scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Forage Proportion on Feed Intake, Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Enteric Methane Emissions of Holstein Heifers at Various Growth Stages

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lifeng Dong ◽  
Binchang Li ◽  
Qiyu Diao

Enteric methane (CH4) emissions from young ruminants contribute to a substantial proportion of atmospheric CH4 accumulation. Development of emission inventory and mitigation approaches needs accurate estimation of individual emission from animals under various physiological conditions and production systems. This research investigated the effect of different dietary concentrate contents on feed intake, growth performance, nutrient digestibility and CH4 emissions of heifers at various stages, and also developed linear or non-linear prediction equations using data measured by sulphur hexafluoride tracer technique. Increasing dietary concentrate contents increased feed intake and growth rate, enhanced nutrient digestibility, and reduced enteric CH4 emissions. Heifers at the age of 9, 12, and 15 months with an average weight of 267.7, 342.1, and 418.6 kg produced 105.2, 137.4, and 209.4 g/day of CH4, and have an average value of CH4 energy per gross energy intake (Ym) 0.054, 0.064, 0.0667, respectively. Equations relating CH4 emission values with animal and feed characteristics were developed with high determination coefficients for heifers at different growth stages. Dietary concentrate contents had significant influence on overall performance of heifers. These data can be used to develop regional or national emission inventories and mitigation approaches for heifers under various production regimes in China.

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-111
Author(s):  
O. A. Abu ◽  
O. H. Amusa ◽  
R. O. Atoyebi ◽  
R. A. Kehinde ◽  
F. C. Nworgu

A total of fifty 3-4 weeks old albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing 50-60g were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized block design to investigate the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of the rats fed diets containing processed dehulled jack bean. Five diets were formulated to contain casein (T1)-control diet, dehulled jack bean soaked in filtrate obtained from raw pap(T2), dehulled jack bean soaked in lye solution (T3), dehulled jack bean boiled for 15minutes (T4) while a protein free diet served as a negative control (T5). The experiment lasted for 28-days.Dehulled jack bean significantly (P>0.05) influenced the growth parameters measured for the Wistar rats. Rats on control diets had the highest value for all the growth indices, feed intake (210.90g), final body weight (103.40g), body weight changes (41.90g), feed conversion ratio (5.10) and protein efficiency ratio (1.41). Rats on T2 (soaked in ‘ogi’ liquor) had feed intake value of (147.40g), followed by rats on T4 (boiled for 15minutes) (117.00g), T5 (negative control) (119.07) and T3 (soaked in lye solution) (79.40g) respectively. Rats on T4 had the highest value for final body weight (67.80g), body weight changes (6.30g), feed conversion ratio (12.27) and protein efficiency ratio (0.25) while rats on T3 had the lowest value for final body weight (67.80g), body weight changes (-32.45g), total feed intake (79.40g) with FCR of (-0.96) for the tested diets. Wistar rats placed on lye treated diet had depressed body weight changes of 59.8% compared to the control. Digestibility studies however showed that rats on control diets had the highest digestibility value of DM and other nutrients, while there was no significant (P<0.05) difference in digestibility value of CF, significant (P>0.05) differences existed in DM, digestibility value of CP, EE and Ash. Rats on T3 and T5 had the lowest digestibility value for Ash (11.48) and CP (37.66). Rats fed dehulled jack bean seed soaked in ogi liquor and boiled for 15minutes showed slight improvement in growth performance and nutrient utilization over those fed lye soaked jack bean. All the processing methods were ineffective when compared to the performance of rat fed casein based diets.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-365
Author(s):  
B. O. Alabi ◽  
T. O. Ososanya

Crude protein is essentially needed for ruminants but expensive to supply. Mucuna puriens is a high yielding domesticated legume. When the legume is strategically combined with a fibre source, it will make a good diet for ruminants. Thus, a study was carried out to assess the effect of ensiling mucuna with maize forage on performance of rams. In the study, rams were fed silage combinations of Maize Forage (MF) and Mucuna pruriens foliage (MPF). Downy mildew and streak resistant (DMR-SR) yellow variety maize was planted and harvested as MF at six weeks of growth and ensiled with MPF at four levels : 1:0, 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 for 21 days. All the four silages were fed to 20 WAD rams (12.00±0.25 Kg) in a completely randomised design for 105 days. Proximate composition of the silages, apparent nutrient digestibility of silages in WAD rams, feed intake and weight changes were determined using standard procedures, while feed conversion ratio was computed using standard procedures. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05...The dry matter (DM) was significantly higher in T1 (25.65±0.62) and T2 (23.48±0.47) than T3 (21.80±0.41) and T4 (21.57±0.40). The crude protein (CP) was highest in T4 (13.0±0.6) and least in T1 (8.0±0.2). The crude fibre was significantly higher in T1 (26.4±2.6) and T2 (26.2±2.0) than T3 (24.0±1.8) and T4 (21.6±0.9). Apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was highest in T2 (59.2±1.7) and least in T4 (37.7±1.9), while percentage nitrogen retention was significantly higher in T2 (43.2±3.8) and lower in T1 (20.0±4.3). The FCR for rams fed T2 was significantly lower (8.84±1.2) than T1 (9.76±0.80), T3 (9.60 ±0.60) and T4 (11.50±0.90) Ensiling maize forage with Mucuna pruriens foliage at 3:1 enhanced nutrient digestibility and growth performance in West African dwarf rams without any deleterious effect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 186-187
Author(s):  
Aklilu Alemu ◽  
Xiu Min Zhang ◽  
Maik Kindermann ◽  
Karen A Beauchemin

Abstract Supplementation of ruminant diets with the investigational methane (CH4) inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP; DSM Nutritional Products, Switzerland) is as a promising mitigation strategy. However, most studies have examined high grain or mixed forage-concentrate diets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing a forage diet with 3-NOP on rumen fermentation, CH4 emissions and apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility. Eight ruminally cannulated beef heifers (BW = 514 kg) were randomly allocated to two treatments in a crossover design with 49-d periods. Dietary treatments were: control, high-forage diet (90% forage DM basis) without 3-NOP; and NOP, control diet supplemented with 150 mg 3-NOP/kg DM. After a 14-d diet adaption, dry matter (DM) intake (DMI) was recorded daily. Rumen contents were collected on days 17 and 28 for volatile fatty acid (VFA) analysis, whereas ruminal pH was continuously monitored from day 20 to 27. Diet digestibility was measured on day 38 to 41 by total collection of feces. Enteric CH4 emissions were measured on days 46 to 49 in chambers. Dry matter intake was lower (P = 0.001) for NOP (10.0 kg/d) as compared with control (10.2 kg/d). However, DM, neutral and acid detergent fiber, and crude protein digestibilities were similar between treatments (P ≥ 0.29). Although total VFA concentration was not affected by treatment (P = 0.19), the reduction in acetate and increase in propionate proportion for NOP lowered (P &lt; 0.001) the acetate to propionate ratio by 18% as compared with control. Mean pH was lower (P = 0.03) for control (6.46) than NOP (6.57). Furthermore, CH4 yield (g/kg DMI) was 21.6% less (P &lt; 0.001) for NOP relative to control (25.5 g/kg DMI). Overall, the results indicate that enteric CH4 emissions were effectively decreased with 3-NOP supplementation of a forage diet without affecting apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 191-193
Author(s):  
Muniyappan Madesh ◽  
Hyun Ju Park ◽  
Inho Kim ◽  
Woo Jeong seok

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) with coconut oil on growth performance in weaning pigs. A total of 80 crossbred weanling pigs [42 days old] with average body weight (BW) of 6.52 ± 0.59 kg were used in a 6-week experiment trial. Pigs were blocked based on BW and sex and randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments [5 pigs per pen (2 barrows and 3 gilts); 4 pens per treatment]. Treatments consisted of pigs fed: 1) CON, a basal diet with 2% coconut powder; 2) basal diet with a 3% cocosoya 3) basal diet with a 6% cocosoya 4) basal diet with 9% cocosoya. The supplementation of increasing levels of cocosoya to diet weaning pigs linearly increased (P = 0.05) the BW at week 1, 3 and 6 compared with the pigs fed the control diet. The average daily gain (ADG) and gain: feed (G:F) ratio was linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) during day 1to7. The ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and G: F was linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) during day 8 to 21 were observed with the increase in the supplemental of cocosoya. The ADG and ADFI linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) during day 22 to 42. The overall ADG, ADFI and G:F was linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) in pigs fed increasing levels of cocosoya during overall experimental period. The creatinine was linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration were trend to increase (P &lt; 0.05) in pigs fed increasing levels of cocosoya during day 22. Thus, the supplementation of FSMB has beneficial effects on the growth performance and immunity and it may help to overcome the stress faced by the weaning piglets during the transition of liquid to solid feed intake.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo A Mejicanos ◽  
Gemma González-Ortiz ◽  
Charles Martin Nyachoti

Abstract This study was designed to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of xylanase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, organ weight, digesta pH, and concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) of weaned pigs fed wheat–canola meal (CM) diets over a 35-d period. A total of 144 piglets (72 barrows and 72 gilts) weaned at 18 ± 2 d of age, with initial body weight (BW) of 6.2 ± 0.7 kg, received one of eight dietary treatments based on randomized complete block design. BW and feed intake were recorded weekly to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (G:F). Treatments consisted of a control wheat–soybean meal-based diet and wheat-regular (RCM), dehulled (DCM), or coarse CM (CCM) without and with 16,000 BXU/kg xylanase (Econase XT). All diets contained 500 FTU/kg of phytase (Quantum Blue 5G) and titanium dioxide (0.3%). Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP), phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), dry matter, and diet were determined. On day 35, one pig per pen was euthanized to evaluate the main factors of protein, xylanase supplementation, and sex on organ weight, ileal and colon digesta pH, and colon digesta concentrations of SCFA. The main factors did not affect growth performance. Xylanase supplementation improved nutrient digestibilities in all diets and increased ileal and colonic digesta pH without affecting the growth performance of weaned pigs fed wheat and CM-based diets. A protein–xylanase effect (P &lt; 0.05) resulted in increasing the ATTD of NDF from 28% to 32% and from 29% to 37% for RCM and DCM, respectively. The ATTD of CP was greater (P &lt; 0.05) with xylanase supplementation (75% vs. 70%). Xylanase supplementation increased ATTD of P and Ca. A three-way interaction (P &lt; 0.05) for protein–xylanase–gender for colon pH, acetic, and propionic acid in the colon digesta of pigs indicated that, in addition to the protein source, piglet sex could have influenced how xylanase works. Xylanase supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05) the weight of the liver and spleen and tended (P &lt; 0.10) to increase the size of the kidney. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of xylanase increased nutrient digestibility and digesta pH but did not influence the growth performance of weaned pigs fed wheat and CM-based diets over a 35-d period.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 778 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Cui ◽  
Y. Tu ◽  
Y. C. Wang ◽  
N. F. Zhang ◽  
T. Ma ◽  
...  

The effects of restricting iron intake for the final 60 days of a 180-day growth trial on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, slaughter performance and meat quality of dairy bull calves used in veal production were evaluated in this study. Twenty-four newborn Holstein bull calves with an average weight of 41.0 ± 1.62 kg were randomly assigned to two groups of n = 12 calves/group. Calves in the Control group were fed a basal diet that included a milk replacer and pellet feed for 180 days. The iron level in the basal diet was 50 mg/kg. Calves in the Treatment group received the basal diet supplemented with 70 mg/kg iron for the first 120 days, then received the basal diet for the remaining 60 days. Five calves from each group were slaughtered at the end of the trial, and samples of the M. longissimus dorsi and rumen fluid were collected. No differences were found in dry matter intake, growth performance or digestibility and metabolism of nutrients between the two groups (P > 0.05). The dietary iron regimen did not affect the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin, or glucose (P > 0.05); however, the haemoglobin content increased with the supplementation of iron in the diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the Control group, increasing dietary iron increased the meat percentage (P < 0.05) rather than the meat nutritional composition or quality of veal.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggy Palesa Mabena ◽  
Moses Ratsaka ◽  
Thobela Nkukwana ◽  
Ingrid Malebana ◽  
Douglas Nkosi

Abstract This experiment evaluated varying levels of Amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake (ANC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in pigs. Thirty Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) pigs were stratified by weight (average live weight of 20 ± 5 kg) and randomly allocated to the five experimental diets that contained 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ANC/kg DM. Each pig served as a replicate unit, housed individually. Bodyweight, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly throughout the trial period. On completion of the growth trial, following a 3-day adaptation, a nutrient digestibility study was conducted over 5 days. Thereafter, pigs were fasted for twelve hours, weighed, slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected for analysis. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment, but ADGs were reduced at ANC levels > 15%, resulting in poor FCR. Protein digestibility was reduced at ANC levels > 15%, while ether extract and fibre levels increased. Warm and cold carcass weights were lower at ANC levels > 15, with improved meat redness and lightness. It was concluded that ANC could replace SBM in the diet of growing pigs at less than 15% inclusion level.


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