• Title/Summary/Keyword: Protein Feeding

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Effects of Tea Fungus/Kombucha Beverage on Lipid Metabolism and Protein Level in Diabetic Female Rats (발효홍차 음료가 당뇨 암쥐의 지질대사 및 단백질농도에 미치는 영향)

  • 노민희;고진복
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.12 no.6
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    • pp.661-668
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    • 2002
  • We investigated the effect of tea fungus/kombucha beverage(TF) on the body weights, the blood glucose levels, lipid and protein concentrations, and enzyme activities in diabetic female rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed drinking water supplemented with 20% or 40% TF groups, respectively for 7 weeks. The female rats (mean weight 155.5$\pm$9.3 g) were assigned to one control and three diabetic groups. Diabetic groups were divided into diabetic control (TF free water), 20% or 40% TFD groups (20% or 40% TF in water) according to the levels of TF supplementation. Diabetes was experimentally induced by intraperitonially administration of streptozotocin in citrate buffer(pH 4.3) after 2 weeks feeding of four experimental water. Animals were sacrificed at the 5 weeks of diabetic state. The diabetic groups showed significantly decrease of body weight(6.8-7.5 g) compared with the control group(48.3 g). The hepatic, kidney and pancreatic weights of 20% or 40% TFD groups were not significantly different with D-control group. The fasting serum glucose level were higher in all diabetic groups than that of the control group. The concentrations of serum triglyceride in 40% TFD group and serum LDL-cholesterol in 20% TFD group were significantly decreased compared with the D-control group. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio, and atherogenic index in 20% or 40% TFD groups were similar to those in D-control group. The concentrations of hepatic triglyceride in 20% or 40% TFD groups were significantly decreased compared with the D-control group, but the concentrations of hepatic cholesterol and phospholipid were similar to all diabetic groups. The concentrations of serum and hepatic total protein, serum albumin, and the activities of GOT, GPT and LDH in the serum were the same levels of all diabetic groups.

Effect of Rice Straw Heated in Water or 0.25N-NaClO$_2$ on the Nutrient Utilization of Diets in Chicks (증류수 혹은 0.25N NaClO$_2$에서 가열한 볏짚의 가금에서의 영양소이용성에 미치는 영향)

  • 고태송;김해수;김성규;라채영
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.25-30
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    • 1985
  • In order to observe an effect of the components of rice straw on the utilization of nutrient in chicks, the rice straw of 100g were digested in 800$m\ell$ of distilled water or 0.25N NaClO$_2$ at 135 C and in the pressure of 3.2kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ by autoclave during 30, 60 and 120 minutes (water or NaClO$_2$-30, 60 and 120- RS). The contents of neutral detergent fiber(NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin were analysed in the washed and dried rice straw meal. Hatched single comb white Leghorn male chicks were fed with a commercial chick mash for the first 10 days and five kinds of experimetal diets for the next 8 days which contained 17.0% of wheat bran (basal), cellulose(cotton meal), nontreated RS, water-30-RS and NaClO$_2$ 30-RS, respectively. The water-30, 60 and 120-RS baa leased 9.7, 12.1 and 13.3% of dry matter, respectively, while NaClO$_2$-30-RS had similar contents of dry matter loss with those of water-30-RS, and NaClO$_2$-60 and 120-RS had tossed 1.5 times of dry matter comparing with those of water-60 and 120-RS, respectively. And the dry matter loss of the water-RS or NaClO$_2$-RS was mainly originated front the extractable cell contents and hemicellulose of the non-treated RS. Birds fed water-30-RS diets had higher body weight gain and lower feed conversion than those of birds fed non-treated and NaClO$_2$-30-RS diets during 8 days of experimental feeding. Also nitrogen balance and retention rate of birds fed water -30-RS was higher comparing with those of birds non-treated and NaClO$_2$-30-RS. And digestibility of crude fat had been shown a highering trend in birds water-30-RS. The rate of metabolizable energy (MEn) to gross energy (GE) of birds fed non-treated RS, water-30-RS and NaClO$_2$30-RS diets were 71.9, 72.9 and 70.4%, respectively, and energy intake per metaboic body size (kg 0.75) were reached to 307.3, 296.2 and 291.4 kcal per day, respectively. And daily protein retention per kg 0.75 were 1.647, 1.969 and 1.560g, respectively. Then 30.56kcal of MEn required for 1 g of protein retention in birds fed water-30-RS, which was lower thu 36.90 and 37.56 kcal of birds fed non-treated and NaClO$_2$-30- RS, respectively. The results seems to indicate that non-treated rice straw had a substance or characters which affect the energy unilization or protein retention of diets and which will be eliminated by boiling in water.

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Effects of Dietary Energy, Protein on Growth and Blood Composition in Cross-bred with Korean Native Chicks (사료 단백질 및 에너지 수준이 재래닭의 성장과 혈액의 성상에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, H.S.;Kang, B.S.;Na, J.C.;Ryu, K.S.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.35 no.4
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    • pp.399-405
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    • 2009
  • Two experiments were conducted to establish the basic data of feeding system in cross-bred Korean native chicks. A total of seven hundred twenty chicks were replaced the 36 floor pen for the first five weeks with $3{\times}3$ factorial design in Experiment 1. Four hundred eighty of five weeks old chicks were raised from six to ten weeks of age with $3{\times}2$ factorial design in Experiment 2. Dietary ME and CP were formulated to contain 3,000, 3,050, 3,100 kcal/kg and 21, 22, 23%, respectively in Experiment 1 and 3,050, 3,100, 3,150 kcal/kg and 18, 19% in Experiment 2. Weight gain, feed intake were measured and calculated the feed conversion. Blood were collected and analyzed at the end of experiments. In Experiment 1, weight gain showed significantly higher in 3,050, 3,100 kcal/kg treatments than 3,000 kcal/kg treatment (P<0.05), but was not different in CP treatments. Feed intake was statistically high in 3,000 kcal/kg treatment compared with 3,050 and 3,100 kcal/kg ones (P<0.05), and more increased in 21% CP treatments compared to that of 22 and 23 CP treatment (P<0.05). Feed conversion of birds fed 3,050 and 3,100 kcal/kg diet showed much lower than 3,000 kcal/kg treatments (P<0.05). FCR was signicantly improved (P<0.05) in chicks fed diets containing 21 and 22% CP as compared to that fed 20% CP. Blood protein, glucose, and total cholesterol tended to increase in high energy and diet treatments. Blood HDL was increased as dietary energy increased, whereas LDL increased in low CP treatments. In Experiment 2, weight gain was not consistent between treatments, but more increased in 18% CP treatments compared to that of 19% CP treatment from six to ten weeks old in cross bred chicks (P<0.05). Feed intake was similar to the result of weight gain, but more increased in 19% CP treatment than 18% CP treatment (P<0.05). There were no statistically difference in FCR, but seemed to improve as dietary ME increased. Blood total protein and glucose increased as dietary CP was high, but triglyceride and HDL increased in high versus low ME (P<0.05). The results of these experiments suggested that optimum dietary ME and CP, were 3,050, 3,150kcal/kg and 22, 19% for the first five weeks and second one, respectively.

Essentiality of Dietary Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Korean Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli (조피볼락(Sebastes schlegeli) 사료의 EPA 및 DHA 필수성)

  • LEE Sang-Min;LEE Jong Yun;HUR Sung Bum
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.712-726
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    • 1994
  • Feeding trials were conducted to determine the essentiality of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and to compare the efficiency between EPA and DHA for juvenile Korean rockfish. Fish averaging 2.1 g were fed experimental diets containing different levels of EPA or DHA, and different combinations of EPA and DHA in two separate experiments. Graded levels ($0.0{\sim}l.75\%$) of dietary EPA or DHA as ethyl esters were substituted for a part of the $8\%$ beef tallow in the basal diet. After 5 weeks of the experimental period, weight gain, chemical composition of whole body, protein and lipid retention efficiency, hepatosomatic index, and fatty acid composition of liver were measured. Daily growth rate and feed efficiency were the lowest in fish fed the diets without EPA arid DHA. These responses were effectively improved by increasing EPA or DHA in the diets up to $1.0\%$ levels, and then reached a plateau between 1.0 and $1.75\%$ levels of either EPA or DHA. Protein and lipid retention efficiency were also improved with the high levels of dietary EPA or DHA. DHA was superior to EPA at the same level of each in weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein and lipid retention efficiency. Hepatosomatic index tended to decrease with increase of the dietary EPA or DHA levels. Lipid contents of whole body were increased with levels of EPA or DHA in the diets. Dietary EPA and/or DHA levels affected directly the fatty acid composition of liver polar lipid. EPA or DHA in the liver polar lipid were increased with levels of dietary EPA or DHA, respectively, whereas those in nonpolar lipid were not affected by the dietary levels of EPA and/or DHA. These finding indicate that either of the EPA or DHA is essential for normal growth of Korean rockfish, and the essential fatty acid requirement is $1.0\%$ of EPA and/or DHA in the diet. DHA is superior to EPA as essential fatty acid, and the dietary EPA/DHA ratio of less than 1.0 may be adequate for normal growth of Korean rockfish fed a diet enough n-3HUFA (EPA and DHA).

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Effects of Applying Cattle Slurry and Mixed Sowing with Legumes on Productivity, Feed Values and Organic Stock Carrying Capacity of Whole Crop Barley and Rye (액상우분뇨 시용과 콩과작물의 혼파가 청보리와 호밀의 생산성, 사료가치 및 단위면적당 유기가축 사육능력에 미치는 영향)

  • Jo, Ik-Hwan;HwangBo, Soon;Lee, Sung-Hoon
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.419-432
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    • 2010
  • This study was conducted to determine effects of applying cattle slurry and mixed sowing with legumes such as hairy vetch or forage pea on productivity, feed values and organic stock carrying capacity of whole crop barley and rye as winter forage crops, and to obtain organic forages together with higher soil fertility. Experimental plots consisted of 7 treatments, which were non-fertilizer, chemical fertilizer (containing phosphate and potassium: P+K), chemical fertilizer (containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium: N+P+K), organic fertilizer, cattle slurry, cattle slurry application (mixture with hairy vetch), and cattle slurry application (mixture with forage pea) plots. Each treatment was triplicates, and seven treatments were allocated in a completely randomized block design. For whole crop barley or its mixture crops, annual dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) yields of N+P+K plots were significantly (P<0.05) higher than other plots except for cattle slurry plots. The CP content of barley or its mixture crops was significantly higher tor N+P+K plot (9.8%) and mixture plots with legumes (8.6~9.7%) than those of other treatments. As 450 kg Hanwoo heifers were fed diets included 70% whole crop barley or 70% mixture crops with legumes, mixture plots are capable of raising average 1.7 to 1.8 heads/ha a year. For rye or its mixture crops, annual DM, CP, and TDN yields represented 6.9~7.1, 0.5~0.6 and 4.3~4.4 ton/ha, respectively. The N+P+K plot contained 10.8% CP, which was higher (P<0.05) than all other treatments. In case of 450 kg Hanwoo heifers fed diets included 70% rye or 70% mixture crops with legumes, mixture plots can rear average 1.9 heads/ha a year. When it was considered based on crop yields and organic stock carrying capacity, applying cattle slurry to whole crop barley or rye had the comparable yields and feed values to chemical fertilizer application. Moreover, whole crop barley and rye within cattle slurry plots had a greater combination with hairy vetch and forage pea, respectively, and their mixture crops with legumes had higher crude protein and TDN yields within cattle slurry plots. In conclusion, it would be expected that mixed sowing with legumes in the application of cattle slurry to grass crops could be substituted for imported organic grains as dietary protein sources in feeding organic livestock.

Performance, Meat Quality and Blood Composition of Cross Bred Chicks Fed Various Organic Dietary CP and ME (ME와 CP가 다른 유기사료 급여가 토종닭의 생산능력 계육품질 및 혈액성상에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Jae-Hong;Jeong, Yong-Dae;Yoon, Myung-Ja;Ryu, Kyeong-Seon
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.199-214
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    • 2011
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) on productivity, meat quality and blood composition of crossbred chicks (hanhyub 3 ho) for different growring periods. Experiments were factorially designed with ME 3,000, 3,100kcal/kg and CP 21, 22, 23% for starter (0-4wks); ME 3,100, 3,150, 3,200kcal/kg and CP 18, 19, 20% for grower (5-8wks); ME 3,100, 3,150, 3,200kcal/kg and CP 15, 16, 17% for finisher (9-10wks). The total number of chicks and replicate of each treatment for starter, grower, finisher were 720, 4; 702, 6; 468, 4, respectively. The diets was mixed with more 90% organic feed ingredients. The productivity were not influence by dietary ME for starting period. Weight gain and feed intake were significantly increased in CP 23% treatment than CP 21, 22% treatment (P<0.05). FCR was improved as dietary CP increased (P<0.05). Weight gain was tended to be increased by decreaing ME content and increasing CP contents for growing period. Feed intake showed no difference among the ME and CP treatment groups. FCR improved significantly in CP 19, 20% compared with CP 18% (P<0.05). Weight gain was not significantly different between ME and CP treatments for finishing period. Feed intake was lower in ME 3,150, 3,200kcal/kg than the ME 3,100 kcal/kg treatment (P<0.05). FCR was higher in ME 3,100kcal/kg than ME 3,150, 3,200kcal/kg treatment (P<0.05). Interaction on productivity was not exited between ME and CP treatment groups for different feeding periods. There was no difference in the total protein, albumin, glucose and triglyceride amount in blood depending on dietary ME and CP contents. Total cholesterol was greatly decreased in ME 3,100kcal/kg than the ME 3,200kcal/kg (P<0.05), but not different between CP treatments. Cooking loss of breast meat was lower in ME 3,150kcal/kg than the ME 3,200kcal/kg (P<0.05). Moisture, shear force and pH were not statistically different among treatments. Protein solubility was increased by increasing ME and CP in diets. The collagen was tended to increase as dietary ME increased. Redness was remarkably higher in ME 3,150kcal/kg than the ME 3,100kcal/kg (P<0.05). Yellowness of meat fed ME 3,150kcal/kg showed significantly lower than other treatments (P<0.05). Therefore, the optium ME and CP to improve the productivity for each period were 3,000kcal/kg, 23%; 3,100kcal/kg, 19%; 3,150kcal/kg, CP 16%, repectively.

Effects of Protein and Carbohydrate Supplements on Feed Digestion in Indigenous Malaysian Goats and Sheep

  • Darlis, N. Abdullah;Halim, R.A.;Jalaludin, S.;Ho, Y.W.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.464-469
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    • 2000
  • Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of soybean meal (SBM) as a source of protein and sago meal (SM) as a source of carbohydrate on in situ and in vivo digestibility of dietary components in four male goats (Kambing Katjang) and four male sheep (Malin) weighing 25-35 kg. Rumen volume, as well as rumen fluid dilution rate were also determined. The animals were housed in single pens with individual feeding and drinking troughs and each animal was fitted with a rumen fistula. They were fed two diets : chopped rice straw+200 g soybean meal (SBM), and chopped rice straw+190 g soybean meal+300 g sago meal (SBM+SM). Rice straw was offered ad libitum. The supplements were isonitrogenous (80 g crude protein/animal/d), but the proportions of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were lower in the SBM supplement (191, 165, 11, 40, 15 g/animal/d for DM, OM, CF, NDF and ADF, respectively) than in the SBM+SM supplement (445, 423, 25, 102, 38 g/animal/d for DM, OM, CF, NDF and ADF, respectively). Two animals from each species were fed either supplement in a cross-over design in two periods. Each period lasted for four weeks. In situ and in vivo digestibility studies were carried out, followed by the determination of rumen volume and rumen fluid dilution rate. The results showed that straw DM and total DM intakes of goats (average of $48.7g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, $72.7g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, respectively) were significantly (p<0.01) higher than sheep (average of $3.56g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, $61.6g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, respectively), but OM, N and GE intakes were not significantly different between the two animal species. When the effect of supplements was compared, animals fed SBM+SM supplement had significantly (p<0.001) higher DM, OM and GE intakes than animals fed SBM supplement. Potential degradabilities of rice straw DM were significantly (p<0.01) higher in goats (average of 48.8%) than in sheep (average of 46.1 %). The supplements had no significant effect on the potential degradabilities of DM, OM and NDF, but they had a significant (p<0.05) effect on the degradation rates of DM and NDF. The addition of sago meal in the diet reduced the degradation rates of DM and NDF of rice straw in the rumen. Potential degradability of DM of soybean meal was not significantly different between animal species as well as between supplements. Sago meal was highly degradable. At 24 h of incubation in the rumen, 90-95% of DM loss was observed. There was a significant interaction between animal species and supplements in the in vivo digestibility of ADF and GE. In animals fed SBM supplement, the in vivo digestibility of ADF was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats ($50.6{\pm}4.22%$) than in sheep ($44.4{\pm}3.21%$), but digestibility of GE was significantly (p<0.05) higher in sheep ($70.2{\pm}1.93%$) than in goats ($63.0{\pm}3.07%$). The digestibility values of CP and OM were significantly (p<0.05) higher in sheep when compared to goats. Animals fed SBM+SM supplement showed significantly (p<0.05) higher DM and OM digestibility values than animals fed SBM supplement, but digestibility values of CP were significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals fed SBM supplement. Differences in in vivo digestibility values of CF and NDF were not significantly different between animal species or supplements. Water intake, rumen volume ($1/kg\;W^{0.75}$), rumen fluid dilution rate and mean retention time were similar between the two animal species. However, rumen fluid dilution rate and mean retention time was significantly (p<0.01) affected by supplements. Animals fed SBM+SM had faster rumen fluid dilution rate and consequently shorter mean retention time.

Clinical Features of Dietary Protein Induced Proctocolitis (식이 단백 유발 직결장염의 임상적 고찰)

  • Im, Sun Ju;Kim, Seong Heon;Bae, Sang Nam;Park, Jae Hong
    • Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.157-163
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    • 2005
  • Purpose: Dietary protein induced proctocolitis (DPIPC) can be considered as a cause of rectal bleeding or blood streaked stool in otherwise healthy-looking infants in the first several months of life. Failure to appreciate this entity may lead to inappropriate diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of DPIPC. Methods: We reviewed 13 infants retrospectively, presented with bloody stool in early infancy. They were diagnosed as DPIPC clinically in Pusan National University Hospital from May 2002 to June 2004. Results: Seven males and six females were included. The mean age at onset of bleeding was $96.8{\pm}58.8days$. The mean frequency of hematochezia was $2.6{\pm}2.5$ times a day. Duration from onset of symptom to diagnosis was $35.5{\pm}55.0days$ and duration from onset of symptom to resolution of bleeding was $58.7{\pm}67.0days$. Nine (69.2%) were exclusively breast-fed infants and two (15.4%) were formula-fed infants. All but one infant did not have family history of other allergic diseases. A dietary history of ingestion of cow's milk, nut or shellfish was present in three mothers. Peripheral eosinophil count was normal to slightly elevated (total WBC count $10,555{\pm}3,145/mm^3$, relative eosinophil count $6.3{\pm}3.0%$, absolute eosinophil count $659.0{\pm}532.2/mm^3$). Sigmoidoscopy revealed lymphonodular hyperplasia with surrounding hemorrhagic spots in the rectosigmoid colon in 6 infants. Histopathologic finding of colonic biopsies in 5 infants showed chronic inflammation with lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (5 infants), crypt abscess (3 infants), or mild infiltration of eosinophils (less than 20/high power field) in the lamina propria. Spontaneous resolution of rectal bleeding occurred in all infants without dietary change or medicine. Conclusion: Most infants with DPIPC experience a very benign course and have spontaneous resolution of rectal bleeding without changes in the mother's diet. In the case of strong evidence for DPIPC we suggest deferring further invasive investigation and continuing breast feeding.

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Nutrients and Energy Digestibilities of Various Feedstuffs Fed to Israeli Strain of Growing Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) (육성용 이스라엘 잉어에 의한 원료사료의 영양소 및 에너지 소화율)

  • 김정대;김광석;이승복;정관식
    • Journal of Aquaculture
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.327-334
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    • 1997
  • This study was conducted with Israeli strain of common carp to determine apparent protein, lipid and gross energy digestibility coefficients and apparent calcium and phosphorus availabilities of the following feedstuffs : steam-dried white fish meal (WFM-S), flame-dried white fish meal (WFM-F), brown fish meal (BFM), soybean meal (SBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), sesame meal (SSM), wheat flour (WFL), brewer's yeast (BY) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP). Test diets consisting of a 70:30 mixture of refoernce diet to test ingredient were utilized with chromic oxide as an external indicator. Fecal collection was made during 10 days before the end of feeding trial lasted for 27 days. The best weight gain and feed utilization were found in fish fed MCP containing test diet. Protein digestibility was high for most ingredients, ranging from 81.2% for BY to 91.9% for SBM, with the exception of SSM which was 77.6%. Lipid digestibility coefficients ranged 74% for CGM to 85.8% for two kinds of white fish meal. Digestible energy coefficients were generally high for fish meals, ranging from 77.4% for WFM-S to 81.3% for WFM-F, whereas those for plant feedstuffs were significantly (P<0.05) lower, from 64.5% for CGM to 70.6% for BY. Phosphorus availability from fish meals was variable with a low of 6.6% for WFM-F and a high of 13.6% for WFM-S. Phosphorus availability from SBM and BY was 7.3% and 57.2%, respectively. Calcium and phosphorus availabilities from MCP were 84.6% and 80.6%, respectively. These results provide more precise information concerning nutrients and energy utilization of Israeli strain of common carp and will allow ingredient substitutions in practical diet formulations based on levels of availabile protein and phosphorus.

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Effects of zearalenone on the localization and expression of the growth hormone receptor gene in the uteri of post-weaning piglets

  • Zhou, Min;Yang, Li Jie;Yang, Wei Ren;Huang, Li Bo;Zhou, Xue Mei;Jiang, Shu Zhen;Yang, Zai Bin
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.32-39
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    • 2018
  • Objective: In this study, we investigated the adverse effects of dietary zearalenone (ZEA) (0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg diet) on the localization and expression of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) in the uteri of post-weaning gilts and explored alternative mechanism of the reproductive toxicity of ZEA on piglets. Methods: A total of forty healthy piglets (Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White) aged 28 d were selected for study. Piglets were transferred to single cages after 10 days' adaptation on an obstetric table. The animals were allocated to one of four treatments: a normal basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 0.5 (ZEA0.5), 1.0 (ZEA1.0), or 1.5 (ZEA1.5) mg/kg purified ZEA, and fed for 35 d after the 10-d adaptation. Analyzed ZEA concentrations in the diets were 0, $0.52{\pm}0.07$, $1.04{\pm}0.03$, and $1.51{\pm}0.13mg/kg$, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, piglets were euthanized after being fasted for 12 h. Two samples of uterine tissue from each pig were rapidly collected, one of which was stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ for analysis of the relative mRNA and protein expression of GHR, and the second was promptly fixed in Bouin's solution for immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The relative weight of the uteri and thickness of the myometrium and endometrium increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.001) with an increasing level of ZEA. The results of immunohistochemical analysis indicated that GHR immunoreactive substance was mainly localizated in the cytoplasm of uterine smooth muscle, glandular epithelial, luminal epithelial, stromal, and vascular endothelial cells. In contrast, nuclear staining was rarely observed. The immunoreactive integrated optic density of GHR in the myometrium, luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, and whole uteri of weaning gilts increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.05) with an increasing level of ZEA. The mRNA and protein expression of GHR in the uteri of weaning gilts increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.05) with an increasing level of ZEA. Conclusion: In conclusion, ZEA at a concentration of 0.5 mg/kg was sufficient to significantly thicken the myometrium and endometrium, and at a concentration of 1.0 mg/kg induced a high level of GHR expression to promote growth and development of the uteri. This revealed an alternative molecular mechanism whereby ZEA induces growth and development of the uteri and provides a theoretical basis for the revision of Chinese feed hygiene standards.