Journal of Animal Feed Science and Technology

There are many heat treatment applications, each different in the heat source, construction of the device or process parameters applied, and their efficiency depends on a range of factors. There are many possible combinations, and types of heat treatments in animal feed processing, and most frequently used are pelleting, extrusion, cooking, steam flaking, conditioning, expanding, roasting, popping, toasting and micronisation. Thermal processing increase feed intake and digestibility, improve feed conversion, carcass quality and/or yield grade, reduce in feed waste, transportation, storage costs and labor costs. The heat acts in the same manner as natural digestive enzymes to break down the complex carbohydrate bonds of the grain starch (i.e. gelatinize), which increases the availability of nutrients such as glucose in the small intestine. However, the heat technology used can destroy germs contaminating the oilseeds and remove certain anti-nutritional (antitrypsin factors in whole soya beans, rapeseed glucosinolates) and enzymatic factors (lipases and lipoxidases involved in the oxidation of oils for example).

Keywords: Thermal processing; Heat applications; Feed and food processing.

Mycotic abortion is an important reproductive problem of cattle all over the world. It is caused by a number of different species of fungi and yeasts. These usually occur during the winter and spring months, since this is when cows are often kept in total confinement and can be exposed to moldy hay or silage. The epizootiology of the disease is not clearly understood but it is assumed that mouldy hay, straw and feeding stuffs are the most probable transmitting agents. The mold spores are thought to reach the placenta and fetus through the blood supply of the cow, although the way that they gain access to the circulatory system is not well understood. Mycotic abortion in cattle have been recorded usually after first 6 months of gestation. Aborted animals usually suffer from retention of placenta. Fungal abortions tend to occur sporadically although on some occasions a significant percentage (10–20%) of the pregnant animals in a herd may be affected. No treatment has yet been evolved for such abortions.

Keywords: Mycotic abortion; Bovine; Epizootiology; Fungal abortions.

Fat replacers are the substances which provide the health benefits to the consumer by reducing the incidence of cardio-vascular diseases. Fat replacers may be either carbohydrates or protein based and used singly or in combination in the products. Today’s consumer is very demanding and choosy for their nutritional requirements and mostly preferred the food items having low fat, low salt, fibre rich and antioxidative properties. So this review explained the importance of fat replacers in milk and meat products with their brief classification, present status and role.

Keywords: Fat replacer; Fat mimetics; Fat substitute; Low calorie fat; Meat products; Milk products.

Rapid increase in population has undoubtedly put enormous pressure on the food production system across the globe. However, to meet this ever increasing food demand and for controlling the pests and vectors, there has been extensive usage of chemicals especially pesticides. Although, pesticides finds an important place in intensive agriculture for enhancing the crop yield and storage; and in animal husbandry for preventing pest infestations but their unregulated and indiscriminate use is a serious health concern. Unfortunately, the rampant use of pesticides poses a potential health risks to humans, animals, and environment as well as to non-target species accruing to biodiversity loss, emergence of resistant pests and other ecological imbalances. Therefore, various steps has been taken to curb their haphazard use and many governments are now imposing restrictions on their usage. But, numerous formulations are still in use, both in agricultural and domestic settings; thereby leading to contamination of natural resources and risks for future generations. The present review focuses on various aspects of pesticides usage in agricultural and animal husbandry practices, their impact on health and the possible alternatives to their use.

Keywords: Pesticides; Animal feed; Health impacts; Environmental health; Consumption pattern.

The present experimental evaluation was to assess the effect of feeding Shrimp waste meal as a replacement for fish meal on serological, hematological parameters and carcass traits in broilers. A growth trial was conducted for 42 days using 375 commercial day old Chicks which were distributed randomly to five treatments with three replicates of twenty five birds each. In pre-starter diet fish, meal contribution to the dietary crude protein was replaced with shrimp waste meal at 0% (T1), 20% (T2), 30% (T3), T2 + synthetic lysine and methionine (T4), T3 + synthetic lysine and methionine (T5). In starter and finisher diets the shrimp waste meal protein was added up to the 0% (T1), 50% (T2), 100% (T3), 50% + synthetic lysine and methionine (T4), 100% + synthetic lysine and methionine (T5). In pre-starter and starter phases no significant difference was noticed regarding levels of serum total protein (g/dl), albumin (g/dl), globulin (g/dl), glucose (mg/dl) and cholesterol (mg/dl) among treatments (T1 to T5). In finisher phase also there was no significant difference in levels of serum total protein (g/dl), albumin (g/dl) and glucose (mg/dl) among treatments, but the serum cholesterol levels (mg/dl) and globulin levels (g/dl) were found significantly (p < 0.01) higher in birds fed T1diet than birds fed other diets (T2, T 3, T4 and T5). Non significant differences were noticed among treatment groups regarding RBC count during the three phases of the study. During pre-starter phase the WBC count (103/μl) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the birds fed with the diets T2, T3, T4 and T5 when compared to the birds fed with T 1( control diet). During starter and finisher phases the WBC count (103/μl) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the birds fed with the diets T2 and T3than the birds fed with T 1, T4 and T5. During the pre-starter and starter phases. Lymphocyte (%) count was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in T2 and T3 than in T1, T4 and T5 fed birds. Whereas during the finisher phase there was no significant difference among treatments. At the end of growth trial, the live weight gain, hot carcass weight and the dressing percentage were found significantly (p < 0.01) higher in birds fed T 4 diet when compared to birds fed other diets. The liver, gizzard and heart weights (g) were found significantly (p < 0.01) higher in birds fed T4, T2, and T1 diets when compared to T 3 and T5 group. The results of the present study depicts that the Protein from FM can be safely substituted up to 30% with the SWM protein in pre-starter and up to 50% in starter and finisher broiler diets along with the supplementation of synthetic amino acids (lysine and methionine).

Keywords: Shrimp waste meal; Fish meal; Amino acids; Serological and hematological parameters; Carcass traits; Broilers.

Vannila planifolia Andrews is one of the most important flavouring herbaceous perennial crop. In vanilla in vitro propagation study was conducted to assess the in vitro response of various explants in different growth regulators to identify the ideal and suitable medium for primary callus induction and to found out the response of in vitro regeneration of plantlets from callus tissue. Three different explants viz., Nodal segment, shoot tip and aerial tip from healthy plants were undertaken for this study. Explants were inoculated in MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962) supplemented with BAP, IAA, D-biotin, Calcium pentothenate for primary callus initiation. The growth of multiple shoots was more vigorous on MS medium with 0.2 mg/L of KN and 0.1 mg/L of NAA. MS medium with 1.5 mg/L of IBA and 1.0 mg/L of BA gave good results for rooting. The explant nodal segment gave best response both early shoot induction and higher shooting percentage and also earlier rooting induction with rooting percentage.

Keywords: Micro propagation; Nodal segment; Shooting; Rooting.