scholarly journals Industrially Finished Calves: A Water Footprint-Profitability Paradox

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frikkie Maré ◽  
Henry Jordaan
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Cattle Breeds ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate ◽  
South African Rand

The feed conversion rate is one of the most important determinants of the water footprint (WF) of beef and is known to vary between different cattle breeds. The objective of this study was to estimate the WF of industrially finished calves of seven different cattle breeds on two different feeding regimes: normal pre-determined feeding period (NPFP) and profit-maximising feeding period (PMFP). Data were collected by finishing 35 calves of each of the seven breeds in a feedlot. Green, blue and grey WFs were estimated for the different feeding regimes, and a feedlot simulation provided the effect of the different feeding regimes on the water footprint, financial margin and the water footprint per rand of margin. The results indicated that the water footprint differed notably between breeds on the same feeding regime, as well as between the feeding regimes. While the PMFP had a 1% higher water footprint per year in a typical feedlot than the NPFP, the financial margin was 33% more, resulting in a 24% decrease in the water footprint per South African rand of margin. The contributions of green, blue and grey water to the total WF were 91.5%, 2.5% and 6%, respectively, irrespective of breed or feeding regime.

scholarly journals Enterococcus faecium PNC01 isolated from the intestinal mucosa of chicken as an alternative for antibiotics to reduce feed conversion rate in broiler chickens

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang He ◽  
Xuan Liu ◽  
Yuanyang Dong ◽  
Jiaqi Lei ◽  
Koichi Ito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Broiler Production ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate

Abstract Background The development and utilization of probiotics had many environmental benefits for replacing antibiotics in animal production. Bacteria in the intestinal mucosa have better adhesion to the host intestinal epithelial cells compared to bacteria in the intestinal contents. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens and investigated as the substitution to antibiotic in broiler production. Results In addition to acid resistance, high temperature resistance, antimicrobial sensitivity tests, and intestinal epithelial cell adhesion, Enterococcus faecium PNC01 (E. faecium PNC01) was showed to be non-cytotoxic to epithelial cells. Draft genome sequence of E. faecium PNC01 predicted that it synthesized bacteriocin to perform probiotic functions and bacteriocin activity assay showed it inhibited Salmonella typhimurium from invading intestinal epithelial cells. Diet supplemented with E. faecium PNC01 increased the ileal villus height and crypt depth in broiler chickens, reduced the relative length of the cecum at day 21, and reduced the relative length of jejunum and ileum at day 42. Diet supplemented with E. faecium PNC01 increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroides in the cecal microbiota. Conclusion E. faecium PNC01 replaced antibiotics to reduce the feed conversion rate. Furthermore, E. faecium PNC01 improved intestinal morphology and altered the composition of microbiota in the cecum to reduce feed conversion rate. Thus, it can be used as an alternative for antibiotics in broiler production to avoid the adverse impact of antibiotics by altering the gut microbiota. Graphic Abstract

Performance of the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) on by-product diets in small-scale production

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
J.M. Sorjonen ◽  
M. Karhapää ◽  
S. Holm ◽  
A. Valtonen ◽  
H. Roininen
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Acheta Domesticus ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
House Cricket ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate ◽  
By Products

As insect farming is becoming more popular in Europe and in the US, the use of food industry by-products in insects’ feed is drawing more attention. However, it is still unclear how to maximise the use of by-products in the feeds while meeting the nutritional requirements and maintaining profitable rearing yields with the current production technology. In this study, we conducted an experiment in Finnish small-scale cricket farming and laboratory conditions to determine whether five diet treatments, including by-product diets with barley mash and turnip rape, modify the overall fresh yield (kg), development time and feed conversion rate of the house crickets (Acheta domesticus). We discovered that the diets differed in the overall fresh cricket yield (kg) but not in the development time or the feed conversion rate of the crickets. The diets with a high proportion of by-product decreased the price of the feed but at the same time reduced the yield. Based on our results, complex by-product diets with the by-product proportion of 20-41% are the most suitable for house cricket rearing.

scholarly journals Research on the Influence of the Light and Sexing on Growth Performance and Slaughter Results at Young Quails from Mixed Baloteşti Population of Eggs-Meat

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Lucian IONITA ◽  
Elena POPESCU-MICLOSANU ◽  
George NICA ◽  
Cornel Octavian PANA
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate ◽  
Average Weight Gain ◽  
Experimental Group

The purposes of determining the influence of the light and sexing on growth performance and slaughter results atyoung quails from Balotesti population, was organized an experiment on 150 quails, betwen age of 28 and 70 days. The chicks were divided into two groups (control and experimental), and growth and slaughter performance were determined separately by sex. Have studied 2 lighting programs, a program of continous lighting with photoperiod duration of 16 hours (16 L + 8 N, control group) and a program with lighting with asymetric hours intervals with photoperiod duration of 16 hours (10L+2N+6L+6N, experimental group).Males and females from the experimental group were recorded average performance of growth high during the period 28 - 70 days. Live weight at age of 70 days was higher with 7.54 %, average weight gain was higher with 14.86 % and feed conversion rate was lower with 13.51 % at males from experimental group compared to males from the control group. Also, the live weight at the age of 70 days was higher with 18.09 %; average weight gain was higher with 35.12 %, while feed conversion rate was reduced with 30.08 % on females from the experimental group compared to females from the control group.The results of the slaughter at 70 days were superior in the caseof females from the both groups versus males. The average weight of the carcase was higher with 17.53 % in case of the females than that of males from the experimental group, and the carcase yield was 65.37 % at the females and 65.56 % for males. Also, the average weight of the carcase was higher with 5.08 % in case of females compared to that males from the control group, and the carcase yield was 64.20 % to females 66.70 % on males.Superior results recorded in the case of females and males from the experimental group recommended the program of lighting with asymmetric hours intervals in the growth of youth quail. Also, the higher slaughter results recorded in the case of females of the two groups recommended them in the meat production through a broiler of quail that combine advantages in the production of both males and females. 

Establishing Modularized Environmental Measurements and Analyzing and Applying Environmental Information for a Windowless Broiler House in Taiwan

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-313
Author(s):  
Yueh-Jung Li ◽  
Kuang-Wen Hsieh ◽  
Suming Chen ◽  
Perng-Kwei Lei
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Temperature Humidity Index ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate ◽  
Broiler House

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to apply wireless sensor modules to measure the environmental conditions in a windowless broiler house. An environmental index monitoring system was established that automatically estimated the temperature-humidity index (THI) and temperature-humidity-velocity index (THVI) according to the collected database. Finally, prediction of the relationships between the THI or THVI and the feed conversion rate (FCR) was studied. Nine sets of temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity sensors were used for measuring the inside environment. An additional set was located outside the broiler house. The environmental database used this system of wireless sensors for collecting environmental information, quantifying the environmental indices, and establishing a warning system. The system automatically estimated the THI and THVI according to the database and presented the results in a user interface. Two areas of the broiler house were arranged for daily measurement of feed consumption and individual weight of the broilers for two experiments. These data were applied to calculate the daily weight gain and FCR. The first experiment was conducted from 9 September to 9 October (from summer to autumn) in 2016, and the second experiment was conducted from 3 November to 9 December (from autumn to winter) in 2016. During the experiments, there were no errors in the messages sent by the environmental database and warning system. These results serve as important references for predicting the FCR as well as the THI and THVI. The THVI of the first experiment and the THI of the second experiment predicted the FCR with a good relationship. The results show that the indoor and outdoor THI values could be higher than the standard values. In the FCR statistical analysis, the FCR of the second experiment was lower than the FCR of the first experiment, and they were both lower than the criterion FCR. This implies that opportunities exist for improving the broiler house environment in this subtropical climate. The results of this study could become an important reference for predicting the FCR with the THI and THVI. Finally, prediction of the relationships between the THI or THVI and the FCR were conducted. The results of the second experiment (R2 = 0.8327) were significantly better than the results of the first experiment (R2 = 0.5184). Keywords: Broiler, Feed conversion rate, Temperature-humidity index, Temperature-humidity-velocity index, Warning system, Wireless sensor module.

A note on the use of sodium hydroxide treated straw pellets in diets for growing rabbits

1979 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. de Blas ◽  
Yolanda Merino ◽  
Maria J. Fraga ◽  
J. F. Gálvez
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Sodium Hydroxide ◽  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Cereal Straw ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Dressing Percentage ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate

ABSTRACTThe effects of the inclusion of increasing quantities of cereal straw treated with sodium hydroxide in the diet of rabbits weie studied on 68 animals, both males and females, of the Spanish Giant and New Zealand × Spanish Giant breeds, weaned at different weights. The nitrogen and fibre digestibilities, the overall growth rate (from weaning to 2·25 kg) and the partial growth rate (from weaning to 2 weeks after weaning) increased linearly, while the feed conversion rate decreased when the content of treated straw in the feed was raised. The overall growth rate for males was significantly higher (P < 0·001) and feed conversion rate lower (P < 0·01) than for females. The crossbred animals had a significantly higher overall (P < 0·001) and partial (P < 0·05) growth rate. As weaning weight increased, overall (P < 0·001) and partial (P < 0·05) growth rate also increased, whereas the dressing percentage of the carcass decreased significantly (P < 0·01).

Corrigendum to ‘Feed conversion rate and estimated energy balance of free grazing Iberian pigs’ [Livestock Science 132 (2010) 152–156]

2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
Vicente Rodríguez-Estévez ◽  
Manuel Sánchez-Rodríguez ◽  
Antón García ◽  
A. Gustavo Gómez-Castro
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Conversion Rate ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Free Grazing ◽  
Feed Conversion Rate
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