Effects of feeding different dietary protein and energy levels on the performance of 12–15-month-old buffalo calves

The study investigated the performance response of different dietary protein and energy levels of Nili-Ravi buffalo calves. Sixty buffalo calves of 12–15 months of age and similar body weight (140 ± 14 kg) were divided in to 12 groups, five animals in each group, according to 4 × 3 factorial arrangements. Twelve rations were formulated containing four levels of crude protein (CP; 10.5%, 12.20%, 13.80%, and 15.55%) each with three levels (1.72, 2.11, and 2.5 Mcal/Kg) of metabolizable energy (ME). Experiment lasted for 100 days; first 10 days were given for dietary adaptation. Daily feed consumption in calves fed all experimental diets were statistically significant (p < 0.05) across all treatments. Higher feed intake was observed in buffalo calves fed diets containing 12.20% and 13.85% CP with 2.11 Mcal/kg ME. Results of dry matter (DM) digestion were significantly different (p < 0.05) across all treatments. There was a quadratic (p < 0.05) response of DM digestibility for levels of dietary protein while, curvilinear (p < 0.05) trend with respect to dietary energy levels. Daily weight gain of buffalo calves did not show any treatment effect. The outcome of the present study indicate that 12–15-month-old buffalo calves perform adequately well when fed on diets containing 12.2% CP and 2.10 ME Mcal/Kg.     

Ruminal dynamics of ad libitum feeding in buffalo bulls receiving different level of rumen degradable protein

Four ruminally cannulated Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls were used in a 4 × 4 Latin Square Design to determine the influence of varying level of ruminally degradable protein (RDP) on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal characteristics, digestibility, blood pH, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and nitrogen (N) balance. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated. The C diet contained 50% RDP while medium, high and very high RDP diets had 66, 82 and 100% RDP of the total crude protein (CP) and were denoted as MRDP, HRDP and VHRDP, respectively. The bulls were fed ad libitum. Nutrients intake decreased linearly with increasing the RDP proportion of total dietary CP. A quadratic effect of RDP on ruminal pH was noticed with increasing level of RDP with quadratic maxima at 66% RDP diet. Increasing level of dietary RDP also had a quadratic effect on total bacterial and protozoal count with maximum microbial count at 82% RDP diet. Increasing dietary RDP resulted in linear increase in DM digestibility. However, neutral detergent fiber digestibility was decreased linearly with increasing the level of dietary RDP. A linear increase in ruminal NH₃–N and BUN was noticed due to increasing level of dietary RDP. Higher positive N balance was noticed in bulls fed C diet compared to those fed MRDP, HRDP and VHRDP diets. The findings of this study indicated that buffalo bulls can effectively utilize 13.12% RDP of DM without any adverse effect on rumen and blood parameters.     

Effects of amylose and wheat bran on the levels of blood serum urea nitrogen (BUN), other blood parameters,growth and fecal characteristics in rats

A basal diet (containing 20% soybean protein isolate) was supplemented with limiting amino acids (AA, methionine, threonine and tryptophan); wheat bran (WB, 24.3%); amylose (AM, 10%) or a combination of AA and WB or AM to investigate their effects on the levels of blood serum urea nitrogen (BUN), other blood parameters, growth and fecal characteristics in young rats. After 3 weeks feeding, supplementation of the basal diet with AA or WB resulted in improved growth (gain/food ratio) while the addition of AM had no effect on rat growth. Addition of WB to the basal diet had no effect on BUN while the addition of AA and AM caused about 20 and 12% reduction in BUN values, respectively. Rats fed the AA-AM diet had the lowest BUN values (42% lower than those fed the basal diet). Fresh volume, fresh weight, moisture and dry weight of feces in rats fed the WB diets were about four to five fold higher than in those fed the AM diets. The results suggested that BUN may not be a good predictor of growth and protein quality in diets containing AM or a source of dietary fiber (WB).     

Influence of dietary soybean trypsin inhibitors and DL-ethionine on sulfur amino acid adequacy of diets for young rats

Weanling male Wistar rats were fed 20% protein diets based on casein or either of two combinations of soy protein isolate and ground raw soy providing three levels of soybean trypsin inhibitors (SBTI; 0,448 and 808 mg of trypsin inhibited per 100g of diet respectively). DL-ethionine was included at three levels (0,0.05% and 0.10%) with each level of SBTI. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks ofad libitum feeding, diets containing SBTI without DL-ethionine were associated with decreases in weight gain, feed efficiency, serum cholesterol and serum urea nitrogen. Higher levels of triglycerides, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and altered serum free amino acid levels were also found. Increased dietary levels of DL-ethionine also resulted in deficits in growth and feed efficiency, decreased serum cholesterol, increased SGPT and similar alterations in serum free amino acids. Combination of dietary SBTI with DL-ethionine resulted in even greater growth deficits and serum cholesterol decreases as well as increases in SGPT and serum triglycerides and changes in serum free amino acid levels. Methionine deficiency in the young rats fed SBTI and DL-ethionine was indicated by the changes in serum amino acids and growth deficits. Moderation of some effects over the 12 week test period suggested decreased methionine requirements in the older rats.     

Effect of amino acid supplementation on protein quality of soy-based infant formulas fed to rats

The powder forms of soy-based infant formulas obtained from four manufacturers were fed to weanling rats for two weeks, as the sole source of protein in diets containing 8% protein, 20% fat, and adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins. The relative protein efficiency ratio (RPER) and the relative net protein ratio (RNPR) values (casein + methionine=100) of diets containing unsupplemented formulas were 71–81 and 78–85, respectively. Supplementation of the formula diets with lysine (0.2%), methionine (0.2%), threonine (0.1%) or tryptophan (0.05%) increased the level of the supplemental amino acid in rat serum but generally failed to improve the RPER or RNPR values. Addition of all four essential amino acids to the formula diets, however, caused a marked improvement in their protein quality (RPER or RNPR values=100). The data suggested that proteins in soy-based formulas could be marginally co-limiting in several indispensable amino acids.Presented in part at the 202nd annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, New York City, 25–30 August 1991.     

Glyphosate-tolerant cotton in Australia: successes and failures

ABSTRACT

Cotton is an important cash crop grown on 2.5% of the world’s arable land in over 100 countries, and has a 31% share of the world’s fibre market. In Australia, cotton is also a leading crop and contributes around AUD $3 billion to the total agricultural production. Weeds are a major biotic constraint resulting in yield losses of up to 90% and revenue losses of around AUD $100 billion globally and $4 billion to Australian agriculture. Genetically-modified (GM) crops have refashioned the weed management with more dependency on glyphosate. Such overreliance has led to the evolution of 43 glyphosate-resistant (GR) weed populations globally, with 16 species reported from Australia. Such GR weeds along with volunteer glyphosate-tolerant (GT) plants are now decreasing the value of the GM crops and forcing growers to spend more time and effort, and investment in their management. Weed management strategies need to be diversified and integrated with non-chemical methods and alternative herbicides not only to achieve efficient control, but to reduce the rate of evolution of GR weeds. In future, research is needed to improve integrated weed management through development and use of competitive and multiple herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops, organic herbicides, bio-herbicides, RNAi technology and robotics.     

Prospects of raising Sahiwal cow calves for veal production under tropical environment

The objective of present study was to evaluate the growth potential of Sahiwal calves for veal production on whole milk or whole milk and milk replacer combined in a ratio of 50:50 (MMR). For this purpose, 48 Sahiwal calves (both male and female) were assigned to four dietary treatments having 12 animals/treatment. Calves in the treatments A and B were offered whole milk at 15 or 20 % of their body weight (BW), respectively, up to day 84 adjusted on weekly basis. The calves in treatments C and D received the same amount of milk as in treatments A and B until day 21, respectively, after which 50 % of the milk offered was replaced with a blend of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) flour and vegetable (corn) oil mixed in water (MR) until day 84. The constituted MR had 3.1, 2.8, and 14.3 %, CP, EE, and DM, respectively. The growth and intake data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis, with MIXED Procedures of SAS in a 2?×?2 factorial design. The two factors were feeding level and feeding source. Calves offered whole milk grew faster (P?<?0.05) and had greater weaning weights (P?<?0.05) than those offered MMR (606.4?±?18.1 vs 331.3?±?18.1 g/day and 70.4?±?1.5 vs 47.8?±?1.5 kg, respectively). Greatest daily BW gain (656?±?26 g/day) and weaning weight (74.6?±?2.1 kg) were observed in calves given treatment B while the lowest production cost/kg of BW gain (≈US$3.6?±?0.2) was observed in calves given treatment A. The daily BW gain of calves fed milk ad libitum was 716?±?40 and 836?±?40 g/day, during 5–8 and 9–12 weeks, respectively. The number of days calves exhibited scours was higher in calves offered MMR than those offered whole milk. Replacement of 50 % milk with a blend of chickpea flour and vegetable oil, as an alternative to milk replacer, did not support growth equivalent to whole milk and was not effective in reducing feeding cost during the weaning period. Sahiwal calves may have promise for being raised for veal production under tropical environments.     

Potential for analytic breeding in allopolyploids: an illustration from Longiflorum × Asiatic hybrid lilies (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lilium</Emphasis>)

Ploidy level and intergenomic recombination was studied in interspecific hybrids between Longiflorum × Asiatic lilies (LA hybrid) backcross to Asiatic parents in order to assess the possibility for analytic breeding in lily. By backcrossing the diploid (2n = 2x = 24) F1 interspecific hybrid between Longiflorum × Asiatic lilies to Asiatic parents, 104 BC1 progeny plants were produced. Among these, there were 27 diploids, 73 triploids (2n = 2x = 36) and 4 aneuploids (2x − 1, 2x + 2 or 2x + 3). In addition, by backcrossing triploid BC1 (LAA) plants to diploid Asiatic parents in 2x − 3x and reciprocal combinations, 14 diploid BC2 progenies were produced. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) was performed to study the intergenomic recombination and karyotype composition. GISH indicated extensive intergenomic recombination among the chromosomes in LA hybrids. A large number of Longiflorum chromosomes were transmitted to the BC1 progenies from LA hybrids. However, very few Longiflorum chromosomes were transmitted from the BC1 triploid (LAA) plants to the BC2 progenies. The occurrence of diploid plants in the BC progenies of LA hybrids has opened the prospects of analytic breeding in lilies. In this approach, the selection of superior genotypes can be carried out at the diploid level and polyploid forms are synthesized from superior diploid parents. The advantages of analytic breeding are evident: (a) a maximum level of heterozygosity can be attained in the synthetic polyploids and (b) introgression can be achieved with a minimum of linkage drag. Based on GISH results the potential application of analytic breeding in lily allopolyploids has been discussed.     

Screening of okra varieties resistance against insect pests under agro climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan,Pakistan

The present study was conducted to screen four okra varieties (Sabz Pari, Sada Bahar, Pusa Sawani, Arka Anamika) against bollworm, whitefly and jassid under field conditions during 2011. It was concluded that none of the tested variety had resistance against okra fruit borer. However, these varieties showed some degree of resistance against sucking insect pests. Okra variety Sada Bahar was less infested with jassid (1.30/leaf) and whitefly (5.36/leaf) compared to other tested varieties and resulted in maximum yield (1529.62 kgha^–1). The plants of Sabz Peri variety attained maximum height (113.7 cm), which was statistically at par with 110.9 cm height attained by the plants of Arka Anamika. Number of fruits pods plant^–1 was found non significantly different on all the tested okra varieties. On the basis of present findings, it was concluded that Sada Bahar variety is suitable for cultivation in Dera Ismail Khan and other parts of the country with similar environmental conditions.