Purified lignin supplementation on the performance and antioxidant status of broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of purified lignin on the performance, relative organ weights, serum metabolites, and gene expression profiles of broiler chickens subjected to cyclic heat stress (HS). At 22 days old, 280 broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments, ten repetitions, and seven birds per experimental unit. The birds were subjected to daily cyclic HS. A high temperature of 32±1 °C was maintained for 10 h/day (08:00­18:00 h), while a temperature of 22±1 °C was maintained for the remaining time. Treatments were a basal diet or basal diet with the addition of 5, 10, or 15 g of purified lignin/kg of diet. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and means were compared by Tukey's test at 0.05 significance. There was no effect of lignin supplementation on performance, carcass yield, relative weights of the bursa, spleen, and liver, or serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, uric acid, malondialdehyde, triiodothyronine, or tetraiodothyronine. The abundance of mRNA of heat shock protein 70, nuclear factor-κB, glutathione peroxidase, and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase in the liver was similarly unaffected by treatments. Purified lignin supplementation does not improve performance or the antioxidant response of broiler chickens subjected to HS.(AU)

Sequential feeding with diets varying in amino acid content for growing-finishing pigs

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of daily phase feeding (DP) and sequential feeding (SEQ) on the feeding behavior, performance, and body composition of growing-finishing pigs. Sixty barrows at 29.7 ± 2.8 kg body weight (BW) were assigned to one of four treatments: DP with a blended proportion of feeds A (high nutrient density) and B (low nutrient density) was adjusted to match 100 % of daily amino acid (AA) diet recommendations (DP100); a negative treatment, which matched 70 % of daily AA diet recommendations (DP70); and two SEQ with a blend of feeds A and B, adjusted twice a day (at 00h00 and 12h00), to match 70 or 110 % of daily AA diet recommendations during two 12 h intervals: SEQ110-70 and SEQ70-110. DP70 and SEQ showed a lower feed consumption rate compared to DP100 (p 0.05). SEQ110-70 and SEQ70-110 showed similar ADFI, ADG, G:F and body lean mass (p > 0.05). However, fat gain was greater in SEQ110-70 than in SEQ70-110 (p < 0.05). Overall, the SEQ program does not improve performance and body composition. Furthermore, feeding pigs a diet with a higher AA level during the first 12 h of the day and a lower AA level during the remainder of the day increases fat deposition.

Sequential feeding with diets varying in amino acid content for growing-finishing pigs

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of daily phase feeding (DP) and sequential feeding (SEQ) on the feeding behavior, performance, and body composition of growing-finishing pigs. Sixty barrows at 29.7 ± 2.8 kg body weight (BW) were assigned to one of four treatments: DP with a blended proportion of feeds A (high nutrient density) and B (low nutrient density) was adjusted to match 100 % of daily amino acid (AA) diet recommendations (DP100); a negative treatment, which matched 70 % of daily AA diet recommendations (DP70); and two SEQ with a blend of feeds A and B, adjusted twice a day (at 00h00 and 12h00), to match 70 or 110 % of daily AA diet recommendations during two 12 h intervals: SEQ110-70 and SEQ70-110. DP70 and SEQ showed a lower feed consumption rate compared to DP100 (p < 0.05). Compare to DP100, pigs in both SEQ programs had a similar average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency ratio (G:F) and body fat and lean mass ( p > 0.05). SEQ110-70 and SEQ70-110 showed similar ADFI, ADG, G:F and body lean mass (p > 0.05). However, fat gain was greater in SEQ110-70 than in SEQ70-110 (p < 0.05). Overall, the SEQ program does not improve performance and body composition. Furthermore, feeding pigs a diet with a higher AA level during the first 12 h of the day and a lower AA level during the remainder of the day increases fat deposition.(AU)

Effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on growth performance and physiology of broiler chickens under pre- and post-inflammatory challenge

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on growth performance, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and uric acid levels, immune-related organs, and intestinal morphometric parameters of broiler chickens under pre- and post-inflammatory challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ninety-six seven-day-old male broiler chicks were randomized in a 2×2 factorial design composed of two dietary types (supplemented with 0 and 0.3 g of purified nucleotides/kg of feed) and two inflammatory conditions (with and without LPS administration) with eight replicates per treatment and three birds per cage. The experimental period was divided into two phases: 7-20 days of age (pre-LPS challenge) and 21-35 days of age (post-LPS challenge). Data were analyzed using one-way and two-way ANOVA for the pre- and post-challenge phases, respectively. During the pre-challenge phase, dietary nucleotide supplementation improved body weight (982 vs. 1009 g/bird), daily weight gain (58.1 vs. 60.1 g/bird), feed conversion rate (1.28 vs. 1.25 g/g), and serum concentration of IgG (1.17 vs. 1.76 mg/mL) of broilers. During the post-challenge phase, nucleotide supplementation increased serum IgG of broilers at 28 days of age (3.01 vs. 4.34 mg/mL). For the intestinal morphometric parameters, nucleotide supplementation increased villus height (299.3 vs. 315.6 µm). Dietary nucleotide supplementation improves the performance of broilers from seven to 20 days of age (pre-LPS challenge). However, from 21 to 35 days of age, supplementation of 0.3 g of purified nucleotides/kg of feed, independent of inflammatory challenge, does not contribute to improve performance of broilers. Additionally, nucleotide supplementation increases IgG production and villus height in the jejunum of broilers.(AU)

Effects of corn processing on piglet performance and intestinal parameters

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of corn processing on performance and intestinal parameters of weanling piglets. To accomplish our goal, 42 piglets (21 days-old, 7.18±1.0 kg body weight) were randomly allocated (seven pens/treatment; three pigs/pen) to one of two treatments: ground corn ­ corn ground through a hammer mill with a 1.0-mm screen after being ground by a hammer mill with a 3.0-mm screen, and extruded corn ­ corn was wet extruded after being ground by a hammer mill with a 2.0-mm screen and, after extrusion, it was ground by a hammer mill with a 1.0-mm screen. In both methods, corn from the same batch was used. Results were considered statistically significant when P<0.05 and a tendency when P<0.10. Analyses were performed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Pigs fed ground or extruded corn diet had similar growth performance. Duodenum and jejunum of pigs fed extruded corn had greater villus height compared with those of pigs fed ground corn. Crypt depth was not influenced by corn processing. Duodenum and jejunum of pigs fed extruded corn had greater villus:crypt ratio compared with those of pigs fed ground corn. In the duodenum, the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was greater, and the expression of Occludin-1 tended to be greater in pigs fed the extruded corn diets. There was no effect of corn processing on ZO-1 and Occludin-1 expression in the jejunum, nor TGF-ß1 expression in duodenum and jejunum. There was no effect of the type of corn processing on colonic total bacteria or Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus abundance. Piglets fed diets with ground corn or extruded corn have similar growth performance. However, piglets fed diets with extruded corn present improved intestinal morphology and tight junction protein expression compared with those fed ground corn.(AU)