Protein Conversion Ratio Research Articles

Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security

Diminishing natural resources and increasing climatic volatility are impacting agri-food systems, prompting the need for sustainable and resilient alternatives. Python farming is well established in Asia but has received little attention from mainstream agricultural scientists. We measured growth rates in two species of large pythons (Malayopython reticulatus and Python bivittatus) in farms in Thailand and Vietnam and conducted feeding experiments to examine production efficiencies. Pythons grew rapidly over a 12-month period, and females grew faster than males. Food intake and growth rates early in life were strong predictors of total lifetime growth, with daily mass increments ranging from 0.24 to 19.7 g/day for M. reticulatus and 0.24 to 42.6 g/day for P. bivittatus, depending on food intake. Pythons that fasted for up to 4.2 months lost an average of 0.004% of their body mass per day, and resumed rapid growth as soon as feeding recommenced. Mean food conversion rate for dressed carcasses was 4.1%, with useable products (dressed carcass, skin, fat, gall bladder) comprising 82% of the mass of live animals. In terms of food and protein conversion ratios, pythons outperform all mainstream agricultural species studied to date. The ability of fasting pythons to regulate metabolic processes and maintain body condition enhances food security in volatile environments, suggesting that python farming may offer a flexible and efficient response to global food insecurity.

A comparative study on the effects of fungal and bacterial phytase with or without citric acid on growth performance, serum mineral profile, bone quality, and nutrient retention in broilers.

Current research aimed to compare the effects of fungal and bacterial phytase with or without citric acid (CA) on growth performance, serum mineral profile, bone quality, and nutrient retention in birds given non-phytate phosphorus (nPP)-deficient diets. A total of 216 Indian River broiler chicks were disturbed into six groups, namely, i) positive control (PC), ii) negative control (NC) contained 0.2% lower nPP than that in the PC diet, iii) NC + fungal phytase (Aspergillus niger), iv) NC + fungal phytase with 2% CA, v) NC + bacterial phytase (Escherichia coli), and vi) NC + bacterial phytase with 2% CA. Compared to the PC group, the NC group showed poor performance, serum phosphorus (P) content, P retention, and bone quality. However, with the inclusion of phytase, all these phenomena were improved. The addition of bacterial phytase showed better values compared with fungal phytase. The main effects of phytase were significant for the feed conversion ratio (FCR), metabolizable energy conversion ratio (MECR), and P retention. The addition of CA, either with fungal or bacterial phytases, did not show considerable beneficial effects on overall performances. However, the main effects of CA were significant on the FCR, MECR, and crude protein conversion ratio. Incorporating bacterial and fungal phytase into low-nPP diets enhanced the broiler's performance. The effects of bacterial phytase were more apparent than those of fungal phytase. However, the efficacy of phytase based on the source might relate to dose, and other factors need further investigation.

The synergistic Lactobacillus plantarum L20 and Sargassum polycystum -added diet for improvement of Black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon ‘s growth, immune responses, bacterial profiles, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) infection

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) has inflicted massive economic losses and posed a considerable threat to the development of penaeid shrimp aquaculture in Malaysia. The restriction on antibiotic uses have necessitated exploring alternatives preventive measures against AHPND outbreak, such as the use beneficial bacteria and nutritional additives. In this study, diets which were fed to Penaeus monodon postlarvae (PL15) were fed with diets containing probiotic (L. plantarum at 108 CFU/mL), prebiotic (S. polycystum at 2%) and synbiotic diets (combination of probiotic and prebiotic) formulations. These diets were administered in triplicate for 35 days, followed by an immersion challenge with 6 × 105 CFU/mL AHPND-causing V. parahaemolyticus S2–4. Sampling of shrimp’s cephalothorax and abdomen from the feeding trial and the immersion challenge were conducted for gene expression and histopathology analyses. Results indicated that the synbiotic-fed group displayed the most significant weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein conversion ratio among the tested groups. In addition, shrimp cephalothorax from this group displayed a significant immune response, with expression of LGBP, peroxinectin, prophenoloxidase during post-feeding trial, and expression of prophenoloxidase, toll-like receptor, penaeidin, during post-challenge trial. Furthermore, the highest L. plantarum concentration in abdomen, lowest V. parahaemolyticus S2–4 concentration in cephalothorax and highest percent survival of shrimp during post-challenge were observed in this group. Therefore, this study highlighted the positive effect of synbiotic-supplemented diet on growth, immune response, and disease resistance of shrimp, offering a promising and sustainable solution to alleviate substantial production losses in shrimp farming.

Effects of oyster mushroom, Lentinus sajor-caju on growth, gut histology and haematology of Clarias gariepinus

There is need to reduce usage of antibiotics in favor of prebiotics and phytogenic in aquafeed production. The study evaluated effects of mushroom on growth, gut histology and haematological variables of Clarias gariepinus. Five treatment feeds were made to vary in inclusion of solvent extracted oyster mushrooms, Lentinus sajor-caju as follows: Feed 1, 0%; Feed 2, 4%; Feed 3, 8%; Feed 4, 12% and Feed 5, 16%. The diets were made isonitrogenous (42%) and isolipidic (6.0%). The growth performances, gut histology and haematological profile of the fish were estimated using standard procedures. The essential amino acid (EAA) contents of the mushroom and feeds were analyzed following standard methods. Ingredients were mixed according to proportions, preconditioned and steam pelleted. African catfish of average weight 9.48g were stocked in three replicates 20liter aquarium, at 113.76g/aquarium and fed with the experimental diets for 90days. Results showed that mushroom had good array of EAA especially lysine (7%). The haematobiochemical parameters and growth of the catfish were best at 8% mushroom extract inclusion. Histological sections showed significant increase in length and width of the mucosal fold microvilli as mushroom extract inclusion increased up to 8%. Similarly, red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, hemoglobin and total white blood cell counts of the catfish increased up to 8%. Fish fed Feed 3 had the best specific growth rate (3.00±0.06% day-1), food conversion ratio (1.54±0.01), weight gain, (128.67±0.02g) and protein conversion ratio of 0.3±0.04. Catfish fed with higher than 8% inclusion of mushroom had reduced growth rates, hemato-biochemical and histological parameters. This may be probably due to the high polysaccharides and beta-glucans present in mushroom. Thus, mushroom extracts should be included in catfish feed but not beyond 8%.

Effect of Feeding Broilers with Three Different Regimens on Performance and Carcass Characteristics

This study aims to compare three programs of feeding broiler conducted on 120 Ross 308 chicks at one day of age distributed to three treatments of 4 replicates by 10 birds each. T1 given 3 phase (starter, grower, finisher) rations during (1-14,15-28, 29-42) days respectively, T2 given a 2 phase (starter ration from 1-28 days and finisher ration from 29-42 days), T3 given a (1 phase) grower ration from 1-42 day. Feed and water have been given ad libitum. All chicks were reared in a semi-open house in pens with a dimension of 1.25 × 1.25 m. The results showed that there was an insignificant difference between treatments in live body weight, total and daily weight gain, Total and daily feed intake except 3-4, 5-6, 0-6 weeks, T3 was significantly less than T2 during the total period, protein intake was significantly different except at 1-2, 4-5 weeks, T3 was significantly higher than T1 in total period 0-6 week. There was an insignificant difference in feed or protein conversion ratio at all studying periods. There was an insignificant difference between treatments in all carcass traits. The difference between treatments in relative growth rate was less than 1%. The second treatment showed a small improvement in economic efficiency by about 2%.

Effect of Different Levels of Metabolizing Energy on Productive Performance of Two Grower Quail Strains.

Two strains of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), including 250 birds of desert and 250 birds of white color, all one day old and unsexed, were divided into five treatment groups with 50 replicates in each group. These treatments included five levels of metabolism energy (ME) levels, including 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, and 3100 Kcal/Kg diet. The study included one stage from day 1 to day 42 of birds' age. The results confirmed a statistically significant difference (P≤0.05) caused by ME levels in the body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (feed [g] weight gain [g]), water consumption, water conversion ratio (ml weight gain [g]), protein conversion ratio (protein [g] weight gain [g]), energy conversion ratio (Kcal weight gain [g]), carcass weight, in addition to albumin and triglyceride. Therefore, the results showed significant effects (P≤0.05) of ME levels and the interaction on feed consumption, protein consumption, edible giblet percentage, tenderness, and juiciness. Significant differences (P≤0.05) were also caused by ME levels in the total cholesterol. In addition, significant differences (P≤0.05) have been found in the interaction on mortality percentage. Net return (Iraqi Dinar/live weight [Kg]) for desert quail was better than that for the white quail (2900 Kcal/Kg diet), and the interaction effect was stronger on the desert strain with 2900 Kcal than the white strain.

Feed‐food competition in global aquaculture: Current trends and prospects

AbstractFeed‐food competition is the allocation of resources that can be used to feed humans to animal feed instead, a current but unsustainable practise not well documented for aquaculture. Here, we analysed feed‐food competition in aquaculture using two measures; natural trophic levels (TLs) and species‐specific human‐edible protein conversion ratios (HePCRs). The HePCR equals the ratio of human edible protein in feed (input) to the human edible protein in animal produce (output). To provide prospects on aquaculture's potential to convert human inedible by‐products into edible biomass, data on aquaculture production were collected and categorized based on natural TLs. HePCRs were computed for four aquaculture species produced in intensive aquaculture systems: Atlantic salmon, common carp, Nile tilapia and whiteleg shrimp. Under current feed use, we estimated that the carp, tilapia and shrimp considered were net contributors of protein by requiring ~0.6 kg of human edible protein to produce 1 kg of protein in the fillet/meat. Considering soya bean meal and fishmeal as food‐competing ingredients increased the HePCR to ~2 and turned all of the case‐study species into net consumers of protein. To prevent this increase, the use of high‐quality food‐competing ingredients such as fishmeal, or soya bean products should be minimized in aquaculture feed. In the future, the role of aquaculture in circular food systems will most likely consist of a balanced mix of species at different TLs and from different aquaculture systems, depending on the by‐products available.

Manure as waste and food as feed: Environmental challenges on Chinese dairy farms

Rapid intensification and decoupling of animal and crop production have contributed to high nutrient losses to the environment from Chinese dairy farms and increasing food–feed competition. This study therefore aimed to understand nutrient management and food–feed competition on Chinese dairy farms. We used bottom-up data from a farm survey amongst 48 dairy farms in Henan, north-central China, between October and December 2020. Herd sizes ranged from 115 to 4289 heads, and 52% of the farms had no cropland or grassland. Farm characteristics were determined to quantify nitrogen and phosphorus flows on dairy farms. Subsequently, nutrient use efficiencies and human-edible protein conversion ratios (HePCR) were calculated and compared amongst farm typologies. We found that Chinese dairy farms largely rely on imported feed and are decoupled from crop production. On-farm croplands play a minor role in feed supply but are overloaded with cattle manure. Average nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies at farm level were 20% and 27%, respectively. The HePCR varied from 1.0 to 3.5, with an average of 2.3, indicating that food–feed competition commonly occurs. Farms with higher milk yields and moderate concentrate use performed better in nutrient use efficiencies and HePCR. This inefficient utilisation of nutrients highlights the urgency for developing farm-level guidelines of nutrient management that acknowledge farm differences. Our findings provide insights from both manure- and feed-management perspectives, which could help policy makers to support dairy farms to become more environmentally friendly and contribute to a circular food system.

Different Combinations of Butchery and Vegetable Wastes on Growth Performance, Chemical-Nutritional Characteristics and Oxidative Status of Black Soldier Fly Growing Larvae.

Simple SummaryDue to the high sustainability of insect farming, the possibility to farm insects as a food and feed source seems to be very promising. Reusing and enhancing food waste is possible by using it as a substrate for the growth of insects. In this context, black soldier flies (BSF) can grow on a wide range of substrates, transforming them into valuable biomass. In this trial, four different substrates were used and were evaluated for their suitability for larvae rearing: broiler feed as standard diet, a vegetable diet, a diet with 50% of vegetables and 50% of butchery wastes, and a diet composed by 75% of vegetables and 25% of butchery wastes. Butchery wastes can be suitable, but they must be well combined with other ingredients to balance the high level of lipid and the low content of protein, and vegetable wastes can be an appropriate candidate. Vegetable and butchery wastes are easy to find and collect, and in the present trial, they showed interesting potential for BSF larvae growth producing, at 22 days of age, insects with interesting chemical characteristics. The use of vegetable wastes reduced the level of the reactive oxygen species in insect hemolymph, suggesting a positive effect of larvae welfare.Hermetia illucens larvae (five days old) were farmed on broiler feed (control diet), a vegetable diet (V100), a 50% of vegetable diet + 50% of butchery wastes (V50 + B50), and a 75% of vegetable diet + 25% of butchery wastes (V75 + B25) to evaluate their suitability. Ten kilograms of substrate and 6000 larvae composed each replicate (nine per group). Larvae were weighed and measured every two days until the 25% developed into prepupae. Larval mortality and growing indexes were calculated. Substrates, larvae, and frass chemical composition were analyzed. Larvae oxidative status and stability were measured in hemolymph and body. The V100 larvae showed the lowest live weight, length, thickness, and growth rate but had low mortality rate and high substrate reduction index and protein conversion ratio. The V100 larvae had similar protein to and lower lipids than the control ones, while the V50 + B50 and V75 + B25 larvae contained higher lipids and lower protein than the others. Despite the vegetable wastes, at different levels, the reactive oxygen species content decreased in hemolymph, and the V100 diet depressed growth performance and should be avoided. The use of butchery wastes combined with vegetable ingredients can be a suitable alternative to balance the high level of lipid and the low content of protein.

Influence of metabolizable energy and protein levels on age and weight at puberty in male buffalo

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of different levels of metabolizable protein (MP) and metabolizable energy (ME) on nutrients utilization, growth performance, age and weight at puberty of Murrah male buffalo calves. Sixteen growing male buffalo calves weighing around 310±15 kg were divided into four groups of 4 animals each. The animals were offered four different total mixed rations containing different ME and MP levels, viz. 100,100; 115,100; 100,115; 115,115% as per ICAR (2013) standard in groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The animals were fed individually ad lib. from around 13 months of age to age at puberty and at the 18 months a metabolic trial was conducted. Dry matter intake in calves fed all the treatment diets remained similar. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), crude protein conversion ratio (CPCR) and metabolisable energy conversion ratio (MECR), live weight gain were also similar among the groups. Nutrient intake, digestibility and N balance were similar in all the groups. Age at puberty was comparatively lower (around 20 months) in T4 than other groups (20– 24 months), while body weight at that time was similar in all the groups. In conclusion, there were no significant improvement in body weight, ADG, nitrogen balance, age and weight at puberty in male buffalo calves with 15% increase in MP and ME in diet.

Dietary supplementation of tributyrin improved the growth, feed utilization and intestinal histology of grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella )

To investigate the effects of dietary tributyrin (TB) on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), five diets were prepared with supplementing TB at 0 (TB-0), 200 (TB-200), 400 (TB-400), 600 (TB-600) and 800 (TB-800) mg/kg and then fed to grass carp with initial body weight of 17.0 ± 0.2 g for 60 days. TB-400 and TB-600 groups presented higher weight gain, higher retention of protein, lipid, ash and lower feed conversion ratio than TB-0 group (p < .05), and TB-400 group also showed higher digestibility of dry matter and protein as well as intestinal amylase activity than TB-0 group (p < .05). Compared with the control, the serum superoxide dismutase activity was increased, and malondialdehyde content was decreased in TB-400 and TB-600 groups (p < .05), while TB-200 and TB-400 groups presented higher serum lysozyme activity than TB-0 group (p < .05). The villus height in foregut was increased in all the tributyrin-supplemented groups, but the villus height in midgut was increased only in TB-400 and T-600 groups (p < .05). The relative abundance of Erysipelatoclostridium tended to increase, and Aeromonas tended to decrease in TB-400 group. In conclusion, dietary tributyrin promoted the growth and feed utilization, enhanced serum antioxidant capacity and improved intestinal health of grass carp. Based on growth performance, the appropriate dietary supplementation of tributyrin is 443.5 mg/kg by using quadratic regression analysis.

Effects of different dietary energy and protein levels on the performance and carcass characteristics of native hilly chicken during growing phase in confinement

Two hundred and sixteen 10 weeks of age hilly chickens were used to determine the effects of dietary energy and protein level on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. The chicks were randomly allotted in to 3×3 factorial in a completely randomize design. Three levels of energy (2600, 2700 and 2800 ME kcal/kg) and three levels of dietary proteins (16, 17 and 18% CP) were offered ad libitum to the chicks from 10-16 weeks of age. There were no significant interaction effect between dietary protein and energy levels in the diets. At 10-16 weeks of age hilly chickens fed with the medium protein diet (17% CP) showed shortened feed intake (p&lt;0.001) but FCR found better in 16% CP diet. Dietary protein levels higher than 16% CP did not show any significant effect on growth performance. However hilly chicken fed with lower protein diet converted protein to body weight and body weight gain more efficiently than those fed higher protein diets. Dietary energy contents of 2600, 2700 and 2800 ME kcal/kg did not affect the growth performance of hilly chicken except ME, CP intake and protein conversion ratio. ME and CP intake was increased with increasing dietary ME and CP levels (p&lt;0.000). Protein utilization was better (p&lt;0.05) in higher (2800 ME kcal/kg) and medium (2700 ME kcal/kg) ME level diet. L*, a* and b* of breast meat was not affected by dietary ME and CP (p&gt;0.05). Dietary energy and protein level did not significantly (p&gt;0.05) affect the drip loss, cooking loss and pH of breast meat between the treatments. Based on the data of growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality, the optimal dietary ME requirement of hilly chicken from 10-16 weeks of age is 2800 ME kcal/kg and the CP requirement is 16%.&#x0D; Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2021, 6 (1), 1-9

The net contribution of livestock to the supply of human edible protein: the case of Ireland

AbstractIf current food consumption patterns continue, the agriculture sector must provide significantly more food in the coming years from the available land area. Some livestock systems engage in feed–food competition as arable land is used for livestock feed rather than as crops for food; reducing the global supply of food. There is a growing argument that to meet future-food demands sustainably, feed–food competition must be minimized. To this end, we evaluated the effectiveness of two refined metrics to quantify feed–food competition in three livestock systems; dairy and its beef, suckler beef and pig production in Ireland. The metrics are edible protein conversion ratio (EPCR) and the land-use ratio (LUR). The EPCR compares the amount of human digestible protein (HDP) in livestock feed against the amount of HDP the livestock produced, calculating how efficiently it produces HDP. However, the LUR compares the potential HDP from a crop system on the land used to produce the livestock's feed against the HDP the livestock system produced. In both metrics, a value &lt;1 demonstrates an efficient system. The EPCR values for dairy beef (0.22) and suckler beef (0.29) systems consider them efficient producers, whereas pig production (1.51) is inefficient. The LUR values designate that only the dairy beef (0.58) is a net positive producer of HDP from the land used for its feed, with crop production producing more HDP than suckler beef (1.34) and pig production (1.73). Consequently, the LUR can be deemed to be more suitable to represent feed–food competition in livestock production.

Supplementation of Microbial and Fungal Phytases to Low Protein and Energy Diets: Effects on Productive Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Profiles of Broilers

To evaluate in possible use of phytases for improving the utilization of low protein and energy diets, 420, one-day-old chicks were distributed among 7 groups (5 replicates of 12 chicks/group). During the starter (1–35 day), grower (37–56 day), and finisher (57–64 day) periods, the control group fed diets containing 21.2% crude protein (CP)-2947 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), 19.6 CP-3023 ME and 18.0 CP-3100 ME, respectively. The three low-CP groups received diets isocaloric but with −1% CP than the control, while the three low-CPME groups fed diets with −1% CP and −100 Kcal than the control. In addition, the low-CP and low-CPME groups were supplemented with 0 (low-CP_uns and low-CPME_uns), 500 U/kg of an Aspergillus niger (low-CP_AP and low-CPME_AP) or 500 FTU/kg of an Escherichia coli phytase (low-CP_EP and low-CPME_EP), respectively. Low-CP and low-CPME diets decreased (p &lt; 0.01) the intake of feed as well as the protein and metabolizable energy conversion ratios in comparison to the control group. In general, phytases lowered (p &lt; 0.01) the intake of feed, protein, and energy, but bacterial phytase showed a higher (p &lt; 0.01) effect than A. niger one. The diets with low-CP and low-CPME levels decreased (p &lt; 0.01) the amount of the excreta nitrogen. The supplementation of phytases had similar effects on digestibility of nutrients, carcass traits, bone mineralization and blood biochemistry. The supplementation of A. niger increased abdominal fat deposition of compared low-CPME diet compared to low-CPME_uns diet. All diets showed similar production index allowing the use of low-CPME diet when phytases was supplemented.

IMPACT OF PELLET BINDER ON BROILER PERFORMANCE AND FEED PROCESSING ECONOMICS

Total number of 216 one-day-old, unsexed Hubbard broiler chicks were used to study effects of pellet binder level together with pelleting diameter on growth performance, carcass measurements, and economic efficiency. Experimental birds were distributed over 6 groups, each group comprised of 36 chicks in 6 replicates of 6 chicks each. The experimental dietary treatments were as follows: control (T1) basal diet (BD) that is pelleted in standard diameter (SD) with addition of calcium lignosulfonate (CL) 2 Kg/ Ton; (T2) BD pelleted in SD with CL 4 Kg/ Ton; (T3) BD pelleted in SD with CL 8 Kg/ Ton; (T4) BD pelleted in a diameter thicker that SD by 1.0 mm (SD+1) with CL 2 Kg/ Ton; (T5) BD pelleted in SD+1 with CL 4 Kg/ Ton; and (T6) BD pelleted in SD+1 with CL 8 Kg/ Ton. Obtained results showed that all parameters of growth performance; live body weight (LBW), daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed consumption (DFC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Also, values of growth efficiency; relative growth rate (RGR),performance index (PI), production efficiency factor (PEF), protein conversion ratio (PCR), and energy conversion ratio (ECR) indicated no significant differences (P>0.05) within all tested groups. Moreover, data of carcass traits; dressed carcass, abdominal fat, giblets, total edible parts appeared significantly similar (P>0.05) among all treatments. Additionally, data of economic evaluation showed better economic efficiency with T2, T5, or T6 groups when compared to other groups. It could be concluded that using CL as a pellet binder in SD conditions, could be more beneficial with inclusion level of 4 Kg/Ton. Moreover, it might be advised to include CL at 8 Kg/ Ton in diets only when pelleting feedatSD+1 as these conditions positively maintained performance and carcass of birds.

Growth performance, blood parameters and production cost of broiler chickens fed dietary sweet orange peel meal diets with and without enzyme addition

The growth performance, blood parameters and production cost of two hundred and fifty two (252) Abor acre plus broiler chickens fed sweet orange peel meal (SOPM) with and without enzymes were investigated. The experimental diets consist of control (T ), maize was 0 replaced with SOPM at 15, 20 and 25 % without exogenous enzymes to form T , T and T 1 2 3 respectively, and another supplemented with exogenous enzyme to form T , T and T 4 5 6 respectively. The birds were randomly allocated to seven treatment groups replicated three times to have 12 birds per replicate and were fed experimental diet ad-libitum for eight weeks. Result showed that broiler chickens fed control diet (T ) had significantly (P&lt;0.05) 0 higher final weight (FW) of 2.44kg, weight gain (WG) of 42.91, feed intake (FI) of 86.53, better feed conversion ratio (FCR)of 2.01 and protein conversion ratio (PCR)of 0.44 compared to other dietary treatments. Broiler chickens fed T and T had significantly 1 4 (P&lt;0.05) higher final weight of 1.98 and 1.98 kg, weight gain of 34.69 and 34.71 g and feed intake of 78.35 and 81.63 g respectively while significantly (P&lt;0.05) least values of 1.75 and 1.80 kg final weight, 30.73 and 31.49 g weight gain and 69.47 and 71.84 g feed intake respectively were recorded in broiler chickens fed T and T . Haematological indices namely: 2 5 PCV, RBC, WBC and Hb were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05) but MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocytes, heterophil, eosinophil and monocytes differed significantly (P&lt;0.05). Serum biochemical indices namely total protein, albumin, globulin and uric acid were significantly (P&lt;0.05) influenced by the experimental diets. Though, there was no detrimental effect of SOPM and enzyme on production cost as profit was made at all replacement levels of SOPM with and without enzyme treatment, but profit per bird (N) and cost to benefit ratio revealed the superiority of the broiler chickens fed control diet (T ). Based on the results obtained, 0 SOPM can replace maize up to 25 % without posing any deleterious effect on the broiler chickens growth performance, blood parameters and production cost. However, the cost to benefit ratio was compromised with the use of SOPM.

Black Soldier Fly Full-Fat Larvae Meal as an Alternative to Fish Meal and Fish Oil in Siberian Sturgeon Nutrition: The Effects on Physical Properties of the Feed, Animal Growth Performance, and Feed Acceptance and Utilization.

Simple SummaryResearch for alternative protein sources that may replace fish meal and fish oil in fish diets is one of the ongoing tasks for aquaculture. Sturgeons role captive fish production increases due to the rapid decrease in its wild stocks during the 20th century. Insect meals are a novel group of feed materials rich in nutrients that are produced in an environmentally sustainable way. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effects of black soldier fly larvae full-fat meal (BSFL) usage as fish meal and fish oil replacement in Siberian sturgeon diets. The experimentally obtained data showed the possibility of extruded feed production with up to 30% of BSFL and physical parameters suitable for fish feeding. Moreover, feed acceptance increase was observed in treatments containing than 10% and higher shares of BSFL. In the groups whose feed contained 5 to 30% of BSFL in the diet, the growth of experimental fish as well as their feed utilization parameters were improved; however, with no effects on feed digestibility. All presented data make BSFL a suitable nutrient source alternative to fish meal in Siberian sturgeon nutrition.This study provides data on the use of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) full-fat meal (BSFL) in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) nutrition, examining pellet physical properties, growth performance, feed acceptance and utilization, apparent protein, and fat digestibility. The study consisted of: feed quality assessment; a growth performance; feed acceptance; digestibility trials. The effect of the use of BSFL as a replacement for fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) was investigated. The applied BSFL shares were 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of the diet, replacing up to 61.3% of FM and allowing us to reduce FO use by up to 95.4% in the case of 30% incorporation. The applied substitution affected feed quality, increasing the expansion rate, and decreasing feed density, sinking speed and water stability. However, body weight gain, specific growth rate, feed, and protein conversion ratios, were improved in groups fed BSFL. Moreover, feed acceptance was increased with treatments containing 10 to 30% BSFL. No effects on nutrients digestibility were observed. The results show that the use of BSFL as an FM and FO replacement may have positive effects on sturgeon growth performance, and BSFL can be developed as a promising alternative feed material.

EFFECT OF INCLUSION OF SUGAR BEET PULP IN THE DIETS ON THE PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY OF GIMMIZAH LAYING HENS

This research was conducted to study the effect of inclusion of sugar beet pulp (SBP) in the diets on the performance of Gimmizah laying hens during the period from 9 to 27 weeks of age. Hens were previously fed with starter diets from the beginning of the 3 weeks up to 8 weeks, and then hens fed in the present study on grower diets from the beginning of 9 up to 19 weeks, pre lay diets from the beginning of 20 up to 23 weeks and layer diets from the beginning of 24 up to 27 weeks. At the beginning of 9 weeks, a total of 180 females were continue feeding on the same treatments (which its fed in the starter period), which, consisted of five levels of SBP (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% SBP) until 27 weeks (five treatments/four replicates (9 pullets/ replicate)). Hens fed diet containing 5% SBP had significantly higher live body weight (LBW) at the beginning of 9 weeks, performance index (during the period from 9 to 19 weeks) and recorded better values of feed conversion ratio (FC), crude protein conversion (CPC) and caloric conversion ratio (CCR) during the period from 9 to 19 weeks. Birds fed the control diet had higher LBW at 19 weeks and body weight gain, during the period from 9 to 19 weeks. Hens fed diet containing 10% SBP consumed significantly higher feed intake (FI), during the period from 9 to 19 weeks. Also, hens fed 10% SBP reached to sexual maturity earlier than the other treatments (the early in age at sexual maturity is coincided with a significant increase of average egg number (EN) per hen and laying rate% during the period from day of laying first egg until 23 weeks). Hens fed diet containing 20% SBP had significantly higher values of egg weight and FI, and the lower values were recorded with the hens fed diet containing 0.0% SBP during the period from 24 to 27 weeks of age. Gimmizah laying hens fed diet containing 0.0% SBP had better values of CPC and CCR during the period from 24 to 27 weeks of age, but, the differences between 0, 5, 10 and 15% SBP were not significant. The worst corresponding values of CPC and CCR were recorded with the hens fed diet containing 20% SBP during the period from 24 to 27 weeks of age. Feeding different levels of SBP insignificantly affected EN, egg production, FC and egg quality during the period from 24 to 27 weeks of age. It could concluded that, SBP could be used at a rate of 10% in the growing (9 to 19 weeks), pre-lay (20 to 23 weeks) and layer (24 to 27 weeks) diets of Gimmizah laying hens without any adverse effects on the pullet or hen performance and egg quality. But, the inclusion of SBP at 20% in the diet resulted in poor performance.

Influence of adding different levels of local dried Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) as a feed additive on production performance of broiler chicks.

A total of 240 (one-day-old) unsexed broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used. The experiment included four treatment groups, with four replications per treatment with 15 birds each. The experiment persisted 42 days, the chickens were provided with feed and water ad libitum. Experimental treatments were given basal diet only (T0), basal diet with adding 200 g dried local tarragon (T1), basal diet with adding 400 g dried local tarragon (T2) and basal diet with adding 600 g dried local tarragon (T3). The tarragon additive positively affects the values of daily feed intake, in overall period(1-42 day of age),333.88g/bird/day was the best feed intake which was belonged to T3 treatment. Also, the tarragon additive affects positively protein and energy intake. No significant effects were obtained in body weight gain between the different treatments and within several age periods. Significant effects were recorded for the results of feed conversion ratio and both protein and energy conversion ratio in the age period (29-42 day) and in overall period (1-42 day) but did not affect body weight gain during the trial periods.

Ultra-Low Gossypol Cottonseed: Selective Gene Silencing Opens Up a Vast Resource of Plant-Based Protein to Improve Human Nutrition

The global output of cottonseed contains ∼10.8 trillion grams of protein that can meet the basic protein requirements of ∼590 million people at a rate of 50 g/day. However, gossypol, a toxic terpenoid present in seed glands, renders cottonseed unfit as food for human consumption or as feed for nonruminants. RNAi, under the control of a seed-specific promoter, was used to selectively silence δ-cadinene synthase gene to reduce gossypol levels in the seed by 97% without affecting the levels of gossypol and related terpenoids in rest of the plant where they are needed for defense against insects and diseases. The resulting Ultra-low Gossypol Cottonseed (ULGCS) is considered safe as food or as feed for more efficient (both, in terms of feed conversion ratio and protein conversion ratio) monogastric animals. Field trials conducted over multiple years in multiple states confirm the stability and heritability of the trait with no diminution of fiber/seed yield, quality or agronomic performance. A ULGCS event, TAM66274, was deregulated by USDA-APHIS in October 2018 and FDA concluded its food safety consultation in September 2019 and concurred with our determination of its safety. Global adoption of TAM66274, with more efficient and expanded usage of its protein, has the potential to significantly improve nutrition security and boost farmers’ income without requiring additional inputs or acreage under cultivation, thus making cotton farming more sustainable.