Mixture Of Seeds Research Articles

Combustion Process of Coal–Açai Seed Mixtures in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler

This study investigates the effects of the co-combustion of coal and açai seed in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers, highlighting the increase in thermal efficiency and relevance of a less-polluting source of energy. Using the computer software 1.5D CeSFaMB™® v4.3.0, simulations of the co-combustion process of coal and biomass were carried out in a CFB boiler, obtaining results such as the temperature profile, boiler efficiency and emissions. The work acquired data regarding the equipment in real operational conditions, consisting of the fundamental geometric and operational parameters used in the simulation campaign. The thermal and chemical properties of the fuels were analyzed by carrying out proximate, ultimate, heating value, particle size and specific mass analyses. The model validation was achieved by simulating the boiler in its real operating conditions and comparing the obtained results with the real data; the obtained error was below 10%. Simulations with different fractions of açai seed for energy replacement (10% and 30%) were carried out. As a result, an increase in the average temperature of the bed was observed, highlighting the region immediately above the dense bed. An increase in boiler efficiency was verified from 56% to 85% with 10% açai and to 83% with 30% açai seed. Decreases in SO2 and CO emissions with the insertion of açai were obtained, showing that co-combustion is more complete, while CO2 emissions were increased due to the higher quantity of fuel inserted into the equipment. The fossil CO2 emissions were reduced.

Exploring grape pomace extracts for the formulation of new bioactive multifunctional chitosan/alginate-based hydrogels for wound healing applications

Chronic wounds incidence is increasing and affects millions of people around the world, causing great psychological and socio-economic impacts. However, treatments that can effectively promote wound healing are still lacking. In this study, grape pomace (GP), the main residue from winemaking production was explored as a source of high added-value raw material directed for the topical treatment of Staphylococcus aureus chronic wound infections. Crude GP extracts (composed of stalks or a skin and seeds mixture–from red and white grape varieties) obtained using a modified solid-liquid extraction (water, ethanol, and acetone solvents) were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays), as well as the richness of phenolic compounds (total phenolic content-TPC, total flavonoid content-TFC, and HPLC-DAD assays). The GP extracts with the most favorable results were incorporated in a chitosan-alginate hydrogel (cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and calcium chloride), characterized (swelling, degradation, and release properties), and tested for its bioactivity (antioxidant and antimicrobial potential). TPC and TFC were higher in red GP extracts, as confirmed by the HPLC analysis, indicating a greater diversity of compounds in these extracts. Ethanolic white GP extracts (from skin-seeds mixture) showed the highest extraction yield and antioxidant activity. Their incorporation into the chitosan-alginate hydrogel improved its swelling and antimicrobial properties (total cytoplasmic membranes disruption and culturability reduction). A biomaterial with high swelling capacity and antibacterial activity against S. aureus was obtained, which can potentially promote wound healing by exudate absorption and infection clearance while promoting valorization of by-products and stimulating a circular economy.

The Effect of the Seed of Descurainia Sophia on Functional Constipation in Iranian Women Aged 50-70 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Constipation in older adults is a common issue and is more prevalent in women. The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the seed of Descurainia Sophia as an herbal medicine on the severity of constipation in older women. Methods: Total, sixty-four women aged between 50 to 70 participated in the study. The study used a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of the seed of Descurainia Sophia on constipation. Data were collected using a constipation assessment scale and analyzed using independent samples t-test and gain score procedure. Results: It was shown that taking a mixture of water and seeds of Descurainia Sophia significantly reduces constipation severity in older women. Conclusion: It was concluded that the seed of Descurainia Sophia is a safe and effective alternative for treating constipation in older women.

Evaluation of the qualitative properties of the oil extracted from the mixture of Helianthus annuus and Nigella sativa seeds during heating

The oil obtained from black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds has many health-effective properties, which is used in food applications and in traditional medicine. One practical method to extract its oil is mixing with other seeds such as sunflower (Helianthus anuus) seeds before oil extraction by press. The effectiveness of the cold-press oil obtained from the mixture of black cumin seeds (BS) and sunflower seeds (SF) in different proportions 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15 and 0:100 (w/w) was studied to evaluate their qualitative properties including peroxide value (PV), acid value, p-anisidine value (AnV), pigments (carotenoid and chlorophyll) content, polyphenols, and profile of fatty acids during heating process (30–150 min at 180 °C). The results revealed that the acid and p-anisidine value of the all samples enhanced with the extension of the heating time, and the peroxide value increased at the beginning of the heating and then decreased with the prolongation of the heating time (p < .05). With the increase of temperature and heating time, the peroxide of sunflower oil increased with a higher slope and speed than that of black seed and blends oil. Changes in the PV and AnV were the fastest in sunflower oil. Blending and heating caused considerable changes in the fatty acid composition of oils, especially myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Moreover, the levels of certain unsaturated fatty acids, namely linoleic, oleic, and linolenic acids declined after heating. The carotenoids, chlorophyll and total phenol content decreased gradually during heating treatments. Among extracted oils, SF:BS (15%) had the good potential for stability, with total phenol content of 95.92 (Caffeic acid equivalents/100 g), PV of 2.16 (meq O2/kg), AV of 2.59 (mg KOH/g oil), and AnV of 8.08 after the heating. In conclusion, oil extracted from the mixture of SF and BS can be used as salad and cooking oils with a high content of bioactive components and positive nutritional properties.

Assessing Seed Mixtures for Roadside Revegetation – Richness and Origin as Predictors for Erosion Control

Assessing Seed Mixtures for Roadside Revegetation – Richness and Origin as Predictors for Erosion Control

Physicochemical and sensory analysis of mangrove seed coffee (Sonneratia ovata) compare with robusta coffee from Indonesian origin

Coffee is a global drink for millennials. Indonesia is one of the countries with the most significant coffee consumption in the world. The main problem with coffee consumption is the caffeine content, many researchers are looking for alternative coffee drinks that do not contain caffeine, one of which is mangrove fruit seeds. Caffeine can be removed during roasting, but over-roasting produces unwanted sensory impacts on coffee. This study aimed to determine mangrove coffee beans' sensory characteristics and caffeine content to compare with robusta coffee as commercial coffee. In addition, it is also necessary to monitor changes in the properties of the mixture of Robusta coffee beans and mangrove seeds during the roasting process in real-time. The method used was a randomized block design, using two factors, commercial coffee (C) and mangrove seed coffee (M), and 3 test levels, light (L) at 193°C to 199°C, medium (M) at 204°C and dark roast (D) at 213°C to 221°C. Analysis of data using Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significantly different test results were then tested using Duncan's advanced test. Data processing was carried out using SPSS Version 28 software. The results showed that the sensory characteristics of commercial coffee (Robusta) were preferable to mangrove coffee, but the impact of caffeine could be eliminated by consuming mangrove coffee. The degree of roasting greatly affects coffee's sensory and chemical quality, with the best results obtained in commercial coffee roasted at a medium level (M) at 204°C. The comparison results showed that the characteristics of coffee between commercial coffee (Robusta) and mangrove coffee have phenol content, total acid, and proximate and sensory values close to commercial coffee. However, the caffeine content is not found in mangrove coffee, so coffee connoisseurs can use mangrove coffee because it can be used as an alternative to coffee drinks without giving the effect of caffeine addiction.

Enhancement of Nile tilapia' Immune Cells Phagocytic Activity, Nitric Oxide Production, and Upregulation of Immunoglobulin M and Cytokines Gene Expression Post-Feeding on Moringa oleifera Leaf and Seed Mixture

Enhancement of Nile tilapia' Immune Cells Phagocytic Activity, Nitric Oxide Production, and Upregulation of Immunoglobulin M and Cytokines Gene Expression Post-Feeding on Moringa oleifera Leaf and Seed Mixture

The effectiveness of joint cultivation of festulolium with esparcet for forage purposes in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia

The results of the analysis of the yield and biological efficiency in the joint cultivation of festulolium and esparcet with various methods of sowing and applying nitrogen fertilizers in spring in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia are presented. The survival rate of festulolium plants after overwintering the first year of life was 86%, esparcet survival rate in single-species sowing was 86% and decreased when using the skip-row planting to 76%, when sowing with a mixture of seeds to 67%. Joint sowing of festulolium with esparcet increased the yield by 22.6% compared with single-species sowing of festulolium (30.38 t/ha of the green mass) when using the skip-row planting and by 7.9% (to 26.73 t/ha) when sown with a mixture of seeds. The energy efficiency ratio (EER) is 7.7–9.0 and is characterized as high, the profitability of the mixtures is 373%. The introduction of mineral nitrogen at a dose of 30 kg a.i./ ha significantly increased the yield of the mixtures of festulolium with esparcet in the variants skip-row planting by 29.5% and in the variant of sowing with a mixture of seeds by 11.5% due to an increase in the leafiness of the legume component. In the experiment the EER equals 4.4–5.2 and is characterized as high, the profitability of sowing the mixtures is 352%. With an increase in the dose of mineral nitrogen to 60 kg a.i. / ha, the maximum yield on the variant of sowing with a mixture of seeds is 41.84 t / ha of green mass, which is 32% higher than single–species sowing of festulolium. The increase is due to a 4% increase in the height of the festulolium plants, and 60% of its mass. When using skip-row planting, the yield was 39.11 t/ha of the green mass, which is 23.4% higher than the control. The EER equals 4.7–4.9 and is characterized as average, the profitability of sowing the mixtures is 349–364%.The arable land efficiency ratio (LER) in the mixtures was 0.96–1.06, which confirms their effectiveness.

PRODUKSI BIOETANOL DARI BONGGOL PISANG DENGAN PENAMBAHAN BIJI NANGKA SEBAGAI SUBSTRAT

Bioethanol is a type of bioenergy that can be used as an alternative fuel. One of the ingredients that can be used is banana stems and jackfruit seeds. Banana stems and jackfruit seeds are materials that contain considerable potential as basic ingredients for bioethanol based on the availability of certain components (starch and cellulose) they contain. The starch and cellulose content found in banana humps and jackfruit seeds can be converted into bioethanol through hydrolysis and fermentation processes. This research aims to synthesize bioethanol from banana humps and jackfruit seeds, determine the effect of the combination of a mixture of banana humps and jackfruit seeds on the concentration of glucose produced from the hydrolysis process and bioethanol produced from the fermentation process. This research began with pretreatment of raw materials (washing, cutting, drying) with variations in the components of banana humps and jackfruit seeds 100% : 0%, 75% : 25%, 50% : 50%, 25% : 75%, 0% : 100 % and variations in starch mass of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%. Then the hydrolysis process uses H2SO4 for 1 hour at a temperature of 95˚C-100˚C. Then the hydrolysis results are fermented using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. The fermentation process lasts for 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours and 120 hours. The research results showed that the largest concentration of bioethanol was obtained in the 50%: 50% component with a starch mass of 100 grams of 7% (v/v).

CAMPURAN BIJI NANGKA DAN MADU SEBAGAI MASKER WAJAH ANTI-AGING DI SURABAYA

This research is motivated by the fact that beauty is coveted by every woman. Skin every day experience of environmental exposure to free radicals can be result to premature aging so expect no cosmetic preparation as an antidote to free radicals. The purpose is to describe the benefits and outcomes of care using a face mask jackfruit seeds and honey mixture with the independent variables are the face mask of a mixture of jackfruit seeds and honey as well as the dependent variable is reducing anti-aging on the face. Anti-aging is preparation to prevent the degenerative process. One appropriate action to right with the handling premature aging are use anti-aging products that contain vitamin C and E as well as having a high antioxidant to counteract free radicals contained in jackfruit seeds and honey. Data collection do administering a questionnaire, observation and experimentation, then the data were analyzed with descriptive methods, quantitative as well as with Anova formula to observe the condition of the skin, such as smoothness, brightness, firmness, and the condition of the spots of 25 mothers in Jl. Donowati RT.05 RW.01 Sukomanunggal sub-district, Surabaya. Anova test results obtainable F count&gt; F-table so that H1 accepted which means that there is a difference / there is result mean the smoothness, brightness, firmness, and the condition of the spots after the use of masks jackfruit seeds and honey mixture.

Combination of addition and activation of lipase enzyme in peanut seed (Arachis hypogaea L.) for direct fatty acid production

Fatty acids are oleochemical products that are widely used as raw materials in various industries. Fatty acids are obtained from various plants and animals, one of which is peanuts. Peanuts contain 76% - 82% unsaturated fatty acids and the rest is saturated fatty acids. The purpose of this study is to produce fatty acids by turning on the peanut seed’s lipase enzyme. In this study, the addition of immobilized lipase enzyme as much as 0.1% of the sample mass was also carried out. This research method was carried out by grinding peanut seeds using a chopper with variations in the addition of water and variations in reaction time at 35 °C and 30 °C. The mixture of peanut seeds and water is then separated using a hand press, then heated to evaporate the water content. Furthermore, the resulting peanut oil was tested for fatty acid content, density, viscosity, and pH. From this study, the highest fatty acid content was obtained at 10.73% which was achieved at 35 °C and at a reaction time of 6 hours with the addition of enzymes and the addition of 40% water, while the result obtained without the addition of enzymes at the same conditions was 4.51%.

Оценка эффективности смесей фестулолиума с люцерной в лесостепи Приобья (Западная Сибирь)

The results of the research of festulolium and alfalfa in a joint herbage with different methods of sowing and doses of mineral nitrogen conducted in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia in the period from 2020–2023 are presented. The growth and development of crops in the initial period of life, winter hardiness, productivity and economic feasibility of cultivation were taken into account both in favorable 2019–2021 (HTC = 1.0...1.29) and in unfavorable 2022–2023 (HTC = 0.6...0.99). A high response of perennial grasses was achieved in sowing festulolium one row + alfalfa three rows — 38.13 t/ha of green mass, which corresponds to a single-species alfalfa crop. Sowing with a mixture of seeds is 21% less productive. A positive effect was obtained from optimizing the level of cenosis and foliage of alfalfa by 56%, which was confirmed by an average correlation (r = 0.58). The energy efficiency coefficient (CEE) had maximum values of 9.8–11.7 and was characterized as high, the profitability of cultivating mixtures was 407–465%. A positive effect was obtained when N30 was introduced into the sowing of festulolium one row + alfalfa three rows — 21–36% to 37.41 t/ha of green mass. In comparison with the unfavorable background, the share of festulolium in the yield of mixtures increased to 58–71%, alfalfa decreased to 29–42%. CEE = 4.9–5.6 (the value is from medium to high), the profitability of cultivating mixtures is 325–378%. The application of mineral nitrogen N60 to joint crops of festulolium and alfalfa increases the collection of green mass compared with single-species sowing of festulolium by 10–20%, to 34.74–37.93 t/ha of green mass due to the maximum proportion of cereals in mixtures — 62–80% with its responsiveness to fertilization. CEE = 4.5–4.9 (average value), the profitability of cultivating mixtures is 323–365%.

Investigation of waste LDPE with Pongamia pinnata seed for sustainable resource recovery: Thermodynamics, Kinetics and artificial neural network modeling for co-pyrolysis potential

Pyrolysis conversion offers the advantages of significant waste reduction and potential energy recovery. This work examined the potential of combining plastic and agricultural wastes as pyrolysis feedstocks. The mixture of waste low-density polyethylene and Pongamia pinnata seeds was analysed using differential and thermogravimetric methods. In addition to the Coats-Redfern (CR) method, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Friedman (FRM), and Kissinger (KN) model-free methods were also applied to calculate the kinetic parameters. The apparent activation energy (Ea) calculation demonstrated that the co-pyrolysis conversion required Ea values of 125–154 kJ mol−1. The artificial neural network (ANN) model was considered to validate thermogravimetric data. The R2 values were near unity in training, validation, and testing conditions, with the minimum possible value for mean square error obtained for the considered heating rates. The Pongamia pinnata seeds and waste plastic mixture could surely be utilized to lessen environmental degradation, add value to leftover seeds and waste low-density polyethylene by extracting fuel for transportation and other commercial activities, and produce industrial chemicals, as found through the kinetic modelling, thermodynamic parameters, and ANN modelling.

AMARANTH

The materials of the article provide a historical reference to the emergence and agronomic characteristics of amaranth. Today, more than 100 species of amaranth are known in the world. In Ukraine, amaranth began to be grown in 1989-1992. The yield of amaranth green mass can be more than 100 t/ha. Amaranth grain yield in Ukraine ranges from 25 to 40 centners per hectare. The chemical composition of amaranth grain and its processing products: amaranth oil, flour, grits was analyzed. The issues of using amaranth grain and its processing products in the bakery, meat, animal feed and pharmaceutical industry are considered. The main value of amaranth flour is the presence of protein and essential amino acids. Amaranth flour contains: 3.8 times more proteins than wheat flour, 9.4 times more lipids, 17 times more fiber, 8.8 times more ash; mineral substances: sodium 24 times, potassium 4.2 times, calcium 19 times, magnesium 6 times, phosphorus 5 times, iron 36 times; vitamins: thiamine 33 times, riboflavin 74 times, niacin 1.2 times. The oil contains up to 8% squalene, which provides healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The characteristics of the content of squalene in amaranth oil in comparison with olive oil are given. The agronomic issues of cultivation and features of post-harvest processing of amaranth are considered. The general view and layout of the seed plant using Fadeev's gentle fractional technology for the production of strong seeds are given. Methods of cleaning amaranth are analyzed and a technological scheme using pneumatic vibrating tables and a photoseparator is proposed. During cleaning, Fadeev sieves were used to remove mineral impurities, soot, and scum. A photo of various fractions obtained during amaranth cleaning is given. It has been established that the repeated separation of amaranth seeds, which have come off from the middle of the pneumovibrating table, can improve the quality of cleaning from the shrike. The photoseparator, when individually removing weeds, which are different in color from the color of pure seeds, cannot help but remove 4-5 pieces of pure seeds from the flow "for the company". It is this mixture of amaranth seeds and cornflower, which is dumped as waste after the photoseparator, is also "ennobled" during separation on a pneumatic shaker table, which in general makes it possible to minimize the share of waste when cleaning amaranth, and to bring the quality of cleaning to an absolute level.

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY FROM STEEPING HERBAL TEA COMBINATION FIG LEAF (Ficus carica L.) AND SUNGKAI LEAF (Paronema canesescens Jack)

Herbal tea is made from a mixture or single form of leaf, seeds, or roots of various types of plants that have properties in help treatment. The combination of Ficus carica (fig) leaf and Peronema canescens Jack (sungkai) leaf is one of the innovative ingredients that can be used in herbal teas. This study aims to determine the antioxidant and hedonic activity of herbal tea steeping a combination of fig leaf, sungkai leaf, and their combinations with various weight variations, namely (70:30), (50:50), (30:70). Antioxidant activity was tested using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, then analyzed using a UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. To find out the level of consumer preference for herbal tea brewing, a hedonic test was carried out. From the antioxidant activity test, the IC50 values of fig leaf, sungkai leaf, and the combination were 25.4885, 30.7039, 18.0717, 21.0907, and 25.0547 µg/mL respectively. Hedonic tests were performed on panelists and analyzed using the Friedman test results obtained p-value&gt;0.05. It can be concluded that all formulas have very strong antioxidant activity, and there is no significant effect between the 5 formulas on the color, smell, and taste of the brew.

Investigating the Probiotic Potential of Vegan Puree Mixture: Viability during Simulated Digestion and Bioactive Compound Bioaccessibility.

This study aimed to develop a fermented puree mixture containing plant-based ingredients and potential probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosusK3 and Lactobacillus johnsonii K4. The survival of potential probiotic strains, changes in sugar and organic acid concentrations, bioaccessibility of polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity after simulated digestion were examined with sensory quality. The mixture of apple puree, chia seeds, and oat bran or oat flakes was fermented. The sensory quality of the puree mixture was assessed by the quantitative descriptive profile (QDP) method. In vitro digestion was simulated using a static gastrointestinal model. Antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content were analyzed before and after the digestion phases. All samples changed sensory profiles after fermentation. The overall quality was above six out of ten for every product. Fermentation also changed the organic acid composition, with significant increases in lactic, succinic, and acetic acids. After the digestion process, the survival rate remained above 5.8 log10 CFU/g. As a result of fermentation with potential probiotics, the bioaccessibility of the total phenolics and antioxidant activity increased. These results showed that the addition of potential probiotic strains increases nutritional value and could help with healthy nourishment habits. This knowledge can guide the development of consumer-satisfying products in the food industry, expanding the probiotic food market with innovative alternatives.

Flower Strips as an Ecological Tool to Strengthen the Environmental Balance of Fields: Case Study of a National Park Zone in Western Poland

Maintaining biodiversity in agrocenoses is becoming an important element of sustainable development strategies. Flower strips can perform various functions, and their use in the agricultural landscape is a form of a natural mechanism for regulating the agricultural habitat and improving the effectiveness of biological methods of combating crop pests. This manuscript is a case study in Wielkopolska National Park, a valuable wildlife area situated in a temperate zone characteristic of the climate conditions of western Poland. The purpose of this study was to analyze the species composition of plants in a flower strip two years after sowing a mixture of seeds of perennial plants, and to determine the diversity of the collected arthropods depending on the flowering intensity of plants in the strip. The most intense flowering period in the flower strip occurred in June, when the number of flowering plants was the highest and belonged to one species, Trifolium repens (81.52% of all flowering plants). In the same month, the largest share of beneficial arthropods were specimens from Hymenoptera/Parasitica (29.15%), which may indicate their preference for T. repens. The share of beneficial arthropods in relation to all caught arthropods was higher in June (58.74%) than in July (35.16%), with Hymenoptera predominating, represented mainly by Parasitica, which may indicate their preference for species from the genus Trifolium.

Co‐Pyrolysis of a Binary Blend of Solid Biowastes in a Fixed‐Bed Reactor for Bio‐Oil and Carbon Adsorbent Production

AbstractThe essential objective of this work was to co‐pyrolyze a binary mixture of date and cherry seeds in a fixed‐bed reactor. The experimental variables influencing the output of products, such as the pyrolysis temperature, pyrolysis duration, particle size, and heating rate, were optimized. The maximum liquid fraction yield (55.55 % with a bio‐oil yield of 29.70 %) was attained at 500 °C for 60 min at a heating rate of 40 °C min−1 and a particle size of 0.25 mm. The Fourier transform infrared and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry results revealed that the bio‐oil was predominantly composed of oxygenated hydrocarbons, primarily higher acids (52.05 %), esters (23.67 %), and phenols (13 %). Biochar was converted into activated carbon, which possessed a Brunaer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area of 1055.55 m2g−1. The amorphous structure of this carbon was confirmed by field emission‐scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction measurements.

Zvýšení biologické kvality jedinců tetřívka obecného (Lyrurus tetrix) připravovaných pro záchranné programy

In the middle of the twentieth century, a downward trend in grouse numbers in Central Europe became evident. Along with the decrease in the number of birds, the fragmentation and subsequent shrinking of the range of forest fowls such as the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) and the hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) began to manifest itself. This trend continues until now and the occurrence of these species in the Czech Republic and Central Europe in general is threatened. One of the segments of saving the species in situ is the support of the population by artificially reared or translocated individuals. First of all, however, it is necessary to solve the problem of the biological quality of the individuals used, which largely depends on the state of their digestive tract, the quality of the food and the development of behavioral patterns necessary for the intake of natural food in the wild. Therefore, analyzes were made of the food supply of black grouse in the wild and potential feed components for black grouse in aviary breeding (Wendes method – dry matter, N substances, fats, ash, fibre, BNLV, expressed in %). Subsequently, on the basis of the analysis results, a recipe of a feed mixture of seeds, dried shoots, fruits of woody plants and dried insects was prepared, suitable for rearing and preparing grouse birds for adaptation to natural conditions. It presents a diversified food consisting of six types of cereals, two types of legumes, four types of oil seeds and another four types of seeds, fruits and dried shoots. The feed mixture of natural plant components was supplemented with an animal component – dried developmental stages of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor).

Levodopa attenuates the feed intake reduction caused by ergot alkaloids in cattle.

Consumption of ergot alkaloids from endophyte-infected tall fescue results in losses to the livestock industry in many countries and a means to mitigate these losses is needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate intra-abomasal infusion of the dopamine precursor, levodopa (L-DOPA), on dopamine metabolism, feed intake, and serum metabolites of steers exposed to ergot alkaloids. Twelve Holstein steers (344.9 ± 9.48kg) fitted with ruminal cannula were housed with a cycle of heat challenge during the daytime (32 °C) and thermoneutral at night (25 °C). The steers received a basal diet of alfalfa cubes containing equal amounts of tall fescue seed composed of a mixture of endophyte-free (E-) or endophyte-infected tall fescue seeds (E+) equivalent to 15 µg ergovaline/kg body weight (BW) for 9d followed by intra-abomasal infusion of water (L-DOPA-) or levodopa (L-DOPA+; 2mg/kg BW) for an additional 9d. Afterward, the steers were pair-fed for 5d to conduct a glucose tolerance test. The E+ treatment decreased (P = 0.005) prolactin by approximately 50%. However, prolactin increased (P = 0.050) with L-DOPA+. Steers receiving E+ decreased (P < 0.001) dry matter intake (DMI); however, when supplemented with L-DOPA+ the decrease in DMI was less severe (L-DOPA × E, P = 0.003). Also, L-DOPA+ infusion increased eating duration (L-DOPA × E, P = 0.012) when steers were receiving E+. The number of meals, meal duration, and intake rate were not affected (P > 0.05) by E+ or L-DOPA+. The L-DOPA+ infusion increased (P < 0.05) free L-DOPA, free dopamine, total L-DOPA, and total dopamine. Conversely, free epinephrine and free norepinephrine decreased (P < 0.05) with L-DOPA+. Total epinephrine and total norepinephrine were not affected (P > 0.05) by L-DOPA+. Ergot alkaloids did not affect (P > 0.05) circulating free or total L-DOPA, dopamine, or epinephrine. However, free and total norepinephrine decreased (P = 0.046) with E+. Glucose clearance rates at 15 to 30min after glucose infusion increased with L-DOPA+ (P < 0.001), but not with E+ (P = 0.280). Administration of L-DOPA as an agonist therapy to treat fescue toxicosis provided a moderate increase in DMI and eating time and increased plasma glucose clearance for cattle dosed with E+ seed.