Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 23430

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Guest Editor
Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Protein, amino acids, and energy feedstuffs constitute, by far, the largest proportion of feed ingredients that are used in non-ruminant diets. Oftentimes, one feedstuff provides all these essentials of nutrition to varying degrees. Our understanding of these important components of animals’ diet has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Nevertheless, advances continue to be made in both assays and our understanding of the factors that influence the utilization of these dietary constituents. The aim of this Special Issue is to present the results of the latest and ground-breaking research that is being done to improve non-ruminant animals’ utilization of energy, protein, and amino acids.

Dr. Oluyinka A. Olukos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • non-ruminant animals
  • protein
  • amino acids
  • energy

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 276 KiB  
Article
Coccidia Vaccine Challenge and Exogenous Enzyme Supplementation in Broiler Chicken 1. Effect on Digesta Viscosity, Diet Energy Utilization, and Apparent Metabolizable Energy Value of Wheat
by Andrew Dunaway and Sunday A. Adedokun
Animals 2021, 11(3), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030641 - 28 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
This study examined the effect of exogenous mixed-enzyme supplementation (xylanase, β-glucanase, and pectinase) to a corn-SBM (CS) and a wheat-CS-based (WCS) diet in birds challenged with coccidia vaccine (Coccivac B-52™). The WCS-based diet was produced by replacing 30% of the energy-yielding portions of [...] Read more.
This study examined the effect of exogenous mixed-enzyme supplementation (xylanase, β-glucanase, and pectinase) to a corn-SBM (CS) and a wheat-CS-based (WCS) diet in birds challenged with coccidia vaccine (Coccivac B-52™). The WCS-based diet was produced by replacing 30% of the energy-yielding portions of the CS-based diet with wheat. On day 14, 448 (n = 7) Cobb by-product breeder male broilers were assigned to a 2 (diet types) × 2 (with or without enzyme supplementation) × 2 (0 or 20 × coccidia vaccine challenge; CVC) factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design for the determination of the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) value of wheat. Treatment effects on jejunum digesta viscosity and AME corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) of the diets were evaluated within each diet type as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, 7- and 14-day post-challenge. Seven-day post-challenge (day 21), dry matter (DM) and energy utilization, AME, and AMEn of the CS- and WCS-based diets decreased (p < 0.05) with CVC. Both AME and AMEn of wheat decreased (p < 0.05) by about a 20% in CVC-birds 7-day post-challenge. Enzyme and CVC resulted in a decrease (p < 0.05) in jejunal digesta viscosity in birds fed the CS-based diets, while there was an interaction (p < 0.05) between CVC and enzyme, with enzyme lowering (p < 0.05) the viscosity of digesta 7-day post-challenge. Results from this study showed that CVC resulted in a 20% decrease in AMEn 7-day post-challenge, while the interaction between exogenous enzyme supplementation and CVC resulted in an improvement in nitrogen utilization (~6%) in CVC birds fed the corn-SBM-based diet 7-days post challenge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
12 pages, 285 KiB  
Article
Effects of Soy Protein Concentrate in Starter Phase Diet on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Indices, Carcass Traits, Immune Organ Indices and Meat Quality of Broilers
by Qianyun Zhang, Shan Zhang, Guanglei Cong, Yijian Zhang, Marianne Hjøllund Madsen, Benjie Tan and Shourong Shi
Animals 2021, 11(2), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020281 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2362
Abstract
Soybean meal (SBM) is high in antinutritional factors (ANFs), which is not conducive to the starter growth of broilers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of soy protein concentrate (SPC) in starter diet on growth performance, carcass traits, meat [...] Read more.
Soybean meal (SBM) is high in antinutritional factors (ANFs), which is not conducive to the starter growth of broilers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of soy protein concentrate (SPC) in starter diet on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, immune organ indices and blood biochemical indices of broilers. A total of 384 1-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broilers (46.05 ± 0.37 g) with similar body weight were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 replicates in each group and 12 broilers in each replicate. The experiment was divided into three phases: in starter phase (1–10 d), birds were fed a corn-SBM-based basal mash diet (control) and the basal diet was supplemented with SPC at 4% (SPC4), 8% (SPC8), 12% (SPC12). In the grower phase (11–21 d) and the finisher phase (22–42 d), the birds in all four treatment groups were fed the same diets. The results showed that the body weight was significantly increased in the SPC8 and SPC12 groups of broilers at 10 d and 42 d (p < 0.05). The average daily gain was significantly increased in the SPC12 group of broilers at 1–10 d and 1–42 d (p < 0.05). The average daily feed intake was significantly increased in the SPC8 and SPC12 groups of broilers at 1-10 d (p < 0.05). The feed conversion rates at 1–42 d (p = 0.055) tended to decline in the SPC12 group. The carcass yield and the thymus indices were significantly increased in the SPC12 group of broilers at 42 d (p < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) tended to decline in SPC12 group at 10 d (p = 0.055) and total protein (TP) tended to increase in the SPC12 group at 42 d (p = 0.080). The contents of total cholesterol (T-CHO) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly elevated in the SPC12 group of broilers at 42 d (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 12% SPC as a starter diet can be recommended due to the positive effects on broilers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
20 pages, 2304 KiB  
Article
Composition and Nutritional Value of Acid Oils and Fatty Acid Distillates Used in Animal Feeding
by Elisa Varona, Alba Tres, Magdalena Rafecas, Stefania Vichi, Ana C. Barroeta and Francesc Guardiola
Animals 2021, 11(1), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010196 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4552
Abstract
Acid oils (AO) and fatty acid distillates (FAD) are oil refining by-products rich in free fatty acids. The objective of this study is their characterization and the identification of their sources of variability so that they can be standardized to improve their use [...] Read more.
Acid oils (AO) and fatty acid distillates (FAD) are oil refining by-products rich in free fatty acids. The objective of this study is their characterization and the identification of their sources of variability so that they can be standardized to improve their use as feed ingredients. Samples (n=92) were collected from the Spanish market and the MIU value (sum of moisture, insoluble impurities, and unsaponifiable matter), lipid classes, fatty acid composition, and tocol content were analyzed. Their composition was highly variable even between batches from the same producer. As FAD originated from a distillation step, they showed higher free fatty acid amounts (82.5 vs 57.0 g/100 g, median values), whereas AO maintained higher proportions of moisture, polymers, tri-, di-, and monoacylglycerols. Overall, the MIU value was higher in AO (2.60–18.50 g/100 g in AO vs 0.63-10.44 g/100 g in FAD), with most of the contents of insoluble impurities being higher than those in the guidelines. Tocol and fatty acid composition were influenced by the crude oil’s botanical origin. The calculated dietary energy values were, in general, higher for AO and decreased when a MIU correction factor was applied. The analytical control and standardization of these by-products is of the outmost importance to revalorize them as feed ingredients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
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13 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
Regression-Derived Ileal Endogenous Amino Acid Losses in Broiler Chickens and Cannulated Pigs Fed Corn Fiber, Wheat Bran, and Pectin
by Sunday A. Adedokun and Olayiwola Adeola
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112145 - 18 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1584
Abstract
The objective of these studies was to determine the effect corn fiber (CF), wheat bran (WB) and pectin (PEC) on basal ileal endogenous amino acid (EAA) losses in broiler chickens (Exp. 1) and cannulated pigs (Exp. 2) using the regression method. Semi-purified diets [...] Read more.
The objective of these studies was to determine the effect corn fiber (CF), wheat bran (WB) and pectin (PEC) on basal ileal endogenous amino acid (EAA) losses in broiler chickens (Exp. 1) and cannulated pigs (Exp. 2) using the regression method. Semi-purified diets containing 100 g/kg of CF, WB, or PEC (broiler chickens) and CF or PEC (pigs) were fed to replicate cages consisting of eight birds per cage of 21-d-old broiler chickens and six replicates of pigs consisting of one pig per pen. Ileal endogenous His, Glu, and Pro losses were higher (p < 0.05) for CF and WB compared with birds fed diets containing PEC. Contrasts between CF and WB showed higher (p < 0.05) ileal endogenous nitrogen, total amino acid, His, Ile, Met, Glu, Pro, and Tyr losses in birds fed the CF diets (Exp. 1). Contrasts of EAA losses between birds fed the WB and PEC diets showed higher (p < 0.05) losses for His, Glu, and Pro. In the cannulated pigs, CF resulted in higher (p < 0.05) ileal endogenous His, Leu, and Tyr losses. In summary, CF induced higher ileal EAA losses in broiler chickens and cannulated pigs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
10 pages, 224 KiB  
Article
Metabolizable Energy of Soybean Meal and Canola Meal as Influenced by the Reference Diet Used and Assay Method
by Shravani Veluri and Oluyinka Abiona Olukosi
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112132 - 17 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2078
Abstract
A 21-day experiment was conducted to study the effect of reference diet type and assay method on apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected (AMEn) of soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM). Broilers (n = 240) were allocated to 10 treatments with [...] Read more.
A 21-day experiment was conducted to study the effect of reference diet type and assay method on apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected (AMEn) of soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM). Broilers (n = 240) were allocated to 10 treatments with eight replicates/treatment and three birds/replicate. Treatments included corn-SBM or corn-CM reference diets (RD). To each RD, 300 or 450 g/kg of SBM or CM were added to make a total of eight test diets. For the difference method, AME of SBM and CM substituted at 300 g/kg in corn-CM RD gave greater AME values compared to inclusion in the corn-SBM RD. The AMEn of SBM increased with increase in inclusion level in the corn-CM RD but AMEn of CM decreased with increased inclusion level of CM in the corn-SBM RD. For the regression method, AME and AMEn of the test feedstuffs were greater with corn-CM RD compared with corn-SBM RD. The AME of SBM was not affected by assay method, whereas AME of CM was lower when determined using the regression method. In conclusion, both the reference diet type and assay method influenced assayed AME and AMEn value of test protein feedstuffs and should be considered in cross-studies comparisons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
11 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Digestibility of Amino Acids in Protein-Rich Feed Ingredients Originating from Animals, Peanut Flour, and Full-Fat Soybeans Fed to Pigs
by Ayodeji Simeon Aderibigbe, Chan Sol Park, Adekunle Adebiyi, Oluyinka Abiona Olukosi and Olayiwola Adeola
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112062 - 7 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1973
Abstract
Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in alternative protein sources for growing pigs was determined in this study. Diets containing egg albumen (EA), casein, blood meal (BM), and blood plasma meal (BPM) and a nitrogen-free diet (NFD) were fed to 20 [...] Read more.
Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in alternative protein sources for growing pigs was determined in this study. Diets containing egg albumen (EA), casein, blood meal (BM), and blood plasma meal (BPM) and a nitrogen-free diet (NFD) were fed to 20 barrows in a quadruplicate 5 × 2 incomplete Latin square design with two periods in experiment 1. The SID of AA was greater in casein than other ingredients (p < 0.05), except Pro. The SID of Arg, Ile, and Met was lower (p < 0.05) in EA than BM and BPM. The SID of Trp in BM was greater (p < 0.05) than EA but not different from BPM. In experiment 2, 20 pigs were fed diets containing peanut flour (PF) or full-fat soybeans (FFSB) or NFD in a randomized complete block design with body weight as a blocking factor but providing six observations for NFD. The SID of Arg, Ileu, Leu, Met, Phe, and Val was greater (p < 0.05) in PF than FFSB. The SID of Lys was greater (p < 0.05) in FFSB than PF. In summary, the test ingredients contain readily digestible AA and could serve as alternative protein sources for growing pigs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
15 pages, 244 KiB  
Article
Effects of Optimal Carbohydrase Mixtures on Nutrient Digestibility and Digestible Energy of Corn- and Wheat-Based Diets in Growing Pigs
by Shunfen Zhang, Ruqing Zhong, Lixiang Gao, Zhengqun Liu, Liang Chen and Hongfu Zhang
Animals 2020, 10(10), 1846; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101846 - 11 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1956
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of optimal carbohydrase mixture (OCM) on macronutrients and amino acid digestibility and the digestible energy (DE) in growing pigs fed the corn-soybean meal-based diet (CSM) and the wheat-soybean meal-based diet (WSM). A total of 36 ileal-cannulated [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of optimal carbohydrase mixture (OCM) on macronutrients and amino acid digestibility and the digestible energy (DE) in growing pigs fed the corn-soybean meal-based diet (CSM) and the wheat-soybean meal-based diet (WSM). A total of 36 ileal-cannulated pigs (50.9 ± 4.9 kg initial body weight) were allotted to four dietary treatments randomly, which included CSM and WSM diets, and two diets supplied with corresponding OCM. These OCMs were screened using an in vitro method from our previous study. After the five day adaptation period, fecal samples were collected from d six to seven, and ileal digesta samples were collected on d 8 and 10. Chromic oxide was added as an indigestible marker. The results show that the addition of OCM improved the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM), ash, carbohydrate (CHO), neutral detergent fiber, and gross energy (GE) and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, CHO, and GE in CSM diet (p < 0.05), but reduced the apparent hindgut disappearance (AHD) of DM in CSM diet (p < 0.05). The ATTD of DM, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, and GE and the AHD of DM, CP, EE, ash, CHO, and GE in WSM diet were improved by the OCM addition (p < 0.05), whereas the AID of DM, CP, ash, CHO, and GE were decreased (p < 0.05). The respective DE contents in CSM and WSM diets were increased from 15.45 to 15.74 MJ/kg and 15.03 to 15.49 MJ/kg under the effects of OCM (p < 0.05). Similar to the trend of AID of CP, the OCM addition increased the AID and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Ile, Thr, and Cys in CSM diet, but decreased the AID and SID of Ile, Phe, Thr, Val, Ala, Pro, Ser, and Tyr in WSM diet. In conclusion, the OCMs screened by an in vitro method could improve the total tract nutrient digestibility and DE for pigs fed corn-based diet or wheat-based diet but had inconsistent effects on the ileal digestibility of nutrients and energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
16 pages, 538 KiB  
Article
The Implications of Nutritional Strategies that Modify Dietary Energy and Lysine for Growth Performance in Two Different Swine Production Systems
by Pau Aymerich, Carme Soldevila, Jordi Bonet, Josep Gasa, Jaume Coma and David Solà-Oriol
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091638 - 11 Sep 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2466
Abstract
This work aimed to determine the impacts of lowering dietary net energy (NE) density in two swine production systems that produce pigs with different carcass traits. To ensure that dietary lysine was not limiting growth, two studies were conducted in a 2 × [...] Read more.
This work aimed to determine the impacts of lowering dietary net energy (NE) density in two swine production systems that produce pigs with different carcass traits. To ensure that dietary lysine was not limiting growth, two studies were conducted in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with NE and standardized ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys) as experimental factors. A total of 1248 pigs were used in each study, Pietrain (Exp. 1, males non-castrated) or Duroc (Exp. 2, males castrated) sired. Reducing NE resulted in a greater feed intake; however, this was not sufficient to reach the same NE intake. While in Exp. 1 a 3.2% lower NE intake did not impair average daily gain (ADG; p = 0.220), in Exp. 2 a 4.7% lower NE intake reduced ADG by 1.4% (p = 0.027). Furthermore, this effect on ADG entailed a reduced ham fat thickness (p = 0.004) of the first marketed pigs. Increasing SID Lys only had a positive effect in Exp. 1, but no significant interaction between NE and SID Lys was reported (p ≥ 0.100). Therefore, dietary NE can be reduced without impairing growth performance when pigs can increase feed intake sufficiently, and thus, limit energy deficiencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
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21 pages, 1426 KiB  
Article
Interactive Effects of Glycine Equivalent, Cysteine, and Choline on Growth Performance, Nitrogen Excretion Characteristics, and Plasma Metabolites of Broiler Chickens Using Neural Networks Optimized with Genetic Algorithms
by Philipp Hofmann, Wolfgang Siegert, Hamed Ahmadi, Jochen Krieg, Moritz Novotny, Victor D. Naranjo and Markus Rodehutscord
Animals 2020, 10(8), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081392 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2865
Abstract
Responses of broiler chickens to dietary glycine equivalent (Glyequi) are affected by dietary cysteine and choline. Hence, this study investigated interactive effects among dietary Glyequi, cysteine, and choline on the growth of broiler chickens. Male Ross 308 broiler chickens [...] Read more.
Responses of broiler chickens to dietary glycine equivalent (Glyequi) are affected by dietary cysteine and choline. Hence, this study investigated interactive effects among dietary Glyequi, cysteine, and choline on the growth of broiler chickens. Male Ross 308 broiler chickens were maintained in 105 metabolism units (10 birds/unit) from days 7 to 22. Excreta were collected in 12-h intervals from days 18 to 21. Blood was sampled on day 22 (1 bird/unit). Five levels each of Glyequi (9–21 g/kg), cysteine (2–5 g/kg), and choline (0.5–1.7 g/kg) were tested under 15 diets in 7 replicates each following a fractional central composite design. Another diet was provided to five metabolism units (15 birds/unit) to measure prececal amino acid digestibility. Data were evaluated using neural networks. The gain:feed ratio (G:F) increased with digestible Glyequi intake. Differences between low and high digestible cysteine intake were low. Effects of choline intake on G:F were low. Nitrogen-utilization efficiency (NUE) was high (≥77%), with low variation among treatments. Plasma metabolites varied among treatments and indicated that metabolism of Glyequi, cysteine, and choline was influenced. These findings showed that interactive effects of dietary Glyequi, cysteine, and choline on growth were small, possibly because NUE was barely influenced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Protein, and Amino Acids in Non-Ruminant Nutrition)
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