Consumption Of Grains Research Articles

The impact of cereal grain consumption on the development and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

There is evidence that dietary habits contribute to the presence and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the present study was to explore any associations between consumption of grains and the development and severity of NAFLD. Seventy-three consecutive NAFLD patients were enrolled. Additionally, 58 controls matched for age, sex and body mass index with 58 patients were also included. Consumption of grains was estimated through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Medical history, anthropometric indices, body composition analysis, physical activity data, biochemical and inflammatory markers were available for all the participants. Liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography was performed in 58 and liver biopsy in 34 patients. In patients, consumption of whole grains was associated with lower abdominal fat level (β = -0.24, p = 0.02) and lower levels of insulin resistance index (β = -0.28, p = 0.009), while it also correlated inversely with interleukin-6 levels (ρ = -0.23, p = 0.05). Consumption of whole grains was associated with lower likelihood of having histological steatohepatitis (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.000), after adjusting for sex and energy intake, but the association became weaker after further adjusting for abdominal fat or interleukin-6 levels. In the case-control analysis, consumption of refined grains was associated with higher odds of having NAFLD (OR 1.021, 95% CI 1.001-1.042), after adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, abdominal fat level, HOMA-IR, LDL, adiponectin and TNF-α. Although refined grain consumption increased the likelihood of having NAFLD, whole-grain consumption favorably affected clinical characteristics of patients with NAFLD and tended to be associated with less severe disease.

Effects of Dietary Factors on Selenium Levels of Children to Prevent Kashin–Beck Disease During a High-Prevalence Period in an Endemic Area: a Cohort Study

Selenium (Se) supplements have been used to control Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) for decades, but the effect of diet without Se supplements is unclear because the prevalence of KBD has decreased. This matched cohort study was undertaken to determine dietary factors affecting selenium nutrition status of children living in KBD areas and the effects of Se supplements in preventing KBD. A total of 593 children aged 5-12years were randomly selected during the high prevalence period of KBD from 1992 to 1995. Children in one village received Se supplemented (Se+) salt and were matched with three children in 16 other villages who did not receive Se supplemented (Se-) salt. A questionnaire and determinations of occipital hair Se to reflect body Se status were obtained at baseline (April 1992), at 6months (October 1992), and yearly each April through 1995. Hair Se content in the Se+ group was significantly higher than in the Se- group (P < 0.001) at all time-points and was significantly related to the incidence of suspected KBD symptoms (P = 0.018). Four dietary factors significantly affected hair Se contents. Se levels were increased by consumption of Se+ salt (P < 0.001) and eating meat/egg often (P = 0.019) or occasionally (P = 0.001). Se levels were decreased by consumption of grain mildewed at harvest or in storage (P < 0.001 for each) and drinking ditch, river, or cellar water (P < 0.001; P = 0.002; P < 0.001, respectively). These results show that Se+ salt had a significant effect in maintaining the Se nutrition status of children in this cohort study but that dietary factors in those without Se supplements contributed as well.

Ergotism in Norway. Part 1: The symptoms and their interpretation from the late Iron Age to the seventeenth century

Ergotism is a horrendous disease with grotesque symptoms caused by ingesting specific ergot alkaloids. Mass poisoning episodes are attributable to consumption of grain - usually rye - infected with the fungus Claviceps purpurea. By focusing on possible cases of ergotism, we re-examine Norwegian history from the sagas through to the end of the seventeenth century. Our review - not intended to be exhaustive, or ex post facto to assign medical or psychiatric labels - draws attention to the very real possibility that many remarkable medical cases may have been the result of the ingestion of highly poisonous and psychoactive food substances. Where possible we highlight explanations given at the time - often rooted in religion or demonology - to explain the disease.

Do the Spanish university students follow Mediterranean dietary patterns?

To determine the pattern of food intake among the students of the University of Alicante (UA) by the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Descriptive trans-sectional study estimating the individual intake by means of a questionnaire of food intake frequency (QFIF) in a representative sample of 380 college students. age, gender, geographical area of origin, self-communicated weight and height; types and intake frequencies of the foods included in the QFIF. The percentage of adherence was calculated taking into account the actual intake and the intake recommended in the guideline of traditional Mediterranean diet: 100 x servings consumed/recommended servings. We established 5 ranges of percentage of adherence: optimal intake (80%-119%), acceptable intake (60%-79%), deficient intake (40%-59%), very deficient intake (< 39%), excessive intake (> 120%). We analyzed the differences in proportions distribution and the Student's t test with EPIDAT 3.1 and SPSS 15.0. The prevalence of overweight/obesity is higher in men (34.6%) than in women (9.8%), p < 0.001, whereas women had higher prevalence of low weight (7.0%) than men (0.7%), p < 0.05. The consumption of grains and derivatives was very deficient (women = 90.6; men = 94.9) whereas the intake of red meats (women = 90.6; men = 92.7) and cold meats (women = 95.9%, men = 96.3%) was excessive. No student had an "optimal intake" or an "acceptable intake" of all the dietary groups (n = 12). The educational level and access to the information do not protect the university population from socio-environmental factors that have an influence on their dietary habits. The public health strategies focused on this population group should be strengthen.

Strong Positive Associations Between Seafood, Vegetables, and Alcohol With Blood Mercury and Urinary Arsenic Levels in the Korean Adult Population

Blood mercury and urinary arsenic levels are more than fivefold greater in the Korean population compared with those of the United States. This may be related to the foods people consumed. Therefore, we examined the associations between food categories and mercury and arsenic exposure in the Korean adult population. Data regarding nutritional, biochemical, and health-related parameters were obtained from a cross-sectional study, the 2008-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (3,404 men and women age ≥ 20 years). The log-transformed blood mercury and urinary arsenic levels were regressed against the frequency tertiles of each food group after covariate adjustment for sex, age, residence area, education level, smoking status, and drinking status using food-frequency data. Blood mercury levels in the high consumption groups compared to the low consumption groups were elevated by about 20 percents with salted fish, shellfish, whitefish, bluefish, and alcohol, and by about 9-14 percents with seaweeds, green vegetables, fruits and tea, whereas rice did not affect blood mercury levels. Urinary arsenic levels were markedly increased with consumption of rice, bluefish, salted fish, shellfish, whitefish, and seaweed, whereas they were moderately increased with consumption of grains, green and white vegetables, fruits, coffee, and alcohol. The remaining food categories tended to lower these levels only minimally. In conclusion, the typical Asian diet, which is high in rice, salted fish, shellfish, vegetables, alcoholic beverages, and tea, may be associated with greater blood mercury and urinary arsenic levels. This study suggests that mercury and arsenic contents should be monitored and controlled in soil and water used for agriculture to decrease health risks from heavy-metal contamination.

Effects of Rice Consumption on Selected Indicators of Nutritional Status

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans continue to recommend increased consumption of grains, particularly whole grains. The specific types of whole grains are rarely specified. The present study was aimed as evaluating whether rice consumption, both white and brown, had any association with nutrient intake, diet quality or body mass index. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2008, combined with the Food Commodity Intake Database (FCID), were used. Study participants were categorized into three levels: high rice consumers, medium rice consumers, and zero rice consumers. Rice consumers had a significantly higher intake of calcium, thiamin and folate but not other nutrients. Rice consumers, both medium and high, were more likely to have a body mass index less than 25.0 (p&lt;0.05), despite the fact that the high rice consuming group had significantly higher energy intakes. Diet quality as measured by the USDA Healthy Eating Index was higher for rice consumers. These results suggest that the type of grain, as well as amount of grain, consumed may be an important influence on nutritional status.

Cadmium exposure and pancreatic cancer in south Louisiana.

Cadmium has been hypothesized to be a pancreatic carcinogen. We test the hypothesis that cadmium exposure is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer with a population-based case-control study sampled from a population with persistently high rates of pancreatic cancer (south Louisiana). We tested potential dietary and nondietary sources of cadmium for their association with urinary cadmium concentrations which reflect long-term exposure to cadmium due to the accumulation of cadmium in the kidney cortex. Increasing urinary cadmium concentrations were significantly associated with an increasing risk of pancreatic cancer (2nd quartile OR = 3.34, 3rd = 5.58, 4th = 7.70; test for trend P ≤ 0.0001). Potential sources of cadmium exposure, as documented in the scientific literature, found to be statistically significantly associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer included working as a plumber, pipefitter or welder (OR = 5.88) and high consumption levels of red meat (4th quartile OR = 6.18) and grains (4th quartile OR = 3.38). Current cigarette smoking, at least 80 pack years of smoking, occupational exposure to cadmium and paints, working in a shipyard, and high consumption of grains were found to be statistically significantly associated with increased concentrations of urinary cadmium. This study provides epidemiologic evidence that cadmium is a potential human pancreatic carcinogen.

The risk of child and adolescent overweight is related to types of food consumed

Background/AimsTo investigate the association between the risk of overweight and the consumption of food groups in children and adolescents.MethodsWe studied 1764 healthy children and adolescents (age 6-19y) attending 16 Seventh-Day Adventist schools and 13 public schools using a 106-item non-quantitative food frequency questionnaire from the late 1980 Child-Adolescent Blood Pressure Study. Logistic regression models were used to compute the risk of overweight according to consumption of grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, meats/fish/eggs, dairy, and, low nutrient-dense foods (LNDF).ResultsThe frequency of consumption of grains, nuts, vegetables and LNDF were inversely related to the risk of being overweight and dairy increased the risk. Specifically, the odds ratio (95% CI) for children in the highest quartile or tertile of consumption compared with the lowest quartile or tertile were as follows: grains 0.59(0.41-0.83); nuts 0.60(0.43-0.85); vegetables 0.67(0.48-0.94); LNDF 0.43(0.29-0.63); and, dairy 1.36(0.97, 1.92).ConclusionThe regular intake of specific plant foods may prevent overweight among children and adolescents.

Study on transition of dietary patterns in Jiangsu province, 1989–2009, China

To study the longitudinal transition of dietary patterns among residents in one of the richer provinces in China, Jiangsu Province from 1989 to 2009, we used a subpopulation of adults aged 18 and older in 6 cities and counties from China Health and Nutrition Survey. Experienced physicians collected detailed dietary data by weighing method in combination with 3 consecutive 24‐hour recalls. All statistical analyses were conducted using SAS version 8.0. There were a decrease in the consumption of grain and a significant increase in animal foods. While energy and protein met the Chinese national Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI), there were marked changes in fat intake and a rapid increase in the consumption of dairy products and the proportion of energy intake from fat, mainly from vegetable oils. A reduction of the gaps in calcium intake below the Chinese RNI occurred. The prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI≥24) among men increased almost fivefold from 9.4% in 1989 to 41.1% in 2009, with an acceleration in the annual prevalence level increase over the past decade. Hypertension over this period grew from 7.8% in men and 4.8% in women to 37.6% and 30.8% respectively in 2009. The dietary transition in Jiangsu has seen a marked shift in the sources of calories with a marked increase of dietary fat. Overweight, obesity and hypertension are increasingly prevalent.This study was supported by NIH (R01‐HD30880) and Fogarty International Center, NIH (5D43TW007709).

Effects of feeding wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on blood biochemistry and the effectiveness of dietary lignin treatment to alleviate mycotoxin adverse effects in broiler chickens

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on some biochemical parameters and the efficacy of lignin to alleviate adverse effects of fusariotoxins in broiler chickens. Eighty, 1-d-old ROSS 308 broiler chicks of both sexes were used in the experiment. All birds received the control diet for two weeks and then they were fed experimental diets for two more weeks. The 4 diets included the following: 1.) negative control diet (0.1 mg DON/kg diet; 0.005 mg ZEA/kg diet), 2.) positive control diet (0.1 mg DON/kg diet, 0.005 mg ZEA/kg diet + 0.5% lignin), 3.) mycotoxin-contaminated diet (2.95 mg DON/kg diet, 1.59 mg ZEA/kg diet) and 4.) mycotoxincontaminated diet with the addition of lignin at 0.5% of the diet (2.95 mg DON/kg diet, 1.59 mg ZEA/kg diet + 0.5% lignin). The feeding of contaminated wheat did not significantly affect parameters of mineral metabolism, including calcium, chlorides and phosphorus. Decreased levels of total protein, albumin and potassium were observed. However, dietary supplementation with lignin prevented this effect. Plasma triglycerides and free glycerol levels were not affected by dietary treatments. There was a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and magnesium and cholesterol levels in plasma from birds fed contaminated wheat. Inclusion of lignin in the diet reversed elevated alkaline phosphatase activity in chicks induced by mycotoxin-contaminated diet. Results indicated that consumption of grain naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins can adversely affect chickens' metabolism. As a food additive, lignin was not effective in the prevention of Fusarium mycotoxins effects in chickens.

Can Drought Increase Total Calorie Availability? The Impact of Drought on Food Consumption and the Mitigating Effects of a Conditional Cash Transfer Program

This study uses the panel data of a randomized experiment from the Mexican PROGRESA program to evaluate the impact of drought on total calorie availability and the mitigating effects of PROGRESA on food consumption in periods of drought. Drought reduced total expenditures and total food expenditures but increased the total availability of calories. This paradox can be explained by the impact of drought on the composition of calories; that is, it reduced the consumption of expensive calories in such foods as vegetables, fruits, and animal products but increased calories consumed from cheaper sources, such as grains. This study finds that PROGRESA can completely mitigate the negative effects of drought on calorie availability from vegetables, fruits, and other sources. However, PROGRESA cannot mitigate the impact of drought on calories available from grains. The analysis also shows that, during drought, households who increase their consumption of grains get them mainly from purchased sources rather than from home production. In these circumstances, decreased total expenditures and increased purchases of grains suggest that grains are inferior goods in rural Mexico. The Engel curve analysis further proves that grains are inferior goods.

Dietary Glycemic Load, Glycemic Index, and Associated Factors in a Multiethnic Cohort of Midlife Women

Background: Dietary glycemic load (GL) and glycemic index (GI), indicators of the postprandial glucose and insulin response to carbohydrate composition of diet, have been suggested as independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, current knowledge about the distribution, correlates, and major contributors of these measures in human populations is limited.Objective: To describe the intakes and correlates of GL and GI in African American, Caucasian, Chinese, and Japanese women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).Design: Data are from 2025 women participating in SWAN, a multi-ethnic, community-based cohort study of women transitioning into menopause. GL and GI were estimated from dietary information obtained in the fifth year of the study using a modified Block food frequency questionnaire. The relationship of GL and GI to dietary factors and selected demographic measures, including race/ethnicity and lifestyle factors, was examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses.Results: GI and GL were consistently lower in Caucasian women than in African American, Japanese, or Chinese women. Education was inversely associated with GL and alcohol consumption was inversely associated with GI among all ethnic groups. The association between family income and glycemic measures varied across ethnic groups. GI was positively associated with consumption of grains and potatoes and inversely associated with consumption of fruits, juices, dairy foods, protein sources, and sweets among all ethnic groups.Conclusions: It is important for researchers to consider factors such as ethnicity, family income, and alcohol intake as potential confounders when investigating the associations of GL and GI with disease.

Epidemics of mold poisoning past and present

Molds are ubiquitous throughout the biosphere of planet earth and cause infectious, allergic, and toxic diseases. Toxic diseases arise from exposure to mycotoxins produced by molds. Throughout history, there have been a number of toxic epidemics associated with exposure to mycotoxins. Acute epidemics of ergotism are caused by consumption of grain infested by fungi of the genus Claviceps, which produce the bioactive amine ergotamine that mimics the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Acute aflatoxin outbreaks have occurred from ingestion of corn stored in damp conditions that potentiate growth of the molds of the species Aspergillus. Contemporary construction methods that use cellulose substrates such as fiber board and indoor moisture have caused an outbreak of contaminated buildings with Stachybotrys chartarum, with the extent of health effects still a subject of debate and ongoing research. This article reviews several of the more prominent epidemics and discusses the nature of the toxins. Two diseases that were leading causes of childhood mortality in England in the 1970s and vanished with changing dietary habits, putrid malignant fever, and slow nervous fever were most likely toxic mold epidemics.

Effects of Feedborne Fusarium Mycotoxins on Brain Regional Neurochemistry of Turkeys

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on brain regional neurochemistry of turkeys. The possible preventative effect of a poly-meric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA) was also determined. Forty-five 1-d-old male turkey poults were fed wheat-, corn-, and soybean meal-based diets up to wk 6, formulated with control grains, contaminated grains, or contaminated grains + 0.2% GMA. Deoxynivalenol was the major contaminant, and the concentrations were 2.2 and 3.3 mg/kg of feed during starter and grower phases, respectively. Concentrations of brain monoamine neurotransmitters and metabolites were measured in discrete regions of the brain including the pons, hypothalamus, and cortex by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Neurotransmitters and metabolites analyzed included norepinephrine, dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The concentration of 5-HIAA and the 5-HIAA:5-HT-ratio were significantly decreased in pons after feeding contaminated grains. Dietary supplementation with GMA prevented these effects. In the pons, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.52, P < 0.05) was observed between the concentration of 5-HT and BW gain after feeding contaminated diets. The feeding of contaminated diet had no significant effects on the concentrations of neurotransmitters and metabolites in hypothalamus and cortex. It was concluded that consumption of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins adversely altered the pons serotonergic system of turkeys. Supplementation with GMA partially inhibited these effects.

Effects of Feeding Blends of Grains Naturally Contaminated with Fusarium Mycotoxins on Small Intestinal Morphology of Turkeys

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on morphometric indices of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum in turkeys. The possible preventative effect of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA) was also determined. Three hundred 1-d-old male turkey poults were fed wheat, corn, and soybean meal-based starter (0 to 3 wk), grower (4 to 6 wk), developer (7 to 9 wk), and finisher (10 to 12 wk) diets formulated with control grains, contaminated grains, and contaminated grains + 0.2% GMA. Morphometric indices were measured at the end of each growth phase and included villus height (VH), crypt depth, villus width, thicknesses of submucosa and muscularis, villus-to-crypt ratio, and apparent villus surface area (AVSA). At the end of the starter phase, feedborne mycotoxins significantly decreased the VH in the duodenum, and supplementation of the contaminated diet with GMA prevented this effect. The feeding of contaminated grains also reduced (P < 0.05) VH and AVSA in jejunum, whereas none of the variables were affected in the ileum. Villus width and AVSA of duodenum, VH, and AVSA of jejunum and submucosa thickness of ileum were significantly reduced when birds were fed contaminated grains at the end of the grower phase, and supplementation with GMA prevented these effects in jejunum and ileum. No effects of diets were seen on morphometric variables at the end of the developer and finisher phases. It was concluded that consumption of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins results in adverse effects on intestinal morphology during early growth phases of turkeys, and GMA can prevent many of these effects.

A comparison of alternative technologies to de-carbonize Canada's passenger transportation sector

Using a full systems model of Canada's economy, six alternative scenarios to de-carbonize the personal passenger vehicle fleet are compared to a business as usual non de-carbonized scenario in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, trade disposition of energy commodities, and the physical resources required for energy production. Three scenarios are analyzed to compare the impacts of increasing either ethanol 85, hydrogen, or electricity powered vehicles into the vehicle fleet, with each starting to penetrate the light vehicle stock in 2010 to reach 100% of the new vehicle market by 2050. For each of these three scenarios, we then construct a variant scenario that considers the additional effects of de-carbonizing electricity production. With a de-carbonized electricity sector, net emission reductions are 29% for ethanol 85, and 31% for both hydrogen and electricity. When considering the transportation sector only, net emission reductions equal 13% for ethanol 85, and 14% for hydrogen and electricity. However, although the ethanol scenario results in the lowest reduction in total emissions, it has significant impacts on other parts of the physical resource base. By the time ethanol reaches 5% of the fuel mix in 2015, domestic consumption of grains increases by 20%, in turn impacting crop trade disposition. At this point, emissions are reduced by less than 0.5%, owing to the fossil fuels required since most ethanol is still grain based. By 2050 it is projected that almost all ethanol will be cellulose based, generating a more significant emission reduction but in turn requiring potentially unsustainable amounts of crop residue.

Study on transition of dietary pattern in Jiangsu province, China

Objective: To study the trend of nutrition transition among people in Jiangsu Province from 1989 to 2004. Methods: Multistage cluster sample including two cities and four counties in Jiangsu province was randomly selected. Dietary information among adults aged 18 and above was assessed by 3‐day weighting method. All statistical analyses were done by SAS. Results: Consumption of grain decreased but consumption of animal foods increased significantly. Rapid increases in milk consumption and in proportion of energy from fat were also observed. As a result, prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI≥24) in male increased sharply from 9.4% in 1989 to 34.1% in 2004, prevalence of hypertension from 7.8% to 26.5 in male and from 4.8% to 20.1% in female, respectively, during the same period. Conclusion: In the process of nutrition transition, people in Jiangsu are experiencing the inadequate intake of some nutrients and high intake of fat. Overweight and obesity and hypertension are challenges as a result on this transition. There is need to implement nutrition intervention.

Dietary Patterns among Pregnant Women in the West-North of Iran

This study was conducted to assess the food consumption pattern and nutrient intakes of pregnant women residing in Maku-the west north of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 284 pregnant women (142 from urban area and 142 from rural areas) participated. Subjects were interviewed privately, face-to-face. Dietary intake data was collected using two 24 h recalls and a food frequency questionnaire for 3 months. Mean consumption of grains and dairies was higher in rural women compared to their counterparts in urban areas. Women in urban areas consumed 140 g fruits compared to 248 g consumed by rural women. There were no significant differences regarding consumption of vegetables, pulses, fat and oils between these two groups. All women consumed adequate amount of energy, protein, thiamin and niacin (> 75% RDA). Intake of vitamin B6, folate, vitamins A and D, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc was not sufficient in these women. Inadequate intake of vitamin C and riboflavin was also reported in urban women. Percentage of energy from carbohydrate, fat and protein was 66, 23 and 11% for urban women, respectively and 68, 20 and 12% for rural women, respectively. Iron intake was lower in urban women compared to rural women. The findings indicated that rural women have better nutritional status than urban women. Future studies should determine factors associated with food consumption pattern in these women.

MYCOTOXIGENIC FUNGI, MYCOTOXINS, AND MANAGEMENT OF RICE GRAINS

Mycotoxin contamination in certain agricultural commodities has been a serious concern for human and animal health. Mycotoxins are substances produced mostly as secondary metabolites by filamentous fungi that grow on seeds, grains, and feed in the field, or in storage. The major mycotoxin-producing fungi are species of Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, ochratoxins, cyclopiazonic acid, patulin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, citrinin, gliotoxin, and sterigmatocystin are some of the important mycotoxins. This paper reviews the mycotoxigenic fungi, their levels of mycotoxins, and their management by using botanicals, microbiologicals, and cooking methods in rice. The data from detailed investigations on rice seeds and grains help to provide safe grains for consumption and export, and prioritize future research programs.

Evaluation technique et socio-économique des pratiques d’alimentation en zones aride et semi-aride au nord de l’Inde (Haryana) et implications pour le développement laitier

Pour satisfaire la demande croissante des consommateurs en produits laitiers en Inde, les producteurs doivent augmenter rapidement la production laitière, et ce, par le biais de l’amélioration des pratiques alimentaires. De nombreux spécialistes pensent que la production actuelle de sousproduits agricoles ne sera pas suffisante pour satisfaire la demande croissante des besoins du troupeau laitier et que le recours aux céréales sera nécessaire. Mais d’autres spécialistes pensent que la production de grain risque aussi d’être insuffisante et que l’augmentation de la part de grain dans l’alimentation animale pourrait affecter la consommation humaine en céréales à moins que l’Inde n’ouvre son marché à l’importation avec des risques de perturbation du marché mondial. Une étude empirique sur les pratiques d’alimentation des animaux laitiers (vaches de race locale et améliorée, bufflesses) en Haryana a montré que les céréales n’étaient pas un aliment essentiel et qu’il existait encore un grand potentiel par l’amélioration des fourrages verts et des sous-produits des cultures de coton et de moutarde. Cette étude a aussi montré que les plus grands producteurs tendaient à sous-utiliser le potentiel génétique des vaches et des bufflesses. Ainsi, il est mis en évidence des liens étroits entre les pratiques de gestion du troupeau, en particulier les pratiques d’alimentation et la gestion socio-économique du système d’exploitation familiale ; les stratégies étaient fortement orientées vers la satisfaction des besoins en lait de la famille chez les grands producteurs et la génération de revenu quotidien chez les plus petits. Enfin, il est possible de mettre en évidence le besoin d’élaboration, de mise en place et de suivi de programmes de développement qui prendraient en compte les facteurs socio-culturels pour faciliter l’adoption technique en matière de valorisation et de stockage des fourrages.