Supplemental cracked corn or wheat bran for steers grazing endophyte-free fescue pasture: effects on live weight gain, nutrient quality, forage intake, particulate and fluid kinetics, ruminal fermentation, and digestion.

SUMMARYAnimals fed sole diets of kale (Brassica oleracea) were compared with animals fed ryegrass-clover pasture grown on the same soil type in two experiments. In Expt 1 young cattle grazed the two forages for 24 weeks, with supplementary copper and iodine being administered by injection. In Expt 2 young sheep were individually fed the two forages indoors at equal D.m. intake.Animals grazing kale in Expt 1 showed the characteristic symptoms of haemolytio anaemia from ruminal fermentation of S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide (SMCO) (Smith, 1974). This was most severe over the first 6 weeks, during which live-weight gains were very low (250 g/day). In the absence of copper supplementation animals grazing kale showed symptoms of copper deficiency. This was characterized by live-weight gain remaining low throughout the experiment (mean 280 g/day), rapid depletion of liver copper reserves, progressive reductions in serum copper concentration, reductions in erythrocyte copper and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations and a massive hepatic accumulation of iron. Copper deficiency only slightly lowered heart muscle copper concentration in kale-fed cattle, and this was counteracted byheart hypertrophy. The major effects of copper deficiency in kale-fed cattle were in erythrocytes, and a metabolic diagram is presented showing these effects to be biochemically similar to those produced by ruminal fermentation of SMCO.Copper supplementation of animals grazing kale increased live-weight gain (mean 425 g/day), reduced Heinz body formation, allowed the animals to recover gradually from the haemolytic anaemia and prevented other symptoms of copper deficiency. In contrast, animals grazing ryegrass-clover pasture showed only a very mild depletion of copper, there being no response in live-weight gain to copper supplementation.Activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in whole blood was dependent upon blood selenium concentration in cattle fed both diets. In cattle fed on kale, bub not on pasture, reductions in erythrocyte GSH due to ruminal fermentation of SMCO and to copper deficiency were also associated with depressed blood selenium status.Glucosinolates were present in the kale (11μM/g D.M.) but absent from the pasture diet. Despite this, neither T4 production from the thyroid gland nor the conversion of T4 to T3 appeared to be impaired by kale feeding in either Expt 1 or Expt 2. In Expt 1 serum T3 concentration was better relatedto live-weight gain than was serum T4 concentration, in accord with T3 being the active form of the thyroid hormone.It is concluded that supplementation with copper but not iodine is essential where growing cattle are fed sole diets of kale for periods in excess of 12 weeks

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An operational model of the relationship between live-weight gain and stocking rate for grazing cattle, with an estimated production function for steers, under Irish conditions

10.31274/rtd-180815-3011 ◽

1970 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew Gerard Conway

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Production Function ◽

Live Weight ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Operational Model ◽

Live Weight Gain ◽

Grazing Cattle ◽

The Relationship

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Reduction of body-weight gain enhances in vitro embryo production in overfed superovulated dairy heifers

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.1.00689 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 131 (4) ◽

pp. 783-794 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

S Freret ◽

B Grimard ◽

A A Ponter ◽

C Joly ◽

C Ponsart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Dietary Intake ◽

Live Weight ◽

Reproductive Hormones ◽

Embryo Production ◽

Live Weight Gain ◽

Dairy Heifers ◽

Period 2 ◽

Significant Difference

The aim of our study was to test whether a reduction in dietary intake could improve in vitro embryo production in superovulated overfed dairy heifers. Cumulus–oocyte complexes of 16 Prim’ Holstein heifers (14 ± 1 months old) were collected by ovum pick-up (OPU), every 2 weeks following superovulation treatment with 250 μg FSH, before being matured and fertilized in vitro. Embryos were cultured in Synthetic Oviduct Fluid medium for 7 days. Heifers were fed with hay, soybean meal, barley, minerals and vitamins. From OPU 1 to 4 (period 1), all heifers received individually for 8 weeks a diet formulated for a 1000 g/day live-weight gain. From OPU 5 to 8 (period 2), the heifers were allocated to one of two diets (1000 or 600 g/day) for 8 weeks. Heifers’ growth rates were monitored and plasma concentrations of metabolites, metabolic and reproductive hormones were measured each week. Mean live-weight gain observed during period 1 was 950 ± 80 g/day (n = 16). In period 2 it was 730 ± 70 (n = 8) and 1300 ± 70 g/day (n = 8) for restricted and overfed groups respectively. When comparing period 1 and period 2 within groups, significant differences were found. In the restricted group, a higher blastocyst rate, greater proportions of grade 1–3 and grade 1 embryos, associated with higher estradiol at OPU and lower glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate, were observed in period 2 compared with period 1. Moreover, after 6 weeks of dietary restriction (OPU 7), numbers of day 7 total embryos, blastocysts and grade 1–3 embryos had significantly increased. On the contrary, in the overfed group, we observed more <8 mm follicles 2 days before superovulation treatment, higher insulin and IGF-I and lower nonesterified fatty acids in period 2 compared with period 1 (no significant difference between periods for embryo production). After 6 weeks of 1300 g/day live-weight gain (OPU 7), embryo production began to decrease. Whatever the group, oocyte collection did not differ between period 1 and 2. These data suggest that following a period of overfeeding, a short-term dietary intake restriction (6 weeks in our study) may improve blastocyst production and embryo quality when they are low. However, nutritional recommendations aiming to optimize both follicular growth and embryonic development may be different.

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The design and conduct of experiments to measure animal and herbage production responses to fertilizer nitrogen under cutting and grazing managements

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s002185960004301x ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 104 (1) ◽

pp. 85-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. V. Large ◽

J. M. Cobby ◽

R. D. Baker

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Live Weight ◽

Continuous Systems ◽

Linear Extrapolation ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Response Curves ◽

Live Weight Gain ◽

Continuous Grazing ◽

Consistent Manner ◽

Fourth Experiment

SummaryTwo experiments were conducted to provide information on the precision of herbage sampling, the degree of replication and the logistics of managing rotational and continuous grazing experiments. In a third experiment the possibility of estimating herbage growth, during the rotational grazing of paddocks for 4 days, by linear extrapolation of measured growth estimates made during the interval between grazings was investigated. A fourth experiment was then conducted to investigate animal and herbage production responses to nitrogen applied at five levels over the range 80–900 kg N/ha with three replicates per treatment.Results from Expts 1 and 2 showed that similar precision could be obtained under both rotational and continuous systems of grazing with the same number of replicates and samples of herbage. There was little advantage in having more than three replicates and four samples per paddock or two replicates and eight samples per paddock. Under continuous grazing a 3-weekly sampling and movement of exclosure cages was indicated. It was also found, from Expt 3 that, under rotational grazing, linear extrapolation of growth from 0–24 days did not reflect growth to 28 days in a consistent manner. Six animals per treatment, permanently in the paddocks, proved adequate for the estimation of live-weight gain.Experiment 4 confirmed that response curves could be fitted with an acceptable degree of precision if there was one low, one very high, and two intermediate levels of nitrogen. Adjustment of the number of animals to maintain sward height at between 5 and 7 cm ensured similar sward conditions and rates of live-weight gain across all treatments.The problems associated with the measurement of herbage production under grazing are discussed.

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Rice bran as a supplement to elephant grass for cattle and buffalo in Indonesia: 2. Carcass development, energy accretion and its effect on feed efficiency: 2. Carcass development, energy accretion and its effect on feed efficiency

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600035504 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 717-722

Author(s):

J. B. Moran

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Rice Bran ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Live Weight ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Elephant Grass ◽

Live Weight Gain ◽

Fat Depots ◽

Gross Energy

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.

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The effect of winter food level on compensatory growth of weaned, suckled calves grazed at two sward heights

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100002397 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 211-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

I. A. Wright ◽

A. J. F. Russel ◽

E. A. Hunter

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Compensatory Growth ◽

Live Weight ◽

Food Level ◽

Live Weight Gain ◽

Subsequent Performance ◽

Herbage Intake ◽

Winter Food ◽

Weight Gains ◽

Winter Feeding

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted with weaned, suckled calves to investigate the effect of feeding level during the post-weaning winter on their subsequent performance when continuously grazed on pasture maintained at two sward heights. Low, medium and high levels of winter feeding resulted in winter live-weight gains of 0·31, 0·58 and 0·79 (s.e. 0·027) kg/day (P < 0·001) during the 152-day winter in experiment 1 and 0·44, 0·69 and 0·84 (s.e. 0·029) kg/day (P < 0·001) for 189 days in experiment 2. During summer (93 days in experiment 1 and 87 days in experiment 2) there was a significant effect of winter food level on performance when live-weight gains were 1·10, 1·02, 0·87 and 1·35, 1·23 and 1·19 (s.e. 0·060) kg/day for the low, medium and high winter food levels on the short and tall swards respectively in experiment 1 (P < 0·01) and 0·86, 0·66, 0·51 and 1·26, 1·18 and 0·91 (s.e. 0090) kg/day in experiment 2 (P < 0·001). The cattle showing compensatory growth had higher herbage intakes and it is postulated that this occurred because of a negative association between body fat and herbage intake. Sward height had a large positive effect on herbage intake and live-weight gain and it is concluded that for maximum intake on ryegrass swards, herbage height should be at least 8 cm. Lower levels of winter live-weight gain delayed the time to slaughter, but allowed cattle to achieve heavier carcass weights at a fixed level of fatness.It is concluded that there is no single optimum winter food level for weaned, suckled calves but that the choice will depend upon several factors, including availability of winter and summer food resources, the length of the winter feeding period, the desired date of slaughter and type of carcass to be produced.

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The utilization of maize silage for intensive beef production: I. The effect of level and source of supplementary nitrogen on the utilization of maize silage by cattle of different ages

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600052503 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 84 (2) ◽

pp. 353-364 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

C. Thomas ◽

J. M. Wilkinson ◽

J. C. Tayler

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Live Weight ◽

High Rate ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Maize Silage ◽

Live Weight Gain ◽

Main Effect ◽

Urea Addition

SUMMARYFifty-four British Friesian castrated male calves, initially 3, 6 or 9 months of age (107, 180 and 249 kg initial live weight, respectively), were individually fed for 83 days on maize silage (27·9% dry matter (D.M.), 10·7% crude protein in D.M.), offeredad libitum. Silage was offered either alone or supplemented with cobs of dried lucerne (21% of total D.M. intake). Three levels of urea (0, 1 and 2% of silage D.M.) were added to the silage before feeding.Total D.M. intakes averaged 23·0, 23·4 and 21·6 g/kg live weight (LW) for the 3-, 6- and 9-month-old animals, respectively. Addition of urea increased silage intake by 11% in the 6-month-old group but there was little effect in the 3- and 9-month-old groups. Lucerne supplementation reduced silage D.M. intake from 22·0 to 18·4 g/kg LW (P< 0·001) and increased total D.M. intake by 1·4 g/kg LW (P< 0·001).Live-weight gain (LWG) of the cattle fed on silage alone increased (P< 0·001) with increasing age of animal. The main effect of urea was to elevate (P< 0·001) LWG from an average of 0·79 (no urea) to 0·94 kg/head/day (2% urea). However, it appeared that most of this effect was confined to the 6-month-old group. The effect of lucerne on LWG decreased with increasing age of animal (P< 0·001). Inclusion of lucerne in the diet significantly reduced the response to urea (P< 0·05).Feed conversion efficiency (LWG/100 Mcal DE intake) decreased (P< 0·01) with increasing age of animal but increased with urea addition from an average of 4·7 (no urea) to 5·3 kg LWG/100 Meal DE intake (2% urea). The response to lucerne supplementation in terms of efficiency was greatest in the 3-month-old group and thereafter declined markedly with increasing age of animal.The results of this experiment indicated that cattle older than 6 months of age (180 kg LW) could achieve a rate of growth of 1·0 kg/head/day on maize silage supplemented solely with urea, but that younger animals required supplementary lucerne to support a high rate of live-weight gain.

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