The effects of feed additive, selenium source, polyphenol, lysine level, and sow lactation feeder type on pigs

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Animal Sciences and IndustryJordan T GebhardtMichael D TokachChapter 1 is a review paper that summarized the effects of 14 feed additive categories on grow-finish pig growth performance and carcass characteristics. The summarized data suggests that most results were positive for each feed additive; however, the magnitude of improvement varied, and most were not statistically significant. For ADG, DFM, Cu, L-carnitine, and multi-enzymes showed relatively large positive effects (> 2.1% improvement) across a reasonable number of articles. Acidifiers, betaine, CLA, multi-enzymes, DFM, L-carnitine, and yeasts showed relatively large positive effects (> 2.5% improvement) on improving G:F. Moreover, except for betaine, Cr, CLA, and L-carnitine, most feed additives showed little and non-significant effects on BF thickness (< 1.7% improvement). Chapter 2 utilized a total of 3,888 nursery pigs to evaluate selenium source on nursery pig growth performance, serum and tissue selenium concentrations, and serum antioxidant status. The results suggested that, compared to sodium selenite and selenium yeast, hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) had greater bioavailability as indicated by increased serum and tissue selenium concentration; however, antioxidant status was similar between treatments and OH-SeMet tended to reduce growth performance compared with pigs fed sodium selenite. Chapter 3 utilized a total of 300 nursery pigs to evaluate the effects of using polyphenols as a partial replacement for vitamin E in nursery pig diets. Increasing vitamin E equivalence improved feed efficiency which may be related to the improved antioxidant status. Providing additional vitamin E equivalence above the basal vitamin E requirement through either vitamin E or polyphenol showed similar benefits. Thus, the polyphenol used in this study can be used as an effective replacement for vitamin E supplemented above the basal requirement. Chapter 4 utilized a total of 702 90-kg finishing pigs to evaluate nutritional strategies for slowing growth rate then inducing compensatory growth. We found feeding Lys-restricted diets reduced the ADG and G:F of finishing pigs. Moreover, compensatory growth can be induced in Lys-restricted finishing pigs, but the duration of restriction and recovery influences the magnitude of compensatory growth. Chapter 5 utilized a total of 600 sows to evaluate sow feeder type and drip cooling on sow bodyweight, litter performance, and feeder cleaning criteria in a hot and humid environment. We determined that sows used SowMax feeders had reduced feed disappearance with no effects on sow and litter performance compared to a PVC tube feeder, and drip cooling improved sow and litter performance during summer in a hot and humid environment

Effect of Sow Feeder Type and Drip Cooling on Sow Body Weight, Litter Performance, and Feeder Cleaning Criteria

A total of 600 mixed parity sows (PIC, Line 3) were used to evaluate the effect of different lactation feeders and drip cooling on lactating sow farrowing performance and litter growth performance during summer conditions. For the lactation feeder evaluation, the trial was conducted in 2 sequential groups with 300 sows per group in the same facility in central Arkansas. Five rooms with 60 farrowing stalls per room were used for each group. At approximately d 110 to 112 of gestation, sows were blocked by body condition score (BCS), parity, and offspring genetics (Line 2 or Line 3 sires). Sows were then randomly allotted to 1 of 3 feeder designs: 1) PVC tube feeder; 2) Rotecna ball feeder (Rotecna, Agramunt, Spain); or 3) SowMax rod feeder (Hog Slat, Newton Grove, NC). The three feeder designs were placed in one of 3 farrowing stalls with the same sequence (Rotecna, SowMax, and then PVC tube feeder) from the front to the end of all farrowing rooms to balance the environmental effect in each room. For the drip cooling evaluation, the trial was conducted during the second group of 300 sows. Water drippers were blocked in 3 of every 6 farrowing stalls to balance the feeder types and the environmental effect in each room. Sows were weighed before entering the farrowing house and at weaning. Sows were provided approximately 4 lb per day of the lactation diet pre-farrowing. After farrowing, sows were provided ad libitum access to lactation feed. The weaning age was between 19 to 22 d. Viable piglets from sows bred to line 2 boars (7,562 piglets from 441 sows) were individually tagged with an RFID tag within 24 h after birth. Line 3 piglets were not tagged and not included in the litter performance data, but the sows of these piglets were included in the sow BW and feed disappearance data. After weaning, the cleaning times for each feeder type were recorded on a subsample of feeders (n = 67). For the effect of lactation feeders, there was no evidence of difference (P \u3e 0.05) in sow entry BW, exit BW, BW change, and litter performance between sow lactation feeders. However, sows on SowMax feeders had lower (P \u3c 0.05) total feed disappearance, average daily feed disappearance, and total feed cost than sows on the tube feeders. Therefore, the feed cost per pig weaned from sows on the SowMax feeder was improved (P \u3c 0.05) compared to the tube feeders. There was a marginal difference (P \u3c 0.10) between feeders in washing time, with tube feeders requiring less washing time than Rotecna ball feeders; however, washing time varied greatly between the individual people that power washed the room. Sows with drip cooling had greater (P \u3c 0.05) sow feed disappearance and litter growth performance and reduced BW change, but also had a marginal difference of decreased (P = 0.053) percentage of sows bred back by d 30 after weaning, which needs further research to determine the cause

Effects of Bovine Plasma and Pharmacological Zinc Level on Nursery Pig Growth Performance and Fecal Characteristics

A total of 300 pigs (241 × 600, DNA; initially 12.9 lb) were used in a 38-d trial to evaluate the effect of Zn level and bovine plasma in nursery pig diets. At the time of placement, pens of pigs were weighed and allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with barn as the blocking factor. There was a total of 60 pens with 5 pigs per pen and 15 replicates per dietary treatment. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of Zn level (high and low) and spray-dried bovine plasma inclusion (with or without; APC Inc., Ankeny, IA). Diets with pharmacological levels of Zn had 3,000 and 2,000 ppm of Zn in phase 1 and 2 diets, respectively. Diets with low level of Zn had 110 ppm of Zn in phase 1 and 2 diets. Bovine plasma replaced a portion of a fermented vegetable protein source (MEpro, Prairie Aquatech, Brookings, SD) in diet formulation with bovine plasma included at 5% and 2% in the phase 1 and 2 diets, respectively. Treatment diets were fed in 2 phases (phase 1: d 0 to 9; phase 2: d 9 to 24) with a common diet (110 ppm of Zn without plasma) fed from d 24 to 38. Fecal samples and scores were collected on d 9 and 24 for determination of fecal dry matter. There was no evidence of Zn × plasma interactions (P \u3e 0.10) throughout the trial for any growth criteria. From d 0 to 9, pigs fed bovine plasma tended to have improved ADG (P = 0.066) and had improved (P ≤ 0.035) ADFI and BW, while pigs fed high Zn had improved (P ≤ 0.018) ADG, BW and F/G. From d 9 to 24, pig fed high Zn had improved (P \u3c 0.001) ADG and ADFI. During the common period (d 24 to 38), pigs previously fed high Zn had reduced ADFI (P = 0.046). Overall (d 0 to 38), pigs fed high Zn had improved (P ≤ 0.029) BW, ADG, and F/G. For fecal DM, there was a tendency of plasma × Zn interaction (P = 0.067) where pigs fed high Zn had increased (P \u3c 0.05) fecal DM compared to pigs fed low Zn when bovine plasma was added, while this Zn effect was not significant (P \u3e 0.05) when fed in diets without plasma. For fecal score, pigs fed high Zn had higher (P \u3c 0.001) frequency of firmer feces. In summary, bovine plasma improved growth performance during the first week after weaning. Feeding pharmacological levels of Zn improved growth performance when fed and overall, as well as improved fecal DM and fecal firmness measured by observational scoring

Evaluation of Selenium Source on Nursery Pig Growth Performance, Serum and Tissue Selenium Concentrations, and Serum Antioxidant Status

A total of 3,888 pigs (337 × 1050, PIC; initially 13.1 ± 0.10 lb) were used in a 42-d trial. At the time of placement, pens of pigs were weighed and allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with blocking structure including sow farm origin, date of entry into the facility, and average pen body weight. A total of 144 pens were used with 72 double-sided 5-hole stainless steel fence line feeders, with feeder serving as the experimental unit. For each feeder, 1 pen contained 27 gilts and 1 pen contained 27 barrows. There were 24 replicates per dietary treatment. Diets were fed in three phases and all contained 0.3 ppm added selenium. A common phase 1 diet contained added selenium from sodium selenite and was fed in pelleted form to all pigs for approximately 7 d. Three selenium sources [sodium selenite; selenium yeast; and hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet)] were used to formulate 3 experimental diets in meal form for phase 2 and phase 3. From d 0 to 7, there was marginally significant evidence (P = 0.097) of a difference in ADFI, although no significant pairwise differences were observed (P \u3e 0.05). There were no additional differences in growth performance between treatments during the d 0 to 7 period. Clinical disease attributed to Streptococcus suis was observed within the trial, and water soluble antimicrobial therapy was administered to all treatment groups. From d 7 to 42, pigs fed OH-SeMet tended to have decreased ADG (P \u3c 0.10) and had increased (P \u3c 0.05) serum and tissue selenium concentration compared to other treatments. There was marginally significant evidence of a source × day interaction for T-AOC where the numerical increase over time was less for the OH-SeMet compared to sodium selenite or selenium yeast treatments. There was no difference (P \u3e 0.05) in antioxidant status as measured by serum GSH-Px or TBARS assay between treatments. In summary, compared to sodium selenite and selenium yeast, OH-SeMet had greater bioavailability as indicated by increased serum and tissue selenium concentration; however, antioxidant status was similar between treatments, and OH-SeMet tended to reduce growth performance compared with pigs fed sodium selenite

Evaluation of Precision, Accuracy, and Efficiency of Scale Stabilization Settings Using LeeO Pig Tracking System

This trial was conducted to evaluate the optimum scale head settings for LeeO scale systems to balance accuracy, precision, and efficiency in weighing pigs. LeeO scales allow for the adjustment of both stabilization time (mSec) and stabilization weight (g). The pig weight that is accepted by the technology is only registered after staying within the set stabilization weight for the set stabilization time. Prior to beginning animal research, precision and accuracy were assessed for two scales. The nursery scale used a 25-lb test weight and the finisher scale used a 50-lb test weight. The CV estimates were 0.1% or less when the test weight was measured multiple times within each combination of settings for both nursery and finishing weights. Accuracy did not differ (P \u3e 0.10) based on stabilization time for either scale. However, when weighing the 25-lb test weight, the longest stabilization time of 1,000 mSec resulted in the smallest difference from the true weight (P \u3c 0.05). To assess scale settings, 30 nursery and 33 finishing pigs were weighed multiple times using different settings to determine accuracy, precision, and efficiency. Each pig was weighed 5 times on the predetermined settings for a total of 45 weights for each nursery pig and 20 weights for each finishing pig. Coefficient of variation (CV) was used as an estimation of precision, which was calculated by dividing the standard deviation of the 5 weights for that combination of scale head settings by the average weight of the 5 weights for that setting. To estimate accuracy, the absolute difference of the average weight of the 5 weights for that setting combination from the overall average weight for that pig was calculated. Efficiency was measured one of two ways. The nursery pig procedure included the elapsed time from when the first weight was collected for that combination of scale head settings until the fifth weight that was collected was divided by the total number of weighing events for that setting. The finishing pig procedure included the sum of the times that it took to lock in all five weights for that combination of scale head settings and dividing that sum by the total number of weighing events for that setting. There were no differences in accuracy for nursery or finishing pig scales based on stabilization time or weight (P \u3e 0.10). There was a significant difference in precision for the nursery pig scale based on both stabilization time (P = 0.003) and stabilization weight (P = 0.003); with CV improving as stabilization weight became smaller and stabilization time became longer. Conversely, efficiency for collecting both nursery and finishing weights improved with larger stabilization weight and shorter stabilization time (P \u3c 0.001). In the finishing experiment, CV was improved (P \u3c 0.05) for the 500 g × 1,000 mSec and 500 g × 500 mSec settings compared to the 1,000 g × 250 mSec setting, with the 1,000 g × 500 mSec setting intermediate. To balance precision and efficiency, a setting of 50 g × 500 mSec for the nursery and 500 g × 1,000 mSec for the finisher is recommended

Partial Replacement of Vitamin E with Polyphenol in Nursery Pig Diets

A total of 300 pigs (241 × 600 DNA; initially 13.1 lb) were used in a 42-d trial to determine the effects of vitamin E levels and partially replacing vitamin E with a polyphenol (Cabanin CSD; R2 Agro, Denmark) on growth performance, complete blood count (CBC), serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and cytokine panel. Sixty pens of pigs were weighed and allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 12 pens per treatment. A control treatment was formulated to provide 15 IU/kg of vitamin E equivalence from vitamin E. This control treatment was then used as a base for 3 replacement strategy diets to determine the effects of replacing an additional 60 IU/kg of vitamin E with Cabanin CSD in diets containing a basal level of vitamin E requirement estimate (15 IU/kg). First, an additional 60 IU/kg of vitamin E was added for a total of 75 IU/kg of vitamin E equivalence. Second, 50% of the additional vitamin E (30 IU/kg) was replaced with the equivalency of Cabanin CSD. Third, all 60 IU/kg of the additional vitamin E was replaced with the equivalency of Cabanin CSD. To evaluate whether there are negative effects of feeding nursery pigs a high level of Cabanin CSD, a fifth treatment was formulated to provide 575 IU/kg of vitamin E equivalence with 75 IU/kg from vitamin E and 500 IU/kg from Cabanin CSD. Whole blood and serum samples were collected on d 10 and 42. For growth performance, increasing vitamin E equivalence tended to improve (quadratic, P \u3c 0.10) F/G from d 10 to 21, and tended to improve (linear, P \u3c 0.10) F/G from d 21 to 42 and 0 to 42. For antioxidant status, increasing vitamin E equivalence improved (linear, P \u3c 0.05) d 42 SOD. For cytokine, there was no evidence of differences (P \u3e 0.10) between treatments and vitamin E equivalence. Moreover, there was no evidence of differences (P \u3e 0.10) in all response variables between the 3 replacement strategies throughout the entire period. In summary, increasing vitamin E equivalence tended to improve F/G, which may be related to the improved SOD activity. Furthermore, Cabanin CSD can effectively replace vitamin E provided above the vitamin E requirement to provide similar benefits from increasing vitamin E equivalence

Strengths and Weaknesses of Immunotherapy for Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of 12 Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85 % of all lung cancers. Immunotherapy has yielded no consistent benefit to date for those patients. Assessing the objective efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for advanced NSCLC patients will help to instruct the future development of immunotherapeutic drugs. Methodology and Principal Findings: We performed a meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials including 3134 patients (1570 patients in the immunotherapy group and 1564 patients in the control group) with histologically confirmed stage IIIA, IIIB, or IV NSCLC. The analysis was executed with efficacy end points regarding overall survival (OS), progressionfre

Evasion of anti-growth signaling: a key step in tumorigenesis and potential target for treatment and prophylaxis by natural compounds

The evasion of anti-growth signaling is an important characteristic of cancer cells. In order to continue to proliferate, cancer cells must somehow uncouple themselves from the many signals that exist to slow down cell growth. Here, we define the anti-growth signaling process, and review several important pathways involved in growth signaling: p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), retinoblastoma protein (Rb), Hippo, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A), Notch, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) pathways. Aberrations in these processes in cancer cells involve mutations and thus the suppression of genes that prevent growth, as well as mutation and activation of genes involved in driving cell growth. Using these pathways as examples, we prioritize molecular targets that might be leveraged to promote anti-growth signaling in cancer cells. Interestingly, naturally-occurring phytochemicals found in human diets (either singly or as mixtures) may promote anti-growth signaling, and do so without the potentially adverse effects associated with synthetic chemicals. We review examples of naturally-occurring phytochemicals that may be applied to prevent cancer by antagonizing growth signaling, and propose one phytochemical for each pathway. These are: epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for the Rb pathway, luteolin for p53, curcumin for PTEN, porphyrins for Hippo, genistein for GDF15, resveratrol for ARID1A, withaferin A for Notch and diguelin for the IGF1-receptor pathway. The coordination of anti-growth signaling and natural compound studies will provide insight into the future application of these compounds in the clinical setting

Hydrogen peroxide—a central hub for information flow in plant cells

The review discusses recent advances in H2O2 plant biology, focusing on its signalling capabilities, the transduction pathways involved and its potential for interfering with other information transfer mechanisms in plant cells