scholarly journals Influence of hay feeding method, supplement moisture or access time on intake and waste by beef cows

Author(s):  
J P Jaderborg ◽  
S L Bird ◽  
G I Crawford ◽  
R S Walker ◽  
A DiCostanzo

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine effects of feeding method and hay processing (Experiment 1), energy supplement moisture content and feeding method (Experiment 2), and access time to hay (Experiment 3) on cow body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI) and hay or energy supplement intake and waste. Experiment 1 was designed as a 4 x 4 Latin Square using 48 multiparous, late-gestating, Angus cows (626 kg initial BW). Cows were stratified by age and BW into four treatment groups (n = 12 cows/group); treatment groups were then initially assigned randomly to treatments in a sequence of preset Latin Square periods. In Experiment 1, round bales were processed and delivered on the pen surface or in a bunk, or left unprocessed and delivered in a hay ring or rolled out on the pen surface. Experiment 2 was designed as a 6 x 6 Latin Square utilizing 54 multiparous, late-gestating, Angus cows (616 kg initial BW). Cows were stratified by age and BW into treatment groups (n = 9 cows/group); treatment groups were then initially assigned randomly to treatments in a sequence of preset Latin Square periods. In Experiment 2, corn screenings (CS) or wet beet pulp (BP) were fed in a structure (inverted tire or bunk) or BP only on the pen surface. Experiment 3 was designed as a replicated 3 x 3 Latin Square utilizing 24 multiparous, late-gestating, Angus cows (584 kg initial BW). Cows were stratified by age and BW into treatment groups (n = 8 cows/group); treatment groups were then initially assigned randomly to treatments in a sequence of preset Latin Square periods. In Experiment 3, cows were permitted access to round-bales in a hay ring for 6, 14, or 24 h. In Experiment 1, hay DMI was not affected (P ≥ 0.579). Hay waste was greater (P ≤ 0.007) when hay, processed or not, was fed on the pen surface. In Experiment 2, hay DMI was greatest (P ≤ 0.011) for cows fed no supplement and those fed CS in a bunk. Feeding BP in a bunk led to the greatest (P ≤ 0.003) hay waste. In Experiment 3, cows permitted 6-h access consumed and wasted less (P < 0.001) hay compared with those permitted longer access; BW was unaffected (P ≥ 0.870). In these experiments, cows fed hay on the pen surface, processed or not, achieved similar DMI as those fed in a ring or bunk, but wasted more hay. Delivering BP in a bunk or on the pen surface increased hay and supplement waste, respectively. Controlling access to hay reduced DMI and waste while maintaining cow BW.

Author(s):  
A J Sexten ◽  
M F Moore ◽  
C P McMurphy ◽  
G L Mourer ◽  
S K Linneen ◽  
...  

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeder design on hay intake, apparent diet digestibility, and hay waste in gestating beef cows. Native tallgrass prairie hay and a protein supplement was fed throughout both experiments. In Exp. 1, 56 crossbred cows were used in a Latin square arrangement. Feeder design treatments included a conventional open bottom steel ring (OBSR), an open bottom polyethylene pipe ring (POLY); a sheeted bottom steel ring (RING), and a sheeted bottom steel ring with a basket (BASK). Cows were weighed and allotted based on BW to one of four previously grazed 2.0 ha paddocks equipped with a concrete feeding pad. Fourteen cows were assigned to each paddock and three round bales were fed consecutively within each treatment period. The cows acclimated to the feeders while the first bale was being consumed. Subsequently, hay waste data was collected while the 2 nd and 3 rd bale within each period were being consumed. Waste was measured for each bale at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after each bale was introduced into the pen. Hay waste was significantly affected by hay feeder design with 19.7, 21.1, 12.4, and 5.5% of original bale weight wasted for OBSR, POLY, RING and BASK, respectively (P < 0.01). There was a feeder design x day interaction (P < 0.01) with greater waste when the bale was first introduced into the pen in OBSR, POLY, and RING feeders and gradually declining thereafter, while waste from the BASK feeder was consistently low. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) for cows eating from OBSR feeders to consume less hay than cows eating from RING feeders. Feeder design did not influence apparent diet digestibility (P = 0.46). In Exp. 2, sixty-four crossbred cows (BW = 590 ± 59 kg) were used to determine waste, forage intake and apparent diet digestibility when hay was fed from a sheeted bottom steel ring (RING) or a RING feeder with a cone insert (CONE). More hay was wasted when cows were fed from RING feeders compared to CONE feeders (11.9% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.01). Feeder design had no effect on DMI or apparent digestibility (P > 0.45). Hay savings from adopting a more conservative feeder design can have a dramatic influence on hay utilization by beef cows and thus on cost of production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 116-116
Author(s):  
Emma T Helm ◽  
Susanne J Lin ◽  
Nicholas Gabler ◽  
Eric R Burrough

Abstract Swine dysentery (SD) induced by Brachyspira hyodysentariae (Bhyo) causes colitis and mucohemorrhagic diarrhea in grow-finish pigs, however little is known about the physiological changes that occur to the gastrointestinal tract during Bhyo infection. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a Bhyo challenge on intestinal function and integrity of pigs fed two divergent diets. A total of 36 Bhyo negative gilts (24.3 ± 3.6 kg BW) were selected and assigned to one of three treatment groups (n=12 pigs/trt): 1) Bhyo negative, 20% DDGS diet (CON), 2) Bhyo challenged, 20% DDGS diet (DDGS), and 3) Bhyo challenged, 10% DDGS, 5% beet pulp and 5% resistant potato starch diet (RS). Pigs were fed diets 21 days prior to challenge and on days post inoculation (dpi) 0 and 1, pigs were inoculated with Bhyo or sham. Fecal samples were collected for ATTD and pigs were euthanized for colon collection within 72 hours of initial observation of clinical SD, or at the end of the study (dpi 10-16). Tissues were assessed for ex vivo measures of intestinal integrity and mitochondrial function. The challenge resulted in high morbidity, with 88% of DDGS and RS pigs developing clinical SD. Colon transepithelial resistance was increased in DDGS pigs compared with CON and RS pigs (P=0.005), and colon macromolecule permeability was reduced in both DDGS and RS pigs compared with CON pigs (P=0.006), likely due to mucoid discharge. Colonic mitochondrial oxygen consumption was not impacted by treatment (P >0.10). Further, ATTD of DM, OM, N, and GE were reduced in DDGS pigs compared with CON pigs (P< 0.001), whilst nutrient digestibility was not reduced in RS pigs. Taken together, these data show Bhyo does not appear to reduce ex vivo colonic integrity. Further, the RS diet may reduce severity of a Bhyo challenge.


1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Slayden ◽  
J. E. Oldfield ◽  
F. Stormshak

ABSTRACTAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary cimaterol, a β-adrenergic agonist, on growth, carcass characteristics and pelt quality of kit mink. The 40 standard dark and 40 sapphire mink kits were assigned to a control or to one of three treatment groups (five males and five females of each colour phase per group). Treatment consisted of the inclusion of 0·5, 2 and 5 mg cimaterol per kg (dry) of a standard ranch mink diet (control). All animals were weighed at the initiation of the experiment (24 July) and at 28-day intervals until 16 October. At slaughter (12 December) body weights were recorded and pelts measured for length and evaluated for fur colour and quality by experienced fur graders. Samples of fur from similar sites on each animal were removed for measurement of guard hair and underfur diameter. Frozen carcasses were analysed for protein and fat content. Mink final weight decreased with increasing concentrations of dietary cimaterol (P < 0·05). Pelt length, which was found to be highly correlated with body size, was also reduced by cimaterol treatment. Feeding 2 and 5 mg cimaterol per kg diet to male kits, and 5 mg/kg to female kits caused a significant reduction in the proportion of carcass fat and increased the proportion of carcass protein (P < 0·05). Fur fibre diameter for both guard hair and underfur was not significantly affected by dietary cimaterol. There was also no significant effect of cimaterol treatment on fur quality. Cimaterol treatment did not result in diversion of nutrients from body proteins to the synthesis of fur and pelt proteins. Results of this research indicate that oral administration of cimaterol to mink will be of little practical value in fur production.


1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Jennings ◽  
W. Holmes

SummaryTwo experiments were conducted with milking cows on continuously stocked perennial ryegrass pastures. In each a control group, T0, received 1 kg/day of a concentrate supplement and treatment groups T1 and T2 received 4 kg (Expt 1) or 5 kg/day (Expt 2) of a low quality T1 or a high quality T2 concentrate. In Expt 1 treatments were applied continuously for 14 weeks to a total of 30 cows. In Expt 2 a Latin square design for 9 weeks was conducted with 18 cows. The stocking rate of the pasture declined from 9·6 to 5·1 cows per ha (mean 6·7 cows/ha) from May to August (Expt 1) and was maintained at 3 cows/ha in August-October (Expt 2).Supplements increased total intakes by 0·92 and 0·77 kg organic matter (OM)/kg OM supplied in the concentrates respectively for Expts 1 and 2. Milk yields increased by 0·6 and 0·5 kg/kg concentrate supplied and supplemented cows showed small increases in live weight. Differences in lactation milk yield just approached significance. Grazing times were only slightly reduced by supplements and bite sizes were lower than normal. There was no important difference in animal performance between the two concentrates. The total output from the pasture was 19·6t milk and 115 GJ of utilized metabolizable energy per hectare.Reasons for the high supplementary effect of the concentrates and its implications for stocking rates are discussed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 228 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota A. Zieba ◽  
Marcel Amstalden ◽  
Marlon N. Maciel ◽  
Duane H. Keisler ◽  
Nina Raver ◽  
...  

We have shown recently that fasting permits leptin to modulate both luteinizing hormone (LH) and insulin secretion in cows. In rodents, leptin causes divergent effects on LH and insulin release that are dose dependent. To test the hypothesis that leptin effects on LH and insulin secretion in fasted cows are dose related, we examined the effects of various doses of recombinant ovine leptin (oleptin) in mature cows. Twenty ovariectomized beef cows, each bearing an estradiol implant to maintain basal estradiol concentrations, were used. All cows were fasted for 60 hr with free access to water and were assigned randomly to one of four groups (n = 5/group): 1) saline control; 2) leptin, 0.2 μg/kg; 3) leptin, 2.0 μg/kg; and 4) leptin, 20 μg/kg body wt. Blood samples were collected at 10-min intervals for 6 hr on Days 0 and 2, with saline or oleptin injected intravenously immediately after the first intensive sample on Day 2 (54 hr). Leptin caused a dose-related increase (P < 0.001) in mean concentrations of circulating LH. Stimulation of LH release by leptin was significant at the lowest (141% of control) and middle (122% of control) doses used, but no increase was observed for the highest dose. Increased mean concentrations of LH appeared to result from an augmentation of basal secretion, as pulse characteristics were not affected. After 54 hr of fasting, plasma insulin concentrations were lowered (P < 0.01) in all treatment groups compared to Day 0. After leptin injections, plasma insulin concentrations increased (P < 0.01) and reached highest concentrations during the first hour of sampling. However, this increase was sustained for several hours only in the intermediate (2.0 μg/kg) dose group. Collectively, our results show that leptin has potent positive effects on both LH and insulin secretion in fasted cows, but the anterior pituitary and endocrine pancreas appear to become downregulated in the presence of excess ligand.


Author(s):  
M. G. Keane ◽  
M. J. Drennan

The national cow herd consists of 1.64m dairy and 0.43m beef cows. They produce a total of 1.76m reared calves annually. Of these 0.42m heifers go as herd replacements, leaving 0.46m heifers and 0.88m males available for beef production. There is a 2:l ratio of males to femaies in the population of calves available for beef production. Also, there are few straightbred dairy heifer calves available and the mean birth date of heifer calves for beef production is later than that cf males. The objectives of the present experiment were (i) to compare the performance and carcass composition of non-implanted and implanted heifers and steers and (ii) to compare the carcass composition of serially slaughtered non-implanted and implanted heifers.Sixty tour (48 female and 16 male) Spring born Hereford x Friesian calves (initial live-weight 45 kg) were purchased and reared on milk replacer and concentrates. After 81 days they were blocked on weight and assigned from within sex type to 8 treatment groups.


Author(s):  
M. Castejon ◽  
J.D. Leaver

The use of whole-crop wheat harvested at the hard dough (55-65% DM) stage has advantages of high yields of DM, and no effluent production. Treatment with urea prior to storage prevents fermentation or moulding, increases the nitrogen (N) content and may increase digestibility (Deschard et al, 1987; MacDearmid et al, 1988).The objective of this experiment was to investigate the intake and digestibility of urea-treated whole-crop wheat when fed alone, or when supplemented with an energy supplement (molassed sugar beet pulp) and a protein supplement (fish meal).


2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.Le Goff ◽  
J. van Milgen ◽  
J. Noblet

AbstractFour experimental diets differing in the level and the origin of dietary fibre (DF) were studied: a control, low DF diet (diet C, 100 g total dietary fibre (TDF) per kg dry matter (DM)) and three fibre-rich diets (200 g TDF per kg DM) which corresponded to a combination of diet C and maize bran (diet MB), or wheat bran (diet WB), or sugar-beet pulp (diet SBP). During two successive experimental periods, each diet was offered to five pigs at a growing stage (35 kg body weight (BW)) and at a finishing stage (75 kg BW). In addition, four adult ovariectomized sows received successively one of the four diets according to a 4 ✕ 4 Latin-square design. Digestive utilization of energy and nutrients of diets and rate of passage parameters were determined using a pulse dose of ytterbium oxide followed by total faecal collection. Faecal marker excretion was quantified using an age-dependent, one-compartment model, from which the mean retention time in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs (MRT) was obtained. The digestibility of dietary energy and nutrients, especially the DF fraction, increased with the increase in BW from growing to finishing pigs (P < 0.01) and was still higher in adult sows; the difference between pig stages was more pronounced for diet MB. At each stage, the digestibility of energy or nutrients was lower (P < 0.01) for diets MB or WB than for diet SBP. Accordingly, the energy and DF digestibility of sugar-beet pulp was higher and increased much less with BW. The MRT was shorter for diets MB and WB in growing pigs and in sows. Sows had a longer MRT (81 h) than finishing pigs (37 h) and growing pigs (33 h); however, MRT was highly variable between sows. It is concluded that the degree to which different types of DF are digested depends, in part, on the botanical origin, and it may be improved by a longer MRT in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Some fibrous foodstuffs (such as maize-by products) will benefit more from a longer MRT than others.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 729-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. S. Moore-Colyer ◽  
J. J. Hyslop ◽  
A. C. Longland ◽  
D. Cuddeford

Anin saccomobile bag technique was used to determine the rate and extent of disappearance of unmolassed sugar-beet pulp, soyabean hulls, hay cubes and an oat hull–naked oats mixture (67:33, w/w) in the foregut and total digestive tract of ponies. Ponies were administered naso-gastrically polyester mesh bags (60×10×10 mm) containing 350 mg feed, in a 3×4 Latin square design. Bags were collected at the ileo-caecal junction (small intestine bag, SIB) and in the faeces (faecal bag, FB) and their residues analysed for proximate constituents and NSP composition and content. DM disappearances from individual bags were fitted to degradation profiles () and effective degradability values determined. Significant differences (P<0·05) in DM, organic matter and crude protein (N×6·25) losses from SIB were noted between feeds with hay cubes and oat hulls–naked oats > sugar-beet pulp and soyabean hulls. Acid-detergent fibre, neutral-detergent fibre and NSP disappearances were small and varied little between feeds. In contrast, FB losses showed significant (P<0·05) differences for all constituents measured with sugar-beet pulp > soyabean hulls > hay cubes > oat hulls–naked oats. Crude protein losses from sugar-beet pulp and soyabean hulls in FB were significantly higher (P<0·05) than from SIB. FB degradation curves showed degradation to be affected by bag residence time with sugar-beet pulp > soyabean hulls and the effective degradability showed that significantly more (P<0·05) sugar-beet pulp was lost at 40.0 and 60.0 h than for the other three feeds. These results show that sugar-beet pulp and soyabean hulls are rapidly degraded by ponies and could be used as alternatives to hay in equid rations. However, the foregut availability of crude protein from sugar-beet pulp is poor, so a readily digestible source of crude protein should be offered to animals with high protein demands when diets are based on sugar-beet pulp.


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