Effects of fumaric acid on rumen fermentation,milk composition and metabolic parameters in lactating cows

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of fumaric acid (FA) on ruminal fermentation and its effects on the acid‐base balance of seven ruminally and duodenally fistulated multiparous German Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted in a change‐over design with three periods in which the animals were randomly arranged in one of three treatments: Control (C; without FA), 300 or 600 g FA per day. The diets consisted of 7.4 kg DM grass silage, 4.2 kg concentrate mixture and 0, 300 or 600 g FA or wheat starch as isocaloric compensation per day and cow. FA supplementation decreased the rumen pH, acetic acid and butyric acid and increased propionic acid in rumen fluid. The results of the single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) did not show an influence of FA on the microbial population in the rumen. The beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood and the pH of the urine decreased, while the blood gases were unaffected by supplementation of the acid. The microbial protein per MJ ME decreased in the duodenum with FA supplementation. The milk fat concentration decreased after addition of FA. We conclude that in this study feeding of up to 600 g FA per day did not result in an acidosis. It seems that up to 600 g FA per day did not have a significant influence on the acid‐base balance of dairy cows.     

Effects of Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat grain on nutrient turnover, microbial protein synthesis and metabolism of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in the rumen of dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of feeding Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat to dairy cows on nutrient utilization in the rumen and on duodenal flow of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON) and their metabolites. Six dairy cows fitted with a large rumen cannula and a simple T-shaped cannula at the proximal duodenum was used in two experiments. The experiments included a control period in which the uncontaminated control wheat was fed and a period in which the control wheat was replaced by the Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat (8.05 and 7.15 mg DON/kg and 0.26 and 0.1 mg ZON/kg in Expts 1 and 2 respectively). The wheat portion of the daily ration amounted to 50% on a dry matter (DM) basis and rations were completed with hay or grass silage. Five of the six cows were non-lactating and the total daily DM-intake ranged between 4 and 12 kg. The pH-values and the concentration of volatile fatty acids in ruminal fluid were not significantly influenced by feeding the contaminated wheat. In contrast, the postprandial ammonia concentration was consistently higher when the mycotoxin-contaminated wheat was fed. Moreover, the flow of microbial protein and utilizable protein at the duodenum were reduced at the same time. The concentrations of DON and ZON and of their metabolites in freeze-dried duodenal digesta were either not detectable or negligible during the control periods whereas distinct concentrations were measured during the periods where the contaminated wheat was fed. DON was nearly completely metabolized to de-epoxy-DON and the flow at the duodenum ranged between 4% and 28% of DON-intake. The ZON metabolites alpha-zearalenol (ZOL) and beta-ZOL were recovered at the duodenum beside the parent toxin ZON. Their recovery as a percentage of ZON-intake ranged between 43% and 132%. In conclusion, feeding of Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat altered the ruminal protein utilization. The question of whether this effect was a result of the mycotoxin being present in the rumen or of Fusarium growth-related structural (cell wall) changes of the wheat grain needs to be clarified. The low recovery of DON at the duodenum would indicate either a nearly complete degradation of the molecule in the rumen or an absorption by the mucosa of the rumen, whereas the higher ZON recovery would suggest a lower degradation of the parent toxin in the rumen and/or recovery of some bile-originating entero-hepatic cycling ZON/metabolites.     

Theoretical turnover rate of the rumen liquid fraction in dairy cows and its relationship to feed intake,rumen fermentation,and milk production

Ruminant animals are able to convert plant materials (grain and the human‐indigestible portion of carbohydrates) to milk and meat. In this conversion, most of the plant materials are digested by rumen fermentation and are changed to short‐chain fatty acids, microbial cells, and methane, which is released into the atmosphere. The relationships among feed, rumen fermentation, and milk production are poorly understood. Here we report a novel indicator of characteristics of rumen fermentation, theoretical turnover rate (TTOR) of the rumen liquid fraction. The TTOR was calculated from the presumed rumen volume (PRV) which is estimated by dividing the methane yield by the methane concentration of rumen fluid. The formula for the TTOR is: TTOR = PRV/body weight^0.75. Our present analyses confirm that the TTOR as an indicator is capable of connecting feed, rumen fermentation, and milk production, because dry matter intake/TTOR showed a strong correlation with milk yield/TTOR. In addition, the TTOR may be related to ruminal pH, as we observed that the ruminal pH decreased as the TTOR increased. We propose that the TTOR is a factor characterizing rumen fermentation and a good indicator of the productivity of ruminants and dysbiosis of the rumen microbiome.     

复合益生菌对泌乳中后期奶牛生产性能和瘤胃发酵参数的影响

选用48头产奶量、泌乳天数和胎次相近的泌乳中后期奶牛进行配对设计,分为4组,即对照组(复合益生菌0g/d)、试验1组(复合益生菌10g/d)、试验2组(复合益生菌20g/d)和试验3组(复合益生菌30g/d),试验期60d,其中预饲期7d。结果表明:与对照组相比,复合益生菌能够提高泌乳中后期奶牛的产奶量,同时能够显著提高乳蛋白率、乳糖率和总固形物(P<0.05);对血液生化指标无显著影响(P>0.05);复合益生菌能显著提高瘤胃中NH_3-N和微生物蛋白(MCP)含量(P<0.05);与对照组相比,试验2组的粗蛋白(CP)和粗脂肪(EE)表观消化率均显著提高(P<0.05);试验1,2,3组比对照组每头奶牛每天分别获益2.28,4.80和4.09元。以产奶性能、瘤胃发酵参数、营养物质表观消化率和经济效益为主要衡量指标,以每头奶牛日喂20g效果最佳。     

甜菜碱对奶牛采食量、泌乳性能和血液指标的影响

选用20头体重(597±11.8)kg、泌乳天数(88±4.5)d、日产奶(26.3±0.5)kg的经产奶牛,随机分为4组,采用4×4拉丁方设计,研究甜菜碱(0、50、100和150g/d)对泌乳早期奶牛采食量、泌乳性能和血液指标的影响。结果表明:日粮添加甜菜碱对奶牛的采食量、乳蛋白率、乳糖率和血糖浓度无显著影响,100g/d组和150g/d组鲜奶产量显著高于对照组和50g/d组(P<0.05);100g/d组和150g/d组4%乳脂校正乳、能量校正乳和乳脂产量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);100g/d组乳脂率显著高于对照组(P<0.05);100g/d组和150g/d组血浆游离脂肪酸和β-羟丁酸浓度显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。根据以上结果推断,甜菜碱的适宜添加水平为100g/d。     

Effect of Fusarium toxin-contaminated triticale and forage-to-concentrate ratio on fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen

In this study, the effect of Fusarium toxin-contaminated triticale (FUS) at high (60%) and low (30%) concentrate proportion in ruminant rations on ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and digestibility was investigated, using in vivo and in vitro methods. Significant effects of the forage-to-concentrate ratio on ruminal degradation and digestibility of crude nutrients and detergent fibre fractions as well as on the pH value and the concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in rumen fluid were found. The production of SCFA was affected, and the degradation of crude fibre and neutral detergent fibre in the rumen was reduced by the inclusion of FUS at high concentrate proportion. The efficiency of microbial crude protein synthesis was higher in diets with 60% than in diets with 30% concentrates, but was impaired in the presence of FUS in vitro at the high concentrate level. Marginal effects of FUS on the amino acid pattern of microbial protein were detected. It was concluded that the use of FUS in high concentrate diets can influence ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis at a dietary deoxynivalenol concentration below 5 mg/kg dry matter.     

复合酶制剂对瘤胃发酵及泌乳早期奶牛生产性能的影响

本试验旨在研究添加不同水平复合酶制剂对瘤胃发酵及奶牛生产性能的影响。试验一以奶牛全混合日粮作为底物进行体外瘤胃发酵试验,分为4组,即对照组不添加酶制剂,试验1、2和3组的酶制剂添加量分别为日粮浓度的0.10%、0.15%和0.20%,每组设9个重复。每个重复准确称取0.500 g底物,在体外发酵产气自动记录装置上发酵48 h,测定其发酵参数和营养物质降解率。结果表明:复合酶制剂显著提高发酵液中总挥发性脂肪酸和乙酸浓度(P<0.05);试验组中粗蛋白(P<0.05)和中性洗涤纤维(P<0.01)降解率显著高于对照组。试验二选择体重、胎次、泌乳天数和产奶量相近的泌乳早期荷斯坦奶牛36头,采用随机区组设计分为4组,即对照组和试验1、2和3组,对照组不添加酶制剂,试验1、2和3组分别添加0.10%、0.15%和0.20%的酶制剂,每组9个重复,试验期8周,测定产奶量和乳成分含量,计算3.5%乳脂校正乳。结果表明:复合酶制剂显著提高3.5%乳脂校正乳产量(P<0.05),0.10%、0.15%和0.20%组比对照组分别提高3.88、4.27和2.26 kg·d^-1。0.15%组的乳脂率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),比对照组高12.7%。结论添加复合酶制剂有利于瘤胃发酵和提高生产性能,且添加量为0.15%时效果较好。     

Effects of graded levels of Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat and of a detoxifying agent in broiler diets on performance,nutrient digestibility and blood chemical parameters

1. A growth experiment was carried out with male broilers from d 1 to d 35 of age in order to evaluate the effects of the addition of a detoxifying agent (Mycofix Plus, Biomin GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria) at different dietary proportions of wheat (0, 16.5, 33, 49.5 and 66%) contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins (21.2 mg of deoxynivalenol and 406 microg of zearalenone, ZON, per kg of wheat) on growth performance, nutrient and zearalenone balance and clinical-chemical parameters. 2. An increase in dietary mycotoxin concentration resulted in a linearly related decrease in feed intake, a slight decrease in weight gain and an improvement in feed to gain ratio. 3. Apparent protein digestibility and net protein utilisation were higher in diets containing exclusively Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat than control diets. 4. The proportions of beta-zearalenol, alpha-zearalenol and ZON of total ZON metabolites in excreta of broilers fed on the diets containing the Fusarium toxin-contaminated wheat were approximately 3, 21 and 76%. 5. Serum antibody titres to Newcastle disease virus decreased in a linear fashion with increasing mycotoxin concentration in the diets, whereas other clinical-chemical serum parameters (liver cell and muscle cell necrosis indicating enzymes, haemoglobin, haematocrit, magnesium, inorganic phosphate) were not influenced by increasing Fusarium toxin concentrations. 6. Supplementation of the diets with Mycofix Plus decreased performance in a manner independent of mycotoxin concentration. Moreover, some clinical-chemical serum parameters were significantly altered due to Mycofix Plus but also independently of the dietary mycotoxin concentration.     

Effects of selenium yeast on rumen fermentation, lactation performance and feed digestibilities in lactating dairy cows

The objective was to evaluate the effects of selenium-yeast (SY) supplementation on rumen fermentation, lactation performance and feed digestibilities in dairy cows. Twenty-eight multiparous (2.5 ± 0.3 parity) Holstein dairy cows, averaging 625 ± 18.2 kg of BW, 63 ± 3.0 days in milk and average daily milk production of 26.2 ± 0.5 kg/cow were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Treatments were: control, LSY, MSY and HSY with 0, 150, 300 and 450 mg selenium yeast (Sel-Plex®, 1 g/kg selenium, produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060) per kg of diet dry matter (DM), respectively. Experimental periods were 45 days with 30 days of adaptation and 15 days of sampling. Ruminal pH was lower for MSY than for control and was linearly (P = 0.03) decreased, whereas total VFA concentration was linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) increased with increasing SY supplementation, with the least for control, followed by LSY and HSY, and the highest for MSY. Ratio of acetate to propionate was lower for LSY, MSY and HSY than for control, and was linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) decreased as SY supplementation increased due to an increase in molar proportion of propionate. Ruminal ammonia N content was lower (P ≤ 0.01) for MSY and HSY than for control and was linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing SY supplementation. Dry matter intake, proportions and yields of milk fat, protein and lactose were not affected (P > 0.05). Milk yields and 4% FCM were higher (P ≤ 0.05) for LSY and MSY than for HSY and control. Milk selenium content was linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) increased as increasing SY supplementation, with the least for control, followed by LSY and MSY, and the highest for HSY. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), aNDF and ADF in the total tract were higher (P < 0.01) for LSY and MSY than for control and HSY. The results indicate that supplementation of diet with SY improved rumen fermentation, milk yields, milk selenium, and feed digestion. It was suggested that the SY stimulated the digestive microorganisms or enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. In the experimental conditions of this trial, the optimum selenium-yeast dose was about 300 mg per kg diet DM.     

药用植物提取物对绵羊采食量、养分消化及瘤胃发酵性能的影响

文章旨在探讨日粮添加不同水平药用植物提取物对绵羊采食量、采食行为、养分消化及瘤胃发酵性能的影响.试验将60头平均体重为82.76 kg的绵羊随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复4头.3组绵羊在10?w的试验期中分别饲喂基础日粮+0、80和160?mg/kg药物复合植物提取物.结果:80?mg/kg植物提取物组绵羊的平均...     

泌乳前期奶牛在不同采食水平下产奶性能及血清指标的差异比较

为了研究不同采食水平下泌乳前期奶牛产奶量、乳成分及血清指标的差异,从40头健康泌乳前期奶牛中选取18头,分高采食量(HF)组(平均采食量为53.67 kg/d)、中采食量(MF)组(平均采食量为48.55 kg/d)和低采食量(LF)组(平均采食量为44.15 kg/d),每组各6头,在相同的条件下饲养,试验期70 d,每周记录产奶量并采集奶样(50 mL),分别于试验开始、第30和60天采集血样。结果显示:与LF组相比,MF组、HF组的产奶量分别增加了4.79 kg、9.83 kg(P0.05),MF组、HF组的4%标准乳分别增加了5.94 kg(P0.05)、9.8 kg(P0.05),HF组的尿素氮下降了10.21%(P0.05);HF组的白蛋白、甘油三酯含量随采食水平显著升高(P0.05);MF组、HF组的游离脂肪酸、总胆固醇、胰岛素显著高于LF组(P0.05);HF组的胰岛素样生长因子、神经肽的含量显著高于MF组和LF组(P0.05);LF组的胆囊收缩素含量显著高于MF组和HF组(P0.05)。结果表明:高采食量的奶牛不仅产奶量高,营养物质和能量代谢快,而且与采食调控和能量代谢相关的生化指标和激素含量要比低采食奶牛变化更显著,为研究采食量调控提供科学依据。     

硫酸钠对奶牛瘤胃发酵的影响

本文旨在研究不同添加水平的硫酸钠对泌乳中期奶牛瘤胃发酵的影响。试验选用4头体重、胎次、产奶量均相近的荷斯坦奶牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,试验分4个处理组,添加不同水平的硫酸钠,即0%(对照组)、0.4%(试验1组)、0.8%(试验2组)与1.2%(试验3组),试验分为4期,每期18 d(预试期15 d,正试期3 d)。结果表明:(1)饲粮中添加硫酸钠对瘤胃液pH、NH3-N平均浓度无显著影响(P>0.05);(2)饲粮中添加硫酸钠后,瘤胃内原虫数均有所提高,其中试验2组和试验3组与对照组相比均差异显著(P<0.05);(3)添加硫酸钠的试验2组瘤胃液菌体蛋白浓度与对照组相比显著提高(P<0.05)。结果说明,日粮中添加适量的硫酸钠可以改变瘤胃发酵环境,提高瘤胃液菌体蛋白浓度。     

Effect of carbohydrate source and cottonseed meal level in the concentrate: IV. Feed intake, rumen fermentation and milk production in milking cows

Four early-lactation crossbred cows (82.5 % Holstein) were selected to investigate the effect of carbohydrate source and cottonseed meal level in the concentrate on rumen fermentation and milk production. Cows were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 2?×?2 factorial arrangement in a 4?×?4 Latin Square design. Factor A was carbohydrate source: cassava chip (CC) and CC + rice bran at a ratio 3:1 (CR3:1), and factor B was variation in the level of cottonseed meal (CM): low (LCM) and high (HCM) in isonitrogenous diets (180 g CP/kg DM). It was found that carbohydrate source did not affect feed intake, dry matter digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbial population, milk yield and composition, or economic return (P?>?0.05). However, cows fed with CC had a higher population of amylolytic bacteria than cows fed with CR3:1 (P?<?0.05). Cows fed with HCM had a higher total feed intake, milk yield and composition, and milk income when compared with cows fed on LCM although the concentrate and roughage intakes, dry matter digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbial populations were similar between treatments (P?>?0.05). In addition, the carbohydrate source and cottonseed meal level interactions were not significant for any parameter. It could be concluded that cassava chip and high level of cottonseed meal could usefully be incorporated into concentrates for dairy cows without impacting on rumen fermentation or milk production.     

青贮非常规原料对绵羊养分摄入、氮代谢及瘤胃发酵性能的影响

文章旨在研究青贮非常规原料对绵羊养分摄入、氮代谢及瘤胃发酵性能的影响.将体重一致的90头绵羊随机分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复5头.试验期间对照组和处理组绵羊分别饲喂青贮非常规饲料原料(马铃薯茎块和木薯按照1:1青贮)水平为0、10％和20％的全混合日粮.结论:随着日粮青贮非常规原料添加水平的升高,绵羊粗脂肪摄入量显...     

油菜秆颗粒料对湖羊生产性能、瘤胃发酵参数及血液生化指标的影响

本试验探索了油菜秆颗粒料对湖羊生产性能、瘤胃发酵参数及血液生化指标的影响。试验选取30只6月龄体重为(32.33±1.65) kg的健康公湖羊,按体重配对设计分为2组,对照组和试验组分别饲喂花生藤颗粒饲料和油菜秆颗粒饲料,试验期52 d。测定了日增重、饲料转化效率、瘤胃发酵参数、饲料表观消化率及血液生化指标。结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组湖羊的干物质采食量(1.37 kg对1.47 kg)显著低于对照组(P<0.05),日增重基本一致(147 g对143 g);试验组瘤胃液中总VFA(102.27 mmol/L对90.44 mmol/L)(P<0.05)、丙酸(17.08 mmol/L对13.79 mmol/L)(P<0.01)、丁酸(11.97 mmol/L对10.31 mmol/L)(P<0.01)、氨态氮浓度(15.90 mg/dL对11.33 mg/dL)(P<0.01)的含量显著升高,乙丙比(P<0.01)(3.96对4.33)显著降低;中性洗涤纤维的表观消化率有升高的趋势(54.75%对51.50%)(P=0.09);血液中葡萄糖浓度显著升高(3.77 mmol/L对2.97 mmol/L)(P<0.05),尿素氮浓度(11.01 mmol/L对12.80 mmol/L)(P<0.01)、游离脂肪酸(133.07 umol/L对144.50 umol/L)(P<0.05)、谷丙转氨酶(14.85 U/L对19.23 U/L)(P<0.05)和高密度脂蛋白(0.92 mmol/L对1.05 mmol/L)(P<0.05)浓度显著降低;每kg增重饲料成本试验组比对照组降低了5.87元。结果表明,以油菜秆为主的颗粒料饲喂生长湖羊,对其健康无不良影响,可降低饲料成本,增加养殖效益,是丰富南方地区湖羊粗饲料来源、减少区域油菜秆污染的可行途径。     

Effect of brewer's grain on rumen fermentation, milk production and milk composition in lactating dairy cows

Six lactating Holstein cows were divided into two groups (n = 3) and used in a double reversal trial with three periods of 14 days each to evaluate the rumen fermentation, milk production and milk composition of cows fed brewer's grain (BG). The control diets contained 14% chopped Sudangrass hay, 24% corn silage, 18% alfalfa hay cube, 34% concentrate mixture‐1 and 10% concentrate mixture‐2 (wheat bran, soybean meal and cottonseed). In the experimental diet, wet BG replaced the concentrate mixture‐2. The protozoal population, concentration of ammonia‐N and volatile fatty acids in the ruminal fluid did not differ between the control and BG diets. The molar percentage of acetic acid was significantly higher (P < 0.05) with the BG diet at 5 h after feeding. The milk yield, the percentage of protein, lactose, solids not‐fat and somatic cell counts of milk did not differ between the two diets. The percentage of milk fat tended to increase with the BG diet. The BG diet significantly increased the proportions of C18:0 and C18:1 in milk fat (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) and tended to increase that of conjugated linoleic acid.     

不同瘤胃细菌培养物添加水平对奶牛瘤胃发酵及BCP含量的影响

本文旨在研究不同剂量的瘤胃细菌培养物对荷斯坦奶牛瘤胃发酵及菌体蛋白(BCP)含量的影响。试验采用单因素试验设计,选用4头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管,体况相近的荷斯坦奶牛,取其瘤胃液混匀,添加不同剂量的瘤胃细菌培养物进行体外培养,分别为:对照组(0 CUF/g),试验Ⅰ组(添加量为3%,4.4×108CUF/g),试验Ⅱ组(添加量为5%,7.8×108CUF/g),试验Ⅲ组(添加量为10%,1.2×109CUF/g),每组分别设2、4、8、12、24、36、48 h 7个指标测定时间点,每个时间点3个重复。结果表明:(1)添加瘤胃细菌培养物使瘤胃液pH有所降低,但始终在6.5～7.0,对瘤胃内环境无不良影响;(2)添加3%的瘤胃细菌培养物显著降低氨态氮(NH3-N)的含量(P<0.05),显著增加了培养液BCP的浓度(P<0.05);(3)添加3%的瘤胃细菌培养物可一定程度增加总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)和乙酸浓度,但对其他各挥发性脂肪酸及乙酸/丙酸比值无显著影响。由此可见,添加3%剂量的瘤胃细菌培养物可改变瘤胃的发酵环境,提高BCP浓度。     

包膜甜菜碱与有机铬复合物对夏季奶牛产奶性能和血液生化指标的影响

旨在研究包膜甜菜碱和有机铬复合物对夏季奶牛产奶性能和血液生化指标的影响。选择年龄、胎次、泌乳时间和产奶量相近100头泌乳牛,随机分为对照组和试验组,每组50头,对照组饲喂原奶牛场配方日粮,试验组在每天早晨TMR日粮中添加50 g/d包膜甜菜碱和有机铬复合物。结果:与对照组相比,试验组奶牛采食量显著提高(P<0.05),牛奶中体细胞含量显著降低(P<0.05);奶牛乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量显著提高(P<0.05);磷酸肌酸激酶(CPK)含量显著降低(P<0.01),谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量有上升趋势,丙二醛(MDA)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)含量有下降趋势,但差异均不显著。试验表明包膜甜菜碱和有机铬具有提高热应激期奶牛采食量、促进代谢和蛋白质合成、缓解奶牛热应激的作用。     

Effects of various plant protein sources in high-quality feed block on feed intake, rumen fermentation, and microbial population in swamp buffalo

This study was designed to determine effect of various plant protein sources in high-quality feed block (HQFB) on feed intake, rumen fermentation, and microbial population in swamp buffalo. Four rumen-fistulated swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Four kinds of plant protein sources (coarse rice bran (CRB), cassava hay (CH), Phaseolus calcaratus hay, and mulberry hay (MH)) were mixed in the HQFB. HQFBs were allowed to be licked at free choice, and urea-lime-treated rice straw (ULRS) were fed ad libitum. It was found that bacterial population and fungal zoospores in CH-fed group tended to be higher than those in other groups. Moreover, protozoal population in CH, P. calcaratus hay, and MH were lower than those in CRB supplemented group (P < 0.05). Cellulolytic bacterial population was highest in CH-fed group while proteolytic bacteria population was highest in P. calcaratus hay-fed group (P < 0.05). CH-fed group had higher ULRS intake than those in other groups (P < 0.05). Nutrient digestibility of CP, NDF, and ADF in CH-fed group was significantly higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05). Total VFA was highest in CH-fed group (P < 0.05). N absorption was highest in CH-fed group (P < 0.05). Based on this study, it could be concluded that cassava hay, P. calcaratus hay, and mulberry hay are potential to be used as protein sources in the HQFBs especially cassava hay.     

Effects of rice conservation methods on lactation,blood metabolites,and rumen fermentation in dairy cows

We investigated the effect of rice grain conservation methods on feed intake, milk production, blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation in dairy cows. Raw rice grain was dried before crushing (DRY), ensiled after crushing (ENS‐A), or ensiled before crushing (ENS‐B). Twelve multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with three dietary treatments comprising ad libitum access to one of three total mixed rations (TMRs; containing DRY, ENS‐A, or ENS‐B at 17% of dietary dry matter) plus a standard allowance of 2.0 kg/day of dairy concentrates. The dietary treatments did not affect the feed intake, milk yield, or milk composition. The selected blood constituents were not influenced by the rice conservation method. The ruminal lactic acid and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and the VFA proportion in the cows were not influenced by the rice conservation method. These results demonstrate that the rice grain conservation method has little impact on lactation performance when cows are fed a TMR containing 17% treated rice grain (dry matter basis).