Embodied Resources in Fish and Shrimp Feeds

Global averages were obtained for amounts of energy, land, water, wildfish, nitrogen, and phosphorus embodied in aquaculture feed ingredients. These data allowed amounts of these embodied resources to be calculated for typical feed formulations for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; hybrid catfish, I. punctatus♀ × I. furcatus♂; Vietnamese catfish, Pangasius spp.; Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar; rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss; tilapia, Oreochromis spp.; whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei; and black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Embodied resource use per m.t. of feed varied among species: energy, 4.90–12.48 GJ/m.t.; land, 0.082–0.312 ha/m.t.; water, 502–1227 m³/m.t.; wildfish, 0–2880 kg/m.t.; nitrogen, 3.08–8.63 kg/m.t.; phosphorus, 1.16–5.62 kg/m.t. These calculations did not account for variations in site‐specific factors related to embodied resources and feed composition and use. But they suggest that reducing feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 0.1 unit for the seven species (species groups) could potentially reduce feed use by around 1.1 million tonne (Mt) while conserving 9.8 million GJ of energy, 270,000 ha of agricultural land, 1.4 billion m³ of freshwater, and 1.24 Mt of wildfish. Reduction of the FCR is a powerful means of lessening farm‐level production costs and negative impacts of feed production and use.     

Effect of Oestrous Synchronization with Estradiol 17β and Progesterone on Follicular Wave Dynamics in Dairy Heifers

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of estradiol‐17β (E17β) on follicular wave dynamics and ovulatory response in Holstein heifers receiving either a progestogen ear‐implant (Crestar^®; Intervet International b.v. Boxmeer, The Netherlands) or an intravaginal progesterone‐releasing device [controlled internal drug release‐bovine device (Eazibreed, CIDR‐B^®; Bodinco BV, Alkmaar, The Netherlands)]. For comparison, another group of heifers was also synchronized using Crestar plus an injection of estradiol valerate (EV) and norgestomet as recommended by the pharmaceutical company. Twenty 20–22‐month‐old cycling Holstein heifers were allocated to one of the following treatment groups at random stages of the oestrous cycle: (I) simultaneous insertion of Crestar and intramuscular injection of 3 mg norgestomet and 5 mg EV (Crestar 9 + EV 9); (II) simultaneous insertion of Crestar and intramuscular injection of 5 mg E17β (Crestar 9 + E17β 9); (III) insertion of Crestar followed 2 days later by intramuscular injection of 5 mg E17β (Crestar 9 + E17β 7); or (IV) insertion of CIDR‐B device followed 2 days later by intramuscular injection of 5 mg E17β (CIDR 9 + E17β 7). The CIDR‐B or Crestar implants were removed after 9 days and all heifers received 500 μg Cloprostenol (Estrumate^®, Pitman‐Moore Nederland BV, Houten, The Netherlands). Ovarian ultrasonographic examinations were performed once daily during the synchronization period using a B‐mode scanner equipped with a 7.5 MHz linear‐array transrectal transducer. In addition, heifers were scanned every 12 h after implant/device withdrawal until 3 days after ovulation in order to monitor follicular activity, detect ovulation and subsequent early luteal formation. Detection of oestrus was performed every 6 h for 4 days after device/implant removal. Oestrus was observed 24–32 h before ovulation in all heifers. The mean hours interval from treatment withdrawal to ovulation was not significantly different (84.0 ± 16.5, 77.6 ± 4.1, 73.6 ± 4.1 and 64.0 ± 4.4 h for treatments I, II, III and IV, respectively; p > 0.1). However, the variance for heifers treated with EV + norgestomet was significantly larger (Levene’s Test; p < 0.01) than those treated with E17β. All E17β treatments resulted in dominant follicle suppression and a new wave emerged 4.1 days after treatment compared with 6.6 days for the EV + norgestomet treatment (p < 0.05). The time from emergence of the new ovulatory wave to ovulation was longer for the new wave that emerged after E17β treatment (9.2 ± 0.3 days) than after EV + norgestomet treatment (6.9 ± 0.4 days; p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the four treatments used were effective in inducing synchronous behavioural oestrus and ovulation. However, a higher degree of oestrus and ovulation synchrony was observed in heifers treated with E17β than in heifers treated with EV + norgestomet. Synchronization treatments with exogenous E17β or EV + norgestomet at the time of progestin device insertion (Crestar or CIDR‐B) or 2 days later in heifers can regulate a different emergence pattern of ovarian follicular development in randomly cyclic heifers. The E17β was effective in inducing follicular suppression and resulted in the consistent emergence of a new follicular wave.     

The use of urban organic wastes in the control of erosion in a semiarid Mediterranean soil

Abstract. A two year field experiment was carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean area in order to evaluate, the effect on soil erosion of adding different urban organic wastes: a stabilized municipal waste (compost), an unstabilized municipal waste, and an aerobic sewage sludge. All the treatments significantly reduced soil erosion, compared to the control soil. The soil amended with compost was the most effective treatment, reducing soil loss by 94% and runoff by 54%.     

In vivo kinetic study on uptake and distribution of intramuscular tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan in equine body fluid compartments and articular cartilage in an osteochondrial defect model

The uptake and distribution of intramuscularly (IM) administered tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (³H-PSGAG) in serum, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage of eight horses was quantitated, and hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration of the middle carpal joint was evaluated in a pharmacokinetic study. A full-thickness articular cartilage defect, created on the distal articular surface of the left radial carpal bone of each horse served as an osteochondral defect model. ³H-PSGAG (500 mg) was injected IM, between 14 and 35 days after creation of the defects. Scintillation analysis of serum and synovial fluid, collected from both middle carpal joints at specific predetermined times up to 96 hours post-injection, revealed mean ³H-PSGAG concentrations peaked at 2 hours post-injection. ³H-PSGAG was detected in cartilage and subchondral bone 96 hours post-injection in samples from all eight horses. There were no statistically significant differences in ³H-PSGAG concentration of synovial fluid or cartilage between cartilage defect and control (right middle carpal) joints.

HA assay of synovial fluid revealed concentrations significantly increased at 24, 48, and 96 hours post-injection in both joints. The concentration nearly doubled 48 hours post-injection. However, no statistically significant differences were found between synovial concentrations of HA in cartilage defect and control joints.

³H-PSGAG administered IM to horses, was distributed in the blood, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage. HA concentrations in synovial fluid increased after IM administration of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan.     

Effects of cultivar,pelleting and enzyme addition on nutritive value of barley in poultry diets

1. The effect of pelleting process and Trichoderma viride enzymes (TVE) addition on apparent metabolisable energy, corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) and on productive value of practical diets containing 40 and 45% of three different barley cultivars and one wheat were studied in poultry.

2. The effect of the pelleting process on AMEn was inconsistent and was dependent on the cereal included and the addition of enzyme.

3. The growth trial showed a significant effect of enzyme addition to pelleted diets over the whole growth period (0 to 42 d). Addition of TVE improved weight gain and food efficiency by 1.3% and 2.9%, respectively and decreased food intake by 1.6% between 0 and 22 d. In the finisher period (23 to 42 d) TVE improved efficiency by 2.8% and reduced food intake by 2.9%.

4. The incidence of sticky droppings was related to the viscosity of barley used, and enzyme supplementation reduced it. Both pelleting and enzyme addition increased dry matter content of excreta.

5. At the end of the experiment, 14 animals per treatment were slaughtered and carcass yield, viscera weight and abdominal fat were determined.     

Caprine toxoplasmosis in Southern Brazil: a comparative seroepidemiological study between the indirect immunofluorescence assay,the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the modified agglutination test

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in goat herds from Southern Brazil by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and...     

Can treatment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachiaria decumbens</Emphasis> (signal grass) improve its utilisation in the diet in small ruminants?—a review

Brachiaria decumbens is an extremely productive tropical grass due to its aggressive growth habit and its adaptation to a varied range of soil types and environments. As a result of the vast availability, treated B. decumbens demonstrates as a promising local material that could be utilised as an improved diet for sheep and goats. Despite the fact that the grass significantly increases weight gains in grazing farm animals, there were many reports of general ill-thrift and sporadic outbreaks of photosensitivity in livestock due to the toxic compound of steroidal saponin found in B. decumbens. Ensiling and haymaking were found to be effective in removing toxin and undesirable compounds in the grass. Biological treatments using urea, activated charcoal, polyethylene glycol, and effective microorganisms were found to be useful in anti-nutritional factor deactivation and improving the nutritive values of feedstuffs. Besides, oral administration of phenobarbitone showed some degree of protection in sheep that fed on B. decumbens pasture. In this review, we aim to determine the effect of B. decumbens toxicity and possible treatment methods on the grass to be used as an improved diet for small ruminant.