Digestibility

ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary vitamin E on performance, digestibility and hematological parameters for a period of eight weeks with 96 day-old marshal broiler chicks. Basal diets was supplemented with different levels of vitamin E which are 0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg and 1.5g/kg. Each test diet was fed for 8 weeks ad libitum in starter and finisher form. Result of the present study shows significant difference (p<0.05) in body weight gain with highest and lowest mean values are (712.60g and 653.36g) respectively. Whereas feed intake showed significant difference (p<0.05).
Haematological parameters revealed that PCV is affected by varying levels of vitamin E supplementation, also differential counts lymphocytes, monocytes and heterophils showed significant difference (p<0.05) across the treatments. Haemoglobin decreased with increasing level of inclusion of vitamin E supplementation. Serum result from present study shows that only LDL is significantly different (p<0.05) across the treatment while serum cholesterol increase with increasing level of supplementation with treatment 3 having the highest mean value of 113.07mg/dl and treatment 1 with the lowest at 1005.56md/dl. Digestibility of nutrients result of present study shows that there are no significant difference in dry matter digestibility as digestibility was fair across all treatments, also crude protein digestibility was highest in treatment 3 with mean value of 65.84±2.76and lowest in the control diet with mean value of 56.38±7.04. Varying levels of vitamin E did not significantly change the ether extract values.
KEY WORDS: Vitamin E, Broilers, Haematological parameters, Digestibility, Performance, Serum chemistry.

The present study assessed the effect of different feed ingredients on nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), nitrogen/energy balance and morphology changes in the intestine of Nile tilapia; using a control diet and six test diets, in which the following six ingredients were included at 30%: hydrolysed feather meal (HFM), soybean meal (SBM), rice bran (RB), rapeseed meal (RM), sunflower meal (SFM) and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). The proximal, middle and distal intestine was processed for quantitative histology counting the number of goblet cells (GC), and measuring the thickness of lamina propria (LP) and submucosa (SM). The study showed that the ADC of protein in raw materials were highest in SBM (92.2%), followed by SFM (90.2%), DDGS (89.2%), RM (87.8%), HFM (86.9%) and RB (84.0%).
The nutrient ADCs had no correlation with intestinal morphology changes. Only the SBM diet caused noticeable changes in intestinal morphology such as an increase the thickness of SM and LP and the number of GC. The diet composition, however, altered the protein efficiency and the maintenance energy  equirement. Protein retention efficiency was the lowest in fish fed HFM and the highest in RB. The highest maintenance energy requirements were observed in HFM and SBM treatments.

A B S T R A C T This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing cracked maize with increasing levels of sugar beet pulp (SBP) on nutrients digestibility, blood biochemical and rumen fermentation constituents and animal performance of growing Egyptian buffalo calves. Forty male Egyptian buffalo calves (237.2 ± 24.46 kg of initial body weight, IBW) were allocated into a completely randomized design and stratified to one of four experimental diets. The basal diet was isonitrogenous (40:60 forage: concentrate) and was formulated to contain 60% of dietary DM cracked maize replaced by ascending levels of SBP (0, 333, 667, and 1000 g/kg respectively). The study lasted for a period of 143 days from which 21 days for adaptation while the remaining 122 days were used for data collection. Increasing the level of SBP resulted in a quadratic increase (P = 0.017) in the average daily gain (ADG) with a linear tendency of increase (P = 0.064) in dietary dry matter intake. A quadratic decrease of feed conversion ratio (FCR, P = 0.005) was observed with the ascending levels of SBP. In addition, the daily intake of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber assayed with heat stable α-amylase and corrected for ash (aNDFom), acid detergent fiber corrected for ash (ADFom) were quadratically (P < 0.01) improved upon increasing the dietary SBP level while the daily intake and digestibility of ether extract were declined linearly (P < 0.01). Replacing SBP for maize resulted in linear increase (P < 0.01) in OM, aNDFom, cellulose and hemicellulose digestibility coefficients. Ruminal pH, total short chain fatty acids, proportions of acetate (C2) and butyrate were increased linearly (P < 0.05). In contrast, the proportions of propionate (C3) and isobutyrate were decreased linearly (P < 0.05) upon increasing the levels of SBP. In addition, the C2:C3 ratio and total protozoa were linearly (P < 0.01) increased while the ruminal NH 3-N concentration was quadratically (P = 0.046) increased as SBP replaced maize in the diet. Furthermore, upon increasing the dietary SBP levels, the blood urea-N, cortisol and thyroxin (T4) concentrations were quadratically elevated (P < 0.01). Conversely, linear decreases in creatinine, (P = 0.027) and

Pretreatment is commonly used to reduce recalcitrance of the lignin-carbohydrate matrix. In this study, leading pretreatment technologies, including dilute sulfuric acid, liquid hot water, alkaline, and organosolv pretreatments, were applied to the selected Populus trichocarpa genotype with relatively low lignin content to elucidate cellulose physicochemical property changes and digestibility-related factors. Pretreated Populus trichocarpa (BESC 131) exhibited higher accessibility and glucose yield than the untreated biomass. Chemical composition and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis results revealed that hemicellulose and lignin were removed to a varying extent depending on the pretreatment techniques applied. The degree of polymerization of the cellulose was decreased to the largest extent after dilute acid pretreatment, followed by organosolv, alkaline, and liquid hot water pretreatments. Cellulose crystallinity index was slightly changed after the pretreatments; however, its differences were not remarkable between those pretreatment techniques. Among four different pretreatments, organosolv was the most effective pretreatment technology in terms of sugar release, which was three times higher than that of the untreated native biomass. Among all of the tested cell wall traits, the lignin content of Populus trichocarpa was the most remarkable feature associated with glucose release, though Populus trichocarpa recalcitrance was not solely dependent on any single factor.

The poultry industry is currently facing several challenges, including the environmental impact of poultry production, bird health and immunity, and the safety of poultry products. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of phytase supplementa-tion and organic acids (alone or in combination) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, tibia ash, immunity, and gut morphology of male broiler chickens (Ross 308). The birds were allocated to 5 dietary treatments: (1) positive control diet (PC) with adequate amount of available phosphorus (4.9 and 4.4 g/kg in the starter and grower period, respectively); (2) negative control diet (NC) with a low amount of available phosphorus (3.9 and 3.4 g/kg in the starter and grower period, respectively); (3) NC plus 0.2% of a commercial organic acid (Salkil; Sal); (4) NC plus 500 phytase unit/kg diet (Phy); (5) NC plus Salkil and phytase (Sal þ Phy). Each treatment had 5 pen replicates of 20 birds. The starter (0–14 d) and grower (15–28 d) maize–soybean meal based diets were fed ad libitum in mash form. The results showed that overall, birds fed the Phy þ Sal diet and birds fed the NC diet had the highest and lowest (P o 0.001) live weight gain (50.80 g/bird/ d vs 39.68), feed intake (74.78 g/bird/d vs. 64.69) and feed conversion ratio (1.47 vs. 1.63), respectively. Broilers fed the NC diet had the lowest crude protein and ether extract digestibility (0.7751 and 0.7949, respectively), which were improved (Po 0.001 and P ¼ 0.010, respectively) by the addition of Phy (0.8506 and 0.8645, respectively) or Phy þ Sal (0.8858 and 0.8561, respectively) to the NC diet. Tibia ash was improved (P o 0.001) in Sal-fed broilers (374.3 g/kg) compared with NC (341.6 g/kg), but it was still lower than other treatments (PC, Phy and Phy þ Sal). Addition of Phy or Phy þ Sal to the NC diet improved villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of broilers compared with broilers fed the PC diet. Broilers fed Phy þ Sal showed higher (P o 0.001) IgG (2.27) in the primary and also higher (P o 0.001) total Ig (7.84) and IgG (5.74) in the secondary response compared with all other treatments. In conclusion, concurrent supplementation of phytase and organic acids improve productive performance , bone mineralization, intestinal integrity, and immune response of broilers fed diets low in available phosphorous.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of spices on forage utilization and nitrogen (N) emission using in vitro and in vivo approach. A 6 × 5 factorial triplicate arrangement was used to assess the in vitro degradability of rice straw with control (without spices) and individual (40 mg/g rice straw) spices (cumin, coriander, clove, black cumin, turmeric) at five different incubation times. In vitro dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability of rice straw were highest in presence of spices except for clove. Clove significantly reduced the total volatile fatty acids concentration , molar proportion of acetate and propionate ratio, but increased propionate production. Acetate and butyrate production were not affected by treatments. The ammonia-nitrogen concentration was lowest for clove and turmeric compared to other spices. Rumen pH was unchanged but gradually decreased over the incubation period. For in vivo study, 12 bucks with average live weight 7.65 ± 0.19 kg were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replicates for a 28-day period. Bucks were fed a total mixed ration without (0 g/kg DM) or with (2.5, 7.5 g/kg DM) clove supplementation. DM intake, body weight and apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were not affected by increasing dietary doses of clove but tended (p = .09) to increase DM and OM digestibility. The urinary N and urine urea N concentration of bucks decreased linearly with incremental doses of clove diet. In contrary, clove supplementation had positive effects on plasma urea N and retained N in bucks. We concluded that though some spices had positive effects on ruminal digestion and fermentation, the dosage level assessed in the current study (up to 7.5 g/kg DM clove) can be promoted as an effective dietary approach to mitigate N losses in bucks.

A total of 420 21-day-old broilers were wing banded and randomly distributed among 60 cages of 7 birds per cage during days 21-37 of age. A factorial design (4×3) was used in which there were four feed forms (mash vs. pellet diet with diameter 2-2 mm, 2-3 mm and 3-3.5 mm, respectively) and three enzyme treatments (unsupplemented, phytase, phytase plus multi-enzyme). Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 7 broilers per replicate. Body weight gain of broilers fed 2-3 mm-diet was significantly greater than that of those fed mash diet and 2-2 mm or 3-3.5 mm pellet-diet. Feed conversion ratio was the best in broilers fed 2-3 mm and 3-3.5 mm pellet-diets. However, feed intake was significantly lower in broilers fed pellet-diets than that of those fed the mash diet. The production index and economic efficiency were significantly higher in groups fed 2-3 mm pellet diameter compared to those fed 2-2 mm and 3-3.5 mm pellet diets. Digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and crude ash were significantly and similarly greater in groups fed pellet diets in comparison with those fed mash diet. Enzyme supplementations significantly and similarly increased growth and production index whereas improved feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency than the control group and this concurred with greater digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and crude ash. However, multi-enzymes plus phytase induced greater effect on the production and economic traits than phytase

The impact of two dietary organic acids (OAs) on nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology was determined in Nile tilapia under conditions of dissolved oxygen in the water: normoxia and hypoxia. Four diets designated as control (0 g/kg organic acid salt), KDF (2 g/kg potassium diformate), CAB (2 g/kg calcium butyrate) and their combination (4 g/kg of a mixture of KDF and CAB, ration 1:1) were formulated with 520 g/kg of soybean meal in order to produce soybean meal enteritis‐like symptoms.
The four diets were tested first under normoxic conditions (6 mg/L) for a period of 5 weeks, followed by a test period under hypoxic conditions (3 mg/L). The results showed that OAs were unable to significantly improve growth and nutrient digestibility under normoxic conditions but under hypoxic conditions, there was a significant enhancement of the growth and nutrient digestibility. Fish fed OA‐supplemented diets showed improvements in the intestinal morphology under the normoxic conditions, and these effects were more pronounced under the hypoxic conditions.
Experimental findings suggest that OAs can improve nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology under hypoxic conditions. A synergistic effect by the combination of formic and butyric acid on growth, digestibility and intestinal morphology was not found.

An experiment on 55 Lohman Brown hens examined the effect of different dietary levels of maize- and rye distillers dried grains with solubles (mDDGS and rDDGS, respectively) on nutrient digestibility, content of metabolizable energy in the diet and balance of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc. Experimental diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and contained 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% mDDGS or rDDGS. Diets with 20% mDDGS or rDDGS were also supplemented with NSP-hydrolysing enzymes. It was found that 5, 10 or 15% mDDGS in a diet had no effect on apparent digestibility of nutrients, dietary metabolizable energy content, or balance of N, Ca and Zn; 20% mDDGS decreased the digestibility of crude fat and lowered the level of metabolizable energy in the diet, whereas 15 or 20% rDDGS negatively affected organic matter and crude fat digestibility and the dietary metabolizable energy level. A 15 or 20% inclusion of mDDGS or rDDGS had, however, a positive effect on phosphorus balance. Addition of feed enzymes increased nutrient utilization in diets containing 20% DDGS.

Poultry diets are formulated primarily using cereals and protein meals (corn, wheat and soybean meal) as the main ingredients. There is noted shift in using coproducts from cereals and oilseeds in poultry diets due to availability and relatively lower cost. However, there is wide variation in the nutritional values of both conventional feedstuffs and coproducts, which creates a necessity of developing routine evaluation techniques to detect these variations in order to formulate balanced diets and achieve optimal animal performance. Currently, the approaches being used to evaluate the nutritional values of ingredients in animal diets are based on values obtained from a) wet chemistry b) tables, c) predictive equations, d) in vitro studies, e) near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and f) in vivo studies. Wet chemistry analysis is the basis of some nutritional analysis. In vivo studies are considered the best method to get the nutritional value of any feedstuff. However, using an animal model for routine evaluation is not practical due to logistical limitations such as costs and time involved and ethical concerns. Hence, there is the utmost need for rapid feed evaluation techniques that is reliable and logistically practical. The in vitro methods to determine the nutritional value and digestibility have been found to be more reliable than the table values and predictive equations, especially for grains. However, the accuracy of these in vitro methods in determining the digestibility of the co-products is not very high. In vitro fermentation study can provide some functional characteristics of feedstuffs which are not well considered presently, but has potential to be used.

The present study evaluated the effects of essential oil (EO) from anise (AO), clove (CO) and thyme (TO) on the performance of lactating Shame goats. Eight lactating Shame goats with average body weight 34.90 ± 0.9 kg and 3 years old were randomly assigned to four treatments in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design, with four periods of 22 days. In each period, the goats were adapted to the treatments for 15 days and the remaining 7 days was used for sample collection. Goats were fed a basal diet without supplementation (control) or supplemented with anise (AO), thyme (TO) or clove (CO) at a daily dose of 2 mL/head/d. Feed intake was not affected by EO supplementations. Digestibility of organic matter, ether extract and acid detergent fibre was higher (P < 0.05) with EO supplementations when compared with the control. Supplementations of EO had no effect on milk (g/d) yield, protein and lactose, as well as the composition (g/kg) of protein and lactose. Fat yield (g/d) and fat content (g/kg) were greater (P < 0.05) in EO supplemented goats versus those on the control diet. Compared with control, ruminal ammonia-N was not affected whereas, ruminal pH was increased (P = 0.02) with EO supplementations. Rumen total volatile fatty acid concentration and molar proportion of acetate (C2) were higher (P < 0.05) in goats fed CO and TO compared to control, whereas propionate (C3) and butyrate (C4) and C2:C3 proportions were unchanged with EO inclusion. With the exception of a decrease (P = 0.05) in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) with EO supplementations, other blood parameters were not affected. Milk C8 and C12 fatty acids (FA) were lower (P < 0.05) with EO supplementations compared with control. Composition of unsaturated and monounsaturated FA was higher (P < 0.05) and polyunsaturated FA was decreased (P < 0.05) with EO supplementations compared with control. Proportions of C18:1 n-9 C18:3 n-3 and n-3 FA were increased (P < 0.05) and proportions of C18:3 n-6 C20:4 n-6 and n-6 FA were decreased (P < 0.05) in goats fed EO compared to the control group. Overall, all three EOs tested in this study had beneficial effects on digestion, rumen fermentation parameters and milk composition including milk FA

This study was conducted to evaluate Atriplex (saltbush) and Acacia supplemented with crushed barley grains (CBG) alone or with crushed date seeds (CDS) for fattening growing Barki lambs. Forty lambs (initial weight of 30.6 ± 3.50 kg), 6-8 months age were divided by weight into four groups for 140 days. The first is control group (CG) was fed berseem hay ad lib. plus CBG to cover 100% of their maintenance energy requirement (MER). The other three groups were fed ad lib. on fresh leaves and succulent stems of both Atriplex and Acacia supplemented with either 100% of their MER from CBG for diet A, 50% CBG plus 50% CDS for diet B or 25% CBG plus 75% CDS for diet C, respectively. Lambs fed diets A, B, and C consumed slightly higher DMI (g/day/kg w0.75) than the CG. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM and NFE for diets A, B, and C decreased (P<0.05) than CG which related mainly to changes in the type of roughage. Similarly, TDN values of the experimental diets
were decreased (P<0.01) according to both type of roughage (diet A) and source of energy (diets B and C). Contrariwise, digestible crude protein (DCP %) increased (P<0.01) due to replacing Atriplex and Acacia for berseem hay. Average daily gain (g/day) decreased (P<0.01) as a result of changing type of roughage. The best feed conversion was recorded for control diet followed by A and B diets with no significant differences. Otherwise, lamb groups fed Atriplex and Acacia recorded the highest (P<0.01) insensible water loss (ml/kgw0.82). Nitrogen retention (g/kgw0.57) was decreased (P<0.05) by changing type of roughage. This study indicate that lambs could gain satisfy growth under harsh condition in arid and semi-arid areas of marginal lands, when fed Atriplex and Acacia shrubs supplemented with CBG and/or CDS at ratio 1:1 of MER as fodder sources.

Excess weight and obesity are serious public health problems, which should be addressed through encouraging the consumption of foods with high amount of low digestible carbohydrates. The objective of this study was to put together spaghetti that blends unripe banana whole flour (UBWF) and durum wheat of different levels and to evaluate their chemical composition, starch digestibility and sensory characteristics. Spaghetti with 15%, 30%, and 45% of UBWF and a control spaghetti (100% durum wheat flour) were put together. The protein content decreased (10.42% to 7.74%) as the UBWF level was increased in the composite, while the amount of ash (0.87% to 1.54%) and total starch (70.24% to 73.71%) increased. Spaghetti with 15% and 45% of UBWF had similar available starch content. The addition of UBWF increased the resistant starch content from 1.98% to 10.91%, and consequently the indigestible starch fraction (14.00% to 27.29%). Spaghetti with 30% of UBWF had good consumer acceptability and was ranked higher than the control sample.

Sixty Barki ewes (3-4 years old and 37.62±6.46 Kg body weight) in the breeding season were used to the end of the weaning season. Ewes were allocated randomly to three equal groups. First group (control) was fed ad libitum berseem hay; second and third groups were fed ad lib fresh and silage Atriplex+Acacia, respectively. All groups were supplemented with crushed barley grains. Results indicated that ewes fed silage diet recorded the higher dry matter intake (Kg/head/day) during early and late gestation and suckling periods. Atriplex+Acacia diets either fresh or silage decreased (P<0.05) ewes body weight at lambing comparing with control (48.63 and 47.55 vs. 51.23 Kg, respectively). Ewes fed Atriplex+Acacia diet either silage or fresh lost (P<0.05) less body weight during suckling period comparing with control group (2.95 and 4.59 vs. 5.14 Kg, respectively). The apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, and NFE for fresh and silage Atriplex+Acacia diets decreased (P<0.05) comparing with control diet. CF digestibility of silage diets was comparable to the control diet and both were higher (P<0.05) than the fresh halophytic diets. TDN and DCP values were decreased (P<0.05) related to consumption of halophytic diets either fresh or silage. Ewes group fed silage recorded higher daily milk production and lower fertility index (lambing rate: 100, 95 and 85 for control, fresh and silage groups, respectively). Some illness symptoms appeared on lambs at the first week of lambing of ewes in groups fed Atriplex+Acacia diets either fresh or silage especially silage group (tremors and convulsion of limbs so they were unable to suck their dams). Silage ewes group showed higher lamb mortality (11.1, 16.7 and 35.3% of born alive for control, fresh and silage groups, respectively). Offspring birth weight did not significantly affect. Lambs daily BW gain was 190.22, 165.05 and 159.67 g/day for control, fresh and silage Atriplex+Acacia groups, respectively. Blood minerals concentration were significantly affected (P<0.05) by the dietary treatments being mostly lower with halophytic forages groups than those of control. The same trend was noticed on milk yield. We can conclude that feeding Barki ewes halophytic plants especially as silage for long-term during breeding, pregnancy and lactation seasons could cause illness problem to their offspring and increase the mortality rate which may be due to deficiency in some important and necessary minerals for fetus growth during gestation.

he present experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dates (Local name is Azzawi dates) inclusion rate as a replacer for corn grains that the main source of energy for sheep, on nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, purine derivatives execration and microbial N. Twelve Barki rams (57.9 kg BW) were assigned in a randomized block design experiment with 3 diets and 3 blocks (4 each). In addition, three ruminally cannulated Barki rams (55.5 kg BW) were used in a 3x3 Latin square design to determine the rumen fermentation. Diets were: D0, D50 and D100 represent substitution of 0, 50 and 100 g/100g of corn grain with dates in the concentrate mixture. Diets were offered as 40:60 (on DM basis) concentrate to berseem hay ratio. No effect on DMI and CPI (g/d), digestibilities of DM and CP and nitrogen retention were observed with increasing dates inclusion in diets. Ruminal pH, allantoin, uric acid and total purine derivatives decreased linearly (P = 0.03), (P = 0.04), (P = 0.09) and (P = 0.02), respectively as corn was replaced with dates. There was also a trend for linear decrease (P = 0.02) of microbial N (g/d) with increasing dates. While ammonia N and total VFA were not affected by dates inclusion rate. Molar proportion of acetic acid and A/P ratio decreased linearly (P = 0.04), however, molar proportion of propionate increased linearly (P = 0.05) with increasing dates.
In conclusion, the replacement of corn grain with dates up to 100% dates had no effect on DMI and CPI, nitrogen retention, ammonia N and with benefit reducing feed costs.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar desempenho, digestibilidade aparente, características da carcaça e da carne de cordeiros alimentados com dietas de alta proporção de concentrado (92,65%) contendo grãos de diferentes cereais (grão moído de milho; grão inteiro de milho; grão inteiro de sorgo; ou substituição de 40% do grão inteiro do milho por grão inteiro de milheto). Foram utilizados vinte e quatro machos inteiros, sem raça definida, com peso corporal de 22,35 ± 3,71 kg, confinados em baias individuais por 56 dias, alocados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O consumo de matéria seca em porcentagem do peso corporal foi maior (P=0,0046) para as dietas com sorgo e grão moído de milho, 3,73% e 3,39%, que para milheto e grão inteiro de milho, 3,23% e 3,13%. A eficiência alimentar foi maior (P=0,0140) para grão inteiro de milho e milheto, 0,293 e 0,269, e menor para grão moído de milho e sorgo, 0,247 e 0,226. A digestibilidade aparente da matéria orgânica, matéria seca e proteína bruta foram menores (P=0,0003) para a dieta com sorgo. As características de carcaça e dos cortes cárneos não foram influenciadas pelas dietas fornecidas aos animais, bem como a maciez objetiva do músculo Longissimus. Os parâmetros de cor e luminosidade da carne foram melhores (P<0,0001; P=0,0063) com a inclusão dos grãos inteiros. Recomenda-se a utilização de grãos inteiros de milho e de milheto na alimentação de cordeiros em confinamento, considerando os benefícios nutricionais, eficiência alimentar e a melhoria nas características da carcaça e atributos de qualidade da carne. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, apparent digestibility, and carcass and meat traits of lambs fed high-concentrate diets (92.65%) containing different cereal grains (ground corn, whole grain corn, whole grain sorghum, or replacement of 40% whole grain corn with whole grain millet). Twenty-four feedlot intact lambs of undefined breed, with a body weight of 22.35 ± 3,.71 kg, kept in individual pens for 56 days were allocated in a completely randomized design. Dry matter intake expressed as a percentage of body weight was higher (P=0.0046) for the diets containing sorghum and ground corn (3.73% and 3.39%, respectively) compared to the diets containing millet and whole grain corn (3.23% and 3.13%, respectively). Feed efficiency was higher (P=0.014) for whole grain corn and millet (0.293 and 0.269, respectively) and lower for ground corn and sorghum (0.247 and 0.226, respectively). The apparent digestibility of organic matter, dry matter and crude protein was lower for the sorghum diet (P=0.0003). The carcass traits, meat cuts traits or objective longissimus muscle tenderness were not influenced by the diets offered to the animals. Meat color (P<0.0001) and luminosity (P=0.0063) were improved with

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as características fermentativas e a composição química da silagem de capim Tanzânia tratada com aditivos. Utilizaram-se os seguintes tratamentos: silagem sem aditivo (SSA); silagem com 2,17% de calcário (SCA); silagem com 2,17% de ureia (SUR); silagem com associação de aditivos: silagem com 7,5% de fubá de milho, 5,3% melaço em pó, 1,1% ureia, 1,1% calcário (SA1); silagem com 10% de fubá de milho, 2,93% de melaço em pó, 1,1% ureia, 0,97% calcário (SA2). Com a utilização dos aditivos todas as silagens apresentaram médias maiores de pH em relação a silagem sem aditivo. Entretanto, isso não afetou negativamente a qualidade fermentativa das silagens. A acidez titulável da silagem SSA foi maior (7,84) em relação à SUR (3,28), SCA (4,80), SA1 (3,30) e SA2 (3,80). À exceção da silagem com ureia, todas as silagens apresentaram médias inferiores a 10% de nitrogênio amoniacal em relação ao nitrogênio total, indicando bom perfil fermentativo. A perda de efluentes (P<0,005) foi menor para as silagens aditivadas, com valores de 22,5; 12,1; 12,3; 7,85 kg/t para SCA, SUR, SA1 e SA2, respectivamente, comparada à silagem SSA (46,1 kg/t). Teores de matéria seca, nutrientes digestíveis totais e carboidratos não fibrosos aumentaram com a inclusão dos aditivos e os teores de fibra em detergente neutro e hemicelulose reduziram. A digestibilidade da matéria seca foi superior nas silagens SA1 e SA2 (45,8% e 44,4%, respectivamente) em comparação as demais, e a silagem SA2 não diferiu da SSA (43,4%). Associação entre aditivos químicos e orgânicos apresenta efeito sinérgico positivo para reduzir perdas por efluentes, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido, além de elevar a digestibilidade da matéria seca proporcionando, dessa forma, maior disponibilidade dos nutrientes, o que confere a essas silagens um produto final de boa qualidade.

Introduzir novos alimentos na nutrição de ruminantes é essencial para maximizar desempenho e minimizar custo produtivo, entretanto, isso só é possível após se conhecer o comportamento alimentar e a disponibilidade dos seus nutrientes. Com o objetivo de avaliar o comportamento ingestivo e a digestibilidade in vivo de caprinos alimentados com níveis crescentes (0%, 2%, 4% e 7%) de copra extraída do coco verde, foram utilizados vinte caprinos machos, sem raça definida, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. A adição de níveis crescentes de copra de coco teve efeito quadrático no consumo de matéria seca, e no tempo diário de ruminação. Foi verificado efeito linear crescente para o tempo de ruminação de matéria seca e fibra em detergente neutro. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) nas digestibilidades aparente da matéria seca, da matéria orgânica, da fibra em detergente neutro, da fibra em detergente ácido e dos carboidratos não fibrosos, e também no consumo de carboidratos não fibrosos digestíveis, na digestibilidade aparente da hemicelulose e dos nutrientes digestíveis totais. Para a digestibilidade aparente do extrato etéreo foi verificado efeito quadrático dos níveis crescentes de inclusão de copra, enquanto que para consumo de fibra em detergente neutro digestível, digestibilidade aparente da proteína bruta, consumo de proteína bruta digestível e consumo de extrato etéreo digestível foi verificado efeito (P<0,05) linear decrescente com o aumento do nível de inclusão de copra. O melhor nível de inclusão de copra de coco para alimentação de caprinos é de 3,15% da ração total para maior consumo de matéria seca e digestibilidade aparente do extrato etéreo, sem efeitos na digestibilidade aparente da fibra em detergente neutro, mas com diminuição da digestibilidade da proteína bruta.

With the objective of determining the nutritional
value of a mixture of corn fl our viscera or blood
meal and feather used as poultry feed, a experiment
was conducted using 56 roosters Bovans Brown
line, in an experiment with a complete random
distribution. The treatments were: 100% corn
fl our (T1), 100% soybean meal (T2), 96% corn
fl our + 4% viscera meal (T3), 88% corn fl our +
12% viscera meal (T4 ), 96% corn fl our + 4% +
feather blood meal (T5), 88% corn fl our + 12%
blood Meal + pen (T6). The true digestibility of
nitrogen (DVN), nitrogen balance (BN) and true
metabolizable energy (TME) was determined. The
obtained data underwent an analysis of variance
and Tukey´s mean test. Results showed that no
signifi cant differences for the variables of DVN and
BN, however there were signifi cant differences (P
= 0.0120) on the TME. By including blood meal
and feathers TME values were higher than when
cornmeal is used, expressing treatment six with
the higher energy (3750.06 ± 55.18 kcal / kg / MS).
It can be concluded that the inclusion of blood meal
and feathers meal up to 4% in poultry diet can be
benefi cial as it is possible to obtain an excellent
value DVN TME similar to those obtained with
soybean meal, main protein source used in the
diets designed for poultry production.

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary vitamin E on performance, digestibility and hematological parameters for a period of eight weeks with 96 day-old marshal broiler chicks. Basal diets was supplemented with different levels of vitamin E which are 0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg and 1.5g/kg. Each test diet was fed for 8 weeks ad libitum in starter and finisher form. Result of the present study shows significant difference (p&amp;lt;0.05) in body weight gain with highest and lowest mean values are (712.60g and 653.36g) respectively. Whereas feed intake showed significant difference (p&amp;lt;0.05). Haematological parameters revealed that PCV is affected by varying levels of vitamin E supplementation, also differential counts lymphocytes, monocytes and heterophils showed significant difference (p&amp;lt;0.05) across the treatments. Haemoglobin decreased with increasing level of inclusion of vitamin E supplementation. Serum result from present study shows that only LDL is significantly different (p&amp;lt;0.05) across the treatment while serum cholesterol increase with increasing level of supplementation with treatment 3 having the highest mean value of 113.07mg/dl and treatment 1 with the lowest at 1005.56md/dl. Digestibility of nutrients result of present study shows that there are no significant difference in dry matter digestibility as digestibility was fair across all treatments, also crude protein digestibility was highest in treatment 3 with mean value of 65.84±2.76and lowest in the control diet with mean value of 56.38±7.04. Varying levels of vitamin E did not significantly change the ether extract values. KEY WORDS: Vitamin E, Broilers, Haematological parameters, Digestibility, Performance, Serum chemistry.

The significant job of probiotics in the weight control plans of ruminants is to balance rumen digestion which improves supplement usage proficiency and creature execution. Probiotics might update the ability of colonizing the gastrointestinal tract. Methane, a by-product of rumen fermentation is considered to affect herbivores as it brings about gross energy misfortune to the climate. Additionally, methane gas radiating from enteric fermentation in ruminants is a significant supporter of ozone depleting substance outflow that essentially prompts an unnatural weather change which is a significant danger to economical domesticated animals' creation universally. An experiment to study the impact of single and mixed strain probiotics on methane discharge in dairy cows was carried out. Gas produced during in-vitro gas production was siphoned from each sample and taken for rumen methane analysis using a GC-flame ionization detection (FID) gas chromatography. Data were exposed to analysis of variance utilizing General Direct Model and mean partition done utilizing Tukey's (HSD) test at 0.05 huge level. Consequences of rumen methane discharge showed that probiotic supplementation significantly affected methane gas emanation. Methane emission differed between 68, 267.861 ml (Treatment 5) and 73.265 ml (T4). A blend of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae diminished rumen methane discharge when utilized in balance in dairy cows and accordingly highlighting a synergistic impact between the two microorganisms.