1,721,092 research outputs found
Larch sawdust as functional additive
No full textThe larch sawdust (Larix decidua L., Pinaceae) is rich in valuable physiologically active compounds and functional polymers: arabinogalactans [1], lignans (mainly secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol) [2] flavonoids (mainly taxifolin and dihydrokaempferol) [3] and diterpenes (larixyl acetate and larixol) [4]. Arabinogalactans, abundant in the genus Larix, are an excellent source of water-soluble prebiotic fibre and in monogastric animals increase beneficial gut anaerobes [5]. Moreover, larch sawdust extracts have been suggested to enhance immune function as shown in an ex-vivo study on ovine neutrophils [6]. We investigated whether larch sawdust (by Jannach Lärchenholz GmbH) supplemented to dairy cows have effects on blood biochemical parameters. The treated group received 250 g/d of Larch sawdust (n=10) and the control group 250g/d of placebo (n=10), mixed with 1 kg of a total mixed diet, for 14 d. Several biochemical changes induced by the supplementation of larch sawdust were observed. Biomarkers of liver function were influenced by the treatment. Total bilirubin was significantly lower in larch-treated animals (- 17%; P < 0.05). Cholesterol was lower in animals given the larch diet. VLDL, which are involved in lipid transport from the liver, were also slightly increased. A lower urea concentration was found in the larch-treated group (5.6 vs 6.5 mmol/L; P < 0.01). Total protein decreased significantly in animals given the larch diet, mainly due to a decrease in globulin concentration (from 35.1 to 33.5 g/L; P < 0.01). Because total globulin concentration can provide an indication of an animal’s humoral immune status or response, the observed effect could be beneficial in animal diet during challenges such as weaning, as well as in disease states. These results confirm previous studies and indicate that larch sawdust can be a resource as an appreciable feed additive. Moreover, larch sawdust is a waste product from the wood industry and would represent an economic additive. To confirm a valuable application, we have started further studies with other animal species
Oxidative stress induced by high dietary PUFA in young pigs : effects on growth performance and some haematological parameters
No full textFarm animals in intensive farming systems are frequently exposed to oxidative stress, which demands adequate antioxidant protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of natural antioxidant mixture in case of n-6 PUFA induced oxidative stress in young pigs. Twenty four female piglets (Hypor) (BW 10 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments. Oxidative stress was induced in two of the three experimental groups with the inclusion of 9% of sunflower oil (SO) and the same inclusion of SO more a mixture of natural antioxidant (SO-NA). In control diet (CON) oil has been replaced with corn starch on the basis of net energy. Diets were isoenergetic by the adoption of appropriate quantity rationing differences. The animals were individually fed 2.7 times the maintenance requirements for metabolisable energy. From each piglets blood was collected by anterior vena cava puncture on days 0 (T0) and after 30 days (T1) of experimental period for the activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GP) enzymes and assessment of total antiradicalic capacity by mean KRL test. KRL test measures the whole blood resistance to free radical attack and results were expressed as the time (min) required to reach 50% of haemolysis. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded weekly. No effect on growth performance was detected. Oxidative stress measured as KRL test showed a significantly reduction in both SO groups (P<0.001) and over time (P <0.001). The activity of enzymes did not differ among groups. Orthogonal contrast showed a significantly (P<0.001) activity of GPx reduction at T1 in groups treated with oil and a trend effect (P=0.081) of CAT enzyme. In conclusion dietary PUFA produced a reduction of antiradicalic capacity well highlighted by KRL test. The dosage of the enzyme activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase showed a pattern overlapping KRL test even if not always able to evidence significant difference among treatments. The natural mixture of antioxidants did not limit oxidative stress at level of the inclusion adopted
Body composition and muscle glycogen contents of piglets of sows fed diets differing in fatty acids profile and contents
No full textTo study the influence of sow dietary fat on piglet body characteristics, multiparous sows were allocated to one of four different dietary treatments: a conventional low fat (3%) diet (LF) and three high fat (6%) diets; high fat saturated (HFS), high fat oats (HFO), and high fat linseed
(HFL). All sows were fed the allocated diet from weaning of the preceding litter until the day after farrowing. At farrowing, one liveborn piglet per litter (NB), was sacrificed and dissected
immediately after birth. The heaviest (H) and the lightest (L) piglets in the litter were killed and dissected in the same manner at one day of age. Measurement of body length and circumference, organ weight, body chemical composition and muscle glycogen content were determined. Body measurements were adjusted to the mean body weight (1.67 kg). Dietary treatment did not have any significant influence on body components or carcass traits except for lung weight, being lower in HFO and HFL than in LF piglets. Piglet category affected almost all parameters considered, showing the lowest values for NB piglets, except for lung and
circumference that were higher in NB than in L and H piglets; and length whichwas lower in NB than in L piglets. NB piglets had the highest amount of muscle glycogen content, no difference was found between H and L piglets. Dietary treatments influenced piglet chemical composition, showing the highest overall values of dry matter (DM), protein, and fat for the HFL piglets'
carcasses. The present data provide additional information on the depletion of energy reserves; it would appear that sow dietary fat has relatively little effect on progeny since only body chemical composition was significantly influenced by HFL diet
Influence of dietary plant antioxidant on oxidative status and immune parameters in post-weaning piglet
No full textThe aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary plant antioxidant in post weaning piglets on oxidative status and immune parameters. At weaning 80 piglets of 8.1 ± 0.2 kg live weight (LW) were allotted to two dietary treatments: control diet (C) and diet supplemented with dietary plant antioxidant (750 g /t feed) titrated at 0.5% of phenylpropanoids, expressed as verbascoside (PPG). The diets were administered ad libitum. Piglets weight was recorded at 0 and 56 d and blood samples were taken from 10 piglets per treatment for oxidative status and immunoglobulin title determination. The assessment of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) in blood serum was performed using the d-ROMs tests (Diacron International® s.r.l. Italy). The serum concentrations of immunoglobulin of class G and A were measured using a commercial kit (pig ELISA quantitation kit; Bethyl Laboratories, Montgomery, TX). Data on growth performance were analyzed by one way ANOVA and data on serum parameters were analyzed by one way ANOVA, with the weaning value entered as a covariate (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Piglets fed C diet shown a lower average daily gain (ADG) (386 ± 9 vs 425 ± 11 g/d; P=0.009) and final weight (29.6 ± 0.7 kg vs 32.1 ± 0.6 kg; P=0.011) than PPG supplemented piglets. No difference was observed in ROMs production between control and treated group (P= 0.115). Piglets fed control diet shown a lower IgG (7.9 ± 0.7 mg/mL vs 16.9 ± 0.7 mg/mL; P<0.001) and IgA concentration (0.6 ± 0.1 mg/mL vs 1.11 ± 0.1 mg/mL; P=0.029) than PPG supplemented piglets. These results support the view that the employed dietary plant antioxidant positively influences growth performance and immune parameters in post weaning piglets
Application of KRL test to assess total antioxidant activity in pigs: sensitivity to dietary antioxidants
No full textThe application of Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test to assess total blood antioxidant activity in pigs was evaluated. The KRL has been validated and is widely used in humans for assessing the effectiveness of natural or pharmaceutical treatments, and in vitro to evaluate the antioxidant activities of natural or synthetic antioxidants. In this study the sensitivity of the KRL test in assessing the effectiveness of dietary antioxidant supplementation (vitamin E and plant extract) was evaluated in two different phases of pig breeding. The first trial, in post-weaned piglets (40 piglets/group) fed dietary vitamin E supplementation for 60 days, indicated that there was a higher total antioxidant activity (P = 0.032) of whole blood and of red blood cells (P = 0.001) than for control pigs. The second trial indicated that long-term supplementation of water soluble plant extract (20 pigs/group) from the leaves of Verbenaceae (Lippia spp.) tended (P = 0.091) to increase antioxidant activity in the whole blood of treated, rather than control pigs. These results indicate that the KRL might be recommended as one of efficient means for evaluating antioxidant activity of dietary ingredients fed to pigs
Differenti tipi di pavimentazione e di densità nel suino pesante: effetti alla macellazione
No full textInfluence of Lippia citriodora verbascoside on growth performance, antioxidant status, and serum immunoglobulins content in piglets
No full textPhytogenic feed additives are used in animal feeding to improve livestock performance. The aim of this study was to determine whether a dietary plant extract from Lippia citriodora, standardized for verbascoside, can modify various immunological, oxidative, and biochemical serum parameters in weaned piglets. A total of 144 piglets, half female and half barrows (7.99 ± 1.40 kg BW), were allocated to three dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment (pens of 8 piglets each). Piglets were supplemented with the following levels of plant extract standardized for verbascoside: 0 (CON = control group), 5 (LV = low verbascoside group), or 10 (HV = high verbascoside group) mg/kg of diet for 56 days. Body weight (BW) and feed consumption were recorded at days 0 and 56 to determine the average daily gain and gain : feed. Twelve piglets from each treatment were randomly selected, and blood was collected by anterior vena cava puncture on days 0, 14, and 56 for glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, and oxidative status, and on days 0 and 56 for IgG and IgA concentrations. The HV group grew more (P < 0.05) than the CON and LV groups. No significant differences were observed for any of the biochemical parameters between the groups; urea, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly over time. Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) showed significant time, time × treatment, and treatment effects (P < 0.001). Both serum Igs increased (P < 0.005, P < 0.001 for IgG and IgA respectively) over time in all groups; treatment (P < 0.05), and time × treatment (P = 0.056) effects were found for serum IgA concentration. The Lippia citriodora verbascoside positively influenced antioxidant status and IgA content with a tendential effect on growth performance
Fenilpropanoidi nella dieta per suini in accrescimento : effetti sull'attività antiradicalica globale del sangue e su alcuni parametri ematici
No full textThe aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of natural antioxidant supplementation in pigs from weaning to 97 kg LW on performance and on some physiological indicators of welfare. Forty piglets of 7 kg LW were allotted to two dietary treatments: control diet and supplemented diet (5 mg/kg of a natural extracts titered in phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPG) expressed as verbascoside). Pigs were weighted at d 0 d 15, d 60, d 90 and d 150 after weaning. Blood samples from 12 piglets/treatment were analysed for serum haptoglobin, cortisol, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and birilubin concentrations and blood antiradicalic activity by mean KRL test. No differences were found for performance. Total antiradicalic activity tended to improve in treated group. Haptoglobin and AST showed time effect (P<0.001
Valutazione oggettiva del benessere animale nella specie suina : sensibilità del KRL-test in differenti fasi di crescita a differenti trattamenti alimentari
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