1,720,980 research outputs found
Adaptation of buffalo calves to a new automatic milk feeder
Full text linkRational heifer management in buffalo rearing is of paramount importance. There are no studies in the literature dealing with automatic feeding in individual boxes for buffalo calves. This study aims to deepen knowledge in this area and to evaluate the ability of buffalo calves to adapt to a mobile automatic feeder through data provided by the system's monitoring software. Data were collected on 3 different groups of 15 buffalo calves in succession with each other. The data on the daily feeding quantity and volume showed that 95.67 % of the calves were fed within the first day of stall in the automatic feeder. During the first 72 h in the calf house, the calves were fed from 2.49 ± 1.21 meals per day with an average feeding rate of 0.24 ± 0.06 L/min. The average daily milk intake was 3.57 ± 0.26 L/d, while the average milk intake during the first 72 h was 10.7 ± 0.77 L. The buffalo calves, therefore, showed themselves to be able to adapt to this type of feeding, making use of its advantage
Optimization of hemp seeds (Canapa Sativa L.) oil mechanical extraction
No full textThe interest in hemp (Canapa Sativa L.) in the last decade is greatly increased for its multiplicity of uses: food; textile industry; cosmetics and biochemical. In addition, hemp seed oil is a great source of high quality nutrients and has multi-purpose natural remedies and It could be used as edible oil containing about 80% of essential fatty acids (excellent ratio of omega-6 to omega-3). The aim of this study was the optimization of hemp seeds oil mechanical extraction parameters in order to have a higher oil yield. The hemp variety was Futura 75, cultivated in Castelvolturno (CE), Southern Italy. Harvest has been carried out in September 2016 with a mechanical harvester. The test has been carried out using a mechanical screw press, powered by 2.2 kW electric motor, using an 8 mm nozzle. The variable parameters were: temperature of extraction (50°C and 70°C), measured with a temperature sensor placed on press head; two rotational screw speeds (22 rpm and 32 rpm) and seeds pre-treatment (heated at 50°C for 1h in a laboratory oven and not heated). The processed samples weighted 1000g each. After the extraction, oil was centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 20 minutes with an laboratory centrifuge to determine the yield of pure oil as percentage of extracted oil (g) on the total oil extractable basis. During the tests, the performances of the press has been monitored: initial and final extraction temperatures have been recorded with a RTD (Pt100) temperature sensor; extraction time has been recorded with a laboratory stopwatch. Results show that the combination of high extraction temperature and slow rotational screw speed has a positive effect on oil yield as well as seeds pre-treatment. Further studies are scheduled in order to evaluate the effect of extraction parameters on oil quality in terms of acidity, sensory profile, volatile compounds and fatty acids composition
Hemp seed mechanical harvesting efficiency analysis
No full textAbstract View references (7)
Mechanical harvesting of hemp seeds is performed using machines developed for other grain crops in order to allow an easier insertion of hemp cultivation into consolidated production area trying to avoid further purchase of complex and expensive machinery on the territory. On the other hand, it involves the use of machines with low harvesting efficiency because the hemp plants are considerably different from the cereal grain plant having a biomass production 2-3 times bigger than grain in weight. However, hemp seed is harvested when the seed begin to scatter. All these factors combined, lead to a complex setting of the combine harvester. In this paper, harvesting tests were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of mechanical harvesting of hemp seeds with conventional combine harvester with cereal head, some harvest tests were carried out by varying only the machine setting without significant modifications of the machine. The experimental design included the division of the field into 4 plots, cultivated with a seeding density D1 (60 pt / m2) and D2 (30 pt / m2). Only two plots received foliar fertilization. Each plot has been divided sub-parcels collected with two working speeds of the machine: V1 (3 kmh-1) and V2 (5 kmh-1). The combination of plots configuration provided 8 experimental. The total seed yield per m2 has been obtained handpicking the seeds in experimental plots divided by agronomic pre-treatments and then cleaned. The harvest efficiency has been calculated comparing the total seed yield with the mechanical seed harvesting using different settings of combine harvester. This work showed an average harvesting efficiency of 68%. Higher efficiency percentage has been obtained on plots with 60 plants/m2 density and harvested at V1 speed. This experience has highlighted some limitations due to the general use of non-specific hemp solutions for harvest, but this result can be explained with different cultivation techniques of hemp. © 2018 ETA-Floren
Testing the application of an automatic milking system on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
No full textThe automatic milking systems (AMS) have been deeply studied in dairy cows applications, but not in the case of buffaloes; although, a few applications to the species can be found in literature. The objective of this study is to compare some important functional aspects of AMS with the conventional milking systems. Aspects such as adaptation of buffalo to AMS and the possible relationship between milking frequency and daily milk yield were evaluated. Two groups of Bubalus bubalis were reared in the same barn, in a farm located in Piana del Sele (SA) southern Italy. Fourty primiparous buffaloes were milked using an AMS, and at the same time another herd of 40 were milked twice a day using traditional milking system (tandem). The adaptation period of buffaloes to AMS was 2 months. Milking frequency with the AMS was significantly higher compared to the one of traditional methods (2.3±0.17 times/d vs 2 times/d). Daily milk yield with the AMS was observed to be significantly higher than with traditional milking system (7.9±1.3 kg/d vs 6.9±1.06 kg/d). In this study, there was no significant relationship between the increase of daily milking frequency and daily milk yield. We can conclude that a positive AMS effect on daily milk yield and milking frequency is possible and so we can expect successful applications of the AMS to dairy buffalo farms
Double-pass harvesting system on giant reed in south Italy
No full textAbstract View references (15)
The aim of the study is to evaluate the possibility of two step harvesting system for giant reed. The biomass was shredded and dried in the field, in second time was baled and storage. First step was cutting and shredding with a specific shredder for biomass crops rear mounted in agricultural tractor and in the second time the Arundo biomass was harvested after more day of drying in the field with continuous monitoring of the biomass moisture content. This harvesting system presents some advantages such as: the possibility of long storage of biomass (moisture content lover 14-15%), baled with a farm mechanization for hay making, possibilities of diversified use of the dried biomass (combustion and II generation ethanol). The test showed technical and energy aspect of the harvest technology but there is necessary one specific machine for shredder while the other are normally presents in the farm. The machine adopted for shredder, designed and developed by Italian constructor for more biomass herbaceous crops (Arundo, Sorghum, Panicum, Mischantus, etc.) is indicated for high vegetative developed crop and can spread the product in all soil surface or windrowing. The tests were conducted in the South of Italy (Campania region) in an experimental farm of Torrelama. The tests have showed a good performance slightly lower than 1.5 ha h-1(1.47) with operative speed of 4.88 km h-1. The hourly production is 58.35 t ha-1with a biomass moisture content of 42.51%. After field drying the biomass are baled and storage. © 2018 ETA-Florence Renewable Energies
Cooling-assisted cold-pressing: a sustainable approach to high-quality hemp seed oil extraction
No full textHemp seed oil (HSO) is valued for its rich nutritional profile and bioactive compounds, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and phytosterols. As demand for sustainable, high-quality functional foods grows, optimizing extraction methods is essential to preserving these compounds while ensuring environmental responsibility. Mechanical cold pressing is a preferred method because it avoids the use of chemical solvents; however, excessive mechanical friction can increase temperatures, leading to oxidation and nutrient degradation. This study evaluates the effect of an integrated cooling system (CO) versus a non-cooled system (NCO) in HSO extraction. A screw press with a copper coil cooling mechanism and food-grade propylene glycol coolant was designed to regulate temperatures, monitored via thermal imaging and resistance temperature detectors. Key oil quality parameters, including peroxide value, free acidity, fatty acid profile, tocopherol, phenolic content, and phytosterol composition, were analyzed. Results show that the CO system reduced extraction temperatures (by 11 % in the compression chamber and 15 % in the extracted oil), enhancing oxidative stability and bioactive retention, particularly phenolics, while maintaining oil yield and efficiency. Integrating cooling technologies into industrial cold pressing offers a sustainable solution to enhance nutritional stability, extend shelf life, and reduce oxidative waste, aligning with the shift toward eco-friendly food processing
Chip quality as a function of harvesting methodology
No full textThe study aimed to evaluate the aboveground dry biomass production and the quality of fresh and dried chips obtained by eight different species grown under SRC culture and subjected to two harvesting systems and chipping devices.
The present study was part of a long project including different species and management regime of a SRC plantation, which was established in 2007 on a level soil at the Improsta experimental farm (Eboli, Salerno, Italy).
In 2015, It was realized a comparative test chipping eight different species grown under SRC system: Fraxinus oxyphylla, Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix alba, Populus nigra (Limatola) and four hybrid genotypes of Populus x euroamericana (Grimminge, Vesten, Hoogvorst, Muur), harvested at the end of the first three years rotation coppice (2012-2014).
The trees were chipped both fresh and dried. The fresh biomass was harvested and chipped in a single phase by a self-propelled forage harvester Claas Jaguar 880 (nominal power of 353 kW), equipped with GBE biomass head for trees cutting and harvester feeding. The dried biomass was chipped by a forestry wood disk chipper Farmi Forest CH 260, after two months of storage in the field.
The plantation mean of the standing aboveground dry biomass was greater for P. nigra Limatola, followed by F. oxyphylla. As consequences, they showed respectively a high mean annual increment of aboveground dry biomass of 14.38 and 10.16 t ha-1 year-1. The first coppice rotation dry biomass yield was not significantly different for Hoogvorst and Vesten. In contrast to the biometric attributes clone Muur showed a low aboveground dry biomass production, followed by Grimminge and S. alba with a significantly lower production.
Moisture content of the fresh biomass ranged between 42.59 % and 56.84 % for black locust and willow, respectively. The dried biomass ranged, instead, between 17.32 % for willow and 36.80 % for Populus nigra. The average reduction of moisture content after storage was 43.97 % with the highest and lowest rate of dehydration for willow (69.53 %) and poplar Vesten (28.70 %).
Concerning the particle size distribution, the presence of large chips (63-45 mm) and oversized (> 63 mm) were extremely limited for the fresh chips, while it is considerably higher for the dried chips. Fractions ranging from 45 to 3 mm were the most represented for all species and treatment, accounting between 84.09 % and 90.65 % for the fresh chips, and 74.15 % and 85.68 % for the dried chips. The comminution carried out with the disk chipper on dried biomass always leads to a decrease in the percentage of accept (45-3 mm fractions) respect to the same fresh species chipped by drum chipper
Two steps Arundo donax L. Harvesting in South Italy
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two-pass harvesting system on giant reed (Arundo donax). The biomass was shredded, dried in the field and baled for logistic chain and storage. The first step was cutting and shredding with a specific shredder for biomass crops rear mounted in agricultural tractor and in the second time the Arundo biomass was harvested after more day of drying in the field with continuous monitoring of the biomass moisture content.
This harvesting system presents some advantages such as: the possibility of immediate and long storage of biomass (moisture content 12-14 %), better use of farm mechanization for hay making, diversified use of the dried biomass (combustion and II° generation ethanol), fuel consumption in line or even less than other ordinary crops present in that area.
The test showed technical and energy aspect of the harvest technology with the adoption of only one specific machine while the other are normally presents in the farm. The machine adopted for shredder, designed and developed by Italian constructor for more biomass herbaceous crops (Arundo, Sorghum, Panicum, Mischantus, etc.) is indicated for high vegetative developed crop and can spread the product in all soil surface or windrowing. The tests were conducted in Southern Italy (Campania region) in an experimental farm of Torre Lama (SA). The tests have showed a good performance slightly lower than 1.5 ha h-1 (1.47) with operative speed of 4.88 km h-1. The hourly production taken as a reference is a theoretical production of 58.35 t ha-1 with a biomass moisture of 42.51 %. After field drying, the biomass is baled with round baler
Automatic Milking System occupation rate analysis and optimization applied to Mediterranean Buffaloes
Full text linkThe Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) are well studied in dairy cows applications, but not on Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Though, a few applications to the species can be found in literature. This study was carried out in a farm located in Paestum (SA), Southern Italy. It has about 230 lactation animals and to the best of our knowledge it is the first farm in the world that introduced the AMS in the case of buffaloes. The objective of this study was to optimize the AMS occupation rate in order to use it with Buffaloes. The experimental trial has been two years long. During the first year, a functional screening of barn with 4 AMS has been done. During this year, operational and functional aspects, such as number of buffaloes, milkings and rejections per AMS/year have been analysed. The working time and milking downtime per AMS/year have been calculated and additional number of buffaloes per AMS/year has been evaluated. It has been estimated the number of buffaloes that could be added and could be milked during the year per AMS (19 ± 3). During the second year, the occupation rate of one AMS has been increased. 70 buffaloes, chosen randomly among primiparous animals, have been added in the same AMS where the year before there were 51 primiparous buffaloes. The random chosen buffaloes, with DIM of 5 ÷ 10 days, have been bred with similar alimentation rates (TMR) and management proprieties as the previous year, as well as DeLaval AMS robot parameters (42 kPa vacuum; 60 cycles/min; 7 h between two milkings). In order to evaluate AMS functionality to an increase of buffaloes number, they have been determinated: 1) functional parameters of AMS during the observation year such as working times, occupation rate, number of milkings made by AMS and milkings distribution during 24 h; 2) productive parameters such as milking frequency e milk production rate per AMS during the observation year. Furthermore, milk quality during the second year has been compared with milk quality of previous year in order to evaluate if the buffaloes number increase could affect stress and uneasiness within the group, and then milk quality. Milk composition parameters have been evaluated: % fat; % protein; % casein; % lactose. Results have been validated using an analysis of variance (ANOVA), setting the significance level (α) to 0.05. Buffaloes number increase in AMS during one year caused an increase (+18 %) of milkings compared to previous year; an increase of total milk production (+55 %), a decrease (-27 %) of AMS not working time during a year; an increase (+15 %) of system occupation rate. Statistical analysis showed no significative difference of this increase on daily milking frequency in AMS during one year and daily milk production per buffalo in AMS during one year
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