Optimisation of fertiliser rates in crop production against energy use indicators

Optimising mineral nitrogen (N) use in crop production is inevitable target as mineral fertilisers reflect one of the highest inputs both in terms of economy and energy. The aim of the study was to compare the relationship between the rate of N fertiliser application and different measures of energy parameters exemplary data for spring-wheat in boreal climate condition in Estonia in 2006–2010. The effect of mineral N with rates 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha⁻¹ was studied on the background of composted cow manure and without organic fertilisers. Univalent parameters, energy gain (EG) (energy output − energy input) and energy ratio (ER) (energy output/energy input) were calculated. To aggregate parameters with different units (ER and EG) we proposed two standardisation approaches for combined indices. ER maximisation gave both organic fertilisation background optimum N norms significantly lower than EG (p < 0.05) optimisation. Both the new combined indices gave optimum N norms in between the rate of ER an EG. Composted cow manure background did not affect mineral N optimisation significantly. We suggest optimisation of mineral N according to bi-dimensional parameters as they capture important features of production efficiency and are more objective using as advisory tool for sustainable production systems.     

Effect of feeding different sources of selenium on growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers

ABSTRACT

1. This study was conducted to determine the effect of different sources of selenium (Se) on breast and liver tissue deposition, apparent metabolisable energy (AME), growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers, measured as Se content in liver and breast tissues and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in blood, when used in 0–35 d broiler chicken diets.

2. A total of 200 male Ross 308 broilers were used in the feeding trial, which comprised two dietary phases, a starter from 0 to 21 d and finisher from 21 to 35 d of age. Four treatments with 10 replications each were used. A control diet (C) was formulated that was sufficient in protein and energy (230 and 215 g/kg of crude protein and 12.67 and 13.11 MJ/kg of metabolisable energy, respectively), for both phases, but contained background Se only from the feed ingredients. Diet 2 (IS) was supplemented with 10.35 g/t inorganic, elemental source of Se. Diet 3 (SY) was supplemented with 136.36 g/t selenised yeast, an organic source derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Diet 4 (SS) was supplemented with 0.666 g/t sodium selenite, an inorganic source.

3. Birds fed the SY diet consumed less and weighed less than those fed IS or C (P < 0.05; 0–35 d of age), but there was no difference compared to birds fed SS diets. There were no differences in FCR or dietary AME between broilers fed different Se sources. All diets containing supplementary Se increased concentrations in the liver and breast muscle, and for GSH-Px levels in blood compared to birds fed the C diet (P < 0.001). Birds fed SY diets had greater Se levels in liver and breast tissues compared to birds fed any of the other diets (P < 0.001).

4. Diets supplemented with Se had variable effects on broiler growth performances and antioxidant status. Feeding Se from a yeast source has higher transfer into breast tissues. Feeding different sources and levels of Se to birds in a more challenging situation to induce oxidative stress may bring more conclusive results.     

平托花生草粉替代不同比例精料喂兔效果研究

为研究平托花生草粉替代不同比例精料饲喂新西兰大白兔生长效果,用平托花生草粉分别替代10%、15%、20%精料与对照（CK）共4个处理组。经45 d喂养试验,结果表明在日增重、屠体品质方面与全精料饲喂的对照组差异不显著,其中平托花生草粉替代10%精料的处理Ⅰ肉兔生长速度最快,日增重达22.56 g/d,料肉比为2.51∶1;在兔肉氨基酸含量方面,利用平托花生草粉分别替代10%、20%和30%的精料处理的兔肉氨基酸总量分别为68.91%、70.97%、68.51%,与全部精料饲喂的对照相比,替代20%精料的处理在氨基酸总量和人体必需氨基酸含量方面都得到了不同程度的提高;在经济效益方面,替代10%的精料,提高经济效益7.49%。说明可以利用平托花生草粉替代部分精料,达到同样的饲养效果,并节约饲粮,其中以平托花生草粉替代10%的处理饲养效果最好。     

Vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain during the first trimester of gestation affect concentrations of amino acids in maternal serum and allantoic fluid of beef heifers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding vitamin and mineral (VTM) supplement and (or) rate of gain (GAIN) during early gestation on amino acid (AA) concentrations in allantoic fluid (ALF) and amniotic fluid (AMF) and maternal serum. Seventy-two crossbred Angus heifers (initial BW = 359.5 ± 7.1 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with main effects of VTM supplement (VTM or NoVTM) and rate of gain (GAIN; low gain [LG], 0.28 kg/d, vs. moderate gain [MG], 0.79 kg/d). The VTM treatment (113 g•heifer⁻¹•d⁻¹, provided macro and trace minerals and vitamins A, D, and E to meet 110% of the requirements specified by the NASEM in Nutrient requirements of beef cattle. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi:10.17226/19014, 2016) was initiated 71 to 148 d before artificial insemination (AI). To complete the factorial arrangement of treatments, at breeding heifers were either maintained on the basal diet (LG), or received MG diet which was implemented by adding a protein/energy supplement to the LG diet. Thirty-five gestating heifers with female fetuses were ovariohysterectomized on d 83 of gestation and maternal serum, ALF, and AMF were collected. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of neutral AA: Ala, Asn, Cys, Gln, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, and Val; cationic AA: Arg, His, and Lys; and anionic AA: Asp and Glu. In serum, a VTM × GAIN interaction (P = 0.02) was observed for Glu, with greater concentrations for VTM-LG than VTM-MG. Concentrations of serum Cys, Met, and Trp were greater (P ≤ 0.03) for MG than LG. In ALF, concentrations of Glu were affected by a VTM × GAIN interaction, where VTM-MG was greater (P < 0.01) than all other treatments. Further, ALF from VTM had increased (P ≤ 0.05) concentrations of His, Asp, and 12 of the 14 neutral AA; whereas GAIN affected concentrations of Arg, Cys, and Asp, with greater concentrations (P ≤ 0.05) in MG heifers. In AMF, AA concentrations were not affected (P ≥ 0.10) by VTM, GAIN, or their interaction. In conclusion, increased concentrations of AA in maternal serum and ALF of beef heifers were observed at d 83 of gestation in response to VTM supplementation and rate of gain of 0.79 kg/d, which raises important questions regarding the mechanisms responsible for AA uptake and balance between the maternal circulation and fetal fluid compartments.     

提升犊牛日增重的方法研究

犊牛阶段的生长状况对牛只的生产性能具有重要影响,为提高牧场效益,牧场越来越追求犊牛阶段生长的最大化。通过饲喂代乳粉达到犊牛断奶前1.0 kg日增重,对牛只生产性能的提升具有重要意义。本文主要介绍增加犊牛日增重对牛只生产性能的积极影响,同时根据荷兰Schils的试验对代乳粉的选择和饲喂流程提出建议,以期对牧场合理使用代乳粉,实现犊牛阶段生长最大化提供参考。     

肉牛不同生长阶段日粮营养物质表观消化率的比较

[目的] 比较不同生长阶段肉牛日粮营养物质表观消化率和日增重,为肉牛养殖日粮配合提供参考。[方法] 按月龄和体重随机选择两组西门塔尔杂交牛,12~15月龄、体重250~300 kg为小体重组,15~18月龄、体重350~500 kg为大体重组,每组10头。日粮根据肉牛体重变化调整,正式试验期分为试验前期和试验后期。以不溶盐酸灰分（AIA）作为内源指示剂,利用点收粪法测定日粮营养物质表观消化率。[结果] 小体重组肉牛在整个试验期的总增重和平均日增重与大体重组肉牛差异显著（P<0.05）;试验前期,小体重组肉牛日粮有机物（OM）、粗蛋白质（CP）、中性洗涤纤维（NDF）、酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）、淀粉和能量的表观可消化量与大体重组肉牛差异显著（P<0.05）,而OM、CP、NDF、ADF、淀粉和能量的表观消化率与大体重组肉牛无显著（P>0.05）差异。[结论] 在试验日粮组成条件下,选取的2个饲养阶段肉牛日粮的营养物质表观消化率没有明显差异,可消化营养物质进食量的增加可提高日增重。     

瘦肉型猪组合配套杂交效果研究

为探索瘦肉型猪组合配套杂交方法和效果而进行试验。试验采用HN121（温氏杜洛克猪）、HN212（法系皮特兰♂×温氏杜洛克♀）为父本,以HN204（温氏大白♂×美系长白♀）为母本,对HN323（HN121×HN204）和HN424（HN212×HN204）两个组合配套进行研究。结果表明,HN424组合与HN323组合相比母猪的窝产仔数、窝产活仔数、仔猪初生窝重、21日龄仔猪成活率、21日龄窝重等繁殖性状差异不显著（P>0.05）;HN424组合仔猪的体重、背膘厚降低5.63%（P<0.05）,瘦肉率提高4.95%（P<0.05）,眼肌面积增大33.08%（P<0.01）,肉色评分降低7.19%（P<0.05）,大理石纹评分降低11.30%（P<0.01）,滴水损失率提高10.63%（P<0.01）,其他遗传性状差异不显著;HN424组合与HN204二元母系相比,日增重提高9.26%（P<0.05）,背膘厚减少16.41%（P<0.01）,料肉比减少8.02%（P<0.05）;HN323组合与HN204二元杂交母系相比,日增重提高7.20%（P<0.05）,背膘厚减少11.43%（P<0.01）,料肉比降低5.35%（P<0.05）。说明采取四元杂组合和三元杂交组合均对“大×长”（HN204）二元杂交有显著的遗传改良作用,“皮×杜×长×大”四元杂组合可显著提高猪的瘦肉率、眼肌面积,但肉色、大理石纹、滴水损失率等肉质指标变差,建议在“皮×杜×长×大”四系组合配套杂交中加入能改良肉质基因的猪种。     

Effects of different dl‐selenomethionine and sodium selenite levels on growth performance,immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers

This trial was conducted in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different dl ‐selenomethionine (dl ‐Se‐Met) and sodium selenite (SS) levels on growth performance, immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers. A total of 840 Ross 308 broilers (7 days old) were allocated by body weight to seven treatments (three replicates of 40 birds each treatment) including (1) basal diet (containing 0.04 mg of selenium (Se)/kg; control) without supplementary Se; (2, 3 and 4) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as SS; (5, 6 and 7) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as dl ‐Se‐Met. The experiment lasted 42 days. The results revealed that dietary Se supplementation improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain, feed efficiency, immune organ index, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations and decreased (p < 0.01) thyroxine (T₄)/T₃ ratio in serum compared with the control. Broilers receiving the dl ‐Se‐Met‐supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) feed efficiency, thymus index, the amounts of IgA, IgG, IgM and T₃ as well as lower (p < 0.05) serum T₄ concentrations and T₄/T₃ ratio than those consuming the SS‐supplemented diets. Serum IgA and IgM levels of broilers fed 0.15 mg Se/kg were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of broilers fed 0.05 or 0.25 mg Se/kg. In summary, we concluded that dl ‐Se‐Met is more effective than SS in increasing immunity and promoting conversion of T₄ to T₃, thus providing an effective way to improve the growth performance of broilers. Besides, based on a consideration of all experiment indices, 0.15 mg Se/kg was suggested to be the optimal level of Se supplementation under the conditions of this study.