Proteomic profile associated with cell death induced by androgens in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci: proposed interactome.

Androgens have been shown to exert a cysticidal effect upon Taenia crassiceps, an experimental model of cysticercosis. To further inquire into this matter, the Taenia crassiceps model was used to evaluate the expression of several proteins after testosterone (T4) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in vitro treatment. Under 2-D proteomic maps, parasite extracts were resolved into approximately 130 proteins distributed in a molecular weight range of 10-250 kDa and isoelectrical point range of 3-10. The resultant proteomic pattern was analysed, and significant changes were observed in response to T4 and DHT. Based on our experience with electrophoretic patterns and proteomic maps of cytoskeletal proteins, alteration in the expression of isoforms of actin, tubulin and paramyosin and of other proteins was assessed. Considering that androgens may exert their biological activity in taeniids through the non-specific progesterone receptor membrane component (PGRMC), we harnessed bioinformatics to propose the identity of androgen-regulated proteins and establish their hypothetical physiological role in the parasites. These analyses yield a possible explanation of how androgens exert their cysticidal effects through changes in the expression of proteins involved in cytoskeletal rearrangement, dynamic vesicular traffic and transduction of intracellular signals.

Ileal digestibility of amino acids of unheated and autoclaved pea protein concentrate in broilers.

The effects of autoclaving 2 varieties of micronized (fine grinding) pea protein concentrate (PPC) on the ileal digestibility (ID) of CP and amino acids (AA) were studied in broilers. There was a control diet based on fermented soybean meal (FSBM) and 4 extra diets in which the FSBM was substituted on a CP basis by PPC from 2 different pea cultivars (PPC-1 and PPC-2), either unheated or autoclaved. Chicks were fed a common diet from 1 to 17 d of age and, then, their respective experimental diets from 18 to 21 d of age. Each treatment was replicated 6 times. Autoclaving reduced trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) but had little effect on the saponin content of the PPC. The apparent ID (AID) of CP was similar for the FSBM and the unheated PPC and lower for both than for the autoclaved PPC. Autoclaving improved (P < 0.001) the AID of CP (87.6 vs. 82.2%) and most indispensable AA (e.g., 92.1 vs. 88.8% for Lys and 83.6 vs. 76.5% for Thr) of the PPC. The improvement in CP and AA digestibility with autoclaving varied with the PPC used and was consistent with the reduction in TIA observed (9.4 to 2.8 mg/g for PPC-1 vs. 9.1 to 5.3 mg/g for PPC-2). The standardized ID (SID) of most indispensable AA was similar for the FSBM and the PPC-2 and higher for both than for the PPC-1 (P < 0.05). For Lys, the lowest SID value was observed for the FSBM and the highest for the PPC-2 either unheated or autoclaved. It is concluded that the ID of the AA of the PPC improved with heating and was in general higher for the autoclaved PPC than for the FSBM. Consequently, heat processed PPC is a good alternative to FSBM and unheated PPC in starter diets for broilers.

Influence of feed form and source of soybean meal of the diet on growth performance of broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. 1. Floor pen study.

In total, 3,120 broilers were used to study the effects of feed form and source of soybean meal (SBM) of the diet on growth performance. From 1 to 21 d of age, there were 12 treatments arranged factorially with 3 feed forms (mash, crumbles, and pellets) and 4 commercial sources of SBM that differed in the CP content [48.1 and 46.2% CP from the United States (USA-1 and USA-2), 47.6% CP from Brazil (BRA), and 46.3% CP from Argentina (ARG)]. From 21 to 42 d of age, diets were fed as pellets. Diets were formulated assuming that all SBM had similar digestible amino acid content per unit of CP. From 1 to 21 d of age, chicks fed crumbles or pellets had higher (P < 0.001) ADG than chicks fed mash. Also, chicks fed pellets had better (P < 0.001) feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) than chicks fed crumbles, and both were better than chicks fed mash. However, from 21 to 42 d of age, F:G was best (P < 0.001) for chicks previously fed mash. For the entire experimental period, broilers that were fed crumbles or pellets from 1 to 21 d of age had higher (P < 0.001) ADG than broilers that were fed mash. Also, broilers that were fed pellets had better (P < 0.05) F:G than broilers fed mash, with broilers fed crumbles being intermediate. Broilers fed the USA-2 meal had higher (P < 0.01) ADG than broilers fed the BRA or the ARG meals, with broilers fed the USA-1 meal being intermediate. Feed efficiency tended (P = 0.07) to be hindered in broilers fed the BRA meal. The results show that pelleting improved growth performance of broilers from 1 to 42 d of age with effects being less evident at 42 d than at 21 d of age. Source of SBM affected growth performance suggesting the need for a better control of chemical composition and quality of this ingredient before diet formulation.

Cereal type and heat processing of the cereal affect nutrient digestibility and dynamics of serum insulin and ghrelin in weanling pigs.

The effects of feeding corn or rice, either raw or heat processed (HP), on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients and on insulin and ghrelin concentrations in the serum were studied in young pigs. Pigs were weaned at approximately 23 ± 3 d of age and weighed 7.4 ± 1.2 kg. Each of the 4 treatments was replicated 9 times, and the experimental unit was a pig individually housed. Pigs (5 males and 4 females/treatment) were fed their respective diets ad libitum from 23 to 47 d of age. At 37 d of age, the effects of dietary treatments on the fasting and postprandial concentrations of insulin and total and acylated ghrelin were studied. The ATTD of OM, GE, and ether extract were, respectively, 4.3, 5.4, and 3.6% greater (P < 0.05) for the rice than for the corn diets, but CP digestibility was not affected. Similar results were observed for AID. Heat processing of the cereal increased (P < 0.05) the ATTD by 2.1% for OM, 3.2% for GE, 7.1% for ether extract, and 2.2% for CP and tended to increase the AID of CP (P = 0.06) and starch (P = 0.09). The postprandial serum insulin response was greater and was more prolonged in pigs fed raw rice than in pigs fed raw corn (P < 0.05). In addition, the effects of HP on serum insulin response were more pronounced with corn than with rice (cereal × HP, P < 0.05). Total ghrelin concentration was not affected by treatment, but acylated ghrelin was greater (P < 0.05) at 6 h postprandially in pigs fed rice than in pigs fed raw corn. Feeding rice and HP corn increased nutrient digestibility and insulin response in the early postprandial period and increased the acylated ghrelin response in the late postprandial period compared with feeding raw corn.

Influence of the inclusion of cooked cereals and pea starch in diets based on soy or pea protein concentrate on nutrient digestibility and performance of young pigs.

An experiment was conducted to compare different dietary vegetable sources of starch and protein on the coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD) of energy and nutrients and performance of piglets from 29 to 60 d of age. The experiment was completely randomized with 6 treatments arranged factorially with 3 sources of starch (cooked-flaked corn, cooked-flaked rice, and pea starch) and 2 sources of protein [soy protein concentrate (SPC) and pea protein concentrate (PPC)]. The pea starch and the PPC used were obtained by dehulling and grinding pea seeds to a mean particle size of 30 microm. Each treatment was replicated 6 times (6 pigs per pen). For the entire experiment, piglets fed cooked rice had greater ADG than piglets fed pea starch with piglets fed cooked corn being intermediate (471, 403, and 430 g/d, respectively; P < 0.05). Protein source did not have any effect on piglet performance. The CATTD of DM, OM, and GE were greater (P < 0.05) for diets based on cooked rice than diets based on cooked corn with diets based on pea starch being intermediate. Crude protein digestibility was not affected by source of starch but was greater for the diets based on SPC than for diets based on PPC (0.836 vs. 0.821; P < 0.01). Protein source did not affect the digestibility of any of the other dietary components. It is concluded that cooked rice is an energy source of choice in diets for young pigs. The inclusion of PPC in the diet reduced protein digestibility but had no effects on energy digestibility or piglet performance. Therefore, the finely ground starch and protein fractions of peas can be used in substitution of cooked corn or SPC, respectively, in diets for young pigs.

Influence of feed restriction and sex on growth performance and carcass and meat quality of Iberian pigs reared indoors.

Iberian x Duroc pigs (n = 168), with an average age of 152 d and 42 +/- 2 kg, were used to investigate the effect of feeding regimen [ad libitum access to feed (AL) vs. 82% of AL from 152 to 201 d of age and 72% from 202 to 263 d of age (FR)] and sex (intact females, castrated females, and castrated males) on growth performance and carcass and meat quality. For the last 54 d before slaughter at 317 d of age, all pigs had AL access to feed. Between 152 and 263 d of age, pigs consuming AL had greater (P < 0.001) ADFI and ADG than FR pigs; however, when all pigs received AL access to feed (264 to 317 d of age), ADFI (P < 0.05), ADG (P < 0.001), and G:F (P < 0.01) increased in FR pigs compared with AL pigs. During the entire feeding period (152 to 317 d of age), ADG in FR pigs was less (P < 0.01) than in AL pigs. Feed-restricted pigs tended to have greater (P < 0.10) yields of trimmed hams and shoulders and less carcass fat than AL pigs, but feeding regimens did not affect chemical composition and color of meat. Intact females tended (P < 0.10) to have greater G:F and produced carcasses with less (P < 0.05) fat, greater (P < 0.01) proportions of primal cuts, and greater (P < 0.05) CP in the LM than castrated females and castrated males. It was concluded from this experiment that feed restriction applied from 152 to 263 d of age improved primal cut yields without affecting G:F, pork quality, and cured ham production traits. Moreover, intact females were superior to their castrated counterparts (particularly castrated females) in growth performance and primal cut yields. Therefore, feed restriction in intact females can be recommended as an acceptable practice for the production of Iberian pigs under intensive conditions.

Effect of main cereal of the diet and particle size of the cereal on productive performance and egg quality of brown egg-laying hens in early phase of production.

A total of 960 Lohmann Brown laying hens were used to study the effects of the main cereal of the diet and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of the cereal on productive performance and egg quality from 20 to 48 wk of age. The experiment was a completely randomized design with 6 treatments arranged factorially with 2 cereals (dent corn vs. durum wheat) and 3 GMD of the cereal (hammer-milled to pass through 6-, 8-, or 10-mm screens). Each treatment was replicated 8 times (20 hens per replicate). All diets were formulated to be isonutritive and contained 50% of either corn or wheat. Productive traits were recorded every 4 wk and egg quality was measured at 48 wk of age. The only significant effect detected was for feed intake (P < 0.05) that was greater for hens fed coarse-ground cereals (10-mm screen) than for hens fed medium and fine-ground cereals (8- or 6-mm screen). None of the egg quality parameters studied were influenced by dietary treatment. We conclude that neither type of cereal nor GMD affected productive performance or egg quality of young brown hens, except for feed intake that increased with the coarser particle size.

Apparent ileal digestibility of energy, nitrogen, and amino acids of soybean meals of different origin in broilers.

The coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of DM, gross energy (GE), N, and amino acids (AA) of 6 soybean meal (SBM) samples were compared in 21-d-old broilers. In addition, the digestibility of DM and N of diets that contained these SBM were tested in vitro. Four of the SBM were of South American origin, had a CP content varying from 45.2 to 47.2% and a trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) varying from 4.1 to 6.5 mg/g, and were collected from local traders. The other 2 SBM were from US origin; one was a branded product with 48.6% CP and 1.8 mg of TIA/g and the other was obtained from soybeans of US origin that were dehulled and processed in Spain (50.6% CP and 2.4 mg of TIA/g). The experimental design was completely randomized with 6 diets and 6 replicates per treatment. Chicks were fed a commercial diet from 1 to 16 d of age and then their respective experimental diets for 5 d. The diets were based on sucrose and corn starch, with the SBM tested as the only source of protein. At 21 d of age, digesta was collected from the distal ileum and the CAID of nutrients was determined using celite as an indigestible marker. Diets that included the 2 SBM with the greatest CP content had greater CAID of DM (P

Productive performance and egg quality of brown egg-laying hens in the late phase of production as influenced by level and source of calcium in the diet.

A total of 1,152 Lohmann Brown laying hens were used to study the influence of level (3.5 and 4.0%) and source (coded FIN, COA, and OYS) of Ca in the diet on productive performance and egg quality from 58 to 73 wk of age. The FIN diet contained all the Ca carbonate as fine limestone (LIM). In the COA and OYS diets, 40% of the fine LIM was substituted with either coarse LIM or oyster shell. Each treatment was replicated 8 times (24 hens). Productive performance and egg quality traits were recorded every 4 wk, and tibia characteristics and shell quality traits were determined at 73 wk of age. An increase in Ca intake from 4.08 to 4.64 g/hen per day improved egg production (71.2 vs. 74.9%; P < 0.001), egg mass (49.0 vs. 51.4 g; P < 0.05), and feed conversion ratio (2.43 vs. 2.30 kg of feed/kg of egg; P < 0.001). In addition, an increase in Ca intake improved shell weight (9.98 vs. 10.20%; P < 0.05), shell thickness (0.342 vs. 0.351 mm; P < 0.01), and shell density (82.0 vs. 83.8 mg/cm2; P < 0.001). Calcium source had no effect on productive performance, tibia characteristics, or egg quality except for shell density, which was greater for hens fed COA than for hens fed FIN, with hens fed OYS being intermediate (81.9 vs. 84.0 vs. 82.7 mg/cm2, respectively; P < 0.05). It was concluded that Brown egg-laying hens in the late phase of production require more than 3.5% Ca in the diet (4.08 g of Ca/hen per day) and that the substitution of 40% of fine LIM with COA or OYS does not affect productive performance and has little impact on shell quality and tibia characteristics.

Effects of fiber source and heat processing of the cereal on the development and pH of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers fed diets based on corn or rice.

We studied the influence of the cereal (corn and rice), heat processing (HP) of the cereal (raw and steam cooking), and fiber inclusion (none; 3% oat hulls, OH; and 3% soy hulls, SH) in low-fiber diets on the development and pH of the digestive tract in broilers. There were 12 treatments arranged factorially and 3 replicates (a cage with 12 chicks) per treatment. Digestive traits were measured at 1, 5, 9, 15, and 22 d of age, and digesta pH was determined at 22 d of age. The relative weight (% BW) of proventriculus and gizzard was greater in chicks fed corn than in chicks fed rice (P < or = 0.01). Heat processing had little effect on relative weight (RW) of the digestive organs. An interaction between cereal and HP of the cereal was detected for the gizzard and the liver; HP of corn reduced RW of the gizzard and increased that of the liver, but no effect was observed with HP of rice. The RW of the proventriculus was increased by SH inclusion (P < or = 0.05), whereas the RW of the gizzard was increased by OH inclusion (P < or = 0.001). Also, SH inclusion increased gizzard digesta (P < or = 0.01) and moisture (P < or = 0.001) content. Dietary treatment did not affect relative length (cm/kg of empty BW) of the intestines. Feeding rice tended to increase gizzard digesta pH (P = 0.081) but reduced that of the intestines (P < or = 0.001). Neither HP of the cereal nor hull inclusion affected pH of the digestive tract. We conclude that the RW of the proventriculus and gizzard is reduced by feeding rice and increased by hull inclusion. Dietary treatment had little effect on the weight and relative length of the intestines. Chicks might require a minimal amount of fiber in the diet to stimulate the development of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Effects of the levels of methionine, linoleic Acid, and added fat in the diet on productive performance and egg quality of brown laying hens in the late phase of production.

Two trials were conducted to study the effect of reducing the methionine (MET, 0.36 vs. 0.31%), linoleic acid (LIN, 1.60 vs. 1.12%), and supplemental fat (SFAT, 3.0 vs. 1.1%) content of isoenergetic diets on the productive performance and egg quality of brown laying hens late in the production cycle. The 8 treatments were arranged factorially (2 x 2 x 2), with 6 replicates of 20 hens per treatment (Hy-Line, from 59 to 70 wk of age in trial 1, and Lohmann, from 56 to 75 wk of age in trial 2). Except for SFAT content, dietary treatment had little effect on laying hen performance and egg quality. The only effect of a reduction in MET content on hen performance was the decrease in the percentage of large and extra large eggs (79.8 vs. 85.9%; P < 0.05) from 60 to 67 wk of age in trial 2. A decrease in the level of SFAT reduced egg production (79.3 vs. 77.0%; P < 0.05), egg weight (66.3 vs. 64.9 g; P < 0.001), egg mass (52.5 vs. 49.8 g/d; P < 0.001), feed conversion ratio (2.26 vs. 2.36 kg of feed/kg of eggs; P < 0.001), and percentage of extra large eggs (13.1 vs. 8.2%; P < 0.05) in trial 1, but no significant differences were detected in trial 2. Reducing the LIN content of the diet from 1.60 to 1.12% did not affect any trait in either of the 2 trials. We conclude that reducing the level of SFAT from 3.0 to 1.1% might decrease productivity and the percentage of extra large eggs. However, a reduction in the MET level from 0.36 to 0.31% and in LIN from 1.60 to 1.12% did not affect any trait in hens late in the production cycle. Eggshell quality was not affected by any of the dietary treatments.

Influence of sex and terminal sire line on performance and carcass and meat quality of Iberian pigs reared under intensive production systems.

A trial was conducted to study the effects of sex (castrated males; females) and terminal sire line (DD, Danish Duroc; SD, Spanish Duroc; RIB, Retinto Iberian) on performance and carcass and meat quality of pigs slaughtered at 145kg body weight. The female line was pure Iberian in all cases. Each treatment was replicated five times (six pigs). Females were more efficient, had less carcass and inter- and intramuscular fat and more trimmed primal cuts yield than castrated males. Duroc sired pigs grew faster and had better feed conversion and carcass quality than RIB sired pigs. Crossbreeds from SD had less carcass yield than crossbreeds from DD or RIB. We conclude that productive performance and primal cuts yield were higher for females than for castrated males. Danish Duroc sires are an alternative to Spanish Duroc and Retinto Iberian sires for production of heavy pigs destined for the dry cured industry.

Effect of gender and castration of females and slaughter weight on performance and carcass and meat quality of Iberian pigs reared under intensive management systems.

A total of 360 Iberian dam×Duroc sire pigs was used to study the influence of gender and castration of females (CM, castrated males; CF, castrated females; IF, intact females) and slaughter weight (SW; 145 and 156kg body weight, BW) on performance and carcass and meat quality. Each treatment was replicated four times (15 pigs). Intact females ate less, tended to have better feed conversion and had less carcass fat and more primal cuts yield than CM and CF. Pigs slaughtered at 156kg BW ate more feed and had worse feed conversion than pigs slaughtered at 145 BW. An increase in SW improved carcass yield, but tended to decrease trimmed ham yield. Intact females are an alternative to castrated females for intensive production of Iberian pigs. Also, the reduction in slaughter weight from 156 to 145kg BW is recommended for this type of production.

The effects of feeding rice in substitution of corn and the degree of starch gelatinization of rice on the digestibility of dietary components and productive performance of young pigs.

A 28-d trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of the main cereal of the diet (corn or rice), heat processing (HP) of rice, and the degree of starch gelatinization (SG) of rice on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dietary components and productive performance of pigs weaned at 25 d of age. The experimental design was a completely randomized, with 4 treatments and 8 replicates per treatment (5 pigs penned together). Control pigs were fed a complex diet without growth promoters and based on milk products, fish meal, and 50% cooked and flaked corn, with a degree of SG of 84%. Experimental groups received the same complex diet as the control group, but the corn was substituted by rice with 3 different degrees of SG; 11% that corresponded to raw rice and 52 or 76% that corresponded to cooked rice processed under 2 different conditions. Pig growth was measured at 25, 39, and 53 d of age, and ATTD was determined at 29, 39, and 53 d of age. The ATTD of all dietary components except for N increased with age (P <0.01) and were greater for the rice than for the corn diet. Heat processing of rice improved ATTD of all dietary components at 29 d of age, but no beneficial effects were observed at 39 or 53 d of age. Modifying the conditions of HP to increase the degree of SG of rice from 52 to 76% and to reduce mean particle size from 480 to 405 mum did not result in further improvement of nutrient digestibility. From 25 to 53 d of age, pigs fed rice consumed more feed (678 vs. 618 g/d; P <0.05), grew faster (466 vs. 407 g/d; P <0.01), and tended to have greater G:F (0.685 vs. 0.662; P <0.10) than pigs fed corn. In fact, from 25 to 39 d of age, pigs fed rice consumed 23% more feed (P <0.01), grew 29% faster (P <0.01), and had 5% greater G:F (P <0.05) than pigs fed corn. Feeding rice improved performance of weanling pigs, and HP of rice under mild conditions enhanced diet digestibility and productive performance of pigs. Severe processing of rice increased the degree of SG but did not further improve diet digestibility or growth performance.

The effects of gender and slaughter weight on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality characteristics of heavy pigs.

Crossbred pigs (n = 192) from Piétrain x Large White sires mated to Landrace x Large White dams, with a mean BW of 75 +/- 1.3 kg, were used to investigate the effects of gender and slaughter weight (SW) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Pens of pigs (eight pigs/pen) were assigned randomly to one of six treatments arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial design with two genders (barrows or gilts) and three SW (116, 124, or 133 kg). Each treatment was replicated four times. Over the entire trial, barrows had higher (P < 0.001) ADFI (as-fed basis) and ADG than gilts; however, gilts had higher (P < 0.05) gain-to-feed ratios (G:F) than barrows. Barrows had lower (P < 0.01) dressing percents than gilts and produced fatter (P < 0.001) carcasses that had lower trimmed shoulder (P < 0.10) and ham (P < 0.001) yields than gilts. There was a trend for the semimembranosus muscle (SM) from barrows to have a higher (P < 0.10) 45-min pH than that of gilts, but 24-h pH was 0.11 pH unit higher (P < 0.01) in the SM of barrows than gilts. Gender had no (P > 0.10) effect on the moisture and lipid content of the longissimus muscle (LM), nor did gender affect (P > 0.10) LM color, myoglobin content, or thaw loss percentage. However, the LM from barrows had lower (P < 0.05) cooking loss percentages and tended to have lower (P < 0.10) shear force values than the LM from gilts. Pigs slaughtered at 116 kg had higher (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs slaughtered at 124 and 133 kg. Daily feed intake (as-fed basis) was not (P > 0.10) different among SW; however, pigs slaughtered at 116 and 124 kg had higher (P < 0.001) G:F than those slaughtered at 133 kg. Dressing percent, backfat depth, carcass length, and ham and shoulder weights increased (P < 0.001) as SW increased from 116 to 133 kg. The initial (45-min) pH of the SM from pigs slaughtered at 133 kg was higher (P < 0.05) than from pigs slaughtered at 116 or 124 kg; however, 24-h pH was not (P > 0.10) affected by SW. The LM from pigs slaughtered at 133 kg was darker (lower L* values; P < 0.001), redder (higher a* value; P < 0.01), and had more (P < 0.001) myoglobin than the LM of pigs slaughtered at 116 and 124 kg. Barrows and gilts of this particular crossbreed can be used to produce acceptable quality fresh pork when slaughtered at 116 kg; however, increasing SW to 124 kg, or more, decreased live pig performance and carcass leanness without any additional benefits to pork quality attributes.