Rumen Development of Artificially-Reared Lambs Exposed to Three Different Rearing Regimens

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of three different rearing regimens on rumen development in lambs reared artificially. Romney ram lambs were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: commercial milk replacer fed to 57 d of age and high fibre concentrate pellets (HFP57); commercial milk replacer, high fibre concentrate pellets, and early weaning from milk replacer at 42 d of age (HFP42); high protein milk replacer from 2–16 d of age followed by commercial milk replacer, low fibre concentrate pellets, and early weaning from milk replacer at 42 d of age (LFP42). Lambs were slaughtered at 57 d of age. Volatile fatty acid content in rumen fluid at slaughter was analysed and rumen tissue samples were collected for histological examination. The rumen n-butyric content was greater (p < 0.05) in both LFP42 and HFP42 treatment lambs compared to HFP57 lambs. The n-valeric content was greater (p < 0.05) in LFP42 lambs compared to both HFP57 and HFP42 treatment lambs. Thickness of the rumen dorsal wall determined by ultrasound scanning at 49 d was greater (p < 0.05) in both HFP42 and LFP42 lambs compared to HFP57 lambs. There was an interaction (p < 0.05) between treatment and site of rumen tissue sampling on papillae width, density, and rumen muscular layer thickness. Collectively, early weaning and the provision of a low fibre pellet leads to improved rumen function and physical development.

Growth and Body Composition of Artificially-Reared Lambs Exposed to Three Different Rearing Regimens

This study was designed to investigate the influence of pellet fibre level, milk replacer composition and age at weaning on growth and body composition of lambs reared artificially. Romney ram lambs were randomly allocated to one of three rearing treatments; HFP57: commercial milk replacer to 57 days of age, and high fibre concentrate pellets; HFP42: commercial milk replacer with early weaning at 42 days of age, and high fibre concentrate pellets; LFP42: high protein milk replacer from 2–16 days of age followed by commercial milk replacer with early weaning at 42 days of age, and low fibre concentrate pellets. Lambs were slaughtered at 57 days of age. Overall average daily liveweight gain of lambs did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. Dressing out percentage, carcass weight, empty small intestine and omental fat were higher (p < 0.05) in HFP57 than in both HFP42 and LFP42 lambs. HFP42 and LFP42 lambs had heavier (p < 0.05) empty rumen weights. Whole body protein content was higher (p < 0.05) in HFP42 lambs compared to both HFP57 and LFP42 lambs. Fat content and daily fat deposition were greater (p < 0.05) in HFP57 lambs than HFP42 and LFP42 lambs. Weaning lambs at 42 days of age with provision of either low or high fibre concentrate pellets, resulted in similar growth rates, reduced whole body fat deposition and was a more cost-effective rearing regimen.

Performance and economic analysis of growing pigs fed diets supplemented with different multi-enzymes complexes

Consumption of high-fibre diet with non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) has the potential to adversely affect energy and nutrient utilization with consequent reduction in pig performance. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of three different enzymes cocktail on growth performance of growing pigs fed high-fibre diets.The basal diet served as control (T1). Treatment 2 (T2) contained 0.3 g/kg diet of A (Xylanase, Cellulase, Protease, Alpha-amylase, Beta-glucanase, Phytase and Pectinase), treatment 3 (T3) contained 0.5 g/kg diet of B (Carbohydrases, Beta-glucanase, Pectinase, Protease) while treatment 4 (T4) contained 0.25 g/kg diet of C (Xylanase, Phytase, Alpha – amylase, Protease, Bacillolysin).Sixty grower pigs of an average initial weight of 26.06 ±0.78 kg were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (T) in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment and five animals in each replicate. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Feed intake and weight gain of the pigs were monitored weekly. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Model procedures of SAS (2002).There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the performance indices of the pigs though those fedenzyme cocktails had improved daily weight. Lowest feed cost per kg weight gain (? 345.38/kg) was observed in pigs fed diet supplemented with enzyme cocktail at 0.25g/kg. It was concluded that cocktail of enzymes improved daily weight gain of growing pigs fed diets containing non-starch polysaccharides. Also, enzymes cocktail (0.25g/kg) reduced feed cost per kilogram weight gain of the pigs. La consommation d'aliments riches en fibres avec des polysaccharides non amylacés (NSP) a le potentiel d'affecter négativement l'utilisation de l'énergie et des nutriments avec une réduction conséquente des performances des porcs. Cette étude a été réalisée pour étudier l'efficacité de trois cocktails d'enzymes différents sur les performances de croissance de porcs en croissance nourris avec des régimes riches en fibres. Le régime de base a servi de contrôle (T1). Le traitement 2 (T2) contenait 0,3 g/kg de régime A (Xylanase, Cellulase, Protéase, Alpha-amylase, Bêta-glucanase, Phytase et Pectinase), le traitement 3 (T3) contenait 0,5 g/kg de régime B (Carbohydrases, Bêta -glucanase, Pectinase, Protease) tandis que le traitement 4 (T4) contenait 0,25 g/kg de ration de C (Xylanase, Phytase, Alpha amylase, Protease, Bacillolysin). assignés à quatre traitements diététiques (T) dans une conception complètement randomisée avec trois répétitions par traitement et cinq animaux dans chaque répétition. La nourriture et l'eau étaient fournies ad libitum. La prise alimentaire et le gain de poids des porcs ont été surveillés chaque semaine. Les données ont été soumises à une analyse de variance (ANOVA) à l'aide des procédures du modèle linéaire général de SAS (2002). Il n'y avait pas de différences significatives (P> 0,05) dans les indices de performance des porcs bien que ceux nourris avec des cocktails enzymatiques aient amélioré leur poids quotidien. Le coût alimentaire le plus bas par kg de gain de poids (? 345,38/kg) a été observé chez les porcs nourris avec un régime supplémenté avec un cocktail d'enzymes à 0,25 g/kg. Il a été conclu que le cocktail d'enzymes améliorait le gain de poids quotidien des porcs en croissance nourris avec des régimes contenant des polysaccharides non amylacés. De plus, le cocktail d'enzymes (0,25 g/kg) a réduit le coût des aliments par kilogramme de gain de poids des porcs.

The physico-chemical characteristics of fresh and old pig dungs collected from three pig farmsin Port Harcourt Metropolis

The need to source for alternative use of pigs dung to reduce environmental challenges arising from its application as farm manure prompted the study into the physico-chemical attributes of both the fresh and old pig dung in three pig farms(A,R,U) in Port-Harcourt metropolis. The study examined the pH levels, exchangeable nitrate, extractable phosphate, the total organic carbon and the sulphate using methods described by the pH meter, APHA-4500-O3-B, ASTM D515, Walkley black and ASTM D516 respectively. The results indicated that the dung were alkaline ranging from pH 9-12, the nitrate content was high in fresh dung (16.03-19.40) but considerably low in the dry dung (2.36-2.92), the phosphate values were between 7.59-20.81, the sulphate level falls within 1.84-3.79 whereas the total organic carbon were between 2.36-2.92. The result obtained have showed that the fresh dung could be supplemented with other organic substrate to initiate bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil due to its high nitrate content and the dry dung used as feedstuffs for animal nutrients or feedstock for bioenergy generation because of its high fibre content which will help in reducing the ecosystem contamination by pig waste through recycling.

Abstract MP37: Epigenetic Changes Following Maternal Gut Microbiota Improvement With Dietary Fibre Lead To Cardio-protection In The Offspring

Dietary fibre is fermented by the gut microbiota and protects against the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through the production of gut microbial metabolites. We hypothesised dietary fibre intake during pregnancy may prevent the development of CVD in the offspring via in utero epigenetic mechanisms. To investigate this, we fed C57BL/6J female mice diets high or low in resistant starches (‘high-fibre’ and ‘low-fibre’, respectively) during gestation. At 6-weeks of age, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing in the offspring (n=8/group) or they were challenged with saline (sham) or angiotensin II (Ang II, 0.25mg/kg/day, n=18-23/group). Maternal diet resulted in a distinct gut microbial composition ( P =0.001). This was still evident in the adult offspring, with high-fibre offspring having a different gut microbial colonisation ( P =0.001), irrespective of sham/Ang II treatment. Maternal fibre intake significantly changed the cardiac cellular and molecular landscape and promoted differential gene signatures in the offspring. This included upregulation of genes associated with extracellular matrix production in the offspring from low-fibre mothers. When challenged with Ang II, low-fibre offspring developed increased cardiac hypertrophy ( P =0.034) and fibrosis ( P =0.01) compared to high-fibre offspring. This was accompanied with decreased ejection fraction ( P =0.001) and increased left ventricular posterior wall thickness ( P= 0.017). These changes were independent of blood pressure. High-fibre offspring had decreased expression of natriuretic peptides ( Nppa , P =0.03, Nppb , P =0.002) compared to low-fibre offspring. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation assay revealed decrease in H3-acetylation at the cis-regulatory region of Nppa gene in Ang II-treated high-fibre offspring (P=0.002), suggesting that maternal fibre intake influences the epigenetic changes of the Nppa gene in the offspring’s heart. Together, these data reveal maternal high-fibre intake leads to foetal epigenetic reprogramming, likely through maternal to foetal transfer of gut microbial-derived metabolites.

Abstract 62: Dietary Fibre Attenuates Hypertension By Reducing Macrophage Infiltration Via Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolite-Sensing Receptors

High dietary fibre is fermented by the gut microbiota, resulting in the release of metabolites called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Both fibre and SCFAs can reduce high blood pressure (BP) and its associated cardio-renal complications. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. SCFAs can be detected by metabolite-sensing receptors GPR41 and GPR43, highly expressed by immune cells such as macrophages. We hypothesised that dietary fibre attenuates hypertension by modulating renal macrophage infiltration via metabolite-sensing receptors GPR41 and GPR43. To test this, we developed a novel GPR41/GPR43 double knockout (DKO) mice and characterised the cardiovascular and immune phenotype in both sham and angiotensin-II (Ang-II, 0.5mg/kg/day) treated DKO and wild-type (WT) mice (n=7-12 per group). WT Ang-II mice fed a high-fibre diet had significantly lower renal galectin-3 (p=0.0004), a macrophage marker, compared to WT Ang-II mice fed a low-fibre diet. Sham DKO mice on standard chow diet had no difference in BP or heart function but had higher kidney/tibia length index (p=0.049) and renal fibrosis levels compared to WT mice (p=0.004). Moreover, untreated DKO mice had higher numbers of renal macrophages compared to WT mice (p=0.002). Ang-II infusion of DKO mice resulted in higher BP (p<0.0001), renal fibrosis (p=0.007), and mortality (hazard ratio=5.6) compared to WT mice. In the gut, we found significant inflammatory changes, gut barrier integrity disruption, gut microbiota and metabolome changes (all p<0.05). We also found evidence of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) translocation from the gut into the circulation of DKO mice. In conclusion, we show that a high-fibre diet attenuates hypertension by modulating renal macrophages via the gut microbiota-derived metabolite-sensing GPR41 and GPR43 receptors. These receptors can be targeted as a novel treatment for hypertension.

Dietary fibre to reduce colon cancer risk in Alaska Native people: the Alaska FIRST randomised clinical trial protocol

IntroductionDiet, shown to impact colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, is a modifiable environmental factor. Fibre foods fermented by gut microbiota produce metabolites that not only provide food for the colonic epithelium but also exert regulatory effects on colonic mucosal inflammation and proliferation. We describe methods used in a double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial with Alaska Native (AN) people to determine if dietary fibre supplementation can substantially reduce CRC risk among people with the highest reported CRC incidence worldwide.Methods and analysesEligible patients undergoing routine screening colonoscopy consent to baseline assessments and specimen/data collection (blood, urine, stool, saliva, breath and colon mucosal biopsies) at the time of colonoscopy. Following an 8-week stabilisation period to re-establish normal gut microbiota post colonoscopy, study personnel randomise participants to either a high fibre supplement (resistant starch, n=30) or placebo (digestible starch, n=30) condition, repeating stool sample collection. During the 28-day supplement trial, each participant consumes their usual diet plus their supplement under direct observation. On day 29, participants undergo a flexible sigmoidoscopy to obtain mucosal biopsy samples to measure the effect of the supplement on inflammatory and proliferative biomarkers of cancer risk, with follow-up assessments and data/specimen collection similar to baseline. Secondary outcome measures include the impact of a high fibre supplement on the oral and colonic microbiome and biofluid metabolome.Ethics and disseminationApprovals were obtained from the Alaska Area and University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Boards and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation research review bodies. A data safety monitoring board, material transfer agreements and weekly study team meetings provide regular oversight throughout the study. Study findings will first be shared with AN tribal leaders, health administrators, providers and community members. Peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations will be forthcoming once approved by tribal review bodies.Trial registration numberNCT03028831.

A captorhinid-dominated assemblage from the palaeoequatorial Permian of Menorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean)

ABSTRACT Moradisaurine captorhinid eureptiles were a successful group of high-fibre herbivores that lived in the arid low latitudes of Pangaea during the Permian. Here we describe a palaeoassemblage from the Permian of Menorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean), consisting of ichnites of small captorhinomorph eureptiles, probably moradisaurines (Hyloidichnus), and parareptiles (cf. Erpetopus), and bones of two different taxa of moradisaurines. The smallest of the two is not diagnostic beyond Moradisaurinae incertae sedis. The largest one, on the other hand, shows characters that are not present in any other known species of moradisaurine (densely ornamented maxillar teeth), and it is therefore described as Balearosaurus bombardensis gen. et sp. nov. Other remains found in the same outcrop are identified as cf. Balearosaurus bombardensis gen. et sp. nov., as they could also belong to the newly described taxon. This species is sister to the moradisaurine from the lower Permian of the neighbouring island of Mallorca, and is also closely related to the North American genus Rothianiscus. This makes it possible to suggest the hypothesis that the Variscan mountains, which separated North America from southern Europe during the Permian, were not a very important palaeobiogeographical barrier to the dispersion of moradisaurines. In fact, mapping all moradisaurine occurrences known so far, it is shown that their distribution area encompassed both sides of the Variscan mountains, essentially being restricted to the arid belt of palaeoequatorial Pangaea, where they probably outcompeted other herbivorous clades until they died out in the late Permian.

Development of a High-Fibre Multigrain Bar Technology with the Addition of Curly Kale

The aim of this study was to find the effect of kale and dietary fibre (DF) on the physicochemical properties, nutritional value and sensory quality of multigrain bars. A recipe of multigrain bars was prepared with the addition of fresh kale (20% and 30%) and DF preparations (apple, blackcurrant, chokeberry and hibiscus). The bars were baked at 180 °C for 20 min. These snack bars, based on pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed and wholegrain oatmeal, are a high-calorie product (302–367 kcal/100 g). However, the composition of the bars encourages consumption. In addition to the ability to quickly satisfy hunger, such bars are rich in many natural ingredients that are considered pro-health (high fibre content (9.1–11.6 g/100 g), protein (11.2–14.3 g/100 g), fat (17.0–21.1 g/100 g, including unsaturated fatty acids), carbohydrates (20.5–24.0 g/100 g), as well as vitamins, minerals and a large number of substances from the antioxidant group. The addition of kale caused a significant increase of water content, but reduction in the value of all texture parameters (TPA profiles) as well as calorific values. The content of polyphenols was strongly and positively correlated with the antioxidant activity (r = 0.92). In the bars with 30% addition of kale (422 mg GA/100 g d.m.), the content of polyphenols was significantly higher than based ones (334 mg GA/100 g d.m.). Bars with the addition of the DF were characterized by a higher antioxidant activity, and the content of carotenoids, chlorophyll A and B and polyphenols. High sensory quality was demonstrated for all (from 4.8 to 7.1 on a 10-point scale). The addition of fibre preparations was also related to technological aspects and allows to create attractive bars without additional chemicals.