CSIRO
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/50
CSIRO Publishing2024-03-29T06:31:06ZAntimicrobial peptides isolated from the blood of farm animals
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/32116
Antimicrobial peptides isolated from the blood of farm animals
The development of antimicrobial resistance by pathogenic bacteria has fuelled the search for alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Endogenous antimicrobial peptides have the potential to be used as new antimicrobial substances because they have low minimum inhibitory concentration in vitro, have broad-spectrum activity, neutralise lipopolysaccharides, promote wound healing and have synergistic effects with conventional antibiotics. Farm animals, in particular the blood that is a by-product of the meat and poultry industries, are an abundant, and currently underutilised, source of such antimicrobial peptides. These antimicrobial peptides could be isolated and developed into high-value products such as biopreservatives, topical neutraceutical products and pharmaceuticals. There have been some clinical trials of antimicrobial peptides as pharmaceutical products, but up to now, the trials have shown disappointing results. Further research and development is still needed before such peptides can be commercialised and full advantage taken of this waste product of the meat and poultry industries.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZIncreasing milk production from forage: production systems and extension service preferences of the northern Australian dairy industry
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/32114
Increasing milk production from forage: production systems and extension service preferences of the northern Australian dairy industry
Dairy farms in Queensland were stratified by six regions, three levels of enterprise size (0.25–0.69, 0.7–1.39 or >1.4 ML milk/year) and two rainfall zones (<1000 and >1000 mm/year). Thirteen percent of farmers (89 farms) were surveyed using a prepared questionnaire to ascertain the current production systems, forage management practices and preferences for extension services. Herd size, dairy area, milk production per cow, the use of cropping, pit silage, concentrate input and irrigation input all increased (P < 0.05) with larger enterprises. At the same time the stocking rate on high milk volume farms was almost twice that on smaller farms. The drier zone (<1000 mm/year) was associated with lower stocking rate, higher per cow production and a greater emphasis on cropping and feedpad usage (P < 0.05). The importance of enterprise growth through intensification of the existing farm land resource base is indicated through these findings. Apart from ration formulation, processes used to manage cropping land, irrigation and grazing were primarily based on tradition or intuition.In valuing extension activities, farmers across all enterprise sizes were in general agreement that information products warranted only a small investment. As enterprise size increased, a more individualised and focussed extension service, delivered through targeted discussion groups and personal coaches was favoured.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZModerate levels of dietary sheep milk powder reduce experimentally induced colonic inflammation in rats
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/32115
Moderate levels of dietary sheep milk powder reduce experimentally induced colonic inflammation in rats
Anecdotal evidence suggests that sheep milk may be more beneficial than cow milk for people with intestinal health problems; however, there are no published reports on the effects of sheep milk on intestinal function. Our hypothesis was that sheep milk powder can reduce the severity of colonic inflammation in rats with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. A preliminary experiment investigated the palatability of sheep milk powder in the diet of 5-week-old rats with (n = 8) or without (n = 8) DSS-induced colitis. Increasing sheep milk powder from 11 to 56% in the diet had no effect (P > 0.05) on food intake, showing that rats readily eat low and high levels of sheep milk powder in the diet, with or without DSS. Experiment 2 investigated the effects of moderate levels of sheep milk powder (11%) in rat diet on colon morphology, colonic biochemical markers of intestinal function, and caecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, with (n = 8) or without (n = 8) DSS-induced colitis. Colon total histological injury scores decreased and caecal concentrations of butyric and propionic acids were increased (P < 0.05) in DSS rats fed moderate (11%) dietary levels of sheep milk powder. Experiment 3 investigated the effects of high levels (56%) of sheep milk powder in rat diet on colonic markers of intestinal inflammation, and caecal microbial populations, with (n = 11) or without (n = 8) DSS-induced colitis. Sheep milk powder at 56% of the diet had no effect on colonic biochemical markers of intestinal health, or on caecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations. However, the caecal digesta concentrations of beneficial microbial populations (lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and clostridia) were increased (P < 0.05) and the concentrations of potentially harmful bacteria (coliforms) were decreased (P < 0.05). These results suggest the benefits of moderate levels of sheep milk during DSS-induced colonic inflammation may be due to alterations in the caecal microbiota composition, and further investigation into its health benefits are warranted.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZEffect of treatment of cocoa-pods with Aspergillus niger on liveweight gain and cocoa-pod intake of Bali (Bos sondaicus) cattle in South-East Sulawesi
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/32112
Effect of treatment of cocoa-pods with Aspergillus niger on liveweight gain and cocoa-pod intake of Bali (Bos sondaicus) cattle in South-East Sulawesi
Cocoa-pods, a by-product of the cocoa industry, could potentially be used as a feed resource for ruminants in eastern Indonesia. However, little is known regarding the optimal amount to be included in the diet or the effect of treatment with Aspergillus niger on cocoa-pod quality. In this experiment the effect of rate of inclusion (0 or 10 g DM/kg liveweight.day or ad libitum) of A. niger-treated or untreated cocoa-pods in the diet on intake and liveweight gain of Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) was investigated. Ad libitum intake of cocoa-pods was greater when they were treated with A. niger (17.1 ± 0.07 g DM/kg liveweight.day; mean ± s.e.m.) compared with untreated cocoa-pods (13.9 ± 0.19 g DM/kg liveweight.day) when offered as the sole component of the diet. The digestibility of A. niger-treated cocoa-pods (448.9 ± 23.7 g/kg) was not different to untreated cocoa-pods (422.9 ± 13.9 g/kg) when fed ad libitum, which was lower than native grass (527.2 ± 10.7 g/kg). Animals offered A. niger-treated cocoa-pods lost less liveweight than animals offered untreated cocoa-pods when offered ad libitum (–0.104 ± 0.02 and –0.280 ± 0.02 kg/day, respectively), and grew faster when included in the diet at 10 g DM/kg liveweight.day (0.233 ± 0.02 and 0.129 ± 0.02 kg/day, respectively). In conclusion, in areas where cocoa plantations exist, cocoa-pods may be a useful feed resource for ruminants when fed at low levels of inclusion in the diet. The treatment of cocoa-pods with A. niger will result in increased liveweight gain. However, it is unlikely such treatments will be adopted by small-holder farmers due to the increased requirements for inputs, such as time, labour, funds, equipment, and technical skills.
2010-01-01T00:00:00Z