Monogastric Nutrition

Le chlordécone est un pesticide organochloré, qui a été utilisé dans les Antilles françaises pour lutter contre le charançon du bananier Cosmopolites sordidus. Ce pesticide a été interdit en 1993 en raison de sa toxicité et de sa persistance dans l'environnement. Cependant des études ont montré que la population antillaise continue d'être exposée (lait maternel et sang contaminés, transfert de chlordécone mère-jeune, retard du développement cognitif, risque de cancer de la prostate) en particulier via l'alimentation. Depuis 2008, la réglementation européenne n°396/2005 est appliquée sur le territoire antillais (limite maximale fixée à 10 et 20 µg chlordécone /kg poids frais repsectivement dans le foie et l'oeuf et de 100 µg/kg de matière grasse dans le gras). Il s'avère que la contamination des denrées au chlordécone est due au fait que les sols d'anciennes bananeraies autrefois traités au chlordécone (principalement des andosols, des nitisols et des ferrisol...

J'adresse mes remerciements à l'ensemble des personnes qui ont permis la construction et l'aboutissement de ce projet, et en particulier aux membres de l'équipe MRCA de l'URAFPA qui m'ont beaucoup donné, aidé et appris. Je remercie Monsieur Guido Rychen de m'avoir accueilli dans son laboratoire et de m'avoir encadré tout au long de ce projet. Un grand merci pour sa confiance, son soutien, ses conseils et sa patience. Je remercie également Monsieur Cyril Feidt pour ses conseils, son soutien et sa disponibilité ainsi que pour les bons moments passés durant ces trois années de thèse au laboratoire et à l'extérieur. Je remercie Monsieur Carlos Simoes Nunes, Directeur de Recherche au CRNA et Monsieur Eric Lichtfouse, chercheur HDR à l'INRA pour avoir accepté de juger ce travail ainsi que Monsieur Sébastien Denys, Directeur d'unité à l'ANSES et Monsieur Harry Archimède, Directeur de recherche à l'INRA, pour avoir accepté de l'examiner. Je remercie Madame Catherine Jondreville pour m'avoir formé aux analyses statistiques, ainsi que pour son aide, sa rigueur et sa disponibilité dans la démarche méthodologique. Je remercie Madame Magali Jannoyer et le CIRAD de Martinique qui ont permis l'initiation de ce projet avec l'URAFPA. Je remercie le LDA 26 pour la réalisation des analyses chimiques.

This study evaluated the effects of graded levels of monosodium glutamate
(MSG) administered orally on the growth performance of male rabbits. Thirtytwo mongrel bucks (average weight 1039 ± 15.6 g) were housed in a completely
randomized design at the University Teaching and Research Farm, Federal
University Dutse, Jigawa State. Rabbits were fed commercial pelletized
growers MAXX diet and water ad libitum. After 14 days of acclimatization, they
were assigned to four treatments of eight rabbits each. A stock solution was
prepared by dissolving 40 g MSG in 1 L of distilled water. Group 1 served as
control and received 2 ml distilled water only, while Groups 2, 3, and 4 received
2, 4, and 6 ml MSG/kg BW, respectively, administered orally every 48 hours for
56 days using a round-head syringe. Initial body weights showed no significant
differences (P > 0.05) among groups. However, rabbits in T3 (4 ml MSG)
recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher final weight (3037.60 g), total weight
gain (2002.40 g), and average daily gain (35.75 g) compared with other
treatments. Daily and total feed intake were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced
by MSG, with the highest values (126.13 g/day; 7063.30 g total) observed in
T4 (6 ml MSG). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (P < 0.05)
poorer in T4 (4.29). It was concluded that oral administration of MSG at 4
ml/kg BW enhanced rabbit performance, and its use at this level is
recommended.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen N levels on ruminant digestibility of 18 different Romanian barley genotypes grown in 2013/2014 year. The experiment was designed as randomized blocks and two levels of N were tested: 46 and 92 kg ha -1 (blocks N-46 and N-92) and compared to control block N-0, without nitrogen. The grains were analyzed for chemical composition and in vitro ruminant digestibility IVOMD. The resulted grains yield (t/ha) was significantly lowered by the 92 kg ha -1 N level. The same N fertilization level had a significant effect on increasing the crude protein content. But the mean IVOMD coefficient (%) of all genotypes was significantly decreased for both the N levels (84.45 for N-46, and 83.19 for N-92 compared to 86.92 for N-0).

The effect of partial and total substitution of soybean meal crude protein (SBM) by canola meal (CM) on live weight (LW), daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion (FC) in female rabbits are provided. Rabbits were evaluated from weaning period (43 days of age) to adult life when they are capable of reproduction (150 days of age). Forty-eight White New Zealand females were used and distributed in four treatments. SBM was substituted at 00%, 33%, 66% and 100% levels by CM. The partial or total substitution of SBM by CM did not change (P>0.05) the LW after 70 days old. Dunnett's test showed that, independently of substitution level, FC of animals fed on meal with 33% SBM substitution by CM from age 43 to 90 days and 43 to 150 days was worse than that of animals fed on reference meal. LW120, DWG of 43 -120-day-old animals receiving 33% SBM substitution by CM and LW150 and DWG of 43 -150-day-old animals receiving meal with SBM substitution by 33% and 66% of CM were lower than those for animals that received reference meal. Excluding the reference meal, SBM substitution by CM during the periods in which animals were 43 -120 days old and 43 -150 days old caused an increase of DFI. Independently of level of inclusion as a substitute for SBM, results show that CM worsened the animals' performance.

A total of 360 straight run, locally grown Japanese quails were used to comparatively evaluate wheat, sorghum and their combination diet, with corn, in terms of their body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, livability rate and feed cost per kilogram gain. Results showed no significant difference in terms of feed consumption and livability rate in sorghum, wheat and corn diets. However, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) among the diets in terms of weight gain, feed consumption and feed cost per kilogram gain. Birds fed with corn alone or in combination had higher body weight gain and better feed conversion rate, which shows the superiority of yellow corn over sorghum and wheat grain, and that it is much cheaper to use.

Innovative approaches and new efficiencies in plant breeding are required to accelerate the progress of genetic improvement through selection. One such approach is the application of prognostic breeding, which is an integrated crop-improvement methodology that enables selection of plants for high crop yield potential by evaluating its two components: plant yield potential and stability of performance. Plant yield and stability are assessed concurrently in each generation by utilising the plant prognostic equation. The genetic material used for this study was 2350 F2 plants (C0) of the commercial maize hybrid Costanza. The study presents the results of the application of prognostic breeding for 6 years in two contrasting environments (A and B), starting from C0 and ending in C5. It utilises ultra-high selection pressures (1.5% to 0.5%) to isolate superior lines with crop yield comparable to Costanza, and estimates the annual genetic gain accomplished through application of this selec...

Soybeans contain about 30% carbohydrate, mainly consisting of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and oligosaccharides. NSP are not hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract of monogastric animals. These NSP negatively affect the development of these animals, especially the soluble fraction. This work aimed to establish a method to quantify NSP in soybeans, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and to estimate correlations between NSP, oligosaccharides, protein and oil. Sucrose, raffinose + stachyose, soluble and insoluble NSP contents were determined by HPLC. Oil and protein contents were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The soluble PNAs content showed no significant correlation with protein, oil, sucrose and raffinose + stachyose contents, but oligosaccharides showed a negative correlation with protein content. These findings open up the possibility of developing cultivars with low soluble NSP content, aiming to develop feed for monogastric animals.

The variables influencing laccase production by white-rot fungus Ganoderma sp. rckk-02 were optimized employing response surface methodology. Malt extract (6.0% w/v), lignin (0.5% w/v) and pH (5.5) were found to be the most significant factors for enhanced laccase production by 7 fold (226.0 U/ml) as compared to unoptimized growth conditions (32.0 U/ml). The N-terminal sequence of laccase revealed its distinct amino acid profile (S-I-R-N-S-G), which suggested it as a novel enzyme. The Far-UV CD spectrum of the laccase showed single broad negative trough at around 213 nm, a typical signature of all b proteins. The laccase was found to fall in the range of middle redox potential laccases. Purified laccase at dosage of 2.5 Ug 21 body weight when supplemented with pelleted diet of rats, a significant improvement (p , 0.05) in nutrients digestibility without causing any elevation of blood stress enzymes was observed. hite rot fungi are known to be the potential producer of ligninolytic enzymes i.e. mangnese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase and laccases. Among these, laccases are one of the widely studied oxidoreductases and majority of them contain four copper ions per molecule. They catalyze single-electron oxidation of a wide variety of organic and inorganic substrates including mono-, di-, polyphenols, methoxyphenols, aromatic amines and ascorbate with concomitant four-electron reduction of oxygen to water 1 . This makes laccases useful for their varied applications in several biotechnological processes such as phenolics elimination for stabilization and browning of fruit juices, beer/wine, in bleaching of paper pulp, decolourization of dyes and textile effluents, oxidation-reduction reaction in biosensors development, PAHs and other xenobiotics degradation for soil bioremediation, production of complex polymers in organic synthesis and mild oxidizing agent in cosmetics development 2 . In addition, its being an efficient lignin degrading biocatalyst, has been applied in biopulping but scarcely been tried for its possible application in improving the bioavailability of nutrients and digestibility of animal feed, especially for monogastric diets. Laccase can either act on feed components prior to or after consumption i.e. within the gastrointestinal tract 3 . However, to make use of laccase commercially viable in feed improvement, its production level should be high as well as it should be nontoxic to animals. The critical safety evaluation of the enzymes used for improving animal feed is must and tests involving rat models have been found essential to provide some preliminary indication of possible cellular mutagenicity, potential carcinogenicity and teratogenecity during the developmental stages 3-5 . Furthermore, random addition of enzymes to diets without consideration for specific situations, toxicity and substrate targets will only discourage or delay on-farm adoption of enzyme technology 6 . Therefore, we have also selected the rat model for evaluation of efficiency of laccase in improvement of pelleted diets specifically for monogastric animals. Thus for producing higher amount of such enzymes researchers have gained interest in minimizing the cost of enzyme preparation to be used as ruminants diet supplement 7 . Thereby, designing and optimization of fermentation media for the most economical production is one of the most important task. The objectives of this work were to optimize production of laccase with middle redox potential from an indigenous white rot fungus, Ganoderma sp. rckk-02 using response surface methodology under liquid static cultivation conditions, its characterization and its evaluation for possible application as animal feed supplement.

Growth performance, haematological characteristics and serum parameters of organically raised broiler chickens were determined in a twelve-week feeding and management trial. Conventional birds (control) and organically raised birds (groups X, Y and Z from which organic millet, sorghum and wheat have been excluded from their diets respectively) were produced in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. One hundred and eighty days old broiler chicks of Ross breed were randomly allocated to four dietary and management treatments in triplicates of 15 birds per replicate. The conventional birds were raised on deep litters, vaccinated, given mediations and were fed premixes along with the ad libitum diet supply. Organic birds were allowed a three hour foraging daily on experimental quadrants, although they were also raised on deep litter system. Data collated were taken at both the 8 and 12 weeks. Results of growth th th

Barley contains substantial amounts of both soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The main water soluble NSP in barley are highly viscous β-glucans. Monogastric animals, including humans and birds, cannot synthesize β-glucanase, and the amount of β-glucanase derived from barley grain and bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract is insufficient to completely hydrolyze β-glucans. In the present investigation, we have studied the influence of temperature and heating time on the extractibility of soluble polysaccharides in barley. Heating the barley samples at 60°C and 80°C before extraction has the effect of lowering the soluble fraction of the polysaccharides. The dynamic viscosity values of water extracts from barley decreased up to 21.68% when heating at 60ºC for 15 minutes, and up to 25.30% when heating at 80ºC for 15 minutes, when the determinations were made immediately after extract separation. Heating the barley samples for 15 minutes at 80°C deactivates the endogenous hydrolytic enzymes.

Day old 940 Japanese quail chicks were equally and randomly distributed into ten treatment groups of two replicates. All the chicks were reared on cages up to six weeks of age. The chicks in control group were fed corn-soya based diet with no multi-enzyme supplementation. Treatment groups were fed on diets containing 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent levels of sunflower cake replacing the groundnut cake on an isolysine and isomethionine basis with no multi-enzyme supplementation and, similar treatment groups were fed with multi-enzyme supplementation. The significant (P&lt;0.05) differences were noticed between the treatments for six weeks body weight. Quails performed better up to 50 per cent replacement levels. The feed efficiency in different treatments showed highly significant variation (P&lt;0.01) and was the best 25 per cent replacement levels. Neither the dietary treatment nor the enzyme supplementation influenced the livability. Better ready to cook yield was observed for the die...

A study was conducted on one hundred and twelve (112) Japanese quails of (4) four weeks old.  The study is aimed at investigating the effect of graded levels of (Senna) Senna Obtusifolia seed meal on egg production and egg quality.  The birds were randomly assigned to four experimental treatment containing 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% inclusion levels.  The parameters assessed were feed intake, weight gain, FCR, egg production, shell thickness, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit and egg weight.  The results obtained in this present study showed significant differences (P&lt;0.05) for shell thickness, yolk index, haugh unit, egg weight and hen-day egg production, across the dietary treatments groups with the high profile of nutrients, it was concluded that senna obtusifolia seed meal can be included up to 5% level in practical diets of layer quails.

This research examined the role of nano curcumin (NC) on growth performances, body composition, and blood parameters of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) challenged with Aspergillus flavus. Fish (5.0 g ± 0.30) were randomly distributed in four equal groups (20 fish per pond in triplicates) and fed various concentrations of NC fortified with 0 (Control), 40 mg/kg (NC1), 50 mg/kg (NC2), and 60 mg/kg diet (NC3) of nano curcumin. After eight weeks of the feeding trial, the fish were challenged with A. flavus for 15 days, and the cumulative mortality was recorded. Fish fed with different concentrations of NC improved significantly (p < 0.05) the growth performances, feed utilization, and survival rate. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between NC2 and NC3 treatments. However, NC3 exhibited higher performances. Fish feed supplemented with NC decreased the mortality rate when challenged with A. flavus. Hence, dietary supplementation of NC enhanced the growth and health status of Oreochromis sp. and protected it from A. flavus infection. This study suggests the optimum inclusion level of NC is a 50-60 mg/kg diet.

Background: Japanese quails are cheap and easy to maintain, and they have the potential to bridge the gap in animal protein consumption shortage; however, their performance is highly dependent on the efficiency of nutrient utilization. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of an egg-lime-molasses mixture (ELM) administration on Japanese quails' nutrient utilization and carcass parameters. Methods: The study was conducted at the poultry unit of the Babcock University farmhouse, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria, from January to March 2022. ELM was prepared by placing fresh chicken eggs in a bowl, after which one liter of lime juice and 500 g of molasses were added and covered tightly for 10 days at 27 °C with a relative humidity of 61%. The solution was then blended. Two-hundred-day-old Japanese quails were assigned to one of five treatments in a completely randomized design. The birds were subdivided into four replicates of 10 birds each. The control (T1) had no administration of ELM; T2, T3, T4, and T5 had inclusion levels of 10, 20, 30, and 40 mL, respectively, all in 500 mL of water. Food and water were provided ad libitum. Data on performance characteristics, apparent digestibility coefficients, and carcass parameters were collected and analyzed using SPSS software, version 22 using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Results: The results revealed that ELM did not significantly affect performance characteristics and carcass parameters (P>0.05). The values for digestible crude protein were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the control (62.99%). However, the lowest values were observed among birds administered the lowest dosages (10 and 20 mL ELM with 56.36% and 54.38%, respectively). Birds administered the lowest dosages of ELM (10 mL) had significantly higher (P<0.05) digestible lipids (55.50%) and digestible ash (23.41%) values. The birds administered 20 mL ELM had significantly least (P<0.05) values for digestible lipids (25.50%) and digestible ash (2.58%), while significantly highest (P<0.05) values were observed for the same group of birds for digestible crude fiber (41.05%) and digestible carbohydrates (38.79%). Conclusion: The inclusion of ELM in the water of Japanese quails did not alter their growth performance or carcass parameters.

The effects of unfermented (UCK) and fermented (FCK) sour cherry kernel (0,1,2,4%) with Aspergillus niger (ATCC 200345) under solid state fermentation on performance, digestibility and cecal microflora in broiler chicks were investigated in this study. UCK did not affect (P&gt;0.05) growth performance and digestibility at 1% but decreased (P&lt;0.05) at 2 and 4%. Cecal microflora was not affected (P&gt;0.05) by UCK inclusion. FCK improved (P&lt;0.05) growth performance and cecal microflora at 1%, did not change (P&gt;0.05) at 2% and decreased (P&lt;0.001) performance at 4%. Digestibility was not affected (P&gt;0.05) by FCK addition. In conclusion, using of FCK in poultry diets at 1% is recommended.

Three monogastric domestic and wild animal species: farmed Lithuanian indigenous wattle pigs (Sus scrofa domestica), wild boars (Sus scrofa) and beavers (Castor fiber) were tested, characterized and, compared by fatty acid composition in intramuscular lipids. Fatty Lithuanian indigenous wattle pigs had lower lipid unsaturation compared to observed wild species. Though the highest number of polyunsaturated fatty acids was identified in the intramuscular fat of wild boars, the muscle lipids of the beavers were characterized by the highest proportions of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 42.12% of total fatty acids) compared to 18.21% in wild boars and 7.36% in Lithuanian indigenous wattle pigs. Pigs and wild boars were found to be comparable in the relationships of the major fatty acids. Wild animals had more favourable polyunsaturated/saturated (PUFA/SFA), n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios and also atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenicity (TI) indexes. PUFA/SFA ratio in the intramuscular lipids from wild boars and beavers were higher and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in the beaver was lower than the reference PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios pattern, respectively. Having predominant polyunsaturated fatty acids and favourable PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios, wild game meat, particularly beaver meat could be the n-3 PUFA-rich food in human diets.

Monogastric animals are unable to digest phytic acid, so it represents an antinutritional factor and also an environmental problem. One strategy to solve this problem is the utilization of low phytic acid (lpa) mutants that accumulate low levels of phytic P and high levels of free phosphate in the seeds; among the lpa maize mutants lpa1 exhibited the highest reduction of phytic acid in the seed. This study indicated that the low phytic acid mutations exerted pleiotropic effects not directly connected to the phytic acid pathway, such as on seed density, content of ions, and the antioxidant compounds present in the kernels. Furthermore some nutritional properties of the flour were altered by the lpa1 mutations, in particular lignin and protein content, while the starch does not seem to be modified as to the total amount and in the amylose/amylopectin ratio, but alterations were noticed in the structure and size of granules.

In vitro digestion studies were conducted to examine the potential nutritional value of whole (WAB) and lipidextracted biomass (LEB) from freshwater microalgae from Alberta, Canada. For WAB, protein solubility (PS) was statistically highest and the same (P = 0.109) for Chlorella vulgaris at 84% and Micractinium reisseri at 78%, lowest (P b 0.001) for Nannochloris bacillaris at 64% and intermediate for Tetracystis sp. at 73%. Dilute pepsin digestibility (DPD) was highest (P b 0.001) for C. vulgaris at 80% and lowest (P b 0.001) for N. bacillaris and Tetracystis sp. at 60-64%, which were the same (P = 0.075) and M. reisseri was intermediate at 72%. Twophase gastric/pancreatic digestibility of protein (GPD Protein ) and energy (GPD Energy ) were highest (P b 0.001) for M. reisseri at 78 and 57%, respectively, lowest (P b 0.001) for N. bacillaris and Tetracystis sp. at 49-52 and 41-43%, respectively, which were the same (P = 0.101 and 0.058, respectively) and C. vulgaris was intermediate at 69 and 52%, respectively. For LEB, PS was highest (P b 0.001) and the same (P = 0.088) for C. vulgaris and M. reisseri at 72-76%; which were higher (P b 0.001) than N. bacillaris and Tetracystis sp. at 60-62%, which were the same (P = 0.405). Similarly, DPD was highest (P b 0.001) and the same (P = 1.000) for C. vulgaris and M. reisseri both at 69%; which were higher (P b 0.001) than N. bacillaris and Tetracystis sp. at 58-62%, which were the same (P = 0.083). GPD Protein was highest (P b 0.001) and the same (P = 0.944) for M. reisseri and C. vulgaris at 79-80%, lowest (P b 0.001) for N. bacillaris at 50% and intermediate for Tetracystis sp. at 55%. GPD Energy was highest (P b 0.001) for C. vulgaris at 69%, followed by M. reisseri at 61%, Tetracystis sp. at 48% and lowest (P = 0.006) for N. bacillaris at 45%. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) of a ruminant control diet was 45% and not significantly affected (P ≥ 0.071) by dietary algal supplementation with an average OMD of 36% when incorporated at 50% forage replacement (equivalent to 25-43% of the diet); except Tetracystis sp. LEB which decreased (P = 0.020) OMD to 28%. Dietary inclusion of all biomass at 100% forage replacement (equivalent to 51-85% of the diet) decreased (P ≤ 0.026) OMD to an average of 28%; except M. reisseri LEB which did not significantly affect (P = 0.921) OMD at 41%. Apparent metabolizable energy (aME) content of the control diet was 3.7 MJ kg -1 and was not affected (P ≥ 0.179) by algal supplementation at an average of 3.1 MJ kg -1 , although a general trend of decreased aME with increased dietary levels was noted. Methane production from 48 h in vitro fermentation of diets with varying levels of WAB was 2.8-3.3 mol -10 and was the same (P ≥ 0.429) as the control diet at 2.9 mol -10 . However, LEB at all levels decreased (P b 0.001) methane production by about 50% to 0.9-1.2 mol -10 , which suggests the potential for abating enteric methane emissions from ruminants by feeding microalgae, unrelated to its lipid content.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important food legume and heat stress affects chickpea ontogeny over a range of environments. Generally, chickpea adapts to high temperatures through an escape mechanism. However, heat stress during reproductive development can cause significant yield loss. The most important effects on the reproductive phase that affect pod set, seed set and yield are: (1) flowering time, (2) asynchrony of male and female floral organ development, and (3) impairment of male and female floral organs. While this review emphasises the importance of high temperatures &gt;30°C, the temperature range of 32–35°C during flowering also produces distinct effects on grain yield. Recent field screening at ICRISAT have identified several heat-tolerant germplasm, which can be used in breeding programs for improving heat tolerance in chickpea. Research on the impact of heat stress in chickpea is not extensive. This review describes the status of chickpea production, the effects...

This study is aimed at comparing the feed conversion efficiency and mortality rate of Hubbard and Arboracre commercial broiler chicks treated under the same dietary and environmental condition. A total of 200 broiler chicks comprising of one 100 Hubbard and one hundred Arboracre strains were used in the comparative evaluation of their feed conversion efficiency and mortality rate from day old to 56 days (8 weeks) of age. Body weight was taken three times in a week. Feed intakes as well as the mortality rate were taken daily. Data obtained from body weight and feed intake were computed statistically to obtain the feed conversion efficiency. Hubbard broiler strain shows the feed conversion efficiency of 111.6247±2.8487, 82.35±1.0879, 58.72±0.75536 and 45.4407±0.80352 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age while Aboracre strain attained the feed conversion efficiency of 114.615±4.1562, 89.105±2.79432, 75.8299±0.75536 and 54.3710±0.80352 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age. Hubbard broiler strain has the mortality rate of 17.5% while arboracre strain has the mortality rate of 26.5% at 8 weeks of age. Under the same management system, arboracre strain showed superiority in feed conversion efficiency and mortality rate over Hubbard strain.

Caractérisation des cultivés dans le Dissertation originale présentée en vue de l'obtention du sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique Promoteur : Prof. Marianne SINDIC Co-promoteurs : Prof. Boubekeur Prof. Naima COMMUNAUTE FRANCAISE DE BELGIQUE UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE-GEMBLOUX AGRO-BIOTECH es amidons de sorgho et de mil cultivés dans le Sahara algérien Nadia BOUDRIES-KACI Dissertation originale présentée en vue de l'obtention du grade de sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique SINDIC oubekeur NADJEMI BELHANECHE-BENSAMRA 2017 1 BIOTECH amidons de sorgho et de mil perlé docteur en III DEDICACES C'est avec plaisir que je dédie ce travail à : Mes parents qui m'ont tant encouragé, Mes frères et soeurs, surtout à Malika et à Kamel qui m'ont beaucoup aidé, Mon mari Slimane qui n'a cessé de m'apporter son soutien depuis qu'on s'est connu, Ma famille et mes ami(e)s de Belgique. Nadia IV REMERCIEMENTS Il m'est très agréable d'exprimer ma grande reconnaissance et mes remerciements à Mme Marianne SINDIC Professeur et responsable du laboratoire Qualité et Sécurité des produits agroalimentaires à Gembloux Agro Bio Tech-Université de Liège pour avoir dirigé ces travaux de thèse malgré les nombreuses difficultés rencontrées ainsi qu'à Mr Boubekeur NADJEMI, Professeur à l'Ecole Normale Supérieure d'Alger. Leur disponibilité, leurs conseils avisés et leur patience m'ont été d'une aide précieuse. Je suis reconnaissante aussi au Pr Naima BELHANECHE-BENSEMARA enseignante et chercheur à l'Ecole Nationale Polytechnique d'Alger pour sa supervision des travaux et ses encouragements constants. Je tiens à remercier le Dr George SINNAEVE du Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques (CRA) à Gembloux ainsi que le Pr Mohamed MATHLOUTHI, responsable du laboratoire de physico-chimie de l'Université de Reims, France, pour m'avoir accueillie au sein de leurs laboratoires et m'avoir permis d'effectuer certaines analyses chimiques. Merci également aux membres du laboratoire de l'ENS, Hind Mokrane, Djaafar DJABALI et Mohamed LEMGHARBI, les pionniers dans ce domaine de recherche ainsi qu'à nos étudiants qui poursuivent ces travaux. Mes remerciements vont aussi aux membres de mon comité de thèse, Claude DEROANNE, Jacqueline DESTAIN, François BERA, Aurore RICHEL et Paul MALUMBA, qui ont porté beaucoup d'intérêt à ce travail et ont su m'orienter lors des différentes phases. Mes remerciements s'adressent aussi à toute personne ayant apporté une contribution technique à ce travail, en particulier

Caractérisation des cultivés dans le Dissertation originale présentée en vue de l'obtention du sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique Promoteur : Prof. Marianne SINDIC Co-promoteurs : Prof. Boubekeur Prof. Naima COMMUNAUTE FRANCAISE DE BELGIQUE UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE-GEMBLOUX AGRO-BIOTECH es amidons de sorgho et de mil cultivés dans le Sahara algérien Nadia BOUDRIES-KACI Dissertation originale présentée en vue de l'obtention du grade de sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique SINDIC oubekeur NADJEMI BELHANECHE-BENSAMRA 2017 1 BIOTECH amidons de sorgho et de mil perlé docteur en III DEDICACES C'est avec plaisir que je dédie ce travail à : Mes parents qui m'ont tant encouragé, Mes frères et soeurs, surtout à Malika et à Kamel qui m'ont beaucoup aidé, Mon mari Slimane qui n'a cessé de m'apporter son soutien depuis qu'on s'est connu, Ma famille et mes ami(e)s de Belgique. Nadia IV REMERCIEMENTS Il m'est très agréable d'exprimer ma grande reconnaissance et mes remerciements à Mme Marianne SINDIC Professeur et responsable du laboratoire Qualité et Sécurité des produits agroalimentaires à Gembloux Agro Bio Tech-Université de Liège pour avoir dirigé ces travaux de thèse malgré les nombreuses difficultés rencontrées ainsi qu'à Mr Boubekeur NADJEMI, Professeur à l'Ecole Normale Supérieure d'Alger. Leur disponibilité, leurs conseils avisés et leur patience m'ont été d'une aide précieuse. Je suis reconnaissante aussi au Pr Naima BELHANECHE-BENSEMARA enseignante et chercheur à l'Ecole Nationale Polytechnique d'Alger pour sa supervision des travaux et ses encouragements constants. Je tiens à remercier le Dr George SINNAEVE du Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques (CRA) à Gembloux ainsi que le Pr Mohamed MATHLOUTHI, responsable du laboratoire de physico-chimie de l'Université de Reims, France, pour m'avoir accueillie au sein de leurs laboratoires et m'avoir permis d'effectuer certaines analyses chimiques. Merci également aux membres du laboratoire de l'ENS, Hind Mokrane, Djaafar DJABALI et Mohamed LEMGHARBI, les pionniers dans ce domaine de recherche ainsi qu'à nos étudiants qui poursuivent ces travaux. Mes remerciements vont aussi aux membres de mon comité de thèse, Claude DEROANNE, Jacqueline DESTAIN, François BERA, Aurore RICHEL et Paul MALUMBA, qui ont porté beaucoup d'intérêt à ce travail et ont su m'orienter lors des différentes phases. Mes remerciements s'adressent aussi à toute personne ayant apporté une contribution technique à ce travail, en particulier

Phytobiotics represent a wide range of bioactive compounds that can be extracted from various plant sources. In recent years, some interesting and novel applications of phytobiotics in the production and wellbeing of monogastric animals have emerged, and these aspects are reviewed in the present paper. Recent studies at the University of New England indicate that water-soluble carbohydrate extracts from some Australian and New Zealand native plants can be used as potential phytobiotic compounds to modify the gut microflora in broiler chickens. Compared with other in-feed antibiotic alternatives, the evaluation of phytobiotics is still in its infancy and their potential use needs to be investigated with broader emphasis.

Among feed-derived antioxidants, selenium (Se) was shown to have a special place as an essential part of 25 selenoproteins identified in animals. Organic Se, in the form of selenomethionine (SeMet), has been reported to be a much more effective Se source when compared with mineral forms such as sodium selenite or selenate. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that organic Se has a number of benefits, particularly in dairy and beef animals; these include improved selenium and antioxidant status, and better Se transfer via the placenta, colostrum, and milk to the newborn. However, there is a paucity in the data concerning molecular mechanisms of SeMet assimilation, metabolism and selenoprotein synthesis regulation in ruminant animals, and as such, further investigation is required.

Antimicrobial compounds are commonly included in poultry diets for promoting of growth and control of diseases. The European Union banned feed grade antibiotic growth promoters, due to, not only cross-resistance, but also to the risk of possible drugs multiple resistances in human pathogenic bacteria. Only two such drug-related compounds are planned to remain in use (GILL, 1999; BACH KNUDSEN, 2001; SCHWARZ et al., 2001; SHANE, 2001). Feeds containing no chemical additives are increasingly used in poultry nutrition. Therefore, antibiotic growth promoters were discredited by consumer associations as well as by scientists, e.g. the use of most antibiotic growth promoters was banned by the European Union. Consequently, the animal feed manufacturers are exposed to increasing consumer pressure to reduce the use of antibiotic growth promoters as feed additive and find alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry diets (NEWMAN, 1997; HERTRAMPF, 2001; HUMPHREY et al., 2002). Many s...

Aflatoxins are considered as unavoidable contaminants of food and animal feeds, since their production cannot be prevented successfully using current agricultural practices. The use of aflatoxin adsorbents as feed supplements is one of the most promising approaches to reduce aflatoxicoses in animals. Since there are numerous adsorbents marketed, an effective and practical method for the rapid evaluation of adsorption capacity of individual products is needed. In this study, we used an in vitro model designed to mimic the temperature, pH and the time of passage through the stomach and the intestinal tract of a monogastric animal, for the evaluation of aflatoxin B1 adsorption capacity of different mineral clays. The results indicate that 6 out of the 7 tested products had a high binding capacity (ranging from 98.97-100%), under the experimental conditions used. The data also demonstrate that the method allows us to differentiate those compounds with high binding capacity from those with a lesser binding capacity. Such an in vitro method seems useful for the rapid screening of different substances and for the pre-selection of adsorbent products that may be used as feed supplements.

Characteristics and proximate compositions of Japanese quail carcass in a semi arid area of Nigeria were determined at the Poultry Unit of the Department of Animal Science, University of Maiduguri using 300 random bred Japanese quail. Sex, color type, weight group and age had significant effects on carcass characteristics. Sexual dimorphism was in favor of the females for most carcass characteristics; however, dressed percent (72.41%) was significantly higher in males than females (68.02%). Wild type Japanese quails had significantly higher slaughter weight (132.66 g) than light brown (121.33 g). The values for most carcass traits increased with increase in age and weight of birds. Abdominal fat deposit in the Japanese quail became noticeable only at 24 weeks (1.39 g) of age and increased to 10.70 g at 52 weeks. The mean values of moisture, dry matter, protein, ether extract and ash in whole Japanese quail carcass

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.), a grain legume crop well adapted in marginal soils, has mainly been used for animal feed. Nowadays, bitter vetch seeds in feed formulations are replaced by other protein sources such as soybean meal. However, in the context of sustainable economic development, it may be beneficial to enhance the cultivation of bitter vetch landraces in marginal areas. Fifty-six bitter vetch accessions of different provenance were preliminarily characterised by microsatellite DNA analysis to discriminate landraces suitable for specific and restricted environments. Twenty-two landraces of two genetically different groups were then selected for further characterisation by agro-morphological analyses. Being late-flowering with a seed yield of up to 3–4 t ha–1 in experimental field conditions, with neither chemical nor water input, these plants will be valuable material for long-term study to develop new cultivars adapted for seed production under organic agricul...

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of germination in improving the nutritive value of grain sorghum and the effect of using germinated sorghum (GS) as partially or completely replacement of yellow corn in growing Japanese quail diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters. A total number of two hundred and sixty-four 10-day-old Japanese quails were randomly distributed into four dietary treatment groups (each of 66), each treatment subdivided into 3 replicates (each of 22). Quail chicks in the first group fed corn-based diets (2922 kcal/kg feed and 24% crude protein) and served as control, while the chicks in the second, third and fourth groups received diets containing germinated sorghum as replacement of diet corn at levels 25, 50 and 100%, respectively. Results indicated that the inclusion of GS at all levels in growing Japanese quail diets had no significant effect on body weight, body gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics measured among all dietary treatments. Blood cholesterol decreased significantly in birds fed GS at levels 50 and 100% as replacement of yellow corn compared to the other birds. Nevertheless, triglyceride significant reduced in group of birds that fed dietary GS at level 100% of yellow corn compared to the other groups. In conclusion, germinated sorghum could be safely incorporated in Japanese quail diets as replacement of yellow corn to improve growth rate and reduce the levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride.

Apart from its role as a digestive and absorptive organ, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a vital immune organ that encompasses roughly 70 % of the total immune cells of the body. As such, the physical, chemical and nutrient composition of the diet influences overall GI function, effectively as an immune organ. With the improvement in feed technology, agro-industrial co-products that are high in fibre have been widely used as a feed ingredient in the diets of pigs and poultry. Arabinoxylan (AX) and mannan are the most abundant hemicellulosic polysaccharides present in cereal grain and co-product ingredients used in the livestock industry. When monogastric animals consume diets containing high amounts of AX and mannans, stimulation of GI immune cells may occur. This involves the activation of several cellular and molecular pathways of the immune system and requires a considerable amount of energy and nutrients to be expended by the animal, which may ultimately influence overall hea...

Interest in fermentation within the monogastric digestive tract is growing, particularly relative to animal health. This is of particular importance in relation to the forthcoming European ban on inclusion of anti-microbial growth promotors in animal diets. Fermentable carbohydrates are recognized as having an important role in fermentation in the monogastric digestive tract, and are often added to diets without having been examined for their actual fermentability, particularly in relation to the target animal. We describe an in vitro method to assess feed ingredients, as potential components of monogastric diets, which stimulate a positive fermentation (i.e., ones which will be well fermented and produce more short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and less ammonia). This technique requires use of a batch culture containing the test substrate and an inoculum of appropriate origin. During fermentation, cumulative gas production is measured at regular intervals, as an indicator of kinetics of the reaction. When fermentation is complete, organic matter losses and end-products such as SCFA and ammonia, are measured. This paper illustrates use of the technique with 45 carbohydrate-based ingredients using faeces from unweaned piglets as inoculum. By assessing potential fermentability of a large number of ingredients, it is possible to make an informed choice as to which substrates are most suited for inclusion in a diet. By combining results with information about transit time, diets can be designed which should stimulate desirable fermentation along the entire digestive tract. In vitro fermentability

Antibiotic growth promoters have been utilized for long time at subtherapeutic levels as feed supplements in monogastric animal rations. Because of their side-effects such as antibiotic resistance, reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and dysbiosis, it is necessary to look for non-therapeutic alternatives. Probiotics play an important role as the key substitutes to antibacterial agents due to their many beneficial effects on the monogastric animal host. For instance, enhancement of the gut microbiota balance can contribute to improvement of feed utilization efficiency, nutrients absorption, growth rate, and economic profitability of livestock. Probiotics are defined as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." They are available in diverse forms for use as feed supplements. Their utilization as feed additives assists in good digestion of feed ingredients and hence, making the nutrients available for promoting growth. Immunity can also be enhanced by supplementing probiotics to monogastrics diets. Moreover, probiotics can help in improving major meat quality traits and countering a variety of monogastric animals infectious diseases. A proper selection of the probiotic strains is required in order to confer optimal beneficial effects. The present review focuses on the general functional, safety, and technological screening criteria for selection of ideal Bacillus probiotics as feed supplements as well as their mechanism of action and beneficial effects on monogastric animals for improving production performance and health status.

RESUMEN

El objetivo del presente estudio fue valorar la inclusión de vísceras bovinas en la dieta del guppy (Poecilia reticulata) como una alternativa económicamente viable y atractiva, al evaluar el efecto en el crecimiento y desempeño reproductivo del pez incluyendo corazón y riñón bovino deshidratado en las raciones alimentarias. La investigación se realizó durante 60 días en el Módulo Acuícola de la Estación Experimental Alfredo Volio Mata (EEAVM). Se utilizaron 320 animales de 30 ± 2 días de edad. Después de un periodo de 15 días de aclimatación, se distribuyó aleatoriamente un total de 20 individuos por pecera. Se utilizaron cuatro tratamientos experimentales: Control, que incluyó únicamente alimento balanceado (AB) comercial para pez guppy; Tratamiento 1 (T1), que se compuso únicamente de AB comercial para tilapia-fase de inicio; Tratamiento 2 (T2), que fue formulado con 52,5% de AB comercial para tilapia-fase de inicio y 47,5% de corazón bovino deshidratado; y Tratamiento 3 (T3), que fue integrado por 45,3% AB comercial para tilapia-fase de inicio y 54,7% de riñón bovino deshidratado. Se empleó anestesia general en los animales cada 15 días con el fin de tomar mediciones de ganancia de peso total (GPT), tasa específica de crecimiento (SGR), coeficiente térmico de crecimiento (CTC), conversión alimenticia (FCR) y factor de condición de Fulton (K). Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0.05) en ganancia de peso promedio general (GPg) y ganancia de peso promedio para las hembras (GPh) entre el T1 y el resto de tratamientos, sin diferencias entre estos últimos. No se observaron diferencias significativas para la variable de fecundidad entre tratamientos (p > 0.05). Sin embargo, se dio una tendencia (p = 0.091) de mayor cantidad de alevines nacidos en los tratamientos T2 y T3. El análisis económico mostró que el tratamiento Control posee el costo más elevado, seguido por T3, T2 y T1, respectivamente. Por esta razón se considera que el uso de vísceras bovinas, en combinación con alimentos comerciales, es una alternativa técnica y económicamente viable.

Abstract
Use of bovine viscera in feeding Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) as an economically viable alternative. The objective of the present study was to validate the inclusion of bovine viscera in the diet of Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) as an economically viable and attractive alternative, through the evaluation of growth and reproductive performance including dehydrated bovine heart and kidney in the formulation of feed rations. The 60-day investigation was conducted at the Aquaculture Module of the Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station (EEAVM), using 320 animals 30 ± 2 days of age. After a fifteen-day acclimatization period, 20 individuals were randomly assigned per tank. Four experimental treatments were used: Control, which included only commercial balanced feed (BF) for Guppy fish; Treatment 1 (T1), which was composed of only commercial BF for the Tilapia-starting phase; Treatment 2 (T2), which was formulated with 52.5% commercial BF for Tilapia-phase starting phase and 47.5% dehydrated bovine heart; and Treatment 3 (T3), that was integrated with 45.3% commercial BF for Tilapia-initiation phase and 54.7% dehydrated bovine kidney. General anesthesia was used in the animals every 15 days to take measurements of total weight gain (GPT), specific growth rate (SGR), thermal growth coefficient (CTC), feed conversion (FCR), and condition factor of Fulton (K). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in general average weight gain (GPg) and


average weight gain for females (GPh) between T1 and the rest of the treatments, with no differences between the latter. No significant differences were observed for the fecundity variable between treatments (p > 0.05), however, there was a trend (p = 0.091) of a greater number of births in treatments T2 and T3. The economic analysis showed that the Control treatment has the highest cost, followed by T3, T2, and T1, respectively. This is the reason why the use of bovine viscera, in combination with commercial foods, is considered a technically and economically viable alternative

A glasshouse study was conducted under ideal conditions to determine leaf appearance, elongation, and senescence rates along with life span and leaf length characteristics of four grass species: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), brown back wallaby grass (Rytidosperma duttonianum (Cashmore) Connor and Edgar), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.). This study provided a comprehensive characterisation of leaf turnover rates for the entire life cycle of these grasses, some of which are poorly characterised. Importantly, leaf senescence rate has been captured in the same conditions as the other leaf rates of the life cycle. Leaf position proved to be a significant explanatory variable in each of the leaf turnover rates. The relationships between leaf position and the components of leaf turnover were most commonly represented by non-linear models. Further studies may be necessary to validate these statistical models to field situations. However, this info...

The development of knowledge on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) biofortification in zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), related to its potential agronomical use and the nutritional and technological implications, is becoming important to strategies for improving human nutrition. In this context, we studied the accumulation of Zn and Fe in grains, considering potential uptake and translocation kinetics, photoassimilate production and deposition, and related yields, in grains of cv. Roxo produced under controlled-environment conditions and used thereafter in field trials. The metabolic plasticity of this wheat genotype grown under controlled-environment conditions allowed a 10- and 4-fold enhancement in accumulation of Zn and Fe in the grains after nutrient supplementation with a 5-fold concentrated Hoagland solution (5S), after two generations. Moreover, when these seeds were sown under field conditions and the resulting plants supplemented with or without Zn and Fe, the accumulation of thes...

Due to the unique nature of the rumen, unlike monogastric animals, ruminants like cattle largely depend on microbial hydrolysis of feed rather than post-ruminal enzymatic degradation. However, in ruminants fed high-grain diets, significant amounts of starch can bypass ruminal fermentation, where pancreatic and small intestinal enzymes play a vital role in digestion. Ruminal microbiota, as well as the host animal, require protein as a nitrogen source to optimize digestibility. Hempseed cake (containing &gt;30% of crude protein) is a by-product of hempseed oil production, but currently is not used as a feed source as it is not an FDA-approved feed ingredient. Presently, the availability and costs of protein supplements are volatile, and sourcing alternative protein sources is needed. Therefore, information is necessary on the effect of feeding hempseed cake on ruminant digestive function. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding hempseed cake on pancreatic and intestinal en...

Low phytic acid (LPA) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one approach to improving nutritional quality of wheat by reducing the major storage form of P and increasing the level of inorganic P (Pi), which is more readily absorbed by humans and other monogastric animals. A LPA mutant of wheat, designated Js‐12‐LPA was isolated following mutagenesis. LPA and wild‐type (WT) sib selections of hard red spring wheat families with the pedigree ‘Grandin’*4/Js‐12‐LPA were grown in replicated field trials in 2003 and 2004. Grain was milled on an experimental mill, and the distribution of P, phytic acid P (PAP), and Pi was measured in milling fractions. Mineral concentrations also were determined. LPA selections had elevated concentrations of Pi and Mg in flour fractions. The concentration of Pi in LPA flour was three times the concentration in WT flour, and Mg concentration in LPA flour was 25% greater than in WT flour. Therefore, P and Mg in LPA wheat appear to be redistributed within the kernel...

Neonatal period is challenging for newborn calves as they need to undergo development of immune system and gastrointestinal tract. Stress hormones, glucocorticoids and catecholamines, are elevated in first few days of life and play essential role in neonatal development in newborn calves. In this thesis, two studies were performed to investigate effect of different feeding management on neuroendocrine system and gut bacterial populations. The first study investigated the effect of duration of colostrum feeding management on abundance of active colon and ileum tissue-associated bacteria and expression of neuroendocrine genes in adrenal glands and intestine mucosa. Holstein bull calves were fed colostrum immediately after birth and randomly assigned to different subsequent feeding; whole milk (WM; n=8), mixture of colostrum and milk (CM; n=8) and colostrum feeding (CF; n=8) for 72h with 12h intervals. Samples of adrenal glands, ileum and colon tissues were collected at 75h postpartum. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to measure expression of neuroendocrine genes in adrenal gland and intestinal tissues as well as abundance of active bacteria associated with intestinal mucosa. The altered expression of these genes in adrenal glands, ileum and colon tissues were observed when calves were under different colostral and milk components feeding strategies. Our results indicate that prolonged colostrum feeding increases the abundance of active tissue-associated Lactobacillus spp. and E. coli in colon of newborn calves. The second study further assessed the effect of delayed colostrum feeding on fecal cortisol concentration and digesta-associated bacteria in the colon and rectum of neonatal calves. Holstein bull calves (n =23) were fed pooled, pasteurized colostrum either immediately after birth (0 h; n = 7); or at six (6h; n = 8), twelve (12 h; n = 8) hours after birth. Rectum and colon digesta and colon tissue were collected at 51h postpartum. Enzyme immune assay and quantitative PCR were used viii Abstract .

Colostrum feeding is vital for the development of the immune system and gastrointestinal tract in neonatal calves; however, it is currently unknown whether different colostrum feeding strategies affect their neuroendocrine system and potentially the gut-brain axis. The present study investigated the effect of 3 different colostrum feeding regimens on the expression of neuroendocrine genes in adrenal glands and gastrointestinal tissues and on the abundance of intestinal commensal bacteria. Holstein bull calves were fed colostrum immediately after birth and randomly assigned to 3 groups: whole milk (n = 8), mixture of 50% colostrum and 50% whole milk (n = 8), and colostrum (CF; n = 8) for 72 h with 12-h intervals. Adrenal glands, ileum, and colon tissues were collected at 75 h and were subjected to the expression of 11 targeted neuroendocrine genes and the abundance of tissue mucosa-associated bacteria measurement using quantitative real-time PCR and quantitative PCR, respectively. The expressions of all targeted genes were detected, and the expression of α-adrenergic receptor (ADRA1A) gene was affected by CF in adrenal glands and gut tissues. In addition, CF upregulated the expression of HTR4 (serotonin receptor) and SLC4A4 (serotonin transporter) genes in the ileum and increased the abundance of active Lactobacillus spp. and Escherichia coli (as detected at RNA level) associated with ileum and colon tissue. Furthermore, there were positive correlations between the abundance of active Lactobacillus spp. and E. coli with expression of HTR2B and HTR4 genes in the colon, suggesting that extended colostrum feeding strategies may affect the interaction between gut microbiota and host endocrine functions in neonatal calves.

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is a phloem-limited virus that is persistently transmitted by aphids and causes significant yield losses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of BYDV in wheat on physiological and morphological traits, yield attributes and pasting properties of flour, and to determine any differences for these traits between susceptible and resistant genotypes under BYDV infection. Significant impact on physiological and morphological traits and yield was observed in plants inoculated at the 2-leaf stage (Zadoks scale, Z12), with a greater impact in the three susceptible genotypes than in the resistant genotype. Yield reduction with inoculation at Z12 was 18–49%, and yield reduction with inoculation mid tillering (Z25) was 6–31%. There was a significant reduction in effective tiller number with both inoculation times, but 1000-kernel weight was affected only with early inoculation. Pasting properties were little ...

Following his Ph.D. studies on flag smut, Prof McIntosh dedicated his entire career to the genetic control of cereal rust diseases. He has had a very distinguished career and is recognized for his international reputation in research on rust diseases of cereals. Some of his major achievements include contributions to the collection of aneuploid stocks of Chinese Spring wheat, chromosome location and genetic linkage studies in wheat, the naming of 7 genes for resistance to

Background and Aim: The use of agro-industrial byproducts as an unconventional source of raw materials for monogastric feed is one possible solution. This study aimed to determine the effects of incorporating detoxified apricot kernel meal (DAKM) as a substitute for soybean meal and dehydrated tomato pulp (DTP) as a substitute for alfalfa hay on the local rabbit fattening. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 white strain rabbits, weaned at 33 days, were randomly assigned to four groups of 30. The rabbits in each group were ringed, placed in cages at 6 rabbits/cage, and fed according to DAKM and DTP incorporation rates (0%, 30%, 40%, and 60%). Results: The weights at 77 days were improved (p&lt;0.05) with unchanged mean daily intakes. The vast majority of slaughter parameters and carcass characteristics improved. The chemical composition of the meat constituents improved significantly, with a 60% increase in the protein content of the batch (26.55% vs. 28.53%), 38% reduction in the...

A single or a few variables may not be sufficient to evaluate management practice effects in a complicated cropping system, so six plant and 13 soil variables were integrated using principal component analysis (PCA) to examine nine 4-yr organic potato rotations. The rotations were combinations of three forage levels (0, 1, and 2 yr of forages) with three soil amendments (monogastric compost, ruminant compost, and alfalfa meal). Quantities of amendments were estimated by soil test recommendations and amendment nutrient availabilities. In the 4th potato year, one half of each original plot was not amended (&quot;the 4th year unamended plots&quot;), while the other half received soil amendments (&quot;4th year amended plots&quot;). The first three principal components explained 67 and 63% of the overall variation for the 4th-yr amended and unamended plots, respectively. PCA ordination plots indicated that, overall, the type of soil amendments had larger effects on soil and plant variab...

Objective: Homoacetogens play important roles in the production of acetate in the large intestine of monogastric mammals. However, their diversity in the porcine large intestine is still unknown. Marker gene analysis was performed to assess the effects of energy level on the diversity and population densities of homoacetogens in porcine feces. Methods: Crossbred pigs were fed high or low energy-level diets. The high-intake (HI) diet was sufficient to allow a daily gain of 1.2 kg. The low-intake (LI) diet provided 0.6 times the amount of energy as the HI diet. Genetic diversity was analyzed using formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase gene (FHS) clone libraries derived from fecal DNA samples. FHS DNA copy numbers were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: A wide variety of FHS sequences was recovered from animals in both treatments. No differences in FHS clone libraries between the HI and LI groups were found. During the experimental period, no significant differences in the proportion of FHS copy numbers were observed between the two treatment groups. Conclusion: This is the first reported molecular diversity analysis using specific homoacetogen marker genes from the large intestines of pigs. There was no observable effect of feed intake on acetogen diversity.

Objective: Homoacetogens play important roles in the production of acetate in the large intestine of monogastric mammals. However, their diversity in the porcine large intestine is still unknown. Marker gene analysis was performed to assess the effects of energy level on the diversity and population densities of homoacetogens in porcine feces. Methods: Crossbred pigs were fed high or low energy-level diets. The high-intake (HI) diet was sufficient to allow a daily gain of 1.2 kg. The low-intake (LI) diet provided 0.6 times the amount of energy as the HI diet. Genetic diversity was analyzed using formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase gene (FHS) clone libraries derived from fecal DNA samples. FHS DNA copy numbers were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: A wide variety of FHS sequences was recovered from animals in both treatments. No differences in FHS clone libraries between the HI and LI groups were found. During the experimental period, no significant differences in the proportion of FHS copy numbers were observed between the two treatment groups. Conclusion: This is the first reported molecular diversity analysis using specific homoacetogen marker genes from the large intestines of pigs. There was no observable effect of feed intake on acetogen diversity.

The development of sustainable feed ingredients for monogastric livestock is nowadays considering insect meals and oils to replace or supplement conventional feedstuffs. Although the regulation on the use of insect products differs among countries resulting in restrictions on use in the diets of monogastric meat producers, global research is exploring all the strengths and weaknesses of their inclusion. Therefore, whereas the scientific literature has extensively studied both the relationship between insect farming systems and safety (potential health risks), and between the dietary use of insects and the nutritional value of diets and production performance of farm animals (fish, poultry, swine, rabbit), the relationship between insect-containing diet and meat quality has only recently been considered. The present review therefore aims to collect the results of the studies that have related the dietary use of some insect species, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and the silkworm (Bombyx mori), on the physicochemical and sensory traits of the poultry, swine and rabbit meat. The variable that has been most affected by the inclusion of insects as feed on livestock meat quality is the fatty acid (FA) profile, which, as is well known, in monogastrics tends to reflect that of the diet. Therefore, the black soldier fly inclusion has always originated meats with a more saturated FA profile, the yellow mealworm a more monounsaturated fatty acid profile, whereas the silkworm a more unsaturated fatty acid profile and rich of valuable omega-3 FA, but rarely changed the related physicochemical variables, or the sensory profile of the meat.

The use of enzymes in pig feed has increased considerably especially the use of phytase but also non‐starch polysaccharides (NSP) hydrolyzing enzymes because both are not present in the intestinal tract of monogastric animals. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of two different xylanase products (xylanase 1: ẞ‐1,4 endo‐xylanase with ẞ‐glucanase activity vs. xylanase 2: ẞ‐1,4 endo‐ xylanase) in weaned piglets in terms of nutrient digestibility and performance. Piglets (n = 338) were distributed into 1 of 4 experimental groups. All animals received the same basal diet based on wheat (43%), soybean meal (25%), barley (10%) and triticale (10%). From 35 to 84 days of life, diets were supplemented with either: 0 (T1), 24000 BXU/kg of xylanase 1 (T2), 12000 or 24000 BXU/kg of xylanase 2 (T3 and T4). Enzyme addition had no significant effect on apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen free extracts. However, pigs fed treatment T4 had improved (P &lt; 0.05) crude prote...

Grains rich in starch constitute the primary source of energy for both pigs and humans, but there is incomplete understanding of physiological mechanisms that determine the extent of digestion of grain starch in monogastric animals including pigs and humans. Slow digestion of starch to produce glucose in the small intestine (SI) leads to undigested starch escaping to the large intestine where it is fermented to produce short-chain fatty acids. Glucose generated from starch provides more energy than short-chain fatty acids for normal metabolism and growth in monogastrics. While incomplete digestion of starch leads to underutilised feed in pigs and economic losses, it is desirable in human nutrition to maintain consistent body weight in adults. Undigested nutrients reaching the ileum may trigger the ileal brake, and fermentation of undigested nutrients or fibre in the large intestine triggers the colonic brake. These intestinal brakes reduce the passage rate in an attempt to maximise ...