Better Tolerance against Dietary Mycotoxins in Fattening Bulls when Supplemented with Farmatan-D

Hydrolysable tannins are polyphenolic secondary metabolites of plants, with a high bioactive function. A twelve-month feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of the feed additive Farmatan-D® on average daily gain (ADG) of Simmental bulls. The feed supplement Farmatan-D® mainly consists of highly concentrated hydrolysable tannins, organic acids, and lignocellulose. This study focused on two periods. First period from month 1 to 7, and from month 8 to 12 of study. The study reveals that ADG in the first 7 months of the feeding trial is numerically higher (P = 0.119) in the control group and lower in the group with added Farmatan-D®. The results after the 8th month of our investigation suggest that the group supplemented with Farmatan-D® showed (P = 0.003) higher ADG than the control group after the month when a drop in ADG was observed due to the incidence of mycotoxicosis. Feed supplement helps animals better tolerate nutritional and metabolic imbalances and results in smaller production losses for the farmers

Temporal dynamics and chemical variation of different parts of taro (Colocasia esculenta) corms

V disertaciji sta predstavljeni dve temi, povezani s procesom nalaganja hranilnih snovi v kormu tara. Prva tema se nanaša na nalaganje snovi v različnih delih korma, druga pa je povezana z dinamiko nalaganja tekom vegetacijske dobe. Poljski poskusi so bili postavljeni v državi Vanuatu na Tihem Oceanu. V poskus (s ciljem proučevanja vsebnosti različnih kemijskih substanc v štirih ključnih delih korma tara) smo vključili 8 kultivarjev iz nacionalne genske banke. Za analizo (povezano s časovno dinamiko razvoja rastlin) smo izbrali 13 kultivarjev. Liofilizirane vzorce smo analizirani na Fakulteti za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede Univerze v Mariboru. Za analize mineralov smo najprej opravili kislinski razklop. Koncentracije Ca, Mg in Zn smo izmerili s plamensko atomsko absorpcijsko spektrometrijo (FAAS), medtem ko smo K izmerili s plamensko emisijsko spektrometrijo. Analizo Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb in Cd smo izvedli z elektrotermično atomsko absorpcijsko spektrometrijo (ETAAS), P pa smo izmerili po molibdat-vandatni metodi. Vsebnost škroba smo določili po postopku Megazyme in skupni dušik po Kjehldalovi metodi. Nitrate smo določili z ionsko kromatografijo. Rezultati naše raziskave kažejo, da so v zgornjem delu, ki ima ključno vlogo pri vegetativnem razmnoževanju, sorazmerno visoke koncentracije surovih proteinov, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu in Cd. Za zgornji del so značilne tudi višje vsebnosti nitratov, ki niso zaželeni v prehrani ljudi. Osrednji del, ki je ključen v prehrani ljudi, vsebuje več škroba, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu in Cd. Koncentracije proučevanih hranil v spodnjem delu so bile sorazmerno nizke, z izjemo Ca. Višje vsebnosti Ca in Zn so bile značilne za marginalni del, ki se običajno odstrani z lupljenjem. Globoko lupljenje najbolj vpliva le na vsebnost Ca, saj je Zn prisoten v večjih koncentracijah tudi v zgornjem in/ali centralnem delu. Vrednosti Cr in Pb so bile pod mejo določljivosti. Koncentracije posameznih hranilnih snovi so se zelo razlikovale med posameznimi kultivarji. Med vegetacijo je masa posameznih kormov ves čas naraščala. Vsebnost škroba je naraščala med 5. in 9. mesecem po sajenju (MPS), ko je dosegla maksimum, nato pa je začela padati. Vsebnosti surovih proteinov so bile najvišje v prvih mesecih, ki so bili zajeti z našo raziskavo. Maksimum je bil zabeležen 5. MPS in nato je vsebnost padla. Med posameznimi meseci niso bile evidentirane bistvene razlike v vsebnostih P, K, Mg, Cu in Ca. Glavni razlog so bile velike razlike med posameznimi kultivarji. Vsebnosti Zn so bile najvišje v prvih treh mesecih, vključenih v našo raziskavo (5., 6., 7. MPS), nato je vsebnost začela padati, najnižja vrednost pa je bila izmerjena 13. MPS. Vsebnost Mn je bila navišja 6. MPS in se je signifikantno razlikovala glede na druge mesece. Sorazmerno visoke vsebnosti Mn so bile zaznane tudi 5., 7. in 8. MPS. Vsebnost Fe je bila najvišja 5. MPS. Vsebnost Cd je bila najvišja 5. MPS, nato je začela padati in je ponovno narasla 9. MPS. Glede na dejstvo, da so bili maksimalno izenačeni sadilni materiali in rastni pogoji (okolje), lahko domnevamo, da so bile razlike v rasti v glavnem posledica genetskih razlik med posameznimi kultivarji.The main objective of the presented research was to expand the knowledge about the dynamics of major nutrient accumulation in taro corms. It involves two major topics: the first is associated with the concentration variations of the most important nutritional substances in four crucial parts of corm, and the second topic is associated with the accumulation dynamics of nutrients during the growth season. The trials were planted on one of the experimental fields of VARTC in Vanuatu in the South Pacific. Chemical substances in four corm parts of 8 taro cultivars were studied, and for the analysis associated with the temporal dynamics of accumulation of different nutrients during the growth season, 13 cultivars were selected. Freeze dried samples were sent to the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Maribor, Slovenia for further chemical analyses. The analysis of the minerals began with acid digestion. Concentrations of Ca, Mg and Zn were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), while K was determined by flame-emission spectrometry. The analyses of Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Cd were performed via electrotermic atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), and P was determined by the molybdate-vandat method. The starch content was analysed using the Megazyme method and the total nitrogen with the Kjehldal method. For nitrate content testing we used ion chromatography. The results of our investigation suggest that the upper part, which plays one of the major roles in vegetative propagation, is characterized by relatively high concentrations of crude proteins, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and Cd. The upper part is also characterized by higher concentration of nitrates, which are not desirable in the human diet. The central part, which is crucial for human nutrition, is characterized by higher concentrations of starch, K, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Cd. The concentrations of the studied nutrients were found to be relatively low in the lower part, with the exception of Ca. Ca and Zn were more concentrated in the marginal and lower parts, which are partly removed by peeling. Deep peeling can affect only Ca because Zn is also present in higher concentrations in the upper and/or central parts. The values of Cd and Pb were below the limit of quantification. The concentrations of the studied nutrients exhibited relatively high differences among cultivars. The weight of the taro corms was increasing throughout the vegetation period. The starch content was increasing from 5 to 9 months after planting (MAP) (when it reached the maximum value) and then it started to decrease. The crude protein content reached its peak during the first months included in our study. The maximum content was recorded at 5 MAP and decreased afterwards. The differences in content of P, K, Mg, Ca and Cu during the growth period were not significant due to the big differences among cultivars. The highest contents of Zn were determined during the first three months of our sampling (5, 6, 7 MAP), whereas the lowest value was determined at 13 MAP. The content of Mn reached its peak at 6 MAP, and was significantly different when compared to the values obtained during other months. A relatively high content of Mn was determined at 5, 7 and 8 of the MAP. The content of Fe reached its maximum at 5 MAP. At 6 MAP, its level decreased and increased again at 9 and 10 MAP. The level of Cd reached its peak at 5 MPS, then it decreased and increased again at 9 MPS. Considering the fact that the planting material and growth conditions were uniform, it can be assumed that the differences in growth were mainly due to the differences associated with the genetic structure of the studied cultivars

The analysis of the proposed abolition of milk quotas for the further development of milk production in Slovenia

Diplomsko delo obravnava sistem mlečnih kvot in skupne tržne ureditve na področju mleka v EU, zgodovino mlečnih kvot, njihove značilnosti in vplive ter vzroke za njihovo ukinitev. Preučuje prirejo mleka in stanje kvot v Sloveniji. V diplomskem delu so podrobneje predstavljeni rezultati predhodno opravljenih raziskav, ki se nanašajo na vplive in posledice ukinitve mlečnih kvot. Podatki temeljijo na slovenski ekspertizi in študijah OECD-ja, Generalne direkcije za kmetijstvo EU in FAPRI-ja. Rezultati jasno kažejo, da bo ukinitev kvot vplivala na slovensko prirejo. Pričakuje se znižanje cen surovega mleka in posledično upad pridelovalcev mleka v Sloveniji. Upad pa ne bo drastičen, saj Slovenija že do sedaj ni dosegala dodeljenih mlečnih kvot, hkrati pa so spremembe zadnjih let v prireji mleka prinesle bolj specializirane kmetije z ambicioznejšimi in konkurenčnejšimi pridelovalci. Ti se bodo lažje prilagajali spremembam na trgu. Nekoliko bolj ogroženi bi lahko bili le pridelovalci, ki mleko izvažajo v Italijo. Število manjših kmetij naj bi upadlo, a to ne bo posledica ukinitve kvot. Ukinitev kvot bo pospešila potrebne spremembe v mlečno-predelovalni industriji, predvsem v smeri proizvajanja izdelkov z dodano vrednostjo. V diplomskem delu so tudi povzeti odzivi na ukinitev kvot različnih tržnih mlečnih akterjev ter mnenja posameznih agrarnih ekonomistov.The diploma thesis deals with the system of milk quotas and the common market organization of milk sector in EU, with the history of milk quotas, their characteristics and effects, and the reasons for their abolition. The thesis studies the milk production and the condition of milk quotas in Slovenia. Furthermore, it presents the results of a »prior« research based on the impacts and consequences of the abolition of milk quotas. Data are based on Slovenian expertise and the study of OECD, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development EU and FAPRI. The results clearly show that the abolition of quotas will affect the Slovenian production. The reduction of prices of raw milk and consequently decrease of milk producers in Slovenia is expected. There will not be a drastic decline, as Slovenia has so far not pursued the allocated milk quotas, while the changes in recent years in milk production have brought more specialized farms with more ambitious and more competitive producers. Those farms can adapt to market changes easily. The producers who export milk to Italy are more likely to be under greater threat. The number of small farms could decrease but not as the consequence of the abolition of quotas. It will facilitate the necessary changes in the dairy-processing industry, primarily in the production of products with high value. The thesis also summarizes the responses to the abolition of milk quotas of various market operators and the opinion of several agricultural economists

Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Fecal Microbial Population in Limousin Bulls Supplemented with Hydrolyzable Tannins

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of hydrolyzable tannins (HT) from sweet chestnut wood extract (Castanea sativa Mill.) to the diet of Limousin bulls on growth rate, carcass and meat quality traits, and fecal Clostridia strain levels in a 7-month feeding trial. Thirty-two bulls were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (CON (without addition of HT); TAN 1 (1 g HT kg−1 DM); TAN 2 (1.5 g HT kg−1 DM); and TAN 3 (1.5 g HT kg−1 DM with a nominally lower dose of concentrate). Compared with the CON group, supplementation with HT significantly (p < 0.050) increased bull growth rate during 4–7 months, whereas carcass and meat quality traits were unaffected during the last three months of fattening. Supplementation of HT significantly reduced meat drip loss (p = 0.000) compared with the CON group. No effects were observed on the total number of fecal Clostridia strains; however, the concentration of Clostridiumperfringens was significantly lower (p = 0.004) in TAN 1 than that in the CON group. The results obtained in fattening bulls indicate that the addition of HT is justified in practice to improve growth performance and feed efficiency without adverse effects on the carcass and meat quality

Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Fecal Microbial Population in Limousin Bulls Supplemented with Hydrolyzable Tannins

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of hydrolyzable tannins (HT) from sweet chestnut wood extract (Castanea sativa Mill.) to the diet of Limousin bulls on growth rate, carcass and meat quality traits, and fecal Clostridia strain levels in a 7-month feeding trial. Thirty-two bulls were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (CON (without addition of HT); TAN 1 (1 g HT kg−1 DM); TAN 2 (1.5 g HT kg−1 DM); and TAN 3 (1.5 g HT kg−1 DM with a nominally lower dose of concentrate). Compared with the CON group, supplementation with HT significantly (p p = 0.000) compared with the CON group. No effects were observed on the total number of fecal Clostridia strains; however, the concentration of Clostridiumperfringens was significantly lower (p = 0.004) in TAN 1 than that in the CON group. The results obtained in fattening bulls indicate that the addition of HT is justified in practice to improve growth performance and feed efficiency without adverse effects on the carcass and meat quality

Changes in use of communication channels by livestock farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The study aims to identify any changes in the communication channels used by Slovenian livestock farmers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the main (dis)advantages of relying on them. An online survey was completed by 502 Slovenian farmers of various farm enterprises in winter 2020/2021. Most respondents generally used telephone, e-mail, and the internet to obtain agricultural information before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, farmers increasingly relied on online conferences and social networking sites. At the same time, younger farmers and farmers with a higher education level used digital channels the most frequently, with men doing so more often than women. Digital channels were primarily used by cattle and horse farmers, while cattle farmers showed the greatest online conference participation. Respondents reported having more time to spend with their families and animals as an advantage and the lack of face-to-face interaction with other farmers and advisers as a disadvantage of such communication patterns. As the study reveals differences in the use of communication channels during the COVID-19 pandemic by various farmers, a new communication strategy is needed that involves the use of appropriate communication channels to provide farmers with agricultural information both during the COVID-19 situation and later