Effects of diet calcium: phosporus ratio and metabolizable energy content on development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in blue foxes

2005 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. Korhonen ◽  
M. Happo ◽  
T. Rekilä ◽  
J. Valaja ◽  
I. Pölönen
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Alopex Lagopus ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Calcium And Phosphorus ◽  
And Performance

AbstractAbstract The study evaluates the effects of two dietary Ca: P ratios (1·5: 1v. 2·5: 1) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents (17·3 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)v. 19·2 MJ/kg DM) on the development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in juvenile male blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Four experimental groups (no. = 10 per group) were formed : (1) low energy, lagopus). low Ca: P (LELC); (2) normal energy, low Ca: P (NELC); (3) low energy, normal Ca: P (LENC); and (4) normal energy, normal Ca: P (NENC). The experiment started at weaning in mid July and finished in early October. From mid August onwards, animals on the normal energy diets (NELC, NENC) grew significantly faster (P< 0·001) than animals on the low energy diets (LELC, LENC). The final body weights of the normal energy groups were 1·5 kg higher than those of the low energy groups (P< 0·001). The dietary Ca: P ratio did not affect live-weight gain. Foot bending increased significantly from summer to autumn (P< 0·001). Changes in foot bending between initial and final evaluations showed that bending was significantly greater (P< 0·05) in animals on normal energy (NELC, NENC) than on low energy diets (LELC, LENC). Significant differences were not found in the mean degree of damage in foot and cartilage between the groups. Ulna breaking strength was significantly higher (P< 0·05) in normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. Ulna calcium and phosphorus concentrations of the normal Ca: P (LENC, NENC) groups were significantly higher (P< 0·001,P< 0·05) than those of the lower Ca: P (LELC, NELC) groups. The bone (ulna) calcium and phosphorus concentrations tended to be higher in the normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in the low energy (LELC, LENC) groups (calciumP= 0·07; phosphorusP= 0·06). The bone Ca: P ratio was higher (P< 0·001) in the normal (LENC, NENC) than in the low Ca: P diet (LELC, NELC) animals. The carcass weights of normal energy animals (NELC, NENC) were significantly higher (P< 0·001) than those of low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. The fat : dry matter ratio was higher (P< 0·05) in normal (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) carcasses. We conclude that the Ca: P ratio of the diet has no effect on the development of osteochondrosis or bending of the foot. The higher body weight caused by normal as opposed to low metabolizable energy content seems, however, to increase the incidence of foot bending.

Increased winter growth in male red deer calves under an extended photoperiod

1997 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Webster ◽  
I. D. Corsor ◽  
R. P. Littlejohn ◽  
J. M. Suttie
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Natural Increase ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Abrupt Increase ◽  
Winter Solstice ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Autumn And Winter

AbstractThe growth of male red deer slows during the first winter of life before increasing again during spring. This study aimed to determine if this period of slow growth could be minimized using artificial photoperiods during autumn and winter (10 April (week 1) to 11 September (week 23), southern hemisphere). Four groups of deer (no. = 10) were housed indoors as follows. Two groups were placed on a winter solstice photoperiod (8·5 light (L): 15·5 dark (D)) and given either a natural increase in photoperiod to 11·25L: 12·75D (WSN) or held on 8·5L: 15·5D for 7 weeks followed by an abrupt increase to 11·25L: 12·75D (WSH). One group was exposed to a summer solstice photoperiod of 16L: 8D (SS) and one group exposed to a natural photoperiodic pattern (IC). A fifth group of deer (no. = 10) was maintained outside on a gravelled enclosure under natural changes in photoperiod (OC). All groups were given a diet containing 160 g protein per kg and 11·0 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM) ad libitum. All animals were weighed weekly and group food intake recorded daily. Metatarsal length was measured at weeks 3,17 and 22 from the start of treatments.The major differences occurred between SS and the other groups. After a period of slower growth (weeks 1 to 5, SS = 88 g/day v. 168 g/day other groups, s.e.d. 31·2, P < 0·05), SS grew more rapidly from week 10 (P < 0·01). As a result, SS was heaviest from week 17 (P < 0·05) until the end of the experiment (P < 0·01). The mean growth rate of SS animals from weeks 10 to 23 was 346 g/day compared with 173 g/day (s.e.d. 15·3; P < 0·001) for the other groups. Over the whole experiment, SS animals gained 42·3 kg live weight, compared with 31·1 kg for WSN, 26·6 kg for WSH, 25·1 kg for OC and 23·7 kg for IC (s.e.d. 2·08 kg P < 0·01). The DM intake of SS from week 9 until the end of the experiment averaged 2·04 kg DM per head per day compared with 1·48 (s.e. 0·041) kg DM per head per day for the mean of the other groups. Metatarsal length increased more in SS than the other groups (P < 0·001) between weeks 3 and 17 and was longest in SS at weeks 17 and 22 (P < 0·01). Exposure to a 16L: 8D photoperiod during winter advanced the rapid growth of red deer calves normally associated with spring and summer. This response may be used to advance slaughter dates for venison production.

The voluntary intake by cattle of four silages differing in dry matter content

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 591-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Jackson ◽  
T. J. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Daily Intakes

SUMMARYHerbage from the same timothy/meadow fescue/white clover sward was ensiled at four different dry matter contents. The resulting silages had dry matter contents of 19·0, 27·3, 32·3 and 43·2%, the dry matter content increasing with the length of the wilting period. An experiment was carried out to determine the voluntary intake of the silages. Each silage was given to 7 animals individually, the mean live weight of these being 334 kg.Although the silages made from wilted herbage were lower in digestibility than that made from unwilted herbage, wilting increased dry matter intake and metabolizable energy (ME) intake. The mean daily intakes of digestible organic matter were 53·0, 58·1, 59·6 and 59·6 g/kgW0·73, for silages of increasing dry matter content. The corresponding ME intakes, expressed as a multiple of the ME requirement for maintenance, were 1·17, 1·29, 1·30 and 1·28. The percentage of acetic acid in the silage dry matter was significantly (r= −0·56) and linearly related to voluntary intake. The relationship between lactic acid concentration and voluntary intake was significantly curvilinear (r= 0·48).

Milk-fed calves: 5. The effect of a change in milk intake upon the herbage intake and performance of grazing calves

1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Milk Substitute ◽  
Metabolizable Energy Intake ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Reconstituted Milk

SummaryThe effect of the amount of milk consumed upon the herbage intake and performance of calves at pasture, following a standard rearing period, was investigated using 50 Hereford × Friesian calves purchased at 10–12 days ofage. All calves were offered 6 kg reconstituted milk substitute for a 58 day period indoors and for a subsequent 31 days at pasture. Ten calves were then allocated to each of five milk treatments (0, 2, 4, 6, 10 kg/day) and grazed for a further 63 days. The calves were offered a daily herbage allowance of 60 g dry matter/kg live weight.Daily weight gain was increased by 59 g for each additional kilogramme of reconstituted milk consumed, and herbage intake per unit live weight decreased by 1–24 g/g milk organic matter consumed, equivalent to a reduction in metabolizable energy intake of 9 kJ. Clear effects of both age and diet upon the consumption of herbage were demonstrated. An explanation of the mechanisms governing intake of herbage in milk–fed calves is offered.

The utilization of the dietary energy of pangola and setaria by young growing beef cattle

1982 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Tudor ◽  
D. J. Minson
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Initial Energy ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
Tropical Grasses

SUMMARYThe net energy values for growth and fattening of two artificially dried tropical grasses-, pangola (Digitaria decumbens) and setaria (S. sphacelata var. sericea cv. Nandi), of similar estimated metabolizable energy content (8·07 and 7·96 MJ/kg D.M.) were determined with cattle using a slaughter technique. Growing cattle with a mean initial weight of 175 kg were given equal quantities of dry matter of the two grasses at each of three planes of nutrition above maintenance for a period of 152 days.The initial energy, fat and protein content of the total body of the 24 test animals was estimated from regressions relating fasted live weight to theśe components, derived from 12 similar cattle slaughtered at the beginning of the feeding period. The final energy, fat and protein content of the test animals was determined directly by chemical analysis. The metabolizable energy (ME) content of the grasses was estimated from the level of digestible energy (DE) determined with eight cattle, assuming that ME = 0·815 DE.The cattle fed pangola gained more live weight, empty-body weight, fat, protein and energy than animals fed similar quantities of setaria. The net energy value for growth and fattening (NEf) was determined using regressions relating energy retention to the quantity of dry matter eaten. NEf in MJ/kg dry matter was 2·27 for pangola and 1·31 for setaria.Efficiency of utilization of ME for growth and fattening (kf) was.27·7% for pangola and 16·9% for setaria. These values for tropical grasses are lower than any values reported for temperate pasture species. Thus the lower efficiency of utilization of ME may cause the lower production of cattle which graze tropical grasses.It was concluded that as the kf values of different tropical grasses are not constant, kf values should be measured on a wider range of tropical grasses so that this factor can be taken into account when evaluating grasses in animal production systems.

Complete diets for dairy cows: comparisons of feeding to appetite with rationing according to milk yield

1980 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. D. Greenhalgh ◽  
G. W. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Under Nutrition

SummaryTwo experiments were made, each with 35 autumn-calving cows fed on complete diets containing 40–70% hay and 60–30% concentrates. In both experiments, cows fed to appetite on a diet containing 11 MJ metabolizable energy/kg D.M. for weeks 7–24 of lactation ate about 20% more than cows rationed according to yield, but produced only about 3% more milk. The cows fed to appetite gained more in live weight, but lost their weight advantage during the subsequent grazing season.In Expt 1, a further group of cows were fed to appetite on diets progressively reduced in metabolizable energy content from 11·0 to 9·2 MJ/kg. Dry-matter intake decreased by about 1·2 kg/day per 1 MJ reduction in energy content. The lower dry-matter and energy intakes of cows on this treatment did not significantly reduce their milk yield, but their response when turned out to grass suggested under-nutrition in late winter. In Expt 2, increasing the energy content of the diet in early lactation (weeks 7–12) and reducing it thereafter had no significant effect on milk yield.Within each treatment group there were reasonably close relationships between energy intake and energy requirement. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the efficiency of feed utilization of cows fed on complete diets will be low unless intake is controlled by energy dilution.

A study of the effect of supplementing a concentrate diet with roughages of different quality on the performance of Friesian steers. I. Voluntary food intake and food utilization

1970 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Stages Of Growth ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Metabolizable Energy Intake

SUMMARYConcentrate diets supplemented with 5, 20 and 40% of a high- and a low-quality hay were given ad libitum to British Friesian steers from 9 weeks of age to slaughter. The intake of dry matter and metabolizable energy was studied over weight ranges from 91 to 363 kg live weight. The quality of hay did not significantly affect the drymatter intake at any of the weight ranges studied. From 91 to 182 kg live weight the daily dry-matter intake decreased as the proportion of hay in the diet increased. Over the weight range from 182 to 272 kg live weight, intake was maximum at the 20% level of hay supplementation, while from 272 to 363 kg live weight, intake increased with increasing levels of hay in the diet. The supplementation of high-quality hay significantly increased the intake of metabolizable energy by animals weighing 91–182 kg. Increasing proportions of hay in the diet significantly affected the metabolizable energy intake at all stages of growth studied.At 18 and 36 weeks of age digestibility and N balance studies were carried out. The metabolizable energy expressed as a percentage of the gross energy and the mean retention time of the diets were significantly affected by the age of animal, quality of the hay and the level of hay supplementation. Nitrogen retention was also affected by the age of the animal but not by the quality of the hay.The relationships between the voluntary intake of dry matter and the metabolizable energy of the diet expressed as a percentage of the gross energy, for different stages of growth, are also presented.The change in the digestibility and the mean time of retention of the diets in the digestive tract with age and the effect of this on the point where physical regulation to intake gives way to physiological regulation are discussed.

Individual intake variation in ewes given feedblock or trough supplements indoors or at winter grazing

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. Kendall ◽  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
R. G. Hemingway
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Free Access ◽  
A Value ◽  
Winter Grazing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Dietary Components ◽  
Supplement Intake

ABSTRACTIndividual dry matter intakes were measured using four groups of 16 ewes, indoors or at sparse winter grazing. In periods of varying duration (14 to 35 days) the ewe groups received 14 feedblock supplements competitively, eight trough supplements competitively or two feedblock supplements individually. In each period hay was available ad libitum. All supplements contained chromic oxide and individual supplement intakes were estimated by total faecal collection. Individual hay and total dry-matter intakes were estimated by faecal apportionment according to indigestibility of dietary components.Metabolizable energy content (0·81 × digestible energy) of the feedblocks ranged from 7·9 to 9·2 MJ/kg dry matter compared with a value of 13·0 MJ metabolizable energy/kg dry matter for concentrates. The variation in individual supplement intake was large, irrespective of type of supplement. However the mean coefficient of intake variation for 14 feedblock supplements (0·56) significantly (P < 0·05) exceeded that (0·39) for eight trough supplements at equivalent mean dry-matter intakes.Thus, ‘free-access’ feedblocks did not allow a more uniform supplementation than trough supplements. Supplement intake variation was higher outdoors and increased as total feedblock intake reduced.The variation in individual hay and total dry-matter intake was lower, and generally independent of that for the supplements. Mean coefficient of variation of 0·24 and 0·22 were obtained for hay and total dry matter, respectively, based on 22 collections with competitively fed sheep.Total daily metabolizable energy intakes of individual ewes outdoors ranged from 5 to 22 MJ per collection.

Effect of concentrate: roughage ratio on the production of beef from Israeli-Friesian bulls slaughtered at different live weights

1975 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levy ◽  
Z. Holzer ◽  
Y. Folman
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Factorial Design ◽  
Feed Rate ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Slaughter Weight

SummaryThe effects of roughage level (15 and 35% of the ration) and of slaughter weight (400,450 and 500 kg) were studied in an experiment of 2 x 3 factorial design. Daily live-weight gains and carcass gains were significantly higher on the lower roughage levels, but there was no difference in degree of fatness of the carcass. Dry-matter intake expressed as a percentage of body weight was 2·91 on 35% roughage compared with 2·53 and 15% roughage, i.e. 15% higher on the highroughage diet. This compensated the animals on the high-roughage diet for the lower energy content of their feed. Rate of gain increased with an increase in slaughter weight. The percentage of fat trim and of saleable meat increased, while that of bone decreased significantly with an increase in slaughter weight. The animals on the lowroughage diet were approximately 11% more efficient than the others in converting metabolizable energy into live weight.

The effects of body condition at calving and dietary protein content on dry-matter intake and performance in lactating dairy cows given diets of low energy content

1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Jones ◽  
P. C. Garnsworthy
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Dietary Concentration ◽  
Beet Pulp ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACTFour groups of six cows were fed from 12 weeks before calving to achieve condition scores at calving of 3·15 (F) and 2·15 (T). For the first 20 weeks of lactation all cows were given 8 kg concentrate (13·93 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg dry matter (DM), 200 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM) which contained either a high or a low dietary concentration of undegradable dietary protein (UDP) (70 g/kg DM, H, and 49 g/kg DM, L) and 3 kg sugar-beet pulp. Hay was also offered ad libitum.There was no significant effect of treatment on milk yields over the first 20 weeks of lactation (overall mean yield 27·3 (s.e. 3·65) kg/day) but cows in group FL tended to produce less (P > 005). Milk composition was similar for all groups (48·8 (s.e. 5·12) g fat per kg, 27·2 (s.e. 1·48) g protein per kg and 49·0 (s.e. 2·52) g lactose per kg). DM intakes for groups FH, FL, TH and TL were 18·1, 16·9, 17·5 and 18·2 (s.e.d. 0·58) kg/day, respectively (TL v. FL, P < 0·05; FH v. FL, P < 0·05). Mean condition scores for groups FH, FL, TH and TL respectively, were 3·T7, 3·13, 2·21 and 2·08 (s.e.d. 0·18) at calving; 2·25, 2·50, 2·21 and 1·83 (s.e.d. 0·27) in week 10; and 2·46, 2·83, 2·46 and 1·96 (s.e.d. 0·35) in week 20, of lactation. Groups FH, FL, TH and TL lost proportionately 0·09, 0·02, 0·01 and 0·04 (s.e.d. 0·035) of their calving live weights, respectively, over 20 weeks of lactation.It is concluded that increasing the supply of UDP to cows which are fat at calving results in a greater negative energy balance and a small though non-significant increase in mobilization of body fat reserves. At the dietary ME and protein concentrations used, the thin cows could not respond to increased UDP supply and their intake was limited by physical restriction.

Herbage intake and performance of grazing ewes and of their lambs when weaned at 6, 8, 10 or 14 weeks of age

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
T. T. Treacher ◽  
V. S. Shanmugalingam
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Body Components ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACTTwin lambs grazing with their dams at herbage allowances of 30 or 60 gdry matter per kg live weight per day (low and high, respectively) were weaned at 6, 8, 10 or 14 weeks of age. After weaning, the lambs were given a herbage allowance of 160 g dry matter per kg live weight per day.Ewes on the low allowance ate less herbage, produced less milk and lost more weight than those on the high allowance. The lambs on the low allowance were lighter at weaning than those on the high allowance (137 v. 168, 16·2 v. 20·5, 17·9 v. 24·2 and 21·9 v. 30·4 kg at 6, 8, 10 and 14 weeks respectively).Lambs weaned from ewes on the low allowance grew more slowly than the unweaned lambs when removed at 6 weeks, but not when weaned at 8 and 10 weeks of age. Weaning lambs from ewes on the high allowance reduced their growth rates at all weaning ages, despite the weaned lambs being grazed at an allowance which would not limit their intake of herbage. The intake of herbage per unit live weight by weaned lambs reached its maximum at approximately 8 weeks of age. After weaning, intake was higher for lambs from ewes on the low allowance than for those on the high allowance (38 v. 33 g organic matter per kg live weight per day). Lambs slaughtered at 17 weeks of age were heavier from the high allowance than from the low allowance. However, after 17 weeks of age the remaining lambs from the low allowance grew more rapidly than those from the high allowance, and when slaughtered at 25 weeks of age had similar weights. Treatments had no effect on the weights of the body components or carcass dimensions independent of their effect on empty-body weights at slaughter.

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