Determination of energy content of feeds

In nutrition studies it is often necessary to know the calorific value of the feed, faeces and flesh. These values are necessary to compute-the energy budget and to determine the efficiencies of absorption and conversion. In nutrition requirement studies it is essential that the test diets be isocalorific. Therefore determining the energy content of feeds, and its components is one of the basic techniques used in nutrition studie

Determination of gross energy of feeds

The amount of heat, measured in calories, that is released when a substance is completely oxidized in a bomb calorimeter containing 25 to 30 atmospheres of oxygen, is called the gross energy (GE) of the substance. A sample of the material to be tested is weighed into a combustion capsule. The combustion capsule is placed in an oxygen bomb containing 25 to 30 atmospheres of oxygen. The oxygen bomb is covered with 2000 g of water in an adiabatic calorimeter. After the bomb and calorimeter have been adjusted to the same temperature, the sample is Ignited with a fuse wire. The temperature rise is measured under adiabatic conditions. From the hydrothermal equivalent of the calorimeter the temperature rise minus some small corrections for fuse wire oxidation and acid production, the caloric content of the sample is calculated

Methodology of nutritional bioenergetics - An outline

Nutritional bioenergetics, the study of transformation and partitioning of food energy offers a conceptional framework to anabolism and catabolism. while the rate of transfer can be expressed as dB/dt, the whole process can be expressed in the form of a simplified equation, which is also known as energy budget

DOES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PAY - THE CASE FOR PROTEACEAE

This paper reports on the socio-economic impact of the Proteaceae technology development and transfer programme. Farm level data were collected from the major role players in the industry, including cultivators, harvesters, agents and nurseries. The five major production regions were the Western Cape, South Western Cape, Southern Cape, Cape Peninsula and Eastern Cape, but other small regions in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) were also included in the study. Standard pretested mail questionnaires, supplemented with personal interviews, were used. This paper reports the socio-economic impacts over the period 1974- 2005. Results show that the rate of return for the financial and economic analyses ranged between seven and twelve percent, showing that the research programme is a profitable investment to society. The Proteaceae programme contributed to the conservation of biodiversity, had institutional impact in terms of training and technology transfer, while the social impact was indicated by employment generation through R&D activities.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Ultrastructure of egg membrane of rohu (Labeo rohita)

The fine structure of the egg envelope and micropyle of unfertilised spawned eggs of rohu (Labeo rohita) was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The outer surface showed regularly arranged pores (dia. 0.20 - 0.25 μm) but was devoid of any filaments, fibrils or wrinkles. The micropyle was funnel shaped which exibited an outer pit (10 μm dia.) narrowing into a distinct canal (4.5 μm dia.). The larger diameter of the micropylar canal in comparison with the sperm head size of rohu and some other cyprinids make intergeneric and interspecific hybridisation easy in rohu

Concepts in marine biotechnology and their applications for enhancing aquaculture productivity

Application of biotechnology techniques to agriculture increased the quality and quantity of the final yield. Genetic engineering applied to the production of fish, molluscs and crustaceans although at the rudimentary stage offers promise. Besides, other techniques like tissue culture, chromosomal engineering, cryopreservation of embryos, and production of transgenic organisms also offer immense scope to expand and improve aquaculture operations

Fine structural changes of Rohu (Labeo rohita) sperm after dilution with cryoprotectants

Spermatozoa of rohu (Labeo rohita) were diluted in two cryodiluents and fine structural changes were investigated. Damages were observed in head, mid-piece and tail of about 51% spermatozoa immediately after dilution in one of the cryodiluents. After 10 minutes of equilibration period, the frequency of damaged sperms increased to 85%. The other diluent did not exhibit signif~cant structural changes unlike the former one and nearly 60% sperms remained visibly intact even after 10 minutes of equilibration time. The present investigation points out (1) diluents inhibiting sperm motility alone need not always be ideal for a species and (2) usefulness of ultrastructural images of fish sperms in determining the fertilizing ability of milt and in preliminary screening and selection of cryodiluents for deepfreezing programmes

Esterases in Indian major carps - 'Rohu' (Labeo rohita) and 'Mrigal' (Cirrhinus mrigala) (Teleostei, Cyprinidae)

Soluble esterases of rohu and mrigal were characterised by electrophoresis using different substrates and inhibitors. Four separable regions of esterolytic activity were observed in liver, brain and white muscle extracts of rohu and in three regions in mrigal, with liver of both species exhibiting maximum number of bands. Species-specific differences were observed in some of the regions. Striking substrate-specific reactions were not observed but based on sensitivity to inhibitors, the liver esterases of both species were classified into aryl, carboxyl, choline, ER and Esdp esterases

A study on biochemical genetics on Crassostrea madrasensis of Cochin

To determine genetic differences between geographic populations of Crassostrea madrasensis, studies on the protein band pattern in four tissues namely, adductor muscle, gills mantle and digestive diverticula was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The interpopulation differences observed in protein expression are discussed in relation to biochemical genetic characterisation of C. madrasensis

Endemic Fish Diversity of Western Ghats

The Western Ghats along the West coast of Peninsular India are well known for their richness of biodiversity including freshwater species. The area has vast potential for endemic, cultivable and ornamental fish species. Indeed, it was the spices from the hill chain of Western Ghats that brought Europeans to India, an event of much significance in shaping the course of modern world history. Today, these Western Ghats are recognized as one of the eighteen “biodiversity hotspots” in the world, and are therefore a focus of great scientific interest