Effect of dietary calcium and vitamin D supplements on plasma bone turnover biomarkers, bone mineralization, bone strength, and lameness score in gilts.

This study investigated the impact of calcium (Ca) and vitamin D supplements on bone metabolism, bone measurement, lameness, and selection rate in gilts fed 5 dietary treatments. Two Ca levels (6.85/6.

The effect of the fat to starch ratio in young horses' diet on plasma metabolites, muscle endurance and fear responses.

High-starch diets may affect equine hindgut microbiota and increase blood glucose levels, which may cause unwanted physiological changes, but may also elicit behavioural changes such as increased fear reactions. The purpose of the current study was to feed a high starch (300) and low fat (43; HS_LF) or a low starch (60) and high fat (85; LS_HF, g/kg of DM) concentrate within the available commercial range and investigate how muscle endurance and fear reactions of horses respond to different diets. Twenty Danish Warmblood stallions (4 years) were randomly allocated to two treatments: LS_HF (n = 10) and HS_LF (n = 10) for 9 weeks.

Redox balance and immunity of piglets pre- and post-E. coli challenge after treatment with hemp or fish oil, and vitamin E.

This study investigated the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acid composition and vitamin E supplementation on oxidative status and immune responses in weanling piglets pre- and post-E. coli challenge. Suckling piglets (n = 24) were randomly selected from two litters for an oral supplementation (1 mL/day) with fish oil or hemp oil and vitamin E supplementation (60 mg natural vitamin E/mL oil) from day 10 to 28 of age.

A high fat to vitamin E ratio in the feed protects and improves uptake of the natural form of vitamin E in postweaning calves.

In postweaning calves, it is a challenge to maintain the plasma vitamin E level at or above the recommended level (3 µg/mL), which is linked to a good immune response. It has been unclear until now why the provision of solid feed with concentrations below 200 mg/kg feed of vitamin E is ineffective in maintaining the plasma vitamin E level of calves above the recommended plasma level postweaning. The present study was conducted to investigate if a high fat to vitamin E ratio in the concentrate could protect and improve the delivery of the natural form of vitamin E (RRR-α-tocopherol) to calves postweaning.

Determining Optimal Nonlinear Regression Models for Studying the Kinetics of Fatty Acid Ruminal Biohydrogenation In Vitro.

The accurate estimation of in vitro ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) kinetics of fatty acids (FA) allows for a more accurate understanding of their dynamics and develop targeted strategies to enhance desirable FA bypass. This study comprises a comprehensive evaluation of 33 nonlinear regression models to determine the most suitable model for accurately estimating the in vitro BH kinetics of individual FA. The data set utilized in the present research originates from a recent investigation on the effects of micronization and vitamin E on the in vitro ruminal BH of rapeseed.

The composition and nutritional quality of biorefined lucerne protein depend on precipitation method.

Background: Lucerne protein extract is a novel high-quality protein source with excellent amino acid (AA) composition of interest for human consumption. In this study, protein from screw-pressed lucerne juice was extracted by different precipitation methods to evaluate the effect on the chemical composition and nutritional quality of the extracted protein. Methods based on heat, acidification or fermentation were used for protein precipitation, and the nutritional value of protein was evaluated in a rat digestibility trial.

Formation of -α-tocopherol in rumen and intestinal digestibility of tocopherols in dairy cows.

Tocopherol sources in diets are often a combination of -α-tocopheryl acetate (synthetic α-tocopherol) from vitamin supplements and natural tocopherols and 2R-(4'R, 8'R)-5,7,8-trimethyltocotrienol (α-tocotrienols) from the feed sources. Synthetic α-tocopherol consists of 8 different stereoisomers including 2R-(4'R, 8'R)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), 2R-(4'S, 8'R)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), 2R-(4'R, 8'S)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), 2R-(4'S, 8'S)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), 2S-(4'S, 8'S)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), 2S-(4'R, 8'S)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), 2S-(4'S, 8'R)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol), and 2S-(4'R, 8'R)-5,7,8-trimethyltocol (-α-tocopherol). The pre-absorption metabolism of tocopherols and tocotrienols in ruminants differs from monogastric animals due to the extensive microbial fermentation in the anaerobic rumen.

The effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on fetal growth, piglet birth weight and plasma fatty acid concentrations, using docosahexaenoic acid in early gestation in sows.

The objective of the study was to test the effect of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on fetal and placental development as well as the birth weight of piglets. A total of 238 multiparous sows were allocated to either a control diet group or a DHA diet group with an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 9.8 and 2.

Supplementation of palmitoleic acid improved piglet growth and reduced body temperature drop upon cold exposure.

Piglet survival is a major challenge in the first few days postpartum and interventions during this period may improve survival and growth. This study investigated the effects of palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7; PA) supplementation on growth performance, body temperature, fatty acid (FA), and energy metabolism in milk-replacer-fed piglets. Forty-eight piglets were stratified by body weight and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% PA supplementation as a percent of milk replacer) and given the diet through an orogastric tube.

Effect of reduced-calcium and high-calcium cheddar cheese consumption on the excretion of faecal fat: a 2-week cross-over dietary intervention study.

Purpose: Studies show that dairy fat consumed in the form of cheese reduce LDL-cholesterol concentration (LDL-c) compared to butter and mechanistic suggestions include the calcium content of cheese leading to enhanced faecal fat excretion. The aim of this study was to test the effect of varying the calcium content within a cheese, on faecal fat excretion as a primary outcome, and blood lipid markers, fasting glucose and calcium excretion as secondary outcomes.

Methods: 7 healthy males (BMI 18-25) participated in this randomized, cross-over control intervention, of 3 × 2 week periods.

Natural Vitamin E Supplementation during Pregnancy in Rats Increases RRR-α-Tocopherol Stereoisomer Proportion and Enhances Fetal Antioxidant Capacity, Compared to Synthetic Vitamin E Administration.

Introduction: Low dietary intake of vitamin E is a global public health issue. RRR-α-tocopherol (RRR-αT) is the only naturally occurring vitamin E stereoisomer, but the equimolecular mixture of all eight stereoisomers, synthetic vitamin E (S-αT), is commonly consumed. The objective of this study was to evaluate bioavailability and antioxidant activity of RRR-αT versus S-αT, in both mother and fetus, after maternal supplementation during pregnancy.

Nutritional values of forage-legume-based silages and protein concentrates for growing pigs.

In organic pig production systems, one of the main challenges is to meet the demand for resources rich in protein. Among the resources available, temperate green plants, such as forage legumes, are potential sources of energy and protein. The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional value of silages (S) from the whole plant of lucerne (L) and red clover (R) and protein pastes (PPs) obtained from L and R leaves.

Effects of 8 Weeks with Embodied Learning on 5-6-Year-Old Danish Children's Pre-reading Skills and Word Reading Skills: the PLAYMORE Project, DK.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of embodied learning on children's pre-reading and word reading skills. We conducted a three-armed randomized controlled trial including two intervention groups and one control group. One hundred forty-nine children from grade 0 (5-6 years old) who had just started school were recruited from 10 different classes from four elementary schools.

Biorefinery of Green Biomass─How to Extract and Evaluate High Quality Leaf Protein for Food?

There is a growing need for protein for both feed and food in order to meet future demands. It is imperative to explore and utilize novel protein sources such as protein from leafy plant material, which contains high amounts of the enzyme ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo). Leafy crops such as grasses and legumes can in humid climate produce high protein yields in a sustainable way when compared with many traditional seed protein crops.

Effects of dairy and plant protein on growth and growth biomarkers in a piglet model.

The increasing world population with improved living conditions has increased the demand for food protein. This has intensified the search for sustainable alternative plant-derived high-quality protein sources for human nutrition. To study the effect of plant and milk proteins on growth in weaned pigs as a model for humans, 96 weaned pigs were divided into 48 pens and fed one of 4 different diets for 3 weeks.

Linking Protein Quality in Biorefinery Output to Forage Crop Crude Protein Input via the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System.

The biorefinery technology aiming at protein extraction is rising and identification of suitable plant biomass input with valuable protein compounds for extraction is needed. Forage crops have been evaluated by the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), and the result used as proxy of extractable protein in a biorefinery process. This serves as a helpful link between crop production and refinery output; however, the method has never been validated.

Absorption of α-tocopheryl acetate is limited in mink kits (Mustela vison) during weaning.

Bioavailability of α-tocopherol varies with source, dose and duration of supplementation. The effect of source and dose of α-tocopherol on response of α-tocopherol stereoisomers in plasma and tissues of mink kits during the weaning period was studied. Twelve mink kits were euthanised in CO at the beginning of the experiment, and 156 mink kits (12 replicates per treatment group) were randomly assigned to thirteen treatment groups: no added α-tocopherol in the feed (0 dose) or four different doses (50, 75, 100 and 150 mg/kg of diet) of RRR-α-tocopherol (ALC), RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate (ACT) or all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate (SYN).

Changes in long-chain fatty acid composition of milk fat globule membrane and expression of mammary lipogenic genes in dairy cows fed sunflower seeds and rumen-protected choline.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of crushed high oleic sunflower seeds (HOS) and rumen-protected choline (RPC) on the fatty acid (FA) profile of phospholipids and sphingomyelin and mammary transcription of genes that are important for milk fat synthesis and de novo synthesis of sphingolipids. Twenty-four cows were divided into four groups that either received an unsupplemented diet (Control), the Control diet supplemented with 50 g RPC per day, a diet supplemented with HOS at 10% of dry matter, or RPC and HOS in combination (RPC + HOS). RPC supplementation had no effect on the FA composition of milk or sphingomyelin.

Robust and highly sensitive micro liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for analyses of polar pesticides (glyphosate, aminomethylphosfonic acid, N-acetyl glyphosate and N-acetyl aminomethylphosfonic acid) in multiple biological matrices.

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide in agriculture. To monitor glyphosate exposure, analytical methods have to fulfill requirements with regard to sensitivity, reproducibility, ease of handling/high-throughput and applicability to multiple biological matrices. Furthermore, the methods have to include the degradation product of glyphosate, aminomethylphosfonic acid (AMPA) and preferably metabolites of glyphosate and AMPA, N-acetyl AMPA and N-acetyl glyphosate.

Non-enzymatic transformations of dietary 2-hydroxyalkenyl and aromatic glucosinolates in the stomach of monogastrics.

Monogastric animals exhibit different biological responses to structurally diverse glucosinolates and their transformation products, depending on the dietary levels. The transformations of 2-hydroxyalkenyl and aromatic glucosinolates were examined in vitro under gastric conditions, ex vivo in ligated porcine stomachs and in vivo in a rat model. Intact glucosinolates were almost completely transformed in vitro within 1 h at pH 3 (73-88%) and at pH 5 (97-100%) upon addition of Fe ranging from two-fold molar excess.

Piglet performance and physiological effects linked to reduced glucosinolate transformations in feed products based on rapeseed pressed cakes.

The nutritional quality of rapeseed press cakes (RPCs) in piglet feed is closely linked to its digestibility and the content of glucosinolates. This study investigates the significance of intact glucosinolate (glc) levels and degree of glc transformations on piglets performance. Four different RPCs were made from a low glc (11 µmol/g seed DM) containing B.

Distribution of α-tocopherol stereoisomers in mink (Mustela vison) organs varies with the amount of all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate in the diet.

Synthetic α-tocopherol has eight isomeric configurations including four 2R (RSS, RRS, RSR, RRR) and four 2S (SRR, SSR, SRS, SSS). Only the RRR stereoisomer is naturally synthesised by plants. A ratio of 1·36:1 in biopotency of RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate to all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate is generally accepted; however, studies indicate that neither biopotency of α-tocopherol stereoisomers nor bioavailability between them is constant, but depend on dose, time, animal species and organs.

-α-Tocopherol Is the Predominant Stereoisomer of α-Tocopherol in Human Milk.

Background: The naturally occurring α-tocopherol (α-T) stereoisomer, -α-tocopherol (-α-T), is known to be more bioactive than -α-tocopherol (-α-T), a synthetic racemic mixture of 8 stereoisomers. There is widespread use of -α-T in maternal supplements.

Objective: The aim of the study was to thoroughly describe the α-T stereoisomer profile of human milk.

Effects of Heat Treatment of Green Protein on in Situ Protein Disappearance and in Vitro Fatty Acid Biohydrogenation.

Soluble protein extracted from leaves and stems of grasses and forage legumes is defined as green protein. The present study was conducted to evaluate in situ green protein degradability, intestinal protein disappearance, and in vitro fatty acids biohydrogenation (BH) in dairy cows. Three green protein concentrates (red clover, ryegrass, and grass clover) were heat treated as follows: oven-drying at 70 °C, subsequent autoclaving at 121 °C for 45 min, and for grass clover also spin flash-drying.

A Review on the Role of Chromium Supplementation in Ruminant Nutrition-Effects on Productive Performance, Blood Metabolites, Antioxidant Status, and Immunocompetence.

With the increase in the global herd, the use of metabolic modifiers has become an important area for many researchers looking for a supraphysiological diet to improve production parameters. For improving the performance of high yielding cows, the optimal balance of all nutrients including microminerals is important. Chromium (Cr) is one of the important micronutrients which plays an important role in metabolism of ruminants.