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Feeding studies were conducted with rats and broiler chickens to assess the safety and nutrition of maize grain containing event DP-Ø23211-2 (DP23211), a newly developed trait-pyramid product for corn rootworm management. Diets containing 50% ground maize grain from DP23211, non-transgenic control, or non-transgenic reference hybrids (P0928, P0993, and P1105) were fed to Crl:CD®(SD) rats for 90 days. Ross 708 broilers were fed phase diets containing up to 67% maize grain from each source for 42 days. Body weight, gain, and feed conversion were determined for comparisons between animals fed DP23211 and control diets in each study. Additional measures included clinical and neurobehavioral evaluations, ophthalmology, clinical pathology, organ weights, and gross and microscopic pathology for rats, and carcass parts and select organ yields for broilers. Reference groups were included to determine if any observed significant differences between DP23211 and control groups were likely due to natural variation. No diet-related effects on mortality or evaluation measures were observed between animal fed diets produced with DP23211 maize grain and animal fed diets produced with control maize grain. These studies show that maize grain containing event DP-Ø23211-2 is as safe and nutritious as non-transgenic maize grains when fed in nutritionally adequate diets. The results are consistent with previously published studies, providing further demonstration of the absence of hazards from edible-fraction consumption of genetically modified plants.

Summary: Volatile short-chain fatty acids such as butyric and acetic acid have been supplemented in poultry rations as a feed ingredient and nutritive supplement. A novel Clostridium fermentation solubles broth (MiruTyton), containing short-chain fatty acids, minerals, and amino acids, was supplemented in a standard corn/soybean meal–based ration at a rate of 750, 1,500, 3,000, and 6,000 mg/kg to achieve approximately 277, 554, 1,108, and 2,216 mg/kg of ammonium butyrate in the diet. After 6 wk, supplementation at all levels did not cause significant changes in the blood parameters or any live performance metric of mixed-sex Cobb-500 broilers (N = 1,920). In addition, administering 6,000 mg/kg of MiruTyton caused no significant lesions in any of the tissue examined except for an increase (P

The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy of celluTEIN (CT) to promote piglet growth after maternal supplementation. Sows (n = 20) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 0 (CON), 1,000 ppm (TRT1), 350 ppm (TRT2), or 100 ppm (TRT3) CT. Sows were fed treatment diets from 7 d prior to expected estrus through the estrus following farrowing. Piglets underwent a transitional weaning process, 48 piglets per treatment were randomly chosen and assigned to 8 pens (n = 8; initial body weight 8.16 ± 0.07 kg). Piglets were fed common stage specific diets. Body weight, feed conversion, ADG, and feed consumption were collected over the entire wean to finish phase for a 126-d trial period. There was no Treatment effect (P > 0.10) for 126-d feed consumption; however, there were Treatment effects for 126-d feed conversion, ADG, and body weight (BW; P < 0.01). All treatments differed in feed conversion with TRT1 being the smallest followed by TRT2, TRT3, and CON (P < 0.05). Pigs from TRT1 and TRT2 had greater ADG than CON and TRT3 pigs (P < 0.05), but were not different (P > 0.05) from each other. Pigs from TRT3 had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than CON pigs. At the conclusion of the 126-d trial TRT1 had a greater BW compared with CON and TRT3 pigs (P < 0.01), but were not different (P > 0.05) from TRT2 pigs. Pigs from TRT2 had greater (P > 0.05) BW than CON pigs, but did not differ (P > 0.10) from TRT3 pigs. Pigs from TRT3 did not differ (P > 0.10) in BW from CON pigs. These data illustrate piglets from CT supplemented sows grow faster and were more efficient during weaning to finishing.

Zinc, copper, manganese and iron are all important trace minerals necessary for optimum growth and performance. The use of organic trace minerals (SQM) provides additional assurances that those minerals do not bind with an antagonist and are actually delivered in a form that allows them to be absorbed and utilized by the pig. This study was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of organic trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese and iron) as a partial or complete replacement of inorganic minerals. Ninety-six weaned barrow pigs (60 lbs) were randomly assigned to one of three diets (Control = 100% inorganic; 50-SQM = 50% inorganic and 50% SQM; 100-SQM = 100% SQM trace minerals). Diets were formulated according to NRC specification. Body weights and feed consumption were measured on days 0, 7, 14, 39 and 60. Data were analyzed using GLM ANOVA NCSS, Utah, with mean differences determined using a protected F-test. There was no baby pig mortality experienced in this study. Pig weight gain compared to the Control was different (P < 0.01) by day 7 and carried through to the end of the study (60d: 59.2, 61.0 and 62.2 lbs, respectively). Feed consumption was initially different (P < 0.01) between the Control pigs and those receiving diets containing SQM trace minerals through the first 14 days. Feed efficiency was significantly improved (P < 0.05) by day 14 of the study between the 100% SQM supplemented diet and the Control diet. The pigs receiving any level of SQM trace minerals resulted in more efficient gains than those receiving the Control diet (60 d; 1.938, 1.887, and 1.855, respectively). Overall, this study indicates that the addition of all the supplemented trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese and iron) in the form of SQM provides a benefit in growth and efficiency during those first weeks after weaning.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetically engineered to enhance butanol production will be used in a manufacturing process similar to that of fuel ethanol production, including co-production of distillers products for animal feed. A poultry feeding trial was conducted with simulated isobutanol-derived dried distillers grains with solubles (bDDGS), comprising non-fermentable corn solids and heat-inactivated Butamax modified yeast (BMY), to determine potential health effects. Simulated dried distillers grains were produced in 2 variants: bDDGS containing 10% (B10) or 50% (B50) BMY. The BMY concentrations were selected based on a conservative estimate from ethanol-derived distillers grains (eDDGS) approximating 2.5 and 12-fold margins of exposure. The B10 and B50 DDGS were evaluated in a 42-day feeding trial using male Ross 708 broiler chickens fed diets containing eDDGS, B50 DDGS, or B10 DDGS without or with isobutanol, 2,3-butanediol, and isobutyric acid metabolites each at target concentrations of 2 (B10-2), 5 (B10-5), or 10 (B10-10) times the anticipated specification limit in the commercial product. Diets were fed (n = 50 broilers/treatment) in 3 phases: starter phase with 8% DDGS and grower and finisher phases each with 15% DDGS. No statistically significant differences or diet-related effects on mortality, clinical pathology, or organ weights, and no microscopic observations associated with consumption of diets containing B10, B50, or B10 supplemented with metabolites at any targeted exposure level were observed. A lower (P < 0.05) mean absolute bursa of Fabricius weight in the B10-10 group compared to the B10 group was considered to be within the range of biological variability. A non-significant trend toward lower weight, gains, and feed intake, and higher feed:gain ratio was observed in the B10-10 group, and was considered a non-adverse palatability effect of consuming high concentrations of metabolites. These results demonstrate that consumption of phase diets containing simulated DDGS from a novel isobutanol production process was well-tolerated.

We used a portable hyperspectral fluorescence imaging system to evaluate biofilm formations on four types of food processing surface materials including stainless steel, polypropylene used for cutting boards, and household counter top materials such as formica and granite. The objective of this investigation was to determine a minimal number of spectral bands suitable to differentiate microbial biofilm formation from the four background materials typically used during food processing. Ultimately, the resultant spectral information will be used in development of handheld portable imaging devices that can be used as visual aid tools for sanitation and safety inspection (microbial contamination) of the food processing surfaces. Pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella cells were grown in low strength M9 minimal medium on various surfaces at 22 ± 2 °C for 2 days for biofilm formation. Biofilm autofluorescence under UV excitation (320 to 400 nm) obtained by hyperspectral fluorescence imaging system showed broad emissions in the blue-green regions of the spectrum with emission maxima at approximately 480 nm for both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella biofilms. Fluorescence images at 480 nm revealed that for background materials with near-uniform fluorescence responses such as stainless steel and formica cutting board, regardless of the background intensity, biofilm formation can be distinguished. This suggested that a broad spectral band in the blue-green regions can be used for handheld imaging devices for sanitation inspection of stainless, cutting board, and formica surfaces. The non-uniform fluorescence responses of granite make distinctions between biofilm and background difficult. To further investigate potential detection of the biofilm formations on granite surfaces with multispectral approaches, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using the hyperspectral fluorescence image data. The resultant PCA score images revealed distinct contrast between biofilms and granite surfaces. This investigation demonstrated that biofilm formations on food processing surfaces, even for background materials with heterogeneous fluorescence responses, can be detected. Furthermore, a multispectral approach in developing handheld inspection devices may be needed to inspect surface materials that exhibit non-uniform fluorescence.

A low-tannin grain sorghum was processed and formulated into 20 diets used in 2 trials to determine nutritional value of the grain. Sixteen hundred and forty newly-hatched broiler chicks were used in the feed study. Processing variables of the grain included the addition of α-amylase, β-glucanase, an enzyme blend (pigase) containing amylases, proteinases and cellulases, the treatment of abraded grain with gibberellic acid (GA3) and reconstituted grain (high-moisture storage). Feed consumption for Trial 1 was significantly greater (P 0.05). Trial 2 for 21-day-old chicks showed that the pelleted corn diet produced significantly higher body weight and significantly more feed consumed (P

Two broiler chick experiments were conducted to evaluate four basal diets for iron bioassay suitability. The test basal diets, identified according to their principal ingredients and iron content, were: (1) starch-skim milk—15 p.p.m., (2) degerminated corn-skim milk—18 p.p.m., (3) degerminated corn-fish meal-isolated soy—45 p.p.m., and (4) degerminated corn-fish meal-dehulled soy—59 p.p.m. Significant differences between an iron source with known low availability (ferric oxide) and a highly available iron source (ferrous sulfate) were not detected with the degerminated corn-fish meal-isolated soy or the degerminated corn-fish meal-dehulled soy diets. Likewise, there were no significant differences found between supplemental iron levels, 10 and 20 p.p.m. The corn-skim milk and starch-skim milk diets were both found to be satisfactory for iron bioassays. However, the sample size needed to estimate the population mean was almost twice as great for the starch-skim milk fed groups than was needed for the corn-skim milk fed groups which indicates the corn-skim milk diet obtained greater sensitivity in testing iron sources and levels. Mortality was excessively high in the starch-skim milk fed group. Ferrous sulfate was superior to ferric oxide as a source of iron.

A total of 1110 broiler cockerels were used in three experiments to determine the availability of iron and copper from various sources. A skim milk basal diet was fed in each experiment using chicks maintained in battery brooders beginning at one day of age. Four organic iron compounds (sequestered iron A 1 and ferric choline chloride 2 in Experiment 1 and sequestered iron B and C 1 in Experiment 2), ferrous sulfate and ferric oxide were the test iron compounds used in Experiments 1 and 2. Added dietary iron levels furnished by the test compounds were 10 and 20 p.p.m. (Experiment 1) and 5 and 10 p.p.m. (Experiment 2). The test copper compounds fed in Experiment 3 were added to furnish 1 and 2 p.p.m. copper using cupric sulfate, cuprous oxide and cuprous iodide. No consistent differences in hemoglobin content, hematocrit (packed cell volume), chick weight and mortality were observed between ferrous sulfate and the four organic iron compounds; however, these compounds were significantly superior to ferric oxide. Hemoglobin content, hematocrit and liver copper content were significantly increased when cupric sulfate was fed as compared to results obtained with cuprous iodide or cuprous oxide. Increased chick weight gain and decreased mortality were observed with chicks fed cupric sulfate or cuprous iodide as compared to those fed cuprous oxide. Chick availability values for ferric oxide (71 and 82%) were approximately three-quarters that of ferrous sulfate. The organic sources of iron gave high availability values (91–131%), although ferric choline chloride was not as available to the chick as the sequestered iron compounds (93–131%) as determined by regression analysis method and relative biological availability. Cuprous iodide and cuprous oxide have essentially equal availability, but the availability of these copper sources is only three-quarters that of cupric sulfate.

Seven feed grade phosphates were assayed biologically using tibia bone ash as the response criterion. Phosphorus solubility in (1) 0.4% hydrochloric acid, (2) 2 % citric acid and (3) neutral ammonium citrate was determined for each sample. There was very little, if any, agreement between phosphorus solubility in the dilute acid solutions and bio-availability. Of the three experimental tests, solubility in 0.4% hydrochloric acid appeared to be the most promising for predicting bio-availability, but even with this method the agreement with bioassay results was poor.

Four experiments were conducted using a total of 1480 broiler strain cockerels to determine the effect of particle size and source of calcium on chick weight and tibia ash. The particle sizes of the test calcium sources obtained from oyster shell and limestone were defined as 6–8, 16–20, 40–50, 100–140, and 270–Pan on a passed-retained basis using the U.S.B.S. sieve series. Non-screened samples of oyster shell, limestone and a mined marine source were also tested. No consistent differences in growth rate and percent tibia ash were observed between oyster shell and limestone when the particle size of these supplements was equal. Increased weight gains were obtained with the medium and fine particle sizes (U.S.B.S. 16–Pan) as compared to the larger sizes (U.S.B.S. 6–8). Tibia ash was significantly increased when the particle size of the calcium supplement was medium (U.S.B.S. 40–50) as compared to the ash values obtained by feeding either the smallest (U.S.B.S. 270–Pan) or largest (U.S.B.S. 6–8) particle sizes. Screen analyses of commercial limestone, oyster shell and the mined marine calcium source revealed that the commercial oyster shell was a larger sized material than either limestone or the mined marine source tested in this study. Increased tibia ash was obtained by feeding the commercial oyster shell product which verifies the need for a medium particle size (16–50) in the chick’s diet. These data indicate calcium utilization by the chick is dependent upon the particle size of the calcium supplement. It appears desirable to use a medium to fine (U.S.B.S. 16–Pan) particle size calcium supplement in chick diets when considering both chick weight and percent tibia ash.

Three alternative architectures for an optical fiber to the home delivery system are analyzed: an all digital switched video and voice/data system; an analog broadcast video, digital voice/data system; and an analog switched video, digital voice/data system. These architectures are studied with respect to a potential application in a representative telephone serving area in terms of cost and technical feasibility. Four distribution topologies are considered. These are a one fiber star, a two fiber star, a ring, and a bus/star topology. The three architectures are integrated with the four distribution topologies to create five feasible fiber to the home models. Each model has been analyzed in terms of costs and practicality. The bus-star broadcast analog video, digital voice system is the least expensive alternative at present. However, it is not clear that this topology is a good choice for future growth. Issues such as privacy, reliability, and the potential lack of expandability of this architecture may mitigate this result.