Effect of Corn Bran and Corn Steep Inclusion in Finishing Diets on Diet Digestibility and Fiber Disappearance

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Eight ruminally cannulated heifers were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square to determine the effects of replacing dry rolled corn with corn bran or a combination of corn bran and corn steep, on diet digestibility and rumen environment. Heifers received diets including 0% bran, 30% bran, 30% bran/15% steep and 45% bran/ 15% steep. Byproduct diets were effective in reducing acidosis and had lower dry matter and organic matter digestibilities than the control diet, regardless of steep inclusion. Fiber digestion and microbial efficiency may have been promoted with the inclusion of corn bran and steep in the diet. Feeding a diet containing corn bran and steep may be valuable for improving nutrient utilization in the rumen

Effect of Corn Bran and Corn Steep Inclusion in Finishing Diets on Diet Digestibility and Fiber Disappearance

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Eight ruminally cannulated heifers were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square to determine the effects of replacing dry rolled corn with corn bran or a combination of corn bran and corn steep, on diet digestibility and rumen environment. Heifers received diets including 0% bran, 30% bran, 30% bran/15% steep and 45% bran/ 15% steep. Byproduct diets were effective in reducing acidosis and had lower dry matter and organic matter digestibilities than the control diet, regardless of steep inclusion. Fiber digestion and microbial efficiency may have been promoted with the inclusion of corn bran and steep in the diet. Feeding a diet containing corn bran and steep may be valuable for improving nutrient utilization in the rumen

Effects of Corn Bran and Corn Steep Inclusion in Finishing Diets on Cattle Performance and Nitrogen Mass Balance

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of decreasing digestibility of a finishing diet by replacing dry rolled corn (DRC) with corn bran, or a combination of corn bran and steep, on cattle performance and nitrogen mass balance in open feedlots. Replacement of DRC with bran had no impact on performance when steep was included in the finishing diets at 15% DM. Feeding bran and steep, in combination, was an effective means of reducing N losses in winter, as well as maintaining cattle performance throughout the year

Sparsentan in patients with IgA nephropathy: a prespecified interim analysis from a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial

Background: Sparsentan is a novel, non-immunosuppressive, single-molecule, dual endothelin and angiotensin receptor antagonist being examined in an ongoing phase 3 trial in adults with IgA nephropathy. We report the prespecified interim analysis of the primary proteinuria efficacy endpoint, and safety. Methods: PROTECT is an international, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study, being conducted in 134 clinical practice sites in 18 countries. The study examines sparsentan versus irbesartan in adults (aged ≥18 years) with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and proteinuria of 1·0 g/day or higher despite maximised renin-angiotensin system inhibitor treatment for at least 12 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive sparsentan 400 mg once daily or irbesartan 300 mg once daily, stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate at screening (30 to 1·75 g/day). The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline to week 36 in urine protein-creatinine ratio based on a 24-h urine sample, assessed using mixed model repeated measures. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were safety endpoints. All endpoints were examined in all participants who received at least one dose of randomised treatment. The study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03762850. Findings: Between Dec 20, 2018, and May 26, 2021, 404 participants were randomly assigned to sparsentan (n=202) or irbesartan (n=202) and received treatment. At week 36, the geometric least squares mean percent change from baseline in urine protein-creatinine ratio was statistically significantly greater in the sparsentan group (-49·8%) than the irbesartan group (-15·1%), resulting in a between-group relative reduction of 41% (least squares mean ratio=0·59; 95% CI 0·51-0·69; p<0·0001). TEAEs with sparsentan were similar to irbesartan. There were no cases of severe oedema, heart failure, hepatotoxicity, or oedema-related discontinuations. Bodyweight changes from baseline were not different between the sparsentan and irbesartan groups. Interpretation: Once-daily treatment with sparsentan produced meaningful reduction in proteinuria compared with irbesartan in adults with IgA nephropathy. Safety of sparsentan was similar to irbesartan. Future analyses after completion of the 2-year double-blind period will show whether these beneficial effects translate into a long-term nephroprotective potential of sparsentan. Funding: Travere Therapeutics