The escalating demand for meat, driven by global population growth, necessitates sustainable solutions for animal feed production. This study investigated the effects of substituting conventional protein resources in sow and piglet dietary regimens with black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) meal on reproductive efficiency, blood profile, piglet growth, and intestinal tissue morphology. The results indicate that substituting animal-derived and soy proteins with BSF meal does not compromise sow reproductive performance. Although no notable disparities were observed in piglet growth, the feed conversion ratio from the 28- to 35-day age marks were lower in the BSF-fed groups. This suggests that the animal protein-BSF substitution rate may require optimization, potentially involving chitin removal from BSF meal to enhance digestibility. Minor variations in the hematological composition and properties in piglets, with elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the high BSF group at the 28-day mark, were potentially attributable to the unique fatty acid composition of BSF meal. Moreover, this study potentiates future exploration into the efficacy of complete animal protein substitution with BSF meals on piglet nutrition and physiology, particularly in fattening pigs. The practical implementation of BSF meals in animal feed production holds promise for enhancing the sustainability of the swine industry.

Radiation damage assessment of the small intestine is important in nuclear accidents or routine radiotherapy of abdominal tumors. This article reviews the clinical symptoms and molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced small intestinal damage and summarizes recent research on biomarkers of such damage. Citrulline is the most promising biomarker for the evaluation of radiation-induced small intestinal damage caused by radiotherapy and nuclear accidents. This article also summarizes the factors influencing plasma citrulline measurement investigated in the latest research, as well as new findings on the concentration of citrulline in saliva and urine after different types of radiation.

The optimized use of dietary nutrients and the accurate knowledge of the growth dynamics of body components is important for efficient pig production. This study aimed at evaluating the growth of carcass components and organs of Swiss Large White pigs from birth to 140 kg BW depending on the CP and amino acid (AA) supply. A total of 66 entire males (EM), 58 castrates (CA) and 66 female (FE) pigs were used. From 20 kg BW onwards, they had either ad libitum access to a control (C) or a diet (LP) with 20% lower CP, lysine, methionine + cystine, threonine and tryptophan content compared to C. The weight of organs, primal cuts and external fat were recorded in eight EM and eight FE; at 10 kg BW, on two EM, CA and FE each, and at 20 kg BW, on eight pigs from each sex. From 40 to 140 kg BW at 20 kg intervals, measurements were recorded on four pigs per sex and dietary treatment. The weight of each component was related to empty body (EB) using allometric regressions. Kidneys were heavier (P<0.05) in C- than LP-pigs and in EM than CA and FE. Above 21 kg EB weight, growth rate of LP-FE overpassed (P<0.05) the one of C-pigs. Consequently, LP-FE had heavier (P<0.05) lean cuts than C-pigs in the finisher period. However, LP-CA and LP-EM displayed lower (P<0.05) weights and growth rates of the lean cuts than C-CA and C-EM. Shoulder and loin weights and growth rates were reduced (P<0.05) in LP-pigs when compared to C-pigs. Growth rates of the ham were greater (P<0.05) in LP-FE than C-FE, whereas in LP-EM and LP-CA they were lower (P<0.05) than their C-counterparts. Total amounts of subcutaneous fat, backfat, ham fat and shoulder fat were lower (P<0.05) in C- than LP-pigs. The total amount of subcutaneous fat, backfat and shoulder fat of C-CA was, regardless of diet, greater (P<0.05) than of C-FE. In the LP group, this difference was even more pronounced. The amount of deposited ham fat was greater (P<0.05) in LP-CA than LP-FE, but not in C-CA v. C-FE. Differences in kidney weights suggested a greater nitrogen clearance required in C-pigs. Overall, dietary restriction and sex did not affect all body parts to the same extent. This study further suggests the possibility to reduce the CP and AA supply in FE without compromising the yield of primal lean cuts or increasing the amount of subcutaneous fat.

This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of genetically engineered microbial (Natuphos) and plant (Phytaseed) phytase for enhancing the utilization of phytate P in corn-soybean meal-based diets fed to young broilers and to evaluate the safety of Phytaseed phytase. Three levels of each of the two sources of phytase (250, 500, and 2,500 U/kg of diet) were added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 0.46% total P, 0.21% nonphytate P, and 0.92% Ca. There were eight cages per treatment (eight birds per cage for Weeks 2 to 3 and seven birds for Weeks 4 to 5), except for the basal diet without added phytase that had 16 cages. Cage BW and feed consumption were recorded weekly. During Week 5, cage excreta samples were collected for determination of apparent retention coefficients of DM, Ca, and P. At the end of Week 5, all birds were killed, and the left and right toes were removed for determination of toe ash weight and percentage. Forty birds (one per cage from the diet without added phytase and diets with 500 or 2,500 U phytase/kg from both sources) were randomly selected for gross necropsy and histologic evaluation of liver, kidney, and bone tissues. Addition of both sources of phytase resulted in similar increases (P < 0.05) of BW gain; feed intake; gain:feed; apparent retention of DM, P and Ca; and toe measurements. Phosphorus excretion decreased as phytase addition increased. No significant abnormalities were seen in any of the 40 broilers necropsied. Further, the fit of a nonlinear function revealed that most measurements reached a plateau at 2,500 U/kg. Based on performance, bone characteristics, and retention of P, Ca, and DM of young broilers, the efficacy of Phytaseed phytase was similar to that of Natuphos phytase for enhancing the utilization of phytate P in corn-soybean meal-based diets. General necropsy and histologic examination of liver, kidney, and tibial tissues revealed no adverse effects of phytase source or level.

This study was conducted to determine whether endogenous synthesis of arginine plays a role in regulating arginine homeostasis in postweaning pigs. Pigs were fed a sorghum-based diet containing 0. 98% arginine and were used for studies at 75 d of age (28.4 kg body weight). Mitochondria were prepared from the jejunum and other major tissues for measuring the activities of Delta1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) synthase and proline oxidase (enzymes catalyzing P5C synthesis from glutamate and proline, respectively) and of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) (the enzyme catalyzing the interconversion of P5C into ornithine). For metabolic studies, jejunal enterocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min in Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer containing 2 mmol/L L-glutamine, 2 mmol/L L-[U-14C]proline, and 0-200 micromol/L gabaculine (an inhibitor of OAT). The activities of P5C synthase, proline oxidase and OAT were greatest in enterocytes among all of the tissues studied. Incubation of enterocytes with gabaculine resulted in decreases (P < 0.05) in the synthesis of ornithine and citrulline from glutamine and proline. When gabaculine was orally administered to pigs (0.83 mg/kg body weight) to inhibit intestinal synthesis of citrulline from glutamine and proline, plasma concentrations of citrulline (-26%) and arginine (-22%) decreased (P < 0.05), whereas those of alanine (+21%), ornithine (+17%), proline (+107%), taurine (+56%) and branched-chain amino acids (+21-40%) increased (P < 0.05). On the basis of dietary arginine intake and estimated arginine utilization, the endogenous synthesis of arginine in the 28-kg pig provided >/=50.2% of total daily arginine requirement. Taken together, our results suggest an important role for endogenous synthesis of arginine in regulating arginine homeostasis in postweaning growing pigs, as previously shown in neonatal pigs.