Effect of the Length of Oat Hay on Growth Performance, Health Status, Behavior Parameters and Rumen Fermentation of Holstein Female Calves

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the length of oat hay on the performance, health, behavior, and rumen fermentation of dairy calves. For this purpose, two hundred and ten healthy two-day-old Holstein dairy calves were randomly allocated into three groups: basic diet (calf starter) without hay (CON), or a basic diet with oat hay at either long (OL: 10–12 cm) or short (OS: 3–5 cm) length cut. The basic diet was fed from day 4, while the hay was offered from day 14. All calves were weaned at day 56 and remained in their individual hutches till the end of the trial (day 70). Calf starter intake and fecal scores were recorded daily. Bodyweight, body size, and rumen fluid samples were collected biweekly before weaning and weekly after weaning. Overall, providing oat hay (OS and OL) in the diet increased the body weight, starter intake, and average daily gain compared to the CON group. Similarly, feeding oat hay improved rumen fermentation. More specifically, hay enhanced the rumen pH and changed the rumen fermentation type. Hay fed calves spent more time on rumination but less time performing abnormal behaviors compared to control. As it can be concluded, feeding oat hay to calves enhances the growth performance, rumen fermentation, and normal calf behaviors, implying improved animal welfare irrespective of the hay length.

Download Full-text

318 Effect of Initial Providing Time of Oat Hay on Performance, Health, Behavior and Rumen Fermentation in Calves

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.318 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 173-174

Author(s):

Tianyu Chen ◽

Jianxin Xiao ◽

Tingting Li ◽

Jing Ma ◽

Zhijun Cao

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Basic Diet ◽

Rumen Ph ◽

Holstein Calves ◽

Abnormal Behaviors ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract To determine the appropriate time to feed hay to calves, 210 healthy Holstein calves at d 2 were randomly divided into 3 groups: feeding basic diet (starter) without hay (CON), inclusion of oat hay from the second week (H2) or fourth week (H4) in addition to the basic diet. All calves were weaned on d 56 and raised in the same hutches until the end of the experiment (d 70). Calf starter intake and fecal score were recorded daily throughout the experimental period. Body weight, body size, blood and rumen fluid samples were collected every 2 weeks before weaning and once a week after weaning. Inclusion of oat hay in the basic diet (H2 and H4) resulted in increased body weight (P < 0.01) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) throughout the experiment when compared to the basic diet (CON) only. Calves fed oat hay from 2 weeks of life had the highest starter intake (P < 0.01), average daily gain (P < 0.01) in the pre- and post-weaning periods. Body length and heart girth was similar between treatments. The H2 calves had lower diarrhea frequency (P < 0.05) and diarrhea days (P < 0.05) during the post-weaning period. Compared to the CON calves, inclusion of hay increased the rumen pH (P < 0.01), while decreasing the NH3-N (P < 0.01) and tend to decrease the total VFA (P < 0.06) during the entire trial. Calves in H2 treatment spent more time ruminating (P < 0.01), but less time standing (P < 0.05), eating starter (P < 0.01) and engaging in abnormal behaviors (P < 0.01). In conclusion, calves supplemented with oat hay improved growth rate and rumen fermentation when compared with calves fed only starter, and adding hay from 2 weeks of calves life may be the best choice for the farm to have the greatest growth and health performance.

Download Full-text

280 Descriptive Characteristics of Preweaned Heifer Raising Practices on China Dairy Farms: Colostrum Quality, Passive Transfer Status and Growth Performance

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.272 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 148-149

Author(s):

Shuai Liu ◽

Tianyu Chen ◽

Jiaqi Li ◽

Wenli Guo ◽

Rong Peng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Passive Transfer ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Serum Total Protein ◽

Average Birth Weight ◽

Whole Milk ◽

Report System ◽

Few Data ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Few data are available on the descriptive characteristics of colostrum quality, passive transfer status and growth performance within a national population in China. This study included 110 dairy operations in 23 provinces, and data were obtained from management software, report system and questionnaires from 2015 to 2019. Data were analyzed using SAS (version 9.0, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The results showed that colostrum quality was measured in 96.4% of farms and colostrum was pasteurized in 91.8% of farms. 83.6% of colostrum was excellent (Brix > 22%). Colostrum could be fed to calves within 1 hour after birth in 86.4% of farms. Besides, calves that experienced failure of passive transfer (serum total protein < 5.2 g/dl) decreased from 2015 to 2019 and accounted for 0.75% of calves in 2019. Most farms (48.8%) feed 400 kg - 600 kg milk during the preweaning period and whole milk was the main type of liquid diet accounting for 70.6% of farms. Meanwhile, 22.0% of farms chose to feed forage before weaning, and 90.1% of these farms fed oat hay. The average birth weight of calves was 37.8 kg and the average daily gain of preweaning calves was 848.3 g/d. For preweaning calves, the proportion of single housing was more than 60%, whereas postweaning calves were mainly raised in groups. The morbidity of preweaning calves in China decreased annually, from 43.3% in 2015 to 25.4% in 2019. Digestive diseases and respiratory diseases were two main diseases, and accounted for 46.0% and 38.4%, respectively. This study provides an overview on dairy calves raising practices in China.

Download Full-text

Effect of the Initial Time of Providing Oat Hay on Performance, Health, Behavior and Rumen Fermentation in Holstein Female Calves

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11090862 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 862

Author(s):

Tianyu Chen ◽

Jianxin Xiao ◽

Tingting Li ◽

Jing Ma ◽

Gibson Maswayi Alugongo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Diet Group ◽

The Body ◽

Initial Time ◽

Ruminal Ph ◽

Basic Diet ◽

Holstein Calves ◽

Time Of Feeding

For determining the appropriate time of feeding hay, 210 healthy Holstein calves at day two were randomly divided into three groups: basic diet (calf starter) without hay (CON), and the inclusion of oat hay from the second week (H2) or fourth week (H4) with basic diet. Calves were weaned on day 56 and raised until day 70. Calf starter intake and fecal scores were recorded daily. The body weight, body size, and rumen fluid samples were collected every two weeks before and once a week after weaning. Compared to the basic diet group, the calves that were receiving oat hay from the second week had the highest starter intake (1086.1 g vs. 925.6 g; p < 0.05), body weight (68.4 kg vs. 63.0 kg; p < 0.01) and average daily gain (0.84 kg/d vs. 0.73 kg/d; p < 0.01) throughout the trial period. Compared to H4, calves received oat hay from the second week reduced the frequency (1.48% vs. 3.57%; p < 0.05) and duration of diarrhea (0.21 days vs. 0.50 days; p < 0.05) during post-weaning. Compared to the CON calves, the inclusion of oat hay from the second week increased the ruminal pH (6.38 vs. 6.19; p < 0.01) during the entire trial and increased the acetate (49.07% vs. 44.44%; p < 0.05) during post-weaning. Compared to the basic diet group, calves in H2 treatment spent more time in rumination (275.2 min/day vs. 133.3 min/day; p < 0.01) but less time in abnormal behaviors (80.5 min/day vs. 207.0 min/day; p < 0.01). In conclusion, calves supplemented with oat hay had an improved growth rate and rumen environment compared to calves fed calf starter only.

Download Full-text

Response of Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry Indices, and Rumen Bacterial Diversity in Lambs to Diets Containing Supplemental Probiotics and Chinese Medicine Polysaccharides

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.681389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Huan Chen ◽

Beibei Guo ◽

Mingrui Yang ◽

Junrong Luo ◽

Yiqing Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Blood Indices ◽

High Throughput Sequencing Data ◽

Daily Gain

This study aims to investigate the effects of probiotics and Chinese medicine polysaccharides (CMPs) on growth performance, blood indices, rumen fermentation, and bacteria composition in lambs. Forty female lambs were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control, probiotics, CMP, and compound (probiotics + CMP) groups. The results showed that probiotics treatment increased the concentrations of blood glucose (GLU) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) and enhanced rumen microbial protein contents but declined the value of pH in rumen fluid compared with the control (P < 0.05). Furthermore, supplementation with CMP enhanced the average daily gain (ADG) and the contents of IgA, IgG, and IgM in the serum but decreased the F:G ratio compared with the control (P < 0.05). Besides, both CMP and compound (probiotics + CMP) treatments decreased the ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid compared with the control (P < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing data showed that at the genus level, the relative abundance of Veillonellaceae_UCG-001 in the probiotics group was increased, the relative abundance of Succiniclasticum and norank_f__Muribaculaceae in the CMP group were enhanced, and the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002 in the compound group was raised compared with the control (P < 0.05). In summary, supplementation with probiotics can promote rumen protein fermentation but decrease the diversity of bacteria in rumen fluid; however, CMP treatment increased the relative abundance of Fibrobacteria, changed rumen microbial fermentation mode, increased the immune function, and ultimately improved the growth performance.

Download Full-text

Garlic skin induced shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome of fattening sheep

10.21203/rs.3.rs-60203/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wen Zhu ◽

Zhen Su ◽

Wei Xu ◽

Hanxue Sun ◽

Jinfeng Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Control Group ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Background Garlic and its constituents exhibit activities on modifying rumen fermentation and improving growth performance. As a by-product of garlic processing, garlic skin contains similar bioactive components as garlic bulb. However, studies in ruminants using garlic skin are scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic skin supplementation on rumen fermentation characterizes, growth performance, ruminal microbes and metabolites in ruminants. Twelve Hu lambs were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: basal diet (CON) or basal diet supplemented with 80 g/kg DM of gallic skin (GAS). The experiment lasted for10 weeks, with the first 2 weeks for adaptation. Results The results revealed that the average daily gain and volatile fatty acid concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed GAS than that in the control group. Garlic skin supplementation did not significantly (P > 0.10) affect the α-diversity indices. Increased (P < 0.05) abundances of Prevotella, Bulleidia, Howardella, Methanosphaera but a decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Fretibacterium were observed in GAS-fed lambs. In addition, the garlic skin supplementation favorably regulated (P < 0.05) pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 and B1 metabolism. Moreover, high correlations were observed between fluctuant rumen microbiota and metabolites. Conclusions Supplementation of garlic skin improved the growth performance of sheep by modifying rumen fermentation through inducing shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome.

Download Full-text

The effect of hydroxychloride trace minerals on the growth performance and carcass quality of grower/finisher pigs: a meta-analysis

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz309 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (11) ◽

pp. 4619-4624

Author(s):

Sandra J A van Kuijk ◽

Marc Jacobs ◽

Coen H M Smits ◽

Yanming Han

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

The Body ◽

Trace Minerals ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Lean Meat ◽

Daily Gain ◽

Mineral Sources

Abstract The current study compared the effect of hydroxychloride trace minerals (HTM) with the effect of inorganic trace minerals (ITM) on growth performance and carcass quality in grower-finisher pigs. The results of 6 studies conducted throughout Europe were combined into one meta-analysis. All included studies were performed using pigs from about 19 kg of body weight until slaughter. In all studies, 2 different mineral sources were compared, HTM and sulfates as ITM. Zn from either HTM or ITM was added at a level of 80 ppm to the diet, and Cu was added at a level of 15 ppm from the same source as Zn. In most studies, an additional treatment was included in which 20 ppm Zn was used from either source in combination with 15 ppm Cu from the same source. Diets were fed in 3 phases according to local commercial standards. The body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain:feed ratio were measured at the end of each phase. At the end of each study, the carcass yield, back fat thickness, and lean meat percentage were measured at commercial slaughterhouses. The meta-analysis was conducted using a MIXED model in SAS taking into account the within-study and between-study variation. The comparison was done only between HTM and ITM added at the same Zn level. No statistical differences were observed for growth performance or carcass characteristics between the mineral sources in pigs fed 20 ppm Zn. When 80 ppm Zn was used, a significant improvement in lean meat percentage was observed in pigs fed HTM compared with pigs fed ITM. In the overall study period, there was a tendency towards an increased gain:feed ratio in pigs fed 80 ppm Zn from HTM. In the last feeding phase, before slaughter gain:feed ratio and average daily gain were both significantly improved by 3.9%. In conclusion, HTM addition improved growth performance and lean meat percentage in grower-finisher pigs.

Download Full-text

Replacing Soybean Meal with Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles plus Rumen-Protected Lysine and Methionine: Effects on Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestion, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Parameters in Hu Sheep

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11082428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2428

Author(s):

Jiao Chen ◽

Xiaolin Niu ◽

Fei Li ◽

Fadi Li ◽

Long Guo

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Soybean Meal ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Control Group ◽

Ruminal Fermentation ◽

Serum Parameters ◽

Distillers Dried Grains ◽

Hu Sheep ◽

Daily Gain

(1) Background: we investigated the influence of dietary soybean meal (SBM) replaced with distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) plus rumen-protected (RP) lysine and methionine on the growth performance, nutrients digestion, rumen fermentation, and serum parameters of Hu sheep. (2) Methods: ninety Hu sheep were allocated to five groups: the control group (CON) which received the SBM diet, the DDGS group (NSM), the DDGS diet with RP lysine group (DRPL), the DDGS diet with RP methionine group (DRPM), and the DDGS diet with a mixture of RP lysine and methionine group (DRPLM). (3) Results: Final BW and carcass weight of the DRPLM and CON groups were greater (p ≤ 0.05) compared to NSM, DRPL, and DRPM groups. The DRPLM group tended to increase the dry matter intake (DMI, p = 0.06), average daily gain (ADG, p = 0.06), dressing percentage (p = 0.07), and tail fat weight (p = 0.09). The DRPLM group had increased (p ≤ 0.05) apparent digestibility and had altered ruminal fermentation characteristics. (4) Conclusions: replacement of SBM with DDGS in a diet with adequate metabolizable protein and by-pass amino acids (lysine and methionine) could maintain the growth performance of Hu sheep.

Download Full-text

Effect of essential oil blends and a non-ionic surfactant on rumen fermentation, anti-oxidative status and growth performance of lambs

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txab118 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ludmila C G Passetti ◽

Rodrigo A C Passetti ◽

Tim A McAllister

Keyword(s):

Essential Oils ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Oxidative Status ◽

Ionic Surfactant ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Ruminal Ph

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effect of essential oils (OEO; XEO) and an emulsifier on rumen fermentation, anti-oxidative status and the growth performance of lambs. A finishing study was conducted using 35 females and 35 males Suffolk × Canadian Arcott crossbreed lambs, fed a 16:84 forage:concentrate pelleted barley-based with either Control; Bovatec (0.018% Bovatec); Emulsifier (0.25% of Emulsifier); OEO (0.11% of blend 1); XEO (0.0125% of blend 2); OEO+ Emulsifier; or XEO + Emulsifier. The rumen fluid of all lambs was sampled via stomach tubing to measure ruminal pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and NH3 concentrations and enumerate protozoa. Ruminal pH, molar proportions of individual VFA (except for acetate) and ammonia concentration were similar among treatments. The acetate and total VFA concentrations were lower (P = 0.03) for lambs receiving OEO, while protozoa numbers were increased (P = 0.01). No changes were observed in blood glutathione peroxidise or total superoxide dismutase, but there was a tendency for a reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in lambs fed diets containing OEO or XEO. No differences among diets were observed in coccidia oocyst counts (OPG) in faeces, however, prevalence of coccidia in lambs was reduced (Cramer’s V = 0.081) with OEO. Lambs fed OEO had the highest (P < 0.01)` DMI (1.48 kg.d -1), whereas those fed XEO had the lowest (1.30 kg.d -1). Average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion (DMI/ADG) and carcass measurements (hot carcass weight, carcass dressing percentages) were not affected by EO or EM. Results from this study suggest that EO may alter rumen fermentation and protozoa counts and increase DMI. However, these responses did not appear to be enhanced by Emulsifier as its inclusion with essential oils did not enhance fermentation or growth responses.

Download Full-text

Astragalus membranaceus root supplementation improves average daily gain, rumen TVFA production and immunity and antioxidant factors of Tibetan sheep

10.21203/rs.3.rs-18656/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xianju Wang ◽

Luming Ding ◽

Haiyan Wei ◽

Cuixia Jiang ◽

Qi Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Astragalus Membranaceus ◽

Feed Additive ◽

Control Group ◽

Tibetan Sheep ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Background: The use of antibiotics as supplements in animal feed is restricted due to possible health hazards associated with them. Consequently, there is increasing interest in exploiting natural products as antibiotics with no detrimental side effects. In this study, we examined the effect of Astragalus membranaceus root (AMT) supplementation on dry matter intake, growth performance, rumen fermentation and immunity of Tibetan sheep. Materials and methods: Twenty-four male Tibetan sheep (31 ± 1.4 kg; 9 months old) were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments with different levels of AMT: 0 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 50 g/kg and 80 g/kg dry matter (A 0 , A 2 , A 5 and A 8 , respectively) in addition to their basal diets. A 0 acted as a control group and measurements were recorded over a 56-d feeding period. Results: Sheep fed with AMT had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and a lower feed:gain ratio (F:G) than controls ( P < 0.001). Rumen concentrations of NH 3 -N ( P < 0.001), total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) ( P = 0.028), acetate ( P = 0.017) and propionate ( P = 0.031) in A 5 and A 8 were higher than in A 0 . The addition of AMT in the feed significantly increased serum antioxidant and immunity factors of the sheep and increased the concentrations of serum interleukin, immunoglobulin and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ( P = 0.010). Conclusions: We concluded that AMT can be used as a feed additive to improve growth performance and rumen fermentation and enhance the immunity of Tibetan sheep. Some responses exhibited a dose-dependent response, whereas other did not exhibit a pattern, with an increase in AMT. The addition of 50 g/kg and 80 g/kg AMT of total DMI showed the most promising results.

Download Full-text

Garlic Skin Induced Shifts in the Rumen Microbiome and Metabolome of Fattening Sheep

10.21203/rs.3.rs-57466/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

WEN Zhu ◽

Zhen Su ◽

Wei Xu ◽

Hanxue Sun ◽

Jinfeng Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Control Group ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Background: Garlic and its constituents exhibit activities on modifying rumen fermentation and improving growth performance. As a by-product of garlic processing, garlic skin contains similar bioactive components as garlic bulb. However, studies in ruminants using garlic skin are scarce. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic skin supplementation on rumen fermentation characterizes, growth performance, and involved mechanism in ruminants. Twelve Hu lambs were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: basal diet (CON) or basal diet supplemented with 80 g/kg DM of gallic skin (GAS). The experiment lasted for10 weeks, with the first 2 weeks for adaptation. Results: The results revealed that the average daily gain and volatile fatty acid concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed GAS than that in the control group. Garlic skin supplementation did not significantly (P > 0.10) affect the α-diversity indices. Increased (P < 0.05) abundances of Prevotella, Bulleidia, Howardella, Methanosphaera but a decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Fretibacterium were observed in GAS-fed lambs. Besides, the garlic skin supplementation favorably regulated (P < 0.05) pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 and B1 metabolism. Moreover, high correlations were observed between fluctuant rumen microbiota and metabolites. Conclusions: Supplementation of garlic skin improved the growth performance of sheep by modifying rumen fermentation through inducing shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome.

Download Full-text