Levels of substitution of corn by soybean hulls in high-concentrate diets for finishing beef heifers

We examined the production performance of Nellore heifers fed high-concentrate (90%) diets in which ground corn (GC) was substituted by ground soybean hulls (SH) at increasing levels (0, 33, 66, and 100%), in the concentrate portion. A total of 144 heifers (263.40 ± 13.90 kg average initial weight; 27 months old) received the test diets in a feedlot for 112 days. The experiment was set up as a completely randomised design with four treatments. Data were subjected to ANOVA and orthogonal contrasts, adopting ? = 5%. The sum of squares of treatments in the contrast analysis was decomposed into two orthogonal contrasts (L - linear and Q - quadratic effect) for the level of SH substituting GC. Dry matter intake was not changed by the GC substitution levels, averaging 2.51% of body weight. There was a linear increase in neutral detergent fibre intake (1.08, 2.03, 2.92, 3.78, 4.85 kg/day) and feed conversion (6.20, 7.08, 7.77, and 8.67 kg/kg); and a linear decrease in total digestible nutrient intake (5.78, 5.16, 5.03, 5.12, and 3.66 kg/day), average daily gain (1.24, 1.11, 1.02, and 0.89 kg/day), and slaughter weight (383.52, 374.71, 363.25, and 366.27 kg) as the substitution level was increased (0, 33, 66, and 100%, respectively). Subcutaneous fat thickness and loin-eye area were not influenced (P > 0.05), averaging 5.30 mm and 53.09 cm2, respectively. Substituting ground corn by ground soybean hulls in high-concentrate diets determined a reduction in production performance of feedlot-finished Nellore heifers.

Soybean-derived blue photoluminescent carbon dots

Biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) are biocompatible and have potential for a variety of applications, including bioimaging and biosensing. In this work, we use ground soybean residuals to synthesize carbon nanoparticles by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), annealing at high temperature, and laser ablation (LA) in a NH4OH solution. The carbon nanoparticles synthesized with the HTC process (HTC-CDs) exhibit photoluminescent characteristics with strong blue emission. The annealing of the HTC-processed carbon particles in the range of 250 to 850 °C causes a loss of the photoluminescent characteristics of the CDs without any significant change in the microstructure (amorphous structure) of the carbon particles. The LA processing of the annealed HTC-processed carbon particles introduces nitrogen-containing surface-functional groups and leads to the recovery of the photoluminescent features that are different from those of the HTC-CDs and dependent on the fraction of nitrogen in the surface-functional groups. The photoluminescence of both the HTC-CDs and LA-CDs is largely due to the presence of N-containing surface-functional groups. The quantum yield of the LA-CDs is more constant than that of the HTC-CDs under continuous UV excitation and does not exhibit a significant reduction after 150 min of excitation. The methods used in this work provide a simple and green strategy to introduce N-surface-functional groups to carbon nanoparticles made from biomass and biowaste and to produce stable photoluminescent CDs with excellent water-wettability.

Effects of soybean meal versus processed whole soybean diets on the performance of young bulls and the fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat

Context It is hypothesised that the use of processed soybean for feedlot beef cattle improves feed efficiency and produces beef with a better fatty acid profile for human health. Aims This study aimed to evaluate average daily gain, feed efficiency, carcass traits, chemical composition, fatty acid profile and colour in the beef of young bulls fed diets with ground or extruded soybean. Methods A total of 60 young Zebu bulls (Nellore or Nellore crossed with other Zebu breeds) with an average initial liveweight of 320 ± 8.12 kg and an average initial age of 20 ± 2 months were randomly assigned to receive one of the following diets for 84 days: dehulled and defatted soybean meal (3.22% of ether extract), ground soybean (6.51% of ether extract) or extruded soybean (6.37% of ether extract). The fatty acid profiles of these animals were analysed using high-resolution gas chromatography. The CIE L*a*b* colour space model was used to numerically describe the colour during the aging period (0, 7, 14 and 21 days). Key results Diet had no effect on the average daily gain, feed efficiency or carcass traits of the animals (P > 0.05). Protein, ether extract and ash composition of the Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle were not affected (P > 0.30) by the use of processed soybean grains. The ground soybean diet decreased oleic acid and C18:2 c9, t11 concentrations, but increased C18:2 t10, c12 and trans-octadecenoic acid isomer concentrations in the LL muscle compared with those in the dehulled and defatted soybean meal and extruded soybean diets (P < 0.05). Muscle from bulls fed processed soybean exhibited greater concentrations of stearic acid and saturated fatty acids, and a lower concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, as well as a decreased unsaturated fatty acids:saturated fatty acids ratio (P < 0.05). Processed soybean grains did not affect (P > 0.05) the LL muscle pH or colour. Conclusions The use of ground or extruded soybean did not affect the performance, carcass traits, LL protein, ether extract or ash composition, and had no impact on beef colour compared with the diet containing soybean meal. Processed whole soybeans in the diet did not increase unsaturated fatty acids or conjugated linoleic acid in beef compared with a diet without soybean meal. Implications Up to 20% of ground or extruded soybean in feedlot beef cattle can be used as a replacement for soybean meal and corn.

The effects of dietary soybean hulls particle size and diet form on nursery and finishing pig performance1

Two experiments were conducted to investigate increasing unground and finely ground soybean hulls fed in meal or pelleted form on nursery and finishing pig performance. In experiment 1, 1,100 nursery pigs (initially 6.8 ± 0.1 kg and 28 d of age) were used in a 42-d study with 11 replicates per treatment. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of soybean hulls (10% vs. 20%), grind type (unground, 617 µ vs. ground, 398 µ), and diet type (pelleted vs. meal form). No three-way or soybean hull level × grind type interactions were observed. Overall, average daily gain (ADG) was increased (P < 0.05) by pelleting, decreased (P < 0.05) by grinding, but unaffected by soybean hull levels. Grind type × diet form interactions were observed (P < 0.05) for gain:feed ratio (G:F) and a tendency for average daily feed intake (ADFI; P < 0.10). This was because grinding soybean hulls decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI and increased (P < 0.05) G:F when fed in meal form; however, grinding did not affect ADFI and decreased (P < 0.05) G:F when diets were pelleted. Increasing soybean hulls increased (P < 0.05) ADFI and decreased (P < 0.05) G:F when diets were fed in meal form, but these effects were not observed when diets were pelleted (diet form × soybean hull level interaction, P < 0.06). In experiment 2, 1,215 pigs (initially 21.1 ± 0.1 kg) were used in a 118-d study with nine replications per treatment. Treatments were a corn–soybean meal–based control diet and four diets arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with the main effects of soybean hulls (7.5% vs. 15%) and grind type (unground, 787 µ vs. ground, 370 µ). All diets were fed in meal form. No soybean hull level × grind type interactions were observed for any growth or carcass responses. Increasing dietary soybean hulls from 0% to 15%, regardless of particle size, did not affect ADG or ADFI, but decreased (linear, P < 0.02) G:F. Carcass yield, hot carcass weight, and backfat depth decreased (linear, P < 0.03) whereas percentage lean increased (linear, P < 0.01) with increasing soybean hulls. Pigs fed ground soybean hulls had increased backfat depth (P < 0.01) and decreased (P < 0.01) percentage lean and fat-free lean index. In summary, increasing soybean hulls up to 20% decreased G:F in nursery and finishing pigs, whereas pelleting nursery diets improved ADG and eliminated the negative effect of increasing soybean hulls on G:F. Grinding soybean hulls reduced growth performance in nursery and finishing pigs.

Soybean-derived blue photoluminescent carbon dots

Biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) are biocompatible and have the potential in a variety of applications, including bio-imaging and bio-sensing. In this work, we use ground soybean residuals to synthesize carbon nanoparticles by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), annealing at high temperatures, and laser ablation (LA) in a NH4OH solution. The carbon nanoparticles synthesized with the HTC process (HTC-CDs) exhibit photoluminescent characteristics with strong blue emission. The annealing of the HTC-CDs at temperatures in a range of 250 to 850 ⁰C causes the loss of the photoluminescent characteristics without any significant changes in the microstructures (amorphous structure) of carbon particles. The LA processing of the annealed HTC-CDs introduces nitrogen-contained surface-functional groups and leads to the recovery of the photoluminescent features that are different from those of the HTC-CDs and dependent on the fraction of nitrogen in the surface-functional groups. The photoluminescence of both the HTC-CDs and LA-CDs is largely due to the presence of N-contained surface-functional groups. The quantum yield of the LA-CDs is more stable than that of the HTC-CDs under continuous UV excitation and does not exhibit significant reduction over 150 min excitation. The methods used in this work provide a simple and green strategy to introduce surface-functional groups to carbon nanoparticles from biomass and biowaste and to produce stable photoluminescent CDs with excellent water-wettability.

78 Low allergenic full fat soybean as a suitable replacement for fishmeal in weaned pig diets

This study evaluated a low allergen (P34 protein) and low anti-nutritional factor (trypsin inhibitor and lectin) in both soybean meal form (LASBM) and full fat ground soybean form (LAGR) as substitutes for fishmeal (FM) in nursery pig diets based on growth performance. Weaned pigs (n = 112; 7.30 ± 0.43 kg BW) were allotted to 28 pens (2 barrows and 2 gilts per pen) by initial BW. Pens (n = 7/diet) were randomly assigned to one of 4 dietary treatments in 2 phases (Ph1 = 5d, Ph2 = 13d): control diet containing FM (7.25%, Ph1; 6%, Ph2), and LASBM, LAGR or conventional SBM substituted for FM to supply an equivalent portion of crude protein. Pigs received a common Ph3 diet (18 d). Pig weight and feed disappearance was determined by phase. Data was analyzed as a one-way ANOVA. Model included main effect of diet with pen as experimental unit. In Ph1, pigs fed FM had lower (P < 0.01) ADG than LAGR or SBM and lower (P < 0.01) ADFI than all diets. In Ph2, SBM-fed pigs had higher (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI compared to all treatments. Pigs previously fed LAGR tended to have higher gain (P < 0.10) than pigs previously fed LASBM in Ph3. There were no differences in gain:feed between diets. Based on growth performance, LAGR would be suitable replacement for FM in nursery diets.