There is an increasing interest in low-input, multispecies swards as a sustainable forage for ruminant production, but the impact of grazing these over extended periods of time on meat nutritional quality (fatty acid (FA) profile, trace minerals and oxidisability risk) and sensory properties is unclear. Thirty lambs were grazed for 133 days on either a perennial ryegrass (PRG) or botanically diverse (containing twelve plant species, BD), pasture. The effects on the FA composition of musculus longissimus thoracis (lean and subcutaneous fat), zinc and iron content (lean), glutathione perioxidase (GSH-Px) activity (lean and plasma) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content (lean) were determined, and cooked meat was assessed for sensory properties using a trained sensory panel. BD lambs were lighter (P = 0.014) and had a lower weekly live weight gain (P = 0.017) than PRG, which was probably due to the nutritional quality of the pasture. BD pasture increased (P < 0.05) 18:2 n-6 content in lean and subcutaneous fat, and there was no effect (P > 0.05) on other polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), GSH-Px activity or TBARS content. BD pasture increased (P = 0.038) lean tissue zinc content compared with PRG but did not affect iron (P > 0.05). Pasture type had no impact (P > 0.05) on meat aroma and flavour sensory properties. It was concluded that grazing BD for an extended period did not negatively affect the nutritional and eating quality of lamb meat compared with PRG, and as such is suitable for finishing lambs. In order to benefit economically from including a BD pasture in a lamb finishing system, producers may need to consider an earlier slaughter target weight, depending on live weight gain.

BACKGROUND:Wheat distillers' grains (WDG) and seaweeds are recommended as alternative protein sources and enteric methane mitigators in dairy cow diets, respectively, but little is known about their impact on milk quality and safety. In the present study, 16 cows in four 4 × 4 Latin squares were fed isonitrogenous diets (50:50 forage:concentrate ratio), with rapeseed meal (RSM)-based or WDG-based concentrate (230 and 205 g kg-1 dry matter) and supplemented with or without Saccharina latissima. RESULTS:Replacement of RSM with WDG enhanced milk nutritional profile by decreasing milk atherogenicity (P = 0.002) and thrombogenicity (P = 0.019) indices and the concentrations of the nutritionally undesirable saturated fatty acids - specifically, lauric (P = 0.045), myristic (P = 0.022) and palmitic (P = 0.007) acids. It also increased milk concentrations of the nutritionally beneficial vaccenic (P < 0.001), oleic (P = 0.030), linoleic (P < 0.001), rumenic (P < 0.001) and α-linolenic (P = 0.012) acids, and total monounsaturated (P = 0.044), polyunsaturated (P < 0.001) and n-6 (P < 0.001) fatty acids. Feeding Saccharina latissima at 35.7 g per cow per day did not affect the nutritionally relevant milk fatty acids or pose any risk on milk safety, as bromoform concentrations in milk were negligible and unaffected by the dietary treatments. However, it slightly reduced milk concentrations of pantothenate. CONCLUSION:Feeding WDG to dairy cows improved milk fatty acid profiles, by increasing the concentrations of nutritionally beneficial fatty acids and reducing the concentration of nutritionally undesirable saturated fatty acids, while feeding seaweed slightly reduced pantothenate concentrations. However, when considering the current average milk intakes in the population, the milk compositional differences between treatments in this study appear relatively small to have an effect on human health. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows in four blocks of 4 x 4 Latin square over 4-week experimental periods were used to study the effects of seaweed (Saccharina latissima) supplement (with/without) and protein source (rapeseed meal (RSM)/wheat distiller's grain (WDG)) on milk mineral concentrations. Dietary treatments did not affect milk production and basic composition. Feeding seaweed slightly decreased milk Ca and Cu concentrations; whilst increased (by 3.3-fold) milk iodine (I) concentration, due to a higher dietary I supply. Substitution of WDG with RSM increased feed-to-milk transfer of Ca, Na, and Se and decreased that of Mg, P, Fe, and Mn; but only reduced milk Mn and I concentrations (the latter by 27 % as a potential result of increased glucosinolate intake). Seaweed supplement can improve milk I content when cows' I supply/availability is limited, but care should be taken to avoid excess milk I contents that may pose nutritional risks for young children.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of inclusion of whole grain wheat by a free choice method in the diet of turkey poults on bird performance, caecal health and foot pad dermatitis. A total of 192, four week old, as hatched, commercial line turkeys. Birds were blocked by live weight and then randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments or whole grain wheat with starter pellet control (CON) treatment. Turkeys were offered their respective treatments for the duration of the study. Feed offered and refused and body weights were determined weekly. Turkeys were fed whole grain wheat (WGW) as free choice, it was observed that intake of WGW was much more variable in birds offered free choice WGW, although mean intake of WGW was greater. Bird performance was better if WGW was not fed. The weight of the (crop, gizzard, liver, pancreas and caecum) were not effect by treatment. Digesta pH was affected by treatment (P=0.045) gizzard digesta pH being lower when birds were offered WGW at 28-48 d old. Cecal content pH, cecal visual appearance scores, cecal content visual appearance scores, foot pad dermatitis were not affected by the WGW to the diet.

Impoverished housing environments are thought to prevent motivated behaviors and may result in frustration. We first aimed to investigate an effective physical enrichment protocol to improve dairy calves' welfare and initially determine their use of various items. Thereafter, we aimed to determine dairy calves' preference for and ways of interacting with various items, and whether this was influenced by social housing. In experiment 1, at 21 ± 3 d of age, 27 individually housed calves were assigned alternately into 1 of 3 treatments: control (CON, no additional items), rotating enrichment (RE, one item each week on a rotating presentation schedule), and fixed enrichment (FE, 4 types of item at the same time). The items were stationary brushes, ropes, springs, nets filled with strawberry-scented hay, and dry teats. Calves' behaviors were observed from 4 to 7 wk of age using focal observations after feeding, followed by instantaneous scan sampling. Their behavioral responses to a novel object were assessed at 43 ± 1 d of age. In the instantaneous scans, calves in FE tended to interact with items more often than calves in RE. Calves in RE and FE expressed less non-nutritive oral behavior than those in CON. Latency to touch novel objects did not differ significantly between treatments. Calves in RE and FE interacted with nets filled with strawberry-scented hay more often than with other items in instantaneous scans. In experiment 2, 24 calves were assigned alternately into 8 individual pens and 8 pair pens at 2 d of age. All pens were provided with a stationary brush, plastic chain, net filled with strawberry-scented hay, and dry teat. Calves' behaviors were collected from 2 to 5 wk of age using instantaneous scan sampling. Calves interacted with nets filled with strawberry-scented hay more often than with other items. Pair housing reduced calves' interactions with items compared with individual housing. Individually and pair-housed calves' frequencies of overall interaction with items varied with time of day, with frequencies increasing to peaks at 0700, 1500, and 1900 h. Calves showed scratching, sniffing, sucking, butting, and hay intake toward nets filled with strawberry-scented hay and showed the first 3 behaviors toward stationary brushes, plastic chains, and dry teats. In conclusion, dairy calves are likely to prefer a fixed multi-item enrichment presentation schedule over a rotating schedule with a single enrichment item presented at one time. For the fixed multi-item enrichment presentation schedule, items were used more in individual pens than in pair pens, and a diurnal pattern was observed for use of the items. Nets filled with scented hay might be the most multifunctional and attractive item of the items tested.

Housing unweaned calves individually in barren environments negatively affects their growth, cognitive ability, and adaptability to environmental changes in later life. Social housing has been shown to improve those aspects, whereas physical environmental enrichment has rarely been studied in calves. Little is known about whether the combination of both components offers further benefits. Furthermore, curiosity has been considered an intrinsic factor underpinning cognitive performance, which has yet to be determined in calves. The first objective was to compare the effects of providing physical enrichment items and pair housing calves before weaning, and their combination on the weight gain, behaviour and cognitive ability of calves once regrouped after weaning. The second objective was to investigate if calves' exploratory behaviour in a novel environment can predict their cognitive ability. Forty-eight Holstein calves were allocated to eight groups 2 days after birth. Within each group, two calves were assigned to individual pens and four to two pair pens. One individual pen and one pair pen within each group were provided with brushes, chains, teats, and nets filled with strawberry-scented hay as physical enrichment items. Remaining pens received no additional enrichment items. All calves from a group were introduced to one post-weaning pen when the youngest calf was 9 weeks of age. Calves were weighed on days 1 and 7 in post-weaning pens. They were video-recorded on days 1, 3 and 11 and behavioural data were collected. Spontaneous object recognition tests were conducted within one week after behavioural data collec-tion to assess cognitive ability in terms of how long after exposure calves recognised objects, indicated by dif-ferential expression of exploratory behaviour. Physical enrichment items and pair housing had interactions on average daily gain (F1,33 = 5.460, p = 0.026), with calves in physically enriched pair pens showing higher average daily gain than those in non-enriched pair pens and tending to show higher average daily gains than those in physically enriched individual pens. Physically enriched calves expressed more exploratory behaviour and social sniffing than non-enriched calves (F1,111 = 20.691, p < 0.001; F1,111 =14.433, p < 0.001). Pair housed calves spent more time cross-sucking than individually housed calves (F1,111 = 8.848, p = 0.008). Compared with non-enriched calves, physically enriched calves were more inclined to explore the novel object than the object already presented 15-min ago (chi 2 = 3.282, df = 1, p = 0.070). There was no association between exploratory behaviour upon initial introduction to post-weaning pens and performance in object recognition tests. In conclusion, the combination of physical enrichment and pair housing improves calves' average daily gain after weaning when compared with either component alone. Physical enrichment seemed to improve calves' memory and adaptability to change, whilst pair housing did not. Calves' exploratory behaviour in novel environments may not contribute to their cognitive performance.

Thirty conventional and twenty-four organic dairy farms were divided into equal numbers within system groups: high-pasture, standard-pasture, and low-pasture groups. Milk samples were collected monthly for 12 consecutive months. Milk from high-pasture organic farms contained less fat and protein than standard- and low-pasture organic farms, but more lactose than low-pasture organic farms. Grazing, concentrate feed intake and the contribution of non-Holstein breeds were the key drivers for these changes. Milk Ca and P concentrations were lower in standard-pasture conventional farms than the other conventional groups. Milk from low-pasture organic farms contained less Ca than high- and standard-pasture organic farms, while high-pasture organic farms produced milk with the highest Sn concentration. Differences in mineral concentrations were driven by the contribution of non-Holstein breeds, feeding practices, and grazing activity; but due to their relatively low numerical differences between groups, the subsequent impact on consumers’ dietary mineral intakes would be minor.

This study investigated the effect of seaweed supplementation in dairy cow diets on milk yield, basic composition, and mineral concentrations. Thirty-seven Icelandic cows were split into three diet treatments: control (CON, no seaweed), low seaweed (LSW, 0.75% concentrate dry matter (DM), 13–40 g/cow/day), and high seaweed (HSW, 1.5% concentrate DM, 26–158 g/cow/day). Cows were fed the same basal diet of grass silage and concentrate for a week, and then were introduced to the assigned experimental diets for 6 weeks. The seaweed mix of 91% Ascophyllum nodosum: 9% Laminaria digitata (DM basis), feed, and milk samples were collected weekly. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model, with diet, week, and their interaction as fixed factors, cow ID as random factor, and the pre-treatment week data as a covariate. When compared with CON milk, LSW and HSW milk had, respectively, less Se (−1.4 and −3.1 μg/kg milk) and more I (+744 and +1649 μg/kg milk), while HSW milk also had less Cu (−11.6 μg/kg milk) and more As (+0.17 μg/kg milk) than CON milk. The minimal changes or concentrations in milk for Se, Cu, and As cannot be associated with any effects on consumer nutrition, but care should be taken when I-rich seaweed is fed to cows to avoid excessive animal I supply and milk I concentrations.

To study the effects of dairy production system on milk macromineral and trace element concentrations, milk samples were collected monthly in 2019 from 43 conventional and 27 organic farms. Organic milk contained more Ca (1049.5 vs. 995.8 mg/kg), K (1383.6 vs. 1362.4 mg/kg), P (806.5 vs. 792.5 mg/kg) and Mo (73.3 vs. 60.6 μg/kg) but less Cu (52.4 vs. 60.6 μg/kg), Fe (0.66 vs 2.03 mg/kg), Mn (28.8 vs. 45.0 μg/kg), Zn (4.51 vs. 5.00 mg/kg) and Al (0.32 vs. 1.14 μg/kg) than conventional milk. Significant seasonal variation was observed in all determined minerals' concentrations. Milk I concentration was not consistently affected by production system, whereas organic milk contained less I in June and July than conventional milk. Dietary factors contributing to different milk mineral concentrations between production systems included intakes of maize silage, dry-straights and oils (higher in conventional diets), and pasture, clover and wholecrop (higher in organic diets).

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of a yeast (Candida famata) and a bacterium (Lactobacillus plantarum), administered alone or in combination in the drinking water, on the population of yeast, Lactobacillus sp. and coliforms, and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from digesta samples taken throughout the life of broiler chickens. Male (Ross 308) day-old chicks (220) were used. C. famata (isolated from a chicken) and L. plantarum (isolated from a pig) were administered via the drinking water. Water was provided either untreated or with C. famata (CF; 108/ml), L. plantarum (LP; 105–108/ml), or a combination of CF and LP (106–108/ml) in water hoppers on 2 days each week for 35 days. Administering probiotics did not affect the growth performance in broiler chickens. No significant interactions were observed between main effects, and neither CF nor LP had any effect on the population size of Lactobacillus sp. or coliforms. The administration of C. famata increased the population density of yeasts in the small intestine at these ages. The population density of coliforms, Lactobacillus sp. and yeast decreased with age (P < 0.001). There was no significant effect of probiotics on the prevalence of phenotypic AMR and virulence genes in these studies. The prevalence of E. coli that was resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline, as well as carrying ≥3 virulence-associated genes, was greatest at the end of the starter phase (around 8 days old), before declining through the grower and finisher phases. There was only limited evidence that administering either CF or LP affected either the AMR or the virulence of E. coli in the bird. However, tetracycline resistance in E. coli was associated (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05) with the carriage of the iron uptake systems of E. coli D, iron-repressible protein, increased serum survival and temperature-sensitive haemagglutinin genes respectively, suggesting that the accumulation of iron and the genetic element conferring tetracycline resistance may be intertwined.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of social housing, the provision of physical enrichment, and the interaction between the two on calf growth, behaviour and fearfulness. Forty-eight calves were randomly allocated to either individual (IP, sixteen calves) or pair (PP, thirty-two calves) pens from 2 days to 8 weeks of age. Half of the calves in each housing treatment were provided with physical enrichment items (stationary brushes, plastic chains, rubber teats and haynets filled with strawberry-scented hay; PE). The remaining calves received no physical enrichment items (NPE). Concentrate consumption within each pen was measured daily and calves were weighed at birth and weekly thereafter. Concentrate feeding efficiency was then calculated by the ratio between average daily gain within each pen and daily concentrate consumption within each pen. When calves were 2?5 weeks of age, they were recorded by a camera between 06:00 h and 20:00 h twice weekly, and behavioural data were collected using instantaneous scan sampling at 5-min intervals. Their behavioural responses to a novel environment and a novel object were then assessed once each at 5 or 6 weeks of age. PE calves tended to have greater average daily gains than NPE calves (mean ? IQR; 610.6 ? 151.8 g/d vs. 568.8 ? 77.1 g/ d; p = 0.095). PE calves spent more time consuming hay than NPE calves. Among calves in IP pens, PE calves consumed less concentrate but had better concentrate feeding efficiency than NPE calves. For home pen behaviours, PE calves showed less frequent non-nutritive sucking than NPE calves (0.802 ? 0.451 % vs. 1.897 ? 0.401 % of scans) and less frequent cross-sucking. Furthermore, PP increased or tended to increase the time spent on locomotor play, fixture sniffing, social sniffing, allogrooming and cross-sucking, but tended to decrease nonnutritive sucking compared to IP. No treatment effects were found on behaviour in the novelty tests. In conclusion, physical enrichment may improve calf growth more effectively than social housing does. Physical enrichment and social housing may satisfy diverse natural behaviours and reduce undesirable behaviour in different ways. However, these treatments had no effect on calf fear responses in novel environment and object tests. The combination of physical enrichment and social housing showed no further improvement in calf welfare.

Application. Pasture intake and non-Holstein genetics were negatively correlated with milk I, Mn, and Cu, and positively correlated with milk Ca and P; but other feeds and mineral supplementation also influenced milk mineral concentrations. Introduction. Milk is a good source of minerals (Ca, Mg, P and K) and trace elements (I, Se, Zn), which are essential for optimum health [2]. Pasture intake may increase milk Ca and P concentrations but decrease Cu and Se concentrations, although pasture composition, plant maturity, and animal/environmental factors will also have an effect [1]. This study aimed to (i) investigate the milk mineral concentrations in herds with different pasture intakes, and (ii) assess the relative impact of individual feeds. Material and methods. Bulk-tank milk samples (n = 359) were collected monthly (over 12 months) from 30 dairy farms, and animal diet and breed were gathered via questionnaire. Three groups of 10 farms represented contrasting grazing management between April-September: high pasture intake (HP; 28–65% DMI), standard pasture intake (SP; 5–18% DMI), outdoors with low/limited pasture intake (LP; 0–3% DMI). Milk mineral concentrations were determined using ICP-MS. Analysis of variance by linear mixed effects models used pasture intake (HP, SP, LP), months (12 months), and their interaction as fixed factors. Farm ID was used as a random factor. A multivariate redundancy analysis (RDA; CANOCO 5) assessed the relative impact of breed and feeds on milk mineral concentrations. Results. When compared with HP and LP farms, milk from SP farms contained significantly less Ca (−50 mg/kg and −45 mg/kg, respectively) and P (−25 mg/kg and −29 mg/kg, respectively) (Table 1). The RDA indicated that pasture intake and non-Holstein genetics were negatively correlated with milk I, Mn, and Cu, and positively correlated with milk Ca and P. Grass/grass-clover silage and dry-straights were positively correlated with I, Mn, Cu, Mo, Zn and negatively correlated with Na. Intakes of maize silage, blends, moist by-products, oils and minerals were negatively correlated with Mn, Cu, Mo, Zn, Ca and P. Milk from low/no grazing periods contained, on average, more I (+21.1%), Mn (19.5%), Cu (+16.9%), Zn (+6.1%) and Mo (+5.5%), than milk produced from the grazing season, although between-month differences were not always significant.

The study examined the morphology of the gastro-intestinal tract (GI) of growing pigs offered dry feed or liquid feed with differing water-to-feed ratios. Twenty male pigs were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups; treatments included a standard dry pelleted diet (D) or the same diet soaked in water at a feed-to-water ratio of 1:1.5 (T1:1.5), 1:3 (T1:3) or 1:3 with the addition of lactic acid to adjust the feed to pH 4 (T1:3[4]). Animals were humanely slaughtered after 6 weeks to enable sampling and histological examination (light, scanning electron (LSEM) and binocular dissection microscope) of the GI tract. Samples were taken at the 2% position (duodenum), the 20% position and 50 % position (jejunum) along the small intestines (SI). Liquid-fed pigs were heavier (P < 0.05) and exhibited improved feed conversion ratios (FCR) when compared to D animals. These differences in live weight were attributed to alterations in the weight and volume of the stomach and SI, which were also heavier and larger in liquid-fed pigs (P < 0.05). However, these differences were no longer apparent when intestinal weights and stomach volumes were adjusted for animal live weight. Differences in villus type between the treatments were noted throughout, particularly in the duodenum and proximal jejunum sections. Mean villus height was taller in all liquid-fed animals when compared to D pigs (P<0.05); this was particularly apparent in T1:1.5 and T1:3[4] pigs. There were no differences in crypt depths between treatment groups at the 2% and 20 % positions, but at the 50 % position the T1:1.5 group crypts were deeper (P < 0.05) than those in the D and T1:3 pigs. It is concluded that liquid feeding alters the morphology of the GI tract, which may in part, explain the differences in growth performance observed between liquid and D fed pigs. The inclusion of organic acid in the diets of T1:3[4] pigs appeared to exert an effect on villus height and crypt depth when compared to those pigs receiving the T1:3 diet

This study aimed to determine the effects of supplementing pregnant heifers with the organic selenium (Se) source 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA) during the last 8 wk of pregnancy on dam and calf Se status. A total of 42 in-calf heifers were recruited to the study and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatments; a negative control (Con), sodium selenite (NaSe), or HMSeBA. Animals were blocked by body weight, body condition score, and expected calving date before treatment allocation. Following enrollment, all animals underwent a 7-wk wash-out period, after which they received their respective supplements, top-dressed daily onto a basal diet for the last 8 wk of pregnancy. Heifer blood samples were taken at weekly intervals from enrollment until 2 wk before expected calving date and as soon as possible after calving for determination of whole-blood glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) and plasma Se and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Selenized AA were determined in plasma samples taken at 3 wk precalving. A colostrum sample was taken as close to parturition as possible for determination of colostrum total Se, selenized AA, and IgG concentration. Calves were blood sampled as close to birth as possible for determination of whole-blood GSH-Px activity and plasma Se and MDA concentrations. Differences in whole-blood GSH-Px activity did not become apparent until calving; GSH-Px activity was lowest in Con heifers but similar between NaSe and HMSeBA heifers. Plasma Se was lowest in unsupplemented heifers and greatest in those supplemented with HMSeBA; this was attributable to greater selenomethionine concentrations in the plasma of HMSeBA heifers. Colostrum Se was lowest in Con heifers and greatest in HMSeBA heifers. The greater Se concentration of HMSeBA heifers was attributable to a greater proportion of total Se comprising selenocysteine; the reason for this is not known. There was no effect of supplementation on colostrum IgG concentration. Plasma Se was lowest in calves born to Con heifers and greatest in those born to HMSeBA heifers. There were no effects of treatment on calf whole-blood GSH-Px activity or plasma MDA concentration. The enhanced Se status associated with HMSeBA supplementation is likely a consequence of selenomethionine supply and may confer benefits to both the dam and her calf postpartum.

In commercial animals production, productive stress can negatively impact health status and subsequent productive and reproductive performance. A great body of evidence has demonstrated that as a consequence of productive stress, an overproduction of free radicals, disturbance of redox balance/signaling, and oxidative stress were observed. There is a range of antioxidants that can be supplied with animal feed to help build and maintain the antioxidant defense system of the body responsible for prevention of the damaging effects of free radicals and the toxic products of their metabolism. Among feed-derived antioxidants, selenium (Se) was shown to have a special place as an essential part of 25 selenoproteins identified in animals. There is a comprehensive body of research in monogastric species that clearly shows that Se bioavailability within the diet is very much dependent on the form of the element used. Organic Se, in the form of selenomethionine (SeMet), has been reported to be a much more effective Se source when compared with mineral forms such as sodium selenite or selenate. It has been proposed that one of the main advantages of organic Se in pig and poultry nutrition is the non-specific incorporation of SeMet into general body proteins, thus forming an endogenous Se reserve that can be utilized during periods of stress for additional synthesis of selenoproteins. Responses in ruminant species to supplementary Se tend to be much more variable than those reported in monogastric species, and much of this variability may be a consequence of the different fates of Se forms in the rumen following ingestion. It is likely that the reducing conditions found in the rumen are responsible for the markedly lower assimilation of inorganic forms of Se, thus predisposing selenite-fed animals to potential Se inadequacy that may in turn compromise animal health and production. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that organic Se has a number of benefits, particularly in dairy and beef animals; these include improved Se and antioxidant status and better Se transfer via the placenta, colostrum, and milk to the newborn. However, there is a paucity in the data concerning molecular mechanisms of SeMet assimilation, metabolism and selenoprotein synthesis regulation in ruminant animals, and as such, further investigation is required.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxy-selenomethionine (SO) when compared to sodium selenite (SS) on Se status of pregnant heifers and their offspring. A total of 42 in-calf heifers were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets offered in the 7 weeks preceding calving; a non-Se-fortified basal diet (NC); NC + 0.3 mg Se/kg DM as SS; NC + 0.3 mg Se/kg DM as SO. Blood samples were taken three weeks before calving. Colostrum was collected at birth and new-born calves were blood sampled within 24 hours. Plasma Se increased in heifers receiving Se supplemented diets (SO and SS) when compared to NC. Plasma Se was greater in SO when compared to SS (P<0.001). Similarly, colostrum Se was greater in Se supplemented heifers when compared to NC, and greatest in SO when compared to SS (P<0.001). Furthermore, calves born to Se supplemented dams had greater plasma Se when compared to NC, and calf plasma Se was greatest in SO when compared to SS born calves (P<0.001). Speciation revealed that the greater Se concentration in heifer plasma was a consequence of increased selenomethionine, whereas increases in colostrum Se were attributable to increases in selenocysteine (P<0.05). Results of the study indicate that the Se status of dams receiving SO was notably better than SS and that this benefit was transferred to their offspring. Furthermore, the enhanced Se content of colostrum may confer benefits to calves in the immediate neonatal period.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of adding incremental amounts of whole grain wheat (0, 100, and 200 g per kilogram of feed) to the diet of growing turkey poults on growth performance, feed efficiency, digesta pH, and the incidence of cecal distension. Seventy two, 6-wk-old commercial line turkeys were blocked by live weight and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 dietary treatment (n = 4 pens/treatment). Turkeys were offered their respective treatments for the duration of the study. Feed offered and refused and body weights were determined weekly. At 63 days of age 12 turkeys from each treatment were euthanized and crop contents were collected and weighed, pH of gizzard and cecal digests measured, and ceca and cecal contents visually scored. At 84 days of age, all remaining turkeys were euthanized and the same sampling procedure repeated. Feed conversion ratio was poorer in those turkeys offered diets containing whole grain wheat (P < 0.05), declining quadratically (P < 0.005) as the proportion of whole grain wheat (WGW) in the diet increased. The proportion of WGW found in the crop post-mortem reflected whole wheat inclusion rates of the diets. The pH of gizzard contents at 63 days was lower in turkeys receiving diets supplemented with WGW, declining quadratically (P = 0.005) as the proportion of WGW in the diet increased. However, this difference in gizzard pH was not apparent at 84 days of age. Cecal content pH, cecal visual appearance scores, and cecal content visual appearance scores were not affected by the inclusion of WGW to the diet. The inclusion of WGW to the diets of growing turkeys reduces growth performance and feed efficiency suggesting that the addition of whole wheat may have reduced the nutritional quality of the diet as a whole.