Composition and fatty acid profile of milk from cows supplemented with pressed oilseed cake

This study compared the productive and nutritional parameters of milk from crossbred lactating cows managed on Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania and with a diet supplemented with different pressed oilseed cakes. The supplements used were as follows: peanut cake, sunflower cake and palm kernel cake for replacement of soybean meal. Sixteen cows with an average weight of 544 ± 57 kg and producing 8 ± 1.4 L of milk per day were used in this study. The animals were randomly assigned to the treatments according to a Latin square design repeated over time, with four treatments, 16 animals and four experimental periods. Supplementation of the diet with peanut cake, sunflower cake and palm kernel cake compared with soybean meal in the diet of cows did not affect the average daily production or composition of the milk. The palm kernel cake promoted an increase in lauric fatty acids (C_12:0) and palmitoleic acids (C_16:1) (5.02 and 1.65%, respectively) compared with peanut cake and sunflower cake (4.13 and 4.01%, respectively). The levels of oleic fatty acids (C_18:1) were higher for the sunflower cake and palm kernel cake supplements (26.01 and 25.01%, respectively) compared with peanut cake (23.11%). The replacement of soybean meal with sunflower cake and palm kernel cake improved the nutritional quality of the milk, with lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids and higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, without compromising the production or nutritional composition of the milk. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Whole soybean supplementation and cow age class: effects on intake, digestion, performance, and reproduction of beef cows

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of whole soybean supplementation on intake, digestion, and performance of beef cows of varying age. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial with 2 supplements and 3 age classes of cows (2-yr-old, 3-yr-old, and mature cows). Supplements (DM basis) included 1) 1.36 kg/d of whole raw soybeans, and 2) 1.56 kg/d of a soybean meal/hulls supplement. Supplements were formulated to provide similar amounts of protein and energy, but a greater fat content with the whole soybeans. Supplements were individually fed on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. During the treatment period, cows had free choice access to bermudagrass hay [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.; 8.4% CP; 72% NDF; DM basis]. In Exp. 1, 166 spring-calving Angus and Angus x Hereford crossbred beef cows were individually fed supplements for an average of 80 d during mid to late gestation. During the first 50 d of supplementation, cows fed soybean meal/hulls gained more BW (10 kg; P < 0.001) and body condition (0.18 BCS units; P = 0.004) than cows fed whole soybeans. However, BW change (P = 0.87) and BCS change (P = 0.25) during the 296-d experiment were not different between supplements. Although calves from cows fed soybean meal/hulls were 2 kg heavier at birth, there was no difference in calf BW at weaning between supplements. Additionally, first service conception rate (68%; P = 0.24) and pregnancy rate (73%; P = 0.21) were not different between supplements. In Exp. 2, 24 cows from Exp. 1 were used to determine the effect of supplement composition on forage intake and digestion; cows remained on the same supplements, hay, and feeding schedule as Exp. 1. Crude fat digestibility was the only intake or digestibility measurement influenced by supplement composition; fat digestibility was higher for cows fed whole soybeans compared with cows fed the soybean meal/hulls supplement (58.1 vs. 48.8%). Hay intake and DMI averaged 1.63 and 1.92% of BW daily, respectively. Dry matter, NDF, and CP digestibility averaged 54.1, 55.1, and 63.2%, respectively. Compared with supplementation with soybean meal/ hulls, whole soybean supplementation during mid to late gestation resulted in reduced BW weight gain during supplementation, inconsistent effects on reproduction, no effect on calf weaning weight, and no effect on forage intake or digestion.     

Dried poultry waste for cows grazing low-quality winter forage

Two trials conducted in 1996-97 measured BW and body condition score changes of cows fed different sources of degradable intake protein, including dried poultry waste and soybean meal, while grazing low-quality winter forages. In Trial 1, 60 spring-calving cows (5 yr; 555 kg) were used in an individual supplementation trial. Cows were gathered three times a week, sorted into individual pens, and fed their respective supplement. Cows grazed dormant native Sandhills winter range (common pasture) and were assigned to one of six supplemental treatments: 1) no supplement, 2) urea, 3) 22% dried poultry waste + urea, 4) soybean meal, 5) 22% dried poultry waste + soybean meal, or 6) 44% dried poultry waste. All supplements were based on wheat middlings and soybean hulls and were formulated to contain 44% CP. Thirty-six cows were selected randomly (six per treatment) for a 5-d measurement of forage intake from December 16 through December 20, 1996. Cows receiving supplements gained more weight (P < 0.001) and maintained greater body condition (P < 0.001) than unsupplemented cows. Cows receiving urea gained less (P < 0.10) than cows receiving a source of natural protein, but body condition remained similar. No differences were found in daily forage or total organic matter intake (P > 0.10). In Trial 2, cows grazed corn residues. Forty-eight spring-calving cows were group-fed supplements in one of six 4-ha paddocks. Cows received supplements containing either soybean meal or dried poultry waste that were the same as the soybean meal and 44% dried poultry waste supplements fed in Trial 1; gains were not different (P > 0.10). Under the economic conditions that existed at the time of these experiments, the supplement containing dried poultry waste resulted in a savings of $.04 per cow per day and a total savings of $3.20 per cow over an 80-d period. Feeding a supplement containing dried poultry waste resulted in performance similar to that when feeding a more conventional supplement containing soybean meal.     

Effects of prepartum supplementation of linoleic and mid-oleic sunflower seed on cow performance, cow reproduction, and calf performance from birth through slaughter, and effects on intake and digestion in steers

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sunflower seed supplements with varying fatty acid profiles on performance, reproduction, intake, and digestion in beef cattle. In Exp. 1, 127 multiparous spring-calving beef cows with free-choice access to bermudagrass hay were individually fed 1 of 3 supplements for an average of 83 d during mid to late gestation. Supplements (DM basis) included 1) 1.23 kg/d of a soybean hull-based supplement (control treatment); 2) 0.68 kg/d of linoleic sunflower seed plus 0.23 kg/d of the control supplement (linoleic treatment); and 3) 0.64 kg/d of mid-oleic sunflower seed plus 0.23 kg/d of the control supplement (oleic treatment). During the first 62 d of supplementation, the BW change was 11, 3, and -3 kg for cows fed the control, linoleic, and oleic supplements, respectively (P < 0.001). No difference in BW change was observed during the subsequent period (-65 kg, P = 0.83) or during the entire 303-d experiment (-31 kg, P = 0.49). During the first 62 d of supplementation, cows fed sunflower supplements tended (P = 0.08) to lose more body condition than cows fed the control diet, but BCS was not different (P > 0.22) for any subsequent measurement. At the beginning of the breeding season, the percentage of cows exhibiting luteal activity was greater for cows fed the control diet (43%; P = 0.02) than for cows fed either linoleic (20%) or oleic (16%) supplementation; however, first-service conception rate (67%; P = 0.22) and pregnancy rate at weaning (92%; P = 0.18) were not different among supplements. No differences were detected in calf birth (P = 0.46) or weaning BW (P = 0.74). In Exp. 2, 8 ruminally cannulated steers were used to determine the effects of sunflower seed supplementation on forage intake and digestion. Treatments (DM basis) included 1) no supplement; 2) a soybean hull-based supplement fed at 0.29% of BW/d; 3) whole linoleic sunflower seed fed at 0.16% of BW/d; and 4) whole high-oleic sunflower seed fed at 0.16% of BW/d. Hay intake was not influenced (P = 0.25) by supplement (1.51% of BW/d); however, DMI was greatest (P < 0.01) for steers fed the soybean hull-based supplement (1.93% of BW/d). Sunflower seed supplementation reduced (P < 0.01) NDF and ADF digestibility while increasing (P < 0.01) apparent CP and apparent lipid digestibility. In conclusion, whole sunflower seed supplementation resulted in reduced cow BW gain during mid to late gestation, but this reduction did not influence subsequent cow BW change, pregnancy rate, or calf performance.     

Effect of crambe meal on performance, reproduction, and thyroid hormone levels in gestating and lactating beef cows

Crambe meal was compared to a combination of sunflower and soybean meal as a protein supplement for mature beef cows in two experiments. In Exp. 1, cows (n = 80, average BW 651+/-14.4 kg) were fed crambe meal at 9.86% of dry matter intake (DMI) during the last trimester of gestation. No differences (P < .05) were detected due to treatment for cow weight, condition score, thyroid hormones, calf birth weight, or calving interval. In Exp. 2, cows (n = 100, average BW 566+/-6.82 kg) were fed crambe meal at 7.44% of DMI during the last trimester of gestation and at 8.33% of DMI during early lactation (53+/-6 d of lactation). Gains were greater during gestation (P = .09) and throughout the supplementation period (P = .06), and days to first estrus were reduced (P < .01) for cows fed crambe meal. During lactation, serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations did not decline as much (P = .03) in cows fed crambe meal as in cows fed sunflower-soybean meal-based supplements. No differences (P > .10) were apparent for condition score, birth weight, calf growth rate, weaning weight, thyroid hormones during gestation, or calving interval. These data indicate that crambe meal fed at the levels used in this experiment can be used as a protein supplement for beef cows without negatively affecting cows' performance.     

Pretanned leather shavings in a supplement mixture for steers: II. Digesta kinetics, ruminal fermentation, and grazing behavior in steers grazing dormant wheatgrass pasture

Twelve ruminally cannulated steers (Angus x Holstein; average initial BW = 533 +/- 3.28 kg) were randomly allotted to one of three treatments (four steers/treatment) to evaluate the use of pretanned leather shavings as a component of a protein supplement for steers grazing dormant intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium Host). Steers were allotted to one of three treatments: 1) no supplement (control); 2) supplementation intraruminally at 0700 with soybean meal at .2% of BW (as-fed basis); 3) supplementation intraruminally with soybean meal and pretanned leather shavings (17:8 ratio, respectively) at .16% of BW (as-fed basis). Supplements were formulated so that intakes were isonitrogenous and were placed intraruminally once daily (0700). Sampling periods were conducted February 3 to 16 and February 17 to March 5, 1995. In situ organic matter disappearance of the soybean meal supplement was greater (P > .05) than that of the leather shavings supplement at all incubation times (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h). Data suggested that pretanned leather shavings within the leather shavings supplement were only 25% degradable within the rumen. Forage OM intake (control = 12.7, soybean meal = 12.7, and leather shavings = 13.4 g/kg of BW), grazing time, and grazing efficiency were not altered (P > .10) by supplementation or type of supplement provided but did increase between the February and March samplings. Total intake was increased (P = .09) with supplementation and reflected the addition of the protein supplements. Particulate and fluid passage estimates were unaffected (P > .10) by the supplements; however, gastrointestinal fill increased (P = .01) between the February and March samplings. Ruminal pH was lower (P = .04) and ruminal NH3 N concentration was greater (P = .02) for supplemented steers than for control steers, and supplementation treatments did not differ (P > .10). Total VFA concentrations were increased (P = .01) by supplementation but were not affected by type of supplement provided (P > .10). Ruminal molar proportions of acetate and propionate and the ratio of these two VFA did not differ (P > .10) between supplementation types. Nonetheless, supplementation increased molar proportions of butyrate (P = .04), valerate (P = .02), and isovalerate (P = .05), and leather shavings supplementation increased (P = .10) isobutyrate proportions over those in steers supplemented with soybean meal. Combining pretanned leather shavings with soybean meal seemed to have no deleterious effects on forage intake, digesta passage, grazing behavior, or ruminal fermentation and seemed to provide effects similar to those of soybean meal alone.     

Effects of corn gluten feed on forage intake, digestibility and ruminal parameters of cattle fed native grass hay

Thirty-two beef cows (467 kg) were individually fed native grass hay and supplement for two 14-d periods in each of 2 yr. Supplement treatments and amounts fed (kilograms/day) were negative control (NC), 0, or equal amounts of protein from soybean meal (SBM), .7; a blend of soybean meal and corn gluten feed (SBM/CGF), 1.0; or corn gluten feed (CGF) 1.6. Cows received supplement at 0645 and had ad libitum access to native grass hay from 0700 to 1130 and from 1530 to 2000. Compared with NC, all protein supplements increased (P less than .05) ruminal NH3, propionate and butyrate concentrations at 4 and 25 h postfeeding. Ruminal fluid pH, total VFA and acetate concentrations at 4 and 35 h postfeeding were not affected by supplements. All supplements increased (P less than .01) hay intake as well as hay, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total diet dry matter (DM) digestibility. Compared to supplemental SBM, feeding CGF reduced (P less than .01) hay intake. Calculated daily intakes of metabolizable energy (ME) were 12, 17, 18, and 17 Mcal for NC, SBM, SBM/CGF and CGF, respectively. Hay intake, DM and ADF digestibility and ME intakes tended to be higher for SBM/CGF than for the average of SBM and CGF fed alone. Intakes of digestible DM and ADF were not altered by protein supplements, suggesting that intake responses were due to increased diet digestibility. Corn gluten feed appears to be an effective source of supplemental protein and energy for cows consuming low-quality roughage.     

Effects of supplementation on intake, digestion, and performance of beef cattle consuming fertilized, stockpiled bermudagrass forage

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of increasing supplement protein concentration on performance and forage intake of beef cows and forage utilization of steers consuming stockpiled bermudagrass forage. Bermudagrass pastures were fertilized with 56 kg of N/ha in late August. Grazing was initiated during early November and continued through the end of January each year. Treatments for the cow performance trials were: no supplement or daily equivalents of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g of supplemental protein per kilogram of BW. Supplements were formulated to be isocaloric, fed at the equivalent of 0.91 kg/d, and prorated for 4 d/wk feeding. Varying the concentration of soybean hulls and soybean meal in the supplements created incremental increases in protein. During yr 1, supplemented cows lost less weight and condition compared to unsupplemented animals (P < 0.05). During yr 2, supplemented cows gained more weight (P = 0.06) and lost less condition (P < 0.05) compared to unsupplemented cows. Increasing supplement protein concentration had no affect on cumulative cow weight change or cumulative body condition score change. Forage intake tended to increase (P = 0.13, yr 1 and P = 0.07, yr 2) in supplemented cows. Supplement protein concentration did not alter forage intake. In a digestion trial, four crossbred steers were used in a Latin square design to determine the effects of supplement protein concentration on intake and digestibility of hay harvested from stockpiled bermudagrass pasture. Treatments were no supplement; or 0.23, 0.46, and 0.69 g of supplemental protein per kilogram of BW. Forage intake increased (P < 0.05) 16% and OM intake increased (P < 0.01) 30% in supplemented compared to unsupplemented steers. Diet OM digestibility increased (P = 0.08) 14.5% and total digestible OM intake increased (P < 0.05) 49% in supplemented compared to unsupplemented steers. Supplement protein concentration did not alter forage intake, total digestible OM intake, or apparent digestibility of OM or NDF. During the initial 30 d after first killing frost, beef cows did not respond to supplementation. However, later in the winter, supplementation improved utilization of stockpiled bermudagrass forage.     

Assessment of the metabolic,protein, energy,and liver profiles of lambs finished in a feedlot and receiving diets containing groundnut cake

Forty-five crossbred Dorper × Santa Inês lambs were selected to assess the effect of replacing soybean meal by groundnut cake metabolic profile and histopathological evaluation of the kidney and liver tissues. The animals were 5 months old on average with a 24.5?±?5.3 kg initial body weight which were maintained fed in feedlot with groundnut cake (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 %) as the replacement for soybean meal. Confinement lasted 84 days, and on the last day, the animals were fasted and slaughtered. A completely randomized design with five treatments and nine repetitions was used. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each animal to evaluate the metabolic, protein, energy, and liver profiles of lambs. No effect was observed on protein, energy, or enzymatic profiles, which remained within the normal range for sheep. A histopathological examination was performed, and no deleterious effects from groundnut cake were observed in the liver or kidney tissues. Groundnut cake as a replacement for soybean meal can be used as an alternative protein source up to 100 % because it does not affect the metabolic, protein, and energy profiles or the liver and kidney functions of the growing sheep for slaughter.     

Effects of supplemental energy and/or degradable intake protein on performance,grazing behavior,intake, digestibility,and fecal and blood indices by beef steers grazed on dormant native tallgrass prairie

To evaluate the effects of balancing total diet degradable intake protein with dietary total digestible nutrients (TDN), we conducted two studies during 2 yr with 100 (302 +/- 8 kg initial BW) mixed-breed yearling steers and 12 ruminally cannulated steers (526 +/- 28 kg). Steers individually received one of four supplements 5 d/wk while grazing dormant native tallgrass prairie. Supplements included: 1) corn and soybean meal, balanced for total diet degradable intake protein in relation to total diet TDN (CRSBM), 2) corn and soybean hulls, equal in supplemental TDN to CRSBM (CORN), 3) soybean meal, equal in supplemental degradable intake protein to CRSBM (SBM), or 4) a cottonseed hull-based control supplement (CONT). At each feeding (5 d/wk), steers consumed 13.6, 13.6, or 4.2 g of dry matter/kg of body weight, or 178 g of DM, respectively, of supplement. Steers fed CRSBM had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain than cattle fed CORN or SBM. Feeding soybean meal (CRSBM, SBM) resulted in improved (P < 0.01) efficiency of supplement. Grazing time, intensity, and harvesting efficiency were reduced (P < 0.05) by corn supplementation (CRSBM and CORN), whereas the number of grazing bouts per day was increased (P < 0.08). Intake and digestibility of forage organic matter were reduced (P < 0.01) for steers supplemented with corn (CORN and CRSBM) vs cattle not fed corn (SBM and CONT). Total diet digestibility (P < 0.12) and digestible organic matter intake (P < 0.01) were greater for CRSBM-fed steers than for cattle fed either CORN or SBM. Steers fed CRSBM had greater (P < 0.01) fecal nitrogen and serum insulin than cattle fed CORN or SBM. Corn-fed cattle had lesser (P < 0.01) fecal pH and ADF concentrations than steers not consuming grain. Cattle fed supplements with soybean meal (CRSBM and SBM) had greater (P < 0.01) serum urea nitrogen than steers fed supplements without soybean meal (CORN, CONT). Supplemented steers grazing dormant tallgrass prairie had a greater rate of gain, with the greatest response in animal performance occurring when grain supplements were balanced for total diet degradable intake protein in relation to total diet TDN. These results lead us to suggest that grain-supplemented cattle grazing dormant tallgrass prairie require a balance of total diet degradable intake protein in relation to total diet TDN to optimize animal performance.     

Effects of interval-feeding whole sunflower seeds during mid to late gestation on performance of beef cows and their progeny

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of interval feeding of whole sunflower seeds on the performance of beef cows and their progeny. During mid to late gestation, 144 multiparous, spring-calving beef cows (588 kg of initial BW; 5.6 initial BCS; 4 to 13 yr old) were individually fed 1 of 3 supplements 4 d/wk for a 76-d period. Supplements (DM basis) included: 1) 0.68 kg of soybean meal/feeding (NCON); 2) 3.01 kg of a soybean hull-based supplement/feeding (PCON); and 3) 1.66 kg of whole sunflower seeds high in linoleic acid/feeding (WSUN). Supplements were formulated to provide similar amounts of CP and ruminally degraded intake protein; PCON and WSUN were also formulated to be isocaloric. During the supplementation period, cows had free-choice access to bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and tall-grass prairie hay. By the end of the 76-d supplementation period, cows fed PCON (P < 0.01) and NCON (P < 0.01) had gained more BW than cows fed WSUN (33, 23, and 10 kg, respectively). However, from the end of this supplementation period to the beginning of the breeding season 84 d later, cows supplemented with PCON had lost more (P < 0.01) BW than cows supplemented with WSUN (-123 kg vs. -111 kg). Cow BW change through weaning (-50 kg, P = 0.43) and final cow BW (536 kg, P = 0.70) at weaning were not different among supplement groups. Furthermore, cow BCS was similar among supplement treatment groups at the end of the supplementation period (5.3, P = 0.09), at the beginning of the breeding season (4.8, P = 0.38), and at weaning (4.7, P = 0.08). No difference among treatments was detected for calf birth weight (36 kg, P = 0.42), calf weaning weight (235 kg, P = 0.67), percentage of cows exhibiting luteal activity at the beginning of the breeding season (57%, P = 0.29), or pregnancy rate (88%, P = 0.44). However, first service conception rate was greater (P = 0.01) for cows fed PCON (79%) and tended (P = 0.07) to be greater for cows fed WSUN (74%) than for cows fed NCON (53%). After weaning, all steer calves were placed in a feedlot and fed a high-concentrate finishing diet for an average of 188 d. Supplements fed to dams during gestation did not influence feedlot performance or carcass characteristics. Prepartum energy supplementation, regardless of energy source or prepartum energy balance, resulted in improved conception rate, but other measures of reproduction, calf and feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics were not affected.     

Ingestive behavior of pastured crossbred dairy cows offered different supplement types

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different supplements on the behavior variables of crossbred dairy cows that were in pasture that comprised two 4?×?4 Latin squares (four periods, four treatments, and four animals). Each experimental period lasted 15 days (10 days to adapt animals to treatments and 5 days for data collection). The animals were supplemented twice a day, with different forage (corn silage and cactus pear) and concentrate sources (soy mea + wheat meal + corn meal + cotton seed together and soy meal as a single constituent of the concentrate). A significant difference (p?<?0.10) was observed for the percentage of time spent consuming the supplement and for idleness, rumination, and bite rate at the time of supplementation. The supplement intake period was greater for the cactus pear-based supplements due to the lower dry matter content. Those based on corn silage resulted in longer rumination periods than those consisting of cactus pear; however, the opposite was observed for supplements based on the cactus, which showed higher percentages of time for idleness. The supplementation influenced the ingestive behavior of crossbred dairy cows.     

Effects of supplementing prairie hay with corn and soybean meal on intake, digestion, and ruminal measurements by beef steers

Prairie hay supplemented with various amounts of corn and soybean meal was fed to steers in two experiments. Effects of supplementation on hay OM intake, digestion, and ruminal fermentation and kinetics were measured. A preliminary study was conducted to attain accurate values for OM intake and digestibility of prairie hay to be used in ration formulation using the NRC (1996) level 1 model. Ten steers (284 +/- 9 kg) given ad libitum access to chopped prairie hay (75% NDF, 6% CP) were supplemented with dry-rolled corn (0.75% of BW/d) plus soybean meal (0.25% of BW/d). Hay OM intake was 1.85% of BW and hay OM digestibility was 48%. Based on results from the preliminary study, eight ruminally cannulated beef steers (317 +/- 25 kg) received a sequence of eight different supplementation combinations (2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments). These supplements consisted of dry-rolled corn at either 0 or 0.75% of BW (DM basis) daily combined with one of four amounts of added soybean meal to provide between 0 and 1.3 g of degradable intake protein (DIP)/kg of BW. After supplements had been fed for 10 d, feces were collected for 4 d. Intake of hay and total OM increased quadratically (P < 0.01) in response to added DIP with or without supplemental corn. Hay OM digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.03) as DIP was added when corn was fed in the supplement. Intake of digestible OM was greater (P < 0.01) with than without corn supplementation. Increasing DIP increased (P < 0.01) digestible OM intake regardless of whether corn was fed. Inadequate ruminally degraded protein in grain-based supplements decreased forage intake, digestibility, and energy intake of cattle fed low-quality prairie hay. Providing adequate supplemental DIP to meet total diet DIP needs seemed to overcome negative associative effects typically found from supplementing low-quality forages with large quantities of low-protein, high-starch feeds.     

Efficacy of using a combination of rendered protein products as an undegradable intake protein supplement for lactating, winter-calving, beef cows fed bromegrass hay

Seventy-two (36 in each of two consecutive years) lactating, British-crossbred cows (609 +/- 19 kg) were used to evaluate effects of feeding a feather meal-blood meal combination on performance by beef cows fed grass hay. Bromegrass hay (9.6% CP, DM basis) was offered ad libitum and intake was measured daily in individual Calan electronic headgates. Acclimation to Calan gates began approximately 20 d after parturition, and treatments were initiated 21 d later. Cows were assigned randomly to one of four treatments (DM basis) for 60 d: 1) nonsupplemented control (CON), 2) energy control (ENG; 790 g/d; 100% beet pulp), 3) degradable intake protein (DIP; 870 g/d; 22% beet pulp and 78% sunflower meal), or 4) undegradable intake protein (UIP; 800 g/d; 62.5% sunflower meal, 30% hydrolyzed feather meal, and 7.5% blood meal). Net energy concentrations of supplements were formulated to provide similar NE(m) intakes (1.36 Mcal/d). The DIP and UIP supplements were calculated to supply similar amounts of DIP (168 g/d) and to supply 64 and 224 g/d of UIP, respectively. Forage DMI (kg/d) decreased in supplemented vs. nonsupplemented (P = 0.03) and DIP vs. UIP (P = 0.001); however, when expressed as a percentage of BW, forage DMI was not different (P = 0.23). Supplemented cows tended (P = 0.17) to lose less BW than CON. Body condition change was not affected (P = 0.60) by postpartum supplementation. No differences were noted in milk production (P = 0.29) or in calf gain during the supplementation period (P = 0.74). Circulating insulin concentrations were not affected by treatment (P = 0.42). In addition, supplementation did not affect circulating concentrations of NEFA (P = 0.18) or plasma urea nitrogen (P = 0.38). Results of the current study indicate that supplementation had little effect on BW, BCS, milk production, or calf BW when a moderate-quality forage (9.6% CP) was fed to postpartum, winter-calving cows in optimal body condition (BCS > 5). Supplemental UIP did not enhance cow performance during lactation. Forage UIP and microbial protein supply were adequate to meet the metabolizable protein requirements of lactating beef cows under the conditions of this study.     

Effects of lactational status on forage intake, digestibility, and particulate passage rate of beef cows supplemented with soybean meal, wheat middlings, and corn and soybean meal

Sixteen mature, lactating (453 kg) and 16 nonlactating (487 kg) Hereford and Angus x Hereford cows were used to determine effects of different dietary supplements and lactational status on forage intake, digestibility, and particulate passage rate. Supplement treatments and amounts fed (kg/d) were as follows: control, 0; and equal daily amounts of CP from soybean meal (SBM), 1.36; wheat middlings (WM), 3.41; or a blend of corn and soybean meal (corn-SBM; 22% corn and 76% SBM), 3.41. Cows were fed supplements at 0800 and had ad libitum access to prairie hay (4.9% CP) in stalls from 0800 to 1100 and from 1300 to 1600 for three 17-d periods. Lactational status and supplement type did not interact (P greater than .50) for hay DMI, DM digestibility, or particulate passage rate. Cows fed SBM ate more hay DM (P less than .01) and had greater hay DM digestibility (P less than .01) than did cows in other treatment groups. Average hay DMI (kg/100 kg of BW) was 1.95, 2.16, 1.94, and 1.89, and hay DM digestibility was 52, 61, 55, and 53% for control, SBM, WM, and corn-SBM supplements, respectively. Total diet DM digestibility was increased by supplementation (P less than .01), but no differences (P greater than .18) were observed among supplements. Lactating cows ate more (P = .13) hay DM (2.11 vs 1.87 kg/100 kg of BW) and had greater (P less than .05) fecal output (4.6 vs 4.3 kg/d) than did nonlactating cows. Dry matter digestibility and particulate passage rate were not affected (P greater than .35) by lactational status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Yeast Culture Supplementation to Laying Hen Diets Containing Soybean Meal or Sunflower Seed Meal and Its Effect on Performance,Egg Quality Traits,and Blood Chemistry

This study was designed to investigate the effects of yeast culture supplementation to laying hen diets containing 2 oilseed meals on performance, egg traits, and some blood parameters. A total of 180 Lohmann Brown laying hens 21 wk of age were allocated to 4 dietary treatments and fed for 16 wk. Two different basal diets were prepared; one contained soybean meal and the other contained sunflower seed meal. Both of the basal diets were supplemented with 0 and 2 g/kg commercial yeast culture product (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Yeast culture supplementation to diets containing either oilseed meal did not significantly affect feed intake, hen-day egg production, feed efficiency, interior and exterior egg quality characteristics, serum levels of total protein, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, and alkaline phosphatase. Body weight gain (P < 0.05), egg weight (P < 0.001), and serum uric acid (P < 0.05) were increased with yeast culture supplementation. The reduction in egg yolk cholesterol was significant (P < 0.001) in the groups fed yeast-supplemented diets. The results in this study demonstrated that yeast culture supplementation to the diets containing soybean meal or sunflower seed meal increased egg weight and decreased egg yolk cholesterol without affecting performance and egg traits, but serum uric acid concentration was increased.     

Supplements Containing Escape Protein Improve Redberry Juniper Intake by Goats

Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) is a common invasive plant species in west-central Texas. Goats will consume redberry juniper, but intake is limited by monoterpenoids found in the plant. Previous research has shown that goats will increase juniper intake through 1) conditioning and 2) protein supplementation. This study compared intake of juniper when goats received different protein supplements either with or without protein sources that are high in amino acids that escape digestion in the rumen. Recently weaned Boer-cross goats (n = 47) were randomly placed into five treatments. Treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 received a protein supplement and juniper for 1 h daily for 14 d, along with a basal diet of alfalfa pellets (2% body weight). Treatment 5 received only a basal diet of alfalfa pellets and juniper. All supplements were formulated to be isonitrogenous (37% crude protein [CP]). Treatment 1 contained cottonseed meal (high CP escape value), treatment 2 contained cottonseed meal and distiller’s dried grain (higher CP escape value), treatment 3 contained soybean meal (low CP escape value), and treatment 4 contained soybean meal and distiller’s dried grain (moderate CP escape value). Refusals of juniper, supplements, and alfalfa were weighed daily to determine intake. Supplementation with 1) cottonseed meal, 2) soybean meal, or 3) soybean meal and distillers dried grain did not influence (P > 0.05) juniper intake. Conversely, goats supplemented with cottonseed meal and distiller’s dried grain ate more (P < 0.05) juniper than goats receiving only alfalfa, possibly because of increased escape of glucogenic amino acids. We contend that supplementation with feeds high in protein escape values should increase juniper intake on rangelands.     

Peanut cake can replace soybean meal in supplements for lactating cows without affecting production

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study evaluated the total replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake in the concentrate supplement of lactating cows grazing. Eight crossbred 5/8...     

Nonstructural carbohydrate supplementation of yearling heifers and range beef cows

A digestion study with 28 yearling heifers (428 +/- 9.9 kg; Exp. 1) and a 2-yr winter grazing trial with 60 crossbred cows (552 +/- 6.9 kg; Exp. 2) were used to determine the effects of level of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) supplementation on intake and digestibility of low-quality forage. Treatments were as follows: 1) control, no supplement; 2) 0.32 kg of NSC (1.8 kg/d of soybean hulls and soybean meal; DM basis); 3) 0.64 kg of NSC (1.7 kg/d of wheat middlings; DM basis); and 4) 0.96 kg of NSC (1.7 kg/d of barley and soybean meal; DM basis). Supplements provided 0.34 kg of CP/d and 5.1 Mcal of ME/d. In Exp. 1, heifers were individually fed hay (5.5% CP, DM basis) and their respective supplements in Calan gates for 28 d. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design. In Exp. 2, cows were individually fed supplement on alternate days, and grazed a single rangeland pasture stocked at 1.8 ha/ animal unit month. Two ruminally cannulated cows were used per treatment to obtain forage extrusa and to measure in situ DM disappearance (DMD) and carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity of particle-associated ruminal microbes. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with the effects of treatment, year, and their interaction. In both experiments, Cr2O3 boluses were used to determine fecal output, individual animal was the experimental unit, and contrasts were used to test linear and quadratic effects of NSC level and control vs. supplemented treatments. In Exp. 1, hay and diet DM, NDF, and CP intakes and digestibilities were increased (P < 0.01) by NSC supplementation compared with the control. In Exp. 2, 72-h in situ DMD and CMCase were decreased linearly (P < 0.08) with increasing NSC supplementation. Intake of forage DM, NDF, and CP was decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing NSC supplementation during both years. Supplementation with NSC decreased (P = 0.01) cow BW loss compared with the control in yr 1, whereas in yr 2, cow BW loss was linearly increased (P = 0.03) by increasing NSC supplementation. Supplements containing NSC improved forage digestion and intake when heifers consumed forage deficient in CP relative to energy (digestible OM:CP > 7), but decreased forage digestion and intake when cows grazed forage with adequate CP relative to energy (digestible OM:CP < 7). Forage and supplement digestible OM:CP seemed to be superior predictors of response to supplementation with NSC compared with forage CP levels alone.     

Effects of soybean meal supplementation on ruminal kinetics of feed particle size reduction and passage in dairy cows fed rice straw

Six ruminal-cannulated nonlactating Holstein Friesian cows (mean body weight:660 ± 42.9 kg) were used to investigate the effect of soybean meal (SBM) supplementation on voluntary rice straw (RS) intake, feed particle size reduction, and passage kinetics in the rumen. They were allocated to two dietary treatments: RS alone or RS supplemented with SBM. Voluntary dry matter intake of RS and total tract fiber digestibility was increased by SBM supplementation (p < 0.05). Supplementation with SBM decreased rumination time per dietary dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDFom) intake (p < 0.01). Particle size distribution in the rumen and total ruminal NDFom digesta weights were not affected by SBM supplementation. However, the disappearance rates of total digesta and large and small particles from the rumen were increased by SBM supplementation (p < 0.01). Moreover, SBM supplementation increased the rate of size reduction in ruminal particles (p < 0.05). In situ disappearance of DM and NDFom of RS in the rumen was greater in SBM-supplemented cows than in nonsupplemented cows (p < 0.05). This study clearly showed that increased ruminal RS particle size reduction, passage, and fermentation due to SBM supplementation accelerated the RS particle clearance from the rumen and resulted in increased voluntary RS intake of dairy cows.