Domenico Gatta

Effect of prolonged branched-chain amino acid supplementation on metabolic response to anaerobic exercise in standardbreds

Summary This study investigated the effect of prolonged BCAA supplementation on metabolic response to a 1600m run on treadmill in Standardbred trotters. Four trained Standardbreds were divided into two groups and assigned in a 2×2 Latin square design. Both groups were fed and exercised similarly: one group received an oral amino acids supplement (12 g leucine, 9 g isoleucine and 9 g valine) 30 minutes prior to exercise and immediately after, the other group received a placebo. The horses received the supplement 3 days per week for 5 weeks. In the last week horses performed an anaerobic exercise test on an inclined (3.5%) high-speed treadmill. The exercise consisted of a 15 minute warm-up phase immediately followed by a 1600 m run at maximal speed (heart rate > 200 beats/min). Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, after exercise and during recovery (10 min, 30 min, and 24 h), and analyzed for lactate, ammonia, total protein, urea, uric acid, creatinine, free fatty acids (FFA), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate amino transferase (AST). Heart rate was continuously recorded during exercise and recovery. No statistical differences between the groups were observed for all the considered parameters. Nevertheless, BCAA supplementation resulted in a higher plasma ammonia and urea concentrations as reported in previous studies in humans and rats. These data suggest that a BCAA supplementation are not effective in enhancing performance in healthy and well-fed horses.

Influence of partial replacement of soya bean meal by faba beans or peas in heavy pigs diet on meat quality, residual anti-nutritional factors and phytoestrogen content

The study evaluated the partial substitution of soybean meal by faba beans (18%) or peas (20%) as additional protein sources in diets destined for typical Italian heavy pig production. It compared animal performances, meat quality, the presence of residual anti-nutritional factors (ANF) and phytoestrogens in plasma and meat and the possible effects on pig health, by evaluating oxidative, inflammatory and pro-atherogenic markers. The results showed that the productive performances, expressed as body weight and feed conversion ratio, of pigs fed with faba bean and pea diets were similar to those of pigs fed only the soybean meal. Meat quality of pigs fed with the three diets was similar in colour, water-holding capacity, tenderness and chemical composition. Despite the higher levels of phytoestrogen in the plasma of pigs fed only the soybean meal, phytoestrogen concentration in the muscle was equivalent to that of animals fed diets with faba beans, whereas pigs fed a diet with peas showed a lower concentration. Inflammation and pro-atherogenic parameters did not show significant differences among the three diets. Overall, the partial substitution of soybean meal by faba beans appears more interesting than with peas, particularly in relation to the higher amount of polyphenols in the diet and the highest concentration of phytoestrogens found in the plasma and muscle of animals, while the pyrimidine anti-nutritional compounds present in the diet did not appear to accumulate and had no effect on the growth performance of animals.

Faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and pea seeds (Pisum sativum) as protein sources in lactating ewes’ diets.

Abstract 18 Massese lactating ewes, divided into 3 homogeneous groups for parity and milk yield, were used to evaluate the replacement effects of soybean meal by Faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and Pea (Pisum sativum) seeds. During a 70 days trial (beginning after weaning: 30±1.5 days after lambing) animals were fed three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. Each diet was characterised by the presence of only one protein feed. The diets consisted of alfalfa hay (1.1 kg/head/d) and a decreasing amount of mixed feed (from 1.1 to 0.7 kg/head/d) to fit animals’ requirements. Milk yield, milk chemical composition, animals live weight and BCS, health state and hematochemical parameters were regularly monitored. No diets palatability problems were detected. No significant differences resulted for live weight, BCS, milk yield and milk chemical composition, except for milk protein: higher for faba bean (6.54%) and soybean (6.39%) respect pea (5.66%) diets, P<0.05. No differences resulted for blood parameters too and no clinical signs of illness were observed. Therefore faba bean and pea seeds seem to be able to replace the soybean well.

Application of a constant blood withdrawal method in equine exercise physiology studies

The aim of the present study was to test a constant blood withdrawal method (CBWM) to collect blood samples from horses during treadmill exercise. CBWM was performed in 4 Standardbreds and 5 Haflinger horses. A peristaltic pump was used to control blood aspiration from an i.v. catheter via an extension line. Blood was collected using an automatic fractions collector, with a constant delay time between the drawing of blood and sample collection. Blood withdrawal using CBWM was made during a treadmill standardised exercise test (SET). A blood flow of 12 m/min was used and samples collected every 60 s during the entire period of exercise. The volume of blood collected in each sample tube was 12.1+/-0.2 ml, with a delay time of mean +/- s.d. 25.3+/-0.8 s. Plasma lactate kinetics based on measurement of lactate in each fraction showed an exponential increase during the first 13 min of exercise (10.5 min of SET and 2.5 min recovery). The peak plasma lactate concentration was observed between 2.5 and 5.5 min after the end of SET. CBWM permits the kinetics of lactate and other blood-borne variables to be studied over time. This method could be a valuable aid for use in studying equine exercise physiology.

Buckwheat bran (Fagopyrum esculentum) as partial replacement of corn and soybean meal in the laying hen diet

The effect of partial substitution of corn (−20%) and soybean meal (−10%) with buckwheat bran (+30%) (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) in the diet of ISA-Brown hens was investigated in sixteen 74-week old hens, housed in couple wire cages and submitted to a 16 h light:8 h dark photoperiod. The following traits were measured: body weight, egg production, egg mass, egg quality, feed intake, feed conversion, comparative palatability of ingredients and digestibility of diet. χ2 and non-parametric tests were used for production rate and yolk color score, respectively. ANOVA was used for all other parameters. Comparative choice of buckwheat, corn and soy was checked under different forms in 3 free choice tests. Results show that egg production rate (43.3% vs 50.5%; P<0.05) and feed intake (78.3±0.68 eggs/hen d vs 87.8±0.68 eggs/hen d; P<0.05) increased with the partial introduction of buckwheat bran in the diet. There was no difference in feed conversion between treatments. Nutrient balance confirmed that AMEn of diet was deeply lowered by the buckwheat bran use (6.5 MJ/kg vs 10.1 MJ/kg), due to the high fibre content of buckwheat bran (263 g/kg). Maize was always the most preferred ingredient, buckwheat bran was consumed more than expected in absence of any preference, and soybean was the food least chosen. Buckwheat bran can be used as an ingredient feed for low-producing laying hens; it induces a feed-intake increase, partially balanced by improved egg-production rates and a tendency to better albumen Haugh units.

Brief note about plasma catecholamines kinetics and submaximal exercise in untrained standardbreds

Four untrained standardbred horses performed a standardized exercise test on the treadmill and an automated blood collection system programmed to obtain blood samples every 15 s was used for blood collection in order to evaluate the kinetics of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The highest average values obtained for adrenaline and noradrenaline were 15.0 +/- 3.0 and 15.8 +/- 2.8 nmol/l respectively, with exponential accumulation of adrenaline (r = 0.977) and noradrenaline (r = 0.976) during the test. Analysis of the correlation between noradrenaline and adrenaline for each phase of the test shows that correlation coefficient decreases as the intensity of exercise increases (from r = 0.909 to r = 0.788). This suggests that during submaximal exercise, the process for release, distribution and clearance of adrenaline into blood circulation differs from that of noradrenaline.

Effect of oils administration on diets digestibility and haematic fatty acids profile in exercising horses

Riassunto Effetto della somministrazione di due diversi tipi di olio sulla digeribilità della razione e sugli acidi grassi ematici in cavalli in attività. Nel cavallo sportivo l’elevata richiesta energetica obbliga all’uso di razioni contenenti notevoli quantità di concentrati. Essendo ben tollerati, i grassi vengono utilizzati come fonte energetica alternativa ai cereali. Scopo del presente lavoro è stato quello di confrontare la digeribilità di due diverse razioni contenenti rispettivamente olio di mais e un derivato dell’olio di oliva in cavalli in attività e valutare il livello ematico degli acidi grassi derivante dalla assunzione degli stessi. I CUDa ottenuti hanno mostrato una buona digeribilità di entrambe le diete. La digeribilità dei grassi è risultata significativamente più elevata (P<0,01) nella dieta contenente olio di mais (80,34±3,42 vs. 77,10±1,31%). Il livello degli acidi grassi ematici è risultato influenzato dalle diete.

Oxidation and antioxidant status: effects on shelf-life of meat from Limousine cattle fed with supplements of α-tocopherol

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant status of meat from cattle fed diets supplemented with vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate) during the finishing period and to evaluate the effect of this treatment on meat shelf-life. Twenty purebred Limousine calves reared in the same farm, were randomly selected, divided into control group (n=10) and treated group (n=10) and fed a total mixed ration: treated group received a supplementation of vitamin E (900 mg/kg of CMF) for a period of 150 days before slaughter. Meat quality was evaluated by the following analyses: pH, water holding capacity (drip loss), colour (L*, a*, b*, C*, H*), chemical forms of myoglobin, substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (MDA) and enzymatic antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutation peroxidase). Dietary vitamin E supplementation had a positive effect on water holding capacity; in the control group a considerable increase in drip loss from the 2nd to 6th day of conservation was observed (2.83% vs 7.54%), while in the treated group during the same time period this increase appeared to be much more gradual and occurred to a lesser degree (2.31% vs 4.15%). Moreover, administration of vitamin E led to greater stability of colorimetric coordinates and reduced discoloration of the longissimus dorsi muscle during conservation as indicated by the redness a* (control: 23.85 and 23.87 vs 19.34 at 2h, 2 and 6 days, respectively; treated: 24.88, 23.91 and 24.01 at 2h, 2 days and 6 days, respectively) and in the Chroma* (control: 26.89 and 26.77 vs 21.90 at 2h, 2 days and 6 days, respectively; treated: 27.67, 26.57 and 26.77 at 2h, 2 and 6 days, respectively). Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly greater in the meat from cattle treated with vitamin E compared to that observed in the meat from controls (0.204 vs 0.167). The study showed that vitamin E supplementation in the finishing diets of calves caused only slight modifications in the antioxidant status of the meat; however, it positively influenced several qualitative characteristics which appeared to be more stable over time, thus extending the shelf-life of the meat.

Zingiber officinale reduced lipid oxidation and increased antioxidant capacity in cooked pork burgers

than that caused by recognized “enterohaemorrhagic” STEC serogroups such as O157 and O111. More widespread use of PCRor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based screening tests for the presence of STEC of any serogroup in animal samples will undoubtedly result in increased detection of similar non-O157 outbreaks in the future. This will provide more accurate data on the epidemiology of human STEC disease.

Total mixed ration in exercising horse: digestibility and nitrogen metabolism

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the apparent digestibility of a total mixed ration (TMR) versus a traditional mixed hay/cereals diet. Four adult trained Standardbred geldings – BW = 478±37 kg - were used. The two diets consisted of 20 kg of a commercial TMR - corn silage, alfalfa hay, wet brewers’ grain, oat, apple pomace, molasses cane, soybean oil and mineral/vitamin supplement - (Diet 1) or 7 kg of meadow hay and 4.5 kg of cereal-mix - corn, oat, barley and protein/mineral/vitamin supplement - (Diet 2). The trial was conducted according to a Latin Square design (2x2). After an adaptation period of four weeks, total faeces and urine were collected for 6 days. Both feed and faeces samples were analysed for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, ADL and GE. Data were analysed by ANOVA. The apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of the two diets were compared. DM, OM, CP and GE apparent digestibility were significantly different between the diets, with higher values for unifeed diet than traditional diet. Energy requirement was satisfied by both diets (96.54 vs 95.55 MJ). Nitrogen balance showed negative values in both diets (- 61.67 vs - 9.05), but the hay/cereals supplemented diet showed the best protein utilisation.