Four experiments were conducted on hens of turkey and Japanese quail. In Experiment I, turkey hens were fed diets containing either 0% added fat, 3.5% animal-vegetable fat blend (AV) or 3.5% dry fat product (DF). In Experiment II with turkey hens, 2 holding diets and 4 breeder diets were investigated. The holding diets contained either 0% added fat or 5% of AV. The breeder diets contained 0% added fat of 5% of one of the following: AV, corn oil (CO) or olive oil (OO). In Experiment III with Japanese quail, 3 pre-breeder (PB) and 3 breeder diets (BD) were studied. They contained either 0, 3.5 or 7% added AV. In Experiment IV with Japanese quail, all diets contained 97% of a semi-purified basal diet and 3% of one of the following: corn starch (CS), corn oil (CO), palmitic acid (PA), oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA) or linolenic acid (LN). The fatty acid composition of plasma and yolk lipids of both turkeys and quail was influenced by the fatty acid composition of the diets. Quail fed a CO diet deposited more linoleic acid in the egg than did those on a LA diet. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Twenty-five animals that were randomly selected on the basis of sex and age from among the animals feeding exclusively on communal grazing in Mogosane village and were used to investigate the mineral (P, Ca and Mg) status, especially P, based on blood and faecal P and to estimate the quantity of P they consumed from the pasture they were grazing. The project was conducted in the same area each month for one year, and no supplement was given. Months were blocks and seasonal changes were factors and the animals were experimental units within a block. Faecal, blood and grass samples were used as indicators of P, Ca and Mg minerals within experimental units, and Analysis of Variance was done to determine whether the P status of native pastures had a significant effect on the total P, Ca and Mg utilization and movement in and out of the blood and throughout the faeces during different periods the year. Body mass, condition scores and rainfall were also recorded during this trial. When the mineral status was investigated in this trial, it was found that mineral content in blood and faeces was directly related to the minerals in the pasture since these indicators were curvilinear increasing from winter months to spring months peaking in summer months with highly (P< 0.05) significant values when grazing was best and declining as the grazing became worse during autumn and winter months. The values of the body condition of the animals increased and declined with the values of body mass. Blood P concentration was very inconsistent and varied greatly and did not follow the same increasing and decreasing pattern followed by faeces and the grass. This emphasizes the fact that the P content of blood is not always good indicator of the P status in the animal. The mean faecal P concentration during winter was lower with the value of 1.23 ± 0.13 mg/g, during spring was low with the value of 1.8 ± 0.06 mg/g, during summer was higher with the value of 3.22 ± 0.12 mg/g and during autumn was high with the value of 1.98 ± 1.04 mg/g. The mean concentration of P in the grass during winter was lower with the value of 0.92 ± 0.04 mg/g, during spring was low with the value of 1.16 ± 0.08 mg/g, during summer was higher with the value of 1.68 ± 0.06 mg/g and during autumn was high with the value of 1.22 ± 0.09 mg/g. The seasonal rainfall correlated with the faecal and grass P values vary much with the value of 0 mm in the winter season, with the value of 26.33 mm in the spring, the value of 90.4 mm during summer and the value of 44.83 mm during autumn. Condition scores and body masses had the values of 2.08 units/201.4 Kg during winter season, had the values of 3.07 units/272.29 Kg in spring season, had the values of 3.88 units/371 Kg during summer season and the values of2.75 units/286.65 during autumn season, respectively. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Agric.)) --North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), 2005.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-196). / xii, 196 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The influence of starch in grain-based diets on fat development in cattle and sheep is investigated. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Sciences, 1995

A two year study was initiated in 1973 to examine effects of substantial (3.8 fold; from a 1962-66 mean of 39 million to about 150 million in 1973 and 1974) increases in sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) Walbaum) fry numbers on zooplankton abundance in Babine Lake. Several lake areas and stationsware sampled for zooplankton bimonthly from May to October during 1973 and 1974 and compared to data gathered between 1958 and 1962 prior to a large scale enhancement program for sockeye stocks. Zooplankton biomass had decreased up to 70% in some areas of the lake during 1973, but only 40% in 1974. Decreases in numbers were also evident. Although seasonal changes in fry diet followed changes in zooplankton species abundance, feeding was selective. The less abundant but larger forms, Daphnia and Heterocope together comprised 70% of the diet during summer, while Cyclops and Diaptomus formed the bulk (87%) of the diet in late fall. Significant decreases in Daphnia and Diaptomus abundance and increases in nauplii-early copepodite abundance had occurred by 1973. The increased 1974 zooplankton abundance relative to 1973 was attributed to decreased mid-summer fry numbers in the lake. Field data suggested low Diaptomus numbers contributed to much higher fry mortality (about double in 1974) compared to 1973. An experimental study of species selectivity by sockeye fry indicated that they selected Cyclops and Diaptomus adults. The larger copepods, Heterocope and Epischura, were rejected by fry encountering zooplankton for the first time. Copepodites and nauplii were rejected, but less so when preferred prey were scarce. Prey activity, in my experiments, could not be used to predict predation vulnerability and hence the species selectivity displayed by the fry. Light and temperature had little effect on Cyclops, Dlaptomus and Heterocope activity. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Three experiments were conducted to study the nutritional value of poultry litter in ruminants and poultry. In the first experiment, eight yearling wethers were used in a series of three metabolism trials to study the utilization of the nitrogen in autoclaved peanut hull broiler litter containing 32.6% crude protein (dry matter basis). Poultry litter nitrogen replaced 25, 50 and 100% of the nitrogen of a purified diet containing isolated soybean protein as the nitrogen source. Apparent digestibility of crude protein in the rations decreased significantly at each increase of litter nitrogen level beyond 25%. However, the depression of crude protein digestibility at 50% litter nitrogen level was small. Digestibility of the litter nitrogen, calculated by difference, was 67 and 64%, respectively at 25 and 50% level of the nitrogen, which were not much lower than 71% when only soy protein was used. Nitrogen retention and percent utilization of absorbed nitrogen were significantly lower at the 100% litter-N level than when no litter was used. There were no consistent differences in the nitrogen fractions of the rumen fluid and blood plasma among the rations. In the second experiment, three digestion and metabolism trials were conducted with 10 yearling wethers to study the protein and energy utilization of autoclaved peanut hull and woodshaving broiler litters when each was incorporated in corn-hay natural ration at levels of 25 and 50 percent. Apparent digestibility of crude protein did not show any significant difference among the rations. Crude fiber digestibility of the litter rations was higher than that of the control ration. Dry matter, NFE and energy digestibility were lower (P<.01) for the litter rat:ons and decreased significantly when the litter level in the ration was increased from 25 to 50%. No significant difference was observed in nitrogen retention, due to kind or level of litter in the rations. Crude fiber digestibility, calculated by difference, was significantly depressed when the level of litter was increased from 25 to 50%. There were no other significant differences in digestibility between kind or level of litter. The apparent digestibility of crude protein was 71.7%. Digestible protein content (on dry matter basis) for peanut hull and wood shaving litter were 23 and 22%, respectively. The average TDN value for ooth kinds of litter was 60% (dry basis). Average digestible energy values (kcal./kg. on dry matter basis) were 2472 and 2407 respectively for peanut hull and wood shaving litter. The corresponding values for metabolizable energy were 2212 and 2150 kcal./kg. There was no significant difference in digestible protein, TDN, digestible energy, and metabolizable energy values due to kind or level of litter. The third experiment was conducted to study the value of different levels of processed peanut hull litter as a partial protein supplement in a practical type broiler ration. When 1/6 or 1/5 of the protein in the basal diet was replaced with litter crude protein by the inclusion of 13.9 or 16.7% litter in the diet, there was no significant difference in rate of gain, compared to the control. When 1/4 of protein in the basal diet was replaced by litter crude protein (20.8% litter in the diet), a significant growth depression resulted. Feed efficiency of the litter fed groups was significantly lower than that of groups on the basal diet. / Ph. D.

Six tropical feedstuffs were analyzed for proximate composition, Van Soest components, mineral contents and amino acid composition. The crude protein contents (dry basis) of cassava tuber meal, sesame oil meal, coconut oil meal, rubber seed meal, cassava leaf meal and sweet potato leaf meal were 2.9, 35.2, 21.8, 12.0, 20.2 and 10.4%, respectively. The corresponding values for acid detergent fiber were 5.0, 23.5, 29.4, 39.1, 35.0 and 46.4%, respectively. Cassava tuber meal contained 88.4% nitrogen-free extract, but was poor in minerals and amino acids. Sesame oil meal had a silica content of 12.2% possibly indicating adulteration with sand; it was rich in all the minerals, especially Ca (2.32%), Mg (.56%), P (1.04%) and Fe (.32%). Coconut oil meal contained high amounts of Na (852 ppm) and K (1.83%), whereas the Zn (249 ppm) and Mn (252 ppm) were higher in cassava leaf meal. With the possible exception of sesame oil meal, the sulphur amino acids are likely to be the most limiting when these feedstuffs are fed to livestock. True metabolizable energy (TME) values of cassava tuber meal, cassava leaf meal and sesame oil meal were determined using 24 adult Single Comb White Leghorn roosters. After 24 hours of fasting, six roosters were force-fed 25 g of each of these feedstuffs. Six roosters were fasted for another 48-hour period and served as negative controls. Excreta were collected for two consecutive 24-hour periods. Length of collection period had no effect on the TME of cassava tuber meal and sesame oil meal, indicating that a 24-hour collection period was adequate for these feedstuffs. A collection period of 48 hours or longer was, however, required for roosters force-fed cassava leaf meal. The mean TME values (dry basis) of cassava tuber meal, cassava leaf meal and sesame oil meal were determined to be 3.76 ± .06, 1.99 ± .28 and 2.42 ± .09 kcal/g, respectively. Three digestion trials, each involving 12 crossbred gilts averaging 35.2 kg body weight, were conducted to determine the effects of crude fiber and Virginiamycin on digesta rate of passate (RP) and nutritional parameters. Two levels (3.2 and 7.3%) of crude fiber and two levels (0 and 11 ppm) of Virginiamycin were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. RP was determined by noting the time required for a change in feces color following the addition of 0.5% chromic oxide to the diet. The high fiber diet had a faster (P<.001) RP and this was associated with depressions (P<.001) in the digestibility of dry matter (DM), energy (E), cell content, cell wall (CW), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and ash. Virginiamycin supplementation slowed (P<.01) the RP of both low and high fiber diets, but improved (P<.10) the DM, E and CW digestibility of the high fiber diet only. Non-significant improvements (P<.15) in the digestibility of ADF and cellulose were also observed when Virginiamycin was supplemented to the high fiber diet. Fiber increased (P<.05) fecal nitrogen, whereas Virginiamycin supplementation decreased (P<.05) fecal nitrogen. Results suggest that Virginiamycin supplementation improved the energy utilization in a high fiber diet, but had little effect on a low fiber diet. A study was conducted, concurrent to the first total collection digestion trial, to evaluate the applicability of chromic oxide indicator method to estimate the digestibility of nutrients. Digestion coefficients derived from the indicator method were in close agreement with those determined by the conventional total collection method for the low fiber diet, but underestimate the values for the high fiber diet. / Master of Science

Three palatability and digestion trials were conducted with six Arabian geldings fed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hubbard) as hay to determine nutritional value of the hays for horses at maintenance in a Latin Square designed experiment. Alfalfa had higher (P < .01) dry matter digestibility, and voluntary intake, compared to grasses. Tall fescue and Caucasian bluestem did not differ in dry matter digestibility and voluntary intake. Feeding alfalfa resulted in higher (P < .05) intake and digestibility of CP and higher (P < .05) apparent absorption of Ca, P, K, and S, compared to the grass hays. Tall fescue was higher (P < .01) in CP concentration and digestibility, total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration, and apparent absorption of Mg and S, compared to Caucasian bluestem. Caucasian bluestem was higher (P < .05) in Zn compared to tall fescue. At the end of the palatability trials, horses fed alfalfa had higher serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, vitamin A, and serum P, S, and Cu, compared to horses fed grasses. Serum Zn was higher (P < .05) and Se tended to be higher (P < .06) in horses fed Caucasian bluestem, compared to tall fescue. All forages were below the recommended dietary Cu and P concentration but only Caucasian bluestem resulted in negative apparent P absorption. Caucasian bluestem would meet most nutrient requirements for horses at maintenance. Alfalfa supplied more crude protein, Ca, Mg, and K than was required by horses at maintenance. / Master of Science