No description available.

No description available.

Disinfestation using microwaves can be an alternate to chemical methods of killing insects in grain. A pilot-scale industrial microwave dryer operating at 2.45 GHz was used to determine the mortality of life stages of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Sitophilus granarius (L.) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) adults in wheat, barley, and rye. Grain samples of 50 g each at 14, 16, and 18% moisture content were infested with stored-grain insects. The samples were then exposed to microwave energy at 200, 300, 400, and 500 W for exposure times of 28 and 56 s. Complete (100%) mortality was achieved for adults of three insect species at 500 W, 28 s and at 400 W, 56 s in barley and wheat. In rye, complete mortality of adult T. castaneum and S. granarius was achieved at 400 W, 28 s and at 300 W, 56 s whereas for C. ferrugineus, complete mortality was achieved at 500 W, 28 s and at 400 W, 56 s. The average temperature of wheat, barley, and rye at 500 W and 28 s was around 80, 71 and 82oC, respectively, and moisture loss was 2.0, 1.9 and 2.5 percentage points, respectively. Among the life stages of T. castaneum in wheat, eggs were the most susceptible followed by larvae, and the least susceptible were the pupae and adults. Among the life stages of T. castaneum in barley and rye, eggs were the most susceptible and adults were the least susceptible with no significant difference between pupae and larvae. There was no significant difference in the mortality of adults at 14, 16, and 18% moisture content barley and rye and the life stages of T. castaneum and S. granarius in rye. Germination of seeds decreased with an increase in power level or exposure time or both. There was no significant difference in the quality characteristics of microwave-heated wheat and rye except for reduced flour yield in rye. The quality of the barley treated at 500 W, 28 s was the same as the control, whereas, there was significant decrease in the quality of barley treated at 400 W, 56 s.

Disinfestation using microwaves can be an alternate to chemical methods of killing insects in grain. A pilot-scale industrial microwave dryer operating at 2.45 GHz was used to determine the mortality of life stages of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Sitophilus granarius (L.) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) adults in wheat, barley, and rye. Grain samples of 50 g each at 14, 16, and 18% moisture content were infested with stored-grain insects. The samples were then exposed to microwave energy at 200, 300, 400, and 500 W for exposure times of 28 and 56 s. Complete (100%) mortality was achieved for adults of three insect species at 500 W, 28 s and at 400 W, 56 s in barley and wheat. In rye, complete mortality of adult T. castaneum and S. granarius was achieved at 400 W, 28 s and at 300 W, 56 s whereas for C. ferrugineus, complete mortality was achieved at 500 W, 28 s and at 400 W, 56 s. The average temperature of wheat, barley, and rye at 500 W and 28 s was around 80, 71 and 82oC, respectively, and moisture loss was 2.0, 1.9 and 2.5 percentage points, respectively. Among the life stages of T. castaneum in wheat, eggs were the most susceptible followed by larvae, and the least susceptible were the pupae and adults. Among the life stages of T. castaneum in barley and rye, eggs were the most susceptible and adults were the least susceptible with no significant difference between pupae and larvae. There was no significant difference in the mortality of adults at 14, 16, and 18% moisture content barley and rye and the life stages of T. castaneum and S. granarius in rye. Germination of seeds decreased with an increase in power level or exposure time or both. There was no significant difference in the quality characteristics of microwave-heated wheat and rye except for reduced flour yield in rye. The quality of the barley treated at 500 W, 28 s was the same as the control, whereas, there was significant decrease in the quality of barley treated at 400 W, 56 s.

Fibrolytic enzymes and microbial inoculants have potential to improve the value of feedstuff and feedstock. An experiment was conducted to determine the nutritive value, ensiling characteristics, and in situ disappearance kinetics of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) silages pretreated with fibrolytic enzyme (xylanase plus cellulase: XC) or microbial [Promote ASB (Lactobacillus buchneri and L. plantarum); PRO] inoculants. The greatest yield was for cultivar PS 747 and the least for MMR 381/73 (MMR). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration was least for XC treated silage, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentration was least for XC and PRO treated silage. In vitro true digestibility (IVTD) was greatest for PRO treated Dairy Master BMR (DBMR), whereas, acid detergent lignin was least for PRO treated DBMR. Aerobic stability was not improved by PRO, however, aerobic stability of XC treated MMR was 63 h greater than the control. Generally, the in situ disappearance kinetics were improved with the application of XC and PRO, and XC had the greatest effect on silage with greater NDF and ADF concentrations. A second experiment was conducted to determine if the same application rates of either inoculant would reduce the fiber fraction of two cultivars each of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or oat (Avena sativa L.) hays. Forage was harvested twice during the tillering stage (H1) and (H2) and a third after grain harvest (H3). The IVTD was greater for oat than wheat due to a lesser fiber fraction. Forage from H2 had lesser NDF and ADF and greater CP and IVTD concentrations. In situ DM, NDF, ADF, and ERD were greater for wheat and oat at tillering than stover and NDF and ERD were greater for Harrison than Fannin at tillering. Treatment of oat or wheat hays with XC or PRO enhanced in situ disappearance kinetics. Both XC and PRO may be used to reduce the fiber fractions of sorghum silage and small-grain hay. Additionally, it appears the inoculant PRO can be used to improve fermentation characteristics of sorghum silage.

Feeding value of dried distillers grains with soluble (DDGS) as an energy source for lactating dairy cows was evaluated in two studies. A diet in which barley grain was replaced by DDGS at 20% of dietary dry matter (DM) did not affect milk yield but tended to increase rumen pH compared with the control diet. Diets in which barley silage was replaced by DDGS at 20% of dietary DM increased milk yield and decreased chewing time compared with the control diet in both studies, but decreased rumen pH and milk fat concentration in the second study, and the inclusion of alfalfa hay in place of barley silage at 10% of dietary DM did not alleviate those depressions. In conclusion, DDGS can be used as an energy source as a partial replacement of barley grain or barley silage in diets for lactating dairy cows. / Animal Science

No description available.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-235) / ix, 235 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Develops a coherent theoretical framework to analyse the formulation of grain procurement policy for the entire history of the PRC. An optimization model is constructed to capture Chinese policy makers' preferences regarding the competing objectives of sectoral income distribition and food security, as well as the factors governing the trade-off between thes two objectives and the choice of policy instruments. Also analyses the impacts of China's accession to WTO on its grain sector. To explain the numerous failures of China's grain policy, studies the problems arising from policy formulation and implementation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Economics, 2003

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon Graduate Center, 1988.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1982. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves A19-A23).