Publications by authors named "Merce Farre"

This study investigated the effects of xylanase and stimbiotic (fiber fermentation enhancer) on the response of broiler chickens fed different corn varieties and determine correlations between variables of interest. Four corn genetic varieties were selected based on their range in nutrient composition. Diets containing 600 g/kg of each corn were supplemented with 0 or 100 g/ton of xylanase or stimbiotic.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study estimates repeatability and a new non-parametric method for assessing feeding behavior in group-housed pigs over six 14-day periods.
  • The analysis was conducted on two trials with pigs fed different forms of the same diet, revealing that average daily feed intake exhibited low repeatability and declined as pigs matured.
  • The new maintenance approach provides valuable insights into individual feeding behavior over time, complementing traditional repeatability metrics.
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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of porcine digestible peptides (PDP), spray-dried plasma (SDP), or a combination of both, on growth performance and the expression of genes related to intestinal function of weaned pigs. A total of 180 piglets (trial 1) and 198 piglets (trial 2) were used to evaluate the partial substitution of soybean ingredients with 2% SDP or 2% PDP (trial 1), and with 3% SDP or the combination of 1% SDP and 2% PDP (SDP-PDP; trial 2) during the pre-starter period (0-14 days). The gene expression of 56 genes was quantified in a qPCR platform in jejunum and ileum samples obtained from piglets 14 d after weaning (trial 2).

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The main goals of this study were to determine whether boars and gilts respond differently to the standardized ileal digestible lysine to net energy ratio (SID Lys:NE) and model the response to optimize growth performance. A total of 780 finishing pigs, 390 boars and 390 gilts [Pietrain NN × (Landrace × Large White)], with an initial individual body weight of 70.4 ± 9.

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The aim of this observational study is to identify risk factors associated with body weight (BW) variability in three data sets () in commercial conditions. A total of 1,009 (DS1), 460 (DS2), and 1304 (DS3) male and female crossbreed pigs (Pietrain × [Landrace × Large White]), respectively, were included in each trial. Pigs were periodically weighed until slaughter.

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Donor-derived bacterial infection is a recognized complication of solid organ transplantation. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit are increasingly exposed to infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms. However, no specific recommendations are available about their suitability as donors.

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Introduction: Liver dysfunction associated with artificial nutrition in critically ill patients is a complication that seems to be frequent, but it has not been assessed previously in a large cohort of critically ill patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of incidence in 40 intensive care units. Different liver dysfunction patterns were defined: (a) cholestasis: alkaline phosphatase of more than 280 IU/l, gamma-glutamyl-transferase of more than 50 IU/l, or bilirubin of more than 1.

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