Estimate of manure present in compost dairy barn systems for sizing of manure storage

Milk production is increasingly modernized as a result of the growing demand for food around the world. Improvements in livestock facilities are observed, with a large increase in the use of feedlot systems such as the Compost Dairy Barn. Increasing milk production in confinement systems has also raised concerns such as the management of wastes (water, faeces and urine) from the system, which has become one of the most important issues in the intensive dairy farms. The aim of this work was to estimate the amount of manure present in compost dairy barn systems in order to size the manure storage. The study was conducted at four compost dairy barns in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. These compost barns had different bedding materials and dimensions. In each farm, data on milk yield and quality (daily production, fat and protein content), animal weight and amount of feed ingested by the animals were collected. Total-day manure delivered by the cows in the feeding alley and milking parlour was piled up together and weighed. Based on the results, it was observed that, in the compost dairy barns, only part of the total manure produced per day was delivered in the milking parlour (1.6 and 2.0%) and in the feed alley (27.6 to 49.3%). These results are very important for designers for the proper manure management system design of the dairy farms

Comparison of airflow homogeneity in Compost Dairy Barns with different ventilation systems using the CFD model

In the pursuit of high milk productivity, producers are using confinement systems in order to improve performance and animal welfare. Among the housing systems, the Compost bedded-pack barns (CBP) stand out. In these barns a bedding area is provided inside, where cows move freely. Generally this area is covered with carbon source material (such as sawdust or fine dry wood shavings) which together with manure, thanks a regular mechanically stirring, ensures the aerobic composting process. The ventilation in these facilities has the function of dehumidifying the air, improving the air quality, drying the bedding, improving the thermal comfort conditions of the confined animals. This work aimed at validating a computational model using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to determine the best homogeneity of airflows generated by different forced ventilation systems used in CBP barns. Two CBP barns were compared with different ventilation systems: high volume low speed (HVLS) and low volume high-speed (LVHS) fans. The results showed that the proposed model was satisfactory to predict the flows generated by both types of fans. It was concluded that the use of HVLS fans produced a more homogeneous airflow when compared to LVHS fans. The use of mechanical ventilation in tropical conditions is necessary for the proper functioning of the system. In this study, the systems used promoted the increase in air speed to levels close to adequate

Energetic analysis in compost dairy barn: a case study in southeastern Brazil

Received: February 2nd, 2023 ; Accepted: March 25th, 2023 ; Published: August 16th, 2023 ; Correspondence: [email protected], [email protected] efficiency aims to optimize the energy consumption of the processes, activities, and machinery of the farm, ensuring the comfort, handling, and safety of the animals. The purpose of the study was to identify the energy consumption demanded by the activities performed at the Compost Dairy Barn facility, located in Itaguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil and to propose energysaving alternatives, applying the Energy Audit Methodology described by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE in Spanish) from Spain. The energy assessment at the facility allowed us to recognize unnecessary energy expenses in machinery uses, variations in milk production in relation to environmental conditions, waste disposal, and to propose improvement alternatives to reduce energy consumption expenses. Waste production data of 1577.7 kg per year was obtained, which corresponds to the bedding and feeding areas, and 175 kg of waste for the feeding area. Data on the temperature and humidity of the bedding area were collected to determine which of the five months of research is the most demanding in terms of energy. To maintain the animal’s welfare, tracing the times of substantial use of machinery (e.g., fans, tractors) at the facility and calculating Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI) was necessary. The highest percentage consumption of energy was represented by tractors in bedding maintenance and supply, by around 95.03%. The energy analysis of the farm showed a reduction in energy consumption of 45.03%, compared to the initial consumption percentages of the overall livestock activity

Applying Structural Transition Theory To Describe Enzyme Kinetics In Heterogeneous Systems

Enzyme action was investigated by assuming the occurrence of different states of enzyme-substrate affinities. These states were considered to involve enzyme species with distinct abilities to form reaction product. The results obtained showed strong agreement with the experimental data for the action of peroxidase. This approach provides a powerful tool for predicting the kinetic behavior of other enzymatic processes in conditions not described before. An additional feature of this approach is the ability to characterize processes at any enzyme-substrate concentration ratio, including high enzyme-substrate ratios and enzyme inhibition by substrate or product. This proposal can also be used in systems with heterogeneity concerning the investigated enzyme. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.52614971513Cornish-Bowden, A., (2012) Fundamentals of Enzyme Kinetics, , NY: WeinheimMonod, J., Wyman, J., Changeux, J.P., (1965) J. Mol. Biol., 12, p. 88Koshland Jr., D.E., Nemethy, G., Filmer, D., (1966) Biochemistry, 5, p. 365Imai, K., Yonetani, T., (1975) J. Biol. Chem., 250, p. 2227Ackers, G.K., Johnson, M.L., (1981) J. Mol. Biol., 147, p. 559Edelstein, S.J., (1996) J. Mol. Biol., 257, p. 737Michaelis, L., Menten, M.L., (1913) Biochem. Z, 49, p. 333Monod, J., (1949) Annu. Rev. Microbiol., 3, p. 371Bispo, J.A.C., Bonafe, C.F.S., de Souza, V.B., Silva, J.B.A., Carvalho, G.B.M., (2011) J. Math. Chem., 49, p. 1976Bajzer, Z., Strehler, E.E., (2012) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 417, p. 982Bersani, A.M., Dell'Acqua, G., (2011) Math. Method. Appl. Sci., 34, p. 1954Bispo, J.A.C., Bonafe, C.F.S., Koblitz, M.G.B., Silva, C.G.S., Souza, A.R., (2013) J. Math. Chem., 51, p. 144Tzafriri, A.R., (2003) Bull. Math. Biol., 65, p. 1111Schnell, S., Maini, P.K., (2000) Bull. Math. Biol., 62, p. 483Briggs, G.E., Haldane, J.B., (1925) Biochem. J., 19, p. 338Weber, G., (1972) Biochemistry, 11, p. 864Weber, G., (1982) Nature, 300, p. 603Weber, G., (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 81, p. 7098Weber, G., (1986) Biochemistry, 25, p. 3626Weber, G., (1992) Protein Interactions, , New York: Chapman & HallWyman Jr., J., (1948) Adv. Protein Chem., 4, p. 407Wyman Jr., J., (1964) Adv. Protein Chem., 19, p. 223Shannon, L.M., Kay, E., Lew, J.Y., (1966) J. Biol. Chem., 241, p. 2166Hammer, F.E., Oxidoreductases (1993) Enzymes in Food Processing, p. 233. , T. W. Nagodawithana and G. Reed (Eds.), New York: Academic PressGaspar, T., Penel, C., Thorpe, T., Greppin, H., (1982) Peroxidases, 1970-1980: A Survey of Their Biochemical and Physiological Roles in Higher Plants, , Geneva: Université de Genève, Centre de botaniqueMclellan, K.M., Robinson, D.S., (1981) Food Chem., 7, p. 257Alencar, S.M., Koblitz, M.G.B., (2008) Bioquímica De Alimentos, , Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara KooganMorales-Blancas, E.F., Chandia, V.E., Cisneros-Zevallos, L., (2002) J. Food Sci., 67, p. 146Aibara, S., Yamashita, H., Mori, E., Kato, M., Morita, Y., (1982) J. Biochem. (Tokyo), 92, p. 531Bispo, J.A.C., Bonafe, C.F.S., Joekes, I., Martinez, E.A., Carvalho, G.B.M., Norberto, D.R., (2012) J. Phys. Chem. B, 166, p. 14817Bispo, J.A.C., Silva, C.M.R., Bonafe, C.F.S., Assis, D.J., (2013) Dry. Technol., 31, p. 100

Efeito xênia em híbridos de milho visando ao aumento da produtividade por meio de marcadores microssatélites Xenia effect in maize hybrids aiming increased yields by microsatellite markers

Foram desenvolvidos dois experimentos, um com polinização natural e outro com polinização controlada, em duas localidades do Estado de Minas Gerais (Campo Experimental do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA e Fazenda Experimental da UFLA, conhecida como "Vitorinha") em 2004/2005, para verificar e quantificar o efeito xênia em milho. Nos dois experimentos, marcadores microssatélites foram utilizados para distinguir grãos de origem cruzada dos resultantes de autopolinização. Para o estudo foram utilizados três híbridos simples, P 30F90, A 2555 e DKB 333 B, realizando todos os cruzamentos possíveis entre eles, incluindo os recíprocos. Nos dois ensaios, avaliaram-se amostras compostas de grãos coletados na região mediana de 10 espigas, tomadas aleatoriamente nas parcelas. Com base nos dados obtidos, por meio de análises de variância e o teste "t" para médias de dados não emparelhados, foi estimado o efeito xênia sobre o peso de grãos individuais e a massa de cem grãos. A utilização dos marcadores microssatélites foi eficiente, sendo possível diferenciar os cruzamentos dos híbridos em todos os arranjos. Conforme os híbridos envolvidos nos cruzamentos e a condição polinizador/receptor de cada um, foram observados efeitos xênia de diferentes magnitudes. Cruzamentos envolvendo 100% de alopólen provocaram aumentos de 7,3% (2,8 g) na massa de cem grãos, comparados com a mistura de 50%, demonstrando a influência da maior pressão de pólen estranho no incremento dessa característica. Em condições de polinização livre, observou-se um efeito médio de 12,6% (variando de 7,4% a 16,5%) no aumento da massa de grãos individuais. Com 100% de pólen estranho, o efeito xênia médio foi de 13,1% na massa de cem grãos e de 8,7% na massa de grãos individuais, tendo ocorrido, todavia, aumentos de 15,4% e 16,6% respectivamente, nessas características, nos cruzamentos mais favoráveis.<br>Two experiments, with natural and controlled pollination, were carried out at two sites in the State of Minas Gerais (in Experimental area of Biology Department of Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA and UFLA farm, known as "Vitorinha") during 2004/2005, in order to verify and quantify the xenia effects in maize. In both experiments microsatellite markers were used to discriminate kernels derived from crosses and from self-pollination, to detect the xenia effect. Three single cross hybrids were used P 30F90, A 2555 and DKB 333 B, and all possible crosses between them were established, including reciprocal ones. In both trials, composite kernels samples taken from the mid-region of 10 randomly collected ears were evaluated. Based on the evaluated obtained data, through analyses of variance and test "t" for means from unpaired data, the xenia effect on the individual grain weight and the weight of 100 kernels was estimated. The use of microsatellite markers could effectively differentiate the crosses from the selfings in both experiments in all possible combinations of the commercial hybrids used. According to the hybrids involved in the crosses, and the condition pollinator/receptor of each one, xenia effects of different magnitudes were observed. Crosses with 100% allopollen resulted in a 7.3% (2.8 g) increase of the weight of 100 grains compared to those with only 50% allopolen, demonstrating an influence of the greater pressure of foreign pollen on the trait increase. In open-pollinated plants, a mean effect of 12.6% (varying from 7.4 to 16.5%) was observed in the increase of individual grain weight. With 100% foreign pollen, the mean xenia effect was 13.1% on the weight of 100 grains and 8.7% on the individual grain weight, while increments of 15.4% and 16.6% in these traits, respectively, were observed in the most favorable crosses