Promising Forage Options to Enhance Livestock Production in Mediterranean Climate Agricultural Systems

The increasing demand for food, fibre and animal products inevitably requires intensifying agricultural production worldwide. This can present a number of environmental and farming systems challenges in Mediterranean climate areas of the world. Developments of novel strategies, employing ecologically sound intensification practices, are crucial to enhance production in the Mediterranean agropastoral production systems. In this paper, we have discussed forage based systems that improve productivity, profitability, environmental quality and resilience of the farming systems. Key opportunities include better use and integration of diverse genetic resources, new agronomic techniques and the utilization of perennial forage plants that are adapted to land that may not be suited to traditional species. This article has a specific focus on the recent developments on forage based production options for the ecologically sound intensification and enhanced livestock productivity in the low to medium rainfall (\u3c 500 mm/year) Mediterranean agropastoral production systems from the farming context of smallholdings of south Mediterranean countries (West Asia and North Africa; WANA) and large-scale farming systems of southern Australia

BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF BARLEY RIHANE (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)

Background: Many experimental studies have suggested an important role for barley Rihane(BR)in the prevention of colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physico-chemical properties and nutritional characterizations of BR compared to other varieties grown in Tunisia (Manel, Roho and Tej). Material and Methods: Total, insoluble and soluble dietary fiber(β-glucan),total protein, ash and some minerals of BR and Tunisian barley varieties were determined. Results: The results revealed that BR is good source of dietary fiber mainly β-glucan compared to the other varieties. This variety is a relatively rich source of phosphorous and potassium and it contains many important unsaturated fatty acids. BR has higher nutritional value than other varieties. Conclusion: Barley Rihane has significant nutritional characterizations compared to others Tunisian barleys varieties

Effect of daily or intermittent addition of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) seeds to concentrate on intake, digestion, and growth performance of Barbarine lamb

International audienceAn 82-day experiment was carried out to determine the response of growing lambs to the intermittent administration of fenugreek (FG) seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) into concentrate. Twenty-Four 3-month-old Barbarine lambs (initial body weight 16.6 ± 0.42 kg) were divided into four equal groups (n = 6). All lambs received 600 g alfalfa pellets and 250 g concentrate containing or not 12% ground FG seeds. Control concentrate (CC) was composed (as fed) of barley (200 g), faba bean (40 g) and mineral and vitamin supplement (MVS, 14 g). The experimental concentrate (CE) contained barley (200 g), FG seeds (30 g) and MVS (14 g). The two concentrates have the same crude protein content. The control group (FG-0) received CC while groups FG-D, FG-2D and FG-4D received CE daily, or in alternation with concentrate CC at 2 or 4-day intervals (FG-2D or FG-4D, respectively). The feeding trial was followed by a 5-day in vivo digestibility trial. The frequency of distribution of FG-containing concentrate (CE) had no effect (P > 0.05) on diet intake and diet apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and cell wall (NDFom), nitrogen balance and the concentrations of urea, total protein and glucose in sheep plasma. The intermittent supply of FG seeds in concentrate tended to increase (P = 0.087)the average daily gain in FG-2D and FG-4D lambs and the microbial nitrogen synthesis (P = 0.052)with the FG administration. However, it decreased (P < 0.001) ruminal protozoa count by 33%, 44% and 66% in the FG-D, FG-2D and FG-4D lambs, respectively compared to FG-0 group. Similarly, the intermittent administration of FG seeds decreased ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations (P < 0.001) by 28%, 31% and 35% in the FG-D, FG-2D and FG-4D, respectively. The antiprotozoal activity of FG seeds could have been induced by secondary compounds like saponins. This activity was more efficient when the frequency of incorporation of FG seeds into the concentrate is wider. It is concluded that the intermittent administration of 120 g/kg to concentrate (DM basis), had an antiprotozoal effect but failed to improve diet digestibility and growth performance of Barbarine lambs. Therefore, there is a need to emphasize further investigation to identify the active components responsible for the antiprotozoal activity of FG seeds

Prédiction de la biomasse aérienne d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. (Syn. A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl) à partir de mensurations dimensionnelles

Above ground biomass prediction of Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. (Syn. A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl). Dimensional measurements were made on 45 four-year-old Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. shrubs which were cut at 20 cm above ground to predict biomass production. These shrubs planted at a density of 1100 plants/ha were located at the following sites: El Krib (high semi-arid), El Hojjaj (high semi-arid) and El Araïbia (humid) in the North West of Tunisia. In order to validate the regression models obtained, a subsample of 5 shrubs (not included in the total sample), representing 11% of the total sample was chosen at random. Linear regressions (simple and multiple) allowed to satisfactorly estimate the above ground biomass production of Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. using its volume or its basal diameter ($R^2 = 0.76$ to 0.96). However, the multiple regression involving simultaneously the volume and the basal diameter led to a better precision of the model ($R^2 = 0.90$ to 0.98).Afin de prédire la production de biomasse aérienne d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. à partir de mensurations dimensionnelles, nous avons effectué des mesures et des coupes à 20 cm du sol, de 45 arbustes issus de trois plantations du Nord Ouest de la Tunisie situées aux endroits suivants : El Krib (semi-aride supérieur), El Hojjaj (semi-aride supérieur) et El Araïbia (humide). Ces plantations sont âgées de 4 ans et ayant une densité de 1100 pieds/ha. Pour la validation des modèles obtenus, un sous-ensemble de 5 arbustes (non inclus dans l'échantillon pris pour l'établissement des modèles de régression), soit 11 % de l'échantillon total a été choisi au hasard. Des régressions linéaires (simples et multiples) ont permis d'estimer la production de biomasse aérienne d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. de manière satisfaisante, connaissant son volume ou son diamètre basal ($R^2 = 0,76$ à 0,96). Toutefois, la régression multiple incluant à la fois le volume et le diamètre basal a constitué un modèle plus précis ($R^2 = 0,90$ à 0,98)

Effects of polyethylene glycol in concentrate or feed blocks on carcass composition and offal weight of Barbarine lambs fed Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. foliage

The influence of concentrate or feed blocks with or without Polyethylene glycol (PEG, molecular weight 4000) on the carcass characteristics and weight of offal components of 25 Barbarine ram lambs offered Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. foliage was studied. The animals were divided into 5 equal groups and housed in individual pens for 74 days. All of the animals received 400 g oat hay and air-dried foliage of acacia ad libitum. Two groups were supplemented with 300 g concentrate with (C$_{{\rm PEG}}$) orwithout (C) 20 g PEG. The other groups had free access to urea-containing feed blocks with (BU$_{{\rm PEG}}$) or without (BU) PEG. One other treatment was a PEG-containing feed block without urea (B$_{{\rm PEG}}$). PEG was used to preferentially bind A. cyanophylla condensed tannins (CT). At the end of the growth trial, the animals were slaughtered, offal components were weighed, left half carcasses were dissected and carcass tissues were weighed. At slaughter, body weight (BW) was the highest ($P < 0.01$) in the group receiving concentrate and PEG (35.4 kg). The animals on diets C, B$_{{\rm PEG:}}$ and BU$_{{\rm PEG}}$ were slaughtered at similar BW (33.4, 31.8 and 32.1 kg, respectively) and those on BU had the lowest BW (27.8 kg). Dressing percentage was not affected by diet treatments. The weights of the head, feet, lungs, heart and abomasum were not affected by the diet. The diet significantly influenced the skin, testes, liver, kidneys and rumen weights. The animals fed concentrate had heavier skin (4485 g) and rumen (812 g) than those fed blocks (3773 and 720 g for the skin and rumen, respectively). The animals receiving BU had the smallest organs. On contrasting treatments plus/minus PEG, it was observed that PEG administration significantly increased the weight of all organs. PEG supply significantly increased ($P < 0.01$) testis weight (196 vs. 127 g with/without PEG). Due to treatment effects on slaughter BW and hence carcass weight, muscle, bone and fat weights were lower in the BU group compared to those in the other groups. In C, C$_{{\rm PEG}}$, B$_{{\rm PEG}}$ and BU$_{{\rm PEG}}$ groups, there was no significant difference in body muscle weight. Indeed, the animals fed A. cyanophylla with feed blocks with PEG and without urea (B$_{{\rm PEG}}$ group) produced the same amount of muscle as those produced with PEG and urea-containing feed blocks or conventional diets (concentrate). The animals given feed blocks (more protein and less energy than the concentrate) were less fat (20.0%) than those receiving concentrate (24.7%). The use of acacia foliage and feed blocks without urea but containing PEG may be a useful solution to produce lean lamb in a more economic manner.Incorporation dans le concentré ou les blocs alimentaires de polyéthylène glycol : effets sur la composition de la carcasse et le poids des abats chez les agneaux de race Barbarine nourris avec des feuilles d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. Les effets de la complémentation ou non de l'aliment concentré ou des blocs alimentaires (BA) avec du PEG sur les caractéristiques des carcasses et le poids des abats ont été étudiés sur 25 agneaux de race Barbarine alimentés avec une ration à base de feuillage d'Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. Les animaux ont été répartis en 5 lots homogènes. Logés en boxes individuels pendant 74 jours, tous les agneaux ont reçu 400 g de foin d'avoine avec du feuillage d'acacia à volonté. Deux lots ont été supplémentés avec 300 g de concentré avec (C$_{{\rm PEG}}$) ou sans (C) 20 g de PEG. Deux autres lots ont eu libre accès aux blocs alimentaires contenant de l'urée avec (BU$_{{\rm PEG}}$) ou sans (BU) PEG. Le dernier traitement a inclu un supplément sous forme de bloc alimentaire sans urée mais avec du PEG (B$_{{\rm PEG}}$). À la fin de la période d'engraissement, les animaux ont été abattus, tous les organes pesés, les demi-carcasses disséquées et les différents tissus pesés. À l'abattage, le poids vif des animaux du lot CPEG a été le plus élevé (35,4 kg), celui des animaux des lots C, B$_{{\rm PEG}}$, et BU$_{{\rm PEG}}$ similaire (33,4, 31,8 et 32,1 kg, respectivement), et celui des animaux du lot BU le plus faible (27,8 kg). Le rendement à l'abattage n'a pas été affecté par le régime alimentaire, de même que les poids de la tête, des pattes, des poumons, du cœur et de la caillette. En revanche, le régime alimentaire a eu un effet significatif sur le poids de la peau, des testicules, du foie, des reins et du rumen. De ce fait, le poids de la peau et du rumen des agneaux recevant le concentré (4485 et 812 g) a été supérieur à celui des agneaux recevant les blocs alimentaires (3773 et 720 g), alors que les organes les plus légers ont été observés chez les animaux recevant le régime BU. L'effet du PEG, testé par la méthode des contrastes, a montré que l'administration de PEGaugmentait le poids des organes. Ainsi, le poids des testicules a été significativement ($P < 0,01$) plus élevé chez les agneaux recevant le PEG que ceux n'en recevant pas (196 avec PEG vs. 127 g sans PEG). Étant donnés les effets du régime alimentaire sur le poids vif et par conséquent sur le poids de la carcasse, les poids des tissusmusculaire, adipeux et squelettique ont été les plus faibles dans le lot BU. En revanche, dans les lots C, C$_{{\rm PEG}}$, B$_{{\rm PEG}}$ et BU$_{{\rm PEG}}$, la masse musculaire n'a pas été significativement différente. En conséquence, supplémenter des animaux ayant une alimentation à base de feuilles d'Acacia cyanophylla avec des blocs alimentaires sans urée mais contenant du PEG permet de produire une masse musculaire comparable à celle obtenue avec des blocs alimentaires contenant de l'urée et du PEG ou avec des régimes conventionnels (concentré). Les animaux supplémentés avec les blocs alimentaires (plus de protéines et moins d'énergie que le concentré) ont été relativement moins gras (20,0 %) que ceux supplémentés avec le concentré (24,7 %). L'utilisation de feuilles d'acacia avec des blocs alimentaires sans urée mais contenant du PEG permettrait de produire des agneaux non gras de façon plus économique