Influence of the inclusion of cooked cereals and pea starch in diets based on soy or pea protein concentrate on nutrient digestibility and performance of young pigs

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An experiment was conducted to compare different dietary vegetable sources of starch and protein on the coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD) of energy and nutrients and performance of piglets from 29 to 60 d of age. The experiment was completely randomized with 6 treatments arranged factorially with 3 sources of starch (cooked-flaked corn, cooked-flaked rice, and pea starch) and 2 sources of protein [soy protein concentrate (SPC) and pea protein concentrate (PPC)]. The pea starch and the PPC used were obtained by dehulling and grinding pea seeds to a mean particle size of 30 μm. Each treatment was replicated 6 times (6 pigs per pen). For the entire experiment, piglets fed cooked rice had greater ADG than piglets fed pea starch with piglets fed cooked corn being intermediate (471, 403, and 430 g/d, respectively). Protein source did not have any effect on piglet performance. The CATTD of DM, OM, and GE were greater for diets based on cooked rice than diets based on cooked corn with diets based on pea starch being intermediate. Crude protein digestibility was not affected by source of starch but was greater for the diets based on SPC than for diets based on PPC (0.836 vs. 0.821). Protein source did not affect the digestibility of any of the other dietary components. It is concluded that cooked rice is an energy source of choice in diets for young pigs. The inclusion of PPC in the diet reduced protein digestibility but had no effects on energy digestibility or piglet performance. Therefore, the finely ground starch and protein fractions of peas can be used in substitution of cooked corn or SPC, respectively, in diets for young pigs.

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A low-fat liquid diet increases protein accretion and alters cellular signaling for protein synthesis in 10-day-old pigs

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Previous research showed that neonatal pigs respond to decreases in energy density of liquid diets with increased feed intake, resulting in similar performance to pigs fed a more energy-dense diet. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether a high- (25%, HF) or low-fat (2%, LF) liquid diet would affect nutrient accretion rate and select proteins involved in energy homeostasis and protein synthesis in early weaned pigs. Ninety-six pigs, with an initial BW of 3,637 g, were weaned from the sow at 10 d of age and utilized in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were blocked by BW and then assigned to pens (8 pigs/pen). Diets were formulated to provide a constant AA:ME ratio and were fed for 10 d. Pigs were killed at 10, 15, and 20 d of age, at which time blood and LM were collected, and carcasses were prepared for body composition analysis. Blood was analyzed for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and NEFA. Longissimus dorsi was analyzed via western immunoblot for mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and adenosine 5′ monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. Pigs gained 347g/d, which resulted in an ending BW of 6,858g, regardless of dietary treatment. Pigs fed the LF diet consumed 25% more milk than pigs fed the HF diet (2,853 vs. 2,269 g dry feed・pen−1・d−1), which resulted in similar calculated ME intakes between dietary treatments (9.9 vs. 10.5 Mcal・pen−1・d−1). Feed conversion (G:F) was 24% greater in HF-fed compared with LF-fed pigs. Circulating NEFA (40 vs. 138 μEq/L) and PUN (3.0 vs. 17.7 mM) concentrations were less in LF pigs compared with HF pigs after 10 d of dietary treatments. Pigs consuming the LF diet had a 21% increase in protein accretion (50.5 vs. 61.2 g/d) and a 71% reduced lipid accretion rate (28.8 vs. 8.3g/d). Phosphorylation of AMPK was 29% less in LF pigs compared with HF pigs, whereas mTOR phosphorylation was increased by 37% in LF pigs. We conclude that feeding a LF liquid diet to pigs weaned from the sow at 10 d of age increases feed intake to regulate energy intake while maintaining growth performance. In addition, 10-d-old pigs consuming a liquid LF diet have increased protein deposition by a mechanism mediated through AMPK and mTOR.

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Genetic parameters for intramuscular fatty acid composition and metabolism in pigs

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The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for pork intramuscular fatty acid (FA) composition and indices for desaturase and elongase activities involved in n-3 and n-6 PUFA metabolism. The LM of 437 slaughter pigs was analyzed for FA composition (expressed as g/100 g of FA). Indices for enzyme activities were calculated from product to precursor FA ratios. Genetic parameters were estimated with single- and multi-trait animal models. The total FA content, reflecting the intramuscular fat content, was either included or not in the model. Results from the models without total FA content showed relatively high heritability estimates, generally above 0.50, for the proportion of the most important MUFA and PUFA, compared with much smaller values for the SFA. When total FA content was included in the models, heritability values decreased for most individual FA and for all sums of FA groups, except for C18:0, C18:3n-6, and C18:3n-3. Heritability estimates for the ratios C20:4n-6/C18:2n-6 and C22:6n-3/C18:3n-3, reflecting the overall conversion in the n-6 and n-3 PUFA pathway, respectively, were 0.29 and 0.35, respectively, with total FA content in the model and increased to 0.38 and 0.49, respectively, if total FA content was not in the model. Heritabilities for other more specific indices were of the same order. Genetic correlations between PUFA proportions and indices for enzyme activities with ADG were mostly negative, whereas the correlations with carcass lean meat percentage were mostly positive. It was concluded that there is meaningful genetic variation for long-chain PUFA metabolism that is only partly dependent on the carcass and muscle fat content. This may allow selection for improved FA composition of pork.

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Identification and expression analysis of connexin-45 and connexin-60 as major connexins in porcine oocytes

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During mammalian oogenesis, intercellular communication between oocytes and the surrounding follicle cells through gap junction channels is crucial for oocyte development and maturation. The channel properties of gap junctions may be affected by the composition or combination of connexins, the expression of which is regulated by gonadotropins and other factors. Thus, identification and expression analysis of connexin genes in oocytes and follicle cells will help us to better understand how oogenesis and folliculogenesis are regulated in a species-specific manner in mammals. We previously reported the spatiotemporal expression of multiple connexin genes in porcine follicle cells. Here, we searched for connexin genes specifically expressed in porcine oocytes that may be involved in the formation of gap junctions between oocytes and follicle cells. To achieve this, we constructed an oocyte-specific cDNA library to identify which connexin genes are expressed in these cells and found that gap junction protein, alpha 10, which encodes connexin-60, and a porcine ortholog of mouse gap junction protein, gamma 1 encoding connexin- 45, are the major connexins expressed in porcine oocytes during folliculogenesis. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization of sectioned porcine ovaries confirmed oocyte expression of these genes at 3 different stages of ovary development. Furthermore, their gap junction channel activity was assessed using a heterologous cell system. However, gap junction protein, alpha 4, which encodes connexin-37 and is expressed in the oocytes of several other mammals, was undetectable. We demonstrate that there is diversity in the connexin genes expressed in mammalian oocytes, and hence in the gap junctions connecting oocytes and cumulus cells.

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Comparison of dried whey permeate and a carbohydrate product in diets for nursery pigs

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Three experiments were conducted to compare dried whey permeate (DWP; 80% lactose) and a carbohydrate product (CHO; 40% lactose, 30% sucrose, and 10% glucose) for nursery pigs. Pigs were fed in a 3-phase feeding program, and diets contained 1.6, 1.4, and 1.2% total Lys for phases 1 (d 0 to 7), 2 (d 7 to 21), and 3 (21 to 28). Dietary treatments included 1) control (no lactose), 2) low level of DWP, 3) high level of DWP, 4) low level of CHO, and 5) high level of CHO. In Exp. 1 (4 reps of 4 pigs per pen; initial BW = 7 kg and 23 d of age), the low and high levels used for each source in each phase were phase 1 (12.5 and 25%), phase 2 (10 and 20%), and phase 3 (6 and 12%). In Exp. 2 (6 reps of 5 pigs per pen; initial BW = 8 kg and 26 d of age) and 3 (4 reps of 4 pigs per pen; initial BW = 6 kg and 21 d of age), the inclusion levels were phase 1 (6 and 12%), phase 2 (3 and 6%), and phase 3 (common diet with no lactose). In Exp. 1, pigs fed diets with DWP or CHO had increased ADG and ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diet during phase 1. Gain:feed was reduced for pigs fed diets with CHO. During phases 2, 3, and overall, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by diet. In Exp. 2, pigs fed diets with CHO had increased ADG and ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diet during phases 1 and 2. Pigs fed diets with CHO had increased ADFI in phases 1 and 2 and increased ADG in phase 2 compared with pigs fed diets with DWP. Overall, pigs fed diets with DWP and CHO had increased ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diet, but ADG was increased for pigs fed diets with CHO. In Exp. 3, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by DWP or CHO during phase 1. Daily BW gain was increased for pigs fed diets with DWP or CHO during phase 2 compared with pigs fed the control diet. Overall, ADG was increased for pigs fed diets with DWP, but ADFI and G:F were not affected. Results from the combined data of Exp. 2 and 3, indicated that overall ADG and ADFI were increased in pigs fed diets with DWP or CHO compared with pigs fed the control diet. These data suggest that DWP or CHO improve growth performance of weanling pigs.

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Effect of milk chocolate product on week-1 feed intake and growth performance of weanling pigs

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Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of dried whey (DW; 70% lactose) or milk chocolate product (MCP; 20% lactose and 60% sugars) on wk-1 feed intake and growth performance of pigs. Diets contained 1.60, 1.40, 1.40, and 1.20% total Lys for phase 1 (d 0 to 7), 2 (d 7 to 14), 3 (d 14 to 21), and 4 (d 21 to 35), respectively. Pigs were blocked by initial BW; sex and littermates were balanced across treatment; treatments were replicated with a minimum of 5 pens of 4 pigs each. Pigs were weaned at 24, 19, and 24 d of age with an initial BW of 6.5, 6.0, or 6.3 kg for Exp. 1 to 3, respectively. In Exp. 1 and 2, the treatments were 1) negative control (NC), no lactose added, 2) positive control (PC) with DW, 3) 25% replacement of the level of DW of the PC diet with MCP (25MCP), and 4) 50% replacement of the level of DW of the PC diet with MCP (50MCP). The level of DW or combinations of DW and MCP were 20, 10, and 5% for phases 1, 2, and 3 respectively. A common diet with no lactose was fed during phase 4. In Exp. 3, the treatments were 1) NC, 2) PC, and 3) 100% replacement of the level of DW of the PC diet with MCP (100MCP). In the combined data of Exp. 1 and 2, daily collected feed intake during wk 1 was increased from d 3 to 7 for the PC pigs; on d 2, 3, 4, and 7 for the 25MCP pigs; and from d 2 to 7 for the 50MCP pigs compared with the NC pigs. There was no difference on any day of wk 1 among pigs fed the PC and MCP diets. During phase 1, ADG and ADFI were increased for the PC, 25MCP, and 50MCP pigs compared with the NC pigs, but G:F was not affected. During phases 2, 3, 4, and overall, there were no differences in growth performance among pigs fed the PC and MCP diets. In Exp. 3, collected daily feed intake during wk 1 was increased from d 2 to 5 for PC pigs and on d 1 and 2 for the 100MCP pigs compared with the NC pigs. However, there was no difference on any day of wk 1 between the PC and 100MCP pigs. Growth performance was not affected during any phase of the experiment. Combined data from Exp. 1, 2, and 3 using the NC and PC diets indicated that dietary DW increased final BW and increased ADG and ADFI during phases 1, 2, 3, and overall. These results indicate that partial or total replacement of DW with MCP had no effect on wk-1 feed intake or growth performance of weanling pigs and that MCP could be considered as a formulation alternative to DW.

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Reduced feed intake of lactating primiparous sows is associated with increased insulin resistance during the peripartum period and is not modified through supplementation with dietary tryptophan

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The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether insulin resistance is related to the dietary concentration of Trp and the ADFI of primiparous sows having similar body conditions. Twenty-four primiparous sows were catheterized on d 97 of pregnancy. Blood samples were collected during 3 tests: after the ingestion of 1.5 kg of feed (meal test), after the intravenous infusion of 0.5 g of glucose/kg of BW (glucose tolerance test), and during an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp with an infusion rate of 100 ng of insulin・kg of BW−1・min−1. Both tests were performed at 4 stages at approximately d 103 and 110 of pregnancy and at d 3 and 10 of lactation. Sows were fed a diet containing 0.16 or 0.26% of total Trp (suboptimal vs. slight excessive Trp supply according to recommendations for lactating sows) from d 104 of pregnancy after the first clamp until weaning. The dietary treatment did not result in differences in ADFI, BW, and backfat changes, and growth of piglets during lactation. Plasma Trp concentration was greater for the sows allocated to the slight excessive Trp diet than for the sows allocated to the suboptimal Trp diet. Plasma glucose, NEFA, and urea profiles during the meal tests were not affected by the dietary treatment. At d 3 of lactation, the insulin concentration at 105 and 120 min after meal intake was less for the sows allocated to the slight excessive Trp diet than for the sows allocated to the suboptimal Trp diet. On d 10 of lactation, the glucose half life and the time needed to reach 25% of the area under the insulin curve during the tolerance test were less for the sows allocated to the slight excessive Trp diet than for the sows allocated to the suboptimal Trp diet. The glucose infusion rate during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps was similar in the 2 Trp groups of sows. Irrespective of the dietary treatment, the ADFI of the sows was negatively related to the glucose half life during the glucose tolerance test and positively related to the glucose infusion rate during the clamp. This relationship observed with the tests performed during early lactation was already found with the tests performed during late pregnancy. Present findings indicate that a dietary Trp supply of 0.26% does not increase feed intake in lactating primiparous sows. This result indicates that the interest in a Trp supplementation during the peripartum period can be questioned. Irrespective of the dietary treatment, the reasons why sows with similar rearing conditions develop different rates of insulin resistance during pregnancy remain to be elucidated.

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Ileal microbiota of growing pigs fed different dietary calcium phosphate levels and phytase content and subjected to ileal pectin infusion

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Two experiments with growing pigs were conducted to determine the effects of dietary P and Ca levels, phytase supplementation, and ileal pectin infusion on changes in bacterial populations in the ileum and on ileal and fecal fermentation patterns. Growing pigs (BW 30.1 kg) were fitted with simple T-cannulas at the distal ileum and were fed a low-P corn-soybean meal control diet (3 g of P/kg), or the control diet supplemented with either 15 g of monocalcium phosphate (MCP)/kg (Exp. 1) or 1,000 phytase units of phytase/kg (Exp. 2). Daily infusion treatments consisted of either 60 g of pectin dissolved in 1.8 L of demineralized water or 1.8 L of demineralized water as a control infusion, infused via the ileal cannula. In each experiment, 8 barrows were assigned to 4 dietary treatments according to a double incomplete 4 × 2 Latin square design. The dietary treatments in Exp. 1 were the control diet with water infusion, the control diet with pectin infusion, the MCP diet with water infusion, or the MCP diet with pectin infusion. In Exp. 2, the pigs received the same control treatments as in Exp. 1 and the phytase diet in combination with water or pectin infusion. Gene copy numbers of total bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus amylovorus/Lactobacillus sobrius, Lactobacillus mucosae, Enterococcus spp., Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, bifidobacteria, the Clostridium coccoides cluster, the Clostridium leptum cluster, the Bacteroides- Prevotella-Porphyrmonas group, and Enterobacteriaceae were determined by quantitative PCR in DNA extracts of ileal digesta. In Exp. 1, addition of MCP reduced ileal gene copy numbers of Enterococcus spp., E. faecium, and the C. leptum cluster, whereas pectin infusion enhanced ileal d-lactate concentration. In Exp. 2, supplemental phytase led to greater ileal gene copy numbers of the C. coccoides and C. leptum clusters and the Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyrmonas group, whereas it reduced fecal n-butyrate concentration. Pectin infusion reduced ileal gene copy number of the C. leptum cluster. In conclusion, ileal bacterial populations and fermentation patterns are susceptible to changes in the intestinal availability of Ca and P as well as to the supply of pectin as a fermentable substrate. Greater intestinal Ca availability decreased the numbers of some grampositive bacteria, whereas greater P availability in the small intestine caused by phytase activity enhanced the growth of strictly anaerobic bacteria.

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Bacterial fermentation affects net mineral flux in the large intestine of pigs fed diets with viscous and fermentable nonstarch polysaccharides

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The impact of colonic fermentation on postileal absorption of Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn was investigated in 8 ileally cannulated grower pigs (initial BW = 29.1 kg) according to a double 4 × 4 Latin square. A semi-purified diet was supplemented with 5.20% low viscous, low fermentable cellulose (CEL), 6.25% high viscous, low fermentable carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), 8.95% low viscous, high fermentable oat β-glucan (LG), or 9.25% high viscous, high fermentable oat β-glucan (HG), resulting in 5% actual added nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) in the diets. Because of the intrinsic mineral content in LG and HG, pigs receiving the LG and HG diets had a greater daily intake of Mg, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, and also Ca for the HG diet compared with the CEL and CMC diets. Different amounts of minerals reached the large intestine for the 4 diets as indicated by the 60 to 86% less ileal flow of Ca, Mg, P, and Fe for CMC compared with CEL and HG. Apparent mineral retention was generally less for CEL compared with CMC. Regression analyses indicated that postileal flux of Ca, Cu, and Zn were relate

(R2 = 0.24 to 0.99) to short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in feces. Postileal Ca absorption was negatively related (R2 = 0.24) to fecal total SCFA concentrations when SCFA concentrations were greater than 95.6 mmol/kg of DM. Furthermore, postileal Zn (R2 = 0.99) and Cu secretion (R2 = 0.94) decreased with increasing total SCFA concentrations in feces. Additionally, postileal secretion of Fe increased (R2 = 0.20) with increasing 16S rRNA gene copies of Enterobacteriaceae in feces, whereas the secretion of Cu decreased (R2 = 0.25) with increasing gene copies of Enterobacteriaceae. Overall, the apparent retention of Ca, Mg, and P was 27 to 85% less for CEL and HG than for CMC, whereas the apparent retention of Fe, Mn, and Zn was less for CEL than for CMC, LG, and HG. In conclusion, these data indicate that the stimulation of fermentation by dietary NSP affects net mineral flux in the large intestine that, in turn, can influence mineral excretion in feces. Additionally, negative effect of CEL on apparent retention may increase the daily requirement for minerals of grower pigs.

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Influence of probiotics in different energy and nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and blood characteristics in growing-finishing pigs

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The study was conducted to determine the effects of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis endospore and Clostridium butyricum endospore complex) supplementation and different energy and nutrient densities on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 96 pigs with initial BW of 47.50 kg were used in a 10-wk experiment. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 levels of energy and nutrient density (low and high energy, CP, and Lys) and 0.2% probiotics according to their sex and BW (6 pens, with 2 gilts and 2 barrows/pen). From 0 to 5 wk, ADG and G:F, as well as the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of N and energy, were improved in the probiotic groups and in the high-energy and high-nutrient-density groups. From 6 to 10 wk, ADG and G:F, as well as the ATTD of DM, N, and energy, were increased when pigs were fed the high-energy and high-nutrient- density diets. Pigs fed the probiotic supplement or the high-energy and high-nutrient-density diets had increased ADG and G:F overall. Moreover, pigs fed the high-energy and high-nutrient-density diets had increased meat color scores, marbling scores, drip loss values, pH, and LM area compared with those fed the low-energy and low nutrient- density diets, whereas the probiotic treatment groups had increased meat color scores, marbling scores, and redness values. The lightness and yellowness values in the low-energy and low-nutrient density dietary treatments were greater than those in the high-energy and high-nutrient-density dietary treatments. Interactive effects of dietary energy and nutrient density and probiotics were also observed on the digestibility of N at wk 10 and energy at wk 5, as well as on meat firmness at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of probiotics increased growth performance throughout the experiment and exerted beneficial effects on ATTD. Meat quality was improved when pigs were fed high energy and high-nutrient-density diets.

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