scholarly journals Effects of barley silage of different theoretical cut length on digestion kinetics in ruminants

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Soita ◽  
D. A. Christensen ◽  
J. J. McKinnon ◽  
A. F. Mustafa

Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of two theoretical lengths of cut (TLC) (short = 4.7 mm and long = 18.8 mm) on the feeding value of barley silage to steers fed an all-forage diet. In the first study, six steers were used to determine intake of dry matter, total tract digestibility of dry matter (DMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), and acid detergent fiber (ADFD) in a replicated switchback design. In the second study, six steers equipped with rumen cannulas were used to determine the effects of barley silage particle size on ruminal kinetic and fermentation parameters. Feeding short barley silage to steers increased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake (DMI), DMD, NDFD, and ADFD compared with feeding long barley silage. The results of the second study showed that reducing barley silage particle size decreased (P < 0.05) ruminal retention time and increased (P < 0.05) passage rate of particulate matter. Ruminal pH was lower (P < 0.05) at 1000, 1200, 1800, 2000, and 2200 h for steers fed the short barley silage compared with those fed the long barley silage. However, the effects of barley silage particle size on ruminal ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were minimal. Eating rate was similar in both dietary treatments (average 40.3 g min-1). However, steers fed the long silage produced more (P < 0.05) saliva per kg DMI compared with those fed the short barley silage diets. It was concluded that reducing TLC of barley silage increased feed intake and improved total tract utilization of cell wall components by steers. Results of the metabolism study also showed changes in fermentation parameters, but no adverse physiological changes were noted when cattle were fed all forage diets. Key words: Barley silage, particle size, fermentation patterns


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 533-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Soita ◽  
D. A. Christensen ◽  
J. J. McKinnon

Four Hereford steers (471 ± 31 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to evaluate the effects and possible interactions between silage particle size and concentrate level on digestion and ruminal fermentation parameters. Diets were designed with two forage to concentrate ratios [low forage, 20:80, high forage, 50:50 on a dry matter (DM) basis], combined with two theoretical chop lengths of barley silage; short (SBS) = 4.7 mm and long (LBS) =18.8 mm. Results showed that steers fed diets with SBS consumed more DM than those fed LBS. An interaction (P < 0.05) between particle size and concentrate level was noted for molar proportion of acetate. At the higher concentrate level, feeding SBS diets reduced the molar proportion of acetate but increased the molar proportion of propionate. An interaction (P < 0.05) between particle size and concentrate level was noted for ruminal pH. When compared to LBS, the daily mean rumen pH was lower (P < 0.05) for steers fed SBS with 80% concentrate but not for those fed the 50% concentrate diet. Ruminal ammonia concentration was higher (P < 0.05) for those steers fed the 50% concentrate diets than for those fed the 80% concentrate diets. With high concentrate levels, SBS greatly reduced (P < 0.05) ammonia concentration. Passage rates for particulate matter and the retention time were decreased (P < 0.05) when SBS was fed. Feeding SBS reduced (P < 0.05) total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (65.5 vs. 68.5%, 66.5 vs. 73.4% and 39.4 vs. 45.9%), respectively. These results suggest that barley silage with a theoretical cut length of 18.8 mm can promote higher rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, and reduced particulate passage rates. These changes in rumen fermentation parameters should favor optimum rumen function and digestion when high concentrate diets are fed. Key words: Barley silage, particle size, steers, concentrate level, rumen fermentation



Author(s):  
Amanda M Grev ◽  
Marcia R Hathaway ◽  
Craig C Sheaffer ◽  
M Scott Wells ◽  
Amanda S Reiter ◽  
...  

Abstract Reduced lignin alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has the potential to provide a higher quality forage source for livestock by improving forage digestibility. This study was conducted to evaluate apparent digestibility when feeding reduced lignin and non-reduced lignin alfalfa hay to adult horses, and to examine mean fecal particle size (MFPS) and mean retention time (MRT) between alfalfa forage types. In 2017, reduced lignin (‘54HVX41’) and non-reduced lignin (‘WL355.RR’) alfalfa hay was harvested in Minnesota at the late-bud stage. Alfalfa hays were similar in crude protein (CP; 199 g kg -1), neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 433 g kg -1), and digestible energy (DE; 2.4 Mcal kg -1). Acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations were lower for reduced lignin alfalfa hay (74 g kg -1) compared to non-reduced lignin alfalfa hay (81 g kg -1). Dietary treatments were fed to six adult, stock-type horses in a crossover study. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-d dietary adaptation phase followed by a 5-d total fecal collection phase, during which horses were housed in individual boxstalls and manure was removed on a continuous 24-h basis. At 12-h intervals, feces were thoroughly mixed, subsampled in duplicate, and used for apparent digestibility and MFPS analysis. On day 2 of the fecal collection phase, horses were fed two indigestible markers, cobalt (Co) and ytterbium (Yb), which were fed as Co-EDTA and Yb-labelled NDF residue, respectively. Additional fecal samples were taken at 2-h intervals following marker dosing until 96-h post-dosing to evaluate digesta MRT. Data was analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Dietary treatment (i.e., alfalfa hay type) was included as a fixed effect, while experimental period and horse were considered random effects. Dietary treatments were similar in dry matter intake (DMI; 1.6% BW) and time to consumption (TTC; 7.6 h). Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) was greater for reduced lignin alfalfa (64.4%) compared to non-reduced lignin alfalfa (61.7%). Apparent CP and NDF digestibility did not differ between dietary treatments, averaging 78% and 45%, respectively. Dietary treatments were similar in MFPS (0.89 mm) and MRT for both liquid (23.7 h) and solid (27.4 h) phase material. These results indicate an improvement in DMD for reduced lignin alfalfa hay when fed to adult horses, with no change in forage consumption, fecal particle size, or digesta retention time.



2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-335
Author(s):  
Jefferson Leonardo Rocha Alves ◽  
Rafael Henrique de Tonissi e Buschinelli de Goes ◽  
Antônio Campanha Martinez ◽  
Aguinaldo Yoshio Nakamura ◽  
Jefferson Rodrigues Gandra ◽  
...  

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the rumen degradability of dry matter (DM), disappearance of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of Tifton 85 hay, and fermentation parameters (pH and ruminal ammonia nitrogen) of sheep fed diets with inclusion of safflower grains (0, 7.50 and 15%). Three mixed breed lambs with average body weight of 35.50± 1.50 kg were used. The rumen degradability of dry matter and NDF of the Tifton 85 haywas analyzedby the disappearance of DM and NDF, and the kinetic parameters adjusted according to the first order asymptotic model. The samples were incubated in the rumen in descending order (96, 48, 24, 12, 6, 3, 0 hours). The determination of ruminal pH and ruminal ammonia nitrogen (RAN) was performed before feeding and 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after feeding. Data of ruminal fermentation were tested by analysis of variance with repeated measures in time, at 5% probability. Ruminal pH values were not statistically different. When evaluating the RAN, there was a significant difference between the times and treatments for the diet with 15% safflower. The diets presented low effective degradability of DM and NDF with mean values of 18.02% and 47.40%, respectively. The safflower grain can be used up to 7.50% in the diets without altering the degradability and ruminal fermentation.



1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Faichney

An experiment was carried out on sheep to investigate the effect of supplementary energy, in the form of sucrose, on the intake and utilization of a diet of oat straw supplemented with urea. The sucrose supplement had no significant effect on the dry matter intake, although there was a tendency for the intake of straw to decline with an increase in the sucrose supplement. There was no significant effect on the digestibility of dry matter or crude fibre, but the digestibility of crude fibre tended to decrease when the sucrose supplements were fed. This may explain an increase in faecal nitrogen excretion, which was reflected in a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the apparent digestibility of nitrogen on the diets supplemented with sucrose. There were no significant differences between the diets in rate of passage, rate of cellulose digestion in the rumen, nitrogen balance, body weight gain, rumen pH, or concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen in the rumen. It was concluded that the lack of a supplement of readily available energy was not a limiting factor in the sheep's utilization of the diets used.



2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
F.C.D. Araújo ◽  
M.G. Cruz ◽  
J.C.C. Balieiro ◽  
M.L. Menezes ◽  
C.G. Moreira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of odontoplasty on apparent digestibility of diet for horses, consumption time, and particle size of feces. Nine horses were used, aged 14.5±3.3 years and weightng 531±38.7kg. The diet consisted of 1.5% of live weight (LW) in Tifton 85 hay and 0.75% of LW in concentrate for both assays. The experiment consisted of two tests of apparent digestibility using the method of total collection, before and after the odontoplasty, where the consumption time of hay and concentrate was also evaluated and the particle size of the feces was analyzed. An effect (P<0.05) of odontoplasty on the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber was observed. Effect of the consumption time for the concentrate (P<0.05) was observed, but not for the forage (P<0.05). There was more retention (P<0.05) of the fecal particles in the sieves of bigger granulometry. The odontoplasty increases the digestibility of dietary nutrients and feces particle size, without changing feces quality. Animals after the procedure have shorter concentrate consumption time.



2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (8) ◽  
pp. 1005-1016
Author(s):  
P. C. Kennedy ◽  
L. E. R. Dawson ◽  
F. O. Lively ◽  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
A. M. Fearon ◽  
...  

AbstractAn experiment was carried out to examine the effects of offering beef steers grass silage (GS) as the sole forage, lupins/triticale silage (LTS) as the sole forage, a mixture of LTS and GS at a ratio of 70:30 on a dry matter (DM) basis, vetch/barley silage (VBS) as the sole forage, a mixture of VBS and GS at a ratio of 70:30 on a DM basis, giving a total of five silage diets. Each of the five silage diets was supplemented with 2 and 5 kg of concentrates/head/day in a 5 × 2 factorial design to evaluate the five silages at two levels of concentrate intake and to examine possible interactions between silage type and concentrate intake. A total of 80 beef steers were used in the 122-day experiment. The GS was well preserved while the whole crop cereal/legume silages had high ammonia-nitrogen (N) concentrations, low lactic acid concentrations and low butyric acid concentrations For GS, LTS, LTS/GS, VBS and VBS/GS, respectively, silage DM intakes were 6.5, 7.0, 7.2, 6.1 and 6.6 (s.e.d.0.55) kg/day and live weight gains were 0.94, 0.72, 0.63, 0.65 and 0.73 (s.e.d.0.076) kg/day. Silage type did not affect carcass fatness, the colour or tenderness of meat or the fatty acid composition of the intramuscular fat in thelongissimus dorsimuscle.



2009 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. CHANCHAI ◽  
S. CHANPONGSANG ◽  
N. CHAIYABUTR

SUMMARYThe aim of the current study was to determine how cooling and supplemental recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) affect body function with respect to digestion kinetics, digestibility and other variables relevant to milk production in cross-bred Holstein cattle. Ten primiparous cross-bred dairy cattle (0·875 Holstein Friesian×0·125 Red Shindi) were used and divided into two groups of five animals each that were housed in a normal shaded barn (NS barn; non-cooled cows) and in a shaded barn with mist-fan cooling (MF; cooled cows). The cows in each group were supplemented with rbST in early, mid and late stages of lactation with three consecutive subcutaneous injections of 500 mg rbST every 14 days. All cows were fed the same total mixed ration twice daily at approximately 1·1 of assumed ad libitum intake and water was offered ad libitum. During the experimental periods, values of ambient temperatures and temperature humidity index (THI) in the NS barn were significantly higher than in the MF barn, whereas the relative humidity in the MF barn was significantly higher than in the NS barn (P<0·01). The respiration rate and rectal temperature were significantly higher for non-cooled cows than for cooled cows during the daytime whether there was or was not rbST supplementation. Supplementation of rbST for either cooled or non-cooled cows significantly increased dry matter intake (DMI), the efficiency of feed utilization and milk yields (P<0·05). Digesta kinetics using chromic oxide as an external marker showed a high digesta passage rate constant and low mean retention time of digesta in cows either by cooling or supplementation of rbST, whereas no changes were seen for the digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). The half-time of Cr2O3 in the whole digestive tract of cooled cows was lower than those of non-cooled cows and significantly decreased (P<0·05) during rbST supplementation in both groups in all stages of lactation. The magnitude of responses for the digesta passage rate and efficiency of feed utilization were larger in animals supplemented with rbST than in animals under MF cooling only.The main effect of cooling and supplemental rbST was to improve digestion by an increase in the rate of passage of digesta and in turn an increase in feed intake. Digestibility was not influenced by changes in passage rate of digesta either by cooling or rbST supplementation. Milk production in response to rbST supplementation is probably enhanced with cooling. The increased milk production induced by rbST supplementation was mediated by increased efficiency of feed utilization without changes in diet digestibility.



1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARINA A. G. VON KEYSERLINGK ◽  
G. W. MATHISON

The in situ bag technique was evaluated as a method of predicting the voluntary intake and digestibility of forages. Nine feedstuffs including three cereal straws, three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and grass hay mixtures, two alfalfa-grass silages, and a prairie (Festuca hallii L.) grass hay were each fed to five steers (350 ± 49.5 kg) at ad libitum and approximately maintenance feeding levels. Hays and silages were also fed at near the twice maintenance feeding level. Voluntary forage dry matter (DM) intakes ranged from 1.00 to 2.85% of body weight. Apparent forage DM digestibilities ranged from 37 to 64%. At the lower feeding level fractional rates of particulate passage through the digestive tract were higher (P < 0.05) for 37% DM silage (0.037 h−1) than for two of the straw-based diets (0.020–0.023 h−1). Particulate passage rates were not (P > 0.05) affected by feeding level. Predictions from in situ results were most accurate when 24 and 36 h degradation values were used to estimate DM digestibility (R2 = 0.92) and intake (R2 = 0.86), respectively. The neutral detergent fiber content of forage was equally well correlated with DM digestibility (R2 = 0.86) and voluntary DM intake (R2 = 0.85). Inclusion of information on rates of passage in prediction equations did not (P > 0.05) improve accuracies of predictions over those obtained using in situ results or chemical feed components. Key words: Steers, in situ, voluntary intake, digestibility, passage rates, prediction



Author(s):  
Gil Ignácio Lara CANIZARES ◽  
Heraldo Cesar GONÇALVES ◽  
Raquel Ornelas MARQUES ◽  
Raquel Vasconcelos LOURENÇON ◽  
Helen Fernanda Barros GOMES ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The trial was conducted with the objective to evaluate fresh sugarcane as a replacement for corn silage on dry matter intake, ruminal parameters (pH, short chain fatty acids, and ammonia nitrogen concentration), and degradation kinetics of forages and concentrate in maintenance adult goats. Four nonlactating ruminally cannulated goats were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with the replacement of 0, 33, 67, and 100% of corn silage by sugarcane as the independent variable. The substitution of sugarcane for corn silage did not affect dry matter intake, daily weight gain, or ruminal pH. A quadratic effect was observed for ammonia nitrogen concentration with a maximum concentration at 74.43% of sugarcane inclusion, as well as for short chain fatty acids, with maximum concentrations of acetate and butyrate at 0.59 and 32.70% of sugarcane inclusion, respectively. The minimum concentration of propionate was verified on 10.36% of sugarcane inclusion. However, the acetate:propionate ratio linearly decreased with increased sugarcane content. No effect was observed of different rumen environments on forage dry matter and neutral detergent fiber degradability (effective and potential degradability, soluble and potential degradable fractions). Dry matter degradability was 66.79% for sugarcane and 72.62% for corn silage after 96 h of incubation. Neutral detergent fiber was 37.10 and 51.82% for sugarcane and corn silage, respectively, after 96 h of incubation. In conclusion, sugarcane can be used as a replacement for corn silage in maintenance adult goats feed without altering dry matter intake and forage degradability while increasing propionate production.



Author(s):  
C.D. Lu ◽  
NA. Jorgensen

Ten multiparous Holstein cows were used in a 105-day continuous feeding trial to compare soybean meal (SBM) and alfalfa protein concentrate (APC) as supplemental protein sources for high-producing dairy cows. Dairy cows with an average milk production of 35.2 kg/day were paired and randomly assigned to one of the treatments. A double reversal design was employed With 35 days per period. The comparison between treatments was made during the last 21 days of each period. Experimental diets, containing 60% corn silage and 10% alfalfa hay, were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic (crude protein. 15.6%; net energy tor lactation, 1.60 Mcal/kg DM). Fifty percent of dietary nitrogen was provided by test proteins. Animals were fed four times daily. Chromie oxide boluses, 50 g/day were used to estimate digestion coefficients. Ruminal protein degradability in viva (%) and in situ(%)were 56.8, 68.3 and 47.3. 35.3 for SBM and APC, respectively. Dry matter intake (kg/day) was 19.1 and 18.6 for cows fed SBM and APC. respectively. Rummal parameters cows fed SBM vs APC were, pH. 6.6 vs 6.7, ammonia nitrogen(mg/dI) 10.8 vs 6.2(p less than 0.01); total volatile fatty acids (mM), 86.3 VS 84.6(P LESS THAN 0.05), acetate (%) , 50.8 vs 64.9 (p less than 0.01); propionate dry matter , 65.3 vs 61.8; crude protein . 67.6 vs 61.1 (P less than 0.05 ) neutral detergent fiber , 51.1 vs 52.5 ; acid detergent fiber, 47.7 vs 49.0 . A slightly higher (P more than 0.05 ) amount of milk was produced by cows fed APC(28.6+_ 3.5 vs 28.2+- 3.8 kg/day). Each additional gramof undergradable intake protein provided by APC continued to a 5- gram increase in 4% fat-corrected milk production.



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