A study was carried out to investigate the sodium requirements of broiler chicks in the first week post-hatching using diets with two dietary electrolyte balances (DEB). During the first week, birds were given feeds with four levels of total sodium (0.12, 0.24, 0.36, and 0.48%) and two DEB (Na+ + K+ − Cl− = 160 or 240 mEq/kg). Feeds given thereafter to 42 d had common formulation. Both sodium a...

Life cycle assessment is used in this study to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of producing gilthead seabream in an offshore sea farm exposed to storms in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea. The farming methods used can be considered as “basic” since no centralized or automatic food distribution system exists and there is no control system. This study aims to identify the main hotspots ...

Measures of amino acid (AA) digestibility are used widely to estimate bioavailability of AA in feed and food ingredients for monogastric animals. In principle, the digestibility assay is simpler than in vivo assessments of AA bioavailability and allows for simultaneous estimation of the bioavailability of all AA in an experimental diet. It is generally assumed that absorption of intact AA in th...

Adding attractants can improve acceptability of artificial diets by carnivorous fish fry and fingerlings, increasing intake of unpalatable feeds and improving growth rate, while reducing feeding time and feeding wastes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of levels of inclusion of different attractants in plant protein-based diets on the performance of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides...

The cost of feed is the most important cost in pig or poultry (meat, egg, etc.) production (#6070%); the energy component represents the greatest proportion (>80%) of that cost; while protein and minerals (phosphorus mainly) supplies in feed are much less expensive but crucial for performance of animals and levels of wastes and potential pollutions in the environment. Therefore, it is important...

One key ingredient used in the formulation of aquafeed is fish oil, which is produced from small marine pelagic fish and represents a finite fishery resource. At the present time, global fish oil production has reached a plateau and is not expected to increase beyond current levels. Recent estimates suggest that fish oils may be unable to meet demands from the rapidly growing aquaculture indust...

Estimates of the amount of variation (i.e., standard deviations and ranges) in nutrient composition of common feeds are readily available from some national feed testing labs; however, estimates of variation on feeds within a farm are needed to determine appropriate feed sampling and ration re-formulation schedules. We conducted a large national survey to determine within farm variation for som...

The Alpharma Beef Cattle Nutrition symposium was held at the joint annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Dairy Science Association, and the Canadian Society of Animal Science in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, July 12 to 16, 2009. The symposium was organized to discuss the increased incorporation, challenges, and management options when alternative energy sources are ...