scholarly journals Energy: Protein Ratio in Ruminants: Insights from the Intragastric Infusion Technique

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2700
Author(s):  
Denis J. Meehan ◽  
Ana R. J. Cabrita ◽  
Margarida R. G. Maia ◽  
António J. M. Fonseca

Studies on energy:protein ratio in ruminants are constrained by rumen fermentation since it governs nutrient metabolism and the ratio of energy:protein yielding nutrients available for absorption. By circumventing rumen fermentation, the total intragastric infusion technique (IIT) allowed objective quantification of maintenance energy and protein requirements, volatile fatty acid utilisation efficiency, efficiency of energy utilisation for maintenance (Km) and growth (Kf) and the origin of N retention responses to independent variation of energy and protein intake. This review outlines the key IIT findings and whether they are reflected in current feeding systems with implications for different production systems worldwide. Maintenance energy requirements are similar to those derived from comparative slaughter but maintenance N requirements are significantly lower. No differences in utilisation efficiency exist between acetic, propionic and butyric acids. At low energy intakes, endogenous energy reserves are utilised to retain amino acids and fuel substantial tissue protein gains. The use of fasting metabolism to measure the utilisation of nutritionally balanced diets is questioned since it is a glucose-deficient state. Inter-species differences in glucose metabolism appear to exist, suggesting that glucose requirements may be higher in cattle than sheep. The difficulty in predicting nutrient requirements, particularly protein, with any one technique is highlighted.

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler D. Turner ◽  
Jessica Jensen ◽  
Jessica L. Pilfold ◽  
Dipesh Prema ◽  
Kingsley K. Donkor ◽  
...  

Turner, T. D., Jensen, J., Pilfold, J. L., Prema, D., Donkor, K. K., Cinel, B., Thompson, D. J., Dugan, M. E. R. and Church, J. S. 2015. Comparison of fatty acids in beef tissues from conventional, organic and natural feeding systems in western Canada. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 49–58. The effect of production system on intramuscular and associated trim fatty acid (FA) profiles of retail ribeye steaks from conventional and niche market organic and natural (grain- or grass-fed) beef were compared. Meat from organic grain- and grass-fed systems was leaner, containing greater proportions of polyunsaturated FA, i.e., 18:3n-3, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3. Correspondingly, the n-6/n-3 ratios of organic grain- and grass-fed systems were 3:1, while conventional and natural grain systems had ratios of 8:1. High forage-to-grain ratio production systems increased proportions of desirable biohydrogenation intermediates (BI), including t11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2, whereas conventional and natural grain systems elevated t10-18:1. Trim fat was similarly affected by production system, and was a relatively richer source of BI. Overall, proportions of desirable FAs, including n-3 and BI, were greater for organic grain- and grass-fed systems, emphasizing the importance of a high forage-to-grain ratio to enhance the healthfulness of beef, whereas conventional and natural grain-fed systems were largely equivalent.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Silvia Pedrazzani ◽  
Murilo Henrique Quintiliano ◽  
Franciele Bolfe ◽  
Elaine Cristina de Oliveira Sans ◽  
Carla Forte Maiolino Molento

The aim of this study was to develop and test a tilapia on-farm welfare assessment protocol, based on Brazilian semi-intensive production systems. The study included two mains steps: the elaboration of tilapia welfare protocol and its on-field feasibility test. The protocol, including the potential indicators organized into health, environmental, nutritional, and behavioral categories, was tested on three farms. Skin, eyes, gills, jaws, fins, and vertebral spine were individually examined in 139 individual tilapias. Water physicochemical parameters and production system were considered. The overall nutritional status of individuals was assessed through body condition factor, feed conversion ratio, feed crude protein ratio, and feed ingestion behavior. During massive capture, signals of stress, level of crowding, and duration of air exposure were registered. Time required for loss of consciousness was evaluated by clinical reflexes and other behaviors during slaughter. Eye, jaw, and gill scores were different across farms (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.011; 0.015; 0.043, respectively), showing good discrimination power. Critical welfare points were extremely low dissolved oxygen in water, fin and skin lesions, prolonged air exposure during pre-slaughter handling and non-humane slaughter techniques, as decapitation or asphyxia. The protocol presents practical viability and it is an initial step for the development of a tilapia welfare strategy, where the prioritization of critical welfare points, implementation of corrective actions and monitoring of the results is part of a permanent welfare management system.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Vandermeulen ◽  
Carlos Alberto Ramírez-Restrepo ◽  
Yves Beckers ◽  
Hugues Claessens ◽  
Jérôme Bindelle

Among the oldest agroforestry systems, silvopastoralism uses shrubs and trees to feed ruminants. The practice is common in extensive livestock production systems, whereas the intensification of grass-based systems in the past century has led to the removal of woody species from agricultural temperate landscapes. In Europe however, woody species are promoted again on grasslands through environment-friendly policies due to the ecosystem services they provide such as carbon sequestration, control of soil erosion, limitation of airborne pollutants and biodiversity conservation. Positive effects of browse on rumen digestion and parasite control have also been documented across different plant species and regions. Under optimal conditions, feeding ruminants from woody fodder sustains animal production. Nonetheless, limitations can restrict the use of woody forage into animal diets, such as the presence of anti-nutritive and toxic compounds. The incorporation of this resource in ruminant feeding systems raises the question of the management of the interface between the plant and the animal. Various management systems are practiced. Temperate species such as Salix spp. and Populus spp. are fed to sheep and cattle in fodder blocks or by pruning trees in New Zealand, and Fraxinus spp. or Corylus avellana in hedgerows supply forage to livestock in Belgium, whereas Leucaena leucocepahala and Desmanthus spp. browsing is common in Australia. Nowadays, ensiling and pelleting techniques are being developed as a way to store browse forage. As the renewed interest in using shrubs and trees to feed ruminants is recent, especially in temperate regions, additional research about the optimal introduction of this resource within systems is needed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
Frances C. Cowley ◽  
Romana Roschinsky

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.The integration of leucaena into goat production systems in the tropics and subtropics is reviewed. Goats are well adapted to leucaena, and able to be productive on diets containing up to 100% leucaena as a result of bacterial and hepatic detoxification. Incorporation of leucaena into goat production systems can improve liveweight gains, milk production, worm control and reproduction. Successful feeding systems for goats can be based on both grazed silvopastoral systems and cut-and-carry intensive systems, although there is a lack of farming systems research examining the integration of leucaena into goat production systems, or documentation of the practicalities of these practices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 2147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saranpong Thongruang ◽  
Pramote Paengkoum ◽  
Wisitiporn Suksombat ◽  
Smerjai Bureenok

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of forage species and feeding systems on ruminal fermentation, microbiota (Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Fibrobacter succinogenes and total bacteria) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration of milk in dairy goats. Twenty female crossbred Saanen lactating goats (~35 ± 3.0 kg bodyweight) in early to mid-lactation stage were assigned to a 45-day completely randomised-design feeding experiment, with the following four forage (roughage) treatments: cut-and-carry grass (CG), grazing of grass (GG), cut-and-carry leucaena (CL) and grazing of leucaena (GL; n = 5). All animals were given concentrate equivalent to 1.5% of their bodyweight. The grass used in the study was napier Pak Chong 1 grass (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum hybrid). The results showed that irrespective of the type of forage, grazing goats (GG and GL) had a higher (P < 0.05) forage intake and, thus, total dry-matter and crude-protein intakes than did those fed indoors (CG and CL). However, the intake of C18:2n6 and particularly of C18:3n3 was generally higher for grass-fed goats than for leucaena-fed goats. Treatments did not exert significant differences on rumen fermentation characteristics. However, the populations of B. fibrisolvens, F. succinogenes and total bacteria were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in grazing goats (GG and GL) than in their counterparts fed with the cut-and-carry system (CG and CL). Goats in the grazing system also had a higher (P < 0.05) milk yield, and milk fat, c9, t11 CLA and omega-3 fatty acid concentrations than did those in the cut-and-carry system and only grazing goats produced detectable levels of t10, c12 CLA in milk. Putting the above together, it can be concluded that allowing dairy goats to outdoor grazing stimulates a higher forage intake, including that of C18:2n6 and C18:3n3, as well as enhancing population of B. fibrisolvens (involved in the synthesis of milk CLA), resulting in a higher milk yield, and enhances c9, t11 and t10, c12 CLA in goat milk.


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