Nitrogen excretion at different stages of growth and its association with production traits in growing pigs

The objectives of this study were to determine nitrogen loss at different stages of growth and during the entire growing period and to investigate the associations between nitrogen excretion and production traits in growing pigs. Data from 315 pigs of an F-2 population which originated from crossing Pietrain sires with a commercial dam line were used. Nitrogen retention was derived from protein retention as measured using the deuterium dilution technique during different stages of growth (60 to 90 kg, 90 to 120 kg, and 120 to 140 kg). Pigs were fed ad libitum with 2 pelleted diets containing 17% (60 to 90 kg) and 16.5% (90 to 120 and 120 to 140 kg) CP. Average daily nitrogen excretion (ADNE) within each stage of growth was calculated on the basis of the accumulated difference between average daily nitrogen intake (ADNI) and average daily nitrogen retention (ADNR). Least ADNE, nitrogen excretion per BW gain (NEWG) and total nitrogen excretion (TNE) were observed during growth from 60 to 90 kg. In contrast, the greatest ADNE, NEWG, and TNE were found during growth from 120 to 140 kg. Statistical analyses indicated that gender, housing type, the ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) gene, and batch influenced nitrogen excretion (P <0.05), but the degree and direction of influences differed between growth stages. Gender differences showed that gilts excreted less nitrogen than barrows (P <0.05), which was associated with decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR; feed: gain) and lipid: protein gain ratio. Single-housed pigs showed reduced nitrogen excretion compared with group-housed pigs (P <0.05). In comparison to other genotypes, pigs carrying genotype NN (homozygous normal) at the RYR1 locus had the least nitrogen excretion (P <0.05) at all stages of growth except from 60 to 90 kg. The residual correlations indicated that NEWG and TNE have large positive correlations with FCR (r = 0.99 and 0.91, respectively) and moderate negative correlations with ADG (r = -0.53 and -0.48, respectively), for the entire growing period. Improvement in FCR, increase in ADG and reduction in lipid: protein gain ratio by 1 phenotypic SD reduced TNE per pig by 709 g, 307 g, and 211 g, respectively, over the entire growing period. The results indicate that nitrogen excretion changes substantially during growth, and it can be reduced most effectively by improvement of feed efficiency and to a lesser extent through the improvement of BW gain or body composition or both

The ‘surplus’ dairy calf: understanding dairy-beef supply chain relationships and the implications for calf welfare

Main Findings• Excess dairy-origin calves are increasingly being sold into the beef supply chain, rather thanbeing slaughtered at a young age. Calves are sold from the dairy farm of origin to dedicated calfrearing enterprises or to calf procurement companies who distribute calves to farms• We interviewed dairy farmers (calf producers), calf rearers and procurement companies to gainan insight into the basis of this relationship, calf care and information transfer. The implicationsfor calf health and welfare were extracted• Of those dairy farmers interviewed, the majority sold calves directly to calf rearers, which likelyreduces transport time and mixing between groups of calves, which may be detrimental for healthand disrupts social bonds of calves• Farmers do not like the term ‘surplus calf’. They viewed these animals as a valuable economicpart of their farming enterprises• The relationship between calf producers and calf rearers is based on personal reputation andtrust. Calf producers do not want to sell poor calves to calf rearers. As a result, calves destinedfor beef are more likely to receive the same standard of care and nutrition as other calves• There is the potential for data on health status, vaccination records and growth to be transferre

Effect of different standing poses on whole body volume acquisition by three-dimensional photonic scanning

The present study compared whole body volumes obtained by three-dimensional (3D) photonic scanning of two different poses and discussed its effect on body composition estimation. Pose A with large angles of shoulder abduction and feet separated and Pose B with shoulders abducted slightly, the elbows extended and heels together. 16 male and 13 female participants were scanned twice in each pose using a 3D scanner. The mean of whole body volume and the mean of body composition obtained with Pose B was corrected by a regression equation and compared with the results obtained from Pose A. After correction, the whole body volumes acquired with these two poses were similar [limit of agreement = (-0.71 l,0.71 l)] but the body compositions obtained with Pose A and Pose B were different [limit of agreement = (-4.4%, 4.4%)]. The results indicated that scanning using either pose gives reliable estimations for whole body volume and body composition. The whole body volume obtained from different poses can be adjusted using the regression equation but small volumetric differences translate into much more substantial differences in body fat percentage. Hence, it is recommended to use the same scanning pose consistently when monitoring individuals longitudinally

Protective role of vitamin B6 (PLP) against DNA damage in Drosophila models of type 2 diabetes

Growing evidence shows that improper intake of vitamin B6 increases cancer risk and several studies indicate that diabetic patients have a higher risk of developing tumors. We previously demonstrated that in Drosophila the deficiency of Pyridoxal 5' phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, causes chromosome aberrations (CABs), one of cancer prerequisites, and increases hemolymph glucose content. Starting from these data we asked if it was possible to provide a link between the aforementioned studies. Thus, we tested the effect of low PLP levels on DNA integrity in diabetic cells. To this aim we generated two Drosophila models of type 2 diabetes, the first by impairing insulin signaling and the second by rearing flies in high sugar diet. We showed that glucose treatment induced CABs in diabetic individuals but not in controls. More interestingly, PLP deficiency caused high frequencies of CABs in both diabetic models demonstrating that hyperglycemia, combined to reduced PLP level, impairs DNA integrity. PLP-depleted diabetic cells accumulated Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) that largely contribute to CABs as α-lipoic acid, an AGE inhibitor, rescued not only AGEs but also CABs. These data, extrapolated to humans, indicate that low PLP levels, impacting on DNA integrity, may be considered one of the possible links between diabetes and cancer

Persistence of anticancer activity in berry extracts after simulated gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation

Fruit and vegetable consumption is associated at the population level with a protective effect against colorectal cancer. Phenolic compounds, especially abundant in berries, are of interest due to their putative anticancer activity. After consumption, however, phenolic compounds are subject to digestive conditions within the gastrointestinal tract that alter their structures and potentially their function. However, the majority of phenolic compounds are not efficiently absorbed in the small intestine and a substantial portion pass into the colon. We characterized berry extracts (raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants) produced by in vitro-simulated upper intestinal tract digestion and subsequent fecal fermentation. These extracts and selected individual colonic metabolites were then evaluated for their putative anticancer activities using in vitro models of colorectal cancer, representing the key stages of initiation, promotion and invasion. Over a physiologically-relevant dose range (0–50 µg/ml gallic acid equivalents), the digested and fermented extracts demonstrated significant anti-genotoxic, anti-mutagenic and anti-invasive activity on colonocytes. This work indicates that phenolic compounds from berries undergo considerable structural modifications during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract but their breakdown products and metabolites retain biological activity and can modulate cellular processes associated with colon cancer

Existing and near-to-market methane reducing feed additives and technologies:Evidence of Efficacy, Regulatory Pathways to Market and Mechanisms to Incentivise Adoption

The aim of this work was to (i) review the scientific evidence for a defined range of close-to-market products (five feed supplements and one technology) in relation to the diverse farm circumstances in which they may be used; (ii) evaluate the evidential requirements of relevant regulatory processes and assess the position of these products on their path to regulatory approval; and (iii) considerthe role of evidence in the various public and private mechanisms that are emerging to incentivise use of these products on far