Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Formaldehyde treatment of dietary protein to reduce its degradation in the rumen has been reported to be beneficial in some instances. Four levels of formaldehyde (0.0%, 0.8%, 1.0% and 1.2% on an air dry basis) were applied to a dehydrated and hammermilled grass-clover forage. In vitro nitrogen digestibility and ammonia-nitrogen production at *the microbial stage of incubation were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) as the level of formaldehyde was increased. Nitrogen digestibility for the combined microbial and acid-pepsin stages of incubation was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced only at the 1.2% level of formaldehyde application compared to the untreated forage. Ram lambs ranging in body weights of 29kg to 36kg were then used in studies of nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism. One percent formaldehyde was applied to the grass-clover forage. Each of the five diets (14% C.P. on D.M. basis) contained 50% grass-clover forage, 38% cassava, 11% barley and 1% sheep mineral premix on a dry matter basis. Diet one contained the untreated forage while the others contained the formaldehyde treated forage. Diets three and five were supplemented with isovaleric acid (3.0g/Kg diet) and isobutyric acid (2.3g/Kg diet). Diets four and five were supplemented with sulphur in the form of sodium sulphate. The apparent digestibility coefficients of acid-detergent fibre and cellulose were increased significantly (p < 0.05) by formaldehyde treatment of the forage. The apparent digestibility coefficient of nitrogen was significantly (p < 0.05) depressed by formaldehyde treatment of the forage except for the diet supplemented with VFAS (diet three). The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and organic matter were not affected significantly (p > 0.05). Ruminal fluid levels of isovaleric and isobutyric acids were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for animals fed diet three than for animals fed diets two and four. Formaldehyde treatment of the forage resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of valeric acid and lower levels of ammonia in ruminal fluid. Ruminal fluid levels of total volatile fatty acids, acetic, propionic and butyric acids and rumen pH were not affected significantly (p < 0.05) by formaldehyde treatment of the forage. The ratio of microbial protein-nitrogen (estimated from RNA-N) to total abomasal digesta nitrogen was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased by formaldehyde treatment of the forage except for the diet supplemented with VFAS (diet three). The concentration of non-protein-nitrogen in abomasal digesta was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by formaldehyde treatment of the forage. Abomasal digesta pH, concentration of total nitrogen, RNA-N, microbial protein-nitrogen, acid-detergent fibre, and cellulose were not affected. The reduction in the ratio of microbial protein-nitrogen to total abomasal digesta nitrogen and non-protein-nitrogen by formaldehyde treatment of the forage suggests that the treatment reduced microbial degradation of dietary protein except perhaps for the diet supplemented with VFAS (diet three). Nitrogen balance was significantly (p < 0.05) improved by formaldehyde treatment of the forage except for the sulphur supplemented diets. Sulphur supplementation tended to offset the beneficial effects of formaldehyde protection of the forage protein. Supplementation with VFAS did not further enhance nitrogen utilization. Formaldehyde treatment of the forage significantly (p < 0.05) improved sulphur balance except for the diet supplemented with both sulphur and VFAS (diet five). Daily feed intake and urine output per unit metabolic body size and growth rate over a seventeen-day period were not significantly (p < 0.05) affected by formaldehyde treatment of the forage. The flow of total digesta, organic matter, dry matter, acid-detergent fibre, cellulose and total nitrogen through the duodenum for a 24-hour period was markedly higher for the diets containing the formaldehyde treated forage. The flow of microbial protein-nitrogen and non-protein-nitrogen however was markedly depressed by formaldehyde treatment of the forage. A sheep fitted with a duodenal re-entrant cannula was used for this study. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

No description available.

Data from the University of New Hampshire were used to analyze dry matter intake and milk production in Holstein dairy cows. Equations predicting 4% FCM and dry matter intake were derived from this data using ordinary least squares. Days in milk, available nutrients, calving date, and previous period 4% FCM accounted for 90% of the variation in 4% FCM for heifers and 93% of the variation in 4% FCM for cows with previous lactations. Days in milk, acid detergent fiber, calving date, and dry matter intake from the previous 28 day period accounted for 71% of the variation in heifer dry matter intake and 79% of the variation in dry matter intake for the older cows. First period dry matter intake was predicted from first period 4% FCM, cow body weight, and acid detergent fiber of the ration. The lower R² for the first period dry matter intake (41% for heifers and 43% for cows with previous lactations) indicated that dry matter intake for a cow within a lactation was much more predictable than dry matter intake between different cows. Rations were balanced for absolute amounts for simulated lactating cows using NRC requirements and 4% FCM and dry matter intake generated from the prediction equations. Relationships between 4% FCM and nutrient concentrations were determined for heifers and multiparous cows. These recommendations suggest maximum feeding of nutrients to groups producing at least 35 kg of 4% FCM daily. The effect of grouping and individual feeding on 4% FCM were analyzed. Independent variables included nutrient concentration, dry matter intake, groups, calving interval, variability of 305 day milk production within the herd, and level of feeding. Holding dry matter intake and nutrient concentrations constant, increasing the number of groups from one to two increased 4% FCM by 0%-3%, two groups to three groups by 0-2%, and three groups to four groups by 0-1%. Changing from one group to individual feeding increased 4% FCM by 2%-4% and two group to individual feeding increased 4% FCM by 0%-3%. The range of figures was influenced by herd production level, calving interval, and variability of within herd production. High variability of production favored additional groups, while high calving intervals favored individual feeding. To estimate expected change in profitability due to a change in grouping or feeding methods, multiply previous milk revenue by expected percentage change and subtract the increased cost of feeding. Feeding less than the group average for nutrients was not found conducive for increasing profitability. In fact, production response to protein suggested that the low producing groups in multiple group feeding systems should be increased in protein slightly. Individual feeding had the most potential for profitability, although group feeding compared favorably under some circumstances. If cows were grouped, a minimum of two groups was generally preferable. If the high producing group did not satisfy the needs of the high producing cows, or the drop in nutrients between groups was substantial, a three group system would appear more favorable. / Ph. D.

Ph. D.

The high cost of feed materials and feed additives in developing nations has elicited interest in the search for sustainable alternatives. Moringa (Moringa oleifera), one of such sustainable alternatives is a tropical plant that has its usefulness investigated in this study. A 42-day study was designed to determine the response of Ross 308 broilers to dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation. The Moringa oleifera leaves used for the study were analysed for proximate, mineral and composition as well as phytochemical contents before being incorporated in the diet. Day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (n = 500) were allotted to five treatments in completely randomized design with each treatment replicated five times and each replicate having 20 chicks. The birds were subjected to diets supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg feed at both starter and finisher stage, respectively and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. Moringa oleifera leaf meal level that supported optimum production and physiological variables was modelled using the quadratic function. At day 42, three birds per replicate were slaughtered to evaluate carcass and organ yields. Result of the proximate composition revealed that MOLM is rich in protein (32.37%) and neutral detergent fibre (52.16%). Mineral assay indicated that MOLM was high in calcium, sodium, potassium, sulphur and iron. Daily feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio were the same among the treatments with the exception of starter broilers on diet T1 that had higher ADG (p<0.05) than those on the other diets. Final live weight (FLW), mortality and gizzard weight were influenced (p<0.05) by Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation. Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation had no effect on parameters measured. Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation at 39.98 and 35.80 g/kg feed supported optimum FLW and ADG at starter phase and 46.88 g/kg feed MOLM supported optimum FLW at finisher phase. In conclusion, Moringa oleifera leaf meal is a good source of nutrients and suitable for production of enhanced cut parts in broiler chickens. Birds on 50 and 75 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed had higher (p<0.05) packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and glucose than those on the other 3 treatment diets. The white blood cell (WBC) counts for birds on 50 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed were higher (p<0.05) than those on 100 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed but similar (p>0.05) to those on 0, 25 and 75 g MOLM/kg feed. Blood platelet count maintained the trend 75 g > 0 g > 50 g > 100 g > 25 g MOLM/kg feed with birds on 75 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed being statistically higher (p<0.05) than those on 25, 50 and 100 g MOLM/kg feed. Dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation had no significant effect (p>0.05) on haemoglobin (Hb), total serum protein (TSP), albumin, cholesterol and uric acid. Triglyceride (TG) level of birds on 25, 75 and 100 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed decreased significantly compared to those on 0 and 50 g MOLM/kg feed. Daily Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the differential WBC count. Daily Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation with 26.99 g/kg feed and 31.95 g/kg feed respectively supported optimum PCV (38.62%) and glucose (245.42 mg/dl) in Ross 308 broilers. It is, therefore summarized that optimizing MOLM supplementation level in the ration of Ross 308 broilers could assist in improving their productivity. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / Ph. D. (Agriculture)