Feeding Corn Research Articles

Analysis of Production Function in Layer Chicken Business in Soppeng District

Production function is one method to understand the effect of production inputs used in an effort to achieve maximum profit. This study aims to identify how the use of inputs has an influence on the production of layer eggs in Soppeng Regency. The research was conducted from August to October 2023 in Soppeng Regency. The number of samples was 67 layer breeders located in each sub-district in Soppeng Regency using Nonprobability sampling technique. Data were collected through observations and interviews. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with the Cobb-Douglass production function model, and tested through simultaneous tests and partial tests. Independent variables consisted of seedlings, labor, cage area, farmer experience, Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccine, Avian Influenza (AI) vaccine, concentrate feed, ground corn feed and bran feed. The dependent variable included production (eggs). The study showed tshat the use of inputs of seedlings, labor, cage area, farmer experience, Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccine, concentrate feed, and ground corn feed had a significant effect on egg production of laying hens in Soppeng Regency, while the variable Avian Influenza (AI) vaccine and, bran feed did not have a significant effect on egg production of laying hens in Soppeng Regency. So the practical implication of this research is that layer breeders in Soppeng Regency can increase egg production by focusing on the use of quality seeds, efficient labor, optimal utilization of cage area, increasing the experience and knowledge of farmers, as well as, the use of Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccine, concentrate feed and ground corn feed, while the use of Avian Influenza (AI) vaccine and bran feed should be re-evaluated because it does not have a significant impact on production. Keywords: Cobb-Douglass, Production Function, Production Inputs, Egg Production, Laying Hens.

The study of high-protein plant components on the example of soybeans and corn for aquaculture feed

It is important to use nutritious compound feeds with high content of protein in order to obtain qualitative marketable fish products under an intensive cultivation. During the production of high-protein aquaculture feeds, protein-rich animal and plant ingredients should be added to the composition. To such components refer: fish flour, meat-and-bone meal, wheat, corn, various types of soybeans, etc. Animal ingredients can be partially replaced by vegetable ingredients, but should not be 100%. Popular plant-based feed additives are soybean and corn. They are rich sources of plant protein which make them an ideal supplement to form a complete fish diet, especially in conditions of the intensive cultivation. These ingredients are often cheaper in comparison to animal proteins, which is the reason why the use of these ingredients makes feed more affordable for fish producers. For producers, semi-finished products of two or more ingredients are produced now as pellets or dry mixes. It is made to simplify the production process. In the majority of cases, these additives include a combination of animal protein and plant protein. This paper considers plant components such as soybean and corn in combination with fish flour for the manufacture of compound feeds. It also presents amino acid compositions of these components. Studies on the determination of the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in experimental feeds containing soybean and corn are conducted and described. In the course of the experiment it is revealed that the feed with soybean content has a higher percentage of crude protein content, but the feed with corn has a higher content of carbohydrates in its composition.

Micronized versus super-conditioned corn: Effects on starch digestion, performance, and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves.

Micronization, a dry-heat process, generates infrared electromagnetic short waves that can affect starch granules and gelatinization. A new method of corn processing, super-conditioned corn, a moisture-heat process, has potential to increase starch digestion and performance in calves. Therefore, incorporating super-conditioned or micronized corn in starter feed may enhance growth performance by improving total-tract starch digestion. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of heat (micronizing and super-conditioning) and conventional processing method (grinding) of corn grain on the starch digestion, skeletal growth, feeding behavior, biochemical status of blood, and performance of dairy calves. Thirty-six Holstein female dairy calves [40 ± 1.8 kg of body weight (BW)] were assigned to 3 groups that starter feed contained 58% of one of the following corn types: the control group with dry ground corn (n = 12, GC), a group receiving micronized corn (n = 12, MC), or a group receiving super-conditioned corn (n = 12, CC). Three mash starter feeds with an identical nutritional composition were blended with 5% chopped alfalfa hay and fed to individually housed calves from wk 1 to 11 of their birth. All calves were fed 4 L/d of pasteurized whole milk twice daily since d 3 to wk 8, followed by 2 L/d of morning feeding from wk 10 to 11 of age. Calves were weaned on wk 9 and remained in the study until wk 11. Intake of feed was reported weekly and body measurements were recorded on d 3, wk 9, and 11 of age. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein on the last day of wk 11 of age. Behavioral data were recorded by direct observations of all the calves equal to 12 h before (d 61 to 63 of age) and 12 h after (d 75 to 77 of age) weaning. Final BW, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) increased in calves fed CC compared with GC and MC in the overall period. An interaction of treatment × week was detected for total DMI on wk 10 and 11 of age where it was lower in the CC than in the GC and MC counterparts. However, feeding starter feed containing CC increased total-tract DM and starch digestibility compared with MC and GC. Rumination time and eating time decreased in CC calves than MC and GC calves. Moreover, significant treatment × week interactions were observed for the skeletal growth. On wk 11 of age, compared with the GC and MC, wither height and hip height was greater in calves fed CC. The CC formulation increased the concentrations of insulin and glucose fraction in blood while these parameters were not different between GC and MC. In conclusion, CC improved the ADG, FE, and skeletal growth, while reduced total DM intake during post-weaning period compared with MC and GC. Based on the positive changes in ADG, FE, and skeletal growth; CC was superior to the MC and GC, due to improved starch digestion.

Pendampingan Usahatani Jagung Pakan dan Kedelai Edamame pada Ponpes Nurul Muhibbin, Kalimantan Selatan

Routine assistance to several Islamic boarding schools, including the Nurul Muhibbin Halong Islamic Boarding School, is the Adaro Santri Sejahtera (PASS) Program. This program focuses on skill development so that besides having religious knowledge, students are also expected to know about entrepreneurship. This mentoring activity is a form of Community Service (PkM) for Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) as a driving effort to develop a business unit for cultivating and marketing community agricultural products, such as feed corn and organic edamame. This activity is also aimed at making Islamic boarding schools more prosperous, independent, and advanced in learning religious knowledge and providing students with knowledge and skills in agribusiness to become independent people. This activity was carried out for four months (August‒December 2021) at the Nurul Muhibbin Islamic Boarding School, Halong District, Balangan Regency, South Kalimantan, with a target number of participants of 20 people. The method used in this activity is a classical and individual approach. The classical approach was taken when providing theory regarding the introduction of feed corn cultivation and organic edamame, while the individual approach was taken when filling out the questionnaire. This service activity produces elements of Islamic boarding school students, caregivers, and congregation farmers who have knowledge, understanding, and skills in intensive feed corn and organic edamame cultivation. This is essential capital for the Islamic boarding school to continue and develop farming to create an independent Islamic boarding school.

Effects of Different Dietary Combinations on Blood Biochemical Indicators and Rumen Microbial Ecology in Wenshan Cattle.

With the continuous optimization of feed ingredients in livestock production, barley has garnered significant attention as a potential substitute for corn in feed. This study aims to investigate the effects of replacing part of the corn and soybean meal with barley, wheat bran, and rapeseed meal on Wenshan cattle, focusing on the rumen microbial community, blood physiological and biochemical indicators, and growth traits. Through an intensive feeding experiment with two different dietary ratios, we found that adding barley to the diet significantly reduced the host's blood lipid concentration and significantly increased the height, body length, heart girth, and average daily weight gain of Wenshan cattle. Analysis of the rumen microbial community structure showed that the addition of barley significantly affected the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, with the relative abundance of Spirochaetes being significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The dominant bacterial groups mainly included Acinetobacter, Solibacillus, and Lysinibacillus. In summary, this study reveals the potential of different feed ingredient ratios involving barley, wheat bran, and rapeseed meal in the production performance of Wenshan cattle. By regulating blood physiology and improving the rumen micro-ecological structure, it provides new scientific evidence for optimizing livestock and poultry feeding management strategies. Future research will further explore the optimal application ratio of barley under different feeding conditions and its long-term impact on animal health and production performance.

PSXI-13 Effects of corn containing gene for high concentration of alpha amylase (Enogen Feed corn) on fermentative parameters, digestibility and methane in vitro

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate different corn hybrids, with (Enogen) or without high amylase concentration, on fermentative parameters, dry matter disappearance and in vitro gas production. The treatments evaluated were Tropical flint corn (TFC), Enogen flint corn (EFC) and Enogen dent corn (EDC). All corn was processed and had the same average particle size. The experiment was carried out using automatic gas pressure detection modules (ANKOM, RF). Rumen fluid was collected from two animals fitted with a rumen cannula and fed a diet containing 60% forage. The ruminal liquid was combined with buffer in a 1:4 ratio, respectively, and each bottle received 150 mL of this mixture plus 1.5g of DM corn sample. After 24 h of testing, the pH was measured in each bottle, samples were collected for analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), ammonia, gas samples for methane quantification and the final residue was taken to determine the DM disappearance. The data were analyzed using Proc Mixed from SAS (9.4), using the following contrasts: 1) TFC (without Enogen technology) vs. Enogen corn (EFC and EDC) and; 2) EFC vs. EDC. Corn with Enogen technology increased the proportion of propionate (TFC: 28.2; EFC: 29.8; EDC: 30.7 mM/100mM; P &amp;lt; 0.01), butyrate (TFC: 9.83; EFC: 10.8; EDC: 11.3 mM/100mM; P = 0.01), isovalerate (TFC: 1.48; EFC: 1.68; EDC: 1.61; P &amp;lt; 0.01) and valerate (TFC: 1.06; EFC: 1.23; EDC: 1.08 mM/100mM; P = 0.03) and decreased acetate (TFC: 58.7; EFC: 55.8; EDC: 54.6 mM/100mM; P &amp;lt; 0.01) and the acetate:propionate ratio (TFC: 2.09; EFC: 1.88; EDC: 1.79; P &amp;lt; 0.01), without affecting ruminal pH and total SCFA. The EDC reduced acetate (P &amp;lt; 0.01), valerate (P = 0.01) and ammonia (TFC: 0.58; EFC: 0.60; EDC: 0.40 mg/dL; P &amp;lt; 0.01) compared with EFC, without affecting the other fermentation variables. The Enogen technology increased the disappearance of DM (TFC: 75.6; EFC: 78.4; EDC: 82.4%; P &amp;lt; 0.01) and reduced the concentration of methane (TFC: 2.99 EFC: 2.09 EDC: 1.87%; P = 0.05) in relation to TFC. Furthermore, EDC corn increased the disappearance of DM (P &amp;lt; 0.01) without affecting gas and methane production when compared with EFC. In conclusion, Enogen technology optimizes the fermentation and DM disappearance, in addition to reducing the concentration of methane, and using the Enogen technology, dent corn is superior to flint corn.

399 Effect of feeding palm oil products on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and methane production

Abstract The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate feeding palm oil products on feedlot cattle performance and methane production. Steers (n = 320; 380 ± 14.5 kg) were allocated to 40 pens in a randomized block design and assigned to 1 of 5 treatments consisting of different sources of supplemental fat: 1) No Oil; negative control containing 0.0% supplemental fat, 2) Corn Oil; positive control containing 4.0% supplemental corn oil, 3) Whole Palm; 4.0% supplemental whole palm oil, 4) Olein; 4.0% supplemental palm olein oil, or 5) Stearin; 4.0% supplemental palm stearin oil. Cattle consuming Corn Oil, Olein and Stearin all had greater (P = 0.04) final body weight (BW) and hot carcass weight (HCW) than cattle consuming no oil but were not different (P &amp;gt; 0.11) from each other or from Whole Palm, which was intermediate. Dry matter intake (DMI) of cattle consuming No Oil, Whole Palm and Stearin oil was not different from each other; however, cattle fed Corn Oil had greater intake than Whole Palm (P = 0.03). Corn Oil, Olein, and Stearin all had greater average daily gain (ADG) than cattle consuming No Oil (P = 0.04) but were not different (P &amp;gt; 0.12) from Whole Palm. Adding fat improved feed efficiency (gain to feed; G:F) as all diets including added fat had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) G:F than No Oil. Marbling scores were greater (P = 0.01) for Olein and Stearin than Corn and Whole Palm. There were no differences in backfat, ribeye area or liver abscess rate among any treatments (P &amp;gt; 0.74). Gas emissions were evaluated for only the No Oil and Whole Palm treatments. Total methane and methane produced per pound of dry matter intake was less for cattle consuming Whole Palm than No Oil by 14.8% (P &amp;lt; 0.04) while cattle were in the methane chamber. Methane produced per kilogram of ADG for Whole Palm was also reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.01) by 21.4% compared with No Oil. The results of this study indicate feeding palm oil products as a source of supplemental fat in finishing diets increases final BW, ADG, and HCW compared with feeding no supplemental fat, but had minimal impact on DMI resulting in an improvement in G:F. Adding supplemental fat reduced methane emissions in cattle when feeding Whole Palm compared with No Oil. The value of palm oil products in feedlot finishing diets is comparable with feeding corn oil.

Mycotoxin contamination and the nutritional content of corn targeted for animal feed

Mycotoxin contaminated corn poses a risk to poultry production. Although mycotoxin regulatory guidelines are based on the hazards of individual mycotoxin contamination, feed and feed ingredients may be contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. The objective of this study was to assess mycotoxin co-contamination and its impact on the nutrient content of corn grain. Corn samples (n = 328) originating from various regions in the Southeastern U.S. were quantitatively analyzed for fumonisin (FUM), deoxynivalenol (DON), aflatoxin (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEA) by HPLC-MS/MS. Nutritional content was analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopy, and color data were collected. All 328 samples were found to be contaminated with at least 1 mycotoxin: 100% contained FUM (19-24,680 µg/kg), 69.82% contained DON (0-9,640 µg/kg), 17.07% contained AFB1 (0-939 µg/kg), and 43.60% had detectable levels of ZEA (0-8,093.5 µg/kg). Most of the samples were contaminated with 2 or more mycotoxins, with only 18.29% of the samples containing a single mycotoxin. 38.41% of the samples had 2 mycotoxins present, 36.59 % had 3 mycotoxins, and 4.88% of the samples had all 4 tested mycotoxins present. Samples contaminated with AFB1 had significantly lower fat (P = 0.007) and lightness (P = 0.007); samples contaminated with DON had significantly higher starch (P < 0.001) and lower protein (P < 0.001). Samples contaminated with FUM had significantly higher protein (P = 0.008) and moisture (P = 0.019) and lower starch (P < 0.001). ZEA contaminated samples had significantly lower starch (P = 0.034). A correlation was observed between mycotoxin contamination and altered nutrient content in corn. This study provides further evidence that co-contamination of mycotoxins is the norm in corn, and that mycotoxin contamination correlates with impacts on the nutrient profile of feed corn.

Research on Silage Corn Forage Quality Grading Based on Hyperspectroscopy

Corn silage is the main feed in the diet of dairy cows and other ruminant livestock. Silage corn feed is very susceptible to spoilage and corruption due to the influence of aerobic secondary fermentation during the silage process. At present, silage quality testing of corn feed mainly relies on the combination of sensory evaluation and laboratory measurement. The sensory review method is difficult to achieve precision and objectivity, while the laboratory determination method has problems such as cumbersome testing procedures, time-consuming, high cost, and damage to samples. In this study, the external sensory quality grading model for different qualities of silage corn feed was established using hyperspectral data. To explore the feasibility of using hyperspectral data for external sensory quality grading of corn silage, a hyperspectral system was used to collect spectral data of 200 corn silage samples in the 380–1004 nm band, and the samples were classified into four grades: excellent, fair, medium, and spoiled according to the German Agricultural Association (DLG) standard for sensory evaluation of silage samples. Three algorithms were used to preprocess the fodder hyperspectral data, including multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate (SNV), and S–G convolutional smoothing. To reduce the redundancy of the spectral data, variable combination population analysis (VCPA) and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) were used for feature wavelength selection, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) algorithm was used for data dimensionality reduction, constructing random forest classification (RFC), convolutional neural networks (CNN) and support vector machines (SVM) models. The best classification model was derived based on the comparison of the model results. The results show that SNV-LDA-SVM is the optimal algorithm combination, where the accuracy of the calibration set is 99.375% and the accuracy of the prediction set is 100%. In summary, combined with hyperspectral technology, the constructed model can realize the accurate discrimination of the external sensory quality of silage corn feed, which provides a reliable and effective new non-destructive testing method for silage corn feed quality detection.

Rationing of diets of dairy cows for non-degradable protein with protein supplements of plant origin

Methods. This scientific and economic experiment was conducted under the conditions of the Moscow Region on 3 groups of Holstein breed cows showing milk yield of 8000 kg to study the efficiency of rationing of the content of non-degradable protein in feed rations for highly productive cows upon the use of various sources of protected plant-based protein.Results. It was found that the increase in content of non-degradable protein from 35% in the control group to 40% in experimental groups I and II for the period from day 21 until day 100 of lactation by feeding corn gluten (0.85 kg) and extruded soy protein concentrate (1.0 kg) accordingly instead of sunflower meal (1.2 kg) in the control group, with the similar concentration of raw protein of 17.2% in dry matter of the feed, contributed to the increase in milk yield with 4% fat content over 100 days of lactation by 6.3% and 8.5% (p ≤ 0.05) and the increase in feed costs (ME) by 5.3–6.7%. In physiological studies, an increase in the digestibility of crude protein by 2.0% and 3.2% abs (p ≤ 0.05), in groups of cows receiving protected protein supplements, as well as a tendency for more intensive digestion of crude fat by 1.2% and 2.2% abs. (p ≤ 0.1). Economic calculations showed that the use of the studied protein supplements in the diets of animals of experimental groups I and II made it possible to reduce the cost of 1 c of milk with basic fat content by 41.8 and 56.0 rubles, while receiving additional profit in the amount of 2845.1 and 3861.3 rubles compared to control.

Effects of feeding corn Stover silage treated with optigen or soybean meal on digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood biochemistry and growth performance of fattening lambs

Effects of feeding corn Stover silage treated with optigen or soybean meal on digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood biochemistry and growth performance of fattening lambs

Influence of grain type and fat source on performance, nutrient utilization, and gut properties in broilers fed pelleted diets

The influence of grain type and fat source on the performance, coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID), and intestinal characteristics in broiler starters fed pelleted diets were studied. The experiment included 8 treatments arranged as a 2 × 4 factorial with 2 grains (wheat and corn) and 4 fat sources (soybean oil, fish oil, tallow, and palm oil). In all fat sources, corn-fed birds had a higher weight gain than those fed wheat-based diets. However, improvement in the weight gain of birds fed wheat-based diets supplemented with tallow resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) interaction between grain type and fat source. Inclusion of wheat and tallow increased feed intake compared to corn and other fat sources, respectively. Pellets made from wheat were harder (P < 0.01) than those based on corn. Broilers fed corn-based diets, had higher CAID of fat, Ca, and phosphorus (P < 0.01) than those fed wheat-based diets. Soybean oil inclusion, also increased (P < 0.01) fat digestibility compared to other fat sources. An interaction occurred between grain type and fat source where pellets made from corn and soybean oil had higher protein digestibility compared to the other treatments (P < 0.01). Feeding wheat-based diets increased pH of gizzard and proventriculus compared to corn-based diets (P < 0.01). Highest viscosity value was observed in wheat-diets supplemented with fish oil, and palm oil (P < 0.01). The pancrease, gizzard and cecum were heavier in corn-based fed birds compared to those fed wheat-based diets (P < 0.01). A significant interaction between grain type and fat source was noted for Lactobacillus spp. and the total anaerobic bacteria population in the cecum. Overall, the effect of grain type on weight gain, CIAD of protein and cecal microbiota differed depending on the fat sources. Feeding corn and soybean oil resulted in better gut development and growth performance in broilers fed pelleted diets.

The Impact of Suspension Fertilizers Based on Waste Phosphorus Salts from Polyol Production on the Yield of Maize Intended for Green Fodder

The need to import phosphorus raw materials for fertilizer purposes in Europe as well as the need to manage increasing amounts of waste contributed to the search for alternative sources of phosphorus. One of these is waste sodium–potassium phosphate from the production of polyols. Additionally, a current problem is providing an adequate amount of food, where fertilizers play the main role. Due to the increase in meat consumption, the attractiveness of growing corn for feed is increasing due to its high yield potential and rich composition. The article presents the impact of suspension fertilizers based on waste from the production of polyols on the yield of corn intended for green fodder. In a 3-year field study, the effects of a waste phosphorus source were compared with a commercial granulated phosphorus fertilizer—fosdar. In addition, the suspension fertilizers were assessed according to their composition by testing fertilizers containing only basic nutrients (NPK) and ones enriched with secondary ingredients (S and Mg) and microelements (Zn, Mn and B). The research confirmed the effectiveness of the tested suspension fertilizers. Although the yield obtained was lower than in the case of fosdar fertilization, it still remained at a high level of over 70 t∙ha−1 of fresh yield.

Profit analysis of native chicken farming business in Kakas District, Regency of Minahasa, Indonesia

The study aims to determine the profit of farmers from native chicken farming businesses and some influencing factors in Kakas District, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province. The research site was in Kayuwatu Village and Tounelet Village, Kakas District. The sample of this research was selected purposively, while the data collection technique was conducted in April – May 2023. Further, the study employed a survey method with interview techniques for 60 farmers, using a list of questions. The obtained data was tabulated and analyzed to obtain the total profit. Then, the data were analyzed using the unit output price of profit function (UOP-PF) technique with a regression analysis model. The results of the study show that the total profit from selling native chickens which was an average of 68 chickens per farmer was IDR 2,742,127.60 per year. Based on multiple regression analysis, the coefficient of determination was 0.583, which meant that native chickens’ business profits could be explained by the cost variable of chicken purchasing, corn feed, bran, drug and vitamin, labor, and electricity of 58.3%. Meanwhile, the remaining 41.7% was caused by other factors that were not included in the regression model. The partial test analysis demonstrated that the variable cost of chicken purchasing, electricity, and corn feed had significantly affected the profit of native chicken business (p<0.05), while the factors of bran feed, medicine or vitamin, and labor costs had not a significant effect on the profit of native chickens

Exploring the cause of reduced production responses to feeding corn dried distillers grains in lactating dairy cows

An experiment was conducted to identify the factors that cause reduced production of cows fed a diet with high content of corn distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). We hypothesized that the factors could be high sulfur (S) content in DDGS, which may directly (S toxicity) or indirectly (DCAD) cause reduced production. We also hypothesized that high PUFA in DDGS could be another major factor. In a randomized complete block design, 60 lactating cows (15 primiparous and 45 multiparous; average ± SD at the beginning of the trial: milk yield, 44.0 ± 6.9 kg/d; DIM, 123 ± 50; BW, 672 ± 82 kg) were blocked, and cows in each block were randomly assigned to 1 of the following treatments: SBM (4.7% fatty acids [FA], 0.22% S, and 178 mEq/kg DM of DCAD), a diet containing soybean meal as the main protein source; DG, with SBM replacing mainly soybean byproducts and supplemental fat with distillers grains at 30% dietary DM (4.7% FA, 0.44% S, and 42 mEq/kg DM of DCAD); SBM+S, SBM with sodium bisulfate for additional dietary S (4.8% FA, 0.37% S, and 198 mEq/kg DM of DCAD); SBM+CO, SBM with corn oil (4.7% FA, 0.23%, and 165 mEq/kg DM of DCAD); and DG+DCAD, DG with increased DCAD (4.7% FA, 0.40% S, and 330 mEq/kg DM of DCAD). Due to the limited number of tiestalls, blocks 1 to 6 started the experiment first as phase 1, and the rest of the blocks, as phase 2, started the experiment after phase 1. All cows were fed the SBM diet for 10 d as a covariate period followed by the experimental period for 35 d. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (Version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc.); block and phase were random effects; and treatments, repeated week, and interaction were fixed effects. We found an interaction of week by treatment for DMI. Although milk yield did not change, milk fat concentration tended to decrease (2.78% vs. 3.34%) for DG compared with SBM. Dry matter, OM, NDF, and CP digestibilities were lower when cows were fed the DG diet compared with SBM. Additionally, cows fed DG had lower blood concentrations of HCO3-, base excess, and total (t)CO2 compared with SBM. The SBM+S diet did not affect production, nutrient digestibility, or blood parameters compared with SBM. The SBM+CO diet decreased milk fat concentration and yield compared with SBM. The DG+DCAD diet tended to increase milk fat yield and concentration (1.24 vs. 1.47 kg/d; 2.78% vs. 3.37%) and increased ECM (40.9 vs. 45.1 kg/d) compared with DG but did not improve nutrient digestibility. However, blood HCO3-, base excess, and tCO2 were greater for DG+DCAD compared with DG. In conclusion, the indirect role of S-, altering DCAD, along with the high PUFA content in DDGS, appear to be the factors causing reduced production responses to a high DDGS diet. Increasing DCAD to 300 mEq/kg DM in a high DDGS diet can be a feeding strategy to alleviate reduced production responses.

Integrating portable NIR spectrometry with deep learning for accurate Estimation of crude protein in corn feed

This study investigates the challenges encountered in utilizing portable near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers in agriculture, specifically in developing predictive models with high accuracy and robust generalization abilities despite limited spectral resolution and small sample sizes. The research concentrates on the near-infrared spectra of corn feed, utilizing spectral processing techniques and CNNs to precisely estimate crude protein content. Five preprocessing methods were implemented alongside two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy, resulting in the development of both one-dimensional (1D) and 2D regression models.A comparative analysis of these models in predicting crude protein content demonstrated that 1D-CNNs exhibited superior predictive performance within the 1D category. For the 2D models, CropNet and CropResNet were utilized, with CropResNet demonstrating more accurate and superior predictive capabilities. Overall, the integration of 2D correlation spectroscopy with suitable preprocessing techniques in deep learning models, particularly the 2D CropResNet, proved to be more precise in predicting the crude protein content in corn feed. This finding emphasis the potential of this approach in the portable spectrometer market.

Metabolomics Profiles of Solid State and Submerge Fermentation of Corn Silk using Mixed Microbes

Corn silk is a waste product when harvesting corn, but it contains many bioactive compounds. This research characterized and assessed the antioxidant bioactivity of compounds isolated from corn silk. Two different biological fermentation processes were compared: Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF). Fresh corn silk (Zea mays L.) from both sweet corn and feed corn were fermented separately with various microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Biological compounds were identified using LC-MS/MS. The extract was then tested for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Next, the extract was tested for xanthine oxidase inhibition and antioxidant inhibition using the ABTS method. Potential contamination with the heavy metals As, Pb, and Hg was checked. The results show that fermented corn silk extract contains numerous bioactive compounds and amino acids. Among the different extract process variations, the highest TPC and TFC were 6.1 ± 0.7 µg GAE/g dry wt. and 68.3 ± 1.1 µg QE/g dry wt., respectively, and the highest xanthine oxidase inhibition was 76.5 ± 6.4 %. The above highest results were obtained using SmF of sweet corn for 60 days. In contrast, the highest antioxidant activity of 66.9 % was found using SSF of sweet corn for 20 days. Neither sweet corn nor feed corn were found to contain heavy metal ions. In summary, fermented corn silk extract samples contain numerous bioactive compounds, including both flavonoid and phenolic compounds, and the extract demonstrates antioxidant activity. Corn silk extracts from fermentation thus have potential for utilization in health products. HIGHLIGHTS Feed corn silk and sweet corn silk underwent solid-state fermentation (SSF) or submerged fermentation (SmF) for extraction using heterofermentative microbes of Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce the high bioactive compounds, amino acids, and organic acids Metabolomic analysis of the fermentation extracts was carried out by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) using the heatmaps generated metabolites profiles The main amino acids found in the extractions were phenylalanine, leucine, and their derivatives SmF of sweet corn silk yielded the highest xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity (76 %) SSF of feed corn silk and sweet corn silk displayed the high antioxidant activity GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Conditions of Corn Agribusiness in The Lima Puluh Kota District of West Sumatra Province

This research aims to determine the fulfillment of corn as feed for poultry (broilers and layers) in Limapuluh Kota Regency, especially in Guguak District as a corn production center in Limapuluh Kota Regency. This study uses a qualitative method. The primary and secondary data obtained were analyzed descriptively. The research is limited to all corn farmers who supply corn for animal feed in Limapuluh Kota Regency. Samples were obtained from all corn farmers who supply corn for animal feed in Guguak District, Limapuluh Kota Regency who have a farming area of &gt;1.0 ha. This research concludes that the implementation of the corn agribusiness system in Guguak District, Limapuluh Kota Regency applies all existing agribusiness subsystems, namely the upstream subsystem (providing production facilities), downstream subsystem (marketing), supporting facilities subsystem and supporting services subsystem.

Farm-level nutritional factors associated with milk production and milking behavior on Canadian farms with automated milking systems

The objective of this study was to describe nutritional strategies utilized on Canadian dairy farms with automated milking systems (AMS), both at the feed bunk and the concentrate offered at the AMS, as well as to determine what dietary components and nutrients, as formulated, were associated with milk production and milking behaviors on those farms. Formulated diets, including ingredients and nutrient content, and AMS data were collected from April 1, 2019, until September 30, 2020, on 160 AMS farms (Eastern Canada [East] = 8, Ontario [ON] = 76, Quebec [QC] = 22, and Western Canada [West] = 54). Both partial mixed ration (PMR) and AMS concentrate samples were collected from May 1 to September 30, 2019, on 169 farms (East = 12, ON = 63, QC = 42, West = 52). AMS milking data were collected for 154 herds. For each farm (n = 160), milk recording data were collected and summarized by farm to calculate average milk yield and components. Multivariable regression models were used to associate herd-level formulated nutrient composition and feeding management practices with milk production and milking behavior. Milk yield (37.0 ± 0.3 kg/d) was positively associated with the PMR ether extract (EE) concentration (PMR % EE; +0.97 kg/d per percentage point (p.p.) increase) and with farms that fed barley silage as their major forage source on farm (n = 16; +2.18 kg/d) compared with haylage (n = 42), while farms that fed corn silage (n = 96; +1.23 kg/d) tended to produce more milk than farms that fed haylage. Greater milk fat content (4.09 ± 0.28%) was associated with greater PMR-to-AMS concentrate ratio (+0.02 p.p. per unit increase) and total diet net energy for lactation (+0.046 p.p. per 0.1 Mcal/kg increase), but lesser % non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) of the PMR (-0.016 p.p. per p.p. increase of % NFC). Milk protein content (3.38 ± 0.14%) was positively associated with forage % of the PMR (+0.003 p.p. per p.p. increase of % forage) and total diet % starch (+0.009 p.p. per p.p. increase of % starch), but negatively associated with farms feeding corn silage (-0.1 p.p. compared with haylage) as their major forage. Greater milking frequency (2.77 ± 0.40 milkings/d) was observed on farms with free-flow cow traffic systems (+0.62 milkings/d) and positively associated with feed push-up frequency (+0.013 milkings/d per additional feed push-up), while being negatively associated with PMR NFC content and % forage of the total ration (-0.017 milkings/d per p.p. increase of % forage). Lastly, greater milking refusal frequency (1.49 ± 0.82 refusals/d) was observed on farms with free-flow cow traffic systems (+0.84 refusals/d) and farms feeding barley silage (+0.58 refusals/d) than guided flow and farms feeding either corn silage or haylage, respectively. These data give insight into the ingredients, nutrient formulations and type of diets fed on AMS dairy farms across Canada and the association of those factors with milk production and milking behaviors.

Impact of High-Moisture Ear Corn on Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, Rumen Fermentation, and Microbial Diversity in Pluriparous Dairy Cows

Due to the increasing costs of livestock farming, it is important to find cost-effective alternatives of feed stuffs. This study investigated the effects of high-moisture ear corn (HMEC) feeding on the production performance, serum antioxidant capacity, immunity, and ruminal fermentation and microbiome of dairy cows. Thirty pluriparous Chinese Holstein cows were randomly allocated to two groups: steam-flaked corn (SFC) and HMEC (replacement of 2 kg equal dry matter SFC) and fed for a 60 day trial. The results showed replacing SFC with HMEC significantly increased dry matter intake, milk yield, and 4% fat-corrected milk yield (p &lt; 0.05). Serum levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and immunoglobulins G, M, and A were significantly higher, and those of creatinine and cholesterol were significantly lower, in the HMEC group than in the SFC group (p &lt; 0.05). HMEC also significantly increased total volatile fatty acid and acetate (p &lt; 0.05) concentrations. In both groups, the dominant phyla of ruminal bacteria were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, and the dominant genera were Prevotella, NK4A214-group, and Succiniclasticum. Mogibacterium, Eubacterium nodatum group, norank-f-Lachnospiraceae, and Eubacterium brachy group were significantly enriched in the ruminal fluid of HMEC-group cows (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, replacing SFC with HMEC improved production performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity, while regulating both ruminal fermentation and the composition of the ruminal microbiome in dairy cows.