Effect of Time and Amount of Colostrum Feeding on Physiological Parameters and Health Scores in Surti Buffalo Calves

Background: Timely feeding of adequate colostrum to new born calf is important to ensure transfer of passive immunity to prevent several infections. Present study has evaluated effect of time and amount of colostrum feeding on physiological parameters and health scores in Surti buffalo calves. Methods: Based on amount and time of feeding colostrum after birth, 24 Surti buffalo calves were divided into four groups as T1 (7%; 0-4), T2 (7%; 4-8), T3 (10%; 0-4) and T4 (10%; 4-8). Physiological parameters (twice daily upto day 5) and naval, nasal, eye and faecal scores on day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 were recorded. Lying behavior was recorded on day 2. Result: Significant (p less than 0.05) interaction between treatment and weeks and nonsignificant effect of treatment was observed. Calves that received colostrum late had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher faecal score as well as evening heart and respiration rate. Calves that received colostrum early had significant (p less than 0.05) higher lying time. Normal scores of naval, nasal, eye and faecal indicated good health of calves. It was concluded that early feeding of colostrum @ 7 or 10% body weight within 4 hours after birth is beneficial for optimum health in buffalo calves.

Influence of time of feeding on dam performance prepartum and postpartum and its impact on its kids

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of time of feeding on the performance of WAD goats during pregnancy, and to assess how the time of feeding of the dam affect the growth of their kids’ postpartum. Twelve (12) pregnant does were used in the pre-partum and in the postpartum, the same 12 lactating does and their 12 kids (1 kid per doe) were used. The dams were randomly distributed into three treatments and were fed once daily either in the morning, noon, or evening at 0600 h, 12:00 h and 18:00 h respectively under the natural light–dark cycle. Result Serum creatinine in noon-fed does was higher (P = 0.005) than in morning and evening-fed does. In addition, low density lipoprotein in morning-fed gravid does was the high (P = 0.007) compared to noon-fed does while the evening-fed does had the lowest. During postpartum, morning and noon-fed dams consumed more feed (forage, concentrate, and total daily feed intake) than evening-fed dams (P ≤ 0.006). Kid weight of morning-fed does was numerically higher than noon-fed does, which was higher than kids of evening-fed does. Conclusion This study shows that time of feeding did not affect the performance of pregnant WAD goats. However, it has the potential to influence the serum parameters of pregnant animals. It also showed that time of feeding influences maternal feed intake postpartum and can influence the growth of the kids.

Bioefficacy of rainbow trout flesh lipids depending on amino acid levels in compound feeds

The article examines the effect of complete compound feeds with different lysine and methionine levels on lipid bioefficacy indicators in rainbow trout flesh. The experiment was aimed at determining the effect of different types of amino acid nutrition of commercial rainbow trout on the fatty acid composition of flesh lipids as well as their bioefficacy. For this purpose, we formed five experimental groups by the method of analogs. The experiment lasted 210 days and consisted of two periods, namely equalizing (10 days) and main (200 days). Throughout the equalizing period, the feeding ration was the same for fish in the control and experimental groups. Throughout the main period, lysine and methionine levels in the experimental compound feeds for various experimental trout groups ranged from 2.5 to 2.9% and from 0.8 to 1.0%, respectively. During the study, rainbow trout was fed 4–6 times a day, in the daytime and at regular intervals. The required amount of feeds was calculated based on the indices of individual fish body weight and temperature at the time of feeding. Commercial two-year-olds were reared in ponds with an area of 100 m2 at a stocking density of 50 specimens/m2, and a water level of 1 m. The total number of trout in experimental studies was 25 thousand specimens. It was found that the main share of fatty acids in rainbow trout flesh lipids is saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. The study demonstrated that the use of compound feeds with increased lysine and methionine levels for the fish of the 4th experimental group resulted in an increase in the content of saturated fatty acids in the flesh by 5.84% versus control. An increase in the amino acid nutritional value of the compound feeds subsequently led to an increase in the content of linoleic acid in the trout flesh by 0.19–0.24% versus control.

309 Nutrient Digestibility of Beef Steers Consuming Finishing Diets with an Added Nutritional Packet

The effects of a nutritional packet fed to beef steers during the final 64 d of the feedlot finishing phase on apparent total tract nutrient digestibility were evaluated. Angus-crossbred steers (n =120; initial BW = 544 ± 52 kg) were assigned to 30 pens (4 steers/pen; 15 pens/treatment; pen = experimental unit) in a randomized complete block design. A steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet was fed ad libitum and treatments applied as follows: 1) control and 2) 30 g/steer-daily (DM-basis) of the nutritional packet [containing live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 8.7 Log CFU/g), vitamin C (5.4 g/kg), vitamin B1 (13.33 g/kg), NaCl (80 g/kg) and KCl (80 g/kg)]. The nutritional packet used ground corn as a carrier and was included at 1% of diet DM. Orts were quantified daily (if any) and subtracted from the total dietary DM offered to calculate DM intake. Fecal samples were collected twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) for 5 consecutive days (d 47 to 51) from at least 3 steers within pen. Feed samples were collected daily at time of feeding (0630 h). Fecal and feed samples were composited to represent the collection period, dried (55oC), ground (1 mm), and analyzed to assess DM, OM, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose. In situ (288 h) iNDF was used as an internal marker to measure apparent total tract nutrient digestibility. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Intake of DM, OM, and fiber components during the digestibility period was not affected (P ≥ 0.44) by treatment. Steers fed the nutritional packet had increased apparent total tract digestibility of OM (P = 0.02), DM (P = 0.01), NDF (P = 0.02), ADF (P = 0.01), and hemicellulose (P = 0.08; tendency). Improved nutrient digestibility without affecting nutrient intake may warrant an enhanced energy deposition in the carcass.

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

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.

Effect of the cereal aphid infestation on the oxidative damages of protein in the maize (Zea mays L.)

We studied the effect of the cereal aphid (the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi L. and grain aphid Sitobion avenae F.) infestations on the oxidative damages of protein in the maize (Zea mays L., cultivar Touran) seedlings. We found that the content of protein thiols and protein bound carbonyls were dependent from study factors: time of feeding, the number of aphids and species. In relation to uninfested plants (control), prolonged insect (R. padi and S. avenae) feeding (24–96 h post infestations) was linked to depletion in levels of protein thiols in foliar tissues of maize genotype and accumulation after 96 h post infestations in maize seedlings investigated by higher number of aphids, protein bound carbonyls. Our results indicated that the biotic stress factors, including aphids evoke the oxidation of protein in the maize. The stronger protein damages occurred in the maize seedlings infested with oligophagous R .padi females.

INFLUENCE OF BREWERS DRIED GRAINS ON THE RUMINAL VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS (VFA)PRODUCTION AND MILK CONSTITUENTS IN ZEBU COWS

Four lactating White Fulani (Zebu) cows fitted with permanent rumen cannular were fed four. diets: (A) Acha hay (Digitaria exilis Stapf, (B) 50% acha hay plus 50% brewers dried grains (BDG), (C) 75% BDG plus 25% hay and (D) 100% BDG in a 4 x 4 latin square design. Analysis of rumen total Volatile Fatty acids (VFAS), individual VFAs, ammonia-N and pH as well as some milk constituents were carried out simultaneously. Mean ruminal pH and total VFA (MM/100ml) were 7.1,6.2; 6.5, 8.0; 5.8, 14.9 and 5.8, 13.1 for A, B, C, and D respectively. The corresponding acetate to propionate (A/P) ratios were 4.97, 4.40, 3.20 and 3.40. The molar percent values of butyrate yielded by A and B were similar and less (P<0.05) than the value for C or D. Ruminal ammonia-N (mg/100ml) ranged from 5.7 for A to 6.8 for D. Total VFA, NH3-N and pH of the rumen fluid were affected by time of feeding (P<0.05). The correlations between ruminal pH and acetate (r = 0.98), pH and total VFA (r = -0.90), and acetate and propionate (r = -0.75) were significanct(P <0.05). Cows on treatment A (acha hay) yielded higher percent milk fat (P<0.05) and lower percent milk protein than those on B, C, or D. Treatment effects on milk pH and percentages of lactose, solids-not-fat (SNF) and ash were not significant. The observed depression in milk fat of cows on treatments B, C and D in comparison with cows on treatment A wasrelated to a decrease in rumen acetate and an increase in propionate. It was observed that the fermentation of BDG yielded acetate within limits required for efficient milk production.