PSVI-42 Effect of increasing concentrations of aflatoxins (AFB1) on rumen gas production (GP), dry matter (DM) disappearance and fermentation parameters using the in vitro ANKOM gas technique

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species known to be the most prevalent contaminants in feedstuffs. In ruminants, contaminated AFB1 feeds usually exhibit symptoms including reduced feed efficiency and milk production and decreased appetite. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of AFB1 on rumen fermentation parameters by using the ANKOM gas production protocol. Rumen fluid was collected from a cannulated dry dairy cow, filtered with cheese-cloth and diluted (1:1) with a standard buffer. Triplicates of 75 mL flasks were fed 0,75g of feed (79% corn silage, 15% alfalfa and 6% concentrates) and inoculated with 0 (blank), 0,2, 0,5, 1 and 2 ppm of AFB1. Flasks were placed in a rotating incubation at 39°C for 96h and connected to ANKOM GP system. After 96h of incubation, the contents of each flask were centrifuged. Supernatants were analyzed for total VFA and AFB1 while precipitates were dried at 104°C for DM disappearance. The experimentation was repeated weekly 3 times and named wk1, 2 and 3. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS using a univariate model. Results showed no significant differences on GP max at 96h among AFB1 concentrations. Only wk 1 showed that higher AFB1 concentration (2 ppm) decreased significantly (P < 0,05) DM disappearance (- 8,2 pts) when compared to the blank. Total VFA contents (75,0 ± 1,6 mM) were not affected by AFB1. Wk 2 and 3 did not show any difference neither on DM disappearance nor on VFA (89,1 ± 1,6 mM; 110,2 ± 4,8 mM). It can be concluded that our in vitro model, GP did not reflect DM disappearance and it can be put forward that rumen fluid with low total VFA concentrations (≤ 75 mM) could be more sensible to AFB1 challenge.

The Use of Clay as Potassium Permanganate Carrier to Delay the Ripening of Raja Bulu Banana

<p>ABSTRACT</p><p><br />The objective of this experiment was to study the usage of clay as potassium permanganate (KMnO4) carrier during storage of banana var. Raja Bulu. A 1,000 g air-dried-clay was incorporated well with 500 ml aquadest, added with 100 ml KMnO4 solution (75 %) made into paste. After air dried for 24 hours and then the powder was put in cheese cloth. Three different amount of clay powder were used as treatment, i.e., 10 g, 30 and 50 g for six fingers of banana with three replicates. Results showed that clay powder effective as KMnO4 carrier for storage of banana var. Raja Bulu. Level of clay powder 30 and 50 g significantly increased banana shelf life as indicated by skin color and hardness by 18 days after treatments, as compared to the control. Application of 30 g clay powder resulted in optimum banana storage as compared to other treatments. This experiment indicates that clay powder is promising as KMnO4 carrier.</p><p>Key words: absorber, clay powder, post harvest, potassium permanganate, Raja Bulu</p>

EVALUASI KETAHANAN HIBRIDA HASIL PERSILANGAN KACANG HIJAU DAN KACANG UCI TERHADAP Callosobruchus chinensis L. (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE)

The adzuki bean weevil Callosobruchus chinensis is the main pest of mungbean especially during seed storage. Mungbean generally has low yield and is susceptible to main pests. Ricebean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi & Ohashi) has superior characters such as the high pod number per plant and resistance to many pests. The interspecific hybridization was conducted to combine the superior characters of mungbean and ricebean. The objectives of this research were to evaluate resistance of hybrids of interspecific hybridization between mungbean and ricebean to C. chinensis and to determine pattern of resistant inheritance. Evaluation of resistance to this pest was conducted in bottles by placing 200 hybrid seeds and then 20 C. chinensis adults were introduced into the bottle covered by dense cheese cloth. The bottles were arranged in a completely ramdomized design with three replications. The treatment consisted of eight hybrids and six parents. The results showed that the resistance of the test hybrids to C. chinensis was different among cross combinations. Hybrids of crossing between mungbean Merak variety and yellow ricebean as well as Vima variety and red ricebean were moderately resistant, while the others were resistant. There was resistance improvement of hybrids to C. chinensis. The resistance of the hybrids to C. chinensis was controlled by single gene with partially dominance gene action.

Relation between in vivo and in vitro fermentation of oligosaccharides in weaner pigs

Non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs), including fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and trans-galacto-oligosaccharides (TOS), are not digested by endogenous enzymes, but may be fermented by bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (Tomomatsu, 1994). Thus, dietary NDOs may alter fermentation characteristics of the microflora of the host. In this experiment, in vivo and in vitro fermentation characteristics of NDOs in weaner pigs were studied, using the cumulative gas production technique (Theodorou et al.,1994).A NDO-free control diet (CON), with oatshuskmeal (OHM) as a fibre source, and this diet with 40 g FOS (FOS40) or TOS (TOS40) per kg (w/w against cellulose) was restrictedly fed for 7 weeks (2.6*Em) to 3 groups of four 35-day old individually housed weaner pigs. Total faeces were collected from day 13-18 to determine crude fibre digestibility. Pigs were fitted with a PVTC-cannula on day 21 (Van Leeuwen et al, 1991). Inocula for gas production were anaerobically prepared from faeces (day 14-16) and ileal chyme (day 33-35, via PVTC-cannula). Samples were diluted (1:4) with sterile saline and filtered through cheese cloth. Five ml filtrate were injected into airtight bottles, containing 80 ml growth medium and no substrate (BLA) or 0.25 g FOS, TOS or OHM as sole energy source.

STUDIES IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF TRACHYKELE BLONDELI MARSEUL

In connection with studies on the biology of T. blondeli, condnctec in the years 1926 to 1930 inclusive, at Pender Harbour, British Columbia, red cedar trees were inclosed in cheese-cloth cages with a view to determining the duration of the larval stage. The cages were constructed prior to April 30, 1926, and the emergence of bettles from the trees was recorded.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE SUMMER OF 1881

I came only last year on the premises where I am now residing, and though I had a small crop of cherries, they were so badly infested with the weevii (Conotrachelus nenuphar) that only a few quarts could be found free from the grub and fit for canning. This year a fair crop was promised, the spring was late and the danger of frost little. I proposed therefore to make war upon the enemy, and as soon as the blossom was over prepared a larse sheet of cheese-cloth, and for about three weeks jarred the trees before breakfast almost every morning. As the result, I have now nearly 2,000 weevils peacefully reposing in a bottle, after a composing draught of benzine. Only about 10 per cent. of my cherries this year were unfit for use. I carried the war into the orchard, and simply by way of experiment, jarred some of the early apple trees and captured a great many of my enemies. I am more than repaid for my labors both on the cherry and apple trees by the quality of the apples, when last year, with a larger crop, I only obtained knotty, gnarly fruit. I have this year round, smooth, well-shaped apples. I have never heard that anything has been done, at least in this neighborhood, to trap the weevils on the apple trees. Those who live in the north have no idea of the mischief wrought here by the weevil in the orchards.