Flaxseeds: Nutritional Potential and Bioactive Compounds

The objective of this work was to study the nutritional and bioactive composition of commercially available flaxseeds with the aim to develop new alternatives for their use as functional and nutraceutical food ingredient. The samples of flaxseed contained 20.86% protein, 31.16% fat, 29.07% crude fiber and 3.75% ash. Essential amino acids represented 34% of total protein. The amino acids profile showed that glutamic acid was the most abundant (3.87 g 100 g-1), followed by arginine (1.93 g 100 g-1) and aspartic acid (1.52 g 100 g-1). Fatty acids analysis indicated that alpha-linolenic acid represents the major fatty acid (54.51% of the total fatty acids). The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was 8.67 while the n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio was 3.2. Total phenolics showed average contents of 295.92 mg GAE 100 g-1, of which flavonoids accounted for 25.85 mg QE 100 g-1. The results confirmed that, in addition to being one of the richest sources of alpha-linolenic acid, flaxseed is an essential source of high quality protein, soluble fiber and potent natural antioxidants

Effects of dietary sorghum and triticale on performance, carcass traits and meat pH in broiler chickens

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary partial corn replacement by white sorghum (WS) or triticale (T) on growth performance, carcass parameters and pH of meat in broilers. One-day-old unsexed Cobb 500 broilers (n=600) were randomly assigned to 3 groups with 4 replicates per treatment. The broilers were fed with isocaloric and isonitrogenous corn-soybean meal control diets (C), corn-WS-soybean meal diets (WS) or corn-T-soybean meal diets (T) for 35 days. The WS or T partially replaced corn; proportions in diets were 275.4 g/kg or 284.0 g/kg (starter), 307.0 g/kg or 308.2 g/kg (grower) and 332.7 g/kg or 335.0 g/kg (finisher). Results showed that performance (body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) or carcass traits (carcass yields, breast, leg, wings, liver and abdominal fat percentage) at 35 d were not affected by the inclusion of WS or T in diets. The pH values of breast (Pectoralis major) and thigh (Biceps femoris) muscle at 30 min and 24 h after slaughter were not influenced by the dietary treatments. In conclusion, partial corn replacement with white sorghum or triticale are suitable options for broiler chicken diet, with no adverse effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics or meat pH, as important quality parameters

Nutritional characterization and the antioxidant properties of sweet orange and red grapefruit peels

Sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis) and red grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) are fruits consumed frequently in the world, being part of the human diet for decades due to high nutritional and medicinal values. These are excellent sources of vitamin C, a powerful natural antioxidant that builds the body's immune system. Their consumption (natural or processed) generates more quantities of shells and wastes that cause pollution of the environment under incorrect handling conditions. The study was conducted to analyze the potential of orange and grapefruit peels, from a chemical point of view, to determine the nutritional value for inclusion in broiler feed. The orange peels were characterized by a 5.42% crude protein and 1.04% crude fat vs. 5.78% and 0.80% grapefruit. The total content of polyphenols (mg acid galic /g) determined was higher with 36.01% in grapefruit peels compared to those of oranges. Antioxidant capacity was determined by two in vitro methods. The grapefruit peels were characterized by a high antioxidant capacity (288.49 mmol /kg equivalent ascorbic acid) with 51.39% higher than the values of the orange peels, in the first method. For the second method, the determined antioxidant capacity was with 61.20% higher than the orange peels (95.46 mmol/ kg equivalent vitamin E). Based on these results, the analyzed byproducts fulfill the necessary conditions to be integrated into the animal feed, and they will be tested in an experiment on broiler chickens in order to improve the nutritional quality of the meat

Piglets’ Intestinal Microflora Fed with a Plants Mix

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a plant mix (bilberry, black currant, quince, peppermint and fennel essential oil) inclusion into the diets of piglets (18-45 kg) on intestinal microflora equilibrium. An experiment was performed on 8 castrated hybrid TOPIGS (18.69±1.25 kg) divided in 2 groups (C and E). The piglets were kept in an experimental house in individual metabolic cages. Compared to the conventional diet (18% crude protein and 3214 kcal/kg metabolic energy) of group C, the diet of E group had included 789 mg mixture of plants/kg feed. At the final of the experiment the piglets were slaughtered and digesta samples were collected from jejunum and ileum for microbiological analysis. For jejunum, a significant (P<0.05) decrease of Staphylococci spp. (log10 CFU/g) concentration in E group was noticed correlated strongly negative with a statistically significant (P<0.05) increasing concentration of Lactobacillus spp. (log10 CFU/g) concentration. The results were similar for ileum. This dietary mixture of plants had some effects on microbial population of piglets’ jejunum and ileum to help positively the intestinal changes of microbiota

Quality Assessment of Eggs from Laying Hens fed with a Plant Mixture Supplement

The aim of this study, carried out on 60 TETRA SL (32 weeks old) laying hens, was to determine the effect of dietary plant mixture (sea buckthorn meal (50%), walnut leaves (25%) and bilberry leaves (25%)) on egg quality. The birds were allocated in two experimental groups, 30 birds each. The control group (C) was fed a conventional diet, without the experimental additive. All diets had similar levels of protein (18.90% (C) and 18.55% (E)) and energy (3962 Kcal/Kg (C) and 4009 Kcal/Kg gross energy (E)). Diet of hens from experimental group was supplemented with 1.0% of plant mixture. In the experimental period, 18 eggs from each group were collected twice (week 2 and 4 of experiment). Eggs were analyzed for proximate composition contents. The experimental group additions of plant mixture increased the crude protein in egg yolk and decreased the crude fat. Our results show that addi­tion of 1.0% plant mixture improved the quality of eggs and it can be recommended in feed for laying hens

Coefficients of apparent absorption of the dietary nutrients from broiler feeds that include oil industry by-products (rapeseeds, grapes, buckthorn, flax and pumpkin meals)

A 42-day feeding trial was conducted on 120, day-old ROSS 308 chicks assigned to 4 (C; E1; E2; E3) groups. The broilers were housed in three-tier digestibility cages (5 broilers/cage) which allowed the daily recording of the feed intake and excreta located in an experimental hall with controlled environmental conditions (27.07±2.750 C; humidity 64,80±9,57%; light regimen 23h). During the starter stage (1-10 days) all chicks received a conventional compound feed (C). During the grower and finisher stages, compared to C formulation, the experimental diets different proportions, varying with the stage of development, of rapeseeds and grape meals (E1), buckthorn and flax meals (E2), pumpkin meal (lot E3). The balance study was conducted for 5 days, during weeks 4 and 6. During this period, average weights from each two cages (6 samples/group) of feed consumed and excreta voided (dry matter basis) were recorded and sampled for: dry matter, nitrogen, fat, fibre, ash and gross energy analysis. The chicks from E1 group had a lower (P≤0.05) coefficient of dietary nitrogen absorption than E2 chicks. The coefficients of apparent absorption of the dietary fat varied with the period of development. During the finishing stage, E3 chicks had a higher (P≤0.05) coefficient of fibre absorption than groups C, E1 and E2

Using grapeseed meal as natural antioxidant in slow-growing Hubbard broiler diets enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids

El propósito del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la harina de semilla de uva, adicionada a la dieta de pollos de engorda Hubbard de crecimiento lento alta en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGPI) por la harina de linaza de la dieta. El ensayo de alimentación de 7 semanas utilizó 80 polluelos (14 d), asignados a dos grupos: control (C) y E, con 4 repeticiones de 10 polluelos/grupo. La dieta basal fue similar para ambos grupos durante ambas etapas de alimentación. La dieta para el grupo E se complementó con 3 % de harina de semilla de uva. Se sacrificaron seis pollos de cada grupo al final del ensayo de alimentación, y se recogieron muestras de sangre, carne de pechuga y pierna. El colesterol sérico fue significativamente menor en el grupo E (110.85 mg/dL) que en el grupo C (146.82 mg/dl). La concentración de AGPI fue significativamente mayor en el grupo E que en el grupo C, tanto en la pechuga (31.34 %, en comparación con el 27.73 % de ésteres metílicos totales de ácidos grasos - EMAG) como en la pierna (32.44 %, en comparación con el 30.06 % de EMAG totales). La concentración de colesterol fue significativamente menor en el grupo E (42.52 mg) que en el grupo C (60.91 mg/100 g de muestra fresca) en la pierna. Después de 7 días de refrigeración, el valor de peróxido fue significativamente menor en el grupo E (8.11 meq) que en el grupo C (8.79 meq/kg de grasa) en la carne de pechuga, mientras que la acidez de la grasa fue significativamente menor en el grupo E (40.82 mg de KOH) que en el grupo C (43.99 mg de KOH/g de grasa) en la pierna. El 3 % de harina de semilla de uva de la dieta, utilizada como antioxidante natural, en las dietas de pollos de engorda enriquecidas con AGPI, tuvo efectos positivos en los parámetros sanguíneos y la calidad de la carne.The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of the grapeseed meal, added to slow-growing Hubbard broilers diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) due to the dietary flaxseed meal. The 7-wk feeding trial used 80 broiler chicks (14 d), assigned to two groups: control (C) and E, with 4 replicates of 10 chicks/group. The basal diet was similar for both groups during both feeding stages. The diet for group E was supplemented with 3% grapeseed meal. Six broilers from each group were slaughtered in the end of the feeding trial, and blood, breast and leg meat samples were collected. Serum cholesterol was significantly lower in group E (110.85 mg/dL), than in group C (146.82 mg/dL). The PUFA concentration was significantly higher in group E, than in group C, both in the breast (31.34 %, compared to 27.73 % total fatty acid methyl ester - FAME) and in the leg (32.44 %, compared to 30.06 % total FAME). The cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in group E (42.52 mg), than in group C (60.91 mg/100 g fresh sample) in the leg. After 7 d of refrigeration, the peroxide value was significantly lower in group E (8.11 meq), than in group C (8.79 meq/kg fat) in the breast meat, while fat acidity was significantly lower in group E (40.82 mg KOH), than in group C (43.99 mg KOH / g fat) in the leg. The dietary 3 % grapeseed meal, used as natural antioxidant, in PUFA-enriched broiler diets, had positive effects on the blood parameters and meat quality

Determining the feeding value of some food industry by-products

Food industry by-products can be used in dairy cows feeding on condition they have suitable feeding value. A complex physical-chemical study was conducted on seven plant by-products (wheat germs meal, sunflower meal, flaxseed meal, pumpkin meal, nuts meal, rosehip meal and grape meal) to determine their feeding value. These by-products have variable protein contents: between 10.86% in rosehip meal and 39.34% in the flaxseed meal), and different contents of amino acids, lysine particularly: 2.09% (wheat germs meal); 1.72% (pumpkin meal) and 1.04% (sunflower meal). The highest concentration of linolenic acid was determined in the flaxseed meal (68.57 g/100 g total fatty acids), which also had the highest level of digestible energy (18.16 MJ/kg) and the highest amount of intestinally digestible protein allowed by the energy content (118 g IDPE/ kg DM). The flaxseed meal also had the highest amount of milk feed units (1.45 FUmilk/kg DM) and of meat feed units (1.48 FUmeat/kg DM) among all studied by-products. The results of these analyses show that the surveyed by-products can be used to feed ruminant animals

Development and Validation of an RP-HPLC Method for Methionine, Cystine and Lysine Separation and Determination in Corn Samples

In this paper a RP-HPLC method is developed and validated. Using a Hypersil BDS C18 column, a mobile phase: solvent A (phosphate buffer) and solvent B (water : acetonitrile : methanol, 20:20:60 v/v/v), a 45°C column temperature and a flow rate of 1.7 mL/min, the proposed method proved a good separation of the investigated amino acids, in 35 minutes