Nutrients intake,digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth performance of sheep fed different silages with or without concentrate

The experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and millet (Pennisetum americannum) silages with or without concentrate on nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain in Sipli sheep. Six experimental diets were formulated having 100% maize silage (MS), maize silage and concentrate as 50:50 (MSC), 100% sorghum silage (SS), sorghum silage and concentrate as 50:50 (SSC), 100% millet silage (MiS) and millet silage and concentrate as 50:50 (MiSC), respectively. For this purpose, 24 Sipli lambs were randomly allotted to six experimental diets in a completely randomized design for 90 days, four lambs per diet. The results indicated that among various silage diets, lambs fed MS diet consumed higher dry matter (DM) than those fed SS and MiS diets. Likewise, lambs offered MSC had higher dry matter intake than those fed SSC and MiSC diets. Crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) consumed by the lambs also followed the similar trend. Higher DM, CP and NDF digestibilities were also observed in lambs fed MS and MSC diets than those fed SS, SSC, MiS and MiSC diets. Overall digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were higher in experimental diets containing silage with concentrate. Lambs fed MS diet had 2.79 g/day and 4.45 g/day higher N retention than those fed SS and MiS, respectively. Similarly, lambs fed MSC diet had 2.24 g/day and 5.12 g/day higher N retention than those fed SSC and MiSC diets, respectively. The results showed that lambs fed MSC gained more daily weight gain had better feed conversion ratio than those fed MS, SS, SSC, MiS and MiSC diets. The findings of the present study indicated that lambs fed MSC diet had higher nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain.     

Feed utilisation of Ethiopian Highland lambs on a basal diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleucine coracana</Emphasis> straw and supplemented with variously sourced protein mixed with wheat bran

The study investigated the effect of supplementation of a basal diet of Eleucine coracana (finger millet) straw with different protein sources mixed with wheat bran on feed utilisation in Ethiopian Highland lambs. Twenty yearling intact male lambs (14.9 ± 0.30 kg; mean ± SD) were used in a randomised complete block design. Dietary treatments included a basal diet of E. coracana straw ad libitum (T1); basal diet supplemented with a mixture of 222 g noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake (NSC) and 78 g wheat bran (WB) (T2); basal diet with a mixture of 234 g cotton seedcake (CSC) and 66 g WB (T3); and basal diet with a mixture of 5.4 g urea (U) and 294.6 g WB (T4). The supplements were offered at the daily rate of 300 g dry matter (DM) per lamb in two equal portions at 0800 and 1600 hours. Supplementation of Ethiopian Highland lambs on E. coracana straw basal diet with varied protein sources increased (P < 0.01) the total DM, OM and CP intake and improved (P < 0.01) the daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Lambs in T2, T3 and T4 gained weight at the rate of 22.7, 21.9 and 14.1 g/day, respectively, while lambs on the control diet lost weight at a rate of −24.9 g/day. Supplementation also improved (P < 0.01) the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF of the total diet. It was concluded that supplementation of E. coracana straw with NSC, CSC and U mixed with WB improves feed utilisation, body weight gain and digestibility in Ethiopian Highland lambs.     

Effects of essential oils,yeast culture and malate on rumen fermentation,blood metabolites,growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Baluchi lambs fed high‐concentrate diets

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with a mixture of essential oils (MEO), yeast culture (YC) and malate on performance, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites of lambs fed high‐concentrate growing diets. For this purpose, twenty Baluchi lambs (17.3 ± 0.5 kg body weight and 3 months old) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with five lambs per treatment. The treatment groups were as follows: (i) control: basal diet without any additive, (ii) basal diet plus 400 mg/day MEO (thymol, carvacrol, eugenol, limonene and cinnamaldehyde), (iii) basal diet with 4 g/day YC and (iv) basal diet plus 4 g/day malate. No differences between the dietary treatments were observed in dry matter intake, average daily gain or feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05). Compared with control and malate treatment, lambs fed MEO and YC had an improved crude protein digestibility (p < 0.05). Yeast culture significantly increased (p > 0.05) cell wall digestibility compared to the other treatments. No differences were observed between treatments with respect to nitrogen balance or ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations (p > 0.05). No differences were observed between treatments with respect to ruminal total volatile fatty acid concentration and molar proportions of acetate, butyrate and valerate. Molar proportion of propionate was higher (p < 0.05) for YC and malate compared to control and MEO. Plasma glucose concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in lambs fed YC and malate than in lambs fed the control or the MEO diet. Blood concentration of triglycerides significantly decreased when feeding the MEO and YC diets (p < 0.05). It was concluded that YC may be more useful as a feed additive for manipulation of rumen fermentation in lambs fed with high‐concentrate diets than MEO and malate, because YC enhanced crude protein and cell wall digestibility, ruminal molar proportion of propionate and plasma glucose concentration.     

Comparative evaluation of effective microbe– and urea molasses–treated finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw on nutritive values and growth performance of Washera sheep in northwestern Ethiopia

An experiment was carried out to comparatively evaluate the effect of effective microbe (EM)– and urea molasses (UM)–treated finger millet straw (EMTFMS and UMTFMS, respectively) on nutrient utilization and growth performance of Washera lambs. Twenty yearling intact male Washera lambs with an initial body weight of 21.13?±?1.77 kg (mean ± SE) were used for feeding and digestibility trial. These lambs were grouped into five blocks of four animals and randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. The four experimental feeds were untreated finger millet straw (control) + 150 g wheat bran (WB) (T1), untreated finger millet straw + 150 g WB + 150 g Noug seed cake (NSC) (T2), UMTFMS + 150 g WB + 150 g NSC (T3), and EMTFMS + 150 g WB + 150 g NSC (T4). The lambs were de-wormed and vaccinated against ecto- and endo-parasites. Data were analyzed using ANOVA procedure of SAS. Results showed that crude protein (CP) content of finger millet straw (FMS) was improved from 2.13 to 9.7% in UM treatment and 2.13 to 2.39% in EM treatments. Total DM, CP, and OM intake were higher in lambs assigned in UMTFMS (P?<?0.01) and EMTFMS (P?<?0.01) than the control groups and significantly highest (P?<?0.01) in UMTFMS. A non-significant (P?>?0.05) difference was observed between treatment technologies in all nutrient apparent digestibility and average daily weight gain. Therefore, it can be concluded that both treatments could serve as an alternative measure to improve nutritive value of finger millet straw, but due to environmental effect, EM treatment could be safe.

     

Growth performance,apparent digestibility,and N balance in Mongolian lambs and hoggs fed diets supplemented with a Chinese traditional herbal medicine complex

We evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Chinese traditional herbal medicine (CTHM) on the growth performance, apparent digestibility, and nitrogen balance in Mongolian lambs and hoggs. The CTHM used as a dietary supplement consisted of 30% pine needles, 20% mugwort, 40% garlic, and 10% Astragalus mongholicus on a dry matter (DM) basis. The basal diet was prepared from corn stover, corn grain, wheat bran, rapeseed meal, shell meal, dicalcium phosphate, salt, vitamin premix, and mineral premix. In total, 16 Mongolian lambs (20.75 kg initial body weight [BW]) and 16 hoggs (33.81 kg initial BW) were allocated randomly to one of two treatments, the basal diet without and with CTHM, with the group receiving CTHM fed 98.5% basal diet + 1.5% CTHM complex on a DM basis. Lamb and hogg growth trials showed that CTHM supplementation improved the final live weight, gain, and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.01). A digestibility trial showed that the diet with CTHM improved the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber in lambs and hoggs. Finally, CTHM supplementation decreased (p < 0.0001) fecal and urinary nitrogen and increased (p = 0.0004) nitrogen (N) retention. Overall, the addition of CTHM to the diets of lambs and hoggs has beneficial effects on growth.     

Effects of the natural sweetener rebaudioside A on intake,nutrient digestion,rumen fermentation,and blood biochemical parameters in adult goats during summer

The effects of dietary rebaudioside A inclusion on feed intake, digestion of nutrients, rumen fermentation, and blood biochemical parameters of goats were evaluated in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square study. Nine adult goats during summer were fed a basal forage/concentrate-based diet and the forage was chopped rice straw. The three dietary treatments were 0, 350, and 700 mg rebaudioside A per kg chopped rice straw on a DM basis. No significant improvement was observed in dry matter intake (DMI) of forage and diet among treatments. Nutrient digestibility of DM and organic matter (OM) showed a significant trend (p < .10) across groups. Rebaudioside A inclusion significantly (p < .01) increased the concentration of total volatile fatty acids in the rumen, however, there were no differences in concentration of ruminal ammonia, and molar proportions of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. About blood metabolites, increasing rebaudioside A in the diet caused a quadratic response in glucose and total protein, and albumin concentrations. Under the conditions of this study, supplementation with rebaudioside A at 350 and 700 mg/kg forage did not improve consumption of rice straw-based diet in adult goats in summer. However, the responses in digestibility, rumen fermentation, and blood metabolites appear to indicate the potential of rebaudioside A as a bio-active substance in goats.     

不同生物处理水稻秸秆对肉用绵羊生长性能、屠宰性能及器官发育的影响

本试验研究了不同生物处理水稻秸秆对肉用绵羊生长性能、屠宰性能及器官发育的影响,旨在探索有效的生物制剂处理方法。采用单因素试验设计,选取体重为(24.00±2.42)kg的"杜泊×小尾寒羊"杂交F1代公羔羊80只,随机分为4个组,分别为空白对照组(饲喂水稻秸秆饲粮)、Ⅰ组(饲喂细菌、酶复合青贮制剂处理的水稻秸秆饲粮)、Ⅱ组(饲喂复合酶制剂处理的水稻秸秆饲粮)、羊草对照组(饲喂羊草饲粮),每组5个重复,每个重复4只羊。预试期为8d,正试期为60 d。结果表明:Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和羊草对照组试验羊平均日增重和干物质采食量均显著高于空白对照组(P0.05),料重比显著低于空白对照组(P0.05),但Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和羊草对照组之间差异不显著(P0.05)。各组间试验羊屠宰率无显著差异(P0.05),各组间试验羊头、蹄、皮+毛、肺脏、肾脏、网胃、瓣胃、皱胃、小肠和大肠的重量及其占宰前活重比例无显著差异(P0.05),Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和羊草对照组试验羊肝脏和瘤胃重量显著高于空白对照组(P0.05)。由此可见,细菌、酶复合青贮制剂处理水稻秸秆有显著的改善作用,肉用绵羊的生长性能、屠宰性能及器官发育接近羊草的饲喂效果。     

Effect of enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf supplementation on feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen utilization and body weight gain of sheep fed untreated or urea and calcium oxide-treated wheat straw

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementing leaves of enset (Ensete ventricosum) to straw-based diets on the performance of sheep. In a growth experiment, which lasted for 76 days, 36 male sheep (average body weight of 17.3 ± 0.58 kg) were allotted to six treatments. A digestibility trial was conducted using three of the six sheep from each treatment. The treatments were untreated or 2% urea- and 3% calcium oxide-treated wheat straw as a basal diet supplemented with three levels of chopped fresh enset leaf: low (215 g), medium (417 g) and high (594 g dry matter [DM] per day). The mean total DM intake tended to be higher (p < 0.1) at medium and high levels of supplementation than at the low level. The intake of total DM and nitrogen (N) was higher in treated than untreated straw. There was no significant difference in organic matter (OM) intake among treatments. Sheep fed medium and high levels of enset leaf supplements had similar weight gain but higher than those supplemented at low level. The digestibility of DM was not significantly different among treatments whereas the digestibility of OM tended to be higher at medium than other levels of supplementation. The digestibility of N was lower (p < 0.001) for treated than untreated straw whereas the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre was higher (p < 0.001) in treated straw. The highest mean N retention was at medium level of supplementation. There were no significant differences in total purine derivatives excretion, absorbed microbial purines and microbial N supply among treatments. It could be concluded that there is no major beneficial effect beyond medium level of enset leaf supplementation in both treated and untreated straw. For efficient utilization of enset leaf, sources of fermentable energy are necessary.     

Effects of feeding different levels of corn steep liquor on the performance of fattening lambs

This study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding corn steep liquor (CSL) on in vivo digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia and hydrolytic enzyme activities, blood metabolites, feed intake (FI) and growth performance in fattening lambs. The CSL is a by‐product of wet milling process of maize starch industry. The crude protein (CP), rumen‐degradable protein (RDP), lactic acid and metabolisable energy contents of this by‐product were 420, 324, 200 g/kg dry matter (DM) and 12.6 MJ/kg DM respectively. Twenty‐seven male Moghani lambs were assigned randomly into three groups of nine lambs each in a completely randomised design. Three iso‐energetic and iso‐nitrogenous diets containing different levels (0, 50 or 100 g/kg dry matter) of CSL were offered ad libitum three times a day. Forage to concentrate ratio of the diets was 30:70. With inclusion of CSL in diet, the contents of canola meal, fish meal, wheat bran, corn grain and sugar beet pulp were decreased. The contents of DM, ash‐free neutral detergent fibre (NDFom), ether extract, starch, Ca and S were numerically lower, but soluble protein, RDP and non‐fibre carbohydrates were greater in the diets containing CSL in comparison with the control diet. The lambs fed with the diets containing CSL had lower [linear (L), p < 0.06] digestibility coefficients of DM and NDFom as compared to those fed with the diet free of CSL. Ruminal ammonia‐N concentration increased (L, p < 0.05), but pH decreased (L, p < 0.05) with raising CSL level in diet. Carboxymethyl cellulase and filter paper‐degrading activities decreased (L, p < 0.05), while proteases activity increased (L, p < 0.05) as dietary rates of CSL increased. Microcrystalline cellulase and ɑ‐amylase activities were similar among the treatments. Within blood metabolites, only urea‐N concentration increased (L, p < 0.05) in the lambs receiving CSL as compared to those fed with diet without CSL. Dietary inclusion of CSL resulted in linear decreases (L, p < 0.05) in the intakes of DM, organic matter, CP, NDFom and ash‐free acid detergent fibre, and average daily gain. However, the feed conversion ratio was similar among the experimental animals. Overall, feeding CSL up to 100 g/kg diet DM in lamb resulted in reductions of rumen fibrolytic microbial enzyme activities, in vivo digestibility, FI and growth performance, but rumen proteases activity increased.     

Feed intake,digestibility, nitrogen utilization,and body weight change of sheep consuming wheat straw supplemented with local agricultural and agro-industrial by-products

Effects of supplementing sheep consuming wheat straw with local agro-industrial by-products on feed intake, growth, digestibility and nitrogen utilization were determined. Thirty 1-year-old local wethers, with a mean (±SD) live weight of 19.8 (±1.06) kg, were assigned to five treatments: wheat straw + atella (T1), wheat straw + atella + poultry litter (T2), wheat straw + atella + coffee pulp (T3), wheat straw + atella + coffee pulp + poultry litter (T4), hay + concentrate (T5). A 7-day digestibility experiment and a 112-day growth trial were conducted. Total dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake as well as body weight gain was similar for all treatments. The highest (P < 0.05) nitrogen (N) intake was in sheep fed T1 and T4 diets, while the lowest was in those fed T2 and T5 diets. Sheep fed T1 and T2 diets had greater (P < 0.05) DM and OM digestibility than those fed T4 and T5 diets. The highest (P < 0.05) digestibility of N was for the T2, T4, and T5 diets, while the lowest was for the T1 diet. The highest N retention was in T4 diet, whereas the lowest was in T3 diet. In conclusion, in urban and peri-urban areas where atella, poultry litter, or coffee pulp are available, smallholder farmers could feed the mixtures as a supplement to straw with a good performance without using concentrate feeds.     

Effect of sex and feeding system on feed intake, growth, and meat and carcass characteristics of fattening Assaf lambs

The effect of feeding system and sex on intake, growth and carcass and meat characteristics of Assaf fattening lambs was studied. Twenty four weaned Assaf lambs, half males and half females were used. After an adaptation period, lambs were randomly assigned to one of the two feeding systems studied. Control lambs received ad libitum commercial concentrate (70% barley, 22% soybean meal, 4.8% wheat, 0.5% bicarbonate, 2.7% mineral–vitamin premix) and barley straw. Free Choice lambs had ad libitum and separate access to whole barley grain and a protein supplement (73.3% soyabean meal, 16% wheat, 1.7% bicarbonate, 9% mineral–vitamin premix). Lambs were slaughtered at 25 kg LBW. Feed intake was not significantly affected by sex (P > 0.05) but Free Choice lambs showed higher dry mater intake than the Control lambs. Nevertheless, only males from the Free Choice group showed an improvement in feed efficiency rate (P < 0.05) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) relating to the Control lambs. Neither feeding system nor feeding system × sex interaction significantly affected non-carcass weight, fat depots, cold carcass weight, dressing percentage, main proportions of commercial cuts and meat characteristics (P < 0.05). As it was expected, female lambs showed a lower average daily gain and a higher feed conversion efficiency than male lambs (P < 0.001) which was related to a greater fat deposition. Meat characteristics were unaffected by sex, with the exception of longissimus lumborum fat content, which was higher in female lambs.The present results suggest that Free Choice feeding system might be suitable for intensively reared male lambs since improvements in daily weight gain and feed conversion rate were achieved, with no adverse effect on carcass and meat quality. Despite the selected diet of both, males and females, did not differ in the crude protein content, the use of Free Choice feeding system for female lambs did not improve performance compared to the Control group.     

Effect of using banana by-products and other agricultural residues for beef cattle in southern China

Banana (Musa acuminata) by-products and other agricultural residues such as rice straw and sugarcane top are abundant in the southern part of China, but most of them are wasted and discarded. Under this experiment, several silages containing banana by-products with other crop residues were investigated for their fermentation characteristics and feeding values to beef cattle. There were three treatments (T) as follows: T₁ = fresh banana by-products (FBBP) + 4% corn meal (CM), T₂ = FBBP + rice straw (RS) at 70:30 (fresh weight), T₃ = FBBP + sugarcane top (SCT) at 70:30 (fresh weight). Twenty-one beef cattle bulls (220?±?15 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to 3 groups and assigned to one of three silage treatments in a total feeding period of 237 days. Results revealed that all of the three silage mixtures had a good fermentative profile with lower pH and higher organic acids. The FBBP + CM group significantly increased DM, CP, EE, and Ca content (P?< 0.05), while decreased ash, NDF, ADF, ADL, and condensed tannins (CT) content (P?<?0.01). Significant effects on weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were observed at the end of the experiment (P?<?0.05). The FBBP + CM group also had the greatest total weight gain at 109 kg/head, twice of the FBBP + RS group (P?=?0.001), as well as the greatest average daily weight gain at 0.48 kg/head/day, followed by the FBBP + SCT group at 0.30 kg/head/day and the FBBP + RS group at 0.27 kg/head/day, respectively. Cattle fed FBBP + CM silage mixture diet had better feed efficiency than the cattle fed with the other mixtures (P?<?0.001). Results of body measurements showed that cattle consumed FBBP + CM silage mixture tended to have a greater body diagonal length, height at the hip, hip width, and rump length than those either consumed FBBP + RS or FBBP + SCT (P?<?0.05). The findings showed promising results of banana by-products silage with other agricultural crop residues to be used for increasing beef cattle production in southern China.

     

Castor beans hulls as a replacement for Tifton 85 hay in lamb diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing Tifton 85 hay (0, 33, 66, or 100 %) with by castor bean hulls on the intake and nutrient digestibility and performance of 28 noncastrated lambs, averaging 7 months in age, 19.5?±?2.0 kg average live weight, fed on diets based on forage cactus. The animals were housed in individual pens for 100 days. The digestibility trial occurred 40 days after the start of the performance using LIPE® as an external indicator for estimating fecal dry matter production. The replacement of hay with Castor beans hulls linearly decreased the intakes of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter, and crude protein and reduced the digestibility coefficients of the dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter content, crude protein, and total digestible nutrient content. The hot carcass and true carcass yields were not influenced by the treatments and the feed conversion increased linearly. The empty body weight, live weight at slaughter, hot and cold carcass weights, total gain, and average daily gain decreased linearly with the replacement. The replacement of Tifton 85 hay with castor bean hulls reduced the intake of dry matter, crude protein and energy, consequently reducing the performance of the animals. However, as the regression coefficients were of low magnitude, data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared using the Dunnett test with diet without castor bean hulls set as the control treatment. The Tifton 85 hay can be replaced up to 66 % by castor bean hulls in finishing diets for lambs.     

Spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) and saltbush (Atriplex halimus L.) as feed supplements for fattening Awassi male lambs: effect on digestibility,water consumption,blood metabolites,and growth performance

The effect of replacing 13.6% and 20.3% of a total ration of fattening Awassi lambs by two combinations of fresh saltbush (Atriplex halimus) and fresh spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes at a ratio of 1.9:1 (TRT1) and 1.7:1 (TRT2) on water intake, digestibility, blood metabolites, and fattening performance was evaluated. Thirty-six lambs with average initial live weight 34.5?±?4.18 kg were randomly assigned to three diets (control, TRT1, and TRT2). The control received a diet containing 166 g/kg barley straw and 834 g/kg of commercial concentrate mixture; TRT1 comprised 126 g barley straw, 739 g/kg concentrate mixture, 47 g/kg spineless cactus, and 89 g saltbush; TRT2 comprised 67 g/kg barley straw, 704 g/kg commercial concentrate mixture, 86 g/kg spineless cactus, and 144 g saltbush. A growth trial of 100 days (10 days of adaptation and 90 days of collection) followed by a metabolism trial of 17 days (10 days of adaptation and 7 days of a total feces and urine collection) was carried out. Daily dry matter intake, digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and nutrient detergent fiber, nitrogen balance, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and blood metabolites were not significantly affected by the treatment. Water consumption in TRT2 was significantly 16% less compared with the control. A combination of saltbush and spineless cactus at a ratio of 1.7:1 (TRT2) replaced 60% of barley straw and 16% of concentrate mixture without adverse effects on health and growth performance of Awassi male lambs. This represents a potential reduction in feed costs for smallholder farmers.

     

Effect of replacing barley with rice bran in finishing diet on productive performance and carcass characteristics of Afshari lambs

Thirty-five male Afshari lambs (3.5 months old), with an average weight of 35 kg were randomly assigned to one of five experimental treatments relating to optimal replacement level of rice bran in lamb finishing diets. The lambs were fed a milled concentrate (3 mm screen) diet supplemented with 15% (DM basis) chopped (5 cm length) lucerne hay and chopped (5 cm length) maize silage or wet (80% moisture) sugar beet pulp. Barley grain in the lambs’ diets was replaced by rice bran at either 0, 15, 30, 45 or 60% of the concentrate mixture on a dry matter basis. Results show that lambs fed 45 and 60% rice bran treatments weighed significantly less than those fed with 15 and 30% and control group (P < 0.05). Average daily gain in lambs fed with concentrate mixtures containing 45 and 60% rice bran were 33 and 47% lower than control, respectively (P < 0.05). Lambs that received diets containing 45 and 60% rice bran, had lower feed intake (P < 0.05) than other groups. Using rice bran in the finishing diet had no significant effect on dressing percentage, tail percentage, abdominal fat and visceral organ weights. These results suggest that barley can be replaced with rice bran up to 30% in the finishing diets of lambs without any adverse effect on lamb performance.     

The effect of incremental replacement of wheat with soya hulls in diets for Jersey cows on lactational performance, diet digestibility and feeding behaviour

Eight Jersey cows were used in two balanced 4 × 4 Latin Squares to investigate the effects of replacement of dietary starch with non-forage fibre on productivity, diet digestibility and feeding behaviour. Total-mixed rations consisted of maize silage, grass silage and a soyabean meal-based concentrate mixture, each at 250 g/kg DM, with the remaining 250 g consisting of cracked wheat/soya hulls (SH) in the ratios of 250 : 0, 167 : 83; 83 : 167 and 0 : 250 g, respectively, for treatments SH0, SH83, SH167 and SH250. Starch concentrations were 302, 248, 193 and 140 g/kg DM, and NDF concentrations were 316, 355, 394 and 434 g/kg DM, for treatments SH0, SH83, SH167 and SH250, respectively.Total eating time increased (p < 0.05) as SH inclusion increased, but total rumination time was unaffected. Digestibility of DM, organic matter and starch declined (p < 0.01) as SH inclusion increased, whilst digestibility of NDF and ADF increased (p < 0.01). Dry-matter intake tended to decline with increasing SH, whilst bodyweight, milk yield and fat and lactose concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Milk protein concentration decreased (p < 0.01) as SH level increased. Feed conversion efficiency improved (p < 0.05) as SH inclusion rose, but it was not possible to determine whether this was due to the increased fibre levels alone, or the favourable effect on rumen fermentation of decreasing starch levels.     

The supplementary value of different parts of enset (Ensete ventricosum) to sheep fed wheat straw and Desmodium intortum hay

A study which included growth and digestibility experiments was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of a) enset pseudostem, b) enset corm or c) enset mixture (containing equal amounts of pseudostem, corm and enset leaf on a DM basis) as a supplement to a basal diet of wheat straw fed ad libitum and restricted amounts of Desmodium intortum (Desmodium) hay to sheep. During the 71-day growth experiment, 18 one-year-old male sheep of indigenous breed with mean body weight (BW) of 20.2 (± 0.43) kg were randomly assigned to the three treatments. In the digestibility experiment, three male sheep with mean BW of 19.5 (± 1.06) kg were assigned to each treatment. Sheep supplemented with enset mixture consumed more (P < 0.001) wheat straw DM (335 g/day) than those supplemented with pseudostem (295 g/day). No differences were found in total dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake between diets supplemented with pseudostem, corm and enset mixture. Total nitrogen (N) intake (g/day) was higher (P = 0.0073) in sheep fed the diet with enset mixture (12.2) followed by corm (11.3) and pseudostem (10.7). The apparent digestibility of DM was higher (P < 0.001) in pseudostem (0.53) followed by corm (0.46) and enset mixture (0.41) supplemented sheep. Organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and N digestibility were similar among treatments. The amount of N lost in urine and faeces and the N-retention was similar among treatments. There were no differences in gain/day in sheep fed diets with pseudostem (29.3 g), corm (27.0 g) and enset mixture (36.5 g). It is concluded that supplementation of a wheat straw/Desmodium diet with enset fractions could be used equally at least to maintain body weight during the dry season.     

饲料来源对育肥湖羊生产性能、养分消化及瘤胃微生物组成的影响

为评价日粮粗饲料来源对育肥湖羊生产性能、养分消化及瘤胃微生物组成的影响。选择60日龄健康湖羊公羔(22.9±1.2) kg 120只,根据体重相近原则随机分成4组,每组5个重复,每个重复6只羊,分别以玉米秸秆(CS)、玉米芯(CC)、葵花籽壳(SH)和油菜秸秆(RS)作为粗饲料来源,添加比例均为20%,4组精料配比一致,预试期7 d,正试期70 d。在饲喂的49~55 d,每组选择5只羊采用全收粪法进行消化代谢试验,测定干物质(DM)、有机物质(OM)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)和氮(N)的表观消化率。试验结束后,每组选择15只羊进行屠宰,采集瘤胃内容物,提取瘤胃微生物DNA,对瘤胃细菌进行绝对定量。结果显示:1)CS组湖羊干物质采食量显著高于其他3组(P<0.05),且末体重和平均日增重显著高于RS组(P<0.05),其他组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。2)CS和CC组湖羊DM和ADF消化率显著高于RS组(P<0.05),且其OM和NDF消化率显著高于SH组和RS组(P<0.05);SH组湖羊N消化率显著高于RS组,其ADF消化率与其他3组湖羊差异均不显著(P>0.05)。3)CS组和CC组湖羊瘤胃中白色瘤胃球菌和普雷沃氏菌数量均显著高于RS组(P<0.05),而SH组湖羊瘤胃中两种细菌的数量与其他3组湖羊均无显著差异(P>0.05),CS组和CC组湖羊瘤胃中黄色瘤胃球菌和产琥珀酸丝状杆菌数量均显著高于SH组和RS组(P<0.05),4组湖羊瘤胃中反刍兽新月单胞菌数量差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果表明:相较于葵花籽壳组日粮和油菜秸秆组日粮,玉米秸秆组和玉米芯组日粮不仅可以确保育肥湖羊的生产性能,并且有利于纤维分解菌的生存,可促进纤维素在瘤胃中的降解。     

The variation in hectolitre weight of wheat grain fed with or without enzyme supplementation influences nutrient digestibility and subsequently affects performance in pigs

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding a wheat‐based diet of two different hectolitre weights (66 vs. 74 kg/hl), achieved through different agronomical conditions, with or without the supplementation of a β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme mix on young pigs. The parameter categories which were assessed included growth performance, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), faecal consistency, faecal microbial populations and faecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Sixty‐four pigs (11.6 kg SD 0.97) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: (T1) low hectolitre weight wheat diet, (T2) low hectolitre weight wheat diet containing 0.1 g/kg β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme supplement, (T3) high hectolitre weight wheat diet and (T4) high hectolitre weight wheat diet containing 0.1 g/kg β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme supplement. The inclusion of wheat was 500 g/kg in the diet. The low hectolitre weight grain had a higher level of zearalenone, aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination compared to the high hectolitre weight grain. The high hectolitre weight wheat had a higher gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP) and lysine contents compared to the low hectolitre weight wheat. Pigs offered the low hectolitre weight diet had a lower average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.001), a lower gain to feed (G:F) ratio (p < 0.001) and a higher faecal score (more diarrhoea) (p < 0.001) compared to pigs offered the high hectolitre weight. The low hectolitre weight diet had a reduced CATTD (p < 0.05) of nitrogen (N) and gross energy (GE) compared with pigs offered the high hectolitre weight diet. In conclusion, the higher level of mycotoxins and lower content of GE, CP and lysine in the low‐quality wheat reduced ADG and the CATTD of nutrients in pigs offered this diet. The inclusion of a β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme mix had no effect on growth performance or nutrient digestibility.     

The effect of maize silage type on the performances and methane emission of dairy cattle

To examine whether type of maize silage is important for milk production performances, maize silage LG30224 (LG) was compared with Falkone (FA), the latter having a 4.0% points lower rumen NDF digestibility and 19 g/kg dry matter (DM) more starch. To bridge the lower energy content of FA, a third treatment was involved by adding maize meal (MM) in a ratio of 92/8 on DM (FA+MM). Maize and grass silage were fed ad libitum in a ratio of 65/35 on DM basis. Concentrates were supplemented individually to meet energy and protein requirements. The experiment was set up as a Latin square with three groups of nine Holstein cows during three periods of 3 weeks. In the last 2 weeks of each period, DM intake (DMI) and milk performances were measured. Each group included one cannulated cow to study effects on rumen fermentation. During the last 4 days of each period, two cows from each group were placed in gas exchange chambers to measure nutrient digestibility and methane production. Total DMI was higher (p < 0.05) for FA+MM (20.8 kg/day) than for FA (20.3 kg/day), while DMI for LG was intermediate (20.6 kg/day). Treatment did not affect milk production nor composition, whereas fat–protein‐corrected milk was higher for LG (30.5 kg/day) and FA+MM (30.3 kg/day) than for FA (29.9 kg/day). The ration did not affect pH nor volatile fatty acid composition in the rumen. Further, total tract digestibility of OM, crude protein, NDF and starch did not differ among treatments. The ration with LG gave higher methane production per day and per kg NDF intake than both rations with FA, but the difference was not significant when expressed per kg DMI or FPCM. Thus, maize silage type is of little importance for milk production if energy and physical structure requirements are met.