performances and preserved meat quality.     

Intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and migration in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.: effects of temperature and inflammation

A 28-day feeding trial was carried out to characterise intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) turnover in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) post-smolts in seawater. Four groups of fish raised at two temperatures of 8°C or 12°C and fed two different diets were investigated. The diets included a reference maize gluten and fishmeal-based diet (FM) and an experimental enteropathy-causing diet containing 20% extracted soybean meal (SBM). IEC proliferation and migration were investigated by labelling cells with the in vivo proliferation marker 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling was used as a control for identifying proliferating cells. Samples of the proximal (PI), mid (MI) and distal (DI) intestinal regions were collected at five time points (3 h–28 days) over the experimental period. Histologically, FM-fed fish had normal mucosa, whereas the SBM-fed fish developed DI enteropathy. Major zones of cell proliferation were observed in the mucosal fold bases for all intestinal regions. Over time, BrdU-labelled cells migrated up mucosal folds to the tips before being lost. Migration rates were dependent on intestinal region, temperature and diet. Highest migration rates were observed in the PI followed by the MI and DI for FM-fed fish. Diet and temperature barely affected migration in the PI and MI. Migration in the DI was most sensitive to diet and temperature, with both SBM and the higher water temperature increasing proliferation and migration rates. The slow IEC turnover in the DI might help to explain the sensitivity of this region to dietary SBM-induced enteropathy.     

Does the natural diet influence the intestine's ability to regulate glucose absorption?

Summary Two fish species (rainbow trout and common carp) that differ in natural diet also exhibit differences in the adaptive flexibility of their intestinal nutrient transport mechanisms in response to changes in dietary nutrient composition. When carp ingested a feed that was 24% glucose by weight, there was an increase in both the intestinal length and rates of nutrient absorption, particularly for glucose, when compared to carp fed an isonitrogenous diet devoid of digestible carbohydrate. As a result, the intestine's uptake capacity (nmol of glucose and proline absorbed per min per g body weight) was higher in carp fed the 24% glucose feed. Due to the greater increase in glucose uptake, the ratio of glucose uptake relative to proline (G/P ratio) was higher in carp fed the 24% glucose. Thus, carp are able to adapt to the quantity, and apparently also to the type, of digestible carbohydrate in the diet. In contrast, glucose uptake by trout was unresponsive to the quantity of dietary carbohydrate. Insted, the elevated glucose paradoxically resulted in a greater uptake capacity for proline and a lower G/P ratio. Hence, the adaptive capabilities of the intestinal nutrient transport processes are matched to the potential variation in the carbohydrate content of the natural diet.Abbreviation PEG polyethylene glycol     

Ontogeny of the Digestive System of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) and Effects of Soybean Meal from Start-Feeding

Despite a long history of rearing Atlantic salmon in hatcheries in Norway, knowledge of molecular and physiological aspects of juvenile development is still limited. To facilitate introduction of alternative feed ingredients and feed additives during early phases, increased knowledge regarding the ontogeny of the digestive apparatus in salmon is needed. In this study, we characterized the development of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory digestive organs for five months following hatch by using histological, biochemical and molecular methods. Furthermore, the effects of a diet containing 16.7% soybean meal (SBM) introduced at start-feeding were investigated, as compared to a fishmeal based control diet. Salmon yolk sac alevins and fry were sampled at 18 time points from hatch until 144 days post hatch (dph). Histomorphological development was investigated at 7, 27, 46, 54 and 144 dph. Ontogenetic expression patterns of genes encoding key digestive enzymes, nutrient transporters, gastrointestinal peptide hormones and T-cell markers were analyzed from 13 time points by qPCR. At 7 dph, the digestive system of Atlantic salmon alevins was morphologically distinct with an early stomach, liver, pancreas, anterior and posterior intestine. About one week before the yolk sac was internalized and exogenous feeding was started, gastric glands and developing pyloric caeca were observed, which coincided with an increase in gene expression of gastric and pancreatic enzymes and nutrient transporters. Thus, the observed organs seemed ready to digest external feed well before the yolk sac was absorbed into the abdominal cavity. In contrast to post-smolt Atlantic salmon, inclusion of SBM did not induce intestinal inflammation in the juveniles. This indicates that SBM can be used in compound feeds for salmon fry from start-feeding to at least 144 dph and/or 4-5 g body weight.     

Effects of high dietary levels of soybean meal and its constituents (potassium,oligosaccharides) on foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys housed on dry and wet litter

Soybean meal (SBM) is the main protein source in diets for turkeys. High dietary levels of SBM are thought to increase the incidence of foot pad dermatitis (FPD). Therefore, this study was conducted to test potential effects of high SBM and to elucidate which constituents in SBM might be associated with the development of FPD. Two week-old female turkeys were allotted to four groups of 29 birds each, and housed on dry wood shavings in floor pens over a period of three weeks. Four different diets were fed: control, high SBM, high potassium (K) or high oligosaccharide (OL) diet. Additionally, for only 8 h/d half of the animals in each group were exposed to wet litter (27% DM) in adjacent separate boxes. The foot pads of all birds were assessed on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for external lesions. For the histopathology of the foot pads, on day 0 three birds from each group, and on days 7 and 14 six birds per feeding group were selected. The remaining birds in each group were sacrificed on day 21 and their pads were evaluated histologically. High dietary levels of SBM, potassium or oligosaccharides did not influence the severity of FPD on dry litter, but slightly increased the severity on wet litter. However, there were no histopathological differences in FPD severity between these dietary treatments within each litter form compared to the control. Nevertheless, the FPD severity was in general higher on wet litter. Thus, litter moisture appears to be one of the most important factors involved in FPD in turkeys. In addition, all nutritional factors which increase water intake and excreta or litter moisture may contribute to an increased development and severity of FPD in turkeys.     

Effects of high dietary levels of soybean meal and its constituents (potassium, oligosaccharides) on foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys housed on dry and wet litter

Soybean meal (SBM) is the main protein source in diets for turkeys. High dietary levels of SBM are thought to increase the incidence of foot pad dermatitis (FPD). Therefore, this study was conducted to test potential effects of high SBM and to elucidate which constituents in SBM might be associated with the development of FPD. Two week-old female turkeys were allotted to four groups of 29 birds each, and housed on dry wood shavings in floor pens over a period of three weeks. Four different diets were fed: control, high SBM, high potassium (K) or high oligosaccharide (OL) diet. Additionally, for only 8 h/d half of the animals in each group were exposed to wet litter (27% DM) in adjacent separate boxes. The foot pads of all birds were assessed on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for external lesions. For the histopathology of the foot pads, on day 0 three birds from each group, and on days 7 and 14 six birds per feeding group were selected. The remaining birds in each group were sacrificed on day 21 and their pads were evaluated histologically. High dietary levels of SBM, potassium or oligosaccharides did not influence the severity of FPD on dry litter, but slightly increased the severity on wet litter. However, there were no histopathological differences in FPD severity between these dietary treatments within each litter form compared to the control. Nevertheless, the FPD severity was in general higher on wet litter. Thus, litter moisture appears to be one of the most important factors involved in FPD in turkeys. In addition, all nutritional factors which increase water intake and excreta or litter moisture may contribute to an increased development and severity of FPD in turkeys.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of keratinase on growth performance, nitrogen retention and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens fed diets with soybean and cottonseed meals

A preparation of keratinase (KE, 400,000 enzyme units/g) was evaluated as a feed additive for its effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal development in broiler chickens. Four experimental diets were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with two sources of protein, either soybean meal (SBM) alone or a combination of SBM and cottonseed meal (1:1 on crude protein basis) and with or without 1.0 g KE/kg diet. Dietary supplementation of KE increased body weight gain from 1 to 21 days of age and improved feed conversion ratio from 1 to 42 days of age. Also, KE supplementation enhanced nitrogen retention (P<0.001) and starch digestibility (P<0.001), reflecting the high level of KE and some amylase activities in the enzyme preparation. Microscopic examination of the small intestine on day 21 indicated that KE increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P<0.05). The results suggest that KE has positive effects on growth performance, dietary component digestibility and intestinal development of broilers.     

The influence of estradiol and diet on small intestinal glucose transport in ovariectomized rats

Although gender differences exist for intestinal absorption of nutrients and drugs, the possible role estradiol may play in modulating nutrient transport has not been established. Therefore, small intestine glucose transport was measured 1 week after administering estradiol to ovariectomized rats fed diets high in carbohydrate (C) or protein (P). Rats treated with estradiol ate 21% less (P<0.05) and lost body mass (7%; P<0.05) but did not have smaller intestines. Administration of estradiol increased rates of glucose transport, but only when the rats were fed the C diet. These findings indicate that estradiol causes a disconnect between food intake and the dimensions and nutrient transport capacities of the small intestine. Furthermore, the responses to estradiol are influenced by diet composition, are not of the same magnitude for rats and dogs, and can be predicted to affect systemic availability of nutrients and drugs.     

Plant products affect growth and digestive efficiency of cultured Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) fed compounded diets

Costs of compounded diets containing fish meal as a primary protein source can be expected to rise as fish meal prices increase in response to static supply and growing demand. Alternatives to fish meal are needed to reduce production costs in many aquaculture enterprises. Some plant proteins are potential replacements for fish meal because of their amino acid composition, lower cost and wide availability. In this study, we measured utilization of soybean meal (SBM) and soy protein concentrate (SPC) by Florida pompano fed compounded diets, to determine the efficacy of these products as fish meal replacements. We also calculated apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for canola meal (CM), corn gluten meal (CGM), and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), following typical methods for digestibility trials. Juvenile Florida pompano were fed fish-meal-free diets containing graded levels of SBM and SPC, and weight gain was compared to a control diet that contained SBM, SPC, and fish meal. Fish fed diets that contained 25-30 percent SBM in combination with 43-39 percent SPC had weight gain equivalent to fish fed the control diet with fish meal, while weight gain of fish fed other soy combinations was significantly less than that of the control group. Apparent crude protein digestibility of CGM was significantly higher than that of DDGS but not significantly different from CM. Apparent energy digestibility of DDGS was significantly lower than CGM but significantly higher than CM. Findings suggested that composition of the reference diet used in a digestibility trial affects the values of calculated ADCs, in addition to the chemical and physical attributes of the test ingredient.     

Haemato-immunological and growth response of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed a tropical earthworm meal in experimental diets

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding a tropical earthworm meal (Perionyx escavatus) on the haemato-immunological response and growth performance of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish were fed diets for a total of 88 days, fishmeal served as the main protein source in the control diet. Two remaining diets consisted of fishmeal fixed at 33.65% provision of protein and the remaining 66.35% protein was provided by soybean meal (SBM diet) or P. excavatus meal (EW diet). Compared to control and SBM fed fish (7.69 ± 0.28 and 5.92 ± 0.31 g/dl, respectively), a significant increase in haemoglobin was measured in EW fed fish (9.57 ± 0.24 g/dl). Consequently significant elevations were also observed in mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH; 79.13 ± 4.59 pg) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC; 22.69 ± 0.54 pg) in EW fed fish. On the contrary, compared to control and SBM fed carp total leukocyte levels (2.72 ± 0.17 and 3.10 ± 0.17 × 10(4)/mm(3), respectively) were significantly decreased in the EW group (2.15 ± 0.14 × 10(4)/mm(3)). Moreover at day 14 and 21 post immunisation with bacterin isolated from Aeromonas hydrophila fish fed the EW diet displayed a significant reduction in respiratory burst activity (RBA) compared to control and SBM fed fish. After 60 days of feeding, fish fed EW diet showed a significant elevation in final body weight compared to fish fed a fishmeal based diet (control treatment) and fish fed a soybean meal based diet. Similar improvements were observed in feed utilisation efficiency. The present study shows that feeding P. excavatus meal to mirror carp decreases some aspects of the innate immune response, but at the same time gives rise to significant enhancement of growth and feed utilisation efficiency.     

Effects of balancing crystalline amino acids in diets containing heat-damaged soybean meal or distillers dried grains with solubles fed to weanling pigs

Two experiments were conducted to investigate if adjustments in diet formulations either based on total analysed amino acids or standardized ileal digestible (SID) amino acids may be used to eliminate negative effects of including heat-damaged soybean meal (SBM) or heat-damaged corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets fed to weanling pigs. In Experiment 1, four corn–SBM diets were formulated. Diet 1 contained non-autoclaved SBM (315 g/kg), and this diet was formulated on the basis of analysed amino acid concentrations and using SID values from the AminoDat® 4.0 database. Diet 2 was similar to Diet 1 in terms of ingredient composition, except that the non-autoclaved SBM was replaced by autoclaved SBM at 1 : 1 (weight basis). Diet 3 was formulated using autoclaved SBM and amino acid inclusions in the diet were adjusted on the basis of analysed total amino acid concentrations in the autoclaved SBM and published SID values for non-autoclaved SBM (AminoDat® 4.0). Diet 4 also contained autoclaved SBM, but the formulation of this diet was adjusted on the basis of analysed amino acids in the autoclaved SBM and SID values that were adjusted according to the degree of heat damage in this source of SBM. Pigs (160; initial BW: 10.4 kg) were allotted to the four treatments with eight replicate pens per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Diets were fed to pigs for 21 days. The gain to feed ratio (G : F) was greater (P<0.05) for pigs fed Diet 1 compared with pigs fed the other diets and pigs fed Diet 4 had greater (P<0.05) G : F than pigs fed Diet 2. In Experiment 2, 144 pigs (initial BW: 9.9 kg) were allotted to four diets with eight replicate pens per diet. The four diets contained corn, SBM (85 g/kg) and DDGS (220 g/kg), and were formulated using the concepts described for Experiment 1, except that heat-damaged DDGS, but not heat-damaged SBM, was used in the diets. Pigs fed Diet 1 had greater (P<0.05) G : F than pigs fed Diet 2, but no differences were observed for G : F among pigs fed diets containing autoclaved DDGS. Results demonstrate that the negative effects of heat damage of SBM or DDGS may be ameliorated if the reduced concentration and digestibility of amino acids in heat-damaged SBM or DDGS is taken into account in diet formulation. Further research is needed to improve the prediction of the ileal digestibility of amino acids in heat-processed ingredients used in practical diet formulations.     

Effects of diets containing soybean meal on trypsin mRNA expression and activity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Atlantic salmon develop subacute enteritis in the distal intestine (DI) when fed diets containing soybean meal (SBM) at high levels, a condition accompanied by increased trypsin activity in the DI intestinal content compared to fish fed conventional fishmeal (FM) based diets. To further investigate the responses of Atlantic salmon to dietary SBM, we measured trypsin activity in intestinal contents, quantified pancreatic trypsin mRNA expression, surveyed trypsin mRNA expression in selected tissues and characterized active forms of trypsin in the intestinal wall and brain. Enzyme measurements showed that trypsin activity in the intestinal content of SBM fed fish was lower in the proximal segments of the intestine, but higher in the DI compared to FM fed fish. The difference in enzyme activity was not reflected in a differential expression of pancreatic trypsin mRNA between fish fed the different diets (FM or SBM). Trypsin mRNA was expressed in 18 different tissues (esophagus, stomach, pancreas, pyloric tissue, midintestine, distal intestine, liver, head kidney, kidney, heart, spleen, thymus, brain, eye, gills, gonads, muscle and skin) but was most prominently expressed in tissues of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and brain. We report for the first time an upregulation of trypsin-like activity in the DI wall using an in-gel trypsin activity assay, as well as modulated activity in the brain of fish fed SBM. The increased activity in the DI wall may contribute to disease severity and higher trypsin activity in the intestinal content.     

不同添加方式植酸酶处理豆粕对牙鲆生长和饲料利用率的影响

以初始平均体重(2.02±0.02)g的牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)为实验对象,进行为期70d的摄食生长实验,研究不同添加方式的植酸酶对牙鲆生长和饲料利用的影响。在5000.0g豆粕中添加2.5g植酸酶,然后用产朊假丝酵母(Candidautilis)进行发酵预处理,得到植酸酶预处理豆粕。共制作4种等氮等能(粗蛋白49.7%、总能20.9kJ/g)饲料,对照饲料主要以鱼粉为蛋白源;在对照饲料的基础上,用豆粕蛋白替代45%的鱼粉蛋白配制成豆粕组饲料;在每千克豆粕组饲料中添加1000IU植酸酶,配制成植酸酶组饲料;用植酸酶预处理豆粕蛋白替代45%的鱼粉蛋白配制成植酸酶预处理豆粕组饲料。结果表明,与对照组相比较,用豆粕蛋白替代饲料中45%的鱼粉蛋白,若不添加植酸酶则显著降低牙鲆的特定生长率(P0.01)、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和氮贮积率(P0.05);直接添加植酸酶组、植酸酶预处理豆粕组牙鲆的特定生长率、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和氮贮积率与鱼粉对照组相比较没有出现显著差异(P0.05);与不添加植酸酶的豆粕组相比较,在含豆粕饲料中添加1000IU/kg饲料的植酸酶显著提高牙鲆的特定生长率(P0.01)、氮贮积率(P0.05)和磷贮积率(P0.01),显著降低氮排放率(P0.05)和磷排放率(P0.01),但饲料效率和蛋白质效率没有显著变化(P0.05);在豆粕中添加植酸酶进行发酵预处理,降低了豆粕中植酸含量,在饲料中添加植酸酶预处理豆粕显著提高牙鲆的特定生长率(P0.01)、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和氮贮积率(P0.05),显著降低氮(P0.05)、磷和钙的排放率(P0.01)。       

Estimation of apparent L-amino acid diffusion in porcine jejunal enterocyte brush border membrane vesicles

There is an overlap of carrier-mediated L-amino acid transport and apparent simple diffusion when measured in intestinal brush border membrane vesicles. Using L-threonine and L-glutamine as representative amino acids, this study was undertaken to estimate apparent simple diffusion of L-amino acids and to establish the effective dosage of HgCl2 for completely blocking carrier-mediated L-amino acid transport in porcine jejunal enterocyte brush border membrane vesicles. Jejunal mucosa was scraped from three pigs weighing 26 kg. Enterocyte brush border membrane vesicles, with an average enrichment of 24-fold in sucrase specific activity, were prepared by Mg2+-precipitation and differential centrifugation. In vitro uptake was measured by the fast filtration manual procedure. HgCl2 blocked the carrier-mediated initial transport of L-threonine and L-glutamine under Na+-gradient condition in a dose-dependent manner. At the minimal concentration of 0.165 micromol HgCl2 mg(-1) protein, carrier-mediated L-threonine and L-glutamine transport was completely inhibited. The apparent L-threonine and L-glutamine diffusion was estimated to be 8.6+/-0.7 and 12.4+/-1.0% of the total uptake at the substrate concentrations of 5 microM (L-threonine) and 50 microM (L-glutamine). Therefore, the treatment of porcine brush border membrane vesicles with a minimum of 0.165 micromol HgCl2 mg(-1) protein completely blocks carrier-mediated L-amino acid transport and enables the direct estimation of apparent L-amino acid diffusion in enterocyte brush border membrane vesicles.     

Feeding value of field beans (Vicia faba L. var. minor) with and without enzyme containing tannase,pectinase and xylanase activities for broilers

Effects of field beans with various tannin content and exogenous enzyme mixture containing tannase, pectinase and xylanase activities on N-corrected dietary apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn), coefficients of dry matter (DMR) and nitrogen retention (NR), fat digestibility, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal villus morphometry, ileal digesta viscosity and sialic acid were examined. Birds’ growth performance and energy conversion ratio (ECR) were also measured. Birds were fed one of eight mash diets. The Control diet contained as major ingredients wheat (400 g/kg) and soybean meal (SBM) (127 g/kg and 221 g crude protein/kg and 12.83 MJ AMEn/kg. To reduce nutrient density, the Control diet also contained washed sand at 119 g/kg. Another three diets containing 300 g/kg of each of three experimental field bean cultivar samples in replacement for SBM and sand were also mixed. Each diet was fed to nine pens with two male Ross 308 broilers. Diets high in tannin had low AMEn, ECR, DMR and NR (p < 0.001). Feeding field beans increased (p < 0.001) the weights of the pancreas and the proventriculus and gizzard (PG) of the birds. Supplementing diets with the enzyme mixture improved (p < 0.001) feed conversion efficiency, AMEn and all nutrient utilisation coefficients despite the tannins in diets. The enzyme mixture reduced ileal digesta viscosity (p < 0.001) and the weight of pancreas, total GIT and PG (p < 0.05) of the birds. It can be concluded that the feeding value of field beans with different tannin contents may vary when fed to broilers. The supplementation of the enzyme mixture improved the feeding value of diets for broilers. The beneficial effect of the addition of the enzyme mixture seems to be mediated through reduced ileal digesta viscosity and improved nutrient availability.     

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.     

Towards non-invasive methods to determine the effect of treatment of soya-bean meal on lysine availability in dairy cows

Lysine (Lys) availability in three different soya-bean meal (SBM) products was determined using the following techniques: whole body (WB) net flux of Lys, digestible Lys (duodenal flow × intestinal digestibility) and the plasma Lys response curve method of Rulquin and Kowalczyk (2003). Four multiparous Holstein cows (173 days in milk) were equipped with ruminal and duodenal cannulas and used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment with 14-day periods. The animals were fed either solvent-extracted SBM (SE), expeller-processed SBM (EP) or lignosulphonate-treated SBM (LS) at 23% of the diet dry matter (DM). The fourth treatment (SE70) consisted of a continuous infusion of Lys (70 g/day) into the omasum of cows fed the SE diet. Chromium(III) oxide was included as a digesta marker in order to determine the duodenal flow of amino acids (AA). On day 12 of each experimental period, six blood samples were collected to determine plasma Lys concentrations. Immediately after that, a pulse dose of L-[2-15N] Lys was administered in the jugular vein. Jugular blood samples were then collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 25 and 31 min after the injection to determine 15N Lys enrichment. On each of days 13 and 14, eight digesta samples were collected and pooled by period. Amongst the diets of SBM (SE, EP, LS), no differences were observed for duodenal Lys flow or digestible Lys. Duodenal flow of microbial N with SE was numerically higher, compared with EP and LS, indicating enhanced duodenal supply of microbial Lys for this diet, and this may have compensated for the additional Lys derived from undegradable protein in rumen-protected SBM products (EP and LS). The use of the plasma response curve method as well as the measurement of WB Lys flux also revealed no differences in Lys availability among the SBM products. The WB flux method resulted in 100% post-ruminal recovery of the Lys infused with diet SE70 compared with the control diet SE, which indicates that the method is reliable for determining Lys availability. The Lys flux approach not only allows for the estimation of intestinally available essential AA but also it avoids the use of cannulated animals.     

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.     

Estimation of protein digestibility—IV. Digestive proteinases from the pyloric caeca of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fed diets containing soybean meal

The goal of this study was to better understand why dietary soybean products are poorly utilized by salmonids. The influence of dietary intake on coho salmon fingerling weight gain and specific properties of pyloric caeca enzymes was investigated. Fingerlings were fed diets containing heated or unheated soybean meal (SBM) or Promoveal™, as 15–25% herring meal replacer, for 8–12 weeks. Fish fed to apparent satiation with diets containing heated SBM replacer gained more weight than those fed unheated SBM at the same level. Fish increased in body weight at the same rate when fed restricted rations containing either 15% SBM replacer that was variously heated up to 20 min, 15% Promoveal™ replacer or the herring meal basal diet. After the experimental diets were fed, digestive proteinases were isolated from the pyloric caeca. Yield of pyloric caeca enzymes (PCE), recovery of trypsin in PCE, soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) sensitivity of PCE trypsin, specific activity of PCE trypsin and in vitro casein digestibility by PCE were determined for each dietary group. Weight gain vs in vitro casein digestibility by PCE was linear for animals fed unheated SBM to apparent satiation (r² = 0.71, P < 0.1) but not for animals fed either heated SBM to apparent satiation or variously heated SBM as 15% replacer at restricted levels. Trypsin from fish fed diets with heated or unheated SBM, but not Promoveal™ replacer, was less sensitive to SBTI than fish fed no SBM. For fish fed diets with variously heated SBM as 15% replacer, the SBTI activity of the SBM and SBTI inhibition of PCE trypsin were inversely related (r² = 0.88, P < 0.05). The yield of PCE was higher for fish fed 25% of heated SBM replacer than it was for diet groups fed less SBM. The yield of PCE trypsin was higher from animals fed 25% heated SBM replacer than those fed diets with a lower percentage of heated SBM replacer. Feeding coho fingerlings rations with SBM replacer appears to promote physiological compensation of PCE. Heat stable and/or heat-activated factor(s) and SBTI appear to cause the compensation of salmon digestive proteinases from coho salmon fed diets with SBM.