Development of non-destructive methods for the assessment of authenticity of sports whey protein supplements

In the category of sports supplements, whey protein powder is one of the popular supplements for muscle building applications. Therefore, verification of the sport supplements as authentic products has become a universal concern. This work aimed to propose vibrational spectroscopy including near infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) as rapid and non-destructive testing tools for the detection and quantification of maltodextrin, milk powder and milk whey powder in whey protein supplements. Initially, principal component analysis was applied to data for pattern recognition and the results displayed a fine pattern of discrimination. Partial least square discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) and K-nearest neighbours (KNN) were exploited as supervised method modelling classification. This process was done in order to respond to two vital questions whether the sample is adulterated or not and what is the kind of adulteration. PLS-DA showed better classification results rather than KNN according to the figure of merits of the model. Partial least square regression (PLSR) was employed on pre-treated spectra to quantify the amount of adulteration in sport whey supplements. Eventually, it seems vibrational spectroscopy could be implemented as a simple, and low-cost analysis method for the detection and quantification of mentioned adulterants in whey protein supplements.

Hybrid method for accurate starch estimation in adulterated turmeric using Vis-NIR spectroscopy

Turmeric is widely used as a health supplement and foodstuff in South East Asian countries because of its medicinal benefits. Like several other plants and peppers, turmeric is prone to exploitation because of its economic value, rising consumer need, and essential food element that adds colour and flavour. Due to this, quick and comprehensive testing processes are needed to detect adulterants in turmeric. In this study, pure turmeric powders were mixed with starch in proportions ranging from 0 to 50% with a 1% variation to obtain different combinations. Reflectance spectra of pure turmeric and starch mixed samples were recorded using a JASCO-V770 spectrometer from 400 to 2050 nm. The recorded spectra were pre-processed using a Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC) and Standard Normal Variate (SNV). The Savitzky-Golay (SG) filter was initially applied to these original (X), MSC, and SNV-corrected spectra. Secondly, the Extra Tree Regressor (ETR) feature selection method was employed to select the best features. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimension of the selected features. The stacked generalization method was applied to improve the performance of this work. Both regressors and classifier stacking techniques have been tested with different classification and regression methods. The K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), and Random Forest (RF) models were used as base learners, and Logistic Regression (LRC) was used as a meta-model for classification and Linear Regression (LR) for regression analysis. The proposed method achieved the best regression performance with r2 of 0.999, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.206, Ratio of Performance to Deviation (RPD) of 73.73, and Range Error Ratio (RER) of 480.58, whereas 100% F1 score and Matthew's Correlation Coefficient (MCC) classification performance.

A new model of two-sown regime for oat forage production in an alpine region of northern China

Demand for high forage production and quality has been increased markedly by development of animal husbandry in China. The lack of efficient planting regimes and key technologies greatly limits production of high-quality forage. Oat has become an important forage in animal husbandry in China due to its high nutritional value and forage yield as well as its great adaptation to harsh environment. To maximize oat forage production in an alpine region, we developed a new model of oat forage production known as two-sown regime, i.e., the first spring-sown and the second summer-sown, during a single growing season in an alpine region of Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, using two early-matured oat species, Avena sativa (cv. Qinghai444, winner oat cultivar) and A. nuda (cv. Huazao2, spring oat cultivar). The key technologies and the underlying agronomic mechanisms were investigated across three experimental years of 2017-2019. The main results were as follows: (1) dry weight yield, crude protein yield, and relative feed value of forage in the two-sown regime were significantly increased by 53.6%, 48.9%, and 70.6% relative to traditional one-sown regime across the 3 years, respectively; (2) forage production was mainly achieved by an increase in plant height at the first spring-sown; and (3) forage yield resulted mainly from an increase in tiller density by increasing seeding rate under no-tillage treatment in the second summer-sown. The key technologies of the two-sown regime were the first spring-sown at the soil thawing depth 10-13 cm, followed by the second summer-sown with increasing seeding rate under no-tillage treatment. These findings highlight that the two-sown regime of oat forage can be widely used as an effective planting regime to maximize forage production in large alpine regions of northern China as well as in regions with similar climates.

Agronomic and economical characterizations of a two-harvest regime for oat forage in cold regions of Northern China

The natural grasslands in northern China have been seriously degraded due mainly to overgrazing and climate change in recent decades, leading to shortage of forage supply to animal husbandry. To maximize forage production, we developed a two-harvest regime of oat forage by sowing in spring in an alpine region of Hulun Buir, northern China, using two oat early maturation species. The agronomic characteristics and forage quality of the two-harvest regime were evaluated across three constructive years from 2017 to 2019. Compared to the traditional one-harvest regime, the production, resource use efficiency, and economic benefits were compared and quantified for both oat species across the 3 years. Dry weight forage by the two-harvest regime was increased by 17.5-18.5%, while crude protein was increased by 25.1-30.0%. Growing days by the two-harvest regime was increased by 36.7% on average, nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency was enhanced by 25.1-30.0%, while water use efficiency was not significantly changed. The two-harvest regime also increased the net profit by 28.0%. Taken together, our results reveal that the two-harvest regime of forage production in the cold region of northern China is a promising practice with high forage yield, nutritional value, and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency as well as economic profit.

Measurements of Chemical Compositions in Corn Stover and Wheat Straw by Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Simple Summary

Rapid and non-destructive methods play an important role in assessing forage quality. This study is aimed at establishing a calibration model that predicts the moisture, CP, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose of corn stover and wheat straw by NIRS. In addition, we also intended to compared the predictive accuracy of combined calibration models to the individual models of chemical compositions for corn stover and wheat straw by NIRS. We show that accurately combining calibrated models would be useful for a broad range of end users. Furthermore, the accuracy of the calibration models was improved by increasing the sample numbers (the range of variability) of different straw species.

Abstract

Rapid, non-destructive methods for determining the biochemical composition of straw are crucial in ruminant diets. In this work, ground samples of corn stover (n = 156) and wheat straw (n = 135) were scanned using near-infrared spectroscopy (instrument NIRS DS2500). Samples were divided into two sets, with one set used for calibration (corn stover, n = 126; wheat straw, n = 108) and the remaining set used for validation (corn stover, n = 30; wheat straw, n = 27). Calibration models were developed utilizing modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression with internal cross validation. Concentrations of moisture, crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were successfully predicted in corn stover, and CP and moisture were in wheat straw, but other nutritional components were not predicted accurately when using single-crop samples. All samples were then combined to form new calibration (n = 233) and validation (n = 58) sets comprised of both corn stover and wheat straw. For these combined samples, the CP, NDF, and ADF were predicted successfully; the coefficients of determination for calibration (RSQ_C) were 0.9625, 0.8349, and 0.8745, with ratios of prediction to deviation (RPD) of 6.872, 2.210, and 2.751, respectively. The acid detergent lignin (ADL) and moisture were classified as moderately useful, with RSQ_C values of 0.7939 (RPD = 2.259) and 0.8342 (RPD = 1.868), respectively. Although the prediction of hemicellulose was only useful for screening purposes (RSQ_C = 0.4388, RPD = 1.085), it was concluded that NIRS is a suitable technique to rapidly evaluate the nutritional value of forage crops.

Effects of oral administration of timothy hay and psyllium on the growth performance and fecal microbiota of preweaning calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of fiber from the first week of life on the growth and hindgut environment of preweaning calves. Twenty newborn female Holstein calves were divided into 2 groups as control and treatment. Calves in both groups were reared under the same feeding program except for oral fiber administration. Timothy hay and psyllium were mixed at a 50-to-6 ratio as a treatment diet for oral fiber administration. Calves in the treatment group were orally administered 50 g of fiber daily from 3 to 7 d of age and 100 g of fiber from 8 d of age until weaning. Feed intake and occurrence of diarrhea were recorded daily, and body weight (BW) was recorded weekly for the individual calf. Fresh feces were collected from calves at 7, 21, 35, 49, and 56 d of age to analyze fermentation parameters and microbiota to characterize the hindgut environment. Higher fiber intake in the treatment group due to oral administration of timothy and psyllium did not affect the starter intake and achieved higher BW at 21 d of age. The fecal pH, total volatile fatty acid, lactate, and ammonia nitrogen concentrations were not affected by oral fiber administration; meanwhile, the molar proportion of propionate was higher in the treatment group at 7 d of age. The difference in fecal microbiota in the calves subjected to the oral administration of fiber was observed within 21 d of life; Lactobacillus spp. and Prevotella spp. showed higher abundance, whereas that of Clostridium perfringens was decreased. These higher abundances of beneficial bacteria and lower abundance of pathogenic bacteria during early life may partly explain the higher BW of calves in the treatment group at 21 d of age. Furthermore, no adverse effect was observed for the BW and health status in the treatment group throughout the preweaning period. Therefore, early fiber feeding via oral administration potentially contributes to improving the hindgut environment in newborn calves, which leads to better growth of calves during the early stage of life.

Modified specific gravity method for estimation of starch content and dry matter in cassava

An empirical model for the estimation of starch content (SC) and dry matter (DM) in cassava tubers was developed as an alternative method to polarimetry and dry oven. These improved estimation equations were developed based on the specific gravity (SG) method. To improve accuracy, the one hundred-seventy-four sample were obtained from four commercial varieties of cassava in Thailand including KU50, CMR38-125-77, RY9 and RY11, respectively. The age of sample collected from four to twelve months after planting was used in this experiment. The empirical model was created from their relationships between SG obtained from small sample size (~100 g) and its SC and DM. The SG for cassava was strongly correlated with the SC and DM, with values for the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.81 and 0.83, respectively. The SC showed a high correlation with the DM, with R² of 0.96. To confirm that the empirical model was effective when applied to other samples, unknown samples collected from another area were tested, and the results showed a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 1.02%FW and 3.49%, mean different (MD) of -0.66%FW, -0.89% for the SC and DM, respectively. Hence, our empirical equation based on a modified SG method could be used to estimate the SC and DM in cassava tubers. It can help breeders to reduce costs and time requirements. Moreover, breeders could be used the methods to evaluate the SC and DM from the tuber formation to harvesting stage and monitoring the changes in SC and DM during breeding.

In vitro digestibility of mountain-grown irrigated perennial legume, grass and forb forages is influenced by elevated non-fibrous carbohydrates and plant secondary compounds

BACKGROUND

Perennial legumes cultivated under irrigation in the Mountain West USA have non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) concentrations exceeding 400 g kg^-1 , a level commonly found in concentrate-based ruminant diets. Our objective was to determine the influence of NFC concentration and plant secondary compounds on in vitro rumen digestion of grass, legume and forb forages compared with digestion of their isolated neutral detergent fiber (NDF) fraction. Forages were composited from ungrazed paddocks of rotationally stocked, irrigated monoculture pastures between May and August 2016, frozen in the field, freeze-dried, and ground.

RESULTS

The maximum rate (R_Max ) of gas production was greater for the legumes alfalfa (ALF; Medicago sativa L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (BFT; Lotus corniculatus L.) than for the legume cicer milkvetch (CMV; Astragalus cicer L.) the grass meadow brome (MBG; Bromus riparius Rehm.) and the non-legume forb small burnet (SMB; Sanguisorba minor Scop.), and intermediate for the legume sainfoin (SNF; Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.). The R_Max of isolated NDF was greatest for BFT and CMV, intermediate for ALF, SNF and SMB and least for MBG.

CONCLUSIONS

More than 900 g of organic matter kg^-1 dry matter of legumes was digested after 96 h. Across forages, the extent of whole-plant digestion increased with NFC and crude protein concentrations, decreased with NDF concentrations, and was modulated by secondary compounds. The extent of digestion of isolated NDF decreased with concentration of lignin and residual tannins. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Dual-Purpose Model for Spring-Sown Oats in Cold Regions of Northern China

Alpine regions in northern China are the traditional animal husbandry base. The lack of high-quality forage supply resulting from degradation of natural grasslands and low forage production due to short growing seasons greatly restricts development of animal husbandry in these areas. Spring oats have been widely planted in cold regions worldwide harvesting as either grains or forages because of their great adaptative ability to low temperatures and early maturation and high nutritional values. To maximize forage and grain production, we developed a dual-purpose model for spring-sown oats in the cold regions of northeastern China using two oat species, Avena nuda L. (cv. Bayou6) and Avena. sativa L. (cv. Qinghai444). Growth, forage production and quality, grain yield, and re-growth ability of the two oats were investigated in field trials and field demonstration. Maximal dry weight was found to occur at 70 days of emergence for both oats with higher forage production and crude protein (CP) in Bayou6 than Qinghai444 oat species. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of the two oats increased with time during the early vegetative growing stage, while the relative feed value showed a decrease during vegetative growing stage. The re-growth ability following cutting for the two oats reduced with increasing growth times during vegetative stage. Plant height, tiller density, CP and NDF contents of re-growing seedlings harvested at 30–40 days of emergence did not significantly differ from those of un-cutting control. The overall cumulative dry weight of biomass following cutting at 30 days of emergence was significantly higher than that of control without cutting in both oat species. Seed yield from plots cut at 30 days of emergence for both oat species was insignificantly different from that of control plots. Harvesting of spring-sown oats at 30 days of emergence enhanced forage production, but it did not influence seed yield. Results from 2-year field demonstration confirmed these conclusions. These findings highlight that this dual-purpose oat management model can have great applications in the cold regions of China.

Sows' preferences for different forage mixtures offered as fresh or dry forage in relation to botanical and chemical composition

Providing forage to feed-restricted pregnant sows may improve their welfare by reducing their high feeding motivation. The aim of this study was to determine sows' preferences for four forage mixtures cultivated in Canada. Forage mixtures were compared when offered either fresh or dry. The four forage mixtures were composed of different proportions and species of legumes (alfalfa (Alf) or red clover (Clo)) and grasses (tall fescue (F) and/or timothy (T)): (1) Alf-F, (2) Alf-F-T, (3) Clo-T and (4) Clo-F-T. Voluntary intake was measured, and preference tests were carried out for two experiments: one in spring for fresh forages ( n = 8) and the other in autumn for hays ( n = 8) with different sows housed in individual pens and fed a concentrated diet meeting their nutritional requirements for maintenance and foetal growth. Voluntary intake was measured by offering each forage mixture separately (one forage mixture/day) during 90 min according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design replicated four times. During preference tests, all six combinations of two forage mixtures were offered once (one combination/day) for 45 min to each sow. Individual forage intake was measured, and feeding behaviour was observed. Forages were analysed for botanical and chemical composition. Difference in voluntary intake among the four forage mixtures was determined using a variance analysis followed by Tukey tests for post hoc comparisons. In preference tests, differences between the two forage mixtures offered were determined using a paired Student's t test, and the most ingested forage mixture was considered the preferred one. Results from both experiments revealed clear preferences for some forage mixtures when offered either fresh or dry. Forage mixtures with a greater proportion of legumes (AlfT and CloT) were preferred over forage mixtures with a higher proportion of grasses (AlfFT and CloFT). The AlfFT and CloFT forage mixtures contained at least 30% of fescue; therefore, the greater preference for the AlfT and CloT forage mixtures could also be due to the absence of fescue. Sows preferred forages with low DM and NDF concentrations and high CP and non-structural carbohydrates concentrations. Based on results from previous studies, the preferences seen in the present study are most likely due to the greater proportion of legumes, although an effect of tall fescue in preference cannot be excluded. Therefore, offering forages with a high proportion of legumes would be a good strategy to maximise both fresh and dry forage intake in pregnant sows.

The Use of Gene Modification and Advanced Molecular Structure Analyses towards Improving Alfalfa Forage

Alfalfa is one of the most important legume forage crops in the world. In spite of its agronomic and nutritive advantages, alfalfa has some limitations in the usage of pasture forage and hay supplement. High rapid degradation of protein in alfalfa poses a risk of rumen bloat to ruminants which could cause huge economic losses for farmers. Coupled with the relatively high lignin content, which impedes the degradation of carbohydrate in rumen, alfalfa has unbalanced and asynchronous degradation ratio of nitrogen to carbohydrate (N/CHO) in rumen. Genetic engineering approaches have been used to manipulate the expression of genes involved in important metabolic pathways for the purpose of improving the nutritive value, forage yield, and the ability to resist abiotic stress. Such gene modification could bring molecular structural changes in alfalfa that are detectable by advanced structural analytical techniques. These structural analyses have been employed in assessing alfalfa forage characteristics, allowing for rapid, convenient and cost-effective analysis of alfalfa forage quality. In this article, we review two major obstacles facing alfalfa utilization, namely poor protein utilization and relatively high lignin content, and highlight genetic studies that were performed to overcome these drawbacks, as well as to introduce other improvements to alfalfa quality. We also review the use of advanced molecular structural analysis in the assessment of alfalfa forage for its potential usage in quality selection in alfalfa breeding.

Predicting timothy mineral concentrations, dietary cation-anion difference, and grass tetany index by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The mineral concentration of forage grasses plays a significant role in 2 metabolic disorders in dairy cattle production, namely, hypocalcemia (milk fever) and hypomagnesemia (grass tetany). Risks of occurrence of these 2 metabolic disorders can be evaluated by determining the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) and the grass tetany (GT) index of forages and specific rations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of predicting timothy (Phleum pratense L.) mineral concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, S, and P, the DCAD, and the GT index by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Timothy samples (n = 1,108) were scanned using NIRS and analyzed for the concentration of 7 mineral elements. Calculations of the DCAD were made using 3 different formulas, and the GT index was also calculated. Samples were divided into calibration (n = 240) and validation (n = 868) sets. The calibration, cross-validation, and prediction for mineral concentrations, the DCAD, and the GT index were performed using modified partial least squares regression. Concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Cl, and P were successfully predicted with coefficients of determination of prediction (R(P)2) of 0.69 to 0.92 and coefficients of variation of prediction (CV(P)) ranging from 6.6 to 11.4%. The prediction of Na and S concentrations failed, with respective R(P)2 of 0.58 and 0.53 and CV(P) of 82.2 and 12.9%. The 3 calculated DCAD and the GT index were predicted successfully, with R(P)2 >0.90 and CV(P) <20%. Our results confirm the feasibility of using NIRS to predict K, Ca, Mg, and Cl concentrations, as well as the DCAD and the GT index, in timothy.