5 research outputs found
Minimum effects of sampling time on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and blood protein catabolites in light lambs
This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of sampling time on organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and phosphorous (P) apparent digestibility and plasma urea and creatinine concentration in growing and finishing male Ripollesa lambs fed different CP concentrations in the diet. Twenty-four male Ripollesa lambs with 14.5 kg body weight (BW) were randomly assigned to two groups differing in CP content in the growing (14 to 19 kg of BW) and finishing (19 to 25 kg of BW) phases (20% vs. 18% CP and 19% vs. 17% CP, respectively). Faeces collected from the rectum and blood samples collected from the jugular vein were taken at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. During the growing period, the OM, CP and P apparent digestibility were higher in the lower CP diet (p 0.05). Sampling time did not affect (p > 0.05) plasma urea concentrations either in the growing or finishing period. Plasma creatinine concentrations did not differ (p > 0.05) between lambs receiving 18% or 20% CP diets, but during the finishing period, it was lower at 4:00 p.m. in lambs fed 17% CP (p < 0.05) than those offered 19% CP. Overall, the results suggest that the collection schedule to evaluate the protein nutritional status can be shortened through one spot sample of faeces or blood in the mornin
Is the inclusion of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp in the concentrate of weaned light lambs worth it?
This study aimed at evaluating the effects of dietary carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp, a by-product of the fruit processing industry, on light lamb performances, time budget behaviour, coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) and blood metabolites. A total of 144 crossbred lambs with 41 卤 5.5 days of age were monitored in two consecutive batches. They were housed in groups of 6 lambs (3 females and 3 males) balanced according to weaning body-weight and assigned to one of three isoenergetic and isoproteic concentrate-based diets: C0 (without carob pulp), C15 (150 g/kg of carob pulp) and C30 (300 g/kg of carob pulp). At 50, 65 and 80 days of age, feed, faeces and blood samples were collected, and behaviour was recorded. The type of concentrate did not have effect on lamb growth and concentrate intake (P > 0.05). However, the concentrate feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher for C15 and C30 compared to C0 (P 0.05). The time spent lying resting and standing static increased throughout the fattening period (P 0.05). However, urea concentrations increased significantly from 50 to 65 days of age, while glucose decreased concomitantly (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary carob pulp inclusion up to 300 g/kg does not negatively affect animal daily gains, daily activity budgets and metabolic nutritional status, but reduces diet digestibility and increases the concentrate FCR. Although a carob pulp inclusion of up to 150 g/kg in the energy-rich concentrate-based diet for weaned light lambs increases the concentrate FCR while keeping the daily gain, this dietary strategy would be a good trade-off between animal performances and circular economy principles.This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation of Spain and the European Regional Development Funds, grant number INIA RTA2017-00008-C02. Jonathan Pelegrin-Valls is in receipt of an early-stage research staff grant by the Generalitat de Catalunya-European Social Funds. We greatly appreciate the technical assistance of Joan Carles Melo and Bon脿rea staff during on-farm animal handling and measurements
Effect of Maternal Dietary Condensed Tannins from Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on Gut Health and Antioxidant-Immune Crosstalk in Suckling Lambs
Ewes fed sainfoin (a source of condensed tannins "CT") may influence the homeostasis of the gastrointestinal tract of suckling lambs. This study investigated the effects of CT from sainfoin in the maternal diet on plasma fructosamine, faecal coccidian excretion, and gene expression of immune and antioxidant markers in jejunum and ileum of suckling lambs. Twelve Rasa Aragonesa lambs with their dams were selected. The maternal diet was based on fresh sainfoin (SAINFOIN, n = 6) and sainfoin + polyethylene-glycol (SAINFOIN + PEG, as a CT-binder, n = 6) plus a daily supplement of 200 g barley in both groups. A lower percentage of lambs that shed more than 10 oocysts/g faeces was observed in SAINFOIN compared to the SAINFOIN + PEG group (p = 0.07). Jejunal gene expression of transforming growth factor-尾1, tumour necrosis factor-伪, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) 1 and 4 were lower in the SAINFOIN group (p < 0.05). In contrast, ileal catalase and GPX2 expression were increased in the SAINFOIN group (p < 0.05). Overall, the results suggest that the presence of CT in the dams' diets has a positive effect on reducing excreted coccidian oocysts and favours antioxidant-immune crosstalk at gut level in suckling lambs.This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain and the European Regional Development Funds, grant number INIA RTA2017-00008-C02-01 and 02
Crude protein and condensed tannins in lamb diets: productivity, metabolic status and gastrointestinal immune and antioxidant response
Aquesta tesi doctoral es va plantejar per a avaluar els efectes de la reducci贸 de la prote茂na bruta i la inclusi贸 de polpa de garrofa (com a font de tanins condensats) en la dieta del corder d'engreix intensiu, aix铆 com per entendre l'impacte de la trepadella fresca (tamb茅 font de tanins condensats) en la dieta de les ovelles sobre la salut digestiva de corders lletons. Per aquest motiu, es van plantejar tres assajos en els quals es va estudiar la productivitat, el metabolisme nutricional i la resposta immunit脿ria i antioxidant gastrointestinal.
En primer lloc, es va estudiar la reducci贸 d'un 2% de la prote茂na bruta a la fase de creixement (20% vs. 18%) i d'engreix (19% vs. 17%) dels corders, observant que aquesta disminuci贸 no va interferir en els resultats productius ni en el metabolisme proteic. Tanmateix, tampoc va afectar a l'estat oxidatiu o al balan莽 de la resposta antioxidant i immunit脿ria intestinal, millorant la digestibilitat aparent de la mat猫ria org脿nica i del f貌sfor. L'avaluaci贸 del mostreig a diferents hores del dia va reflectir que no existeix interacci贸 entre el nivell de prote茂na bruta i l'hora de mostreig sobre la digestibilitat de la mat猫ria org脿nica, de la prote茂na bruta o del f貌sfor, ni sobre la urea o la creatinina plasm脿tica. No obstant aix貌, durant la fase de creixement s'aprecien difer猫ncies d'estimaci贸 en la digestibilitat de la prote茂na a les 8:00 a.m.
En segon lloc, es van incloure 150 g/kg i 300 g/kg de polpa de garrofa en la dieta del corder reflectint que aquest ingredient no va afectar a la productivitat dels animals ni al metabolisme energ猫tic o proteic, encara que el nivell m茅s alt d'inclusi贸 va disminuir la digestibilitat dels nutrients i va incrementar l'铆ndex de conversi贸. D'altra banda, la inclusi贸 de polpa de garrofa va beneficiar la salut ruminal en reduir la queratinitzaci贸, incrementar el gruix dels estrats vius de les papil路les del rumen i augmentar els enzims eliminadors de radicals lliures. Aix铆 mateix, aquest ingredient va mostrar un efecte coccidiost脿tic en reduir l'excreci贸 d'oocists fecals i regular la resposta immunit脿ria-antioxidant gastrointestinal. No obstant aix貌, en una situaci贸 d'estr猫s t猫rmic, la inclusi贸 de polpa de garrofa no tindria suficient influ猫ncia per a generar un estat antioxidant d'adaptaci贸 positiva. En aquest sentit, l'猫poca c脿lida va afectar negativament a la productivitat, a l'estat metab貌lic (prote茂nes totals i ferro), als par脿metres histol貌gics del rumen i a la infecci贸 per coccidis. La resposta antiinflamat貌ria i antioxidant va augmentar en els corders de l'estaci贸 c脿lida, la qual cosa, va demostrar una modulaci贸 dels efectes proinflamatoris i oxidatius associats a l'estr猫s t猫rmic.
En tercer lloc, la inclusi贸 de trepadella en la dieta de les mares dels corders lletons va promoure la reducci贸 d'oocists de coccidis en la femta, per貌 sense reflectir efectes negatius a l鈥檃n脿lisi histopatol貌gic del jej煤 i l'ili. L'activitat dels tanins condensats es va associar a una disminuci贸 de la resposta immunit脿ria i d鈥檈nzims antioxidants en el jej煤, probablement per la seva capacitat de neutralitzar radicals lliures, mentre que a l'ili va augmentar l'expressi贸 d鈥檈nzims antioxidants involucrats en la degradaci贸 del per貌xid d鈥檋idrogen.Esta tesis doctoral se plante贸 para evaluar los efectos de la reducci贸n de la prote铆na bruta y la inclusi贸n de pulpa de algarroba (como fuente de taninos condensados) en la dieta del cordero ligero de cebo intensivo, as铆 como entender el impacto de la esparceta fresca (tambi茅n fuente de taninos condesados) en la dieta de las ovejas sobre la salud digestiva de corderos lechales. Para ello, se plantearon tres ensayos en los que se estudi贸 la productividad, el metabolismo nutricional y, la respuesta inmunitaria y antioxidante gastrointestinal.
En primer lugar, se estudi贸 la reducci贸n de un 2% de la prote铆na bruta en la fase de crecimiento (20% vs. 18%) y engorde (19% vs. 17%) de los corderos, observando que esa disminuci贸n no interfiri贸 en los resultados productivos ni en el metabolismo proteico. Adem谩s, tampoco afect贸 al balance de la respuesta antioxidante e inmunitaria intestinal, mejorando la digestibilidad aparente de la materia org谩nica y del f贸sforo. La evaluaci贸n del muestreo a diferentes horas del d铆a reflej贸 que no existe interacci贸n entre el nivel de prote铆na bruta y la hora de muestreo sobre la digestibilidad de la materia org谩nica, de la prote铆na bruta o del f贸sforo, ni sobre la urea o la creatinina plasm谩tica. Sin embargo, durante la fase de crecimiento se aprecian diferencias de estimaci贸n en la digestibilidad de la prote铆na a las 8:00 a.m.
En segundo lugar, se incluyeron 150 g/kg y 300g/kg de pulpa de algarroba en la dieta del cordero reflejando que este ingrediente no afect贸 a la productividad de los animales ni en el metabolismo energ茅tico y proteico, aunque el nivel m谩s alto de inclusi贸n disminuy贸 la digestibilidad de los nutrientes e increment贸 el 铆ndice de conversi贸n. Por otra parte, la inclusi贸n de pulpa de algarroba benefici贸 la salud ruminal al reducir la queratinizaci贸n, incrementar el grosor de los estratos vivos de las papilas del rumen y aumentar las enzimas eliminadoras de radicales libres. Asimismo, este ingrediente mostr贸 un efecto coccidiost谩tico al reducir la excreci贸n de ooquistes fecales y regular la respuesta inmunitaria-antioxidante gastrointestinal. Sin embargo, en una situaci贸n de estr茅s t茅rmico, la inclusi贸n de pulpa de algarroba no tendr铆a suficiente influencia para generar un estado antioxidante de adaptaci贸n positiva. En este sentido, la 茅poca c谩lida afect贸 negativamente a la productividad, el estado metab贸lico (prote铆nas totales y hierro), los par谩metros histol贸gicos del rumen y la infecci贸n por coccidios. La respuesta antinflamatoria y antioxidante aument贸 en los corderos de la estaci贸n c谩lida, lo que demostr贸 una modulaci贸n de los efectos proinflamatorios y oxidativos asociados al estr茅s t茅rmico.
En tercer lugar, la inclusi贸n de esparceta en la dieta de las madres de los corderos lechales promovi贸 la reducci贸n de ooquistes de coccidios en las heces, pero sin reflejar efectos negativos en los an谩lisis histopatol贸gicos del yeyuno e 铆leon. La actividad de los taninos condensados se asoci贸 a una disminuci贸n de la respuesta inmunitaria y enzimas antioxidantes en el yeyuno, posiblemente por su capacidad de neutralizar radicales libres, mientras que en el 铆leon aument贸 la expresi贸n de enzimas antioxidantes involucradas en la degradaci贸n del per贸xido de hidr贸geno.This doctoral thesis was designed to evaluate the effects of crude protein reduction and the inclusion of carob pulp (as a source of condensed tannins) in the diet of intensive fattening light lambs, as well as to understand the impact of fresh sainfoin (also a source of condensed tannins) in the diet of ewes on the gastrointestinal health of suckling lambs. For this purpose, three trials were conducted to study the productivity, the nutritional metabolism, and the immune and antioxidant responses in the gastrointestinal tract.
Firstly, a 2% reduction of crude protein in the growing (20% vs. 18%) and finishing (19% vs. 17%) phases of lambs were studied, observing that this reduction did not affect the productive performance or protein metabolism. Furthermore, it did not affect the intestinal antioxidant and immune response balance, and improved the apparent digestibility of organic matter and phosphorus. Evaluation of sampling at different times of the day did not show interaction between crude protein level and sampling time on digestibility of organic matter, crude protein or phosphorus, nor in plasma urea or creatinine. However, during the growing phase, differences between diets in protein digestibility at 08:00 a.m. were found.
Secondly, an inclusion of 150 g/kg and 300 g/kg of carob pulp in the lamb did not impact on animal productivity, energy and protein metabolism, although the highest level of inclusion decreased nutrient digestibility and increased the feed conversion ratio. On the other hand, the inclusion of carob pulp improved rumen health by reducing keratinisation, increasing the thickness of the living layers of the rumen papillae and increasing free radical scavenging enzymes. In addition, there was a coccidiostatic effect by reducing faecal oocyst excretion and regulating the gastrointestinal immune-antioxidant response. However, under heat stress, the inclusion of carob pulp would not have enough influence to generate a positive adaptive antioxidant status. In this regard, the warm season had a negative impact on productivity, metabolic status (total protein and iron), rumen histological parameters and coccidial infection. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant response was increased in warm season lambs, which demonstrated a modulation of the pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects associated to heat stress.
Thirdly, the inclusion of sainfoin in dams' diets promoted a reduction of coccidial oocysts in faeces, but had no negative effects on histopathological analyses of the jejunum and ileum. Condensed tannin activity was associated to decreased immune response and antioxidant enzymes in the jejunum, probably because of its ability to scavenge free radicals, whereas in the ileum it increased antioxidant enzyme expression involved in hydrogen peroxide degradation