• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.811-815
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of electric fan installation for milk production improvement of dairy cattle in Thailand. The study was conducted using 2 small-holder dairy farms in Chiang Mai province, during April to August 2004. Electric fans were installed in front of each row of cows. Each of the two rows of cows in the barn was defined as an experimental unit, thus each farm had two experimental units. The fans were operated alternately in 7-day intervals between rows of cows within each farm during the day or between 8.00 am to 8.00 pm. Non-operation periods were used as control. Milk yields were recorded. Data on environmental temperature and humidity were obtained from Chiang Mai Meteorological Center. Result from statistically analysis of milk record suggested an interaction between lactation period and fan installation. Therefore, this interaction term of lactation period and fan installation (PERIOD_FAN) was added as a variable to the regression model. Due to the repeated data collection of milk yield from the same cow (alternate week), milk yield was analyzed by repeated measure analysis (Mixed model). Least square means were calculated for all levels and used to compare between each pair-wise values. The final data were collected from the total of 18 cows with 2,072 data. Overall means and SEM of milk yields and days in milk separated into farm were $14.7{\pm}0.06kg/day$ and $176.3{\pm}2.2days$, and $15.2{\pm}0.22kg/day$ and $202.5{\pm}3.7$ days for farm A and farm B, respectively. For multivariable analysis, only PERIOD_FAN and humidity were significantly associated with milk yield. Only the first period of lactation showed that the amount of milk yields during fan installation was higher than that of non-fan installation (p<0.05). Cows with fan installation produced approximately 1.2 kg/cow more milk than cows without fan installation during this period. In conclusion, the use of electric fan operated during the day time increased milk production of cows during the first period of lactation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.303-321
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• 2011

The availability and efficient use of the feed resources in Asia are the primary drivers of performance to maximise productivity from animals. Feed security is fundamental to the management, extent of use, conservation and intensification for productivity enhancement. The awesome reality is that current supplies of animal proteins are inadequate to meet human requirements in the face of rapidly depleting resources: arable land, water, fossil fuels, nitrogenous and other fertilisers, and decreased supplies of cereal grains. The contribution of the ruminant sector lags well behind that of non-ruminant pigs and poultry. It is compelling therefore to shift priority for the development of ruminants (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep) in key agro-ecological zones (AEZs), making intensive use of the available biomass from the forage resources, crop residues, agro-industrial by-products (AIBP) and other non-conventional feed resources (NCFR). Definitions are given of successful and failed projects on feed resource use. These were used to analyse 12 case studies, which indicated the value of strong participatory efforts with farmers, empowerment, and the benefits from animals of productivity-enhancing technologies and integrated natural resource management (NRM). However, wider replication and scaling up were inadequate in project formulation, including systems methodologies that promoted technology adoption. There was overwhelming emphasis on component technology applications that were duplicated across countries, often wasteful, the results and relevance of which were not clear. Technology delivery via the traditional model of research-extension linkage was also inadequate, and needs to be expanded to participatory research-extension-farmer linkages to accelerate diffusion of technologies, wider adoption and impacts. Other major limitations concerned with feed resource use are failure to view this issue from a farming systems perspective, strong disciplinary bias, and poor links to real farm situations. It is suggested that improved efficiency in feed resource use and increased productivity from animals in the future needs to be cognisant of nine strategies. These include priorities for feed resource use; promoting intensive use of crop residues; intensification of integrated ruminant-oil palm systems and use of oil palm by-products; priority for urgent, wider technology application, adoption and scaling up; rigorous application of systems methodologies; development of adaptation and mitigation options for the effects of climate change on feed resources; strengthening research-extension-farmer linkages; development of year round feeding systems; and striving for sustainability of integrated farming systems. These strategies together form the challenges for the future.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2020

To replace the sawdust in the growth medium of oyster mushroom to utilize its by-product spent mushroom substrates (SMS) as feed for ruminant, we performed cultivation test using cotton seed hull pellet (CSHP), corn stalk pellet (CSP), corncob (CC), and analyzed the feed chemical properties of those SMS. As a result of cultivation test, CC and CSHP treatment took 27 days for spawn run, 4 days for primordium formation, and 3 days for development fruiting bodies, resulting in a total cultivation period of 34 days. The yield per bottle was 134 g for CC treatment, similar to 130 g for control, while CSHP treatment (112 g) and CSP treatment (68 g) were lower than that of control. The highest biological efficiency (BE) was shown in CC treatment as 80.1%, which was 11.4% higher than 68.7% of control. The SMS of CC treatment had a relatively low content of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, and in particular, lignin content was the lowest and crude protein content was the highest among other treatments. Therefore, CC as a substitute material for sawdust was capable of stable mushroom production and excellent nutritional value as a feed for its by-products.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 1995

This paper describes small ruminant production systems in dry areas of Pakistan. Formal and informal surveys had identified that poor feed resources, as a result of harsh climatic conditions, is a major factor responsible for low sheep and goats production. In view of their recommendations, use of approaches like supplemental feeding and pasture production through an introduction of improved forage species in the country, are reviewed. The improvement in sheep production and associated socioeconomic benefits, are discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1305-1318
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• 2007

On a global scale agriculture and in particular enteric fermentation in ruminants is reported to produce about one fourth (21 to 25%) of the total anthropogenic emissions of methane ($CH_4$). Methane is produced during the anaerobic fermentation of hydrolyzed dietary carbohydrates in the rumen and represents an energy loss to the host besides contributing to emissions of greenhouse gases into the environment. However, there appears to be uncertainty in the $CH_4$ estimation from livestock due to the limited availability of data to document the variability at the farm level and also due to the significant impact of diet on the enteric $CH_4$ production. The methane mitigation strategies require robust prediction of emissions from rumen. There are many methods available which would be suitable for measuring $CH_4$ produced from the various stages of animal production. However, several factors need to be considered in order to select the most appropriate technique like the cost, level of accuracy required and the scale and design of the experiments to be undertaken. Selection of any technique depends on the accuracy as each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Screening of mitigation strategies may be evaluated using individual animal before large-scale trials on groups of animals are carried out. In this review various methods for the estimation of methane production from ruminants as well as for the determination of methane production potential of ruminant feeds are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods starting from respiration chamber, ventilated hood, facemask, sulphur hexafluoride ($SF_6$) tracer technique, prediction equations and meteorological methods to in vitro methods are detailed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1438-1442
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• 2003

A method for the determination of nitrogen in ruminant feedstuffs, products and excreta (e.g. milk and urine) using a spectrophotometer is developed, where samples processed for P determination are also used to determine N. Samples are digested with sulphuric acid and subsequently with hydrogen peroxide in Kjeldahl tubes. Digested solutions along with phenol and buffered alkaline hypochlorite reagents are incubated in a water bath at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and presented in the spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer set at 625 nm measures the concentration of N of each sample. Nitrogen in 261 of the samples was also determined by the classical Kjeldahl method in order to develop a relationship between N determined by the Kjeldahl method (Y) and the colorimetric method (X). The mean value of Y was as high as that of X (0.92 vs. 0.96; p>0.05). The colorimetric method predicted Kjeldahl N highly significantly (Y=0.985X-0.024, $R^2=0.993$, p<0.001; or more simply Y=0.974X, $R^2=0.993$, p<0.001). An analysis of regression found no difference (p>0.05; both t-test and F-test) between colorimetric (0.96% N) and adjusted (0.96% N) N. In comparison with the Kjeldahl method, the analytical capacity of N by colorimetric method increases greatly, where 200-300 determinations of N are possible in a working day. In addition, the system provides an opportunity to use not only the same digested solution for both N and P determination of a particular sample, but also uses the same spectrophotometer to assay both N and P. Therefore, the system may be attractive in situations where both elements of a sample are to be determined. In conclusion, the speed of N determination, low cost, efficient use of labour, time and reagents, fewer items of equipment, and the reduction of environmental pollution by reducing effluent and toxic elements are the advantages of this method of N determination.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2003

Soluble glass bolus with selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) was administered intraruminally to Philippine grazing does fed under backyard farming conditions to determine its effect on blood mineral status. Forty-five does were dosed with SGB intraruminally every 6 months, whereas 15 were without SGB during this experimental period of 10 months. Blood of does in both treatment groups were collected every other month and blood Se, plasma Cu, Ca, P and Mg were determined in this study. All does did not show clinical Se, Cu, Ca, P or Mg deficiency during this experimental period. Selenium concentration of treated does increased (p<0.01) after beginning of this experiment, whereas the level of control does decreased slowly (p<0.01). Two months after SGB administration, all treated does had higher blood Se than the lower limit of $20{\mu}g/l$ suggested by NRC (1981), whereas some control does had lower blood Se concentration than the lower limit of $20{\mu}g/l$. On the other hand, plasma Cu concentration of treated does started to increase more remarkably than control does 4 months after this experiment had started although the difference was insignificant. There were no significant differences between plasma Ca, P or Mg concentration of does in both treatment groups. Soluble glass bolus had no harmful effects on plasma macro mineral concentrations of grazing does. This study showed that SGB was available as mineral supplement to improve imbalances of selected mineral of grazing goats in the traditional backyard conditions in Luzon Island, Philippines.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1025-1029
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• 2003

The effect studied was that of the feeding of shrimp by-product meal, as a source of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid, on growth performance and fatty acid composition of adipose tissue in growing pigs kept on small holdings in Central Vietnam. Shrimp by-product meal was exchanged with ruminant meal so that the diets contained either 0, 10 or 20% shrimp byproduct meal in the dry matter. The diets were fed on 6 different small-holder farms. The farmers fed a base diet according to their personal choice, but were instructed as to the use of shrimp by-product and ruminant meal. The diets were fed to the pigs from 70 to 126 days of age. There were three animals per treatment group per farm. The diets without and with 20% shrimp by-product meal on average contained 0.01 and 0.14 g docosahexaenoic acid/MJ of metabolisable energy (ME). Due to the higher contents of ash and crude fiber, the shrimp by-product meal containing diets had lower energy densities than the control diets. Eicosapentaenoic acid was not detectable in adipose tissue; the content of docosahexaenoic acid was generally increased after consumption of shrimp by-product meal. In spite of the concurrent high intakes of ash and crude fiber, the feeding of shrimp by-product meal had a general stimulatory effect on growth performance of the growing pigs. The intake of docosahexaenoic acid or its content in adipose tissue was not related with average daily gain. It is suggested that shrimp by-product meal may contain an unknown growth enhancing factor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.306-314
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• 2003

Bio-hydrogenation of $C_{18}$-unsaturated fatty acids released from the hydrolysis of dietary lipids in the rumen, in general, occurs rapidly but the range of hydrogenation is quite large, depending on the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids, the configuration of unsaturated fatty acids, microbial type and the experimental condition. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is incompletely hydrogenated products by rumen microorganisms in ruminant animals. It has been shown to have numerous potential benefits for human health and the richest dietary sources of CLA are bovine milk and milk products. The cis-9, trans-11 is the predominant CLA isomer in bovine products and other isomers can be formed with double bonds in positions 8/10, 10/12, or 11/13. The term CLA refers to this whole group of 18 carbon conjugated fatty acids. Alpha-linolenic acid goes through a similar bio-hydrogenation process producing trans-11 $C_{18:1}$ and $C_{18:0}$, but may not appear to produce CLA as an intermediate. Although the CLA has been mostly derived from the dietary $C_{18:2}$ alternative pathway may be existed due to the extreme microbial diversity in the reticulo-rumen. Regardless of the origin of CLA, manipulation of the bio-hydrogenation process remains the key to increasing CLA in milk and beef by dietary means, by increasing rumen production of CLA. Although the effect of oil supplementation on changes in fatty acid composition in milk seems to be clear its effect on beef is still controversial. Thus further studies are required to enrich the CLA in beef under various dietary and feeding conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.659-664
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• 1992

Twelve day old Pabna zebu calves of similar weights were assigned at random to 3 different calf starter-rations namely $T_0$, $T_1$ and $T_2$ to determine the effect of feeding regimes and growth pattern of calves upto 3 months of age. Calves allowed to intake starter 0.5 percent of body weight from 2nd week on to 7th weeks of age, while starter at 1 percent of body weight was allowed later on upto 13th weeks of age. Calves started to intake green grass after 2nd to 3rd weeks and average intake per day was limited to 1 kg upto the end of experiment, while calves started to take rice straw ad libitum after 6th weeks of age. Colostrum feeding was offered ad libitum and in addition calves suckled their dam's milk shortly before and after milking usually in the morning and evening. Growth of calves in different treatment groups was found statistically insignificant. The mean growth rate per head per day ranged from 196.43-375.0 g for $T_0$ group, 185.72-360.72 g for $T_1$ group and 180.1-385.72 g for $T_2$ group respectively between 1st to 7th weeks of age while the growth rate ranged from 309.53-328.57 g for $T_0$, 304.29-342.86 g for $T_1$ and 304.77-333.30 g for $T_2$ groups respectively from 9th weeks on to the end of the experiment.