bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
244 Comparative crude protein solubilization in yellow pea and fava bean protein concentrates in a simulated porcine gastric and intestinal digestion model
Authors: Njeri Felix M , Nu Mai Anh Ton , Schulze Hagen , Kiarie Elijah
Published: September 2024

Pulses are valuable protein ingredients but unique characteristics among them are known to influence protein quality and utilization. We determined crude protein solubilization (CPS) in yellow pea (YP) and fava bean (FB) protein concentrates using simulated porcine gastric and intestinal model (Table 1). For each ingredient, 500 mg CP equivalent was incubated in triplicate with pepsin at either pH 3.5 or 4.5 for 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 h at 39°C and 200 r.p.m. for gastric CPS. For intestinal CPS, gastric samples (derived at pH 3.5 for 1.5 h) were incubated with pancreatin and bile extract at pH 6.8 for 0, 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 h. Intestinal CPS was categorized as CPfast, CPslow and CPresistant corresponding to CPS within the first 0.5 h, 0.5 to 4 h, and undigested after 4 h, respectively (Table 2). The concentration of CP in the supernatant was equated to CPS. Data were subjected to Proc GLIMIXX of SAS while Gompertz equation was used to describe the gastric and intestinal solubilization kinetics (A-maximum solubilized CP, Wo- initial CP solubility, Ku- solubilization rate, Ti- time to inflection). The model for gastric CPS had fixed effects of protein, incubation time, stomach pH and their interaction at 1.5 h and while fixed effects of protein was evaluated in intestinal CPS kinetics. The analyzed CP in FB and YP were 712.7 and 599.1, g/kg DM, with 3 and 4% of CP bound to NDF, respectively. Gastric CPS in FB was not influenced (P > 0.05) by pH and incubation time; however, at 1.5 h gastric CPS in FB was 40.9 and 28.44% at pH 3.5 and 4.5, respectively. Gastric CPS in YP was influenced by incubation time (P < 0.05) with increase at pH 3.5 after 1 h and at pH 4.5 after 0.5 h compared with 0 h. After 1.5 h, gastric CPS in YP was 50.0% at pH 3.5 and 33.2% at pH 4.5. Whereas YP gastric CPS at pH 3.5 and 1.5h was greater compared with FB, there were no differences (P > 0.05) between the FB and TP at pH 4.5. However, intestinal CPS tended (P < 0.10) to be greater for FB (91.7%) compared with YP (89.4%). The FP was solubilized faster (Ku; P < 0.05) than YP, supported by a (P < 0.05) higher CPfast of FB (87.8%) compared with YP (75.9%). CPresistent was found to be greater (P < 0.05) for YP (12.0%) than for FB (6.6%; Figure 1). In conclusion, fava, and pea protein concentrates had gastric protein solubilization that was dependent on pH. The less resistant protein in FB suggested a greater nutritive value than YP. Further research should determine ileal amino acids digestibility and the impact of incorporation in practical diets to characterize animal performance, health, and environment impact.
237 Increasing the threonine-to-lysine ratio improves the growth performance of slow-growing pigs when fed with precision feeding techniques
Authors: Arnaut Pedro Righetti , Pomar Candido , Hauschild Luciano , Remus Aline
Published: September 2024

Individual precision feeding (IPF) is a suitable tool to account for the nutritional requirement variability among pigs. It was previously reported that, within IPF, pigs require greater Thr:Lys than conventional group-phase feeding (GPF) pigs. It remains unknown if these differences in Thr:Lys requirements occur due to different growth rates (Gr). This study evaluated whether the Thr:Lys requirements of pigs fed with IPF systems are affected by Gr. Sixty pigs (30 barrows and 30 gilts) with 38.1 ± 3.8 kg of body weight were distributed in a completely randomized 3 × 5 factorial arrangement. Pigs were classified into fast (FGr), medium (MGr) and slow (SGr) Gr based on their average daily gain (ADG) during 6 wk previous to the trial. After classification, pens with 2 barrows and 2 gilts from the same Gr group were randomly assigned to one of five treatments (12 repetitions per treatment). Treatments consisted of a conventional GPF (GPF100) receiving 100% of the optimal 0.65 Thr:Lys and 4 IPF treatments providing 140% (IPF140), 120% (IPF120), 100% (IPF100) and 80% (IPF80) of the optimal ratio. GPF100 pigs were fed a single diet with 0.97% standardized ileal digestible Lys. IPF diets of the pigs were adjusted every 2 d to meet the Lys requirements of the most demanding pig in the pen. Body weight was recorded twice a week, and individual feed intake (ADFI) daily over 21 d. At d 1 and 21, pigs were scanned with dual X-ray to estimate their body composition. Body weight, body protein and lipid masses were analyzed as repeated measures over time. The Dunnett test was used to compare the IPF treatments to GPF100 and the Tukey test to compare Gr groups. The pig was considered the experimental unit. FGr maintained greater (treatment × Gr, P < 0.05) ADFI and ADG and greater (P < 0.05) lipid deposition over the trial when compared with MGr and SGr. However, increasing Thr:Lys enhanced (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI of SGr pigs within IPF, resulting in similar (P > 0.05) values between Gr groups in IPF120 and IPF140. Although FGr tended (P = 0.05) to have greater final body protein mass, SGr presented leaner gain (P < 0.05), independently of the Thr:Lys. Threonine supplementation supports metabolic processes like glycine and serine synthesis, impacting gut health, protein synthesis, energy production, and oxidative stress, potentially explaining lower lipid deposition in SGr pigs when the same level of energy in the diet. SGr pigs might need a different AA profile where a higher Thr:Lys ratio likely enhances the metabolic capacity to support fast growth in SGr pigs within IPF. Consequently, increasing the Thr:Lys ratio within IPF led to improved growth performance in SGr pigs.
374 Efficacy of phytase and/or chromium tripicolinate supplementation on nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites in grower pigs
Authors: Edmonds Michael S , Bergstrom Jon R , Weber Thomas E
Published: September 2024

Phytase supplementation is widely used in diet formulations to enhance nutrient use efficiency in pigs, while supplemental chromium tripicolinate has been shown to help optimize glucose metabolism by enhancing insulin sensitivity. Therefore, the objectives of this metabolism study were to examine potential synergies of these additives to evaluate if nutrient digestibility and/or blood metabolites could be improved in grower pigs. Grower pigs [n = 6; body weight (BW) = 21.8 ± 0.19 kg; Genesus genetics] were randomly allotted by initial BW to four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatment (Trt) 1 consisted of a control diet without phytase while Trt 2 had decreased levels of calcium and phosphorus with added phytase (1,500 FYT/kg; HiPhorius; dsm-firmenich, Plainsboro, NJ). Treatment 3 was the control diet without phytase with added chromium from chromium tripicolinate (200 ppb; Chromax, Kent Nutrition Group, Inc., Muscatine, IA) while Trt 4 consisted of the diets with decreased levels of calcium and phosphorus with added HiPhorius (1,500 FYT/kg) and chromium tripicolinate (200 ppb). With six metabolism crates available and four treatment groups, it took a 4-wk duration to allow for each pig to be evaluated on each of the four treatments. The pigs were allowed a 4-d acclimation period followed by a 3-d collection period with the experimental diets fed at 4% BW divided into two meals each day. Water was added at 2.5 times the amount of feed fed each day. A second group of grower pigs (n = 6; BW = 19.6 ± 0.12 kg; Genesus) were utilized following the same procedures as above and pooled with the first group for data analysis. On the last day of the collection period, blood samples were collected before the meal (fasting) and then 2 h after the meal (post-meal). Added phytase resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in fasting blood urea nitrogen. Nitrogen digestibility and nitrogen retention were both improved (P < 0.01) with pigs fed supplemental phytase. Furthermore, dry matter digestibility was also improved (P < 0.001) in pigs fed added phytase. Supplemental chromium was without effect on any of the nitrogen and/or dry matter digestibility measurements. These data suggest that supplemental phytase has positive effects by significantly improving nitrogen and dry matter digestibility with no further improvements observed from supplemental chromium.
373 Effect of Cu and Zn contents in growing finishing pig diets on animal performance and Cu and Zn content in manure, according to three manure management chains
Authors: Gourlez Emma , Monteiro Alessandra , Beline Fabrice , Dourmad Jean-Yves , De Quelen Francine
Published: September 2024

Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential nutrients for swine. However, as pigs have a low retention rate for these elements, more than 90% of ingested Cu and Zn are excreted, mainly in feces. After spreading manure, these trace elements could accumulate in the soil and potentially have negative environmental effects. Moreover, Cu and Zn are also limited natural resources that should be preserved. A better understanding of the behavior of these elements throughout the feed-animal-effluent-treatment continuum according to feed composition and manure management chain is thus required to propose alternative ways to reduce these environmental impacts. Three feeding strategies differing in their Cu and Zn contents were compared in 72 growing-finishing pigs raised in individual pens [from 24.3 ± 3.3 up to 110 ± 9.0 kg body weight (BW), one-half males; and one-half females] a first diet with Cu and Zn at maximum EU regulation levels (20 and 100 ppm of Cu and Zn, respectively; REG), a second diet without any Cu and Zn supplementation (5 ppm Cu, 30 ppm Zn; WS) and a third diet with Cu and Zn at an intermediary level (10 and 50 ppm of Cu and Zn; INT). Cu and Zn were supplemented as Cu2O (CoRouge, Animine) and ZnO (HiZox, Animine), respectively. Eighteen additional finishing pigs (6 per diet) were raised in digestibility cages for excreta collection over 10 d, and their feces were submitted to two types of manure treatment: anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting with straw. Over the entire experimental period, the dietary Cu and Zn content did not influence growth performance of pigs. The Cu and Zn concentrations of the feces decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with dietary content from 191 and 834 (REG) up to 63 and 359 (INT) and 40 and 213 (WS) mg Cu and Zn/kg dry matter (DM) respectively. After both manure treatments, the degradation of the organic matter resulted in a significant increase (twice as much) in Cu and Zn concentration per kg of DM. Feeding strategy appears to be the main lever to reduce the Cu and Zn content of effluents. However, in the context of the diversification of manure management strategies, it is also important to take into account the effect of the effluent collection and treatment chain (e.g., spreading of raw slurry, phase separation, anaerobic digestion, composting), which has also an impact on the behavior of Cu and Zn and consequently on the risk for the environment.
380 Diet protein concentration does not influence dietary net energy by group housed growing pigs offered ad libitum access to feed
Authors: Cristobal Minoy , Lee Su A , Mallea Andrea P , Torres-Mendoza Leidy J , Parsons Carl M , Stein Hans H
Published: September 2024

The objective was to test the hypothesis that net energy (NE) of diets is not increased by reducing soybean meal (SBM) and increasing crystalline amino acids (CAA) in diets fed to group-housed pigs on an ad libitum basis. Two “normal protein” diets with 17 and 14% crude protein (CP) were formulated. One diet was based on corn, SBM, and no CAA and the other diet was based on corn, SBM, and crystalline Lys, Met, and Thr. Four additional diets containing 13, 12, 11, or 10% CP were formulated by reducing SBM and increasing crystalline Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, Val, and Phe. Growing pigs (n = 24; initial body weight = 29.9 ± 2.4 kg) were randomly allocated to 6 calorimeter chambers with 4 pigs per chamber. The 6 chambers were allotted to the six diets using a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six 15-d periods providing 6 replicate chambers per diet. Pigs had ad libitum access to diets throughout the experiment except during the fasting periods. Consumption of O2 and production of CO2 and CH4 were measured, and fecal and urine samples were collected for 6 d after 7 d of adaptation. Fasting heat production (FHP) was determined for 12 h following a 24 h fasting period. Diets, fecal samples, and lyophilized urine samples were analyzed for gross energy (GE) and N. Data were analyzed using contrasts statements to determine linear and quadratic effects of reducing dietary protein. Results indicated that feed intake, fecal and urine GE output, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter and GE, total heat production (THP), FHP, and retained energy were not different between pigs fed the 17 and the 14% CP diets (Table 1). The respiratory quotient (RQ) of pigs fed the 17% CP diet was less (P = 0.045) compared with the 14% CP diet. Digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in the 17% CP diet were greater (P < 0.05) than in the 14% CP diet, but NE was not different between these 2 diets. Feed intake, GE intake, and fecal GE output of pigs were linearly (P = 0.044) increased by reducing CP in diets, but reducing diet CP did not affect ATTD of dry matter or GE or urine GE excretion. Total heat production, FHP, retained energy, and DE, ME, and NE were also not affected by reducing CP in diets. In conclusion, reducing CP of diets for pigs by reducing SBM and increasing CAA did not increase NE of the diet when fed to group-housed pigs on an ad libitum basis, and dietary CP does not appear to influence diet NE.
447 Ex-food4feed: Keeping nutrients in the food chain - Sponsored by EAAP
Authors: Pinotti Luciano
Published: September 2024

The growing world population and rising income in developing countries create more demand for animal products. However, natural resources such as land, water, and nutrients are not boundless. As a consequence, competition of resources in food and feed production is an issue to be confronted with. One promising solution is relocating food losses into animal feeding, propelling the course of sustainability and circular economy in the livestock sector. Given this scenario, former food products (FFPs) represent great opportunities. Instead of ending up in landfill or compost, a better destination for FFPs is to be used as feedstuffs to replace traditional ingredients. FFPs are foodstuffs not accepted by the human market but have several advantages enabling them to enter swine feeding programs. FFPs are mainly composed of processed and ready-to-eat food products such as snacks and bakery goods. Thanks to industrial processing and their product type nature, FFPs are rich in easily digestible starch, simple sugars, fat, and energy contents comparable with cereal grains. Based on their nutritional features, these materials are extremely rich in carbohydrates, free sugars and, depending on their origin, also in fats. In addition, FFPs are often characterized by a high degree of processing including technological and heat treatments which can affect not only the availability of nutrients and the kinetics of digestion, but also gastro-intestinal health and animal response. On fresh matter basis, FFPs can substitute conventional feed ingredients up to 30 % in the diets of pigs. Starting from post-weaning piglets, FFP-based diet is able to maintain piglet growth without substantial effects on hindgut microbiota. In growing-finishing pigs, FFP-based diets at a 30 % inclusion level support growth performance of pigs without altering their nutrient and energy deposition efficiency, live body and carcass composition, and general meat quality traits. When considering liver proteome and plasma peptidome of pigs fed such diets, minor modulation occurs. To sum up, while maintaining the performance and wellbeing of pigs, the use of FFPs up to 30 % to replace classic feedstuffs represents a great potential in: i) mitigating food-feed competition, ii) re-distributing valuable food losses to livestock sector to produce animal protein, and iii) reducing environmental footprints resulting from animal production. All these aspects point out important concepts under the principles of circular economy and resilience enhancement in livestock farming, namely, making the most of resources to build a regenerative food system.
446 A stochastic, dynamic agent-based model of swine nutrient requirements for the growing finishing production phase
Authors: Rahimifar Atefeh , Kaniyamattam Karun , Wiegert Jeffrey , Tedeschi Luis O
Published: September 2024

Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a powerful tool that offers the flexibility to represent the stochasticity exhibited by swine systems due to individual animal nutritional requirements. ABM can also accurately mimic the biological dynamic growth performance of pigs. Addressing and simulating the biological growth dynamics enables precision nutrition and sustainable production management. To realistically replicate the nutrient requirement and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs, we developed an ABM based on the principles and equations from the eleventh Swine Nutrient Requirement Council Model. Each individual pig (agent) in the model had a starting weight of 20 kg and a fixed finishing weight of 140 kg, with a variable number of days on feed. Our model considers three sexes: gilt, barrow, and intact male. Pigs move through the farm, feed, and interact with the environment. Our model dynamically simulates the complex interactions between feed intake, metabolism, and growth processes of growing pigs, thereby being a virtual visualizable growing-finishing swine farm (Figure 1). The basic parameters of the biological growth of pigs, including the body weight, feed intake, metabolizable energy (ME) intake, maintenance ME requirements, protein deposition (Pd), lipid deposition (Ld), and probe backfat thickness (Figure 2), were modeled based on NRC equations. In addition to the above parameters, the daily amino acid, calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) requirements for individual pigs were calculated daily. To demonstrate ABM responsiveness to feeding strategies, ractopamine supplementation is included to evaluate the impact on protein deposition. The ABM offers more personalized nutrition management by considering unique pig growth potential and nutritional needs based on characteristics such as age and sex, which can lead to improved growth performance and feed efficiency. Besides, the ABM enables the modeling of population-level dynamics and the evaluation of different feeding scenarios to optimize growth outcomes by allocating optimized feed based on individual nutritional needs. Our ABM will be used to test different feeding management strategies and scenarios, providing valuable insights into the impact of various factors on pig nutrition and growth outcomes while minimizing both time and financial expenditures. Our ABM aims to provide a robust framework for simulating and optimizing feeding strategies and enhancing overall pig production efficiency by leveraging the comprehensive and scientifically validated guidelines provided in the NRC. To verify the accuracy and reliability of the proposed ABM, the results generated by the model were rigorously evaluated and compared with the NRC model results. The results demonstrated a highly satisfactory prediction performance by our ABM, paving the way for more real-time decisions to be made for daily feed management on growing-finishing swine operations.
443 Awardee Talk: Calcium and phosphorus requirement estimates for gestating and lactating sows
Authors: Becker Larissa L , Gebhardt Jordan T , Tokach Mike D , Woodworth Jason C , Goodband Robert D , DeRouchey Joel M
Published: September 2024

Calcium and phosphorus are minerals involved in biological functions and essential structural components of the skeleton. The body tightly regulates Ca and P to maintain homeostasis. Maternal demand for Ca and P increases during gestation and lactation to support conceptus growth and milk synthesis. Litter size and litter average daily gain have a large impact on Ca and P requirements for sows because as they increase, the requirements increase due to a greater demand on the sow. The objective of this review was to summarize published literature on Ca and P requirements in gestating and lactating sows derived from empirical data and factorial models. A total of 9 empirical studies and 7 factorial models were reviewed for determining the Ca and P requirements in gestation. For lactation, there were 6 empirical studies and 7 factorial models reviewed. Empirical studies determined requirements based on the observed effect of Ca and P on bone mineralization, sow and litter performance, and milk characteristics. Factorial models generated equations to estimate Ca and P requirements using the main components of maintenance, fetal and placental growth, and maternal retention in gestation. The main components for factorial equations in lactation include maintenance and milk production. In gestation, the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) P requirement estimates from empirical studies range from 5.4 to 9.5 g/d with total Ca ranging from 12.9 to 18.6 g/d to maximize bone measurements or performance criteria. According to the factorial models, the requirements increase throughout gestation to meet the demands of the growing fetuses and range from 3.3 to 5.1 g/d of STTD P on d 45 of gestation and increase to 7.6 to 10.6 g/d on d 114 of gestation. The modeled total Ca requirement estimates increase from 9.2 to 17.7 g/d on d 45 gestation to 18.4 to 38.2 g/d on d 114 of gestation. During lactation, STTD P requirement estimates from empirical studies ranged from 8.5 to 22.1 g/d and total Ca ranged from 21.2 to 50.4 g/d. For the lactation factorial models, STTD P requirements ranged from 14.2 to 25.1 g/d for STTD P and 28.4 to 55.6 g/d for total Ca for parity 1 sows with a litter size of 15 pigs. The large variation in requirement estimates make it difficult to define Ca and P requirements for reproducing sows; however, a minimum level of 6.0 and 22.1 g/d of STTD P, and 12.9 and 50.4 g/d of total Ca during gestation and lactation, respectively, appears to be adequate to meet basal requirements. The limited data and high variation indicate a need for future research evaluating Ca and P requirements for reproducing sows.
448 Interactive effects of extrusion and particle size reduction of corn on metabolizable energy by weanling pigs
Authors: Marshall Caleb M , Lee Su A , Stein Hans H
Published: September 2024

The objective was to test the hypothesis that there are interactive effects of extrusion and reduction of the particle size of corn on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE) and digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) when fed to weanling pigs. Six corn-based diets were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial with 3 particle sizes of corn (i.e., 700, 500, or 300 μm) and two forms (i.e., meal or extruded corn). The daily feed allowance was limited to 3.0 times the energy requirement for maintenance and pigs had free access to water. Pigs [n = 48; initial body weight (BW) = 12.8 kg; SD = 1.32) were housed in metabolism crates and allotted to the 6 diets using a randomized complete block design with two blocks. Fecal and urine samples were quantitatively collected for 4 d following 5 d of adaptation. The statistical model included diet as fixed effect and block as random effect. Contrast coefficients were used to determine effects of extrusion, linear effects of particle size, and the interaction. Results indicated that the ATTD of GE and DE and ME in corn increased by reducing the particle size of corn only if corn was in a meal form, but that was not the case for extruded corn (interaction; P < 0.001; Table 1). Regardless of particle size, the ATTD of GE and DE and ME in corn were increased (P < 0.001) by extrusion. In conclusion, reducing particle size of corn had a positive impact on energy digestibility in non-extruded corn. Regardless of particle size, extrusion of corn increased energy digestibility and DE and ME, which is likely a result of starch gelatinization in extruded corn. However, the effects of reducing particle size and extrusion were not additive, which indicates that it is not necessary to grind corn to 500 or 300 μm before extrusion.
45 Doing more with less, sustainable pork and crop production
Authors: Moore Jay
Published: September 2024

The many definitions of “sustainability”, as it relates to agriculture, continue to be disputed. The three pillars to maintain an ecological earthly balance are environmental, economic, and social. The global mission for most companies and industries is to establish a culture of sustainability. Sustainable agriculture is at the forefront, to be defined and to be determined; what is sustainable agriculture. Since 2016, New Fashion Pork (NFP), Jackson MN, has been a leader in pursuing innovative technologies and proven practices creating our sustainable nutrient management and crop production systems. This presentation will provide an overview of the efforts of NFP to strategically use current and advanced technologies within our nutrient management and farming practices, to maintain a profitable operation while using and protecting our natural resources and our environment. Not only the pork industry but our entire agricultural system will be facing many difficult challenges as the global entities scrutinize all agricultural practices. Hopefully, the participants will leave with the understanding that agriculture is and can be a significant part of the sustainability solution, providing food for the world by “doing more with less.”
48 Dietary functional fiber properties for improved health and disease outcomes in pigs
Authors: Zijlstra Ruurd T
Published: September 2024

In swine production, using feed antibiotics as antimicrobial growth promotants has been reduced; thus, feed alternatives to manage gut health are required. Dietary fiber and similar carbohydrate structures such as resistant starch, oligosaccharides, and exopolysaccharides are nutritional tools that may enhance gut health in pigs. Dietary fiber may have a role to alleviate diarrheal diseases including in pigs post-weaning but can also reduce constipation in sows, but specific functionality depends on fiber properties. Antibiotics are hypothesized to influence gut health via modulation of intestinal microbial profiles; fermentation and intestinal inflammation are considered important mechanisms. Dietary fiber sources differ in a key functional property: fermentability. Rapid fermentation of fiber and oligosaccharides is associated with changes in microbial profiles and increased metabolite production. Recently, microbial composition was hypothesized to be less important and combined output of metabolites should be the focus. Fiber properties may also manipulate retention time and physico-chemical properties of the undigested residue; hence, non-fermentable fiber may prevent constipation in sows. The fiber-like structure resistant starch is not digested and acts as fermentable fiber but has unique properties, because it specifically increases intestinal abundance of bifidobacteria, which are associated with improved gut health. Using crop breeding, feed processing, and feed additives, the structure of fiber and starch can be altered thereby changing its degradation kinetics and affecting its prebiotic activity. Finally, fiber-like structures such as exopolysaccharides from Limosilactobacillus reuteri and unique oligosaccharides may serve as receptor analogues for pathogenic bacteria, e.g., enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). These receptor analogues block lectin domains of bacterial adhesins and thus prevent adherence of pathogens to the gut wall, thereby avoiding initiation of post-weaning diarrhea. In conclusion, dietary fiber and similar structures possess important functional properties that may also provide important solutions to maintain gut health in pigs.
46 Feeding the weaned pig gut and beyond with non-nutritional additives
Authors: Liu Yanhong
Published: September 2024

Weaning imposes simultaneous stress, resulting in reduced growth performance, increased susceptibility to diseases, and increased morbidity and mortality in weaned pigs. Weaning stress can induce negative changes in the intestine, including damaged intestinal integrity, disturbed digestive and absorptive capacity, increased intestinal oxidative stress, and microbial dysbiosis. Improving intestinal development and health is critically important for enhancing disease resistance and overall health of weaned pigs. This, in turn, can increase their survival rate during this vulnerable stage and improve their productive performance in later stages. A healthy gut may include, but is not limited to, several important features: a healthy proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, an integrated gut barrier function, a preferable or balanced gut microbiota, and well-developed intestinal mucosa immunity. Burgeoning evidence suggests that many non-nutritional additives can enhance overall intestinal health and beyond by targeting one or several functions of the gut. However, the exact protective mechanisms may vary and are still not completely understood. For example, direct-fed microbials may confer health benefits on the host by producing antimicrobial products, regulating gut microbial profile or immunity, and/or enhancing gut barrier function. Non-digestible carbohydrates and prebiotics exhibit striking impacts on reshaping the composition of gut microbiota in the host by boosting the production of health-promoting bacteria. Phytochemicals, a large variety of secondary plant metabolites, have been known for their broad and promising biological properties, including anti-microbial, antioxidant, and immune-modulating activities. Several short chain fatty acids derivatives aim to target the upper gastrointestinal tract, where the major nutrients are digested and absorbed, to promote intestinal health of pigs. Moreover, butyrate and valerate glycerides exhibit strong in vitro antimicrobial effects against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18, one of the dominant pathogens causing post-weaning diarrhea globally. There are more candidates in the list that have been used in weaned pigs and shown promising results on growth and health promotion. Therefore, increasing our current understanding of non-nutritional additives and their influences on intestinal function during weaning will facilitate the development of more dietary strategies that increase stress resilience of weaned pigs.
99 The Effects of β-caryophyllene on butyrate utilization and metabolism in Caco 2 cells
Authors: Scroggins Hannah B , Kent-Dennis Coral , May John , Klotz James L , Harmon David L
Published: September 2024

Butyrate is important for regulating energy status and cellular metabolism. Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is a plant compound which may exert potentially beneficial effects on intestinal epithelial cells, such as barrier integrity and modulation of nutrient utilization. The goal of this preliminary study was to investigate the effects of BCP on butyrate utilization and metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells. Caco 2 cells were used as a model for the intestinal barrier. Cells were seeded in multi-well plates with hanging inserts (n = 4) and grown for 18 d. On d 19, 1 of 4 treatments was added to triplicate wells per plate. Treatments included vehicle control (VC), 40 µM BCP, 2 mM butyrate (BTR), and butyrate plus BCP (BB). Treatments were added to the apical side and incubated for 24 and 48 h. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER; ohms/cm2) readings and supernatant samples from both the apical and basolateral sides of the cell layer were taken at each time point, and butyrate and β- hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations measured. Butyrate utilization was calculated as absolute nmol lost. Statistical analyses were performed using lm and emmeans packages of R, with treatment, time and side (of cell layer) as fixed effects. All wells started with the same statistical TEER values on h 0. After 24 and 48 h BCP showed no changes in TEER (P > 0.05). Compared with VC, the mean TEER for BTR and BB was greater at 24 h (579 vs 878 and 1,008 ± 35, respectively; P < 0.001). After 48 h, all groups returned to baseline, except BB which had a greater TEER (883 ± 35; P < 0.001) compared with other treatments. After 24 and 48 h BCP showed no changes for both sides of the cell layer (P > 0.05). Overall, absolute BHB concentrations increased from 24 to 48 h in all treatments (P < 0.05). Production of BHB in each of the VC and BC groups was less than 15 nmol at each time point. For BB and BTR groups, more nmol BHB was detected on the basolateral side (31.9 and 22.2 ± 1.3) vs apical (14.0 and 10.4 ± 1.3, respectively; P < 0.001) after 24 h. After 48 h, BHB was also greater on the basolateral side (58.2 and 45.2 ± 1.3 nmol for BB and BUT, respectively) vs apical side (30.2 and 24.0 ± 1.3 nmol; P < 0.001). When looking at BTR utilization, the BB treatment had greater butyrate disappearance than BTR in 24 h (254 vs 169 ± 12.6 nmol; P = 0.0005) and 48h (707 vs 573 ± 12.6 nmol; P < 0.0001). BCP may promote the metabolism of butyrate by intestinal epithelial cells. More research is needed to understand the mechanism of how BCP increases cellular butyrate utilization.
110 Effects of different carbohydrates replacing dietary lactose on metabolism of milk-fed calves
Authors: Bierlein Georg , Bruckmaier Rupert M M , Gross Josef J
Published: September 2024

The disaccharide lactose represents the major carbohydrate source in milk-fed calves. Considering the complex and energy demanding processes of lactose synthesis in the mammary gland, the question arises why lactose is highly conserved as milk carbohydrate in evolution. In newborn and growing calves, lactose is enzymatically cleaved in the small intestine by lactase into its absorbable monosaccharides glucose and galactose. We investigated which effects different carbohydrate sources in milk exerted on metabolism of pre-weaned calves. Male and female calves [n = 44, age: 19.0 ± 0.3 d, body weight (BW): 53.7 ± 1.0 kg] were assigned to 6 different experimental diets (4 kg per meal, 2 meals/d) fed for 3 consecutive days. Experimental diets were formulated to achieve a composition similar to whole milk (WM; 4% fat, 3.4% protein, 4.7% lactose) by adding different carbohydrate sources to a milk replacer (based on a reconstituted protein extract with added milk fat): lactose (LAC), glucose (GLU), galactose (GAL), glucose + galactose (G/G), and xylose (XYL). Blood samples were taken from a jugular vein on the last day of treatments, right before feeding in the morning (T1), 2 (T2) and 7 (T3) hours later. Concentrations of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), triglycerides (TG), insulin, and glucagon were determined in plasma. Data were evaluated using a mixed model (SAS, version 9.4) with treatment, timepoint of sampling, and treatment x time interaction as fixed effects and the individual calf as repeated subject. Plasma glucose concentration increased after feeding from T1 to T2 in WM and GLU (P < 0.05), but not in calves fed LAC, GAL, G/G, and XYL. In WM, glucose concentrations reached basal values at T3, whereas no changes were observed in the other groups. NEFA concentrations were increased by trend in GAL at T2 (P = 0.06). Plasma BHB concentrations increased (P < 0.05) in all groups except WM from T1 to T2. Blood TG concentrations were increased in all groups except WM at T2 compared with T1 (GLU, GAL, XYL: P < 0.05; LAC: P = 0.08; G/G: P = 0.09). Whereas insulin concentrations increased after feeding from T1 to T2 (WM, G/G: P < 0.05; GLU: P = 0.09), glucagon concentrations were greater at T2 (XYL: P < 0.05; GLU: P = 0.08) and T3 (GLU, G/G, XYL, GAL: P < 0.05; LAC: P = 0.06) compared with T1. In conclusion, we observed different metabolic and endocrine responses to feeding of milk replacers differing in their carbohydrate composition. Although gross nutrient composition of the experimental diets was similar, digestion, absorption, and post-absorptive metabolization seem to differ between the carbohydrate supplements. In calves receiving XYL, a more catabolic status could be shown as XYL is absorbed, but cannot be used in intermediary metabolism.
111 Factors affecting transfer of passive immunity in beef calves
Authors: Meyer Allison M , Rathert-Williams Abigail R
Published: September 2024

Data from 9 calving experiments were used to investigate relationships of dam, calf, and colostrum factors with passive transfer in beef calves. Serum was collected at 48.33 ± 1.25 (SD) h of age for 313 calves, and single rear quarter colostrum yields were determined pre-suckling for dams of 117 calves. Serum and colostrum IgG concentrations were determined by ELISA. Relationship of serum IgG with colostrum variables was determined using Pearson correlation coefficients. Serum IgG was positively correlated (P ≤ 0.002) with colostrum IgG (r = 0.47) and protein (r = 0.45) concentrations and colostrum total IgG (r = 0.28) but tended to be negatively correlated (r = -0.17, P = 0.06) with colostrum yield. Based on passive transfer thresholds in the literature, 3 calves (0.96%) had < 8 mg/mL serum IgG, 16 calves (5.1%) < 16 mg/mL, and 43 calves (13.7%) had < 24 mg/mL. For this analysis, calves with serum IgG < 24 mg/mL at 48 h were considered to have failure of passive transfer (FPT). Continuous variables (dam BW and calf size, 48-h serum chemistry panel, and time to stand) were compared for FPT versus non-FPT calves using a mixed model with FPT class (fixed effect) and experiment (random effect). Calves with FPT had less (P ≤ 0.03) circulating triglycerides, glucose, calcium, magnesium, total protein, globulin, and gamma-glutamyl transferase but greater (P ≤ 0.001) circulating non-esterified fatty acids, sodium, chloride, and total bilirubin than non-FPT. Effects of categorical variables on calf 48-h serum IgG were determined using separate mixed models with variable (fixed) and experiment (random). Primiparous dams gave birth to calves that had less (P = 0.05) serum IgG at 48 h than multiparous dams. Calves born to moderate dams (BCS = 5) had less (P = 0.007) serum IgG than those born to fleshy dams (BCS ≥ 6) and tended to have less (P = 0.08) serum IgG than calves born to thin dams (BCS < 5). Calf sex, calving season, calving difficulty score, and vigor score at 10 min did not affect (P ≥ 0.19) serum IgG. Relationships of calf 48-h serum IgG with continuous variables was also determined using Pearson correlation coefficients, and only r ≥ 0.20 or ≤ -0.20 are reported. Serum IgG was positively correlated (P ≤ 0.005) with 48-h serum total protein (r = 0.75), globulin (r = 0.76), gamma-glutamyl transferase (r = 0.32), and potassium (r = 0.20). Serum IgG was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with gestation length (r = -0.22) and 48-h serum albumin (r = -0.43), sodium (r = -0.24), and total bilirubin (r = -0.27). Overall, beef calves in this dataset generally had successful passive transfer that was associated with several dam, calf, and colostrum factors.
113 What drives the response of beef cows to short periods of undernutrition? - Sponsored by EAAP
Authors: Casasús Isabel , Orquera-Arguero Karina , Villalba Daniel , Ferrer Javier , Blanco Mireia
Published: September 2024

In extensive beef cattle production systems, limited feed quality or availability can lead to nutrient restrictions either in the short- or the long-term. Cows may respond differently depending on the stage of lactation or the frequency and duration of undernutrition. We studied the response of lactating beef cows (n = 31) to short nutrient restriction challenges, staggered across different stages of lactation or in quick succession (three consecutive challenges). All cows received a single diet calculated for the average cow [615 kg body weight (BW), 8.5 kg/d milk yield]: 100% requirements during 4 d [d -4 to d -1, basal period), 55% requirements on the next 4 d (d 0 to d 3, restriction period) and 100% requirements for 4 d (d 4 to d 7, refeeding period). During the basal and refeeding periods, cows received 8 kg hay + 3 kg concentrate while during restriction they received only 7 kg hay. The experimental design was repeated in mo 2, 3 and 4 of lactation, and additionally in mo 4 we applied three consecutive challenges, each consisting of a 4-d feed restriction followed by a 3-d refeeding period. We modelled the individual response curves to diet changes for milk yield (MY), plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations. Based on these curves we clustered cows into two groups differing in their metabolic response (MR): High and Low MR cows. Then we compared the response of both MR clusters with advancing lactation or in response to three successive challenges. Basal values of MY, NEFA and BHB decreased as lactation advanced, indicating a lower metabolic load. The High MR cows had greater basal values for all traits and a more intense response to feed restriction in terms of reduction of MY and increase of NEFA and BHB, but cows in both MR clusters showed similar reaction times. Since their BW and condition score were similar, the response appeared to be driven by the milk potential of the cow rather than by their size or body reserves. When subjected to successive challenges in mo 4, the High MR cows showed a faster and stronger response to diet changes than the Low MR cows (Figure 1). The NEFA response to restriction diminished with the consecutive iterations, resulting in an increased milk loss as compared with the pre-challenge yield. This implies that the habituation of the body lipid metabolism led to a sensitization of MY to repeated underfeeding. Cows of both MR clusters recovered baseline values during refeeding, which suggests that they were able to activate metabolic pathways to respond to and recover from the challenge. The strategies adopted by beef cows to cope with undernutrition changed as lactation progressed and also in response to reiterated feeding restrictions.
462 Artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve livestock farming
Authors: Dorea Joao , Menezes Guilherme Lobato
Published: September 2024

One of the constraints on advancing livestock research is the lack of large-scale quantification of physiological traits, a process often constrained by financial, labor-intensive, and scalability limitations, in addition to being traditionally performed through invasive methods. However, in the era of big data, the collection of large, extensive, and heterogeneous datasets via digital technologies, coupled with Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, has catalyzed significant progress across various research domains, including precision medicine, education, finance, and environmental and socioeconomic studies. This presentation will highlight our research efforts in employing computer vision systems (CVS). It will focus on a longitudinal study predicting body weight (BW) using a keypoint model. The discussion will include the advantages of using keypoints and 2D images to assess BW, which is important in the fields of animal growth and physiology in dairy and beef farm operations. We will also discuss the use of machine learning algorithms to early detect subclinical ketosis and locomotion problems in dairy cows. Lastly, this presentation will showcase the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for pasture and soil management in grazing conditions. Our main goal with this presentation is to discuss how CVS and AI can generate valuable data in different areas, allowing for large-scale phenotyping, improving farm performance and sustainability.
459 A new approach to measuring dry matter intake, from drylot to pasture: Activities of the alliance for regenerative livestock
Authors: Wilson Matthew E , Blake Nathan , Walker Matthew , Holaskova Ida , ArunKumar K E
Published: September 2024

The current state of feed intake measurement for cattle in confinement relies on expensive monitoring systems. There is no effective method for measuring feed intake in grazing animals. To address these limitations, our research aims to tap into the potential of passively collected data, such as data from the Internet of Things (IoT), to address practical challenges in animal agriculture. This includes improving livestock management, optimizing resource allocation, and reducing ecological footprints. The benefits of our research extend beyond improved livestock management to include reducing ecological footprints, such as water, carbon, and environmental footprints. Grazing livestock have a crucial role in nutrient cycling in grasslands and advancing more sustainable livestock production systems. This requires innovation of research methods for quantifying intakes of animals housed in a variety of systems including confinement facilities that lack expensive feed intake systems and for grazing animals. Currently, the industry standard for determining feed intake are equations published in the Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle (NASEM, 2016). Our recent efforts using machine learning approaches (Blake et al., 2023) dramatically outperforms the equations. Using the same dataset, the NASEM (2016) approach overestimates intake by 34%. We have developed a predictive algorithm utilizing data collected from animals in confinement where individual feed intake (ground truth) is known. We have developed machine learning models such as Repeated Measures Random Forests (RMRF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) to better predict feed intake in confined cattle. We have also used these predictive algorithms to determine feed intake of grazing animals and animals in confinement without feed intake systems and validated the predictive value of the approach.