Effects of Supplementing High or Low Quality Forages with Corn or Corn Processing Co-Products Upon Digestibility of Dry Matter and Energy by Steers

A digestibility trial, utilizing eight crossbred steers weighing initially 741 lbs. was conducted in an 8 x 8 Latin square design. High-fiber corn by-products were compared with corn as energy sources when fed in mixed diets with either lowor high-quality forage. Ground, dry corn stover and ground alfalfa hay were both fed alone or with corn grain, dried corn gluten feed (CGF), and dried corn distillers grains plus solubles (DDG) in a 1:1 ratio (dry basis). Total tract dry matter digestibility (DMD) was increased for both forages when fed with concentrates. Total tract DMD was similar in stover-based and alfalfa-based diets fed with CGF and DDG. However, stover+corn was lower in DMD than either stover+CGF and stover+DDG. Conversely, alfalfa+corn was higher in DMD than alfalfa+CGF or alfalfa+DDG. Feeding stover with corn tended to decrease digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), while feeding stover with CGF or DDG increased NDFD. There was no effect upon NDF digestion of alfalfa-based diets when fed with any of the concentrates. Feeding either forage with a concentrate increased digestible energy (DE). Stover+CGF and stover+DDG were similar in DE and were both higher in DE than stover+corn. Alfalfa+DDG tended to be higher than alfalfa+CGF and was similar to alfalfa+corn in DE. Alfalfa+CGF was lower in DE compared with alfalfa+corn. Results are interpreted to indicate that stover is more susceptible to negative feed interactions caused by corn grain than is alfalfa. Additionally, highfiber corn co-products fed with stover resulted in a positive associative effect but essentially had no associative effect when fed with alfalfa.

Total and phytate-phosphorus contents and phytase activity of Australian-sourced feed ingredients for pigs and poultry

A total of 160 samples of 20 Australian-sourced feed ingredients of plant origin for pigs and poultry was analysed for total phosphorus and phytate-phosphorus contents and endogenous phytase activity. The majority of total P was present as phytate-phosphorus, and these concentrations were significantly correlated in 9 feed ingredients. The endogenous phytase activity in tested feed ingredients was negligible other than for wheat, its by-products and barley. Phytate-phosphorus was determined by a standard 'ferric chloride precipitation' method, which was satisfactory for individual feed ingredients, with the exception of lupins and faba beans. It appears that phytate is more difficult to extract from these two feedstuffs, possibly because of the affinity of phytate for protein. Ferric chloride precipitation methods are not suitable for phytate-phosphorus determinations of complete feed samples containing other sources of phosphorus, which is a distinct limitation. A lesser limitation is that these methods cannot distinguish between the various esters of myo-inositol phosphate present. Given the variation of phytate contents within ingredients, particularly wheat, the desirability of determining dietary substrate levels is emphasised to take full advantage of including exogenous phytases in pig and poultry diets to reduce phosphorus excretion and abate phosphorus pollution.

Matching poultry production with available feed resources: issues and constraints

Corn and soyabeans may not be available in many countries particularly those which do not have sufficient foreign currency or the capacity to grow them. This paper outlines strategies that may be important under these circumstances. Alternative feedstuffs and various feeding systems may be used to support poultry production. Alternative ingredients such as rice bran, pearl millet, cottonseed meal and grain legumes are discussed. Evidence is presented showing that amino acid requirements of layers and broilers may be too generous particularly in countries where climate, management and disease can impose production constraints. The ability of finishing broilers to perform well on very low-energy diets allows the inclusion of alternative feeds and by-products into formulations. Very low protein diets based on cereals and free amino acids can be used for layers without loss of performance. Self-selection of feedstuffs may be an important strategy in reducing feed costs of broilers and layers. The concept of matching production with available feed resources may compromise broiler growth and egg production, but in many countries this may be the most economical choice. Countries in the humid tropics usually have reduced poultry performance. The effects of high temperature and humidity are difficult to overcome. The vexed questions of the escalation in the price of fossil fuel and the outbreak of avian influenza, both seemingly without a solution, are clouds hanging over an otherwise buoyant industry.

Food-borne pathogens and pig waste products - the spoke in the wheel?

Food-borne pathogens are present in normal healthy pigs and thus are also present in pig wastes and by-products. The presence of these pathogens can be viewed negatively (i.e. 'a spoke in the wheel') or as simply another issue that requires the adoption of appropriate guidelines and management procedures. A key component in the development of appropriate, effective guidelines and management practices is a solid basis of knowledge on which pathogens are present as well as the levels of these pathogens. This paper reviews Australian Pork Limited (APL) funded projects carried out in our laboratories that have provided a solid base of Australian data for the pig industry. These data will ensure that pathogens are not 'a spoke in the wheel' but rather an issue - like many others that confront the industry - that can be managed to ensure that there is no unacceptable risk to either public health or the environment.

Ferrolysis induced soil transformation by natural drainage in Vertisols of sub-humid South India

In sub-humid South India, recent studies have shown that black soil areas (Vertisols and vertic Intergrades), located on flat valley bottoms, have been rejuvenated through the incision of streambeds, inducing changes in the pedoclimate and soil transformation. Joint pedological, geochemical and geophysical investigations were performed in order to better understand the ongoing processes and their contribution to the chemistry of local rivers. The seasonal rainfall causes cycles of oxidation and reduction in a perched watertable at the base of the black soil, while the reduced solutions are exported through a loamy sand network. This framework favours a ferrolysis process, which causes low base saturation and protonation of clay, leading to the weathering of 2:1 then 1:1 clay minerals. Maximum weathering conditions occur at the very end of the wet season, just before disappearance of the perched watertable. Therefore, the by-products of soil transformation are partially drained off and calcareous nodules, then further downslope, amorphous silica precipitate upon soil dehydration. The ferrolysed area is fringing the drainage system indicating that its development has been induced by the streambed incision. The distribution of C-14 ages of CaCO3 nodules suggests that the ferrolysis process started during the late Holocene, only about 2 kyr B.P. at the studied site and about 5 kyr B.P. at the watershed outlet. The results of this study are applied to an assessment of the physical erosion rate (4.8x10(-3) m/kyr) since the recent reactivation of the erosion process. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Utilization of agro-industrial wastes as fish feedstuffs in Nigeria

Fish feeding accounts for a substantial amount in the variable expenditure of a fish farming enterprises. There is a need to examine closely the potentials and advantages of locally available agro-industrial by-products, as possible substitutes for the conventional feedstuffs which are dwindling in supply, and escalating in their cost. A wide range of by products from plant, animal and industrial processes have been studied and posses nutrient composition which can be exploited as dietary ingredients for warm water species as the Tilapia and Clarias sp. Such useful by-products include poultry feathers, rice bran, soybean hulls and cocoa husks which are discarded as wastes. However, some processing treatments might be required to alleviate the toxic effects of possible anti-nutritional factors in the by-products, for the achievement of optimum benefit

Degradation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol in aqueous solution by ozonation

This study investigates the ozonation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in aqueous solution. The affecting factors on the degradation of EE2 were studied and described in details, such as initial EE2 concentration, initial pH value and ozone concentration. In addition, some parameters such as pH. electrical conductivity, mineralization efficiency and degradation products were monitored during the process. The mineralization efficiency of EE2 could reach 53.9%. During the ozonation process the rapid decrease of pH and the sharp increase of electrical conductivity indicated the fort-nation of acidic by-products, small fragments and ions which were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GUMS) analysis. Results showed that there were intermediate products of smaller molecule with higher polarity produced during the course of EE2 degradation. Then a possible reaction pathway for EE2 degradation involving all intermediates detected is proposed. During the ozonation process EE2 was first oxidized into hydroxyl-semiquinone isomers which were subsequently degraded into low molecular weight compounds such as oxalic acid, malonate, glutarate, and so on. Furthermore. these organic acids are easily oxidized by ozone into carbon dioxide (CO2). This work shows that ozonation process is promising for the removal of EE2. The results can provide some useful information for the potential treatment of EE2 by ozonation in aqueous solution. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

生物质能利用技术的研究及发展

我国的生物质能资源主要是农业废弃物、禽畜类便和林业废弃物。生物质能的利用方式有：直接燃烧、产生沼气等可燃气、发电、转化为液体燃料和加工成高密度的固体燃料。文中对几种利用方式进行了讨论。

Determination of peptides and amino acids from wool and beer with sensitive fluorescent reagent 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromotography and liquid chromotography mass spectrometry

A new method for the sensitive determination of amino acids and peptides using the tagging reagent 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) with fluorescence (FL) detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives was carried out by liquid chromotography mass spectrometry. The chromophore in the 2-(9-fluorenyl)-ethyl chloroformate (FMOC) reagent was replaced by carbazole, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence lerivatizing agent CEOC. CEOC can easily and quickly label peptides and amino acids. Derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Studies on derivatization demonstrate excellent derivative yields over the pH range 8.8-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% are observed with three- to fourfold molar reagent excess. Derivatives exhibit strong fluorescence and allow direct injection of the reaction mixture with no significant disturbance from the major fluorescent reagent degradation by-products, such as 2(9-carbazole)-ethanol and bis-(2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl) carbonate. In addition, the detection responses for CEOC derivatives are compared to those obtained with FMOC. The ratios AC(CEOC)/AC(FMOC) = 1.00-1.82 for fluorescence (FL) response and AC'(CEOC)/AC'(FMOC) = 1.00-1.21 for ultraviolet (UV) response are observed (here, AC and AC' are, respectively, FL and UV F response). Separation of the derivatized peptides and amino acids has been optimized on a Hypersil BDS C18 column. Excellent linear responses are observed. This method was used successfully to analyze protein hydrolysates from wool and from direct-derivatized beer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Potential CO2 Emission Reduction by Development of Non-Grain-Based Bioethanol in China

Assessment of the potential CO2 emission reduction by development of non-grain-based ethanol in China is valuable for both setting up countermeasures against climate change and formulating bioethanol policies. Based on the land occupation property, feedstock classification and selection are conducted, identifying sweet sorghum, cassava, and sweet potato as plantation feedstocks cultivated from low-quality arable marginal land resources and molasses and agricultural straws as nonplantation feedstocks derived from agricultural by-products. The feedstock utilization degree, CO2 reduction coefficient of bioethanol, and assessment model of CO2 emission reduction potential of bioethanol are proposed and established to assess the potential CO2 emission reduction by development of non-grain-based bioethanol. The results show that China can obtain emission reduction potentials of 10.947 and 49.027 Mt CO2 with non-grain-based bioethanol in 2015 and 2030, which are much higher than the present capacity, calculated as 1.95 Mt. It is found that nonplantation feedstock can produce more bioethanol so as to obtain a higher potential than plantation feedstock in both 2015 and 2030. Another finding is that developing non-grain-based bioethanol can make only a limited contribution to China's greenhouse gas emission reduction. Moreover, this study reveals that the regions with low and very low potentials for emission reduction will dominate the spatial distribution in 2015, and regions with high and very high potentials will be the majority in 2030.

An enteroendocrine cell-enteric glia connection revealed by 3D electron microscopy.

The enteroendocrine cell is the cornerstone of gastrointestinal chemosensation. In the intestine and colon, this cell is stimulated by nutrients, tastants that elicit the perception of flavor, and bacterial by-products; and in response, the cell secretes hormones like cholecystokinin and peptide YY--both potent regulators of appetite. The development of transgenic mice with enteroendocrine cells expressing green fluorescent protein has allowed for the elucidation of the apical nutrient sensing mechanisms of the cell. However, the basal secretory aspects of the enteroendocrine cell remain largely unexplored, particularly because a complete account of the enteroendocrine cell ultrastructure does not exist. Today, the fine ultrastructure of a specific cell can be revealed in the third dimension thanks to the invention of serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM). Here, we bridged confocal microscopy with SBEM to identify the enteroendocrine cell of the mouse and study its ultrastructure in the third dimension. The results demonstrated that 73.5% of the peptide-secreting vesicles in the enteroendocrine cell are contained within an axon-like basal process. We called this process a neuropod. This neuropod contains neurofilaments, which are typical structural proteins of axons. Surprisingly, the SBEM data also demonstrated that the enteroendocrine cell neuropod is escorted by enteric glia--the cells that nurture enteric neurons. We extended these structural findings into an in vitro intestinal organoid system, in which the addition of glial derived neurotrophic factors enhanced the development of neuropods in enteroendocrine cells. These findings open a new avenue of exploration in gastrointestinal chemosensation by unveiling an unforeseen physical relationship between enteric glia and enteroendocrine cells.

Caractérisation phénotypique et génotypique de Campylobacter jejuni et évaluation d’une stratégie de contrôle de la colonisation du poulet de chair par ce pathogène alimentaire

Campylobacter jejuni est l’agent causal de la campylobactériose, infection bactérienne importante en santé publique. Un des vecteurs de transmission de C. jejuni pour l’humain est le poulet via la chaîne alimentaire. Les mécanismes impliqués dans colonisation caecale commensale des oiseaux par C. jejuni sont toujours peu caractérisés, bien qu’une meilleure compréhension de ces mécanismes puisse apporter des solutions pour le contrôle du pathogène à la ferme. Cette étude avait pour buts de caractériser les propriétés phénotypiques et les facteurs génétiques impliqués dans la colonisation du poulet par C. jejuni et d’identifier de nouveaux mécanismes impliqués dans cette association. Des souches, issues d’élevages conventionnels échantillonnés en 2003 et en 2008 ainsi que d’élevages biologiques, ont été caractérisées afin d’obtenir leur profil de résistance aux antibiotiques, leur autoagglutination et leur chimiotactisme. Les souches des élevages conventionnels ont de plus été caractérisées pour leur capacité à adhérer et envahir une culture primaire de cellules caecales de poulet. Une puce à ADN a été développée pour détecter la présence de 254 gènes et variants associés à la colonisation des poulets ainsi qu’à la résistance aux antibiotiques chez les souches issues d’élevages conventionnels. Les propriétés phénotypiques et la présence de certains gènes chez les souches ont par la suite été comparées. Finalement, des souches ayant des caractéristiques différentes ont été utilisées dans un modèle de colonisation du poulet pour évaluer l’efficacité d’un nouvel additif alimentaire à base d’acides organiques et d’huiles essentielles sur le contrôle de C. jejuni. Les propriétés phénotypiques des souches étaient très variées et n’étaient pas corrélées entre elles, à l’exception de l’adhésion et de l’invasion. L’analyse génétique a révélé que le contenu en gènes des souches était variable, notamment au niveau des gènes de l’enveloppe bactérienne, au flagelle, aux récepteurs du chimiotactisme et à la résistance à l’arsenic. Les souches de 2003 et de 2008 étaient semblables lorsque leur contenu en gènes ainsi que leurs propriétés phénotypiques étaient comparés. Des gènes possiblement associés à un fort ou un faible potentiel de colonisation ont été identifiés. L’additif alimentaire a diminué la contamination des carcasses bien qu’une augmentation de la colonisation intestinale ait été observée pour certaines souches. La moitié des lots de poulets d’origine biologique étaient positifs pour C. jejuni. Les souches issues de ce type d’élevage étaient peu résistantes aux antibiotiques et possédaient des phénotypes variés. Cette étude a permis de mieux définir les caractéristiques importantes de C. jejuni qui sont associées à la colonisation intestinale du poulet. Elle a établi pour la première fois au Canada la présence du pathogène dans les élevages de poulets biologiques. Cette étude fait partie des quelques études qui décrivent la présence des gènes de colonisation et de résistance aux antibiotiques dans une collection de souches issues uniquement du poulet. Elle a également remis en doute l’importance de certains gènes dans la colonisation. La caractérisation exhaustive des souches a également permis d’identifier de nouveaux gènes possiblement associés à la colonisation de poulet par C. jejuni. Finalement, elle a indiqué que l’utilisation d’un mélange d’huiles essentielles et d’acide organique encapsulés pouvait être efficace pour réduire la contamination des carcasses de poulet par C. jejuni et que son effet était souche-dépendant.

Biobutanol from lignocellulosic biomass by a novel Clostridium sporogenes BE01

In the current study, a novel non-acetone forming butanol and ethanol producer Was isolated and identified. Based on the 16s rDNA sequence BLAST and phylogenetic analyses, it was found to have high similarity with the reported hydrogen producing strains of Clostridium sporogenes. Biochemical studies revealed that it is lipase and protease positive. The lipolytic and proteolytic properties are the very important characteristics of Clostridium sporogenes. Sugar utilization profile studies were positive for glucose, saccharose, cellobiose and weakly positive result to xylose. This study demonstrated C. sporogenes BE01, an isolate from NIIST is having potential to compete with existing, well known butanol producers with the advantage of no acetone in the final solvent mixture. Rice straw hydrolysate is a potent source of substrate for butanol production by C. sporogenes BE01. Additional supplementation of vitamins and minerals were avoided by using rice straw hydrolysate as substrate. Its less growth, due to the inhibitors present in the hydrolysate and also inhibition by products resulted in less efficient conversion of sugars to butanol. Calcium carbonate played an important role in improving the butanol production, by providing the buffering action during fermentation and stimulating the electron transport mediators and redox reactions favoring butanol production. Its capability to produce acetic acid, butyric acid and hydrogen in significant quantities during butanol production adds value to the conversion process of lignocellulosic biomass to butanol. High cell density fermentation by immobilizing the cells on to ceramic particles improved the solvents and VFA production. Reduced sugar utilization from the concentrated hydrolysate could be due to accumulation of inhibitors in the hydrolysate during concentration. Two-stage fermentation was very efficient with immobilized cells and high conversions of sugars to solvents and VFAs were achieved. The information obtained from the study would be useful to develop a feasible technology for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biobutanol.

Gestió de les dejeccions ramaderes d'una explotació avícola mitjançant compostatge

Estudi de la la problemàtica de la gestió de les dejeccions ramaderes presentada per una empresa dedicada a la integració avícola