• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.471-478
• /
• 2012

The role of moisture absorptive capacity of pre-silage material and its relationship with silage effluent in high moisture by-product feedstuffs (HMBF) is assessed. The term water retention capacity which is sometimes used in explaining the rate of effluent control in ensilage may be inadequate, since it accounts exclusively for the capacity of an absorbent incorporated into a pre-silage material prior to ensiling, without consideration to how much the pre-silage material can release. A new terminology, 'potential water retention capacity' (PWRC), which attempts to address this shortcoming, is proposed. Data were pooled from a series of experiments conducted separately over a period of five years using laboratory silos with four categories of agro by-products (n = 27) with differing moisture contents (highest 96.9%, lowest 78.1% in fresh matter, respectively), and their silages (n = 81). These were from a vegetable source (Daikon, Raphanus sativus), a root tuber source (potato pulp), a fruit source (apple pomace) and a cereal source (brewer's grain), respectively. The pre-silage materials were adjusted with dry in-silo absorbents consisting wheat straw, wheat or rice bran, beet pulp and bean stalks. The pooled mean for the moisture contents of all pre-silage materials was 78.3% (${\pm}10.3$). Silage effluent decreased (p<0.01), with increase in PWRC of pre-silage material. The theoretical moisture content and PWRC of pre-silage material necessary to stem effluent flow completely in HMBF silage was 69.1% and 82.9 g/100 g in fresh matter, respectively. The high correlation (r = 0.76) between PWRC of ensiled material and silage effluent indicated that the latter is an important factor in silage-effluent relationship.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.1245-1248
• /
• 2000

In order to ascertain the influence of supplemental iodine on nutrient utilisation by goats fed a leucaena leucocephala leaf meal containing diet, 8 adult male goats (2 years; $22.3{\pm}1.73kg$) were randomly allocated into two groups, viz. control and experimental. Both the groups were fed a diet comprising of wheat bran, leucaena leaf meal and wheat straw ad lib. In addition, the experimental animals were given extra iodine at 0.04 mg/head/day (as KI soln.). A metabolism trial of 6 days duration conducted after 13 weeks of experimental feeding revealed that the daily DM intake $(g/W^{0.75})$ increased significantly due to iodine supplementation. Similar was the case with the intakes of DCP and ME. The digestibility of CP and EE showed significant improvement in the experimental group while that of DM, OM and total carbohydrates did not vary significantly between the two groups. The animals of control group were in negative nitrogen balance, which improved significantly and become positive in the experimental group. Moreover, the control animals lose weight apparently in contrast to the experimental animals, who maintained their weights. While iodine supplementation tended to enhance phosphorus retention that of calcium exhibited significant improvement. Conclusively, provision of extra iodine to Leucaena containing diet may prove beneficial in augmenting the nutrient utilization of this protein rich tropical forage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.441-453
• /
• 2019

Organic farming is considered an effective form of sustainable agricultural management. However, understanding of soil microbial diversity and composition under long-term organic and conventional farming is still limited and controversial. In this study, the Illumina MiSeq platform was applied to investigate the responses of soil bacterial and fungal diversity and compositions to organic farming (OF) and improved conventional farming (CF, applied straw retention) in the rice-wheat rotation system. The results highlighted that the alpha diversity of microbial communities did not differ significantly, except for higher bacterial diversity under OF. However, there were significant differences in the compositions of the soil bacterial and fungal communities between organic and conventional farming. Under our experimental conditions, through the ecological functional analysis of significant different or unique bacterial and fungal taxonomic members at the phyla and genus level, OF enhanced nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus and carbon dynamic cycling in soil with the presence of Nodosilinea, Nitrospira, LCP-6, HB118, Lyngbya, GOUTA19, Mesorhizobium, Sandaracinobacter, Syntrophobacter and Sphingosinicella, and has the potential to strengthen soil metabolic ability with Novosphingobium. On the other hand, CF increased the intensity of nitrogen cycling with Ardenscatena, KD1-23, Iamia, Nitrosovibrio and Devosia, but enriched several pathogen fungal members, including Coniochaeta, Corallomycetella, Cyclaneusma, Cystostereum, Fistulina, Curvularia and Dissoconium.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2008

To develop artificial cultivation and improve some problems such as auto-lysis on commercialization of Coprinus comatus that has been known edible and medicinal mushroom, they were conducted for selection of superior strain, suitable culture methods for mycelial growth and fruiting, and morphological characteristics of fruit body. Strain CM 980301 of Coprinus comatus was selected as a superior strain for artificial cultivation. Wheat grain and rice straw full-grown compost media were most effective for preparation of spawn and artificial cultivation of C. comatus, respectively. Spawn running of Coprinus spp. on the rice straw full-grown compost media required to be 15 days from 24 to $28^{\circ}C$. The casing layer incubation before initiation of fruit body formation, required for 13 days at same temperature for spawn running. And then require $10{\sim}11$ days for initiation and $7{\sim}8$ days for development of fruit body from 20 to $24^{\circ}C$. The fruit body of strain CM 980301 was harvested within a week from initiation of primordium formation. The hardness of pileus and stipe that were harvested in optimal stage showed 102 to 169, and 128 to $182\;g/cm^2$, respectively. Yields of srain CM 980301 from the rice straw full-grown compost media was $37.7kg/3.3m^2$. Weight of individual fruit body was 17.9 g in average.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.1221-1229
• /
• 2018

Objective: A study was conducted to evaluate the varietal differences among faba bean straws and also to assess the potentials of faba bean straws supplemented with concentrate fed at the rate 70% straws and 30% concentrate mixture on feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and carcass characteristics of the animals. Methods: Forty yearling Arsi-Bale sheep with initial body weight of $19.85{\pm}0.29kg$ (mean${\pm}$standard deviation) were grouped in a randomized complete block design into eight blocks of five animals each based on their initial body weight. Straws included in the study were from Mosisa (T1M), Walki (T2W), Degaga (T3D), Shallo (T4S), and local (T5L) varieties of faba bean and concentrate (2:1 ratio of wheat bran to "noug" seed cake). The experiment consisted of seven days of digestibility and 90 days of feeding trials followed by evaluation of carcass parameters at the end. Results: Local variety had lower (p<0.05) in grain and straw yield compared to improved varieties but higher in crude protein, metabolizable energy contents and in vitro organic matter digestibility. The apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein of sheep fed Walki and Mosisa straws were higher than (p<0.05) straws from Shallo varieties. Sheep fed Walki straw had greater (p<0.05) dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency than sheep fed local and Shallo straws. Slaughter body weight and empty body weight were higher (p<0.05) for sheep fed Mosisa and Walki straws as compared to sheep fed Shallo straws. Apart from this, the other carcass components were not affected (p>0.05) by variety of the faba bean straws. Conclusion: There is significant varietal differences between faba bean straws both in quality and quantity. Similarly, significant variation was observed in feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency among sheep fed different straws of faba bean varieties with concentrate supplement. Based on these results, Walki and Mosisa varieties could be recommended as pulse crop rotation with cereals in the study area.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.637-642
• /
• 1996

This experiment was conducted to determine RDP values of locally available feedstuffs that are commonly used in ruminant rations in Bangladesh. Four cattle were fistulated in the rumen for the in situ nylon bag studies. Seventeen different feedstuff sample (9 roughages and 8 concentrates) were evaluated in $4{\times}14cm$ nylon bags and incubated in the rumen for different periods of time (2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h). The variation in crude protein (CP) contents reflected on the average CP disappearance value throughout the rumen incubation. Soluble fraction (a), insoluble but degradable fraction (b) along with the rate of degradation also varied widely among the various feedstuffs. Under 2% of rumen outflow rate, the percentages of the calculated protein degradabilities of roughages were rice straw, 16.7; maize grass, 70.6; oat grass, 70.8; dhal grass, 71.1; sunhemp, 78.4; napier grass, 62.4; matikalai grass, 72.1; khesarikalai grass, 76.9 and daincha browse, 78.4, respectively. The results in the protein degradabilities (%) in 8% ruminal outflow rate of concentrates were wheat bran, 61.6; rice polish (red), 61.3; rice polish (auto), 30.9; mustard oil cake, 71.8; sesame oil cake, 74.2; coconut oil cake, 57.9; soybean meal, 49.2 and fish meal, 37.9, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.647-650
• /
• 1996

Fifteen sheep were used in a trial which compared the feeding value of whole barley gain and cottonseed cake as supplements to a basal diet of leaves of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). Diet SB contained 700 g (air-dry matter) of saltbush alone, diet SB + BG contained 700 g SB with 400 g whole barley grain and diet SB + CS contained 700 g SB with 400 g cottonseed cake. The digestibility of the dry matter of diets SB (69%) and SB + CS (70%) were lower (p < 0.001) than of diet SB + BG (76%). Sheep offered SB alone daily lost 80g whereas those fed the other diets gained 11 g (SB + CS) or 17 g (SB + BG) per day. Daily water consumption of the sheep offered the three diets was similar (p > 0.05), but their water consumption was higher (p < 0.001) than that of sheep offered daily 700 g wheat straw and 200 g barley grain. The results indicate that, at the levels of feeding used, barley grain and cottonseed cake had similar value as supplements to fourwing saltbush harvested in summer. The addition of the supplement allowed the sheep to gain some live weight. However, the presence of saltbush leaves in the diet resulted in higher water intakes by the sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.667-670
• /
• 1996

Four Murrah male buffalo calves with an average body weight of $188{\pm}1.6kg$ each fitted with rumen and abomasal cannula were subjected to defaunation followed by refaunation. The animals were offered wheat straw and a concentrate mixture. There was no difference in dry matter, starch and nitrogen intake in defaunated and refaunated buffalo calves. Production of ruminal total volatile fatty acid and acetate : propionate ratio decreased (p < 0.01) whereas, molar proportion of propionate increased (25.8 Vs 19.4% p < 0.01) in defaunated animals. Fermentation of starch in rumen increased (73.9 Vs 65.8%, p < 0.01) but in small intestine decreased (20.2 Vs. 28.2%, p < 0.05) in defaunated calves. The flow of non ammonia nitrogen (NAN) to abomasum (75.1 vs 68.6 g/d, p < 0.01) and its digestion in small intestine (37,6 vs 32.5 g/d, p < 0.01) was improved due to defaunation. However, No difference in the total tract digestibility of starch and nitrogen was found in defaunated and refaunated buffalo calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.646-650
• /
• 2001

The effect of feeding concentrate mixture devoid of grain on the performance of crossbred dairy cows was studied. Twelve crossbred cows of first/second lactation were randomly distributed into two equal groups. The animals of group 1 were fed on a concentrate mixture containing 30% maize grain whereas, the cows of group 2 were offered a concentrate mixture where grain was completely replaced with deoiled rice bran (DORB) and molasses. Wheat straw was given ad libitum to the cows of both the groups. The feeding was continued for 112 days. The intake of dry matter, CP and TDN were similar in both the groups. Digestibility of DM, OM, EE, NDF and ADF were also comparable between the groups. The average daily fat corrected milk (FCM) yield was 7.70 kg and 7.43 kg in group 1 and 2, respectively. The chemical composition of milk (protein, fat and total solids) also remained unaffected. The animals of both the groups gained 9-10 kg body weight which indicates that both the diets were nutritionally adequate and grain can be successfully replaced with DORB and molasses from the diet to sustain about 6-7 kg FCM production.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.1517-1517
• /
• 2001

Cultural conditions during production of compost, using wheat straw and chicken litter as raw materials, will affect the microbial and biochemical characteristics, leading to a wide variation in mushroom productivity. Over the past 10 years, chemical and instrumental methods, suitable for assessing compost quality have been studied in Northern Ireland. In addition, the use of near subject of investigation over the past 4 years. Previous studies have shown that NIRS can be used fer assessing quality of dried and milled composts. The aim of the current investigation is to develop NIR calibrations for key quality parameters such as dry matter, pH, nitrogen, carbon, ash, microbial population and fibre factions during the two stages of production using spectra of fresh composts. Near infrared reflectance measurements of fresh composts prepared by 6 producers were made during a two-year period. Although the spectra of fresh composts were dominated by two moisture peaks at 1450 nm and 1940 nm, good calibrations for determining moisture content, conductivity, pH, nitrogen, carbon and fibre fractions were developed. The results of quality assessment during commercial production using the calibrations will be presented and discussed.