• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.1659-1666
• /
• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) and Gliricidia sepium (gliricidia) supplementation on intake, digestion, outflow rates, microbial protein yield and live-weight changes in sheep fed with ammoniated rice straw (ARS). In experiment 1, three rumen cannulated Japanese Corriedale wether (mean body weight of 35.6 kg) in $3{\times}3$ Latin Square Design were used. Animals were fed ad libitum ARS alone, or supplemented with 200 g of either leucaena or gliricidia. In experiment 2, twenty-four growing native Philippine sheep with average body weight of $13.5{\pm}0.25kg$ were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) and offered similar diets to those of experiment 1. Supplementation increased total dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility except for fiber (p<0.05) without affecting ARS consumption. Nitrogen balance revealed that absorbed and retained N was significantly higher in leucaena and gliricidia. The significant improvement in N utilization and more digestible OM intake brought about by the inclusion of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS resulted in increased (p<0.05) microbial N yield. Efficiency of microbial N supply in supplemented group was not significantly different, but higher (p<0.05) than the 24.92 g N/kg DOMR for ARS group. Liquid outflow rate was 7.8 and 6.8 %/h, while the solid phase of rumen digesta was 4.4 and 3.8 %/h for the leucaena and gliricidia group respectively, which were significantly higher than 5.30 and 2.50 %/h in the control diet. The increase in total DMI resulted to higher (p<0.01) growth performance and efficient feed utilization. Average daily gain (ADG) was 19.3, 34.6 and 33.9 g/d for the ARS, leucaena and gliricidia respectively. It is therefore concluded that addition of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS in could increase nutrient intake and digestibility, subsequently improving N utilization and livestock performance.

• Smart Media Journal
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2022

Recently, agricultural sites are automating into digital agricultural smart farms by applying technologies such as big data and Internet of Things (IoT). These smart farms aim to increase production and improve crop quality by measuring the environment of crops, investigating and processing data. Production prediction is an important study in smart farm digital agriculture, which is a high-tech agriculture, and it is necessary to analyze environmental data using big data and further standardized research to manage the quality of growth information data. In this paper, environmental and production data collected from smart farm strawberry farms were analyzed and studied. Based on regression analysis, crop production prediction models were analyzed using Ridge Regression, LightGBM, and XGBoost. Among the three models, the optimal model was XGBoost, and R2 showed 82.5 percent explanatory power. As a result of the study, the correlation between the amount of positive fluid absorption and environmental data was confirmed, and significant results were obtained for the production prediction study. In the future, it is expected to contribute to the prevention of environmental pollution and reduction of sheep through the management of sheep by studying the amount of sheep absorption, such as information on the growing environment of crops and the ingredients of sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.103-114
• /
• 1989

Reciprocal crosses were conducted between three strains of Taiwan Country chickens, developed in the National Chung-Hsing University, and two strains of Single Comb White Leghorns, developed in the Taiwan Livestock Research Institute. Traits studied were growing performances, laying performances, egg quality traits and traits concerning disease resistance, including resistance to Marek's disease virus and immune responses to Newcastle disease virus vaccine and to sheep red blood cell. Results indicated that laying performances of Taiwan country chickens were much inferior to White Leghorns, but they matured earlier, their eggs had better shell strength and larger proportion of yolk, and their general disease resistance was much better than White Leghorns. Heterosis were found in laying performances and egg quality traits. The heterosis in laying traits was so large that the hybrid laid as many eggs and as large eggs as did pure strains of White Leghorns. Strategies on the improvement of native chickens and the utilization of genetic merits of native chickens were also discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 1986

This trial was carried out to find out the methods of improvement of natural pasture by PK-fertilization and sheep grazing. The experimental area covered with the community of Carex ferruginea-dominated and located at the Bavarian Alps in the southern part of Germany. As measuring the changes of the vegetation, the Releve-method, the Point-Intercept-method and the Quadrat-Charting-method were applied. Changes in the ecological evidence of the vegetation were studied during the period from April 1980 to the end of growing season in 1983. 1. The fodder value at the oversown pasture we slightly increased by PK-fertilization with sheep grazing, byt that gradually decreased by grazing without fertilization. 2. The pasture quality at the secondary vegetation was greatly improved as well as that of the oversown pasture in Autumn of the second experimental year by sheep grazing with PK-fertilization, but the fodder value was not like that by grazing without fertilization at the natural pasture. 3. The influence of phosphorus/ potassium-fertilization was much more serious than that of sheep grazing. Sedges almost disappeared due to fertilization, on the other hand grasses and legumes increased distinctly. Sheep grazing without fertilization led to a gradual decrease of legumes. The enormous biomass difference in sedges between the June and October analyses was due to a lack of regenerative capacity. 4. The plant community of Carex ferruginea-dominated before the experiment was successived into Alchemillo-Cynosuretum by PK-fertilization with sheep grazing.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.665-671
• /
• 2003

A factorial experiment was conducted to assess nutrient utilization by growing lambs maintained on three levels each of digestible energy (high: HE, medium: ME, low: LE) and protein (high: HP, medium: MP, low: LP) in nine combinations (HEHP, HEMP, HELP, MEHP, MEMP, MELP, LEHP, LEMP, LELP). The experiment was conducted during the hot season in a semiarid location. Daily dry matter intake (DMI) was similar in all the groups in terms of unit body weight or metabolic body size. Digestibility of DM and nitrogen free extract increased (p<0.01) from low to medium and high energy regimen while the CF digestibility followed a reverse trend. The digestibility of crude protein (CP) decreased from high to medium and low protein regimens while it was similar in terms of energy variation. Nitrogen intake was higher in high followed by medium and low protein regime while fecal and urinary nitrogen loss were similar in all the treatment groups. Lambs in all the three levels of protein were in positive N balance and percent N retention was higher (p<0.01) in high followed by medium and low protein levels whereas it was similar in terms of energy variation. Initial body weight was similar in all the groups while final weight, total gain in the experiment and average daily gain (ADG) were higher in high than medium and low energy regimens. It is concluded that crossbred lambs required 75.1 g DM, 9.6 g CP, 6.3 g DCP and 711 KJ DE/kg W $^{0.75}$or 11.0 g CP/MJ DE or 7.2 g DCP/MJ DE for 93 g average daily gain in a hot semiarid environment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.1273-1273
• /
• 2001

The efficiency of the luminal fermentation process influences overall efficiency of luminal production, animal health and reproduction. Ruminant production systems have a significant impact on the global environment, as well. Animal wastes contribute to pollution of the environment as ammonia volatilized to the air and nitrate leached to ground water. Microbial protein synthesis in the rumen satisfies a large proportion of the protein requirements of animals. Quantifying the microbial synthesis is possible by using markers for lumen bacteria and protozoa such as nucleic acids, purine bases, some specific amino acids, or by isotopic $^{15}N,^{32}P,\;and\;^{35}S$ labelled feeds. All those methods require cannulated animals, they are time-consuming and some methods are very expensive as well. Many attempts have been made to find an alternative method for indirect measurement of microbial synthesis in intact animals. The present investigations aimed to assess possibilities of NIRS for prediction of purine nitrogen excretion and ruminal microbial nitrogen synthesis by NIR spectra of urine. Urine samples were collected from 12 growing sheep,6 of them male, and 6- female. The sheep were included in feeding experiment. The ration consisted of sorghum silage and protein supplements -70:30 on dry matter basis. The protein supplements were chosen to differ in protein degradability. The urine samples were collected daily in a vessel containing $60m{\ell}$ 10% sulphuric acid to reduce pH below 3 and diluted with tap water to 4 liters. Samples were stored in plastic bottles and frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ until chemical and NIRS analysis. The urine samples were analyzed for purine derivates - allantoin, uric acid, xantine and hypoxantine content. Microbial nitrogen synthesis in the lumen was calculated according to Chen and Gomes, 1995. Transmittance urine spectra with sample thickness 1mm were obtained by NIR System 6500 spectrophotometer in the spectral range 1100-2500nm. The calibration was performed using ISI software and PLS regression, respectively. The following statistical results of NIRS calibration for prediction of purine derivatives and microbial protein synthesis were obtained.(Table Omitted). The result of estimation of purine nitrogen excretion and microbial protein synthesis by NIR spectra of urine showed accuracy, adequate for rapid evaluation of microbial protein synthesis for a large number of animals and different diets. The results indicate that the advantages of the NIRS technology can be extended into animal physiological studies. The fast and low cost NIRS analyses could be used with no significant loss of accuracy when microbial protein synthesis in the lumen and the microbial protein flow in the duodenum are to be assessed by NIRS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.7
• /
• pp.981-986
• /
• 2013

The nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and in vivo metabolizable energy supply of Mucuna pruriens whole pods fed to growing Pelibuey lambs was investigated. Eight Pelibuey sheep housed in metabolic crates were fed increasing levels of Mucuna pruriens pods: 0 (control), 100 (Mucuna100), 200 (Mucuna200) and 300 (Mucuna300) g/kg dry matter. A quadratic (p<0.002) effect was observed for dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (aNDF), nitrogen (N) and gross energy (GE) intakes with higher intakes in the Mucuna100 and Mucuna200 treatments. Increasing M. pruriens in the diets had no effect (p>0.05) on DM and GE apparent digestibility (p<0.05). A linear reduction in N digestibility and N retention was observed with increasing mucuna pod level. This effect was accompanied by a quadratic effect (p<0.05) on fecal-N and N-balance which were higher in the Mucuna100 and Mucuna200 treatments. Urine-N excretion, GE retention and dietary estimated nutrient supply (metabolizable protein and metabolizable energy) were not affected (p>0.05). DM, N and GE apparent digestibility coefficient of M. pruriens whole pods obtained through multiple regression equations were 0.692, 0.457, 0.654 respectively. In vivo DE and ME content of mucuna whole pod were estimated in 11.0 and 9.7 MJ/kg DM. It was concluded that whole pods from M. pruriens did not affect nutrient utilization when included in an mixed diet up to 200 g/kg DM. This is the first in vivo estimation of mucuna whole pod ME value for ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.567-572
• /
• 2010

The objective was to assess the concentrations of Vitamins A and E in blood of growing lambs infected or not with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and fed a diet containing clinoptilolite. Twenty-four male lambs were used. A $2{\times}2$ factorial design consisting of two feeding treatments (B and Z) and two levels of parasitic status, infected (I) and uninfected (U) was used. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of four (n = 6), groups: BU (basal-uninfected), BI (basal-infected), ZU (zeolite-uninfected) and ZI (zeoliteinfected). Lambs of groups BI and ZI were infected with a single dose of 15,000 $L_3$ larvae of GIN. Blood samples were collected from individual animals at the start of the experiment and, thereafter, at 15-day intervals. The average blood serum vitamin A and vitamin E, concentration in lambs (mean${\pm}$SD) was 0.25${\pm}$0.090 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 1.59${\pm}$0.769 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Lambs fed Z diet had higher values of vitamin A (p<0.001), but lower values of vitamin E (p<0.01) when compared with those fed B diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.284-289
• /
• 2014

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the ingestive behavior of lambs confined in individual and group stalls. We used thirty-four lambs in their growing phase, aged an average of three months, with mean initial live weight of $17.8{\pm}5.2$ kg. They were allotted in a completely randomized design with 24 animals kept in individual stalls and 10 animals confined as a group. The experiment lasted for a total of 74 days, and the first 14 days were dedicated to the animals' adaption to the management, facilities and diets. The data collection period lasted 60 days, divided into three 20-d periods for the behavior evaluation. The animals were subjected to five days of visual observation during the experiment period, by the quantification of 24 h a day, with evaluations on the 15th day of each period and an interim evaluation consisting of two consecutive days on the 30th and 31st day of the experiment. The animals confined as a group consumed less (p<0.05) fiber. However, the animals confined individually spent less (p<0.05) time on feeding, rumination and chewing activities and longer in idleness. Therefore, the lower capacity of lambs confined in groups to select their food negatively affects their feeding behavior.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.440-447
• /
• 2009

Domestic ruminant animals are reared in diverse production systems, ranging from extensive systems under semi-arid and tropical conditions with poor feed resources to intensive systems in temperate and cold areas with high quality feed. Nitrogen (N) recycling between the body and gut of ruminants plays a key role in the adaptation to such diverse nutritional conditions. Ammonia and microbial protein produced in the gut and urea synthesized in the liver are major players in N-recycling transactions. In this review, we focus on the physiological factors affecting urea production and recycling. Sheep and buffalo probably have higher abilities to reabsorb urea from the kidney compared with cattle. This affects the degree of urea-N recycling between the body and gut at both low and high N intakes. The synthesis and gut entry of urea also differs between cattle bred for either dairy or beef production. Lactating dairy cows show a higher gut entry of urea compared with growing cattle. The synthesis and recycling of urea dramatically increases after weaning, so that the functional development of the rumen exerts an essential role in N transactions. Furthermore, high ambient temperature increases urea production but reduces urea gut entry. An increase in total urea flux, caused by the return to the ornithine cycle from the gut entry, is considered to serve as a labile N pool in the whole body to permit metabolic plasticity under a variety of physiological, environmental and nutritional conditions.