Effect of the concentration of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) algae in the drinking water on water intake by cattle and the proportion of algae bypassing the rumen

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Panjaitan ◽  
S. P. Quigley ◽  
S. R. McLennan ◽  
D. P. Poppi

Spirulina, a freshwater microalgae, has previously been shown to increase the efficiency of microbial protein production in cattle fed hay with a low crude protein content. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of increasing the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water on the intake of water and the amount of water containing Spirulina bypassing the rumen of cattle. Five rumen-cannulated steers were given a fixed amount of pangola grass hay (14 g DM/kg W.day–1) and water containing 0, 1, 2, 2.7 and 3.5% (w/w) Spirulina in an incomplete Latin square design. Water intake by the control steers (0% Spirulina) was 29.7 and 49.3 g/kg W for the first drinking event after it was made available and over 24 h, respectively. For steers receiving the algae, intake of water plus Spirulina increased linearly (P < 0.01) from 42.7 to 60.2 g/kg W during the first drinking event, as the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water increased, but over 24 h was not affected by Spirulina concentration and averaged 74.4 g/kg W. The bypass of water through the rumen, as determined using chromium-EDTA as a marker, averaged 20.5 ± 1.2% and was not affected by the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water. Increasing inclusion of Spirulina was associated with a decrease in rumen pH, an increase in urea concentration in blood serum, and an increase in ammonia-N concentration, propionate and branched-chain fatty acids, and a decrease in butyrate proportions in rumen fluid. Spirulina inclusion in the drinking water increased water intake and may provide a potential safe and inexpensive alternative to urea for extensively grazed ruminants.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 299-299
Author(s):  
Jhone de Sousa ◽  
Joao Vendramini ◽  
Philipe Moriel ◽  
Hiran da Silva ◽  
Joao Sanchez ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of monensin and supplementation level on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) in situ disappearance and ruminal parameters. The experiment was conducted in Ona, FL. Treatments were the factorial arrangement of 2 supplementation levels [0.4 (low) or 4 kg/d (high)] and 2 monensin levels (20 mg/kg of the DM intake or no monensin) distributed in a latin square design. Four rumen-cannulated steers were used with 10-d adaptation and 3-d incubation and collection periods. Samples were incubated in the rumen with nylon bags and analyzed for DM, CP, and NDF disappearance. Rumen fluid was collected for 3 d during the incubation period and analyzed for pH, ammonia, propionate, lactate, and butyrate. There was no effect (P &gt; 0.05) of monensin on potential DM, CP, and NDF disappearance; however, greater supplementation level increased (P &lt; 0.03) potential DM disappearance (64 vs. 61%) and NDF disappearance (60 vs. 57%). Steers receiving greater supplementation level had greater (P = 0.01) total DMI (1.4 vs. 1.0% BW) but there was no difference in forage DMI (P = 0.72, mean = 1.0 ± 0.1% BW). There was a monensin × supplementation level interaction on ruminal propionate concentration. The interaction occurred because there was no effect (P = 0.64) of monensin with low supplementation (mean = 12 ± 1.2 mol/100 mol); however, monensin increased propionate on high supplementation from 15 to 19 mol/100 mol. There was an increase (P &lt; 0.05) in ruminal ammonia (from 1.9 to 4.4 mg/100 ml) and lactate (from 60 to 64 mol/100 mol) from low to high supplementation. Rumen pH and butyrate were not affected by monensin or supplementation (P &gt; 0.12). Monensin did not change forage disappearance parameters but increased ruminal propionate production in steers receiving greater amount of concentrate.



1965 ◽  
Vol 5 (19) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Williams ◽  
HP Miller

The voluntary feed intakes of penned rams were measured on three roughage diets containing 15, 9, and 6.5 per cent crude protein. The rams were chosen from three flocks which varied genetically in wool production at pasture. A latin square design was used to examine differences in voluntary feed intake between the diets and the flocks. Feed intake and rate of consumption increased with increasing crude protein percentage of the diet. Daily time spent eating increased from the high to the low quality diet. Within diets, time spent eating was positively associated with intake differences between rams. Feed intake and water consumption were positively associated between and within diets. There were no differences between the diets in water intake per unit feed eaten. Flocks did not differ in voluntary feed intake or in any character associated with intake.



2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 424-424
Author(s):  
Amanda P Schiff ◽  
Kyle McLeod ◽  
James L Klotz ◽  
Vaughn Holder ◽  
David L Harmon

Abstract Programmed Nutrition Beef Program (Alltech Inc.) is a supplement that could reduce the use of feed additives such as Monensin and Tylosin in feedlots. The objective of this study was to examine changes in rumen fermentation when feeding Monensin/Tylosin and Programmed Nutrition. Eight steers (BW = 363 ± 22 kg) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment in a 2 x 2 factorial treatment structure where animals were fed a high-concentrate diet at 2.0 x NEm. Treatments were Control (C; conventional trace mineral supplement), Control + Monensin + Tylosin (MT), Programmed Nutrition (PN; Programmed Nutrition Beef Finisher), or Programmed Nutrition + Monensin + Tylosin (PNMT), incorporated daily to the diet at 75 g/day. Rumen pH was measured continuously for 48 h, rumen fluid was collected every 2 h for 48 h and analyzed for VFA. Dietary digestibility, nitrogen and energy balance were determined by collection of total urine and fecal output for 7 days, and indirect calorimetry for 48 h. Protein turnover was determined via 15N-glycine end-product method. The experiment was analyzed as a replicated Latin square design with mixed models of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc.). Mean differences were analyzed using LSD, rumen VFA and pH data were analyzed using repeated measures. There were no differences between treatments in DMI, ADG, dry matter digestibility and rumen pH. Addition of MT to the diet lowered fecal N output (P = 0.0092), ruminal valerate concentration (P = 0.0125) and molar proportion (P = 0.0235). When PN was fed in combination with MT it decreased ADF digestibility (P = 0.0342), protein turnover (P = 0.0211), protein synthesis (P = 0.0362) and protein degradation (P = 0.0292). Although no differences in ADG and dry matter digestibility were observed, significant metabolic changes occurred when supplementing PN with or without MT.



1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-234
Author(s):  
H. De Visser ◽  
H. Huisert ◽  
A. Klop ◽  
R.S. Ketelaar

In a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment the effects of DM content and/or the extent of fermentation in grass silages on the pattern of rumen fermentation and rumen kinetics were studied. In a separate study two cows were used to measure the rate of degradation using the dacron bag technique. Four rumen cannulated dairy cows were used to measure rumen fermentation pattern, rumen kinetics were measured in three of these animals. Basal diets (70% of total DM) consisted of maize silage, moist ensiled beet pulp, moist ensiled maize gluten feed, moist ensiled brewers' grains and a concentrate mixture. The remainder of the diet (30% of total DM) was wilted grass silage (WGS), high moisture grass silage with molasses (MGS), high moisture silage with formic acid (FGS) or wilted grass silage with additional water (WW). All diets were fed as complete feeds. pH of the rumen fluid was lower on the MGS and FGS diets. Concentrations of total VFA, acetic acid, ammonia and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) were highest on high moisture diets (MGS and FGS). Rates of clearance and digestion of the organic matter (OM) fractions were or showed tendencies towards being negatively influenced by both MGS and FGS, but remained unaffected by WGS and WW. Degradability of the grass silages was influenced by fermentation in the silo (lower digestible fractions and higher soluble fractions), as were rates of degradation (higher). Results of the degradability measured on the basal diet ingredients were in agreement with published literature and showed a strong correlation between OM digestibility in vitro and the undigestible fraction.



2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 948-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marinaldo Divino Ribeiro ◽  
José Carlos Pereira ◽  
Augusto César de Queiroz ◽  
Vitor Pereira Bettero ◽  
Hilário Cuquetto Mantovani ◽  
...  

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intraruminal infusion of propionic acid (RPA) associated to two (80:20 and 60:40) forage:concentrate ratios (FCR), for young bulls. Four Holstein × Zebu crossbred young bulls with average age of 7 months and 160 kg of body weight (BW) were distributed to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. A total mixed ration, isonitrogenous diets, was ad libitum fed to animals. The propionic acid was obtained by fermentation of reconstituted milk whey by the consortium of bacteria Enterococcus sp. and Veillonella sp.. Daily and along with the supply of solid feeds, 2 L of the compound containing propionic acid were intrainfused in the rumen. There was no RPA × FCR interaction for the intake of nutrients, except for total digestible nutrients (TDN). The organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and TDN intakes were influenced by the FCR. There was no RPA × FCR interaction on the total digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF and TC. However, the digestibility of DM, OM, EE and CT were influenced by the FCR. There was no RPA × FCR interaction for the mean N-NH3 concentration and pH of the rumen fluid; however, RPA provided effect on the pH measured 4 hours after meal. There was no interaction or effect of the main factors on volatile fatty acids concentrations in the rumen fluid, or on glucose levels and serum urea nitrogen.



1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
J. W. G. NICHOLSON

Four mature wether sheep weighing 45–50 kg and fistulated in the abomasum and in the terminal ileum with plastic cannulas were used to determine the effect of formaldehyde treatment of rapeseed meal on the digestibility of nutrients and flow of nitrogenous compounds through the gastrointestinal tract. The sheep were fed four pelleted diets containing 8 or 16% rapeseed meal treated with water or formaldehyde at 1 g formaldehyde/100 g crude protein in a 4 × 4 latin square design. Urea was added to the diets containing 8% rapeseed meal at a level calculated to make all diets isonitrogenous; however, the actual N level of the formaldehyde-treated 8% rapeseed meal diet was somewhat higher than for the other diets. The animals were offered 600 g of feed twice daily at 12-h intervals. Formaldehyde treatment of rapeseed meal did not significantly affect the apparent digestibility of crude protein or dry matter of the experimental diets. No significant differences were observed in total N excretion, or N retention among the four treatments. However, N retained, expressed as grams or as a percentage of absorbed N, for the diets containing formaldehyde-treated rapeseed meal tended to be higher than for the diets containing water-treated rapeseed meal. Formaldehyde treatment of the 16% rapeseed meal diets moderated the increases in rumen fluid ammonia and blood urea N levels following feeding. Formaldehyde treatment of the 16% rapeseed meal diet also increased the flow of dry matter, total N (P < 0.01), and true protein N (P < 0.05) in the abomasal digesta of sheep compared to those fed the water-treated rapeseed meal diet. A similar, but nonsignificant (P > 0.05), effect of the formaldehyde treatment was observed in the ileal digesta of the sheep.



1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. K. Ehrlich ◽  
T. M. Davison

Summary. Twenty-four Holstein–Friesian cows were used in an experiment comparing milk production from cows offered rolled sorghum grain either alone at 8 or 10 kg/head. day of air-dried grain or with 4% sodium bentonite. The design was a 4 × 4 latin square with a 1 week adjustment period and a 3 week treatment period. This design was used to highlight the effects of high levels of grain feeding and changing that level of grain or grain–bentonite every 4 weeks. Cows grazed either ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum cv. Tetila) or oats (Avena sativa cv. Cluan) during the day and a mixed ration based on maize silage, lucerne hay, and meat and bone meal at night. There was no significant effect of treatments on milk yield or composition. Cows fed bentonite had a higher (P<0.05) rumen pH, tended to eat less grain sorghum and have lower concentrations of rumen ammonia and faecal starch. Faecal crude protein tended to increase with the use of bentonite indicating cows may have substituted pasture or mixed ration for grain and maintained a more stable rumen fermentation.



1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chiquette ◽  
P. M. Flipot ◽  
C. M. Vinet

Feed quality of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) harvested at the beginning of heading (H), with a crude protein (CP) content of 13.3%, was compared to timothy harvested at a late stage of growth either untreated (M) or treated with anhydrous ammonia (30 g kg−1 dry weight) (MA); or with urea added at feeding (MU) making it isonitrogenous with MA. These diets were fed to eight ruminally fistulated steers (220 ± 12 kg) in a 4 × 4 double Latin square. Treatments MA and MU increased the crude protein (CP) content of timothy from 8.3 (M) to 19.8 and 21.8%, respectively. Ammoniation improved the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) (68 vs. 62%), CP (66 vs. 47%), hemicellulose (HC) (85 vs. 67%), and cellulose (C) (79 vs. 65%), compared to M. In support, in sacco DM disappearance was about 18% units greater (P < 0.01) for ammoniated hay (MA) as compared with M. Ammoniated timothy hay had apparent digestibility of DM, CP and C (68, 66 and 79%, respectively) similar to that of timothy hay from early harvest (67, 65 and 75%, respectively) and greater HC digestibility (85%) than that of all other hays (77, 67 and 66% for H, M and MU, respectively). Except for CP, digestibility of the other constituents was greater following ammonia treatment than following urea application. Soluble protein was significantly higher in rumen fluid of steers fed MA compared to other treatments. Ammoniation increased energy released from structural carbohydrates, made available following the delignification process, which resulted in improved overall DM digestibility. Ammoniation compensated for deterioration caused by late harvest, resulting in forage constituent digestibility comparable to that of early harvested hay, while additional nitrogen (N) brought about by MU did not improve the overall digestibility of the forage. Ammoniation appears to be an efficient means of increasing N and structural carbohydrate digestibility of low-quality timothy forage. Key words: Ammoniation, urea addition, Phleum pratense L., digestion, rumen fluid



2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. S. Schulze ◽  
A. C. Storm ◽  
M. R. Weisbjerg ◽  
P. Nørgaard

The major microbial fermentation of forages and production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) takes place in the medial part of the rumen, whereas the absorption of VFA occurs through the rumen epithelium, for example the ventral sac. The objective was to study effects of forage neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content and time after feeding on the medial to ventral VFA and pH gradient as well as rumen motility in the rumen of heifers fed grass/clover silages. Four silages were harvested at different growth stages with NDF contents of 31–45% of DM and in vitro organic matter digestibilities of 75–82% and fed to four rumen-fistulated Jersey heifers at 90% of ad libitum level in a Latin square design, with half the ration fed at 0800 hours and 1530 hours. Rumen fluid was sampled hourly from 0730 hours to 1530 hours in the medial and ventral rumen, and analysed for pH and concentrations of VFA, L-lactic acid, and ammonia to assess ruminal chemical gradient. Reticular contractions were continuously recorded by a pressure transducer. Time relative to feeding affected rumen parameters as pH was generally lower and VFA content greater in medial compared with ventral rumen fluid. Greater NDF content of the silage caused lower VFA concentration and higher pH in the rumen mat, and therefore the gradient diminished at greater NDF content in the silages; an effect probably caused by reduced organic matter digestibility rather than digesta NDF properties. This study therefore suggests that VFA production decreased with greater NDF content of forages, whereas intra-ruminal equilibration increased.



2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kaur ◽  
S. C. Garcia ◽  
A. Horadagoda ◽  
W. J. Fulkerson

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a commercially available wireless rumen probe by Kahne Limited (New Zealand) for continuous pH, temperature and pressure measurements under different ruminal conditions. In a 4 by 4 latin square design, rumen-fistulated sheep were fed diets comprising 0, 30 or 60% concentrate, with the rest of the diet being balanced for metabolisable energy and protein with maize silage and lucerne hay. Each experimental period was 10 days with the first 8 days for adaptation and the last 2 days for collection of rumen fluid samples. In the first experimental period, probes were left in the rumen of sheep for 10 days to observe drift in pH. In the other three periods, probes were repeatedly cleaned and recalibrated before each sampling period. Probes were set to read every 20 min while the samples of rumen fluid were withdrawn manually at 4-h intervals and pH recorded immediately. There was an upward drift in pH observed after 48 h of insertion of probes into the rumen. This study resulted in a minor level of agreement between the two methods as indicated by higher root mean prediction error (0.43 pH units), lower Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r = 0.46) and concordance correlation coefficient (0.46). In conclusion, these rumen probes need further advancement to be potentially used for continuous rumen pH measurements for research purposes.



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