Effects of the addition of non-fibre carbohydrates with different rumen degradation rates in dairy cow high-forage diets using the Rumen Simulation Technique.

Nutrient synchronisation of protein and carbohydrates is a promising practice to improve ruminal nutrient utilisation. However, dietary sources supplying these nutrients can vary in ruminal nutrient availability due to differing degradation rates, therefore potentially affecting utilisation of nitrogen (N). The effects of the addition of non-fibre carbohydrates (NFCs) with different rumen degradation rates in high-forage diets on ruminal fermentation, efficiency and microbial flow were investigated in vitro using the Rumen Simulation Technique (RUSITEC). Four diets were tested: control with 100% ryegrass silage (GRS) and substitution of 20% on a DM basis of ryegrass silage with corn grain (CORN), processed corn (OZ) or sucrose (SUC). The four diets were assigned to 16 vessels in two sets of RUSITEC apparatuses in a randomised block design over a 17 d experimental trial; 10 d consisted of adaptation and 7 d for sample collection. Rumen fluid was collected from four rumen-cannulated dry Holstein-Friesian dairy cows and was treated without mixing. Then, rumen fluid from each cow was used to inoculate four vessels, and diet treatments were randomly allocated to each one. This was repeated for all cows resulting in 16 vessels. The inclusion of SUC in ryegrass silage diets improved DM and organic matter digestibility. The only diet to significantly lower ammonia-N concentration compared with GRS was SUC. The outflows of non-ammonia-N, microbial-N, and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis were not affected by diet type. However, the efficiency of nitrogen utilisation was improved by SUC compared with GRS. This indicates that the inclusion of an energy source with a high rumen degradation rate in high-forage diets improves rumen fermentation, digestibility, and N utilisation. Specifically, this effect was observed for the more readily available energy source, SUC, compared with the more slowly degradable NFC sources, CORN and OZ.

Evaluation of nitrogen excretion equations for ryegrass pasture-fed dairy cows.

Accurate and precise estimates of nitrogen (N) excretion in faeces and urine of dairy cattle may provide direct tools to improve N management and thus, to mitigate environmental pollution from dairy production. Empirical equations of N excretion have been evaluated for indoor dairy cattle but there is no evaluation for cows fed high proportions of fresh forage. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to evaluate N excretion equations with a unique data set of zero-grazing experiments. Through literature searches, 89 predictive equations were identified from 13 studies. An independent data set was developed from seven zero-grazing experiments with, in total, 55 dairy Holstein-Friesian cows. Models' performance was evaluated with statistics derived from a mixed-effect model and a simple regression analysis model. Squared sample correlation coefficients were used as indicators of precision and based on either the best linear unbiased predictions (R2BLUP) or model-predicted estimates (R2MDP) derived from the mixed model and simple regression analysis, respectively. The slope (ß0), the intercept (ß1) and the root mean square prediction error (RMSPEm%) were calculated with the mixed-effect model and used to assess accuracy. The root mean square prediction error (RMSPEsr%) and the decomposition of the mean square prediction error were calculated with the simple regression analysis and were used to estimate the error due to central tendency (mean bias), regression (systematic bias), and random variation. Concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were also calculated with the simple regression analysis model and were used to simultaneously assess accuracy and precision. Considering both analysis models, results suggested that urinary N excretion (UN; R2MDP = 0.76, R2BLUP = 0.89, RMSPEm% = 17.2, CCC = 0.82), total manure N excretion (ManN; R2MDP = 0.83, R2BLUP = 0.90, RMSPEm% = 11.0, CCC = 0.84) and N apparently digested (NAD; R2MDP = 0.97, R2BLUP = 0.97, RMSPEm% = 5.3, CCC = 0.95) were closely related to N intake. Milk N secretion was better predicted using milk yield as a single independent variable (MilkN; R2MDP = 0.77, R2BLUP = 0.97, RMSPEm% = 6.0, CCC = 0.74). Additionally, DM intake was a good predictor of UN and ManN and dietary CP concentration of UN and ManN. Consequently, results suggest that several evaluated empirical equations can be used to make accurate and precise predictions concerning N excretion from dairy cows being fed on fresh forage.

Systematic review: the natural history of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and associated liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is estimated to affect three million people worldwide. It causes liver disease in a proportion of carriers of the PiS and PiZ allele due to the formation and retention of polymers within the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. The reason for this selective penetrance is not known. Although clinical trials are underway, liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for liver disease due to AATD. AIMS: To report the prevalence and natural history of liver disease among individuals with AATD, and assess the outcomes of liver transplantation through systematic review. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases. Two independent authors selected the articles and assessed bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were pooled for analysis, where comparable outcomes were reported. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies were identified related to disease progression and 12 for the treatment of AATD. Seven per cent of children were reported to develop liver cirrhosis, with 16.5% of individuals presenting in childhood requiring liver transplantation. Of those surviving to adulthood, 10.5% had liver cirrhosis and 14.7% required transplantation. Liver transplantation was the only effective treatment reported and outcomes compare favourably to other indications, with 5-year survival reported as over 90% in children and over 80% in adults. DISCUSSION: The clinical course of liver disease in individuals with AATD remains poorly understood, but affects about 10% of those with AATD. More research is required to identify those patients at risk of developing liver disease at an early stage, and to provide alternative treatments to liver transplantation.

A feed additive containing Bacillus toyonensis (Toyocerin(®) ) protects against enteric pathogens in postweaning piglets.

AIMS: This study evaluated the efficacy of a probiotic containing Bacillus toyonensis spores (Toyocerin(®) ) in postweaning piglets against enteric pathogens. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven hundred and ninety-two healthy weaning pigs of a commercial farrow-to-finish pig farm were used. The negative control group fed without Toyocerin(®) and two experimental groups fed similar to the negative control group, but supplemented with Toyocerin(®) at t 500 mg kg(-1) diet (Toyocerin 500 group) and 1000 mg kg(-1) diet (Toyocerin 1000 group), respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in morbidity and mortality rate between groups was noticed. The Toyocerin groups showed higher body weight (P < 0.05) and lower feed conversion ratio compared to the negative control group. Diarrhoea score was less in both Toyocerin groups than negative control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the use of Toyocerin(®) at 1000 mg kg(-1) diet resulted in higher average daily feed intake compared to other groups (P < 0.05), reduction of some enteric pathogens and increase of the number of lactic acid bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Toyocerin(®) in weaning pigs, especially at 1000 mg kg(-1) diet, improved their health and growth performance. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows that a feed additive containing B. toyonensis (Toyocerin(®) ) protects against enteric pathogens in postweaning piglets when fed this additive at a proper dose. The use of Toyocerin(®) at 1000 mg kg(-1) diet resulted in higher average daily feed intake, decrease of some enteric pathogens and higher number of lactic acid bacteria. The effect of the probiotic in other age groups remains to be established.

Effects of early vaccination with a gonadotropin releasing factor analog-diphtheria toxoid conjugate on boar taint and growth performance of male pigs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate safety (in terms of detecting possible adverse clinical effects attributable to vaccination), efficacy, and effects on growth performance of a gonadotropin releasing factor analog-diphtheria toxoid conjugate (commercially distributed as Improvac; Zoetis, Zaventem, Belgium) in male pigs raised in a commercial Greek farm. A total of 1,230 male pigs was enrolled in 16 weekly batches and allocated to 3 groups: barrows (castrated on the next day after birth [study Day 0]), pigs vaccinated with the above-mentioned product, and intact boars. Vaccinated pigs were injected subcutaneously with 2 mL of the anti-gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF) vaccine at 9 to 11 wk of age (60-78 d) and 15 to 17 wk of age (102-120 d) and slaughtered at 22 to 25 wk of age (152-176 d). No clinical abnormalities or adverse events attributable to vaccination occurred. Mean BW of vaccinated pigs was 6% greater compared with barrows at slaughter (P < 0.0001). The vaccinated pigs had greater ADG than barrows from castration to slaughter (8%). In detail, a lower ADG from first to second vaccination (-12%; P < 0.0001) and a 27% greater ADG from second vaccination to slaughter (P < 0.0001) were observed. The ADG of vaccinated pigs and intact boars was not significantly different throughout the study, except from first to second vaccination (boars greater; P = 0.0059) and second vaccination to slaughter (vaccinates greater; P = 0.0390). Feed conversion ratio of barrows was 11 and 8% greater compared with vaccinated pigs (P = 0.0005) and boars (P = 0.0062) from first to second vaccination but was 23 to 26% lower compared with vaccinated pigs (P < 0.0001) and intact boars (P < 0.0001) from first vaccination to slaughter and 7 to 9.5% lower from the second vaccination to slaughter (P = 0.0029 and P = 0.0003 for vaccinates and intact boars, respectively). At slaughter, the belly fat androstenone concentration of all vaccinated pigs and 64% of intact boars was below 200 ng/g. Belly fat skatole concentration was below 20 ng/g in samples from all groups. In conclusion, vaccination against GnRF using the GnRF analog-diphtheria toxoid conjugate tested did not induce adverse clinical effects, proved effective, and compared with physical castration, resulted in greater BW at slaughter and improved ADG and feed conversion ratio from first vaccination to slaughter.

Use of Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans to suppress the effects of ochratoxicosis on the immune system of broiler chicks.

(1) The objective of this study was to determine whether the dietary inclusion of Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans (TRM) could suppress the detrimental effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the immune system of broiler chicks. (2) Six experimental treatments were tested in 300 1-d-old broiler chicks. Treatments included addition to a standard broiler ration of neither OTA nor TRM (Diet 1), OTA alone (500 microg/kg), OTA plus TRM at three inclusion rates (10(4) CFU/g of feed, 10(5) CFU/g, 10(6) CFU/g) and TRM alone at 10(5) CFU/g of feed. The ration was fed to chicks for 42 d. (3) Blood samples were collected at d 10, 20, 30 and 40 and macrophages and heterophils were isolated. The following variables were determined in macrophages and heterophils activated by phorbol myristate acetate (65 microM): cell viability, total cell-associated urokinase-plasminogen activator (u-PA), membrane-bound u-PA, free u-PA binding sites and superoxide production. (4) There was a decrease in the viability of macrophages and heterophils from chicks receiving OTA-contaminated feed compared to the viability of cells from control birds at d 40. Dietary TRM completely blocked the effect of OTA on cell viability; all three inclusion rates were equally effective. There was a decrease in total cell-associated and membrane-bound u-PA in macrophages and heterophils of chicks receiving OTA-contaminated feed compared to the corresponding values in control birds for heterophils at d 30 and 40 and for the macrophages at d 40. (5) Similarly, dietary TRM abolished the effect of OTA on total cell-associated and membrane-bound u-PA activity. All three inclusion rates of yeast were equally effective. Heterophils, but not macrophages, isolated from chicks receiving OTA-contaminated diet produced less superoxide anion compared to all other diet groups at d 30 and 40. (6) The immune system is a primary target of OTA toxicity in broilers: several functional properties of macrophages and heterophils were depressed in chicks fed OTA-contaminated feed. There was a delay of 30d before the immunosuppressive effect became apparent. The dietary inclusion of TRM completely blocked the detrimental effects of OTA on several immune properties in broilers.

A dose titration study on the effect of virginiamycin on gilt/sow and piglet performance.

Virginiamycin (VM), a compound with proven performance-promoting properties in pigs, can also be considered as sow performance enhancer. The present dose titration study investigates the long-term effects of VM on gilt/sow and litter performance. A total of 140 healthy gilts, in 35 sets of 2 + 2 siblings each, were used in this trial; gilts in each set were randomly allocated to the four treatments (35 gilts per each treatment group): VM0 = negative control, virginiamycin 0 mg/kg, VM20 = virginiamycin 20 mg/kg, VM40 = virginiamycin 40 mg/kg and VM60 = virginiamycin 60 mg/kg of feed. VM was added to the gilt/sow feed for a period starting from 6 months of age up to conception of the fourth parity, covering three complete breeding cycles (pregnancy, lactation and weaning-to-conception interval). The feed given did not contain any other antibacterial agent or performance enhancer. Piglets were given exactly the same quantity of creep feed from the fifth day onwards; it did not contain any antibacterial agent or performance enhancer. The lactation period was the same in all gilts/sows (21 days). Results indicate that VM supplementation of the feed improved gilt/sow performance by: (i) increasing (P < 0.05) the mean body weight at each farrowing, (ii) decreasing (P < 0.05) the mean weight loss from farrowing to weaning, and (iii) decreasing (P < 0.05) the mean weaning-to-conception intervals. VM supplementation of gilt/sow feed also resulted in improved litter size and litter performance in terms of: (i) a higher (P < 0.05) mean number of piglets born alive at each birth, (ii) a higher (P < 0.05) mean number of piglets weaned, (iii) a higher (P < 0.05) mean piglet body weight at each birth, and (iv) a higher (P < 0.05) mean piglet body weight at each weaning. These beneficial effects of VM were more pronounced in the VM40 group.

A dose titration study on the effect of virginiamycin on specific blood parameters and milk quality in the sow.

The present study investigates the changes in blood cholesterol and total lipids concentrations, as well as changes in milk fat, protein, lactose and total solids content of sows after the long-term administration of virginiamycin (VM) in the feed. Seventy-two (72) healthy Dalland gilts, in 18 groups of four (2 + 2) siblings were used in total. The gilts of each group of siblings were randomly allocated to one of the following four dietary treatments: VM0 = negative control, virginiamycin 0 mg/kg, VM20 = virginiamycin 20 mg/kg feed, VM40 = virginiamycin 40 mg/kg feed and VM60 = virginiamycin 60 mg/kg of feed. Treatments started at the age of 6 months covering three complete breeding cycles (up to the third weaning). The first eight groups of siblings (eight gilts per treatment/32 gilts in total) were used for blood sampling (blood group), while the remaining 10 groups of siblings (10 gilts per treatment/40 gilts in total) were used for milk sampling (milk group). Feeds given at insemination, pregnancy and lactation did not contain any other antibacterial or performance enhancer. The results indicate that all three levels of VM supplementation of gilt/sow feed influenced certain blood parameters by increasing (P < 0.05) both cholesterol and total lipids concentrations on the 30th and 60th day of each pregnancy, at each farrowing and at each weaning. The effect of dietary VM on these blood parameters remained constant throughout three consecutive parities. Moreover, the results indicate a beneficial effect of dietary VM on the milk quality of the sows during the third lactation by increasing (P < 0.05) (i) the mean fat content, (ii) the mean protein content, (iii) the mean lactose content and (iv) the mean total solids content. The highest (P < 0.05) levels in both blood and milk parameters were noticed at the inclusion level of 40 mg/kg of feed.