Shortage of animal feed in most developing countries and the increasing cost of feed ingredients mean that there is a need to improve feed utilization. Although developing countries accommodate a majority of the world’s people, there is a risk that biotechnology research and development may by-pass their requirements. However, there are beginnings of using biotechnology in animal production par...

an annual rate of 7 percent since 1986 with 371 million broilers produced in 1994. Broiler litter (mixture of poultry excreta, bedding material, wasted feed and feathers) is usually removed from the poultry houses on an annual basis. Because of its high nutrient content, poultry litter is usually applied to agricultural land as fertilizer with an economic value of $20 to $30/ton. Broiler litter...

Catfish diets must provide enough energy, protein, vitamins and minerals in the proper proportions for fast, efficient growth and health maintenance. Choosing the right feed plays an important role in determining the productivity and profitability of aquaculture operations. But, producers aren’t the only people who are interested in diet quality. Certain characteristics of the diet influence th...

THE SCIENCE OF VIRGINIA’S AQUACULTURE FEED PRICES. Brian L. Nerrie, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806. Aquaculture feed costs are between 50-60% of the operating expenses. Aquaculture’s growth has resulted from improved knowledge of the nutritional requirements of aquacultured products. Initially nutrients were supplied by natural pond foods, and la...

The use of fermented liquid feeds in monogastric animal nutrition is regarded as one of the biosafe methods of animal production. This paper examines bacterial fermentation of feed substrates for production of fermented liquid feeds for pigs and moist feeds for poultry. Emphasis is placed on the interplay of factors affecting feed fermentation and their relationship to feed quality. The resista...

A completely randomised design study involving 132 continental crossbred beef steers was undertaken to evaluate the effects of method of grain treatment and feed level, and grass silage feed value on animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of beef cattle. Winter wheat was harvested and the grain was stored either ensiled crimped and treated with 4.5 l/t of a proprietary aci...

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction during pregnancy on reproductive performance of rabbit does and growth performance and meat quality of their offspring. A total of 26 primiparous non lactating does were equally divided into two treatment groups: the control group (C, n=13) that was fed ad libitum throughout gestation and the feed restricted group (...