Effects of amount offered on the intake and selection of barley straw by growing cattle

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Velasquez ◽  
E. Owen ◽  
F. L. Mould
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Genotype Effect ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractA 28-day experiment with 12 9-month-old cattle (275 kg initial weight, M1), used a 2 × 2 arrangement of treatments to compare the effect of doubling the ad-libitum quantity of long barley straw offered daily (25 or 50 g dry matter (DM) per kg M1) and sex/genotype (Limousin × Friesian steers or Friesian heifers) on intake and selection. All animals received a protein concentrate at 20 g DM per kg M10·75 per day. Prior to the experiment the cattle had grazed for 6 months and were given no pre-experimental change-over period. On day 1 animals were weighed (M1), allocated to treatment and penned individually. Animals were weighed on day 28 (M2). Doubling the amount offered did not affect straw intake (g DM per kg M3 per day; M3 = mean of M1 and M2) during days 22 to 28 (steers: 17·9, 17·2; heifers 14·3, 13·3; s.e. 0·50) but increased the proportion (g DM per kg DM offered) refused (steers: 258, 635; heifers: 412, 721; s.e. 22). During days 22 to 28, at each level of offer (25, 50), refused straw contained (g DM per kg DM) less leaf-plus-sheath than offered straw (25 g steers: 251, 430, s.e. 16·7; 50 g steers: 393, 450, s.e. 19·7; 25 g heifers: 304, 420, s.e. 7·2; 50 g heifers: 405, 446, s.e. 9·6). The sex/genotype effect on intake was attributed to differences in growth potential. Straw intakes increased significantly over the first 14 days, but there were no differences between days 15 to 21 and days 22 to 28. It is concluded that an excess-feeding strategy, involving a doubling of the ad libitum amount of barley straw offered did not result in growing cattle consuming more straw, in contrast to published results with sheep and goats. However, the cattle did show a limited ability to selectively consume leaf-plus-sheath in preference to stem but the improvement in diet digestible organic content (estimated in vitro) was presumably insufficient to stimulate intake.

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.

Effect of NaOH dip-treatment on intake, digestibility and selection of previously-refused straw by goats

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 125-125
Author(s):  
A. R. Alimon ◽  
E. Owen ◽  
B. J. Hosking ◽  
G. Rios
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Alkali Treatment ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
List Type ◽  
Selective Feeding ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Selection Of

Wahed and Owen (1986) showed that increasing the amount of straw offered to allow refusal rates of 50% instead of the conventional 20% increased straw dry matter/digestible organic matter intake by 40%. Feeding generously to allow selective feeding was suggested as an alternative to alkali treatment of straw. Such a feeding strategy would be useful to farmers in developing countries where the cost of alkali treatment of straw is high. However the strategy generates large amounts of refusals. Unless refused straw can be utilised for other purposes, feeding at such generous levels will not be acceptable. This study was carried out to establish whether refused straw, if treated with alkali, can be re-fed to goats.Twelve Saanen-type castrated goats aged 18-24 months were used in a change-over design experiment. Goats were housed in individual metabolism crates and fed one of the following:1.Untreated barley straw (S) offered in quantities to allow goats to refuse 50% of the amount offered.2.Untreated previously-refused-straw (RS) offered in quantities to allow refusal of 25% of the amount offered.3.NaOH dip-treated previously-refused-straw (DRS) offered in quantities to allow refusal of 25% of the amount offered.

The phosphorus requirements of growing cattle consuming forage diets

1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Ternouth ◽  
G. Bortolussi ◽  
D. B. Coates ◽  
R. E. Hendricksen ◽  
R. W. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Food Research ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
P Fertilizer ◽  
P Absorption ◽  
Forage Diets

SUMMARYThe results of six experiments on growing cattle weighing 140–480 kg, and with liveweight gains of —0·46 to 1·11 kg/day, were reanalysed to provide estimates of their phosphorus (P) requirements. The 158 data sets were from individually penned cattle offered barley straw-based diets ad libitum with dry matter digestibilities of 0·53–O·65, or from cattle grazing tropical pastures with in vitro dry matter digestibilities ranging from 0·50 to 0·62. Various concentrations of dietary energy, nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca) and P were imposed during the course of the experiments with the penned cattle and various rates of application of P fertilizer changed the botanic and nutrient composition of the forages available to the grazing cattle. The P balances and P kinetics of the cattle were studied using 32P as a tracer.Over the range of P intakes normally observed in cattle consuming forage diets (10–60 mg/kg LW), the coefficient of P absorption was high and not affected by age or liveweight. The regression coefficient relating P intake to P absorption was 0·77 for unsupplemented grazing cattle and 0·82 for penned supplemented cattle. When the plasma inorganic P concentrations were < 50 mg/1, urinary P excretion of the penned cattle was low, as were the endogenous faecal P losses of both the penned and grazing cattle. These losses were concluded to represent obligatory losses and were related to dry matter intake (r = 0·73) in the range 9–17 mg P/kg LW.The total P requirements of growing cattle were estimated as g/day and g/kg DM intake from this data. The requirements of cattle consuming forage diets were 40–50% lower than those published by the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC 1991), even though the same equation for the net requirements for growth was utilized.

Comparison of sheep and goats under stall-feeding conditions: roughage intake and selection

1986 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Wahed ◽  
E. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Urtica Dioica ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Stinging Nettle ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACTThree experiments measured intake and assessed quality of roughage refused by individually-fed castrated Saanen goats and Suffolk × Mule wethers, aged 21 months.In experiment 1, in which long, lucerne hay was offered (10 animals per species; 14 days) goats ate more than sheep (33·2 v. 28·3 g dry matter (DM) per kg M daily; P < 0·05). In experiment 2, in which long, ammonia-treated barley straw was offered (eight animals per species; 21 days) consumption was also higher for goats (21·6 v. 16·4 g DM per kg M daily; P < 0·01). Freshly cut, chopped stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) was offered with treated straw in experiment 3 (eight animals per species). Over the 10 days, intake of nettle increased linearly and that of straw decreased, but nettle consumption was consistently higher for goats than sheep.In each experiment, food refusals (0·2 of food offered) were of lower nutritive value (lower nitrogen, higher acid detergent fibre, lower digestibility in vitro) than food offered. Throughout, food refusals by goats were of slightly higher nutritive value than food refusals by sheep.It is concluded that both sheep and goats are selective feeders under stall-feeding conditions, but the greater intake of roughage by goats cannot be attributed to their selection of more nutritive components.

Validation of new systems for protein evaluation in ruminants by testing the effect of urea supplementation on intake and digestibility of straw with or without sodium hydroxide treatment

1978 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. Ørskov ◽  
D. A. Grubb
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Protein Requirements ◽  
Agricultural Research Council ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Sodium Hydroxide Treatment

SUMMARYMilled barley straw, either untreated or treated with 70 g of NaOH/kg straw was supplemented with four levels of urea, namely 0, 6, 12 or 18 g/kg and fed ad libitum to young sheep. For the untreated straw, dry-matter intakes were (g/day) 423, 451, 441 and 463, while the digestibility of organic matter was 458, 467, 490 and 483 g/kg, respectively. For the treated straw, the intakes of dry matter were 355, 402, 531 and 567 g/day and the digestibility of organic matter was 423, 480, 589 and 628 g/kg respectively.The different responses to urea supplementation of treated and untreated straw are discussed in relation to a new system of estimating protein requirements for ruminants put forward by the Agricultural Research Council.

Effect of offering three amounts of maize stover to dairy cows on intake and selection

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 ◽  
pp. 85-85
Author(s):  
J. N. Methu ◽  
E. Owen ◽  
A. Abate ◽  
M. Scarr ◽  
J. Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Leaf Sheath ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Maize Stover ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Friesian Cows

Several studies with barley straw (e.g. Wahed et al, 1990) and sorghum stover (e.g. Osafo, 1993) have shown improvements in intake with increasing ‘ad libitum’ amounts offered. Furthermore, these studies have demonstrated that sheep and goats offered barley straw or sorghum stover in long, unprocessed form, increase intake by selecting for leaf and leaf sheath, and against stem. This phenomenon offers a simple feeding strategy to use selective feeding behaviour to improve intake and hence production. The aim of the present experiment was to study the effect of offering increasing amounts of long maize stover on intake and selection by dairy cows.Six, early- to mid-lactation Ayrshire and Friesian cows (live weight, M, 430 kg) were used in a double 3x3 Latin square design with 24-day (d) feeding periods. Cows were offered long (unchopped) maize stover at low, medium or high ‘ad libitum’ rates, i.e. 31, 59 or 87 g dry matter (DM)/kg M.d. Cows also received 3.2 kg DM/d of cotton seed cake (339 g/kg DM crude protein) in two meals at milking (0700 h and 1800 h). Stover was offered in one meal daily, at 0700 h, after collecting refusals from the previous day. Amounts of stover offered and refused were weighed daily. Samples of offered stover (0.5 kg) and refused stover (0.5 kg) were analysed for DM daily. All refused stover and 4.0 kg samples of offered stover were botanically fractionated, daily, into stem (S), leaf (L), sheath (Sh) and husk (H). Milk yield was recorded daily and cows weighed at the start and end of each period.

Treatment of barley straw with mixtures of calcium hydroxide and urea : Effect on intake and digestibility in sheep

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 ◽  
pp. 68-68
Author(s):  
Md. Shahiduzzaman ◽  
E. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Hydroxide ◽  
Third World ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Concrete Mixer ◽  
Chemical Solutions ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Block Experiment

Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) is widely available in Third World countries because of extensive limestone deposits. Previous studies (reviewed by Owen et al 1984) have shown Ca(OH)2-treated straw to be prone to mouldiness and low intakes. Urea was added to Ca(OH)2 in the present study to inhibit mould and supply nitrogen. Two experiments are reported which investigated the amounts of Ca(OH)2 and urea required for improving intake and digestibility of barley straw in sheep.Forty Suffolk x Mule store lambs (20 castrates, 20 ewe lambs) aged 8 months were used to measure intake and digestibility of 5 straws (Table 1) in a randomized block experiment, with blocking according to weight and sex. Animals were fed restricted concentrates (Table 1) and ad libitum straw (allowing refusals of 25% of intake) over a period of 35 days, with collection of faeces over the last 8 days. For treatment, straw was chopped, mixed with chemical solutions (Table 1) in a concrete mixer, and “ensiled” for 60 days (September & October) at 500 g dry matter (DM) per kg, in plastic bags contained in 45-gallon oil drums. Straw was aerated for 3 days before feeding. Untreated straw was simply chopped before feeding.

Molasses and fish meal for growing cattle

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 130-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Thomas ◽  
A Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fish Meal ◽  
List Type ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
Ad Libitum

There is evidence that silage may be utilised more effectively when supplemented with sugar rather than starch (Thomas and Rae, 1988). A trial was made to measure the effect of supplementing silage with a sugar-based feed (molasses) or a starch-based feed (barley), in combination with fish meal, on the performance of young growing cattle.Sixty four castrated male calves (Limousin x Friesian and Hereford x Friesian) initially weighing 129 kg were offered grass silage (DM, 200 g/kg; ME, 10.4 MJ/kg DM; CP, 144 g/kg DM) ad libitum with four dietary supplements.Daily supplementation was as follows:1.0.25 kg white-fish meal2.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.4 kg molasses3.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.8 kg molasses4.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.75 kg bruised barleyThe levels of molasses and barley in Treatments 3 and 4 supplied the same amount of dry matter.

Effect of reproductive state and concentrate supplementation on liquid and particulate turnover in the rumen of ewes given ammonia treated straw

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Perez ◽  
J Gasa ◽  
C Castrillo ◽  
JA Guada
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Reproductive State ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Breeding Status

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.

Comparison of inocula from sheep and cattle for thein vitrogas production technique under tropical conditions

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 151-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.C.S. Bueno ◽  
A.L. Abdalla ◽  
S.L.S. Cabral Filho ◽  
D.M.S.S. Vitti ◽  
E. Owen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
Production Techniques ◽  
Microbial Mass

The use of small ruminants, such as sheep, in metabolism studies is more convenient as handling problems are reduced and their maintenance costs are lower, in comparison with cattle. However in vivo digestibility estimates obtained at maintenance are known to differ between these two species. With the increased use ofin vitrogas production techniques, to evaluate ruminant feedingstuffs, it is of great importance to identify whether the species from which the rumen fluid inoculum is obtained has a significant influence on the results obtained.Rumen fluid samples were obtained from a non-lactating Holstein cow (C) and six wether sheep (S) offered the same diet (80 % tropical grass and 20 % dairy concentrate) and prepared so as to have similar dry matter (DM) contents and therefore potentially the microbial mass. Nine substrates (two tropical grasses 1-2, tropical alfalfa 3, barley straw 4, and five temperate grasses 5-9) were examined.

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