416 research outputs found

    Effect of different drying systems for the conservation of olive leaves on their nutritive value for ruminants

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    Leaves obtained from olive trees (Olea europaea L.) were stored under various conditions for periods up to 42 months. Duration of storage had a marked effect on crude protein digestibility of leaves when fed to sheep. Protein appeared to be unavailable to animals fed leaves stored for 24 months or longer. The effect of storage on organic matter digestibility was less dramatic and due largely to the loss of soluble cell contents (r = 0.97). As a result, the proportion of water-insoluble dry matter and lignin present in leaves increased with duration of storage while the proportion of water or acetone-water (60:30 v/v) soluble material decreased. Despite being unavailable in vivo, cellulase digestion released protein from the water-insoluble residues of stored leaves in greater amounts than that released from freshly-dried leaves. It appears likely that protein released from stored leaves was in the form of a complex and remained unavailable to the animal. Hydrolysable and condensed tannins were not detected in fresh or dried leaves and could not have acted as complexing agents. The seco-iridoid glycoside oleuropein was found in fresh tissue (69.9 g kg(-1)) but concentrations decreased on storage in parallel with the observed decrease in crude protein digestibility (r = 0.80). ((C) Elsevier/Inra)

    Updating risk management recommendations to limit exposure of non-target Lepidoptera of conservation concern in protected habitats to Bt-maize pollen

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    Using mathematical model ling , the EFSA GMO Panel ha s previously quantified the risk to non - target (NT) Lepidoptera of conservation concern, potentially occurring within protected habitats, associated with the ingestion of Bt - maize pollen deposited on their host plants. To reduce the estimated larval mortality to a negligible level, an isolation distance of 20 and 30 m was recommended between protected habitats and the nearest fields of maize MON 810/Bt11 and 1507, respectively. Here , the EFSA GMO Panel refines its model predictions , accounting for new ly reported information on maize pollen deposition over long distances . For its calculations , the EFSA GMO Panel considered three exposure scenarios at a range of isolation distances, at two protection levels and for a range of lepidopteran species, including hypothetical ones, with a wide spectrum of sensitivities to Bt toxins . An analysis of various sources of uncertainties affecting the exposure of NT Lepidoptera to Bt - maize pollen was conducted, in order to provide quantitative estimates of realistic exposure levels. The EFSA GMO Panel therefore provides risk managers with a tool to estimate and mitigate the risk for NT Lepidoptera of conservation concern. In contrast to its previous o utcomes obtained for unrealistically large levels of exposure that would not be expected in practice, the EFSA GMO Panel reports here mortality estimates for a more realistic level of exposure. The EFSA GMO Panel concludes that its previous recommendation for a 20 m isolation distance around protected habitats, within which maize MON810/Bt11 should not be cultivated, remains valid. New calculations show that the previously recommended isolation distance of 30 m from the nearest maize 1507 field would still protect NT Lepidoptera with known levels of sensitivity, including the ‘highly - sensitive’ Plutella xylostella . Should hypothetical species with greater sensitivities exist, larger isolation distances would be needed to ensure the desired level of protection
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