The nutritional composition, fermentation characteristics, in sacco degradation and fungal pathogen dynamics of sugarcane tops ensiled with broiler litter with or without water

AbstractHabitat alteration can influence suitability, creating ecological traps where habitat preference and fitness are mismatched. Despite their importance, ecological traps are notoriously difficult to identify and their impact on host–pathogen dynamics remains largely unexplored. Here we assess individual bat survival and habitat preferences in the midwestern United States before, during, and after the invasion of the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome. Despite strong selection pressures, most hosts continued to select habitats where disease severity was highest and survival was lowest, causing continued population declines. However, some individuals used refugia where survival was higher. Over time, a higher proportion of the total population used refugia than before pathogen arrival. Our results demonstrate that host preferences for habitats with high disease-induced mortality can create ecological traps that threaten populations, even in the presence of accessible refugia.

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Effects of dietary replacement of broiler litter withMucuna pruriens utilisforage and seed meal on performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical and physiological parameters in indigenous goats

10.1101/421313 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Doctor M.N. Mthiyane ◽

Nozipho P. Gamedze ◽

Abednego M. Dlamini ◽

Arno Hugo ◽

Ignatius V. Nsahlai

Keyword(s):

Body Weight Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Serum Glucose ◽

Nutritional Composition ◽

Seed Meal ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Broiler Litter ◽

Protein Sources ◽

Alternative Protein ◽

Indigenous Goats

AbstractThe productivity of indigenous goats in Africa is constrained by shortage of protein-rich feed especially in winter. This study investigated the nutritional value of mucuna forage (MF) and seed meal (MSM) as alternative protein sources for indigenous goats. Mucuna was planted in 3 parallel and adjacent fields and its foliage nutritional composition determined at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after planting (WAP). MF was harvested at 14 WAP whilst mucuna pods were harvested at 28 – 30 WAP, shelled and the MSM chemically analysed. In a completely randomised design (CRD), 20 indigenous goats were randomly offered 5 treatment diets with, respectively, 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% MF and 100% MSM replacing broiler litter (BL), each with 4 replicates, for 82 days. Both mucuna foliage DM and CF contents increased (P < 0.001) whilst foliage CP, EE and ash contents decreased (P<0.001) with maturity. On the other hand, MSM contained high DM (90.7%), EE (3.7% DM) and CP (26.0% DM) but low CF (9.7% DM) and ash (5.5% DM) contents. Both body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were not influenced by dietary mucuna incorporation (P > 0.05). However, dietary MF, particularly at the 100% level, decreased goat feed intake (FI) (P < 0.001) whilst 100% MSM increased (P < 0.001) this parameter. Mucuna had no effect on all carcass characteristics (P > 0.05) but increased (P < 0.05), particularly at the 100% MSM level, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage. There were no effects of mucuna on all biochemical and haematological indices (P > 0.05), except for the increase in serum glucose (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimal stage for harvesting and utilisation of MF is between 12 and 16 WAP and both MF and MSM, particularly the latter, are rich alternative protein sources for indigenous goats.

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Nutritional composition, in vitro gas production and in sacco degradability of processed Croton megalocarpus nuts for ruminant feeding

Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research ◽

10.51227/ojafr.2021.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 36-45

Author(s):

Elias KABOCHI NJOROGE ◽

Caroline CELINA WAMBUI ◽

Chrilukovian BWIRE WASIKE

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Composition ◽

Gas Production ◽

In Vitro Gas Production ◽

In Sacco Degradability ◽

In Sacco

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Studies on the Fungal Pathogen of Dutch Elm Disease

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100098502 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 400-401

Author(s):

H.M. Mazzone ◽

G. Wray ◽

R. Zerillo

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Polymyxin B ◽

The United States ◽

Dutch Elm Disease ◽

Effective Control ◽

Sabouraud Agar ◽

Total Inhibition ◽

Zones Of Inhibition ◽

Control Plate

The fungal pathogen of the Dutch elm disease (DED), Ceratocystis ulmi (Buisman) C. Moreau, has eluded effective control since its introduction in the United States more than sixty years ago. Our studies on DED include establishing biological control agents against C. ulmi. In this report we describe the inhibitory action of the antibiotic polymyxin B on the causal agent of DED.In screening a number of antibiotics against C. ulmi, we observed that filter paper discs containing 300 units (U) of polymyxin B (Difco Laboratories) per disc, produced zones of inhibition to the fungus grown on potato dextrose agar or Sabouraud agar plates (100mm x 15mm), Fig. 1a. Total inhibition of fungal growth on a plate occurred when agar overlays containing fungus and antibiotic (polymyxin B sulfate, ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) were poured on the underlying agar growth medium. The agar overlays consisted of the following: 4.5 ml of 0.7% agar, 0.5 ml of fungus (control plate); 4.0 ml of 0.7% agar, 0.5 ml of fungus, 0.5 ml of polymyxin B sulfate (77,700 U). Fig. 1, b and c, compares a control plate and polymyxin plate after seven days.

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