Aims: The primary aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of rearing substrates on the nutritional content of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) by incorporating Cupriavidus necator cells containing intracellular polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in BSFL diet to further increase the protein content and simultaneously to biologically extract the polymer by utilizing the digestive system of BSFL. The potential application of BSFL as a biological PHB extraction agent was determined. Methodology and results: Two feeding strategies consists of a mixture of protein (P) to carbohydrate (C) with a ratio of P50:C50 food waste (control feeding) and feed with bacterial cells (modified feeding). A comparison on the proximate analysis between this research and two commercially available products were conducted. Feeding BSFL with P50:C50 food waste revealed the highest crude protein content of 81.3 ± 0.2%. Additional bacteria cells in the BSFL diet, however, showed a negligible decrease in crude protein content of 0.67% as compared to the control feeding. Howbeit, this results comparably higher in contrast to the commercial products, with increment of crude protein content by 12.1% and 40.8%, respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Two desirable products were obtained from the feeding with cells: (1) high protein content of BSFL and (2) biologically extracted polymer. This is the first study to demonstrate the utilization of BSFL as a biological extraction agent to partially extract biopolymer and increase the protein content by feeding with cells.
Diptera ; Polyhydroxybutyrates ; Animal Feed

The mineral contents of the cultivation substrates, fruiting bodies of the mushrooms, and the postharvest cultivation substrates were determined in cultivated edible mushrooms Pleurotus eryngii, Flammulina velutipes, and Hypsizigus marmoreus. The major mineral elements both in the cultivation substrates and in the fruiting bodies were K, Mg, Ca, and Na. Potassium was particularly abundant ranging 10~13 g/kg in the cultivation substrates and 26~30 g/kg in the fruiting bodies. On the contrary, the calcium content in the fruiting bodies was very low despite high concentrations in the cultivation substrates, indicating Ca in the cultivation substrates is in a less bio-available form or the mushrooms do not have efficient Ca uptake channels. Among the minor mineral elements determined in this experiment, Cu, Zn, and Ni showed high percentage of transfer from the cultivation substrates to the fruiting bodies. It is noteworthy that the mineral contents in the postharvest cultivation substrates were not changed significantly which implies that the spent cultivation substrates are nutritionally intact in terms of mineral contents and thus can be recycled as mineral sources and animal feeds.
Agaricales ; Animal Feed ; Calcium ; Flammulina ; Fruit ; Pleurotus ; Potassium

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Cysteamine ; Female ; Goats ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo develop the first grade standard analytical reference material of bovine blood lead.

METHODSAccording to standards and technology specification of primary standard reference material (JJG1006-1994), ISO 17511, and volume-effect relationship, a bovine blood lead model was developed by adding acetate lead in the feed in dose of 2-5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). Cow blood was collected when blood lead concentration went up to low, medium and high concentration range (90-100, 190-200, 280-300 microg/L). Blood sample was kept in tube and frozen after irradiation. The samples were tested for homogeneity and stability. ID-MS method was used to measure the lead concentration through comparison with two standard lead samples from the USA NIST SRM 955b.

RESULTSSamples of the three lead concentrations showed uniformity by single factor analysis of variance (F = 0.61, 1.64, 0.28, respectively, P > 0.05) . After 14 months monitoring, the RSD was 0.85%, 1.05% and 0.49% (t = 0.787, 1.132, 0.854, respectively, P > 0.05). The characteristic and indefinite values were 102.4 +/- 5.5; 181.2 +/- 4.0; 304.5 +/- 3.9, respectively (unit: microg/L). The reproduction of the two USA NIST SRM 955b samples further showed our methods and procedures were correct. Our sample was stabile for four days at room temperature.

CONCLUSIONThe standard reference material of bovine in our research had reached the national standard material requirements.

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; standards ; Cattle ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Reference Standards

The cadmium concentrations in mineral mixtures used in beef cattle feed in the states of Sao Paulo and Parana, Brazil was measured. The cadmium concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Of the 36 analyzed samples, 35 had values > 0.5 ppm (range 0.5 to 11.2 ppm), which is the maximum concentration recommended [4, 18]. These findings show the necessity for careful industrial monitoring, as some mineral mixtures contain sufficient cadmium to cause toxicity in animals.
Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animals ; Brazil ; Cadmium/*administration&dosage/*analysis/toxicity ; Cattle ; Minerals/*analysis ; Spectrum Analysis

Lead concentrations was measured in samples of mineral mixtures used in beef cattle feed in the states of Sao Paulo, Parana, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Lead content was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Of the 60 analyzed samples, 21 had values greater than 30 ppm (range less 1.6 to 460 ppm), which is the maximum concentration recommended [3,14]. These findings show the necessity for careful industrial monitoring because some mineral mixtures contain sufficient lead to cause toxicity in animals.
Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animals ; Brazil ; *Cattle ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Lead/*analysis

The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the factors influencing the activity of fibrinolytic enzymes from earthworm and to obtain the better way to extract fibrinolytic enzymes as well as keep its optimum activity.

METHOD75% alcohol, 0.9% NaCl and 10% saccharose was used to extract the crude fibrinolytic enzymes from earthworm, the method of urokinase gelose-fibrin plate was used to measure the activity of fibrinolytic enzymes from earthworm. and the method of 3,3'-diaminobezidine tetrahydrochloride colorimetry to was used measure the content of selenium. The method use ts of measuring the content of arsenic was silver diethyldithiocarbamate colorimetry.

RESULTThe fibrinolytin of earthworms reared with cattle soils had higher activity than that reared with garbage. The arsenic in the earthworm's body could improve the activity of earthworm's fibrinolytin. However, the selenium had litter influence on it. Among the three methods of extraction, the 75% alcohol one was the most efficient, the 0.9% NaCl was next, and the 10% saccharose was the lowest. The influence of dialysis on the activity of fibrinolytin was less than that of ultrafiltration, when the earthworm's fibrinolytin enzyme was further sublimated.

CONCLUSIONThe activity of the earthworm's fibrinolytin will be increased earthworm is reared with the fitting baits and when appropriate methods, of extraction and purification are used.

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Endopeptidases ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Oligochaeta ; chemistry ; Selenium ; pharmacology

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Gynostemma ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming

Genetically modified (GM) crops were first introduced to farmers in 1995 with the intent to provide better crop yield and meet the increasing demand for food and feed. GM crops have evolved to include a thorough safety evaluation for their use in human food and animal feed. Safety considerations begin at the level of DNA whereby the inserted GM DNA is evaluated for its content, position and stability once placed into the crop genome. The safety of the proteins coded by the inserted DNA and potential effects on the crop are considered, and the purpose is to ensure that the transgenic novel proteins are safe from a toxicity, allergy, and environmental perspective. In addition, the grain that provides the processed food or animal feed is also tested to evaluate its nutritional content and identify unintended effects to the plant composition when warranted. To provide a platform for the safety assessment, the GM crop is compared to non-GM comparators in what is typically referred to as composition equivalence testing. New technologies, such as mass spectrometry and well-designed antibody-based methods, allow better analytical measurements of crop composition, including endogenous allergens. Many of the analytical methods and their intended uses are based on regulatory guidance documents, some of which are outlined in globally recognized documents such as Codex Alimentarius. In certain cases, animal models are recommended by some regulatory agencies in specific countries, but there is typically no hypothesis or justification of their use in testing the safety of GM crops. The quality and standardization of testing methods can be supported, in some cases, by employing good laboratory practices (GLP) and is recognized in China as important to ensure quality data. Although the number of recommended, in some cases, required methods for safety testing are increasing in some regulatory agencies, it should be noted that GM crops registered to date have been shown to be comparable to their nontransgenic counterparts and safe . The crops upon which GM development are based are generally considered safe.
Agriculture ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Biotechnology ; China ; Consumer Product Safety ; Food, Genetically Modified ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Safety