Sacco Method Research Articles

Evaluation of Digestibility of Palm Fronds Shaving (PFS) Supplemented with Vitamin B Complex on the Quality of Fermentation by in vitro Method and Degradation Kinetics by in Sacco Method

Evaluation of Digestibility of Palm Fronds Shaving (PFS) Supplemented with Vitamin B Complex on the Quality of Fermentation by <i>in vitro</i> Method and Degradation Kinetics by in Sacco Method

Normalization of protein and carbohydrate nutrition for high productive cows during a dry period

The article provides the results of study of protein and carbohydrate nutrition for high productive cows with milk yield of 10 thousand kg during dry period. There has been carried out the research for determining the feed protein disintegration and effectiveness of its use in cow rations. The carbohydrate nutrition for Holstein-Kholmogory cows during dry period taking into account quantity and quality of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was studied. The science-economic experiment was conducted in the “Polyarnaya Zvezda”, Murmansk region in 2015 and 2021. The disintegration of feed crude protein (DP) was determined by the in sacco method, by incubation of average samples of single feeds in nylon bags in the rumen during 12 hours. Content of crude protein in feed samples before and after incubation was determined by the content of total nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method. Digestibility in the intestine of feed protein not disintegrated in rumen was determined by the mobile synthetic bag method. NDF and ADF were determined by the method of Van Soest and Southgate modified by N. N. Semina. In the experiment of protein nutrition, the content of crude protein in the ration of control and experimental groups of cows was 16 %. The content of disintegrated protein in the control group was 59.0 %, in the experimental group – 67.0 %. In the experiment of carbohydrate nutrition, in the control group crude fiber was 19.4 %, neutral detergent fiber – 38.9 %, acid detergent fiber – 23.0 % of dry matter. In the ration of experimental group of cows, the content of crude fiber was 22.4 %, neutral detergent fiber – 47.2 %, acid detergent fiber – 27.6 %. Animals of the experimental group whose ration had a crude protein disintegration of 67.0% used nitrogen more efficiently, utilized a nutritious of ration better. During the research it has been established, that the content of neutral detergent fiber of up to 47.2 % and acid detergent fiber of up to 27.6 % results in increase in digestibility of ration nutritious, improves nitrogen metabolism, intensify microbiological activity in cow rumen.

Analysis of rumen degradation characteristics of forage crude protein in goat

The quality of feed given to ruminants can be determined from the degradation of nutrient content in the rumen. This study aimed to determine the pattern of forage degradation and the characteristics degradation of crude protein in the rumen using the in sacco method. The study used 4 fistulae kacang goats with an average body weight of 14.57 kg. The forage used consisted of R1: elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), R2: mini elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott), R3: guinea grass (Panicum maximum), and R4: signal grass (Bracharia decumbens). The nylon bag is made of polyester measuring 8x4 cm with a porosity of 40 µm. Feed samples were put into the rumen and incubated for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The parameters measured were consumption, patterns, and forage degradation characteristics by calculating the values of a, b, c, a+b, lag time, and ED. Determination characteristics of feed degradation in the rumen by in sacco method will be analyzed. The results showed that the characteristics of crude protein degradation had significant differences in fraction values a, b, a+b, and lag time (P&lt;0.05), while c and ED did not have significant differences (P&gt;0.05). In conclusion the crude protein of the degradation characteristics in the rumen were: elephant grass (a: 9.88%, b: 64.37%, and c: 0.06/h-1), mini elephant grass (a: 16.50%, b: 45.24%, and c: 0.05/h-1), guinea grass (a: 7.42%, b: 68.24%, and c: 0.05/h-1), and signal grass (a: 6.79%, b: 56.19%, and c: 0.07/h-1). So, grass can provide sufficient protein for microbial growth in the rumen for ruminants.

In Vitro Gas Production Test: towards Rapid Nutritional Evaluation of Roughages for Ruminant Feeding

The gas production in vitro method was used to evaluate the degradability and gas production of browse plants in the absence or presence of polyethylene glycol 8,000 (PEG). Substrates (leguminous and browse plants; 500mg) were incubated for 24h and the accumulated gas produced recorded. The incubation contents of the syringes were transferred into nylon bags and the undegraded residues weighed after washing and drying to constant weight (SNB method). Substrates were also incubated in the rumen in nylon bags for 24 h to determine in sacco degradability. Gas production ranged between 10.3 to 64.4ml whereas the dry matter degradability ranges between 27.3 and 70.9%. Addition of PEG, which minimised the inhibitory effects of tannin on microbial fermentation resulted in an increase in both gas production and degradability in vitro, which ranged from 25.7 to 64.2 ml and 34.2 to 75.0%, respectively. Correlation analysis of the DM degradability estimated by the SNB method and in sacco method was better in presence of PEG (y= 0.71x + 14.9; r2 = 0.92) as compared to absence of PEG (y= 0.59x + 15.0; r2 = 0.72). Partitioning factor (PF) of substrate to gas, which was expressed as mg DM degraded/ml gas, reflects the variation in microbial biomass yield. The PF figures varied from 4.94 -11.05 to PF+PEG values of 4.74-6.84 upon the addition of PEG. The present study showed that presence of tannin has a potentially beneficial effect to protein nutrition of the host animal by altering partitioning of nutrients towards more microbial yield rather than short chain fatty acids. PF values of browse plants determined both on the absence and presence of PEG may indicate the relative importance of tannins in different plant species on substrate degradability and partitioning of nutrients.

Rumen degradation properties of tropical legumes feed under in sacco studies

Degradation properties of protein feed sources such as tropical legumes is very important to match with microbial protein synthesis and by pass protein requirements in dairy cattle ration formulation. However, the information is still limited. This study aims to determine the degradability of dry matter (DMD) and organic matter (OMD) from several legumes in Indonesia using in sacco method. There are 11 types of tropical legumes that are commonly used in dairy cattle ration have been studied, namely acacia, alfalfa, pterocarpus, gliricidia, indigofera, calliandra, butterfly leaf, leucaena, albizia, tamarind, and sesbania. The dried forage mesh samples were put into nylon bags and incubated in the rumen of two fistulated Friesian Holstein bulls for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Parameter observed were degradability of dry matter (DMD), and organic matter (OMD), kinetic parameters, and effective degradation. The data were analysed using descriptive statistic and regression from SAS University software. The result that sesbania and indigofera grouped into highly degradable forage (degradability > 80%), while acacia, albizia, calliandra grouped into low degradable forage (degradability < 50%). From this study it can be concluded that each type of legume has different degradability characteristics using in sacco method.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Rumen Degradability of Gliricia sepium leaves

An experiment with the objective to investigate the effect of different temperature regimes during heat treatment of Gliricidia sepium leaves was conducted following a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 3 replications. Gliricidia leaves were exposed to three temperature regimes namely oven heating at 60oC (T60), 90oC (T90), and 120oC (T120) respectively and followed by sun-drying compared to sun drying as control (Con). The dry matter and protein degradation were measured using In Sacco method in three fistulated Bali cows fed a standard diet. Protein solubility (a) and the insoluble but potentially degradable fraction (b) were linearly reduced (P<0,001) by the increased temperature in the oven as compared to sun drying. The degradation rate (c) of protein in the rumen was increased at all heating treatments. The effective dry matter and protein degradation of gliricidia leaf was significantly (P<0,01) reduced by heat treatment in T90 and no further reduction in T120. The solubility fraction of DM was significantly reduced (P<0.05) when heated in the oven at 120oC, meanwhile the b value for DM linearly decline with the increasing heating temperature. Heating also increased the lag time required for the degradation to commence. It, therefore, can be concluded that oven drying at 90oC is a simple effective means to reduce ruminal protein degradation of gliricidia leaves.

Estimation rumen degradable protein of local feeds in dairy cattle using in sacco method

There is a lack of nutrition information on local feeds protein in Indonesia, especially to determine protein fraction of dairy feed. The objective of this study was to determine rumen degradable protein (RDP) of local feeds in dairy cattle using in sacco method. The local feeds are copra meal, palm kernel meal, coffee husk, tofu waste, soy-sauce waste, brewer waste, and habbatussauda waste. Two ruminal fistulated male Frisian Holstein were used to determine rumen degradable protein using in sacco method. The parameters observed include the estimated kinetic parameters, effective degradability (ED), and RDP. The parameters were evaluated with analysis of variance using SAS University software. The result showed that tofu waste and habbatussauda waste had high potential rapid degradation of CP following by brewer waste, palm kernel waste, soy-sauce waste, copra meal, and coffee husk. Habbatussauda waste had higher RDP followed by brewer waste, tofu waste, copra meal, palm kernel meal, soy-sauce waste, and coffee husk. There was a positive correlation between RDP and crude protein content, and a negative correlation between RDP and crude fiber. It is concluded that local feeds have various characteristics of quality feed protein, which is shown by rumen degradable protein and rumen undegradable protein.

In sacco evaluation of ruminal degradability of isoflavones from full-fat soybean and extracted soybean meal-A pilot study.

The aim of the study was to determine the ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM), daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones in ground full-fat soybean (GFFS) and solvent-extracted soybean meal (SSBM) using the in sacco method. The experiment was carried out in three replications on ruminally cannulated sheep that were fed twice a day with a diet consisted of hay and supplemental mixture (6:4, DM basis). The nylon bags with 2g feed samples ground to 2mm were incubated in the rumen for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24h. The effective degradability (ED) of DM, daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones was calculated at outflow rate of 0.06h. The ED of DM in GFFS was 77.8% and was higher than in SSBM being 71.8% (p<0.001). The ED of daidzein (96.8%) and genistein (93.6%) was higher for SSBM compared with GFFS (93.9% and 92.8%, p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively) while ED of glycitein was lower for SSBM than for GFFS (75.5 and 81.7%, respectively, p<0.001). All isoflavones in the incubations were extensively degraded in the rumen, and regardless of dietary source, they were almost completely degraded after 16h of incubation. Further, the disappearance patterns, that is the functions describing the time courses of the analyte disappearance, were assessed. The disappearance patterns of daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones were similar and showed greater disappearance of mentioned isoflavones from SSBM compared to GFFS (p<0.001 for daidzein, genistein and total isoflavones and p=0.002 for glycitein). The study provides knowledge on the effect of processing on degradability of isoflavones in rumen that can be used to clarify the interrelationship between isoflavones and rumen microbiota.

Vliv probiotických krmných doplňků na funkční stav bachoru

The aim of this study was to determine how the administration of probiotic feed supplements affects selected parameters rumen environment of cattle, how it impresses the basic chemical and biological processes in the rumen, and also to check their influence on the total digestibility of feed in the cannulated cattle. For the experiment two adult cows of Aberdeen Angus breed with implanted permanent cannula were used, whom probiotics Bifidobacterium sp. were administered daily and subsequently the degradability of the organic matter was determined by the in sacco method. From the samples of rumen fluid, the amount of ammonia, volatile fatty acids, ciliates and pH were analyzed. The impact of probiotics has not been demonstrated in testing the influence of probiotics on the different variables with fixed effect of an individual. When testing the influence of probiotics without the effect of an individual, in the linear model, obtained data of acetic and butyric acid were the best. In their dependence, numbers of protozoa were increasing. However, only two experiment individuals were tested, a strong effect of the individual was found. These results indicate that the effect of probiotics Bifidobacterium sp. on the functional state of the rumen is low.

Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Ruminal Degradation of Samurai 1 Sweet Sorghum Bagasse

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gamma irradiation on dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber degradability of Samurai 1 sweet sorghum bagasse, to facilitate its utilization in ruminant diets. Sorghum bagasse was obtained from Samurai 1 sorghum stem by-product after juice extraction. Gamma irradiation was carried out in a cobalt-60 irradiator in the Center for the Application of Isotopes and Radiation. Two polyethylene packages of samples were irradiated in gamma cell (Co-60) at doses of 50 and 100 kGy in the presence of air. Treatments were untreated/unirradiated and 50- and 100-kGy gamma irradiation. Sample were incubated in the rumen for periods of 0, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h with in sacco method. The observed parameters were the degradations of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). DM, OM and NDF degradation characteristics were also observed. DM degradation of 50 kGy irradiation dose started higher than untreated samples after 24 hours incubation while OM degradation started higher than untreated samples after 48 hours incubation. DM and OM degradation of 100 kGy irradiation started higher than untreated after 8 hours incubation. Gamma irradiation treatment of 50 kGy and 100 kGy could increase NDF degradation on 8 to 72 hours incubation. Irradiation was also capable to increase NDF degradation rate (c fraction) and ruminal effective degradation (ED) value on Samurai 1 sweet sorghum bagasse. Gamma Irradiation could break down the lignocellulose materials, break β 1,4 branch chain of cellulose and make it easily digested for rumen bacteria. The best dose of gamma irradiation for processing Samurai 1 sweet sorghum bagasse as a fiber source for ruminants was 100 kGy. Received: 10 December 2015 ; Revised: 10 October 2016 ; Accepted: 10 October 2016

Degradation of Fibre and Non-fibre Fractions During Anaerobic Digestion in Silages of Maize, Sunflower and Sorghum-Sudangrass of Different Maturities

This study investigated the temporal dynamics of the degradation of organic matter (OM), fibre, protein and remaining organic constituents during anaerobic digestion of silages from maize, sunflower and sorghum-sudangrass that were harvested at different maturity stages. The tests were conducted using an in sacco method in 20 l digesters. The degradation kinetics of fibres showed some similarity for maize and sorghum-sudangrass with a continuous progress, whereas in sunflower it developed with a strong degradation right after incubation to reach a quasi-constant level for the rest of the 35 days lasting fermentation time. The degradation process for crude protein was usually intense from the very beginning and levelled off after only 5 days. Methane yield after 35 days amounted to 358, 278, and 320 lN CH4/kg OM for maize, sunflower and sorghum-sudangrass respectively but could not be predicted with high accuracy by regression models based on organic constituents.

Legume-Cereal Intercropping Improves Forage Yield, Quality and Degradability

Intercropping legume with cereal is an extensively applied planting pattern in crop cultivation. However, forage potential and the degradability of harvested mixtures from intercropping system remain unclear. To investigate the feasibility of applying an intercropping system as a forage supply source to ruminants, two consecutive experiments (experiments 1 and 2) involving a field cultivation trial and a subsequent in vivo degradable experiment were conducted to determine the forage production performance and the ruminally degradable characteristics of a harvested mixture from an alfalfa/corn-rye intercropping system. In experiment 1, the intercropping system was established by alternating alfalfa and corn or rye with a row ratio of 5:2. Dry matter (DM) and nutrient yields were determined. In experiment 2, forages harvested from the different treatments were used as feedstuff to identify nutrient degradation kinetics and distribution of components between the rapidly degradable (a), potentially degradable (b) and the degradation rate constant (c) of ‘b’ fraction by in sacco method in Small-Tail Han wether Sheep. The intercropping system of alfalfa and corn-rye provided higher forage production performance with net increases of 9.52% and 34.81% in DM yield, 42.13% and 16.74% in crude protein (CP) yield, 25.94% and 69.99% in degradable DM yield, and 16.96% and 5.50% in degradable CP yield than rotation and alfalfa sole cropping systems, respectively. In addition, the harvest mixture from intercropping system also had greater ‘a’ fraction, ‘b’ fraction, ‘c’ values, and effective degradability (E value) of DM and CP than corn or rye hay harvested from rotation system. After 48-h exposure to rumen microbes, intercropping harvest materials were degraded to a higher extent than separately degraded crop stems from the sole system as indicated by visual microscopic examination with more tissues disappeared. Thus, the intercropping of alfalfa and corn-rye exhibited a greater forage production potential, and could be applied as forage supply source for ruminants. The improved effective degradability of harvest mixture material could be attributed to greater degradable components involving the rapidly degradable fractions (a), potentially degradable (b) fractions, and degradable rate constant (c), than that of corn and rye hay.

Release of minerals in groundnut haulm based complete diets supplemented with organic and inorganic mineral sources by in sacco method in steers

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic mineral supplementation to groundnut haulm (GNH) based complete diets on mineral release by in sacco method. A basal complete diet was prepared with GNH and concentrate mixture (8% maize, 10% soybean meal, 21.5% deoiled rice bran and 0.5% salt) in 60:40 ratio. The basal diet was treated as control (T1) and 3 more diets were prepared by supplementing basal diet with commercial mineral mixture (T2), inorganic mineral supplements (T3) and organic mineral supplements (T4). The commercial mineral mixture was added at the rate of 1.5% in T2/sub&gt; diet by adjusting the deoiled rice bran to 20%. The inorganic mineral supplements were added at the rate of 26.4g (8.3g ZnSO4, 4.0g CuSO4 and 14.0 g MnSO4) in the T3 diet. The organic mineral supplements were added at the rate of 72g (12g Zn-P, 10 g Cu-P and 50g Mn-P) in the T4 diet. The in sacco mineral release of Cu, Mn and Zn from experimental diets showed that the disappearance % was higher in commercial mineral mixture supplemented diet followed by organic mineral supplemented diet, and then inorganic mineral supplemented diet. The in sacco copper, manganese and zinc release from feed ingredients revealed that copper disappearance (%) was higher in all the feed ingredients followed by Mn and Zn. The NDF degradability also increased with increase in incubation time. A correlation was drawn between in sacco mineral release and NDF degradability of the treatment diets. Significant positive correlation was observed between the NDF degradability and mineral release in the rumen. It can be concluded that the organic mineral supplements were better bioavailable than the inorganic mineral supplements.

VLIV VEGETAČNÍHO STADIA VOJTĚŠKY SETÉ NA CHEMICKÉ SLOŽENÍ A IN SACCO STRAVITELNOST ORGANICKÉ HMOTY

The influence of the stage of maturity of alfalfa on the chemical composition and in sacco digestibility was studied in a laboratory experiment. Alfalfa plants were analysed in 8 vegetation stages harvested in regular intervals before the beginning of bud setting until the fall of blossoms. The contents of nitrogenous substances, fat, crude fibre, ADF, NDF, Ca, P, Na, K and Mg were determined in the samples, and using the in sacco method also the organic matter digestibility in the rumen. Further we assessed the energy content and calculated the N−free extractives (BNLV) value. In some stages the chemical changes were monitored in the whole plant. It was discovered that during vegetation there was a statistically significant increase in the crude fibre content and in the ADF and NDF fractions and a reduction in nitrogenous substances. A strong negative correlation was detected between the stage of maturity of alfalfa and content of crude protein and net energy for lactation (r = −0.97 and r = −0.92, respectively). In the individual stages of vegetation the differences in the content of nitrogenous substances, fibre and fat were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). The statistically highest content of crude protein (28.97%) was detected in the first stage before bud setting and the lowest (11.97%) in the stage after the fall of blossoms. Later vegetation also had a stronger depressive effect on the content of fat and NEL. The organic matter digestibility (P &lt; 0.05) was the lowest in alfalfa in the last stage of sampling (62.6%) when it reached a mere 85.99% of the digestibility at the beginning of bud setting. The highest organic matter digestibility (72.80%) was detected in a sample of young alfalfa prior to bud setting. In the experiment we confirmed a strong and negative correlation (r = −0.97) between the crude fibre content and organic matter digestibility. The correlation was also strong between the stage of maturity of alfalfa and the content of magnesium (Mg).

Efekt mechanickej úpravy zrnín na bachorovú degradovateľnosť škrobu

Although starch in cereal grain is almost completely digested in the whole digestive tract, the rate and extent of ruminal degradation and fermentation vary widely with grain source and cereal processing. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of particle size (≤ 1.4, 1.5–2.5, 2.6–3.0 and &gt; 3.0 mm) of mechanically processed wheat, barley and maize on ruminal degradation of starch. Standardized in sacco method was used to determine the degradation of starch in mechanically processed grains with incubation times of 0, 3, 6, 9, 16, 24, and 48 hours for maize, respectivelly. Significant differences of starch effective degradability (EDg) were determined among experimental feeds as well as dependence on particle size of feeds. Among cereals, wheat had the highest effective starch de­gra­da­bi­li­ty (83.0–95.2%), the lowest was found for maize (52.1–76.1%). Effective degradability of starch was the highest for the smallest particles (≤ 1.4 mm), 95.2 for wheat, 91.2 for barley and 76.1% for maize. The effective degradability of starch was decreased with enlarging of particle size of used grains. These results indicate that optimal degree is coarsely grinding, because larger particles increased passage of starch to the duodenum.

The effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains on the rumen fermentation in sheep fed with diets of different forage to concentrate ratios

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two different Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains on the rumen fermentation of sheep fed with two different total mixed rations. Three rumen-cannulated Merino wethers were used in a pilot study in which a phase of feeding a higher proportion of concentrate in the diet (HC; forage to concentrate ratio 40:60, as fed) was followed by a phase of lower proportion of concentrate in the diet (LC; forage to concentrate ratio 49:51, as fed). Both phases consisted of three 3-week periods as follows: no yeast supplementation, trehalose non-producing and trehalose-producing S. cerevisiae supplementations, respectively. Rumen fluid samples taken in the last days of each period were measured for pH, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations and ammonia content. The degradability of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and starch was estimated by the in sacco method. Supplementation with the trehalose non-producing strain did not alter any variables tested in the HC phase. In the LC phase, though degradability was not altered, total SCFA concentration increased, resulting in a decrease of rumen fluid pH. The trehalose-producing strain increased total SCFA content and effectively prevented the consequent decrease in pH in both phases. These effects were more pronounced in the high-concentrate phase, as shown by higher molar proportion of propionate, increased level of ammonia content, and higher ruminal degradability of NDF and starch compared to control and the trehalose non-producing yeast strain.

The Unmaking of the World

When looking at images, our experience is often profoundly marked by memories of previous visual encounters that affect us in unexpected ways. Sometimes events from intervening years have transformative effect--shifting our perspective so that upon returning to an image, we feel something new. Confronted with one panel from comic journalist Joe Sacco's fourth issue of Palestine, drawn and published in 1993, many readers will be reminded of specific group of images that hold such capacity to transform our ways of seeing. (1) In spite of fact that captive is not wearing poncho, panel is nevertheless reminiscent of notorious photographs from Abu Ghraib. To claim that hooded prisoner has become emblematic figure of war on terror--to degree that it haunts images from both near and distant past--does not seem unreasonable. (2) Moderate Pressure: Part Two (1993) describes how Ghassan, Palestinian man, was captured, interrogated, and tortured by Israel's General Security Service (GSS) in winter of 1991-92. (3) Alongside Sacco's 2006 reportage comic, Trauma on Loan, it represents an acute exploration of political and perceptual implications of what Elaine Scarry, in The Body in Pain (1985), calls the inexpressibility of physical pain. (4) In Trauma on Loan, two Iraqis tortured by American forces struggle to deliver testimony to American news media. Sacco's illustration of set of challenges they meet in doing so lends this account perspective absent from those of other journalists. (5) Although these stories are set in two very specific political and historical contexts, both revolve around crisis of witnessing embedded in very structure of torture itself--in severe hardship involved in what Scarry calls the passage of pain into speech. (6) To paraphrase title of Susan Sontag's book, distinctly verbal-visual style of Sacco's approach enables way of picturing pain of others--an ethical act of imagination that involves triangular constellation of victim, artist, and reader. (7) One of most immediate and important effects of Moderate Pressure: Part Two is way in which Sacco exposes rationalizing gestures of euphemism by showing us how is anything but. The ironic reference is to 1987 Israeli government report that suggested a moderate amount of physical pressure cannot be avoided during interrogations conducted by GSS (8); secret second part of report provided operational guidelines for permissible physical pressure. (9) Describing his work on human rights report about methods of GSS, Stanley Cohen writes: We wanted to undermine function of political language. (10) In same article, he also makes reference to this quotation by George Orwe: Such is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of (11) Sacco's method deliberately insists on rendering precisely those mental pictures--opening gap between visual realities and phraseology used to describe them. Before Sacco met Ghassan, there was no record of his captivity, photographic or otherwise. This lack of testimonial proof represents only part of problem, for elimination of traceable evidence is built into very act of torture itself. When victim undergoes torture, hoods are not merely instruments of torture--reeking of urine and threatening asphyxiation--they also instill an immense sense of isolation, blinding and disorienting victim so as to protect identities of torturers. Providing accurate testimony thus becomes difficult, if not impossible. Imagining Ghassan's ordeal and giving it pictorial form offers way to render invisible visible. By entering and inviting reader into secluded torture room, Sacco addresses pain's fundamental inexpressibility under severest conditions while enabling it to enter realm of shared discourse. …

English

A study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and digestibility of almond hull using invitro , sacco and vivo methods. Chemical compositions of almond hull and alfalfa hay were determined. The crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of almond hull were lower than those of alfalfa hay but the non fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) was more than that of alfalfa hay (3.5 times) (P < 0.01). The dry matter disappearance of almond hull for all incubation times using in sacco method was greater than that of alfalfa hay (P < 0.01). To measure in vivo digestibility, four mature Moghani sheep of live weight (39 ± 3 kg mean±SD) were used in a 2 × 2 change over design. Diets consisted of a basal diet (alfalfa hay) and a mixed diet (alfalfa hay 70% + almond hull 30%). Invitro and vivo dry matter digestibilities of almond hull were 585.8 and 645.0 gkg -1 , respectively. There was no difference between in vivo dry and organic matter digestibility of alfalfa hay and mixed diet but were significantly affected in the case of CP and NDF (P < 0.01). In general, almond hull had low CP but greater NFC content as well as greater digestibility in sheep.

Using fistulated sheep to compare in sacco and in vitro rumen degradation of selected feeds

Despite its beneficial role in almost all feed evaluation systems, the in sacco method is inconsistent and labour intensive in estimating the degradation of ruminant feeds. This study compared a rumen fluid-based in vitro method with the in sacco method to estimate degradation of 12 feeds comprising six concentrates and six grasses representing three fields during two seasons of winter and spring. Three feed groups (n = 4) were formed by using two grasses (one per season) and two concentrates. These feeds were incubated alongside blanks, in duplicate, for various hours either in sacco in three fistulated sheep or in vitro by using rumen fluid from the same sheep over three periods using two separate 3 × 3 Latin square designs. The in sacco and in vitro data were statistically compared for the effects of sheep, feed group and period on degradation at each incubation time within each method. The degradation data were fitted exponentially to derive water soluble (a), insoluble (b) and degradation rate (c) constants to estimate effective degradability at rumen outflow rate of 0.02 (P0.02) for each feed in each method. These values were statistically compared for variations within and between feed types for each method. The sheep, group and period did not differ significantly (P &gt; 0.05) for feed degradation at most incubation times within any of these two methods. The in vitro method was able to mimic the in sacco degradation of feeds, although the absolute in vitro values were always lower than the in sacco values. The higher in sacco degradation for almost all feeds were partly attributed to the much greater losses of these feeds during their washing with water at 0 h. The in vitro method did identify significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) in dry matter or crude protein degradations between and within different concentrates and grasses in parallel to the in sacco method. The ranking of feeds was comparable for these methods. The in vitro method can be used in parallel to the in sacco method to estimate degradation of various feeds. However, there is a need for coordinated studies to improve the prediction ability of the in vitro method for its adoption to routinely estimate the degradation of ruminant feeds.

Ruminal degradability of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre of grasses

A study was conducted (I) to determine rumen degradability (in sacco) of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of the most important grass species grown in the Czech Republic, (II) to compare grass species (n = 5) according to calculated degradation parameters, and (III) to establish prediction equations for degradation parameters from chemical composition. Forty samples of the most important grass species (Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Felina hybrid) were harvested in 2004 and 2005 and analyzed for chemical composition, and DM and NDF in sacco degradability. Results from the in sacco method were used to calculate DM and NDF degradation parameters. Linear and stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to develop prediction equations for DM and NDF degradation parameters from nutrient concentrations. The highest DM and NDF degradation parameters were found for Lolium perenne. DM and NDF rumen degradation parameters were successfully predicted from chemical composition, with a single predictor adequate for most parameters. For all parameters R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;-values increased with addition of more predictors into regression equations. Effective degradability (ED) of DM calculated at a rumen outflow rate (k) of 0.05 h&lt;sup&gt;&amp;ndash;1&lt;/sup&gt; was the best predicted by NDF (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.878), and ED of NDF at k = 0.02 h&lt;sup&gt;&amp;ndash;1&lt;/sup&gt; by crude protein (CP) (R&lt;sup&gt;2 &lt;/sup&gt;= 0.653).