Jany Peiniau

Digestive utilization of concentrated and fibrous diets by two peccary species (Tayassu peccari, Tayassu tajacu) raised in French Guyana

Abstract Three experiments were carried out on 17 adult collared peccaries ( Tayassu tajacu ) and 4 adult white-lipped peccaries ( Tayassu peccari ) maintained in metabolic crates to measure the total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) and the rate of passage of feed. Experiment 1 concerned the effect of the species, experiment 2, the effect of the feeding level on TTAD and experiment 3, the effect of dietary fibre level on the rate of passage of feed. The TTAD of dietary components of a concentrated feed was similar to that observed in monogastric species (88.8% for gross energy, 83.3% for nitrogen), but TTAD of fibrous constituents was consistently higher in peccaries (62.0% for neutral detergent fibre NDF, 55.7% for acid detergent fibre ADF). No significant effects of the species nor level of feeding were observed. Average maintenance requirement for energy was estimated at 420 kJ digestible energy (DE)/kg metabolic body weight/day. Animals were able to use and digest a large proportion of fibrous material supplied by rice bran or by a tropical hay from Brachiaria humidicola but a linear decrease of 0.6% in TTAD for each increase of 1% dietary NDF level was observed. The TTAD of energy for rice bran and hay components was respectively 82.7 and 46.5% in connection with a high digestibility coefficient for NDF and ADF components of both products. Additional data indicated an increase in the mean retention time when animals were fed a hay based diet, suggesting a high digestive capacity of adults for fibrous diets. In conclusion, peccaries function more like ruminant animals than monogastric digestors. The present results could be a useful basis for formulation of appropriate diets and practical feeding of the peccary species raised in semi-intensive conditions.

ÉVALUATION DE DIVERS TRAITEMENTS TECHNOLOGIQUES DES CÉRÉALES IV. — INFLUENCE DU FLOCONNAGE ET DE L'EXPANSION DE L'ORGE ET DU MAÏS SUR LES PERFORMANCES DU PORCELET SEVRÉ A 2I JOURS : EFFETS SUR LA DIGESTIBILITÉ DES ÉLÉMENTS DE LA RATION

Deux expériences successives ont été réalisées en vue de vérifier l’influence de deux traitements hydrothermiques le floconnage et l’expansion appliqués à l’orge et au maïs avant leur incorporation dans des régimes de sevrage à 21 jours distribués à des porcelets. Les performances zootechniques des animaux recevant des rations à base de céréales traitées (incorporées aux taux de 59 p. 100 pour l’orge et 56 p. ioo pour le maïs) ne sont pas significativement différentes des résultats obtenus pour le lot témoin. La vitesse de croissance moyenne et l’efficacité alimentaire sont légèrement améliorées dans le seul cas de l’orge floconnée. L’état sanitaire (fréquence des diarrhées) varie surtout avec l’âge des jeunes animaux qui tolèrent de mieux en mieux l’aliment riche en amidon. Cependant, les aliments à base de céréales traitées ont tendance à augmenter la fréquence des diarrhées, car ils entraînent une légère augmentation de la quantité d’aliment consommée dans les premiers jours qui suivent le sevrage. L’effet principal des traitements hydrothermiques se traduit par une amélioration de l’utilisation digestive apparente de tous les éléments du régime complet et notamment de la fraction azotée.

PROXIMATE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF FINAL CANE MOLASSES AND EFFECT OF FEEDING 30% MOLASSES ON INTESTINAL SUCRASE AND MALTASE ACTIVITIES IN THE RAT

Abstract The final cane molasses used contained, on an air dry basis, 18.5% moisture, 62.1% alcohol-soluble sugars, 32.2% sucrose, 8.6% glucose and 15% fructose. The nitrogen content was particularly low (0.58%, out of which scarcely half was present as amino acids). The effect of molasses on growth rate and on the activities of intestinal disaccharidases was investigated using three groups of nine weanling rats fed for 21 days on diets containing 30% of either final molasses, sucrose, or maize starch, respectively. Growth rate and food intake were similar in all groups; feed/gain was similar for molasses and maize starch based diets and significantly lower for sucrose. Molasses significantly increased the weight of intestinal tissue and the protein content of intestine. No difference in the total and specific activity of intestinal maltase was found between the treatments. On the contrary, a considerable increase ( P