Pelleted Feed Research Articles

A Preliminary Study on the Modifying Effect of Strawberry Seed Oil and Sex on Rabbit Meat Quality

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of strawberry seed oil addition to rabbit feed on slaughter performance traits, meat quality traits and plasma cholesterol and triglycerides of purebred Termond White rabbits (n = 24). The experiment used young rabbits born to 6 does. From each litter, two rabbits were randomly assigned into one of the two groups. In each group (2 × n = 12; 6♂, 6♀), the animals were fed a complete pelleted feed. Rabbits from the experimental group received feed enriched with a 1% addition of strawberry seed oil. Animals were slaughtered on day 84. Rabbits fed with pellets with the addition of strawberry oil were characterized by a higher hind part and head and liver weight compared to the rabbits from the control group (p ≤ 0.05). The addition of strawberry seed oil significantly increased the pH of matured meat and affected the colour coordinates of the meat by increasing their values (p ≤ 0.05). The tested oil reduced the values of meat texture parameters such as springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness (p ≤ 0.05). The tested oil impacted the level of HDL, which was higher in the experimental group, as well as lowered the triglyceride level. The addition of strawberry seed oil was proven to significantly increase the linoleic acid content in rabbit meat (p ≤ 0.05).

The causes of asymmetry in the chelae of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain Estampador, 1950 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae)

Abstract The asymmetry trait in brachyuran crabs is mostly expressed by the different sizes or particular details of the two chelae. The causes for this asymmetry have been rarely investigated in the economically important crab Scylla paramamosainEstampador, 1950. We found that the asymmetric chelae first appeared in the megalopa stage. The examination of four “right-handed” and two “left-handed” mothers and their 521 megalopa offspring indicated that this trait might not be influenced by dominant alleles, since 86.0% –99.0% of megalopae exhibited the right-handed phenotype in the four offspring of the right-handed mother, whereas about 93.1% and 100% megalopae exhibited the right-handed phenotype in the two left-handed-mothers’ offspring. The percentage of left-handed individuals at different stages also supports this hypothesis. We provide evidence that the amputation of the handed chela will result in a “handedness reversal,” and that the food type might influence the speed of the reversal. Crabs that were fed with fish blocks had a faster handedness reversal than those who were fed with commercial pellets feed, perhaps because of the increase in effort in individuals feeding on fish blocks.

Assessment of Morphological Changes in the Oral Mucosa of Laboratory Rats when Exposed to Salt

According to a report by the World Health Organization on July 31, 2023, the tobacco epidemic remains one of the main threats to the health of the world’s population, more than 7 million people die from tobacco exposure and 1.3 million deaths are caused by exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. In Central Asia, the most popular form of smokeless tobacco use is nasvai. To study histological changes in the oral mucosa in laboratory rats when exposed to salt. 40 male laboratory rats weighing 170-240 g were selected for the study. The animals involved in the experiment were divided into two groups: experimental and intact, with twenty individuals in each. The restoration of the methodology in the experimental group included protective placement of tobacco, the dose of tobacco products was determined depending on the body weight of laboratory rats. The rodents were fed with ordinary feed pellets and kept in ventilated cages with controlled humidity and temperature. Nasvai was placed in the oral cavity between the cheek and gum once a day two hours before meals. According to the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrates ETSN no. 123, after a 30-day experiment, laboratory animals were removed from the experiment by overdosing on general anesthesia. Oral tissue samples were extracted and fixed in a 10% formalin solution with further routine degreasing and dehydration methods. During the further stage of the experiment, sections with a thickness of 7 microns were prepared and hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to identify the characteristics of the tissues of the oral cavity by microscopy. When studying the histological structure of the oral mucosa of laboratory rats, as a result of exposure to nasvai, obvious signs of the immuno-inflammatory process and hyperkeratosis were revealed.

Optimizing Fish Feed Pellets Handling Systems to Minimize Microplastics Emissions - A Pilot Test Based Approach

The fisheries and aquaculture industries are vital components of global food production, yet they also contribute to release of microplastics into marine environments, posing risks to ecosystem health and seafood safety. Among the contributing factors, the erosion of feeding pipes during the pneumatic conveyance of fish feed pellets stands out as a significant source of microplastic pollution. This study focuses on optimizing feed pellet conveying systems in fish farms to minimize microplastic emissions while maximizing pipeline lifespan and pellet integrity. Using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes commonly found in aquaculture facilities, the impact of air velocity and pipeline configuration on pipe wall erosion and pellet breakage was investigated. Through pneumatic conveying tests, the effects of varying air flow rates and bend radii were assessed on pipeline wear and feed pellet integrity. The findings of the study underscored the importance of optimizing operating parameters to bring a balance between preventing pipe blockages and minimizing abrasive impacts on pellets and pipeline surfaces. Furthermore, a simulationbased approach to optimize feeding system performance is presented, integrating the experimental results into a computational model. This model allows for the evaluation of different operating conditions and pipeline configurations, offering insights into costeffective strategies for reducing microplastic emissions while maintaining efficient feed delivery to fish populations. Ultimately, this research provided practical recommendations and best practices for the aquaculture industry to mitigate microplastic pollution from feeding pipes. By optimizing feed pellet conveying systems, environmental sustainability can be enhanced, seafood quality be preserved, and bolster consumer confidence in aquaculture products.

Impacts of alfalfa nutrient concentrate on pellet physical attributes, growth performance, metabolism and nutritional quality of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study addresses the escalating demand for aquatic feed by exploring the potential of alfalfa nutrient concentrate (ANC) as feed ingredient for rainbow trout. Test diets contained varying ANC levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) to replace fishmeal (32% in the 0% ANC diet) to achieve equal digestible protein and were processed using a cooking extrusion method. Analysis of feed pellets showed that pellet density increased with ANC levels (P < 0.001), resulting in sinking pellets at 20% ANC. Water stability and durability were improved while oil leakage decreased with increasing ANC levels (P < 0.05). Two feeding trials were conducted to test the diets in flow-through water systems with three replicates per diet. The first 10-week trial evaluated their impact on feeding, fecal physical quality, and the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dietary nutrients in rainbow trout (initial body weight , 18.0 ± 0.2 g). ANC inclusion did not impact the palatability and satiety feed intake of the fish (P > 0.05). However, the ADC of dry matter and phosphorus significantly decreased in fish fed the 20% ANC diet (P < 0.05). The second 9-week trial investigated the growth performance, nutrition quality, and metabolism of rainbow trout (initial body weight, 19.0 ± 0.2 g). While all fish exhibited substantial growth, fish fed diets with 10% to 20% ANC displayed lower specific growth rate and higher feed conversion ratio compared to those fed with 0% or 5% ANC (P < 0.05). The whole body protein content was higher in fish fed 5% ANC compared to all other treatments (P = 0.030). The biochemical parameters of plasma were similar across treatments, except for a decrease in plasma phosphorus levels in fish fed a 10% ANC diet compared to those fed a 0% ANC diet. (P = 0.033). Significant changes were observed in liver metabolism including tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid and energy metabolism pathways in fish fed the 20% ANC diet versus the 0% ANC diet (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that ANC inclusion improved pellet physical quality without impairing feeding behavior and nutritional quality of the fish but inclusion ≥10% in the diet reduced fish growth. This study offers the first comprehensive assessment of the potential of ANC used in fish feed involving feed management, feeding evaluation, and the biological response.

Numerical investigation on hydrogen reduction of iron oxide pellets in a shaft furnace: Unveiling the impact of particle size

The reduction process of iron oxide pellets in the hydrogen shaft furnace is investigated numerically with the main purpose of clarifying the extent to which the pellet diameter can be reduced under the particle fluidization constraint, further exploring feasible options for preventing fluidization. A standalone numerical routine is developed to estimate the fluidization factor of the in-furnace burden. The results show that an increase in the gas feed rate yields a higher solid reduction degree, but also causes a larger fluidization factor due to the increase in the pressure drop. Under the conditions where the specific gas feed rate and pellet diameter are 1600 Nm3/t-pellet and 13 mm, respectively, the fluidization factor is smaller than unity, which is the threshold representing the occurrence of particle fluidization. A decrease in the pellet diameter is kinetically beneficial for the reduction reactions but also results in a clear rise of the pressure drop and hence an increase in the fluidization factor, which surpasses unity when the pellet diameter becomes smaller than 11 mm. The fluidization factor can be effectively lowered by adopting a higher top gas pressure, indicating that increasing the operating pressure is a feasible option for preventing fluidization of small particles.

Application of Splitting (Cross Validation) Technique and Herzberg Equation in Feed Pellet Quality Prediction Models

Application of Splitting (Cross Validation) Technique and Herzberg Equation in Feed Pellet Quality Prediction Models

Effects of feed particle size, calcium concentration and phytase supplementation on InsP6 degradation in broiler chickens fed pelleted diets

ABSTRACT 1. The objective of the trial was to study the single and interactive effects of feed particle size in pelleted feed, dietary calcium (Ca) concentration and microbial phytase supplementation in broiler chickens. The studied traits were myo-inositol (1,2,3,4,5,6) hexakis (dihydrogen phosphate) (InsP6) degradation, pre-caecal digestibility of phosphorus (P), Ca and amino acids (AA) and retention of P, Ca and nitrogen (N). 2. Male Ross 308 broiler chickens were housed in metabolism units in groups of 10 and allocated to one of eight diets with seven pen replicates per diet. The 2 × 2 × 2-factorial arrangement included coarse and fine feed particle size (309 or 222 µm), low and high Ca concentration (4.9 and 7.2 g/kg) and without or with phytase supplementation (1,000 FTU/kg). 3. Pre-caecal InsP6 disappearance was higher with coarse than fine feed particle size when no phytase was added (54 vs. 48%) but not when phytase was added (74%; p = 0.046). High dietary Ca feeds decreased pre-caecal InsP6 disappearance (67 to 59%) and P digestibility (65 to 55%; p < 0.001). Gizzard pH was lower with coarse than fine feed particle size and higher with high Ca than low Ca (p < 0.001). Pre-caecal digestibility of most AA was approximately 3.5%-points lower with high Ca without phytase compared to the other treatments (p ≤ 0.047). Coarse feed particle size caused higher pre-caecal AA digestibility than fine particle size (~2%-points; p ≤ 0.031). InsP6 disappearance in the crop increased at high Ca concentration when phytase was added (22 vs. 37%; p = 0.011). 4. Coarser feed particle size in pellets increased gastrointestinal InsP6 degradation and nutrient digestibility, likely owing to effects on the gizzard functions. Additional Ca supply exerted antinutritive effects that was not compensated for by using coarser feed particles.

Nutrient flows in biofloc-Nile tilapia culture: A semi-physical modelling approach

Biofloc culture systems potentially reduce the nutrient losses in aquaculture. However, knowledge of the nutrient flows in the system is not yet well-developed. This study deployed experimental data to develop a semi-physical model to understand the dynamics and flows of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in a biofloc-Nile tilapia-rearing system. The model involved eight process variables, which are pelleted feed A, C, N, P, fish, biofloc, periphyton, and water volume. Model calibration and validation were done under a Control-diet and High-NSP-diet, respectively. The diets differed by the type of starch in which the latter contains three times higher fibrous starch, called non-starch polysaccharides, than the former. Except for biofloc, the behaviour of the process variables fit the observations with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 30% of the corresponding average observations. The biofloc biomass was predicted using exponential growth model and results in a RMSE of 49% and 56% for the Control and High-NSP-diet, respectively. Scenario analyses, using the validated model, showed that the biofloc system generates less waste when the stocking density is doubled, which means double fish production and less nutrient losses. In terms of different diets, the high-NSP-diet resulted in more organic waste than the Control-diet. However, the amount of loss and unutilised C and P were similar which was mainly caused by the ability of biofloc and periphyton to assimilate more waste, especially C, in the High-NSP-diet.

Intriguing astrocyte responses in CA1 to reduced and rehabilitated masticatory function: Dorsal and ventral distinct perspectives in adult mice

ObjectiveWe sought to investigate the plasticity of diet-induced changes in astrocyte morphology of stratum lacunosum-moleculare (SLM) in CA1. DesignThree diet regimes were adopted in 15 mice, from the 21st postnatal day to 6 months. The first diet regimen was pellet feed, called Hard Diet (HD). The second, with reduced masticatory, received a pellet-diet followed by a powdered-diet, and it was identified as Hard Diet/Soft Diet (HD/SD). Finally, the group with rehabilitated masticatory was named Hard Diet/Soft Diet/Hard Diet (HD/SD/HD). In the end, euthanasia and brain histological processing were performed, in which astrocytic immunoreactivity to glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP) was tested. In reconstructed astrocytes, morphometric analysis was performed. ResultsAstrocyte morphometric revealed that changes in masticatory regimens impact astrocyte morphology. In the dorsal CA1, switching from a hard diet to a soft diet led to reductions in most variables, whereas in the ventral, fewer variables were affected, highlighting regional differences in astrocyte responses. Cluster analysis further showed that diet-induced changes in astrocyte morphology were reversible in the dorsal region, but not in the ventral region, indicating a persistent impact on astrocyte diversity and complexity in the ventral even after rehabilitation. Correlation tests between astrocyte morphology and behavioral performance demonstrated disrupted relationships under masticatory stress, with effects persisting after rehabilitation. ConclusionChanges in the diet result in significant alterations in astrocyte morphology, suggesting a direct link between dietary modulation and cellular structure. Morphometric analyses revealed distinct alterations in astrocyte morphology in response to changes in the masticatory regimen, with both dorsal/ventral regions displaying notable changes. Moreover, the regional differential effects on astrocytes underscore the complexity of mastication on neuroplasticity and cognitive function.

The Effect of Phytase Enzyme in Feed on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization Efficiency, and Survival Rate of Milkfish (Chanos chanos) Fingerlings

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phytase enzyme supplementation on the growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, and survival rate of milkfish fingerlings. The experimental fish used in this study were milkfish fingerlings with an average weight of 2.89±0.46 g per fish. The feed used in this research was a formulated pellet feed containing 30% protein, with added phytase enzyme. The treatments consisted of different phytase enzyme doses, namely A (0 mg/kg feed), B (250 mg/kg feed), C (500 mg/kg feed), and D (750 mg/kg feed). The results showed that different doses of phytase enzyme in the feed significantly affected (P&lt;0.05) growth performance and feed utilization efficiency but did not significantly affect (P&gt;0.05) the survival rate of milkfish fingerlings. The optimal dose of phytase enzyme for improving growth performance and feed utilization efficiency in milkfish fingerlings was between 502-665 mg/kg feed, resulting in a maximum total feed consumption (TFC) of 140.43 g, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of 1.18, feed efficiency (FE) of 78.16%, protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 2.6, and relative growth rate (RGR) of 4.43%.

Utilization of Agricultural Waste as a Total Mixed Ratio Pellet Material for Rex Rabbit Feed

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of Total Mixed Ration (TMR) pellets derived from agricultural waste and assess their potential as feed for Rex rabbits. The research employed an experimental approach, utilizing agricultural and plantation waste to produce TMR pellets. The study was conducted in two stages: pellet production and rabbit feeding trials. Three formulations of TMR pellets were developed with varying concentrations of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB): P1 (5% EFB), P2 (10% EFB), and P3 (15% EFB). The optimal formulation was subsequently used for the feeding trials. Rabbit feed treatments included T0 (60% commercial pellet + 40% forage), T1 (40% commercial pellet + 20% TMR pellet + 40% forage), T2 (30% commercial pellet + 30% TMR pellet + 40% forage), and T3 (60% TMR pellet + 40% forage). Results from the pellet analysis indicated no significant differences in organoleptic properties among the formulations. The durability test yielded the highest value of 98.77%, while the proximate analysis of the P1 formulation showed a dry matter content of 85.67%, ash content of 10.35%, organic matter of 89.65%, crude protein of 18.65%, crude fat of 18.72%, and crude fiber of 19.18%. In the rabbit feeding trials, there were no significant differences in rabbit performance when compared to those fed with commercial pellets. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that agricultural waste can be effectively utilized as a raw material for rabbit feed pellets, offering comparable quality to commercial alternatives. This research highlights the potential of agricultural waste in reducing environmental pollution while providing an economically viable alternative for animal feed.

Performance Evaluation of Hydroponic Grow-Outs in An Innovative Coldwater Aquaponic System Featuring Rainbow Trout and Lettuce

A 45-day trial was carried out to assess the production performance of different hydroponic media in a novel do-it-yourself (DIY) low-tech re-circulating aquaponic system for temperate regions with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Rainbow trout juveniles (average weight of 35.59 g) were stocked in the experimental units at 2.8 kg.m-3 and fed with commercial floating pelleted feed at 8 % of their body weight in three treatments and a control. The lettuce saplings were randomly planted in the river stone bed (T1), crushed stone bed (T2), raft/deep water culture (DWC) unit (T3) and control (C) soil bed (fortified with NPK fertiliser) with equivalent planting intervals of 42 saplings.m-2. The system, designed with low-tech simplicity, was managed without alkalinity correction and depended entirely on plant growth and metabolism for biofiltration. The water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved free CO2, hardness, total alkalinity, ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate varied significantly (P &lt; 0.05) among the treatments compared to the control. The final individual weight, biomass gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of rainbow trout were significantly better (P &lt; 0.05) in media beds (crushed stone and river stone) compared to control and DWC systems. The final mean weights of rainbow trout in river stone (12.33 ± 0.002 g and crushed stone (12.39 ± 0.054 g) treatments were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) than in DWC (12.1 ± 0.023 g) and control (12.09 ± 0.002 g) treatments. The production of lettuce was significantly greater (P &lt; 0.05) in all three treatments (river stone: 4.33 ± 0.123 g, crushed stone: 4.53 ± 0.09 g and DWC: 4.31 ± 0.163 g) compared to the control (3.31 ± 0.172 g). The DWC including the media bed systems facilitates the improved performance of lettuce saplings in terms of final height and leaf number. These results show that a low-tech media bed system without a supplementary biofiltration unit can achieve sustainable production of both fish and vegetables in temperate hilly terrains.

Comparative study of mash vs pellet feed on growth performance and feed utilization by goat

This study was conducted in Bharatpur-11, Chitwan, Nepal, to evaluate the effects of two feed forms (mash and pellet) on the growth performance and feed utilization in goats. Twenty Boer cross female goats, averaging five months in age, were assigned to either mash or pellet feed treatments, with 10 goats in each group, for a 90-day period, with two weeks of adaptation. The experimental animals were given concentrate feed at 1% of their body weight daily, along with ad libitum access to Napier grass and clean drinking water. Both feed types had a dry matter content of 90% and a crude protein level of 17%. Key parameters assessed included feed and forage intake, body weight changes, and feed wastage. Goats on pelleted feed showed a significantly higher average daily weight gain of 62.00 g/day compared to 26.11 g/day for those on mash feed. Final body weights were also greater in the pellet-fed group (28.88 kg) compared to the mash-fed group (25.04 kg). Additionally, pelleted feed led to higher intake of concentrate and forages and significantly reduced feed wastage, with pellet feed waste being 1.22 g/day versus 27.65 g/day for mash feed. These findings indicate that pelleted feed enhances growth performance, feed intake, and feed efficiency in goats. Therefore, this study indicated that pelleted feed is a more effective option for enhancing goat productivity and reducing feed wastage.

Effects of feeding regime on growth, production, and economics of Oreochromine cichlids (Oreochromis mossambicus) in earthen ponds of Bangladesh

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding frequency on the growth, production, and economic aspects of Oreochromine cichlids (Oreochromis mossambicus) in nine earthen ponds for 120 days. Three different feeding regimes (T1, T2, and T3) with three replications each were used. The stocking density was uniform across all treatments at 25,000 fish per hectare. The fish were fed a commercially available pelleted feed with the same feeding rate in all treatments, but the feeding frequency varied. The feeding rate was 10%, 8%, 7%, 6 %, 5%, and 4% which was consecutively adjusted after each fortnightly sampling and 3% for the last 4 weeks of the study period. Feeding frequencies were once a day for T1, twice a day for T2, and three times a day for T3. The average weight gain of Oreochromine cichlids in T3 (295±5 gm) was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) than those of T2 (240.67±6.66 gm) and T1 (217.17±7.64 gm). The survival rates were 95.20%, 96.99%, and 97.33% for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. The net production of fish in T3 (2882.00±62.00 kg/ha) was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) than in T2 (2413.00± kg/ha) and T1 (2223±30.55). Furthermore, the highest net return (USD 1163/ha with a cost-benefit ratio of 1.42) was achieved from T3, followed by T2 (USD 527/ha with a cost-benefit ratio of 1.19) and T1 (USD 270/ha with a cost-benefit ratio of 1.09). The results demonstrated that increasing the feeding frequency has positive effects on the growth and production of Oreochromine cichlids.

Enhanced microstructures, mechanical properties, and machinability of high performance ADC12/SiC composites fabricated through the integration of a master pellet feeding approach and ultrasonication-assisted stir casting

Integrating ceramic particles into aluminum matrices poses significant challenges due to their limited wettability and high specific volume ratio. This research focused on developing ADC12/SiC aluminum composites with varying SiC concentrations (1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 wt%) through an innovative fabrication process. Initially, ADC12/SiC master pellets containing a high concentration of homogenously dispersed 1-μm SiC particles were produced. Subsequently, these master pellets were introduced into the molten ADC12 alloy, followed by the dispersion of SiC particles via stir casting assisted by ultrasonication. The study assessed the impact of SiC weight fractions on the microstructures, mechanical properties, and machinability of the fabricated composites. The results revealed significant microstructural improvements and a more even distribution of SiC reinforcement inside the ADC12 matrix after the application of this innovative processing method. Increased SiC concentration led to notable refinement of α-aluminum grains and eutectic Si, as well as a more uniform dispersion of intermetallic phases. Additionally, a substantial increase in tensile properties and hardness was observed with the increment of SiC content. Particularly, the ADC12/3.5 wt%SiC composite exhibited a 46.73% increase in hardness and notable enhancements in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation, denoted as 201.7 MPa, 241.1 MPa, and 3.40%, respectively, as compared with those of the unreinforced ADC12 alloy. Moreover, the ADC12/SiC composites demonstrated reduced surface roughness compared to the unmodified ADC12 alloy, indicative of a superior surface finish. With the addition of a high SiC content, the chip morphology was observed to change from continuous to discontinuous following a turning operation.

PSVIII-6 Effect of adding plant extracted saponin (PES) on accumulative gas production kinetics and methane emission of the prairie blend pelleted feed products in ruminant system

Abstract The objectives of this study were to study the effect of adding plant extracted saponin (PES) as phytochemical feed additive on in vitro accumulative gas production kinetics and methane (CH4) emission of blend pelleted feed products in ruminant system. Four levels of PES (0, 1, 2, 3%) were added to canola meal and pea mixtures with two different ratios (CMP1: 50:50; CMP2: 70:30) which were used to make Prairie blend pellet feed products. The accumulative gas production kinetics and CH4 were determined using in vitro systems. Ruminal fluid for in vitro studies was obtained from rumen fistulated lactation dairy cows. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with the PES level as a fixed effect and in vitro run with fistulated animals as a random effect. The data were analyzed using Mixed Model Procedure of SAS. Polynomial contract was used to determine linear and quadratic relationship. The results showed that adding PES did not significantly affect the asymptotic production (a) with an average of 104.06 ± 12.38 (SD) mL/g DM, the gas production fractional rate (c) with an average of 1.00 ± 0.90 %/h, the average production at one-half of asymptotic production (AP) with an average 11.26 ± 0.87 mL and lag time with an average of 2.08 ± 0.81 h. As to CH4 emission at different incubation times, the result showed that at short incubation times (2 h, 4 h, 12 h), adding PES showed numerically reduced CH4 from 277 to 1.08 mL/g (at 2 h) and 4.39 to 1.59 mL/g (at 4 h). With increasing PES level, CH4 was significantly linearly reduced (P = 0.019) from 8.31 to 6.30 mL/g at 12h incubation time. At long incubation (24 h), adding PES did not have significant impact on CH4. In conclusion, adding PES at the studied levels to Prairie blend pellet feed products did not significantly affect accumulative gas production kinetics but it had a high potential to decrease CH4 emission at short incubation times.

499 Effect of adding plant extracted hydrolysable tanning and saponin combination to prairie blend pelleted feed products on accumulative gas production kinetics and methane emission in ruminant systems

Abstract The objectives of this study were to study the effect of adding plant extracted hydrolysable tanning (HT) and saponin (S) combination as a combined phytochemical feed additive (HTS) on in vitro accumulative gas production kinetics and methane (CH4) emission of blend pelleted feed products in ruminant systems. Four combination levels [0 (control), 1.5 (1% HT + 0.5% S), 3 (2% HT + 1%S), 4.5 (3% HT + 1.5% S)] were added to canola meal and pea mixtures with two different ratios (CMP1: 50:50; CMP2: 70:30) which were used to make Prairie blend pellet feed products. The accumulative gas production kinetics and CH4 were determined using in vitro systems. The ruminal fluid was obtained from rumen fistulated lactation dairy cows. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with the HTS level as a fixed effect and in vitro run with fistulated animals as a random effect. The data were analyzed using SAS Mixed Procedure. Polynomial contract was used to determine linear and quadratic relationship. The results showed that adding HTS level linearly reduced asymptotic production a) from 110.5 to 82.7 mL/g DM (P = 0.043) and average production at one-half of asymptotic production (AP) from 11.9 to 9.5 mL (P = 0.069) without significantly affecting gas production fractional rate (c, %/h) with an average of 0.58 ± 0.49 %/h and lag time with an average of 1.95 ± 0.50 h. As to CH4 emission at different incubation times, the result showed that at short incubation times (2 h, 4 h, 12 h), adding HTS had numerically reduced methane emission (CH4) from 2.77 to 0.98 mL/g (at 2 h) and 4.39 to 1.38 mL/g (at 4 h). with increasing HTS level, CH4 was significantly quadratically reduced (P = 0.028) at 12 h incubation time from 8.31 to 5.76 mL/g. After long incubation (24 h), adding HTS did not have significant impact on CH4. In conclusion, adding HTS to prairie blend pellet feed products significantly affected gas production kinetics (the asymptotic production and average production at one-half of asymptotic production). Adding HTS had an increased potential to decrease CH4 emission at short incubation times.

493 Predicting pellet quality using multiple linear regression with Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Abstract Pellet quality is a crucial key performance indicator (KPI) for commercial feed manufacturing, which influences both the efficiency of the feed mill and downstream performance of animals fed these diets. However, due to the complexity of feed manufacturing and the large number of factors involved in the manufacturing process, controlling pellet quality is an ongoing challenge for the feed industry. Previous studies have mainly explored the impact of a few factors on pellet quality under experimental settings, and empirical equations have been seldomly developed to reflect the relationship between the factors and pellet quality under the commercial feed mill settings. This study aimed to establish a relationship between pellet quality and factors collected under the settings of a commercial feed mill. The data were collected from Trouw Nutrition Canada’s feed mill located in St. Marys, Ontario (Plant 2), between December 15, 2021, and December 6, 2022. During this period, 2,691 observations were collected, with each observation representing an individual batch of pelleted feed. A total of 75 factors were recorded, including 4 factors associated with the general information of each batch, 10 manufacturing parameters, 41 feed ingredients, 8 factors regarding the nutrient composition of each diet, and 12 environmental factors. Pellet Durability Index (PDI), which was the response variable, was determined for each batch using the Holmen method. The data were randomly split into an 80% subset for training and a 20% subset for testing. The training subset was used to construct the model via a 5-fold cross-validation, while the testing subset was withheld as an independent dataset to evaluate the generalization performance of the model. The response variable (PDI) was transformed (tPDI) using the Box-Cox method to meet a normal distribution assumption. To avoid multicollinearity, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimensionality of the numeric factors before building the multiple linear regression model. The model prediction performance was evaluated on both the training subset (using 5-fold cross-validation) and the testing subset, and the prediction performance metrics were consistent between the two subsets (Mean Absolute Error = 1.94 ± 0.102 vs. 2.02; Root Mean Square Prediction Error = 2.47 ± 0.111 vs. 2.58; Mean Square Prediction Error = 6.12 ± 0.538 vs. 6.68; Concordance Correlation Coefficient = 0.538 ± 0.0231 vs. 0.490; Pearson Correlation Coefficient = 0.606 ± 0.0247 vs. 0.553, respectively). Most feed ingredients and nutrient compositions showed either positive or negative loadings on Component 1 (17.87% of total variance), and outdoor/indoor environmental factors were positively loaded on Component 2 (14.21% of total variance). The model developed in this study could help commercial feed mills better understand how various factors impact pellet quality and optimize the manufacturing processes of pelleted feeds.

Effect of feed forms, mash and pellets on productive performance and carcass weights of broiler chicken

Effect of feed forms, mash and pellets on productive performance and carcass weights of broiler chicken