Effectiveness of Gandasil D Fertilizer Concentration on Indigofera Seedling Growth in Various Growing Media Compositions

Indigofera sp. is an environmentally friendly source of indigo dye for batik production and a material for livestock industry because this plant potentially serves as a forage protein source. This plant has the potential to be further developed and its cultivation requires quality seeds. Seedling growth is an important factor in achieving maximum productivity. Increasing its growth can be done by providing sufficient nutrients and using appropriate growing media. The results showed that there was an interaction between the concentration of Gandasil D fertilizer and growing media composition, namely at Gandasil D fertilizer concentration of 2 g/1 liter of water and a growing medium consisting of coco peat and compost with the parameters of plant height and stem diameter observed at 10 WAP. The Gandasil D fertilizer concentration of 2 g/1 liter of water affected the growth of Indigofera seedlings more effectively than other concentrations. A growing medium consisting of coco peat and compost with a ratio of 1:1 was more effective in boosting the growth of Indigofera seedlings than growing media consisting of other compositions.

Evaluating the food consumption among Indonesian young adults lived in a different environment

Background: Indonesian young adults who live abroad usually buy meals from café or catering. These meals tend to be less nutritious, including high fat, low fiber, and high carbohydrate.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the pattern of food consumption among young Indonesian adults who lived in a different environment.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with 497 participants (73 men and 420 women). Data were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) of 78 food groups. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to compare consumption patterns among study participants who lived in a different environment (Malang city, East Java, Indonesia, and Taipei City, Taiwan). Furthermore, the Chi-Square test and Fisher’s exact test analyzed the consumption level by gender.Results: Our study indicated no significant differences between food consumption of Indonesian young adults in Malang city, Indonesia, and Taipei City, Taiwan (p=0.623). Meanwhile, beverage (tea) was significantly different between gender in the home country (p=0.005). In contrast, participants who lived abroad showed significantly different consumption levels of fast food (instant noodle) and plant protein source (tofu) across gender (p=0.01 and p=0.02).Conclusion: The present study showed that fruits were often changed into juices, especially more frequent in a home country than abroad. Meanwhile, several food items, including beverages (tea), fast food, and plant protein source (tofu), showed significant differences across gender.

Protein Source and Intake Effects on Diet Digestibility and N Excretion in Horses—A Risk of Environmental N Load of Horses

Six Finnhorse mares were used in a digestibility trial, in which six typical horse diets were compared. The diets were: (A) haylage 100%; (B) hay 100%; (C) hay 70% and oats 30%; (D) hay 70% and soybean meal + oats 30%; (E) hay 70%, rapeseed meal + oats 30% and (F) hay 70 %, linseed meal + oats 30%. The trial was conducted according to an unbalanced 6 × 4 Latin square design with four 3-week experimental periods. The experimental period consisted of 17-day preliminary feeding which was followed by a 4-day total faecal and urine collection periods to evaluate N excretion. The digestibilities of DM (p < 0.001) and OM (p < 0.001) in the haylage-only diet were lower compared to the other diets. The supplemental protein feeds improved the diet digestibility of CP (p = 0.002) compared to a hay + oats diet. Furthermore, the DM (p = 0.019), OM (p = 0.006), and CP (p = 0.016) digestibilities of the soya-supplemented diet were better than those of the rapeseed- and linseed-supplemented diets. Faecal excretion was greater for haylage (19.3 kg fresh faeces and 3.6 kg DM/day) and hay (18.7 kg fresh faeces and 3.6 kg DM/day) diets (p < 0.001) compared with the other diets. Urine excretion was also greater for forage-only diets compared with diets including protein supplements. Horses excreted 14.0 L urine/day on haylage-only diet (p = 0.026) and 14.3 L/day on a hay-only diet (p = 0.003). Horses excreted more nitrogen in their urine than in dung. N excretion differed between the diets. Horses on a haylage-only diet excreted 51.6 g N in faeces /day and on hay-only diet 51.4 g N/day. On the other hand, when protein content in forages increased, N excretion via urine increased (haylage vs. dried hay). Horses excreted less N in urine with hay-only diet than with haylage-only or protein-supplemented diets (p < 0.001). When N excreted in faeces and urine was counted together, horses excreted less N with a hay-only diet (p < 0.001) than with a supplemented one (oats and/or protein feeds). The results showed that feed choices affected the amount of nitrogen excreted. Feeding recommendations should consider not only the horse category and work level, but also the protein source. When good quality protein is fed, smaller N intakes can be applied to reduce the N excretion via urine and dung. At the farm level, improved understanding of feed quality, as well as feeding planning and practices, is a way to decrease the risk of N leaching and evaporation.

Meat Quality In Broiler Chickens Fed On Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata [L.] Walp) Seeds

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet containing untreated cowpea (CWP; Aura 26 variety) seeds as a protein source on quality parameters (physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition) of chickens’ breast and thigh muscles. A total of 240 Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allotted to two groups (1 fed with soybean meal (SBM) and 2 fed with CWP), 6 replicate pens per group (20 chicks/pen). At 6 weeks of age, twelve birds/group were slaughtered. Breast and thigh muscles of birds fed CWP diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; C:18:3n-3, C:20:5n-3) compared with birds fed SBM diet. The n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio of the muscles decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the CWP group. The study revealed that the use of CWP as a substitute for SBM had significant effects on physicochemical components of breast and thigh muscles. The lightness (L*) and redness (a*) of breast and thigh muscles were higher in the CWP treatment. The collagen and protein contents were higher, while the fat content was decreased (P < 0.05) in the CWP group. The texture profile analysis in breast and thigh muscles were comparable (P > 0.05) in both groups. These results confirm that CWP can be considered a promising protein source for broiler chicken feed.