In situ ruminal disappearance of crude protein and phytate from differently processed rapeseed meals in dairy cows

Predicting standardized ileal digestibility of lysine in full-fat soybeans using chemical composition and physical characteristics

OBJECTIVE

The present work was conducted to evaluate suitable variables and develop prediction equations using chemical composition and physical characteristics for estimating standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of lysine (Lys) in full-fat soybeans (FFSB).

METHODS

The chemical composition and physical characteristics were determined including trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), urease activity (UA), protein solubility in 0.2% potassium hydroxide (KOH), protein dispersibility index (PDI), lysine to crude protein ratio (Lys:CP), reactive Lys:CP ratio, neutral detergent fiber, neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN), acid detergent fiber, L* (lightness), and a* (redness). Pearson's correlation (r) was computed, and the relationship between variables was determined by linear or quadratic regression. Stepwise multiple regression was performed to develop prediction equations for SID of Lys.

RESULTS

Negative correlations (p<0.01) between SID of Lys and protein quality indicators were observed for TIA (r = -0.80), PDI (r = -0.80), and UA (r = -0.76). The SID of Lys also showed a quadratic response (p<0.01) to UA, NDIN, TIA, L*, KOH, a* and Lys:CP. The best-fit model for predicting SID of Lys in FFSB included TIA, UA, NDIN, and ADIN, resulting in the highest coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.94).

CONCLUSION

Quadratic regression with one variable indicated the high accuracy for UA, NDIN, TIA, and PDI. The multiple linear regression including TIA, UA, NDIN, and ADIN is an alternative model used to predict SID of Lys in FFSB to improve the accuracy. Therefore, multiple indicators are warranted to assess either insufficient or excessive heat treatment accurately, which can be employed by the feed industry as measures for quality control purposes to predict SID of Lys in FFSB.

Linkage of in situ ruminal degradation of crude protein with ruminal degradation of amino acids and phytate from different soybean meals in dairy cows

The objectives of this study were to determine the range in ruminal degradability of crude protein (CP) and intestinal digestibility of rumen undegradable protein in commercial soybean meal (SBM) and to investigate the range in in situ ruminal AA and phytate (InsP6) degradation and their relationship to CP degradation. An in situ study was conducted using 3 lactating Jersey cows with permanent rumen cannulas. Seventeen SBM variants from Europe, Brazil, Argentina, North America, and India were tested for ruminal CP and AA degradation, and in vitro intestinal digestibility of rumen undegradable protein. Nine variants were used to investigate the ruminal degradation of InsP6. The estimated rapidly degradable fraction (a) of CP showed an average value of 4.5% (range: 0.0%-9.0%), the slowly degradable fraction (b) averaged 95% (91%-100%), and the potential degradation was complete for all 17 SBM variants. The degradation of fraction b started after a mean lag phase of 1.7 h (1.1-2.0 h) at an average rate (c) of 10% per hour, but with a high range from 4.5% to 14% per hour. Differences in the degradation parameters induced a considerable range in CP effective degradation at a rumen passage rate of 6% per hour (CPED6) from 38% to 67%; hence, the concentration of rumen undegradable protein varied widely from 33% to 62%. The range in AA degradation between the SBM variants was high, with Ser showing the widest range, from 28% to 96%, and similar for the other AA. The regression equations showed close relationships between CP and AA degradation after 16 h of in situ incubation. However, the slopes of the linear regressions were significantly different between AA, suggesting that degradation among individual AA differs upon a change in CP degradation. The concentrations of InsP6 and myo-inositol pentakisphosphate in bag residues in the in situ study decreased constantly with longer ruminal incubation times. The ruminal degradation parameters of InsP6 ranged from 11% to 37% for fraction a, 63% to 89% for fraction b, and from 7.7% to 21% per hour for degradation rate c, with average values of 21%, 79%, and 16% per hour, respectively. The calculated InsP6 effective degradation at a rumen passage rate of 6% per hour (InsP6ED6) varied from 61% to 84% among the SBM variants. Significant correlations were detected between InsP6ED6 and CPED6 and between InsP6ED6 and chemical protein fractions A, B1, B2, B3, and C. Linear regression equations were developed to predict ruminal InsP6 degradation using CPED6 and chemical protein fractions B3 and C chosen by a stepwise selection procedure. We concluded that a high range in CP, AA, and InsP6 degradation exists among commercial SBM, suggesting that general degradability values may not be precise enough for diet formulation for dairy cows. Degradation of CP in SBM may be used to predict rumen degradation of AA and InsP6 using linear regression equations. Degradation of CP and InsP6 could also be predicted from the chemical protein fractions.

Interactions of zinc with phytate and phytase in the digestive tract of poultry and pigs: a review

Phytase supplementation is gaining importance in animal nutrition because of its effect on phosphorus (P) digestibility and the increasing relevance of P for sustainable production. The potential inhibitors of phytase efficacy and phytate degradation, such as calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn), have been a subject of intense research. This review focuses on the interactions of Zn with phytate and phytase in the digestive tract of poultry and pigs, with an emphasis on the effects of Zn supplementation on phytase efficacy and P digestibility. In vitro studies have shown the inhibitory effect of Zn on phytase efficacy. However, relevant in vivo studies are scarce and do not show consistent results for poultry and pigs. The results could be influenced by different factors, such as diet composition, amount of Zn supplement, mineral concentrations, and phytase supplementation, which limit the comparability of studies. The chosen response criteria to measure phytase efficacy, which is mainly tibia ash, could also influence the results. Compared to poultry, the literature findings are somewhat more conclusive in pigs, where pharmacological Zn doses (≥ 1000 mg kg-1 Zn) appear to reduce P digestibility. To appropriately evaluate the effects of non-pharmacological Zn doses, further studies are needed that provide comprehensive information on their experimental setup and include measurements of gastrointestinal phytate degradation to better understand the mechanisms associated with Zn and phytase supplements. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Amino acid digestibility of insect meals and effects on key bacterial groups in excreta of caecectomised laying hens

The chemical composition and amino acids (AA) digestibility were determined in insect meals from mealworms, crickets, black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and BSF prepupae, and soybean meal. Six caecectomised laying hens were individually housed in metabolism cages and fed either a basal diet or one of five assay diets. Diets and hens were arranged in a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 subsequent periods. In each period, the laying hens were fed their respective diet for 9 d, and excreta samples were quantitatively collected twice daily from day 5 to 8. On day 9, a sterile plastic bag was attached to the cloaca of each hen to collect excreta for microbiota analysis. The AA digestibility of the insect meals and soybean meal were calculated using a linear regression approach. Crude protein (CP) concentrations in crickets and mealworms were higher than the value in soybean meal, BSF prepupae and BSF larvae. Ether extract concentrations were high in the insect meals and low in the soybean meal. The digestibility of most essential AA in soybean meal was higher (p < 0.05) than in crickets and BSF prepupae and not different from AA digestibility in mealworms and BSF larvae (except for arginine and histidine). The gene copy number of Escherichia coli in excreta from hens fed with BSF prepupae was lower (p < 0.05) than those fed with BSF larvae, whereas the gene copy number of Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp. in excreta from hens fed with crickets was lower (p < 0.05) than those fed with BSF larvae. In conclusion, the chemical composition and AA digestibility varied among insect meals based on insect species and life stage. The high level of AA digestibility of insect meals supports the assessment that insect meals are a suitable feed component for laying hens, but differences in AA digestibility should be considered in diet formulation.

Amino acid digestibility and metabolizable energy of soybean meal of different origins in cecectomized laying hens

This study investigated the variation in amino acid (AA) digestibility and MEn of 18 samples of solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM; 6 European, 7 Brazilian, 2 Argentinian, 2 North American, 1 Indian) in cecectomized laying hens. The experimental diets contained either 300 g/kg of cornstarch or one of the SBM samples. Pelleted diets were fed to 10 hens in two 5 × 10 row-column designs so that 5 replicates were obtained from each diet during 5 periods. A regression approach and the difference method were used to determine AA digestibility and MEn, respectively. The variation in the digestibility of SBM differed among AA with ranges in digestibility of 6 to 12%-units for most AA. Among the first-limiting AA, the digestibility was 87 to 93%, 63 to 86%, 85 to 92%, 79 to 89%, and 84 to 95% for Met, Cys, Lys, Thr, and Val, respectively. The range of MEn for the SBM samples was 7.5 to 10.5 MJ/kg DM. Indicators of SBM quality (including trypsin inhibitor activity, KOH solubility, urease activity, and in vitro N solubility) and analyzed SBM constituents were significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with AA digestibility or MEn only in a few cases. No differences were observed in AA digestibility and MEn between countries of origins, except low digestibility of some AA and MEn for the 2 Argentinian SBM samples. These results suggest that the precision of feed formulation benefits from considering the variations in AA digestibility and MEn. Often used indicators for SBM quality and analyzed constituents were not suitable to explain variations in AA digestibility and MEn, suggesting that AA digestibility and MEn are determined by other factors.

Feed Clusters According to In Situ and In Vitro Ruminal Crude Protein Degradation

Effective degradation (ED) of crude protein (CP) was estimated in vitro at 0.02, 0.05 and 0.08 h−1 assumed ruminal passage rates for a total of 40 feedstuffs, for which in situ ED was available and used as reference degradation values. For this, the Streptomyces griseus protease test was used. The differences between in vitro CP degradation and the in situ CP degradation values were lowest in legume grains and highest in cereal by-products and barley. The differences between in situ and in vitro ED were expressed using a degradation quotient (degQ), where degQ = (EDin vitro − EDin situ)/EDin situ. Among the tested feedstuffs, eight specific clusters were identified according to degQ for the assumed passage rates. The feedstuffs clustered in an unspecific way, i.e., feedstuffs of different nutrient composition, origin or treatment did not necessarily group together. Formaldehyde−treated rapeseed meal, soybean meal, wheat, a treated lupin, sunflower meal and barley could not be assigned to any of the clusters. Groupwise degradation (range of degQ for assumed passage rates are given in brackets) was detected in grass silages (−0.17, −0.11), cereal by-products together with sugar beet pulp (−0.47, −0.35) and partly in legume grains (−0.14, 0.14). The clustering probably based on different specific nutrient composition and matrix effects that influence the solubility of feed protein and limit the performance of the protease. The matrix can be affected by treatment (chemically, thermally or mechanically), changing the chemical and physical structure of the protein within the plant. The S. griseus protease test had reliable sensitivity to reflect differences between native feedstuffs and treatments (thermally or chemically) that were found in situ. The in situ results, however, are mostly underestimated. The clustering results do not allow a clear conclusion on the groupwise or feed-specific use of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes as pre- or co-inoculants as part of the S. griseus protease test and need to be tested for its potential to make this test more conform with in situ data.

Ruminal and post-ruminal phytate degradation of diets containing rapeseed meal or soybean meal

This study aimed to investigate ruminal and post-ruminal degradation of phytic acid (InsP₆) in diets containing either rapeseed meal (RSM) or soybean meal (SBM). In Experiment 1, the effective degradability of crude protein (CPED) and InsP₆ (InsP₆ED) was evaluated by incubating RSM and SBM in situ in three rumen-fistulated lactating Jersey cows for 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h, and calculating effective degradability at rumen passage rates of 2% and 5%/h. In Experiment 2, eight wethers were assigned for 8 weeks to two dietary treatments (Diet RSM and Diet SBM) containing 150 g of either meal and 100 g of maize silage per feeding time and had free access to hay and water. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was added to the diets for the last 5 days of the study. The wethers were then stunned, exsanguinated and digesta from the reticulo-rumen, omasum, abomasum, jejunum, colon, and rectum were sampled. In Experiment 1, the InsP₆ED of RSM (InsP₆ED₂: 83%; InsP₆ED₅: 64%) decreased almost identically to that of CPED with increasing passage rate (CPED₂: 78%; CPED₅: 63%) and was significantly lower than that of SBM (InsP₆ED₂: 93%; InsP₆ED₅: 85%). In Experiment 2, ruminal InsP₆ disappearance was significantly higher in wethers fed Diet SBM (89%) than in those fed Diet RSM (76%). Total post-ruminal InsP₆ degradation was 6% for Diet RSM and 4% for Diet SBM (p = 0.186). The total tract InsP₆ disappearance was higher in Diet SBM (93%) than in Diet RSM (82%). Considering higher InsP₆ contents in RSM, Diet RSM resulted in significantly higher amounts of ruminally (Diet RSM: 4.5 g/d; Diet SBM: 3.4 g/d) and total tract (Diet RSM: 4.9 g/d; Diet SBM: 3.5 g/d) degraded InsP₆. InsP₅ was quantified in most of the digesta samples after feeding Diet RSM but was not detectable in the majority of digesta samples for Diet SBM. Concentrations of myo-inositol (MI) tended to be higher (p = 0.060) in the blood plasma of wethers fed Diet RSM. The consistency between ruminal InsP₆ disappearance in wethers and in situ calculated InsP₆ED₂, along with the very low extent of post-ruminal InsP₆ degradation, suggests that at a low rumen passage rate, InsP₆-P from the feed becoming available to ruminants is almost entirely from InsP₆ degradation in the rumen.