EVALUATION OF STEAM-TREATED WHEAT STRAW AS A ROUGHAGE SOURCE IN DAIRY COW RATIONS

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
W. GUENTER

Two experiments were conducted involving a total of 24 Holstein cows to evaluate steam-treated (ST) wheat straw as a roughage source in mixed dairy rations. Diets containing ST straw (exp. 1) at 20 and 30% of the ration dry matter (DM) were consumed in amounts similar to a 30% ground alfalfa hay diet and in greater amounts than a mixed diet with 20% untreated (UT) wheat straw. Cows receiving the diet containing 30% alfalfa hay produced more (P < 0.05) milk per day than the group fed a mixed diet with 20% UT straw, but similar amounts to those cows fed the two ST straw diets. Milk fat (%) was not different (P > 0.05) among the four treatments. Cows fed the diet containing 30% ST straw had a lower (P < 0.05) ruminal fluid acetate: propionate ratio compared with a 20% UT straw mixed diet. In the second experiment, cows receiving a diet containing 30% ST straw plus 30% rolled barley in place of 60% corn silage consumed less (P < 0.05) total DM and produced less 4% fat-corrected milk per day with a depressed (P < 0.05) fat test. Propionic acid level in rumen fluid was elevated (P < 0.05), which lowered the acetate: propionate ratio in ruminal fluid of cows receiving the diet containing 30% ST straw compared to cows receiving the corn silage diet. Data from these studies suggest that up to 20% steam-treated wheat straw (DM basis) could be included in total mixed dairy rations without any appreciable influence on animal performance. However, at higher levels ST wheat straw is a less "effective" fiber or roughage source in dairy rations. Key words: steam-treated, wheat straw, Holstein cows, fat depression, feed consumption, effective fiber

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. ZoBell ◽  
E. K. Okine ◽  
K. C. Olson ◽  
R. D. Wiedmeier ◽  
L. A. Goonewardene ◽  
...  

Two studies were conducted with the objective of evaluating the effects of feeding different levels of whey ensiled with wheat straw and wheat middlings (whey silage) compared to control diets on production parameters in growing cattle. Whey silage was included in diets at 55 and 65.5% on a dry matter basis with net energy for maintenance and crude protein calculated to be similar to control diets containing a combination of alfalfa hay, corn silage and wheat middlings at 1.74 Mcal kg-1 and 13.4%, respectively. Dry matter intake averaged 8.41 versus 8.91 kg d-1 (P < 0.05) and 8.68 versus 7.09 kg d-1 (P < 0.05) when whey silage was included at either 55 or 65.5% of the diets compared to the control diets. Average daily gains of cattle fed whey silage incorporated at 55% was 1.00 versus 1.14 kg d-1 (P < 0.05), and reflected the difference in dry matter intake; no differences (P > 0.05) in feed efficiency (8.73:1 versus 8.71:1) were observed. However, the higher dry matter intake (DMI) of cattle fed diets with whey silage incorporated at 65.5% did not (P > 0.05) translate into higher average daily gain (1.23 versus 1.18 kg d-1), resulting in a higher (P < 0.05) feed to gain (7.00:1 versus 6.01:1) for the whey-based silage diets. Incorporation of whey silage in diets at 55% increased (P > 0.05) the dry matter digestibility by 12%, whereas incorporation at 65.5% decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter digestibility by 12% compared to control diets, with no differences (P > 0.05) in percent neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) at either level. We conclude that whey silage can be included at between 55 and 65.5% of the total dry matter in diets with no adverse effects on production compared to cattle fed diets containing a combination of alfalfa hay, corn silage and wheat middlings. Key words: Agricultural by products, crop residues, digestibility, growing cattle, production, whey silage


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. G. von Keyserlingk ◽  
W. C. Gardner ◽  
L. J. Fisher ◽  
J. A. Shelford

A study was undertaken to compare the feeding of a ground-pelleted concentrate mixture with a textured one. Parameters studied were in situ rumen degradability characteristics of the concentrates, dry matter intake and yield of milk and milk components. A concentrate mixture consisting of barley, corn, canola meal and a vitamin-mineral premix was manufactured in two forms. In the one form, all ingredients were ground and pelleted while in the second, only the canola meal and premix were pelleted while the corn and barley were steam rolled prior to mixing. Initially the degradability characteristics and digestive tract disappearance of the two concentrates were determined in an in situ trial using two non-lactating Holstein cows fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae. Nylon bags containing 2–3 g of material were prepared in quadruplicate (two replicates per cow per incubation time) and incubated in reverse order 72, 48, 24, 12, 8, 4, 2 and 0 h for each concentrate. Total intestinal disappearance was determined using the mobile nylon bag procedure. The results of the in situ trial indicated that the degradable fraction b of the dry matter was greater for the textured compared with the pelleted form (34.7 vs. 31.2%) while effective degradability of the dry matter was higher for the pelleted form (74.5 vs. 68.0%). Total tract disappearance of the dry matter and protein fractions were not influenced by form of concentrate but rumen disappearance of crude protein was higher for the pelleted form (70.4 vs. 64.2%). The feeding trial employed 14 lactating Holstein cows fed a forage mixture consisting of corn silage and grass silage. Milk and milk protein yields and protein content of the milk were higher, while milk fat content was lower, for cows fed the pelleted compared with those fed the textured concentrate. Rumen pH (6.79 vs. 6.58) was lower for cows fed the pelleted compared with the textured concentrate. There was, however, no effect of form of concentrate on concentrations of volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid. Form of concentrate fed did not influence dry matter intake but in terms of net energy (Mcal NEL) the diet containing the pelleted concentrate tended to have a higher energy value than the diet containing the textured concentrate (1.76 vs. 1.66 Mcal NEL kg DMI−1). The marked difference in the ratio of milk fat to milk protein, 1.14 vs. 1.29 for pelleted and textured concentrates, respectively, coupled with the impact on rumen degradability characteristics indicated that minor differences in processing can have an impact on product yield from the milk and the efficiency of utilization of the diet. Key words: Textured versus pelleted concentrate, degradability, lactating cows


1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. B. BAREEBA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
J. A. McKIRDY ◽  
H. R. SHARMA

Corn silages were treated at harvest with 0.5% urea or 1.3–2.2% ammonia-molasses-mineral solution. Apparent recoveries of added nitrogen in the corn silages ranged from 95 to 100% in both experiments. Water-insoluble N and lactic acid contents were increased in the treated silages as compared to the control. Four diets containing either (1) grass-legume (GL) silage (38% DM) + medium grain (MG); (2) 0.5% urea-treated corn (CU) silage (31% DM) + MG; (3) 2.2% ammonia-treated corn (AC) silage (32% DM) + MG; (4) AC silage + low grain (LG) were fed to eight Holstein cows in a latin square design. Silage DM consumption, milk production and milk composition were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Reducing the level of grain feeding from 32 to 23% of the diet with ammonia-treated corn silage resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in total DM consumption, with no apparent effect on milk production or composition, at the levels of production observed in this study. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences among treatments in molar percentages of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in rumen fluid. However, no differences were observed in milk fat or solid nonfat contents of the cows receiving the four experimental diets. Sheep digestion studies carried out on the above silages indicated apparent digestibilities of DM, CP and energy were lower (P < 0.05) for the GL silage compared with the UC or AC silages (exp. 1), whereas there were no differences in apparent digestibilities of DM and energy of untreated corn silage or NPN-treated silages (exp. 2). However, crude protein digestion coefficient was lower (P < 0.05) for untreated corn silage compared with the three NPN-treated corn silages. The present studies failed to show a beneficial effect of treating corn silage with an ammonia, molasses and mineral solution rather than urea on silage fermentation and animal performance. Key words: Dairy cows, sheep, nitrogen balance, ammonia treatment, corn silage


2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciene Lignani Bitencourt ◽  
José Ricardo Martins Silva ◽  
Bruno Menezes Lopes de Oliveira ◽  
Gilson Sebastião Dias Júnior ◽  
Fernanda Lopes ◽  
...  

Dietary yeast supplementation may improve the digestive efficiency of ruminants, but responses depend on the yeast strain and the diet composition. Corn silage and citrus pulp are usual carbohydrate sources for dairy cows in southeast Brazil. This study evaluated the supplementation of dairy cows fedding on corn silage-citrus pulp-based diets with Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (Lallemand SAS, Toulouse, France). Twenty multiparous, midlactation Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in crossover design. Treatments were: live yeast on oyster meal capable of supplying a daily minimum of 1 × 10(10) CFU per cow or oyster meal top-dressed at 10 g to the morning meal. Diet contained (% of dry matter): 16.8% crude protein, 30.9% neutral detergent fiber, 43.9% corn silage, 2% tifton hay, 14.4% steam flaked corn, 16.9% citrus pulp and 21.7% soybean meal. Yeast supplementation increased daily yields of milk (29.4 vs. 28.5 kg, p = 0.11), protein (0.939 vs. 0.908 kg, p = 0.05), and lactose (1.294 vs. 1.241 kg, p = 0.06), but did not affect milk fat contents (p = 0.59). Daily dry matter intake was 21.4 with yeast and 20.7 kg for the control (p = 0.11). Total tract apparent digestibility of the neutral detergent fiber was 48.1% with yeast and 43.2% for the control (p = 0.08). There was a trend for increased intake of digestible organic matter with yeast supplementation (p = 0.07). The positive milk protein yield response to yeast supplementation may have resulted from the increased fiber digestibility, but the response mechanism could not be elucidated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1931
Author(s):  
E. Giaretta ◽  
A. L. Mordenti ◽  
G. Canestrari ◽  
A. Palmonari ◽  
A. Formigoni

Rumination and activity behaviours are important welfare indexes in beef-cattle housing. The main objective of the present study was to assess whether the automatic collars are able to reliably assess the rumination and activity patterns of beef heifers. For this purpose, individual rumination time and activity (RT and AT respectively) were continuously recorded using an automatic neck-collar system (Hr-Tag, SCR Engineers Ltd, Israel) on the three trials performed. For Experiment 1, 60 Italian crossbred heifers were randomly assigned to one of two experimental diets for 9 months: the corn–silage diet (CS), which included 50% forage on a dry-matter (DM) basis (43% corn–silage, 7% wheat straw) and the hay diet (HAY), with 57% forage on DM basis (28.5% grass hay, 28.5% alfalfa hay). Heifers consuming HAY diet showed greater (P &lt; 0.05) RT (min/day) and AT (bits/day) than did those on CS diet. Rumination time per kilogram of dry matter and per kilogram of amylase- and sodium sulfite-treated neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash residue (aNDFom) intake were similar in the two experimental groups, while RT per kilogram of physical effective NDF (peNDF) intake was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in the CS group than in the HAY one. Daily rumination and activity patterns (min/2 h and bits/2 h respectively) were significantly different between CS and HAY groups. In the second experiment, 32 beef heifers were randomly allocated in two homogeneous pens, each containing eight animals, and two non-homogeneous ones, in which animals were added at different periods. The AT of non-homogeneous pens was significantly higher than that of the homogeneous ones, suggesting a distress condition for values higher than 309 bits/day AT. In the third experiment, RT and AT of three animals with respiratory disease were collected using the automatic collar system and compared with AT and RT of the healthy animals. Sick animals presented a significantly lower RT and higher AT than did the healthy ones. The cut-off to distinguish sick from healthy heifers was set to 537 bits/day AT and 381 min/day RT. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that automatic collars can reliably monitor different rumination and activity behaviours of beef animals in various management conditions and different health statuses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 194-195
Author(s):  
Jean-Philippe Marden ◽  
Virginie Marquis ◽  
Kheira Hadjeba Medjdoub ◽  
Marine Lacombe

Abstract Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species known to be the most prevalent contaminants in feedstuffs. In ruminants, contaminated AFB1 feeds usually exhibit symptoms including reduced feed efficiency and milk production and decreased appetite. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of AFB1 on rumen fermentation parameters by using the ANKOM gas production protocol. Rumen fluid was collected from a cannulated dry dairy cow, filtered with cheese-cloth and diluted (1:1) with a standard buffer. Triplicates of 75 mL flasks were fed 0,75g of feed (79% corn silage, 15% alfalfa and 6% concentrates) and inoculated with 0 (blank), 0,2, 0,5, 1 and 2 ppm of AFB1. Flasks were placed in a rotating incubation at 39°C for 96h and connected to ANKOM GP system. After 96h of incubation, the contents of each flask were centrifuged. Supernatants were analyzed for total VFA and AFB1 while precipitates were dried at 104°C for DM disappearance. The experimentation was repeated weekly 3 times and named wk1, 2 and 3. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS using a univariate model. Results showed no significant differences on GP max at 96h among AFB1 concentrations. Only wk 1 showed that higher AFB1 concentration (2 ppm) decreased significantly (P &lt; 0,05) DM disappearance (- 8,2 pts) when compared to the blank. Total VFA contents (75,0 ± 1,6 mM) were not affected by AFB1. Wk 2 and 3 did not show any difference neither on DM disappearance nor on VFA (89,1 ± 1,6 mM; 110,2 ± 4,8 mM). It can be concluded that our in vitro model, GP did not reflect DM disappearance and it can be put forward that rumen fluid with low total VFA concentrations (≤ 75 mM) could be more sensible to AFB1 challenge.


1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. PEIRIS ◽  
R. ELLIOTT ◽  
B. W. NORTON

Sorghum grain was included in a basal diet of molasses (molasses 505, urea 21, sunflower meal 191, pangola grass hay 250, minerals 31 g/kg as fed) at rates of 0, 202, 391 and 707 g/kg, generating diets in which grain replaced 0 (diet A), 33 (diet B), 66 (diet C) and 100% (diet D) of the molasses and hay. The four diets were fed to groups of four Hereford steers (293–334 kg liveweight) over a 96-day period. One half of each treatment group was implanted with a growth promotant (zeranol), and all were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir at the end of the trial. The inclusion of 33% grain increased voluntary feed consumption, digestible dry matter (DM) intake (from 57·6 to 82·0 g digestible DM/kg0·75 per day and significantly increased liveweight gain from 592 to 900 g/day. Zeranol implantation also increased liveweight gain but not feed intake. Steers given only grain (diet D) had the highest liveweight gains (1127 g/day). The addition of grain to molasses diets decreased urinary N excretion and increased ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in rumen fluid. Molar proportions of propionic acid in total VFA increased from 0·15 to 0·20, and butyric acid decreased from 0·36 to 0·29 when 33% of the molasses was replaced by sorghum grain. The fat content (depth at sacral position) of the carcasses of steers given grain only (diet D) was significantly greater (14 mm) than that of steers given the basal diet of molasses (4 mm), and carcass fat contents were intermediate (10 and 11 mm) for steers given diets B and C respectively. It was concluded that the inclusion of small amounts of grain in molasses-based diets increased cattle growth principally by increasing digestible energy intake without decreasing molasses intake, thus improving the efficiency of utilization of molasses in molasses-based diets.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1083-1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. NDLOVU ◽  
J. G. BUCHANAN-SMITH

Nine lambs fitted with rumen cannulae were used in two 5 × 5 Latin squares to measure the effect of alfalfa hay, C4- and C5-branched- and straight-chain volatile fatty acids (C4/C5 VFAs), cell wall from alfalfa hay (ALFCW) and a soybean protein preparation on intake and rumen digestion of a basal corncob diet with urea included at 30 g kg−1. Relative to the control, alfalfa hay decreased (P < 0.05) intake of the basal diet but increased (P < 0.05) total dry matter intake. ALFCW and soybean protein did not affect intake of the basal diet and total dry matter (P > 0.05). C4/C5 VFAs increased intake of basal diet by sheep in one square (P < 0.05) but had no effect (P > 0.05) on intake with sheep in the other square. Alfalfa hay, ALFCW and soybean protein increased (P < 0.05) total VFA concentration in rumen fluid while only alfalfa hay and C4/C5 VFAs consistently increased isobutyrate, isovalerate and valerate levels in rumen fluid (P < 0.05). In comparison with the control diet, soybean protein elevated (P < 0.05) mean rumen ammonia-N levels whereas C4/C5 VFAs depressed them; however, values exceeded 17 mg dL−1 rumen fluid on all treatments. Most measures of digestion kinetics of fiber from corncobs were unaffected by supplementation (P > 0.05). Alfalfa hay and ALFCW increased (P < 0.05) rate of passage of digesta from the reticulo-rumen. It was concluded that alfalfa hay has a reduced role in improving intake of corncob diets when there is also sufficient NPN in the diet. Key words: Roughage (poor quality), volatile fatty acids, rumen ammonia levels, chromium-mordanted cell walls


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. ERFLE ◽  
F. D. SAUER ◽  
S. MAHADEVAN ◽  
R. M. TEATHER

In two experiments, lactating cows (26 in exp. 1; 32 in exp. 2) were fed an 11.3% crude protein (CP) diet, a 14.7% CP diet containing untreated soybean meal (SBM) or a 14.6% CP diet containing formaldehyde-treated SBM (FSBM), all three fed as a complete blended diet with control corn silage (CCS) (exp. 1); a 12% CP diet, a 13.4% CP diet containing SBM or a 13.3% CP diet containing FSBM, all fed as a complete blended diet with urea-treated corn silage (UCS) (exp. 2). In both experiments concentrates and CCS or UCS were mixed (50:50 dry matter) daily and fed ad lib for a 16-wk period. The increase of CP over the low CP negative control by addition of untreated SBM resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in milk production in both experiments. The addition of FSBM had no significant effect. When comparing solids-corrected milk (SCM), addition of SBM, whether treated or not, significantly increased SCM in both experiments. In neither experiment did FSBM improve milk production over untreated SBM. All animals fed CCS lost body weight but there was no difference between treatments. For animals fed UCS the low CP group lost significantly (P < 0.05) more body weight than did the group fed FSBM. Dry matter (DM) intake was significantly (P < 0.05) lower for the FSBM fed group than for the group fed untreated SBM in exp. 1 (CCS). DM intake was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by either FSBM or SBM over the low CP control fed UCS. Milk protein was the only component significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by FSBM in exp. 1. Isobutyric and isovaleric acids were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in rumen fluid of animals on FSBM plus CCS. Rumen microbial protein content seemed to be more adversely affected by FSBM with CCS than UCS. Amino acid content of FSBM and SBM demonstrated that lysine and tyrosine were lost from SBM after treatment with formaldehyde. The lack of a response in milk production to FSBM is discussed in terms of a lysine and tyrosine deficiency for milk protein synthesis and the adverse effect that formaldehyde protection of SBM may have on the rumen microbial population. Key words: Lactation, dairy cows, urea, corn silage, soybean meal, formaldehyde treatment


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