E. R. Miller

Influence of Dietary Safflower Oil and Tallow on Growth, Plasma Lipids and Lipogenesis in Rats, Pigs and Chicks

Summary Rats, chicks and pigs were fed diets containing safflower oil or tallow. Plasma triglyceride levels were elevated when tallow, rather than safflower oil was added to the diet of rats, unchanged in chicks and lowered when tallow, rather than safflower oil was fed to pigs. The rate of fatty acid synthesis in rat and chick liver was higher, whereas the rate of lipogenesis in adipose tissue preparations from rats and pigs was lower when tallow, rather than safflower oil was fed. These results indicate that there are species-specific, as well as organ-specific, metabolic responses to various dietary fats.

Effects of dietary carbohydrate source on growth, plasma metabolites and lipogenesis in rats, pigs, and chicks.

Summary Rats, chicks, and pigs were fed diets containing fructose or glucose. Plasma triglyceride levels were elevated in rats but not in chicks or pigs fed diets containing fructose. The rate of fatty acid synthesis in rat liver but not in chick liver was elevated when fructose-containing diets were fed. Conversely, the rate of fatty acid synthesis in rat adipose tissue but not in pig adipose tissue tended to be depressed when fructose-containing diets were fed. These results indicate that there are species-specific as well as organ-specific metabolic responses to various dietary carbohydrates.

Influence of feeding frequency on body weight and glucose tolerance in the pig.

Summary Pigs were pair-fed one or four meals per 48 hr for 5.5 months. Meal frequency did not influence body weight gain, body composition, glucose tolerance or plasma glucose, cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Pigs fed less frequently exhibited elevated malic enzyme activity in adipose tissue.

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase in the Post-Natal Pig and Effect of Serum Storage on Enzyme Activity.

Summary Alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum of 41 pigs was studied at 1, 2, 7, 14 and/or 28 days post-partum. Individual values were highly variable both within and between litters. Activity generally, but not always, decreased after birth. Negative values of .53 and .33 were obtained when serum phosphatase activity was correlated with body weight and serum protein concentration, respectively. Storage of serum at 5°C for 18 hours significantly increased phosphatase activity. Serum collected at 1, 7 or 14 days post-partum significantly decreased in phosphatase activity during 5 weeks of storage at −20°C.

8 – Iodine bioavailability

Publisher Summary Iodine is an essential micromineral for all animal species, including humans. It occurs in plant tissues predominantly as inorganic iodide and is readily absorbed in this form from all segments of the intestinal tract. Few definitive studies of iodine bioavailability have been done since 1973. The current information is primarily from the work of Miller and his associates at the University of Tennessee with dairy cattle. Early studies have shown that either sodium iodide (NaI) or potassium iodide (KI), as supplemental sources of iodine, were effective in maintaining normal thyroid weights in rats fed with goitrogenic diets. Several researchers have used uptake of stable or radioactive iodine by the thyroid or other tissue as an indication of bioavailability of an iodine source. Injectable forms of iodized oils, as well as iodized oils administered orally, have served as effective sources of supplemental iodine in the reduction of endemic goiter in human populations. Iodine is unique in that stability of the carrier compound is of great importance. Goitrogenic substances present in feed or food are the most important factors influencing iodine bioavailability. Perchlorates and rubidium salts were known to interfere with iodine uptake by the thyroid. Sodium iodide, potassium iodide, and thylenediamine dihydriodide are well utilized by animals as sources of iodine. Calcium iodate and pemacalcium orthoperiodate are also of high bioavailability and have been shown to have greater physical stability. Potassium iodide or sodium iodide has usually served as the reference standard when comparative studies were conducted.

13 – Potassium bioavailability

Publisher Summary Potassium is an essential diet for all animals and is the third most abundant mineral element in the animal body. It is readily absorbed mainly from the upper small intestine and is excreted from the body primarily through urine. Forages, especially those who are young and growing rapidly, frequently contain potassium at concentrations well in excess of the ruminant animals requirement. Disappearance of potassium from fresh, lyophilized, and ground samples of Kentucky 31 tall fescue, Kenhy fescue, and red clover-tall fescue pasture when suspended in dacron bags in the bovine rumen was 90, 94, and 92%, respectively, after 3 hours of incubation. Apparent absorption was used by Paquay and colleagues to determine the utilization of potassium from forages and forage-concentrate combinations in 41 different diets by dairy cows. Potassium absorption from a mixed pea and oat silage was lower and the addition of concentrates including barley generally decreased potassium absorption. Combs and colleagues fed young pigs 0.06 and 0.12% potassium as the acetate or bicarbonate forms in a bioassay procedure and examined growth and a number of urinary and hematological measurements for linear response. O’Dell and Savage found that chicks gained weight with supplemental potassium when arginine was limiting in the diet. Research that has measured the utilization of potassium by animals from feeds and supplements is limited. It appears, however, that potassium present in organic and inorganic salts of the element is of high bioavailability.

Electrocardiographic patterns of normal and thiamine-deficient baby pigs.

Summary Electrocardiograms were made weekly from birth through 5 weeks of age on 35 baby pigs receiving various subminimal and adequate levels of thiamine in the diet. Typical ECG patterns of normal and thiamine-deficient baby pigs are presented and described. Statistically significant increases in PR time, QT time and cycle length occurred in deficient animals. Thiamine-deficient pigs consistently exhibited sinus arrhythmia. First and second degree auriculoventricular block were manifested. Evidence of cardiac hypertrophy occurred in deficient animals.

Action of High Dietary Copper in Promoting Growth of Pigs

High levels of dietary copper (125 to 250 ppm) are used routinely in Europe (Braude, 1967) and the USA (Wallace, 1967) to promote weight gain of growing pigs. The growth response of pigs to high copper feeding is similar to that of subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics and is a consistent and inexpensive positive response.