Effect of dietary organic and inorganic micromineral source and level on sow body, liver, colostrum, mature milk, and progeny mineral compositions over six parities.

A sow study evaluated the effects of 2 dietary micromineral sources (organic or inorganic) and 3 dietary mineral levels [NRC, industry (IND), and IND + Ca:P] with selected sows killed at parities 1, 2, 4, and 6. Three sows per treatment group were killed at weaning (total = 68), and their body and liver, 72 colostrum and milk samples (17 d), 69 full-term stillborn pigs and their livers, and 32 pigs at weaning were analyzed for minerals. Tissue and milk samples from the sows were analyzed as a 2 x 3 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replicates per treatment.

Dietary protein concentration affects intestinal microbiota of adult cats: a study using DGGE and qPCR to evaluate differences in microbial populations in the feline gastrointestinal tract.

The objective of this study was to identify qualitative and quantitative differences in microbial populations of adult cats fed diets containing different protein concentrations. Following a 4 week baseline period, eight healthy adult domestic short-hair queens (>1-year-old) were randomly allotted to a moderate-protein (MP; n = 4) or high-protein (HP; n = 4) diet for 8 weeks. Fresh faecal samples were collected after baseline and 8 weeks on treatment and stored at -80 degrees C.

Gastrointestinal absorption and metabolism of soy isoflavonoids in ileal-canulated swine.

The relative contribution of the small intestine to absorption and microbial metabolism of ingested isoflavonoids (IFN) was investigated in swine with canulae in distal ilea to facilitate collection of chyme (canula open). Weaned swine were fed a single meal containing ground roasted soybean and corn with canulae open followed by a second test soy diet at 48 h with canulae closed to allow passage of chyme into the large intestine. All remaining feedings were soy-free (corn-casein diet).

A novel resistant maltodextrin alters gastrointestinal tolerance factors, fecal characteristics, and fecal microbiota in healthy adult humans.

Objective: Resistant maltodextrin has been shown to increase fecal bulk by resisting digestion and being partially fermented by colonic bacteria to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The objective of this experiment was to determine potential prebiotic effects, gastrointestinal tolerance, and fecal characteristics of free-living humans fed a novel resistant maltodextrin or a normal maltodextrin control.

Methods: Subjects (n = 38) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind study where they were assigned to one of three daily treatments: 15 g maltodextrin; 7.

Fish protein substrates can substitute effectively for poultry by-product meal when incorporated in high-quality senior dog diets.

An experiment was conducted to analytically define several novel fish substrates and determine the effects of feeding diets containing these substrates on total tract nutrient digestibilities and on immune status of senior dogs. The control diet contained poultry by-product meal while test diets contained 20% milt meal (MM), pink salmon hydrolysate (PSH) and white fish meal (WFM) added at the expense of poultry by-product meal. Concentrations of lymphocytes positive for CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD21 cell-surface markers and immunoglobulin concentrations were measured.