• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.543-548
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• 2002

Fresh elephant grass was replaced by urea treated rice straw (UTRS) to evaluate the effects on milk production of crossed lactating cows. A total of 16 crossbred F1 cows (Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Vietnamese Local Yellow), with a body weight of about 400 kg and lactation number from three to five, were used in the experiment. The experimental cows were blocked according to the milk yield of the previous eight weeks and divided into 4 homogenous groups. The experiment was conducted with a Latin Square design with 4 treatments and 4 periods. Each period was 4 weeks, with 2 weeks of feed adaptation and 2 weeks for data collection. The ratio of concentrate to roughage in the ration was 50:50. All cows were given constant amounts of elephant grass dry matter (DM), with ratios of 100% grass without UTRS (control treatment 100G), and 75% grass (75G), 50% grass (50G) and 25% grass (25G) with ad libitum UTRS. Daily total DM intake on 100G, 75G, 50G and 25G was 12.04, 12.31, 12.32 and 11.85 kg, and the daily ME intake was 121.6, 121.5, 119.4 and 114.3 MJ, respectively. The daily CP intake was similar for all treatments (1.85-1.91 kg). There was a difference (p<0.05) in daily milk yield between the 25G and the 100G and 75G (11.7 vs. 12.6 and 12.5 kg, respectively). Milk protein concentration was similar for all treatments, while a tendency to increased milk fat concentration following the increase of UTRS ratio was observed. The cows gained 4-5 kg body weight per month and showed first oestrus 3-4 months after calving. The overall feed conversion for milk production was not affected by ratio of UTRS in the ration. It is concluded that replacement of green grass by UTRS with a ratio of 50:50 for crossbred lactating cows is as good as feeding 100% green grass in terms of milk yield, body weight gain and feed conversion. UTRS can preferably replace green grass in daily rations for crossbred dairy cows in winter to cope with the shortage of green grass, with the ratio 1:1.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1422-1427
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• 2002

Fifteen crossbred cattle bulls of about 22-24 months age (mean body weight ranged from 291.0 to 298.1 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 animals following randomized block design. Animals in group 1 were fed concentrate mixture containing wheat bran 97%, mineral mixture 2% and salt 1% plus ad libitum chopped green sugarcane tops (SCT) as a roughage source. Animals in group 2 were fed concentrate mixture containing lentil chuni 97%, mineral mixture 2% and salt 1% while group 3 concentrate contained wheat bran 48.5%, lentil chuni 48.5%, mineral mixture 2% and salt 1% plus ad libitum chopped green SCT to meet their maintenance requirements. During metabolism trial period, the mean total intake and digestibility of DM in groups 1, 2 and 3 was $8.09{\pm}0.41$, $8.41{\pm}0.49$ and $7.86{\pm}0.16kg/d$ and 60.24, 63.24 and 65.05%, respectively. The intake of CP (p<0.05) and EE (p<0.01) was significantly higher in group 2 and group 1, respectively as compared to remaining 2 groups, which were comparable. Digestibility of CP and EE was significantly (p<0.01) higher in group 3 and that of CP was comparable with group 2. The intake and digestibility of total carbohydrates, NDF, ADF, Hemi-cellulose and cellulose were similar among 3 groups. The mean body weight changes in group 1, 2 and 3 were 173.4, 253.4 and 203.4 g/d, respectively, which was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group 2. The total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) intakes were significantly higher in group 2 and group 1, respectively. The total volatile fatty acids, ammonia-N, trichloro-acetic acid precipitable nitrogen (TCA ppt.-N; p<0.05), total-N concentrations and pH were significantly (p<0.01) higher in group 3, however, pH and TCA ppt.-N was comparable with group 2 and 1, respectively. From the results, it may be deduced that the feeding of chopped green SCT supplemented with a concentrate mixture having both wheat bran (48.5%) and lentil chuni (48.5%) has shown a better performance with respect to intake and digestibility of nutrients and growth as well.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.522-527
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• 2002

The experiment was conducted for a period of 56 days with twelve Bangladeshi bull calves of average body weight of $127.20{\pm}11.34$ kg. The calves were divided into 3 groups having 4 animals in each. The animals were fed urea-treated rice straw designated as A) 4% urea-treated rice straw, B) 4% urea+4% soybean-treated rice straw and C) 4% urea+6% soybean-treated rice straw. In addition, all the animals were supplied 2 kg green grass, 350 g Til-oil-cake and 100 g common salt per 100 kg body weight of animals. Straw was treated with 4% urea solution and soybean meal at 4 and 6% were added to treated straw and kept for 48 h in double layer polythene bags under anaerobic condition. Urea treatment improved crude protein (CP) content of rice straw from 2.68 to 8.70% and it was further increased by 10.74 and 12.12% with the addition of 4 and 6% soybean meal. Dry matter (DM) intake (kg) was higher (p<0.05) in C (4.2) followed by B (4.1) and A (4.0). Crude protein intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group B and C than group A. Total live weight gains were 20.2, 24.8 and 25.6 kg for calves of group A, B and C respectively (p<0.01). The addition of soybean meal to treated rice straw did not affect the coefficients of digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE. However, CP and CF digestibility were significantly higher in group B and C (p<0.05). The values for digestible crude protein (DCP), digestible ether extract (DEE), digestible nitrogen free extract (DNFE) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in diet C and B in comparison to diet A, but there were no significant difference in digestible organic matter (DOM) and digestible crude fibre (DCF) value among the groups. It may be concluded that 4% urea treated rice straw can be fed to growing bull calves with 2 kg green grass and a small quantity of concentrate without any adverse effect on feed intake and growth. Moreover, soybean meal at 4 and 6% can be added to urea treated rice straw at the time of treatment for rapid hydrolyzing of urea, which resulted an improvement in nutrient digestibility and better utilization of rice straw for growth of growing bull calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1750-1757
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• 2000

A total of 864 broiler chicks were used at Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska to determine the effects of heat treatment of two soybean genotypes on the growth performance. The soybeans were Williams 82 variety with (+K) and without (-K) gene expression for the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. Heat treatment (autoclaving at $121^{\circ}C$ and $1.1kg/cm^2$) was applied for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 min, resulting in a $2{\times}6$ factorial arrangement of treatments. Station and station treatment effects occurred, indicating that response in nutritional value of the soybean genotypes to heat treatment varied from year to year and location to location. However, the interactions were in magnitude of response rather than direction of response, with greater reductions in trypsin inhibitor concentrations for the soybeans heat processed at the Nebraska location. Pooled data indicated that -K supported greater (p<0.001) ADG, ADFI and gain/feed than the +K genotype. As the length of heat treatment increased, the ADG, ADFI, and the gain/feed ratio increased for chicks fed both soybean genotypes (p<0.0001). However, heating the -K soybeans resulted in a greater response in ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed than heating the +K soybeans (genotype heat treatment interaction, p<0.001). Pancreatic weights (mg pancreas/g of BW) of chicks fed -K soybeans were reduced compared to those from chicks fed +K (p<0.001). Increasing heat treatment decreased pancreas weights in chicks fed both soybean genotypes (p<0.001). Chicks fed heated soybeans in the Nebraska experiment had lower pancreatic weights than chicks fed heated soybeans in the Kansas experiment (station heat treatment interaction, p<0.0001). Chick growth performance was improved and pancreatic weights decreased by feeding raw -K soybeans versus raw +K soybeans, and by increasing heat treatment of both soybean genotypes. However, the response to heat treatment was not independent of genotype. Both +K and -K soybeans heated for 24 min supported similar ADG, ADFI, gain/feed, and pancreas weights, although chicks fed raw +K soybeans had lower growth performance than chicks fed -K soybeans. In conclusion, raw -K soybeans supported greater growth performance in broiler chicks than raw +K soybeans, although this advantage was lost when both soybean genotypes were heated for 24 min. Heat treatment of +K soybeans supported similar growth performance to heated -K soybeans, even though +K soybeans supported lower rates and efficiencies of gain than -K soybeans when fed raw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1422-1428
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• 2006

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of niacin supplementation on growth, nutrient utilization, their balance and blood biochemical profile, 15 male buffalo calves (9-10 months of age, $88.4{\pm}4.37kg$ average body weight) were divided into 3 equal groups each of 5 calves, following a completely randomized design, and fed individually for 120 days with wheat straw and concentrate mixture to meet their nutrient requirements. In addition calves were supplemented with 0 ppm (control, group I), 100 ppm (group II) and 200 ppm (group III) niacin. After 90 days of experimental feeding a metabolism trial was conducted to estimate the digestibility of nutrients and their balance. Fortnightly body weights were recorded to assess their growth rate and blood was collected from the jugular vein at day 0 and subsequently at 30-day intervals from all the experimental buffalo calves to study blood biochemical parameters. Results showed that intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, total carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicelluloses were statistically similar in the 3 groups. Buffalo calves in all three groups were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance, without showing any significant effect of the treatments. Dry matter, crude protein, digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient intake ($g/d/kgW^{0.75}$) were similar in the control and niacin supplemented groups. Digestible crude protein (%) and total digestible nutrients (%) in the ration of the 3 groups were 8.07, 7.99, 7.92 and 56.70, 56.63, 56.74, respectively, and were comparable among the groups. The average daily gain (g) in-group II (567.50) was not significantly (p>0.05) higher than group I (500.0) and group III (510.0). Blood biochemical constituents (glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea-N, insulin) showed no significant effect of niacin supplementation. However, serum cholesterol (mg/100 ml) was significantly (p<0.01) lower in the 200 ppm niacin-supplemented group than in the control and 100 ppm niacin-supplemented groups. It can be concluded that supplementation of niacin at 100 and 200 ppm in the diet of buffalo calves had no significant beneficial effect on their growth and nutrient utilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.587-594
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• 1995

In order to estimate the nutritive value of roasted full-fat soybean (FFS) in carp diet, growth performance and excretion of protein and phosphorus were examined using carps having mean body weight of 111 g. Growth trial was conducted for 4 weeks using the fishes fed 5 diets (Control, $F_{24}S_{13}$, $F_{16}S_{27}$, $F_8S_{40}$ and $F_0S_{56}$) containing 32%, 24%, 16%, 8% and 0% of fish meal (F) and 0%, 13%, 27%, 40% and 56% of full-fat soybean, respectively. A total of 800 fishes were allotted randomly by groups of 40 to 5 treatments with 4 replicates per treatment. Fishes were fed to station eight times daily. Feeding trial was conducted for 4 weeks. As dietary FFS increased from 0% to 56%, weight gain of fish decreased from 91 g to 39 g and feed conversion ratio increased from 1.06 to 1.95. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) was highest (2.35) in control group which had the highest protein intake, while PER significantly decreased with decrease in protein intake as dietary FFS level increased. Although dietary protein and energy levels were maintained constant, protein excretion per kg weight gain varied from 273 g to 579 g for the groups control and $F_0S_{56}$, respectively. However, the value for control group was not significantly different to those for the groups $F_{24}S_{13}$ and $F_{16}S_{27}$. On the other hand, the highest protein retention efficiency was found in group fed the diet $F_{24}S_{13}$. Fish fed the diet $F_8S_{40}$ excreted the lowest phosphorus (P) based on kg weight gain showing the highest P retention efficiency of 62%. P excretion per kg feed intake was in the range of 5 g to 10 g for the groups $F_8S_{40}$ and $F_{24}S_{13}$, respectively. The present results indicated that as dietary FFS level increased, growth performance and feed utilization decreased while excretion of protein and phosphorus increased. Therefore, it was concluded that more than 25% substitution by FFS for fish meal could exert negative effects on growth and feed utilization of carp.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.434-442
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum ratio of methionine to methionine plus cystine for growing pigs. A nitrogen balance trial was conducted using a total of 21 barrows (Large WhiteLandrace) over two replicates. The initial body weight was $20.36{\pm}1.22kg$ (mean${\pm}$SD) in the first replicate and $23.54{\pm}1.02kg$ (mean${\pm}$SD) in the second. For each replicate, the 21 pigs were randomly assigned to one of seven dietary treatments with three observations per treatment. The diets included a methionine and cystine-deficient basal diet with all other essential nutrients meeting nutrient requirements and six diets formulated with graded levels of DL-methionine (0.00, 0.03, 0.06, 0.10, 0.13, 0.16%) and $L-Cystine{\cdot}HCl{\cdot}H_2O$ (0.19, 0.15, 0.11, 0.07, 0.04, 0.00%). This resulted in ratios of methionine to methionine plus cystine of 41.3, 29.6, 35.3, 41.2, 46.0, 51.6 and 57.5%. Each experimental period lasted 12 days consisting of a seven-day adaptation period followed by a five-day total collection of urine and feces. During the collection period, pigs were fed 900 g/day for the first replicate and 1,200 g/day for the second replicate. The feed was provided in three equal portions at 0800, 1500, and 2200 h daily. Pigs had ad libitum access to water after feeding. There was a linear (p<0.01) and quadratic (p<0.01) effect on daily gain and feed conversion as the ratio of methionine to methionine plus cystine increased. Pigs receiving the diets providing a methionine to methionine plus cystine ratio of 51.6% had the best daily gain and feed conversion. Plasma urea nitrogen was also lowest for this treatment. Nitrogen retention increased (p<0.01) as the relative proportion of methionine increased up to 51.6% and then a downward trend occurred at 57.5%. The quadratic regression model, as well as one- and two- slope regression line models, were used to determine the optimum ratio of methionine to methionine plus cystine. Eliminating the 35.3% methionine to methionine plus cystine treatment resulted in $R^2$ values in excess of 0.92. The optimal ratio of methionine to methionine plus cystine was estimated to be 54.15% for nitrogen retention and 56.72% for plasma urea nitrogen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.443-448
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• 2008

Beak trimming in laying hens is a routine practice in which about 1/3-1/2 of the upper and lower beak is removed with the aim of reducing cannibalism. This experiment aimed to identify if this procedure causes pain by examining self-administration of an analgesic (carprofen) and pecking behaviour in 80 laying pullets beak-trimmed by two different methods at one day of age using hot-blade cauterisation or infra-red cauterisation. We also tested a control treatment, pullets with intact beaks, and a positive control treatment of pullets beak trimmed at 10 weeks of age which were expected to experience some pain due to recent severing of the underlying nerves in the beak. At 11 weeks of age birds trimmed at 10 weeks of age pecked more (p<0.001) gently ($0.6{\pm}0.06N$) at a disc attached to a force-displacement transducer than birds trimmed at 1 day of age with an infra-red machine ($0.9{\pm}0.1N$) or a hot blade ($1.1{\pm}0.07N$) and intact birds ($1.2{\pm}0.1N$). Maximum force of pecks recorded was also lower (p<0.001) in birds trimmed at 10 weeks of age than birds trimmed at 1 day of age with an infra-red method or a hot blade and intact birds. However, the pecking force in birds trimmed at 10 weeks of age was not increased by providing them with analgesic-treated feed, though birds that ate more carprofen had a higher maximum force of peck (p = 0.03). Pecking force in birds beak-trimmed at 1 day of age was the same as the pecking force of intact birds, and was unaffected by feeding pullets carprofen. A method of self-administration of an analgesic had previously revealed that chickens in neuromuscular pain arising from lameness consumed more of a feed containing carprofen than healthy chickens. However, we found no evidence that beak-trimmed pullets consumed more carprofen-treated feed than pullets with an intact beak. It should be noted that the three beak trimming methods resulted in an average 34% reduction in beak length, considered a light trim, and is perhaps not representative of commercial birds where greater portions of the beak are removed. We conclude that although carprofen has been reported to have an analgesic effect on neuromuscular pain in chickens, it appears to have no analgesic effect on potential neuropathic pain arising from the nerves severed by a light beak trim.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2006

This study was conducted to develope efficient vermicomposting using of different mixture ratios of cow manure and rice hull by feeding these to earthworm and then by studying the growth and reproductive efficiency of earthworm, and the chemical composition of worm cast and its production. The results are summarized as follows. C/N ratio of feed was $20.43{\sim}31.16$ and it increased according to the higher proportion of rice hull, and survival of earthworm was $97.6{\sim}98.4%$. Number of young worms were significantly higher in $10{\sim}40%$ addition of rice hull(number of $824{\sim}844$) than number of 769 of real cow manure treatment(P<0.05). Fresh weight of young worms was $8.00{\sim}11.8g$ and it was significantly higher in 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). The cast production of earthworm was significantly lower in the 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). But digested matters were showed in the tendency of becoming higher in the 40% addition of rice hull than in $10{\sim}30%$ addition of that. C/N ratio of worm cast was significantly higher in 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). Heavy metal concentrations of worm cast were showed in the tendency of becoming lower in the 40% addition of rice hull than in addition of that.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1553-1561
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• 2004

Two feeding trials were conducted with 128 pullets from 4 to 20 weeks of age and 96 laying hens from 23 to 63 weeks of age to evaluate the effects of scavenging and type of protein supplement on the feed intake and performance of improved pullets and laying hens. The experiments had a completely randomized design with four dietary treatments and four replicates. Treatments were: Control (Cont), scavenging but with access to a balanced concentrate at night; confinement (CF) and given the control feed ad libitum; scavenging and supplemented at night with the control feed, but with soybean meal replaced by cassava leaf meal (CLM); scavenging and supplemented at night with the control feed, but with fishmeal replaced y soybean meal (SBM). The mean daily dry matter (DMI), metabolizable energy (MEI) and crude protein intakes (CPI) of the pullets and laying hens, respectively, were 28%, and 18% higher for the confinement treatment (CF) compared to the scavenging treatments (p<0.001). The DMI, MEI and CPI of the pullets were not significantly different among scavenging treatments (p>0.05), but for the layers DMI, MEI and CPI were significantly higher for the CLM and SBM treatments compared to the Cont treatment (p<0.001). In the growing period, the average daily weight gain (ADG), supplement feed conversion ratio (FCR) and supplement feed cost/kg eggs (FCS) were not significantly different for CF compared to Cont, and among scavenging treatments (p>0.05). In the laying period, the hen-day production was significantly lower, and supplement FCR and FCS significantly higher for the CF compared to the scavenging treatments (p<0.001). Egg weight, and yolk, albumen and shell percentage and shape index were not significantly different among the scavenging treatments (p>0.05). However, shell and yolk percentages were significantly lower for the CF compared to the Cont treatment (p<0.01). Mortality was significantly higher for the CF compared to the scavenging treatments for pullets, and was significantly lower for the CF compared to scavenging treatments for laying hens (p<0.001). It was concluded that scavenging pullets and layers were getting around 28% and 18%, respectively, of their nutrient requirements from scavenging activities, resulting in correspondingly lower supplement feed conversion ratios and feed costs. Daily gains of the pullets were not affected by scavenging or protein supplement, but egg production and mortality were lower for the confined hens.