Search

The effect of fresh bergamot pulp (FBP) was tested on lamb performances and meat quality. Twenty-seven Italian Merino ram-lambs were allotted into three experimental groups and for 90 days were fed a cereal-based concentrate diet (BERG-0) or two diets in which cereals were replaced with 20% (BERG-20) or 35% (BERG-35) FBP on DM basis. No significant differences between treatments were found for final weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass weight. The BERG-35 treatment tended to increase total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; P = 0.081) and vaccenic acid (P = 0.068) and increased PUFA n-3 (P

Awassi dairy sheep farmers in the Middle East are facing high feed costs, particularly during the milk production season, along with large fluctuation in grain and straw prices. Incorporating agro-industrial byproducts into the diet of Awassi dairy sheep can help to balance diets and decrease costs. But it may affect milk quality through changes in the fatty acid profile. Six experimental diets were compared to a control diet in the research station of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Tal Hadya, Syria. Milking Awassi ewes (n = 56) were used to test six experimental diets, in which supplements comprised molasses, sugar beet pulp, or cotton seed cake to a traditional control diet contained barley, wheat bran, and barley straw. Milk samples were collected on a weekly basis from April to June. The daily milk production and fat content were enhanced in diets containing urea-treated wheat straw (P

The objective of the study was to assess the effect of fresh bergamot pulp in lactating goat diets to determine its effects on milk and suckling kid fatty acid composition. Eighteen pregnant does were randomly assigned to two groups of two different diets: alfalfa hay (1 kg/head/day), supplemented with commercial concentrate (1 kg/head/day–Control diet) or the same concetrate (700 g/head/day) supplemented with fresh bergamot pulp (2 kg/head/day–FBP diet). Kids were reared in individual pens and fed on their mother’s milk. At 45 days of age, kids were slaughtered. Rumenic acid was higher in milk and in meat from animals from FBP group than Control one (P

The aim of this work was to formulate a fortified drink with proteins, with adequate nutritional, sensory and microbiological characteristics. Whey was obtained from goat milk (Saanen). A standard dairy drink (SDD) was formulated with goat milk whey (70 %), sugar (5 %), peach pulp (25 %), flavouring (0.2 %), colouring (0.05 %) and preservative (0.01 %). SDD was fortified (FDD) with 5; 7 y 9 % whey protein concentrate (WPC), defining the final concentration with Composite Score Test (CST). 5 % FDD was selected, a protein value of 1.64 and 4.90 g/100 mL was obtained for SDD and FDD respectively, the last one contributed 40 % of the recommended daily dose of Branched Chain Amino Acids. The overall acceptability was 95 and 90 % for SDD and FDD, respectively. Buy/consumption intention was placed in the “I would probably buy it” category. Both products presented adequate nutritional, sensory, microbiological and storage stability characteristics.

Effect of ensiling pomegranate pulp (PP) with or without solid additives on composition and in vitro digestibility was assessed in glass silos. Ensiling of fresh PP solely, resulted in low DM content (185 g/kg) and high fermentation losses (20% of DM). Notwithstanding, ensiling a mixture (on DM basis) of: 40% PP, 35% soy hulls and 25% corn silage, produced pomegranate pulp silage (PPS) characterized by low pH (3.86), appropriate DM content (34.7%), low fermentation losses during ensiling (5.58%) and similar in vitro DM digestibility (66.2%) compared with the raw material. Consequently, this PPS mixture was ensiled in two pressed bales (700 kg each) wrapped with stretch polyethylene film, for measuring PPS intake and digestibility by sheep. A preliminary observation demonstrated that lambs refused to consume diet based just on PPS and soybean plus minerals and vitamins mix. Only after reduction of PPS level in the TMR to 51% of the DM while replacing part of the PPS with wheat hay, the PPS-hay diet was entirely consumed. Therefore, four male Assaf lambs housed in individual metabolic cages, were fed ad-libitum two total mixed rations (TMR) in a cross over design: The PPS TMR contained 51% PPS, 38% chopped wheat hay, and 11% soybean plus minerals and vitamins mix; The reference Hay TMR contained 89% chopped wheat hay plus 11% minerals soybean plus minerals and vitamins mix. This hay-TMR was used to calculate the apparent digestibility of the PPS component in the PPS + Hay TMR. Lambs fed the PPS + hay TMR ingested voluntary 1,129 g DM/lamb/day including 580 g PPS DM/lamb/day. Apparent in vivo digestibility values of the PPS component in the experimental TMR were: dry matter, 60.1%; organic matter, 65.6%; crude protein, 47.1%; and neutral detergent fiber, 46.8%. Notwithstanding, in vitro DM and NDF digestibility of the PPS was higher (67.5% and 52.3%, respectively). The lower in vivo digestibility values compared with the corresponding in vitro data is associated with occurrence of soluble phenolics that are considered entirely digestible in the in vitro system but actually form non-digestible phenol–protein complexes in the sheep gut that reduce in vivo NDF and DM digestibility.

Productive performance, rumen fermentation and oxidative status of sheep fed diets supplemented with coffee pulp ensiled with 5% molasses were evaluated. Thirty-four Blackbelly cross-breed sheep, 6 months old, mean weight 21.2 ± 0.63 kg, were assigned to three treatments T0: control treatment ( n = 11), T1: treatment with 8% coffee pulp in the diet ( n = 12), and T2: treatment with 16% coffee pulp in the diet ( n = 11). Coffee pulp at the levels evaluated did not affect daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ( P > 0.05). However, water intake, acetic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids significantly increased ( P P > 0.05) were observed in the antioxidant capacity of the sheep's plasma; however, lipid peroxidation was lower for sheep fed with 16% coffee pulp. The present study concluded that a supplemented sheep diet with coffee pulp up to 16% coffee pulp did not affect their productive parameters but reduced oxidative stress.

In this research, the nutritive values of three date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera ) by-products (DPB) called Lerd, Pit and Pulp in South-east of Iran were evaluated. The chemical compositions of all DPB samples were evaluated by laboratory analysis. An in vitro digestibility study was done to determine digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), and also digestible organic matter in dry matter (DOMD) to estimate the metabolizable energy (ME) content of DPB samples. In addition, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) disappearance of samples were determined by an in situ method at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h and their kinetics were described using the equation p = a + b (1 − e − ct ). The nutritive value index (NIV) of DPB samples was calculated using the equation: NIV = a + 0.4 b + 200 c . The mean values of the DM, OM, CP, ADF and NDF were 948.8, 909.7, 80.04, 590.0 and 800.0 g/kg DM for Lerd; 960.4, 933.9, 61.6, 529.7 and 640.0 g/kg DM for Pit; 964.7, 929.4, 78.2, 494.3 and 625.0 g/kg DM for Pulp respectively. In this study the average DMD, OMD, DOMD and metabolizable energy of DPB differed significantly ( P

Twenty-seven Italian Merino male lambs, equally divided into three groups, were used to evaluate the effects of the dietary incorporation of citrus pulp dried by exploiting solar energy (solar-dried citrus pulp, SDCP) on growth and carcass and meat quality. The diet consisted of oat hay and concentrate, with a hay/concentrate ratio of 30/70. The concentrates of the SDCP-0, SDCP-30 and SDCP-45 groups were formulated to incorporate 0, 30 and 45% of SDCP, respectively, as partial replacement of cereal grain. The lambs were slaughtered after 80 days of feeding (at 150 days of age) and carcass and some meat quality parameters were measured. No significant differences were found in final live-weights and average daily gains among the groups. Lambs in the SCP-45 group showed impaired (P 13 kg). The bis-grid EU carcass classification highlighted how all carcasses produced an ideal meat colour and fatness, while the SEUROP grid carcass classification showed good carcass conformation and optimal fatness in the SDCP-0 and SDCP-30 groups. Carcass compactness was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) in groups SDCP-0 and SDCP-30 compared to group SDCP-45. The histological dissection of the pelvic limb evidenced a higher (P < 0.01) adiposity in the SDCP-0 and SDCP-30 groups. Chemical analysis of meat did not differ significantly among the groups. Physical analysis of the meat showed higher (P < 0.05) redness value and higher (P < 0.05) chroma value in the SDCP-0 and SDCP-30 groups. Based on the results of the present study it may be concluded that SDCP can be incorporated in concentrate mixtures for fattening lambs at levels equal to 30% without adverse effects both in growth and slaughter performances as well as in carcass and meat quality and, at this replacement level, it appears also to be economically convenient.

Sixty-six 18-month-old lactating ewes of the Sfakian dairy sheep breed were used to study the effects of feeding a citrus pulp silage mixture on ewes milk yield and milk composition. Three kilogram of citrus pulp silage mixture with by-products was offered daily to the ewes as experimental treatment, replacing part of the supplemental feed/pelleted lucerne/oat hay diet given to the controls. Silage pH dropped from 4.79, before ensiling to 3.43 following ensiling. DM of silage was 25.6% lower at the end of ensiling (24.6% versus 18.3%). The orange pulp silage mixture proved palatable to sheep particularly due to its pleasant odour. Milk yield and milk composition were measured for a 9-week period. Mean daily milk yield was 3% higher for controls (653 ± 46.0 g versus 634 ± 45.3 g) not significantly though (p > 0.05), but the situation was reversed (6.6% lower) when the 6% FCM yield was considered (636 ± 462 g versus 678 ± 45.6 g). Ewes fed orange pulp silage had 17% higher fat and 5.4% higher non-fat-solids content in milk (p < 0.001 for both milk components). Treatment differences in ewes body weights were not significant during the experimental period. Results show that the inclusion of ensiled citrus pulp in diets of lactating ewes is a viable proposition, particularly for the dairy breed of sheep whose milk is used in the cheese manufacturing industry.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with dehydrated citrus pulp (DCP) on the performance of growing kids and apparent digestibility of their diets. Thirty-two Saanen kids (16 intact males and 16 females) were placed in individual pens and fed grass hay (42%) plus concentrate mixture (58%) with four levels of replacement of corn by DCP (0, 33, 66, 100%) during 60 days. Daily live-weight gain, dry matter intake, and feed conversion were evaluated. After this period, male kids (n=16) were transferred to metabolic cages and apparent digestibility was evaluated. Daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion and the apparent dry matter digestibility coefficient showed a quadratic effect (P 0.05). Apparent digestibility of Ca, P differed among diets (P

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) previously heated at 110 °C for 30 min was fermented with the cellulolytic fungi of Trichoderma reesei on a semisolid substrate (moisture level 80.0%–85.0%), for 3 and 5 days. Trichoderma reesei was chosen owing to its high bioconversion rate in microbial protein and high degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose. Protein degradability of the fermented sugar beet pulp (FSBP) was estimated in the rumen of sheep using the in situ nylon bag technique. Effective protein degradability of FSBP supplements was higher compared with the unfermented sugar beet pulp (USBP), (70% versus 40% of total N) but not significantly different between the 3 and 5 day FSBP supplements. Fermentation of SBP enhanced its nutritive value by increasing its protein content and it can be a potentially good source of dietary protein for feeding of ruminants.

Coffee pulp ensiled alone and in combination with sugarcane stems, sugarcane tops or elephant grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) was studied in rations supplemented with urea and cowdung to yearling rams. On the basis of visual appraisal, good quality silage was produced from pure coffee pulp alone and in combination with the forages. Percentage composition of lignin, lignified protein and caffeine were highest in pure coffee pulp silage and decreased, as a result of dilution by the forages. In experiment 1, feed intake was low and animals lost weight on all silages. Sheep regained initial body weight after 15 days grazing at the end of the trial. In experiment 2, initial body weight was regained at the ninth week of feeding the treatment silages, when gains were 75 to 154 g/d. It seems that urea and cowdung supplementation confounded production performance of the experimental sheep.

Twenty goats, aged 7 months and weighing between 13 and 18 kg, were given diets containing 0, 20, 40 and 60% coffee pulp and hay ad libitum for 20 weeks. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake of the goats was estimated in vitro during 12- and 8-week periods and related to liveweight gain in a regression involving 40 sets of data. A maintenance requirement of 556 kJ ME kg−0.75 day−1 was calculated, which was similar to some reports in the literature but exceeded others by 20%. Less variable was energy cost of gain which was estimated at 27.9 kJ ME per g. Efficiency of utilization of ME for growth was 35.8%. Values reported here are useful for feeding Kenyan goats under confinement.