NR 26. Enhancing protein utilization from feather meal

The objective of this work was to develop novel ammonia reactor processing conditions to treat feather meal which will extend the use of feather meal protein products for animal feeding. Liquid anhydrous ammonia was added to 60 g-samples and temperature was rapidly elevated to the desired temperature. After desired treatment time, pressure was suddenly released and samples allowed to air-dry overnight. In situ ruminal solubility (one minute in the rumen) and digestibility (3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h in the rumen) were determined by the dacron satchel method using a cannulated steer. Kjeldahl was used for crude protein determination. Feather meal had 10 % moisture content (w.b.), 88 % crude protein, 1.4 % crude fat and 6.2 % ash. Protein solubility greatly increased (7 to 23 %) with PDA for 50% moisture-samples compared to the control (P<.05). There were also significant differences in protein solubility (P<.05) with PDA at 75 and 90 ºC for the 50 % moisture-samples. PDA processing greatly enhances the potential use of feather meal as a protein source. If treated feather meal is fed to a ruminant, more than 20 % of the protein will be immediately soluble and thus available to the rumen microorganisms, providing ammonia for microbial function. Digestibility of protein for 10% moisture-samples was not significantly different (P>.05) from the control (untreated feather meal). However, protein digestibility greatly increased for PDA-treated 50 % moisture FM. Protein digested at 48 h was increased from 24% (control) to 48 % with selected treatments. Significant effects were also found for temperature and ammonia loading (P<.05). These results show that PDA can be used to increase the utility of feather meal protein

NR 06. Sugar production from rice straw

The objective of this work was to assess the utility of the Ammonia Pressurization and Depressurization (PDA) process to enhance the enzymatic production of reducing sugars from rice straw (RS). Two experiments were carried out in duplicate. The first experiment involved a 20 min-treatment time and three moisture levels (15, 35 and 60 %). In the second experiment, three treatment times (0, 6 and 20 min) were tested with 35 % moisture-samples. NDF, ADF and ADL were determined in quadruplicate in the samples to estimate solubles, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Samples were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by cellulase, cellobiase and hemicellulase (5 IU/g DM, 28.4 CBU/g and 2.5 mg/g, respectively). The ammonia treatment significantly increased solubles content of rice straw (P<.001), mainly with moisture content (up to 47.17 %). Moisture appears to help the ammonia penetrate the biomass for reaction. Sugar production increased significantly (P<.001) for PDA-treated samples compared to the control, and was greater with higher moisture contents and increased times. The best PDA condition, 60 % moisture content for a 20 min treatment, increased the sugar yield by 6.5 times to 67 % of theoretical. The high increase in sugar yield reflects the effect of the ammonia treatment on increasing the susceptibility of cellulose and hemicellulose to enzymatic hydrolysis. PDA treated RS provides an alternative source of sugars for animal feeding and may replace starch in appropriate applications

Global demand for natural resources eliminated more than 100,000 Bornean orangutans

Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources is increasingly affecting the highly biodiverse tropics. Although rapid developments in remote sensing technology have permitted more precise estimates of land-cover change over large spatial scales , our knowledge about the effects of these changes on wildlife is much more sparse. Here we use field survey data, predictive density distribution modeling, and remote sensing to investigate the impact of resource use and land-use changes on the density distribution of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). Our models indicate that between 1999 and 2015, half of the orangutan population was affected by logging, deforestation, or industrialized plantations. Although land clearance caused the most dramatic rates of decline, it accounted for only a small proportion of the total loss. A much larger number of orangutans were lost in selectively logged and primary forests, where rates of decline were less precipitous, but where far more orangutans are found. This suggests that further drivers, independent of land-use change, contribute to orangutan loss. This finding is consistent with studies reporting hunting as a major cause in orangutan decline . Our predictions of orangutan abundance loss across Borneo suggest that the population decreased by more than 100,000 individuals, corroborating recent estimates of decline . Practical solutions to prevent future orangutan decline can only be realized by addressing its complex causes in a holistic manner across political and societal sectors, such as in land-use planning, resource exploitation, infrastructure development, and education, and by increasing long-term sustainability

Comparación de tres tipos de estructura física de corral (cama profunda, piso sólido y piso con rejilla) para cerdos en fase de finalizacion en granjas comerciales

As a result of the investigation and experience in pig′s production, at the moment, there are greater knowledge and conscience with respect to the pig′s welfare and its effect on the indicators of productivity and quality for the market. With the purpose of evaluating, from the technical point of view and from the building costs, the effect of 3 physical structures of houses, deep bed floor, solid floor and floor "slat", for bristles in finishing phase; an experiment with the respective structures was designed, in commercial farm conditions. It has been used the facilities (sheds) of 3 located pigs and poultry farms in the Carabobo State. It was made in a first level of analysis, a bi dimensional of variables analysis through the ANOVA method, to determine in preliminarily the effect between groups of (EFC) on the pool of response indicators (R), then, in a second phase we applied the linear regression equation model. Where physical structure variable of corral (EFC) is located in the right hand side of the equation, as controlled factor, whose effects are wanted to measure. The results show that effectively the group effect is significantly different, that mean, there is variability on most of the IR given the EFC, where animals locate. On the other hand, regression analysis allow to confirm that as much it is going towards no conventional physical structures of floor, like the one of deep bed, a significantly positive effect is observed on the following R: gaining life, exit to slaughter house, conversion index, discard, and daily gain in the phase. The most economic structure, if all the costs of the investment for the construction of EFC are taken into account, which includes the structures for cleaning of excretes, like oxidation lagoons, etc., it is the structure of corral of deep bed type.Como resultado de la investigación y experiencia en producción de cerdos, existe actualmente un mayor conocimiento respecto a la relación bienestar de los cerdos y su efecto a nivel de los indicadores de productividad y calidad del producto final. Con el fin de evaluar, desde el punto vista técnico y de costos, el efecto de tres estructuras físicas de corral (EFC), cama profunda, piso sólido y piso de cemento tipo rejilla, para cerdos en fase de finalización; se diseñó un experimento con las respectivas estructuras, en condiciones de granja comercial. Se utilizaron las instalaciones (galpones) de 3 granjas productoras de cerdos, ubicadas en el estado Carabobo. Se realizó en un primer nivel de análisis de la información un contraste bidimensional de variables, ANAVAR, para determinar en forma preliminar si existen efectos diferenciadores entre grupos de cerdos ubicados en cada una de las estructuras físicas, observables a través de un conjunto de indicadores biológicos de resultado o respuesta (R) incluidos en el estudio. En la segunda fase confirmativa, se aplicó el modelo de regresión lineal, incluyendo en la ecuación la variable EFC del lado derecho de la misma, como factor controlado cuyo efecto se quiere medir. Los resultados permiten afirmar que el efecto grupo presenta diferencias significativas, es decir, hay variabilidad en la mayoría de los R de acuerdo al tipo de EFC donde se alojen los animales. Por otra parte el análisis de regresión permite afirmar que en la medida que se avanza hacia estructuras físicas de corral no convencionales, como el de piso cama profunda, se observa un efecto significativamente positivo sobre variables respuesta R como: ganancia en peso, salida a matadero, índice de conversión, descarte y ganancia diaria en la fase. La estructura más económica, considerando todos los costos de la inversión para la construcción de EFC, lo cual incluiría las estructuras para limpieza de excretas, como lagunas, etc., es la estructura del tipo cama profunda

Philosophical proposal to establish a wood construction culture in Venezuela

Venezuela tiene una crisis habitacional estimada en más de dos millones de unidades habitacionales. En los últimos años, el gobierno nacional ha hecho esfuerzos por tratar de disminuir ese indicador deficitario, el cual es a su vez, más ascendente con el pasar del tiempo. Según cifras oficiales, desde el año 1999 hasta el 2007 se han construido 350 mil viviendas, sin superar la cifra emblemática de 100 mil casas por año. Para el año 2008, se tenía proyectado alcanzar las 250 mil unidades habitacionales. Por ello, se viene intensificando el uso de los sistemas constructivos tradicionales, y sumado a ello, se espera incorporar los sistemas constructivos alternativos con el uso de madera sólida de pino caribe de la Orinoquia. De ahí que, se haga una propuesta filosófica para lograr el establecimiento en Venezuela de la cultura constructiva con madera, por considerar que la construcción con el pino caribe tiene una oferta garantizada en el tiempo, es sostenible, económica, segura y rápida, siempre y cuando sea estandarizada, normalizada, tenga tratamientos de conservación, etcé[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]@cantv.net, [email protected]@[email protected] is a housing shortage crisis estimated in more than two millions housing units. In the last years, the Venezuelan government has made efforts to try to reduce this negative indicator, which is, at the same time, increasing in time. According to official numbers, from 1999 to 2007, 350 thousand houses have been built, not beating the emblematic number of 100 thousand houses per year. For 2008, it was projected to reach 250 thousand housing units. For this reason, the use of traditional construction systems is being intensified; additionally, it is expected to incorporate alternative construction systems with the use of Caribbean pine solid wood from the Orinoquia. With the result that a philosophical proposal be made to achieve the establishment of the wood construction culture, given that the construction with Caribbean pine has a guaranteed offer in time, it is sustainable, economical, safe and fast, as long as it is standardized, has conservation treatments, etcetera

Evaluation and re-design of two projects for houses proposed by CVG-Proforca Wood Housing Project Management Office. Part II

Se presenta la Parte II del trabajo intitulado: Evaluación y rediseño de dos proyectos de casas, realizados por la Gerencia Proyecto Vivienda Madera de CVG Proforca. Parte I. Dada la extensión de los análisis técnicos requeridos para la totalidad de los cuatro proyectos evaluados, a modo de continuación, se exponen dos proyectos distintos y con características muy particulares que devienen en la realización del diseño arquitectónico de viviendas sociales a ser construidas con madera de pino Caribe (Pinus caribaea var. Hondurensis), y la integración de los diferentes materiales de construcción tradicionalmente usados en la manufactura de viviendas en Venezuela. El desarrollo metodológico es el mismo al empleado en la Parte I. Los resultados difieren sensiblemente a los argumentos de la primera parte; se amplía con algunas reflexiones prospectivas de los posibles rumbos que pudiera tomar la cultura constructiva con madera en el país, en los próximos años. A pesar de contar con un reconocido potencial forestal nacional, pareciera que no se cuenta con la capacidad gerencial, técnica, profesional y política en hacer efectiva a mediano plazo esta alternativa de construcción sostenible, para la solución del grave problema habitacional que afecta a más de 2 millones de familias venezolanas de menores recursos econó[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]@doctor.upv.es; [email protected]@[email protected] Part II of the paper entitled “Evaluation and re-design of two projects for houses proposed by CVG-Proforca Wood Housing Project Management Office. Part I”, is presented. Given the length of the technical analysis required for the total four assessed projects, as a continuation, two different projects are presented, with very particular features, that occur in the social housing architectural design construction that will be built from Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea var. Hondurensis), and the integration of the different building materials commonly used in the housing manufacture in Venezuela. The methodological development is the same as the one used in Part I. Results are appreciably different from the arguments of the first part; such results are expanded with some prospective reflections about the possible course that the culture of timber building could take in Venezuela in the near future. Despite having a recognized national forest potential, it seems that there is a lack of management, technical, professional and political capacity to make possible this sustainable building alternative at medium term, for the solution of this big housing shortage problem, affecting more than two million Venezuelan families of lower income