Teses / dissertações sobre o tema "Sheep Feed utilization efficiency"

Bibliography: leaves 122-138. Investigates the use of microbial inoculants to prevent the onset of acidosis in acutely grain fed animals; and, the most effective combination of virginiamycin and lactic acid utilising bacteria (selenomonas ruminantium subsp. lactilytica and Megasphaera elsdenii) in controlling lactic acid accumulations in vitro.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 290-333). Describes research into the nutritional value of aquatic plants as novel or non-conventional feedstuffs for ruminants in general and for sheep in particular, with especial reference to those which are available in high amount in southern Australia, such as the seagrass, Posidonia australis.

<p>Two experiments were conducted with sheep to determine the nutritional value of 'Lathco' flatpea (Lathyrus sylvestris) hay. In experiment 1, a finishing trial was conducted with 50 group fed crossbred lambs (25 ewes and 25 wethers) fed diets consisting of 70% chopped forage and 30% ground corn grain for 70 d. Five pens of five wethers and five pens of five ewes were selffed diets in which the forage consisted of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 proportions of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and flatpea hay. Feed efficiencies decreased linearly (P<.05) as flatpea increased in the diet. Linear decreases (P<.05) were obtained in kidney and pelvic fat, backfat, leg conformation, and yield grade with increased flatpea in the diet. Blood urea-N (BUN), ruminal pH and NH3-N increased (P<.005) as proportion of flatpea increased. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and acetate concentration decreased linearly (P<.005) and propionate, isovalerate, and valerate levels increased linearly (P<.01) with increased proportions of flatpea hay. In experiment 2, 30 wether lambs were fed diets consisting of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 proportions of chopped alfalfa and flatpea hays in a digestion trial. Neutral detergent fiber (NOE), acid detergent fiber (ADE), cellulose, hemicellulose and energy digestibilities decreased linearly (P<.Ol) with increased levels of flatpea hay. Nitrogen retention was not different between sheep fed the different diets. Apparent absorbtion and retention of Ca decreased linearly (P<.05) with increased level of flatpea hay Ruminal pH and NHa-N, and BUN increased linearly (P<.OOl) as flatpea was increased in the diet. Ruminal total VEA, acetate and acetate to propionate ratio decreased linearly (P<.001) and propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and valerate levels increased linearly (P<.001) as level of flatpea increased.</p><br>Master of Science

Two metabolism trials were conducted with 15 wethers surgically equipped with duodenal and ileal cannulas to study the absorption of P and certain other minerals from swine waste and broiler litter. The effect of source and level of P on rumen cellulytic bacterial populations was also determined. Animals were fed a low P basal diet until serum inorganic P averaged 5.5 mg/dl, then randomly assigned to the following diets: low P basal alone, or supplemented with swine waste, broiler litter, dicalcium phosphate, or soybean meal. Trials consisted of a 7-d preliminary period, a 7-d collection of urine and feces and a 6-d sampling of duodenal and ileal digesta, and feces. Animals fed the waste diets tended to absorb more P than those fed the conventional supplements. Calculated by difference, sheep absorbed more P from swine waste and broiler litter than from dicalcium phosphate and soybean meal (P< .1). Less Ca was absorbed from the waste diets than from the conventionally supplemented diets (P< .05). Expressed as g/d, there was no difference in Mg absorption between waste and conventional diets. Sheep fed waste tended to digest more dry matter and a higher percentage of ADF in the large intestine. Lignin was primarily digested in the large intestine of all sheep. More cellulytic bacteria were isolated from the rumen of sheep fed the supplemented diets (P< .05). Both P intake and P recycling appear to be important influences on cellulytic bacteria in the rumen. Both broiler litter and swine waste appear to be good sources of P and Mg for ruminants.<br>Ph. D.

The main hypothesis tested in this thesis was that poor animal production from saltbush pastures is due to the negative effects of high sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) on the ruminal environment, and subsequent effects on microbial populations and products of rumen fermentation. This main hypothesis was tested in two experiments. In the first experiment (Chapter Four) the effects of saltbush and a formulated high-salt diet on the ruminal environment and microbial populations were measured over 24-hours following feeding. Feeding both the saltbush and high-salt diet increased the salinity of the rumen fluid, but the formulated high-salt diet caused a decrease in ruminal pH while the saltbush caused an increase. This resulted in differences in the composition of the ruminal microbial populations between the sheep fed different diets. In the second experiment (Chapter Five) the effects of saltbush and a formulated highsalt diet on rumen fermentation were measured. Sheep fed saltbush had inefficient rumen fermentation and this was only partially explained by the high salt content of the diet. Diets containing high levels of NaCl and KCl provided low levels of net energy to sheep, but sheep fed saltbush lost more energy as methane and faecal energy compared to sheep fed the formulated high-salt diet. Inefficient rumen fermentation could help to explain poor animal production from saltbush pastures. Energy supplements such as barley grain can improve the value of saltbush pastures as feed for sheep, but there is no information on how much supplement is required. A third experiment (Chapter Six) was designed to test the hypothesis that there would be an optimal amount of barley required to improve the efficiency of rumen fermentation in sheep fed saltbush. Barley and straw were combined in a pellet and substituted for saltbush at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of the maintenance ration. Feeding barley and straw improved the efficiency of rumen fermentation in sheep fed saltbush, with an optimal level of supplementation at 60% of the maintenance diet. This is likely to be lower (approximately 20% of maintenance) if barley is fed without straw.

The selection on genetic values predicted from markers could substantially increase the rate of genetic gain in animals by increasing accuracy of prediction and reducing generation interval, especially for difficult to measure traits, such as feed efficiency. Feed efficiency is the most important trait in animal production due to its impacts on cost of production and environmental factors. Many metrics measure the feed efficiency, such as ratio of gain to feed (FER), the ratio of feed to gain (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). Nevertheless, in ovine, no study with the aim of understand the genetic variants or the accuracy of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) for feed efficiency traits was published yet. Moreover, before to apply the genomic information, it is necessary to understand and characterized the population structure, for instance, by linkage disequilibrium (LD). Both genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS) leverage LD between marker and causal mutation. Based on the above considerations, the aim of this study was to map LD in ovine, characterized by Brazilian Santa Inês sheep; to search genetic variants for feed efficiency traits (FER, FCR and RFI) through GWAS; and to verify the accuracy of GEBV for RFI. In total, 396 samples (animals) of Longissimus dorsi muscle were collect. A high-density panel of SNP (Illumina High-Density Ovine SNP BeadChip&reg;) comprising 54,241 SNPs was used to obtain the genotyping data. The phenotype data was comprised of 387 animals. The average LD between adjacent markers for two LD metrics, r² and |D\'|, were 0.166 and 0.617, respectively. The degree of LD estimated was lower than reported in other species and it was characterized by short haplotype blocks. Consequently, for genomic analyses, high-density panels of marker are recommended. Many markers were associated to feed efficiency traits in GWAS, mainly to RFI trait. Few candidate genes were reported in this study, highlighting NRF-1 (nuclear respiratory factor 1), which controls mitochondrial biosynthesis, the most important process responsible by a great fraction of the produced energy. Finally, we verified the accuracy of GEBV for RFI using few Bayesian regression models, and we found low accuracy, ranging from 0.033 (BayesB with &pi;=0.9912) to 0.036 (BayesA), which might be explained by the low relationship among animals and small training population.<br>A seleção com base nos valores genéticos genômicos preditos pode aumentar substancialmente a taxa de ganho genético em animais por meio do aumento da acurácia de predição e redução do intervalo de gerações, especialmente para características de difícil e/ou onerosa mensuração, como eficiência alimentar. A eficiência alimentar é uma das características mais importantes na produção animal devido principalmente aos seus impactos econômicos e ambientais. Muitas métricas representam a eficiência alimentar, por exemplo: a relação do ganho de peso e consumo alimentar (EA), a proporção do consumo alimentar e ganho de peso (CA) e o consumo alimentar residual (CAR). Em ovinos, nenhum estudo com o objetivo de buscar variantes genéticas ou verificar a acurácia do valor genético genômico estimado para eficiência alimentar foi publicado. Adicionalmente, antes de aplicar a informação genômica, é necessário compreender e caracterizar a estrutura da população, como por meio do desequilíbrio de ligação (LD). O estudo de associação genômica (GWAS) e seleção genômica (GS) consideram o LD entre marcador e a mutação causal. Com base nas considerações acima, o objetivo deste estudo foi mapear o LD em ovinos, caracterizado pela raça ovina Santa Inês; localizar variantes genéticas para as características de eficiência alimentar (EA, CA e CAR) utilizando a abordagem GWAS; e verificar a acurácia da estimação dos valores genéticos genômico para o CAR. No total, foram coletadas 396 amostras (animais) do músculo Longissimus dorsi, para posterior genotipagem utilizando o painel de alta densidade (Illumina High-Density Ovine SNP BeadChip&reg;), compreendendo 54.241 SNPs. O banco fenotípico é composto por 387 animais. O LD médio entre marcadores adjacentes para duas métricas de LD, r² e |D\'|, foram 0,166 e 0,617, respectivamente. O grau de LD estimado foi menor que o relatado em outras espécies e foi caracterizado por blocos de haplótipos curtos. Consequentemente, para as análises genômicas são recomendados painéis de marcadores de alta densidade. No GWAS, foram encontrados muitos marcadores associados aos fenótipos, em especial, à característica CAR. Alguns genes candidatos foram relatados neste estudo, destacando-se o NRF-1 (fator respiratório nuclear 1), que controla a biossíntese mitocondrial, o processo mais importante responsável por grande parte da produção de energia. Finalmente, verificamos a acurácia do valor genético genômico estimado para o CAR usando modelos de regressão Bayesiana, e encontramos baixos valores para acurácia (0,033 a 0,036) o que pode ser explicado pelo baixo grau de relacionamento entre os indivíduos e tamanho reduzido da população de treinamento.

A four-chamber indirect calorimeter was constructed to evaluate energy utilization by laying hens as affected by dietary energy, protein and amino acid levels and by housing temperature. Heat production was measured by indirect calorimetry and metabolizable energy was determined for each diet. Net energetic efficiency was calculated as the slope of the regression of energy balance (metabolizable energy intake - heat production) on metabolizable energy intake. Hens fed diets formulated without protein specifications to provide amino acid levels equivalent to those provided by 14.5 or 16% protein, had higher (P < .05) net energetic efficiencies than hens fed diets formulated with specified protein levels. Addition of 3% animal fat to the higher (16% protein) amino acid diets produced the greatest increases (P < .05) in net efficiency, but decreased (P < .05) efficiency in the lower (14.5% protein) amino acid diet formulated without a protein specification. Metabolizable energy available for production was improved (P < .05) with animal fat additions to all but the diet formulated to the higher (16% protein) amino acid levels. Animal fat, cottonseed oil, corn oil, cod liver oil and safflower oil were used to determine effects of fat source on energy utilization by laying hens at 21.1 C. Higher net efficiencies were obtained for the cottonseed and safflower oil diets (99.1 and 99.8%, respectively) than for the basal diet (90.6%) or the other fat sources (cod liver oil = 86.0%, corn oil = 87.3%, animal fat = 91.1%). Full vs. meal (two 1-hr periods daily) feeding and total sulfur amino acid deficiency effects on energy utilization were evaluated. Meal feeding reduced (P < .05) metabolizable energy available for production while increasing (P < .05) maintenance metabolizable energy requirements. Feeding regime did not reverse the decline (P < .05) in net efficiency (89.2-89.7 to 81.7-82.6%) observed with total sulfur amino acid deficiency. Hens were fed either 7% animal fat or 7% corn oil and maintained at 10, 21.1 and 32.2 C to study effects of fat source and temperature on energy utilization. From 10 to 32.2 C, net energetic efficiency increased from 87.6 to 92.6% with animal fat. Corn oil showed the highest net efficiency (93.9%) at 10 C, while animal fat was highest (92.6%) at 32.2 C. Hens fed animal fat required the most (P < .05) maintenance metabolizable energy and had the highest (P < .05) fasting heat productions at each temperature.

Carbohydrates have variable digestibilities and metabolizable energy values in carnivorous fish. Simple sugars are generally more digestible than complex polysaccharides, and low levels of dietary carbohydrate may contribute more metabolizable energy than high levels. Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary level and processing treatment of wheat starch on the digestibility of diets fed to sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), in different regions of the digestive tract. Moreover, an experiment was undertaken to determine if the dietary concentration of an indigestible external marker (chromic oxide) influenced its motility, relative to other ingredients in the ingesta, as it passed through the digestive tract. Lastly, a growth experiment was undertaken to compare the performance of sablefish fed formulated diets containing one of two levels of carbohydrate to that of fish fed a natural fish diet. The gastric evacuation of a formulated and a natural diet were also investigated. Apparent digestibility values for the nutrients in a formulated diet (containing 44.4% cooked wheat and 0.1% chromic oxide) fed to sablefish were noted to increase progressively from the anterior to the posterior regions of the intestinal tract. Within each region of the gut, the apparent digestibility values for most nutrients declined over three sample periods. Carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract) digestibility down to the distal section of the intestine ranged from 51.0 to 82.8%. An experiment designed to assess the effect of carbohydrate treatment on the digestibility of four isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets met with partial failure. It was determined that the 1.0% chromic oxide marker flowed at a differential rate to the rest of the ingesta in the digestive tract, which violated the criteria for an effective marker. Consequently, diet digestibility was not determined in this experiment. Hepatic glycogen levels in fish receiving the dietary treatments were compared, and these values were used to estimate the relative availability (digestibility) of carbohydrate from the respective diets. According to this index, the sequence for digestibility was as follows: pregelatinized starch > cooked wheat > pregelatinized starch/cooked wheat > unprocessed wheat. Differential movement of chromic oxide relative to other ingesta was observed in sablefish fed on alternate days regardless of the dietary concentration of the indigestible marker (0.1 or 1.0%). It was surmised that the feeding protocol established the circumstances from which marker 'streaming' was observed in the results. Differential transport of Cr₂O₃ through the gut by ingested seawater was suggested as a possible mechanism for the phenomenon. Sablefish fed a natural fish diet had the highest growth rates, condition factors, liver lipid levels and the lowest feed conversion ratios and liver glycogen levels. Sablefish fed a diet containing 22.2% cooked wheat had a higher growth rate, condition factor, and a lower food conversion ratio, than those fed a diet containing 44.4% cooked wheat. Ingestion of the 44.4% cooked wheat diet resulted in the highest values for liver glycogen and hepatosomatic index. It was concluded that sablefish have a limited ability to metabolically utilize digestible carbohydrate and that most of the dietary non-protein energy should originate from high quality lipid for maximum protein sparing.<br>Science, Faculty of<br>Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for<br>Graduate

An experiment involving three feeding trials was conducted to study the effect of substituting chopped wheat straw for alfalfa in diets for lactating dairy cows. The results of these trials have shown that in complete mixed diets or diets containing long alfalfa hay, replacement of half of the alfalfa in rations containing 45% roughage for lactating dairy cows with chopped wheat straw does not adversely affect DM intake or milk yield and increase milk fat percentage. Replacing half of the long alfalfa with chopped alfalfa also apparently improved lactational performance although not as dramatically as that of chopped straw. Ammoniation of wheat straw did not improve the performance response by lactating cows. Inclusion of chopped straw in the diets seemed to enhance the efficiency of milk production. Higher ruminal acetate:propionate ratios and increased digestibility of ether extract resulted from feeding straw. Digestibility of other nutrients were generally either not affected or were depressed by straw feeding. Increasing the chopped wheat straw level to 75% of the roughage resulted in lower DM intake and milk yield and negative body weight gains but higher milk fat levels. It did not appear that maintenance of constant ADF level in a dairy ration regardless of roughage level was the solution to the maintenance of milk fat levels. Thus it has been indicated that under the conditions of this experiment a combination of chopped alfalfa and wheat straw can be used successfully in complete mixed rations for high producing dairy cows. For the most part all productive parameters measured were improved by the addition of straw and by the feeding of complete mixed diets. This was especially true for milk fat which, from a dairyman's viewpoint, is very important because of its impact on milk pricing. It would also have a direct bearing on management by reducing labor costs through elimination of labor intensive handling of long alfalfa. Mechanical handling of complete mixed rations is relatively easier and cheaper.

A total of 114,351 Holstein first lactation records collected by the Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service (DHAS-PATLQ) between September, 1979 and January, 1994 were used to study the effects of adjusting records for linear and quadratic effects of 90- and 305-d feed intake measures (total energy, total protein and total dry matter) on estimation of heritabilities of and genetic correlations among yield and composition traits. Genetic parameters of feed intake measures, relationships between feed intake and age and weight at calving, and feed conversion efficiency traits were also examined in a series of studies. A sire model fitted by REML estimated heritabilities of 305-d milk, fat and protein yields, fat and protein percents as .45 +/- .04, .48 +/- .04, .44 +/- .03, .92 +/- .06, and .88 +/- .05, respectively. Correction of 305-d records for differences among cows in feed intake levels reduced heritabilities of milk, fat and protein yields to .35 +/- .03, .52 +/- .04, and .38 +/- .03, respectively. Heritabilities of composition traits (fat and protein percents) remained unchanged. Genetic and phenotypic correlations for yield traits were also reduced (48--170%, and 16--51%, respectively) which may indicate that genetic associations between yield traits are less than what we believed them to be. Heritabilities of 305-d total energy, total protein, total DM intake, grain energy, grain protein, grain DM, base energy, base protein, and base DM were .30 +/- .03, .24 +/- .02, .35 +/- .03, .23 +/- .02, .23 +/- .02, .23 +/- .02, .31 +/- .03, .26 +/- .02, and .40 +/- .03, respectively. Genetic correlations between feed intake measures were very high; they were approaching unity in some cases. Therefore, any one of these feed intake measures can represent the others. A multi-trait REML analysis estimated heritabilities of age and weight at first calving as .11 +/- .01 and .37 +/- .03, respectively. Age at calving was negatively associated with yield traits and with total e

The objective of the study was to determine the feed conversion efficiency (FCE), carcass characteristics, physico-chemical quality, fatty acid (FA) composition and shelf life of pork from pigs fed diets containing either 0% (T1), 2.5% (T2), 5% (T3) or 7.5% (T4) Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM). Consumer health-related perceptions on pork and fatty acids were also investigated. Twenty four crossbred Large White x Landrace pigs of both sexes at 18 weeks of age and initially weighing 71.6 kg on average were housed individually and had ad libitum access to one of the four dietary treatments for a period of six weeks. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were calculated as an indication of FCE and pigs were slaughtered at an average live weight of 99.6 kg. Carcass traits such as back fat thickness (BFT), carcass temperatures and pH readings taken 45 minutes and 24 hours (pH45 and pHu) post mortem were recorded. M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) samples were taken from each carcass for the determination of lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), thawing loss percentage (TL%), cooking loss percentage (CL%), Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF), shelf life and FA composition. Furthermore a survey was conducted amongst 80 University of Fort Hare Students to determine their health-related perceptions on pork and fatty acids as well as their pork consumption frequency using questionnaires. The FCE of pigs fed on 0-5% MOLM (T1, T2 and T3) diets did not differ significantly, but the FCE of pigs fed 7.5% MOLM (T4) was significantly (p<0.05) reduced. No significant relationship was reported between inclusion of MOLM carcass characteristics and physico-chemical pork quality. There was however a significant improvement (p<0.05) in the shelf life of the pork from MOLM fed pigs in terms of colour and odour during 10 days of refrigerated storage (at 3±1°C). There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the total intramuscular fat (IMF) content and the saturated fatty acid (SFA) C18:0 (stearic acid) content and an overall non-significant (p>0.05) increase in the poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of pork from MOLM fed pigs. The possible reason for this is that the feeding of MOLM was commenced when the pigs were at an advanced age and weight. The survey revealed that the majority of interviewed students consume fresh (39.7%) and processed (32.4%) pork two to three times a week, perceive pork to be generally healthy (70%) and the second most healthy meat type (39.5%). While the majority (55.4%) were aware of the health implications of FAs they did not know which FA classes pose more of a health risk (51.3%). In conclusion2.5% and 5% of MOLM in finisher pig feed did not negatively affect FCE, carcass characteristics or physico-chemical meat quality; significantly improved pork shelf life and reduced total IMF and SFA content of pork but 7.5% MOLM negatively affected FCE; and the majority of students perceive pork to be the second most healthy type of meat and are generally aware of the health implications of FAs.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A flock of 500 Hybro broiler breeders were employed to study the effect of different levels of protein and energy on production and body composition. The daily lysine intake of the birds were 900, 1050, 1200 and 1350 mg respectively, each fed in diets with a daily energy intake of 1800 and 2000 kJ ME to provide a 4 x 2 factorial design. Lysine was used as the reference amino acid in the experiment and all other amino acids were kept in a constant ratio in every experimental diet. The total production was divided into 3 periods of 13 weeks each (week 23 - 35; week 36 - 48 and week 49 - 61) to determine the effect of the treatments over time. Production was evaluated by hen day production; egg weight (g/egg); egg mass (g/day); fertility; hatchability; chicks/hen/week; feed conversion and day old chick weight. Hen day production was significantly (P < 0,05) lower at the high energy intake for period week 49 to 61. Energy and protein levels significantly increased egg weight. Effect of protein was consistent during all three periods of production. Egg mass output had a significant (P < 0,05) response to increasing levels of protein for the total period of production. The birds on the high energy diet produced a significant higher egg mass per hen during the first period of production (week 23 - 35). Hatchability was reduced (P < 0,05) by the higher energy intake for the total period of production and this effect was very significant (P < 0,01) during the final period of production. Similar to hen day production, the higher energy had a significant (P < 0,05) negative effect on the amount of chicks produced. The well-known correlation between egg weight and chick weight was confirmed with the regression equation: Chick weight = 10,5 + 1,22 x Egg weight. Both energy and protein had a significant (P < 0,01) positive effect on chick weight. The feed conversion was lower at increasing levels of amino acid intake (P < 0,01). Higher energy intake significantly (P < 0,05) increased hen weight and protein had a very significant effect during the first period of production (P < 0,01). The isotope dilution technique (tritiated water) was used to estimate the body composition of the breeders. This was done at 5 different periods (week 27, 35, 43, 52 and 61) of the production period to establish changes in requirements over time. Significant correlation were found between carcass moisture and waterspace (R2 = 0,76); fat % and carcass moisture (R2 = 0,78); protein % and waterspace (R2 = 0,35) and fat % and waterspace (R2 = 0,46). The regression equations obtained from these correlation were employed to determine excess energy and lysine consumed at different ages. Energy requirements were calculated according to the effective energy (EE) system and the conventional ME system. According to effective energy the lower energy intake was not sufficient and the maximum requirement was calculated to be 1942 kj EE/day. The metabolizable energy calculations indicated sufficient intakes at every treatment with the maximum requirement 1746 kj ME/day. The lysine requirement was found to be in excess of 1050 mg lysine per day. The recommendation for daily lysine intake is 1200 mg/day and the energy intake of breeders should be 1900 to 2000 kj ME/day from week 23 to 35 and can be reduced to 1800 kj ME/day in the final period of production.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om die effek van verskillende vlakke energie en proteïen op produksie en liggaamsamestelling te ondersoek is 'n trop van 500 Hybro braaikuiken teelouers gebruik. Die daaglikse lisien inname van die henne was onderskeidelik 900, 1050, 1200 en 1350 mg, wat elk by 'n daaglikse energie inname van 1800 en 2000 kJ ME verskaf is, in 'n 4 x 2 faktoriale ontwerp. Alle aminosure is in 'n konstante verhouding met die verwysings aminosuur lisien in die rantsoen ingesluit. Om te evalueer of daar veranderinge oor 'n tydperk plaasvind weens die verskillende behandelings is die produksie periode in drie periodes van 13 weke elk verdeel (week 23 - 35; week 36 - 48 en week 49 - 61). Die produksie standaarde wat gemeet is, is hen dag produksie, eiergewig (g/eier), eiermassa (g/dag), vrugbaarheid, uitbroeibaarheid, kuikens/hen/week, voeromset en dagoud kuikenmassa. Hen dag produksie was betekenisvol (P < 0,05) laer by die hoër energie innames in die laaste periode van 49 tot 61 weke. Energie en proteïen het eiergewig betekenisvol (P < 0,01) verhoog. Die effek van hoër vlakke proteïen was konstant in alle produksie periodes. Die daaglikse eiermassa (g/dag) het ook saam met stygende vlakke proteïen verhoog en hierdie effek was vir die totale periode van produksie. Energie het die eiermassa in die eerste periode van produksie (week 23 - 35) verhoog. Uitbroeibaarheid is verlaag (P < 0,05) vir die totale periode van produksie deur die hoër energie inname en die effek was selfs groter (P < 0,01) in die finale periode van produksie. In ooreenstemming met die hen dag produksie is die aantal kuikens geproduseer negatief beïnvloed deur die hoër energie inname (P < 0,05). Die korrelasie wat bestaan tussen eiermassa en kuikenmassa is bevestig deur die regressie: Kuikenmassa = 10,5 + 1,22 x Eiermassa. Energie en proteïen het kuikenmassa betekenisvol (P < 0,01) verhoog. Voeromset was laer by stygende vlakke van proteïen inname (P < 0,01). Die hoër energie inname het henmassa ook betekenisvol (P < 0,05) verhoog en proteïen het dieselfde effek slegs in die eerste periode van produksie gehad (P < 0,01). Die liggaamsamestelling van teelhenne is bepaal met behulp van die isotoop verdunnings tegniek (tritium water). Dit is bepaal op 5 verskillende stadiums in die produksie periode (week 27, 35, 43, 52 en 61) om die moontlike verandering in behoeftes oor tyd vas te stel. Betekenisvolle korrelasies is gevind tussen karkasvog en die waterspasie (RZ= 0,76); vet % en karkasvog (R2 = 0,78); proteïen % en waterspasie (R2 = 0,35) en vet % en waterspasie (R2 = 0,46). Die regressie vergelykings van hierdie korrelasies is gebruik om die hoevelheid surplus energie en lisien ingeneem te bepaal. Die" effective energy" sisteem en die konvensionele ME sisteem is gebruik in die bepaling van energie behoeftes. Volgens die " effective energy" was die energie inname nie voldoende by die laer energie innames nie en die maksimum behoefte is bereken as 1942 kJ EE/dag. Die maksimum energie behoefte volgens metaboliseerbare energie is bereken as 1746 kj ME/dag. Die lisien behoefte moet hoër as 1050 mg/dag wees. Die aanbeveling van die daaglikse lisien inname is 1200 mg/dag en die energie inname moet 1900 tot 2000 kj/dag wees tot 35 weke produksie en kan daarna verlaag word na 1800 kJ ME/dag.

The influence of microbial phytase on growth performance, availability of macro and trace minerals, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent "fecal" digestibility (AFD) of amino acids (AA) and CP were investigated. The optimum level of dietary Ca and P for the maximum efficacy of supplemental phytase in broiler chickens was also studied. Phytase supplementation (600 U/kg) to a low P diet increased $(P 0.05)$ on feed efficiency in broiler chickens at 21 d. The efficacy of phytase, particularly in stimulating growth, was higher in male than female chickens. The relative retention of Ca, P, Cu, Zn and N increased by addition of phytase to a low P diet but phytase had no effect $(P >0.05)$ on the retention of Mg, Mn and Fe. Phytase supplementation increased $(P 0.05)$ on plasma Zn, Cu, and Mg. Phytase increased $(P 0.05)$ on mineral proportions in the tibia ash; however, it increased $(P 0.05)$ on AID of any of the AA in male chickens. Addition of phytase did not have any effect $(P > 0.05)$ on AFD of any of the AA in male chickens but increased $(P 0.05)$ on either AID or AFD of CP and AA at 21-d. In summary, phytase supplementation increased the growth performance, availability of P, Ca, Cu, Zn and N, plasma P, and tibia ash and reduced plasma Ca; it also increased the AID and AFD of most of the AA, particularly in female chickens at 28-d. The efficacy of microbial phytase was high when dietary P and Ca levels were low.

Effects of tallow supplementation on dietary nutrient and minimal amino acid utilization in the laying hen were studied in two experiments. In the first experiment diets contained six levels of animal tallow ranging from 0 to 10%. Percent egg production and egg mass were not significantly affected by tallow. Body weight was significantly increased by 2% tallow was maximum at 6%. Addition of up to 6% fat improved feed conversion without adversely affecting other production characteristics. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake increased from 305.1 to 322.4 kcal/hen/d over the range of 0 to 6% tallow with no further improvement at higher tallow levels. Maximum net energetic efficiency was obtained with 2 and 4% tallow. Ability to digest tallow declined significantly with hen age. Higher tallow ME values were obtained from calorimetry data than from digestibility measurements due to beneficial effects of tallow on digestibilities of fat and protein in the basal diet. No improvement in starch retention was observed with tallow supplementation. In the second experiment, diets containing four levels of protein (15.0, 13.6, 15.0 + methionine and 17.0%) without and with 3% tallow were fed to hens housed in an open cage house or an insulated, evaporatively cooled house. Egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the insulated house. This study indicates that reducing total protein below the National Research Council (NRC, 1984) recommended level significantly reduced egg production by birds housed in an open house. Supplemental methionine to provide .60% TSAA was required for maximum egg production. Egg production was significantly improved with the low protein diet when 3% tallow was added; however, egg production rate supported by this combination was significantly below that obtained with the 17% protein diet either with or without added tallow. For birds housed in the insulated, evaporatively cooled house the diet based on the NRC amino acid recommendations appeared to be optimal for performance, even with a lower protein level. No additional benefits were obtained in egg production with 3% tallow in any of the diets under these housing conditions.

Brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles were isolated by subjecting homogenized mucosal cells from bovine small intestine to a divalent cation aggregation followed by a series of differential and density gradient centrifugations. Membrane marker enzyme assays were used to monitor the effectiveness of the fractionation procedure. Enrichments were determined by comparing the enzyme specific activities of the membrane fractions to the homogenate. Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase served as the enzyme markers for the basolateral and brush border membranes, respectively. Basolateral membrane vesicles enriched 11.1 fold were isolated from the interface of the 31 and 34% sucrose bands of a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Brush border membranes enriched 10.1 fold were isolated from the surface of the 28% sucrose band of a discontinuous sucrose gradient. The use of frozen rather than fresh mucosal tissue in the isolation procedures was found to enhance the purification of basolateral and brush border membrane fractions. The transport capabilities of vesicles were demonstrated by incubating vesicles with radiolabeled substrate, then separating the vesicles and transported substrate from the incubation buffer by filtration. Substrate uptakes were quantified by liquid scintillation counting. Basolateral membrane vesicles were observed to accumulate substrate into an osmotically active space and to have Na⁺-dependent alanine transport capabilities. The use of basolateral and brush border membrane vesicles as tools to investigate nutrient uptake allows the investigator to manipulate both the extravesicular and intravesicular environments, thus making possible the evaluation of the complex interactions which are involved in nutrient transport mechanisms.<br>M.S.

Three studies were conducted to evaluate a method for estimating grass and legume fractions in extrusa samples from esophageally-fistulated animals, based on different concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), Ca and lignin in grasses and legumes. In experiment 1, NDF, Ca and lignin concentrations were measured in mixtures of six combinations of red clover-orchardgrass and alfalfa-tall fescue (100:0; 80:20; 60:40; 40:60; 20:80; 0:100). The R² values were .90, .80 and .22 for Ca, NDF and lignin, respectively. In experiment 2, fresh tall fescue and red clover were collected during 8 d, mixed in the same proportions as in experiment 1, and each fraction was fed to esophageally-fistulated steers. Extrusa samples were collected without loss of saliva. Regression equations developed were y= 1.08 - .008x (R²= .91) for Ca and y= 50.9 + .22x (R²= .74) for NDF, where x represents % grass. In experiment 3, two esophageally-fistulated steers were allowed to graze in 20 4 X 4 m² plots of red clover and tall fescue after fasting overnight. The grass/legume proportions of the extrusas and the grab samples were extrapolated from slopes. The botanical composition of grab samples differed (P<.001) from that of extrusas for both components and for both animals. Extrapolation from NDF values tended to overestimate the proportion of grass in extrusa samples and underestimate it in grab samples. Calcium was not affected by salivation and mastication and was more reliable than NDF. Lignin was not an accurate predictor.<br>M.S.

In the first of three experiments, four Holstein multiparous dairy cows, equipped with ruminal and duodenal cannulas, were used to determine the impact of different methods of treating soybean meal (SBM) on ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of CP and amino acids (AA). Solvent extracted SBM (SE), expeller SBM (EP), lignosulfonate SBM (LS) and heat and soy hulls SBM (HS) were incubated in the rumen, in nylon bags, for various intervals up to 48h. Additional samples incubated for 16 h were pre-treated with pepsin HCI, and then used for determination of intestinal digestibility either in situ (mobile bag technique) or in vitro. Treatment of SBM (EP, LS, HS) increased rumen undegradable protein (RUP), and AA availability in 30%. Estimates of intestinal digestibility of AA and CP were lower when measured in vitro than in situ. Among the treated SBM products, four EAA (Ile, Leu, Phe and Val) showed differences in availability, with values consistently lower for HS than for LS. The second experiment involved a comparative assessment of the availability of lysine in SE and rumen protected SBM products (EP and LS). Lysine availability was assessed either by the increment in plasma flux of 15N lysine, the increment in intestinally digestible lysine (using chromic oxide as a digesta marker) or by the use of a "plasma lysine response curve" designed to predict intestinally available lysine. The plasma Lys flux was not different between the different SBM products. However, SE + 70 g.d-1 omasal infusion of Lys (SE70) increased Lys flux by exactly 70 g.d -1 above the SE treatment. No differences were observed on duodenal Lys flow, post-ruminal digestion and digestible Lys between the SBM diets (SE, EP, LS). Irrespective of the method of assessment, lysine availability was not altered by the method of treating SBM. The third study evaluated the relative impact of supplying rumen-undegraded protein (RUP) versus altering the carbohydrate source on milk yield and efficiency N usage for milk production. Protein supplementation (SE and EP) increased DMI, whereas the inclusion of beet pulp (BP) replacing 50% of high moisture shelled corn decreased DMI. The results of this research suggest that, under normal conditions of feeding, supplying rumen protected SBM to enhance the supply of intestinally available essential AA does not improve lactation performance; providing beet pulp as a source of readily fermentable fibre also failed to affect milk yield or efficiency of N usage for milk production by dairy cattle.

Raspberry pomace, consisting of seeds, pulp and added rice hulls, is the residue from the pressing of raspberries for juice and concentrate production. Through the determination of chemical composition by laboratory analyses and the measurement of feeding value in animal trials, the pomace was evaluated as a feedstuff for growing pigs. Pomace contains 11.1% crude fat, 10.0% crude protein, 59.5% total dietary fibre, 7.4% soluble carbohydrates, and a gross energy level of 5220 kcal*kg⁻¹. The acid detergent residue of the pomace contains 11.7% lignin, 6.0% cutin, 2.2% acid detergent ash and 26.0% cellulose (by difference). The digestibility of dry matter, fat, protein and energy was determined. Pomace dried at 60 C, whole and ground (1mm) was fed to growing male pigs (30-35 kg) in a replicated 4X4 Latin Square design with treatments basal (B) , B plus 40% unground pomace, B plus 40% ground pomace and B plus 40% barley. Grinding of pomace significantly improved the digestibility of all parameters measured, however, the barley-soybean meal basal ration was consistently better digested than either of the pomace treatments. The digestibility of whole and ground pomace was respectively: dry matter 10.7% and 20.8% (S.E.M. 1.30), fat 24.1% and 79.7% (S.E.M. 3.47), protein 10.6% and 14.7% (S.E.M. 4.83) and energy 7.9% and 28.4% (S.E.M. 1.80). Protein quality of ground (1mm) and freeze-dried pomace was evaluated with rats in metabolism cages to produce the following values: true protein digestibility 36.0% (S.E.M. 0.66), biological value 91.0% (S.E.M. 3.46), and net protein utilization 32.7% (S.E.M. 1.15). In rat growth trials, where pomace replaced barley incrementally, growth rate was not affected at replacement levels up to 40%, although feed efficiency declined consistently as the level of pomace in the diet increased. It is suggested that raspberry pomace could replace up to 20% of an energy feedstuff in a ration for growing swine without significantly reducing growth rate or feed efficiency.<br>Land and Food Systems, Faculty of<br>Graduate

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goat is a significant domestic animal throughout the world today. With an estimated world goat population of 590 million goats in 1991 (FAO, 1991 as citied by Haenlein, 1996) it is impossible to consider the goat as insignificant. The need for milk, and it seems particularly goat’s milk, is obvious if one considers the increase in dairy goat populations over the past 20 years. Across the globe the dairy goat population has increased by 52% while in developing and developed countries, there has been an increase of 56% and 17%, respectively (Haenlein, 2000). The goat dairy industry in South Africa is still very underdeveloped, yet it holds tremendous potential for the entrepreneur willing to take the risk and do the job correctly. With the present South African financial situation the opportunities that exist for exporting value added products to countries with stronger currencies is a market with extraordinary potential. In New Zealand, the national herd consists of approximately 16000 dairy goats and 90% of the milk produced is turned to powdered milk and then exported to the East, a valuable source of foreign currency. In South Africa, the same potential exists and with some vision and hard work the dairy goat industry can make a valuable contribution to generating foreign currency. Research into the protein requirements and particularly protein degradability requirements of dairy goats is scarce, yet in recent years there has been an increased interest in the effect of protein supplementation to lactating animals (Mishra & Rai, 1996). In the work of Mishra & Rai (1996) there were benefits obtained from the use of different rumen degradable proteins for lactating dairy goat does. The does on the highly degradable protein diet had a better feed intake while the does on the low degradable protein diet gave a higher milk production. Other research on this field of study has also delivered positive results with more than one species of lactating animal that had increased levels of UDP in the diet (Robinson et al., 1991 and Christensen et al., 1993). Loerch et al. (1995) suggested that improved production by making use of rumen undegradable proteins would have no effect if crude protein were not a limiting factor in production. Pailan & Kaur (1995) and Mishra & Rai (1996) did research on lowered CP levels with increased UDP levels in lactating dairy does. They used of three diets, with the one having a 20% lower CP value but an increased level of UDP (40-45% of total CP). From this work it was concluded that a decreased CP level and an increased level of UDP is able to sustain production when compared with diets with a higher CP value. The current study consists of two trials. In the first trial the effect of weaning age and dietary protein degradability on the growth of Saanen kids was investigated. In the second trial the effect of dietary protein degradability on the production of lactating Saanen does was investigated. Fifty-eight Saanen kids were divided into groups to determine the effect of weaning age (42 vs. 70 days) on animal performance. Within the weaning day treatments, the kids were again divided into two dietary treatments. One group received a low UDP creep diet (LC) and the other a high UDP creep diet (HC). The two creep diets were formulated with rumen degradable: undegradable protein (RDP : UDP) ratios of 70:30 and 60: 40, referred to as LC and HC, respectively. However, the results from the degradability trial indicated no difference in RDP: UDP ratios for the low and high creep (72:28 and 73:27 respectively) diets. At 15.66 ± 3.09 kg the kids were taken off the creep diet and put on the growth diet. At this transition, the kids in each of the 4 established treatments were again randomly divided into two dietary treatments, a high or a low UDP growth diet, resulting in a total of eight treatments for the trial. The two growth diets were formulated with RDP: UDP ratios of 70:30 and 60:40, referred to as low growth (LG) and high growth (HG) respectively. Results from the degradability trial indicated RDP: UDP ratios for the LG and HG of 73:27 and 68:32 respectively. The growth trial was conducted over 140 days and feed intake, bodyweight change and feed conversion efficiency were compared for each of the 8 treatments. From the trial with the Saanen kids it was concluded that weaning dairy goat kids at 42 days of age when feed intake was 240 g/day resulted in similar growth rates when compared with weaning at 70 days. The two creep diets did not differ in RDP: UDP ratios and thus no conclusion can be made regarding the influence of the creep diets on the growth of Saanen kids from 20 to 80 days of age. The two growth diets did in fact differ from one another, in terms of RDP: UDP however, protein degradability had no influence on the performance of the Saanen kids from 80 to 140 days of age. Twenty-one lactating Saanen does were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets. The treatments had two RDP: UDP ratios and two crude protein (CP) levels. Treatments were formulated to be 1) RDP: UDP = 70:30, CP = 20 % 2) RDP: UDP = 62:38, CP = 20% and 3) RDP: UDP = 62:38, CP = 18.3%. In the production trial the does were milked for 120 days, during which milk yield, milk composition, bodyweight change, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency were compared between the treatments. In the digestibility and nitrogen metabolism trial, 18 does varying from 84 to 110 days in lactation, were used to compare the experimental diets. Furthermore, the experimental diets were compared in a degradability and rate of passage trial using cannulated Dohne merino wethers. Results from the degradability trial indicated that the low UDP, low protein high UDP and high UDP diets had RDP: UDP ratios of 82:18, 78:22 and 79:21 respectively, and that the dietary protein degradability did not differ significantly between diets. Results from the production trial indicated that there was a significant difference in feed intake, dry matter (DM) intake and bodyweight. The does on the low UDP diet had significantly higher feed intakes and DM intakes and were significantly heavier at the end of the trial period. As the diets didn’t differ in protein degradability other factors must have influenced the intakes between diets. Palatability may have influenced feed and DM intake, as the low protein high UDP and high UDP diets both contained higher levels of fishmeal. No significant differences in milk production, milk composition or milk production efficiency were observed. Besides the fact that the diets did not differ in effective protein degradability, large variations in milk production between animals and low numbers of animals per treatment limited the ability to measure a difference between the treatments. Results from the digestibility trial varied between diets with the low UDP diet having a significantly lower digestibility overall than the other two diets. Reasons for the difference in digestibility could be due to the difference in rate of passage (low UDP = 0.064/hour versus the 0.044- 0.045/hour of the low protein and high UDP diets respectively) and the high ADF value of the low UDP diet. Because no difference in effective protein degradability existed between the diets it is not possible to make an accurate conclusion on whether or not the dietary protein degradability had an influence on production parameters tested in this trial.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huidiglik is die bok ‘n belangrike gedomestikeerde dier dwarsoor die wereld. Aangesien die wereldwye bokpopulasie in 1991 op 590 miljoen geraam is (FAO, soos aangehaal deur Haenlein, 1996), is dit onmoontlik om die bok as onbelangrik te beskou. Die behoefte aan melk, en dan veral bokmelk, is duidelik as mens die toename in bokpopulasies oor die afgelope 20 jaar in ag neem. Wereldwyd het die melkbokpopulasie met 52% toegeneem, terwyl dit in ontwikkelende en ontwikkelde lande met 56% en 17% onderskeidelik, toegeneem het (Haenlein, 2000). Ten spyte van die feit dat die bokmelk-industrie in Suid-Afrika nog baie onderontwikkel is, is daar geweldige potensiaal vir die entrepeneur wat bereid is om ‘n risiko te loop en die taak korrek aan te pak. Binne die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse finansiele situasie bestaan daar veral geleenthede om waardetoegevoegde produkte na lande waarvan die wisselkoers sterker is, uit te voer. In Nieu Zeeland is die nasionale kudde ongeveer 16000 melkbokke en 90% van die geproduseerde melk word verwerk na poeiermelk en uitgevoer na die Ooste. In Suid-Afrika bestaan dieselfde potensiaal en met die korrekte visie en harde werk kan die melkbok-industrie ‘n belangrike bydra lewer om buitelandse valuta te verdien. Alhoewel navorsing aangaande die proteien-degradeerbaarheidsbehoeftes van melkbokke skaars is, bestaan daar die afgelope paar jaar ‘n toenemende belangstelling in die effek van proteien supplementering aan lakterende diere (Mishra & Rai, 1996). In die werk van Mishra & Rai (1996) is die voordele om verskillende rumen degraderende proteTenvlakke in lakterende melkbokke te gebruik, aangetoon. Ooie op ‘n hoogs degradeerbare prote'fen-dieet het beter voerinnames getoon, terwyl die ooie op ’n laag degradeerbare prote'fen-dieet hoer melkproduksies gelewer het. Navorsing van hierdie aard op ander lakterende spesies het ook positiewe resultate met ‘n toename in verbyvloeiprote'ien in die dieet gelewer (Robinson et al., 1991 en Christensen et al., 1993). Loerch et al. (1995) het voorgestel dat ‘n verbeterde produksie, deur gebruik te maak van verbyvloeiprote'fn, geen effek sal he as ruprote'fen (RP) nie ‘n beperkende faktor i.t.v produksie is nie. Beide Pailan & Kaur (1995) & Mishra en Rai (1996) het navorsing gedoen op die invloed van verlaagde RP-vlakke en verhoogde nie-degradeerbare protein (NDP) vlakke in die diete van lakterende melkooie. Daar is gebruik gemaak van drie diete, waarvan die een dieet ‘n 20% laer RPinhoud, maar ‘n verhoodge NDP-vlak (40-45% van totale RP) gehad het. Vanuit hierdie werk is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat ‘n verlaging in RP-vlak en ‘n verhoging in NDP-vlak dieselfde produksie kan onderhou, soos met ‘n hoer RP-inhoud. Die huidige navorsing bestaan uit twee proewe. In die eerste proef is die effek van speenouderdom en dieet-prote'fen-degradeerbaardheid op die groei van Saanen-lammers ondersoek. In die tweede proef is die effek van dieet-proteien-degradeerbaardheid op die produksie van lakteerende Saanen melkbokke ondersoek. Agt-en-vyftig Saanen-lammers is verdeel in twee speenouderdom-behandelings, nl. ‘n 42 dae (42) en ‘n 70 dae (70) speenouderdom. Binne hierdie speenouderdom-behandelings is die lammers verder verdeel in twee dieet-behandelings. Die een groep het ‘n lae NDP kruiprantsoen (LK) en die ander ‘n hoe NDP kruiprantsoen (HK) ontvang. Die twee kruiprantsoene was geformuleer om rumen degradeerbare proteien (RDP): NDP verhoudings van 70:30 (LK) en 60:40 (HK) te bevat, maar die resultate van die degradeerbaarheidsproef het aangetoon RDP: NDP verhoudings van 77:23 (LK) en 78:22 (HK). Die lammers is vanaf die kruipdieet oorgeplaas op ‘n groeidieet by ‘n gemiddelde lewende massa van 15.99±3.09 kg. Tydens hierdie oorplasing is die lammers van die vier bestaande behandelings verdeel in ‘n verdere twee dieetbehandelings, nl. ‘n hoe of ‘n lae NDP groei-dieet (LG en HG onderskeidelik), met die gevolg dat ‘n totaal van agt behandelings in hierdie proef bestaan het. Die twee groeidiete is geformuleer met RDP: NDP verhoudings van 70: 30 (LG) en 60: 40 (HG) onderskeidelik, maar die resultate van die degradeerbaarheidsproef het aangetoon RDP: NDP verhoudings van 78:22 (LG) en 72:28 (HG). Die groeiproef is uitgevoer oor 140 dae en voerinname, verandering in liggaamsgewig en voeromsettingsdoeltreffendheid (VOD) is vergelyk tussen die agt behandelings. Uit die lammerproef is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat boklammers wat op 42 dae gespeen is, wanneer voerinname 240g/dag is, soortgelyke resultate i.t.v. groeitempo lewer as lammers wat op 70 dae gespeen is. Die twee kruiprantsoene het nie van mekaar in RDP: NDP verskil nie en dus kan geen gevolgtrekking gemaak word omtrentdie invloed van dieet-protel'en-degradeerbaarheid op die groei van Saanen boklammers van 20 tot 80 dae ouderdom. Die twee groei diete het van mekaar verskil in RDP: NDP maar dieet-proteien-degradeerbaardheid het geen invloed op die groei van die Saanen boklammers van 80 tot 140 dae ouderdom gehad nie. Een-en-twintig lakterende Saanen-ooie is ewekansig in drie groepe. Die behandelings het twee RDP: NDP-verhoudings en twee ruprotei'en (RP) -peile ingesluit. Behandelings was 1) RDP: NDP = 70:30, RP = 20% 2) RDP: NDP = 62:38, RP = 20% en 3) RDP: NDP = 62:38, RP = 18.3%. Tydens hierdie produksieproef is die ooie vir 120 dae gemelk en die melkopbrengs, melksamestelling, verandering in liggaamsgewig, voerinname en VOD bepaal en vergelyk tussen behandelings. In die verterings- en stikstofmetabolismeproef is 18 ooie gebruik om die diete te vergelyk. Verder is die diete ook vergelyk in ‘n degraderings- en deurvloeitempoproef met gekannuleerde Dohne merino hamels. Dieet-proteien-degradeerbaardheid waardes verkry uit die degradeerbaarheidsproef het aangedui dat die bepaalde RDP: NDP verhoudings was 82:18, 78:22 en 79:21 vir die lae NDP, lae prote'fen hoe NDP en hoe NDP diete, en dat daar geen verskil in dieet-prote'fen-degradeerbaardheid was tussen die drie rantsoene. Resultate van die produksieproef dui daarop dat daar verskille in voerinname, droematerialinname, en liggaamsgewig tussen die drie rantsoene was. Die ooie op die laer NDP rantsoen het ‘n hoe voer en DM inname gehad en was swaarder na 120 dae in die proef as die ooie in die ander twee behandelings. Redes vir hierdie verskille is nie as gevolg van dieet-proteiendegradeerbaarheid nie. Die smaaklikheid kon dalk ‘n rol gespeel het omdat dat die twee hoe NDP rantsoene hoer vlakke van vismeel gehad het. Daar was geen verskil in melkproduksie, melksamestelling en melkproduksiedoeltreffenheid tussen die drie behandelings. Resultate van die verteringsproef het tussen die laer NDP-rantsoen en die ander twee rantsoene gevarieer. Die rede vir die verskil in verteerbaarheid mag wees a.g.v. verskillende deurvloeitempo’s (laer NDP = 0.064/uur teenoor 0.044 - 0.045/uur vir die laeproteien en hoe-proteienrantsoene) en die ADF waarde wat van die lae NDP rantsoen verskil het van die ander twee rantsoene. Omdat die resultate van die degradeerbaarheidsproef aangedui het dat daar geen verskil in dieet-proteiendegradeerbaardheid was nie is dit nie moontlik om ‘n gevolgtrekking te maak random die invloed van dieet-proteien-degradeerbaardheid op die produksie van lakterende Saanen melkbokke nie.

Four experiments were conducted to compare adipocyte dynamics and body composition among adult chickens from lines differing in growth rate and feed consumption. In Experiment I, forced caloric overconsumption increased weight gain and fat deposition, with concomitant increases in the total adipocyte DNA content of the assayed fat depots. Injections of DNA-specific [methyl³H] thymidine resulted in higher radioactivity levels in the fat depots of forced versus ad libitum or restricted-fed birds. Evidently, stimulation of fat deposition in adult chickens can be associated with adipocyte hyperplasia. A second experiment was conducted to histologically examine the effects of forced caloric overconsumption on adipocyte size, number, and distribution in the retroperitoneal fat depot of adult weight-line birds. Similarly to Experiment I, force feeding increased fat deposition, resulting in increases in the retroperitoneal fat depot total adipocyte DNA content. The lipid/adipocyte DNA ratio also decreased during rapid depot expansion. This resulted in an increase in the small adipocyte population of the force fed birds when adipocyte diameter was increasing. Subsequently, when the constraints of force feeding were removed, adipose depot reduction occurred, with the mobilization of lipid from small as well as large adipocytes. In a third experiment, the effects of estrogen administration and partial lipectomy were examined. In addition to the weight-line birds, a commercial broiler breeder stock was utilized. Estrogen administration depressed body weight gain and abdominal fat deposition when compared to placebo implanted birds. Partial lipectomy depressed body weight, fat deposition, and abdominal fat total adipocyte DNA content. Lipectomy modified several components of carcass composition without altering feed intake. No indication of a compensatory hyperplastic response to lipectomy was indicated. A final experiment was conducted examining the effects of forced body weight fluctuations on body composition of male and females from the weight-selected lines. Although numerous first-order interactions were detected, force-feeding resulted in transient modifications in carcass composition and fat deposition which were more apparent in the high than low weight line, in females than males. After release to ad Iibitum feeding, the differences resulting from force feeding were reduced.<br>Ph. D.<br>incomplete_metadata

Determining the energy values of feed ingredients for poultry is of great concern, especially since production efficiency is associated with profit margins. Therefore, accurate, precise, and reproducible energy values for feed ingredients are of the utmost importance in formulating an economical diet. An important aspect in determining the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of a feed ingredient is the procedure employed in the drying of excreta samples. During sample preparation, substantial grinding losses were incurred amounting to 3.5 to 5.2% of the dried sample weight. Also moisture uptake during sample grinding accounted for a 1.9 to 3.9% increase in sample weight. To properly account for such losses, freshly collected excreta samples should be weighed, oven-dried at 40 C, reweighed, allowed to equilibrate with atmospheric moisture, weighed, ground, reweighed, and stored in air-tight containers for subsequent analyses. From the oven-drying of feed and excreta samples at various temperatures, a linear decrease in sample weight occurred with increasing drying temperatures. When dried at 100 C or less, the energy content of feed and excreta samples remained unchanged, but increased significantly at higher temperatures. The nitrogen composition of feed and excreta samples exhibited a similar trend, but a significant loss of excreta nitrogen (2%) occurred at 100 C. The loss of excreta nitrogen at a temperature of 100 C is of relatively minor consequence in the determination of metabolizable dry matter, but is of major concern in nitrogen balance studies. Extraction of feed and excreta samples with N,N-dimethylformamide and titration with Karl Fischer reagent indicated that significant amounts of water were retained by samples dried at 40, 60, and 80 C. However, at temperatures of 100 C or greater, little water was retained but sample decomposition occurred. A drying temperature of 90 C or the Karl Fischer method may yield a more accurate value for the dry matter of feed or excreta. When seven roosters were subjected to a total collection method for five consecutive days, individual birds were better metabolizers of dry matter and energy than others. By either a voluntary intake method or by a total collection method, values for the nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy of corn were similar. The total collection method proved to be more reliable since it provided the least amount of variation when <u>ad libitum</u> feed intake and total excreta output were measured over a period of several days. In past experiments, adding fats to a test diet at the expense of cerelose in amounts no greater than 20% of the diet to determine the metabolizable energy of the fat has been associated with a high degree of variability. From the force-feeding of fats at levels to 100%, the variation associated with the metabolizable energy value of a fat was greatly reduced. The methodology presented here provided reliable estimates and detected differences between the metabolizable energy of two feed-grade fats in comparison to previous methods.<br>Ph. D.<br>incomplete_metadata

The aim of the study was to determine the digestibility of Atriplex nummularia cv. De Kock, supplemented with three levels (15%, 30%, and 45%) of either maize or barley, using different in vitro techniques. An in vivo digestibility trial was conducted, together with a number of in vitro trials. An important development has been the introduction of biological methods (Jones&Theodorou, 2000). Three digestion techniques that simulate the digestion process are currently available to determine the nutritive value of ruminant feeds: <ol> <li>Digestion with rumen micro-organisms as in the work of Tilley&Terry (1963) or gas method (Menke et al., 1979). Digestion with faeces microorganisms (El Shaer et al., 1987), as an alternative to rumen fluid inoculum.</li> <li>Cellulase methods</li> <li> In situ incubations of samples in nylon bags in the rumen.</li></ol> The results of this study showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between the rumen- and faeces inoculum in vitro techniques, but they did differ significantly from the gas production and cellulase techniques. There was also no significant difference between the gas production and cellulase techniques. Organic matter digestibility (OMD %) of the in vitro techniques differed significantly from the in vivo OMD % values. There are several possible explanations for the difference between the in vivo and in vitro OMD %. 1. Practical mistakes could have been made. 2. The simulation of the rumen motility in vitro is often difficult and it may be that all the feed particles did not have the same exposure to the micro-organisms, as it would have in the rumen of an animal. The different rumen pools are also not fully represented in vitro. 3. The fermentation characteristics and microbial constitution of the rumen inocula differ, between the animal used for the in vivo digestibility trial and the animals used for rumen inocula collection. 4. With in vivo digestibility the time of digestion is not known, and therefore the time of rumen and gastric digestion in vitro could have been too long or too short. It was found that the in vitro faeces technique of El Shaer et al., (1987) is an easier and cheaper alternative to the classic rumen fluid in vitro technique of Tilley&Terry (1963), as modified by Engels&Van der Merwe (1967). The in vitro faeces technique uses faeces as an inoculum and therefore solves the problems associated with the use of cannulated animals. The gas production in vitro technique has certain advantages, but still has the disadvantage of needing cannulated animals for rumen inocula. The cellulase-based in vitro technique in contrast eliminates the use of cannulated animals. Although the in vitro gas production technique of Pienaar (1994) and the cellulase in vitro technique could both be used to determine the OMD % of Atriplex nummularia cv. De Kock, the values will be lower than in vivo determinations.<br>Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2009.<br>Animal and Wildlife Sciences<br>unrestricted

As tecnologias baseadas em sensores estão cada vez mais disponíveis e podem ser usadas para coletar informações detalhadas sobre o comportamento animal. Com esta informação é possível avaliar o ritmo circadiano de variáveis comportamentais e monitorar sua resposta. A identificação de variações na resposta deste ritmo tem o potencial de detectar problemas de saúde e questões de bem-estar animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os ritmos circadianos comportamentais como uma nova abordagem para monitorar ovelhas em sistemas extensivos e estudar a emissão de metano, eficiência alimentar e crescimento de novilhos de corte. Este trabalho foi composto por dois experimentos (ovinos e bovinos). Foram utilizados cochos automatizados e sensores de atividade baseados em acelerômetro para coletar informações detalhadas do comportamento ingestivo (bovinos) e do comportamento de atividade (ovinos e bovinos), juntamente com as características de desempenho animal. Estes dados foram utilizados para calcular a percentagem de comportamento cíclico harmônico/sincronizado a cada período de 24 h. Essa porcentagem é chamada de grau de acoplamento funcional (DFC) e é calculada com uso de um período móvel de sete dias. No experimento com ovinos, um total de 29 ovelhas Scottish Blackface foram monitoradas por quatro semanas em cada estação do ano, em sistema extensivo nas terras altas da Escócia. Dados meteorológicos foram coletados diariamente. Modelos estatísticos de regressão com efeito aleatório foram utilizados para avaliar a variação da resposta entre indivíduos. Houve uma forte dinâmica criada pelas estações do ano e pelo ciclo produtivo/fisiológico das ovelhas. Durante a primavera e o verão, o desvio padrão do DFC foi um melhor estimador do ganho de peso quando comparado ao índice de moção. A combinação da análise do DFC e o agrupamento de indivíduos com base em sua resposta às variáveis ambientais oferece potencial para obter informações relevantes para o manejo do rebanho. O experimento de bovinos foi conduzido com duas dietas contrastantes (volumoso: concentrado 8:92 e 50:50) e duas raças (40 mestiços Charolês e 40 Luing). Os padrões diurnos de ingestão e atividade foram altamente sincronizados. O ritmo circadiano da atividade foi importante para explicar as diferentes emissões de metano entre indivíduos, independente da raça ou dieta, e também teve ligação com a eficiência alimentar e o crescimento dos novilhos. Este trabalho mostra a importância dos ritmos circadianos comportamentais e como essas abordagens podem melhorar a qualidade e o significado dos dados provenientes de sensores automatizados.<br>Sensor-based technologies are becoming increasingly available and can be used to gather detailed information about animal behaviour. With this information it is possible to assess animal behavioural circadian rhythm and monitor its response. Identifying breakdowns of this rhythm has the potential to detect health problems and animal welfare issues. The aim of this work was to study the behavioural circadian rhythms as a novel approach to monitor sheep in extensive systems and to study the differences between beef steers production traits, in methane emission, feed efficiency and growth. This work consisted of two experiments, one dealing with sheep in an extensive system and the other with housed beef steers. Automated feed intake equipment and accelerometer-based activity sensors were used to collect detailed information on feed intake (for cattle) and activity behaviour (for sheep and cattle), alongside animal performance characteristics. These data were used to calculate the percentage of cyclic behaviour that is harmonic/synchronized to each 24 h period as Degree of Functional Coupling (DFC) shown within rolling seven day periods. In the sheep experiment, in total twenty-nine Scottish Blackface ewes were monitored for four consecutive weeks in each season across a full year, in an extensive system on Scottish upland pastures. Weather data were collected daily. Random regression statistical models were used to assess between-individual variation in response to the weather. There was a strong dynamic created by the seasons and by the production and physiological cycle in sheep in these high latitude systems. Over the spring and summer period, the variation in the response of DFC was a better estimator of BWG (Body Weight Gain) than the use of a simple motion index. The combination of circadian rhythm analysis and the clustering of individuals into groups based around their regression response to environmental variables provides considerable potential to glean information relevant for group and individual animal management. The cattle experiment was conducted with two contrasting diets (concentrate-based and mixed diet) and two breeds (40 crossbred Charolais and 40 purebred Luing). The diurnal patterns of feeding and activity behaviours were strong and highly synchronised. Activity rhythmicity was well suited to show up differences between individual methane emissions independent of breed or diet, and it was also well related to important production traits as feed efficiency and growth of beef steers. This work shows the importance of the behavioural circadian rhythms and that these approaches may enhance the quality and meaningfulness of data coming from automated sensors.

Three balance experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber on mineral balance and intestinal.morphology of growing pigs. Fiber sources were added to corn-soybean meal diets at levels which increased neutral-detergent fiber levels by 6 to 8%. In experiment 1, 10% oat hulls (OH) decreased Ca (P<.06) and Zn (P<.01) balances of pigs after a 7 d feeding period. Wheat bran (20%) increased Mg intake and balance (P<.02), but did not affect Ca and Zn balances. In experiment 2, pigs were fed diets (with or without supplements of Zn, Fe and Mg) containing 15% OH or soybean hulls (SH) for 5 d or 26 d. SH increased Fe intake and balance (P<.01) and ( Mg absorption (P<.01). Compared with balances at 5 d, Zn balance was similar, while Fe and Mg balances were higher at 26 d for pigs fed the basal (P<.05) or SH (P<.01) diets. However, Zn balance was lower (P<.05) at 26 d 1 but Fe balance did not change over time for pigs fed the OH diets. At each time period, Zn balance was not different between pigs fed the basal or high-fiber diets. In experiment 3, Ca, Zn and Mg absorption were not affected by 15% OH or SH or 20% alfalfa meal (AM) after 67 d or 39 d, although SH and AM increased Fe balance (P<.01). Intestinal surface morphology of 12 pigs fed in experiment 3 was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Villus morphology was variable in jejunum, ileum and colon, although evidence of villus blunting and folding accompanied by erosion of microvilli and loss of epithelial cells was observed in small intestine of some pigs fed the SH and AM diets. Damage was not consistent in all sites examined in individual pigs, and did not occur in all pigs fed any specific diets. Although Ca and Zn balances were decreased by OH in two of the balance trials, the inability of OH to consistently decrease mineral balance suggests that the ability of the pig to adapt to different diets may be sufficient to overcome the mild inhibitory effect on mineral absorption of some fiber sources. When viewed together, the results of the balance trials indicate that moderate amounts of dietary fiber have a minimal negative impact on mineral balance of pigs fed practical corn-soybean meal diets. However, the results also indicate that fiber sources such as SH and AM, are rich sources of some minerals for the pig, particularly Fe. Evidence of intestinal damage was evident in pigs fed the high-fiber diets. However, not all animals fed a particular diet were affected, which suggests that some pigs within a given population may be susceptible to detrimental effects of dietary fiber on intestinal structure or function.<br>Ph. D.

The objective of this study was to examine the use of technical indicators, in an econometric context, as guides in making pricing decisions relative to feeder cattle production. Technical indicators were developed for both the short and long term. Short term indicators were designed to capture divergence/convergence between the Relative Strength Index and the futures price stream to form the Price Linked to Divergence index. A long term indicator using an average difference in price over a longer period was developed to form the Price Linked to Trend index. These indicators were used in the econometric models which in conjunction with cash production costs formed a hold/price/sell decision framework. Analysis was conducted on fall-to-spring, spring-to-fall, and fall-to-fall production programs. Results for the three production programs in both the in and out-of-sample environments showed that on average a futures price in the top half of the futures price range was captured. This resulted in average improvement in returns through hedging for every program.<br>Master of Science

Four studies were conducted to determine the effect of synchronization of protein and starch degradation on nutrient utilization, microbial protein synthesis and milk production in dairy cows. In Experiment 1, five cereal grains and five protein supplements were compared for extent of solubility and degradability of their starch and nitrogen fractions. Results indicated large differences which permitted their ranking from high to low degradability as follows: grains, oats > wheat > barley > corn > milo protein supplements, soybean meal > cottonseed meal, (CSM) > corn gluten meal > brewers dried grains, (BDG) > blood meal. In Experiment 2, the five grains were incubated for varying times in vitro (with added amylase) or in situ to determine rate and extent of degradation of dry matter, crude protein and starch. Results showed that rate of starch degradation followed a similar, but slightly different trend than in trial 1 (wheat > barley > oats > corn > milo). Rates for DM and CP degradation were similar than those for starch. In Experiment 3, high (barley, HS) and low (milo, LS) degradable starch sources were combined with a high (CSM, HP) and a low (BDG, LP) degradable protein sources to formulate four diets; HSHP, HSLP, LSHP and LSLP. Diets were fed to 32 cows, starting two to four weeks postpartum, for a 60-d milk production and digestibility study. Apparent digestibility was calculated using chromium oxide. Organic matter digestibility was higher (P < .05) was found in nutrient output to the small intestine among diets and microbial CP synthesis was higher (P > .05) for barley diets.

Copies of the author's previously published articles inserted. Bibliography: leaves 142-159. Provides information on the significance of pea straw as a ruminant feed and the potential of two biological techniques for improving its feeding value.

Thesis (PhD (Agric))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that feed intake and growth (gain) are the most important economic components when calculating profitability in a growth test or feedlot. Feeding cost of animals is a major determinant of profitability in livestock production enterprises. Genetic selection to improve feed efficiency aims to reduce the cost of feeding in beef cattle production and thereby improve profitability. The objective of this study was to define a clear selection objective to enable South African beef breeders and especially the feedlot industry to select for post-weaning growth or feedlot performance and to identify factors influencing profitability in a feedlot environment. Because of the recording of individual feed intake and weight gain values in the South African Agricultural Research Councils' centralized growth tests, it was also possible to calculate a phenotypic value for feedlot profitability (R-value) for each bull tested in a centralized growth test. (Co)variances, using multitrait as well as random regression models, for and between feedlot profitability, weaning weight and other production, reproduction and efficiency traits were estimated. Residual feed intake (RFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) as efficiency traits were also compared to growth (average daily gain (ADG), weaning weight (WW) and shoulder height (SHD)), reproductive (scrotum circumference (SCR)) and profitability (feedlot profitability) traits measured in growth tests of young Bonsmara bulls. Consequently, a single post-weaning growth selection index value based on the economic and breeding values of different selection criteria related to feedlot profitability was composed. (Co)variance components, heritabilities and genetic correlations for and between initial weight (lW), final weight (FW), total feed intake (FI) and shoulder height (SHD) were estimated through the use of multitrait restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedures. These breeding values (EBV s) were then used in a selection index to calculate a single economical value for each animal. This economical value is an indication of the gross profitability value or gross test value (GTV) of the animal in a post-weaning growth test. The heritability estimate of 0.36 for R-value, obtained from the multitrait analysis, shows that this trait is genetically inherited and that it can be selected for. The heritability for R-value obtained from the single trait random regression model varied between 0.57 and 0.62. The genetic correlations between the R-value and the other traits, obtained from the multitrait analysis, varied from negligible to high. The heritability estimated for FCR was 0.34 and for RFl 0.31 with a genetic correlation estimate of 0.75 between the traits. The estimated genetic correlation between profitability (R-value) and FCR and RFl were -0.92 and -0.59, respectively. The genetic correlation estimate of -0.92 between FCR and R-value is largely due to the part-whole relationship between these two traits. This is also shown in their genetic trends. The genetic correlations and expected correlated responses between RFl and FCR with R-value suggest that indirect selection for R-value through the direct selection for FCR and/or RFl will result in slower genetic progress in Rvalue than direct selection for R-value. However, where the R-value cannot be calculated and/or where direct selection for R-value is not possible, it would be better to select indirectly for R-value through the use of FCR rather than RF!. Consequently, a regression equation was developed (with an R2 of 0.82) to estimate a feed intake value for all performance-tested Bonsmara bulls which were group fed and whose feed intakes were unknown. These predicted feed intake values made it possible to calculate a feedlot or post-weaning growth profitability value (R-value) for all tested bulls even where individual feed intakes were unknown. Subsequently, an R-value for each bull was calculated in a favourable economic environment (FEE), an average economic environment (AEE) and in an unfavourable economic environment (VEE). The high Pearson and Spearman correlations between the EBV s based on AEE and the other two environments suggested that the average economic environment could be used to calculate EBVs for R-value or feedlot growth profitability. It is therefore not necessary to change the carcass, weaner or feed price on a regular basis to account for possible re-rankings based on R-value EBVs. Heritabilities for lW, FW, Fl and SHD were 0.41, 0.40, 0.33 and 0.51, respectively. The highest genetic correlations between these traits were the 0.78 (between lW and FW) and 0.70 (between Fl and FW). GTV values varied between -R192.l7 and R231.38, with an average of R9.31. The Pearson correlations between EBVs (for production and efficiency traits) and GTV range from -0.51 to 0.68. The lowest correlation (closest to zero) was 0.26 between the Kleiber ratio (KLB) and GTV. Correlations of 0.68 and -0.51 were estimated between average daily gain (ADG) and GTV and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and GTV, respectively. The heritabilities of the different traits included in the selection index suggest that it is possible to select for a GTV. The selection index can benefit feedlotting In selecting offspring of bulls with high GTV values to maximize profitability. The Pearson and Spearman correlations between the R-value EBVs and the index values (GTV) were very high (0.97). This high correlation of 97% indicates that it is not important which method is used to calculate a genetic post-weaning growth of feedlot profitability value. The selection index value is, however, more simplified than the feedlot profitability with less assumption. Therefore, it is recommended that the post-weaning selection index value be used as a selection objective in breeding programmes to improve post-weaning growth profitability rather than the more complex feedlot profitability value.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'N GENETIESE ANALIESE VAN DIE BIOLOGIESE EN EKONOMIESE DOELTREFFENTHEID VAN NASPEENSE GROEI IN VLEISBEESTE IN DIE VOERKRAAL: Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat voerinname en groei die twee ekonomies mees belangrike komponente in die berekening van 'n naspeense groei- of voerkraalwinsgewindheidswaarde is. Voerkostes is 'n bepalende faktor van winsgewindheid in enige lewendehawe boerderypraktyk. Seleksie om voerdoeltreffendheid te verbeter, verminder dus die voerkostes in vleisbeesproduksie en gevolglik 'n verhoging in die winsgewindheid. Die doelwit van die studie was om faktore te identifiseer wat 'n invloed op winsgewindheid in die voerkraaiomgewing het asook om 'n duidelike seleksiedoelwit te formuleer wat die Suid- Afrikaanse vleisbeesteiers en veral die voerkraalbedryf instaat sal kan stelom vir naspeense groeidoeltreffendheid ofvoerkraalwinsgewindheid te selekteer. As gevolg van die aantekening en rekordhouding van weeklikse individuele voennnames en gewigstoenames van alle prestasiegetoetsde bulle, in 'n gesentraliseerde groeitoets deur die Suid- Afrikaanse Landbou Navorsingsraad getoets, was dit moontlik om vir elk van hierdie bulle 'n fenotipiese voerkraalwinsgewindheidswaarde (R-waarde) te kon bereken. (Ko)variansies is vir en tussen voerkraalwinsgewindheid, speengewig en ander produksie-, reproduksie- en doeltreffendheidseienskappe bereken deur van meereienskap en ewekansige regressie modelle gebruik te maak. Twee doeltreffendheidseienskappe naamlik residuele voerinname (RFI) en voeromsetverhouding (FCR) is ook met groei (gemiddelde daaglikse toename (ADG), speengewig (WW) en skouerhoogte (SHD)), reproduksie (skrotumomvang (SCR)) en winsgewindheidseienskappe (voerkraalwinsgewindheid (R-waarde)) vergelyk, om sodoende te bepaal watter een die mees geskikte eienskap is om indirek vir voerkraalwinsgewindheid of groei, gebaseer op teeltwaardes en ekonomiese waardes vir die verskillende eienskappe, wat 'n invloed op naspeense groei winsgewindheid het, gestruktueer. (Ko)variansiekomponente, oorerflikhede en genetiese korrelasies vir en tussen begingewig (lW), eindgewig (FW), voerinname (FI) en skouerhoogte (SHD) is bereken deur van 'n meereienskap (REML) ontleding gebruik te maak. Hierdie teelwaardes (EBVs) is vervolgens in 'n seleksie-indeks gebruik om 'n enkele ekonomies of voerkraal-winsgewindheids seleksie-indekswaarde (GTV) vir elke dier te bereken. Hierdie ekonomiese waarde is 'n aanduiding van die bruto winsgewindheidswaarde ofbruto toetswaarde (GTV) van die dier in 'n naspeentoets. Die oorerflikheid, vanuit die meereienskapontleding vir R-waarde beraam, was 0.36. Hierdie oorerflikheid dui daarop dat die eienskap oorerflik is en dat dit wel moontlik is om daarvoor te selekteer. Die ooreflikhede van R-waarde, voorspel vanuit die enkeleienskap ewekansige regressieontleding varieer tussen 0.57 en 0.62. Die genetiese korrelasie tussen R-waarde en ander eienskappe, vanuit die meereienskap ontleding beraam, varieer tussen weglaatbaar klein tot hoog. Die oorerflikheid van FeR was 0.34 en van RFI 0.31 met 'n genetiese korrelasie van 0.75 tussen die twee eienskappe. Die genetiese korrelasie tussen R-waarde en FeR, en R-waarde en RFI was onderskeidelik -0.92 en -0.59. Die rede vir die hoë negatiewe genetiese korrelasie tussen R-waarde en FeR van -0.92 is omdat dieselfde komponente in die berekening van die twee eienskappe gebruik is. Dit word ook in die genetiese tendense weerspeël. Die genetiese korrelasies en verwagte gekorreleerde responsies tussen R-waarde en FeR, en tussen R-waarde en RFI dui daarop dat stadiger genetiese vordering verkry sal word in R-waarde deur direkte seleksie vir beide FeR en RFI as wat verkry sal word deur die direkte seleksie vir R-waarde. Wanneer 'n R-waarde egter nie bereken kan word nie of waar dit nie moontlik is om direk vir R-waarde te selekteer nie, sal vinniger genetiese vordering in R-waarde gemaak word deur die direkte seleksie vir FeR as vir RF!. 'n Regressievergelyking is geformuleer (met 'n R2 van 0.82) om vir alle prestasiegetoetsde bulle, waar bulle in 'n groep gevoer is en individuele voerinnames onbekend is, 'n voerinnamewaarde te voorspel. Hierdie voorspelde voerinnames maak dit moontlik om vir elke prestasiegetoetsde bul ,'n naspeengroei- of voerkraalwinswaarde (R-waarde) te bereken, al is hulle individuele voerinnames onbekend. Vervolgens is drie verskillende R-waarde vir vleisproduksie vir elke bul bereken naamlik, in 'n gunstige ekonomiese omgewing (FEE), 'n gemiddelde ekonomiese omgewing (AEE) en 'n ongunstige ekonomiese omgewing (VEE). Die hoë Pearson en Spearman korrelasies tussen die EBVs vir R-waarde, bereken in die AEE en die EBVs in die ander twee ekonomiese omgewings, dui daarop dat die AEE gebruik kan word om EBVs vir naspeense groeiof voerkraalwins te bereken. Dit is dus nie nodig om op 'n gereelde grondslag die karkasprys, lewendige speenkalfprys of die voerprys te verander nie. Oorerflikhede, vanuit die meereienskap ontledings VIr lW, FW, FI en SHD verkry, was onderskeidelik 0.41, 0.40, 0.33 en 0.51. Die hoogste genetiese korrelasies tussen die eienskappe was 0.78 tussen lW en FW en 0.70 tussen FI en FW. GTV indekswaardes varieer tussen -Rl92.17 en R231.38 met 'n gemiddelde waarde van R9.31. Die Pearson korrelasies tussen die EBVs van produksie- en doeltreffenheidseienskappe en GTV het tussen -0.51 en 0.68 gevarieer. Die korrelasie naaste aan zero, van 0.26, was die korrelasie tussen GTV en die Kleiber-verhouding. Die korrelasies tussen GTV en ADG, en GTV en FeR was onderskeidelik 0.68 en -0.51. Die oorerflikhede van die verskillende eienskappe wat in die seleksie-indeks ingesluit is, dui daarop dat die indekswaarde weloorerflik is en dat seleksie hiervoor wel moontlik is. Hierdie indekswaarde kan deur die voerkraaiindustrie gebruik word om nageslag van diere met hoë GTV waardes te selekteer om sodoende maksimum wins uit die voerkraai te genereer. Die Pearson en Spearman korrelasies tussen R-waarde EBVs en die indekswaardes (GTV) was besonder hoog (0.97). Hierdie hoë korrelasie dui daarop dat dit geen verskil sal maak watter een van die twee metodes gebruik word in die berekeninge van 'n naspeense groei- of voerkraalwinswaarde nie. Die seleksie-indeks metode is egter minder gekompliseerd met minder aannames as in die geval van die rekeningkundige fenotipiese benadering (R-waarde). As gevolg hiervan, word die naspeense seleksie-indeks waardes (GTV) aanbeveel om te gebruik as 'n teeldoelwit in telingsprogramme om naspeense groei- of voerkraaiwins geneties te verbeter, eerder as die meer gekompliseerde fenotipiese voerkraaiwins (R-waardes) metode.

Time budgets, avoidance distance scores-related behaviour and milk yield of pasture-based Jersey, Friesland and crossbred cows. by Madodana Sunson Dodzi The study was conducted at the University of Fort Hare farm to determine the time budgets, the avoidance-related behaviour variables and their relationship with milk yield in three pasturebased dairy genotypes: Jersey, Friesland and crossbreed. Twenty one clinically health dairy cows aged between 52 and 55 months, in mid lactation and comprising of seven cows from each genotype were used in the study. The time spent on different activities (grazing, lying down, standing and others) at pasture was recorded using stop watches across four seasons. The behavioural responses of the three genotypes to humans were determined by recording their avoidance distance scores (AD), exit speed (ES), pen scores (PS), pen behaviour scores (PBS), plat form scores (PLS) and the occurrence of kicking (KCK) and stepping (SPG) during milking on four consecutive days in four seasons. Time spent standing was higher (P < 0.05) for Friesland compared to Jersey and crossbred during the hot-wet season. In the cool-dry season the Jersey spent more time (P < 0.05) grazing than the other breeds. The Friesland and crossbred on the other hand devoted most of their time lying down compared to Jersey in the cool- dry season (P < 0.05). There were season differences in time spent on all activities (P < 0.05). Time spent on grazing was longest in post-rainy seasonal and lowest in hot- wet season (P < 0.05). The longest lying down period was observed in the hot-dry season and lowest in hot-wet season (P < 0.05). iii Daily milk yield Varied (P < 0.05) with genotype with the Friesland and Jersey producing higher yield than the crossbred. The highest amount was produced in hot-dry and the least in hot-wet season. Milk yield was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with lying down. Standing was negatively correlated with milk yield (P < 0.05). The Friesland had the highest avoidance distance scores (P < 0.05) and the Jersey had the lowest avoidance distance scores in all seasons. There was an association (P < 0.05) between genotype and exit speed scores, pen scores and stepping behaviour scores. The Friesland exhibited the highest exit speed scores than the other breeds. The Jersey had the lowest (P < 0.05) kicking behaviour scores. There was a relationship (r = 0.64) between avoidance distance scores and exit speed. Exit speed scores were correlated with pen score(r= 0.23). Milk yield was significant related (r= 0.17) to the occurrence of kicking behaviour. The genotypes showed different levels of sensitivity to season and milk yield was influenced by breed and season. It can be concluded that time budgets vary with season and farmers need to adopt measures that buffer the effect of season on welfare of dairy cows. It can also be concluded that avoidance distance scores differs according to genotype with Jersey being more confident to humans than other two breeds. It is therefore recommended that provision of shades or cooling mechanism should be adopted to buffer the effects of hot-wet season. Improving quality of feed during the cool-dry season may be critical for Jersey cows. Finally positive handling of the dairy cows is recommended in order to improve the welfare and milk yield of pasture based dairy cows.

The focus of this thesis was to analyze the least cost of producing rations for ducks in three age categories from a mixture of conventional feed ingredients and three different processed food waste products and to examine the financial and economic feasibility of establishing an industrial plant to produce these food waste products in the Montreal region. The first part of the thesis was investigated through the use of a linear programming model. The effect of recognizing the variability of protein levels in the various feed ingredients was examined through the use of chance-constrained programming.<br>The second part of the thesis was examined using economic and financial analyses for the investment. The basic plant requirements to produce the three processed food waste products were the same, however energy costs were different for the three products. Revenue was generated from tipping fees and the sale of the three processed food waste products. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Antibiotic growth promoters (AGP’s) have been used in feed of production animals to improve their growth performance and disease resistance. However, there has been an increase in the presence of antibiotic residue in animal products, as well as an increase in untreatable illnesses due to antibiotic resistant bacteria. This led to the European Union banning the use of antibiotic growth promoters, in production animals, in 2006. An alternative to AGP’s is therefore needed in animal feed in order to maintain performance. Plant extracts and essential oils have gained much attention, due to their natural antimicrobial, antibacterial, anticoccidial and antioxidant properties. This study tested the efficiency of Ateli plus®, an oregano plant extract based product, as a replacement to AGP’s on production parameters, carcass characteristics and organ and gut health of broilers. This study consisted of five treatments fed to broilers from hatch till 33 days of age, fed in three phases; starter, grower and finisher. The treatment diets consisted of a negative control (no AGP), positive control (AGP), Ateli plus® at 1kg/ton (Ateli plus® min), Ateli plus® at 2kg/ton for week one followed by 1kg/ton for the remainder of the period (Ateli plus® max), and AGP plus Ateli plus® max (AGP plus Ateli plus® max). Results from this study show that there was no difference in performance parameters between treatments. The performance parameters tested included liveability, average daily gain (ADG), average weekly feed intake, average cumulative feed intake, average weekly live weight, average cumulative weight gains, feed conversion ratio (FCR), cumulative FCR and the European production efficiency factor (EPEF). Broiler breast and thigh muscle pH and colour (L*, a* and b*) reading values were measured, showing a trend for improved L* colour reading value and ultimate pH, in broilers supplemented with Ateli plus®. This leads to an increase in water binding capacity and tenderness, therefore resulting in an improvement in meat quality. No differences were shown for dressing percentage and portion percentages relative to carcass weight. No significant differences were seen for tibia bone Ca and P content, or tibia bone fat, moisture or ash percentages. However a significant decrease in tibia bone strength was found in all broilers supplemented with Ateli plus® diets and the negative control diet, compared to AGP supplemented broilers. Gut morphology showed no consistent effect of treatment on villi height or crypt depth of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. No significant differences between treatments were found for organ pH or organ weights, except the gizzard, which was heavier for Ateli plus® max supplemented broilers. Ateli plus® shows promise on improving meat quality characteristics of broilers, however the significant decrease in tibia bone strength in Ateli plus® supplemented broilers is a major concern and needs to be researched further. Ateli plus® acts as a good AGP replacement, as broiler performance for the Ateli plus® supplemented broilers was maintained, and not decreased, when compared to the AGP supplemented broilers. However, the broilers fed the negative control diet had performance parameters statistically equal to both the Ateli plus® and AGP supplemented broilers, as well as no significant differences between organ weights were found. It can therefore be said that the broilers were raised under good management, and their optimal environmental conditions. Therefore conclusive effectiveness of Ateli plus® as a replacement for AGP on broiler performance cannot be reported from this study.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Antibiotiese groeistimulante (AGP’s) word gereeld as voerbymiddels vir diere gebruik om groei en siekte weerstandbiedenheid te verbeter. Die verbod op die gebruik van antibiotika as 'n groeipromotor in die Europese Unie (sedert 2006) kan toegeskryf word aan die toename in onbehandelbare siektes as gevolg van weerstandbiedende bakterieë, asook die teenwoordigheid van residue in die dierlike produkte. Alternatiewe vir AGP’s in dierevoeding word dus benodig om produksie te handhaaf. Plant ekstrakte en essensiële olies het baie aandag gekry as gevolg van hul natuurlike antimikrobiese, antibakteriële, antikoksidiese en antioksidatiewe eienskappe. 'n Studie is gedoen om die doeltreffendheid van Ateli plus® ('n origanum plant ekstrak gebaseerde produk) op groei produksie parameters, karkaseienskappe, orgaan- en dermgesondheid te bepaal wanneer Ateli plus® as 'n AGP plaasvervanger in die dieëte van braaikuikens gebruik word. Gedurende die proef was vyf verskillende diëte/behandelings vir 33 dae vir braaikuikens gevoer. Die behandelings het bestaan uit 'n negatiewe kontrole (geen AGP), positiewe kontrole (AGP), Ateli plus® teen 1kg/ton (Ateli plus min), Ateli plus® teen 2kg/ton vir die eerste week gevolg deur 1kg/ton vir die res van die tydperk (Ateli plus® max), en AGP plus Ateli plus® max (AGP plus Ateli plus® max). Resultate van hierdie studie toon dat behandelings nie 'n effek op produksie parameters gehad het nie. Die groei produksie parameters wat getoets is sluit in oorlewing, gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT), die gemiddelde weeklikse voer-inname, gemiddelde kumulatiewe voerinname, gemiddelde weeklikse lewendige massa, gemiddelde kumulatiewe gewig toename, voeromsetverhouding (VOV) en die Europese produksie doeltreffendheid faktor (EPEF). Die pH en kleur (L*,a* en b* waardes) van die dy- en borsspier is gemeet. Ateli plus® aanvulling in braaikuiken diëte het 'n tendens getoon vir verbeterde L * en finale pH waardes in die spiere, wat lei tot 'n toename in waterhouvermoë en sagtheid en dus verbeterde vleiskwaliteit. Geen verskille tussen behandelings is gevind vir uitslagpersentasie en die massa van porsies (uitgedruk as persentasie relatief tot karkasgewig) nie. Behandelings het nie 'n effek op die vet, vog, as persentasies of Ca- en P-inhoud van die tibia gehad nie. In vergelyking met AGP aangevulde braaikuikens, is 'n beduidende afname in die tibia breeksterkte van kuikens in die negatiwe kontrole groep en kuikens wat met Ateli plus® aangevul is, gevind. Spysverteringskanaal morfologie het getoon dat behandeling geen konsekwente effek op villi hoogte of krip diepte van die duodenum, jejunum en ileum gehad het nie. Slegs die krop massas van kuikens wat met Ateli plus® max aangevul is, was swaarder in vergelyking met hoenders in die ander behandelings; verder is geen beduidende verskille tussen behandelings gevind vir orgaan pH of orgaan gewigte nie.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ruminant has the ability to utilize forages more efficiently than any other production animal. The utilization of forage fibre is an important aspect of ruminant production systems, as this is the main source of energy available to the animal. The availability of high-fibre forage nutrients is, however, restricted by cell wall degradability, and since low quality forages contribute a great deal to ruminant production systems worldwide, the improvement of this degradation process is of major economic importance. The use of exogenous fibre degrading enzymes has been proposed as a means of enhancing this process, with positive results being obtained from in vitro studies incorporating exogenous enzyme preparations. Positive in vivo results with regard to forage digestibility and other animal production parameters have consequently also been obtained following the addition of exogenous fibre-degrading enzyme preparations to the ruminant diet. Two initial screening experiments were undertaken in order to identify fungal enzyme preparations that may have a positive effect on in vitro fibre degradability. The initial screening employed an in vitro organic matter digestibility technique, and was successful in identifying at least six enzyme preparations displaying enhanced digestibility results that were statistically significant. A second in vitro gas production procedure was used to confirm results obtained from organic matter digestibility assays, as well as to increase screening capacity in order to evaluate new enzyme preparations more time-efficiently. Statistical analysis of results obtained from the secondary screening identified various enzyme candidates producing promising results. Only one of these, Abo 374, proved to be statistically superior to the control and other enzyme preparations. A growth trial was subsequently conducted to assess the performance of this enzyme in vivo. The trial involved individual feeding of 32 Dohne Merino ram lambs grouped according to weights into four groups consisting of 8 lambs each. Each group represented a specific application level of enzyme to the wheat straw component of a high fibre diet, amounting to 10, 5, or 1 ml enzyme supematant/kg straw. The enzyme was diluted with water at appropriate rates to obtain an application rate of 300ml/kg straw. The fourth (control) group was treated with water at the same application rate. The trial was conducted over a period of six weeks, during which feed intakes, weekly weight gains, as well as feed conversion efficiencies were recorded. Results suggested significant weight gains in the high (10ml/kg) and medium (5ml/kg) treatment groups, indicated by a P-value of 0.04. Similarly, feed conversion efficiencies were improved for above-mentioned groups (P=0.05), while feed intakes did not differ significantly between the four experimental groups.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die herkouer besit die vermoee om ruvoere beter as enige ander produksiedier te kan benut. Die gebruik van ruvoervesel is 'n belangrike aspek van herkouer produksiesisteme, aangesien ruvoere die hoof bron van energie aan die herkouer verskaf. Die beskikbaarheid van hoe-vesel ruvoer nutriente word egter beperk deur die degradeerbaarheid van die selwand, en aangesien lae kwaliteit ruvoere 'n groot bydrae tot wereldwye herkouer-produksiesisteme maak, is die moontlike verbetering van hierdie degraderingsproses van groot ekonomiese belang. In 'n poging om hierdie verteringsproses te help bevoordeel, is die gebruik van eksogene veselverterende ensieme ondersoek, en positiewe resultate is verkry wanneer hierdie ensieme in in vitro studies gebruik is. Goeie verbeterings ten opsigte van ruvoer verteerbaarheid en ander diereproduksie parameters is ook verkry deur middel van in vivo studies waar eksogene ensieme by die ruvoer van herkouers gevoeg IS. Twee eksperimente is ondemeem in 'n poging om ensiempreparate wat 'n moontlike positiewe effek op in vitro veselvertering mag he, te identifiseer. Die eerste, 'n in vitro organiese materiaal verteerbaarheid tegniek, was suksesvol in die identifisering van minstens ses ensiem preparate wat statisties betekenisvolle verbeterings ten opsigte van verteringsresultate geproduseer het. 'n Tweede in vitro gasproduksie prosedure is vervolgens gebruik om resultate verkry vanaf die eerste tegniek, te bevestig, asook om evalueringskapasiteit te vergroot en sodoende, nuwe ensiempreparate meer tydseffektief te evalueer. Statistiese evaluering van resultate verkry uit die tweede in vitro tegniek het 'n reeks ensieme met positiewe resultate opgelewer. Een van hierdie, Ab0374, het statisties betekenisvolle resultate ten opsigte van die kontrole, sowel as ander ensieme getoon. In 'n volgende eksperiment is 'n groeiproef gedoen om die effektiwiteit van hierdie ensiem in vivo te toets. In die proef is 32 Dohne Merino ramlammers op grond van hul gewig in vier groepe van agt skape elk verdeel, en individueel gevoer. Die groepe het verskillende toedieningsvlakke van die toetsensiem, toegedien tot die koringstrooi komponent van 'n hoe-vesel dieet, ontvang. Toedieningsvlakke was 10, 5, of lml ensiemkonsentraat/kg strooi. Elke groep se ensiemkonsentraat is verdun met die toepaslike hoeveelheid water om 'n toedieningsvlak van 300ml ensiemoplossing/kg koringstrooi te verkry. 'n Vierde groep is behandel slegs met water teen dieselfde toedieningsvlak, en het gedien as 'n kontrole. Die eksperiment is oor 'n periode van 6 weke uitgevoer. Tydens die proeftydperk is voerinnames, weeklikse gewigstoenames, sowel as voeromsetverhoudings, gedokumenteer. Resultate het betekenisvolle gewigstoenames in die hoe (lOml/kg) en medium (5ml/kg) groepe opgelewer, aangedui deur 'n P-waarde van 0.04. Voeromsetverhoudinge het ook verbeteringe getoon vir bogenoemde twee groepe (P=0.05), terwyl voerinnames nie merkbaar tussen die vier groepe verskil het nie.

Thesis (MSc. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016<br>This study was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing diets with antimicrobials and effective microorganisms on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The study consisted of two parts. The first part determined the effect of antimicrobial and effective microorganism (EM) supplementations on growth performance of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A complete randomized design was used and 150 unsexed day-old chicks with an initial weight of 42 ± 2g were randomly assigned to five different treatments which were replicated 3 times with each replicate having 10 chicks. The five grower diets had the same nutrients (20% CP and 12MJ/kg) but different supplementation levels of 0g oxytetracycline and 0ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM0), 0.01g oxytetracycline (UAM0.01EM0), 30ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM30), 50ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM50) and 100ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM100). A quadratic regression model was used to determine dietary effective microorganism supplementation levels for optimal feed intake and live weight of Ross 308 broiler chickens. A linear model was used to determine the relationship between dietary effective microorganism supplementation levels and metabolisable energy intakes. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have any effect (P>0.05) on growth rate, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Antimicrobial supplementation improved (P<0.05) feed intake and live weight of the chickens. Supplementation with 50ml of EMs/l of water improved (P<0.05) feed intake. Supplementation with 50 or 100ml of EMs per litre of water increased (P<0.05) ME intake of the chickens. Effective microorganism supplementation levels of 72.25 and 48.29ml of drinking water optimized feed intake and live weight, respectively. The second part of the experiment determined the effect of antimicrobials and effective microorganisms on productivity, blood, carcass characteristics and meat quality of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with three replications, each having six chickens. A total of 90 male chickens, with the initial live weight of 452 ± 3g were allocated to the treatments in a complete randomized design. The chickens were fed a grower diet supplemented with 0g oxytetracycline and 0ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM0), 0.01g oxytetracycline (MAM0.01EM0), 30ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM30), v 50ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM50) and 100ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM100). Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementation did not have effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, live weight, ME intake, blood glucose and mortality. Poorer (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio was observed with the supplementation of antimicrobial. Blood glucose levels were optimized at an effective microorganism supplementation level of 29.00ml of EM/l of drinking water (Figure 4.05). Supplementing diets with antimicrobials and effective microorganisms did not have effect (P>0.05) on crop, gizzard, proventriculus and large intestine pH values of male chickens. However, supplementation with of 100ml of EMs per litre of drinking water reduced (P<.0.05) the pH of ileum. Effective microorganism supplementation level of 85.00ml per litre of drinking water optimized the crop pH value. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have influence (P>0.05) on gizzard, proventriculus, small intestine, caecum, large intestine, liver and heart weights of male chickens at 42 days. Effective microorganism supplementation level of 50ml per litre of drinking water reduced (P<.0.05) crop weight. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have effect (P>0.05) on whole gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), small intestine and caecum length of the chickens. Antimicrobial supplementation reduced (P<0.05) the length of large intestine. Effective microorganism supplementation levels of 41.00, 45.50 and 85.00ml per litre of drinking water optimized crop weights and caecum and large intestine lengths, respectively. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have any influence (P>0.05) on live weight, carcass weight, breast weight, drumstick weight ad thigh weight. Similarly, antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have influence on meat tenderness, juiciness and flavour. There were no antibiotic and effective microbe residues in the meat. It is, therefore, concluded that effective microorganism supplementation did not have much effect on production parameters, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Ross 308 broiler chickens.

Equations to predict daily dry matter intake (DMI) of individual animals were developed with 118 Holstein heifers fed totally mixed rations (TMR). Animals grouped according to body weight (136, 227, 317 kg) were fed TMR (corn silage, ground hay, high moisture corn, soybean meal) once daily for 28 days. Rations were balanced to mean body weight according to National Research Council (NRC) recommendations for protein, vitamins and minerals, and to 85, 95, 105, and 115% of recommendation for energy. Independent variables were body weight (BWT, kg/day) daily body weight gain (GAIN, kg), environmental temperature (AMBT, °C), ration acid detergent fiber (ADF, percent of dry matter), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, percent of dry matter), net energy for maintenance and gain (NEM, NEG, megacalories), total digestible nutrients (TDN, percent of dry matter), and bulk density (BULK, g/ml as fed). Squared terms, appropriate interaction terms, and metabolic body weight (MBWT, kg^.75) were included in the model. Stepwise regression was utilized to generate two models, simplified and expanded. Simplified model was: DMI (kg/day) = -29.86 + (-.54E-05 * BWT²) + (.157 * MBWT) + (2.090 * GAIN) + (-.118 * GAIN²) + (.730 * TDN) + (-.005 * TDN²) + (-.001 * BWT * GAIN) + (-.019 * TDN * GAIN); n = 4797, r² = .59, s_y.x = 1.18. Expanded model was: DMI (kg/ day) = -1906.91 + (-0.04 * BWT) + (0.37 * MBWT) + (32.36 * ADF) + (2305.51 * NEM) + (-664.06 * NEG) + (-0.08 * AMBT) + (-0.13 * ADFSQ) + (-637.68 * NEMSQ) + (42.31 * NEGSQ) + (-5.35 * BULKSQ) + (0.001 * AMBTSQ) + (-1.56E-04 * BWT * ADF) + (8.873E-05 * BWT * AMBT) + (246.30 * NEM * NEG) + (-21.30 * NEM * ADF) + (7.83 * NEG * ADF) + (0.04 * NEG * AMBT) + (0.01 * GAIN * ADF) + (-0.01 * GAIN * AMBT); n = 4429, r² = .65, s_y.x = 1.09. Predicted intakes by simplified equation agree with those of NRC at TDN recommended by NRC and .7 kg/day. Computerized ration formulation systems were developed using simplified model. Expanded model requires further refinement prior to incorporation into a ration formulation system.<br>Ph. D.

Excessive dietary protein may affect MP use because of energetic costs of excreting excess N. Amino acids also may influence post-ruminal digestion. Therefore, two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of MP intake and post-ruminal flow of AA on growth performance and pancreatic digestive enzymes. In experiment 1, treatments supplied different amounts of MP intake to cattle and the effects on growth performance and feeding behavior were evaluated. In experiment 2, duodenal infusion of glutamate or casein was examined and the effects on pancreatic enzymes were measured. Experiment 1 suggests that feeding steers 906 g MP/d in finishing diets supplied enough MP for the greatest growth performance and carcass characteristics. Interestingly, MP intake caused different responses on feeding behavior with greater effects on steers fed 626 and 1444 g MP/d. In experiment 2, casein infusion increased α-amylase activity but not trypsin activity. Glutamate did not influence pancreatic digestive enzymes.

The objective of this study was to determine time budgets, blood urea content, total protein and body condition score as adaptive responses to seasonal dynamics by breeding Nguni cows and heifers reared on a sweetveld. Twenty four clinically healthy Nguni cows and heifers were selected for the study. The animals were grouped according to their parities namely: Parity 1 (n=5), Parity 2 (n=5), Parity 3-6 (old cows) (n=9) and in-calf heifers (n=5). Two separate experiments were conducted and running concurrently. In the first experiment time budgets (time spent walking, grazing, lying down, drinking water and browsing) of the cows and heifers were monitored for two consecutive days once a month, while in the second experiment blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein once a month during weighing. Body condition scores were also determined during weighing times. Heifers maintained significantly (p0.05) of both blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (7.5±0.39 mmol/l) and TP (80.7±1.19 g/l) in November. All the animals had the least BUN levels in January (1.93±0.18 mmol/l) while the highest total protein (TP) (82.1±1.08 g/l) was recorded in February. All the animals showed distinct (p0.05) in most behavioural attributes in the cool-wet season. Heifers spent significantly (p0.05) body condition scores, amount of time spent browsing and drinking water. On the other hand, heifers (14.7±1.50%) and first parity cows (13.9±1.50%) traded-off most (p<0,05) of their time walking during the cool-dry season. Similarly heifers spent more time browsing (6.4±0.62%) forage plants (p<0.05) than all the cows during the cool-wet season. Grazing (r = 0.17) and standing (r = -0.18) were correlated (p<0.05) with all the behavioural attributes measured in this environment. It was concluded that seasonal dynamics in trade-off behaviour through time budgeting, maintenance of BUN and TP were necessary for the Nguni cows and heifers to maintain their body condition scores within a narrow range throughout the four seasons.