Effect of supplementing sows' feed with alpha-tocopherol acetate and vitamin C on transfer of alpha-tocopherol to piglet tissues, colostrum, and milk: aspects of immune status of piglets.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of sows with alpha-tocopherol acetate (ATA) and vitamin C on deposition of alpha-tocopherol (AT) in piglet lymphoid organs, such as bone marrow, thymus, and spleen at birth and at weaning, as well as on indicators of immune response in piglets. Sows were given the following treatment diets: control, vitamin C 10 g/day, ATA 500 mg/kg feed, and combined vitamins (ATA 500+Vit-C 10). Supplementation with vitamins started at the beginning of pregnancy and lasted until weaning at 21+/-3 days of age. AT was determined in colostrum, milk, piglet plasma (cord blood) and tissues at birth and on day 21. Immunoglobulins were measured in piglet plasma, milk, and colostrum. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to PHA and ConA was determined in sow and piglet blood. ATA supplementation resulted in a significant increase (P<0.001) in the AT content of colostrum, milk, piglet plasma, liver, thymus, bone marrow, and spleen at weaning. The AT content of colostrum and milk significantly (P<0.001) influenced the AT content of piglet plasma and tissues at weaning (day 21). Total Ig and IgG concentrations in piglet plasma were significantly increased in piglets given the combined vitamin treatment. No effect of AT supplementation was observed on IgG and IgA in colostrum and milk. In sows, vitamin C given alone significantly increased lymphocyte response to ConA and PHA; whereas, in piglets, there was no significant effect of treatments on lymphocyte response to PHA and ConA.

Usefulness of near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics to discriminate fishmeal batches made with different fish species.

Near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics was used to identify and authenticate fishmeal batches made with different fish species. Samples from a commercial fishmeal factory (n = 60) were scanned in the NIR region (1100-2500 nm) in a monochromator instrument in reflectance. Principal component analysis (PCA), dummy partial least-squares regression (DPLS), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on PCA scores were used to identify the origin of fishmeal produced using different fish species. Cross-validation was used as validation method when classification models were developed. DPLS correctly classified 80 and 82% of the fishmeal samples. LDA calibration models correctly classified >80% of fishmeal samples according to fish species The results demonstrated the usefulness of NIR spectra combined with chemometrics as an objective and rapid method for the authentication and identification of fish species used to manufacture the fishmeal.