Evaluation of the environmental implications of the incorporation of feed-use amino acids in the manufacturing of pig and broiler feeds using Life Cycle Assessment

The incorporation of feed-use (FU) amino acids (AAs) in diets results in a reduced use of protein-rich ingredients such as soybean meal, recognized to have elevated contributions to environmental impacts. This study investigated whether the incorporation of L-lysine.HCl, L-threonine and FU-methionine reduces the environmental impacts of pig and broiler feeds using Life Cycle Assessment. The following impact categories were considered: climate change, eutrophication, acidification, terrestrial ecotoxicity, cumulative energy demand and land occupation. Several feeds were formulated either to minimize the cost of the formulation (with or without AA utilization), to maximize AA incorporation (i.e. the cost of AA was considered to be similar to that of soybean meal), or to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. For both pig and broiler feeds, calculations were made first using only cereals and soybean meal as main ingredients and then using cereals and several protein-rich ingredients (soybean meal, rapeseed meal and peas). In addition, these calculations were performed using two types of soybean meal (from Brazil, associated with recent deforestation or not). For broiler feeds, two types of maize (from France, irrigated, with mineral fertilization v. not irrigated, with animal manure fertilization) were also tested. Regarding the feeds formulated to minimize cost, incorporation of AA decreased the values for eutrophication, terrestrial ecotoxicity and cumulative energy demand of both pig and broiler feeds, regardless of the base ingredients. Reduction in climate change and acidification due to the incorporation of AA depended on the nature of the feed ingredients, with the effect of AA incorporation being greater when combined with ingredients with high impacts such as soybean meal associated with deforestation. Feeds formulated to maximize AA incorporation generally had a similar composition to those formulated to minimize cost, suggesting that the costs of AA were not the limiting factor in their incorporation. Feeds formulated to minimize greenhouse gas emissions had the lowest values for climate change and cumulative energy demand, but not for other impacts. Further research is needed to elucidate whether the incorporation of additional AA (tryptophan and valine) along with L-lysine, L-threonine and FU-methionine could decrease on the environmental impacts of pig and broiler feeds further.     

Halimodendrin I, a new acylated triterpene glycoside from Halimodendron halodendron (Fabaceae)

Halimodendrin I, a new acylated triterpene glycoside (1), was isolated and chemically characterized as 3β-O-palmitoyl-28-[3′-palmitoyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-olean-12-en-28-oic acid from the aerial part of Halimodendron halodendron (Fabaceae) by IR, 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and LR-ESI-MS experiments. In addition, seven known compounds were isolated and identified as: palmitic acid, glycerol-2-linoleneate, glycerol-1,3-dilinoleneate, ferulic acid, 3-O-methylquercetin, β-sitosterol, and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. Nine fatty acids were identified and quantified in the saponifiable matter of the hexane extract. These fatty acids are: myristic, n-pentadecanoic, palmitoleic, palmitic, linoleic, oleic, stearic, arachidic, and behenic acids. The volatile oil was isolated by hydrodistillation (0.013%, w/w) with unpleasant smell. Twenty-seven components were identified in the oil by GC/MS.     

Prediction of fat quality in pig carcasses by near-infrared spectroscopy

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy (NIRS) technology for prediction of the chemical composition (moisture content and fatty acid composition) of fat from fast-growing, lean slaughter pig samples coming from breeding programmes. NIRS method I: a total of 77 samples of intact subcutaneous fat from pigs were analysed with the FOSS FoodScan NIR spectrophotometer (850 to 1050 nm) and then used to predict the moisture content by using partial least squares (PLS) regression methods. The best equation obtained has a coefficient of determination for cross-validation (CV; R(2)(cv)) and a root mean square error of a CV (RMSECV) of 0.88 and 1.18%, respectively. The equation was further validated with (n = 15) providing values of 0.83 and 0.42% for the coefficient of determination for validation (R(2)(val)) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), respectively. NIRS method II: in this case, samples of melted subcutaneous fat were analysed in an FOSS XDS NIR rapid content analyser (400 to 2500 nm). Equations based on modified PLS regression methods showed that NIRS technology could predict the fatty acid groups, the main fatty acids and the iodine value accurately with R(2)(cv), RMSECV, R(2)(val) and RMSEP of 0.98, 0.38%, 0.95 and 0.49%, respectively (saturated fatty acids), 0.94, 0.45%, 0.97 and 0.65%, respectively (monounsaturated fatty acids), 0.97, 0.28%, 0.99 and 0.34%, respectively (polyunsaturated fatty acids), 0.76, 0.61%, 0.84 and 0.87%, respectively (palmitic acid, C16:0), 0.75, 0.16%, 0.89 and 0.10%, respectively (palmitoleic acid, C16:1n-7), 0.93, 0.41%, 0.96 and 0.64%, respectively (steric acid, C18:0), 0.90, 0.51%, 0.94 and 0.44%, respectively (oleic acid, C18:1n-9), 0.97, 0.25%, 0.98 and 0.29% (linoleic acid, C18:2n-6), 0.68, 0.09%, 0.57 and 0.16% (α-linolenic acid, C18:3n-3) and 0.97, 0.57, 0.97 and 1.22, respectively (iodine value, calculated). The magnitude of this error showed quite good accuracy using these rapid methods in prediction of the moisture and fatty acid composition of fat from pigs involved in breeding schemes.     

Production and egg quality in layers fed organic diets with mussel meal

The first limiting nutrients in typical laying hen diets are the sulphur-containing amino acids and, in particular, methionine. To fulfil the birds' recommended requirement, conventional diets are supplemented with synthetic methionine. As this is not allowed in organic production it becomes very important to have access to alternative high-quality protein feed ingredients. An experiment was performed to evaluate the possibility to compose a diet with 100% organically approved feed ingredients using mussel meal as a major source of methionine. The experiment included 678 Lohman Selected Leghorn (LSL) and 678 Hyline White, W-98, layers during 20 to 72 weeks of age. There were 12 aviary pens with 113 birds in each. The birds were fed one of the two experimental diets containing either 3.5% or 7% dried mussel meat meal or a commercial organic diet from a Swedish feed manufacturer for comparison. Production and mortality were recorded daily per group, and egg weight was recorded once weekly. At 33, 55 and 70 weeks, 10 eggs from each treatment group were collected and analysed for internal egg quality. Diets had no significant effect on laying percentage, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, bird live weight or proportion misplaced, cracked or dirty eggs. Egg quality, that is, shell deformation, shell breaking strength, albumen height, shell percentage and proportion of blood and meat spots were also unaffected. There was a significant difference in egg yolk pigmentation, that is, the egg yolk was more coloured when feeding 7% mussel meal compared with the other diets. Hyline hens had lower feed intake and laying percentage, and higher egg weight, but lower egg mass production than LSL birds. The age of the birds influenced all egg quality traits except for meat and blood spots. The dry matter of the excreta was significantly lower for both genotypes fed the 7% mussel meal diet. These results indicate that mussels may be a high-quality protein source and may replace fishmeal in organic diets for layers.     

ZmJAZ与ZmMYC2的BiFC互作研究

JAZ(jasmonate ZIM-domain)蛋白是茉莉酸(jasmonic acid,JA)信号途径中关键的负调控因子,明确JAZ蛋白和MYC2之间的结合关系对整个JA信号通路至关重要.通过qRT-PCR筛选了在籽粒中较特异表达的ZmJAZ4、生殖器官中高表达的ZmJAZ8以及组成型表达的ZmJAZ12,利用玉米...     

Systematic variation in leaf amino acid compositions of leguminous plants

The leaf protein content for 17 species of legumes ranges from 2.8 to 9.4 g% fr. wt, with an average of 5.3 g % fr. wt. Taxonomic pattern is detectable in leaf amino acid patterns, those of the Mimosoideae being distinguishable from those of the Papilionoideae and Caesalpinioideae.     

4α,15-Dihydroencelin and related sesquiterpene acids from perymenium featherstonei

Perymenium featherstonei afforded, in addition to the known ent-kaurene derivative 4α, 15-dihydroencelin, two closely related epimeric acids.