Marianne Hammershøj

Enzyme supplementation of wheat-based diets for broilers: 2. Effect on apparent metabolisable energy content and nutrient digestibility

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of enzyme supplementation on the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) and apparent nutrient digestibilities in ileum and excreta from male broiler chickens fed diets containing high amounts of wheat (>80%). Four different enzyme preparations were added to the wheat-based diets in varying levels and combinations. The difference between Experiments 1 and 2 consisted in the addition of different enzymes and enzyme levels. Excreta and ileal content were collected from broiler chickens at 3 and 6 weeks of age. At 3 weeks of age enzyme supplementation increased (P

Influence of pH on surface properties of aqueous egg albumen solutions in relation to foaming behaviour

The surface properties of aqueous egg albumen protein solutions (0.1 g litre−1) were studied at pH values of 4.8, 7.0, 9.2 and 10.7 and related to foaming behaviour such as bubble size distribution, overrun and drainage. By measurements far from equilibrium of dynamic steady state surface dilation using the overflowing cylinder technique, egg albumen showed ability to slow down surface expansion and to lower the dynamic surface tension. The pH-effect was small, but at pH 4.8 the film length, at which a motionless surface was created, was longer than at higher pH indicating a somewhat more rigid surface at low pH. Near equilibrium sinusoidal surface area deformation resulted in relatively high moduli of egg albumen, with a significant effect of pH. The surface modulus E showed at pH 4.8 an increase in the course of time, but at higher pH it was constant. Large deformation of egg albumen surface was not destructive, and for all pH values the surface behaved viscoelastic, with highest loss modulus E″ and tan θ values at pH 4.8. Surface deformation frequency sweeps revealed the relaxation processes to be relatively slow at pH 4.8 and faster at pH 7.0–10.7. Foamability measured as overrun of foam as a result of shaking and stirring was highest at pH 4.8 and lowest at pH 10.7. Foam stability against drainage was best at pH 7.0 after 30 min, but at a long-term scale foam at pH 4.8 was most resistant to drainage. Foam samples were subjected to microscopy and image analysis. The smallest bubbles were found at pH 4.8 (mean diameter 142 µm) and the largest at pH 7.0 (mean diameter 328 µm). In conclusion, the foaming behaviour of an aqueous egg albumen solution at pH 4.8 can be related to dynamic surface properties as follows: the more rigid behaviour of the surface at this pH favours a small bubble size and slow drainage of liquid from the foam. The high overrun at this pH can be explained by a lower dynamic surface tension, but also here film stability during foam making can be promoted by a more rigid liquid surface.

Deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk by short-term supplement of coloured carrot (Daucus carota) varieties as forage material for egg-laying hens

BACKGROUND Supplying egg-laying hens with different forage materials may influence egg production and quality. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects of standard feed plus 70 g day(-1) per hen of three coloured carrot varieties (orange, yellow and purple) as forage material in comparison with a standard feed control on egg production, egg yolk colour and deposition of carotenoids in the yolk. RESULTS Carrot supplementation reduced feed intakes significantly, but not on a dry matter basis. Orange carrot treatment significantly reduced egg mass production, whereas yellow and purple carrot treatments did not differ from the control. Egg and yolk weights of all carrot-supplemented treatments were significantly lower than those of the control, but yolk percentages were similar. Yolk redness increased significantly in the order control < yellow < orange < purple. A similar trend was seen for yolk yellowness, but yellow and orange carrots reached the same level. Yolk colour and carotenoid contents correlated positively and significantly. In particular, purple carrot treatment increased the yolk content of lutein (>1.5-fold) and beta-carotene (>100-fold) compared with the control. CONCLUSION Supplementing the feed of egg-laying hens with coloured carrots efficiently increased yolk colour parameters and carotenoid contents, which gives opportunities for improved nutritional value of eggs from forage material-supplemented hens.

Protein denaturation of whey protein isolates (WPIs) induced by high intensity ultrasound during heat gelation

In this study, the impact of high intensity ultrasound (HIU) on proteins in whey protein isolates was examined. Effects on thermal behavior, secondary structure and nature of intra- and intermolecular bonds during heat-induced gelling were investigated. Ultrasonication (24 kHz, 300 W/cm(2), 2078 J/mL) significantly reduced denaturation enthalpies, whereas no change in secondary structure was detected by circular dichroism. The thiol-blocking agent N-ethylmaleimide was applied in order to inhibit formation of disulfide bonds during gel formation. Results showed that increased contents of α-lactalbumin (α-La) were associated with increased sensitivity to ultrasonication. The α-La:β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) ratio greatly affected the nature of the interactions formed during gelation, where higher amounts of α-La lead to a gel more dependent on disulfide bonds. These results contribute to clarifying the mechanisms mediating the effects of HIU on whey proteins on the molecular level, thus moving further toward implementing HIU in the processing chain in the food industry.

Antioxidant properties of green tea extract protect reduced fat soft cheese against oxidation induced by light exposure.

The effect of two different antioxidants, EDTA and green tea extract (GTE), used individually or in combination, on the light-induced oxidation of reduced fat soft cheeses (0.2 and 6% fat) was investigated. In samples with 0.2% fat, lipid hydroperoxides as primary lipid oxidation products were not detected, but their interference was suggested from the formation of secondary lipid oxidation products such as hexanal and heptanal. The occurrence of these oxidation markers was inhibited by spiking with 50 ppm EDTA or 750 ppm GTE, or a combination of the two prior to irradiation. In contrast, addition of 50 ppm EDTA to samples with 6% fat was ineffective, but 750 ppm GTE (alone or in combination with EDTA) strongly reduced levels of hexanal and heptanal. Accumulation of primary lipid hydroperoxides was not affected by GTE, hence antioxidative activity was ascribed to scavenging of hexanal and heptanal precursors. These radical intermediates result from hydroperoxide disintegration, and subsequent scavenging by GTE, which acts as a radical sink, corroborates the intense signal observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.

Fermented feed for laying hens: effects on egg production, egg quality, plumage condition and composition and activity of the intestinal microflora.

1. An experiment with a total of 480 hens (Babcock) was carried out from 16 to 38 weeks of age to evaluate the suitability of wet fermented feed (feed water ratio, 1:1·2–1:1·4) for layers, taking aspects of nutrition and gastrointestinal health into consideration. The production performance, egg shell quality, plumage condition, litter dry matter (DM) content, as well as the composition and activity of the intestinal microbial flora were analysed. 2. Fermented feed was characterised by a high concentration of lactic acid (160–250 mmol/kg feed) and a moderate level of acetic acid (20–30 mmol/kg feed), high numbers of lactic acid bacteria (log 9–10 CFU/g feed) and a pH of approximately 4·5. Feed fermentation reduced the concentration of dietary sugar from 32·1 to 7·3 g/kg DM and the phytate bound phosphorus from 2·7 to 1·9 g/kg DM. 3. Fermented feed seemed to loose attractiveness for the birds quite rapidly, resulting in a more aggressive behaviour and a poorer plumage condition than in birds given dry feed. The use of fermented feed reduced the litter DM content. 4. During the experimental period, the body weight gain of hens receiving fermented feed was 80 g higher than of hens fed the dry mash. Presumably because of an extended adaptation time to the feed, the onset of lay occurred later when hens were fed on fermented feed, resulting in non-significantly reduced total egg production (75 vs. 82%). 5. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to the total egg mass production (g/d/hen, 42 and 45 for fermented feed and dry mash, respectively). Throughout the experimental period, the feed DM intake of hens fed with fermented feed was lower than that of hens receiving the dry mash (110 vs. 125 g). From week 26 to 37, fermented feed improved the feed conversion as compared with the dry mash (g feed DM/g egg mass, 2·28 vs. 2·53). 6. The use of fermented feed increased egg weight in the period from 34 to 37 weeks (61·4 vs. 60·0) and increased shell weight (g/100 g egg weight, 10·2 vs. 9·9) and shell stiffness (N/mm, 161 vs. 150) of eggs collected at 37 weeks. 7. The feeding of fermented feed increased intestinal health by acidification of the upper digestive tract, forming a natural barrier towards infection with acid sensitive pathogens, e.g. E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter. 8. It was concluded that fermented wet feed offers potential benefits for health and nutrition, but may become suitable for layers only after the practical problems related to this feeding form have been overcome. However, an early adaptation of the birds during the rearing period seems to be necessary.

Plasmin Activity in UHT Milk: Relationship between Proteolysis, Age Gelation, and Bitterness

Plasmin, the major indigenous protease in milk, is linked to quality defects in dairy products. The specificity of plasmin on caseins has previously been studied using purified caseins and in the indigenous peptide profile of milk. We investigated the specificity and proteolytic pathway of plasmin in directly heated UHT milk (>150 °C for <0.2 s) during 14 weeks of storage at 20 °C in relation to age gelation and bitter peptides. Sixty-six peptides from αS- and β-caseins could be attributed to plasmin activity during the storage period, of which 23 were potentially bitter. Plasmin exhibited the highest affinity for the hydrophilic regions in the caseins that most probably were exposed to the serum phase and the least affinity for hydrophobic or phosphorylated regions. The proteolytic pattern observed suggests that plasmin destabilizes the casein micelle by hydrolyzing casein-casein and casein-calcium phosphate interaction sites, which may subsequently cause age gelation in UHT milk.

Cooling causes changes in the distribution of lipoprotein lipase and milk fat globule membrane proteins between the skim milk and cream phase

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and free fatty acid levels were studied in freshly milked, uncooled milk from individual Danish Holstein or Jersey cows, or after storage for up to 24h at either a cooling temperature (4°C) or at the milking temperature (31°C). Upon cooling for up to 24h, LPL activity increased in the cream phase, whereas the activity in the skim milk was steady, as observed for Jersey cows, or increased, as seen for the Holsteins. Storage at 31°C decreased the LPL activity in both the cream phase and the skim milk phase. The increase in free fatty acid levels was found to depend on LPL activity, incubation temperature, substrate availability, and incubation time. Furthermore, the migration of milk proteins between the skim milk phase and the cream phase upon cooling of milk from Jersey cows or from Danish Holstein cows was studied using proteomic methods involving 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Proteins associated with the milk fat globules were isolated from all milk fractions and analyzed. Major changes in the distributions of proteins between the skim milk phase and the cream phase were observed after cooling at 4°C for 4h, where a total of 29 proteins between the 2 breeds was found to change their association with the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) significantly. Among these, the MFGM proteins adipophilin, fatty acid-binding protein, and lactadherin, as well as the non-MFGM proteins β-casein, lactoferrin, and heat shock protein-71, were identified. Adipophilin, lactadherin, and lactoferrin were quantitatively more associated with the MFGM upon cold storage at 4°C, whereas β-casein, fatty acid-binding protein, and heat shock protein-71 were found to be less associated with the MFGM upon cold storage.

The effects of kale (Brassica oleracea ssp. acephala), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as forage material in organic egg production on egg quality.

1. In organic egg production, forage material as part of the diet for laying hens is mandatory. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of feeding with forage materials including maize silage, herbs or kale on egg production and various egg quality parameters of the shell, yolk colour, egg albumen, sensory properties, fatty acid and carotenoid composition of the egg yolk. 2. A total of 5 dietary treatments were tested for 5 weeks, consisting of a basal organic feed plus 120 g/hen.d of the following forage materials: 1) maize silage (control), 2) maize silage incl. 15 g/kg basil, 3) maize silage incl. 30 g/kg basil, 4) maize silage incl. 15 g/kg thyme, or 5) fresh kale leaves. Each was supplied to three replicates of 20 hens. A total of 300 hens was used. 3. Feed intake, forage intake and laying rate did not differ with treatment, but egg weight and egg mass produced increased significantly with the kale treatment. 4. The egg shell strength tended to be higher with the kale treatment, and egg yolk colour was significantly more red with the kale treatment and more yellow with basil and kale treatments. The albumen DM content and albumen gel strength were lowest with the thyme treatment. By sensory evaluation, the kale treatment resulted in eggs with less sulphur aroma, higher yolk colour score, and more sweet and less watery albumen taste. Furthermore, the eggs of the kale treatment had significantly higher lutein and β-carotene content. Also, violaxanthin, an orange xanthophyll, tended to be higher in kale and eggs from hens receiving kale. 5. In conclusion, forage material, especially basil and kale, resulted in increased egg production and eggs of high and differentiable quality.

Protein lactosylation in UHT milk during storage measured by Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and quantification of furosine

The initial stage of the Maillard reaction, protein lactosylation, occurs during heat treatment of milk and continues during subsequent storage. We compared the initial lactosylation as well as the rate of lactosylation of milk proteins during storage in UHT milk subjected to direct or indirect heat treatment using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with electrospray injection mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Furosine content was used as an overall marker to allow for a quantitative correlation of lactosylation measured by LC-ESI-MS in the UHT milks. Protein lactosylation increased during the storage period of 6months at 20 degrees C. Both the initial extent and the rate of lactosylation positively correlated with the number of lysine residues in the different proteins. An exponential or linear correlation with furosine concentration could be established for major and minor lactosylated proteins, respectively. (Less)