HOW DOES COTTONSEED MEAL COMPARE AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE TO SOYBEAN MEAL IN POULTRY PRODUCTION?

Profitability of substituting cottonseed meal (CSM) for soybean meal (SBM) in broiler feed is evaluated using a model that optimizes broiler production under changing market conditions. While CSM-fed broilers may earn higher profits for whole carcass, SBM-fed broilers are generally more profitable. Optimal protein levels exceed currently recommended levels.Livestock Production/Industries,

PRODUCTION AND PROFITABILITY RESPONSES TO ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES AND LEVELS IN BROILER RATIONS

Profitability of using alternative protein sources in broiler feed is investigated through the development of a two-stage mathematical program that optimizes broiler production. A case study of peanut meal vs. soybean meal is examined. Value of marginal product concepts incorporated in this method permit analysis of demand adjustments before decisions on the production process occur. Given reported input and output prices, results indicate that soybean meal is generally more profitable than peanut meal. Peanut meal can be more profitable at higher dietary protein levels fed to broilers processed into whole carcass or at relatively higher prices for soybean meal.maximum profit, peanut meal, soybean meal, value of marginal product, Livestock Production/Industries, Q17,

PARTS OR WHOLE? EFFICIENT BROILER PRODUCTION RESPONSES TO CONSUMER-DRIVEN MARKETS

Adoption of consumer-market-oriented production on broiler profit-maximizing modeling generates results that differ from those traditionally used in profit maximization for broiler production. This model shows that the adoption of step-pricing and marketing options (examples of consumer-market-oriented decisions) modify the optimal levels and types of broiler production to generate maximum profitability. Thus optimal protein levels in the feed formulated exceed currently recommended levels and alternative protein sources are also allocated. The adoption of step-pricing to respond to consumer-market-oriented decisions shows that higher profits can be obtained for targeted weights only if premium prices for output are allocated.Agribusiness, Consumer/Household Economics,

INCORPORATING CONSUMER DEMAND IN BROILER PROFIT-MAXIMIZATION MODELING

Increased emphasis on consumer markets in broiler profit-maximizing modeling generates results that differ from those of traditional profit-maximization models. This approach reveals that the adoption of step-pricing and consideration of marketing options (examples of responsiveness to consumers) affect the optimal feed-formulation levels and types of broiler production to generate maximum profitability. With the adoption of step-pricing, higher profits can be obtained for targeted weights only if premium prices for broiler products are contracted.Consumer/Household Economics,

PRODUCTION AND PROFITABILITY RESPONSES TO ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES IN BROILER RATIONS

Profitability of using peanut meal as an alternative protein source in broiler production was investigated through the development of a two-stage mathematical program that optimizes broiler production. The concept of value of marginal product incorporated in this model allows demand adjustments before decisions on the production and processing take place.Livestock Production/Industries,

Configuration Methodology for Traffic-Responsive Plan Selection: A Global Perspective

Although several studies have shown the potential great benefits of traffic-responsive plan selection (TRPS) control, time-of-day operation continues to be the primary method used to select patterns for signal control applications. This practice could be largely attributed to the minimal guidelines available on the setup of the TRPS mode. An innovative framework for TRPS system setup is provided, and guidelines for implementing TRPS in a simplified manner are shown. The guidelines, developed at Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), use a comprehensive approach that incorporates a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm and a supervised discriminant analysis. Engineers can directly implement the guidelines presented as an initial design. Hardware-in-the-loop simulation is used to illustrate the performance of TTI’s TRPS configuration methodology

Raw material nutrient variability has substantial impact on the potential profitability of chicken meat production

Feed accounts for more than 65% of live production costs of poultry production; thus, accurate feed formulation is vital to ensure poultry are receiving an optimal diet and nutrients are not in undersupply or oversupply. However, this is difficult when the nutrient compositions of feed ingredient batches are highly variable. To help reduce the variability in the specified finished feeds, appropriate sampling methodology is critical. Nevertheless, recommended methodology and depth of detail within technical articles varies greatly and does not always reflect the recommendations of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, a nonprofit scientific association that publishes standardized analytical methods. It is often understood that increased variability in ingredients due to poor sampling technique is detrimental to industry, but the potential economic cost of poor sampling is often not appreciated. Thus, the extent that variation in protein in feed ingredients affects expected performance and profits for the poultry industry was modeled. It was demonstrated that it is possible to incur a 63% reduction in gross margin or a difference of up to $19,053 (USD) in gross margin from one cycle of 30,000 broilers by simply overestimating the nutrient content of feedstuffs. Assuming a poultry company may produce approximately 1,000 broiler cycles per year, this equates to a loss of up to$19 million (USD). Hence, it is clear that identifying the most accurate way to sample, and improving the understanding and implementation of proper sampling methodology, should be a priority

Alternatives to formulate laying hen diets beyond the traditional least-cost model

Owing to the high cost of feed for poultry, there is continuous pressure to formulate 'least-cost' diets that meet nutritional requirements. However, the main aim of any commercial enterprise is usually to maximize profits with the resources or inputs available, and the conventional or historic tool of least-cost ration formulation has limitations in a more demanding economic environment. The layer industry may experience particularly volatile changes in egg price, principally owing to changes in supply rather than demand, and in the past, it has been reported to possess less production and financial data reporting than other industries. Thus, increased flexibility during these uncertain times may give the layer industry greater opportunity and capacity to cope with market fluctuations. A practical example of how a laying hen operation may benefit from these approaches demonstrates that the maximum-profit solution does not always match the least-cost solution and that stochastic feed formulation may be used to accurately assign safety margins and define the level of certainty this safety margin will provide. Finally, as producers better understand how their hens respond to different dietary specifications, the opportunity arises to choose the set of specifications that result in maximum profits for their unique situations, rather than relying on least-cost diets formulated to nutrient requirements alone

Accumulation of the PX domain mutant Frank-ter Haar syndrome protein Tks4 in aggresomes

BACKGROUND: Cells deploy quality control mechanisms to remove damaged or misfolded proteins. Recently, we have reported that a mutation (R43W) in the Frank-ter Haar syndrome protein Tks4 resulted in aberrant intracellular localization. RESULTS: Here we demonstrate that the accumulation of Tks4(R43W) depends on the intact microtubule network. Detergent-insoluble Tks4 mutant colocalizes with the centrosome and its aggregate is encaged by the intermediate filament protein vimentin. Both the microtubule inhibitor nocodazole and the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A inhibit markedly the aggresome formation in cells expressing Tks4(R43W). Finally, pretreatment of cells with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 markedly increases the level of aggresomes formed by Tks4(R43W). Furthermore, two additional mutant Tks4 proteins (Tks4(1-48) or Tks4(1-341)) have been investigated. Whereas the shorter Tks4 mutant, Tks4(1-48), shows no expression at all, the longer Tks4 truncation mutant accumulates in the nuclei of the cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that misfolded Frank-ter Haar syndrome protein Tks4(R43W) is transported via the microtubule system to the aggresomes. Lack of expression of Tks4(1-48) or aberrant intracellular expressions of Tks4(R43W) and Tks4(1-341) strongly suggest that these mutations result in dysfunctional proteins which are not capable of operating properly, leading to the development of FTHS

Individual determinants of social fairness assessments : the case of Germany

In this contribution we study the determinants of how individuals assess the social fairness of a given income distribution. We propose an analytical framework distinguishing between potential impact factors related to the following fields: first fairness preferences, second beliefs on the sources of economic success and the functioning of democracy and third selfinterest. We test this framework on representative survey data for Germany for the years 1991, 2000 and 2004. Our results indicate that self-interest, beliefs and fairness preferences jointly shape fairness assessments. In addition, a number of personal characteristics are found to be important: Compared to their western fellow citizens, people born in GDR have a more critical view at social fairness. A particularly strong impact is related to the belief on the functioning of the democratic system. This points an important role of procedural fairness for the acceptance of a given distribution