The metabolizable protein efficiency for gain was 77 ± 8.5% and was not affected by inclusion of starter feed in the diet.
The digestibility coefficient of organic matter was not affected by the inclusion of starter feed and increased linearly as milk supply was elevated.
The net energy requirement for maintenance was estimated using an exponential regression between metabolizable energy intake and heat production (both in Mcal/EBW0.75 per d) and was 74.3 ± 5.7 kcal/EBW0.75 per d, and was not affected by inclusion of starter feed in the diet.
Fish were starved 24 h before each measurement to avoid inclusion of ingested feed in the weight measurements as well as to minimize stress.
Further studies should focus on understanding the possibility of post-processing contamination as well as evaluating the ability of intervention strategies, i.e. the application of heat and pressure through the pelleting process and/or the inclusion of select feed additives which may have anti-viral effects, for reduction of this risk.
Inclusion of breast feeding did not substantially change our findings.
The effect of systemic butyrate absorbed from the small intestine was also examined by the inclusion of rats fed tributyrin (LAMST).
Inclusion of breast feeding index or total TEQ as covariates of regression analysis had little effect on the results (results not shown).
The simulated inclusion rate of feeds was stable between late 2008 and 2011, except for one period in which SBM and corn replaced DDGS.
A detailed description of formula and milk consumption history would provide valuable information for the estimation of exposure through breast-feeding during the mixed feeding period and allow the inclusion of partial breast-feeding in the model.
In contrast, the inclusion of low steam feed rates resulted in stable operation (no deactivation and constant bed temperature).
