Effects of dietary energy level and protein source on site of digestion and duodenal nitrogen and amino acid flows in steers

Six steers (468 kg) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were fed diets formulated for two levels of energy containing three crude protein (CP) sources in a 6 X 6 Latin square with a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Energy levels were 2.17 and 2.71 Mcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg dry matter (DM) provided by hay-corn (H) and corn silage-corn (CS) diets, respectively. Soybean mean (SBM), corn gluten meal-urea (CGM) and urea (U) provided 33% of dietary CP in 12% CP diets. Apparent organic matter (OM) digested in the stomach was not affected (P greater than .05) by energy level or CP source, but OM truly digested in the stomach was greater (P less than .05) when steers were fed the CS compared with the H diet. Duodenal flow of non-NH3 N was greater (P less than .05) when steers were fed CS compared with H and when fed SBM or CGM compared with U. Efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis and duodenal bacterial N flow were increased (P less than .05) when steers were fed CS, but non-NH3, nonbacterial N flow to the duodenum was increased (P less than .05) when steers were fed H. When steers were fed CS rather than H, flows (g/d) of bacterial amino acids were greater (P less than .05), but flows of nonbacterial amino acids tended (P less than .08) to be less. Total amino acid flows were not affected (P greater than .05) by energy level. Duodenal flows of total amino acids tended (P less than .06) to be greater when steers were fed CGM compared with SBM or U, due mainly to an increased (P less than .05) flow of nonessential amino acids.     

Digestion of soybean meal and canola meal protein and amino acids in the digestive tract of young ruminants

Eight male Holstein calves (body weight 68 +/- 5 kg; age 75 +/- 6 d), each with a permanent re-entrant pancreatic cannula and T-type ileal and duodenal cannulas, were used in a crossover design with four animals per group to determine amino acid kinetics and digestibilities in the digestive tract of calves fed soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM) protein. The SBM and CM diets were fed twice daily at a level of 900 g at each feeding time (air-dry basis). With the exception of methionine, crude protein and amino acid flows at the proximal duodenum, expressed as a percentage of intake, were not influenced by dietary protein source. Apparent ileal and total tract digestibilities of CP and amino acids were reduced (P less than .05) by feeding CM compared to SBM, but apparent ileal digestibility of methionine was not affected by dietary protein source. Except for methionine, net disappearance of all amino acids in the small intestine, relative to the amount fed, was higher for the SBM diet than for the CM diet. Net disappearance or synthesis of amino acids in the large intestine were not affected by dietary protein source. Similarly, dietary protein source did not affect (P greater than .05) the secretion of pancreatic juice or concentrations of protein, chymotrypsin and trypsin in pancreatic juice. Soybean meal protein has higher ileal and total gastrointestinal tract digestibility than CM protein for young, growing calves.     

Low-quality roughages in high-concentrate pelleted diets for sheep: digestion and metabolism of nitrogen and energy as affected by dietary fiber concentration

Two trials were conducted to evaluate effects of, and interactions between, level and source of fiber in the diet on ruminal environment, microbial protein synthesis, nutrient digestion and flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of multiple-fistulated sheep (trial 1; 4 X 4 Latin square design) and on ruminal, digestive and metabolic characteristics of early-weaned lambs (trial 2; randomized complete block design; 3 periods). All diets tested were pelleted and were formulated to contain either 39% or 25% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), with corncobs or cottonseed hulls (CSH) as the major NDF (roughage) sources. In trial 1, dry-matter (DM) and organic-matter (OM) digestibilities were not different (P greater than .05) among treatments. Digestibility of NDF was higher (P less than .05) with high-fiber. Bacterial N synthesis (g N/kg OM truly digested) was not different (P greater than .05) among treatments. Molar proportion acetate was higher (P less than .05) and molar proportion propionate lower (P less than .05) when sheep were fed high-fiber diets. In trial 2, apparent DM digestibility was higher (P less than .05) for lambs fed diets containing corncobs. Energy digestibility was higher (P less than .05) at the low-fiber level and for lambs fed diets containing corncobs. Apparent NDF digestibility by lambs was higher (P less than .05) at the high-fiber level and for lambs fed diets containing corncobs. Nitrogen retained (percentage of N intake) was higher (P less than .05) for lambs fed diets containing CSH. Ruminal pH and molar proportion acetate were higher (P less than .05) and molar proportion propionate lower (P less than .05) for lambs fed high-fiber diets. Although responses to corncob vs CSH inclusion in high-energy pelleted diets differ, both roughages are effective as fiber sources in sheep diets.     

Dietary urea influences on digestibility and utilization of diets containing peanut skins by steers

Metabolism and feedlot trials were conducted to evaluate increased dietary urea as a method of reducing detrimental effects of peanut skin (PS) tannins on nutrient digestibility and finishing steer performance. The PS fed in the trials contained 17.8% crude protein and 20.1% tannin. Urea (.7%) was included in a control (C) diet without PS, and with 15% PS in low-urea (.3%; LUPS), moderate-urea (.7%; MUPS) and high-urea (1.1%; HUPS) diets that contained ground corn and 15% peanut hulls. Apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter, organic matter and crude protein were higher (P less than .05) for the C diet than for PS diets. Fecal N (g/d) was consistently higher (P less than .05) for PS diets than for the C diet. Retained N (g/d) was similar for steers fed C and HUPS diets, but lower (P less than .05) than C for LUPS and MUPS diets. Average daily gain at 91 d was highest (P less than .05) for C steers in the feedlot, intermediate (P less than .05) for MUPS and HUPS steers and lowest (P less than .05) for LUPS steers. Feed:gain ratio was 97% higher (P less than .05) for LUPS steers compared with C steers, but average daily feed intake was similar for all treatments. Rumen fluid propionic acid was lower (P less than .05) on all PS diets compared with the C diet on d 90. Plasma urea nitrogen (d 90) was reduced (P less than .05) by 48.5, 55.5 and 57.6%, respectively, on LUPS, MUPS and HUPS diets compared with the C diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of energy and protein supplementation of ammoniated tropical grass hay on the growth and carcass characteristics of cull cows

Laboratory, digestion and growth studies were used to evaluate energy and protein supplements for ammoniated (4% of the forage DM) stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis) hay. Ammoniation increased (P less than .05) total N concentration (.7 to .9% vs 1.7 to 2.0%) and in vitro digestion of OM, NDF and ADF and reduced (P less than .05) NDF concentration of stargrass hay. Two digestion (3 x 3 Latin square, 250-kg steers) and two growth (400-kg Brahman crossbred cull cows, eight head per pasture, two pastures per treatment, November through February) trials evaluated citrus pulp or liquid cane molasses (Trial 1) and molasses or molasses plus cottonseed meal (Trial 2) supplementation of ammoniated hay. Supplementation with byproduct energy sources, citrus pulp or molasses (either alone or with cottonseed meal), improved (P less than .05) OM digestibility but reduced (P less than .05) NDF and ADF digestibilities. Apparent nutrient digestibilities were similar (P greater than .05) between diets supplemented with citrus pulp and molasses and between diets supplemented with molasses and molasses plus cottonseed meal. In Trial 1, ADG by cull cows was greater (P less than .05) for citrus pulp- (.71 kg) or molasses-(.68 kg) supplemented diets than for hay fed alone (.49 kg). In Trial ADG was greater (P less than .05) for cull cows fed ammoniated hay supplemented with molasses plus cottonseed meal (.85 kg) than for those supplemented with molasses only (.69 kg). Feeding cows over the winter increased their (P less than .05) carcass weight, marbling score, USDA quality grade and lipid percentage of the 9-10-11 rib section compared with cows slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of whole cottonseed, cottonseed oil or animal fat on digestibility of wheat straw diets by steers

Two completely random digestion trials were conducted, each with 12 beef steers (325 kg initial weight), to measure changes in digestibilities of fat and of forage components when fat was added to diets containing 62 to 76% wheat straw. Trial 1 diets contained either no added fat or 6.3% added fat from whole cottonseed (30% of the diet), cottonseed oil or animal fat; diets were formulated to contain equal levels of cottonseed hulls and cottonseed meal. Trial 2 diets contained 0, 2, 4 or 8% added animal fat. In all forms and at all levels, added fat increased apparent digestibility of dietary lipid (P less than .05). However, estimated true digestibility of lipid decreased (from 94 to 71%) as added fat was increased from 0 to 8% (P less than .05). Up to 6.3% added fat increased digestible energy (DE) content of the diet. Fat additions of 2 and 4% increased daily DE intake (P less than .05) and did not depress digestibility of diet components (P greater than .05). Fat additions of 6.3% or greater, either as free fats or as whole cottonseed, reduced (P less than .05) mean acid detergent fiber digestibility from 40 to 28%. In addition to depressing fiber digestibility, 8% added fat reduced (P less than .05) digestibilities of dry matter (from 54 to 47%), organic matter (60 to 52%) and gross energy (60 to 51%). Oil fed as whole cottonseed caused digestibility depressions similar to free fat addition at the same level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the effects of three methods of harvesting and storing alfalfa on nutrient digestibility by lambs and feedlot performance of steers

Two lamb digestion and three steer growth experiments were conducted to study the feeding value of alfalfa harvested as direct-cut silage (DCS) with grain added prior to ensiling or as low-moisture silage (LMS) or hay with grain added at feeding. In all experiments, alfalfa-grain mixtures contained approximately 50% alfalfa and 50% concentrate (dry matter [DM] basis). In Exp. 1, lambs fed DCS alone consumed less DM than lambs fed LMS or hay alone or any of the alfalfa-grain mixtures. Apparent digestibilities of DM and fiber components were higher (P less than .05) for DCS than for LMS or hay. Lambs that were fed LMS digested more (P less than .05) DM and fiber components than lambs fed hay. Addition of grain resulted in increased (P less than .05) DM digestibility and decreased (P less than .05) digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. In Exp. 2, growing steers (271 kg) fed DCS-grain had increased (P less than .05) weight gains compared with steers fed hay-grain. Steers fed any of the alfalfa-grain mixtures gained weight more rapidly (P less than .05) than steers fed corn silage (CS)-based diets. In a third experiment, finishing steers (283 kg) fed DCS-grain, LMS-grain, hay-grain or CS-based diets performed similarly (P greater than .05), although steers fed DCS-grain had higher (P less than .05) dressing percentages and yield grades than steers that were fed the other three diets and were fatter (P less than .05) than those fed LMS-grain or CS. In Exp. 4, lambs fed DCS-grain or LMS-grain had higher (P less than .05) apparent DM and organic matter digestibilities than lambs fed CS-based diets with similar forage:grain proportions. In Exp. 5, finishing steers (326 kg) fed DCS-grain gained similarly (P greater than .05) to steers fed LMS-grain or an 85% concentrate diet based on high-moisture corn. Steers fed CS diets had lower (P less than .05) gains and increased (P less than .05) feed per gain compared with steers fed DCS-grain, LMS-grain or high-moisture corn.     

去盲肠鸡和未去盲肠鸡测定大豆粕、棉仁粕、菜籽粕氨基酸消化率的研究

分别用２４只去盲肠和未去盲肠健康公鸡，测定了豆粕、棉仁粕和菜籽粕的氨基酸消化率。试验结果表明：去盲肠鸡内源氨基酸排泄量显著高于未去盲肠鸡（Ｐ＜０．０５）；在大豆粕中，胱氨酸、苏氨酸等５种氨基酸的消化率未去盲肠鸡显著高于去盲肠鸡（Ｐ＜０．０５）；在棉仁粕和菜籽粕中，除个别氨基酸外，大多数氨基酸及氨基酸总和的消化率未去盲肠鸡显著高于去盲肠鸡（Ｐ＜０．０５），可见，饲料种类、试鸡有无盲肠均影响饲料ＡＡＡＤ和ＴＡＡＤ。盲肠微生物对内源及饲料中未消化蛋白质、多肽及氨基酸具有分解作用，干扰饲料ＡＡＡＤ和ＴＡＡＤ测定。对于不易消化，氨基酸含量相对不平衡的低品质蛋白质饲料干扰尤其严重。因此用去盲肠公鸡测定的饲料ＡＡＤ值更接近氨基酸在消化道内消化吸收的真实情况。     

Comparative protein and amino acid digestibilities in growing pigs and sows.

An experiment was conducted to compare apparent total tract protein digestibilities and apparent ileal digestibilities of protein and amino acids in growing pigs and adult pregnant and lactating sows. Twelve growing pigs and 12 sows were used and surgically fitted with simple T-cannulas at the distal ileum. Six experimental diets based on corn, barley, wheat, soybean meal, canola meal, or meat and bone meal were formulated, and each diet was fed to growing pigs, gestating sows, and lactating sows for 7 d. Chromium oxide was included in all diets as an indigestible marker (.25%) for calculating nutrient digestibilities. Fecal material was collected on d 5 of each feeding period by grab sampling, and ileal samples were collected for 12 h/d during the last 2 d of each feeding period. Apparent fecal protein digestibilities for all feed ingredients were higher (P < .05) in gestating and lactating sows compared to growing pigs, but no differences between the two groups of sows were observed (P > .05). At the distal ileum, no differences (P > .05) in protein digestibilities were detected between sows and growing pigs regardless of feed ingredient. For all feed ingredients tested, lactating sows had apparent ileal digestibilities of most amino acids that were two to six percentage units higher than those obtained in growing pigs, but not all of the differences were significant. Gestating sows had digestibilities of most amino acids that were intermediate between those of growing pigs and lactating sows. The combined results from the six feed ingredients showed that lactating sows had higher (P < .05) digestibilities of all indispensable amino acids except arginine, and gestating sows had higher (P < .05) digestibilities of five of the indispensable amino acids than did growing pigs. The results of this experiment indicate that apparent fecal protein and apparent ileal amino acid digestibilities obtained in growing pigs are not always representative of digestibilities in either gestating or lactating sows.     

Performance and carcass quality of steers supplemented with zinc oxide or zinc methionine

Forty-five Angus steers (avg initial wt 330 kg) were individually fed for 112 d to assess the value of supplemental Zn and source on performance and carcass quality. Steers had ad libitum access to a control diet (81 ppm Zn) of 33% whole corn, 33% ground milo, 15% cottonseed hulls and 13% cottonseed meal, or this control diet with 360 mg Zn/d added from either zinc methionine or zinc oxide. Steers were slaughtered on d 114, and carcass composition was determined by specific gravity. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected by dietary treatments. Steers fed zinc methionine had a higher (P less than .05) USDA quality grade than those fed the control and zinc oxide diets. Marbling score was higher (P less than .05) for steers fed zinc methionine than for those fed control and zinc oxide treatments (4.4 vs 4.0 and 4.0, respectively, where 3 = slight, 4 = small, 5 = modest). Steers fed zinc methionine tended to have more (P less than .10) external fat (13 mm) than steers fed the control diet (10 mm); steers supplemented with zinc oxide had intermediate amounts of external fat (11 mm). Steers fed zinc methionine had 10.5 and 12.8% more (P less than .05) kidney, pelvic and heart (KPH) fat than steers fed control or zinc oxide diets, respectively. The effects of zinc methionine on carcass quality grade and marbling score may be due to Zn and (or) methionine. Regardless of the mechanism, the difference represents a potential economic benefit to producers.     

Changes in ruminal concentrations of microbial ammonia and amino acids due to monensin and time

The effect of monensin (33 mg/kg) and no monensin on distribution of ammonia and free amino acids in fluid and particulate phases of ruminal contents was studied. Two Jersey cows and two Angus-Hereford steers, weighing approximately 350 kg and each containing a ruminal cannula were meal fed a 65% concentrate diet for two periods. Feed was available for 30 min; any feed not eaten was removed after this time. Whole ruminal contents were sampled before feeding, immediately after feed removal and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 h after feed removal. A crossover design with split-plot in time was used with four observations per time point per treatment. Extracellular (E) ammonia and amino acids were determined on high speed supernatants of strained ruminal fluid. Total (T) ammonia and amino acids were obtained by lysing microbial cells with 1% cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and one freeze treatment before centrifugation. Intracellular (I) amino acids and ammonia were determined as T minus E. Squeezed particles were suspended in .1 N HCl containing 1% CTAB. Total and E ammonia were higher throughout the study for no monensin vs monensin (P less than .05). Intracellular ammonia was low (.03 to 1 mM) and did not change (P greater than .10) across time for either dietary treatment. Intracellular amino acids ranged from 1.2 to 4.5 mM and were higher (P less than .05) than E amino acids (.9 to 2.2 mM) for both diets immediately after feeding. Monensin did not significantly lower (P greater than .10) T amino acids compared with no monensin throughout sampling (2.6 and 3.1 mM, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Apparent digestibility of amino acids, gross energy and starch in corn, sorghum, wheat, barley, oat groats and wheat middlings for growing pigs

Apparent nutrient digestibilities of yellow-dent corn, low-tannin sorghum, hard red winter wheat, barley, oat groats and wheat middlings were determined near the end of the small intestine and over the total digestive tract of growing pigs. Gross energy digestibilities for corn, sorghum and oat groats were similar; wheat had a slightly lower (P less than .05) digestibility, followed by barley (P less than .05), with wheat middlings being the least (P less than .05) digestible. About 7% of the gross energy in corn, sorghum, wheat and oat groats was digested in the large intestine, compared with 11% for barley and 17% for wheat middlings. The starch in all products was essentially 100% digestible by the end of the small intestine. Ileal amino acid digestibilities tended to be highest for wheat and oat groats, followed by corn, sorghum, barley and wheat middlings. The range in ileal digestibilities was 73.8 (sorghum) to 84.2% (wheat) for lysine, 69.6 (corn) to 81.4% (wheat) for tryptophan and 63.4 (wheat middlings) to 77.9% (oat groats) for threonine. Amino acid digestibilities determined over the total tract were generally higher than ileal digestibilities; however, values for lysine, methionine and phenylalanine were generally lower, indicating a net synthesis of these amino acids in the large intestine.     

Effect of wheat and high-moisture sorghum grain fed singly and in combination on ruminal fermentation, solid and liquid flow, site and extent of digestion and feeding performance of cattle

Two experiments were conducted to determine how varying the proportion of wheat (W) and high-moisture sorghum grain (SG) in 80% grain dies would affect ruminal fermentation, liquid and solid flow, site and extent of digestion (Exp. 1) and feeding performance of cattle (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, three ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulated steers (average weight 295 kg), fed at 1.54% of body weight, were used in a six-period crossover design. Treatments were: W, 50W:50SG (W:SG) and SG. Increasing wheat level decreased ruminal pH, molar proportion of acetate, and acetate:propionate ratio (P less than .05) and increased (P less than .05) L-lactate concentration, molar proportions of propionate and valerate and total volatile fatty acid concentration. Ruminal liquid dilution and outflow rates were faster (P less than .05) and retention time was shorter (P less than .05) for the W diet. Duodenal and ileal liquid flow increased (P less than .05), and solid flow decreased (P less than .05), as dietary level of wheat increased. Apparent ruminal digestion (% of intake) of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) was greater (P less than .01) with the wheat-containing diets. Intestinal DM and OM digestion (percent of intake) was higher (P less than .05) with the SG and W:SG diets. Ruminal, small intestine, large intestine and total tract starch digestion (percent of intake) was 93.5, 5.6, .7, 99.8, 71.5, 20.4, 5.7, 97.6; and 48.0, 32.5, 10.5, 91.0 with the W, W:SG and SG diets, respectively. In Exp. 2, group-fed (24 pens) steers (avg initial weight 341 kg) were fed ad libitum once daily for 121 d. Treatments were: W, 67W:33SG, 33W:67SG and SG. Rates of gain (kg/d) with the W (1.32), 67W:37SG (1.33) and 33W:67SG (1.30) diets were similar (P greater than .05), but faster (P less than .05) than those with the SG diet (1.16). Feed intake was lower (P less than .01) with the W and 67W:33SG diets, but the wheat-containing diets were utilized more efficiently (P less than .01). Increasing the proportion of wheat in sorghum grain feedlot diets improved cattle performance by optimizing ruminal and post-ruminal digestion.     

Rumen protected fat in kline barley or corn diets for beef cattle: digestibility, physiological, and feedlot responses.

A rumen protected fat product composed of Ca salts of fatty acids (CAF) was evaluated in beef cattle diets. Dietary treatments in a metabolism trial (six steers, 251 +/- 15 kg) and Feedlot Trial 1 (15 individually fed heifers, 355 +/- 11 kg) consisted of 62.1% corn and 3.2% soybean meal (C), 32.6% corn and 33.1% Kline barley (CB), and 28.2% corn, 33.1% barley, and 4.5% CAF (CBF) on a DM basis. Apparent DM and OM digestibilities were higher (P less than .05) and NDF digestibility was lower (P less than .05) for C than for CB and CBF. Apparent ether extract digestibility was higher (P less than .01) for CBF than for CB. Retention of N was higher (P less than .05) for C than for CB and CBF. On d 42, Feedlot Trial 1 ruminal fluid acetate:propionate ratio was lower (P less than .01) for C than for CB and CBF, and the ratio was lower (P less than .01) for CB than for CBF. Treatments did not affect (P less than .10) ADG and DMI of heifers, but feed/gain was lower (P less than .05) for C than for CB and CBF, and feed/gain was higher (P less than .05) for CBF than for CB. In Feedlot Trial 2, steers and heifers were fed the C diet or a 57% corn, 21.4% peanut hull, 4.1% soybean meal, and 4.5% CAF diet (CF) on an ad libitum basis for 50 d. Ruminal fluid acetate and propionate were unaffected (P greater than .10) by dietary treatments. Cattle ADG tended to be lower (P greater than .10), DMI was lower (P less than .05), and feed/gain tended to be improved (P greater than .10) for CF compared with C. Kline barley has potential as a feed grain for cattle, but CAF may not improve beef cattle performance, especially when diets contain barley.     

Roughage sources in beef cattle finishing diets.

In four feeding trials with beef steers, corn silage (CS), alfalfa hay (AH), and alfalfa silage (AS) were compared as roughage sources in dry-rolled (DRC); dry whole (DWC); ground, high-moisture (GHMC); and whole, high-moisture corn (WHMC) fattening diets. In processed corn diets (DRC and GHMC), steers fed CS had lower DMI (P less than .05) and feed:gain ratios (P less than .10) than steers fed AS as the roughage source. In a separate trial, greater gains (P less than .10) and lower feed:gain ratios (P less than .05) were found during the initial feeding period, which included the adaptation phase, for steers fed CS vs steers fed AH as the roughage source. Over the entire feeding period, lower (corn type x roughage source interaction, P less than .05) feed:gain ratios were found in GHMC diets when CS was fed as the roughage source; feed:gain ratios were similar in steers fed DRC diets containing either CS or AH. Over the entire feeding period, similar performance was found among steers fed the various roughage sources in DWC diets; however, with WHMC diets, steers fed AS as the roughage source had lower feed:gain ratios than did steers fed AH (P less than .05) or CS (P greater than .10). In the processed corn diets, high correlations were found between diet NDF digestibility and gain (r = .80), intake (r = .68), and feed:gain ratios (r = -.66); similar trends were found in WHMC diets but not in DWC diets. These results suggest that the ideal roughage source to complement finishing diets may depend on corn processing method and feeding period (adaptation vs finishing).     

Digestion of hay protein in different segments of the equine digestive tract

Mature ponies fitted with permanent ileal cannulas were used in a 3 X 3 Latin square experiment to quantify prececal, postileal and total tract digestion of hay protein. Coastal Bermuda grass (CB), containing 11.7% crude protein, and two qualities of alfalfa, containing 15.0% (low-protein alfalfa; LA) and 18.1% (high-protein alfalfa; HA) crude protein, were fed in coarsely chopped form at 2% of body weight daily. Total tract apparent digestibility of the N in HA (73.8%) was higher than that in CB (57.0%; P less than .05) and was slightly higher than that in LA (66.1%; P less than .10). Nitrogen in LA was apparently more digestible than that in CB (P less than .05). Apparent prececal digestibilities of N in LA and CB were 1.3% and 9.6%, respectively, and were lower (P less than .05), or tended to be lower (P less than .10), than the 21.0% observed for HA. In relative terms, an average of 9.4% of the total N digestion occurred in the upper tract when CB and LA were fed, whereas 28.5% of total N digestion occurred in the foregut when HA was fed. There was a slightly higher concentration of total plasma free amino acids (P less than .10) at 1 h postfeeding when horses were fed alfalfa. Also, N retention was higher when ponies were fed HA (P less than .05) than when LA or CB were fed. Apparent postileal N digestibility was 52.5% for CB, 65.7% for LA and 66.9% for HA. Differences were not significant, and the large intestine appeared to compensate for the inefficiency of N digestion in the upper tract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Intestinal supply of amino acids in sheep fed alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw-based diets supplemented with soybean meal or combinations of corn gluten meal and blood meal

The intestinal supply of amino acids (AA) in sheep fed alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHPWS)-based diets supplemented with soybean meal (SBM) or corn grain plus combinations of corn gluten meal (CGM) and blood meal (BM) was measured in a 5 X 5 latin square. Sheep (avg wt 45 kg) with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas were fed diets containing 65% AHPWS supplemented with the following protein sources: soybean meal (SBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), blood meal (BM), 2/3 CGM:1/3 BM and 1/3 CGM:2/3 BM. Total nitrogen (N) flow at the duodenum was not affected (P greater than .05) by protein source. Flows of bacterial N and AA increased (P less than .05) and flows of nonbacterial N and AA decreased (P less than .05) when wethers were fed SBM vs corn plus other protein sources. When diets contained SBM, quantities of total AA at the duodenum were lower (P less than .05) and the profile of AA supplied to the intestine was altered substantially. Total flows of AA at the duodenum and total quantities of AA disappearing from the small intestine were similar (P greater than .05) for all diets containing BM and CGM, but flows and disappearance of valine, histidine, lysine and arginine increased linearly (P less than .05), whereas flows and disappearance of leucine, isoleucine and methionine decreased linearly (P less than .05) as BM replaced CGM in the diets. Results suggest that quantities of individual AA flowing to the duodenum and disappearing from the intestine of wethers fed AHPWS-based diets can be altered by source of dietary protein. Furthermore, feeding protein sources resistant to ruminal degradation in combination may improve the profile of AA supplied to the intestine.     

Effects of roughage particle size on site of nutrient digestion and digesta flow through the gastrointestinal tract of sheep fed corncob-concentrate diets

An experiment examining nutritional effects of dietary corncob particle size was conducted using ruminal-, duodenal- and ileal-cannulated sheep in a 4 X 4 Latin square design. Site of nutrient digestion and digesta flow were the principal criteria evaluated. Analyses of dry matter (DM), N, starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were performed on feed, feces and digesta samples. Chromic oxide-impregnated paper was used as an external marker to estimate digestibilities at different sites along the gastrointestinal tract. Ruminal pH and volatile fatty acid molar proportions were also determined. All diets (74.9% concentrates: 25.1% corncobs) were pelleted and were similar in ingredient composition but varied in corncob particle size (corncob mean particle sizes were 6.5, 5.4, 1.4 or .8 mm). Dietary crude protein levels differed little among treatments. Starch concentration was higher in diets containing the larger corncob particles while NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations were lower in diets containing larger particles, suggesting a reaction between starch and fiber moieties during the pelleting process. Starch flow past the duodenum decreased (P less than .05) as dietary corncob particle size decreased. Apparent NDF digestion before the duodenum was highest for sheep fed diets containing 1.4-mm corncobs (P less than .05). Apparent starch digestion in the small intestine decreased (P less than .05) as dietary corncob particle size decreased. A considerable amount of NDF was apparently digested in the small intestine of sheep consuming diets containing 5.4- and .8-mm corncobs. Likewise, a substantial amount of NDF was apparently digested in the large intestine. Few differences in apparent total tract digestibilities were noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Growth, carcass traits, and fatty acid profiles of adipose tissues from steers fed whole cottonseed

To investigate the impact of dietary whole cottonseed (WCS) level on fatty acid composition, growth, and carcass traits, 45 Hereford steers were assigned to diets containing 0, 15, or 30% dietary WCS. The 15 and 30% WCS contributed an estimated 3.3 and 6.6% additional lipid, respectively, to the diets. After being fed for 54 d, all animals were weighed and slaughtered, and carcass measurements were obtained. There were no differences (P greater than .05) among dietary treatment groups in live weight or ADG for the 54-d feeding period. Control steers had larger (P less than .05) longissimus muscle areas than steers fed 30% WCS, which accounted for the advantage in yield grade (P less than .05) exhibited by the control group. Feeding of 30% WCS resulted in minor increases in linoleic and total polyunsaturated fatty acid content of perinephric fat expressed in both normalized (area percentage) and gravimetric (g/100 g of fresh tissue) formats. There were no significant differences in the monounsaturated or saturated fatty acid content of adipose tissues from animals fed the different diets. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were higher (P less than .01) in total unsaturates but had lower (P less than .05) proportions of C18:0 and C18:1 than perinephric samples. Feeding WCS at the levels reported herein only had minor effects on fatty acid composition of beef adipose tissues.     

Site and extent of apparent magnesium and calcium absorption in steers fed monensin

Eight crossbred steers (avg wt, 350 kg) with duodenal and ileal cannulas were used in two experimental periods in a single-reversal design to determine the effects of monensin on site and extent of apparent absorption of Mg and Ca. Steers were fed a cottonseed hull:concentrate diet (30:70) with or without 25 mg monensin/kg. The diet contained .20% Mg and .38% Ca. Each diet contained .25% Cr2O3 as a digesta marker. During each period, steers were fed the control diet for 10 d before allotment to treatments. Each period consisted of 17 d for diet adjustment and 6 d for collection. During the collection phase, fecal samples were obtained beginning on d 1 and continuing through d 6 at 12-h intervals progressing 2 h each day. Apparent Mg availability (grams apparently absorbed expressed as a percentage of grams of intake) increased (P less than .05) from 18.4 to 32.5% when monensin was fed. Feeding monensin increased (P less than .05) the apparent Mg availability and amount of Mg absorbed in the preintestinal region (47.7 vs 29.8% and 8.5 vs 5.1 g/d, respectively). Larger quantities (P less than .05) of Mg were secreted into the small intestine when monensin was fed. Monensin did not alter (P less than .05) apparent Ca availability or absorption in any segment of the digestive tract. These data indicate that monensin increased Mg and did not change Ca availability in the preintestinal region.