Considerations on amino acid patterns in the natural felid diet: a review.

Amino acids are essential for the growth, development, and reproduction of carnivores. This literature review summarizes the amino acid patterns of different raw diets including whole prey, body tissue and muscle for felids under human care. In general, natural prey (and its parts) meet the minimum essential amino acid requirements outlined by the National Research Council for adult cats.

Effects of Supplementing Different Quantities of Moringa stenopetala Leaves on Plasma Metabolite and Acylcarnitine Profile, Body Condition Score and Milk Yield Performance in Zebu (Bos indicus) Cattle.

The formulation of multi-nutrient blocks based on low-cost and locally available browse feed resources can be a valid feeding strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa, where inadequate feed supply, both in quality and quantity, is a major constraint. We evaluated the four different inclusion percentages (M-0%, M-25%, M-35% and M-45%) of Moringa stenopetala leaf powder to multi-nutrient blocks on their change on blood metabolite of dairy cows under practical, ranging conditions. Multi-nutrient blocks with four inclusion rates of M.

On the function and origin of the avian renal portal shunt and its potential significance throughout evolution.

All birds possess a unique venous architecture surrounding the kidneys known as the renal portal system. In veterinary medicine, this system is well known for causing a first-pass effect when medication is administered parenterally via the leg veins, that is venous blood from the leg is filtered before entering general circulation, thus possibly compromising adequate dosage. Additionally, bilateral valves are present in these veins, and it has been hypothesized that they play a crucial role in regulating flow through the kidneys to protect them against increases in blood pressure.

Protein quality of a small mammal prey and its body organs for felids.

This study evaluated the protein quality of small mammalian prey and its body organs by analyzing amino acid (AA) composition and digestibility of wild adult rats and their body organs (skin/fur, bone, muscle, intestine, liver, kidney, spleen, brain, heart, and lung) utilizing an in vitro digestion method. The average dry matter (DM) digestibility of whole rats was 89.9%.

Impact of brining and drying processes on the nutritive value of tambaqui fish (Colossoma macropomum).

Preservation of fish as diet ingredient is challenging in many tropical regions due to poor socioeconomic conditions and lack of freezing facilities. So, alternative preservation techniques could be viable to address the issue. The present study evaluated the effect of brine salting (15% w/v) prior to drying at different temperatures on the nutrient profiles of tambaqui fish (Colossoma macropomum).

An overview of nutritional factors in the aetiopathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis in great apes.

The main cause of mortality in great apes in zoological settings is cardiovascular disease (CVD), affecting all four taxa: chimpanzee (), bonobo (), gorilla ( spp.) and orangutan ( spp.).

Getting clues from nature: the impact of grass hay on suckling piglets' gastrointestinal growth and colonic microbiota.

Introduction: The effect of dietary fiber on pig production has been extensively evaluated. Inspired by observations of the diet of wild, young piglets, this study aimed to examine the possibility of feeding grass hay to suckling piglets besides concentrated creep feed.

Methods: The sow-nursed piglets in this study were divided into two groups based on balanced sow parities.

Chestnut Wood Tannins in Broiler Diets: Pharmacokinetics, Serum Levels during Rearing, and Intestinal Absorption Pattern of Gallic Acid.

Studies on the bioavailability, serum levels, and absorption of hydrolyzable tannin compounds are lacking. In this study, we performed a pharmacokinetic trial, measured the serum levels of compounds in broilers that were reared with different feed added or not with tannins, and tested the digestibility of tannins throughout the intestinal tract. Only gallic acid and 4--methyl gallic acid were found in the serum.

Urolithiasis Problems in Finishing Pigs.

This paper describes cases of urolithiasis in fattening pigs on two farms (A and B). Bladder rupture due to urethral obstruction with calculi was the principal finding during the necropsy of the pigs. An in-depth diagnostic examination was performed to elucidate possible pathophysiological mechanisms, namely Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR) analysis of the uroliths, blood analysis (farm A: 5 samples, farm B: 10 samples) for assessing concentrations of minerals, the bone resorption marker cross-linked C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D components, biochemical urinalysis (farm A: 5 samples, farm B: 7 samples), microscopic examination of urinary sediment (Farms A and B: 7 samples each), mineral composition of the feed, and analysis of the drinking water.

Exploring fibrous ingredients for fish: The case of feeding sugar beet pulp to tambaquí ().

For a long time, co-products of food processing have been used in animal feed, but far less in fish because of their assumed inability to cope with high-fiber diets. Research on feeding co-products to fish species that naturally consume fibrous diets are yet lacking. We here evaluated the impact of sugar beet pulp in the diet of tambaquí on nutrient metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and intestinal histomorphometry.

Effects of genotype and environment on forage yield, nutritive value and morphology of lablab (L.) sweet).

The goal of the study is to determine the effect of genotype and environment on forage yield, forage nutritive value and to determine the relation between morphology and forage yield and nutritive value of lablab. Thirteen genotypes (one local and 12 improved) were replicated 3 times in a randomized complete block trial across three locations in Ethiopian lowlands namely, Bechi, Kite and Tepi. All forage samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) using a combination of conventional nutritional analyses and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

Biophysical models accurately characterize the thermal energetics of a small invasive passerine bird.

Effective management of invasive species requires accurate predictions of their invasion potential in different environments. By considering species' physiological tolerances and requirements, biophysical mechanistic models can potentially deliver accurate predictions of where introduced species are likely to establish. Here, we evaluate biophysical model predictions of energy use by comparing them to experimentally obtained energy expenditure (EE) and thermoneutral zones (TNZs) for the common waxbill , a small-bodied avian invader.

Relationship between piglets' survivability and farrowing kinetics in hyper-prolific sows.

Background: Prolonged farrowing and more piglets born with low birth weight are undesirable consequences of genetic selection for increased litter size. The objective of the present observational study was to evaluate the relationship between piglets' survivability and farrowing kinetics in hyperprolific sows. A total of 58 sows of different parities and 1190 piglets were included.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Creep Feeding Effects on Piglet Pre- and Post-Weaning Performance.

In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the effects of providing piglets with creep feed during lactation on piglet pre- and post-weaning performance. A total of 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Creep feeding in lactation improved pre-weaning piglet performance in 46% of the studies selected, while 58% of the included studies reported that creep feeding in lactation improved piglet performance during the nursery phase.

Nutrient intake and its possible drivers in free-ranging European brown bears ().

The dietary nutrient profile has metabolic significance and possibly contributes to species' foraging behavior. The brown bear () was used as a model species for which dietary ingredient and nutrient concentrations as well as nutrient ratios were determined annually, seasonally and per reproductive class. Brown bears had a vertebrate- and ant-dominated diet in spring and early summer and a berry-dominated diet in fall, which translated into protein-rich and carbohydrate-rich diets, respectively.

Detailed whole-body nutrient analysis identifies differences in feeding ecology between related fish species: The case of Orestias native Andean killifish in Lake Titicaca.

Body nutrient profiles in ecological studies allow for relating the nutritional status of consumers and their effects on the movement and retention of elements in ecosystems, as well as reflecting feeding conditions and habitat quality. This study compared the detailed whole-body nutrient composition (macronutrients, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids) of two omnivorous natives Orestias killifish from Lake Titicaca (Orestias agassizii and Orestias luteus, Valenciennes), the largest lake in the Andes, as an indirect tool to understand differences in their feeding ecology. Although both species are usually described as omnivorous fish, both have amphipods (Hyalella spp) as their main food source.

Peculiarities in the Amino Acid Composition of Sow Colostrum and Milk, and Their Potential Relevance to Piglet Development.

The composition of mother's milk is considered the ideal diet for neonates. This study investigated how conserved or variable the amino acid profile of sow colostrum and milk is throughout lactation, compared with other studies in sows and other species. Twenty-five sows (parity one to seven) from one farm with gestation lengths of 114 to 116 d were sampled on d 0, 3, and 10 after parturition.

Supplementing oat hulls to the diet of suckling piglets altered their intestinal tract and colonic microbiota development.

Current study evaluated the effect of a fine and coarsely ground insoluble dietary fibre source on the gastrointestinal development of suckling pigs. Oat hulls (OH) were selected as a model feedstuff, rich in cellulose, lignin, and insoluble dietary fibre. Three experimental supplemental diets were formulated: a finely ground, low fibre and nutrient dense diet served as control (CON).

DIGESTIVE AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAPPET-FACED VULTURES () AND GRIFFON VULTURES () EX SITU.

Appropriate diets for ex situ wildlife are essential for animal health and welfare and yet ex situ facilities are often constrained by feed ingredient availability when attempting to replicate natural diets. In obligate carnivores such as vultures, digestive strategies are likely to have evolved alongside feeding behaviors, which may differ between even sympatric species. To begin to understand the digestive strategies of two Old World vulture species (lappet-faced vulture , = 3, and griffon vulture , = 4) of similar body size but divergent feeding habits, their feeding and digestion strategies on a diet of whole rats were compared.

To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective.

Pangolins are one of the world's most trafficked mammals. Since pangolins are highly adapted to ants and termites, they are important for controlling forest termite infestations. In addition to their ecological value, pangolins have economic and medicinal value.

Evidence of microplastics in water and commercial fish from a high-altitude mountain lake (Lake Titicaca).

Microplastic pollution is a widespread environmental concern. Like other anthropogenic pollutants, microplastics can reach aquatic ecosystems through rivers and interact with the aquatic biota. For instance, Lake Titicaca (between Bolivia and Peru), one of the great ancient lakes in South America (3,809 m a.

Amelioration of ammonia-induced intestinal oxidative stress by dietary Clostridium butyricum in giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).

The use of Clostridium butyricum in crustacean aquaculture for anti-abiotic stress is yet unknown. Feeds were formulated containing 0, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg Clostridium butyricum (2 × 10 CFU/g), respectively. The giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were fed for 8 weeks in triplicate.

Effect of Feed Supplementation with Tripotassium Citrate or Sodium Chloride on the Development of Urinary Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Fattening Pigs.

The present study investigated whether dietary supplementation of tripotassium citrate or NaCl reduced the prevalence of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) uroliths in fattening pigs on a farm with a high prevalence of COD uroliths. Each group (control, TPC, NaCl) consisted of three batches of approximately 260 fattening pigs each. Performance, water intake, markers for bone resorption (CTX) and bone formation (osteocalcin) and urinalysis from samples taken at the farm and in the slaughterhouse were investigated.

Does feeding more phases reduce ammonia concentrations from broiler litter?

We compared a 3- and 5-phase feeding program in terms of ammonia concentrations measured at litter level, litter composition and quality, nitrogen (N) utilization, performance, welfare, and meat deposition in broilers. A total of 744 Ross 308 male broilers was divided into 2 treatments, each with 6 replicates. The 3-phase diets were formulated to CP and digestible lysine contents of 205 and 11.