Baoming Shi

Effects of modified maifanite on zearalenone toxicity in female weaner pigs

The experiment was conducted to investigate alleviative effects of modified maifanite (MMF) on zearalenone (ZEN) toxicity in female weaner pigs. In this experiment, 32 female weaner pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Large white, 10.50±0.07 kg) were divided into 4 groups (8 pigs/group): control group (0.02 mg/kg ZEN); ZEN-treated group (1.11 mg/kg ZEN); MMF-treated group (1% MMF); ZEN+MMF treated group (1.11 mg/kg ZEN and 1% MMF), The trial period lasted for 28 d. Growth performance, vulva size, genital organs, antioxidant enzyme activities, serum metabolites and ZEN residues in female weaner pigs were determined. The results showed that the treatments had no effect on growth performance and length and width of the vulva. However, vulva area (P=0.038) and progesterone (P=0.022) were affected by the ZEN×MMF interaction. Treatment with ZEN resulted in a significant increase of the genital organ weight (P=0.002) and decrease of serum superoxide dismutase (P=0.017) activity. Feeding of the ZEN diet decreased the number of red blood cells (P=0.009) and platelets (P=0.002). The MMF reduced methane dicarboxylic aldehyde concentration when fed with ZEN diet but not when fed with the basal diet (ZEN×MMF, P=0.018). In the liver, feeding of the ZEN diet with MMF reduced the levels of ZEN residues (P=0.003). Our findings suggest that the addition of MMF to ZEN diet resulted in partial restoration of antioxidant status and reduced ZEN levels in the liver.

Modified halloysite nanotubes and the alleviation of kidney damage induced by dietary zearalenone in swine

The aims of this study were, first, to investigate the toxicity of zearalenone (ZEN) through the analysis of biochemical parameters, oxidative stress, pathological changes and inflammatory response in the kidney of gestation sows and offspring; and, second, to evaluate the efficacy of modified halloysite nanotubes (MHNTs) for the alleviation to the adverse effects induced by ZEN. This study focused on the period of organogenesis between days 35 and 70 of gestation, and treatments included (1) a control diet; (2) contaminated grain (50% control corn and 50% mouldy corn); and (3) contaminated grain (50% control corn and 50% mouldy corn) + 1% MHNTs. ZEN treatment significantly increased most of the biochemical parameters and inflammatory cytokines and degenerative changes in the kidney and induced oxidative damage in plasma, whereas the addition of MHNTs in combination with ZEN induced a re-establishment of the biochemical parameters, the plasma oxidative stress enzyme activities and the normal histology of the kidney. Thus, the data strongly suggest that the deleterious effects of ZEN can be significantly diminished by MHNTs.

Conjugated linoleic acid and betain prevent pork quality issues from diets containing distillers′ dried grains with solubles

Su, B., Wang, L., Wang, H., Shi, B., Shan, A. and Li, Y. 2013. Conjugated linoleic acid and betain prevent pork quality issues from diets containing distillers′ dried grains with solubles. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 477-485. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or betaine (BET) in diets containing distillers′ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on the fatty acid profile and the shelf-life attributes of pork. Thirty-two (60±2 kg) crossed-bred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine) were randomly assigned to one of four diets: (1) the control diet containing no corn DDGS (control group); (2) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS (DDGS-fed group); (3) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 10 g kg-1 CLA (CLA-fed group); (4) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 1 g kg-1 BET (BET-fed group). Dietary DDGS decreased the proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (P<0.05), and increased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P<0.05) in pork with respect to the control group, whereas dietary CLA and BET decreased the proportion of PUFA and increased the proportion of SFA in pork compared with DDGS-fed group. Pork treated with DDGS alone had higher total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value (P<0.05) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value (P<0.05) with respect to the control diet during display, whereas CLA-fed group and BET-fed group had lower TVB-N concentration and TBARS value (P<0.05) in pork than DDGS-fed group. There was no significant difference of instrumental color (L*, a*, b*) between DDGS-fed group and the control group (P>0.05). However, CLA-fed and BET-fed groups maintained lower L* values and higher a* values (P<0.05), but did not affect b* values with respect to the DDGS-fed group and the control group. Results confirmed that diets containing 30% DDGS have some adverse effects on pork freshness and lipid peroxidation; However, supplementation with CLA or BET can partially reverse these effects and improve color image of pork during display.

Toxicity of zearalenone on the intestines of pregnant sows and their offspring and alleviation with modified halloysite nanotubes

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to examine the effects of maternal exposure to zearalenone (ZEN) on the intestines of pregnant sows and offspring on postnatal days (PD) 1, 21 and 188. Eighteen pregnant sows (six per treatment) were fed a control diet (ZEN, 0.03 mg kg-1 ), ZEN diet (ZEN, 2.77 mg kg-1 ) and ZEN + 1% modified halloysite nanotube (MHNT) diet (ZEN, 2.76 mg kg-1 ) respectively from gestation days (GD) 35 to 70. At the end of the experiment, three sows of each group on GD70 and the offspring on PD1, PD21 and PD188 were killed to analyze the changes of intestines. RESULTS The results showed that ZEN caused oxidative stress, an inflammatory response, changes in the structure of jejunum and alterations of the bacterial numbers in cecal digesta in pregnant sows and PD1 and PD21 piglets. On PD188, bacterial numbers were also altered. MHNTs supplementation reduced the amount of ZEN in the intestine and reversed to a large extent the effects induced by ZEN on the intestines of pregnant sows and offspring. CONCLUSION The results obtained from this study indicated that MHNTs treatment was beneficial for the adsorption of ZEN in the intestine of sows.

Effects of dietary supplementation of fulvic acid on lipid metabolism of finishing pigs

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of fulvic acid on lipid metabolism of finishing pigs. One hundred eighty crossbred barrows (Landrace × Yorkshire, 60 ± 2.5 kg) were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments (36 pigs/treatment) and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% fulvic acid for 42 d. Thirty pigs (6 pigs/treatment) were slaughtered at the end of the experiment. Blood samples and adipose tissue were collected for determination of blood parameters and lipid metabolic enzymes. The results showed that compared with the control group, dietary supplementation of 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6% fulvic acid significantly reduced mean backfat thickness of pigs (P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein, leptin, growth hormone, insulin, and triiodothyronine were significantly increased by adding fulvic acid in diets (P < 0.05). With the raised concentration of dietary fulvic acid, hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) activity was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in adipose tissue. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of fulvic acid reduced the mean backfat thickness of pigs. This change related to the increased activity of HSL and the decreased activity of LPL in adipose tissue.

Effects of dietary lecithin and l-carnitine on fatty acid composition and lipid-metabolic genes expression in subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis of growing-finishing pigs

A 2×2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lecithin and l-carnitine on fatty acid composition and lipid-metabolic genes expression in subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis of growing-finishing pigs. 160 barrows were assigned to 4 treatments consisting of 8 replicates with 5 pigs in each. The total PUFA, C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3 in subcutaneous fat were increased by lecithin but the effect of lecithin was dependent of l-carnitine where supplementation of lecithin together with l-carnitine decreased total PUFA, C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3. l-Carnitine increased the intramuscular fat content when supplemented with lecithin but no effect was observed without lecithin supplementation. l-Carnitine increased the mRNA expression of CPT1A, HSL, FABP4 and CRAT; and reduced the mRNA expression of FAS and ACCα in subcutaneous fat. Lecithin increased the mRNA expression of ACCα and ME1 in longissimus thoracis. l-Carnitine increased the mRNA expression of FAS in longissimus thoracis when supplemented with lecithin but no effect was observed without lecithin supplementation.

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid or betaine on the growth performance and fatty acid composition in backfat and belly fat of finishing pigs fed dried distillers grains with solubles.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or betaine on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition in backfat and belly fat of pigs fed distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Thirty-two (60±2 kg) crossbred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine) were assigned to one of four diets randomly: (1) the control diet containing no corn DDGS (control group); (2) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS (DDGS-fed group); (3) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 10 g/kg CLA (CLA-fed group); (4) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 1 g/kg BET (BET-fed group). The pigs fed DDGS showed that the percentages of C18:2, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and iodine value (IV) increased, while C18:1, saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) decreased. Pigs fed the DDGS+CLA or DDGS+betaine diets showed the increased percentage of SFA, and the decreased percentage of C18:2, PUFA and IV. In conclusion, results confirmed that the diets containing 30% DDGS had no detrimental effects on growth performance, but increased the percentage of PUFA and IV and decreased the percentage of SFA and MUFA in the backfat and belly fat. However, supplementation with CLA or BET can part reverse these effects on carcass fat in finishing pigs.

The influence of distillers dried grains with solubles during gestation on sow productivity and milk composition

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) during gestation on sow productivity, litter performance and milk composition. Thirty-six second- and third-parity (2.27 parity) sows (Yorkshire) were bred with semen from a pool of Landrace boars. The sows were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 groups and fed diets containing 0 (control), 12.5 or 25% DDGS during gestation. The sows were divided into 12 blocks of three animals. Piglets were cross-fostered, within dietary treatment groups 48 h after birth to standardise litter size to a range of 9 to13 piglets. The 25% DDGS supplementation resulted in a greater (P=0.03) average daily feed intake (ADFI) during lactation compared with control sows. The weaning-to-oestrus interval was shorter in sows receiving 25% DDGS diets compared to the control (P=0.01). The number of piglets born was similar among treatments. The addition of 12.5 and 25% DDGS to the gestation diet increased the average daily gain (ADG) of the piglets during lactation (P=0.04). The results demonstrated that feeding 25% DDGS does not have negative effects on sow or litter performance and increases the sow ADFI and the piglet ADG during lactation.

Dietary supplementation of l-arginine and chromium picolinate in sows during gestation affects the muscle fibre characteristics but not the performance of their progeny

BACKGROUND The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of l-arginine and chromium picolinate (CrP) in sows during gestation on muscle fibre characteristics, performance and carcass characteristics of their progeny. Sixty healthy sows were randomly divided into four groups as a 2 × 2 factorial experiment design: one group received the control diet, another received the control diet + 10 g kg-1 l-arginine, the third group received the control diet + 400 ppb CrP, and the fourth group received the control diet + 10 g kg-1 l-arginine and 400 ppb CrP. RESULTS The results showed that sows fed the diet supplemented with CrP produced progeny with higher muscle fibre numbers at birth, weaning and slaughter compared to sows fed the control diet. For mean fibre areas, the same result was found at weaning. For progeny of sows fed diets supplemented with l-arginine, only higher muscle fibre numbers at slaughter was observed. Almost no differences were observed regarding average daily gains, average daily feed intake, gain-to-feed ratios, carcass and meat traits. CONCLUSION The results of the present study indicate that dietary supplementation of l-arginine and particularly CrP in sows during gestation alters muscle fibre numbers in their offspring, although not their performance or carcass characteristics.