• Title/Summary/Keyword: feed efficiency

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Effect of Broussonetia papyrifera L. (paper mulberry) silage on dry matter intake, milk composition, antioxidant capacity and milk fatty acid profile in dairy cows

  • Si, Bingwen;Tao, Hui;Zhang, Xiaoli;Guo, Jiangpeng;Cui, Kai;Tu, Yan;Diao, Qiyu
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.31 no.8
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    • pp.1259-1266
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    • 2018
  • Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the possible application of Broussonetia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) silage as a functional feeding stuff in dairy cattle. Methods: Seventy-two Holstein cows were divided into four groups randomly and allocated to 6 pens with 3 individuals in each group and fed the original total mixed ratio (TMR) in the dairy farm or the new TMR with 5%, 10%, and 15% B. papyrifera silage, separately. Feed intake were recorded, milk and blood samples were collected, and milk composition, blood metabolites and milk fatty acids composition were measure at the end of the experiment. Results: Dry matter intake of cows decreased when they fed on diet with B. papyrifera, but no differences were observed in body condition score, milk yield, milk protein and lactose, feed efficiency and serum metabolites between groups. Both 10% or 15% of B. papyrifera silage in the diet significantly increased the immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG in serum, 15% of B. papyrifera silage increased the content of serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and decreased the content of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. Furthermore, 10% or 15% of B. papyrifera silage resulted in a significant decrease in the milk somatic cell count, and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids content in the milk. Conclusion: The diets with 10% to 15% of B. papyrifera silage might enhance the immune and antioxidant function of dairy cows and increase the polyunstaturated fatty acid concentration in the milk.

Effects of Additional Calcium Additive on Egg Production, Feed Efficiency and Egg Shell Quality in Laying Hens (산란계 사료에 대한 칼슘 공급제의 추가공급이 산란능력과 사료효율 및 난각질에 미치는 영향)

  • Na S. W.;Lee W. J.;Lee K. H.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.67-72
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    • 2005
  • Forty-wk-old 480 ISA Brown layers were used in a 10-wk feeding trial to investigate the effects of additional various levels of limestone to a low calcium diet without any calcium additives on the performance of laying hens. There were significant differences in average egg weight (P<0.05) without any specific trend among treatments and hen-day egg production was not influenced by the dietary treatments. Daily intake and conversion per kg egg of feed excluded the calcium supplement were significantly reduced (p<0.05) as the level of additional calcium supplement increased in both types of layer diet, while those of feed included the calcium source were significantly increased (P<0.05) as the level of additional calcium supplement increased. Egg specific gravity, eggshell breaking strength and thickness were increased as the level of additional calcium supplement increased, however the significant differences were found only in egg specific gravity It would be possible to reduce the daily feed intake and feed conversion and to improve the eggshell quality by feed the low calcium diet devoid of calcium supplement from the conventional laying hen diet and by supply the additional calcium source at 3 to 4 p.m. instead of the continuous feeding of conventional high calcium diet.

A Study on the Effect of an HRT of Anoxic Reactors on Organic Matter and Nitrogen Removal in A2/O Processes with Bio Contact Media in Aerobic Tank (호기조에 고정상 담체를 충진한 A2/O공정에서 무산소조 체류시간 변화가 유기물질 및 질소 제거에 미치는 영향)

  • Whang, Gye-Dae;Han, Bong-Seok
    • Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.451-457
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    • 2007
  • Four parallel $A^2/O$ systems maintaining an MLSS of 3,000 mg/L were operated to investigate the effects of varying an HRT of anoxic reactors and packing Bio contact media (BCM, fixed beds) in aerobic reactors on organic matter removal and nitrification/denitrification efficiencies. All systems were operated under conditions that the external recycle ratio was kept 0.5 Q while the internal recycle ratio was changed 1.0 Q to 1.5 Q with that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed was increased to 40 mg/L by adding $NH_4Cl$. In terms of TSS and TCODcr removal efficiency, both systems with BCM and a system without BCM, respectively, had a similar level of the removal efficiency under varied HRTs of anoxic reactors (0.6 hr, 1.3 hr, 2 hr, 2 hr; control, without BC M) showing that varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the removal efficiency. While SCODcr removal efficiency of systems with BCM was improved approximately 4~5% at the same HRT of anoxic reactor, the removal efficiency of system with BCM was slightly decreased by reducing an HRT of anoxic reactor. The nitrification efficiency for both systems with BCM and a system without BCM was above 94% showing that packing BCM in aerobic reactors and varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the efficiency significantly despite of increasing $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed. The denitrification efficiency increased from 81.4% to 85.4% at system with BCM while the efficiency decreased when a shorter HRT of anoxic reactors was kept. The excellent effluent quality for $NO_3-N$ concentration was observed although the $NO_3-N$ concentration increased in anoxic reactors that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed sufficiently converted into nitrate through nitrification. As a result, packing 20% BCM to an aerobic reactor with HRT of 1.3 hr of anoxic reactor in $A^2/O$ system can achieve a similar level of nitrogen removal efficiency in $A^2/O$ system which the aerobic reactor had no BCM and HRT of 2 hr for anoxic reactor is maintained.

A complete S-shape feed rate scheduling approach for NURBS interpolator

  • Du, Xu;Huang, Jie;Zhu, Li-Min
    • Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.206-217
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    • 2015
  • This paper presents a complete S-shape feed rate scheduling approach (CSFA) with confined jerk, acceleration and command feed rate for parametric tool path. For a Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) tool path, the critical points of the tool path where the radius of curvature reaches extreme values are found firstly. Then, the NURBS curve is split into several NURBS sub-curves or blocks by the critical points. A bidirectional scanning strategy with the limitations of chord error, normal/tangential acceleration/jerk and command feed rate is employed to make the feed rate at the junctions between different NURBS blocks continuous. To improve the efficiency of the feed rate scheduling, the NURBS block is classified into three types: short block, medium block and long block. The feed rate profile corresponding to each NURBS block is generated according to the start/end feed rates and the arc length of the block and the limitations of tangential acceleration/jerk. In addition, two compensation strategies are proposed to make the feed rate more continuous and the arc increment more precise. Once the feed rate profile is determined, a second-order Taylor's expansion interpolation method is applied to generate the position commands. Finally, experiments with two free-form NURBS curves are conducted to verify the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method.

Impact of phase feeding: effects on the growth performance of sows and their litter characteristics

  • Sureshkumar, Shanmugam;Kim, In Ho
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.265-272
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    • 2021
  • A total of fourteen primiparous sows' (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used to determine the effects of two patterns of feed intake during early gestation on the growth performance and litter characteristics in sows. Daily feed intake from day 5 to 112 of gestation for parity 1 sows was 2.2 kg·d-1 of feed offered with the exception of seven sows who were offered 3.2 kg·d-1 from day 90 to 108 of gestation (TRT A) or 2.5 kg·d-1 (d 5 - 60) and 2 kg·d-1 (d 60 - 90) of feed with the exception of seven sows who were offered 3.5 kg·d-1 from day 90 to 108 of gestation (TRT B). The different feed intake patterns in early gestation did not have a significant effect on body weight, backfat thickness, or body condition score during, before, and after farrowing (p > 0.05) respectively. However, initial to d 60, backfat thickness difference was significantly improved by TRT B patterns of feed intake during early gestation. In addition, during the overall experiment, average daily feed intake was significantly enhanced for sows in the dietary TRT B group feed intake pattern (p = 0.0001). The fecal score during day 90 was significantly reduced (p = 0.0132) in sows fed with TRT B feed intake pattern. Litter size, litter survival rate, and initial weight showed no significant differences with different feed efficiency of gestating sows. In summary, the results indicate that the 2.5 kg·d-1 gestation intake pattern allowed gestating sows to obtain optimal performance.

Effects of Phytase Supplementation of Diets with Two Tiers of Nutrient Specifications on Growth Performance and Protein Efficiency Ratios of Broiler Chickens

  • Selle, P.H.;Ravindran, V.;Pittolo, P.H.;Bryden, W.L.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.16 no.8
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    • pp.1158-1164
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    • 2003
  • In two feeding experiments male and mixed-sex broiler chicks were offered diets based on sorghum and a wheatsorghum blend with two tiers of nutrient specifications, without and with microbial phytase (600 and 800 FTU/kg), from 7-25 and 1-42 days post-hatch, respectively. The nutrient specifications for protein, amino acids, energy density and phosphorus (P) of standard diets were reduced to formulate the modified diets on a least-cost basis. Calculated differences in nutrient specifications between standard and modified diets ranged from 14.3 to 17.1 g/kg crude protein, 0.24 to 0.40 MJ/kg apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and 1.06 to 1.20 g/kg available P. In both experiments, reduced nutrient specifications had a negative impact on growth rates and feed efficiency and phytase supplementation had a positive influence on growth performance and protein efficiency ratios (PER). Phytase addition to the less expensive, modified diets either partially or entirely compensated for reduced growth performance and, consequently, feed costs per kg of live weight gain were reduced. In Experiment 1, phytase increased (p<0.001) nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) from 15.39 to 15.89 MJ/kg dry matter. For nitrogen (N) retention there was an interaction (p<0.05) between diet type and phytase as the effects of phytase on N retention were more pronounced in the modified diets, with an increase from 0.512 to 0.561. These results demonstrate the positive effects of phytase on protein and energy utilisation, in addition to its established liberation of phytate-bound P and illustrate the feasibility of assigning nutrient replacement values to the feed enzyme for consideration in least-cost ration formulations. Further work is, however, required to define the most appropriate reductions in nutrient specifications in association with phytase supplementation.

Treatment of Cow Manure by Vermicomposting -Effects of population density and C/N ratios of feed on the growth and cast production of the earthworm(Eisenia foetida)- (Vermicompositing에 의한 우분의 처리 -먹이의 탄질율과 사육밀도가 지렁이의 생육과 분립의 생산에 미치는 영향-)

  • Lee, Ju-Sam
    • Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.65-75
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    • 1995
  • This experiment was carried out to the effects of population density and C/N ratios of feed on the growth, reproductive effciency and cast producation of the earthworm(Eisenia foetida). The population densities of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 individuals of the earthworm fed with different C/N ratios of 25, 35, 45 and 55 cow manures were studied in rearing box($6,400cm^3$), and at the fertility stage during a period of 60 days. The results were summarized as follows; The survial rate(SR), increasing rate(IR), reproductive efficiency(RE) and cast production of the earthworms showed highest values in C/N ratio of 25. These results may indicate that C/N ratio of 25 is a very favourable feed for the growth of the earthworms. The survial rate(SR) indicated significant positive correlation with reproductive efficiency(RE) in different C/N ratios of feeds. The survial rate(SR) showed highest values in population densities of $50{\sim}100$ worms/$6,400cm^3(64.0{\sim}128.0cm^3/worm$). On the contrary, increasing rate(IR) tended to decreased with the increased population densities. The survival rate(SR) indicated significant negative correlation with reproductive efficiency(RE) in different population densities of the earthworms. The cast production estimated were $31.6mg{\sim}67.4mg/day/worm$ grown in optimum population densities($50{\sim}100\;worms/6,400cm^3$). The earthworm casting are an excellent soil conditioning material or organic fertilizer sources with a high chemical composition and their physical properties.

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Potential use of Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) as a protein source fodder to improve nutrients digestibility, ruminal fermentation efficiency in beef cattle

  • Phesatcha, Burarat;Viennasay, Bounnaxay;Wanapat, Metha
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • v.34 no.4
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    • pp.613-620
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    • 2021
  • Objective: This study aimed at studying the potential use of Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) as a protein source fodder to improve nutrients digestibility and ruminal fermentation efficiency in beef cattle. Methods: Four, Thai native beef cattle were randomly assigned in a 4×4 Latin square design. Four levels of Flemingia hay meal (FHM) were used to replace soybean meal (SBM) in the concentrate mixtures in four dietary treatments replacing levels at 0%, 30%, 60%, and 100% of SBM. Results: The experimental findings revealed that replacements did not effect on intake of rice straw, concentrate and total dry matter (DM) intake (p>0.05). However, the apparent digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber were linearly increased up to 100% replacement levels. Moreover, the production of total volatile fatty acids, and propionate concentration were enhanced (p<0.05) whereas the concentration of acetate was reduced in all replacement groups. Consequently, the CH4 production was significantly lower when increasing levels of FHM for SBM (p<0.05). Furthermore, rumen bacterial population was additionally increased (p<0.05) while protozoal population was clearly decreased (p<0.05) in all replacement groups up to 100%. In addition, microbial nitrogen supply and efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis were enhanced (p<0.05), as affected by FHM replacements. Conclusion: The findings under this experiment suggest that 100% FHM replacement in concentrate mixture enhanced rumen fermentation efficiency, nutrients digestibilities, bacterial population, microbial protein synthesis, and subsequently reduced CH4 production in beef cattle fed on rice straw.

Current status of global pig production: an overview and research trends

  • Sung Woo Kim;Alexa Gormley;Ki Beom Jang;Marcos Elias Duarte
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • v.37 no.4_spc
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    • pp.719-729
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    • 2024
  • Global pig production has increased by 140% since the 1960s. The increase in global population, coupled with improving socioeconomic conditions of many countries has led to an increased consumption of meat globally, including pork. To keep up with demand and capitalize on economic opportunities, the countries of China, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU) have become the top 3 pork producers globally. China is of particular interest, as it is the both the largest country in pork production and pig numbers, as well as being the largest importer of pork from other countries. Globally, the efficiency of pork production has improved, in relation to the integration of pig production and the dramatic increase in research efforts in pig nutrition and production. Through integration, large producers can consolidate resources and maximize profits and efficiency. The increased research interest and efforts in pig production have given scientists and producers the opportunity to collaborate to adapt to challenges and identify possible solutions to issues brought on by a volatile global market. Intestinal health (23%), general nutrition and growth (23%), and amino acid nutrition (15%) were the top 3 areas (61%) leading research trends in pig nutrition and production. Major dietary interventions with feed additives evaluated include functional amino acids, feed enzymes, pre-/pro-/post-biotics, and phytobiotics with a common goal to improve the growth efficiency by enhancing nutrient utilization and intestinal health. With increasing global issues with environment, pig producers and the supporting scientists should continue their efforts to improve the production efficiency and to reduce the environmental footprint from pig production.

Effects of Ambient Temperature on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Immune Cell Populations in Korean Cattle Steers

  • Kang, H.J.;Lee, I.K.;Piao, M.Y.;Gu, M.J.;Yun, C.H.;Kim, H.J.;Kim, K.H.;Baik, M.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.436-443
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    • 2016
  • Exposure to cold may affect growth performance in accordance with the metabolic and immunological activities of animals. We evaluated whether ambient temperature affects growth performance, blood metabolites, and immune cell populations in Korean cattle. Eighteen Korean cattle steers with a mean age of 10 months and a mean weight of 277 kg were used. All steers were fed a growing stage-concentrate diet at a rate of 1.5% of body weight and Timothy hay ad libitum for 8 weeks. Experimental period 1 (P1) was for four weeks from March 7 to April 3 and period 2 (P2) was four weeks from April 4 to May 1. Mean ($8.7^{\circ}C$) and minimum ($1.0^{\circ}C$) indoor ambient temperatures during P1 were lower (p<0.001) than those ($13.0^{\circ}C$ and $6.2^{\circ}C$, respectively) during P2. Daily dry matter feed intake in both the concentrate diet and forage groups was higher (p<0.001) during P2 than P1. Average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.001) during P2 (1.38 kg/d) than P1 (1.13 kg/d). Feed efficiency during P2 was higher (p = 0.015) than P1. Blood was collected three times; on March 7, April 4, and May 2. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were higher on March 7 than April 4 and May 2. Blood cortisol, glucose, and triglyceride concentrations did not differ among months. Blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+ T cell percentages were higher, while CD8+CD25+ T cell percentage was lower, during the colder month of March than during May, suggesting that ambient temperature affects blood T cell populations. In conclusion, colder ambient temperature decreased growth and feed efficiency in Korean cattle steers. The higher circulating NEFA concentrations observed in March compared to April suggest that lipolysis may occur at colder ambient temperatures to generate heat and maintain body temperature, resulting in lower feed efficiency in March.