Pineapple stem by-product as a feed source for growth performance, ruminal fermentation, carcass and meat quality of Holstein steers

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of pineapple stem by-product silage as a feed source in total replacement of Napier or corn silages on growth performance, feed intake and feed efficiency, ruminal fermentation, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Holstein crossbred steers. Forty-eight steers with an average age of 18 months (448.6 ± 51.5 kg) were randomly allocated to three groups (one diet per group) in a completely randomized design. Steers were fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 20 : 80. The TMR diets contained Napier grass silage (nTMR), whole corn silage (cTMR) or pineapple stem silage (pTMR) and were offered ad libitum for six months. The results revealed that pTMR and cTMR diets resulted in a significantly higher weight gain than nTMR. These results were observed because pTMR and cTMR diets provided more N-free extract (NFE) total digestible nutrients (TDN) than nTMR diet, and the feed conversion efficiencies for pTMR and cTMR diets were higher than those of nTMR. Ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acid concentrations were not significantly different among dietary treatments. The carcass characteristics of steers fed cTMR and pTMR diets included significantly larger rib eye areas than steers fed nTMR, whereas meat quality was not affected by treatment. Additionally, the current research showed that pTMR diet provided the lowest feed cost per gain. The results suggest that pineapple stem by-product could be regarded as a potential feed source for reducing costs in cattle feedlots.Keywords: Carcass characteristics, dairy steers; feedlot; industrial waste; total mixed ratio

The Influence of a Tropical Climate with a Long Dry Season on Goat Semen Quality and Seminal Fluid Change in the Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

At present, there is no information about the difference between the three seasons with a long dry period, such as Kanchanaburi province, Thailand, on goat semen quality. This study observed the climate and daytime length effects of a long dry period in three seasons in a tropical climate country on goat semen quality and seminal fluid change. The semen was collected from eight male goats once a month for one year. The libido score was assessed during semen collection. Semen volume, semen sediment volume, percentage of seminal fluid volume, seminal fluid protein, mass movement, motility, concentration, and spermatozoa membrane integrity were evaluated. Libido scores were not different between the seasons. Semen volume, seminal fluid volume, and seminal fluid protein concentration in the rainy season were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the summer and winter. Semen sediment volume was relatively stable in all seasons and months. Meanwhile, the concentration was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the summer and winter than in the rainy season. In summer and winter, spermatozoa motility and normal spermatozoa membrane were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the rainy season. In conclusion, temperature, THI, and daytime changes in tropical climate countries with long dry seasons were unrelated to semen quality, seminal fluid change, and sexual behavior. But the increase in humidity in the rainy season after long dry seasons has dropped semen quality, resulting from increased volume and protein levels in seminal fluid

Development of a Sustainability Index for an Energy Management System in Thailand

The ISO 50001 energy management system (EnMS) standard was published in June 2011 and has been widely adopted by organizations from around the world, including Thailand. From 2014–2017, there was a continuous increase in the number of ISO 50001-certified companies in the East Asia and Pacific regions and, more broadly, the world, although this is not consistent with the number of companies that emerged during this period in Thailand. This information shows that the implementation of energy management in some companies may not be sustainable. This research offers a novel method for assessing the quality of energy management in the form of an energy management system sustainability index (EnMS SI) framework, presenting the economic, organizational, energy performance, and environmental aspects of sustainable energy management. Data collection, from a literature review of related research and the EnMS good practices, was implemented in order to select sustainability indicators and further develop a sustainability index for energy management. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted arithmetic mean (WAM) were used to establish an EnMS SI. The study results were then assessed and validated using 31 ISO 50001-certified companies in Thailand. Direct interviews and questionnaires were used to obtain responses from energy management representatives. The studied data indicated that an EnMS SI framework can be used in qualitative analyses to effectively determine the sustainability of an EnMS. Significant sustainability indicators, consisting of continuous benefits, top management commitment, and long-term strategic planning, were found. The results also revealed that the EnMS in Thailand has been significantly economically weak. The EnMS SI framework is a tool for assessing energy management sustainability, which allows for the determination of an organization’s actual strengths and weaknesses. The benefits of this framework include the possibility of determining guidelines for correcting and improving the EnMS to achieve sustainability

The Gerromorpha (Heteroptera: Gerridae, Mesoveliidae, Veliidae) of Mangroves of Central and Eastern Regions, Thailand

The Gerromorpha assemblages in mangroves located in the central and eastern regions of Thailand were examined, and a total of nine species belonging to six genera and three families were discovered. Four of the recorded species are new records for Thailand. Asclepios annandalei Distant, 1915 was the most common species and widely distributed throughout the study area. The most diverse genus was Xenobates, which consisted of Xenobates argentatus Andersen, 2000, Xenobates mandai Andersen, 2000, Xenobates murphyi Andersen, 2000, and Xenobates singaporensis Andersen, 2000. Three of these species are new country records. Here, we present taxonomic and ecological information of mangrove gerromorphans in the central and eastern regions of Thailand

Transplacental transmission in cattle: is Toxoplasma gondii less potent than Neospora caninum?

We compared the transplacental-transmission ability of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in cattle. One uninfected pregnant heifer served as control, while three were inoculated with N. caninum K9WA strain and four with T. gondii RH strain at their midgestational period. Both infected groups showed clinical signs and antibodies either to N. caninum or T. gondii, while the control animal was normal. Two (50%) Toxoplasma dams aborted on days 6 and 11 postinoculation. T. gondii tachyzoites were found in various organs of those dams that had abortions but not in their fetuses. Two Neospora dams did not abort but gave birth to subclinically infected calves. The remaining two Toxoplasma dams and one from Neospora group became recumbent. Those two dams and their fetuses showed disseminated Toxoplasma DNA, but no Neospora DNA was found. Our findings suggest that maternal toxoplasmosis could be a cause of abortion and congenital toxoplasmosis in cattle, especially when they are infected by virulent strains

Natural Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antiproliferative Activities of Ethanolic Extracts from Punica granatum L. Tree Barks Mediated by Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase

The nonedible parts of the pomegranate plant, such as tree barks and fruit peels, have pharmacological properties that are useful in traditional medicine. To increase their value, this study aimed to compare the antioxidative and antibacterial effects of ethanolic extracts from pomegranate barks (PBE) and peels (PPE). The antiproliferative effects on HeLa and HepG2 cells through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway were also evaluated. The results indicated that the total amounts of phenolics and flavonoids of PBE and PPE were 574.64 and 242.60 mg equivalent gallic acid/g sample and 52.98 and 23.08 mg equivalent quercetin/g sample, respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed that 5-hdroxymethylfurfural was the major component of both PBE (23.76%) and PPE (33.19%). The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical scavenging capacities of PBE and PPE, in terms of the IC50 value, were 4.1 and 9.6 µg/mL, respectively. PBE had a greater potent antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis, and S. Typhimurium. PBE and PPE (1000 µg/mL) had exhibited no cytotoxic effects on LLC-MK2. PBE and PPE (250 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively) treatments were safe for BHK-21. Both extracts significantly inhibited HepG2 and HeLa cell proliferations at 10 and 50 µg/mL, respectively (p < 0.001). The results indicated that PBE and PPE have remarkable efficiencies as free radical scavengers and antibacterial agents, with PBE exhibiting greater efficiency. The inhibitory effects on HepG2 might be through the modulation of the ERK1/2 expression. PBE and PPE have the potential for use as optional supplementary antioxidative, antibacterial, and anticancer agents

Updated Reproductive Hormonal Profiles in Female Elephants Nicharee Income 3 Imke Lueders 6 Chatchote Thitaram

Abstract Through advances in endocrine monitoring and ultrasonographic examination, we have understood some of the complex mechanisms controlling reproductive function in elephants. Several reproductive characteristics appear to be unique such as luteal steroidogenic function, follicular development patterns, pituitary gonadotrophin secretion, and long estrous cycle and gestation lengths. This review describes current knowledge of female elephant endocrinology and how it is being used for maximal reproductive efficiency and enhancement of proper management