Influence of physicochemical characteristics and inclusion rate of fiber-rich ingredients on utilization of dietary fiber and energy by growing pigs

Five experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of physicochemical characteristics of fiber and inclusion rate of high-fiber ingredients on the utilization of dietary fiber, energy, and nutrients in diets fed to pigs. Experiment 1 was conducted to quantify nutrient and fiber fractions of feed ingredients and to determine in vitro apparent ileal digestibility (IVAID) and in vitro apparent total tract digestibility (IVATTD) of DM and OM in each ingredient. Ten ingredients that vary in fiber concentration and composition were used: corn, wheat, soybean meal (SBM), canola meal, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn germ meal, copra expellers, sugar beet pulp (SBP), synthetic cellulose, and pectin. Correlations between chemical and physical characteristics of ingredients and IVAID and IVATTD of DM and OM were determined. The physical characteristics measured included bulk density, water binding capacity (WBC), swelling, and viscosity. The analyzed GE was compared with values for GE calculated from all energy-contributing components. Results indicated that the analyzed chemical composition of most ingredients added to 100% or greater, and the difference between the sum of the calculated GE of the analyzed components and the analyzed GE of the ingredients ranged from -2.25 MJ/kg in DDGS to 1.74 MJ/kg in pectin. No correlation was observed between swelling, WBC, or viscosity and IVAID or IVATTD of DM or OM. The stronger correlations between insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), total dietary fiber (TDF), and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides and IVAID and IVATTD of DM and OM than between ADF and NDF and IVAID and IVATTD of DM and OM indicates that the concentration of TDF in feed ingredients is a better predictor of the digestibility of DM and OM than values for NDF and ADF. Experiment 2 evaluated effects of physicochemical characteristics of feed ingredients used in Exp. 1 on DE and ME and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of GE, DM, and nutrients in growing pigs using ingredients with different IDF to soluble dietary fiber ratios. Results indicated that stronger correlations between TDF and DE and ME than between ADF or NDF and DE and ME were observed, indicating that TDF can be used to more accurately predict DE and ME than values for NDF or ADF. The DE, ME, and the ATTD of DM in ingredients were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with in vitro ATTD of DM generated in Exp. 1, indicating that the in vitro procedure may be used to estimate DE and ME in feed ingredients. Swelling and WBC were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the ATTD of IDF, TDF, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), and insoluble NSP, and viscosity was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the ATTD of NDF, IDF, and insoluble NSP, indicating that some physical characteristics may influence digestibility of fiber but no correlations between physical characteristics and DE or ME were observed. Experiment 3 was conducted to determine the effects of inclusion rate on apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent hindgut disappearance (AHD), and ATTD of GE and on the concentration of DE and ME in fiber-rich ingredients fed to growing pigs. We hypothesized that increasing the inclusion rate of fiber decreases digestibility of GE and, thus, the contribution of DE and ME from hindgut fermentation because greater concentrations may reduce the ability of microbes to ferment fiber. A basal diet based on corn and SBM was formulated. A diet based on corn, SBM, and 30% corn starch was also formulated. Six diets were formulated by replacing 15 or 30% corn starch by 15 or 30% corn germ meal, SBP, or wheat middlings. Two additional diets were formulated by including 15 or 30% canola meal in a diet containing corn, SBM, and 30% corn starch at the expense of corn and SBM. Results indicated that inclusion rate did not affect the calculated DE and ME or AID, AHD, and ATTD of GE in canola meal, corn germ meal, SBP, or wheat middlings, indicating that concentration of DE and ME in ingredients were independent of inclusion rate and utilization of energy from test ingredients was equally efficient between diets with 15 and 30% inclusion. Increased inclusion of fiber in the diet did not influence transit time in the small intestine, but reduced the time of first appearance of digesta in the feces indicating that transit time was reduced in the hindgut of pigs fed high-fiber diets. In Exp 4 and 5, it was determined if values for AID, AHD, and ATTD of DM and nutrients in the high-fiber ingredients used in Exp. 3 measured at 15% inclusion are also accurate if 30% of that ingredient is used in diets fed to pigs. The hypothesis that much of the IDF is not fermented by the pig was also tested. Results indicated that AID, AHD, and ATTD of most nutrients measured at 15% inclusion were not different from values measured at 30% inclusion of the ingredients. The ATTD of IDF ranged from 52.9% in WM included at 15% to 86.2% in SBP included at 30% in the diet, which indicates that there was a relatively high digestibility of IDF under the conditions of this experiment. There was a reduction (P < 0.05) in AID of CP and all AA except Arg in canola meal and a reduction (P < 0.05) in AID of CP, Lys, Asp, Pro, and Ser in corn germ meal as inclusion rates of these ingredients increased in the diet. However, inclusion rate had no effect on the AID of CP and AA in sugar beet pulp or wheat middlings. In conclusion, DE and ME in feed ingredients may be predicted from some chemical constituents and from in vitro digestibility of DM, but not from physical characteristics. Inclusion rate of fiber-rich ingredients in diets did not affect calculated values for DE and ME in feed ingredients, but the AID, AHD, and ATTD of some nutrients and AID of AA measured at 30% inclusion is different from values obtained at 15% inclusion for some high fiber dietary ingredients in mixed diets

The contribution of schooling to Canadian farm income

The basic objectives of this thesis are to build an earnings function for farm incomes of Canadian farm operators, and estimate the rate of return to schooling. It is hypothesized that the low levels of farm income are related to the low investment in education by farm operators. If reasonable estimates of positive returns to schooling are found, they will be useful for policy makers in considering the improvement of the quality of farm operator labour via schooling, as an alternative measure to increase farm income. To achieve the goals of this study, an earnings function is built for the group of entrepreneurs, in particular the farm operators. As a test of functional form a digression is made and a value added approach discussed and utilized as an alternative way of computing the contribution of schooling to farm income. Although both methods yielded significant estimates of the return to schooling comparable to previous studies, the value added approach was found to be a better specified formulation with respect to estimating the productivity of schooling in farm production. The estimate of the marginal product of schooling using the earnings function approach was found to be higher as we concentrated on the full-time farmers. For the value added approach, the estimates differed as we varied the input specification, being higher as we decrease the number of decision variables in the estimating equation. Estimates for both models however have their respective biases and shortcomings attributable mainly to the variables omitted in both specifications. These estimates could be improved with the availability of better specified variables and use of an alternative analytical procedure. In addition to providing strong evidence that schooling is a significant determinant of farm incomes, this study also led to another important conclusion. Using a transformed labour variable in the value added function at the census division level led to an important finding that a similar output-input relationship exists in the agricultural sectors of both the U.S. and Canada. Specifically the relationship was identical for the elasticities of output with respect to labour, with respect to education (schooling), and with respect to the weighted labour variable (product of labour and schooling) values of selected years.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat

Awareness of the prevention through design (PtD) concept among design engineers in the Philippines

The “Prevention through Design” (PtD) concept considers construction safety during the design process. Several countries are currently practising PtD, including the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and the USA, which is still not the case in the Philippines. The study presented in this paper aimed to indicate the current level of awareness of the PtD concept among the structural engineers and purposed to generate a basis of initiatives to introduce or improve the understanding and adoption of PtD in the Philippines. A knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire was distributed to survey respondents selected through a snowball sampling method, consisting of structural engineers currently working in the Philippines. Sixty-one (61) structural engineers responded and were analysed in this study. Results indicated that PtD was relatively a new concept for most structural engineers in the Philippines. Similarly, the designers’ knowledge of the concept was still low. However, structural engineers viewed PtD as necessary and its implementation as essential in the construction industry. Despite the known concerns in the PtD implementation, structural engineers favoured the adoption of the concept. The paper also discussed challenges and key drivers for implementing PtD in the Philippines based on the questionnaire results and supporting literature reviews. The findings and methodology presented in this paper could serve as a baseline for a larger sample size covering other design trades, such as architectural, electrical, and mechanical design services leading to the broader adoption of PtD in the Philippines. Furthermore, the framework of this study could also apply to other countries with similar contexts

onstitutional law:

Sixteen years had passed since the creation of the 1987 Constitution and yet there has been no implementing law with respect to the prohibition of political dynasties. Here, one will realize how the exercise of powers affects the character of the Legislature. Inevitably, public interest and individual peculiar interest influences the duties of our representatives in implementing laws. These negative circumstances attribue to the poor representation of the sovereignty to the people. Ironically, the people of the country have chosen these extraordinary individuals to carry out the responsibility, but it turns out that they have abandoned their duty in preserving the interest of the people. It is frustrating if the Congress did commit a breach of a constitutional obligation for the failure in implementing a law that will define the scope of political dynasties. It is of significance that every provision of the fundamental law of the land must be given life and meaning. Furthermore, the provision does not only entail a mere prohibition in what constitutes poitical dynasties, but it is also believed that through this prohibition the country will achieve an anticipated and widened political opportunities for the people to enjoy and to be benefited. Here lies a dilemma, which would turn out as a boundless cycle if the Congress still would fail to perform their duty and omit the importance of this provision. The enactment of this law is presumed to more or less give equal conditions under which candidates run for public offie. The Congress must give life and meaning to the prohibition against political dynasties. Speculatively speaking, this occurrence should not have resulted to inevitable debate and discussion if personal motives were set-aside in the fulfillment of a duty to implement laws. Nonetheless, the matter on hand is presumed to be a result of a failure to fulfill a Constitutional duty

Interaction among wine makers in New Zealand

International audienc

Interaction among wine makers in New Zealand

International audienc

Coping Styles among College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

Coping styles are essential for those with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This could result in either positive or negative mental health outcomes. It includes cognitive and behavioral efforts used by an individual to solve problems and reduce stress caused by these problems. This paper explores the coping styles among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers utilized a descriptive-quantitative research design to identify the coping styles used by BSED students in the new normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents were 101 BSED English Students from the second year to the fourth year. The survey questionnaire was used as a data-gathering instrument in the quantitative approach. Based on the findings of the study, the coping styles are moderately used by the BSED students. This means the students practiced coping styles sometimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it indicated that students' most popular coping styles, such as seeking social support and avoidance, followed by mental disengagement and humanitarian. The study was anchored on the theory of Lazarus and Folkman (1984), which stated that a person's conscious and unconscious efforts solve problems and relieve stress. To help students cope with the stress of the pandemic and build resiliency, the school should offer stress management workshops and webinars. The students require assistance from the school. These stress management training sessions aim to recognize common emotions and issues associated with the ongoing pandemic