The effects of sex and region on the carcass yield and m longissimus lumborum proximate composition of impala

Physical morphological measurements and m longissimus lumborum proximate chemical composition of impala (Aepyceros melampus) and the effects of age, sex and region on these parameters were investigated. Impala were randomly sampled from Mara (n = 40, 24 males, 16 females), situated in the Arid Sweet Bushveld region, and Musina (n = 28, 15 males, 13 females), situated in the Mopane Bushveld region in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The live weights of the Mara (50.23 ± 9.32 kg) animals were higher (p < 0.05) than those of the Musina animals (44.25 ± 10.81 kg). The male animals from both regions were significantly heavier than the females (p < 0.05), particularly for the older animals (～5 kg for 30‐month‐old animals and ～10 kg for 42‐month‐old animals); however, the dressing percentages between the sexes did not differ. The Mara female group (～62%) had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean dressing percentages than the Musina females (～58%). The mean proportions of external and internal offal were relatively higher in the Musina animals. No significant differences in the dressing percentages between the five age groups were found. Carcass measurements increased linearly with age. Age showed no effect on the m longissimus lumborum chemical carcass composition. Female animals (～19.4 g kg^?1) had higher (p < 0.05) lipid contents for both regions than the males (～14.0 g kg^?1) but the sex of the animal had no effect on the remaining chemical carcass composition parameters. The crude protein content of the Musina animals (248.8 ± 10.44 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than for the Mara animals (238.0 ± 8.404 g kg^?1). The mean ash content of the impala m longissimus lumborum was ～12 g kg^?1. The results indicated that age effects are caused by the increases in size brought about by the growth of the animal and by the development of sexual dimorphism. Age, however, had no effect on the m longissimus lumborum proximate chemical composition. Regional differences were also shown for both the physical parameters as well as for the proximate chemical composition of the muscle. Similarly, females also differed from males for the parameters measured. These factors will have to be taken into consideration by the meat trade when purchasing, processing and marketing impala game meat. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of temperature on the physicochemical properties of starches extracted from microtubers grown from different potato cultivars

Twelve potato cultivars were grown as microtubers in constant environment chambers at two temperatures in total darkness for 28 days. For starch extracted from microtubers grown at 12 or 22 °C, the amylose content ranged from 25.0 to 29.0% (average 27.3 ± 1.4%) or 29.5 to 32.7% (average 30.9 ± 1.4%), the amylose/amylopectin ratio from 1:2.5 to 1:3.0 (average 1:2.7) or 1:2.1 to 1:2.4 (average 1:2.2) and the phosphorus content from 0.41 to 0.93 g kg⁻¹ (average 0.72 g kg⁻¹) or 0.38 to 1.67 g kg⁻¹ (average 0.97 g kg⁻¹) respectively. Two major fractions (F1 and F2) were obtained for isoamylase‐debranched starch (amylopectin), with the chain length (CL) averaging 56 ± 3 or 55 ± 1 for F1 and 20 ± 1 or 21 ± 1 for F2 from 12 or 22 °C growth temperature respectively. Peak gelatinisation temperature (T_p) and enthalpy (ΔH) were influenced strongly by growth temperature, with T_p ranging from 60.8 to 64.5 °C (average 62.1 ± 1.0 °C) or 66.9 to 69.6 °C (average 68.2 ± 0.9 °C) and ΔH from 13.3 to 16.9 J g⁻¹ (average 14.8 ± 1.0 J g⁻¹) or 11.3 to 19.5 J g⁻¹ (average 16.3 ± 2.4 J g⁻¹) from 12 or 22 °C growth temperature respectively. The collective data generated at 12 °C were generally more comparable to data published elsewhere (but discussed in the text) for the same potato cultivars grown in field plots (Perthshire). However, there were cultivar specific responses to field or constant environment chambers which make direct comparisons between starches produced from the two systems subject to some variation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutrient contents,rumen protein degradability and antinutritional factors in some colour- and white-flowering cultivars of Vicia faba beans

Six colour-flowering (Scirocco, Alfred, Carola, Condor, Tina and Herz Freya) and six white-flowering (Caspar, Albatros, Gloria, Tyrol, Vasco and Cresta) cultivars of Vicia faba were studied. The crude protein contents of colour- and white-flowering cultivars were 267±13·6 and 283±18·8 g kg⁻¹, respectively, which did not differ significantly at P<0·05. The levels of lipids, crude fibre, starch and ash varied from 14 to 22 g kg⁻¹, 88 to 143 g kg⁻¹, 407 to 485 g kg⁻¹ and 32 to 42 g kg⁻¹, respectively. The calculated organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) of the white-flowering cultivars were significantly higher (P<0·001) than those of the colour-flowering cultivars (OMD: 889·1±26·6 g kg⁻¹ vs 797·5±17·1 g kg⁻¹; ME: 13·97±0·49 vs 12·30±0·34 MJ kg⁻¹). In all cultivars, sulphur amino acids were lower than adequate concentration when compared with recommended amino acid pattern of FAO/WHO/UNO reference protein for a 2–5-year-old child. The in vitro rumen nitrogen degradability of colour-flowering cultivars was significantly lower (P<0·01) compared to that of white-flowering cultivars (71·4±9·3% vs 88·0±11·1%). Amongst colour-flowering varieties, the contents of total phenols (TP), tannins (T) and condensed tannins (CT) were highest in Alfred (28·3, 21·0 and 35·4 g kg⁻¹, respectively). The contents of TP and T were similar (about 15 and 10 g kg⁻¹, respectively) in Carola, Tina and Herz Freya, and the CT were in the order: Condor>Herz Freya>Carola. The CT were not detected in white-flowering varieties, T were virtually absent and TP were extremely low (4·0–4·9 g kg⁻¹). The activities of other antinutritional factors (white- and colour-flowering cultivars, respectively: trypsin inhibitor activity 3·05±0·34 and 1·85±0·09 mg trypsin inhibited g⁻¹; lectin 27·2±9·4 and 27·1±5·1 mg ml⁻¹ assay medium producing haemagglutination; phytate 15·0±2·7 and 16·6±2·3 g kg⁻¹) were very low. A strong negative correlation (r=-0·92, P<0·001) between tannins and in vitro rumen protein degradability was observed which suggested that tannins have adverse effect on protein degradability. Similarly negative correlations between tannin levels and metabolisable energy (r=-0·89; P<0·001) and organic matter digestibility (r=-0·89; P<0·001) were observed. The correlation coefficient between trypsin inhibitor activity and tannins was negative and highly significant (r=-0·88, P<0·001), whereas between tannins and saponins it was significantly positive (r=0·96, P<0·001). ©1997 SCI     

Response of pancreatic secretions to feeding diets with low and high levels of soybean trypsin inhibitors in growing pigs

Studies were carried out to determine the effect of soybean trypsin inhibitors (SBTI) on exocrine pancreatic secretions in growing pigs. Six barrows with an average initial body weight (BW) of 27·1±1·4 kg were fitted with permanent pancreatic re-entrant cannulas and fed two diets according to a crossover design. Two maize starch-based diets were formulated to contain 200 g kg⁻¹ crude protein from either Nutrisoy (food grade defatted soy flour) or autoclaved Nutrisoy. The concentrations of SBTI in Nutrisoy and autoclaved Nutrisoy diets were 13·4 and 3·0 g kg⁻¹, respectively. The experiment consisted of two periods of 9 days each. The average BW at the start of the first and second experimental periods was 33·5±2·7 and 37·2±3·7 kg, respectively. The average BW at the conclusion of the experiment was 41·8±3·9 kg. The volume of pancreatic secretion was higher (P<0·01) when the Nutrisoy, as opposed to the autoclaved Nutrisoy diet was fed (3804 vs 2634 ml (24 h)⁻¹). The concen-tration of nitrogen and protein and specific activities (units litre⁻¹) of amylase, chymotrypsin and trypsin were lower (P<0·05) in pancreatic juice of pigs fed the Nutrisoy diet. There were no differences (P>0·05) in the total secretions of nitrogen (g (24 h)⁻¹) and total activities (units (24 h)⁻¹) of amylase, lipase, chymotrypsin and trypsin in pancreatic juice of pigs fed the Nutrisoy and autoclaved Nutrisoy diets. However, the total secretion of protein was slightly higher (25·7 vs 22·8 g (24 h)⁻¹; P<0·05) in pancreatic juice of pigs fed the autoclaved Nutrisoy diet, which corresponded with the increase in the secretion of protein-bound amino acids. There was also an increase in the total secretion of free amino acids in pancreatic juice. These studies show no effect of SBTI on the total enzyme activities in pancreatic juice of growing pigs. © 1998 SCI.     

Ileal digestibility of defatted soybean,lupin and chickpea seed meals in cannulated Iberian pigs: II. Fatty acids and carbohydrates

Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg mean live body weight) fitted with T‐shaped ileal cannulas were used to determine ileal digestibility of legume seed meals. The diets were based on defatted soybean (256 g kg^?1), lupin (451 g kg^?1) or chickpea (731 g kg^?1) seed meals and contained similar amounts of digestible energy (14.2–15.1 kJ g^?1) and protein (107 g kg^?1). Only myristic acid (C14:0) ileal apparent digestibility was higher (p < 0.05) in lupin than in chickpea meal. Ileal apparent digestibility of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) (710–920 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than that of saturated (480–710 g kg^?1) FA for both seed meals. Ileal digestibility of chickpea starch was 850 g kg^?1. Ileal digestibility of oligosaccharides (sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and ciceritol) in lupin (820 g kg^?1) and chickpea (690 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than that of defatted soybean (510 g kg^?1). However, total amounts of oligosaccharides digested were higher (p < 0.05) for lupin and chickpea meals (29.6 and 24.6 g kg^?1 feed respectively) than for soybean (15.2 g kg^?1 feed). Among individual non‐starch polysaccharide (NSP) sugars, ileal digestibility values for rhamnose and xylose in lupins were higher (p < 0.05) than those for soybean or chickpea. Ileal digestibility of lupin meal NSP (650 g kg^?1) was higher (p < 0.05) than those of soybean (560 g kg^?1) or chickpea (430 g kg^?1). Up to the terminal ileum, higher (p < 0.05) amounts of lupin total NSP (94.1 g kg^?1) than for soybean (24.3 g kg^?1) or chickpea (27.1 g kg^?1) were digested. Lactate, acetate and isobutyrate concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in ileal contents of pigs fed lupin and chickpea seed meals compared with soybean‐fed animals. It is concluded that higher lactate and short chain fatty acids concentrations in ileal contents of pigs fed lupin or chickpea seed meals compared with soybean are likely to be the result of higher total amounts of lupin NSP and/or lupin and chickpea oligosaccharides digested up to the terminal ileum. This might have a protective effect on Iberian pig's intestinal physiology. Both lupin and chickpea meals are likely to constitute a valuable alternative to defatted soybean in Iberian pig feeding. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mathematical model for Phaffia rhodozyma growth using peat hydrolysates as substrate

The potential of peat hydrolysates for the production of astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma yeast biomass in continuous fermentation was studied. Chemostat fermentations of the yeast were performed using peat hydrolysates as substrate. Kinetic parameters were calculated for the growth of the yeast and the biomass productivity was determined using mathematical models. A low maximum specific growth rate (μ_max=0·08 h⁻¹) and a high Monod constant (Ks=26·2×10³) were obtained for this substrate. The low maintenance energy requirement found, 0·020 g (gh)⁻¹, confirms the aerobic metabolism of the yeast with this substrate. Under selected conditions, a biomass productivity of 0·108 g (lh)⁻¹ and an astaxanthin productivity of 0·046 mg (lh)⁻¹ were obtained. The biomass produced had a high protein and astaxanthin content (490±8 g kg⁻¹ and 0.43±0.07 g kg⁻¹, respectively), indicating that it can be used as a feed additive. © 1998 SCI.     

Low‐protein amino acid‐supplemented diets in broiler chickens: effects on performance,carcass characteristics,whole‐body composition and efficiencies of nutrient utilisation

Two concurrent trials were conducted to investigate the influence of low‐protein amino acid‐supplemented diets on the performance, carcass characteristics, whole‐body composition and efficiencies of nutrient utilisation by the male broiler chicken from age 3 to 6 weeks. The first trial comprised five isoenergetic (13.0 MJ kg⁻¹) diets containing 225 (control), 210, 190, 172 or 153 g kg⁻¹ crude protein (CP) supplemented with essential amino acids (EAAs) to meet the minimum National Research Council recommendations. In the second trial a composite mixture of non‐essential amino acids (NEAAs) was added to the lower‐CP diets (ie 210–153 g kg⁻¹) such that they became isoproteinous (N × 6.25) with the 225 g kg⁻¹ control. Neither the lowering of dietary CP nor NEAA supplementation had any significant influence on weight gain or the relative weights of the various carcass cuts. However, chicks fed the lowest‐CP diets consumed more feed (P ≤ 0.05) and had poorer (P ≤ 0.05) feed conversion efficiency (FCE). NEAA supplementation enhanced FCE to the control levels. Whole‐body compositional analysis showed that lowering dietary CP increased (P ≤ 0.01) total body fat in a linear fashion (P ≤ 0.001; r = −0.72). Equalising dietary CP with the control (ie maintaining identical energy/protein ratio) by NEAA supplementation did not correct for the fat deposition. Total body protein (g kg⁻¹) was identical with the control with or without NEAA supplementation. Dietary energy, protein retention efficiency (PRE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were more efficient (P ≤ 0.01) in the lower‐protein diets, while NEAA supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.01) decreased the efficiency of N utilisation. Reducing dietary CP from 225 to 153 g kg⁻¹ decreased N excretion in a highly significant linear fashion (P ≤ 0.001; r = 0.73). The nutritional and environmental implications of the increased body fat deposition on the one hand and the decreased N excretion on the other in the low‐protein‐fed chickens are discussed and the need to harmonise these apparently conflicting interests is emphasised. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cyanogenic potential of randomly sampled fresh and processed cassava on retail sale in Singapore

A random sample of fresh cassava roots and cassava products, purchased at various retail outlets in Singapore during 2016–2017, had total cyanogenic potential (CNp–expressed as mean ± standard deviation, mg kg⁻¹ HCN, fresh weight basis) as follows: fresh roots (n = 66) from three SE Asian countries, 59.0 ± 19.2; peeled chilled root pieces from Malaysia (20 × 1-kg packs), 38.5 ± 16.5; cassava flour from Indonesia (8 × 1-kg packs), 11.7 ± 8.2; dried Indonesian chips for home frying (5 × 250 g packs), 61.6 ± 16.5; one pack (120 g) of Malaysian ready-to-eat (RTE) chips, 17.1 ± 3.2. CNp in all flour and RTE chips was below 20 mg kg⁻¹. The majority of fresh roots (59.1%) and packs of dried chips (80%), and 15% of packs of peeled chilled root parenchyma, exceeded the Codex Alimentarius limit (50 mg kg⁻¹) for ‘sweet’ (boil-and-eat) cassava.     

Interaction between lactose levels and antimicrobial growth promoters on growth performance of weanling pigs

In experiment 1, 224 pigs (initially 8.85 kg and 28 ± 2 days of age) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to investigate the interaction between lactofeed (LF70) (860 g kg^?1 whey permeate, 140 g kg^?1 soya bean meal) level (175 g kg^?1 and 350 g kg^?1) and avilamycin (0 and 40 mg kg^?1) inclusion in piglet starter diets. Pigs were fed starter diets from day 0 to day 22 and a transition diet was fed from day 23 to day 39. The inclusion level of LF70 in the transition diet was 75 g kg^?1 and 150 g kg^?1. Pigs fed 350 g kg^?1 LF70 had a higher daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.01) and an improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) during the starter period than the pigs fed 175 g kg^?1 LF70. Pigs fed medicated diets had a higher ADG (p < 0.05) and an improved FCR (p < 0.05) than the non‐medicated fed pigs during the starter period. There was an increase in feed intake (AFI) (p < 0.05) during the transition period with increasing levels of LF70. There was an improvement in FCR during the transition period with the inclusion of avilamycin (p < 0.01). There was a significant interaction (p < 0.01) between LF70 and avilamycin for ADG during the transition period. The inclusion of avilamycin at 175 g kg^?1 LF70 inclusion had no effect (p > 0.05) on ADG. However at 350 g kg^?1 LF70 inclusion the pigs offered medicated diets had a higher ADG (p < 0.001) compared with non‐medicated diets. In experiment 2, 224 pigs (initially 8.85 kg and 28 ± 2 days of age) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial to investigate the interaction between LF70 level (175 g kg^?1 and 350 g kg^?1) and zinc oxide (ZnO) (0 and 3.1 g kg^?1) inclusion in piglet starter diets. The inclusion level of LF70 in the transition diet was 75 g kg^?1 and 150 g kg^?1 and of ZnO was 2 g kg^?1. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in ADG with increasing levels of LF70 during the starter period. The inclusion of ZnO during the starter period resulted in an increase in ADG (p < 0.001) and FCR (p < 0.05) compared with no ZnO inclusion. Neither the inclusion of zinc oxide not of LF70 had an effect (p > 0.05) on performance during the transition period. In conclusion the supplementation of starter diets with increasing levels of LF70, ZnO and avilamycin resulted in increased ADG and improved FCR. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Supplementary α‐tocopherol acetate in full‐fat rapeseed‐based diets for pigs: effect on performance,plasma enzymes and meat drip loss

Twenty‐four Large White × Landrace pigs were individually fed, from 50 to 90 kg live weight, either a control (CONT) diet containing palm oil or one of three diets based on full‐fat rapeseed (250 g kg⁻¹) (diets RD). The RD diets were supplemented with 0, 200 or 500 mg DL ‐α‐tocopherol acetate (ATA) kg⁻¹ diet (diets RD0, RD200 and RD500 respectively). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Daily live weight gain was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in pigs fed diet RD500. Plasma AT concentration was significantly increased by dietary supplementation with 200 mg ATA kg⁻¹ but showed no further significant increase by supplementation with 500 mg ATA kg⁻¹. At slaughter, after 45 days, carcass weights were increased for the RD500 group but dressing percentage was unaffected. ATA supplementation significantly reduced drip loss on days 4 and 5–7 in fresh muscle and on days 1 and 4 in frozen muscle. The concentrations of calcium, sodium and potassium in drip loss fluid collected on days 1 and 4 from fresh muscle were not significantly affected by treatment or by time of collection and did not suggest any change in the relative contribution of intra‐ and extracellular fluid to total drip loss. Plasma enzyme activities related to tissue damage (creatine kinase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) were not influenced by dietary treatments. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Aflatoxin production in three selected samples of triticale,wheat and rye grown in Argentina

Little is known about mycotoxin contamination of triticale, a hybrid resulting from crossing wheat and rye. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate triticale as a substrate for aflatoxin accumulation in comparison with its parents. Aflatoxin (B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂) accumulation curves were obtained for the three substrates inoculated with Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 and incubated at 25 °C and water activity 0.925 for 10 weeks. Wheat and triticale were poor substrates for aflatoxin production. Rye was more prone than the other substrates to fast colonisation by A parasiticus and accumulated larger aflatoxin quantities over the whole incubation period. The maximum aflatoxin concentration in rye (11 840 µg kg⁻¹) was significantly larger (p < 0.05) than those obtained in wheat (2150 µg kg⁻¹) and triticale (2850 µg kg⁻¹). © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Selenium analysis of selected Egyptian foods and estimated daily intakes among a population group

The selenium (Se) content of 67 local foods had been determined using electrothermal (ETAAS) and hydride generation (HGAAS) atomic absorption spectrometry. The richest sources of Se were chicken (323±35 μg kg⁻¹); eggs (166±19.4 μg kg⁻¹) and fish (306±5.2 μg kg⁻¹). Vegetables and fruits contained trace amounts of Se (1–33 μg kg⁻¹). Wide variations in Se content were reported between various bread types and values ranged from 14 (home-made bread) to 152 (flattened bread) μg kg⁻¹, respectively. The estimated adult Se intake was 49 μg kg⁻¹; bread being the major contributor (63.6%). ©     

In vitro protein digestibility and mineral availability of green beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL) as influenced by variety and pod size

Three varieties of green beans (Cleo, Strike and Sentry) were harvested and sorted into four fractions according to pod size (diameter <7 mm; 7–8·5 mm; 8·6–10 mm and >10 mm). Ash content and dietary fibre increased significantly as pod size increased mainly in Cleo and Strike beans. Strike showed the highest fibre content (378·0 g kg⁻¹) but the lowest carbohydrate (364·6 g kg⁻¹) and ash (68·4 g kg⁻¹) values. Mean values for Fe and Mg content were higher in Cleo beans (70·9 and 27·1 mg kg⁻¹, respectively), Zn, Cu and Mg were higher in Strike beans (48·7 mg kg⁻¹, 22·4 mg kg⁻¹ and 3·15 g kg⁻¹, respectively) while Na and Ca values were maximum in Sentry (459·1 mg kg⁻¹ and 7·11 g kg⁻¹, respectively). Trypsin inhibitor was negatively related to in vitro protein digestibility but no relationship was found between this last parameter and phytic acid content. This antinutrient, together with dietary fibre, and a negative influence on in vitro mineral dialysability of green beans. © 1998 SCI     

Effect of extrusion on nutritional quality of maize and Lima bean flour blends

Maize flour (Zea mays) (M), Lima bean flour (Phaseolus lunatus) (B) and blends of these in proportions of 75M/25B, 50M/50B and 25M/75B (w/w) were extruded and their nutritional quality evaluated. Extrusion was done with a single screw extruder at 160 °C, 100 rpm and 15.5% moisture. In vitro protein digestibility (87%) was higher in the extruded products. Available lysine and resistant starch were highest in 50M/50B raw flour (59.5 g kg⁻¹ protein, 67.9 g kg⁻¹, respectively) but decreased after extrusion (45.5 g kg⁻¹ protein, 16.6 g kg⁻¹, respectively). The same treatment had the lowest available starch (561.6 g kg⁻¹ flour, 507.9 g kg⁻¹ extrudate). Total dietary fiber in the 50M/50B raw flour blend was 144 g kg⁻¹ versus 176 g kg⁻¹ in its extrudate. This was most noticeable for soluble dietary fiber, which increased from 10.6 g kg⁻¹ to 79.4 g kg⁻¹ after processing. Extrusion of blends is feasible up to a 50% bean inclusion level, which improves the nutritional value of the expanded product.Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Near‐infrared transmittance spectroscopy: a potential tool for non‐destructive determination of oil content in groundnuts

The oil content of 64 samples of groundnut kernels, representing 47 genotypes, was determined by the conventional Soxhlet extraction procedure (Oil^SOX). The values of Oil^SOX ranged from 403 to 536 g kg⁻¹. The optical densities (ODs) of these samples were determined at 12 wavelengths (918, 928, 940, 950, 968, 975, 985, 998, 1010, 1023, 1037 and 1045 nm) in the near‐infrared (NIR) region using a food composition analyser (essentially a filter‐based NIR spectrophotometer). The instrument also recorded the temperatures of the sample (Temp^S) and the air (Temp^A) surrounding it. A sample holder (75 mm × 150 mm; optical path length 25 mm) was used for optical density measurement. The data obtained were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis using the ODs at 12 wavelengths, Temp^S and Temp^A as the independent (predictor) variables, and Oil^SOX as the dependent variable. The multiple linear regression equation comprising 14 predictors showed a significant relationship between predicted values of oil content (Oil^NIR) and Oil^SOX. The standard error of calibration and the coefficient of determination for calibration (R) were 3.54 and 0.821 respectively, while the standard error of prediction and the coefficient of determination for prediction were 5.82 and 0.865 respectively. The ratio of standard error of calibration and standard error of prediction was 0.608. The differences between Oil^SOX and Oil^NIR were less than ± 20 g kg⁻¹ for samples having oil contents in the range from 480 to 510 g kg⁻¹. However, for samples having Oil^SOX lower than 480 g kg⁻¹ or higher than 510 g kg⁻¹, differences greater than ± 20 g kg⁻¹ were observed. There exists scope for further refining the regression equation by using a larger number of samples for generating optical data. The results demonstrated the potential of NIR transmittance spectroscopy for determining the oil content of groundnuts in a non‐destructive manner. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Toxicological evaluation of acetylated faba bean globulin

Acetylated faba bean globulin (acVFG, acetylation degree 97%) was evaluated toxicologically in a subchronic feeding study and a female fertility test. Groups of male and female rats received acVFG in their diet at levels of 20, 40 and 80 g kg⁻¹ for 3 months. Additional groups were fed a commercial diet or given food containing 38 or 75 g kg⁻¹ casein. The subchronic toxicity study revealed growth retardation in both sexes at the 80 g kg⁻¹ acVFG level. The food consumption was reduced in males at 40 and 80 g kg⁻¹ acVFG and in females at 80 g kg⁻¹ acVFG. Histopathological alterations in the ovaries were observed at dietary levels of 40 and 80 g kg⁻¹ acVFG. Histopathological changes and decreases in the absolute and relative weight of the uterus were found in all groups fed acVFG. Therefore a no‐observed‐effect level (NOEL) was not derivable. Feeding females 80 g kg⁻¹ acVFG resulted in diminished pre‐implantation losses but increased post‐implantation losses in the fertility study. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical characterisation and ruminal nutrient degradability of hulled and hull-less oats

The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical and ruminal nutrient degradability characteristics of two hulled (Calibre and AC Mustang) and one hull-less (AC Belmont) oat varieties. Ruminal nutrient degradability characteristics of the oat varieties were determined relative to barley using one ruminally fistulated cow. Neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fibre levels were higher (P < 0·05) in hulled than hull-less oats. Hulled AC Mustang had higher (P < 0·05) NDF and ADF content than hulled Calibre. Starch content was higher (P < 0·05) in AC Belmont (590 g kg⁻¹) than Calibre (457 g kg⁻¹) and was higher in Calibre than AC Mustang (415 g kg⁻¹). Crude protein was higher (P < 0·05) in hull-less than hulled oat. Both hulled varieties had similar CP content (average 124 g kg⁻¹). Estimated digestible energy value was highest (P < 0·05) for AC Belmont (16·94 MJ kg⁻¹), intermediate for Calibre (14·18 MJ kg⁻¹) and lowest for AC Mustang (13·34 MJ kg⁻¹). Ruminal dry matter and NDF degradability were higher (P < 0·05) in hull-less than barley and was higher in barley than hulled oats. Ruminal starch degradability exceeded 900 g kg⁻¹ for all tested feeds and had the order AC Belmont = barley > Calibre = AC Mustang. It was concluded that oat varieties used in this study varied considerably in their chemical composition and ruminal degradability. When compared with barley, hulled oats had lower while hull-less oats had higher ruminal degradability. © 1998 SCI.     

Carcass and meat characteristics of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Seven Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) of 1300 mm length were slaughtered in order to established baseline values for component yields and expected percentage of lean meat, fat and bone for this species. The skin presents nearly 20% of the live weight of the Nile crocodile, while a dressing percentage of 56.5% was derived. The tail realised 18 and 33% of the live weight and empty carcass weight respectively. Values of 60.8, 12.2 and 26.6% of carcass weight were obtained for total lean meat, fat and bone respectively. A pH value of ± 6.5 at 24 h post‐mortem in both tail and leg muscles and a decreasing pH towards 48 h post‐mortem illustrated that rigor mortis is still not complete when crocodile carcasses are processed. While fat content differed statistically (P < 0.05) from 91.1 g kg⁻¹ in raw torso samples to 29.4 g kg⁻¹ in raw neck samples, protein content was relatively constant around a mean of 220.8 g kg⁻¹ in raw meat. Cooking did not have any influence of practical value on proximate, amino acid or mineral composition. Crocodile meat is characterised by a lower iron, magnesium and sodium content than either beef or chicken. Of the total fatty acids present in the tail samples, 37.7% were saturated, 51.1% monounsaturated and 10.7% polyunsaturated. Oleic acid was predominant (43.1%), whilst palmitic acid (25.4%), stearic acid (9.9%) and linoleic acid (9.1%) were also present in high concentrations. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative study of natural carob fibre and psyllium husk in rats. Influence on some aspects of nutritional utilisation and lipidaemia

The effects of the addition of 100 g kg⁻¹ of psyllium husk (PSY), cellulose (CEL) or natural carob fibre (NCF) to a semi‐synthetic diet on fat (FD) and nitrogen (NF) digestibility coefficients, metabolic nitrogen utilisation (MNU), net nitrogen utilisation (NNU) and total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, were studied in male ‘Wistar’ rats. No significant differences were observed between the three fibres with respect to the weight increase of the animals or MNU. Significant differences were recorded for the FD of the NCF group (0.91±0.01) compared to the CEL group (0.95±0.01), as well as on ND (0.88±0.00 NCF group, 0.88±0.00 PSY group and 0.95±0.00 CEL group) and NNU. None of these indexes showed differences between the groups PSY and NCF. For the serum cholesterol levels, there were no significant differences between the non‐hypercholesterolaemic groups fed PSY, CEL or NCF; in those in which hypercholesterolaemia was induced (cholesterol and bile bovine 8.3 g kg⁻¹), significantly lower values were found in the NCF group (166±17 mg dl⁻¹ ) than in the PSY group (343±61 mg dl ⁻¹) and in the CEL group (386±48 mg dl⁻¹). © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Performance of growing–fattening lambs fed whole cotton seed

Effects of diets containing increasing levels of whole cotton seed (WCS) on feed intake, liveweight gain, feed conversion, feeding margin and carcass characteristics were studied. Diets contained 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30% WCS and were fed ad libitum to growing lambs for 54 days. All diets were approximately isonitrogenous (163–186 g crude protein kg⁻¹ dry matter) and isocaloric (19–20 MJ gross energy kg⁻¹ of dry matter). During the first 28 days, four groups of 10 Karagouniko male lambs with initial liveweights of approximately 17·6 kg were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% WCS and then, for the next 26 days, diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% WCS, respectively. Lambs fed the 15–30% WCS diet ingested about 20 mg kg liveweight⁻¹ day⁻¹ of free gossypol. At 54 days and liveweights of approximately 34·7 kg, five lambs from each treatment were slaughtered and carcass data were collected. There were significant differences in feed intake, liveweight gain, cooler shrink, rumen contents, intestinal fat and liver weight among the lambs fed these diets. Cooler shrink and intestinal fat, and perirenal fat and the combined weight of intestinal and perirenal fat, were significantly (P < 0·05) correlated. Pelleting of the WCS diets reduced the concentration of free gossypol in these diets. It was concluded that WCS was satisfactory as a feed ingredient for growing sheep and can be incorporated into ruminant diets as a source of energy and protein. No indication of gossypol toxicity was detected. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry