Effect of type and feeding frequency of high-fibre feeds on intake, total tract digestibility and ruminal fermentation in beef steers fed a high-concentrate diet

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 2245
Author(s):  
A. López ◽  
H. O. Coria ◽  
M. A. Nazareno ◽  
E. M. García ◽  
R. A. Distel ◽  
...  

The inclusion of fibre in a total mixed ration (TMR) often has operational and economic constraints. The objective of the present study was to compare intake and ruminal fermentation of steers fed either a TMR or a diet with the fibre fraction fed separately from the concentrate fraction. Six ruminally fistulated steers were used in a six-treatments, four-period cross-over experiment. Treatment structure was a 3 × 2 factorial. The first factor was fibre delivery either as a part of a TMR or offered separately from the concentrate fraction once every 3 or 6 days. The second factor was represented by two fibre sources, namely, alfalfa hay or cotton by-products. Fibre delivery and source did not significantly affect total, concentrate, fibre and digestible dry-matter intake, compared with TMR. A similar response was observed for ruminal pH, ammonia concentration and total volatile fatty acid concentration. Intake of crude protein and fibre, as well as the concentration of total volatile fatty acids, were higher for alfalfa hay than for cotton by-products. In conclusion, feeding the fibre portion separately from the concentrate fraction once every 3 or 6 days did not negatively affect intake and rumen function compared with when a TMR was fed, regardless of fibre source.

2022 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olegario Hernández ◽  
Agustín López ◽  
Elisa Mariana García ◽  
Mónica Azucena Nazareno ◽  
José Ignacio Arroquy

ABSTRACT: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of corn dried distiller´s grains (DDGS) supplementation on feed intake, total tract digestibility, and ruminal fermentation of beef steers fed low-quality Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus, cv. Gatton panic). Twelve Braford crossbred steers were housed in individual pens (n = 4 steers/treatment), provided with three levels of DDGS supplement: 0%, 0.6%, or 1.2% BW. Steers were blocked by live weight and randomly assigned to treatments within the block. Corn DDGS supplementation increased total OM intake (21.55, 40.23, and 56.69 g/kg BW0.75) and tract OM digestibility (46.33, 49.03, and 72.39 % DM). Total tract digestible OM, CP, NDF and EE intake also increase in response to DDGS supplementation. Forage OM intake decreased when supplementation level reached 1.2 % BW. Also, ruminal pH decreased with DDGS supplementation level (6.88, 6.47, and 6.27). No differences were observed in total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration; however, the molar proportion of acetate decreased (77.98, 73.90, and 67.29 % Total VFA) as well as acetate: propionate ratio (4.38, 3.48, and 2.74). On the contrary, propionate proportions increased (18.32, 21.86, and 24.81 % Total VFA). Levels of ammonia and lactate were within suggested values for optimal fermentation and bacterial growth. Low-quality grass supplementation with corn DDGS increased total OM intake and digestibility. Also, DDGS inclusion favorably altered volatile fatty acids profile by reducing the acetate to propionate ratio regarding forage-only diets.


Author(s):  
Prathviraj . ◽  
Shrikant Kulkarni ◽  
N. M. Soren ◽  
Sathisha K. B. ◽  
Srinivas Reddy Bellur ◽  
...  

The study was carried out to assess the effect of monensin sodium supplementation on rumen fermentation metabolites and milk yield in early lactating buffaloes. Twelve buffaloes in their 2nd week of lactation were selected. Control group was fed on standard ration whereas the treatment group was supplemented with monensin sodium @ 200 mg/head/day in addition to standard ration. Rumen liquor and blood sample was collected at 2nd and 12th week of lactation. Total and individual volatile fatty acids concentration was estimated by gas chromatography. Monensin sodium (P less than 0.05) decreases acetate and increases propionate concentration and decreases the ratio of acetate to propionate in the rumen liquor without altering the total volatile fatty acid concentration in experimental period. Supplemented buffaloes yielded 8.22 per cent more milk than the control.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Terry ◽  
R. S. Ribeiro ◽  
D. S. Freitas ◽  
G. D. Delarota ◽  
L. G. R. Pereira ◽  
...  

The present study examined the effects of Tithonia diversifolia on in vitro methane (CH4) production and ruminal fermentation characteristics. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomised design (CRD) using a control (0% T. diversifolia) and three treatment groups with different concentrations (6.9%, 15.2%, 29.2%) of T. diversifolia, which replaced up to 15.2% and 14% dry matter (DM) of fresh sugarcane and concentrates, respectively. Ruminal fluid was obtained from two ruminally cannulated non-lactating Holstein × Zebu heifers maintained on a diet consisting of T. diversifolia, fresh sugarcane and 4 kg of concentrates. The inclusion of T. diversifolia had no effect (P ≥ 0.15) on cumulative gas production (mL, mL/g incubated DM, mL/g digested DM) or in vitro DM disappearance (%). Carbon dioxide (%, mL, mL/g incubated DM) linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.001) and CH4 (%, mL, mL/g incubated DM) quadratically increased (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing concentrations of T. diversifolia replacing fresh sugarcane and concentrates. The total volatile fatty acids (mM) and acetate (A) proportion of total volatile fatty acids (mmol/100 mmol) linearly increased (P < 0.01) with the increasing inclusion of T. diversifolia. Butyrate (mmol/100 mmol) increased quadratically (P ≤ 0.02), while propionate (P; mmol/100 mmol) decreased quadratically (P < 0.02). The A : P ratio increased linearly (P < 0.0001) with increasing amounts of T. diversifolia in the diet. These results indicated that increasing the amount of Tithonia diversifolia in the substrate DM increased the A : P ratio, which resulted in a six-fold increase of CH4 production when fresh sugarcane and concentrates were replaced at up to 15.2% and 14% (DM basis), respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. e0609
Author(s):  
Hassan S. Mohamed-Ali ◽  
Khalid A. Abdoun ◽  
Emad M. Samara ◽  
Mohamed A. Al-Badwi ◽  
Aly B. Okab ◽  
...  

Aim of the study: To investigate the direct effect of heat stress on rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability of pair-fed rams to subsequently eliminate the confounding effects of dissimilar feed intake induced by heat stress exposure.Area of study: Saudi Arabia.Material and methods: Five rumen-cannulated desert rams (45 ± 1.63 kg body weight; 2–3 years of age) were placed individually in controlled climatic-chambers to be exposed to two successive periods. The 1st period was a control thermoneutral period (TN; 23.64 ± 0.14 °C; extended for 21 days) followed by a 2nd period of heat stress (HS; 44.26 ± 1.70 °C, for another 21 days). Each period was consisted of a temperature acclimation phase (7 days) and a data collection phase (14 days). Alfalfa hay was offered twice daily during both periods in a pair-fed manner (800 g DM per head and day).Main results: Exposing pair-fed desert rams to elevated ambient temperature had (p<0.05) elevated their respiration rate and skin temperature, without noticeable (p>0.05) changes in their rectal temperature. Most of the rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability were not affected by HS (p>0.05). However, exposure to HS increased (p<0.05) pre-feeding rumen total volatile fatty acids concentrations, pre-feeding molar proportion of acetate, and post-feeding rumen osmolality.Research highlights: HS had no direct effect on post-feeding rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrients degradability in desert sheep. This implies that strategic approaches to mitigate the adverse effects of HS have to be directed towards promoting feed intake and nutrients utilization under such conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-142
Author(s):  
Mina Kahvand ◽  
Mostafa Malecky

Abstract This study aimed at determining the chemical composition of sage essential oil (SEO) and yarrow essential oil (YEO), and investigate in vitro their impacts on gas production kinetics, ruminal digestibility and fermentation, and rumen methanogenesis at different dosages (0, 250, 500 and 750 mg L-1 for SEO; and 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg L−1 for YEO). Alpha-pinene and 1,8 cineol were two major constituents of both SEO and YEO. Both SEO and YEO had a linear and quadratic effect on asymptotic gas production (P<0.05). The gas production rate increased linearly with SEO and curve-linearly with YEO dosages (P<0.05). In vitro degradability of dry matter and organic matter decreased only by YEO. The partitioning factor (PF) and the microbial biomass (MB) decreased and increased linearly with YEO and SEO dosages, respectively (P<0.05). Total volatile fatty acids (VFA ) were not affected by SEO, but decreased in a linear and quadratic manner with YEO dosage (P<0.05). The VFA pattern was modified in a linear and quadratic manner by both SEO and YEO (P<0.05). Ammonia concentration increased linearly only with YEO increasing doses. The methane to total gas (TG) ratio decreased quadratically only by SEO with reductions of 6.7, 13 and 4.2% at the doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg L−1, respectively. These results revealed that SEO modifies the rumen fermentation positively towards producing more MB and less methane in the dose range of 0-750 mg L−1, however, YEO adversely affected the rumen fermentation at all the tested doses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Sharifi ◽  
Akbar Taghizadeh ◽  
Ali Hosseinkhani ◽  
Valiollah Palangi ◽  
Muhlis Macit ◽  
...  

Abstract Modifying the chemical composition of a diet can be a good strategy for reducing methane emission in the rumen. However, this strategy can have adverse effects on the ruminal microbial flora. The aim of our study was to reduce methane without disturbing ruminal function by stimulating the growth and propagation of methanotrophs. In this study, we randomly divided twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows into 4 groups in a 2×2 factorial design with two forage levels (40% and 60%) and two nitrate supplementation levels (3.5% and zero). We examined the effect of experimental diets on cow performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and changes of ruminal microbial flora throughout the experimental period (45-day). Additionally, in vitro methane emission was evaluated. Animals fed diet with 60% forage had greater dry matter intake (DMI) and milk fat content, but lower lactose and milk urea content compared with those fed 40% forage diet. Moreover, nitrate supplementation had no significant effect on DMI and milk yield. Furthermore, the interactions showed that nitrate reduces DMI and milk fat independently of forage levels. Our findings showed that nitrate can increase ammonia concentration, pH, nitrite, and acetate while reducing the total volatile fatty acids concentration, propionate, and butyrate in the rumen. With increasing nitrate, methane emission was considerably decreased possibly due to the stimulated growth of Fibrobacteria, Proteobacteria, type II Methanotrophs, and Methanoperedense nitroreducens, especially with high forage level. Overall, nitrate supplementation could potentially increase methane oxidizing microorganisms without adversely affecting cattle performance.


1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Holzer ◽  
D. Levy ◽  
H. Tagari ◽  
R. Volcani

SUMMARYTwo trials were conducted with two complete fattening diets contain- ing 25 and 45 % fibrous roughage, to examine the effects of three moisture levels and five soaking conditions on the performance and ruminal fermentation of fattening cattle.Differences between treatments in live-weight gain and carcass-weight gain were not significant but there were differences in the efficiency of conversion of metabolizable energy into live weight and into carcass weight and in some instances these were significant. There was a trend towards increased weight of kidney, pelvic and cod fats and a slight decrease in weight of other fat trim of the carcass (subcutaneous and intermuscular) on the treated diets, as compared with the dry control diet.The pH of the rumen liquor of animals given the soaked rations was lower and the total volatile fatty acid concentration higher than that of animals receiving the dry control diet. The propionic acid concentration in rumen liquor was significantly higher in animals receiving moistened diets.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 921
Author(s):  
Shengru Wu ◽  
Zhanhong Cui ◽  
Xiaodong Chen ◽  
Peiyue Wang ◽  
Junhu Yao

This study aimed to investigate the effect of early weaning by supplying calves with alfalfa hay, starter feed, and milk replacer on caecal bacterial communities and on the growth of pre-weaned yak calves. Ten 30-day-old male yak calves were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The maternal grazing (MG) group was maternally nursed and grazed, and the early weaning (EW) group was supplied milk replacer, starter feed, and alfalfa hay twice per day. Compared with the yak calves in the MG group, the yak calves in the EW group showed significantly increased body weight, body height, body length, and chest girth. When suffering to the potential mechanism of improved growth of yak calves, except for the enhanced ruminal fermentation, the significantly increased total volatile fatty acids, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and valerate in the caecum in the EW group could also serve to promote the growth of calves. By using 16S rDNA sequencing, some significantly increased caecal phylum and genera, which were all related to the enhanced caecal fermentation by utilizing both the fibrous and non-fibrous carbohydrates, were identified in the EW group. In conclusion, early weaning of yak calves by supplying them with alfalfa hay, starter feed, and milk replacer is more beneficial to the growth of yak calves when compared with maternal grazing and nursing, in part due to alterations in caecal microbiota and fermentation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Durmic ◽  
P. J. Moate ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
J. Vadhanabhuti ◽  
P. E. Vercoe

A study was conducted to examine in vitro ruminal fermentation profiles and methane production of some alternative forage species (n = 10) in Australia. Extent of fermentation was assessed using an in vitro batch fermentation system, where total gas production, methane production, and concentrations in ruminal fluid of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia were measured. Forages varied in their fermentability, with highest total gas, methane, VFA and ammonia production recorded from selected samples of Brassica napus L. cv. Winfred. Lowest methane production (i.e. 30% less than that formed by the highest-producing one) was observed in Plantago lanceolata L. cv. Tonic and Cichorium intybus L. cv. Choice. Selected plants, including P. lanceolata L. cv. Tonic, Brassica rapa L. cv. Marco, Brassica napus L. cv. Hunter had reduced acetate : propionate ratio and/or ammonia concentration, along with relatively low methane production compared with other species tested, while overall fermentation was not affected. It was concluded that selected novel forages have some advantageous fermentability profiles in the rumen and, in particular, inhibit methane production. However, before these can be recommended as valuable supplementary feedstuffs for ruminants in Australia, further studies are needed to confirm these effects over a range of samples, conditions and in vivo.


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