Feeding value of pastures for ruminants

Perennial ryegrass is the primary forage component of ruminant diets in New Zealand. It is persistent and palatable, and immature ryegrass has a high nutritive value (NV). However, seed-head development substantially lowers its feeding value (FV) as fibre concentration increases, the rate and extent of digestibility decreases, and voluntary intake declines. Ryegrass pastures are susceptible to accumulation of endophytic and saprophytic fungi in dead material at the base of the sward, especially when mature and laxly grazed. Feeding forage legumes to ruminants grazing grass-dominant pastures will improve animal performance and lessen the reliance on a single species to meet all nutritional requirements.

The FV of forage is a function of intake and NV, measured by chemical analyses and animal feeding trials. Performance of individual animals grazing forages is usually limited by energy intake because structural fibre can slow digestion and clearance from the rumen and because of competition between individuals for available feed. The use of metabolisable energy (ME) content of forage to signify FV can give a reasonable indication of animal performance, but it should be used in conjunction with chemical analyses to improve the accuracy of predictions.

The relationship between FV, pasture production, animal performance and profitability is complex. The importance of skilled management to maintain pasture quality and optimise animal performance under inconsistent climatic conditions should not be underestimated. Acceptable animal performance with minimal veterinary intervention requires good nutrition, but the genetic potential of livestock in New Zealand cannot be met solely by grazing pasture, especially when a high utilisation of pasture is required to maintain quality and profitability.

Producers are responding to industry demands to reduce the seasonality in supply of milk and meat by changing lambing and calving dates, and extending lactation length in dairy cows. Social changes include adoption of once-daily milking in the dairy industry. Some changes have necessitated increased use of supplements and others can be met by feeding forages with a higher FV than ryegrass, all of which require an improved knowledge of feed quality. This information is available through rapid and inexpensive near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis, enabling animal nutritional needs to be balanced by appropriate nutrient supply. It is essential that producers continue to improve animal welfare, limit excessive use of fertilisers and meet the demands of overseas consumers. Good nutrition, with an increased use of legumes and other forages to complement ryegrass pastures, will enable these objectives to be achieved.     

Feeding value of pastures for horses

The feeding value of fresh pasture grazed in situ is determined by animal performance or productivity and could be relatively easily established for growing and lactating horses. Despite this, there is a lack of published information on the relative feeding value of different pastures and forages grazed by horses in New Zealand and the world. In addition, for adult breeding or non-breeding and young or adult sport or performance horses, the definition of feeding value and its determination remain problematic. Limited information suggests that the feeding value of perennial ryegrass-based pasture in New Zealand for young growing horses is high, and growth rates for Thoroughbred horses fed solely on pasture in New Zealand are similar to those reported from the Northern Hemisphere where grain-based supplements are fed in addition to pasture or other forages. Attempts to assess the ability of fresh pastures to meet the nutrient requirements of horses are hampered by problems associated with determination of feed intake by grazing horses and lack of knowledge of the digestibility and utilisation of digested nutrients, including the relative bioavailability of macro- and micro-minerals in pasture. A further challenge for future research is to determine the effect of herbage allowance and grazing behaviour, including pasture species preferences, on voluntary feed intake by grazing horses. Grazing pasture has benefits for equine health and well-being including reduced risk of some nutrition-related disorders and reduced prevalence of stereotypic behaviour. Pastured horses have greater freedom for expression of natural behaviours including social interaction and exercise. However, grazing pasture is also associated with animal health problems, particularly parasitism and diseases related to pasture-associated toxins.     

Nutritive value of tropical pastures in Mauritius

The basic diet of ruminants in Mauritius comprises mainly tropical forages, whose productivity is highly dependent on the season. Dry matter concentrations and nutritive value of the three most important grasses (Bothriochloa pertusa, Cynodon plectostachyus and Ischaemum aristatum) on Mauritius were measured on three occasions during the year. They showed an increase in dry matter concentration and a decrease in nutritional value at the end of the dry season, more marked for farms located in the coastal region. To allow animals to meet their nutrient requirements, farmers have to adapt their practices (supplementary feeding, rotational grazing, and fertilization) to the seasonal changes on the island.     

Feeding value of pastures for ruminants

Perennial ryegrass is the primary forage component of ruminant diets in New Zealand. It is persistent and palatable, and immature ryegrass has a high nutritive value (NV). However, seedhead development substantially lowers its feeding value (FV) as fibre concentration increases, the rate and extent of digestibility decreases, and voluntary intake declines. Ryegrass pastures are susceptible to accumulation of endophytic and saprophytic fungi in dead material at the base of the sward, especially when mature and laxly grazed. Feeding forage legumes to ruminants grazing grass-dominant pastures will improve animal performance and lessen the reliance on a single species to meet all nutritional requirements. The FV of forage is a function of intake and NV, measured by chemical analyses and animal feeding trials. Performance of individual animals grazing forages is usually limited by energy intake because structural fibre can slow digestion and clearance from the rumen and because of competition between individuals for available feed. The use of metabolisable energy (ME) content of forage to signify FV can give a reasonable indication of animal performance, but it should be used in conjunction with chemical analyses to improve the accuracy of predictions. The relationship between FV, pasture production, animal performance and profitability is complex. The importance of skilled management to maintain pasture quality and optimise animal performance under inconsistent climatic conditions should not be underestimated. Acceptable animal performance with minimal veterinary intervention requires good nutrition, but the genetic potential of livestock in New Zealand cannot be met solely by grazing pasture, especially when a high utilisation of pasture is required to maintain quality and profitability. Producers are responding to industry demands to reduce the seasonality in supply of milk and meat by changing lambing and calving dates, and extending lactation length in dairy cows. Social changes include adoption of once-daily milking in the dairy industry. Some changes have necessitated increased use of supplements and others can be met by feeding forages with a higher FV than ryegrass, all of which require an improved knowledge of feed quality. This information is available through rapid and inexpensive near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis, enabling animal nutritional needs to be balanced by appropriate nutrient supply. It is essential that producers continue to improve animal welfare, limit excessive use of fertilisers and meet the demands of overseas consumers. Good nutrition, with an increased use of legumes and other forages to complement ryegrass pastures, will enable these objectives to be achieved.     

A demographic survey of unwanted horses in Ireland 2005-2010

Background

The Irish Horse Industry expanded during the Celtic Tiger boom years, then contracted in the current economic recession. High value horses were traditionally controlled through sale at public auction, private sales and sales to dealers; these are now also being reduced by decreases in production (> 40%), and increases in retirement, re-homing, euthanasia and disposal through Category 2 plants and abattoirs. The absence or banning of horse abattoirs has been shown to have very significant welfare social and economic consequences in the USA. This study described the currently available data on the demographics of unwanted horses in Ireland from 2005 to 2010.

Results

The majority of horses euthanised by practicing veterinarians are destroyed on medical grounds but the number euthanised at the request of welfare groups and the state, as well as welfare related calls and the number of horses involved in these calls and subsequent visits is increasing reflecting the increasing involvement of the veterinary profession in equine welfare. Welfare groups have limited resources and do not have a tradition of recording data, but they too have reported increasing calls, visits and numbers of horses per visit. Welfare groups provide significant service to equine welfare and the community. Local Authorities report similar trends. Over 300 horses were found dead or required immediate or subsequent euthanasia following welfare group and local authority visits in 2010, which is of national concern. The majority of local authority interfaces with unwanted horses are with urban (60%) rather than rural (40%) horses. Mortality figures are poor indicators of non-fatal neglect. More horses were admitted into the care of local authorities than welfare groups, reflecting significant state and taxpayer investment in the control of low value horses. Category 2 plants and abattoirs represent a significant state investment in licensing and control in the national interest. Abattoirs provide an increasingly important and essential service for the disposal of unwanted horses. Despite the increase in unwanted horses, Ireland is a minority contributor to the EU slaughter total.

Conclusions

There is a need for annual demographic data compilation and review of the numbers of unwanted horses and ponies within the horse industry to assist policy makers and legislators.     

Three cases of a presumptive atypical myopathy in New Zealand horses

CASE HISTORY: Three weanling Thoroughbred fillies were presented during autumn with depression, muscle rigidity and, in one case, colic symptoms and cardiovascular shock.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: All fillies had abnormal physical examinations that included elevated heart rates and respiratory rates coupled with muscle rigidity through the back and rump. Biochemistry revealed markedly elevated creatinine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase which indicated a myopathy.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: All three horses were diagnosed with presumptive equine atypical myopathy. The horses received supportive therapy as per the literature available at the time regarding this condition; two responded to supportive therapy and survived, and one was euthanased due to a rapid deterioration in clinical status.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Following post mortem of one case, histology of the trapezius muscle demonstrated an acute, severe myofibre degeneration.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Atypical myopathy and a very similar disorder termed seasonal pasture myopathy in North America are potentially fatal, pasture-related syndromes that have been described in Europe and America but have not been previously described in New Zealand. This report describes three presumptive cases of this unique syndrome in New Zealand for the first time; it outlines the characteristics of the condition; and includes recently published information regarding diagnosis and treatment.     

河曲马牧草和全血矿物质营养状况的研究

对河曲马主要牧草和全血１０种矿物质营养状况进行了研究,结果表明,当地牧草中Ｓｅ、Ｚｎ含量极显著低于ＮＲＣ（１９８９）规定的马营养需要量（Ｐ〈０．０１）,而Ｃａ含量较高,Ｐ含量较低,造成牧草中Ｃａ、Ｐ比较严重失谳（Ｃａ：ｐ达７．６～８．３：１）,同时发现牧草中Ｃｕ含量在马营养需要量的临界水平,全血矿物元素含量的分析表明,所测元素性别间均无显著差异（Ｐ〉０．０５）。     

畜禽粪便再生饲料的饲养价值及研究展望

本文对畜禽粪便再生饲料的饲养价值、饲喂效果等进行了全面的论述，并对其存在的问题和未来的发展做了深入的分析研究。     

新疆5种藜科盐生植物的饲用价值

为了研究新疆5种藜科一年生盐生饲草红叶藜(Chenopodium rubrum)、野榆钱菠菜(Atriplex aucheri)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)、盐角草(Salicornia europaea)和高碱蓬(Suaeda altissima)的最佳刈割时期和相对饲用价值大小,对其3个不同生育时期(营养期、初花期和结实期)的营养成分含量进行测定分析。结果表明,5种植物在初花期营养价值最高,地上部生物量能够满足载畜需求,因此适宜在初花期开发利用;5种盐生饲草在初花期与苜蓿(Medicago sativa)相比,红叶藜的相对饲用价值最高,之后依次为野榆钱菠菜、盐地碱蓬、高碱蓬和盐角草。野榆钱菠菜、红叶藜和高碱蓬甜菜碱含量丰富,在7%左右,盐角草、红叶藜和野榆钱菠菜草酸盐含量超标。总之,这5种植物均具有一定的饲用开发利用价值,但盐分含量偏高不宜长期单一饲喂反刍动物。     

安徽地区野生大豆饲用价值研究

一直以来,我国研究者对野生大豆的研究多集中在对其遗传基因的开发利用方面,对其饲用价值的研究偏少,且多集中在野生大豆种子的营养成分和饲用价值上,对于野生大豆全株饲用价值的分析近乎空白。该试验在安徽省境内22个地市（县）共采集野生大豆样本22份,在半野外环境下种植,并对其全株的主要营养成分和刈割价值进行分析,发现野生大豆蛋白质含量较高,与饲用苜蓿草粉相当,野生大豆的生物学产量也很高,有良好的抗旱性,是一种优良的饲草资源。     

Treatment and outcome of chronic septic tenosynovitis in three horses

Three horses were presented for treatment of chronic infections of the digital flexor tendon sheath. Clinical signs included severe lameness, and heat, pain and swelling of the digital flexor tendon sheath. The horses were treated with surgical lavage of the tendon sheath, systemic and local antibiotics, and analgesics. In each case, resolution of the lameness occurred over weeks to months. Only one horse returned to athletic activity, while the other two became comfortable at pasture. Response to treatment in cases of chronic tenosynovitis may not be as rapid or complete as that reported for acute tendon sheath infections.     

紫茎泽兰对16种牧草发芽及幼苗生长的化感作用

外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰目前广泛分布于我国西南地区,给当地草地畜牧业带来极大危害。牧草替代种植是紫茎泽兰严重危害地区草地生态恢复的有效途径。本研究采用生物试验方法,检测了紫茎泽兰地上部分5%的榨取液对我国亚热带种植的16种主要牧草,共38个品种的种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感作用。结果表明,紫茎泽兰对多数牧草发芽势有显著抑制作用(P<0.05),但只对少数牧草的发芽率、死亡率和败育率有显著影响(P<0.05),对所有幼苗生长都没有明显抑制作用;紫茎泽兰对不同草种的化感潜力存在较大差异,但对种内不同品种间的影响差异较小,对少数草种的化感作用不明显;紫茎泽兰对部分牧草幼苗生长具有显著促进作用(P<0.05)。根据化感作用检测结果,初步认为非洲狗尾草、鸭茅、紫花苜蓿、大翼豆、箭筈豌豆和光叶紫花苕是紫茎泽兰牧草替代种植的适宜草种。     

甘肃天祝地区地膜覆盖栽培饲用甜菜饲用价值的评定

对甘肃天祝地区地膜覆盖栽培饲用甜菜Beta vulgaris营养成分、含糖率及适口性和瘤胃消失率进行了测定.结果表明:饲用甜菜粗蛋白含量块根为11.39%,茎叶为17.36%;含糖率达10%左右;在有青草的条件下,饲用甜菜采食率小于燕麦Avea fatua,但有稳定的适口性,适合于冬春无青草时饲喂.饲用甜菜在藏羊瘤胃内的消失率茎叶为88%,块根为90%.     

人工草地的羊草生长繁殖动态

研究了松嫩人工草地，羊草地上营养株与生殖株和地下根茎的生物量及其它各组分的季节动态变化，探讨了它们之间的关系，根据生物量随时间的变化，求出了其生长率及生物量与茎，叶，鞘及穗之间的比例。结果表明，生长季中营养株与生殖株生长有2个峰值。峰值其一在6月10－20日之间，AGR为0.0710与0.0925;其二在8月10－20日之间，AGR为0．1050与0．2071，羊草营养株与生殖株的生长妆期，叶所占的比例产大，分别为92．5％和93．9％，7月中旬叶所占的比例变小，而茎与鞘所占的比例变大。此外，对羊草生物量及其它各组分进行一元非线性回归模拟，建立了多项式，指数，对数及幂函数模拟模型。可为人工草地植物群落建植与管理提供科学依据。     

European outbreaks of atypical myopathy in grazing horses (2006-2009): determination of indicators for risk and prognostic factors

Reasons for performing study: Appropriate management of atypical myopathy (AM) requires the establishment of an accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, preventive measures to avoid AM need to be refined. Objectives: The aims of the study were as follows: 1) to improve the diagnosis of AM; 2) to identify prognostic predictors; and 3) to refine recommended preventive measures based on indicators of risk factors. Methods: An exploratory analysis of cases in Europe between 2006 and 2009 reported to the Atypical Myopathy Alert Group was conducted. Based on clinical data, reported cases were allocated into 2 groups: confirmed or highly probable AM (AM group; further divided into survivors and nonsurvivors); and cases with a low probability of having AM or with another final diagnosis (non‐AM group). Using Welch's test and odds ratios corrected for multiple comparisons, the AM vs. non‐AM groups were compared to identify indicators for diagnosis and risk factors, and survivors vs. nonsurvivors in the AM group were compared to identify prognostic factors. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for specific clinical signs related to final diagnosis and outcome. Results: From 600 reported cases, 354 AM cases (survival rate of 26%) and 69 non‐AM cases were identified, while there were insufficient data to categorise the remainder. Variables valuable for diagnosing AM compared with similar diseases were as follows: presence of dead leaves and wood and/or trees on pastures; sloping pastures; full‐time pasture access; no food supplementation; normal body condition; pigmenturia; normothermia; and congested mucous membranes. Nonsurvival was associated with recumbency, sweating, anorexia, dyspnoea, tachypnoea and/or tachycardia. Survival was associated with remaining standing most of the time, normothermia, normal mucous membranes, defaecation and vitamin and antioxidant therapy. Conclusions and potential relevance: This study refines the list of risk factors for AM. Clinical signs valuable for diagnosis and prognosis have been identified, enabling clinicians to improve management of AM cases.     

苜蓿的营养与饲用价值

苜蓿是家畜的一种重要饲草作物。介绍了苜蓿成熟度与营养物质含量的关系 ,并分析了苜蓿的粗蛋白质含量和碳水化合物含量以及影响牧畜潜在饲用价值的因素。苜蓿草产品有不同的利用方式 ,如放牧、青贮、制作干草、草粉和草颗粒等。最后提出了一些关于有效利用苜蓿草产品的建议。     

Risk factors of colic in horses in Austria

A hospital‐based case study was conducted at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna for a 1‐year period. The purpose of this study was to determine possible alterable and non‐alterable risk factors of equine colic in Austria. The investigated parameters were obtained from hospital medical records (individual factors, duty of the horse, deworming, change in diet and water intake), from questionnaires (feed intake, watering types, housing and pasture practices) and from http://www.orf.at (weather‐related factors). Moreover, 221 collected feed samples were investigated through hygienic quality sensory evaluation and mould, yeast and bacteria presumptive samples were confirmed by microbiological investigation. Variables that were observed from the hospital medical records and found to be significantly associated with colic in a univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis and the only remaining risk factor was decreased water consumption (p < 0.001, OR = 5.025). Consequently, a total of 2743 horses and 366 cases of colic were observed during the study period. The risk factors for colic in Austria were identified for the first time in this study and these increased risk factors were decreased water consumption, high amount of concentrate intake (p = 0.037), low hygienic quality of hay (p = 0.027) and high temperature on the arrival date (p = 0.003). Results suggest that the occurence of colic may not stop, but may decrease with better feed management practices in Austria.     

饲养方式和低营养水平对5~8周龄肉鹅生长性能和血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲养方式和低营养水平对5~8周龄肉鹅生长性能和血清生化指标的影响。采用两因素试验设计,饲养方式采用网上平养和地面平养,能量和粗蛋白质设置3个水平(A组:9.50 MJ/kg和13.00%,B组:10.00 MJ/kg和14.00%,C组:10.50 MJ/kg和15.00%)。将360只28日龄、初始体重为(1 226.89±13.23)g的四川白鹅随机分为6个组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只鹅。试验期28 d。结果表明:饲养方式对肉鹅的平均日采食量、料重比影响不显著(P0.05),但网上平养肉鹅的平均日增重显著高于地面平养(P0.05),低营养水平及饲养方式与低营养水平的互作对肉鹅生长性能的影响不显著(P0.05),但B组的平均日增重最大,料重比最小;网上平养血清尿酸含量显著低于地面平养(P0.05),血清甘油三酯含量极显著高于地面平养(P0.01),B组的血清尿酸含量显著低于C组(P0.05),饲养方式与低营养水平的互作对血清葡萄糖含量有显著影响(P0.05)。综合考虑,本试验条件下,网上平养更有利于肉鹅的生长,5~8周龄肉鹅饲粮适宜能量水平为9.50~10.00 MJ/kg,适宜粗蛋白质水平为13.00%~14.00%。     

Advances in pasture plant breeding for animal productivity and health

Plant breeding has had a substantial effect on the productivity and health of ruminant animals in New Zealand by improving the quantity, quality and reliability of grazed temperate pastures. Genetic changes have affected annual pasture productivity, seasonal growth, digestibility, protein/energy balance, level of rumen undegradable protein, leaf properties affecting intake, resistance to foliar diseases, and reductions in compounds that have an adverse impact on the health, welfare and reproductive fertility of ruminant animals. Most plant improvement programmes have achieved genetic gains in excess of 1% per year for a variety of target traits, and these gains are likely to continue given the high genetic variation available within forage plants. Significant heritable variation exists to improve forage quality, particularly for soluble carbohydrate and fibre fractions in grasses, and in the rate at which these change during the season. Deleterious animal health and welfare effects can be alleviated through the use of non-toxic endophytes in grasses, that do not produce lolitrem B and ergovaline. Use of improved cultivars, with the appropriate management, can add value to animal products.