Variation in chemical composition and biological activities of two species of Opuntia flowers at four stages of flowering

The chemical composition of hexane extracts from flowers belonging to two species of prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haworth has been studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in four developmental stages of flower: vegetative, initial flowering, full flowering, and post-flowering stages. Remarkable differences were noted between the flowers’ compositions. The main compounds were carboxylic acid (28-97%), terpenes (0.2-57%), esters (0.2-27%), and alcohols (<1.8%).The study of the biological activities showed that extracts were active in vitro towards four bacteria and two fungal strains. It exhibited remarkable activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.Antioxidant activity of the flowers extracts was evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical method.Our findings demonstrate the interest of Opuntia flowers extract as a source of bioactive substances and its potential preservative use in food.     

Demand feeding and welfare in farmed fish

Following the development of demand-feeding systems, many experiments have been conducted to explore feeding motivation and feed intake in farmed fish. This work aims to review a selection of studies in the field, focusing on three key factors, related to demand feeding and fish welfare. Firstly, we outline how demand feeders should be considered when developing feed management strategies for improving welfare in production conditions. Secondly, via laboratory demand-feeding experiments, we show self-feeding activities depend not only on feeding motivation and social organisation, but also on individual learning capacity and risk-taking behaviour. Thirdly, we report encouraging results demonstrating that when presented with two or more self-feeders containing complementary foods, fish select a diet according to their specific nutritional requirements, suggesting that demand feeders could be used to improve welfare by allowing fish to meet their nutritional needs.     

Impacts of dried whole eggs on productive performance, quality of fresh and stored eggs, reproductive organs and lipid metabolism of laying hens

1. Rejected eggs were processed by freezing, freezing and boiling, or autoclaving, dried at 55°C, and the chemical and amino-acid analysis and microbiological properties of the dried whole eggs (DWE) determined. The processed DWE was included in a laying-hen mash diet at 50 or 100 g/kg, mainly to replace soybean meal and maize, in a factorial design of 3×2 and fed to hens between 25 and 41 weeks of age. In addition, a control diet without DWE was used to create a total of 7 treatments; each having 5 replicates of 5 hens. 2. Hens fed the diet containing 50-g/kg frozen and boiled DWE and 100-g/kg frozen DWE laid the largest egg size, while hens fed the 50-g/kg frozen and boiled or autoclaved DWE diets yielded the highest egg mass and best feed conversion efficiency. 3. Hens fed the 50-g/kg frozen DWE laid eggs with a higher yolk indices, Haugh unit scores, and eggshell thickness and maintained higher Haugh unit scores during egg storage. 4. Yolk cholesterol significantly decreased in eggs from groups fed either the 50-g/kg frozen or autoclaved DWE diet, with freezing having the stronger effect. 6. In conclusion, 50-g/kg autoclaved DWE diets fed to laying hens between 25 and 41 weeks of age had no adverse effects on production, egg quality or reproductive organs, but decreased yolk cholesterol, and thus could be beneficially included in laying-hen diets.     

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in northern Tunisian citrus orchards: population density,damage and insecticide trial for sustainable pest management

Phytoparasitica - Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) have been considered serious pests infesting a wide range of host plants around the world, which has also been the case for citrus trees in...     

Utilization of blue panic (Panicum antidotale) as an alternative feed resource for feeding Barky sheep in arid regions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study aimed at elucidating effects of replacing sorghum with blue panic (BP) on total dry matter intake (TDMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed...     

Effect of zinc bacitracin and phytase on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,carcass and meat traits of broilers

A total of 336 one‐day‐old Hubbard broiler chickens were randomly distributed among 8 groups, each containing six replicates (7 chickens/replicate). From 1 to 40 days of age, the groups fed the same starter, grower and finisher diets. The control group was unsupplemented; zinc bacitracin (ZnB) group received the antibiotic at 0.5 g/kg; fungal phytase (FP) groups received 250, 500 and 1000 U/kg diet of Aspergillus niger phytase (FP_250, FP_500 and FP_1000 groups), respectively; bacterial phyatse (BP) groups received 250, 500 and 1000 U/kg diet of Escherichia coli phytase (BP_250EP, BP_500EP and BP_1000EP groups) respectively. Considering the whole experimental period, body weight gain was unaffected by ZnB and different concentrations of bacterial and fungal phytase; however, the feed conversion ratio of the group fed a diet supplemented with 500 U of BP was better (p < 0.01) than those fed with a diet supplemented with 500 U of FP. BP_250 group had a higher (p < 0.05) apparent digestibility of ether extract compared to FP_250 group. In conclusion, bacterial phytase at 500 U may enhance performance of broiler chickens fed during days 1–40 of age and yield similar growth performance and economic efficiency to those of eB‐supplemented groups.     

Wirkungen von zwei Insektenwachstumshemmern auf die Eiablage und Eier vonHeliothis armigera (Hb.) (Lep., Noctuidae)

The effect of two insect growth inhibitors (PH-6040 and H-24108) on the fecundity, hatchability, viability and sterility of eggs laid by treatedHeliothis armigera female moths had been studied. Moths treated with these compounds laid less number of eggs than untreated moths. The egg laying capacity decreased as the concentration of any compound increased and vice versa. The same trend could be applied for egg hatchability and sterility as being affected by insect growth inhibitors and their concentrations.     

Über latente Wirkungen einiger Insektenwachstumsregeler auf das Körpergewicht von Arbeiterinnen der HonigbieneApis mellifera L. var.Carnica (Hym., Apidae)

Three insect growth regulators were applied topically on the 3-day old larvae of carniolan honeybee workers in their own cells. The high and intermediate lethal doses (LD₉₀ and LD₅₀) from each of three tested IGR's (Triflumuron, Chlorfluazuron and Diflubenzuron) had a “Removal-lethal” effect on treated larvae. Thus, neither sealed brood nor adult workers were obtained from IGR's — treated-larvae. While latent inhibitory action of the lower lethal dose (LD₂₅) of all tested IGR's showing a remarkable significant decrease in body weights of newly emerged workers, resulting from IGR's-treated-larvae. The differences between the effect of tested IGR's on the workers weights were significant. The tested IGR's could be arranged in descending order according to their reducing effect on workers weights as follows: Triflumuron, Chlorfluozuron and Diflubenzuron.     

Morpho-molecular identification of Heterophyes heterophyes encysted metacercariae and its immunological and histopathological effects on farmed Mugil cephalus in Egypt

Aquaculture International - Molecular and immunological aspects of heterophyid infections in mullets are scanty. This study was initiated to identify heterophyid encysted metacercariae infecting...