Jeffre D. Firman

EFFECTS OF IMPLANTED RADIOTRANSMITTERS ON CAPTIVE MOURNING DOVES

Previous mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) telemetry studies using transmitter glue attachment have found the technique to be relatively short term (<10 weeks), and that transmitter harnesses possibly have deleterious effects on doves. To improve attachment methods, we developed and refined surgical techniques for implanting subcutaneous and intra-abdominal radiotransmitters with external whip antennas in mourning doves, and we determined physiological and pathological responses to the transmitter implants. We used a captive colony of 200 wild-trapped mourning doves to develop and test procedures for subcutaneous implants (SC1), subcutaneous surgeries without implants (SC2), intra-abdominal implants (IA1), intra-abdominal sur- geries without implants (IA2), and a control group without surgeries or implants (CNT); 20 males and 20 females were assigned to each experimental group. Surgeries for IA1 took less time (3.58 t 0.17 min; i? + SE; P < 0.001) than SC1 surgeries (4.36 ? 0.12 min). Heterophil:lymphocyte ratios showed that IA1 and IA2 doves had higher (P = 0.024) posttreatment changes compared with SC1, SC2, or CNT groups. At 4-6 days postsurgery, 153 of 160 (95.6%) doves with surgical treatments showed closed or healed surgical sites with no complications. At 14 days posttreatment, 34 (87%) SC1 implants were located in the thoracic inlet. Gross necropsy findings at 10 weeks postsurgery found that 36 of 39 (92%) SC1 and 36 of 39 (92%) IA1 implants showed little or no tissue response to the implants. Functioning transmitters began failing 2 weeks posttreat- ment, and 85% were not working at 10 weeks posttreatment. Our data suggest subcutaneous implants with external antennas were a better alternative compared to intra-abdominal implants with external antennas, but further testing is needed to compare subcutaneous implants to conventional attachment techniques.

Neuroanatomical regions of the chick brain involved in monitoring amino acid deficient diets

Chicks fed a diet deficient in tryptophan will reduce food intake dramatically. Chicks will select a balanced diet over one that is deficient in tryptophan (trp). The amygdala and prepiriform cortex have been implicated in monitoring amino acid (AA) balance, and hence food intake in rats. Therefore, comparable regions of the chick brain were studied to determine if they were involved in monitoring AA deficient diets. In each of four experiments, 48 chicks were used (24 experimentally-operated and 24 sham-operated controls). After starting on a commercial diet, chicks were fed semipurified diets: balanced (bal) or trp deficient (def). The following dietary regimen was followed in all experiments in both pre- and postoperatively; 1) bal diet for an adjustment period; 2) bal diet for 1-2 days; 3) def diet for 2-3 days; 4) choice of both diets presented simultaneously. This was followed by ablation of a brain region and then a repetition of the dietary regimen. Brain regions ablated or isolated include the nucleus taeniae (Tn), piriform cortex (CPi), frontal archistriatum (FA) and ventral archistriatum (AV). No differences in selection were observed when lesions ablating the FA, AV or Tn were performed. A significant decrease in selection of the bal diet was observed after knife cuts which isolated the piriform cortex from medial connections. It is suggested that this brain region may be involved in monitoring AA profiles in the plasma.

Blood Plasma Chemistries from Wild Mourning Doves Held in Captivity

Despite the extensive amount of research conducted on mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), no biochemical reference values exist for this species. Our objective, therefore, was to establish base line clinical chemistry reference values for mourning doves to assist with establishing clinical diagnoses. Wild mourning doves were captured 19 March 1996 to 8 August 1996, and 6 February 1998 to 12 May 1998; blood samples were collected from 382 mourning doves. Plasma biochemical values were established for glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, enzymatic CO2, albumin, total protein, globulin, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, magnesium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and uric acid. These reference values are invaluable for determining diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems.

Evaluation of probiotic strains for development of fermented Alisma canaliculatum and their effects on broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to select appropriate microbial strains for the development of fermented Alisma canaliculatum A. Br. et Bouche (FAC) feed additive and to examine their effects on broilers. In experiment 1, 16 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) were evaluated. The strains were tested for their acid, bile, and heat tolerance levels. Among them, L. acidophilus KCTC 3111, E. faecium KCTC 2022, B. subtilis KCTC 3239, and S. cerevisiae KCTC 7928 were selected to produce FAC. For experiment 2, 140 Ross broiler chicks were allocated to four 5-wk-long dietary groups: NC (basal diet), PC (basal diet with 0.005% oxytetracycline), AC (basal diet with 0.5% A. canaliculatum rhizome powder), and FAC (basal diet with 0.5% FAC). Final BW and total BW gain were increased (P < 0.05) upon the addition of FAC, whereas feed conversion ratio improved (P < 0.05) in the supplemented groups compared with the NC group. Crude protein content increased and crude fat decreased (P < 0.05) in the breast meat of the FAC group compared with the AC and PC groups, respectively. Proventriculus and kidney relative weights of the FAC group differed (P < 0.05) from the AC group but not from the PC group. Lower (P < 0.05) thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value of thigh meat was observed in the FAC group compared with the other groups. The FAC diet increased (P < 0.05) α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in meat. Alteration of these fatty acids led to increased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid /saturated fatty acid, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, and decreased n-6/n-3 ratio in breast or thigh meat (P < 0.05). It is concluded that FAC confers high tolerance to acid, bile and heat; and beneficially affects growth, meat composition, oxidative stability, and fatty acid composition. The FAC may be a functional feed additive in broilers.

Evaluation of green tea by-product and green tea plus probiotics on the growth performance, meat quality and immunity of growing-finishing pigs

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of green tea by-product (GTB) and green tea plus probiotics (GT+P) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, blood parameters and immunity of growing–finishing pigs. In total, 80 crossbreed growing pigs were assigned to receive four dietary treatments for a period of 8 weeks. The dietary treatments were a basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 0.003% chlortetracycline (antibiotic), basal diet with 0.5% GTB (GTB) and basal diet containing 0.5% GT+P (GT+P). The results of our study indicated that bodyweight gain increased (P < 0.05) in response to the addition of GT+P to the basal diet. Crude protein and crude ash content, and shear values of loin meat were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the GT+P group, although moisture and juiciness were decreased (P < 0.05). The GTB group had higher (P < 0.05) serum glucose concentrations, whereas the GT+P exhibited lower (P < 0.05) insulin concentrations. The values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances of fresh loin meat and meat that had been preserved for 1 week were lower (P < 0.05) in the GT+P group than those of the control and GTB groups. The growth of spleen cells incubated in concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) medium was statistically higher (P < 0.05) for the GT+P group than for the GTB or antibiotic group. IL-6 and TNF-α production by spleen cells induced by Con A and LPS was increased in the GTB and GT+P group (P < 0.05) compared with the antibiotic group. Taken together, the results of the present study indicated that GT+P exerts positive effects on weight gain, meat composition, blood parameters and immunity in pigs, and could be used as an alternative to antibiotics for growing–finishing pig feeds.

Water and NaCl intake of chicks as mediated by angiotensin II, renin, or salt deficiency ☆ ☆☆

Water, feed and NaCl intakes were measured in response to angiotensin II (ANGII) injected SC and ICV, and renin injected ICV, as well as to dietary salt deficiency in female broiler chicks (Gallus domesticus). In the first experiment, SC (100 micrograms/bird) and ICV (10 micrograms/bird) ANGII injection resulted in increased initial water intake. An additive effect on drinking was noted in response to consecutive daily SC injections. In addition, feed efficiency and growth were depressed following repeated ANGII injections (p less than 0.001). In a 2nd experiment, ICV ANGII stimulated increased cumulative water intake through 18 hours postinjection (p less than 0.05). Intake of 3.0% NaCl solution and feed was unaffected through 48 hours. Renin (1 microgram ICV) failed to affect cumulative water intake up to 48 hours postinjection. In the third experiment, dietary salt deficiency reduced feed intake after just 48 hours on salt-deficient diets (p less than 0.01), and growth and feed efficiency were significantly impaired (p less than 0.001) through 20 days of age. Intakes of NaCl solutions (0.8, 0.7 or 0.6%), however, were unaffected in salt-deficient vs. control birds. While the chicks in these experiments demonstrated a consistent drinking response to ANGII when injected peripherally or centrally, a salt appetite could not be elicited in these birds by components of the renin-angiotensin system or by dietary salt depletion.

Responses of growing turkeys to the dietary inclusion of inedible pasta and unextruded and extruded biosolids from milk processing

Abstract Milk solids from a milk processing plant were dried, ground and either extruded or unextruded. Unextruded biosolids (UBS), extruded biosolids (EBS) and pasta were evaluated as dietary ingredients for growing turkeys. In experiment one, true metabolizable energy (TME) concentrations were determined to be 5.0 kJ (1.2 kcal) g −1 for UBS and EBS, and 18.0 kJ (4.3 kcal) g −1 for pasta. In experiment two, growing turkeys were fed a control diet or diets containing 50, 100 or 200 g UBS per kg diet. Feed intakes were not different among treatments, but weight gains for the 200 UBS treatment were lower than for controls. In experiment three, growing turkeys were fed six diets: control, 200 g pasta, 200 g pasta + 100 g UBS, 200 g pasta + 200 g UBS, 200 g pasta + 100 g EBS, or 200 g pasta + 200 g EBS per kg diet. Intakes, weights and weight gains for pasta and pasta plus biosolids treatments were higher than controls. In experiment four, growing turkeys were fed a control diet or diets containing 100 g UBS, 200 g UBS, 100 g EBS or 200 g EBS per kg diet. On day 54, intakes, weights and weight gains were the same for all treatments. On day 124, feed intakes were lower for the 200 UBS and 200 EBS treatments compared to the other treatments. Weights and weight gains were highest on the 100 EBS treatment, followed by controls and the other biosolids treatments. Diet had little effect on meat composition or sensory qualities. The TME of pasta was equal to that of corn; diets containing 200 g pasta kg −1 supported an acceptable performance in growing turkeys. Up to 100 g biosolids per kg diet could be fed to growing turkeys without adverse effects on health or performance. EBS exhibited higher gains than UBS. These coproducts could be used as feeds for growing turkeys, for conserving resources, for reducing pollution and for adding value.

Abdominal Fat Assessment in Postmenopausal Women Receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy

Although genetic and behavioral factors influence regional distribution of fat on the body, sex hormones and sexual dimorphism appear to have significant roles1. This pilot project was initiated to assess body composition and the relative amounts of subcutaneous and intraabdominal fat that might be present in subjects on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and to compare the fat areas on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance images (MRI).

Silencing of Soybean Raffinose Synthase Gene Reduced Raffinose Family Oligosaccharides and Increased True Metabolizable Energy of Poultry Feed

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is the number one oil and protein crop in the United States, but the seed contains several anti-nutritional factors that are toxic to both humans and livestock. RNA interference technology has become an increasingly popular technique in gene silencing because it allows for both temporal and spatial targeting of specific genes. The objective of this research is to use RNA-mediated gene silencing to down-regulate the soybean gene raffinose synthase 2 (RS2), to reduce total raffinose content in mature seed. Raffinose is a trisaccharide that is indigestible to humans and monogastric animals, and as monogastric animals are the largest consumers of soy products, reducing raffinose would improve the nutritional quality of soybean. An RNAi construct targeting RS2 was designed, cloned, and transformed to the soybean genome via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Resulting plants were analyzed for the presence and number of copies of the transgene by PCR and Southern blot. The efficiency of mRNA silencing was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR. Total raffinose content was determined by HPLC analysis. Transgenic plant lines were recovered that exhibited dramatically reduced levels of raffinose in mature seed, and these lines were further analyzed for other phenotypes such as development and yield. Additionally, a precision-fed rooster assay was conducted to measure the true metabolizable energy (TME) in full-fat soybean meal made from the wild-type or transgenic low-raffinose soybean lines. Transgenic low-raffinose soy had a measured TME of 2,703 kcal/kg, an increase as compared with 2,411 kcal/kg for wild-type. As low digestible energy is a major limiting factor in the percent of soybean meal that can be used in poultry diets, these results may substantiate the use of higher concentrations of low-raffinose, full-fat soy in formulated livestock diets.