Effects of intraperitoneal injections of DL-methionine on the voluntary intake and wool growth of sheep fed sole diets of hay, silage and pasture differing in digestibility

1976 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Barry

SUMMARYPenned Romney wether sheep were fed ad libitum diets of untreated silage and hay made from the same pasture (Expt 1), untreated silage (Expt 2), and high quality fresh pasture (Expt 3). Voluntary intake and wool growth were measured. In each experiment half of the sheep were given intraperitoneal injections three times per week which supplied the equivalent of 1·03 g DL-methionine/day.Relative to silage in Expt 1, hay increased voluntary dry matter intake, depressed apparent nitrogen digestibility and increased wool growth. Methionine supplementation increased voluntary intake and wool growth with animals fed on hay or silage in Expt 1 and with those fed on silage in Expt 2, but had no effect on either variate with the diet of fresh pasture.Wool sulphur content, measured in Expts 2 and 3, was increased by methionine supplementation, and it was calculated that 34 and 15% respectively of the sulphur administered as methionine was recovered in the wool.The effects produced by methionine supplementation in this work are compared with those produced from different forms of post-ruminal amino acid supplementation in sheep fed a variety of diets. Factorial estimates of the requirements for sulphur of sheep and cattle in different physiological states have been calculated, and are discussed in relation to results of trials involving supplementation with sulphur-containing amino acids.

1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
RJ Moir

Two experiments were carried out to study the excretion and retention of nitrogen and sulfur when intraruminal infusions of DL-methionine were given to sheep. Merino wethers were fed on a 50:50 oaten chaff: lucerne chaff ration at different levels of dry matter intake (DMI), either as chaff or ground and pelleted, and with or without intraruminal infusions of DL-methionine. Liveweight gain in experiment 1, and the rate of wool growth and sulfur incorporation into wool were also measured. [35S]L-methionine was used to trace sulfur excretion from the supplement. Increasing the DMI increased (P < 0.001) nitrogen and sulfur excretion in both faeces and urine, but also increased (P < 0.001) the apparent retention of nitrogen and sulfur. The excretion of nitrogen and sulfur was not significantly affected by the form in which the basal ration was supplied, but sulfur retention did improve (P < 0.05) when the ration was given as chaff. DL-methionine supplements resulted in large increases (P < 0.001) in the excretion of total and inorganic sulfate sulfur in urine, and there was a tendency for urinary neutral sulfur excretion to increase. The amino acid supplement did not affect faecal sulfur excretion except at the lower level of feed intake in experiment 2. Differences in the amount of sulfur, from DL-methionine and [35S]L- methionine injections given into the rumen, excreted in faeces and urine indicate possible differences in the metabolism of the amino acid isomers. Increasing DMI resulted in improved (P < 0.001) rates of liveweight gain and wool growth; DL-methionine infusions had no effect. Further, estimates of sulfur incorporation into wool indicate that very little supplementary methionine was utilized at the follicular sites despite increased sulfur retention. The patterns of sulfur excretion suggest that the added methionine was rapidly and virtually completely dissimilated in the rumen. It is concluded that production responses to dietary methionine supplementation occur only under sulfur-deficient conditions or occasionally where degradation is avoided. _____________________ *Part II, Aust. J. Biol. Sci., 32: 65 (1979).


1973 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. PELLETIER ◽  
E. DONEFER

Three yearling Cheviot × Suffolk ewes and three Columbia wethers were confined in metabolic cages and fed ad libitum fresh and dried marrow-stem kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala D.C.) harvested in mid- and late October. Chemical analyses of the forages indicated no marked effects on any of the plant constituents due to drying or advancing maturity. Digestibility measurements demonstrated that marrow-stem kale (MSK) was a highly digestible material with an average dry matter digestibility of 78%. The fresh forages had higher (P < 0.05) dry matter and gross energy digestibility values than the dried form. Dry matter digestibility coefficients were higher (P < 0.05) for late October as compared with the earlier harvest. A trend toward higher (P > 0.05) voluntary intake values due to drying maturity was observed with an average relative intake of 80%. The nutritive value index averaged 65, thus indicating a digestible energy intake similar to a high-quality (legume) forage.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. KRÍZOVÁ ◽  
J. TRINÁCTÝ ◽  
M. RICHTER

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of leucine supplement in the form of rumen-protected tablets on milk yield and composition and plasma amino acids in four high-yielding lactating Holstein cows. The experiment was carried out as a cross-over procedure and was divided into 4 periods of 14 d (10 d preliminary period and 4 d experimental period). Cows were fed ad libitum a diet based on maize silage, lucerne hay and a supplemental mixture. The diet, defficient in methionine, lysine, and leucine, was supplemented with methionine+lysine (Control) or methionine+lysine+leucine (Leu) in rumen protected form. The dry matter intake, milk yield and milk yield expressed in energy corrected milk did not differ significantly between the treatments. Milk protein content and yield did not show statistically significant variation. The contents and yield of casein, fat, lactose and urea were unaffected by the treatment. Blood metabolites did not vary between the treatments. The introduction of Leu resulted in higher plasma levels of proline (p


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Perez ◽  
J Gasa ◽  
C Castrillo ◽  
JA Guada

Rates of passage of liquid and particulate markers (Co-EDTA, Cr mordanted fibres and Yb) were measured in ewes at late pregnancy, lactation and non-breeding status. Animals were given ammonia treated barley straw ad libitum supplemented daily with 250 and 550 (pregnancy), 550 and 850 (lactation) and 250, 550 and 850 (non-breeding) g of concentrate. The effect of the reproductive state was analysed only on ewes fed on 550 g of concentrate. Lactating ewes showed a higher voluntary straw intake (970 g/day) than pregnant or non-breeding ewes (720 and 790 g/day respectively), but there were not significant differences in the OM digestibility (OMD) among reproductive states. Increasing concentrate supplementation promoted significant decreases in the voluntary intake of straw, associated with an enhanced OMD ( P < 0.05). Fractional outflow rates (FOR/h) were higher in pregnant and non-breeding than in lactating ewes, although differences were only significant ( P < 0.01) for Chromium derived values. Ewes given 250 g of concentrate showed lower ( P < 0.05) FOR than those given 550 and 850 g/day. Results support the idea that in ruminants fed on low quality roughages, voluntary dry matter intake is mainly restricted by rumen capacity, although the energy status of the animals might influence the extent of this restriction.


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Plaizier ◽  
J. -P. Walton ◽  
B. W. McBride

The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of supplying post-ruminal L-glutamine in mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows on plasma amino acid profile, dry matter intake, milk yield and milk composition. The experiment was designed as a 4 × 4 Latin square with four 2-wk periods. Cows were continuously infused post-ruminally with graded levels of L-glutamine (L-Gln) for 5 consecutive days during the second week of each period. During the last 24 h of the infusion, blood plasma was collected every 6 h for the determination of plasma amino acid concentrations. Plasma Gln concentration increased (P < 0.05) with increasing L-Gln daily infusions. Infusion of 0, 100, 200, and 300 g d–1 resulted in blood plasma Gln concentrations of 289.5, 299.2, 356.4 and 386.2 mmol L–1, respectively. The level of Gln infusion also resulted in a decrease in the blood plasma concentration of phenylalanine, but the concentrations of all other amino acids were not affected. The administration of Gln did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield and milk composition. Key words: Post-ruminal, L-glutamine, plasma amino acids, milk constituents


1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
KR King ◽  
CR Stockdale

The effect of hay supplementation on the performance of dairy cows on a restricted intake of paspalum-dominant perennial pasture was studied in two 21 -day periods in the eighth and ninth months of lactation. In each period, there were three groups fed pasture only at mean intakes of 15.2, 11.5 and 7.3 kg/cow day-1, two groups fed at similar pasture restriction levels and supplemented with hay ad libitum, and one further group fed an average of 7.3 kg of pasture supplemented with only 4.3 kg of hay. The data were analyzed by regression, using total dry matter intake as the dependent variable, and pseudovariables were used to examine the effects of hay feeding. The relations between total dry matter intake and milk, butterfat, protein and solids-not-fat production, and change in body condition of dairy cows were not altered by ration composition. Milk production declined linearly by 0.66 kg and 0.31 kg/cow day-1 in the eight and ninth months of lactation, respectively, for each kg reduction in total dry matter intake. Similar responses were obtained for butterfat, protein and solids-not-fat production. Gain in body condition of the cows also decreased as total intake fell, but the relation was curvilinear and not affected by stage of lactation. It was concluded that high quality hay can be used to overcome shortages of paspalum-dominant perennial pasture in autumn, and that it has similar. nutritive value to pasture in terms of milk production and body condition.


1976 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Barry

SummaryIn three separate experiments, lucerne hay was sprayed with solutions of formaldehyde as it was being baled. Moisture content at baling was respectively 20, 28 and 34% in Expts 1, 2 and 3, the latter being considered higher than normal. Dry matter lost during 4 months of storage averaged 6·7% and was unaffected by formaldehyde treatment.Increasing rates of formaldehyde application decreased the amount of plant nitrogen digested in the microbial stage of an in vitro system and increased the amount of nitrogen digested in the subsequent acid-pepsin stage (Expt 1 only). When the hays were fed at constant intake to sheep in metabolism cages, formaldehyde treatment depressed the concentration of ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFA's) in rumen fluid and lowered the molar proportions of iso- and n-valeric acids, but caused either very little or no depression in apparent energy digestibility. It was concluded that formaldehyde treatment of the hays reduced protein degradation by rumen microorganisms and probably increased the amount of protein digested in the post-ruminal region of the digestive system, and that this was achieved without any serious effect on energy digestion.The hays were also fed for 50 days at restricted and ad libitum intakes to young Komney sheep kept in outdoor pens, followed by a 55-day post-treatment period on spring pasture. Voluntary intake was high in both experiments and was unaffected by formaldehyde treatment in hay baled at normal moisture content. There was a tendency for formaldehyde treatment to cause a small increase in voluntary intake in hay baled at the highest moisture content, but this was counteracted by its effect in depressing digestibility, giving no increase in digestible dry-matter intake. Live-weight gains were low in relation to intake, giving a weight loss in most treatment groups. Formaldehyde treatment significantly reduced weight loss and the effect was still present at the end of the post-treatment period. From regressions of weight change on digestible energy intake, it was considered that formaldehyde treatment had brought about a small improvement in the efficiency with which energy was used below maintenance.Wool growth rates appeared normal for the levels of intake achieved and were increased 14·5% by formaldehyde treatment at ad libitumintake and 5·5% at restricted intake. Residual responses to formaldehyde treatment in the post-treatment period averaged 8%. The total amount of extra clean wool produced from formaldehyde treatment over both periods was 46and94g respectively at the restricted and ad libitum intakes, representing only 1·5 and 3·0% of the annual fleece production. Wool growth on diets treated with formaldehyde in sheep feed at the maintenance level of energy intake is discussed in relation to the concentration of protein-bound sulphur-containing amino acids (SAA's) in the diet dry matter. It was concluded that large responses in wool growth from protein protection of forage diets are unlikely unless the concentration of SAA's in the dry matter can be considerably increased from their present low levels. It is suggested that the possibility of achieving this through plant breeding techniques be investigated.


1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. McCullough

SUMMARYSix diets providing ratios of concentrate to hay of 100 : 0, 95 : 5, 90 : 10, 80 : 20, 70 : 30 and 60 : 40 were given ad libitum to 24 British Friesian steers. The hay (in the long form) was offered separately from the concentrates. From 91 to 136 kg live weight, as the proportion of hay in the diet increased, daily dry-matter intake decreased. Over the weight range, 136 to 363 kg live weight, the addition of small amounts of hay to the concentrate diet caused an increase in intake. At 42 weeks of age a digestibility trial was carried out. Daily drymatter intake was maximal when the diet contained 80% concentrates. The apparent digestibility and mean retention time of the diets increased as the proportion of concentrates increased. Differences in estimated gut fill were not significant. The diet consisting of concentrate only resulted in the lowest concentration of acetic acid and the highest concentration of propionic and butyric acids in the rumen liquor. Net-energy intake tended to increase as the proportion of concentrates increased from 60 to 90% but then remained fairly constant.


1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (120) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Hodge ◽  
B Bogdanovic

Crossbred lambs [Poll Dorset x (Border Leicester x Merino)] were offered pasture hay (12% crude protein, 55.3% dry matter digestibility) ad libitum and supplemented with four levels of cereal (oats) or legume (peas) grains; 0, 250, or 500 g/head.d, or ad libitum in individual pens or in groups of 30 (feedlot). Increasing the level of supplementation of peas of the individually fed lambs from 0 to ad libitum increased total dry matter intake from 22 1 to 1041 g/head.d (P< 0.01), liveweight gain from - 70 to 263 g/d and wool growth from 13.1 to 38.3 mg clean wool/cm2. The corresponding results for oats were: total intake from 22 1 to 3 15 g/head.d (P> 0.05), liveweight gain from -70 to 52 g/d (P < 0.01) and wool growth from 13.1 to 15.2 mg clean wool/cm2 (P> 0.05). The intake of hay by the lambs supplemented with peas was not depressed until the peas were offered ad libitum but there was a significant decrease in the intake of hay (P< 0.01) at the lowest level of supplementation of oats. A similar pattern of response for total intake, intake of hay and liveweight gain was observed with the feedlot lambs.


1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon M. McCabe ◽  
T. N. Barry

SummaryVoluntary intake and apparent digestibility of tree willow (Salix matsudana Χ alba) and of osier willow (Salix viminalis) were measured with male sheep and goats and voluntary intake only with male deer. Both willow species had been selected for extremely rapid growth, and were grown in coppices on high fertility soil. In a first experiment spring primary growth of both willows was fed to sheep, goats and deer in early summer, whilst in a second experiment summer regrowth (i.e. secondary growth) of osier willow was fed to sheep and goats in autumn.Although the ratio of readily fermentable to structural carbohydrate (0·51–0·70) and total N concentration (18–24 g/kg D.M.) in primary growth of the willows was less than normally found in high quality fresh temperate forages, the values were similar to those of many dried forages normally used as supplements. Averaged over sheep and goats, voluntary intake of digestible D.M. was 22% less for osier than for tree willow, this being associated with higher concentrations of lignin (197 ν 182 g/kg D.M.) and of condensed tannin (66 ν 29 g/kg D.M.) in the osier willow. The lower digestible dry-matter intake was attributable to both lower voluntary intakes and lower digestibility of the D.M. (0·57 ν 0·64). Both voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of secondary growth willow were lower than that of primary growth.When expressed as functions of the amount required for maintenance, voluntary metabolizable energy intake of goats was approximately double that of sheep, both for primary growth (2·2 ν 1·1) and for secondary growth (1·8 ν. 0·7) willow. This was attributable to consistently higher voluntary D.M. intakes/kg W0'6 by goats, and to a trend for higher digestibility than sheep, which attained significance in Expt 2but not in Expt 1. The ratios of dry-matter intake/kg W075 per day for sheep: deer: goats fed primary growth willow were 1·0:1·5:1·9, with deer thus being intermediate between the other two species. There were no differences in voluntary intake (g/kg W0·75 per day) of sheep, goats and deer fed a high quality lucerne hay.It was concluded that willows grown during spring and summer could adequately be used as supplementary feed during summer droughts and that willow could be used most effectively if fed to goats, followed by deer, with sheep being the least efficient. Tree willow is a preferred choice to the osier willow used here, and it was further concluded that like Lotus pedunculatus, high concentrations of lignin and condensed tannin, both of which are produced by the same biochemical pathway, are likely to be limiting nutritive value of the more leafy osier willow.


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