Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in soybean meal fed to non-pregnant and pregnant sows

Background Two studies were designed to determine standard ileal crude protein(CP)and amino acid(AA)digestibility of soybean meal(SBM)from different origins fed to non-pregnant and pregnant sows.Seven solvent-extracted SBMs from soybeans produced in the USA,Brazil,and China were selected.In Exp.1,eight different diets were created:a nitrogen(N)-free diet and 7 experimental diets containing SBM from different origins as the only N source.Eight non-pregnant,multiparous sows were arranged in an 8×8 Latin square design(8 periods and 8 diets).In Exp.2,the diet formula was the same as in Exp.1.Eight gestating sows(parity 3)were assigned to 4 different diets in a replicated 4×3 Youden square design(three periods and four diets)in mid-gestation and again in late-gestation stages.Results When fed to non-pregnant and late-gestating sows,the standardized ileal digestibility(SID)of CP and most AAs from different SBM were not significantly different(P>0.05).When fed to mid-gestating sows,the SID values for Arg,His,Lys,Phe,Cys,Gly,Ser,and Tyr in SBM 1 were lower than in SBM 4 and 5(P<0.05),whereas SID for Leu from SBM 5 was higher than in SBM 1 and 4(P<0.05).SID values for Ile,Ala,and Asp from SBM 4 were lower than in SBM 1 and 5(P<0.05).Sows had significantly greater SID values for Lys,Ala,and Asp during mid-gestation when compared with late-gestation stages(P<0.05).Mid-gestating sows had greater SID value for Val and lower SID value for Tyr when compared with non-pregnant and late-gestating sows(P<0.01),whereas non-pregnant sows had significantly greater SID value for Met when compared with gestating sows(P<0.01).Conclusions When fed to mid-gestating sows,the SID values for most AAs varied among SBM samples.The SID values for Lys,Met,Val,Ala,Asp,and Tyr in SBM were affected by sow gestation stages.Our findings provide a cornerstone for accurate SBM use in sow diets.

Effect of graded levels of fiber from alfalfa meal on apparent and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids of growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of fiber level from alfalfa meal and sampling time on the apparent ileal digestibility（AID） and standardized ileal digestibility（SID） of amino acids（AA） in growing pigs. A total of 24 ileal-cannulated pigs（Duroc×（Large White×Landrace） with body weight（21.4±1.5） kg） were randomly allotted to 4 treatments. The pigs were provided a corn-soybean meal diet or a diet containing 5, 10 or 20% of alfalfa meal during two 10-d experimental periods. The AID of AA was measured. Six ileal-cannulated pigs were fed a protein-free diet in order to estimate the endogenous protein losses and SID of AA. Ileal AA digestibility was not affected by inclusion of 5 or 10% alfalfa meal in the diet（P〉0.05）. The AID of His, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Val, Ala, Asp, Cys, Gly, Pro, Ser and Tyr reduced by 2.0–6.8% with the addition level of alfalfa meal（linear, P〈0.05）. The SID of His, Lys, Ser, Thr and Tyr decreased by 2.2–4.3% as the level of alfalfa meal in the diet increased（linear, P〈0.05）. The AID and SID of AA were not affected by the sampling time（P〉0.05）. A multiple linear regression analysis, taking into account both the soluble and insoluble fiber content in the diets, explained more than 36% of variation in SID of Ser and Thr（P〈0.05）. In conclusion, the corn-soybean meal diet containing 10% of alfalfa meal did not affect ileal AA digestion. The AID and SID of AA were similar between two sampling times. Increasing the concentration of total dietary fiber from 12.3 to 21.4% by adding graded levels of alfalfa meal（0–20%） to a corn-soybean meal control diet induced a linear reduction in AID and SID of most AA. Soluble and insoluble fibers from alfalfa meal have differential roles in the AA digestion, which may help explain the variation observed in the SID of partial AA. These findings would provide important information for dietary fiber level and composition related to AA digestion.

紫花苜蓿CAMTA基因家族鉴定及其在非生物胁迫下的表达模式分析

钙调蛋白结合转录激活因子(CAMTA)是一类重要的钙调素结合蛋白,在激素信号转导、发育调控和环境胁迫耐受中发挥着重要作用。本研究采用生物信息学技术,基于紫花苜蓿“新疆大叶”参考基因组,对紫花苜蓿中CAMTA家族成员进行鉴定,并对这些基因的理化性质、系统发育树、保守结构域、染色体上位置、顺式作用元件、转录表达谱进行分析和验证。结果表明,共鉴定出17个MsCAMTA基因,MsCAMTA家族成员可划分为3个亚家族,亚家族成员在基因结构、保守基序位置上较为相似。染色体定位结果显示,MsCAMTA家族成员不均匀地分布在7条染色体上。启动子区具有大量响应低温、盐胁迫及植物激素信号相关的顺式作用元件。此外,采用RT-qPCR对盐(300 mmol·L-1 NaCl)、模拟干旱(400 mmol·L-1甘露醇)、低温(10℃)和脱落酸(100μmol·L-1)处理下紫花苜蓿叶片中MsCAMTA1、MsCAMTA3、MsCAMTA11和MsCAMTA12的表达模式进行了初步研究。结果表明,4个MsCAMTA候选基因在各胁迫处理下均有一定程度的响应,且在盐胁迫下的表达量都呈上调趋势,表明MsCAMTA基因可能通过整合多种逆境应激信号,参与紫花苜蓿响应各非生物胁迫的应答过程。本研究结果将为进一步探索MsCAMTA基因在植物应对逆境胁迫中的功能提供参考。

不同症状类型苜蓿病毒病AMV病原检测及其寄主范围测定

为明确采自田间不同症状类型苜蓿病毒病病样中苜蓿花叶病毒(alfalfa mosaic virus,AMV)的带毒情况、症状表现与叶绿素含量的相关性及AMV的寄主范围,本试验通过田间调查采样、症状归类、丙酮乙醇混合液法和双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附测定(DAS-ELISA)法对不同病样的叶绿素和AMV含量进行测定和检测,并对提纯至不同症状类型病样中AMV对9科32种植物的致病性进行测定。结果表明田间苜蓿病毒病病样有轻花叶、重花叶、叶片边缘褪绿黄化型和叶片畸形皱缩花叶矮化型4种症状类型,均带有AMV,且叶绿素含量、AMV含量与症状表现之间具有正相关性,症状表现最严重的叶片畸形皱缩花叶矮化型病样的叶绿素a、b、总叶绿素含量均比对照低58.00%以上,类胡萝卜素含量比对照高134.06%,AMV含量最高,为252.96 pg·mL^(-1);寄主范围测定表明AMV可侵染7科27种植物,对西葫芦致病性最强,症状表现为局部枯斑,30 d时AMV浓度为316.19 pg·mL^(-1)。

Effect of the Dietary Substitution of Fish Meal with Achatina fulica Meat Meal on the Growth Performance and Production Cost of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fingerlings

Fishmeal is the most preferred source of protein in aquafeeds, but it is expensive and scarce. Hence, Achatina fulica meat meal (AFM), which is much less preferred for human consumption out of three species of African giant land snails, was tested as a fishmeal substitute for Clarias gariepinus growth. Five iso-nitrogenous and iso-calorific diets were formulated, in which AFM substituted fish meal at 0% (control or Diet A), 25% (Diet B), 50% (Diet C), 75% (Diet D) and 100% (Diet E). These dietary treatments were each replicated thrice in a completely randomized design experiment, using 36-L plastic tanks in which the fish were fed daily rations corresponding to 5% of their body weight, for 8 weeks. Water quality parameters in the tanks were monitored. Proximate analyses were conducted on the fish meal, snail meal and experimental diets before the feeding trials. Cost-benefit analysis of the different diets was performed. The crude protein content of AFM (69.18%) was significantly higher than that of fish meal (55.81%). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the mean weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and survival rate in fish fed Diet A and Diet B. The best protein efficiency ratio (0.77) was recorded in fish fed Diet B. Furthermore, the survival rate of fish increased with increased levels of AFM substitution. Water quality parameters were within a suitable range for tropical fish culture, indicating that the AFM did not pollute the water. The fish fed 25% AFM diet significantly (P Clarias gariepinus diets at a 25% substitution level. The aquaculture industry can thus exploit the availability of this feed resource.

Debaryomyces hansenii supplementation in low fish meal diets promotes growth,modulates microbiota and enhances intestinal condition in juvenile marine fish

Background The development of a sustainable business model with social acceptance,makes necessary to develop new strategies to guarantee the growth,health,and well-being of farmed animals.Debaryomyces hansenii is a yeast species that can be used as a probiotic in aquaculture due to its capacity to i)promote cell proliferation and differen-tiation,ii)have immunostimulatory effects,iii)modulate gut microbiota,and/or iv)enhance the digestive function.To provide inside into the effects of D.hansenii on juveniles of gilthead seabream(Sparus aurata)condition,we inte-grated the evaluation of the main key performance indicators coupled with the integrative analysis of the intestine condition,through histological and microbiota state,and its transcriptomic profiling.Results After 70 days of a nutritional trial in which a diet with low levels of fishmeal(7%)was supplemented with 1.1%of D.hansenii(17.2×10^(5) CFU),an increase of ca.12%in somatic growth was observed together with an improve-ment in feed conversion in fish fed a yeast-supplemented diet.In terms of intestinal condition,this probiotic modu-lated gut microbiota without affecting the intestine cell organization,whereas an increase in the staining intensity of mucins rich in carboxylated and weakly sulphated glycoconjugates coupled with changes in the affinity for certain lectins were noted in goblet cells.Changes in microbiota were characterized by the reduction in abundance of several groups of Proteobacteria,especially those characterized as opportunistic groups.The microarrays-based transcrip-tomic analysis found 232 differential expressed genes in the anterior-mid intestine of S.aurata,that were mostly related to metabolic,antioxidant,immune,and symbiotic processes.Conclusions Dietary administration of D.hansenii enhanced somatic growth and improved feed efficiency param-eters,results that were coupled to an improvement of intestinal condition as histochemical and transcriptomic tools indicated.This probiotic yeast stimulated host-microbiota interactions without altering the intestinal cell organization nor generating dysbiosis,which demonstrated its safety as a feed additive.At the transcriptomic level,D.hansenii pro-moted metabolic pathways,mainly protein-related,sphingolipid,and thymidylate pathways,in addition to enhance antioxidant-related intestinal mechanisms,and to regulate sentinel immune processes,potentiating the defensive capacity meanwhile maintaining the homeostatic status of the intestine.

Variation Characteristics of Root Traits of Different Alfalfa Cultivars under Saline-Alkaline Stress and their Relationship with Soil Environmental Factors

Soil salinization is the main factor that threatens the growth and development of plants and limits the increase of yield.It is of great significance to study the key soil environmental factors affecting plant root traits to reveal the adaptation strategies of plants to saline-alkaline-stressed soil environments.In this study,the root biomass,root morphological parameters and root mineral nutrient content of two alfalfa cultivars with different sensitivities to alkaline stress were analyzed with black soil as the control group and the mixed saline-alkaline soil with a ratio of 7:3 between black soil and saline-alkaline soil as the saline-alkaline treatment group.At the same time,the correlation analysis of soil salinity indexes,soil nutrient indexes and the activities of key enzymes involved in soil carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus cycles was carried out.The results showed that compared with the control group,the pH,EC,and urease(URE)of the soil surrounding the roots of two alfalfa cultivars were significantly increased,while soil total nitrogen(TN),total phosphorus(TP),organic carbon(SOC),andα-glucosidase activity(AGC)were significantly decreased under saline-alkaline stress.There was no significant difference in root biomass and root morphological parameters of saline-alkaline tolerant cultivar GN under saline-alkaline stress.The number of root tips(RT),root surface area(RS)and root volume(RV)of AG were reduced by 61.16%,44.54%,and 45.31%,respectively,compared with control group.The ratios of K^(+)/Na^(+),Ca^(2+)/Na^(+)and Mg^(2+)/Na^(+)of GN were significantly higher than those of AG(p<0.05).The root fresh weight(RFW)and dry weight(RDW),root length(RL),RV and RT of alfalfa were positively regulated by soil SOC and TN,but negatively regulated by soil pH,EC,and URE(p<0.01).Root Ca^(2+)/Na+ratio was significantly positively correlated with soil TN,TP and SOC(p<0.01).The absorption of Mg and Ca ions in roots is significantly negatively regulated by soilβ-glucosidase activity(BGC)and acid phosphatase activity(APC)(p<0.05).This study improved knowledge of the relationship between root traits and soil environmental factors and offered a theoretical framework for elucidating how plant roots adapt to saline-alkaline stressed soil environments.

Effect of Graded Levels of Fiber from Alfalfa Meal on Nutrient Digestibility and Flow of Fattening Pigs

The fiber level and composition have an important effect on nutrient digestibility of swine diets. Little information is known about the effects of fiber level and composition from alfalfa meal on nutrient digestibility of fattening pigs fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of alfalfa fiber on the growth performance, intestinal nutrient flow and apparent total tract digestibility（ATTD） of nutrients in fattening pigs. 24 barrows（Duroc×（Large White×Landrace）, body weight=（60.6±0.7） kg） were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 1 pig per replicate. The pigs were provided a control diet or a diet containing 5, 10 or 20% of alfalfa meal during a 14-d experiment period. Average daily gain（ADG） and the ATTD of dry matter（DM）, organic matter（OM）, crude protein（CP）, neutral detergent fiber（NDF）, acid detergent fiber（ADF） and gross energy（GE） reduced linearly as the level of alfalfa meal in the diet increased（P〈0.01）. The total tract flow of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, and GE increased with the increase in dietary alfalfa（linear, P〈0.05）. Growth performance and nutrient digestion were not affected by inclusion of 5% alfalfa meal in the diet（P〉0.05）. A multiple linear regression analysis, taking into account both soluble and insoluble fiber intake, explained approximately 70% of the variation in the ATTD of DM, OM, NDF, and GE（P〈0.01）. In conclusion, alfalfa meal should be limited to less than 5% of the diet in fattening pigs to maximize growth performance and nutrient digestion. Soluble and insoluble fiber from alfalfa meal has the differential roles in nutrient digestion, which may help explain the main variation observed in nutrient digestibility. These findings suggest that knowledge of specific fiber components is necessary to accurately predict the effects of dietary fiber on nutrient digestibility.

Nutritional value of a partially defatted and a highly defatted black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) meal for broiler chickens: apparent nutrient digestibility,apparent metabolizable energy and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility

Background: The study aimed to determine the apparent total tract digestibility coefficients(ATTDC) of nutrients, the apparent metabolizable energy(AME and AMEn) and the amino acid(AA) apparent ileal digestibility coefficients(AIDC)of a partially defatted(BSFp) and a highly defatted(BSFh) black soldier fly larvae meal. The experimental diets were: a basal diet and two diets prepared by substituting 250 g/kg(w/w) of the basal diet with BSFp or BSFh, respectively.Results: Significant differences were found between BSFp and BSFh meals for ATTDC of the nutrients: BSFp resulted more digestible than BSFh, except for ATTDC of CP which did not differed between meals, while a statistical trend was observed for ATTDC of DM and EE. The AME and AMEn values were significantly(P < 0.05) different between the two BSF meals, with higher levels for BSFp(16.25 and 14.87 MJ/kg DM, respectively). The AIDC of the AA in BSFp ranged from 0.44 to 0.92, while in BSFh they ranged from 0.45 to 0.99. No significant differences were observed for the AA digestibility(0.77 and 0.80 for BSFp and BSFh, respectively), except for glutamic acid, proline and serine that were more digestible in the BSFh meal(P < 0.05).Conclusions: Defatted BSF meals can be considered as an excellent source of AME and digestible AA for broilers with a better efficient nutrient digestion. These considerations suggested the effective utilization of defatted BSF larvae meal in poultry feed formulation.

Effects of soybean meal replacement with fermented alfalfa meal on the growth performance,serum antioxidant functions,digestive enzyme activities,and cecal microflora of geese

Fermented forages are important feedstuffs. Bacillus subtilis inoculants are often used to improve the value of forage legume fermentation. The present work was conducted to study the effects of replacing soybean meal with solid-state fermented alfalfa meal（FAM） with B. subtilis ACCC 01746 on growth performance, serum antioxidant and digestive enzyme activities, and cecal microflora in goose. 300 healthy geese with similar body weights were randomly assigned to six treatment groups with five replicates of 10 geese（five males and five females） each. Geese were fed ad libitum for 35 days. Results showed that the geese fed with 4 and 8% FAM exhibited no significant effects on their final body weights（FBW） and average day gain（ADG）（P〉0.05）, whereas 12% or higher FAM caused poor growth of the geese compared with control diet（linear（L）： P〈0.05）. The average daily feed intake（ADFI）（quadratic（Q）： P〈0.05） and feed conversion ratio（FCR）（L： P〈0.05） with 8% or higher supplementation level were higher than those of the control group. The activities of antioxidant enzyme in serum increased, and the level of malondialdehyde（MDA） significantly decreased with increasing dietary FAM level（L： P〈0.05）. However, no significant differences were observed at 8% or lower supplementation level for glutathione peroxidase（GSH-Px） and superoxide dismutase（SOD）（P〉0.05） and at 4% for catalase（CAT） supplementation level compared with the control group. All diets containing FAM increased digestive enzyme activities in geese. However, geese fed diets with 12% FAM supplementation showed the highest trypsin activities in pancreas（Q： P〈0.05）. Supplementation with 12% or higher FAM significantly increased amylase activities in pancreas（L： P〈0.05） and duodenum（L： P〈0.05） compared with the control group. Significant differences were not observed in total anaerobic bacteria between geese fed with FAM and control diets on day 35（P〉0.05）. The numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the cecum of geese fed with FAM significantly increased（L： P〈0.05）, but no significant effects were found with 4 and 8% FAM supplementation levels compared with the control（P〉0.05）. By contrast, the coliform counts of cecum decreased with increasing inclusion of FAM, but these counts were significantly reduced in geese fed diets with 12% or higher FAM supplementation level（L： P〈0.05）. Collectively, our results indicated that supplementation of the basal geese diet with 8% FAM had no apparent adverse effects on growth performance, serum antioxidant enzyme activities, and digestive parameters and beneficial microbiota.

Chemical composition,energy and amino acid digestibility in double-low rapeseed meal fed to growing pigs

Background： The nutritional value of rapeseed meal may be variable due to the variation of its chemical composition. And a precise understandin9 of the nutritional value of an ingredient is beneficial for the accurate diet formulation and reduction of feed costs. This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition, dicjestible energy （DE） and metabolizable enercjy （ME） content, and apparent ileal digestibility （AID） and standardized ileal dicjestibility （SID） of amino acids （AA） for growincj pigs. Thirteen solvent-extracted double-low rapeseed meal （DLIRSM） samples were obtained from the main double-low rapeseed producing areas in China. Methods： The DE and ME contents of the 13 DLRSM samples were measured in cjrowin9 pigs （six pigs per DLRSM sample, average initial body weicjht （BW） =48.3 kg）. The AID and SID of AA of 10 DLRSM samples were determined in 12 crossbred barrows （average initial BW = 35.3 kcj） by using two 6 x 6 Latin square designs. Each Latin square comprised one N-flee diet and 5 DLRSM test diets. Results： The chemical composition of DLRSM varied among samples, and the coefficient of variation was greater than ]0 % for ether extract （EE）, neutral detergent fiber （NDF）, acid detergent fiber （ADF）, calcium （Ca）, and total 91ucosinolates. The AA content of DLRSM varied among samples especially for lysine （Lys） and methionine （Met）. On a dry matter （DM） basis, the apparent total tract digestibility （ATFD） of gross energy （GE）, the DE and ME and the ME：DE ratio of DLRSM averaged 62.39 %, 2862 kcal/k9 and 2723 kcal/kcj, and 94.95 %, respectively. The mean value of S1D of Lys was 70.52 % which varied from 66.54-76.54 %. The SID of crude protein （CP）, Met, and threonine （Thr） averaged 72.81%, 82.41%, and 69.76 %, respectively. Conclusions： There was great variability in chemical composition especially in the concentration of EE, NDF and ADF, but no significant differences in energy content of the DLIRSM samples were observed. In addition, the AID and SID of all AA were relatively similar amoncj DLRSM samples except for that of Lys.

Growth and Feed Efficiency of Juvenile Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Fed Formulated Diets Containing Different Levels of Poultry by-Product Meal

This feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of poultry by-product meal (PBM) as a protein source in the culture of Litopenaeus vannamei. Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to near to commercial diet with about 40% protein and 7.5% lipid. Fish meal was replaced by 0, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% and 100% of PBM (diets 1-7). The diet with 100% fish meal was used as a control (diet 1). Post-larvae were reared in an indoor semi-closed re-circulating system. Each dietary treatment was tested in 4 replicate tanks (260 L) of 40 shrimp, arranged in a completely randomized design. The shrimps were hand-fed for three times a day to near-satiation (0700, 1200 and 1800) for 60 d. Percentage weight gain, survival, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and body composition of shrimps were measured. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in growth performance among shrimps fed diets 1-5 (0-60% fish meal replacement). However, shrimps fed diet 7 (100% fish meal replacement) had significantly lower (P<0.05) growth than those fed diets 1-5 (0-60% fish meal replacement). Shrimp fed diets 2-4 (30%-50% fish meal replacement) showed significantly higher growth than those fed diets 6 and 7 (70% and 100% fish meal replacement, respectively). Survival ranged from 94.7% to 100.0% and did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among different experimental diets. No differences in body composition were found among shrimps fed different diets. These results showed that up to 70% of fish meal protein can be replaced by PBM without adversely affecting the growth, survival, FCR, PER and body composition of Litopenaeus vannamei.

Application Effects of Amino Acid Powder,Fermented Rapeseed Meal and Fermented Cottonseed Meal in Feeds for Allogynogenetic Crucian Carp

[Objective] To investigate the effects of amino acid powder, fermented rapeseed meal and fermented cottonseed meal on the growth performance, amino acid absorption, body composition and liver function of allogynogentic crucian carp. [ Method] The allogynogentic crucian carps with the average initial weight of 17.3 g were divided into control group and six experimental groups randomly. The allogynogentic crucian carps in the control group and experimental groups were fed a basal diet and the basal diets supplemented by amino acid powder, fermented rapeseed meal and fermented cottonseed meal, respectively. The growth rate and specific growth rate of allogynogentic crucian carps, the content of amino acids in serum and feeds, the composition indicators of body, muscle and liver, as well as the activities of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase （GPT） and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase （GOT） in liver and serum were determined, respectively. [ Result] The growth rate and specific growth rate （SGR） of allogynogentic crucian carps in the 3% amino acid powder group and the 6% fermented cottonseed meal group were increased greatly （ P 〈 0.05）, and no significant difference was found between experimental group and control group. The serum lysine content of the 3% amino acid powder group and the 6% fermented cottonseed meal group was higher than that of the control group. In the experimental groups, the absorption of four essential amino acids was up to a peak at 4 h after feeding, which was consistent with the control group. The body composition and liver function of allogynogentic crucian carps had no significant difference between the experimental groups and the control group. [ Conclusion] The 3% amino acid powder, 6% fermented cottonseed meal and 6% fermented rapeseed meal can substitute fish meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal to improve the clrowth performance, amino acid absorption of the allogynogentic crucian carps.

The Effect of Soybean Meal Fermented by Aspergillus usami on Phosphor Metabolism in Growing Pigs

[Objective] The experiment aimed to check the pigs＇ digestive utilization of phosphor and other nutrient components in fermented soy- bean meal. [ Method] 15 8-week old two-way cross growing pigs （average weight was 23.6 kg） were selected and divided randomly into 3 groups, 5 pigs per group. The method of total feces collection was adopted to compare the digestibility of phosphor and other nutrient components in growing pigs fed respectively by fermented soybean meal by Aspergillus usami and normal soybean meal. The experimental design were normal soybean group （NS group, P： 0.087%）, fermented soybean meal group （FS group, P： 0.089%）, normal soybean ＋ fermented soybean meal mixing group （ MS group, P： 0.089% ）. [ Result] The results indicated that the digestibility of growing pigs in FS group was significantly higher than that of NS group. Meanwhile, the digestibility of crude protein was significantly improved. [ Conclusion] The above results indicated that Feeding with soybean meal fermented by Aspergillus usami not only could increase the digestibility of phosphor and protein, but also decrease the excretion of phosphor and nitrogen.

A Study on the Meat and Bone Meal and Poultry By-product Meal as Protein Substitutes of Fish Meal in Practical Diets for Litopenaeus vannamei Juveniles

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of meat and bone meal (MBM) and poultry by-product meal (PBM) as the replacement of fish meal in the diets on the growth performance, survival and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of Litopenaeus vannamei. The basal diets were formulated with 22% fish meal and other ingredients which provided about 40% protein and 9% lipid in the diet. The experimental diets included MBM or PBM to replace 0, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of total fish meal respectively. All diets were iso-nitrogenous and isocaloric in gross terms. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in growth performance and ADC among the treatments fed with the diets in which 0-60% fish meal had been replaced with MBM, while the percent weight gain (WG, %), body length gain (BLG, %) and ADC significantly decreased when the MBM was up to 80% of the fish meal. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in growth performance and ADC among all the treatments fed with the diets in which 0-80% fish meal had been replaced with PBM.

Effects of dietary Hermetia illucens meal inclusion on cecal microbiota and small intestinal mucin dynamics and infiltration with immune cells of weaned piglets

Background: The constant interaction between diet and intestinal barrier has a crucial role in determining gut health in pigs. Hermetia illucens(HI) meal(that represents a promising, alternative feed ingredient for production animals) has recently been demonstrated to influence colonic microbiota, bacterial metabolite profile and mucosal immune status of pigs, but no data about modulation of gut mucin dynamics are currently available. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary HI meal inclusion on the small intestinal mucin composition of piglets, as well as providing insights into the cecal microbiota and the mucosal infiltration with immune cells.Results: A total of 48 weaned piglets were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments(control diet [C] and 5% or10% HI meal inclusion [HI5 and HI10], with 4 replicate boxes/treatment and 4 animals/box) and slaughtered after61 days of trial(3 animals/box, 12 piglets/diet). The cecal microbiota assessment by 16 S r RNA amplicon based sequencing showed higher beta diversity in the piglets fed the HI-based diets than the C(P < 0.001). Furthermore,the HI-fed animals showed increased abundance of Blautia, Chlamydia, Coprococcus, Eubacterium, Prevotella,Roseburia, unclassified members of Ruminococcaceae, Ruminococcus and Staphylococcus when compared to the C group(FDR < 0.05). The gut of the piglets fed the HI-based diets showed greater neutral mucin percentage than the C(P < 0.05), with the intestinal neutral mucins of the HI-fed animals being also higher than the sialomucins and the sulfomucins found in the gut of the C group(P < 0.05). Furthermore, the piglets fed the HI-based diets displayed lower histological scores in the jejunum than the other gut segments(ileum [HI5] or ileum and duodenum [HI10], P < 0.05).Conclusions: Dietary HI meal utilization positively influenced the cecal microbiota and the small intestinal mucin dynamics of the piglets in terms of selection of potentially beneficial bacteria and preservation of mature mucin secretory architecture, without determining the development of gut inflammation. These findings further confirm the suitability of including insect meal in swine diets.

Effect of Replacing Fish Meal with Extruded Soybean Meal on Growth, Feed Utilization and Apparent Nutrient Digestibility of Juvenile White Shrimp(Litopenaeus vannamei)

Extruded soybean meal(ESBM) was evaluated as a protein source for partial replacement of fish meal(FM) in diets of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. In the control diet(Diet 1), FM protein was replaced with increasing dietary levels of ESBM(4.28%, 8.40%, 12.62%, 16.82%, and 25.26%) at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 60% levels(Diets 2 to 6, respectively). An eight-week feeding trial was conducted on 720 juvenile shrimp(0.67 g ± 0.01 g mean initial weight), and nutrient digestibility of the six diets was determined. ESBM could replace 20% of FM without causing a significant reduction in growth of shrimp, but other dietary treatments strongly affected whole body composition. Crude protein content of the whole body fed Diet 6 was significantly lower than that fed Diet 2(P < 0.05), while crude lipid content of the whole body fed Diet 5 or 6 was significantly higher than that fed Diet 2(P < 0.05). Protein digestibilities of Diets 5 and 6 were significantly lower than that of Diet 1(P < 0.05). Digestibility of lipids ranged from 96.97% in Diet 6 to 98.34% in Diet 3, whereas dry matter digestibility decreased with increasing replacement level. This study indicates that 20% FM replacement with ESBM in the basic diet containing 40% protein and 30% FM is optimal for juvenile L. vannamei.

Effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal with dried distillers grains with solubles on the microbiota occupying different ecological niches in the rumen of growing Hu lambs

Background:Diet has a profound impact on the rumen microbiota,and the impact can vary among the different rumen ecological niches(REN).This study investigated the effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal(SBM)with dried distillers grains with solubles(DDGS)on the rumen microbiota occupying different REN of growing Hu lambs.After a 9-week feeding trial,6 lambs from each dietary treatment(SBM vs.DDGS-based diets)were slaughtered for sample collection.The microbiota of the rumen solid,liquid,and epithelium fractions was examined using amplicon sequencing analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene,functional prediction,and qPCR.Results:No interaction of dietary protein source(PS)and REN were detected for virtually all the measurements made in this study.The DDGS substitution resulted in very limited influence on bacterial community structure.However,the metabolic pathways predicted from 16S rRNA gene sequences varied greatly between SBM-and DDGS-based diets.The populations of rumen total bacteria,fungi,sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB),and methanogens were not influenced by DDGS substitution,but the population of protozoa was reduced.The bacterial communities in rumen solid(RS)and liquid(RL)were similar in taxonomic composition but were different in relative abundance of some taxa.In contrast,the bacterial composition and relative abundance of rumen epithelium(RE)were greatly distinct from those of the RS and the RL.In alignment with the bacterial relative abundance,the metabolic pathways predicted from 16S rRNA genes also varied greatly among the different REN.The populations of total bacteria,protozoa,and methanogens attached to the RE were smaller than those in the RS and RL,and the fungal population on the rumen epitheliumwas smaller than that in the RS but similar to that in the RL.On the contrary,the SRB population on the RE was greater than that in the RS and RL.Conclusions:Substitution of SBM with DDGS had greater impact to the protozoa than to the other microbes,and the microbial community structure and functions at different REN are distinct and niche-adapted.

Study on Free Amino Acid and Short Peptide Fertilizer Production by Solid State Fermented Castor Bean Meal

Using microbial fermentation to increase the content of free amino acids and short peptides in the organic fertilizer for castor bean meal can effectively promote plant growth and improve fruit quality.Using free amino acid and short peptide content as an indicator,through single factor and response surface optimization experiments,the process parameters(moisture content,fermentation time and inoculum quantity)of castor meal solid-state fermentation were optimized.The best process parameters for the solid-state fermentation were:the moisture content 62%,the fermentation time 20 d,and the inoculum quantity 0.23%.The moisture content had the greatest impact on the conversion rate of free amino acids and short peptides,and the protein conversion rate reached 65.6%.The scale-up experiment under the optimal conditions showed that the solid-state fermentation using the inoculum had a significant beneficial effect compared with other fermentation methods.The fermentation of castor cake fertilizer provides a theoretical and practical basis for production feasibility,and has important guiding significance for the effective utilization of castor bean meal.

Excessive ammonia inhibited transcription of MsU2 gene and furthermore affected accumulation distribution of allantoin and amino acids in alfalfa Medicago sativa

In legume plants, uricase gene （Nodulin-35） plays a positive role in metabolism of ureide and amide compounds in symbiotic nitrogen-fixing in the nodules. In this study, a pot experiment was performed to examine the effects of ammonium application on the transcription of MsU2 gene and distribution of major nitrogen compounds in alfalfa Medicago sativa. Data showed that alfalfa plant has a significant difference in contents of nitrogen compounds in xylem saps compared with soybean plant, and belongs to typical amide type legume plants with little ureide accumulation, and the accumulation of asparagines and ureide in the tissues of alfalfa is mainly gathered in the nodules. Northern blotting showed that excessive ammonium significantly inhibited the transcription of MsU2 gene in the nodules and roots, and mRNA accumulation of MsU2 gene in the plants exposed to excessive ammonium decreased gradually with culture time extension, indicating that application of ammonium significantly inhibited the transcription of MsU2 gene in the alfalfa plants. Although the application of exces- sive ammonium increased the contents of amino acids in various tissues of alfalfa, the accumulation of allantoin reflecting the strength of uricase activity is remarkably reduced in the xylem saps, stems and nodules when alfalfa plants exposed to excessive ammonium, suggesting that application of excessive ammonium generated a negative effect on symbiosis fixing-nitrogen system due to inhibition of ammonium ion on uricase activity in the nodules of alfalfa. This result seems to imply that application of excessive ammonium in legume plants should not be proposed to avoid affecting the ability of fixing nitrogen in the nodules of legume plants, and reasonable dose of ammonium should be recommended to effectively utilize the fixed N from atmosphere in legume plant production.