Replacing soya bean meal with heat-treated, low-glucosinolate rapeseed meal does not affect the performance of growing-finishing pigs

Do Brassica Vegetables Affect Thyroid Function?-A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Brassica vegetables are widely consumed all over the world, especially in North America, Asia, and Europe. They are a rich source of sulfur compounds, such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), which provide health benefits but are also suspected of having a goitrogenic effect. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of dietary interventions on thyroid function, in terms of the potential risk for people with thyroid dysfunctions. We analyzed the results of 123 articles of in vitro, animal, and human studies, describing the impact of brassica plants and extracts on thyroid mass and histology, blood levels of TSH, T3, T4, iodine uptake, and the effect on thyroid cancer cells. We also presented the mechanisms of the goitrogenic potential of GLSs and ITCs, the limitations of the studies included, as well as further research directions. The vast majority of the results cast doubt on previous assumptions claiming that brassica plants have antithyroid effects in humans. Instead, they indicate that including brassica vegetables in the daily diet, particularly when accompanied by adequate iodine intake, poses no adverse effects on thyroid function.

Effects of Long-Term Feeding of Treated Rapeseed Meal on Growth Performance, Blood Mineral Profile and Fatty Acid Composition of Back Fat in Pigs

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with treated rape-seed meal (tRSM) on the growth performance, blood mineral levels and fatty acid composition of back fat in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 12 crossbred pigs (Slovakian White × Landrace) with an initial live weight of 40.82 ± 2.69 kg were divided into two dietary treatments. The experimental period lasted 84 days; 38 days in the growing period and 46 days in the finishing period. The dietary treatments were as follows: control, a SBM-based diet (growing and finishing), and experimental, a treated RSM-based diet (growing and finishing). The rapeseed meal was treated with a product that neutralizes the negative physiological effects of anti-nutritive glucosinolates contained in rapeseed products for livestock feeding. Our analysis showed minor, no significant negative effects of tRSM on live weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. Replacing SBM with tRSM had no significant effects on the proportion of the total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids of back fat samples, as well as concentrations of analysed serum minerals except zinc level. In conclusion, the inclusion of 25 % and 18 % of treated RSM in growing and finishing pig diets had no negative effects on the growth performance, blood mineral profile or fatty acid composition of back fat.

Effect of feeding cereals-alternative ingredients diets or corn-soybean meal diets on performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing gilts and boars

Pig-breeding businesses have resulted in global breeding programs that select pigs to perform well on high-energy high-protein diets, which are traditionally based on corn and soybean meal. Nowadays, there is a shift toward diets based on cereals and co-products, therefore, high dietary inclusion of co-products can modify the expected performance of these pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding a cereals-alternative ingredients diet (CA-diet) compared to a corn-soybean meal diet (CS-diet) on the growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of genetically similar growing-finishing gilts and boars. In total, 160 pigs, 80 gilts and 80 boars, coming from 18 litters were used. The pigs were blocked based on litter, to ensure no genetic differences between the 2 treatments. For the starter phase, pigs fed the CA-diet performed in terms of growth, and feed efficiency, as good as the pigs fed CS-diet (P > 0.05). For the grower phase, pigs fed the CA-diet had the same ADFI (P > 0.05), but a lower daily energy intake (ADEI) (P < 0.001), and same growth performance (P > 0.05) than pig fed the CS-diet, therefore pigs fed the CA-diet were more efficient in terms of residual energy intake (REI) (P < 0.001). For the finisher phase, interaction between diet and sex had an effect on ADFI (P < 0.001), ADEI (P < 0.001), ADG (P = 0.010), and lipid deposition (Ld) (P = 0.016). Pigs fed the CA-diet were less efficient than pigs fed the CS-diet, i.e., G:F (P < 0.001), RFI (P < 0.001), and REI (P = 0.007). In general, feeding a CA-diet to pigs showed to improve the ratio between Pd and Ld, especially for boars. Also, pigs fed the CA-diet showed thinner back fat thickness (P < 0.001), same loin depth thickness (P > 0.05), but lower dressing percentage (P < 0.001), than pigs fed the CS-diet.

Effects of diets differing in protein source and technical treatment on digestibility, performance and visceral and biochemical parameters of fattening pigs

The aim of the experiment on 100 cross-bred barrows was to compare commercial diets for fattening pigs based on either soya bean meal (SBM) imported from non-European countries with diets based on a mixture of locally produced rape seed meal, distillers' dried grains with solubles and soya beans as main protein sources. In addition, these both types of diets were processed by two different technical feed treatments, i.e. coarse grinding without hydrothermal treatment or fine grinding and pelleting. With only few exceptions, nutrients of the diet without SBM were more digestible (p < 0.05) resulting in a higher metabolisable energy (ME) content. Fine grinding and pelleting increased also the ME content and the nutrient digestibility with the exception of crude fibre. Higher feed intake of animals that fed diets without SBM (p < 0.01) resulted in higher average daily gain (p < 0.01). However feeding this diet, the higher digestibility was not reflected in a decreased feed-to-gain ratio (FGR), but fine grinding and pelleting reduced FGR (p < 0.001). A higher pH value and a lower DM content of caecal chymus were detected in animals that received coarsely ground feed (p < 0.05). Animals that fed finely ground and pelleted feed had higher slaughter and relative liver weights and higher blood cholesterol concentrations (p = 0.040). The urea concentrations of blood were lower (p = 0.019) after feeding diets without SBM. In conclusion, SBM imported from non-European countries can be replaced by alternative local protein sources without compromising digestibility or performances of animals. Although fine grinding and thermal treatment particularly seemed to be advantageous for digestibility and performance, the possible risk of development of stomach lesions should be considered.

Pig feeds rich in rapeseed products and organic selenium increased omega-3 fatty acids and selenium in pork meat and backfat

The concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and selenium (Se) is generally too low in the Western diet. But as the nutrient composition of pork meat and adipose tissue is influenced by the feed given to the animals, the product can be changed to support nutrient demands. Half (297/594) the pigs were given a feed concentrate based on low-glucosinolate rapeseed products (RS), while the other half was fed a traditional concentrate (Contr): The RS feed had an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 3.6:1, and the Contr feed had a ratio of 8.9:1, and both feeds were supplemented with 0.4 mg Se/kg (organic Se: inorganic Se, 1:1). There was a small difference in growth rate, but no differences in feed conversion ratio, lean meat percentage, carcass value, and margin per pig for the two groups. There were no differences in meat quality between the two groups, but there were differences in technological fat quality. The RS pigs contained about 2 times more alpha-linolenic acid in the backfat and 41% more in the meat (M. longissimus dorsi) compared to the controls. The concentration of EPA, DPA, and DHA were 42% and 20% higher in backfat and meat of the RS pigs compared to the control pigs respectively. The ratio between omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids were 4.7 in the meat and 4.0 in the backfat in the RS pigs, and the corresponding values were 6.6 and 8.0 in the control pigs. The selenium content was 0.3 mg/kg meat in both groups. The study showed that a portion of the present pig meat (175 g) provided the daily recommended intake of Se for men and women and about 1/6 of proposed reference intake of omega-3 LCPUFA (250 mg/day) to reduce the risk of CVD thereby providing a meat that is somewhat healthier for the consumer.

Influence of incrementally substituting dietary soya bean meal for rapeseed meal on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, growth performance and ammonia emissions from growing-finishing pigs

A completely randomised design experiment was performed to examine the effects of replacing different levels of soya bean meal (SBM) with rapeseed meal (RSM) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, apparent nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance and manure ammonia emissions of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (n = 336; mean live weight 42.1 kg) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments containing per kg diet: 210 g SBM; 140 g SBM and 70 g RSM; 70 g SBM and 140 g RSM; and 210 g RSM. All diets were formulated on an ileal digestible amino acid, net energy and available phosphorus basis. There was no significant treatment effect on average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics. There was a linear decrease in gross energy digestibility (p < 0.01) as RSM increased at the expense of SBM in the diet. There was a linear decrease in urinary N excretion (p < 0.01), N digestibility (p < 0.05), total N excretion (p < 0.05) and N retention (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of RSM. There was no effect of dietary treatment on manure ammonia emissions. The results of this study indicate that RSM can be used as a direct replacement for SBM with no associated depression in performance, when formulated on an ileal digestible amino acid and net energy basis. Consumption of diets containing incremental levels of RSM linearly decreased urinary N and total N excretion, reflecting the associated decrease in crude protein concentrations.

The poor digestibility of rapeseed protein is balanced by its very high metabolic utilization in humans

Rapeseed protein (RP, Brassica napus) is used in only animal feed despite its high nutritional potential for human nutrition. We sought to assess the nutritional quality of rapeseed by measuring its real ileal digestibility (RID) and net postprandial protein utilization (NPPU) in humans fed (15)N-RP. Volunteers equipped with an intestinal tube at the jejunal (n = 5) or ileal level (n = 7) ingested a mixed meal containing 27.3 g (15)N-RP and a total energy content of 700 kcal (2.93 MJ). Dietary N kinetics was quantified in intestinal fluid, urine, and blood sampled at regular intervals during the postprandial period. The RID of RP was 84.0 +/- 8.8%. Dietary N at the ileal level was mostly in the form of undigested protein from both 12S and 2S rapeseed fractions. Aminoacidemia was not significantly increased by meal ingestion. The postprandial distribution of dietary N was 5.4 +/- 1.8% in urinary urea and ammonia, 8.2 +/- 3.4% in body urea, and 7.7 +/- 2.0% in plasma protein 8 h after the meal. The NPPU of RP amounted to 70.5 +/- 9.6% and the postprandial biological value (PBV) was high at 83.8 +/- 4.6%. RP has a low RID in humans compared with other plant proteins but also exhibits a very low deamination rate. Thus, the PBV of RP is excellent in humans, being as high as that of milk protein. We conclude that RP has a high nutritional potential for human nutrition.

Thyroid function, metabolic indices and growth performance in pigs fed 00-rapeseed meal

Thyroid function and morphology, liver morphology, some metabolic indices, haematological parameters and growth performance of fattening pigs fed 00-rapeseed meal (00-RPM) were examined. The control group was fed on a standard diet containing 6% sunflower seed meal (SM) during the growing period and 8% during the finishing period. The first experimental group was fed a diet in which SM was replaced by equal (6% and 8%) amounts of 00-RPM. The second experimental group was fed with a higher (8% and 10%) amount of 00-RPM. There were no significant differences between the control and experimental groups in the serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid gland and liver weights were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in both groups fed 00-RPM than in the group fed SM. The epithelium of the thyroid gland was cuboidal or columnar and the follicular area was moderately enlarged in pigs fed 00-RPM. Marked changes in liver histology were not observed. The 00-RPM diet increased (P < 0.01) the serum values of total proteins in the first fattening period. At the end of fattening both groups fed 00-RPM had higher (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) concentrations of plasma glucose than the control group. The inclusion of 10% of 00-RPM during the finishing period increased (P < 0.05) the serum values of insulin. Daily weight gain during the growing and the finishing period was higher (P < 0.05) in the experimental groups than in the control group. The results suggest that 6-10% 00-RPM can be used as a protein source in the diet of fattening pigs without poisonous side effects.