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The aim of our study was to assess the nutritional value of whole and dehulled ground seeds of Lupinus albus L., cv. Butan by the determination of balance digestibility of nutrients in growing pigs at different levels of replacement of soy protein with lupine. The experiment was performed on 25 pigs of hybrid combination Pietrain × (Duroc × Large White × Landrace) with initial body weights of 30.7 ± 2.21 kg. The feed compound of the control group contained extracted soybean meal (ESM). In four experimental diets, 50% and 100% replacement of soy protein with the inclusion of whole (WL 50, WL 100) or dehulled (DL 50, DL 100) lupine was carried out. Nutrient and amino acid digestibility was determined using the indicator of insoluble ash in 4M HCl in pigs with a mean live body weight of 48.9 ± 3.51 kg . Higher digestibility of crude protein (P < 0.01), ether extract (P < 0.01), crude fibre (P < 0.01), NDF, ADF (P < 0.05), and cellulose (P < 0.05) was found for the diet WL 50 compared with the control group ESM. In the diet DL 50, higher digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, NDF, and cellulose (PP < 0.01) was recorded compared with the control. Higher digestibility of lysine and threonine (P < 0.01) was found in the diet WL 50 in comparison with ESM; a lower digestibility of methionine (P < 0.01) was found in the diet DL 50. Lower digestibility of crude protein, NDF, ADF (P < 0.01), and cellulose (P < 0.01) was found at 100% supplementation of soy protein with whole seed lupine (WL 100) compared to the control. A 100% replacement of soy protein with dehulled lupine (DL 100) resulted in significantly higher digestibility of dry matter (P < 0.01), crude protein (P < 0.05), ether extract (P < 0.01), crude fibre (P < 0.01), N-FE (P < 0.01), organic matter (P < 0.01), NDF (P< 0.01), ADF, and cellulose (P < 0.01) compared with the control diet. In this case, digestibility of threonine (P < 0.01) and lysine was higher, that of methionine was lower. The highest concentration and daily output of diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) were observed in the diet WL 100. Daily gains in live body weight were nonsignificantly higher in all experimental animals compared with the controls, the most beneficial conversion being a 100% replacement of soy protein with dehulled lupine (DL 100).

The present study concentrated on the development of an analytical method for determination of emissions of volatile organic compounds from crude and heat treated amaranth (genus Amaranthus L.) samples. Emitted substances were collected by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method and identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The list of identified abundant organic compounds exceeds one hundred substances of different classes. Total concentrations of quantified volatile organic compounds ranged between 2.2 and 68.9 μg/g of dried sample. Hexanal and acetic acid were found as the most abundant compounds detected in amaranth samples. It was found that heat treatment (popping) of amaranth samples changed their composition of volatile organic compounds dramatically. The highest volatile organic compound emissions were found in popped grain amaranth in comparison to all crude grains and amaranth biomasses.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of diets for market pigs with 20% inclusion of lupine seeds, cv. Amiga, on the performance, health status, carcass characteristics, fatty acids (FA) profile of meat lipids and nutritional and sensory parameters of meat. Another purpose was to increase the nutritional value of a cereal-lupine diet (E1) by supplementation with lysine, methionine, threonine (E2) or fat (E3) and to perform a comparison with control diets containing animal protein (C1) or soy (C2). The experiments were performed on 50 pigs (50% males, 50% females) with initial body weights of 35.6 ± 2.2 kg, fed isonitrogenic and isoenergetic diets partly ad libitum for 90 days. Feed intake was not adversely affected by lupine inclusion. The daily body weight gain (BWG) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group E3 in comparison with the cereal-lupine diet group (E1) and the other groups by 12.6 to 15.9% during the initial 30 days of experiment. The highest BWG (0.88 ± 0.07 kg/kg) during the entire experimental period was obtained with the fat containing diet (E3); that was non-significantly higher by 2.3 to 10.0% in comparison with the other diets. The feed conversion rate was reduced in groups E3 and E2 (2.55 and 2.58 kg/kg BWG) by 3.1 to 7.6% in comparison with groups C1, C2 and E1. No adverse effect of the lupine containing diet was observed on the carcass characteristics or the nutritional quality of the meat. Optimum content of linolenic acid in lupine seeds had a favourable effect on n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated FA ratio in meat lipids of group E3 in comparison with groups C1 and E1 (P < 0.05). By sensory meat analysis, significantly better characteristics were found for texture, juiciness (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and taste in E3 in comparison with groups C1, C2 and E1. The obtained results indicate that animal and soy protein may be replaced with lupine, tested in the present study, in case a diet is supplemented with amino acids and fat.

The objective of our study was to test amaranth grain or dried biomass in the diet for broiler chickens as a resource of protein replacing animal protein. Further, the effect of amaranth on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality were assessed in a feeding trial. The experimental groups of broilers were fed feed mixtures with crude amaranth grain (AC), heat processed amaranth grain (AP) or dried above-ground biomass (AB). Control groups (C) received the diet containing animal proteins. The results obtained in the experimental groups of broiler chickens can be compared to the control group in all the production indicators under investigation. On day 42 of the experiment, live weight (g) of female broilers ranged from 2 205.1 ± 152.5 (AP) to 2 254.0 ± 136.5 (C), and that of male broilers from 2 375.1 ± 233.0 (AC) to 2 506.0 ± 286.0 (C). Feed conversion ranged from 1.80 kg in control group of male broiler chickens to 1.91 kg in experimental group of male broilers (AB). Percentage yield in female broiler chickens ranged from 70.8 ± 1.74 (AB) to 72.4 ±3.34(AC) or 72.4 ± 1.98 (C), and in male broilers from 72.8 ±3.55(AP) to 75.1 ±2.44(AB). Our results showed that amaranth can fully replace meat-and-bone meals in the diets for broiler chickens.

The aim of the study was to test whether a single intramuscular or oral application of iodized fatty acid esters (IFAE), without any iodine supplements in the rations, would increase for a long time iodine concentrations in egg yolk without any drop of egg production and egg quality. The results were compared with those obtained using the conventional iodine source - potassium iodide (KI). After the adaptation period, 10 mg of iodine/kg of live weight were applied to the experimental layers at the age of 21 weeks. The layers were divided into four groups: the group K-KI received iodine orally in the form of potassium iodide; iodine was applied orally in the form of IFAE to the group P-PO; and iodine as IFAE was applied intramuscularly to the group P-IM. The control group (K-0) received no iodine. Increased concentrations of iodine in egg yolk were observed following oral application of KI and IFAE. Maximum concentrations were measured on day 5 following application (12 863 ± 3 269 μg I/kg for K-KI, and 14 037 ± 2 506 μg I/kg for P-PO). Quite different course of changes was recorded following intramuscular application of iodine (group P-IM). Both, the increase and drop of iodine concentrations were slow, maximum values were measured from day 11 till day 35 of the experiment (from 769 ± 426 to 1 163 ± 757 μg of I/kg yolk). Intramus­cular application of IFAE resulted in significantly higher levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) of iodine in egg yolk from day 11 till the end of the experiment (on day 154) compared with the group K-0, and from day 14 compared with the group K-KI. At the same time, more fluent course of egg production with maximum at the age of 34 weeks was observed in laying hens. No effect of iodine application on egg production and egg mass was found. Significantly higher weights of eggs (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and egg white (P < 0.05) were recorded following oral and intramuscular application of IFAE compared with the control group K-0.

Effects of sodium humate (HuNa), containing 61.9% of humic acids in dry matter, on utilisation and retention of dietary iodine were investigated in balance experiments carried out in pigs. A control group was fed a commercial diet containing 0.1 mg of iodine per kg. The daily intake of iodine was 129.2 µg per animal or 4.08 µg per kg live weight. The recommended intake of dietary iodine is 0.25 to 0.30 mg per kg at 88% dry matter. The experimental group (HuNa) was fed the same diet supplemented with 3% of sodium humate which contained 0.5 mg of iodine per kg at 90.04% dry matter. The supplementation increased the daily intake to 141.4 µg per animal, or 4.45 µg per kg live weight. The supplementation of HuNa increased significantly the amount of iodine excreted in faeces (53.2 ± 11.0 vs. 43.0 ± 6.47 µg per animal per day; P < 0.05) and nonsignificantly the urinary iodine excretion (31.8 ± 8.93 vs. 29.0 ± 11.3 µg per animal per day). Differences between the HuNa and the control groups in blood serum iodine concentrations (18.8 vs. 18.1 µg per litre) and urinary iodine concentrations (32.5 vs. 34.4 µg per litre) were nonsignificant. It is evident from the concentrations that the pigs suffered from a serious iodine deficiency. Compared with controls, the HuNa group showed significantly higher triiodothyronine concentration (P < 0.05) and nonsignificantly lower thyroxine and iodine concentrations in blood serum. Dietary iodine utilisation was lower in the HuNa than in the control group (62.3 vs. 66.6%). The results show that utilisation of dietary iodine was limited and that sodium humate (humic acids) reduced iodine utilisation and retention and affected also other parameters indicating their goitrogenic effects.

Forty female chickens were allocated to four groups of ten birds each. The control group (K) was fed a basal diet without supplementation. The second control group received a basal diet with humic acid (HA) at a dose of 0.5 g per chicken/day. The first experimental group was fed the basal diet with methyl-mercury (MeHg) at a dose of 0.02 mg per chicken/day and the group of chickens MeHg + HA received 0.5 g HA per chicken/day. After slaughter, mercury levels were assessed in liver, kidney, brain and muscle tissue samples. After 10-day treatment of the chickens with MeHg, significantly increased (P < 0.001) Hg concentrations were detected in all examined tissues in comparison with the groups K and HA. The average concentrations in liver, kidneys, brain and muscle tissues were 424, 398, 81.6 and 79.2 µg Hg/kg, respectively. After concurrent treatment with HA and MeHg, Hg concentrations were lower by 20.6%, 23.8%, 23.0% and 18.6% in liver, kidneys, brain and muscle tissues (P < 0.001). Biological accumulation of Hg was 25.5% and 20.4% in MeHg and MeHg + HA groups, respectively.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of soya replacement (50 or 100%) with whole (WL) or dehulled seeds (DL) of white lupine cv. Butan in the diets for market pigs. The experiment was performed on 50 pigs in equal numbers of barrows and gilts with the initial mean body weight (BW) of 18.3 ± 2.1 kg, fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets for 100 days. In the experimental starter pigs (18 to 35 kg BW), the mean daily body weight gain (BWG) was 0.61 to 0.64 kg and was insignificantly lower by 1.5 to 6.2% in comparison with the pigs fed the control soya diet (SBM). The diet intake was also lower by 5.4 to 6.8% and could result from a higher content of crude fibre. In the grower and finisher diets, no side effect of high lupine levels on the feed intake was evident. The intake of DL diets was higher in comparison with the soya diet. The feed efficiency of the finisher diets was insignificantly higher (P > 0.05) for experimental diets (WL 50, WL 100, DL 100) in contrast to the control diet. The differences among diets containing WL or DL seeds were insignificant. During the experiment, no adverse effect of lupine on the health of pigs was observed and no significant differences in the parameters of market pig meat, nutrition quality of meat and sensory analysis were detected. The inclusion of lupine in diets resulted in a significantly lower n-6/n-3 ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.01) in meat lipids (5.15 to 5.33) in comparison with soya (8.75). It follows from the obtained results that the tested lupine variety seeds are a source of high-quality protein that can be an alternative to soya in the diets for market pigs.

Twenty samples of the aboveground biomass of Amaranthus cruentus (varieties Olpir, Amar 2 RR-R 150, and A 200 D) and A. hypochondriacus (variety No. 1008) were analysed to determine their nutritional value during the experimental period covering five growth stages from inflorescence emergence till full ripening of grain. During plant growth, from day 80 to day 120 of cultivation, the nutritional value decreased. This was demonstrated by an increase in insoluble fibre and a reduction in crude protein content. The content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in the dry matter increased from 356 to 420 g/kg (P < 0.01); acid detergent fibre (ADF) from 238 to 286 g/kg (P < 0.01); acid detergent lignin (ADL) from 22.9 to 53.4 g/kg (P < 0.01). The content of crude protein in the dry matter of the investigated amaranth varieties decreased from 174 to 109 g/kg (P < 0.01). In the Czech Republic the aboveground biomass of the cultivated A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus could be used as a good source of fibre and protein in animal diets when harvested in the period from day 80 to 90 of cultivation.

The following characteristics were determined in raw and popped amaranth grain: crude protein (158.1 and 168.5 g/kg), ether extract (71.5 and 69.4 g/kg), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (99.2 and 111.8 g/kg), cellulose (86.6 and 60.0 g/kg) and essential amino acids (Cys 4.2 and 4.1, Thr 6.0 and 6.5, Ala 8.8 and 9.2, Val 6.8 and 7.4, Ile 5.2 and 5.6, Lys 9.2 and 8.8, Arg 12.8 and 14.2 g/kg). In vitro protein digestibility was 68.1 and 50.6% in raw and popped amaranth grain, respectively. In balance experiments with broiler chickens ROSS 308 the following coefficients of apparent digestibility (%) were determined for control and experimental diets containing 0, 10% raw and 10% popped amaranth: crude protein 85.4, 86.5 and 83.0, ether extract 88.3, 88.2 and 86.1, NDF 21.2, 27.6 and 15.9, cellulose 25.0, 38.4 and 36.3, nitrogen free extractives 76.1, 82.6 and 81.1, organic matter 77.3, 81.8 and 80.6, gross energy 77.5, 80.6 and 78.2.

Amino acid content before and after heat treatment was assessed in grain of six selected amaranth varieties and four species: Amaranthus cruentus, A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus and A. hybridus, cultivated in the Czech Republic. High content of Lys and Arg was detected in both heat treated and untreated grains, as well as satisfactory content of Cys and lower levels of Met, Val, Ile and Leu. The latter three amino acids appear as limiting. Chemical scores of essential amino acids and essential amino acid index (EAAI) were determined. EAAI value of 90.4% shows the favourable nutritional quality of amaranth protein, which is almost comparable with egg protein. Heat treatment by popping at 170 to 190°C for 30 s resulted in decreased EAAI to 85.4%. Of the essential amino acids under study, Val and Leu contents decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The relatively high content of essential amino acids in amaranth grain predetermines its use as a substitution of meat-and-bone meals.

Experimental groups of pigs were treated orally with 120 mg (Group O 120), or 480 mg (Group O 480) of iodine per animal, or intramuscularly with 240 mg (Group I 240) of iodine per animal. Iodine was administered in the form of iodised fatty acid esters (IFAE). The treatment resulted in significantly increased iodine concentrations in tissues and a single dose was sufficient to meet the requirement for the whole fattening period (180 days). Urinary iodine concentrations in all the experimental groups were higher than in the control group C receiving iodine only from conventional feed. Urinary excretion of iodine between days 2 and 5 was more distinctive in orally treated than in intramuscularly treated animals (Figure 1). Iodine concentrations at the end of the fattening period (day 180) were higher in the treated than in the control groups. The treatment effect was more marked in Groups O 480 and I 240 than in Group O 120. The dynamics of blood serum iodine concentrations was similar to urinary concentrations (Figure 2). Mean thyroid gland weights in the groups O 120, O 480, I 240, and C were 9.19, 8.51, 7.10, and 12.01 g, respectively. An opposite tendency was observed for iodine concentrations in thyroid gland dry matter (Figure 3). No effects of any of the treatments on total protein, albumin, total lipids, or cholesterol concentrations in blood serum were observed. Group C showed lower tissue iodine concentrations than any of the experimental groups. The only exception was hepatic tissue in which approximately the same iodine concentrations were found in all the groups. Data obtained in Groups O 120, O 480, and I 240 indicate that decisive for tissue concentrations was rather the dose of iodine than the route of administration. Iodine is stored above all in the thyroid gland and adipose tissue. As can be seen in Figure 4, its concentration was higher in muscles with a higher proportion of fat (neck) than in lean muscles (ham).