Rumen fermentation and degradability in buffalo and cattle using the in vitro gas production technique

An in vitro trial was conducted to investigate the effect of different inoculum sources (buffalo vs. cattle) on rumen fermentation and degradability. Incubations were carried out using rumen fluid obtained from buffalo or cattle fed the same diet [60% grass hay and 40% concentrate; 18 kg dry matter (DM)/day]. The fermentation kinetics of eight feeds commonly used in ruminant nutrition (alfalfa hay, barley meal, beet pulp, corn meal and silage, ryegrass hay and silage and soya bean meal s.e.) were studied with the in vitro gas production technique and rumen fermentation parameters (substrate disappearance, pH and volatile fatty acids production) were determined after 120 h of incubation. The linear relationship indicates that the microbial metabolic pathways of the two inocula for all the substrates were qualitatively similar, albeit often quantitatively different. In this in vitro study, a significant influence of rumen inoculum (buffalo vs. cow) on fermentation and degradability of the examined substrates was found. The differences in buffalo and cattle rumen fermentation can be explained with a different microbial activity of the two ruminant species, because of different amount of microbial population or microbial population constituted by different species of bacteria and protozoa.     

Effect of Yucca schidigera with or without nisin on ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in sheep fed silage- and hay-based diets

A 4 × 6 Youden square design was used to study manipulating effect of Yucca schidigera with or without nisin on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial protein synthesis in sheep fed silage‐ and hay‐based diets. Four ruminally canulated wethers were given isonitrogenous diets of timothy silage and concentrate (85:15) (S), and timothy hay and concentrate (60:40) (H), on DM basis. The six experimental diets were: (i) S; (ii) S + 240 ppm of Yucca schidigera (SY); (iii) S + 240 ppm of Yucca schidigera + 6 mg/kg bodyweight (BW)^0.75 of nisin (SYN); (iv) H; (v) H + 240 ppm of Yucca schidigera (HY); and (vi) H + 240 ppm of Yucca schidigera + 6 mg/kg BW^0.75 of nisin (HYN). Rumen pH was higher (P < 0.01) in sheep fed SYN diet than those fed S diet. Concentration of ammonia‐N (NH₃‐N) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in sheep fed SY, SYN, HY, HYN than those of S and H. Total volatile fatty acids concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in HYN than in H diet and tended to be higher in sheep fed H diets than those fed S diets. There was a significantly higher (P < 0.01) efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis in the rumen of sheep fed on HY diet than those fed on H diet.     

Fermentation characteristics and microbial growth promoted by diets including two-phase olive cake in continuous fermenters

Two‐phase olive cake (2POC) is the by‐product obtained from the so called ‘two‐phase’ procedure to extract olive oil by mechanical methods. After the mechanical extraction the 2POC is dried and most of the remaining oil extracted by chemical means. The production of the crude by‐product may reach more than 4 millions t/year in Spain ( MAPA, 2003 ), most of it in areas (Southeast) with shortage of pastures and conventional feeds for ruminants. Six continuous fermenters, inoculated with ruminal liquor from wethers or goats, were fed lucerne hay (LH); LH plus a concentrate including dried two‐phase olive cake (LHCO) and; diet LHCO added with polyethylene glycol (LHCOP). The highest pH values and ammonia N (NH₃‐N) output were found in fermenters fed diet LH (6.19 and 6.35 for pH, and 53.7 and 68.9 mg NH₃N/day, respectively, in fermentes inoculated with rumen liquor from sheep and goats) without differences due to the inoculum origin. The digestibility of carbohydrates (CHO) was affected (p < 0.001) by inoculum (67.0 and 58.8%, respectively, for goats and wethers) the lowest values being for diet LHCO (53.2 and 57.0% with inoculum from wethers and goats, respectively). The main volatile fatty acid (VFA) was acetic acid with higher (p < 0.01) values in fermenters with inoculum from goats than from wethers (80.2 and 63.0 mmol/day respectively). The efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis (EBS) was not different (p > 0.05) with inoculum from wethers and goats [26.4 and 28.1 and 35.2 and 33.5 g bacterial N/kg digested CHO, respectively, obtained by using diamino pimelic acid (DAPA) and purine bases (PB) as microbial markers]. The lowest (p < 0.05) values were found in fermenters fed diets LHCOP and LH, estimated, respectively, from DAPA and PB (21.9 and 29.0 g bacterial N/kg digested CHO). The substitution of a part of lucerne hay by a concentrate including dried 2POC does not seem to cause important differences in efficiency of VFA production. Results concerning bacterial protein synthesis are not so clear since values estimated from DAPA and PB did not show similar trends. Neither inoculum origin nor PEG had important effects on fermentation characteristics. The DAPA could be an adequate marker in continuous fermenters, with comparative purposes, as protozoa are not present and, estimated protein synthesis values are similar to those obtained in vivo with similar diets using urinary excretion of PD ( Yáñez Ruiz et al., 2004b ). Further research is needed to state the optimal proportion of 2POC in practical diets for ruminants at both maintenance and production stages.     

Minimum length of the adaptation and collection period in digestibility trials with sheep fed ad libitum only forage or forage plus concentrate

Two in vivo digestibility trials with sheep were conducted to identify the minimum period length of feeding a new diet to obtain reproducible values of nutritional variables onward and the minimum length of collection period as to obtain maximal precision for each variable. Trial 1 was conducted with ten Polwarth male sheep (34 ± 5 kg body weight (BW)) throughout three 21‐day periods, in a completely randomized two‐way crossover design. The animals were divided into two groups (Group A and B, n = 5 per group) which were fed ad libitum with a sequence of the following diets throughout the periods: Group A: hay – hay plus concentrate – hay; Group B: hay plus concentrate – hay – hay plus concentrate. The concentrate was included in a proportion of 0.33 of the total diet. The intake, and the faecal and urinary excretion were measured daily throughout the experiment. For evaluating rumen fermentation variables, in Trial 2 four Santa Inês male sheep (65 ± 5 kg BW) fitted with ruminal cannula were used. The animals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 2 per group), and the trial was conducted through four 21 days experimental period, in a three‐way crossover design, using experimental diets and feeding management similar to Trial 1. The results indicated that, even though no clear or consistent steady‐state condition was identified for rumen fermentation or urinary excretion variables, the adaptation period for measuring OM digestibility in in vivo trials with sheep fed ad libitum where the diet shifts from one of only hay to another containing concentrate, or vice‐versa, should be at least 12 days long. Moreover, although no precision improvement was obtained by increasing the collection period above 1 day for measuring OM digestibility, the minimal length of collection period should be 4 days for measuring faecal excretion variables and 7 days for measuring urinary excretion variables.     

Influence of direct-fed fibrolytic enzymes on diet digestibility and ruminal activity in sheep fed a grass hay-based diet

Six rumen-fistulated Merino sheep were used in a crossover design experiment to evaluate the effects of an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme preparation (12 g/d; ENZ), delivered directly into the rumen, on diet digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and microbial protein synthesis. The enzyme contained endoglucanase and xylanase activities. Sheep were fed a mixed grass hay:concentrate (70:30; DM basis) diet at a daily rate of 46.1 g/kg of BW(0.75). Samples of grass hay were incubated in situ in the rumen of each sheep to measure DM and NDF degradation. The supplementation with ENZ did not affect diet digestibility (P = 0.30 to 0.66), urinary excretion of purine derivatives (P = 0.34), ruminal pH (P = 0.46), or concentrations of NH(3)-N (P = 0.69) and total VFA (P = 0.97). In contrast, molar proportion of propionate were greater (P = 0.001) and acetate:propionate ratio was lower (P < 0.001) in ENZ-supplemented sheep. In addition, ENZ supplementation tended to increase (P = 0.06) numbers of cellulolytic bacteria at 4 h after feeding. Both the ruminally insoluble potentially degradable fraction of grass hay DM and its fractional rate of degradation were increased (P = 0.002 and 0.05, respectively) by ENZ treatment. Supplementation with ENZ also increased (P = 0.01 to 0.02) effective and potential degradability of grass hay DM and NDF. Ruminal fluid endoglucanase and xylanase activities were greater (P < 0.001 and 0.03, respectively) in ENZ-supplemented sheep than in control animals. It was found that ENZ supplementation did not affect either exoglucanase (P = 0.12) or amylase (P = 0.83) activity. The results indicate that supplementing ENZ directly into the rumen increased the fibrolytic activity and stimulated the growth of cellulolytic bacteria without a prefeeding feed-enzyme interaction.     

饲粮中添加燕麦干草对绵羊体外发酵的影响

为明确燕麦干草不同添加量对绵羊瘤胃体外发酵的影响,选用6头体况相似、体重 (70.24±2.03) kg且装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的杂种(美利奴♂×蒙古羊♀)公羊作为瘤胃液供体动物进行体外发酵试验,按粗饲料中燕麦干草和青贮玉米比例(干物质基础)将饲粮分为C₁组(精料+100%玉米青贮),C₂组(精料+50%玉米青贮+50%燕麦干草)和C₃组(精料+100%燕麦干草)。饲粮精粗比为35∶65。结果表明:1)饲粮中加入燕麦干草显著提高了体外发酵的产气量和甲烷产量(P<0.05);2)饲粮中加入燕麦干草对体外培养液pH没有明显影响,但显著提高了培养液NH₃-N浓度(P<0.05),未明显改变试羊瘤胃丙酸摩尔比,但TVFA浓度、乙酸、丁酸摩尔比以及乙酸/丙酸上升;3)燕麦干草的加入显著提高了绵羊瘤胃体外发酵的IVDMD和IVCPD,对饲粮中营养物质的降解有促进作用;4)多项指标综合指数以C₂组最高,C₁组最低。由此可知,在精料水平相同的条件下,燕麦干草与青贮玉米1∶1混合作为粗饲料能改善绵羊的瘤胃内环境,提高瘤胃发酵能力,得到最大组合效应。     

Efficiency of utilisation of different diets with contrasting forages and concentrate when fed to sheep in a discontinuous feeding pattern

The effects of feeding different levels of forages and concentrate, in a discontinuous feeding pattern, on the efficiency of feed utilisation and rumen function were studied using rumen fistulated sheep. Experiment 1 was a 4 × 4 latin square design to determine the whole tract digestibility and rumen characteristics of diets comprising 15% (C15), 25% (C25), 35% (C35) and 45% (C45) concentrate (energy-dense dairy pellets) with the rest of the diet being a combination of fresh short rotation ryegrass (Lolium mutiforum) and conserved (lucerne hay and maize silage) forages. In Experiment 2, the rumen degradation characteristics of feed ingredients were determined using the nylon bag technique. Daily dry matter intake (either expressed as g/kg LW or g/kg W ^0.75) was 10% lower (p = 0.03) for the C15 diet compared with C25, C35 and C45 diets. The apparent in vivo digestibility of dry matter (DM) for C15 diet was 4% higher (p = 0.04) than the C35 and C45 diets which may be attributed to the high quality of the forage (ryegrass) used.Fibre digestibility decreased as proportion of concentrate in the diet increased. However, this was unlikely due to changes in the rumen fermentation pattern, as neither pH (6.1 ± 0.23) nor ammonia concentration (24.4 ± 6 mg/dl), were different (p > 0.05) among diets. Instead, the lower fibre digestion was most likely the result of different type and proportion of fibre among diets, as total rumen degradability and rate of fibre degradation in the rumen were higher (p = 0.001) for ryegrass than for other feedstuffs. There was no significant difference in total nitrogen balance and urinary allantoin excretion among diets, which indicated similar total microbial protein synthesis (MPS). The asynchrony observed, for N and energy availability in the rumen for different diets using Sinclair et al. [Sinclair, L.A., Garnsworthy, P.C., Newbold, J.R., Buttery, P.J., 1993. Effect of synchronizing the rate of dietary energy and nitrogen release on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in sheep. J. Agric. Sci. 120, 251–263] equation, was due to the feeding pattern used in this study leading to excess of N in relation to total organic matter digested in the rumen. In conclusion, feeding concentrates in the diets as PMR with conserved forages in a discontinuous feeding pattern may be valuable to develop feeding strategies in a pasture based system for high producing dairy cows without affecting the rumen system.     

燕麦干草、青贮燕麦与天然牧草饲喂牦牛的营养价值比较研究

为比较四川牦牛常规粗饲料的营养价值,试验选用燕麦干草、青贮燕麦、天然牧草,对其进行营养成分和体外产气分析。体内消化试验于四川省红原县进行,选取9头初始体重为(150±10)kg的麦洼公牦牛,随机分为3组,每组3头牛。试验结果如下:1)天然牧草粗蛋白(crude protein,CP)含量显著高于青贮燕麦和燕麦干草(P<0.05);天然牧草的中性洗涤纤维(neutral detergent fiber,NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(acid detergent fiber,ADF)含量显著低于青贮燕麦(P<0.05);2)康奈尔净碳水化合物蛋白质动态评价体系(cornell net carbohydrate and protein system,CNCPS)中,青贮燕麦的非蛋白氮(non-protein nitrogen,PA)部分显著高于燕麦干草和天然牧草(P<0.05);天然牧草的快速降解蛋白(rapidly degraded protein,PB1)、慢速降解蛋白(slowly degraded protein,PB3)含量最高,且不可降解蛋白(undegraded p...     

燕麦干草与全株玉米青贮不同组合对绵羊瘤胃发酵的影响

本试验旨在明确燕麦干草与全株玉米青贮按不同比例组合对绵羊瘤胃发酵的影响。选用9头体重为(70.24±2.03)kg、体况相似且装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的杂种(美利奴×蒙古羊♀)公羊作为试验动物,按过渡期称重结果分成3组,每组3只。按燕麦干草和全株玉米青贮占粗饲料比例(干物质基础)将饲粮分为A1(100%全株玉米青贮)、A2(50%全株玉米青贮+50%燕麦干草)和A3(100%燕麦干草)3种,3种饲粮精粗比均为35∶65。采用3×3拉丁方设计,进行3期试验,每期22 d(预试期15 d,正试期7 d),正试期最后3 d采样。结果显示:1)与100%全株玉米青贮相比,以50%全株玉米青贮+50%燕麦干草或100%燕麦干草为粗饲料对绵羊瘤胃液p H和总氮浓度平均值没有产生显著影响(P0.05),但显著降低了瘤胃液氨态氮(NH3-N)、尿素氮和血浆尿素氮浓度平均值(P0.05),同时以50%全株玉米青贮+50%燕麦干草为粗饲料还显著提高了瘤胃液蛋白氮浓度平均值(P0.05)。此外,A2组的瘤胃液p H和总氮浓度平均值稍高于A3组,瘤胃液蛋白氮浓度平均值较A3组增加了8.97%,瘤胃液和血浆尿素氮浓度平均值稍低于A3组,但差异均不显著(P0.05),而瘤胃液NH3-N浓度平均值则显著低于A3组(P0.05)。2)粗饲料中燕麦干草的加入并未显著改变绵羊瘤胃液总挥发性脂肪酸浓度和丙酸摩尔比平均值(P0.05),升高了瘤胃液乙酸、丁酸摩尔比以及乙酸/丙酸平均值,且A3组与A1组差异显著(P0.05)。由此可知,在精料相同、精粗比为35∶65的条件下,用50%全贮玉米青贮和50%燕麦干草混合作为粗饲料可以改善绵羊的瘤胃内环境而适宜瘤胃微生物生长,提高瘤胃微生物活性及其对氨(NH3)的利用率,有助于微生物蛋白的合成,升高瘤胃乙酸的摩尔比及乙酸/丙酸。     

Gas and short‐chain fatty acid production from feeds commonly fed to red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and incubated with rumen inoculum from red deer and sheep

Efficient red deer supplementary feeding depends on estimations of the nutritive value of offered feeds, frequently estimated with the use of equations derived from domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to compare the 24‐hour in vitro true dry matter degradability (ivTD₂₄), in vitro gas production (GP) kinetic parameters, GP in 24 hr of incubation (GAS₂₄) and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) and microbial biomass (MBS) produced after 24‐hour incubation of feeds in inoculum prepared from sheep and red deer rumen fluid. Eleven feeds, frequently consumed by red deer in Slovenia, which occur either naturally (two fresh grasses, chestnut fruits and common and sessile oak acorns) or are fed as winter supplemental feeds (two grass hays, two grass silages, apple pomace, fresh sugar beetroot), were investigated. The in vitro GP kinetic parameters, GAS₂₄ and ivTD₂₄, did not differ between animal species. Amounts of SCFAs were greater (p < 0.05) when feeds were incubated in sheep inoculum, while molar proportions of acetic and propionic acids did not differ. Molar proportions of butyric acid produced during incubation of high fibre feeds did not differ between animal species, but were higher (p < 0.05) when feeds high in starch or sugar were incubated in red deer inoculum. Greater production of SCFA by sheep rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with energy precursors, while greater production of MBS by red deer rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with protein. Results also suggest that rumens of sheep and red deer are inhabited by different microbial communities, which did not affect the extent of in vitro GP and degradation of feeds used in the present experiment. However, the possibility exists that the divergent nutrient use could be a consequence of different priming by different feeds of the donor animal diets.     

The effects of protein sources supplemented with urea-treated potato pulp (PP) silage and feeding levels of the PP silage-based concentrate on feed intake, digestibility and ruminal fermentation in beef steers

Six Japanese Black (Wagyu) steers (average initial weight 467 ± 45 kg) fitted with a ruminal cannula were used in a split‐plot design experiment comprising a 3 × 3 Latin square design (whole‐plot) and a randomized block design (subplot). The whole‐plot treatments were three different feeding levels of urea‐treated potato pulp (PP) silage‐based concentrate: 1.00%, 1.75% and 2.50% of body weight (BW) (on a dry matter (DM) basis). The subplot treatments consisted of the concentrate formulated to contain either soybean meal (SBM) as a rapidly rumen‐degraded protein source or corn gluten meal (CGM) as a slowly degraded protein source. Dry matter intake tended to be lower (P = 0.071) for CGM (8.9 kg/day) than for SBM (9.4 kg/day). Protein sources had no significant effect on digestibility and in situ degradation. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃‐N) was lower (P = 0.033) for CGM (7.5 mg/dL) than for SBM (9.5 mg/dL). Protein sources did not affect ruminal pH and the total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations. The molar proportions of ruminal acetate and valerate were higher (P = 0.032) for CGM than for SBM. The maximum daily intake of the PP silage‐based concentrate expressed as a percentage of BW was approximately 1.4% of BW. Dry matter intake was higher (P = 0.046) for steers fed at 1.0% of BW of the PP silage‐based concentrate than for steers fed at 1.75% or 2.5% of BW of the concentrate. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate had no effect on DM and nutrients digestibility, except for crude protein (CP) digestibility. CP digestibility tended to be lower (P = 0.071) for steers fed at 1.75% of BW of the PP silage‐based concentrate than for steers fed at 1.0% or 2.5% of BW of the concentrate. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate also did not affect the in situ degradation parameter of hay and PP silage. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate did not affect ruminal pH, NH₃‐N and total VFA concentrations. The molar proportion of acetate was highest for steers fed at 1.0% of BW of the concentrate. In conclusion, in the urea‐treated PP silage‐based concentrate, CGM seems to be more effective than SBM for stabilizing the ruminal NH₃‐N concentration and to be advantageous for fiber digestion in the rumen. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate did not change the amount of VFA production in the rumen and the DM digestibility.     

Effect of brewer's grain on rumen fermentation, milk production and milk composition in lactating dairy cows

Six lactating Holstein cows were divided into two groups (n = 3) and used in a double reversal trial with three periods of 14 days each to evaluate the rumen fermentation, milk production and milk composition of cows fed brewer's grain (BG). The control diets contained 14% chopped Sudangrass hay, 24% corn silage, 18% alfalfa hay cube, 34% concentrate mixture‐1 and 10% concentrate mixture‐2 (wheat bran, soybean meal and cottonseed). In the experimental diet, wet BG replaced the concentrate mixture‐2. The protozoal population, concentration of ammonia‐N and volatile fatty acids in the ruminal fluid did not differ between the control and BG diets. The molar percentage of acetic acid was significantly higher (P < 0.05) with the BG diet at 5 h after feeding. The milk yield, the percentage of protein, lactose, solids not‐fat and somatic cell counts of milk did not differ between the two diets. The percentage of milk fat tended to increase with the BG diet. The BG diet significantly increased the proportions of C18:0 and C18:1 in milk fat (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) and tended to increase that of conjugated linoleic acid.     

Effect of feeding regime on the metabolism of ochratoxin A during the in vitro incubation in buffered rumen fluid from cows.

Pure ochratoxin A (OA) was added to buffered rumen fluid collected from two fistulated cows and incubated under anaerobic conditions. Both animals were fed six diets containing grass, grass silage or hay, and two different amounts of concentrate consisting of barley and soybean meal. Four incubations per animal and diet were carried out at consecutive days. The concentration of OA declined exponentially to a very low or non-detectable level under all conditions examined, with half-lives at 0.51 to 2.76 h. The disappearance of OA was accompanied by the appearance of ochratoxin alpha (O alpha) with an average amount of O alpha formed relative to the disappearance of OA near 100%, independent of diet and animal. Based on four incubations per animal and diet the rate of OA disappearance was affected (P < 0.1) by the origin of rumen fluid from two animals, as well as by the type of basic component and amount of concentrate in the diet, with interactions between these factors. The disappearance of OA mostly was accelerated (P < 0.1) by replacing grass silage or hay by fresh grass and by increasing the content of concentrate from 10 to 50% of dry matter. It is concluded that the capacity of the rumen to detoxify OA is not limited by the yield of Oa from OA but is strongly dependent on animal and diet.     

内蒙古包头地区玉米秸秆黄贮调制技术及典对育肥羊饲喂效果的研究

旨在研究适合内蒙古包头地区玉米秸秆黄贮发酵的最佳条件,并评价玉米黄贮秸秆配方日粮对育肥羊的饲喂效果。采用三因素三水平正交试验,对黄贮发酵菌剂、发酵周期和发酵辅料等进行实验室研究,筛选最佳发酵组合;依据GB/T 20807—2006《绵羊用精饲料》标准,配制含不同比例秸秆黄贮的配方日粮,开展育肥羊饲喂试验,比较传统育肥羊饲料和玉米黄贮秸秆配方饲料对小尾寒羊的育肥效果。结果表明,3个因素对秸秆黄贮pH值影响的顺序为：发酵辅料〉发酵菌剂〉发酵周期,黄贮发酵条件最佳的组合为EM如金菌液秸秆发酵剂＋发酵25 d＋食盐。饲喂基础日粮中添加不同比例玉米秸秆黄贮的2个试验组羊只,其活体重、胴体重、单块眼肌面积显著大于饲喂传统育肥饲料的对照组羊只（P〈0.05）;饲喂基础日粮中黄贮添加比例为40%的试验组羊只,其饲料转化率显著高于对照组羊只（P〈0.05）;饲喂基础日粮中黄贮添加比例为20%的试验组羊只,其屠宰率显著高于对照组羊只（P〈0.05）;2个试验组羊只的日增重、大腿肌肉厚度、腰部肌肉厚度、系水力与对照组相比差异均不显著（P〉0.05）。综合考虑饲喂效果以及饲喂成本因素,在基础饲料中添加40%的玉米黄贮秸秆对小尾寒羊的育肥效果最佳。     

饲粮中燕麦干草含量对绵羊瘤胃液pH及微生物区系的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮燕麦干草含量对绵羊瘤胃液p H及微生物区系的影响。选取9只体况和体重[(70.32±2.14)kg]相近、装有永久性瘘管的德国美利奴与蒙古羊杂种公羊,采用3×3拉丁方设计,随机分为3组,每组3只,各组分别采用全株玉米青贮、全株玉米青贮+燕麦干草(1∶1)(混合组)、燕麦干草为粗饲料。饲粮精粗比34.50∶65.50。进行3期饲养试验,每期20 d,15 d预试期,5 d采样期。采集饲喂前(0 h)和饲喂后1、3、5和7 h的瘤胃液,测定p H,采用实时定量PCR方法测定微生物相对含量。结果表明:1)全株玉米青贮组的瘤胃液p H在1、5 h均显著低于燕麦干草组(P0.05),在3 h极显著低于混合组(P0.01);2)混合组和燕麦干草组瘤胃液真菌的相对含量在0 h均极显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.01),燕麦干草组在5 h真菌相对含量显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.05);3)混合组原虫的相对含量在1、5 h显著低于全株玉米青贮组(P0.05);4)饲喂后5 h,混合组和燕麦干草组的纤维分解菌相对含量均较高,其中燕麦干草组黄色瘤胃球菌相对含量显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.05),白色瘤胃球菌和产琥珀酸丝状杆菌的相对含量极显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.01)。综上所述,在精粗比为34.50∶65.50的饲粮中采用全株玉米青贮+燕麦干草(1∶1)的粗饲料,有利于维持绵羊瘤胃内环境的稳态及瘤胃微生物的生长,白色瘤胃球菌和产琥珀酸丝状杆菌为优势菌。     

Adjustment of the ammonia level in the rumen by sorption on bentonite and dried beet pulp

The effect was studied of bentonite and spent sugar beet pulp on the ammonia level in the rumen juice sheep fed hay, ground barley and a urea supplementation. In comparison with a control trial, the nitrogen supply to the rumen juice proved more continuous, this fact improving the conditions for the microbial protein synthesis at the time fo the strongest fermentation. The interaction of bentonite, beet pectin and ammonium ions is attributed to the ion exchange.     

Effect of α-cyclodextrin-allyl isothiocyanate on ruminal microbial methane production in vitro

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of α‐cyclodextrin‐allyl isothiocyanate (CD‐AI) on ruminal microbial methane production and rumen fermentation of corn starch, soluble potato starch or hay plus concentrate (1.5:1) by mixed rumen microorganisms. Diluted rumen fluid (30 mL) was incubated anaerobically at 38°C for 6 and 24 h with or without CD‐AI (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 g/L). The pH of the medium was unchanged by CD‐AI in all substrates. The molar proportion of acetate was decreased and propionate was increased with a corresponding decrease in acetate : propionate ratio (P < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acids and butyrate were increased (P < 0.05). Ammonia‐N was decreased (P < 0.05). Except with soluble potato starch, numbers of protozoa were unchanged after 6 h. As concentration of CD‐AI increased from 0 to 3.2 g/L, fermentation of corn starch, soluble potato starch and hay plus concentrate resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) methane production of 49–100% (6 h) and 14–100% (24 h); 39–100% (6 h) and 16–100% (24 h); and 45–100% (6 h) and 17–100% (24 h), respectively. When hay plus concentrate was used as substrate, methanogenic bacteria were decreased (P < 0.05) with 0.8 g/L of CD‐AI after 6 h. Excluding the lower dose level (0.4 g/L) of CD‐AI, digestibility of neutral detergent fiber of hay plus concentrate was decreased (P < 0.05) after 24 h. A suitable level of CD‐AI could therefore be used as a supplement to inhibit methane production and improve rumen fermentation without detrimental effects on fiber digestion.     

Digestibility, methane production and nitrogen balance in sheep fed ensiled or fresh mixtures of sorghum–soybean forage

The feeding value of a mixture of sorghum and soybeans plants, either fresh or ensiled, was evaluated with sheep. Sorghum and soybeans were harvested during the Cuban rainy season and ensiled in a ratio of 0.6/0.4 (w/w, as feed) with molasses and a bacterial inoculant. Silos were opened between 162 and 182 d post ensiling during the Cuban dry season and silages were fed to six pelibuey sheep (including two fistulated). Six other sheep (also including two fistulated) were fed sorghum and soybean in the same proportion, but freshly harvested during the dry season. The experiment lasted 21 d (14 d adaptation and 7 d data collection period). Silage quality parameters included pH, ammonia, lactate, and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Further, both fresh and ensiled diets were offered to study the rumen fermentation characteristics (pH, ammonia, lactate, SCFA, in situ degradability and methane), duodenal flow of microbial protein (assessed through urinary purine derivatives secretion), fecal degradability of nutrients and urinary N excretion. From these measurements ME value and degradable CP supply at the small intestine (DCPSI) were estimated. Silage was of excellent quality. Compared to fresh forage feeding silage increased molar propionate proportion and rumen microbial protein synthesis and reduced methane emission. Fresh forage showed lower rumen degradability and total digestibility. Further, the higher ME concentration (11.2 vs. 10.3 MJ/kg DM) and DCPSI (84.7 vs. 56.1 g/kg DM) of the silage would allow a higher milk production or daily gain as compared with fresh forage available during the Cuban dry season.     

The effect of grain species, processing and time of feeding on the efficiency of feed utilization and microbial protein synthesis in sheep

This study investigated the effect of cereal grain species (sorghum, wheat, oats and barley), extent of processing (cracked barley, finely ground barley, and wet whole barley) and time of feeding (barley grain mixed with ryegrass hay or fed 2 h before hay was fed), on whole tract dry matter digestibility (WTDMD), and microbial protein synthesis (MPS), as a supplement to ryegrass hay when fed to rumen-cannulated sheep.Expected dry matter digestibility (EDMD) in mixtures of cereal grain and ryegrass hay was calculated by interpolation between in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD) of each grain and the ryegrass hay. These were compared with measured actual WTDMD to detect positive or negative associative effects. Among grain species, the percentage difference in digestibility between actual WTDMD and EDMD was negative at − 6.6% units for wheat but positive at + 2.3%, + 4.3% and + 5.7% units for sorghum, oats, cracked or finely ground barley, respectively.As expected, the supplementation of sheep fed ryegrass hay with different sources of carbohydrates increased urinary allantoin output (as an indicator of MPS) when compared to sheep fed ryegrass hay alone. The concentration of urinary allantoin was significantly higher in sheep supplemented with sorghum (1916 mg/sheep/day) than wheat, oats or cracked barley ([mean ± S.E.M.] 1451 ± 24 mg/sheep/day) grain. There was a significantly higher urinary allantoin concentration in sheep fed cracked barley compared to finely ground barley or wet whole barley (1479 vs. 1095 vs. 1031 mg/sheep/day, respectively). There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in urinary allantoin output, expressed as output/kg DM intake, when cracked barley was mixed and fed with the hay or fed 2 h before hay. However, in terms of total output of allantoin this was significantly higher (P < 0.05) (1479 vs. 1209 mg/sheep/day).In sacco degradability characteristics of organic matter and nitrogen for sorghum, oats, wheat, barley at different levels of processing and for ryegrass hay were also measured in the rumen of cannulated sheep.Among grain species, wheat had the highest effective organic matter degradability in the rumen (78.1%) while sorghum had the lowest. The effective degradability of protein of finely ground barley in the rumen was found to be higher than cracked barley or wet whole barley.Wheat grain, being highly degradable in the rumen, had a negative effect on WTDMD. In contrast, sorghum grain, being more slowly degradable in the rumen, would be expected to provide a substantially increased supply of energy to microbes over time in the rumen for MPS.Both cracked barley and finely ground barley also had a positive associative effect on WTDMD when fed with ryegrass increasing it by 5.7% units. The MPS was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in sheep fed cracked barley compared to finely ground barley or wet whole barley. This supports the hypothesis that slowly degrading carbohydrate sources synchronise more closely with available N from degradation of forage in the rumen.     

Effect of silicate minerals (zeolite,bentonite, kaolin,granite) on in vitro fermentation of amorphous cellulose,meadow hay,wheat straw and barley

The objective of the present experiment was to determine the effects of addition of silicate minerals, zeolite (Z), bentonite (B), kaolin (K), granite (G) on the rumen fermentation parameters, total gas, methane, total and individual volatile fatty acids (VFA) and hydrogen recovery in rumen fluid inoculum from sheep. Different materials (0.25 g) meadow hay (MH), wheat straw (WS), barley (BA) and amorphous cellulose (AC) were used as substrates. Silicate minerals (0.1 g) were added to the fermentation bottles containing substrates and rumen fluid inoculum and incubated for 72 h in vitro. The gas production technique simulates fermentation in the rumen was used to determine fermentation parameters. The total gas production was significantly higher compared to control for MH plus B (MHB), MH plus G (MHG), WS plus Z (WSZ), WS plus B (WSB), WS plus K (WSK), WS plus G (WSG), AC plus B (ACB), AC plus G (ACG), BA plus Z (BAZ), BA plus B (BAB), BA plus K (BAK), BA plus granite (BAG). Significant differences of the methane production were found between the controls, WSG, BAB and BAK. The total VFA concentration was increased in ACG (83.1 mM). The acetate: propionate (A:P) ratio of the control and additives ranged between 3.1 and 3.6 for MH, 2.7 and 3.5 for WS, 1.6 and 1.8 for AC and 2.3 and 2.9 for BA. It was concluded that the silicate minerals had no appreciable effect on the methane production, however, they support the microbial metabolism by influencing (bentonite, granite) and slightly influencing (zeolite, kaolin) the rumen fermentation.