Replacing maize silage with hydroponic barley forage in lactating water buffalo diet: impact on milk yield and composition, water and energy footprint, and economics.

This study investigated the feasibility of integrating hydroponic barley forage (HBF) production into dairy ruminant production, focusing on its effect on milk yield and components, energy and water footprints, and economic implications. Maize silage (MS) was used as a benchmark for comparison. The research was conducted on a water buffalo dairy farm equipped with a fully automated hydroponic system producing approximately 6,000 kg/d of HBF as fed (up 1,000 kg/d on DM basis). Thirty-three lactating water buffaloes were assigned to 3 dietary treatments based on the level of MS or HBF in the diet: D0 (100% MS), D50 (50% MS and 50% HBF), and D100 (100% HBF). The feeding trial lasted 5 weeks plus a 2-week adaptation period during which each cow underwent a weighing, BCS scoring, recording of milk yield and components, including somatic cell count and coagulation characteristics. Based on the data obtained from the in vivo study, the water and energy footprints for the production of MS and HBF and buffalo milk, as well as income over feed cost, were evaluated. Complete replacement of MS with HBF resulted in a slight increase in milk yield without significant impact on milk component. The resource footprint analysis showed potential benefits associated with HBF in terms of water consumption. However, the energy footprint assessment showed that the energy ratio of HBF was less than 1 (0.88) compared with 11.89 for MS. This affected the energy efficiency of milk yield in the 3 diets, with the D50 diet showing poorer performance due to similar milk yield compared with D0, but higher energy costs due to the inclusion of HBF. The production cost of HBF was about 4 times higher than that of farm-produced MS, making feed costs for milk yield more expensive. Nevertheless, HBF can potentially improve income over feed costs if it increases milk yield enough to offset its higher production costs. Overall, the results suggest that the current practice of using HBF to replace high quality feedstuffs as concentrates is likely to result in energy and economic losses.

Reproductive, productive and financial consequences of chronic Trypanosoma vivax infection in a dairy cattle herd in a region without a cyclic vector.

This study evaluated the reproductive, productive and financial consequences of chronic Trypanosoma vivax infection in a dairy cattle herd located in a region without the cyclic vector during two years. Animals were categorized as either positive (chronically infected) or negative for T. vivax antibodies using a commercial rapid test. Additionally, serum samples from cows were analyzed for the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed through rectal palpation and ultrasonography after 30, 60 and every 21 days until the 144th day of pregnancy. If an abortion occurred in the final trimester, serology and cPCR were performed on calves for T. vivax and N. caninum. The breeding period, calving interval and pregnancy losses were recorded. The milk production of each animal during the 305 days of lactation was measured, and the annual financial impact of milk production was calculated using a revenue minus feed cost (RMFC) indicator. Out of 177 cows, 71.75 % were chronically infected, and 13.50 % were T. vivax-negative. No correlation (p = 0.8854) of co-infection between T. vivax and N. caninum was observed. Negative cows required fewer (p≤0.05) artificial inseminations than chronically infected ones. T. vivax was not significantly associated (p = 0.7893) with pregnancy loss up to 81 days of pregnancy. Cows chronically infected by T. vivax had 4-fold greater chance (p = 0.0280) of experiencing pregnancy loss between 82 and 144 days of gestation. Eighteen cows aborted, two were positive for T. vivax antibodies, and one for N. caninum antibodies. The calves were negative for T. vivax and N. caninum. Chronically infected cows and negative cows for T. vivax that experienced pregnancy loss (82-144 days of pregnancy) had a longer (p≤0.05) breeding period to become pregnant, and consequently a longer calving interval compared to cows that maintained pregnancy. The difference (p≤0.05) in milk production was evident when pregnancy loss occurred between 82 and 144 days of gestation in cows chronically infected by T. vivax. The RMFC indicated a negative impact of 38.2 % on the farm's annual milk revenue due to the presence of chronically infected cows.

Effects of feeding silage of beet pulp or maize on the growth performance, meat quality, and production economics of broiler ducks.

The present study aimed to compare the growth, meat quality, and production economics of Cherry Valley broiler ducks fed with a commercial diet along with silage from beet pulp or maize. In this study, 180 male Cherry Valley ducks were reared for 49 d. The control group (group C) was fed a commercial diet ad libitum. The experimental groups were fed a restricted amount of commercial diet and ad libitum beet pulp silage (group B) or maize silage (group M). For all groups, the growth performance and meat quality were analyzed, and their production costs were estimated. The beneficial effects of feeding maize silage on the growth rate were observed on d 29 to 49 in group M; moreover, both experimental groups showed lower feed intake than group C (P < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio was lower in the first rearing stage and during the entire experimental period in groups B and M than that in group C. Group M showed a higher European Production Efficiency Factor and European Broiler Index than group C (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the liver was higher in group C than that in the experimental groups (P < 0.05). Group M showed a higher L* value of leg muscles than group C (P < 0.05). Water-holding capacity was higher in leg muscles from ducks fed with silages (P < 0.05). The experimental groups had lower costs of commercial diets. Higher costs were observed for maize silage than for beet pulp silage. Carcass sales yielded the highest profit for group M and the lowest one for group C. Compared with the control group, the silage-fed groups showed a higher estimated profit by PLN 7.94 to 10.68 per duck (P < 0.05). Based on the beneficial production results, notably lower feed conversion ratio, no negative effects on carcass characteristics, and lower production costs, especially maize or even beet pulp silage in broiler duck rearing, could be recommended.

Effects of Different Doses of Multienzyme Supplementation on Growth Performance, Duodenal pH and Morphology, and Carcass Traits in Broilers Fed Diets with an Increasing Reduction in Energy.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing different doses of a multienzyme (KZP) consisting of carbohydrases and a protease on growth performance, duodenal pH and morphology, and carcass traits in broilers fed diets with increasing reductions in energy. One thousand two hundred one-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to five dietary treatments with eight replicates of 30 birds each: a positive control diet formulated to meet Arbor Acres' nutritional requirements (PC); a negative control diet reformulated to 80 kcal/kg less than the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of the PC (NC1); a negative control diet reformulated to 120 kcal/kg less than the AME of the PC (NC2); an NC1 diet supplemented with 300 g/t of KZP (NC1 + KZP300); and an NC2 supplemented with 500 g/t of KZP (NC2 + KZP500). Growth performance was measured throughout the study. At 35 days, 10 birds per treatment were randomly selected and euthanized for a carcass trait evaluation, and samples of the duodenum were collected for morphological examination and pH level determination. The final average body weight and feed conversion ratio were better (p < 0.05) for the broilers in the NC1 + KZP300 group compared to those in NC1, NC2 and NC2 + KZP500 groups and were similar to those of the PC birds (p > 0.05). Birds from the NC1 + KZP500 group showed a better (p < 0.05) final body weight and feed efficiency compared to the NC1 and NC2 groups. The villus height was greater (p < 0.05) for the PC and NC1 + KZP300 groups compared to the rest of the treatments. The crypt depth was longer (p < 0.05) for the NC1 and NC2 groups compared to the NC1 + KZP300 group. The supplementation of KZP to both the NC1 and NC2 diets reduced (p < 0.05) the abdominal fat %. This study demonstrates that supplementing energy-reduced diets with KZP improved performance in broiler chickens.

Effects of exogenous protease on performance, economic evaluation, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, intestinal morphology, blood profile, carcass trait, and meat quality in broilers fed normal diets and diets considered with matrix value.

This study was conducted to estimate the effects of exogenous protease on performance, economic evaluation, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, intestinal morphology, blood profile, carcass traits, and meat quality in broilers fed normal diets and diets considered with matrix value. A total of 90, one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments with 6 replicates and each replicate of 5 broiler chickens. Treatments were as follows: 1) Basal diet (positive control, PC), 2) Basal diet formulated with full ProAct 360 matrix at 50 g/MT without addition of ProAct 360 (negative control, NC), 3) NC + 50 g/MT ProAct 360 (PA). Supplementation of exogenous protease to nutrient deficient NC diet by matrix values (PA) tended to increase growth performance and significantly improved intestinal morphology compared with the NC group. The PA group had significantly lower fecal score, and higher ATTD of crude protein and amino acids than those of the NC group. Furthermore, supplementation of exogenous protease to NC diet decreased feed cost, resulting in improved profit margin. However, there was no significant difference on carcass yield and relative organ weight. In conclusion, supplementation of exogenous protease using matrix value could be used as economic additive to improve growth, profit margin, digestibility, and gut health in broiler chickens.

Herd Level Yield Gap Analysis in a Local Scale Dairy Farming System: A Practical Approach to Discriminate between Nutritional and Other Constraining Factors.

This study performed a yield gap analysis to help farmers understand whether their constraints were mainly due to nutritional factors or management and health issues. Twenty-nine farms were periodically evaluated. Milk yield (MY), dry matter intake (DMI), total mixed ration (TMR) composition and homogeneity index (HI), TMR digestibility, income over feed cost (IOFC), and MY summer-winter ratio (SWR) were collected. Farms were divided and compared according to the average annual MY: Low (L), Medium (M) and High (H), characterised by <31.1, 31.1-36.7 and >36.7 kg/head/day. An ANOVA mixed model and a stepwise regression to assess the relationship between nutritional variables and MY were run. H farms showed higher IOFC (p < 0.001), DMI (p = 0.006), DDM (p < 0.001), digestible crude protein (DCP, p = 0.019), HI (p = 0.09), SWR (p = 0.041) and lower HI coefficient of variation (p = 0.04). The conversion of DDM into milk was higher in H and M farms. Stepwise regression for MY selected DDM and CP (R2 = 0.716, p < 0.05). M farms were mainly constrained by nutritional factors, whereas L farms were also affected by other factors such as those related to management and health.

Assessment of feed and economic efficiency of dairy farms based on multivariate aggregation of partial indicators measured on field.

Many of the metrics used to evaluate farm performance are only partial indicators of farm operations, which are assumed to be best predictors of the whole farm efficiency. The main objective of this work was to identify aggregated multiple indexes of profitability using common partial indicators that are routinely available from individual farms to better support the short-term decision-making processes of the cattle-feeding process. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with farmers from 90 dairy farms in Italy and used to calculate 16 partial indicators that covered almost all indicators currently used to target feeding and economic efficiency in dairy farms. These partial indicators described feed efficiency, energy utilization, feed costs, milk-to-feed price ratio, income over feed costs, income equal feed cost, money-corrected milk, and bargaining power for feed costs. Calculations of feeding costs were based on lactating cows or the whole herd, and income from milk deliveries was determined with or without considering the milk quality payment. Multivariate factor analysis was then applied to the 16 partial indicators to determine simplified and latent structures. The results indicated that 5 factors explained 70% of the variability. Each of the original partial indicator was associated with all factors in different proportions, as indicated by loading scores from the multivariate factor analysis. Based on the loading scores, we labeled these 5 factors as "economic efficiency," "energy utilization," "break-even point," "milk-to-feed price," and "bargaining power of the farm," in decreasing order of explained communality. The first 3 factors shared 83% of the total communality. Feed efficiency was similarly associated with factor 1 (53% loading) and factor 2 (66% loading). Only factor 4 was significantly affected by farm location. Milk production and herd size had significant effects on factor 1 and factor 2. Our multivariate approach eliminated the problem of multicollinearity of partial indicators, providing simple and effective descriptions of farm feeding economics. The proposed method allowed the evaluation, benchmarking, and ranking of dairy herd performance at the level of single farms and at territorial level with high opportunity to be used or replicated in other areas.

Technical and economic potentials of the unconventional extruded dried Arabic bread wastes in broilers diets.

Food waste is one of the major global challenges that have adverse socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Therefore, studying food waste utilization potentials and minimizing its negative consequences becomes imperative. This study aims to assess the technical and economic potentials of substituting corn with unconventional extruded dried Arabic Bread waste (EDABW) in broilers' diets, in terms of broilers' performance, carcass characteristic, economic net returns, and income over feed cost (IOFC). One hundred eighty unsexed one-day-old broiler birds of Ross breed were distributed randomly in six treatments (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% EDABW group) of isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets in a completely randomized design with six replicated (5 chicks/replicate). The investigated traits were broilers' performance (live body weight, total feed intake, total feed conversion ratio, and total weight gain. Other traits such as carcass weight, abdominal fat, edible offal (liver, heart, and gizzard), eviscerated (breast muscles, drum and thigh muscles, and wings) were weighed and expressed based on a live body weight. Results showed that the 20% replacement level of corn with EDABW generated the highest increase in the live body weight and the eviscerated carcass at about 4.24% g and 4.90%, respectively. On the other hand, the economic analysis showed potential reductions in the broilers' diet cost and the total broilers' production cost as the levels of corn substitution with by unconventional EDABW increased. The reductions were estimated at 5.1%, 6.3%, 8.4%, 9.3%, and 9.9% at substitution levels of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, respectively as compared to the control diet. The results also showed a potential increase in the net economic returns of broiler meat as the increase in substitution levels ranged between 3.5-06.8% and 4.3-8.3% as compared to the control diets using the average retail and wholesale prices of broiler meats, respectively. In addition, the maximum IOFC was estimated potentially at a 20% substitution level of corn with EDABW. Conclusively, the study results show promising technical and economic potentials for unconventional EDABW in broilers' diets that could lead to a thriving industry of unconventional broilers' diets with high net economic returns and maximum IOFC.

Response of broilers to digestible sulfur amino acids and threonine intake: Maximum economic return / Respuesta de pollos de engorde a la ingesta de aminoácidos azufrados y treonina digestibles: máximo retorno económico / Resposta de frangos de corte ao consumo de aminoácidos sulfurados e treonina digestíveis: máximo retorno econômico

Abstract Background: The determination of amino acid supplements for broiler chicken requirements based on performance does not always reflect maximum profitability. Objective: To estimate the optimal levels of digestible threonine (Thr) and sulfur amino acids (SAA) in diets for broilers based on an economic analysis. Methods: Two dose-response assays were conducted, and each assay was divided into three phases: initial (1-14 days), grower (15-28 days), and finisher (29-42 days). Five hundred and sixty male Cobb 500® broilers were randomly distributed to seven treatments with increasing levels of the amino acid (SAA or Thr), with four replicates and 20 birds each. Bodyweight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) were used to fit a segmented model. Gross income (GI), total feed costs (TFC) and gross margin (GM) were calculated based on local values. Results: Increasing levels of amino acid elicited a response in BWG and FI for all evaluated phases. The estimates for maximum profit based on GI and TFC were 223, 504, and 975 mg SAA/bird/d, and 236, 696, and 1,042 mg Thr/bird/d in starter, grower and finisher phases, respectively. Conclusion: Varying the AA prices affected only slightly the economic optimal intake of Thr and sulfur amino acids. Despite market fluctuations, the economic approach presented in this study demonstrates to be a helpful tool to choose the ideal inclusion level of amino acids in the feed.

Resumen Antecedentes: La determinación de la suplementación de aminoácidos en las dietas de pollos de engorde, basados solamente en el desempeño productivo no siempre refleja la máxima rentabilidad. Objetivo: Estimar los niveles óptimos de treonina (Thr) y aminoácidos azufrados (SAA) en dietas para pollos de engorde basados en un análisis económico. Métodos: Se realizaron dos ensayos tipo dosis-respuesta divididos en tres fases cada uno: inicio (1-14 días), crecimiento (15-28 días) y finalización (29-42 días). Quinientos sesenta pollos de engorde machos Cobb 500® se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en siete tratamientos con niveles crecientes de aminoácidos (SAA o Thr) y cuatro repeticiones de 20 aves cada uno. La ganancia de peso (BWG) y el consumo de alimento (FI) fueron utilizados para ajustar un modelo segmentado. El ingreso bruto (GI), costo total de la ración (TFC) y el margen bruto (GM) se calcularon tomando como referencia valores locales. Resultados: Los niveles crecientes de aminoácidos influyeron en la respuesta de BWG y FI en todas las fases evaluadas. Los estimados para maximizar la rentabilidad según GI y TFC fueron 223, 504 y 975 mg SAA/ave/día, y 236, 696 y 1,042 mg Thr/ave/día para las fases de inicio, crecimiento y finalización, respectivamente. Conclusión: La variación de los precios de los AA tuvo solo un ligero efecto sobre el consumo óptimo de Thr y aminoácidos azufrados. A pesar de las fluctuaciones del mercado, el enfoque económico aquí expuesto demuestra ser una herramienta útil para la elección del nivel ideal de inclusión de aminoácidos en la formulación.

Resumo Antecedentes: A determinação da suplementação de aminoácidos em frangos de corte baseados somente no desempenho produtivo nem sempre reflete a rentabilidade máxima. Objetivo: Estimar os níveis ótimos de treonina (Thr) e aminoácidos sulfurados (SAA) em dietas para frangos de corte com base em uma análise econômica. Métodos: Foram realizados dois ensaios dose-resposta, divididos em três fases cada: inicial (1-14 dias), crescimento (15-28 dias) e final (29-42 dias). Quinhentos e sessenta frangos de corte machos Cobb 500® foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em sete tratamentos, representados por níveis crescentes de aminoácidos (SAA ou Thr), com quatro repetições de 20 aves cada. O ganho de peso (BWG) e o consumo de ração (FI) foram utilizados para ajustar um modelo segmentado. A receita bruta (GI), os custos totais de alimentação (TFC) e a margem bruta (GM) foram calculados com base nos custos locais. Resultados: Os níveis dos aminoácidos influenciaram as respostas de BWG e FI para todas as fases avaliadas. A estimativa para máximo lucro com base em GI e TFC para os ensaios com SAA foram 223, 504 e 975 mg/ave/d; para Thr foram 236, 696 e 1,042 mg/ave/d para as fases inicial, crescimento e final, respectivamente. Conclusão: A variação dos preços dos AA teve pouca influência sobre a ingestão econômica dos aminoácidos sulfurados e da Thr. Apesar do dinamismo de mercado, a abordagem econômica apresentada neste estudo demonstra ser uma ferramenta útil para a escolha do nível de inclusão ideal do aminoácido na ração.

Development of a linear programming model for the optimal allocation of nutritional resources in a dairy herd.

A linear programming model that selects the optimal cropping plan and feeds allocation for diets to minimize the whole dairy farm feed costs was developed. The model was virtually applied on 29 high-yielding Holstein-Friesian herds, confined, total mixed ration dairy farms. The average herd size was 313.2 ± 144.1 lactating cows and the average land size was 152.2 ± 92.5 ha. Farm characteristics such as herd structure, nutritional grouping strategies, feed consumption, cropping plan, intrinsic farm limitations (e.g., silage and hay storage availability, water for irrigation, manure storage) and on farm produced forage costs of production were collected from each farm for the year 2017. Actual feeding strategies, land availability, herd structure, crop production costs and yields, and milk and feed market prices for the year 2017 were used as model inputs. Through optimization, the feeding system was kept equal to the actual farm practice. The linear program formulated diets for each animal group to respect actual herd dry matter intake and fulfill actual consumption of crude protein, rumen-degradable and rumen-undegradable fractions of crude protein, net energy for lactation, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, forage neutral detergent fiber, and nonfiber carbohydrate. Production levels and herd composition were considered to remain constant as the nutritional requirement would remain unchanged. The objective function was set to minimize the whole-farm feed costs including cash crop sales as income, and crop production costs and purchased feed costs as expenses. Optimization improved income over feed costs by reducing herd feed costs by 7.8 ± 6.4%, from baseline to optimized scenario, the improved was explained by lower feed costs per kilogram of milk produced due to a higher feed self-sufficiency and higher income from cash crop. In particular, the model suggested to maximize, starting from baseline to optimized scenario, the net energy for lactation (+8.5 ± 6.3%) and crude protein (+3.6 ± 3.1%) produced on farm, whereas total feed cost (€/100 kg of milk) was greater in the baseline (20.4 ± 2.3) than the optimized scenario (19.0 ± 1.9), resulting in a 6.7% feed cost reduction with a range between 0.49% and 21.6%. This meant €109 ± 96.9 greater net return per cow per year. The implementation of the proposed linear programming model for the optimal allocation of the nutritional resources and crops in a dairy herd has the potential to reduce feed cost of diets and improve the farm feed self-sufficiency.

Red milkwood (Mimusops zeyheri) seed meal can replace maize meal in Japanese quail finisher diets without compromising growth performance, feed economy and carcass yield.

Mimusops zeyheri is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and its seed meal (MZSM) has a higher energy content than maize meal (MM). We evaluated the potential of MZSM to substitute MM in Japanese quail finisher diets by determining its effects on growth performance, feed intake (FI) and feed utilisation efficiency, abdominal fat deposition and carcass yield. In a completely randomised design thirty-two 5-weeks old male Japanese quail were allocated to four diets wherein MZSM replaced MM at 0%, 12.5%, 25% and 37.5% (gross energy basis) and fed ad libitum for 4 weeks. Initial and weekly body weight, final body weight (FBW) and daily FI were measured. Body weight gain (BWG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FRC) were computed. At the end of the trial, following a 4-hour fast, the quail were weighed then humanely slaughtered and dressed. Carcass weight and dressing percent were determined. Abdominal fat was weighed. MZSM did not affect (P>0.05) the quail's FBW, BWG, ADG, FCR, carcass weight and dressing percent. MZSM at 37.5% inclusion decreased (P<0.0001) FI in weeks 1 and 2 and total FI of the quail. Dietary M. zeyheri seed meal decreased (P<0.0001) abdominal fat mass. Use of MZSM would be most economic at 37.5% inclusion because despite decreasing total FI, growth performance was similar to control. M. zeyheri seed meal can be used as a dietary energy source in Japanese quail finisher diets without compromising growth performance, feed utilisation efficiency and carcass yield.

Improving nutritional accuracy and economics through a multiple ration-grouping strategy.

The objective of this study was to develop a model application to systematize nutritional grouping (NG) management in commercial dairy farms. The model has 4 sub-sections: (1) real-time data stream integration, (2) calculation of nutritional parameters, (3) grouping algorithm, and (4) output reports. A simulation study on a commercial Wisconsin dairy farm was used to evaluate our NG model. On this dairy farm, lactating cows (n = 2,374 ± 185) are regrouped weekly in 14 pens according to their parity and lactation stage, for which 9 diets are provided. Diets are seldom reformulated and nutritional requirements are not factored to allocate cows to pens. The same 14 pens were used to simulate the implementation of NG using our model, closely following the current farm criteria but also including predicted nutritional requirements (net energy for lactation and metabolizable protein; NEL and MP) and milk yield in an attempt to generate more homogeneous groups of cows for improved diet accuracy. The goal of the simulation study was to implement a continuous weekly system for cows' pen allocation and diet formulation. The predicted MP and NEL requirements from the NG were used to formulate the diets using commercial diet formulation software and the same feed ingredients, feed prices, and other criteria as the current farm diets. Diet MP and NEL densities were adjusted to the nutritional group requirements. Results from the simulation study indicated that the NG model facilitates the implementation of an NG strategy and improves diet accuracy. The theoretical diet cost and predicted nitrogen supply with NG decreased for low-nutritional-requirement groups and increased for high-nutritional-requirement groups compared with current farm groups. The overall average N supply in diets for NG management was 15.14 g/cow per day less than the current farm grouping management. The average diet cost was $3,250/cow per year for current farm management and $3,219/cow per year for NG, which resulted in a theoretical $31/cow per year diet cost savings.

Economic and environmental effects of double cropping winter annuals and corn using the Integrated Farm System Model.

Dairy farms have been under pressure to reduce negative environmental impacts while remaining profitable during times with volatile milk and commodity prices. Double cropping has been promoted to reduce negative environmental impacts and increase total dry matter yield per hectare. Three dairy farms that double cropped winter annuals and corn were selected from northern and western Pennsylvania. Data were collected from recorded crop and dairy records and financial data for 2016 and 2017. Farms ranged in size from 336 to 511 ha with 233 to 663 cows. Data were used to set parameters for the Integrated Farm System Model, which was then used to simulate 8 scenarios for each farm: current operation; 0, 50, and 100% of corn hectares double cropped; 30% feed price increase with and without double cropping; and 30% feed price decrease with and without double cropping at the farm's current level of double cropping. A 20-yr time period, using weather data that was representative of the actual farms, was used in the Integrated Farm System Model simulation to produce both financial and environmental outputs. Double cropping winter annuals and corn silage increased dry matter yield per hectare by 19%, when comparing 0 to 100% of the corn area double cropped. With all corn land double cropped, net return to management per hundredweight (45.36 kg) of milk increased by 1.8%, N leached per hectare per year decreased by an average of 4.5%, and phosphorus loss was reduced by an average of 9.2% across farms. When feed prices increased by 30%, double cropping increased net return over feed cost and net return to management by 1.6 and 2.2%, respectively, across farms. When feed prices decreased by 30%, double cropping decreased net return over feed cost and net return to management by smaller amounts of 0.13% and 0.11%, respectively, across farms. Modeling indicated that double cropping winter annuals with corn silage can have both environmental and economic benefits when winter-annual silage yields are enough to cover expenses.

Symposium review: Decomposing efficiency of milk production and maximizing profit.

The dairy industry has focused on maximizing milk yield, as it is believed that this maximizes profit mainly through dilution of maintenance costs. Efficiency of milk production has received, until recently, considerably less attention. The most common method to determine biological efficiency of milk production is feed efficiency (FE), which is defined as the amount of milk produced relative to the amount of nutrients consumed. Economic efficiency is best measured as income over feed cost or gross margin obtained from feed investments. Feed efficiency is affected by a myriad of factors, but overall they could be clustered as follows: (1) physiological status of the cow (e.g., age, state of lactation, health, level of production, environmental conditions), (2) digestive function (e.g., feeding behavior, passage rate, rumen fermentation, rumen and hindgut microbiome), (3) metabolic partitioning (e.g., homeorhesis, insulin sensitivity, hormonal profile), (4) genetics (ultimately dictating the 2 previous aspects), and (5) nutrition (e.g., ration formulation, nutrient balance). Over the years, energy requirements for maintenance seem to have progressively increased, but efficiency of overall nutrient use for milk production has also increased due to dilution of nutrient requirements for maintenance. However, empirical evidence from the literature suggests that marginal increases in milk require progressively greater marginal increases in nutrient supply. Thus, the dilution of maintenance requirements associated with increases in production is partially overcome by a progressive diminishing marginal biological response to incremental energy and protein supplies. Because FE follows the law of diminishing returns, and because marginal feed costs increase progressively with milk production, profits associated with improving milk yield might, in some cases, be considerably lower than expected.

Rumen fermentation and digestibility of spent mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) substrate inoculated with Lactobacillus brevis for Hanwoo steers / Fermentación ruminal y digestibilidad de la cama de champiñón (Pleurotus ostreatus) desechada inoculada con Lactobacillus brevis en novillos Hanwoo / Fermentação ruminal e digestibilidade de resíduo de substrato de cogumelo (Pleurotus ostreatus) inoculado com Lactobacillus brevis en novilhos Hanwoo

Abstract Background: Ensiling spent mushroom substrate (SMS) generally increases its nutrient digestibility and quality. Objective: To determine the feed quality and digestibility of SMS from Pleurotus ostreatus (SMSP) inoculated with lactic acid bacteria (LAB: Lactobacillus brevis) in Hanwoo steers. Methods: Ruminal disappearance of SMSP and inoculated SMSP (ISMSP) were evaluated in three rumen-fistulated Hanwoo steers (408 ± 13.0 Kg body weight). Further, three healthy Hanwoo steers (336 ± 69.0 Kg body weight) were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (control: 25% straw, 75% concentrates; treatments: 25% straw, 60% concentrates, and 15% of either SMSP or ISMSP) in a 3×3 Latin square design. Results: The chemical composition of the ISMSP diet did not differ from that of the control or the SMSP diets. In the ISMSP diet, the rate of decrease of pH of ruminal fluid and the increase in storage period was greater than with the SMSP diet. Ruminal disappearance of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were slightly higher in steers fed ISMSP than those fed SMSP. Furthermore, the degradation rate and effective degradability of crude protein was greater in the ISMSP diet than in the SMSP diet. Effective ruminal fermentation characteristics and total nutrients digestibility were not affected by SMSP nor ISMSP diet. Conclusion: The SMSP and ISMSP diets could replace formulated concentrate without adverse effects and be a cost-effective feed for Hanwoo steers. Furthermore, LAB inoculation improved the SMSP preservation.

Resumen Antecedentes: El ensilado de cama de champiñón desechada (SMS) generalmente aumenta la digestibilidad y la calidad de sus nutrientes. Objetivo: Determinar la calidad del alimento y digestibilidad del SMS a partir de Pleurotus ostreatus (SMSP) inoculado con bacterias ácido-lácticas (LAB: Lactobacillus brevis) en bueyes Hanwoo. Métodos: La desaparición ruminal del SMSP y ISMSP (SMSP inoculado) fue evaluada en tres bueyes Hanwoo fistulados en el rumen (408 ± 13,0 Kg peso corporal). Igualmente, tres bueyes Hanwoo sanos (336 ± 69,0 Kg peso corporal) fueron asignados al azar a uno de los tres tratamientos dietéticos (control: 25% de heno, 75% de concentrados; tratamientos: 25% de heno, 60% de concentrados y 15% de SMSPo ISMSP) en un diseño cuadrado latino 3×3. Resultados: La composición química de la dieta ISMSP no difirió de la del control o de la dieta SMSP. En la dieta ISMSP, la tasa de disminución del pH del fluido ruminal y el incremento del tiempo de almacenamiento fueron mayores que los de la dieta SMSP. La desaparición ruminal de la materia seca, proteína cruda, fibra detergente neutra y la fibra detergente ácida fue ligeramente superior en los bueyes alimentados con el ISMSPque en aquellos alimentados con SMSP. Además, la tasa de degradación y la degradabilidad efectiva de la proteína cruda fueron mayores en la dieta ISMSPque en la dieta SMSP. Las características de la fermentación ruminal efectiva y la digestibilidad total de nutrientes no fueron afectadas por la dieta SMSP ni por la de ISMSP. Conclusión: Las dietas SMSPe ISMSP podrían reemplazar el concentrado formulado sin efectos adversos y ser una alimentación económica para los bueyes Hanwoo. Además, la inoculación con LAB mejoró la conservación del SMSP.

Resumo Antecedentes: Ensilagem de resíduo de substrato de cogumelo (SMS) geralmente aumenta a digestibilidade e a qualidade dos nutrientes. Objetivo: Determinar a qualidade da alimentação e digestibilidade do RSC apartir do Pleurotus ostreatus (SMSP) inoculado com bactérias de ácido láctico (LAB: Lactobacillus brevis) nos novilhos Hanwoo. Métodos: Desaparecimento ruminal do SMSP e ISMSP (SMSP inoculado) foram avaliados em três novilhos Hanwoo fistulados no rúmen (408 ± 13.0 Kg peso corporal). Além disso, três novilhos Hanwoo (336 ± 69.0 Kg peso corporal) foram aleatoriamente distribuídos para um dos três tratamentos dietéticos (controle: 25% palha, 75% concentrado; tratamentos: 25% palha, 60% concentrado, e 15% ambos SMSP e ISMSP) em um quadrado Latino de 3×3. Resultados: A composição química da dieta ISMSP não diferiu do controle ou das dietas SMSP. Na dieta ISMSP, a taxa de diminuição do pH do fluido ruminal e o aumento no período de armazenamento foram melhores do que com a dieta SMSP. O desaparecimento ruminal de matéria seca, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro, e fibra detergente ácido foi ligeiramente superior em novilhos alimentados com ISMSP, do que aqueles alimentados com SMSP. Além disso, a taxa de degradação e degradabilidade da proteína bruta foi maior na dieta ISMSP, do que na dieta SMSP. As características efetivas de fermentação ruminal e a digestibilidade total de nutrientes não foram afetadas pela dieta SMSP, nem pela dieta ISMSP. Conclusão: Dietas com SMSP e ISMSP podem ser utilizados em substituição ao concentrado formulado sem causar efeitos adversos e ser um alimento rentável em novilhos Hanwoo. Além disso, a inoculação com LAB melhorou a qualidade conservante da SMSP.

Herd-specific interventions to reduce antimicrobial usage in pig production without jeopardising technical and economic performance.

Pig farmers are strongly encouraged to reduce their antimicrobial usage in order to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Herd-level intervention is needed to achieve national and European reduction targets. Alternative, especially preventive measures, have to be implemented to reduce the need for antimicrobial treatments. However, little is known about the feasibility, effectiveness and return on investment of such measures. The objective of this study was to assess, across four countries, the technical and economic impact of herd-specific interventions aiming at reducing antimicrobial usage in pig production while implementing alternative measures. An intervention study was conducted between February 2014 and August 2015 in 70 farrow-to-finish pig farms located in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden. Herd-specific interventions were defined together with the farmer and the herd veterinarian. Farms were followed over one year and their antimicrobial usage and technical performance were compared with values from the year before intervention. Compliance with the intervention plan was also monitored. Changes in margin over feed cost and net farm profit were estimated in a subset of 33 Belgian and French farms with sufficient data, using deterministic and stochastic modeling. Following interventions, a substantial reduction in antimicrobial use was achieved without negative impact the overall farm technical performance. A median reduction of 47.0% of antimicrobial usage was achieved across four countries when expressed in terms of treatment incidence from birth to slaughter, corresponding to a 30.5% median reduction of antimicrobial expenditures. Farm compliance with intervention plans was high (median: 93%; min-max: 20; 100) and farms with higher compliance tended to achieve bigger reduction (ρ=-0.18, p=0.162). No association was found between achieved reduction and type or number of alternative measures implemented. Mortality in suckling piglets, weaners and fatteners, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio did not significantly change over the course of the study, while the number of weaned piglets per sow per year slightly increased. The median change in net farm profit among Belgian and French farms was estimated to be €4.46 (Q25-Q75:-32.54; 80.50) and €1.23 (Q25-Q75:-32.55; 74.45) per sow per year using the detererministic and stochastic models, respectively. It was more influenced by a change in feed conversion ratio and daily weight gain than by a change in antimicrobial expenditures or intervention direct net cost. Therefore, costs of alternative measures should not be perceived as a barrier, but rather as an opportunity to optimise production practices for sustained productivity and improved animal health.

Nitrogen efficiency of eastern Canadian dairy herds: Effect on production performance and farm profitability.

Nitrogen efficiency (milk N/dietary N; NE) can be used as a tool for the nutritional, economic, and environmental management of dairy farms. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of herds with varying NE and assess the effect on farm profitability. One hundred dairy herds located in Québec, Canada, comprising on average 42 ± 18 cows in lactation were visited from October 2014 to June 2015. Feed intake was measured over 24 h. Samples of each feedstuff were taken and sent to a commercial laboratory for analysis of chemical composition. Feeding management and feed prices were recorded. Milk yield was recorded and milk samples were collected over 2 consecutive milkings. Fat, protein, and milk urea N were analyzed. Balances of metabolizable protein (MP; MP supply - MP requirements) and rumen degradable protein (RDP; RDP supply - RDP requirement) were calculated. A hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted and allowed grouping the farms by their NE. Four clusters were identified with an average NE of 22.1 (NE22), 26.9 (NE27), 30.0 (NE30), and 35.8% (NE36). Herds in clusters NE30 and NE36 were fed diets with greater concentrations of starch, net energy for lactation, and nonfiber carbohydrates than those in the other 2 clusters. Moreover, the average proportion of corn silage was lower for herds in cluster NE22 compared with NE30 and NE36 (8.23 vs. 31.8 and 31.3% of total forages, respectively). In addition, crude protein of the diets declined from an average of 16.0 to 14.9% with increasing NE among clusters. Average dry matter intake declined from 26.1 to 22.5 kg/d as NE of clusters increased. Herds in cluster NE22 had lower yields of milk (28.7 vs. 31.8 kg/d), fat (1.15 vs. 1.29 kg/d), and protein (0.94 vs. 1.05 kg/d) than the other clusters. Also, milk urea N was greater for farms in cluster NE22 (13.2 mg/dL) than for farms in the other clusters (11.4 mg/dL). Furthermore, MP and RDP balances decreased from 263.2 to -153.7 g/d and from 594.7 to 486.9 g/d, respectively, with increasing NE among clusters. Income over feed cost increased from $14.3 to $17.3/cow per day (Can$) as NE among clusters augmented. Results from this study showed that some farms were able to achieve high NE by using lower levels of dietary N and having cows with lower DMI while maintaining milk performance. These farms had a potentially lower environmental impact, and they were more profitable.

Effects of replacing wild rye, corn silage, or corn grain with CaO-treated corn stover and dried distillers grains with solubles in lactating cow diets on performance, digestibility, and profitability.

The objective of this study was to measure the effects of partially replacing wild rye (Leymus chinensis; WR), corn silage (CS), or corn grain (CG) in dairy cow diets with CaO-treated corn stover (T-CS) and corn dried distillers grains with soluble (DDGS) on performance, digestibility, blood metabolites, and income over feed cost. Thirty tonnes of air-dried corn stover was collected, ground, and mixed with 5% CaO. Sixty-four Holstein dairy cows were blocked based on days in milk, milk yield, and parity and were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. The treatments were (1) a diet containing 50% concentrate, 15% WR, 25% CS, and 10% alfalfa hay (CON); (2) 15% WR, 5% CG, and 6% soybean meal were replaced by 15% T-CS and 12% DDGS (RWR); (3) 12.5% CS, 6% CG, and 5% soybean meal were replaced by 12.5% T-CS and 12%DDGS (RCS); (4) 13% CG and 6% soybean meal were replaced by 7% T-CS and 13% DDGS (RCG). Compared with CON treatment, cows fed RCS and RCG diets had similar dry matter intake (CON: 18.2 ± 0.31 kg, RCS: 18.6 ± 0.31 kg, and RCG: 18.4 ± 0.40 kg). The RWR treatment tended to have lower dry matter intake than other treatments. The inclusion of T-CS and DDGS in treatment diets as a substitute for WR, CS, or CG had no effects on lactose percentage (CON: 4.96 ± 0.02%, RWR: 4.97 ± 0.02%, RCS: 4.96 ± 0.02%, and RCG: 4.94 ± 0.02%), 4% fat-corrected milk yield (CON: 22.7 ± 0.60 kg, RWR: 22.1 ± 0.60 kg, RCS: 22.7 ± 0.60 kg, and RCG: 22.7 ± 0.60 kg), milk fat yield (CON: 0.90 ± 0.03 kg, RWR: 0.86 ± 0.03 kg, RCS: 0.87 ± 0.03 kg, and RCG: 0.89 ± 0.03 kg), and milk protein yield (CON: 0.74 ± 0.02 kg, RWR: 0.72 ± 0.02 kg, RCS: 0.73 ± 0.02 kg, and RCG: 0.71 ± 0.02 kg). Cows fed the RWR diet had higher apparent dry matter digestibility (73.7 ± 1.30 vs. 70.2 ± 1.15, 69.9 ± 1.15, and 69.9 ± 1.15% for RWR vs. CON, RCS, and RCG, respectively) and lower serum urea N (3.55 ± 0.11 vs. 4.03 ± 0.11, 3.95 ± 0.11, and 3.99 ± 0.11 mmol/L for RWR vs. CON, RCS, and RCG, respectively) than cows fed other diets. No significant differences were noted in apparent neutral detergent fiber digestibility among the treatments. Compared with CON treatment, the RWR, RCS, and RCG treatments generated an additional $0.77, $0.70, and $0.81 income over feed cost per cow per day, respectively. In conclusion, feeding diets containing a portion of T-CS and DDGS can improve profitability of the treatment groups without negatively affecting the lactation performance of mid- to late-lactation cows.

Study on inclusion of probiotic, prebiotic and its combination in broiler diet and their effect on carcass characteristics and economics of commercial broilers.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In today era, broiler industry facing a problem of price hiking of feed of broiler, also in competitive era there should be lower feed cost, lower feed conversion ratio, low feed consumption yet good body weight at marketable age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Day-old commercial broiler chicks (n=200) were distributed randomly into 5 dietary treatment groups viz. control (T1), probiotic in the feed @ 100 g/tonne of feed (T2), prebiotic in the feed @ 500 g/tonne of feed (T3), probiotic + prebiotic @ 100 g/tonne and 500 g/tonne of feed, respectively (T4) and probiotic + prebiotic @ 50 g/tonne and 250 g/tonne of feed (T5). The growth of broilers and dressing weight along with the weight of giblet (liver without gall bladder, gizzard without serous layer, and heart without pericardium), Kidney, Abdominal fat, Length of Intestine and dressing percentage were measured. Economics in terms of Return Over Feed Cost (ROFC) and European Performance Efficiency Index (EPEI) was calculated. RESULTS: Among all carcass traits, dressing percentage, abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat percentage (as a percentage of dressed weight) were recorded significant (p<0.05) difference among different treatment groups. The income from selling of the birds was significantly (p<0.05) higher in all treatment groups than the control group but there was a non-significant difference between supplemented groups. Feed cost during whole experimental period was significantly (p<0.05) lower in synbiotic supplemented groups (T4 and T5) than other groups. ROFC of all treatment group found significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control group. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the diet supplemented with synbiotic (100% level) was most efficient in terms of EPEI and synbiotic (50% level) in terms of ROFC. Hence, as feed supplement, synbiotic has a beneficial effect over probiotic and prebiotic when used alone.