ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was the formation of prediction equations of the degradability and digestibility parameters of protein supplements used in sheep nutrition by the use of their chemical composition. Four trials were conducted (one in situ degradability trial, using 3 × 9 incomplete Latin square experimental design and three in vivo digestibility trials using 3 × 3, 4 × 4, 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design, respectively). The nine tested feeds were soybean meal (SBM), rapeseed meal (RSM), sunflower meal (SFM), lupin seeds (LS), faba bean seeds (FBS), Vetch seeds (VS), pea seeds (PS), chickpea seeds (CS) and flax seeds (FS). Incubation in the rumen of the three ruminally cannulated indigenous Chios breed rams lasted 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h in order to measure dry matter and crude protein degradability parameters ("a", "b", "degradability-D", "effective degradability-ED" and "c" for 0-48 h). Additionally, three in vivo digestibility trials were conducted in order to measure digestibility coefficients of nutrients of these nine protein supplements. The best fit equation for CP effective degradability was ED (g/100 gDM) = 100.757 + 0.182 × ADF + 0.042 × ADF2 - 4.351 × ADL + 0.036 × ADL2 (adjusted R2 = 0.90). In conclusion, it can be said that prediction equations can be constructed to estimate nutritional parameters for different feeds.
Subject(s)
Nutrients , Plant Breeding , Sheep , Animals , Male , Nutritional Status , Sheep, Domestic , RumenABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) powder and vitamin E, as feed additives combined at different levels, on oxidative stability of broiler meat up to 14th day after chilling. A total of 270 1-day-old male chicks of Ross 308 strain were randomly assigned to nine dietary groups with three replicates having 10 birds each. Diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, or 1.0% of rosemary (R) powder and 0, 100, or 200 mg/kg of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate; VitE) according to the following treatments: T1 - control basal diet (0R + 0VitE); T2 - 0R + 100VitE; T3 - 0R + 200VitE; T4 - 0.5R + 0VitE; T5 - 0.5R + 100VitE; T6 - 0.5R + 200VitE; T7 - 1.0R + 0VitE; T8 - 1.0R + 100VitE; and T9 - 1.0R + 200VitE. At day 42, two birds of each replicate were slaughtered and the length and weight of cecum was recorded. Carcasses and their economically valuable parts were also weighted and broiler breast refrigerated at 4°C for 14 days. At day 0, 4, 7, and 14 of storage the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of breast meat was evaluated. After 4 days of storage, meat MDA contents of the T5 (0.43 mg/kg) and T9 (0.41 mg/kg) were lower than control group (T1: 0.55 mg/kg; p < .05). On day 7, groups supplemented with rosemary or VitE alone showed similar MDA contents (p > .05) than control. On day 14, lower (p < .05) MDA contents than T1 were observed in all groups except for broilers fed diet supplemented only with vitamin E. No effects were observed between treatments on the relative weight of the several carcass traits, however, VitE influenced (p < .05) the weight and size of cecum. Based on our findings, the combination of rosemary powder and vitamin E at different levels in diet is useful to limit the lipid oxidation of chilled chicken meat.
ABSTRACT
Ecosystem disturbances, such as wildfires, are driving forces that determine ecology and conservation measures. Species respond differentially to wildfires, having diverse post-fire population evolution. This study reports, for first time, the responses of brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) to wildfires. Hare relative abundance, age ratio, diet quality, body condition, and diseases were studied. Fire influence on vegetation was calculated at a micro-scale level. Hare abundance was lower the first year after wildfires in burned relative to unburned areas. The reverse was found in the second year when hare abundance was higher in burned areas. Hare abundance in burned areas was also higher in the third and fourth years. In the fifth and sixth years after wildfire no significant difference was found in abundance. At a micro-scale level, higher numbers of hare feces were counted in places with greater wildfire influence on vegetation. Age ratio analysis revealed more juveniles in burned areas, but the same number of neonates in burned and unburned areas, indicating lower mortality of juveniles in burned areas. Reduced predation in burned areas provides the most plausible explanation for our findings.
