Kg-1 DM Research Articles

Chemical treatment of straw for ruminant feeding with NaOH or urea – investigative steps via practical application under current European Union conditions

Weather extremes in parts of Europe have led to a renewed search for alternative feeds for ruminants. Cereal straw presents one source of fibre, which is hard to digest due to its lignin-carbohydrate complexes. Chemical and biological treatments have been investigated to improve digestibility. Here, the applicability of alkaline treatments for farming conditions under EU legislation and their efficacy were checked. Thus, we tested caustic soda (60, 120 g kg-1straw) and urea (15, 30, 45, 60 g kg-1 straw without and with urease addition) applications both at laboratory scale and using a mixer-wagon. The nutritive value was evaluated analyzing chemical parameters including fibre components and estimating in vitro digestibility. The in vitro digestibility indicated by gas production, enzymatically soluble substrate and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (30h) was highest for the NaOH treatments, which did not differ by dose. Remoistening the straw to 600 g DM kg-1 was a precondition for the effectiveness of both treatments. Urease addition enhanced the intended ammonification when urea was applied at ≥ 30 g kg-1. An ambient temperature for urea treatment ≥ 25 °C was necessary and had to be maintained for at least 14 d post treatment. The determination of crude ash in NaOH treated feeds by the standard procedure and time overestimated the mineral fraction and had to be modified. This systematic approach provides guidance for feasible straw treatments for EU farmers. However, trials for feed acceptance and in vivo digestibility are needed to demonstrate the real effect in animals.

Effect of Supplementation of Concentrate Containing ZnSO4 and Zn-Cu Isoleucinate on Growth and Post Partum Reproductive Performance of Bali Cows Grazing Native Pastures

Aims: This research was carried out to evaluate effect of supplementation of ZnSO4 and Zn-Cu isoleucinate into Complete Feed Plus (CFP) on the growth in the last period of pregnancy and the post partum reproduction efficiency of Bali cows reared semi-intensively.
 Study Design: The experiment employed twenty seven Bali cows at the last period of pregnancy. The animals were grouped into three treatment groups consisted of grazing on the nearby pasture without supplement (R0), and supplemented with either Gliricidia and Leucaena leaves (R1), or with concentrate supplement containing 150 mg ZnSO4 kg-1 PCF DM and 2% Zn-Cu isoleucinate kg-1 diet DM (R2). Data collected was then analyzed using analysis of variance and then Duncan’s multiple range test for further test by using SPSS package Release 19.
 Results: Results showed that supplementation with concentrate containing 150 mg ZnSO4.kg-1 DM PCF and 2% Zn-Cu isoleucinate.kg-1 DM diet increased significantly (P<0,01) the rumen propionate concentration, NH3-N concentration, plasma glucose, N and energy retention, daily gain of Bali cows in the last period of pregnancy, calf birth weight, estrous cycle and estrous post partum acceleration, and body weight of weaned calves. Average daily gain of Bali cows in the last period of pregnancy, calf birth weight, body weight of the weaned calves, estrous cycle and post-partum estrous were found on feed supplement treatment containing 150 mg ZnSO4 kg-1 DM of PCF and 2% Zn-Cu isoleucinate kg-1 DM of diet.
 Conclusion: Supplementing grazing Bali cows with concentrate containing 150 mg ZnSO4.kg-1 DM PCF and 2% Zn-Cu isoleucinate.kg-1 DM diet improved calf’s birth weight and postpartum reproductive performance.

The effect of supplemented chestnut tannin to grass silage either at ensiling or at feeding on lamb performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality

This study was designed to investigate the effect of supplemented chestnut hydrolysable tannin (HT) both at ensiling and at feeding on lamb growth, carcass characteristic, and meat quality. Twenty tons of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were used to produce silage. The ryegrass was treated at ensiling with one of three additives: 30 g kg-1 DM chestnut HT (GET), an inoculant as a positive control (GI), or water as a negative control (G). Another two treatments were made from ensiled grass by adding the 30 g kg-1 DM of chestnut HT to either positive (GI+T) or negative (GT) control. Forty Suffolk cross Mule lambs were used in this experiment and allocated to receive one of five experimental forage treatments with eight lambs per treatment. The diet consisted of two parts: concentrate and silage. Lambs were fed 215 g DM day-1 lamb of concentrate diet and ad libitum grass silage for seven weeks and then slaughtered. Back fat thickness tended to be lower (p= 0.07) for lambs fed the GT and GI+T treatments compared to lambs in the other experimental groups’ (10.0, 10.1, 9.8, 10.0, and 9.8 mm for GET, G, GT, GI, and GI+T, respectively). Feeding lambs GET tended to reduce (p= 0.06) meat lightness (L*) compared to the other treatments. Ammonia nitrogen concentration in rumen fluid was reduced significantly (p< 0.05) when lambs consumed diets treated with tannin both at ensiling and at feeding (0.14, 0.19, 0.17, 0.17 and 0.14g l-1 GET G, GT, GI, and GI+T, respectively). The experimental treatments had no effect (p> 0.05) on voluntary feed intake (914, 916, 899, 928, or 914 g day-1 for GET, G, GT, GI, and GI+T, respectively) or lamb performance.

CHARACTERIZATION OF FORAGE, SWEET AND BIOMASS SORGHUM FOR AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND ENSILABILITY

This study evaluated sorghum cultivars’ agronomic performance and ensilability with different purpose. The experiment was conducted in Sinop/MT in the 2020 growing season. Eight experimental hybrids from Embrapa (forages 15F30005 and 15F30006, sweet CMSXS 5027, 5030, 5043, and 5045, and biomass 2019B008 and CMSXS 7501), and seven commercial hybrids (forages BRS 658, BRS 659, Volumax, BRS Ponta Negra, the sweet BRS 511, and biomass BRS 716 and AGRI-002E) were planted in a randomized block design, with 15 treatments and three replicates. The highest yields in green matter belonged to the group formed by BRS 716 and CMSXS 5043, with an average of 101.9 Mg ha-1. The group with the highest dry matter productivity was formed by the cultivars AGRI-002E and BRS 716, with a 28.77 Mg ha-1 average. BRS 716, AGRI-002E, BRS 658, and 659 showed higher dry matter contents (DM), with 297.7 g kg-1 of DM. For buffering capacity, BRS 511 had the lowest value, with 16.2 g kg-1 DM. BRS 511 and CMSXS 5030 presented the highest average, 391.7 g kg-1 DM for water soluble carbohydrates. All genotypes showed potential to be ensiled and produce silages with a good fermentation pattern.

Nutritional Quality of Corn Silage on Dairy Farms in the Republic of Croatia

Za potrebe vrjednovanja kvalitete kukuruzne silaže, u ovome je istraživanju analizirano 270 uzoraka na mliječnim farmama u dvanaest (12) županija. Pripremljeni uzorci analizirani su uz pomoć FT-NIR uređaju uz primjenu spektrometra AgriQuant-B1 (Model: QIA 1020), kojim su analizirane vrijednosti devet (9) nutritivnih, dva (2) pokazatelja fermentacije buraga te tri (3) pokazatelja fermentacije silaže kukuruza. Jedan fizički pokazatelj, distribucija veličine čestica silaže, određen je prosijavanjem preko sustava triju sita (Penn State Separator). Prosječne vrijednosti većine praćenih nutritivnih pokazatelja bile su zadovoljavajuće: suha tvar (ST) = 349 g kg-1, sir. protein = 65 g kg-1ST, sir. pepeo = 38 g kg-1ST, sir. vlakna = 180 g kg-1 ST, kisela deterdžentska vlakna (KDV) = 210 g kg-1ST, neutralna deterdžentska vlakna (NDV) = 387 g kg-1ST, kiseli deterdžentski lignin (KDL) = 17 g kg-1ST, škrob = 336 g kg-1ST, neto energija mlijeka = 6,76 MJ g kg-1ST. Značajnija odstupanja u Max. i Min. utvrđena su za vrijednosti ST (156 nesukladnih uzoraka), za sirovi protein utvrđen je čak 231 nesukladan uzorak, za kisela deterdžentska vlakna 90, a za škrob 233 uzorka. Pokazatelji fermentacije buraga kao prosječna probavljiva organska tvar (pOT) iznosila je = 75,6 %, a probavljiva neutralna deterdžentska vlakna (pNDV) = 52,8 %. Prosječna pH vrijednost je bila poželjnih 3,85, uz prosječnu koncentraciju mliječne (54,9 g kg-1ST) i octene (21,1 g kg-1ST) kiseline. Prosječne vrijednosti distribucije veličine čestica silaža, mjerene četirima frakcijama rezultirale su sljedećim vrijednostima: sito 1–5,7 %; sito 2–55,7 %; sito 3–26,1 % i posuda na dnu–12,6 %. Najjača pozitivna korelativna povezanost utvrđena je između sirovih vlakana u odnosu na KDV (r = 0,870), NDV (r = 0,959) i KDL (r = 0,790) te između NDV-a i KDV-a (r = 0,845). Korelativna povezanost negativnoga predznaka bila je najjača između KDL-a i pOT-a (r = -0,844), škroba u odnosu na sir. vlakna (r = -0,835) i NDV (r = -0,809), te pH i mliječne kiseline (r = -0,804). Navedene korelativne veze između pokazatelja bile su i statistički visoko značajne (p < 0,001).

Chemical, mineral composition, in vitro ruminal fermentation and buffering capacity of some rangeland-medicinal plants

A diverse group of rangeland-medicinal plants are being used by ruminant whilst some of them have not been assessed for their nutritional value. This study was aimed to evaluate the chemical and mineral composition, buffering capacity, and in vitro fermentation of some rangeland-medicinal plants including Thymus kotschyanus, Ziziphora persica, Lallemantia royleana, and Scutellaria litwinowii in the family Lamiaceae, and Hypericum scabrum, in the family Hypericaceae. The results indicated that crude protein (CP) content ranged from 8.66% (S. litwinowii) to 12.17% of DM (H. scabrum). It was found that Z. persica had the highest potential gas production, metabolism energy (ME), relative feed value (RFV), and dry matter digestibility (DMD) values of 53.44 (mL 200-1 mg DM), 5.84 (MJ kg-1 DM), 170.66 and 70.88%, respectively. Mineral content differed among plants; Ca ranged from 5.79 to 41.96 g kg-1 DM. The concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Co were highest for L. royleana. Total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and propionate concentrations were highest in the culture medium cultured with Z. persica, however, acetate, and butyrate were highest in H. scabrum. Acid-base buffering capacity was lower in T. kotschyanus and H. scabrum compared to other plants, while it was higher in S. litwinowii. Overall, it can be concluded that among plants evaluated in this study, Z. persica had higher nutritional value for sheep feeding.

Determination of Nutritive Value and In Vitro Gas Production of Some Triticale Varieties.

The aim of this study to determine the chemical composition, in vitro total gas production (TG), metabolisable energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) of grains belonging to different triticale varieties. Crude ash (CA) contents of varieties range from 2.05 to 2.30%, ether extract (EE) contents of the varieties is range of 1.82%-3.00%, crude protein (CP) content of varieties between 9.44 and 13.25%, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents of were range of 2.51-4.50% and 15.15-17.65%, respectively. In vitro total gas production of varieties was between 57.59 and 62.51, ME and OMD also between 11.69-12.55 Mj kg-1 DM and 78.06-82.24%, respectively. While Bera and Tatlıcak 97 leap out in terms of ME, Bera variety leap out in terms of OMD. Effects of varieties on chemical composition, in vitro TG, ME and OMD of triticale grains were found to be significant (P<0.05). According to chemical composition and fermentation parameters, Bera variety, has high values in terms of CP, ME and OMD can be recommended for grain production.

Nutritional value of Tifton 85 grass haylage under different layers of polyethylene film and storage times

Forage conservation processes are fundamentally aimed at maintaining the nutritional quality of forages so that they can overcome the low availability and quality of roughage feed in unfavorable times. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the number of layers of polyethylene film and storage time on the nutritional value of haylage of Tifton 85 grass (Cynodon spp cv. Tifton 85). Four and six layers of milky white polyethylene film were used in the wrapping of silage bales with a capacity of 400 kg (100 and 150 μm in total thickness, respectively), for four different storage times (at baling and 30, 60, and 90 days). The experiment was laid out in a randomized-block design with four replicates, in a split-plot arrangement in time, in which the number of layers of polyethylene film that wrapped the haylage bales constituted the plots and the storage times the sub-plots. Neutral detergent insoluble protein (NDIP) levels were higher in the haylage wrapped with four layers of polyethylene film (35.8 g kg-1 CP). Storage time affected the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), mineral matter (MM), NDIP, and lignin contents and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The ADF and lignin contents increased linearly, whereas IVDMD decreased linearly. Mineral matter showed a negative quadratic response. The NDIP and NDF contents exhibited a positive quadratic response. Storage time did not influence the dry matter (550.3 g kg-1), crude protein (102.3 g kg-1 DM), or acid detergent insoluble protein (28.9 g kg-1 CP) contents or in vitro NDF digestibility (582.1 g kg-1 DM). In conclusion, the number of layers of polyethylene film does not influence the nutritional value of Tifton 85 grass haylage. Storage for 90 days reduces the nutritional value of Tifton 85 grass haylage.

Comparison of Cultivated and Wild Relatives of Several Forage Species in Mixed Rangeland Based on Some Nutritional Characteristics

Cultivated forage species may have higher nutrients contents (NC) and forage quality indicators (FQI) than their wild relatives. Nine forage samples collected five times from a mixed rangeland and an experimental field during two consecutive years was analysed for ash, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and neutral detergent (NDF) and acid detergent (ADF) fibres. Then, their FQI such as digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), metabolizable energy (ME) and relative forage quality (RFQ) were calculated. Data were performed in a linear model with fixed effects (forage plant type [PT] and species [PS]) to NC and FQI, and subjected to hierarchical two-way clustering analysis. Cultivated and wilds relatives varied in CP (12.0-18.9% and 8.8-23.3%), ADF (20.9-33.1% and 39.3-73.5%) and NDF (37.2-61.6% and 26.7-46.1%) contents and ME (8.7-9.7 MJ kg-1 DM and 7.0-9.6 MJ kg-1 DM) and RFQ (98.8-186.7 and 74.6-161.7) values. There were interactions between PT and PS for all NC and FQI, except for CP and EE contents. In general, the CP, EE, ADF, ME and RFQ of cultivars were higher, whereas NDF was lower than those of the wilds. The most notable differences (NDF, ADF and RFQ) between the PT represented the differences in nutritional traits based on the clustering analysis. The cultivated and wilds relatives are comprised of NC and FQI that respond differently under same circumstances.

Nutrient Intake and Ingestive Behavior in Lambs Fed Hay and Concentrate

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the changes in the ingestive behavior and in the intake of crossbred Santa Inês lamb fed Tifton 85 hay associated to levels of concentrate supplementation. Twenty lambs, weaned and uncastrated, with initial body weight (BW) of 20.3 ± 3.6 kg were distributed in four treatments with Tifton 85 hay exclusive or associated with concentrate levels (0.0, 6.6, 13.3 and 20.0 g kg-1 d-1 BW), in a completely randomized design with five replicates. The ingestive behavior was evaluated through feeding, rumination and idleness parameters, feeding and rumination efficiencies, as well as dry matter (DMI), neutral detergent fiber (NDFI) and crude protein (CPI) intakes. Supplementation did not change the NDFI, but linearly increased the DMI and CPI expressed in g day-1, g kg-1 day-1 BW and g kg-1 day-1 BW0.75. Despite of this the regressions obtained for time spent with feeding, rumination and total chewing showed decreasing behavior when expressed in minutes day-1 or in minutes kg-1 DM. The feeding (g hour-1) and rumination (g hour-1 and g cud-1) efficiency of DM and CP also increased linearly. The higher levels of supplementation provided less time spent with feeding and rumination activities and, consequently, longer time with idleness.

Ensilado de orujo de uva (Vitis labrusca L. cv. Isabel) en la digestibilidad de nutrientes, balance de nitrógeno y comportamiento ingestivo de corderos

This study investigated the inclusion of grape pomace silage (GPS; 0, 10, 20 and 30%) were evaluated in diets of lambs on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance and ingestive behavior. Four lambs of the Santa Inês breed with weight of 21.93 ± 0.87 kg and approximately seven months old, were housed in metabolic cages and distributed in a 4x4 latin square design. The treatments consisted of four diets with the inclusion of 0, 10, 20 and 30% GPS in diets. The nutrient intake was observed an increasing linear behavior for ether extract (EE) intake (P<0.05) according to the increase of EE in the diets, caused by content of EE of seeds in GPS. The diets did not differ in the digestibility coefficients of nutrients and nitrogen balance (P>0.05), with average digestibility of dry matter digestibility (DDM) of 678.6 ± 0.62 g kg-1 DM and average retention of 239.78 g kg-1 N ingested of N. The ingestive behavior the diets were influenced (P<0.05) by only the length of time that the animals remained idle in standing. This parameter showed a quadratic behavior with a maximum point estimated at 17.73 % of GPS (P=0.041). In conclusion, the use of GPS can be used until inclusion level of 30 % without negatively affecting the parameters evaluated.

Radioactive Contamination of Wild Mushrooms from Ukraine under Conditions of Contrasting Radiation Loads: 36 Years after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Catastrophe.

It has been 36 years since the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant catastrophe, but the consumption of wild mushrooms in Ukrainian Polissya is still dangerous since its territory is heavily contaminated by radionuclides. The aim of this study was to estimate 137Cs and 90Sr uptake in wild mushrooms from locations with contrast radioactive loads (Zhytomyr Polissya, Ukraine). In mushroom samples collected from Drevlyanskyi Nature Reserve since 2013 (average levels of soil surface contamination with 137Cs are 555-1480 kBq m-2), the highest levels of 137Cs were observed in symbiotroph species - Imleria badia (≤ 2680 kBq kg-1 dry mass [dm]), Tricholoma equestre (≤ 1420 kBq kg-1 dm), Lactarius rufus (≤ 602 kBq kg-1 dm), Sarcodon imbricatus (≤ 464 kBq kg-1 dm), Leccinum scabrum (≤ 117 kBq kg-1 dm), Suillus bovinus (≤ 118 kBq kg-1 dm), and Boletus edulis (≤ 96 kBq kg-1 dm). 90Sr activity was significantly lower, with the highest levels detected in Russula emetica (193 Bq kg-1 dm), Daedaleopsis confragosa (145 Bq kg-1 dm), and Hypholoma fasciculare (141 Bq kg-1 dm). The 137Cs/90Sr ratio in fruiting bodies in samples ranged from 6.1 (Bovistella utriformis) to 28,979 (T. equestre). Activity concentrations in mushrooms from locations with relatively low contamination with 137Cs (18.5-27.75 kBq m-2) also reached the highest values in symbiotroph species I. badia (7698 Bq kg-1 dm), Lactarius vellereus (6072 Bq kg-1 dm), and S. luteus (1448 Bq kg-1 dm). Potential calculated annual effective doses due to mushroom consumption by adults, considering only the effect of 137Cs, reached 0.311 and 8.71 mSv in B. edulis and I. badia from highly contaminated locations, respectively, and 0.0014 and 0.009 mSv in these species from low contaminated ones.

The use of computer vision to classify Xaraés grass according to nutritional status in nitrogen

This study is based on the principle that vegetation indexes (VIs), derived from the RGB color model obtained from digital images, can be used to characterize spectral signatures and classify Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraes according to nitrogen status (N). From colorimetric data obtained from leaf blade images acquired in the fi eld, three artifi cial neural networks were evaluated according to the performance in the classifi cation of N status: Feedforward Backpropagation (FFBP), Cascade Forward Backpropagation (CFBP) and Radial Base function (RBFNN). Four N fertilization rates were applied to generate contrasting N contents in the plants. The youngest completely expanded leaves from 60 tillers were detached at each regrowth cycle of 28 days, thus their images and leaf N content were obtained. Samples were then classifi ed as defi cient ( 20.1 g N kg-1 DM). The VIs were selected by principal component analysis and the performance of the networks evaluated by the accuracy. The accuracy in classifi cation obtained by the networks were 88%, 86% and 79% for FFBP, CFBP and RBFNN, respectively, indicating that the spectral signatures can be determined from images acquired in the fi eld. So, the proposed method could be used to develop a software that aims to monitor the status of N in real time, providing a fast and inexpensive tool for defi ning the time and the amount of N fertilizer, according to the pasture demand.

Diet crude protein reduction on follicular fluid and cumulus-oocyte complexes of mid-lactating Girolando cows.

This study evaluated the effect of crude protein (CP) reduction in four diets (156, 139, 132, and 127 g Kg-1 DM) maintaining constant metabolizable protein (188 g/day) on the follicular fluid and cumulus-oocyte complexes of mid-lactating Girolando cows. Twenty-two Girolando cows with average of 21.55 ±3.19 L daily milk yield, 105.30 ±22.62 days in lactation and 3.22 ±0.03 body condition score were selected. To reduce CP in diets and maintain constant metabolizable protein, urea and soybean meal were gradually replaced by lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal (SoyPass®, Cargill), resulting in an increase in rumen-undegradable protein and a reduction in rumen degradable protein. A linear and quadratic reduction was observed in the plasma and follicular fluid urea nitrogen concentration following CP reduction, with the most intense reduction occurring in the 127 g Kg-1 DM group (p<0.001). As CP reduced, there was a tendency for a linear increase in the follicular growth rate (P=0.0696), on the number and proportion of viable oocytes (P<0.09), and also a linear increase for the number (P=0.0397) and proportion (P<0.09) of grade I viable oocytes. Plus, there was a linear effect for the number of cumulus oophorus cells. Cows fed with the lowest amount of CP had cumulus-oocyte complexes with higher numbers of cumulus oophorus cells (P=0.0238). Also, the reduction of diet crude protein was followed by a decrease in the probability of oocytes’ DNA degradation. In conclusion, the reduction of CP in the diet of mid-lactating Girolando cows, reduces urea nitrogen concentration in both blood plasma and follicular fluid, and, as a consequence, increases the viability of oocytes and the number of cumulus oophorus cells while reducing oocytes’ DNA degradation of follicular included cumulus-oocyte complex. The reduction on dietary CP may improve in vivo oocytes’ embryo development impacting fertility of lactating dairy cows.

Mineral Content of Forages in Coconut Triangle, Wet Zone and Dry Zone Dairy Production Regions, During South-West Monsoon in Sri Lanka

The present study was conducted to evaluate the mineral status of forages in three different dairy production zones, Coconut Triangle, Wet Zone, and Dry Zone. Forage samples were collected from Kotadeniyawa, Udugoda and Seeppukulama representing the three locations, respectively. The samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer to determine macro and micro minerals. Levels of Ca, K, Mg and Na in forages were ranged, 0.57-19.9 gram per kilogram dry matter (gkg-1 DM), 8.03-11.47 gkg-1 DM, 0.65-0.90 gkg-1 DM and 0.01-0.60 gkg-1 DM respectively. The micro mineral content of tested samples was ranged 21.5-478 mg Fe kg-1 DM, 18.7-285 mg Mn kg-1 DM, 2.82-103 mg Cu kg-1 DM M, 0.03-0.40 mg Co kg-1 DM, 0.09-0.25 mg Se kg-1 DM, 15.8-298 mg Zn kg-1 DM and 0.42-2.64 mg Cr kg-1 DM. The results revealed that legumes contain higher levels of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Cu than grasses, while grasses are rich in Zn. The tested mineral contents of forages from three different zones were significantly different (p&lt;0.05) except Se. Level of Se in forage varieties showed no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) among three zones for most tested varieties except in Koronivia grass (Brachiaria humidicola) and Peuro (Pueraria phaseoloides).

Performance, carcass traits and non-carcass components of lambs fed different levels of crambe meal

The goal of this study was to evaluate different levels of crambe meal (0, 330, 670 and 1,000 g kg-1 dry matter [DM]) as a replacement for soybean meal in diets supplied to feedlot lambs, and their effects on performance, carcass traits and non-carcass components. Twenty-four castrated lambs weighing 18.2 kg at the beginning of the experiment were allocated in a completely randomized design. Diets were formulated to meet the requirements of the lamb for an average daily gain of 0.200 kg. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 60:40, using Brachiaria dyctioneura hay as roughage. Dry matter intake, feed conversion, average daily gain, carcass traits and non-carcass components were evaluated. There was no effect of different levels of crambe meal replacing soybean meal on performance, carcass traits and non-carcass components, except heart weight. Replacement 1,000 g kg-1 DM of soybean meal protein by crambe meal protein does not affect the performance, carcass traits, or non-carcass components.

Quality properties of sunn hemp (&lt;i&gt;Crotalaria juncea&lt;/i&gt; L.) and maize (&lt;i&gt;Zea mays&lt;/i&gt; L.) silages

Maize is an ideal forage crop for ensilage because of its high levels of fermentable carbohydrates, although it is low in protein. Sunn hemp is a legume with a high crude protein content with potential to be used in combination with maize to provide a silage with a higher protein content. Different percentages of sunn hemp-maize mixtures of 80-20, 60-40, 40-60 and 20-80 respectively were compared to silages of sole maize and sunn hemp. In the laboratory study, DLG classifications (color, smell, structure, total score and quality class), silage loss (%), silage pH, dry matter content, flieg score, crude protein content, crude ash content, NDF, ADF, metabolic energy (MJ kg-1 DM), dry matter intake, percent digestible dry matter and relative feed value were determined at the end of 60 days ensilage. The crude protein contents of silages increased as the sunn hemp ratio in the mixtures increased. In addition, pure sunn hemp silage and mixtures, especially 80% sunn hemp mixed with 20% maize, were found suitable for silage and it was concluded that sunn hemp and sunn hemp-maize silage mixtures could be used in animal husbandry.

Productive Performance, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality in Finishing Lambs Supplemented with a Polyherbal Mixture

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a polyherbal mixture (HM) containing saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides on productive performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs during the final fattening period. Thirty-six Dorper × Katahdin lambs (23.27 ± 1.23 kg body weight (BW)) were housed in individual pens and were assigned to four treatments (n = 9) with different doses of HM: 0 (CON), 1 (HM1), 2 (HM2) and 3 (HM3) g of HM kg−1 of DM for 56 days. Data were analysed as a completely randomized design using the MIXED and GLM procedures of statistical analysis system (SAS), and linear and quadratic effects were tested to evaluate the effects of the HM level. DM digestibility decreased in lambs fed HM3 (p &lt; 0.05). There was no effect of HM on daily weight gain, dry matter intake, final BW, feed conversion, carcass characteristics, colour (L* and a*) and meat chemical composition. Meat pH, cooking loss and drip loss increased linearly (p &lt; 0.05) when the HM dose was increased. The Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) of meat was lower (p &lt; 0.05) in lambs fed HM3. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 3 g HM kg1 of DM improves meat tenderness. However, high doses of HM in the diet may decrease the digestibility of DM and increase the cooking loss and drip loss of lamb meat during the final fattening period.

USING HISTORIC SITES IN DETERMINING PLANT-SOIL INTERACTIONS UNDER LONG TERM CONTAMINATED SOILS

The relationships between heavy metals in soils and crop tissues are critical in understanding the potential risk to crop yields from Zn, Cu and Ni (the principal phytotoxic elements of concern in sludge), and the possible effects on dietary Cd (the critical zootoxic element that is labile in sludge-treated soil and readily absorbed by plants. These relationships cannot be derived from the agronomic trials because the quantities of heavy metals applied to the soil in sludge are small. These are field sites have been treated with sludge for many years in operational practice and where the oncentrations of heavy metals have been significantly raised above background values, representing potentially a worse-case of soil contamination. The purpose of the study was to provide a surrogate for long-term sludge-treated agricultural soil by examining the effects on crops of heavy metals in soil irrigated with raw sewage effluent for periods of more than 80 years and containing significantly elevated concentrations of heavy metals. Methodology: Two surveys of the Gabal El Asfar Old Farm were undertaken to assess the long-term effects of heavy metals in sludge-treated soil on crop quality. In the first survey, the relationships between total and DTPA extractable heavy metals in soil and concentrations in citrus fruit were examined. Concentrations of heavy metals in leaves of citrus were measured in the second survey and related to total and DTPA extractable metals in soil. The heavy metal contents of citrus leaves and fruit (orange - eleven sampling sites; mandarin - four sampling sites), and total and DTPA extractable concentrations in soils were measured in samples collected from different areas of the Farm during two site surveys. Total and DTPA concentrations of heavy metals in the surveyed soils showed significant enrichment by long-term irrigation with sewage effluent. For example, the maximum total concentrations of Zn and Cu were 530 and 366 mg kg-1, respectively, representing a potential risk to crop yields The maximum Cd concentration detected was 9 mg kg-1 and may be a potential risk to the human food chain from uptake into staple crops grown at the farm. DTPA extractable metals were significantly (P&lt;0.001) correlated with the total contents of Zn (r=0.91***), Cu (r=0.83***), Ni (r=0.63***) and Pb (r=0.85***) in soil when data from both surveys were pooled for statistical evaluation. There was also evidence of a weak relationship between DTPA extractable Cd and the total soil Cadmium is the only element of concern in terms of the risk to human health from uptake into food crops grown on sludge-treated soil. The total Cd concentration in soil was raised to a value 3 times the maximum EU limit for this element in sludge-treated agricultural soil. Despite the marked increase in soil Cd content, there was no detectable transfer into citrus leaves or fruit (Figure 1). The absence of Cd uptake into citrus fruit is to be expected because fruits are amongst the least sensitive plant parts to Cd accumulation. These data emphasise the minimal risk to the human diet from Cd in fruit crops grown on sludge-treated soil. . In all cases, leaf tissue concentrations were low and in some cases Cu status was below the deficiency threshold. The Cd content in leaves was small and generally &lt;0.02 mg kg-1 DM.

Determining the content of nitrogen and some macroelements in the dry mass of perennial leguminous plants

The aim of this study was to determine the content of elements N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in the dry mass of perennial fodder legumes, mowed in the optimal growth phase. The experiment with perennial legumes of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), red clover (Trifolium pretense) and bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) was set up as a random block system in four replicates on valley-brown soil and was conducted for two years. The green mass of perennial legumes in the first and second mowing was harvested at the end of budding/ beginning of flowering phase. In the third and fourth regrowth, mowing of the biomass was done after 5 weeks. Immediately after each mowing, representative sample of green biomass was taken from each replicate of each legume tested. The content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the dry plant material was determined. The content of nitrogen and potassium in the fodder of alfalfa and red clover was higher in the first year of the study, which was not the case for bird's-foot trefoil. The dry matter of alfalfa on average had the highest content of nitrogen (39.8 g kg-1 DM) and calcium (19.6 g kg-1 DM), bird's-foot trefoil of phosphorus (10.6 g kg-1 DM) and potassium (26.1 g kg-1 DM), and red clover of magnesium (3.7 g kg-1 DM). In the dry mass of bird's-foot trefoil the average content of nitrogen was 39.0 g kg-1 DM, phosphorus 10.6 g kg-1 DM, potassium 26.1 g kg-1 DM, calcium 15.7 g kg-1 DM, and magnesium 3.5 g kg-1 DM.