This study was conducted to examine the effect of ground and steam-treated bagasse on growth, reproduction and the weight of internal organs (stomach, small intestine, large intestine, cecum, liver, kidney, heart, spleen, lung and testis) in mice. Experimental groups (male and female) were given a diet containing nine parts by weight of a commercial standerd diet and one part by weight of steam-treated bagasse. Control groups (male and female) received the standard diet alone. The growth of mice from 3 wk to 10 wk of age did not significantly differ between experimental and control groups in the first generation, In the second generation, however, the growth rate during the period from 2 to 4 wk of age was lower in the experimental groups than in the control groups for both female and male. Tissue weights at 10wk of age were not significantly different between groups in the first generation. However, in the second generation, the large intestine of male mice and large intestine of female mice were heavier in the experimental groups than in the control groups. The delivering rate and the survival rate till 3 wk after birth were 100% in both groups over two generation, and the litter size did not differ between groups. Present results suggest that steam-treated bagasse is available as a source of fiber for mono-gastric animals.

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Although a large number of ferrets as a pet are increasing in Japan, they are imported from USA, Canada, and New Zealand etc. Because there are a few available reports on the nutritional character of them, in order to develop a diet for ferrets, three experiments were conducted using gonadectomized male and female ferrets. In Expt.1, the intake of diets with one of four protein sources, meat meal, chicken meal, fish meal and soybean meal was compared. The intake of diet with meat meal was most among them. In Expt.2, the intake of meat meal diets with five crude protein (CP) levels from 20 to 40% CP were compared. The diet with 30% CP was most consumed. When the meat meal diet with 30% CP was supplied daily the consumption of CP and digestible energy per metabolic body size (BW kg^0.75) were estimated to be 11.3 g and 150 kcal/day, respectively. In Expt.3, the digestibility of nutrients and the absorbed rate of amino acids of meat meal diet with 30% CP were determined by total feces collection method. The digestibilities were estimated to be 83.0% for CP,96.0% for crude fat, and 74.2% for nitrogen free extract, respectively. The average absorbed rate of AA was higher than 70%. The obtained values except digestibility of NFE were higher than those reported in cats.

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Three bacteria producing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were isolated from dog and cat feces. The first isolate was presumed to be a species of Streptococcus or Lactococcus, and the second isolate was probably Eubacterium aerofaciens. These two bacteria have not been known as CLA-producing bacteria. The third isolate was identified as a type II strain of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Of the three isolates, B. fibrisolvens was found to have the highest capacity to produce CLA. To increase CLA production in the large intestine, it may be effective to increase the cell number of this strain of B. fibrisolvens. Addition of the isolated strain of B. fibrisolvens to a culture of mixed fecal microorganisms markedly increased CLA production. Experiments with six different strains of B. fibrisolvens indicated that the rates of linoleic acid (LA) isomerization and CLA reduction are correlated to the amounts of LA isomerase and CLA reductase in cells. These results suggest that CLA production, oraccumulation, can be greatly increased by enhancing the synthesis of LA isomerase and suppressing the synthesis of CLA reductase.

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To investigate the general characteristics including nutritional trends of commercial dog foods as a staple food we purchased 132 products of 24 companies from retail stores in the Tokyo area. We then classified them based on the information shown on their labels. The percentage of dry, wet, and semi-moist foods was 50.8%,42.4%, and 6.8%, respectively. The usage indicated for dry and wet foods was for puppies, adults, aged dogs, and obese dogs, but the semi-moist food was only for adult dogs. The dry and wet type foods were dominated by imports from the United States and Australia, but all semi-moist foods were made in Japan. Crude protein content in the wet type food for adult dogs was 49% and the lowest value was 13% for obese dogs. Crude fat content of the foods, except those for obese dogs, was higher in wet type foods than in dry foods. Crude fiber content of all diets, except those for obese dogs, was less than 3% on a dry matter basis. The food prices per 100g dry matter were higher for all wet type foods than for dry foods.

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