Diurnal variation in fecal concentrations of acid-detergent insoluble ash and alkaline-peroxide lignin from cattle fed bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient content

Background:The effect of time of fecal sampling on the accuracy of acid-detergent insoluble ash(ADIA) and alkaline-peroxide lignin(APL) for the prediction of fecal output(FO) in cattle was evaluated.Eight ruminally cannulated cows(594 ± 35.5 kg) were allocated randomly to 4 bermudagrass[Cynodon dactylon(L) Pers.]hay diets markedly different in crude protein concentration(79-164 g/kg) with 2 replicates per diet for 3 periods.Cows were offered hay individually at 20 g DM/kg of body weight daily in equal feedings at 08:00 and 16:00 h for a 10-d adaptation period followed by 5-d of total fecal collection.Fecal grab samples also were taken each day during the fecal collection period at 06:00,12:00,18:00,and 24:00 h either directly from the rectum or from freshly voided feces.Samples were composited within cow and time across the 5 d total fecal collection period.Additionally,forage,ort,and fecal samples were analyzed for concentrations of APL and ADIA.Results:Fecal concentrations of ADIA and APL were not affected by sampling time(P 0.22),even though diet affected[P 0.01) fecal ADIA and APL concentrations.There were no diet x sampling time interactions(P 0.60).Estimates of FO and dry matter digestibility(DMD) from ADIA and APL were not affected {P 0.16) by sampling time or the diet x sampling time interaction(P 0.74).Estimates of FO and DMD from markers from different sampling times or all different combinations of sampling time were not different {P 0.72) from those of total collection among internal markers.Conclusion:Little variation in concentrations of ADIA and APL in daily fecal excretion across time increases flexibility in fecal grab sampling schedules for predicting FO and DMD.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibility by cattle offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Camelina sativa is an oil seed crop which can be grown on marginal lands. Camelina seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (>35%) and γ-tocopherol but is also high in erucic acid and glucosinolates. Camelina meal, is the by-product after the oil has been extracted. Camelina meal was fed to 28 d old weaned pigs at 3.7% and 7.4% until age 56 d. The camelina meal supplements in the soy based diets, improved feed efficiency but also significantly increased the liver weights. Gene expression analyses of the livers, using intra-species microarrays, identified increased expression of phase 1 and phase 2 drug metabolism enzymes. The porcine versions of the enzymes were confirmed by real time PCR. Cytochrome 8b1 (CYP8B1), aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2), and thiosulfate transferase (TST) were all significantly stimulated. Collectively, these genes implicate the camelina glucosinolate metabolite, methyl-sulfinyldecyl isothiocyanate, as the main xeniobiotic, causing increased hepatic metabolism and increased liver weight.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibility by cattle offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Background:The potential for acid-detergent insoluble ash(ADIA),alkaline-peroxide lignin(APL),and acid-detergent lignin(ADL) to predict fecal output(FO) and dry matter digestibility(DMD) by cattle offered bermudagrass[Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers.]hays of different qualities was evaluated.Eight ruminally cannulated cows(594 ± 35.5 kg) were allocated randomly to 4 hay diets:low(L),medium low(ML),medium high(MH),and high(H) crude protein(CP)concentration(79,111,131,and 164 g CP/kg on a DM basis,respectively).Diets were offered in 3 periods with 2 diet replicates per period and were rotated across cows between periods.Cows were individually fed 20 g DM/kg of body weight in equal feedings at 08:00 and 16:00 h for a 10-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection.Actual DM intake(DMI),DMD,and FO were determined based on hay offered,ort,and feces excreted.These components were then analyzed for ADL,APL,and ADIA concentration to determine marker recovery and marker-based estimates of FO and DMD.Results:Forage DMI was affected by diet(P = 0.02),and DMI from MH and H was greater(P 0.05) than from L.Apparent DMD tended(P = 0.08) to differ among diets while FO(P = 0.20) was not affected by diet treatments.Average ADL recovery(1.16) was greater(P 0.05) than that of ADIA(1.03) and APL(1.06),but ADIA and APL did not differ(P = 0.42).Estimates of FO and DMD derived using APL and ADIA were not different(P 0.05) from total fecal collection while those using ADL differed(P 0.05).There was no diet by marker interaction(P 0.22)for either FO or DMD.Conclusion:Acid-detergent insoluble ash and APL accurately predicted FO and DMD of cattle fed bermudagrass hay of varying nutrient composition.These internal markers may facilitate studies involving large numbers of animals and forages.Results from such studies may be used to develop improved equations to predict energy values of forages based on the relationship of dietary components to digestibility across a wide range of forages.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibilily by caltie offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Background： The potential for acid-detergent insoluble ash （ADIA）, alkaline-peroxide lignin （APL）, and acid-detergent lignin （ADL） to predict fecal output （FO） and dry matter digestibility （DMD） by cattle offered bermudagrass [Cynodon doctylon （L） Pers.] hays of different qualities was evaluated. Eight ruminally cannulated cows （594 ± 35.5 kg） were allocated randomly to 4 hay diets： low （L）, medium low （ML）, medium high （MH）, and high （H） crude protein （CP） concentration （79, 111,131, and 164 g CP/kg on a DM basis, respectively）. Diets were offered in 3 periods with 2 diet replicates per period and were rotated across cows between periods. Cows were individually fed 20 g DM/kg of body weight in equal feedings at 08：00 and 16：00 h for a 10-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection. Actual DM intake （DMI）, DMD, and FO were determined based on hay offered, ort, and feces excreted. These components were then analyzed for ADL, APL, and ADIA concentration to determine marker recovery and marker-based estimates of FO and DMD. Results： Forage DMI was affected by diet （P = 0.02）, and DMI from MH and H was greater （P 〈 0.05） than from L. Apparent DMD tended （P = 0.08） to differ among diets while FO （P = 0.20） was not affected by diet treatments. Average ADL recovery （1.16） was greater （P 〈 0.05） than that of ADIA （1.03） and APL （1.06）, but ADIA and APL did not differ （P = 0.42）. Estimates of FO and DMD derived using APL and ADIA were not different （P≥0.05） from total fecal collection while those using ADL differed （P 〈 0.05）. There was no diet by marker interaction （P≥ 0.22） for either FO or DMD. Conclusion： Acid-detergent insoluble ash and APL accurately predicted FO and DMD of cattle fed bermudagrass hay of varying nutrient composition. These internal markers may facilitate studies involving large numbers of animals and forages. Results from such studies may be used to develop improve     

Management and nutritional factors associated with the detection of Salmonella sp. from cattle fecal specimens from feedlot operations in the United States

In a convenience sample of 100 feedlot operations (included in the United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 1994 Cattle on Feed Evaluation), up to 25 cattle fecal samples were collected and tested for the presence of Salmonella from each of two pens (the pen which contained the most-recent arrivals, and the pen with cattle that had been on feed the longest). One or more Salmonella spp. were recovered from 38 (38.0%) of the 100 feedlots, 52 (26.0%) of the 200 pens and 273 (5.5%) of the 4977 fecal samples collected. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that feeding tallow and feeding whole cottonseed or cottonseed hulls within seven days prior to fecal sample collection was associated with an increased risk of finding Salmonella in a pen. Variables not found to be significantly associated with the detection of Salmonella in a pen included region, operation size, use of sprinklers, time on feed, type of cattle in the pen, number and concentration of cattle in a pen, feeding probiotics, and various other feeds.     

Feed consumption, nutrient utilization and serum metabolite profile of captive blackbucks (Antelope cervicapra) fed diets varying in crude protein content

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum level of crude protein (CP) in the diet of captive blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) in which feed consumption and nutrient utilization are maximal. Fifteen blackbucks (BW 25-34 kg) were distributed into three groups of five each in an experiment of 75-days duration including a digestion trial of 5-day collection period. All the animals were offered 200 g of concentrates and fresh maize fodder ad libitum. The overall CP content of the three respective diets was 6.9%, 10.4% and 12.7%. Blood samples were collected on the last day of the experiment. Intake and digestibility of CP increased (p < 0.01) with the increased level of CP in the diet. Feed consumption and nutrient intake were not significantly different among the groups. However, digestibilities of most of the nutrients were higher in the 10.4% CP diet than in the 6.9% CP diet. The endogenous loss of nitrogen was similar among the groups. Based on the endogenous losses, minimum N requirement was calculated to be 776 mg/kg BW(0.75) /day, and to meet this requirement, diet must contain at least 8.27% CP. Serum urea nitrogen concentration increased (p < 0.01) with increased level of dietary CP. Serum level of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase was higher (p < 0.05) in the group fed 6.9% CP diet. Animals in the group fed low protein diet also lost body mass during the experimental period. It was concluded that a diet containing 10.4% CP was optimum for maximizing nutrient utilization without any adverse effect on voluntary feed consumption and serum metabolite profile of blackbucks.