1,721,044 research outputs found
Whole-crop cereals for growing cattle
Get PDFThe effects of maturity and chopping of whole-crop cereal silage on intake, digestibility, live-weight gain and feeding behaviour of growing cattle were evaluated. Organic matter digestibility of whole-crop barley and wheat, mainly explained by fibre concentration and digestibility, decreased from the heading stage to the milk stage of maturity. In barley it did not change between the milk and dough stages, but in wheat it increased. In general, intake was greatest at the dough stage of maturity, probably due to higher dry matter content and lower fibre concentration of the whole-crop silages. Live-weight gain followed the same pattern due to the higher intake. Chopping increased intake, more so in light steers than in heavy, when whole-crop barley was harvested at dough stage, but not at heading stage. Lower intake of unchopped silage seemed to be caused by long awns affecting light steers more than heavy. Eating rate increased with chopping but rumination time was unaffected. In conclusion, whole-crop barley and wheat should be harvested at the heading or dough stage of maturity when fed to growing cattle and preferably chopped at dough stage
Effect of Agro-Industrial by Products Derived from Volatile Fatty Acids on Ruminant Feed In Vitro Digestibility
Get PDFThe growing demand for sustainable ruminant feed alternatives has motivated the application of bioconversion approaches for the valorization of agro-food byproducts (AFB) into feed additives and supplements. The present study thoroughly investigated substituting volatile fatty acids (VFAs) obtained from acidogenic fermentation (AF) of AFB as an energy source in ruminant feed. Rumen in vitro digestibility assays were conducted utilizing the gas production method, wherein the VFAs obtained from AF of apple pomace and potato protein liquor was substituted with partial silage and concentrate energy at levels of 10%, 20%, and 30%. The results indicate that substituting 20% of the concentrate’s energy with VFA mixture significantly reduced methane production and had no adverse effect on the production and accumulation of VFAs in the simulated rumen media. Conversely, replacing 10% of the silage energy with VFAs led to a decrease in methane production and further enhanced the production of VFAs. Readily digestible VFAs in ruminant feed have the potential to enhance energy availability and sustainability in ruminant farming practices, aligning with the principles of circular economy and waste valorization
An in vitro evaluation of partial energy replacement in a total mixed ration with volatile fatty acids derived from agro-industrial residues
Get PDFThe scientific interest in volatile fatty acids (VFAs) as an energy source and chemical precursor in ruminant diets has been longstanding, as it has significant implications for animal physiology and well-being. The present study explores the substitution of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) derived from agro-food residues via acidogenic fermentation as an alternative energy source in ruminant feed. Utilizing the gas production method, rumen digestibility assays were conducted, wherein the recovered VFA effluent from the acidogenic fermentation of apple pomace and potato protein liquor was substituted for 10%, 20%, and 30% of the total mixed ration (TMR) energy. Various parameters such as gas, VFA yield and composition, VFA peak intervals, changes in pH, and ammonium nitrogen content were investigated. Based on the results obtained, provision of 20% and 30% of the energy with VFAs did not increase methane production or did not cause significant pH alternations. Nevertheless, such supplementation resulted in increased production and accumulation of VFAs in the rumen media. The bioconversion of agro-food side streams into VFAs opens a new path in sustainable nutrient recovery and feed production from low value agro-industrial residues
Membrane bioreactor assisted volatile fatty acids production from agro-industrial residues for ruminant feed application [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textVolatile fatty acids (VFAs) supplementation in ruminants’ diet as a source of energy and chemical precursors and their effect on animal’s physiology and well-being has long been of scientific interest. Production of VFAs through anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial residues not only creates value but also presents an alternative sustainable approach for ruminant feed supplementation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the bioconversion of agro-industrial residues produced in large quantities such as apple pomace (AP), thin stillage (Ts), and potato protein liquor (PPL) to VFAs, fully complying to regulations set for ruminant feed supplement production. In this regard, batch acidogenic fermentation assays (pH 6–10) and semi-continuous immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR) were applied. In batch assays, at pH 10 the co-digestion of Ts and PPL produced the highest VFAs concentration (14.2 g/L), indicating a yield of 0.85 g CODVFAs/g volatile solids (VS)added. The optimum batch condition was then applied in the iMBR for in situ fermentation and recovery of VFAs at different organic loading rates (OLR). With increasing the OLR to 3.7 gVS/L.day, the highest VFAs concentration of 28.6 g/L (1,2 g CODVFAs /gVSadded) was achieved. Successful long-term (114 days) membrane filtration was conducted in a media with a maximum of 40 g/L of total solids (TS), facing irreversible membrane fouling in the final stages. Acidogenic fermentation using an iMBR has the potential to play an important role in the future of feed additive provision through the biorefining of agro-industrial wastes via the carboxylate platform, given the role of VFAs production from organic residues.</p
Proceedings of the 10th Nordic Feed Science Conference, Uppsala, Sweden
Get PDFWe celebrate the 10-year anniversary of our Nordic Feed Science Conference this year. I
hope that we will be able to continue with this conference for a number of years to come.
There are some foreseeable problems with this, which we will be a topic for the conference.
Early June is often a lovely time in Uppsala and, over the years, we have had mostly very
pleasant weather. We hope that you will enjoy your stay and make the most of the 18.5-h day
length during the conference as well as the scientific contributions.
We have 77 registered participants and a total of 26 written contributions this year, of which
11 are in the form of posters. In addition, there will be time for discussing protein evaluation
and the future of the NFSC.
Global temperature is increasing and the future of coming generations is compromised. What
can we do to change this? Everybody is talking about the weather, but nobody is doing
anything about it, as Mark Twain once said. The Nordic countries, except Iceland,
experienced a severe drought last year, which farmers had great problems in dealing with. We
therefore, have sessions specifically devoted to climate and environment and non-traditional
fibrous feeds (ICE – in case of emergency).
This year’s conference also focuses on ruminant protein evaluation and, for that reason,
Hélène Lapierre, Karl-Heinz Südekum, Pekka Huhtanen and Elisabeth Nadeau have
graciously accepted to present their work on the conference. In addition, we look forward to a
number of presentations on ruminant nutrition, models and forage conservation. During
several of the sessions above, the NorFor model will be scrutinized.
Bioprocess Control Sweden AB will demonstrate their latest gas-in vitro system at the
conference and, during the guided poster presentations, you will also be able to see our new
research scale extruder at work
Effect of Agro-Industrial by Products Derived from Volatile Fatty Acids on Ruminant Feed In Vitro Digestibility [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textThe growing demand for sustainable ruminant feed alternatives has motivated the application of bioconversion approaches for the valorization of agro-food byproducts (AFB) into feed additives and supplements. The present study thoroughly investigated substituting volatile fatty acids (VFAs) obtained from acidogenic fermentation (AF) of AFB as an energy source in ruminant feed. Rumen in vitro digestibility assays were conducted utilizing the gas production method, wherein the VFAs obtained from AF of apple pomace and potato protein liquor was substituted with partial silage and concentrate energy at levels of 10%, 20%, and 30%. The results indicate that substituting 20% of the concentrate’s energy with VFA mixture significantly reduced methane production and had no adverse effect on the production and accumulation of VFAs in the simulated rumen media. Conversely, replacing 10% of the silage energy with VFAs led to a decrease in methane production and further enhanced the production of VFAs. Readily digestible VFAs in ruminant feed have the potential to enhance energy availability and sustainability in ruminant farming practices, aligning with the principles of circular economy and waste valorization.</p
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