scholarly journals Dietary calcium supplementation affects nutrient digestibility and antler-production performance during the antler-velvet growth period of male sika deer

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1689
Author(s):  
Weili Sun ◽  
Haiping Zhao ◽  
Kun Bao ◽  
Chunyi Li ◽  
Guangyu Li

Effects of calcium (Ca) supplementation on nutrient digestibility, physiochemical characteristics and antler growth in farmed male sika deer were investigated. Eighteen sika deer (6 years old, 105.50 ± 5.05 kg) were assigned into the following three treatments where they had ad libitum access to water for 90 days: (1) control (C), basal diet containing 0.5% Ca; (2) Ca1.10, basal diet supplemented with 0.6% Ca; and (3) Ca1.70, basal diet supplemented with 1.2% Ca. The basal diet contained 0.50% Ca and 0.34% phosphorus (P). Each group consisted of the same ratio of Ca to P (provided as CaCO3 and CaHPO4). The results showed that the digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein in the Ca1.70 group was lower than in the other two groups. The digestibilities of Ca, P and neutral detergent fibre in the Ca1.10 group were higher than those in the C group and Ca1.70 group (P < 0.05). Concentrations of Ca and P in faeces increased with an increasing supplementation level of Ca and the highest concentrations were observed in the Ca1.70 group (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the concentrations of parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin among the treatments. Testosterone and oestradiol concentrations of the Ca1.7 group were higher than those of the C and Ca1.10 groups (P < 0.05). Average daily gains of fresh antler weight and dry antler weight of the groups Ca1.10 and Ca1.70 were greater than those of the C (P < 0.05). Fresh and dry antler yields of the Ca1.10 group were higher than those of the other groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, optimal level of Ca supplement was found to be total Ca concentration of 1.10–1.70%, on the basis of DM, which significantly increased feed digestibility and antler daily gain for the 6-year-old sika deer.

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuhe Yang ◽  
Xiuhua Gao ◽  
Guangyu Li

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of dietary protein levels on the performance of sika deer. Twenty-four male sika deer were randomly assigned into three treatments, where they were fed a diet containing either 12, 16 or 20% crude protein (CP). During the antler growth period the average bodyweight gain in 12, 16 and 20% CP levels was 17.3, 19.9 and 14.4 kg, respectively; antler yield was 2224, 2518 and 2246 g, respectively. A significant positive relationship (P < 0.01) was found between serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I concentration and bodyweight gain (P < 0.01) and antler yield (P < 0.01), using the regression equations: bodyweight gain (kg) = 0.06IGF-1 (ng/mL) – 52.14 (R2 = 0.69, n = 8) and antler yield (g) = 3.55IGF-1 (ng/mL) – 1659.4 (R2 = 0.77, n = 8), respectively. We concluded that 16% dietary protein was optimal for bodyweight gain and antler yield during the antler growth period in the sika deer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Bao ◽  
Kaiying Wang ◽  
Xiaoxu Wang ◽  
Tietao Zhang ◽  
Hanlu Liu ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huazhe Si ◽  
Hanlu Liu ◽  
Weixiao Nan ◽  
Guangyu Li ◽  
Zhipeng Li ◽  
...  

Velvet antler is a regeneration organ of sika deer (Cervus nippon) and an important Chinese medicine, and nutrient metabolism affects its growth. Here, we investigated the effects of arginine supplementation on antler growth, serum biochemical indices, and the rumen bacterial community of sika deer during the antler growth period. Fifteen male sika deer (6 years old) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups, which were supplemented with 0 (n = 5, CON), 2.5 (n = 5, LArg), or 5.0 g/d (n = 5, HArg) L-arginine. The IGF-1, ALT and AST concentrations in the serum of LArg sika deer were significantly higher than those in the serum of CON (P &lt; 0.05) and HArg deer (P &lt; 0.05). The phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were dominant in the rumen of sika deer among the three groups. Comparison of alpha diversities showed that the ACE and Chao1 indices significantly increased in the LArg and HArg groups compared with those in the CON group. PCoA and ANOSIM results showed that the bacterial community was significantly changed between the CON and LArg groups. Moreover, the relative abundances of Fibrobacter spp. and Prevotellaceae UCG-003 increased, but those of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Corynebacterium 1 decreased in the LArg and HArg groups compared with those in the CON group. Additionally, the relative abundances of 19 OTUs were significantly different between the LArg and HArg groups. These results revealed that arginine supplementation affected the sika deer rumen bacterial community and serum biochemical indices.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao Kun ◽  
Sun Weili ◽  
Li Chunyi ◽  
Wang Kaiying ◽  
Li Zhipeng ◽  
...  

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary zinc (Zn) supplementation on antler growth, haematological biochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility in farmed male sika deer. Twenty-five 2-year-old growing male sika deer were randomly divided into five Groups (A, B, C, D and E; 5/group). Animals in Groups A, B, C, Dand E received 0, 5, 15, 40, 100 mg Zn/kg, respectively. Group A, without supplementation acted as a control. The treatment diets were the same basal diet supplemented with 5, 15, 40 and 100 mg Zn/kg (provided as Zn methionine), respectively. The results showed that the digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein in Groups D and E were greater than that in Groups A, B and C (P < 0.05). Digestibility of neutral detergent fibre in Group E was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Plasma Zn concentrations were increased by Zn supplementation and were higher (P < 0.01) for the treatment groups supplemented with 15, 40 and 100 mg Zn/kg DM than for the control and 5 mg/kg Zn groups (P < 0.01). Faecal Zn content in Groups D and E was higher than that in Group A (P < 0.01). The content of albumin in plasma from Group E was greater than in the control and Groups B, C and D (P < 0.05). The concentrations of testosterone in plasma from Groups C, D and E were decreased (P < 0.05) compared with the control. The days between antler initiation and harvesting of deer in Groups D and E were decreased (P < 0.05). Average daily gain of fresh antler and dry antler of deer in Groups D and E was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a control diet containing 58.6 mg Zn/kg was inadequate for achieving optimal productivity for sika deer. The recommended Zn supplementation is from 76.7 to 99.0 mg/kg for 2-year-old male sika deer.


2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byongtae Jeon ◽  
Sungjin Kim ◽  
Sangmoo Lee ◽  
Pyojam Park ◽  
Siheung Sung ◽  
...  

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 511
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiang Xu ◽  
Canyu Yang ◽  
Juan Chang ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Qingqiang Yin ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with compound probiotics and berberine (CPB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal microflora in weaned piglets. A total of 200 piglets 35 days old were randomly allocated to 5 groups, 4 replications in each group, and 10 piglets in each replication. Group A was the basal diet; group B was supplemented with antibiotics and zinc oxide; groups C, D and E were supplemented with 0.06%, 0.12% and 0.18% CPB, respectively. The experimental period was 42 d. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) among five groups (p > 0.05). However, mortality, diarrhea and rejection rates in the control group were higher than that in other groups. CPB could increase protein digestibility and serum IgG content (p < 0.05), while it could decrease serum urea nitrogen content and alkaline phosphatase activity (p < 0.05). Analysis of fecal microbiota showed that the relative abundances of Bacteroides and Firmicutes were increased, while the relative abundances of opportunistic pathogens such as Spirochaetae and Protebactreria were dramatically decreased in piglets fed with CPB or antibiotics, compared with the control group. Furthermore, CPB intervention increased the relative abundances of Prevotella_9, Megasphaera and Prevotella_2, while decreased the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group. Correlation analysis revealed that there was good correlation between serum indexes and fecal microbiota. It was suggested that CPB might be a promising antibiotic alternative for improving piglet health and immunity, decreasing mortality by positively altering gut microbiota.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-633
Author(s):  
Abdallah Ali Ghazalah ◽  
Mohamed Ahmed Fouad El-Manylawi ◽  
Hady Fathy Abbas Motawe ◽  
Marwa Salah Khattab ◽  
Yara Ibrahem Youssef

, , , , and Antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry diets are currently restricted, so other feed additives, such as prebiotics and probiotics, have been suggested as an antibiotics alternative to improve the performance and gut health of poultry. The current experiment was conducted to study the effects of adding Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) as a potential replacement for an antibiotic on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, some blood parameters, and caecal microbiota of broiler chickens. For conducting the current research experiment, a total of 180 one–day old Ross broiler chicks were randomly divided into one control group fed a basal diet and four dietary treatments with six replicates for each treatment. The treatment groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with different levels of MOS 0.5, 1, and 2 g/Kg diet and Lincomycin 4.4 mg/Kg diet during 35 days of the feeding trial. With exception of the growing period, the group fed a basal diet supplemented with 2 g MOS/Kg feed had considerably higher body weight and weight gain, while having the lowest feed consumption and best feed conversion ratio compared to the other treatment groups, during all experimental periods. Moreover, dietary supplementation of MOS resulted in a significant decrease in the counts of caecal E. coli and Enterococcus, while Lactobacillus and Yeast bacteria counts were significantly higher, compared to non-supplemented groups. Broiler chicks having a 2 g MOS/kg diet recorded lower values of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), urea, and liver enzymes, including Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), while they recorded significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL), compared to the other experimental groups. Group treated with MOS 2 g/Kg feed improved digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, and organic matter, compared to the control group, Additionally, MOS supplementation also increased the intestinal villi length, width, and crypt depth and decreased intestinal inflammation, compared to the control group. In conclusion, supplementation of MOS at 2 g/kg diet improved growth performance, digestibility, and blood parameters without having adverse effects on the intestine of broiler chickens, comparable to the Lincomycin.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Head ◽  
Massimo Bionaz ◽  
Gita Cherian

Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid and is used in broiler chicken diets to enrich tissues with n-3 fatty acids (FA). However, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in flaxseed decreases nutrient digestibility and limits the availability of n-3 FA. Addition of carbohydrase enzymes to flaxseed-based diets can decrease the anti-nutritive effects of NSP. We hypothesized that flaxseed and enzyme supplementation affect lipid content and alter expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in broiler liver. Five day-old broiler chicks were fed a corn-soybean basal diet with 0% flaxseed, a basal diet with 10% of flaxseed, or 10% flaxseed + 0.05% enzyme diet up to day 42 of growth. Total lipids, including long-chain (≥20C) n-3 FA and monounsaturated FA, were increased in flax-fed broiler livers. Enzyme addition reduced arachidonic acid and total long chain n-6 FA. These changes were similarly reflected in phosphatidylcholine lipid species. Dietary flax and enzyme treatments up-regulated PPARα target genes CPT1A and ACOX1 while reducing expression of de novo FA synthesis-related genes. This study concludes that flaxseed and enzyme supplementation in broiler diets enhances LC n-3 FA species, while reducing n-6 FA species in hepatic phospholipids (PL). Flaxseed-based diets changes the expression of genes involved in FA lipid metabolism without affecting growth or production performance in broilers.


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