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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 objectives of this study were to test whether the time-based total fecal collection (TC) method or the index method (IM) using acid-insoluble ash could obtain similar energy values as the reference (RF) method (TC method with marker-to-marker collection procedure) for growing pigs fed fiber-rich ingredients with different solubility. A total of 24 barrows (initial body weight, 33.3 ± 3.4 kg) were assigned to 4 diets and each diet was fed to 6 pigs. Experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal basal diet and 3 fiber-rich diets which were formulated by replacing corn, soybean meal, and soybean oil in the basal diet with 200 g/kg defatted rice bran (DFRB), soybean hulls (SBH), and sugar beet pulp (SBP), respectively. All diets were formulated to contain 10 g/kg celite as a source of acid-insoluble ash to estimate the energy values by the IM method. Each group of pigs was adapted to diets and crates for 7 d, then followed by 5-d feces and urine collections using the time-based procedure and 5-d feces collection using the marker-to-marker procedure, then the same portion of fecal sample collected by the time-based TC method and the RF method for individual pigs were composited into a sample for the IM method. The results showed that the energy values and nutrients digestibility coefficients of each diet estimated by the time-based TC method agreed with the values estimated by the RF method; the IM method with acid-insoluble ash underestimated the energy values and nutrients digestibility coefficients of the SBH diet and the SBP diet compared with the RF method (P

Background It has been suggested that the increase in carbohydrate at the expense of fat has contributed to the obesity epidemic in North America and some European countries. However, obesity rates in China have increased rapidly in parallel with a transition from the traditional low fat, high carbohydrate diet to a diet relatively high in fat and reduced in carbohydrate. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine whether the traditional Chinese diet was likely to be more effective than a diet with higher fat and lower carbohydrate — which is consumed in most Western societies, at weight control among a non-obese healthy population in China. Methods The 6-month, two-center, three-arm, randomized, parallel-group, controlled-feeding trial was conducted at People's Liberation Army General Hospital in north China and Zhejiang University in south China. We recruited healthy young adults (aged 18–35 years, body mass index, Highlights • A LF-HC diet was associated with a greater weight loss and great reduction in waist circumference than a higher fat, lower carbohydrate diet. • Cardiometabolic risk profiles were more favorable on the LF-HC diet than on a higher fat, lower carbohydrate diet. • Measures of glycemia were unchanged throughout the trial, regardless if the macronutrient composition. This is a controlled-feeding trial to evaluate the effects of altering dietary fat and carbohydrate intake on weight change among non-obese subjects in a country experiencing nutritional transition. All the foods and most beverages were provided in order to maximize dietary targets and reduce other dietary or lifestyle related confounding factors during the intervention period. Our findings in conjunction with all other available evidence suggest that the Chinese population should be discouraged from following the continuing trend towards increasing dietary fat intake at the expense of carbohydrate.

In the scenario of increased reports on boron (B) supplementation in animal diets for beneficial effects, there is inadequate information on B content of animal feeds. The present study was carried out to quantify the level of B in animal feeds commonly used in tropical feeding systems. Samples of a total of 225 feeds were procured. The feed samples were oven dried, ground to 1 mm size and wet digested, filtered using Whatman filter paper (no 42) and volume made up to 100 ml by deionized water. Boron (B) content was estimated using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The level of B in fibrous feeds ( n = 83) was higher than in concentrate feeds ( n = 120) and unconventional feeds ( n = 22). The range of B content among the feed samples analyzed ( n = 225) showed a wide range from rice bran to cowpea fodder (0.69–59.1 mg/kg). The spatial distribution of B indicates that most feed samples analyzed showed B content lower than 20 mg/kg with mean and median of 17.7 ± 0.96 and 14.4, respectively. It is evident from the present study that appreciable quantity of B is detected in all the major categories of feedstuffs which was comparable to the levels of essential trace elements like copper and zinc. These findings would facilitate in assessing the supplementary value of tropical feeds for boron.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of intraradicular moisture conditions on the push-out bond strength of root canal sealers. Methods Eighty root canals were prepared using rotary instruments and, thereafter, were assigned to 4 groups with respect to the moisture condition tested: (1) ethanol (dry): excess distilled water was removed with paper points followed by dehydration with 95% ethanol, (2) paper points: the canals were blot dried with paper points with the last one appearing dry, (3) moist: the canals were dried with low vacuum by using a Luer adapter for 5 seconds followed by 1 paper point for 1 second, and (4) wet: the canals remained totally flooded. The roots were further divided into 4 subgroups according to the sealer used: (1) AH Plus (Dentsply-Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK), (2) iRoot SP (Innovative BioCeramix Inc, Vancouver, Canada), (3) MTA Fillapex (Angelus Industria de Produtos Odontologicos S/A, Londrina, Brasil), and (4) Epiphany (Pentron Clinical Technologies, Wallingford, CT). Five 1-mm-thick slices were obtained from each root sample (n = 25 slices/group). Bond strengths of the test materials to root canal dentin were measured using a push-out test setup at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min. The data were analyzed statistically by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests at P = .05. Results Irrespective of the moisture conditions, iRoot SP displayed the highest bond strength to root dentin. Statistical ranking of bond strength values was as follows: iRoot SP > AH Plus > Epiphany ≥ MTA Fillapex. The sealers displayed their highest and lowest bond strengths under moist (3) and wet (4) conditions, respectively. Conclusions The degree of residual moisture significantly affects the adhesion of root canal sealers to radicular dentin. For the tested sealers, it may be advantageous to leave canals slightly moist before filling.

This study evaluated the effects of Chilean pulp mill effluent extracts (untreated, primary and secondary treated pulp mill effluents), along with steroid standards (testosterone and 17β-estradiol) and a wood extractive standard (beta-sitosterol) on developing post-fertilized fish embryos. Our study included a cold freshwater species, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and two warm freshwater species American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) and Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Embryotoxicity results included delay in time to hatch and decreased hatchability but no significant egg and larvae mortality was observed in the pulp mill extract exposed embryos. By contrast, significant early hatching and increased hatchability were observed in beta-sitosterol exposed embryos, along with high mortality of testosterone exposed embryos across species. Teratogenic responses were observed in medaka embryos in all treatments. Abnormalities were detected starting at development stages 19-20 (2-4 somite stages) and included optical deformities (micro-opthalmia, 1 or 2 eyes) and lack of development of brains and hearts. Additionally, phenotypic sex identification of surviving offspring found female-biased sex-ratios in all treatments except testosterone across species. Overall, our study indicated that Chilean pulp and paper mill extractives caused embryotoxicity (post-fertilized embryos) across species and irrespective of the effluent treatment. The effects were mainly associated with delayed time to hatch, decreased hatchability, and species-specific teratogenesis.

This study aimed to examine the effects of replacing rolled barley (high in starch) with citrus pulp (high in digestible fibre) in a supplement on intake and performance of young growing cattle offered grass silage ad libitum for 101 days. Weaned, early- and late-maturing breed, male suckled beef calves (n=120) were blocked by sire breed, gender and weight and from within block randomly assigned to one of two concentrate supplements based mainly on rolled barley (BAR) or citrus pulp (CIT) and formulated to have similar concentrations of true protein digestible in the small intestine. On day 87, blood samples were taken before and 2 h after feeding, and rumen fluid samples were collected 2 h post-feeding. Supplement type did not affect (P>0.05) grass silage intake, live weight gain, final live weight, ultrasonically assessed body composition or measurements of skeletal size. Rumen pH (6.64 v. 6.79), ammonia (51 v. 81 mg/l) and acetate-to-propionate ratio (2.7 v. 3.2) were lower (P

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential use of dried cassava pulp (DCP) with reference to productive performance, nutrient digestibility, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol, cecal microbial populations, and volatile fatty acids production in laying hens. In experiment 1, a total of 48 laying hens (Isa Brown) were placed in individual cages and assigned randomly to one of 6 dietary treatment groups consisting of a control and 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% DCP for 10 d. Feeding laying hens with diets containing up to 20% DCP did not affect the dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention (P > 0.05). In experiment 2, a total of 288 laying hens (Isa Brown) were randomly distributed to 6 dietary groups (one control and 5 DCP: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%) for 12 wk. The results show that diets containing up to 20% DCP had no significant effects on productive performance or egg quality (P > 0.05). The inclusion of DCP at levels of 20 to 25% showed a positive effect on decreased egg yolk cholesterol (P

Accumulating evidence suggests that hyperphenylalaninemia in phenylketonuria (PKU) can cause neuropsychological and psychosocial problems in diet-off adult patients, and that such symptoms improve after resumption of phenylalanine-restricted diet, indicating the need for lifetime low-phenylalanine diet. While limiting protein intake, dietary therapy should provide adequate daily intake of energy, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and microelements. We evaluated nutrient balance in 14 patients with classical PKU aged 4–38 years. Approximately 80–85% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein in Japanese was supplied through phenylalanine-free (Phe-free) milk and Phe-free amino acid substitutes. Nutritional evaluation showed that the calorie and protein intakes were equivalent to the RDA. Phenylalanine intake was 9.8 ± 2.2 mg/kg of body weight/day, which maintained normal blood phenylalanine concentration by the 80% Phe-free protein rule. The protein, fat, and carbohydrate ratio was 9.5:23.9:66.6% with relative carbohydrate excess. Phe-free milk and amino acid substitutes provided 33.7% of carbohydrate, 82.1% of protein, and 66.7% of fat intake in all. Selenium and biotin intakes were 25.0% and 18.1% of the RDA and adequate intake (AI) for Japanese, respectively; both were not included in Phe-free milk. PKU patients showed low serum selenium, low urinary biotin, and high urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid in this study. The intakes of magnesium, zinc, and iodine were low (71.5%, 79.5%, and 71.0% of the RDA, respectively) and that of phosphorus was 79.7% of the AI, although they were supplemented in Phe-free milk. PKU patients depend on Phe-free milk and substitutes for daily requirement of microelements and vitamins as well as protein and fat. Development of low-protein food makes it possible to achieve the aimed phenylalanine blood level, but this lowers the intake of microelements and vitamins from natural foods. The dietary habits vary continuously with age and environment in PKU patients. We recommend the addition of selenium and biotin to Phe-free milk in Japan and the need to review the composition of microelements and vitamins in A-1 and MP-11 preparations., Highlights • 80- 85% of the recommended amount of protein should be supplied from Phe-free amino acid substitutes for good control. • Nutritional evaluation in PKU patients is necessary for dietary control and for checking the contents of medical foods. • Selenium, and biotin in Phe-free milk in Japan is insufficient and should be supplied immediately. • Microelement from early children to adults is necessary more than in infants due to low protein diet.

Highlights • Blood glucose and fat oxidation were simultaneously measured in Asian males. • The whole body calorimetre measured fat oxidation over 10 hours. • Low GI meals increased fat oxidation in subjects who were in a sedentary state. • Low GI meals minimized large blood glucose fluctuations throughout the day., Objective Low glycaemic index (GI) foods are known to minimize large fluctuations in blood glucose levels and have been suggested to increase fat oxidation. The objective of this study was to simultaneously investigate glucose excursion and substrate oxidation in a whole body calorimetre when Chinese male subjects were provided a low or high GI meal. Materials/Methods In a randomized, controlled crossover non blind design, 12 healthy Chinese male adults (BMI 21.8 ± 1.3 kgm−2) attended two sessions consisting of either four low or high glycaemic meals (LGI vs HGI). Breakfast, lunch and snack were consumed in a whole body calorimetre while dinner was consumed at home. Daily changes in glycaemic response (GR) and postprandial GR responses were measured using a continuous glucose monitoring system. The GR was further calculated to obtain the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for glucose concentrations. Glycaemic variability was calculated as mean amplitude of glycaemic excursion (MAGE). Substrate oxidation was calculated by measuring respiratory quotient and urine nitrogen excretion. Results After LGI meals in the whole body calorimetre, iAUC for glucose (P = 0.008) was lower compared to the HGI session. The HGI treatment produced a significantly greater MAGE than the LGI treatment over the 24 hour period (P

Effects of partial substitution of barley with maize and beet pulp (BP) on animal performance, rumen fermentation and rumen microbial populations were evaluated in thirty-nine newly weaned calves transitioned from a milk and pasture regime to a high-concentrate ration. Diets were: a barley-based growing diet (C); and two diets in which barley was partially replaced with maize and 10% BP (BP10) or 22% BP (BP22) on as fed basis. Wheat straw was offered ad libitum in all cases. Three adaptation protocols were followed: in Protocol 1 animals were abruptly shifted to the C diet, whereas calves in Protocols 2 and 3 were gradually adapted and received diets BP10 and BP22, respectively, for 10d; thereafter a 50:50 mixture of their diet and diet C until day 14, and finally, from day 15, diet C. All animals were slaughtered at a target live weight (LW) of ca. 500 kg. The experiment had then three phases (Ph): Ph1 (0-10d), Ph2 (11-14d) and Ph3 (15d-slaughter). Concentrate intake and proportion of straw in the diet were affected (P 0.05) among adaptation protocols. Daily rumen pH, and concentrations of lactate and volatile fatty acids were not affected by protocol. At the end of the trial, protozoa persisted in the rumen of all calves with an average concentration of 5.89 log cells/mL. Diversity dropped throughout the study; most protozoa belonged to genera Entodinium (97.5%) and Isotricha (1.7%), with minor presence of Dasytricha (0.05%), Epidinium (0.43%) and Subfamily Diplodiniinae (0.23%). Adaptation protocol had no effect on rumen bacterial population or diversity; however, both were affected by day of sampling indicating a shift in bacterial community in response to the concentrate inclusion. Although diversity dropped with concentrate inclusion, there was an increase after d10. In conclusion, the application of different protocols to adapt beef cattle to high-concentrate diets had no effect on animal performance and rumen fermentation which were not negatively affected by the abrupt transition to the high-concentrate diet. This suggests that calves might cope with those feeding conditions probably due to the microbial adaptions to a new rumen environment.

Objective Low glycemic index (GI) foods have been suggested to minimize large fluctuations in blood glucose levels and reduce food intake. However, the majority of studies have been conducted on Caucasian populations with limited data on Asians. The objective of this study was to investigate how the provision of a low GI breakfast and afternoon snack affected daily blood glucose profiles and food intake. Materials and methods In a randomized, controlled crossover non blind design, 11 healthy Chinese male adults (body mass index 22.4 ± 1.3 kg m−2) attended two sessions where they consumed either a high or low GI breakfast and afternoon snack, and a standardized buffet lunch. Daily changes in glycemic response (GR) were measured using the Medtronic MiniMed (Northridge, CA) iPro™2 continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS). The GR was further calculated to obtain the incremental area under the curve (IAUC). Glycemic variability was calculated as mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) and energy intake (kcal) was measured quantitatively at the buffet lunch. Results Compared to the high GI intervention, the low GI intervention significantly reduced the GR following breakfast (p = 0.02), lunch (p = 0.02) and dinner (p = 0.05). The low GI treatment showed a reduction in daily AUC (p = 0.03). There was a significant reduction in IAUC after a low GI breakfast compared to the high GI breakfast (p = 0.03). The low GI breakfast resulted in a significantly lower food intake at lunch and a resulting decreased energy intake of 285 kcal (p = 0.02). The MAGE was significantly lower during the entire low GI treatment (p = 0.03). Conclusions Consumption of a low GI breakfast and afternoon snack was capable of attenuating 24-h blood glucose profiles, minimize glycemic excursions and reduce food intake in healthy Asian males. This simple dietary intervention may be an acceptable approach in improving overall glycemia and energy balance in Asians. Clinical trial registration number NCT02340507, Highlights • The impact of low and high glycemic index foods on 24 h blood glucose profile. • The CGMS provides detailed information on how diets affect longer term glycemia. • Low GI breakfast and afternoon snack minimize large blood glucose fluctuations. • Low GI foods reduce glycemic variability and total energy intake.

Chronic changes were measured in fish downstream from a pulp and paper mill located in the Humber Arm, Newfoundland, Canada. Cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) downstream of the mill were longer and heavier at an earlier age than reference fish. Condition factor was similar among sites. Hepatosomatic indices and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity were higher in fish near the mill. Gondal condition suggested that gametogenesis might have been delayed in these same fish. Although splenosomatic indices were greater in exposed fish, splenic hemosiderin was not significantly different from reference values. Gill and liver changes in exposed cunner were significant. Gill parasites showed no site difference; however, the prevalence and abundance of gastrointestinal acanthocephalans were significantly greater in fish from impact sites. These results suggest that effluent from this mill may be responsible for observed biological effects; however, further study is needed to determine whether gradients in nutrient loading and untreated sewage discharge may also contribute to fish health in the Humber Arm.

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.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three agricultural processing wastes (APWs) on aggregate formation and aggregate stability in a sandy loam textured soil (Typic Xerofluvent) in Antalya, Turkey. The effects of APW applications on aggregate formation and aggregate stability were observed for different aggregate size groups (>4; 4-2; 2-1; 1-0.5; 0.5-0.25; 0.25-0.050 and

In a previous cumulative impacts assessments of fish populations along the Waikato River, New Zealand, reduced ovary pigmentation was observed in the common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) with an associated reduction in recruitment in the pulp mill-impacted Kopakorahi Arm of Lake Maraetai compared to an upstream reference site. Carotenoid pigments are typically responsible for the yellow to red colouration of fish eggs and a number of functions for these pigments such as pro-vitamins and antioxidants have been proposed. The purpose of the current study was first to quantify the observed pigment reduction and then to establish possible consequences of carotenoid deficiency. Significantly lower levels of all measured carotenoids were observed in the ovaries of fish from below the mill outfall compared to the reference site. Using in vitro incubations of ovarian follicles, it was also found that these fish had a significantly reduced ability to produce the sex steroids testosterone and estradiol. This study demonstrates changes in ovarian carotenoids associated with pulp mill effluent exposure. Significantly reduced biosynthetic capacity of ovarian follicles demonstrates reproductive endocrine disruption potential associated with exposure to this particular effluent. These results may provide an important link between reproductive dysfunction, oxidative stress and food chain modifications in pulp mill-impacted systems.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different feed particle sizes and fiber sources on nutrient digestibility and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration in different intestinal segments of pigs. Eighteen barrows with T-cannula in the distal ileum were randomly allotted to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 3 different high-fiber diets including corn bran (CB), sugar beet pulp (SBP) and soybean hulls (SH), and 2 different feed particle sizes. The experiment contained 2 periods, and each period lasted for 15 days, including 10 days for diets adaptation, 3 days for fecal collection, and 2 days for ileal digesta collection. The results indicated that coarse diets decreased (P

This study was designed to establish the effects of transport vibrations on the water-holding capacity of fresh non-stimulated veal and pork and electrically- and non-stimulated beef. Furthermore, drip production was followed during storage by various methods which were compared for their suitability in industrial practice and scientific research. During storage, the amount of drip increased, whilst the rate of drip formation decreased. Filter paper wetness measured at 1 day post mortem was positively correlated with drip lost over a period of 2 weeks of refrigerated storage in poly-ethylene bags (method 1) and poly-propylene containers (method 2). This suggests that the filter paper wetness test may be useful to predict drip loss of stored meat. Simulated transport did not result in higher drip losses, although a significant increase in filter paper wetness from the fresh cut surface of veal and pork was found, suggesting that transport affects the initial rate of drip production, but not the total amount of drip. In beef, transport simulation resulted in an increase in filter paper wetness from the surface of electrically-stimulated meat, stored for 1 or 2 weeks, indicating that fluid loss was elevated due to transport vibrations. However, this effect seemed to be related to the intrinsic water-holding capacity of the sample: meat with a low intrinsic water-holding capacity seemed to be more sensitive to transport vibrations than meat with a high intrinsic water-holding capacity.

Three experiments, which included 4 broiler flocks, were conducted to examine the usefulness of a novel bedding material for rearing broilers. The control bedding was pine shavings. The novel bedding, aGroChips (AC), was a chopped material made from cotton lint waste, gypsum, and old newsprint using a proprietary paper manufacturing process (Novovita, Inc., Raleigh, NC). All birds were fed the same feeding program: starter from 0 to 3 wk, grower from 3 to 5 or 6 wk, and finisher during the last week. Birds were marketed at either 6 or 7 wk of age. Feed consumption by pen and individual bird BW were measured at 3 and 6 or 7 wk. Mean BW and feed conversion, adjusted to include weight of mortality, were calculated. A sample of birds (n = 10) from each pen was evaluated for hock and foot pad condition. Each pen was evaluated at the end of the trial for litter cake index in 3 of the 4 flocks. Litter cake index scores were generally higher for birds reared on AC litters. There were no other differences in bird performance for any of the flocks. In conclusion, broilers reared on AC bedding perform as well as those reared on pine shavings.

In total, 504 female broilers were used to study the effects of inclusion of oat hulls (OH) and sugar beet pulp (SBP) in the diet on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent retention (CTTAR) and coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of nutrients from 1 to 18 days (d) of age. A control diet based on rice that contained 69 g dietary fibre (16 g crude fibre)/kg was diluted with 25, 50 and 75 g/kg of either OH or SBP. Each of the seven treatments was replicated six times (a cage with 12 chicks). Growth performance and CTTAR of nutrients were recorded at d 6, 12 and 18 and the CAID of organic matter and crude protein were determined at d 18. From d 1 to 18, fibre inclusion did not affect feed intake or body weight gain of the birds. However, feed conversion ratio was improved quadratically (Q) with OH (P

Levels of cytochrome P4501A mRNA were measured in Atlantic tomcod caged in the effluents of a bleached kraft pulp and paper mill on the Miramichi River, NB, Canada and two sites downstream, and compared to levels in fish caged upstream of the mill and in unexposed laboratory-maintained tomcod. Additionally, the rate of clearance of CYP1A mRNA in tomcod exposed at the mill and transferred to clean water was compared to that observed in tomcod treated in the laboratory with a single dose of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (0.5 μg/kg). Levels of CYP1A mRNA in tomcod caged upriver of the mill were low and comparable to those observed in untreated laboratory control fish. Levels of CYP1A mRNA were elevated up to 11-fold in tomcod caged at the mill site and a gradient in levels of gene expression was seen at the two downstream sites. Tomcod i.p. injected with a single dose of 2,3,7,8-TCDD exhibited a profile of prolonged CYP1A mRNA induction of at least 25 days. Levels of CYP1A mRNA in tomcod caged at the mill site and transferred to clean water remained significantly induced for at least 3 days post-transfer. In combination, these results suggest that CYP1A mRNA was induced in caged tomcod by constituents of the mill's effluents and that the rates of clearance of CYP1A mRNA may provide additional information concerning the identity of environmental inducers.

Juvenile female rainbow trout was exposed for 4.5 months (June to October) to two dilutions of untreated and activated sludge treated whole mill effluent from a pulp mill producing bleached ECF pulp. Two controls were used, on fed ad libitum and a second receiving 0.5% feed of the body weight. All effluent exposed groups were fed ad libitum. Mean weight of the fish was measured monthly. At the end of the experiment a number of physiological and biochemical parameters were analyzed in order to establish the physiological status of the exposed fish in comparison with unexposed fish that obtained ad libitum or restricted amount of feed. The fish exposed to treated effluent grew significantly more than ad libitum control fish until August, whereupon growth retarded in fish exposed to the lower effluent dilution (400 v/v). The growth of fish exposed to untreated effluent did not deviate significantly from the control fed ad libitum. The results from the hematological analysis clearly showed that fish fed restricted amount of feed deviated significantly in most parameters compared with the control fed ad libitum. Fish exposed to treated effluent showed a response pattern similar to that of the control fed restricted amount of feed, whereas the fish exposed to untreated effluent showed a response pattern that did not deviate from that of the ad libitum control. The metabolic parameters suggested that fish exposed to treated effluent had a higher metabolic demand than ad libitum control and that the energy allocation at the end of the experiment was directed to processes other than growth. The responses on hematology were mainly a consequence of the increased energy demand and were not primary effects. The implications of using feed related parameters at field studies are discussed.

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

Conditions for optimal pretreatment of eucalypt ( Eucalyptus dunnii ) and spotted gum ( Corymbia citriodora ) forestry thinning residues for bioethanol production were empirically determined using a 3 3 factorial design. Up to 161 mg/g xylose (93% theoretical) was achieved at moderate combined severity factors (CSF) of 1.0–1.6. At CSF > 2.0, xylose levels declined, owing to degradation. Moreover at high CSF, depolymerisation of cellulose was evident and corresponded to glucose (155 mg/g, ∼33% cellulose) recovery in prehydrolysate. Likewise, efficient saccharification with Cellic® CTec 2 cellulase correlated well with increasing process severity. The best condition yielded 74% of the theoretical conversion and was attained at the height of severity (CSF of 2.48). Saccharomyces cerevisiae efficiently fermented crude E. dunnii hydrolysate within 30 h, yielding 18 g/L ethanol, representing a glucose to ethanol conversion rate of 0.475 g/g (92%). Based on our findings, eucalyptus forest thinnings represent a potential feedstock option for the emerging Australian biofuel industry.

The influence of reaction temperature (160–200 °C), residence time (45–90 min), and liquid–solid ratio (8–16 v/w) on oil palm frond (OPF) pre-treated with hot compressed water (HCW) was evaluated using severity factors. Effect of the process parameters studied on pulps composition and digestibility were found to be complex. The results revealed that digestibility could not be predicted merely according to composition. Severity factor was correlated with compositional changes and digestibility with good R -squared values at varied liquid–solid ratios (8–16 v/w), but not with overall glucose yield. HCW pretreatment significantly improved the overall glucose yield up to 83.72% with severity of 3.31 and liquid–solid ratio of 8.0 compared to untreated raw OPF which only recorded an overall glucose yield of 30.97%. HCW is therefore an effective method for pretreatment of OPF for glucose recovery.

Previous studies have indicated that 15N enrichment of solid-associated bacteria (SAB) may be predicted from the same value in liquid-associated bacteria (LAB). The aims of this study were to confirm this and to measure the error in the nutrient supply from SAB, when LAB are used as the reference sample. For this purpose, the chemical and amino acid (AA) compositions of both the bacterial populations were studied in four experiments carried out on different groups of three rumen cannulated wethers. Diets (one in Experiments 1 and 4 and three in Experiments 2 and 3) had forage-to-concentrate ratios (dry matter (DM) basis) between 2 : 1 and 40 : 60, and were consumed at intake levels between 40 and 75 g DM/kg (BW) 0.75. The bacteria samples were isolated after continuous infusion of ( 15NH 4) 2SO 4 (40, 18, 30 and 25 mg 15N/day, in Experiments 1 to 4, respectively) for at least 14 days. In all experiments, SAB had consistently higher concentrations of organic matter (826 v. 716 g/kg DM, as average) and total lipids (192 v. 95 g/kg DM, as average) than LAB. Similar CP concentrations of both populations were observed, except a higher concentration in SAB than in LAB in Experiment 3. A consistent (in Experiment 4 only as tendency) higher AA-N/total N ratio (on average 17.5%) was observed in SAB than in LAB. The 15N enrichment in SAB was systematically lower than in LAB. On the basis of the results of all studies a close relationship was found between the 15N enrichment in SAB and LAB, which was shown irrespective of experiments. This relationship was established from Experiments 1 and 2 and the above cited previous results (n = 20; P < 0.001; R 2 = 0.996), and then confirmed from the results of Experiments 3 and 4. These relationships between SAB and LAB demonstrate that CP supply from SAB is underevaluated by, on average, 21.2% when LAB are used as the reference. This underevaluation was higher for true protein and even higher for the lipid supply (32.5% and 59.6%, respectively, as an average of the four experiments). Large differences in AA profile were observed between SAB and LAB. The prediction equation obtained using 15N as the marker may be used to correct the errors associated with the traditional use of LAB as the reference sample, and therefore to obtain more accurate estimates of the microbial nutrient supply to the ruminants. © Copyright The Animal Consortium 2011., Financial support was provided by the CICYT funded Projects AGL 2001-3662, AGL 2005-01712 and AGL 2006-08300. Analyses of 15N isotope ratios were performed at the Servicio Interdepartamental de Investigacio´ n, Universidad Auto´ noma de Madrid, Spain.

Exposure to impaired water quality, as in bleached kraft mill effluents (BKMEs), has recently been demonstrated to impair the ability of fish to elicit an acute stress response. Acute stress caused by catching is, in most field studies, an unavoidable incident that may markedly affect physiological functions. Consistently, dissimilar stress responses to catching procedures in exposed and reference animals may lead to altered results. In this study, juvenile whitefish (Coregonus levaretus) were caged for 30 days in two reference areas and three areas affected by different BKMEs, and the immediate effects of low-level handling on physiological functions in four periods within an hour of the start of the disturbance were clarified. Both primary and secondary stress responses were evident and consistent in fish caged in the two reference areas. Instead, despite the strong cortisol response in fish caged in polluted areas, the secondary stress response was weak or altered with respect to all other measured parameters excluding blood glucose in two of the three polluted areas. Thus, exposed fish may, when compared with reference fish, give different results depending on the exact period from the onset of the catching disturbance to sampling, and therefore, the results may be masked or totally inverted. Because the impacts of acute stress on physiological parameters are immediate and, in exposed areas after low-level handling, dissimilar in nature, this study points to the necessity for time-dependent standardization in field studies whenever sampling is delayed.

To study the reliability between in vitro and in vivo data collected downstream 2 sewage treatment plants (STP) as well as from bleached kraft mill industry (BKME), 5 rivers (3 impacted and 2 references) were investigated in the Walloon region (southern of Belgium). For the in vitro part of the work, water samples were collected to measure the estrogenicity of the ‘out’ effluent compared to reference sample point by MCF-7 assay. Results indicated significant estrogenicity of effluents from STP and BKME and a weak estrogenicity in reference sites. However, estradiol equivalents (EEQ) estimated into rivers were probably too low to impact wild population. Chemical analysis of 13 compounds of interest indicated that extraction procedure used in this study gave low recoveries of estrogen-like xenobiotics, leading to probably under-estimated MCF-7 responses. Surprisingly, a full scan mode has revealed an unexpected compound in the sample of BKME which was: 7-isopropyl-1,1,4a-trimethyl-1,2,3,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene, a product of pulp mill manufacture. In parallel to in vitro, in vivo assessment of estrogenic impact of effluent was followed on the gudgeon (Gobio gobio). Samples were achieved during 2 different periods of the reproductive cycle, resting period (RP) and pre-spawning period (pSP). Unspecific physiological parameters to estrogenic exposure (gonadosomatic index and systematic testis cell counting) displayed no significant differences related to endocrine disruption of the reproductive tract, only differences were correlated with the reproductive state of fish (RP versus pSP). Concerning the potent biomarker of estrogen exposure, vitellogenin (vtg), only basal induction was revealed but not related to estrogenic exposure. Nevertheless, vtg over-expression was found for male fish presenting a feminization of the reproductive tract captured downstream the STP station of Wegnez in the Vesdre River. Intersexuality, another indicator of the estrogenicity impact in fish, was observed in every site. Actually, ovotestis was systematically formed by protoplasmic oocyte observed in low percentage in every group analysed (impacted and references). Moreover, in fish captured in Wegnez, oocyte diameter was significantly higher compared to the other groups. In this study, only moderate to none impact in population of gudgeon was noticed. Moreover, in this case no discrepancy between in vitro and vivo was viewed although both approaches revealed gaps in monitoring effluent incidence into the environment. We should remain careful in the interpretation when only partial approaches are used in order to characterize impact in the aquatic milieu.

This study determined the chemical composition and metabolizable energy (ME) value for ruminants of seeds and pulps from grape pomaces (GP), which were produced from white and red Vitis vinifera cultivars in Italy and California (USA). Six Italian (i.e., three white and three red) and five California red cultivars were collected after the crush of grape juice had been completed and were ensiled in micro-silos for 45 d. Fresh and ensiled samples were manually sieved to separate seeds from the pulp plus skin fraction and an overall inventory of 44 samples was obtained from the 24 Italian and 20 California samples (i.e., seeds and pulp fractions, fresh or ensiled from 6 or 5 cultivars, respectively). Both in seeds and pulp, the red Italian samples had higher organic matter (P

Sixteen West African dwarf goats weighing 5.0–5.6 kg were used in an experiment that lasted 112 days to investigate the utilization of citrus pulp based diets and E. cyclocarpum . A control diet which contained 88.5% dried brewers' grains (DBG) and other three experimental diets in which DBG was replaced with dried citrus pulp (DCP) at 25, 50 and 75% levels, respectively constituted the four treatments. The goats were divided into four groups of four animals each to balance for variation in live weight before they were assigned to the four different experimental diets. Significant differences ( P P P P P IU/L ) at 75% level of citrus pulp. Therefore, the efficient utilization of citrus pulp and E. cyclocarpum by WAD goats was attained at the 50% level of inclusion in the diets.

The characterization of food waste (FW) and locally available bulking agents (BA) are a prerequisite to optimizing compost recipes. This study measured the variation in FW characteristics (pH, dry matter (DM), carbon (C), wet bulk density and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)) produced by a restaurant and a community kitchen in downtown Montreal, Canada from May to August 2004. The project also measured the mass of FW produced by another restaurant and a group of 20-48 households, from June to August 2004. Locally available BA (hay, straw, pine wood shavings, cardboard, left over cattle feed and wheat residue pellets) were also characterized to formulate composting recipes based on the FW characteristics observed during a period representative of winter and summer conditions. Residential and restaurant FW characteristics varied significantly over the summer months, although the mass produced remained constant at 0.61 and 0.56 kg capita(-1)day(-1), respectively. In addition, the number of customers served by the restaurant increased by nearly 50% from June to August. The BA with the highest moisture adsorption capacity was found to be the wheat residue pellets, followed by chopped straw. Wheat residue pellets, chopped hay and left over cattle feed all presented a balanced C/N ratio. Wheat residue pellets and wheat straw, chopped hay and cardboard demonstrated neutral pH values. Based on the variable FW characteristics and monthly production rates, the formulation of recipes indicates that compost facilities must be flexible enough to handle seasonal variations of as much as 50% by volume.

Ruminal, post-ruminal and total tract protein disappearance of various feeds originating from Iranian plant varieties classified as grains (barley and maize), by-products (sugar beet pulp and wheat bran), protein sources (soybean and cottonseed meals), forages [alfalfa hay and maize silages treated with 16 (MS16) or 24 (MS24) g of urea per kg dry matter (DM)] and halophytes (Atriplex sp., Sauda sp. and Kochia sp.) were evaluated using the in situ mobile bag technique, an in vitro enzyme procedure and a three-step in situ/in vitro enzyme procedure. Linear regression equations were determined between results from the mobile bag technique and the two other procedures. Mean ruminal protein disappearance of grains, by-products, protein sources and forages were higher (P 0.05) on rates of ruminal, post-ruminal and total tract protein disappearance of the various feeds originating from Iranian plant varieties. The best correlation was observed when results of total tract protein disappearance determined by the in vitro method were plotted against the three-step procedure (r2 = 0.66). The coefficient of determination (r2) for the relationship of total tract protein disappearance between the mobile bag technique and in vitro, and three-step procedures were 0.61 and 0.55, respectively.

The experiment was conducted to study the transformation of phosphorus (P) in slurry from pigs fed two different diets, i.e. the regular maize–soya bean meal diet with or without a supplement of 9% sugar beet pulp (SBP). The slurry was collected and treated either without or with aeration and intermittent aeration (aeration on/off ratio=10 h:14 h) at an airflow rate of 06 l m 3 s 1 for 15 days. Slurry sources and treatments were composed of a 2 by 2 factorial design. The results indicated that aeration increased (probability Po001) the slurry pH by 05–08 within 24 h, from 6 5t o 70 for the SBP slurry, and from 6 9t o 77 for the control slurry, but the pH reached 7 6a nd 80 for the SBP and control slurry in 3–4 days. The average pH of the SBP slurry was lower (Po001) than that of the slurry from the control diet (667 versus 738). However, little change in pH was observed in the non-aerated slurry. Aeration decreased total inorganic P, insoluble inorganic P, and soluble P, but increased organic P by approximately 30 mg l 1 . The average organic P in the slurry for both diets with aeration was about 174% higher than that in the same slurry without aeration. Aeration decreased insoluble inorganic P by about 72% and soluble P by about 45%. The mass balance of P fractions showed transformation of insoluble inorganic P into organic forms during the aeration stage. The insoluble inorganic P took about 68% of the total P in the slurry, so it is essential to perform solid–liquid separation prior to aeration to enhance the efficiency of soluble P removal because insoluble inorganic P is mainly contained in the slurry solids.

Chemical composition and nutritive values of by-product feedstuffs (BPF) used for small ruminants were evaluated. Four BPF from groundnut shells (GNS), maize cobs (MC), cassava peels (CaP), and citrus pulp/peels waste (CPPW) were used to prepare complete diets fed to goats and sheep in separate trials. Twelve goats and 16 sheep 16–18 months old weighing on average 12.96±0.28 and 14.05±0.18 kg, were divided into three and four groups, respectively, and used in two separate growth and digestibility studies. In vitro digestibility trial was carried out. In vivo and in vitro data were compared. Chemical composition of BPF differed in nutrient contents. MC had the least crude protein content (3.4%). CaP and CPPW had low NDF and ADF. GNS and MC were higher in cell wall constituents. Voluntary DMI was expressed as g/kg live weight (LW) per day and this ranged between 58.0–62.0 g/kg LW per day in goats and 70.0–83.0 g/kg LW per day in sheep. DM and CP digestibility were better (P>0.05) in goats fed CaP diet compared to the other BPF. NDF digestibility was better (P>0.05) in the GNS fed group compared to MC and CaP groups. GE was lower in CaP fed goats than in the others. Nutrient digestibility of the four by-products was better (P>0.05) in sheep that received CPPW diet. Other by-products (GNS, MC, CaP) digestibility followed the trend observed in goats. Net gas production, DM, NDF and OM digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME, MJ/kg of DM) were significantly different among the BPF (P

Forty-eight Suffolk Mule entire male lambs (22.3 kg average live weight, two months old) were used to study the effects of addition of sodium bicarbonate and increasing quantities of molassed sugar beet pulp (MSBP) to diets based on barley grain (780 g kg ˇ1 fresh weight and approximately iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous). Measurements were made of dry matter (DM) intake, growth, some ruminal and blood plasma metabolites and hormone profiles and body composition. The animals were allocated by randomised block design on the basis of live weight to one of six dietary treatments and an initial slaughter control group (na 7 and mean live weighta 22.3 kg per treatment). Animals in the initial slaughter control group were slaughtered on Day 1 of the study in which barley was supplemented with sodium bicarbonate (15 g kg ˇ1 fresh weight) (Experiment A) or replaced with increasing quantities of MSBP in a separate experiment (B) to provide diets containing 75, 50, 25 and 0% of the maximum quantity of barley (Experiment B). The diets had similar in vitro dry matter digestibility and contained similar estimated values for metabolisable energy concentration. In Experiment A, the inclusion of sodium bicarbonate had no significant effect on live weight gain, DM intake, feed utilisation efficiency, ammonia concentration and the molar proportion of ruminal volatile fatty acids, rumen fluid, carcass and soft tissue characteristics and composition. In Experiment B, increases in level of barley in the diet had no effect on ruminal pH, but linearly increased the molar proportion of propionate in rumen fluid (p < 0.01), hot- and cold-carcass weights (p < 0.01), empty body weight (p < 0.01), perirenal and retroperitoneal fat (p < 0.05) and gain of crude protein in cold carcass (p < 0.01). Evidence was also obtained for decreases in

An experiment was carried out to compare the digestibility of five concentrate ingredients (barley, beet pulp, citrus pulp, maize gluten feed and grain screenings) in cattle or sheep, fed at ≈1.2 maintenance. Four wether sheep and four steers were fed each concentrate, which comprised ≈800 g/kg of the dietary dry matter (DM). The remaining 200 g/kg was a hay/soyabean meal mixture whose digestibility was determined simultaneously in another four sheep and cattle. Following diet introduction and adaptation, faeces were collected for a 10-day period. Across diets, there was no difference (p >0.05) between sheep and cattle in digestibility of organic matter (OM, 0.784 and 0.78, respectively, standard error of the difference (s.e.d.), 0.0049), crude protein (0.586 and 0.577, respectively, s.e.d. 0.0192), or neutral detergent fibre (0.632 and 0.628, respectively, s.e.d. 0.0116). However, cattle digested the OM (0.749 vs. 0.724, p 0.05) between sheep and cattle with any of the other four feeds. These results do not support previous conclusions that sheep digest concentrates better than cattle, but they do suggest that there are differences within specific feeds.

The objective was to determine the effect of feeding diets differing in fibre content and source on backfat skatole content and boar taint score of entire male pigs. Sixty entire male pigs (Pietrain×Seghers hybrid cross) were assigned to four dietary treatments and fed ad libitum, in two phases (grower and fattening), one of the following diets: control, one with 15% sugar beet pulp, one with 30% wheat bran and one with 15% soybean hulls. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogeneous, but differed in crude fibre content and fibre source. Mean crude fibre contents were 5.2, 7.7, 6.2 and 9.9%, respectively. Animal performance, carcass quality, backfat skatole and indole contents and boar taint scores were not influenced by diet. However, the wheat bran diet group gave a numerically (P=0.219) higher backfat skatole content than the sugar beet pulp diet group (126±182 vs 37±54 ng/g fat; mean±S.D.). Under the experimental conditions, there was no higher risk for skatole formation or boar taint occurrence by feeding fibre-rich diets to entire male pigs, compared with a conventional diet.

Twenty four mature twin-bearing ewes in late pregnancy were used to compare the effects of feeding grass silage (GS), maize silage (MS) or a maize silage/ensiled super pressed pulp mixture (MS/ESPP), 60:40 on a DM basis, on voluntary feed intake, ewe weight and body score changes, lamb birth weight, colostrum yield and quality, and lamb growth rate to weaning. Each of the diets was supplemented with a barley/soya-bean concentrate (BS) containing 208 g crude protein kg −1 DM. The trial commenced on day 98 of pregnancy from whence the ewes were individually fed and their diet supplemented with BS at the rate of 213.5 g DM ewe−1 day−1 from days 98 to 125 of pregnancy and at 427 g DM day−1 from days 126 of pregnancy until parturition. The ewes were milked at 1, 10, and 18 h post lambing. Silage DM intakes (kg day−1) were higher on the MS/ESPP diet (P < 0.05) than on the GS or MS silage-based diets. From days 98 to 142 of pregnancy, mean ewe weight gains (kg) of 9.11, 11.37 and 13.12 (sem = 1.009) (P < 0.01), and body condition losses of 0.14, 0.34 and 0.02 (sem = 0.105) (P < 0.05) were recorded for GS, MS and MS/ESPP, respectively. Ewe body weight losses between day 98 and 24 h post lambing (kg) were 2.50, 2.44 and 1.44 (sem = 1.152) and litter birth weights (kg) of 9.84, 9.36 and 10.62 (sem = 0.434) (P < 0.05) were recorded for GS, MS and MS/ESPP, respectively. Colostrum yield (g) at 1 h of 605 ± 92.0, 526 ± 78.5 and 711 ± 74.8 and total colostrum yield (g) at 18 h of 1927 ± 163.3, 1690 ± 139.4, 2208 ± 132.7 (P < 0.05) were recorded for GS, MS and MS/ESPP, respectively. Overall, there were only minor differences in performance between grass and maize silages but when 40% of the maize silage was replaced with ESPP, both DM and total DM intakes were increased relative to the MS treatment; the ewes gained more weight and lost least body condition, total colostrum yield was higher, and the lambs had a higher growth rate up to weaning.

Four rabbit diets were formulated to study the effect of a progressive inclusion (0, 100, 200, and 300 g kg − 1) of sugarbeet pulp (SBP) substitute for alfalfa hay (AH). The control diet contained 500g kg−1 of AH and 190 g kg−1 acid detergent fibre (ADF) on a DM basis. In Experiment 1, 32 Californian x New Zealand White rabbits were used to determine dietary nutrient digestibility. The inclusion of SBP quadratically increased (P < 0.01) digestibility coefficients of NDF, ADF and gross energy, showing a maximum for the diet containing 200g kg−1 of SBP. Crude protein digestibility linearly increased with SBP inclusion (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, 36 rabbits fed the same diets as in Experiment 1 were used to determine several digestive traits and the efficiency of utilization of dietary energy for growth. Dietary inclusion of SBP did not affect either the concentrations of ammonia (66 mg of N-NH3 per litre) and total VFA (50.3 mmol l−1) or the molar proportion of VFA (767, 62 and 171 mmol mol−1 VFA of acetate, propionate and butyrate, respectively) in the cecal digesta. The concentration of starch in the ileal digesta was also unaffected by diet (7.7 g kg−1 of DM, as average). The weight of cecal contents increased (P < 0.05) and the pH of cecal contents decreased (P < 0.05) when SBP proportion in the diet increased. The efficiency of utilization of dietary digestible energy for growth was not influenced by dietary SBP inclusion (0.224, as average).

In a longitudinal study, we assessed the relation between daily exposure to ambient air malodorous sulfur compounds from pulp production and experience of symptoms in a small population living in the vicinity of a pulp mill. Special emphasis was laid on exposure-response pattern, where the intensity of the symptoms of interest was assessed in six consecutive questionnaires after three predefined levels of exposure to malodorous sulfur compounds [total reduced sulfur (TRS)] (reference: daily mean10 micrograms/m3, medium exposure: 10-30 micrograms/m3 high exposure:30 micrograms/m3). The study population included 81 adults, who responded to the baseline questionnaire (response rate 81%). The outcomes of interest were eye, respiratory, and central nervous symptoms. The mean daily intensity of the outcome symptoms, but not of control symptoms, was significantly higher on days of medium and high exposure compared with the reference days (paired t test). The probability ratios between experiencing more or fever symptoms during the medium and high exposure compared with reference days were increased for all the symptoms of interest with a consistent exposure response pattern. The probability ratios were for eye symptoms 3.17, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.21 to 7.47 (medium exposure), and 5.0, 95% CI 1.66 to 12.65 (high exposure); for nasal symptoms 3.13, 1.25 to 7.25 (medium), and 8.50, 3.19 to 18.64 (high); and for pharyngeal symptoms 2.0, 0.92 to 4.14 (medium) and 5.20, 1.95 to 11.99 (high). The results suggest that relatively low daily levels of malodorous sulfur compounds (TRS10 micrograms/m3) cause exposure-related short-term adverse effects.

The sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay in A. anguilla L. gills has been developed in our laboratory to assess the mutagenic activity of compounds present in brackish water environments contaminated by industrial effluents. The sensitivity of the test was assessed by performing mutagenic treatment for 72 h with a standard compound - cyclophosphamide (CP) (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg/l). This species exhibits a dose response to CP at the concentration range 6.25-100 mg/l. A 100-mg/l dose of CP increased the rate of SCE per metaphase plate from a base line frequency 0.23 SCE's per metaphase plate up to 3.4 SCE's per metaphase plate. The mutagenic effect of the bleached kraft pulp mill effluent (BKPME) and its sediment was also tested in Anguilla anguilla L., using the sister chromatid exchange assay (SCE). The results showed an increase in the number of SCE's per metaphase plate in the eel, A. anguilla L., exposed to the 75% BKPME compared with the SCE's in BKPME sediment plus BKPME (S + BKPME) and with BKPME sediment plus clean tap water exposed eels (S + W). However, the number of SCE's per metaphase plate in A. anguilla L. exposed to 75% BKPME is lower than in the standard cyclophosphamide (CP) exposed eels. The SCE frequency was : CONTROL < S + W < S + BKPME < BKPME < CP.

The nutrient composition of nine by-product feedstuffs (BPF) was determined. BPF were selected based on economic importance to the dairy industry, nutritional value, and availability. Three to nine different samples for each BPF were obtained throughout California. A total of 51 samples were collected: nine beet pulp (BP), eight rice bran (RB), seven almond hulls (AH), four citrus pulp (CT), five bakery waste (BW), eight wheat mill run (WMR), four brewers grains (BG), three distillery grains (DG), and three soy hulls (SH) samples. Chemical analyses measured included dry matter, ash, crude protein (CP), fiber fractions, macrominerals, and microminerals. The average chemical analyses determined for each BPF were compared with average values reported by the National Research Council (NRC). Considerable variation within a given BPF was observed in the present study. For example, BP was found to contain 18.81% acid detergent fiber (ADF) while the NRC reported an average composition of 25% ADF. The ether extract content of RB was found to be 20.48% compared with 15.1% reported by NRC. Much of this variability was related to how the commodity was handled during or after processing. In the second part of this study, two theoretical diets were formulated to calculate the effect of nutrient variability on diet composition. The BPF compositions of the two diets were 27% and 50% in Diet 1 and Diet 2, respectively. Specific by-products sources of BP, RB, DG, and SH were compared with the NRC diet composition used in the initial diet formulation. As the proportion of BPF in the diet was increased (Diet 2) nutrient composition of the diet was more variable with CP content ranging from 14.30 to 15.20%. Similar changes to those observed for CP were observed for the other chemical components. The effect of variability in by-product composition was more evident when evaluated on a concentrate mix basis. Variability in the chemical component of BPF influenced the composition of both the total diet and the concentrate mix, and the magnitude of effect depended upon the contribution of BPF to the total ration and the nutrient of interest.

The effect of ammonia treatment and supplementation of barley straw with increasing levels (0, 200, 400 and 600 g day −1 ) of meadow grass hay (H), rolled barley (B) or pelleted sugar-beet pulp (P) on ruminal characteristics and straw degradation was studied using eight adult ewes, divided in two groups, receiving either untreated (US) or ammonia treated (TS) straw, supplemented with H, B or P consecutively. Urea (30 g kg −1 straw) was added to US 24 h before feeding. Sheep fed US showed higher ammonia-N (NH 3 N) concentration than those fed TS, either as the only feed (17.5 and 12.3 mg per 100 ml) or supplemented (15.0 and 12.7 mg per 100 ml). There was no effect of ammoniation over rumen pH or total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Supplementation with B or P depressed pH and enhanced VFA concentration, whereas H did not have any great effect. Extent of straw rumen degradation was enhanced by ammoniation (maximum degradation of 593 and 741 g kg −1 for US and TS), but rate of degradation and lag time remained unaffected. Both rate and extent of straw degradation were decreased to a similar extent when supplemented with B or P, while with H this effect was only noticeable when it was included in the diet at 600 g day −1 .

In this study the authors evaluated the effects of handling and confinement stress on a number of biochemical parameters in prespawning male white sucker collected from a bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) exposed and a reference site. There were no effects of site or stress level on plasma cholesterol or glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activity; all other parameters were affected by either sampling stress or overnight confinement. Unstressed BKME fish reflected higher levels of plasma lactate, and lower levels of plasma testosterone, 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, and cortisol. Acute handling stress or overnight confinement created a site difference in plasma glucose, protein, and 11-ketotestosterone, reversed the site effect for plasma lactate, and eliminated site differences for 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one. Since it is very difficult to standardize capture and handling stress in field studies impacted by industrial effluents, biochemical differences must be interpreted carefully. This study has also demonstrated for the first time that BKME exposure resulted in reduced circulating levels of the stress steroid cortisol, similar to the decreases in reproductive sex steroids previously reported.

Whole crop wheat (WCW) was harvested at 550–650 g dry matter (DM) kg−1 in each of 3 years. Each crop was mixed with 40 kg urea t−1 DM and stored anaerobically. In Experiment 1, nine Holstein Friesian heifers of 370 kg liveweight were offered WCW ad libitum in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The three treatments were: no supplement (W); a supplement of 2.0 kg day−1 molassed sugar beet pulp (WB); a supplement of 1.8 kg day−1 molassed sugar beet pulp + 0.2 kg day−1 fishmeal (WBF). Experiment 2 was similar except that WB consisted of molassed sugar beet pulp fed at 20% of WCW DM intake and WBF consisted of molassed sugar beet pulp fed at 15% of WCW DM intake and fishmeal at 5%. This method of proportionate allocation of feeds enabled a comparison to be made of the effect of liveweight (three groups with initial liveweights of 136, 267 and 340 kg). In both experiments, intake and digestibility were measured. In Experiments 1 and 2, the mean digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) of the WCW was 654 g kg−1 and 635 g kg−1, respectively. The supplements tended to increase neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibility and reduce starch digestibility. The mean DM intake of WCW was depressed by the WBF supplement. There were no significant effects of heifer size on digestibility but intake per kilogram liveweight declined with increasing size. Experiment 3 had a continuous design with 20 Holstein Friesian heifers of 165 kg liveweight. The treatments were: W (as above); a supplement of 1.0 kg day−1 molassed sugar beet pulp (WB); a supplement of 0.2 kg day−1 fishmeal (WF); a supplement of 0.8 kg day−1 molassed sugar beet pulp + 0.2 kg day−1 fishmeal (WBF). The mean liveweight gains over 9 weeks for W, WB, WF and WBF respectively were 0.65 kg day−1, 0.79 kg day−1, 0.76 kg day−1 and 0.88 kg day−1. These were lower for all treatments than predicted from estimated metabolisable energy (ME) intakes. The possible reasons for this are discussed. The blood urea levels for treatment W were reduced by treatment WB, and levels increased for all treatments over time.

Sugar-beep pulp previously heated at 110°C for 30 min was fermented at 28°C with Trichoderma reesei in the form of a semi-solid substrate, moisture level 80·0–85·0%. The resulting product showed a 9·90% average increase in protein at the expense of cellulose and hemicellulose, which were described by 6·40% and 15·0%, respectively. The lignin and ash content of the substrate remained largely unchanged. Feed consumption, weight gain, and acceptability (palatability) trials were run with mice fed a basic diet (control, C) and with added fermented sugar-beet pulp (FSBP) at levels of 15·0% (A 1 diet) and 30·0% (A 2 diet). The mice gained weight with both test diets and with the control. Feed consumption and weight gain of mice were the same for the control diet and the A 1 diet. Feed consumption and weight gains were lower for the A 2 diet than for the control and the A 1 diets. In free-choice feeding trials the control diet was preferred over the test diets. However, the acceptability did not differ significantly between the two test diets. Feed efficiencies (g weight gain per g feed) were not significantly different between all diets.

Mixed diets, for which information relating to various chemical measurements and rates of inclusion of certain raw materials (independent variables) and their nutritive value for rabbits (dependent variables) as assessed in terms of digestible energy (DE) and the coefficient of digestibility of gross energy (GE D ) was available, were combined in a series of correlation matrices and step-wise linear regression analyses. GE D removes the possible effect of variability in gross energy value on DE values and is reported. In general, GE D was better correlated to acid detergent fibre (ADF) than crude fibre (CF). A general equation was derived: GE D = 0.867 − 0.0012 ADF (g kg −1 DM) R 2 = 0.888. Closer inspection of individual points revealed that diets based on added fat, beet pulp, citrus pulp and straw at levels higher than 200 g kg −1 behaved atypically. Separate prediction equations were derived for each of these groups of diets. Multiple regression analyses considered more than one independent variable, but gave only marginal improvements in terms of the accuracy of prediction of GE D . Addition of rates of inclusion of feedstuffs as independent variables revealed that the chemical analyses employed were insensitive to changes in nutritive value arising from additions of fat, pulps and straw. These feedstuffs need to be characterised further and general prediction equations should not be applied to diets in which they are contained.

The feasibility of ensiling pressed sugar-beet pulp alone or supplemented with molasses and urea or laying hen excreta (LHE) was evaluated by measuring fermentation characteristics of the silages. The volatile fatty acids, lactic acid and NH3 contents were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for pulp supplemented with LHE. All pathogens (coliforms, Streptococci, Staphylococci, yeasts and moulds) were eliminated after ensiling, except Clostridia but these germs were present in very small quantities (less than 100 germs g−1). A second experiment was carried out with 12 adult wethers in a complete random block scheme in order to determine the apparent digestibility of the main constituents of three diets consisting of pressed pulp supplemented with molasses and urea (P-MU), LHE (P-LHE) or soybean meal (P-SM). The diets were supplemented with 10% hay of known digestibility and this latter value was deducted from the measured digestibilities in order to obtain those of the studied diets alone. The crude protein digestibility was significantly higher for P-MU (P < 0.05), and that of organic matter significantly lower for P-LHE (P < 0.05). Crude fibre digestibilities significantly differed for the three diets (P < 0.05) in the following order: P-LHE < P-SM < P-MU. In a third experiment, three wethers fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulas were given, in a Latin-square design, one of the three studied diets. The NH3 contents and pH of the rumen fluids were significantly higher (P< 0.05) for P-LHE whereas the volatile fatty acid profile was the same for the three diets. The yield in bacterial N synthesis, estimated with the diaminopimelic acid method, was significantly higher (P < 0.01) for P-MU: 45.3 g bacterial N kg−1 organic matter digested in the rumen versus 36.5 g and 33.9 g for P-SM and P-LHE, respectively. The proportion of bacterial N at the duodenal level was significantly lower (P < 0.01) for P-SM (58% versus 75% and 73%, respectively for P-MU and P-LHE). The duodenal flow of amino acids was significantly lower (P < 0.001) for P-LHE: 113 g day−1 versus 147 g day−1 and 148 g day−1 for P-SM and P-MU, respectively. It was concluded that pulp is very easy to conserve by ensiling, even when mixed with LHE and, thanks to the high degradability of its fibre in the rumen, it is a very good energy source that may be supplemented by non-protein nitrogen. The bacterial protein synthesis is optimised by supplementation with urea and molasses.

Feeding and digestibility studies were conducted in concrete ponds to evaluate the use of coffee (Coffea robusta) pulp as partial and total replacements for yellow maize in low-cost diets for the catfish, Clarias isheriensis (Sydenham, 1980). The percentages of dietary coffee pulp inclusion were 0 (diet 1, control), 10 (diet 2), 20 (diet 3) and 30 (diet 4). All the diets were formulated to contain 37% crude protein using cheap, locally available feed ingredients, and fed daily to experimental fish in replicated dietary treatments at 2–10% of fish biomass for 150 days. Fish survival was high, consequent upon good water quality in all treatments. There were significant differences (P