PURPOSE To investigate how the setting of optimization parameters, fractional dose and tuning structure in tomotherapy treatment planning affects plan dosimetric quality and treatment efficiency. METHODS A digital phantom to simulate head and neck radiotherapy was constructed for this study. Tumor was 10cm long C-shaped with two surrounding parallel normal structures (P-NS) and one serial nor...

BACKGROUND The provision of feed is a major cost in beef production. Therefore, the improvement of feed efficiency is warranted. The direct assessment of feed efficiency has limitations and alternatives are needed. Small intestine micro-architecture is associated with function and may be related to feed efficiency. The objective was to verify the potential histomorphological differences in the ...

In this review, the science used to develop host-targeted therapies for improving animal growth and feed efficiency is presented. In contrast to targeting the microbiota of the host, endogenous host proteins are targeted to regulate an overactive inflammatory response in the host. Activation of the immune/inflammatory systems of an animal is costly in terms of growth and feed efficiency. For ex...

Both feed efficiency and sow production are economically important traits in pig breeding. One challenge in a maternal line such as Norwegian Landrace is to breed for highly feed efficient fattening pigs and, at the same time, produce sows with high daily feed intake to maintain their BCS in multiple parities. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic correlations among novel feed efficienc...

Importance of Feed Efficiency The ability to improve the utilization of nutrients has tremendous potential to improve profitability. It has been estimated that a 10% improvement in performance (gain) would increase profit by 18%, while a 10% improvement in efficiency could improve profit by upwards of 43%. It has also been estimated that a 10% improvement in feed efficiency (assumed to be a 2 l...

The livestock and poultry industry is facing numerous challenges to keep up with the increasing demand for high quality animal protein due to the continuously increasing global human population, severe drought conditions around the world, and grains being used for ethanol production. Since feed costs are the majority of the total cost required to produce a live bird, feed efficiency (FE) is a t...

Despite substantial advances in milk production efficiency of dairy cattle over the last 50 years, rising feed costs remain a significant threat to producer profitability. There also is a greater emphasis being placed on reducing the negative impacts of dairy production on the environment; thus means to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient losses to the environment associated with ...