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Urban/peri-urban dairying in East Africa used to be typified by elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schumach) as the primary forage. However, the ever-declining space for farming has made forage cultivation increasingly difficult. As a coping strategy, farmers are harvesting vegetation biomass from natural environment, particularly common reed (Phragmites australis, Cav.) from wetlands. This study aimed to compare elephant grass and common reed in terms of chemical composition and in situ rumen degradation. Samples were collected (in dry and wet seasons) and analyzed for chemical composition, and in situ rumen degradation of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) determined. Rumen degradation was determined by incubating triplicate nylon-bagged samples in rumens of three cannulated Ankole–Friesian crossbred steers. The CP content ranged from 10.8% to 16.2% DM (common reed), and 9.9–12.5% DM (elephant grass). Common reed showed lower DM, and ADF compositions, and higher effective rumen degradability of DM, CP, and NDF in both seasons. For both forages, CP content was higher during the dry season, while effective rumen degradability of DM, CP, and NDF were higher in the wet season. In summary, the chemical and rumen degradation results suggest that common reed may be nutritionally superior to elephant grass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home care (HC) aide visits to clients' homes often involve cleaning and disinfecting (C&D) bathrooms. Some ingredients in C&D household products are associated with respiratory illness, including sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and quaternary ammonium compounds (quats). "Green" products may be safer for the environment, however there are limited quantitative evaluations of their respiratory risks. This study assessed airborne concentrations and time profiles of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and chlorine generated during typical bathroom cleaning performed by aides using conventional and green products. Aides performed cleaning tasks in a simulated residential bathroom constructed in an environmental air sampling laboratory. A balanced experimental design involved each aide coming to the lab for four visits during which she performed two 20-min cleaning sessions using one of three C&D products (bleach-based, 1–5% sodium hypochlorite by weight; quats-based, 0.1–1% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds; and "green," 0.05% by weight thymol, a component of botanical thyme oil) or distilled water as a control. TVOC and chlorine direct reading instruments were attached to aides with sample inlets located in the breathing zone. Ten-second averages of TVOC and chlorine gas concentrations and instantaneous peak concentrations were recorded for the sessions' duration. TVOC concentrations by methods of C&D application (spraying, streaming, wiping) also were evaluated. The study completed 169 air sampling sessions with 22 aides. The quats-based product generated more than twice the average TVOC concentrations (mean = 1,210 ppb) than the bleach-based (mean = 593 ppb) or green (mean = 498 ppb) products. Each product generated TVOC concentrations that rose rapidly within the first few minutes of application. Spraying produced the highest TVOC exposures, wiping the lowest. Thirteen aides (65%) experienced peak chlorine exposures above the OSHA PEL ceiling limit (1 ppm) when using the bleach-based product. HC aides may experience respiratory hazards from use of conventional or green C&D products formulated with bleach or other respiratory irritants and sprayed in small, poorly ventilated spaces typical of bathrooms. Spraying should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The description of wet wheat distillers' grain (WWDG) from a microbiological point of view and identification of Lactobacillus species is undertaken. An investigation about some characteristics that could be important for their potential, as probiotics, is made.

Most plant-origin fiber sources used in pig production contains a mixture of soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The knowledge about effects of these sources of NSP on the gut microbiota and its fermentation products is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of feeding diets with native sources of NSP on the ileal and fecal microbial composition and the dietary impact on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acid. The experiment comprised four diets and four periods in a change-over design with seven post valve t-cecum cannulated growing pigs. The four diets were balanced to be similar in NSP content and included one of four fiber sources, two diets were rich in pectins, through inclusion of chicory forage (CFO) and sugar beet pulp, and two were rich in arabinoxylan, through inclusion of wheat bran (WB) and grass meal. The gut microbial composition was assessed with terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length polymorphism and the abundance of Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyromonas and the β-xylosidase gene, xynB, were assessed with quantitative PCR. The gut microbiota did not cluster based on NSP structure (arabinoxylan or pectin) rather, the effect was to a high degree ingredient specific. In pigs fed diet CFO, three TRFs related to Prevotellaceae together consisted of more than 25% of the fecal microbiota, which is about 3 to 23 times higher (P<0.05) than in pigs fed the other diets. Whereas pigs fed diet WB had about 2 to 22 times higher abundance (P<0.05) of Megasphaera elsdenii in feces and about six times higher abundance (P<0.05) of Lactobacillus reuteri in ileal digesta than pigs fed the other diets. The total amount of digested NSP (r=0.57; P=0.002), xylose (r=0.53; P=0.004) and dietary fiber (r=0.60; P=0.001) in ileal digesta were positively correlated with an increased abundance of Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyromonas. The effect on SCFA was correlated to specific neutral sugars where xylose increased the ileal butyric acid proportion, whereas arabinose increased the fecal butyric acid proportion. Moreover, chicory pectin increased the acetic acid proportion in both ileal digesta and feces. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context. Mid- and far-infrared observations of the environment around embedded protostars reveal a plethora of high excitation molecular and atomic emission lines. Different mechanisms for the origin of these lines have been proposed, including shocks induced by protostellar jets and radiation or heating by the embedded protostar of its immediate surroundings. Aims. By studying of the most important molecular and atomic coolants, we aim at constraining the physical conditions around the embedded protostars SMM3 and SMM4 in the Serpens molecular cloud core and measuring the CO/H2 ratio in warm gas. Methods. Spectro-imaging observations from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) and the Herschel Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) provide an almost complete wavelength coverage between 5 and 200 μm. Within this range, emission from all major molecular (H2, CO, H2O and OH) and many atomic ([OI], [CII], [FeII], [SiII] and [SI]) coolants of excited gas are detected. Emission line maps reveal the morphology of the observed emission and indicate associations between the different species. The excitation conditions for molecular species are assessed through rotational diagrams. Emission lines from major coolants are compared to the results of steady-state C- and J-type shock models. Results. Line emission tends to peak at distances of ~10-20'' from the protostellar sources with all but [CII] peaking at the positions of outflow shocks seen in near-IR and sub-millimeter interferometric observations. The [CII] emission pattern suggests that it is most likely excited from energetic UV radiation originating from the nearby flat-spectrum source SMM6. Excitation analysis indicates that H2 and CO originate in gas at two distinct rotational temperatures of ~300 K and 1000 K, while the excitation temperature for H2O and OH is ~100-200 K. The morphological and physical association between CO and H2 suggests a common excitation mechanism, which allows direct comparisons between the two molecules. The CO/H2 abundance ratio varies from ~10-5 in the warmer gas up to ~10-4 in the hotter regions. Shock models indicate that C-shocks can account for the observed line intensities if a beam filling factor and a temperature stratification in the shock front are considered. C-type shocks can best explain the emission from H2O. The existence of J-shocks is suggested by the strong atomic/ionic (except for [CII]) emission and a number of line ratio diagnostics. Dissociative shocks can account for the CO and H2 emission in a single excitation temperature structure. Conclusions. The bulk of cooling from molecular and atomic lines is associated with gas excited in outflow shocks. The strong association between H2 and CO constrain their abundance ratio in warm gas. Both C- and J-type shocks can account for the observed molecular emission; however, J-shocks are strongly suggested by the atomic emission and provide simpler and more homogeneous solutions for CO and H2. The variations in the CO/H2 abundance ratio for gas at different temperatures can be interpreted by their reformation rates in dissociative J-type shocks, or the influence of both C and J shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of fibre level and fibre source on digestibility, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, total tract mean retention time (MRT) and growth performance was studied in indigenous Mong Cai (MC) and exotic Landrace × Yorkshire (LY) pigs. The diets were based on maize, rice bran, soyabean meal, fish meal and soyabean oil, and cassava residue (CR) or brewer's grain (BG) as fibrous ingredient sources in the high-fibre diets (HF) and were fed ad libitum. A low-fibre diet (LF), containing around 200 g NDF/kg dry matter (DM), was formulated without CR and BG as feed ingredients. The HF diets (HF-CR and HF-BG) were formulated to contain around 270 g NDF/kg DM. The experiment was arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial completely randomized design with six replications, and lasted 27 days. Increased dietary fibre level resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in average daily gain, digestibility of organic matter (OM), CP and gross energy (GE) at the ileum and in the total tract, and in MRT, and an increase (P < 0.05) in the feed conversion ratio and in the weight of the GIT (except for small intestine and caecum). The coefficients of total tract digestibility of fibre fractions were higher in HF diets than in the LF diet, with highest values for diet HF-CR, which had a high proportion of soluble non-starch polysaccharides. MC pigs had longer MRT of digesta than LY pigs (P < 0.05), resulting in higher digestibility at the ileum and in the total tract. Across diets and breeds, the total tract apparent digestibility of OM, CP and GE was positively related (R2 = 0.80 to 0.84) to the MRT of solids, whereas the MRT was negatively related to the DM intake (R2 = 0.60). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The importance of the physical environment in the evolution of newly formed low-mass stars remains an open question. In particular, radiation from nearby more massive stars may affect both the physical and chemical structure of these kinds of young stars. Aims. We constrain the physical characteristics of a group of embedded low-mass protostars in Corona Australis in the vicinity of the young luminous Herbig Be star R CrA. Methods. Millimetre wavelength maps of molecular line and continuum emission towards the low-mass star forming region IRS7 near R CrA from the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) are presented. The maps show the distribution of 18 lines from 7 species (H2CO, CH3OH, HC3N, c-C3H2, HCN, CN and SiO) on scales from 3" to 60" (400-8000 AU). Using a set of H2CO lines, we estimate the temperatures and column densities in the region using both LTE and non-LTE methods. The results are compared with 1-D radiative transfer modelling of the protostellar cores. These models constrain which properties of the central source, protostellar envelope, and surrounding radiation field can give rise to the observed line and continuum emission. Results. Most of the H2CO emission from the regions emerges from two elongated (~6000 AU long) narrow (<1500 AU) ridges dominating the emission picked up in both interferometric and single-dish measurements. The temperatures inferred from the H2CO lines are no less than ~30 K and more likely 50-60 K, and the line emission peaks are offset by ~2500 AU from the location of the embedded protostars. These temperatures can not be explained by the heating from the young stellar objects (YSOs) themselves. Irradiation by the nearby Herbig Be star R CrA could, however, explain these high temperatures. The elevated temperatures can in turn impact the physical and chemical characteristics of protostars, in particular, lead to enhanced abundances of typical tracers of photon dominated regions (PDRs) such as seen in single-dish line surveys of embedded protostars in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most athletic horses are fed a high-starch diet despite the risk of health problems. Replacing starch concentrate with high-energy forage would alleviate these health problems, but could result in a shift in major substrates for muscle energy supply from glucose to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) due to more hindgut fermentation of fibre. Dietary fat inclusion has previously been shown to promote aerobic energy supply during exercise, but the contribution of SCFA to exercise metabolism has received little attention. This study compared metabolic response with exercise and lactate threshold (VLa4) in horses fed a forage-only diet (F) and a more traditional high-starch, low-energy forage diet (forage–concentrate diet - FC). The hypothesis was that diet F would increase plasma acetate concentration and increase VLa4 compared with diet FC. Six Standardbred geldings in race training were used in a 29-day change-over experiment. Plasma acetate, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), lactate, glucose and insulin concentrations and venous pH were measured in samples collected before, during and after a treadmill exercise test (ET, day 25) and muscle glycogen concentrations before and after ET. Plasma acetate concentration was higher before and after exercise in horses on diet F compared with diet FC, and there was a tendency (P = 0.09) for increased VLa4 on diet F. Venous pH and plasma glucose concentrations during exercise were higher in horses on diet F than diet FC, as was plasma NEFA on the day after ET. Plasma insulin and muscle glycogen concentrations were lower for diet F, but glycogen utilisation was similar for the two diets. The results show that a high-energy, forage-only diet alters the metabolic response to exercise and, with the exception of lowered glycogen stores, appears to have positive rather than negative effects on performance traits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT The Kepler Mission has acquired 33.5 d of continuous 1-min photometry of KPD 1946+4340, a short-period binary system that consists of a subdwarf B star (sdB) and a white dwarf. In the light curve, eclipses are clearly seen, with the deepest occurring when the compact white dwarf crosses the disc of the sdB (0.4 per cent) and the more shallow ones (0.1 per cent) when the sdB eclipses the white dwarf. As expected, the sdB is deformed by the gravitational field of the white dwarf, which produces an ellipsoidal modulation of the light curve. Spectacularly, a very strong Doppler beaming (also known as Doppler boosting) effect is also clearly evident at the 0.1 per cent level. This originates from the sdB's orbital velocity, which we measure to be 164.0 ± 1.9 km s−1 from supporting spectroscopy. We present light-curve models that account for all these effects, as well as gravitational lensing, which decreases the apparent radius of the white dwarf by about 6 per cent, when it eclipses the sdB. We derive system parameters and uncertainties from the light curve using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations. Adopting a theoretical white dwarf mass-radius relation, the mass of the subdwarf is found to be 0.47 ± 0.03 M⊙ and the mass of the white dwarf 0.59 ± 0.02 M⊙. The effective temperature of the white dwarf is 15 900 ± 300 K. With a spectroscopic effective temperature of Teff= 34 730 ± 250 K and a surface gravity of log g= 5.43 ± 0.04, the subdwarf has most likely exhausted its core helium, and is in a shell He burning stage. The detection of Doppler beaming in Kepler light curves potentially allows one to measure radial velocities without the need of spectroscopic data. For the first time, a photometrically observed Doppler beaming amplitude is compared to a spectroscopically established value. The sdB's radial velocity amplitude derived from the photometry ( 168 ± 4 km s−1) is in perfect agreement with the spectroscopic value. After subtracting our best model for the orbital effects, we searched the residuals for stellar oscillations but did not find any significant pulsation frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Reasons for performing study: A higher forage allowance to athletic horses might be an alternative to increase health and the gut fluid reservoir. However, more forage might increase bodyweight (bwt) and could therefore be a limitation during competition. Objectives: To investigate the effect of a forage-only diet (FD) compared to a 50:50 (dry matter basis) forage:oats diet (OD) on bwt, plasma protein concentration and some metabolic plasma parameters during 12 h of feed deprivation. Methods: Twelve adult Standardbred horses in training were used. The 2 diets were fed in 2 experimental periods of 3 weeks each in a crossover design. The last day of each period the horses were fasted for 12 h. The horses were weighed and their water intake measured every day during the trial and every hour during the 12 h feed deprivation. During feed deprivation total plasma protein (TPP), insulin, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea, glucose and acetate concentrations were analysed. Results: Bwt and water intake was higher on FD compared to OD. Bwt loss was higher during feed deprivation on FD compared to OD. TPP was lower before and during the last 8 h of feed deprivation on FD compared to OD. Plasma insulin was lower on FD than on OD at feeding and for 5 h during feed deprivation. Plasma NEFA and urea increased on both diets during feed deprivation. Plasma glucose was not affected by diet or feed deprivation. Conclusion: High energy forage diets could be an alternative to high grain diets for athletic horses. The small increase in bwt on FD diminished with feed deprivation and the low TPP concentration indicate a greater potential to use an internal fluid compartment to maintain plasma volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight mature Icelandic geldings were used in an experiment arranged as a change-over design to evaluate the effect of feeding level on the digestibility of a high-energy haylage-only diet. The horses were fed a low feeding level 10.7 g dry matter (DM)/kg body weight (BW) (maintenance) and a high feeding level 18.1 g DM/kg BW (1.5 × maintenance) during two 23 days experimental periods. Total collection of faeces was performed for 6 days at the end of each period to determine the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD). The CTTAD for DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre and energy was higher in horses fed at the low level of feed intake, while feeding level did not affect the CTTAD of crude protein. The largest difference in CTTAD between feeding levels was found for NDF. The content (/kg DM) of digestible energy in the haylage was 11.3 MJ at the low level of feed intake and 10.6 MJ at the high level of feed intake. It can be concluded that feeding level has a large impact on the digestibility and energy value of early cut haylage in Icelandic horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of whole-grain rye bread (WGRB), whole-grain wheat bread (WGWB), and refined wheat bread (WB) on the gut metabolic fingerprint to increase the understanding of the mechanism behind health aspects related to whole-grain products. Five pigs with an initial weight of 46 kg were used in a changeover design, with 3 diets and 3 periods. The experimental diets consisted of WGRB, WGWB, and WB and were balanced with similar content of dietary fiber (adjusted with cellulose), protein, and fat. Each diet period lasted for 7 d. Fecal samples were collected during Days 4 through 7 in each experimental period. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to analyze metabolic profiles from the fecal samples. Principal component analysis of metabolic fingerprints showed that the type of bread influenced the metabolic profile and that WGRB influenced metabolic profiles differently compared with WGWB (P = 0.03) and WB (P = 0.04). Quantification of the short-chain fatty acids in the NMR data revealed differences with higher concentrations of lactate (P = 0.04) and lower molar proportions of acetate (P = 0.03) in rye bread compared with wheat breads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of an abrupt change from grass hay (81% DM) to grass silage (36% DM) or grass haylage (55% DM), fed at similar DM intakes and to compare the effects of silage and haylage on the composition and activities of the colon microflora. The forages were from the same swath harvested on the same day. Four adult colon-fistulated geldings were randomly assigned to diets in a crossover design. The study started with a preperiod when all 4 horses received the hay diet, followed by an abrupt feed change to the haylage diet for 2 horses and the silage diet for 2 horses. All 4 horses then had a new second preperiod of hay, followed by an abrupt feed change to the opposite haylage and silage diet; The periods were 21 d long, and the forage-only diets were supplemented with minerals and salt. The abrupt feed changes were made at 0800 h. Colon samples were taken before the abrupt feed change, 4 and 28 h after the feed change, and 8, 15, and 21 d after the feed change, all at 1200 h. Colon bacterial counts, VFA, pH, and DM concentrations were unchanged throughout the first 28 h after the abrupt feed change from hay to haylage and silage. Also, fecal pH and DM concentrations were unchanged during the first 28 h. During the weekly observations, colon lactobacilli counts increased (P = 0.023) in horses receiving the silage diet and were greater than on the haylage diet at 21 d. Streptococci counts decreased (P = 0.046) in horses receiving the haylage diet and were less than on the silage diet at 15 and 21 d. Total VFA concentrations and colon and fecal pH did not differ between diets and were unchanged throughout the weekly observations. The DM concentration of colon digesta and feces decreased (P = 0.030 and 0.049, respectively) on both diets during the weekly observations. The results suggest that in horses fed at the maintenance level of energy intake, an abrupt feed change from grass hay to grass silage or grass haylage from the same crop does not induce any major alterations in the colon ecosystem during the first 28 h. During the subsequent 3-wk period, colon and fecal DM decreased and there were alterations in the lactobacilli and streptococci bacterial counts. The changes in lactobacilli and streptococci counts need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of piglet age and dietary fibre source on the development of visceral organs and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and on growth performance and total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) in local [pure-breed Mong cai (MC)] and exotic [Landrace × Yorkshire (LY)] piglets. The experimental diets contained different fibre sources: C (basal diet), RB (basal diet + rice bran), SPVM (basal diet + sweet potato vine meal) and CReM (basal diet + cassava residue meal). The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content in diet C and the fibrous diets was 8.8% and 17.1%–17.7% respectively (dry matter basis). Collection of faecal samples to determine TTAD was carried out for five consecutive days before the experiment was finished (63 days). The piglets were killed at the age of 10 days (before being given the same solid feed), 30 days (weaning, 20 days after solid feed introduced) and 63 days (33 days after being given the different fibrous diets) when the length of intestinal segments, weight of organs (liver, heart, kidneys) and empty weight of the GIT (stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon + rectum) were measured. As the age of animals increased, the relative weight of organs and the length of intestines (expressed on a mass-specific basis) decreased (p < 0.05), and the weight of GIT increased (p < 0.001). The piglets fed fibrous diets had heavier GIT than those fed diet C with the highest values in CReM (p < 0.05). The colon + rectum length was not significantly different among C, RB and SPVM, but was shorter than in CReM (p < 0.05). Coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients in the fibrous diets was lower than in C (p < 0.01). Average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in C, RB and CReM were not different and were better than in SPVM (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the weights of organs between the two breeds at day 10, 30 and 63 (p > 0.05). The weight and length of GIT were not significantly different between the two breeds at day 10 and day 30, but were greater for MC at day 63. The caecum and colon + rectum at 10 and 30 days were longer in MC than in LY (p < 0.001). The relative development of GIT post-weaning was higher than pre-weaning, the difference being most apparent in MC. As a result at 63 days, MC had heavier visceral organs and GIT, and longer intestines on fibrous diets than LY (p < 0.05). The MC at 63 days had higher CTTAD of organic matter, gross energy, crude fibre and NDF (p < 0.001) and ether extract and crude protein (p < 0.05), but lower ADG and poorer FCR than LY (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the GIT of the MC piglets developed more rapidly than LY when they were introduced to solid feed, and that the difference was more marked on the fibrous diets and after weaning, which resulted in higher total tract digestibility of nutrients in MC compared with LY. Cassava residue meal was better digested than RB and SPVM, and supported higher live weight gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of CP intake from 2 grass silage-only diets, differing in CP concentration, fed at similar DM1 on the equine colon ecosystem after an abrupt feed change between the diets. Four adult right ventral colon-fistulated geldings were fed one silage-only diet high in CP (HP, 873 g of CP/d) and one diet providing recommended intakes (RP, 615 g of CP/d). An adaptation period of 15 d on either the HP or the RP diet was followed by 2 experimental periods when the diets were fed for 22 d each in a crossover design. Colon samples were taken before and at 4, 12, and 24 h, and at 7, 14, and 22 d after the feed change. During the first 24 h after the abrupt feed change, the concentrations of total anaerobic bacteria and lactobacilli were greater on the HP than the RP diet (7.1 vs. 6.7 log[sub10] cfu/mL, P = 0.021, 6.0 vs. 5.5 log[sub10] cfu/mL, P= 0.021, respectively). During the first 24 h post feed change, VFA concentrations did not differ between the diets. From 7 to 22 d, total VFA concentrations were greater on the HP diet than on the RP diet (51.8 vs. 45.1 mmol/L, P = 0.034), and colon pH was lower on the HP diet than on the RP diet (6.9 vs. 7.2, P = 0.035). After an adaptation period of 22 d, N, ammonia, and urea concentrations and osmolality of the colon fluid did not differ between diets. Fecal pH and colon and fecal DM were unchanged throughout the experiment. The results suggest that, in horses fed at the maintenance level of energy intake, a feed change between silages with different CP content may alter the colon bacterial counts within the first 24 h. Moreover, during the subsequent 3 wk, pH decreased slightly and VFA concentrations increased, but no other major alterations occurred in the composition and activities of the colon ecosystem or fecal DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives were to investigate the effects on fluid balance, digestion and exercise response in Standardbred horses in race training when feeding silage, haylage or hay-only diets. In experiment (exp) 1, five Standardbred geldings were fed forage-only diets: hay (82% dry matter, DM) and silage (45% DM) for 23 days in a crossover design. Total collection of faeces and urine was performed. In exp 2, six Standardbred geldings were fed forage-based diets: haylage (68% DM) and silage (41% DM) for 17 days in a crossover design. On day 17, an incremental interval exercise test was performed on an oval racetrack. In exp 1, horses drank more on the hay than on the silage diet, but total water i take (drinking + water in feed) was higher and resting values of total plasmaprotein (TPP) was lower on the silage diet. Total water output per day did not differ and therefore the estimated evaporation was larger on the silage than the hay diet. The apparent digestibility was higher on the silage than the hay diet. In exp 2, heart and respiratory rate, TPP and lactate and blood pH did not differ between the haylage and silage diets during and after the exercise test. In conclusion, feeding silage did not affect faecal water content, but apparent digestibility and estimated evaporative fluid loss were higher on the silage diet compared with the hay diet. The silage did not adversely affect the response to intensive exercise compared with haylage. However, the estimated higher evaporative fluid loss on the silage diet compared with the hay diet might cause an unnecessary challenge during more prolonged exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of phytase and xylanase supplementation to a wheat-based pig diet were studied. The diet was fed without or with supplementation of dicalcium phosphate (diet A), phytase (diet BP), xylanase (diet BX) and phytase + xylanase (diet BPX). Apparent digestibility of P and Ca were higher in diets BP and BPX. Apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) was higher in pigs which were fed the BPX diet than pigs which were fed the BP and BX diets. Pigs given diet BPX, had highest daily weight gain and had higher daily feed consumption, except for pigs given diet BP. In conclusion, phytase improved the utilisation of P and Ca, while xylanase alone had no positive effects on OM, CP and NDF digestibility. The combination of the two enzymes had some benefits in terms of CP digestibility and resulted in an improved feed intake and daily weight gain, while feed conversion ratio was unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total tract digestibility and nitrogen retention of three diets containing different levels of fibre [200, 260 and 320 g/kg neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in dry matter] were determined in three breeds of growing pig at an initial age of approximately 3.5 months. The breeds were local (Mong Cai, MC), F1 crossbred (MC × Yorkshire) and exotic (Landrace × Yorkshire, LY), allocated at random within breed (block) to double 3 × 3 Latin squares. The main fibrous ingredients of the experimental diets were rice bran, cassava residue meal and non-dehulled groundnut cake meal. Digestibility of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), NDF, crude fibre, gross energy (GE) and ether extract (EE) decreased as the level of dietary NDF increased (p < 0.001). The r2 values for the relationship between NDF level and digestibility of OM, CP, GE and EE were 83%, 83%, 80% and 82% respectively. On average, an increase in NDF content of 1% unit resulted in a decrease in OM, CP, GE and EE digestibility of 0.67%, 0.75%, 0.50% and 0.42% units respectively. Digestibility of energy and nutrients was the highest for MC and the lowest for LY (p < 0.01), with intermediate values for F1. There was a negative effect of NDF level on nitrogen (N) retained as a proportion of intake (p < 0.05). Nitrogen retention and utilization were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for LY than for MC and F1 pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 104 sows of different parities were studied. They were fed four diets with different phosphorus (P) levels during gestation for two reproductive cycles, while the same diet was fed during lactation. The aim was to decrease the total P level in the diet during gestation and to evaluate the effect on sow performance. The gestation treatments were low P (LP−; 3.7 g P/kg feed), low P with phytase (LP+, Ronozyme® P; 765 FTU/kg feed), medium P (MP; 4.5 g P/kg feed) and high P (HP; 6.0 g P/kg feed). Daily feed allowances were 2.6 kg during gestation and 9.2 kg during lactation. Number of born piglets and piglet mortality were higher (p < 0.05) in the LP treatments than in the MP and HP treatments. No difference (p > 0.05) in the numbers of live-born piglets, piglet birthweights, sow weights or piglet weight gains was found between the treatments. Phosphorus level in sow milk was the highest (p < 0.05) in the MP treatment, while no effects (p > 0.05) of treatment were found on milk Ca levels, P and Ca levels in serum of sows and piglets, nor on the analysed mineral, fat and protein contents of piglets. The estimated average requirement of P for the entire gestation period was 4.4–4.5 g/day. In conclusion, a reduction of dietary total P content during gestation did not result in negative effects on sow or piglet performance. This suggests that it should be possible to lower the dietary P content for gestating sows, compared with earlier recommendations, and thereby reduce the environmental P pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of dietary amino acids on performance and carcass quality was studied in 192 organic indoor and outdoor pigs given diets with different amino acid levels (recommended amino acid level, 7% and 14% lower) ad libitum in a two-phase feeding system. During phase 2, daily consumption of lysine, methionine+cystine and threonine was higher for outdoor than indoor pigs independent of amino acid level (p=0.002, 0.004 and 0.006, respectively). The outdoor pigs grew faster during phase 2 than the indoor pigs (p=0.001), although feed conversion ratio did not differ (p=0.358). Dressing percentage was higher for outdoor than for indoor pigs (p=0.011) but lean meat content did not differ (p=0.904). The health status of the pigs was evaluated and showed that the incidence of pigs seropositive to erysipelas was higher outdoors. Ascaris suum was present in both production systems, whereas Eimeria sp. only was found among outdoor pigs. The results indicate a discrepancy between pigs housed in different production systems rather than between pigs directed to different dietary amino acid levels. This suggests that growing/finishing pigs fed ad libitum can compensate for dietary amino acid levels lower than the current Swedish recommendations without affecting production results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing indigenous Cambodian chickens and ducks, and broiler chickens and White Pekin ducks were fed diets containing 0%, 7%, 14% and 20% of cassava leaf meal (CLM) to study the effects of CLM level on diet digestibility and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and organ development. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of dry matter (DM) and intake of digestible DM decreased with increased dietary CLM. DM and digestible DM intake was higher for local breeds than for the corresponding exotic breeds, and higher for ducks than for chickens (p < 0.001), although there were no species or breed effects on CTTAD of DM (p > 0.05). Weight of small intestine, caeca, gizzard and pancreas, expressed as per kg body weight, increased with increased CLM in the diet (p < 0.001). There was no consistent diet effect on liver weight. Length of small intestine and caeca, expressed on a mass-specific basis, increased with dietary CLM content (p < 0.001). When expressed as per kg body weight small intestine, proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas and liver weights, and small intestine length, were higher in ducks than in chickens (p < 0.001), and were higher in the indigenous than in the improved breeds (p < 0.01), except for small intestine weights, which were similar. However chickens had higher weight of caeca (p < 0.001) and colon (p < 0.01) in absolute units and per kg body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of fiber source and concentration on morphological characteristics, mucin staining pattern, and mucosal enzyme activities in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. The experiment included 50 pigs from 10 litters weaned at 4 wk of age (BW 8.6 ± 1.4 kg) and divided into 5 treatment groups. Diets containing fiber of various physico-chemical properties and concentrations were formulated to contain 73, 104, or 145 g of dietary fiber/kg of DM. The diets were based on raw wheat and barley flours. Pectin and barley hulls, representing soluble and insoluble fiber sources, respectively, were used to increase the fiber concentration. The pigs were fed the experimental diets for 9 d, and then the pigs were euthanized and the entire gastrointestinal tract was removed. Tissue samples were taken from the mid and distal small intestine and from the mid colon. Inclusion of pectin in the diets significantly decreased (P < 0.001) ADFI and ADG compared with pigs fed no pectin. The villi and the crypts were shorter in pigs fed pectin-containing diets, but the villous height/crypt depth ratio was unaltered. Pectin significantly decreased the area of mucins in the crypts of the small intestine, indicating that the pigs fed the pectin-containing diet would probably be more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria, although this cannot be separated from the impact on ADFI. The lectin-binding pattern of the intestinal mucosa was unaffected by diet. The activity of lactase and maltase was increased in pigs fed diets with high fiber content, whereas sucrase activity was increased in pigs fed the pectin-containing diets. The activity of the peptidases, aminopeptidase N and dipeptidylpeptidase IV, was increased when feeding high fiber diets, whereas the activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase remained unaffected by the experimental diets. In conclusion, the reduced feed intake observed with the pectin-containing diets could explain the lower villous height and crypt depth observed in this study. However, direct effects of pectin also are possible, and thus further study is warranted. Feeding pigs high insoluble fiber diets improved gut morphology by increasing villi length and increased mucosal enzyme activity when compared with pigs fed pectin-containing diets. The mucin content as determined by staining characteristics suggests that pigs fed high insoluble fiber diets might be better protected against pathogenic bacteria than pigs fed diets high in soluble fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten multiparous lactating sows were used to investigate whether intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharides (LPS; Escherichia coli 0111:B4; 2.0 μg/kg of body weight) would affect the circulating concentrations of Ca, P, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), tumour necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol. The sows were randomly allotted to either control group (control) or LPS-treated group with five individuals per group and were infused with either physiological saline solution or LPS solution. The rectal temperature and udder quarter appearance were recorded at 0 (just before infusion), 1, 3, 7, 12 or 24 h after infusion. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 3, 7, 12 or 24 h after infusion. Before infusion, the rectal temperatures of all sows were below 39.2°C. At 3 and 7 h after infusion, the sows in the LPS group had a rectal temperature over 39.4°C. At 24 h after infusion, the rectal temperatures returned to pre-infusion levels. Serum Ca and P concentrations in the LPS group decreased ( P < 0.05) after LPS infusion compared with the control group at 1 h after infusion. No significant differences ( P > 0.05) in the concentrations of 25-OHD were observed between groups control and LPS at any sampling time. Increased ( P < 0.01) concentrations of serum TNF- α, IL-6 and cortisol were observed in the LPS group compared with the control group at 3 and 7 h after infusion respectively. In conclusion, the elevation of serum concentrations of TNF- α, IL-6 and cortisol and the alterations of circulating concentrations of Ca and P following LPS infusion indicate that the immune system has been activated and immune activation may affect macromineral homeostatic regulation, which might have important implications for metabolic health of lactating sows. Lowered serum Ca and P following immune activation also shows a causative mechanism whereby immune activation increases the risk of secondary disorders such as mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome. However, immune activation did not affect circulating concentrations of vitamin D metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of 1-h soaking of a pig diet based on wheat and barley with low (4.1 g P per kg) and high (6.8 g P per kg) total phosphorus (P) content on total tract apparent digestibility and performance in growing-finishing pigs were studied in a balance and a performance trial respectively. Phosphorus bound to inositol penta- and hexaphosphate (IP5-IP6 ) was reduced by proportionately 0.1 in the soaked food. Soaking numerically increased the apparent digestibility of P. The digestibility of P did not differ between the dry high P and the soaked low P. Excretion of P in urine was correlated (R² = 0.84) with the intake of digestible P. The average daily weight gain, final body weight and carcass weight were lower (P < 0.001), and the energy conversion ratio was higher (P < 0.001) in the dry low P treatment than in the other treatments. Pigs on the low P diets had lower levels of inorganic P in serum (P < 0.01) and slightly higher serum Ca values (P < 0.05) and there were no effects of soaking. The density of femur was lower (P < 0.01) in both the low P treatments than in the high P treatments, and soaking of the low P diet improved (P < 0.01) femur density. In conclusion, a 1-h soaking of pig food in water appears to be sufficient to improve P availability and growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance studies were carried out on the leaves of short-term (ST ) and long-term (LT ) varieties of cassava, preserved by sun-drying and grinding into a meal or by ensiling. The cassava leaf meal and ensiled leaves (471 and 373 g/kg total diet dry matter, respectively ) were mixed with palm syrup and palm oil, to give the experimental diets CLM and CLS, respectively. Four Mong Cai (MC) (17·2 (s.e. 2·61) kg) and four Landrace × Yorkshire ( L×Y ) (41·5 (s.e. 2·12) kg) male castrate pigs were used. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial, with breed, cassava variety and processing method as factors. The hydrogen cyanide (HCN) levels of the fresh cassava leaves of ST (545 mg/kg dry matter (DM)) and LT (408 mg/kg DM) varieties were reduced by proportionately 0·63 and 0·33, respectively, after sun-drying and by 0·78 and 0·77, respectively, after ensiling. Intake was higher for DM, crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) ( P <0·001) and neutral- and aciddetergent fibre (NDF and ADF) and crude fibre (CF) (P detergent <0·01) in CLM than in CLS. There was a breed by processing method interaction for CF intake (P <0·05). The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) was higher in CLS than in CLM for DM, CP, OM and CF (P <0·001) and NDF and ADF (P <0·01). The MC pigs digested ADF (P <0·01) and CF (P<0·001) more effectively than L×Y pigs but there was no difference (P >0·05) in the digestibility of other nutrients or DM. There was a breed by cassava variety interaction for ADF digestibility and breed by processing method for CF digestibility (P <0·01). Daily N intake and faecal N were higher (P <0·001) in CLM than in CLS. Urinary N was lower in CLS than in CLM ( P <0·05) and in L×Y than in MC pigs ( P <0·001). N utilization (N retained per unit intake) was higher for CLS than CLM ( P <0·001) and in L×Y than in MC pigs ( P <0·001). It is concluded that ensiling is a more effective method than sun-drying for reducing HCN in cassava leaves after 60 days re-growth, and also results in higher digestibility of DM and dietary components than sun-drying. However, the bulkiness of the silage limits intake. The MC pigs digested dietary fibre more efficiently than the L×Y pigs, whereas the L×Y pigs utilized N more efficiently than the MC pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study that investigated the capacity of pig gastrointestinal microflora to metabolize the trichothecenes 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol and nivalenol. Methods; Results; Discussion.

Summary The objective of the present work was to assess the influence of partial replacement of oats with dried unmolassed sugar beet pulp (SBP) and/or maize oil on nutrient utilisation in horses fed a traditional hay and concentrate diet. The total tract digestibility of nutrients, urinary excretion and plasma parameters were studied in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design experiment with purebred Arabian geldings. Horses fed the SBP diets responded with a reduced (P<0.05) apparent digestibility of crude protein and feeding of maize oil resulted in an increased (P<0.05) apparent digestibility of crude fat. The apparent energy digestibility was unaffected by the replacement of oats with SBP, but increased (P<0.05) when maize oil replaced part of the oats. The urinary excretion of nitrogen increased (P<0.05) when maize oil replaced oats and the excretion of energy was higher (P<0.05) on the diets where oats were replaced by maize oil and SBP. There was a significant (P<0.05) effect across treatments of postprandial blood sampling time on plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Also, plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin tended to be higher on the oats than on the SBP diets. In conclusion, the limited effects on the digestibility of nutrients and energy suggest that it should be possible to partially replace oats with maize oil and/or SBP in diets for horses without any impairing effects on the overall nutrient utilisation. However, the dietary-induced changes in the urinary excretion of energy and on plasma glucose and insulin levels, indicate a possible influence of dietary carbohydrate composition on nutrient utilisation at the organ level, which requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of surgery (insertion of an ileo-caecal cannula) and a subsequent parenteral treatment with oxytetracycline on the ileo-caecal and rectal coliform populations in 7 Swedish Yorkshire castrates were studied. Samples were collected during surgery as well as 3, 7, 14 and 20 days post surgery. The diversity of the enteric coliform flora was initially high both in the ileo-caecal ostium and in rectum. No alteration in the diversity of the enteric coliform flora was observed following surgery and treatment with oxytetracycline. As the insertion of ileo-caecal cannulas did not affect the intestinal coliform flora this study gives support to the use of this technique to mirror processes in the small intestine of pigs. Further, the diversity of the enteric coliform flora was unaffected by the parenteral treatment with oxytetracycline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs, in the age range 1-3 years old, were randomly selected from the largest animal insurance database in Sweden for inclusion in the study. The study was performed in 1997, and a total of 680 dog owners were selected for the study. A total of 461 dog owners completed the survey, at an overall response rate of 68%. Data was compared to a recent gallup performed on a sample of all dogs in Sweden. The demographic statistics of the insured dog population were in many aspects similar to the total dog population of Sweden. Typical for both insured dogs and the total population of dogs were a low proportion of neutered dogs, that many dogs were bought at an early age, that many dogs were in contact with a "breeder" when sold, and a similar profile of health status. However, "dog breeders" seemed to have their dogs insured to a higher extent than the general dog owner. It was concluded that as the populations were alike in many respects, it is reasonable to use the insurance database for epidemiological studies on diet and exercise in Swedish dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The net absorption of amino acids (AA) in young pigs fed a barley-based control diet (C) and diets where barley was replaced by 200 g/kg fresh weight of dried lucerne (Medicago sativa; L20), white clover (Trifolium repens; W20) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne; PR20) meal was studied. Castrated male pigs were fitted with permanent catheters in the hepatic portal vein and mesenteric artery, and the hepatic portal net absorption of AA was estimated from the porto–arterial plasma concentration differences and the hepatic portal-vein blood flow. In general, the essential AA (EAA) concentrations in the hepatic portal vein reached peak levels 90 min after feeding and thereafter exhibited a transient decline. Maximum porto–arterial differences were reached between 1 and 3 h postprandially for most of the AA. The cumulative net absorption of non-essential AA (NEAA) and EAA did not differ significantly between the barley-based diet and diets W20 and PR20. Due to a lower intake of AA on diet L20, the cumulative net absorption of NEAA and EAA was significantly (P<0·05) lower than diet C. With the exceptions of the EAA arginine, cystine and valine, and the NEAA glutamic acid + glutamine and glycine, there were no significant differences in the absorption coefficients for the EAA and NEAA between the diets. In addition, the pattern of the total EAA in the mixture absorbed postprandially did not differ significantly between the diets. The present study gives support to the contention that the replacement of barley AA with forage meal AA in a barley-based diet for growing pigs should be expected to result in minor differences in the net portal flux of AA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two experiments were performed with post-valve T-cannulated growing pigs, using five animals in each experiment in a change-over design to evaluate the effect of inclusion of four different dried forage meals on ileal crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA) digestibilities. The control diets (C1 and C2) were barley-based and the experimental diets were formulated by replacing the barley with 100 or 200 g/kg of either lucerne (Medicago sativa) or white clover (Trifolium repens) meal in Expt 1 and red clover (Trifolium pratense) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) meal in Expt 2. A decrease (P < 0·05) in the apparent ileal digestibility of CP and most of the essential and nonessential AA was found with the inclusion of lucerne, white clover and perennial ryegrass meal in the barley-based diets. When red clover meal was included, only the apparent ileal digestibilities of CP, leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and glutamic acid were found to decrease (P < 0·05). The estimated apparent ileal digestibilities of most essential AA in the forage meals were lower than in the barley-based diets. The ileal flow of glucosamine and ornithine was found to increase (P < 0·05) with increasing proportion of fibre in the diet, suggesting an increase in endogenous N secretions and small-intestinal microbial activity. With the minor changes found for ileal essential AA digestibilities with forage meal inclusion in the diet the present data confirm the potential of forage meals as a source of protein in pig diets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study which investigated the changes in the activity of enzymes involved in oxidative metabolism of glutamine in the epithelial tissue of growing pigs exposed to nivalenol (NIV) in their diet. Materials and methods used; Enzyme activities in control pigs; Effect of NIV on enzyme activities; Protein content along the gastrointestinal tract of pigs.

Ileal digestibility of amino acids in barley-based diets with increasing inclusion of lucerne leaf meal (LLM; 0, 50, 100 and 200 g/kg) was studied in a change-over experiment with post-valve T-caecum cannulated growing pigs. The apparent Heal digestibility of crude protein, as well as of most of the essential (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) was not significantly affected by the dietary inclusion of LLM. The exceptions were cystine, methionine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid and serine, all of which showed a significant (P < 0·05) reduction in apparent Heal digestibility with increasing inclusion of LLM. In contrast, the calculated true Heal digestibility of all EAA (with the exception of arginine and lysine) and the NEAA glutamic acid and serine were significantly (P < 0·05) reduced with the inclusion of LLM. Associated with an increased crude protein intake, there was a significant (P < 0·05) increase in the amount of absorbed EAA when the proportion of LLM was increased in the diet. With increasing proportion of fibre in the diet, there was a significant (P < 0·05) increase in the Heal flow of glucosamine.It can be concluded from the present data that the inclusion of LLM in a barley-based diet for growing pigs will result in an improvement in the absorbed amino-acid profile due to a significant increase in the absorption of all of the EAA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Growing pigs fitted with simple t-shaped cannulas posterior to the ileal-caecal valve were used in a change-over design experiment (5 × 5) to determine the Heal and total tract apparent digestibility and hindgut disappearance of dietary components and energy in a barley-based diet with increasing inclusion of either red-clover or perennial ryegrass meal (proportionately 0·10 and 0·20). The total tract and Heal apparent digestibilities of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), nitrogen-free extractives (NFE) and energy were significantly reduced with increasing inclusion of red-clover and perennial ryegrass meal in the diet (P < 0·05). For all fibrous components (total fibre (TF), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF) and crude fibre (CF)), the ileal apparent digestibility was unaffected by level offibre inclusion in the diet. Also the total tract apparent digestibility of TF, NDF and CF were unaffected by red-clover meal inclusion, while in contrast the total tract apparent digestibility of TF, NDF and CF were significantly reduced with perennial ryegrass meal inclusion (P < 0·05). The hindgut disappearance of crude fat, NDF, ADF and CF was not affected by forage meal inclusion, whereas the hindgut disappearance of OM, NFE, TF and energy were significantly lower in the perennial ryegrass meal diets than in both the control diet and the red-clover meal diets (P < 0·05).The total tract apparent digestibility of OM was higher for the control diet compared with the red-clover and perennial ryegrass meal diets. There was also a significantly higher apparent digestibility of OM in the total tract for red-clover meal compared with perennial ryegrass meal (P < 0·05). The Heal apparent digestibility of energy in a barley-based diet with forage meal inclusion decreased proportionately by about 0·014, 0·023 and 0·030 units per unit increase ofTF, NDF and CF in dry matter, respectively. Correspondingly, for the total tract energy apparent digestibility, there was a decrease proportionately by about 0·010, 0·016 and 0·022 units per unit increase of TF, NDF and CF in dry matter, respectively. Digestible energy content was significantly reduced, as measured at the ileum or over the total tract, with increasing inclusion offorage meal (P < 0·05). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study was undertaken to determine the Heal and total tract apparent digestibility and hindgut disappearance of dietary components and energy in a barley-based diet which included either lucerne or white-clover meal (proportionately 0·10 and 0·20). The experiment was conducted as a 5 × 5 change-over design with growing pigs fitted with simple t-shaped cannulas posterior to the ileo-caecal valve. The Heal and total tract apparent digestibilities of organic matter (OM), crude protein, crude fat, nitrogen-free extractives and energy were significantly reduced ivith increasing inclusion of lucerne and white-clover meal in the diet (P < 0·05). The total tract apparent digestibility of total fibre (TF) was significantly reduced with lucerne meal inclusion (P < 0·05), while the Heal apparent digestibility of TF was unaffected by lucerne and white-clover meal inclusion. Hindgut apparent digestibility (proportion of total tract apparent digestibility) of OM and energy was approximately 0·10, 0·70 and 0·70 for barley, lucerne and white-clover meal, respectively.Both the Heal and total tract apparent digestibility of OM and energy were significantly higher for the control diet compared with lucerne and white-clover meal (P < 0·05). There was also a significantly higher apparent digestibility of OM, TF, crude fibre and energy in the total tract for white-clover meal compared with lucerne meal (P < 0·05). For neutral- and acid-detergent fibre a similar pattern was observed, however the effect was not significant.The dietary digestible energy content was significantly reduced (F < 0·05), both at the ileum and over the total tract, with increasing inclusion offorage meal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Here we present the results of a 3 mm survey of 23 galaxies, obtained with the EMIR receiver at the IRAM 30 m telescope. Emission of the main molecular species is compared with existing chemical models, in order to find and test molecular signatures of galaxy evolution and to compare them to IR evolutionary tracers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]