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

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 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

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Cadmium ; analysis ; DNA ; analysis ; Hepatocytes ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Selenium ; analysis

The effects of ration level and feeding frequency on digestibility in juvenile soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, were investigated. Four ration levels 1.5%, 2.5%, 4.0% and satiation (6.0% BW/d) were used. Apparent digestibility (AD) of dry matter (DMAD), protein (PAD) and protein real digestibility (PRD) were significantly affected by ration level, but not by feeding frequency when the ration level was similar. However, the feeding frequency affected the AD, DMAD, PAD and PRD significantly when the turtles were fed to satiation. The relationship between fecal protein content (Y) and protein intake (X) can be expressed as a quadric equation: Y=-0.1742+0.1476X-0.0003X(2) (r(2)=0.876, n=27, F=93.92, P<0.01).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; classification ; Animals ; Digestion ; physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; physiology ; Food Analysis ; Food Deprivation ; physiology ; Periodicity ; Turtles ; physiology

Adipose Tissue ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; RNA ; analysis

AIMTo detect the residual clenbuterol in pork meat and liver using HPLC with Coulometric electrode array system.

METHODSHomogenized meat or liver sample was treated with 1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid and centrifuged, the fat existing in meat or liver tissue was removed by diethyl ether. The pH of the remaining aqueous layer was adjusted to 10.8 +/- 0.2 or 11.6 +/- 0.2 for meat or liver and liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether was followed. The ether extract was evaporated to dryness, the residue was dissolved in the mobile phase. The mobile phase A consisted of 50 mmol x L(-1) phosphoric acid-30 mmol x L(-1) triethylamine and was adjusted to pH 4.0 with 2 mol x L(-1) sodium hydroxide solution. The mobile phase B consisted of methanol-acetonitrile (30:45). A mixture of mobile phase A and B (80:20) was used in the method. A four electrode array module was selected for quantitation, the electrode potentials were set at 450, 600, 650 and 680 mV respectively.

RESULTSThe two calibration curves for meat and liver showed good linearity between 1.88 - 60.16 ng x g(-1), the detection limit of clenbuterol was 1.2 ng x g(-1).

CONCLUSIONThis method using HPLC-electrochemical detection is reproducible, and the sensitivity is good enough for the determination of clenbuterol in meat and liver.

Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Clenbuterol ; analysis ; Drug Residues ; analysis ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Electrodes ; Liver ; chemistry ; Meat ; analysis ; Swine

Aeriscardovia aeriphila, also known as Bifidobacterium aerophilum, was first isolated from the caecal contents of pigs and the faeces of cotton-top tamarin. Bifidobacterium species play important roles in preventing intestinal infections, decreasing cholesterol levels, and stimulating the immune system. In this study, we isolated a strain of bacteria from the duodenal contents of broiler chickens, which was identified as A. aeriphila, and then evaluated the effects of A. aeriphila on growth performance, antioxidant functions, immune functions, and gut microbiota in commercial broiler chickens. Chickens were orally gavaged with A. aeriphila (1×10⁹ CFU/mL) for 21 d. The results showed that A. aeriphila treatment significantly increased the average daily gain and reduced the feed conversion ratio (P<0.001). The levels of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were significantly increased following A. aeriphila treatment (P<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen and aspartate aminotransferase levels were decreased, whereas glucose and creatinine levels increased as a result of A. aeriphila treatment. Furthermore, the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (P<0.01), superoxide dismutase (P<0.001), and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05), and total antioxidant capacity (P<0.05) were enhanced following A. aeriphila treatment. A. aeriphila treatment significantly increased the levels of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) (P<0.05), IgG (P<0.01), IgM (P<0.05), interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P<0.05), IL-4 (P<0.05), and IL-10 (P<0.05). The broiler chickens in the A. aeriphila group had higher secretory IgA (SIgA) levels in the duodenum (P<0.01), jejunum (P<0.001), and cecum (P<0.001) than those in the control group. The messenger RNA (mRNA) relative expression levels of IL-10 (P<0.05) and IL-4 (P<0.001) in the intestinal mucosa of chickens were increased, while nuclear factor-‍κB (NF‍-‍κB) (P<0.001) expression was decreased in the A. aeriphila group compared to the control group. Phylum-level analysis revealed Firmicutes as the main phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, in both groups. The data also found that Phascolarctobacterium and Barnesiella were increased in A. aeriphila-treated group. In conclusion, oral administration of A. aeriphila could improve the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, immune modulation, and gut health of broilers. Our findings may provide important information for the application of A. aeriphila in poultry production.
Animals ; Swine ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Chickens ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Interleukin-10/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-4/pharmacology* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Immunity ; Diet/veterinary* ; Animal Feed/analysis* ; Dietary Supplements/analysis*

In this work, a novel conjugate of ractopamine and bovine serum albumin (RAC-BSA) has been developed via the Mannich reaction, with a mole coupling ratio for RAC-BSA of 9:1. The proposed conjugation method provides a simple and one-step method with the use of fewer reagents compared with other conjugation methods for competitive immunoassays. RAC-BSA conjugation was used to fabricate a competitive lateral flow strip test for RAC detection in animal feed. For sample preparation, RAC was spiked in swine feed purchased from the local markets in Thailand, and methanol and running buffer at a volume ratio of 10:90 was used as extraction buffer. The procedures for sample preparation were completed within 25 min. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD), assessed by the naked eye within 5 min, was found to be 1 ng/g. A semi-quantitative analysis was also conducted using a smart phone and computer software, with a linearity of 0.075-0.750 ng/g, calculated LOD of 0.10 ng/g, calculated limit of quantitation of 0.33 ng/g, and good correlation of 0.992. The recoveries were found in the range of 96.4%-103.7% with a relative standard deviation of 2.5%-3.6% for intra- and inter-assays. Comparison of the results obtained by the strip test with those obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay had a good agreement in terms of accuracy. Furthermore, this strip test exhibited highly specific RAC detection without cross reactivity with related compounds. Therefore, the RAC-BSA conjugation via the Mannich reaction can be accepted as a one-step and easy conjugation method and applied to the competitive lateral flow strip test.
Animal Feed/analysis* ; Animals ; Cross Reactions ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods* ; Limit of Detection ; Phenethylamines/chemistry* ; Reagent Strips ; Serum Albumin, Bovine/chemistry* ; Swine