Five Karan Swiss crossbred (Sahiwal x Brown Swiss) calves were abruptly switched over from a diet of concentrate and maize fodder to ad libitum air dried Leucaena leucocephala leaves plus twigs. After 17 days on the L. leucocephala diet, 3 of the calves were supplemented with copper sulphate (10 mg/kg DM L. leucocephala) for 12 days. Thereafter all the calves were taken off the L. leucocephala diet and returned to the pre-experimental concentrate and maize fodder diet. While on the L. leucocephala diet, the average DM intake/d of L. leucocephala declined to 497 g within 3 weeks and all calves lost weight. This weight loss was reversed in the 3 calves that received copper sulphate, and all calves gained weight when they resumed the concentrate and maize fodder diet. The toxic effects of L. leucocephala feeding for 24 days were characterised by poor growth, emaciation, alopecia, loss of hair from the tail switch, ear and eye lesions, ulceration of the mouth region, drooling viscid saliva and vomiting of thick green saliva in one of the calves. Mean levels of 3,4 dihydroxypyridone (DHP) (mg/100 ml) were 30.35 +/- 13.52 and 55.57 +/- 13.77 on days 2 and 4 respectively in rumen liquor and up to 136.01 +/- 80.18 in urine. The mean ratios of mimosine: DHP of 3.14, 0.12 and 0.04 in feed, faeces and urine respectively revealed extensive degradation of mimosine to DHP in the calves fed the L. leucocephala diet and it was concluded the calves were unable to tolerate a diet consisting solely of L. leucocephala.

No abstract

In present study the in vitro degradation of sugarcane bagasse and total mixed ration (i.e. sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, and concentrate mixture in the ratio of 20:30:50) were tested using anaerobic rumen fungi Neocallimastix spp. GR1 and Piromyces spp. WNG-12. These cultures produced hydrolytic enzymes (CMCase, FPCase and xylanase) and increased the in vitro digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre of bagasse and total mixed rations when compared with control. Neocallimastix spp. GR1 and Piromyces spp. WNG-12 also increased total volatile fatty acids by degradation of sugarcane bagasse and total mixed ration. Based on results obtained, it may be stated that Neocallimastix spp. GR1 may improve the nutritive value of high fibrous based diets.

No abstract

No abstract

An experiment using 164 crossbred pigs born to 20 first-parity sows was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of piglets in four weaning management regimens: T1, conventional weaning at 56 days; T2, early weaning at 28 days; T3, split-weaning of the heavier half of the litter at day 28, the remaining half being weaned at 56 days; and T4, split-weaning of the lighter half of the litter at 28 days, with the animals kept on a special nutrient diet up to 56 days, and the heavier half being weaned at 56 days. Split-weaning of the lighter half in combination with feeding a special nutrient diet resulted in an increase of average daily gain of 21% from day 28 to day 140 compared to conventional weaning and of 36% compared to early weaning at day 28. Compared to the control (T1), the average weights of piglets at the 140th day in groups T4 and T3 were 19.6% and 6.16%, respectively, higher, whereas that of the T2 was 8% lower. It is concluded that feeding a special nutrient diet to lighter pigs is beneficial in overcoming the post-weaning lag and enables maximal weight gain.

No abstract

No abstract