The development of new varieties of lupin, so-called “sweet lupinsˮ with low alkaloid (bitter substances) and high protein content has resulted in a renewed interest in utilization of lupin as source of proteins in human and animal nutrition. The nutraceutical potential of lupin can be applied in the prevention from various pathological states in humans; by suppressing appetite and affecting energy balance, by its positive effect on glycaemia and indicators of blood lipids, by its positive influence on hypertension and by improving defecation. In the field of animal nutrition, lupin seeds can positively affect both production indicators and the biological value of food of animal origin.

The present paper explores amino acid composition of breast and thigh muscles of common pheasant and compares it with that in broiler chickens. The experimental feeding of both pheasant and broiler chickens proceeded for a period of 42 days at the identical conditions employing the same diet and rearing technology. Muscles were analysed for the content of following amino acids: Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Pro, Gly, Ala, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, His, Lys, and Arg. The results show that the levels of most amino acids in thigh and breast muscles of pheasants (related to dry matter content) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) than those in broiler chickens. In 42-day-old birds, the levels of individual amino acids in breast muscles (related to 100% of dry matter content) ranged from 8.02 to 127.32 g . kg^-1 in pheasant chickens and from 19.77 to 110.33 g . kg^-1 in broiler chickens while the corresponding average values in thigh muscles ranged from 14.77 g . kg^-1 to 132.77 g . kg^-1 in pheasant chickens and from 14.02 g . kg^-1 to 93.53 g . kg^-1 in broiler chickens. One interesting finding is that in the case of broiler chickens the levels of most amino acids in breast muscles were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) than those in thigh muscles. In the case of pheasant chickens, the difference between breast and thigh muscles was not confirmed which indicates that both muscles have high nutritive value. The results of amino acid composition of pheasant and broiler meat have proven a high nutritive value of pheasant meat in respect to human nutrition.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of the sire genotype, sex and carcass part on the composition of the meat of rabbits, which were fattened under conditions where no synthetic drugs were used. As for carcass parts, the higher content of both total amino acids (AA) and all essential AA (EAA) monitored was found in the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle as compared to hind leg meat (p ˂ 0.001). Significant effects of the rabbit sire genotype and the genotype x sex interaction on proportions of some AA in meat were found (p ˂ 0.001). Crossbreeding of the Mecklenburger Schecke (MS) sires with a commercial dam line of HYLA rabbits resulted in a lower proportion of the total AA and all EAA monitored in meats of MS sired males as compared to MS sired females and HYLA rabbits (p ˂ 0.05). The sex-related effect on AA profile was not so noticeable in final commercial crossbreds of HYLA rabbits when compared to MS sired progeny. These findings point to a possible risk of alterations in the nutritional quality of meat proteins when using different rabbit sire genotypes than those originally intended for the specific commercial crossbreeding scheme. However, on the contrary, higher contents of magnesium (p ˂ 0.05), manganese (p ˂ 0.001) and zinc (p ˂ 0.05) were found in meats of MS sired progeny as compared to HYLA rabbits.

The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional and dietetic values of the meat of chickens of the common pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus L.) intensively fattened until 90 days of age to the meat of broiler chickens fattened until 40 days of age. Breast muscles in pheasants contained higher protein content on a dry matter basis (930.57 g·kg ^-1 in females, 937.23 g·kg ^-1 in males) and lower fat content (29.58 g·kg ^-1 in females, 29.92 g·kg ^-1 in males) as compared to thigh muscles (protein: 781.80 g·kg ^-1 in females, 810.07 g·kg ^-1 in males, fat: 163.74 g·kg ^-1 in females, 140.71 g·kg ^-1 in males). Breast muscles in both females and males contained less calcium (0.67 g·kg ^-1 in females, 0.57 g·kg ^-1 in males) and more phosphorus (10.16 g·kg ^-1 in females, 9.72 g·kg ^-1 in males) compared to the thigh muscles in which the mean calcium content was 1.28 g·kg ^-1 in females and 1.32 g·kg ^-1 in males, and the mean phosphorus content was 9.31 g·kg ^-1 in females and 9.23 g·kg ^-1 in males. Breast and thigh muscles in both female and male pheasants contained higher protein content and lower fat content compared to broiler meat. The calcium content in pheasant meat was lower whereas the phosphorus and magnesium contents were higher compared to broiler meat. Pheasant meat with high content of protein and low fat content is very valuable foodstuff and its dietetic value exceeds that of broiler meat. There is a lack of scientific literature on this subject which has not been studied in detail yet. This study extends the current scope of scientific knowledge in this field.

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, the scientific journal of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

This study focuses on the determination of apparent digestibility of pasture vegetation nutrients in horses of the Old Kladruber breed through a balance indicator method (determination of acid insoluble ash). When evaluating the nitrogenous substances, their determination was based on the content of pure protein (sum of amino acids) which is more accurate than crude protein. There were differences in the chemical composition of dry matter from pasture vegetation and horse excrements. Regarding crude fat, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, ash, P and Mg, the average values in dry matter of horse excrements were significantly ( P ≤ 0.01) higher; on the contrary, we found significantly ( P ≤ 0.01) lower mean values of nitrogen-free extract, organic matter and Ca ​​in the dry mass of pasture grass. The highest coefficient of apparent digestibility for organic nutrients was determined in the nitrogen-free extract (73%) followed with organic matter (71%), pure protein (68%), crude protein (65%) and crude fat (61%). In case of fibre and its fractions, the apparent digestibility coefficients decreased as follows: crude fibre (66%), neutral detergent fibre (66%), acid detergent fibre (63%) and acid detergent lignin (42%). Significantly lower values were determined for coefficients of apparent digestibility for minerals P (16%) and Mg (50%), which highlights the need for their regular supplementation in horses on pasture. This study extends the current state of knowledge regarding the apparent digestibility of pasture vegetation which is a prerequisite for optimal nutrition of horses.