Feed intake, feed efficiency, and weight gain are important economic traits of beef cattle in feedlots. In the present study, we investigated the physiological processes underlying such traits from the point of view of systems genetics. Firstly, using data from 1334 Nellore (Bos indicus) cattle and 943,577 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a genome-wide association analysis was performed ...

This paper presents the exergy analysis of a desalination unit using humidification-dehumidification process. Here, this unit is considered as a thermal system with three main components, which are the heating unit by using a solar collector, the evaporator or the humidifier, and the condenser or the dehumidifier. In these components the exergy is a measure of the quality or grade of energy and...

OBJECTIVE The influence of substituting steam-flaked corn (SFC) for dry rolled corn (DRC) on feedlot cattle growth performance and dietary net energy when cattle are allowed either ad libitum or 2-h restricted access to the finishing diet was evaluated. METHODS Treatment effects were tested using 96 crossbred steers (251±2 kg) during the initial 56 d of the finishing phase. Cattle were blocke...

The effects of dietary lipid and carbohydrate, and their interaction, on growth performance and body composition of juvenileblunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala were investigated. Fish were fed one of eight isonitrogenous (32% crude protein) diets containing 4% or 7% lipids and 25%, 30%, 35%, or 40% carbohydrate for nine weeks. Weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio,...

A pig growth assay was conducted to determine the relative biological value (RBV) of lysine from L-lysine sulfate relative to feed grade lysine·HCl. A maize-peanut meal diet containing 6.2 g/kg total lysine was supplemented with 2 levels (1 and 2 g/kg) of lysine from L-lysine·HCl or L-lysine sulfate. The RBV of L-lysine sulfate was determined using multiple regression slope-ratio methodology, w...

Blood serum concentration of IGF-I was analyzed to determine its relationship with individual postweaning feed efficiency (gain/feed) of 36 crossbred steer calves fed at three levels of feed intake (n = 12 at each level). Diets consisted of a corn silage-based growing diet for 84 d followed by a 91% concentrate finishing diet for 56 d. Dietary intake levels were at 80, 90, or 100% of ad libitum...

The measurement of feed efficiency in the broiler industry is one of pri­ mary measurements used to monitor and evaluate broiler performance. It has a significant impact on the competitiveness in the marketplace as nearly 70% of the cost of raising a commercial broiler is feed. Although feed costs may shift up or down, it will always represent the highest input cost in commercial poultry produc...