Ash Marker Research Articles

A new isochron for stratigraphic correlation in the Permian Delaware Basin and beyond

Altered volcanic ash, preserved as bentonite clay within sedimentary depositional units, can facilitate regional stratigraphic correlation. While many bentonite ash beds have been documented in core extracted over decades of hydrocarbon exploration in the Delaware Basin, a particular ∼1 cm-thick bentonite has been identified at a distinct stratigraphic position, at a sedimentary facies transition from thin-bedded calciclastic turbidites to thick-bedded siliciclastic turbidites, in the compositionally-mixed upper Wolfcamp formation. A comparison of geochemical analyses of the ash from two cores and petrophysical correlations across eight wells was conducted to test the regional correlation of the ash. Despite diagenetic alteration since seafloor deposition ∼280 Ma, nearly identical geochemical trends between incompatible elemental subsets, including light and heavy rare earth elements, large ion lithophiles, and high field strength elements, suggest that these two ash deposits originated from the same volcanic center. Detailed sedimentologic analyses and lithostratigraphic correlations across three cores spaced tens of km apart confirm that the ash bed is bound by correlative quiescent deepwater strata. Based on the chemical composition, probable timing of deposition, and proximity, we speculate that the Las Delicias Arc produced this ash, and it was transported by wind and deposited as a hemipelagite into the Delaware Basin deep marine environment. This discovery implies the existence of the ash marker in other cores within Late Paleozoic western equatorial Pangea, e.g. in compositionally-mixed deep marine deposits of the Midland Basin and outcropping deposits around the Greater Permian Basin and beyond, which would facilitate regional chronostratigraphic correlation for a critical time in Earth's history.

Bucking the trend: Population resilience in a marginal environment.

Evaluating the impact of environmental changes on past societies is frequently confounded by the difficulty of establishing cause-and-effect at relevant scales of analysis. Commonly, paleoenvironmental records lack the temporal and spatial resolution to link them with historic events, yet there remains a tendency to correlate climate change and cultural transformations on the basis of their seeming synchronicity. Here, we challenge perceptions of societal vulnerability to past environmental change using an integrated paleoenvironmental and land-use history of a remote upland site in the north of Ireland. We present a high-resolution, multi-proxy record that illustrates extended occupation of this marginal locality throughout the climate oscillations of the last millennium. Importantly, historically-dated volcanic ash markers enable us to pinpoint precisely in our record the timing of major national demographic crises such as the Black Death and the European, Irish and Great (Potato) Famines. We find no evidence that climate downturns or demographic collapses had an enduring impact on the use of the uplands: either the community escaped the effects of these events, or population levels recovered rapidly enough (within a generation) to leave no appreciable mark on the palaeoenvironmental record. Our findings serve to illustrate the spatial complexity of human activity that can enable communities to withstand or quickly bounce back from largescale calamities. In neglecting to consider such local-scale variability in social and economic organization, generalized models of societal collapse risk overplaying the vulnerability of populations to long- and short-term ecological stressors to the detriment of identifying the social constraints that influence a population’s response to change.

Potential use of natural saline pasture for grazing lambs: Effect on digestibility, growth performances, carcass and meat quality

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a natural saline pasture on digestibility, intake, growth, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Forty weaned female Queue Fine de l′Ouest lambs (25.4 ± 4.33 kg) were allotted into two groups. The first group raised indoor (I) with oat straw ad libitum and the second grazed natural saline pasture (SP). Both groups were supplemented the same concentrate with 300 and 500 g for SP and I respectively, to have the same average daily gain (ADG). On the 49th day, digestibility and intake were determined on 8 lambs randomly selected from each group, using total fecal collection and Acid Insoluble Ash (AIA) marker method. After 83 days, the 16 lambs were slaughtered at 34 kg. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME) were higher (P < 0.001) for SP. Digestible crude protein (DCP)/ME ratio was higher (P < 0.05) for SP group. DM intake (P < 0.05) was lower for SP, while digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and ME intake (MEI) were similar between the two groups. Water intake was higher for SP (P < 0.001). Final weight and ADG were similar between groups. Carcass dressing and high-priced joints percentages were higher for SP group. Lambs from the SP group had a higher percentage of muscle (P < 0.001) and a lower fat proportion (P < 0.01). No effect of feeding system on carcass linear measurements and on compactness indexes (P >0.05) was noted. Kidney fat decreased in favor of SP group (P < 0.01). There were no differences for fat color, whereas meat of I group had a higher lightness and yellowness than that of SP one. Meat of SP group had a higher DM, protein level (P < 0.05) and lower intramuscular fat (P < 0.01). It has higher content of Fe and Zn (P < 0.01). It could be concluded rearing lambs on saline pasture, with a moderate concentrate supplementation, allowed acceptable growth performances, leaner carcass, and higher nutritional meat quality lambs.

UNC-42 function is required for the ectopic expression of ASH markers in mls-2 mutant animals.

UNC-42 function is required for the ectopic expression of ASH markers in mls-2 mutant animals.

Methodology effects on determining the energy concentration and the apparent total tract digestibility of components in diets fed to growing pigs.

ObjectiveAn experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different diet formulations: F1 (Two complicated basal diets containing different crude protein levels plus tested feedstuff) vs F2 (A simple corn soybean meal [SBM] basal diet plus tested feedstuff) combined with total collection (TC) or chromic oxide (Cr2O3) marker or acid-insoluble ash (AIA) marker method, and freeze-dry or oven-dry (OD) technique on estimation of nutrient digestibility in diets fed to growing pigs.MethodsIn F1, twelve barrows were allocated to two 6×4 Youden Squares. The treatment diets included a high protein basal (HPB) diet, a low protein basal (LPB) diet, a corn diet and a wheat bran (WB) diet formulated based on the HPB diet, and a SBM diet and a rapeseed meal (RSM) diet formulated based on the LPB diet. In F2, eight barrows were allocated to two 4×4 Latin Squares. The treatment diets included a corn basal diet, a SBM basal diet formulated based on the corn diet, and a WB diet and a RSM diet formulated based on the SBM diet.ResultsConcentration of digestible (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME), and the apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy, ash, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre determined by Cr2O3 marker method were greater than those determined by TC and AIA marker methods in HPB, LPB, and RSM diets formulated by F1 and in corn diet formulated by F2 (p<0.05). The DE values in WB and both DE and ME values in SBM and RSM estimated using F1 were greater than those estimated using F2 (p<0.05).ConclusionFrom the accuracy aspect, the AIA marker or TC method combined with OD technique is recommended for determining the energy concentration and nutrient digestibility of components in diets fed to growing pigs.

Ultra-distal Kamchatkan ash on Arctic Svalbard: Towards hemispheric cryptotephra correlation

Rapidly deposited and geochemically distinct volcanic ash (tephra) markers represent a powerful chronological tool that enables precise dating and correlation of geological archives. Recent analytical advances now allow fingerprinting of non-visible ash (cryptotephra) over thousands of kilometers. This has opened up tantalizing possibilities for the intercontinental synchronization of records. We present geochemical evidence to demonstrate that ash from a Svalbard lake sediment core correlates to the Kamchatkan KS2 eruption. By expanding the known dispersal range of cryptotephra by thousands of kilometers and linking the Pacific and Atlantic Arctic, this study raises cryptotephra analysis to a new level. Also, the presented findings mark a step towards a hemispheric tephrochronological framework. Finally, this study highlights the importance of looking beyond proximal volcanic sources to find a correlation.

Clay mineralogy of altered tephra beds and facies correlation between the Permian-Triassic boundary stratigraphic sets, Guizhou, south China

The Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) successions in south China contain numerous altered volcanic ash (tephra) beds (K-bentonites), which presents the opportunity to correlate the PTB position in both marine and non-marine sections, especially when no feasible biostratigraphic markers are available in the profiles. Clay mineralogical and geochemical studies of two altered ash beds in the Zhongzai (ZZ) and Tucheng (TC) sections, in Guizhou Province, south China, deposited in littoral and interactive marine-terrestrial environments, respectively, permit an investigation of the alteration of ash and correlation of ash beds between disparate facies. The results show that the two ZZ altered ashes consist of mainly R1 I/Sm and minor R0 I/Sm. Sample ZZ-1 has slightly more R1 I/Sm but less R0 I/Sm relative to sample ZZ-2. The TC ash samples contain mainly kaolinite and mixed-layer kaolinite/smectite (K/Sm). The poorly-crystallized kaolinite is present in pseudo-hexagonal plates, and the well-crystallized kaolinite occurs in book-like aggregates in veins or cavities. K/Sm minerals are derived from the transformation of smectite to kaolinite. Obviously, the TC ashes experienced terrestrial weathering and resedimentation prior to final burial and preservation, and local microenvironmental conditions control the formation of clay minerals. The ZZ ash samples have markedly higher 87Sr/86Sr values than those of the TC samples. The notable difference in 87Sr/86Sr value of ash beds between the sections is attributed to variations in RbSr partitioning during the chemical weathering process in different environments. The ZZ ash samples have notably higher 143Nd/144Nd ratios than those of the TC samples, suggesting that the ZZ ashes are likely derived from eruptions involving continental crust and the TC ashes originate from eruptions involving new continental island arcs, in agreement with the REE distributions and the Ti vs. Zr, TiO2 vs. Al2O3, and Zr/TiO2 vs. Nb/Y discrimination plots. The occurrence of tephras from such markedly different volcanic source materials different in PTB stratigraphic sets previously believed to be synchronous, Guizhou, south China, suggests that correlation between disparate facies by an ash marker requires geochemical fingerprinting of the materials to confirm correlations or otherwise.

The genotoxic and antigenotoxic properties of citrus phenolic limonene on mammalian cell lines

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a natural saline pasture on digestibility, intake, growth, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Forty weaned female Queue Fine de l′Ouest lambs (25.4 ± 4.33 kg) were allotted into two groups. The first group raised indoor (I) with oat straw ad libitum and the second grazed natural saline pasture (SP). Both groups were supplemented the same concentrate with 300 and 500 g for SP and I respectively, to have the same average daily gain (ADG). On the 49th day, digestibility and intake were determined on 8 lambs randomly selected from each group, using total fecal collection and Acid Insoluble Ash (AIA) marker method. After 83 days, the 16 lambs were slaughtered at 34 kg. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME) were higher (P < 0.001) for SP. Digestible crude protein (DCP)/ME ratio was higher (P < 0.05) for SP group. DM intake (P < 0.05) was lower for SP, while digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and ME intake (MEI) were similar between the two groups. Water intake was higher for SP (P < 0.001). Final weight and ADG were similar between groups. Carcass dressing and high-priced joints percentages were higher for SP group. Lambs from the SP group had a higher percentage of muscle (P < 0.001) and a lower fat proportion (P < 0.01). No effect of feeding system on carcass linear measurements and on compactness indexes (P > 0.05) was noted. Kidney fat decreased in favor of SP group (P < 0.01). There were no differences for fat color, whereas meat of I group had a higher lightness and yellowness than that of SP one. Meat of SP group had a higher DM, protein level (P < 0.05) and lower intramuscular fat (P < 0.01). It has higher content of Fe and Zn (P < 0.01). It could be concluded rearing lambs on saline pasture, with a moderate concentrate supplementation, allowed acceptable growth performances, leaner carcass, and higher nutritional meat quality lambs.

Effect of Exogenous Phytase on the Phosphorus Balance of Lactating Cows Fed A Corn Based Diet

The present study investigated the effect of P or phytase supplementation on the P-balance of dairy cows. 24 lactating German Holstein cows were used for a 5-weeks feeding trial and were allocated to three dietary treatments, P+MIN, P-MIN and P+PHY. All cows received a total mixed ration (TMR) composed of 63% corn silage and 37% concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis for ad libitum intake. The concentrate of the P+MIN group was supplemented with dicalcium phosphate and represents the control group. The concentrate of the P-MIN group was unsupplemented and the concentrate of the P+PHY group was supplemented with an exogenous phytase (0.1 g/kg DM in the TMR; 50 000 FTU/g). The P concentration in the TMR of the P+MIN, P-MIN and P+PHY groups were 3.98, 3.46 and 3.26 g P/kg DM, respectively. Dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield were recorded daily. In the last two weeks samples of milk, urine and blood were collected. Samples of faeces were collected to determine the P-balances by using the acid insoluble ash (AIA) marker technique. No differences in P-concentration of milk, urine and faeces were observed between the treatments. The P-digestibility of Group P+MIN and P-MIN was 60 and 56%, respectively. These values were not different compared to the P-digestibility of 57% in the P+PHY-group. The P-balance in the P+MIN group (26 g/d) was higher compared to the P-MIN (16g/d) and P+PHY (17g/d) treatment. Overall, phytase supplementation had no effect on P-digestibility and P-balance of dairy cows in this trial.

The Content of Amino Acids in Pasture Vegetation and Their Apparent Digestibility in 2-year-old Horses

Ten samples of plant vegetation and 10 samples of fresh excrement were taken from the same pasture area. The excrement were collected from 10 2-year-old Old Kladruber horses that received the pasture vegetation daily. The apparent digestibility of nitrogen and amino acids in pasture vegetation was determined by using the acid-insoluble ash marker method. In comparison with excrement, the pasture vegetation contained higher levels of Ser, Ala, Leu, and His and higher levels of Pro (P ≤ .01), Met (P ≤ .01), and Arg (P ≤ .05). The mean level of Ile in pasture vegetation was lower than in excrement (P ≤ .05). The apparent digestibility of amino acids from pasture vegetation was high for Pro and Met (86.75 and 89.39%), moderate for Ser, Ala, Leu, His, and Arg (68.61%-76%), and low for Asp, Thr, Glu, Gly, Val, Leu, Tyr, Phe, and Lys (56.15%-66.03%). The digestibility of lysine and Ile was relatively low (56.39% and 56.15%, respectively). The total content of nitrogen per dry matter was 10.98 ± 2.46 g/kg for pasture vegetation and 12.12 ± 2.38 g/kg for excrement, whereas the content of protein nitrogen was 7.20 ± 0.25 g/kg and 6.89 ± 0.21 g/kg of dry matter in pasture vegetation and excrement, respectively. This means that only 65.55% and 56.90% of N is bound in proteins in pasture vegetation and excrement, respectively. Non-protein nitrogen accounts for 34.45% in pasture vegetation and for 43.10% in excrement.

Estimating pasture intake and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs fed a concentrate-forage diet by n-alkane and acid-insoluble ash markers

A study was carried out to determine voluntary forage intake and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs fed a mixed forage and concentrate diet. Twenty-five 8-week-old Large White × Landrace crossbred male pigs (27 ± 3.8 kg) were blocked by weight into five groups, and each was randomly allocated to four indoor treatments (A, B, C, and D), which received 100, 90, 80, and 70 % of ad lib concentrated intake and an outdoor treatment (E) that received 80 % of ad lib concentrate. Indoor treatments were either fed the concentrate only (A) or also received freshly cut Kikuyu grass (Pennissetum clandestinum) ad libitum (B, C, and D), while pigs on treatment E were reared outdoors in Kikuyu grass paddocks. There was a significant correlation between the amount of concentrate offered and its intake (P < 0.01). The intake of Kikuyu was similar among treatments (P > 0.05). Mean acid-insoluble ash digestibility estimates of organic and dry matter were superior to C(32) estimates (P < 0.05). Kikuyu intake was higher (P < 0.05) than the estimated intake by 0.076 ± 0.03 kg. It was concluded that Kikuyu intake was not affected by the reduction of the concentrate allowance, and this should be taken into consideration when feeding pigs on pasture.

Evaluation of the Effects of Live Yeast Supplementation on Apparent Digestibility of High-Fiber Diet in Mature Horses Using the Acid Insoluble Ash Marker Modified Method

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of live yeast (LY) in a high-fiber diet on nutrients digestibility in mature horses. Six Italian Standardbred mares (weight: 544 ± 14 kg; age: 15.30 ± 3.9 years) in a two-period crossover design were fed a basal diet (2.5% body weight [BW]) in a 70:30 forage:concentrate ratio with (LY) or without (CTR) the administration of 4.6 × 1010 colony forming unit (CFU)/d of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MUCL 39885). An adaptation to the diet of 14 days, and an 18-day administration phase, with fecal collection in the last 3 days were performed for each period. Yeast was top-dressed twice a day during the concentrate meal (12:30 am and 09:00 pm). Change in BW was measured at the beginning of each experimental phase and the diet adjusted accordingly, and individual feed intake was recorded daily. Concentrate samples were collected at the beginning of each confinement period and individual hay samples were obtained for each confinement day 38 hours before fecal collection. No influence of LY was observed on BW change (P = .64), feed intake (P = .48), hay intake (P = .48), or concentrate intake (P = .47). S cerevisiae supplementation improved apparent digestibility of dry matter (64.5% vs. 60.1%, P = .03), organic matter (66.1% vs. 61.6%, P = .04), neutral detergent fiber (42.5% vs. 35.9%, P = .04), and acid detergent fiber (36.5% vs. 28.0%, P = .03) with a positive trend on crude protein (P = .08). In the present study, the administration of LY to horses significantly improved the digestion of the fiber fractions of the diet.

Utilização de indicadores para estimar a digestibilidade aparente em gatos

Compararam-se os métodos de coleta total (CT) e dos indicadores óxido crômico (Cr2O3), cinzas insolúveis em ácido (CIA) e lignina na determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) dos nutrientes para gatos. Os CDA de quatro rações foram determinados pela CT e estimados pelos diferentes indicadores em teste. Foram utilizados 24 gatos adultos castrados, alojados em gaiolas metabólicas individuais, totalizando seis animais por ração. O experimento seguiu um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, sendo as rações as parcelas, os métodos as subparcelas e cada gato uma unidade experimental. Os CDA foram significativamente menores pelo método da lignina em uma das rações estudadas (P&lt;0,05). Os métodos Cr2O3, CIA e CT resultaram em CDA iguais em todas as rações (P&gt;0,05). As taxas de recuperação dos indicadores, médias±erro-padrão da média, foram, respectivamente, de 97,1±2,5%, 97,3±2,9% e 83,9±9,1% para o Cr2O3, CIA e lignina. A CIA e o Cr2O3 mostraram grande potencial para utilização como indicadores, enquanto a ampla variabilidade dos resultados obtidos com a utilização da lignina não justificou seu emprego como substância índice para felinos.

Acid-insoluble ash as a measure of dry matter digestibility in captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana)

There are limited data on the diet dry matter digestibility (DMD) of captive African elephants. Although the total fecal collection method is the standard for determining DMD, it is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive. The acid-insoluble ash (AIA) marker technique has been used successfully to determine DMD in ruminants and monogastrics. The objective of this study was to assess how accurately the AIA marker technique could estimate the DMD of captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Three mature male African elephants at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida were used in this study. The animals were offered a Bermuda grass hay-based ration, and the total dry matter intake (DMI) and total fecal output were measured daily over a 7-day period to determine the total collection DMD. The feed ingredients and fecal samples were also analyzed for AIA. Although there were differences (P<0.05) in total DMI and total fecal outputs, the DMD values did not (P>0.05) differ (35.1±0.72 vs. 37.1±0.72 for total collection and AIA, respectively). There was a linear (y=0.9461x; R2=0.74) relationship between the total collection and AIA marker technique DMD values. These results suggest that AIA can be used to accurately estimate the DMD of captive African elephants. Zoo Biol 0:1–5, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effect of variety, growing region and growing season on digestible energy content of wheats grown in Western Australia for weaner pigs

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to examine the digestible energy (DE) content for weanling pigs in a cohort of wheats grown in Western Australia, and to establish relationships between DE content and their chemical composition. The 3 ✕ 3 ✕ 2 factorial experiment examined the wheat variety (Arrino, Stiletto and Westonia), growing location (high, medium and low rainfall zone) and harvest year (1999 and 2000). Pigs (no. = 5 per diet) aged about 28 days were given a diet at a level of 0·05 ✕ live weight containing 900 g/kg of the wheat and an acid-insoluble ash marker for 10 days, with samples of faeces collected from each pig for the final 5 days. The average live weight of pigs was 6·6 (s.d. 0·77) kg. The DE content of wheats harvested in 1999 varied by up to 1·3 MJ/kg, while wheats harvested in 2000 varied by up to 1·8 MJ/kg. When the 2 years’ data were combined, the DE content ranged from 12·5 to 14·4 MJ/kg. Both the variety and growing region significantly influenced (P &lt; 0·05, P &lt; 0·001, respectively in year 1999; P &lt; 0·001, P &lt; 0·01, respectively in year 2000) the DE content of wheat. Also, DE content of wheat differed significantly due to growing season (P &lt; 0·001). Correlation studies between chemical composition and DE content of the wheats found significant inverse relationships between DE content and total xylose (r = –0·719, P &lt; 0·05), insoluble xylose (r = –0·742, P &lt; 0·05), neutral-detergent fibre (r = –0·839, P &lt; 0·01), total-P (r = –0·833, P &lt; 0·01), and phytate-P (r = –0·753, P &lt; 0·05) contents with the wheats harvested in 1999. However, such relationships were not significant (P &gt; 0·05) with the wheats harvested in 2000. In addition, the precipitation level (mm) during the growing season of wheats was strongly correlated (r = –0·821, P &lt; 0·01) to the DE content of wheat in year 1999, but was not correlated in 2000. The results indicate that the genetic and environmental conditions during the growth of wheat have a significant impact on the utilization of plant energy in weaner pigs, and that greater attention needs to be paid to these influences in the assignment of energy values for wheats given to weaner pigs.

Adaptation to the digestion of nutrients of a starch diet or a non-starch polysaccharide diet in group-housed pregnant sows.

A trial was conducted with twenty group-housed pregnant sows to study the adaptation in nutrient digestibility to a starch-rich diet or a diet with a high level of fermentable non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) during a time period of 6 weeks. The starch-rich diet was primarily composed of wheat, peas and tapioca, whereas soya bean hulls and sugar beet pulp, which both are highly fermentable NSP sources, were used to formulate the NSP-rich diet. The starch-rich diet and the NSP-rich diet were formulated to contain different levels of starch (298 vs. 78 g/kg) and fermentable NSP (100 vs. 300 g/kg), but a similar level of net energy (NE) (8.36 MJ/kg). The trial consisted of a 1-week adaptation period followed by a 5-week collection period. Weekly apparent faecal digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fat, ash and NSP were measured by using the acid-insoluble ash marker method. Apparent faecal digestibilities of DM and organic matter (OM) of both diets were similar. Faecal digestibility of CP and crude fat was lower (p < 0.001) whereas that of NSP was higher (p < 0.001) for sows that received the NSP-rich diet. Calculated NE values of both diets were similar. Sows fed the NSP-rich diet produced faeces that contained a lower (p < 0.001) DM content compared with sows that were fed with the starch-rich diet. The quantity of dry faeces was the same on both diets, therefore total faeces production (as-is basis) was higher (p < 0.01) for the sows fed the NSP-rich diet. During the 5-week collection period, no changes were observed in the digestibility of DM, OM and NSP in the NE value of the diets. Digestibilities of CP and fat, however, were lower in week 1 (p < 0.05) compared with weeks 2-5 for both diets. The DM content of the faeces and the quantity of dry faeces did not change from weeks 1-5. Diet by time interaction was not observed for any of the response variables indicating that sows adapt as quickly to a diet with a high level of fermentable NSP as to a starch-rich diet. The present trial shows that, with regard to digestibility of nutrients, pregnant sows completely adapt to a NSP-rich diet (i.e., NSP from sugar beet pulp) in 2 weeks and that the time period necessary to adapt to a starch-rich diet or a diet with a high level of fermentable NSP is similar.

The development of feedstuff retainable phosphorus values for broilers

Presently, phosphorus requirements are based on consumption of nonphytate phosphorus (NPP), which does not account for the fact that NPP may not be completely available and that phytate phosphorus can be partially utilized to fulfill phosphorus requirements. Phosphorus retention values for feed ingredients, accounting for NPP and phytate phosphorus, and total retainable phosphorus requirements are needed to formulate diets that meet the phosphorus requirements of poultry but that do not result in excessive amounts of phosphorus in poultry excreta. A bioassay was conducted to determine retention of phosphorus from calcium phosphates. Eight levels of a reagent-grade monocalcium phosphate, monohydrate, (MCP) were added to a cornsoy, semi-synthetic basal diet containing an acid-insoluble ash marker and offered to individually caged 10-d-old male broilers. After acclimation to the diets for 3 d, excreta were collected for 48 h. Diet and excreta samples were analyzed for total phosphorus, phytate phosphorus, and acid insoluble ash. Retentions of the basal total, NPP, and phytate phosphorus were determined to be 43.2, 65.5, and 32.3%, respectively. Retention of the phosphorus from different phosphorus sources was determined to be dependent on the amount of source included in the diet. The maximum retentions of total phosphorus, NPP, and phosphorus from MCP for the basal-MCP test diets were 67.6, 80.2, and 98%, respectively. The maximum retention of dietary retainable phosphorus occurred with a 2:1 ratio of 0.48% calcium and 0.24% retainable phosphorus. The retainable phosphorus intakes for 10-to-15-d-old broilers required to provide a steady physiological state was 108 mg/d, as determined by two-line regression analysis. Retainable phosphorus requirements based on segmented line regression analysis using bone strength measurements for 0-to-3-wk-old chicks and 3-to-6-wk-old broilers were 0.39 and 0.30%, respectively.

Methods of measuring feed digestibility in the green abalone ( Haliotis fulgens)

Various methods of calculating feed digestibility in the green abalone were compared. The total fecal collection technique was evaluated by comparing it with two different marker methods, one external (chromic oxide) and one internal (acid-insoluble ash). To obtain this information, a funnel-shaped digestibility chamber was designed. All the chambers (experimental units) were suspended in a square tank (200-l capacity) containing aerated seawater and with airflow and temperature kept constant (0.5 l/min, 19±0.5 °C). Two abalone (2 years old; 4.8±0.69 cm; 14.1±6.04 g) were placed in each chamber. All animals were fed daily with a similar diet containing 1% chromic oxide. After 1 week of acclimatization to the chambers and the experimental diet, feces were collected for the next 45 days to ensure that there were sufficient samples to perform all the evaluations. The results showed that the digestibility coefficients obtained with total collection and with acid-insoluble ash marker were similar (80.5±2.73% vs. 84.4±5.21%, respectively), whereas using a chromic oxide marker produced a significantly lower value (61.7±2.0%). The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed. We also suggest some modifications to enable the acid-insoluble ash method to be run using a smaller sample size (200 mg).

Diatom Biostratigraphy of the Kazusa Group, Boso Peninsula, Honshu, Japan.

Since the Kazusa Group is considered as the candidate to stratotype of the Early-Middle Pleistocene boundary in the Pacific region, it is urgent to investigate the Kokumoto Formation as a member formation of the Kazusa Group. The paleomagnetic boundary between C1r (Matuyama) and C1n (Brunhes) is recognized at the ash marker bed “Shirao” in the middle part of the Kokumoto Formation. The diatoms from the Otadai, Umegase, Kokumoto, Kakinokidai, and Chonan Formations along the Yoro River, in the middle part of the Boso Peninsula, about 80km southeast of Tokyo, have been studied. The marine sequences are dominated by shelf-water Paralia sulcata (Ehrenberg) Kützing indicating shallow water sedimentation. The seven diatom datum levels (biohorizons) allow precise correlation in the transitional region of the northwest Pacific Ocean. Among them the four biohorizons appear synchronous near the Early-Middle Pleistocene boundary in the Kokumoto Formation: LO (last occurrence) of Actinocyclus oculatus Jousé and LO of Rhizosolenia matuyamai Burckle at the lower part of the boundary, and LO of Nitzschia fossilis (Frenguelli) Kanaya and LO of Nitzschia reinholdii Kanaya at the upper part of the boundary. The regressions were recognized twice at the basal part of C1r. 1n (Jaramillo) in the Otadai Formation and across the C1r and C1n (Early-Middle Pleistocene boundary) in the Kokumoto Formation. The Kokumoto Formation is suitable as the candidate to stratotype of the Lower-Middle Pleistocene boundary of the Pacific region based on diatom biostratigraphy.

The effect of storage of cereal grain and enzyme supplementation on measurements of AME and broiler chick performance

There is a concern that feeding newly harvested cereal grain results in poor performance in poultry. A broiler chick apparent metabolizable energy (AME) bioassay was used to measure changes in feeding value of wheat (n = 14), hulless (n = 10) and hulled (n = 14) barley with or without a commercial enzyme appropriate for wheat- or barley-based diets. In the broiler chick bioassay, four pens of six male broiler chicks were fed ad lib, from 4 to 17 d, diets containing 80% of a test cereal grain and a high-protein basal mixture containing 1% “celite” as an acid-insoluble ash marker. Each of the cereal-grain-based diets, with or without enzyme, was tested within 3 mo of harvest and again 6 mo later. With cereal grain storage there were consistent (P &lt; 0.05) increases in feed intake (FI) between 4 and 17 d and body weight (BW) at 17 d of age with wheat-based diets fed wit h (12.5 and 16.9%, respectively, for FI and BW) or without (16.1 and 22.7%) enzyme. In hulless barley diets without enzyme, there was a significant improvement in BW (7.5%) with storage, while storage had a significant effect on FI and BW (2.9 and 6.3%, respectively) when fed with enzyme. For all other barley diets there was a positive effect of storage on FI and BW, but it was not significant. Feed conversion ratios decreased marginally (P &gt; 0.05) with storage of cereal grain. AME of diets was improved within each period by enzyme supplementation. However, there were measurable decreases (P &lt; 0.05) in AME with storage of cereal grains for the three cereal grains with enzyme supplementation (ranging from –3.2 to –8.2%). The r2 of the above measurements for the different sources of cereal grain between storage periods ranged from 0.65 to 0.94, indicating that the relative ranking of the cereal grains, with respect to feeding value, remained similar during storage. Increases in FI with storage were not significantly related to the attempts of the broiler chicks, to maintain metabolizable energy (ME) intake. Therefore, this increases our concerns that “factors” in newly harvested cereal grains may exist and that they may limit voluntary feed intake and/or growth. Key words: Cereal grain storage, AME, broiler performance, wheat, barley