Ripening influences banana and plantain peels composition and energy content

in Tropical Animal Health and Production (2011), 43

Musa sp. peels are widely used by smallholders as complementary feeds for cattle in the tropics. A study of the influence of the variety and the maturation stage of the fruit on fermentability and ... [more ▼]

Musa sp. peels are widely used by smallholders as complementary feeds for cattle in the tropics. A study of the influence of the variety and the maturation stage of the fruit on fermentability and metabolisable energy (ME) content of the peels was performed using banana (Yangambi Km5) and plantain (Big Ebanga) peels at three stages of maturation in an in vitro model of the rumen. Peel samples were analysed for starch, free sugars and fibre composition. Samples were incubated in the presence of rumen fluid. Kinetics of gas production were modelled, ME content was calculated using prediction equation and short-chain fatty acids production and molar ratio were measured after 72 h of fermentation. Final gas production was higher in plantain (269–339 ml g−1) compared to banana (237–328 ml g−1) and plantain exhibited higher ME contents (8.9–9.7 MJ/kg of dry matter, DM) compared to banana (7.7–8.8 MJ/kg of DM). Butyrate molar ratio decreased with maturity of the peels. The main influence of the variety and the stage of maturation on all fermentation parameters as well as ME contents of the peels was correlated to changes in the carbohydrate fraction of the peels, including starch and fibre. [less ▲]

Soil chemical changes following 3-year legume or grass leys in west Africa

in Tropical Grasslands (2010), 44

The influence of 4 tropical grasses (Panicum maximum, Andropogon gayanus broad- (BL) and narrow-leaf (NL) types and Pennisetum purpureum) and 6 legumes (Aeschynomene histrix, Stylosanthes fruticosa ... [more ▼]

The influence of 4 tropical grasses (Panicum maximum, Andropogon gayanus broad- (BL) and narrow-leaf (NL) types and Pennisetum purpureum) and 6 legumes (Aeschynomene histrix, Stylosanthes fruticosa, Centrosema pubescens, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, Cajanus cajan and Leucaena leucocephala) on fertility of the top soil in the Sudanian region of Benin over 3 years was investigated. The plants were sown without fertiliser, harvested under a cut-and-carry regime and soil changes were compared with those under a natural fallow. Soil samples were collected before the study commenced and at the end of the 3-year study. These were analysed for pH, organic C, N, available P and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K and Na). N, P and K contents of aerial parts were determined to estimate the exports of these elements. For the grasses, root biomass, depth and distribution were also measured. Three years after grasses and legumes were sown, the pH under the grasses (6.6-6.7) was higher than under the legumes (6.2-6.4) and C and N concentrations had declined from the initial levels. Owing to their deep rooting systems, A. gayanus BL and P. maximum, and probably C. cajan and L. leucocephala, appeared able to recycle nutrients from deeper soil layers. While these species could be used for ley pastures in savannah regions of west Africa, maintenance fertiliser applications would be required to prevent nutrient depletion under a cut-and-carry regime. Further studies to test the efficacy of farmyard manure in providing these nutrients seem warranted. [less ▲]

Comparison of bovine colostrum whey and defatted bovine colostrum supplementation on piglet post-weaning growth check

in Book of the Abstracts of the 60th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (2009, August)

Influence of source and levels of dietary fiber on in vivo nitrogen excretion pathways in pigs and in vitro fermentation and protein synthesis by fecal bacteria

in Journal of Animal Science (2009), 87

The inclusion of dietary fiber (DF) in diets has been suggested as a way to reduce ammonia emission in pig barns because it contributes to a shift in N excretion from urine to feces due to enhanced ... [more ▼]

The inclusion of dietary fiber (DF) in diets has been suggested as a way to reduce ammonia emission in pig barns because it contributes to a shift in N excretion from urine to feces due to enhanced bacterial growth in the intestines. This study compared an in vitro method to measure bacterial protein synthesis during fermentation to in vivo N excretion shift induced by diets differing in DF concentrations and solubility. The first experiment measured the effect of graded concentrations of sugar beet pulp (SBP; 0, 10, 20 and 30%) in corn-soybean meal-based diets on in vivo N excretion partitioning between urine and feces. A second experiment investigated the replacement of SBP, rich in soluble DF, by oat hulls (OH), rich in insoluble DF (20:0; 10.5:10.5; 0:22%, respectively). In parallel, the fermentation characteristics of the dietary carbohydrates not digested in the small intestine was evaluated in an in vitro gas test, based on their incubation with colonic microbiota, using a mineral buffer solution enriched with 15N. The N originating from the buffer solution incorporated into the bacterial proteins (BNI) was measured when half of the final gas volume was produced (T/2: 8.5 to 14.5 h of fermentation) and after 72 h of fermentation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were determined in the liquid phase. In the first experiment, the inclusion of SBP linearly decreased urinary N excretion from 0.285 to 0.215 g N excreted in urine per g N ingested and urinary-N:fecal–N excretion ratio from 2.171 to 1.177 (P < 0.01). In the second experiment, the substitution of SBP by OH linearly increased urinary-N:fecal–N excretion ratio (P = 0.009). Unlike SCFA production, BNI was greater at T/2 than at 72 h of fermentation. Sugar beet pulp enhanced BNI linearly (P < 0.001): 2.01, 2.06 and 2.35 mg g-1 diet with 10, 20 and 30% SBP, respectively, as compared to 1.51 mg for the control diet. The substitution of SBP by OH decreased BNI (P < 0.01). With the exception of final gas production, all in vitro kinetics characteristics and BNI were correlated to in vivo N excretion parameters and regression equations for the prediction of N excretion pathways from in vitro data were identified. Even if the presence of resistant starch in the diet might alter the composition of the fibrous residue that is fermented, it can be concluded that the in vitro method is a possible useful tool for the formulation of diets reducing the effects of pig production on the environment. [less ▲]

Bovine colostrum: an efficient and cost-effective growth promoter in piglet weaning diet

in Book of the Abstracts of the 59th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (2008, August)

Effect of a bovine colostrum whey supplementation on circulating hormones in weaned piglets

Poster (2008, June)

Nutritional and environmental consequences of dietary fibre in pig nutrition: A review

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2008), 12

Despite its negative impact on performances because of lower protein and energy digestibility, increasing attention has been paid in the past decade to dietary fibre in swine nutrition due to its multiple ... [more ▼]

Despite its negative impact on performances because of lower protein and energy digestibility, increasing attention has been paid in the past decade to dietary fibre in swine nutrition due to its multiple functionalities. The present review examines the influence of dietary fibre on the digestive processes and the consequences on pig protein and energy nutrition, health concerns and environmental issues. Dietary fibre is defined as the plant polysaccharides that are resistant to digestive secretions and are potentially available for bacterial fermentation in the intestines of single-stomached animals. Resistant starch is also considered as a dietary fibre. The short-chain fatty acids released by bacteria contribute to the host energy supply and both regulate the composition of the flora and the growth of epithelial cells, especially in the case of butyrate. The bacterial growth supported by the fermentation induces a shift of N excretion from urine to faeces. Beside the fermentability, the physical properties of dietary fibre such as the water-holding capacity, the viscosity and the solubility influence the digestion, the satiety and the transit time. In relationship with the mechanisms of dietary fibre interaction with the digestive processes exposed in this review, the opportunities and treats of dietary fibre inclusion in swine rations for intensified and for more extensive tropical production systems are discussed. Dietary fibre is indeed a possible means to reduce nitrogen losses of production units and to improve pig intestinal health and animal welfare. Finally, the potential role of in vitro fermentation methods to investigate the fate of dietary fibre in the digestive system is discussed. [less ▲]

Etude de la répartition géographique de la teneur en cuivre des pâturages péri-urbains de Lubumbashi (RDC) exploités par des chèvres.

Poster (2008)

Bovine colostrum as a natural growth promoter for newly weaned piglets: a review.

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2008), 12(2), 157-170

The aim of this review is to present the potential of bovine colostrum as growth promoter in piglet-weaner diet. The consequences of weaning on the growth performance, on the gastro-intestinal tract and ... [more ▼]

The aim of this review is to present the potential of bovine colostrum as growth promoter in piglet-weaner diet. The consequences of weaning on the growth performance, on the gastro-intestinal tract and on the metabolic and endocrine systems of the piglet are described in the first part of this review. The second part is dedicated to the bovine colostrum, with a description of the actions due to its main growth promoters and antimicrobial factors. Finally, the reported effects of bovine specific components or bovine fractions on the growth performance and on the structure and function of the gastro-intestinal tract of piglets in the early postweaning period are presented. They show clearly the potential of bovine colostrum to reduce the growth-check related to the weaning of the piglet. [less ▲]

Evaluation in vitro des peaux de banane et de plantain au cours de la maturation en vue de leur utilisation comme complément alimentaire pour les ruminants.

Conference (2007)