scholarly journals Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization by Three Breeds of Cattle

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
U. J. Ikhatua ◽  
F. O. Olubajo

Two feeding and digestibility trials were carried out to investigate the effects of groundnut cake (GNC) supplementation on feed intake, DM digestibility, nutrient utilization and liveweight gain of three breeds of cattle fed on all-roughage rations (hay and fresh grass) of Cynodon nlemfuensis var robustus. The results showed a decrease in mean DM intake of the basal ration by approximately 13.14%; 1.9% and 6.4% and an increase in total dry matter intake (basal + GNC supplement) of approximately 0.42%), 11.56% and 11.04% for the indigenous, crosses and exotic animals respectively. The results also showed non-significent increases in the apparent digestibilities of the nutrients. Both the total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) kg/W0.75 and Metabolizable Energy (ME) Kcal/W0.75 intake by the three breeds of cattle were increased with supplementation and mean daily liveweight increased by 18.92%, 13.15% and 16.27% respectively.

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lopez Saubidet ◽  
L. S. Verde

SummaryFive groups of 24 Aberdeen Angus steers, initially 8 months old and 185 kg in weight were subjected to varying degrees of restriction of energy intake, by feeding them on diets containing 1·45 to 2·85 Meal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg dry matter (DM) for 16 weeks. During the realimentation period that followed, all animals were fed ad libitum on the diet containing 2·85 Meal ME/kg DM. When realimentation began the feed consumption of all animals, which had been markedly different, rapidly became similar. When compared at equal live weight the restricted animals had higher intakes than the controls; at an equal age, however, feed intakes were practically the same. This led us to discard compensatory feed intake as a possible explanation for compensatory growth. Age explained 65% of the variability in feed intake, live weight explained 43% and both parameters jointly explained 73%. It is concluded that in restricted and realimented animals, age is a better predictor of feed intake than live weight. Compensatory growth is attributed to a lower maintenance requirement in restricted animals because of their lower live weight at the beginning of the realimentation period.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1822
Author(s):  
Cory T. Parsons ◽  
Julia M. Dafoe ◽  
Samuel A. Wyffels ◽  
Timothy DelCurto ◽  
Darrin L. Boss

We evaluated heifer post-weaning residual feed intake (RFI) classification and cow age on dry matter intake (DMI) at two stages of production. Fifty-nine non-lactating, pregnant, (Study 1) and fifty-four lactating, non-pregnant (Study 2) commercial black Angus beef cows were grouped by age and RFI. Free-choice, hay pellets were fed in a GrowSafe feeding system. In Study 1, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.01) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. In Study 2, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.02) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. Milk production displayed a cow age × RFI interaction (p < 0.01) where both 5–6-year-old and 8–9-year-old low RFI cows produced more milk than high RFI cows. For both studies, intake and intake behavior were not influenced by RFI (p ≥ 0.16) or cow age × RFI interaction (p ≥ 0.21). In summary, heifer’s post-weaning RFI had minimal effects on beef cattle DMI or intake behavior, however, some differences were observed in milk production.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Velazco ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
D. J. Cottle ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

As daily methane production (DMP; g CH4/day) is strongly correlated with dry matter intake (DMI), the breeding of cattle that require less feed to achieve a desired rate of average daily gain (ADG) by selection for a low residual feed intake (RFI) can be expected to reduce DMP and also emission intensity (EI; g CH4/kg ADG). An experiment was conducted to compare DMP and EI of Angus cattle genetically divergent for RFI and 400-day weight (400dWT). In a 6-week grazing study, 64 yearling-age cattle (30 steers, 34 heifers) were grazed on temperate pastures, with heifers and steers grazing separate paddocks. Liveweight (LW) was monitored weekly and DMP of individual cattle was measured by a GreenFeed emission monitoring unit in each paddock. Thirty-nine of the possible 64 animals had emission data recorded for 15 or more days, and only data for these animals were analysed. For these cattle, regression against their mid-parent estimated breeding value (EBV) for post-weaning RFI (RFI-EBV) showed that a lower RFI-EBV was associated with higher LW at the start of experiment. Predicted dry matter intake (pDMI), predicted DMP (pDMP) and measured DMP (mDMP) were all negatively correlated with RFI-EBV (P < 0.05), whereas ADG, EI, predicted CH4 yield (pMY; g CH4/kg DMI) were not correlated with RFI-EBV (P > 0.1). Daily CH4 production was positively correlated with animal LW and ADG (P < 0.05). The associations between ADG and its dependent traits EI and pMY and predicted feed conversion ratio (kg pDMI/kg ADG) were strongly negative (r = –0.82, –0.57 and –0.85, P < 0.001) implying that faster daily growth by cattle was accompanied by lower EI, MY and feed conversion ratio. These results show that cattle genetically divergent for RFI do not necessarily differ in ADG, EI or pMY on pasture and that, if heavier, cattle with lower RFI-EBV can actually have higher DMP while grazing moderate quality pastures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-172
Author(s):  
U. Okah ◽  
E. A. Anita

A study was conducted to evaluate nutrient intake and digestibility of Panicum maximum fed in combination with selected browse plants to West African dwarf (WAD) bucks. Four intact West African dwarf (WAD) bucks of mean body weight 17.50kg were used to conduct digestibility study in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design experiment. Four forage combinations, diets A, B, C and D were fed to the goats. Diet A, the control, was 100% Panicum maximuni, while diets B, C and D contained 60% Panicum maximum each plus 40% of Alchornea cordifolia, Manniophyton fulvum and Gmelina arborea, respectively. The study lasted 56 days in a 14 day x 4 change over periods. Data were collected on dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient intake and digestibility. Simple linear regression and correlation were used to assess the degree of relationship between some of the digestion components. The result of proximate analysis indicated that the diets (P. max + browse) B, C and D had significantly (p<0.05) higher dry matter (%DM) contents of 81.12, 81.09 and 80.68%, respectively, than the 75.71% for diet A (sole P.max). Crude protein content of 17.56, 15.62 and 17.52%, respectively were also higher (p<0.05) than the 8.38%for diet A. There was higher (p<0.05) ether extract content of 2.43, 2.38 and 2.32%, for diets B, C, and D, respectively than the 1.32% for diet A. The ash content of 10.71, 9.78 and 9.76% for diets B, C and D respectively, were also higher (p<0.05) than the 7.83% for diets A. Metabolizable energy (MJKg-1) values of 1.41, 1.42 and 1.42 for diets B, C and D were also higher (p<0.05) than the 1.31 for diet A. However, the crude fibre value of the diet A (27.26%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the 18.30, 19.30 and 18.58% for diets B, C and D. respectively. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in DMI among treatment means. Vitro significantly (p<0.05) higher for animals fed diets B(15.04). C(13.12 ) and D(14.48 ) wherein P.max was fed in combination with browse plants than in the diet A( 6.28) group fed sole Pmax. Faecal nitrogen showed no significant (p>0.05) difference among treatment means. Urinary nitrogen was significantly (p<0.05) higher in diet A group (0.39) than in diets B (0.30), C (0.34) and D (0.43) groups. There was positive nitrogen balance for all in the treatment groups. Apparent nitrogen digestibility (%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in diets B (92.37). C (90.51) and D (97.63) groups than in diet A (79.49). Nitrogen intake (g/d) could not reliably predict faecal nitrogen (g/kgDM) in diets C and D groups. Absorbed nitrogen (g/d/WKg0.75) could not predict urinary nitrogen (g/d/WKg0.75) in any of the diets. Biological value (BV) of the diets were A (55), B (45), C (81) and D (97). The result of this study shows that the animals fed P. max + browse recorded higher DMI, nutrient intake and digestibility than the sole P.max diet. These evaluation indices were, however, mostly better in the diet B group (60% P.maximum + 40% Alchornea cordifolia). The combination of 60% P. maximum + 40% Alchornea cordifolia is therefore recommended for West African dwarf (WAD) goats reared in the humid tropics of Nigeria for optimum intake and improved nutrient utilization.


1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
RJ Moir

Two experiments were carried out to study the excretion and retention of nitrogen and sulfur when intraruminal infusions of DL-methionine were given to sheep. Merino wethers were fed on a 50:50 oaten chaff: lucerne chaff ration at different levels of dry matter intake (DMI), either as chaff or ground and pelleted, and with or without intraruminal infusions of DL-methionine. Liveweight gain in experiment 1, and the rate of wool growth and sulfur incorporation into wool were also measured. [35S]L-methionine was used to trace sulfur excretion from the supplement. Increasing the DMI increased (P < 0.001) nitrogen and sulfur excretion in both faeces and urine, but also increased (P < 0.001) the apparent retention of nitrogen and sulfur. The excretion of nitrogen and sulfur was not significantly affected by the form in which the basal ration was supplied, but sulfur retention did improve (P < 0.05) when the ration was given as chaff. DL-methionine supplements resulted in large increases (P < 0.001) in the excretion of total and inorganic sulfate sulfur in urine, and there was a tendency for urinary neutral sulfur excretion to increase. The amino acid supplement did not affect faecal sulfur excretion except at the lower level of feed intake in experiment 2. Differences in the amount of sulfur, from DL-methionine and [35S]L- methionine injections given into the rumen, excreted in faeces and urine indicate possible differences in the metabolism of the amino acid isomers. Increasing DMI resulted in improved (P < 0.001) rates of liveweight gain and wool growth; DL-methionine infusions had no effect. Further, estimates of sulfur incorporation into wool indicate that very little supplementary methionine was utilized at the follicular sites despite increased sulfur retention. The patterns of sulfur excretion suggest that the added methionine was rapidly and virtually completely dissimilated in the rumen. It is concluded that production responses to dietary methionine supplementation occur only under sulfur-deficient conditions or occasionally where degradation is avoided. _____________________ *Part II, Aust. J. Biol. Sci., 32: 65 (1979).


1999 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. UNAL ◽  
P. C. GARNSWORTHY

Dry matter intake is one of the major factors limiting milk production in dairy cows, although the quantity of food consumed by an individual cow when housed and fed as part of a group is rarely known. Such information would permit more precise ration formulation, concentrate allocation and selection of cows according to efficiency of milk production. Alkanes have been used with sheep and cattle to estimate feed intake under grazing conditions and could provide a technique for measuring intake in housed dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to examine alkanes C32 and C36, in combination with alkane C33, as indigestible markers for estimating intake of housed dairy cows fed on different diets under experimental and commercial conditions. Three experiments were conducted with hay-based diets (Expt 1), silage only diets (Expt 2) and a diet consisting of a silage-based basal ration plus concentrates (Expt 3). Animals were dosed once daily with C32 and C36, either on filter papers (Expts 1 and 2) or as part of a specially prepared concentrate (Expt 3). Faecal recoveries of alkanes ranged from 0·88 to 0·99. Over the range of intakes found in the three experiments (6–24 kg DM/d), the r2 values for estimated versus actual dry matter intakes ranged from 0·81 to 0·99. It is concluded that alkanes could provide a useful technique for estimating intake in dairy cows housed and fed in groups.


Author(s):  
G. Moseley

Grass silage provides more than 80% of winter forage for livestock but, despite significant advances in ensilage methods, there remain significant problems of low intake, poor nutrient utilization and high effluent losses. The use of complementary concentrate supplements formulated to match silage composition, and the addition of absorbent feed compounds to grass during ensilage were examined as a means of addressing these problems.Two contrasting silages were made from the same grass crop, either by applying Add Safe (3.51/T) or by adding an absorbent silage enhancing feed compound (kg/T) during ensilage. These were fed to groups of wether sheep either alone or with a complementary supplement and dry matter intake, digestibility and nutrient balances were estimated.


1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Miles ◽  
R. J. K. Walters ◽  
E. M. Evans

SUMMARYA series of animal feeding trials was designed to determine differences between grasses in dry-matter intake and animal live-weight gain, with a view to indicating better selection criteria for improving the feeding value of herbage.Wide differences were demonstrated in feed intake and live-weight gain between single-variety grass feeds at similar levels of digestibility.S.37 cocksfoot gave consistently good and S.51 timothy, consistently poor responses.Supplementation of grass feeds with red clover frequently resulted in marked improvement in feed intake and animal performance.


1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Hedges ◽  
JL Wheeler ◽  
WT Williams

Two experiments on the efficiency of utilization of oats by Merino sheep are reported. In the first experiment eight plots with a range from 2730 to 4850 kg dry matter per ha were stocked at c. one sheep per 40 kg of forage. In the second, five plots with approximately equal quantities of forage oats were stocked at c. one sheep per 18, 29, 38, 44, and 50 kg of forage. The data were analysed by regression, ordination, and canonical analysis. Over the range of availabilities examined in experiment I there was no indication that increased dry matter availability reduced the efficiency of utilization. In experiment II, however, increased grazing pressure was associated with an increase in the total liveweight gain and metabolizable energy harvested from a constant quantity of forage; this implied lower efficiency at the lower stocking pressures. The higher digestibility of the forage on some plots in the first experiment was associated with an increased rate of dry matter intake and a reduction in wastage; this effect appeared to be independent of the original planned comparison. It was concluded that within the range of availability studied, forage digestibility and stocking pressure were probably more important determinants of the efficiency of utilization of oats than was the quantity of forage available.


Author(s):  
Dagnachew Hailemariam ◽  
Ghader Manafiazar ◽  
John A. Basarab ◽  
Paul Stothard ◽  
Filippo Miglior ◽  
...  

This study compared the different residual feed intake (RFI) categories of lactating Holsteins with respect to methane emission, dry matter intake (kg), milk somatic cell count (SCC, 103/mL) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB, mmol/L). RFI was calculated in 131 lactating Holstein cows that were then categorized into –RFI (RFI<0) vs. +RFI (RFI>0) and low (RFI<-0.5 SD) vs. high RFI (RFI>0.5 SD) groups. Milk traits were recorded in 131 cows while CH4 and CO2 were measured in 83. Comparisons of –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high RFI showed 7.8% (22.3±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.39) and 12.9% (21.1±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.45) decrease (P<0.05) in DMI of –RFI and low RFI groups, respectively. Similarly, –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) CH4 (g/d) by 9.7% (343.5±11.1 vs. 380.4±10.9) and 15.5% (332.5±12.9 vs. 393.5±12.6) respectively. Milk yield was not different (P>0.05) in –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high comparisons. The –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) SCC in –RFI vs. +RFI and low RFI vs. high RFI comparisons. BHB was lower (P<0.05) in low RFI compared to the high RFI group. Low RFI dairy cows consumed less feed, emitted less methane (g/d), and had lower milk SCC and BHB without differing in milk yield.


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