• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 1998

To compare response of feeding concentrate mixtere and wheat straw (Group I) with either urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) as sole ration (group II) or UMLD (similar to protein equivalent of concentrate mixture) plus wheat straw (group III) on intake and utilisation of nutrients and overall performance, twelve crossbred adult male cattle (Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Hariana) aged about 2.5 years and weighing 342 kg were randomly allotted into three equal groups following completely randomised design and fed respective diets for a period of 60 days. Thereafter, a metabolism trial of seven days duration was conducted to assess nutrient utilisation and nitrogen balance. Animals fed UMLD as sole ration consumed significantly (p < 0.01) less amount of most of the nutrients as compared to other two groups, except crude protein, intake of which was higher in this group but it was comparable between II and III and III and I. On the other hand, digestibilities of nutrients were higher (p < 0.01) in group II, though it was comparable between other two groups, except ADF, the digestibility of which was lower in group II. Inspite of positive nitrogen balance in all the three groups, being significantly (p < 0.01) higher in group I, animals of group II and III lost their body weight especially to the utmost extent in group II, although the amount of energy (TDN) intake were similar statistically. Results indicate that during a scarcity period and economic compulsions, feeding of UMLD can be practised to replace only concentrate mixture from the maintenance ration of adult crossbred cattle for shorter duration as roughage part seems to be essential for the normal functioning of the rumen microbes and overall performance of the animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1273-1277
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• 2002

The effect of urea treatment on chemical composition of neem seed kernel cake (NSKC) was investigated by soaking the cake in 2.1% urea solution (1.2 l $kg^{-1}$ NSKC) for five days. The effect on utilisation of nutrients by replacing groundnut cake (GNC) (30%) with urea-treated neem seed kernel cake (UTNSKC) (33%) in a concentrate mixture fed to meet 70% of the protein requirements of lambs (8 males and 8 females), was monitored in a digestibility study. Following urea treatment of NSKC only 9.5% of urea was hydrolysed and the crude protein content of the cake was increased by 6.65%. The tannin content in depulped neem seeds was 37% catechin equivalent. Whereas feeding UTNSKC had no effect on intake of dry matter (72.5 vs 66.3 g/kg $BW^{0.75}day^{-1}$) and digestibility of crude fibre (41.3 vs 43.4%), the cake depressed (p<0.01) the percent digestibility of dry matter (63.7 vs 70.2), crude protein (63.2 vs 70.2), nitrogen free extract (73.8 vs 80.5) and gross energy (64.3 vs 69.1). Digestibility of ether extract (75.8 vs 70.9%) was higher (p<0.05) in animals offered UTNSKC. The nutritive value of the composite ration consumed by lambs offered UTNSKC was lower (p<0.01) in terms of total digestible nutrients (64.7 vs 70.2%) and digestible energy (2.8 vs 3.0 Kcal/g DM). Intake of digestible energy (199.8 vs 194.1 Kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}day^{-1}$) and retention of nitrogen (7.53 vs 8.23 g $day^{-1}$) and calcium (2.12 vs 1.84 g $day^{-1}$) were comparable on the 2 rations. Animals fed UTNSKC retained less (p<0.01) phosphorus (0.37 vs 1.05 g $day^{-1}$). The results indicate that urea treatment increased the protein level of NSKC whereas feeding the treated cake as a replacement of GNC, lowered the digestibility of nutrients and retention of phosphorus.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2012

In the past, poultry nutrition has focussed on increasing the production efficiency to meet the progress achieved in the genetic potential of broilers and layers. Future directions in poultry nutrition will be driven by not only by the need to maximise biological and economic performance of birds, but also by societal issues (environment, antibiotic growth promoters, welfare, traceability and use of genetically modified ingredients). Key advances in poultry nutrition are discussed and future directions, which can be expected, are highlighted. Given the tightening supply and ever-increasing cost of raw materials, there will be more pressure to extract every unit of energy and nutrients from feed ingredients. In this context, a number of feed additives are expected to play an increasingly significant role. Feed enzymes and crystalline amino acids, in particular, will have a profound effect on future sustainability of the poultry industry. Future nutritional research need to focus on identifying the barriers to effective digestion and utilisation of nutrients and, to achieve this objective, nutritionists must combine their expertise with those of specialising in other biological sciences, including immunology, microbiology, histology and molecular biology.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.354-362
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• 2021

Broiler chickens grow rapidly, and their nutrient requirements change daily. However, broilers are fed three to five diet phases, meaning nutrients are under or oversupplied throughout production. Increasing diet phases improves production efficiency as there is less time in the production cycle that nutrients are in under or over-supply. Nevertheless, the process of administering four or more diets is costly and often impractical. New technologies are now available to blend feed to match the daily nutrient requirements of broilers. Thus, the aim of this review is to evaluate previous studies measuring the impact of increasing feed phases on nutrient utilisation and growth performance, and review recent studies taking this concept to the extreme; precision nutrition - feeding a new diet for each day of the production cycle. This review will also discuss how modern precision feeding technologies have been utilised and the potential that new technologies may bring to the poultry industry. The development of a precision nutrition regime which targets daily requirements by blending dietary components on farm is anticipated to improve the efficiency of production, reduce production cost and therefore improve sustainability of the industry. There is also potential for precision feeding technology along with precision nutrition strategies to deliver a plethora of other management and economic benefits. These include increased fluidity to cope with sudden environmental or market changes, and the ability to alter diets on a farm by farm level in a large, integrated operation. Thus, the future possibilities and practical implications for such technologies to generate a paradigm shift in feed formulation within the poultry industry to meet the rising demand for animal protein is also discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.116-123
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• 2003

Forages are the most important feed resource for ruminants worldwide, whether fed as pastures, forage crops or conserved hay, silage or haylage. There is large variability in the quality of forages so measurement and prediction of feeding value and nutritive value are essential for high levels of production. Within a commercial animal production system, methods of prediction must be inexpensive and rapid. At least 50% of the variation in feeding value of forages is due to variation in voluntary feed intake. Identification of the factors that constrain voluntary feed intake allows these differences to be managed and exploited in forage selection. Constraints to intake have been predicted using combinations of metabolic and physical factors within the animal while simple measurements such as the energy required to shear the plant material are related to constraints to intake with some plant material. Animals respond to both pre- and post-ingestive feedback signals from forages. Pre-ingestive signals may play a role in intake with signals including taste, odour and texture together with learned aversions to nutrients or toxins (post-ingestive feedback signals). The challenge to forage evaluation is identification of the factors which are most important contributors to these feedback signals. Empirical models incorporating chemical composition are also widely used. The models tend to be useful within the ranges of the datasets used in their development but none can claim to have universal application. Mechanistic models are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated and incorporate both feed characteristics and use of biochemical pathways within the animal. Improvement in utilisation through the deliberate selection of pasture plants for high feeding value appears to have potential and has been poorly exploited. Use of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy is a simple method that offers significant potential for the preliminary screening of plants with genetic differences in feeding value. Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy will only be as reliable as the calibration sets from which the equations are generated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1228-1232
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• 2001

Forty five Soviet Chinchilla rabbits weaned at 35 d of age were fed 5 experimental diets prepared by using oat plant meal ($T_2,\;T_4$) and tall fescue hay ($T_3,\;T_5$) at 25% and 50% level along with control ($T_1$). The gain in body weight at 84 d of age decreased with test material substitution, however, the differences were non significant when compared with oat plant meal and were significant (p<0.05) with tall fescue hay at both the levels. Feed conversion ratio also deteriorated with test material and its increasing proportion and the differences were significant (p<0.05). The performance-index calculated were 42.1, 36.7, 29.4, 33.3 and 18.8 in $T_1,\;T_2,\;T_3,\;T_4$ and $T_5$, respectively. Digestibility of all the organic nutrients decreased significantly (p<0.05) with test material incorporation, as a result nutritive value of the test diets decreased linearly. Nitrogen balance as per cent of intake was higher in oat plant meal substituted diet compared to tall fescue substituted diet. Cost per kg live weight gain was lowest with 50% oat plant meal followed by 25% oat plant meal incorporation. It was highest with tall fescue hay substitution. Nutritive value of oat plant meal as calculated was DCP 5.1%, TDN 35.8% and that of tall fescue hay was DCP 6.5%, TDN 30.8%. Thus, oat plant meal can be substituted safely up to 25% in the feeding regime of weaner rabbits whereas, for tall fescue hay the safe limit is below 25% level and needs to be ascertained.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1410-1415
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• 2017

Objective: This experiment investigated the effect of isonitrogenous replacement of groundnut cake (GNC) by rice gluten meal (RGM) and maize gluten meal (MGM) at 75% level on nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, growth performance and related blood constituents in growing Sahiwal cattle. Methods: Eighteen Sahiwal calves were divided into three groups, based on average body weight (87.24 kg) and age (6 to 12 mo), and treatments were assigned to the different groups randomly. The first group (GP-I) was kept as control and received GNC-based concentrate mixture. In second (GP-II) and third (GP-III) groups, 750 g/kg nitrogen (N) of GNC was substituted by RGM and MGM respectively, with similar forage:concentrate ratio (56:44). Results: The 90 days of experimental feeding revealed that intake of dry matter, crude protein and digestibility coefficients for all nutrients did not differ among groups. Furthermore, although N balance was greater ($p{\leq}0.05$) for GP-III than GP-I and GP-II, average daily gain was similar between GP-I and GP-II but greater ($p{\leq}0.05$) for GP-III. In addition, feed efficiency and related haematological variables did not differ due to treatments. Conclusion: Nutritional worth of GNC and RGM was highly comparable in terms of intake, digestibility and growth in growing calves. However, MGM was found to be more efficacious in improving growth rate than RGM at 75% replacement level of GNC protein.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1542-1548
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• 2001

Wheat straw was treated on laboratory scale with 4% urea at a moisture level of 50% along with different amount of HC1 to fix various levels of ammonia (30, 40, 50 and 60%) and stored for 4 weeks. Result, revealed a significant (p<0.01) increase in CP content of the samples where HC1 was added. The CP content of the straw was only 7.8%, which increased to 14.1, 16.0, 15.0 and 15.2% with the addition of acid. Similarly the concentrations of NDF, ADF and hemicellulose was significantly different due to HC1 addition. The level of HC1 recommended was to trap 30% ammonia as there was not significant difference in CP content of straw due to addition of 4 levels of acids. Results of in vivo experiment conducted on nine buffaloes divided randomly into three groups of three animals in each revealed no significant difference in the intake of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose in group I (ammoniated straw), group II (HC1 treated ammoniated straw) and group III (HC1 treated ammoniated straw + 1 kg barley grain), but the intake of CP was significantly (p<0.01) more in group III as compared to other 2 groups. The digestibility of DM, OM and CP was significantly (p<0.01) more in groups where HCI treated straw was fed as compared to only ammoniated straw fed group, whereas there was no significant difference in the digestibility of NDF, ADF and cellulose in 3 groups. Intake was significantly higher of nitrogen (p<0.05), calcium (p<0.01) and phosphorus (p<0.01) in group III as compared to other two groups. Animals in all the 3 groups showed positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance, though the balances of all the 3 nutrients were significantly higher in group III as compared to other 2 groups. Rumen fermentation study conducted in 3 rumen fistulated buffaloes in $3{\times}3$ latin square design offering the same 3 diets as in group I to III revealed that rumen pH was alike statistically in 3 groups and at various time intervals. The mean ammonia-N concentration was significantly (p<0.01) more in group II and III as compared to group I. The mean TVFA concentration (mM/100 ml SRL) were 6.46, 7.84 and 8.47 in 3 groups respectively and different statistically (p<0.01). Results revealed no significant difference in the activities of carboxy methyl cellulase, urease or protease at both the time of sampling (0 h and 4 h) in all the 3 groups of animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2020

Objective: The current study was carried out to examine the response of different levels of fat and protein in calf starter on nutrient utilisation, nitrogen metabolism, weight gain, blood parameters, and immunity level in pre-ruminant calves. Methods: Twenty four calves (5 days old) were divided into six groups in a 2×3 factorial design, with two levels of fat (10% and 14%) and three levels of protein (18%, 21%, and 24%). The calves were kept in individual pens for 120 days and fed with whole milk (1/10th of body weight) and calf starter ad-libitum. Daily dry matter intake was recorded; whereas body weight was taken on fortnightly basis to calculate average daily gain. During the growth trial blood samples were collected at 30 days interval to estimate blood glucose, albumin, total protein, total leucocyte count, total immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin G levels. A metabolic trial of seven days was carried out to find out the digestibility of different nutrients. Results: The dry matter intake was reduced (p<0.05) with higher fat and protein levels whereas feed conversion efficiency was improved (p<0.05) with higher protein level. Different levels of fat and protein in calf ration did not affect average daily gain in calves. The dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestibility were significantly (p<0.01) higher with increased level of protein. The nitrogen retention was also significantly higher (p<0.05) at 24% protein level, similarly the total immunoglobulin was significantly (p<0.05) high in higher protein fed groups, showed better immunity. Conclusion: The present finding suggested that 10% fat and 18% protein level of calf starter could be used in Sahiwal calves for optimum performance in terms of weight gain and immunity.