Effect of replacing barley silage with calcium oxide-treated barley straw on rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota, nutrient digestibility and growth performance of finishing beef cattle.

Author(s):  
Katelyn R Stehr ◽  
Stephanie A. Terry ◽  
Gabriel de Oliveira Ribeiro ◽  
Robert Gruninger ◽  
Gregory B. Penner ◽  
...  

Effect of calcium oxide (CaO) treatment of barley straw and salt on rumen fermentation, microbiota, digestibility, growth and carcass quality of cattle was assessed. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square metabolism experiment was conducted using 8 heifers fed a wheat finishing diet with barley silage (B-SIL), barley straw (B-S), or 5.0% CaO-treated barley straw (CaOS) with or without NaCl (CaOS-NS). Growth over 115-d was assessed using 75 individually housed steers fed the above diets and an additional diet (I-CaOS), where CaO was added to straw just before feeding. There was no effect (P ≥ 0.08) of diet on rumen fermentation, digestibility or carcass quality, although CaO decreased (P < 0.001) maximum pH and retained Na was decreased (P < 0.05) by CaOS-NS. Rumen bacterial abundance was altered (P ≤ 0.05) by diet. The average daily gain (ADG) of B-SIL and CaOS-NS steers was 14.1% greater (P ≤ 0.05) than BS and CaOS steers, while the gain:feed of CaOS-NS steers was 14.2% greater (P ≤ 0.05) than B-S and CaOS steers. Steers fed I-CaO had similar ADG and gain:feed to other treatments. CaO-treated straw without NaCl could replace barley silage in wheat diets, without compromising digestibility or growth in steers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 82-83
Author(s):  
Stephanie Terry ◽  
Gabriel Ribeiro ◽  
Robert Gruninger ◽  
Alex Chaves ◽  
Karen Beauchemin ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the effect of engineered biocarbon (EB) on rumen fermentation, apparent total tract digestibility, methane (CH4) emissions and the rumen and fecal microbiome of Angus × Hereford heifers fed a barley silage-based diet. The experiment was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square using 8 ruminally cannulated heifers (565 ± 35 kg initial BW). The basal diet contained 60% barley silage, 35% barley grain and 5% mineral supplement with EB added at 0% (control), 0.5%, 1.0%, or 2.0% (DM basis). Each period was 28-d consisting of 14-d adaptation and 14-d of measurements. Samples for profiling of the microbiome in rumen liquid, solids and feces were collected on d-15 before feeding. Rumen samples for fermentation characterization were taken at 0, 3, 6, and 12-h post feeding. Total collection of urine and feces was conducted from d-18 to 22. Heifers were housed in open-circuit respiratory chambers on d-26 to 28 to estimate CH4 emissions. Ruminal pH was recorded at 1-min intervals during CH4 measurements using indwelling pH loggers. Data were analyzed with the fixed effects of dietary treatment and random effects of square, heifer within square and period. Dry matter intake was similar across treatments (P = 0.21). NH3-N concentration and protozoa counts responded quadratically (P = 0.01) to EB. Minimum pH was increased (P = 0.04), and variation of pH was decreased (P = 0.03) by 2.0% EB. Total tract digestibility, N balance and CH4 production were not affected (P ≥ 0.17) by EB. EB affected the relative abundance of Fibrobacter (P = 0.05), Spirochaetaes (P = 0.01), Verrucomicrobia (P = 0.02), Tenericutes (P = 0.01), and Elusimicrobia (P = 0.02). Results suggest that at the examined concentrations, EB was ineffective at decreasing enteric CH4 emissions, however it altered the rumen microbiome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (5) ◽  
pp. 456-468
Author(s):  
V. N. Gouvêa ◽  
M. A. P. Meschiatti ◽  
J. M. M. Moraes ◽  
C. D. A. Batalha ◽  
J. R. R. Dórea ◽  
...  

AbstractThe current study evaluated growth performance and digestion responses of finishing bulls fed diets containing 825 g/kg flint maize [dry matter (DM) basis] ground to medium (1.66 mm; MG) or coarse particle sizes (2.12 mm; CG), with added monensin (26 mg/kg; DM basis; MON) or a blend of essential oils (BEO) + exogenous α-amylase (AM; 90 mg/kg + 560 mg/kg commercial product, respectively, DM basis). In Expt 1, 256 Nellore bulls were blocked by initial body weight (BW) (360 ± 11.7 kg) and assigned to 48 pens in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Effect of a maize particle size × feed additive interaction was not detected for final BW, DM intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency. The DMI was greater for bulls fed BEO + AM v. MON. Final BW and ADG tended to be greater for bulls fed CG than MG maize. An interaction was detected for hot carcass weight which was 11 kg heavier for bulls fed BEO + AM v. MON in diets containing CG, but not MG particle size. In Expt 2, four ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were offered the same treatments as Expt 1, in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Intake of most nutrients was greater for steers fed CG than steers fed MG maize. In summary, feeding bulls CG maize increased growth performance and carcass characteristics compared with MG. The combination of BEO + AM resulted in heavier carcass weights compared with MON supplementation when included in diets containing CG maize.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haibo Wang ◽  
Hang Li ◽  
Fei Wu ◽  
Xinjun Qiu ◽  
Zhantao Yu ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary energy levels on growth performance, rumen fermentation and bacterial community, and meat quality of Holstein-Friesians bulls slaughtered at different ages. Thirty-six Holstein-Friesians bulls (17 months of age) were divided into a 3 × 3 factorial experiment with three energy levels (LE, ME and HE; metabolizable energy is 10.12, 10.90 and 11.68 MJ/kg, respectively) of diets, and three slaughter ages (20, 23 and 26 months). Results indicated that bulls fed with ME and HE diets had higher dry matter intake, average daily gain, and dressing percentage at 23 or 26 months of age. The ME and HE diets also reduced bacterial diversity, altered relative abundances of bacteria and produced lower concentrations of acetate, but higher butyrate and valerate concentrations in rumen fluid. Increasing in dietary energy and slaughter age increased the intramuscular fat (IMF) and water holding capacity. In summary, Holstein-Friesians bulls fed with ME and HE diets, slaughtered at 23 and 26 months of age could be a good choice to produce beef with high IMF. Slaughter age may have less influence than dietary energy in altering fermentation by increasing amylolytic bacteria and decreasing cellulolytic bacteria, and thus, further affecting meat quality.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1158-1164
Author(s):  
Anuthida Seankamsorn ◽  
Anusorn Cherdthong ◽  
Sarong So ◽  
Metha Wanapat

Background and Aim: Crude glycerin is changed to propionate in the rumen, while chitosan can be used as a feed supplement to increase propionic acid concentration and decrease methane (CH4) production. We hypothesized that supplementation with a combination of a high level of crude glycerin with chitosan could have a beneficial effect on ruminal fermentation and mitigate CH4 production. This study aimed to explore the combined effects of crude glycerin and chitosan supplementation on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and CH4 calculation in native Thai bulls. Materials and Methods: Four 2-year-old native Thai bulls, weighing 150±20 kg, were kept in a 2×2 factorial arrangement in a 4×4 Latin square design. Factor A represented the incorporation of crude glycerin at 10.5% and 21% of the dry matter (DM) of a total mixed ration (TMR), and factor B represented the supplementation of chitosan at 1% and 2% DM of a TMR. Results: Increasing levels of crude glycerin at 21% decreased DM intake by 0.62 kg/day compared with 10.5% crude glycerin (p<0.05), whereas nutrient digestibility did not change (p>0.05). The incorporated crude glycerin and supplemented chitosan levels did not affect the pH, temperature, concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen, microbial population, and blood urea nitrogen (p>0.05). Supplemented chitosan and incorporated crude glycerin did not show any interaction effects on the molar portions and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs), except estimated CH4. Increasing the incorporated crude glycerin levels increased propionate and decreased the ratio of acetate to propionate ratio, whereas levels of butyrate, acetate, and total VFAs were unchanged. The combination of crude glycerin at 21% in the TMR with chitosan at 2% reduced CH4 estimation by 5.08% compared with the other feed treatment. Conclusion: Increasing incorporated crude glycerin levels in a TMR significantly elevated the propionate concentration, whereas combining 21% crude glycerin in the TMR diet with 2% chitosan supplementation could depress CH4 estimation more effectively than adding one of these supplements alone.


Author(s):  
N. Suphrap ◽  
C. Wachirapakorn ◽  
C. Thamrongyoswittayakul and C. Wongnen

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vegetable oil and yeast fermented cassava pulp (YFCP) supplementation on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation in Thai Friesian dairy cows (Thai native x Holstein Friesian). Eight Thai Friesian dairy cows (447±44 kg.BW) were assigned to 4×4 double latin square design (DLSD) with two sources of oil i.e. palm oil (PO) or soybean oil (SBO) and four levels of YFCP (0, 5, 10 and 20%DM) in the dietary treatments. All cows received total mixed ration (TMR) comprised of rice straw to concentrate at a ratio of 40:60. The results showed that supplementation of SBO had lowered feed intake, nutrients digestibility, metabolize energy intake (MEI), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and methane emission than PO treatment. However, cows received SBO had greater total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), propionic acid (C3), butyric acid (C4) than cows received on PO (P less than 0.05). In addition, supplementation of YFCP at 10%DM in the diet as an optimum level in dairy cow diets (P greater than 0.05). Finally, the interaction between the addition of SBO and YFCP at 10%DM (SBO+YFCP) had a positive effect on enhancing ether extract intake (EEI) in dairy cows.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Yanju Bi ◽  
Peng Zhao ◽  
Hanqing Sun ◽  
...  

In order to investigate the effect of gentle handling on the behavior, performance, and meat quality of pigs from weaning to slaughter, 144 6-week-old weaned hybrid Min piglets (a native breed) were selected and divided into a handling group (HG: 9 pens × 8 pigs) and a control group (CG: 9 pens × 8 pigs). After 6 weeks of handling, we observed and then evaluated the pigs’ responses to a handler with behavioral scores. Moreover, we measured heart rate and production performance. Three pigs were randomly selected from each of the 18 pens and divided into a handling group (HG: n = 27) and a control group (CG: n = 27), and the HG pigs were given gentle handling until slaughter. Subsequently, we evaluated meat quality and the production performance of six pigs from each group. The results show that AA test (approaching–avoidance test) scores in HG pigs, the number of contacts with the handler and absence of contact with the handler, were significantly higher than in the CG pigs (p < 0.01). The occurrences of avoidance and looking at the handler were lower in the HG than in the CG group (p < 0.01); however, heart rate was not found to be significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.63). No significant difference was found in the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio between the two groups during the two periods (p > 0.05). The b* value was determined 45 min after slaughter, and it was significantly lower in the HG than that in the CG group (p = 0.002). Furthermore, 2 h after slaughter, the L value of the HG group was significantly higher than that of the CG group (p = 0.047), but no difference was observed in carcass quality or other meat quality indicators between the two groups (p > 0.05). The results indicate that gentle handling could reduce pigs’ anxiety and increase their willingness to approach the handler, increasing the intimacy of the pigs and handlers. However, long-term gentle handling had little effect on pig performance, carcass quality, and meat quality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Xiang Ao ◽  
Yan Lei ◽  
In Ho Kim

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of different flavors (apple and anise) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and carcass quality in growing–finishing pigs. A total of 96 growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 28.2 ± 0.7 kg were randomly assigned to one of the following three treatments: (1) CON, basal diet; (2) APF, basal diet + 0.05% apple flavor; (3) ANF, basal diet + 0.05% anise flavor, according to their BW and sex in this 15 wk experiment. There were eight replications (pens) per treatment and four pigs per pen (two barrows and two gilts). During week 0–5, pigs fed ANF diets had greater (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake than those fed CON and APF diets. Dietary ANF treatment increased (p < 0.05) ADG during 0–15 wk compared with CON treatment. At the end of 5 wk, the apparent total tract digestibility of nitrogen in ANF treatment was improved (p < 0.05) compared with that in CON treatment. Dietary treatments did not affect the studied traits of carcass and meat quality. The inclusion of anise flavor increased ADG, but apple flavor had no effect on growth performance in growing–finishing pigs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e06SC01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Lashkari ◽  
Akbar Taghizadeh ◽  
Hamid Paya ◽  
Søren K. Jensen

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with orange pulp (OP) on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of fattening lambs. Twenty male lambs were placed in individual pens and fed with four levels of replacement of corn by OP (0, 33, 66, 100%) during 60 days. Average daily gain (ADG) showed a quadratic effect (p<0.007) with the increasing levels of replacement. Inclusion of 33 and 66% of OP in the diet significantly increased dry matter intake (DMI) compared to control group (p<0.01). Ruminal ammonia-N concentration showed a linear decrease (p<0.002). Ruminal fluid pH increased linearly with the increasing replacement of corn by OP (p<0.001). Acetate concentration showed a linear increase (p<0.001). Plasma total protein showed a linear increase (p<0.002). Organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber showed a quadratic effect with the level of replacement. The results of the present study showed that replacement of corn by OP improves DMI of fattening lambs, leading to an enhancement in ADG at the replacement level of 40.3%. Also, total replacement of corn by OP did not have any adverse effect on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters.


Author(s):  
B.D. Sutherland ◽  
J.A. Johnson ◽  
J.J. McKinnon ◽  
T.A. McAllister ◽  
G.B. Penner

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding barley silage (BS) or corn silage (CS) with dry-rolled barley (BG), dry-rolled corn (CG), or a blend of barley and corn grain (BCG), on growth performance and nutrient digestibility, the latter predicted using near-infrared spectroscopy for backgrounding cattle. Steers (n = 288) were stratified by body weight (BW) into 24 pens and pens were randomly assigned to one of six treatments (n = 4) in a 2 × 3 factorial design. Main factors included BS or CS in combination with BG, CG, or BCG. There were no silage × grain interactions. Dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.018) and final BW (P = 0.004) were greater for steers fed CS than BS, but average daily gain (1.01 kg d−1) and gain-to-feed ratio (0.10 kg kg−1) were not affected by silage or grain source. Steers fed CS also had greater dry matter, organic matter, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), starch, and gross energy digestibility values (P < 0.01) than BS. Feeding BG increased starch, neutral detergent fiber, ADF, and CP digestibility values (P ≤ 0.01) over CG and BCG. Relative to BS, feeding CS increased DMI, final BW, and nutrient digestibility, whereas dry-rolled BG improved nutrient digestibility when compared with CG and BCG in backgrounding diets.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 83-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Browne ◽  
M.J. Bryant ◽  
D.E. Beever

Crop maturity at harvest affects the intake potential of maize silage. A short feeding trial with young beef heifers (Browne, Bryant, Beever and Thorp, 1998) identified a significant depression in intake when low DM silage was fed, yet no significant effect on live weight gain was recorded. The objective of this experiment was to determine if these results were repeated in a longer intake study using finishing beef cattle and to examine the effect of maize maturity on carcass quality.Forage maize was harvested at three stages of maturity (LOW, MED and HIGH) during September 1997. At each stage of maturity, the crop was cut and ensiled in a separate AgBag during one day, without the use of an additive. The respective silage DM concentrations were 297, 339 and 393 g/kgFWt.


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