富铜酵母对西门塔尔牛阉牛瘤胃发酵及尿嘌呤衍生物的影响

本文旨在研究富铜酵母对瘤胃发酵和尿嘌呤衍生物浓度的影响.选用4头体重(420±15.2)kg、年龄2.5岁、装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的中国西门塔尔牛阉牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理1,2、3组分别在基础日粮干物质基础七添加富铜酵母(含铜10%)80、160和240 mg/kg.结果表明:瘤胃pH和挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)无显著差异(P>0.05);160和240 mg/kg组氨态氮(NH3-N)浓度显著低于对照组和80 mg/kg组(P<0.05),240 mg/kg组乙酸/丙酸比例低于对照组和80 mg/kg组(P<0.05).玉米秸秆和豆粕的干物质(DM)以及有机物(OM)有效降解率无显著差异,240 mg/kg组玉米秸秆中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)有效降解率显著降低(P<0.05),160和240 mg/kg组豆粕粗蛋白质(CP)有效降解率显著降低(P＜0.05).尿酸含量无显著变化,80和160 mg/kg组尿囊素和尿嘌呤衍生物含量显著高于对照组和240 mg/kg组(P<0.05).在本试验条件下,富铜酵母添加量在每千克干物质80～160 mg时效果较好;考虑在不同生产条件下,基础日粮中的铜水平有所不同,建议在以富铜酵母为日粮铜源时,日粮铜水平不可超过每千克干物质13.87 mg.     

Effects of dietary protein levels and 2‐methylbutyrate on ruminal fermentation,nutrient degradability,bacterial populations and urinary purine derivatives in Simmental steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP ) levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (MB ) supplementation on ruminal fermentation, bacterial populations, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in Simmental steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers, averaging 18 months of age and 465 ± 8.6 kg of body weight (BW ), were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design by a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Low protein (98.5 g CP /kg dry matter [LP ] or high protein (128.7 g CP /kg dry matter [HP ]) diets were fed with MB supplementation (0 g [MB ?] or 16.8 g steer^?1 day^?1 [MB +]). Steers were fed a total mixed ration with dietary corn straw to concentrate ratio of 50:50 (dry matter [DM ] basis). The CP  × MB interaction was observed for ruminal total VFA , molar proportions of acetate and propionate, acetate to propionate ratio, ammonia‐N, effective degradability of neutral detergent fibre (NDF ) and CP , microbial enzyme activity, bacterial populations and total PD excretion (p  < .05). Ruminal pH decreased (p  < .05), but ruminal total VFA concentration increased (p  < .05) with increasing dietary CP level or MB supplementation. Acetate molar proportion increased (p  = .043) with MB supplementation, but was not affected by dietary CP level. Propionate molar proportion decreased (p  < .05) with increasing dietary CP level or MB supplementation. Consequently, acetate‐to‐propionate ratio increased (p  = .001) with MB supplementation, but was not affected by dietary CP level. Ruminal ammonia‐N content increased (p  = .034) with increasing dietary CP level, but decreased (p  = .012) with MB supplementation. The effective degradability of NDF and CP increased (p  < .05) with increasing dietary CP level or MB supplementation. Microbial enzyme activity, bacterial populations and total PD excretion also increased (p  < .05) with increasing dietary CP level or MB supplementation. The results indicated that ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradability, microbial enzyme activity, ruminal bacterial populations and microbial protein synthesis improved with increasing dietary CP level or MB supplementation in steers.     

Bovine growth hormone gene polymorphism affects stress response in Japanese Black cattle

We investigate the associations between growth hormone (GH) gene polymorphism and behavioral and physiological responses to stressors and learning ability in Japanese Black cattle. Flight distance test was conducted in the first experiment. Steers with haplotype C of GH gene polymorphism avoided human approaches at a significantly greater distance than ones without haplotype C (C: 1.9 ± 0.9, non‐C: 1.0 ± 0.2 m, P < 0.05). An open‐field test was conducted in the second experiment. Behavioral responses did not differ significantly between steers with and without haplotype C. Increases of heart rates to dropping of iron pipes was significantly higher in steers with haplotype C (C:161.7 ± 21.8, non‐C:130.7 ± 31.3%, P < 0.05). Despite basal serum concentrations not being different between steers with and without haplotype C, serum cortisol in blood sampling immediately after severe confinement in a race tended to be higher in steers with haplotype C (P = 0.1). The maze test was conducted as the third experiment. There was no difference in performance in the maze test between steers with and without haplotype C. It is concluded that genetic polymorphism of GH may affect stress responses through GH concentration in steers.     

Effects of wood kraft pulp feeding on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black steer in the middle fattening stage

We investigated the effects of wood kraft pulp (KP) feeding on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black (JB) steer in the middle fattening stage. The feeding experiment was carried out a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design using six JB steers (16.2 ± 0.8 months of age). Steers were fed rice straw and three concentrated feeds: commercial formula feed (control), formula feed containing 7.5% KP on a dry matter (DM) basis (7.5% KP), and formula feed containing 15% KP on a DM basis (15% KP). Feed digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters were recorded for 3 days during the measurement period, after an adaptation phase of 11 days. There was no significant difference in DM intake per day among diets. A slightly higher digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was observed in steers fed 15% KP, compared with those fed other diets (P = 0.059). The butyric acid ratio in rumen fluid was higher in steers fed KP diets than in steers fed control (P = 0.083). The average ruminal pH was unaffected by KP diets. This study suggests that replacing 15% of concentrated feed with KP has little effect on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation in JB fattening steer.     

Effect of castration at 10 months of age on growth physiology and behavior of male feral beef cattle

This study compared the growth performance, plasma testosterone and cortisol levels around castration at 10 months of age, and plasma insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I concentration and flight speed, in intact bulls and steers from 10 to 21 months of age in a feral Spanish breed. Fourteen bulls (366.5 ± 48.5 kg live weight) were assigned at random to one of two treatments: surgically castrated (steers) or intact (bulls), and submitted to an identical fattening period. Steers reared until heavy live weights (21 months of age) grew slowly and had lower plasma IGF‐I concentrations than intact bulls. These differences were mainly highlighted the month after surgery (11 months of age) and the last part of the fattening period (from 19 to 21 months of age). After surgical castration (11 and 12 months of age), steers showed a tendency to display greater flight speed values than intact bulls but baseline plasma cortisol concentration did not differ between groups at this time. At the end, steers and bulls reached nearly similar temperament, as flight speed did not differ between them. The results confirm the role of IGF‐I as a key anabolic hormone in male beef cattle and thus it may reflect growth differences due to altered sex steroids production.