Search

Maize is the most widely spread energy source used in rations for farm animals and poultry, especially in countries in America, Southern Europe and Asia, where maize grain is the main cereal used for feed. The quality of maize grain is formed under the influence of several interrelated factors. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of different rates of nitrogen fertilization on the chemical composition and energy value of maize grain grown under irrigation conditions in non-ruminants. The study was conducted in the experimental field of the Agricultural Institute - Stara Zagora under irrigation conditions on cinnamon-meadow soil with maize for grain, medium late hybrid LG 35.36 with density of crops - 70000 plants per hectare. The study includes the following four treatments of fertilization: 1 experimental variant N0 P80K60 – non-fertilizer control, 2 experimental variant N100P80K60 – fertilization with 100 kg N.ha-1, 3 experimental variant N150 P80K60 – fertilization with 150 kg N.ha-1 and 4 experimental variant N200 P80K60 – fertilization with 200 kg N.ha-1. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied during the vegetation of the crop in phase 3-5 leaf, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in rates 80 kg P2 O5 .ha-1 and 60 kg K2 O.ha-1 in the main tillage. During the vegetation of the maize, pre-irrigation humidity of 80-85% of field capacity (FC) was maintained by 3 waterings. As the fertilization rate increases, the crude protein content in the maize grain also grows up. During the treatment with the highest fertilizer rate of 200 kg N.ha-1, 9.5% per 1 kg of dry matter (DM) was obtained, followed by the treatment with 150 kg N.ha-1 – with a value of 9.1% per 1 kg of dry matter. The content of crude fiber in the grain of maize with increasing fertilization rate decreases, being the smallest in the treatment with rate 100 kg N.ha-1 – 0.8% per 1 kg of dry matter. The fertilization rate does not have a significant effect on the content of digestible and metabolite energy in corn grain grown under irrigated conditions in pigs and poultry.

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of inclusion of dry distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) and canola meal, as replacement of soybean meal and sunflower meal in textured starter feed for dairy calves. The second object was to compare two starters with the same ingredient and nutrient content composed of whole maize grain (WMG) plus protein concentrate, versus mixture of WMG, pelleted DDGS, pelleted canola meal, and pelleted mineralvitamin premix. A seventy-day experiment was carried out with 30 Black and White female calves weighing 39 kg at birth. Each calf received 2 L of high quality colostrum (above 50 mg immunoglobulin/L) three times during the first day and 2 L colostrum three times at the second day after birth. From 3 to 35 days of age, calves were fed 3 L pasteurized whole unsalable milk twice daily and from 36 to 56 days of age - once daily. Calves were allocated to three treatments based on the day of birth and weight at birth. The calves received texturized starter feed with different composition: 1) 50% whole maize grain (WMG) + 50% pelleted protein concentrate with soybean meal, DDGS and sunflower meal as protein sources for the first group (pBDS); 2) 50% WMG + 50% pelleted protein concentrate with DDGS and canola meal for the second group (pDC); 3) 50% WMG + 24.1% pelleted DDGS + 23.4%, pelleted canola meal + 2.5% pelleted mineral-vitamin premix for the third group (DCVp). Crude protein (CP) content of all three starters was 19.0 to 19.6%. From 1 to 35 days of age the average daily gain (ADG) was 606, 580 and 569 g respectively for pBDS, pDC and DCVp groups, and did not differ (P>0.05) among treatments. From 36 to 56 days of age the ADG was 719, 710 and 695 g (P>0.05), and from 57 to 70 days 971, 964 and 943 g (P>0.05) respectively for pBDS, pDC and DCVp groups. There were no significant differences in feed efficiency, fecal score, health status and behavior of calves receiving different starter feeds. Results of this trial indicated that it is possible to replace soybean meal plus sunflower meal with canola meal and dry distillers grain with solubles, without significant changes of ADG, feed efficiency and health status of calves. Performance of calves was approximately equal when fed DDGS and canola meal as ingredients of pelleted protein concentrate or as separate ingredient in a starter mixture of WMG, pelleted DDGS, pelleted CM and pelleted mineral-vitamin premix. When pelleted DDGS and pelleted canola meal is available, it is possible to use them directly as components of starter, instead of buying protein concentrate with the same protein sources. Starter feed containing whole maize grain, pelleted DDGS, pelleted canola meal, and pelleted mineral-vitamin premix was the cheapest, compared to the other tested starter feeds.

The aim of this paper was to review the available literature examining the relationship between milk feeding method of dairy calves during preweaning period on their growth and development. We conclude that delayed and inadequate colostrum feeding can result in increased morbidity and mortality. The higher level of milk feeding for dairy calves has the potential to increase growth rates during the preweaning period, to reduce time needed to reach a necessary body weigh at first calving and improve milk yield at first calving. Providing more milk however, may decrease intake of solid feed during the period of feeding milk. So far is it not clear, whether it is possible to combine intensive liquid feeding with sufficient dry feed intakes at weaning to continue normal growth of calves; otherwise, what is the level of milk feeding allowing small, or even to avoid, slump in growth at weaning. It is not known what level of milk feeding plus free access to starter allows obtaining a high level of live body gain during the first two months necessary for enhancing future milk yield of heifer calves. Additional studies are needed to clarify effect of different levels of milk feeding and scheme of feeding female dairy calves on growth rate, development, feed efficiency and health status during pre weaning and post weaning period.

A balance trial was performed with two groups of Topigs hybrid pigs (n=4) and DanВred hybrid pigs (n=4). Each trial was of 10-day duration (5 days preliminary and 5 day experimental period, during which urine and faeces were collected). The pigs were fed total mix rations prepared in the Experimental base. DanBred hybrid pigs were fed in compliance to Nutrients Standards for pigs in Denmark, 12-th edition, Copenhagen, July 2005. Feeding of Topigs hybrid pigs was done according to recommendations of Guideline for feeding Topigs sows (Topigs International, BV, 2001). Over the entire fattening period, DanBred hybrid pigs exhibited a higher daily nitrogen retention compared to Topigs pigs – by 5.5% on the average. Because of the higher nutrition norms during the different fattening stages DanBred pigs consumed more expensive compound feeds – by 10% on the average. The average costs for lean meat gain produced from Topigs pigs were by 8% lower than those from DanBred pigs. Provided that the other production costs in farms are identical, the rearing of Topigs hybrid pigs was evaluated as more profitable.

A physiological experiment was conducted with three yearling sheep, Stara Zagora x Pleven Blackhead crosses, to establish the effect of feeding Paulownia elongatа leaves on some blood parameters. The trial consisted of two periods: control and experimental. During the control period, yearling sheep were fed a ration of 1 kg barley and 1 kg meadow hay, and during the experimental period – dried Paulownia elongatа leaves. Blood samples were collected from v. jugularis externa before feeding and 2.5 hours after feeding during both periods after allowing 10-day adaptation to the respective diet. The studied parameters were erythrocyte counts, leukocyte counts, blood glucose, total protein, albumin and globulins. The intake of Paulownia leaves resulted in statistically significant reduction in erythrocyte (p

A balance trial was performed with three groups of Topigs hybrid pigs (n=3). Pigs received complete compound feeds. For the second (control) group digestible amino acid content was according to hybrid’s nutrition standards (as per Guideline for feeding Topigs sows, 2001. Topigs International, BV). Groups I and III received a ration with digestible amino acid content lower or higher by 15%, respectively, compared to controls. Dietary digestible amino acids in rations for Topigs finisher pigs were more than the animals were able to utilize. Therefore, more extensive research for revision of nutrition norms is needed. The reduction of digestible amino acids in feeds by 15% did not have a negative effect on nitrogen retention and improved its utilization by 11.7 % compared to animals fed as per guidelines. The lower digestible amino acid content reduced the nitrogen output with urine by more than 30% (Р

A balance trial was performed with 3 groups of three PIC hybrid pigs each fed 3 dietary levels of digestible amino acids – 85 %, 100 % and 115 % of standrd. The control group was fed according to nutrition standards (100 %). The other two groups, received a ration with amino acid content lower or higher by 15%, respectively, compared to controls. The nutrition standards for digestible amino acid content of feeds for the PIC hybrid are perfectly adequate to the needs of animals. They allowed a daily retention of 25 g N and a relatively good utilization of feed protein. The digestible amino acid excess did not improve the nitrogen retention, but only increased its excretion with urine. The water intake and the amount of excreted urine of pigs were directly related to the dietary nitrogen concentration. They were found to increase parallelly to dietary digestible amino acids content.

An experiment, lasting 42 days, was made to stady the еffect of addition of Bulgarian multienzyme complex VemoZyme®Plus on productive and slaughter performance and chemical meat composition of broiler chickens, fed wheat-corn-soybean meal based diets. In this trial 120 male one day old chickens of „Ross 308” hybrid, keep in battery cages, divided into 4 groups (distributed equally in three repetitions in each group) were used: 1. Positive control, fed with balanced diet ; 2. Positive control with addition of 0,05 % VemoZyme®Plus. 3. Negative control, fed with diet, contains 5 % less metabolizable energy(ME) and digestible essential amino acids (DEAA)–lisine, methionine+cistine, treonine. 4. Negative control with addition of 0.05% by VemoZyme®Plus. Tested enzyme preparation had no significant effect on the live weight, feed conversion, slaughter indices, protein and fat composition in the white meat of broiler chickens, fed with balanced diets. Addition of VemoZyme ® Plus to the diets of diminished nutritive value, increases (compared to the same, without addition of VemoZyme ® Plus) with 8,0 (P0,05) respectively through the grower and the whole fattening period, has a positive (Р

Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Most of the autopsy studies indicate that large numbers of these tumors remain undiagnosed during life. The most obvious explanation for this fact is its rather non-specific clinical presentation or the absence of any symptoms - the presence of subclinical pheochromocytoma. We report our institution experience with silent pehochromocytomas - their preoperative characteristics, intraoperative management and postoperative complications.A total of 104 patients underwent operation for pheochromocytoma between 19780 and 2010 in our department. Eleven of them had no clinical symptoms. We describe and analyze retrospectively: indication for diagnosis and surgery, length of hospital stay, intra and postoperative complications.In total, 11 of the 104 patent operated in our department had no clinical symptoms. From the classical triad (headache, palpitation and diaphoresis) only five of those patients had occasional palpitation when they felt severe anger, which is rather unspecific. When we analyzed the data of these patients we found a longer operative time (p = 0.04), more intraoperative complication (p = 0.02) - higher estimated blood loss and larger transfusion requirement. Postoperative complications however showed no statistical significance.Pheochromocytoma can have variable presentation. Patients with small incidentalomas schedules for surgery should be closely evaluated and medically treated preoperatively to ensure an excellent outcome.