scholarly journals Influence of diet and microbial activity in the digestive tract on digestibility, and nitrogen and energy metabolism in rats and pigs

1982 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. O. Eggum ◽  
Grete Thorbek ◽  
R. M. Beames ◽  
A. Chwalibog ◽  
S. Henckel

1. Balance trials with respiration measurements were performed with twelve rats and twelve pigs given either low- or high-crude-fibre diets. There were six collection periods with the rats over a live-weight range of 86–264 g and three collection periods with the pigs over a live-weight range of 30–55 kg. Measurements were made on the influence of microbial activity in the digestive tract on digestibility and nitrogen and energy metabolism. Dietary inclusion of the antibiotic Nebacitin was the method used to reduce the microbial population.2. The microbial activity in the hind-gut (μmol ATP/g air-dry contents) of antibiotic-treated rats was reduced to approximately one-tenth of that of untreated rats.3. Live-weight gain was not significantly affected in either species by a reduction in the microbial activity, in spite of a reduction in dry matter digestibility in animals with reduced microflora.4. For rats on low-crude-fibre diets, a reduction in microflora reduced digestibility of all nutrients and energy and metabolizability of digestible energy by approximately 5·4%. All differences were highly significant. On high-crude-fibre diets the decrease was approximately 5·9%. In pigs on both crude fibre levels, the digestibility was also influenced by the level of microflora, but the pattern was somewhat different from that obtained with rats, with the Nebacitin treatment increasing the digestibility of N slightly, and the digestibility of fat markedly.5. Retained N in rats reached a maximum when the rats were approximately 60 d old and thereafter decreased with increasing age. However, for pigs daily N retention increased with age. The retained N:digested N value decreased linearly with age in the rats, but varied little with age over the range (104–146 d) studied in the pigs.6. The metabolizability of gross energy (metabolizable energy (ME): gross energy) was significantly reduced with an increase in crude fibre level and by the addition of Nebacitin.7. Retained energy (RE) in relation to ME (RE:ME), was not significantly affected either by level of microbial activity or by crude fibre.8. The ratio, RE as fat (RF):RE as protein (RP) increased as the animals grew. In the rat experiment there was a tendency for RP to be higher for animals with normal microflora than for animals with reduced microflora for both crude fibre levels.9. With rats, the regression analyses indicated that the energy requirement for maintenance could be influenced by both the level of microbial activity in the digestive tract and by the level of fibre in the diet. The net availability of ME for maintenance and growth by rats averaged 0·72 for all treatments.10. The net availability of ME for growth in the pigs averaged 0·65 for all treatments.

1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Rao ◽  
K. J. McCracken

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted each using one batch of six Landrace littermate, entire male, pedigree pigs in a Latin-square change-over study of the effects of energy intake on nitrogen and energy metabolism over the range 33 to 88 kg live weight. One animal from each litter was slaughtered at 33 kg body weight to obtain initial body composition data. Five feeding levels (80, 100, 120, 140 and 160g/kg M0·63) were used during five consecutive metabolism trials each of 11-days duration, excreta being collected during the last 7 days. The pigs were housed in individual metabolism cages and the diets were offered in liquid form (approx. 300 g dry matter (DM) per kg) twice daily at 09.00 and 16.00 h. Heat production was measured for 1 day during each balance period in an open-circuit respiration chamber. The average daily gain, nitrogen retention, heat production and energy retention increased linearly (P < 0·001) with increasing metabolizable energy (ME) intake. The relationship between energy intake and protein deposition was linear up to levels above the normal ad libitum consumption of energy. Protein deposition potential of these high genetic potential pigs was at least 200 g/day, and tended to be constant between 35 and 85 kg live weight. From the combined results of experiments 1 and 2, the energy requirement for maintenance was 0·982 MJ ME per kg M0·63 per day and the decrease in protein deposition was approximately 6 g/MJ reduction in ME within the range of practical energy intakes.


1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. McCullough

SUMMARYComplete diets each containing (1) 0%, (2) 20%, (3) 40%, (4) 60% high-quality, (5) 20% and (6) 40% low-quality dried grass were given ad libitum to 48 British Friesian calves.The performance of the animals was studied over the stages of growth from 50 to 100 kg and 150 to 200 kg live weight. At each stage of growth the live-weight gain was similar on all treatments while the daily intake of dry matter was significantly affected by the treatments. Over the stage of growth from 50 to 100 kg live weight the intake of metabolizable energy was greatest on treatment 2 and lowest on treatment 4. The conversion ratio of metabolizable energy decreased with increasing levels and with both qualities of dried grass over the weight range 50 to 100 kg.When the calves reached 100 kg live weight, digestibility and N balance studies were carried out. The metabolizable energy (ME) expressed as a percentage of the gross energy decreased with increasing levels and with the lower quality of dried grass. Nitrogen retention was not significantly affected by treatment differences.The relationships of the voluntary intake of dry matter, ME intake and the conversion ratio of ME with the ME expressed as a percentage of gross energy over the lower live-weight range are also presented.


1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
A. W. Boyne

SUMMARYThe results of 80 calorimetric experiments with sheep and cattle, mostly conducted in Scotland, were analysed using a generalization of the Mitscherlich equation R = B(l–exp(–pG))–l, where R is daily energy retention and G daily gross energy intake, both scaled by dividing by the fasting metabolism. The relations between gross energy and metabolizable energy were also examined. Methods of fitting the Mitscherlich equation and the errors associated with it are presented.It is shown that the gross energy of the organic matter of feed can be estimated from proximate principles with an error of ±2·3% (coefficient of variation) and that provided different classes of feed are distinguished, the metabolizable energy of organic matter can be estimated from gross energy and crude fibre content with an error of ±6·9%. Parameters of the primary equation made with cattle agreed with those made with sheep and there was no evidence of non-proportionality of responses on substitution of feeds in mixtures.The efficiency of utilization of gross energy for maintenance and for body gain of energy was related to the metabolizability of gross energy and, in addition, to fibre or to protein content. Prediction equations are presented which describe these relationships.It is shown that the primary equation can be manipulated to express a number of biological concepts and that its two parameters B and p can be simply derived from estimates of the two efficiency terms for maintenance and production.The results are discussed in relation to the design of feeding systems for ruminant animals and to the derivation of optima in their feeding.


1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-722
Author(s):  
J. B. Moran

SUMMARYIndonesian Ongole and swamp buffalo bulls that had previously been given 0, 1·2, 2·4, 3·6 or 4·8 kg/head/day rice bran plus ad libitum elephant grass were slaughtered after 161 days feeding. Abdominal depot fat, full and empty reticulo-rumen and cold carcass weights were recorded. Various carcass variables were measured and the 9–10–11 rib joints were dissected into bone, muscle and fat. Carcass gross energy was calculated from rib-fat content using previously determined regression equations. Feed efficiency was expressed in terms of the ratios of live-weight gain or carcass-energy accretion to metabolizable energy available for growth.Increasing supplementation with rice bran resulted in larger abdominal fat depots, higher dressing percentages, increased carcass fatness (and hence carcass gross energy) and improved rib muscle to bone ratios. Carcass conformation was unaffected by dietary treatment. When feed efficiency was expressed per unit live-weight gain, there was a decrease with increasing rice-bran feeding. Feed efficiency, expressed per unit of carcass energy accretion, improved with rice-bran supplementation and was generally higher in buffalo than in Ongole bulls. Dietary and species differences in feed efficiency could be primarily explained by the differential energy cost of deposition of, and the availability of energy from, carcass protein and lipid.


1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen

AbstractTwo randomized-block experiments were carried out to examine the relative value of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle. In each experiment unwilted, formic acid-treated silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 500 g soya-bean meal and 50 g minerals and vitamins to 44 12-month-old bulls for 157 and 172 days in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. Twelve of the animals also received 2·5 kg rolled spring barley (LB), 12 received 4·0 kg barley (HB) and 20 received 3·25 kg rolled wheat (W). For experiments 1 and 2 respectively the barley contained 796 and 787 g dry matter (DM) per kg; 118 and 105 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM; 47 and 57 g crude fibre per kg DM; the wheat contained 845 and 800 g DM per kg; 112 and 116 g CP per kg DM; 23 and 25 g crude fibre per kg DM; and the silages contained 190 and 177 g DM per kg; 153 and 176 g CP per kg DM; 80 and 104 g ammonia-nitrogen per kg total nitrogen. On average over the two experiments, for treatments LB, HB and W respectively, silage DM intakes were 5·4, 4·7 (s.e. 0·14) and 4·9 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; total DM intakes 7·9, 8·3 (s.e. 0·14) and 8·1 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; metabolizable energy intakes 91·4, 97·8 and 94·2 MJ/day; live-weight gains 1·04,1·19 (s.e. 0·029) and 1·10 (s.e. 0·023) kg/day and carcass gams 0·65, 0·77 (s.e. 0·017) and 0·70 (s.e. 0·013) kg/day. It is concluded that the feeding value of wheat was proportionately 0·98 of that of barley for finishing beef cattle when given as a supplement to grass silage, and that the type of cereal offered did not affect silage intake or carcass composition.


1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (53) ◽  
pp. 610 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Nottle

In pen feeding trials with eight Merino wethers, digestion coefficients were estimated for rations of cereal chaff-wheat grain-oat grain mixture, and wheat grain and oat grain fed separately at two levels of intake. Digestion coefficients for wheat and oat grain fed at 675 g/day in a double crossover experiment were dry matter 89.4, 80.8 per cent, organic matter 90.1, 82.6 per cent, protein 82.3, 77.6 per cent, ether extract 84.1, 90.9 per cent, crude fibre 33.2, 59.9 per cent, nitrogen free extractives 93.2, 85.8 per cent, energy 88.1, 81.0 per cent, total digestible nutrients 91.6, 87.1 per cent, and starch equivalents 90.7, 85.7. When these grains were fed at 785 g/day there was about 10 per cent improvement in crude fibre digestibility for both grains and 1-2 per cent improvement for other estimations with oats but not with wheat. The gross energy content of the wheat and oat grains when fed at 675 g/day was 4407 and 4700 calories/g dry matter. The digestible energy of the wheat in calories/g dry matter and organic matter was 3869 � 30, 3933 � 30 and for oats 3791 � 59, 3910 � 61. When fed at 785 g/day these values for wheat were 3850 � 50,3911 � 51 and for oats 3796 � 34, 3913 � 51. A highly significant relationship was found between energy and dry matter digestibility which for wheat diets was Y = 1.074x 7.840. r = 0.993 (P<0.001), and for oats and the mixed diet of cereal chaff-oat grain-wheat grain, Y = 0.983x + 1.550. r = 0.996 (P<0.001) where Y = energy and X = dry matter digestibility and r = the coefficient of correlation. Because of the similar digestible energy content of, and the body weight gains of sheep on, these two grains it was concluded that under the present conditions these grains were equivalent weight for weight.


2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342
Author(s):  
R.C. Mulley ◽  
G.W. Asher ◽  
J.S. Flesh ◽  
K.T. O’Neill ◽  
J. Ferguson

AbstractEuropean (no. = 36) and hybrid (¼ Mesopotamian, ¾ European; no. = 36) fallow deer (Dama dama) were evaluated for weight gain and energy intake from 10 to 21 months of age. Twelve each of bucks, does and castrated males (haviers) were tested for each genotype, in both concentrate-fed and pasture-based feeding systems. Based on weekly weighing hybrids (H) in each of the sex classes grew more rapidly (5 g/day across all groups) than the European (E) fallow deer (P < 0·05). Haviers given concentrates grew significantly faster than pasture-fed haviers (P < 0·01), whilst does grown on pasture grew significantly faster than those given concentrates (P < 0·01). There was no significant difference in pattern of growth between bucks on pasture and those given concentrates (P > 0·05). Does grew significantly less (P < 0·01) than bucks and haviers in spring, summer and winter but environmental differences between years could not be accounted for in the analysis.Animals of all sexes and genotypes experienced rapid growth from 10 to 12 months of age (spring) and this was associated with energy intakes according to metabolic body weight (M0·75) these ranging between 0·8 and 1·1 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg M0·75 per day. There were significantly (P < 0·01) higher levels of energy consumed by H does and haviers in the summer, compared with their E counterparts but this was not associated with greater growth rates. However, H does had significantly higher (P < 0·01) dressing proportions at slaughter than E does. The energy intake on a metabolic body weight basis for most groups declined to between 0·7 and 0·8 MJ ME per kg M0·75 per day from 12 to 21 months of age, except for the does, which declined even further to between 0·5 and 0·6 MJ ME per kg M0·75 per day from 17 months of age.There were no significant differences between E and H deer for energy intakes per M0·75, and H deer were slightly more energy efficient than their E counterparts in terms of growth rate in relation to annual gross energy intake. The food intake : weight gain ratio increased considerably for both genotypes after 14 months of age, indicating the desirability for slaughtering as soon as animals reach the target live weight. It was concluded that the crossbreeding system described is production efficient and produced offspring that reached slaughter weight sooner than E fallow deer and thereby produced carcasses with a greater wholesale value than their E counterparts of the same age.


1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham N McC

The nitrogen metabolism of five non-pregnant ewes and 16 pregnant ewes was studied. The aim was to examine the effects of pregnancy on the response to severe undernutrition. Some measurements of energy metabolism and blood composition were also made. Pregnant ewes excreted less urea nitrogen in the urine than did non-pregnant ewes when they were all well fed. When food intake was reduced by 75%, excretion by the non-pregnant ewes declined, whereas excretion by the pregnant ewes declined less or increased. After 5 days on the lower ration, pregnant ewes excreted up to 9 g more urea nitrogen daily than did non-pregnant ewes. Urea clearance was constant throughout and was 30–40% of creatinine clearance. Undernutrition caused hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia in the pregnant ewes only but there were no clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia. The heat production of pregnant ewes declined when their ration was reduced. The estimated heat increment of pregnancy was greater with the reduced ration than with the large ration and it is suggested that this change represented the energy cost of gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis from protein. The gross energy content of protein apparently oxidized was estimated to be about 20% of the energy requirement of the foetus. The effects of pregnancy on nitrogen and energy metabolism and on response to undernutrition were approximately proportional to the birth weight of the lamb, and were smaller 7 weeks before lambing than 2 weeks before lambing.


1973 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Burlacu ◽  
G. Băia ◽  
Dumitra Ionilă ◽  
Doina Moisa ◽  
V. Taṣcenco ◽  
...  

SummaryThe efficiency of utilization of the energy of food by weaned pigs of the Large White breed was measured. Three diets based on maize (40–60%) had a metabolizable energy of 75·8±1·2% of the gross energy, and 78·2 ±3·4% of the metabolizable energy was present as net energy.The maintenance requirement of metabolizable energy of pigs weighing 14·3 ± 2·1 kg was 143·6 kcal/kg°0·75/24 h (601 kJ/kg0·75/24 h).The energy cost per g protein and fat synthesized by piglets was estimated to be 7·43 and 12·05 kcal (31·1 and 50·4 kJ) metabolizable energy, respectively.Equations for calculation of metabolizable energy (Yl, kcal) and of the net energy (Y2, kcal), based on digested nutrients, were:Y1 = 4·64×1 + 9·12×2 + 4·25×3'CV = ± 1·2%,Y2 = 3·84×1 + 7·09×2 + 3·28×3'CV = ± 1·4%,where X1 = g protein digested, X2 = g fat digested, X3= g carbohydrate digested (crude fibre × N-free extracts).


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-316
Author(s):  
O. O. Olufayo ◽  
O. O. Falola

The effect of processing on proximate, mineral, anti-nutritional compositions, gasproduction characteristics, methane production, predicted metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and short chain fatty acids production of Delonix regia seeds incubated with Pennisetum purpureum were determined. Five treatments (T1: mixture of soaked Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum; T2: mixture of raw Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum; T3: mixture of roasted Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum; T4: mixture of boiled Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum and T5:100% Pennisetum purpureum which serves as control) were designed. In vitro gas production techniques for 24 hours were used to determine the nutritive value of processed 50% Delonix regia seed and 50% Pennisetum purpureum. The crude protein ranged from 13.38 to 15.71g/100g DM among the treatments while crude fibre was between 20.10 and 21.40g/100g DM, ether extract ranged from 1.90 to 3.12g/100g DM and ash 7.77 to 12.34g/100g DM. Calcium ranged from (2.34 - 3.61%), magnesium ranged (2.90 – 3.48%), sodium (2.05 – 2.91%) and phosphorus (0.88 – 1.12%). It was observed generally that T2 recorded the highest among the treatments while the values obtained for the heat treated seeds were lower than the raw. Oxalates ranged between (0.23% - 0.32%), phytates (0.29 – 0.43%), tannin (0.03 – 0.08%) and saponnin (0.36 – 0.49%). Methane (ml/200mg DM) production indicated T3 (50% roasted Delonix regia seed and 50% Pennisetum purpureum) was highest. The potential gas production 'a+b' ranged from 12.33 to 28.33mL/200mg DM). The highest potential gas production 'a+b' value of 28.33mL/200mg DM was obtained in T1 compared to other dietary treatment. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) ranged between 70.23 – 91.02% while the rate of fermentation was between 0.51 and 1.18ml/hr. The rate of fermentation was directly proportional to dry matter digestibility (DMD); the soaked recorded the highest value. Processing enhanced the nutritional contents of Delonix regia seeds. The result obtained showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatments. In conclusion, soaking the seeds of Delonix regia had beter nutritional contents and has the potential for dry season feeding.  


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