Performance of guinea fowl fed hevea seed meal or cashew nut meal as a partial substitute for soya bean meal

Guinea fowl production is increasing in developing countries and has a crucial role in the fight against poverty. However, the feed cost is very high, especially the soya bean meal cost, and farmers cannot afford to buy commercial feed. Consequently, animals do not receive feed adapted to their nutritional needs and they exhibit poor performance. The aim of this paper is to partially substitute soya bean meal by local by-products, discarded, in abundant supply and not used in human nutrition. French Galor guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and local African guinea fowl (150 birds per breed) were reared for 16 weeks and fed the same starter diet for the initial 4 weeks. From 4 weeks of age, experimental birds from each breed were randomly assigned to three grower isoproteic and isolipidic dietary treatments, each containing five replications (floor pens); each replication included 10 birds of the same breed. The guinea fowl of each breed were fed either control grower diet using soya bean meal as the protein supplement GS, or trial grower diet GN (soya bean meal supplement partially substituted by 15% cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale) meal) or trial grower diet GH (soya bean meal supplement partially substituted by 15% hevea seed (Hevea brasiliensis) meal). The results indicated that hevea seed meal contained a high content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (21.2% of total fatty acids (FAs)). The use of hevea seed meal in guinea fowl grower diet was found to exert no adverse effect on growth performance and carcass yield. However, the use of cashew nut meal led to negative effects on performance like daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Therefore, cashew nut meal cannot be considered as a suitable partial substitute for soya bean meal in diets. The use of hevea seed meal led to a very low abdominal fat proportion and low blood triglyceride and cholesterol content. Additionally, inclusion of dietary hevea seed meal resulted in guinea fowl meat enriched in PUFAs, especially n-3 FAs, thereby significantly improving the nutritional value.     

Quality of eggs from Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens fed black soldier fly meal as substitute for soya bean

Soya bean is the main protein source in poultry feed but rising prices make an alternative protein source necessary. Insects, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), may be an attractive solution for hens, although little information is available on their effect on egg quality. The present study aims to fill this gap by testing the effect of 100% replacement of soya bean with H. illucens larva meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens for 21 weeks. At the end of the trial, the eggs were characterized for parameters such as weight, colour, proximate composition of albumen and yolk, and content of carotenoids, tocopherols and cholesterol. The fatty acid profile of yolks was also determined. Hens fed the insect-based diet produced eggs (HIM group) with a higher proportion of yolk than the group fed the soya bean-based diet (SBM group). HIM was associated with redder yolks (red index 5.63 v. 1.36) than SBM. HIM yolks were richer in γ-tocopherol (4.0 against 2.4 mg/kg), lutein (8.6 against 4.9 mg/kg), β-carotene (0.33 against 0.19 mg/kg) and total carotenoids (15 against 10.5 mg/kg) than SBM yolks. The fatty acid composition of HIM yolks was almost identical to that of SBM yolks. Finally, HIM yolks contained 11% less cholesterol than SBM yolks. These results suggest that H. illucens larva meal is a suitable total substitute for soya bean meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A sustainable alternative to the plant protein source therefore seems feasible.     

Soyasaponins lowered plasma cholesterol and increased fecal bile acids in female golden Syrian hamsters

A study was conducted in hamsters to determine if group B soyasaponins improve plasma cholesterol status by increasing the excretion of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols, to identify group B soyasaponin metabolites, and to investigate the relationship between a fecal group B soyasaponin metabolite and plasma lipids. Twenty female golden Syrian hamsters, 11-12 weeks old and 85-125 g, were randomly assigned to a control diet or a similar diet containing group B soyasaponins (containing no isoflavones), 2.2 mmol/kg, for 4 weeks. Hamsters fed group B soyasaponins had significantly lower plasma total cholesterol (by 20%), non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (by 33%), and triglycerides (by 18%) compared with those fed casein (P < 0.05). The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol was significantly lower (by 13%) in hamsters fed group B soyasaponins than in those fed casein (P < 0.05). The excretion of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols was significantly greater (by 105% and 85%, respectively) in soyasaponin-fed hamsters compared with those fed casein (P < 0.05). Compared with casein, group B soyasaponins lowered plasma total cholesterol levels and non-HDL cholesterol levels by a mechanism involving greater excretion of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols. Hamsters fed group B soyasaponins statistically clustered into two fecal soyasaponin metabolite-excretion phenotypes: high excreters (n = 3) and low excreters (n = 7). When high and low producers of this soyasaponin metabolite were compared for plasma cholesterol status, the high producers showed a significantly lower total-cholesterol-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio compared with the low producers (1.38 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.59 +/- 0.13; P < 0.03). Greater production of group B soyasaponin metabolite in hamsters was associated with better plasma cholesterol status, suggesting that gut microbial variation in soyasaponin metabolism may influence the health effects of group B soyasaponins.     

Meat meal in the diet of the early-weaned pig. I. A comparison of meat meal and soya bean meal

Seventy-two pigs, initially weighing 4–5 kg, were fed on wheat-based diets supplemented with soya bean meal and/or meat meal in two experiments each of 4 weeks' duration.In the first experiment, 0, 25, 50 or 100% replacement of soya bean meal protein supplement with meat meal was associated with a linear decrease in weight gains (341-280 g/d), a linear increase in feed conversion ratios (1.64–2.35) and a linear decrease in apparent digestibility of dry matter (80.1–73.4%). There was no change in the apparent digestibility of nitrogen.In the second experiment, bone meal was added to provide 0.80, 1.55 and 3.05% calcium in diets in which the protein supplements were either soya bean meal or meat meal. The addition of bone meal to the diets containing soya bean meal did not affect the performance of the pigs, but it caused a linear decrease in the apparent digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and calcium. The addition of bone meal to the diet containing meat meal reduced the feed intakes of the pigs from 617 to 516 g/d and the weight gains from 414 to 324 g/d.Weight gains of pigs were similar when their diets contained soya bean meal or meat meal as the protein supplement in the second experiment when the calcium content of the diets was 0.8%. The meat meal included in the diet was manufactured from soft offal.     

Low-cholesterol diet: enhancement of effect of CDCA in patients with gall stones.

Fifteen patients with gall stones who were taking chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA) 15 mg/kg at bedtime participated in two separate experiments to investigate the effects of altering sterol intake on the cholesterol saturation index (SI) of fasting gall-bladder bile. In experiment I the 15 patients on an unrestricted diet had a SI of 0.87 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SE of mean), which fell to 0.75 +/- 0.04 after one week in hospital on a diet of 100 mg cholesterol daily. In experiment II seven of the patients were given four different dietary regimens lasting one month each in random order as outpatients. On a diet of 600 mg of cholesterol daily the mean SI was 0.72 +/- 0.05, which fell to 0.67 +/- 0.05 when the patients were put on a 100 mg cholesterol diet. The addition of plant sterols (3 g daily) to both diets raised the mean SIs to 0.80 +/- 0.05 and 0.77 +/- 0.05 respectively. The percentage CDCA in bile was unaffected by alterations in the cholesterol and plant sterol intakes. We conclude that a low-cholesterol diet but not a high intake of plant sterols enhances the effect of CDCA in patients with gall stones.     

Cholesterol gallstones in alloxan-diabetic mice

Normal and alloxan-diabetic male mice (Crj-ICR) were fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 5 and 10 weeks, and gallbladder bile was analyzed for cholesterol, phospholipids and bile acids, feces for sterols and bile acids, and plasma and liver for cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides. Normal mice developed no gallstones but the diabetic mice developed cholesterol gallstones with an incidence of 70% by 5 weeks and 80% by 10 weeks after feeding of the cholesterol diet. Diabetic mice fed the ordinary diet also developed stones (23%) by 10 weeks. In the diabetic mice, the gallbladder was enlarged about threefold, and biliary lipid concentration, diet intake, and fecal excretion of sterols and bile acids increased but body weight decreased. Cholic acid and beta-muricholic acid comprised over 40% each of the total biliary bile acids in normal mice, but cholic acid increased to about 80% and beta-muricholic acid decreased to a few percent in the diabetic mice. Fecal excretion of bile acids increased after cholesterol feeding in both normal and diabetic mice, but the increased bile acid in the normal animals was beta-muricholic acid and that in the diabetic mice was deoxycholic acid. The mice that developed gallstones showed a marked increase in biliary cholesterol value and decreases in gallbladder bile and bile acid concentration, but no difference in biliary and fecal bile acid composition, bile acid synthesis, fecal sterols, or plasma and liver lipid levels. Cholesterol absorption was increased in the diabetic mice when examined by plasma 14C/3H ratio and fecal 14C-labeled sterol excretion after a single oral administration of [14C]cholesterol and a simultaneous intravenous injection of [3H]cholesterol. These data led to the conclusion that cholesterol gallstones developed in alloxan-diabetic mice fed excess cholesterol, due to the hyperphagia and the enhancement of cholesterol absorption caused by increases in the synthesis and secretion of cholic acid.     

Effect of germinated and heated soybean meals on plasma cholesterol and triglycerides in rats

Soybean may be useful in diets for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and the treatment of type II hyperlipoproteinemia as it lowers blood cholesterol levels. However, unpleasant organoleptic qualities and the presence of antinutritional substances hinder its use. Some of these problems may be partially solved by germinating the seeds or heating the meals. The effects of the duration of soybean germination and of heating the meal were studied in Wistar rats. Dietary meal composition, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were evaluated after feeding rats with various soybean meal or casein diets containing 10% protein for 6 weeks. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were 0.81 +/- 0.11 and 0.82 +/- 0.23 g/l respectively after the casein diet and 0.90 +/- 0.10 and 0.51 +/- 0.17 g/l after the raw soybean diet. Soybean germination had a hypercholesterolemic effect (1.05 +/- 0.11 g/l after 5 d). Heating the raw meal or germinated soybean meal did not affect cholesterol levels, though it suppressed the hypotriglyceridemic effect. The triglyceride-lowering effect of soybean was probably caused by the presence of thermolabile substances or by the quantity of food ingested. The unexpected increase in blood cholesterol levels may have been due to the effect of the low dietary protein levels.     

Relationship between dietary tyrosine and plasma cholesterol in the rat

The present study was undertaken to measure the effects of dietary tyrosine added to fish protein and peanut meal on plasma cholesterol and plasma thyroid hormone levels in the rat. These dietary proteins were chosen because they contain similar amounts of tyrosine but release it at different rates during enzymatic hydrolysis. Casein was chosen as the reference protein. Supplementation was used to obtain tyrosine levels similar to that of casein. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed cholesterol-enriched diets containing 15% protein. After 3 weeks of experimental feeding, total postprandial plasma cholesterol was similar in the casein and peanut meal groups and significantly lower in the fish group. When added to the fish diet, tyrosine caused an increase in plasma cholesterol to a level similar to that of the casein group, whereas supplementation had no effect on plasma cholesterol of rats fed the peanut meal diet. The effects of dietary proteins or of tyrosine supplementation on cholesterol levels of the (density less than 1.006 g/mL) lipoprotein fraction were comparable, but not all significant, to those observed on total plasma cholesterol. In addition, casein and fish diets induced significantly higher levels of plasma triiodothyronine (T3) and lower levels of plasma thyroxine (T4) than did the peanut meal diet. However, the addition of tyrosine to the fish or the peanut meal diet did not modify the plasma thyroid hormone levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of source and micronization of soya bean meal on growth performance,nutrient digestibility and ileal mucosal morphology of Iberian piglets

The effects of inclusion in the diet of different sources of soya bean meal (SBM) on growth performance, total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of major dietary components and mucosal ileum morphology were studied in Iberian pigs weaned at 30 days of age. From 30 to 51 days of age (phase I), there was a control diet based on regular soya bean meal (R-SBM; 44% CP) of Argentina (ARG) origin and five extra diets in which a high-protein soya bean meal (HP-SBM; 49% CP) of the USA or ARG origin, either ground (990 μm) or micronized (60 μm), or a soya protein concentrate (SPC; 65% CP) substituted the R-SBM. From 51 to 61 days of age (phase II), all pigs were fed a common commercial diet in mash form. The following pre-planned orthogonal contrasts were conducted: (1) R-SBM v. all the other diets, (2) SPC v. all the HP-SBM diets, (3) micronized HP-SBM v. ground HP-SBM, (4) HP-SBM of ARG origin v. HP-SBM of US origin and (5) interaction between source and the degree of grinding of the HP-SBM. Dietary treatment did not affect growth performance of the pigs at any age but from 30 to 51 days of age, post weaning diarrhoea (PWD) was higher (P<0.001) and the TTAD and AID of all nutrients were lower for pigs fed the R-SBM diet than for pigs fed the HP-SBM or the SPC diets. However, no differences between the HP-SBM and the SPC containing diets were detected for any trait. The TTAD of organic matter (P=0.07) and gross energy (GE) (P=0.05) tended to be higher for the micronized HP-SBM than for the ground HP-SBM and that of GE was higher (P<0.05) for US meal than for the ARG meal. Pigs fed R-SBM had lower villus height (P<0.01) than pigs fed HP-SBM or SPC but no differences in ileal mucosal morphology were detected between SPC and HP-SBM containing diets. It is concluded that feeding the HP-SBM or SPC-reduced PWD and improved nutrient digestibility and ileal morphology as compared with feeding the R-SBM, but had no effect on pig performance. The inclusion in the diet of added value soya products (micronized SBM or SPC) in substitution of the R-SBM increased the TTAD of all nutrients and reduced PWD but had no advantage in terms of growth performance over the use of ground HP-SBM.     

The effect of supplementary protein on the performance of pigs given swedes (Brassica napus) as a replacement for barley in the diet

A feeding trial was carried out to examine the effect of supplementary protein on the performance of pigs, when swede dry matter replaced 40% of the dry matter supplied by barley in two diets providing different amounts of protein. One hundred and twenty pigs of about 60 kg initial live weight were given one of four diets, each of which provided a constant amount of dry matter daily for 42 days, after which the pigs were slaughtered at about 90 kg live weight. The two basal diets were, on a dry matter basis; barley 2.0 kg plus either 0.2 or 0.4 kg soya bean meal. A mineral and vitamin supplement was given with each diet. There was no significant interaction between the effects of the inclusion of swedes or additional soya bean meal in the diet. The averaged results for pairs of diets showed that the use of swedes decreased carcass-weight gain from 0.62 to 0.51 kg/day and that the increment of soya bean meal increased it from 0.54 to 0.59 kg/day (P < 0.001 for both). It is suggested that the failure of swede dry matter to give an equivalent response to that of barley is not due to the nutritional value of its crude protein component per se but to other physical and chemical factors which may affect its utilization as an energy feed-source for pigs.     

Black soldier fly as dietary protein source for broiler quails: apparent digestibility,excreta microbial load,feed choice,performance, carcass and meat traits

In order to expand with validated scientific data the limited knowledge regarding the potential application of insects as innovative feed ingredients for poultry, the present study tested a partial substitution of soya bean meal and soya bean oil with defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (H) in the diet for growing broiler quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) on growth performance, mortality, nutrients apparent digestibility, microbiological composition of excreta, feed choice, carcass and meat traits. With this purpose, a total of 450 10-day-old birds were allocated to 15 cages (30 birds/cage) and received three dietary treatments: a Control diet (C) and two diets (H1 and H2) corresponding to 10% and 15% H inclusion levels, respectively (H substituted 28.4% soya bean oil and 16.1% soya bean meal for H1, and 100% soya bean oil and 24.8% soya bean meal for H2, respectively). At 28 days of age, quails were slaughtered, carcasses were weighed, breast muscles were then excised from 50 quails/treatment, weighed, and ultimate pH (pHu) and L*, a*, b* colour values were measured. Breast muscles were then cooked to assess cooking loss and meat toughness. For the digestibility trial, a total of 15 28-day-old quails were assigned to the three feeding groups. The excreta samples were subjected to chemical and microbiological analysis. The same 15 quails were then simultaneously provided with C and H2 diets for a 10-day feed choice trial. Productive performance, mortality and carcass traits were in line with commercial standards and similar in all experimental groups. With the exception of ether extract digestibility, which was lower in H1 group compared with C and H2 (P=0.0001), apparent digestibility of dry matter, CP, starch and energy did not differ among treatments. Microbial composition of excreta was also comparable among the three groups. Feed choice trial showed that quails did not express a preference toward C or H2 diets. Breast meat weight and yield did not differ among C, H1 and H2 quails. Differently, the inclusion of H meal reduced meat pHu compared with C. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that H. illucens larvae meal can partially replace conventional soya bean meal and soya bean oil in the diet for growing broiler quails, thus confirming to be a promising insect protein source for the feed industry. Further research to assess the impact of H meal on intestinal morphology as well as on meat quality and sensory profile would be of utmost importance.     

Nutritive value of rumen contents for monogastric animals

Rumen contents were investigated as a possible feed for farm animals. Although their composition varied to some extent, an average sample contained 21.8% crude protein, 30.3% crude fibre, 6.1% fat and 11.5% ash in the dry matter. Of total crude protein, 73.4% was amino acids. The raw rumen material was dried using the “organic carrier method” by previous mixing with maize meal (3 parts raw rumen contents/1 part maize meal). The product, RM meal (12.5% crude protein, 10.8% crude fibre, 5% fat, 4.9% ash), was used for feeding broiler chicks.The nutritive qualities of dried rumen contents (DRC) were assessed by biological tests on rats. Two levels of DRC (10% and 24%) were included in diets containing blood meal as a protein source and maize (Experiment I). The lower level of DRC (10%) did not reduce the growth rate of young rats (2.4 g/day), but the food consumption was increased. The total body composition of the rats was not changed (55.3% crude protein, 34.1% fat, 9.6% ash). The higher concentration of DRC decreased the growth rates markedly, as well as the apparent digestibility of dry matter and protein, and changed the body composition of rats.The apparent digestibility by rats of rumen protein in a semi-synthetic diet containing 50% DRC (Experiment II) was 44.6% and of dry matter, 56%.The RM meal was given to broiler chicks (0–8 weeks of age) as 23% or 60% of the diet which also contained soya bean meal, blood meal and sunflower meal as protein supplements (Experiment III). The chicks consumed all diets readily. The diet containing 23% RM meal (corresponding to 6.4% DRC) supported a better performance than the control diet. The larger amount of RM meal (corresponding to 17% DRC) reduced the final body weights of chicks.     

Nitrogen metabolism in broiler chickens consuming the bacterial strain Alcaligenes eutrophus

The facultative autotrophic H₂-oxidising bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus strain H 16 (mutant lacking PHB = poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid) is a potential source of single-cell protein.As compared to soya bean protein, A. eutrophus is more adequate in nearly all amino acids (expressed as g/16 g non-nucleic acid-N) essential for the growth of poultry. The relatively high values for methionine and lysine (2.5 g and 7.5 g/16 g non-nucleic acid-N, respectively) have to be emphasized.The present study was designed to investigate the N-utilisation of a PHB-free mutant of A. eutrophus grown under autotrophic conditions when given at increasing levels in broiler diets. The influence of bacterial-N on the distribution of excreted nitrogen in uric acid, urea and ammonia was examined in metabolic studies. For determination of apparent N-digestibility, faecal and urinary nitrogen were separated chemically.The dietary protein was replaced by the bacterial dry matter (on the basis of its content of non-nucleic acid-N) at levels of 15, 30, 45 and 61.7% at the expense of soya bean meal. At a level of 45% or more of the protein of the diet replaced by the bacterial strain, values for apparent N-digestibility and N-retention decreased slightly. The excreted uric acid-N (g per g of N ingested) was not influenced by the bacterial N intake. The excretion of ammonia-N increased with increasing dietary levels of bacterial-N while the output of urea-N was not clearly influenced.From the N-balance data it is concluded that replacement of soya bean meal by the bacterial matter (autotrophically grown A. eutrophus) may be recommended up to 30% of the dietary protein on the basis of non-nucleic acid-N, and should not exceed a level of 45%.     

Response of obligate heterozygotes for phytosterolemia to a low-fat diet and to a plant sterol ester dietary challenge

Twelve obligate heterozygotes from two kindreds were ascertained through phytosterolemic probands homozygous for molecular defects in the ATP binding cassette (ABC) half transporter, ABCG8. The response of these heterozygotes to a Step 1 diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, and to 2.2 g daily of plant sterols (as esters) was determined in Protocol I (16 weeks) and Protocol II (28 weeks) during three consecutive feeding periods: Step 1/placebo spread; Step 1/plant sterol spread; and Step 1/placebo spread (washout). At baseline, half the heterozygotes had moderate dyslipidemia and one-third had mildly elevated campesterol and sitosterol levels. On the Step 1/placebo spread, mean LDL cholesterol decreased significantly, 11.2% in Protocol I (n = 12), and 16.0% in Protocol II (n = 7). Substitution with plant sterol spread produced a significant treatment effect on LDL levels in Protocols I and II. Conversely, the mean levels of campesterol and sitosterol increased 119% and 54%, respectively, during the use of plant sterol spread for 6 weeks in Protocol I, an effect mirrored for 12 weeks in Protocol II. During the placebo spread washouts, LDL levels increased, while those of plant sterols decreased to baseline levels in both protocols. In conclusion, phytosterolemic heterozygotes respond well to a Step 1 diet, and their response to a plant sterol ester challenge appears similar to that observed in normals.     

Use of unextracted sunflower seeds as a protein source

Substitution of unextracted sunflower seeds for either 0, 25, 50 or 100% of the soya bean meal in pig diets produced no significant differences in digestible energy or apparent nitrogen retention. However, all diets containing unextracted sunflower seeds had significantly higher digestible nitrogen than the diets containing soya bean meal as the protein source. Replacement of 25% of the soya bean meal with unextracted sunflower seeds produced the greatest increase in digestibility. Rate and efficiency of gain in rats were used to evaluate the effects of autoclaving unextracted sunflower seeds at 115°C with 1.05 kg/cm² pressure for 0, 5 or 10 minutes. Rats fed on the basal maize-soya bean meal diet gained significantly faster and more efficiently than the rats fed on the diets containing the sunflower seeds. An increase in heating time of the sunflower seeds produced a significant reduction in rate and efficiency of rat gain.     

Mechanism of action of antiatherogenic and related effects of Ficus bengalensis Linn. flavonoids in experimental animals

One month treatment of alloxan diabetic dogs with a glycoside, viz. leucopelargonin derivative (100 mg/kg/day) isolated from the bark of F. bengalensis decreased fasting blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin by 34% and 28% respectively. Body weight was maintained in both the treated groups while the same was decreased significantly by 10% in the control group. In cholesterol diet fed rats, as the atherogenic index and the hepatic bile acid level and the faecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols increased, the HMGCoA reductase and lipogenic enzyme activities in liver and lipoprotien lipase activity in heart and adipose tissue and plasma LCAT activity and the incorporation of labelled acetate into free and ester cholesterol in liver decreased significantly. On treatment with the two ficus flavonoids, viz. leucopelargonin and leucocyanin derivatives and another flavonoid quercetin (100 mg/kg/day) the above said effects except on bile acids and sterols and lipogenic enzymes were significantly reversed in the cholesterol fed rats. However in the treated rats the hepatic level of bile acids and the faecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols still further increased and the action of lipogenic enzyme glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase was still further decreased. These effects of leucopelargonidin and quercetin were better than that of the second. Toxicity studies are required to be carried out to find out if the ficus flavonoids could be used as health promoters as they are hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant in action.     

House fly larvae meal grown on municipal organic waste as a source of protein in poultry diets

House fly larvae (Musca domestica L.) grown in the residues of municipal organic waste were evaluated as a protein concentrate in practical diets for poultry. Seventy-two broiler-type chicks were alloted within 12 groups. Quadruplicate groups each received the following dietary treatments: a control diet containing soya bean meal alone, or two diets in which either 12% of the supplementary protein was provided by fly larvae meal or 9% by fish meal. The chicks were fed during the first four weeks of life with isocaloric and isoproteic diets and the results showed no significant differences in body weight gain (P > 0.05) or food conversion efficiency (P > 0.05), the larvae meal diet being intermediate to the other two.     

Enhanced Excretion of Fecal Neutral Sterols and the Hypocholesterolemic Property of 4-O-Methylascochlorin in Mice

The hypocholesterolemic property of experimental agent 4-O-methylascochlorin (MAC) was examined in male mice. MAC exerted hypocholesterolemic activity without hepatomegaly in mice given MAC mixed in a standard laboratory diet for a week. MAC also significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol (p-TC) in mice when it was administered immediately after meals by gastric intubation in controlled feeding. However, the oral administration through gastric tube was completely ineffective on p-TC in mice with empty stomach. These results suggest a close relationship between hypocholesterolemic efficacy and the timing of diet intake. Hypercholesterolemia also induced by a high fat-cholesterol diet was unaffected by MAC when it was given mixed with the diet.

From the isotopic study, three plausible mechanism were proposed for the mode of action: (I) enhanced output of biliary cholesterol, (II) inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption followed by an increment of fecal neutral sterols and (III) modulation of cholesterol partition in the plasma.     

Mechanism for the cholesterol-lowering action of egg white protein in rats

Eggs are a popular source of dietary cholesterol, but their consumption does not necessarily result in an increased serum cholesterol concentration. We investigated the cholesterol-lowering activity of egg white protein (EWP) and its potential mechanism in rats. The consumption of EWP resulted in a decreased concentration of cholesterol in the serum, liver and intestinal mucosa. The excretion of fecal neutral sterols and bile acids was greater by rats fed with EWP than by those fed with casein. The ratio of cholesterol and bile acids in the micellar phase to those in the solid phase was lower in the intestinal contents from rats fed with EWP than from those fed with casein. These results suggest that the cholesterol-lowering activity of EWP can be attributed to lowering the cholesterol absorption by intervening in the micellar formation in the intestines.     

Influence of steam pelleting on the feeding value of Tower and Candle rapeseed products for broiler chickens

Male broiler chickens were offered diets containing up to 30% Tower rapeseed meal, with these diets being prepared in mash or steam pelleted (crumble) form. In 4 experiments, birds receiving a maize and soya bean meal control diet showed a significant improvement in weight gain when crumbles, rather than mash diets, were used. With isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets containing rapeseed meal, no such improvement in growth rate was observed. Steam pelleting exerted no consistent effect on feed conversion. There was no significant difference in the growth rate of birds receiving mash diets irrespective of composition, while for crumbled diets, birds consuming the maize and soya bean control diet were heavier than comparable rapeseed-fed birds, with this difference being significant in 2 experiments. By adding fat, necessary to maintain rapeseed diets isocaloric, after the pelleting process, it was shown that fat per se was not responsible for failure to elicit a growth response with pelleted rapeseed meal diets. The response to pelleting was similar with diets prepared in an experimental pelleting machine at the university or by a commercial feed mill. Reduction in amino acid availability, in particular of arginine, is tentatively discussed in relation to the non-improved growth rate observed with pelleted diets containing rapeseed meal. Improvement in growth rate with pelleted vs. mash diets containing whole, raw rapeseeds is interpreted as a response to the heat treatment involved with the pelleting process.