Effects of Se nanoparticles supplementation on growth performance, hematological parameters and nutrient digestibility of Labeo rohita fingerling fed sunflower meal based diet

The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of selenium nanoparticles on the growth, hematology and nutrients digestibility of Labeorohita fingerlings. Fingerlings were fed with seven isocaloric sunflower meal-based diet supplemented with different concentrations of nanoparticles naming T1 to T7 (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 mg/kg), with 5% wet body weight while chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. After experimentation for 90 days T3 treated group (1mg/kg -1Se-nano level) showed the best result in hematological parameters (WBC’s 7.97 ×103mm-3, RBC’s 2.98 ×106 mm-3 and Platelet count 67), nutrient digestibility (crude protein: 74%, ether extract: 76%, gross energy: 70%) and growth performance (weight gain 13.24 g, weight gain% 198, feed conversion ratio 1.5, survival rate 100%) as compared to the other treatment groups. Specific growth rates were found significantly higher in T5 than in other groups. The present study indicated positive effect of 1 mg/kg Se-nanoparticles on growth advancement, hematological parameters, and nutrients digestibility of L. rohita fingerlings.

Post-mortem characterization of Dorper x Santa Inês lambs fed diets containing alternative foods

The objective of this study was to evaluate the post-mortem characteristics of lambs fed diets containing alternative foods. Twenty lambs, castrated Dorper x Santa Inês males, aged approximately 90 days and with mean weight of 20 kg were used. Experimental diets were composed of ground corn, soybean meal, mineral supplement, urea and Tifton-85 hay (forage). In addition to these ingredients, cottonseed, sunflower meal and castor bean cake were used as alternative foods in the proportions of 10, 8 and 8% of %DM, respectively. The experiment lasted 106 days, with 14 days for adaptation and 92 days for evaluation and data collection. At the end of the confinement period, the lambs were slaughtered, and the carcasses kept under cooling for a period of 24 hours. The measurements of pH, carcass temperature (internal and external) were measured in the Longissimus lumborum muscle, as well as the temperature and relative humidity of the cold chamber were measured. Muscle pH was altered as a function of diet and reached a value of 5.78 (lower pH) when lambs received the diet with castor bean cake. The internal carcass temperature was higher in the lambs that received the diet containing cottonseed (19.98°C), sunflower meal (19.71°C) and castor bean cake (19.87°C). The alternative foods can be used as ingredients in the formulation of diets for Dorper x Santa Inês lamb, for promoting the proper development of the post-mortem process, characteristic of good quality sheep meat.

Impact of Replacing Soybean Meal with Sunflower Meal, Sesame Meal, and Black Seed Meal in diets of Barki Lambs

Crude protein content in animal diet is considered the first important factor for nutritionists when they start to formulate a diet for different types of animals. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of substituting soybean seed meal by different protein sources on lamb’s diet in terms of nutrients digestibility, and growth performance. Therefore, four tested concentrate feed mixtures (CFM, 14% crude protein) were designed. The CFM1 contained soybean meal as the only source of protein, and 50% of soybean meal protein was replaced by either sunflower meal, sesame seed meal, or black seed meal in CFM2, CFM3, and CFM4 groups, respectively. A total of 28 growing Barki male lambs aged 6 months with an average body weight of 38.6 ± 0.4 Kg were used in feeding trials for 120 days. Depending on their body weight, lambs were divided into four groups (7 animals in each). Each group fed on one of the experimental diets, including D1 (CFM1+ clover hay), D2 (CFM2 + clover hay), D3 (CFM3 + clover hay), and D4 (CFM4 + clover hay). Results of digestion coefficients indicted that the digestibility of crude protein and the nitrogen-free extract was significantly higher for D1 and D4, compared to D2 and D3. The same trend was observed in nutritive values expressed as total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible crude protein (DCP), whereas the D1 and D4 recorded higher TDN and DCP, compared to D2 and D3. Results of rumen parameters demonstrated that there were insignificant differences among groups regarding the average pH, ammonia (NH3-N), and total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs). Data of growth performance indicated that the final live body weight, total body gain, and average daily gain of lambs feed D4 (56.75 kg, 18.62 kg, and 155 g, respectively) and D1 (56.62 kg, 17.60 kg, and 147 g, respectively) were higher than those for lambs fed D2 (53.40 Kg, 14.64 kg, and 122 g, respectively) and D3 (53.11 kg, 14.61 kg, and 122 g, respectively). The feed conversion ratio (feed/gain) was recorded better value with lambs fed D4 followed by that fed D1. In conclusion, black seed meal could be replaced with the 50% of soybean meal participation of protein in growing Barki lambs’ diets without any adverse effects on digestibility, rumen kinetics, and growth performance.

Effects of High Fiber Ingredients with Enzyme/Phytoadditive Addition on Laying Hens Productive Performances, Egg Nutritional Quality and Intestinal Morphology

Fibre inclusion in laying hen diets it is considered a solution to reduce feed formulation costs by improving nutrients absorption and metabolization within the gastrointestinal tract. A 5-wk study was conducted on 200, Tetra SL layers (28 weeks) randomly allocated in 5 groups (C, E1, E2, E3, E4, respectively), with initial average weights of 1732.26±109.35 g/hen, housed (4 hens/cage; 10 cages/group; 40 hens/group). All groups had the same basic feed compound structure (corn, oil, soybean meal and sunflower meal). The conventional diet (C group) contained 2780 kcal/kg Metabolizable energy (ME); 17.5% Crude protein (CP); 4.39% Crude fibre (CF). The experimental diets added 16.56% sunflower meal and 20% rice bran, increasing the dietary cellulose up to 7%. The fibre digestibility was improved using on E2 (0.015% enzyme); E3 (0.015% phytoadditive) and E4 (0.015% enzyme + 0.015% phytoadditive). The high fibre diets had no negative impact on productive performances and egg quality parameters. Yolk cholesterol significantly decreased (P<0.05) on E1, E3 and E4 groups compared to C, E2 groups. Villi height increased significantly (P<0.05) on E2 group compared to all other groups. In conclusion, the high dietary crude fibre (7%), additional enzymes/phyto additives, can improve the nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology with beneficial effects on health and egg quality.

Nitrous Oxide Prediction in Manure from Pigs Given Mustard x Grapeseed Oil Cakes as a Replacement for Sunflower Meal

During the last century, the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the livestock sector increased significantly. N2O is a greenhouse gas with 298-fold higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO2. Pigs accounted for about 26% of N2O emissions. The formation of N2O occurs through nitrification and denitrification processes in manure. This study aimed to estimate N2O production in the manure of growing-finishing pigs by using our experimental data in the model. The associative effects of dietary mustard and grapeseed oil cakes (MxG), as an alternative for sunflower meal (SFM), on performance and efficiency traits were also determined. Forty growing-finishing pigs were randomly allocated in two groups (2 replicates per group) fed two diets: C diet (based on SFM, 15 wt) and E diet (based on M and G mixture, 7:8 wt:wt). Our model includes as initial input data: body weight (BW), feed intake, nitrogen intake, dietary dry matter, and fibre intake. Using literature prediction equations, including total nitrogen output (TNO) as the main parameter, we established N2O production expressed as equivalent CO2 (E-CO2). A decline with 3% for BW (P=0.44), respectively 9.0% for average daily gain (ADG, P=0.21) in pigs given MxG was recorded. Correlated with growth parameters, efficiency traits (feed intake, feed: gain ratio, N and fibre intake) were decreased as well (P>0.05). Dietary addition of MxG led to a 5% lower level of N2O production in manure. The reduction of TNO was not significant (<7.14% in the E diet compared to the C diet). In our trial, a relatively low N intake percentage is retained in the pigs body (35.56% in the C group and 35.98% in the E group, P>0.05). Based on these results, we conclude that the inclusion of 15% MxG mixture in pigs diets, although slightly declining growth parameters, is a valuable nutritional solution by their contribution to lowering N2O and N output in the manure.

True digestibility of the essential amino acids of high-protein sunflower meals by balanced experiments with intact and caecectomized birds from Gallus species

Using adapted methods for balanced experiments with poultry, the true digestibility coefficients of the essential amino acids of two high protein sunflower meals – 40+® and 47® have been established. The true digestibility coefficients by using two methods – with intact and randomized (caecectomized) birds have been compared. Six birds were tube fed and six – feed deprived for both of the fodders. The amino acids were established with amino analyzer AAA-881 after preliminary HCl hydrolysis. The mean digestibility of sunflower meal 40+® is higher in intact (88.11 versus 85.73 of sunflower meal 47®) compared to randomized birds (87.20 versus 85.46 of sunflower meal 47®). The differences by lots are statistically significant only in intact birds. The authors recommend for practical needs to use the average true digestibility coefficients between both meals, established with randomized birds (ileal digestibility).