Cob Meal Research Articles

Effects of Substituting Corn Meal for Corn Cob Meal on Diets Acceptability, Growth Response and Cost of Diets Fed to Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus)

A seventy -day feeding trial was conducted to assess the replacement value of corn cob meal as a dietary replacement for corn meal in diets of Clarias gariepinus. The corn cob was treated with 2% NaOH. The treatment reduced the fibre and increased the protein contents of the corn cob. Six isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) diets were formulated and corn cob meal was included in the diets at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 100% inclusion levels designated as diets A, B, C, D, E, F, and G respectively, and diet H (commercial Coppens fish feed). The acceptability of the diets was studied using the time to strike the pellets and the acceptability index. The growth response and cost of diets were estimated. Results indicated that substituting corn meal with corn cob meal in diets fed to C. gariepinus juveniles increased the time taken by fish to strike dietary pellets. The higher the proportion of corn cob meal in the diet, the lower the acceptability of the diet to the fish. The least acceptable diet was diet G. The fish fed diet H recorded better weight gains and specific growth rate followed by the control diet and diet C respectively. There were significant differences between the control diets and the experimental diets (P < 0.05). The cost-benefit analysis showed that catfishes fed the control diets had a comparatively lower cost of diet per unit weight gain than the fish fed the corn cob-based diets. This was closely followed by diet C. This study demonstrated that corn cob meal can be successfully used to replace corn meal in the diets of Clarias gariepinus at inclusion levels of up to 30% but it is efficacious and cost-effective at a 20% inclusion level.

EFFECTS OF GRADED LEVELS OF CORN AND COB MEAL ON CARCASS PARAMETERS, ORGAN WEIGHT, VILLI MORPHOMETRIC, AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF TOPIGS NORSVIN TN70 WEANED PIGS

Thirty-two (32) TN70 (Topigs Norsvin) weaned pigs, aged 7 weeks, having an average weight of 10.5±0.5 kg were used to evaluate the effect of corn and cob meal (CCM) on the carcass parameters, organ weight, villi morphometric, and organoleptic properties of the pigs. CCM was produced by grinding the grain and the cob together. The pigs were acclimatized for seven days before they were randomly allotted to four (4) dietary treatments with eight (8) pigs per replicate in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for seven weeks. The feed had 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% corn and cob meal (CCM) in the diets tagged as D1, D2, D3, and D4 respectively. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and the means were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Except for the eviscerated weight, back fat, and loin, all the carcass parameters were significantly influenced (P<0.05). The weight of the visceral organs was significantly influenced (P<0.05) except for the weight of the lungs. All the villi morphometric parameters differed significantly (P<0.05) except the crypt width. CCM influenced (P<0.05) the colour, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability of the meat. The use of 30% CCM stimulated pancreas hypertrophy, increased carcass weight, belly, ham, picnic shoulder, villi height, muscle thickness, and improved organoleptic properties.

352 Effects of Including a Novel High-Anthocyanin Corn Cob Meal in a High-Roughage Diet on Performance and Gas Flux of Beef Cattle

Abstract Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas emitted by cattle that is produced as a byproduct of ruminal fermentation. Dietary inclusion of anthocyanins has previously decreased in vitro CH4 production from both high- and low-roughage diets. Anthocyanins potentially sequester hydrogen in the rumen which may limit CH4 production from methanogenic bacteria. As such, feeding anthocyanins represents a promising CH4 mitigation strategy. Thus, the objective of this preliminary experiment was to determine the effects of replacing conventional [CONV; 0.04 mg anthocyanin×g-1 of dry matter (DM)] corn cob meal (CCM) with a novel high-anthocyanin (Hi-A) CCM [TAMZ101 corn hybrid (4.99 mg anthocyanin×g-1 DM; Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Lubbock, TX)] in a high-roughage (40% DM) diet on growth performance and gas flux of beef cattle. Steers (n =14; average initial body weight = 286 kg ± 17 kg) were trained to individual Calan bunks and randomly assigned to dietary treatments on d 0 using a completely randomized design, where 20% of total diet DM was either Hi-A or CONV CCM. The trial consisted of a 63-d feeding period in which carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, CH4 emission, and oxygen (O2) consumption (g×animal×d-1) were measured using a GreenFeed system (C-Lock Inc.; Rapid City, SD). Statistical analyses were conducted using JMP Pro v.16 (SAS Institute Inc.; Cary, NC) where individual animal served as the experimental unit and treatment was a fixed effect. Cook’s distance values were used to identify and remove outliers for each individual response variable. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05 with a tendency toward significance defined as 0.05 < P ≤ 0.10. Due to insufficient statistical power, 10.2% and 5.7% numeric increases were statistically undetectable in total dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.13; 1-ß = 0.31) and average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.19; 1-ß = 0.25) when CONV CCM was replaced with Hi-A CCM. Similarly, marginal numeric differences in feed efficiency, CO2 emission, daily CH4 emission, and O2 consumption were statistically undetectable across treatments (P ≥ 0.18; 1-ß ≤ 0.22). Numeric differences in DMI of steers fed Hi-A CCM contributed to a 7.5% decrease (P = 0.05; 1-ß = 0.51) in CH4 yield (g CH4×kg DMI-1) when compared with steers fed CONV CCM. Treatment did not affect CH4 emission intensity (g CH4×kg ADG-1; P = 0.26; 1-ß = 0.19). Results from this preliminary experiment and a previous in vitro experiment indicate that anthocyanins from Hi-A CCM have CH4 mitigation potential in high-roughage diets. Further research is warranted to determine if anthocyanins are effective at reducing CH4 yield across a range of diet compositions and if anthocyanins from Hi-A CCM can be extracted, condensed, and repackaged into a delivery system that is both economically and logistically feasible.

99 Dietary Inclusion of a High-Anthocyanin Corn Cob Meal into Feedlot Rations Reducesin Vitro Methane Emissions

Abstract Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas associated with global warming that is released as a byproduct of rumen fermentation. Two experiments were conducted to determine if dietary inclusion of a novel high anthocyanin (Hi-A) containing corn cob meal [CCM; 4.99 mg anthocyanin×g-1 of dry matter (DM)] influences in vitro CH4 emissions relative to a conventional CCM (CNV; 0.04 mg anthocyanin×g-1 of DM). High-roughage starter (experiment 1) and low-roughage finisher (experiment 2) diets were formulated to contain 20% and0% total CCM (DM-basis), respectively. Treatments were based on the proportion of Hi-A to CNV CCM within each diet and consisted of 0% (0A), 25% (25A), 50% (50A), 75% (75A), and 100% Hi-A (100A) CCM. In experiments 1 and 2, ruminal fluid was collected from 4 cannulated steers offered traditional feedlot starter or finisher diets, respectively. Filter bags (F57; ANKOM; Macedon, NY) were loaded with 0.5 g of substrate and 2 bags per ANKOM RF system were incubated in buffer and rumen fluid for 48 h at 39°C. Cumulative gas production was recorded at 10-min intervals. The concentration of CH4 as a proportion of total gas production (%CH4) was measured using gas chromatography after 48 h. Total gas production was fit to the Ørskov model to determine asymptotic and fractional rates of gas production. In experiment 1, there was a cubic relationship between total gas production and Hi-A CCM inclusion for the intercept, asymptote, and fractional gas production rate (P ≤ 0.04). There was also a cubic relationship between %CH4 and Hi-A CCM inclusion (P = 0.04), where 50A had the largest reduction relative to 0A at -19.6% (P = 0.05). Total CH4 production (mL CH4×g DM-1) also exhibited a cubic relationship with Hi-A-CCM inclusion (P = 0.03), where 100A produced 20% less CH4 than 0A. In experiment 2, there was a cubic relationship between total gas production and Hi-A CCM inclusion for the intercept and asymptote (P ≤ 0.02) of the Ørskov model; however, fractional gas production rate expressed a quadratic relationship (P < 0.01). Furthermore, a cubic relationship existed between %CH4 and Hi-A CCM inclusion, where 100A had the largest reduction relative to 0A (17.4%; P = 0.03). Lastly, there was a tendency for a cubic relationship between Hi-A CCM inclusion and total CH4 production (P = 0.06); however, 100A reduced total CH4 production by 22% relative to 0A (P = 0.01). Collectively, the greatest level of Hi-A CCM inclusion reduced total CH4 production relative to 0A in both starter and finisher diets. These results indicate that dietary inclusion of anthocyanins through CCM decreased CH4 emissions in vitro. Further research is needed to determine if anthocyanins from Hi-A CCM are effective at mitigating CH4 emissions in vivo.

Maxigrain® supplemented corn cob meal (CCM) utilization by Arbor acre chicks: performance and carcass characteristics at 0-4 weeks

In an experiment to investigate the effect of feeding corn cob meal (CCM) supplemented with Maxigrain®, one hundred and forty-four day-old Arbor acre chicks were fed 6 treatment diets for 28 days, and growth performance indices were assessed. There were 8 bird randomly allotted to each replicate and 3 replicates per treatment diet, in a 3×2 factorial completely randomized experimental design. The levels of CCM inclusion were 0, 25 and 50% and 2 levels of enzyme supplementation, 0g/kg and 0.1g/kg diet. Diet 1, 2 and 3 wer without enzyme while diets 4, 5 and 6 were supplemented with the enzyme cocktail,Maxigrain®. Feed and clean water were administered ad libitum, feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were assessed for the experimental period. Analyzed composition of diets had a dry matter range of 90.65 - 92.15%; metabolizable energy, 2849.42 to 2952.46 kcal/kg; crude protein 17.2 - 18.55%; a crude fibre range of 5.1 – 5.35% and ether extract of between 5.35 – 7.2%. Part replacement of maize with CCM significantly decreased FI from 1.01kg/replicate/day to 0.83 kg /replicate/day and also decreased dressed percent from 74.91 71.77% significantly (p<0.05). Birds fed 25% CCM supplemented with Maxigrai performed comparably to birds fed the control diets, 25% CCM with Maxigrain is therefore recommended.

In vitro gas fermentation kinetics of compounded ration containing graded levels of biodegraded corncob

Cob regarded as a waste product, constituting source of environmental pollution could be utilized as an energy source in feed formulation if properly processed and harnessed through fungal degradation. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the nutritive value of biodegraded corncob meal based diet using in vitro gas production technique. Aspergillus niger was isolated and sub-cultured to obtain a pure culture. Degraded corn cob meals(DCCM) of four dietary treatments were prepared to include: T (0% DCCM which served as 1 the control), T (15% DCCM), T (30% DCCM) and T (45% DCCM). Each diet sample 2 3 4 (200mg) was incubated in buffered rumen liquor for 48 hours and gas volume was estimated using established in vitro gas production models. Amount of gas volume produced was determined every 3 hours for 48 hours of incubation in buffered rumen fluid. After 48 hours ofincubation, methane gas produced was estimated and determined in triplicates. The proximate composition of Aspergillus niger biodegraded corn cob indicated that Aspergillus niger improved the nutritive value of the corn cob. Untreated corn cob meal was lower in nutritive values when compared with treated corncob meal with crude protein, crude fibre and ash values ranging from 6.88 to 9.78%, 32.68 to 26.37% and 2.87 to 2.88% respectively.The proximate composition of the dietary treatments showed that the crude protein varied from (11.67-12.67%), crude fibre (10.94-21.56%), ether extract (2.12-4.88%), ash (6.48- 9.44%) and nitrogen free extract (58.17-62.99%). Results obtained for volume of gas (35.960-72.770mL/200mgDM) produced in time “t” denoted by (b) were significantly different (P<0.05) across the dietary treatments. However, rate of gas production (0.0297- 0.0425mL/hr) and time between incubation and gas production (2.083-2.683hr) were not significantly different (P>0.05) across the dietary treatments. Cumulative gas volumeproduction at 24 hours were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by different inclusion levels of DCCM with values obtained ranging from T (15.33 ml/gDM) to T (35.33 ml/gDM). There 4 3 were significant differences (P<0.05) across the dietary treatments. The post estimated parameters ranging from metabolisable energy (4.96-7.74MJ/Kg DM), organic matter digestibility (37.98-58.03%), short chain fatty acids (0.31-0.78μmol), Methane estimate (3-8 ml/200mgDM) and Carbon dioxide estimate (10-30 ml/200mgDM). It can be concluded that 30% DCCM based diet had the potential of meeting the nutritional needs as smallruminant livestock feeds, if properly biodegraded and incorporated into feeds.

Intensification of cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis by microwave pretreatment

A significant representative of the third generation of raw materials is waste containing hemicellulose. Agriculture and the food industry generate a great deal of this type of waste, which has many potential opportunities for processing. Our research group investigated the pre-treatments for the enzymatic saccharification of the cellulose content of the two fractions of corn cob meal. Microwave energy communication was performed in both acidic and alkaline media. It was found that the pH of the medium influences the amount of reducing sugars, but to an almost equal extent. The yield is also significantly dependent on the starting material and the concentration of the suspension.

Glycaemic and insulinaemic responses of adult healthy warm-blooded mares following feeding with Jerusalem artichoke meal.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the supplementation of a pre-biotic compound [Jerusalem artichoke meal (JAM)] on the glycaemic and insulinaemic response in healthy, non-obese warm-blooded horses. Six adult mares [mean body weight (bwt) 529±38.7kg; body condition score 5.1±0.49/9] were used. In two equal meals per day, the horses received crushed oat grains (1g starch/kg bwt per day) and meadow hay (2kg/100kg bwt per day) which together were likely to meet the energy recommendation for light work (GfE, ). Additionally, they received either 0.15g fructo-oligosaccharides and inulin (FOS+INU)/kg bwt per day via commercial JAM or maize cob meal without grains as control (CON) in 2×3-week periods according to a crossover design. Blood was collected on d21 of the feeding period at different ante- and postprandial (PP) time points (-60, 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300min), and the plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were determined. Feeding JAM vs. CON did not change the PP peak of glucose or insulin (glucose: 6.3±0.40 vs. 7.0±0.87mmol/l; insulin: 0.508±0.087 vs. 0.476±0.082nmol/l) nor did it cause different AUCs until 120 and 300min PP for glucose and insulin, respectively (AUC120 , glucose: 997±41.6 vs. 1015±41.63mmol/l per minute, insulin: 49±6.3 vs. 42±6.3nmol/l per minute; AUC300 , glucose: 1943±142.3 vs. 2115±142.3mmol/l per minute, insulin: 94±14.8 vs. 106±14.8nmol/l per minute; p>0.05). Following JAM vs. CON feeding, glucose and insulin levels declined more rapidly until 240min PP and tended to be lower (p=0.053 and p=0.056, respectively) at this time point. This result might be promising and should further be studied more detailed.

Relationship between feed characteristics and histomorphometry of small intestines of growing pigs

The use of agricultural by-products has become the central focus in reducing feed costs in pig production. However, there is a need to determine how the gastrointestinal tract of pigs responds when subjected to fibrous ingredients. The objective of the study was to predict villi height and apparent villi surface area from physicochemical measurements of maize cob-based diets. Eighteen growing male pigs (initial bodyweight 14.3 ± 1.20 kg) were used in the experiment. The pigs were penned individually and subjected to diets containing 0 g, 80 g, 160 g, 240 g, 320 g, and 400 g maize cob meal/kg diet. Feed and water were provided ad libitum . Using stepwise regression, bulk density (BD) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were the best predictor variables influencing villi height (VH) and apparent villi surface area (AVSA). VH produced quadratic and linear responses with BD and NDF, respectively. The equations are VH = 211.3(BD) 2 – 591.0(BD) + 442.4; and VH = 0.03(NDF) + 22.8. Conversely, AVSA produced quadratic and linear responses with NDF and BD, respectively. The equations are AVSA = 0.00036(NDF) 2 – 0.012(NDF) +7.25 and AVSA = - 47.12(BD) + 45.03. In conclusion, the BD and NDF of a feed could be used to predict VH and AVSA of growing pigs fed maize cobs. Keywords : maize cob meal, mucosa lining, physicochemical properties, visceral organs

Aflatoxin B1 Contamination of Dairy Feeds after Storage in Farm Practice in Tropical Environmen.

The objective of this study was to determine the contamination of aflatoxin B1 (AF-B1) when keeping various dairy feeds in a farm environment. The study was carried out from March to May 2011 and involved 63 small holder dairy farms belonging to a single dairy cooperative in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. All feed samples used for milking cows including 4 commercial concentrates (CC1 to CC4), by-products from local corn processing factories fermented in plastic bags (SIL), and corn and cob meal or corn dust (CCD). Feed samples were collected 2 times at before and after storage. Farmers were requested to store CC1 to CC4 and CCD for a month and SIL for a week using their routine on-farm storage arrangements. All samples were measured for their AF-B1 concentrations by ELISA. Results showed that AF-B1 concentrations of CC1 to CC4, SIL and CCD before storage were 5.1, 4.1, 4.0, 4.2, 5.5 and 5.5 μg/kg, respectively, and after storage the concentration of AF-B1 were 9.7, 6.5, 9.8, 12.3, 11.4 and 20.0 μg/kg, respectively. CCD at after storage was the only feed that had mean level more than 20 μg/kg. Concentrations of AF- B1 at before storage in all feeds were significantly lower than after storage (P<0.01), and the increased ratio of AF-B1 levels was approximately 2 to 3 times. The study concluded that increased AF-B1 levels are related to feed types and farm conditions.

Fermentation Characteristics along the Gastrointestinal Tract after Feeding of Jerusalem Artichoke Meal to Adult Healthy Warmblood Horses

Objective: Prebiotics are used to support the gastrointestinal health via stimulating particular beneficial parts of the autochthonous microflora and enhancing their metabolism.Horses often suffer from gastrointestinal disturbances after feed changes or behavioral stress in response to transport. Therefore, the supplementation with prebiotic compounds might reduce the risk for intestinal dysregulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of supplementation with Jerusalem artichoke meal (JAM) in a recommended prebiotic dosage on fermentation characteristics in the equine gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Twelve adult healthy horses received crushed oat grains (1.2 g starch/kg BW x d-1) and meadow hay (as fed basis; 1.5 kg/100 kg BW x d-1). Additionally, they were fed either an apparently prebiotic quantity of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin (0.2 g/kg BW x d-1) via Jerusalem artichoke meal (JAM) or an equal amount of maize cob meal without grains as control (CON) over 3 weeks. On d21, horses were euthanized, gastrointestinal contents were removed from 7 different regions of the gastrointestinal tract, the dry matter (DM) content, pH value and concentrations of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), L- and D-lactate and ammonia were measured. Results: JAM did not had a significant (P 0.05), lactate (both isomers, P > 0.05) and ammonia (P 0.05) and ammonia (P > 0.05) but lower L-lactate (P > 0.05) concentrations compared to control.

Effects of feeding incremental levels of maize cob meal on physicochemical properties of bulkiness in digesta in growing pigs

The objective of the study was to assess the influence of inclusion levels of maize cob meal on the physicochemical measurements of feed bulk of digesta in different gastrointestinal tract segments of growing pigs. Eighteen pigs were allocated to each of six diets containing maize cob levels at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400g/kg DM inclusion levels. The initial mean body weight (BW) was 14±1.2kg and the pigs were fed ad libitum. After four weeks, weights of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) segments were recorded and the contents of digesta from the stomach and intestines were sampled for analyses of water holding capacity (WHC) and swelling capacity (SWC). In general, the WHC of digesta increased (P<0.05) from the stomach to ileum then decreased as the digesta moved through the hindgut. The WHC of digesta in the stomach, ileum and caecum decreased (P<0.05) with maize cob inclusion level. The SWC in the stomach decreased with the inclusion level of maize cob meal. The SWC of caecal digesta increased with maize cob inclusion level (P<0.05). Maize cob inclusion level had no effect on pH of all segments, except in the distal colon. Changes in the bulkiness of digesta along the GIT are, therefore, influenced by maize cob inclusion level in pig diets.

Expression of manganese peroxidase by Lentinula edodes and Lentinula boryana in solid state and submerged system fermentation

The production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is referred as a second generation biofuel, whose processing is one of the most promising technologies under development. There are few available studies on the use of enzymes produced by fungi as active for the biodegradation of lignocellulosic biomass. However, the manganese peroxidase (MnP) enzyme presents high potential to degrade lignin and the basidiomycetes are the major producers of this oxidase. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the ability of fungi Lentinula edodes and Lentinula boryana to produce this enzyme when cultivated in submerged fermentation system (SS) and also in solid-state fermentation system (SSF) containing Eucalyptus benthamii sawdust with or without corn cob meal. In the SS the greatest MnP expression occurred on the 25th day, being of 70 UI.L-1 for L. boryana and of 20 UI.L-1 for L. edodes. In the SSF, the best results were obtained on the 10th day for L. edodes, while for L. boryana it happened between the 20th and the 25th days, despite both species presented values close to 110 UI.L-1. Therefore, the results indicated that the studied fungi express the enzyme of interest and that its production is enhanced when cultivated in solid system.

Optimization of antioxidant exopolysaccharidess production by Bacillus licheniformis in solid state fermentation

Response surface methodology was applied to optimize physical and nutritional variables for the production of antioxidant exopolysaccharidess (EPSs) by Bacillus licheniformis UD061 in solid state fermentation with squid processing byproduct and maize cob meal used as a carbon and nitrogen source and solid matrix. The factors noted with Plackett–Burman design for optimization of EPSs production were NaCl, MgSO4·7H2O, and moisture level. These factors were further optimized using Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology. Using this methodology, the quadratic regression model of EPSs production was built. Maximum EPSs production was obtained under the optimal conditions of 4.08gL−1 NaCl, 0.71gL−1 MgSO4·7H2O, and 60.49% moisture level. A production of 14.68mggds−1, which was well in agreement with the predicted value, was achieved by this optimized procedure.

Effect of feeding varying levels of corn cob meal on the performance, organ weights and serum metabolites of broiler finisher birds

One hundred and twenty (120) Anak broiler birds were used to study the effect offeeding Corn cob meal on the growth performance, organ weights and serum metabolites. The birds were divided into 4 treatment groups. Four finisher diets were formulated with 0, 5, 10 and 15% Corn cob meal inclusion and fed to the birds in a completely randomized design (CRD). The results showed significant differences (p 0.05) between treatments. The organ weights (liver, heart and gizzard) did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between treatment groups. Serum metabolites were similar (p>0.050) between treatments, except for sodium and cholesterol, which differed significantly (p>0.0.50). The results of this study suggest that corn cob meal diets were not detrimental to the growth performance, organ weights and serum metabolites of broiler finisher birds. Keywords: Growth performance, organ, weight, serum metabolites, broilers

Effect of feeding corn cob meal on the growth, nutrient digestibility and organ characteristics of finisher broilers

One hundred and twenty (120) five weeks old Anak broiler finisher birds were used to study the effect of corn cob meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and organ weight characteristics. The birds were divided into 4 treatment groups of 30 birds each and further replicated thrice (10 birds per replicate). Four finisher diets were formulated with 0, 5, 10 and 15% corn cob meal and fed to the birds in a completely randomized design (CRD). The results showed significant differences (p0.05) between treatments. The organ weights (Liver, heart and gizzard) did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between the treatment groups. Nutrient digestibility results showed that crude protein and neutral ether extract differed significantly (p0.05) between treatments. The results of this study suggest that feeding 5% corn cob meal diet was not detrimental to the performance of broilers at the finisher level.Keywords: Poultry, nutrient digestibility, corn cob, broilers, performance, organs

Desempenho produtivo de ovinos em confinamento alimentados com diferentes dietas

Avaliaram-se o desempenho produtivo e a viabilidade econômica da utilização de diferentes dietas na terminação de ovinos. Foram utilizados 20 ovinos machos inteiros com sete meses de idade e peso vivo inicial de 25kg. O experimento teve duração de 60 dias, sendo que os animais tiveram sete dias de adaptação às dietas e 53 para o período de pesagens, coletas das sobras e dietas oferecidas. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições: milho + soja + feno de Tifton 85 (DR); milho + soja + caju + feno de Tifton 850 (DC); milho + soja + maracujá + feno de Tifton 85 (DM); milho desintegrado com palha e sabugo (MDPS) + feno de leucena + feno de Tifton 85 (DL). Observou-se efeito do tratamento (P&lt;0,05) sobre consumo de matéria seca (CMS), consumo de proteína bruta (CPB) e consumo de fibra em detergente neutro (CFDN). Os ganhos médios diários de peso, em gramas, foram 171,60, 218,80, 217,20, 187,00 para os tratamentos DR, DC, DM e DL, respectivamente. Registrou-se menor CMS, CPB e CFDN para o tratamento DL. Não foi observada influência das dietas sobre o rendimento de carcaça quente e fria. A análise econômica revelou valores de benefício líquido de R$-20,40; R$44,77; R$31,41; 39,10 e taxa de retorno de -12,4%; 31,8%; 20,6%; 32,8% para os tratamentos DR, DC, DM e DL, respectivamente.

Growth performance and carcass traits of Large White, Mukota and Large White ✕ Mukota F1crosses given graded levels of maize cob meal

AbstractA study was conducted to compare the performance of Mukota, Large White (LW) and LW ✕ Mukota F1pigs given increasing levels of maize cob meal. Sixteen female weaners of each genotype were given, ad libitum, diets containing 0, 100, 200 and 300 g maize cob meal per kg of diet for 14 weeks. The diets were designed to contain similar levels of protein (ca. 160 g crude protein per kg) and energy (ca. 9 MJ metabolizable energy per kg). Average daily food intake per unit metabolic body weight (ADFI per kg M0·75), average daily gain (ADG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) were determined. The pigs were slaughtered and cold dressed mass (CDM) and backfat thickness were determined for each pig. The ADFI per kg M0·75was similar among the four diets for the three genotypes. The rate of decline in ADG was higher (P &lt; 0·05) in the LW than in the other two genotypes. The FCR in the Mukota was poorer (P &lt; 0·05) than that in the LW and the F1crosses. The Mukota had the highest (P &lt; 0·05) backfat thickness (K5 and K7·5) values of the three genotypes across the four diets, followed by the F1crosses. The CDM values for the LW and the F1crosses were similar and were higher (P &lt; 0·05) than those for the Mukota. The findings indicate that F1crosses and the Mukota were better able to utilize diets containing high levels of maize cob meal than LW pigs.

Digestibility of high fibre diets and performance of growing Zimbabwean indigenous Mukota pigs and exotic Large White pigs fed maize based diets with graded levels of maize cobs

A comparative study was performed to determine the digestibility and performance in Zimbabwean indigenous Mukota pigs and exotic Large White pigs fed high fibre diets. Maize cob meal was used as the source of dietary fibre at levels of 0, 100, 200 and 300 g/kg. In the digestibility experiment (Experiment 1), four male pigs from each breed were used in a Latin square design. In the feeding trial (Experiment 2), 16 male pigs from each of the two breeds were used in a 2×4 factorial. Polynomial regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between maize cob levels with digestibility of nutrients, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). In Experiment 1, increasing fibre levels in the diets resulted in a linear decrease ( P<0.05) in the apparent digestibility of energy, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre for both breeds, except for dry matter (DM) CF in the Mukota, which exhibited a quadratic decrease. The rate of decrease in digestibility of all the nutrients was greater in Large White than Mukota pigs. In the feeding trial, there was no effect ( P>0.05) of maize cob level on feed intake for both Large White and Mukota pigs. The decrease in ADG in the Large White was linear ( β=0.0043; R 2=0.976) and quadratic in the Mukota pigs ( P<0.05). Large White pigs showed a higher rate of decrease in feed efficiency ( β=0.0348; R 2=0.936) than Mukota pigs ( β=0.0115; R 2=0.832; P<0.05) as the fibre level increased. It is concluded that maize cob inclusion reduces nutrient utilisation in both breeds, although Mukota pigs can utilise high fibre diets better than Large White pigs. These findings suggest that indigenous Mukota pigs are more appropriate to use than Large White pigs where high fibre diets are the available feed resources.

Influence of level of maize cob meal on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in Large White, Mukota and LW × M F1 crossbred pigs

AbstractA study was conducted to compare the digestibility of organic matter (OM), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF), hemicellulose and nitrogen (N) and N balance in Mukota (M), Large White (LW) and the LW × M F1 pigs. Four male pigs of each breed, at proportionately 0·3 of their mature body weights, were randomly allocated to each of four diets in a cross-over design. The diets, which were formulated to contain similar levels of protein (ca. 160 g crude protein per kg) and energy (ca. 9 MJ metabolizable energy per kg), contained 0, 100, 200 and 300 g maize cob meal per kg, which corresponded to NDF levels of 276·4, 360·3, 402·9 and 523·5 g/kg dry matter, respectively. There was a negative correlation (P &lt; 0·001) between the digestibility of OM, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose and the level of NDF in the diet. The digestibility of OM, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose decreased linearly (P &lt; 0·05) with increase in the level of NDF among all three genotypes. There was a genotype × diet interaction on NDF and ADF digestibilities with digestibility in the LW decreasing faster (P &lt; 0·05) than in the Mukota and LW × M F1 cross with increasing NDF. Both breed and level of maize cob meal affected N digestibility (P &lt; 0·001), whilst the N retained per unit metabolic body weight was only affected by diet (P &lt; 0·01). Increasing the level of maize cob meal beyond 100 g/kg, however, did not reduce N digestibility (P &lt; 0·05). There was neither genotype nor dietary effect (P &gt; 0·05) on N retained per unit N intake. These findings showed that the Mukota and the LW × M F1 cross were better able to digest the fibrous components than the LW. In addition, the Mukota and the LW × M F1 cross displayed an ability to retain protein to the same extent as the LW.