No abstract

This project was undertaken to compare growth, meat quality, and diet digestibility when pigs were fed cafeteria food waste (FW) or a corn/soybean meal (CSM) diet. Cafeteria food waste (36 samples) fed in the growing and finishing experiment averaged 22.4% DM, 21.4% CP, 14.1% ADF, 27.2% ether extract, and 3.2% ash. The first experiment used 50 crossbred pigs randomly assigned to four diets. During the growing phase, pigs fed a CSM diet gained faster (P < .05) than pigs fed FW or FW plus energy supplements. However, the two groups fed FW plus energy supplements (at 25 or 50% of the intake of the CSM diet) gained faster (P < .05) than pigs fed FW alone (.61 and .65 kg/d, respectively, vs .46 kg/d). In the finishing phase, FW plus an energy supplement fed at 50% of the level of CSM intake resulted in gains that did not differ from those of pigs fed the CSM diet (.90 vs .99 kg/d; P > .05). A nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance trial using eight growing barrows compared FW with the same CSM growing diet fed earlier. Dry matter digestibility was similar for the two diets (P > .05). However, CP digestibility was higher (P < .05) in the FW diet than in the CSM diet (88.2 vs 84.3%). Although the percentage of nitrogen retained was not different between FW and CSM diets (56.0 vs 55.2%; P > .05), the amount of nitrogen retained was greater for pigs fed the CSM diet (29.3 vs. 24.5 g/d; P < .05) because DMI was greater (1.7 vs 1.4 kg/d) for pigs fed CSM compared with FW. At the completion of the finishing experiment, six pigs were selected from both the CSM and FW diets and fed to finishing weight. The pigs were slaughtered, and the pork loins were removed for flavor and texture analysis. A consumer panel rated the meat quality from FW pigs as acceptable and overall flavor comparable to CSM pigs (P > .05). These results indicate that food waste has nutritive value and may be useful in swine diets.

No abstract

Relationships between alkaloid compounds in endophyte-infected tall fescue and ruminal metabolism were studied in two experiments. In the first experiment, different combinations of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, N-formyl and N-acetyl loline, were incubated with ruminal fluid for 0, 24, or 48 h. Rate of disappearance of N-formyl and N-acetyl loline increased over time. After 48 h, disappearance of N-formyl loline and combinations of N-formyl and N-acetyl loline was greater than N-acetyl loline. Significant amounts of N-formyl and N-acetyl loline were metabolized and converted to loline. In the second experiment, abomasally cannulated sheep were fed increasing amounts of endophyte-infected feed to compare diet digestibility, alkaloid metabolism, and physiological responses. Total tract DM digestibility was greatest for the endophyte-free diet, as were ruminal and total tract ADF, ruminal NDF, and total tract CP digestibilities. N-Formyl and N-acetyl loline recoveries averaged 5% from abomasal contents and 0% in feces. Sixty-eight percent of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids recovered in abomasal contents had been metabolizable to loline. Ergot alkaloids administered in the diet were recovered (50 to 60%) in the abomasal contents, but recovery was only 5% in fecal collections. No significant differences occurred in the physiological parameters measured. Results indicate that response to endophyte-infected tall fescue may be influenced by ruminal metabolism.

No abstract

Our objective in this study is to compare 4 of the most common bedding materials used by equine operations on the chemical and physical characteristics of composted equine stall waste. Twelve Standardbred horses were adapted to the barn and surrounding environment for 2 wk before the start of the study. Groups of 3 horses were bedded on 1 of 4 different bedding types (wood shavings, pelletized wood materials, long straw, and pelletized straw) for 16 h per day for 18 d. Stalls were cleaned by trained staff daily, and all contents removed were weighed and stored separately by bedding material on a level covered concrete pad for the duration of the study. Compost piles were constructed using 3 replicate piles of each bedding type in a randomized complete block design. Each pile was equipped with a temperature sensor and data logger. Water was added and piles were turned weekly throughout the 100-d compost process. Initial and final samples were taken, dried, and analyzed for DM mass, OM, inorganic nitrogen (nitrate-N and ammonium-N), electrical conductivity, and soluble (plant-available) nutrients. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure, and means were separated using Fischer's protected LSD test (P < 0.05). No significant temperature differences were observed among the bedding materials. The composting process resulted in significant reductions (P < 0.05) in DM mass for each of the 4 bedding materials. The composting process resulted in significant reductions (P < 0.05) in OM and C:N ratio for all 4 bedding materials. The composted long straw material had greater concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (P < 0.05), nitrate-N (P < 0.05), and ammonium-N (P < 0.05) than the composted wood shavings. This study demonstrated that incorporating a simple aerobic composting system may greatly reduce the overall volume of manure and yield a material that is beneficial for land application in pasture-based systems. The straw-based materials may be better suited for composting and subsequent land application; however, factors such as suitability of the bedding material for equine use, material cost, labor, and availability must be considered when selecting a bedding material.

No abstract

Possible alteration of toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue by ruminal fermentation was studied using 28 Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats (avg. initial wt., 141 g). These were assigned randomly to one of four treatments in a 2*2 factorial consisting of a 14-day growth period with weights and feed consumption data determined on days 0, 5, 10 and 14. Treatments were: endophyte-infected Kentucky-31 tall fescue seed (E+) or endophyte free Johnstone tall fescue seed (E-) that was incubated for 0 (NON) or 24 hours (INC) with rumen fluid collected from a 290-kg cannulated steer fed a diet containing 37% endophyte-infected tall fescue hay. Diets consisted of 50% lab chow, 39% fescue seed and 11% rumen contents (air-dry basis). Alkaloid content (N-acetyl plus N-formyl loline) for the four diets were 2540, 2680, 0, and 0 micrograms/g for E+NON, E+INC, E-NON, and E-INC diets, respectively. E- treatments gained faster, consumed more feed and converted feed more efficiently (P < .05) than did E+ fed groups. No difference in feed intake was observed within E+ treatments, however, the E+INC diet gained faster (P < .05) and converted feed more efficiently (P < .05) than did E+NON fed rats (2.56 vs 1.96 g/d and 5.94 vs 7.51 g of feed/g of gain for gain and feed conversion, respectively). Including endophyte-infected seed in rat diets depressed performance (ie. intake, gain and feed efficiency). This depression was partially alleviated by a 24-hour incubation with rumen fluid contents suggesting that toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue is lessened due to rumen microbial action.