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The objective of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition and in-situ degradability of untreated and slow-release urea (SU) molasses-treated wheat straw (WS) from genetically improved wheat varieties and its effect on ruminal characteristics of Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls. Wheat straw from genetically improved wheat varieties (n=20, i.e., based on the improved chemical composition) was procured from the Ayyub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad-Pakistan. During the first experiment, chemical analysis of the WS samples (n=20), i.e., dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was conducted. Following the chemical evaluation, WS from the six best wheat varieties (n=6 out of n=20) was selected for In-situ degradation kinetics. In the second experiment, WS, based on its degradability characteristics, was selected from genetically improved wheat varieties (n=4 out of n=6) and enriched with three levels of SU, i.e., SU1, SU2, SU3, and a single level of molasses (i.e., 6%). Eight lab silos were used for the ensiling of each variety (8*4*3=96 silos) for 30 days. Three cannulated Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (body weight 450 Kg±10Kg) were selected for In-situ digestion kinetics of untreated and SU-molasses-treated WS. The lag time, disappearance rate, and extent of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF degradability were analyzed using SAS's GLM procedures. The means of chemical analysis were compared via Tukey’s test. According to the findings, the CP, ash, EE, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and cellulose of WS from all the selected wheat varieties were affected (p<0.01) except the DM (p>0.05). Moreover, the chemical composition of SU-molasses enriched WS of genetically improved wheat varieties was also affected (p<0.05). The increased DM, NDF, and ADF content were observed while ensiling the WS with SU1. However, decreased DM, NDF, and ADF proportions were noticed in WS following the SU2 and SU3 ensiling levels (p<0.01). The results of insitu digestion kinetics manifested a considerable variation in DM, CP, NDF, and ADF degradation characteristics of untreated and SU molasses-treated WS (p<0.05). The degradation characteristics of DM, NDF, ADF, and CP reflected the greater extent of digestion and rate of disappearance of ensiled WS with SU2 and SU3 (p<0.01). Whereas, the decreased lag time was observed in SU molasses-ensiled WS compared to the untreated wheat straw (UWS) (p<0.01). The findings of ruminal characteristics showed a linear increase in ruminal pH while increasing the SU enrichment level from SU1 to SU3. The SU3 exhibited the highest pH (6.67) compared with the UWS (6.23). Moreover, a higher concentration of NH3-N (18.3 mg/dl) and BUN (16.29 mg/dl) was observed in SU2. However, a lower concentration of NH3-N (12.72 mg/dl) and BUN (4.68 mg/dl) was observed in UWS. It is concluded that the WS from the genetically improved wheat varieties exhibited an improved nutritional profile. Moreover, the SU-molasses enrichment of WS from these wheat varieties exhibited an improved nutritional profile, In-situ degradability, and ruminal characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wheat is a staple food in Pakistan and Government of Pakistan stores huge amount of wheat every year to maintain food supply chains especially during scarcity period. Every year, surplus stored wheat is provided to poultry feed manufacturers at lower price and poultry feed manufacturers use stored wheat in diet of poultry with different exogenous enzymes. However, no data is available on the utilization of stored wheat (1.5 and 2.5 years storage) with or without exogenous enzymes in broilers. This study will provide evidence that storage of wheat will require exogenous enzymes in the diet of broilers for enhanced productivity. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stored wheat-based diet (1.5 and 2.5 years stored wheat) with and without the supplementation of xylanase and phytase enzymes in combination or individually on performance parameters, digestibility, digesta viscosity and carcass characteristics of broilers. For this purpose, a total of 640-day-old male broilers were randomly distributed to the 64 pens, and each pen had 10 birds. Two basal isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets contained 1.5 and 2.5 years stored wheat were formulated in this experiment. In the current study, experimental feeds were prepared by supplementing exogenous enzymes in both basal diets with xylanase (500 XU), phytase (500 FTU) alone or in a combination of phytase and xylanase. Performance parameters data represents that both in starter phase and finisher phase, inclusion of exogenous enzymes xylanase and phytase in both basal diets alone or in combination enhance the feed intake, and body weight gain (p < 0.05) and improve the feed conversion ratio in overall phase (p < 0.05). Similarly, supplementation of exogenous xylanase and phytase alone or in combination enhance the nutrient digestibility and reduce the digesta viscosity (p < 0.05). Based on the results of this experiment, it is concluded that supplementation of exogenous xylanase and phytase enzymes alone or in combination in wheat-based diets (stored wheat 1.5 and 2.5 years) enhance and improves the performance of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High maternal mortality is still a significant public health challenge in many countries of the South-Asian region. The majority of maternal deaths occur due to pregnancy and delivery-related complications, which can mostly be prevented by safe facility delivery. Due to the paucity of existing evidence, our study aimed to examine the factors associated with place of delivery, including women's preferences for such in three selected South-Asian countries. Methods: We extracted data from the most recent demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted in Bangladesh (2014), Nepal (2016), and Pakistan (2017–18) and analyzed to identify the association between the outcome variable and socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 16,429 women from Bangladesh (4278; mean age 24.57 years), Nepal (3962; mean age 26.35 years), and Pakistan (8189; mean age 29.57 years) were included in this study. Following descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. Results: Overall, the prevalence of facility-based delivery was 40%, 62%, and 69% in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, respectively. Inequity in utilizing facility-based delivery was observed for women in the highest wealth quintile. Participants from Urban areas, educated, middle and upper household economic status, and with high antenatal care (ANC) visits were significantly associated with facility-based delivery in all three countries. Interestingly, watching TV was also found as a strong determinant for facility-based delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI:1.09–1.56, P = 0.003), Nepal (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.20–1.67, P<0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03–1.32, P = 0.013). Higher education of husband was a significant predictor for facility delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.73, 95% CI:1.27–2.35, P = 0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99–1.43, P = 0.065); husband's occupation was also a significant factor in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI:1.04–1.61, P = 0.020) and Nepal (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI:1.01–1.58, P = 0.041). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the educational status of both women and their husbands, household economic situation, and the number of ANC visits influenced the place of delivery. There is an urgent need to promote facility delivery by building more birthing facilities, training and deployment of skilled birth attendants in rural and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring compulsory female education for all women, encouraging more ANC visits, and providing financial incentives for facility deliveries. There is a need to promote facility delivery by encouraging health facility visits through utilizing social networks and continuing mass media campaigns. Ensuring adequate Government funding for free maternal and newborn health care and local community involvement is crucial for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and achieving sustainable development goals in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]