The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient composition, voluntary DMI, and apparent DM digestibility of teff hay cut at 3 different stages of maturity to evaluate its potential as a preserved forage for horses. Six mature Quarter Horse mares (12 +/- 3 yr; 553 +/- 39 kg of BW) were used in a replicated balanced Latin square design with 3 periods and 3 maturities of teff hay. Eragrostis tef ('Tiffany' teff) was planted in May and harvested at the boot, early-heading, or late-heading stage of maturity through the summer. Horses were acclimated to a mixture of maturities of teff hay for 8 d before the beginning of the study. After this acclimation period, each period consisted of a 9-d voluntary DMI phase, followed by a 3-d DM digestibility phase. The percentages of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) increased from 5.4% in the boot stage to 8.4% in the late-heading stage, whereas concentrations of CP, K, Fe, and Mn decreased. The Ca:P ratio was 2.0 ± 0.3 for all maturities. Horses had less DMI of late-heading teff hay (1.5% BW) than teff hay of other maturities (1.8% BW; P < 0.05), indicating a preference for the earlier maturities. The intake and nutrient composition of the boot and early-heading maturities was sufficient to meet 90 to 97% of the average DE of the horses and most other nutrient requirements. Digestibility decreased from boot to late-heading teff hay for DM, CP, ADF, and NDF (P < 0.05). Digestibility increased from boot to early-heading to late-heading hay for nonfiber carbohydrates and water-soluble carbohydrates (P < 0.05). For all maturities of teff hay, the NSC intake was below 10% of the total intake. In conclusion, the low NSC and DE of teff hay grown in central Pennsylvania under the conditions in this study make it an appropriate forage source for obese horses and those at risk for laminitis or other metabolic disorders.
This project analyzed and redesigned the various components of a previously designed sisal decorticator prototype. The sisal plant is easily grown in the arid regions of Kenya and its fiber has widespread industrial and consumer applications. Competition from Brazilian and Chinese sisal growers has made it difficult for small-scale Kenyan sisal farmers to yield a profit. Decorticator machines strip the usable fiber from the sisal leaves. A strong market exists in Kenya and beyond for an affordable and capable decortication device. Based on interaction with University of Nairobi students and faculty, design parameters were assessed and adapted to create a working prototype to meet these needs. Throughout the design process, affordability, energy consumption, transportability, reliability, on-site material and assembly constraints were taken into account. The designs chosen accomplished the project requirements by minimizing cost through material selection and ease of manufacture, and provided adjustable parameters in order to facilitate decortication quality testing. A vertical feed, small diameter decorticator with steel blades transportable via a steel frame with two wheels was determined to be the optimal solution. Testing with actual sisal and variable components enabled quality to be assessed as well as ensured that the designed prototype operated correctly and safely.
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