The bio refinery; producing feed and fuel from grain

It is both possible and practicable to produce feed and fuel from grain. Using the value of grain to produce renewable energy for transport, while using the remaining protein content of the grain as a valuable protein source for livestock and for fish, can be seen as a complimentary and optimal use of all the grain constituents. Consideration must be given to maximise the value of the yeast components, as substantial yeast is generated during the fermentation of the grain starch to produce ethanol. Yeast is a nutritionally rich feed ingredient, with potential for use both as feed protein and as a feed supplement with possible immunity and gut health enhancing properties. Bioprocessing, with the consequent economies of scale, is a process whereby the value of grain can be optimised in a way that is traditional, natural and sustainable for primarily producing protein and oil for feed with a co-product ethanol as a renewable fuel

The effect of bone choice on quantification of mineralization in broiler chickens up to 6 weeks of age

An experiment was conducted to assess the most appropriate bone type for measuring bone mineralization in male broiler chicks up to 42 d. A total of 72 male broilers were raised in 0.64 m2 pens on a litter floor. The study design included 2 dietary treatments (Control and Low) containing differing levels of total phosphorus (7.8 and 4.4 g/kg for Control and Low diets respectively) and calcium (22.7 and 13.1 g/kg for Control and Low diets respectively) with each fed to 6 replicate pens of 6 birds. Each wk, 6 birds per diet were euthanized and leg bones removed to measure ash percentage. Foot, toe, tibia, and femur ash were compared using the mean of both legs from each bird, via t-tests to separate Control and Low diets. At the end of wk 1, diets could not be separated using any of the bone ash measures. From wk 2 to wk 5, both tibia and foot ash differentiated between the Control and Low diets, and tibia continued to show significant differences between the diets into wk 6. Femur ash did not show any dietary differences until wk 3, but then showed significant differences between the diets until wk 6. Toe ash only differentiated between diets at wk 2, and variation both within and between birds was high, particularly with younger birds. These results suggest that bird age has implications when choosing a bone for assessing possible differences in dietary phosphorus and calcium uptake. Femur ash may be more appropriate for showing differences in broilers aged 6 wk and older. Foot ash provides a comparable alternative to tibia ash in birds aged 2 to 5 wk of age, providing a labor- and time-saving alternative

Effect of supplementation of phytase to diets low in inorganic phosphorus on growth performance and mineralization of broilers

There has been discussion regarding microbial phytase replacing inorganic phosphorus (P) supplementation in broiler diets. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to examine the effect of phytase supplementation on diets low in inorganic P. Ross 308 broilers (n = 288) were fed one of 6 experimental diets in 4 phases. The control diet had 16.20, 10.90, 9.40, and 6.10 g/kg inorganic P in the Starter, Grower 1, Grower 2 and Finisher phase respectively. The remaining diets had 10.50 g/kg inorganic P in the Starter phase. Two of the diets had graded reductions in inorganic P of 5.10, 3.60, and 0.60 g/kg or 2.00, 0.50, and 0.60 g/kg for the Grower 1, Grower 2 and Finisher phase respectively, plus 500 FTU phytase. Three of the diets had inorganic P levels of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60 g/kg for the Grower 1, Grower 2 and Finisher diets respectively and either 500, 750, or 1,000 FTU phytase. Broiler performance was analyzed at d 10, 20, 26, and 35. On d 35, ileal calcium (Ca) and P digestibility and tibia bone strength, mineralization, and mineral content were analyzed. There were no significant differences between the control diet and diet containing 1,000 FTU phytase and low inorganic P in the grower or finisher diets based on bird performance, tibia strength, and Ca and P digestibility. Birds fed the control diet had significantly higher BWG (P = 0.001), bone strength (P < 0.001) and ash content (P < 0.001) compared to birds fed the diets with 500 FTU or 750 FTU phytase and low inorganic P in the grower and finisher stages. This may be due to incomplete dephosphorylation of the inositol ring of phytate with these doses of phytase, but with 1,000 FTU phytase there was almost complete phosphate hydrolysis of each phytate. This study showed that relying on phytase alone to ensure full supply of P in broiler diets is viable in finisher diets but is not recommended in grower diets unless phytase is supplied at doses of 1,000 FTU or greater