Foraging behaviour and dry matter intake by lambs in a silvopastoral system

Dry matter intake, nutritional contribution of forage to the diet and Lamb foraging behavior were assessed in a silvopastoral system. Twelve Pelibuey female lambs (6.3 months of age, 23.74 ± 3.5 kg live weight), were randomly assigned to two treatments: pastures of Digitaria eriantha (monoculture) or pastures of D. eriantha and Guazuma ulmifolia (silvopastoral). During a 15 day period, lambs foraged individually in 20.14 m2 paddocks each day; time spent grazing and browsing were assessed by scan sampling; dry matter intake was estimated (day 11-15), using the chromic oxide (Cr2O3) method, and metabolizable energy (ME) and protein (CP) ingested by the lambs were estimated. Data analyses were performed using a complete randomized design (dry matter intake) and a repeated-measure design (ME and CP, foraging time) with factorial treatment structure of season (windy and dry) and pasture (monoculture and silvopastoral). Voluntary intake (season*treatment interaction, p = 0.015) was lower in the windy-silvopastoral treatment (448.5±38.2 g day-1) than in the other treatments (625.8±38.2 to 680.5±38.2 g day-1). The contribution of ME (719.7-1190.2 kcal·day-1) and CP (53.7-100.7 g day-1) was low to cover the lamb requirements in all treatments, because forage availability and dry matter intake were low. Lambs dedicated from 6.65±0.26 to 7.50 ± 0.26 h to foraging; time spent grazing was longer that browsing in the silvopastoral system (p < 0.0001). The time dedicated to foraging, intake, and nutritive quality of forage from in both pasture types did not provide nutrients and energy during any season for maintenance of the lambs.

QUALITY OF CARP MEAT (Cyprinus carpio) PRODUCED IN A POND WITH THE ADDITION OF PURIFIED WASTEWATER ORIGINATING FROM THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

The aim of the study was to investigate production parameters and nutritive quality of carp meat produced in a fish pond fed with fresh well water mixed with purified slaughterhouse wastewater. The quality of carp fillet was analyzed in view of both chemical parameters and seasonal variations, i.e., time of sampling. Our research idea was that purified slaughterhouse wastewater would provide essential nutrients for carp and positively affect the quality of fish meat, which was confirmed in this experiment. The total carp production at the end of study period was 3270 kg/ha. The research revealed a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.5 kg of feed per one kg weight gain and a survival rate of 87%. Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between meat protein content during spring and autumn season was established. Protein content in meat was higher during spring season, whereas higher fat content was established during autumn sampling season. The application of purified slaughterhouse wastewater provided high level of nutrients resulting in high meat yield per area unit and good chemical composition of meat. Such production model is meaningful in both economic and ecological aspect.

Oxidative stress in broiler chicken and its consequences on meat quality

Oxidative stress is inevitable in poultry production, and it affects the physiological, behavioral and biochemical status of growing chicken which ultimately deteriorates meat quality. Appearance, texture, juiciness, tenderness and odor are responsible for the overall meat quality as they are essential perceptible features, which determine the consumer’s judgment. Overproduction of free radicals including reactive oxygen species (ROS) disturbs the mitochondrial function in living cells. During high-temperature mitochondrial substrate oxidation and electron transport chain (ETC) activity increases. This increased activity results in excessive production of superoxide that oxidizes protein and lipid contents in muscle tissues. By oxidizing protein and lipid, ROS spoils the nutritive quality of chicken meat. High ambient temperature is one of the major contributing factors that enhance oxidative stress. Poultry feed with anti-oxidant supplementation and innovative processing techniques can help the poultry industry to overcome oxidative stress.

Microalgal Diet Influences the Nutritive Quality and Reproductive Investment of the Cyclopoid Copepod Paracyclopina nana

Copepods represent an interesting alternative or a complement live food to brine shrimps and rotifers commonly used in aquaculture. They constitute the natural prey of many fish species and therefore do not require a potential nutritional enrichment. But an optimization of the microalgal diets used to feed copepods is essential to improve their mass culture. This study examined the effects of seven microalgal diets, namely single-species diets of Rhodomonas salina (R), Tisochrysis lutea (T), and Pavlova lutheri (=Diacronema lutheri) (P), two-species diets (R + T, T + P, and R + P), and a three-species diet (R + T + P), on the fatty acid and monosaccharide composition of the cyclopoid copepod Paracyclopina nana as well as its reproductive investment. Experiments were run during 15 days in 10-L beakers; starting with nauplii collected from a large 300-L batch culture. Copepods fatty acid contents were studied, particularly the relative amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosa-pentaenoic acid (EPA). The R + T, R, and T diets induced the highest total fatty acid amount in copepods. R + T and R also generated the lowest DHA/EPA ratios in copepods due to high EPA contents. The highest value of total monosaccharides was found in copepods fed with R + T + P. Diets R + T and R induced the greatest prosome volumes and clutch volumes in ovigerous females. Both prosome volume and clutch volume in P. nana ovigerous females were correlated to the individual EPA amount. The results demonstrated that all diets including R. salina enhanced the productivity of P. nana in mass culture, particularly when combined with T. lutea. R. salina, and T. lutea induced complementary fatty acid and monosaccharide profiles, confirming that R + T represents the best microalgae combination for productive culture of P. nana. Conversely, P. lutheri did not enhance the nutritional profile nor the fecundity of P. nana in the culture. This study is the first to demonstrate that R. salina is a suitable microalga for productive mass culture of P. nana for use as live food in aquaculture.

Characterization of the chemical and nutritive quality of coldpressed grape seed oils produced in the Republic of Serbia from different red and white grape varieties

Six cold-pressed oil samples obtained from the seeds of different grape varieties grown in a Fruška Gora vineyard in the Republic of Serbia were examined for chemical and nutritive quality, as well as antiradical capacity. All the tested samples were of good quality, but the results showed noticeable differences in seed oil properties for red and white grape varieties. The highest content in total tocols, 575.23 ± 4.46 mg/kg, was found in the red grape seed oil of the Merlot variety, but the vitamin E activity of white grape seed oils was significantly higher. Regarding single phenols, the most prevalent fraction in all the oil samples was ursolic acid, up to 336.3 ± 4.8 μg/g in the grape seed oil of the Hamburg variety. The highest content in the total phenolic compounds, 54.92 ± 0.93 μg GAE/g, was detected in the oil of red grape seeds. Although significant differences existed between samples, EC50 values were the lowest for the red grape seed oils, varying from 29.84 ± 1.07 to 65.34 ± 0.32 mg oil/mg DPPH, indicating that these oils had the highest antiradical capacity.

Assessment of Nutritive Quality of Maize (Zea mays L.) Produced and Stocked from Rural Conditions in Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major staple food for millions of people in Côte d’Ivoire. Due to its high productivity and low cost of calorie it is preferred crop for food security of the country. Thus, this study was conducted to assess nutritive quality of maize produced and stocked in five purposively selected regions of Côte d’Ivoire which represents five agroecological settings. Study Design: A total of 1500 samples of maize as grains, epis and spathes were collected at rate of 500 samples by region (Gbêkê, Poro, Hambol, Indénié-Djuablin and Gontougo) and sent to the laboratory in order to analyse their nutritional quality. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out during March 2016 to January 2017. The collected sample were carried out at the laboratory unit of Food Sciences and Biochemistry of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan. Methodology: Proximate analyses were carried out using standard methods AOAC (2000). Results: The results show significant difference from the biochemical compositions of maize type and region. Mean value intervals were as follow: dry matter (85.83 – 91.42%), ash (1.19 - 2%), proteins (7.99 - 9.32), lipids (3.21 - 4.47), carbohydrates (71.80 - 77.94), starches (62.30 - 68.44%), fibers (5.03 - 5.83%), total sugars (2,13 - 2.99%), reducing sugars (0.33 - 0.66%), free fat acidity (1.86- 4.50%), peroxide value (1.34 - 3.07 meq O2/kg), iodine value (100.93 - 130.56 g I2/100 g), unsaponifiable (0.89 - 1.54%) and energy values (357.88 - 374.39 kcal). Conclusion: A significant variability from one region to another can be noticed at level of maize quality regardless the type of maize. The nutritive quality of maize seems to be tied to postharvest treatments (drying), type of storage (epis, grains and spathes) and structure of storage.

Nontraditional Feedstuffs as an Alternative in Poultry Feed

Soybean meal and yellow corn are conventional feedstuffs used as the main ingredients in poultry feeds due to their high nutrients availability. On the other hand, these two feedstuffs are high in demand by other animals (soybean meal) and humans (yellow corn). By the year 2050, the world’s population is expected to increase up to 9.1 billion. Global consumption of poultry products, such as meat or eggs is increasing predominantly in developing countries. Consequently, the global demand for poultry feedstuffs would increase. The availability of feedstuffs for poultry nutrition nowadays is becoming more competitive. Thus, food security, especially in the developing countries, would be threatened. Currently, efforts are being made to use alternative feedstuffs to substitute portion of soybean meal and yellow corn in poultry diets. This chapter discusses the alternative feedstuffs that can be incorporated in poultry feeds. In addition, the nutritive content and availability are examined as well as how to improve the nutritive quality of such nontraditional feedstuffs.

Biomass yield and nutritive quality of four varieties of Pennisetum purpureum as influenced by three cutting intervals in the humid zone of Nigeria

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cutting intervals on the dry matter (DM) yield, yield components and nutrient contents of four varieties of Pennisetum purpureum. Varieties experimented include: Local green, Local purple, S13 and S15. These were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. All the four varieties of P. purpureum were cut at intervals of 4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback (WAC) to represent first, second and third cutting intervals respectively. Results showed that the dry matter yield of the P. purpureum grasses significantly decreased from first to third cutting intervals. Variety S15 recorded a higher (P < 0.05) dry matter yield (13.26 t ha-1) at the first cutting interval. Variety S13 had higher leaf proportion (89) at first cutting interval and tiller density (137.00 tiller-1 m2) at third cutting interval (than the other varieties). Cutting intervals had significant effect (P < 0.05) on the crude protein (CP) content of the grasses which was higher at second cutting interval for S15. In contrast, the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) increased from first to third cutting intervals for all the varieties. The CP and fibre contents of the Pennisetum varieties at different cutting intervals were within the levels recommended for optimum animal performance.