This study aimed to determine the level of use of fermented kapok seed to substitute 100% soybean meal in native laying hen rations without adverse effect on laying hen production. Two hundred and forty laying hens ag...This study aimed to determine the level of use of fermented kapok seed to substitute 100% soybean meal in native laying hen rations without adverse effect on laying hen production. Two hundred and forty laying hens aged 20 weeks were used in this experiment. The completely randomized design was assigned with six treatments to replace 0, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of soybean meal with fermented kapok seed with four replications. The variables measured were feed intake, feed conversion and income over feed cost （gross profit）, as well as variables related to egg production （hen day production and egg weight）, thickness of eggshell and yolk color index for quality of eggs. Data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance （ANOVA）, and if the result shows a marked influence, it will be followed by Duncans test （DMRT）. The results showed that the performance of laying hen had not been affected significantly by substituting soybean meal with fermented kapok seed. Feed intake, feed conversion and egg production is not influenced either. In summary, the use of fermented kapok seed to substitute soybean meal in the ration can be up to 100% in the diet of laying chicken.展开更多
Cassava is currently being investigated for biogas production in South Africa as it offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch and total dry matter. The chemical constituents of the cassava biomass were de...Cassava is currently being investigated for biogas production in South Africa as it offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch and total dry matter. The chemical constituents of the cassava biomass were determined using standard methods. Using a locally fabricated laboratory batch fermenter, anaerobic digestion was carried out in a 25 L capacity digester maintained at 36 ± 0.5 ℃. Pre-treatment of the cassava biomass with spoilage fungi, Aspergillus niger and PeniciUium species yielded large amounts of fermentable sugars for digestion. Cassava slurry was made and mixed with zebra droppings （2：1 v/v） and loaded into the digester of 20 L working volume. Analysis results showed an increase in most nutrients after pretreatment except for starch which decreased from 76% to 60% as a result of its hydrolysis to fermentable sugars by the spoilage fungi. Theoretical biogas yields were between 0.71 nm3 and 0.75 nm^3 per kg VS （volatile solids） destroyed while the total biogas yields of between 250 nm^3 and 300 nm^3 per kg VS fed into the digester was obtained after 20 days residence time. Cassava is not yet a staple food in some BRICs countries like South Africa and the peels and other by-products of its processing are equally suitable for energy production. The use of cassava will be an alternative feedstock strategy for several rural biogas projects running with cow dungs inside South Africa. In addition, opportunities exist for decentralized, cheaper and socially advantageous bioenergy production from cassava considering that fuel and electricity needs are not satisfied in many rural areas. Finally, the incorporation of cassava anaerobic digestion facility at different scales will deliver additional benefits like the incorporation of nutrients and residual carbon into the land as fertilizer.展开更多
文摘This study aimed to determine the level of use of fermented kapok seed to substitute 100% soybean meal in native laying hen rations without adverse effect on laying hen production. Two hundred and forty laying hens aged 20 weeks were used in this experiment. The completely randomized design was assigned with six treatments to replace 0, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of soybean meal with fermented kapok seed with four replications. The variables measured were feed intake, feed conversion and income over feed cost （gross profit）, as well as variables related to egg production （hen day production and egg weight）, thickness of eggshell and yolk color index for quality of eggs. Data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance （ANOVA）, and if the result shows a marked influence, it will be followed by Duncans test （DMRT）. The results showed that the performance of laying hen had not been affected significantly by substituting soybean meal with fermented kapok seed. Feed intake, feed conversion and egg production is not influenced either. In summary, the use of fermented kapok seed to substitute soybean meal in the ration can be up to 100% in the diet of laying chicken.
文摘Cassava is currently being investigated for biogas production in South Africa as it offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch and total dry matter. The chemical constituents of the cassava biomass were determined using standard methods. Using a locally fabricated laboratory batch fermenter, anaerobic digestion was carried out in a 25 L capacity digester maintained at 36 ± 0.5 ℃. Pre-treatment of the cassava biomass with spoilage fungi, Aspergillus niger and PeniciUium species yielded large amounts of fermentable sugars for digestion. Cassava slurry was made and mixed with zebra droppings （2：1 v/v） and loaded into the digester of 20 L working volume. Analysis results showed an increase in most nutrients after pretreatment except for starch which decreased from 76% to 60% as a result of its hydrolysis to fermentable sugars by the spoilage fungi. Theoretical biogas yields were between 0.71 nm3 and 0.75 nm^3 per kg VS （volatile solids） destroyed while the total biogas yields of between 250 nm^3 and 300 nm^3 per kg VS fed into the digester was obtained after 20 days residence time. Cassava is not yet a staple food in some BRICs countries like South Africa and the peels and other by-products of its processing are equally suitable for energy production. The use of cassava will be an alternative feedstock strategy for several rural biogas projects running with cow dungs inside South Africa. In addition, opportunities exist for decentralized, cheaper and socially advantageous bioenergy production from cassava considering that fuel and electricity needs are not satisfied in many rural areas. Finally, the incorporation of cassava anaerobic digestion facility at different scales will deliver additional benefits like the incorporation of nutrients and residual carbon into the land as fertilizer.
