Gender and slaughter weight effects on carcass quality traits of suckling lambs from four different genotypes

The effects of gender and slaughter weight on carcass quality traits were studied in 114 suckling lambs from four genotypes (Suffolk Down, Merino Precoz Aleman, Suffolk Down × Corriedale and Suffolk Down × Merino Precoz Aleman) raised to either 10 or 15 kg live weight. The characteristics of hot carcass weight, commercial dressing percent and real dressing percent (based on empty body weight), ribeye muscle area, and back fat depth were increased by higher slaughter weight; hot carcass weight, ribeye muscle area and back fat depth were higher in male suckling lambs. Different tissue components (bone, residues) varied according to slaughter weight. The commercial yield of carcass cuts and the anatomical proportions of shoulder and leg components were affected by both genotype and slaughter weight. None of the genotypes showed clearly superior carcass traits.     

Valorization of solid olive mill wastes by cultivation of a local strain of edible mushrooms

Olive oil industry generates huge quantities of solid olive mill wastes (SOMW), causing environmental damage. Cultivation of edible mushrooms, such as Pleurotus ostreatus is a valuable approach for SOMW valorization. A local strain mycelium (Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria) of P. ostreatus (LPO) was isolated from castor oil plants. Oyster mushroom spawn, produced on barley grains, was used to inoculate wet SOMW, steamed in a traditional steamer during 45 min. The mycelium growth rate on SOMW was first estimated in Petri dish by measuring the surface colonized by the mycelium. The fruit body yields were estimated on culture bags containing 2 kg each of SOMW inoculated at 7% (w/w). The local strain potential was compared with that of a commercial one. Both strains produced high-quality mushrooms, but with low yields. The supplementation of the SOMW with wheat straw at the rate of 10% and 2% of CaCO₃ had significantly enhanced the productivity of the two strains, multiplying it by 3.2 for LPO and by 2.6 for CPO.     

Research note: Effect of bacillus cereus on performances of growing bulls

The effect of including Bacillus ceretis (BC) in a diet of growing bulls was examined. 64 German Holstein bulls (initial body weight: 187 kg) were allotted to one of two treatments (control and BC). The bulls were fed corn silage ad libitum and a restricted amount of concentrate (without BC or with 100 mg BC/kg). They were slaughtered with a final body weight averaging 555 kg. No significant treatment differences were detected for any feedlot performance or carcass characteristics measured. Bulls fed BC had a daily weight gain of 1472 g, control animals of 1425 g. Based on these findings, it may be concluded that under these conditions the inclusion of BC will not significantly improve performance of growing bulls.     

Biodegradation of olive husk mixed with other agricultural wastes

In this study, the evolution of the most important parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and C/N ratio) describing the composting process of olive oil husk with other organic wastes was investigated. Four windrows for obtaining two mixed wastes composts (MWCs) and two green wastes composts (GWCs) were prepared.     

Evaluation of Florina (Pelagonia) sheep breed for growth and carcass traits

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of growing Florina (Pelagonia) lambs fed a high concentrate diet, as well as the effect of slaughter weight on carcass characteristics. The assessment of the growth used 12 male and 12 female individually penned weaned lambs until they reached 60% of their mature body weight (BW), while assessment of the effect of slaughter weight at weaning (42 days of age), and at 30%, 45% and 60% of the mature BW, on carcass characteristics used 40 male and 40 female weaned lambs. In experiment 1, results showed that Florina lambs have good growth. Male lambs grew faster (P < 0.001) than female lambs, resulting in a lower (P < 0.001) feed conversion ratio (FCR) for males. Rate of gain, feed consumption and FCR increased (P < 0.001) as the experiment progressed. In experiment 2, results showed that degree of maturity affected (P < 0.001) fasted body weight and carcass weight, as well as all carcass characteristics and commercial cuts, except the steaks cut which did not differ. Florina lambs can be slaughtered in heavier carcass weights, heavier than the 15 kg as the present practice. The heavier carcasses can appeal to wider range of consumers due to the excellent muscle development and the reduced visible fat cover. Florina sheep raised for heavy carcass meat production may be more economically beneficial for the breeders and the increased meat produced locally can help reduce need for importing meat from abroad.     

Nutritional characterization of some tropical urban market crop wastes

Market crop wastes of banana (Musa acuminata) leaves and pseudo-stem sheaths, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines and Solanum aethiopicum (traditionally known as nakati) were collected from three major markets in Kampala (Uganda). The wastes were evaluated for chemical composition during the dry and wet seasons, rumen degradation using three cannulated indigenous mature ewes, and digestibility using 12 indigenous intact growing male goats, 4–6 months old and weighing 15.8 kg (S.D. 2.1). The goats in the digestibility study were kept in metabolism cages and fed the wastes as sole diets, either fresh or wilted.

Mean dry matter (DM) content was 97, 121, 197 and 216 g/kg for pseudo-stem sheaths, nakati, sweet potato vines and banana leaves, respectively. Crude protein (CP) was 34, 109, 112 and 114 g/kg DM for pseudo-stem sheaths, banana leaves, sweet potato vines and nakati, respectively. The chemical composition was similar among seasons and markets for the banana based wastes. However, for sweet potato vines and nakati, the wet season wastes had significantly higher CP and lower NDFom and ADFom. Chemical composition was different (P<0.05) among the markets for nakati. Effective degradability differed (P<0.05) between the wastes, averaging 0.43 (banana leaves), 0.47 (pseudo-stem sheaths) and 0.56 (nakati) to 0.69 g/g DM incubated (sweet potato vines). DM intake, N retention and digestibility were not significantly affected by wilting. Average DM intake was 176, 270 and 559 g/day; CP intake was 26, 30 and 63 g/day, while metabolizable energy (ME) intake was 1.3, 1.7 and 5.1 MJ/day for nakati, banana leaves and sweet potato vines, respectively. N retention (as a fraction of N intake) was −0.51 (banana leaves), 0.62 (nakati) and 0.39 (sweet potato vines). The organic matter (OM) and CP digestibilities of banana leaves were low, averaging 0.52 and 0.49, respectively. The high moisture content of nakati wastes resulted in low intake, whereas banana leaves had a low degradation rate and a low N retention. Market sweet potato vine wastes were sufficient to provide the CP and ME required by growing goats under tropical conditions.     

Effects of olive mill wastewater addition in composting of agroindustrial and urban wastes

In order to study the suitability of olive mill wastewater (OMW) for composting, thisliquid waste was added to two different mixtures of agroindustrial and urban wastesand the composting process was compared with two other piles of similar composition,but without OMW. These four piles were studied in a pilot plant using the Rutgers staticpile system. The addition of OMW produced a greater proportion of degradable organic matter or a higher degradation rate, higher electrical conductivity values, greater losses of total N and lower nitrification than in piles without OMW. Its addition also restricted the increase of the cation exchange capacity and provoked the appearance of phytotoxicity or a longer persistence of phytotoxicity. However, in general, all the composts showed increases in the cation exchange capacity, the percentage of humic acid-like carbon, the polymerisation ratio of these humic substances (which revealed that the organic matter had been humified during composting) and the germination index, the latter indicating the reduction of phytotoxicity during the process.     

Effect of graded levels of dietary Bacillus toyonensis and Bifidobacterium bifidum supplementation on growth,carcass traits and ileal histomorphometry and microbiota of growing quails

This experiment investigated the role of graded dietary levels of two probiotic strains (Bacillus toyonensis; BT and Bifidobacterium bifidum; BB) on the growth rate, carcass traits, physiological and histological aspects of growing Japanese quail. One thousand and three hundred sixty one-day-old un-sexed Japanese quail chicks were distributed randomly into ten groups. The 1st group served as a control and fed the basal diet without supplement while the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups received the control diet supplemented with 0.05, 0.075, 0.10 and 0.125% BT, respectively. The 6th group fed the control diet plus 0.10% BB while the remaining groups (7th to 10th) received the basal diet incorporated with the previous levels of BT rich with 0.05% BB. Dietary supplementation of BT and/or BB increased body weight and gain; however, feed intake and feed conversion were not affected. Amylase activity was significantly elevated in 5th, 7th and 9th groups, while lipase activity was improved in all treatment groups except 3rd and 6th groups. Results obtained concluded that dietary supplementation of BT with or without BB is useful for performance, digestive enzyme activities, blood cholesterols, antioxidant status and ileal histomorphometry and microbiota of growing Japanese quail.     

Deficit irrigation and fertigation practices in olive growing: Convergences and divergences in two case studies

Abstract

The response of mature olive (Olea europaea L.) trees to both regulated deficit irrigation and fertigation was studied for some consecutive years in sub-humid (Italy) and semi-arid conditions (Spain). All cultivars tested in these experiments were preferentially for table olive consumption (pickling and double-aptitude). Data from these long-term studies on field-grown, mature trees are summarized for assessing common effects of water and nutrient supply on plant behaviour and fruit yield. Seasonal yield variations were observed, and showed that the effect of irrigation treatments was somewhat more gradual in the “on” than in the “off” year. Differences amongst cultivars were always marked. Dry matter accumulation in pulp and pit was positively affected by progressively increasing the amount of water supplied to plants, regardless of years and cultivars. The ratio between pulp and pit fresh weight was negatively affected by irrigation, while fruit size was positively influenced by the gradual increase of irrigation water. Average nitrogen levels in leaves were generally above the deficiency threshold at both experimental plantations. Crop yield was not consistently increased by addition of soil nutrients. The effect of fertigation treatments was relatively uninfluential on oil accumulation in fruits. However, polyphenols in oil samples decreased progressively as the addition of nutrients increased. Critical aspects and strategic decisions in modern olive growing are the selection of cultivar, the supply of water, the option of fertilization, together with other orchard management practices. In this paper we outline various aspects of long-term studies in experimental olive plantations with the aim of highlighting inter-regulatory processes, involving plant growth and crop yield, which must be taken into account when planning future field research and modelling exercises.     

The effect of feeder type and change of feeder type on growing and finishing pig performance and behaviour

Reduced feed intake and hence lower growth rates commonly occur when the environment of the pig changes, e.g. at weaning and when pigs are moved from growing accommodation to finishing accommodation. It is hypothesised that if environmental factors, such as feeder type, remain the same in the weaning and finishing accommodation this ‘growth check’ may be reduced. A total of 640 pigs in 32 pens of 20 pigs per pen were used to investigate the effects of two feeder types and changing or not changing the feeder type at 10 weeks of age on growth performance and behaviour in the periods from 4 to 10, 10 to finish (22) and from 4 to finish (22) weeks of age, respectively. The two feeder types tested were a ‘wet and dry’ single-space (S) feeder and a ‘dry’ multi-space feeder (M).In the period 4–10 weeks of age feeder type had no significant effect on growth performance though pigs on the ‘dry’ multi-space feeder tended to exhibit significantly better feed efficiency from 4 to 7 weeks of age. In the first week after changing accommodation the growth rate of pigs on all treatments was depressed (compared to the last 3 weeks of the grower period) and was reduced a further 60 g/day when the feeder type was changed. However, the “feeder” effect was transitory and had no effect on overall finisher performance except for pigs changed from a ‘dry’ multi-space feeder to ‘wet and dry’ single-spaced feeder. These animals had significantly faster growth rate over the finisher phase (P<0.05, 886 g/day) and between 4 weeks of age and finish (P<0.05, 730 g/day) than pigs on all other treatments. Feeder treatment had no significant effect on feed intake or feed efficiency in the finisher period or overall from wean to finish. Similarly, the treatments had no effect on the variation in growth rate. Behavioural observations showed that the average number of pigs at the feeder during the finishing period was significantly higher when feed was offered from treatment M–S (1.19 (freq/30 s), P<0.001). In conclusion, the present results suggest that, a change in feeder type, from a ‘dry’ multi-space feeder in growing accommodation to a ‘wet and dry’ single-space feeder in finishing accommodation appears to stimulate improved growth performance in the early finishing period and overall from weaning to finish.     

Effects of various supplements on voluntary intake and performance by growing cattle consuming forage moderate to high in crude protein∗

Growing cattle were supplemented with substances to lessen or increase ruminai ammonia level to determine if consumption of moderate‐ to high‐crude protein (CP) forage is limited by high ruminai ammonia absorption. In Experiment 1 (5 × 5 Latin square), five Holstein steers (198 kg) had ad libitum access to alfalfa cubes (17% CP) without supplementation or with com at 0.25 or 0.75% body weight (BW) alone (LC or HC) or with 0.06% BW of zeolite (chabazite; LC‐Z and HC‐Z). Total daily organic water (OM) intake was not affected by treatment (6.08, 6.14, 6.11, 6.19 and 6.09 kg for control, LC, LC‐Z, HC and HC‐Z, respectively; SE 0.25). In Experiment 2, Simmental crossbred beef calves grazed fescue‐clover paddocks in the srping (clipped forage: 21 to 27% CP) for 84 days and were supplemented with 0.25 or 0.75% BW com alone or with added zeolite (0.06% BW) or lasalocid (0.5 mg/kg BW). Daily gain did not differ among treatments (1.24 to 1.31 kg/day). In Experiment 3 (6×6 Latin square), six Holstein steer calves (168 kg) had ad libitum access to medium‐quality, orchardgrass‐clover hay (15% CP). Steers received one of the following six treatments: no supplement (Control), 0.35% BW ground com (C), com plus 0.049% BW urea (C‐U), 0.35% BW soybean meal (S), 0.205% BW feather meal (F) or 0.103% BW feather meal, 0.052% BW blood meal and 0.067% BW com gluten meal (F‐BG). Total daily OM intake was 5.00, 5.14, 5.00, 5.11, 4.84 and 4.70 kg for control, C, C‐U, S, F and F‐BG, respectively (SE 0.13). In Experiment 4 (6 × 6 Latin square), six Holstein steer calves (226 kg) were fed 0.75% BW of alfalfa cubes (19% CP) plus ad libitum access to medium‐ to high‐quality orchardgrass hay (16% CP). Steers received one of the following six treatments: no supplement (Control), corn at 0.25% BW alone (c) or mixed with 0.12% BW peanut skins (C‐PSK), a mix of high‐CP feedstuffs high in ruminai escape protein (0.029% BW blood meal, 0.038% BW com gluten meal and 0.028% BW feather meal; C‐REP), 0.139% soybean meal (C‐S) or soybean meal plus peanut skins (C‐PSK‐S). Total daily OM intake was 6.16, 6.25, 6.13, 6.52, 6.50 and 6.60 kg for control, C, C‐PSK, C‐REP, C‐S and C‐PSK‐S, respectively (SE 0.10). In conclusion, with forages moderate to high in CP, high ruminai ammonia absorption did not appear to affect feed intake.     

Role of yeasts in the qualitative structuring of extra virgin olive oil

This review sought to describe the role played by some components of the microbiota of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), particularly yeasts, in structuring the physicochemical and sensorial quality of freshly produced olive oil. Yeasts can survive during the entire storage period of the product. To date, approximately 25 yeast species isolated from oil produced in more than six countries have been identified, eight of which are classified as new species. Some yeast species improve the health qualities of oil, whereas many others improve the chemical composition and sensory characteristics based on β-glucosidase and esterase enzymes, which are involved in the hydrolysis of the bitter glucoside known as oleuropein. However, some species, which are typically favoured by the high water content in the oily matrix, such as lipase-producing yeasts, can worsen the initial chemical characteristics of EVOO oil during storage. Some physical treatments that are compatible with the EVOO production specification affect the biotic component of the oil by reducing the concentration of yeasts. The possibility of minimizing the invasive action on the biotic component of the oil by appropriately selecting the physical treatment for each oil is discussed.     

鄂尔多斯地区自然发酵苦菜中优良特性乳酸菌的筛选

【背景】鄂尔多斯地区传统自然发酵苦菜风味和作用独特,但目前尚无关于发酵苦菜中乳酸菌种类及其生物学特性研究的报道。【目的】获得适用于工业化生产特性优良的乳酸菌。【方法】通过测定总酸度筛选高产酸菌株,并进行形态学鉴定、生理生化特性研究,以及16S rRNA基因片段分析。【结果】经鉴定5株高产酸的菌株均为植物乳杆菌,生长温度范围宽,并且具有耐酸、耐碱、耐盐、耐热的特性。【结论】试验菌株具有优良的生理特性和潜在的益生特性,可用于食品工业的生产。     

Powdered edible locust enhances nitrogen excretion and presents a low-energy value in growing rats

Edible insects are increasingly recommended as novel sustainable protein sources, but the nutritional properties of edible insects have not been well studied. We investigated whether locust powder can be used as a nutritionally functional food resource with a low energy value using a rat model. Twenty-five male Wistar rats (4-week-old) were fed a basal diet (12 g daily) to which a fixed amount of locust powder (0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 g) was added for 20 days (L0, L0.5, L1.0, and L2.0 groups, respectively). In the sucrose standard group, rats received 12 g of the basal diet daily and 2.0 g of sucrose daily for 20 days (S2.0 group). Body-weight gain and the nutritional composition of the carcasses and feces were determined to estimate the available energy value of locust powder. The L0.5 group had the lowest carcass fat content and energy accumulation, but these values were increased by locust powder in a dose-dependent manner. The net energy value of locust powder was estimated to be 2.78 kcal/g, which was expected to be lower than the calculated theoretical value (4.25 kcal/g) and that of sucrose (3.94 kcal/g). Fecal nitrogen excretion was increased by dietary locust powder in a dose-dependent manner (correlation coefficient, R = 0.98), and the carcass nitrogen percentage was not changed, regardless of the dietary content of the locust powder, indicating an increased excretion of proteins or other non-protein nitrogen compounds derived from the locust powder. These findings suggest that locust powder can be used as a novel food material with a low energy value for humans.     

Phosphorylation of fibronectin in quiescent and growing cell cultures

Phosphorylation of fibronectin was studied in quiescent vs growing cells from several species. Fibronectin secreted by actively growing cells exhibits a significantly higher level of phosphorylation than does the fibronectin secreted by quiescent cells of the same species.     

降血压乳酸菌发酵乳对原发性高血压大鼠的降压效果

目的对具有血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)抑制活性的乳酸菌DM9057发酵乳的抗胃肠道酶解能力及原发性高血压大鼠(SHR)体内降压效果进行研究。方法以10 ml/kg和2.5 ml/kg发酵乳一次性和连续灌胃原发性高血压大鼠。结果 DM9057发酵乳具有较好的抗胃肠道酶能力,并且2个剂量均具有较好的降血压效果,其中以10 ml/kg剂量效果最为显著,一次性和连续灌胃后,最大降压值为(17.97±3.82)、(25.46±5.06)mmHg。结论乳酸菌DM9057发酵乳具有较强的抗胃肠道能力,同时在原发性高血压大鼠体内能够发挥一定的降血压作用。     

Effect of fungal species involved in the olive fruit rot on the qualitative properties of olive oil

Olive oil is the most important product of olive fruits with worldwide consumption, particularly in Mediterranean countries. Olive oil is generally extracted mechanically from the olive fruits. Some biotic and abiotic factors may affect the quality of oil extracted from olive fruit. Contamination with fungi during growth period in the garden or during the conservation of the harvested crop under storage condition may leave negative effects on the quality of olive oil. However, there is no data available on the effects of fungal infections on qualitative properties of olive oil in Iran. In the present study effects of several fungal groups previously isolated from rotten olive fruit in olive orchards including Alternaria alternata, Fusarium nygamai, Aspergillus ochraceus, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aureobasidium pullulans, Epicoccum nigrum, Penicillium expansum, Truncatella angustata, Trichothecium roseum and Trichoderma harzianum were evaluated on some qualitative properties of olive oil, under laboratory condition on two olive cultivars (Zard & Roghani). For this purpose fresh and healthy fruits of olive, were surface sterilisation with 96% ethanol and rinsed with sterile water and then inoculated with each of the fungal groups separately using spore suspension (10^6?ml^?1). The experiment was carried out in two replicates for each treatment (fungal isolates). The results of this study revealed that fungal infection caused significant increase in the extracted oil acidity and peroxide values. However, there was no significant difference in the acidity and peroxide values among different treatments (fungal isolates).     

不同发酵茶中优势真菌的抗氧化酶活性

目的在云南普洱茶、广州小青柑、广西六堡茶、湖南熙茯茶及陕西泾阳茯砖茶分离到9种真菌的基础上,探讨9种真菌发酵液和发酵茶沸水冲泡液的抗氧化酶活性。方法采用抗氧化试剂盒测定真菌发酵液及发酵茶沸水冲泡液的抗氧化酶活性;利用Past 3软件对9种真菌发酵液抗氧化酶活性和5种发酵茶沸水冲泡液的抗氧化酶活性进行主成分分析。结果通过比较不同真菌发酵液的抗氧化酶活性表明,小青柑中分离到阿曲霉Q1的CAT(过氧化氢酶)活性最高,酶活力单位为(4.37±0.15)U/mL,熙茯茶中分离到谢瓦曲霉X1的POD(过氧化物酶)活性最高,酶活力单位为(21.67±1.05)U/mL,其次为泾茯茶中分离到赤散囊菌J17,酶活力单位为(18.59±2.74)U/mL;六堡茶中分离到的黑曲霉L1的T-SOD(总超氧化物歧化酶)的活性最高,酶活力单位为(71.11±3.90)U/mL,其次为普洱茶中分离到篮状菌P1,酶活力单位为(59.29±1.42)U/mL;通过比较不同发酵茶沸水冲泡液的抗氧化酶活性表明,5种发酵茶的CAT(F=37.409,P0.01),POD(F=164.268,P0.01),T-SOD(F=26.639,P0.01)活性差异均有统计学意义。其中,泾茯茶冲泡液的CAT活性最高,而其余4种茶叶冲泡液均无CAT活性;普洱茶与泾茯茶冲泡液的POD活性最高,酶活力单位分别为(18.11±0.71)和(18.11±0.64)U/mL;普洱茶和六堡茶冲泡液的T-SOD活性最高,酶活力单位分别为(48.72±0.43)和(45.82±2.02)U/mL;通过对9种真菌发酵液抗氧化酶活性的PCA分析表明,谢瓦曲霉X1、赤散囊菌J17、阿曲霉Q1、烟曲霉Q2、绳状篮状菌Q3和冠突曲霉L2的抗氧化酶活性相近,篮状菌P1、篮状菌P2和黑曲霉L1的抗氧化酶活性相近;通过对5种发酵茶沸水冲泡液抗氧化酶活性的PCA分析表明,小青柑与熙茯茶沸水冲泡后的抗氧化酶活性相近,六堡茶、普洱茶和泾茯茶沸水冲泡后的抗氧化酶活性相近。结论不同发酵茶的优势真菌不同,其真菌发酵产物的抗氧化酶活性不同,且不同发酵茶冲泡液的抗氧化酶活性也不同。