SummaryThe prediction of renal energy excretion is crucial in a metabolizable energy system for horses. Phenolic acids from forage cell walls may affect renal energy losses by increasing hippuric acid excretion. Therefore, the relationships were investigated between renal energy, nitrogen (N) and hippuric acid excretion of four adult ponies (230-384 kg body weight (BW)) consuming diets based on fresh grass, grass silage, grass cobs (heat-dried, finely chopped, pressed grass), alfalfa hay, straw, extruded straw and soybean meal. Feed intake was measured; urine and faeces were quantitatively collected for three days. y = 14.4 + 30.2x 1 +20.7x 2 (r = .95; n = 30; p < .05). Renal hippuric acid excretion was highest after intake of fresh grass and lowest after intake of soybean meal. The ratio of hippuric acid to creatinine in urine and the excretion of hippuric acid per gram of dry matter intake was significantly higher for fresh grass than for all other rations. There was no relationship between aromatic amino acid intake and renal hippuric acid excretion. The results of the present study and literature data suggest that feed can be categorized into four groups with regard to the energy losses per gram CP intake: (i) protein supplements (e.g., soybean meal): 4.2-4.9 kJ/g CP intake (ii) alfalfa hay, grains, dried sugar beet pulp: 6.4 kJ/g CP intake, (iii) hay, preserved grass products, straw: 5.2-12.3 kJ/g CP intake (mean 8) and (iv) fresh grass. For group (iii) a negative relationship was observed between renal energy losses per gram of CP and the content of CP or neutral-detergent-insoluble CP in dry matter. K E Y W O R D Shippuric acid, metabolizable energy, nitrogen excretion, phenolic acids | INTRODUCTIONRenal energy losses in horses range between 7% and 12% of digestible energy (Kienzle & Zeyner, 2010). Presumably, the reason for the high renal losses is that phenolic acids of plant cell walls can be released in the digestive tract, absorbed, metabolized to hippuric acid and eventually be excreted via urine. In addition, nitrogen (N) from excess crude protein (CP) intake is excreted as urea. Thus--like in other species-a high CP intake increases renal energy excretion. The Society of Nutrition Physiology introduced a metabolizable energy (ME) system for energy evaluation of horse feed and energy requirements for horses (GfE, 2014). A subtraction of 8 kJ/g CP in the feed is made for

Hay stabilises urine pH in horses. It is unknown whether this is an effect of structure or of chemical composition. In this study, four ponies (230-384 kg body weight [BW]) were fed six different diets with either a structure or a composition similar to hay with and without acidifiers in a cross-over experimental design in amounts to maintain body weight with the following main compounds: Fresh grass (GRASS), alfalfa hay (ALF), grass cobs (COBS), grass silage (SIL), straw (STR) or extruded straw (STRe) for 2 to 10 days. Urine pH was measured in all trials, blood pH, blood base excess and bicarbonate as well as mineral balance were determined in GRASS, ALF, STR and STRe. In the trials with straw and extruded straw, urine pH decreased significantly (STR control: 7.8 ± 0.23, acidifier: 5.2 ± 0.38) when acidifiers were added, whereas in all other diets that were based on fresh or preserved green fodder, pH did not decrease below 7. Blood pH was similarly affected by diet and acidifiers. Acidifiers had little effect on the pre-prandial blood pH, only in diet STR there was a significant reduction in relation to control. Post-prandial blood pH was significantly reduced by acidifiers in all diets. Blood bicarbonate and base excess showed corresponding effects. Faecal and renal mineral excretion and apparent mineral digestibility were not systematically affected by diet or acidifiers except for chloride. Chloride added as inorganic chloride salt had an even better apparent digestibility than chloride originating from feed. Because only green plant material stabilised acid base balance, chlorophyll and its metabolites are discussed as potential mediators of the effect of green fodder on acid base balance.

The aim of this study was to determine the growth performance, meat quality and colour attributes of large rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in net cage systems in the southern Black Sea coasts of Turkey. In the study, large rainbow trout with an initial weight of 1,322.07 ± 57.72 g were reached to 3,385.30 ± 140.98 g and the survival rates were 95.69 ± 1.32% in 5-month production period. Crude protein and crude fat values of fish meat were ranged between 16.75 ± 0.07-20.18 ± 0.90% and 9.22 ± 0.15-12.29 ± 0.42%, respectively (p < .05). The essential and non-essential amino acid values were between 12.92 ± 0.02-13.09 ± 0.01 g/100 g and 11.97 ± 0.14-11.47 ± 0.01 g/100 g, respectively (p > .05). C20:5n-3, C22:6n-3, ɷ3 and ɷ6 values in fish meat were between 4.32 ± 0.02-4.30 ± 0.08% (p < .05), 8.31 ± 0.10-7.72 ± 0.15% (p < .05), 13.41 ± 0.10-12.93 ± 0.23% (p < .05) and 21.85 ± 0.06%-19.74 ± 0.36 (p < .05), respectively. As a result, it can be concluded that large rainbow trout cultured in the southern Black Sea coasts of Turkey is a rich source of food in terms of fatty and amino acid compositions and atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic values. K E Y W O R D Samino acid, Black Sea, colour attributes, fatty acid, growth performance, Oncorhynchus mykiss 3764 | KAYA ÖZTÜRK eT Al.Fish meat quality, an important factor from an economic point of view, determines the price of fish and consumer acceptance.The consumer willingness for paying depends on the quality of the products such as texture and biochemical composition (such as protein and fat), and colour of fish meat is the major parameter that determines the satisfactoriness of the consumer (Haard, 1992;

The study was aimed to examine a snail organic culture system and describe the cultivation properties of Cornu aspersum. The environmental parameters of the culture system and their effects on the growth and mortality rates of C. aspersum were determined between November 2014-October 2015. Snails were fed Spinacia sp. (spinach), Urtica sp. (nettles), Brassica oleracea sp (cabbage) and formulated diet. The feeding and growth rates increased with increasing temperature. Shell height growth rate was the highest in spring while the live weight growth rate was the highest in summer. Mortality rate of the baby snail was higher between November 2014 and May 2015 due to stress conditions such as handling and varying temperatures during their first stages of life. High mortality observed in adults could be associated with the spawning activity of the matured snails that caused physiological exhaustion. The result showed that the best culture cycle for C. aspersum was from spring to autumn in Black Sea region and in order to prevent postreproductive mortality, snails reached to marketable size should be harvested.

No abstract