Straw degradability as a predictor of intake and growth rate in sheep

1998 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Yalçin ◽  
A. Şehu ◽  
A. G. Önol
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Exponential Model ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Rumen Degradation ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Male Sheep

AbstractThe dry-matter (DM) intake and growth rate in male lambs were predicted from rumen degradability characteristics, rumen DM losses at different times, neutral- or acid-detergent fibre (NDF or ADF) contents and DM apparent digestibility of roughages. Four different straws consisting of wheat, barley, oat and rice were each offered ad libitum to 24 Merino male lambs with 200 glday concentrate for 4 weeks to determine DM intake and growth rate. Apparent digestibilities of the straws were measured with three Merino male sheep. Measurements were made during the last 10 days of each 20-day period. The degradation characteristics of the straws were measured by incubating samples in nylon bags for 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in the rumens of three Merino male sheep fitted with rumen cannulae. The exponential model p = a + b(l - er^) was fitted to the data. Potential degradabilities of DM (defined as a + b) and apparent digestibilities of DM ranged from 530 to 679 and 440 to 560 g/kg, respectively. The mean DM intake of the straws varied from 543 to 745 glday, the digestible DM intake from 236 to 417 glday and growth rate from 17 to 95 glday. Using the degradation characteristics A, B and c in a multiple regression analysis, the correlation coefficients with DM intake and growth rate were 0·79 and 0·70, respectively. NDF and ADF were related to DM intake (i = 0·65; r = 0·64) and growth rate (r = 0·55; r = 0·56). The correlation coefficient between DM apparent digestibility and DM intake was 0·76. It is concluded that the rumen degradation characteristics have potential for predicting intake of straws and growth rate in sheep.

Prediction of intake by cattle from degradation characteristics of roughages

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. Ørskov ◽  
G. W. Reid ◽  
M. Kay
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Anhydrous Ammonia ◽  
Exponential Equations ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTFive different straws consisting of two varieties of winter barley, two varieties of spring barley and one variety of winter wheat were chosen due to differences in degradation characteristics determined by using nylon bags incubated in the rumen of cattle and describing the straw using the equation: p = a + b (1 – e–ct). To increase variation in degradability, batches of the same straws were also treated with anhydrous ammonia in a sealed oven.The straws were subsequently offered ad libitum to groups of steers given a daily supplement of 1·5 kg concentrate and untreated straws were supplemented with urea. The dry-matter intake (DMI) of the straws varied from 3·4 to 5·7 kg/day, the digestible DMI from 1·4 to 3·5 kg/day and growth rate from 106 to 608 g/day.By using multiple regression of a, b, c from the exponential equations characterizing degradability of the straw, the correlation coefficients with DMI, digestible DMI and growth rate were 0·88, 0·96 and 0·95 respectively.

Response to supplementary sorghum grain by cattle grazing oats

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (82) ◽  
pp. 646 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Gulbransen
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Avena Sativa ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Sorghum Grain ◽  
Feeding Systems

Seven groups each of five 18-month-old steers grazed oats (Avena sativa) at allowances ranging from 0.40 to 0.08 ha head-l. A further group in a concrete yard was fed ad libitum a diet consisting solely of sorghum grain. Six of the grazing groups were supplemented with ad libitum sorghum grain. The steers were slaughtered after an average of 100 days on trial. The mean daily grain dry matter consumption of grazing steers ranged from 2.90 to 6.52 kg head-1. Carcase gain ha-1 was linearly related to grain consumption ha-l and increased by 0.097 kg for each kg of grain dry matter consumed. Fasted liveweight gain and growth rate were shown to be unsatisfactory measures of animal performance in pasture/grain feeding systems.

Chemical composition, intake, apparent digestibility and nylon-bag disappearance of leaf and stem fractions from straw of four barley genotypes

1992 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Herbert ◽  
E. F. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Bean Meal ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Soya Bean Meal ◽  
Barley Genotypes

AbstractFour experiments examined the chemical composition, intake, dry matter (DDM) and organic matter (DOM) apparent digestibilities and rates of disappearance from nylon bags of hand-separated leaf and stem fractions of straw from four genotypes of barley: Arabi Abiad, Beecher, C63 and ER/Apam. In experiment 1, 900 g leaf from each genotype was offered to three or four wethers together with 200 g soya-bean meal (SBM), and in experiment 2 the leaf from the same four genotypes was offered ad libitum with 200 g SBM. In experiment 3, 500 g stem from Arabi Abiad and Beecher was offered with 100 g SBM to six wethers in two groups. Experiment 4 measured the rate and extent of disappearance of the leaf and stem fractions from nylon bags incubated in the rumen of wethers. The genotypes had widely contrasting morphological characteristics. Stems contained about half as much ash and crude protein as leaves and differences within fractions were small. The leaf and stem fractions of the two-rowed barleys Abiad and Apam contained less modified acid-detergent fibre than the six-rowed Beecher and C63 genotypes.When leaf was offered with SBM, both restrictedly and ad libitum, the DDM and DOM of this fraction were similar between genotypes (P > 0·05) and in experiment 2 the intake of leaf was also similar between genotypes (P > 0·05). The apparent digestibility of stem differed significantly between Arabi Abiad and Beecher in experiment 3 (P < 0·05). Significant differences were apparent between genotypes in the extent and rate of disappearance of leaf and stem from nylon bags after 48 h incubation in the rumen.

A note on intake and digestibility of a fibrous diet self fed to primiparous sows

1983 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Zoiopoulos ◽  
P. R. English ◽  
J. H. Topps
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Fibrous Diet ◽  
Oat Husk

ABSTRACTIn an attempt to establish an ad libitum, labour saving feeding system 12 Large White primiparous sows were used to investigate the effects on food intake and digestibility of including oat husks in a conventional concentrate diet. The diet contained 500 g ground oat husks per kg diet and was compared with the undiluted concentrate given in restricted amounts during pregnancy (1·8 kg/day) and lactation (5·4 kg/day). The mean daily food intakes for the oat husk diet were 5·50 and 6·29 kg during pregnancy and lactation respectively. The apparent digestibility of the dry matter of the oat husk diet (0·58) was significantly lower than that of the concentrate (0·80), but values for apparent digestibility of nitrogen were similar (0·77 and 0·78, respectively).

THE EFFECT OF INGESTED CHLORTETRACYCLINE ON SOME HYDROLASES AND ORGANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIGESTIVE PROCESS IN GROWING PIGS: II. PROTEASE, AMYLASE, AND GELLULASE ACTIVITY OF THE CONTENTS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE AND OF THE CECUM; WEIGHTS OF SMALL INTESTINE AND MUCOSA

1957 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. A. Vonk ◽  
L. W. McElroy ◽  
R. T. Berg
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cellulase Activity ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Weanling Pigs ◽  
Intestinal Contents ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

Four treatments, involving differences in method of feeding and interval between last feed and slaughter, were employed in a study of the effect of dietary chlortetracycline on protease, amylase, and cellulase activity in the intestinal and cecal contents of 16 pairs of weanling pigs. Most consistent results were obtained with six pairs which were limited pair-fed except for the final feeding during which feed was available ad libitum for a 4-hour period ending 18 hours before slaughter. The mean total activities of all three hydrolases in the contents of the small intestines and of the ceca of the antibiotic-fed animals of these six pairs were significantly greater than in those of the control animals. Expressed as activity per gram dry matter of intestinal contents, significantly higher values for protease and amylase, but not for cellulase, were observed in the pigs that had received chlortetracycline. When the combined results obtained from all 16 pairs of the experimental animals were analyzed, the results showed that on a basis of activity per gram dry matter of intestinal contents, ingested chlortetracycline was associated with significant increases in amylase and cellulase but not in protease activity. Protease, amylase, and cellulase activities per gram dry matter of cecal contents were higher for pigs fed the antibiotic than for their controls. The mean wet weight of the empty small intestine and the mean dry weight of the mucosa scraped from the anterior 3-meter section of the small intestine were lower for the chlortetracycline-fed animals, but the differences were not statistically significant.

Rumen degradation of straw 4. Selection and degradation of morphological components of barley straw by sheep

1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Bhargava ◽  
E. R. Ørskov ◽  
T. K. Walli
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Leaf Sheath ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Rumen Degradation ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Mathematical Model ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractExperiments were made to study the proportion, chemical composition, and rumen degradability of the morphological components of barley straw (Corgi variety) and to study the selection of these components by sheep. The proportions in the harvested straw dry matter (DM) as leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem and chaff were 128, 314, 500 and 58 g/kg DM, respectively. The different components of straw on analysis proved to have very different concentrations of nitrogen and neutral-detergent cellulase digestibility. The leaf blades had the highest and the stems the lowest values. The degradabilities of DM in the components and in the whole straw were determined by measuring DM loss from samples incubated in nylon bags for various periods in the rumen of sheep. Responses were measured using the mathematical model p = a+b (1–e−ct) where p is DM loss, (a+b) potential degradability, c the rate constant of DM loss and t is the time of incubation. DM losses decreased in the order leaf blades > leaf sheath > whole plant > chaff > stems. Leaf blades also had the highest potential degradability and rate of degradation.In another trial, five sheep were offered unchopped barley straw ad libitum. There were five treatment periods in which sheep were allowed to leave uneaten proportionately 0·2, 0·3, 0·4, 0·5 and 0·7 of the straw on offer for assessing the animal's selection of the morphological components of that straw. The amount of leaf blade in the material consumed increased in largely a linear (P < 0·01) fashion with the amount of excess allowance. The proportion of stem eaten varied conversely. The selection of leaf sheath was less apparent. Little stem was consumed until the proportion of leaf blade in the food available decreased below proportionately 0·4. The practical significance of the study is discussed.

Effects of cottonseed meal and cereal grain supplements on intake and utilisation of alkali-treated wheat straw by cattle

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 527
Author(s):  
JC Spragg ◽  
RC Kellaway ◽  
TJ Kempton
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Ad Libitum

Effects of cottonseed meal and cereal grain supplements on intake and utilisation of alkali-treated wheat straw were studied with 45 Friesian heifers (250 kg liveweight) in individual pens. Responses were measured in terms of feed intake and growth rate over 60 days. The basal diet fed ad libitum was coarsely milled wheat straw which was alkali-treated, sprayed with a solution containing urea, sulfur, copper and cobalt and sprinkled with dicalcium phosphate. Animals were also fed 800 g/day of 1 of 5 supplements: cottonseed meal (CSM), whole barley (WB), cracked barley (CB), ammonia-treated whole barley (NB) and extruded barley (EB). Intakes of the basal diet did not differ significantly between groups. Digestible organic matter in dry matter (%) was 53.1, 51.7, 47.2, 47.7, and 48.7 with supplements CSM, CB, WB, NB and EB, respectively; values for CSM and CB were significantly higher than for the other supplements (P< 0.05). Liveweight gains were 891,761,639, 657 and 784 g/day with the respective supplements, and did not differ significantly between CSM, CB and EB. We concluded that CSM did not stimulate intake of roughage more than supplements of barley grain, and that growth of the cattle was limited primarily by intake of energy.

Forages in diets for growing pigs 2. Nutrient apparent digestibilities and partition of nutrient digestion in barley-based diets including red-clover and perennial ryegrass meal

1997 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Andersson ◽  
J. E. Lindberg
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre

AbstractGrowing pigs fitted with simple t-shaped cannulas posterior to the ileal-caecal valve were used in a change-over design experiment (5 × 5) to determine the Heal and total tract apparent digestibility and hindgut disappearance of dietary components and energy in a barley-based diet with increasing inclusion of either red-clover or perennial ryegrass meal (proportionately 0·10 and 0·20). The total tract and Heal apparent digestibilities of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), nitrogen-free extractives (NFE) and energy were significantly reduced with increasing inclusion of red-clover and perennial ryegrass meal in the diet (P < 0·05). For all fibrous components (total fibre (TF), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF) and crude fibre (CF)), the ileal apparent digestibility was unaffected by level offibre inclusion in the diet. Also the total tract apparent digestibility of TF, NDF and CF were unaffected by red-clover meal inclusion, while in contrast the total tract apparent digestibility of TF, NDF and CF were significantly reduced with perennial ryegrass meal inclusion (P < 0·05). The hindgut disappearance of crude fat, NDF, ADF and CF was not affected by forage meal inclusion, whereas the hindgut disappearance of OM, NFE, TF and energy were significantly lower in the perennial ryegrass meal diets than in both the control diet and the red-clover meal diets (P < 0·05).The total tract apparent digestibility of OM was higher for the control diet compared with the red-clover and perennial ryegrass meal diets. There was also a significantly higher apparent digestibility of OM in the total tract for red-clover meal compared with perennial ryegrass meal (P < 0·05). The Heal apparent digestibility of energy in a barley-based diet with forage meal inclusion decreased proportionately by about 0·014, 0·023 and 0·030 units per unit increase ofTF, NDF and CF in dry matter, respectively. Correspondingly, for the total tract energy apparent digestibility, there was a decrease proportionately by about 0·010, 0·016 and 0·022 units per unit increase of TF, NDF and CF in dry matter, respectively. Digestible energy content was significantly reduced, as measured at the ileum or over the total tract, with increasing inclusion offorage meal (P < 0·05).

Eating and ruminating behaviour in cattle given forages differing in fibre content

1989 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. McLeod ◽  
B. R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fibre Content ◽  
Eating Rate ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Forage Diets

ABSTRACTA study was made of the effect of fibre level in forages on eating and rumination behaviour. Eight forage diets were prepared from the leaf and stem fractions of two grasses and two legumes and were given at hourly intervals to four steers under steady-state conditions. Eating and rumination behaviour were measured automatically by recording changes in intra-oesophageal pressure.Mean voluntary intake of leaf was higher than that of the stem fractions (9·9 v. 5·6 kg/day; P < 0·001). This was associated with a shorter mean retention time in the rumen of the leaf than that of the stem fractions (21·4 v. 30·6 h; P < 0·001) and a lower concentration (g/100 g dry matter (DM)) of fibre (52-0 neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and 30·5 acid-detergent fibre (ADF) v. 68·2 NDF and 45·3 ADF). Similar values (P > 0·05) between diets were found for both the water and DM contents of the rumen (60·1 kg, 7·8 kg). Voluntary intake was not related to either.No difference was found between forage diets in the mean time (132 min) and number (18·7) of periods spent eating each day (P > 0·05). Legume leaf fractions were eaten at a faster rate (g/min) than either the grass leaf or the stem fractions. Voluntary intake was related to the rate at which food was eaten (r = 0·89; P < 0·01) but no relationship was found with the time taken to eat food (r = –0·14; P>0·05). Eating rate was related to the level of both NDF (r = –0·91; P < 0·01) and ADF (r = –0·96; P < 0·001).Differences between diets were found in rumination times (mean 425 min; P < 001), the number of boluses regurgitated during each period (27·6; P < 0·05) and during each day (485; P < 0·001), and in the weight of boluses (455 g; P < 0·05). No differences (P > 0·05) were found between diets in the mean number of rumination periods each day (17·6), the mean time spent ruminating during each period (24·3 min), the mean rate at which boluses were regurgitated (53·2 s per bolus), the interval between boluses (5·1 s), and the DM in a bolus (27·5 g). Rumination time and the number of boluses regurgitated either per period or per day were not related to the fibre content of the diet (P > 0·05).The regurgitated boluses from leaf fractions were chewed less than the stem fractions (43·7 v. 54·7 chews per bolus). The regurgitated boluses of lucerne leaf were chewed at a faster rate (1·13 chews per s; P > 0·05) than regurgitated digesta of the other diets which were chewed at similar rates (0·97 chews per s; P > 0·05). The total number of rumination chews made each day by animals given lucerne leaf (12 300) was much lower (P < 0·001) than that by animals given the other fractions (25 300). The number of chews made on each bolus was related to fibre levels in the diets (NDF, r = 0·78, P < 0·05; ADF, r = 0·91, P < 0·01).It is concluded that the voluntary intake of high-fibre diets is not always restricted by rumen fill or rumination. The ease with which forage is eaten should be investigated as a factor influencing intake of fibrous forages.

FORMIC ACID OR FORMIC ACID–FORMALIN AS A SILAGE ADDITIVE

1973 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. BARKER ◽  
D. N. MOWAT ◽  
J. B. STONE ◽  
M. G. FREEMAN ◽  
K. R. STEVENSON
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Initial Weight ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Total N ◽  
Protein Supplements ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

Three methods of ensiling an alfalfa–bromegrass mixture were compared: field-wilted (W) (45% dry matter (DM)); direct-cut (F) (24% DM) with 85% formic acid added at the harvester at 0.5% w/w; and direct-cut (FF) (25% DM) with a formic acid–formalin mixture similarly added at 0.5% w/w. The formic acid–formalin mixture was a 1:1 ratio of 85% formic acid to 40% formaldehyde. Wilted silage was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in pH and soluble N (percent total N) and lower in gross energy than F or FF. Treatment FF produced significantly (P < 0.05) more total acids, butyric acid, and propionic acid, than did F or W. In a 140-day postparturition dairy trial, 30 Holstein cows were grouped by age and randomly assigned to W, F, and FF silages fed ad libitum. Differences among the mean silage DM intakes of 10.6, 10.6, and 9.8 kg/day and mean solids-corrected milk yields of 23.4, 24.9, and 25.5 kg/day for W, F, and FF, respectively, were nonsignificant (P < 0.05). Fifty-four crossbred beef bulls with an average initial weight of 239 kg were fed W, F, and FF as protein supplements (approximately 2.8 kg DM/day) with high moisture corn ad libitum for 133 days. Mean gains were 1.36, 1.35, and 1.28 kg/day and feed: gain ratios were 5.66, 5.82, and 6.04, respectively, for W, F, and FF. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in gains, feed: gain ratios, or carcass composition.

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