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The aim of the current study is to evaluate Virginia fanpetals silage based on an apparent digestibility and palatability test performed on six adult rams. Alfalfa silage was used as standard forage for comparison. Virginia fanpetals samples were harvested in the bud-formation stage and alfalfa samples were harvested in the late bud stage. Virginia fanpetals silage had a crude protein (CP) content of 176 g kg−1 dry matter (DM), a neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of 378 g kg−1 DM, and a lignin content of 42.8 g kg−1 DM. Virginia fanpetals silage had higher acidity (pH of 4.30) and was characterized by intense lactic acid fermentation compared with alfalfa silage (80 % vs. 51 % of the total acids). The digestibility coefficient of Virginia fanpetals silage was as follows: for DM it was 0.707, for organic matter (OM) it was 0.724, for CP it was 0.861, and for NDF it was 0.609. In comparison with alfalfa silage, Virginia fanpetals silage was characterized by higher apparent digestibility of nutrients, but a significant difference was noted only for CP. The voluntary intake of Virginia fanpetals silage was significantly higher than that of alfalfa silage (1427.4 vs. 954 g DM). The greatest differences in voluntary intake were observed 0–2 and 8–12 h after feeding. Virginia fanpetals silage had a chemical composition similar to that of alfalfa, but it was characterized by a more desirable fermentation pattern and higher digestibility, and it was more willingly consumed by rams. The present findings indicate that Virginia fanpetals silage can be fed to sheep.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets with different inclusion levels of high-moisture corn (HMC) and triticale grain (TG) on nutrient digestibility and utilization, the growth performance of lambs, and the fatty acid profile of the leg muscle. The experiment was performed on 24 young rams, divided into four groups based on grain type and inclusion rate (50% or 75% DM). The higher inclusion rate of cereal grain and a lower concentration of crude fiber (CF) in the feed ration decreased CF digestibility by 26% and 35% in diets containing HMC and TG, respectively. Diets containing HMC increased crude fat digestibility relative to animals receiving TG. Final body weight and average daily gain were highest in lambs fed a diet containing 50% HMC. Grain type had no effect on nitrogen (N) retention or the proportions of SFA and UFA in lamb meat. Diets containing HMC decreased total cholesterol levels in the leg muscle. HMC can be a valuable component of diets for growing lambs when included at up to 50% of the ration. An increase in the dietary inclusion rate of cereal grain to 75% can be recommended only in the case of TG.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effect of L-tryptophan (L-TRP) used in the cultivation of Lolium perenne on the yield, chemical and microbiological quality of its herbage and silage. L-TRP was applied in doses of 5 kg ha-1 , 0.5 kg ha-1 , 0.05 kg ha-1 . The experiment was conducted with a control group (C) and a comparative control group (C+) with higher nitrogen fertilization. Results The dose of 5 kg ha-1 had a significant effect on its herbage yield, which increased by 15% compared to group C and approximated the value achieved in group C+. The treatment with L-TRP caused a significant increase in water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content only in Tr5 (165g kg-1 DM), which was reflected in a more beneficial course of fermentation, lower pH (4.59), and a higher sum of fermentation acids, including lactic acid (94.7 g kg-1 DM). Ryegrass treatment with the high L-TRP dose effectively reduced loads of Clostridium spp. and fungi, and increased the count of Bacillus spp. The L-TRP significantly reducing N-NH3 content in Tr05 (98.6 g kg-1 TN) compared to C+ (123g kg-1 TN) and butyric acid content in Tr05 (from 1.35 g kg-1 DM in the C to 0.38 g kg-1 DM). Conclusion The most effective turned out to be dose of 5 kg ha-1 , which allowed achieving higher yield and a better fermentation course. This work presents the feasibility of using L-TRP to optimize nutrient consumption by Lolium perenne and ultimately affect the quality of its silage as a feedstuff. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Methane fermentation is a versatile and established technology that should be optimized at all stages, starting from biomass storage and ending at digestate management. A commonly used method of biomass storage is ensiling, and the methane production of the biomass is determined by the products of the ensiling fermentation. Therefore, this study determined the effect of fermentation stimulants, fermentation inhibitors and osmotic condition improvers on the methane production of Sida hermaphrodita silages. Methane production was highest (334.6 ± 8.1 L/kg VSadded) with silage prepared with molasses, which increased its content of carbohydrates and lowered its ammonium nitrogen content. Production of methane was also high with untreated plant (304.0 ± 10.1 L/kg VSadded). Methane production correlated with Methanosarcinaceae abundance in the sludge. Principal component analysis revealed that first principal component was strongly correlated with indicators related with ensiling performance. Ensiling had no effect on the hemicellulose content and lowered the pH of silage independent of the additive used.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita) silage on carcass and beef quality characteristics. Forty Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls aged 16 months were assigned to 4 dietary treatments (n=10) and were fed different types of silage during a 7-month fattening period. The proportion (g/kg dry matter) of silage in the diets was as follows: (1) grass silage (GS) (600); (2) Sida silage (SS) (600); (3) SS (300) and GS (300); and (4) SS (300) and maize silage (MS) (300). Silage was supplemented with concentrate at 400 g/kg DM in each diet. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the fattening period. Silage type had no significant effect on BWG or feed to gain ratio. The carcasses of bulls fed Sida silage and maize silage received higher scores for conformation than the carcasses of bulls fed grass silage (P

This study aimed to identify the extent to which a diet of oatmeal and polymers affects the development of mealworms, their microbiome, the biochemical activity of their digestive system, and their feed-metabolizing capacity. With a polystyrene diet, feed loss was most significant, as indicated by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) of frass, which showed that polystyrene was the only compound that was chemically modified. Compared to the control diet, mealworm larvae developed best on polyethylene regranulate (PE-reg), quickly transiting from one developmental stage to another with minor mass loss. A lignocellulose-based diet was the least beneficial for mealworm development. A polystyrene diet was most beneficial in terms of the protein content in larvae, but the contents and quality (usefulness as food) of fatty acids in the insects fed these wastes were significantly lower than in the control insects. For each diet, specific microbial cultures formed, and the presence of protozoa and various biochemical activities suggested different survival strategies and assimilation mechanisms facilitating survival. Despite profound changes in the microbiota and biochemistry of the digestive tract of mealworms fed waste-based diets, this study indicates their potential for utilizing PE-reg and polystyrene.

Different harvesting and preservation methods of Virginia fanpetals herbage were evaluated, based on the chemical composition and digestible organic matter (OM) content (D-value) of silage fed to adult sheep, the intake and digestibility of silage, and the performance of young cattle. The following harvesting methods were compared: direct-cut harvesting with a precision-cut forage harvester (DC), harvesting after field wilting with a precision-cut forage harvester (WC) or a round baler (WRB). The silage was fed for 81 days to 24 Polish Holstein Friesian (HF) bulls, as the sole forage supplemented with 3.0 kg of concentrate/head/day. Harvesting methods affected the density (p &lt, 0.001) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (p = 0.047). Differences were found among the groups in the digestibility coefficients of OM (DC-73.7, WC-78.9, WRB-79.9%) (p = 0.007), and crude protein (CP) (69.8%, 77.1%, 78.5%, respectively) (p &lt, 0.001). Dry matter intake (DMI) reached 8.38 kg (DC), 8.74 kg (WC) and 7.21 kg (WRB). Live weight gain (LWG) differed (p &lt, 0.001) among groups (0.939, 1.033, 0.813 kg/day, respectively). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to improve in WC (8.66 kg DMI/kg LWG) (p = 0.08). The highest-quality silage was produced in group WC, and it could be successfully fed to growing bulls as the sole forage.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a polyphenol product (PP) (Proviox) and vitamin E on the antioxidant status and meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets contaminated with ochratoxin A (OTA). One hundred and twenty ROSS 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into six groups (10 replications, 2 birds per replication). Group I received an uncontaminated and unsupplemented diet, diets of groups II to VI were contaminated with OTA at 172 µg and 200 µg/kg for the starter and grower period, respectively. Furthermore, diets of groups III, IV and V were supplemented with vitamin E at 100, 200 and 100 mg, respectively, and to diets of groups V and VI additionally 100 and 2200 mg PP was added, respectively. Supplementation with PP and vitamin E had no significant effects on the growth performance, dressing percentage or carcass trait parameters of broiler chickens. In chickens exposed to stress, dietary supplementation with vitamin E and/or PP improved the total antioxidant status (p ≤ 0.05), enhanced the blood activity of antioxidant enzymes (p ≤ 0.01) and increased the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants (p ≤ 0.01) in the liver and breast muscles. Regardless of the administered antioxidants, chickens fed diets contaminated with OTA were characterised by lower dressing percentage (p ≤ 0.01), a higher proportion of the liver in the carcass (p ≤ 0.01), lower carcass fat content (p ≤ 0.01), and longer small intestines (p ≤ 0.01) and caeca (p ≤ 0.01). Dietary supplementation with PP improved the water-holding capacity of meat (p ≤ 0.01). The breast muscles of chickens fed diets supplemented with PP and vitamin E were characterised by higher (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5). It was concluded that PP can be an insufficient component of diets for broiler chickens to improve growth performance and mitigate the negative effects of high dose of OTA in diets.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the effects of age and gender (bull vs steer) on feeding behavior parameters in young beef cattle fed grass silage. METHODS The study was conducted on 180 young beef cattle at 7 to 18 mo of age. The experimental materials comprised 90 bulls produced by commercial crossing of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows with Charolais, Limousin and Hereford bulls (30 animals of each breed) and 90 steers of the same genotypes. The animals had ad libitum access to grass silage; the concentrate was fed separately, in feed stations. They received 28 g dry matter of concentrate per kg of metabolic body weight per day. Bunk visit data and silage intake for all experimental animals were recorded individually using the Roughage Intake Control system (5 feed bunks per 15 animals). RESULTS Age and gender (bull vs steer) exerted significant effects on the feeding behavior of young beef cattle. The frequency of bunk visits and meal frequency decreased, whereas the feeding rate of silage, and the average duration and size of a single meal increased with age (p

The EUROP classification system includes only a small number of indicators to characterise beef carcases, none of which directly describes meat quality. Therefore, beef producers show limited interest in improving meat quality parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether conformation and fat cover, as assessed in the EUROP classification system, can be reliable descriptors of the qualitative characteristics of beef carcases and meat quality. A total of 198 carcases of young bulls were analysed. Meat samples were collected from the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle. It was found that the muscle content of three-rib cuts was higher in better-conformed carcases. Conformation class was inversely related to intramuscular fat (IMF) content, the fat content of three-rib cuts and meat juiciness. Meat quality was better characterised by fat class than conformation class. The fat cover had a positive influence on shear force values, the water-holding capacity and tenderness of meat. The water-holding capacity of meat and shear force values can be used in addition to EUROP scores to more accurately characterise beef carcases.Highlights Better conformed carcases have lower intramuscular fat content, lower fat content of three-rib cuts, higher shear force values and lower juiciness scores; Fat cover is a more reliable indicator of meat quality than carcase conformation; Water-holding capacity and shear force can be used in addition to EUROP scores.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of l-tryptophan (l-TRP) used in the cultivation of Lolium perenne on the yield, and chemical and microbiological quality of its herbage and silage. l-Tryptophan was applied in doses of 5, 0.5, 0.05 kg haThe dose of 5 kg haThe most effective dose turned out to be a dose of 5 kg ha

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of rearing system and feeding intensity on the fattening performance and slaughter value of 38 young crossbred bull calves. The calves were raised naturally with nurse cows (NC) or were fed milk replacer (MF) until 150 days of age. During the rearing period the NC calves were healthier and had higher average daily gain (by 0.15 kg) compared to the MF calves. After a 30-day transition period, the animals were fattened in intensive (I) and semi-intensive (SI) systems from 181 to 560 days of age. During the fattening period, the bulls were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration (TMR) composed of grass silage and concentrate. The concentrate to silage ratio, on a DM basis, was 25:75 (SI) and 40:60 (I). The MF calves had lower BW at the end of the fattening period compared to the NC calves but the rearing system had no effects on daily gain during the fattening period. Compensatory growth was not observed during fattening. During the fattening period, a higher proportion of concentrate in the ration contributed to higher feed intake, higher feed efficiency and more desirable carcass characteristics. Three-rib cuts from the carcasses of the I bulls had significantly (P

When dairy cattle production predominates, the quantity and quality of beef can be increased through commercial crossing of beef bulls with dairy cows and creating herds for the purpose of beef production. This experiment was conducted to compare carcass traits in young bulls and steers, produced by crossing Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows with Hereford (HH) bulls and slaughtered at 15 and 18 months of age. One half of 32 young bulls were castrated at 2 or 3 weeks of age. Starting at 7 months of age, they received grass silage supplemented with concentrates. At the end of the fattening period, the animals were slaughtered, carcass quality and the quality of meat from m. longissimus thoracis were evaluated. It was found that unlike steers, bulls can be slaughtered at a later age because their carcass traits improved over time and carcass fat content increased only insignificantly. Meat from steers had higher intramuscular fat content (1.20 and 2.35 % in bulls and steers slaughtered at 15 months of age, respectively; 1.89 and 3.79 % in bulls and steers slaughtered at 18 months of age, respectively), it was tenderer and juicier than meat from bulls, and its sensory quality improved with age. The intramuscular fat (IMF) of steers was characterized by a more desirable n-6 ∕ n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio, whereas the IMF of bulls had higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid and n-3 PUFAs. Beef from steers is a good choice for consumers who appreciate high-quality meat. The results of this study may encourage producers to raise steers for beef.

The aim of this study was to determine changes in the quality of lamb meat (Longissimus thoracis et lumborum), which was vacuum-packaged and freezer-stored (-26°C) for 6 and 12 months. The experiment was performed on 12 male lambs of the Kamieniec Longwool breed, raised to 106 days of age. In comparison with fresh meat, thawed meat was characterized by lower ash content, higher pH, greater natural drip loss and cooking loss, and lower scores for taste intensity. Vacuum packaging and low-temperature storage protected lamb meat against oxidative changes, and alleviated the adverse effects of oxidation on the color, aroma and taste of meat. It can be concluded that freezer storage (-26°C) of vacuum-packaged meat can help meet consumer demand for lamb meat products in periods when fresh meat is unavailable. However, it should be noted that long-term frozen storage induces undesirable changes in meat quality, including a decrease in water-holding capacity and taste intensity.

Alternative organic fertilizers are being developed to minimize the adverse environmental impact of chemical plant protection agents. The interest in industrial-scale insect farming has increased in recent years. Mealworm larvae are a rich source of protein and fatty acids. This study focuses on mealworm larvae, which are characterized by a rapid increase in biomass and a high nutritional value. In the present experiment, mealworm larvae were processed into fertilizer with a high content of organic nitrogen. The fertilizer's effect on wheat growth, soil and rhizosphere microorganisms, including phytopathogenic fungi of the genus Fusarium, and N-cycle, was analyzed. Mineral nitrogen fertilizer and mealworm larvae meal used as fertilizer caused a similar increase (~40%) in the total nitrogen content of the soil. Due to its mineral content, mealworm larvae meal contributed to an increase in the concentrations of P, K, and Mg in soil. The amino acid quality was high (0.89). Increasing the load of Bacillus spp. after using the meal was negatively correlated with the Fusarium spp. load in the wheat rhizosphere. In the case of meal fertilization, ammonification was noticed, and organic nitrogen was successively mineralized. The fertilizer produced from mealworm larvae offers a viable alternative to mineral fertilizers. It improves the health and nutrient status of wheat seedlings and stimulates the growth of Bacillus bacteria that enhance the availability of soil nutrients to plants and prevent seedling damping off. Further research is needed to confirm the applicability of the mealworm fertilizer in other field crops.

This study was conducted to evaluate animal performance, carcase characteristics and meat quality of young bulls and steers (Charolais × Holstein-Friesian), fattened until 15 and 18 months of age. One half of 40 young bulls were castrated at 2 or 3 weeks of age. Starting at 7 months of age, they received grass silage supplemented with concentrates. At the end of the fattening period, the animals were slaughtered, and carcase quality and the quality of meat from Musculus longissimus thoracis (MLT) were evaluated. Bulls had a higher carcase dressing percentage, and their carcases had higher lean meat content than steers. MLT from steers had higher intramuscular fat (IMF) content (by 0.89%); it was less tough, more tender and palatable. IMF from bulls had higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a higher n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio than IMF extracted from steer meat. Older animals had higher carcase quality than those slaughtered at 15 months of age, and slaughtering at a later age had no negative influence on meat quality.

The popularity of plant-based feed additives in livestock production has increased significantly in the last decade. Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites which contain bioactive components and deliver positive effects for humans and animals. They are renowned for their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-mutagenic effects. Polyphenols have antioxidant properties, and they minimize the negative consequences of oxidative stress. Their antioxidant capacity is comparable to that of the major biological antioxidants: vitamins E and C. Despite those advantages, polyphenols are characterized by low bioavailability, and further research is needed to harness their full potential in livestock farming. This article presents a review of findings from recent studies investigating the efficacy of polyphenols in monogastric nutrition, with special emphasis on their antioxidant properties.

Simple Summary Alfalfa is an important forage crop in rabbit nutrition. Despite the numerous advantages of alfalfa, efforts have been made to find its potential substitutes. Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita), is yet another potential substitute for alfalfa in animal diets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dehydrated Virginia fanpetals meal as a substitute for dehydrated alfalfa meal in rabbit diets. The results of this study indicated that Virginia fanpetals meal can be included in rabbit diets at up to 20% as a substitute for alfalfa without compromising the production performance of animals, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, carcass quality, or meat quality parameters. Abstract Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage crop in rabbit nutrition. Despite the numerous advantages of alfalfa, efforts have been made to find its potential substitutes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Sida hermaphrodita meal as a substitute for alfalfa meal in rabbit diets. The experiment was performed on 90 New Zealand White rabbits divided into three groups. DA group was fed a diet containing 20% dehydrated alfalfa. In the DA/DS group, rabbits received a diet containing 10% dehydrated alfalfa and 10% dehydrated Sida. The diet administered to the DS group contained 20% dehydrated Sida. The results of this study indicate that the dietary supplementation with Sida contributed to an increase in the final body weight of rabbits and improved the feed-conversion ratio. Experimental diets had no influence on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, and selected carcass characteristics of rabbits, except for the proportion of the hind part. The content of dry matter, total protein, and monounsaturated fatty acids in the hind leg muscles of rabbits was higher in the DA group than in the experimental groups. The concentrations of saturated fatty acids were higher in the tissues of animals fed diets supplemented with Sida.

Background Appropriate combinations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains should be selected to optimize the ensiling process, and the additives should be adjusted to the ensiled forage crops. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inoculation with three Lactobacillus species on the chemical parameters and microbiological quality (beneficial and harmful microbiota) of grass silage. Results Three species: L. paracasei (LPa), L. brevis (LB) and L. plantarum (LPl), isolated from sugar beet silage and characterized based on 16S rDNA sequences and biochemical parameters, were analyzed in the study. Single strains and their combinations were used as silage inoculants. The basic chemical and microbiological (qPCR) parameters of silages were determined. Based on the results of agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) and principal component analysis (PCA) it was determined that silages inoculated with single LAB strains and LPa + LB and commercial additive (0+) were the best quality ones, particularly with regard to microbiological parameters and they effectively lowered the pH value. A consortium of three Lactobacillus species had no influence on silage quality, whereas LPa + LB and LPl + LB combinations as well as a commercial additive exerted positive effects. Inoculation inhibited the growth of toxin-producing fungi. Conclusion Only the appropriate LAB composition can improve the quality of the ensiled material (antagonistic relationship). Only the LPa + LB combination was able to improve the value of low dry silage; nevertheless, almost all combinations were able to reduced concentrations of toxin-producing fungi. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of disease incidence on selected parameters of cattle fattening performance and carcass quality, and the fatty acid profile of beef. The experimental materials comprised 16 bulls and 16 steers, Polish Holstein-Friesian × Limousin crossbreeds (including 10 healthy and six treated animals of each category). At 5 weeks of age, bloodless castration was carried out using a rubber elastrator. The calves were fed milk replacer provided in automatic feeding stations. Until 540 days of age, the animals were fattened in an Animal Research Laboratory equipped with the Roughage Intake Control (RIC) system (Insentec, the Netherlands). In comparison with healthy (untreated) bulls and steers, sick (treated) animals had lower average body weight at 180 days of age, by 37 kg (P ≤ 0.05) and lower average final body weight at 540 days of age, by 56 kg (P ≤ 0.05). Sick animals were characterized by lower feed intake and worse feed efficiency (not statistically significant differences). Hot carcass weight reached 318 kg in healthy animals and 258 kg in treated bulls (P ≤ 0.05). In treated steers, the percentage of lean meat and bones in the three-rib section was higher and the percentage of fat was lower, compared with their healthy counterparts (P ≤ 0.01). There was a category × health status interaction for carcass tissue composition. There were no significant influences of type of sickness on analyzed traits. In comparison with healthy steers, intramuscular fat of Musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) from treated steers had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 and n-3) and a lower content of conjugated linoleic acid.

The study compared the slaughter value and meat quality of heifers and once-calved heifers slaughtered at the age of 18 and 28months, respectively. The once-calved heifers at the age of 15months, were bred with semen of Limousine bulls and following the calving they fed their offspring and then they were slaughtered. There were no differences in the carcass conformation and fatness between the treatments. Once-calved heifers' carcasses had a higher proportion (P

Introduction: This article presents the analysis of the correlation between the category and health status of calves and the results of their rearing and levels of selected blood parameters. Material and Methods: The study included 105 Polish Holstein-Friesian and beef (Limousine, Charolaise and Hereford) crossbred calves. Young bulls were purchased at the age of two to four weeks. The animals underwent quarantine, were dehorned, and 46 young bulls were castrated. The germ horns were removed by burning out. Castration was carried out with a bloodless method using a rubber band. The calves were kept in groups and fed a milk replacer administered via teats from automated milk-feeding stations. After the period of milk feeding, the calves were fed grass silage ad libitum and a concentrate at 2.5 kg/animal/day. The calves were weighed every two weeks. Blood for analyses was sampled at 43 d of age. Results: After the rearing period finished at the age of six months, young bulls and steers had similar body weights (176.17 and 176.55 kg) and approximate average daily weight gains from birth (0.756 and 0.767 g/day). The healthy calves at six months of age weighed 180.47 kg, whereas the animals which at least once suffered from some diseases during rearing were lighter by approx. 30 kg (P ≤ 0.01). A statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01) difference was found for the count of red blood cells and white blood cells. In comparison with healthy individuals, the diseased animals had less RBC (8.33 and 9.42 1012/L respectively) and more WBC (27.03 and 12.26 109/L respectively). Conclusion: Castration of young bulls did not have any impact on the results of rearing and health status of the calves. The magnitude of the analysed parameters depended on the health status of the calves. Thus RBC and WBC parameters may be used to predict the health status of calves during rearing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial or complete substitution of alfalfa silage with Virginia fanpetals silage in rations based on maize silage on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation and milk yield and physicochemical characteristics. Nine Polish Holstein Friesian cows in the second half of lactation were fed three experimental diets in a replicated 3 &times, 3 Latin square design as follows: maize silage + alfalfa silage, maize silage + alfalfa silage and Virginia fanpetals silage in a 50:50 ratio, maize silage + Virginia fanpetals silage. Complete substitution caused an increase in dry matter intake (DMI), total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetic acid to propionic acid (A/P) ratio, N-NH3 in the rumen contents and milk urea and a decrease in the feed conversion ratio. The partial and complete substitution changed the profile of milk fatty acids, resulting in a slight increase in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) as well as in all functional fatty acids except vaccenic acid. The most promising production effects were achieved through partial substitution of alfalfa silage with the Virginia fanpetals silage.

Twenty four Holstein-Friesian bulls were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: a control diet, diet O (supplemented with Optirum herbal extracts improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of cattle), and diet OS (containing two herbal preparation: Optirum and Stresomix, used to reduce stress). The quality of longissimus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were determined after 14 days of wet ageing. The diet influenced proximate composition, pH, water holding capacity, colour, shear force and some sensory quality attributes of beef, although the influence depended on the muscle type. The supplementation of the bulls' diet with two herbal preparations (OS diet) had a beneficial impact on technological properties and sensory tenderness of LL muscles. The herbal extracts O and OS had no negative effect on lipid oxidation or the sensory attributes of beef. Thus, it is recommended to use a combination of these two products in cattle feeding.

Virginia fanpetals biomass is relatively suitable for ensiling when stem structure is damaged during harvest. Virginia fanpetals biomass is characterized by extensive lactic acid fermentation with a low proportion of volatile fatty acids (VFA). A microbiological evaluation confirmed the predominance of lactic acid bacteria and the presence of a small group of fungi. Ensiling effectively eliminated toxin-producing Aspergillus spp.

The objective of this manuscript has been to analyse published data on the effect of feed structure (coarse/fine, meal/pelleted) on some parameters of the nutritional value of feed, performance of pigs and their gastrointestinal tract. The papers reporting mean geometric particle size or distribution of particles on sieves for the feeds used, were mainly considered. The literature data have indicated that finely ground feeds have a higher ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acids and higher faecal digestibility of nutrients. They also contain more digestible and metabolisable energy than coarser ground feeds. Reduction of feed particle size has a stronger impact on the gain/feed ratio increase than on the daily gain of pigs. However, coarser feed structure and roller milling are efficient in maintaining the health of stomach. Lactic bacteria, stomach pH, short chain fatty acids in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), as well as the volume and character of mucins positively responded to coarser and to non-pelleted feeds. Less intensively ground feeds, especially before pelleting, are also better at protecting the GIT of pigs against microbial infection by Salmonella enterica. Based on the references, some recommendations of grinding intensity have also been included.