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Effect of carbadox on growth, feed utilization, and development of nasal turbinate lesions in swine infected with Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Carbadox in combination with sulfamethazine did not interfere with the activity of sulfamethazine in clearing experimentally induced Bordetella bronchiseptica nasal infection. Evaluations in three field cases of infectious atrophic rhinitis indicated that carbadox in the feed was as effective as chlortetracycline + sulfamethazine + penicillin for improving growth rate and feed efficiency, as compared with nonmedicated controls, and in reducing the prevalence of lesions of infectious atrophic rhinitis.

Animal Feed↗

Bioefficacy of enzyme preparations containing beta-glucanase and xylanase activities in broiler diets based on barley or wheat, in combination with flavomycin.

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of two enzyme preparations containing beta-glucanase and xylanase activities on barley- and wheat-based diets, respectively, for broilers, in combination with flavomycin. In addition, the stability of the enzyme preparations after pelleting was measured. Temperatures recorded during the pelleting process reached 75 to 80 C, and the activities recovered with respect to the amounts present in the mash feed before pelleting were 80% or higher. Two performance experiments were conducted simultaneously under the same conditions over 6 wk. In addition, intestinal viscosity and incidence of vent pasting were measured and carcasses were eviscerated to determine abdominal fat, carcass yield, and percentage weight of intestines and viscera. Twenty-four pens (12 per sex), each containing 75 chickens were used in each experiment. Wheat- or barley-based diets were supplemented with flavomycin and a xylanase or a beta-glucanase preparation, respectively, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. In the wheat diets, xylanase and flavomycin improved feed efficiency, in parallel with a reduction of intestinal viscosity. Xylanase reduced the incidence of vent pasting and the percentage viscera, especially of intestines, and increased abdominal fat. In the barley diets, beta-glucanase and flavomycin improved feed conversion. beta-Glucanase also reduced intestinal viscosity and vent pasting. Both beta-glucanase and flavomycin reduced percentage intestines, but the effects were not additive. In general, the effects of the enzyme preparations and flavomycin were independent, except for percentage intestines with beta-glucanase.

Animal Feed↗

Improved soybean protein sources for early-weaned pigs: I. Effects on performance and total tract amino acid digestibility.

Seventy-two Yorkshire pigs weaned at 21 d of age were allotted to one of seven treatments with different protein sources serving as the primary lysine source at the expense of dried skim milk. Protein sources were dried skim milk (DSM), two isolated soybean proteins (ISP), three soybean protein concentrates (SPC), and 48.5% soybean meal (SBM). Average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F) were greater (P < .05) for pigs fed the DSM diet, the two ISP diets, or the three SPC diets during the first 2-wk period than for pigs fed the SBM diet. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) during the 1st wk was lowest in pigs fed the SBM diet. During the 2nd wk on trial and for the first 2-wk period, ADFI among the dietary treatments was similar. Performance of pigs fed either the ISP diets or the SPC diets as the supplemental protein source was equal to the performance of those fed the DSM diet. Average daily gain, G:F, and ADFI during a subsequent 3-wk period were not affected by treatment. Dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) digestibilities were greater (P < .01) in pigs fed DSM, ISP, and SPC diets than in those fed the SBM diet. Apparent digestibility of DM, N, and amino acids (AA) improved from wk 1 to wk 2 postweaning in pigs fed SBM but not in those fed DSM. However, digestibilities of these nutrients were similar among pigs fed the DSM, ISP, and SPC diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

Growth of whole body and organs of growing rats during feed restriction and subsequent realimentation.

Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats (average body weight 70.6 +/- SD 11.6 g) were divided into two equal groups. One group was fed a 17% protein (N x 6.25) diet ad libitum for 42 d (Control). The second group was fed the same diet at 60% of the intake of the Control group for 14d (Restricted) and ad libitum for the remaining 28 d. Three rats per group were euthanized on d 1 and five rats per group on d 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42 and weights of the body, heart, spleen, liver, kidneys, epididymal fat, empty stomach, large and small intestines, and length of the left femur were recorded. The empty stomach, large and small intestines were dried to constant weight at 65 degrees C and assayed for crude protein content. Body weight, feed efficiency, weights of the heart, liver and epididymal fat were significantly reduced, while relative weight of the stomach and crude protein content of the small intestine were significantly increased in the restricted group during the period of feed restriction. Body and organ weights, however, compensated and caught up with control values within 14 d of feed rehabilitation and, by 28 d of realimentation, body weight, heart, liver and stomach weights were significantly greater in restricted than in control rats. Femur length was reduced by feed restriction, but continued to increase during restriction and realimentation. Gastrointestinal tract segments were less affected by feed restriction and responded more quickly to realimentation than the whole body.

Animal Feed↗

Sorghum grain flake density and source of roughage in feedlot cattle diets.

Feedlot performance was studied in a 262-d trial using 126 crossbred beef steers (182 kg initial BW) to determine whether source of dietary roughage influences performance and carcass characteristics by steers fed growing (112 d) and finishing (150 d) diets with various flake densities (FD) of steam-processed sorghum grain. A 3 x 3 arrangement of treatments (two pens of seven steers each) was used, with dietary roughages being chopped alfalfa hay or 50:50 mixtures (equal NDF basis) of cotton-seed hulls or chopped wheat straw with alfalfa hay; sorghum grain was steam-flaked to densities of 386, 322, and 257 g/L (SF30, SF25, and SF20, reflecting bushel weight in pounds). The effects of these same FD on nutrient digestibilities were determined in three experiments with 24 crossbred steers fed finishing diets containing each of the roughage sources. No interactions between FD and roughage type were detected in any performance or carcass measurements (P > .10). Intake of DM decreased linearly (P < .05) in response to decreased FD. Daily rate and efficiency of gain were not altered (P >.10) by FD. Decreasing FD decreased linearly (P < .05) dressing percentage and fat thickness, but not other carcass measurements. Dietary roughage did not affect (P >.10) daily gains or carcass measurements, but DM intake was lower and feed efficiencies were superior (P < .05) when alfalfa hay was the sole source of roughage. Cottonseed hulls and wheat straw were relatively less valuable in the low roughage finishing diets than in higher roughage growing diets. Digestibilities of starch increased linearly as FD was decreased (P = .02) when steers were fed diets containing wheat straw, but not for alfalfa hay or cottonseed hull diets. Digestibilities of DM did not vary with changes in FD; however, changes in CP, NDF, and ADF digestibilities due to FD seemed to differ among experiments. In conclusion, performance and carcass measurement responses by growing-finishing steers to differences in sorghum grain FD were not related to source of dietary roughage, but diets with alfalfa hay as the only source of roughage were most efficient. Decreasing FD of sorghum grain below 386 g/L (30 lb/bu) was not advantageous in improving performance or carcass merit by growing-finishing steers.

Animal Feed↗

The bacteriocins of ruminal bacteria and their potential as an alternative to antibiotics.

Beef cattle have been fed ionophores and other antibiotics for more than 20 years to decrease ruminal fermentation losses (e.g methane and ammonia) and increase feed efficiency, and these improvements have been explained by an inhibition of gram-positive ruminal bacteria. Ionophores are not used to treat human disease, but there has been an increased perception that antibiotics should not be used as feed additives. Some bacteria produce small peptides (bacteriocins) that inhibit gram-positive bacteria. In vitro experiments indicated that the bacteriocin, nisin, and the ionophore, monensin, had similar effects on ruminal fermentation. However, preliminary results indicated that mixed ruminal bacteria degraded nisin, and the ruminal bacterium, Streptococcus bovis, became highly nisin-resistant. A variety of ruminal bacteria produce bacteriocins, and bacteriocin production has, in some cases, been correlated with changes in ruminal ecology. Some ruminal bacteriocins are as potent as nisin in vitro, and resistance can be circumvented. Based on these results, ruminal bacteriocins may provide an alternative to antibiotics in cattle rations.

Animals↗

Effects of corn processing, dietary roughage level, and timing of roughage inclusion on performance of feedlot steers.

In Trial 1, 108 crossbred steer calves (initial BW 295 kg) were allotted to 12 pens and used in a 186-d feedlot trial to determine the effects of increasing or decreasing roughage level on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Four dietary treatments were investigated: 1) 85% concentrate diet fed for 186 d, 2) 100% concentrate diet fed for 186 d, 3) 85% concentrate diet fed for 84 d followed by a 100% concentrate diet for the remaining 102 d, and 4) 100% concentrate diet for 84 d followed by an 85% concentrate diet for the remaining 102 d. Corn silage was added as roughage. During the first 84 d, level of dietary concentrate did not affect (P > .10) ADG. Steers switched to the 85% concentrate diet for the last 102 d had higher (P < .05) DMI than those fed the 100% concentrate diet; they did not exhibit an increase in ADG. Finishing phase feed efficiency was highest (P < .05) for steers continually fed 100% concentrate, lowest (P < .05) for steers continually fed 85% concentrate, and intermediate for steers whose concentrate level was switched during the trial. Carcass characteristics were not affected (P > .10) by concentrate level regimen. In Trial 2, 108 crossbred steer calves (initial BW 319 kg) were allotted to 12 pens and used in a 158-d trial to determine whether feedlot performance could be enhanced by manipulating roughage level and grain processing. Factors investigated were staged increases in concentrate level (70 to 85 to 100%) vs staged decreases in concentrate level (100 to 85 to 70%) and whole vs rolled high-moisture corn. Corn silage was added as roughage. Diet concentrate levels were changed on d 56 and 112. During the first 56 d, steers fed 70% concentrate diets grew 11% faster (P < .05) and consumed 19% more feed (P < .05) than those fed 100% concentrate diets. Steers fed rolled corn gained 8% faster (P < .06) and were 7% more efficient (P < .06) than those fed whole corn. During the last period (d 113 to 158), ADG was not affected (P > .10) by concentrate level or corn processing. Although increasing roughage during the feeding period increased feed intake in these trials, steer performance was not enhanced. Processing high-moisture corn did not affect feedlot performance.

Animal Feed↗

Are sex steroids involved in the sexual growth dimorphism in Eurasian perch juveniles?

Individual growth and food intake were monitored in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) juveniles (13.5+/-3.4 g initial body weight) to determine whether androgens and estrogens may mediate sex-related growth differences. Fish were individually tagged with chips and implanted with cocoa butter containing 20 microg of either 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) or 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) per gram of fish body; controls were implanted with cocoa butter without hormones. All fish were bled at the end of the experiment for measurement of E(2) in females and testosterone (T) in males (MT was not measured) and triiodothyronine (T3) in both genders. Survival, gonadosomatic index and hepatosomatic index were not affected by steroid treatments. Relative food intake (RFI), feed efficiency (FE) and specific growth rate (SGR) were higher in females than in males in all treatments. MT treatment significantly lowered RIF, FE and SGR in both sexes, while E(2) treatment showed no significant effect on growth and feeding parameters. In contrast to E(2) and T concentrations, T3 levels were significantly and positively correlated with SGR and RFI. The results provide evidence that MT may affect sexually related growth dimorphism by decreasing food intake and FE in Eurasian perch.

Animals↗

Dietary effects of the esters of butyric, caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids on food intake, weight gain, plasma glucose, and tissue lipid in the male white rat.

Eight saturated fatty acid esters were fed to male white rats for 30 days in a 1/81 fractional factorial experiment in which diets contained 12-38% of their total energy as lipid. Marked increases in food intake, feed efficiency, and weight gain were achieved when lipid provided 36% of diet energy, and when that lipid was more than half caproate, caprate, myristate, and/or stearate. Caproate was the only saturated fatty acid to increase plasma glucose levels. The feeding of stearate or caprylate decreased plasma and liver cholesterol. Caprate increased liver fat. The short-chain fatty acids (butyrate to myristate) increased the concentration of fat in the carcass.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

The domestic pig as a model for evaluating olestra's nutritional effects.

Experimental conditions for measuring the effect of the noncaloric fat substitute olestra on the availability of dietary nutrients were established in the weanling domestic pig. To evaluate the tolerance of the pig for dietary fat levels similar to those in the human diet, groups were fed a standard corn-soy-based swine feed with and without 14% (30% of energy) added fat for 4 wk. To evaluate the adequacy of a purified diet to produce good growth, groups of pigs were fed purified diets providing 30% of energy from fat and micronutrients at 1, 1.3 or 1.6 times the NRC's requirements for 5- to 10-kg swine. Cumulative body weight gain, digestible feed efficiency and a lack of adverse effects showed that the pig can tolerate diets providing 30% of energy from fat and that a purified diet providing the NRC's requirements for micronutrients produces growth comparable to a nutritionally complete swine feed. To determine whether tissue concentrations of vitamins A, D, E and K in the pig respond to olestra and dietary concentrations of the vitamins, two groups were fed purified diet providing 1 or 1.6 times the NRC's requirements for micronutrients and 4.8% olestra. Significant increases occurred in the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyergocalciferol and liver concentrations of retinol and alpha-tocopherol with increasing dietary concentrations of the vitamins. Olestra reduced the tissue concentrations of vitamins A, D and E. Prothrombin time was not affected by dietary concentration of either phylloquinone or olestra. To determine the amount of UV light exposure required to produce 50-80% of vitamin D status from vitamin D3, a range typical of humans, two groups of pigs were fed the NRC requirement for vitamin D and exposed to 15 or 45 min/d of UV light. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol increased with increased exposure time. UV exposure of 1-2 min/d was calculated to be sufficient to produce 50-80% of total vitamin D status from vitamin D3. No antemortem observations indicated an adverse olestra effect.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2↗

Comparative feeding value of wood sugar concentrate and cane molasses for feedlot cattle.

Two feedlot cattle growth performance trials and a metabolism trial were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of cane molasses (CM) compared with wood sugar concentrate (WSC). The CM contained (as-fed basis) 73% DM, 8.6% ash, 48% total sugars, and 79.5 degrees Brix. The WSC contained (as-fed basis) 61% DM, 12.2% ash, 38.9% total sugars, and 29% lignosulfonate. When supplemented at 4% of diet DM, treatment effects on ruminal and total tract OM digestion and feedlot performance were similar. When supplemented at 8% of diet DM, ADG was similar across treatments, whereas feed efficiency tended (P < .10) to favor the CM diet. The NEm value of the diet was 2% higher (P < .01) with CM supplementation. It is concluded that WSC may be a useful alternative to molasses in diets for cattle. The feeding value of WSC seems to exceed that based on its hydrolyzable sugars content. Given that the NEm and NEg values (DM basis) for CM are 1.70 and 1.08 Mcal/kg, respectively, the corresponding values for WSC are 1.25 and .68 Mcal/kg, respectively.

Animal Feed↗

Nutritive values of corn, soybean meal, canola meal, and peas for broiler chickens as affected by a multicarbohydrase preparation of cell wall degrading enzymes.

The effect of a new multicarbohydrase supplement of cell wall degrading activities on the nutritive value of corn, soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM), and peas for broiler chickens was investigated. Four isoenergetic and isonitrogenous corn (69% corn), SBM (30% SBM, 59% corn), CM (30% CM, 54% corn), and pea (30% peas, 52% corn) diets, without or with enzyme supplementation, were formulated to meet NRC specifications for broiler chickens (except for AME and CP, which were at 95 and 92% of NRC requirements, respectively). The enzyme supplement supplied 1,000 U of xylanase, 400 U of glucanase, 1,000 U of pectinase, 120 U of cellulase, 280 U of mannanase, and 180 U of galactanase per kilogram of diet. Each diet was fed in a mash form to 9 replicate pens of 5 broilers from 5 to 18 d. When compared with the control treatment, enzyme addition to the corn diet improved (P < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio, whereas the performance of birds fed the other 3 diets was not affected. An increase (P < 0.05) in total tract nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) digestibility, ileal starch digestibility, and AMEn was observed in birds fed the enzyme-supplemented corn diet. An improvement (P < 0.05) in total tract NSP digestibility, ileal protein digestibility, and AMEn content with enzyme supplementation was observed for the SBM diet. However, nutrient digestibilities and AMEn of CM and pea diets were not affected (P > 0.05) by enzyme addition even though the NSP digestibilities increased significantly (P < 0.05). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in water-soluble NSP and a decrease (P < 0.05) in water-insoluble NSP concentration of ileal digesta was noted for birds fed all 4 enzyme-supplemented diets. It would appear from this study that the nutrient utilization of corn-SBM diet by broilers could be enhanced by using an appropriate multicarbohydrase enzyme supplement. The nutrient encapsulating effect of cell wall polysaccharides in SBM, CM, and peas may not be the only factor responsible for incomplete nutrient utilization. The improvement in feed efficiency and starch availability in birds fed corn diet likely resulted from the cell wall degrading activity of the enzyme supplement.

Animal Feed↗

Influence of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on growth, meat quality, lipogenesis, plasma leptin and physiological variables of lipid metabolism in rabbits.

We investigated the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on growth, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, meat quality, lipogenesis, and lipid metabolism in rabbits. One hundred forty-four New Zealand White rabbits, half males, half females, age 55 d, mean 1.8 kg BW, were randomly assigned to three weight- and sex-balanced feeding groups in which conventional pelleted diets were supplemented with 0, 0.25, or 0.5% of a CLA preparation. The CLA preparation contained 65% CLA isomers. Twelve rabbits (six males and six females from each group) were slaughtered at each of three slaughtering trials (2.5, 2.8, and 3.1 kg BW, or 76, 90, and 104 d of age). Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation did not influence growth performance (P > or = 0.05) or carcass characteristics but reduced perirenal fat at heavier slaughtering weights (P = 0.09 at 2.8 kg BW; P < 0.01 at 3.1 kg BW). Conjugated linoleic acid reduced acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (CBX) activity in liver (P < 0.05) and adipose tissues (P < 0.01) but did not influence malic enzyme (ME) or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Significant differences were found between sex in interscapular fat (P < 0.05) for CBX, in perirenal (P < 0.01) and interscapular (P < 0.05) fat for ME, and a tendency (P = 0.070) in liver for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The oxidative stability of longissimus lumborum muscle was increased at the higher level of supplementation (P < 0.05). Conjugated linoleic acid reduced (P < 0.05) triglycerides and total cholesterol in plasma with a trend to increased serum leptin (P = 0.06). Plasma triglycerides were higher in males than females (P < 0.01) and plasma leptin tended to be higher in females (2.57 vs. 2.13 ng/ml, P = 0.06). It is concluded that dietary CLA reduced carcass fat in rabbits slaughtered at 2.8 kg or above and altered lipid metabolism to produce lower concentrations of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol and higher concentrations of leptin.

Animal Feed↗

Effect of management strategies on reducing heat stress of feedlot cattle: feed and water intake.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate management strategies designed to decrease heat stress of cattle finished during the summer. In Exp. 1, 144 Angus crossbred yearling steers were assigned to three treatments: 1) ad libitum access to feed at 0800 (ADLIB); 2) fed at 1600 with feed amount adjusted so that no feed was available at 0800 (BKMGT); and 3) fed at 1600 at 85% of predicted ad libitum levels (LIMFD). Treatments were imposed for 23 d of an 82-d study, after which all steers were fed ad libitum at 0800. Treatment did not affect (P > 0.10) overall DMI, although ADLIB cattle tended to consume less feed. Overall water intake was decreased (P < 0.05) by 6.8 L x animal(-1) x d(-1) for LIMFD vs. ADLIB steers. In Exp. 2, 96 Angus crossbred yearling steers were assigned to three treatments: 1) control, no water application; 2) water applied to the pen surfaces between 1000 and 1200 (AM); and 3) water applied to pen surfaces between 1400 and 1600 (PM). Water intake and DMI did not differ among treatments; however, feed efficiency of AM steers was superior (P = 0.06) to that of PM steers. Conversely, marbling scores of PM steers were higher (P = 0.06) than those of AM steers. In Exp. 3, 192 crossbred steers were used to determine the effects of feeding time (0800 [AMF] vs. 1400 [PMF]), with (WET) and without (DRY) sprinkling (20 min every 1.5 h between 1000 and 1750). Feed DMI did not differ among treatments; however, water intake and marbling scores were highest (P < 0.05) for AMF/DRY steers. During these experiments, bunk scores (0 = <10% of feed delivered remaining; 1 = 10 to 50% of feed remaining; 2 = >50% of feed remaining) were assigned to each pen at various times during the day. In Exp. 1, bunk scores of BKMGT pens remained similar (P > 0.20) under varying environmental conditions, whereas LIMFD steers had lower scores (P < 0.05) as days on feed increased, even under hot environmental conditions. In Exp. 3, bunk scores of PMF/WET steers tended to be lower (P < 0.10) at 1700 and 2000 compared with PMF/ DRY pens under mild heat stress but not under severe heat stress. Alternative feeding regimens and sprinkling can alter the feed intake pattern of steers. Heat stress management strategies imposed in these experiments had minimal effects on cattle performance. Such strategies would be most useful for decreasing the susceptibility of cattle to hyperthermia and reducing related feedlot cattle deaths without adversely affecting performance.

Animal Feed↗

Characterization of the impaired feeding behavior in rats given haloperidol or dopamine-depleting brain lesions.

Systemic administration of 0.2 mg/kg of the dopamine antagonist haloperidol reduced the rate of feeding in food-deprived rats, whereas a dose of 0.4 mg/kg suppressed both the rate of feeding and time spent feeding. Pre-feeding a group of rats decreased the time spent feeding but had minimal effects on the rate of feeding. Regression analysis showed that food intake, time spent feeding, and rate of feeding were related to each other in different ways in haloperidol-treated and pre-fed rats. Near-total depletion of brain dopamine by injection of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine into the medial forebrain bundle initially decreased both time spent feeding and feeding rate. When rats that were initially aphagic after dopamine depletion recovered feeding behavior, their rate of feeding did not return to control values, and they spent more time feeding than control rats. Similarly, 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats with smaller dopamine depletions, which were not initially aphagic after the lesions, nevertheless had a prolonged reduction in the rate of feeding. Although control rats typically held the food pellets in both forepaws while feeding, dopamine-depleted rats often fed with one or no paws holding the pellet. The suppression of food intake and rate of feeding in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats was correlated with the depletion of dopamine in the lateral striatum, but not the medial striatum. These results indicate that dopamine in the striatum is involved in aspects of motor control that are necessary for efficient feeding behavior in rats.

Animals↗

Studies with chicks on the growth depressing factor(s) in faba beans (Vicia faba L. var. minor).

The growth response of broiler chicks was improved when they were fed diet containing high levels (greater than 85%) of heat treated as compared to raw faba beans. Pelleting and microwave treatment of faba beans containing 10% moisture resulted in maximal improvements in chick growth rates and feed efficiency of only 6% and 8%, respectively. Steam autoclaving (121 degrees for 20 minutes), extrusion (130 degrees or 152 degrees), or microwave treatment of faba beans containing 18% added water resulted in maximal improvements of 16% in growth rates and 19% in feed: gain ratios. the above study, a time course study of the relationship between faba beans autoclaving time anc chick growth response, and studies with individual faba bean fractions (starch isolate and protein isolate) suggests that processing improves the utilization of faba bean mainly through its effects on components associated with the protein and possibly the hull portions of faba beans. The utilization of faba bean starch is not improved with processing. Although the nature of the growth depressing factor(s) has not been established, the results from this study indicated that the major component does not appear to be a tryspin inhibitor, hemagglutinin, some other heat labile protein, or vicine.

Animals↗

Efficacy of magnesium-L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate as a vitamin C source for weanling and growing-finishing swine.

Two experiments were conducted, one with weanling pigs (n = 288) and the second with grower-finisher swine (n = 216), to evaluate the efficacy of dietary vitamin C on various performance and serum measurements. Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (46% L-ascorbic acid) served as the vitamin C source and was incorporated at dietary levels of 0, 50, or 500 ppm in both experiments. Pigs were allotted by sex, weight, and litter to randomized complete block designs. The nursery trial was conducted at four time periods and contained 12 replicates, whereas the grower-finisher experiment was over four time periods and contained nine replicates. Blood samples were collected initially from nine randomly selected pigs in both experiments, and from each pig within each pen at 2 and 5 wk postweaning, and at the 4- and 8-wk period in the grower-finisher trial. A killed Salmonella typhinurium bacterin was injected i.m. into starter pigs at 2 wk postweaning and at wk 4 and 6 in grower-finisher pigs. Hemagglutination titers were evaluated at 5 wk with the nursery pigs and at the 8-wk period with the grower-finisher swine. At the end of the grower-finisher trial, liver and kidney tissue were analyzed for ascorbate. Starter pigs grew faster (P < .05) and had improved gain:feed ratios (P < .05) when vitamin C was provided during the first 2 wk postweaning, but not during the latter 3-wk period. There was no improvement in pig gain or feed efficiency to vitamin C supplementation during any phase of the grower-finisher period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗

Nutritional value of aerobically fermented poultry manure and offal (Fermway) for broiler chicks.

The nutritional value of two samples of an aerobically fermented poultry product (Fermway) were evaluated for broiler chicks. Fermway is a combination of broiler house litter and offal from a broiler processing plant. A significant (P less than .05) growth stimulation was obtained with one sample at 8 to 16% of the diet. Feed efficiency generally improved, but the effect was not significant. Gizzard weight was also significantly increased.

Animal Feed↗