Plant Feeding Research Articles

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT SUTERU FARM, TEGAL WARU VILLAGE, CIAMPEA DISTRICT, BOGOR REGENCY

Suteru Farm is a Holland fries (FH) dairy farm that was established in 2013, with 32 biological assets and a farm area of 11,000m2. The location of this farm is in the vicinity of the community housing of Tegal Waru Village, Ciampea District, Bogor Regency, where the average layout of the residences is still far from one another so that they still have vacant land to plant productive plants. Our goal in conducting community service activities at Suteru Farm is to help form a community forum for producing feed crops around the farm, optimizing vacant land to become productive for plant feed by providing knowledge and skills for the community in cultivating feed crops, providing knowledge and skills in making fermentation green plants from cultivation to marketing, providing skills in livestock financial management. Efforts made for Suteru Farm and other farms in the Tegal Waru Village area need to offer several solutions including: 1) Optimization of vacant land around the community's residential yards by cultivating forage in the form of grass and legumes; 2) Application of preservation technology including fermentation; 3) Centralized management in one container for the management of fermented cattle feed so that it goes directly to the hands of the farm; and 4) improve the financial management of livestock in order to increase profitability. The target that we set for this activity is to run within 8 (eight) months, through the field survey method of potential vacant land, Forum Group Discussion (FGD) with Suteru Farm management and representatives of the local community by discussing knowledge about forage crop cultivation, forage grass fermentation and marketing. , lectures and trainings, practices from the solutions offered to mentoring.

Bioenergy Model of Plant Raw Materials and Assessment of Feed Production Technologies

It is noted that the effectiveness of the technological processes in agriculture is usually evaluated according to economic, operational and relative criteria. Such an estimate often proves to be inaccurate for solving applied problems. The functioning of the biotechnical system "operator – feed – machine – animal" reveals this discrepancy to the highest extent. The paper confirms the necessity and relevance of a fact-based analysis of energy flows in the biotechnical system, as well as the energy flows interaction with each other and with the external environment. (Research purpose) To substantiate a methodological approach to assessing the fodder production efficiency based on a bioenergetic analysis of fodder production technologies. (Materials and methods) The research involves the comparative analysis of exchange energy accumulation by plants before harvesting and the parameters of its reduction in the plant raw materials, taking into account technological impacts. (Results and discussion) It is obtained that a one-megajoule input of mechanical energy in the cultivation of cereal-grass forage mixtures provides 121 megajoules of exchange energy. The exchange energy content in the cereal-grass forage mixture is calculated to be 44,850 megajoules per hectare (1950 megajoules per ton) while the specific mechanical energy consumption amounts to 370.6 megajoules per hectare (16.1 megajoules per ton) for the feed mixture cultivation. (Conclusions) It is established that the dynamics of energy accumulation during the vegetable raw material cultivation and the character of a decrease in its energy content during fodder preparation and storage have a sustainable common trend. The growth trend of energy accumulation is proved to have a linear character for both various types of fodder crops and the decrease in the feed energy content. Efficiency assessment criteria are proposed for the mechanical energy consumption during fodder crop cultivation, plant material processing and feed storage. A mathematical model is developed making it possible to study implicit variables in a complex system of accumulation and entropy of feed exchange energy, take optimal engineering decisions to justify and improve the technologies for feed cultivation, harvesting and preparation, as well as its effective use.

A novel hybrid process with a sustainable auxiliary approach concerning a biomass-fed solid oxide fuel cell and triple-flash geothermal cycle

Designing a multi-source system provides a higher performance from energy and economic viewpoints. Hence, an innovative two-part hybrid process with a sustainable auxiliary approach is proposed. The first part relies on a solid oxide fuel cell power plant feeding biomass fuel, and the second one utilizes a triple-flash geothermal cycle equipped with a domestic water heater, an ejector refrigeration cycle, and a water electrolysis unit responding to some urban utilities. The proposed system is analyzed from the energy, exergy, economic, and environmental standpoints. Besides, a multiple objective optimization is considered in four different scenarios to identify the most suitable optimum state. The system produces 3853 kW net power, 2158 kW cooling load, 1588 kW heating load, and 0.36 kg/h hydrogen, leading to 59.92% exergetic efficiency and 16.68 M$ net profit at the base condition. Accordingly, the steam turbines have the highest cost rate, and the ejector contains the highest exergy destruction rate. Also, the SOFC current density significantly impacts the total exergetic efficiency and exergy destruction rate. Eventually, the exergy-environmental scenario represents the best optimum state in which the exergetic efficiency, levelized total emission, and net profit are achieved at 64.82%, 0.2 ton/MWh, and 17.38 M$, respectively.

Formation of buckwheat productivity depending on foliar feeding

Aim. Optimizing the nutrition of the valuable grain buckwheat crop for the maximum realization of the genetic potential of modern varieties can be ensured by introducing plant growth biostimulators and microfertilizers into the growing technology. The purpose of the research was to find out the dependence of buckwheat grain yield on complex foliar feeding of biostimulant and microfertilizers in Polissia conditions. Methods. Field research was conducted during 2018-2020 on sod-podzolic sandy soils. During the research, these methods were used: field, laboratory, statistical and comparative-calculation. Results. There were studied peculiarities of formation of productivity and quality of buckwheat of the Antaria variety in the conditions of Polissia. There has been determined the positive effect of the complex foliar application of a growth stimulator and chelated boron fertilizer on the productivity of buckwheat, which will ensure an increase in the volume of grain production and provide a solution to the country’s food security problem. Conclusions. Foliar feeding of plants with microfertilizer and growth biostimulator (twice in BBCH 12-15 and BBCH 55-59 phase) provides a 28.2 % increase in buckwheat grain yield compared to the control. It was established that the conditions of the years of research had the greatest influence on the formation of buckwheat grain yield (85 %). Buckwheat grain quality parameters were determined under the action of biostimulator Vympel 2 and microfertilizer Oracle Kolofermin Bor. Complex treatment of buckwheat crops with researched fertilizers in the phase of branching (BBCH 12-15) and budding (BBCH 55-59) provides an increase in the mass of 1000 seeds, the nature of grain, alignment and filminess. The perspective of further research is to evaluate the quality of buckwheat grain depending on the effect of biostimulants and trace elements in different ways of their application for sustainable production of plant products.

Effects of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) manure as organic fertilizer on plant growth, feed quality, and soil bacterial community.

The development of organic manure from livestock excreta is a useful source for sustainable crop production in environment-friendly agriculture. Organic manure increases soil microbial activity and organic matter (OM) supply. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers (CFs) leads to air and water pollution caused by toxic chemicals and gases, and soil quality degradation via nutrient imbalance due to supplying specific chemical components. Thus, the use of organic manure will serve as a long-term supply of various nutrients in soil via OM decomposition reaction as well as the maintenance of environment. In this study, we aimed to analyze the diverse effects of Hanwoo manure (HM) on plant growth, feed quality, and soil bacterial communities in comparison with CFs, commercial poultry manure (CM), and the combined use of chemical fertilizer and Hanwoo manure (HM+CF). We analyzed the contents of crude matter (protein, fat, fiber, and ash), P, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) through feed quality analysis, and the contents or activities of total phenol, total flavonoid, ABTS, nitrite scavenging, and reducing power via the antioxidant assay. Furthermore, the soil microbial communities were determined using 16S rRNA sequencing. We compared the soil bacteria among different soil samples by using amplicon sequence variant (ASV) analysis. We observed increased OM in the soil of the HM group compared to that of the CF and non-treated groups over a period of two years. Moreover, HM+CF treatment enormously improved plant growth. Organic manure, especially HM, caused an increase in the content of crude ash and phosphorus in plants. There were no significant differences in total polyphenol, total flavonoid, ABTS, nitrite scavenging, and reducing power in plants between HM and CF groups. Finally, we detected 13 soil bacteria (Acidibacter, Algisphaera, Cystobacter, Microvirga, Ohtaekwangia, Panacagrimonas, Pseudarthrobacter, Reryanella, Rhodoligotrophos, Solirubrobacter, Stenotrophobacter, Tellurimicrobium, and Thermomarinilinea) that were considerably correlated with OM and available phosphorus, and three considerably correlated bacteria were specifically distributed in CF or organic manure. The results suggest that HM is a valuable source of organic manure that can replace CF for sustainable crop production.

Growth substrates alter aboveground plant microbial and metabolic properties thereby influencing insect herbivore performance.

The gut microbiome of plant-eaters is affected by the food they eat, but it is currently unclear how the plant metabolome and microbiome are influenced by the substrate the plant grows in and how this subsequently impacts the feeding behavior and gut microbiomes of insect herbivores. Here, we use Plutella xylostella caterpillars and show that the larvae prefer leaves of cabbage plants growing in a vermiculite substrate to those from plants growing in conventional soil systems. From a plant metabolomics analysis, we identified 20 plant metabolites that were related to caterpillar feeding performance. In a bioassay, the effects of these plant metabolites on insects' feeding were tested. Nitrate and compounds enriched with leaves of soilless cultivation promoted the feeding of insects, while compounds enriched with leaves of plants growing in natural soil decreased feeding. Several microbial groups (e.g., Sporolactobacillus, Haliangium) detected inside the plant correlated with caterpillar feeding performance and other microbial groups, such as Ramlibacter and Methylophilus, correlated with the gut microbiome. Our results highlight the role of growth substrates on the food metabolome and microbiome and on the feeding performance and the gut microbiome of plant feeders. It illustrates how belowground factors can influence the aboveground properties of plant-animal systems, which has important implications for plant growth and pest control.

Endoparasitic Gall Mites: Two New Novophytoptus Species (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) from Southern African Sedges (Cyperaceae, Carex) and New Hypotheses on the Phylogeny of Novophytoptines

Eriophyoid mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) are microscopic chelicerates morphologically greatly preadapted to endoparasitism on plants. Members of at least six phylogenetically distant eriophyoid genera from two families homoplastically transitioned to endoparasitism and acquired the ability to penetrate under the plant epidermis and feed on parenchymatous cells, usually causing necrosis. Theoretically, endoparasites are expected to show patterns of codivergence with hosts more than ectoparasites. Novophytoptus Roivainen 1947 is the only eriophyoid genus comprising exclusively endoparasitic species living in subepidermal tissues of herbaceous monocots of three families of the order Poales: Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, and Poaceae. Here, we described two new endoparasitic species, N. limpopoensis n. sp. and N. zuluensis n. sp., from southern African sedges Carex spicatopaniculata Boeckeler ex C.B.Clarke and C. zuluensis C.B.Clarke, respectively, and investigated the Cox1 phylogeny of Novophytoptus. Contrary to expectations, molecular phylogenetics did not recover host-specific mite clades associated with Cyperaceae and Juncaceae, but revealed geographical groups of Novophytoptus species from Africa and Eurasia. Our results provide a substantial basis for future coevolutionary studies on novophytoptines, which will be possible when more species and sequences of Novophytoptus from geographically remote regions and from diverse hosts representing all major clades of Poales become available for analyses.

Plant Composition and Feed Value of First Cut Permanent Meadows

Permanent grasslands represent the main terrestrial ecosystem and serve as an important global reservoir of biodiversity, providing a wide range of benefits to humans and ecosystems. The effects of environment on permanent meadows (in our survey, they were centuries-old meadows that had not been plowed, mowed, or fertilized with manure) production have been adequately investigated in literature. However, plant species composition impact on potential feed value of first cut has still to be understood, in particular regarding different agronomic management. Our field trial was carried out in five farms, in a territory involved in the value chain of the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (Val d’Enza, Northern Italy), over a two-year period (2017–2018). Differences in botanical composition, biomass, and Pastoral Value index (PV), which synthesizes grassland yield and nutritional parameters, were investigated in depth. The herbage dry matter (DM) yield was affected by year, farm, and their interaction factors. Its highest value across the two years was recorded in farm 5 (11.7 tons of DM ha−1), which applied the highest rate of nitrogen fertilization. The botanical composition of the first cut has favored the presence of both Poaceae and ‘other species’ (each one around 40 plants per transect) compared to Fabaceae (seven plants per transect). However, higher numbers of Fabaceae plants (13 and 10) plausibly determined increases in PV in farms 3 and 5 (56.4 and 58.7, respectively). Although differences were observed among the most important nutritional parameters of grassland (crude protein, digestible and undigested neutral detergent fiber contents), suitable net energy for lactation (NEL) values for feeding lactating cows were always recorded during the two years of survey. The present study provides a contribution of knowledge on how the botanical composition of permanent meadows may affect their potential nutritive value as fresh herbage for feeding dairy cows. Considering these results, the agronomic management should seek a level of plant biodiversity that at the same time might guarantee satisfactory yield and feed value, also in a context of climate change.

Resistance status and activity of detoxifying enzymes in Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner)(Acari:Tetranychidae) on tea

Regular monitoring of acaricide resistance in economically important plant feeding mites is important for effective management. Oligonychus coffeae is one of the most important mite pests of tea and acaricides are frequently used to manage this pest, yet control failures sometimes occur at recommended doses. Hence, bioassay experiments were conducted to confirm whether such control failures were caused by resistance development in populations collected from major tea growing areas of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, India. The adult females of O. coffeae were bio-assayed with commonly used six acaricides viz., dicofol, ethion, fenpropathrin, fenpyroximate, fenazaquin and propargite. Moreover, we estimated the activity of general esterase (GE), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in the field collected samples as well as laboratory reared susceptible population. Based on the LC50 values, the resistance ratio of the field collected populations compared to the laboratory reared susceptible population varied from 3.29 to 5.85-fold,4.13–11.21-fold,12.07–28.28-fold,1.19–1.67-fold,1.12–1.77-fold, 2.73–5.34-fold for dicofol, ethion, fenpropathrin, fenpyroximate, fenazaquin and propargite, respectively. General esterase, GST and MFO activities of the tested populations were in the ranges of 5.69–16.54 mOD/min/mg protein, 91.51–319.91 μM/min/mg protein and 0.040–0.071 mOD/min/mg protein, respectively. The highest enzyme activity was detected in the Naxalbari population which was one of the most resistant populations to all the tested acaricides. The findings will be useful to the tea industry for selection of most effective chemical for successful management of this pest. Use of fenpropathrin and ethion should be discontinued for tea pest management and use of other chemicals having different mode of actions may be continued with rotation.

Sizing up spotted lanternfly nymphs for instar determination and growth allometry.

A major ongoing research effort seeks to understand the behavior, ecology and control of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula), a highly invasive pest in the U.S. and South Korea. These insects undergo four nymphal stages (instars) before reaching adulthood, and appear to shift host plant preferences, feeding, dispersal and survival patterns, anti-predator behaviors, and response to traps and chemical controls with each stage. However, categorizing SLF life stage is challenging for the first three instars, which have the same coloration and shape. Here we present a dataset of body mass and length for SLF nymphs throughout two growing seasons and compare our results with previously-published ranges of instar body lengths. An analysis using two clustering methods revealed that 1st-3rd instar body mass and length fell into distinct clusters consistently between years, supporting using these metrics to stage nymphs during a single growing season. The length ranges for 2nd-4th instars agreed between years in our study, but differed from those reported by earlier studies for diverse locations, indicating that it is important to obtain these metrics relevant to a study's region for most accurate staging. We also used these data to explore the scaling of SLF instar bodies during growth. SLF nymph body mass scaled with body length varied between isometry (constant shape) and growing somewhat faster than predicted by isometry in the two years studied. Using previously published data, we also found that SLF nymph adhesive footpad area varies in direct proportion to weight, suggesting that footpad adhesion is independent of nymphal stage, while their tarsal claws display positive allometry and hence disproportionately increasing grasp (mechanical adhesion). By contrast, mouthpart dimensions are weakly correlated with body length, consistent with predictions that these features should reflect preferred host plant characteristics rather than body size. We recommend future studies use the body mass vs length growth curve as a fitness benchmark to study how SLF instar development depends on factors such as hatch date, host plant, temperature, and geographic location, to further understanding of life history patterns that help prevent further spread of this invasive insect.

Apparent digestibility coefficients of plant feed ingredients for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

This study was designed to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients of soybean meal, soy protein concentrate (SPC), soy protein isolate (SPI), rapeseed meal (RSM), pea protein concentrate (PPC), wheat gluten meal (WGM) and wheat flour (WF) for olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. A reference diet (RF) was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of olive flounder with 1% chromic oxide (Cr2O3) as an inert indicator. Test diets were prepared to contain 70% RF and 30% of the test ingredient. Olive flounder, averaging 150 ± 8.0 g, was cultured in 400-L fiberglass tanks at a density of 25 fish per tank. Fecal collection columns were attached to each tank. Fecal samples were obtained from triplicate groups of fish for 4 weeks. Dry matter digestibility of SPC (75%) and WGM (76%) were significantly higher than the other test ingredients. Protein digestibility of SPC (85%), PPC (88%) and WGM (89%) were significantly higher than the other test ingredients, and protein digestibility of RSM (77%) and WF (76%) was lower than the other ingredients tested. Lipid digestibility of SPC (72%) and SPI (69%) were significantly higher than the other test ingredients. Energy digestibility of SPC (85%) and WGM (82%) were significantly higher than that of others tested ingredients. The availability of amino acids in WGM was generally higher than in other plant-feed ingredients. Therefore, SPC and WGM were seems to be efficient as potential protein sources for olive flounder compared to other tested ingredients. Overall, findings of the current study may assist in more efficient and economical formulation of diets using plant feed ingredients for olive flounder.

Responsiveness of the broad bean weevil,Bruchus rufimanus, toVicia fabagenotypes

AbstractThe broad bean weevil,Bruchus rufimanusBoh. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), also called bruchid beetle, is a major pest ofVicia fabaL. (Fabaceae) given that larvae develop inside the seeds causing direct quality losses in agricultural products. Recurrent chemical applications are inappropriate because they represent a serious threat to pollinators in general. In addition, biological control approaches that have been attempted so far showed limited effectiveness, which makes studies of methods to control bruchid populations extremely important. Breeding resistant cultivars is the most adequate approach to achieve efficient levels of pest resistance and promote sustainable agriculture. To explore the mechanisms underlying bruchid resistance, we exploredB. rufimanusbehavior at different life stages and preference in plant feeding, oviposition, and larval survival into adulthood on a range of susceptible and resistant broad bean cultivars (genotypes), both in greenhouse experiments and in the field. Our greenhouse results showed that females, compared to males, prefer flowers from some genotypes over others, although the choices made did not correspond with egg‐laying preference. Egg‐laying preference was also affected by cultivars. This attraction for egg‐laying was associated with the number of seeds per pod produced by the genotypes. In the field flowering date influenced bruchid infestation. Also the survival of larvae into adulthood was greater in certain genotypes over others. The results of our study lay the groundwork for further analyses to finely dissectV. fabaresistance towards bruchids and pave the way for the development of methods to predict potential resistant genotypes in research and breeding programs.

The gastrointestinal microbiome in dairy cattle is constrained by the deterministic driver of the region and the modified effect of diet

BackgroundDairy cattle (Bos taurus), especially Holstein cows, which are the highest-producing dairy animals and are widely bred to provide milk products to humans, rely critically on their associated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota to digest plant feed. However, the region-specific taxonomic composition and function of the GIT microbiome in dairy cattle and the mechanistic basis for the diet-induced effects remain to be elucidated. ResultsWe collected 120 digesta samples from 10 GIT regions of 12 Holstein cows fed forage- and grain-based diets and characterized their GIT microbiome via functional shotgun metagenomics and the resolution of metagenome-assembled genomes. Our results demonstrated that the GIT microbiome was mainly partitioned into three distinct clusters, four-chambered stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Moreover, we found that the four-chambered stomach microbiome with the highest diversity had a strong ability to degrade recalcitrant polysaccharide substrates, underpinned by the prevalence of potential cellulosome-­producing and plant-derived polysaccharide utilization loci-encoding consortia. In contrast, the post-gastric intestinal microbiome orchestrated alternative fermentation pathways to adapt to nutrient availability and energy acquisition. Diet shifts selectively modified the metabolic cascades of the microbiome in specific GIT regions, evidenced by the loss of fiber-degrading taxa and increased hydrogen sinks in propionate after grain introduction.ConclusionsOur findings provide new insights into GIT microbial organization and function in dairy cattle by GIT regions and diet regimes, which offers clues for improving animal production and health in the future.4ZJAH2fLvvvrZAThHy4aExVideo

A novel salivary effector, BtE3, is essential for whitefly performance on host plants.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a piercing-sucking herbivore that reduces the yields of crops both by feeding on plants and transmitting plant viruses. Like most plant feeders, B. tabaci has evolved ways to avoid plant defence responses. For example, B. tabaci is known to secrete salivary effectors to suppress host defences. However, the nature of B. tabaci effectors is not completely understood. In this study, we used B. tabaci genomic and salivary gland transcriptomic data and an overexpression system to identify a previously unknown B. tabaci salivary effector, BtE3. BtE3 is specifically expressed in the head (containing primary salivary glands) and is secreted into hosts during B. tabaci feeding. In planta overexpression of BtE3 blocked Burkholderia glumae-induced hypersensitive response (HR) in both Nicotiana benthamiana and Solanum lycopersicum. Silencing of BtE3 by plant-mediated RNAi prevented B. tabaci from continuously ingesting phloem sap, and reduced B. tabaci survival and fecundity. Moreover, overexpression of BtE3 in planta up-regulated the salicylic acid- (SA-) signalling pathway, but suppressed the downstream jasmonic acid- (JA-) mediated defences. Taken together, these results indicate that BtE3 is a B. tabaci-specific novel effector involved in B. tabaci-plant interactions. These findings increase our understanding of B. tabaci effectors and suggest novel strategies for B. tabaci pest management.

Biologically active additives in the feeding of broiler chickens

In order to increase the effi ciency of plant feed use and increase the productivity of poultry, enzyme, probiotic and prebiotic drugs are used in order to increase the effi ciency of feed use, as well as to stimulate the growth and productivity of livestock. The purpose of the research was to study the infl uence of biologically active additives under the conditions of the south of Russia such as the enzyme grug CelloLux-F, the probiotic OLIN and the prebiotic MOS-activator on the intensity of metabolism, meat productivity and the quality of meat of broiler chickens. Scientifi c research was carried out in the Breeding farm Mikhailovsky in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania on broiler chickens of the cross Ross-308. In the scientific and economic experiment the poultry of the control group received the main diet. The poultry of the 1st experimental group in addition to the main diet received the enzyme additive Cellulux-F 1,0 kg/t of compound feed, the 2nd experimental group received the probiotic OLIN 0,02 g/head/day, the 3rd experimental group received the prebiotic MOS-activator 0,7 kg/t of compound feed. The poultry of the 4th experimental group were additionally given the enzyme additive CelloLux-F 1,0 kg/t + probiotic OLIN 0,02 g/head/day, the 5th experimental group – CelloLux-F 1,0 kg/t + MOS-activator 0,7 kg/t compound feed, the 6th experimental group – OLIN 0,02 g/head/day + MOS-activator 0,7 kg/t of compound feed and the 7th experimental group – CelloLux-F 1,0 kg/t + OLIN 0,02 g/head/day + MOS-activator 0,7 kg/t of compound feed. Based on the results of scientifi c and economic experiment and production testing of its results, a positive production and economic eff ect was established from the additional inclusion of biologically active additives in the compound feed of broiler chickens of the cross Ross-308 such as the enzyme drug CelloLux-F in the amount of 1,0 kg/t of compound feed, the probiotic OLIN – 0,02 g/head/day and prebiotic MOS-activator 0,7 kg/t of compound feed.

Comparing economic model predictive control to basic and advanced regulatory control on a simulated high-pressure grinding rolls, ball mill, and flotation circuit

Mineral processing plants remain nowadays infamous for their low energy efficiency. Economic model predictive control (EMPC), by directly considering the energy costs, could possibly help reduce their footprint, but its environmental benefits are yet to be clearly quantified. In an attempt to cast some light on this topic, this paper compares the response to a given ore feed size and hardness disturbance sequence of an EMPC to that of basic and advanced regulatory control systems using the profits and the specific energy (power draw/ore feed rate) as metrics. The simulated circuit comprises a high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), a ball mill, and a flotation circuit. It is based on population balance modeling and is an extension of previous works. The basic regulatory control (BRC) system comprises only single-input–single-output control loops with proportional–integral (PI) controllers and operates at a fixed feed rate. The advanced regulatory control (ARC) system consists of PI controllers maximizing the plant feed rate with override constraint handling. The results show that (1) ARC generates more revenue and maintains a lower circuit specific energy consumption than BRC, (2) ARC can produce the same economic performance as EMPC because the constraints of the system define the economic optimum, and (3) EMPC can trade revenues for a lower circuit specific energy with a hybrid criterion that penalizes power draw.

Effect of Additives Inclusion in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.) Diets on Growth, Enzyme Activity, Digestibility and Gut Histology Fed with Vegetable Meals.

The fishmeal replacement by vegetable meals or other alternative sources, without affecting fish performance and productivity, is one of the principal challenges in aquaculture. The use of hydrolyzed porcine mucosa (HPM) and nucleotide (NT) concentrates, as feed additives in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) non-fishmeal diets was assessed in order to determine the possible effects on growth, feed efficiency, protein digestion, and gut histology when these were included in a plant-based diet (HPM 1% and 2%, P1 and P2; NT 250 and 500 ppm, N250 and N500), in comparison with two control diets, AA0 (100% plant-protein-based diet) and FM100 (100% fishmeal-protein-based diet). Diets were assayed in triplicate and the growth assay lasted 134 days. Results showed a significant improvement in all groups in terms of final weight and specific growth rate in comparison with the AA0 group. An improvement in the feed conversion ratio and the protein efficiency ratio was also observed when the additives were included in lower percentages (P1 and N250) compared to the FM100 group. Significant differences were found in hepatosomatic index, villi thickness, and goblet cells. Thus, the inclusion of NT and HPM was tested as beneficial for the improvement of efficiency of plant feed in seabream.

FEED PRODUCTION BASED ON RECYCLING’S TECHNOLOGIES

It has been established that at crop production, a significant part of the crop becomes waste that negatevely affects the environment, but at the same time its valuable biological substances’ presence is characterized. This potential can provide new types of products using and the environment’s state improving. The promising directions of plant waste recycling in feed production are considered. The resource-saving and environmentally friendly technologies using necessity in feed production is substantiated. The industrial and scientific organizations in this field’s promising developments are presented. Such as plant feed additives’ production by direct bioconversion based on straw as a substrate for solidphase fermentation by microorganisms using in order to digestibility and protein’s content increasing; silage’s intensification with OOO "Scientific-and-production Institute "Biopreparations" preparations’ helping; explosive autohydrolysis as a result the crude fiber content in the processed product decreasing in compared to the initial one, and the number of feed units and exchange energy increasing; a method for hydroponic feed additive growing by glauconite using; bio- and plant waste processing based on AGRO-EX BIO extrusion lines (OOO Scientific-and-production enterprise «A-Engineering») excretion; compound feeds production technology that the straw digestibility and nutritional value in 2-2,5 times increasing due to lignin inhibitor digestibility destruction and it into sugars (OOO «Bioenergy and K») denaturizing. It has been revealed that cheap raw materials, such as waste that as farm animals’ feed components are used can be effective. The presented technologies for plant waste recycling and feed production are promising.

Хелатні комплекси мікроелементів кобальту, міді, марганцю, цинку як блокатори надходження радіонуклідів 90Sr, 137Cs в організм людини харчовим ланцюгом «ґрунт — рослина — тварина — людина»

The influence of chelated complexes of trace elements (Mn, Zn, Cu, Co) with ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid on reducing the accumulation of radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr in plants and animals was studied. Foliar feeding of fodder plants (lupins, rapeseed, oats, clover, etc.) in the conditions of the Ukrainian Polissia on turf-podzolic soils contaminated with radionuclides, with aqueous solutions of complexonates of trace elements reduces the accumulation of 137Сs in the vegetative mass and grain by 1.6–2.8 times and 90Sr in 1.4–1.6 times. Compared with sulfates of microelements, complexonates have a much higher radio-blocking efficiency. Treatment of plants with microelement complexes increased the yield of vegetative mass and grain by 17–36 % and 16–38 %, respectively. At the same time, there is an improvement in their nutritional quality in plants, the content of some metabolites (crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, sugars) increases by 30–35 %. Addition of zinc-manganese and cobalt-copper complexonates to the diet of cows in amounts compensating for the natural lack of trace elements led to a decrease in the accumulation of 90Sr and 137Cs in milk and meat by almost 2 times. At the same time, when using complexonates, an increase in the milk productivity of cows by 15–25 % and the content of fat, proteins, weighty components in the milk of cows, which characterize the quality of milk, by 2–3 % were noted. At the same time, some immune indicators of the animals increased: leukocytes — by 11 %, basophils — by 44 %, rod and segmented leukocytes — by 30 and 37 %, respectively, monocytes — by 43 %, which indicates an improvement in the state of their immune system. Probably, the effect of the use of complexonates is due to greater permeability of microelements through cell membranes and the ability to directly integrate into the molecular structures of enzymatic systems, bypassing many transport chains.

Re-evaluation of the existing health-based guidance values for copper and exposure assessment from all sources.

Copper is an essential micronutrient and also a regulated product used in organic and in conventional farming pest management. Both deficiency and excessive exposure to copper can have adverse health effects. In this Scientific Opinion, the EFSA 2021 harmonised approach for establishing health-based guidance values (HBGVs) for substances that are regulated products and also nutrients was used to resolve the divergent existing HBGVs for copper. The tightly regulated homeostasis prevents toxicity manifestation in the short term, but the development of chronic copper toxicity is dependent on copper homeostasis and its tissue retention. Evidence from Wilson disease suggests that hepatic retention is indicative of potential future and possibly sudden onset of copper toxicity under conditions of continuous intake. Hence, emphasis was placed on copper retention as an early marker of potential adverse effects. The relationships between (a) chronic copper exposure and its retention in the body, particularly the liver, and (b) hepatic copper concentrations and evidence of toxicity were examined. The Scientific Committee (SC) concludes that no retention of copper is expected to occur with intake of 5mg/day and established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.07mg/kg bw. A refined dietary exposure assessment was performed, assessing contribution from dietary and non-dietary sources. Background copper levels are a significant source of copper. The contribution of copper from its use as plant protection product (PPP), food and feed additives or fertilisers is negligible. The use of copper in fertilisers or PPPs contributes to copper accumulation in soil. Infant formula and follow-on formula are important contributors to dietary exposure of copper in infants and toddlers. Contribution from non-oral sources is negligible. Dietary exposure to total copper does not exceed the HBGV in adolescents, adults, elderly and the very elderly. Neither hepatic copper retention nor adverse effects are expected to occur from the estimated copper exposure in children due to higher nutrient requirements related to growth.