The influence of various feedstuffs containing fat and protein on the digestibility of crude nutrients in young calves

Digestibility trials were carried out with calves, aged 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 weeks, which were fed with feedstuffs of various energy and protein levels (various amounts of dried skim milk supplement with 146, 219, 323 g per day of the milk replacer Laktin) plus concentrate and hay. The purpose of the experiment was to find out what effect the amount of milk replacer varying daily had on the digestibility of the nutrients. The experiments confirm that the amount of milk replacer has a great influence on the digestibility of the crude fat. The amount of digestible crude fat consumed with the feed considerably influcenced the digestibility of the energy, it had little influence on the digestibility of the other nutrients, however. With increasing age the calves received more plant protein sources with a lower biologic value. Thus the digestibility of the protein in the complete ration was diminished as well. This shows that the digestibility was influenced by the protein quality, not, however, by the amount of crude protein. The digestibility of the dry matter andthe organic matter as well as of the N-free extractives in the feed ration diminished according to the changed composition with the increasing age of the animals; in constrast to this the digestibility of the crude fibres increased gradually.     

South American camelids in Switzerland. III. Digestibilities of different feedstuff

Feces from 15 adult llamas were collected in 4 herds and the exact diet was determined, either of the group or of individual animals, to examine apparent digestibility. A questionnaire was submitted to the animal owners. The questionnaire included questions about the animals in the herd (number, age, gender, origin), management methods, pastures, watering and feeding facilities for the animals, hay supplementation, composition of the ration and fodder additives used. Analysis of the feed revealed an average apparent digestibility for dry matter of 81+/-4%, for the organic matter 77+/-7%, for crude protein 69+/-10%, for nitrogen-free extract 83+/-5%, for calcium 60+/-17%, for phosphorus 54+/-11% and 81+/-9% for crude fiber. All feed components seem to be digested similarly to domestic ruminants whereas the apparent digestibility of crude fiber was high, which indicates that the digesting system seems to be more effective.     

Feeding value of enset (Ensete ventricosum), Desmodium intortum hay and untreated or urea and calcium oxide treated wheat straw for sheep

Feed intake, in vivo nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization were evaluated in male sheep fed different fractions (leaf, pseudostem, corm, whole plant) of enset, untreated or 2% urea‐ and 3% calcium oxide‐ (CaO or lime) treated wheat straw and Desmodium intortum hay as sole diets. All feeds, except D. intortum hay and enset leaf had low crude protein (CP) content. Non‐fiber carbohydrate contents were higher in enset fractions, especially in pseudostem and corm relative to other feeds. Enset leaf and pseudostem had high calcium, phosphorus and manganese contents. Corm, whole enset and D. intortum hay were rich sources of zinc. Daily dry matter and CP intakes were higher (p < 0.05) in sheep fed D. intortum hay (830 and 133 g, respectively) than those fed pseudostem (92 and 7.8 g, respectively). Organic matter digestibilities were highest for corm (0.780) and whole enset (0.776) and lowest for D. intortum hay (0.534) and untreated wheat straw (0.522). The CP digestibility ranged from 0.636 in D. intortum hay to 0.408 in corm. Nitrogen (N) balance was highest (p < 0.05) in D. intortum hay (10.4 g/day) and lowest in corm (?1.3 g/day). Enset leaf could be a useful protein supplement whereas the pseudostem and corm could be good sources of energy.     

Use of partially hydrolyzed and untreated straw meal in the feeding of breeding sows. 3. Nutrient digestibility, feed passage time and mineral balance with the addition of variously treated straw materials compared to concentrate feeding alone

In studies with 16 breeding sows of the country species the feed value of straw materials and their fitness for use were ascertained in a long-term experiment. On the feeding basis of a concentrate ration (IV) untreated (I), HCl treated (II = HCl treatment without steaming) and partly hydrolysed straw meal (III = HCl treatment with subsequent steaming) were tested. In the course of the experiment and at a nutrient level of 1 (maintenance requirement), the digestibility of the organic matter of the ration and that of some major and trace elements, N and mineral balances as well as feed passage rate and water excretion in faeces were ascertained at selected measuring times. The following mean results were achieved: The integration of all straw materials tested lead to a significant reduction of the digestibility of the organic matter of the total ration, the least negative effect was caused by partly hydrolysed straw meal (III). The fractions crude protein, crude fibre and N-free extracts were mainly affected. Straw meal integration had a gravidity-conditioned influence on the daily N balance. Increased N excretion in faeces could only be compensated by non-pregnant animals by a decreased N excretion in urine. The mineral balance (Ca, P, Na, Cu and Mn) remained largely uninfluenced by the straw supplement. The feed passage rate was reduced by the use of all straw meal variants to ca. 50% of the value measured after the sole feeding of concentrate (IV). Feed passage rate and water excretion in faeces were approximately reciprocal. The digestibility of the organic matter of the straw materials ascertained according to the difference method amounted to 7.4 (I), 18.1 (II) and 27.9% (III); that of the N-free extracts in the same sequence to 10.0, 22.0 and 34.9%. The calculated energetic feed value was for I = 70.7, for II = 154.9 and for III = 240.7 EFUpig/kg DM.     

The use of a partly-hydrolysed straw meal for the feeding of weaned piglets. 1. Increased production and feed expense as well as nutrient digestibility and buffer capacity in rations with various high portions of partly-hydrolysed straw meal

In studies with weaned piglets of the land race the usability of partly hydrolysed straw meal (PSM) in concentrate - straw meal mixtures was tested over a period of 56 days (42nd-98th day of life; 1st-8th week of feeding. The hydrolysed straw product was there tested in a parallel experiment each without and after neutralization (by means of CaCO3) in quotas of 5, 10 and 15% as supplement to the concentrate feed (based on dry matter) in comparison to a sole concentrate feeding. Daily weight gain and feed and energy expenditure as well as nutrient digestibility and the buffer effect of the PSM rations were ascertained. Measured by weight gain, feed intake and concentrate- and energy expenditure related weight gain, a 10% quota of partly hydrolysed straw meal in a period near weaning (1st-4th week of feeding) had the highest effect and was far superior to traditional concentrate feeding. Lower quotas of PSM in this period did not show a sufficient dietetic effect (diarrhea symptoms), higher reduced the effect on the performance parameters. In the period more remote from weaning (5th-8th week of feeding) the effect of the straw meal integration was generally reduced, a quota of about 5% proved optimal. The registered higher daily weight gains in the total test period (1st-8th week of feeding in which concentrate - straw meal mixtures (relative 106-130%) were closely related to the daily intake of digestibility organic matter. The decrease in digestibility of organic matter in the total ration remained small with the use of the well fermentable crude fibre from the hydrolysed straw product and the balance was overcompensated by higher feed intake. A pH-value decrease of the feed mixtures and a physiologically suitable influence on the pH-value in the stomachs of the test animals could be ascertained due to the buffer capacity of the hydrolysed straw products used. With regard to this, the non-buffered hydrolysed straw product had a higher effect, which was, among other things, reflected in higher performances.     

The effect of feeds treated with ionizing irradiation on biochemical indicators of the nutritional value of energy nutrients

The influence of feedstuffs treated with ionizing radiation on the nutrition of dogs was tested in four groups of animals. Two groups were administered for 90 days a ration, the main part of which (VETACAN meat feed mixture and VETAVIT loose feed mixture) was irradiated with radioisotope Co 60 of the intensity of 25 kGy/kg, in other two groups of dogs the nonirradiated ration was used for the same time period. The control groups of dogs were put together for these two diets. The laboratory examination of irradiated feedstuffs confirmed their complete microbiological and mycological intactness. However, the irradiation brought about a significant 35% degradation of essential amino acids with an increase of ammonia nitrogen, destructive changes in the lipid component of feedstuffs and a partial decomposition of the saccharide part of the VETAVIT feed mixture, expressed by the acidity of water extract. The sensory evaluation of irradiated feedstuffs did not show any perceptible alterations. The haematological examination of the blood of animals, which had been administered irradiated feed rations, demonstrated a significant negative influence on the blood picture. The biochemical examination of the blood serum and plasma revealed that total proteins of experimental dogs dropped and the creatinine level was also significantly decreased. Neither was the level of carbohydrate nutrition nor the energy saturation affected by irradiation. The glucose levels in the blood serum of dogs fluctuated within the range of physiological reference values. The growth of free ammoniacal bases of feedstuffs, evoked by ionizing radiation, conditioned obviously the level of actual pH of blood in dogs as determined in this study. The destruction of lipoid fraction in the feedstuffs induced a decrease in the activity of lipophile retinol and thus the biological value of feeds was impaired. The biochemical examination of ALT, AST and ALP enzyme activity did not show any increased activity of parenchyma, in particular of liver cell. A decisive role of the biological quality of feed ration for utilization of some minerals was demonstrated by a significant decrease of the magnesium level in animals administered irradiated feed rations without any biological supplementation. On the contrary, the potassium, calcium and phosphorus levels did not reflect this dietary difference between the groups.     

Supplementations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyparrhenia rufa</Emphasis> -dominated hay with groundnut cake- wheat bran mix: effects on feed intake,digestibility and nitrogen balance of Somali goats

A digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance experiment was conducted using twenty yearling male Somali goats weighing 23.4 ± 2.02 (mean±SD). The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of supplementation with graded levels of mixture of groundnut cake and wheat bran at a ratio of 3:1 on DM basis on feed intake, apparent digestibility and N balance in Somali goats. The experimental design was a completely randomized design consisting of five animals in each treatment. The dietary treatments included ad libitum feeding of hay (T1, control), and daily supplementation with 200 (T2, low) 300 (T3, medium) and 400 g DM (T4, high) of the concentrate mix. Increased level of supplementation reduced (P < 0.001) daily hay DM intake. Digestibility of crude protein (CP) was higher (P < 0.001) for the supplemented goats. Urinary nitrogen, total nitrogen excretion and retention increased (P < 0.01) with the level of supplementation. It was concluded that supplementation with groundnut -wheat bran mixture promoted feed intake and digestibility of DM, CP, and N retention in Somali goats fed hay. However, supplementation at the medium level appeared to be more effective since it promoted similar N balance with the high level of supplementation.     

Amino acid nutrition in egg production industry

The egg production industry is facing various problems that need to be solved. For amino acid nutrition to achieve scientific and economical feeding of laying hens, it is necessary to elucidate the content, digestibility, or availability of nutrients of feedstuffs and feeds and the requirement of amino acids for laying hens. In addition, improvement to quality of eggs and meat of spent hens, methods of management and development of new feedstuffs are essential. For sustainable animal production, decrease in excreta and animal welfare should be studied. The real‐time determination of content and digestibility of amino acids in feedstuffs are essential for formation of feeds. Recent advances in the near infrared reflectance analysis will be able to determine the content, digestibility and availability of nutrients in feedstuffs and feeds, if we have a supplemental amount of conventional analysis to define the calibration population. The amino acid requirements are affected by various factors. Therefore the method to quickly and exactly determine amino acid requirements in response to various factors is necessary. By using plasma free amino acid concentration as a criterion, it is possible to determine amino acid requirements in various conditions of laying hens within a short experimental period, repeatedly using the same animals. Because the amino acid requirements differ among individual animals, it should be expressed as grams per hen per day. Practically, it is impossible to formulate various feeds for individual hens. The various expressions have been developed and these expressions have advantages and disadvantages. The nitrogen excretion of laying hens is easily reduced by reducing dietary nitrogen levels and restricting the feed intake. The availability of amino acid may be improved by feeding management, and supplementing enzyme, but the quality of eggs and meat of spent hens and welfare of laying hens are not affected by amino acid nutrition.     

On the effects of a chronic deoxynivalenol intoxication on performance, haematological and serum parameters of pigs when diets are offered either for ad libitum consumption or fed restrictively

Wheat infected naturally with Fusarium, contaminated mainly with deoxynivalenol (DON) (16.6 mg DON/kg), was added to a total constant wheat content of 400 g/kg diet. To distinguish between differences in feed intake and specific effects of the DON contaminated diet, control and DON contaminated feed was administered for 11 weeks under ad libitum and restrictive feeding conditions to 48 pigs of both sexes, which were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12 per group). Feed intake was 2.90 kg/day, live weight gain 987 g/day and feed to gain ratio 2.77 kg/kg for the ad libitum fed control group. The group fed DON contaminated wheat ad libitum significantly consumed 15% less feed and gained 13% less live weight, while the feed to gain ratio was unaffected. Moreover, it was concluded that the lower growth performance by DON contaminated feed resulted mainly from the lower voluntary feed intake, because there were no differences in live weight gain between the groups with the restrictive feeding regimen. On the contrary, metabolizable energy, nitrogen retention digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre were significantly increased by 3, 10, 3, 6, 9 and 20% in the DON group respectively. Animals fed DON contaminated diets needed more time to consume the restrictive ration than the control group. For example in the first hour after feeding 85% of the control pigs had consumed all feed, but only 39% of the DON group had. There were only few differences in haematological and serum parameters, which were characterized by a high variation between individuals. DON and IgA concentrations in serum were significantly influenced by DON exposure.     

Comparison of silage and hay of dwarf Napier grass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pennisetum purpureum</Emphasis>) fed to Thai native beef bulls

Both quantity and quality of forages are important in dry season feeding. Eight Thai native beef bulls were arranged in a Completely randomized design to evaluate dwarf Napier namely Sweet grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mahasarakham) preserved as silage or hay on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The animals were fed with forage ad libitum supplemented with concentrate mixture at 1.0% of BW for 21 days; data were collected during the last 7 days. The results showed that there were differences (P?<?0.05) between treatments in dry matter (DM) intake, DM digestibility, and ruminal pH, in which hay feeding gave enhanced feed intake and more favorable ruminal pH. Nevertheless, mean ruminal ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), proportion of VFAs, bacterial and protozoal population, and blood urea nitrogen were similar (P?>?0.05) in animals fed silage and hay. Sweet grass is better preserved as hay rather than silage.     

云南省反刍家畜主要饲料营养价值评价

通过对云南省 9个牛羊饲养基地县饲料样品的常规营养成份、范氏纤维及干物质体外消化率 ( IVDMD)的测定发现 :1 )用营养成份和 IVDMD等指标进行评定 ,所有牧草以白三叶、红三叶和青苕子的营养价值最高 ;秸秆类粗饲料营养价值由高到低依次为 :蚕豆秆、黄豆秆、玉米秆、稻草和小麦秆 ;2 )饲料中 ADF、NDF含量与 CP、EE含量呈极显著负相关 ( P<0 .0 1 ) ;各结构碳水化合物成份含量与 CF含量都呈正相关 ,其中 ADF、 NDF含量和 C (纤维素 )含量相关极显著 ( P<0 .0 1 )。粗饲料中 ADF、NDF、HC(半纤维素 )、C及 AIA含量与常规成份都有显著的回归关系 ;3)饲料 IVDMD与 CP含量呈极显著正相关 ,与 NDF含量呈极显著负相关 ( | r| >0 .8) ( P<0 .0 1 )。各饲料的 IVDMD与 CP、 EE、 ASH、 NFE、 NDF和 ADL含量之间存在着显著的回归关系 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,利用回归方程可以用饲料营养成份含量来预测饲料的IVDMD。     

长颈鹿饲养管理和日粮养分估算

介绍了长颈鹿的一些生物学特征：分类、生理特性、天敌和食性。根据太原动物园多年饲养经验,长颈鹿日粮包含精料、蔬菜、水果、树叶、稀饭、补充营养等。估算了长颈鹿精料（颗粒料）营养成分和所有日粮营养成分。长颈鹿所有日粮养分含量估算结果如下：能量3.20MJ/kg,粗蛋白质13.69%,粗脂肪3.83%,粗纤维8.95%,碳水化合物34.31%,灰分4.31%,钙1.53%,总磷0.12%。提出了饲养管理中的一些建议：日常饲喂中要禁止饲喂发霉变质饲料,要留意拣出草料中的绳索、塑料袋、金属等异物,防止对动物造成不必要的损伤。根据季节、气候调整日粮,西瓜、黄瓜、绿豆只在夏季提供。长颈鹿属反刍动物,日常饲喂要以树叶为主,槐树叶营养丰富,是优良的长颈鹿饲料。大葱可能对长颈鹿有特殊作用。     

The effect of a straw meal on the crude protein and amino acid metabolism and digestibility of the crude nutrients in broiler hen breeds. 2. Digestibility of crude nutrients of rations and 15N from a straw meal and wheat

In experiments with colostomized broiler hens apparent digestibility of the crude nutrients of the ration after straw meal supplements of 20, 30 and 40 g per animal was determined. In addition, the 15N digestibility of straw meal and wheat was ascertained on the basis of straw meal supplements. The digestibility of the crude nutrients of the rations decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) after the straw meal supplement. The adaptation of the test animals to the straw meal intake resulted, at a daily consumption of 20 g straw meal, in an increase of the apparent crude fat digestibility (P less than 0.05) in dependence on the time of straw meal feeding, in which the original values without straw meal supplement were not reached. The digestibility of the 15N excess (15N') of the wheat was, at 86 +/- 1%, largely independent of the straw meal intake. The apparent digestibility of the straw-15N excess in broiler hens of 42 +/- 8 to 55 +/- 2% is surprisingly high.     

Comparative study of three feeding methods for draught horses of the Swiss army

Three feeding methods were compared in 36 4- to 6-year-old Franche-Montagne horses during the military school of St-Luzisteig (GR) of Spring 1992. The horses were separated into 3 groups: a group with the traditional oats-hay ration (OH), a group with a pelleted feed and hay ration (PFH), and a group with the complete diet (CD). Feed analyses were performed and food consumption, eating behavior and digestibility were studied. The horses received their daily amount of feed in 3 portions covering the requirements for a medium work: OH = 8 kg hay and 3 kg oats, PFH = 8 kg hay and 3 kg pelleted feed and CD = 10 kg of the complete diet. For the 3 rations, the amount of digestible crude protein for horses was higher than the reference value for the requirement of a 600 kg horse with a medium work. In the 3 diets, the calcium content was higher than the required 32 g per day (g/d). Not enough sodium (OH: 1.2 g/d; PFH: 7.3 g/d; CD: 9.6 g/d) and too much potassium (OH: 140.3 g/d; PFH 153.0 g/d; CD: 167.5 g/d) were present in the diets, both without consequences for the blood parameters. In 3 meals of 60 minutes, the horses of the group OH, PFH and CD ingested 82%, 89% and 92%, respectively, of the daily ration. The complete diet was ingested more quickly than the hay. The number of mastications per minute was smaller for the complete diet than for the hay. Ingestion times were similar for oats and pelleted feed. However, the number of mastications per minute was smaller for the pelleted feed. The digestibility of nutrients was not influenced by the method of feeding. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the 3 types of ration studied here are adequate for the swiss army horses if sodium is added to the diet. However, despite the fact that both PFH and CD correct excessive supply or deficiencies of nutrients and despite the fact that these two feeding methods offer nutrients in amounts that are closer to the requirements of the horse, the method PFH was introduced in 1994.     

Feed intake,digestibility, nitrogen utilization,and body weight change of sheep consuming wheat straw supplemented with local agricultural and agro-industrial by-products

Effects of supplementing sheep consuming wheat straw with local agro-industrial by-products on feed intake, growth, digestibility and nitrogen utilization were determined. Thirty 1-year-old local wethers, with a mean (±SD) live weight of 19.8 (±1.06) kg, were assigned to five treatments: wheat straw + atella (T1), wheat straw + atella + poultry litter (T2), wheat straw + atella + coffee pulp (T3), wheat straw + atella + coffee pulp + poultry litter (T4), hay + concentrate (T5). A 7-day digestibility experiment and a 112-day growth trial were conducted. Total dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake as well as body weight gain was similar for all treatments. The highest (P < 0.05) nitrogen (N) intake was in sheep fed T1 and T4 diets, while the lowest was in those fed T2 and T5 diets. Sheep fed T1 and T2 diets had greater (P < 0.05) DM and OM digestibility than those fed T4 and T5 diets. The highest (P < 0.05) digestibility of N was for the T2, T4, and T5 diets, while the lowest was for the T1 diet. The highest N retention was in T4 diet, whereas the lowest was in T3 diet. In conclusion, in urban and peri-urban areas where atella, poultry litter, or coffee pulp are available, smallholder farmers could feed the mixtures as a supplement to straw with a good performance without using concentrate feeds.     

Comparison of Nutrient Digestibility Between Adult and Aged Horses

There is little published work comparing digestibility in healthy adult versus healthy aged horses. Researchers hypothesized that there would be no differences in macronutrient digestibility between eight adult (5–12 years) and nine aged (19–28 years) horses fed three diets in a Latin square design. Seventeen stock-type mares were randomly assigned for a 5-week period to one of three diets: hay only (HAY), hay plus a starch- and sugar-rich concentrate (CHO), or hay plus a fat- (oil) and fiber-rich concentrate (FF). Each diet period comprised 3 weeks of outdoor group drylot feeding, 2 weeks of indoor stalled individual feeding, followed by a 72-hour digestibility trial including total urine and fecal collection. Feed, fecal, and/or urine samples were analyzed to determine dry matter, crude protein, fat, energy, calcium, and phosphorus apparent retention as well as apparent digestibility. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was also determined. Mean body weight was lower in aged than in adult horses (455 ± 12 kg vs. 500 ± 13 kg; P = .02), but body condition score (BCS) did not differ between groups (aged horses, 4.8 ± 0.2 BCS and adult horses, 5.1 ± 0.2 BCS; P = .20). No age differences in digestibility, apparent digestibility, or apparent retention were seen for any of the variables measured. Based on the results of this study, total tract macronutrient digestibility appears to be similar between healthy adult and aged horses.     

Effects of Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat and of a detoxifying agent on performance of growing bulls, on nutrient digestibility in wethers and on the carry over of zearalenone.

Experiments were carried out to examine the effects of a Fusarium contaminated wheat (10 mg deoxynivalenol and 0.76 mg zearalenone, ZON, per kg dry matter) and of a detoxifying agent (Mycofix Plus, Biomin GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria) on the growing performance of bulls, carry-over of ZON and its metabolites into body fluids and tissues, and on nutrient digestibility in wethers. The experiments were designed according to a complete two by two factorial approach which meant that both the uncontaminated control wheat and the Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat were tested both in the absence and presence of Mycofix Plus. The growing experiment with bulls (n = 14 per treatment) covered the live weight range between 244 kg and 460 kg. The respective wheat batches were included in the concentrate portion at 65%. Concentrates were fed according to plan whereas maize silage was offered for ad libitum consumption. Daily dry matter intake and live weight gain [kg per animal and day] were 7.40, 7.52, 7.51 and 7.49 and 1.367, 1.296, 1.380 and 1.307 for bulls fed the unsupplemented control wheat, the supplemented control wheat, the unsupplemented and Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat and the supplemented Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat, respectively. ZON and its metabolites were not detected in edible tissues. The most striking effects of feeding the Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat on carcass characteristics were a reduced dressing percentage, an increased weight of the emptied gastro-intestinal tract and a reduced weight of the testicles. No effect of the detoxifying agent was seen for these parameters whereas heart weight increased independently of Fusarium toxin contamination of the concentrates. Nutrient digestibility of the two wheat batches, unsupplemented or supplemented with Mycofix Plus was evaluated according to the difference method using wethers. Presence of Fusarium toxins in wheat did not influence its feeding value. The effects of the addition of the detoxifying agent were mycotoxin unspecific and resulted in an increase in apparent digestibility of crude protein and a decrease in crude fiber digestibility. It is concluded that feeding of Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat did not adversely affect performance of growing bulls (approximately 2.2 mg DON and 0.1 mg ZON per kg complete ration at a reference dry matter content of 88%) or nutrient digestibility in wethers. The effects of the detoxifying agent Mycofix Plus on growing performance and on nutrient digestibility were rather Fusarium toxin unspecific. The slightly negative effects on growing performance needs to be examined further.     

Spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) and saltbush (Atriplex halimus L.) as feed supplements for fattening Awassi male lambs: effect on digestibility,water consumption,blood metabolites,and growth performance

The effect of replacing 13.6% and 20.3% of a total ration of fattening Awassi lambs by two combinations of fresh saltbush (Atriplex halimus) and fresh spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes at a ratio of 1.9:1 (TRT1) and 1.7:1 (TRT2) on water intake, digestibility, blood metabolites, and fattening performance was evaluated. Thirty-six lambs with average initial live weight 34.5?±?4.18 kg were randomly assigned to three diets (control, TRT1, and TRT2). The control received a diet containing 166 g/kg barley straw and 834 g/kg of commercial concentrate mixture; TRT1 comprised 126 g barley straw, 739 g/kg concentrate mixture, 47 g/kg spineless cactus, and 89 g saltbush; TRT2 comprised 67 g/kg barley straw, 704 g/kg commercial concentrate mixture, 86 g/kg spineless cactus, and 144 g saltbush. A growth trial of 100 days (10 days of adaptation and 90 days of collection) followed by a metabolism trial of 17 days (10 days of adaptation and 7 days of a total feces and urine collection) was carried out. Daily dry matter intake, digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and nutrient detergent fiber, nitrogen balance, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and blood metabolites were not significantly affected by the treatment. Water consumption in TRT2 was significantly 16% less compared with the control. A combination of saltbush and spineless cactus at a ratio of 1.7:1 (TRT2) replaced 60% of barley straw and 16% of concentrate mixture without adverse effects on health and growth performance of Awassi male lambs. This represents a potential reduction in feed costs for smallholder farmers.

     

肉羊饲喂全混合颗粒饲料对其采食行为的影响

本试验通过开展粗饲料资源玉米秸秆和苜蓿干草不同比、不同精粗比全混合颗粒饲料肉羊饲喂试验,观察记录肉羊采食行为。最终得出结论：饲喂全混合颗粒饲料,采食时间缩短30～40 min左右,采食速度提高,增加了采食量;粗饲料比例越高,肉羊饮水次数和饮水时间越长;精饲料比例越高,肉羊排便次数增加;精粗比对肉羊的运动和休息时间没有显著影响。通过观测各指标得出结论：A3B2组饲喂效果最好。     

The digestibility of crude nutrients in horses. 2. Comparative studies on the digestive capacity of a thoroughbred horse, pony and wether

The digestibility of the crude nutrients of 6 rations on the basis of oat, hay and wheat straw (in one case a straw-concentrate mixture as sole feed) was compared at a nutrition level of 1.0 and 1.3 resp. with adult geldings of the species "Noble Crossbreed", adult pony geldings and wethers The energy concentration of the rations varied between 424 and 585 EFUcattle/kg DM, the crude fibre content between 17 and 25% of the DM. In the studied field, a good agreement between horse and pony could be ascertained as to the digestibility of the organic matter and NFE. There are partly considerable differences between the apparent digestibility of crude protein and crude fibre. The differences in the digestibility of crude fibre between horse and sheep increase with a growing crude fibre content. The differences of the apparent digestibility between horse and pony on the one hand and sheep on the other were highly significant in all cases.