Estimation of the standardized ileal digestible valine-to-lysine ratio in 13- to 32-kilogram pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the optimum standardized ileal digestible Val-to-Lys (SID Val:Lys) ratio for 13- to 32-kg pigs. In Exp. 1, 162 pigs weaned at 17 d of age (8 pens/treatment) were used, and a Val-deficient basal diet containing 0.60% l-Lys·HCl, 1.21% SID Lys, and 0.68% SID Val was developed (0.56 SID Val:Lys). Performance of pigs fed the basal diet was inferior to a corn-soybean meal control containing only 0.06% l-Lys·HCl, but was fully restored with the addition of 0.146% l-Val to the basal diet (68% SID Val:Lys). In Exp. 2, 54 individually housed barrows (21.4 kg) were utilized in a 14-d growth assay. Pigs were offered a similar basal diet (1.10% SID Lys), ensuring Lys was marginally limiting with no supplemental l-Val (55% SID Val:Lys). The basal diet was fortified with 4 graded levels of l-Val (0.055% increments) up to a ratio of 75% SID Val:Lys. In Exp. 3, 147 barrows (13.5 kg) were fed identical diets, only with 1 additional level at a SID Val:Lys of 80% and fed for 21 d. In Exp. 2 and 3, a high protein, control diet was formulated to contain 1.10% SID Lys and 0.20% l-Lys·HCl. In Exp. 2, linear effects on ADG (713, 750, 800, 796, and 785 g/d; P = 0.05) and G:F (P = 0.07) were observed with increasing SID Val:Lys, characterized by improvements to a ratio of 65% and a plateau thereafter. In Exp. 3, quadratic improvements in ADG (600, 629, 652, 641, 630, and 642 g/d; P = 0.08) and G:F (P = 0.07) were observed with increasing SID Val:Lys, as performance increased to a ratio of 65% but no further improvement to a ratio of 80%. Pigs fed the control diet did not differ from those fed a ratio of 65% SID Val:Lys in Exp. 2, but did have improved G:F in Exp. 3 (P = 0.03). To provide a more accurate estimate of the optimum SID Val:Lys, data from Exp. 2 and 3 were combined. With single-slope broken-line methodology, the minimum ratio estimate was 64 and 65% SID Val:Lys for ADG and G:F, respectively. With combined requirement estimates, the data indicate that a SID Val:Lys of 65% seems adequate in maintaining performance for pigs from 13 to 32 kg.

Commercial validation of the true ileal digestible lysine requirement for eleven- to twenty-seven-kilogram pigs.

Five experiments utilizing 3,628 pigs were conducted to determine the true ileal digestible (TID) Lys requirement for 11- to 27-kg pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets. In Exp. 1, 216 barrows (initial BW = 11.5 kg) were used, with dietary TID Lys levels from 1.05 to 1.40% TID Lys (0.07% increments). All diets were isocaloric (3.42 Mcal of ME) and contained the same inclusion of soybean meal (33.1%). Dietary Lys content was increased by adding graded levels of L-Lys.HCl (0.0 to 0.445%), with other crystalline AA supplied to meet minimum AA-to-Lys ratios. For the 21-d period, ADG and G:F increased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing Lys levels. Experiments 2 through 5 were each conducted in different commercial research facilities. In Exp. 2, a 5-point titration (1.05 to 1.41% TID Lys; 0.09% increments) was used containing the same level of soybean meal (34.3%), with graded levels of L-Lys.HCl addition as in Exp. 1 for a 16-d period. Exp. 3 used similar diets, but was a 28-d period from 11.8 to 28 kg. There were linear increases in ADG (P < 0.01) and G:F (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary Lys in both experiments. On the basis of these results, 2 additional 28-d experiments were conducted with similar diets, except for 1 additional level at 1.50% TID Lys. In Exp. 4, linear increases (P < 0.01) in ADG and G:F were observed from d 0 to 14. From d 14 to 28, there were quadratic increases (P < 0.04) in ADG and G:F, which resulted in quadratic increases (P < 0.01) in ADG and G:F with increasing dietary Lys for the entire 28-d period. Similarly, in Exp. 5, there were linear increases (P < 0.01) in growth performance from d 0 to 14, but there were quadratic increases in G:F (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary Lys for the overall period. Data from all 5 experiments yielded a single-slope, broken-line response, with requirement estimates for TID Lys of 1.33 and 1.35% for 11- to 19-kg pigs. The 5 experiments gave requirement estimates of 1.30% TID Lys (3.80 g of TID Lys/Mcal of ME) for 11- to 27-kg pigs, equivalent to 19 g of TID Lys/kg of gain.

True ileal digestible tryptophan to lysine ratios in ninety- to one hundred twenty-five-kilogram barrows.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the optimal true ileal digestible (TID) Trp:Lys ratio for 90- to 125-kg barrows. Basal diets contained 0.55% TID Lys and were either corn-based (Exp. 1) or corn- and soybean meal-based (Exp. 2 and 3) diets supplemented with crystalline AA. In addition, each experiment contained a corn-soybean meal control diet. The number of pigs per pen progressively increased, with pigs housed in 2 (n = 82; initial and final BW of 88.5 and 113.6 kg, respectively), 7 (n = 210, initial and final BW of 91.2 and 123.3 kg, respectively), or 20 to 22 (n = 759; initial and final BW of 98.8 and 123.4 kg, respectively) pigs per pen for each successive experiment. Pigs in Exp. 1 were fed 6 incremental additions of L-Trp, equating to TID Trp:Lys ratios of 0.109, 0.145, 0.182, 0.218, 0.255, and 0.290. For the 28-d period, there was a quadratic improvement in G:F (P = 0.05) and ADG (P = 0.08) with increasing TID Trp:Lys, characterized by an improvement in performance of pigs fed the basal diet compared with those consuming diets with a 0.145 TID Trp:Lys ratio, with a plateau thereafter as TID Trp:Lys increased. Pigs fed the control diet had less increase in backfat depth than the average of pigs fed the titration diets (1.30 vs. 4.09 mm, respectively; P = 0.02), but pork quality was unaffected by dietary treatment. Pigs in Exp. 2 were fed 4 incremental additions of L-Trp, equating to TID Trp:Lys ratios of 0.130, 0.165, 0.200, and 0.235. Average daily gain and ADFI increased in a linear fashion with increasing TID Trp:Lys for the 29-d trial (P < 0.01), with quadratic improvements in d-29 BW (P = 0.06) and G:F (P = 0.05). Pigs fed the diet containing a TID Trp:Lys ratio of 0.165 had greater d-29 BW, ADG, G:F, and lower serum urea N concentration than pigs fed the basal diet (P < 0.05), but were similar to pigs fed TID Trp:Lys ratios of 0.200 and 0.235 for all criteria measured. In Exp. 3, TID Trp:Lys ratios of 0.13, 0.15, 0.17, 0.19, and 0.21 were evaluated. The response to increasing TID Trp:Lys was limited to a quadratic (P < 0.10) improvement in G:F with increasing TID Trp:Lys ratios. Maximum G:F was noted at a TID Trp:Lys ratio of 0.17. No relationship was noted between TID Trp:Lys and carcass characteristics. These experiments demonstrate that the minimum TID Trp:Lys ratio for pigs from 90 to 125 kg of BW is at least 0.145, but not greater than 0.17.

Estimation of the ideal ratio of true ileal digestible sulfur amino acids:lysine in 8- to 26-kg nursery pigs.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the ideal ratio of true ileal digestible (TID) sulfur AA to Lys (SAA:LYS) in nursery pigs at two different BW ranges using both DL-Met and 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMTBA) as Met sources. In Exp. 1, 1,549 nursery pigs (Triumph 4 x PIC Camborough 22; initial BW 8.3 +/- 0.08 kg) were allotted to one of nine dietary treatments. The basal diet (Diet 1) was a semicomplex corn-soybean meal-based diet (1.32% TID Lys) with no supplemental HMTBA or DL-Met (47.7% TID SAA:LYS). Diets 2 to 9 consisted of the basal diet supplemented with four equimolar levels of DL-Met or HMTBA (52.7, 57.7, 62.7, and 67.7% TID SAA:LYS). In Exp. 2, 330 nursery pigs (Triumph 4 x PIC Camborough 22; initial BW 11.4 +/- 0.10 kg) were allotted to one of nine dietary treatments. The basal diet (Diet 1) was a corn-soybean meal-based diet (1.15% TID Lys) with no supplemental HMTBA or DL-Met (49% TID SAA:LYS). Diets 2 to 9 consisted of the basal diet supplemented with four equimolar levels of DL-Met or HMTBA (54, 59, 64, and 69% TID SAA:LYS). In Exp. 3, 1,544 nursery pigs (Triumph 4 x PIC Camborough 22; initial BW 12.4 +/- 0.13 kg) were allotted to one of nine dietary treatments as in Exp. 2. In Exp. 4, 343 nursery pigs (Genetiporc; initial BW 12.8 +/- 0.56 kg) were allotted to one of six dietary treatments. The basal diet (Diet 1) was a corn-soybean meal-based diet (1.05% TID Lys) with no supplemental DL-Met (49% TID SAA:LYS). Diets 2 to 5 consisted of the basal diet supplemented with four levels of DL-Met (54, 59, 64, and 69% TID SAA:LYS), and Diet 6 was the basal diet supplemented with one equimolar level of HMTBA to satisfy 59% TID SAA:LYS ratio. In all experiments, increasing the TID SAA:LYS ratio resulted in quadratic improvements in ADG (P < or = 0.09) and G:F (P < or = 0.05). Three different methods were used to estimate the optimal TID SAA:LYS ratio for each experiment. The two-slope broken-line regression model, x-intercept value of the broken-line and quadratic curve, and 95% of upper asymptote across the four experiments indicated that the average optimal TID SAA:LYS ratios were 59.3, 60.1, and 57.7% for ADG and 60.6, 61.7, and 60.1% for G:F, respectively. Thus, the optimal TID SAA:LYS ratio for 8- to 26-kg pigs based on the average value of these three estimates was 59.0% for ADG and 60.8% for G:F.

Effect of glutamine and spray-dried plasma on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and immune responses of Escherichia coli K88+-challenged weaned pigs.

Forty weaned barrows (5.32 +/- 0.3 kg BW) at 17 +/- 2 d of age were used to investigate the effects of feeding glutamine and spray-dried plasma on the growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and immune responses of Escherichia coli K88-challenged pigs. Pigs were allotted to four treatments including: 1) nonchallenged control (NONC); 2) challenged control (CHAC); 3) 7% (as-fed basis) spray-dried plasma (SDP); and 4) 2% (as-fed basis) glutamine (GLN). On d 11 after weaning, all pigs were fitted with an indwelling jugular catheter. On d 12 after weaning, pigs in the CHAC, SDP, and GLN groups were orally challenged with skim milk E. coli K88 culture, whereas pigs in the NONC group were orally inoculated with sterilized skim milk. Rectal temperatures and fecal diarrheic scores were recorded and blood samples collected at 0 (baseline), 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after the challenge for serum hormone and cytokine measurements. At 48 h postchallenge, all pigs were killed for evaluation of small intestinal morphology. There was no effect of feeding SDP or GLN on growth performance during the 11-d prechallenge period (P = 0.13). At 48 h after the challenge, CHAC pigs had decreased ADG (P = 0.08) and G:F (P = 0.07) compared with the NONC pigs; however, SDP and NONC pigs did not differ in G:F, and GLN and NONC pigs did not differ for ADG and G:F. At 6, 36, and 48 h after the challenge, CHAC, SDP, and GLN pigs had increased rectal temperature relative to the baseline (P = 0.09). At 12 and 36 h after the challenge, CHAC pigs had the highest incidence of diarrhea among treatments (P = 0.08). Serum IL-6 and ACTH were not affected by treatment or time after E. coli challenge (P = 0.11). In proximal, midjejunum, and ileum, CHAC pigs had greater villous atrophy and intestinal morphology disruption than NONC pigs (P < 0.01), whereas SDP and GLN pigs had mitigated villous atrophy and intestinal morphology impairment after E. coli challenge. Pigs in the SDP had the lowest GH at 12 h and the greatest GH at 36 h after the challenge among treatments (P = 0.08). Pigs in the NONC had the highest IGF-1 at 12 and 36 h postchallenge (P < 0.04). These results indicate that feeding glutamine has beneficial effects in alleviating growth depression of E. coli K88-challenged pigs, mainly via maintaining intestinal morphology and function, and/or possibly via modulating the somatotrophic axis.

Determination of methylene chloride acceptability and its "purification" for ethylenethiourea methodology.

A liquid chromatographic-electrochemical method for the determination of ethylenethiourea (ETU) residues uses methylene chloride in the cleanup. Distilled-in-glass grade methylene chloride produced erratic ETU recoveries ranging from 0 to 106% for vacuum rotary evaporation of the solvent. ETU recoveries were found to be dependent on the bottle of methylene chloride used, not on supplier or lot. When GC2 grade methylene chloride from Burdick & Jackson Laboratories was used, ETU recoveries ranged from 92 to 110%. "Acceptable" ETU recoveries were defined as those values between 90 and 110%. Passing "unacceptable" methylene chloride through a column containing anhydrous sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and alumina was found to adequately purify methylene chloride. Treated methylene chloride provided acceptable ETU recoveries for up to 1 month after "purification."

Variability of selected nutrients and contaminants monitored in rodent diets: a 6-year study.

The results are given from monitoring a commercial closed-formula cereal-based rodent diet (Purina 5010), two open-formula cereal-based diets (NIH-31 and NIH-07), and one purified diet (AIN-76) for selected nutrients and contaminants. The observed concentrations of nutrients (protein, fat, vitamin A, and thiamine) approximated the manufacturer specifications for closed-formula cereal diet, while the average concentrations of nutrients found in the open-formula cereal diets were well above the nominal concentrations. Nominal concentrations for these open-formula diets tended to be close to the minimum values that were observed. Except for protein levels, greater variation in nutrient concentrations was found in the purified diet than in the cereal diets, but the variation of contaminants was about equal in the two types of diets. Open- and closed-formula cereal diets appear to be very similar to each other in the degree of variation of nutrients and contaminants. Cadmium, lead, and selenium are the constituents of greatest concern in assuring the quality of the rodent diets that were evaluated.

Role of aromatic amine acetyltransferase in human colorectal cancer.

Hepatic arylamine acetyltransferase phenotype has been suggested to be an important risk factor for urinary bladder carcinogenesis in individuals with known exposure to aromatic amines. This study was performed to evaluate the relative distribution of fast- and slow-acetylator phenotypes both in a population of men, 45 to 75 years of age, with a history of colorectal cancer and in a matched control group. Acetyltransferase activity was determined by administration of sulfamethazine and by subsequent analysis of blood and urine samples for N-acetylsulfamethazine and sulfamethazine using high-pressure liquid chromatography. The control group was composed of 28 slow-, two intermediate-, and 11 fast-acetylator individuals, while the group of patients with a history of cancer consisted of 20 slow-, three intermediate-, and 20 fast-acetylator phenotypes. This higher relative proportion of fast acetylators in the patients with a cancer history was highly significant and is consistent with the hypothesis that aromatic amines could play a role in the etiology of human colorectal cancer.

A rapid procedure to efficiently clean blenders repeatedly used to prepare dosed feed for bioassays.

An effective and economical procedure is described to clean blending equipment repeatedly used to prepare dosed feed for animal bioassays. The cleanup procedure was evaluated with 2 types of blenders against 10 test chemicals with a broad spectrum of polarities by separately spiking the agents into feed at various levels. Analytical data illustrating the level of contamination at each interval of the multi-step cleanup procedure are presented for each test chemical. Analytical chemical methods and efficiencies of the cleaning steps with the feed admixtures are discussed. The procedure was tested and adopted for use at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR).

Determination of tibric acid and clofibrate in animal feed, wastewater and hunan urine.

Analytical chemical procedures are described to determine residues of the drugs clofibrate and tibric acid in animal feed, wastewater, and human urine. Clofibrate was extracted from animal feed and human urine with hexane, whereas residues from wastewater were collected on a Sep-PakTM then eluted with methanol for analysis. Clofibrate residues from the feed, wastewater, and urine were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with minimum detectable levels (MDL) of about 40, 0.5 and 1.0 ppb, respectively. Tibric acid was extracted from animal feed with 90% methanol and 10% 0.1 N NaOH, whereas wastewater and human urine were acidified with 12 N HCl and then extracted with benzene. The MDL for tibric acid in feed by electron capture/gas chromatography (EC/GC) and HPLC were about 40 ppb and 2.0 ppm, respectively. Residues from these extracts that contained more than 5 ppm of tibric acid were analyzed by HPLC, whereas GC was required for levels below 5 ppm. The GC procedures, which required that tibric acid be derivatized (methylated) prior to analysis, had MDL of 0.1 and 1.0 ppb for wastewater and human urine, respectively. Data are also presented concerning partition values, stability of the compounds in animal feed, and recoveries of the compounds from the three substrates.

Effects of storage conditions on nutritional qualities of semipurified (AIN-76) and natural ingredient (NIH-07)diets.

The effects of storage condition on the shelf life of the AIN-76 diet were investigated. Samples of the diet were stored at -70 degrees, 4 degrees, 20 degrees, and 23-30 degrees under atmospheric air and at 4 degrees and 20 degrees under argon. Levels of vitamin A, thiamine, rancidity, bacteria and mold were monitored during 168 days of storage. A 41.3% loss of vitamin A occurred in samples stored at 23-30 degrees. A marked decline in thiamine was observed in all samples stored at 20 degrees or above. Loss of thiamine was significantly greater in samples stored at 20 degrees than in those stored at 4 degrees, and greater in samples stored under air than those stored under argon. Rancidity reached a level previously shown to be associated with a disagreeable odor and taste (peroxide value greater than 140) with in 30, 50 and 90 days when the diet was stored at 23-30 degrees or 20 degrees under air and 20 degrees under argon, respectively. Peroxide values remained well below 140 in samples stored at 4 degrees or colder. None of the nutritional parameters tested reached unacceptable levels in any of the samples stored at 4 degrees or colder during the 168 days. These results indicate that to achieve maximum shelf life, the AIN-76 diet should be stored at 4 degrees or colder. Although less effective than low temperature, an argon atmosphere extended the shelf life and was additive with lower temperatures.