Simultaneous measures of rates of ruminal digestion and passage of feeds for prediction of ruminal nitrogen and dry matter digestion in lactating dairy cows

Three ruminal-cannulated Holstein cows in early lactation were fed three diets, each containing different energy and protein supplements in two consecutive 3 X 3 Latin squares. Each supplement contained a combination of three different feedstuffs (ground corn, soybean meal and wheat mids; corn gluten feed, rolled oats and distiller's dried grains; ground barley, brewer's grains and cottonseed meal). Diets consisted of 30% corn silage, 10% alfalfa hay, 10% alfalfa haylage, 17.7% ground corn plus minerals and vitamins, with the remainder as supplemental feedstuffs individually marked for measurement of ruminal turnover and in situ digestion rates. An extra period at the end of each Latin square was used to measure ruminal turnover and in situ digestion of individual forages. Diet had no effect on dry matter intake or milk yield. Mean fractional turnover (per hour) rate, measured by labeling feedstuffs with cerium, samarium or lanthanum was .044, .048, .049, .043, .047, .046, .050, .047, .049, .037, .046 and .045 for corn, soybean meal, wheat mids, corn gluten feed, oats, distiller's dried grains with solubles, barley, brewer's dried grains, cottonseed meal, alfalfa hay, corn silage and alfalfa haylage (P greater than .1), respectively. In situ-predicted ruminal degradation of N weighted for rate of passage was 61.4, 67.0, 81.5, 74.8, 86.3, 71.0, 75.7, 52.1, 54.2, 60.8, 71.7 and 70.9% for respective feedstuffs (P less than .05). In comparison with mean literature values for in vivo-measured N degradability, mean literature value = 1.172 (in situ predicted) -9.73 (P less than .05, R2 = .51). Results are interpreted to indicate a tendency for overestimating ruminal N degradability by in situ methods in feedstuffs of low degradability, while underestimating degradability in more highly degraded feedstuffs. Estimates were 11 to 17 percentage units lower than literature values for alfalfa hay and haylage and 17 units lower than literature values for distiller's dried grains.     

奶牛常用饲料干物质和淀粉瘤胃降解规律的研究

以3头安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的泌乳前期荷斯坦奶牛为试验动物，在精粗比为55：45的日粮条件下，采用Insacco法测定了奶牛常用饲料瘤胃内干物质和淀粉的降解规律。试验结果表明。不同饲料干物质和淀粉的降解率不同。能量饲料中，麸皮干物质和淀粉的瘤胃降解率高于玉米：蛋白质饲料中，干物质和淀粉的降解率由高到低顺序依次是豆粕〉胡麻饼〉棉粕：常用粗料中，玉米青贮干物质和淀粉的降解率均高于青干草。     

Influence of forage diets on ruminal particle size, passage of digesta, feed intake and digestibility by steers

To assess the influence of forage diets on particle size of digesta in the rumen, three ruminally fistulated steers were fed alfalfa, orchardgrass or switchgrass hays in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Mean sieve size of ruminal digesta for alfalfa, orchardgrass and switchgrass diets was 671, 652 and 466 microns, respectively. A second experiment examined the influence of ruminal particle size on digesta passage, digestibility and intake. Four ruminally fistulated Angus-Hereford steers were given ad libitum access to different proportions of alfalfa and switchgrass in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Either a 100% alfalfa, 50% alfalfa:50% switchgrass, 25% alfalfa:75% switchgrass or 100% switchgrass diet was offered once daily. Mean sieve sizes of the ruminal digesta of these diets responded cubically (P less than .01; 1,066, 946, 1,003 and 925 microns, respectively). Mean ruminal turnover times were 24.3, 24.8, 24.7 and 29.8 h, respectively. Dry matter intake increased linearly (P less than .10) as the proportion of legume in the diet increased; no influence of diet on DM digestibility was observed. Passage rate of dosed nylon particles 1, 3 and 5 mm in length was influenced (P less than .01) by size; however, no difference in the passage rates of the nylon particles due to diet was evident. Particle size of ruminal digesta did not respond in a linear manner to the proportion of legume in the diet. A smaller ruminal particle size was not associated with a faster turnover of digesta.     

Comparative utilization of warm- and cool-season forages by cattle, sheep and goats

The quality of different classes of forage hay (C3, C4 grasses and legumes) was determined in intake and digestibility trials with mature cattle, sheep and goats. For all nine hays, DM and NDF digestibility by cattle and goats was higher (P less than .05) than by sheep, with no differences due to forage class. Cattle had a higher (P less than .01) DM intake than sheep or goats averaged across forage (92.6 vs 65.8 and 68.6 g/kg BW.75); hay intake was highest on legume, with no difference between C3 and C4 grasses. Mean NDF intake by cattle was greater than by sheep or goats (58.7 vs 39.6 and 42.6 g/kg BW.75); NDF intake for all animal species decreased in the order C4 grass greater than C3 grass greater than legume. Particle passage rates did not differ (P greater than .05) with forage class but were higher (P less than .02) for sheep and goats than for cattle. Prefeeding ruminal DM fill values, determined by emptying, were 10.6, 15.0 and 19.9 g/kg BW1.0 for alfalfa, orchardgrass and switchgrass hays fed to cattle, and 11.2, 11.3 and 16.5 g/kg BW1.0 for the same hays fed to sheep. Estimated turnover times for DM and NDF were shorter (P less than .05) for sheep than for cattle; DM turnover was longer for switchgrass than for alfalfa and orchardgrass, with no forage differences in NDF turnover between these two animal species. Results show that goats were superior to sheep in NDF digestion.     

Occurrence of 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid in feeds, ruminal bacteria and duodenal digesta from defaunated sheep

A quantitative method of analysis for 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP) was developed using reverse-phase HPLC. The detection limit for AEP was 15 nM, and the detector response (peak area) was linear from AEP levels up to 100 microM (R = .99). Mean recovery of AEP added to strained ruminal fluid from faunated sheep was 98.2%. When AEP was added to a fermentation mixture at a concentration of 22.6 micrograms/ml, 78% disappeared during a 24-h incubation. 2-Aminoethylphosphonic acid was readily detected in preparations of mixed ruminal ciliate protozoa as well as in mixed and pure strains of ruminal bacteria, feedstuffs, and ruminal fluid and duodenal digesta from defaunated sheep. The occurrence of AEP in feed and bacterial hydrolysates was confirmed by organic phosphorus analyses. The concentration of AEP in mixed ruminal protozoa was three times greater than its concentration in mixed ruminal bacteria (4,304 vs 1,383 micrograms/g DM, respectively). The AEP values for pure ruminal bacterial cultures ranged from 733 micrograms/g DM in Bacteroides succinogenes B21a to 1,166 micrograms/g DM in Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c. Ruminal fluid and duodenal digesta from defaunated sheep contained AEP concentrations of 30 micrograms/ml and 90 micrograms/g DM, respectively. The concentration of AEP in feedstuffs ranged from 25 micrograms/g DM in wheat straw to 263 micrograms/g DM in oats. Because AEP occurrence is not limited to ruminal ciliate protozoa, it is of little value as a marker for protozoal presence in or passage out of the rumen.     

Postprandial trends in estimated ruminal digesta polysaccharides and their relation to changes in bacterial groups and ruminal fluid characteristics

In a diurnal study, feedstuff and digesta polysaccharides, ruminal bacterial carbohydrate-fermenting groups, and selected ruminal fluid characteristics (ruminal pH, ammonia and volatile fatty acids) were measured in ruminal-cannulated Holstein steers fed high- or low-forage diets at maintenance level intake once daily. A procedure for the sequential extraction of soluble sugar, starch, pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose from feedstuffs was developed to measure these carbohydrates in dietary and ruminal digesta samples. Recovery of dry matter (determined chemically) using this scheme was 60 to 70%. Data were obtained within the ranges of those in the literature for similar feedstuffs and(or) by similar methods. Dietary analysis by the sequential method yielded total recovery across all carbohydrate fractions of 87 and 81% for the high- and low-forage diets, respectively, and similar recoveries were obtained for the digesta samples. Analytical variation was small (less than or equal to 15% CV), which permitted comparison of the carbohydrate profiles of the digesta over time. From these values, total ruminal digesta polysaccharide content was calculated and, when plotted over time, indicated that the disappearance per fraction corresponded with theoretical curves for ruminal fermentation of major feedstuff components. The postprandial variation within the bacterial population carbohydrate-fermenting groups was small, but changes were consistent with digesta component fermentation. Xylan- and cellulose-fermenting groups followed a pattern compatible with the disappearance of these polysaccharides from the rumen. In contrast, soluble sugar-fermenting groups predominated at all times despite the rapid rise and fall of these components in the digesta. Ruminal fluid pH, ammonia and total carbohydrate supported the digesta and bacterial trends observed. The data are interpreted to suggest that once daily maintenance feeding of high- or low- forage diets permits detection of digesta sugar and polysaccharide changes, supports a relatively stable microbial population while specific groups increase and decrease with the availability of substrate, and results in few differences in ruminal fluid traits.     

6种常用饲料原料在肉牛瘤胃内降解规律的研究

选用3头体重相近的安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的科尔沁肉牛,采用尼龙袋法测定玉米面、压片玉米、啤酒糟、玉米酒糟、蚕豆和豌豆壳6种饲料原料在肉牛瘤胃内干物质(DM)、粗蛋白(CP)、淀粉的瘤胃降解率。结果显示:6种饲料原料的DM、CP的肉牛瘤胃有效降解率,压片玉米与玉米面显著高于蚕豆、豌豆壳、玉米酒糟和啤酒糟(P<0.05),压片玉米与玉米面差异不显著(P>0.05);淀粉的肉牛瘤胃有效降解率大小顺序依次为蚕豆、压片玉米、玉米面、豌豆壳、玉米酒糟和啤酒糟。试验表明,蚕豆和压片玉米、玉米面的瘤胃降解率较高,玉米酒糟与豌豆壳居中,啤酒糟相对较差。     

Effects of Supplementing a Basal Diet of Chloris gayana Hay with One of Three Protein-rich Legume Hays of Cassia rotundifolia,Lablab purpureus and Macroptilium atropurpureum Forage on Some Nutritional Parameters in Goats

Growth and digestibility experiments were conducted on growing East African type goats offered Chloris gayana hay supplemented with one of three high-protein (119–128 g CP/kg DM) legume hays, Cassia rotundifolia (cassia), Lablab purpureus (lablab) or Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), and crushed maize to investigate the feed intake, digestibility, growth and urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Goats in the supplemented groups had higher total dry matter and nitrogen intakes and higher N retention and body mass gains than unsupplemented counterparts. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre were increased by protein supplementation. Animals on supplemented diets had higher fractional outflow rates of particulate matter from the rumen. The production of protein by ruminal microbes and the efficiency of microbial N production were increased by supplementation. It was concluded that a mixture of low-quality grass hay (61.9 CP/kg DM) and either cassia, lablab or siratro hay, and maize grain can provide a productive balanced diet for growing goats.     

Effects of time of day and monensin on the size distribution of particles in digestive tract sites of heifers fed corn silage

Effects of time of day and dietary monensin in the distribution of size of digesta particles in different digestive tract sites and their intersite relationships were examined in six heifers (290 kg BW) with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas given ad libitum access to corn silage, with or without 100 mg monensin.head-1.d-1, in a two-period crossover design. Ingestive masticate and digesta of corn silage were collected via esophageal, ruminal or intestinal cannulas. The distribution of particulate matter retained on sieves with apertures larger than 20 microm was determined by wet-sieving. The cumulative distribution of particulate matter on a series of sieves was regressed on retaining sieve aperture to estimate the sieve aperture that would retain 50% weight of the particulate matter (median retaining aperture, MRA). The MRA of masticate was 6,494 microm. The MRA of digesta particles decreased (P less than .05) from ventral rumen (1,847 microm) to dorsal rumen (1,797 microm) to duodenum (346 microm), but increased to the rectum (359 microm). The MRA was lower (P = .044) for the monensin treatment only in feces. The MRA of particulate matter in the dorsal and ventral rumen, duodenum and rectum all changed (P less than .05) over 24 h. An inverse pattern between the MRA of ruminal and duodenal digesta occurred, presumably the result of a nycterohemeral pattern of eating and ruminating activity. Across sampling times, an inverse relationship existed between MRA of ventral rumen and duodenal digesta. This relationship suggests that a ruminal digesta raft composed of larger particles (immediately following major meals) is more effective than a raft of smaller particles (prior to such meals) in preventing flux of large particles to the duodenum.     

Intake and ruminal digestion determined using omasal and reticular digesta samples in cattle fed diets containing sugar cane in natura or ensiled sugar cane compared with maize silage

Sugar cane is widely used in an in natura forage in tropical countries, but the adoption of silage methods facilitates the preservation of its nutritional value and improves the logistics of its use. To explain differences in performance using alternative forages, it is important to conduct studies that evaluate the various digestion sites for the nutrients provided in diets. However, considering that the collection of omasal digesta is quite laborious and requires the use of a vacuum pump, reticular sampling has been suggested as a promising alternative. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and ruminal digestibility obtained from samples of digesta collected in the reticulum and omasum of cattle fed different diets. Five rumen-fistulated crossbred cattle with an average initial live weight of 336±16.6 kg were used, being distributed in a 5×5 Latin square design. Five diets were evaluated, which contained 60% forage and 40% concentrate on dry matter basis using different forages: maize silage (CS); sugar cane in natura (SCIN); sugar cane silage (SCS0%); sugar cane silage treated with 0.4% calcium oxide (SCS0.4%) or 0.8% calcium oxide (SCS0.8%) on wet basis. The percentage of crude protein (CP) in all of the forages was corrected to 11% based on dry matter (DM) using a mixture of urea/ammonium sulfate (9:1). Six collections of reticular and omasal digesta were obtained over three days at 12 h intervals. To calculate the flow of reticular and omasal nutrients, a double marker system was employed, using cobalt–EDTA and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDFi) as markers. The reticular and omasal digesta were similar (P>0.05) to estimate ruminal digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC). However, the ruminal digestibility of ether extract (EE) and the intestinal digestibility of CP and EE differed (P<0.05) between sampling sites. The results indicate that the omasal digesta is more suitable than the reticular digesta for measuring the ruminal digestion of diet components.     

Neutral detergent fiber concentration of corn silage and rumen inert bulk influences dry matter intake and ruminal digesta kinetics of growing steers

Corn silage with high NDF concentration has the potential to reduce DMI because it has a greater filling effect in the rumen than low-NDF corn silage. Our objective was to determine whether ruminal fill influences DMI to the same extent with low- or high-NDF corn silage-based diets. Eight ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (198 +/- 13 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 16-d periods. Treatments were diets containing corn silage from a normal hybrid (low-fiber; LF) or its male-sterile isogenic counterpart (high-fiber; HF), offered for ad libitum consumption to steers with or without rumen inert bulk (RIB). The LF and HF diets contained 33.8 and 50.8% dietary NDF, respectively. Rumen inert bulk was added at 25% of pretrial ruminal volume in the form of plastic-coated tennis balls filled with sand to achieve a specific gravity of 1.1 and a total volume of 7.5 L. No fiber level x inert bulk interactions were detected for DMI or NDF intake (P > 0.10), suggesting that DMI was limited to the same extent by physical fill at both levels of dietary fiber. Addition of RIB decreased DMI by an average of 10.7%, which was 65.5 g/L of added bulk. The HF diet depressed DMI by an average of 15.5%, increased NDF intake 27.1%, and reduced ruminal NDF turnover time by 21.0% compared to the LF diet (P < 0.01), with no effect on ruminal volume or amount of NDF in the rumen (P > 0.10). Addition of RIB also reduced ruminal NDF turnover time and amount of NDF in the rumen (11.8% and 20.7%, respectively; P < 0.01), with no change in ruminal digesta volume (P > 0.10). The HF treatment decreased digestibility of DM and GE (5.5 and 5.7%, respectively; P < 0.01) but increased NDF digestibility (10.4%; P < 0.01) compared to LF. Rumen inert bulk had no effect on digestibility of DM, NDF, or GE (P > 0.10). The lack of reduction in digesta volume with addition of inert fill suggests that DMI of light-weight steers receiving corn silage-based diets within a wide range of NDF concentrations was not regulated by ruminal distension alone.     

Effects of laidlomycin propionate and monensin on the in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of laidlomycin propionate and monensin on the in vitro fermentation of ground corn, Trypticase, or alfalfa hay by mixed ruminal microorganisms. Ruminal fluid was collected from two steers fed 9.27 kg DM of a high-concentrate (62.2% ground corn and 17.4% cottonseed hulls) diet per day and composited. In the first study, no ionophore was included in the diet; the diet in the second study contained 11.1 g of laidlomycin propionate per ton of feed. The animals were allowed an adjustment period of 14 d for each dietary treatment before samples were collected. When ruminal fluid from unadapted animals was used, both monensin and laidlomycin propionate decreased (P<.05) CH4 concentration and the acetate:propionate ratio with ground corn and alfalfa hay. Monensin reduced (P<.05) in vitro dry matter disappearance of alfalfa and increased (P<.05) final pH in the ground corn and alfalfa hay fermentations. Both laidlomycin propionate and monensin decreased (P<.05) concentrations of acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, CH4, and NH3 in Trypticase fermentations. When ruminal fluid from adapted animals was used, both ionophores still reduced the concentrations of most fermentation products. However, there was generally less inhibition compared with fermentations inoculated with unadapted mixed ruminal microorganisms. In the presence of 5 mM maltose, mixed ruminal bacteria produced high concentrations (10 to 11 mM) of lactate, and addition of both ionophores to these fermentations was effective in reducing (P<.05) lactate production. In conclusion, laidlomycin propionate alters the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation in a manner similar to monensin, but, at the concentrations used in this study, monensin seemed to be a more potent inhibitor.     

Feed intake, digestion and digesta characteristics of cattle fed Bermudagrass or orchardgrass alone or with ground barley or corn

Feed intake, digestion and digesta characteristics of cattle fed bermudagrass (BG) or orchardgrass (OG) alone or with supplemental ground corn or barley were determined in two 6 x 6 latin squares with 2 x 3 factorial treatment arrangements. In Exp. 1, beef cows (Hereford, Angus and Hereford-Angus; 452 kg) cannulated in the rumen and duodenum were fed BG (7.9% CP, 79% NDF and 8.7% ADL) or OG (9.8% CP, 79% NDF and 7.2% ADL) hays at 1.2% of BW per day either alone or with added ground barley (.64% BW) or ground corn (.60% BW daily). The increase in microbial OM flow with corn was greater for OG than for BG; corn elevated microbial OM flow more than did barley with OG but less than with BG (forage type x grain source interaction; P less than .10). The increase in total tract OM digestion with grain was greater for BG than for OG (supplementation effect and forage type x supplementation interaction; P less than 05). In Exp. 2, Holstein steers (228 kg) were fed BG and OG hays ad libitum either alone or with addition of either 1.07% of BW per day of barley or 1.00% BW of corn. Total DM intake was 2.19, 3.03 and 2.82% BW for BG and 2.14, 2.80 and 2.52% BW for OG alone or with barley or corn supplements, respectively, being affected by forage type, grain supplementation, grain type and a forage type x grain supplementation interaction (P less than .05). Organic matter digested daily (g/d) was higher for OG than for BG, higher with than without grain and higher for barley than for corn (P less than .05).     

Effect of replacing corn with brown rice grain in a total mixed ration silage on milk production,ruminal fermentation and nitrogen balance in lactating dairy cows

Nine multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to determine the effects of substituting corn grain with brown rice (BR) grain in total mixed ration (TMR) silage on milk yield, ruminal fermentation and nitrogen (N) balance. The TMR silages were made from the ensiling of TMR containing (dry matter basis) 50.1% forage in rice silage and corn silage combination, and 49.9% concentrate. The grain portion of the diets contained 31.2% steam‐flaked corn, 31.2% steam‐flaked BR or an equal mixture of corn and BR. Dietary treatments did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield and milk fat, protein and lactose yields. The ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were not affected by dietary treatment. The urinary N excretion decreased linearly (P < 0.01) in response to increased levels of BR, with no dietary effect on N intake, N secretion in milk and fecal N excretion. Our results indicate that steam‐flaked BR is a suitable replacement for steam‐flaked corn in dairy cow diets, and that it can be included in rations to a level of at least 31.2% of dry matter without adverse effects on milk production, when cows were fed rice silage and corn silage‐based diets.     

Concentration of pro-vitamin A carotenoids in common beef cattle feedstuffs

Quantification of the pro-vitamin A carotenoids in feedstuffs commonly fed to livestock has been ignored for many years. A greater dietary concentration of vitamin A has the potential to limit adipogenesis in cattle, thereby reducing carcass quality and value. A survey of 18 feedstuffs commonly fed to beef cattle was conducted for determination of vitamin A equivalents based on analysis of carotenoids. The pro-vitamin A carotenoids of interest were β-carotene, α-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin. Collaborators in 5 states collected the feedstuffs and then shipped them to The Ohio State University for compilation and analysis. Carotenoids were extracted from the feedstuffs and then quantified using HPLC with photodiode array analysis. Fresh fescue pasture contained approximately 10 times more vitamin A equivalents than hay and 5 times more than corn silage (39,865, 2,750, and 6,900 IU of vitamin A/kg of DM for fresh pasture, hay, and corn silage, respectively). Beta-cryptoxanthin and α-carotene could not be detected in any forage samples. Hay and corn silage vitamin A equivalents decreased over extended periods of time from harvest to sample collection. Corn was the only feedstuff to have appreciable concentrations of all 3 pro-vitamin A carotenoids quantified. Corn processing had a minimal impact on the vitamin A equivalents. High-moisture corn contained 54% more vitamin A equivalents than whole shelled corn (378 and 174 IU of vitamin A/kg of DM, respectively). Pro-vitamin A carotenoids were more concentrated in corn coproducts than in whole shelled corn. The drying of distillers grains with solubles may significantly degrade β-carotene (800 and 480 IU/kg of DM for wet and dry distillers grains, respectively). Soybean-based feedstuffs contain a small concentration of pro-vitamin A carotenoids, at 55 and 45 IU of vitamin A/kg of DM for soybean meal and soybean hulls, respectively. Overall, there was considerable variation in the pro-vitamin A content of feedstuffs based on location and storage conditions. An extensive analysis of feedstuffs would need to be conducted for an accurate estimation of the vitamin A content of feedlot cattle diets.     

常规与非常规粗饲料在奶牛瘤胃中的降解特性研究

旨在探讨非常规粗饲料(玉米芯、毛豆荚壳)与奶牛常用粗饲料(苜蓿干草、玉米青贮)在奶牛瘤胃中的降解规律,试验选用3只装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的荷斯坦奶牛,采用尼龙袋法测定4种粗饲料的干物质(DM)、粗蛋白(CP)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)的瘤胃降解规律。结果表明:1)苜蓿干草和毛豆荚壳的CP含量分别为17.55%和11.10%,且苜蓿干草显著高于毛豆荚壳(P<0.05);玉米芯和玉米青贮的CP含量分别为2.97%和8.41%,且玉米芯显著低于玉米青贮(P<0.05);玉米芯的NDF和ADF含量显著高于其他3种粗饲料(P<0.05),达到79.98%和43.35%。2)苜蓿干草的DM有效降解率最高(P<0.05),由高到低依次为苜蓿干草、毛豆荚壳、玉米青贮和玉米芯。毛豆荚壳的CP有效降解率显著高于其他3种粗饲料(P<0.05),由高到低依次为毛豆荚壳、苜蓿干草、玉米青贮和玉米芯。苜蓿干草的NDF有效降解率显著高于毛豆荚壳(P<0.05),玉米青贮和毛豆荚壳无显著差异(P>0.05);玉米芯的ADF有效降解率最高(P<0.05),苜蓿干草、玉米青贮和毛豆荚壳无显著差异(P>0.05)。综上所述,玉米芯和毛豆荚壳可作为非常规粗饲料资源加以开发利用。     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Ruminal and total tract phosphorus release from feedstuffs in cattle measured using the mobile nylon bag technique

Phosphorus (P) excretion in manure is a concern for dairy and beef producers. Excess P released into surface water runoff can lead to eutrophication and algal blooms in streams and lakes. One approach to reducing P excretion is to reduce dietary P. Data regarding P release from feedstuffs is limited and more precise formulations based on specific feed P release in the digestive tract may be one way to lower excreted P. In this experiment, the mobile nylon bag technique was used to determine the disappearance of P in corn silage, alfalfa hay, Coastal bermudagrass hay, and Tifton‐85 bermudagrass hay in steers after ruminal (24 h), ruminal + pepsin/HCl (rumen + PHCl), and ruminal + pepsin/HCl + intestinal (rumen + PHCl + I) incubation. Ruminal disappearance of P differed (p < 0.05) between feedstuffs and by site of incubation. Total tract (rumen + PHCl + I) P disappearance for corn silage, alfalfa hay, Coastal bermudagrass hay, and Tifton‐85 bermudagrass hay were 90.6%, 93.7%, 83.8% and 84.0% respectively. The range in P release (approximately 7%) indicates that considering P availability when balancing rations could have a measurable impact on subsequent P excretion from ruminants. More data concerning P availability as affected by other feed ingredients or plant species, maturity, and/or quality are needed to more accurately define P release from ruminant feeds.     

不同品种玉米的化学成分、淀粉糊化度及活体外发酵特性的比较

本试验以常规玉米品种农大108(CAU108)、优质蛋白玉米9409(HQPC9409)和高油玉米(HOC)为材料,采用化学成分分析、活体外人工瘤胃消化试验和产气量试验,研究玉米品种对化学成分、淀粉糊化度和活体外瘤胃发酵特性的影响。结果表明,3个不同玉米品种的蛋白质、脂肪、淀粉含量、淀粉糊化度、48 h产气量、产气速度、理论最大产气量、12和24 h干物质及淀粉消化率均存在显著差异(P<0.05),在3个品种中,CAU108品种的各项能量指标均优于HQPC9409和HOC,但不同品种玉米的活体外瘤胃发酵参数(pH、NH3-N、VFA)差异不显著(P>0.05)。由本试验得出,CAU108玉米较其他2个品种具有提高反刍动物生产性能和饲料转化效率的潜力。     

瘤胃源酵母的分离筛选及对不同底物发酵能力影响

本实验旨在分离筛选瘤胃源酵母,研究其对不同饲料底物的发酵特性。实验以山羊及奶牛瘤胃液为菌源,利用酵母选择性培养基,通过分离筛选、生长曲线测定和26S rDNA鉴定,获得1株生长速度较快的Meyerozyma属酵母菌株。在此基础上,采用体外发酵技术,分别以羊草与精料混合物、马铃薯淀粉和玉米淀粉为底物,以奶牛瘤胃液为接种物,研究该酵母菌株对瘤胃微生物体外发酵参数的影响。结果表明,在以羊草和精料混合物为底物时,添加瘤胃源酵母显著降低了发酵液pH和乳酸浓度(P<0.001),显著提高了丙酸浓度和干物质消失率(P<0.05);以玉米淀粉为底物时,添加该酵母菌显著降低了发酵液pH和乳酸浓度(P<0.001);以马铃薯淀粉为底物时,显著降低了pH(P<0.05),提高了丙酸浓度(P<0.05);但在上述3种底物条件下,添加酵母菌对发酵液中总产气量、氨态氮、乙酸、丁酸、异丁酸、戊酸和异戊酸浓度无显著影响(P>0.05)。采用Real-time PCR测定结果表明,添加该酵母菌可显著提高以羊草和马铃薯淀粉为底物时发酵液中总菌16S rDNA的挎贝数(P<0.05)。结果说明,本研究分离获取的瘤胃源酵母可提高瘤胃微生物对羊草精料混合物的降解能力,降低羊草精料混合物组和玉米淀粉组发酵液中乳酸浓度,提示该菌株可能具有提高日粮消化利用效率、促进丙酸生成和瘤胃细菌生长的作用。     

Effect of ruminal dosing of mechanical stimulating brush on rumination time, ruminal passage rate and rumen fermentation status in Holstein steers fed a concentrate diet

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of ruminal dosing of a mechanical stimulating brush on rumination time, ruminal passage rate and rumen fermentation status in steers fed a concentrate diet at maintenance level. Animals were dosed three Rumen Faibu (RF) per head through the rumen fistulae (RF treatment) and not dosed (control) in a change‐over design. The organic cell wall content of the concentrate diet was 12.7% of dry matter. Daily time spent on rumination was very short in both treatments with 24 min in RF treatment and 15 min in control. The turnover rate of ruminal fluid in RF treatment was higher than that in control. There were no differences in ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentration between RF treatment and control. Acetic and butyric acid concentrations were not different between the treatments. Propionic acid concentration tended to be higher in the animals on RF treatment than in control animals. The RF dosing in Holstein steers fed a low fiber diet did not affect the rumination time, but increased rumen digesta passage rate and ruminal propionic acid production.