Nutritional and Logarithmic Fungal Count of Brewers’ Grain Under Different Conservation Techniques and Brewery Sources

This study was contained two trials. The objectives of the first and the second trials were to explore variations in nutritional merits and investigate the effect of local conservation practices on nutritional and fungal load dynamics of wet brewers’ grain (WBG) received from different brewery sources, respectively. Fresh WBG samples for the first trial were obtained from four breweries (Meta Abo, Habesha, Dashen and Bedele) located in different districts of the country. Brewers’ grain sample received from Meta Abo brewery factory had superiorly higher (p<0.05) acid detergent fiber, lignin and digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD), but comparable dry matter (DM), total ash, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber with the other breweries. In the second trial, an attempt was made to evaluate three locally available WBG conservation practices, preservation of WBG using an ensiling technique maintained feed quality slightly comparable to the control sample (freeze dried ) but outperformed (p<0.05) other locally available conservational practices “soaking” and “sun drying “ with minimal loss on feed DM and other nutrients, lower total fungal, yeast and mold colony counts and above all superior CP digestion kinetics as measured through nylon bag degradability constants. If supply is not a constraint under local conditions, ensiling can fairly be recommended as a best bet WBG conservation practice for use at wider scale.

282 Nutritional Monitoring of Prenatally Stressed and Translocated Brahman Heifers

One drought mitigation strategy is transporting livestock to non-drought locations. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of prenatal stress and translocation on growing Bos indicus heifers. Twelve heifers born in spring 2019 at Overton, TX (1245 mm annual precipitation) were transported ~700 km to Sonora, TX (610 mm annual precipitation) in April 2020. Six heifers (283±10 kg) were born to dams subjected to transportation stress during mid-gestation (PNS) and 6 (279±17 kg) were born to non-stressed dams (CON). Heifers grazed a series of 24-ha native range pastures (aboveground forage biomass; 1508±390 kg/ha) and were sampled (non-shrunk BW/BCS score, feces) at 2-wk intervals from May through September. Fecal samples were collected from the ground or the rectum of each animal and stored at -20o C until processed for near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and prediction of diet crude protein (CP) and digestible organic matter (DOM). Inputs to a grazing animal nutrition model for prediction of BW included diet CP and DOM, age, and weather. Differences between groups for BW and nutritional parameters were determined by analysis of variance or paired t-test. Both groups gained BW (22±4 kg) throughout the study, there were no differences (P &gt; 0.1) due to treatment. Diet CP and DOM were affected by date (P &lt; 0.01) as diet quality declined from spring to fall. Percent diet CP was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in PNS than CON, especially during July and August (6.94±0.10 vs 6.23±0.17, respectively). Corresponding values for diet DOM were (59.53±0.55 vs 59.14±0.43, respectively; P = 0.09). Observed vs model-predicted weight was different (P &lt; 0.05) for both groups when using CP-based outputs, but not when using metabolizable protein-based outputs (P &gt; 0.1). In summary, PNS heifers selected a diet of greater CP than CON, and tended to select a diet greater in DOM.

Canopy characteristics of ‘Mavuno’ hybrid brachiariagrass and ‘Marandu’ palisadegrass harvested at different harvest intensities

‘Mavuno’ is a newly released brachiariagrass (Urochloa hybrid) cultivar with limited information available in the literature. The objective of this study was to compare forage characteristics of this cultivar and ‘Marandu’ palisadegrass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster cv. Marandu] harvested at 2 different stubble heights during 2 growing seasons (January‒April). The study was conducted in Araguaína, TO, Brazil in 2017 and 2018. Treatments were the factorial arrangement of 2 brachiariagrass cultivars, Mavuno and Marandu, harvested at 2 harvest intensities, 5 and 15 cm stubble height, distributed in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Response variables were canopy height, forage accumulation, proportion of leaf, stem and dead material, and concentration of crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM). Mavuno and Marandu did not differ (P>0.05) in forage accumulation (mean = 3,800 kg DM/ha/harvest) and IVDOM concentration (mean = 637 g/kg); however, Mavuno had lower CP concentration (101 vs. 110 g/kg), greater proportion of stems (16 vs. 13%) and less dead material (4 vs. 6%) than Marandu (P<0.05). Harvesting at 5 cm stubble height rather than 15 cm increased herbage accumulation per harvest (4,100 vs. 3,500 kg DM/ha) with decreased proportion of leaves (77 vs. 84%) and CP concentration (101 vs. 115 g/kg) (P<0.05). Our data suggest that Mavuno is a useful addition to the range of brachiaria grass cultivars for sowing in tropical regions and further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term persistence of Mavuno under different management practices in a range of environmental situations. While harvesting at 5 cm stubble height rather than 15 cm increased forage accumulation but reduced CP concentration, regardless of cultivar, longer-term effects on the stability of these pastures with these harvest frequencies and heights are open to question and studies should be continued for longer periods to assess longevity of stands under the 2 management strategies. Applying maintenance fertilizer during the growing season might have prevented the marked decline in dry matter accumulation as the season advanced and this hypothesis should be tested.

The Quality, Intake, and Digestibility of Virginia Fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita L. Rusby) Silage Produced under Different Technologies and Its Effect on the Performance of Young Cattle

Different harvesting and preservation methods of Virginia fanpetals herbage were evaluated, based on the chemical composition and digestible organic matter (OM) content (D-value) of silage fed to adult sheep, the intake and digestibility of silage, and the performance of young cattle. The following harvesting methods were compared: direct-cut harvesting with a precision-cut forage harvester (DC), harvesting after field wilting with a precision-cut forage harvester (WC) or a round baler (WRB). The silage was fed for 81 days to 24 Polish Holstein Friesian (HF) bulls, as the sole forage supplemented with 3.0 kg of concentrate/head/day. Harvesting methods affected the density (p < 0.001) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (p = 0.047). Differences were found among the groups in the digestibility coefficients of OM (DC-73.7, WC-78.9, WRB-79.9%) (p = 0.007), and crude protein (CP) (69.8%, 77.1%, 78.5%, respectively) (p < 0.001). Dry matter intake (DMI) reached 8.38 kg (DC), 8.74 kg (WC) and 7.21 kg (WRB). Live weight gain (LWG) differed (p < 0.001) among groups (0.939, 1.033, 0.813 kg/day, respectively). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to improve in WC (8.66 kg DMI/kg LWG) (p = 0.08). The highest-quality silage was produced in group WC, and it could be successfully fed to growing bulls as the sole forage.

Population improvement and synthetic cultivar production in forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.)

Experimental results are brought together to demonstrate that forage kale population improvement involving full-sib and selfed families can be done on an annual cycle, followed by production of a synthetic cultivar. Furthermore, this new breeding method compares favourably with the two successful methods used to date, namely triple-cross hybrid cultivars from inbreeding and crossbreeding programmes and open-pollinated cultivars from population improvement programmes. The key findings were that natural vernalization of kale in south east Scotland occurred by mid-December so that plants could be pollinated in a glasshouse with heating and lighting by the end of February and seed harvested by the end of May. The resulting full-sib or selfed families could be assessed in a field transplant trial in the same year, from June to November, thus completing an annual cycle. Self-pollination resulted in shorter plants with lower fresh-weight, dry-matter and digestible organic-matter yields, and undesirably higher contents of S-methylcysteine sulphoxide, the haemolytic anaemia factor, and the goitrogenic thiocyanate ion. As a consequence of digestible organic-matter yield being reduced by as much as 22%, the estimated optimum number of selfed parents in a synthetic cultivar was four to eight. Synthetic cultivars are expected to yield as well as triple-cross hybrids as there was no reduction in yield when the latter were open-pollinated.

Metabolizable Protein: 1. Predicting Equations to Estimate Microbial Crude Protein Synthesis in Small Ruminants

Microbial crude protein (MCP) produced in rumen could be estimated by a variety of protocols of experimental sampling and analysis. However, a model to estimate this value is necessary when protein requirements are calculated for small ruminants. This model could be useful to calculate rumen degradable protein (RDP) requirements from metabolizable protein (MP). Then, our objective was to investigate if there is a difference in MCP efficiency between sheep and goats, and to fit equations to predict ruminal MCP production from dietary energy intake. The database consisted of 19 studies with goats (n = 176) and sheep (n = 316), and the variables MCP synthesis (g/day), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and organic matter (OM) intakes (g/day), and OM digestibility (g/kg DM) were registered for both species. The database was used for two different purposes, where 70% of the values were sorted to fit equations, and 30% for validation. A meta-analytical procedure was carried out using the MIXED procedure of SAS, specie was considered as the fixed dummy effect, and the intercept and slope nested in the study were considered random effects. No effect of specie was observed for the estimation of MCP from TDN, digestible Organic Matter (dOM), or metabolizable energy (ME) intakes (P &gt; 0.05), considering an equation with or without an intercept. Therefore, single models including both species at the same fitting were validated. The following equations MCP (g/day) = 12.7311 + 59.2956 × TDN intake (AIC = 3,004.6); MCP (g/day) = 15.7764 + 62.2612 × dOM intake (AIC = 2,755.1); and MCP (g/day) = 12.7311 + 15.3000 × ME intake (AIC = 3,007.3) presented lower values for the mean square error of prediction (MSEP) and its decomposition, and similar values for the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and for the residual mean square error (RMSE) when compared with equations fitted without an intercept. The intercept and slope pooled test was significant for equations without an intercept (P &lt; 0.05), indicating that observed and predicted data differed. In contrast, predicted and observed data for complete equations were similar (P &gt; 0.05).

Virioplankton as an important component of plankton in the Volga Reservoirs

The distribution of virioplankton, abundance and production, frequency of visibly infected cells of heterotrophic bacteria and autotrophic picocyanobacteria and their virus-induced mortality have been studied in mesotrophic and eutrophic reservoirs of the Upper and Middle Volga (Ivankovo, Uglich, Rybinsk, Gorky, Cheboksary, and Sheksna reservoirs). The abundance of planktonic viruses (VA) is on average by 4.6 ± 1.2 times greater than the abundance of bacterioplankton (BA). The distribution of VA in the Volga reservoirs was largely determined by the distribution of BA and heterotrophic bacterioplankton production (PB). There was a positive correlation between VA and BA and between VA and PB. In addition, BA and VA were both positively correlated with primary production of phytoplankton. Viral particles of 60 to 100 µm in size dominated in the phytoplankton composition. A large number of bacteria and picocyanobacteria with viruses attached to the surface of their cells were found in the reservoirs. Viruses as the most numerous component of plankton make a significant contribution to the formation of the planktonic microbial community biomass. The number of phages inside infected cells of bacteria and picocyanobacteria reached 74‒109 phages/cell. Easily digestible organic matter, which entered the aquatic environment as a result of viral lysis of bacteria and picocyanobacteria, could be an additional source of carbon for living bacteria. The results of long-term studies indicate a significant role of viruses in functioning of planktonic microbial communities in the Volga reservoirs.

Dry matter yields and quality parameters of ten Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genotypes at three locations in western Oromia, Ethiopia

Ten Napier grass genotypes (accessions) were assessed across 3 locations, Bako, Boneya Boshe and Gute, for forage dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) concentration, leaf:stem ratio, nutrient composition and digestibility characteristics during 2016 and 2017. The genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Mean DM yield was higher for accession ILRI 16804 across all locations followed by ILRI 16801 and ILRI 16800. Leaf:stem ratio, CP concentration and CP and digestible organic matter (OM) yields also varied significantly among genotypes with the highest values obtained for accession ILRI 16804 across all locations, followed by ILRI 16800 and ILRI 16801. Yields of DM, CP and digestible OM and leaf:stem ratio were higher at Boneya Boshe and Gute than at Bako and higher during 2017 than during 2016. The consistently superior performance of ILRI 16804, ILRI 16801 and ILRI 16800 in both years across the 3 sites suggests that these genotypes should be studied further on farms and in differing environments before being recommended for general cultivation in this area. Examining performance with more frequent harvests and feeding studies with livestock would confirm the benefits to be obtained from planting these new accessions.

ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF YOUNG EWES FED GUINEA GRASS (PANICUM MAXIMUM) FOR MAINTENANCE AND GAIN

Energy requirement for maintenance and weight gain of non-lactating, non-pregnant West African Dwarf ewes were determined by using equation of the form DOMI = aw0.75 + bG........ (1) where, DOMI = Digestible Organic matter intake (kg/day), W = Liveweight of ewe (kg), G = Liveweight gain of ewe (kg/day), a = DOMI requirement per kg of Wkg0.75, b = DOMI requirement for each kilogram liveweight gain. The regression equation obtained was DOMI = 0.0385Wkg 0.75 + 1.54G........(2). The values of DOM required per kilogram of Wkg0.75 and for each kilogram of liveweight gain, were 0.0385 and 1.54kg respectively. In terms of Metabolizable energy (ME) equation (2) can be written as follows: ME = 523.50Wkg0.75 + 20940.92G........(3) Values of ME required per kilogram of Wkg0.75 and each kilogram of liveweight gain were 523.5 and 20940.92 KJ from equation 3. These results are comparable to those obtained for other breeds of sheep of both temperate and tropical origin.

The Effects of Energy Intake During late Pregnancy on Lamb Birth Weights and Lactation of Nigerian Dwarf Sheep

EIGHTEEN Nigerian Dwarf ewe lambs about eight months of age and weighing between 15 and 20 kg were divided into three groups, A, B, and C, and fed diets supplying 75, 100 and 125% of the ARC energy standards (1965) from the 15th week of pregnancy through lactation. Mean daily intakes during the last seven weeks of pregnancy were: dry matter 569, 748 and 826g: digestible organic matter 260, 496 and 593; and calculated metabolizable energy 0.99, 1.81 and 2.16 Mcal for groups A, B and respectively. The daily intakes during lactation were: 660, 748 and 857g of dry matter; 287, 593 and 690g of digestible organic matter and 1.05, 2.16 and 2.51 Mcal of calculated metabolizable energy for groups A, B and C respectively. Mean daily liveweight gains during the last seven weeks of pregnancy were 14.2, 99.0 and 90.0g and during lactation — 43.0, 7.9 and 10.4g for groups A, B and respectively, the differences being highly significant (P <0.01). Mean birth weights of lambs were 1.18, 1.78 and 1.82kg for groups A, B and C respectively, the differences not being significant. Weight gains of lambs were highly significantly correlated with milk yield of their ewes. During a 10-week lactation period the differences in milk yields were highly significant between groups, with average daily yields of 312, 480 and 533g, for A, B and respectively. Peak yields were 481, 697 and 670 g for the respective groups between the second and third weeks of lactation. The mean values for milk composition were: fat, which remained relatively constant throughout lactation, 6.00, 6.36 and 6.40%; protein 4.82, 5.63 and 5.78%; lactose 4.15, 4.30 and 4.34%; total solids, which showed no definite trends during lactation, 15.98, 16.88 and 16.95%; and gross energy, which decreased with advancing lactation, 6.12, 6.18 and 6.38kcal/g for groups A, B and C respectively, the differences not being significant.