본 연구는 과체중과 정상체중의 비글견 사이에서 미네랄 소화율의 차이를 평가하기 위해 수행되었다. 중성화 된 건강한 비글견 11마리(47.7개월령 ±0.14)의 Body condition score (BCS)를 기준으로 Normal BCS 그룹(BCS≤5, n=5)과 High BCS 그룹(BCS ≥6, n=6)의 두 그룹에 배치하였다. 시험사료는 반려견의 영양소 요구량을 충족하도록 제조하여 개체 별 에너지요구량에 맞춰 일일 2회에 나누어 14일 동안 급여하였다. 미네랄의 외관상 전장 소화율은 0.5% 산화크롬(Cr2O3)을 이용한 지시제법을 이용하여 평가되었다. 사료와 분변 내 Macro 미네랄(K, Mg, P, Na, Ca)과 Micro 미네랄(Se, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn)의 함량은 유도결합플라즈마 분광광도계를 이용하여 분석하였다. 체중과 BCS는 Normal BCS 그룹 보다 High BCS 그룹이 유의하게 높았으며(p<0.01), 시험기간 동안 두 그룹 내 각각의 체중과 BCS는 통계적으로 유의한 변화는 관찰되지 않았다(p>0.05). 미네랄 소화율을 평가한 결과, Macro 미네랄 중에서는 마그네슘, 인, 칼슘의 소화율이 High BCS 그룹에서 높은 경향으로 관찰되었으며(p<0.1), Micro 미네랄 중에서는 High BCS 그룹에서 망간의 소화율이 유의하게 높았고(p<0.05), 셀레늄과 아연의 소화율은 높은 경향(p<0.1)을 나타내었다. 또한, 통계적인 유의성과 관계없이 분석한 모든 미네랄 지표에서 High BCS 그룹이 Normal BCS 그룹보다 높은 소화율의 결과를 보여 주었다. 본 연구의 결과는 비글견에서 과체중 또는 비만이 미네랄 소화율의 변화를 유도할 잠재적 가능성을 보여주었다.

Diets different in crude protein (CP) and undegraded intake protein (UIP) contents were offered to sheep in a metabolism study to describe their effects on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen (N) metabolism. Six Corriedale sheep (body weight=56.2±2.3 kg) were divided in random within a Latin square design (replicated) to 1 of 3 diets: 1) a low-CP diet (LP; 12.2% CP with 35.1% UIP), 2) high CP with low UIP diet (HPLU; 14.9% CP with 33.7% UIP), and 3) high CP with high UIP diet (HPHU; 15.5% CP with 45.8% UIP). High-protein dried distillers grain and soybean meal were the main CP sources for the adjustment of UIP:DIP in the diets. No significant differences were found in feed consumption and nutrient digestibility; however, a greater proportion of CP was digested in sheep fed the HPLU diet (69.4%; P=0.04). Although N intake was greater in sheep receiving HPLU and HPHU diets, loss of N through fecal or urinary route was not different among sheep, which resulted in the highest (12.7 g/d) and lowest N retention (7.40 g/d) in HPHU- and LP-fed sheep, respectively. In conclusion, although CP or UIP content had marginal effects on feed consumption and whole-tract digestibility of the majority of nutrients, with the increased CP and UIP levels in the diet, the efficiency of N utilization was improved with regard to increased N retention with minimal differences in N excretion, which is important from an economic and environmental standpoint.

We inoculated a spent mushroom substrate from Flammulina velutipes (SMSF) with a microbial additive and assessed the effects on chemical composition, ruminal fermentation parameters, and total-tract nutrient digestibility. In Exp. 1, three cannulated Hanwoo steers were used in an in situ trial to determine the degradation kinetics of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). In Exp. 2, three Hanwoo steers were randomly assigned to experimental diets according to a 3 × 3 Latin square for a 3-week period (2 weeks for adaptation and 1 week for sample collection). Experimental diets included the control diet (3.75 kg/d formulated concentrate mixture + 1.25 kg/d rice straw), SMSF diet (3.19 kg/d formulated concentrate mixture + 1.25 kg/d rice straw + 0.56 kg/d SMSF), and inoculated SMSF (ISMSF) diet (3.19 kg/d formulated concentrate mixture + 1.25 kg/d rice straw + 0.56 kg/d ISMSF). The chemical composition of ISMSF did not differ from that of SMSF. Microbial additive inoculation decreased pH (P<0.05) and improved preservation for SMSF. The percentages of DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in ISMSF were slightly lesser than those in SMSF. Ruminal fermentation characteristics and total-tract nutrient digestibility were not affected by diet. Overall, microbial additive inoculation improved preservation for SMSF and may allow improved digestion in the rumen; however, the total digestible nutrients (TDN) of SMSF and ISMSF diets were slightly lesser than the control diet. The ISMSF can be used as an alternative feedstuff to partially replace formulated concentrate feed.