Effect of microbial phytase on phytate P degradation and apparent digestibility of total P and Ca throughout the gastrointestinal tract of the growing pig.

The effect of a dietary microbial phytase on mineral digestibility throughout the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the growing pig was studied. Thirty-two entire male pigs (~22 kg BW) were allocated equally to 4 corn-soybean meal diets. One diet was adequate in total P and Ca, the second diet was deficient in total P and Ca (low-P diet), and the third and fourth diets were the low-P diet with microbial phytase added at 1,107 U/kg or 2,215 U/kg, respectively. Titanium dioxide (3 g/kg) was included in the diets as an indigestible marker. The pigs were fed their respective diets for 42 d. Fecal samples were collected from d 38 to 41 and stomach chyme, terminal jejunal, and terminal ileal digesta samples were collected after euthanasia on d 42. Phytate P degradability and apparent total P and Ca digestibility were determined at the gastric, jejunal, ileal, and total tract levels. Phytate P degradation and apparent total P and Ca digestibility were not significantly different between the 2 microbial phytase inclusion levels. Across both microbial phytase-low-P diets, phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.05) phytate P degradability at the jejunal, ileal, and total tract levels by 101%, 77%, and 10%, respectively, but not at the gastric level. Total tract phytate P degradation was greater (P < 0.05) than ileal phytate P degradation for both the unsupplemented (52% units greater) and phytase-supplemented, low-P (26% units greater) diets. The latter result was not reflected by the apparent total P digestibility estimate, which was not significantly different between the ileal and total tract levels for both the unsupplemented and phytase-supplemented, low-P diets. Consequently, there appeared to be considerable phytate degradation in the hindgut, presumably due to the action of hindgut microbes, but the phytate P released in the hindgut did not appear to be absorbed. Apparent Ca digestibility was not significantly different among jejunal, ileal, and total tract levels for any of the dietary treatments, but apparent Ca digestibility was greater (P < 0.05) for the phytase-supplemented diets compared with the unsupplemented diets. Overall, dietary microbial phytase supplementation led to greater phytate degradation to the end of the jejunum. Because the phytate P released in the hindgut was not absorbed, ileal estimates, rather than total tract estimates, of phytate degradation appear to more accurately reflect P availability.

Effect of two microbial phytases on mineral availability and retention and bone mineral density in low-phosphorus diets for broilers.

1. The efficacy of supplementation of a low-phosphorus (low-P) maize-soyabean meal diet for broiler chickens with two different microbial (fungal and bacterial) phytases was examined. 2. Broiler chickens received a low-P maize-soyabean meal diet containing either no phytase or one of the two phytases included at one and two times the manufacturer's recommended inclusion level for 21 d. 3. Titanium dioxide was included in the diets as an indigestible marker. Excreta were collected quantitatively from d 18 to 21, and at the end of the study the birds were killed and ileal digesta and leg bone samples collected. 4. No differences were observed for body weight gain and feed intake or apparent metabolisable energy (AME) among all dietary treatment groups. 5. Dietary phytase supplementation improved the apparent retention of Ca, Na and Cu and ileal phytate P absorption from 32% to 44% across inclusion levels. 6. Bone mineral density (BMD) was improved for both phytases across inclusion levels by, on average, 9% for the tibia and 13% for the femur. 7. Dietary phytase supplementation of the low-P diet improved apparent ileal digestibility of serine, glycine, valine, isoleucine, tyrosine, histidine, lysine and arginine. 8. When the results from the present study were combined with the results from other similar published studies and analysed statistically, factors such as dietary P and Ca concentration, as well as bird breed and age, rather than the type or activity of microbial phytase, had the greatest impact on the extent to which dietary supplementation improved P and Ca retention. 9. More work is required to explain the interrelationships between the multiple factors influencing the efficacy of phytase on the availability of dietary minerals.

Gross and true ileal digestible amino acid contents of several animal body proteins and their hydrolysates.

Amino acid compositions of ovine muscle, ovine myofibrillar protein, ovine spleen, ovine liver, bovine blood plasma, bovine blood globulins and bovine serum albumin and the amino acid compositions and in vivo (laboratory rat) true ileal amino acid digestibilities of hydrolysates (sequential hydrolysis with Neutrase, Alcalase and Flavourzyme) of these protein sources were determined. True ileal amino acid digestibility differed (P<0.05) among the seven protein hydrolysates. The ovine myofibrillar protein and liver hydrolysates were the most digestible, with a mean true ileal digestibility across all amino acids of 99%. The least digestible protein hydrolysate was bovine serum albumin with a comparable mean true ileal digestibility of 93%. When the digestible amino acid contents were expressed as proportions relative to lysine, considerable differences, across the diverse protein sources, were found in the pattern of predicted absorbed amino acids.

Effect of a novel phytase on growth performance, apparent metabolizable energy, and the availability of minerals and amino acids in a low-phosphorus corn-soybean meal diet for broilers.

The addition of microbial phytase to diets for broiler chickens has been shown to improve the availability of phytate P, total P, some other minerals, and amino acids. In this study, the effect of a novel microbial phytase expressed by synthetic genes in Aspergillus oryzae on amino acid and mineral availability was assessed. Phytase was incorporated (1,000 and 2,000 U/kg) into low-P corn-soybean meal-based diets for broilers. Broilers received the experimental diets for 3 wk, and excreta were collected from d 18 to 21 for the determination of AME and mineral retention. On the 22nd day, the broilers were killed and the left leg removed and ileal digesta collected. Ileal phytate P and total P absorption, ileal amino acid digestibility, as well as the bone mineral content and bone mineral density were determined. Ileal phytate P absorption and absorbed phytate P content of the low-P corn-soybean meal diet were significantly (P < 0.05) higher after dietary inclusion of the novel phytase (49-60% and 65-77% higher, respectively). Apparent ileal total P absorption and apparent total P retention was 12 to 16% and 14 to 19% higher (P < 0.05), respectively, after dietary inclusion of phytase. The bone mineral content and bone mineral density in the tibia were 32 to 35% and 19 to 21% higher (P < 0.05), respectively, after dietary phytase inclusion. The apparent ileal digestibility of threonine, tyrosine, and histidine increased significantly (P < 0.05) by 14, 9, and 7%, respectively, after dietary inclusion of microbial phytase. Overall, the inclusion of a novel microbial phytase into a low-P corn-soybean meal diet for broiler chickens greatly increased phytate P and total P absorption, bone mineral content and density, as well as the digestibility of some amino acids.

Growth rates and energy intake of hand-reared cheetah cubs (Acinonyx jubatus) in South Africa.

Growth rate is an important factor in neonatal survival. The aim of this study was to determine growth rates in hand-reared cheetah cubs in South Africa fed a prescribed energy intake, calculated for growth in the domestic cat. Growth was then compared with previously published data from hand-reared cubs in North America and the relationship between growth and energy intake explored. Daily body weight (BW) gain, feed and energy intake data was collected from 18 hand-reared cheetah cubs up to 120 days of age. The average pre-weaning growth rate was 32 g/day, which is lower than reported in mother-reared cubs and hand-reared cubs in North American facilities. However, post-weaning growth increased to an average of 55 g/day. Growth was approximately linear prior to weaning, but over the entire age range it exhibited a sigmoidal shape with an asymptotic plateau averaging 57 kg. Energy intake associated with pre-weaning growth was 481 kJ ME/kg BW(0.75). Regression analysis described the relationship between metabolic BW, metabolisable energy (ME) intake, and hence daily weight gain. This relationship may be useful in predicting energy intake required to achieve growth rates in hand-reared cheetah cubs similar to those observed for their mother-reared counterparts.

Dietary supplementation with ovine serum immunoglobulin attenuates acute effects on growth, organ weights, gut morphology and intestinal mucin production in the growing rat challenged with Salmonella enteritidis.

The aim was to determine the effect of orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulin (Ig) on growth performance, organ weight, gut morphology and mucin production in the Salmonella enteritidis--gavaged growing rat. Four groups consisted of non-gavaged rats fed a casein-based control basal diet (BD) and three groups of rats gavaged with 1×10(7) CFU S. enteritidis and fed a casein-based diet, a diet containing freeze-dried ovine Ig (FDOI) or a casein-based diet containing inactivated ovine Ig (IOI). The rats were randomly allocated to one of the four groups (n=15/group) and received their respective diets for an 18-day experimental study. Gavaging took place on day 15. Average daily gain and body gain : feed ratio (post-gavage, 3 days) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for the Salmonella-challenged rats fed the FDOI diet compared to those fed the BD and IOI diets. At the end of the study, the small intestine and colon were significantly (P<0.05) heavier for the gavaged rats fed the FDOI diet compared to the gavaged rats fed either the BD or IOI diet. Moreover, the relative weights of the caecum, liver and spleen of the gavaged rats fed the BD or IOI diet were significantly (P<0.05) heavier compared to the gavaged rats fed the FDOI diet. Generally, the gavaged rats fed the FDOI diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher goblet cell counts and luminal mucin protein contents than the gavaged rats fed either the BD or IOI diet and had a more functional gut morphology. Overall, the FDOI fraction prevented the acute effects of S. enteritidis.

Exposure of growing and adult captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to dietary isoflavones: twenty years later.

Dietary isoflavones are associated with oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic effects, and have been linked to infertility in cheetahs. This study aimed to determine the isoflavone content of commercially prepared diets consumed by captive cheetahs. Sixteen international zoological facilities provided diets, and the isoflavone content of each diet was determined by acid hydrolysis and HPLC quantification. Proximate nutritional composition was also determined. Over half the diets analysed contained detectable concentrations of isoflavones, whereby total isoflavone content ranged from 1.75-183 mg/kg dry matter. The zoo-specific diets were calculated to deliver a median isoflavone dose of 0.07 mg/kg body weight (BW) and a maximum of 1.95 mg/kg BW to captive cheetahs. On a metabolic body weight basis this equates to a maximum of 4.90-5.43 mg/kg(0.75) . Some diets prepared for hand-rearing neonatal cheetahs could expose neonates to doses of up to 4.24 mg/kg BW (or 4.24-6.33 mg/kg(0.75) for cubs under 3 months of age). Only one of six zoo-specific diets was found to deliver isoflavones in doses shown to possess biological activity in other species. Therefore, on average, dietary isoflavones were not found in commercially prepared diets consumed by captive cheetahs in concentrations predicted to cause physiological changes. However, a small proportion of these diets, including hand-rearing formulas, contained elevated isoflavones concentrations which may influence cheetah fertility, behaviour or other physiological parameters.

Effect of elevated temperature storage on the digestible reactive lysine content of unhydrolyzed- and hydrolyzed-lactose milk-based products.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of storage at elevated temperatures on reactive Lys content and true ileal reactive Lys digestibility in a skim milk powder and a hydrolyzed-lactose skim milk powder. A validated bioassay based on guanidination of food and digesta samples was applied. Semisynthetic diets containing the milk powders as the sole sources of protein were formulated and fed to growing rats. Chromic oxide was included in each diet as an indigestible marker. Digesta were collected posteuthanasia and analyzed along with the diets for reactive Lys (homoarginine), and true ileal reactive Lys digestibility was calculated after correction for endogenous Lys loss. For the skim milk powder, there was no decrease in reactive Lys digestibility (Lys availability) when the powder was stored at 30 and 35 degrees C for 18 mo. In contrast, when stored at 40 degrees C for 12 mo, a small but statistically significant (6%) decrease was observed. For the hydrolyzed-lactose product, a 22% decrease in Lys availability was observed after storage at 35 degrees C for 18 mo, and a 17% decrease was observed when stored at 40 degrees C for only 6 mo. Digestible reactive (available) Lys content decreased by more than 20% for the skim milk powder stored at 30 and 35 degrees C for 18 mo and 40% when stored at 40 degrees C for 12 mo. Furthermore, available Lys decreased in the hydrolyzed-lactose skim milk powder by 41% when stored at 30 degrees C for only 18 mo and 34 and 65% when stored at 35 and 40 degrees C, respectively, for 6 mo. Elevated temperatures and prolonged storage periods negatively influenced the available Lys contents of both milk powders. The decrease in available Lys content and Lys availability was greater for the hydrolyzed-lactose skim milk powder compared with the normal skim milk powder, after storage at elevated temperatures.

The effect of a commercial enzyme preparation on apparent metabolizable energy, the true ileal amino acid digestibility, and endogenous ileal lysine losses in broiler chickens.

The effect of a commercial enzyme preparation containing xylanase, alpha-amylase, and beta-glucanase on dietary AME content and the apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibility of a corn-soy broiler diet and endogenous ileal lysine flow was determined. Two predominantly corn-soy diets also containing wheat bran and canola meal were formulated; one diet contained no added enzymes, whereas the other was supplemented with alpha-amylase, beta-glucanase, and xylanase. Titanium dioxide was included as an indigestible marker. The diets were given to broiler chickens, and AME and true ileal amino acid digestibility were determined. Portions of the 2 test diets were guanidinated and fed to similar aged broiler chickens and endogenous lysine flows determined. The chickens appeared healthy throughout the study, and the mean bird weights at the time of slaughter were not significantly different (P < 0.05) among any of the treatment groups. Dietary AME content was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the enzyme-supplemented corn-soy diet (2,829 kcal/kg) compared with its unsupplemented control diet (2,766 kcal/kg). True ileal amino acid digestibility was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for all amino acids investigated. The increase ranged from 4% for arginine and glutamic acid to 12% for cystine. There was no significant difference in endogenous ileal lysine flow between broilers fed the unsupplemented diet and those fed the enzyme-supplemented diet. Overall, enzyme supplementation with an enzyme blend containing alpha-amylase, beta-glucanase, and xylanase increased the AME content of a corn-soy broiler diet as well as apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibility for all amino acids, but had no effect on endogenous ileal lysine flow.

Felinine stability in the presence of selected urine compounds.

The stability of felinine, an amino acid present in feline urine, was investigated. Synthetic felinine was unstable in the urine of a selection of mammals. Felinine was found to stable in feline urine in which urea had been degraded. Synthetic felinine was found to react specifically with urea and did not react with urea analogues such as biuret or thiourea or other nucleophilic compounds such as ammonia which is more nucleophilic or acetamide and water which are less nucleophilic than urea. The reaction of urea and felinine was independent of pH over the range of 3-10. Urea did not react with N-acetyl-felinine suggesting a felinine N-terminal interaction with urea. Mass spectral analysis of the reaction products showed the presence of carbamylated felinine and fragmentation ions derived from carbamyl-felinine. The physiological relevance of felinine carbamylation is yet to be determined.

Mineral retention in three-week-old piglets fed goat and cow milk infant formulas.

Goat milk and cow milk are commonly used in infant formula preparations and, as such, understanding the nutritional characteristics of infant formulas made from these milks is important. In this study, a goat milk infant formula was compared with an adapted (whey-enhanced) cow milk infant formula with respect to mineral absorption and deposition using the 3-wk-old piglet as a model for the 3-mo-old infant. Equal numbers of piglets (n = 8) were fed either the goat milk formula or the cow milk formula. The mineral composition of the prepared goat milk formula was higher than that of the prepared cow milk formula for most minerals, including calcium (75.1 vs. 56.7 mg/100 mL) but excluding iron, which was higher in the prepared cow milk formula (0.92 vs. 0.74 mg/100 mL). The amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and manganese absorbed by the piglets were significantly higher for the goat milk formula, whereas the amounts of zinc, iron, and magnesium absorbed were significantly higher for the cow milk formula. Apparent mineral absorption, relative to intake, was statistically higher in the cow milk formula for calcium and phosphorus, although the actual differences were very small (less than 1.3%). For copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium there was no significant difference between treatments in apparent mineral absorption, whereas for manganese, absorption was higher for the goat milk infant formula. The absolute mineral deposition was higher in piglets fed the goat milk formula for calcium, phosphorus, and manganese, whereas iron deposition was higher in the piglets fed cow milk formula. For all other minerals tested, there were no significant differences between treatments. The goat milk infant formula provided a pattern of mineral retention in the 3-wk-old piglet very similar to that of the adapted cow milk infant formula. The minor differences observed between the 2 appeared to be due to the different mineral contents of the 2 formulas.

True ileal amino acid digestibility of goat and cow milk infant formulas.

Goat milk is used as an alternative to cow milk for the production of infant formulas. However, little is known about the protein quality and, specifically, about the digestible AA pattern of goat milk formulas compared with their cow milk counterparts. In this study, the true ileal AA digestibility of a goat milk infant formula was compared with a premium cow milk infant formula. The 3-wk-old piglet was used as a model for the 3-mo-old infant. Both milk formulas were prepared as described by the manufacturer, with titanium dioxide added as an indigestible marker. The formulas were fed to the piglets over a 2-wk trial period. Digesta from the terminal ileum were collected post euthanasia and analyzed for AA content, along with samples of the formulas. True AA digestibility was determined after correcting for endogenous AA loss at the terminal ileum of pigs fed an enzyme-hydrolyzed casein-based diet, followed by ultrafiltration (5,000 Da) of the digesta. Total urine and feces collection was also undertaken to determine the nitrogen retention from the diets. The true ileal AA digestibility was similar between the goat and cow milk infant formulas for all AA except Gly and Trp. There was no significant difference in the nitrogen retention of piglets fed the two different formulas. The goat milk infant formula and the premium cow milk infant formula were similar in terms of protein quality.

The isoflavone content of commercially-available feline diets in New Zealand.

AIM: To identify and quantify concentrations of the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin in commercially- prepared feline diets sold in New Zealand. METHODS: Feline diets (n=138) were collected from supermarkets, pet stores and veterinary clinics in New Zealand. Diets were classified into five categories based on the following criteria: the presence/absence of soy, the presence/absence of non-soy plant material, and dry matter (DM) content. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based assay was developed and validated to identify and quantify concentrations of the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin. RESULTS: Isoflavones were detected in all categories of diet, and at quantifiable concentrations in 104/138 (75%) of the diets tested. More dry diets (127/138; 92%) contained isoflavones at quantifiable concentrations than moist diets (83/138; 60%, p<0.001). Of the isoflavone-positive diets, moist diets that contained soy had the highest median isoflavone content (71.1 mg/kg DM and 0.018 mg/kcal metabolisable energy; ME) whilst moist meat-only diets had the lowest (3.24 mg/kg DM and 0.0004 mg/kcal ME). Isoflavone contents varied similarly between categories of diet whether evaluated on a DM or ME basis. High isoflavone contents were associated with diets containing soy and those of low cost. Biochanin A and formononetin were found at concentrations above the detection limit of the assay in 25/138 (18%) and 7/138 (5%) of the diets analysed, respectively. The estimated median daily isoflavone exposure for cats consuming feline diets sold in New Zealand ranged from 0.03 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) for moist meat-only diets to 1.47 mg/kg BW for moist diets containing soy, whilst the diet with the highest isoflavone content would provide daily exposure of 8.13 mg/kg BW. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflavones are present in commercially-prepared feline diets sold in New Zealand at concentrations that have elicited physiological responses in the reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems of other mammalian species. Since isoflavones appear to be a common constituent of feline diets, further investigation of the biological activities of these dietary compounds in cats is warranted.

Digestible reactive lysine in selected milk-based products.

Reactive lysine contents, true ileal reactive lysine digestibility, and true ileal digestible reactive lysine contents were determined in a wide range of processed milk products. A previously validated assay based on determining reactive lysine in both food and ileal digesta, after reaction of these materials with O-methylisourea, was applied. Semisynthetic diets containing milk products as the sole sources of protein and including chromic oxide as an indigestible marker were fed to growing rats. Digesta from the terminal ileum were collected posteuthanasia and, with samples of the diets, analyzed for reactive lysine (homoarginine) contents. True reactive lysine digestibility was determined after correcting for endogenous lysine loss at the terminal ileum of rats fed an enzyme hydrolyzed casein-based diet, followed by ultrafiltration (5000 Da) of the digesta. Digestible total lysine (determined using conventional methods) was also determined. The true ileal reactive lysine digestibility was high (>91%) in all the milk products tested, but was highest in the UHT milk (100%) and lowest in the infant formulas (91 to 93%). Total lysine digestibility (conventional measurement) significantly underestimated reactive lysine digestibility for all the products tested. The mean underestimation ranged from 1.3 to 7.1% units. The mean digestible total lysine content was significantly different from the available lysine content for most of the products examined. In some cases this difference was small (<3%), but for a number of the products (evaporated milk, whole milk protein, lactose hydrolyzed milk powder, and a sports formula) the difference was greater (6.5 to 14%). This would suggest firstly that total lysine and total lysine digestibility determined using conventional methods were inaccurate when applied to some milk-based foods, and secondly that some of the milk products have undergone lysine modification. In general, milk proteins are a highly digestible source of amino acids and lysine.

Use of capillary (zone) electrophoresis for determining felinine and it's application to investigate the stability of felinine.

A rapid capillary electrophoresis method was established to quantify felinine (2-amino-7-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-4-thiaheptanoic acid) in cat urine and used to investigate felinine stability. Synthetic felinine was stable in the presence of oxygen while 11% of the natural felinine in urine disappeared after 4 days exposure to air. Both synthetic felinine and the natural felinine (in urine) were stable for up to 3 months when stored at -5 degrees C and 20 degrees C. Thirty percent of the synthetic felinine was lost after 5 hours at 100 degrees C while 95% of the natural felinine disappeared after only 2 hours at the same temperature. The recovery of felinine under certain conditions was greater than 100%. It is possible that acetyl-felinine may be present in the urine and that it is deacetylated during incubation. Overall synthetic felinine was found to be stable but the felinine in cat urine much less so. Other compounds present in the urine may contribute to the decomposition of felinine.

Effect of microbial phytase on ileal digestibility of phytate phosphorus, total phosphorus, and amino acids in a low-phosphorus diet for broilers.

The study aimed to assess the effect of a commercially available microbial phytase added to a corn-soybean meal diet on phytate P and total P in terminal ileal digesta as well as on true ileal amino acid digestibility. Three low-P diets containing 0, 500, or 750 U/kg of microbial phytase were fed to 21-d-old broiler chickens. Titanium dioxide was used as an indigestible marker. Ileal contents were collected from euthanized birds and analyzed, along with the diets, for total P, phytate P, and amino acids. Endogenous P determined at the terminal ileum was 446 +/- 59 mg/kg food dry matter (mean +/- SE). Endogenous ileal amino acids ranged from 219 +/- 33 mg/kg food dry matter for tryptophan to 1,255 +/- 166 mg/kg food dry matter for glutamic acid. Supplementation with microbial phytase resulted in a significantly (P < or = 0.05) greater phytate P disappearance (11% greater disappearance vs. unsupplemented control) from the terminal ileum. Similarly, true ileal total P digestibility was (P < or = 0.05) higher (10 to 12%) when microbial phytase was added. True ileal amino acid digestibility was significantly (P < or = 0.05) greater in the presence of microbial phytase for all the amino acids examined with the exception of methionine, tyrosine, histidine, and tryptophan. The mean increase in true ileal amino acid digestibility was 3.4%. The effect of phytase on true ileal phytate P, total P, and amino acid digestibility was similar for the 2 phytase inclusion levels tested. Microbial phytase improved phytate P and total P digestibility, as well as true ileal amino acid digestibility, for a corn-soybean diet.

Concentrations in beef and lamb of taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q(10), and creatine.

Levels of taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q(10), and creatine were measured in beef liver and several muscles of beef and lamb and in cooked and uncooked meat. The amino acid taurine has numerous biological functions, the dipeptide carnosine is a buffer as well as an antioxidant, coenzyme Q(10) is also an antioxidant present within mitochondria, and creatine along with creatine phosphate is involved with energy metabolism in muscle. Large differences were shown for all compounds between beef cheek muscle (predominantly red fibres) and beef semitendinosus muscle (mainly white fibres), with cheek muscle containing 9.9 times as much taurine, and 3.2 times as much coenzyme Q(10), but only 65% as much creatine and 9% as much carnosine. Levels in lamb relative to beef semitendinosus muscles were higher for taurine but slightly lower for carnosine, coenzyme Q(10) and creatine. Values for all the compounds varied significantly between eight lamb muscles, possibly due in part to differences in the proportion of muscle fibre types. Slow cooking (90 min at 70 °C) of lamb longissimus and semimembranosus muscles led to significant reductions in the content of taurine, carnosine, and creatine (P<0.001), but a slight increase in coenzyme Q(10). There was also a four-fold increase in creatinine, presumably due to its formation from creatine. It is concluded that biologically, and possibly nutritionally, significant levels of taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q(10), and creatine are present in beef and lamb, but that these levels vary between muscles, between animals, and with cooking.

Cooking temperature effects on the forms of iron and levels of several other compounds in beef semitendinosus muscle.

The influence of final cooked temperature on the form of iron present and on the concentration of taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q(10) and creatine was investigated in surface and inner parts of 30-mm thick steaks from beef semitendinosus muscle (n=6). The use of a fast, dry-heat cooking method with a Silex clam cooker (set at 200 °C) led to cooking times ranging from 5.6 to 8.6 min for final internal temperatures of 60 and 85 °C, respectively. The proportion of iron as soluble haem iron decreased from 65% in uncooked meat to 22% when cooked to 60 °C and then decreased more gradually with increases in final cooked temperature. The proportion of insoluble haem iron increased in a reciprocal manner, while changes in the proportions of soluble and insoluble non-haem iron were relatively small, but increases in the percentage of insoluble non-haem iron with increasing final temperature were significant (P<0.01). Changes in the forms of iron with cooking generally took place more rapidly in surface samples than inner samples. On a dry-matter basis, concentrations of taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q(10), and creatine all decreased with cooking, but the decreases were greatest for taurine and creatine. Losses of creatine were at least partly due to conversion to creatinine, and, along with the other compounds, probably included some loss in cooking juices. It is concluded that despite these changes with cooking, beef semitendinosus muscle remains a good source of iron and a useful source of the potentially bioactive compounds taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q(10) and creatine.

The rat as a model animal for the growing pig in determining ileal amino acid digestibility in soya and milk proteins.

The growing pig is an established model animal for humans to determine protein digestibility to the end of the small intestine. An ileal amino acid digestibility assay based on the laboratory rat offers an alternative. True ileal amino acid digestibility in high quality refined protein sources was determined and compared between the laboratory rat and the growing pig. Both species of animals were fed their daily ration in nine separate meals. Ileal digesta were collected at slaughter and chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. For several of the amino acids examined, there were no significant (p < 0.05) differences between the two species for true ileal amino acid digestibility, but for aspartic acid, serine, cysteine, methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine, significant (p < 0.05) interspecies differences were found. The overall average amino acid digestibility, for all amino acids and all diets, was 95.8% for the pig and 96.1% for the rat. Cysteine digestibility was highly variable between individual animals fed the same diet. The extent of amino acid digestion and absorption appears to be broadly similar across the two species, but some important differences in digestibility were recorded.

The effect of microbial phytase on ileal phosphorus and amino acid digestibility in the broiler chicken.

1. The study aimed to assess the effect of a commercially available microbial phytase on phytate phosphorus and total phosphorus content at the terminal ileum as well as true ileal amino acid digestibility. 2. Five diets, each containing a different plant-based feedstuff, were supplemented with microbial phytase and fed, along with a non-supplemented corresponding diet, to 28-d-old broiler chickens, Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. Ileal contents were collected and analysed, along with the diets, for total phosphorus, phytate phosphorus and amino acids. 3. Endogenous phosphorus determined at the terminal ileum was 272 +/- 108 mg/kg food dry matter (mean +/- SE). Endogenous ileal amino acid flows ranged from 58 +/- 10 mg/kg food dry matter for methionine to 568 +/- 47 mg/kg food dry matter for glutamic acid. 4. Supplementation with microbial phytase resulted in a significantly greater phytate P disappearance from the terminal ileum for rice bran (17% units), but not for soyabean meal, maize, wheat or rapeseed meal. Similarly total phosphorus digestibility was significantly (P < 0.05) higher when microbial phytase was added to the rice-bran-based diet but not for any of the other feedstuffs. 5. Amino acid digestibility was significantly greater in the presence of microbial phytase for all the amino acids examined in wheat, for several of the amino acids each in maize and rapeseed meal and for one amino acid in rice bran and soyabean meal. The average increase in amino acid digestibility for those amino acids affected, was 13, 6, 10, 7 and 12% units for wheat, maize, rapeseed meal, rice bran and soyabean meal, respectively. 6. It appears that microbial phytase improves phosphorus digestibility and amino acid digestibility for certain plant-based feedstuffs.