Nutritive Value Variation of Paunch Manure as an Alternative Feed Ingredient

Ruminants, which have multi-compartmented stomachs, are adapted to digest cellulosic materials, which constitute the primary expense on ranches and dairies. Industrial byproducts can be repurposed for livestock diets to decrease these costs. Therefore, finding alternative feedstuffs may benefit the economics of livestock production. The goal of this project was to evaluate the variation in nutritive value of ruminal waste as a potential feedstuff. Twelve paunch samples were collected from individual cattle across multiple harvest dates at the Tarleton State University Meat Laboratory, Stephenville, TX. Samples were dried and assayed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), sequential neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL), and physically-effective fiber (peNDF). Samples were subjected to batch-culture in vitro digestibility assays for the determination of digestibility coefficients. Mean NDF, ADF, ADL, CP and peNDF concentrations were 681, 399, 109, 150, and 387 g kg−1 DM, respectively. Contribution to variance from sample for NDF, ADF, ADL, CP, and peNDF were 75.3, 41.9, 33.0, 51.2, and 71.3%, respectively. In vitro true digestibility (IVTD) and in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD) were recorded as 462 and 216 g kg−1 DM, respectively. Contribution to variation of sample for IVTD and IVNDFD were 31.0 and 30.7%, respectively. Results indicate that rumen waste harvested from abattoirs may be useful for sustainable livestock production, while reducing environmental threats posed by disposal, but the viability of the product is highly dependent on the source animal. For full viability of application in a sustainable system, a centralized receiving and compositing system may be useful for developing a consistent product.

Nutritive Value Variation and In Vitro Digestibility of Hempseed Meal

Hempseed meal (HSM) is left after oil extraction of hemp and may act as a protein source in livestock. The first phase of this research evaluated variation in nutritive value and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of HSM from various sources in North America; the second phase utilized IVDMD to evaluate the efficacy of hempseed meal as an ingredient in ruminant feed. In phase one, the source had no contribution to variance for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), or crude protein (CP) (p ≥ 0.20). However, batch within source contributed to variation for NDF (50%), ADF (37%), ADL (13%), and CP (31%; p ≤ 0.01). Irrespective of differences in nutritive value, there was no contribution to variation (p = 0.23) of any measured response on in vitro true digestibility (53.0%). In phase two, two experiments evaluated HSM IVDMD as (1) a concentrate replacement or (2) a protein replacement in rations at varying rates. In the first experiment, IVDMD decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of HSM. In the second experiment, IVDMD decreased (p < 0.01) as HSM inclusion increased. Although IVDMD decreased as HSM inclusion increased, values still met the digestibility threshold for ruminant rations, indicating that HSM has potential as an alternative protein ingredient.

Measurements of Chemical Compositions in Corn Stover and Wheat Straw by Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Rapid, non-destructive methods for determining the biochemical composition of straw are crucial in ruminant diets. In this work, ground samples of corn stover (n = 156) and wheat straw (n = 135) were scanned using near-infrared spectroscopy (instrument NIRS DS2500). Samples were divided into two sets, with one set used for calibration (corn stover, n = 126; wheat straw, n = 108) and the remaining set used for validation (corn stover, n = 30; wheat straw, n = 27). Calibration models were developed utilizing modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression with internal cross validation. Concentrations of moisture, crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were successfully predicted in corn stover, and CP and moisture were in wheat straw, but other nutritional components were not predicted accurately when using single-crop samples. All samples were then combined to form new calibration (n = 233) and validation (n = 58) sets comprised of both corn stover and wheat straw. For these combined samples, the CP, NDF, and ADF were predicted successfully; the coefficients of determination for calibration (RSQC) were 0.9625, 0.8349, and 0.8745, with ratios of prediction to deviation (RPD) of 6.872, 2.210, and 2.751, respectively. The acid detergent lignin (ADL) and moisture were classified as moderately useful, with RSQC values of 0.7939 (RPD = 2.259) and 0.8342 (RPD = 1.868), respectively. Although the prediction of hemicellulose was only useful for screening purposes (RSQC = 0.4388, RPD = 1.085), it was concluded that NIRS is a suitable technique to rapidly evaluate the nutritional value of forage crops.

Effect of substituting maize grain with cobs treated with combinations of urea and wood ash on chemical composition and in sacco degradability

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of substituting maize grain with maize cobs treated with 25% urea (U) plus 75% wood ash (WA) on chemical composition and in sacco degradability. Maize grain was substituted with graded levels of 25U75WA in the dietary ingredients and the treatments were: 100M = 100% maize grain, 66M34C = 66% maize grain plus 34% treated maize cobs, 34M66C = 34% maize grain plus 66% treated maize cobs and 100C = 100% treated maize cobs. Samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL); they were incubated in saccofor 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hrs and their DM degradation kinetics described using the equation y = a + b ct (1- e- ). Results indicated that as maize grain is substituted with treated maize cobs, NDF, ADF and ADL also increased, however only the neutral detergent soluble (NDS) for treatment 100C was reduced. At 72 hrs of incubation, treatment 34M66C had the highest DM degradation, rapidly soluble fraction 'a' and potential degradability 'a+b'. It was concluded that maize cobs treated with combinations of urea and WA could substitute 66% of maize grain in sheep diets. Une expérience a été menée pour déterminer l'effet de la substitution du grain de maïs par des épis de maïs traités avec 25 % d'urée (U) plus 75 % de cendre de bois (WA) sur la composition chimique et la dégradabilité du sac. Le grain de maïs a été remplacé par des niveaux gradués de 25U75WA dans les ingrédients alimentaires et les traitements étaient : et 100C = 100 % d'épis de maïs traités. Les échantillons ont été analysés pour la matière sèche (MS), la matière organique (MO), les cendres, les protéines brutes (CP), les fibres au détergent neutre (NDF), les fibres au détergent acide (ADF) et la lignine au détergent acide (ADL) ; ils ont été incubés dans sacco pour 6, 12, 24, 48 et 72 heures et leur cinétique de dégradation de la matière sèche décrite en utilisant l'équation y = a + b (1-e-ct). Les résultats ont indiqué que lorsque le grain de maïs est remplacé par des épis de maïs traités, NDF, ADF et ADL ont également augmenté, mais que seul le détergent neutre soluble (NDS) pour le traitement 100C a été réduit. À 72 heures d'incubation, le traitement 34M66C présentait la plus forte dégradation de MS, la fraction rapidement soluble « a » et la dégradabilité potentielle « a+b ». Il a été conclu que les épis de maïs traités avec des combinaisons d'urée et d'AO pouvaient remplacer 66% des grains de maïs dans l'alimentation des moutons.

PSXII-26 Effects of levels of brackish water and NaCl on water and feed intake by different breeds of goat and hair sheep yearlings

Angora, Boer, and Spanish doelings and Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix ewe lambs (6 per type; initial age=296±2.1 d) consumed water varying in mineral levels of a natural brackish source (BR) and NaCl (SL) to determine effects on water and feed intake. There were 6 simultaneous 6×6 Latin squares with 3-wk periods. Water treatments (WT) were fresh (FR), BR alone (100-BR), similar total dissolved salt (TDS) level as 100-BR via NaCl addition to FR (100-SL), BR with concentrations of all minerals increased by 50% (150-BW), the same TDS level as 150-BR by NaCl addition to FR (150-SL), and the 150 TDS level by addition of a 1:1 mixture of BR minerals and NaCl to 100-BR (150-BR/SL). Concentrations (mg/kg) in BR were 4,928 TDS, 85.9 bicarbonate, 225 calcium, 1,175 chloride, 60.5 magnesium, 4.59 potassium, 1,387 sodium, 1,962 sulfate, and 8.3 boron, and TDS in other WT was 453, 5,684, 7,508, 8,222, and 7,319 for FR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively. Wheat hay (10% crude protein, 66.8% neutral detergent fiber, and 8.5% acid detergent lignin) was consumed ad libitum. There were no AT×WT interactions in water or feed intake. Water intake was affected by animal type (AT) and WT (P = 0.019 and 0.038, respectively), with values of 5.21, 4.06, 3.88, 4.65, 5.69, and 4.97% body weight (BW) for Angora, Boer, Spanish, Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix (SEM=0.388) and 4.66, 4.50, 4.61, 4.42, 5.30, and 4.96% BW for FR, 100-BR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively (SEM=0.249). Dry matter intake did not differ among WT (P = 0.573) but was affected by AT (P = 0.002), with values of 2.04, 2,54, 2.58, 2.72, 2.99, and 3.06% BW for FR, 100-BR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively (SEM=0.161). In conclusion, based on feed intake all AT seemed resilient to these WT with TDS less than 10,000 mg/kg.

PSXII-25 Effects of level and source of dietary forage on performance of lactating Alpine goats

Thirty-two primiparous and 32 multiparous Alpine goats consumed diets varying in level and source of forage to determine influences on lactation performance. Diets were 40, 50, 60, and 70% forage (40F, 50F, 60F, and 70F, respectively), with forage in 60F and 70F being coarsely ground grass hay (primarily orchardgrass) and that in 40F and 50F cottonseed hulls, alfalfa pellets, and wheat hay. Initial body weight was 56.1±1.22 and 58.3±1.33 kg for primiparous and multiparous goats, respectively. Diets were 15.7–16.1% crude protein, 40.5, 45.9, 57.1, and 59.6% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 6.1, 7.4, 4.6, and 5.0% acid detergent lignin, 10.0, 15.8, 50.1, and 55.5% particle retention on a 19-mm sieve, and 28.1, 32.4, 41.9, and 43.2% physically effective NDF for 40F, 50F, 60F, and 70F, respectively. The experiment started at 14 days-in-milk and lasted 16 wk. Average daily gain was similar (P &gt; 0.05) among treatments (-23, -33, -28, and -28 g; SEM=1.11), but dry matter intake [(DMI) 2.71, 2.75, 1.96, and 1.95 kg/d, SEM=0.133] and milk yield (2.82, 2.71, 2.23, and 2.10 kg/d; SEM=0.157) were lower (P &lt; 0.05) for the 2 diets highest in forage. Treatments affected (P &lt; 0.05) milk fat (3.16, 3.37, 2.93, and 2.97%; SEM=0.120) and protein concentrations (2.62, 2.69, 2.58, and 2.52% for 40F, 50F, 60F, and 70F, respectively; SEM=0.042). Milk energy yield was greater (P &lt; 0.05) for the 2 diets highest in concentrate (7.51, 7.45, 5.68, and 5.34 MJ/d; SEM=0.471), although relative to DMI yield was not affected (P &gt; 0.05) by diet (2.94, 2.95, 2.76, and 2.74 MJ/kg for 40F, 50F, 60F, and 70F, respectively (SEM=0.164) and was greater (P &lt; 0.05) for multiparous vs. primiparous goats (2.64 and 3.05 MJ/kg; SEM=0.116). In conclusion, lactational performance of Alpine goats in early to mid-lactation will be constrained with diets high in forage of moderate quality and large particle size.

Effects of plant spacing and fertilizer level on forage yield and chemical composition of hybrid Urochloa cv. Mulato II grass during the first 150 days of growth under irrigation supplementation, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on dry matter yield and chemical composition of Urochloa hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 × 20, 30 × 40, 40 × 60 and 50 × 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected were dry matter yield (DMY), leaf:stem ratio and chemical analyses, i.e. crude protein (CP), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations. Results indicated that DMY, leaf:stem ratio, CP%, NDF% and ADF% were significantly (P<0.05) affected by interactions between plant spacing and fertilizer level. However, ash and ADL were significantly (P<0.05) affected only by main effects. The highest DMYs (9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha) were recorded for narrowest plant spacing (20 × 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) and narrowest plant spacing (20 × 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha), respectively. CP% ranged from 14.6 to 20% and leaf:stem ratio from 1.12 to 1.82:1. Similar studies need to be conducted over longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.

Characterizing Biomass Yield and Nutritional Value of Selected Indigenous Range Species from Arid Tunisia

Rangelands of Tunisia show a great indigenous species diversity with considerable potential as forage for livestock. However, information on their fodder yield and quality is scanty and restricted to few species. The objective of the study was to evaluate the nutritive values of selected key perennial species based on their biomass yield, chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and mineral composition. The species evaluated included four grass species (Stipa lagascae Roem. and Schult., Stipa tenacissima L., Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) Munro ex T. Anderson, and Stipagrostis pungens (Desf.) de Winter.) and eight shrub species (Anthyllis henoniana Coss. ex Batt., Argyrolobium uniflorum (Deene.) Jaub. and Spach., Echiochilon fruticosum Desf., Gymnocarpos decander Forssk., Helianthemum kahiricum Delile., Helianthemum lippii (L.) Dum. Cours., Plantago albicans L. and Rhanterium suaveolens Desf.). Results showed that shrub species contained higher concentrations of the crude protein (CP), acid detergent lignin (ADL), but lower neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom) and acid detergent fiber (ADFom) concentrations than grasses. The greatest concentration of CP was 135 g/kg DM for R. suaveolens. The greatest aNDFom concentration was found within the grasses with maximum of 744.5 g/kg DM in S. plumosa. The shrub species E. fruticosum, A. uniflorum, P. albicans, G. decander, R. suaveolens, and A. henoniana had the highest IVOMD with over 500 g/kg DM and have the potential to supply energy to livestock. Overall, the moderate to high protein, low fiber, and high in vitro digestibility measured for shrubs, suggest they have high nutritional values and can be used to enhance local livestock production.

Effects of the Harvest Stage of Maize Hybrids on the Chemical Composition of Plant Fractions: An Analysis of the Different Types of Silage

The chemical composition of plant components of three maize hybrids harvested at the beginning of six reproductive stages of maturity was compared. The hybrids evaluated included Maximus VIP3, Defender VIP and Feroz VIP, which were evaluated at each of following stages: R1 (grain formation), R2 (milky grain), R3 (pasty grain), R4 (floury grain), R5 (hard grain) and R6 (ripe grain). The advancement in maturation was linearly related to the crude protein (CP) content of the stem, whole plant, and leaves, and there was a difference among the hybrids. Between R4 and R5 stages, Maximus and Defender presented the highest CP contents for husk (6.58 and 5.42% for Maximus; 5.54 and 5.17% for Defender). The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of the leaves showed a quadratic relationship with the advancement of maturation but did not differ among the hybrids. For all the hybrids, the NDF content in the husk and cobs increased linearly during the reproductive stages (>77 and 78%, respectively, for the three hybrids in R6). Defender had the lowest NDF content of the cob in R3. The acid detergent lignin contents did not differ among stages in the stems, and showed a linear decrease throughout the whole plant, though the contents did not differ among the hybrids. Due to the differences observed, recommendations for harvest based on the maturity stage for each hybrid should be taken into consideration. There seems to be no important distinction among hybrids for harvesting and use of straw. Despite the reduction in grain yield, an early harvest for earlage or snaplage can provide lower lignin content in husk and cob, as well as higher protein content in the husk, favoring the nutritional value of the vegetative fraction (husk and/or cob).

Enhancement of the nutritional value of fermented corn stover as ruminant feed using the fungi Pleurotus spp.

Four Pleurotus spp. fungi (P. diamor, P. eryngii, P. sajor-caju, P. citrinopileatus) were compared for their potential to improve nutritional value of corn stover as ruminant feed. Corn stover was inoculated with the fungi under solid-state conditions and their results showed that P. sajor-caju and P. eryngii were better than the other two species of Pleurotus with respect to decreasing the acid detergent lignin (ADL) (8.99 vs 9.88 vs 10.16 vs 10.46). In contrast, P. eryngii had lower ability to degrade cellulose (13.38%). Corn stover treated with P. citrinopileatus had the highest crude protein (CP) content (7.65%), whereas treatment with P. sajor-caju resulted in the highest increase in essential amino acids (55.11%). Although fungal pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass does not always result in high-quality feed, overall, P. eryngii and P. sajor-caju improved the nutritive value of corn stover as a ruminant feed.