T. Koutoku, T. Nakanishi, T. Takagi, I. Yamasaki, R. Zhang, K. Sashihara, E.-S. Saito, S. Saito, M. Furuse (Japan)

Nutritional Value and Effective Degradability of Crude Protein in Browse Species from Northeastern Mexico

J.G. Moya Rodríguez, R.G. Ramírez, R. Foroughbakhch

Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
Apartado Postal 142, Sucursal F, San Nicolás de los Garza
Nuevo León, 66451, México
(Received February 5, 2002; accepted September 4, 2002)

Abstract

Moya Rodríguez, J.G., Ramírez, R.G. and Foroughbachkch, R. 2002. Nutritional value and effective degradability of crude protein in browse species from northeastern Mexico. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 33-41.

Leaves from the shrubs Acacia wrightii, Bumelia celastrina, Castela texana, Forestiera angustifolia, Karwinskia humboldtiana, Larrea tridentata, Schaefferia cuneifolia and Zanthóxylum fagara were evaluated to determine their chemical composition and degradability parameters. The in situ technique was used to estimate effective degradability of crude protein (EDCP), using rumen fistulated sheep. The crude protein (CP) content varied within range of 15 to 22 per cent. The NDF content (annual means) in all evaluated browse plants was lower than Medicago sativa hay (49 per cent). However, the lignin content in browse plants was high. In general, during the winter shrubs were higher in EDCP and during autumn were low. With exception of B. celastrina and L. tridentata, all the shrubs had EDCP values higher or comparable to M. sativa. Thus, the rest of the evaluated shrubs may be termed as important protein sources for small grazing ruminants.

Effects of Live Weight at Slaughter on Tissue Distribution in Kids

A. Argüello¹, J. Capote², A. Marichal, J.L. López

Animal Production, Veterinary Faculty

Las Palmas de G.C. University
35416-Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
(Received January 14, 2002; accepted August 29, 2002)

Abstract

Argüello, A., Capote, J., Marichal, A. and López, J.L. 2002. Effects of live weight at slaughter on tissue distribution in kids. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 43-48.

To study the effects of live weight at slaughter (LWS; 6, 10, 25 kg), forty-five twin male kids from Canary Caprine Group breed were compared. No significant differences were found in any extra category cuts. In first category cuts kids slaughtered at 25 kg LWS had significantly more subcutaneous as well as total fat and less total bone, whereas in second category cuts, this group had more muscles. In conclusion, increased LWS from 6 to 10 or 25 kg have no effect in tissue distribution in extra category cuts and some effect in first and second category cuts.

Effects of Duration of Feed Restriction on Carcass Composition of Leghorn Cockerels

J.E. Rossi, S.C. Loerch¹

Department of Animal Sciences

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
The Ohio State University
Wooster, Ohio 44691, U.S.A.
(Received December 26, 2001; accepted July 18, 2002)

Abstract

Rossi, J.E. and Loerch, S.C. 2002. Effects of duration of feed restriction on carcass composition of Leghorn cockerels. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 49-57.

To study effects of duration of feed restriction on carcass composition of Leghorn cockerels, three-hundred sixty 7-d-old Leghorn cockerels were allotted to thirty-six pens with 10 cockerels per pen. Treatments were

ad libitum consumption of feed (AL) or feed intake was restricted to 80% of ad libitum intake for two (R-2), five (R-5), or eight (R-8) wk, followed by ad libitum feeding for the remainder of the experiment. Nine birds per treatment were slaughtered when mean body weight (BW) within a treatment was 250, 500, 1000 and 1310 g. At 250 g BW, carcass protein concentration was lower (P<0.01) and carcass fat concentration was greater (P<0.01) for birds in the AL and R-2 feeding regimens compared with birds in the
R-5 and R-8 regimens. At 1310g BW, there were no significant (P>0.33) treatment effects on carcass protein and fat concentrations. Carcass protein concentration and protein accretion rate appeared to be affected more by body weight than feeding regimen. Carcass fat concentration and accretion rate decreased during a feed intake restriction period, but rapidly increased during realimentation.

Effect of Environmental Lighting on Aggressive and Anxious Behavior in Male Mice

T. Koutoku, T. Nakanishi, T. Takagi, I. Yamasaki, R. Zhang, K. Sashihara, E.-S. Saito, S. Saito, M. Furuse*

Laboratory of Advanced Animal and Marine Bioresources

Graduate School of Bioresource and Biochemical Sciences
Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
(Received June 20, 2002; accepted December 6, 2002)

Abstract

Koutoku, T., Nakanishi, T., Takagi, T., Yamasaki, I., Zhang, R., Sashihara, K., Saito, E.-S., Saito, S. and Furuse, M. 2003. Effect of environmental lighting on aggressive and anxious behavior in male mice. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 65-74.

To study the influence of the different conditions of environmental lightning on aggressive behavior and open field activity, male mice were kept under different conditions of environmental lighting, i.e., A) 12-hour each light and dark (LD), B) continuous light (LL) and C) continuous dark (DD) for 27 days. Although no significant differences were observed among three groups, LL and DD conditions tended to show the inhibitory effect on aggression. In the open field test, the crossing, the time and the path significantly increased with the length of lighting period, but the rearing and defecation were not affected. The amounts of monoamines and their metabolites in the cerebellum, cerebrum and brainstem were hardly affected by lighting conditions. Taken together, DD condition was most preferable for mice to keep calm rather LL condition.

Determination of Serum Lipoproteins in Clinically Healthy Iranian Crossbred Cattle by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

S. Nazifi, M. Saeb, E. Rowghani

Department of Clinical Studies

School of Veterinary Medicine
Shiraz University, Shiraz 71345-1731, Iran
(Revised received October 28, 2002; accepted November 15, 2002)

Abstract

Nazifi, S., Saeb, M. and Rowghani, E. 2003. Determination of serum lipoproteins in clinically healthy Iranian crossbred cattle by agarose gel electrophoresis. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 59-64.

To determine the lipoprotein components of the serum, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 100 clinically healthy Iranian crossbred cattle according to their age (<1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 and >5 years) and sex. Separation on agarose gel electrophoresis revealed four separate serum lipoproteins, viz., a-lipoprotein (67.53±1.16%), pre-ß-lipoprotein (14.9±0.80%), ß-lipoprotein (17.25±0.37%) and chylomicron (0.26±0.03%). The normal concentrations of serum cholesterol and triglyceride were 3.80±0.11 and 0.38±0.02 mmol/l, respectively. Age was significantly and directly correlated with cholesterol, triglyceride, a-lipoprotein (HDL), pre-ß-lipoprotein (VLDL) and chylomicron concentrations. Sex had no effect on parameters studied.

Effect of Curcumin on Cholesterol Gall-stone Induction in Rats

M. R. Panjehshahin*, A.A. Owji**, D. Mehrabani***, M. Mirzaee*, M. Vasei**

*Department of Pharmacology

**Department of Biochemistry
School of Medicine
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
***Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute

Shiraz, Iran
(Revised rceived on November 29, 2002; accepted December 20, 2002)

Abstract

Panjehshahin, M.R., Owji, A.A., Mehrabani, D., Mirzaee, M. and Vasei, M. 2003. Effect of curcumin on cholesterol gall-stone induction in rats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 75-80.

To study the effects of curcumin on the formation of cholesterol gallstones, 30 female rats were divided into three equal groups. Diet of rats in lithogenic group was supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol, 0.15% sodium cholate and 0.15% lecithine, whereas, rats in curcumin group were fed similar to lithogenic group with 0.5% curcumin extra for 10 weeks. Lithogenic diet induced stone formation in rats. Cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased in bile of curcumin rats group relative to those of lithogenic group. The number of cholesterol microcrystal was significantly more in bile of rats under lithogenic diet compared to other groups. In curcumin group, the formation of cholesterol crystals and aggregation of microcrystals were not visible, indicating that curcumin could significantly reduce the possibility of gallstone formation.

Eastern Gamagrass : Determining its Role in the Feeding of Lactating Cows

¹Department of Animal Science

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
²United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Big Flats Plant Materials Centre, Corning, NY, USA
³State University of NewYork, Cobleskill, NY, USA

⁴Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
(Received on July 01, 2002; accepted December 16, 2002)

Abstract

Cherney, D.J.R., Salon, P.R., Thompson, D. and Cherney, J.H. 2003. Eastern gamagrass : Determining its role in the feeding of lactating cows. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 81-92.

Two production trials were conducted to determine the role of eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides (L.)L.) in the feeding of lactating cows. Two trials were conducted comparing eastern gamagrass total mixed ration (TMR) with corn silage TMR. At Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, a trial was conducted with 16 lactating Holstein cows (165.2±8.7 days in milk) milked three times daily. Twenty lactating Holstein cows milked twice daily were used at State University of New York (SUNY) Cobleskill. The Cornell University (CU) trial was a continuous trial with production parameters of the previous week used as a covariate. The SUNY Cobleskill trial was a switchback design with 28d periods. Dry matter intake and milk production did not differ between the diets in either trial. Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was higher in the corn silage TMR than the eastern gamagrass TMR in the Cornell University trial. Milk fat, true milk protein and milk lactose did not vary in either trial. Results from this study indicate that eastern gamagrass can be used to replace the fiber coming from corn silage. This will result in considerably more grain being needed in the TMR, however, to offset the lower energy of eastern gamagrass. Whether or not this is economically or environmentally feasible will depend on the price of grain. Nutrient management aspects of possibly increasing feeds brought from off farm also needs to be considered.

Nutrient Digestion of Common Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) Pers Growing in Northeastern Mexico

Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
Apartado Postal 142, Sucursal F
San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L., 66451, México
(Received February 28, 2002; accepted October 3, 2002)

Abstract

Ramírez, R.G., González-Rodríguez, H. and García-Dessommes, G. 2002. Nutrient digestion of common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) Pers growing in northeastern Mexico. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 93-102.

The rate and extent of nutrient digestion of total plant, leaves and stems of common bermudagrass were estimated using the nylon bag technique in rumen fistulated Pelibuey x Rambouillet sheep fed alfalfa hay. The crude protein (CP) content of common bermudagrass during spring was higher and lower during winter. Leaves resulted with higher (P<0.05) CP than stems. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and its derivatives (hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and insoluble ash) were lower (P<0.05) in spring and higher in winter. There was no difference (P>0.05) in NDF between leaves and stems; however, lignin was lower (P<0.05) in leaves than that in stems. Dry matter, crude protein and cell wall of common bermudagrass were better digested during spring by rumen microbes in sheep and to a lower extent in winter. Leaves resulted in higher nutrient degradabilities than stems. In general, during spring mineral contents were higher and lower in winter. During spring when precipitation was high (417 mm out of 613 mm), nutrient content of common bermudagrass was higher than that in other seasons.

In vitro Gas Production and Nylon Bag Rumen Degradation as Predictors of the in vivo Apparent Digestibility and Voluntary Intake of Tropical Hays Fed to Sheep

Paula Mendoza-Nazar*, Carlos Sandoval-Castro

*20 Sur Oriente No. 915 CP. 29000

Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
**Fac. Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia

Univ. Autónoma de Yucatán. P.O. Box 4-116. C.P. 97100
Km. 15.5 carret. Mérida-Xmatkuil. Mérida, Yuc., México
(Revised received July 1, 2002; accepted July 10, 2002)

Abstract

Mendoza-Nazar, P. and Sandoval-Castro, C. 2002. In vitro gas production and nylon bag rumen degradation as predictors of the in vivo apparent digestibility and voluntary intake of tropical hays fed to sheep. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 103-116.

The ability of the chemical composition, in situ degradation and manual in vitro gas production techniques (Pressure transducer) to predict voluntary intake (I), apparent digestibilty (D) of DM, OM, NDF and ADF and live weight gain was compared. Seven hays were individually offered ad libitum to growing male sheep. Gas production was determined up to 168 h and in situ degradation up to 96h of incubation. Gas and degradation profiles were fitted to the equation P = a + b (1- e^-ct-Tl) (without lag phase for the gas production). Neither of the measured variables (chemical fractions, in situ and in vitro profiles) nor its combinations were able to predict live weight gain. From the chemical composition only NDF was able to predict DMI (P<0.01). In situ DM rumen degradation and gas production profiles had significant relationships (P<0.05) with DMI and DOMI, which were improved by inclusion of NDF or OM on the equations. DMD, NDFD and ADFD were best predicted by the gas production data, without the chemical composition or in situ degradation data. The in situ technique was a better DMI predictor but, the in vitro gas production technique predicted more accurately the apparent digestibility of tropical grasses.

An Outbreak of Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy in Dromedary Camels

Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery

Veterinary Faculty-University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
35416, Arucas-Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
(Received January 14, 2002; accepted September 1, 2002)

Abstract

Corbera, J.A., Morales, M., Pulido, M., Montoya, J.A. and Gutierrez, C. 2002. An outbreak of nutritional muscular dystrophy in dromedary camels. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 117-122.

An outbreak of nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) due to vitamin

E/selenium deficiency in an intensive dromedary camel herd causing a mortality of 25 animals (22 calves and 3 adults) is described. From a total of 120 adult animals (84 females) 47 calved. 22 calves (younger than 3 months of age) showed clinical signs as weakness, reluctancy to move, muscular rigidity, progressive opisthotonus, stiff gait, difficulty to suck and to stand, ataxia, recumbency position, respiratory distress and death. Enteritis, pneumonia and sudden death were also observed in these animals. In the peripartum period 15 dams showed uterine prolapse, placental retention or clinical mastitis, 3 of which died later. Clinical peculiarities observed in these animals were opisthotonus, tail elevation and uterine prolapse, never described in dromedaries associated with NMD. Therapeutical dosages used (sodium selenite: 0.06 mg per kg subcutaneously, vitamin E: 640 mg of d-a-tocopherol per animal intramuscularly) and preventive dosage of 40 mg/kg of sodium selenite by oral route (by mineral block) resulted adequate in this species.

Shower Effect at Summer Time on Fattening Performances of Black and White Bullocks

Serap Göncü, Kemal Özkütük

University of Çukurova, Faculty of Agriculture

Department of Animal Science
01330 Adana, Turkey
(Revised received July 12, 2002; accepted October 30, 2002)

Abstract

Göncü, S. and Özkütük, K. 2002. Shower effect at summer time on fattening performances of black and white bullocks. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 23: 123-127.

To study the shower effect on fattening performances of black and white bullocks in hot summer season, 20 black and white bullocks (12-14 months) were divided into three groups. First group was showered twice a day and the second group four times a day, while the third was the control group. The average daily live-weight gains of the groups were 1.11±0.11, 1.27±0.08, 1.26±0.09 kg and feed conversion efficiency 10.13±0.99, 9.73±0.66 and 11.56±0.79 kg, respectively. There was no difference between groups on average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency (P>0.05), but daily concentrate and roughage intake were significant (P<0.01).