By-product Feed Research Articles

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) dehydrated envelopes and seed cakes in Coturnix coturnix feed: effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and blood biochemical profiles.

The valorization of agro-industrial byproducts in domestic animal feed has the potential to reduce the cost of animal production. This trial was conducted to determine the effect of incorporating prickly pear byproducts (envelopes and cakes) as a partial substitute for corn and soybean meal in the diet of wheat quails (Coturnix coturnix) during their rearing period. Six hundred-day-old Coturnix coturnix quails of equal sex ratio (1:1), weighing on average 7 ± 0.5g, were randomly distributed into four groups, one control group and three experimental groups, according to the rates of incorporation of prickly pear cakes and envelopes, in sequential or nonsequential mode, in the different rearing phases. Each batch (150 subjects) was subdivided into five packs of 30 animals and randomly distributed according to the rate of incorporation (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) of prickly pear envelopes and cakes. The live weight at 45 days and average daily gain (ADG1 - 45d) increased significantly with the introduction of byproducts in all rearing phases (SFCEPP). The carcass yield increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the introduction of byproducts in the finishing phase (FCEPP) and in all rearing phases (SFCEPP). The mineral content decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in all the experimental groups. The protein content increased significantly by 2 points on average when the two prickly pear byproducts were introduced in all rearing phases. The blood biochemical profile of each experimental batch was not influenced by the incorporated prickly pear byproducts. Prickly pear envelopes and cakes in wheat quail feed improve growth performance and meat quality, particularly when they are introduced in the finishing phase and in all rearing phases.

Citric Acid by-Product Fermentation by Bacillus subtilis I9: A Promising Path to Sustainable Animal Feed

Citric acid by-products in animal feed pose a sustainability challenge. Bacillus species are commonly used for fermenting and improving the nutritional quality of feedstuffs or by-products. An experiment was conducted to enhance the nutritional value of citric acid by-products through fermentation with Bacillus subtilis I9 for animal feed. The experiment was carried out in 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 50 g of substrate and 200 mL of sterile water. Groups were either uninoculated or inoculated with B. subtilis I9 at 107 CFU/mL. Incubation occurred at 37 °C with automatic shaking at 150 rpm under aerobic conditions for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Inoculation with B. subtilis I9 significantly increased Bacillus density to 9.3 log CFU/mL at 24 h (p &lt; 0.05). CMCase activity gradually increased, reaching a maximum of 9.77 U/mL at 72 h. After 96 h of fermentation with inoculated B. subtilis I9, the citric acid by-product exhibited a significant decrease (p &lt; 0.05) in crude fiber by 10.86%, hemicellulose by 20.23%, and cellulose by 5.98%, but an increase in crude protein by 21.89%. Gross energy decreased by 4% after inoculation with B. subtilis in comparison to the uninoculated control (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) degradation due to inoculation with B. subtilis I9 significantly reduced (p &lt; 0.05) NSP by 24.37%, while galactose, glucose, and uronic acid decreased by 22.53%, 32.21%, and 18.11%, respectively. Amino acid profile content increased significantly by more than 12% (p &lt; 0.05), including indispensable amino acids such as histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine and dispensable amino acids like alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, and tyrosine. Furthermore, citric acid by-products inoculated with B. subtilis I9 exhibited changes in the cell wall structure under scanning electron microscopy, including fragmentation and cracking. These results suggest that fermenting citric acid by-products with B. subtilis I9 effectively reduces dietary fiber content and improves the nutritional characteristics of citric acid by-products for use in animal feed.

Determination of Cannabinoids in Meat Products and Animal Feeds in Singapore Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

There has been a growing interest in the use of hemp as an animal feed ingredient considering its economic value and nutritional properties. However, there is a paucity of research regarding the safety of hemp-based animal feed currently. Thus, this raises safety concerns on the potential transfer of cannabinoids from hemp-based animal feed to animal products intended for human consumption and its health effects. As such, the detection and quantification of cannabinoids in meat and animal feeds would be desirable for monitoring purposes. In this study, a simple, rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous quantification of four major cannabinoids (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) in meat and animal feeds by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was successfully developed and validated. The method was selective and sensitive, achieving limits of detection and quantification for the four cannabinoids from 5 to 7 µg/kg and 15 to 21 µg/kg, respectively. The overall recovery with matrix-matched calibration curves for the cannabinoids ranged from 87-115%. The coefficients of variation were between 2.17-13.38% for intraday precision and 3.67-12.14% for inter-day precision. The method was subsequently applied to monitor cannabinoids in 120 meat and 24 animal feed samples. No cannabinoid was detected, suggesting no imminent food safety concerns arising from the potential incorporation of hemp and by-products in animal feed and nutrition under the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

Effects of dietary and/or parental supplementation with selenium and mercury on their localisation in rainbow trout fry tissues (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by quantitative LA-ICP MS imaging

The increasing use of alternative feeds for sustainable aquaculture leads to a reduced selenium content requiring the use of supplements to maintain the antioxidant status of farmed fish. The introduction of tuna by-products in fish feed is attractive for their selenium content, but the presence of mercury limits their use as it may negatively impact fish health. Indeed, selenium and mercury metabolism, in relation to their interaction and biological effects in fish, is far from being fully understood. This study aims to assess the impact of parental and dietary supplementation with selenomethionine and methylmercury on selenium and mercury localisation and concentrations in tissues of 3-week rainbow trout fry. Six diets were used. Broodstock were fed a plant-based diet Bpc (with 0.2 μg g−1 selenium and 0 μg g−1 mercury) or a tuna by-product-based diet Bt (with 4 μg g−1 selenium and basal mercury at 0.2 μg g−1) during 6 months, supplemented or not with 4 μg g−1 of selenomethionine for the plant-based diet Bpo and/or with 2 μg g−1 of methylmercury for diets Bph, Bpho and Bth. Their offspring were fed the plant-based diet Fpc, supplemented or not with the same levels of selenomethionine and methylmercury, until their third week. Mercury and selenium concentrations were determined in fry whole-body by ICP MS and quantitative images of selenium and mercury were produced by LA–ICP MS from fry whole-body thin sections. Dietary supplementation of fry with selenium and/or mercury increased their concentration in all tissues, especially in liver, kidney, muscle and intestine. Parental selenomethionine supplementation had a more pronounced effect on fry selenium levels than tuna by-products diet. Mercury transfer from broodstock to their offspring was weak. Mercury concentrations decreased in the kidney of fry supplemented with both selenium and mercury, which could be related to the presence of selenium.

Catalytic Upgrading of a Mixed Hydroxy Acid Feedstock Derived from Kraft Black Liquor.

Lignocellulosic feedstocks are widely studied for sustainable liquid fuel and chemical production. The pulp and paper industry generates large amounts of kraft black liquor (BL) from which a high volume of hydroxy acids (HAs) can be separated for further catalytic processing. Here, we explore the catalytic upgrading of HAs, including the conversion of (1) a model HA, gluconic acid; (2) a model mixture of HAs, and (3) a real mixture of HAs derived from kraft BL on M/Nb2O5 (M = Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru). The hydrodeoxygenation of model gluconic acid reveals that "volatile" carboxylic acids (mainly C2 and C3), levulinic acid, and cyclic esters are significant products over all the catalysts, with Pd/Nb2O5 showing superior activity and selectivity toward valuable intermediates. The model mixture of HAs shows a wide range of reactivity over the supported metal catalyst, with the product selectivity strongly correlating to reaction temperature. Utilizing a 0.25% Pd/Nb2O5 catalyst, a real mixture of HAs derived from kraft BL is successfully dehydroxylated to produce a mixture rich in C3-C8 carboxylic acids that may be amenable for further upgrading, e.g., catalytically to ketones with high carbon chain lengths. Despite the feedstock complexity, we selectively cleaved the C-OH bonds of HAs, while successfully preserving most of the -COOH groups and minimizing C-C and C=O bond scission reactions under the operating conditions tested. The BL-derived HA stream is thus proposed to be a suitable platform for producing mixed carboxylic acid products from an overoxygenated byproduct feed.

Effects of feeding pomegranate seed pulp and coconut meal by-products on milk yield, milk quality, and metabolic responses of Awassi ewes and pre-weaning growth.

Feeding by-products, such as pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) and coconut meal (COC), to livestock may enhance production efficiency and increase profits. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PSP and COC on milk production, body weight change, metabolic response (Exp. 1), digestibility, and N balance (Exp. 2). Twenty-four ewes nursing single lambs were randomly assigned to one of three diets: Control (CON) (n = 8), 7.5% PSP (n = 8), and 7.5% COC (n = 8) of dry matter (DM). Every sheep was born 3-4 days before the start of the experiment. The 1st week of the experiment was devoted to diet adaptation, while the data were collected during the following 8 weeks (Exp. 1). Nine lambs were randomly assigned to one of the three diets for intensive data collection to evaluate the diet digestibility and animal nitrogen (N) balance (Exp. 2). The data were analyzed using the MIXED SAS procedures. The PSP group consumed more DM, followed by the COC and CON groups. For lambs, the final BW, total gain, and average daily gain in the PSP group were greater (p < 0.05) than those in the COC and CON groups. The CON group had lower milk output, total solids, protein, fat, and lactose levels than the PSP and COC groups (p < 0.05). The cost of milk production was lower (p < 0.05) in the PSP and COC diet groups than in the CON group. Blood serum parameters were similar among the dietary groups, except for total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein, which were higher in the COC group than in the CON group. No differences were observed in nutrient digestibility and N balance. Feeding PSP and COC to nursing ewes appears beneficial because it increases milk production and pre-weaning lamb growth and reduces milk production cost.

Subproductos de cacao (Theobroma cacao) en la alimentación animal: ¿Una alternativa viable y sostenible?

Se estima que a nivel mundial se procesa setecientos mil millones de toneladas al año de grano de cacao, en contraste a su proceso productivo, solo se aprovecha las semillas, que representa un 20%-23% del fruto, la otra proporción del fruto como la mazorca o cáscara, placenta, cascarilla y jugo de mucílago son los principales subproductos y se pierde como desecho. Debido a la disponibilidad y su alto valor nutricional, se le está dando diferentes usos en nuevas áreas de aplicación. Por ello, esta revisión se centra en actualizar conocimientos sobre el uso de subproductos del cacao en la producción animal, nuevos enfoques su viabilidad y su sostenibilidad. En este contexto, los subproductos son utilizados en la alimentación en monogástricos y poligástricos, reportando resultados favorables y mayor rentabilidad, representando una alternativa viable y valiosa para la alimentación animal. Se ha comprobado que estos subproductos están compuestos por diversos compuestos bioactivos de interés farmacéutico, industrial y alimenticio, que ya le están dando nuevos usos y aplicaciones. Se anticipa que los subproductos de cacao serán ampliamente adoptados con otros fines. En consecuencia, se espera que en el futuro próximo su disponibilidad para la alimentación animal disminuya y sus precios aumenten.

Dietary supplementation of Agaricus bisporus by-products on development, egg production, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity of yolk in laying quails

Abstract The effect of dietary supplementation with Agaricus bisporus mushrooms powder (ABP) from byproducts on the development, egg production, egg quality, and antioxidant yolk capacity of Japanese laying quail was assessed. A total of 100 female quails 20-week-old were allotted to 5 treatments (5 replications, 4 females each) and received a basal diet supplemented with six graded levels of ABP (0 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, 5.0 g/kg, 7.5 g/kg and 10.0 g/kg) according to ABP0, ABP25, ABP50, ABP75, and ABP100 groups for 70 days. The results indicated no adverse impact (P&gt;0.05) of dietary ABP on production performance and egg internal quality. A quadratic effect was described for egg-breaking strength (P&lt;0.05) and eggshell thickness (P&lt;0.01), showing the highest values at a dose of 7.5 g/kg ABP. Compared to the control, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) yolk reduction was higher (quadratic) in the 5.0 g/kg ABP diet (P&lt;0.001), while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased linearly in all groups fed with ABP (P&lt;0.001) as compared to the control group. The results suggest that the eggs from ABP quails could have an added value that would improve their marketability. The favourable findings of the current research demonstrate that including mushroom by-products in animal feed could reduce animal feed costs and reduce environmental damage.

From feed to fork: immunity, performance and quality of products from farm animals fed sugarcane products

Sugarcane extracts have generated a growing interest due to their potential applications that extend beyond conventional sugar and ethanol production. These by-products, along with sugarcane extracts offer valuable nutrients and compounds that can be utilized in animal feed supplementation, aiming to improve immunity and growth performance, and the quality of animal-derived products consumed by humans. The immune-boosting properties of sugarcane supplementation have been documented through several studies highlighting enhanced cytotoxicity, increased phagocytic capacity, and modulation of immune cells and cytokine production. Abundant in polyphenols and bioactive compounds, sugarcane products are believed to contribute to these immunological effects. However, further research is required to unravel the specific mechanisms underlying these actions. Supplementing sugarcane by-products in animal feed has shown promising results of improved growth rates and weight gains in various animal species. Sugarcane supplementation positively influences animal performance by optimizing nutrient intake and utilization, enhancing feed conversion efficiency, and promoting healthy growth. Moreover, sugarcane supplementation has been associated with improved meat tenderness and overall quality in animal-derived products. To optimize the utilization of sugarcane products, future research will need to focus on determining optimal inclusion quantities and product or extract combinations, identifying specific compound classes, and balancing nutritional profiles in animal feed formulations. Additionally, studies should focus on evaluating long-term effects on animal health and subsequent product quality, and explore the environmental sustainability of sugarcane product supplementation in feed. This mini-review explores the impact of sugarcane product supplementation on swine, poultry, aquaculture species and ruminants, focusing on its effects on immunity, growth performance, and product quality.

Technical-Economic Performance, Carcass and Meat Quality of COBB500 Broilers Fed Rations Incorporating Mango By-Product Feeds in Ivory Coast (West Africa)

Technical-Economic Performance, Carcass and Meat Quality of COBB500 Broilers Fed Rations Incorporating Mango By-Product Feeds in Ivory Coast (West Africa)

Feed-food and land use competition of lowland and mountain dairy cow farms

Dairy cows and other ruminants contribute to human nutrition as they are able to convert feed components containing human inedible fibre concentrations (e.g. roughage and by-products from the food processing industry) into valuable animal-sourced food. A number of crops often fed to dairy cows (e.g. soy or cereals) are however potentially edible by humans too. Additionally, land used to grow dairy cattle feed may compete with crop production for human consumption. Two different methods to assess the competition between feed consumption of dairy cows and human food supply were thus refined and tested on 25 Swiss dairy farms. With respect to the potential human edibility of the feeds used in dairy production, the human-edible feed conversion ratio (eFCR) was applied. The land use ratio (LUR) was used to relate the food production potential, per area of land utilised, with the dairy production output. Low to medium eFCR, with values ranging from 0.02 to 0.68 were found, as an average proportion of 0.74 of total DM intake consisted of roughage. In contrast, we found relatively high LUR (0.69–5.93) for most farms. If the land area used to produce feed for cows was used for crop production (applying a crop rotation), 23 of the 25 farms could have produced more edible protein and all farms more human-edible energy. Indicator values strongly depend on the underlying scenarios, such as the human-edible proportion of feeds or the suitability of land and climate for crop production. Reducing the amount of human-edible feeds in dairy farming by feeding by-products from the food processing industry and improving forage quality may be suitable strategies to reduce eFCR, but relying on low-opportunity cost feeds may restrict milk performance level per cow. On farm level, improving overall efficiency and therefore using less land (especially area suitable for crop production) per kg product decreases LUR. However, the most promising strategy to mitigate land use competition may be to localise dairy production to land areas not suitable for crop production. Both methods (eFCR and LUR) should be used in parallel. They offer an opportunity to holistically evaluate the net contribution of dairy production to the human food supply under different environmental conditions and stress the importance of production systems well suited to specific farm site characteristics.

338 A Survey of Mycotoxin Occurrence in Us Corn and Corn By-Product Feed Ingredients from 2018 to 2022 Harvest Years

Abstract The aim of this survey was to compare the occurrence and contamination levels of six major mycotoxin categories found in corn and corn by-product feed ingredients harvested in the United States from 2018 through 2022. Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that can negatively impact animal health and performance and have been routinely found in a variety of feedstuffs including, but not limited to, cereal grains, by-products, silages, dry hays and pasture grasses. Mycotoxin categories evaluated in this survey included: aflatoxins (AFLA), type A trichothecenes (A-Trich), type B trichothecenes (B-Trich), fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA). This study includes data from corn samples labeled as 2022 harvest and corn b-product feed ingredients submitted from October 2022 through March 2023 and were analyzed for 17 different metabolites via the Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Samples that tested above the limit of detection for each mycotoxin group were analyzed using the generalized linear mixed model procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4, Cary, NC) using harvest year as a fixed effect. The effect of harvest year on average contamination level for each mycotoxin is presented in Table 1. For 2022 harvest year, 260 corn samples and 66 corn by-product samples have been evaluated to date. Mean B-Trich, ZEN, FUM and AFLA levels (parts per billion, ppb) for corn grain samples were similar in 2022 as previous years (P &amp;gt; 0.05). However, for corn grain samples, FUM prevalence and concentration were numerically greater in 2022 than in 2021 and 2020. In the 66 samples of corn by-products, FUM was found in all the samples (100%) and B-Trich were found in the majority of the samples (97%). Mean concentration of FUM in 2022 corn by-product samples was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.001) compared with 2021. Preliminary results of this survey suggest mycotoxin occurrence and contamination remains similar to previous harvest years except for greater mean FUM concentration levels in corn and corn by-products feed ingredients.

Effect of the Incorporation Level of Ripe Avocado Pulp Powder Persea americana on the Zootechnical Performances of Clarias jaensis Juveniles (Boulanger, 1909)

In order to contribute to the valorization of agricultural by-products in fish feed, the effect of the incorporation level of the ripe avocado pulp powder persea americana on the zootechnical performance of Clarias jaensis Juveniles (Boulanger, 1909), was studied between February and July 2019 in the highland zone of West Cameroon. To attend the aims, 156 juvenile Clarias jaensis (25.82 ± 7.43g) settled in triplicates in floating tanks were fed four iso-protein rations (40% crude protein) corresponding to 0, 8, 12 and 16% incorporation of ripe avocado. Feed were distributed twice daily (8 am and 6 pm) at 5% of the fish biomass for 63 days. The following results were as follows: Survival rate, final mean weight, daily mean weight gain, specific growth rate and condition factor K were higher and non-significant in batches receiving 8% of ripe avocado pulp powder with a lower feed conversion ratio (99,14 ± 0,50% ; 40,22 ± 10,5g; 0,14 ± 0,44 g/d, 0,41 ± 1,07 %g/d; 0,70 ± 0,09 %g/cm3 and 1,87 ± 0,09) and lower with a highest feed conversion ratio at 16% incorporation (93,67 ± 8,47 %; 30,02 ± 8,00g; 0,08 ± 0,22 g/d; 0,28 ± 0,77 % g /d; 0,68 ± 0,15 %g/cm3 and 2,018 ± 017). Body composition varied with the level of pulp meal incorporation, water content was high with 0% (79.14%), and dry matter (23.87%), crude protein (15.35%) and fat (5.23%). It was higher with 16%, while ash was higher (3.45%) in batches fed with 12% incorporation. The feed cost was lower at 8% incorporation (734.89Fcfa/kg of fish produced). The incorporation of 8% avocado pulp meal was found to improve the growth of Clarias jaensis juveniles and reduce the feed cost. Producers can use spoiled avocados as fish feed to reduce production costs, without negative impact on the final product.

Optimization of drying specification and protein losses of poultry litter during drying process using response surface methodology

Poultry litter is a high protein by-product feed for ruminants but it needs to be dried for destruction of pathogens. Because drying affects the amount of protein, it is necessary to study the effects of different factors on protein content of poultry litter during the drying process. Energy consumption and drying effectiveness are other important factors in drying process. This research studied the effect of air temperature (60–80 °C), air relative humidity (8–18%), poultry litter depth (2–4 cm), and air velocity (2–3 m s–1) on drying effectiveness (Y1), specific energy consumption (Y2), and crude protein (Y3). The Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the drying process. The results showed that the effects of the air temperature were more pronounced on the Y1 and Y2 compared to other variables and the air velocity was the most significant variable on the Y3. The minimum achieved values for the Y1 and Y2 were 1.67 min g-1 and 3.38 MJ kg-1, respectively and the maximum of the Y3 was 35.14%. These optimum values were attained at the air temperature of 80 °C, air relative humidity of 18%, poultry litter depth of 2 cm, and air velocity of 2 m s-1. Validation of experimental results with the empirical models was evaluated using adjusted R2 which were found to be 0.89, 0.92, 0.89 for Y1, Y2, and Y3, respectively. The comparison between the experimental and predicted values showed that the predicted values were in agreement with the experimental values in the uncertainty range of ±5%.

In-depth characterization of myofibrillar muscle proteome changes in lambs fed hazelnut skin by-products

This study investigated the effect of hazelnut skin by-products supplementation on lamb myofibrillar proteome changes during post-mortem storage (0, 4, and 7 days). Gel-based proteomics and bioinformatics approaches were applied to reveal the underlying biochemical pathways and their importance in lamb meat texture development. Twenty-two Valle del Belice male lambs were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: control (C) for lambs fed with maize-barley diet, and hazelnut skin (H) for lambs fed hazelnut skin by-product as maize partial replacer in the concentrate diet (150 g/kg DM basis). A greater myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) was found in meat from the C group at day 0 of storage (91.33 vs 98.38 in H and C groups, respectively). Conversely, starting from 4 days of storage, higher MFI values were observed in meat from lambs fed hazelnut skin (113.74 and 116.1 vs 99.28 and 107.26 in H and C groups at 4 and 7 days, respectively). Myofibrillar proteome changes estimated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting revealed a degradation of desmin (P<0.01) and troponin T (P<0.001) intact proteins, and an increase in the abundance of the appearing 30 kDa fragment (P<0.001) after 4 days of storage in meat from H than the C group. In-depth proteomics and bioinformatics revealed 44 proteoforms (26 unique proteins), mainly involved in actin filament-based process/cytoskeleton organization, energy metabolism, and heat shock proteins, as the major interconnected pathways impacted by hazelnut by-product feeding strategy on lamb meat quality. Twelve proteins were proposed in this trial as potential biomarkers of lamb meat texture as a consequence of hazelnut skin by-products supplementation.

Proximate Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Fed with Pelvetia canaliculata-Supplemented Diets: An Insight towards the Valorization of Seaweed Biomass.

Seaweeds are a sustainable source of protein and lipids that may be used to replace fish by-products in aquaculture feed. This study aimed at using the macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata as an ingredient in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) feed, either as freeze-dried powder or as algae residue (waste) that was obtained after the supplementation of sunflower oil. The formulated diets and the fish muscle were analyzed concerning the proximate composition and the fatty acid profile. The health lipid indices hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (h/H), atherogenic (AI), thrombogenic (TI), as well as n-3/n-6 and polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratios were calculated. Additionally, the peroxidizability index (PI) was determined. No differences were observed in the proximate composition of fish muscle regardless of the diet used. Fish fed a diet supplemented with 10% of algae waste (W10) stand out for the highest content in oleic acid (C18:1 n-9), and the lowest in both linoleic (C18:2 n-6) and palmitic (C16:0) fatty acids. All fish samples showed values of health lipid indices within the limits recommend for a nutritional balanced diet. These results highlight that fish fed diets supplemented with P. canaliculata are sources of healthy lipids that might be consumed on a regular basis to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Vegetable By-Products as Alternative and Sustainable Raw Materials for Ruminant Feeding: Nutritive Evaluation and Their Inclusion in a Novel Ration for Calf Fattening.

This research aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition, in vitro digestibility, and gas production kinetics of 15 vegetable by-products generated by the agri-food industry compared with corn silage as a reference raw material. Nutritional characterization and in vitro ruminal fermentation tests were performed to determine in vitro organic matter digestibility and digestible energy values, short-chain fatty acids, and the gas production profile. Results indicate that vegetable by-products were more degradable, more extensively fermented, and fermented at a faster rate than corn silage. Going one step further in the valorization of these by-products in animal feed, the second part of the research aimed to compare the novel ration designed for calf fattening with a conventional one. An artificial rumen unit was used to obtain nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation parameters, and gas production of rumen digesta. Very slight differences were observed between both experimental rations, with their composition being the main difference. Most of the unitary vegetable by-products and all mixes, as real examples of by-product generation in the agri-food industry, have higher digestibility and a greater nutritional value than corn silage. These by-products showed the potential to be used in ruminant-ensiled rations and could replace part of the ingredients in conventional diets.

Silages of agro-industrial by-products in lamb diets – Effect on growth performance, carcass, meat quality and in vitro methane emissions

The use of agro-industrial by-products in animal feed is an opportunity to reduce imports, food waste and promote a clean and circular economy, turning worthless raw materials into high-quality and low-cost animal feeds, which does not compete with human food. This study aims to produce silages with by-products of carrot, sweet potato, potato, and tomato pomace and integrate them in lamb diets, replacing 50% of dry matter (DM) of a concentrate-based diet. Effects on growth performance, meat quality and methane production were evaluated. Three silages were produced using 350 g/kg tomato pomace, 200 g/kg wheat bran, 150 g/kg alfalfa hay and 300 g/kg potato (Psil) or 300 g/kg sweet potato (SPsil) or 300 g/kg carrot (Csil). Thirty-two lambs were housed individually and divided into four groups (8 animals/group) on the following diets: Control - 850 g/kg concentrate and 150 g/kg hay; P - 500 g/kg concentrate and 500 g/kg Psil in DM; SP – 500 g/kg concentrate and 500 g/kg SPsil in DM; C – 500 g/kg concentrate and 500 g/kg Csil in DM. The trial lasted 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Methane production was assessed in vitro by the Ankom system, using as inoculum rumen content samples collected individually from 6 lambs on each diet at slaughter. Diet had no effect on DM intake, average daily gain and DM conversion ratio, averaging 1055 ± 248 g, 320 ± 61.1 g and 3.35 ± 0.600, respectively. Also, carcass characteristics were not affected by the diet except for the lightness of subcutaneous fat which was increased by the silage diets (L* value, P = 0.016). The meat parameters, pH, intramuscular fat, shear force, cooking losses and sensory attributes, were not affected by the diet. In meat color, the parameters a* and Chroma were highest in animals fed diet C, have an intermediate value with Control diet and are lowest with diets P and SP (P = 0.027 and P = 0.012, respectively). Diets had no impact on total methane emissions. The costs of the silage diets per kg live weight gain were lower than those of Control diet (P = 0.018). In summary, by-product silage can be a good option to replace concentrated feed in lamb diets without altering the growth performance and meat quality or methane production and thus contributing to the sustainability of livestock farms and the environment.

Invited Review: Rise of craft breweries in the southeastern USA increases supplement availability for beef cattle

The purpose of this invited review was to discuss the current state of craft beer production and the generation, nutritional variability, and importance of wet brewers grains (WBG) as a livestock feed. This article also takes an in-depth look at logistical challenges of using WBG as a feed resource and how local communities are mitigating those challenges. Information provided came from the combination of published scientific resources and through experiences based on outreach services and real-world applications of using WBG as a byproduct feed for beef cattle. Wet brewers grains are often a cheap or no-cost feed for beef cattle producers located near craft breweries. The high concentrations of CP and digestible fiber make it a byproduct of interest for many beef cattle production systems. Moisture content is the greatest limitation, and additives for improved fermentation may be needed during storage of this high-moisture feed. The rise of craft breweries has increased the availability of WBG, which is an affordable feedstuff for beef cattle producers located near a brewery. Although there is variability in WBG between brews and craft breweries, successful incorporation of this byproduct into diets has occurred in all sectors of the beef industry. The on-farm handling and storage of WBG should be considered, and the addition of a feed additive may help to prevent spoilage and extend WBG shelf life. In local communities, logistical challenges may be somewhat averted when several smaller beef cattle producers work together on a WBG contract.

315 Recognizing and Balancing Sustainable Trade-Offs in the Swine Industry

Abstract Recognizing and balancing trade-offs that constitute sustainability, economics, and practical reality is essential for practice adoption. There are many situations where producers have aligned all three criteria. Advancement of in-barn practices such as water cups compared to nipple drinkers provides for improved water conservation and economics. Also, injection of manure slurry directly into the soil decreases atmospheric nitrogen losses, reduces phosphorus runoff, reduces or eliminates inorganic fertilizer applications, and improves soil health and fertility. The use of dietary synthetic amino acids to lower nitrogen excretion or feed additives such as phytase to lower phosphorus excretion are widely used and are economical sustainable practices. Increasing whole farm productivity through improved pig survivability is a means to achieve a win-win tradeoff. Improving pig survivability with advancements in-barn management practices, genetic selection, health and nutritional programs will directly impact the sustainability of pork producers. However, everyday examples are also present where these criteria conflict. The use of feed by-products in diets to reduce feed cost per pig are common. However, these types of dietary ingredients, in particular dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS) is lower in protein digestibility then soybean meal and corn, thus increases nitrogen excretion. At a higher inclusion such as 30% of the diet, the nitrogen excretion level would be raised by approximately 15%. Also, as the value of corn oil has increased for other industries, ethanol plants are extracting more oil from DDGS, in turn the net energy concentration is lowered. This results in pigs having poorer feed efficiency, thus increasing total manure production. Thus, the economic feed cost advantage has a tradeoff with increased nitrogen excretion and manure production. Pork producers will continue to be progressive and create opportunities to further combine sustainability, economics, and practical reality of implementation.