Productivity of young sheep of Romanov breed at diff erent level of feeding

The purpose of the research was a comparative study of the efficiency of feed use and the productivity of young sheep at different feeding levels, as well as clarifying the norms of metabolic energy and raw protein for growing young rams of Romanov breed with intensive rearing and fattening at the age of 3 to 10 months. Scientifi c and economic experiment has been carried out in the sheep breeding complex of the breeding farm in the OOO Farm “Pokrov” in the Zubtsovsky area in the Tver region. After weaning of sheep at the age of 3 months, 2 groups of young rams and 2 groups of young ewes have been formed, from twin litters per 15 heads in each. It has been found that the intensity of the growth of young rams was higher at both levels of rearing and fattening. The young rams of the 1st control group grew by 16,61 kg during the experimental feeding period, and the young ewes by 9,62 kg. In animals of the 2nd experimental group, the difference was 5,52 kg or 32,8 % in favor of the young rams. All indicators of the slaughter of young rams, depending on the level of feeding diff ered significantly. Thus, the difference in removable weight was 5,77 kg or 17,7 % in favor of animals of the 2nd experimental group. The difference between the groups by pre-slaughter weight was 5,74 kg or 19,2 % (P ≤ 0,001). By weight of the hot carcass, the sheep of the 2nd experimental group significantly exceeded the 1st control group by 2,82 kg or 21,3 % (P ≤ 0,01), by slaughter weight the difference was 3,97 kg or 29,0 % (P ≤ 0,01). The slaughter yield increased from 45,7 to 49,5 % or 3,8 abs.%. Age affects the efficiency of mutton production. Thus, the cost of 1 kg of mutton did not diff er from 7-month-old and 10–month-old rams, and feed expenditures increased significantly, therefore the prime-cost of mutton in older animals also increased, and the profitability of production decreased. Therefore, the slaughter of animals and the sale of mutton under intensive rearing is more effective at the age of 7 months.

Prevalence and risk factors of Eimeria spp. natural infection in sheep from northern Paraná, Brazil

The present study aimed to perform an epidemiological and morphological identification of Eimeria infection in sheep in Brazil. Fecal samples from sheep were collected from 20 farms in northern Paraná, Brazil. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to evaluate the risk factors. Fecal samples containing oocysts per gram of feces (OoPG) ≥1000 were subjected to the modified Willis-Mollay method to perform oocyst identification. Sporulated oocysts were observed microscopically for morphological identification. A total of 807 fecal samples were collected. Based on the morphological characteristics of the sporulated oocysts, 10 species of Eimeria were identified, with main species observed: Eimeira ovinoidalis (98.1%), Eimeria crandallis (87.6%), Eimeria parva (79.1%), and Eimeria bakuensis (60.8%). Only 2.6% (7/268) of the sheep were infected with a single species, 4.8% (13/268) contained two different species, and 92.5% (248/268) were infected with three or more species. The analysis of risk factors showed that an intensive rearing, no rotation of pasture, dirt, and slatted floors, and age up to 12 months were associated with infection. This study showed a high prevalence of Eimeria natural infection in sheep from northern Paraná, Brazil. Furthermore, based on the risk factors, good management and hygiene practices must be employed to avoid infection.

The dynamics of population and production of Native Chicken under extensive- and semi-intensive maintenance

This study evaluated kampung chickens’ growth rate and production performance in extensive and semi-intensive rearing in Central Java, Indonesia. The survey method was employed for this study. The targets used in the study were kampung chicken farmers in the Banyumas and Kebumen areas. The survey method is carried out by collecting data, observing and measuring population, production performance, including meat and egg production. The data obtained, processed, and presented in the tables and graphs, calculated the population and production of chicken to evaluate its growth. The performance of chicken production, including egg production, egg weight, number of eggs hatched, and hatchability, was analyzed using general linear model (GLM) analysis. The result showed a 1.9% growth rate of the native chicken population, in which the hens outnumbered the roosters. The meat and egg production growth rates were 8.2% and 6.8%, respectively, between 2016 and 2020 in Central Java. Native chickens kept under semi-intensive maintenance produced more eggs than those in an extensive system. Conclusively, native chicken of Central Java experienced growth in population and production of meat and egg. The semi-intensive system, compared to the extensive system, had a higher rate of eggs production.

Simplified Hatchery Protocols for Culture of Orange-Spotted Spinefoot Siganus guttatus (Bloch, 1787) in Palawan, Philippines

Three hatchery experiments for orange-spotted spinefoot, Siganus guttatus (Bloch, 1787), were carried out in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines using larvae and fingerlings produced through induced spawning. The first experiment (E1) involving larvae raised in six 5,000-L concrete tanks until 39 days post-hatch (dph) comparing two stocking densities (T1: 3; and T2: 5 larva.L-1), obtained survival rates (SR) of 6.00 and 7.85 %. The second experiment (E2) monitored the growth and survival of 47 dph juveniles for 3 weeks, raised in 25-L plastic basins, fed with a commercial diet at three stocking densities with five replications. The initial stocking densities (6, 12, 18 ind.L-1) were reduced during the second (4, 8, 12 ind.L-1) and third (2, 4, 6 ind.L-1) week, respectively. The weekly SR for all treatments ranged between 99.2 and 100 %. Weekly final total lengths (TL) were not significantly different except during the second week. The third experiment (E3) evaluated the effects of two types of commercial feeds (T1: grouper feed; T2: milkfish feed) on the growth and survival of 47 dph juveniles in plastic basins for 3 weeks, at similar densities reduced on a weekly basis. The SR (96.2 to 99.9 %) were not significantly different, but the TL of fish in T1 (4.39 cm) were significantly bigger than in T2 (3.52 cm). While there is a need to improve the low and irregular survival of S. guttatus larvae for cost-effective large-scale production, we recommend using small basins in the intensive rearing of juveniles.

THE IMPACT OF INTENSIVE RAISING OF AUSTRALIAN HOLSTEIN HEIFERS ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF COW MILK

Background: The study of growth, development and productivity features of imported cattle from Australia to the Krasnodar Territory is of great scientific and practical interest, which is topical. Since the productive features of the imported genotypes have not been studied sufficiently, not only in the farms of the Krasnodar Territory but also in other regions of Russia, they require further, more in-depth study and improvement under the new conditions of feeding and housing. Aim: The research aimed to study the influence of intensive rearing of replacement heifers of the Holstein breed of Australian selection on cow milk quality indicators. Methods: The studies were conducted at Artex-Agro LLC, Kushchevsky District of the Krasnodar Territory, concerning the descendants of the imported Australian Holstein cattle. Sixty-four heifers were selected for the study. The experimental replacement heifers were raised using the enhanced milk feeding rates and the Cellobacterin probiotic product. They were raised intensively and inseminated when they were 14 months old. The milk productivity of cows and the physicochemical properties of milk were studied during three lactations after calving. Results and Discussion: The milk productivity of the cows from the experimental groups has exceeded one of their herd mates from the control group by 450 – 1,360 kg. The best indicators of the physicochemical properties of milk have been determined in the milk of the cows raised from the heifers fed with 450 kg of the whole milk during the first 50 days until they were six months old. Conclusions: The authors believe that intensive rearing of replacement heifers positively affected the degree of development of their gastrointestinal tract and improved the level of milk yield and its physicochemical parameters.

Growth of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) in Aeroponics, DRF, and Raft Systems with Effluents of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Decoupled Aquaponics (s.s.)

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) was cultivated in three hydroponic subsystems (i) a modified commercial aeroponics, (ii) a dynamic root floating (DRF) system, and (iii) a floating raft system in a decoupled aquaponic system in Northern Germany, Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania. For plant nutrition, aquaculture process water from intensive rearing of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was used without fertilizer. After 39 days, 16 plant growth parameters were compared, with aeroponics performing significantly better in 11 parameters compared with the DRF, and better compared with the raft in 13 parameters. The economically important leaf wet and dry weight was over 40% higher in aeroponics (28.53 ± 8.74 g; 4.26 ± 1.23 g), but similar in the DRF (20.19 ± 6.57 g; 2.83 ± 0.90 g) and raft (20.35 ± 7.14 g; 2.84 ± 1.04 g). The roots in the DRF grew shorter and thicker; however, this resulted in a higher root dry weight in aeroponics (1.08 ± 0.38 g) compared with the DRF (0.82 ± 0.36 g) and raft (0.67 ± 0.27 g). With optimal fertilizer and system improvement, aquaponic aeroponics (s.s.) could become a productive and sustainable large-scale food production system in the future. Due to its simple construction, the raft is ideal for domestic or semi-commercial use and can be used in areas where water is neither scarce nor expensive. The DRF system is particularly suitable for basil cultivation under hot tropical conditions.

Dynamics of the live weight of replacement heifers depending on their origin from the sire

In the last few decades the improvement of domestic dairy cattle was due to the widespread use of the gene pool of the best world breed such as Holstein. As a result of crossbreeding the breeding stock of the domestic Black-and-White breed with the sires of Holstein breed in different regions of the country a population of crossbreds has been created. The purpose of the work was to study the age dynamics of the live weight of replacement heifers depending on the paternal origin and the correlation between the indicators for the growth periods. The daughters of different sires have a difference in their live weight at the first insemination. The live weight of more than 400 kg was obtained from replacement heifers obtained from the sires Saber, Decaro and Baquero. The daughters of the sires Gatedenser, Bentley and Alta Ciara in live weight were inferior to their herdmates by 2,7–9,3 kg or by 0,7–2,8 % (P ≥ 0,05). The bulk of the replacement heifers are inseminated at the age of 13 months and only the daughters of the sire Alta Ciara are inseminated at the age of 14,1 months with a live weight of 396,7 kg. Despite the almost identical live weight of heifers at birth they differed from each other in the process of rearing. It has been established that the live weight at birth is not an indicator for assessing the further growth of replacement young animals. At 6 months of age the correlation of live weight at the age of 6 months and at the first insemination was positive and ranges from 0,01 (daughters of the sire Baquero) to 0,55 (daughters of the sire Decaro). Selection of heifers at the age of 6 months by their live weight allows us to choose the best and provide the opportunity to inseminate them at the age of 12–13 months with the organization of intensive rearing.

Egg quality of laying hens fed with cassava (Manihot esculenta), moringa (Moringa oleifera) and bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeata) in semi-intensive rearing system

This study aimed to evaluate the introduction of cassava flour, moringa leaf meal and bocaiuva pulp in laying hens’ diets on egg quality. Nine hundred eggs from Dekalb® White laying hens between 34 and 54 weeks of age rearing in semi-intensive system were used in the experiment. The laying hens were submitted to the following diets: 1 - diet control: maize and soybean meal base diet; 2 - diet with inclusion of 18% of cassava root meal+4% moringa leaf meal+4% of bocaiuva pulp; 3 - diet with the inclusion of 24% of cassava root meal+6% of moringa leaf meal+6% of bocaiuva pulp; 4 - diet with the inclusion of 30% of cassava root meal+8% of moringa leaf meal+8% bocaiuva pulp. The inclusion of higher levels of alternative ingredients intensified yolk color; it improved the percentage of albumen, yolk index, specific gravity and reduced yolk percentage. The association of 30% de cassava root meal+8% de moringa leaf meal+8% de bocaiuva pulp does not decrease the egg quality; it gives the yolk an orange yellow tone and it can be used in diets of laying hens with 34 and 54 weeks of age in semi-intensive systems.

Effects of varying group sizes on performance, body defects, and productivity in broiler chickens

This study aimed to determine the changes in the performance, welfare, and productivity level of broiler chickens reared at various group sizes and non-grouped (single flock) under intensive field conditions. Two treatments were tested as a concept in all trials. In the GF (grouped flock) house, the grouping was applied at 6000 (GF 1 or large GF), 4000 (GF 2 or medium GF), and 3000 (GF 3 or small GF) broilers in the first, second and third trials, respectively, without changing the stocking density. In the SF (single flock) house, classical intensive rearing was applied without grouping the whole 20000 broilers during each of 3 trials (SF 1, 2, and 3). The results showed that large and medium GF chickens had higher BW than SFs at slaughter age. In SF 2 chickens, only HB level was significantly higher in the second trial (1.39 vs. 1.17). In the third trial, the FPD, HB, and BB scores of SF 3 chickens were higher when compared to small GFs at 1.85 to 1.41, 1.48 to 1.22, and 2.27 to 1.89, respectively. Chickens reared in GFs had more BW, FI, and better FCR and EPEF values when compared to SF chickens. BW, FI, and EPEF were observed to be lower—while FCR was higher—when SF chickens were compared to GFs. Upon considering the EPEF value along with welfare parameters, it has been observed that rearing chickens in groups of 3000 may increase productivity by up to 54.8% according to intensive conditions.