Sow performance in response to natural betaine fed during lactation and post-weaning during summer and non-summer months.

BACKGROUND: Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary natural betaine on sow reproductive performance during summer (Exp. 1) and non-summer months (Exp. 2). Treatments were designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with factors including dietary betaine (0 or 0.2%) and period of supplementation (lactation or post-weaning until 35 days post-insemination). In Exp. 1, 322 and 327 sows and in Exp. 2, 300 and 327 sows representing young (parity 1 and 2) and mature (parity 3 to 6) sows, respectively, were used. RESULTS: In Exp. 1, supplementation of betaine during lactation increased sow body weight losses (- 11.95 vs. -14.63 kg; P = 0.024), reduced feed intake (4.12 vs. 4.28 kg/d; P = 0.052), and tended to reduce percentage of no-value pigs (P = 0.071). Betaine fed post-weaning reduced weaning-to-estrus interval (5.75 vs. 6.68 days; P = 0.054) and farrowing rate (86.74% vs. 91.36%; P = 0.060), regardless of parity group. Post-hoc analysis with sows clustered into 3 parity groups (1, 2 and 3, and 4+) indicated that betaine fed in lactation to parity 4+ sows (P = 0.026) and betaine fed post-weaning to parity 1 sows increased the number of pigs born in the subsequent cycle (P ≤ 0.05). In Exp. 2, betaine fed during lactation tended to reduce the weaning-to-estrus interval (6.64 vs. 7.50 days; P = 0.077) and farrowing rate (88.23% vs. 83.54%; P = 0.089), regardless of parity group. Feeding betaine post-weaning reduced number of pigs born (13.00 vs. 13.64; P = 0.04) and pigs born alive (12.30 vs. 12.82; P = 0.075), regardless of parity group. CONCLUSIONS: Using 0.2% betaine during the non-summer months did not benefit sow performance. During the summer, betaine supplementation in lactation increased subsequent litter size in parity 4+ sows. Betaine fed during the post-weaning period reduced the wean-to-estrus interval and farrowing rate, increased total number of pigs born for parity 1 sows and reduced total number of pigs born to parity 4+ sows. Further research is needed to determine if the detrimental effects on feed intake and farrowing rate may be correlated and depend on dietary betaine level.

The effect of primer cap material on ballistic toolmark evidence.

There has recently been an increase in the research and implementation of advanced measurement techniques to ballistic toolmark identification. This has led to a shift from greyscale imaging to the acquisition of dense areal datasets. With the addition of mathematical correlation algorithms, these advanced techniques will be advantageous in criminal investigation. However, with the use of areal topography comes the addition of height point data which may differ in primer caps of varying material composition. This study discusses the differences in the overall topography of firing pin impressions in different primer cap materials, and the effect it has on the successful correlation of ballistic toolmark evidence.

Superdosing phytase reduces real-time gastric pH in broilers and weaned piglets.

1. The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of high phytase doses on growth performance and real-time gastric pH measurements in broiler chickens and pigs. 2. In the first experiment, 576 male Ross 308 broilers were fed in two phases (0-21 and 21-42 d) with 4 treatment groups, with diets meeting nutrient requirements containing 0, 500, 1500 or 2500 FTU/kg phytase. In the second, 64 Landrace weaners were fed on diets meeting nutrient requirements with or without phytase (0 or 2500 FTU/kg) in two phases (0-21 and 21-42 d). Heidelberg pH capsules were administered to 7 broilers and approximately 13 pigs per treatment group, pre- and post-phase change, with readings monitored over several hours. 3. Addition of phytase into an adequate Ca and P diet had no significant effect on broiler performance although phytase tended (P < 0.07) to improve feed conversion in pigs over the entire experimental period. Real-time pH capsule readings in broilers demonstrated an increase (P < 0.05) in gizzard pH when phytase was dosed at 500 or 1500 FTU/kg, while higher doses of 2500 FTU/kg phytase lowered pH to a level comparable to control birds. Gastric pH increased (P < 0.01) when animals were exposed to dietary phase change, signifying a potential challenge period for nutrient digestibility. However, pigs fed 2500 FTU/kg were able to maintain gastric pH levels through diet phase change. In contrast, spear-tip probe measurements showed no treatment effect on gastric pH. 4. These findings demonstrate dietary manipulation of gastric pH and the value of real-time pH capsule technology as a means of determining phytase dose response.

Effect of combined xylanase and phytase on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, and carcass characteristics in growing pigs fed corn-based diets containing high-fiber coproducts.

Phytate has been shown to be an antinutrient, and the feeding of high levels of phytase can break down phytate to improve nutrient utilization and pig performance. Dietary xylanase targets arabinoxylan breakdown, thereby improving energy utilization in pigs. However, the effects of simultaneous supplementation have not been clearly determined. Crossbred pigs ( = 45; mean initial weight, 26.4 ± 0.2 kg) were allotted to 1 of 9 treatments to evaluate the effects of both xylanase (endo-1,4-ß xylanase [EC 3.2.1.8]) and phytase (6-phytase [EC 3.1.3.26]) supplementation as follows: 1) positive control (PC), a corn-soybean meal-based diet with 15% corn distillers dried grains with solubles, 15% wheat middlings, and 13% corn germ meal; 2) negative control (NC), ME was reduced by 103 kcal/kg from the PC diet by replacement of fat with corn starch; 3) NC + phytase (500 phytase units (FTU)/kg diet); 4) NC + phytase (1,000 FTU/kg diet); 5) NC + phytase (2,000 FTU/kg diet); 6) NC + xylanase (24,000 xylanase units [BXU]/kg diet); 7) NC + phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) + xylanase (24,000 BXU/kg diet); 8) NC + phytase (1,000 FTU/kg diet) + xylanase (24,000 BXU/kg diet); and 9) NC + phytase (2,000 FTU/kg diet) + xylanase (24,000 BXU/kg diet). All diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirements before phytase and xylanase addition to the diets. There were no significant interactions between xylanase and phytase supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). The ADG ( < 0.01, quadratic) and G:F ( < 0.05, linear) for the overall period increased as phytase level increased. The ATTD of P increased as phytase supplementation level increased ( < 0.05, linear and quadratic). The ATTD of DM, NDF, ether extract ( < 0.05), and hemicellulose ( = 0.05) increased quadratically as phytase level increased. Estimated carcass lean percentage and lean gain increased ( < 0.05, linear) as phytase level increased. Xylanase supplementation had no effect on growth performance, ATTD, and carcass characteristics. The results demonstrated an improved nutrient digestibility, performance, and carcass response to phytase supplementation beyond P provision because all diets exceeded current P requirement estimates based on standardized total tract digestible P.

Effects of high inclusion of soybean meal and a phytase superdose on growth performance of weaned pigs housed under the rigors of commercial conditions.

Two studies were conducted to determine whether soybean meal (SBM) use in nursery pig diets can be increased by superdosing with phytase. In Exp. 1, 2,550 pigs (BW of 5.54 ± 0.09 kg) were used to evaluate the optimal level of phytase in low- or high-SBM diets. Two SBM levels (low and high) and 4 phytase doses (0, 1,250, 2,500, and 3,750 phytase units [FTU]/kg) were combined to create 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. Pigs were fed a 3-phase feeding program, with each period being 10, 10, and 22 d, respectively. Inclusion of low and high SBM was 15.0 and 25.0%, respectively, for Phase 1; 19.0 and 29.0%, respectively, for Phase 2; and 32.5% for the common Phase 3 diet. Pigs fed diets with high SBM had improved G:F for Phase 1 and 2 and overall ( < 0.01) compared with low-SBM diets. Phytase quadratically improved G:F during Phase 3 and overall ( < 0.05), with the optimum phytase dose being 2,500 FTU/kg. High-SBM diets tended ( = 0.09) to decrease stool firmness (determined daily from d 1 to 10) only on d 2. In Exp. 2, 2,112 pigs (BW of 5.99 ± 0.10 kg) were used to evaluate the impact of high levels of SBM and phytase on performance, stool firmness, mortality, and morbidity in weaned pigs originating from a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus-positive sow farm. Pigs were fed a 3-phase feeding program as in Exp. 1. Three levels of SBM (low, medium, or high) and 2 phytase levels (600 or 2,600 FTU) were combined to create 6 dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Inclusion of SBM was 15.0, 22.5, and 30.0% for Phase 1 and 20.0, 27.5, and 35.0% for Phase 2 for low, medium, and high SBM, respectively, and 29.0% for the common Phase 3 diet. Inclusion of SBM did not affect growth performance. The percentage of pigs removed for medical treatment linearly declined with increasing SBM levels ( = 0.04). High-SBM diets tended ( < 0.10) to decrease stool firmness during d 4 and 5 and high phytase tended ( < 0.10) to improve stool firmness on d 2 and 4. Analyzed PRRS titers in saliva samples collected on d 20 and 42 confirmed the PRRS status of the pigs; however, viral load was not impacted by dietary treatments ( ≥ 0.11). Results indicate that SBM levels in early nursery diets can be increased without decreasing growth performance and may be favorable in pigs originating from PRRS-positive sow farms by reducing costs of medical treatments. Supplementation of phytase at superdose levels can improve growth performance independently from the level of SBM in the diet.

Enzyme supplementation to improve the nutritional value of fibrous feed ingredients in swine diets fed in dry or liquid form.

This study evaluated the effect of xylanase supplementation (with or without), feeding method (dry or liquid), and feedstuff (corn distiller's dried grains with solubles [DDGS] or wheat middlings) on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of GE and nutrients, intestinal morphology, ileal and cecal pH, and VFA concentrations. Sixty-four growing pigs (25.87 ± 0.38kg initial BW) were blocked by BW and sex and randomly assigned to 8 dietary treatments. Within each feedstuff, diets were fed either liquid or dry, without or with xylanase (24,000 birch xylan units/kg feed), for 16 d. Diets contained 3.32 and 3.19 Mcal/kg ME for DDGS- and wheat middlings-based diets, respectively. Pigs were fed restricted at 3 times maintenance ME requirements. Liquid diets were prepared by steeping DDGS or wheat middlings with water (1:3, wt/vol) with or without xylanase for 24 h followed by mixing with a basal ingredient mixture and water to achieve a final ratio of 1:2.5 (wt/vol). During steeping of wheat middlings, some fiber degradation occurred. When xylanase was added in dry wheat middlings diets, AID of GE ( < 0.10) and NDF ( < 0.05) increased compared with dry wheat middlings diets without xylanase (64.50 vs. 54.67% and 52.88 vs. 31.69%, respectively), but supplementation of xylanase did not impact AID of GE and NDF when liquid wheat middlings diets were fed. Xylanase in liquid DDGS diets increased ( < 0.05) the AID of NDF compared with liquid DDGS diets without xylanase, but xylanase did not affect AID of NDF in dry DDGS diets. Xylanase in wheat middlings diets improved ( < 0.05) ATTD of GE and N compared with wheat middlings diets without xylanase (80.37 vs. 78.07% and 80.23 vs. 77.94%, respectively). However, there was no effect of xylanase in DDGS diets. Pigs fed DDGS diets had greater concentrations of butyrate in the cecum ( = 0.001) than pigs fed wheat middlings diets (27.6 vs. 20.4 mmol/L). Pigs fed DDGS diets with xylanase had deeper crypts ( < 0.05) in the jejunum than pigs fed DDGS diets without xylanase (98.20 vs. 86.16 µm), but xylanase had no effect in pigs fed wheat middlings diets. Results suggest that liquid feeding and xylanase supplementation had limited potential to enhance nutrient digestibility in pigs fed DDGS-based diets. However, xylanase supplementation in dry wheat middlings-based diets improved the AID of NDF and ATTD of GE and N, but liquid feeding as pretreatment did not further enhance the nutritional value of wheat middlings-based diets.

Effect of natural betaine on estimates of semen quality in mature AI boars during summer heat stress.

This study evaluated the effect of supplemental dietary betaine at three concentrations (0.0%, 0.63% and 1.26%) on semen characteristics, quality and quality after storage on boars. The trial was conducted between 22 July and 1 October 2014 in a boar stud located in Oklahoma. Boars were blocked by age within genetic line and randomly allotted to receive 0% (CON, n (line T)=22, n (line L)=10), 0.63% (BET-0.63%, n (line T)=21, n (line L)=6) or 1.26% (BET-1.26%, n (line T)=23, n (line L)=7). The diets containing betaine were fed over 10 weeks, to ensure supplemental betaine product (96% betaine) daily intakes of 16.34 and 32.68g, for the BET-0.63% and BET-1.26% diets, respectively. Serum homocysteine concentrations were less for animals with betaine treatments (P=0.016). Rectal temperatures of the boars were unaffected by betaine diets. Betaine tended to increase total sperm in the ejaculates when collectively compared with data of the control animals (P=0.093). Sperm morphology analysis indicated there was a greater percent of sperm with distal midpiece reflex (P=0.009) and tail (P=0.035) abnormalities in boars fed the BET-1.26% than boars fed the BET-0.63% diet. Betaine concentration in the seminal plasma was greater in boars with betaine treatments, with animals being fed the 0.63% and 1.26% diets having 59.2% and 54.5% greater betaine concentrations in seminal plasma as compared with boars of the control group (P=0.046). In conclusion, betaine supplementation at 0.63% and 1.26% tended to increase sperm concentration in the ejaculates by 6% and 13%, respectively, with no negative impacts on semen quality when 0.63% of betaine was included in the diet.

Evaluation of the effects of pharmacological zinc oxide and phosphorus source on weaned piglet growth performance, plasma minerals and mineral digestibility.

Crossbred pigs (n=720; average age=28±3 days and weight=9.5±0.3 kg) were used in a 20-day trial in order to determine the influence of phosphorus (P) source and various doses of pharmacological zinc (Zn) on growth performance, plasma minerals and mineral digestibility. Pigs (five intact males and five females per pen) were randomly allotted to treatments in a 3×3 factorial arrangement with three sources of dietary P (4.5 g/kg digestible P, 4.5 g/kg digestible P plus 2500 phytase units (FTU)/kg, or 5.5 g/kg digestible P) and three dietary levels of supplemental Zn (0, 1750 or 3500 mg/kg) from ZnO (82% Zn) with eight pens per treatment. Diets were formulated to exceed all nutrient requirements, including calcium (Ca), P and Zn from day 0 to 20. Zn supplementation increased (quadratic P<0.05) average daily feed intake. There was a significant Zn level×P source interaction on average daily gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Pigs fed 4.5 g/kg digestible P without or with 2500 FTU/kg phytase gained more per day (quadratic P<0.05) and had better FCR (quadratic P<0.05) when they were fed 1750 mg/kg supplemental Zn. However, pigs fed 5.5 g/kg digestible P gained more per day (linear P<0.05) and were more efficient (linear P<0.05) when they were fed 3500 mg/kg supplemental Zn. Plasma Zn and Zn digestibility increased (linear P<0.05) as pharmacological Zn supplementation increased from 0 to 3500 mg/kg, irrespective of P source. However, Ca, P, sodium (Na), potassium (K) and copper (Cu) digestibility were reduced (P<0.05) as pharmacological Zn supplementation increased, and this was mitigated or exacerbated by the supplementation of 5.5 g/kg digestible P or phytase. In conclusion, increasing the dietary inclusion of pharmacological Zn may impact growth performance in young pigs through the interaction with minerals such as Ca, P, Na and K. Pharmacological Zn may reduce Na or K digestibility and indirectly reduce water secretion into the lumen, resulting in an increase in faecal dry matter as pharmacological Zn supplementation in the diet increased.

Influence of a microbial phytase and zinc oxide on young pig growth performance and serum minerals.

Crossbred pigs (n=288; average age=21±3 d and BW=7.1±0.2 kg) were used in a 42-d trial to determine the influence of a microbial phytase and various doses of ZnO on growth performance and serum minerals. Pigs (6 castrated males or females/pen) were randomly allotted to treatments in a 2×3 factorial arrangement with 2 dietary levels of a microbial phytase (0 or 2,500 phytase units/kg) and 3 dietary levels of supplemental ZnO [0, 1750, or 3,500 mg/kg ZnO (72% Zn)] with 4 pens of castrated males and 4 pens of females per treatment. Diets were formulated to exceed all nutrient requirements, including Ca and P from d 0 to 21 (phase 1) and d 22 to 42 (phase 2). Growth performance, serum Zn, and serum P were not influenced (P>0.05) by a ZnO×phytase interaction during phase 1, phase 2, or overall (d 0 to 42). Phytase increased (P=0.01) ADFI and improved (P=0.02) ADG in phase 1 and improved (P=0.01) overall ADG, regardless of the level of ZnO supplemented. Zinc oxide supplementation linearly reduced (P=0.05) ADG, and ZnO at 3,500 mg/kg reduced (quadratic, P=0.04) G:F in pigs (phase 2). During phase 1, phytase increased serum Ca, but only in the absence of ZnO supplementation, which resulted in a ZnO×phytase interaction (P=0.02). Serum Zn was increased (linear, P<0.001) and serum P was decreased (linear, P=0.05) as ZnO supplementation increased in the diet (phase 1). In phase 2, serum Ca was reduced (linear, P=0.04) and serum Zn was increased (linear, P=0.02) as ZnO supplementation increased in the diet. Phytase supplementation increased (P=0.009) serum Zn and increased (P=0.003) serum P (phase 1). There was no influence of phytase supplementation on serum minerals in phase 2. In summary, supplemental ZnO reduced growth performance in this experiment. Phytase supplementation improved ADG in Ca- and P-adequate diets regardless of the level of ZnO supplemented, which may be attributed to the reduction of phytate as an antinutrient. In addition, through phytate hydrolysis, phytase reduced phytate-Zn interactions and increased serum Zn, Ca, and P. However, supplementing ZnO increased serum Zn, which reduced serum P and Ca, indicating Ca-Zn-P precipitation. In addition, phytase increased serum Ca, but only in the absence of Zn, further indicating a complex interaction between Zn, Ca, and P in the blood.

Improving the repeat prescribing process in a busy general practice. A study using continuous quality improvement methodology.

PROBLEM: A need to improve service to patients by reducing the time wasted by reception staff so that the 48 hour target for processing repeat prescription requests for patient collection could be achieved. DESIGN: An interprofessional team was established within the practice to tackle the area of repeat prescribing which had been identified as a priority by practice reception staff. The team met four times in three months and used continuous quality improvement (CQI) methodology (including the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle) with the assistance of an external facilitator. BACKGROUND AND SETTING: A seven partner practice serving the 14,000 patients on the northern outskirts of Bournemouth including a large council estate and a substantial student population from Bournemouth University. The repeat prescribing process is computerised. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Reducing turn around times for repeat prescription requests. Reducing numbers of requests which need medical records to be checked to issue the script. Feedback to staff about the working of the process. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE: Using a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for guidance, the team decided to (a) coincide repeat medications and to record on the computer drugs prescribed during visits; (b) give signing of prescriptions a higher priority and bring them to doctors' desks at an agreed time; and (c) move the site for printing prescriptions to the reception desk so as to facilitate face to face queries. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: Prescription turnaround within 48 hours increased from 95% to 99% with reduced variability case to case and at a reduced cost. The number of prescriptions needing records to be looked at was reduced from 18% to 8.6%. This saved at least one working day of receptionist time each month. Feedback from all staff within the practice indicated greatly increased satisfaction with the newly designed process. LESSONS LEARNT: The team's experience suggests that a combination of audit and improvement methodology offers a powerful way to learn about, and improve, practice. The interventions used by the team not only produced measurable and sustainable improvements but also helped the team to learn about the cost of achieving the results and provided them with tools to accomplish the aims. The importance of feedback to all staff about CQI measures was also recognised.

Downstream fining by selective deposition in a laboratory flume.

There has long been debate about the relative importance of abrasion versus selective deposition of the coarsest clasts in causing downstream fining of sediment in river systems. Although high fining rates observed in many natural rivers seem to require strong selective deposition, the ability of selective deposition to produce downstream size sorting has never been measured under controlled conditions. In an experiment using a long flume and a poorly sorted, bimodal gravel feed, downstream fining was produced by a factor of 1.3 in median size and 1.8 in 90th percentile size, over a distance of 21 meters. The experimental conditions rule out abrasion effects. Selective deposition appears to be a natural consequence of the transport and deposition of sufficiently poorly sorted or bimodal gravels and appears to be capable of accounting for fining rates observed in natural gravel rivers.

Clinical psychology and general managers.

Peter Wilcock and Rowena Rossiter begin by describing changing responsibilities of clinical psychologists over the last 20 years. They show how some roles they undertake, which may seem far removed from client contact, have developed from psychologically based client-centred work, and this still lies at the root of the profession. They illustrate the current and potential contribution to be made to the NHS and general managers by clinical psychologists.

Paired associates: a workshop model for effecting change.

A series of workshops for staff working with profoundly handicapped children was organized, the main concern of which was to improve the teaching approaches with such a population. The workshops were the result of an innovative attempt by the British Psychological Society's Standing Committee on Handicap to apply current knowledge of the real life problems of work settings in schools or hospitals where children are educated. The workshops covered a period of 3 months with approximately one term between the first and second. Participants attended in pairs, one member of each pair being either a clinical or educational psychologist, and a variety of problems presented by the children were tackled. This paper attempts to describe the structure and operation of the workshops, to evaluate their outcome, and to suggest ideas for the future of such an approach.