Physical and biochemical properties of green banana flour

Banana flour prepared from two cooking banana varieties, namely Alukehel and Monthan, were evaluated for their physical and biochemical characteristics. The yields of flour averaged 31.3% for Alukehel and 25.5% for Monthan. The pH of the flour ranged from 5.4 to 5.7. The bulk density and particle size distribution were also measured. The average chemical composition (% dry matter) of the flours were as follows: crude protein, 3.2; crude fat, 1.3; ash, 3.7; neutral detergent fiber, 8.9; acid detergent fiber, 3.8; cellulose, 3.1; lignin, 1.0 and hemicellulose, 5.0. Carbohydrate composition indicated the flour to contain 2.8% soluble sugars, 70.0% starch and 12.0% non-starch polysaccharides. Potassium is the predominant mineral in banana flour. Fresh green banana is a good source of vitamin C, but almost 65% is lost during the preparation of flour. Oxalate content (1.1–1.6%) of banana flour is probably nutritionally insignificant. The overall results are suggestive of the potential of green bananas as a source of flour.     

Effect of limestone particle size and calcium to non-phytate phosphorus ratio on true ileal calcium digestibility of limestone for broiler chickens

1. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of limestone particle size and calcium (Ca) to non-phytate phosphorus (P) ratio on the true ileal Ca digestibility of limestone for broiler chickens. A limestone sample was passed through a set of sieves and separated into fine (<0.5 mm) and coarse (1–2 mm) particles. The analysed Ca concentration of both particle sizes was similar (420 g/kg).

2. Six experimental diets were developed using each particle size with Ca:non-phytate P ratios of 1.5:1, 2.0:1 and 2.5:1, with ratios being adjusted by manipulating the dietary Ca concentrations. A Ca-free diet was also developed to determine the basal ileal endogenous Ca losses. Titanium dioxide (3 g/kg) was incorporated in all diets as an indigestible marker.

3. Each experimental diet was randomly allotted to 6 replicate cages (8 birds per cage) and fed from d 21 to 24 post hatch. Apparent ileal digestibility of Ca was calculated using the indicator method and corrected for basal endogenous losses to determine the true Ca digestibility.

4. The basal ileal endogenous Ca losses were determined to be 127 mg/kg of dry matter intake.

5. Increasing Ca:non-phytate P ratios reduced the true Ca digestibility of limestone. The true Ca digestibility coefficients of limestone with Ca:non-phytate P ratios of 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 were 0.65, 0.57 and 0.49, respectively.

6. Particle size of limestone had a marked effect on the Ca digestibility, with the digestibility being higher in coarse particles (0.71 vs. 0.43).

     

Influence of age on the apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of feed ingredients for broiler chickens

The apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in 8 feed ingredients was determined using 14-, 28- and 42-d-old male broiler chickens. The ingredients included three cereals (wheat, sorghum and maize), one cereal by-product (mill run), three oilseed meals (canola, cottonseed and soybean meals) and one animal protein meal (meat and bone meal). Dietary crude protein in the assay diets was supplied solely by the test ingredient. All diets contained 20 g/kg acid-insoluble ash as an indigestible marker, and each diet was offered ad libitum in mash form to 5 replicate pens from 11 to 14 d, 25 to 28 d and 39 to 42 d post-hatching. There were 12, 6 and 6 birds per pen for the 14, 28 and 42 d samplings, respectively. The results suggest that the age of broilers significantly influenced the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids. The effects, however, varied among amino acids and ingredients. In wheat, the digestibility of most amino acids was higher in 14- than in 28- and 42-d-old broilers. In maize, the digestibility coefficients of amino acids were higher at 28 and 42 d than at 14 d. The digestibility coefficients in maize and wheat at 28 and 42 d were similar. The digestibility of amino acids in sorghum at 42 d was higher than those at 28 d, but similar to those at 14 d except for histidine, lysine, serine and glycine, which were significantly higher at 42 d. Digestibility of amino acids in sorghum was similar between 14 and 28 d except for isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid and alanine. The digestibility of amino acids in mill run at 42 d was significantly higher than those at 14 and 28 d. There were no differences in digestibility between 14 and 28 d. In general, the digestibility of amino acids in canola meal, soybean meal and, meat and bone meal was higher at 28 and 42 d compared to those at 14 d, and similar between 28 and 42 d of age. In cottonseed meal, age had no effect on the digestibility coefficient of amino acids, except for lysine and arginine, which increased with age. Analysis of the combined results for the 8 feed ingredients showed that, in general, the digestibility coefficients of amino acids increased with advancing age of broiler chickens.     

Interactions between xylanase and glucanase in maize-soy-based diets for broilers

1. The effect of various doses of xylanase and glucanase on the performance and ileal nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed on maize/soy-based diets was evaluated.

2. A total of 960 male broilers were used in separate growth and digestibility trials with each involving 10 treatments and 6 replicates. The 10 treatments included a positive control reference diet, a negative control diet with a lower energy density and 8 further diets where xylanase and glucanase were added to the negative control, individually and in combination.

3. Birds which received the negative control diet returned poorer (6 points; P < 0·05) feed conversion ratios compared with those fed on the positive control, confirming the lower energy density of the negative control diet. Ileal digestibility of energy determined at 21 and 42 d was also significantly lower for the negative control compared with the positive control. At d 21 birds that received the negative control diet returned lower ileal amino acid digestibility (for most amino acids) compared with their counterparts fed on the positive control whereas at d 42 this effect was not apparent.

4. Supplementation of the negative control with both glucanase and xylanase improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and ileal nutrient digestibility. When both enzymes were added simultaneously a sub-additive effect (i.e. simultaneous use resulted in benefits greater than either enzyme independently but less than the sum of the individual effects) was observed, with the best performance achieved with the combination of xylanase (16 000 BXU/kg) and glucanase (30 000 BU/kg).

5. It can be concluded that the removal of oil to accommodate the anticipated energy digestibility improvement with enzymes can have deleterious effects on FCR and ileal amino acid digestibility in young broilers which enzymes may not adequately mitigate. Thus, in order to maximise the response to non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes in maize/soy-based broiler diets, it may be beneficial to consider a combination of xylanase and glucanase and to apply moderation when removing added fat in the starter diets.     

Phytate-degrading enzymes in pig nutrition

Phytate, the mixed salt of phytic acid (myo-inositol hexaphosphate), derived from plant-sourced feed ingredients is invariably present in practical diets for pigs. Typically, swine diets contain in the order of 3.0 g kg^− 1 phytate-bound phosphorus (phytate-P) but phytate concentrations are subject to variation. Importantly, phytate-P is only partially utilised by pigs because they do not generate sufficient endogenous phytase activity. Phytate-degrading enzymes, via step-wise dephosphorylation of phytate, have the capacity to liberate phytate-P, thus enhancing P absorption and reducing P excretion, which are both nutritionally and ecologically beneficial consequences. The commercial introduction of microbial phytases in 1991 has greatly magnified the interest in the roles of phytate and phytase in pig nutrition.

The capacity of microbial phytases to enhance growth performance of pigs offered diets with inadequate P levels is well documented. However, in some instances, phytase has been shown to improve performance of pigs offered P adequate diets thus phytase-induced improvements in growth performance should not be attributed entirely to increased P availability. This raises the possibility that phytase is increasing the utilisation of nutrients other than P. These so-called ‘extra-phosphoric’ effects of phytase remain controversial, particularly in relation to protein and amino acid availability. There are conflicting opinions that are reflected in the inconsistent outcomes of studies to determine the effect of phytase on ileal digestibility of amino acids and protein utilisation in pigs. In phytase amino acid digestibility assays, it seems likely the choice of chromic oxide as the dietary marker has contributed to these ambiguous results, which may be further complicated when ileal digesta samples are taken from cannulated pigs fed on a restricted, twice-daily basis. In order to resolve this critical issue, there is an urgent need to assess the impacts of selection of dietary markers, methods of ileal digesta collection and feeding regimen relative on the outcomes of phytase amino acid digestibility assays in pigs.

However, inconsistent results from phytase studies in pigs are not confined to amino acid digestibility assays. Arguably, insufficient attention has been paid to dietary substrate levels in relation to phytase inclusion from both scientific and practical standpoints. Phytate analyses are not straightforward and there is a real need to develop more accurate and rapid methods to facilitate phytate determinations. The properties of phytate vary between (and within) feed ingredients where solubility of phytate may be critical; which, in turn, is a function of gut pH in pigs. Contemporary phytases have the capacity to degrade approximately 50% of dietary phytate at the level of the ileum, which may mean higher inclusion rates are warranted. Consequently, there is scope for the development of more effective ‘second-generation’ phytate-degrading feed enzymes and their possible introduction, coupled with a better scientific understanding of relevant fundamental issues, will ensure that phytate-degrading enzymes will contribute to viable and sustainable pig production to an even greater extent in the future.     

Haemato‐immunological response of Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings fed leaf extracts and challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila

A 35 days feeding trial was conducted to assess the haemato‐immunological response of Labeo rohita fingerlings fed ethanolic leaf extracts of Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica, and infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. Six iso‐nitrogenous (354.6–361.6 g kg^?1) purified diets were prepared with graded level of leaf extracts viz., control (basal feed without any extract); TG‐5 (5 g kg^?1 guava extract); TG‐10 (10 g kg^?1 guava extract); TM‐5 (5 g kg^?1 mango extract); TM‐10 (10 g kg^?1 mango extract); and TGM (5 g kg^?1 guava extract +5 g kg^?1 mango extract). Haematological, immunological, biochemical, along with antioxidant enzyme activities were examined after a 35 day‐feeding trial and following a 7 day challenge with A. hydrophila. The haemoglobin, total leucocyte and erythrocyte counts, respiratory burst activity, lysozyme, total protein, albumin and globulin contents increased significantly (P < 0.05) in leaf extracts fed groups compared with the control in pre‐ and post‐challenge conditions. A significant (P < 0.05) decrease was observed in SOD (superoxide dismutase) and catalase activities of the treatment groups compared with the higher value in control. The trends in mortality indicated that groups of fish showing significantly elevated haemato‐immunological responses had the lowest mortality following challenge with A. hydrophila. The results showed that extracts of P. guajava and M. indica appear to be potential immunostimulant at an inclusion level of 5 g kg^?1 in the diet of rohu. But, mixing of both the extract at similar level did not show any synergistic effect, which needs to be tested at its lower level of inclusion.     

Interspecific hybridization in vanilla and molecular characterization of hybrids and selfed progenies using RAPD and AFLP markers

Vanilla, Vanilla planifolia Andrews, is native to Mexico and Central America, but is now cultivated in other parts of the tropics. Continuous clonal propagation has resulted in very little variability for crop improvement programmes in vanilla. In this study, an attempt has been made to increase the spectrum of variation by interspecific hybridization with Vanilla aphylla, an Indian species which is tolerant to Fusarium. Interspecific hybrids were successfully produced and morphological characters and molecular profiles revealed the true hybridity of the progenies. Ten seedling progenies of V. planifolia, and four interspecific hybrids obtained from crosses between V. planifolia (female) and V. aphylla (male) using a number of different loci as markers were evaluated and 319 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and 83 random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) loci were marked. The profiles indicate similarity between the parents, selfed progenies and interspecific hybrids and that all the progenies tested were variable when compared to each other, which can be exploited for crop improvement in vanilla. This is the first report in vanilla, indicating that RAPD and AFLP profiles coupled with morphological characters can be utilized to assess the variability and hybrid nature of genotypes and of successful interspecific hybridization and production of hybrids between V. planifolia and V. aphylla.     

Effects of fiber and virginiamycin on nutrient absorption, nutrient retention and rate of passage in growing swine

Three balance trials, each involving 12 crossbred gilts averaging 35.2 kg body weight, were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber and virginiamycin on nutrient digestibility, mineral absorption and retention, and digesta rate of passage (RP). Two levels of fiber (13.5 and 20.2% neutral detergent fiber) and two levels of virginiamycin (0 and 11 ppm) were used in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The RP was determined by observing the time required for a change in feces color after the addition of .5% chromic oxide to the diet. The high fiber diet had a faster (P less than .01) RP, which was associated with depressions (P less than .001) in the digestibility of dry matter (DM), energy (E), cell contents, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HC), cellulose, permanganate lignin and ash. Virginiamycin supplementation slowed (P less than .004) the RP of both low and high fiber diets, but improved (P less than .05) the DM, E, NDF, ADF, HC and cellulose digestibility of the high fiber diet only. Fiber increased (P less than .06) fecal N excretion, whereas virginiamycin supplementation decreased (P less than .08) fecal N excretion. The addition of virginiamycin improved the absorption and retention of P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn when added to the high fiber diet, but had little or no effect when added to the low fiber diet even though absorption and retention values for most minerals were similar or slightly higher for the unsupplemented high fiber diet compared with the unsupplemented low fiber diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Progress in ileal endogenous amino acid flow research in poultry

The progress in our understanding of the endogenous protein concept over the past century is reviewed. Nondietary proteins found in the digesta at the terminal ileum of poultry, known as endogenous protein loss, are comprised of digestive secretions, mucus and sloughed gut epithelial cells. The measurement of this loss is of fundamental importance because it is an indicator of gut metabolism and is essential to adjust apparent estimates of ileal amino acid digestibility. The ileal endogenous amino acid losses comprise of two components, namely basal and specific losses. The basal losses are fixed and associated with feed dry matter intake, whereas the specific losses are variable and induced by the presence of dietary components such as fibre and anti-nutrients. Currently there is no methodology available to directly measure the specific endogenous losses and these losses are calculated by determining the basal and total(basal plus specific) losses and, then subtracting the basal losses from total losses.The seminal features, specific applications and shortcomings of available methodologies are briefly outlined as well as the practical challenges faced in using the published endogenous amino acid loss values for true digestibility corrections. The relevance of taurine as a component of endogenous protein flow in poultry is identified for the first time.     

National Forest Policy in India: Critique of Targets and Implementation

For any country, the forest policy is an important guideline to maintain forest resources and their interaction with other land uses. India devised its first National Forest Policy (NFP) back in 1894. There has been a paradigm shift from timber production to forest conservation followed by community-based agroforestry and social forestry bringing a change in perspective towards forest resources. This change has been socio-economic, cultural and ecological. Since the 1952 NFP, there has been an advocacy for 33% forest cover with a 60% forest cover in mountainous and hilly regions. This objective was reiterated in the NFP 1988 and also confirmed in the National Forestry Commission report in 2006. This paper reviews the probable reasons for these targets. This paper also analyzes forest cover trends at state level and assesses the likelihood of meeting the prescribed policy targets under present perspective of land use practices. Only three Indian states meet the prescribed policy, while three more have the potential to do so, if their state wasteland area is afforested. Among the rest, a few states may achieve the 33% goal provided land conversion to tree cover is not hindered, and adequate resources are available at state level. The Planning Commission (XI Five-year Plan, 2007–12) has emphasized inclusion of other natural ecosystems (including treeless areas and trees outside forests) to forest cover. The paper also examines the above prescribed targets in light of the Planning Commission recommendations. It is argued that that the NFP should be re-visited and revised to meet the targets, along with setting a more realistic and attainable target for Indian forest and tree cover.