Effects of urea infusion and ruminal degradable protein concentration on microbial growth,digestibility, and fermentation in continuous culture

The effects of urea and rumen-degradable protein (RDP) on microbial growth, digestibility, and fermentation were examined using dual-flow continuous culture. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 Latin square with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were urea infusion (0.4 g/L of artificial saliva) and RDP concentration, and the treatments were as follows: 1) low RDP (8% of dietary dry matter) without urea (LDNU), 2) high RDP (11% of dietary dry matter) without urea (HDNU), 3) low RDP (8% of dietary dry matter) with urea (LDU), and 4) high RDP (11% of dietary dry matter) with urea (HDU). The LDNU (i.e., negative control) and HDNU treatments were formulated to be nitrogen limiting. Results indicated that infusion of urea increased all digestibility measurements (P < 0.05), which in turn increased (P < 0.05) volatile fatty acid, NH3 nitrogen, trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen, and soluble protein concentrations. Increasing dietary RDP improved dry matter and organic matter digestibility (P < 0.05) but did not alter acid detergent fiber or nonfiber carbohydrate digestibilities (P > 0.05). Isobutyrate concentration decreased (P = 0.05) with increased RDP. Increased dietary RDP increased crude protein degradation and soluble protein concentration (P < 0.05), but NH3 nitrogen, trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen, and peptide nitrogen were unaffected by changing RDP levels. Microbial growth efficiency was 19.9, 24.9, 28.0, and 32.2 g N/g organic matter truly digested for LDNU, HDNU, LDU, and HDU, respectively, and was significantly improved both by urea infusion (P = 0.002) and increased RDP concentration (P = 0.021). The interactions of urea and RDP (P < 0.05) were explained by the high digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, nonstructural carbohydrate, and especially hemicellulose, with the HDNU treatment. The results of this study indicated that hemicellulose-degrading bacteria were able to effectively compete with nonstructural carbohydrate-degrading bacteria for available peptide and amino acid nitrogen. Further, the extent of protein degradation was dependent on the availability of NH3 nitrogen in the system.     

Ruminal dynamics of ad libitum feeding in buffalo bulls receiving different level of rumen degradable protein

Four ruminally cannulated Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls were used in a 4 × 4 Latin Square Design to determine the influence of varying level of ruminally degradable protein (RDP) on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal characteristics, digestibility, blood pH, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and nitrogen (N) balance. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated. The C diet contained 50% RDP while medium, high and very high RDP diets had 66, 82 and 100% RDP of the total crude protein (CP) and were denoted as MRDP, HRDP and VHRDP, respectively. The bulls were fed ad libitum. Nutrients intake decreased linearly with increasing the RDP proportion of total dietary CP. A quadratic effect of RDP on ruminal pH was noticed with increasing level of RDP with quadratic maxima at 66% RDP diet. Increasing level of dietary RDP also had a quadratic effect on total bacterial and protozoal count with maximum microbial count at 82% RDP diet. Increasing dietary RDP resulted in linear increase in DM digestibility. However, neutral detergent fiber digestibility was decreased linearly with increasing the level of dietary RDP. A linear increase in ruminal NH₃–N and BUN was noticed due to increasing level of dietary RDP. Higher positive N balance was noticed in bulls fed C diet compared to those fed MRDP, HRDP and VHRDP diets. The findings of this study indicated that buffalo bulls can effectively utilize 13.12% RDP of DM without any adverse effect on rumen and blood parameters.     

Fermentation substrate and dilution rate interact to affect microbial growth and efficiency

The effect of dilution rate (D) on carbohydrate, fibrous and nonfibrous, and protein fermentation by ruminal microorganisms was studied using a single-effluent continuous-culture system. The diets of fibrous carbohydrate, nonfibrous carbohydrate, or protein were formulated with soybean hulls (FC), ground corn (NFC), or isolated soy protein (PR) as the primary ingredient, respectively. Six dilution rates (.025, .050, .075, .10, .15, and .20/h of fermenter volume) were used. Digestibilities of DM, OM, and CP for the three diets and of NDF and ADF for the FC diet decreased (P<.001) as D increased, although the response of the digestibility to D varied with diet. Increasing D resulted in an increase in pH (P<.001) and a decrease (P<.001) in ammonia concentration. Daily volatile fatty acid production increased (quadratic; P<.01) for the FC and NFC diets, but decreased (quadratic; P<.001) for the PR diet. Increasing D quadratically increased (P<.001) the molar percentage of acetate and propionate, but quadratically decreased (P<.001) butyrate and valerate for the FC and NFC diets. For the PR diet, the molar percentage of propionate and valerate increased (quadratic; P<.01), whereas acetate and butyrate decreased (linear; P<.001) in response to increasing D. Molar percentage of isobutyrate and isovalerate decreased (P<.01) with increasing D for all three diets. As D increased, daily microbial N production showed quadratic responses with maximum values achieved at .126, .143, and .187/h D for the FC, NFC, and PR diet, respectively. There was a positive correlation between microbial growth efficiency (MOEFF) and D. A quadratic model fit the data of MOEFF as affected by D, and maximum MOEFF of 37.3, 59.6, and 71.4 g of bacterial N/kg OM truly fermented were calculated to be achieved at .177, .314, and .207/h D for the FC, NFC, and PR diet, respectively. Dilution rate significantly influenced the ruminal microbial fermentation of fibrous and nonfibrous carbohydrates and proteins, and was positively related to microbial yield and growth efficiency. In addition, microbial nitrogen composition, and therefore efficiency, was affected by substrate fermented.     

Effect of supplementation of mustard oil cake on intake,digestibility and microbial protein synthesis of cattle in a straw-based diet in Bangladesh

The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of different levels of rumen-degradable protein (RDP) on intake, digestibility and microbial protein synthesis by supplementing mustard oil cake (MOC) on rice straw-based diet of cattle (Bos indicus) in Bangladesh. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was applied. Four diets having constant energy (7.0 MJ/kg of dry matter (DM)) with varying levels of RDP (M ₀ = 4.1 g/MJ (control), M ₁ = 6.3 g/MJ, M ₂ = 8.3 g/MJ and M ₃ = 12.4 g/MJ of metabolizable energy (ME)) were received by each animal for a period of 28 days. A metabolism trial was conducted for 7 days. Results indicate that with increasing levels of RDP, crude protein (CP) and RDP intake increased significantly (P < 0.01). The significant (P < 0.01) increase in digestibility values are obtained for DM, organic matter, CP and digestible organic matter in the rumen. The digestibility of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre was also increased significantly (P < 0.05). The total nitrogen (N), ammonia-N and total volatile fatty acids increase significantly (P < 0.01) while the rumen pH increased from M ₀ to M ₂ and decreased thereafter. The efficiency microbial N intake increased significantly (P < 0.01) but showed a curvilinear response with higher RDP level (12.40 g/RDP/MJ ME). This study concludes that supplementation of RDP from MOC enhances the intake, digestibility and microbial protein synthesis which ultimately increases utilization of low-quality feed resources that can be used for developing cost-effective feeding systems on a straw-based diet in tropical regions.     

Effect of varying ruminally degradable to ruminally undegradable protein ratio on nutrient intake, digestibility and N metabolism in Nili Ravi buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Four Nili-Ravi buffalo calves (100 ± 4 kg) were used in 4 × 4 Latin Square Design to evaluate the influence of varying ruminally degradable protein (RDP) to ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) ratio on dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility and nitrogen (N) metabolism. Four experimental diets A, B, C and D were formulated to contain RDP:RUP of 70:30, 65:35, 60:40 and 55:45, respectively. The calves were fed ad libitum. Dry matter intake by calves fed C diet was higher (P < 0.05) than those fed D diet and lower (P < 0.05) than calves fed A diet, however, it was similar to those fed B diet. There was a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in DMI with decreasing the RDP to RUP ratio. Similar trend was noticed in crude protein (CP) intake. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was significantly different across all treatment. The decrease in CP and NDF intake was due to decreasing trend of DMI. Dry matter (DM) digestibility in calves fed A and B diets was higher (P < 0.05) than those fed C and D diets. A linear decrease (P < 0.01) in DM digestibility was observed with decreasing the RDP to RUP ratio. Crude protein digestibility remained unaltered across all treatments. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was higher in calves fed A and B diets than those fed C and D diets. Higher NDF digestibility in calves fed A and B diets was due to higher level of dietary RDP that might resulted in higher ruminal ammonia concentration which stimulate activity of cellulytic bacteria and ultimately increased NDF digestibility. The N retention (g/d) was similar among the calves fed B, C and D diets, however, it was higher (P < 0.05) than those fed A diet. Decreasing the RDP to RUP ratio resulted in linear increase (P < 0.01) in N retention. The N retention, as percent of N intake was significantly different across all treatments. Decreasing RDP to RUP ratio resulted in linear increase (P < 0.01) in N retention, as percent of N intake. A similar trend was noticed in N retention, as percentage of N digestion. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration in calves fed B diet was higher (P < 0.05) than those fed D diet and was lower (P < 0.05) than those fed A diet, however, it was not different from calves fed C diet. Decreasing dietary RDP to RUP ratio resulted in linear decrease (P < 0.05) in BUN concentrations. The decrease in BUN concentration was because of decreasing level of dietary RDP. The N retention can be increased by decreasing RDP to RUP ratio in the diet of growing buffalo calves and diet containing RDP to RUP ratio 55:45 is considered optimum regarding N retention in buffalo calves.     

Evaluation of alfalfa-corn cob associative action. III. The effect of mechanically separated alfalfa fractions on intake, digestibility and ruminal characteristics of ammonia-treated corn cob diets fed to sheep

The influence of mechanically separated alfalfa fractions on intake, digestibility and rate of ruminal passage was investigated using 48 lambs (32 kg) in a digestion trial. Whole plant pre-bloom alfalfa (25% crude protein) or fractions (presscake, dehydrated presscake, protein coagulum, dehydrated protein coagulum, whole juice or deproteinized juice) were added to a 3% ammonia (NH3)-treated corn cob negative control diet at levels equal to 20% wholeplant alfalfa dry matter (DM); eight treatments, six lambs/treatment. Ad libitum intake was greater (P less than .05) for alfalfa fiber (presscake) or juice supplemented diets compared with 20% direct cut alfalfa. Dry matter intake, digestibility of DM and cell walls, and rate of passage were highly correlated when diets were fed ad libitum. At equal DM intakes, dehydrated vs wet presscake increased (P less than .05) DM and cell wall digestibility. Heating of the protein may have reduced degradation rate and consequently a slower release of nutrients for microorganisms in the rumen. Whole vs deproteinized juice increased digestibility of cob DM (P = .11) and cell walls (P = .13), suggesting a response to level of degradable alpha-amino N. Whole and deproteinized juice increased cell wall digestibility compared with the negative control by 23.0 and 18.5 percentage units, respectively, suggesting that degradable alpha amino-N and cell solubles or other nutrients interacted to maximize microbial fiber digestion. Total and branch-chain volatile fatty acids measured at 6, 12 and 18 h post-feeding were highly correlated with nutrient digestibility. Ruminal NH3-N measured at 18 h was negatively correlated with dry matter (r = -.74) and cell wall (r = -.72) digestibility, showing that alfalfa supplies nutrients required by ruminal microorganisms for NH3 assimilation and fiber digestion. The mode of alfalfa associative action in high fiber diets is in supplying ruminal microorganisms with degradable protein and (or) other nutrients, rather than altering ruminal retention time.     

碳水化合物与蛋白质同步降解对瘤胃发酵特性及微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本研究通过一系列的体外研究来确定酶和甲醛处理对碳水化合物和蛋白质的降解特性及同步降解碳水化合物和蛋白质对瘤胃体外发酵和微生物蛋白合成的影响.未处理玉米和酶处理玉米与豆粕或酶处理或甲醛处理豆粕相结合,制备6种不同同步指数的试验饲料.结果:使用未经酶处理的玉米时,高同步指数日粮的干物质消化率最高(P<0.05).但酶处理玉...     

Effect of dietary crude protein level and degradability on ruminal fermentation and nitrogen utilization in lactating dairy cows

The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effects of two ruminally degradable protein (RDP) levels in diets containing similar ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) and metabolizable protein (MP) concentrations on ruminal fermentation, digestibility, and transfer of ruminal ammonia N into milk protein in dairy cows. Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Holstein cows were allocated to two dietary treatments in a crossover design. The diets (adequate RDP [ARDP] and high RDP [HRDP]), had similar concentrations of RUP and MP, but differed in CP/RDP content. Ruminal ammonia was labeled with 15N and secretion of tracer in milk protein was determined for a period of 120 h. Ammonia concentration in the rumen tended to be greater (P = 0.06) with HRDP than with ARDP. Microbial N flow to the duodenum, ruminal digestibility of dietary nutrients, DMI, milk yield, fat content, and protein content and yield were not statistically different between diets. There was a tendency (P = 0.07) for increased urinary N excretion, and blood plasma and milk urea N concentrations were greater (P = 0.002 and P = 0.01, respectively) with HRDP compared with ARDP. Milk N efficiency was decreased (P = 0.01) by the HRDP diet. The cumulative secretion of ammonia 15N into milk protein, as a proportion of 15N dosed intraruminally, was greater (P = 0.003) with ARDP than with HRDP. The proportions of bacterial protein originating from ammonia N and milk protein originating from bacterial or ammonia N averaged 43, 61, and 26% and were not affected by diet. This experiment indicated that excess RDP in the diet of lactating dairy cows could not be efficiently utilized for microbial protein synthesis and was largely lost through urinary N excretion. At a similar MP supply, increased CP or RDP concentration of the diet would result in decreased efficiency of conversion of dietary N into milk protein and less efficient use of ruminal ammonia N for milk protein syntheses.     

Associative effects of sorghum silage and sorghum grain diets

A metabolism trial was conducted to quantitate associative effects between sorghum silage and sorghum grain, and to identify responsible factors. Diets were formulated by mixing ground sorghum grain (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% of diet dry matter) with sorghum silage and were adjusted to 15.0% crude protein with soybean meal. Cannulated Beefmaster-cross steers (300 kg) were adapted to diets for 14 d followed by 5 d of fecal collection during which digestibility of components was determined. Intake of digestible dry matter and digestibilities of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber increased with increases in diet grain content (linear effect: P less than .01, P less than .01, P less than .05, respectively; quadratic effect: P less than .05, P less than .005, P less than .06, respectively). Digestibilities of starch, crude protein and hemicellulose were not significantly affected by grain level. Ruminal pH averaged 6.0 and was not significantly affected by grain level or time of sampling. Ruminal in situ digestion of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber at 48 h decreased (linear contrast, P less than .001) with increasing grain content. Rate of passage of liquid digesta was not affected by grain level in the diet. The rate of passage of particulate digesta decreased linearly (P less than .005, orthogonal contrast) with increasing levels of grain. Low levels of sorghum grain (15 and 30%) improved digestibility and intake of digestible dry matter of sorghum silage-based diets, whereas higher rates of grain supplementation (45 and 60%) did not result in further improvement.     

Macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, plasma indicators of protein metabolism and mineral absorption in horses fed a ration rich in sugar beet pulp

In a cross-over study with six mature horses, the effect of iso-energetic replacement of dietary glucose by beet pulp on macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and mineral absorption was studied. The test ration contained 25% beet pulp in the total dietary dry matter. Beet pulp feeding significantly lowered crude fat and non-structural carbohydrate digestibility, but had no significant effect on digestibility of other macronutrients, faecal and urinary nitrogen excretion and the faecal to urinary nitrogen excretion quotient. However, on the beet pulp diet, plasma ammonia and creatinin concentrations were significantly lower than on the glucose diet. No diet effect on magnesium absorption was observed. It is suggested that dietary beet pulp stimulates the conversion of ammonia into urea.     

牦牛与黑白花牛的氮平衡比较研究

接近初情期的牦牛和黑白花公牛各3头，于代谢厩中进行精料型（精粗比为4：1）和粗料型（精粗比为1：4）日粮条件下的氮平均对比试验。结果表明，不论牦牛还是黑白花牛，干物质采食量（DMI）、粪氮（FN）、尿氮（UN）和干物质消化率（DMD）均随精料含量上升而升高（P＜0．01），而进食氮（NI）的利用效率则随NI的升高而下降（P＜0．01）。在粗料型的日粮条件下，牦牛对NI的利用效率（58．2％）高于（P＜0．05）黑白花牛（49．0％），二者的DMD（45％）无差异；而在精料型的日粮条件下，NI的利用效率（22％）和DMD（64％）均不随牛种而变化（P＞0．05）。从这些结果得出结论：牦牛与黑白花牛消化道的吸收效率是一样的，在精料型日粮条件下，牦牛机体组织存留氮的能力低于黑白花牛；在粗料型日粮条件下，牦牛比黑白花牛更能有效地利用蛋白资源。     

Protein supplementation of ammoniated roughages. III. Corncobs supplemented with a blood meal-corn gluten meal mixture--steer studies

Two factorial experiments were conducted to investigate site and extent of organic matter (OM) digestion, nitrogenous fractions flowing at the abomasum and rates-of-passage in steers fed 0, 2 or 4 g NH3/100 g dry matter of treated corncobs supplemented with either a corn or a blood meal-corn gluten meal (BM-CGM) supplement. Rumen and total tract OM digestion coefficients were quadratically increased (P less than .05) and dietary N was quadratically increased (P less than .07) due to the main effect of ammonia. The main effect of protein supplement increased (P less than .05) postruminal OM digestibility, nonammonia N and dietary-N flow. Quadratic protein X ammonia interactions were noted for fluid flow, total-N flow, total amino acid flow and ammonia-N flow. Linear protein X ammonia interactions were noted for bacterial-N flow, which appeared to indicate that N utilization of the ammoniated corn-cob was improved by the inclusion of BM-CGM in the diet. Diet dry matter intake, fluid volume, rate of fluid passage, particulate mass and rate of particulate passage in rumen-fistulated steers were unaffected by either main effect. However, rumen fluid pH of steers fed BM-CGM was lower than that from steers fed the corn supplement.     

Characterization of ruminal dynamics in Holstein dairy cows during the periparturient period

We used four pregnant Holstein cows to delineate ruminal adaptations as cows transitioned from one lactation to the next. Cows were fed typical diets through far-off and close-up dry periods and lactation. We measured ruminal characteristics on day 72 (late lactation), 51 (far-off dry), 23 and 9 (close-up dry) prepartum and on days 6, 20, 34, 48, 62, 76 and 90 postpartum (early lactation). Measurements included: ruminal fill (weight of actual contents), ruminal capacity (volume of rumen when fully filled), digestibilities and ruminal passage rates. Ruminal capacity tended to increase linearly during early lactation but was stable during dry and transition periods. Both total and liquid fill decreased linearly during the dry period, increased across parturition, and increased linearly through early lactation. Dry matter fill decreased as cows were fed the close-up diet at day 23 prepartum then increased near parturition and continued to increase across early lactation. Solid passage rate was greatest when cows were fed the close-up diet, and decreased throughout the transition period. In lactation, solid passage rate responded quadratically with peak at day 48 followed by decreases through day 90 postpartum. Liquid passage increased linearly across the transition period. Total tract organic matter digestibilities increased linearly over the dry period with significant increases prior to or immediately after parturition, then they remained relatively stable over early lactation until they increased at day 90. Fibre digestibilities demonstrated quadratic responses over early lactation, being higher on day 6 and day 90 than at other times. Starch digestibilities decreased linearly across both the dry and transition periods with decreases in lactation until day 62 followed by increases until day 90. High producing lactating dairy cows go through a multitude of ruminal adaptations, in terms of digestion, passage, capacity and fill, as they transition from one lactation to the next.     

Performance of sheep offered ammonia, or urea-calcium hydroxide treated rice straw as an only feed

The effect of ammonia (AS) and urea‐calcium hydroxide (US) treated rice straw as a sole diet on the voluntary intake, digestibility of feed components, nitrogen retention, rumen parameters and microbial nitrogen yield of Suffolk ewes, were compared in a double 2 × 2 latin square design. The digestibility of feed components was not differed in sheep offered either AS or US. Dry matter intake was higher in AS (28 g/kg BW^0.75) than US (22 g/kg BW^0.75). Although there was high nitrogen intake in sheep given AS diet, this did not result in higher nitrogen retention compared with US diet. No difference was observed in purine derivatives or microbial nitrogen supply between the two groups. The rumen ammonia‐N of sheep offered AS or US exhibited a similar trend in diurnal change with the peak at 1.5–2.5 h after feeding and decline gradually thereafter. However, volatile fatty acid production peaked at approximately 8 h after evening feed and then steadily declined. AS and US diets led sheep to lose weight. In conclusion, urea‐calcium hydroxide treated straw can be used for sheep as an alternative to ammonia treated straw. Without supplementation, ammonia or urea‐calcium hydroxide treated straw was not sufficient even for the maintenance of sheep.     

The effect of dietary ratios of corn silage and alfalfa hay on carbohydrate digestion and retention time of feed particles in the gastrointestinal tract of steers

Four Holstein steers fitted with duodenal cannula were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to investigate the effect of the combination of corn silage (CS) and alfalfa hay (AH) in different ratios on the ruminal and intestinal digestion of carbohydrates and feed particle passage rate. Steers were fed mixed diets containing both CS and AH in ratios of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 and 20:80 on a dry matter basis at 95% of ad libitum feed intake. The increase of AH proportion in diets increased dry matter intake and ruminal digestion of dry matter, non-fiber carbohydrate, neutral and acid detergent fiber linearly. Ruminal digestibility of neutral detergent fiber showed a quadratic response, and total digestibility increased linearly with increasing AH proportion. Digestibility of acid detergent fiber in the rumen was not affected by the dietary treatments, but the total tract digestibility increased as the AH proportion increased. Mean retention time of feed particles in total compartment increased when the AH proportion increased from 20% to 60%, but decreased with further increase of the AH proportion. These results indicate that moderate combinations of CS and AH have an associative effect on ruminal fiber digestion, modifying particle movement in the rumen.     

梅花鹿饲粮糊化淀粉尿素氮水平对营养物质消化、代谢的影响

采用 4× 4拉丁方设计 ,研究了梅花鹿饲粮糊化淀粉尿素氮水平对营养物质消化和代谢的影响。结果表明 :饲粮糊化淀粉尿素氮水平对能量、氮、干物质的消化率及能量、氮的代谢率等指标的影响 ,各处理组间差异均不显著 (P <0 0 5) ,饲粮糊化淀粉尿素氮水平达到 0 75%[2 3 85g/(日·头 ) ]时 ,对营养物质消化和代谢没有不良影响 ,6岁梅花鹿生茸期饲粮中添加0 75%的糊化淀粉尿素氮是安全的。     

Effects of supplemental ruminally degradable protein versus increasing amounts of supplemental ruminally undegradable protein on site and extent of digestion and ruminal characteristics in lambs fed low-quality forage

Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Suffolk wether lambs (34.5 +/- 2 kg initial BW) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square designed experiment to compare effects of supplemental ruminally degradable protein (RDP) vs. increasing amounts of supplemental ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) on ruminal characteristics and site and extent of digestion in lambs. Lambs were fed a basal diet of crested wheatgrass hay (4.2% CP) for ad libitum consumption, plus 1 of 4 protein supplements: isolated soy protein (RDP source) fed to meet estimated RDP requirements assuming a microbial efficiency of 11% of TDN (CON) or corn gluten meal (RUP source) fed at 50, 100, or 150% of the supplemental N provided by CON (C50, C100, and C150, respectively). Neither NDF nor ADF intake was affected (P >/= 0.18) by protein degradability, but they increased or tended to increase (P /= 0.26) for CON and C100, but increased (P /= 0.33) by protein degradability. However, true ruminal N digestibility was greater (P = 0.03) for CON compared with C100. Ruminal ammonia concentrations were greater (P = 0.002) for CON compared with C100 lambs, and increased (P = 0.001) with increasing RUP. Microbial N flows were not affected (P >/= 0.12) by protein degradability or increasing RUP. Likewise, neither ruminal urease activity (P >/= 0.11) nor microbial efficiency (P >/= 0.50) were affected by protein degradability or level of RUP. Total tract OM, NDF, and ADF digestibility was greater (P 相似文献   

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.     

Effects of dietary protein and carbohydrate source on rumen fermentation and nutrient flow in sheep

The effects of decreasing levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) (Diet 1: 74% RDP and 38% NSC; Diet 2: 57% RDP and 32% NSC; Diet 3: 48% RDP and 23% NSC) were studied in cannulated sheep. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) content rose in response to increasing NSC content. The molar ratio of acetate to propionate was the narrowest for Diet 1. Ruminal concentrations of ammonia and urea increased in response to the rising level of RDP. Flow of organic matter (OM) to the duodenum was increased for Diet 3, which resulted in the lowest apparent and true ruminal digestion of OM. Duodenal flow of total nitrogen (N) increased as RDP content decreased. The highest quantity of undegraded feed protein in duodenal digesta was measured in sheep fed Diet 3. Microbial N flow and microbial efficiency were unaffected by the diets. These results indicate that an NSC level lower than 25% and an RDP content lower than 50% did not exert any negative effect on microbial N production. This phenomenon supports the theory that if the level of RDP is lowered with a concomitant decrease in NSC, uncoupled fermentation cannot be observed.     

Quantitative meta-analysis on the effects of defaunation of the rumen on growth,intake and digestion in ruminants

A quantitative meta-analysis was applied on 90 publications and 169 comparisons dealing with defaunation of the rumen (removal of protozoa from the rumen) in order to point out the major quantitative effects of defaunation and identify interfering factors. Generally speaking defaunation significantly (P<0.01) increased average daily gain (11% on average, 64 trials) but did not affect dry matter intake. As a consequence, defaunation improved feed conversion efficiency (P<0.05). These different effects were especially obvious as diets were both high in forage and low in nitrogen and as animals had a low growth potential. Defaunation significantly (P<0.001) decreased organic matter digestibility (−1.7 units, 52 trials) and cell wall carbohydrate digestibility (−5.7 units, 15 trials). The same trend was observed for rumen digestibility. On the other hand, duodenal nitrogen flow, expressed as a ratio of nitrogen intake, was enhanced by defaunation (P<0.001). Duodenal microbial nitrogen flow, expressed as the percentage of live-weight, increased by 21% after defaunation (P<0.05). The latter two results may account for the lower ammonia concentration in the rumen (−50.3 mgNNH₃/l, 75 trials) and the higher microbial synthesis efficiency (11.8 g microbial N/kg OMDr 19 trials) observed for the ciliate-free animals (P<0.001). The level of concentrate in the diet strongly interfered with the effect of defaunation on the pH in the rumen. pH in the rumen was increased by defaunation with diets containing a high level of concentrate (PCO≥50%), whereas it decreased with diets containing a low level of concentrate. The molar proportion of propionic acid was enhanced by defaunation, whereas the molar proportion of butyric acid was lowered (P<0.01) by defaunation, in the ruminal pool of volatile fatty acids (VFA). Finally, defaunation increased the ruminal volume and the liquid phase outflow rate (P<0.05), but to a lesser extent. We consider that these results strongly suggest a more efficient use of nutrients in ciliate-free animals, especially when they are given poor diets limiting animal production.