Ileal digestibility of defatted soybean,lupin and chickpea seed meals in cannulated Iberian pigs: I. Proteins

Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg body weight) fitted with T‐shaped cannulas at the terminal ileum were used to determine ileal digestibility of legume seed meals. The diets were based on defatted soybean, lupin or chickpea seed meals and contained similar levels of digestible energy (14.2–15.1 kJ g^?1) and protein (107 g kg^?1). Protein‐free and a hydrolysed casein diets were used to study endogenous ileal amino acid flows. Chromium oxide (10 g kg^?1 diet) was added to the diets as an indigestible marker. Ileal flows in pigs fed the hydrolysed casein diet were different (p < 0.05) in amino acid contents and composition from those on the protein‐free diet. Ileal sialic acid flows in pigs fed lupin‐ or chickpea‐based diets were higher (p < 0.05) than those of animals fed soybean or casein diets. Among essential amino acids, only the apparent ileal digestibilities of phenylalanine and valine in lupin meal were lower (p < 0.05) than those in soybean. Apparent ileal digestibilities of lupin aspartate and proline, together with chickpea aspartate, were also lower (p < 0.05) than those of soybean. True ileal digestibility of nitrogen in pigs fed lupin or chickpea meals, calculated according to values from animals fed the protein‐free diet, was lower (p < 0.05) than that for soybean or casein. Among individual essential amino acids, only the true ileal digestibility of phenylalanine in lupin was lower (p < 0.05) than that in soybean. True ileal digestibility of nitrogen calculated according to values obtained with pigs fed a hydrolysed casein diet was not different among soybean, lupin or chickpea meals. Among essential amino acids, only the true ileal digestibilities of isoleucine and lysine in chickpea were lower (p < 0.05) than those of soybean. It is concluded that true ileal nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities of lupin and chickpea meals are comparable to those of defatted soybean in Iberian pigs. The results with protein‐free diets tended to underestimate endogenous protein secretion in pigs fed on diets containing protein. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

High apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in raw and germinated faba bean (Vicia faba)‐ and chickpea (Cicer arietinum)‐based diets for rats

The effects of germinated faba bean (Vicia faba minor var Alameda)‐ and chickpea (Cicer arietinum kabuli var Athenas)‐based diets on performance, N utilisation, amino acid ileal digestibility and plasma concentrations were studied in growing male Wistar rats. Raw and germinated faba bean and chickpea seed meals were incorporated in essential amino acid‐supplemented and energy‐equalised diets as the only sources of protein. A lactalbumin‐based diet equalised in protein (100 g kg^?1) and digestible energy (15.5 kJ g^?1) with the test diets was used as control. Weight gains, gain/feed ratios, N retention and NPU values of animals fed raw or germinated legumes were lower than those of rats given the control (lactalbumin) diet, while faecal dry weights were higher. However, N retention and NPU values of rats fed germinated faba bean diets were higher and faecal dry weights lower than those of animals fed non‐germinated faba bean diets. Liver and thymus fresh and dry relative weights were lower than controls for all legume diets, whilst small intestine, caecum and colon relative weights were higher than controls for non‐germinated faba beans and chickpeas either germinated or not. Caecum and colon fresh and dry relative weights of rats fed germinated faba bean seeds were lower than those of rats fed non‐germinated faba beans and not different from controls. Except for aspartic acid and proline in rats fed raw faba bean diets, apparent ileal digestibilities of amino acids were not different or higher in rats fed legume diets as compared with controls. Except for arginine, apparent ileal amino acid digestibility was higher for germinated than for non‐germinated faba bean seeds. The amounts of glycine, arginine and ornithine in plasma significantly increased whilst those of threonine, alanine, leucine and lysine decreased with respect to controls in faba bean‐ or chickpea‐fed rats, either germinated or not. We conclude that (a) germination of faba bean seeds gave rise to a significant (P < 0.01) but limited improvement in performance, N retention and apparent ileal digestibilities of some amino acids in growing rats compared with non‐germinated seeds, while there was no detectable effect in the case of germinated chickpea seeds, and (b) the apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of essential amino acid‐supplemented diets based on faba bean or chickpea meals, either germinated or not, is similar or even higher than controls. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ileal digestibility of defatted soybean,lupin and chickpea seed meals in cannulated Iberian pigs: II. Fatty acids and carbohydrates

Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg mean live body weight) fitted with T‐shaped ileal cannulas were used to determine ileal digestibility of legume seed meals. The diets were based on defatted soybean (256 g kg^?1), lupin (451 g kg^?1) or chickpea (731 g kg^?1) seed meals and contained similar amounts of digestible energy (14.2–15.1 kJ g^?1) and protein (107 g kg^?1). Only myristic acid (C14:0) ileal apparent digestibility was higher (p < 0.05) in lupin than in chickpea meal. Ileal apparent digestibility of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) (710–920 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than that of saturated (480–710 g kg^?1) FA for both seed meals. Ileal digestibility of chickpea starch was 850 g kg^?1. Ileal digestibility of oligosaccharides (sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and ciceritol) in lupin (820 g kg^?1) and chickpea (690 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than that of defatted soybean (510 g kg^?1). However, total amounts of oligosaccharides digested were higher (p < 0.05) for lupin and chickpea meals (29.6 and 24.6 g kg^?1 feed respectively) than for soybean (15.2 g kg^?1 feed). Among individual non‐starch polysaccharide (NSP) sugars, ileal digestibility values for rhamnose and xylose in lupins were higher (p < 0.05) than those for soybean or chickpea. Ileal digestibility of lupin meal NSP (650 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than those of soybean (560 g kg^?1) or chickpea (430 g kg^?1). Up to the terminal ileum, higher (p < 0.05) amounts of lupin total NSP (94.1 g kg^?1) than for soybean (24.3 g kg^?1) or chickpea (27.1 g kg^?1) were digested. Lactate, acetate and isobutyrate concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in ileal contents of pigs fed lupin and chickpea seed meals compared with soybean‐fed animals. It is concluded that higher lactate and short chain fatty acids concentrations in ileal contents of pigs fed lupin or chickpea seed meals compared with soybean are likely to be the result of higher total amounts of lupin NSP and/or lupin and chickpea oligosaccharides digested up to the terminal ileum. This might have a protective effect on Iberian pig's intestinal physiology. Both lupin and chickpea meals are likely to constitute a valuable alternative to defatted soybean in Iberian pig feeding. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Faecal Composition and Nitrogen Excretion of Rats Fed on Diets Containing Sweet Lupin (Lupinus angustifoliusL) or its Fractions

Five N balance studies were conducted to determine the faecal composition and N excretion of feeding raw Lupinus angustifolius seed meal and its fractions for growing rats using a semi-synthetic lactalbumin-based diet as control. Diets were formulated to have equal amounts of energy. The protein was incorporated at the level of 10% bulk and contained unsupplemented lupin seed meal (LMU) and fully supplemented lupin seed meal (LMFS) at 360 g kg⁻¹ diet, aqueous extract non-dialysed (LPAND) at 196 g kg⁻¹ aqueous extract dialysed soluble at pH 7·0 (LPAD) at 148 g kg⁻¹ aqueous extract dialysed insoluble at pH 7·0 (LPADI) at 124 g kg⁻¹, buffer dialysed soluble at pH 7·0 (BUSOL) at 136 g kg⁻¹, buffer dialysed insoluble at pH 7·0 (BUDI) at 119 g kg⁻¹ and lupin meal residue after aqueous and buffer extraction (LMR) at 170 g kg⁻¹ diet. Rats were pair-fed for 10 days with all the above diets which had been supplemented with essential amino acids up to the target requirements for rats. Faecal wet and dry weight were increased in rats fed on LMU, LMPS and LMR diets compared to those obtained from the control diet based on lactalbumin (milk protein) LACT. The higher faecal weight was largely due to water content. The higher faecal N excretion observed in LMU, LMFS, LPAND, LPAD, BUSOL, BUDI and LMR compared to that of LACT diet was significantly lower and thus which was assumed not to be due to a decrease in the digestibility of the dietary protein, which was over 90% as compared to that in the control group. Analysis suggested that an increase in endogenous N excretion is involved in the rise of its excretion in the faeces, and indicates a long-term effect of this seed as a protein and or fibre source in monogastrics.     

The nutritional toxicity of sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) seed proteins

The effects of raw sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) meal on the growth and N utilisation of rats were determined in two ad libitum and two restricted‐feeding net protein utilisation (NPU) and five N balance experiments. Sweet lupin seed grown in Western Australia, obtained as meal, either unsupplemented (LMU) or fully supplemented with required amino acids (360 g kg⁻¹) (LMFS), was tested. Rats fed lactalbumin (130 g kg⁻¹) (LACT) were used as positive controls, while rats fed a non‐protein diet (NPC) were used as negative controls. In addition, seed protein, extracted at pH 7.0 with water and insoluble after dialysis at pH 7.0 (LPADI; 124 g kg⁻¹), was also used. The diets contained the same amounts of energy and protein and were supplemented with essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals to target requirements for rats. Inclusion of LPADI in the diet of growing rats caused urinary losses of N, almost all as urea, hypoproteinaemia and increase in body water that resulted in the lowest NPU values, N balance and growth rate as compared with other diets used. These rats developed atrophy of the spleen (low dry weight) and had a comparatively smaller thymus gland than those given raw meals. Furthermore, the LPADI fraction was shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) to contain three polypeptides with molecular weights between 30 and 36 kDa which are similar to lectins obtained from Phaseolus vulgaris, Abrus precatorius and Ricinus communis. It is possible that the toxic protein component in the sweet lupin, which has negligible in vitro haemagglutination properties and is extremely toxic in vivo, exerts toxicity by interfering with protein synthesis in the liver, while the immune responses are secondary to azotaemia (high level of urea in the blood) or cytotoxicity action on lymphocytes. The unusual depletion of fat from the body, however, was due to the failure of absorbed amino acids to assimilate as proteins, creating dietary protein restriction and leading to lipolysis. It is therefore tentatively suggested that sweet lupin seed contains a lectin‐like protein that is concentrated in this fraction. Further purification and biological evaluation to establish the exact nature of this protein may be important. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Tolerance of growing pigs to trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors in chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) and pigeonpeas (Cajanus cajan)

The threshold level of growing pigs to trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors was investigated by adding graded levels of meals rich in these inhibitors to diets and recording responses. Diets were formulated to contain either 250, 500 or 750 g kg^?1 of Opal chickpea, dehulled Tyson chickpea or dehulled pigeonpea meals and pig response compared to that of pigs given a wheat and soya-bean meal control. Trypsin inhibitor levels (mg g^?1) of the diets were, respectively, control, 0.2; chickpea meal 1, 1.2.32; chickpea meal 2, 1.7–4.7; pigeonpea meal, 1.4–3.6. Chymotrypsin inhibitor levels (mg g^?1) of the diets were, respectively, control, 0.2; chickpea meal 1. 0.9–2.2; chickpea meal 2, 1.6–4.5; pigeonpea meal. 0.8–2.1. The diets were offered ad libitum over the 20–50 kg growth phase. Growth responses of the pigs fed the two chickpea meals were similar to those of the pigs fed the control soya-bean meal diet (P>0.05). In contrast, the addition of pigeonpea meal linearly depressed growth rate (P<0.001), feed intake (P<0.05) and increased the feed conversion ratio (P<0.05), inclusion levels of the chickpea meals had no effect on organ weights, whereas the inclusion of pigeonpea meal significantly affected the weights of the liver and pancreas (P<0.05), indicating the presence of other anti-nutritional factors. The results indicate that the growing pig can tolerate dietary levels of at least 4.7 and 4.5 mg g^?1 of trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors, respectively. These threshold levels are unlikely to be exceeded in conventional diets containing the majority of grain legumes. The results also indicate that dehulled pigeonpea meal contains an anti-nutritional factor(s) for growing pigs.     

Immunodetection of legume proteins resistant to small intestinal digestion in weaned piglets

Experiments were conducted to investigate the biochemistry of digestion of the major storage proteins from soya bean, pea, faba bean, blue lupin, and chickpea seeds in the ileum of piglets. Hyperimmune plasmas against the crude protein extracts and the purified 11S and 7S globulin fractions of each legume seed and an anti‐pea albumin PA2 and lectin antibody were used. They served to probe immunoblots of feed protein extracts and ileal digesta samples. Globally, the recognition by plasmas of intact or partially digested proteins in ileal digesta was rather faint, in agreement with the fairly high in vivo digestibility data obtained with these legume seed proteins. Nevertheless, immunoreactive polypeptides found in digesta of piglets fed pea, faba bean and chickpea belonged mainly to proteins of the 7S family, and to other proteins including low‐molecular weight components such as PA2 albumin and lectin in the case of pea. In piglets fed lupin, nearly intact polypeptides from the 11S family were detected. To conclude, the present immunochemical study conducted on ileal digesta of piglets revealed a few dietary legume proteins of the vicilin and albumin families. Legumin proteins were demonstrated unequivocally in the case of lupin and white chickpea. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutritional evaluation of transgenic high‐methionine lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L) with broiler chickens

The nutritive value of transgenic lupin seeds (Lupinus angustifolius L) with higher contents of methionine was evaluated with broiler chickens. The crude protein, methionine and cysteine contents in the conventional and transgenic lupins were 322 and 324, 2.0 and 4.5, and 3.6 and 3.7 g kg^?1 dry matter respectively. In the feeding trial, conventional and transgenic lupins with hulls were incorporated into a maize–soyabean meal diet at 250 g kg^?1 level and the diets were fed to female broiler chicks from 6 to 20 days of age. All diets were balanced to contain similar levels of apparent metabolisable energy (AME), lysine and sulphur‐containing amino acids. The levels of free methionine added to the maize–soyabean meal control, conventional lupin and transgenic lupin diets were 2.2, 2.8 and 2.2 g kg^?1 respectively. Weight gain and feed intake were not influenced by dietary treatments, but feed/gain tended to be higher (P = 0.09) in birds fed lupin diets compared with those fed the control diet. Feed/gain of birds fed the conventional lupin diet was higher (1.82 vs 1.74) than for those fed the transgenic lupin diet. These results showed that the supplemental methionine required in poultry diets containing 250 g kg^?1 lupin can be lowered by 0.6 g kg^?1 diet by the use of high‐methionine lupins. The AME values of conventional and transgenic lupins were determined to be 9.42 and 10.18 MJ kg^?1 dry matter respectively. The higher AME value in transgenic lupins may be related to the lower content of soluble non‐starch polysaccharides (45.6 vs 60.7 g kg^?1 air‐dry basis). Data on ileal amino acid digestibility indicate that the amino acids in transgenic lupins are as digestible as those in conventional lupins. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutritional evaluation and metabolic effects in rats of protein isolates obtained from seeds of three legume species

Three legume seeds, peas (Pisum sativum L), faba bean (Vicia faba L) and soybean (Glycine max L) and their respective protein isolates, were assayed for their nutritional value and metabolic effects. Feeding rats with either the legume seeds or the protein isolates resulted in an impairment in growth and significantly lower nutritional indices as compared to the control group. Protein apparent digestibility improved in the protein isolate fed rats, with similar digestibility data to those observed in the casein fed group. Liver, gastrocnemius muscle and spleen weights were decreased by legume consumption, and the enlargement detected in the small intestine weight in the animals fed on the legume seeds, was partially reversed in the animals receiving the protein isolate. This reversal was significant in rats offered faba bean protein isolate. Biochemical parameters were consistent in the legume groups, and hypoglycaemic and hypotriacylglycaemic responses were observed for the legume meals. Lower uric acid levels were found in some of the legume fed animals. Serum free amino acid profiles were affected by the legume intake, as compared with casein. Methionine and taurine concentrations decreased, whereas serine concentrations were augmented. Other amino acids, particularly glycine and valine, also showed modified plasma concentrations. These results suggest that the preparation of protein isolates, following an easy protocol, yield products with better digestibility, which keep the positive effects on glucose and triacylglyceride plasma levels, and partially reduce some other undesirable consequences related to legume consumption. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutritional value of feed grade chickpeas for ruminants and pigs

The feeding value of feed grade chickpeas (Kabuli and Desi type) for ruminants and pigs was determined in two studies. Two ruminally fistulated cows were used in the first study to determine the effects of moist heat treatment (127 °C for 10 min) on the ruminal protein degradability of feed grade chickpeas. Heat treatment reduced (P < 0.05) soluble crude protein and increased (P < 0.05) the amount of crude protein associated with neutral detergent fibre for both types of chickpeas. Ruminal degradability of crude protein for Kabuli and Desi chickpeas was reduced by 39 and 33% (P < 0.05) respectively as a result of heating. In the second study, 64 crossbred pigs were each assigned to one of four dietary treatments in a factorial (4 treatments × 2 sexes) design experiment. The experimental barley/wheat‐based diets were supplemented with either soybean meal (control), Kabuli chickpeas (300 g kg⁻¹), Desi chickpeas (300 g kg⁻¹) or field peas (300 g kg⁻¹). Dry matter and gross energy digestibility coefficients, determined using the indicator method, were lower (P < 0.05) for the Desi‐ than for the Kabuli‐supplemented diet. However, no differences were observed in dry matter or gross energy digestibility between the Kabuli chickpea‐supplemented diet and the control or the field pea‐supplemented diet. Diets supplemented with chickpeas or field peas had a lower (P < 0.05) crude protein digestibility than the control diet. Pigs fed either of the chickpea‐supplemented diets during the growing phase gained less (P < 0.05) than pigs fed the control diet. However, during the finishing phase and over the entire experiment, dietary treatment had no effect on pig performance. There were no significant differences in carcass traits between pigs fed any of the four diets. It was concluded that moist heat treatment is an effective method to increase the rumen escape protein value of chickpeas and that the inclusion of feed grade Kabuli or Desi chickpeas in finishing diets up 300 g kg⁻¹ had no detrimental effects on pig performance. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Increased efficiency of wool growth and live weight gain in Merino sheep fed transgenic lupin seed containing sunflower albumin

The aim of this experiment was to assess, using sheep, the nutritive value of lupin seed transgenically modified to contain sunflower seed albumin. Eighty Merino wether sheep of mean live weight 32.3 kg were divided into two groups and fed 796 g dry matter (DM) day⁻¹ of a cereal hay‐based diet containing 350 g kg⁻¹ of either the transgenic or parent (unmodified) lupin seed for 6 weeks. Measurements were made of wool growth and live weight gain. After 6 weeks, half the sheep in each group were selected for a urine and faeces balance study in which organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N) and urinary purine metabolites were measured. Blood samples were taken from all sheep at the beginning and end of treatment and analysed for amino acids and plasma metabolites. A comprehensive chemical analysis of the grains showed that there was little difference between them in terms of most nutritional components, but the transgenic lupin seed contained a 2.3‐fold higher methionine concentration and 1.3‐fold higher cysteine than did the parent. There were no significant differences between grains in OM digestibility, rumen microbial protein synthesis or in sacco degradability of dry matter. Sheep fed the transgenic lupin grain had an 8% higher rate of wool growth (P < 0.01) and 7% higher live weight gain (P < 0.05) than sheep fed the parent grain. The sulphur (S) concentration of wool and the cysteine concentration of plasma were also higher in the sheep fed the transgenic lupin by 2.7% and 11.5% respectively (P < 0.05). Plasma methionine was increased by 10%, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.1). Plasma urea N was lower in the sheep fed the transgenic grain than those fed the parent grain (6.5 vs 6.8 mmol l⁻¹, P < 0.05). The results show that genetic modification of a feed grain can improve its nutritive value for ruminants. The size and nature of the responses were consistent with the transgenic lupins providing more methionine to the tissues, a first‐limiting amino acid for sheep. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rice Protein Isolates Produced by the Two Different Methods Lower Serum Cholesterol Concentration in Rats Compared with Casein

Highly purified rice protein isolates (RPI) were prepared by an alkaline extraction–acid precipitation method (E-RPI) and by an α-amylase treatment to remove starch (T-RPI). Biological values of these RPI were significantly lower than that of casein. Serum cholesterol concentrations were compared among groups of rats fed (per kg diet) 200, 300 or 400 g E-RPI, 400 g T-RPI, 250 or 400 g casein kg⁻¹ or 400 g soya bean protein isolate (SPI). With all the diets containing 400 g protein kg⁻¹ diet, growth rates of rats were the same. At this level, E-RPI, T-RPI and SPI diets produced significantly lower serum cholesterol concentrations than the casein diet. Faecal bile acid plus neutral steroid excre-tion was significantly higher in rats fed the 400 g kg⁻¹ T-RPI or 400 g kg⁻¹ SPIdiets compared with rats fed the 400 g kg⁻¹ casein diet. On the other hand, the 400 g kg⁻¹ E-RPI diet did not increase steroid excretion. Plasma cholesterol concentrations in rats fed diets with amino acid mixtures simulating SPI and E-RPI were also significantly lower than that of rats fed the diet with an amino acid mixture simulating casein even though the faecal excretions of total bile acids were the same amongst groups. These results support the view that RPI are hypocholesterolaemic relative to casein and at least the hypocholesterolaemic effects of E-RPI would be independent of interruption of the enterohepatic circulation of endogenous steroids.     

Exocrine Pancreatic Secretions in Young Pigs Fed Diets Containing Faba Beans (Vicia faba) and Peas (Pisum sativum): Nitrogen,Protein and Enzyme Secretions

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of feeding diets containing faba beans and peas on pancreatic secretions in young pigs fitted with a pancreatic pouch re-entrant cannula. In Experiment 1, eight barrows, with an average initial weight of 8·5 kg, were fed one of two maize starch-based diets formulated to contain 200 g crude protein (CP) kg⁻¹ according to a completely randomised design. In one of the diets, soya bean meal was the sole protein source; in the other diet, soya bean meal and faba beans (cv Fibro; dark-flowering) each supplied 50% of the dietary CP. In Experiment 2, five barrows, with an average initial weight of 18·1 kg, were fed one of two diets according to a two-period change-over design. The diets were formulated to contain 150 g CP kg⁻¹ with peas (cv Ascona or cv Radley) as the sole protein source. In both experiments, the experimental periods consisted of 8 days: 6 days adaptation followed by a 2 day collection of pancreatic juice. The soya bean meal diet and the faba bean diet contained 0.04 and 0.21% tannins (catechin equivalents), respectively. The trypsin inhibitor activities of the Ascona and Radley pea diets were 0·76 and 3·24 mg of trypsin inhibited per gram, respectively. In both experiments, diet did not affect ( P> 0·05) the pancreatic secretions of nitrogen, protein, amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin. In Experiment 1, specific trypsin activity was higher ( P< 0·05) in pancreatic juice from pigs fed the diet containing soya bean meal and faba beans (53700 units litre⁻¹) than for those fed the soya bean meal diet (41200 units litre⁻¹). However, there was no effect ( P> 0·05) when trypsin activity was expressed as total activity (units 24 h⁻¹). It is concluded that the inclu-sion of faba beans and peas in diets for young pigs has only minor effects on exocrine pancreatic secretions.     

The effect of digesta sampling time and dietary protein source on ileal nitrogen digestibility for the growing rat

The effect of time that digesta were collected on the quantity and representativeness of ileal digesta and on the determination of apparent and true ileal nitrogen (N) digestibility for growing rats was investigated. Semi‐synthetic diets containing chromic oxide as an indigestible marker were given to 200 g live weight rats for 8 days as a single daily meal. The experimental treatments comprised six diets (lactalbumin, soy protein isolate, wheat gluten, fish, protein‐free (PF), enzymically hydrolysed casein (EHC)) and four ileal digesta sampling times (3, 4, 5 and 6 h after the start of feeding). On the eighth day the rats were fed and slaughtered according to treatment, and digesta were sampled from the terminal ileum. Endogenous ileal nitrogen excretion was determined using both the protein‐free and peptide alimentation methods. There was a significant (P = 0.027) effect of experimental diet averaged across sampling times for chromium recovery (CrRec). The CrRec was higher for the rats fed the PF diet than for the other diets. Responses to sampling time varied significantly (P < 0.05) among diets for ileal digesta weight (IDW), nitrogen/chromium (N/Cr) ratio, ileal digesta weight relative to dry matter intake (IDW/DMI), CrRec, N flow, apparent N digestibility and true N digestibility (determined using the protein‐free method). The optimal digesta sampling times for each of the diets were 3 h for PF, EHC, lactalbumin and fish and 4 h for soy protein isolate and wheat gluten. Consequently, 3 or 4 h after the start of feeding is recommended as the optimum ileal digesta sampling time for most purified protein sources when fed to the growing rat as a single daily meal. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assessment of nutritive value of cereal and legume straws based on chemical composition and in vitro digestibility

The nutritive value of 17 straws was determined on the basis of their chemical composition, in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility and rumen fermentation kinetics (from gas production curves measured in vitro). Five roughages were from the cereal species Avena sativa (oat), Hordeum vulgare (barley), Secale cereale (rye), Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Zea mays (maize stover). The other 12 samples were legume straws, two samples from each of the species Cicer arietinum (chickpea), Lens culinaris (lentil) and Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) and one sample from each of the species Lathyrus sativus (chickling vetch), Lupinus albus (white lupin), Pisum sativum (field pea), Vicia articulata (one‐flowered vetch), Vicia ervilia (bitter vetch) and Vicia sativa (common vetch). All samples were collected after harvesting from different farms located in León (northwestern Spain). Based on their chemical composition, digestibility and gas production characteristics, species could be clustered into two groups with a significant linkage distance, one for cereal straws that merged at a level of similarity of 80% and the other for legume straws with a degree of similarity of 50%. Species varied widely and significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the two groups of straws. Legume straws showed higher crude protein (74 ± 6.1 vs 29 ± 2.2 g kg^?1 DM) and lower fibre (584 ± 18.1 vs 793 ± 27.5 g neutral detergent fibre kg^?1 DM) contents than cereal straws and, consequently, DM digestibility coefficients (0.670 vs 0.609; standard error of difference 0.0054) and metabolisable energy values (7.4 ± 0.15 vs 5.7 ± 0.24 MJ kg^?1 DM) were significantly greater in legume than in cereal straws. Although there were noticeable differences among species within each botanical family, legume straws showed better nutritional quality than cereal straws, indicating that they could be considered promising and interesting sources of roughage for incorporation into ruminant diets. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Dehulled-micronised lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Multitalia) as the main protein source for broilers: influence on growth performance, carcass traits and meat fatty acid composition

BACKGROUND: A study was carried out to compare the effect of diets containing micronised-dehulled lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Multitalia) on growth performance, carcass yields and meat fatty acid profile of broiler chickens. RESULTS: Hubbard strain chicks receiving from 14 d to slaughtering age (49 d) a wheat middlings-based diet containing either deffatted soybean meal (195 g kg(-1), control) or dehulled micromicronised lupins (240 g kg(-1)) as the main protein source were used. The inclusion of treated lupin meal in the diet did not result in lower growth rates of chicks. Lupin diet had no effect on dressing percentage, or breast and drumstick muscles relative weights, but a reduction of abdominal fat content was reported (P < 0.05). White and dark meats of birds fed lupin diet had significant (P < 0.05) lower L* (lightness) values and fat content (P < 0.05). Total collagen and water-holding capacity values were higher in lupin treatment. Feeding the lupin diet resulted in lower saturated fatty acid content in breast and drumstick meat, as well as the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio and saturation, atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes, while total PUFA and monounsaturated fatty acids levels increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that replacing soybean meal with dehulled-micronised lupin meal in diet for broiler chickens can produce meat with favourable lipid profile and quality, with no adverse effects on productive parameters.     

Species Identification of Beans, Peas and Other Legumes by RAPD-PCR after DNA Isolation using Membrane Columns

Forty legume seed samples representing 11 species were selected to investigate the identification of food legume species by random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Template DNA was extracted from seed meal and purified using a commercial membrane column kit. Amplification was performed with commercial RAPD analysis beads and six commercially available decamer nucleotide primers. Electrophoresis of the amplicons on polyacrylamide gels and subsequent silver staining resulted in RAPD profiles from all samples of one species with a given primer that differed from those of the other species studied. Unambiguous identification of six food legume species, common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), soybeans (Glycine max), peas (Pisum sativum), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), lentils (Lens culinaris), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa), was obtained applying three of the primers. The technique may also be suitable to identify the remaining five species investigated, scarlet runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus), lima beans (P. lunatus), green gram (Vigna radiata), broadbeans (Vicia faba), and blue lupin seeds (Lupinus angustifolius). Using a standard protocol, amplification with Taq DNA polymerase instead of RAPD beads generated RAPD profiles only from soybeans, peas, two of four chickpea samples, green gram, and lupin seeds.     

Inhibitory effects of legume seed extracts on fish proteinases

Proteinase inhibitor extracts were prepared from various legume seeds. Black cowpea and soybean seeds showed the highest inhibitory activity against viscera proteinases (p < 0.05). Optimal extraction was attained by shaking the defatted legume seed powder in distilled water (3 ml g⁻¹) at ambient temperature for 1 h. Both extracts showed high thermal stability, but that from soybean was slightly less stable. The inhibitory activity of both extracts was retained over a broad pH range. The proteinase inhibitor extracts also reduced modori-inducing proteinase (MIP) activity. The sarcoplasmic MIP activities were more effectively inhibited than the myofibrillar-associated MIP activities. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

The Nutritive Value of Mango Seed Kernels for Starting Chicks

Raw mango ( Mangifera indica L) seed kernels were found to contain tannins (56·5 g kg⁻¹ DM), cyanogenic glucosides (64 mg kg⁻¹ DM), oxalates (42 mg kg⁻¹ DM) and trypsin inhibitory activity (20 TIU g⁻¹ DM). The contents of these anti-nutritive factors were lowered by both soaking and boiling treatments, but boiling was more effective. The in vitro protein digestibility (26·3%) and apparent metabolisable energy (7·88 MJ kg⁻¹ DM) values of raw kernels were low, and these parameters were improved by soaking and boiling. The observed improvements paralleled reductions in tannin contents, indicating that tannins are largely responsible for the poor nutritive value of raw kernels. In experiment 1, diets containing 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg⁻¹ raw mango seed kernels that replaced maize were fed to 7-day-old White Leghorn cockerels for 14 days. Inclusion of more than 50 g kg⁻¹ raw kernels lowered ( P< 0·05) the weight gains, feed intake and feed efficiency of chicks. High level inclusion of raw kernels had toxic effects, as evidenced by increased mortality. In experiment 2, soaking and boiling treatments improved ( P< 0·05) feed intake of chicks fed on diets containing 100 g kg⁻¹ kernels and reduced mortality. Feed/gain was unaffected by processing. Soaking had no effect, whereas boiling of kernels improved the weight gains. However, weight gains of chicks receiving diets containing 100 g kg⁻¹ boiled kernels were numerically, though non-significantly, lower than those of the maize-control group. It is concluded that raw mango seed kernels are unsuitable as a feed ingredient in chick diets and, that soaking and boiling do not completely overcome the anti-nutritive effects of raw kernels.     

Supplementary α‐tocopherol acetate in full‐fat rapeseed‐based diets for pigs: effect on performance,plasma enzymes and meat drip loss

Twenty‐four Large White × Landrace pigs were individually fed, from 50 to 90 kg live weight, either a control (CONT) diet containing palm oil or one of three diets based on full‐fat rapeseed (250 g kg⁻¹) (diets RD). The RD diets were supplemented with 0, 200 or 500 mg DL ‐α‐tocopherol acetate (ATA) kg⁻¹ diet (diets RD0, RD200 and RD500 respectively). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Daily live weight gain was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in pigs fed diet RD500. Plasma AT concentration was significantly increased by dietary supplementation with 200 mg ATA kg⁻¹ but showed no further significant increase by supplementation with 500 mg ATA kg⁻¹. At slaughter, after 45 days, carcass weights were increased for the RD500 group but dressing percentage was unaffected. ATA supplementation significantly reduced drip loss on days 4 and 5–7 in fresh muscle and on days 1 and 4 in frozen muscle. The concentrations of calcium, sodium and potassium in drip loss fluid collected on days 1 and 4 from fresh muscle were not significantly affected by treatment or by time of collection and did not suggest any change in the relative contribution of intra‐ and extracellular fluid to total drip loss. Plasma enzyme activities related to tissue damage (creatine kinase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) were not influenced by dietary treatments. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry