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During the last century, the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the livestock sector increased significantly. N2O is a greenhouse gas with 298-fold higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO2. Pigs accounted for about 26% of N2O emissions. The formation of N2O occurs through nitrification and denitrification processes in manure. This study aimed to estimate N2O production in the manure of growing-finishing pigs by using our experimental data in the model. The associative effects of dietary mustard and grapeseed oil cakes (MxG), as an alternative for sunflower meal (SFM), on performance and efficiency traits were also determined. Forty growing-finishing pigs were randomly allocated in two groups (2 replicates per group) fed two diets: C diet (based on SFM, 15 wt) and E diet (based on M and G mixture, 7:8 wt:wt). Our model includes as initial input data: body weight (BW), feed intake, nitrogen intake, dietary dry matter, and fibre intake. Using literature prediction equations, including total nitrogen output (TNO) as the main parameter, we established N2O production expressed as equivalent CO2 (E-CO2). A decline with 3% for BW (P=0.44), respectively 9.0% for average daily gain (ADG, P=0.21) in pigs given MxG was recorded. Correlated with growth parameters, efficiency traits (feed intake, feed: gain ratio, N and fibre intake) were decreased as well (P>0.05). Dietary addition of MxG led to a 5% lower level of N2O production in manure. The reduction of TNO was not significant (<7.14% in the E diet compared to the C diet). In our trial, a relatively low N intake percentage is retained in the pigs body (35.56% in the C group and 35.98% in the E group, P>0.05). Based on these results, we conclude that the inclusion of 15% MxG mixture in pigs diets, although slightly declining growth parameters, is a valuable nutritional solution by their contribution to lowering N2O and N output in the manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study has investigated the potential of including different sources and levels of fiber (6.5% and 7.5%) in growing-fattening pigs' diet. The nine weeks feeding trial was conducted on nine hybrids TOPIGS castrated males with an initial average weight of 25.25±2.11 kg, randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups with 3 replicates per group. The control group (C) was fed with a corn, wheat and soybean basal diet and it was characterized by 3.5% crude fiber (CF), the experimental groups E1 had 6.5% CF (4% alfalfa meal and 12.36 % sunflower meal) and E2 had 7.5% (6% alfalfa and 18.38% sunflower meal) decreasing the dietary rate inclusion of soybean meal from C (21.42% soybean meal). Bodyweight (initial, final), average daily feed intake (ADFI), leftovers were registered and average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated during the experiment. At the end of the study, the pigs were slaughtered for the determination of carcass traits and meat quality parameters. The productive performances were not influenced by the source or level of the fiber content. The saturated fatty acid (SFA) values were significantly different (P<0.05) in E1 group for shoulder and belly samples compared to C and for breast samples on E2. Higher MUFA concentrations significantly different (P<0.05) were noticed for ham, sirloin, rack, shoulder, breast on E1. PUFA, O:6 concentration shown significant differences (P<0.05) within E2 to all meat samples collected, except the neck. The best carcass classification results were recorded in the E1 with 6.5% cellulose (50% Class S and 50% Class E) according to the SEUROP system classification. The study concluded that the dietary percentages of alfalfa meal and sunflower meal did not compromise productive performances but the average muscle thickness and meat percentage registered lower values compared with group C. Further studies with the same raw materials but changing the inclusion percentages should have experimented with emphasis on carcass traits results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In need of identifying alternatives to conventional protein sources (soybean meal; SBM], due to the high costs and low availability, low fiber sunflower meal (LFSFM] could be a key to solve this issue. The present research was done in order to provide information and to evaluate the impact of graded replacement of SBM by LFSFM, with or without enzyme (microbial phytase; PHY] on broiler breast meat quality. Eight hundred one-day old broiler chicks (Cobb 500] were randomly assigned in a 4 x 2 factorial design, including four levels of LFSFM (0, 25, 50 and 75% in replacement of SBM] and two levels of PHY addition, (0 or 0.2 g/kg diet], in a 42-d feeding trial. Breast samplings were subjected to physicaly test on meat: pH, color, texture and evaluated for sensory quality. There was no significant effect (P > 0.05] between the main factors interaction (LFSFM x PHY] on breast meat pH, colour and TPA analysis. Enzyme addition had no beneficial effects on carcass and meat quality. Sensory evaluation of preserved breast meat presented similar (P > 0.05] results between SBM and experimental LFSFM diets, in terms of quality attributes (meat and fat appearance, odour, consistency, juiciness and tenderness]. However, increasing the level of LFSFM (50 and 75% respectively] in diets reduced the abdominal fat (P < 0.001]. It is concluded that the diets with LFSFM led to meat quality comparable with diet contained SBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary camelina meal (source of fats rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA) on milk production and quality in multiparous cows. The monofactorial experiment used 24 cows, for two weeks, assigned randomly to three groups: control (C), which received a compound feed consisting of corn, wheat bran and sunflower meal (31% in the CF) in addition to the basal diet; experimental 1 (E1) which received the same basal diet and compound feed, in which 50% of the sunflower meal was replaced by camelina meal (15.5% in the CF); experimental 2 (E2) which received the same basal diet and compound feed, in which the sunflower meal was replaced completely by camelina meal (31% in the CF). The routine compositional raw milk analysis (fat, protein and lactose) were determined by infrared spectroscopy, techniques comply with AOAC Official Method 972.16:2006 and International IDF Standard 141C:2000. Gas chromatography was used to determine the fatty acids from the milk and compound feed. The experimental results have shown that the partial or total replacement of the sunflower meal with camelina meal didn't affect significantly (P>0.05) milk production and milk composition. On the other hand, milk quality, as reflected by the fatty acids (FA) composition was improved significantly by the dietary camelina meal. Thus, the concentration of PUFA, n-6 PUFA and CLA was significantly (P<0.0001) influenced by the treatment. As the concentration of PUFA and MUFA increased, the concentration of saturated fatty acids (SFA) decreased highly significantly (P= 0.001). In conclusion, the vegetal ingredients rich in PUFA have beneficial effects on milk quality, which in turn, improves the health state of the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]