Differential Effect of Non-Purified and Semi-Purified Standard Diets on Kynurenine and Peripheral Metabolites in Male C57BL/6J Mice

The kynurenine (Kyn) pathway plays crucial roles in several inflammation-induced disorders such as depression. In this study, we measured Kyn and other related molecules in the blood plasma, brain, and urine of male C57BL/6J mice (B6) fed non-purified (MF) and semi-purified (AIN-93G and AIN-93M) standard rodent diets. Mice fed MF had increased plasma Kyn levels compared with those on AIN93-based diets, as well as decreased hippocampal Kyn levels compared with those fed AIN-93G. Previous studies showed that branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) suppress peripheral blood Kyn transportation to the brain, but plasma BCAA levels were not significantly different between the diet groups in our study. Urine metabolome analysis revealed that feed ingredients affected the excretion of many metabolites, and MF-fed mice had elevated excretion of kynurenic and quinolinic acids, pivotal metabolites in the Kyn pathway. Collectively, the level of critical metabolites in the Kyn pathway in the central and peripheral tissues was strongly affected by feed ingredients. Therefore, feed selection is a critical factor to ensure the reproducibility of experimental data in studies involving rodent models.

Iodine Content of Wild and Farmed Seafood and Its Estimated Contribution to UK Dietary Iodine Intake

Iodine is an important nutrient for human health and development, with seafood widely acknowledged as a rich source. Demand from the increasing global population has resulted in the availability of a wider range of wild and farmed seafood. Increased aquaculture production, however, has resulted in changes to feed ingredients that affect the nutritional quality of the final product. The present study assessed the iodine contents of wild and farmed seafood available to UK consumers and evaluated its contribution to current dietary iodine intake. Ninety-five seafood types, encompassing marine and freshwater fish and shellfish, of wild and farmed origins, were purchased from UK retailers and analysed. Iodine contents ranged from 427.4 ± 316.1 to 3.0 ± 1.6 µg·100 g−1 flesh wet weight (mean ± SD) in haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio), respectively, being in the order shellfish > marine fish > freshwater fish, with crustaceans, whitefish (Gadiformes) and bivalves contributing the greatest levels. Overall, wild fish tended to exhibit higher iodine concentrations than farmed fish, with the exception of non-fed aquaculture species (bivalves). However, no significant differences were observed between wild and farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and turbot (Psetta maxima). In contrast, farmed European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and seabream (Sparus aurata) presented lower, and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) higher, iodine levels than their wild counterparts, most likely due to the type and inclusion level of feed ingredients used. By following UK dietary guidelines for fish consumption, a portion of the highest oily (Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus) and lean (haddock) fish species would provide two-thirds of the weekly recommended iodine intake (980 µg). In contrast, actual iodine intake from seafood consumption is estimated at only 9.4–18.0% of the UK reference nutrient intake (140 µg·day−1) across different age groups and genders, with females obtaining less than their male equivalents.

THE EFFECT OF OLIVE WASTES FOR POULTRY FEED ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS: A review

The increasing demand for animal products has increased the demand of feed ingredients around the world. However, the decrease in natural resources, cultivated lands, and resulted in continuous supply of feed ingredients. For this reason, studies on alternative feed ingredients are the main interest of scientists. Olive industry by products are one of the major environmental pollutant and these by-products could be potential alternative feed ingredients for livestock /poultry industry. Studies have reported that the reuse of olive by-products in broiler feeding has an impact on environmental, economic and growth performance. Current review will provide the information that olive industry by-products can be used efficiently in broiler feeding. It will also contribute to the elimination of environmental problems caused by the breakdown of such wastes in the environment. However, maintaining the nutritional value, preservation methods and feed incorporation level in order to include these unconventional feed sources in the diet of farm animals is another problem that needs to be studied. This study will provide the evidence that olive industry by-products not only will increase the growth performance of broilers, but increase the olive industry profit and reduce environmental pollution. Keywords: leaves, olive, pomace, pulp, waste recycling.

TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ORGANIC ACIDS AS A PRESERVATIVE OF ANIMAL FEED INGREDIENTS

This research was conducted in the Laboratory of Feed Industry Technology, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using organic acids as preservatives in feed ingredients in the form of pollard and wheat bran based on physical parameters. This study used a completely randomized design with 2 factorials in the form of feed type and organic acid type with 3 replications, samples were stored for 6 weeks and then data were collected in the form of moisture content, pile angle, pile density and specific gravity. The results showed that organic acids affected the moisture content but had no effect on pile density, pile angle and specific gravity. The type of feed affects the value of moisture content, pile angle, pile density and specific gravity. Based on the results of the effectiveness index test, it is known that the total yield value on pollard with 1% lauric acid is 0.64, sorbic acid is 0.35 and propionic acid is 0.77, while wheat bran with lauric acid is 1.07 at -1 sorbic acid. .39 and in propionic acid 2.64. The conclusion of this research is that propionic acid can be used as a preservative for pollard and wheat bran

Chemical and in vitro evaluation of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) Leaves as a Substitute of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with/without Rejected Green Banana Fruits (Musa paradisiaca)

Leucaena leaves and rejected green banana fruits can be promising to cope with feed gaps in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions. The present study evaluated the feeding value and secondary active compounds of Leucaena leaves and rejected green banana fruits for ruminants using a semi-automated gas production (GP) system. Comparisons were made with the traditional feeds as alfalfa, and Dichanthium spp. grass hay. Analysis of HPLC was performed for the feed ingredients to characterize the main phenolic components. The in vitro evaluation was carried out for the experimental feed ingredients and diets. Four diets were formulated as the first diet consisted of alfalfa and grass hay at a ratio of 35:65 (AG), the second diet composed of alfalfa, grass hay, and green banana fruits at a ratio of 35:55:10 (AGB), third and fourth diets were prepared by replacing alfalfa in AG and AGB with Leucaena leaves to be LG and LGB, respectively. Leucaena leaves showed a high content of valuable phenolic components that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, and naringenin. Moreover, Leucaena leaves and diet had higher crude protein, total phenols, and total tannins than alfalfa, which was reflected on the chemical composition of diets, and recorded the lowest total accumulative GP at 24 hours leading to low CH4 and CO2 production. Banana fruits recorded the lowest ruminal pH, ammonia concentration, and degraded neutral detergent fiber, compared to other feed ingredients, while it had the highest GP and degraded organic matter. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use Leucaena leaves in animals’ diets with/without rejected green banana fruits as an alternative feed resource with potential environmental and animal health benefits.

Contemporary issues in fisheries and aquaculture: a review on non – conventional feed ingredients for fish feed in Nigeria

In Africa, Nigeria offers the largest market for fisheries products. Fish culture is gaining importance in Nigeria as locally available raw materials such as yam, plantain, banana, cowpeas, mucuna, maize, cassava, millet, sorghum, groundnut, sunhemp seed and brewery wastes are considered as potential materials for fish feed. Non–conventional feeds are locally available feedstuff which are not standardized and the usage is not widely-spread. In most cases, they are not consumed by man. Sadly, Nigerian economy had depended on imported feedstuffs to supplement the domestic conventional feedstuffs, however, the country is currently looking into a way of improving local feedstuffs production to minimize importation. In Fisheries and Aquaculture, there are many contemporary issues but this paper focuses on the use of non–conventional feed ingredients like Typha flour in fish feed. Several parts of Typha are edible including the rhizome. Research has shown that the plant is rich in energy, carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals and water. The competition for the conventional feed ingredients for human and animal consumption has resulted in significant price escalations hence the need for on-going research on alternativeingredients for use in aquafeed. Thus, great attention is given to the production of effective and cheap feed that will benefit fish farmers in Africa because fish feed is very important. Despite the fact that several studies have been done in Nigeria to replace fishmeal with other proteins of plant & animal origin but the results have been range from poor to very good in terms of fish growth and fish conversion efficiency.

Opposite Direction for Seasonal Variation of Aflatoxin M1 in Bulk Milk and Aflatoxin B1 in Rations: Results From a Prospective Study in Selected Dairy Farms of Qazvin Province, Iran

The presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in 24h bulk milk and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in concurrent total mixed rations (TMR) and feed ingredients were assessed in 12 large dairy operations. The bulk milk was sampled on days 1, 15 and 30 during winter and summer (n=72). Total mixed rations (n=48) and feed ingredients (n=230) were sampled two times with a 30-day interval. Aflatoxin was measured using direct competitive ELISA kits with detection limits of 1-81 ngkg−1 for milk and 1.25-101.25 ngkg−1 for feeds. Aflatoxin M1 was identified in all milk samples (100%), ranging from 2.03 to >81 ngkg−1, with a median of 70 ngkg−1 and averaging 61.25±28.91 ngkg−1 in winter and 54.20±25.51 ngkg−1 in summer (P=0.279). Contaminations <81 ngkg−1 (below the Iranian standard of 100 ngkg-1) were detected in 76% (n=55/72) of samples. Contaminations >81 ngkg−1 were detected in 24% (n=17/72) of samples and were more frequent in winter than in summer (42% vs. 6%). Sixty-nine percent of the winter milk samples (n=25/36) had contaminations above the median (70 ngkg−1). A reverse result was detected in summer. The chance of contaminations above median was higher in winter than in summer (OR=5.33, P=0.007). All TMR and ingredient samples had higher AFB1 contaminations in summer (P<0.05). Six TMR samples had non-detectable (<1.25 ngkg-1) values (5 in winter) and 7 samples had levels >101.25 ngkg-1 (all in summer). The chance of TMR contamination above the median (716 ngkg-1) was 5.57 times higher in summer than in winter (P=0.002). Seventy percent of the TMR samples had contaminations above the median in summer. Elevated levels of AFB1 of rations in summer (1375.50±905.02 vs. 537.05±558.79; P<0.002) did not result in elevation of AFM1 in milk, probably due to reduced AFB1 metabolism in the liver and lower dry matter intakes caused by heat stress. The AFB1 content of grain mix succeeded by corn silage, wet beet pulp, dry beet pulp and alfalfa hay were correlated with TMR contamination. Ration AFB1 and milk AFM1 were not correlated. Based on the results, a great majority of milk produced in the studied farms could have AFM1 contaminations below the Iranian standard limit (100 ngkg-1). Contaminations below 50 ngkg-1 appear to be achievable and affordable. Intensifying the controlling measures in summer, when the feed contaminations are elevated, may reduce the overall milk contamination.

RESPONSE OF WEANED PIGS TO DIFFERENT DIETARY PROTEIN SOURCES AND DIET TYPES

Pig is one of the most consumed meat across the globe. However, its production is limited by high cost of feed ingredients. Hence, the search for alternative cheap feed ingredients without any loss to animal’s performance is on the increase. The influence of different protein sources and feed types (wet or dry) was investigated on the growth performance, haematology and serum biochemistry of weaned pigs. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were higher for soybean and full-fat soya-based diets. Feed and water intake were not significantly different amongst treatments. Nature of feed did not influence weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Groundnut cake meal may compare with soybean meal in pig’s diet, but it may have to be supplemented with lysine, methionine or fish meal.