• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1278-1284
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• 2000

An experiment was performed to evaluate different methods for preserving shrimp by-products and to determine their chemical composition. In the first experiment three ratios of shrimp by-product (SBP) to molasses (6:1, 4:1 and 3:1, wet weight), and to cassava root meal (3:1, 2:1 and 1:1, wet weight of shrimp by-product and air-dry weight of cassava root meal) were investigated. The pH of the SBP ensiled with molasses at a ratio of 3:1, and with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1, decreased during the first week to below 4.5 and remained low up to day 56 of ensiling, whereas the pH of the mixtures with higher ratios of SBP remained above 7.0, and the material deteriorated rapidly. The dry matter decreased initially in all treatments but then increased slightly from day 28 in the treatment where shrimp by-product was ensiled with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1. The crude protein (CP) and ammonia-N $(NH_3-N)$ contents of the preserved shrimp by-product material ensiled with molasses at a ratio of 3:1 increased significantly one week after ensiling. The CP content then remained constant, while the $NH_3-N$ concentration continued to increase up to 56 days after ensiling. When SBP was ensiled with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1 the CP content of the silage increased significantly up to 21 days after ensiling and then decreased back to the original level after 56 days, whereas $NH_3-N$ increased markedly up to 14 days and then remained fairly constant up to 56 days. However, the $NH_3-N$ content was significantly higher when SBP was ensiled with cassava root meal than with molasses. A balance experiment was carried out, arranged as a double Latin-square and including 6 F1 (Large White ${\times}$ Mong Cai) castrates fed randomly one of three diets based on cassava root meal, rice bran, and fish meal (FM) or shrimp by-product ensiled with molasses (SBEMO) or with cassava root meal (SBECA) as the main protein source. Apparent organic matter and CP digestibilities were significantly (p<0.001) higher for the fish meal diet than for the two shrimp by-product diets, although CP digestibility in SBEMO and SBECA was similar (p>0.05). N-retention was significantly higher for the fish meal diet than for the SBEMO diet, which in turn was significantly higher than for the SBECA diet (p<0.01). It can be concluded that shrimp by-product can be preserved by ensiling with molasses at a ratio of 3:1 or with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1. Nutrient digestibility and N-retention of diets based on these shrimp by-product silages were lower than for similar diets based on fish meal, probably due to their high chitin content and inferior amino acid balance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1248-1254
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• 2012

The effect of silage additives on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silages was studied. Napier grass silages were made with no additive, fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), molasses or cassava meal. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling Napier grass silages in airtight plastic pouches for 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 45 d. The effect of Napier grass silages treated with these additives on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial rumen fermentation was determined in 4 fistulated cows using $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The pH value of the treated silages rapidly decreased, and reached to the lowest value within 7 d of the start of fermentation, as compared to the control. Lactic acid content of silages treated with FJLB was stable at 14 d of fermentation and constant until 45 d of ensiling. At 45 d of ensiling, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of silage treated with cassava meal were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. In the feeding trial, the intake of silage increased (p<0.05) in the cow fed with the treated silage. Among the treatments, dry matter intake was the lowest in the silage treated with cassava meal. The organic matter, crude protein and NDF digestibility of the silage treated with molasses was higher than the silage without additive and the silage treated with FJLB. The rumen parameters: ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bacterial populations were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, these studies confirmed that the applying of molasses improved fermentative quality, feed intake and digestibility of Napier grass.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2006

Cauliflower mushroom(Sparassis crispa) contains much amount of ${\beta}$-glucan, which make lots of farmer want to cultivate the mushroom. Since a practical cultivation method is not provided yet, the mushroom is considered as a difficult crop to deal with. In this study, we tried to develope a simple method to cultivate the mushroom by use of coniferous sawdust-based medium with wheat flour and molasses. There was no significant differences between the sawdust spawn and the liquid spawn for the mycelial growth of the mushroom. The cold shock in $4^{\circ}C$ for a day was thought to be the best way to seduce primordium formation. The sawdust medium of Pseudotsuga menziesii mixed with wheat flour, corn chip, cottonseed meal and 10% molasses was showed the best yield with 41% followed by that of Larix leptolepis mixed with the same additives with 37% of yield. There was good relations between the fruit-body production and the weight loss of the sawdust substrate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.812-815
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• 2005

This study was conducted to see the influence of additives and fermentation periods on Mott grass silage (MGS) characteristics, its chemical composition and to compare the digestion kinetics of Mott grass (MG) and MGS in Nili buffaloes. Mott grass chopped with a locally manufactured chopper was ensiled using two additives, cane molasses and crushed corn grains each at 2, 4 and 6% of forage DM for 30 and 40 days in laboratory silos. The pH, lactic acid concentration, dry matter (DM), crude protein and fiber fractions of MGS were not affected by the type or level of additive and fermentation periods. The non-significant pH lactic acid concentration, and chemical composition of MGS indicated that the both molasses and crushed corn were utilized at similar rate for the growth of lactic acid bacteria and production of organic acids. The MG ensiled with molasses at 2% of fodder DM for 30 days was screened out for in situ digestion kinetics in Nili buffaloes. Ruminal DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradabilities of MGS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of MG. The DM and NDF rate of degradation, lag time and extent of degradation was nonsignificant between MGS and MG. The higher ruminal degradation of DM and NDF of MGS than MG was probably a reflection of fermentation of MG during ensilation that improved its degradability by improving the availability of easily degradable structural polysaccharides to ruminal microbial population. The results in the present study have indicated that MG ensiled with either 2% molasses or 2% crushed corn for 30 days has better nutritive value for buffalo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1300-1306
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• 2002

Fourteen non-descript zebu cattle calves of about 1 year and 6 months age and 111 kg average body weight were used in this experiment. Grazing (5 h daily) animals were supplemented with urea-molasses blocks with and without Yucca, while the control group was without any supplementation i.e. grazing only. The feeding trial continued for a period of 70 days (November to February). At the end of trial three animals per treatment were slaughtered to compare carcass traits. Group no. 1 was fed block with yucca, group no. 2 was fed block without yucca and group no. 3 was on grazing only. Block intake was found to be 724 g/h/d and 1,239 g/h/d for group no. 1 and group no. 2, respectively (p<0.05). Feed efficiency of blocks was found to be 2.71 kg and 4.86 kg for group no. 1 and group no. 2, respectively (p<0.05). Block intake per kg $BW^{0.75}$ was found to be 14.75 and 26.05 gram for group 1 and group 2, respectively (p<0.05). Average daily body weight gain was found to be 267 g/h/d, 255 g/h/d and 169 g/h/d for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Carcass traits among the three treatments were found to be statistically similar. Thus urea-molasses blocks supplementation improved body weight gain and addition of yucca in the blocks further improved body weight gain, feed efficiency and economics. Environment (ambient temperature, rainfall, wind and humidity) had no significant effect on three treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1122-1127
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of current study was to investigate the lactation performance and rumen fermentation characteristics of dairy cows fed a diet with alfalfa hay replaced by corn stover but supplemented with molasses. Methods: Sixteen Holstein cows in mid-lactation were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments: i) alfalfa based diet (AH), and ii) corn stover based diet supplemented with molasses (CSM). The experiment was conducted according to a $2{\times}2$ crossover design with 22-d each period, consisting of 17 d for adaptation and 5 d for data and samples collection. Results: Dry matter intake and milk yield were higher for cows fed AH than CSM (p<0.01). Milk protein content and nitrogen conversion were higher (p<0.05), while milk urea nitrogen was lower (p<0.01) for cows fed AH than CSM-fed cows. Contents of milk total solids, fat and lactose were not different between two groups (p>0.10). Total rumen volatile fatty acid concentration tended to be higher (p = 0.06) for cows fed AH than CSM-fed cows. Molar proportion of acetate was lower (p = 0.04), but valerate was higher (p = 0.02) in cows fed AH than CSM-fed cows. Rumen concentration of propionate, and isobutyrate, and ratio of acetate to propionate tended to be different (p<0.10) between two groups. The feed cost per kilogram of milk was lower in CSM than AH (p<0.01). No differences were found in feed efficiency and most plasma parameters tested (p>0.10). Conclusion: In comparison with AH diet, CSM diet could be fed to dairy cows without negative effect on feed efficiency, ruminal fermentation, but economically beneficial, indicating that CSM could be an alternative choice for dairy farms instead of AH to feed midlactation dairy cows.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum on the ensiling quality and in vitro rumen fermentation of sudangrass silage prepared with or without wilting. Methods: The ensiling experiment, measured with 3 replicates, was carried out according to a 2×4 (wilted stages×additives) factorial treatment structure. Dry matter of the fresh (210 g/kg fresh matter) or wilted (305 g/kg fresh matter) sudangrass were ensiled (packed into 5.0-L plastic jars) without additive (control) or with molasses (M), Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), or molasses + Lactobacillus plantarum (M+LP). After 60 days of ensiling, the silages were analyzed for the chemical, fermentation, and in vitro characteristics. Results: After 60 days of ensiling, the fermentation parameters were affected by wilted, the additives and the interactions of wilted with the additives (p<0.05). The M+LP treatment at wilted had higher lactic acid levels and V-score (p<0.05) but lower pH values and butyric acid concentrations than the other treatments. In comparison with sudangrass before ensiling, after ensiling had lower dry matter and higher non-fibrous carbohydrate. The in vitro gas production, in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro crude protein digestibility, and in vitro acid fiber detergent digestibility changed under the effects of the additives. Significant interactions were observed between wilted and the additives in terms of in vitro gas production at 48 h, asymptotic gas production, gas production rate, half time, and the average gas production rate. The total volatile fatty acid levels in the additive treatments were higher than those in the control. Conclusion: Wilting and supplementation with molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum had the ability to improve the ensiling quality and in vitro nutrient digestibility of sudangrass silage. The M+LP treatment at wilted exhibited the strongest positive effects on silage quality and in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics.

• Mycobiology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.170-174
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• 2002

A total of twenty-nine species and one species variety belonging to 12 genera was isolated from 30 samples of molasses on 1% glucose(10 genera, 22 species and 1 variety) and 50% sucrose(7, 21 and 1) Czapek's agar at $25^{\circ}C$ media. Aspergillus, Mucor, Mycosphaerella and Penicillium were the most common genera on the two types of media. From the above genera, the most prevalent species were: Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, Mycosphaerella tassiana, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. oxalicum and P. purpurogenum. Also, some species were only isolated on 50% sucrose such as Eurotium amstelodami, E. chevalieri, E. repens, Humicola fuscoatra, Penicillium aurantiogriseum and P. puberulum. About 65 fungal isolates isolated from 50% sucrose agar were tested for their ability to produce invertase enzyme in liquid medium and 93.8% of the isolates could produce this enzyme. From the positive isolates, 32 showed high invertase activity, 21 had moderate activity and the remaining 8 isolates were of weak activity. Sixty isolates of Aspergillus, Emericella, Eurotium, Mycosphaerella and Penicillium from the preceding study were screened for the presence of their respective mycotoxins. Larva of brine shrimp(Artema sauna L.) were used for toxicity test of the fungal crude extracts. Three isolates out of 60 tested were toxic. Using thin-layer chromatographic technique, 5 different known mycotoxin were detected aflatoxins : B1, B2, G1, G2 and citrinin.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.219-223
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• 1990

Sixtyfour Baluchi lambs about 5 months of age were divided into four groups with 16 lambs each. All the animals were grazed together. Group No.1 (G-1) was kept as control i.e. on grazing only; while group No. 2 (G-2) was offered barley grain @ 200 g/head/day as supplement to grazing; Group No. 3 (G-3) was offered ad-lib urea-molasses block (UMB) with 6% cement and group No.4 (G-4) was fed ad-lib IMB having 8% cement. These UMB were fed as supplement to grazing. Experiment lasted for 105 days (July to October) in arid zone of Baluchistan. Daily per head consumption of block No.1 was found to be 92.71 g; while that of block No.2 was observed to be 90.77 g. Growth rate (g/head/day) was found to be 10, 50, 33 and 15 in G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 respectively. Expenditure/kg bodyweight gain was found to be rupees 12.00, 3.64 and 7.74 for G-2, G-3 and G-4 respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 1988

Thirty five crossbred male lambs of about 8 months age, with an average body weight of 24 kg were divided into 7 groups of 5 lambs each and were fed urea molasses blocks (UMB) for 150 days (groups 1 to 5); having, 4, 6, 8 and 10% urea respectively; while group 6 was fed concentrate @318 g per head daily and 7th group was kept as control i.e. grazing only. Daily consumption of UMB/concentrate was found to be 318, 246, 211, 93 and 318 g/d for groups 1 to 6, respectively. The statistical differences in consumption between group 1 and group 6, and group 2, 3 and 4 were found to be non-significant. Only group 5 differed statistically from all other groups. The average daily gain was 48, 29, 39, 38, 25 and 66 grams for groups 1 to 6 respectively, while group no. 7 lost 11 g/head/day. The differences in weight gain among groups 1, 3, 4 and 6 were non significant. The expenditure per kg body weight gain was found to be ($Rs^C$) 9.53, 12.45, 8.05, 7.99, 3.69 and 10.85 for groups 1 to 6, respectively.