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Background: Dairy cattle feed supplies in the tropics, and particularly in Ethiopia, are mostly derived from base diets (natural and improved grasslands, agricultural wastes, fodder trees and shrubs), agro‐industrial by‐products and non‐conventional feeds. The availability of major feed resource kinds, sources and dairy cattle feeding practises is primarily influenced by agro‐ecology and season, as well as their interactions. Objectives: The research was carried out in the Chencha District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, with the goals of assessing the available, feeding system, opportunity, limits and copying strategy of dairy cattle production, as well as estimating feed balance. Methods: Data were gathered through primary and secondary data sources, field observations, key informant interviews, focus group talks and individual interviews. The survey data were stratified into altitudes, coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and the general linear model approach. Cross‐tabulation was used to examine the statistical variance of categorical data. Results: The presence of different feed resource types, distinct agro‐ecologies (p < 0.05) and crop residue accessibility were the major opportunities for dairy cattle production in the study district, but land scarcity, a lack of dry season forages and land degradation due to erosion were the major constraints for dairy cattle feed production. In the research district, the main feed resource–copying approaches were reducing the number of dairy animals, saving optional feeds and purchasing optional feeds. The total mean of dairy cow feed supply to tropical livestock unit in terms of dry matter (DM) production each year was 3.86 t of DM/HH/annual, with a negative feed balance of 8.09 t that varied with seasons and agro‐ecology (p < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, the low production of dairy cattle in the district is clearly related to the scarcity of feed resources. To address these issues, alternative feed production technologies should be implemented, such as farmers practising forage development on their own crop land and collecting crop residues during crop harvesting times and storing them under shed; the nutritive value of different types of fodder trees and shrubs should be further determined in the future and feed storage methods, particularly hay and silage, should be used when there are an abundance of feed resources available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Summa, Animali da Reddito is the property of Point Veterinaire Italie s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is one of the most common causes of death in fattening pigs worldwide. The objective of this descriptive study was to systematically assess predictors or causal components for the appearance of HBS using case farms (mortality rate caused by HBS ≥ 1.5%) in comparison with control farms (mortality rate caused by HBS ≤ 0.25%), focusing on feed ingredients, feed quality and size, and gastrointestinal pathogens. The inclusion of sugar beet as a feed component in liquid feeding systems was found to be associated (p = 0.03) with farms identified as HBS cases. Another predictive or causal factor found for liquid feeding systems, but only for those using meal, was particle size. A higher percentage of small particles (< 2 mm) in the meal was associated with a higher risk of being an HBS case farm (p = 0.02), while no relevant association was detected for the use of pellets. Sugar beet in the diet was also associated with the incidence of HBS. The microbial quality of the feed in dry feeding systems, specifically the number of total aerobes at the first and last outlet tubes, was associated with a higher incidence of HBS (p = 0.03). Faecal sample analysis showed a difference (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of B. pilosicoli in the herd category (case vs. control herd). In this descriptive study, five predictive or causal factors were identified for an HBS farm with a mortality rate due to HBS ≥ 1.5%. These included the number of aerobes in dry matter samples from the first and last feeders, the particle diameter of the meal used in liquid feeding systems and sugar beet as a component of liquid feeding rations, and the presence of B. pilosicoli as an infectious agent at animal level. Relevant associations reinforce the findings of the previously published Swiss study that HBS is a multifactorial syndrome involving different aspects of pig production and cannot be attributed to a single cause. Further studies are needed to develop evidenced based causal models for HBS in swine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is one of the most common causes of death in fattening pigs worldwide. The objective of this descriptive study was to systematically assess predictors or causal components for the appearance of HBS using case farms (mortality rate caused by HBS ≥ 1.5%) in comparison with control farms (mortality rate caused by HBS ≤ 0.25%), focusing on feed ingredients, feed quality and size, and gastrointestinal pathogens. The inclusion of sugar beet as a feed component in liquid feeding systems was found to be associated (p = 0.03) with farms identified as HBS cases. Another predictive or causal factor found for liquid feeding systems, but only for those using meal, was particle size. A higher percentage of small particles (

Two circularly polarized antenna arrays, which reduce two redundant OAM modes, are proposed in this paper. One antenna array is composed of 8 right-handed circularly polarized (RHCP) antennas and radiates OAM mode l in x component, OAM mode l in y component and OAM mode (l+1)in z component. The other antenna array has 8 left-handed circularly polarized (LHCP) antennas and transmits OAM mode l in x component, OAM mode l in y component and OAM mode (l−1)in z component. The RHCP and LHCP antenna arrays produce OAM waves with fewer redundant OAM modes compared to the traditional single-direction antenna array. The feed excitations of the two circularly polarized antenna arrays have the same feeding system, which includes power dividers and phase shifters. The reflection coefficient parameters, radiation patterns and phase distributions are measured to display the radiated characteristics of the two proposed methods. Both the simulation and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

To replace the frequent and laborsome manual label feeding in the cigarette packing process, an automatic label feeding system was designed. The system mainly consists of a positioning and picking device, a kraft paper cutting and reclaiming device, a lifting and buffering device, an overhead conveyor, and a visual label hopper. The positioning and picking device uses a collaborative robot and a 3D industrial camera to complete the accurate positioning and automatic picking of label stacks. According to the results of finite element analysis, the thickness of the cutter in the kraft paper cutting and reclaiming device is determined to be 0.7 mm with a blade angle of 15°. The unpacked label stacks are lifted and stored in the buffering device temporarily, prior to entering the visual label hopper via the overhead conveyor. The automatic label feeding system was tested on a ZB25 packer in Shifang Cigarette Factory. The results showed that the average feeding labor time was reduced from 2 hours/shift to 0. This technology supports the promotion of automation of packing equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the mechanism of powder transportation in a coaxial feeding system, computational fluid dynamics and the discrete element method are coupled to simulate the gas flow and metal powder transportation characteristics in a directed energy deposition feeding system. Results indicate that powder diversion occurs in the bending region of powder transportation pipes. In a conveying pipe containing powders with a particle size of 53–85 μm, powder aggregation occurs at concentrations of 5.63 and 6.26 kg/m3 in bending curvatures of 11.13 and 13.33 m−1, respectively. The ratio of the particles in the three conveying pipes transported into the mixture region is 92.8% for particles with diameters of 53–85 μm, 95.0% for particles with diameters of 85–117 μm, and 96.7% for particles with diameters of 117–150 μm. This is the reason for the smaller average size of particles in the mixture region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ordnance Industry Automation is the property of Editorial Board for Ordnance Industry Automation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Dairy cattle feed supplies in the tropics, and particularly in Ethiopia, are mostly derived from base diets (natural and improved grasslands, agricultural wastes, fodder trees and shrubs), agro‐industrial by‐products and non‐conventional feeds. The availability of major feed resource kinds, sources and dairy cattle feeding practises is primarily influenced by agro‐ecology and season, as well as their interactions. Objectives The research was carried out in the Chencha District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, with the goals of assessing the available, feeding system, opportunity, limits and copying strategy of dairy cattle production, as well as estimating feed balance. Methods Data were gathered through primary and secondary data sources, field observations, key informant interviews, focus group talks and individual interviews. The survey data were stratified into altitudes, coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and the general linear model approach. Cross‐tabulation was used to examine the statistical variance of categorical data. Results The presence of different feed resource types, distinct agro‐ecologies (p

The study’s relevance stems from the increase in demand for livestock products, particularly meat, juxtaposed with the growing challenges in their production on an intensive scale. These challenges include environmental degradation, climate change, and an upswing in diseases linked to imbalanced nutrition. Also, there are ongoing discussions revolving around the merit of beef and milk with normalized fat content. This study aimed to analyze the current state of dairy and beef cattle breeding in the North and formulate growth strategies aligned with the principles of sustainable development. Innovative approaches to cattle breeding have been explored, focusing on enhancing environmental, social, and economic efficiency in the industry. The “less and better” concept, centered on producing livestock products that cause minimal environmental harm, improve animal welfare, and benefit human health, has been thoroughly examined. The study also discusses the challenges confronting cattle breeding in the Komi Republic. A shift towards intensive farming has been found to boost dairy cattle productivity while also resulting in increased cattle losses and a decline in fertility and overall health. Unresolved issues related to creating an optimal feed supply system and the uniform adoption of concentrate, hay, and silage feed mixtures also contribute to industry instability. Moreover, it has been found that concerns surrounding Holsteinization and the preservation of the Kholmogorsky breed of dairy cattle are particularly acute in the region. The study’s scientific novelty lies in introducing an integrated approach to cattle breeding in the Komi Republic, aiming to improve the quality of livestock products, enhance industry profitability, and boost farmland fertility. The practical significance of the study lies in proposing measures such as establishing cultivated pastures, reintroducing cattle grazing to improve the feed supply system, and safeguarding the Kholmogorsky breed. These proposals are valuable for governing bodies involved in shaping regional strategies and programs for agricultural production development.

Simple Summary: Nutritional interventions in ruminant livestock management is an essential step to achieving high quality meat and milk products for diversified and competitive global markets. The alterations of fat content, fatty acid profile, and the associated sensory properties of meat and milk have attracted much attention; they are accomplished with the managing of feeding systems and nutrition of ruminant diets. The literature has detailed various feed types and ingredients that facilitate the sustainable use of abundant, novel by-products, secondary products, non-conventional feedstuffs, or minimally processed biological materials within ruminant farming systems. Relevant to major feed ingredients is the knowledge of their macro- and micronutrients, as well as their bioactivity and functionality in meat and milk products. This review examines these and provides an overview of various concentrate feeds and forages that are fed to ruminants, and how they relate to the fat content and fatty acid profile of their meat and milk products. These insights will be valuable to those seeking to understand and adopt nutritional measures for the enhancement of domesticate ruminant meat and milk products. The meat and milk products from domesticated ruminants are important foods within a balanced diet, offering a rich source of energy, protein, fats, minerals, and vitamins. The sensorial properties of meat and milk are mainly linked to their fat content and fatty acid composition, which are influenced by the feeding background or nutrient composition of diets. While several studies have investigated the nutritional effects on the fat content and fatty acid profile of ruminant meat and milk, as well as their relationship with sensorial properties, a comprehensive overview of these effects is lacking. This paper summarises current literature and discusses changes to fatty acid composition (including ω-3 concentrations), fattiness, and associated quality traits of sheep, goat, beef cattle, alpaca, and llama meat that can be achieved by using different forages or feeds in a total mixed ration. Additionally, it presents the shelf life and nutritional value of meat, milk, and cheeses from the milk of dairy cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep as influenced by a ruminant diet. Further advancement in these areas will promote the sustainability of ruminant production and its associated feeding systems in achieving premium quality animal-derived foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Early weaning is a practice that holds the potential to enhance beef cattle production systems. It aims to improve the reproductive performance of cows in the subsequent breeding season while minimizing the impact on weaned calves when they are appropriately nutritionally managed. This study aimed to compare the effects of early weaning (weaning at 150 days; EW) and conventional weaning (weaning at 240 days; CW) on the growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Nellore bulls. A total of 74 non-castrated calves were assigned to an EW (n = 37) or CW (n = 37) strategy. During approximately 400 days in the growth phase, both groups received supplementation during grazing, followed by a finishing period in a feedlot for 87 days. The results showed that calves in the EW group were lighter than the CW group at the time of conventional weaning, yet this weight difference did not impact their growth or meat quality during the fattening phase. This study suggests that early weaning, combined with adequate supplementation, can be a viable and sustainable approach in beef cattle production without compromising the animals' productive development or meat quality. This study compared early weaning (EW; 150 days) with conventional weaning (CW; 240 days) in Nellore young bulls, evaluating performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A total of 74 non-castrated male calves were divided into two weaning strategies: EW (n = 37) and CW (n = 37). During the growth phase, which lasted 454 ± 14 d for EW calves and 359 ± 16 d for CW calves, animals received a protein-energy supplement at a ratio of 5 g per kg of body weight while grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. The animals were managed for an 87d finishing phase in three collective feedlot pens, with a 3-week adaptation protocol, starting with corn silage to a concentrate ratio of 55:45 and reaching a ratio of 30:70 in the final diet. Body weight, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, and meat quality were evaluated. The EW group was approximately 44 kg lighter than the CW at the time of conventional weaning (p < 0.001). However, this weight difference did not influence ADG, DMI, and FE in the finishing phase. No significant differences were observed in carcass characteristics such as yield percentage, loin area, subcutaneous fat thickness, and meat quality, except for the weight of primal cuts, which was greater in the CW group (p < 0.001). Thus, although calves weaned early are lighter throughout subsequent production phases than those weaned conventionally, performance, efficiency, carcass yield, and meat quality are not affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study involves the formulation of distinct diets for water buffalo based on locally available feed resources to specific agroecological zones. The diets were categorized into three groups addressing the maintenance, growth, and lactation/production requirements of buffaloes. This study assessed the chemical composition and in vitro gas and methane emissions of each diet. The implication of this work suggests a promising future for buffalo feeding systems, as it focuses on need-based formulations using specific regional ingredients. This approach may enhance the efficiency and sustainability of buffalo farming in specific zones. The water buffalo faces challenges in optimizing nutrition due to varying local feed resources. In response to this challenge, the current study introduces originality by addressing the lack of region-specific feeding strategies for water buffaloes. This is achieved through the formulation of 30 different diets based on locally available resources, offering a tailored approach to enhance nutritional optimization in diverse agroecological contexts. These diets were segmented into three groups of ten, each catering to the maintenance (MD1 to MD10), growth (GD1 to GD10), and lactation/production (PD1 to PD10) needs of buffaloes. Utilizing local feed ingredients, each diet was assessed for its chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane emissions, and dry matter (DM) disappearance using buffalo rumen liquor. The production diets (127 and 32.2 g/kg DM) had more protein and fats than the maintenance diets (82.0 and 21.0 g/kg DM). There was less (p < 0.05) fiber in the production diets compared to the maintenance ones. Different protein components (PB1, PB2) were lower (p < 0.05) in the maintenance diets compared to the growth and production ones, but other protein fractions (PB3, Pc) were higher (p < 0.05) in the maintenance diet. Furthermore, the growth diets had the highest amount of other protein components (PA), while the maintenance diets had the highest amount of soluble carbohydrates (586 g/kg DM), whereas the carbohydrate fraction (CB1) was highest (p < 0.05) in the production diets (187 g/kg DM), followed by the growth (129 g/kg DM) and maintenance diets (96.1 g/kg DM). On the contrary, the carbohydrate CA fraction was (p < 0.05) higher in the maintenance diets (107 g/kg DM) than in the growth (70.4 g/kg DM) and production diets (44.7 g/kg DM). The in vitro gas production over time (12, 24, and 48 h) was roughly the same for all the diets. Interestingly, certain components (ether extract, lignin, NDIN, ADIN, and PB3 and CC) of the diets seemed to reduce methane production, while others (OM, NPN, SP, PA and PB1, tCHO and CB2) increased it. In simple words, this study reveals that different diets affect gas production during digestion, signifying a significant step towards a promising future for buffalo farming through tailored, region-specific formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research aimed to establish the productivity of piglets during their two-phase rearing with different durations of the phases of this period of the production cycle. It was established that at the end of the first rearing phase, animals' absolute gains and weight upon its completion depended more on its duration than on the intensity of piglet growth during this period. Thus, in the group where the duration of the first phase of rearing was 17.6 % shorter, the weight of piglets when transferred to the second phase of rearing was 15.0 % lower, while in the group where the duration of the first phase of rearing was 35.3 % shorter, the weight of animals when transferred to the second phase turned out to be 28.3 % smaller, and in the group where the duration of the first phase of rearing was 52.9 % shorter, the weight of piglets at the end of the first phase turned out to be 50.5 % lower. In the second phase of fattening, the intensity of growth in animals with a duration of 9 and 18 days did not have significant differences, while their counterparts with a 27-day duration of the second phase of fattening had average daily gains in the second phase of fattening by 13.7–15.6 % more than the previous groups. The difference in absolute growth depended more on the duration of the period and less on the intensity of growth during this period. Thus, in the group where the duration of the second phase of rearing increased by 17 %, the absolute growth during this time increased by 1.97 times, and with its increase by 35 %, the latter increased by 3.41 times compared to the group of piglets where the duration of the second phase of rearing was 9 days. The live weight of piglets at the end of the second growing phase increased by 4.3 % and 8.5 %, respectively. The preservation of piglets in the second phase of rearing did not have significant differences between groups of piglets with different durations of the second phase of rearing. In contrast, the average weight of piglets dropped out in the second rearing phase decreased by 15.4–33.5%, with an increase in the duration of the second phase from 18 % to 35 and 52 % of the entire growing time. It has been proven that with an increase in the duration of the second phase of rearing, in which liquid feeding of piglets was used by 18 %, 35 %, and 53 % of the entire rearing time, the intensity of growth of piglets increased, and due to which their absolute growth increased by 4.5 %, 10.2 %, and 16.3 %, respectively, the live weight at the transfer to fattening increased by 3.4 %, 7.9 %, and 12.2 %, respectively, the technological waste of piglets decreased by 1.06 %, 1.83 %, and 2.23 %, decreased by 13.7, and 25.8 %, the weight of piglets that were eliminated during the entire period of rearing compared to analogs that had 100 % of the time the first phase of rearing under dry feeding systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tobacco Science & Technology is the property of Tobacco Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract The aim of this work was to run an economic assessment of investment in automatic feeding systems for grow‐out farms of different sizes producing European sea bass in the Mediterranean Sea. For this, we have used an economic model to simulate the annual income statement of a typical farm with different production volumes: a small‐sized farm with a production of 413 tons/year, a medium‐sized farm of 1122 tons/year, and a large‐sized farm of 2539 tons/year. With the values obtained in the simulation, we have carried out partial budget and investment analyses to estimate the economic value of this investment decision. To complement our economic assessment, a sensitivity analysis has also been run to include risk in the investment decision. Our findings show that the implementation of automatic feeding systems in sea bass grow‐out farms would be a good economic decision, regardless of the farm size, since there are technological options suitable for different farm sizes and capital investment capacities. Consequently, innovation and investment in feeding management should not be impeded or limited by the farm size.

Forty-seven dairy buffalo farmers from General Trias, Cavite, Philippines were interviewed using constructed questionnaires to describe their breeding and feeding management practices before and after the ease of the pandemic. The problems encountered and government services that were provided were also included. The stages of the pandemic were divided into three phases namely: pre-pandemic or Phase 1 (before and until 12 March 2020); the peak of the pandemic or Phase 2 (12 March 2020 - 28 February 2022); and Alert Level 1 or Phase 3 (01 March 2022 - 31 December 2022). Results showed a decreased use of AI and bulls in Phase 2 due to lockdowns and travel restrictions that temporarily hindered the breeding services in the locality. However, no changes were observed in the price per service for both breeding systems throughout the three phases. Most respondents (Phases 1; 63.83%, 2; 61.70%, and 3; 65.96%) practiced both pure grazing and cut-and-carry systems to feed their buffaloes. However, 59.58% did not add different types of feeds in Phase 2 because of limited mobility in the area. Moreover, the increasing price of feeds in Phases 1 (Php 21.13), 2 (Php 24.67), and 3 (Php 26.26) was attributed to limited transport. Meanwhile, the difficulty of harvesting grasses and buying feeds were the major challenges in feeding the buffaloes which was evident in Phase 2. In conclusion, the pandemic temporarily hindered the breeding and feeding activities of the respondents in Phase 2 but they slowly recovered when the travel restrictions and strict lockdowns were lifted in Phase 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Machine Tool & Hydraulics is the property of Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (GMERI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this work was to run an economic assessment of investment in automatic feeding systems for grow‐out farms of different sizes producing European sea bass in the Mediterranean Sea. For this, we have used an economic model to simulate the annual income statement of a typical farm with different production volumes: a small‐sized farm with a production of 413 tons/year, a medium‐sized farm of 1122 tons/year, and a large‐sized farm of 2539 tons/year. With the values obtained in the simulation, we have carried out partial budget and investment analyses to estimate the economic value of this investment decision. To complement our economic assessment, a sensitivity analysis has also been run to include risk in the investment decision. Our findings show that the implementation of automatic feeding systems in sea bass grow‐out farms would be a good economic decision, regardless of the farm size, since there are technological options suitable for different farm sizes and capital investment capacities. Consequently, innovation and investment in feeding management should not be impeded or limited by the farm size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventionally, DC arc furnaces are fed by thyristor rectifiers to control the level of current or power transferred to the load. With the advancement of high-power transistors, other structures such as diode rectifiers and DC choppers have been introduced and developed for the feeding system of DC electric arc furnaces. In this paper, the effect of different power supply systems on power quality indexes is discussed. In this regard, two types of feeding systems are considered, including a power supply system based on thyristor rectifiers and a power supply system based on diode rectifiers and DC choppers. In addition, different control methods, including constant current control (CCC) and constant power control (CPC), on DC electric arc furnaces are applied. For evaluating the power quality indexes, voltage and current harmonic distortion, unbalance of voltage and current, and power factor on the AC side are investigated for different power supply systems. Simulation results were performed with PSCAD/EMTDC software. It is shown that the power supply systems with diode rectifiers and DC choppers have superiority in comparison to the types based on thyristor rectifiers. According to the results, the average current THD is reduced from 16.55% in the thyristor rectifier to 8.40% in the chopper rectifiers with the CCC method and from 19.27% in the thyristor rectifier to 7.38% in the chopper rectifiers with the CPC method. Moreover, the average voltage THD is reduced from 5.67% in the thyristor rectifier to 3.02% in the chopper rectifiers with the CCC method. The result is similar to the CPC method. Furthermore, for a specific power supply system, the harmonic distortion is lower in the case of the CPC method than in the CCC method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing world population has forced excessive chemical fertilizer and irrigation to complete the global food demand, deteriorating the water quality and nutrient losses. Short-term studies do not compile the evidences; therefore, the study aimed to identify the effectiveness of reduced doses of inorganic fertilizer and water-saving practices, hence, a six-year experiment (2015-2020) was conducted in China to address the knowledge gap. The experimental treatments were: farmer accustomed fertilization used as control (525:180:30 kg NPK ha-1), fertilizer decrement (450:150:15 kg NPK ha-1), fertilizer decrement + water-saving irrigation (450:150:15 kg NPK ha-1), application of organic and inorganic fertilizer + water-saving irrigation (375:120:0 kg NPK ha-1 + 4.5 tones organic fertilizer ha-1), and application of controlled-release fertilizer (80:120:15 kg NPK ha-1). Each treatment was replicated thrice following a randomized complete block design. The results achieved herein showed that control has the highest losses in the six-year study for total nitrogen (225.97 mg L-1), total soluble nitrogen (121.58 mg L-1), nitrate nitrogen (0.93 mg L-1), total phosphorus (0.57 mg L-1), and total soluble phosphorus (0.57 mg L-1) respectively. Reduced fertilizer and water application improved crop nutrient uptake, nitrogen concentration was significantly enhanced with organic and inorganic fertilizer + water-saving irrigation, P concentration was increased with fertilizer decrement + water-saving irrigation, and K concentration was improved with fertilizer decrement + water-saving irrigation. Hence, this study concludes that reduced inorganic fertilizer dose combined with water-saving practices is significantly helpful in reducing nutrient leaching losses and improving nutrient uptake and water pollution. Further studies are needed to explore the impacts of reduced fertilization and water-saving irrigation on leaching losses. The benefits at different climatic conditions, soil types, and fertilizer types with application methods are also a research gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fat deposition is very important to the growth and reproduction of yaks. In this study, the effect of the feeding system on fat deposition in yaks was explored by transcriptomics and lipidomics. The thickness of the subcutaneous fat in yaks under stall (SF) and graze feeding (GF) was evaluated. The transcriptomes and lipidomes of the subcutaneous fat in yaks under different feeding systems were detected by RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) and non-targeted lipidomics based on ultrahigh-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), respectively. The differences in lipid metabolism were explored, and the function of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was evaluated by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genome (KEGG) analysis. Compared with GF yaks, SF yaks possessed stronger fat deposition capacity. The abundance of 12 triglycerides (TGs), 3 phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), 3 diglycerides (DGs), 2 sphingomyelins (SMs) and 1 phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the subcutaneous fat of SF and GF yaks was significantly different. Under the mediation of the cGMP–PKG signaling pathway, the blood volume of SF and GF yaks may be different, which resulted in the different concentrations of precursors for fat deposition, including non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose (GLU), TG and cholesterol (CH). The metabolism of C16:0, C16:1, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 in yak subcutaneous fat was mainly realized under the regulation of the INSIG1, ACACA, FASN, ELOVL6 and SCD genes, and TG synthesis was regulated by the AGPAT2 and DGAT2 genes. This study will provide a theoretical basis for yak genetic breeding and healthy feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared early weaning (EW; 150 days) with conventional weaning (CW; 240 days) in Nellore young bulls, evaluating performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A total of 74 non-castrated male calves were divided into two weaning strategies: EW (n = 37) and CW (n = 37). During the growth phase, which lasted 454 ± 14 d for EW calves and 359 ± 16 d for CW calves, animals received a protein-energy supplement at a ratio of 5 g per kg of body weight while grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. The animals were managed for an 87d finishing phase in three collective feedlot pens, with a 3-week adaptation protocol, starting with corn silage to a concentrate ratio of 55:45 and reaching a ratio of 30:70 in the final diet. Body weight, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, and meat quality were evaluated. The EW group was approximately 44 kg lighter than the CW at the time of conventional weaning (p < 0.001). However, this weight difference did not influence ADG, DMI, and FE in the finishing phase. No significant differences were observed in carcass characteristics such as yield percentage, loin area, subcutaneous fat thickness, and meat quality, except for the weight of primal cuts, which was greater in the CW group (p < 0.001). Thus, although calves weaned early are lighter throughout subsequent production phases than those weaned conventionally, performance, efficiency, carcass yield, and meat quality are not affected.

Osman Mohamed Elfadil,1 Edel Keaveney,2 Ankitaben Patel,1 Marwa G Abdelmagid,1 Ishani Patel,1 Jalpan Patel,1 Ryan T Hurt,1,3,4 Manpreet S Mundi1 1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 2Rockfield Medical Devices, Galway, Ireland; 3Division of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 4Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USACorrespondence: Manpreet S Mundi, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA, Tel +1 507-284-0106, Fax +1 507-284-5745, Email mundi.manpreet@mayo.eduBackground: Utilization of long-term home enteral nutrition (HEN) for nutrition therapy is increasing across the world. However, HEN can be a mobility-limiting experience affecting quality of life (QoL). Improvement of QoL for patients receiving HEN is a universal goal within the nutrition community. This study evaluated usability of Mobility+®, a novel enteral feeding system (EFS).Methods: A summative study evaluating usability of the novel EFS was conducted with novices (NV), non-novices (NN), and healthcare professionals (HCP). Subjects in NV and NN groups received familiarization training where they were introduced to the novel EFS and walked through steps to fill pouch, simulate feeding, flush (rinse), and wear the system, using the Instructions for Use (IFU) booklet, followed by a testing session where they simulated system use on their own. HCP self-trained using the IFU and instructional videos. A fill from ready-to-hang (RTH) formula bag method was also tested in HCP. Participants’ ability to loosely coil the tubing and sit, stand, and move around wearing a filled feeding pouch inside a crossbody bag was also evaluated.Results: Forty-five participants completed the study. All participants successfully and safely simulated use of the novel EFS, with 97.8% (44/45) doing so on first attempt. All participants could wear the novel EFS in crossbody bag and move around without any use errors or safety issues.Conclusion: The examined novel EFS can be safely used in intended use population, with or without previous experience with enteral nutrition, on provision of basic familiarization training and written IFU. Additionally, HCP can successfully self-train on this system with instructional videos.Keywords: feeding system, enteral feeding, mobility, mobility-enhancing enteral feeding system, novel EFS

Simple Summary: Grass silage is commonly used as a forage source in winter for finishing bull in European regions under oceanic climates, such as the Cantabrian cornice, where the local Tudanca breed is produced. Grass silage, compared with barley straw in the bull's diet showed an effect on beef quality, i.e., increased saturated fatty acids, n-3 fatty acids, and β-carotene and decreased monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Beef from silage-fed bulls and straw-fed bulls could be differentiated by fatty acid percentages, especially 18:0, t-18:1, and c9-18:1, b-carotene content, b* colour value, and carotenoid colour index. Beef derived from grass-fed cattle is a specific quality criterion. The effect of grass silage intake on quality characteristics, i.e., fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and lipid-derived volatile composition of intramuscular and perirenal fat from fattening bull weaners were studied. Visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra were also obtained from perirenal fat. Perirenal fat analysis was performed for feeding differentiation purposes. A total of 22 Tudanca breed 11-month-aged bulls were finished on three different diets: grass silage and a commercial concentrate ad libitum (GS-AC), grass silage ad libitum and the commercial concentrate restricted to half of the intake of the GS-AC group (GS-LC), and barley straw and concentrate ad libitum (Str-AC). Feeding had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on γ-linolenic acid and the ratio n-6/n-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, β-carotene content was greater in beef from silage groups than in the Str-AC group. Feeding also affected the perirenal fat composition. Beef from silage-fed bulls and straw-fed bulls could be differentiated by fatty acid percentages, especially 18:0, t-18:1, and c9-18:1, β-carotene content, b* colour value, and carotenoid colour index. However, the VIS or NIR spectra data showed poor differentiating performance, and the volatile composition did not have appreciable differentiation power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nutritional and organoleptic traits are important components of the meat industry, which can affect consumers' purchasing desire and the processing of meat quality. This study evaluated the effect of feeding system on the muscle fiber characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat. It was found that the feeding system had great effect on muscle fiber composition, antioxidant capacity, nutritional value, and organoleptic traits of goat meat, but compared with grazing on mountain range (whole area with about 40% inclination), grazing on flatland (whole area with about 0% inclination) improved the meat nutritional value and quality by altering the myofiber characteristic and antioxidative status. This study assists us in comprehending the influence of diverse feeding systems on nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat so as to develop more appropriate measures to retain superior quality of goat meat and provide basic data for the development of goat meat products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding system on muscle fiber composition, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat. Goats that grazed on flatland (whole area with about 0% inclination, FG group) and mountain range (whole area with about 40% inclination, MG group) were selected for the analysis. The results showed that grazing on flatland increased oxidized-twitch fiber percentage, the expression of the MyHC IIa gene (p < 0.001), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.001), and radical scavenging ability (RSA) (p < 0.05); meanwhile, the MyHC IIb gene expression (p < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p = 0.001) were decreased. Feeding system affected nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat, and grazing on flatland increased protein content, total content of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), pH45min, a* value, and variety of volatile flavor compounds but decreased the content of saturated fatty acid (SFA), shear force, and b* value. In addition, the key flavor substances were screened using relative odor activity value (ROAV), including hexanal, heptanal, (E)-2-octenal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E)-2-nonenal, and 1-octen-3-ol. Among them, 1-octen-3-ol and (E)-2-nonenal were the most contributing flavor compounds in the FG and MG groups, respectively, providing distinctive odor to goat meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the study lies in the fact that feed has a direct impact on animal and human health. The failure of breeders to use healthy and suitable fodder for the animal that meets the nutritional needs is due to several reasons, including the culture and education of the breeder, and some reasons related to the fodder itself, such as being of lower quality that does not meet the animal's nutritional and productive needs. The main objective of the study is to identify the feeding practices followed by livestock breeders, to assess their attitudes towards compound feed, and to determine the relationship between the personal and social characteristics of the breeders and their attitudes towards compound feed. The descriptive method was used. This study was conducted on livestock breeders in the Saudi Arabia, whose number is about (901,108 breeders). The questionnaire was used as a means of data collection, and (442) completed questionnaires representing the study sample were obtained. Descriptive statistical analyzes were used, and the chi-square test was used to measure the relationship between the personal and social characteristics of breeders and their attitudes towards compound feed. The analysis was done using the SPSS, v.26). The results of the study revealed that 52.5% of livestock breeders do not use compound feed in feeding livestock. The study also showed that 62.9% of livestock breeders did not notice the emergence of health problems in their livestock when using compound feed, while 37.1% noticed several problems, including: changing the color of the meat, disease, problems in milk production, diarrhea, and abscesses. ...etc.) when using compound feed, as it was found that the vast majority of livestock breeders, by 86.4%, had a neutral attitude towards compound feed. Finally, a significant relationship was found between the gender variable, the number of years of experience, and the feeding system variable with the breeders' attitudes towards the use of compound feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of South China Agricultural University is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To improve the gas flow distribution inside the gas-based shaft furnace and ensure the chemical reaction, the discrete element method was used to calculate the effects of revolving chute inclination, particle size mass distribution, particle size distribution width, and hopper angle on the pellet distribution indicators (particle segregation, porosity, gas permeability and feeding time). An improved analytic hierarchy process was presented to fully analyse the nine schemes set up as part of the research. The findings demonstrated that the positive segregation of small particles at the furnace's centre and wall occurred with several feeding systems. The largest influences on porosity were differences in particle size mass distribution and particle size distribution width, and an increase in the proportion of small particles resulted in a significant decrease in porosity. The increase of the mass ratio of large particles made the highest permeability, but also caused uneven distribution of the furnace charge along the radial direction. The simulation results and the ranking of benefits and drawbacks produced by the improved analytic hierarchy process approach agree, demonstrating the applicability of the method to optimise the feeding system as well as its value in identifying the major influences on the feeding system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water buffalo faces challenges in optimizing nutrition due to varying local feed resources. In response to this challenge, the current study introduces originality by addressing the lack of region-specific feeding strategies for water buffaloes. This is achieved through the formulation of 30 different diets based on locally available resources, offering a tailored approach to enhance nutritional optimization in diverse agroecological contexts. These diets were segmented into three groups of ten, each catering to the maintenance (MD1 to MD10), growth (GD1 to GD10), and lactation/production (PD1 to PD10) needs of buffaloes. Utilizing local feed ingredients, each diet was assessed for its chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane emissions, and dry matter (DM) disappearance using buffalo rumen liquor. The production diets (127 and 32.2 g/kg DM) had more protein and fats than the maintenance diets (82.0 and 21.0 g/kg DM). There was less (p < 0.05) fiber in the production diets compared to the maintenance ones. Different protein components (PB1, PB2) were lower (p < 0.05) in the maintenance diets compared to the growth and production ones, but other protein fractions (PB3, Pc) were higher (p < 0.05) in the maintenance diet. Furthermore, the growth diets had the highest amount of other protein components (PA), while the maintenance diets had the highest amount of soluble carbohydrates (586 g/kg DM), whereas the carbohydrate fraction (CB1) was highest (p < 0.05) in the production diets (187 g/kg DM), followed by the growth (129 g/kg DM) and maintenance diets (96.1 g/kg DM). On the contrary, the carbohydrate CA fraction was (p < 0.05) higher in the maintenance diets (107 g/kg DM) than in the growth (70.4 g/kg DM) and production diets (44.7 g/kg DM). The in vitro gas production over time (12, 24, and 48 h) was roughly the same for all the diets. Interestingly, certain components (ether extract, lignin, NDIN, ADIN, and PB3 and CC) of the diets seemed to reduce methane production, while others (OM, NPN, SP, PA and PB1, tCHO and CB2) increased it. In simple words, this study reveals that different diets affect gas production during digestion, signifying a significant step towards a promising future for buffalo farming through tailored, region-specific formulations.

Twenty lactating Carpatina goats were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with different levels of concentrates on composition of Carpatina goat milk. Goats in group A were confined and fed alfalfa hay with 1.32 kg/day of concentrate mixture. Group B, C and D were rotationally grazed and received 1.32, 0.66 and 0 Kg/day of concentrate supplementation, respectively. The results obtained from this experiment indicated that goats fed with high concentrate level and pasture grazing (Group B and C) produced milk with significantly higher contents of fat, protein, lactose and total solids than goats kept on pasture alone (Group D) or under a confined feeding system with concentrate and hays (Group A ). Grazing significantly increased the concentration of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as a-linolenic acid 0.49% (recorded from Group B). The milk from Group A (alfalfa hay and high concentrate) had an a-linolenic acid content of 0.38%.

Objective This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of pasture (PA) feeding on buffalo meat quality compared with buffaloes reared intensively with the use of corn silage as a forage base or alternatively with polyphite meadow hay (PH). Methods Thirty Mediterranean bull buffaloes were distributed into three experimental diet groups: maize silage (MS), PH, and PA. The animals were slaughtered at a live weight of 250 kg, and carcass and meat quality were evaluated. After 7 days of ageing, physical and chemical parameters of longissimus thoracis muscle were determined. To evaluate lipid oxidation the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was tested at 7 and 14 days, and also the fatty acid profile was recorded by gas chromatography. Results The PA group, even if it showed carcass parameters lower than those of the silage maize group, reported a good meat percentage (60.59% vs 58.46%, respectively) and lower fat percentage (p

IntroductionAutomated feeding systems offer numerous advantages for animals and humans, but the associated benefits and risks can often only be seen under practical conditions. The space allowance (~80 cm per horse) at time-controlled hay racks for horses in group housing, unlike at partitioned feeding stands or transponder-controlled feed stations, currently falls below the required individual distance between the horses, which can result in a high level of aggression between the horses due to the lack of partitions between them. Hence, a feed-through at a time-controlled hay rack cannot be equated with a feeding place. In this preliminary study, we therefore aimed to determine the minimum animal-to-feeding-place ratio (AFR) at time-controlled hay racks that would provide adequate individual distances between the horses.MethodsTo do so, we assessed behavioral and physiological parameters (via video behavioral observations and salivary cortisol measurements) of up to 28 horses in a loose housing system. Over 2 observation days per treatment, four AFRs were investigated in a balanced sequence: 1:1.2, 1:2, 1:3, and C (single feeding in familiar surroundings as a control).ResultsWe found that the horses expressed less aggressive behavior, especially those behaviors with a high risk of injury such as biting and kicking, when there were three times as many openings as there were horses at time-controlled hay racks, as compared with only 20% more openings or twice as many openings as there were horses [lineal mixed model: F(3, 4) = 7.411; adjusted R2 = 0.733; p(AFR_1:2) = 0.06, p(AFR_1:3) = 0.02, p(AFR_C) = 0.01]. The salivary cortisol levels during feeding decreased more strongly with more generous AFRs [p(AFR_metric) = 0.02]. The factors hierarchy and individual showed no influence. In contrast, the day of the experiment and the associated weather conditions, despite randomized selection, influenced both the behavioral and the physiological parameters.DiscussionThe results of this preliminary study indicate that the investigated time-controlled hay racks must provide at least three times as many feeding places as there are horses to ensure that neighboring horses can keep their individual distance and stress-free feeding is possible. Further studies on more farms and different types as well as arrangement of hay racks are proposed.

Simple Summary: With the development of living standards, consumers are paying more and more attention to meat quality and flavor. When consumers choose meat, they directly pay attention to meat quality and flavor, so the meat quality and flavor directly decide meat price and sales volume. Better meat quality and flavor are the crucial factors that increase the additional value of meat. Because of its special nutritional value and taste, yak meat is popular with consumers. The intramuscular lipids can greatly affect the meat quality and flavor, but there is no report on the effect of lipids in yak muscle on the meat quality and flavor. In this study, we studied the characterization of lipids in yak muscle under different feeding systems and further explored the key lipids affecting yak meat quality and flavor. This study can provide new insight into the improvement of yak meat quality and flavor. The effect of lipids on yak meat quality and volatile flavor compounds in yak meat under graze feeding (GF) and stall feeding (SF) was explored using untargeted lipidomics based on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in this study. First, the volatile flavor compounds in longissimus dorsi (LD) of SF and GF yaks were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total 49 and 39 volatile flavor substances were detected in the LD of GF and SF yaks, respectively. The contents of pelargonic aldehyde, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and 1-octen-3-ol in the LD of both GF and SF yaks were the highest among all detected volatile flavor compounds, and the leading volatile flavor substances in yak LD were aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. In total, 596 lipids were simultaneously identified in the LD of SF and GF yaks, and the leading lipids in the LD of both GF and SF yaks were sphingolipids (SPs), glycerolipids (GLs) and glycerophospholipids (GPs). Seventy-five significantly different lipids (SDLs) between GF and SF yaks were identified in the LD. The high content of TG(16:1/18:1/18:1), TG(16:0/17:1/18:1) and TG(16:0/16:1/18:1), PE(18:0/22:4) and PC(18:2/18:0) can improve the a* (redness) and tenderness of yak muscle. The changes in volatile flavor compounds in yak muscle were mainly caused by TG(18:1/18:1/18:2), TG(18:0/18:1/18:1), TG(16:0/17:1/18:1), TG(16:0/16:1/18:1), PC(18:2/18:0), TG(16:1/18:1/18:1), PI(18:0/20:4), TG(16:1/16:1-/18:1) and TG(17:0/18:1/18:1). The above results provide a theoretical basis for improving yak meat quality from the perspective of intramuscular lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted sensitivity analysis (SA) of the INRA 2018 feeding system for ruminants applied to dairy cows. We evaluated which dietary input variables contribute most to changes in each output variable, considering the potential interactions presence among input variables. A quantitative analysis (one-at-a-time analysis, OAT; i.e., local SA) and a relative comparative analysis (global SA, GSA) through variance-based SA considering potential interactions and non-monotonicity were applied. The 5 likely influential dietary input variables were selected: CP, Gross energy (GE), OM apparent digestibility (OMd), effective degradability of nitrogen assuming a passage rate of 6%/h (ED6&#95;N) and true intestinal digestibility of nitrogen. The sensitivity of 5 selected animal responses (output variables) to input variables was analyzed: DMI, milk protein yield (MPY), energy in methane (ECH4), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), and ratio between urine and total N excretion (UN/TN). Six diets for dairy cattle, reflecting the diversity of diets commonly used in practice, were formulated to meet 95% of the potential milk production (37.5 kg/d) of a multiparous dairy cow at wk 14 of lactation. For each diet, the 5 input variables were randomly sampled around the INRA 2018 feed table values (reference point), and the animal responses around this reference situation were calculated using the rationing software INRAtion®V5. In OAT, the sensitivity of animal responses was quantified by calculating the normalized tangent value at the reference point, and in GSA, the Sobol indices were calculated for relative influence of each input and their interaction. The influence of the 5 key input variables on the 5 main animal responses predicted from the INRA feeding system was consistent across both SA approaches. With the 6 diets, GE and OMd appeared as the main contributors to changes in DMI, MPY, ECH4, and NUE. Crude protein was the main contributor to changes in UN/TN and another major contributor to changes in NUE. When considering OAT, the sensitivity of outputs showed differences depending on diet, more particularly for DMI and MPY. With grass hay-based diets (GH diets), DMI was less sensitive and MPY was more sensitive to variations in input variables than other diets. When considering GSA, interactions between input variables were also noticeable for DMI and MPY; the interactions were high with the GH diets for DMI, and with fresh ryegrass and grass silage diets for MPY. On the other hand, for MPY, the non-GH diets were less sensitive to variations in input variables and the interaction between inputs was higher than with GH diets. In both cases, the interactions were mainly related to energy-related inputs (i.e., OMd and GE). Our results support the hypothesis that MPY, unlike DMI, is more responsive to energy-related factors at high PDI/UFL ratio (i.e., between metabolizable protein and NEL, e.g., GH diets >117 g PDI/UFL), than at lower PDI/UFL ratio. Hence, hybridizing the SA methods can help to interpret the system and facilitate a more precise evaluation thereof, especially GSA, which is amenable to non-monotonic models such as those characterizing complex feeding systems integrating multiple nutritional and animal factors., (© 2025, The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

The differences of fatty acids in yak's meat under graze feeding (GF) and stall feeding (SF) regimes and the regulation mechanism of the feeding system on the fatty acids content in yak 's meat was explored in this study. First, the fatty acids in yak's longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were detected by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Compared with GF yaks, the absolute content of ΣSFAs, ΣMUFAs, ΣUFAs, ΣPUFAs and Σn-6PUFAs in SF yak's LD were higher, whereas Σn-3PUFAs was lower; the relative content of ΣMUFAs, ΣPUFAs, Σn-3PUFAs and ΣUFAs in SF yak's LD were lower, whereas ΣSFAs was higher. The GF yak's meat is healthier for consumers. Further, the transcriptomic and lipidomics profiles in yak's LD were detected by mRNA-Sequencing (mRNA-Seq) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), respectively. The integrated transcriptomic and lipidomics analysis showed the differences in fatty acids were caused by the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, carbohydrates and phospholipids, and were mainly regulated by the FASN, FABP3, PLIN1, SLC16A13, FASD6 and SCD genes in the PPAR signaling pathway. Moreover, the SCD gene was the candidate gene for the high content of ΣMUFA, and FADS6 was the candidate gene for the high content of Σn-3PUFAs and the healthier ratio of Σn-6/Σn-3PUFAs in yak meat. This study provides a guidance to consumers in the choice of yak's meat, and also established a theoretical basis for improving yak's meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Utilization of long-term home enteral nutrition (HEN) for nutrition therapy is increasing across the world. However, HEN can be a mobility-limiting experience affecting quality of life (QoL). Improvement of QoL for patients receiving HEN is a universal goal within the nutrition community. This study evaluated usability of Mobility+®, a novel enteral feeding system (EFS). Methods: A summative study evaluating usability of the novel EFS was conducted with novices (NV), non-novices (NN), and healthcare professionals (HCP). Subjects in NV and NN groups received familiarization training where they were introduced to the novel EFS and walked through steps to fill pouch, simulate feeding, flush (rinse), and wear the system, using the Instructions for Use (IFU) booklet, followed by a testing session where they simulated system use on their own. HCP self-trained using the IFU and instructional videos. A fill from ready-to-hang (RTH) formula bag method was also tested in HCP. Participants' ability to loosely coil the tubing and sit, stand, and move around wearing a filled feeding pouch inside a crossbody bag was also evaluated. Results: Forty-five participants completed the study. All participants successfully and safely simulated use of the novel EFS, with 97.8% (44/45) doing so on first attempt. All participants could wear the novel EFS in crossbody bag and move around without any use errors or safety issues. Conclusion: The examined novel EFS can be safely used in intended use population, with or without previous experience with enteral nutrition, on provision of basic familiarization training and written IFU. Additionally, HCP can successfully self-train on this system with instructional videos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the impact of three distinct diets; perennial ryegrass (GRS), perennial ryegrass/white clover (CLV) and total mixed ration (TMR), on the sensory properties and volatile profile of whole milk powder (WMP). The samples were evaluated using a hedonic sensory acceptance test (n = 99 consumers) and by optimised descriptive profiling (ODP) using trained assessors (n = 33). Volatile profiling was achieved by gas chromatography mass spectrometry using three different extraction techniques; headspace solid phase micro-extraction, thermal desorption and high capacity sorptive extraction. Significant differences were evident in both sensory perception and the volatile profiles of the WMP based on the diet, with WMP from GRS and CLV more similar than WMP from TMR. Consumers scored WMP from CLV diets highest for overall acceptability, flavour and quality, and WMP from TMR diets highest for cooked flavour and aftertaste. ODP analysis found that WMP from TMR diets had greater caramelised flavour, sweet aroma and sweet taste, and that WMP from GRS diets had greater cooked aroma and cooked flavour, with WMP derived from CLV diets having greater scores for liking of colour and creamy aroma. Sixty four VOCs were identified, twenty six were found to vary significantly based on diet and seventeen of these were derived from fatty acids; lactones, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and esters. The abundance of δ-decalactone and δ-dodecalactone was very high in WMP derived from CLV and GRS diets as was γ-dodecalactone derived from a TMR diet. These lactones appeared to influence sweet, creamy, and caramelised attributes in the resultant WMP samples. The differences in these VOC derived from lipids due to diet are probably further exacerbated by the thermal treatments used in WMP manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored changes in the meat metabolome of animals subjected to different finishing systems and growth rates. Thirty-six Angus × Nellore crossbred steers were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments: (1) feedlot system with high average daily gain (ADG; FH); (2) feedlot system with low ADG (FL); (3) pasture system with high ADG (PH); and (4) pasture system with low ADG (PL). After harvest and chilling, Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples were taken for metabolite profile analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance. Spectrum was analyzed using chenomx software, and multi- and mega-variate data analyses were performed. The PLS-DA showed clear separation between FH and PL groups and overlap among treatments with different finishing systems but similar for matching ADG (FL and PH) treatments. Using a VIP cut-off of around 1.0, ATP and fumarate were shown to be greater in meat from PL cattle, while succinate, leucine, AMP, glutamate, carnosine, inosine, methionine, G1P, and choline were greater in meat from FH. Comparing FL and PH treatments, glutamine, carnosine, urea, NAD+, malonate, lactate, isoleucine, and alanine were greater in the meat of PH cattle, while G6P and betaine were elevated in that of FL cattle. Relevant pathways were also identified by differences in growth rate (FH versus PL) and finishing system were also noted. Growth rate caused a clear difference in meat metabolism that was highlighted by energy metabolism and associated pathways, while the feeding system tended to alter protein and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to improve the feeding system of a machine for automatically packing rod-shaped objects such as chopsticks. The automatic rod packing machine uses a motor to drive a four-bar linkage mechanism to achieve automatic feeding, but this feeding system can cause noise, and the operation process requires a large torque to prevent components from jamming in the storage box. Thus, the internal mechanism is susceptible to damage by stress, and the adjustment of the machine is very complicated when the damaged components are renewed. To overcome this shortcoming, the feeding system of a conventional machine for automatically packing rod-shaped objects such as chopsticks is first drawn in a 3D diagram. Then, the proposed feeding system of the machine tool, which includes motors, lead screws, and linear bearings, is used to replace the four-bar linkage mechanism of the conventional automatic rod packing machine feeding system to reduce the noise generated by the mechanism when transporting materials and to reduce the damage of the internal mechanism due to stress, and thus the frequency of parts replacement. This design is equipped with two storage boxes and improves the feeding efficiency, the feeding system is made of sheet metal and is combined with motors, lead screws, and linear bearings, and its motion is tested to complete the development and design of the feeding system of the improved machine for automatically packing rod-shaped objects such as chopsticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The extent of crop residues and agricultural byproducts utilization for their integration in feeding systems in Eastern DR Congo was assessed in South-Kivu (Walungu territoire) and two territoires in the Tanganyika province (Kalemie and Moba territoires). Data were collected through 21 focus group discussions in which 273 farmers participated including respectively 116 (42%) from South Kivu and 157 (58%) from Tanganyika province. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors influencing the adoption of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts as livestock feeds. Results revealed that all the respondents keep goats and chicken as major livestock. In all the territoires, crop residues (26.9%) were utilized more than agro-industrial byproducts (6.4%). Both crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts were most utilized in Walungu (39%, 10.3%), compared to Moba (18.3%, 6.2%) and Kalemie (23.4%, 2.7%). Sixteen types of crop residues and eight agro-industrial byproducts were identified and categorized into cereal crop residues (4), legume crop residues (4), root crop residues (3), fruit crop residues (3) and other crop residues (2). These crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts were generally sourced from around the homesteads and available and utilized throughout the year. They were often fed to livestock twice daily. The main constraints affecting adoption of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts were access to information, lack of knowledge, poor infrastructures, high cost of transportation of material, storage and conservation facilities, the toxicity of material and plant diseases, high cost of products, microbial infestation and the insufficient supply of the material. Improving the utilization of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts in the livestock feeding system in these territoires should tackle the above mentioned factors for sufficient utilization.

Conventionally, DC arc furnaces are fed by thyristor rectifiers to control the level of current or power transferred to the load. With the advancement of high-power transistors, other structures such as diode rectifiers and DC choppers have been introduced and developed for the feeding system of DC electric arc furnaces. In this paper, the effect of different power supply systems on power quality indexes is discussed. In this regard, two types of feeding systems are considered, including a power supply system based on thyristor rectifiers and a power supply system based on diode rectifiers and DC choppers. In addition, different control methods, including constant current control (CCC) and constant power control (CPC), on DC electric arc furnaces are applied. For evaluating the power quality indexes, voltage and current harmonic distortion, unbalance of voltage and current, and power factor on the AC side are investigated for different power supply systems. Simulation results were performed with PSCAD/EMTDC software. It is shown that the power supply systems with diode rectifiers and DC choppers have superiority in comparison to the types based on thyristor rectifiers. According to the results, the average current THD is reduced from 16.55% in the thyristor rectifier to 8.40% in the chopper rectifiers with the CCC method and from 19.27% in the thyristor rectifier to 7.38% in the chopper rectifiers with the CPC method. Moreover, the average voltage THD is reduced from 5.67% in the thyristor rectifier to 3.02% in the chopper rectifiers with the CCC method. The result is similar to the CPC method. Furthermore, for a specific power supply system, the harmonic distortion is lower in the case of the CPC method than in the CCC method.

Nowadays, the feeding systems of computer numerical control machine tools are lubricated by periodic oil supply or fixed stroke, the lubrication is insufficient in the case of high load and high-speed movement, and the lubrication is excessive during finishing and low feed rate. This study discusses the optimum lubrication timing of the feeding system. When the feeding system is moving, the servomotor torque value and current, accuracy, and oil film thickness are measured by sensors. Moreover, the lubrication characteristic model is validated and built by using the sensor values, and the optimal lubrication state estimation is obtained by using the back-propagation neural model. Then analyzed and feedback to the machine tool controller, to intelligent the lubrication system. According to the test, when the feed rate is increased by 5 m/min, the friction coefficient increases with rate, increasing the output of the frictional value of the work table by 6.90%. When the load is increased by 175 kg, the friction coefficient decreases with load, reducing the frictional value output of table movement by 6.71%. In the relationship between oil film thickness and current, the accuracy difference between the prediction and actual test results is less than 10%; in the case of the same accuracy, the oil supply frequency is reduced by 80%, and environmentally friendly machine tool has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of pasture (PA) feeding on buffalo meat quality compared with buffaloes reared intensively with the use of corn silage as a forage base or alternatively with polyphite meadow hay (PH). Methods: Thirty Mediterranean bull buffaloes were distributed into three experimental diet groups: maize silage (MS), PH, and PA. The animals were slaughtered at a live weight of 250 kg, and carcass and meat quality were evaluated. After 7 days of ageing, physical and chemical parameters of longissimus thoracis muscle were determined. To evaluate lipid oxidation the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was tested at 7 and 14 days, and also the fatty acid profile was recorded by gas chromatography. Results: The PA group, even if it showed carcass parameters lower than those of the silage maize group, reported a good meat percentage (60.59% vs 58.46%, respectively) and lower fat percentage (p<0.001). PA-fed animals showed meat redness, and even if only on raw meat, shear force was higher than the others. Low values of conjugate linoleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and n-3 were reported in the silage maize group. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly showed the influence of different diets on meat quality, and PCA1 and PCA2 explained 82% of the variability. Conclusion: Buffaloes reared on PA had meat with high nutritional value even if they showed poor carcass performance compared to the animals fed on MS. Buffaloes fed on polyphite hay were in an intermediate position, similar to grazing animals, according to the same nutritional determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is increasing worldwide due to its outstanding capabilities. This study introduces a novel semi-continuous feeding system to feed the biomass slurry against the high pressure of an HTC reactor. As expected in a semi-continuous operation, the biomass would be instantaneously exposed to the desired pressure and temperature, instead of a gradual increase to the desired temperature. Higher degrees of carbonization, lower cellulose crystallinity, improved hexagonal graphene sheets, surface hydrophobic characteristics, and higher thermal stability were observed at elevated temperatures in products from semi-continuous HTC when compared with products from batch operation. Reaction pathways were proposed for both batch and semi-continuous operations on the basis of physical and chemical characterization results. For HTC at 260 °C, the proposed semi-continuous system showed approximately 3% higher carbon content in the obtained hydrochar and a 25-min reduction in required time to reach 260 °C. The promising conclusion of these results is that by introducing continuous systems in HTC, not only will the time of the process cycle decrease, it will also achieve higher degrees of carbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]