Effects of dietary valine:lysine ratios on lactation performance of primiparous sows nursing large litters

ABSTRACT -Eighteen sows were used to determine the effect of dietary valine:lysine (val:lys) ratios on lactation performance in primiparous sows and litter performance. Sows, raised in individual pens, were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 experimental diets containing different standardized ileal digestibility (SID) val:lys ratios of 0.80 or 0.85. Corn-soybeanwheat-based diets were formulated to achieve the dietary treatments (0.86% or 0.87% SID lysine, and 0.69% or 0.74% SID valine). All diets were formulated to have 3,450 kcal metabolizable energy/kg. The experiment lasted 24 d. At the end of the experiment, body weight loss, backfat loss, average daily feed intake, and days to return to estrus were not affected by the different dietary val:lys ratios. Furthermore, no difference was observed in number of piglets weaned, piglet survival rate, weaning litter weight, litter weight gain, piglet weaning body weight, piglet gain, or piglet daily gain between the two dietary treatments. However, increasing the dietary val:lys ratio increased arginine and threonine concentrations in the milk. Dietary val:lys ratios of 0.80 and 0.85 do not affect the lactation performance of primiparous sows nursing large litters, but increase the arginine and threonine concentrations in milk as the dietary val:lys ratio are increased

Analysis of the effect of dietary protected organic acid blend on lactating sows and their piglets

ABSTRACT -The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of blends of dietary protected organic acid supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, faecal microflora, and gas emission on sows and piglets with emphasis on their modes of action to improve pig performance. A total of 12 sows with an average initial body weight (BW) of 252.40±11.7 kg were used in this trial. Growth performance, blood profiles, and nutrient digestibility of sows and piglets fed protected organic acid were evaluated. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (CON); CON + 0.1% protected organic acid; and CON + 0.2% protected organic acid. The BW and back fat of sows was checked four days prior to farrowing and at the weaning day to calculate BW loss and back fat loss during that period. Inclusion of 0.2% protected organic acid provided a greater digestibility than CON diets throughout the experimental period in lactating sows. Dietary supplementation with 0.2% protected organic acid led to a higher white blood cell and lymphocyte concentration than CON treatment in sucking piglets. Immunoglobulin G concentration observed was greater in protected organic acid groups in lactating sow and sucking piglets. Increased faecal Lactobacillus counts with decreased E. coli concentrations were observed with the diets of protected organic acid fed to lactating sows. The E. coli counts were decreased in weaning piglets. The faecal H 2 S contents were decreased in 0.2% protected organic acid diets during farrowing on day 1. Dietary supplementation with protected organic acid blends beneficially affects the nutrient digestibility, ileal noxious gas (NH 3 and H 2 S) emission, as well as intestinal microbial balance in lactating sows

Effects of dietary valine:lysine ratios on lactation performance of primiparous sows nursing large litters

ABSTRACT Eighteen sows were used to determine the effect of dietary valine:lysine (val:lys) ratios on lactation performance in primiparous sows and litter performance. Sows, raised in individual pens, were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 experimental diets containing different standardized ileal digestibility (SID) val:lys ratios of 0.80 or 0.85. Corn-soybean-wheat-based diets were formulated to achieve the dietary treatments (0.86% or 0.87% SID lysine, and 0.69% or 0.74% SID valine). All diets were formulated to have 3,450 kcal metabolizable energy/kg. The experiment lasted 24 d. At the end of the experiment, body weight loss, backfat loss, average daily feed intake, and days to return to estrus were not affected by the different dietary val:lys ratios. Furthermore, no difference was observed in number of piglets weaned, piglet survival rate, weaning litter weight, litter weight gain, piglet weaning body weight, piglet gain, or piglet daily gain between the two dietary treatments. However, increasing the dietary val:lys ratio increased arginine and threonine concentrations in the milk. Dietary val:lys ratios of 0.80 and 0.85 do not affect the lactation performance of primiparous sows nursing large litters, but increase the arginine and threonine concentrations in milk as the dietary val:lys ratio are increased

Analysis of the effect of dietary protected organic acid blend on lactating sows and their piglets

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of blends of dietary protected organic acid supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, faecal microflora, and gas emission on sows and piglets with emphasis on their modes of action to improve pig performance. A total of 12 sows with an average initial body weight (BW) of 252.40±11.7 kg were used in this trial. Growth performance, blood profiles, and nutrient digestibility of sows and piglets fed protected organic acid were evaluated. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (CON); CON + 0.1% protected organic acid; and CON + 0.2% protected organic acid. The BW and back fat of sows was checked four days prior to farrowing and at the weaning day to calculate BW loss and back fat loss during that period. Inclusion of 0.2% protected organic acid provided a greater digestibility than CON diets throughout the experimental period in lactating sows. Dietary supplementation with 0.2% protected organic acid led to a higher white blood cell and lymphocyte concentration than CON treatment in sucking piglets. Immunoglobulin G concentration observed was greater in protected organic acid groups in lactating sow and sucking piglets. Increased faecal Lactobacillus counts with decreased E. coli concentrations were observed with the diets of protected organic acid fed to lactating sows. The E. coli counts were decreased in weaning piglets. The faecal H2S contents were decreased in 0.2% protected organic acid diets during farrowing on day 1. Dietary supplementation with protected organic acid blends beneficially affects the nutrient digestibility, ileal noxious gas (NH3 and H2S) emission, as well as intestinal microbial balance in lactating sows

Effect of plant extracts on growth performance and insulin-like growth factor 1 secretion in growing pigs

ABSTRACTThe objective of the present study is to evaluate the effects of plant extracts on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immune blood characteristics in growing pigs. A total of 80 [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 27.31±2.15 kg were used in a 6-wk experiment. Pigs were allotted to one of four treatments (1 - Control (CON) (basal diet); 2 - PE1 (CON + 0.05% plant extracts); 3 - PE2 (CON + 0.10% plant extracts); and 4 - PE3 (CON + 0.15% plant extracts)) in a randomized complete block design according to sex and initial BW. The PE1 and PE2 treatments provided a greater average daily gain than the CON treatment. From weeks 0 to 6 the pigs fed diets PE2 and PE3 showed greater apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter than those fed the CON diet. Pigs fed the plant-extract treatments had a reduction in total mercaptan emission on day 3 compared with control treatment. On day 5, fecal acetic acid content was decreased with increased blood WBC (white blood cells) and lymphocyte counts and serum IGF-1concentration by plant extract supplementation compared with the control treatment. All the results showed a 95% significance level. Supplementation of plant extracts can improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs, decrease fecal gas emission, and increase immune components such as WBC and lymphocytes, and serum IGF-1 concentration in growing pigs

An Outline of Meat Consumption in the Indian Population -A Pilot Review

Abstract The consumption of meat is increasing in India and agriculture is considered as the backbone of a majority of people. Livestock plays a significant role, and poultry and dairy are the major sectors contributing to economic development. The majority of meats consumed in India are fish, bovine, mutton, goat, pig, and poultry. In Indian context, culture, traditions, customs, and taboos influence meat consumption to a great extent. However, studies show that urbanization has been causing a rise in demand for meat products. India is the world's second largest exporter of beef. In India, 95% of goat meat produced is consumed locally. Meat consumption, in particular, is determined by the religions where pork is forbidden to Muslims and beef is prohibited to Hindus. The preference and consumption of chicken meat can be considered as a universal phenomenon and chicken meat is greatly accepted by consumers in India as compared to the other meat consumption. The increase of chicken meat consumption is due to the versatility of the meat, relatively low cost in comparison to other meat, and the acceptance of the chicken meat to all religions. There has been a great rise in the production of livestock products and this is expected to continue in the future. The pattern of meat consumption depends considerably on culture, tradition and urbanization. This review was formulated with the objective of identifying the meat consumption patterns in a typical Indian society

Epigenetic regulation of the nuclear genome associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)

Abstract Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial hereditary disease in which visual loss affects complex 1 activity of the electron transport chain of mitochondria. It first manifests as painless dulling or blurry in one or even both eyes, and as it develops, sharpness and color perception are lost. In addition to primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, there are also other environmental and epigenetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of LHON. One of the most common locations for deadly pathogenic mutations in humans is the human complex I accessory NDUFS4 subunit gene. The iron-sulfur clusters of the electron input domain were distorted in the absence of NDUFS4, which reduced complex I function and elevated the production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, here, we studied the epigenetic alterations of NDUFS4 by focusing on histone activation and repressive markers. We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from LHON patients and healthy individuals and examined epigenetic modifications in ND4 mutant cells and control cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qRT PCR (ChIP-qRT PCR) assays were performed to investigate the modifications of histones. In comparison to their controls, both LHON patients and ND4 mutant cells exhibited a significant enrichment in activation and repressive markers. This finding indicates that these modifications might mitigate the impact of LHON mutations on complex 1 and aid in elucidating the mechanism underlying the progression of LHON disease