In vitro and in vivo assessment of the effect of initial moisture content and drying temperature on the feeding value of maize grain

1. This study assessed the impact of drying temperature (54, 90, and 130°C) and maize grain moisture content at harvest (36% and 29%) on in vitro digestibility, the growth performance and ileal digestibility of broiler chickens.

2. In contrast to the results from the in vitro digestibility, apparent ileal digestibility of starch and energy decreased when the drying temperature was raised from 54 to 130°C, and this effect was more pronounced in maize grain harvested at high initial moisture content (36%). Ileal protein digestibility of maize grain decreased significantly when dried at the intermediate temperature (90°C) and with a high harvest moisture content (36%). Drying temperature and initial moisture content did not significantly affect AMEn.

3. When maize was dried at 130°C, the particle sizes of flour recovered after standard milling procedures decreased significantly, which would influence animal growth performance and in vivo digestibility through animal feed selection.     

Plot size for modelling the spatial structure of Sudanian woodland trees

Introduction   

Over the past decades, savannah woodland management in the Sudanian region of Africa has focused on rotation and enrichment. To best manage these resources, it is critical to first understand the ecological processes influencing the behaviour of plants in their habitats. Previous work on the spatial patterns of trees has failed to account for the effects of plot size.     

Productivity of the Small East African goat and its crosses with the Anglo-Nubian and the Alpine in Rwanda

Data from a research station in the central African country of Rwanda relating to purebred Small East African (SEA) goats, Anglo-Nubian x SEA and Alpine x SEA goats were analysed. Both SEA (598 days) and Alpine crosses (557 days) were younger at first kidding than the Anglo-Nubian crosses (766 days). There were no differences among genotypes in kidding interval which averaged 343 days nor did they differ in litter size (1.75). Mortality to 150 days (17.8%) was significantly higher in the Anglo-Nubian crosses than in Alpine crosses with the SEA being intermediate and not differing from either. Birth weights of individual kids were significantly lighter for purebred SEA (2.35 kg) than for Anglo-Nubians (2.68 kg) which were significantly lighter than the Alpine crosses (2.89 kg). Total litter weight at 150 days was significantly lower for SEA (14.5 kg) than for Alpine (18.8 kg), the Anglo-Nubian (16.9 kg) not differing significantly from either. Female postpartum weights differed significantly among genotypes, SEA being lightest (37.5 kg), Alpine crosses (42.1 kg) intermediate and Anglo-Nubian crosses (51.4 kg) heaviest. Productivity indices (total weight of live young at 150 days per kg of dam per year) averaged 442 g and did not differ among genotypes.