22 research outputs found
Genes Related to Fat Metabolism in Pigs and Intramuscular Fat Content of Pork: A Focus on Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics
Get PDFFat metabolism and intramuscular fat (IMF) are qualitative traits in pigs whose development are influenced by several genes and metabolic pathways. Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics offer prospects in estimating nutrients required by a pig. Application of these emerging fields in nutritional science provides an opportunity for matching nutrients based on the genetic make-up of the pig for trait improvements. Today, integration of high throughput “omics” technologies into nutritional genomic research has revealed many quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the mutation(s) of key genes directly or indirectly involved in fat metabolism and IMF deposition in pigs. Nutrient–gene interaction and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in fatty acid synthesis and marbling in pigs is difficult to unravel. While existing knowledge on QTLs and SNPs of genes related to fat metabolism and IMF development is yet to be harmonized, the scientific explanations behind the nature of the existing correlation between the nutrients, the genes and the environment remain unclear, being inconclusive or lacking precision. This paper aimed to: (1) discuss nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics and epigenetic mechanisms controlling fat metabolism and IMF accretion in pigs; (2) highlight the potentials of these concepts in pig nutritional programming and research
STRATEGIE INNOVATIVE PER COSCE DI QUALITÀ
No full textSi descrivono i risultati di una ricerca finalizzata a valutare differenti strategie di allevamento e di alimentazione sulle prestazioni produttive, caratteristiche di carcasse e cosce per la trasformazione in prosciutto crudo. I risultati consentono di valutare l'implementazione di nuove indicazioni derivanti dalla revisione dei disciplinari di produzione del prosciutto crudo
Methods of changing slaughter age at the same time bodyweight: effects on feed efficiency and green ham traits of heavy-pigs
No full textThe implications of changing age and weight at slaughter of heavy pigs on carcass and green ham quality traits
Get PDFItalian dry-cured ham production requires pigs to be slaughtered at 160 ± 16 kg at 9 months of age (control, C). The study explored three alternatives, based on different feeding conditions: (1) allowing pigs to express their growth potential by letting them reach 160 ± 16 kg slaughter weight (SW) at younger slaughter age (SA) (younger Age, YA); (2) allowing pigs to express their growth potential by maximizing their SW at 9 months SA (greater weight, GW); (3) increasing the SA required to reach 160 ± 16 kg SW (older age, OA). Pigs (336 C21 Goland, 95 kg initial body weight) were slaughtered on average at 257, 230, 257, and 273 d SA and 172.7, 172.3, 192.9, and 169.3 SW kg for the four treatments, respectively. C pigs had an average daily gain (ADG) of 715 g/d and feed efficiency (FE) of 0.265 (gain to feed). Compared to C, YA pigs had higher ADG (+32%), FE (+7.5%), and better ham adiposity; GW pigs had higher carcass weight (+12%), ADG (+25%), trimmed ham weight (+10.9%), and better ham adiposity. OA treatment affected ADG (−16.4%), FE (−16.6%), and trimmed ham weight (−3.6%). YA and GW could be promising alternatives to C as they improved FE and ham quality traits
Gompertz growth curves and energy and protein requirements of heavy pigs raised under non-restricted and restricted growing conditions
Get PDFData from our previous experiment were used to model the chemical growth of 323 pigs raised under non-limiting environmental and feeding conditions. The study assessed the pigs' metabolizable energy (ME) and standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine requirements. In addition, the effects of restricting feed and SID lysine intake on growth and nutrient requirements were examined. The pigs arrived at the testing facility weighing 89 ± 12 kg at 142 ± 3 d of age. One group was fed high-protein diets ad libitum until 8 to 9 months old, while the other two groups were fed medium or low-protein diets, restricted by approximately 20%, until they reached 170 kg at 9 months or older. Live weight and backfat depth were measured repeatedly to estimate individual empty body weight, body protein, and lipid masses at various ages. The data were fitted using the Gompertz growth model, and ME and SID lysine requirements were estimated for pigs older than 150 d, based on literature. The average mature protein mass of the ad libitum-fed pigs was 38.7 kg, with a maximum potential protein gain of 183 g/day at 140 d of age. The mature lipid mass was 115 kg, with a maximum potential lipid gain of 385 g/day at 216 d, and a lipid-to-protein ratio of 2.96 at maturity. Based on our findings, for pigs with a similar genetic background raised for dry-cured ham production, we recommend reducing dietary SID lysine levels from 7.33 to 3.23 g/kg as age increases from 150 to 270 d, assuming a feed intake of 2.91–3.30 kg/day. Both feed and protein restrictions exerted significant impacts, with all growth parameters consistently diminishing in proportion to the level of imposed dietary nutrient restriction. The recommended dietary SID lysine levels for pigs subjected to dietary nutrient restriction feed-restricted pigs were similar to those found in ad libitum-fed pigs, and both were significantly lower than the industry standards typically used in feed formulations
Insecticidal activity of Wild Spikenard (Hyptis suaveolens L. Poit) on Adult Mortality and Female Oviposition of Groundnut Bruchid, Caryedon serratus Olivier on stored Groundnut Seeds and Tamarind pods
Get PDFAn investigation was conducted to estimate the insecticidal deterrence of wild Spikenard (Hyptis suaveolens L. Poit) on adult mortality and female oviposition of groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus Olivier on stored groundnut seeds and tamarind pods. Data were taken on mean percentage mortality and mean number of eggs laid (female oviposition). The highest mean percentage mortality for both stored produces were reported in actellic dust and 12.00g levels of H. suaveolens whole powders (93.50; 91.75 and 92.25; 91.25) while the least were obtained in the controls (4.75; 3.25). Moreover, 12.00g levels of H. suaveolens whole powder and actellic dust recorded the least mean number of eggs laid (female oviposition) (18.00; 17.00 and 19.25; 18.00) while the highest was reported in the controls (318.25; 305.50) respectively. There was no significant difference between the effects of rates of synthetic insecticides and 12.00g level of H. suaveolens whole powder in all the parameters measured.</jats:p
Design and Construction of an Agricultural Waste-Shredding Machine
Get PDFWaste generation has become a major concern to the government, environmental regulatory bodies, and the society, especially with the current population pressure as well as the economic and social factors in Nigeria. This study was focused on design, construction, and performance evaluation of an Agricultural Waste-Shredder using locally available materials. The selected materials used to fabricate the machine were Metal sheet, Angle iron bars, Pulleys, belt, shaft, and Prime mover. The shredder has the feeding unit, the shredding unit, power transmission unit and the machine frame. The performance of the machine evaluated with beans stalk, the performance indices investigated were shredding efficiency and throughput capacity. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to Maximize the efficiency of the machine at operational Speeds of 360rpm, 650rpm, and 975rpm with sieve apertures of 20mm, 30mm, and 40mm respectively. Maximum shredding efficiency of 93% was obtained when the shred aperture was 20mm at shredding speed of 975rpm. The maximum throughput capacity was 6.10kg kg/m at speed 975rpm and a minimum value of 5.14kg/m at 325rpm respectively. A quadratic model for shredding efficiency explained 94.78% of the variation in shredding efficiency. R2 (pred) of 70.42% suggests that the model is fit. The machine is easy to use and with a low cost of production to small and medium scale entrepreneurs in agriculture
Student oral presentations: incorporating peer e-assessment
No full textThis presentation details how an approach to the development of presentation skills with first year accountancy students has been developed to incorporate peer assessment. Presentation skills are considered important by both recruiters and academic bodies (Stowe, 2010) but despite this, accountancy graduates tend to have “inadequate oral communication skills” when commencing employment (Gray, 2010). In order to help the students develop their skills and confidence in delivering presentations, Accountants in Organisations, a first year core module taken by BA Accountancy and Finance students at the University of Huddersfield, has long included two formative presentations and an end of year summative presentation. The formative feedback provided in the first two presentations originally came from the tutor while peers participated only as an audience. The final summative assessment was presented only to the two module tutors.
In order to raise involvement, extend student assessment skills and increase formative feedback, peer assessment was incorporated in the process. Involving peers in the assessment of presentations supports the development of judgement and can improve reliability (Magin and Helmore, 2001). Such an approach also provides peers with a clear purpose during the presentation and may therefore lead to greater interest and participation (MacAlpine, 1999).
The use of e-assessment facilitates the rapid provision of written feedback; an attribute valued by students (Browne and Shurville, 2007; NUS, 2010). Whereas, previously presenters had one set of feedback provided by the tutor, they now have extensive feedback from the whole audience which requires little administration
Maximum Power Point Tracking in Partial Shaded Photovoltaic System using Smell Agent Optimization Algorithm
Get PDFWith partial shading conditions, it is essential to acquire Maximum Power Point at which the Photovoltaic systems (PV) operate effectively despite the variation in the cell temperature and incident angle of sunlight rays on the panels. This study explores the use of a Smell Agent Optimization (SAO) algorithm for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) in partial shaded PV systems. The proposed MPPT system is composed of a PV model, a DC-DC converter model and a control part. The Smell Agent Algorithm (SAA) was adopted in the control part of the MPPT system to implement the optimization algorithm using four different shading patterns (SPs) and to calculate the optimal switching duty cycle of the DC-DC converter. The effectiveness of the proposed system was verified using simulations in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The SAO respectively track maximum values for Power, Voltage and Current as 845.8476 W, 211.7308 V, 3.99492 A while the maximum values for Power, Voltage and Current for Perturb and Observe (P and O) are 845.0465 W, 211.6305 V, 3.993028 A respectively during SP1. The results showed that the SAO algorithm has excellent tracking results in terms of convergence speed, accuracy, power extracted stability, and dynamic response in reaching the optimum point
