Dietary Supplementation of Two-Stage Fermented Feather-Soybean Meal Product on Growth Performance and Immunity in Finishing Pigs

This study investigates the effects of two-stage fermented feather meal-soybean meal product (TSFP) on growth performance, blood characteristics, and immunity of finishing pigs. Firstly, feather meal-soybean meal is subjected to aerobic fermentation with Bacillus subtilis var. natto N21, B. subtilis Da2 and Da15, B. amyloliquefaciens Da6, Da16 for two days, and anaerobic fermentation with B. coagulans L12 for three days. Then, the fermented product is air-dried into an end product—TSFP. Eighty hybrid pigs (Duroc x KHAPS) with equal numbers of both sexes are randomly assigned into 3% fish meal, 0%, 2.5%, or 5.0% TSFP groups with five replicates per group. Our results show that the average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate of TSFP groups are significantly better than the other groups at 0–3 weeks (p < 0.05). The 5% TSFP group significantly increased HDL-C in the blood (p < 0.05), and decreased LDL-C and blood urea nitrogen content (p < 0.05). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concanavalin A (ConA) in 5% TSFP group and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) content in 2.5% and 5% TSFP groups are significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). The phagocytic oxygen burst capacity and serum IgA content of the 5% TSFP group are significantly higher than those of the fishmeal group (p < 0.05). The CD3, CD4, and CD4 + CD8 + T cells subsets in 2.5% and 5% TSFP groups are significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, TSFP has a positive effect on the growth performance and immunity of finishing pigs with the best performance on 5% TSFP.

Preliminary Evaluation of Rainbow Trout Diets Containing PepSoyGen, a Fermented Soybean Meal Product, and Additional Amino Acids

Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss diets containing PepSoyGen, a commercially-available fermented soybean meal product, were supplemented with methionine and other amino acids. A fish meal-based control and four experimental diets were used in a 36-day feeding trial; two diets contained 40% PepSoyGen and 10% fish meal, and two diets contained 50% PepSoyGen and no fish meal. Each of these diets was supplemented with either methionine, or methionine and additional amino acids. One mortality was observed during the trial. Overall weight gain, percent gain, and feed conversion ratio were significantly greater for the fish meal control than for any of the PepSoyGen diets, although feed conversion ratios from all of the diets were still below 1. Apparent protein digestibility was significantly less in the fish receiving the control diet compared to any of the experimental diets, and significantly increased with increasing Pep- SoyGen concentrations. There was no significant difference in length, weight, condition factor, hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic index, or any fish health responses among dietary treatments. Fillet composition, as determined by crude protein, crude lipid, water, and ash, was also not significantly different among fish reared on any of the diets. The supplementation of other amino acids in addition to methionine had no noticeable effect. The results from this study indicate that PepSoyGen with amino acid supplementation can completely replace fish meal in juvenile rainbow trout grower diets over a relatively short time-frame, albeit with some decrease in rearing performance.

The utilization of a commercial rapeseed meal product (RaPass) as a protein supplement for lactating dairy cows

Rapeseed meal is a common protein supplement in ruminant diets that is characterized by high rumen protein degradability (Bertilssonet al., 1994; Vanhataloet al., 1995). Appropriate treatment can however reduce ruminal protein degradability and increase the efficiency of protein utilization. RaPass (UM Feeds Marketing, Burton on Trent, Staffs, UK) is a commercial rapeseed meal product that made using the Maillard reaction. This is the non-enzymatic browning reaction between proteins and reducing sugars that protects protein from rumen degradation. Release of the protein at abomasal pH allows the peptide chains to be digested at an efficiency similar to that of untreated rapeseed meal (Mosset al2000). Cows fed rapeseed meal that was treated to increase the rumen undegradable protein (RUP) content have been reported to perform better than those fed untreated rapeseed meal (Bertilssonet al., 1994). This study evaluated the potential of using RaPass as a protein supplement in dairy cow rations.

Digestion of soybean globulins, glycinin, α-conglycinin and β-conglycinin in the preruminant and the ruminant calf

Two experiments involving either preruminant (exp. 1) or ruminant (exp. 2) fistulated calves were conducted to study the in vivo digestion of glycinin, α-conglycinin and β-conglycinin from soybean. It was incorporated as a flour (product A, antigenic in vitro) or a protein concentrate (product B, non antigenic in vitro) in milk replacers (exp. 1), or as a meal (product C, antigenic in vitro) in a weaning starter (exp. 2). ELISA detection of residual globulin immunoreactivity was determined on ileal digesta in exp. 1, and on duodenal, ileal and faecal digesta in exp. 2. Ileal flow of glycinin, α-conglycinin and β-conglycinin represented 10.3, 1.2 and 0.9% of corresponding globulin amounts ingested, in the case of product A (exp. 1). Immunoreactive α-conglycinin could only be detected in ileal digesta (1.3% of intake) of calves fed the diet containing product B. In exp. 2, immunoreactive globulins entered the duodenum in low amounts (below 1% of respective intake), especially after weaning. Accordingly, their flow at the ileum and in feces, although measurable, had no meaning from the nutritional point of view. Fermentation in the rumen of weaned calves appeared to be efficient in inactivating most of the potentially harmful dietary constituents. Key words: Soybean, protein, digestion, calf, weaning, glycinin