Food intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation in reindeer fed baled timothy silage in summer and winter

SUMMARYReindeer calves(Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were used in parallel feeding trials with two different qualities of round-bale timothy silage in September 1992 (summer) and April 1993 (winter) in northern Norway, to determine the effect of season on their food intake and ability to utilize silage of different fibre contents. The silages were prepared from first-cut (FC) and regrowth (RG) timothy. The FC silage contained (on a dry matter (DM) basis) 12·3% crude protein, 30·4% cellulose and 6·2% water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), whereas the RG silage contained 14·3% crude protein, 18·7% cellulose and 30·0% WSC. For each trial, six male calves were taken directly from a natural range and divided into two groups of three animals. One group was offered FC silage and one RG silagead libitum, for 46 days. Mean daily DM food intake (g/kg liveweight) was not significantly different in summer compared to winter(P> 0·05), but significantly higher in the animals fed RG silage compared to the animals fed FC silage (P< 0·0001). The apparent digestibility coefficient of DM was high for both silages both in summer and winter, ranging from 74·4 to 86·6%. However, the digestibility in winter was significantly higher than in summer(P< 0·002) and the digestibility of RG silage was higher than that of the FC silage (P< 0·009). The ruminal VFA concentration was significantly higher in winter than in summer (P< 0·03) and in the animals fed RG silage (range 55·3–104·9 mM) compared to the animals fed FC silage (range 35·2–61·7 mM) (P< 0·002). In spite of the high digestibility of both the FC and RG silages, the nitrogen balance was significantly higher in the animals in winter compared to summer(P< 0·0001) and in the animals fed RG silage compared to the animals fed FC silage(P< 0·0001). Thus, utilization of grass silage in reindeer appears to be influenced both by season and by plant quality.

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The effect of lactic acid additive on the quality and chemical composition of meadow grass silage

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah0304061p ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 19 (3-4) ◽

pp. 61-69

Author(s):

Jan Pyś ◽

Wladislaw Migdal ◽

Branislav Zivkovic ◽

Olga Kosovac ◽

Mihal Fabjan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Water Solution ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Total N ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Fermentation Quality ◽

Dominant Grasses

In the experiment, forage from the 1st cut of meadow grasses mown at the heading stage of dominant grasses was ensiled. The control silages were made from fresh forage (dry matter 223.5 g?kg-1) and wilted forage (dry matter 351.9 g?kg-1). The experimental silages were made from fresh forages supplemented with a 5% water solution of lactic acid (0.5 and 0.7 l?100 kg-1 of forage) and 8% water solution of lactic acid (0.4 and 0.6 l?100 kg-1 of forage). The highest contents of crude protein, water-soluble carbohydrates and energy were found in silages supplemented with 5% lactic acid applied at 0.7 l?100 kg-1 of forage and in silages supplemented with 8% lactic acid applied at 0.6 l?100 kg-1 of forage. The above silage variants were also characterized by the lowest content of NH3-N in total-N, butyric acid and acetic acid, as well as the highest contents of lactic acid and the best indicators of fermentation quality. No important differences were found between silages made from wilted forage and silages made with lactic acid supplement.

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Utilization of nitrogen- and mineral-rich vascular forage plants by reindeer in winter

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859602002344 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 139 (2) ◽

pp. 151-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

P. V. STOREHEIER ◽

S. D. MATHIESEN ◽

N. J. C. TYLER ◽

I. SCHJELDERUP ◽

M. A. OLSEN

Keyword(s):

Vascular Plants ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Growing Season ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Forage Plants ◽

Water Soluble Carbohydrates

The marginal winter pastures of reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Arctic and sub-Arctic areas are assumed to be nitrogen- and mineral-poor. Reindeer eat a mixed diet consisting of nitrogen-deficient lichens and a wide variety of vascular plants in winter. Some reindeer populations manage to maintain carcass mass outside the growing season and very little is known about the ability of reindeer to utilize vascular plants in this season. The chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of 17 species of vascular forage plants and one species of moss collected mid-winter from beneath the snow at an inland winter pasture in northern Norway were determined. Wintergreen parts of graminoids had a high content of crude protein (0.072–0.108 g/kg dry matter (DM)) and water-soluble carbohydrates (0.098–0.167 g/kg DM) and were highly digestible (50–65% IVDMD) compared with the withered parts of the plants (27–53% IVDMD). The digestibility of both shrubs and graminoids was inversely related to content of cellulose and lignin, but positively correlated with increasing contents of water-soluble carbohydrates. Shrubs were relatively calcium-rich (3.6–6.1 g/kg DM) while wintergreen graminoids contained up to 10.0 g/kg DM of potassium, 1.5 g/kg DM magnesium and 2.1 g/kg DM phosphorus. The present study demonstrates that the wintergreen parts of several species of vascular plants are nutritious, containing high levels of nitrogen and minerals, and that they are highly digestible to reindeer in winter. Vascular plants may, therefore, be more important to reindeer and caribou in winter than previously realized.

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Round baled grass silage as food for reindeer in winter

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.15.1.1154 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 27 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Tove H. Aagnes ◽

Svein D. Mathiesen

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Apparent Digestibility Coefficient ◽

Medium Quality ◽

Ad Libitum

Round baled silage of mixed grasses was tested as emergency food for reindeer in winter. The silage was made of leaf rich regrowth of Phleum pratense, Agrostis tenuis and Poa spp. It contained 33-3% dry matter (DM), and 14.8 % crude protein, 24.5% cellulose and 26.7% hemicellulose on a DM basis. Palatability, food intake, digestion, rumen fermentation, body mass (BM), carcass weight and gastrointestinal (GI) anatomy were investigated. A group of adult female reindeer (n = 38), were taken from natural winter pasture and fed grass silage ad libitum. The majority (78%) of the animals were eating silage after two days and 95% of the animals ate silage after five days. Five reindeer calves were taken from natural winter pasture and fed lichens ad libitum for 14 days after which they were starved for two days before being offered silage adlibitum. The median daily DM food intake was 370 g (range 250-610 g) on the first day increasing to 810 g (range 530-1100 g) at days 16 to 20. Median apparent digestibility coefficient (DC) of DM was 64.3% (range 62.4-66.2%). The median in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) of the silage after 72 h of microbial digestion was 68.3 % (range 66.6-71.3 %) (Ws=30, n,=5, n2=4, P<0.01). Median ruminal VFA concentration and pH were 48.2 mM (range 38.4-52.5 mM) and 7.0 (range 6.95-7.17), respectively, in the reindeer calves (n=5). BM initially increased when the reindeer calves were fed silage, but stabilised after 11 days. The increased BM may have been due to an increased recticulo-rumen digesta load, which amounted to 19.6-23.7 % of BM (n=3). The carcass weight of the reindeer calves was 42.6-44.2% of the BM (n=3) after 47 days of silage feeding. The results indicate that although the round bale silage of mixed grasses of medium quality was highly palatable to reindeer it was apparantly of only limited value as an emergency food for the reindeer calves, as indicated by low DC of DM and low ruminal VFA concentration.

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The assessment of herbage legume varieties. II. In vitro digestibility, water soluble carbohydrate, crude protein and mineral content of primary growth of clover and lucerne

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600063656 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 351-357 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

W. Ellis Davies ◽

G. ap Griffith ◽

A. Ellington

Keyword(s):

White Clover ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Red Clover ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

In Vitro Digestibility ◽

Primary Growth

The primary growth of eight varieties of three species–white clover (3), red clover (4) and lucerne (1)–was sampled at fortnightly intervals and the percentage dry matter, in vitro digestibility, crude protein, water soluble carbohydrates, P, Ca, K, Na and Mg were determined.Differences between species were nearly always significant and the general order of merit was white clover, red clover and lucerne. The exceptions were for dry-matter percentage where this order was reversed, and red clover had the lowest Na and highest Mg content.

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Digestion of timothy silage and hay in reindeer

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.18.1.1444 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 35

Author(s):

R. Moen ◽

M. A. Olsen ◽

Ø. E. Haga ◽

W. Sørmo ◽

T. H. Aagnes Utsi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Total Concentration ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Energy Deficiency

Leafy timothy (Phleum pratense) silage (S), silage mixed with molasses (SM) and hay (H) were fed to nine male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves in winter to investigate rumen function and digestion. Three calves were given S with 18.5% dry matter (DM), three were given SM (21.9% DM) and three were given H (85.0% DM). The content of water soluble carbohydrates (in % of DM) was 8.2% in S, 16.0% in SM and 8.5% in H. Median (range) daily DM food intake per kg BM was 12.9 (9-2-14.4) g in calves fed S, 19.0 (19-0-21.9) g in calves fed SM and 21.0 (19.2¬21.1) g in calves fed H. In vivo digestion of S and SM DM ranged from 78.5-83.1% compared to only 69-9-72.9% in calves fed H. In vitro DM digestion (IVDMD) of cellulose (median) incubated for 48 hours in rumen fluid was, however, significantly (F = 0.05) lower in calves fed S (24.4%) compared to calves fed SM (42.2%). Median IVDMD of cellulose (48 hours) in calves fed H was 36.4%. Total concentration of VFA (range) in the rumen fluid from reindeer fed H (99.7-113.6 mM) and was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to animals fed S (57.7-85.9 mM) or SM (51.4-72.0 mM). Likewise, the pH of the rumen fluid (range) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in reindeer fed H (6.40-6.78) compared to animals fed S (6.97-7.30) or SM (6.79-7.27). Based on this study it is concluded that leafy timothy preserved as hay seems to be more suitable as emergency feed compared to silage. Supplementation of molasses to silage seems to stimulate food intake and ruminal cellulose digestion in reindeer. The lower intake of S compared to SM or H by reindeer may be explained by ruminal energy deficiency.

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EFFECTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SILAGE FOR STEERS

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas84-047 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 411-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. W. MATHISON ◽

L. P. MILLIGAN ◽

J. WOHLLEBE ◽

R. M. ELOFSON

Keyword(s):

Sulfur Dioxide ◽

No Value ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Time Treatment ◽

Time Of Feeding ◽

Silage Inoculant

Four experiments are described in which the effectiveness of SO2 as a forage treatment before ensiling was evaluated in terms of its influence on silage composition and nutritive value. Retention of added S to the time of feeding was 40% in one experiment and ranged from 17 to 32% in another experiment where SO2 was either applied in the field or at the silo. In general, more water-soluble carbohydrates were preserved in SO2-treated silage. Across all experiments the acetate concentration was reduced (P < 0.05) from 1.7 to 0.9% in the treated silage dry matter (DM). SO2 had no consistent effect on concentrations of other end products of microbial fermentation. In five experiments with legume or alfalfa-grsss silages the apparent digestibility of energy was increased (P < 0.05) by an average 2.6 percentage units whereas DM digestibility was not influenced (P > 0.05) by SO2 treatment. In contrast, energy (P < 0.05) and DM digestibilities were decreased when two cereal silages were treated with SO2. Cattle fed legume or legume-grass silage grew an average of 12.9% faster (P < 0.05) and exhibited a 12.7% improvement (P < 0.05) in DM conversion to liveweight gain in eight comparisons which have been made with SO2-treated forage to date. In contrast SO2 had no influence (P > 0.05) on the performance of steers in one 42-day trial with cereal silage. Further, SO2 was successfully applied in the field as well as at the silo and addition of a silage inoculant to SO2-treated forage was of no value. The use of SO2 as a preservative for legume and alfalfa-grass silage would be economically feasible under some circumstances but at this time treatment of cereal silages with the chemical cannot be recommended. Key words: Sulfur dioxide, silage, silage preservative, steers, nutritive value

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The effect of different proportions of Medicago media Pers. in mixtures with Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus on the yield and feed value of green fodder

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.77222 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marzenna Olszewska ◽

Stefan Grzegorczyk ◽

Anna Bałuch-Małecka

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Lower Proportion ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Protein Ratio ◽

Predominant Species ◽

Green Fodder ◽

Feed Value ◽

Full Utilization

A field experiment was performed in 2011–2013. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different proportions of Medicago media in mixtures with Festulolium braunii on the yield and feed value of green fodder, including the content of crude protein (CP) and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and the carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. It was found that alfalfa had a high competitive advantage over Festulolium. In the second and third year of full utilization, alfalfa was the predominant species in the tested mixtures regardless of the proportion of sown seeds. The mixtures with alfalfa were characterized by high and stable dry matter yields and high protein content, whereas Festulolium significantly increased the content of WSC and improved the WSC:CP ratio. The evaluated mixtures had a higher feed value than pure-sown components. The results of the study indicate that Festulolium mixtures with a lower proportion (30% and 50%) of alfalfa are characterized by a higher feed value.

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Digestion of energy and nutrients in Svalbard reindeer

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.8.1.725 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 2 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hans Staaland ◽

Nils A. Øritsland ◽

Robert G. White

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Nutrient Balance ◽

Pleurozium Schreberi ◽

Research Station ◽

Mixed Diet ◽

Svalbard Reindeer ◽

Feeding Trials ◽

Cladonia Rangiferina

Feeding trials with 5 male Svalbard reindeer, Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik were conducted at the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Research Station in Adventdalen, Svalbard. Five different diets were used, 1: commercial reindeer food, (RF-71), 2: a mixture of locally harvested grasses and sedges (mainly Dupontia pelligera and Eriphorum scheusczeri), 3: a pure moss (Pleurozium scheberi) diet, 4: a lichen diet using the dominant Svalbard species Cetraria delisei, and 5: a mixed diet of RF-71, moss (P. schreberi) and lichens (mainly Cladonia alpestris and Cladonia rangiferina). When fed the RF-71 diet the digestibility by Svalbard and Norwegian reindeer were similar with respect to dry matter (DM) 75 v 74%) and crude protein (CP) 74 v 70% as were the availabilities of P (72 v 76% )a and Ca (18 v 36%) in the diet. The mixture of grasses and sedges was highly digestible with respect to DM ((66,5%) but had low availabilities of Ca (12%), Mg (10%) and P (-11%). DM digestibility of the lichen C delisei was low (33%) however this lichen could constitute a good source of Ca. Moss palatability was very low (174-252 g or 9-13g/kg 0 75 intake daily). DM, CP and energy digestibilities, respectively 48, 53 and 49%, and the availabilities of P (66%) and Ca (20%) were indicative that they could add to the energy and protein intake while contributing significantly to nutrient balance of Svalbard reindeer when present in a mixed diet.Fordøyelse av energi og næringsstoffer hos Svalbard-rein.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Ved MAB-stasjonen i Adventdalen på Svalbard ble det utført foringsforsøk med fem voksne bukker av Svalbardrein, Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik. Det ble nyttet fem forskjellige forty per, 1: pelletert reinfor, RF71, 2: en blanding av gras og siv høstet i Adventdalen (vesentlig Dupontia pelligera og Eriophorum scheuchzeri), 3: en ren mosediett (Pleurozium schreberi), 4: lav av den vanlige Svalbard -arten, Cetraria delisei, 5: en blandet diett av RF71, mose (P. schreberi) og lav (hovedsaklig Cladonia alpestris og Cladonia rangiferina). Ved foring med reinfor (RF71) ble det funnet samme tørrstoff fordøyelighet hos Svalbardrein som tidligere rapportert fra norsk rein (75 versus 74%). Tilsvarende tall for råprotein var 74 versus 70%, P 72 versus 76% og Ca 18 versus 36%. Blanding av gras og siv hadde en høy tørrstoff fordøy elighet på 66.5%, mens tilgjengeligheten av Ca (12%), Mg (10%) og P (-11%) var lav. Tørrstoff-fordøyeligheten var lav (33%) for C. delisei, men denne laven kan likevel være en god Ca-kilde. Smakeligheten av mose var lav (foropptak 174-252 g eller 9-13 g/kg0-75 per dag). Fordøy elighet av tørrstoff, råprotein og energi, respektive 48, 53 og 49% og tilgjengeligheten av P (66%) og Ca (20%) indikerer at moser kan være et signifikant tilskudd til mineralbalansen hos Svalbardrein som lever på en blandet diett.Energian ja ravintoaineiden käyttö huippu vuortenpeur alla.Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: MAB:n asemalla Adventdalenissa Svalbardilola tehtiin ruokintakokeita viidellä huippuvuorten-peurauroksilla (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik). Kokeessa käytettiin viitä eri ruokintaa, 1: pelle-toitu pororehu, RF 71, 2: heinäan ja saran seosta (pääasiassa Dupentia pelligera ja Eriophorum scheuchze-ri), 3: sammalta (Pleurozium schreberi), 4: Huippuvuorilla tavattavaa jäkälälajia, Cetraria delisei, 5: poro-rehua (RF 71), sammalta (P. schreberi) ja jäkälää (pääasiassa Cladonia alpestris ja Cladonia rangiferina). Ruokittaessa RF 71 - rehulla huippuvuortenpeuralla kuiva-aineen (DM) ja raaka proteenin (CP) sulavuudet olisivat samat kuin aikaisemmin norjalaisilla poroilla mitatut (74 ja 75%, 74 ja 70%). Fosforin ja kalsiu-min saannit olivat vastaavasti 72 ja 76% ja 18 ja 36%. Heinän ja saran seos oli hyvin sulavaa. Kuiva-aineen sulavuus oli 66,5%, mutta kalsiumin, magnesiumin ja fosforin saanit oli alhainen (12, 10 ja 11%) Jäkä-län (C delisei) kuiva-aineen sulavuus oli alhainen (33%), mutta se on hyvä kalsiumin lähde. Sammalen sulavuus oli erittäin alhainen (saanti päivittäin 174-252 g eli 9-13 g/kg0,75). Kuiva-aineen, raaka proteiinein ja energian sulavuudet (48, 53 ja 49%) ja fosforin (66%) ja kalsiumin (20%) saannit osoittavat kuitenkin, että sammal voi lisätä huippuvuortenpeuralla energian ja proteiinin saantia ja on siten merkittävä ravintota-sapainon kannalta.

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Grazing Preference of Dairy Cows and Pasture Productivity for Different Cultivars of Perennial Ryegrass under Contrasting Managements

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9050253 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 253 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. Jordana Rivero ◽

Oscar L. Balocchi ◽

Fabián L. Neumann ◽

Juan A. Siebald

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Genetic Selection ◽

Fertilization Rate ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Sugar Concentration ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

High Sugar

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pasture performance of different cultivars of perennial ryegrass, two “high sugar” and two standard cultivars, under two contrasting agronomic managements (aimed at either decreasing or increasing water soluble carbohydrates concentration), and their effects on the grazing preference of dairy cows. Eight treatments arising from the factorial combination of four cultivars and two managements were randomly applied to 31-m2 plots in three blocks. Pasture dry matter production and growth rate were measured for one year. Three grazing assessments were performed to establish the grazing preferences of six dairy cows in spring, summer and autumn. High sugar cultivars produced less dry matter per hectare than the standard cultivars. Cows consumed more grass and harvested a greater proportion of the pasture under the agronomic management aimed at decreasing sugar concentration, i.e., with a greater nitrogen fertilization rate and under a more frequent defoliation regime, which could be explained by the greater crude protein concentration achieved under this management. The results suggest that the genetic selection for greater levels of sugars was at the expense of herbage yield, and that cows preferred to graze herbage with a greater crude protein level instead of a greater sugar concentration.

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9.7 Effect of Ensiling on the Release of Soluble Carbohydrates and Nitrogen During Eating and its Relationship to Intake and Nitrogen Retention

BSAP Occasional Publication ◽

10.1017/s0263967x00030664 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 187-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. R. Austin ◽

M. Gill

Keyword(s):

Liquid Phase ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Nitrogen Retention ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Water Soluble Carbohydrates

The object of the experiment to be reported was to determine the extent to which intake and eating behaviour are influenced by differences in the ratio of nitrogen (N) to water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) in the feed and the liquid phase of boli obtained from oesophageal fistulae. Four feeds were chosen as being likely to cover a range of N to WSC ratios in the liquid phase; these were frozen lucerne, lucerne silage, grass silage and grass silage treated with formaldehyde (46 g/100 g crude protein).

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