Influence of Omega-3 fatty acids on the learning ability of the Guide Dog during the training

Some studies show the usefulness of supplementation with long chain poliunsatured fatty acids (LCPUFA) in puppies during training through the evaluation of the ability of learning and memory. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of DHA supplementation on learning abilities in a group of future Guide Dogs for the Blind during the phases of education and training. Two groups of six Labrador dogs (A, study group and B, control group), belonging to School of Guide Dogs of Tuscany (Italy), random selected, were included in the study. To evaluate the effect of supplementation, we used the standardized tests of the School as they are internationally recognized and can establish both character and learning skills of puppies. Some differences were observed between the two groups in some tests results; in particular in those that require a greater visual and sensory capacity and motor coordination as the grid (or abnormal surface) test and the tilting table test. The results obtained in this study could confirm the usefulness of a 35 mg/kg DHA supplementation during the first year of life for improving cognitive skills in dogs

Faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and pea seeds (Pisum sativum) as protein sources in lactating ewes' diets.

18 Massese lactating ewes, divided into 3 homogeneous groups for parity and milk yield, were used to evaluate the replacement effects of soybean meal by Faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and Pea (Pisum sativum) seeds. During a 70 days trial (beginning after weaning: 30±1.5 days after lambing) animals were fed three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. Each diet was characterised by the presence of only one protein feed. The diets consisted of alfalfa hay (1.1 kg/head/d) and a decreasing amount of mixed feed (from 1.1 to 0.7 kg/head/d) to fit animals' requirements. Milk yield, milk chemical composition, animals live weight and BCS, health state and hematochemical parameters were regularly monitored. No diets palatability problems were detected. No significant differences resulted for live weight, BCS, milk yield and milk chemical composition, except for milk protein: higher for faba bean (6.54%) and soybean (6.39%) respect pea (5.66%) diets, P<0.05. No differences resulted for blood parameters too and no clinical signs of illness were observed. Therefore faba bean and pea seeds seem to be able to replace the soybean well

Apparent digestibility of three diets in the Amiata breed donkey during lactation

The aim of the trial was to evaluate the apparent digestibility of three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets for lactating donkeys: a diet with 8 kg of hay and 1.5 kg of commercial flaked mixed feed (CM) (Diet 1); a diet with 7 kg of hay and a 2.2 kg of CM (Diet 2) and a diet with 7 kg of hay, 1.5 kg of CM, 200 ml of corn oil and 0.2 kg of soybean meal (Diet 3). Four pluriparous donkeys (309±12 kg BW) at approximately 2-4 months of lactation were used. The trial was conducted according to a 3x3 Latin Square design with 1 or 2 subject per each cell. Feed and faeces samples were analysed for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF and gross energy. Acid insoluble ash was used as marker to calculate the apparent digestibility. The apparent digestibility of the main dietary components showed not significant differences among the three diets but generally they were lower in Diet 3. DM intakes of every diet exceeded the esti- mated energy requirement, whereas protein requirements were not significantly satisfied by Diet 1

Effect of different oils administration on oleic and linoleic serum profile in horses during standardised exercise test on treadmill

Because of its energy density, fat is often added to the diet for exercising horses; however, little attention has been given to the effect of dietary fatty acid composition. The aims of this study were to compare the effect of two diets containing different oils on the fatty acids haematic profile during and after an aerobic exercise test on treadmill. Four adult trained gelding Standardbred (mean BW=481±27 kg) were used in a two replicated 2x2 Latin Square design. Mixed hay-concentrate diets contained corn oil (CORN) or a mix of mono-di and triglycerides of olive oil (MDTO) were administrated. The horses received the diets for a period of four weeks. At the end of the adaptation period an aerobic exercise test on treadmill (30-min long) was carried on. Blood samples were collected at rest, after 15' and 30' of exercise and during recovery period (at 10', 30' and 60'). Serum fatty acid concentration was determined. MDTO supplemented horses showed an higher percentage of Oleic acid during and after the exercise test; whereas Linoleic acid showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between groups with the highest value at 10' and 30' after exercise in the CORN supplemented group

Total mixed ration in exercising horse: digestibility and nitrogen metabolism

The aim of this study was to evaluate the apparent digestibility of a total mixed ration (TMR) versus a traditional mixed hay/cereals diet. Four adult trained Standardbred geldings – BW = 478±37 kg - were used. The two diets consisted of 20 kg of a commercial TMR - corn silage, alfalfa hay, wet brewers' grain, oat, apple pomace, molasses cane, soybean oil and mineral/vitamin supplement - (Diet 1) or 7 kg of meadow hay and 4.5 kg of cereal-mix - corn, oat, barley and protein/mineral/vitamin supplement - (Diet 2). The trial was conducted according to a Latin Square design (2x2). After an adaptation period of four weeks, total faeces and urine were collected for 6 days. Both feed and faeces samples were analysed for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, ADL and GE. Data were analysed by ANOVA. The apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of the two diets were compared. DM, OM, CP and GE apparent digestibility were significantly different between the diets, with higher values for unifeed diet than traditional diet. Energy requirement was satisfied by both diets (96.54 vs 95.55 MJ). Nitrogen balance showed negative values in both diets (- 61.67 vs - 9.05), but the hay/cereals supplemented diet showed the best protein utilisation

Plasmatic tryptophan/large neutral amino acids ratio in domestic dogs is affected by meal composition

Tryptophan (Trp) is involved in the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin and it competes with other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) for its uptake into the brain [1]. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of three different diets on plasmatic Trp/LNAAs ratio. This study included five female Labrador Retrievers (2 spayed, 8.6 ± 3.8 years old) from the same bloodline, who were usually fed the same commercial dry food once a day. Each dog received three different diets for one single day each. Isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, with a carbohydrates content of 47% and proteins content of 28% on dry matter basis, were provided in two meals, one in the morning and one after 12 hours. Dogs received the first diet (D1) and then they returned to their normal diet for 30 days. After that “washout” period, dogs were fed with the second diet (D2), and after 30 more days they received the third diet (D3). D1 was composed of a mix of puffed rice, minced meat and olive oil equally divided into the two meals. D2 was made up of two different meals. The morning meal was composed of puffed rice and olive oil, whereas the evening meal consisted of minced meat and olive oil. D3 consisted of two identical meals of the commercial dry food usually consumed by the sample dogs. Blood was collected right before the first meal (t0) and after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 24 hours. Plasma samples were used for HPLC quantification of Trp and other LNAAs (isoleucine + leucine + phenylalanine + tyrosine + valine) using a method described in literature [2]. Their levels and ratios at t0 and after D1, D2 and D3 were compared using a mixed model for repeated measures (p<0.05). Trp concentrations showed no significant difference between D1, D2 and D3 samples at any sampling times. LNAAs levels were similar at t0 in the three experimental days, but they showed different trends depending on the composition of the meal provided. In particular, D2 led to a decrease in LNAAs levels and therefore to higher Trp/LNAAs ratios in the 6 hours period after the provision of carbohydrates. In detail, mean Trp/LNAAs ratio of D2 was statistically higher compared to both D1 and D3 at t2 (D1=0.224; D2=0.306; D3=0.217; p<0.001), t4 (D1=0.225; D2=0.327; D3=0.197; p<0.001), and t6 (D1=0.244; D2=0.303; D3=0.205; p<0.015). In addition, mean Trp/LNAAs ratio after D2 was higher than after D3 also at t8 (D2=0.280; D3=0.206; p<0.001) and t10 (D2=0.294; D3=0.224; p<0.001). The trend was different at t24, when Trp/LNAAs ratio was found to be significantly lower after being fed D2 compared to D1 (D1=0.210; D2=0.155; p=0.041). These results indicate that the diet affects Trp bioavailability. Therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate the effects of diet on Trp bioavailability at the brain level, serotonin and melatonin secretion and the real impact of Trp/LNAAs ratio on dog behaviour

Magnetic fields and plasma heating in the Sun's atmosphere

We use the first publically available data from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) to track magnetic connections from the solar photosphere into the corona. We scrutinize relationships between chromospheric magnetism and bright chromospheric, transition region and coronal plasmas. In June 2022, the Visible Spectro-Polarimeter (ViSP) instrument targeted unipolar network within a decaying active region. ViSP acquired rastered scans with longitudinal Zeeman sensitivities of 0.25 Mx/cm2 (Fe I 630.2 nm) and 0.5 Mx/cm2 (Ca II 854.2 nm). ViSP was operated in a "low" resolution mode (0.214" slit width, spectral resolution R ~ 70,000) to produce polarization maps over a common area of 105" x 50". Data from SDO and IRIS are combined to ask: Why is only a fraction of emerging flux filled with heated plasma? What is the elemental nature of the plasmas? No correlations were found between heated plasma and properties of chromospheric magnetic fields derived from the WFA, on scales below supergranules. Processes hidden from our observations control plasma heating. While improved magnetic measurements are needed, these data indicate that "the corona is a self-regulating forced system" (Einaudi et al. 2021). Heating depends on the state of the corona, not simply on boundary conditions. Heating models based upon identifiable bipolar fields, including cool loops, tectonics and observable magnetic reconnection, are refuted for these regions with unipolar chromospheric magnetic fields

Aflatoxins M1 and M2 in the milk of donkeys fed with naturally contaminated diet

For its nutritional composition, donkey milk is an excellent alternative to breast milk for infants suffering from cow’s milk allergies. Even in donkeys, a passage of aflatoxin from contaminated feed to milk could occur, as reported by many authors in other dairy species, but there are no studies on this topic. This work was aimed at studying the excretion of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and M2 (AFM2) in milk after feeding trials with contaminated feed. Six donkeys, at the end of lactation, received a diet with naturally contaminated corn containing 202 and 11 μg.kg−1 of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), respectively. Individual milk samples were analyzed for AFM1 and AFM2 for 15 days after the contaminated feed administration. Amounts of AFM1 and AFM2 were detected in the milk. The steady state condition was reached after 6 days. No AFM1 or AFM2 were detected in milk after 28 h from the last contaminated feed administration. The carryover from AFB1 to AFM1 and from AFB2 to AFM2 was found to be 0.02 and 0.31%, respectively. The results obtained in this study are thus a further step toward understanding the possible carryover of aflatoxin in donkey milk

Fortification of dairy goats’ products with various selenium sources

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two dietary selenium (Se) sources in dairy goat’s milk and cheese. Twentyone goats were allocated to 3 dietary treatments: control (C) with 0.07 mg of Se/kg dry matter (DM); Se yeast (SeY) with 0.14 mg of total Se/kg DM; and sodium selenite (SeNa) with 0.14 mg of total Se/kg DM supplementation. Individual blood and milk samples were collected to determine the Se content. Three cheese wheels were made from each group at three different time, and the Se content was determined. The enumeration of dairy microorganisms was also performed. The SeY group showed a significantly higher milk Se content (P&lt;0.05) than the SeNa group with 44.71 vs 39.29 μg/l, respectively. Both values were also significantly higher (P&lt;0.01) than that of the group C (31.19 μg/l). The SeY group showed a significantly higher Se carryover value (31.29%, P&lt;0.05) than the SeNa group (26.95%). Both values were significantly (P&lt;0.01) lower than in the C group (49.66%). Significant differences were also observed in cheese Se content among the 3 groups. The average Se content in cheeses from groups C, SeY, SeNa was 230 μg/kg, 353 μg/kg and 306 μg/kg, respectively. Se yeast supplementation influenced Se concentration in goat’s milk and cheese but, unlike other authors, we also observed an increase of Se concentration in milk and cheese supplemented with SeNa, although to a smaller extent. Our results indicate that Se yeast supplementation seems to be the best fortification source for dairy goat’s products. In several countries the selenium intake is considered to be low in the human diet, the consumption of Se-enriched products could represent a good way to prevent the deficit in the Se intake currently reported in many countries

Effetto sull'emissione fecale del cane di due diete a diversi livelli di carboidrati ed origine proteica e possibili effetti sul comportamento

Introduction and aim of the work -This prospective controlled study was performed to compare two isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets for dogs: the former (DI) was based on vegetable proteins and rich in carbohydrates, the latter (D2) was based on animal proteins and a lower percentage of carbohydrates. The aim of the research has been to evaluate the effect on fecal consistency and to highlight the possible effects on dog behavior. Materials and methods - Twenty dogs, 10 males and 10 females, were enrolled after a careful history, clinical examination and laboratory exams, confirming their good health status and lack of evident behavioural disorders. Dogs were fed each diet for 40 days at the end of whom 9 behavioral tests were performed. The behavioural reactions were evaluated by two expert behaviourist veterinarians and divided in two levels: calm and reactive behavior. Results and discussion - The subjects fed DI showed a significant increase in fecal emission. Although in absence of statistical significant difference results between the two groups of dogs a general trend to hyperexcitability in subjects fed on diet with prevailing animal protein and reduced carbohydrate content was observed