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Fibre Content (fibre + content)
Kinds of Fibre Content Selected AbstractsAssessment of peat compressibility: is there an easy way?HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 17 2005Jonathan S. Price Abstract Peat compression can significantly alter the hydraulic parameters that govern flow and storage of water. Physical properties of peat (bulk density, state of decomposition (von Post number, vP) and fibre content) were assessed to determine whether they can be used as indicators of peat compressibility. Bulk density and vP were related to each other (positively), and within a given core were related (negatively) to compressibility. Peat from different locations exhibited different compressibility characteristics for a given value of bulk density or vP. Fibre content was unrelated to bulk density, vP, or to peat compressibility. It was concluded that more commonly and relatively easily measured soil parameters are not good indicators of soil compressibility. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of transglutaminase and carrageenan on restructured fish products containing dietary fibresINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Carlos Cardoso Summary The inclusion of various levels of a microbial transglutaminase or a carrageenan additive to restructured hake products with or without dietary fibre (obtained from inner pea or chicory root) was studied. These experiments were aimed at producing technologically innovative restructured fish products with improved textural and colour properties. It was found that the addition of transglutaminase, up to 0.5% (w/w), favoured better textural properties, particularly, at 0.1% (w/w) level or above. On the other hand, restructured product with a dietary fibre content of 4% (w/w) and carrageenan addition, up to 2% (w/w), exhibited increased hardness. This can be particularly interesting for those products containing chicory root inulins as this fibre presented an adverse effect on hardness. Regarding colour, higher carrageenan contents caused a slight but significant colour change in the product, making it redder (for products containing Swelite and Fibruline) and more yellow (only concerning Swelite). [source] Yeast application for desalting fibersol-2INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2006Aboubacar Oumar Bangoura Summary The following study made use of applying brewing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for removing free glucose liberated during enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated cornstarch in the preparation of fibersol-2. The fermentation condition was optimally realized at 20 °C, with 0.5% of yeast for 24 h without total soluble sugars dilution. The glucose removal rate was 98.27%, which is considered acceptable and economical, compared with other removal rates. The recovery of fibersol-2 was 67.18% and the total dietary fibre content was 94%. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Application of soybean meal, soy protein concentrate and isolate differing in , -galactosides content to low- and high-fibre diets in growing turkeysJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2010Z. Zdu, czyk Summary The aim of this experiment was to investigate the physiological and growth response of young turkeys (up to 8 weeks of age) to dietary replacement of soybean meal (SBM) by soy protein concentrate (PC) or protein isolate (PI). This replacement resulted in a differentiated dietary concentration of , -galactosides of over 2.5% in the SBM diet, approximately 2% with a mixture SBM and PC, 1% with a PC diet and 0.1% with a PI diet. Each treatment was applied in two ways: with lower (3.5%) or higher (5.3%) dietary crude fibre content, made by supplementation with soybean hulls. The highest and lowest body weight of turkeys was recorded both after the first and second 4-week half of the study in the PC and PI-type diets respectively. A gradual withdrawal of , -galactosides from a diet was accompanied by a decline in ileal tissue mass, ileal viscosity and activity of endogenous maltase (the latter was found to be significant at 4 weeks of age). At the same time, two-way anova revealed that an elevated level of crude fibre (HF treatment) caused an increase in ileal tissue mass (p < 0.05 after 4 weeks of feeding) as well as a decrease in activity level of intestinal sucrase and maltase. The presence of raffinose family oligosaccharides in a diet, in contrast to dietary crude fibre level, significantly affected the caecal metabolism. The rate of bacterial production of short-chain fatty acids in the caeca was distinctly diminished by dietary withdrawal of , -galactosides. In conclusion, the soy protein concentrate, in contrast to the protein isolate preparation, exerted positive effects on the turkeys' growth and gastrointestinal tract physiology and should be considered as an effective SBM substitute. [source] Studies on feed digestibilities in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3-4 2003M. Clauss Summary In order to test the suitability of the horse as a nutritional model for elephants, digestibility studies were performed with six captive Asian elephants on six different dietary regimes, using the double marker method with acid detergent lignin as an internal and chromium oxide as an external digestibility marker. Elephants resembled horses in the way dietary supplements and dietary crude fibre content influenced digestibility, in calcium absorption parameters and in faecal volatile fatty acid composition. However, the absolute digestibility coefficients achieved for all nutrients are distinctively lower in elephants. This is because of much faster ingesta passage rates reported for elephants. No answer is given to why elephants do not make use of their high digestive potential theoretically provided by their immense body weight. Differences in volatile fatty acid concentrations between these captive elephants and those reported from elephants from the wild are in accord with a reported high dependence of free-ranging elephants on browse forage. Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen zur Verdaulichkeit von Futtermitteln bei Asiatischen Elefanten (Elephas maximus) Um zu überprüfen, ob das Pferd als ernährungsphysiolgisches Modelltier für Elefanten herangezogen werden kann, wurden Verdaulichkeitsstudien an sechs im Zoo gehaltenen Indischen Elefanten mit sechs verschiedenen Futterrationen durchgeführt. Dabei wurde die Doppelindikatormethode mit Lignin als internem und Chromoxid als externem Marker verwendet. Elefanten ähnelten Pferden hinsichtlich der Art und Weise, wie sich Ergänzungsfuttermittel und der Rohfasergehalt der Ration auf die Verdaulichkeit auswirkten, hinsichtlich der Kalziumabsorption, und hinsichtlich der Zusammensetzung der flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Kot. Die von Elefanten erzielten absoluten Verdaulich-keitswerte sind jedoch für alle Nährstoffe deutlich niedriger als bei Pferden, was auf die schnellere Passage der Ingesta durch den Verdauungstrakt der Elefanten zurückzuführen ist. Die Frage, warum Elefanten ihr großes Potential zu hohen Verdauungleistungen nicht ausnutzen, das ihnen theoretisch aufgrund ihrer immensen Körpermasse gegeben ist, ist noch nicht beantwortet. Unterschiede in den Konzentrationen von flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Kot zwischen diesen Zoo-Elefanten und Elefanten aus freier Wildbahn spiegeln den hohen Laubanteil in der Nahrung freilebender Tiere wieder. [source] Nutritional evaluation of fermented black gram (Phaseolus mungo) seed meal in compound diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlingsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 1 2007S. Ramachandran Summary Six isonitrogenous (approximately 35% crude protein) and isocaloric (approximately 4.0 kcal g,1) diets were formulated incorporating raw and fermented black gram, Phaseolus mungo, seed meal at 20%, 30% and 40% levels by weight into a fishmeal-based control diet fed to rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings (mean weight, 1.81 ± 0.21 g) for 80 days for a study of fish performance. A particular bacterial strain (Bacillus sp.) isolated from the intestine of adult common carp (Cyprinus carpio) reared in the wild having significant amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic and proteolytic activities was used for fermentation of seed meal for 15 days at 37 ± 2°C. Fermentation of P. mungo seed meal was effective in significantly reducing the crude fibre content and antinutritional factors such as tannins and phytic acid, and enhancing available free amino acids and fatty acids. In terms of growth, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, the 30% fermented black gram seed meal incorporated diet resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) better performance of rohu fingerlings. In general, growth and feed utilization efficiencies of diets containing fermented seed meal were superior to diets containing raw seed meal. The apparent protein digestibility (APD) values decreased with increasing levels of raw seed meal in the diets. The APD for raw seed meal was lower at all levels of inclusion in comparison to those for the fermented seed meals. The maximum deposition of protein in the carcass was recorded in fish fed the diet containing 40% fermented seed meal. The results indicate that fermented black gram seed meal can be incorporated in carp diets up to the 30% level compared to the 10% level of raw seed meal. [source] Effect of Iron(III) Chitosan Intake on the Reduction of Serum Phosphorus in RatsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 7 2000JOSEPH BAXTER Because of the widespread use of aluminium- and calcium-containing phosphate binders for the control of hyperphosphataemia in patients with end-stage renal failure, an iron(III) chitosan complex was synthesised and fed to rats to measure its effect on serum phosphorus and calcium, intestinal phosphate binding and phosphate absorption. Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly selected and distributed into a baseline group (n = 6), a control group (n = 8 (days 0,15), n = 8 (days 16,30)) and a treatment group (n = 8 (days 0,15), n = 8 (days 16,30)). The control groups ingested AIN-76 diet mix with a 1% w/w fibre content; however, the treatment groups had the fibre content completely substituted with iron(III) chitosan. The mean weights of the treated rats were slightly lower from 15 days (not significant); but overall, rat growth was not stunted in the treatment groups. The serum phosphorus levels of the treated group (n = 8) were significantly reduced after 15 days (P = 0.004; control: 5.7 ± 0.9 mg dL,1; treatment: 4.4±0.5 mg dL,1; 95% CI of difference: 0.5,2.2) and 30 days (P = 0.002; control: 5.5 ± 0.9 mg dL,1; treatment = 4.1 ± 0.6 mg dL,1; 95% CI of difference: 0.6,2.3) as compared with the respective control group. The serum calcium-phosphorus product was 62.0 ± 12.1 mg2 dL,2 for the control and 45.1 ± 6.6 mg2 dL,2 for the treatment group after 30 days (P = 0.004). The serum iron concentration of the treatment group did not differ from the baseline value after 15 and 30 days, but the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05) after 30 days. The faeces phosphorus levels (mg day,1) were higher (P < 0.01) and its iron content was much higher (P < 0.01) for the treated group. The urine phosphorus (mg kg,1) was not significantly reduced for the treated group, but the mean was consistently less. The kidney and liver weights of both groups were similar, but the phosphorus content of the kidney (mg (g kidney),1) was higher for the treated group after 30 days (P = 0.041; control, 4.2 ± 1.2 mg g,1 vs treatment, 5.6 ± 1.4 mg g,1. Because iron(III) chitosan had a high phosphorus-binding capacity of 308 (mg P) per gram of Fe3+ for both the in-vitro (pH 7.5) and in-vivo studies, which is greater than nearly all commonly used phosphate binders, and a small net phosphorus absorption difference of 3.7 mg day,1, it is an efficient phosphate binder for lowering serum phosphate levels without increasing serum calcium levels. [source] Comparison of in vitro starch digestibility methods for predicting the glycaemic index of grain foodsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 4 2008Kirsty A Germaine Abstract BACKGROUND:In vitro starch digestibility tests are useful for the prediction of glycaemic index (GI). However, there are no internationally recognised methods and no one method has been found to be suitable for all food types. This study compared six in vitro methods, using four grain foods, including those with a varied particle size and soluble fibre content. Method variations included using chewing or mincing, mincing with or without amylase and incubation in a restricted versus non-restricted system. Hydrolysis index (HI) values, calculated from the starch digestibility curves and GI prediction equations were used to compare the in vitro results to GI. RESULTS: HI values for five of the six methods ranked all foods in the same order as the GI values. Using a GI prediction equation (predicted GIHI) the mincing (without amylase) non-restricted method had the smallest standard error of prediction between the predicted GIHI and GI values. This method was then validated using 14 grain foods and demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.93, P < 0.01) between the in vitro starch digestibility and reported GI responses. CONCLUSIONS: The non-restricted mincing method showed good potential as a new in vitro starch digestibility method for predicting GI in grain foods. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Cumin seed meal with enzyme and polyethylene glycol as an alternative to wheat bran in broiler dietsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 15 2006Behzad Mansoori Abstract Iran produces about 7000 metric tons of cumin seed meal (CSM) as a by-product of cumin oil extraction factories, annually. To evaluate the nutritional significance of cumin seed meal as a broiler feedstuff, an experiment was conducted using 288 male broiler chicks (14 days old) receiving diets containing 0, 25 and 50 g kg,1 of CSM with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG) and enzyme (GrindazymeÔ GP 15000) for 28 days. Total body weight (BW), body weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight of carcass and percentage of legs, breast and edible parts of carcass were measured. The results showed that, inclusion of CSM in broiler diets had no negative influence on parameters evaluated compared to the control diet containing wheat bran (P > 0.05). PEG and enzyme had no influence on the bird performance (P > 0.05). There was an increase in relative weight of gizzard when the amount of CSM in the diet was increased (P < 0.01). An increase in relative weight of gizzard in birds that received the CSM diet was likely to be due to the increase in fibre content of CSM diets. In respect of the low price of CSM, it could be concluded that inclusion of CSM at levels used in this experiment has no negative effect on broiler performance and reduces the overall cost of broiler production. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effect of natural and controlled fermentation on flatus-producing compounds of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2003Marisela Granito Abstract Fermentation of grain legumes is an efficient method to reduce the concentration of ,-galactosidic compounds that are known to be flatulence producers. Soluble dietary fibre has also been implicated in flatulence production; however, little information exists about the effectiveness of fermentation in diminishing the effects of these compounds. The objective of this work was to study the effect of natural fermentation (NF) and controlled fermentation (CF) on the content of ,-galactosides and dietary fibre in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. After 48 h, the pH during NF dropped from 6.15 to 4.00 and the nominal acidity increased six times; for CF, however, although the decrease in pH was similar to that for NF, the nominal acidity increased only three times after 48 h. Insoluble fibre content did not change the pH significantly after 96 h for NF and CF. Soluble fibre suffered an apparent removal after 48 h of NF and underwent a sharp reduction of 66% after 96 h of CF. The concentration of stachyose (the main ,-galactoside in raw beans) diminished notably after 48 h and 96 h NF (72% and 95% respectively), whereas with CF only 11% was removed after 96 h. NF of P vulgaris seems to be more effective than CF in reducing the flatulence-producer factors (,-galactosides and soluble dietary fibre). Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] The relationship between forage cell wall content and voluntary food intake in mammalian herbivoresMAMMAL REVIEW, Issue 3 2010Kerstin MEYER ABSTRACT 1It is generally assumed that animals compensate for a declining diet quality with increasing food intake. Differences in the response to decreasing forage quality in herbivores have been postulated particularly between cattle (ruminants) and horses (hindgut fermenters). However, empirical tests for both assumptions in herbivorous mammals are rare. 2We collected data on voluntary food intake in mammals on forage-only diets and related this to dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content, assuming a nonlinear correlation between these measurements. Generally, the paucity of corresponding data is striking. 3Elephants and pandas showed very high food intakes that appeared unrelated to dietary fibre content. Only in small rodents, and possibly in rabbits, was an increase in food intake on forages of higher NDF content evident. In particular, other large herbivores, including horses, followed patterns of decreasing intake with increasing forage NDF, also observed in domestic cattle or sheep. 4For large herbivores, empirical data therefore do not , so far , support the notion that intake is increased in response to declining diet quality. However, data are in accord with the assumption that most large herbivores have an anticipatory strategy of acquiring body reserves when high-quality forage is available, and reducing food intake (and potentially metabolic losses) when only low-quality forage is available. 5Intake studies in which the influence of digestive strategy on food intake capacity is tested should be designed as long-term studies that outlast an anticipatory strategy and force animals to ingest as much as possible. 6We suggest that a colonic separation mechanism coupled with coprophagy, in order to minimize metabolic faecal losses, is necessary below a body size threshold where an anticipatory strategy (living off body reserves, migration) is not feasible. Future studies aimed at investigating fine-scale differences, for example between equids and bovids, should focus on non-domesticated species. [source] Food selection and nutritional ecology of woodlice in Central ChilePHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2008TAMARA P. CATALÁN Abstract Phenotypic flexibility in food selection and digestive efficiency in response is examined in relation to variations in food quality in a detritivorous species of Mediterranean ecosystems, the woodlouse Porcellio laevis Latreille (Isopoda: Oniscidea). It is hypothesized that diet selection should show a positive correlation between diet quality and digestive efficiency. The studied plants are isocaloric but exhibit significant differences in terms of nitrogen, carbon and fibre content. The observations appear to support the hypothesis that these isopods show compensatory feeding behaviour when feeding on poor diets. Contrary to expectation, a dietary effect on relative growth rate is not observed. It is concluded that behavioural skills associated with diet selection and physiological flexibility may allow P.laevis to satisfy and maintain equivalent nutritional levels during exposure to different diet qualities. In general, it appears that physiological flexibility plays an important role in determining nutritional balance in P.laevis, which can be of great benefit in the highly seasonal environment that it inhabits. [source] Development of yellow-seeded Brassica napus of double low qualityPLANT BREEDING, Issue 6 2001M. H. Rahman Abstract Two yellow-seeded white-petalled Brassica napus F7 inbred lines, developed from interspecific crosses, containing 26,28% emcic acid and more than 40 ,mol glucosinolates (GLS)/g seed were crossed with two black/dark brown seeded B. napus varieties of double low quality and 287 doubled haploid (DH) lines were produced. The segregation in the DH lines indicated that three to four gene loci are involved in the determination of seed colour, and yellow seeds are formed when all alleles in all loci are in the homozygous recessive state. A dominant gene governed white petal colour and is linked with an erucic acid allele that, in the homozygous condition, produces 26,28% erucic acid. Four gene loci are involved in the control of total GLS content where low GLS was due to the presence of recessive alleles in the homozygous condition in all loci. From the DH breeding population a yellow-seeded, yellow-petalled, zero erucic acid line was obtained. This line was further crossed with conventional B. napus varieties of double low quality and, following pedigree selection, a yellow seeded B. napus of double low quality was obtained. The yellow seeds had higher oil plus protein content and lower fibre content than black seeds. A reduction of the concentration of chromogenic substances was found in the transparent seed coat of the yellow-seeded B. napus. [source] Sowing density and harvest time affect fibre content in hemp (Cannabis sativa) through their effects on stem weightANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009W. Westerhuis Abstract Sowing density and harvest time are considered important crop management factors influencing fibre quantity and quality in hemp (Cannabis sativa). We investigated whether the effects of these factors are essentially different or that both factors affect stem weight and thereby total and long-fibre content. The effects of all combinations of three sowing densities and three harvest times were studied for six different stem parts. Almost 500 samples consisting of stem parts from 50 plants and with a length of 50 cm were tested. Fibres were extracted by a controlled warm-water retting procedure, followed by breaking and scutching. The initial sample weight was fractionated into retting losses, wood, tow and long fibre. In both Italy and the Netherlands, crops were successfully established with different stem densities (99,283 m,2), plant heights (146,211 cm) and stem diameters (4.5,8.4 mm) at harvest. Stem dry matter yields (6.8,11.7 Mg ha,1) increased with a delay in harvest time but were not affected by sowing density. Retting loss percentages were lower in lower stem parts and decreased with later harvest because maturation was associated with increasing amounts of fibre and wood. Within a certain stem part, however, the absolute retting losses were constant with harvest time. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the amount of fibre in a hemp stem is almost completely determined by the weight and the position of that stem part. When the plant grows, the increase in dry matter is split up into fibres and wood in a fixed way. This total fibre/wood ratio was highest in the middle part of the stem and lower towards both bottom and top. Sowing density and harvest time effects were indirect through stem weight. The long-fibre weight per stem increased with the total fibre weight and hence with stem weight. Stem weight increased with harvest time; as harvest time did not affect plant density, the highest long-fibre yields were obtained at the last harvest time. The long fibre/total fibre ratio was lowest in the bottom 5 cm of the stems but similar for all other parts. Sowing density and harvest time effects again were indirect. Fibre percentages in retted hemp decreased with increasing stem weights towards a level that is presumably a variety characteristic. The dry matter increase between harvests, however, is much more important with respect to total and long-fibre yield. [source] Transgenic wheat: where do we stand after the first 12 years?ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005H.D. Shewry Jones Abstract Wheat was among the last of the major crops to be transformed (in 1992), and transformation is still difficult, with a lower efficiency than that for maize and rice. However, the recent development of Agrobacterium -based systems is set to improve the precision of the process, while new methods of selection, removal of unnecessary DNA sequences, gene targeting and in vivo mutagenesis will make the process cleaner and more acceptable to regulatory authorities and consumers. Our current work is focussed on using transformation to understand and manipulate aspects of grain processing quality, notably dough strength and texture for milling. However, it is clear that a major priority for future work will be to improve nutritional quality, including vitamin and mineral contents for the developing world and starch digestibility and dietary fibre content and composition for developed countries. [source] EFFECTS OF AGAR AND PECTIN ON GASTRIC EMPTYING AND POST-PRANDIAL GLYCAEMIC PROFILES IN HEALTHY HUMAN VOLUNTEERSCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Masaki Sanaka SUMMARY 1Dietary fibre, such as pectin, delays gastric emptying and may enhance post-prandial glucose tolerance. Agar, which is high in fibre content, is widely used in the traditional Japanese diet. Although long-term diet therapy with agar decreases fasting plasma glucose levels in diabetes, knowledge is lacking about the acute effects of agar on gastric emptying and the post-prandial glycaemic profiles. The present study was designed to investigate the acute effects of agar. 2Ten healthy male volunteers were studied on three occasions with three different test meals (450 kcal/500 mL): (i) a fibre-free meal; (ii) a meal with 2.0 g agar; or (iii) a meal with 5.2 g pectin. On each occasion, participants underwent a [13C]-acetate breath test along with serial blood sampling. To quantify gastric emptying, the half [13CO2] excretion time () and the time for maximal [13CO2] excretion rate (tlag) were determined. The post-prandial glycaemic response was expressed as an incremental change from the fasting value at each sampling time. Data were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (anova), followed by a post hoc paired Student's t -test with Bonferroni adjustment. 3The time-course for respiratory [13CO2] excretion differed significantly among the three test meals (P = 0.0004, anova). Compared with the control meal, [13CO2] excretion was significantly lower following consumption of the agar meal (between 40 and 105 min post-prandially; P < 0.025, Student's t -test) and the pectin meal (between 40 and 180 min post-prandially; P < 0.025, Student's t -test). Among the three meals, significant differences were found in (P = 0.002, anova) and tlag (P = 0.011, anova). Compared with the control meal, the agar and pectin meals exhibited a significantly prolonged (P = 0.007 and P < 0.0001, respectively, Student's t -test) and tlag (P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively, Student's t -test). Neither the agar nor pectin meal affected the post-prandial glucose profile. 4In healthy adults, agar and pectin delay gastric emptying but have no impact on the post-prandial glucose response. [source] Effect of king palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) flour incorporation on physicochemical and textural characteristics of gluten-free cookiesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Karina N. De Simas Summary The replacement of the blend of rice flour (70%) and corn starch (30%) with king palm flour [Archontophoenix alexandrae (F. Muell.) H. Wendl. and Drude] at levels of 0,30% was investigated for its effects on the chemical and physical characteristics of gluten-free dough and cookies. Cookies containing 10, 20 and 30% of king palm flour were analysed by twenty-one celiac consumers through preference-ranking test. Ash, minerals, and dietary fibre contents increased in cookies that were added with king palm flour. Compared with the control dough, the incorporation of king palm flour increased the firmness and decreased the adhesiveness of dough samples. The incorporation of king palm flour increased the hardness of cookies in relation to the control dough. None of the cookies differed significantly (P > 0.05) in the lightness (L*) parameter. All formulations produced cookies with hue angles around 60, which indicate a tendency to brown colour. The study reveals that the incorporation of king palm flour showed desirable results in nutritional characteristics, because of the increase of the dietary fibre and minerals contents. In this study, the cookies preferred by celiac consumers were those containing 10 and 20% of king palm flour (P > 0.05). [source] Effects of variety, cropping year, location and fertilizer application on nutritive value of durum wheat strawJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 2 2008A. Tolera Summary This study was carried out to assess the effects of variety, year, location and level of fertilizer application on chemical composition and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of durum wheat straw as well as to understand the relationship between straw quality and agronomic traits of the crop and to assess the possibilities of selecting wheat varieties that combine high grain yield with desirable straw quality. Two local (Arendeto and Tikur sinde) and two improved (Boohai and Gerardo) varieties of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum Desf.) were used in the experiment. The four varieties were grown at two locations (Akaki and Ejere) in the years 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 in 5 × 5 m plots in three replications. Diammonium phosphate and urea fertilizers were applied at four levels (0/0, 32/23, 41/23 and 64/46 kg/ha of nitrogen/phosphorus). Straw quality was assessed based on chemical composition and in sacco DM degradability. Correlation of straw quality with grain and straw yield and with other agronomic characteristics of the crop was determined. The potential utility index (a measure that integrates grain and digestible straw yield) was used for ranking of the varieties. The local varieties had higher crude protein (CP) and lower neutral detergent fibre contents and higher digestibility than the improved varieties. The cropping year and location had significant effect on CP content and degradability of the straw, which could be due to climatic variation. However, the fertilizer level did not have any significant effect on straw quality except that the CP content of the straw tended to increase with increasing level of fertilizer application. Based on the potential utility index the varieties ranked, in a decreasing order, as Tikur sinde > Arendeto > Gerardo > Boohai and the ranking was consistent across years and locations. Except the CP content, straw quality was not negatively correlated with grain and straw yield. This indicates that there is a possibility of selecting varieties of wheat that combine high grain and straw yield with desirable straw quality. [source] Comparative foraging and nutrition of horses and cattle in European wetlandsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Catherine Menard Summary 1Equids are generalist herbivores that co-exist with bovids of similar body size in many ecosystems. There are two major hypotheses to explain their co-existence, but few comparative data are available to test them. The first postulates that the very different functioning of their digestive tracts leads to fundamentally different patterns of use of grasses of different fibre contents. The second postulates resource partitioning through the use of different plant species. As domestic horses and cattle are used widely in Europe for the management of conservation areas, particularly in wetlands, a good knowledge of their foraging behaviour and comparative nutrition is necessary. 2In this paper we describe resource-use by horses and cattle in complementary studies in two French wetlands. Horses used marshes intensively during the warmer seasons; both species used grasslands intensively throughout the year; cattle used forbs and shrubs much more than horses. Niche breadth was similar and overlap was high (Kulczinski's index 0·58,0·77). Horses spent much more time feeding on short grass than cattle. These results from the two sites indicate strong potential for competition. 3Comparative daily food intake, measured in the field during this study for the first time, was 63% higher in horses (144 gDM kg W,0·75 day,1) than in cattle (88 gDM kg W,0·75 day,1). Digestibility of the cattle diets was a little higher, but daily intake of digestible dry matter (i.e. nutrient extraction) in all seasons was considerably higher in horses (78 gDM kg W,0·75 day,1) than in cattle (51 gDM kg W,0·75 day,1). When food is limiting, horses should outcompete cattle in habitats dominated by grasses because their functional response is steeper; under these circumstances cattle will require an ecological refuge for survival during winter, woodland or shrubland with abundant dicotyledons. 4Horses are a good tool for plant management because they remove more vegetation per unit body weight than cattle, and use the most productive plant communities and plant species (especially graminoids) to a greater extent. They feed closer to the ground, and maintain a mosaic of patches of short and tall grass that contributes to structural diversity at this scale. Cattle use broadleaved plants to a greater extent than horses, and can reduce the rate of encroachment by certain woody species. [source] | ||||||||||||||||