Impact of insulin-like growth factor 1, immunoglobulin G and vitamin A in colostrum on growth of newborn Black Bengal goats and its crossbred.

The study aims to investigate the relationships between colostral concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and vitamin A (Vit A) and growth (body weight and average daily gain) in Black Bengal (BB) and its crossbred. The colostrum from dams (n = 16) was collected at parturition to measure the concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A. The kid weight at birth (W-0), day 14 (W-14) and day 28 (W-28) were measured and the average daily gain during day 1-14 (ADG1-14) and day 14-28 (ADG14-28) were calculated. The average concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A in colostrum were 504.6 ± 74.9 ng/ml, 9.7 ± 0.6 mg/ml and 549.1 ± 72.5 µg/100 g, respectively. The average body weight of kids at birth, day 14 and 28 were 1.72 ± 0.08, 2.95 ± 0.11 and 3.94 ± 0.13 kg respectively. Kid's breed, IGF-1, IgG and Vit A had significant positive effects on ADG14-28 while parity, litter size and sex had no effect. The growth factors that were classified into 2 classes based upon the mean values of colostral contents in all kids showed that the kids receiving the higher concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A in colostrum had higher body weight gain than those receiving the lower concentrations (92.1 ± 7.8 vs. 59.8 ± 5.7 g/day; p = 0.002, 88.3 ± 7.8 vs. 60.3 ± 6.1 g/day; p = 0.009 and 91.1 ± 6.8 vs. 56.7 ± 5.8 g/day; p < 0.001 respectively). It is concluded that IGF-1, IgG and Vit A concentrations in colostrum of dams were associated with increased kid's body weight gain at the end of first month in BB and BB crossbred goats.

Addition of Wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) stalk to animal feed enhances immune response and improves intestinal microflora in pigs.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Wakame seaweed stalks on the immunity and intestinal microflora of pigs. Three separate experiments were performed: Relatively young (start at 20-30 kg; Experiments 1 and 2) and fattening period (70 kg; Experiment 3). All pigs (including the control group) were fed the same commercial feed, free from antibiotic additives, but in the feed for the treatment groups, 1% seaweed powder was added. There were no group differences observed in daily weight gain and feed intake in Experiments 1 and 2 between groups; however, daily weight gain was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group in Experiment 3. The percentage of peripheral blood natural killer cells of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group in all experiments. Although addition of seaweed changed the gene expression of cytokine and toll-like receptors of the small intestinal Peyer's patches slightly, seaweed seems to alter intestinal microflora preferentially, for instance, there was an increase in Lactobacillus and a decrease of Escherichia coli observed. These results suggest that Wakame seaweed can be used as supplement for pig feed to improve the gut health and immunity of pigs.

Effects of butyrate supplementation in antibiotic-free milk replacer and starter on growth performance in suckling calves.

The aim of this study was to evaluate butyrate supplementation of antibiotic-free milk replacer and starter on growth performance in male Holstein calves. Twenty-nine calves were divided into two groups. Group C (n = 13) was fed antibiotic-free milk replacer without supplementation, and Group B (n = 16) was fed antibiotic-free milk replacer supplemented with butyrate (1.6 % DM of Gustor BP70® ). Starter in Group B contained 0.3 % DM of Gustor BP70® . The intake of milk replacer was lower in group B than in C (p = 0.07 for the treatment x week interaction). Body weight (BW) and heart girth (HG) in group B was higher than in C during the experimental period (p = 0.07 and 0.01 for the treatment × week interaction, respectively). The duration of the weaning period in group B was shorter than in group C (p = 0.02). ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) was higher in group B than in C (p = 0.04). Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations tended to be higher in group B than in C (p = 0.07 for treatment × week interaction). Our results show that butyrate supplementation in antibiotic-free milk replacer and starter exerted positive effects on growth performance in suckling calves.

Effects of Na-butyrate supplementation in milk formula on plasma concentrations of GH and insulin, and on rumen papilla development in calves.

Although the growth-promoting action of sodium-butyrate (Na-butyrate) used as a feed additive has been observed in calves and pigs, the precise mechanisms involved remain to be clarified. In this study, pre-weaning calves were given milk formula (MF) supplemented with butyrate for 6 weeks to investigate its effects on postprandial changes in the plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones, and, simultaneously, on growth performance, the weight of the digestive organs and rumen papilla development. Ingestion of MF increased (P<0.05) the plasma concentrations of GH and insulin as well as the glucose level, but decreased the non-esterified fatty acid concentration. Na-butyrate supplementation in MF or in lactose solution (with the same quantity of lactose contained in the MF, 5%) suppressed the increase in plasma insulin and GH concentrations, and the plasma IGF1 level was not changed. The length of the rumen papilla and the weight of the perirenal fat tended to increase in the calves fed with Na-butyrate-supplemented MF, but the weight of the liver, spleen, and stomach were not changed. In addition, there was no difference in the expression of mRNA for sodium-dependent glucose transporter-1 in the small intestinal epithelial tissues. We conclude that the accelerated growth performance related to the intake of Na-butyrate used as a feed additive reported previously in several species is partly due to improved insulin sensitivity and a better digestive functional development. These data could be applicable to animal and human nutrition.

Effects of 5'-uridylic acid feeding on postprandial plasma concentrations of metabolites and metabolic hormones in pre-weaning goats.

5'-Uridylic acid (UMP), which is present at high concentrations in cow's colostrum, has been shown to cause a reduction in increased plasma levels of insulin and glucose after ingestion of milk replacer in pre-weaning calves. However, the precise mechanisms of UMP action have not been investigated, and its action has not been investigated in other pre-weaning ruminants. In order to demonstrate whether UMP causes changes in postprandial metabolic and hormonal parameters in pre-weaning goats, 11 Saanen kids were given milk replacer (twice a day) without (n = 5) or with (n = 6) UMP (1 g for each meal, 2 g/day for each head) for 14 days. Analysis of blood samples taken in the morning of day 14 demonstrated that the feeding of milk replacer with UMP abolished the significant changes in postprandial plasma glucose, NEFA, GH and insulin concentrations induced by feeding of milk replacer alone, and demonstrated a tendency to increase IGF-I levels. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups at any sampling time. We conclude that UMP feeding with milk replacer showed a tendency to blunt the postprandial changes in levels of some plasma metabolites and hormones that are induced by replacer alone in pre-weaning goats.

Oral administration of uridylic acid increases plasma leptin, but suppresses glucose and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations in rats.

Nucleic acids have been known to have biological effects on the digestive and immune systems, although less attention has been paid to the action on metabolism. In the present study, in order to investigate the effects of oral ingestion of uridylic acid (5'-uridine monophosphate, 5'-UMP) on hormonal and metabolic levels, we measured changes in the plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), weights of the liver and abdominal fat and fat accumulation in the liver and M. gastrocnemius in male rats. Intragastric administration of 5'-UMP via a stomach tube at a dose of 44 mg/day for 7 days slightly (P=0.098) blunted the body weight gain without causing a significant change in food intake. The administration significantly reduced the plasma concentrations of glucose (P=0.004) and NEFA (P=0.004), whereas it significantly increased (P=0.03) plasma leptin concentration. The weights of perirenal (but not epididymal) fat (P=0.083) and the liver (P=0.061) were slightly increased. The triacylglyceride concentration in M. gastrocnemius was slightly increased (P=0.097), although the muscle weight was not significantly changed (P=0.197). In summary, acute oral administration of 5'-UMP was effective in the rat in reducing plasma concentrations of glucose and NEFA, an effect that was accompanied by an elevated plasma leptin concentration.

Expression and localization of carbonic anhydrase in bovine mammary gland and secretion in milk.

Little attention has been paid to carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI), a secretory type isozyme, in the bovine mammary gland, although the gland is an important exocrine gland and CA VI is known to localize in exocrine glands such as salivary and lacrimal glands in various animal species. In the present study mRNA expression and protein localization of CA VI in isolated gland tissues and in cloned epithelial cells from the mammary gland of Holstein cows (Bos taurus) were observed by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry. Also, changes of CA VI concentrations in milk were measured for 2 months postpartum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CA VI gene expression was detected in the gland tissues and epithelial cells, and CA VI protein was localized in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. Colostrum contained the highest concentration of CA VI protein (100 ng/ml), decreasing in an exponential manner (P<0.001). We conclude that bovine mammary epithelial cells synthesize and secrete CA VI in colostrum at higher concentration than in normal milk, implying its role to compensate for low CA VI secretion in neonatal calves.