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Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the nutrient digestibility of sweet sorghum stover, an unconventional roughage source in ram lambs in comparison to conventional sorghum and maize stovers. Materials and Methods: 18 Nellore ram lambs aged about 3 months (average body weight 15.65±0.10 kg) were randomly allotted to three complete rations formulated with roughage to concentrate ratio of 60:40 using sorghum stover (D1), maize stover (D2) and sweet sorghum stover (D3) as roughage source for a period of 120 days. At the end of the growth trial, a metabolism trial was conducted to evaluate the nutrient utilization of the complete diets. Results: There was no significant difference in nutrient digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein (CP), crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract in ram lambs fed D1, D2 and D3 diets, respectively. The digestibilities of acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre did not differ significantly among the ram lambs fed various experimental diets. All the lambs were on positive nitrogen balance. Nitrogen balance was comparable among the various groups. The digestible CP and total digestible nutrients, digestible energy and metabolisable energy content of D1, D2 and D3 diets did not show any significant difference. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, sweet sorghum stover can be incorporated in the complete diets of sheep at 60% level by replacing conventional roughages such as sorghum stover and maize stover, processed as mash form without affecting the voluntary intake and digestibility of nutrients.

Pyrolysing agricultural crop residues and other biomass constitutes a newer method of transforming often difficult, waste materials into a novel type of soil amendment/additive. Simultaneously, this process also makes it possible to exploit part of the energy released in the agricultural production. Biochar, viewed as the solid product of biomass pyrolysis, is a remarkable, porous material, rich in carbon. Two agricultural crop residues, such as wheat and barley straw, were selected for the experimental studies. The results indicate that the practical temperature for the production of biochar from the two explored materials occurs in the vicinity of 600 °C. Starting at this temperature, the biochar produced complies safely with the principal European Biochar Certificate standards (EBC 2012). Thus, for the wheat straw and barley straw – originated char, the content of the carbon amounts to 67.2 and 67.0 mass %, the atomic ratio H : C is as large as 0.032 and 0.026, and the specific surface area amounts to 217 and 201 m<sup>2</sup>·g<sup>–1</sup>, respectively.

Recombinant fibrolytic feed enzymes and ammonia fibre expansion (AFEX) pretreatment of crop residues to improve fibre degradability in cattle

King oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) contains many medicinal and nutritional values, excellent flavors, and a long shelf life. Cultivation of edible mushroom on agricultural and lignocellulosic waste like wheat straw and wood chips gives a high yield and nutritional contains. In present study, the effects of lignocellulosic organic wastes, such as wood chips, wheat and barley straw, sugar beet pulp, sawdust and maize stem residue as basal substrate and wheat and rice bran, soybean powder and their combinations were used as supplements. We analyzed mushroom production gap, mushroom fresh weight, moisture content, dry matter, and protein content of fruit body traits. A factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications. Supplementation of wheat bran in wood chips increased the mushroom production gap and dry matter content. The highest mushroom fresh weight and moisture content were achieved on barley straw and sugar beet pulp substrate complemented with rice bran, respectively. In addition, protein content ranged from 4.64 % (barley straw + wheat bran and wood chips + soybean powder + rice bran treatments) to 13.66 % (wheat straw + wheat bran + soybean powder treatment). The quality of P. eryngii was significantly affected by substrate ingredients. The type of substrate as well as the type and quantity of supplement appeared to have a substantial effect on prolonging the delayed-release nutrients.

Compaction characteristics of barley, canola, oat and wheat straw

Five different agricultural residues, barley straw, wheat straw, corn stover, corn stalks and alfalfa stalks were pretreated by steam explosion. The pretreated agricultural residues were then hydrolyzed by the addition of 15 IU of Trichoderma E58 cellulase per gram dry weight of residue. This resulted in the hydrolysis of 46% of the barley straw, 42% of the wheat straw, 38% of the corn stover and corn stalks and 31% of the alfalfa stalks, to reducing sugars after 24 hrs incubation. Water washing the steam treated wheat straw increased the percent hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose from 18% to 35%. When the agricultural residues were fermented to ethanol using a combined hydrolysis and fermentation procedure, the efficiency of hydrolysis was further improved by 8% to 19%, depending on the nature of the substrate.

A study was carried out with the objective to assess the utilization practices of local feed resources. It was implemented in Tanqua-Abergelle district of the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Lemlem and Gera peasant associations (PAs) were selected purposively based on their potentiality in livestock resources and road access for household (HH) interview purpose. Likewise, Sheka-Tekli and Hadinet PAs were chosen for the purpose of focus group discussion (FGD). A total of 60 HHs (30 from each PA) were selected randomly for interview using semi-structured questionnaire. About 16% of the respondents were female HHs. Two FGDs were held with key informants. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS (2013, version 21) statistical software procedures. The study area is characterized by mixed crop-livestock farming system with high interaction between crop and livestock. Livestock are the mainstay for the farm community with many benefits as sources of draught, meat, milk, income, and manures. Cattle are kept primarily for the purpose of draught power with meat and milk as secondary products, whereas shoats are kept mainly for cash income, manure, meat, and milk. The land holding size per HH was 1.44ha while the herd size was 4.93 tropical livestock unit (TLU). Almost all the land holding (97%) is allocated for crop cultivation with lesser for forage production (<1%) indicating poor attention for fodder harvesting. The cattle herd is composed of local breeds (99%) with less exotic/crossbred (1%), indicating that the livestock rearing is practiced using local breed. Crop residues, natural pastures, stubble grazing, hay, and browsing are the main feed resources for animals. The availability and contribution of each feed vary with season and areas. Sorghum stover is the main feed source in the area and followed by maize stover, Eragrostis tef straw, and pulse straws. Crop residues are fed as basal diet with no or less supplementation using local concentrates like Attela and mill by-products. Industrial by-products are rarely used in the livestock feeding system for their high price and less availability. Likewise, improved forages are not widely utilized as feed sources.

Biohydrogen production from residual biomass: The potential of wheat, corn, rice, and barley straw - recent advances.

Owing to low N content in low quality roughages, the estimation of in vitro rumen degradable nitrogen (IVRDN) by the method of Raab et al (Br J Nutr 1983 50 569–582) is expected to have a high standard deviation. Incubation of larger amounts of sample will increase the amount of N in the system and decrease analytical errors in the determination of IVRDN. The increase in the amount of sample necessitated an increase in the amount of buffer in the medium. In this study the effect of 30 ml (as is in original method) and 40 ml buffered rumen fluid (containing double the amount of hydrogen carbonate buffer as in the original method) on rumen degradation of N from low quality roughages was evaluated. N degradability of seven cereal straws (barley, millet, oat, rice, sorghum, triticale and wheat) and one grass hay was calculated from the linear regressions of NH3-N concentration vs in vitro gas production. The strength of association (r2) for gas production and NH3-N concentration between 30 and 40 ml system was significantly (P<0·05) different for grass hay and rice straw but not significant for other feeds. Using both systems, the IVRDN for triticale straw was virtually nil, and for others the values obtained using 40 ml system were either similar (oat straw, rice straw, sorghum stover and wheat straw) or higher (barley straw, grass hay and millet stover) than those obtained using 30 ml system. Although no significant difference was found in the standard deviation by increasing the amount of sample, the larger sample has an advantage in that it allows concomitant determination of in vitro apparent and true digestibility. © 1998 SCI.

Three laboratory trials were conducted to determine the effects of type of chemical, concentration of chemical, and concentration and duration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment upon the nutritive value of ground wheat straw (WS). NaOH, potassium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide improved in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the straw at either the 2 or 4% (W/W) levels. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of WS increased (P<.01) while levels of acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P<01), acid detergent lignin (P<.05), cell wall constituents (P<.01) and hemicellu-lose (P<.05) decreased with increasing concentrations of NaOH (0 to 16% W/W) per dry weight of WS. Concentrations of crude protein (P<05), ash (P<05) and ADF (P<01) increased while hemicellulose decreased (P<.01) as duration of chemical treatment increased (0–56 days). An interaction (P<.01) between NaOH concentration and duration of treatment was detected upon IVOMD. In a steer feeding trial, diets containing either 50% untreated or NaOH-treated WS were evaluated. In addition, three levels of dietary urea (0, 1 or 2%) were evaluated with the NaOH-treated WS. Average daily gain (ADG) and daily dry matter (DM) intake were increased (P<.05) by treating ground WS with NaOH. However, the addition of urea to the NaOH-treated WS diets decreased (P<05) ADG and DM intake and increased (P<.05) feed/gain ratio. Carcass parameters were generally not affected by treatment. In digestion and nitrogen balance trials evaluating the same diets, the apparent DM and crude fiber digestibilities were increased (P<05) by treatment of WS with NaOH. Percent urinary N excretion was increased (P<.05), and percent N retention tended to be lower with the yrea-containing diets.

Bioenergy potential from crop residue biomass in Araucania Region of Chile

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background.&lt;/strong&gt; In mixed crop livestock farming systems in Ethiopia, sorghum stover and other crop residues are a strategic livestock feed resource. Farmer’s decisions and intensity of use of sorghum stover for feed than other uses are closely associated with biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; This study explores determinants of sorghum biomass uses for livestock feed in three major sorghum growing agroecological zones of Ethiopia. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; Tobit and double hurdle models were run and likelihood ratio test was performed to select most suitable estimation technique. &lt;strong&gt;Result.&lt;/strong&gt; Allocation of sorghum stover for feed showed a significant association with sorghum growing agro-ecological zones, highest in the lowland (86.73%) and the lowest in highland sorghum growing agroecological area (61.75%). Econometric model result revealed that among other factors; availability of feed from grazing and other crop residues had a negative effect on decision to use and intensity of use of sorghum stover for feed. Household’s livestock ownership and family size had positive effects. &lt;strong&gt;Implication.&lt;/strong&gt; Decision variables influenced household’s decision and intensity on use of sorghum stover for feed at three major sorghum growing zone differently. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion.&lt;/strong&gt; Knowledge generated through this study may help any research and development efforts to enhance productivity of sorghum biomass for livestock feed and livestock improvement strategies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keywords&lt;/strong&gt;: Agroecology; Crop residue; Econometric models; Feed resources; Sorghum stover.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keywords&lt;/strong&gt;: Agroecology; Crop residue; Econometric models; Feed resources; Sorghum stover.&lt;/p&gt;

The aim was to evaluate the effect of size (long or chopped wheat straw), type (barley or wheat) and presence/absence (1week) of straw supplementation on behaviour and welfare of fattening lambs. Sixteen lambs (65days) were individually housed to be used in two simultaneous experiments (8 lambs each) for 5weeks of fattening. After a habituation period, they were offered straw that differed either in size (Experiment 1) or type (Experiment 2), which was followed by a week without straw and then reallocation of straw. Maintenance behaviours, play and stereotypies were analysed using video recording. Physiological stress responses were measured using blood samples taken at the end of the week without straw and after the reallocation of the straw. A preference test was performed during the last week. Concentrate and roughage consumption, average daily gain and conversion index were estimated. Lambs provided with long straw spent more time eating forage, playing and performed fewer stereotypies (Experiment 1). Lambs given wheat straw increased their play behaviour compared with those given barley straw, without affecting stereotypies (Experiment 2). When the straw was removed, lambs performed more behaviours associated with stress; however, this was not reflected in blood stress indicators. Lambs clearly preferred long straw over chopped straw, but no clear preference was observed between wheat and barley straw. The amount of forage intake was consistent with the time spent eating forage, but the amount of concentrate intake did not vary with eating concentrate behaviour, since the amount of concentrate intake was higher when the straw was removed, especially in Experiment 2. Our results show that size more than type of straw supplement impact the behaviour of lambs. Long straw reduces the stereotypies and increases play. This may improve the welfare and performance of fattening lambs, adding ethical value to a highly appreciated product.

Isolation of cellulose nanocrystals from grain straws and their use for the preparation of carboxymethyl cellulose-based nanocomposite films

Impact of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw removal from fields on soil organic carbon (SOC) is a concern. Increased animal populations and potential development of cellulosic ethanol production could increase the removal of straw from fields. This paper focuses on the effects of wheat and barley straw removal on SOC in irrigated production systems, and related the results to estimates of the minimum straw carbon inputs required to maintain soil organic carbon (MSC) from rain‐fed systems. Six studies compared SOC changes with time in irrigated systems in which wheat straw was removed or retained. These studies indicated that SOC did not decline when residues were removed. Apparently belowground biomass is supplying C to irrigated soils at a rate sufficient to maintain SOC with time. However, under rain‐fed systems, returning residue to the soil was required to maintain SOC. Estimates of MSC were obtained from nine rain‐fed wheat system studies. Averaged across all rain‐fed MSC values, 4.14 Mg more straw ha−1 was required to maintain SOC in rain‐fed than in irrigated systems. Presently, the rain‐fed based MSC values are the best information available to evaluating residue removal effects but caution should be used in applying these in irrigated systems. The results from this limited number of irrigated studies suggest that rain‐fed estimates of MSC will overestimate the MSC in irrigated systems and underestimate the available irrigated straw resources. There is need to evaluate the effect of residue removal on SOC for diverse irrigated systems.