Effect of monensin (USA, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria) on fermentation of animal feed in an artificial rumen (Rusitec)]

An experiment was made with the Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec) in which the fermentation of a mixed ration of hay (12.8 g/d) and bruised barley (3.2 g/d) was compared with the fermentation of the same diet in the presence of 5 mg monensin/d from the USA, CSFR and Bulgaria. The fermentation of the mixed ration was significantly affected by all three kinds of monensin. The digestibility of dry matter (DM) in the rations declined in the presence of monensin from 48% to 40% (tab. I). The digestibility of detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose also declined in the presence of monensin (tab. I). The production of methane decreased (-70%) and CO2 production dropped too, but this decrease could be accounted for by the changes in the production of volatile fatty acids and redistribution of metabolic hydrogen (tab. I). Monensin decreased the production of total volatile fatty acids (-21%), the production of acetic (-35%), n-butyric, n-valeric and isovaleric acids (tab. II) and increased the production of propionic acid (+60%). The production, utilization and recovery of metabolic hydrogen were significantly increased in the presence of all three kinds of monensin (tab. IV). The end products of fermentation were affected by an addition of monensin to the mixed ration. All three kinds of monensin increased energic efficiency of volatile fatty acids, decreased adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) production, the amounts of fermented hexose, organic matter fermented and utilization of glucose (tab. III).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A case of salinomycin intoxication in turkeys

A flock of 4287 heavy hybrid turkey hens were accidentally fed broiler premix containing salinomycin sodium and suffered a 34.5% death loss. Measures taken to ensure food safety for the remaining flock and consumer food safety included feed record studies, on-farm veterinary consultation, diagnostic laboratory studies, and CgFARAD and CFIA consultation. The remaining turkeys were processed 3 weeks after the initial toxicosis with no evidence of lesions that would render the product unfit for human consumption.     

Using Pyrolyzed Rice Husks as an Adsorbent for Purification of Water Basins Polluted with Diesel Fuel

Black rice husk ash (BRHA) was obtained by means of thermal degradation of raw rice husks (RRH) on a pilot plant fluidized bed reactor. BRHA was characterized using chemical analyses, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The kinetics was studied using batch adsorption technique and on the basis of prior characterization by X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption capacities of diesel fuel at 288, 293 and 298?K onto BRHA were determined. Results showed that the material studied has very high adsorption capacity and low cost and may successfully be used as an effective adsorbent to clean up spills of oil products in water basins. The adsorption of diesel fuel onto BRHA proceeds rapidly to reach adsorption equilibrium in about 10?min. The saturated BRHA can be burnt in incinerators, industrial ovens or steam generators, and through this way ecological and economic benefits are attained.     

Nutrient Sources and Harvest Frequencies Impact Water Stable Soil Macro-Aggregates

We evaluated the effects of nutrient sources [cattle manure, poultry litter, urea, chemical fertilizers [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)], inter-seeded crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and a control], and harvest frequency (single and twice) on water stable soil macro-aggregates through wet sieving. The experiment was performed in a split-plot design with four replications. In most cases, single harvest resulted in more water stable soil aggregates than twice harvest. This could be due to less soil disturbance and uninterrupted root exudate supplies for soil microbes. Application of cattle manure and poultry litter significantly increased the percent of water stable soil macro-aggregates to the extent of 47% compared with chemical (NPK) fertilizer application. These results demonstrated that vigilant recycling of these animal wastes could improve soil aggregate formation. However, long-term monitoring of this practice is needed to evaluate system sustainability and profitability.     

Utilization of Wastes from the Coke-Chemical Production and Sewage Sludge as Additives in the Brick-Clay

Current modern building technologies use a greater variety of building materials and elements of these. Lately, intensive work has been done on investigating possibilities for using different wastes as additives in the production of new ceramic building products. This demonstrates that the raw material base can be enlarged and some environmental problems solved.The present work investigates the possibility of combined utilization of sludge from the Sofia wastewater treatment plant and waste products from coke-chemical production as additives to brick clay. The most appropriate combinations and concentrations of the materials used, and the means of preparing and firing the brick masses are determined. The strength characteristics of the resulting products are studied. The results obtained are useful in showing possibilities for the solution of environmental problems.     

NITROGEN FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT FOR IMPROVED GRAIN QUALITY AND YIELD IN WINTER WHEAT IN OKLAHOMA

From 2002 to date, a long-term field experiment has been conducted at Lake Carl Blackwell, Oklahoma, with different rates and times of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to determine their effect on grain yield, protein and N uptake of winter wheat. Trend analysis for N rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha^?1) and orthogonal contrasts for different application times (pre-plant, top-dressed in February and March) were performed. With increasing fertilizer N, wheat grain yield and protein content increased from 2110 kg ha^?1 to 6783 kg ha^?1 and from 8.96 to 17.19%, respectively. For grain yield, protein, and N use efficiency, split applications of N fertilizer were much more efficient than applying all N pre-plant. Large differences in grain yields were noted for different years at the same N rate (range exceeded 5.0 Mg ha^?1) and that illustrated the need for making within-year-specific N rate recommendations.