Lower Feed Costs Research Articles

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A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing varying levels of high-quality cassava peel (HQCP) fine mash on broilers’ performance, carcass characteristics, and cost benefit. A feeding trial was carried out using four hundred (400) 21-day old Arbor Acres broiler chicks weighing 570 – 630 g (live weight). The chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments (T); (T1- 0 kg/t of HQCP, T2- 150 kg/t of HQCP, T3- 200 kg/t of HQCP, T4- 250 kg/t of HQCP and T5- 300 kg/t of HQCP) for 21 days in a completely randomized design. Data on live performance, carcass characteristics, and feeding costs were collected. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in final live weight, feed conversion ratio/feed efficiency ratio (FCR/FER), dressing percentage, total feed cost, and feed cost per weight gain across the treatments. T2 and T4 produced birds with the highest live weights of 2.08 and 1.98 kg, respectively. The dressing percentage ranged from 63.2% (T5) - 70.0% (T1).  T5 had the lowest total feed cost (0.97 $/kg) while T2 had the lowest feed cost per body weight gain ($0.74), and best cost savings ($0.22).  It was concluded that replacement of maize with 150 kg/t high quality cassava peel (HQCP) in broiler finisher diets improved production performance and save cost. Key words: HQCP, broilers, live weight, dressing percentage, feed cost, finisher diet.

Effects of supplemental xylanase on in vitro disappearance of dry matter in feed ingredients for swine

Background: Alternative feed ingredients are widely used in swine diets to lower feed costs, but these ingredients contain a large quantity of non-starch polysaccharides. Supplemental xylanase is known to break down non-starch polysaccharides. However, the effects of exogenous xylanase from Bacillus subtilis on various feed ingredients have rarely been compared. Objective: To evaluate the effects of supplemental xylanase on in vitro disappearance of dry matter (DM) in various feed ingredients for pigs. Methods: Nine feed ingredients were used to measure in vitro ileal disappearance and in vitro total tract disappearance of DM. Each ground ingredient was supplemented with either supplemental xylanase (9,000 U/g) or cornstarch at 1.0%. Results: Supplemental xylanase increased in vitro ileal disappearance of DM in wheat, barley, wheat flour, and wheat bran (p<0.05). The in vitro total tract disappearance of DM for barley and wheat bran increased with xylanase addition (p<0.05). Conclusion: Exogenous xylanase could increase in vitro ileal DM disappearance in barley, wheat, wheat flour, and wheat bran, but did not affect in vitro total tract DM disappearance in wheat and wheat flour.

THE EFFECTS OF REPLACING FISHMEAL WITH BLOODMEAL IN BROILER FINISHER RATIONS

Experiments were conducted with Ross-type broiler chickens to determine the optimum level of inclusion of fish meal and the replacement value of blood meal for fish meal in broiler finisher rations. The optimum level of inclusion of fish meal was found to be 5%. Fish meal levels beyond 10 per cent tended to produce unacceptable fishy taste and odour in the meat. This level was successfully replaced by 4% blood meal without adverse effect on growth performance and taste or odour of the meat. The use of blood meal resulted in lower feed costs and feed cost per kg weight gain.

Protein to energy ratios and cost, performance, and ammonia excretion in juvenile jundiá (Rhamdia quelen), South American catfish

ABSTRACT: The determination of nutritional requirements, based on diets administered in practice, considers physiological specificities and sustainability are essential to the development of suitable aquaculture technologies for novel fish species. The growth of jundia (Rhamdia quelen Quoy and Gaimard) juveniles (31.54 ± 4.92 g) fed five diets comprising increasing levels of digestible protein (DP: 24, 29, 34, 39, and 44 %) and digestible energy (DE: 12.13, 13.39, 13.81, 14.64, and 15.06 MJ kg−1) with DP:DE ratios: 20, 22, 25, 27, and 29 g MJ−1, respectively, was evaluated. Each diet was fed to three groups of 25 fish for 75 days. Regression analysis showed that the different DP:DE ratios affected both growth and economic performance as well as excretion of total ammonia nitrogen. Fish fed diets with DP:DE ratios between 22 and 27 g MJ−1 achieved a higher daily weight gain, superior apparent net protein utilization, feed conversion rates, and lower feed costs. For the economically viable and environmentally friendly farming of jundia juveniles in the initial grow–out stage (30 to 80 g average weight), the best DP:DE ratio was 25 g MJ−1 DP:DE (34.05 % DP and 13.81 MJ kg−1 DE).

Beef Production Efficiency Gains through Commercial Herd Crossbreeding

The objective of the work was to study the beef production efficiency through intensive rearing and fattening of Simmental and crossbred bull calves. The bull calves were divided into three groups of 15 animals each in order to carry out the survey. The first (control) group involved purebred Simmental bull calves. The second group consisted of young stock produced via crossbreeding Simmental cows with German Simmental beef bulls. The third group was formed from crosses of Simmental cows with Charolais bulls. The animals of the second and third groups were characterized by lower feed costs per 1 kg liveweight gain, comprising 8.5 and 8.1 EFU, respectively, while the feed utilization efficiency for the bull calves of the first group comprised 8.7 EFU. These factors affected the profitability of beef production. Thus, the level of profitability of rearing the Charolais crosses reached 20.7%, which was 6.8 and 3% higher than that in the bull calves of groups one and two, respectively. Fattening to the age of 18 months contributed to a significant increase in the carcass fat mass. Therefore, the protein-to-fat ratio comprised 1 : 084, 1 : 0.75, and 1 : 068 for the groups in ascending order of their numbers. Under intensive rearing and fattening systems, Simmental bull calves of group one gained the target beef quality up to the age of 15 months. The practice of fattening the crossbred bull calves of groups two and three up to the age of 18 months has proved that their meat gains the target protein-to-fat ratio, while the meat of bull calves of the maternal breed should be considered over-fat beef, since the fat content exceeds the standard recommendations. The intensive system of rearing and fattening the Simmental bull calves up to the age of 15 months and the Simmental crosses with the German Simmental beef breed and the Charolais breed up to the age of 18 months can ensure the production of heavy carcasses with the target quality beef.

Utilising dual-purpose crops effectively to increase profit and manage risk in meat production systems

Dual-purpose cropping (sowing crops with the intention of both grazing them during vegetative growth and harvesting grain thereafter) has become a widespread farming practice in southern Australia. This synopsis paper integrates research from a multi-institutional research project conducted at three nodes located near Hamilton (south-western Victoria), Wagga Wagga (southern NSW) and Canberra (ACT), and sets out 11 principles for the effective utilisation of dual-purpose crops in meat production systems to increase profit and manage risk. Dual-purpose crops can be used to overcome feed quality gaps in late summer–autumn or feed quantity gaps in late autumn/winter. They provide large quantities of high-quality forages for grazing in summer, autumn and winter and can provide a substantial contribution to the annual number of grazing days on a farm. Utilisation of the high-quality dry matter provided by dual-purpose crops is most effective when directed at young growing stock for sale or future reproduction rather than reproducing adult ewes. For example, sale weight of yearlings per ewe was increased by 16% in systems at the Canberra node when dual-purpose crops were prioritised for grazing by weaners. Wool production was also increased in systems that included grazing of dual-purpose crops. Grazing crops in winter does not necessarily reduce supplementary feeding costs for winter or spring lambing. Modelling suggests that inclusion of dual-purpose crops does not substantially change the optimum time of lambing for sheep meat systems. Financial analysis of the experimental data from the Canberra node showed that although cash expenses per hectare were increased in the crop-grazing systems, the overall profitability of those systems over the life of the experiment was greater by AU$207/ha.year than that of the pasture-only system. Factors driving improved profitability included income from grain, higher income from meat and wool, and lower supplementary feeding costs. However, increasing the area sown to crop from 10% to 30% of the farm area in this Southern Tablelands system appeared to increase risk. In south-western Victoria, spring-sown canola carried risk similar to or less than other options assessed to achieve ewe-lamb mating weight. It is likely that at least part of the reduction in risk occurs through the diversification in income from the canola produced as part of the system. It was concluded that the grazing of cereal and canola crops for livestock production can be profitable and assist in managing risk.

The Effect of Different Inclusion Levels of a Commercial Concentrate On the Growth Performance of Weaned Lambs

The Effect of Different Inclusion Levels of a Commercial Concentrate On the Growth Performance of Weaned Lambs Andell Edwards, Amellia Taylor, Tunika Brewster Abstract This experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of different inclusion levels of a commercial concentrate on average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, feed intake, final weight gained, feed cost/lb gain and the dressing percentage of weaned lambs. Twenty one, clinically healthy Barbados black belly weaned ewe (average weight 15 - 19± 0.4 kg.) were used. They were randomly allocated to three treatments during a period of 70 days. Treatment (1): inclusion at 2% body weight, Treatment (2): Inclusion at 2.5% body weight and Treatment (3): Inclusion at 3% body weight. Water was provided ad libitum. Feed intake was highest (p<0.05) among lambs supplemented with concentrates at 3 % (5.85 kg) of their body weight. Average daily gain (ADG) was highest (p<0.05) among ewes supplemented at 3 % (0.70 kg) of their body weight. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower among animals supplemented at 2 % (7.52 kg) when compared to animals supplemented at 2.5 % (8.50 kg) and 3 % (8.28 kg) of their body weight respectively. Weight gain was significantly higher (p<0.05) among ewes supplemented at 3 % body weight in comparison to ewes supplemented at 2 % (14.4 kg) and 2.5 % (16.3 kg) respectively. Ewes supplemented at 3 % of their body had a lower (p<0.05) feed cost per pound of gain ($7.71) when compared to those supplemented at 2.5 % ($ 9.52). Dressing percentage was also lowest (p<0.05) among ewes supplemented at 3 % of their body weight (42.9 %) when compared to ewes supplemented at 2 % (46 %) and 2.5 % (45.7 %) respectively. It was concluded that a higher concentrate inclusion level could positively influence the performance parameters and cost/pound of gain in weaned lambs fed poor quality forages. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v10n1a7

Growth response and cost benefits of growing pigs to different herbal-mix feed additives and weight asymmetry

This study was carried out to investigate growth performance and cost benefits of growing pigs on different herbal-mix feed additives and weight asymmetry. Fifty-four, 8 weeks old Large White breed of pigs with an average body weight of 15.33±0.2 kg were randomly assigned to nine treatments with each treatment consisting of three replicates of two pigs each. Three diets containing different herbal-mix (Control diet without herbal-mix, moringa-basil meal diet, neem-basil meal diet) were formulated and fed to the pigs for sixteen weeks duration of the study. The moringa-basil and neem-basil leaf meals mixtures were in the ratio of 10 to 2; that is ten percent (10%) moringa or neem to two percent (2%) basil. Parameters determined include growth indices and cost benefits. Data collected were subjected to two-way analysis of variance using SAS (2000). Pigs on control diet had the highest final weight (49. 44, 43.22, 40.67 kg) and daily weight gain (515.87, 401.59, 388.89 g/pig) and the best feed conversion ratio (3.56, 4.59, 4.23) when compared to the values documented for pigs on ration containing different herbal-mix feed additives. The least total feed cost and revenue per pig were noted for pigs on neem-basil dietary treatment while the highest values were documented for pigs on control ration. Homogenous light weight pigs had higher feed intake and total feed cost per pigs when compared to other values noted for pigs on other treatment groups. Heterogeneous weight pigs recorded better feed conversion ratio, lower feed cost per kilogram weight gain and higher gross margin values when compared to the values noted for their homogenous counterparts. It can be concluded from this study that performance indices of growing pigs were affected by the dietary inclusion of herbal-mix feed additives and weight asymmetry. Hence, herbal-mix leaf meals can be integrated into growers ration in order to lower production cost, likewise,unevenly weight growing pigs can be managed together in order to obtain higher production efficiency in terms of feed intake and cost of production.

The composition and properties of young cattle nutrition enriched with the additive “Tanrem”

Feeding that provides animals with good health, high productivity and good product quality at the lowest feed cost is considered complete. For this goal, it is necessary to balance the diet of animals for all nutrients, because even the work of breeders does not guarantee high productivity from animals without a complete diet. The lack of energy in the diet affects all vital functions of the animal’s body, which caused the need to enrich the diet with energy-carbohydrate feed. This fact determined the relevance of our work. With the help of a computer program, it became possible in a short time to analyze the diet with the inclusion of the studied additive in three different dosages, to assess its structure, nutritional value and to carry out a zoo analysis. The ration was made up for stall and pasture keeping of young cattle of LLC “Agro-Alliance”, divided into 15 animals in a group. The main fodder was procured in the same farm. The calculation showed that in the experimental groups the ration was as close as possible to the standard values, which indicates the prospects of using the studied type of feed in feeding young animals.

Growth, survival and development of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) fed flowering plants

House crickets (Acheta domesticus) are increasingly being used as food. This has the potential for a more efficient food production that also may benefit agroecosystems. As the first study to compare feeds based on European wild flowering plants as feed for house crickets we examined five common plants known to support biodiversity of wild insects (white clover (Trifolium repens), white nettle (Lamium album), common nettle (Urtica dioica), rough comfrey (Symphytum asperum) and common gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata). These plants and a control diet were fed as dried and sole feeds ad libitum to one-day-old house crickets for 62 days in a climate-controlled laboratory. Cricket weight, mortality and feed intake were recorded every 7 days. An additional test examined crickets preferences for forages and the effect on maturation and weight, by providing a free choice of rapeseed and wheat meal and either an early- or late-cut red clover (Trifolium pratense) or white nettle for 62 days. Mortality of crickets fed common nettle, rough comfrey and common gypsophila exceeded 80% in first 7 days, so these plants were removed from the trial after 14 days. Survival of crickets on white nettle and control feed was 59% after 28 days and average cricket weight was similar. By day 62, the weight of crickets fed white nettle and white clover was on average 32 mg, compared with 201 mg on control feed. In the free choice test, crickets consumed 15-30% red clover, 31-37% wheat meal and 39-64% rapeseed. Crickets with access to red clover showed a higher (P&lt;0.001) proportion of adults (28%) compared with the control (5%). We conclude that white nettle has potential as feed for house crickets during the early growth stages, and that red clover supplementation increase cricket maturation. Using feeds including white nettle and red clover in cricket rearing additionally benefits to support wild biodiversity and lower feed costs.

Development of a linear programming model for the optimal allocation of nutritional resources in a dairy herd

A linear programming model that selects the optimal cropping plan and feeds allocation for diets to minimize the whole dairy farm feed costs was developed. The model was virtually applied on 29 high-yielding Holstein-Friesian herds, confined, total mixed ration dairy farms. The average herd size was 313.2 ± 144.1 lactating cows and the average land size was 152.2 ± 92.5 ha. Farm characteristics such as herd structure, nutritional grouping strategies, feed consumption, cropping plan, intrinsic farm limitations (e.g., silage and hay storage availability, water for irrigation, manure storage) and on farm produced forage costs of production were collected from each farm for the year 2017. Actual feeding strategies, land availability, herd structure, crop production costs and yields, and milk and feed market prices for the year 2017 were used as model inputs. Through optimization, the feeding system was kept equal to the actual farm practice. The linear program formulated diets for each animal group to respect actual herd dry matter intake and fulfill actual consumption of crude protein, rumen-degradable and rumen-undegradable fractions of crude protein, net energy for lactation, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, forage neutral detergent fiber, and nonfiber carbohydrate. Production levels and herd composition were considered to remain constant as the nutritional requirement would remain unchanged. The objective function was set to minimize the whole-farm feed costs including cash crop sales as income, and crop production costs and purchased feed costs as expenses. Optimization improved income over feed costs by reducing herd feed costs by 7.8 ± 6.4%, from baseline to optimized scenario, the improved was explained by lower feed costs per kilogram of milk produced due to a higher feed self-sufficiency and higher income from cash crop. In particular, the model suggested to maximize, starting from baseline to optimized scenario, the net energy for lactation (+8.5 ± 6.3%) and crude protein (+3.6 ± 3.1%) produced on farm, whereas total feed cost (€/100 kg of milk) was greater in the baseline (20.4 ± 2.3) than the optimized scenario (19.0 ± 1.9), resulting in a 6.7% feed cost reduction with a range between 0.49% and 21.6%. This meant €109 ± 96.9 greater net return per cow per year. The implementation of the proposed linear programming model for the optimal allocation of the nutritional resources and crops in a dairy herd has the potential to reduce feed cost of diets and improve the farm feed self-sufficiency.

Effect of forage source and dietary rumen-undegradable protein on nutrient use and growth in dairy heifers

Thirty-two Holstein heifers with mean (± standard error of the mean) age of 6.5 months (±0.12) and live weight (LW) of 166 kg (±1.6) were divided into four groups of eight animals to evaluate the effect of forage source and the concentrations of rumen-undegradable crude protein (RUP) in the diet with a 2 × 2 factorial design. As forage sources cowpea hay (Vigna sinensis L.) or pangola grass hay (Digitaria decumbens Stend) were added to the diet at 250 g/kg dry matter (DM). Also, 350 g/kg DM of chopped fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) was included in all diets. The RUP proportions were 260 or 360 g/kg of total crude protein (CP). Heifers were housed in metabolism cages. The trial lasted ten weeks, with the first two weeks used for adaptation and the last week for data collection and sampling. Diets had a forage to concentrate ratio of 60:40 (on DM basis), and were offered as total mixed rations ad libitum. Fish meal or urea were used to produce varying concentrations of RUP at similar dietary CP content. Diet ingredients (i.e., hay, grass, and concentrate) and feces were sampled for nutrient analysis. Total collection of feces was performed to estimate apparent total tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD). Urinary purine derivative excretions were determined from urine spot samples to estimate rumen microbial protein synthesis. The effects of forage source, RUP, and its interactions were determined by general linear model analysis. Replacing dietary pangola grass hay with cowpea hay increased daily intakes of DM, organic matter, CP, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and digestible organic matter, and ATTD of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and ADF (P < 0.05). Duodenal flow of RUP also increased when substituting cowpea hay for pangola grass hay (P < 0.01). Similarly, inclusion of cowpea hay in the diet improved live weight gain (LWG; P < 0.05), and decreased feed costs per kg of LWG (P < 0.01). The increase in RUP decreased rumen microbial protein synthesis (P < 0.01), but tended to increase LWG, feed conversion and nitrogen use efficiency, and feed costs per unit of LWG (P < 0.10). The use of cowpea hay in the diet of dairy heifers increases nutrient intake and ATTD, leading to improved LWG and lower feed costs per kilogram of LWG. Increasing RUP proportions may reduce rumen microbial protein synthesis, but may enhance LWG, feed conversion efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency. There were no interactions between forage source and RUP proportion on intake and ATTD, but some synergistic effects were observed for the performance parameters.

Infertile egg powder as a potential feedstuff for starter broilers

Infertile egg powder (IEP) contains a high nutrient content, particularly protein, thus it is potential to be utilized as a feedstuff. The objective of this study was to investigate the utilization of IEP as a feedstuff for starter broilers. This study used 196 one-day-old male broilers which were randomly allocated to four treatments in a completely radomized design with 7 replicates of 7 birds. The four dietary treatments included: basal diet (T0), 96% basal diet + 4% IEP (T1), 94% basal diet + 6% IEP (T2), and 92% basal diet + 8% IEP (T3). The diets were provided ad libitum. The variables were the feed intake, growth performances and feed cost. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Feeding with T1, T2 and T3 did not affect the feed intake. However, T2 showed higher protein intake, while T2 and T3 showed higher energy intake than T0 (P<0.05). The IEP increased birds’ average daily gain and feed efficiency (P<0.01). The T1, T2 and T3 treatments yielded lower feed cost. It can be concluded that IEP can be utilized as feedstuff for starter broilers as indicated by improvement in growth performances.

The effect of the REASIL® HUMIC HEALTH feed additive on the digestibility of wheat nutrients and its energy value

The REASIL® HUMIC HEALTH feed additive had a positive effect on the digestibility of wheat nutrients and its energy value. Due to the increase in the amount of digestible nutrients, the level of metabolic energy in wheat grain increases by 2.18-2.56% (2.38% on average), which is a factor confirming the best use of feed nutrients and lower feed costs in production poultry farming.

Economic and Technical Analysis of Utilization Pistia Stratiotes as Magelang Duck Alternative Feed: An Agribusiness Paradigm

This study was conducted to determine the economic analysis, performance analysis and chemical quality of the meat of the utilization of pistia stratiotes (PS) in Magelang duck feed. Most duck feed is still very dependent on imports from other countries so there is a need to find alternative feedstuff that are not competing with humans. The experimental research was conducted at the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Undip using 4 treatments, namely T0 duck feed without the addition of PS in feed, T1 added 6% PS in feed, T2 added 12% PS in feed and T3 added 18% PS in duck feed. Parameters observed were final body weight, feed consumption, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), mortality, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, antioxidants, feed costs, income over feed costs, return on investment (ROI) and RC ratio. Feed consumption on T3 was the highest. Final body weight on T3 was not significantly different (P&gt; 0.05) compared to T1 and T2 but higher than T0 (P&lt;0.05). The FCR between T3, T2 and T1 was not significantly different (P&gt;0.05), but was lower than T0, duck mortality in this study 0. Blood chemistry analysis (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL) showed that T2 and T3 were significantly better than T0 and T1. The results of the economic analysis showed that ducks given PS at T2 and T3 had significant lower feed costs compared to T0 and T1, while ROI from T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than T0. The highest IOFC was achieved when duck were fed (T2), while the lowest IOFC was at T0. R/C ratio of T1, T2 and T3 was not significantly different, but higher when compared to T0. Based on the results of technical and economic analysis, the use of PS in 12% duck feed gave the best result of technical and economic performance

Evaluation of jute leaf as substitute of fish meal in the diet of mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) fingerlings

The study was conducted to identify jute leaf powder as an alternate to fish meal in diets of juvenile mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) for 60 days. Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) leaf was selected to utilize this unexplored nutritious resource rather leaving under water for potential pollution. Three isonitrogenous test diets were prepared and applied as treatments (T) in triplicates (R). In control (T0) dietary inclusion rate of fish meal was 30%, of which 10% was substituted with jute leaf powder in T10 and in T20 replacement was 20%. Mrigal fingerlings (9.38±0.13 cm and 7.94 ±0.26 g) were stocked in nine plastic half drums (0.26 m2 each) at 10 fish per drum and fed test diets. Although, growth parameters among the treatments were statistically similar, the highest mean length gain, weight gain, SGR and production were 1.51 (±0.18) cm, 2.96 (±0.13) g, 0.53 (±0.03) %/day and 4084.00 (±50.67) kg ha-1, respectively in T10. However, significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) survival was found in T10 (93.33%) and T20 (90.00%) compared to T0 (83.33%). Juveniles in T10 and T20 showed better tolerance to low pH stress than T0. Water quality parameters were within acceptable range in all the treatments. Moreover, carcass composition of fish was statistically similar among the treatments. Importantly, feed formulation cost was reduced by 3.7% and 20.4% in T10 and T20, respectively compared to T0. Therefore, the results signify that jute leaf powder could be a promising substitute of fishmeal in mrigal diet without hampering growth along with improved survival and low feed cost.&#x0D; Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(1): 117-122, June 2020

Penampilan Produksi Kelinci Fase Pertumbuhan Menggunakan Wafer Ransum Komplit Berbahan Tepung Inti Biji Karet

Rubber seed is agricultural waste can used for alternatif feed. Rubber seed use not enough for make ends meet rabbit, additional feed is needed to complete it to mix the ingredient needed technology, technology that can be used, one of which is wafers. This study aims to determine the performance of the growth phase of rabbit production by using a complete wafer ration with the addition of 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% rubber seed core flour. Observations made in this study were body weight gain, ration consumtion, ration conversion, and feed costs. This study using completely randomized design (CRD), which consists of 4 treatments and 3 replications. Addition of rubber seed flour in ingredients not significantly up to the level of 9% the production performance of male local rabbits in the growth phase seen from ration consumtion, body weight gain, ration consumtion, and ration conversion. High feed cost is found in the addition of 3% of rubber seed core flour and the lowest feed cost is found in the addition of 9% of rubber seed core flour.

Pigeon Rearing - An Investment Analysis for Secondary Income Generation to Farm Women, Landless, Marginal and Small Farmers

Pigeon rearing not yet been considered in relation to the contribution of livestock sub-sector, though the pigeons rearing provide alternative source of animal protein. In India, majority of Hindu people believe that it brings happiness to their house. Female pigeons reach sexual maturity at about 5-7 months, laid eggs within 8–12 days after mating, the eggs hatch after 18 days of incubation. The breeding cycle in pigeons is about 2 months, when the cycle finished another breeding cycle begins consecutively. The body weight of mature brooding pigeon (male/female) ranges from 287 g to 290 g depends on the type of breed. Mortality rate of pigeon ranges from 5-15%. The Study was conducted in 4 villages of Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. 40 no. of respondents who were engaged in pigeon rearing are selected purposively. Data were collected through well design structure interviewed schedule and collected data was analyzed. The results revealed that pigeon rearing needs low investment, less care, low feed and low housing cost. The finding shows that benefit cost ratio is 8.72 at 10% of discounting rate for 12 years. Finding implied that it is an easy and economic husbandry practices which have short reproduction cycle and less disease occurrence. On an average, entrepreneur sale their squab at the rate of ₹ 240 per pair. Increasing the rate of pigeon farming may enhance the rate of reducing the gap of requirement of animal protein deficiency, increase income generation and may improve the socio-economic status of the rural poor community. From the findings it shows that pigeon rearing is require less initial investment and provides high income. Hence pigeon farming may be an easy, profitable, sustainable and reliable source of additional employment generation, opportunity for family labour utilization during their leisure time and way of earning quick cash income.

Life cycle cost analysis of dairy production systems in Southern Brazil

The intensification of milk production in Brazil in the past decade has imposed great stress on the environment. Therefore, it is very important to find a balance between economic, social, and environmental objectives. The paper assesses the economic costs by production systems: confined feedlot, semi-confined feedlot, and pasture in the south of the country. The economic assessment was realized on some investment analysis tools and the GHG emissions costs for the different production systems indicated. Our results show that hectare and the total area of rural properties were lower in the confined feedlot system, followed by the semi-confined feedlot system and pasture-based grazing system. However, the reduction of the need for feed inputs in the pasture system resulted in lower feeding costs when compared to the other systems. The hectare analysis suggested that the superior productivity of the semi-confined system conditioned higher emission costs in relation to the other systems. However, considered the total emissions of the systems, the pasture system obtained higher values, justified by the greater need for an area for production. The results showed that the higher the food efficiency of a system, the greater the profitability.

ЯИЧНАЯ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ КУР-НЕСУШЕК РАЗЛИЧНЫХ КРОССОВ

Breeders of edible eggs, using various crosses of chickens, try to reduce the cost of production. In this regard, interests of hen crosses that produce egg products with low feed costs and low cost. One of these egg crosses of hens is “Lohmann brown light”. At the same time, domestic poultry farms successfully use the “Lohmann Braun classic”cross poultry. The aim of the study was to evaluate the egg productivity indicators of laying hens of the industrial herd of crosses “Lohmann brown classic”and” Lohmann brown light”. The study was carried out in the conditions of LLC Poultry Farm “Varaksino” of the Udmurt Republic. For the research, 2 groups of hens were formed, consisting of 6 batches each. As a result, hens of the studied crosses were characterized by approximately the same viability and level of livestock preservation – 94.1 – 94.3 %. Crosses of hens “Lohmann brown classic” and “Lohmann brown light” had minor differences in quantitative and qualitative indicators of egg production. Thus, egg production for the initial and average laying hens in the groups was at the level of 348.2 – 350.5 and 353 – 355.2 eggs, respectively. The amount of egg mass from the cross “Lohmann brown classic” hens was 22.9 kg, and from the cross “Lohmann brown light” - 22.6 kg. On an equal background of feeding, there were no differences in the cost of feed for the production of 10 eggs (1.29 – 1.31 kg) and 1 kg of egg mass (2.03 – 2.05 kg) in the studied hen crosses.