The experiment was conducted to assess the effect of replacement of maize by wheat bran on growth and feed conversion efficiency in Large White Yorkshire (LWY) pigs. Thirty weaned piglets were randomly divided into three groups and were allotted to the three dietary treatments, T1 (control ration as per NRC, 1998), T2 (50 per cent of maize of control ration replaced by wheat bran) and T3 (100 per cent of maize of control ration replaced by wheat bran) and maintained for 70 days. The daily feed intake, fortnightly body weight were recorded and average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were calculated. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were 813.00, 769.86, 678.43 g and 2.80, 2.88, 3.08, respectively for three dietary treatments. There was no significant difference in the performance between pigs belongs to T1 and T2 treatments but had higher average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency than that of T3 treatment. This study reveals that pigs fed diet with 50 per cent of maize replaced by wheat bran performed in a similar way to that of control fed group and was better than those fed diet with 100 per cent replacement of maize by wheat bran.

A total of 30 maize samples, 30 deoiled rice bran (DORB), 20 groundnut oil cake (expeller) and 20 dried distillers’ grain soluble (DDGs) feeds samples were collected from different parts of Namakkal district. Aflatoxin B1 was estimated in all the samples by extracting the aflatoxin and spotted in an activated thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate with standards and ascertained the concentration by visual comparison method in a UV viewing cabinet. Among 30 samples of maize, analyzed for aflatoxin, 20 samples (60%) contained traces of aflatoxin and 8 samples contained between 10-30 ppb. Two samples contained between 50-100 ppb. Similarly, among 30 samples of DORB analyzed for aflatoxin, 24 samples contained traces of aflatoxin and five samples contained between 10-30 ppb. One sample contained between 50-100 ppb of aflatoxin. Three samples of GNC and Four samples of DDGS had 50-100 ppb of aflatoxin. It reveals that, very few samples of maize and DORB contained high level of aflatoxin. Hence the regular screening of toxins in every lot of feed prior to feeding the animals or poultry needs to be regularized.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was realized comparative evaluation of chemical composition and nutritive value of silages produced on the basis of millet (Panicum) and maize (Zea mays), their productive action and economic efficiency of ensilage fodders in diets of young stock of cattle. Data of chemical analysis showed the benefits of millet silage. The content of crude protein, crude fat, carotene, calcium and phosphorous was higher in millet silage. The analogous situation was in the analysis of biochemical indexes and energy value of dry matter. As a result of application of millet silage in diets of young stock of cattle made it possible to obtain 3,7 kg of body weight gain, while the expenses of forage per 1 kilogram of of weight gain lowered on 0,34 centner of fodder units, or 3,6%. Prime cost of 1 centner of fodder units in a diet in experimental group was on 57,3% lower than in a control one. Thus, use of millet silage in diets of heifers made it possible to lower the cost of fodders per 1 kilogram of weight gain on 63,2%, and prime cost of 1 kilogram of weight gain – on 19,8%.

Determination of the efficiency of young fat stock feeding with wet rolled maize grain which was preserved by means of different preparations was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. The following preserving agents were applied: HV-2 (by- product of amino-formaldehyde resin); AIV 3 Plus (mixture of 62% formic acid and 24% ammonium formate; KEMIRA, Finland); carbamide (30 kg/t) with 40 g/t of complex mineral supplement. Feeding of young fat stock with rolled maize grains preserved by NV-2 promoted the increasing of nutrient digestibility on 1,5-5,0%, nitrogen use - on 2% in comparison with control. Application of rolled maize grain preserved with AIV-3Plus and carbamide with the complex mineral supplement made it possible to increase the digestibility of nutrients on 1,0-4,8% and nitrogen use - on 1,6-1,7%. Introduction of rolled maize grain preserved with NV-2 into rations of bull calves increased their productivity on 4,7% (P less than 0,05) with the simultaneous lowering of forage expenses on 1,9%. Application rolled maize grains preserved with AIV-3Plus made it possible to increase daily average weight gain on 3,8% and lower the forages expenses on 2,6%. Use preserved with NV-2 and AIV-3Plus rolled maize grains in rations of young fat stock lowered the production cost price on 11,9% and 10,8% that proved the efficiency of the studied fodder

Evaluation of maize (Zea mays) silage prepared in combination with biological preserving agent Laktotim and calculation of its economic efficiency were realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Application of Laktotim rendered positive influence on forage dry matter content, on nutritive substance safety, and made it possible to increase the organoleptic indicators of silage. Use of the maize silage prepared with the preservative in a cow ration has positively affected their dairy efficiency. Cow milk yields have raised on 4,5%. Application of the preparation for silage making of green maize mass proved to be economically worth. The realized toxicological estimation of biological preserving agent Laktotim did not reveal any signs of preparation toxicity. Introduction of the preparation into mice stomach in a single maximum dose (25000 mg/kg; 12500; 5000 mg/kg of body weight), as well as application of the preparation in mixture with water in ratio which in 100 and 200 times exceeded the standard ratio in plant green mass, did not cause destruction of experimental animals. According to classifications of All-Union State Standard 12.1.007-76, the preparation Laktotim belongs to the4 class of danger - low-hazardous substances (LD50 over 5000 mg/kg)

Complex analysis of maize (Zea mays) yielding capacity and content of nutritive substances in silage and green mass depending on the phase of crop development and sowings damage due to frost was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Yielding capacity of green mass in the analyzed sowings of hybrid maize Beliz on sod-podzolic light loamy soils was 75,1 n/ha at the stage of grain formation. Insufficient amount of positive temperatures at the beginning of vegetation stage was compensated by means of favourable weather conditions for growth and development of maize in July-September. In proportion to maize crops maturity there was stated the appropriate lowering of green mass. Taking place frosts lowered moisture content in crops. Yielding capacity of maize top biomass after cold spell was from 45,7 up to 44,8 c/ha. For the obtaining of the optimal amount of nutritive elements in the conditions of Vitebsk region of Belarus it was proposed to realize crop harvesting at the stage of milky-wax ripeness. The best composition of nutritive elements in silage was at the stage of milky-wax ripeness

Research on preserving ability of the biological preserving agent Bioplant for grass and maize silage making was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Application of Bioplant in course of grasess and maize encilaging promoted the faster accumulation of the significant amount of milk acid and decreasing of рН up to 4,1-4,2. Silage which was prepared with preserving agent Bioplant corresponded to the top grade of quality. Application of Bioplant for preparation of siloed forages promoted the reduction of losses at their storage. For example, in grass-legume and cereal silage there was a reduction of dry matter losses in comparison with control silage - on 4,7 and 4,2%, crude protein - on 5,6 and 5,0%, respectively. In maize silage the addition of the preserving agent there was stated the decreasing of nutrient losses in comparison with the control: dry matter - on 5,2%, crude protein - on 6,2%. Feeding of wedder hogs with the silage preserved by the preserving agent Bioplant provided higher digestibility of crude protein in comparison with the control group: on 3,2% in the conditions of grass-legume silage use, on 2,4% - in the conditions of feeding with cereals, and on 2,9% - in the conditions of feeding with maize silage