26 research outputs found
Promising Forage Options to Enhance Livestock Production in Mediterranean Climate Agricultural Systems
The increasing demand for food, fibre and animal products inevitably requires intensifying agricultural production worldwide. This can present a number of environmental and farming systems challenges in Mediterranean climate areas of the world. Developments of novel strategies, employing ecologically sound intensification practices, are crucial to enhance production in the Mediterranean agropastoral production systems. In this paper, we have discussed forage based systems that improve productivity, profitability, environmental quality and resilience of the farming systems. Key opportunities include better use and integration of diverse genetic resources, new agronomic techniques and the utilization of perennial forage plants that are adapted to land that may not be suited to traditional species. This article has a specific focus on the recent developments on forage based production options for the ecologically sound intensification and enhanced livestock productivity in the low to medium rainfall (\u3c 500 mm/year) Mediterranean agropastoral production systems from the farming context of smallholdings of south Mediterranean countries (West Asia and North Africa; WANA) and large-scale farming systems of southern Australia
BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF BARLEY RIHANE (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)
Background: Many experimental studies have suggested an important role for barley Rihane(BR)in the prevention of
colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physico-chemical properties
and nutritional characterizations of BR compared to other varieties grown in Tunisia (Manel, Roho and Tej).
Material and Methods: Total, insoluble and soluble dietary fiber(β-glucan),total protein, ash and some minerals of BR
and Tunisian barley varieties were determined.
Results: The results revealed that BR is good source of dietary fiber mainly β-glucan compared to the other varieties.
This variety is a relatively rich source of phosphorous and potassium and it contains many important unsaturated fatty
acids. BR has higher nutritional value than other varieties.
Conclusion: Barley Rihane has significant nutritional characterizations compared to others Tunisian barleys varieties
Effect of daily or intermittent addition of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) seeds to concentrate on intake, digestion, and growth performance of Barbarine lamb
International audienceAn 82-day experiment was carried out to determine the response of growing lambs to the intermittent administration of fenugreek (FG) seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) into concentrate. Twenty-Four 3-month-old Barbarine lambs (initial body weight 16.6 ± 0.42 kg) were divided into four equal groups (n = 6). All lambs received 600 g alfalfa pellets and 250 g concentrate containing or not 12% ground FG seeds. Control concentrate (CC) was composed (as fed) of barley (200 g), faba bean (40 g) and mineral and vitamin supplement (MVS, 14 g). The experimental concentrate (CE) contained barley (200 g), FG seeds (30 g) and MVS (14 g). The two concentrates have the same crude protein content. The control group (FG-0) received CC while groups FG-D, FG-2D and FG-4D received CE daily, or in alternation with concentrate CC at 2 or 4-day intervals (FG-2D or FG-4D, respectively). The feeding trial was followed by a 5-day in vivo digestibility trial. The frequency of distribution of FG-containing concentrate (CE) had no effect (P > 0.05) on diet intake and diet apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and cell wall (NDFom), nitrogen balance and the concentrations of urea, total protein and glucose in sheep plasma. The intermittent supply of FG seeds in concentrate tended to increase (P = 0.087)the average daily gain in FG-2D and FG-4D lambs and the microbial nitrogen synthesis (P = 0.052)with the FG administration. However, it decreased (P < 0.001) ruminal protozoa count by 33%, 44% and 66% in the FG-D, FG-2D and FG-4D lambs, respectively compared to FG-0 group. Similarly, the intermittent administration of FG seeds decreased ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations (P < 0.001) by 28%, 31% and 35% in the FG-D, FG-2D and FG-4D, respectively. The antiprotozoal activity of FG seeds could have been induced by secondary compounds like saponins. This activity was more efficient when the frequency of incorporation of FG seeds into the concentrate is wider. It is concluded that the intermittent administration of 120 g/kg to concentrate (DM basis), had an antiprotozoal effect but failed to improve diet digestibility and growth performance of Barbarine lambs. Therefore, there is a need to emphasize further investigation to identify the active components responsible for the antiprotozoal activity of FG seeds
Prédiction de la biomasse aérienne d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. (Syn. A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl) à partir de mensurations dimensionnelles
Above ground biomass prediction of Acacia cyanophylla Lindl.
(Syn. A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl). Dimensional measurements
were made on 45 four-year-old Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. shrubs
which were cut at 20 cm above ground to predict biomass production.
These shrubs planted at a density of 1100 plants/ha were located
at the following sites: El Krib (high semi-arid), El Hojjaj (high semi-arid)
and El AraĂŻbia (humid) in the North West of Tunisia. In order to validate
the regression models obtained, a subsample of 5 shrubs (not included
in the total sample), representing 11% of the total sample was
chosen at random. Linear regressions (simple and multiple) allowed to
satisfactorly estimate the above ground biomass production of
Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. using its volume or its basal diameter
( to 0.96). However, the multiple regression involving
simultaneously the volume and the basal diameter led to a better
precision of the model ( to 0.98).Afin de prédire la production de biomasse aérienne
d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. Ă partir de mensurations
dimensionnelles, nous avons effectué des mesures et des
coupes Ă 20 cm du sol, de 45 arbustes issus de trois plantations
du Nord Ouest de la Tunisie situées aux endroits suivants :
El Krib (semi-aride supérieur), El Hojjaj (semi-aride supérieur)
et El Araïbia (humide). Ces plantations sont âgées de 4 ans et
ayant une densité de 1100 pieds/ha. Pour la validation des modèles obtenus,
un sous-ensemble de 5 arbustes (non inclus dans l'Ă©chantillon pris
pour l'établissement des modèles de régression), soit 11 % de l'échantillon
total a été choisi au hasard. Des régressions linéaires (simples et multiples)
ont permis d'estimer la production de biomasse aérienne d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl.
de manière satisfaisante, connaissant son volume ou son diamètre basal
( à 0,96). Toutefois, la régression multiple incluant à la
fois le volume et le diamètre basal a constitué un modèle plus précis
( Ă 0,98)
Effects of polyethylene glycol in concentrate or feed blocks on carcass composition and offal weight of Barbarine lambs fed Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. foliage
The influence of concentrate or feed blocks with or without Polyethylene glycol (PEG,
molecular weight 4000) on the carcass characteristics and weight of offal components
of 25 Barbarine
ram lambs offered Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. foliage was studied.
The animals were divided into
5 equal groups and housed in individual pens for 74 days.
All of the animals received 400 g oat hay
and air-dried foliage of acacia ad libitum.
Two groups were supplemented with 300 g concentrate
with (C) orwithout
(C) 20 g PEG. The other groups had free access to urea-containing feed blocks
with
(BU) or without (BU) PEG. One other treatment was a PEG-containing
feed block without
urea (B). PEG was used to preferentially bind
A. cyanophylla condensed tannins (CT). At the end
of the growth trial,
the animals were slaughtered, offal components were weighed, left half carcasses
were dissected and carcass tissues were weighed. At slaughter, body weight (BW)
was the highest
() in the group receiving concentrate and PEG
(35.4 kg). The animals on diets C, B and
BU
were slaughtered at similar BW (33.4, 31.8 and 32.1 kg, respectively) and those
on BU had the
lowest BW (27.8 kg). Dressing percentage was not affected by diet
treatments. The weights of the
head, feet, lungs, heart and abomasum were not affected
by the diet. The diet significantly influenced
the skin, testes, liver, kidneys and rumen
weights. The animals fed concentrate had heavier skin
(4485 g) and rumen (812 g) than
those fed blocks (3773 and 720 g for the skin and rumen, respectively).
The animals
receiving BU had the smallest organs. On contrasting treatments plus/minus
PEG, it was
observed that PEG administration significantly increased the weight of all organs.
PEG
supply significantly increased () testis weight (196 vs. 127 g with/without PEG).
Due to
treatment effects on slaughter BW and hence carcass weight, muscle, bone and fat
weights were
lower in the BU group compared to those in the other groups. In C,
C, B and BU groups,
there was no significant
difference in body muscle weight. Indeed, the animals fed A. cyanophylla
with feed
blocks with PEG and without urea (B group) produced the same amount
of muscle as
those produced with PEG and urea-containing feed blocks or conventional
diets (concentrate). The animals given feed blocks (more protein and less energy than
the concentrate) were less fat (20.0%) than those receiving concentrate (24.7%).
The use of acacia foliage and feed blocks without urea but containing PEG may be a
useful solution to produce lean lamb in a more economic manner.Incorporation dans le concentré ou les blocs alimentaires de polyéthylène glycol :
effets sur la composition de la carcasse et le poids des abats chez les agneaux de
race Barbarine
nourris avec des feuilles d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl.
Les effets de la complémentation ou non de
l'aliment concentré ou des blocs
alimentaires (BA) avec du PEG sur les caractéristiques des carcasses
et le poids
des abats ont été étudiés sur 25 agneaux de race Barbarine alimentés avec une ration
Ă base
de feuillage d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. Les animaux ont été répartis en
5 lots homogènes. Logés en
boxes individuels pendant 74 jours, tous les agneaux ont
reçu 400 g de foin d'avoine avec du feuillage
d'acacia à volonté. Deux lots ont été
supplémentés avec 300 g de concentré avec (C) ou sans (C)
20 g de PEG.
Deux autres lots ont eu libre accès aux blocs alimentaires contenant de l'urée avec
(BU) ou sans (BU) PEG. Le dernier traitement a inclu un supplément
sous forme de bloc alimentaire
sans urée mais avec du PEG (B).
À la fin de la période d'engraissement, les animaux ont été
abattus, tous les
organes pesés, les demi-carcasses disséquées et les différents tissus pesés.
Ă€ l'abattage,
le poids vif des animaux du lot CPEG a été le plus élevé
(35,4 kg), celui des animaux des lots C,
B, et BU
similaire (33,4, 31,8 et 32,1 kg, respectivement), et celui des animaux du lot
BU le
plus faible (27,8 kg). Le rendement à l'abattage n'a pas été affecté par le
régime alimentaire, de même
que les poids de la tĂŞte, des pattes, des poumons,
du cœur et de la caillette. En revanche, le régime alimentaire
a eu un effet
significatif sur le poids de la peau, des testicules, du foie, des reins et du rumen.
De ce fait, le poids de la peau et du rumen des agneaux recevant le concentré
(4485 et 812 g) a été supérieur
Ă celui des agneaux recevant les blocs alimentaires
(3773 et 720 g), alors que les organes les
plus légers ont été observés chez les
animaux recevant le régime BU. L'effet du PEG, testé par la méthode
des contrastes,
a montré que l'administration de PEGaugmentait le poids des organes.
Ainsi, le
poids des testicules a été significativement () plus élevé chez
les agneaux recevant le PEG que
ceux n'en recevant pas (196 avec PEG vs. 127 g sans PEG).
Étant donnés les effets du régime alimentaire
sur le poids vif et par conséquent sur
le poids de la carcasse, les poids des tissusmusculaire, adipeux
et squelettique ont
été les plus faibles dans le lot BU. En revanche, dans les lots C, C,
B et
BU, la masse musculaire n'a pas été significativement
différente. En conséquence, supplémenter
des animaux ayant une alimentation Ă base
de feuilles d'Acacia cyanophylla avec des blocs alimentaires
sans urée mais
contenant du PEG permet de produire une masse musculaire comparable Ă celle
obtenue
avec des blocs alimentaires contenant de l'urée et du PEG ou avec des régimes
conventionnels
(concentré). Les animaux supplémentés avec les blocs alimentaires
(plus de protéines et moins
d'énergie que le concentré) ont été relativement moins
gras (20,0 %) que ceux supplémentés avec le
concentré (24,7 %). L'utilisation de
feuilles d'acacia avec des blocs alimentaires sans urée mais
contenant du PEG permettrait
de produire des agneaux non gras de façon plus économique