Buffer nitrogen solubility,in vitro ruminal partitioning of nitrogen and in vitro ruminal biological activity of tannins in leaves of four fodder tree species

This study explores the chemical composition, buffer N solubility, in vitro ruminal N degradability and in vitro ruminal biological activity of tannins in leaves from Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Morus alba and Trichanthera gigantea trees. These tree leaves are a potential protein source for ruminants, but their site‐influenced nutritive value is largely unknown. Leucaena leucocephala leaves had the highest N content (42.1 g/kg DM), while T. gigantea leaves had the least (26.1 g/kg DM). Leucaena leucocephala had the highest buffer solubility index (20%), while 10% of the total N in leaves of the other three species was soluble. The rapidly fermentable N fraction ‘a’ was highest in M. alba leaves (734.9 g/kg DM) and least in T. gigantea leaves (139.5 g/kg DM). The rate of fermentation (c) was highest for M. alba (7%/hours) leaves. No significant correlations were recorded between buffer solubility index of N and in vitro ruminal N degradability parameters: a, b, and c. The highest response to tannin inactivation using polyethylene glycol, in terms of percentage increase in 36‐hours cumulative gas production, was recorded in M. alba (39%) and T. gigantea (38%) leaves. It was concluded that buffer solubility of N is not a good indicator of ruminal N degradation in the leaves of these tree species. Leaves of M. alba could be more valuable as a source of rapidly fermentable N when animals are offered low‐protein, high‐fibre diets compared with other tree species evaluated in the current study. However, when feeding M. alba leaves, the role of tannins must be considered because these secondary plant compounds showed significant in vitro ruminal biological activity.     

Optical chlorophyll measurements as predictors of total nitrogen,nitrogen fractions and in vitro ruminal nitrogen degradability in tropical grass forages

This study evaluated whether the FieldScout CM 1000 NDVI and Yara N–Tester models can produce accurate and reliable estimates of nitrogen (N), buffer-soluble nitrogen (BSN), buffer-insoluble nitrogen (BISN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and in vitro ruminal nitrogen degradability after 3, 12 and 24?h incubation (ND3, ND12 and ND24) in three tropical grasses: Brachiaria hybrid, Megathyrsus maximus and Paspalum atratum. Correlation between the Yara N-Tester and N, BISN and in vitro ruminal N degradability of the Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus were high (r 0.67–0.83). The Yara N-Tester accounted for 81% and 86% (p 0.000) of N variability in the Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus, respectively. The Yara N-Tester prediction models explained 72% and 70% (p 0.000) BISN variability in the Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus, respectively. In vitro ND24 of the Brachiaria hybrid (R?2 0.75) and M. maximus (R?2 0.75) was also best predicted with the Yara N-Tester. Model validation showed generally low (≤0.90) concordance correlation coefficients except for Yara N-Tester N and ND24 in M. maximus. Random error was the main source of error. We conclude that the accuracy of the Yara N-Tester prediction models was superior to that of the FieldScout CM 1000 NDVI models, and that the Yara N-Tester can produce accurate and reliable estimates of Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus N and M. maximus ND24.     

混贮模式对高丹草青贮发酵品质及体外产气动力学特性的影响

为了解决高丹草因水分高造成青贮发酵品质不佳的问题,通过添加不同种类干草(玉米秸秆、小麦秸秆和苜蓿干草)及干草添加量(12.5,25.0,37.5和50.0kg/t)对混贮高丹草营养价值、青贮发酵品质及体外产气动力学特性进行了研究。结果表明,单独青贮高丹草的丁酸含量较高,弗氏评分等级仅为"可",添加干草混贮可显著提高青贮高丹草的发酵品质,从添加干草的种类来看,添加小麦秸秆组青贮发酵品质最高,添加苜蓿干草组营养价值最高,苜蓿干草组的体外72h干物质消失率(IVDMD)、产气速率(c)和达到最大产气量1/2时的产气速率(AGPR)均为最高,3种干草在72h累积产气量、理论最大产气量以及产气延滞时期方面差异不显著(P0.05);从干草的添加量来看,添加25.0kg/t干草的青贮发酵品质最优,达到产气量1/2所需要时间也最长,添加50.0kg/t干草的营养价值和IVDMD最高,添加37.5kg/t干草的产气速率和AGPR最大,添加不同重量干草对混贮高丹草的72h累积产气量、理论最大产气量以及产气延滞时期无显著影响(P0.05)。综合考虑青贮发酵品质和饲料营养价值,得出最佳的混贮模式为在高丹草中添加37.5kg/t小麦秸秆,添加50.0kg/t苜蓿干草混贮高丹草的体外干物质消失率最高,添加37.5kg/t苜蓿干草组产气速率最快,添加50.0kg/t小麦秸秆组的72h累积产气量和理论最大产气量最高。     

Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and gas production of straws from different varieties and accessions of chickpea

Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and gas production of straw from four different varieties of Kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum) were studied. Kinetics of fermentation of straws from 19 different accessions of chickpea was also evaluated using gas production technique. Significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the yield of straw [from 1041 to 1174 kg dry matter (DM)/ha] from different varieties. The proportion of seed/straw from different varieties varied from 0.61 to 0.93. Crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre content of straw ranged from 28.1 to 35.8, 598.6 to 645.4 and 459.2 to 473.4 g/kg DM respectively. Organic matter digestibility was different (p < 0.05) among varieties and varied from 471.4 to 535.5 g/kg DM. Potential gas production (A), the rate constants (c and d) and lag times of straws from different chickpea varieties were not different (p > 0.05). However, the rate constants (c and d) and lag times were different (p < 0.05) among accessions. Potential gas production (A) differed (p < 0.05) approximately twofold among different accessions. The results emphasized that in any evaluation of chickpea varieties or accessions, where straw of this legume seed is used as an animal feed, not only seed yield but also yield and quality of straw should be taken into consideration.     

Effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) level on intake,digestion, ruminal fermentation and in vitro gas production in sheep fed maintenance diets

The objective of this study was the characterization of the nutritive value, ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) hay (FPH) by‐product through in situ, in vitro and in vivo tests. A FPH diet was administered ad libitum to four sheep (live weight (LW) 38.0 ± 2.0 kg) at four inclusion levels (0, 25, 50 and 75%) over a conventional sorghum grain/oat straw ration in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The in situ degradability of FPH was 67% dry matter (DM), 71% crude protein and 66% neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The inclusion of FPH did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) the DM (61 ± 0.4 g/LW^0.75/day) and organic matter (OM) intake (56 ± 0.7 g/LW^0.75/day). Total DM digestibility (68 ± 2.5%), OM (70 ± 3%), and NDF (60 ± 3%), were not different (P ≥ 0.05) between control and FPH inclusion diets. The diet had no effect on ruminal pH, ruminal ammonia concentration, total and individual volatile fatty acids. The chemical composition and sheep intake behavior indicate that FPH by‐product is medium quality forage when incorporated in maintenance rations.     

Effects of plant extracts from Stryphnodendron adstringens (mart.) coville,Lafoensia pacari a. st.-hil,copaifera spp., and Pterodon emarginatus Vogel on in vitro rumen fermentation

The effects of doses CTL (0 mg), 30, 300 and 3000 mg/L of extracts from Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (SA), Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil (LP), Copaifera spp. (CO) and Pterodon emarginatus Vogel (PE) on ruminal fermentation were investigated in eight experiments conducted in randomized complete block designs. The in vitro system contained four fermentation vessels. Each treatment was allocated in one vessel in each run. Incubation was run four and five times with diets 50:50 and 10:90 (roughage to concentrate ratio) respectively. Incubation vessel was the experimental unit, and each incubation run was a block. All plant extracts negatively affected DM degradation at 3000 mg/L. In diet 50:50, SA-3000 increased the molar proportion of propionate (p < 0.05), yet it decreased the concentration of fermentation products (p < 0.05); LP-300 reduced ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N; 98 vs. 120 mg/dl for LP-300 and average of CTL and LP-30, respectively) and isobutyrate (p < 0.05); CO-300 reduced (p < 0.05) NH₃-N (98 vs. 123 mg/dl for CO-300 and average of CTL and CO-30, respectively); and P. emarginatus had no positive effects on rumen fermentation (p > 0.05). In diet 10:90, SA-300 reduced (p < 0.001) NH₃-N and total volatile fatty acids (VFA); LP-30 increased (p < 0.05) total VFA (85 vs. 63 mM for LP-30 and CTL, respectively), molar proportions of acetate and propionate, and had lower C₂:C₃ than CTL (3.6 vs. 4.3, respectively); CO-300 decreased acetate and increased propionate, reducing C₂:C₃ (p < 0.001; 2.8 vs. 3.6 for CO-300 and average of other doses, respectively); PE-30 and PE-300 reduced NH₃-N by 14% and increased total VFA by 29% compared with CTL (p < 0.05). Further in vivo investigations may consider L. pacari (LP-30), Copaifera spp. (CO-300) oleoresin and P. emarginatus oleoresin (PE-30 and PE-300) in diets with high inclusion of concentrate.