Dietary Alpha-Linolenic Acid Supports High Retinal DHA Levels

The retina requires docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for optimal function. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and DHA are dietary sources of retinal DHA. This research investigated optimizing retinal DHA using dietary ALA. Previous research identified 19% DHA in retinal phospholipids was associated with optimal retinal function in guinea pigs. Pregnant guinea pigs were fed dietary ALA from 2.8% to 17.3% of diet fatty acids, at a constant level of linoleic acid (LA) of 18% for the last one third of gestation and retinal DHA levels were assessed in 3-week-old offspring maintained on the same diets as their mothers. Retinal DHA increased in a linear fashion with the maximum on the diet with LA:ALA of 1:1. Feeding diets with LA:ALA of 1:1 during pregnancy and assessing retinal DHA in 3-week-old offspring was associated with optimized retinal DHA levels. We speculate that the current intakes of ALA in human diets, especially in relation to LA intakes, are inadequate to support high DHA levels in the retina.

Meat Productivity of the Ross 308 - Cross Roosters by the Adding in to a Diet of Organic Acids and their Salts

The article presents the results of studies conducted on the inclusion of Presan and Selko pH feed additives produced on the basis of organic acids in the feeding diets of Ross-308 cross broiler chickens. Organic acids and their salts are used in poultry farming as an alternative to feed antibiotics, and also has the ability to prevent the development of intestinal bacterial infection, increase the resistance of the body, thereby improving the absorption of feed nutrients and increasing poultry productivity. The largest preslaughter weight was in the groups of cockerels getting the T6 diet without antibiotics adding, which is 1.92% more than the groups getting the T1-control diet. In addition, the output of the pectoral and femoral muscles was higher by chickens getting a T6 diet by 0.5 and 0.3%, in contrast to groups getting a standard diet. Thus, it has been experimentally proven that the tested feed additives Presan and Selko pH do not reduce the slaughter performance of broilers.

Testing of silos from legume-cereal grass mixtures and feed additives in the feeding diets of dairy cows

The production approbation of silos prepared from legume-cereal grass mixtures with the use of an unconventional feed crop – eastern goat and preserved with Biosib biopreparation in experimental versions was carried out. The chemical composition and nutritional value of feed were determined, the structure of feeding rations was calculated, the dose of the energy feed additive was determined. In the balance experiment, the digestibility of the main nutrients of feed was calculated, the hematology of blood was studied. The productivity, costs of concentrated feed and energy for the production of 1 kg of milk are estimated, the main physical, chemical and technological properties of milk from the point of view of butter production are studied, the economic efficiency of using silos in the feeding rations of dairy cows is established.

Increasing dietary proportion of wheat grain in finishing diets containing distillers' grains: impact on nitrogen utilization, ruminal pH, and digestive function

Because of its high crude protein (CP) content, dietary inclusion of corn dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in finishing cattle diets can increase the ruminal loss of ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), which ends up excreted as urine urea-N (UUN). Increasing dietary fermentable energy supply can enhance ruminal use of N; however, it could also lead to acidotic conditions that compromise digestive function and animal performance. We evaluated the effects of partially replacing dietary corn grain with 20 or 40% (dry matter [DM] basis) wheat grain in finishing diets containing 15% corn DDGS on N utilization, ruminal pH and digestive function. Nutrient intake and digestion, ruminal fermentation characteristics, microbial protein synthesis, route of N excretion, and blood metabolites were measured. Six ruminally-fistulated crossbred beef heifers (initial BW ± SD; 797 ± 58.8 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Dietary treatments were either corn (73% of diet DM; CON), 53:20 corn:wheat blend (20W) or 33:40 corn:wheat blend (40W) as the major fermentable energy source. Dry matter intake tended to be lower for heifers fed the 40W than CON and 20W diets. Feeding diets containing wheat grain led to an increase (P = 0.04) in NDF intake. However, there was no diet effect (P ≥ 0.60) on apparent total tract DM and NDF digestibility. Feeding wheat grain led to a decrease (P ≤ 0.03) in mean and minimum pH, an increase (P = 0.04) in pH < 5.8 duration, and a tendency for an increase in the area and acidosis index for pH < 5.8 and 5.5. Nitrogen intake, which was lower (P = 0.04) for 40W than 20W heifers did not differ between CON and 20W heifers. There was no diet effect (P = 0.80) on ruminal NH3-N concentration and estimated microbial N flow. However, feeding diets containing wheat grain led to a decrease (P = 0.045) in UUN excretion (% total urine N). Fecal and total N excretion (% of N intake) increased (P < 0.01) following the addition of wheat grain to the diet. Apparent N retention was lower (P = 0.03) for 40W than CON and 20W heifers. In summary, although it led to a desirable decrease in UUN excretion, feeding wheat grain in corn DDGS-containing diets increased acidotic conditions in the rumen, which possibly led to the tendency for a decrease in DMI. The negative apparent N retention at the 40% wheat grain inclusion also suggests a decrease in nutrient supply, which could compromise feedlot performance.

255 Evaluation of Different Corn Milling Methods for High-moisture and Dry Corn on Nutrient Digestion

A 2 × 2 factorial digestion study using seven ruminally cannulated steers evaluated the effect of feeding diets containing 70% (dry matter-basis) high-moisture (HMC) or dry corn (DC), processed with either a hammer mill or Automatic Ag Roller Mill (Pender, NE), on nutrient digestion. Feeding HMC decreased the amount of excreted dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM; P ≤ 0.01) regardless of mill type, but there was a tendency (P ≤ 0.13) for an interaction between corn type and mill type for DM and OM digestibility. There was no difference between either milling treatments fed as HMC (P ≥ 0.69), but the hammer mill DC diet was more digestible than the roller mill DC (P = 0.05). There was no effect on NDF digestibility, but there was a tendency for an interaction between grain type and processing method for ADF digestibility, with the roller mill DC diet having the lowest (P = 0.02) ADF digestibility and no differences (P ≥ 0.15) among the other treatments. As expected, HMC based diets had greater (P < 0.01) starch digestibility compared to DC, but milling method had no effect (P = 0.56). High moisture corn diets had greater (P = 0.01) DE intake (Mcal/kg), and hammer mill DC tended to be greater (P = 0.07) than roller mill DC. There tended (P = 0.07) to be an interaction for minimum pH, with roller mill HMC and hammer mill DC having the lowest average pH, but not different from hammer mill HMC (P ≥ 0.32). There were no differences (P = 0.56) in average pH, but HMC diets had greater variance (P = 0.04) and greater area under pH 5.6 (P = 0.05) compared to DC based diets. Feeding cattle HMC compared to DC increases nutrient digestibility but milling process had little impact.

213 Increased Standardized Ileal Digestible Isoleucine to Lysine Ratio Improved Feed Efficiency in Pigs Fed Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles from 11 to 80 kg

An experiment was conducted to determine the impact of dietary SID Ile to Lys ratio on the performance pigs from 11 to 80 kg of BW. A total of 1,092 pigs (initial BW = 11.1, SEM = 0.6 kg; 14 pens/treatment; 13 pigs/pen) were used in an 80d trial with a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatments were in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement containing 2 levels of DDGS (0 and 25%) and 3 levels of SID Ile/Lys (0.54, 0.58, and 0.62). Energy and nutrient levels of all treatments were formulated at equal levels that met or exceeded NRC (2012) requirements. The SID Ile/Lys ratio was controlled by crystalline Ile. The MIXED procedures of SAS 9.4 were employed for statistical analysis. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test for main effects of DDGS and SID Ile/Lys. In the results, formulating with 25% DDGS decreased FBW, ADG, and ADFI (P < 0.05) of growing pigs. The average FBW of treatments without and with 25% DDGS were 81.7 and 78.6 kg, respectively. The ADG of diets without and with DDGS were 0.88 vs 0.84 kg/d, respectively. The ADFI of treatments without DDGS were 1.85 kg/day, while the counterparts of treatments fed diets containing 25% DDGS were 1.79 kg/d. Feeding diets containing 25% DDGS tended to decrease Gain:Feed (0.477 vs. 0.472; P < 0.10). Increasing the level of SID Ile/Lys (from 0.54 to 0.62) linearly increased Gain:Feed in pigs fed diets containing 25% DDGS (0.467, 0.471, 0.477, respectively; P < 0.05). In summary, this study demonstrated feeding diets containing 25% DDGS decreased the performance of growing pigs by reducing ADG and ADFI. Greater SID Ile/Lys in diets may help reduce the negative impact of DDGS diets in grow-finishing pigs by improving feed efficiency.

Dietary Oxidative Distress: A Review of Nutritional Challenges as Models for Poultry, Swine and Fish

The redox system is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. When redox homeostasis is disrupted through an increase of reactive oxygen species or a decrease of antioxidants, oxidative distress occurs resulting in multiple tissue and systemic responses and damage. Poultry, swine and fish, raised in commercial conditions, are exposed to different stressors that can affect their productivity. Some dietary stressors can generate oxidative distress and alter the health status and subsequent productive performance of commercial farm animals. For several years, researchers used different dietary stressors to describe the multiple and detrimental effects of oxidative distress in animals. Some of these dietary challenge models, including oxidized fats and oils, exposure to excess heavy metals, soybean meal, protein or amino acids, and feeding diets contaminated with mycotoxins are discussed in this review. A better understanding of the oxidative distress mechanisms associated with dietary stressors allows for improved understanding and evaluation of feed additives as mitigators of oxidative distress.

Effects of feeding diets containing low crude protein and coarse wheat bran as alternatives to zinc oxide in nursery pig diets

Two experiments determined the effects of crude protein (CP) in diets containing coarse wheat bran (CWB) with or without pharmacological levels of Zn on weanling pig growth performance. In Exp. 1, treatments included a positive control (21% CP) with 3,000 mg/kg Zn in phase 1 and 2,000 mg/kg in phase 2; negative control (21% CP) with 110 mg/kg Zn, and four diets containing 4% CWB and 110 mg/kg Zn formulated to 21, 19.5, 18, or 16.5% CP. The three diets with 21% CP and CWB contained 1.40% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys in phase 1 and 1.35% SID Lys in phase 2, while the 19.5, 18, and 16.5% CP diets contained 1.35, 1.25 and 1.20% Lys, respectively. Pigs fed the diet containing pharmacological Zn had increased (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F compared to the negative control and the 21% CP CWB diet. Reducing CP decreased ADG and G:F (linear, P = 0.002). In Exp. 2, diets consisted of: 1) positive control with 2,000 mg/kg of Zn and 21% CP (1.35% SID Lys); 2) 110 mg/kg Zn and 21% CP; and 3 diets with 110 mg/kg Zn and 18% CP with 3) 1.2% SID Lys; 4) 1.35% SID Lys by the addition of crystalline AA, and 5) diet 4 with added non-essential AA. Pigs fed 21% CP with Zn had increased (P = 0.001) ADG compared to those fed 18% CP (1.35% SID Lys) or 1.2% SID Lys. In summary, added Zn improved growth performance, but reducing CP did not.

Feeding strategies for small-scale rearing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as organic waste recycler

Processing organic waste using black soldier fly (BSF)-based technology offers a promising alternative for sustainable organic waste management and urban sanitation. This study was conducted to assess the influence of feeding strategies on the efficacy of BSF larvae to recycle organic wastes into value products. Fruit waste and chicken manure were used as organic waste samples while commercial chicken feed was used as a control, and were processed for 15 days in circular plastic containers (Ø 30 × 12 cm) with 50; 100; 150; and 200 mg/larva/day continuous and batch feeding diets, using 500 four-day-old larvae per diet, repeated four times. Larval survival rates were not significantly affected by the feeding strategies. However, average larval biomass of 83.69 ± 13.04 g and 82.46 ± 08.52 g was achieved for the continuous and batch feeding strategies, respectively, under favorable conditions. Larval feed reduction rates ranged from 24.65 ± 03.48% to 72.78 ± 01.48% and 24.52 ± 0.27% to 72.25 ± 12.13% with continuous and batch feeding strategies, respectively, and were significantly affected by the different daily diets. On the other hand, the bioconversion rates ranged from 13.34 ± 0.26% to 50.82 ± 02.27%, and the highest values were observed with the continuous feeding diets. This study confirms the efficacy of BSF larvae to thrive in different organic substrates and shows that the continuous feeding strategy can be better and enhance a sustainable small-scale organic waste management.