scholarly journals Technical note: validation of an automated feeding system for measuring individual animal feed intake in sheep housed in groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1006-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie K Muir ◽  
Nick P Linden ◽  
Andrew Kennedy ◽  
Grace Calder ◽  
Gavin Kearney ◽  
...  

Abstract The development of feeding systems that can individually measure and control feed intake in a group-housed environment would allow a greater understanding of sheep intake without compromising animal welfare and behavior through the removal of social interactions between sheep. This study validated an automated feeding system for measuring feed intake of individual sheep when housed in groups. Validation of the feeding system was conducted during three separate experiments. The validation sampling involved the activation of four individual “feed events,” whereby four separate samples weighing approximately 50, 100, 200, and 400 g were removed from each feeder, with each feed event being linked to a specific radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The feeder validation experiments evaluated the ability of the feeding system to 1) create a unique feed event every time a sample of pellets was collected from the feeder, 2) link the feed event to the correct RFID, and 3) accurately record the weight of feed that was manually removed. All feed events were initiated and logged in the feeding system with 100% of the events being linked to the correct test RFID. Concordance correlation coefficients between the feeding system-recorded feed weight and the manually removed weight were 0.99 within all three experiments. There was also no overall and little level-dependent bias between the weights measured by the feeding system and weights measured on the external scales. These results indicate the stability of the feeding system over time and consistency between the feeders within and across the three experiments. In conclusion, the automated feeding system developed for measuring individual animal feed intake was able to detect and record the unique electronic RFID associated with unique feed events and accurately capture the weight of feed removed. Furthermore, there was no change in the accuracy of the system from the start to the end of experimental periods, and the amount of feed removed in the feed event (or meal size) did not impact the accuracy of the results.

2009 ◽  
Vol 69-70 ◽  
pp. 338-342
Author(s):  
Xiao Dong Hu ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
Jian Hua Yao ◽  
Z.J. Chen

The stability of powder feeding is important to guarantee the quality of the laser remanufacturing. In order to detect and control the powder flow, a new powder feeding device is designed for laser remanufacturing. Scraper-type conveyer and capacitance sensor are used into the device which is tested by 2Cr13 and H13 powder. The results show that: Using H13 metal powder as medium will get a better effect,and when the changes of powder density are more than 10-1g/min, the device acts better distinguish-ability. The experimental results demonstrate that the system can be used to control the steel base powder feeding.


2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Arthur ◽  
J. A. Archer ◽  
R. M. Herd

In the last 10 years, there have been 3 major research and development projects in Australia on the efficiency of feed utilisation by beef cattle. The primary objective of these projects has been to examine individual animal variation in feed efficiency and its exploitation for genetic improvement in beef cattle. The results of these projects indicate that genetic variation in feed efficiency exists in Australian beef herds, that feed efficiency is moderately heritable and that the potential exists to reduce the cost of beef production through selection for efficient cattle. These results have been further developed for industry application through the generation of BREEDPLAN estimated breeding values for net (or residual) feed intake (a feed efficiency trait) for Angus and Hereford–Polled Hereford breeds. Although economic analyses have indicated substantial benefit from selection for feed efficiency, the high initial cost of identifying animals which are superior for feed efficiency is a barrier to rapid adoption of the technology. Developing cost-effective methods of implementing the feed efficiency technology is thus an on-going research activity. Challenges for the future include: the development and use of more sophisticated statistical analyses procedures (such as random regression) for feed intake and efficiency evaluation; development of accurate methods of assessing individual animal feed intake at pasture; the adoption of a whole-production system approach to feed utilisation; and better integration of the disciplines of genetics and nutrition. The outcomes from research in the efficiency of feed utilisation in beef cattle have wider applications, not only in other livestock species, but also in human energetics, such as the control of obesity.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1373
Author(s):  
Tayler L. Hansen ◽  
Manfei Li ◽  
Jinghui Li ◽  
Chris J. Vankerhove ◽  
Militsa A. Sotirova ◽  
...  

Dairy production is an important source of nutrients in the global food supply, but environmental impacts are increasingly a concern of consumers, scientists, and policy-makers. Many decisions must be integrated to support sustainable production—which can be achieved using a simulation model. We provide an example of the Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model to assess changes in the dairy system related to altered animal feed efficiency. RuFaS is a whole-system farm simulation model that simulates the individual animal life cycle, production, and environmental impacts. We added a stochastic animal-level parameter to represent individual animal feed efficiency as a result of reduced residual feed intake and compared High (intake = 94% of expected) and Very High (intake = 88% of expected) efficiency levels with a Baseline scenario (intake = 100% of expected). As expected, the simulated total feed intake was reduced by 6 and 12% for the High and Very High efficiency scenarios, and the expected impact of these improved efficiencies on the greenhouse gas emissions from enteric methane and manure storage was a decrease of 4.6 and 9.3%, respectively.


2020 ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Ersin Yucel ◽  
Mine Yucel

In this study, the usage of the peppermint (Mentha piperita) for extracting the metal ions [Mg (II), Cr (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II), Cd (II), Pb (II)] that exist at water was investigated. In order to analyze the stability properties, Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms were used at removing the metal ions and the highest correlation coefficients (R2) were obtained at Langmuir isotherm. Therefore, it is seen that the Langmuir model is more proper than the Freundlich model. However, it was found that the correlation coefficients of removing Ni and Cd is higher at Freundlich model than Langmuir and low at Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm. It is established that the biosorption amount increase depends on the increase of biosorbent and it can be achieved high efficiency (95%) even with small amount (0.6 mg, peppermint extract) at lead ions. It is also determined that the peppermint extracted that is used at this study shows high biosorption capacity for metal ions and can be used for immobilization of metals from polluted areas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 626-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Liu ◽  
Qinghua Wu ◽  
Hongyi Liu ◽  
Changhu Lu ◽  
Chao Gu ◽  
...  

Background: The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is one of the most vulnerable bird species in the world. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi and considered naturally unavoidable contaminants in animal feed. Our recent survey indicated that the mycotoxins had the potential to contaminate redcrowned crane’s regular diets in China. Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the protective effects of mycotoxin binder montmorillonite (Mont) on growth performance, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress parameters of the red-crowned crane. Methods: 16 red-crowned cranes were divided into four groups and fed one of the following diets; a selected diet, regular diet, or the selected diet or regular diet with 0.5% montmorillonite added to the diets. The cranes' parameters of performance, hematology, serum biochemistry and serum oxidative stress were measured. Results: Consuming regular diets decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI), levels of haemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PLT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), but increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The supplementation of 0.5% Mont provided protection for the red-crowned crane in terms of feed intake, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress. Moreover, Mont supplementation had no adverse effect on the health of red-crowned crane. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggested that the addition of dietary Mont is effective in improving the health of red-crowned crane.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1829
Author(s):  
Davide Grande ◽  
Catherine A. Harris ◽  
Giles Thomas ◽  
Enrico Anderlini

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are increasingly being used for model identification, forecasting and control. When identifying physical models with unknown mathematical knowledge of the system, Nonlinear AutoRegressive models with eXogenous inputs (NARX) or Nonlinear AutoRegressive Moving-Average models with eXogenous inputs (NARMAX) methods are typically used. In the context of data-driven control, machine learning algorithms are proven to have comparable performances to advanced control techniques, but lack the properties of the traditional stability theory. This paper illustrates a method to prove a posteriori the stability of a generic neural network, showing its application to the state-of-the-art RNN architecture. The presented method relies on identifying the poles associated with the network designed starting from the input/output data. Providing a framework to guarantee the stability of any neural network architecture combined with the generalisability properties and applicability to different fields can significantly broaden their use in dynamic systems modelling and control.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1320
Author(s):  
Kristýna Pekárková ◽  
Jakub Soukup ◽  
Marie Kostelanská ◽  
Jan Širc ◽  
Zbyněk Straňák ◽  
...  

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from liquid biopsies are extensively analyzed by flow cytometry, a technology that is continuously evolving. Thresholding utilizing a violet 405 nm laser side scatter (VSSC) has recently been implemented. Here, we collected set of large EV (lEV) samples from cord blood, which we analyzed using a standard flow cytometer improved via a 405 nm laser side scatter. Samples were analyzed using two distinct thresholding methods—one based on VSSC, and one based on VSSC combined with fluorescence thresholding on stained phosphatidylserine. Through these thresholding methods, we compared lEVs from pre-term births and control cord blood. Double-labeled lEVs with platelet CD36+/CD41+, activated platelet CD41+/CD62P+ and endothelial CD31+/CD105+ antibodies were used. Apart from comparing the two groups together, we also correlated measured lEVs with the thresholding methods. We also correlated the results of this study with data analyzed in our previous study in which we used a conventional 488 nm laser SSC. We did not find any difference between the two cord blood groups. However, we found highly concurrent data via our correlation of the thresholding methods, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.80 to 0.96 even though the numbers of detected lEVs differed between thresholding methods. In conclusion, our approaches to thresholding provided concurrent data and it seems that improving the cytometer with the use of a VSSC increases its sensitivity, despite not being particularly critical to the validity of flow cytometric studies that compare pathological and physiological conditions in liquid biopsies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 532 ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao Jiang Sun ◽  
Lei Su ◽  
Chao Zhang

In order to solve the problem that the big loss of no-load and the fast rise of temperature when employ the conventional silicon steel metal transformer (SSMT) in the electric heating system, we choose the amorphous metal transformer (AMMT). In this paper, firstly, we give a brief introduction of the amorphous alloy material properties and compare the no-load characteristic of the AMMT with the SSMT. Secondly, the structure of intermediate frequency heating system working principle and control strategy are introduced. Finally, extensive experiments were conducted to validate the ideas. The experiments show that the AMMT not only improve the efficiency of transformer, solve the heating problem of transformer, but also improve the stability, security and other technical performance of the system, so it is worth recommending and promoting.


2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-248
Author(s):  
L. Pinotti ◽  
V.M. Moretti ◽  
A. Baldi ◽  
F. Bellagamba ◽  
A. Campagnoli ◽  
...  

The protracted outbreak of mad-cow disease, repeated episodes of dioxin and mycotoxin contamination, and the issue of labelling genetically modified foods have severely shaken public confidence in the food supply industry, increasing consumer concerns about the origins of the raw materials used in both animal feed and food products. The need to develop improved techniques to characterize feed and food components has consequently become more urgent, and DNA-based technologies promise to be able to meet these needs. DNA methods can establish the origin of species in meat- and fish-based products and feed ingredients, and are the most reliable analytical approaches for authenticating processed foodstuffs. The identification of ingredients in processed feed and food is mandatory not only to ensure correct labelling and assessment of value, but also to avoid health risks related to the presence of toxic contaminants or pathogenic agents.


Author(s):  
Nicolay T. Labyntsev ◽  
Lyubov F. SHILOVA ◽  
Ocsana V. Chukhrova

This article revises the mission and the name of the accounting profession in the context of strengthening the economic security of enterprises under the conditions of digitalization of the economy. The authors note that in the contemporary conditions of economic management, enterprises should form and ensure the functioning of the economic security of the enterprise at the proper level. The necessity of in-depth research of economic security at microlevel was considered, the factors influencing the stability of the enterprise were highlighted. High level of economic security of the subject of management consists in guaranteeing him maximum effective and stable functioning now and in future. Subjects of economic security were individual enterprises, and objects — their economic interests. The main goals of ensuring economic security of the enterprise in the part of accounting were singled out, the tasks of accounting policy, aimed at ensuring economic security, were determined. The prospects of the accounting profession in the process of ensuring economic security and reliable safe presentation of the results of doing business in reporting are substantiated. The study contains proposals on the revision of requirements for the qualifications of accountants in order to emphasize their activities aimed at strengthening the economic security of the enterprise.


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