Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-291).

by Pui-nin Lee. / Thesis submitted in: August 1997. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-148). / Abstract also in Chinese. / List of Abbreviations --- p.I / List of Tables --- p.II / List of Figures --- p.III / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Sugar cane --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Mushroom: Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Fruiting bodies --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Life cycle of the mushroom --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Cultivation --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Nutrition --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Cardiovascular and Renal effects --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Dietary fiber --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.6.1 --- Physical properties of dietary fiber --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.6.2 --- Physiological actions --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- Food colorants --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4 --- Quality of food products --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Toxicity studies --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Stability --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Sensory evaluation --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5 --- Secondary metabolism --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6 --- Monascus --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Monascus products --- p.25 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Monascus products as a functional food --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Monascus pigments --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Factors affect Monascus pigment production --- p.31 / Chapter 1.7 --- Purposes of study --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1 --- Micro-organisms --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2 --- Maintenance of culture --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3 --- Waste Culture medium for production of pigments --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4 --- Chemical analysis of sugar cane residue broth (SCRB) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.5 --- Preparation of inoculum --- p.40 / Chapter 2.6 --- Batch culture for pigment production --- p.41 / Chapter 2.7 --- Fermentor culture for pigment production --- p.44 / Chapter 2.8 --- Cultivation of oyster mushroom --- p.46 / Chapter 2.9 --- Purification and characterization of Monascus pigments --- p.49 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Extracellular pigments --- p.49 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Intracellular pigments --- p.50 / Chapter 2.10 --- Toxicity test --- p.56 / Chapter 2.11 --- Sensory evaluation --- p.61 / Chapter 2.12 --- Statistical analysis --- p.62 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1 --- Extracellular pigment of screening test --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2 --- Batch culture for pigment production by Monascus purpureus --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Consumption of glucose --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Consumption of sucrose --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Biomass production --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Residual protein content --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- pH value of the fermented medium --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Production of crude extracellular pigments --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Production of crude intracellualr pigments --- p.75 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Total crude pigment yield --- p.75 / Chapter 3.3 --- Fermentor --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Pigmentation of control group, treatment A and B" --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Nutrition of the biomass from control group and treatment B of fermentor products --- p.80 / Chapter 3.4 --- Production of oyster mushroom --- p.80 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Biological efficiency of mushroom --- p.80 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Amino acid profile and total amino acid content of the fruitbidies --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Total dietary fiber content --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- "The contents of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen" --- p.91 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Sensory evaluation of the mushroom --- p.91 / Chapter 3.5 --- Toxicity --- p.91 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Acute toxicity --- p.91 / Chapter 3.5.1.1 --- Body weight --- p.95 / Chapter 3.5.1.2 --- Food consumption --- p.95 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Subacute toxicity --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.2.1 --- Food consumption --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.2.2 --- Body weight --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.2.3 --- The organ weight to body weight ratios --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.2.4 --- The glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate- oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) level in blood serum --- p.103 / Chapter 3.6 --- Analysis of Monascus pigments from fermentor system by HPLC and spectrophotometry --- p.108 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Extracellular pigment from control group --- p.108 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Extracellular pigment from the group supplemented with 1 % MSG --- p.108 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Intracellular pigment --- p.111 / Chapter 3.6.3.1 --- Standard of intracellular pigments (conventional pigments) --- p.111 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Intracellular pigments extracted from SCRB group --- p.111 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Intracellular pigment extracted from SCRB with 1 % MSG --- p.115 / Chapter 3.7 --- Qualitative and quantitative of the extracellular and intracellular pigments --- p.118 / Chapter 3.8 --- Detection of citrinin by HPLC --- p.123 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.128 / Chapter 4.1 --- Screening test --- p.128 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Batch culture system --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2 --- Toxicity test of crude extracellular pigment --- p.129 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Acute toxicity --- p.129 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Subacute toxicity test --- p.130 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Organ to body weight ratios and cytotoxicity --- p.131 / Chapter 4.3 --- The two new water soluble pigment --- p.132 / Chapter 4.4 --- Extraction and purification of Monascus pigments from fermentor system --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Qualitative and quantitative of the intracellular and extracellular pigments --- p.133 / Chapter 4.5 --- Nephrotoxic-citrinin --- p.134 / Chapter 4.6 --- Oyster mushroom cultivation --- p.135 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Fruiting yield (biological efficiency) --- p.136 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Amino acid content --- p.136 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Total dietary fiber content --- p.137 / Conclusion --- p.139 / References --- p.141 / Appendix

Thesis (doctoral)--Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-189).

Thesis (M. App. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Science, 1995? / Copies of the author's previously published articles inserted. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-159).

Bibliography: leaves 259-291. / xiii, 291 leaves, [8 leaves of col. plates] : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences,1994

Bibliography: leaves 259-291.

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.

We conducted two experiments evaluating perennial ryegrass straw as a forage source for ruminants. Experiment 1 evaluated digestion and physiological variables in steers offered perennial ryegrass straw containing increasing levels of lolitrem B. Sixteen ruminally cannulated Angus X Hereford steers (231 ± 2 kg BW) were blocked by weight and assigned randomly to one of four treatments (TRT). Steers were provided perennial ryegrass straw at 120% of the previous 5-d average intake. Prior to straw feeding, soybean meal (SBM) was provided (0.1% BW; CP basis) to meet the estimated requirement for degradable intake protein. Low (L) and high (H) lolitrem B straws (<100 and 1550 ppb, respectively) were used to formulate TRT diets: LOW (100% L); LOW MIX (67% L:33% H); HIGH MIX (33% L:67% H); HIGH (100% H). Intake and digestibility of DM and OM, and ruminal pH, total VFA, and NH₃-N were not affected by increasing lolitrem B concentration (P>0.13). Ruminal indigestible ADF (IADF) fill increased linearly (P=0.01) and IADF passage rate (%/h) decreased linearly (P=0.04) as lolitrem B level increased. Experiment 2 evaluated performance and production of 72 Angus X Hereford cows (539 ± 5 kg BW) consuming perennial ryegrass straw containing increasing levels of lolitrem B during the last third of gestation. Cows were blocked by body condition score (BCS) and randomly assigned to one of three TRT. Cows were provided perennial ryegrass straw ad libitum and supplemented with SBM (0.1% BW; CP basis) to meet the estimated requirement for degradable intake protein. Mixtures of a L and H lolitrem B straw (467 and 2017 ppb, respectively) were used to formulate TRT diets: LOW (100% L); MIX (50% L:50% H); HIGH (100% H). Thirteen of 24 cows on the HIGH TRT exhibited signs of ryegrass staggers and were removed from the study. Dry matter intake was not affected (P>0.12) by increasing lolitrem B concentration; however, estimated DM digestibility decreased linearly (P<0.01) as lolitrem B concentration increased. Lolitrem B concentration did not influence pre- or post calving weight or BCS change (P>0.10). These data suggest that feeding perennial ryegrass straw containing up to 1550 ppb lolitrem B does not adversely affect nutrient digestion or physiological response variables in steers. However, providing straw with a lolitrem B concentration of approximately 2000 ppb resulted in 54% of cows exhibiting signs of ryegrass staggers. Blending of H and L straws appears to be a successful management practice. Keywords: Alkaloid, Beef Cattle, Endophyte, Lolitrem B, Perennial Ryegrass, Straw / Graduation date: 2004

The growing demand for meat worldwide by the increasing human population (6.8 billion) calls for an increase in livestock production as well as attention to environmental sustainability. Production increases are critical especially in Africa with the highest annual population growth rate (2.5%), where most communities rely on livestock for protein supply. Attempts by intensive livestock farming to optimize production are limited by fibrous quality feeds (roughages) and their unavailability in both developed and developing countries. The overall objective of this study was to scan both domestic and wild herbivores in search for microbial ecosystems with superior fibrolytic potential that can be used as feed additives. It was hypothesized that microbes from wild herbivore can improve fibrous feed breakdown in domesticated ruminants. Experiment 1 evaluated the use of fresh or in vitro cultured faecal inoculum (FF) from two Jersey cows as a potential substitute for rumen fluid (RF). Cultured FF was a better substitute for fresh RF as demonstrated by percentage differences in exocellulase activity (0.4%) and true degradability (TD) (7%), compared to the differences observed between fresh RF and FF for exocellulase activity (33%) and TD (14%). It was applied in subsequent experimentation because it was cost effective (no surgery and reduced sample collection time). The second experiment compared the fibrolytic competence of cultured faecal inocula from three hindgut fermenters (miniature horse (mH), horse (H) and Zebra (ZB)) in summer and winter grazing in their natural environment. Both cellulase enzyme assays (exocellulase, endocellulase and hemicellulase) and in vitro maize stover digestibility study ranked the herbivores according to their fibrolytic competence as ZB > H > mH. The effect of cultured faecal inocula from H, ZB and wildebeest (WB) and its combined systems (N1=H+WB, N2=H+ZB, N3=WB+ZB and N4=H+WB+ZB) on the fermentation of maize stover were also evaluated in vitro. Both enzyme assays and MS degradability studies showed that the combined systems were higher (P<0.01) in fibrolytic activities compared to the individual systems. The microbial ecosystems were ranked as N1 > N2 > N4 > H > ZB > WB >N3; and N3 > N1 > N4 > WB > N2 > ZB >H by their exocellulase activity and degradability parameters, repetitively. The diversity of microbial ecosystems was confirmed by numerous active carboxymethyl cellulase bands present on a carboxymethy cellulose zymograms in experiment 4. The combined microbial ecosystems contain more active and variable bands of cellulases than in the individual microbial ecosystems. Systems N3 and N1 were considered as the best inocula for rumen transinoculation studies. Experiment 5 assessed the in vivo effect of direct-fed microbials from N1 and N3 on MS degradation, ruminal fermentation characteristics and cellulase enzyme profile in sheep. Feed dry matter intake increased (P<0.03) in N1 but tended to increase when inoculated with N3. The treatments, N1 and N3 increased (P<0.05) rumen exocellulase (9.4 and 33.2%, respectively) and endocellulase (82.1 and 47.1%, respectively) specific activities but not hemicellulase activity. Maize stover degradability parameters for N3 (TD, degradability of the insoluble fraction of MS, effective degradability, total SCFA and propionate) measured after 96 h of incubation tended (P>0.05) to be numerically different (1.1, 5.4, 7.1 and 7.9%, respectively). Increase in propionate for N3 was accompanied by higher total SCFA and lower CH4. A decrease in CH4 and no difference in CO2 allow both systems to be environmentally friendly since they have been associated with global warming. These studies showed that direct-fed microbials from N1 and N3 inocula have the potential of improving the utilization of maize stover feeds in ruminants, particularly in view of its simplicity and availability which allows it to be implemented at a relatively lower cost compared to other specific strains or microbial cultures. However, more research is required to identify, purify and classify the superior fibrolytic microbes in the most active ecosystems. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Feeding of animal has become increasingly a big challenge for smallholder farmers in the dry season in most of Sahelian countries. Sheep has an important role in social and economical activity of smallholder farmers. Millet stover (MS) and groundnut haulms (GH) are the main crop residues used. Among concentrates, millet bran (MB) and wheat bran (WB) are mostly used by smallholder farmers in feeding animals. However, these crop residues and concentrates are used inadequately. MS is a poor quality roughage diet, legume residues such as GH and brans are rich in nutritive value. The general objective of this study was to develop a feeding technology transferable to smallholder farmers by supplementing MS with GH, MB and WB to increase the growth performance of sheep during the dry season. The first study evaluated the effect of chopping millet stover (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.) in sheep feeding and the degradability in sacco of feeds. Two Holstein cows were used to determine the degradability in sacco of feeds. The potential dry matter degradability (g/kg) were 846, 809, 730, 410, 550 and 370 for millet bran (MB), wheat bran (WB), groundnut haulms (GH), millet stover, leaves plus sheath and stems of MS respectively. The potential nitrogen degradability (g/kg) of MB, WB and GH were 865, 908 and 817 respectively. The nitrogen content was 7.4, 15.1, 22.0 and 26.2 g/kg for MS, GH, millet bran and wheat bran respectively. The effects of chopping millet stover (MS) on dry matter intake in Oudah bicolor sheep were studied in Maradi, Niger. Four treatments were T0 (unchopped MS), T1 (MS chopped, 50 cm), T2 (MS chopped, 25 cm) and T3 (MS chopped, 10 cm). A randomized block design was applied on 36 sheep, implying 9 sheep per treatment (T0, T1, T2 and T3). The treatment T2 or 25 cm chopping size gave the best MS intake of 560 g/day. The second study evaluated the effects of supplementing millet stover (MS) with groundnut haulms (GH), millet bran (MB) and wheat bran (WB). These supplements can improve the feed value of MS and promote live weight gain of sheep in the dry season. The purpose of this study was to develop a feeding technology transferable to smallholder farmers by supplementing MS. The study was conducted in two successive phases. The phase 1 of 66 days, evaluated the effect of GH, MB and WB supplementations on MS intake and growth performance of sheep, the phase 2 of 14 days, assessed the effect of GH, MB and WB supplementations on intake and digestibility of MS. Six treatments were constituted, namely, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 formed by four levels of GH (0, 200, 400, 600g) and two others (600g GH + 100g MB) and (600g GH + 75 g WB) respectively. A randomized block design was applied on 36 Oudah bicolor sheep, implying 6 male lambs per treatment (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6). The GH supplementation levels had a linear effect (P<0.001) on dry matter intake (DMI) of MS, cell wall and nitrogen. Millet stover intake (MSI) decreased significantly with increasing level of GH. However the total dry matter intake (TDMI) significantly increased with GH levels. MB increased (P<0.05) both TDMI, TOMI and nitrogen intake (NI), (P<0.001). WB increased MSI (P<0.05), TDMI and TOMI (P<0.01), NI (P<0.001) and cell wall intakes. GH supplementation had both a linear and quadratic effect on DM digestibility of MS, cell wall and nitrogen digestibility. GH had a linear and significant effect (P<0.001) on live weight gain (LWG) and efficiency. The maximum average daily gain (80.5 g/day) was obtained with treatment 6 followed by the treatment 5 (68 g/day). The animals of treatment 1 received MS stover alone and lost their weight (-19.13 g/day). It is concluded that groundnut haulms, millet bran and wheat bran had good nutritive value whereas millet stover had low nutritive value. The 25 cm chopping size was the one to propose to smallholder farmers. The supplementation of MS as the basal diet with GH and brans enhanced sheep production through improvements in digestibility and intakes of TDM, TOM, cell wall and nitrogen. Key words: Millet stover; groundnut haulms; millet bran; wheat bran, chopping; intake; degradability; growth performance; Oudah bicolor sheep. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.