Nitrogen balance and microbial protein synthesis in dairy cows fed with peanut meal to replace soybean meal.

This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing dietary soybean meal with peanut meal, on intake and digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and nitrogen balance in lactating cows. Twelve crossbred Holstein × Gyr cows at 84 days in milk (DIM) were distributed in a triple 4 × 4 Latin square. The treatments consisted of increasing peanut meal levels (0, 330, 670, and 1000 g/kg dry matter basis) in replacement of soybean meal in the diet. Replacing soybean meal with peanut meal had no effect on the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients. Nitrogen balance and percentage of retained were similar among treatments. Microbial nitrogen synthesis and microbial protein synthesis efficiency were similar among treatments. Thus, in regions where its cost is lower, peanut meal can totally replace soybean meal in dairy cow diets without affecting nitrogen balance and microbial protein synthesis.

Growth performances, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation and energy partition of Thai native steers fed exclusive rice straw and fermented sugarcane bagasse with Lactobacillus, cellulase and molasses.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of sugarcane bagasse feeding treated with Lactobacillus casei TH14 (L. casei TH14), cellulase and molasses (BG) on nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, energy partition and growth performances of Thai native steers compared to conventional feeding of rice straw (RS). Eight Thai native steers (144 ± 19.5 kg of initial body weight) were randomly allocated to two roughage sources in a completed randomized design: RS (n = 4) and BG (n = 4). The feeding trial lasted for 90 days plus 21 days for treatment adaptation. The results showed that the BG group showed (p < 0.05) greater intake (2.34 vs 2.02 kg/day), total intake (3.90 vs 3.55 kg/day) and average daily gain (0.27 vs 0.23 kg/day) while feed conversion ratio was lower compared to RS group. The BG group had a greater (p < 0.05) organic matter and acid detergent fibre intake than the RS group as well as dry matter and neutral detergent fibre digestibility. The steers fed RS and BG were significantly (p < 0.05) different for total volatile fatty acids and propionic acid at 4 h after offering the diet. The intake of nitrogen (g/day) and apparent nitrogen absorption was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for BG than the RS group while nitrogen excretion in faeces was significantly lower in RS than the BG group. BG group showed significantly (p < 0.05) greater gross energy intake and digestible energy partition when compared to the RS group. In conclusion, feeding BG enhanced feed utilization, growth performance, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen utilization and energy utilization.

Growth performance responses to increased tryptophan supplementation in growing barrows fed three different very low crude protein corn and soybean meal-based diets fortified with essential amino acids.

Seventy-five individually fed barrows averaging 35 kg were used in a series of three experiments for 6-week growth assays (25 barrows each) to determine the effects of l-tryptophan (Trp) supplementation on growth performance and to establish the lower limits of dietary crude protein (CP) levels. Corn and soybean meal (SBM)-based diets containing 9% (Experiment 1), 10% (Experiment 2), and 11% CP (Experiment 3) fortified with deficient essential amino acids (AAs) except Trp were used as basal diets for each experiment. The experimental diets were supplemented with 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04%, or 0.06% Trp. A 16% CP corn-SBM-based diet was set as a positive control in each experiment, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio improved quadratically (P < 0.05) as supplemented Trp increased in the 9% and 10% CP group, although these positive effects were not observed in the 11% CP group. Because the maximum performance parameters in 9%, 10%, and 11% CP groups were not different from that of the 16% CP positive control group, the marginally reduced level of dietary CP without growth performance being affected appears to be around 9% at most. A potential reduction of nitrogen intake was clearly indicated.

Nitrogen balance in slow-growing Windsnyer pigs fed on incremental levels of amarula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) nut cake.

Feeding-derived amarula cake to growing pigs can overcome a narrow range of ingredients challenges and improve productivity. The objective of the current study was to determine the response in nitrogen (N) balance in slow-growing pigs fed on incremental levels of amarula nut cake (ANC). Thirty clinically healthy male growing Windsnyer (30.7 kg ± 6.57) (mean ± standard deviation) were individually assigned to separate pens in a completely randomized design, with six pigs per dietary treatment. Iso-energetic experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g/kg dry matter (DM) of ANC using the summit and dilution technique. Pigs were given 10 days of dietary adaptation and a collection period of 5 consecutive days after 31 days of feeding. Nitrogen intake increased linearly with incremental levels of ANC (P < 0.01). As ANC inclusion increased, the nitrogen (N) absorption, apparent N digestibility, and N retention in pigs increased until it reached a maximum, then started to decrease (P < 0.05). Nitrogen utilization increased at the rate of 0.63 g for each 1 g increase in ANC (P < 0.01). There was a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in total nitrogen excretion through urine and faeces with ANC inclusion. Urinary pH levels decreased quadratically in response to graded levels of ANC (P < 0.01). The relationship between urinary pH and ANC inclusion was Y = 0.0115x2 - 0.3491x + 4.872 (P < 0.01). The nitrogen balance responses were due to ANC inclusion in diets that were balanced for limiting amino acids. It can be concluded that ANC reduces N excretion, potentially minimizing ammonia volatilization, which makes it an alternative protein source for slow-growing pigs.

Feeding practices of dairy cows in Algeria: Characterization, typology, and impact on milk production and fertility.

OBJECTIVE: To explore feeding strategies and identify eventual errors that could cause poor production and reproduction performances in dairy farms in the north of Algeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted among 211 farms of different sizes, from 2014 to 2018 to compose a database that is analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The results relative to the nutritive value of the rations showed an average dry matter intake of 15.9 ± 4.74 kg/cow/day, providing 13.2 ± 4.34 UFL (Feed Unit for Lactation) of net energy and 1306 ± 456 gm of protein digested in small intestine (PDI)/cow/day. A high proportion of concentrate intake is observed, with an average of 64.7% ± 17.4% of energy intake and 70.2% ± 16.2% of nitrogen intake. Dairy cows performances were characterized by a low milk production regarding their genetic potential (14.2 ± 4.73 kg of milk/cow/day), a calving interval > to one year (397 ± 20.4 days), though the coverage rates of their nutrient requirements reached 120%. The typology of the dietary rations allowed grouping them into three categories: deficient rations cluster (DR), correct rations cluster, and excessive rations cluster (ER). DR and ER, which are not adjusted to animals' needs, were found in 57.8% of farms. CONCLUSION: It is obvious that the feeding management in the dairy farms in the North of Algeria is not based upon scientific achievements, contributing to relatively low performances of cows as well as to important financial losses. This finding imposes the necessity to adopt a correct and accurate rationing of animals.

Food supply and size class depending variations in phytodetritus intake in the benthic foraminifer Ammonia tepida.

Ammonia tepida is a common and abundant benthic foraminifer in intertidal mudflats. Benthic foraminifera are primary consumers and detritivores and act as key players in sediment nutrient fluxes. In this study, laboratory feeding experiments using isotope-labeled phytodetritus were carried out with A. tepida collected at the German Wadden Sea, to investigate the response of A. tepida to varying food supply. Feeding mode (single pulse, constant feeding; different incubation temperatures) caused strong variations in cytoplasmic carbon and nitrogen cycling, suggesting generalistic adaptations to variations in food availability. To study the influence of intraspecific size to foraminiferal carbon and nitrogen cycling, three size fractions (125-250 µm, 250-355 µm, >355 µm) of A. tepida specimens were separated. Small individuals showed higher weight specific intake for phytodetritus, especially for phytodetrital nitrogen, highlighting that size distribution within foraminiferal populations is relevant to interpret foraminiferal carbon and nitrogen cycling. These results were used to extrapolate the data to natural populations of living A. tepida in sediment cores, demonstrating the impact of high abundances of small individuals on phytodetritus processing and nutrient cycling. It is estimated that at high abundances of individuals in the 125-250 µm size fraction, Ammonia populations can account for more than 11% of phytodetritus processing in intertidal benthic communities.

[Indications and practice of enteral nutrition]. / Az enteralis táplálás indikációi és gyakorlata.

Malnutrition in hospitalised patients has a significant and disadvantageous impact on treatment outcome. If possible, enteral nutrition with an energy/protein-balanced nutrient should be preferred depending on the patient's condition, type of illness and risk factors. The aim of the nutrition therapy is to increase the efficacy of treatment and shorten the length of hospital stay in order to ensure rapid rehabilitation. In the present review the authors summarize the most important clinical and practical aspects of enteral nutrition therapy.

Prediction of urinary and fecal nitrogen excretion by beef cattle.

An analysis of predicting urinary and fecal N excretion from beef cattle was conducted using a data set summarizing 49 published studies representing 180 treatment means for 869 animals. Variables included in the data set were initial BW (kg), DMI (kg/d), dietary CP content (% of DM), N intake (g/d), apparent total tract N digestibility (%), and urinary and fecal N excretion (g/d). Correlation analysis examined relationships between animal and dietary variables and N excretion. A mixed model regression analysis was used to develop equations to predict N excretion in urine and feces and the proportion of urinary N in total N excretion as a function of various animal and dietary variables. Of the single animal and dietary variables, N intake was the best predictor of N excretion in urine and feces, whereas apparent total tract N digestibility was best to predict the proportion of urinary N in total N excretion. Low prediction errors and evaluation of the equations using cross-validation indicated the prediction equations were accurate and robust. Urinary and fecal N excretion can be accurately and precisely predicted by N intake, whereas the proportion of urinary N in total N excretion was best predicted solely using apparent total tract N digestibility.