INHIBITORY EFFECT OF TANNIN IN DIETARY SORGHUM DISTILLERY RESIDUE AND PRELIMINARY TREATMENT WITH POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL ON IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF GREY MULLET (MUGIL CEPHALUS)

Sorghum distillery residue (SDR) has antioxidant and blood thinning effect on fish fed during winter, but inhibited their growth. The objective of this study was to eliminate the adverse effect but to maintain the nutraceutical benefits of SDR. The content of tannin in SDR was found to be 3.3 mg/g on dry weight basis. An in vitro digestibility test was developed to simulate the in vivo digestion of grey mullet. The protein digestibility of SDR was 47% lower than that of the control. Inhibition of trypsin activity correlated with the amount of SDR extract (r = 0.98) and decreased significantly (P < 0.05) when the SDR extract was pretreated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a tannin binding agent. Based on Lineweaver‐Burk plot analysis, the inhibition of SDR on trypsin was of noncompetitive mixed type with changes in both Vmax and Km. A detannin treatment with PEG was tested. This treatment may provide an example to utilize other plant protein sources rich in tannin as fish feed ingredients.     

Free radical-scavenging and tyrosinase-inhibiting activities of extracts from sorghum distillery residue

This study evaluated the potential free radical-scavenging and tyrosinase-inhibiting activities of extracts from sorghum distillery residue (SDR). The results demonstrated that methanol was a more efficient solvent for extracting the active components of SDR, and methanol extracts showed the highest radical-scavenging and tyrosinase-inhibiting activities.     

Rat bioassay of the protein nutritional quality of soy-fortified sorghum biscuits for supplementary feeding of school-age children

BACKGROUND: Protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) remains a major deficiency disease among children in developing countries. The protein nutritional quality of soy‐fortified sorghum biscuits was evaluated with respect to their potential as a protein‐rich supplementary food. Three isonitrogenous diets based on 50:50 ratio decorticated sorghum:defatted soy flour biscuits, 100% sorghum biscuits, casein, and a protein‐free diet were fed to male Sprague Dawley weanling rats. RESULTS: Protein efficiency ratio (PER) for the sorghum–soy biscuit diet was equivalent to the reference casein diet, and zero for the 100% sorghum diet. Faecal bulk for 100% sorghum diet was 1.5 times higher than sorghum–soy and casein diets. True protein digestibility of the three diets was high—88–95%—agreeing with previous rat studies with sorghum. Biological value and net protein utilization of the sorghum‐soy biscuit diet were similar to the casein diet, but lower than the 100% sorghum biscuit diet CONCLUSION: Notwithstanding limitations of rat bioassay for assessing sorghum food protein quality, the high PER of defatted soy flour‐fortified sorghum biscuits (sorghum:soy 50:50 ratio) indicates they have considerable potential as a supplementary food to young children to alleviate PEM. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

FISH OIL WITH ESSENCE OF CHICKEN DECREASES SERUM AND HEPATIC TRIACYLGLYCEROL IN HAMSTERS FED AN ATHEROGENIC DIET

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a mixture of dietary chicken essence and fish oil on possible lowering of blood and hepatic lipids in hamsters. Forty male hamsters were randomly divided into four groups and fed a chow diet, high fat/cholesterol diet (HFC), HFC diets containing 4% (HFC4) or 8% (HFC8) fish oil with essence of chicken for 42 days. The experimental diets contained 10% (w/w) fat. Hamsters fed HFC diets containing either 4 or 8% fish oil with essence of chicken showed significantly decreased serum triacylglycerols (TG) compared to hamsters fed HFC diets. In addition, hamsters fed HFC8 diets exhibited significantly reduced hepatic TG than those fed HFC diet. However, hamsters fed HFC4 or HFC8 diets significantly increased low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) when compared with those on HFC diet. These results suggest that 4% (or more) fish oil with essence of chicken might significantly lower serum TG and hepatic TG in hamsters, but seem to increase serum cholesterol levels on HFC diets.     

Effects of dietary fish oil replacement with flaxseed oil on tissue fatty acid composition and expression of desaturase and elongase genes

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of total or partial substitution of dietary fish oil (FO) by flaxseed oil (FlaxO) in Jade Tiger hybrid abalone on fatty acid composition of muscle, gonad and digestive gland, and the expression of desaturase and elongase genes. Abalone were fed five different experimental diets in which FO (control diet) was serially replaced by 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% FlaxO respectively. RESULTS: Muscle, gonad and digestive gland of abalone fed the control diet and the diets containing 25%, 50% and 75% FlaxO showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared to those fed the 100% FlaxO. The results also showed that Δ‐6 desaturase and elongase gene expression in muscle was increased in a graded manner by increasing dietary FlaxO. The expression of both genes was higher in abalone fed the FlaxO‐substituted diets compared to the abalone fed FO. CONCLUSION: The replacement of FO with FlaxO in commercial abalone diets at levels of 25–75% can improve the composition of health‐benefiting n‐3 polyunsturated fatty acids in tissues of cultured hybrid abalone, and achieve similar outcomes to FO supplementation. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Heavy Metal Residues in Some Fishes from Manzala Lake,Egypt, and Their Health‐Risk Assessment

A total of 600 freshly caught fish samples (200 each of Nile tilapia, flathead grey mullet, and African catfish) were collected from Manzala Lake, Egypt, and analyzed for determination of heavy metal residues using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Metal concentrations (µg/g wet weight) were detected in all examined samples in quantities of 0.045, 0.0145, and 0.017 µg/g for Hg; 0.511, 0.621, and 0.568 µg/g for As; 0.704, 0.635, and 0.64 µg/g for Pb; and 0.024, 0.006, and 0.020 µg/g for Cd in Nile tilapia, flathead grey mullet, and African catfish, respectively. The mean concentrations of Hg, Pb, and Cd among the three fish species tested followed the order Nile tilapia > African catfish > flathead grey mullet; meanwhile, As concentration followed the order flathead grey mullet > African catfish > Nile tilapia. The contamination levels of Hg and Cd showed significant differences between summer and winter in the three different fish species examined. Both the mullet and catfish tested revealed significant negative correlations between fish size and their residual levels of Hg, Pb, and Cd. Health‐risk assessment indices suggesting that consuming such fishes from Manzala Lake could have a potential health hazard to consumers.     

Comparison of brown midrib-6 and -18 forage sorghum with conventional sorghum and corn silage in diets of lactating dairy cows

Total mixed rations containing conventional forage sorghum, brown midrib (bmr)-6 forage sorghum, bmr-18 forage sorghum, or corn silage were fed to Holstein dairy cows to determine the effect on lactation, ruminal fermentation, and total tract nutrient digestion. Sixteen multiparous cows (4 ruminally fistulated; 124 d in milk) were assigned to 1 of 4 diets in a replicated Latin square design with 4-wk periods (21-d adaptation and 7 d of collection). Diets consisted of 40% test silage, 10% alfalfa silage, and 50% concentrate mix (dry basis). Acid detergent lignin concentration was reduced by 21 and 13%, respectively, for the bmr-6 and bmr-18 sorghum silages when compared with the conventional sorghum. Dry matter intake was not affected by diet. Production of 4% fat-corrected milk was greatest for cows fed bmr-6 (33.7 kg/d) and corn silage (33.3 kg/d), was least for cows fed the conventional sorghum (29.1 kg/d), and was intermediate for cows fed the bmr-18 sorghum (31.2 kg/d), which did not differ from any other diet. Total tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was greatest for the bmr-6 sorghum (54.4%) and corn silage (54.1%) diets and was lower for the conventional (40.8%) and bmr-18 sorghum (47.9%) diets. In situ extent of NDF digestion was greatest for the bmr-6 sorghum (76.4%) and corn silage (79.0%) diets, least for the conventional sorghum diet (70.4%), and intermediate for the bmr-18 sorghum silage diet (73.1%), which was not different from the other diets. Results of this study indicate that the bmr-6 sorghum hybrid outperformed the conventional sorghum hybrid; the bmr-18 sorghum was intermediate between conventional and bmr-6 in most cases. Additionally, the bmr-6 hybrid resulted in lactational performance equivalent to the corn hybrid used in this study. There are important compositional differences among bmr forage sorghum hybrids that need to be characterized to predict animal response accurately.     

EFFECTS OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND PROCESSING ON STABILITY OF MUSCLE FROM HYBRID STRIPED BASS WITH OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Hybrid striped bass were fed four diets containing 0, 4, 8, and 12% menhaden fish oil (MFO) for 18 weeks during final growth to determine (1) omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid uptake and its effect on fish and postharvest quality, and (2) the effects of selected antioxidants on oxidation and sensory quality of fish enhanced with n-3 fatty acids. Lipid content was significantly higher in the two highest MFO treatments: 3.2, 3.5, 3.9 and 4.4% in the 0, 4, 8 and 12% MFO treatments, respectively. During this study EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) significantly increased with increasing dietary MFO: 5.4 ± 0.93, 6.9 ± 0.15, 8.0 ± 0.45 and 8.1 ± 0.35 for the 0, 4, 8 and 12% MFO diets, respectively. The following fatty acids in muscle increased 1% or more in fish fed 12% MFO compared to fish fed 0% MFO: 14:0, 16:1n-7, 22:6n-3, and total polyunsaturates, total n-3, and the n-3/n-6 ratio. Changes in individual fatty acids in fish muscle reflected the concentrations of fatty acids in the diet. Hybrid striped bass fed 8 and 12% MFO had twice as much n-3 fatty acids (1.0 g/100 g tissue) as fish cultured on diets without MFO     

Effects of dietary methylmercury on reproductive endocrinology of fathead minnows

Recent laboratory studies have demonstrated that environmentally realistic concentrations of dietary methylmercury can impair reproduction of fish. To evaluate relations between reproductive success and biomarkers of methylmercury exposure, we fed juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) one of three diets contaminated with methylmercury: 0.06 (control), 0.87 (low), and 3.93 (medium) microg of Hg g(-1) dry weight. At sexual maturity, fish were paired, allowed to reproduce, and then analyzed for total mercury, plasma testosterone (T), and 17beta-estradiol (E2). Diets did not affect survival or growth of fathead minnows. Methylmercury suppressed levels of T in males and E2 in females. Male fathead minnows fed the control diet had mean T concentrations 20% and 106% greater than those fed the low and medium diets; control females had mean E2 concentrations 149% and 402% greater than those fed the low and medium diets. Methylmercury also inhibited gonadal development of females; the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females fed the medium diet was 40% less than that of females fed control or low diets. Plasma levels of T in males and E2 in females were positively related to GSI. Methylmercury reduced the reproductive success of fathead minnows. Spawning success was 32% for pairs fed the control diet, 12% for pairs fed the low diet, and 0% for pairs fed the medium diet. Pairs fed the low diet required, on average, 5 d longer to spawn a clutch of eggs than the controls. Concentrations of methylmercury fed to fathead minnows in this study are also encountered by invertivorous and piscivorous fish in some methylmercury-contaminated aquatic ecosystems. This suggests that reproduction of wild fishes may be adversely affected by methylmercury and that suppressed hormone levels may be used to indicate diminished reproduction of fish.     

Effect of low level monensin supplementation on the production of dairy cows fed alfalfa silage

Effectiveness of low level monensin supplementation on N utilization in lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa silage was assessed using 48 multiparous Holsteins. Cows were fed a covariate diet [% of dry matter (DM): 56% alfalfa silage, 39% ground high moisture corn, 3% soybean meal, 1% ground corn, 1% vitamin-mineral supplements] for 2 wk, then grouped by days in milk into blocks of 4. Cows were randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of 4 diets that were fed for 10 wk: 1) control (covariate diet), 2) control plus 3% fish meal (replacing DM from high moisture corn), 3) monensin (10 mg/kg DM), and 4) monensin plus 3% fish meal. Diets 1 and 3 averaged 16.7% crude protein (25% from free AA in alfalfa silage); diets 2 and 4 averaged 18.5% crude protein. Monensin intake averaged 16 mg/d on diets 1 and 2 (due to contamination) and 248 mg/d on diets 3 and 4. There was no effect of fish meal or monensin on DM intake. However, weight gain and yield of milk, protein, and SNF increased with fish meal feeding, indicating metabolizable protein limited production. Feeding monensin increased blood glucose but reduced yield of 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk fat content and yield, and milk protein content and yield. Apparent N efficiency was greatest on monensin (diet 3) but lowest on monensin plus fish meal (diet 4). Fish meal reduced blood glucose concentration and apparent N efficiency, and increased concentrations of milk and blood urea. Monensin increased ruminal propionate concentration and decreased concentration of acetate and butyrate and acetate:propionate in ruminally cannulated cows fed the experimental diets. However, these changes were small, suggesting that too little monensin was fed. Fish meal reduced ruminal total amino acid (AA) but monensin did not alter ruminal NH(3) or total AA. Both fish meal and monensin increased NH(3) formation from casein AA using ruminal inoculum from the cannulated cows. There was no evidence from this trial that feeding 250 mg of monensin per day to lactating cows improved N utilization by reducing ruminal catabolism of the large amounts of free AA in alfalfa silage.     

Dietary Protein Derived from Dried Bonito Fish Improves Type‐2 Diabetes Mellitus‐Induced Bone Frailty in Goto‐Kakizaki Rats

Type‐2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induces bone frailty. Protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contained in fish can be effective in enhancing bone quality, but the bone developing effect of fish protein containing less PUFA has not been evaluated in young animals with T2DM. We prepared a bonito fish (BF) and defatted BF (DBF) and hypothesized that protein contained in BF and DBF would be effective for mitigating the effects of T2DM‐induced bone frailty. We mainly evaluated the effect of dietary BF and DBF on bone and apparent calcium absorption in young Goto‐Kakizaki (GK) rats with T2DM. GK rats were divided into 3 groups based on diets (casein, BF, and DBF) and fed with each diet for 6 wk. Wistar rats were fed with the casein diet as a non‐T2DM control. Bone mass, bone strength, apparent calcium absorption, and serum biochemical parameters were determined. The dry weight and strength of the femurs were lower in the GK rats than in the Wistar rats fed with the casein diet. Dietary intake of the BF and DBF diets enhanced the maximum load and dry weight of the femurs and suppressed the serum alkaline phosphatase activity although the apparent calcium absorption was lower in the GK rats fed with the BF and DBF diets than in those fed with the casein diet. These parameters were not different between the rats fed with the BF and DBF diets. Our data suggest that protein contained in the BF and DBF diets improved T2DM‐induced bone frailty.     

Metals and other elements in tissues of wild fish from fish farms and comparison with farmed species in sites with oxic and anoxic sediments

Farmed fish and wild fish aggregating in the vicinity of four Mediterranean fish farms with different environmental conditions were sampled. Levels of metals (including As and Se) were measured in the muscle, liver, gills, bone and intestine. The wild fish from sites with anoxic substrata accumulate metals (including As and Se) from the ambient habitat in their gills whereas those from sites with oxic substrata concentrate these elements through their diet in their intestine. Tissues of wild fish aggregating around farm cages accumulate a greater number of these elements and with higher concentrations than farmed fish. Habitat, diet, ecological needs, fat content of fish, and protein expression may play an important role in these element differences between fish species. Fe in flathead grey mullet, As in surmullet, rainbow wrasse, grey gurnard and picarel and Hg in bogue may pose a risk for human health. Farmed and wild fish are good sources of P, K, Cr and Se while flathead grey mullet, picarel and comber are excellent sources of Ca and Se.     

Performance, composition and sensory quality of adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fed a dried waste egg product

The growth and carcass quality of adult channel catfish (176 mm, 76 g average length and weight) fed diets (6000 fish/diet) containing 14% and 28% dried, inedible whole egg were compared to similar fish fed a commercial or a formulated diet containing fish meal as the primary protein source. After 4 months, the fish fed 28% dried egg diet were 5–8% longer and 17–31% heavier, and had consumed 0.06–1.11 1b feed per 1b weight gain less than fish fed the other diets. Fish fed the egg diets had 0.9–1.2% less dress-out and 0.3–2% more visceral cavity fat than fish fed the non-egg diets. Diets containing eggs did not affect the sensory quality or shear press values of the cooked fish fillets.     

The effects of sorghum proanthocyanidins on digestive enzyme activity in vitro and in the digestive tract of chicken

The effects of sorghum grain proanthocyanidins (PAs) on the digestive enzyme activity of broiler chickens were investigated in vitro and in vivo using seven sorghum varieties grown in Zimbabwe. All seven sorghum varieties, classified as either high‐PA (DC‐75, Mutode, Red Swazi and Chirimaugute) or low‐PA (SV2, Brown Tsweta and Chibonda), were used to assess the PA–protein binding capacity and inhibition of trypsin and amylase in vitro. Three of the varieties (Chirimaugute, Chibonda and Brown Tsweta) were subsequently used in broiler diets to test the effects of PAs on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activity of 48 broiler chicks at 42 days of age. Protein precipitation and trypsin and amylase inhibition increased (P < 0.05) with an increase in level of PAs from the low‐PA varieties (by 1–10%) to the high‐PA varieties (by 40–70%). The activity of trypsin in the duodenal lumen of chicks fed the control diet was almost double that of chicks fed Chirimaugute. Amylase activity in the high‐PA group was lowered significantly (P < 0.01) relative to the control and low‐PA groups. The difference between in vitro and in vivo residual enzyme activities was 10–20% for amylase and 5–10% for trypsin. Chicks fed the high‐PA diet showed lower performance than chicks fed the control and low‐PA diets. Mean body weight gains were 59.9, 34.4, 57.3 and 61.4 (SE 4.02) g day⁻¹, final weights were 1936.4, 1363.3, 1773.2 and 1857.0 (SE 78.5) g and feed efficiencies were 1.85, 2.26, 1.65 and 2.13 (SE 0.014) for the control, Chirimaugute, Brown Tsweta and Chibonda groups respectively. The results indicate that PA–enzyme interaction, in addition to dietary protein–PA binding, contributes to the poor performance of chickens fed high‐PA sorghum diets. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of dietary methylmercury on reproduction of fathead minnows

We examined effects of dietary methylmercury (MeHg) on reproduction of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Juvenile fish were fed one of four diets until sexual maturity (phase 1): a control diet (0.06 microg Hg g(-1) dry weight) and three diets contaminated with MeHg at 0.88 (low), 4.11 (medium), and 8.46 microg Hg g(-1) dry weight (high). At sexual maturity, male and female fish were paired, again fed one of the four diets, and allowed to reproduce (phase 2). To assess effects of MeHg during gametogenesis, some fish were fed diets during phase 2 that differed from those during phase 1. Spawning success of pairs fed the same diet during phases 1 and 2 was 75% for controls and 46%, 50%, and 36% for the low-, medium-, and high-MeHg treatments, respectively. Spawning success of pairs fed a contaminated diet during phase 1 and a control diet during phase 2 was 63%, 40%, and 14% for the low-, medium-, and high-MeHg treatments, respectively, whereas exposure to dietary MeHg only during phase 2 did not reduce spawning success. Dietary MeHg delayed spawning, and days to spawning was positively correlated with concentration of total mercury in the carcasses of test fish. MeHg reduced the instantaneous rate of reproduction of fish fed the same diets during phases 1 and 2. Both the gonadosomatic index and reproductive effort of female fish were inversely correlated with mercury in carcasses, whereas developmental and hatching success of embryos, 7-d survival, and 7-d growth of larvae were unrelated to mercury concentrations in parental fish or their diets. MeHg decreased reproduction of adult fathead minnows at dietary concentrations encountered by predatory fishes in aquatic systems with MeHg-contaminated food webs, implying that exposed fish populations could be adversely affected by this widespread contaminant.     

Maternal diet during oogenesis is the major source of methylmercury in fish embryos

Development of the early life stages of fishes can be affected adversely by methylmercury (MeHg) transferred from the maternal parent to the developing egg. We examined maternal transfer of MeHg to eggs of fathead minnows Pimephales promelas and evaluated the role of maternal MeHg burden versus that in the maternal dietduring oogenesis on egg concentrations. Juvenile fish were fed one of four diets until sexual maturity (phase 1): A control diet (0.06 microg of Hg g(-1) dry weight) and three that were contaminated with MeHg at 0.88 (low), 4.11 (medium), and 8.46 microg of Hg g(-1) (high). At sexual maturity, female fish were paired with a male, again fed one of the four diets, and allowed to reproduce (phase 2). To assess the significance of female dietary exposure during oogenesis on MeHg in eggs, some fish were fed diets during phase 2 that differed from those during phase 1. Mean concentrations and burdens of MeHg in eggs from fish fed the same diet throughout the experiment varied with MeHg content of the maternal diet and were related positively to levels in the carcass of the maternal fish. However, MeHg in eggs was not proportional to that in carcasses among dietary treatments; MeHg in eggs from adults fed the control, low, medium, and high MeHg diets averaged 14%, 25%, 32%, and 35% of that in adults. For fish fed the control diet as juveniles and MeHg-contaminated diets after reaching sexual maturity, MeHg in eggs increased rapidly with duration of maternal dietary exposure prior to spawning. Moreover, concentrations of MeHg in eggs from fish fed the same contaminated diet as both juveniles and sexually mature adults were not related to the duration of adult exposure, and they were not appreciably greater than those from fish fed contaminated diets only just priorto spawning. These results indicate that the diet of the maternal adult during oogenesis, and not adult body burden, is the principal source of MeHg in fish eggs. Accordingly, the exposure of embryonic wild fishes to MeHg depends on levels of the contaminant in prey of the adult during oogenesis, which can vary intra- and interannually.     

Effect of reconstitution of sorghum with or without enzymes on production performance and immunocompetence in broiler chicken

BACKGROUND: The presence of tannins and phytic acid in sorghum causes anti‐nutritional effects that include reduced growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility in broiler chicken. Therefore, in the present investigation efforts were made to reveal the effect of reconstitution of sorghum with or without enzymes on production performance and immunocompetence in broiler chicken. RESULTS: The body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, energy and protein utilization efficiency were better in birds fed reconstituted sorghum in comparison to those fed untreated sorghum. The intake of feed in different treatments did not vary in comparison to the control group. The feed cost per unit weight gain or meat yield apparently reduced due to reconstitution. There was significant improvement in nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of diets containing reconstituted sorghum. The serum biochemical parameters such as total cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid were not affected due to dietary treatments. The cell‐mediated immune response to phytohaemagglutinin‐P was better in sorghum‐fed groups. However, the humoral response to sheep red blood cells remained unaffected owing to the substitution of the maize by sorghum or its processed form. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the reconstitution of sorghum was beneficial in improving the growth performance and nutrient utilization in broiler chicken. However, supplementation of enzymes to raw sorghum‐based diets or addition of enzymes during reconstitution of sorghum did not further improve the growth performance of broilers. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Composition and properties of milk and butter from cows fed fish oil

A control diet and a fish oil diet were fed to 12 multiparous Holstein cows to determine how the incorporation of Menhaden fish oil in the diet would influence the fatty acid composition, especially the conjugated linoleic acid and transvaccenic acid, contents of milk and butter. The control diet consisted of a 50:50 ratio of forage to concentrate, and the fish oil diet consisted of the control diet with 2% (on a dry matter basis) added fish oil. Milk from cows fed the control diet contained higher average concentrations of milk fat (3.37%) compared with milk from cows fed the fish oil diet (2.29%). Milk from cows fed fish oil contained higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid, transvaccenic acid, and total unsaturated fatty acids (0.68 and 2.51; 1.42 and 6.28; and 30.47 and 41.71 g/100 g of fat, respectively). Butter made from the fish oil diet milk also had higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid, transvaccenic acid, and unsaturated fatty acids. Penetrometer readings indicated fish oil diet butters were softer at 4 and 20 degrees C than the control diet butters. Acid degree values were similar in the fish oil butters compared with the control butters. No significant difference was found in the flavor characteristics of milk and butter from cows fed the control and fish oil diets. Production of milk and butter with increased amounts of conjugated linoleic acid, transvaccenic acid, and other beneficial fatty acids may have a desirable impact on the health of consumers and lead to increased sales.     

Utilization of ensiled corn crop residues by Holstein heifers.

Corn crop residues were harvested 1 to 2 d after harvest of high moisture corn. Half the harvested residues were treated with an aqueous solution of ammonia before ensiling to give 34 g of ammonia/kg of residue DM. The untreated half was the control silage. Both silages were ensiled in bunker silos. More residues were harvested 2.5 wk later from the same field and combined with Brassica napus L. before ensiling in a bag, and this constituted the third forage treatment. Three diets containing 48.8, 46.5, and 63.8% residue silage (DM basis), with the latter containing corn crop residue and brassica in a 3:1 ratio, were designated as control, ammoniated, and brassica, respectively. The other ingredients of the diet were alfalfa silage, cracked corn, and urea. The diets were fed to Holstein heifers averaging 186 kg (light BW) and 372 kg (heavy BW). Weight gains were similar at 84 d for heifers fed the control and the ammoniated residue diets. Light and heavy heifers gained 619 and 631 g/d with the control diet and 678 and 631 g/d with the ammoniated residue diets. At 70 d, the heavy heifers fed control, ammoniated, and brassica diets had weight gains of 629, 671, and 786 g/d, respectively. Digestion coefficients were similar between the control and ammoniated residue diets: DM (62.6 and 58.7%), NDF (56.7 and 56.2%), and ADF (56.3 and 55.8%). Ammonia treatment of corn crop residue silage had no effect on animal performance or digestibility. Brassica appeared to improve animal performance when it was mixed with corn crop residue silage.     

Isolation of exopolysaccharide producing Lactobacillus strains from sorghum distillery residues pickled cabbage and their antioxidant properties

Twelve Lactobacillus strains isolated from sorghum distillery residue (SDR) pickled cabbage were studied for their in vitro scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals and DPPH free radicals, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and their resistance to hydrogen peroxide in cell lysate or intact cells. Lactobacillus brevis D7, at a dose of 10¹⁰ CFU/mL, showed the highest hydroxyl radical and DPPH scavenging activities, as well as total antioxidative activity, with inhibition rates of 51.2, 44.9, and 65.2%, respectively in intact cells. On the other hand, the L. brevis D7 strain was the most resistant against hydrogen peroxide. L. brevis D7 isolated from SDR pickled cabbage should be considered as a potential antioxidant to be used in functional foods. Correlation analysis showed that DPPH free radical scavenging activity is a potential screening indicator for high exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing Lactobacillus species.