The aim of this research was to investigate the production traits, blood metabolic profile and fatty acids of meat and tallow in response to the partial replacement of soybean meal with peas in ...lambs' feed. The research was conducted on 30 Merinolandschaf lambs of 90 days' age over 30 days. Lambs were fed with feed mixture (1000 g day−1 lamb−1). In the control group protein supplement was soybean meal (SC), while in the experimental groups soybean meal was partially replaced with 13 % peas (P13) and 26 % peas (P26). In the haematological parameters of lambs' blood, concentrations of minerals (Ca, P, Mg and Fe) and biochemical parameters (urea, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulins, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, β-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids) as well as enzyme activity (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and CK) were determined. After slaughter, carcass development was measured. Samples of m. semimembranosus and tallow were taken in which concentrations of fatty acids were analysed. Values of meat pH and colour were taken 45 min 24 h post mortem, and water-holding capacity was calculated. By analysing the production properties of lamb, we found that slaughtering characteristics of lamb carcasses, haematological and most of the biochemical indicators did not differ. Urea concentrations were reduced in the blood of lambs in P13 and P26. Concentration of C18:2 n-6 increased in tallow of lambs of group SC compared to group P26 of lambs. The above-mentioned results indicate the possibility of partial replacement of soybean meal with peas in lambs' diets in organic farming without changes in production.
Linseed is well known for abundant content of α-linolenic acid why it has been widely used as a source of n-3 fatty acid. Higher ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids can increase lipid peroxidation. ...Selenium (Se) plays a key role in antioxidant enzymes and can therefore be regarded for use in attempts focused on protection of fatty acids from oxidation. The organic Se has been shown to have higher bioavailability compared to the inorganic selenium. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of dietary replacement of n-6 with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma and milk fatty acid composition in the dairy cows. The experiment was conducted on 30 dairy Holstein cows in the period from parturition until the 3rd week of lactation. Soybean meal from control (C) group was replaced with grounded linseed in the both experimental (LS and LS+Se) groups. In addition to that, in the 2nd experimental (LS+Se) group sodium selenite from premix was replaced with organic selenium. Blood and milk samples were collected at 21st day of lactation and fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography from it. Feeding dairy cows during transition period with linseed showed a positive impact on milk fatty acid composition by increasing (P<0.05) the proportion of n-3 fatty acids. Proportion of α-linolenic fatty acid increased (P<0.05) in the blood of both groups fed with linseed, but was significant (P<0.05) only in milk of LS+Se group. Such data indicated that the addition of organic selenium acted favourable on α-linolenic fatty acid increase in milk. During early postpartum period addition of linseed in meal of dairy cow’s increased (P<0.05) ratio of oleic acid, but in combination with organic source of selenium this increase was not evident (P>0.05).
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In animal production, alternative strategies to the use of antibiotic growth promoters have stimulated research of dietary supplements to increase resistance, reduce post-weaning gut disorders and ...growth checks in pigs. This study was performed to determine the influence of dietary mannan oligosaccharide as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in weaned pigs on: (1) proliferation of circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets, (2) incidence and severity of diarrhoea, and (3) performance during 35 days of trial. Forty-six pigs from a commercial farm were divided into two groups comprising 23 pigs each and treated at 4 weeks of age as follows: controls received standard weaner diet, whereas diet for principals was supplemented with 0.2% of mannan oligosaccharide. The pigs were monitored/sampled on daily, weekly or monthly basis for feed efficiency, growth rate, diarrhoea severity scores, blood samples, rectal swabs and intesinal samples for bacterial isolation/counts and immunohistology/histomorphometry analyses. The principals were heavier (
P
< 0.05) at 28 days and grew faster between days 7 and 28 compared to controls. Total diarrhoea score recorded in these pigs was decreased by 20.37%. Total bacterial load in jejunum was decreased in these pigs (23 × 10
7
vs. 19 × 10
8
colony forming units/ml) at day 35. Between days 28 and 35 or days 21 and 28, the principals increased in proportions of circulating CD45
+
, CD4
+
, CD21
+
, CD8
+
cells (
P
< 0.01), respectively. These pigs had increased (
P
< 0.05) the number of CD45RA
+
cells in interfollicular and follicular areas of ileal Payer’s patches at day 35. We concluded that dietary modulation with mannan oligosaccharide resulted in stimulation of immune responses and reduced number of gut microbiota, but not necessarily promoting the growth of pigs.
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The aim of this study was to determine whether increase in proportion of the rumen undegradable starch (RUS) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) affects the production performance and health status ...of calves. The experiment was done on 36 Holstein, seven-day-old calves, divided into three groups of 12 calves, with equal sex ratio. The experiment was conducted in two periods. In the first period, calves were fed with full pasteurized milk and milk replacer and additionally fed with starter mixture with different proportions of rumen undegradable protein and starch: Group I 36.6% RUP and 16.5% RUS, Group II 49.1% RUP and 27.6% RUS and Group III 53.5% RUP and 36.5% RUS. In the second period, calves were fed with milk replacer and grower mixture with different proportions of rumen undegradable protein and starch: Group I 33.5% RUP and 15.8% RUS, Group II 48% RUP and 26.3% RUS and Group III 54.3% RUP and 34.6% RUS. In the first period, calves from the Group III had significantly (P<0.01) higher body weight compared to calves in Group I and II (74.75; 59.36; 66.58 kg), as well as daily weight gain (0.76, 0.49, 0.61 kg/d). At the end of the experiment, there was no significant difference in body weight and daily weight gain. The calves in Group I and III had significantly (P<0.05) higher consumption of starter mixture compared to the calves in Group II (7.48; 7.11; 4.33 kg/d), and a significantly (P<0.05) higher overall feed consumption compared to the calves in Group II. The calves in Group II and III had significantly (P<0.05) better feed conversion ratio than the calves in Group I (1.37; 1.50; 2.08 kg/kg). The results of health monitoring (diarrhea, pneumonia) indicate a different proportion of rumen undegradable starch and protein ratio did not have significant effect on calves’ health.
The influence of the reproductive status was tested in the blood serum of 30 sheep (10 pregnant sheep on the 15
th
day prior to lambing, 10 lactating sheep on the 20
th
day of the lactation and 10 ...non-pregnant sheep). The influence of age was determined in the blood serum of 20 sheep and 20 lambs. Analysis of the impact of age in sheep and lamb on the concentration of thyroid hormones showed that 30-day old lambs had significantly higher (P<0.01) concentration of T
3
and T
4
compared to the other age categories of sheep. At the same time, 100-day old lambs had significantly higher concentration of T
4
if compared to the 1 and 3-year old sheep. Referring to the reproductive status, there was significantly lower (P<0.01) concentration of T
3
determined in the blood of lactating sheep than of non-pregnant and pregnant sheep. These findings point out unsatisfactory energy supply in the older sheep, sheep during late pregnancy and sheep at the beginning of lactation.
The aim of this investigation is to determine changes in concentrations of biochemical and haematological parameters, as well as metabolic hormones in the blood of Tsigai ewes in the first third of ...lactation. The study included 10 ewes Tsigai breed monitored during three periods of lactation: 20 days, 40 and 60 days of lactation. Ewes were fed feed mixture (300 g/day) and meadow hay ad libitum. A significant decrease of concentrations of Ca and Na was recorded in the blood of sheep at the 40th day of lactation and later an increase at the 60th day of lactation. The opposite trend was determined for concentrations of P-inorganic. Also it was determined a significant decrease in Fe content and an increase in the concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and total protein in the first third of lactation. In the blood of ewes at 40th day of lactation it was found a significant decrease of the activity of AST and LDH in contrast to ewes at 20th day of lactation. Concentrations of T3 and T4 hormones were slightly increasing in the first third of lactation, but the differences were not significant. The blood insulin concentrations were significant increased in the first third of lactation. Haematological blood parameters in lactating ewes did not differ significantly and was within the reference values. Determining the concentration of biochemical and haematological parameters and concentrations of blood thyroid hormones and insulin in the first third of lactation are imposed as a precaution in order to better monitoring of Tsigai ewes during lactation.
Current knowledge concerning the possible use and impact of replacing the soybean proteins with those derived from a defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) meal while feeding chickens to ...produce the meat for human consumption is very limited. This study’s objective was to examine the influence of partial replacement of the HI-defatted flour on chicken meat’s technological properties and quality. 180 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were divided into three experimental groups (P1, P2, and P3) and one control group counting 45 chicks. The experimental groups were fed with the fattening mixtures containing 15, 25, and 45% of the HI-defatted flour, while the control group was fed in accordance with the standard chicken-fattening requirements. After 42 days, the chickens were slaughtered, and the breasts and drumsticks of 40 chickens were subjected to analysis. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in the P1 for the drip-loss values measured 24 hours after sampling, the muscle resistance to cutting, and the cooking loss values. The water-binding capacity for all three experimental groups did not demonstrate statistically significant differences for the pH1 and pH2 values. Considering the CIE L*a*b* color standard reference values, the results for the breast meat were normally to slightly lighter than normal ones. The basic chemical parameter (water, protein, fat, and collagen) results confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference in any of the experimental groups if compared to the control one.
Valpotić, H., Šperanda, M., Kovšca-Janjatović, A., Ðidara, M., Lacković, G., Božić, F., Habrun, B., Srečec, S., Mataušić-Pišl, M. and Valpotić, I. 2014. Levamisole stimulates proliferation of ...circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets, gut health and performance in weaned pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 43–53. With the growing knowledge of the porcine immune system and its endogenous modulation, it has been clearly stated that exogenous modulation through the use of substances able to modulate immune functions represents an important prophylactic/therapeutic approach in prevention/treatment of both stress- and F4
+
and F18
+
enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)-induced infections accompanied weaning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of levamisole (LEVA; 2.5 mg kg
−1
BW in 10 mL) applied per os to weaned pigs in proliferation of circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets throughout a period of 5 wk. Changes in proportion or number of peripheral blood and ileal mucosal leukocytes tested were studied either weekly by flow cytometry or at the end of the experiment (day 35) by immunohistology/histomorphometry, respectively. Pigs treated with LEVA had increased proportions of peripheral blood CD45
+
lymphoid cells, CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells, and CD21
+
B cells (P<0.01) between days 14 and 35 following the treatment. Also, LEVA stimulated the proliferation of CD45RA
+
naïve lymphoid cells in interfollicular (P<0.001) and follicular areas (P<0.05) of ileal Peyer’s patches at day 35 of the experiment. These pigs had a significantly higher (P<0.05) average body weight (19.7 vs. 17.1 kg) and weight gain at the end of experiment compared with the control pigs (for 15%). We conclude that LEVA stimulated the proliferation of circulating and intestinal lymphoid cell subsets tested and improved performance in weaned pigs, and thus, the drug may nonspecifically enhance their immunity/resistance to F4
+
and F18
+
ETEC strains.
The research aimed to elaborate the influence of designed mixtures used in broilers fattening on the concentration of electrolytes and thyroid gland hormones in the blood.. The research was carried ...out on 120 male Ross 308 hybrid broilers. The fattening lasted for 42 days. During the first three weeks of fattening broilers were fed standard starter diet containing 22% crude protein and 13.90 MJ/kg ME. During the last three weeks of fattening, broilers were divided into 6 experimental groups, each fed specially prepared finisher diets (P1=6% sunflower oil+0.0 mg Se/kg of feed, P2=6% linseed oil+0.0 mg Se/kg of feed, P3=6% sunflower oil+0.3 mg Se/kg of feed, P4=6% linseed oil+0.3 mg Se/kg of feed, P5=6% sunflower oil+0.5 mg Se/kg of feed, P6=6% linseed oil+0.5 mg Se/kg of feed). Finisher diet was balanced at 18.02% crude protein and 14.40 MJ/kg ME. It was found out that the type of oil in chicken feed influenced to blood pH (P <0.001), whereas selenium level (P=0.014) in the feed, as well as the oil type and selenium level interaction (P<0.001) influenced the concentration of potassium in the blood. Oil type (P=0.037) influenced the concentration of fT3, which was lower in chickens fed mixtures with addition of linseed oil than in the chickens fed sunflower oil added mixtures. Interaction of selenium content and oil type had influence on differences in concentration of fT4 as well as on the ratio of fT3/fT4, (P<0.001, i.e. P=0.021). The research results indicated that oils supplemented to broiler diets and combined with different organic selenium concentrations affected pH, concentration of some electrolytes and thyroid gland hormones in broiler blood, however, all obtained values were within reference range for poultry.