Estimating the voluntary intake by sheep of tropical grasses from digestibility, regrowth-age and leaf content: a meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (14) ◽  
pp. 1694
Author(s):  
R. M. Dixon ◽  
R. J. Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Leaf P ◽  
Tropical Grass ◽  
General Prediction

Context The voluntary intake (VI) of forages by ruminants is usually estimated from diet DM digestibility (DMD), but may be related also to the age of regrowth and the leaf blade content (Leaf) of the forage. Aim To examine the reliability of the prediction of the VI of tropical grasses by sheep from the DMD, Leaf and Regrowth-age characteristics of the forage. Methods Data from eight experiments with mature sheep fed tropical grass hay diets (n = 229) were used to explore prediction of VI of DM (VIDM), digestible DM (DDM) (VIDDM) and estimated metabolisable energy from the DMD, Leaf and Regrowth-age of the forage. Key results The variables were generally correlated. In data pooled across experiments the VI (g/kg W0.75.day) of DM was poorly correlated with DMD, Leaf or Regrowth-age (r = 0.30–0.52). The regressions between VI and each of the variables differed among experiments in elevation (P < 0.001) but generally not in slope. When ‘experiment’ was included as a factor the VIDM (g/kg W0.75.day) = K + 0.0912 × DMD (R2 0.80; r.s.d. 6.8; K range –26.0 to +7.8; P < 0.001). Also VIDM = K + 0.069 × DMD + 0.020 × Leaf (R2 0.88; r.s.d. 5.4; DMD and Leaf, P < 0.001); thus inclusion of Leaf reduced the r.s.d. while K ranged widely (–20.5 to +12.0). The voluntary intake of digestible DM (VIDDM) = K + 0.081 × DMD + 0.011 × Leaf (R2 0.89; r.s.d. 3.2; DMD and Leaf P < 0.001; K range –35.0 to –16.3). Regrowth-age was correlated with both Leaf and DMD, and VIDM was predicted by Regrowth-age or Leaf with comparable error. Because numerous factors alter the composition of grasses at a specific Regrowth-age the DMD should be a more generally suitable variable to predict intakes of forage DM and DDM. Conclusions The estimation of the VI of ruminants ingesting tropical grass forages can be improved if the diet Leaf is included with diet DMD as a predictor. However, the general prediction of VI of sheep may involve large errors. Implications Knowledge of the leaf content as well as the digestibility should improve estimation of VI of tropical grasses by ruminants.

Voluntary intake and digestion of Coastal Bermuda grass hay by yearling and mature horses

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 262-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.E. Aiken ◽  
G.D. Potter ◽  
B.E. Conrad ◽  
J.W. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Bermuda Grass ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Voluntary Intake

The assessment of a crop husbandry technique in terms of animal production

1963 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
R. S. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Crop Husbandry ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SUMMARY1. The energy value of three hays cut at three stages of maturity was. measured by calorimetric methods and, in addition, the amounts of the hays consumed voluntarily by sheep were measured. Voluntary intake was alsa measured when 200, 500, 800 and 1,200 g. of pelleted concentrates were given.2. The metabolisable energy values of the three hays measured at the-maintenance level were 2·45, 2·26 and 2·16 kcal./g. for cuts 1, 2 and 3-respectively (cut 1 being the earliest). The net energy values for fat production were 0·96, 0·85 and 0·68 kcal./g. respectively.3. The apparent digestibility of the hays fell with increasing intake, but supplementation with concentrates increased their apparent digestibility.4. The voluntary intake of the hays given as the sole food was 70, 62 and 57 g./kg. W0·73 for the three cuts, respectively. When concentrates were given in increasing amounts, the intake of cuts 2 and 3 increased to maxima of 65 g. and 64 g./kg. W0·73 respectively and thereafter declined. With cut 1, intake of hay declined even with the smallest intake of concentrates. Voluntary intake of the hays was maximal when the protein content of the whole ration was 8·5%.5. When no supplement was given the digested energy per sheep per day supplied by cut 1 was 64% greater than that supplied by cut 3. When 800 g. concentrates were given, however, the ration including the early cut of hay provided only 2% more energy than that including the late cut.6. It is shown that if hay were given as the sole food cut 3, which produced 57% more weight of crop per acre, would provide 38% more metabolisable energy/acre and 11% more net energy (starch equivalent)/acre than would cut 1. The late cut would also enable 92% more sheep to be kept feeding to maximal appetite on an acre of produce. However, the total live-weight gain per acre would be only 25% of that obtained with thefirstcut.7. Comparable calculations have been made for the experiments in which concentrates were given. It is shown that here too optimal times of cutting can only be assessed in terms of estimates of animal production.

The effect of sucrose addition on intake of a tropical grass hay by sheep

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 578 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. de Vega ◽  
D. P. Poppi
Keyword(s):  
Control Diet ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Eating Pattern ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Digitaria Eriantha ◽  
Quadratic Effects ◽  
Diet Intake ◽  
Tropical Grass

Increasing levels of sucrose (15, 30, 45, and 60% of the total dry matter intake, DMI) were added to a Control diet of a tropical grass hay (pangola grass, Digitaria eriantha) to examine the effect on DMI and digestible organic matter intake (DOMI). A pelleted lucerne (Medicago sativa) diet provided a positive Control diet with a higher metabolisable energy intake. There were positive linear and quadratic effects of sucrose addition on DMI and DOMI, reflecting increasing values from Control to 45% sucrose, which then decreased for 60% sucrose. Intake values at 45% sucrose were equivalent to 49% (DMI) and 60% (DOMI) of those shown by animals fed on pelleted lucerne. At the same time there was a decrease in hay intake and neutral detergent fibre digestibility. Rumen concentration of butyric acid increased with sucrose addition. Eating pattern changed with increasing sucrose inclusion in that meals extended over the whole day rather than most food being consumed within 5 h as occurred with the high roughage diet. Intake of sucrose was similar for all diets by 5 h, but by 24 h high sucrose diets had resulted in a higher intake of sucrose. It was suggested that the underlying characteristics of the neutral detergent fibre present in the diet regulate intake by posing a limit, which cannot be overridden.

USE OF THE IN SITU TECHNIQUE AND PASSAGE RATE CONSTANTS IN PREDICTING VOLUNTARY INTAKE AND APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY OF FORAGES BY STEERS

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARINA A. G. VON KEYSERLINGK ◽  
G. W. MATHISON
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Passage Rate ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Festuca Hallii ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake

The in situ bag technique was evaluated as a method of predicting the voluntary intake and digestibility of forages. Nine feedstuffs including three cereal straws, three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and grass hay mixtures, two alfalfa-grass silages, and a prairie (Festuca hallii L.) grass hay were each fed to five steers (350 ± 49.5 kg) at ad libitum and approximately maintenance feeding levels. Hays and silages were also fed at near the twice maintenance feeding level. Voluntary forage dry matter (DM) intakes ranged from 1.00 to 2.85% of body weight. Apparent forage DM digestibilities ranged from 37 to 64%. At the lower feeding level fractional rates of particulate passage through the digestive tract were higher (P < 0.05) for 37% DM silage (0.037 h−1) than for two of the straw-based diets (0.020–0.023 h−1). Particulate passage rates were not (P > 0.05) affected by feeding level. Predictions from in situ results were most accurate when 24 and 36 h degradation values were used to estimate DM digestibility (R2 = 0.92) and intake (R2 = 0.86), respectively. The neutral detergent fiber content of forage was equally well correlated with DM digestibility (R2 = 0.86) and voluntary DM intake (R2 = 0.85). Inclusion of information on rates of passage in prediction equations did not (P > 0.05) improve accuracies of predictions over those obtained using in situ results or chemical feed components. Key words: Steers, in situ, voluntary intake, digestibility, passage rates, prediction

scholarly journals Volumosos na alimentação de vacas da raça Holandês em condições experimentais no Brasil - Metanálise

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 2749
Author(s):  
Dileta Regina Moro Alessio ◽  
João Pedro Velho ◽  
Vicente Celestino Pires Silveira ◽  
Deise Aline Knob ◽  
Marcos Busanello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Single Source ◽  
Experimental Feeding ◽  
Voluntary Intake

The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition, voluntary intake, and digestibility of the diet of Holstein cows, as well as milk yield and milk composition as a function of different roughage sources used under experimental feeding conditions in Brazil, through meta-analysis. The database of this study consisted of 109 experiments with 424 treatments of 3,903 lactating Holstein cows. The data were obtained from studies published between January 2000 and December 2015, and were evaluated by variance analysis. Lactating dairy cow diets with a single source of roughage other than corn silage resulted in lower voluntary intake, milk yield, and differences in milk composition, compared to diets based on corn silage or the combination of two roughages, probably due to reduced nutrient digestibility. Diets based on corn silage are distinguished by feed efficiency, milk yield, and composition. Diets based on the combination of two roughage sources are similar with respect to milk yield and composition, compared to diets based on corn silage; whereas, diets with a single source of roughage (other than corn silage), even when containing a higher proportion of concentrate, led to reduced voluntary intake, milk yield, and food efficiency due to the lower utilization of the nutrients. Diets based on corn silage in general allow a higher proportion of roughage in the diet due to energy density.

scholarly journals Storage and digestibility, voluntary intake and chemical components of hay of five tropical grasses

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-543
Author(s):  
Angel V. Méndez-Cruz ◽  
Norma Corchado-Juarbe ◽  
Víctor Siberio-Torres
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Harvest Intervals ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Voluntary Intake

An evaluation of the hay obtained from tropical grasses coastcross I (Cynodon dactylon), stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis), callie (Cynodon plectostachyus), slenderstem (Digitaria pentzii), and guinea (Panicum maximum) was made at three harvest intervals (35-, 45-, and 55-day) and four storage periods (γ than 4, 4 to 8, 8 to 12, and < than 12 months). In vivo dry matter digestibility and voluntary intake trials were performed with Holstein steers, weighing from 340 to 390 kg. Mean digestibility was 60.8%, 56.8% and 55.0%, respectively, for 35-, 45- and 55-day harvest intervals. The mean reduction caused by storage was from 60.8 to 50.6%, from 56.8 to 48.8%, and from 55.0 to 47.2% for the 35-, 45-, and 55-day intervals, respectively. The lower digestibility values were measured in callie. Voluntary intake declined 12, 18, and 17% and the digested dry matter voluntary intake declined from 1.47 to 1.1%, from 1.31 to 0.9%, and from 1.15 to 0.82%. Crude protein content decreased by 17.0, 15.4, and 15.6% for the respective intervals. The major detrimental effect in hay quality was observed after a 12-month storage. Plant maturity influenced the mean increase of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from 69.7 to 72.6 and 76.6%, acid detergent fiber (ADF) from 37.9 to 43.4 and 47.7%; and lignin content, from 5.2 to 9.3% for the three growth intervals. This increase was 9, 16, and 42% for each parameter. However, as storage effect, NDF, ADF, and lignin content were raised by 4.3%, 12.3%, and 5.0%, respectively.

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