Effect of postweaning feed intake on performance, intestinal morphology, and the probability of diarrhoea in piglets.

Changes in gastrointestinal architecture, high incidence of diarrhoea, and low feed intake (FI) are commonly observed around weaning of pigs, but the relationship between postweaning FI and diarrhoea is unclear. This study aimed to determine the effect of low or high FI during the first days after weaning on growth performance, diarrhoea probability, intestinal permeability, and morphology in pigs until postweaning day (PWD) 28. A total of 120 pigs (7.20 ± 0.26 kg) weaned at 28 days of age (PWD 0) were randomly allocated to five diets and housed individually until PWD 28. Two diets differed in CP and three diets differed in threonine and tryptophan levels. At PWD 4, pigs with the 25% lowest accumulated FI (LOW; n = 30) and 25% highest accumulated FI (HIGH; n = 30) were selected for the study. Faecal consistency was evaluated daily using a 4-scale visual scoring system. Blood was collected at PWD 4, 14, 21 and 28, and small intestinal and colonic tissue was obtained at slaughter on PWD 28. Until PWD 4, LOW pigs consumed approximately 20% (35.7 ± 5.9 g/day) of the FI of HIGH pigs (181 ± 5.75 g/day; P < 0.05) and their average daily gain (ADG) was -103 ± 15.1 g/day. At PWD 28, average daily feed intake, ADG, and feed conversion ratio were still negatively affected by the FI level (P < 0.05) and pigs in the LOW group were on average 4.4 kg lighter than HIGH pigs. Pigs in the HIGH group showed a 55% higher probability of diarrhoea compared with LOW pigs during PWD 0-28. The number of antibiotic treatment days against diarrhoea was 2.38 days higher for HIGH compared with LOW pigs (P = 0.04). The intestinal permeability markers diamine oxidase and D-lactate in plasma were unaffected by the level of FI (P > 0.10). The systemic inflammatory markers haptoglobin and C-reactive protein were higher for HIGH pigs at PWD 4 (P = 0.005), but not affected in the following periods (P > 0.10). Pigs in the HIGH group had an increased area of acidic mucin-producing cells in the small intestine compared with LOW pigs (P < 0.05), but other intestinal morphology measurements at PWD 28 were unaffected by the level of FI. In conclusion, high FI just after weaning was associated with higher growth performance but also higher probability of diarrhoea and more frequent use of antibiotics until PWD 28.

Age-dependent development in protein digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs fed different protein sources.

Today, weaner diets are optimised using digestibility coefficients obtained from grower-finisher pigs, which may overestimate the digestibility in weaners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and amino acids (AAs), and the intestinal morphology in pigs 0-4 weeks postweaning when fed different protein sources. The experiment included 128 pigs weaned at day 28 and the protein sources were wheat, soybean meal (SBM), enzyme-treated soybean meal (ESBM), hydrothermally treated rapeseed meal (HRSM) and casein. The experiment was conducted as a difference method study including wheat in all diets. Eight pigs were slaughtered on the day of weaning (day 0) and six pigs/treatment were slaughtered at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 postweaning. The SID of CP and AA, as average over the four weeks, was lowest for ESBM and highest for wheat and casein, with SBM and HRSM being intermediate. The SID of CP and AA increased (both linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) over time after weaning. The average SID of CP for all protein sources postweaning was 0.38, 0.59, 0.76, and 0.71 on days 7, 14, 21, and 28, respectively. These differences were significant (P < 0.05) between days 7 and 21, and between days 7 and 28 (P < 0.05), whereas there tended to be a difference between days 7 and 14 (P = 0.06). Protein source did not affect the small intestinal morphology response parameters, whereas time after weaning did. Villous height and villous height to crypt depth ratio differed (P < 0.05) between the days 0 and 7, with shorter villi and a higher ratio at day 7. Crypt depth was not altered between days 0 and 7, or between days 7 and 14. For villi density, crypt density and small intestinal length, a significant increase from days 7 to 14 was observed, but there was no further increase to or difference between days 21 and 28. In conclusion, the low SID of CP in casein on day 7 (0.50) illustrates the challenges related to protein digestion in weanling pigs. The SID of CP and AA is very low during the first two weeks postweaning and time after weaning is more important for protein digestibility, than the source of protein. Fewer mature epithelial cells and less absorptive area in the small intestine in the early postweaning period may partly explain the poor protein digestibility.

Feeding milk supplemented with Ulva sp., Ascophyllum nodosum, or Saccharina latissima to preweaning dairy calves: Effects on growth, gut microbiota, gut histomorphology, and short-chain fatty acids in digesta.

Emerging knowledge shows the importance of preweaning nutrition on programming the gastrointestinal microbiome and development of the gut barrier function. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of supplementing cow milk with either intact dried Ulva sp., Ascophyllum nodosum, or Saccharina latissima on growth performance and several gut health parameters of preweaning dairy calves. Forty male Holstein calves were selected based on birth weight (41 ± 4 kg) and plasma Brix percentage (≥8.7%) at d 2 of life. From d 2 to d 42 of life, the control calves (n = 10) were fed with cow milk (8 L/d) without seaweed supplementation, and the experimental calves were fed with cow milk (8 L/d) supplemented with either Ulva sp. (n = 10), A. nodosum (n = 10), or S. latissima (n = 10) at a concentration of 50 g/8 L of cow milk per day (i.e., 5% on a dry matter basis). Calves were weighed every week, and body weight gain and calf starter intake were monitored weekly. At d 42 ± 3 of life, calves were slaughtered. The organ weights and digesta pH from the reticulorumen, mid- and end small intestine, and mid-colon were recorded. A tissue sample (5 cm) collected from the mid-small intestine was analyzed for histomorphology. Digesta from the mid-small intestine and mid-colon were analyzed for lactobacilli, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacteriaceae, and short-chain fatty acid profile. Weight gain of the calves was not affected by seaweed supplementation. Proportional organ weights were not affected by seaweed supplementation except for reticulorumen weight, which was higher in calves fed Ulva sp. Both the mid-small intestinal and mid-colonic digesta populations of lactobacilli, Enterobacteriaceae, and E. coli, as well as the mid-small intestinal histomorphology in seaweed-supplemented calves were not different from control calves. However, acetic acid proportion in mid-colonic digesta was increased in calves fed Ulva sp. and A. nodosum, whereas butyric acid proportion was decreased compared with the control calves. Digesta pH in mid- and end small intestine and mid-colon were not affected, whereas ruminal pH was increased in calves fed Ulva sp. compared with the control calves. In conclusion, intact dried seaweed supplementation did not improve the growth or selected gut health parameters (i.e., histomorphology, digesta pH, bacteria, and short-chain fatty acids) in preweaning Holstein calves.

Biodegradation of expanded polystyrene by mealworm larvae under different feeding strategies evaluated by metabolic profiling using GC-TOF-MS.

The present study investigated the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) plastic by mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) on different diets followed by untargeted screening of larvae gut intestine tissue and frass (manure and feed residuals) to investigate the existence of polymer-generated organic residues. Three different diets, consisting of PS, rolled barley and water were tested. PS degradation rates ranged from 16% to 23% within 15 days, with no statistical differences in survival rates. The larvae fed with ad libitum barley:PS (20:1 w/w) and water had the highest growth rate, while higher PS consumption was observed for barley:PS of 4:1 w/w. A GC-TOF-MS analysis revealed no contaminating substances in the gut intestine tissue, nor styrene or PS oligomers, whilst several bioactive compounds and traces of alkanes, mostly with small carbon chains, were present. Metabolomics analysis on the collected frass, either on the lipophilic (CHCl3) or the polar fraction (MeOH-H2O) was performed. Styrene and PS oligomers (dimers, trimers) were identified, though in a relatively low total amount, up to a total of 346.0 ng/mg 2,4 di-tert butylphenol was identified in both frass and tissue, coming from the PS polymer (Non-intentionally added substances; NIAS). Finally, in the polar fraction of frass, bioactive molecules (fatty acids, amides) were identified, together with several hydrocarbons, mostly with longer carbon chains. The formation of these substances indicated enzymatic and biochemical activity in the larvae-gut intestine. It was shown that degrading and contaminating organic compounds occur at low levels, in both gut intestine and frass, during bio-degradation of PS.

Transport of valine across the small intestinal epithelium in pigs fed different valine levels and Bacillus subtilis.

Mutants of Bacillus subtilis overproducing valine (B. subtilis VAL) could be an approach to supply pigs dietary valine (Val). In the study, 18 gilts were fed: (i) negative diet with a standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val:Lys of 0.63:1 (Neg); (ii) Neg added B. subtilis VAL (1.28 × 1011  cfu/kg as-fed) or; (iii) Neg added L-Val to a Val:Lys of 0.69:1. Using the Ussing chamber method, the study aimed to investigate whether (i) the diets affect intestinal transport of additions of 0, 5, 10 or 20 mmol Val/L from the mucosal to the serosal side and (ii) the B. subtilis VAL contributes to a net transport of Val produced in situ. The results showed that the Isc (ΔIscVal ) and release of Val to the serosal side solution (Srel ; µmol cm-2  min-1 ) increased with Val addition (linear and quadratic, p < .0001) but was similar for 5, 10 or 20 mmol Val/L and not affected by diet. No net transport of in situ produced Val by B. subtilis VAL was detected. In conclusion, feeding a Val-deficient diet with or without B. subtilis VAL or a Val sufficient diet did not affect the Val transport across intestinal epithelia. No in situ Val production by B. subtilis VAL was observed in the Ussing chambers.

Desmopressin use in pediatric nocturnal enuresis patients: is there a sex difference in prescription patterns?

Desmopressin is a long-established treatment for nocturnal enuresis with clear guidelines regarding its usage. A sex difference in renal sensitivity has recently been reported in adults. The objective of this study was to investigate real-life desmopressin prescription in the Danish pediatric population, and prescription patterns which may reflect a sex difference in pediatric usage. Formulation, dose, treatment duration, and safety (hyponatremia) were investigated. 40,596 children received 214,220 desmopressin prescriptions between 2004 and 2011 in the Danish National Prescription Registry. Data were linked to hyponatremia diagnoses from the National Patient Registry. Although the lowest recommended dose of desmopressin oral lyophilisate is 120 µg, around a fifth of children were prescribed 60 µg for long-term use. A greater proportion of girls (22.6%) than boys (19.8%) received this low dose. Treatment duration was longer for boys than girls on oral lyophilisate (mean 489-524 vs. 414-462 days) and tablet (0.1 mg: 204 vs. 161 days). Prescribed daily dose was consistent with time between prescriptions, indicating no significant drug holidays. There were no admissions for hyponatremia during the observation period. CONCLUSION: Danish national prescription data on pediatric desmopressin dosage are consistent with a greater sensitivity to desmopressin in girls than boys. Further studies are required. What is Known: • Desmopressin has been used for pediatric nocturnal enuresis for decades • Recent evidence suggests a sex difference in desmopressin sensitivity in adults What is New: • For the first time, desmopressin prescription practices in nocturnal enuresis are documented for an entire country • A higher proportion of girls than boys received a low dose of desmopressin, consistent with the sex difference in sensitivity reported in adults.

Evaluation of in situ valine production by Bacillus subtilis in young pigs.

Mutants of Bacillus subtilis can be developed to overproduce Val in vitro. It was hypothesized that addition of Bacillus subtilis mutants to pig diets can be a strategy to supply the animal with Val. The objective was to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis mutants on growth performance and blood amino acid (AA) concentrations when fed to piglets. Experiment 1 included 18 pigs (15.0±1.1 kg) fed one of three diets containing either 0.63 or 0.69 standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val : Lys, or 0.63 SID Val : Lys supplemented with a Bacillus subtilis mutant (mutant 1). Blood samples were obtained 0.5 h before feeding and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after feeding and analyzed for AAs. In Experiment 2, 80 piglets (9.1±1.1 kg) were fed one of four diets containing 0.63 or 0.67 SID Val : Lys, or 0.63 SID Val : Lys supplemented with another Bacillus subtilis mutant (mutant 2) or its parent wild type. Average daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured on days 7, 14 and 21. On day 17, blood samples were taken and analyzed for AAs. On days 24 to 26, six pigs from each dietary treatment were fitted with a permanent jugular vein catheter, and blood samples were taken for AA analysis 0.5 h before feeding and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after feeding. In experiment 1, Bacillus subtilis mutant 1 tended (P<0.10) to increase the plasma levels of Val at 2 and 3 h post-feeding, but this was not confirmed in Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, Bacillus subtilis mutant 2 and the wild type did not result in a growth performance different from the negative and positive controls. In conclusion, results obtained with the mutant strains of Bacillus subtilis were not better than results obtained with the wild-type strain, and for both strains, the results were not different than the negative control.

Requirement of standardized ileal digestible valine to lysine ratio for 8- to 14-kg pigs.

The objective was to define the Val requirement for weaned piglets in the context of reducing the dietary protein content. A dose-response experiment was conducted to estimate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val to Lys ratio required to support the optimum growth of post-weaned piglets. In this study, 96 pigs weighing 8 kg were allotted to one of six dietary treatments (16 pigs for each dietary treatment) and were housed individually. Diets were formulated to provide 0.58, 0.62, 0.66, 0.70, 0.74 and 0.78 SID Val : Lys by adding graded levels of crystalline l-Val to the 0.58 SID Val : Lys diet. Lysine was sub-limiting and supplied 90% of the recommendation (10.95 g SID Lys/kg equal to 11.8 g/kg total Lys). Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G : F) were determined during a 14-day period of ad libitum feeding. Blood and urine samples were taken at the end of each week (day 7 and 14 of the experiment) 3 h after feeding the experimental diets. The maximum ADFI and ADG were obtained in pigs fed the 0.78 SID Val : Lys diet; it was not different from the results of pigs fed 0.70 SID Val : Lys diet. The highest G : F was obtained in pigs fed 0.70 SID Val : Lys. The plasma concentration of Val increased linearly (P<0.001) as the dietary SID Val : Lys increased. The increasing dietary Val : Lys also resulted in a linear increase in Cys (P<0.001) and a quadratic increase in Arg (P=0.003), Lys (P=0.05) and Phe (P=0.009). The plasma Gly showed a quadratic decrease (P=0.05) as the dietary Val : Lys increased. Neither plasma nor urinary urea to creatinine ratio was affected by treatment. The minimum SID Val : Lys required to maximize ADFI, ADG and G : F was estimated at 0.67 SID Val : Lys by a broken-line model, and at 0.71 SID Val : Lys by a curvilinear plateau model. The Val deficiency caused a reduction in ADFI, and Val supplementation above the requirement did not impair animal performance. In conclusion, 0.70 SID Val : Lys is suggested as the Val requirement for 8 to 14 kg individually housed pigs.

The optimum ratio of standardized ileal digestible leucine to lysine for 8 to 12 kg female pigs.

The objective of the study was to estimate Leu requirement for weaned piglets to balance indispensable AA in reduced CP diets. A dose-response experiment was conducted to estimate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Leu to Lys ratio required for the maximum growth of young pigs after weaning. In this study, 96 female pigs (initial BW of 8 kg) were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments with 16 individually penned pigs per treatment. Graded levels of crystalline L-Leu were added to a basal diet to provide diets containing 0.70, 0.80, 0.90, 1.00, 1.10, and 1.20 SID Leu:Lys. Lysine was limiting and fulfilled 90% of the current recommendations. The ADFI, ADG, and G:F were determined during a 2 wk experimental period. Blood and urine samples were taken at the end of each wk. The ADFI increased linearly (P < 0.001) from 0.70 to 0.80 SID Leu:Lys and then remained constant from 0.90 to 1.20 SID Leu:Lys. The ADG showed a quadratic increase ( P= 0.02), as the SID Leu:Lys level increased from 0.70 to 0.90 SID Leu:Lys and did not change further from 0.90 to 1.20 SID Leu:Lys. The G:F increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing SID Leu:Lys level, and the greatest G:F was achieved with pigs receiving the diet with 0.80 SID Leu:Lys. Increasing the dietary SID Leu:Lys resulted in a linear increase in plasma Leu concentration (P < 0.001) and quadratic increases (P < 0.001) in plasma Cys concentration. The plasma concentration of most of the other AA was lowest in pigs receiving the diets with 0.90 to 1.00 SID Leu:Lys. The plasma urea nitrogen concentration tended (P = 0.08) to be lowest in pigs receiving 1.00 SID Leu:Lys, suggesting a more balanced AA profile at this level. Using a curvilinear-plateau model, the SID Leu:Lys requirement was estimated at 0.93 to maximize growth in female pigs weighing 8 to 12 kg.

Comorbidity and performance status in acute myeloid leukemia patients: a nation-wide population-based cohort study.

As the world population ages, the comorbidity burden in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients increases. Evidence on how to integrate comorbidity measures into clinical decision-making is sparse. We determined the prognostic impact of comorbidity and World Health Organization Performance Status (PS) on achievement of complete remission and mortality in all Danish AML patients treated between 2000 and 2012 overall and stratified by age. Comorbidity was measured using a modified version of the Charlson Comorbidity Index, with separate adjustment for pre-leukemic conditions. Of 2792 patients, 1467 (52.5%) were allocated to intensive therapy. Of these patients, 76% did not have any comorbidities, 19% had one comorbid disease and 6% had two or more comorbidities. Low complete remission rates were associated with poor PS but not with comorbidity. Surprisingly, among all intensive therapy patients, presence of comorbidity was not associated with an increased short-term mortality (adjusted 90 day mortality rate (MR)=1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.76-1.48)) and, if any, only a slight increase in long-term mortality (91 day-3 year adjusted MR=1.18 (95%CI=0.97-1.44). Poor PS was strongly associated with an increased short- and long-term mortality (adjusted 90 day MR, PS⩾2=3.43 (95%CI=2.30-5.13); adjusted 91 day-3 year MR=1.35 (95%CI=1.06-1.74)). We propose that more patients with comorbidity may benefit from intensive chemotherapy.

Antimalarials in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a registry-based cohort study in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based international guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) recommend treatment with antimalarials (AMs) for all patients with SLE irrespective of disease activity. Only a few studies have investigated the use of AMs among newly diagnosed patients with SLE. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to analyze prescription patterns of AMs in newly diagnosed SLE patients in Denmark from 2000 to 2011. METHODS: Using the Danish Prescription Register (DNPR), we conducted a nationwide cohort study including all patients with a first-time diagnosis of SLE (the Danish National Registry of Patients (NPR)). We used Kaplan-Meier estimates to compute the cumulative probability of starting AM treatment within a year and Cox regression analysis to compare time to treatment between patient groups. RESULTS: AMs were prescribed to 37.7% of the newly diagnosed SLE patients within the first year of follow-up. Approximately 20% did not receive any medical treatment. Women were more likely than men to start AM (adjusted HR of 1.28 (95% CI 1.08-1.52)). Patients diagnosed with SLE between 2005 and 2011 were more likely to start treatment than patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2004 (HR of 1.21 (95% CI 1.07-1.36)). Patients with renal disease were less likely to start AM treatment than patients without this condition (adjusted HR of 0.50 (95% CI 0.36-0.68)). Current users of corticosteroids were more likely to start AM treatment than non-users (adjusted HR 1.81 (95% CI 1.59-2.06)). CONCLUSION: Time to start of AM treatment following SLE diagnosis could be further reduced, especially among patients with renal disease. However, our results showed that treatment practice in recent years has changed toward initiating AM treatment earlier.

National Surveillance of Central Diabetes Insipidus (CDI) in Denmark: results from 5 years registration of 9309 prescriptions of desmopressin to 1285 CDI patients.

CONTEXT: Epidemiological data for central diabetes insipidus (CDI) are sparse. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide accurate epidemiological data on CDI on a national level. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a drug utilization and patient registry study during a 5-year period from 2007 to 2011. METHODS: We used the Danish National Prescription Registry data linked with the Danish National Patient Registry to study the epidemiology of CDI using waiting time distribution and other pharmacoepidemiological methods. PATIENTS: A total of 1285 patients with CDI were recorded in the observation period and given 9309 prescriptions for desmopressin in the nasal formulation, orodispersible tablet, or conventional tablet. RESULTS: The period prevalence rate of CDI in Denmark over the 5-year period investigated was 23 CDI patients per 100 000 inhabitants, with a higher prevalence in children and older adults (>80 years of age). The 1-year period prevalence rate of CDI decreased in Denmark over the 5 years from approximately 10 to 7 CDI patients per 100 000 inhabitants. The yearly incidence rate of new cases of CDI was found to be 3 to 4 patients per 100 000. The incidence of (presumable) congenital CDI was found to be 2 infants per 100 000 infants. Half of the patients with CDI prescribed as oral treatment were provided dosing instructions to only administer the drug before bedtime, and one third of the CDI patients either had no specific instructions or were instructed to use the drug as needed. Hospital admissions due to severe hyponatremia occurred in 0.9% of patients over a 5-year period, predominantly in females with an incidence ratio of women to men of 1.8:1. CONCLUSION: Half of the cases of CDI are acquired later in life. At least half of the patients with CDI are instructed to prevent nocturnal polyuria, but it is not clear whether their CDI remains uncontrolled during the daytime or, alternatively, whether they use desmopressin only as needed. Female patients with CDI had approximately twice the number of hospital admissions due to severe hyponatremia than male patients with CDI.

Isoleucine requirement of pigs weighing 8 to 18 kg fed blood cell-free diets.

The aim of the present study was to determine the minimum requirement of Ile in young pigs, enabling feeding of balanced low-CP diets. Most previous studies have used experimental diets that included blood cells, which are particularly high in Leu and known to antagonize the use of Ile. One week after weaning at d 28, 100 crossbred female pigs weighing 7.9 ± 0.7 kg were allocated to 1 of 5 dietary treatments. Diets were formulated to contain 1.15 g standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys/MJ NE and were free of blood cells. The SID Ile was 0.42, 0.47, 0.53, 0.58, and 0.62 relative to Lys. The other indispensable AA were supplied according to requirements. Representative samples from the 5 diets were analyzed in 4 replicates at 3 different laboratories. The pigs were fed ad libitum and individually housed in 7 identical rooms during a 21-d period. At d 0, 7, 14, and 21, the pigs were weighed, and feed intake was determined. At d 15, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein to determine the plasma urea and free AA content. There were differences among the 3 laboratories in the analyzed content of several AA, and also Ile and Lys showed a large variation within the diets, which may cause variation in published requirement estimates. The concentration of Ile in plasma increased linearly (P < 0.01), and Lys in plasma decreased linearly (P = 0.02) with increasing SID Ile:Lys. A tendency for a linear decrease in plasma concentration was found for Thr (P = 0.10). Both ADFI and ADG were reduced when Ile was supplied above the Ile requirement estimate. Quadratic regression curves on ADFI, ADG, and G:F all showed the maximum at 0.52 SID Ile:Lys. Modeling with 2-sloped quadratic broken-line curves showed the maximum at 0.50, 0.53, and 0.54 SID Ile:Lys for ADFI, ADG, and G:F, respectively. In conclusion, the average estimation of requirement in this dose-response study using blood cell-free diets was 0.52 SID Ile:Lys during a 21-d experimental period from 8 kg BW.

Ileal digestibility of sunflower meal, pea, rapeseed cake, and lupine in pigs.

The standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and AA was evaluated in soybean (Glycine max) meal, sunflower (Helianthus annuus) meal, rapeseed cake, and field pea (Pisum sativum) using 10 pigs and in lupine (Lupinus angustifolius) using 7 pigs. Pigs were fitted with either a T-cannula or a steered ileocecal valve-cannula. Diets contained 170 to 186 g CP/kg DM. Endogenous losses of CP and AA were estimated by feeding a N-free diet. The SID was calculated using the average of Cr(2)O(3) and TiO(2) as indigestible markers and corrected for type of cannula. The SID of CP was greater (P < 0.05) for soybean meal and pea compared to sunflower meal, rapeseed cake, and lupine. The SID of Lys and His were lowest (P < 0.05) in sunflower meal, and the SID of Met and Val were lowest (P < 0.05) in lupine. These results imply soybean meal and pea to be a high-digestible protein source relative to sunflower meal, rapeseed cake, and especially lupine, although all tested feedstuffs seem appropriate for inclusion in diets for organic pigs.

Effect of microbial phytase on phosphorus digestibility in non-heat-treated and heat-treated wheat-barley pig diets.

The objective was to evaluate effects of microbial phytase on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P in a non-heat-treated and a heat-treated wheat (Triticum aestivum)-barley (Hordeum vulgare) diet fed without inorganic P in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. The basal diet was ground and half of the batch was steam pelleted at 81°C and crumbled. Phytase was added at 0, 250, and 500 phytase units (FTU)/kg as-fed (Aspergillus niger). The study comprised 36 pigs from 6 litters. Pigs were housed in metabolism crates and fed 1 of 6 diets for 12 d: 5 d for adaptation and 7 d for total collection of feces. The ATTD of P was highest (P < 0.01) for the non-heat-treated diets and highest (P < 0.01) for the phytase-supplemented diets. Heat treatment reduced plant phytase activity by 25% whereby the ATTD of P decreased (P < 0.01) from 57 to 49%. Microbial phytase increased the ATTD of P to a maximum of 64 and 61% in the non-heat-treated and heat-treated diets corresponding to an increase of 7 and 12%-units. Responses for ATTD of P did not differ between 250 vs. 500 FTU/kg as-fed. In conclusion, processing of feed (meal or pellets) containing plant phytase should be considered to avoid over- or underestimation of effects of microbial phytase.

High-moisture air-tight storage of barley and wheat improves nutrient digestibility.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) are often stored dry with 14% or less moisture, which during rainy periods may require that grains are dried after harvest. The hypothesis is that air-tight storage of high-moisture barley and wheat will increase nutrient digestibility due to chemical conversions prior to feeding. The objective was to evaluate the effect of high moisture compared to dry storage of barley and wheat on digestibility of P and CP. The crops were grown on 1 field keeping other factors constant. Half of the grains was harvested in the morning after a rainy day and stored in air-tight silos (DM, %: barley, 85.2; wheat, 82.8) and the other half was harvested later the same day (windy and sunny) and stored dry (DM, %: barley, 89.8; wheat, 88.3). After 6 mo of storage, 1 low- and 1 high-moisture diet were prepared with a barley:wheat ratio of 1:1 mixed with soybean (Glycine max) meal and rapeseed cake to produce a compound diet without inorganic P and microbial phytase. Sixteen 45-kg pigs housed in metabolism crates were fed either the low- or the high-moisture diet for 5 d for adaptation and 7 d for total collection of feces. Digestibility of P was 12% higher (P < 0.01) and of CP was 4% higher (P = 0.08) in the high-moisture diet. Phytase activity of dry-stored grain was lower (P < 0.01) and phytate P was 4% higher in the high-moisture stored grain vs. the grains stored dry. Overall, high-moisture storage increased digestibility of P and CP when the grain was fed to finishing pigs. Therefore, high-moisture air-tight storage saved energy (without drying) and at the same time enhanced P digestibility and increased the nutritional value of grain probably through enzymatic activity during storage.

Mammary remodeling in primiparous and multiparous dairy goats during lactation.

Milk production is generally lower but lactation persistency higher in primiparous (PP) than in multiparous (MP) goats. This may be related to differences in development and maintenance of mammary gland function, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The present study aimed to elucidate whether differences in lactational performance between PP and MP mammary glands are related to the time course of development and maintenance, not only of the mammary epithelial cell (MEC) population, but also of the mammary vasculature that sustains synthetic activity. Mammary biopsies were obtained from both mammary glands of 3 PP and 6 MP (>or=2 parity) dairy goats at parturition (d 1), d 10, 60, and 180 of lactation. Gene transcription relating to MEC turnover and vascular function was quantified by real-time reverse transcription-PCR, mammary morphology was characterized (quantitative histology), and cell turnover was determined (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and Ki-67). Primiparous glands showed higher expression for the genes involved in angiogenesis; namely, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and angiopoietin 1 and 2 and their receptor, a few days after parturition (d 10). Primiparous glands also had higher rates of MEC proliferation in early lactation. It therefore appears that initiation of lactation is associated with development and growth of the mammary gland into early lactation, which continues for a longer period in PP compared with MP glands. In addition, MEC survival was found to be higher in PP glands throughout lactation, and MEC in PP glands underwent more extensive differentiation. This could explain the reported flatter lactation curve and higher lactation persistency in PP glands. Although some of the genes included in this study were differentially expressed in PP and MP glands during the course of lactation, it was not possible to identify any specific genomic factor(s) that could account for the differences between PP and MP glands with respect to mammary development and MEC survival during lactation. It remains to be established why parity number affects MEC and vascular development and survival during lactation, and, in particular, which regulatory mechanisms are involved.

Continuous lactation effects on mammary remodeling during late gestation and lactation in dairy goats.

The present study aimed to 1) elucidate whether continuous milking during late gestation in dairy goats negatively affects mammary remodeling and hence milk production in the subsequent lactation, and 2) identify the regulatory factors responsible for changes in cell turnover and angiogenesis in the continuously lactating mammary gland. Nine multiparous dairy goats were used. One udder half was dried off approximately 9 wk prepartum (normal lactation; NL), and the other udder half of the same goat was milked continuously (continuous lactation; CL) until parturition or until the half-udder milk yields had dropped to below 50 g/d. Mammary biopsies were obtained from each udder half just before the NL gland was dried off (before dry period), within the first 2 wk after drying-off (early dry period, samples available only for NL glands), in the mid dry period, within the last 2 wk before parturition (late dry period), and at d 1 (the day of parturition), 3, 10, 60, and 180 of lactation. Mammary morphology was characterized in biopsies by quantitative histology, and cell turnover was determined by immunohistochemistry (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and Ki-67). Transcription of genes encoding factors involved in mammary epithelial cell (MEC) turnover and vascular function was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Results demonstrated that omitting the dry period was possible in goats but was not as easy as claimed before. Renewal of MEC was suppressed in CL glands, which resulted in a smaller MEC population in the subsequent lactation. At the time of parturition (and throughout lactation), the mammary glands subjected to CL had smaller alveoli, more fully differentiated MEC, and a substantially larger capillary fraction compared with NL glands. The continuously lactating gland thus resembled a normally lactating gland in an advanced stage of lactation. None of the studied genomic factors could account for these treatment differences. The described characteristics in CL glands compared with NL glands indicated a gland maintained in lactation for a longer period.