Mycotoxins in rabbit feed: A review

[EN] Rabbit meat constitutes a measurable portion of the human diet. Thus, the ingredients used in rabbit feed and their contamination with undesirable substances are fundamentally important both in terms of the quality of the meat and the potential human health impacts associated with the animal-based food-production chain. The inclusion of feed ingredients which are contaminated with toxic substances may have a range of biological or toxicological effects on animal production. Rabbit feed ingredients that constitute complete feed products are derived from different raw materials and the contamination of feed materials would represent an important potential hazard. This review summarizes some of the toxic effects of mycotoxins, such as afl atoxins, ochratoxin, citritin, patulin, trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin), zearalenone, fumonisins, moniliformin and fusaric acid.Mézes, M.; Balogh, K. (2009). Mycotoxins in rabbit feed: A review. World Rabbit Science. 17(2):53-62. doi:10.4995/wrs.2009.658536217

Food safety aspect of insects: A review

Insects are alternative protein sources as nutritious novel food. However, there are some risks associated with the consumption of insects, even if rearing in controlled systems. Except for a recent EFSA opinion on the safety of insects as food, the European law is not conclusive regarding using insects as food products. Insects may be associated with microorganisms, but the prevalence of pathogens is usually lower than in case of other animal proteins. Insect proteins can induce allergic reactions, but only few studies are available on allergic reactions due to insect ingestion, and direct hypersensitivity to insect protein has not been proven. Some insect species are considered toxic, because some toxic substances are accumulated from toxic plants or are synthesized by the insects. However, there are few reports available about adverse reactions caused by insect consumption. Insects and insect derived food products may contain hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals, dioxins, mycotoxins, plant toxins, biocides, and veterinary drugs. However, data on hazardous chemicals in reared insects and accumulation of chemical contaminants from the substrates are limited. This review is not demonstrating the safety of insects as a food category, but the possibility of insects for human consumption with no more hazards than other animal products

Comparison of three methods for adjusting scrotal circumference in Charolais, Limousin and Hungarian Fleckvieh young bulls under farm conditions

This study was conducted to compare three different methods for calculating scrotal circumference (ASC1, ASC2, ASC3) adjusted to 365 days of age in Charolais, Limousin and Hungarian Fleckvieh young bulls at the end of the self-performance test. Young breeding bulls from three Charolais, Limousin and Hungarian Fleckvieh breeding farms (farm A: n = 40; farm B: n = 9; farm C: n = 11) were used. The young bulls were kept in loose housing system, in small groups, and fed a diet based on maize silage and concentrate. The scrotal circumference of young bulls was measured at the widest part of the scrotum at the beginning and at the end of the test. Significant growth was observed (+13.6 cm; +8.9 cm; +10.5 cm, P < 0.001) in scrotal circumference (SC) for all breeds except the Hungarian Fleckvieh (ASC2-ASC3: 37.5 vs. 37.6 cm). All differences among the means of the measured and adjusted SCs were statistically confirmed at the P < 0.05 level of significance. A moderate to close positive correlation (r = 0.49-0.99) was calculated among the measured SC and the three types of ASC. The results suggest that method I (ASC1) and method II (ASC2) should be used by the breeders for adjusting scrotal circumferences in the practice

Comparison of three methods for adjusting scrotal circumference in Charolais, Limousin and Hungarian Fleckvieh young bulls under farm conditions

This study was conducted to compare three different methods for calculating scrotal circumference (ASC1, ASC2, ASC3) adjusted to 365 days of age in Charolais, Limousin and Hungarian Fleckvieh young bulls at the end of the self-performance test. Young breeding bulls from three Charolais, Limousin and Hungarian Fleckvieh breeding farms (farm A: n = 40; farm B: n = 9; farm C: n = 11) were used. The young bulls were kept in loose housing system, in small groups, and fed a diet based on maize silage and concentrate. The scrotal circumference of young bulls was measured at the widest part of the scrotum at the beginning and at the end of the test. Significant growth was observed (+13.6 cm; +8.9 cm; +10.5 cm, P < 0.001) in scrotal circumference (SC) for all breeds except the Hungarian Fleckvieh (ASC2-ASC3: 37.5 vs. 37.6 cm). All differences among the means of the measured and adjusted SCs were statistically confirmed at the P < 0.05 level of significance. A moderate to close positive correlation (r = 0.49-0.99) was calculated among the measured SC and the three types of ASC. The results suggest that method I (ASC1) and method II (ASC2) should be used by the breeders for adjusting scrotal circumferences in the practice

Effects of divergent selection for hind leg muscle volume on its lipid peroxide and glutathione redox status, and fatty acid composition in growing rabbits

[EN] Pannon White bucks were selected divergently using CT method by the volume of the hind leg muscle. Animals showed the highest and lowest muscle volumes were selected as minus and plus-selected variants. The male progenies of the minus and plus-selected parents were slaughtered as fi rst generation which was selected again by CT method and the male progenies of the parents were slaughtered. Results in the fi rst and second generation suggest that selection, as a genetic effect did not affect the rate of lipid peroxidation, as was measured by malondialdehyde content and glutathione redox status, as was measured by the reduced glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity of the hind leg muscle. However, there were some differences in the fatty acid composition. Significant (P<0.05) difference was found in palmitoleic acid content which was higher in the minus as compared to the plus variants in the second generation, in eicosadienoic acid which was higher in the fi rst as compared to the second generation of minus variants, and total monounsaturated fatty acids which was higher in the minus as compared to the plus variants in the second generation. It means that selection for higher hind leg volume would not causes marked in changes in the rabbit meat quality as measured by lipid peroxide and glutathione status as well as fatty acid composition.Mézes, M.; Balogh, K.; Fébel, H.; Matics, Z.; Fricska, M.; Szabó, A.; Szendro, Z. (2009). Effects of divergent selection for hind leg muscle volume on its lipid peroxide and glutathione redox status, and fatty acid composition in growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 17(1):15-19. doi:10.4995/wrs.2009.665151917

Influence of Partial Fat Replacement With Lecithin on the Product Characteristics of a Special Hungarian Cold Cut

Replacement of animal fat with plant oils is a very popular research field, due to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in association with saturated fatty acid consumption. The aim of this study was to reduce amount of pig backfat in a meat product (Párizsi) and to partially replace it with soybean- (SBL) or sunflower lecithin (SFL). Between the samples difference was realized in fatty acid (FA) profile, mostly in total n6 FA content. The replacement also altered the colour compared to the control. The oxidative stability (MDA) analysis showed that SBL was more prone towards preparation technology (10 nmol MDA/g) than the Sfl(9 nmol MDA/g). The lecithin appeared as foreign taste based on the sensory test. The aromatic difference, as assessed with electronic nose, was clearly detectable between Sfland SBL. The increasing supplementation levels were also properly distinguished with discriminant analysis within the SBL and Sflseries. Summarized, Sflwas found to be a better antioxidant, but SBL improved the FA profile into a more favourable state. The lecithin-replacement made unlikeness in the taste compared to the control

Environmental induction models for the investigation of activity: Changes in glutathione peroxidase, a crucial factor of the antioxidant defence

Glutathione peroxidase enzyme superfamily plays significant role in the elimination of reactive oxygen free radicals in the animals. Many characteristics of these proteins have been revealed already, but their regulation is still not known. Several data suggest that some environmental factors have certain regulatory effect, while others propose strict genetic regulation.In this report we present four different environmental induction models in which New Zealand white rabbits were used as experimental animals. In three models, free radical load of different origin, lipidperoxide load, application of a glutathione depletor or a prooxidant agent, was introduced. Beside these negative models a positive model was also constructed in which additive selenium was supplied.Glutathione peroxidase activity was measured in blood serum, erythrocyte haemolysate and liver. Reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde concentration in the liver were also determined.According to the results, the established models are capable for analysing the enzyme activity ˟ environmental interactions

Dose-dependent Effect of T-2 Toxin on the Immunity against Newcastle Disease Virus in Chickens

haemagglutination inhibition titres against Newcastle disease virus was investigated in broiler chickens. The animals were divided into four groups and two separate experiments were carried out (a, b): (1) intact control group; (2) birds were fed with T-2 toxin contaminated feed and not vaccinated; (3) repeatedly vaccinated (on day 23 of age) control group which received uncontaminated feed; (4) birds were both repeatedly vaccinated and fed the T-2 toxin contaminated diet. Blood samples, from which sera titres were measured, were taken on days 7 and 14 of the experiments. It was found that heamagglutination titres were different in the two experiments even in the control (1) group because of the different efficiency of the first immunization at the hatchery. Titres on day 7 showed increases in all groups except for the group fed lower T-2 contaminated diet (a, group 2) but during the second week they increased only in the groups fed the diet with a lower dose of T-2 toxin. On the contrary, a higher dose of T-2 toxin contamination of the diet resulted in a dramatic decrease during the second week (b, groups 2 and 4). The results suggested that contrary to most of the previously published data, feeding of T-2 toxin contaminated feed with an amount of 2.35 mg.kg-1 did not decrease, but increase the antibody formation against attenuated Newcastle disease virus even without a second vaccination on day 1 of the experiment, wherea

Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on the Haemagglutination Inhibitor Titre Vaccinated against Newcastle Disease in T-2 Toxin Challenged Chickens

The effect of T-2 toxin contaminated feed (2.35 mg kg-1) and/or vitamin E supplementation in drinking water (10.5 mg/animal day-1) for 14 days on the haemagglutination inhibition titres against Newcastle disease virus was investigated in repeatedly vaccinated (on 23 days of age) broiler chicken. The animals were divided into four groups: (1) control; (2) treated with vitamin E; (3) fed a T-2 toxin contaminated feed; (4) fed a T-2 toxin contaminated diet and treated with vitamin E. Blood samples were taken on days 7 and 14 of the experiment for determination of sera titres and vitamin E content, liver samples were also taken on the same days for vitamin E determination. It was found that haemagglutination titres increased in comparison to the controls as an effect of vitamin E supply and also a low dose T-2 toxin challenge. The combination of both treatments showed some synergistic effect. The utilization of vitamin E decreased by the feeding of T-2 toxin contaminated diet, particularly in the liver