On Farm Feeding;Replacing Bought in Pig Feed with Home-Grown Straights at Sheepdrove Organic Farm

Organic systems aim to operate in an ecological and economical way, importing cereals grown thousands of miles away, processed at a mill and then transported again to our farms is costly in oil and therefore money. It is neither ecologically nor economically sustainable. British farms are capable of producing a large amount of high quality cereal, the majority of which is usually sold. Transportation and processing of the grain uses oil and leaves farms vulnerable to market prices. If farmers could formulate diets and feeding programmes for their poultry and pig systems using home-grown cereals, market variables, oil emissions and costs could be cut dramatically

On Farm Feeding Poultry Trial: Wholegrain Wheat in the Commercial System

Organic systems aim to operate in an ecological and economic way. Importing cereals grown thousands of miles away, processed at a mill and then transported again to our farms is costly in oil and therefore money. It is neither ecologically nor economically sustainable. British farms are capable of producing a large amount of high quality cereal, the majority of which is usually sold. Transportation and processing of the grain uses oil and leaves farms vulnerable to market prices. If farmers could formulate diets and feeding programmes for their poultry and pig systems using home-grown cereals, market variables, oil emissions and costs could be cut dramatically

Making poultry feed more sustainable

The tool shows two alternatives to organic soya: oilseed rape and sunflower seeds. It is a written report providing information and research outlines regarding their potential in poultry feed. The nutritional differences of different crops are described in detail and agronomic advice on how to grow the crops is provided. Aimed at organic farmers in the UK, but relevant to all northern European countries

100% local and organic: closing the protein gap for poultry in the ICOPP Project

A key challenge in improving the sustainability of organic poultry production is meeting the required levels of nutrients from locally sourced organic feeds. 100% organic diets for monogastrics will become compulsory in the EU from 1st January 2015. The ICOPP project brings together knowledge, from 10 EU countries, of local feeds for monogastrics and their wider impact on growth, health and welfare and the environment to identify feeding strategies which comply with organic principles. This poster will report on feeding trials carried out with broilers in the UK by FAI and ORC to investigate the impact of algae, peas and lupins on broiler performance and welfare

ICOPP: Improved contribution of local feed to support 100% organic feed supply to pigs and poultry

Project description leaflet in several languages. The aim of ICOPP is to produce economically profitable feeding strategies based on 100% organic feed across Europe, which will supply poultry and pigs the required level of nutrients throughout their lives while supporting high animal health and welfare

100% Organic Feed for Poultry – Results of Feed Trials in the UK

Current regulations for organic monogastric production systems permit feed ingredients of non-organic origin, primarily due to concerns about meeting the demand for the essential amino acids methionine and lysine. However, 100 % organic diets will become compulsory in the EU from 1st January 2015, so there is a need to develop feeds which will supply the required level of nutrients and support high animal health and welfare. This paper reports on feeding trials carried out with broilers in the UK to investigate the impact of three 100 % organic diets: a control diet with globally sourced ingredients, a diet based on locally sourced (i.e. within Europe) organic ingredients, and a diet based on locally sourced organic ingredients and algae. The results of the summer and winter trials showed that there was no significant difference in bird weights between the three diets, indicating that using locally sourced and locally sourced with algae feeds do not impact on broiler productivity

100% Organic Poultry Feed: Can Algae Replace Soybean Expeller in Organic Broiler Diets?

Current EU regulations allow 5% of feed for organic poultry to come from non-organic production. This is due to concerns about a 100% organic diet meeting the requirements for specific amino acids such as methionine. This exception is due to end on 31st December 2017. While this may match consumer expectations, protein sourced from global organic production may have a negative impact on perceptions of organic poultry in other ways. Soybean is a commonly used ingredient in poultry feed but soybean production has negative environmental and social impacts. Consumers may also prefer organic poultry to have been fed on locally produced feed and, indeed, this would be in line with organic principles. Preliminary feasibility feed trials were carried out during a summer and a winter season using organic broilers in the UK to test three 100% organic feeds: a control diet with globally sourced ingredients including soybean expeller, a diet based on locally sourced (i.e. within Europe) organic ingredients, and a diet based on locally sourced organic ingredients and algae (a good source of methionine). The results of the summer feed trial showed that there were no significant differences in broiler weight gains. In the winter feed trial differences were found. There was a significant difference (<em>P</em> = 0.034) in weight gain between the local feed (lower weight gain) and the local feed with algae but no significant difference between the control diet with soybean and the two local diets. These preliminary feed trials indicate that there is no significant impact on broiler performance or animal welfare parameters when replacing soybean with European protein sources, possibly including algae, suggesting that, although the research is still at a very early stage, such feeds may be a viable option for 100% organic poultry feed in the future

Quantification of liver and patient shape changes with abdominal compression on the MR-Linac

Purpose:Abdominal compression (AC) is used to reduce respiratory motion in patients undergoing abdominal stereotactic radiotherapy. Resultant anatomical changes, including displacements in the direction of organs at risk (OARs) may impact treatment dosimetry. The relationship between the liver and abdominal wall has not previously been examined. This work quantifies changes in liver volume, patient contour, and distance between the anterior liver to the abdominal wall as a result of AC on images acquired on an MR Linac. Material &amp; Methods:Eight participants (seven patients, one healthy volunteer) were imaged on a 1.5T MR Linac with and without an AC belt. Images were T2-weighted, in free-breathing (FB), without dietary preparation. Four participants had repeat imaging at a different timepoint. All images were segmented and evaluated by an experienced therapeutic radiographer (RTT) and reviewed by another. Overlap of liver volumes (percentage overlap of structures relative to the union of both structures) with and without AC were calculated for all sessions. Distance between the anterior surface of the liver and the anterior abdominal wall was measured at 2cm intervals from the liver dome inferiorly along the calculated centre of the liver until the liver no longer maintained integrity. For this study, the external volume was delineated between vertebral levels T10 and L2 for equivocal comparison. Variation in patient contour volume was quantified with and without AC, and at different time points.Results:24 MRI scans (12 FB, 12 with AC) were acquired for eight participants. There was no statistically significant difference in liver volume (p=0.9) or overlapping volumes for FB or AC (p=0.7). Overlapping volumes are shown in Fig. 1.For patients undergoing repeat imaging (median gap between sessions = 5 days) there was no statistically significant change in external volume between sessions 1 and 2 for FB (mean decrease 228.3 cm3, SD 184.7, range 62.3-484.0, p=0.09) or with AC (mean 105.8 cm3, SD 159.8, range -73.8-308, p=0.28). The negative value represents an increase, as 1 patient appeared to be compressed less at AC2 than AC1. The largest variations in liver-abdomen distance occurred &gt;6cm inferior to liver dome, For example, mean change at 0cm was 0.1cm (SD 0.9, range -1.1-1.57) and 0.7 (SD 1.56, range -0.2-4.8) at 6cm (negative value = increase). The increase in liver-abdomen distance was not significant between session 1 and 2 for both FB (p = 0.2-0.9) and AC (p = 0.1-0.9) at each interval. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that based on liver and external contours, AC is more reproducible in superior liver lesions. However, variations in belt position and inflation level may lead to anatomical variations for inferior lesions. These results will be validated in a larger cohort as part of ongoing work.<br/