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A 90 days experimental trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of urea treated sugarcane bagasse on the growth, gut microflora and digestive enzymes of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Fish were fed to 3% wet body weight per day with experimental diets having 0% (CTRL), 0.7% (T1), 1.4% (T2) and 2.1% (T3) urea, with each group having two replicate tanks. Fish fed on 2.1% urea treated sugarcane bagasse (T3) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher growth as compared to T2, T1 and CTRL. The feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate were also significantly higher in T3 fish group, followed by the T2, T1 and CTRL groups. Proximate analysis of fish showed that the level of crude protein was higher significantly in T2 fish than other groups and crude fat level was significantly higher in T1 fish, followed the T2, CTRL and T3 fish groups. The percentage level of dry matter was significantly higher in T3 fish and ash percentage was significantly higher in T2 fish relative to T3, T1 and CTRL groups. Amylase and Lipase concentration was significantly higher in T2 fish compared with T3, T1 and CTRL groups. Protease concentration was significantly higher in T3 fish, followed by the T1, T2 and CTRL fish groups. Lastly, the presence of Lactobacillus fermentum was confirmed in the T1, T2 and T3 fish groups. Overall, the results showed that urea treated sugarcane bagasse can be used as a feed ingredient for C. idella and has no adverse effect on the nutritional value of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the current study was to find out the independent and interactive effects of prilled fat supplementation with protein on the production performance of early lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes. Methods: Sixteen early lactating buffaloes (36.75±5.79 d in milk; mean±standard error) received 4 treatments in 4x4 Latin-square design according to 2x2 factorial arrangements. The dietary treatments were: i) low protein low fat, ii) low protein high fat, iii) high protein low fat, and iv) high protein high fat. The dietary treatments contained 2 protein (8.7% and 11.7% crude protein) and fat levels (2.6% and 4.6% ether extract) on a dry matter basis. Results: The yields of milk and fat increased with increasing protein and fat independently (p≤0.05). Energy-, protein-, and fat-corrected milk yields also increased with increasing protein and fat independently (p≤0.05). Increasing dietary protein increased the protein yield by 3.75% and lactose yield by 3.15% and increasing dietary fat supplies increased the fat contents by 3.93% (p≤0.05). Milk yield and fat-corrected milk to dry matter intake ratios were increased at high protein and high fat levels (p≤0.05). Milk nitrogen efficiency was unaffected by dietary fat (p>0.10), whereas it decreased with increasing protein supplies (p≤0.05). Plasma urea nitrogen and cholesterol were increased by increasing protein and fat levels, respectively (p≤0.05). The values of predicted methane production reduced with increasing dietary protein and fat. Conclusion: It is concluded that prilled fat and protein supplies increased milk and fat yield along with increased ratios of milk yield and fat-corrected milk yields to dry matter intake. However, no interaction was observed between prilled fat and protein supplementation for production parameters, body weight, body condition score and blood metabolites. Predicted methane production decreased with increasing protein and fat levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was conducted to examine the dietary influence of insoluble fiber sources, on performance, gut development, nutrients digestibility and carcass characteristics of the broilers. For this purpose, a total of 180-day old mixed sex, broiler (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups of 6 replicates each. The broilers in first treatment group were fed basal diet, whereas broilers in other experimental groups were fed rations containing insoluble fiber from oat, rice hulls, sugarcane bagasse and wood shavings in such a way that the level of ingredients of each fibre source was 3%. All the diets were offered to the broilers in mash form during the entire experimental duration. The oat hulls-based diet improved (P < 0.05) the growth performance compared to those fed other experimental diets. The oat hulls-based diets increased the villus height by 15%, reduced the crypt depth by 11% and improved the villus height to crypt depth ratio upto 34% relative to those fed the rice hulls or wood shaving, while those fed sugarcane bagasse or control being intermediate. Apparent illeal digestibility of nutrients including dry matter, crude protein and amino acids was increased (P < 0.05) by feeding oat hulls-based ration to the broilers. Carcass traits such as dressed weight with and without giblets, breast and leg quarter yields were higher (P < 0.05) by the addition of oat hulls compared to other dietary treatment groups. The broiler fed oat hulls and sugarcane bagasse-based rations improved (P < 0.05) the relative weight of the gizzard compared to other treatment groups. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 3% sugarcane bagasse and oat hulls resulted in an improved production, better duodenal histo-morphology, increased digestibility of various nutrients and carcass parameters in the broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the quality, nutritional, and sensory attributes of Naked Neck chicken eggs when birds were subjected to different housing and nutritional regimens. Birds were maintained in two rearing systems (intensive & free-range) with five dietary treatments based on commercial feed (CF) and kitchen waste (KW), i.e. 100% CF, 75% CF + 25% KW, 50% CF + 50% KW, 25% CF + 75% KW, and 100% KW. A total of 500 eggs, comprised of ten per replicate (50 per treatment) were used. Higher (p ≤ 0.05) shell weight and thickness, shape index, egg volume, yolk index and weight, egg specific gravity, and Haugh unit score were observed in birds reared under the intensive system. Egg and shell weight, shape index, volume, yolk index and weight, specific gravity, haugh unit were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in birds fed with 100 % KW. Egg moisture percentage was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in birds fed with 75% KW; crude protein and ash percentage were higher in birds fed with 25 and 50 % KW, respectively. Egg taste and flavour were better (p ≤ 0.05) in birds fed with 100% KW. It is concluded that egg quality, nutritional, and sensory attributes were improved when Naked Neck chickens were reared under the intensive system and fed kitchen waste up to 75 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of water hyacinth as aquafeed for grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Fish were stocked in eight glass aquaria at 20 fish per aquaria. Three iso-proteinous diets (30% crude protein (CP)) were prepared with the addition of different parts of sun-dried water hyacinth, that is, whole plant meal diet (WPM), leaf meal diet (LM) and root meal diet (RM), along with control diet. Results revealed significant (P ≤ .05) differences in weight gain and length among treatments. Higher weight gain was observed in LM and lower in RM diets. CP contents of fish fed WPM were significantly higher (P ≤ .05), followed by LM than RM and control diets. Crude fat was significantly higher in fish fed RM followed by LM, while ash contents were significantly higher in control. Nutrient digestibility in the case of CP was significantly higher (P ≤ .05) for WPM, LM and control groups than RM, while fat digestibility was significantly higher (P ≤ .05) in RM diet followed by LM than WPM and control. Histological study showed no significant variations in liver and kidney. In conclusion, LM-based diets were found to be most suitable without any adverse effects on the histopathological disorders in experimental fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]