Effects of replacing soybean meal with alternative sources of protein on nutrient digestibility and energy value of sheep diets

The study determined the potential of eight locally produced protein sources to replace soybean meal (SBM) in the diet of sheep. Three in vivo digestibility trials were conducted using a Latin square (3x3, 4x4 and 4x4) experimental design with castrated Chios rams. The authors estimated nutrient digestibility coefficients and energy value of diets with soybean meal (control), lupin seeds (LS), rapeseed meal (RSM), sunflower meal (SFM), fababean seeds (FBS), vetch seeds (VS), pea seeds (PS), flaxseeds (FS), and chickpea seeds (CS). The results showed that the SBM, RSM, and PS diets had similar nutrient digestibility and energy value. The SFM diet had lower organic matter (OM) digestibility than the SBM diet. The FS and SFM diets had similar crude protein (CP) digestibility to the SBM diet. Additionally, FS, VS, and SBM diets had similar energy value. Furthermore, SBM, SFM, VS and FS diets had similar dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), hemicelluloses, and cellulose digestibility coefficients. The SBM, LS, FBS, and CS diets had similar DM, OM, NDF, hemicelluloses, and cellulose digestibility coefficients. Additionally, SBM, LS, and CS diets had similar energy value. This study reveals that diets with RSM, PS, FS, and LS, compared with diets with SBM, did not have adverse effects on nutrient digestibility and energy value. These results tend to support the idea that some locally available protein sources seem to have the potential to replace SBM in sheep diets.Keywords: Dietary supplementation, nutrition, nutrient digestibility, protein, ruminant

The effect of feeding rosemary, oregano, saffron and &#945-tocopheryl acetate on hen performance and oxidative stability of eggs

In this study the effects of feeding rosemary, oregano, saffron and α-tocopheryl acetate on hen performance and egg quality were investigated. One hundred-twenty Lohmann laying hens, 32 weeks old, were divided into five groups replicated four times with six hens per replicate. One group was given a basal diet and served as control (CON). The experimental diets given to the other four groups were based on the basal diet but contained an additional 200 mg α-tocopheryl acetate/kg (TOC), or rosemary at 5 g/kg diet (ROS), oregano at 5 g/kg diet (ORE) or saffron at 20 mg/kg diet (SAF). At the end of the feeding trial that lasted 56 days, hen performance and some egg quality characteristics were determined, whereas the oxidative stability of the refrigerated stored shell eggs and liquid yolks were also examined. Results showed no significant differences in egg production, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight and shape, yolk shape, Haugh units and shell thickness among treatments. However, yolk colour was significantly improved in the SAF group compared to all other groups. The extent of lipid oxidation in shell eggs differed among the dietary treatments, but did not change with storage time. In liquid yolk at pH 6.2, lipid oxidation was higher in the CON group compared to all other groups. The ORE group presented lower oxidation rate than the ROS group, but higher than the SAF group, which in turn exhibited higher oxidation rate than the TOC group. When liquid yolk was acidified to pH 4.2, the lipid oxidation profile remained unchanged but the rate was much more intense. Keywords: Rosemary; oregano; saffron; α-tocopherol acetate;egg quality; hen performance; oxidative stability South African Journal of Animal Sciences Vol. 35 (3) 2005: pp.143-15

Technical Efficiency Measurement in Broiler Chicken Production System: A Case Study in Epirus, Greece

The aim of this study was to determine the Technical Efficiency (TE) and Scale Efficiency (SE) of broiler farms (DMUs) in Epirus Region of Greece, calculating the margin at which the farms may increase the output based on certain quantities of inputs. The data were gathered by questionnaires and face to face interviews. A representative sample of 110 broiler farms from Arta, Ioannina and Preveza Regional Units randomly selected by using the Neyman’s allocation method of stratified sampling. TE and SE of DMUs were determined using an output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. Results showed that the applied broiler meat productive system of Epirus is intensive, large scale and characterized by high capital investment, high quantities of used feeds and high rate of efficiency. Output is significantly affected by the quantity of used feeds and the average working capital. TE under Constant Return Scale (CRS) and Variable Return Scale (VRS) models runs up to 0.79 and 0.85, respectively and SE score rises up to 0.94 meaning that the inefficiency is only 6%. Feeding Cost (FC) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) are highlighted as strongly (p≤0.01) related variables with the TE and SE. Further increase of TE must be focused on the improvement of FCR and on better utilization of infrastructure and equipment in general

Effect of dietary rape seed meal on growth performance and meat quality of growing-fattening pigs

The objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritive value of rapeseed meal (RSM) as a protein source for pigs, and the effect of graded inclusion levels of RSM as a replacement for imported soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance and carcass quality of pigs. Two trials were conducted, a digestibility trial, and a growth performance trial. In the digestibility trial, which lasted 38 days, four castrated male Large White × Landrace pigs with an initial bodyweight of 40.3 ± 2.4 kg were used. Digestible energy (DE) per kg of RSM, digestibility energy of RSM and the apparent digestibility coefficients (%) of RSM nutrients were assessed by the method of difference. A total of 64 (Large White × Landrace) pigs with average initial bodyweight of 11 ± 1.3 kg were used in the growth performance trial. The experiment lasted 15 weeks, and was divided into three growth stages. The RSM was added to the pig diets at levels from 1% to 21%. The dietary level of glucosinolates (GLS) ranged from 0.149 μmol/g to 3.129 μmol/g and RSM replaced from 3.4% to 100% of the SBM in the diets. It was proven that up to 15% of RSM of Greek origin with a GLS content of 14.9 μmol/g could be used in nutritionally balanced diets as an alternative to imported soybean meal for growing-finishing pigs, as it provides economic benefits and has positive effects on growth performance and carcass quality.Keywords: Proteinaceous feedstuffs, apparent digestibility coefficients, feed cost, pork meat characteristic

Typology, structural characterization and sustainability of integrated broiler farming system in epirus, Greece

The aim of this study was the detailed characterization of the existing zootechnical and financial management applied in broiler poultry farms in the Region of Epirus, Greece. The current situation was captured through the formation of a typology on the structural characterization of broiler farming system. The variables were recorded based on data from a stratified random sample according to Neyman’s methodology of 110 poultry farms. In the typology, hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to identify differences between farms and to support most of this differentiation. Chebyshev distance was used to maximize the effect of the cluster elements distance, as well as Ward’s clustering method, which aims to achieve greater homogeneity within the clusters. Bonferroni multiple comparison tests were used to evaluate the differences. Four clusters of different farm types were identified from the hierarchical cluster analysis. In conclusion, the production system of broiler farms in Epirus is intensive, especially in large farms that have made significant investments in fixed capital and implement successful management. However, the poultry sector in Epirus has further margin for improvement in both its productivity and profitability. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

The effect of Spirulina supplementation in ewes' oxidative status and milk quality

Spirulina (SP) is an edible blue-green algae rich in bioactive compounds such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and gamma-linolenic acid. However, its impact on the oxidative status of ewes' organism and milk, as well as on milk's quality has not been extensively studied. Forty-eight dairy Chios ewes were divided into four homogenous groups (n = 12) and were fed individually. The concentrate of the control group (CON) had no SP, while in the concentrates of the treated groups, SP was added to obtain a daily supply of 5 (SP5), 10 (SP10), and 15 (SP15) g per animal. The milk yield and chemical composition were not affected by the addition of SP. tau he proportion of shortchain fatty acids was increased in the milk of SP5 and SP10 ewes while those of medium-chain fatty acids were reduced in the milk of SP10 compared with the CON animals. The SP addition enhanced the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and reduced the thrombogenicity index in milk, while its highest level tended to decrease the milk's atherogenicity index. A rise in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood plasma of SP-fed ewes was found. The same was observed for the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione transferase in the blood plasma of SP10, SP15, and SP5 fed ewes respectively. On the contrary, the protein carbonyls content (PC) in ewes' s blood plasma declined by the dietary supplementation of SP. The oxidative stability of ewes' milk improved by the dietary addition of SP as indicated by the rise in the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and the total antioxidant capacity (measured by FRAP and ABTS assays) as well. Finally, the highest level of SP caused the sharpest drop in PC content of milk. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation with 15 g SP/ ewe/day showed the potential to improve the ewes' oxidative status of their organism and milk