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The effects of dietary extruded linseed (ELS):walnut meal (WM) mixture (8:1) on some plasma parameters and intestinal health in weaned piglets was investigated. Forty piglets (Topigs hybrid; body weight BW=8.02±0.82 kg), age 30±3 days, were divided into 2 groups and fed 2 diets: control (C, based on corn-triticale-soybean meal (SBM)) and experimental (ELS:WM, where the ELS:WM mixture 8:1 partially replaces SBM). Blood samples were collected at 7 and 21 days postweaning (PW). A chemistry analyzer was used to determine the plasma lipid (total cholesterol, T-Chol; HDL-cholesterol, HDL-C; triglycerides, TG), mineral and enzymatic profile. Microbial populations from fecal samples were determined by counting the colonies obtained on selected media. There was no effect of dietary mixture inclusion on plasma parameters at 7 and 21 days PW (P>0.05). The plasma HDL-C concentration was positively correlated with the alpha-linolenic (ALA) fatty acids content of diet at days 7 (r=0.94, P<0.0001) and 21 PW (r=0.89, P<0.0001), while at day 21 PW the T-Chol (r=0.52, P=0.08) and TG (r=0.54, P=0.07) tended to be influenced by the dietary treatment. Fecal score (FS) decreased at day 7 PW (P>0.05), and at day 21 PW a tendency to decrease FS as a response to dietary mixture addition was observed (P=0.07). The tested dietary mixture positively affected the microbial fecal populations by decreasing the Staphylococcus spp. (P=0.001), E. coli (P<0.0001) and fungi (P=0.004), also tended to increase the Lactobacillus spp. (P=0.08). In conclusion, the dietary mixture could be an alternative to partially replace SBM in piglet's diet due to positive biochemical response and intestinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary partial corn replacement by white sorghum (WS) or triticale (T) on growth performance, carcass parameters and pH of meat in broilers. One-day-old unsexed Cobb 500 broilers (n=600) were randomly assigned to 3 groups with 4 replicates per treatment. The broilers were fed with isocaloric and isonitrogenous corn-soybean meal control diets (C), corn-WS-soybean meal diets (WS) or corn-T-soybean meal diets (T) for 35 days. The WS or T partially replaced corn; proportions in diets were 275.4 g/kg or 284.0 g/kg (starter), 307.0 g/kg or 308.2 g/kg (grower) and 332.7 g/kg or 335.0 g/kg (finisher). Results showed that performance (body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) or carcass traits (carcass yields, breast, leg, wings, liver and abdominal fat percentage) at 35 d were not affected by the inclusion of WS or T in diets. The pH values of breast (Pectoralis major) and thigh (Biceps femoris) muscle at 30 min and 24 h after slaughter were not influenced by the dietary treatments. In conclusion, partial corn replacement with white sorghum or triticale are suitable options for broiler chicken diet, with no adverse effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics or meat pH, as important quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of dietary peas: linseed mixture (3:1) on the performance and certain serum biochemical parameters of weaned piglets. The faecal bacteriological and fungal composition and diarrhoea incidence was done as well. A total of 20 weaned piglets, 28 ± 3 days of age, were assigned randomly to 2 groups: control diet (C diet) with a classical diet (corn and soybean meal) and peas: linseed diet (PL diet, 3:1). The lipid and protein profile were determined by Analyser BS – 130. The cortisol serum concentration was determined with an Immulite 2000 (Siemens). The serum lipase concentration was determined by the spectrophotometer method. The number of microorganisms from the faeces samples was determined by counting the colonies obtained on selected media for each particular microorganism. The dietary addition of peas: linseed mixture did not influence the performance (P>0.05). The serum markers: cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein and their fraction did not differ significantly between treatments. Except the protein, which was slightly under the recommended limit, the other markers were within the physiological limits. The dietary fat content was similar. Serum lipase level in weaned piglets decreased insignificantly by dietary incorporation of peas: linseed (<9.06% in PL diet compared to C diet). The lower level of serum lipase in PL diet was reflected in a higher level of triglyceride (>1.10 times) and cholesterol (>1.06 times). The cortisol level was reduced by 94% by peas: linseed addition. The vegetable protein source did not have a significant influence on the bacteria of the faeces. After 2 weeks from weaning, the bacteria count was slowly higher in PL diet compared to C diet, as shown by a higher incidence of diarrhoea. We can conclude that peas and linseed are valuable vegetable sources for weaning piglets, their combination delivering an opportunity to have an optimal diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]