//24 Aug 2011
Combined Swiss-French research has shown that the presence of benzoic acid in pig feed does not have any lasting negative effects on bones of growing pigs.
Benzoic acid, an additive that reduces ammonia formation in the slurry, is added to many pig feeds nowadays in order to minimise environmental pollution. In addition, the feeds also contain low phosphorus and protein concentrations.
Since both a low phosphorus (P) intake and metabolic acidosis compromise bone mineralisation, the effect of a diet with a low concentration of calcium (Ca), phosphorus and crude protein and the effect of benzoic acid on Ca and P metabolism were examined in an experiment using pigs from 13 to 64 kg body weight.
Compared to the control piglet and grower diets, the intake of the low nutrient piglet and grower diets reduced Ca and P retention by 27% and 24%, respectively, reduced the growth rate of the piglets by 7%, and decreased the bone breaking strength and bone mineral content by 5% in the animals which were slaughtered at 64 kg body weight.
Digestibility
Benzoic acid (5 and 10 g per kg piglet and grower diet, respectively) did not influence the apparent digestibility of Ca, increased the apparent digestibility of P by 5% and increased the urinary Ca and P output by 70% and 83%, respectively, but had no effect on the proportion of ingested Ca and P which was retained.
Furthermore, benzoic acid increased the serum activity of the bone formation marker alkaline phosphatase at 25 and 40 kg body weight by 17% and 13%, respectively and decreased the concentration of the bone resorption marker serum crosslaps at 25 kg body weight by 12%, implying that benzoic acid affected bone metabolism at 25 and 40 kg body weight.
Blood variables
Since benzoic acid neither affected the blood variables at 60 kg nor the bone breaking strength and bone mineral content, any possible negative effect of benzoic acid on bone metabolism of the piglets and of the young growing animals thus seems to have disappeared during the last period of the grower period.
The research was recently published in the scientific publication Animal Feed Sciency and Technology.
Related article:
• Benzoic acid: The latest knowledge
Related website:
• Animal Feed Sciency and Technology
Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts
24 August 2011
03 July 2011
Research into the digestion of organic laying hens
//01 Jul 2011
Research by Wageningen UR Livestock Research has shown that the current nutritional data for laying hens in the Feed Table of the CVB in many cases can not be applied to biological materials. It is based on outdated digestibility studies with adult roosters
Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the research, which was conducted by the product working group Poultry meat and eggs of Bioconnect. The aim was to provide a accurate method of calculating the nutritional value of organically grown raw materials for layers.
Two digestibility studies with organic layer diets were performed.
1.In the first experiment, besides a basal diet, seven different organic diets were included in this experiment to determine the digestibility of wheat, maize, peas, rape seed expeller, sunflower seed expeller, sesame seed expeller, and heat treated soybean meal.
2.In the second experiment, two qualities of corn (moderate and good), barley, triticale, rye, vicia faba and soy bean meal expeller are investigated. In these raw materials, faecal digestibility of organic and inorganic mater, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, gross energy and amino acids were determined. Hens were housed in digestibility cages. The hens had ad libitum access to feed and water. In this experiment, the indicator method was used, whereas titanium oxide (experiment 1) or chromium oxide was used as a marker. Manure was collected semi quantitatively over four days (collection of manure 2 times per day) during the main period.
The study confirmed that the values of the Dutch CVB Table often could not be used for organic laying hens. In this Table, however, the values for triticale and vicia faba are lacking. By that, the results of these ingredients in the current study are really unique. Compared to the Dutch CVB Table, only slight differences in digestibility coefficients and MEn values were observed for organic produced barley, sunflower seed expeller, and corn (moderate and good quality). Digestibility coefficients and energy contents were considerably reduced in organic wheat, peas, sesame seed expeller, heat treated soy bean meal en rye, whereas these values were clearly improved in organic rape seed expeller and soy bean meal expeller.
Based on the chemical composition of the organic produced ingredients, and based on the digestibility coefficients as presented in this study, the nutritional value of organic raw materials can be estimated appropriately in practice. This knowledge allows nutritionist to optimize well balanced diets that closely fit the requirements of organic housed laying hens. A correct balance in diet composition is beneficial to maintaining or improving performance, health status and environmental excretions of these hens.
Research by Wageningen UR Livestock Research has shown that the current nutritional data for laying hens in the Feed Table of the CVB in many cases can not be applied to biological materials. It is based on outdated digestibility studies with adult roosters
Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the research, which was conducted by the product working group Poultry meat and eggs of Bioconnect. The aim was to provide a accurate method of calculating the nutritional value of organically grown raw materials for layers.
Two digestibility studies with organic layer diets were performed.
1.In the first experiment, besides a basal diet, seven different organic diets were included in this experiment to determine the digestibility of wheat, maize, peas, rape seed expeller, sunflower seed expeller, sesame seed expeller, and heat treated soybean meal.
2.In the second experiment, two qualities of corn (moderate and good), barley, triticale, rye, vicia faba and soy bean meal expeller are investigated. In these raw materials, faecal digestibility of organic and inorganic mater, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, gross energy and amino acids were determined. Hens were housed in digestibility cages. The hens had ad libitum access to feed and water. In this experiment, the indicator method was used, whereas titanium oxide (experiment 1) or chromium oxide was used as a marker. Manure was collected semi quantitatively over four days (collection of manure 2 times per day) during the main period.
The study confirmed that the values of the Dutch CVB Table often could not be used for organic laying hens. In this Table, however, the values for triticale and vicia faba are lacking. By that, the results of these ingredients in the current study are really unique. Compared to the Dutch CVB Table, only slight differences in digestibility coefficients and MEn values were observed for organic produced barley, sunflower seed expeller, and corn (moderate and good quality). Digestibility coefficients and energy contents were considerably reduced in organic wheat, peas, sesame seed expeller, heat treated soy bean meal en rye, whereas these values were clearly improved in organic rape seed expeller and soy bean meal expeller.
Based on the chemical composition of the organic produced ingredients, and based on the digestibility coefficients as presented in this study, the nutritional value of organic raw materials can be estimated appropriately in practice. This knowledge allows nutritionist to optimize well balanced diets that closely fit the requirements of organic housed laying hens. A correct balance in diet composition is beneficial to maintaining or improving performance, health status and environmental excretions of these hens.
30 June 2011
Aviagen opens new veterinary diagnostic and research laboratory
//29 Jun 2011
Aviagen’s commitment to meet increasingly demanding domestic and international poultry health requirements continued to advance as it opens a new diagnostic and research laboratory in Elkmont, Alabama, USA.
The new laboratory provides expanded and dedicated areas for an array of laboratory work including bacteriology, serology, molecular diagnostics, genomics research, and pathological exams.
The multimillion-dollar facility was designed to meet biosafety level II (BSL-II) standards and rigorous employee safety criteria. The lab will serve the needs of all Aviagen breeding-production facilities in the US.
With office space for five veterinarians, a microbiologist, and an information management system administrator, Aviagen’s new laboratory will initially be staffed by 20 employees.
Authorized laboratory
This facility is an authorized National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Laboratory and reflects the company’s dedication to ensuring the health status of its breeding stock and products, and its support of the broiler industry’s efforts to promote food safety.
“The new laboratory will help Aviagen meet the growing needs of its breeding program and production units,” said Dr. Gregorio Rosales, Vice President of Veterinary Services.
“This laboratory is an essential component that will allow us to maintain a [leading] role in the future and safeguard the supply of breeding stock to our customers in the US and over 45 countries around the world.”
Aviagen designed the lab with a commitment to maintaining strict biosecurity throughout. Access to laboratory areas is restricted to lab personnel only.
Bacteriology and pathological exam rooms have separate ventilation systems to prevent any cross-contamination. A drive-through window allows company personnel to drop off samples for testing without entering the facility.
To see more you can take a virtual tour of the lab
Aviagen’s commitment to meet increasingly demanding domestic and international poultry health requirements continued to advance as it opens a new diagnostic and research laboratory in Elkmont, Alabama, USA.
The new laboratory provides expanded and dedicated areas for an array of laboratory work including bacteriology, serology, molecular diagnostics, genomics research, and pathological exams.
The multimillion-dollar facility was designed to meet biosafety level II (BSL-II) standards and rigorous employee safety criteria. The lab will serve the needs of all Aviagen breeding-production facilities in the US.
With office space for five veterinarians, a microbiologist, and an information management system administrator, Aviagen’s new laboratory will initially be staffed by 20 employees.
Authorized laboratory
This facility is an authorized National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Laboratory and reflects the company’s dedication to ensuring the health status of its breeding stock and products, and its support of the broiler industry’s efforts to promote food safety.
“The new laboratory will help Aviagen meet the growing needs of its breeding program and production units,” said Dr. Gregorio Rosales, Vice President of Veterinary Services.
“This laboratory is an essential component that will allow us to maintain a [leading] role in the future and safeguard the supply of breeding stock to our customers in the US and over 45 countries around the world.”
Aviagen designed the lab with a commitment to maintaining strict biosecurity throughout. Access to laboratory areas is restricted to lab personnel only.
Bacteriology and pathological exam rooms have separate ventilation systems to prevent any cross-contamination. A drive-through window allows company personnel to drop off samples for testing without entering the facility.
To see more you can take a virtual tour of the lab
20 May 2011
Research: Effect of yeast protein on piglet intestines
//19 May 2011
Australian scientists studied the use of nucleotides, vitamins and functional amino acids to enhance the structure of the small intestine and circulating measures of immune function in the post-weaned piglet.
Ninety individually-housed castrated pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc mixed crossbred, n=18) were used in a randomised block experiment to determine the effect of yeast protein concentrate (YPC) or its major active components, nucleotides (NCL), inositol (INS), and glutamate (GLU), on pig performance, indices of gut structure and circulating measures of immune function.
Results
Daily gain and feed intake were not affected by diet, however pigs fed the YPC diet had a lower feed conversion ratio compared to those fed the control (CON), INS and NCL diets in the feeding period.
Villous height in the duodenum was increased in pigs that received the YPC diet compared to the CON and INS diets.
In addition, immunoglobulin G levels were increased in pigs that received the INS and GLU diets compared to the CON and NCL diet on day 21.
Conclusion
These data suggest that although the effect was limited on the duodenal villous structure, pigs fed the YPC diet showed an improved duodenal villous height and the positive effect of YPC is most likely attributable to glutamate and nucleotides in the yeast protein concentrate
Australian scientists studied the use of nucleotides, vitamins and functional amino acids to enhance the structure of the small intestine and circulating measures of immune function in the post-weaned piglet.
Ninety individually-housed castrated pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc mixed crossbred, n=18) were used in a randomised block experiment to determine the effect of yeast protein concentrate (YPC) or its major active components, nucleotides (NCL), inositol (INS), and glutamate (GLU), on pig performance, indices of gut structure and circulating measures of immune function.
Results
Daily gain and feed intake were not affected by diet, however pigs fed the YPC diet had a lower feed conversion ratio compared to those fed the control (CON), INS and NCL diets in the feeding period.
Villous height in the duodenum was increased in pigs that received the YPC diet compared to the CON and INS diets.
In addition, immunoglobulin G levels were increased in pigs that received the INS and GLU diets compared to the CON and NCL diet on day 21.
Conclusion
These data suggest that although the effect was limited on the duodenal villous structure, pigs fed the YPC diet showed an improved duodenal villous height and the positive effect of YPC is most likely attributable to glutamate and nucleotides in the yeast protein concentrate
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