Supplementary feeding

Acute and chronic lead (Pb) poisoning have been recognized as some of the most important causes of mortality for raptors worldwide. We simultaneously examined the recent, medium-term and long-term lead exposure of the endangered bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) from the Pyrenees (northern Spain and southern France). One hundred and one blood samples from 87 captured individuals and tissue samples (liver and bone) from a further 43 dead individuals were analyzed for lead residues. The majority of individuals examined had very low lead concentrations in blood, liver and bone. However, two individuals showed elevated blood Pb levels, two individuals showed liver lead concentrations indicative of excessive lead exposure and one individual showed bone lead levels indicative of chronic lead poisoning, suggesting that the Pyrenean population is not free from the risk of poisoning. We found that Pb exposure was significantly higher in adult individuals as well as in the northern (France) and eastern (Catalonia) range of their distribution. These differences could be related to different feeding habits between age classes (pre-adults are more linked to supplementary feeding sites) and differences in hunting practices between regions (in some regions, carcasses and offal of game animals are not retrieved). Blood, liver and bone lead levels found were slightly higher during the hunting season than outside of the hunting season. Lead presents an unnecessary threat to adult birds and the only way to remove this risk is to ban all hunting with lead within the range of distribution of the endangered bearded vulture. Acute and chronic lead poisoning should be considered in differential diagnosis in any diseased or injured wild bearded vulture, especially subadult and adult individuals, and the potential risk of Pb poisoning should be considered in future reintroduction programs.

objective To test the hypothesis that individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 3 months with a greater body mass index (BMI) as a result of supplementary feeding with ready-to-use fortified spread would maintain a higher BMI 9 months after the feeding ended.

Conservation strategies for long-lived vertebrates require accurate estimates of parameters relative to the populations' size, numbers of non-breeding individuals (the ''cryptic'' fraction of the population) and the age structure. Frequently, visual survey techniques are used to make these estimates but the accuracy of these approaches is questionable, mainly because of the existence of numerous potential biases. Here we compare data on population trends and age structure in a bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) population from visual surveys performed at supplementary feeding stations with data derived from population matrix-modelling approximations. Our results suggest that visual surveys overestimate the number of immature (,2 years old) birds, whereas subadults (3-5 y.o.) and adults (.6 y.o.) were underestimated in comparison with the predictions of a population model using a stable-age distribution. In addition, we found that visual surveys did not provide conclusive information on true variations in the size of the focal population. Our results suggest that although longterm studies (i.e. population matrix modelling based on capture-recapture procedures) are a more time-consuming method, they provide more reliable and robust estimates of population parameters needed in designing and applying conservation strategies. The findings shown here are likely transferable to the management and conservation of other long-lived vertebrate populations that share similar life-history traits and ecological requirements.

Studies were conducted to investigate the effects of different fertilizers and supplementary feed on water quality parameters. Dissolved oxygen levels were higher in nutrient rich and plankton dense ponds. There were quite minor variations in water quality parameters among treatments and different seasons of the year. Values of alkalinity and hardness remained same irrespective of the type of input. Total solids were much higher in those ponds with both types of fertilizers and supplementary feed. Differences were more prominent in the levels of plankton productivity which was always higher in nutrient dense ponds where all the proposed inputs were present. During the winter months this difference however totally mitigated indicating low metabolic and decomposition activities. So it can be concluded that water quality can be maintained within acceptable ranges if all the inputs are added in well measured and managed way. Haphazard and poorly managed activities always lead to deleterious effects.

Summary The paper describes the evolution of what is called the Bangladesh Poultry Model from the beginning in the 1970s till today on the basis of material gathered in the context of the GOB/IFAD Bangladesh Smallholder Livestock Project, implemented 1993 - 1998 and the recently formulated GOB-IFAD 'Micro Finance and Technical Support Project'. It is concluded that the poultry model

The Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus population in the Pyrenees is managed using feeding stations to increase breeding success and reduce mortality in the pre-adult population. Nevertheless, very little quantitative and qualitative information has been published on such basic aspects of the species' ecology as feeding habits and dietary preferences. This study investigated both aspects through direct and unbiased observation of breeding Bearded Vultures during the chick-rearing period. Bearded Vulture diet comprises mammals (93%), birds (6%) and reptiles (1%), with medium-sized ungulates (mainly sheep/goats) the most important species in the diet (61%, n = 677). Prey items were not selected in proportion to their availability, with the remains of larger species (cows and horses) being avoided, probably due to the variable cost/benefit ratios in handling efficiency, ingestion process and transport. There is no relationship between the proportion of sheep limbs in the diet and the proximity of feeding stations, suggesting that these sites are probably less important for breeding adults than for the pre-adult population. On the other hand, diet specificity seems related to productivity, with territories with greater trophic breadth being those with higher fecundity. Bearded Vultures prefer to eat limbs, although meat remains (provided principally by small mammals) can play an important role in guaranteeing breeding success during the first few weeks after hatching. The management of carrion provided by animals that die naturally in extensive livestock practices and the remains of wild ungulates which have died naturally or by human hunting, are important conservation tools for the Bearded Vulture and other carrion-eating species.

A total of 211 poisoning incidents registered over the period 1990–2007 and affecting 294 Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) were studied to address the impact of poison-related mortality in the Spanish population. Poison-related mortality mainly affected the birds on an individual level, with low numbers of individuals being found in each incident (mean 1.39) with 94.9% being adults. Deaths were largely recorded (81.8%) during the breeding season, with mortality peaking during May and June (52.1%). In contrast with other raptor species, a high proportion of adult individuals (74.2%) were found in the nest or its surroundings. Age-related differences in the poisoning rate are probably related with different feeding and behavioral strategies between age classes. The illegal use of poison to control predators was the main cause of mortality (93.8%), and particularly in small hunting reserves (74.9%), since the kind of food resources that adults exploit are coincident with the type of baits employed to illegally control predators and the preferred habitat coincides with areas of small game hunting. Our results suggest that poisoning is probably one of the main causes of Egyptian vulture mortality in Spain. The eradication of the illegal use of poisoning and supplementary feeding in specific territories to provide safe food seems priority for its conservation.

Thirty-two male fallow deer, half 18-and half 30-month-old, were slaughtered after a 4-month feeding trial on pasture alone or with daily supplement of 500 g (dry matter) concentrate/head (eight each 18-and 30-month-old). Neither diet nor age produced significant effects on M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LM) and on M. semimembranosus (SM) pH and colour. Meat texture properties (Warner-Bratzler-WB Shear Force and compression), water loss and collagen content were unaffected by diet, while the older deer had higher LM WB peak force values (4.15 vs 4.88 kg) and lower collagen solubility (34.61 vs 22.58%). LM and M. semitendinosus (ST) of the supplemented deer had a higher content of fat (pasture vs concentrate feeding: 0.56 vs 0.72% in LM; 0.55 vs 0.78% in ST) and provided lower PUFA, particularly n-3 PUFA, and higher n-6/n-3 ratio (3.30 vs 4.76 in LM; 3.39 vs 4.63 in ST). Thirty-month-olds' LM and ST were fatter than 18-month-olds', and provided lower PUFA, both in the n-6 and n-3 fraction. #

La cigüeña negra Ciconia nigra es una especie considerada en peligro de extinción en España. Una de las principales amenazas que se reconocen para la especie es la ausencia de áreas de alimentación adecuadas. Dentro de un programa de conservación general de especies amenazadas del monte mediterráneo se ensayó, en 2006, la alimentación suplementaria de la cigüeña negra por primera vez, aunque dicha actuación está contemplada en las herramientas de planificación para su preservación. Dicho ensayo se efectuó a través de aportes de peces vivos en charcas de Extremadura y Castilla-La Mancha. Tuvo un triple objetivo: mejorar la calidad del hábitat de alimentación, dirigir sus concentraciones premigratorias a lugares tranquilos y favorecer la integración en el medio de ejemplares rehabilitados en Centros de Recuperación. En este trabajo se exponen los principales resultados obtenidos al respecto de la mejora de la calidad del hábitat de alimentación y de la adecuación de zonas de concentración.

Current European sanitary laws are promoting the concentration of domestic livestock carcasses in limited locations called 'vulture restaurants' or supplementary feeding stations in order to safeguard human health. However, this type of food concentration could lead to monopolization by a few, large dominant species. Management guidelines are urgently needed to ensure that potentially less competitive and more endangered scavengers can also benefit from this resource, considering that once abundant carcasses are now absent from the field. Here, we assess factors affecting the abundance of six avian scavenger species at 17 feeding stations in northern Spain, considering aspects such as carrion availability, physiographic features, humanization, presence of heterospecifics and densities of scavengers during both winter and summer seasons. Results indicate that conditions for interspecific facilitatory processes are possible at low numbers (<100 individuals) of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). Otherwise, the other avian scavengers are excluded. In a few cases, spatio-temporal patterns of segregation become apparent. Differences in the size of carcasses supplied to feeding stations as well as the local characteristics influence the balance of species at these points and, therefore, how species of conservation concern use feeding stations. Future legislation should encourage the opening of numerous feeding stations supplied with low quantities of food to mimic the original condition of temporal and spatial unpredictability of carcasses and to maintain ecological relationships within the scavenger guild.

The Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus population in the Pyrenees is managed using feeding stations to increase breeding success and reduce mortality in the pre-adult population. Nevertheless, very little quantitative and qualitative information has been published on such basic aspects of the species’ ecology as feeding habits and dietary preferences. This study investigated both aspects through direct and unbiased observation of breeding Bearded Vultures during the chick-rearing period. Bearded Vulture diet comprises mammals (93%), birds (6%) and reptiles (1%), with medium-sized ungulates (mainly sheep/goats) the most important species in the diet (61%, n = 677). Prey items were not selected in proportion to their availability, with the remains of larger species (cows and horses) being avoided, probably due to the variable cost/benefit ratios in handling efficiency, ingestion process and transport. There is no relationship between the proportion of sheep limbs in the diet and the proximity of feeding stations, suggesting that these sites are probably less important for breeding adults than for the pre-adult population. On the other hand, diet specificity seems related to productivity, with territories with greater trophic breadth being those with higher fecundity. Bearded Vultures prefer to eat limbs, although meat remains (provided principally by small mammals) can play an important role in guaranteeing breeding success during the first few weeks after hatching. The management of carrion provided by animals that die naturally in extensive livestock practices and the remains of wild ungulates which have died naturally or by human hunting, are important conservation tools for the Bearded Vulture and other carrion-eating species.

Thirty six Awassi weaned male lambs (mean body weight, BW 22.1 ) 0.52 kg and 3-4 months of age) were used in a growth experiment and 16 others (mean BW 41.6 t_ 0.42 kg and 6 months of age) were used in a digestibility experiment. The objective was to evaluate urea-treated olive cake (UTOC) as an alternative energy source in diets of fattening lambs.

We studied the factors that determine the presence of the cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus at 134 carcasses experimentally distributed in Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPA) in western and central Spain. Our goals were to assess the use of these carcasses and by-products in order to find out the cinereous vulture's food preferences and thus provide recommendations for the management of specific vulture restaurants for this species. Our results suggest that the number of cinereous vultures that come to feed on the carcasses is related to the quantity of biomass present and to the types of pieces of the provided food. Cinereous vultures prefer individual, medium-sized muscular pieces and small peripheral scraps of meat and tendon. The time that elapses before the cinereous vultures begin to consume a carcass depends on the biomass delivered, the number of pieces into which it is divided, and the type categories of the provided food. The population density of the species in our study area and the breeding stage seem to determine the time invested in feeding at the carcasses. These results may help managers to optimise the creation of vulture restaurants and favour their use by cinereous vultures.

To cite this Article: Vasilakis, Dimitris P., Poirazidis, Konstantinos S. and Elorriaga, Javier N. (2008) 'Range use of a Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus) population in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park and the adjacent areas,

Objectives: (i) Critically appraise the current global evidence on the utility of "Medical Nutrition Therapy" (MNT) for the management of SAM in under five children; (ii) Formulate a consensus amongst stakeholders regarding the need to introduce product based MNT for the management of SAM in under five children in India; (iii) Identify research priorities for MNT for the management of SAM in under five children in India; and (iv) Ascertain potential challenges for introducing product based MNT in India, if consensus opinion identifies such a need.

Large herbivores are keystone species in many forest areas, as they shape the structure, species diversity and functioning of those ecosystems. The European bison Bison bonasus has been successfully restored after extinction in the wild at the beginning of 20th century. As free-ranging populations of the species were re-established mainly in forest habitats, knowledge of the impact by the largest European terrestrial mammal on tree stands is essential. This helps to make management and conservation decisions for viable population maintenance of the species in the wild. Using a novel DNA-based method of herbivore diet analysis, the trnL approach (DNA-barcoding), we investigated the influence of different foraging conditions (access to supplementary fodder) on bison diet in winter and its potential impact on woody species. Faecal samples were collected from different bison treatment groups: (1) intensively fed; (2) less intensively fed; (3) non-fed utilising forest habitats; and (4) non-fed utilising agricultural areas surrounding the Forest. These were analysed to estimate the proportion of different plant groups consumed by bison. Bison groups differed significantly in their diet. The amount of woody materials (trees and shrubs) consumed by bison increased with decreasing access to supplementary fodder, ranging from 16% in intensively fed bison to 65% in non-fed bison utilising forest habitats. Inversely, the amount of herbs, grasses and sedges decreased from 82% in intensively fed bison to 32% in non fed bison utilising forest habitats. The species of trees mainly browsed by bison, Carpinus/Corylus, Betula sp. and Salix sp., were of lower economic importance for forest management. The impact of bison on tree species needs further investigation, however, we can predict that browsing by bison, mainly on Carpinus/Corylus, makes an insignificant impact on forestry due to the high and increasing representation of this species in the forest understory. Supplementary feeding has several negative effects on bison ecology and health, therefore reduced and distributed supplementary feeding should be applied as the management practice in the Białowieża Forest.

This study was conducted to evaluate the implementation of the School Supplement Feeding Program (SSFP) among primary school in terms of financial management and budget disbursement, food preparation, selection of menus and nutrient content of food served. A total of 129 schools comprising 77 national type, 31 Chinese and 21 Tamil vernacular schools in four different regions (northern, eastern, central and southern) of Peninsular Malaysia were selected for this study. The results of this cross-sectional study showed a need to improve the budget disbursement to schools. Most of the schools followed the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education for selection of eligible children. The quality of food prepared by contracted (local community members) and voluntary (teachers) operators. The use of 10 recommended menus provided for a 2-week cycle by most of the schools has shown increased acceptance and less monotonous feeling towards the food among the children. Nutrient content of...

Levels of child malnutrition in India have fallen only slowly during the 1990s, despite significant economic growth and considerable expenditure on the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, of which the major component is supplementary feeding for malnourished children. To begin to unravel this puzzle, this article assesses the programme's placement and its outcomes, using NFHS data from 1992 and 1998. The authors find that programme placement is clearly regressive across states. The states with the greatest need for the programme -the poor Northern states which account for nearly half of India's population and which suffer from high levels of child malnutrition -have the lowest programme coverage and the lowest budgetary allocations from the central government. Programme placement within states is more progressive: poorer and larger villages have a higher probability of having an ICDS centre, as do those with other development programmes or community associations. In terms of outcomes, the authors find little evidence of programme impact on child nutrition status in villages with ICDS centres.

Maternal effects have been suggested to function as a mechanism for transgenerational plasticity, in which the environment experienced by the mother is translated into the phenotype of the offspring. In birds and other oviparous vertebrates where early development is within the egg, mothers may be able to improve the viability prospects of their offspring at hatching by priming eggs with immunological and nutritional components. 2. We studied how resource availability affects maternal investment in offspring by feeding Ural owl ( Strix uralensis , Pall.) females prior to egg-laying in 3 years of dramatically different natural food conditions. 3. Supplementary feeding prior to laying increased body mass and the level of Igs of females measured at clutch completion. Supplementary fed Ural owl females laid larger eggs than control females, and had offspring with higher levels of Igs at hatching compared to offspring of control females. 4. We found variation in maternal allocation of resources to the eggs in response to environmental conditions: during a year of rapidly declining food abundance, maternal Igs in hatchlings were higher, whereas egg size was smaller compared to years with a more stable food supply. 5. Egg size had a positive effect on offspring body mass at fledging, whereas Igs at hatching did not affect Igs at fledging. 6. We conclude that maternal body condition and maternal Igs, as well as hatchling Igs and egg size are limited by food resources during egg production. Hatchlings rely on maternally derived Igs and, hence, our results suggest that mothers with high levels of Igs passively transfer higher Igs levels to their eggs instead of active manipulation of Igs levels in eggs. Ural owl egg size appears to be highly sensitive to short-term changes in food abundance, with important consequences for nestling growth.

Keywords: Aquila adalberti Breeding success Brood reduction Spanish imperial eagle Supplementary feeding A B S T R A C T We studied the factors that led to brood reduction in 1192 nest/years of 143 territories of the Spanish imperial eagle during the period 1988-2003 and we carried out an innovative supplementary feeding programme in perches near nests in order to mitigate nestling mortality and improve fledging rate. Chick mortality affected 9.3% of hatchlings and 13.9% of the nests monitored. Sibling aggression was the most important factor in brood reduction (54.8% mortality of chicks in the nest), and supplementary feeding limited the process of sibling aggression. In addition, we compared the fledging rate in nests with supplementary food to that of non-supplemented control nests. Supplementary food increased the number of fledglings per brood (1.56 vs 0.72 in the control nests). This increase was repeated in subadult pairs (1.57 vs 0.53 in the control nests) and occurred both in high-quality territories (2.32 vs 1.36) and in low-quality territories (1.35 vs 0.54).

The nationwide use of a "Multimixture," a formula based on alternative foods such as rice and/or wheat bran, sesame and squash seeds, cassava, beet and carrot leaves, several indigenous leafy vegetables, and ground egg shells has been proposed by the National Institute of Food and Nutrition (INAN) as an official solution to fight hunger among poor Brazilians. The fragile nutritional state of the target population may make technical or ethical questions appear purely academic, yet nutritional, toxicological, and practical feasibility considerations appear to warrant a revision of the INAN proposal. While the Multimixture approach may prove valid as a temporary solution in cases of extreme poverty, it is not universally applicable for the intended use, failing to take into account the age and nutritional status of the subjects or duration of the intervention. Resumo O Instituto Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição (Inan) está propondo o uso, em nível nacional, de fórmula de alimentação alternativa, denominada "Multimistura", à base de farelos de arroz, e/ou trigo, sementes de gergelim e abóbora, folhas de mandioca, beterraba, cenoura, verduras nativas e pó de casca de ovo, como solução para combater a fome da população carente. Embora o crítico estado nutricional da população-alvo possa fazer qualquer questionamento técnico ou ético parecer por demais filosófico, uma série de considerações nutricionais, toxicológicas e até de viabilidade prática sugerem que a posição adotada pelo Inan deveria ser revista. A solução da multimistura, talvez válida para situações transitórias de extrema pobreza, carece de universalidade para ser utilizada, independentemente de faixa etária, estado nutricional e período de duração da intervenção.

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) could have a negative impact on the nutritional efficiency and productivity of sheep and goats. However, feeding of the hosts can also affect parasites. This paper reviews literature data on nutritional manipulation of small ruminants as a tool for the control of GIN under hot humid and subhumid tropical conditions. Parasites are integrated into the food chain of foraging small ruminants. A balanced grazing system provides an adequate source of nutrients and an acceptable GIN burden that allows an optimum level of productivity. However, a breakdown in such balance may induce severe parasite infections. Diet manipulation strategies have been tested under tropical conditions. Animals receiving supplementary feeding may achieve an improved resilience against GIN infections. However, the improvement of resistance of sheep and goats against GIN through supplementation has been less studied and many confounding factors should be considered (pattern of fodder consumption, dilution of eggs in the faeces, direct anthelmintic (AH) effect of some ingredients, etc.). Some supplements cause a direct AH effect (i.e. copper wire particles against Haemonchus contortus). Meanwhile, bioactive plant secondary metabolites (PSM), such as tannins, are more complex. Some PSM may cause negative effects in the host (i.e. reducing feed digestibility), and yet animals consume bioactive plants at levels that can cause evident negative effects to the parasites. The GIN can be affected in different stages of their life cycle (i.e. adults with fewer eggs in utero or reduced worm burdens). Meanwhile, they can also affect new infections for the host (affecting egg hatchability and larvae motility in the faeces or avoiding exsheathment of incoming infective larvae in the host). Grazing management should be explored in most hot humid and subhumid tropical regions. Available results suggest that alternate and rotational grazing can both provide opportunities to reduce dependence on AH and can easily be complemented with supplementary feeding. More basic knowledge of animal nutrition and GIN epidemiology under hot humid and subhumid tropical conditions is needed to improve the applicability of nutritional strategies for the control of GIN infections.

Saat ini, pemenuhan ransum unggas, khususnya ayam pedaging, menghadapi masa sulit karena bahan baku yang mahal. Situasi ini berdampak pada harga ransum. Umumnya peternak broiler menggunakan ransum komersial untuk memenuhi kebutuhan ransum, karena ransum komersial telah diformulasikan sedemikian rupa sehingga memenuhi standar kebutuhan nutrisi. Ransum  komersial banyak tersedia di pasar. Namun, harga ransum komersial relatif mahal, sehingga bisa mengurangi keuntungan peternak. Bahkan dalam keadaan tertentu, dapat menyebabkan kerugian karena biaya produksi jauh lebih besar daripada penerimaan penjualan ayam.Pangalengan merupakan wilayah yang terkenal akan perkebunannya, seperti perkebunan teh, kopi dan cengkeh tetapi yang paling luas adalah perkebunan teh. Teh menjadi salah satu mata pencaharian masyarakat di Pangalengan. Luas perkebunan teh 4.949 Ha dan total produksi mencapai 135 ton per tahun. Dari jumlah tersebut diperoleh limbah teh sebanyak 4,05 ton (3% dari total produksi). Jumlah tersebut belum dimanfaatkan secara optimal. Produksi teh terus meningkat dari tahun ke tahun, dan menghasilkanlimbah teh yang juga meningkat. Limbah teh merupakan salah satu bahan yang dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai pakan alternatif ayam, terutama ayam pedaging. Kandungan proteinnya mencapai 22,80%, dan Energi Metabolisme yang mencapai 3342 Kcal. Kehadiran antinutrien seperti tanin, kafein, theobromine, theophilin, saponin dan serat kasar yang tinggi akan menjadi faktor pembatas dalam konsumsi, karena dapat menghambat proses pencernaanayam. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui performa ayam broiler yang diberi ransum dengan campuran limbah teh serta melihat seberapa besar pengaruh pencampuran limbah teh terhadap harga pakan. Penelitian ini terdiri atas 4 perlakuan yang berbeda. Sampel terdiri atas 4 kelompok ayam perlakuan dengan masing-masing kelompok perlakuan berjumlah 25 ekor ayam. Tiap perlakuan diberikan ransum dengan persentase limbah teh yang berbeda T0 (kontrol), T1 (penambahan limbah teh 2%), T2 (penambahan limbah teh 4%) dan T3 (penambahan limbah teh 6%).Penelitian ini dilakukan pada ayam umur 15 hari hingga panen dengan bobot ayam rata-rata 380 gr ±40 g/ekor. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penambahan limbah teh 4% (T2) menunjukkan bobot badan rata-rata,  kenaikan bobot badan, FCR, serta harga pakan yang paling baik  untuk setiap minggu dibandingkan T0, T1, dan T3. Pada penambahan limbah teh 4% (T2) harga pakan menurun Rp. 240 per kilogram pakan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penambahan limbah teh 4% memberikan dampak yang baik terhadap kenaikan bobot badan, bobot badan rata-rata, FCR, serta dapat mengurangi biaya pakan.

Kata kunci : Ayam Broiler, Pakan, Limbah Teh

The literature on the relationship between early infant feeding and growth shows that after the first 3 or 4 months, breast-fed infants in the developed world are lighter than formula-fed infants with markedly lower adiposity. There is some evidence of a slightly lower rate of lineal growth over the first year or so. These differences in weight and length do not apparently persist beyond the first few years of life. In the developing world the situation is very different. The growth curves of breast-fed infants of malnourished mothers may falter between the third and sixth month of life. However, the generally poor quality of the supplementary foods offered in the developing world and the increased risk of diarrhoeal infections mean that supplementary feeding before the age of 6 months is unlikely to lead to a growth advantage and may well lead to growth faltering. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

Aim: The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of supplementing different levels of protein and energy sources on blood biochemical profiles of Brahman crossbred cattle.

Materials and Methods: The study consisted of two experiments in Brahman crossbred cattle in An Giang Province. In trial 1, 28 cattle of 178±12.5 kg were arranged in a completely randomized block design. In the second trial, another 24 cattle of 182±14.3 kg were allocated in a 2 × 3 factorial design. The experiments lasted for 90 days. Blood samples were taken at the end of the experiments, and plasma concentrations of metabolites and enzymes were analyzed by an automated biochemical analyzer (Humalyzer 3000, USA).

Results: The glucose concentration was highest at 1.83 mmol/L when supplemented with urea (60 g/head/d). Urea and creatinine content was not significantly different between treatments when cattle were supplemented with different protein and energy sources. In the treatment with 360 g/head/d soybean meal supplementation, cholesterol concentration was lowest (2.50 mmol/L), compared with the highest concentration (3.86 mmol/L) in the treatment with soybean meal at 720 g/head/ day. The total protein concentration showed the highest values at 94.5 g/L and 96.3 g/L when supplemented with soybean meal (720 g/head/day) and fish oil, respectively.

Conclusion: There were slightly altered blood biochemical profiles among cattle at different protein and energy source supplements.

Background: Human-predator conflicts are directly or indirectly threatening many species with extinction. Thus, biologists are urged to find simple solutions to complex situations while avoiding unforeseen conservation outcomes. The provision of supplementary food at artificial feeding sites (AFS) is frequently used in the conservation of scavenger bird populations currently suffering from indirect poisoning, although no scientific studies on its effectiveness have been conducted.

Aim We studied dynamics of four populations of New Zealand forest birds for 5-9 years after reintroduction to islands. We primarily aimed to predict whether these populations were viable, and what, if any, management was needed to maintain them. However, the small scale of these islands also provided an opportunity to study densitydependent population growth over a short time frame.

The production performance of Scylla paramamosain and S. olivacea reared together in ponds and provided with di¡erent supplementary diets (crustaceans or trash ¢sh) were evaluated with that of an unfed control group relying only on natural food available within the pond. Each treatment was conducted in triplicate. The aim was to evaluate two production strategies over a 130-day grow-out trial: (1) production to 200 g crab À1 , which is the minimum preferred marketable size in the Lower Mekong Delta (LMD) and (2) production to 300 g crab À1 , the size that fetches the highest market price. Growth production models were estimated which revealed that the rearing period required to produce crabs of 200 g was 102 days with supplementary feeding, compared with 120 days for the unfed control group. The rearing period needed to produce 300-g-sized crabs was estimated to be 144 days and 186 days for the supplementary fed and unfed groups respectively. The additional risk involved in rearing mud crabs to 300 g is not considered worthwhile, under similar culture conditions as observed in this trial, as a decrease in pond water quality and higher mortality rates were observed in the ¢nal month of culture needed to achieve this larger size. mud crab culture inVietnam S M Christensen et al.

Reversed sexual size dimorphism (RSD, females larger than males) is commonly found in birds of prey. We used kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), breeding in western Finland in a temporally varying environment of 3-year vole cycles, to assess current hypotheses for the evolution and maintenance of RSD. Our 12-year data showed only weak correlations between parental size and breeding parameters (laying date, clutch size and the number of fledglings produced). The degree of RSD per se was unrelated to breeding success, contrary to the prediction of the female dominance hypothesis. Females with small males produced larger clutches in low-vole years, independently of laying date, which supports the small male (or its equivalent inter-sexual selection) hypothesis. Small females tended to have more fledglings, particularly in low-vole years, which is inconsistent with the hypotheses for an advantage of large female size (the starvation, intra-sexual selection, reproductive effort, and supplementary feeding hypotheses). As for males, smaller females may be more efficient hunters, the importance of which should be most pronounced under harsh breeding conditions. Our results suggest that the directional selection on a particular size in kestrels may be under contrasting selection pressures by the environment, and, at least in breeding females, the advantages of large size can actually be counterbalanced during harsh environmental conditions.

Biskuit adalah salah satu makanan yang diberikan kepada bayi sebagai makanan pendamping untuk memenuhi kebutuhan gizi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuat biskuit komposit gandum-jagung yang diperkaya asam lemak ω-3 dengan mensubtitusi telur menggunakan telur yang diperkaya asam lemak ω-3. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini diantaranya pembuatan biskuit dengan berbagai formula, penentuan tekstur biskut, kadar air, abu, protein, lemak total, karbohidrat total, serta komposisi asam lemak. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa biskuit terbaik diperoleh dengan komposisi gandum terhadap jagung sebesar 50:10 sedangkan komposisi telur yang diperkaya ω-3 terhadap margarin sebesar 10:30, karena dengan menggunakan formula ini biskuit yang di produksi memiliki tingkat kekerasan yang mendekati produk komersial. Kandungan air, abu, protein, lemak total, karbohidrat, dan nilai energi biskuit tersebut masing-masing sebesar 1,51; 1,42; 12,38; 19,35; 65,34% dan 485,05 kkal. Kami menemukan bahwa dalam produk biskuit tersebut terdapat asam linoleat sebanyak 0.51%.

Carcasses not only recruit carrion-eaters, but can also attract facultative scavengers which could predate on species living in the surroundings. At supplementary feeding stations ('vulture restaurants') carcasses are available permanently, posing a conservation dilemma: enhancing populations of endangered scavengers might introduce a predation pressure on non-target species. Here, we test if nest predation risk on ground-nesting birds increases near carcasses in Fuerteventura Island (Canary Archipelago). This is an optimal scenario for performing this study because there is a simple community of ground-nesting birds and facultative scavengers; carrion-eaters feed regularly in a unique vulture restaurant but also exploit scattered carcasses of goats. We placed artificial nests along different lines located at variable distances (200 m to 34 km) from the vulture restaurant or from single carcasses. Sixty-seven per cent of lines and up to 90% of nests within lines were predated. Predation risk was higher in lines near carcasses, that is single carcasses or the vulture restaurant. Thus, our study alerts that choosing the location for vulture restaurants may be the key not only for scavengers but also for the conservation of the species living nearby.

Background and Aim: The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in the poultry industry has raised concern because of their potential harm to human health. Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics are a safer substitute, although little research has explored this in Bangladesh. We recently isolated local bacterial strains with probiotic properties. We aimed to determine their impact on the growth, hematobiochemical parameters, and production costs of broiler chicks relative to that of a commercial probiotic (CP) and AGP.

Materials and Methods: Day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500, n=63) were divided equally into three experimental groups (three replicates per group and seven chicks per replicate). First group was fed a basal diet supplemented with the AGP, ciprofloxacin (CTL group), second group was fed a basal diet supplemented with the CP, Protexin® (CP group), and the third group was fed a basal diet supplemented with our isolated bacterial strains (study probiotic [SP] group) for 36 days. Body weight was recorded daily, and relative growth rate (RGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and organ weights and carcass yields were calculated at the study's end. Blood obtained on day 36 was used to determine the number of red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, as well as levels of serum glucose, total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TGs). Total production costs were estimated by summing the variable and fixed costs.

Results: Chicks in both the CP and SP groups experienced significant decreases in blood glucose levels and significant increases in BW, RGR, FCR, levels of RBC and WBC, Hb concentration, and packed cell volume compared with those in the CTL group (p<0.05 for all). Our data suggested a numerical reduction (p>0.05) in levels of total cholesterol, TGs, and HDL in the SP and CP groups when compared to the CTL group. In addition, both CP and SP treatments resulted in significant (p<0.05) gains in net profit compared with the treatment given to the CTL group.

Conclusion: Administration of probiotics, either from a commercialized or local source, led to greater improvements in growth, hematological parameters, and net profits of broiler chicks when compared with that of an AGP. This suggests that they are suitable alternatives to the AGPs used in poultry feed and that our isolated strains, in particular, are an ideal option for farmers in Bangladesh.

The effects of prepartum supplementary feeding on the productive and reproductive performance were investigated using grazing gestating Bunaji cows with an average initial body weight of 294.50±3.75 kg. Twenty cows were allocated to a completely randomized design, with five animals per treatment. The treatments were: A, range grazing (RG); B, RG + 100% corn bran (CB); C, RG + 60% CB + 40% palm kernel cake (PKC), and D, RG + 60% CB + 40% dried brewer's grains (DBG). The average daily gains (ADG) and body condition scores (BCS) of supplemented cows were significantly better than the non-supplemented cows. Postpartum weight loss was markedly reduced in supplemented cows compared to their non-supplemented counterparts. Mean milk offtake and mean milk yield per lactation were significantly lower in non-supplemented cows than the supplemented ones. Among the supplemented cows, ADG, BCS, mean milk offtake and milk yield per lactation were significantly better for cows on treatments C and D than those on treatment B. Though insignificant, longest lactation length (LL) and shortest calving interval were obtained for supplemented cows. Calf's birth weight was similar among the treatments. Milk yield was significantly influenced (R 2 =0.8601) by cow's weight, BCS and LL.

We aimed to analyse growth and recovery from undernutrition among moderately underweight ambulatory children receiving micronutrient-fortified maize-soy flour (Likuni Phala, LP) or ready-to-use fortified spread (FS) supplementary diet. One hundred and seventy-six 6-18month-old individuals were randomized to receive 500 g LP or 350 g FS weekly for 12 weeks. Baseline and end of intervention measurements were used to calculate anthropometric gains and recovery from underweight, wasting and stunting. Mean weight-for-age increased by 0.22 (95% CI 0.07-0.37) and 0.28 (0.18-0.40) Z-score units in the LP and FS groups respectively. Comparable increase for mean weight-for-length was 0.39 (0.20-0.57) and 0.52 (0.38-0.65) Z-score units. Recovery from underweight and wasting was 20% and 93% in LP group and 16% and 75% in FS group. Few individuals recovered from stunting and mean length-for-age was not markedly changed. There were no statistically significant differences between the outcomes in the two intervention groups. In a poor food-security setting, underweight infants and children receiving supplementary feeding for 12 weeks with ready-to-use FS or maize-soy flour porridge show similar recovery from moderate wasting and underweight. Neither intervention, if limited to a 12-week duration, appears to have significant impact on the process of linear growth or stunting.

In winter, red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus) that are not receiving supplementary feeding emphasize and rely on energy-saving strategies. In severe winters with deep snow, they select a home-range habitat-windblown alpine pastures above the timberline-that meets the requirements of this strategy: a much lower sinking depth and good forage availability are due to patchy snow distribution, while the open area provides higher radiation, permits group formation and thus sociobiological wellbeing. The energy costs of thermoregulation are minimized by selecting slopes with south to south-west exposures, seeking thermal shelter from strong winds, while high flight distances and horizontal flight routes reduce the energy costs of fleeing. In years with little winter snowfall non-supplemented red deer prefer the greater security of forested habitats in lower areas and obtain higher food intake from slightly more nutritious meadows in the valley bottom. The food-supplemented herd has much more constant and predictable habitat use, combining an energy-saving strategy-choosing alpine pastures as low-cost winter home range-with high energy income at the feeding station.

The paper describes the evolution of what is called the Bangladesh Poultry Model from the beginning in the 1970s till today on the basis of material gathered in the context of the GOB/IFAD Bangladesh Smallholder Livestock Project, implemented 1993 -1998 and the recently formulated GOB-IFAD 'Micro Finance and Technical Support Project'.

The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of grazing sheep and goat milk fat, throughout their lactation period, was examined. Six sheep and six goat representative farms were selected at random and milk samples were taken at monthly intervals for fatty acids profile determination. Sheep and goat nutrition was based on natural grazing and on supplementary feeding during the winter months. From April onwards, grazing native pastures was the only source of feed for sheep and goats. The University farm whose sheep are kept indoors all year round without any grazing, was also used as reference. Fifteen individual milk samples were also taken in April from a sheep and goat farm respectively, in order to see the variability of CLA inside the farm. The results showed that: a. the CLA content of grazing sheep and goat milk fat increased significantly in April–May (early growth stage of grass) and then declined while that of indoors kept sheep was more or less constant during the same period, b. the isomers cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 of CLA were found in grazing sheep milk fat, while in indoors kept sheep and goats' milk fat only the cis-9, trans-11 isomer was found, c. the CLA content of sheep milk fat was much higher than that of goats, d. a negative correlation between sheep milk fat and CLA content was found and e. there was considerable variation in milk fat CLA content between sheep and goat farms and inside the farms.

In most mammalian species, body mass is one of the key factors affecting an individual&#39;s fitness. It is therefore important to know the causes of its variability. The present paper analyses the influences of habitat structure and other environmental factors on body mass in red deer. The research is based on data sets concerning 3,920 culled red deer from the

Using large-scale data analysis to assess life history and behavioural traits: the case of the reintroduced White stork Ciconia ciconia population in the Netherlands.-The White stork Ciconia ciconia has been the object of several successful reintroduction programmes in the last decades. As a consequence, populations have been monitored over large spatial scales. Despite these intense efforts, very few reliable estimates of life history traits are available for this species. Such general knowledge however constitutes a prerequisite for investigating the consequences of conservation measures. Using the large-scale and long-term ringing and resighting data set of White storks in the Netherlands, we investigated the variation of survival and resighting rates with age, time and previous individual resighting history, and in a second step supplementary feeding, using capture-recapture models. Providing food did not seem to affect survival directly, but may have an indirect effect via the alteration of migratory behaviour. Large-scale population monitoring is important in obtaining precise and reliable estimates of life history traits and assessing the consequences of conservation measures on these traits, which will prove useful for managers to take adequate measures in future conservation strategies.