tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16296855621274808702024-03-27T16:53:38.933-07:00Livestock&Feed FormulationResearch and Article on Animal Production and Feed Formulation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-5166531457124635482012-04-18T01:55:00.002-07:002012-04-18T02:02:46.272-07:00KAICHON in Thailand - ไก่ชนในประเทศไทย<a href="http://www.rakkai.com"><img style="width: 350px; height: 262px; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="ไก่ชน" src="http://www.kaipama.com/data/attachment/forum/201203/19/16214793914238p41v1p32.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rakkai.com" target="_blank">ไก่ชน</a> : <a href="http://www.rakkai.com" target="_blank">ไก่ป่าก๋อย</a> : <a href="http://www.rakkai.com" target="_blank">ไก่พม่า</a> : <a href="http://www.rakkai.com/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=3" target="_blank">ขายไก่ชน</a><br /><br /><object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6qGvKDq9Nyc?version=3&hl=th_TH"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6qGvKDq9Nyc?version=3&hl=th_TH" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rakkai.com/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=3&filter=typeid&typeid=2">ขายไก่พม่า</a> <a href="http://www.rakkai.com/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=3&filter=typeid&typeid=3">ขายไก่ป่าก๋อย</a> <a href="http://www.rakkai.com/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=3&filter=typeid&typeid=4">ขายไก่เชิงไทย</a> <a href="http://www.rakkai.com/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=3&filter=typeid&typeid=5">ขายไก่ชนลูกผสม</a><br /><br />กระดานขายไก่ชน & ซื้อไก่ชน ลงประกาศขายไก่ชน ฟรี! : ไก่ชนทุกสายพันธุ์, ขายไก่ชนไทย, ขายไก่ชนพม่า, ขายไก่เหล่าป่าก๋อย, ขายไก่ชนลูกผสม, ขายไก่ชนมีไฟท์, ขายไก่หนุ่มปล้ำคัดแล้ว, ขายไก่ชนพ่อ-แม่พันธุ์, ขายลูกไก่ชน, ขายไข่ไก่ชน, ขายยาไก่ชน, ขายอุปกรณ์การเลี้ยงไก่ชน.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-25288818816994036552008-06-29T19:46:00.000-07:002008-06-29T19:49:37.829-07:00Quality Control in the Feed Mill<strong>Sampling for Microorganisms in The Feed Mill</strong><br />Sampling is an often over-looked area when gathering information about pathogens in the feed mill environment. Certainly, the collection of adequate samples that represent the batch being sampled is important. However, a more basic question must be addressed. Are we certain that the contamination detected in the feed came from the sample or from the hands of person collecting the sample?<br /><br />At one feed mill facility, mill personnel were instructed to collect sample while researchers collected samples from many of the same locations. While a variety of methods exist for dealing with the issue of cross contamination, perhaps one of the simplest is one developed by Jim Andrews of Holly Farms (now Tyson). Paper cups are purchased in a plastic bag. Mill employees are instructed not to touch sample and to keep cups tightly closed within the plastic bag when not in use. Samples are collected only in new paper cups. Cup are used only once and then discarded. Samples are placed in sterile plastic bags following collection for transport to the laboratory. Although simple, this method is quite effective at preventing cross contamination.<br /><br /><strong>Steps toward Control of Microorganisms in the Feed Mill</strong><br />Control of microbial pathogens in feeds and feed mills involves procedures to<br /><br />1. Exclude pathogens form the feed<br />2. Prevent multiplication of the organism in the feed<br />3. Kill pathogens within the feed and prevent recontamination.<br /><br />It should be clearly understood that feed milling processes are incapable of killing certain pathogens (i.e., spore formers) Thus, these pathogens MUST be excluded for control. Furthermore, even when feed mill processes destroy pathogens, higher numbers of these pathogens in feeds require ever-harsher treatments. Harsher treatments cause nutritional damage to the feed as well as costing more. Thus, in reality, each of these control procedures is interdependent and must be pursued simultaneously.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.enterfarm.com/">Livestock Farm eBook</a> : <a href="http://www.enterfarm.com/">http://www.enterfarm.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-67997942227649808262008-05-20T19:13:00.000-07:002008-05-20T19:24:24.585-07:00Feed Formulation - Ingredients for change<p><em><strong>Feed Formulation Ingredients for change</strong></em> </p><p>FEED formulators now know that conventional tabulations for calculating nutrient requirements for livestock species are often too simplistic for modern husbandry operations. Differences in the age, sex and genetics of the animal; the environment, production methods, market requirements and economies in which they are raised; and the availability of local sources of feed ingredients often complicate the approach to feed formulation. </p><p>Many intensive livestock industries have since developed simulation models that can provide optimum nutrient levels based on individual production conditions. Affordable computing technology has also introduced concepts such as "least cost", "total amino acid" and even "profit maximisation". Other popular concepts include digestible formulation, precision feeding, ideal proteins and modelling, all of which have been adapted to some extent in livestock sectors worldwide. </p><br /><p>But besides these new technologies and variables, feed formulation trends are increasingly affected by factors unrelated to nutrition and costs. These include world events which may have little direct relation with livestock or agriculture, the competition for essential feed grains, and increasingly, consumer perceptions and demands. </p><p>A big issue in the industry currently is the growing interest in alternative fuels. Diverting grains and oilseeds into ethanol and biodiesel production, for instance, is widely perceived as a key source of pressure on feed grain resources. Many pundits have argued that distillers' dried grains or DDGS could become widely accepted as an ingredient in livestock feed in the near future. </p><p>As the supply of DDGS increases along with biofuel output, nutritionists are faced with the challenge of formulating feed containing increasing amounts of DDGS, while finding solutions to problems related to digestibility issues and mycotoxin contamination. </p><p>Nutritionists are not the only ones affected. The ethanol boom has triggered jitters across a feed and livestock industry concerned over its competing use for corn. Glenn Grimes, an economist at the University of Missouri, warns that current corn prices at US$2 per bushel (equivalent to US$79 a tonne) may rise by at least US$0.50 and possibly even US$1 per bushel over the next 10 years, because of competition for the grain from industrial processors.</p><p>About 13 percent of the corn consumed in the United States goes into ethanol production, according to Bill Hale, chairman of the North American Export Grain Association. By 2012, or in six years, this figure could rise three-fold to 39 percent. This means that corn use in biofuel will jump from almost 37 million tonnes in 2005 to nearly 108 million tonnes a year by then.</p><p>The biofuel trend is also spreading in other regions. A hot region for biofuels, the European Union is pushing through policies to promote its use, either through mandates or tax incentives. Plans are for an increase in biofuel consumption from 2 percent for motor fuel in 2005, to 5.75 percent by 2010. </p><p>This is much the same situation in Brazil, a country that typifies how ethanol can be produced from many crops--from sugarcane and sugar beet to grains, rapeseed and potatoes. Brazilian law requires that gasoline should contain a minimum of 26 percent ethanol, where the latter is estimated to represent about a third of all vehicle fuel used nationally. This compares with 2.78 percent in the US today, which may rise to a projected 8.34 percent in 2012.</p><br /><br />http://www.efeedlink.com/<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-31692381414065517332008-04-07T06:55:00.000-07:002008-04-07T06:59:53.280-07:00Introduction to Animal Science by Leland S. Shapiro<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0139209921/?tag=livesfeedform-20"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61T633M39BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0139209921/?tag=livesfeedform-20"><strong>Introduction to Animal Science </strong></a><br /><br /><em>by Leland S. Shapiro</em><br /><br />Book Info<br />An introduction to the science of raising livestock in a humane and profitable manner, presenting an applied approach to animal reproduction, genetics, nutrition, health, and general management. The CD-ROM comes with a self-test for every chapter in an engaging format. DLC: Livestock.<br /><br />From the Inside Flap<br />Preface<br />When I first came to L.A. Pierce College, almost 30 years ago, the introduction to livestock production course, as it was called back then, was being taught by Professor Lindsay Boggess. Its major emphasis was introducing animal, dairy, and equine science students, general agriculture students, and those pursuing careers in veterinary medicine to the basic terminology and management procedures associated with the various production animal agriculture enterprises in the United States. Most students taking the course were production oriented at that time and most came from families either directly or indirectly connected to animal agriculture.<br /><br />In the early 1970s, the field of animal husbandry taught the art of raising livestock in a healthy, humane, and profitable manner. Today, it is animal science and not husbandry that is the main focus of introductory courses in livestock raising. A tremendous advancement in the use of chemistry, physiology, genetics, molecular biology, and nutrition, along with animal welfare, has changed the emphasis and interests in production agriculture. Although the art of animal production is still extremely important and is absolutely necessary for profitable and humane livestock enterprises, this text will concentrate primarily on the science. We suggest that students take additional laboratory hands-on courses to learn the art. It takes thousands of hours working with livestock and a trained master to really learn the art of animal husbandry.<br /><br />In 1976, when I began teaching in the animal science department at Pierce College, we were using Blakely and Bade's The Science of Animal Husbandry. For more than two decades, it proved to be an excellent text to introduce students to this field. I was very fortunate in being asked to help rewrite and edit the sixth edition, published in 1994. Its use throughout the world at many colleges, universities, and high schools indicates its popularity.<br /><br />This first edition of Introduction to Animal Science uses much the same format, photographs, and material that we included in our last edition of Blakely and Bade's text but adds additional emphasis on more modern husbandry, science, and welfare concerns of the twenty-first century. I would like to acknowledge and thank Drs. James Blakely and David H. Bade for their contributions to this text. We have included in this text some additional species that seem to have caught the interest of many new agricultural entrepreneurs around the United States.<br /><br />Fourteen chapters covering introductory animal reproduction, genetics, nutrition, breeds, animal health, and general management of the various common livestock species are included. Some of the chapters are quite large and are not meant to be covered in one classroom setting but are simply divided into units based on animal species. At the end of each chapter an evaluation section will assist students in preparing for exams and quizzes. A glossary is found at the end of the text to enable students to comprehend new terms throughout their reading. Acknowledgements I am greatly indebted to Drs. James Blakely and David Bade for their contribution to this text. Their original work, The Science of Animal Husbandry, formed the basic outline of this text. My longstanding collaborative relationship with the agriculture faculty at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, the University of California-Davis, and Oregon State University-Corvallis provided me with a clear understanding of the educational needs of undergraduate agriculture and veterinary students. It was this understanding that enabled me to recreate this first edition of Introduction to Animal Science. In particular, I want to acknowledge my former professors, the late Professor Harmon Toone, Dr. Herman Rickard, Dr. Joe Sabol, Professor Lindsay Boggess, Professor John Barlow, Professor Bernyl Sanden, Dr. Lloyd Swanson, Dr. Nancy East, Dr. Peter Cheeke, Dr. Dale Weber, and Dr. David Church.<br /><br />Industry organizations and representatives such as the National Pork Producers Council, Rex Sprietsma of Westfalia-Surge, Inc., Tom Majeau and Dr. Craig Barnett of Bayer Agriculture Division, Coe Ann Crawford of VetLife, and Lori Wagner of Sport Horses of Color provided me with invaluable information and photographs that were used in this book.<br /><br />Several of my colleagues provided meaningful criticism and added information from their areas of expertise. In particular I want to thank Professors Ronald Wechsler, Liz White, Rebecca Yates, Patrick O'Brien, Jana Smith, Russ Schrotenboer, and Bill Lander of L.A. Pierce College, Les Ferreira and Joe Sabol of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and Temple Grandin of Colorado State University, Fort Collins, for their encouragement and educational insight. I extend a special thank you to reviewers: John Mendes, Modesto Junior College; Mum Nippo, University of Rhode Island; and Brian J. Rude, Mississippi State University.<br /><br />I thank my students, 63 of whom are now practicing veterinary medicine. These graduates help me stay in tune with the fast-moving trends of the new millennium. It is their energy and enthusiasm that drive me and guide me each semester.<br /><br />I owe a tremendous appreciation to several individuals at Prentice-Hall who guided me through the development and editing stages of this text. I would like to especially thank Charles Stewart, Kate Linsner, and Debbie Yarnell for directing me through the various processes required in preparing this manuscript. Finally, I am particularly grateful to Lori Dalberg, my production editor, for catching all of my errors prior to publication. She has a tremendous amount of patience and talent.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-7760985562917709032008-03-30T22:51:00.000-07:002008-04-07T07:00:36.856-07:00The Chimp Who Would Be Human (Thorndike Nonfiction) : Nim Chimpsky<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1410406865/?tag=livesfeedform-20"><strong>Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human (Thorndike Nonfiction) (Hardcover)</strong></a><br /><br /><em>by Elizabeth Hess (Author) </em><br /><br /><strong>Editorial Reviews</strong><br /><br />From Publishers Weekly<br />Starred Review. In what is surely one of the most memorable and intelligent recent books about animal-human interaction, Hess (Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter) tells the story of Nim Chimpsky, who in the 1970s was the subject of an experiment begun at the University of Oklahoma to find out whether a chimp could learn American Sign Language—and thus refute Noam Chomsky's influential thesis that language is inherent only in humans. Nim was sent to live with a family in New York City and taught human language like any other child. Hess sympathetically yet unerringly details both the project's successes and failures, its heroes and villains, as she recounts Nim's odyssey from the Manhattan town house to a mansion in the Bronx and finally back to Oklahoma, where he was bounced among various facilities as financial, personal and scientific troubles plagued the study. The book expertly shows why the Nim experiment was a crucial event in animal studies, but more importantly, Hess captures Nim's legendary charm, mischievous sense of humor, and keen understanding of human beings. This may well be the only book on linguistics and primatology that will leave its readers in tears over the life and times of its amazing subject. (Mar. 4)<br /><br />More About This Book : <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1410406865/?tag=livesfeedform-20">Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human (Thorndike Nonfiction) (Hardcover)</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-85246672486612548042008-03-15T02:10:00.000-07:002008-03-18T18:49:45.354-07:00Animal Production Book Recommend : Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock<p align="center"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61M236QBHAL._AA240_.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580176275?ie=UTF8&tag=livesfeedform-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1580176275">Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock</a><br /><br /><em>by Judy Pangman (Author) </em><br /><br /><strong>Editorial Reviews</strong><br /><br /><strong>Book Description</strong><br />Bring your chickens home to roost in comfort and style! Whether you're keeping one hen in a small backyard or 1,000 hens in a large free-range pasture, you will find the perfect housing plan in this comprehensive handbook.<br />Author and farmer Judy Pangman combed the country to select these 45 plans for housing both laying hens and meat birds (chickens or turkeys). The coops range from fashionable backyard structures featured in the annual Seattle Tilth City Chickens Tour and the Mad City Chickens Tour in Madison, Wisconsin, to the large-scale, moveable structures Joel Salatin has fashioned for Polyface Farm in Virginia.<br /><br />You'll also find plans for converting trailer frames, greenhouses, and backyard sheds; low-budget alternatives for working with found and recycled materials; and simple ways to make waterers, feeders, and nestboxes. A gallery of color photographs provides other creative ideas to get you going. With basic building skills, a little elbow grease, and this book of plans, you've got all you need to shelter your flock.<br /><br /><strong>From the Back Cover</strong><br />Bring your chickens home to roost in comfort and style! Whether you're keeping one hen in a small backyard or 1,000 hens in a large free-range pasture, you will find the perfect housing plan in this comprehensive handbook.<br /><br />Author and farmer Judy Pangman combed the country to select these 45 plans for housing both laying hens and meat birds (chickens or turkeys). The coops range from fashionable backyard structures featured in the annual Seattle Tilth City Chickens Tour and the Mad City Chickens Tour in Madison, Wisconsin, to the large-scale, moveable structures Joel Salatin has fashioned for Polyface Farm in Virginia.<br /><br />You'll also find plans for converting trailer frames, greenhouses, and backyard sheds; low-budget alternatives for working with found and recycled materials; and simple ways to make waterers, feeders, and nestboxes. A gallery of color photographs provides other creative ideas to get you going. With basic building skills, a little elbow grease, and this book of plans, you've got all you need to shelter your flock.<br /><br /><strong>Product Details</strong><br /><br />Paperback: 166 pages<br />Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (July 1, 2006)<br />Language: English<br />ISBN-10: 1580176275<br />ISBN-13: 978-1580176279<br />Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches<br />Shipping Weight: 12 ounces<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-24121482821631093172008-03-15T01:43:00.000-07:002008-03-18T18:51:26.180-07:00Animal Production Book Recommend : Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care / Feeding / Facilities<p align="center"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YW028JXFL._OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158017325X?ie=UTF8&tag=livesfeedform-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=158017325X">Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care / Feeding / Facilities</a><br /><br /><em>by Gail Damerow (Author)</em><br /><br /><strong>Editorial Reviews</strong><br /><br /><strong>Book Description</strong><br />Expert advice on selecting breeds, caring for chicks, producing eggs, raising broilers, feeding, troubleshooting, and much more.<br /><br /><strong>From the Back Cover</strong><br />Once you decide to raise chickens, you'll need all the information and advice you can get. And lucky for you, this book is as far as you'll have to look. A Guide to Raising Chickens contains everything you need to know, from starting your own backyard flock to putting eggs on the table. With easy-to-understand illustrations and text, this book shows you all about:<br />-- Choosing the right breed<br /><br />-- Caring for chicks<br /><br />--Feeding the growing flock<br /><br />-- Building feeders and shelters<br /><br />-- Collecting and storing eggs<br /><br />-- Preventing health problems<br /><br />-- Raising broilers for meat<br /><br />-- Showing your chickens<br /><br />This book and Damerow's other book, "The Chicken Health Handbook" are the two I recommend to new chicken owners. This book focuses on getting you started, and includes the following chapters:<br />1. Choosing the Perfect Chicken<br />2. Housing<br />3. Feeding<br />4. Meat Bird Management<br />5. Butchering Day (and Good Eating to Follow)<br />6. Layer Management<br />7. Table Eggs<br />8. Managing Breeders<br />9. Incubation and Hatching<br />10. Chicken Care<br />11. General Management<br />12. Health Management<br />13. Showing<br />Glossary State Resources Organizations Recommended Reading Videos Suppliers Index<br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>Product Details</strong><br /><br />Paperback: 352 pages<br />Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 2Rev Ed edition (January 12, 1995)<br />Language: English<br />ISBN-10: 158017325X<br />ISBN-13: 978-1580173254<br />Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches<br />Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-80447055794069454892008-03-14T07:50:00.000-07:002008-03-14T08:03:37.782-07:00Sources of alternative roughageIn widespread droughts, of long duration, the supply of hay (and its escalating price) forces beef producers to look for alternative roughage feeds. In some situations (e.g. lactating cows), some roughage is required to ensure reasonable production and adequate utilisation of high grain rations (i.e. to assist rumen function).<br /><br />Most alternative roughages are low in quality with regard to energy, protein and digestibility, are bulky to transport (hence expensive to freight), can<br />contain pesticide residues and are crop or food industry by-products. They are not complete feeds and must be fed (up to 2 kg/head/day as roughage)in conjunction with other energy feeds (such as grain or fortified molasses). The availability of these alternative roughage sources is often inconsistent. <br /><br />from impaction, leads to starvation deaths (cattle are not fed other, more nutritious feeds) and causes losses from metabolic diseases. Starvation deaths are common. With feeds of low digestibility (less than 45%), cattle can not consume sufficient intake to meet their requirements for energy and hence survival.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br /><strong>Sources of alternative roughage </strong><br /><br />The Stock Foods Act 1940 and the Stock Diseases Act 1923 have been amended to ban feeding restricted animal material to ruminants.<br />‘Restricted animal material’ is defined in the Regulations under both Acts as tissue, blood or feathers derived from the carcass of an animal and includes any substance produced from or containing any such tissue, blood or feathers, but does not include tallow or gelatin.<br /><br />Poultry shed litter. Poultry litter from broiler sheds and manure from layer sheds can contain feathers and portions of dead birds, and may also include<br />discarded or spilled feed containing meatmeal. Therefore it is illegal to feed these products to ruminants.<br /><br />Mushroom compost often includes broiler litter or poultry manure. Where this is the case, it is illegal under the Stock Foods Act to feed mushroom compost to ruminants. Mushroom compost therefore should not be fed to ruminants unless it can be proved that the mushroom compost on offer does not contain restricted animal material as<br />outlined above.<br /><br />Cotton hulls are a by-product of the oil crushing industry. Manufactured at Narrabri by Cargill Oilseeds, hulls are an excellent roughage widely used in the feedlotting industry.<br /><br />Rice hulls are a by-product of rice processing, and are manufactured by Rice Growers Co-op, Leeton,and their stockfeed subsidiary Coprice Feeds. It is abrasive, and use is suggested in adult cattle at no more than 1 kg/head/day. At high feeding rates(3–4 kg/head/day), impaction can be expected.<br /><br />Sunflower hulls are abrasive and not recommended because they can cause damage to<br />the oesophagus and rumen. Grape marc is variable in feed value. The biggest quantity is in the Riverina. Moisture content varies. Energy level depends on seed content. Feed value differs between red and white varieties. Obtaining vendor declarations for chemical residue status is critical. Bagasse is a by-product of sugarcane processing. It does mix well with molasses. It is used in tropical areas as a cattle feed base. Moisture content varies. Obtaining vendor declarations for chemical residue status is critical.<br /><br />Oat hulls are the least abrasive of the hulls. Use at no more than 1 kg/head/day and feed to adult cattle only.<br /><br />Canola hay is made from failing canola crops. Protein, energy and digestibility are all variable. It is a good choice as a roughage compared with others in the field. Do not use it as the sole feed source because of alkaloid poisoning risks. Use at 20 of diet or mix with other roughages 50:50.<br /><br />Rice straw is baled after rice bays have been harvested and dried out. It is low quality roughage in terms of digestibility, energy and protein.<br /><br />There are many other sources of roughage, but talk to your District Livestock Officer (Beef Cattle) about using these feeds before you purchase them. To achieve low intakes of these roughages: <br /><br />• process (hammermill) to reduce length to 12–15 mm (if you have the equipment to do the job); <br />• otherwise, feed them every second day. Where impaction is a risk, feed molasses on a weekly basis, or preferably a fortified molasses mixture (see Primefact 271 Fortified molasses mixes for cattle).<br /><br /><strong>Understanding feed analysis terms</strong><br /><br />DM (Dry matter) — the higher the better for lower freight costs. <br /><br />CP (Crude protein) — the total crude protein in the feed but does not take account of digestibility and degradability of the protein. <br /><br />ADF (Acid detergent fibre) — as the percentage increases, the digestibility of the feed decreases. ADF measures cellulose and lignin content of a feed. Ruminants have a low utilisation of cellulose, and lignin is indigestible. For alternative roughages the ADF indicates the digestibility of any protein. <br /><br />ME (Metabolisable energy) — the measure of the energy in a feed. Above seven is best. <br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-19350946483126110252008-03-10T06:21:00.000-07:002008-03-10T06:35:51.664-07:00FACTS on Least-Cost Animal Feed FormulationFACTS ON LEAST-COST ANIMAL FEED FORMULATION <br /><br />The practice of ingredient interchange, known as "least-cost formulation," is widely practiced within the commercial feed industry. When the cost of one ingredient increases, a lower cost ingredient may be used as a substitute in order to produce a lower cost feed, providing the customer with the most economical feed for animal production. It is widely know, however, that laboratory feeds are fed to animals raised for breeding and research, not for animals used to produce food such as meat, milk and eggs.<br /><br />Least-cost feed formulation is combining many feed ingredients in a certain proportion to provide the target animal with a balanced nutritional feed at the least possible cost. Though least-cost formulation is a mathematical solution based on linear programming, it requires the professional knowledge of animal nutritionists who take into consideration the nutrient requirements of the target animal and its capability to digest and assimilate nutrients from various available ingredients.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br />IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN FEED FORMULATION <br /><br />Ration (or feed) formulation does not merely involve mathematical calculations to meet the requirement of the animals, since the result of the calculation may turn out to be impractical and not ideal for feeding animals. An experienced animal nutritionist, therefore, needs to evaluate the feed formulation before it can be given to the animals. Factors to be considered in making good feed formulations are: <br /><br />1. Acceptability to the animal. The ration being formulated has to be palatable enough to stimulate intake by the animal. Feed refused by the animal is worthless, since feed has to be coiisui-ned and utilized by anii-nals to serve its purpose. Moreover, feeds left too long in the feed trough may spoil and become unfit for the animal. <br /> <br />2. Digestibility. The nutrients in the feed have to be digested and released into the gastrointestinal tract to be utilized by the animal. Rations with high fiber content cannot be tolerated by poultry and swine. <br /><br />3. Cost. The requirement of the animal can be met throu-h several combinations of feed ingredients. However, when the cost of these ingredients are considered, there can only be one least-cost formulation. The least-cost ration should ensure that tile requirements of the animal are met and the desired objectives are achieved. <br /><br />4. Presence of anti-nutritional factors and toxins. The presence of anti-nutritional factors in the feed, such as anti-trypsin factor in soybean meal, affects the digestion of some nutrients by making them unavailable to the animal. Some feed ingredients may also contain toxic substances, which may be detrimental to the animal when given in excessive amounts. The inclusion of these feed ingredients should therefore be limited or eliminated froi-n the formulation. <br /><br />Other factors that should be considered in feed formulation are texture, moisture and the processing the feed has to undergo. <br /><br />METHODS OF FORMULATING RATIONS <br /><br />There are several methods in formulating rations. All of them have the same objectives of providing the required balanced nutrients at the least possible cost. The five methods are as follows: <br /><br />1. Square Method. This is relatively simple and easy to follow. It satisfies only one nutrient requirement and uses only two feed ingredients. Another limitation is that the level of nutrient being computed should be intermediate between the nutrient concentration of the two feed ingredients being used. <br /><br />2. Simultaneous Equation Method. This is an alternative method for the square method usincy a simple algebraic equation. Here, a particular nutrient requirement is satisfied using a combination of two feed ingredients. <br /><br />3. Two-by-two Matrix Method. This method solves two nutrient requirements using two different feed ingredients. A 2 x 2 matrix is set and a series of equations are done to come Lip with the solution to the problem. <br /><br />4. Trial-and-error Method. This is the most popular method of formulating rations for swine and poultry. As the name implies, the formulation is manipulated until the nutrient requirements of the animal are met. This method makes possible the fori-nulation of a ration that meets all the nutrient requirements of the animal. <br /><br />5. Linear Programming (LP). This is a method of determining the least-cost combination of ingredients using a series of mathematical equations. There are many possible solutions to each series of equations, but when the factor of cost is applied, there can only be one least cost combination. <br /><br />An electronic computer is capable of making thousands of calculations in a very short time. However, the machine is incapable of correcting errors resulting from incorrect data and errors in setting up of the program. Therefore, the resultant rations obtained from linear programming will be no better than the information and values which are entered into the programming. <br /><br />PROCEDURE <br /><br />Before using the LP approach to ration formulation, the user should be familiar with the LP program or software package to be used. There are certain informations and data entered into the computer and are generally created in steps as follows: <br /><br />I . Available feed ingredients. It is necessary that all the available ingredients are listed alon- with the unit cost, as long as the number does not exceed some practical figure which the machine is capable of handling. <br /><br />2. Nutrient composition of feed ingredients. Tables of feed composition using average or typical values may be used but chemical analysis of a representative sample should be used if available. <br /><br />3. Ration specifications. This generally represents the nutrient requirements and ingredient limits. In each case, the formulator specifies either a lower limit and/or an upper limit for each item. <br /><br />4. After providing all the necessary information, the computer produces a formula that will rneetthedesiredspecificationsatthelowestpossiblecost. However,theformulashouldbe feasible, both from a mathematical standpoint and from a nutritional standpoint. The feedstuff mixture should be acceptable to the animals for which it is intended. <br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-81357105558949316902008-03-06T06:54:00.000-08:002008-03-06T07:09:35.330-08:00Influence of Methionine to Lysine on Growth Performance in 10 kilogram Pigs<strong>Influence of Amino Acids Ratios on Growth Performance in 10 kilogram Pigs</strong><br /><br /><em>Chaipirk hongladdapon</em><br /><br />This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of methionine to lysine ratio on growth performance of 10 kg kilogram pigs. The experiment treatment diets containing four different methionine to lysine ratios (27:100, 33:100 and 45:100). Average daily weight gain was highest in pigs fed 39:100 showed significant (P<0.01) were 265 g/h/d greater than 33:100, 27:100 and 45:100 were 248, 233 and 212 g/h/d respectively. Similarly, feed conversion ratio were 1.70, 1.82, 1.93 and 2.13 respectively. Furthermore, pigs fed 39:100 showed higher protein efficiency ratio than pigs fed 33:100, 27:100 and 45:100 (P<0.01) were 2.95, 2.76, 2.59 and 2.35 respectively. Body weight loss of pigs fed protein free diet were 129 g/h/d. Net protein ratio showed highly significant (P<0.01) were 4.38, 4.19, 4.02 and 3.79 respectively. In conclusion, methionine to lysine ratio as 39:100 was best recommended for requirement of 10 kilogram pigs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.enterfarm.com/">See More Livestock Research</a><br /><a href="http://www.enterfarm.com/">http://www.enterfarm.com/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-25231803439816027592008-03-03T06:07:00.000-08:002008-03-03T06:15:38.008-08:00Feed Quality Feed formulation and Quality control measures<strong>Feed Formulation</strong><br /><br />Quality starts with the feed formulation as it plays a major role in determining the nutrient levels in the finished feed. It is better to take the help of a qualified nutritionist, as he knows better ingredients properties, their nutrient levels, the nutrient requirements of the birds depending on the stage of development and their condition. Though the major objective of the feed formulaiton is to deliver a well balanced diet to meet the nutrient requirements of the birds, the other objective is to keep a check on the Anti-nutritional factors by limiting the use of certain ingredients.<br /><br />Assuming that feeds are properly formulated, plant and company management must assure that<br />All raw materials meet specified quality standards.<br />There are no foreign materials in either the raw materials or the finished products.<br />Processed grains and other materials meet specified particle shape and size requirments.<br />The feed is manufactured and as formulated.<br />Pellets and crumbles are properly sized and meet durability standards.<br />There is no cross-contamination from one feed to another (especially with medicated feeds)<br />There is no (or minimal) loss of vitamin potency or the potency of any other micro ingredient in storage and handling or processing.<br />There are no deleterious substances or microorganisms in the feeds.<br />A minimum of separation or segragation is caused by post-mixer handling<br />Package net weights and bulk weights are as labeled or invoiced.<br />The packaging is clean, neat and attractive.<br />The customer's perception of quality is met.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><strong>Sensory and Physical Properties</strong><br /><br />Sensory properly evaluation, including inspection of ingredient color, odor, texture, moisture, temperture, and a visual inspection for physical purity (absence of foreign material and insect infestation) enables one to quickly assess whether the ingredient should be rejected. The inspection process should be accompanied by a reference sample for comparison. Physical property evaluation usually involves testing incoming grain and feed ingredients for bulk density, purity, and texture.<br /><br />BULK DENSITY of a material represents the mass per unit volume. This characteristic is commonly expressed as pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3). The bulk density of a material is measured by weighing the amount of materials that fills a one-cubic-foot or one-cubic meter box. Bulk density can vary significantly for the same ingredient due to differences in particle size, moisture content, or compaction. Bulk density will determine how the ingredient will perform during batching and blending. When a feed ration required blending ingredients that differ widely in bulk density, one should ensure that the particle size of the feed ingredients is similar, use a binding agent (fat, and load the mixer using a ingredient sequence that optimizes the blending action of the mixer. For example, high density ingredients should be added early in case of vertical mixers and late in the batching sequence for horizontal mixers.<br /><br />INGREDIENT PURITY refers to the absence (e.g., sand stones etc.) of contaminants. The source of these contaminants may be physical, chemical (e.g., pesticides) and microbial (e.g., fungus or mycotoxins). The use of hand sieves to inspect for physical contaminants enables rapid evaluation of material. Chemical and microbial contaminants can be performed in laboratories.<br /><br />TEXTURE of an ingredient is measured visually and with sieves. Soybean meal texture is described visually as "homogeneous, free-flowing, without coarse particles or excessive fines" (AFIA, 1992). Soybean meal texture measured by sieve analysis is described as "95 to 100 % through Standard Sieve No. 10; 40 to 60 % through Standard Sieve No. 20; and a maximum 6% through Standard Sieve No. 80" (AFIA, 1992). the condit;ion of the screens in the hammer mill, the condition of the corugations and tramming of grinding and flaking rolls, and the condition of any sieving devices all affect particle size and / or shape and will affect the quality of finished products. Regular sampling of the material streams from processing equipment and quick repair of any malfunctioning equipment will assure that particle size and shape standards are met.<br /><br /><strong>Microscopic evaluation<br /></strong><br />All microscopic identification is based upon relating the items seen to known material Through the use of low magnification (8 to 50 times) materials are examined and identified based on physical characteristics such as shape, color, particle size, softness, hardness and texture. Feed microscopy is a useful method for identifying impurities / contaminants and evaluating the quality of incoming ingredients. It also serves as a useful method for identifying missing ingredients in finished feed.<br /><br /><strong>Nutritional Properties<br /></strong><br />Nutritional properties of feed ingredients and finished feed require laboratory analysis. This usually entails expensive analytical equipments operated by professional chemists. Many feed companies and poultry farmers use commercial labs for these analyses. Most analysis techniques involve the use of procedures tested and approved by scientific organizations such as the Association of Official Analytical chemists' (AOAC, 2000) Official Methods of Analysis. The ingredients / finished feed should be evaluated in the latoratory for proximate principles (moisture, protein, fat, fibre and ash), indivisual minerals like calcium and phosphorus (in DCP, Calcite), urease (in soybean meal), pepsin digestibility ad others depending on the ingredients. There are some established analytical variation (AV) guidelines in order to make decisions rgarding marginally acceptable products (AAFCO 2000). These variations are intended to allow for inherit variablity in sampling and analyses. They are not intended to allow for deficiencies or excesses in a product or poor analytical tecchniques. The assays results should be within the limits of the analytical variance for accepting the feed ingredient or feed for that parameter. If the assay indicates that the ingredient is outside the analytical variance, the feed does not conform to label requirements. the concentration range indicates for what inclusion rate (level) the Analytical Variation Percentages (AV%) apply; e.g., moisture AV% applies to feed containing between 3 and 40% moisture.<br /><br /><strong>The feed manufactured as formulated</strong><br /><br />The accuracy of batching scales will determine whether or not the feed made is the feed formulated. Also, the condition of the mixer is critical to assure that all of the feed exiting the mixing system is the same feed that the nutritionist formulated and that the customer ordered. Batching scales and other scales / meters used to weigh ingredients (solid / liquid) must be regularly tested for their accuracy, properly maintained, and kept clean.<br /><br />Mixers must be properly designed and managed to assure that they provide a complete, thorough mix of all ingredients. They must be routinely tested, filled to proper levels, and kept clean and well maintained.<br /><br /><strong>Sizing of Pellets and Crumbles</strong><br /><br />Feed plants producing pelleted products need to give careful attention to the sizing and durability of those products and to the amount of fine particles in the finished feeds.<br /><br />Standards for pellet sizes and durability should be established by management and adhered to by the operators of the pelleting equipment, and pellet durability testers should be provided and used.<br /><br />Other factors affecting pellet quality involve the formulation; the quality of steam and the condition of the steam system; the overall condition of the pellet mill, cooler, and screener; the condition of the crumble rolls; the condition of the down stream handling system; and operating practices.<br /><br /><strong>Cross - Contamination</strong><br /><br />Cross - contamination can be serious problem, especially, when medicated feeds are involved.<br /><br />The major points where cross-contamination can occur are residues in a conveying equipments / elevators, leaks in material handling equipments, valves / turnhead alignment, human/mechanical errors, improper flushing of systems, incomplete cleaning of mixers.<br /><br /><strong>Deleterious Substances or Microorganisms</strong><br /><br />Deleterious substances refere to harmful or, possibly, poisonous substances that might be introduced into the feed (although it is possible that such substances could come in with ingredients). Good examples are lubricants that come into contact with the feed that are not approved for food use and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) that may leak from PCB containing transformers, capacitors and other PCB containing equipment.<br /><br />It is the responsibility of personnel to control those, and other, poisonous substances in their plant to avoid contamination of products.<br /><br />Microorganisms refer, primarily, to molds that may enter the plant with the raw materials are are caused by conditions in the plant and the manufacturing processes. Detection of such microorganisms often required laboratory analysis; but, at times, they can be detected by the naked eye or the nose. Molds created, or multiplied, in the plant can, often, be avoided by operative practices and proper maintenance.<br /><br /><strong>Separation of Segregation</strong><br /><br />The tendency of premixes, concentrates, supplements, and final feeds to separate / segregate in post mixer handling may be one of the most critical, yet often neglected, quality assurance problems in the feed industry.<br /><br />Segregation and separation can be reduced, but not totally avoided by ;<br /><br />More positive control of the particle sizes of ingredients.<br />Reducing the distance of the free fall of feeds into bins (silos)<br />The use of liquid binders ( molasses, fats, etc.)<br />Pelleting<br />Returning collected dust immediately to the stream from which it is taken<br />Grounding all equipment.<br /><br /><strong>Feed Quality</strong><br /><br />Quality Control in feed production is of utmost importance in the overall success and profitability of animal enterprises. There is no other factor, directly or indirectly related to the proper nutrition and high performance of animals, which is more critical than feed quality control and ration consistency. Quality has been defined as "any of the features that make something what it is" and "the degree of excellence which is a thing possesses". The degree of quality is the consistency in which feed is formulated, processed, mixed and delivered as compared to what is expected.<br /><br />Obviously, a finished feed should match label claims - protein, fat, fiber, vitamins and other micro-ingredients levels, active drug level in medicated feeds and other ingredients if claimed. Animals thrive on a routine and respond better if the feed is low in nutrient variation as offered to them; and are similar in moisture content, texture and rate of energy availbility.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.enterfarm.com/">http://www.enterfarm.com/</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-19470523638679540112008-02-28T19:42:00.000-08:002008-02-28T19:45:55.455-08:00Buying feed at the right price, Buying feeds on a protein value basis<strong>Buying feeds on a ‘protein value’ basis</strong><br /><br />Early in a drought, when there is ample quantity of dry pasture available, a suitable feeding strategy may involve the feeding of a protein source to balance the animals’ diet and improve intake levels. This strategy is only suitable for dry stock and will not be adequate for stock with higher demands (pregnancy, lactation or growth). To choose feeds in these circumstances first determine the cost per kilogram of crude protein (CP) provided.<br /><br />To determine protein costs we first need to determine the cost per kilogram of dry matter as before, and then divide that value by the crude protein percentage (CP%) and multiply by 100. The following example shows the calculation for the cost of lupin protein—lupins are a popular choice as a protein-rich supplement.<br /><br />Lupins <br />Cost per tonne = $450<br />DM = 90%<br />CP = 32%<br />Cost per kg DM = $450 × 10 ÷ 90 = 50c/kg DM<br /><br />Lupins have an average crude protein percentage of 32%. <br /><br />Therefore:<br /><br />Protein cost = 50c/kg ÷ 32 ×100 = $1.56/kg CP<br /><br />Another alternative often used to supplement crude protein is urea lick blocks. These supply a non-protein nitrogen source. A typical commercial 10% urea block with some additional monoammonium phosphate (MAP) will supply the equivalent of around 40%CP.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Urea lick blocks <br />Cost per 20 kg block = $17<br />CP = 40%<br /><br />Cost per kg = $17 ÷ 20 = 85c/kg<br /><br />Therefore:<br /><br />Protein cost = 85c/kg ÷ 40 × 100 = $2.12/kg CP<br /><br />These calculations show that lupins are far cheaper than urea lick block in providing crude protein. Lupins also contain energy which blocks do not provide.<br /><br />There are many other possible alternatives to providing protein to stock. This method will determine the most cost-effective alternative.<br /><br />http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/nutrition/values<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-80823363586850827142008-02-23T05:06:00.000-08:002008-02-23T05:09:45.432-08:00Effects of using Fermentated Casava Meal with Amylomyces rouxii Suplementation in Diets on Production Performance of Broiler<strong>Effects of using Fermentated Casava Meal with Amylomyces rouxii Suplementation in Diets on Production Performance of Broiler</strong><br /><br />Kunlayanee wuttisri1, Permsak Siriwan1 and Bouream maneewan1<br /><br /><strong>ABSTRACT</strong><br /><br />A study on effects of fermentated casava meal with Amylomyces rouxii supplementation in broilers diets was assigned using a completely random design (CRD).The experiment composed of 5 treatments with 4 replication each. Ten chicks of both sexes at birth were allocated in each replication on the total of 200 chicks. Diet in control treatment contained 0% of fermented cassava meal (FCM),diet in treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5 composed of 5, 10, 15 and 20% FCM. The results showed that increasing levels of fermented cassava meal (FCM) significantly reduced (P < 0.05) performance of broilers during 4 - 6 weeks of age as compared to the control group. During 0-3 weeks of age,production performances of broiler among treatments were not significantly different. Levels of FCM in this study can be used to supplement in broiler diets 0 - 3 weeks of age with no effect on the performance. However, the optimum levels of FCM in broilers diets should be 10%. <br /><br />Key words: Fermentated Casava Meal (FCM), Amylomyces rouxii<br /><br />1 Department of Animal Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiangmai 50290<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-61014911472614577172008-02-12T18:02:00.000-08:002008-02-21T19:49:55.344-08:00Agro-industrial by-products as roughage source for beef cattle<span style="font-size:180%;">Agro-industrial by-products as roughage source for beef cattle: Chemical composition, nutrient digestibility and energy values of ensiled sweet corn cob and husk with different levels of Ipil – Ipil leaves.</span><br /><br />Sompong Sruamsiri*, Pirote Silman, and Warunee Srinuch<br />Department of Animal Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Production,<br />Maejo University, Sansai, Chiang Mai, 50290, Thailand<br /><br />Available online at www.mijst.mju.ac.th<br /><br /><strong>Abstract:</strong> This experiment was carried out to determine the nutritive value of agro-industrial by-products and nutrient digestibility of ensiled sweet corn cob and husk with different levels of Ipil - Ipil leaves (Leucaena leucocephala). Four native cattle were assigned by Latin Square Design to receive all dietary treatments in four experimental periods, i.e. ensiled sweet corn cob and husk (ESCH), ensiled sweet corn cob and husk + 10 % Ipil - Ipil leaves (ESCH + 10% IL), ensiled sweet corn cob and husk + 20% Ipil - Ipil leaves (ESCH + 20% IL) and ensiled sweet corn cob and husk + 30% Ipil - Ipil leaves(ESCH + 30% IL), respectively. Total collection method was used to determine the digestibility coefficients. Results showed that digestibility coefficients of ESCH were low(P>0.05) in all the nutrients. Supplementation of Ipil - Ipil leaves in ESCH increased digestibility coefficients. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible energy were higher in the silages supplemented with Ipil - Ipil leaves. Average TDN contents of ESCH, ESCH + 10% IL, 20% IL and 30% IL were 62.78 + 6.14, 70.41 + 4.04, 72.73 + 2.78 and 63.07 + 4.06 %DM, respectively.<br /><br />Keywords: apparent digestibility, energy value, agro-industrial by-products, sweet corn cob and husk, silages, Ipil - Ipil leaves<br /><br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br />Introduction<br /><br />In dry season, the main problem of ruminant production in Thailand is nutrition, especially the quality and quantity of roughage which force farmers to use other resources as feed. Crop residues especially rice straw are commonly used as main sources of roughage for cattle even though the nutritive value is low. When cattle are fed with rice straw or low quality roughage, supplemented feed containing protein or other energy source is required to improve both roughage utilization and growth performance.<br />At present, agro-industrial by-products from canning factory such as pineapple waste, passion fruit peel, baby corn waste and sweet corn cob and husk are commonly used as feed resources, especially as roughage. However, these by-products are high in moisture content and soluble carbohydrates, so they decay very quickly. Therefore, the ensiling of these by-products is a suitable method of preservation<br />even though the acidity of the cannary waste silage is usually high. Silage additives should be used for improving silage quality [1,2]. Leucaena leucocephala (Ipil-Ipil) is the most popular legume species in cattle feeding. Because their protein content is high, fresh or dried leaves are usually used as protein supplement. For preserving them ensiling process is also a good method [3]. In order to find out the appropriate methods of using agro-industrial by-products as new feed resources and how to preserve them throughout the dry season, analytical work to develop the database on chemical composition, nutritive value and nutrient digestibility was conducted. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the nutritive value of agro-industrial by-products which farmers usually use as roughage for cattle, as well as to determine the apparent digestibility and energy value of ensiled sweet corn cob and husk with different levels of Ipil - Ipil leaves.<br /><br />Materials and Methods<br /><br />1.Chemical composition<br /><br />Agro-industrial by-products such as pineapple waste, passion fruit peel, baby corn waste and steamed cob and husk of sweet corn, which are by-products from canning factories in Chiang Mai were collected and sampled for analysis. To obtain a sufficient and uniform sample, each agro- industrial by-product was repeatedly sampled from several transport trucks and mixed thoroughly.<br />Samples were then randomly taken for analysis of dry matter (DM), crude protein(CP), crude fiber(CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P)and gross energy(GE) according to the methods described in AOAC [4]. The analysis of neutral detergent fiber (NDF)and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were done according to Detergent method [5].<br /><br />2. Digestibility study<br /><br />For digestibility study, sweet corn cob and husk (SCH) collected from a canning factory was ensiled with different levels of Ipil - Ipil leaves and used as experimental diets. Ipil - Ipil leaves were prepared by chopping the whole branch whose diameter was not bigger than 1.5 cm before mixing. They were packed without additives in double layer polyethylene bags (25 x 30 inches) with vacuum suction. Each bag contained 20 kg. of silage and was stored for 21 days prior to use. Four native beef<br /><br />cattle at two years of age with an average body weight 174 + 13.5 kg. were randomly allocated to one of the four dietary treatments according to Latin Square Design. The treatments were (1) ensiled sweet corn cob and husk (ESCH), (2) ensiled sweet corn cob and husk and Ipil - Ipil leaves at 90:10 (ESCH + 10%IL), (3) ensiled sweet corn cob and husk and Ipil - Ipil leaves at 80:20 (ESCH + 20%IL), and(4) ensiled sweet corn cob and husk and Ipil - Ipil leaves at 70:30 (ESCH + 30%IL) (Figure 1). The silages were fed as single feed twice daily at least 1.5% of the body weight (DM basis). Total collection method was assigned for the determination of apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients.<br />Each digestibility period lasted 21 days while preliminary period took place in the first 14 days and collection period was in the last 7 days. Silage intake was recorded daily through the entire experiment. Silage DM intake was calculated on DM basis. Feces and leftover feed were collected and used for the calculation of nutrient digestibility. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) were calculated using the equation : TDN = digestible CP + digestible CF + digestible NFE + digestible EE ื 2.25 [6]. Gross energy of feed and feces were determined using adiabatic bomb calorimeter (IKA calorimeter system C 5000). Digestibility was then calculated. The data were analyzed according to 4 x 4 Latin Square<br />Design [7].<br /><br />Results and Discussion<br /><br />Chemical composition of agro-industrial by-products<br /><br />The dry matter contents of pineapple waste and pineapple silage (ensiled pineapple waste) were lower than those of baby corn husk, passion fruit peel, ensiled pineapple waste with rice straw and ensiled passion fruit. The average CP contents of agro-industrial by-products from the canning factories showed that all of these by-products were not the good roughage sources and should not be used as the main roughage for ruminants because of their low contents in CP and DM.<br />However, baby corn husk was the highest in CP content (9.88% in DM) but the lowest in NDF and ADF contents (54.44 and 22.38% in DM), when compared to other by-products. The physical characteristics of ensiled pineapple wastes with or without rice straw were in good condition even though their DM content was lower than the optimal range of good ensiling products. These might be due to the high NFE contents in pineapple waste especially fructose which are converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the supplement of rice straw increased DM content of the silage butdecreased CP content. The physical characteristic of rice straw was better after the ensiling process. It had a lactic acid odor with light yellow color and the structure was softer.<br /><br />The chemical compositions of SCH and ESCH without or with different levels of Ipil - Ipil leaves on DM basis. The data from the chemical compositions showed that SCH and ESCH could be used as roughage sources for ruminants even though their CP contents were lower than 8 % and the DM contents were lower than 20%. Furthermore, increasing Ipil - Ipil leaves in the silage tended to increase DM and CP contents, but the average percentages of organic matter (OM),<br />CF, NDF and ADF tended to decrease with increasing Ipil - Ipil leaves in the silage. The positive effect of the silage with Ipil - Ipil leaves was due to the nutritive value of this legume, which was high in protein, DM and GE contents [8-9]. Although ESCH and ESCH + IL were good-quality silages,ESCH+ 30% IL had a high pH (4.32). The high pH of this treatment might be due to the buffering capacity of IL which is a leguminous plant. Therefore, the recommended Ipil – Ipil levels ensiling with<br />ESCH is at 10 – 20 %.<br /><br />Apparent digestibility of nutrients<br /><br />The digestibility of ESCH with or without Ipil - Ipil leaves. It was shown that cattle fed with ESCH+ IL consumed slightly higher dry matter content than the ESCH-fed group (2.69, 2.89,3.01 and 3.05 kg/h/d which are equal to 1.58, 1.64, 1.72 and 1.74% BW, respectively). This might be due to the supplement of Ipil – Ipil leaves in the silages, which provided more nutrients, especially nitrogen for microbial growth and activities. The result from this experiment agreed with that of Oldham [10], who found that dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility of the diet increased with increasing crude protein contents. Therefore, the digestibility of nutrients in cattle fed with ESCH + IL were higher than the ESCH group. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM and CP were significantly different among treatments (P<0.05).>0.05).<br /><br />The apparent digestibility of NFE and NDF followed the same pattern as DM digestibility and was significantly different (P<0.05)><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-50431682813067169752008-02-11T00:39:00.000-08:002008-02-11T01:01:12.627-08:00Pathways in Amino Acid Metabolism<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Pathways of Amino Acid Degradation</strong><br /></span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv6Etk-WZJKXQ4zEBEgbpNWqUVMBKwvz56H3fqv1dNIgGT2hyphenhyphensH-06XzNg_rkqCwplCrTspCsafpHwPGfFrFcoebHrUvwW2WslzJPhZ6iFQ_V1J-OTsJP1f4_O1hQdm3xY86nCAgGYree/s1600-h/Pathways_amino_acid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165641549680724338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv6Etk-WZJKXQ4zEBEgbpNWqUVMBKwvz56H3fqv1dNIgGT2hyphenhyphensH-06XzNg_rkqCwplCrTspCsafpHwPGfFrFcoebHrUvwW2WslzJPhZ6iFQ_V1J-OTsJP1f4_O1hQdm3xY86nCAgGYree/s320/Pathways_amino_acid.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Pathways in Amino Acid Metabolism </strong><br /><br />AAs are the building blocks of animal body.<br /><br />The body cannot conserves as free molecules, but its had to converse to peptide, protein hormone form, or catabolite to ammonia( fish), urea( mammals), uric acid(birds, reptiles )<br /><br />The terms ‘ammoniotelic’, ‘ureotelic’and ‘uricotelic’are used to indicate the forms of N excretion in the respective groups of animals.<br /><br /><strong>Key Reactions </strong><br /><br />All animals have the capacity to use or salvage metabolic ammonia in key assimilation reactions involving glutamate dehydrogenaseand glutamine synthase.<br /><br />The major sites of amino acid metabolism are gut, muscle, liver, and brain.<br /><br /><strong>Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)</strong><br /><br />GDH is a key enzyme in AA metabolism due to its involvement in both the synthesis of glutamate and its breakdown by the reversible reaction.<br /><br />a-Ketoglutarate+Ammonia+NAD(P)H <--->Glutamate+NAD(P)<br /><br />This reaction represents an oxidative deamination requiring either NAD+ or NADP+. The pathway enables the synthesis of the NEAAs and the degradation of all amino acids.<br /><br /><strong>Aminotransferases (transaminases)</strong><br /><br />Aminotransferases catalyses the transfer of an amino group from one amino acid (AA) to a keto acid to form another amino acid.<br /><br />In general terms be:<br /><br />Donor AA + Acceptor a-keto acid -> Product AA + Product a-keto acid<br /><br />Two examples :<br /><br />Aspartate+ a-Ketoglutarate -> Glutamate + Oxaloacetate<br />Glutamate + Pyruvate -> Alanine + a-Ketoglutarate<br /><br />-This certainly is the case in microbial metabolism, for example in the rumen.<br /><br />-Within animal tissues a- -keto acids are readily only a limited number of transaminated to their respective amino acids.<br /><br /><br />The initial step in the degradation of most AA involves a transamination reaction which coupled with the GDH results in the production of ammonia.<br /><br />The liver is the primary site for coupled reactions of this, enabling<br />degradation of all amino acids.<br /><br />The ammonia may be re-utilized or, because of its toxicity, converted into urea or uric acid in the liver prior to excretion via the kidneys.<br /><br />Skeletal muscle is the major site for the transamination of the three BCAA, leucine, isoleucine and valine, and yielding the respective branched-chain keto acids (BCKA)<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br /><strong>Glutamine synthase (GS)</strong><br /><br />The assimilation of ammonia may occur by a second pathway catalysedby glutamine synthaseas follows:<br /><br />NH3<br />Glutamate --------> Glutamine<br />GS<br /><br /><strong>Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase</strong><br /><br />A third mechanism for the assimilation of ammonia involves carbamoylphosphate synthetase:<br /><br />Ammonia + CO2 + ATP --------> Carbamoylphosphate<br /><br />Carbamoylphosphate then enters the urea cycle by combining with ornithine, thus enabling the excretion of waste N in mammals.<br /><br /><strong>Oxidases</strong><br /><br />In animals only amino acids of the L-configuration can be used.<br />D-isomers of AA may be utilized by animals, by conversion of these isomers to the L –forms using D-AA oxidases, requiring FAD as cofactor.<br /><br />The a-keto acid then yield the L-amino acid.<br /><br />This reactions enables animals to use D-methioninewith up to 90% efficacy.<br /><br /><strong>Decarboxylases </strong><br /><br />The reactions lead to the formation of bioactive molecules such as neurotransmitters.<br /><br />The synthesis of histamine is also brought about by a decarboxylaseby histidinedecarboxy lasecatalyses<br /><br /><strong>Phenylalanine hydroxylase</strong><br /><br />Hydroxylases play a key role in animal metabolism.<br /><br />The enzyme catalyses the formation of tyrosine from phenylalanine.<br /><br />Animals can synthesize tyrosine as long as sufficient quantities of phenylalanine are present in the diet.<br /><br />Tyrosine is a component of proteins, and provides the aromatic ring for the synthesis of thyroxine, adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine).<br /><br /><strong>Arginine Metabolism</strong><br /><br />Arginine has recently play role as an intriguing amino acid in animal metabolism.<br /><br />Its function as a precursor of proline, polyaminesand nitric oxide (NO) for optimal lactational performance.<br /><br /><strong>Urea cycle</strong><br /><br />The metabolism of arginine, ornithine, citrulline and argininosuccinate is linked in a pathway that enables mammals to dispose of excess N from amino acids.<br /><br />The liver is the primary site for this activity.<br /><br />Waste N enters the urea cycle as carbamoyl phosphate, synthesized from ammonia, waste N also enters the cycle directly, via aspartic acid.<br /><br />Arginase exists in two forms. Arginase I is a cytosolic enzyme whereas Arginase II occurs in the mitochondria.<br /><br />Many extra-hepatic tissues contain both forms, including the mammary gland.<br /><br />Arginaseis found in the liver and kidney of birds, with higher activity.<br /><br /><strong>Uric Acid Pathway</strong><br /><br />The uric acid pathway is a major route for the disposal of waste N in avian species.<br /><br /><strong>Nitric oxide</strong><br /><br />The synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) from arginine is depicted as follows:<br /><br />The reaction is catalysedby various isoforms of NO synthase.<br /><br />Inducible (iNOS) and constitutive (cNOS) forms have been identified in the cytosol.<br /><br />The iNOSproduces large and sustained quantities of NO.<br /><br />The cNOSgenerate intermittent low levels of NO.<br /><br /><strong>Polyamines (spermine)</strong><br /><br />Ornithinedecarboxylase(ODC)(1) is a key enzyme in polyamine synthesis.<br /><br />Polyamine production appears to be an essential in all tissuesthat are actively synthesizing proteins.<br /><br />Polyamine is also an important for theaction of antinutritionalfactors inlegume seeds.<br /><br />The involvement of methionine in polyamine synthesis imposes competing metabolic demands, particularly when the tissue supply of cysteineis critical.<br /><br /><strong>Pyrimidines</strong><br /><br />The pyrimidinesnecessary for nucleotide production.<br /><br />The synthesis of pyrimidinesalso involves glutamine and aspartate.<br /><br />Pyrimidinesynthesis begins with the production of carbamoylphosphate.<br /><br /><strong>Sulphur Amino Acids</strong><br /><br />The sulphuramino acids are methionineand cysteine.<br /><br />Cysteine may undergo oxidation to form a disulphide bridge, yielding another sulphuramino acid, cystine.<br /><br />Methionine plays a key role in metabolism as a donor of active methyl groups.<br /><br />The initial formation of homocysteine which donates its sulphur atom to methioninefor the biosynthesis of cysteine.<br /><br /><strong>Non-essential Amino Acids</strong><br /><br />Several of NEAA may become conditionally essential because endogenous of protein synthesis.<br /><br />Stress caused by disorders of pregnancy and lactation and microbial pathogens may induce the need for NEAA.<br /><br />The role of glutamate in animal metabolism and function, enabling the synthesis and breakdown of amino acids.<br /><br />Glycine is another amino acid associated with multifunctional roles, being involved in the synthes of purines, creatineand haem and is a component of neurotransmitters.<br /><br />Creatine supplements may exertbeneficial effects on pork quality.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-13313842459188841182008-02-10T23:13:00.000-08:002008-02-10T23:17:03.660-08:00Protein Terms: Structure of Protein Amino Acids (AA)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyn9wRwihP7KV4hlCEOqJFMQ2RKUXf_dW1qeGF-MykbR6t545SOon3FZc-C0VZxCy6lmkrjK84Zhn7EN4wUcAibOUriBm6ZVoBL6WSLVZc5hryqwKOU2q3B1hP0oCpg4itHK8c_XOMJ3u/s1600-h/protein.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165617944540465506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyn9wRwihP7KV4hlCEOqJFMQ2RKUXf_dW1qeGF-MykbR6t545SOon3FZc-C0VZxCy6lmkrjK84Zhn7EN4wUcAibOUriBm6ZVoBL6WSLVZc5hryqwKOU2q3B1hP0oCpg4itHK8c_XOMJ3u/s320/protein.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Protein Terms: Amino Acids (AA) All AA have an amino (NH2 ) group and a carboxyl(COOH) group.</span><br /><br />All AA contain carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N). Methionine & cystine also contain sulfur (S).<br /><br />Structure of Protein 4 Structures<br /><br />1. Primary structure; AA- polypeptides with peptide bond.<br /><br />2. Secondary structure; Structure of Protein Helic-polypeptide chain with hydrogen/disulfide bond.<br /><br />3. Tertiary structure; Structure of Protein Globular-polypeptide chain with hydrogen/disulfide bond, hydrophobic bond, nonpolar bond. Fibrous protein; keratin , collagen ,etc.<br /><br />4. Quaternary structure; Oligomeric protein, or mix of polypeptide chain with a weak bond<br /><br />Total Crude Protein<br /><br />• CP = Nitrogen (N) x 6.25<br /><br />• 100 g CP = 16 g N<br /><br />• 100 / 16 = 6.25<br /><br />• Example: Soybean = 7% N x 6.25 = 43.75% CP<br /><br />Nonprotein Nitrogen (NPN)<br /><br />• NPN not in a protein<br />• True protein is N in a long chain of amino acids and peptide bond<br />• NPN must be incorporated into microbial protein to be beneficial<br />• Examples of NPN<br />– Urea<br />– Monoammonium phosphate<br />– Free amino acids<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Available Protein<br /><br />• Protein available for digestion<br />• Should be 90% or more of CP<br />• Less than 90% CP available indicates:<br />– Heat damage<br />– Excessive maturity at harvest<br /><br />Unavailable Protein<br /><br />• Protein unavailable for digestion<br />• Should be less than 10% of CP<br />• If greater than 10% of CP indicates:<br />– Heat damage<br />– Malliard Reaction<br />– Carmelized protein<br />– Bound protein<br />– ADF-N<br /><br /><br />Avoid Heating & Carmelization<br /><br />• Proper stage of maturity<br />• Correct moisture content<br />– Conventional (55 - 60%)<br />– Bunkers & bags (65 - 70%)<br />• Length of chop<br />• A tight silo or pack<br />• Fill rapidly<br />• Seal if needed<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-64970789310508095522008-02-10T22:18:00.000-08:002008-02-10T22:22:51.921-08:00FAQ About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu), H5N1 - A Type Of Avian Influenza Virus<strong>FAQ About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)<br /><br />H5N1 - A Type Of Avian Influenza Virus</strong><br /><br />In this article you can frequently asked questions about one type of bird flu, called avian influenza A (H5N1) that is infecting birds in Asia and has infected some humans.<br /><br />Question: What is avian influenza (bird flu)?<br /><br />Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.<br /><br />Question: Do bird flu viruses infect humans?<br /><br />Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.<br /><br />Question: What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?<br /><br />Symptoms of bird flu in humans can be similar to those resulting from typical flu-like symptoms, like fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. Other severe symptoms are eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other severe and life-threatening complications.<br /><br />Question: How does bird flu spread?<br /><br />Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The transmission of bird flu from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Question: How is bird flu in humans treated?<br /><br />Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses should work in preventing bird flu infection in humans.<br /><br />Question: What is the risk to humans from bird flu?<br /><br />The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds. In such situations, people should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry. In rare instances, limited human-to-human spread of H5N1 virus has occurred, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.<br /><br />Question: Is there a vaccine to protect humans from H5N1 virus?<br /><br />There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place.<br /><br /><br />H5N1 is a type of avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) that has mutated[1] through antigenic drift into dozens of highly pathogenic varieties, but all currently belonging to genotype Z of avian influenza virus H5N1. Genotype Z emerged through reassortment in 2002 from earlier highly pathogenic genotypes of H5N1[2] that first appeared in China in 1996 in birds and in Hong Kong in 1997 in humans[3]. The "H5N1 viruses from human infections and the closely related avian viruses isolated in 2004 and 2005 belong to a single genotype, often referred to as genotype Z." [1]<br /><br />The avian influenza subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused Spanish flu, H2N2 caused Asian Flu, H3N2 caused Hong Kong Flu, H5N1, H7N7, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.<br /><br />All avian influenza (AI) viruses are type A influenza virus in the virus family of Orthomyxoviridae and all known strains of influenza A virus infect birds. Influenzavirus type A is subdivided into subtypes based on hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) protein spikes from the central virus core. There are 16 H types, each with up to 9 N subtypes, yielding a potential for 144 different H and N combinations.<br /><br />Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals.<br /><br />An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years. One of the strongest candidates is the A(H5N1) subtype of avian influenza.<br /><br />A myxovirus of the genus Influenzavirus, antigenically varying from influenza virus type A and influenza virus type C, that causes various respiratory illnesses in humans.<br /><br />A myxovirus of the genus Influenzavirus, antigenically varying from influenza virus type B and influenza virus type C, that causes acute respiratory illness in humans.<br /><br />Influenza caused by infection with a strain of influenza virus type C.<br /><br />People should get vaccine who are:<br /><br />People 65 years of age or older.<br /><br />Resident of nursing home and other chronic-care facilities.<br /><br />Adults and adolescents with chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disorders, including asthma.<br /><br />Health care workers, care givers and others who might transmit influenza virus to persons at high-risk for complications from infection.<br /><br />People who are less able to fight infections because of a disease they are born with, infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), treatment with medications such as long-term steroids, and/or treatment for cancer with X-rays or medications.<br /><br />Adults and adolescents who required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic illnesses (including diabetes mellitus), kidney diseases, and blood cell diseases such as sickle cell anemia.<br /><br />Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season (December - March).<br /><br />Persons 6 months to 18 years of age who receive long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza. <br /><br />Refer:<br /><br />http://www.epharmacypremium.com<br /><br />http://www.flu-information.be<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-88999304498991813462008-02-10T22:16:00.000-08:002008-02-10T22:23:49.388-08:00The Best Way To A Farm Loan Success Making a succes loan and ensuring your mortgage...<strong>The Best Way To A Farm Loan Success <br /><br />By: Grojan Fabiola </strong><br /><br />Making a succes loan and ensuring your mortgage...<br /><br />The most important and difficult part in farm mortgage shopping is to compare the farm loans of different lenders. To understand better you have to know that the farm mortgage contains more than interest rates like quoted rate, points and closing costs. Now you have to understand each part, so the points equals the percents of the farm loan amount. These percents are used to make a higher rate of the farm loan. You will notice that you are able to choose a large mass of points and rates for only one loan product. So, the best solution when comparing different lenders is to compare the associate points. The final amount of the farm loan consists almost everything, title, farm loan related fees, escrow fees.<br /><br />One other thing when building a farm loan is to investigate the different lenders and compare all farm loan features like the farm mortgage insurance payments, or the requirements of credit and cash, etc. A special attention should be paid to prepayment penalties and, of course to the availability of conversion option.<br /><br />Although, you still have to compare the lock-in period, that means the period when all the quoted points and interest rate will be guaranteed. The usually lock-in period are 30 to 60 days, but you can find some of them offering only a short period of 15 days. You have to have in mind, the longest lock-in period, the highest price of the farm loan. The lock-in period should cover enough time to allow for settlement.<br /><br />One final thing good to know is to compare the interest rates of the same day, because these kind of rates are changing daily. So, the best way to compare farm loans from different lenders is to compare farm loan products of the same type. It really doesn't make sense to chose from different types of farm loans program.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />There are still some fees you have to pay in connection with the farm loan, these fees usual containing the farm mortgage insurance, the tax services, the wire transfer or any other fees given by the lenders. A good fact is that these fees can include discounts based on points, so the higher the number of points, the higher discount of the total fee.<br /><br />http://www.farmloans.com/<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-75156413809063992542008-02-08T23:45:00.000-08:002008-02-09T00:01:31.651-08:00Animal Probiotics - A live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balanceProbiotics used Food or Feed additives, A live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance.<br /><br />Introduction<br />Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods. They can be used as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)A group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine..1 To find out more about topics and resources mentioned in this fact sheet, see "For More Information." <br /><br />1CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicineMedicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses.. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine.<br /><br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br />What Probiotics Are<br />Experts have debated how to define probiotics. One widely used definition, developed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is that probiotics are "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." (Microorganisms are tiny living organisms--such as bacteria, viruses, and yeasts--that can be seen only under a microscope.)<br /><br />Probiotics are not the same thing as prebiotics--nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in people's colons. When probiotics and prebiotics are mixed together, they form a synbiotic.<br /><br />Probiotics are available in foods and dietary supplements (for example, capsules, tablets, and powders) and in some other forms as well. Examples of foods containing probiotics are yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, and some juices and soy beverages. In probiotic foods and supplements, the bacteria may have been present originally or added during preparation. <br /><br />Most probiotics are bacteria similar to those naturally found in people's guts, especially in those of breastfed infants (who have natural protection against many diseases). Most often, the bacteria come from two groups, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Within each group, there are different species (for example, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus), and within each species, different strains (or varieties). A few common probiotics, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are yeasts, which are different from bacteria. <br /><br />Some probiotic foods date back to ancient times, such as fermented foods and cultured milk products. Interest in probiotics in general has been growing; Americans' spending on probiotic supplements, for example, nearly tripled from 1994 to 2003.<br /><br />Uses for Health Purposes<br />There are several reasons that people are interested in probiotics for health purposes.<br /><br />First, the world is full of microorganisms (including bacteria), and so are people's bodies--in and on the skin, in the gut, and in other orifices. Friendly bacteria are vital to proper development of the immune system, to protection against microorganisms that could cause disease, and to the digestion and absorption of food and nutrients. Each person's mix of bacteria varies. Interactions between a person and the microorganisms in his body, and among the microorganisms themselves, can be crucial to the person's health and well-being.<br /><br />This bacterial "balancing act" can be thrown off in two major ways: <br /><br />By antibiotics, when they kill friendly bacteria in the gut along with unfriendly bacteria. Some people use probiotics to try to offset side effects from antibiotics like gas, cramping, or diarrhea. Similarly, some use them to ease symptoms of lactose intolerance--a condition in which the gut lacks the enzyme needed to digest significant amounts of the major sugar in milk, and which also causes gastrointestinal symptoms. <br />"Unfriendly" microorganisms such as disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and parasites can also upset the balance. Researchers are exploring whether probiotics could halt these unfriendly agents in the first place and/or suppress their growth and activity in conditions like: <br />Infectious diarrhea <br />Irritable bowel syndrome <br />Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) <br />Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that causes most ulcers and many types of chronic stomach inflammation <br />Tooth decay and periodontal disease <br />Vaginal infections <br />Stomach and respiratory infections that children acquire in daycare <br />Skin infections <br /><br />Another part of the interest in probiotics stems from the fact there are cells in the digestive tract connected with the immune system. One theory is that if you alter the microorganisms in a person's intestinal tract (as by introducing probiotic bacteria), you can affect the immune system's defenses.<br /><br />Proposed Mechanisms of Beneficial and Detimental Effect of Probiotics<br /><br /><p><b>Table 1.</b> Proposed Mechanisms of Beneficial and Detimental Effect of Probiotics</p><br /><table border="1"><tbody><tr><td><br /><table border="0"><br /><tbody><tr><td align="left" width="300"><b>Response</b></td><td align="left" width="450"><b>Proposed mechanisms</b></td><td align="left" width="150"><b>Main site<br />of action</b></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" colspan="3"><hr width="100%"></td></tr><tr><td><b>Beneficial</b></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><dd>Suppression of</dd></td><td>(1) production of antibacterial compounds</td><td>S, SI</td></tr><tr><td><dd>harmful bacteria</dd></td><td>(2) competition for nutrients</td><td>S, SI, LI</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>(3) competition for colonization sites</td><td>S, SI</td></tr><tr><td><dd>Microbial/host</dd></td><td>(1) production of enzymes which support</td><td>S, SI </td></tr><tr><td><dd>metabolism</dd></td><td>digestion (e.g., lactase)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>(2) decreased production of ammonia,</td><td>SI, LI</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>amines or toxic enzymes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>(3) improved gut-wall function</td><td>SI, LI</td></tr><tr><td><dd>Improved immune</dd></td><td>(1) increased antibody levels</td><td>SI,(LI)</td></tr><tr><td><dd>response of host</dd></td><td>(2) increased macrophage activity</td><td>SI,(LI)</td></tr><tr><td><b>Detrimental</b></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><dd>Competition for</dd></td><td>(1) consumption of glucose</td><td>S, SI</td></tr><tr><td><dd>nutrients with host</dd></td><td>(2) consumption of amino acids</td><td>S, SI</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br />S = stomach; SI = small intestine; LI = large intestine.<i>Source :</i> Data adapted according to Fuller (1989) and Impey and Mead (1989)<br /><br /></p><p></p><br /><dd><b>Table 2.</b> Data Supporting the beneficial shifts in Microbial or Host Metabolism by feeding Lactic Acid Bacteria Probiotics<sup>(2)</sup><br /><br /><table border="1"><tbody><tr><td><br /><table border="0"><br /><tbody><tr><td align="left" width="150"><b>Target host</b></td><td align="left" width="150"><b>Probiotic</b></td><td align="left" width="225"><dd><b>Response</b></dd></td><td align="left" width="450"><dd><b>Authors</b></dd></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" colspan="4"><hr width="100%"></td></tr><tr><td>Pigs</td><td>L. acidophilus</td><td>Decreased serum</td><td>Gilliland et al. (1985)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>cholesterol</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Calves</td><td>L. acidophilus</td><td>Formation of inhibitory</td><td>Gilliland and Speck (1977)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>bile acids</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pigs</td><td>L. acidophilus</td><td>Decreased amine</td><td>Hill et al. (1970a)</td></tr><tr><td>Humans</td><td></td><td>production</td><td>Goldin and Gorbach (1984)</td></tr><tr><td>Humans</td><td>L. acidophilus</td><td>Decreased production of</td><td>Goldin et al. (1980)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>carcinogenic</td><td>Goldin and Gorbach</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>N-compounds</td><td>(1984a)</td></tr><tr><td>Rats</td><td>L. bulgaricus</td><td>Hydrolytic enzymes</td><td>Gravie et al. (1984)</td></tr><tr><td>Chicks</td><td>L. acidophilus</td><td>which improve</td><td>Champ et al. (1983)</td></tr><tr><td>Pigs</td><td></td><td>digestion</td><td>Jonsson and Hemmingsson (1991)</td></tr><tr><td>Pigs</td><td>Lactobacillus sp.</td><td>Increased activity of</td><td>Collington et al.(1990)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>brush-border enzymes</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b><u>Referrence</u></b> </dd><dd><br />1. Fuller R. Probiotics : The scientific basis. London; Chapman&Hall, 1992.<br /><br />2. Salminen S. and Wright A. Acid Bacteria New York; Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1993.<br /></span></dd><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-38959971068688984092008-02-08T19:56:00.000-08:002008-02-08T19:58:32.733-08:00A review of animal feed ingredients and their potential impacts on human healthWhat do we feed to food-production animals? <br /><br />A review of animal feed ingredients and their potential impacts on human health<br /><br />OBJECTIVE: Animal feeding practices in the United States have changed considerably over the past century. As large-scale, concentrated production methods have become the predominant model for animal husbandry, animal feeds have been modified to include ingredients ranging from rendered animals and animal waste to antibiotics and organoarsenicals. In this article we review current U.S. animal feeding practices and etiologic agents that have been detected in animal feed. Evidence that current feeding practices may lead to adverse human health impacts is also evaluated.<br /><br />DATA SOURCES: We reviewed published veterinary and human-health literature regarding animal feeding practices, etiologic agents present in feed, and human health effects along with proceedings from animal feed workshops.<br /><br />DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted from peer-reviewed articles and books identified using PubMed, Agricola, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention databases.<br /><br />DATA SYNTHESIS: Findings emphasize that current animal feeding practices can result in the presence of bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, prions, arsenicals, and dioxins in feed and animal-based food products. Despite a range of potential human health impacts that could ensue, there are significant data gaps that prevent comprehensive assessments of human health risks associated with animal feed. Limited data are collected at the federal or state level concerning the amounts of specific ingredients used in animal feed, and there are insufficient surveillance systems to monitor etiologic agents "from farm to fork."<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br />CONCLUSIONS: Increased funding for integrated veterinary and human health surveillance systems and increased collaboration among feed professionals, animal producers, and veterinary and public health officials is necessary to effectively address these issues.<br /><br />KEY WORDS: animal feed, animal waste, concentrated animal feeding operations, fats, human health effects, nontherapeutic antibiotics, rendered animals, roxarsone, zoonoses. Environ Health Perspect 115:663-670 (2007). doi:10.1289/ehp.9760 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 8 February 2007]<br /><br />**********<br /><br />Animal-based food products derived from cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, and farmed fish constitute a significant portion of the current U.S. diet. In 2003, the U.S. per capita consumption of total meats (including beef, pork, veal, lamb, poultry, fish, and shellfish) was 90.5 kg/year [U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2005a]. Data from animal-production researchers demonstrate that the quality of these products is directly related to animal feeding practices (Capucille et al. 2004; Gatlin et al. 2003; Zaghini et al. 2005). Therefore, given the high consumption of animal-based food products in the United States, the ingredients used in animal feed are fundamentally important in terms of both the quality of the resulting food products and the potential human health impacts associated with the animal-based food-production chain.<br /><br />In the early 1900s, animals produced for food in the United States were raised on small family farms where cows predominantly grazed on pasture and young chickens were fed primarily a corn-based diet (Erf 1907). However, in the past 60 years, farms and animal feed formulations have undergone significant changes. Small family-owned and -operated farms have been replaced almost entirely by a system of large-scale operations where individual farmers contract with vertically integrated corporations. High rates of food production have been achieved through these systems in which the scale of operations requires the high throughput generation of animals for processing. Animals are raised in confinement and fed defined feeds that are formulated to increase growth rates and feed-conversion efficiencies. These present day animal feeds contain mixtures of plant-based products, as well as other ingredients ranging from rendered animals and animal waste to antibiotics and organoarsenicals. The inclusion of these ingredients in animal feeds can result in the presence of a range of biological, chemical, and other etiologic agents in feed that can affect the quality and safety of animal-based food products and pose potential risks to human health.<br /><br />Since December 2003, when the first U.S. case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was identified in a dairy cow in Washington State, there has been increased attention from veterinary and public health professionals regarding the quality and safety of U.S. animal feed, as well as the safety of subsequent animal-based food products. Yet, the focus of such attention is often limited to one particular facet of animal feed and its associated animal or human health effect (i.e., the impact of rendered animals in feed formulations on the risk of BSE, the impact of bacterial contamination of animal feed on human bacterial illnesses). However, to begin to understand the broad range of potential human health impacts associated with current animal feeding practices, it is necessary to examine the full spectrum of feeding practices and assess their potential human health implications collectively.<br /><br />In this article we review U.S. animal feed-production practices; animal feed ingredients; and biological, chemical, and other etiologic agents that have been detected in animal feed. In addition, we evaluate evidence that current feeding practices may be associated with adverse human health impacts, and address the data gaps that prevent comprehensive assessments of human health risks associated with animal feed.<br /><br />U.S. Animal Feed Production<br /><br />The U.S. animal feed industry is the largest producer of animal feed in the world (Gill 2004). In 2004, over 120 million tons of primary animal feed, including mixes of feed grains, mill by-products, animal proteins, and microingredient formulations (i.e., vitamins, minerals, and antibiotics) were produced in the United States (Gill 2004). In the same year, the United States exported nearly $4 billion worth of animal feed ingredients (International Trade Centre 2004).<br /><br />The structure of the U.S. animal feed industry is complex, with a multitude of industries and individual producers contributing to the production, mixing, and distribution of feed ingredients and complete feed products. However, there are a few firms that play principal roles in the manufacture of U.S. feeds, including feed mills, rendering plants, and protein blenders [General Accounting Office (GAO) 2000]. Feed mills combine plant- and animal-based feed ingredients to produce mixes designed for specific animal species (GAO 2000). Rendering plants transform slaughter by-products and animals that are unsuitable for human consumption into animal feed products using grinding, cooking, and pressing processes (GAO 2000; National Renderers Association Inc. 2005a). Protein blenders mix processed plant- and animal-based protein ingredients from many sources into animal feeds (GAO 2000). Once animal feed ingredients are mixed, an estimated 17,500 U.S. animal feed dealers distribute the final feed products to individual feeding operations (Feedstuffs 2005).<br /><br />Animal Feed Ingredients and Feeding Practices<br /><br />Animal feed ingredients that constitute complete feed products are derived from a multitude of raw materials of plant and animal origin, as well as pharmaceutical and industrial sources. Specific feed ingredients vary depending upon the animal (i.e., poultry, swine, cattle); Table 1 provides an overview of feed ingredients that are legally permitted and used in U.S. animal feed. More specific information about feed ingredients listed in Table 1 is available in the Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. (AAFCO), which is published annually (AAFCO 2004), and in Lefferts et al. (2006). In the present review we focus on feed ingredients listed in Table 1 that raise specific concerns for public health, including rendered animal products, animal waste, plant- and animal-based fats, antibiotics, and metals.<br /><br />Rendered animal products. In 2003, the U.S. rendering industry produced > 8 million metric tons of rendered animal products, including meat and bone meal, poultry byproduct meal, blood meal, and feather meal (National Renderers Association Inc. 2005b). Most of these products were incorporated into animal feed. However, data concerning the specific amounts of rendered animal protein that are used in animal feed are difficult to obtain because the information is neither routinely collected at the federal or state level nor reported by the rendering industry. The latest available data, collected by the USDA in 1984, estimated that > 4 million metric tons of rendered animal products were used as animal feed ingredients (USDA 1988). Oftentimes these ingredients are listed on animal feed labels as "animal protein products." Thus, it is difficult to discern precisely which animal protein products are included in a particular animal feed product (Lefferts et al. 2006).<br /><br /><br /><br />by Amy R. Sapkota, Lisa Y. Lefferts, Shawn McKenzie, Polly Walker<br /><br />Refer: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_5_115/ai_n21066363<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-82937820152024736362008-02-08T19:52:00.000-08:002008-02-08T19:55:23.434-08:00Antibiotics : Contamination of food with potentially dangerous human pathogens has been recognized since the time of PasteurContamination of food with potentially dangerous human pathogens has been recognized since the time of Pasteur (1) and is well-documented in the modern era (2), but the development of antimicrobial agents has helped limit the consequences of such infections. Concomitantly, the widespread use of antimicrobial agents has also led to the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistant organisms (3,4). Gupta et al. demonstrate the increasing prevalence in the United States of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter species isolated from humans and poultry from 1990 to 1997, and their studies implicate the prophylactic treatment of poultry with fluoroquinolones in this emerging problem (5). Their report indicates that the source of fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter infections was consuming poultry colonized with resistant strains (Figure), rather than selection for Campylobacter resistance in the human gut after clinical fluoroquinolone use to treat the diarrheal illness (5). This work provides further evidence that fluoroquinolone use in poultry promotes the emergence of resistant Campylobacter strains that subsequently infect humans (6). That persons infected with these fluoroquinolone-resistant strains had 3 additional days of illness and were more likely to be hospitalized demonstrates the harm caused by such resistant stains (5).<br /><br />Since campylobacters are normal enteric flora in many avian species, poultry represents a model system to test the hypothesis that prophylactic and growth-promoting use of antimicrobial agents in food animals selects for the emergence of antimicrobial drug-resistant organisms. In one study, chickens that were naturally colonized with fluoroquinolone-susceptible Campylobacter strains began to excrete resistant strains after 2 days of doses of enrofloxacin (7), which is commonly used for prophylaxis in the poultry industry. A single point mutation in gyrA encoding the bacterial DNA gyrase was sufficient to confer high-level resistance (7,8). This small genetic change apparently has a low "fitness cost" to the organism, as evidenced by fluoroquinolone-resistant strains' rapidly replacing susceptible Campylobacter in treated chickens (7). Developing an animal reservoir of fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter has been the major factor behind transmission of quinolone resistance to humans (8,9).<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br />In contrast, among poultry treated therapeutically with enrofloxacin, no resistance was observed in the 13 C. jejuni isolates tested (9). Similarly, after the prophylactic and growth-promoting uses of macrolides in swine were banned in Denmark, the prevalence of macrolide-resistant CL coli declined (10). Thus, the major determinant of developing resistance appears to be use of subtherapeutic antimicrobial doses. The antimicrobial drug ban in Denmark did not decrease the amount of meat produced by the poultry and pig production industries, which removed a major concern (10). Evidence suggests that restricting fluoroquinolone use to therapeutic indications only in food animals could decrease rates of fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter, and the Danish experience with macrolide restriction proves that such limitations need not harm the husbandry of food animals.<br /><br />The increased likelihood of foreign travel in persons infected with ciprofloxacin-resistant strains (5) illustrates the global threat posed by resistant strains. Appreciating such realities favors concerted efforts to limit use of fluoroquinolones (and other antimicrobial drugs) to therapy only in food animals. This view was supported by a recent (March 2004) landmark decision by Federal Drug Administration Administrative Law Judge Daniel J. Davidson, withdrawing approval for the new animal drug application to use enrofloxacin for prophylaxis or growth-promotion in poultry (11). This decision was the first occasion that a previously approved antimicrobial agent was removed from the U.S. veterinary market because of concerns about antimicrobial drug resistance. With this decision as precedent, we should follow the examples set in Europe and ban use of all antimicrobial agents in food animals, except when necessary for therapy of ill animals.<br /><br />References<br /><br />(1.) Pasteur L. On spontaneous generation. In: Sorbonne scientific soiree. 1864 Apr 7; Paris.<br /><br />(2.) Blaser MJ. How safe is our food? Lessons from an outbreak of salmonellosis. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:1324-5.<br /><br />(3.) Conly J. Antimicrobial resistance in Canada. CMAJ. 2002;167: 885 91.<br /><br />(4.) Shea KM. Antibiotic resistance: what is the impact of agricultural uses of antibiotics on children's health? Pediatrics. 2003:112:253-8.<br /><br />(5.) Gupta A, Nelson J, Barrett T, Tauxe R, Rossiter S, Friedman C, et al. Antimicrobial resistance among Campylobacter strains, United States, 1997-2001. Emerg Infect Dis, 2004;10:1102-9.<br /><br />(6.) Smith KE, Besser JM, Hedberg CW, Leano FT, Bender JB, Wicklund JH, et al. Quinolone-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections in Minnesota, 1992 1998. Investigation team. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:1525-32.<br /><br />(7.) Luo N, Sahin O, Lin J, Michel LO, Zhang Q. In vivo selection of Campylobacter isolates with high levels of fluoroquinolone resistance associated with gyrA mutations and the function of the CmeABC efflux pump. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003;47:390-4.<br /><br />(8.) Hooper DC. Emerging mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001;7:337-41.<br /><br />(9.) Threlfall EJ, Ward LR, Frost JA, Willshaw GA. Spread of resistance from food animals to man--the UK experience. Acta Vet Scand Suppl. 2000;93:63-8.<br /><br />(10.) Use of antimicrobial agents and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from food animals, foods and humans in Denmark. Copenhagen: Danish Zoonosis Center, Danish Veterinary Institute; 2003.<br /><br />(11.) Davidson DJ. In the matter of enrofloxacin for poultry: withdrawal of approval of Bayer Corporation's new animal drug application 1 (NADA) 140-828 (Baytril). In: FDA Docket No. 00N-1571; 2004,<br /><br />by Nicole M. Iovine, Martin J. Blaser<br /><br />Refer: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GVK/is_6_10/ai_n6076617<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-79712943404938655142008-02-08T06:42:00.000-08:002008-02-08T07:15:06.418-08:00Avian influenza viruses are easily transported from farm to farm even to new geographical areasAvian Influenza: A Great Concern - Avian influenza first occurred in Italy, but has spread around the world. It is an infectious disease caused by strains of the influenza virus. <br /><br />Avian influenza viruses are easily transported from farm to farm even to new geographical areas by migratory birds and by contaminated people, vehicles, equipment, feed, and cages. Viruses survive for quite long in both low and high temperatures. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommends vaccination against outbreaks. Control measures are for all infected or exposed birds, proper disposal of carcasses, quarantining, rigorous disinfection of farms, and the implementation of strict sanitary or biosecurity measures. <br /><br />Human avian influenza victims usually develop fever, sore throat, cough, severe respiratory distress and viral pneumonia. The people which are affected are of all ages in different states of health. There are rapid tests for diagnosing all influenza strains. Antiviral drugs have limitations, although they are effective in the treatment and prevention of influenza A virus strains. If a new virus subtype occurs, it takes some time to produce a new vaccine that is efficient. <br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />However, with birds the avian influenza virus develops and spreads differently. All birds can carry the avian influenza type A virus inside their intestines and distributes it in the environment through bird feces. These highly contagious forms results in severe epidemics and rapid death. <br /><br />For more information about avian influenza virus prevention visit: <br /><br />http://www.bird-city.com <br /><br />Avian bird influenza affected Australia in 1997 but, was eradicated. However, eradication has not been successful in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia Thailand, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Egypt, China, and Iraq people have died as a result of having been infected with the avian influenza virus. <br /><br />Help make you community safer and healthier by taking these simple measures: Do not allow your chickens to roam freely, do your part in advising the public not to catch, get near or keep wild birds in captivity. These simple but very important measures are just a few things you can do to help prevent a catastrophical pandemic. ~Anthony Benjamin~ http://www.bird-city.com <br /><br /><br />Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. <br /><br />by ANTHONY BENJAMIN<br />A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com <br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-69074287797112730822008-02-08T06:39:00.001-08:002008-02-08T06:41:36.486-08:00Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segmentsThe word "organic" may appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese and other single-ingredient foods. Certified organic requires the rejection of synthetic agrochemicals, irradiation and genetically engineered foods or ingredients. Literally, of course, the term is a redundancy: all food is composed of organic chemicals (complex chemicals containing carbon). Any materials used in the production or processing of organic food must be proven safe. Awareness is growing about the value of organic foods. But, whether organic chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represents "healthier" alternatives has long been a subject for debate.<br /><br />Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. Gardening organically is much more than what you don't do. In fact, sales of organics have surged more than 20 percent each year in the past decade. In terms of number of farms, acreage and value of production, the organic food industry is growing at a rate of 20-30% per year. As commodity programs are eliminated, more farmers have discovered that organic production is a legitimate and economically viable alternative enterprise. The growth in the number of organic farmers has increased steadily, similar to the growth of the U.S.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />In current organic production systems, growers are not permitted to use conventional synthetic organic fungicides in their disease management program. Non-organic milk comes from farms that are allowed to use genetically modified cattle feed, along with routine antibiotic treatments and synthetic pesticides. Arguments have long raged as to the effects these hormones and chemicals have on the bioproducts. Growth hormones in cows, pesticides on produce and antibiotics in poultry are among the reasons many Americans are turning to organic foods. <br /><br />Organically raised animals may not be given growth hormones to or antibiotics for any reason. Producers are required to feed livestock agricultural feed products that are 100 percent organic, but farmers may also provide allowed vitamin and mineral supplements.<br /><br />The US Department of Agriculture finally put in place a national system for labeling organic food. The new federal rule guarantees you, the consumer, organic products that are grown without toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically grown food. Limitations in relation to which pesticides may or may not be used, present the organic grower with some unique and very demanding challenges. Food that is at least 70 percent organic will list the organic ingredients on the front of the package. More than 40 private organizations and state agencies (certifiers) currently certify organic food, but their standards for growing and labeling organic food may differ. Even with these labeling rules in place, consumers should be prepared for some confusion when shopping for organic foods. For one thing, organic products are not uniformly labeled because many farmers using organic methods do not pursue certification at all. In addition, the language contained in seals, labels, and logos approved by organic certifiers may differ.<br /><br />While consumers struggle with the fact that often, the availability of organic materials is limited when large quantities are needed. More and more people have come to appreciate the added dimensions of value and quality available in the organic marketplace.<br /><br />By: Fran Black<br /><br />Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com<br /><br /><br />Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items www.organic-items.com and Pilates Shop www.pilates-shop.net leading portals for organic products and natural excercise. <br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-80846841423401428622008-02-06T19:58:00.000-08:002008-02-06T20:01:43.016-08:00An Introduction to Least-Cost Feed Formulation Software<strong>An Introduction to Least-Cost Feed Formulation Software</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWctvZbFIwWKfvbUUNil9T9xm0qfLBdUPX-zTWu5vIDZbhRkO9sPVBPZC7QLeKncY6niQneO9C4IoESbgVAN3Z-Xf59x6lH9X2RTv84EyV2XFnZFZ6dL0VtukEjKFOHrVBh_zLUWYTv-7l/s1600-h/Feed_1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWctvZbFIwWKfvbUUNil9T9xm0qfLBdUPX-zTWu5vIDZbhRkO9sPVBPZC7QLeKncY6niQneO9C4IoESbgVAN3Z-Xf59x6lH9X2RTv84EyV2XFnZFZ6dL0VtukEjKFOHrVBh_zLUWYTv-7l/s400/Feed_1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164083373241173586" /></a><br /><br />Author: Richard Rossi - Product Manager, Feedsoft Corporation<br /><br />The following article is a primer on least-cost formulation. While explaining the fundamentals of least-cost formulation, the author also goes over more advanced features such as shadow prices, price maps and nutrient factoring. This is a must-read for those who want a concise introduction to least-cost formulation. <br /><br /><br />In the not so distant past, feed manufacturers used to balance their feeds using hand calculations and often relied on tedious trial and error methods. The availability of commercial computers by the end of the 1960s meant that complex mathematical models could be solved much more easily and within a short duration of time. Twenty years later, the arrival of the personal computer provided affordable feed formulation solutions to the feed industry. Advancements in computer technology, mathematical modeling and animal nutrition have resulted in vast improvements in the last 20-25 years in the way feeds are formulated. <br /><br /><br />What is least-cost formulation?<br /><br />Least-cost feed formulation is combining many feed ingredients in a certain proportion to provide the target animal with a balanced nutritional feed at the least possible cost. Though least-cost formulation is a mathematical solution based on linear programming, it requires the professional knowledge of animal nutritionists who take into consideration the nutrient requirements of the target animal and its capability to digest and assimilate nutrients from various available ingredients. Feed formulators also need to be aware of the variations of nutritional requirements for different species at various stages of their lifespan. The linear programming performs what is designed to do and it is based on the information put in by the formulator. So, in essence, the formulation program is only as good as the nutrient and ingredient parameters entered into it.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />What to expect from least-cost formulation software?<br /><br />There is a broad choice of feed formulation software packages in the market. The software range from simple, spreadsheet-based solutions to sophisticated and complex packages designed for large feed manufacturers that require multi-site, multi-server, and multi-blending capabilities. New and innovative add-on applications are being developed and introduced into the market every year. The software packages may also provide modules for inventory control, production, and interfaces to accounting systems among other features. Some feed formulation software is specifically designed for a certain species and they may provide tables of nutrient requirements or models of growth for those specific animals. Further, improvements in the look and feel of the software and seamless integration with other functionalities related to formulation also occur routinely. These applications and improvements enable feed formulators to perform their jobs much more efficiently. <br /><br /><br />Basic features<br /><br />For least-cost feed formulation software to be effective it should offer the following basic features that are applicable to all species. At this point it is important to keep in mind that feed formulation runs on data that have been entered into it by the user. The final feed formula will only be as accurate as the initial information that was input by the user. <br /><br />(1) Available Ingredients<br /><br />All feed formulation software provides a way of entering and managing the ingredients which are available for inclusion in the formulas. Available feed ingredients are listed along with their unit price. Depending on the software being used, optional ingredient properties such as the ingredient types, alternate code names, and applicable species may also be entered. <br /><br />(2) Nutrient Composition<br /><br />Each feed ingredient available for inclusion in the formulas should have corresponding nutrient composition data. The nutrient values are preferably derived from chemical analysis of representative samples of the ingredient. When the nutrient composition is not available, tables of feed composition using average or typical values are used. <br /><br />(3) Formula Specifications <br /><br />Specifications are set for each formula to be solved by the least-cost formulation software. Formula specifications generally define the nutrient levels desired in the formula and the ingredient inclusion levels. Either a lower limit and/or an upper limit for each nutrient and ingredient are set. <br /><br /><br />Formulation <br /><br />Once all the above necessary information is provided, the feed formulation software will produce formulas that meet the desired specifications at the lowest possible cost. A requirement for proper formulation, however, is that the formula result must be feasible both from a mathematical and a nutritional standpoint. If infeasible results are obtained the ingredient and nutritional composition should be carefully scrutinized to make sure the solution is nutritionally acceptable for the target species. <br /><br />One of the most important uses of least-cost feed formulation is in choosing among the available ingredients to be used, based on their nutritional composition and cost. Many times one ingredient can be substituted by another with similar nutritional value. The software helps the user to achieve the highest profit margin when market conditions favor the use of one ingredient over the other. A number of tools are useful in the analysis of formulation results. <br /><br /><br />Formulation analysis tools<br /><br />(1) Marginal Price Changes<br /><br />For those ingredients that were not included in the formula solution, the least-cost formulation software indicates how much the cost of these ingredients will have to fall before they can be included in the formula. This cost change is called the marginal price change of the ingredient. <br /><br />(2) Shadow Prices<br /><br />Shadow price of an ingredient is calculated by subtracting the marginal cost change from the current ingredient cost. This amount represents the cost of the ingredient at which the ingredient can be included in the formula. Ingredients that are included in the formula results have a shadow price of zero.<br /><br />Similarly, the change in formula cost with a change in a nutrient constraint is called the shadow price of the nutrient. The shadow price of a nutrient is zero if the level of nutrient use is not equal to the constraint level. <br /><br />(3) Parametric Price Changes<br /><br />An important analytical use of least-cost feed formulation software is to observe the impact of changing ingredient prices in the formula solution. This allows the user to determine how much of an ingredient would be used if the ingredient were available at a different price. To accomplish this analysis, the user can change the ingredient price and re-solve as many times as necessary. Some feed formulation software allows the generation of summary graphs called price maps, which are the result of plotting the formula costs at different ingredient prices. <br /><br /><br />Advanced features in formulation software <br /><br />(1) Nutrient Factoring<br /><br />The ability to specify that several nutrients must exist in the resulting formula in relation to one another is called Nutrient Factoring. Advanced least-cost feed formulation software solutions provide this capability which allows setting a ratio between two nutrients, for example calcium and phosphorus. The ability to specify nutrients in proportion to one another is another application of this function. For example, the user can specify that amino acids be proportional to the total amount of protein in the formula. <br /><br />(2) Optimum-Density<br /><br />This is a function of least-cost feed formulation that attempts to formulate with specific proportions among nutrients by relaxing the weight constraint of the formula, based on the theory that animals will consume feed to maintain a constant energy intake regardless of the energy level of the feed. <br /><br />(3) Multi-blending<br /><br />Sometimes feed formulators are faced with the problem of having limited amounts of some ingredients. An advanced feature of some least-cost feed formulation packages is multi-blending, which allows more than one formula to be solved at once, taking into consideration the ingredients that are available in limited qualities. The software then optimizes the allocation of the scarce ingredients to different formulas in order to achieve total least-cost solution. <br /><br />Refer: http://www.engormix.com/an_introduction_to_least_e_articles_239_BAL.htm<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629685562127480870.post-33738589950209183862008-02-06T19:55:00.000-08:002008-02-06T19:57:11.501-08:00Least-cost feed formulationWhat is least-cost feed formulation? <br /><br />In the not so distant past, feed manufacturers used to balance their feeds using hand calculations and often relied on tedious trial and error methods. The availability of commercial computers by the end of the 1960s meant that complex mathematical models could be solved much more easily and within a short duration of time. Twenty years later, the arrival of the personal computer provided affordable feed formulation solutions to the feed industry. Advancements in computer technology, mathematical modeling and animal nutrition have resulted in vast improvements in the last 20-25 years in the way feeds are formulated.<br /><br />Definition: Least-cost feed formulation<br /><br />Least-cost feed formulation is combining many feed ingredients in a certain proportion to provide the target animal with a balanced nutritional feed at the least possible cost. Though least-cost formulation is a mathematical solution based on linear programming, it requires the professional knowledge of animal nutritionists who take into consideration the nutrient requirements of the target animal and its capability to digest and assimilate nutrients from various available ingredients. Feed formulators also need to be aware of the variations of nutritional requirements for different species at various stages of their lifespan. The linear programming performs what is designed to do and it is based on the information put in by the formulator. So, in essence, the formulation program is only as good as the nutrient and ingredient parameters entered into it.<br /><br /><br />Refer: http://feedformulation.blogspot.com/<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />What to expect from least-cost formulation software?<br /><br />There is a broad choice of feed formulation software packages in the market. The software range from simple, spreadsheet-based solutions to sophisticated and complex packages designed for large feed manufacturers that require multi-site, multi-server, and multi-blending capabilities. New and innovative add-on applications are being developed and introduced into the market every year. The software packages may also provide modules for inventory control, production, and interfaces to accounting systems among other features. Some feed formulation software is specifically designed for a certain species and they may provide tables of nutrient requirements or models of growth for those specific animals. Further, improvements in the look and feel of the software and seamless integration with other functionalities related to formulation also occur routinely. These applications and improvements enable feed formulators to perform their jobs much more efficiently.<br /><br />Basic features<br /><br />For least-cost feed formulation software to be effective it should offer the following basic features that are applicable to all species. At this point it is important to keep in mind that feed formulation runs on data that have been entered into it by the user. The final feed formula will only be as accurate as the initial information that was input by the user.<br /><br />(1) Available Ingredients<br /><br />All feed formulation software provides a way of entering and managing the ingredients which are available for inclusion in the formulas. Available feed ingredients are listed along with their unit price. Depending on the software being used, optional ingredient properties such as the ingredient types, alternate code names, and applicable species may also be entered.<br /><br />(2) Nutrient Composition<br /><br />Each feed ingredient available for inclusion in the formulas should have corresponding nutrient composition data. The nutrient values are preferably derived from chemical analysis of representative samples of the ingredient. When the nutrient composition is not available, tables of feed composition using average or typical values are used.<br /><br />(3) Formula Specifications <br /><br />Specifications are set for each formula to be solved by the least-cost formulation software. Formula specifications generally define the nutrient levels desired in the formula and the ingredient inclusion levels. Either a lower limit and/or an upper limit for each nutrient and ingredient are set.<br /><br />Formulation <br /><br />Once all the above necessary information is provided, the feed formulation software will produce formulas that meet the desired specifications at the lowest possible cost. A requirement for proper formulation, however, is that the formula result must be feasible both from a mathematical and a nutritional standpoint. If infeasible results are obtained the ingredient and nutritional composition should be carefully scrutinized to make sure the solution is nutritionally acceptable for the target species.<br /><br />One of the most important uses of least-cost feed formulation is in choosing among the available ingredients to be used, based on their nutritional composition and cost. Many times one ingredient can be substituted by another with similar nutritional value. The software helps the user to achieve the highest profit margin when market conditions favor the use of one ingredient over the other. A number of tools are useful in the analysis of formulation results.<br /><br />Formulation analysis tools<br /><br /><br />(1) Marginal Price Changes<br /><br />For those ingredients that were not included in the formula solution, the least-cost formulation software indicates how much the cost of these ingredients will have to fall before they can be included in the formula. This cost change is called the marginal price change of the ingredient.<br /><br />(2) Shadow Prices<br /><br />Shadow price (Figure 3) of an ingredient is calculated by subtracting the marginal cost change from the current ingredient cost. This amount represents the cost of the ingredient at which the ingredient can be included in the formula. Ingredients that are included in the formula results have a shadow price of zero.<br /><br />Similarly, the change in formula cost with a change in a nutrient constraint is called the shadow price of the nutrient. The shadow price of a nutrient is zero if the level of nutrient use is not equal to the constraint level.<br /><br />(3) Parametric Price Changes<br /><br />An important analytical use of least-cost feed formulation software is to observe the impact of changing ingredient prices in the formula solution. This allows the user to determine how much of an ingredient would be used if the ingredient were available at a different price. To accomplish this analysis, the user can change the ingredient price and re-solve as many times as necessary. Some feed formulation software allows the generation of summary graphs called price maps, which are the result of plotting the formula costs at different ingredient prices.<br /><br />Advanced features in formulation software<br /><br />(1) Nutrient Factoring<br /><br />The ability to specify that several nutrients must exist in the resulting formula in relation to one another is called Nutrient Factoring. Advanced least-cost feed formulation software solutions provide this capability which allows setting a ratio between two nutrients, for example calcium and phosphorus. The ability to specify nutrients in proportion to one another is another application of this function. For example, the user can specify that amino acids be proportional to the total amount of protein in the formula.<br /><br />(2) Optimum-Density<br /><br />This is a function of least-cost feed formulation that attempts to formulate with specific proportions among nutrients by relaxing the weight constraint of the formula, based on the theory that animals will consume feed to maintain a constant energy intake regardless of the energy level of the feed.<br /><br />(3) Multi-blending<br /><br />Sometimes feed formulators are faced with the problem of having limited amounts of some ingredients. An advanced feature of some least-cost feed formulation packages is multi-blending, which allows more than one formula to be solved at once, taking into consideration the ingredients that are available in limited qualities. The software then optimizes the allocation of the scarce ingredients to different formulas in order to achieve total least-cost solution.<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feed-formulation.blogspot.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0