Effects of substituting corn with steam-flaked sorghum on growth, digestion and blood metabolites in young cattle fed feedlot diets

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Wang ◽  
Q. Liu ◽  
G. Guo ◽  
W. J. Huo ◽  
Y. L. Zhang ◽  
...  

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of substituting ground corn grain with steam-flaked sorghum (SFS) grain on growth performance, nutrient utilisation and blood metabolites in beef bulls. Fifty-six Simmental beef bulls averaging 12 months of age and 356.4 ± 2.6 kg of bodyweight were randomly assigned to four groups. The treatments were control, low-SFS, medium-SFS and high–SFS, with 0, 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 SFS grain, respectively, substituting ground corn grain of diets(dry matter (DM) basis). Diets consisted of 50% corn silage and 50% concentrate (DM basis). The average daily gain and feed conversion rate improved quadratically with increasing the proportion of SFS grain. Ruminal pH and ammonia-nitrogen (N) concentration decreased quadratically, whereas ruminal total volatile fatty acid concentration increased quadratically. Ratio of acetate to propionate decreased quadratically (P = 0.027) due to the quadratic decrease in acetate production and the quadratic increase in propionate production. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter and crude protein increased quadratically, whereas that of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre decreased quadratically. The digestible N, retention N and the retention N to digestible N ratio improved quadratically. Inclusion of SFS grain in diets quadratically increased blood concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin and triglyceride, but quadratically decreased the concentration of urea N. The results indicated that partly substituting ground corn grain with SFS grain could improve growth performance by improving ruminal fermentation and N utilisation; the optimum substitution rate was 2/3 (DM basis).

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 839-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. S. Rabelo ◽  
E. C. Lara ◽  
F. C. Basso ◽  
C. J. Härter ◽  
R. A. Reis

AbstractWhole-crop maize forage was ensiled without inoculant (control), inoculated with Lactobacillus buchneri and L. plantarum at a rate of 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage per bacterium (LBLP), or inoculated with Bacillus subtilis and L. plantarum at a rate 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage per bacterium (BSLP) with the goal to investigate the growth performance of finishing feedlot lambs. Thirty Dorper × Santa Ines lambs (29 ± 3.5 kg initial body weight) were used in the feedlot programme and assigned (n = 10) to one of three diets containing control, LBLP or BSLP silages in a 60:40 forage:concentrate ratio. Inoculation of maize silage did not alter dry matter intake (overall mean = 1.16 kg/day) and average daily gain (overall mean = 0.217 kg/day) of lambs. Consequently, feed efficiency remained unchanged. Inoculation of maize silage did not alter carcass and meat traits of lambs, with the exception of meat colour, wherein yellowness (b*) decreased by feeding LBLP and BSLP diets compared with the untreated diet. Regarding ruminal fermentation, there was an interaction between diets and the interval at which ruminal fluid was sampled for determining total volatile fatty acid concentration, but inoculation yielded no obvious results. In conclusion, the use of diets based on maize silage inoculated with L. plantarum combined with either L. buchneri or B. subtilis did not display relevant effects on growth performance of lambs; this response might be related to the limited impact of these bacterial inoculants on silage composition.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2018
Author(s):  
Hua Sun ◽  
Yang Luo ◽  
Fangfang Zhao ◽  
Yaotian Fan ◽  
Jingnan Ma ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of partially substituting for conventional forage, Chinese wildrye (CW), with mulberry leaves (ML) on the growth, digestion, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, and meat quality of sheep in a 65-day feedlot study. Thirty-two four-month-old male small-tailed Han sheep (25.15 ± 1.03 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments. The dietary treatments consisted of four proportions of ML (0, 8, 24, and 32%) as a substitute for CW (designated as ML0, ML8, ML24, and ML32, respectively). Rumen digesta and blood samples were collected at day 63 of the trial. Carcass traits were assessed after slaughter at the end of performance period. The results from this study revealed no differences in average daily bodyweight gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and final body weight (FBW) among treatments. The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was higher in the sheep fed with ML than in those fed CW. The ML24 treatment had a higher digestibility of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE). There were no differences (p = 0.13) in ruminal pH values among the treatments. However, there was more microbial protein (p < 0.01) in ML24 and ML32 treatments than the ML0 treatment. Ruminal concentrations of acetate and butyrate were significantly different among treatments, although no difference in concentrations of total volatile fatty acid were found. Additionally, no differences were detected for serum parameters except blood urea nitrogen (BUN). No differences were observed for carcass weight (p = 0.62), dressing percentage (p = 0.31) or longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) area (p = 0.94) among treatments. However, intramuscular fat was higher in the ML24 treatment than in the ML0 treatment. (p < 0.01). There were higher pH values of the 24-h longissimus dorsi in the ML24 treatment than in the ML0 treatment. In addition, the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was lower (p < 0.01) and the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content higher (p < 0.01) in the ML24 treatment than in the ML0 treatment. In conclusion, the partially substitution of mulberry leaves for Chinese wildrye in the diet of sheep had a beneficial influence on the growth performance, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics. The inclusion of 24% (air dry basis) mulberry leaf hay in the ration of sheep is recommended based on these findings.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trinidad de Evan ◽  
Almudena Cabezas ◽  
Jesús de la Fuente ◽  
María Dolores Carro

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing cereals and protein concentrates in a high-cereal concentrate (control) for light lambs with corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 18%), dried citrus pulp (DCP; 18%), and exhausted olive cake (EOC; 8%) in a byproduct (BYP) concentrate on growth performance, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and plasma metabolites. Two homogeneous groups of Lacaune lambs (13.8 kg ± 0.25 kg) were fed one of each concentrates and barley straw ad libitum until reaching about 26 kg body weight. There were no differences between groups on feed intake, average daily gain, or feed conversion ratio, but the control diet had greater (p < 0.001) dry matter digestibility. Diet had no effect on post-mortem ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations and profile, but NH3-N concentrations were lower (p = 0.003) for the BYP-fed group compared with the control one. However, plasma concentrations of amino acids, total proteins, urea, and hepatic enzymes were not affected by the diet. In conclusion, 44% of feed ingredients in the concentrate for light lambs can be replaced with a mixture of corn DDGS, DCP, and EOC without negatively affecting growing performance and animal health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 3046-3055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahryar Kargar ◽  
Meysam Kanani ◽  
Marzia Albenzio ◽  
Mariangela Caroprese

Abstract We examined the effects of replacing corn silage (CS) with reconstituted alfalfa hay (AH) or beet pulp (BP) in the starter diet on the nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics, selected blood metabolites, and health status in Holstein dairy calves. Newborn female calves (n = 54; 3 d of age; 39.8 ± 1.36 kg BW) were assigned randomly to 3 groups receiving starter diets containing CS [10% dry matter (DM) basis; CS diet) and reconstituted AH (10% DM, RAH diet) or BP (10% DM; RBP diet). The starter diets had the same nutrient composition and DM content. The calves were weaned on day 50 and the study continued until day 70. Nutrient intake, body weight (at weaning and at the end of the study), daily weight gain, feed efficiency, and body measurements (including heart girth, withers height, body length, body barrel, hip height, and hip width) were not affected by the diet (P > 0.05). Health-related variables including rectal temperature, fecal score, and general appearance score were not influenced by the diets (P > 0.05). During the postweaning period, apparent total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter, and crude protein were higher for RBP (P = 0.001); however, digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was lower in RAH compared with CS or RBP (P = 0.001). Daily amount of nutrient digestibility did not change across the diets (P > 0.05). Rumen fluid pH and total volatile fatty acid concentration and profile were not different across the diets after weaning (P > 0.05). Calves fed RAH or RBP had higher blood concentration of β-hydroxy butyric acid compared with CS only before weaning (P = 0.03). Blood albumin concentration was higher for RBP compared with CS or RAH during the preweaning (P = 0.006) and overall (P = 0.005) periods; however, it was lower for CS compared with RBP after weaning (P = 0.03). Concentration of other blood variables including glucose, blood urea N, total protein, and globulin did not change across the diets (P > 0.05). Calves, in general, were healthy, and replacing CS with RAH or RBP in the starter diet had no beneficial effect on their feed intake or growth performance indicating that CS and reconstituted AH or BP can be used interchangeably in dairy calf starter diets until 70 d of age, allowing dairy producers more choices in selecting the feed ingredients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Ferreira de Almeida ◽  
Tiago Antônio Del Valle ◽  
Pablo Gomes de Paiva ◽  
Elmeson Ferreira de Jesus ◽  
Rafael Vilella Barletta ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects of partial replacement of corn grain and soybean meal with whole raw soybean or whole cottonseed on milk yield and composition, digestibility, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites. Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows (133.0 ± 53.1 days in milk, 585.2 ± 54.2 kg of BW and 32.22 ± 5.32 kg/day of milk) were used in six 3 × 3 Latin squares with 21-day periods. The cows were randomly assigned to receive one of the following diets: control (CT), diet without oilseed inclusion; whole soybean (WS), inclusion of 120 g/kg of whole raw soybean (diet DM basis); and whole cottonseed (WCS), inclusion of 120 g/kg of whole cottonseed (diet DM basis). Dietary supplementation with WS or WCS had no effect on milk yield and composition. DM and non-fibre carbohydrate intake were decreased in cows fed WS and WCS when compared with CT; however, WS and WCS increased ether extract intake and digestibility. The WCS decreased DM, crude protein, ether extract and non-fibre carbohydrate intake when compared with WS. Cows fed WCS had higher ruminal pH than those fed WS or CT. Cows fed WS showed higher propionate concentration than cows fed WCS. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration decreased when cows were fed WS compared with those fed CT or WCS. The partial replacement of corn grain and soybean meal with WS or WCS in diets of mid-lactating dairy cows decreased DM intake and altered ruminal fermentation, but did not affect milk yield and composition.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Zhu ◽  
Zhen Su ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Hanxue Sun ◽  
Jinfeng Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Garlic and its constituents exhibit activities on modifying rumen fermentation and improving growth performance. As a by-product of garlic processing, garlic skin contains similar bioactive components as garlic bulb. However, studies in ruminants using garlic skin are scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic skin supplementation on rumen fermentation characterizes, growth performance, ruminal microbes and metabolites in ruminants. Twelve Hu lambs were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: basal diet (CON) or basal diet supplemented with 80 g/kg DM of gallic skin (GAS). The experiment lasted for10 weeks, with the first 2 weeks for adaptation. Results The results revealed that the average daily gain and volatile fatty acid concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed GAS than that in the control group. Garlic skin supplementation did not significantly (P > 0.10) affect the α-diversity indices. Increased (P < 0.05) abundances of Prevotella, Bulleidia, Howardella, Methanosphaera but a decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Fretibacterium were observed in GAS-fed lambs. In addition, the garlic skin supplementation favorably regulated (P < 0.05) pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 and B1 metabolism. Moreover, high correlations were observed between fluctuant rumen microbiota and metabolites. Conclusions Supplementation of garlic skin improved the growth performance of sheep by modifying rumen fermentation through inducing shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do Hyung Kim ◽  
Seong Ho Choi ◽  
Sung Kwon Park ◽  
Sung Sill Lee ◽  
Chang Weon Choi

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 1599-1609
Author(s):  
Youn Hee Lee ◽  
Farhad Ahmadi ◽  
Myun Lee ◽  
Young-Kyoon Oh ◽  
Wan Sup Kwak

Objective: This study was designed to determine how feeding diets differing in crude protein (CP) and undegraded intake protein (UIP) levels affected productivity, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, and the production economics of Hanwoo steers.Methods: Thirty-six Hanwoo steers (age = 8.2±0.5 mo; body weight = 254±16.1 kg) were assigned at random to one of three treatments (4 steers/pen; 3 pens/treatment): i) a low-CP diet (LP; control) containing 12.1% CP with 35.1% UIP, 12.0% CP with 36.8% UIP, and 12.9% CP with 48.8% UIP, in the growing, fattening, and finishing periods, respectively; ii) a high-CP, low-UIP diet (HPLU) containing 15.0% CP with 33.7% UIP, 14.0% CP with 35.7% UIP, and 13.1% CP with 46.7% UIP, respectively; and iii) a high-CP, high-UIP diet (HPHU) containing 15.0% CP with 45.8% UIP, 14.0% CP with 44.6% UIP, and 13.0% CP with 51.1% UIP, respectively.Results: The treatments did not affect feed intake and growth performance, except for average daily gain during the fattening period that tended to be the lowest (p = 0.08) in the HPLUfed steers. The feed CP conversion ratio over the entire feeding period was higher with high-CP diets. The treatments did not affect most blood metabolites; however, blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations during the fattening and finishing periods were the lowest in steers fed a HPLU diet. The treatments had negligible effects on cold carcass weight, yield traits including longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness, yield index, and yield grade, plus quality traits including meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity. However, marbling score and frequency of carcass quality grade 1++ were greater in HPHU-fed steers.Conclusion: Feeding diets with higher CP and UIP levels did not affect growth performance but tended to improve the carcass quality of Hanwoo steers, resulting in greater economic return.


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