A review of canola meal as an alternative feed ingredient for ducks

Factors Affecting the Quality of Canola Grains and Their Implications for Grain-Based Foods

Canola, Brassica napus L., is a major oilseed crop that has various uses in the food, feed, and industrial sectors. It is one of the most widely produced and consumed oilseeds in the world because of its high oil content and favorable fatty acid composition. Canola grains and their derived products, such as canola oil, meal, flour, and bakery products, have a high potential for food applications as they offer various nutritional and functional benefits. However, they are affected by various factors during the production cycle, post-harvest processing, and storage. These factors may compromise their quality and quantity by affecting their chemical composition, physical properties, functional characteristics, and sensory attributes. Therefore, it is important to optimize the production and processing methods of canola grains and their derived products to ensure their safety, stability, and suitability for different food applications. This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of how these factors affect the quality of canola grains and their derived products. The review also suggests future research needs and challenges for enhancing canola quality and its utilization in food.

Rapeseed meal as a feed component in monogastric animal nutrition – a review

Rapeseed is an important oil crop worldwide, with an annual production of more than 70 million tons. Rapeseed meal (RSM) is a by-product of rapeseed oil production and is second after soybean meal (SBM) in the world production of protein meal. Rapeseed meal derived from black-seeded winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) usually contains between 35 and 40% of crude protein (CP), which is considered to be one of the more valuable plant proteins. It has a good balance of essential amino acids and a very high protein efficiency ratio (PER=3.29). However, full utilisation of this protein is difficult due to presence of the non-protein components of the seed which are associated with it. These are called antinutritional factors and they limit the utilisation of RSM in monogastric animal nutrition. The main antinutritional factors in RSM are dietary fibre, glucosinolates, phytic acid, and phenolic compounds (sinapine, tannins). For many years, research has been conducted in many centers around the world to improve the nutritional value of RSM, which will consequently increase its use in feeding monogastric animals. The attempts that have been undertaken include breeding strategy, optimisation, modernisation and better control of the oil extraction process, as well as technological treatments of seeds and meal. This review provides information on how RSM has evolved in recent years, as well as on its nutritive value, particularly protein, fibre and glucosinolate content. Techniques which have been used to improve the nutritional value of rapeseed products are also discussed. However, the used methods do not allow for full replacement soybean meal by RSM in monogastric animal nutrition.

Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and Rheological Properties of Canola Oil Extract of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania

Usnea genus (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes) is a potent phytomedicine, due to phenolic secondary metabolites, with various pharmacological effects. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and rheological properties of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) extract in canola oil (UBO) compared to cold-pressed canola seed oil (CNO), as a green solvent used for lichen extraction, which has phytoconstituents. The antiradical activity (AA) of UBO and CNO was investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Their cytotoxicity was examined in vivo through a brine shrimp lethality (BSL) test after Artemia salina (A. salina) larvae exposure for 6 h to previously emulsified UBO and CNO. The rheological properties of both oil samples (flow behavior, thixotropy, and temperature-dependent viscosity variation) were comparatively analyzed. The obtained results showed that UBO (IC₅₀ = 0.942 ± 0.004 mg/mL) had a higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than CNO (IC₅₀ = 1.361 ± 0.008 mg/mL). Both UBO and CNO emulsions induced different and progressive morphological changes to A. salina larvae, incompatible with their survival; UBO cytotoxicity was higher than that of CNO. Finally, in the temperature range of 32-37 °C, the UBO and CNO viscosity and viscoelastic behavior indicated a clear weakening of the intermolecular bond when temperature increases, leading to a more liquid state, appropriate for possible pharmaceutical formulations. All quantified parameters were highly intercorrelated. Moreover, their significant correlation with trace/heavy minerals and phenolic compounds can be observed. All data obtained also suggest a possible synergism between lichen secondary metabolites, minerals, and canola oil phytoconstituents.

Influence of Brassica spp. rapeseed and canola meal, and supplementation of bioactive compound (AITC) on growth performance, intestinal-permeability, oocyst shedding, lesion score, histomorphology, and gene expression of broilers challenged with E. maxima

This study was performed to investigate the effect of feeding Brassica spp. including full-fat rapeseed, canola meal, and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) to broiler chicken challenged with E. maxima. A total of 576 one-day old male broiler chicks were completely randomized to 8 treatments with 6 replicated cages and 12 birds per cage. The treatment diets consisted of nonchallenge control (NC, corn-SBM based diet), challenge control (CC), 10% rapeseed (10RS), 30% rapeseed (30RS), 20% canola (20CLM), 40% canola (40CLM), 500 ppm AITC (500AITC), and 1,000 ppm AITC (1000AITC). At d 14, all birds were challenged, except NC group, with a subclinical dose of E. maxima. Intestinal permeability was conducted on 5 d post-infection (dpi) and for oocyst shedding 5 to 6 dpi feces were pooled and collected. On 6 dpi, growth performance, lesion score, histomorphology, and gene expression were measured. The growth performance result showed that 10RS and 30RS groups had lower BW, BWG, FI, and higher FCR (P < 0.0001). During the challenge and overall periods, NC group had highest BW, BWG, and FI, and lowest FCR. The inclusion of canola meal showed lower performance during prechallenge period but was able to catch up BWG during challenge period. The AITC levels showed similar growth performance to CC group. Intestinal permeability for 20CLM, 40CLM, 500AITC and 1000AITC was similar to NC group, whereas CC, 10RS, and 30RS had higher permeability compared to NC (P < 0.0001). Oocyst shedding was significantly lower for 40CLM and NC, whereas all other treatments had higher oocyst shedding (P < 0.0001). All the challenged treatment groups had higher lesion score and microscore than NC (P < 0.0001). Histomorphology data showed that jejunum villus height (VH) for 1000AITC was similar to NC group, whereas CC group had the lowest VH (P = 0.01). The 30RS group had lower VH: crypt depth (CD) ratio in the jejunum and ileum. The gene expression at 6 dpi for claudin1, occludin, IL2, IL6, GLUT5, EAAT, BoAT, and LAT1 was significantly changed among the treatments. The results suggest that 30RS retards growth performance and deteriorate gut health during coccidiosis and should not be fed to chicken during the starter phase. Canola meal showed decline in growth prechallenge but maintained growth and intestinal health during the challenge period at 40% inclusion. AITC at 1,000 ppm showed similar growth as control group, but with improved gut health during the challenge period. Canola meal could be a good alternative to SBM especially during coccidiosis, whereas AITC needs to be tested vigorously in animal feeding regime.

A way forward for the South African quail sector as a potential contributor to food and nutrition security following the aftermath of COVID-19: a review

Commercial quail (Coturnix coturnix) farming has recently gained recognition from the South African poultry industry as a potential source of protein, which can be used to alleviate protein-energy malnutrition as well as food and nutrition insecurity in rural South Africa. Over six large-scale and hundred small-scale farmers are currently producing various quail breeds for commercial purposes in South Africa. However, these farmers face challenges of high feed costs, diseases, poor health care, low demand (for quail meat and eggs) and limited access to the markets. In addition, the lack of a pre-existing local market for quail meat and eggs has seen most farmers exporting these products to other countries, but with low profit margins owing to the slow growth experienced by world economies. Furthermore, the socio-economic crisis brought by the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated these challenges as most of the countries enforced nationwide lockdown to mitigate the spread of the virus. Although this initiative was taken to save lives, it left quail farmers not knowing where to trade their stock due to large uncertainties in the social and economic domain, compounded by the fact that many South African citizens are traditionally accustomed to chicken products. Moreover, the size of the quail in relation to its market price when compared to that of chickens continues to lower its demand causing a lot of quail businesses to collapse. Thus, it is imperative to explore strategies that can reduce the cost of producing quail, while increasing their demand and popularity. Non-conventional feed ingredients and phytogenic feed additives that are inexpensive, locally available, and readily accessible should be identified and evaluated in quail diets to deliver sustainable production systems that will ensure that these birds continue to play a significant role in food and nutrition security of humans. In addition, extension service workers and quail farmers need to form a collaborative team to increase awareness about the benefits of quail products and build a long-lasting and profitable quail business. In this work, we present potential rearing methods for commercial quail production, nutritional benefits of quail products, as well as nutritional solutions for a sustainable and profitable quail business. Lastly, we review prospective awareness programs and marketing strategies that are aimed at successful commercialisation of quail using various networks.

Rice as an alternative feed ingredient in swine diets

It has become important to explore alternative feed ingredients to reduce feed costs, which are burdensome for livestock production. In addition, it is desirable to find efficient and functional alternative ingredients for traditional feed ingredients in pig diets, considering the stress and sensitivity of disease of pig. Rice is produced around the world like corn that is the typical energy source in pig diets. Although the nutritional quality varies depending on the degree of milling, rice, except whole grains (paddy rice), contains more starch than corn and its structure and granule size are easier to digest than corn. In addition, the fact that rice has fewer non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) is also effective in improving digestibility and various polyphenols in rice can help modulation of immune responses, which can be beneficial to the gastrointestinal environment and health of pig. Many studies have been conducted on rice focusing on things such as degree of milling, substitution rates of corn, granule size, and processing methods. Most results have shown that rice can be partially or completely used to replace corn in pig diets without negatively affecting pig growth and production. While further research should focus on the precise biological mechanisms at play, it was confirmed that the use of rice could reduce the use of antibiotics and pig removal and protect pigs from gastrointestinal diseases including diarrhea. From this point of view, rice can be evaluated as a valuable feed ingredient for swine diets.

Effects of Dietary Rapeseed Meal on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Development of Geese

The use of inexpensive nonconventional feed materials, such as rapeseed meal (RSM), could help alleviate the shortage of feed materials in the poultry industry. This study was to investigate the effects of dietary double-low RSM on growth performance, carcass traits, serum parameters, and intestinal development of geese. A total of 270 healthy 35-day-old male Jiangnan White geese were randomly divided into five treatments, with six replicate pens of nine geese each. The geese were fed five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% RSM replacing dietary soybean meal for 35 days. At 35, 49, and 70 d, the BW and feed intake were recorded. All Samples were collected at 70 d of age. The results showed that dietary RSM up to 16% did not affect the BW, ADFI, ADG, and feed/gain ratio (F/G) during 35 to 49 d, 49 to 70 d, and 35 to 70 d periods (p > 0.05). At 70 d, no difference was observed in carcass yield or serum biochemical parameters among groups (p > 0.05). Dietary 12% and 16% RSM significantly increased the concentration of serum GH compared with 0%, 4%, 8% groups (p < 0.01), but serum TSH, T3 and T4 were unaffected (p > 0.05). The relative weights of heart, liver, spleen, proventriculus, gizzard, and small intestine were similar among groups (p > 0.05). However, the geese fed dietary 16% RSM had greater bursa of Fabricius than geese in the 8% group (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology was unaffected by treatments (p > 0.05). According to the findings, dietary RSM up to 16% can be used in geese diets without impact on production performance.

True ileal calcium digestibility in soybean meal and canola meal, and true ileal phosphorous digestibility in maize-soybean meal and maize-canola meal diets, without and with microbial phytase, for broiler growers and finishers

1. Published data on the ileal Ca digestibility in soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM), and the effect of microbial phytase on the Ca digestibility of these ingredients are limited. Therefore, two experiments were conducted, with the primary objective of determining the true ileal digestibility of calcium (Ca) in SBM and CM, without and with microbial phytase, during broiler grower (Experiment 1) and finisher (Experiment 2) periods. A secondary objective was to investigate the influence of microbial phytase on the true ileal digestibility of phosphorus (P), apparent digestibility of nitrogen (N) and minerals, and phytate disappearance in maize-SBM and maize-CM diets. Six experimental diets based on SBM and CM, with three phytase doses (0, 500 and 2000 FTU/kg), were fed to broilers from day 18 to 21 (Experiment 1) or 39 to 42 (Experiment 2) post-hatch. A Ca- and P-free diet, with no added phytase, was also developed to determine the endogenous Ca and P losses. Titanium dioxide was incorporated in all diets as an indigestible indicator. Each experimental diet was randomly allocated to six replicate cages (eight birds per cage). Apparent ileal digestibility was calculated using the indicator method and the true ileal digestibility was calculated by correcting for endogenous losses. Apparent total tract retention (ATTR) of Ca and P was also measured.2. Ileal endogenous losses of Ca and P were determined to be 236 and 310 mg/kg of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively, in broiler growers and 29 and 130 mg/kg of DMI, respectively, in broiler finishers. True ileal Ca digestibility coefficients of SBM and CM, without added phytase, were determined to be 0.51 and 0.53, respectively, in broiler growers and 0.33 and 0.22, respectively, in broiler finishers. Increasing phytase doses increased (P < 0.05) the true ileal Ca digestibility of CM in both broiler growers and finishers, but Ca digestibility of SBM increased (P < 0.05) only at the superdose (2000 FTU/kg) in broiler finishers. The ATTR of Ca (P < 0.001) in growers was higher in CM than in SBM and was increased in both ingredients by increasing phytase doses. In finishers, the ATTR of Ca was increased (P < 0.001) by both phytase doses in CM, but only by the superdose in SBM, resulting in an ingredient × phytase interaction (P < 0.001).3. True ileal P digestibility coefficients of maize-SBM and maize-CM diets, without added phytase, were determined to be 0.89 and 0.66, respectively, in broiler growers and 0.82 and 0.57, respectively, in broiler finishers. Supplemental phytase increased (P < 0.05) the true ileal P digestibility of the maize-CM diet in both broiler growers and finishers. However, the P digestibility of the maize-SBM diet was increased (P < 0.05) in broiler finishers only at the superdose (2000 FTU/kg). The ATTR of P was higher (P < 0.001) in the maize-SBM diet during both periods.4. The apparent ileal digestibility of N, Mg, K and Mn was higher (P < 0.001) in the maize-SBM diet for broiler growers and finishers. Phytase addition had no effect (P > 0.05) on the apparent digestibility of N and minerals in growers and finishers.5. Increasing phytase doses increased IP6 disappearance in the maize-CM diet, but not in the maize-SBM diet, resulting in an ingredient × phytase interaction (P < 0.001) for growers and finishers.6. In conclusion, true ileal Ca digestibility coefficients of SBM and CM for broilers were determined in this study. The findings confirmed the influence of broiler age of Ca digestibility. Superdosing of phytase increased the digestibility and ATTR of Ca in CM and SBM by two-fold compared to the normal phytase dose.

Expeller-Pressed Canola (Brassica napus) Meal Modulates the Structure and Function of the Cecal Microbiota, and Alters the Metabolome of the Pancreas, Liver, and Breast Muscle of Broiler Chickens

The inoculation of one-day-old broiler chicks with the cecal contents from a mature broiler breeder resulted in a highly diverse and uniform cecal bacterial community. CM did not affect feed consumption, weight gain, nor the richness, evenness, or diversity of the cecal bacterial community. However, the structure of the bacterial community was altered in birds fed the CM diet. Although the CM diet was formulated to contain equivalent metabolizable energy to the control diet, it contained more dietary fiber. The abundance of bacterial families, including those that are known to contain species able to metabolize fiber was altered (e.g., bacteria within the families, Methanobacteriaceae, Atopobiaceae, Prevotellaceae, Clostridiales Family XIII, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Succinivibrionaceae), and concentrations of SCFAs were higher in the ceca of birds fed the CM diet. Moreover, concentrations of isoleucine, isobutyrate, glutamate, and 2-oxoglutarate were higher, whereas concentrations of phenyllactic acid, indole, glucose, 3-phenylpropionate, and 2-oxobutyrate were lower in the digesta of chickens that were fed CM. The metabolic profiles of pancreas, liver, and breast muscle tissues of birds fed the CM diet differed from control birds. Metabolites that were associated with energy production, protection against oxidative stress, and pathways of amino acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism had altered concentrations in these tissues. Some of the observed changes in metabolite levels may indicate an increased disease risk in birds fed the CM diet (e.g., pancreatitis), and others suggested that birds mounted metabolic response to offset the adverse impacts of CM (e.g., oxidative stress in the liver).

Replacement of Soybean Meal with Heat-Treated Canola Meal in Finishing Diets of Meatmaster Lambs: Physiological and Meat Quality Responses

Simple Summary

The use of soybeans as a dietary protein source in ruminant diets is environmentally, economically and socially unsustainable. It is for this reason that canola meal (CM) has emerged as a more sustainable alternative protein source to soybean meal (SBM). However, expeller CM is quickly broken down in the rumen resulting in inefficient utilization by rumen microbes, while a small rumen bypass protein fraction means that few of the essential amino acids in CM reach the small intestine. Consequently, the utility of CM protein as an alternative to soybean protein for high-producing ruminants is lower, requiring pre-feeding treatments such as heating to enhance its feed value. This study investigated whether heat treatment could improve the feed value of CM protein sufficiently to partially (50%) or completely substitute SBM in finishing diets of Meatmaster lambs. The results showed that while CM can completely replace SBM in diets of lambs without compromising growth performance and meat quality, heat treatment of CM did not offer any additional benefits.

Abstract

The study investigated whether heat treatment (190 °C for 90 min) could improve the quality of expeller canola meal (CM) protein in finishing diets of Meatmaster lambs. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated by partially (50%) or completely replacing SBM as the major protein source with untreated or heat-treated CM in a commercial lamb finishing diet. Diets were randomly allocated to 40 lambs (24.73 ± 1.311 kg; 4.5 months old) for 77 days. No dietary differences were observed for growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. Diets had no effect (p > 0.05) on blood parameters, except for hemoglobin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Lambs that were fed the control diet had higher hemoglobin concentration compared with lambs on CM-containing diets. The highest AST value was observed when SBM was completely replaced with untreated CM (159.88 IU/L), while complete replacement with heat-treated CM resulted in the lowest AST value (103.25 IU/L). All lambs had a body condition score of 3 at slaughter. It was concluded that heat treatment did not improve the protein value of CM. However, CM inclusion promoted similar growth performance and meat quality parameters in lambs as SBM. Untreated CM can be used to completely substitute SBM in finishing diets of Meatmaster lambs.

Evaluation of the standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids of rapeseed meals varying in protein solubility for Pekin ducks

This study was conducted to determine whether protein solubility (PS) of rapeseed meals (RSM) can affect standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIDAA) in meat ducks. A total of 1,168, 14-days-old ducks were randomly allotted to 23 treatments (6 cages per diet, 8 ducks per cage) and 1 nitrogen-free diet treatment (8 cages, 8 ducks per cage) based on body weight. The 23 experimental diets consisted of a corn–soybean meal basal diet, and 22 diets containing 15% RSM: 85% basal diet. Titanium dioxide (0.5%) was included in all diets as an indigestible marker. On day 18, all ducks were euthanized by carbon dioxide asphyxiation and digesta samples from the ileum. The contents of PS, ether extract (EE), glucosinolate, isothiocyanate, and oxazolidine were significantly different (P < 0.05) in the 22 RSM, with the CV being 52.62, 49.23, 86.84, 90.19, and 81.98%, respectively. The content of lysine (Lys) and methionine in the 22 RSM samples ranged from 1.03 to 2.71% (CV 24.19%) and from 0.33 to 0.65% (CV 15.17%), respectively. The SIDAA, except for leucine (Leu) and tyrosine, of the 22 RSM samples varied significantly (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed (P < 0.05) between PS and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Lys, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, histidine, serine, cysteine, and tyrosine. The R² value of multiple linear regression equations for predicting the SID of amino acids (AA) was best for Lys (R² = 0.958 using dry matter, crude protein, EE, crude fiber, acid detergent fiber, and PS) and least significant for Leu (R² = 0.348 using crude fiber and ash) with intermediate values for other AA (R² = 0.359–0.837, P < 0.05). These results suggest that PS varying from 15.06 to 98.08%, also varied considerably in the proximate nutrient content, AA composition, and antinutritional factor content, which was reflected in considerable differences in the duck's SID of AA in RSM. Therefore, PS value can partly reflect the quality of RSM.

Solid-state fermented plant protein sources in the diets of broiler chickens: A review

Protein sources are the second most important component in poultry diets. Due to the fluctuation in price of soybean meal (SBM) and persistent increase in feed prices, nutritionists have been exploring alternative protein sources. Replacement of SBM with alternative protein sources in poultry diets could reduce human-livestock competition for soybean and support the production of more animal protein. However, the use of alternative protein sources is limited to low inclusion due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANF) such as glucosinolates (rapeseed meal), gossypol (cottonseed meal), non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in lupin flour, high fibre (palm kernel cake), total phenolic contents and phytic acid (canola meal) known to impair animal performance, nutrient digestibility and feed utilization. As a processing technique, solid-state fermentation (SSF) has been researched for a long time in the food industry. An important objective of SSF is the production of enzymes, organic acids and other metabolites of economic importance. In recent times, SSF has been employed to enhance nutrient bioavailability, inhibit gut pathogenic bacteria and reduce ANF in plant protein sources resulting in improved nutrient digestibility, thereby improving performance and gut health of broiler chickens. Unlike pigs, there is still a dearth of information on feeding solid-state fermented feed ingredients to broiler chickens. This review aims to describe the nutritional value of the solid-state fermented products of rapeseed meal, canola meal, cottonseed meal, palm kernel cake and lupin flour on performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens.

Effects of dietary rapeseed meal inclusion levels on growth performance, organ weight, and serum biochemical parameters in Cherry Valley ducks

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the inclusion levels of different types of rapeseed meal (RSM) on performance, organ weight, and serum biochemical parameters in Cherry Valley ducks in the starter period and grower-finisher period. In Exp. 1, a total of 750 seven-day-old male ducklings were divided into 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens of 25 birds per pen. The starter diets with the inclusion of 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% of double-low RSM contained 0, 1.37, 2.15, 3.46, or 5.31 µmol glucosinolates (GLS)/g in the finished feed (from day 7 to 21). In Exp. 2, a total of 900 fifteen-day-old male ducklings were divided into 6 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens of 25 birds per pen. The grower-finisher diets with the inclusion of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25% of Indian RSM contained 0, 7.67, 15.34, 24.66, 31.21, or 38.44 µmol GLS/g in the finished feed (from day 15 to 42). For ducklings in the starter period (Exp. 1), body weight gain and feed intake decreased linearly as the dietary double-low RSM inclusion level increased at day 7 to 14, while growth rate was not influenced by dietary double-low RSM inclusion levels at day 15 to 21 and day 7 to 21. For ducks in the grower-finisher period (Exp. 2), growth performance decreased linearly as the dietary RSM inclusion level increased from 5 to 20%. In addition, dietary RSM inclusion levels induced liver enlargement in ducklings at day 21 (5 to 20% double-low RSM with 1.37 to 5.31 µmol/g GLS) and thyroid enlargement accompanied by increased serum AST and ALP activities in ducks at day 42 (5 to 15% Indian RSM with 7.67 to 23.66 µmol/g GLS). Therefore, our results indicated that the upper limit of using RSM sources in feed formulation should consider the anti-nutritional factor of GLS content at different stages of duck growth.

Investigating the In Vitro Regeneration Potential of Commercial Cultivars of Brassica

In vitro regeneration is a pre-requisite for developing transgenic plants through tissue culture-based genetic engineering approaches. Huge variations among different genotypes of the genus Brassica necessitate the identification of a set of regeneration conditions for a genotype, which can be reliably used in transformation experiments. In this study, we evaluated the morphogenesis potential of four commercial cultivars (Faisal canola, Punjab canola, Aari canola, Nifa Gold) and one model, Westar, from four different explants namely cotyledons, hypocotyls, petioles and roots on three different Brassica regeneration protocols, BRP-I, -II and -III. The regeneration efficiency was observed in the range of 6-73%, 4-79.3%, 0-50.6%, and 0-42.6% from cotyledons, petioles, hypocotyls and roots, respectively, whereas, the regeneration response in terms of average shoots per explant was found to be 0.76-10.9, 0.2-3.2, 0-3.4 and 0-2.7 from these explants. Of the commercial varieties tested, almost all varieties showed poorer regeneration than Westar except Aari canola. In comparison to Westar, its regeneration frequency from cotyledons was up to 7.5-fold higher on BRP-I, while it produced up to 21.9-fold more shoots per explant. Our data show that the explant has strong influence on the regeneration response, ranging from 24% to 92%. While the growth of commercial cultivars was least affected by the regeneration conditions provided, the effect on Westar was twice that of the commercial cultivars. After determining the optimal explant type and regeneration conditions, we also determined the minimum kanamycin concentration levels required to selectively inhibit the growth of untransformed cells for these cultivars. Regenerated shoots of Aari canola could be successfully grown to maturity within 16-18 weeks, with no altered phenotype noted and normal seed yields obtained. Therefore, the commercial variety, Aari canola, could be a good candidate for future genetic transformation studies.

Effects of dietary humic acid and enzymes on meat quality and fatty acid profiles of broiler chickens fed canola-based diets

Objective

This study was conducted to assess the effect of potassium humate and enzymes (Xylanase+Amylase+Protease) inclusion in diets on carcass characteristics, meat quality and fatty acid profiles of broilers fed canola-based diets.

Methods

Two hundred and twenty broilers randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments: the control (commercial broiler diet); CM (17.5% canola meal inclusion); CMEnz (17.5% CM inclusion+0.3 g/kg Axtra XAP); CMPh (17.5% CM inclusion+1.5% Potassium Humate, PH); and CMEnzPh (17.5% CM inclusion+1.5% PH+0.3 g/kg Axtra XAP) were slaughtered at day 42 for assessment of carcass and meat quality parameters.

Results

Diet had no effect on carcass traits apart from breast muscle weight and breast muscle index. The highest breast muscle weight was observed in broilers fed CMEnz (487.6±17.5 g) followed by those fed the control diet (474.37±17.5 g). Diet also had no significant dietary effect on pH, temperature, drip loss and shear force values of the breast muscle. However, diet significantly affected meat colour and water-holding capacity. Broilers in the control and CMPh groups (52.94±0.67 and 52.91±0.67) had the highest (p<0.05) values for lightness (L*), whilst those fed CMEnzPh had the lowest value (47.94±0.67). In contrast, CM group had the lowest (p<0.05) value for redness (a*) with CMEnzPh group having the highest values. The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and the PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratio were increased in CM-based diets containing enzymes and humic acid.

Conclusion

It can, therefore, be concluded that CM can be included in broiler diets in the presence of enzymes and humic acid with positive effects on meat quality and important fatty acids that are beneficial to the health of consumers.

Growth performance, haematology, serum biochemistry and meat quality characteristics of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed canola meal-based diets

The present study investigated the effect of partial replacement of soybean meal (Glycine max) with canola meal (CM) (Brassica napus) on the growth performance, haematology, serum biochemistry and meat quality characteristics of female Japanese quails in a 35-day feeding trial. One hundred and forty 6-week-old quails 158.28 ± 11.919 g were randomly allocated to 5 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets: control diet (CM0; with no CM inclusion); CM0 with 2.5% (CM25), 5.0% (CM50), 12.5% (CM125) and 17.5% (CM175) soybean meal replaced with CM. Average weekly gain (AWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were determined. Haematology, serum biochemistry, carcass traits and meat quality parameters were determined at slaughter. Quails fed CM175 had the lowest (P < 0.05) feed intake whereas no differences were observed among the other 4 diets. No dietary effects on AWG, FCE and haematological parameters were observed. Serum biochemical parameters were not influenced by diets with the exception of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), where quails fed CM25 had higher ALP (161.0 U/L) than those fed CM0 (37.25 U/L). Quails fed CM25 had the highest chroma (7.39) while those fed CM125 had the lowest (3.58) at 24 h post-slaughter. Diets had no influence (P > 0.05) on cooking losses and peak positive force of quail meat. It was concluded that CM can replace soybean in quail diets up to 12.5% without compromising growth performance, health and quality of meat. Inclusion levels beyond 12.5% promoted poor voluntary feed intake and thus may require feed additives to enhance utilization.

Influence of dietary rapeseed meal levels on growth performance, organ health and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility in meat ducks from 15 to 35 days of age

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary rapeseed meal (RSM) inclusion levels on growth performance, organ health and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) in meat ducks from 15 to 35 days of age. Six hundred and eighty 15-days-old ducks were randomly allotted to five treatments based on body weight. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis by replacing 0% (the control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (based on fresh) of protein from soya bean meal (SBM) with protein from RSM. The corresponding levels of RSM in experimental diets were 0%, 6.66%, 13.32%, 19.98% and 26.64% respectively. With increasing dietary RSM levels, body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) linearly decreased (p < 0.001), whereas feed-to-gain ratio (F: G) linearly increased (p = 0.0078). Ducks fed the diets with 13.32% or more RSM had significantly lower (p < 0.05) BW, ADG and ADFI, or higher F: G than ducks fed the control diet. The maximum limit of dietary RSM supplementation was estimated to range from 4.27% to maximize ADG for 15 to 35 days to 11.69% to maintain feed intake for 15 to 35 days on the basis of a broken-line model. At day35, the 4th primary wing feather length and SIAAD (except for Met, Thr and Val) linearly decreased (p < 0.001), and the thyroid glands weight (% of BW) linearly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary RSM levels. Ducks fed the RSM inclusion diets had significantly lower (p < 0.0001) serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities than ducks fed the control diet. These results suggested that the maximum limit of dietary RSM containing 7.57 μmol/g glucosinolates was estimated to be 4.27% to avoid growth reduction.

Worldwide Mycotoxins Exposure in Pig and Poultry Feed Formulations

The purpose of this review is to present information about raw materials that can be used in pig and poultry diets and the factors responsible for variations in their mycotoxin contents. The levels of mycotoxins in pig and poultry feeds are calculated based on mycotoxin contamination levels of the raw materials with different diet formulations, to highlight the important role the stage of production and the raw materials used can have on mycotoxins levels in diets. Our analysis focuses on mycotoxins for which maximum tolerated levels or regulatory guidelines exist, and for which sufficient contamination data are available. Raw materials used in feed formulation vary considerably depending on the species of animal, and the stage of production. Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites whose frequency and levels also vary considerably depending on the raw materials used and on the geographic location where they were produced. Although several reviews of existing data and of the literature on worldwide mycotoxin contamination of food and feed are available, the impact of the different raw materials used on feed formulation has not been widely studied.