Effect of the inclusion of dry pasta by-products at different levels in the diet of typical Italian finishing heavy pigs: Performance, carcass characteristics, and ham quality.

The effect of pasta inclusion in finishing pig diets was evaluated on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and ham quality. Pigs (144) were assigned to 4 diets with different pasta levels: 0 (control, corn-based diet), 30, 60, or 80%. Pigs fed pasta had greater (linear, P<0.01) feed intakes than controls. Pasta increased (quadratic, P<0.01) carcass weight and dressing percentage reaching the highest values at 30% inclusion level, and reduced (linear, P<0.01) the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum thickness. Pasta decreased (linear, P<0.01) linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in subcutaneous (fresh and seasoned hams) and intramuscular (seasoned hams) fat, and enhanced saturated fatty acid content in subcutaneous fat (fresh hams: quadratic, P<0.01; seasoned hams: linear, P=0.03). Proteolysis index, colour, weight losses, and sensory properties (excepted extraneous taste) of the hams were unaffected by the pasta. Pasta could be considered as an ingredient in the diet for typical Italian finishing heavy pigs.

Low doses of microencapsulated zinc oxide improve performance and modulate the ileum architecture, inflammatory cytokines and tight junctions expression of weaned pigs.

The aim of this study was to compare low doses of microencapsulated v. pharmacological ZnO in the diet of piglets on growth performance, ileum health status and architecture. One hundred and forty-four piglets weaned at 28 days and divided in 36 pens (two males and two females per pen), received a basal diet (control, Zn at 50 mg/kg) or the basal diet with ZnO at 3000 mg/kg (pZnO), or with lipid microencapsulated ZnO at 150 or 400 mg/kg (mZnO-300 and mZnO-800, respectively). After 14 and 42 days, three pigs per sex per treatment were euthanized to collect the ileum mucosa for immunohistochemistry, histomorphology, inflammatory cytokines and tight junction components gene expression. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA. At 0 to 14 days, the pZnO and mZnO-800 groups had greater average daily gain compared with control (P<0.05). Gain to feed ratio (G:F) in the same time interval was higher in pZnO group compared with control thus resulting in higher BW (P<0.05). At day 14, ileum villi height in mZnO-800 pigs was 343 µm v. 309 and 317 µm in control and pZnO, respectively (P<0.01) and villi:crypts ratio (V:C), as well as cells positive to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), were greater in all treated groups compared with control (P<0.01). In mZnO-800 group, interferon-γ mRNA was the lowest (P=0.02), and both pharmacological ZnO and mZnO reduced tumor necrosis factor-α protein level (P<0.0001). Compared with pZnO group, mZnO-800 increased occludin and zonula occludens-1 protein level (1.6-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively; P<0.001). At day 42, both groups receiving microencapsulated ZnO had 1.7 kg greater BW than control and did not differ from pZnO group (P=0.01); ileum villi height and V:C ratio were the greatest for pZnO compared with the other groups, whereas PCNA-positive cells were the most numerous in mZnO-800 group (P<0.001). In conclusion, pigs receiving low doses of microencapsulated ZnO had G:F comparable with those receiving pharmacological level of ZnO in the overall post-weaning phase. Moreover, in the first 2 weeks post-weaning, microencapsulated ZnO effect on inflammatory status and ileum structure and integrity was comparable with pharmacological ZnO.

Microencapsulated lysine and low-protein diets: effects on performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen excretion in heavy growing-finishing pigs.

Two studies were conducted to assess the effects of dietary protein and Lys reduction on growth performance, carcass quality, N excretion, and plasma N profile in growing-finishing pigs from 35 to 180 kg. The growing trial was conducted with 72 gilts and 72 barrows with 6 pens per treatment and 6 gilts or 6 barrows per pen. Four diets with the same DE and NE were compared: 1) control diet, 2) diet with protein content reduced by 3% units compared with the control diet and supplemented with Lys HCl to match the requirements according to the 2012 NRC (FLys), 3) diet similar to FLys for protein level but supplemented with only 50% of the Lys HCl provided with FLys (-50% FLys), and 4) diet similar to FLys and -50% Flys for protein level with microencapsulated Lys added to supply 20% of the Lys provided by FLys (-80% MLys). Pigs fed the FLys diet performed in a similar manner and showed similar carcass characteristics to the control pigs. Pigs fed the -50% FLys diet had the lightest BW (P < 0.01) as well as the lightest carcass (P = 0.02) and trimmed thigh (P = 0.04) weights. Pigs fed the -80% MLys diet showed growth performance and carcass characteristics similar to the control pigs. The N balance study was conducted with 8 barrows arranged in a double replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. The control pigs had greater (P < 0.01) N intake and urinary and total N excretion compared with pigs fed the low-protein diets. The reduction of the dietary protein concentration by 3% units decreased total N excretion by an average of 24.5% and the greatest reduction of total N excretion was obtained by the -80% MLys diet (26.12%) compared with the control diet throughout the trial. No effect of dietary treatment was observed on the plasma concentrations of ammonia, urea, and total AA in the 80-kg pigs. Decreased plasma ammonia (P < 0.01) and urea (P = 0.03) concentrations were detected in the 120-kg pigs fed the low-protein diets. The 160-kg pigs fed the -80% MLys pigs had less total AA, indispensable AA in particular (P < 0.01), than pigs fed the other diets and decreased ammonia (P < 0.01) and urea (P = 0.05) concentrations than the control pigs. The results showed that the use of microencapsulated Lys, compared with both Lys HCl and dietary protein-bound Lys, can save CP and synthetic AA in diet formulation and can reduce N excretion in manure without adversely affecting the growth performance and carcass quality of heavy growing-finishing pigs.

Identification of potentially emerging food safety issues by analysis of reports published by the European Community's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) during a four-year period.

The SAFE FOODS project undertakes to design a new approach towards the early identification of emerging food safety hazards. This study explored the utility of notifications filed through RASFF, the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, to identify emerging trends in food safety issues. RASFF information and alert notifications published in the four-year period of July 2003-June 2007 were assigned to categories of products and hazards. For chronological trend analysis, a basic time unit of three months was chosen. Data within each hazard category were analyzed for chronological trends, relationships between product and hazard categories, regions of origin, and countries filing the notifications. Conspicuous trends that were observed included a rise in the incidence of food contact substances, particularly 2-isopropyl-thioxanthone, as well as of chemical substances migrating from utensils and fraud-related issues. Temporary increases were noted in the incidences of the unauthorized dye Para Red, genetically modified organisms, the pesticide isophenfos-methyl, and herring worm, Anisakis simplex. National and European authorities themselves have signaled these conspicuous trends and taken measures. It is recommended to add complementary data to RASFF data, including safety assessments, risk management measures, background data on hazards and surveillance patterns, for a holistic approach towards early identification of emerging hazards.

Early identification systems for emerging foodborne hazards.

This paper provides a non-exhausting overview of early warning systems for emerging foodborne hazards that are operating in the various places in the world. Special attention is given to endpoint-focussed early warning systems (i.e. ECDC, ISIS and GPHIN) and hazard-focussed early warning systems (i.e. FVO, RASFF and OIE) and their merit to successfully identify a food safety problem in an early stage is discussed. Besides these early warning systems which are based on monitoring of either disease symptoms or hazards, also early warning systems and/or activities that intend to predict the occurrence of a food safety hazard in its very beginning of development or before that are described. Examples are trend analysis, horizon scanning, early warning systems for mycotoxins in maize and/or wheat and information exchange networks (e.g. OIE and GIEWS). Furthermore, recent initiatives that aim to develop predictive early warning systems based on the holistic principle are discussed. The assumption of the researchers applying this principle is that developments outside the food production chain that are either directly or indirectly related to the development of a particular food safety hazard may also provide valuable information to predict the development of this hazard.