In order to reduce straw input, soft lying mats are used increasingly instead of straw bedding in cubicle systems for dairy cows. This study aimed at comparing different types of soft lying mats with straw bedding regarding cow behaviour and leg injuries. Data were collected on five farms with straw bedding and on 13 farms using four types of soft lying mats consisting of different materials. O...

Soil management practices, such as tillage method or straw return, could alter soil organic carbon (C) contents. However, the effects of tillage method or straw return on soil organic C (SOC) have showed inconsistent results in different soil/climate/cropping systems. The Yangtze River Delta of China is the main production region of rice and wheat, and rice-wheat rotation is the most important ...

This study was designed to compare the effect of straw size (0.25 vs. 0.5 ml) and thawing time (30 vs. 60 sec) on the quality of cryopreserved buffalo bull semen. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and viability were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in 0.25 ml than 0.5 ml straw, thawed at 37°C either for 30 or 60 sec. In conclusion, cryopreservation of buffalo semen in 0.25 ml straw resulted in a highe...

This experiment was performed to investigate the effect of Azolla and rice straw mixed compost in peat substitution on Dieffenbachia amoena. Factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with two factors of nutrient solution in 2 levels (1- without solution, 2- with 130 mg N/ l, 32 mg P /l and 117 mg K/ l) and 5 levels of Azolla and rice straw mixed compost (zero, 15, 30, 45 and ...

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding treated wheat straw with urea and whey on fattening lambs performance. About 4.5 kg urea and 1.5 kg salt were dissolved in 40 L water and mixed with 30 L of whey. The solution was spread over 100 kg chopped wheat straw. Thirty two male lambs were randomly divided into four feeding groups to compare performance with diets based on barley...

BACKGROUND Renewable lignocellulosic biomass is an advantageous resource for the production of second generation biofuels and other biorefinery products. In Middle Europe, wheat straw is one of the most abundant low-cost sources of lignocellulosic biomass. For its efficient use, an efficient mix of cellulases and hemicellulases is required. In this paper, we investigated how cellulase productio...

in order to investigate the effect of processing type (whole straw bale processing or opened straw bale processing with urea) on diet digestibility, economical and productive parameters in feedlot cattle, 18 holstein bull with average body weight 224.72 ± 20.45 kg were used in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 replicate. treatments 1, 2 and 3 contained 40% typical straw, 40...

The aim of this study was to improve the utilization of rice straw as forage in ruminants by investigating the degradation pattern of rice straw in the dairy cow rumen. Ground up rice straw was incubated in situ in the rumens of three Holstein cows over a period of 72 h. The rumen fluid at 0 h and the rice straw at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h were collected for analysis of the bacteri...

BACKGROUND Tail biting is a common problem in intensive pig farming, affecting both welfare and production. Although routine tail docking is banned within the EU, it remains a common practice to prevent tail biting. Straw as environmental enrichment has been proposed as an alternative to tail docking, but its effectiveness against tail biting and function in manure handling systems have to be c...

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials. In addition, formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicid...