bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Muscle-specific metabolic, histochemical and biochemical responses to a nutritionally induced discontinuous growth path
Authors: Cassar-Malek I. , Hocquette J. F. , Jurie C. , Listrat A. , Jailler R. , Bauchart D. , Briand Y. , Picard B. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAn experiment was conducted with 42 Montbéliard steers to determine if nutritionally induced interrupted growth could influence muscle characteristics of steers and hence meat quality. A restriction/refeeding path was designed in order to induce a discontinuous growth path. At 9 months of age, 21 steers were given a restricted amount of diet for 3 months and were then slaughtered (R steers; no. = 10; intake: 5·28 kg dry matter (DM) per day) or subjected to a 4-month ad libitum refeeding period (R/F steers; no. = 11; intake: 8·99 kg DM per day) with the same diet (11·03 to 11·12 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg DM) prior to slaughter. An additional 21 control steers were offered the same diet but in amounts that allowed them to gain continuously between 9 and 12 months of age, and were then slaughtered (C steers; no. = 10; intake: 7·08 kg DM per day) or maintained on a continuous feeding protocol through to 16 months of age prior to slaughter (C/C steers; no. = 11; intake: 8·07 kg DM per day). M. semitendinosus (ST), m. longisssimus thoracis and m. triceps brachii (TB) were collected for biochemical and histochemical analyses. R steers had a lower average daily gain (ADG; P 0·001), a lower final weight (P 0·01) and a leaner carcass (P 0·01) than C steers. Upon refeeding, R/F steers had a higher ADG than C/C steers (P 0·05) and underwent compensatory growth resulting in compensation of body weight and composition at 16 months. In muscles, glycolytic lactate dehydrogenase activity was lower in R steers (P 0·01) and restored in R/F steers compared with control steers. Among oxidative enzymes, cytochrome-c oxidase activity was higher in the TB of R/F compared with C/C steers (P 0·001) indicating a muscle-specific metabolic adaptation to the feeding level. There was little effect of the nutritional treatment on muscle fibre size and type except for an increase in the frequency of hybrid fibres in R and R/F groups (P 0·05). Total and insoluble collagen content were affected by restriction (P 0·001) in a muscle-specific manner: insoluble collagen content was lower in ST, but total and insoluble collagen contents were higher in TB of R compared with C animals at 12 months of age. No differences were recorded in lipid contents nor in proteasome activities. The data suggest that an alternation of relatively mild nutritional restriction and ad libitumfeeding had only a small effect on muscle characteristics. However, muscles respond differentially to changes in feeding level.
Partial and total apparent digestibility of dietary carbohydrates in horses as affected by the diet
Authors: Varloud M. , Fombelle A. de , Goachet A. G. , Drogoul C. , Julliand V. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe study reported in this paper was conducted to evaluate the digestibility of dietary carbohydrates (‘starch and sugars’ (S), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF)) and organic matter (OM) in the different parts of the equine digestive tract (stomach, jejuno-ileum, caecum, right ventral colon, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, right dorsal colon, small colon and faeces). Three horses were given a standard diet (D1) based on fibrous pellets and straw and four were offered a high energy diet (D2) based on starch pellets and meadow hay. The digesta collection procedure, by total tract removal, permitted measurement of organ length, and dry matter and volume of digesta. Acid-detergent lignin (ADL) and acid insoluble ash (AIA) were used as natural digestibility markers. It was shown that AIA and ADL gave coherent data for ‘starch and sugars’ digestibility evaluation. ADL was a more relevant marker for parietal carbohydrates and OM digestibilities in horses given D1, whereas AIA have been preferred to evaluate these components digestibilities in horses offered D2. In horses given D1, precaecal OM digestibility coefficient varied from -0·04 to 0·20 whereas it varied from 0·46 to 0·62 in horses receiving D2. For both pellets, the results showed a considerable S digestibility occurring in the stomach (0·69 and 0·60 for D1 and D2 respectively) and this continued in the small intestine (0·88 and 0·89 for D1 and D2 respectively). With the exception of D2, structural carbohydrate fractions of the foods were poorly digested in the pre-caecal digestive parts. In the hindgut, OM digestibility coefficient varied from 0·47 to 0·60 for D1 and from 0·33 to 0·51 for D2. In horses given D1, highest digestibility was observed for each dietary carbohydrate in the left dorsal colon where it reached 0·99 for S; 0·45 for NDF and 0·40 for ADF. In horses receiving D2, the dietary components’ digestibilities increased regularly along the hindgut up to the faeces. The D2 structural fractions (NDF and ADF) digestibilities in the hindgut and faeces were lower than in horses given D1. These results not only confirmed that high energy diets like D2 can affect structural carbohydrate digestion in the horse hindgut but also indicated that a large amount of the energy part of the pelleted morning meal is broken down in the stomach.
Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and associated binding proteins in plasma and mRNA expression in tissues of growing pigs on a low threonine diet
Authors: Katsumata M. , Kawakami S. , Kaji Y. , Takada§ R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe aim was to determine whether dietary threonine levels affected hepatic insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA expression as well as plasma IGF-1 concentration and IGF binding protein (IGFBP) profile in growing pigs. Two male 6-week-old pigs from each of seven litters were used. Each littermate was assigned to one of two diets, control or low threonine (LT), providing per kg 14·3 MJ digestible energy in both diets, 170 g protein in the control diet and 167 g protein in the LT diet. The control diet contained all essential amino acids in the recommended amounts, including 8·2 g threonine per kg. The LT diet was similar but contained only 5·1 g threonine per kg. Pigs were pair-fed these diets for 3 weeks. Growth rate and food efficiency of pigs given the LT diet were significantly lower than those of pigs given the control diet (P 0·001). Plasma IGF-1 concentration of pigs given the LT diet was proportionately 0·44 lower than that of pigs given the control diet (P 0·01). Plasma free threonine concentration of pigs given the LT diet was lower than that of the pigs given the control diet (P 0·001). Plasma IGFBP2 level of pigs given the LT diet was significantly higher than that of pigs given the control diet (P 0·05). Pigs given the LT diet had a significantly lower plasma IGFBP3 level compared with their littermates given the control diet (P 0·05) suggesting that clearance rate of circulating IGF-1 was higher in the LT group. Dietary threonine level did not affect IGF-1 mRNA abundance in the liver. It is concluded that lower plasma IGF-1 level caused by reduced dietary threonine level may have been partly due to increased clearance rate of circulating IGF-1 but not due to IGF-1 gene expression in the liver.
Oxidative stress in primiparous cows in relation to dietary starch and the progress of lactation
Authors: Gabai G. , Testoni S. , Piccinini R. , Marinelli L. , Howard C. M. , Stradaioli G. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractOxidative stress may be important in early lactation cows due to high metabolic demands. Modifying dietary starch may alter glucose utilization, modify oxidative metabolism and, consequently, increase oxidative stress. To test this hypothesis, early lactation primiparous cows underwent a short-term dietary starch restriction followed by realimentation. At calving, 10 Friesian primiparous cows were randomly assigned to two groups and given a basal starch diet (BSD, 249 g/kg of starch dry matter (DM)) in the form of a total mixed ration until 42 days in milk (DIM). Afterwards, five cows (CTR) continued to receive the same diet and five cows (EXP) were allotted to experimental diets: low starch diet (LSD, 210 g/kg starch DM) from 43 to 65 DIM followed by high starch diet (HSD, 283 g/kg starch DM) from 66 to 85 DIM and BSD from 86 to 94 DIM. Blood samples were collected at 37, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 94 DIM to measure total plasma glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity as indicators of oxidative stress, N-acetyl-ß-D glucosaminidase (NAGase), lysosyme, and white blood cell counts as indicators of immune response. Metabolic adaptations were evaluated by glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BOHB), insulin, and GH concentrations, and the acid/base balance. Milk yield was not significantly different between groups throughout the experiment and was correlated with TBARS (r 0·284; P 0·05) and GSH (r = 0·294; P 0·05). Estimated energy intake was significantly higher in the EXP group at 70 DIM only (P 0·05). Plasma glucose was significantly lower in the EXP group at 50, 60 (P 0·001) and 80 DIM (P 0·05), and was correlated with GSH (r = 0·348; P 0·01) and TBARS (r = 0·367; P 0·01). Plasma NEFA decreased overall in both groups (P 0·01). EXP was lower than CTR in concentrations of plasma BOHB at 70 DIM (P 0·05) and plasma insulin at 60 (P 0·001), 80 and 94 (P 0·05) DIM. Plasma TBARS, GSH and GPx increased throughout (P 0·01) in both groups. This was delayed in the EXP group following introduction of LSD; significant differences between groups at 60 (P 0·01), 80 and 95 (P 0·05) DIM for TBARS, and at 70 (P 0·01) and 80 (P 0·05) DIM for GPx. Indicators of immune response and plasma bicarbonates did not differ between groups. Blood pH was significantly lower in the EXP group at 80 and 94 DIM (P 0·001). Blood pCO2 was significantly lower at 80 and 94 DIM (P 0·05) in the CTR group. While recovering from the negative energy balance, cellular metabolism probably shifted towards oxidative phosphorylation, with a consequent oxidative stress increase. LSD delayed this recovery in the EXP group and thus reduced GSH synthesis. In conclusion, the diet starch content may alter the control of oxidative stress and expose animals to oxidative injuries.
The effect of stocking density and social regrouping stressors on growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility and physiological stress responses in pigs
Authors: Leek A. B. G. , Sweeney B. T. , Duffy P. , Beattie V. E. , O’Doherty J. V. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA 2 ✕ 2 factorial arrangement of treatments used 280 growing pigs and 240 finishing pigs to examine the main effects and interactions between two levels of stocking density (0·75 m2 v. 0·45 m2 per growing pig and 0·88 m2 v. 0·53 m2 per finishing pig) and grouping (static groups v. regrouped) on pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility and measurements of physiological indicators of stress responses. Regrouping was achieved by moving four unfamiliar pigs between replicate groups every 14 days. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily food intake (ADFI) were reduced by an additive interaction between high density and regrouping in growing pigs (P < 0·01). In finishing pigs, regrouping reduced ADG (P 0·05) and carcass weight (P 0·05). Regrouping reduced apparent dry matter and gross energy digestibility in finishing pigs (P 0·05). Rectal temperature increased 3 h after mixing finishing pigs (P 0·05), but not growing pigs. In growing pigs, the neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio tended to increase (P 0·1) after regrouping, although plasma cortisol concentration was unaffected. In finishing pigs, the response to a Newcastle disease virus antigen challenge tended to decrease at high stocking density (P 0·1), although total IgG concentration was unaffected. In conclusion, the growth performance of growing and finishing pigs was affected by social stressors. However, effects on the physiological measurements did not concur with effects on growth performance.
Theoretical model of heat balance in pigs
Authors: Fialho F. B. , Bucklin R. A. , Zazueta F. S. , Myer R. O. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA theoretical model was developed to predict the heat balance and body temperature of growing and finishing pigs subjected to different environments. The heat transfer modes considered in the model were convection to the surrounding air, conduction to the floor, long-wave radiation between the animal and the surrounding walls, shortwave radiation from the sun, evaporation on the skin surface, evaporation and heating of air in the respiratory tract and heating of ingested food and water. The heat balance is the net heat gain or loss from the environment due to all these processes, added to the animal's heat production. Body temperature is calculated over time using the heat balance, the animal's mass and the specific heat of the animal's body. Behavioural responses to heat and cold environments, such as vasoconstriction, vasodilatation, posture changes and huddling were expressed as changes in heat transfer coefficients and exposed surface area. The increase in evaporation under hot conditions was also considered. It was assumed that the animal's reaction to the environment may be expressed as a function of mean body temperature. The animal's heat production was considered an input to the model, which should reflect the increased metabolic rate in cold environments. Although further research is still needed to determine precisely some of the parameters, the model may be integrated with other models in order to compose a complete pig model.
An estimate of the leucine requirement for young pigs
Authors: N. R. Augspurger  , Baker D. H. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThree pig trials were done to estimate an objective requirement of young (10 to 20 kg) pigs for leucine (Leu). Within each trial, four or five replicates of five pigs were given ad libitum access to their experimental diet for a period of 21 (trial 1) or 19 days (trials 2 and 3). A Leu-deficient diet (177 g crude protein per kg) based on maize, peanut meal, lactose, sucrose, dried whey, maize starch, soya-bean meal (SBM), and gelatin was used in these trials. Trial 1 showed that the Leu-deficient diet supplemented with Leu produced responses in weight gain and gain/food ratio that were similar (P > 0·10) to that obtained from a maize-SBM-whey positive-control diet containing 213 g crude protein (CP) per kg. Trials 2 and 3 utilized graded levels of crystalline L-Leu to determine the minimal Leu requirement in young pigs. Both trials showed linear increases (P < 0·05) in weight gain and gain/food as a result of Leu supplementation. Closer examination of the data revealed no significant change in gain/food or PUN responses above 11·2 g/kg total Leu in trial 2, or in weight gain or PUN values above 11·5 g/kg total Leu in trial 3. These data indicate that the Leu requirement of young pigs is probably not greater than 11·5 g/kg (10·5 g/kg true digestible), which equates to approximately 0·72 g true digestible Leu per MJ metabolizable energy. The ideal ratio of Leu to Lys appears to be close to 1: 1 for pigs in the weight range of 10 to 20 kg.
Effect of driver behaviour, driving events and road type on the stability and resting behaviour of sheep in transit
Authors: Cockram M. S. , Baxter E. M. , Smith L. A. , Bell S. , Howard C. M. , Prescott R. J. , Mitchell M. A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe aim of this project was to examine the relationships between driver behaviour and driving events during a journey and the behavioural responses of sheep to these events. Driving style can have a major influence on the welfare of the animals by affecting the risk of injury and by disturbing the ability of the sheep to rest. Two drivers each drove groups of 10 sheep in a 5·5-tonne, single-deck, non-articulated livestock vehicle on five 7-h road journeys consisting of minor roads, main single carriageways and a motorway. The driver, the driver’s view through the windscreen, the speedometer and the sheep were video recorded. Differences in driving style were identified as differences in vehicle speed, rapid braking and the number of corners taken with high cornering g-force. Differences in driving style had a slight effect on the frequency of losses of balance by the sheep and a more significant effect on the degree of disturbance to the sheep and on their ability to rest during the journey. Losses of balance were common, but falls were rare. About 80% of the losses of balance could have been caused by driving events, such as acceleration, braking, stopping, cornering, gear changes and uneven road surfaces. Only about 22% of driving events were followed by a loss of balance. It is likely that driving events were also responsible for many interruptions to both lying behaviour and rumination. Clear benefits of motorway driving compared with single carriageway driving were fewer losses of balance, more lying down, more rumination and fewer disturbances amongst the sheep. This study provides evidence that would be useful for driver training and education to promote careful driving as a means of ensuring the welfare of animals in-transit. The quality of the journey experienced by sheep during transport is dependent upon a number of factors that can be influenced by the driver of the vehicle.
Ruminal fermentation, methanogenesis and nitrogen utilization of sheep receiving tropical grass hay-concentrate diets offered withSapindus saponariafruits andCratylia argenteafoliage
Authors: H. D. Hess  , Beuret R. A. , M. Lötscher  , Hindrichsen I. K. , A. Machmüller  , Carulla J. E. , Lascano C. E. , M. Kreuzer  
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe effects of supplementing a tropical, low-quality grass hay (Brachiaria dictyoneura) with legume foliage (Cratylia argentea) or fruits of the multipurpose tree Sapindus saponaria on ruminal fermentation, methane release and nitrogen (N) utilization were evaluated. Six Swiss White Hill lambs were used in a 6 ✕ 6 Latin-square design with a 3 ✕ 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with measurements of energy metabolism being conducted using open-circuit respiratory chambers. Treatments consisted of three basal diets, either grass alone or legume: grass ratios of 1: 2 or 2: 1. These basal diets were supplemented (1: 3) with a control concentrate or with a concentrate containing 250 g/kg dry matter ofS. saponariafruits. The apparent total tract digestibilities of organic matter (OM) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) were reduced and the proportionate crude protein (CP) losses through faeces were increased (P 0·01) by supplementation withS. saponaria, and digestibilities of OM and NDF were linearly reduced (P 0·001) with increasing legume proportion. Body energy retention, however, was similar in all diets. Along with CP intake, the proportionate CP losses through faeces decreased (P 0·001) with increasing legume proportion which was associated with improved (P 0·001) body protein retention and reduced (P 0·1) fat retention. Ruminal fluid ammonia concentration was not significantly affected (P > 0·1) by the inclusion ofS. saponariain the concentrate, but increased linearly (P 0·001) as dietary legume proportion was elevated. Supplementation with fruits ofS. saponariaincreased (P 0·01) total bacteria count, and decreased (P 0·001) total ciliate protozoa count by more than proportionately 0·50. Daily methane release was reduced (P 0·01) byS. saponariasupplementation in all basal diet types. Although being not clearly affected on a daily basis, methane release relative to body protein retention decreased linearly (P 0·05) with increasing legume proportion. The fact that interactions were mostly non-significant (P > 0·05) indicates that supplementation withS. saponariafruits is a useful means to reduce methane emission from sheep given both tropical grass-based and grass-legume-based diets. Likewise, including legumes in N-limited tropical diets seems to represent an environmentally friendly way to improve animal productivity.
Impact of replacing starch by digestible fibre, at two levels of lignocellulose, on digestion, growth and digestive health of the rabbit
Authors: Gidenne T. , Mirabito L. , Jehl N. , Perez J. -M. , Arveux P. , Bourdillon A. , Briens C. , Duperray J. , Corrent E. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractFour diets were arranged using a 2 ✕ 2 factorial design with two levels of lignocellulose, a high ‘HF’ or a low level ‘LF’ (acid-detergent fibre (ADF) = 191 v. 155 g/kg), combined with two levels of starch replacing 50 g/kg of digestible fibre (DF = hemicelluloses + pectins), a high starch (low DF) ‘HS’ or a low starch (high DF) level ‘LS’ (starch = 193 v. 123 g/kg). Two trials were conducted to measure digestive efficiency and rate of passage, respectively. A third trial was performed in a network of six French experimental breeding units to measure growth and digestive health on 507 rabbits per diet. Foods were offered ad libitum from weaning to slaughter.No significant interactions were detected between the effect of the level of lignocellulose and the effect of starch replacement by DF, on rabbit digestion, performance or digestive health. A proportional increase of overall food digestibility (organic matter (OM) or energy) was observed with the decrease of ADF level. When 50 g/kg of DF was replaced by starch we observed a significant improvement of OM and energy digestibility ( + 0·03 units). The whole-tract mean retention time of particles was 21 h. It was significantly longer with a lower ADF level ( + 5·4 h for LF v. HF diets), and it tended to increase when DF was substituted by starch ( + 2·2 h for HS v. LS diets).Between weaning and slaughter, food intake was mainly affected by the ADF level (139 v. 130 g/day respectively for HF and LF diets) and to a lesser extent by the replacement of DF by starch (136·2 v. 133·4 g/day, respectively for LS and HS diets). The weight gain was only slightly higher for high starch (low DF) diets ( +1 g/day) without an effect of the ADF level.Between weaning and slaughter, morbidity and mortality rates (from acute diarrhoea) were significantly reduced with high-fibre diets (-6 and -4 units respectively), while the replacement of DF by starch had no significant effect.