Influences of dietary protein sources and crude protein levels on intracellular free amino acid profile in the longissimus dorsi muscle of finishing gilts

Background： The current study was carried out to determine effects of dietary protein source and crude protein（CP）level on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and muscle amino acid（AA） profile in finishing gilts. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two sources of dietary proteins（cottonseed meal, CSM vs. soybean meal, SBM） and two levels of CP（12 % vs. 14 %, as-fed basis）. Seventy-two crossbred gilts（89.5 ± 0.9 kg） were allotted to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design for a period of 28 d. All diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and similar concentrations of standardized ileal digestible essential AA covering the nutrient requirements of pigs.Results： Growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality were not affected by dietary protein source nor crude protein level（P ＆gt; 0.10） except that average daily feed intake was increased by CSM diets（P = 0.03）. Gilts offered reduced protein diets had lower muscle p H45min（P 〈 0.05）. Neither dietary protein source nor crude protein level influenced N deposition. However, reduced protein diets decreased N intake, N excretion, and serum urea nitrogen content, whilst improved N efficiency（P 〈 0.01）. CSM diets increased N intake（P = 0.04）,but did not depress N efficiency. The concentrations of phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine and tyrosine（P 〈 0.05） of the longissimus muscle were decreased when gilts offered CSM diets, while muscle intracellular free valine concentration was increased（P = 0.03）. The gilts offered reduced protein diets had greater intracellular concentrations of free methionine, lysine, and total AA in muscle（P 〈 0.05）.Conclusion： These results suggest that CSM could replace SBM as a primary protein source in finishing pig diets in terms of performance, N efficiency, carcass characteristics, and meat quality, but decrease the concentrations of muscle specific AA. Furthermore, the reduced protein diet played an important role in increasing muscle intracellular concentrations of specific free amino acids（FAA）, and in reducing the relative ratios of specific FAA to lysine in longissimus dorsi muscle of pig, whose biological meaning needs further studies.

Effects of Dietary Energy Level and Source on Blood Metabolites,Hormone Secretion and Follicular Fluid Composition in Gilts

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels and sources on the blood metabolites,hormone secretion and the composition of follicular fluid in gilts.Fifty-four gilts with initial body weight of(59±4.2) kg were randomly allotted to six treatments.Treatments were low, normal,and high energy feeding levels,which were 87.5%,100%and 112.5%of recommendatory energy requirements by NRC(1998),respectively,and dietary energy sources(starch or fat).Blood samples and follicular fluids were collected on D18 and D19 of the second estrous cycle.The results showed that plasma concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were higher in the fat group than that in the starch group(P【0.05),but those of glucose were similar between the two energy sources(P】0.05);dietary energy level exerted no effect on blood metabolites concentration(P】0.05).Gilts fed the high energy diet had a higher area under curve of plasma insulin(Insulin AUC),insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ) and leptin than did gilts fed the lower energy diet(P【0.05),but there was no significant difference between fat versus starch(P】0.05).Luteinizing hormone(LH) pulses were higher in gilts fed high energy rather than that in low energy diets(P】0.05),plasma concentration of estradiol(E2) was higher in the fat group than that in the starch group(P【0.05).The number of large follicles(diameter≥4 mm) and concentrations of IGF-Ⅰand E2 in follicular fluid were increasing significant as the level of energy increased(P【0.05),but the numbers of large follicles and follicular fluid composition were not affected by the source of dietary energy(P】0.05).The results indicate that gilts fed high energy diets had elevated plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones,IGF-Ⅰand LH secretion,and increased follicular fluid concentrations of IGF-Ⅰ,E2 and numbers of large follicles;gilts fed the dietary fat had a higher plasma concentration of cholesterol and E2.

Health risk from fluoride exposure of a population in selected areas of Tamil Nadu South India

Prevalence of fluorosis is a public health problem in many states of India.It is necessary to find out the different sources through which fluoride enters human metabolism.Only when the sources are identified,suitable remedial measures can be initiated.This study was attempted to find out the contribution of fluoride from various sources such as drinking water,staple food grains,cooked rice,green leafy vegetables and cow milk in the selected area of the study.Percentage of incidence of fluorosis was estimated using a clinical survey.Calculated community fluorosis index values in all the 22 villages were greater than the accepted index value.Fluoride intake from all manor dietary sources of different age groups such as infants,children,adolescents,adults and aged above 70 was determined.The study revealed that,of all the sources,fluoride contribution from drinking water is significant irrespective of age.Hence,it is advised that people of South India,where there similarity in diet pattern,consume drinking water with lesser fluoride to minimize the debilitating effect of fluoride.The study also recommends to the government authorities concerned with supply to provide water with low fluoride level.©2013 Beijing Academy of Food Sciences.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.

Impact of sugar beet pulp and wheat bran on serum biochemical profile,inflammatory responses and gut microbiota in sows during late gestation and lactation

Background:Sows are frequently subjected to various stresses during late gestation and lactation,which trigger inflammatory response and metabolic disorders.Dietary fiber can influence animal health by modulating gut microbiota and their by-products,with the effects depending upon the source of the dietary fiber.This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of different fiber sources on body condition,serum biochemical parameters,inflammatory responses and fecal microbiota in sows from late gestation to lactation.Methods:Forty-five multiparous sows(Yorkshire×Landrace;3–6 parity)were assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments from d 85 of gestation to the end of lactation(d 21 post-farrowing):a control diet(CON,a corn-soybean meal diet),a sugar beet pulp diet(SBP,20%SBP during gestation and 10%SBP during lactation),and a wheat bran diet(WB,30%WB during gestation and 15%WB during lactation).Results:Compared with CON,supplementation of SBP decreased(P<0.05)lactation BW loss,reduced(P<0.05)serum concentration of total cholesterol,non-esterified fatty acids,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α,and increased(P<0.05)fecal water content on d 110 of gestation and d 21 of lactation,while supplementation of WB reduced(P<0.05)serum concentration of total cholesterol on d 110 of gestation,increased(P<0.05)fecal water content and decreased(P<0.05)serum interleukin-6 concentration on d 110 of gestation and d 21 of lactation.In addition,sows fed SBP had lower(P<0.01)abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Terrisporobacter than those fed CON,but had greater(P<0.05)abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002 than those fed the other two diets on d 110 of gestation.On d 21 of lactation,supplementation of SBP decreased(P<0.05)the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus,but enriched(P<0.05)the abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group,Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group,Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002,Prevotellaceae_UCG_001 and unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae compared with WB.Compared with CON,sows fed SBP had greater(P<0.05)fecal concentrations of acetate,butyrate and total SCFAs during gestation and lactation,while sows fed WB only had greater(P<0.05)fecal concentration of butyrate during lactation.Conclusions:Supplementation of dietary fiber during late gestation and lactation could improve sow metabolism and gut health,and SBP was more effective than WB.