Effects of mulberry leaf flavonoid and resveratrol on methane emission and nutrient digestion in sheep

As a new type of methane control agent, natural plant extract has been widely studied in recent years,but in vivo studies are few. This study was to investigate the effects of the dietary supplementation of 2 different polyphenols on the methane（CH4） emission and digestion metabolism in sheep. Ten healthy crossbred sheep（Dorper（?）× small-tailed Han ♀; BW 60.0 ± 1.73 kg） were used in a change-over design.The sheep were fed the following 3 diets in the present study: the basal diet（CON） with no supplementation; the basal diet supplemented with 2 g mulberry leaf flavonoid（MLF） per day per sheep; the basal diet supplemented with 0.25 g resveratrol（RES） per day per sheep. Both MLF and RES reduced CH4 emission scaled to metabolic weight per kilogram of DMI and CO2 output scaled to metabolic weight, but the effect of RES was significant（P < 0.05）. Both MLF and RES significantly improved apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, and nitrogen, but the effect of RES was significant（P < 0.05）. Both MLF and RES significantly improved ME（P < 0.05） and reduced energy losses in CH4 emission（P > 0.05）. In conclusion, MLF and RES can improve the digestibility of nutrients, the utilization of nutrients and energy, and reduce CH4 emission, but they are not conducive to nitrogen retention.

Effects of weaning age on growth, nutrient digestibility and metabolism,and serum parameters in Hu lambs

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of weaning age on growth performance, nutrient digestion and metabolism, and serological indicators, and to obtain an optimal weaning age in Hu lambs.Forty-eight newborn Hu lambs(birth weight, 2.53 ± 0.14 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups. The lambs in control group(ER) suckled their dams. The lambs in other three experimental groups were weaned on milk replacer at 10.20, and 30 days of age(EW10, EW20, and EW30 groups),respectively. The results were as follows: 1) lambs in EW10 and EW30 groups had a lower(P < 0.05) ADG than those in ER group within 10 days post-weaning; the weaned lambs began to show a higher(P < 0.05) ADG than those in ER group after 20 days post-weaning. 2) EW10 and EW20 groups had a higher(P < 0.05) creep feed intake than EW30 and ER groups from 15 to 60 days of age. 3) The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, nitrogen, ether extract and phosphorus, and the deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus did not differ(P > 0.05) among groups; however, the apparent digestibility and deposition of calcium in early weaned lambs were lower(P < 0.05) than those in ewe-reared lambs. 4)The albumin content in EW30 group was lower(P < 0.05) than that in ER group; the globulin content in EW30 group was higher(P < 0.05) than that in other groups; the content of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 in weaned lambs tended to increase compared with lambs in ER group. Finally, the growth rate of lambs decreased within 10 days post-weaning, but early weaning boosted creep feed intake, leading to better growth and health later in life. The Hu lambs can be weaned on milk replacer and creep feed at 10 days of age.

Overexpression of OsSPL9 enhances accumulation of Cu in rice grain and improves its digestibility and metabolism

Copper （Cu） is an essential trace mineral element for all forms of life, and is an important structural component and co-factor for a variety of metalloenzymes （Pefia et al., 1999; Bertinato and L＇Abbe, 2004）. In humans, Cu deficiency is not common because of the ubiquitous occurrence of Cu and ease of gastrointestinal absorption （Zidar et al., 1977; Uauy et al., 1998）.