富含硒钴锌的苜蓿青干草在牛羊饲喂中的效果

通过在荷斯坦奶牛和杜泊羊日粮中添加5%高硒型、高硒钴型、高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草,研究3种苜蓿青干草对牛羊饲料转化和生产特点的影响.结果表明,功能型苜蓿青干草能够显著提高牛羊的饲料转化率,其中高硒钴和高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草有利于提高羊和牛的日增重,而高硒型青干草有利于提高荷斯坦奶牛的产奶量.     

高微量元素苜蓿青干草在荷斯坦奶牛生产中应用效果的分析

本文在河南省黄河滩区根据荷斯坦奶牛的营养特点,在日粮中分别添加5%的高硒型、高硒钴型、高硒钴锌型和普通型苜蓿青干草,通过单因子对比饲喂试验来研究这4种苜蓿青干草添加后对奶牛生长和生产性能的影响。结果表明:和普通型苜蓿草干草相比,高硒苜蓿草干草不但能够增加奶牛的体长、胸围和奶牛体重,而且能够提高奶牛日产奶量8.6%,降低料奶比12.17%,提高饲料的转化和利用;高硒钴苜蓿青干草能显著地提高牛奶中乳脂含量的22.15%,高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草能显著地提高牛奶中乳蛋白、乳糖以及非脂固形物含量的9.28%、3.26%和4.69%。     

优质苜蓿青干草在奶牛生产中应用效果的研究

通过在荷斯坦奶牛饲草中添加5%的高硒型、高硒钴型、高硒钴锌型和普通型苜蓿青干草,研究4种苜蓿青干草对奶牛生长和生产性能的影响.研究结果表明,与普通型苜蓿草干草相比,高硒苜蓿草干草不但能够增加奶牛的体长、胸围和奶牛体重.而且能够提高奶牛日产奶量8.6%,降低料奶比12.17%,提高饲料的转化和利用;高硒钴苜蓿青干草能显著地提高牛奶中乳脂含量的22.15%,高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草能显著地提高牛奶中乳蛋白、乳糖以及非脂固形物含量的9.28%、3.26%和4.69%.在奶业的实际生产中,可根据不同的的需要,在日粮中选择特定的高微量元素苜蓿青干草来添加.     

日粮中添加高硒钴锌苜蓿干草对奶牛生产水平的影响

 分别用5%的高硒、高硒钴以及高硒钴锌3种高微量元素苜蓿Medicago sativa替代基础日粮中等量普通苜蓿青干草,研究高微苜蓿对荷斯坦奶牛生产性能的影响,,为提高奶牛的饲料转化率和改善奶的品质提供依据。结果表明：和添加等量的普通苜蓿草干草相比,3种高微量元素苜蓿干草能显著提高奶牛的饲料转化率,影响牛奶的营养含量,并且饲喂安全,无副作用。其中,高硒苜蓿草干草能提高产奶量8.6%(P<0.05),提高饲料转化率13,8%(P<0.05),但显著降低了牛奶中乳脂和乳蛋白的含量;高硒钴和高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草能加强奶牛对饲料的利用,增加日增重,饲料转化率分别提高16.5%(P<0.05)和33.1%(P<0.05)。另外,高硒钴和高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草还能改善牛奶的品质,其中高硒钴苜蓿青干草能提高牛奶中乳脂含量的22.15%(P<0.05),高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草能使奶中乳蛋白、乳糖以及非脂固形物的含量分别提高9.28%(P<0.05)、3.26%和4.69%。因此,在奶牛生产中适当添加高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草,既能能提高奶牛的饲料转化率,又能提高奶的品质,而且安全又效果好,可以在生产中加以推广和利用。     

高微量元素苜蓿青干草在荷斯坦奶牛饲料转化中应用的研究

选择河南省黄河滩区32头荷斯坦奶牛进行日粮添加富含微量元素的苜蓿干草试验,其中对照组8头,在日粮中添加5%的普通型苜蓿青干草,其余奶牛分别在日粮中添加5%的高硒型、高硒钴型、高硒钴锌型青干草。于添加前后6次采样,测定和观察不同处理牛奶中乳脂、乳蛋白、乳糖以及非脂固形物SNF(也称非脂干物质)含量的差异,并每天测定牛采食量和产奶量。结果表明:和普通型苜蓿草干草相比,高硒苜蓿干草能够提高奶牛日产奶量8.6%,降低料奶比12.17%,明显地提高了饲料转化率;高硒钴苜蓿青干草能显著地提高牛奶中乳脂含量22.15%;高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草能显著地提高牛奶中乳蛋白、乳糖以及非脂固形物含量9.28%、3.26%和4.69%。     

日粮中添加高微量元素苜蓿青干草对杜泊羊生产性能的影响

通过在杜泊羊的日粮中添加5%～15%的高硒、高硒钴、高硒钴锌以及高硒钴锌铁4种苜蓿Medicago sativa青干草,研究对杜泊羊的采食性能、日增质量和饲料转化等方面的影响。结果表明,和添加普通苜蓿青干草相比,4种苜蓿青干草在添加量为5%～10%的情况下,均能在不同程度上提高羊日增质量,有利于饲料的转化与利用,并且饲喂安全,无副作用。其中添加15%高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草效果最好,日增质量比对照提高了59.4%,饲料转化率（30.72%）比对照提高了59.8%;在日粮中添加10%的高硒钴锌铁苜蓿青干草,效果接近前者,日增质量比对照提高了58.0%,饲料转化率（27.88%）比对照提高了44.7%。     

日粮中添加高微量元素苜蓿干草对杜泊羊生产性能的影响

通过在杜泊羊的日粮中添加高硒、高硒钴、高硒钴锌以及高硒钴锌铁4种苜蓿青干草,研究这4种高微量元素苜蓿青干草在添加量为5%~15%的情况下对羊的采食性能、日增重和饲料的转化等方面的影响。试验结果表明,和添加普通苜蓿青干草相比,4种苜蓿青干草均能在不同程度上提高羊的增重,有利于饲料的转化与利用,并且饲喂安全,无副作用。其中添加15%的高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草效果最好,增重比对照提高了59.4%,料肉比(3.25)比对照降低了37.5%;在日粮中添加10%的高硒(Se)、钴(Co)、锌(Zn)、铁(Fe)苜蓿青干草,效果接近前者,日增重比对照提高了58.0%,料肉比(3.55)比对照降低了31.7%。     

日粮中添加高微量元素苜蓿干草对杜泊羊生产性能的影响

通过在杜泊羊的日粮中添加高硒、高硒钴、高硒钴锌以及高硒钴锌铁4种苜蓿青干草,研究这4种高微量元素苜蓿青干草在添加量为5%～15%的情况下对羊的采食性能、日增重和饲料的转化等方面的影响.试验结果表明,和添加普通苜蓿青干草相比,4种首蓿青干草均能在不同程度上提高羊的增重,有利于饲料的转化与利用,并且饲喂安全,无副作用.其中添加15%的高硒钴锌苜蓿青干草效果最好,增重比对照提高了59.4%,料内比(3.25)比对照降低了37.5%;在日粮中添加10%的高硒(Se)、钴(Co)、锌(Zn)、铁(Fe)苜蓿青干革,效果接近前者,日增重比对照提高了58.0%,料肉比(3.55)比对照降低了31.7%.     

日粮中添加高微量元素苜蓿干草对杜泊羊生产性能的影响

通过在杜泊羊的日粮中添加高硒、高硒钴、高硒钴锌以及高硒钴锌铁4种苜蓿青干草,研究这4种高微量元素苜蓿青干草在添加量为5%～15%的情况下对羊的采食性能、日增重和饲料的转化等方面的影响。     

高硒或高硒钴苜蓿青干草对杜泊羊生长和生产性能的调控

选择体重相近、体质外貌相似、生产性能相近、健康的杜泊羊42只,采用单因素对比试验方法,研究在日粮中添加5%～15%高硒或高硒钴苜蓿青干草对杜泊羊生长和生产性能的调控.结果表明,在杜泊羊的日粮中添加高硒或高硒钴苜蓿青干草可以显著地增加杜泊羊的体长、胸围,提高杜泊羊的日增重,促进饲料的转化与利用.其中,添加高硒苜蓿青干草的增重效果好于高硒钴苜蓿青干草,在日粮中添加15%的高硒苜蓿青干草时,杜泊羊增重和饲料转化效率均达到极显著高的水平(P＜0.01),日增重(0.22 kg/d)比对照提高了37.5%,料肉比(4.06)最低,比对照降低了21.9%.     

Voluntary Intake of Four Hay Types by Horses

Alfalfa, teff, oat, and wheat hays were fed to eight mature horses to determine voluntary intake of each hay type. After a 2-week adaptation period during which each horse was offered all four hay types each day, a 4-week study was conducted in which two horses were offered each type of hay each week, usually at the rate of 2.2% of initial body weight. Refused feed was collected and weighed the last 5 days of each week to calculate voluntary intake. Horses consumed significantly more alfalfa hay than the other hays. Wheat and teff hays were consumed in significantly lower amounts than alfalfa, but significantly more than oat hay. Across the 5 days during which voluntary intake was measured each week, hay consumption increased each day, reaching levels significantly greater than day 1 by day 4, when measured as a percentage of body weight, and day 5 when measured as a percentage of feed offered. Only alfalfa hay, at the amount consumed, met 100% of nutrient requirements for digestible energy, crude protein, lysine, calcium, and phosphorus for horses in maintenance condition. Teff hay met all nutrient requirements except digestible energy. Neither wheat nor oat hays met 100% of any of these nutrient requirements. Alfalfa and teff hays averaged about 12% nonstructural carbohydrate content (NSC), whereas wheat and oats hays contained about 30% NSC. The lower NSC content of the alfalfa and teff hays makes these more suitable for horses with problems related to carbohydrate metabolism or for refeeding starving horses.     

Voluntary intake, digestibility, and subsequent selection of Matua bromegrass, coastal bermudagrass, and alfalfa hays by yearling horses.

Matua bromegrass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth. cv. Grasslands Matua) was introduced in 1973, but little information exists concerning its potential as a hay for horses. Thus, voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of OM, CP, and fiber components of Matua by 18 Quarter Horse yearlings (mean initial BW 354 kg; SE 5.8) were compared with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) as hays in a randomized block design. A 15-d adjustment period was followed by a 5-d collection period during which the hays were consumed ad libitum. Voluntary intake of DM was greater (P<.01) for alfalfa (10.9 kg/d) than for the mean of the grasses, and intake of Matua (10.0 kg/d) was greater (P<.001) than that of bermudagrass (7.4 kg/d). Apparent digestibility of OM was greater (P<.001) for alfalfa (74%) than for the mean of the grasses but did not differ between Matua (64%) and bermudagrass (60%). At the end of the digestion trial, each yearling was offered each of the three forage hays during an 11-d period to determine subsequent preference and effect of previous hay experience. Yearlings preferred alfalfa over the grass hays and generally selected more Matua than bermudagrass. All yearlings consumed less of the forage species to which they had been previously exposed compared with unadapted yearlings. The Matua hay fed in this trial was palatable and met most of the nutritional needs for yearling horses.     

Effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on ruminal fermentation and digestibility of alfalfa and rye-grass hay fed to lambs

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of a directly fed exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on intake and digestion of DM, OM, protein, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose of alfalfa and ryegrass hay by sheep. Four diets were randomly assigned to four ruminally cannulated lambs using a 4 x 4 Latin square design, repeated in time, with a factorial arrangement (2 x 2) of diets: 1) alfalfa hay; 2) alfalfa hay + exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (enzyme); 3) ryegrass hay; and 4) ryegrass hay + enzyme. Lambs consumed more DM and OM from alfalfa than from ryegrass hay (P < 0.001). The ADF intake was not different between the hays, but NDF intake was lower for alfalfa (P < 0.001). For both hays, the enzyme increased intake of DM (P < 0.01), as well as OM and CP (P < 0.05); however, NDF and ADF intake were not changed. Alfalfa hay had higher apparent digestibility of DM, OM, and CP (P < 0.001), but lower digestibility for NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose. The enzyme increased apparent digestibility of CP, hemicellulose (P < 0.05), and NDF (P < 0.10) for alfalfa. Also, for both hays, the enzyme improved N balance because lambs retained more N (P < 0.05). The enzyme increased (P < 0.05) total VFA concentration (3 and 6 h) for both hays. Results from this trial indicate that directly fed exogenous fibrolytic enzymes may change ruminal fermentation, intake, and digestibility of forages with different nutritive value.     

The Effect of Soaking on Carbohydrate Removal and Dry Matter Loss in Orchardgrass and Alfalfa Hays

The objective of this research was to determine the impact of water temperature and soaking length on removal of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) fractions and dry matter (DM) from legume and cool-season grass hays. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with six replications. Hay types included bud and flowering alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and vegetative and flowering orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Flakes were submerged for 15, 30, and 60 minutes in 25 L of cold (22°C) water, warm (39°C) water, and 12 hours in cold water, respectively. Water temperature at each soaking duration did not affect residual NSC fractions in alfalfa hays. Flowering and vegetative orchardgrass hays soaked for 30 and 60 minutes, respectively, in warm water had greater (P < .001) amounts of NSC fraction removal compared with soaking in cold water. Soaking bud and flowering alfalfa and vegetative orchardgrass hays for ≥15 minutes removed more NSC fractions compared with the control (P ≤ .005); however, soaking for 15-60 minutes resulted in similar NSC fraction removal. Conversely, in flowering orchardgrass hay, longer soaking times resulted in greater (P < .001) NSC fraction removal. Fructan removal in orchardgrass hay was greatest (P < .001) after soaking for 12 hours. DM losses were similar among hays after soaking for 15-60 minutes, but were greatest after soaking for 12 hours (P < .001). Soaking grass hay for 15-30 minutes is recommended to remove sufficient NSC fractions while minimizing DM losses.     

Evaluation of alfalfa-corn cob associative action. II. Comparative tests of alfalfa hay as a source of ruminal degradable protein

The effect of ruminal degradable protein source in roughage diets on nutrient digestibility and animal growth was evaluated in two trials using lambs. In trial 1, two qualities of alfalfa and smooth brome hays replaced 0, 15, 30 or 100% of an ammonia (NH3)-treated corn cob negative control diet in a digestion trial using 26 mixed breed wethers (31.8 kg). Fifteen or 30% inclusion of hay increased (P less than .01) dry matter (DM) intake, regardless of hay type or quality. Cell wall intake was highest for 100% high quality brome hay. Positive associative action on digestibility of DM and cell walls occurred with 30% of each hay tested when diets were fed ad libitum. Measured at equal intakes, DM and cell wall digestibilities were affected by forage type X level and forage quality X level interactions (P less than .01), which showed that the magnitude of associative action was greater for 30% of high vs low quality and alfalfa vs brome hay, respectively. Magnitude of associative response on cell wall digestibility was more highly correlated to degradable N (r = .88) than cell solubles (r = .64) content of hay. In trial 2, 72 young growing lambs were allotted to three sources of supplemental ruminal degradable N (NH3, casein, corn steep liquor) superimposed upon two levels of alfalfa hay (0 or 30% of diet DM). Diets containing 0% alfalfa were supplemented with ruminal escape protein equivalent to that supplied by 30% alfalfa hay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of dry matter and fiber in growing steers for common crabgrass forages sampled on seven dates in northern Arkansas

Southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris [Retz.] Koel.) is often viewed as an undesirable weed, largely because it encroaches upon field and forage crops, gardens, and lawns. However, visual observations of livestock grazing mixed-species pastures suggest that cattle seem to prefer crabgrass to many other summer forages. The objectives of this study were to assess the nutritive value of crabgrass sampled weekly between July 11, and August 22, 2001, and then to determine ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of DM and NDF for these crabgrass forages. A secondary objective was to compare these kinetic estimates with those of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) control hays. All forages were evaluated in situ using five (383 +/- 22.7 kg) ruminally cannulated crossbred (Gelbvieh x Angus x Brangus) steers. Whole-plant crabgrass exhibited more rapid (P < or = 0.002) ruminal disappearance rates of DM (overall range = 0.069 to 0.084 h(-1)) than did bermudagrass (0.054 h(-1)) and orchardgrass (0.060 h(-1)) hays, but disappearance rates were slower (P < 0.001) for crabgrass than for alfalfa hay (0.143 h(-1)). Effective ruminal disappearance of DM was greater (P < 0.001) for crabgrass (overall range = 69.3 to 75.4%) than for all the control hays. Similarly, disappearance rates of NDF for crabgrass (overall range = 0.069 to 0.086 h(-1)) were more rapid (P < 0.001) than observed for bermudagrass and orchardgrass hays; however, NDF in alfalfa disappeared at a faster (P < 0.001) rate (0.107 h(-1)) than crabgrass. These results indicate that crabgrass offers greater effective ruminal degradability of DM and NDF than orchardgrass or alfalfa of moderate quality. More importantly, it potentially offers faster and more extensive ruminal disappearance than perennial warm-season grasses typically found throughout the southeastern United States, and it should likely support improved performance by ruminant livestock in this region.     

Ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of nitrogen and neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen from common crabgrass forages sampled on seven dates in northern Arkansas

Southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris [Retz.] Koel.) is often an undesirable species in field and forage crops, but visual observations suggest that livestock prefer it to many other summer forages. The objectives of this study were to assess the nutritive value of crabgrass sampled weekly between July 11 and August 22, 2001 and then to determine ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of N and neutral detergent insoluble N (NDIN) for these forages. A secondary objective was to compare these kinetic estimates for crabgrass with those of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.), and or-chardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) as control hays. All kinetic evaluations were conducted with 5 ruminally cannulated Gelbvieh x Angus x Brangus steers (383 +/- 22.7 kg). Concentrations of N for crabgrass decreased linearly (P < or = 0.002) across sampling dates for leaf, stem, and whole-plant tissues. Conversely, percentages of the total N pool within NDIN and ADIN fractions generally increased over sampling dates in mostly linear patterns. For crabgrass, the immediately soluble portion of the total N pool (fraction A; overall mean = 54.6% of N) was greater (P < 0.001) than for all control hays. Crabgrass exhibited a more rapid N disappearance rate (overall mean = 0.093/h; expressed as a proportion disappearing/h) than that of bermudagrass (0.046/h; P < 0.001), but the disappearance rate for alfalfa N (0.223/h) was considerably faster (P < 0.001) than for crabgrass. The effective ruminal disappearance of N was greater (P < 0.001) for crabgrass (overall mean = 85.4%) than for the alfalfa (83.3%), bermudagrass (72.3%), or orchardgrass (76.0%) control hays. For alfalfa, the ruminal disappearance rate of NDIN (0.150/h) was more rapid (P < 0.001) than for crabgrass (overall mean = 0.110/h); however, the disappearance rate for crabgrass was faster than that for bermudagrass (0.072/h; P < 0.001) or for orchardgrass (0.098/h; P = 0.010). Effective ruminal disappearance of NDIN was greater (P < 0.001) for crabgrass (overall mean = 72.0%) than for the bermudagrass (69.0%) or alfalfa hays (50.5%), but there was no difference (P = 0.865) between crabgrass and orchardgrass (72.1%). Although crabgrass forages exhibited concentrations of total N that were comparable with those of alfalfa and rates of ruminal N disappearance that were < 50% of those for the alfalfa hay control, improvements in N use efficiency relative to alfalfa are questionable because of the excessively large Fraction A for crabgrass.     

Matua bromegrass hay for mares in gestation and lactation

Matua bromegrass hay (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) is a high quality forage, but its value for mares during gestation and lactation is not well known. Intake, rate of passage, performance, and reproduction by gestating and lactating Quarter Horse mares fed the hay was investigated. In this experiment, 12, 2- to 12-yr-old gravid mares (mean BW = 553 kg, SD = 36) were fed Matua hay (CP = 11.5%) or alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.) (CP = 15.4%) for variable days prepartum (mean 59.9 d; SD = 23.5) and for 70 d postpartum. Matua and alfalfa hay were fed as the roughage portion of the diet with a grain supplement. Mares, blocked by age, expected date of foaling, and BW, were assigned randomly within blocks to treatments (six mares per treatment). Forage type did not affect intake, gestation length, birth weight, number of foals, foal weight gain, day of first postpartum ovulation, cycles per conception, or pregnancy rate at 70 d. On d 1, milk from mares fed alfalfa hay contained less (P < 0.03) CP than milk from mares fed Matua hay. Milk CP decreased (P < 0.01) in all mares over time. In a separate experiment, voluntary intake and rate of passage of Matua (CP = 15.5%), alfalfa (CP = 24.9%), and Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) (CP = 4.1%) hays were determined in nine 2-yr-old pregnant mares (mean BW = 447 kg; SD = 21). Diets were 100% forage. Timothy hay did not meet CP requirements for mares. Voluntary intake of alfalfa hay was higher (P < 0.01) than Matua hay. Intake of Timothy hay was lower (P < 0.01) than the mean of alfalfa and Matua hay. Rate of passage offorage was measured by passage of Cr-mordanted fiber. Passage rate and retention time did not differ between Matua and alfalfa hay; however, the retention times of Matua and alfalfa hays were shorter (P < 0.01) than for Timothy hay. Our results indicate that Matua hay is a forage that can be used safely for mares during gestation and early lactation and for their young foals.     

Acceptability of Teff Hay by Horses

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a productive warm season annual grass. Because teff is relatively new to the horse industry in the United States, horses unaccustomed to teff hay were used in two sets of two-choice preference tests comparing teff with alfalfa hay or teff with timothy hay. A second experiment used mature mares to compare voluntary dry matter intake (VDMI) of teff hay and timothy hay. In the two-choice preference tests, horses preferred alfalfa hay and timothy hay to teff hay (P < .05). Horses preferred teff hay that was cut at an earlier stage of maturity and had lower concentrations of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber than teff hay cut at a later stage of maturity. In the VDMI experiment, four mares were fed teff hay and four mares were fed timothy hay for 17 days. Both hays had been harvested in the head stage of maturity. VDMI was measured during the last 10 days and was not different between the two groups of horses (P > .05). It was concluded that horses that are unfamiliar with teff may discriminate against it when it is offered simultaneously with alfalfa or timothy; however, if not given a choice, horses will consume approximately the same amount of mature teff as mature timothy. Additional studies are needed to compare VDMI of early maturity teff hay with other common hays.