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。     

多花黑麦草在生长肉兔上的营养价值评定

本试验旨在评定初花期多花黑麦草在生长肉兔上的营养价值。试验选取60日龄平均体重(2.20±0.32)kg的健康新西兰兔24只,随机分为2组,每组12个重复,每个重复1只。试验饲粮采用套算法进行配制,多花黑麦草的替代比例为20%;试验采用全收粪法进行消化试验,预试期和正试期各7 d。结果表明:1)多花黑麦草中总能、干物质、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、粗灰分、钙、总磷和无氮浸出物含量分别为16.78 MJ/kg、92.24%、10.20%、1.64%、26.09%、51.80%、31.35%、7.72%、0.66%、0.28%和46.59%;2)多花黑麦草在生长肉兔中的表观消化能为7.21 MJ/kg,生长肉兔对多花黑麦草中总能、干物质、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、粗灰分、钙、总磷和无氮浸出物的表观消化率分别为33.45%、48.36%、44.18%、84.45%、25.91%、22.73%、22.25%、26.10%、62.87%、13.94%和61.42%。由结果可知:初花期多花黑麦草中粗纤维、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维含量相对较高,总磷含量相对较低;生长肉兔对初花期多花黑麦草中不同营养成分的消化率存在一定差异,其中以粗脂肪、粗纤维、钙、无氮浸出物的表观消化率较高,总磷的表观消化率较低。     

不同季节虎尾草对绵羊采食量和养分消化率的影响

研究不同季节草地牧草的饲喂价值动态变化规律,对于改善和调控家畜的营养状况具有重要的意义。虎尾草（Chloris virgata）作为松嫩草地一种耐旱、耐盐碱的优势饲草,是放牧家畜重要的饲草来源。但目前有关虎尾草的饲喂价值数据有限。因此,本试验选择乌珠穆沁公羊12只,平均体重为27.37±2.20 kg,随机分为4个处理,每个处理3个重复。分别饲喂春、夏、秋、冬四季的虎尾草干草,试验绵羊采取单笼饲养,采用全收粪法进行消化代谢试验。结果表明,春、夏、秋、冬四季绵羊每公斤代谢体重虎尾草干物质采食量分别为73.48,30.01,29.80和34.33 g·kg^-1LW^0.75,春季显著高于其他季节（P<0.05）;不同季节的虎尾草对绵羊干物质消化率、中性洗涤纤维消化率、以及碳、氮采食和排泄均有显著影响（P<0.05）,表现为春季最高,并且春季氮代谢处于正平衡,氮的摄入量可以满足部分增重的需要。     

高丹草+箭筈豌豆混合饲粮对绵羊养分表观消化率和气体代谢的影响

本研究采用单因素完全随机设计,将12只体重相近、体况良好、6月龄的杂交公羊,随机分为两个处理,每个处理6只羊,分别饲喂两种饲粮[单一高丹草(Sorghum bicolor×S.sudanense)饲粮和高丹草与箭筈豌豆(Vicia sativa)混合饲粮],分析了以高丹草饲粮为基础添加一定比例箭筈豌豆(高丹草∶箭筈豌豆=2∶1)对牧草表观消化率以及家畜产气的影响。结果表明:以高丹草+箭筈豌豆饲喂羔羊时干物质采食量、中性洗涤纤维和粗蛋白消化率显著高于高丹草组(P<0.05);干物质消化率和酸性洗涤纤维消化率无明显差异(P>0.05)。说明高丹草与箭筈豌豆组合改善饲粮的适口性,提高了饲草的表观消化率。     

甘蔗品种及收割期对生长期肉牛采食量和瘤胃参数的影响

本试验旨在研究甘蔗青贮饲料的基因型和成熟期对肉牛瘤胃纤维消化率、采食量、瘤胃发酵、瘤胃动力学和瘤胃细菌数量的影响。试验采用2×2因子设计,即两个基因型(高和低中性洗涤纤维消化率)和2个收割期(早熟和晚熟)。试验日粮以40%青贮甘蔗饲料为试验料。结果:饲喂早熟甘蔗青贮饲料时干物质采食量较大,但仅表现在低中性洗涤纤维消化率基因型(P<0.05)。早熟甘蔗日粮较晚熟甘蔗日粮显著提高了中性洗涤纤维摄入量(P<0.05)。饲喂低中性洗涤纤维基因型饲粮时,瘤胃池干物质、中性洗涤纤维和不可消化中性洗涤纤维含量更高(P<0.05)。饲喂高中性洗涤纤维消化率品种的青贮甘蔗时,中性洗涤纤维和不可消化中性洗涤纤维过瘤胃速率更高(P<0.05)。饲喂早熟青贮甘蔗饲料的肉牛瘤胃pH较大,但表现在高中性洗涤纤维消化率品种组(P<0.05)。饲喂早熟青贮甘蔗饲料时,低中性洗涤纤维消化率品种组肉牛瘤胃短链脂肪酸总浓度较高(P<0.05)。晚熟期青贮甘蔗较早熟期显著提高了埃氏巨球型菌相对含量(P<0.05)。综上所述,采用高中性洗涤纤维消化率品种的青贮甘蔗饲喂生长期肉牛,可以通过更快的纤维过瘤胃速率和纤维周转对瘤胃池产生积极影响,这可能有利于提高采食量。     

南方苜蓿新品种"渝苜一号"饲喂肉兔的营养价值评定

试验旨在研究苜蓿新品种"渝苜一号"的营养价值,为苜蓿干草在肉兔生产中的应用提供营养参数.试验系统地研究了"渝苜一号"5个不同生育期(营养期、现蕾期、初花期、盛花期、结荚期)的生长特性和干草的常规营养成分以及饲喂肉兔的可消化性.结果表明,生育期对"渝苜一号"干草营养价值影响显著(P＜0.05),苜蓿干草叶茎比、鲜干比、粗...     

棉桃壳和氨化棉桃壳对绵羊的营养价值评定

选用4只体重28 kg左右,安装永久瘤胃瘘管甘肃高山细毛羯羊,采用4×4拉丁方试验设计,通过体内消化代谢试验对棉桃壳和氨化棉桃壳进行营养价值评定。结果表明,绵羊对棉桃壳和氨化棉桃壳消化能、干物质消化率、氮消化率、有机物质消化率、中性洗涤纤维消化率、酸性洗涤纤维消化率、钙消化率、磷消化率和氮存留率分别为11.42 和10.90 MJ/kg,68.41%和66.30%,60.30%和60.68%,70.25%和67.57%,57.44%和54.55%,54.78%和52.21%,27.66%和24.88%,34.56%和27.57%及49.48%和50.34%。氨化棉桃壳和棉桃壳的消化率无显著性差异(P>0.05);饲粮中添加棉桃壳和氨化棉桃壳对绵羊瘤胃液中乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和其他酸摩尔比及乙/丙和氨态氮与蛋白氮浓度均产生了显著的影响(P<0.05),对瘤胃液pH及TVFA、总氮和尿素氮浓度无显著影响(P>0.05)。试验表明棉桃壳和氨化棉桃壳养分表观消化率无显著差异,利用尿素进行氨化处理时绵羊瘤胃内释放氨的速度较快,瘤胃微生物合成强度较低。     

The nutritive value of mulberry leaves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus alba</Emphasis>) as a feed supplement for sheep

A study to determine the nutritive value of mulberry (Morus alba) leaves in sheep diets was conducted. Mulberry leaves contained (g kg⁻¹ on dry matter basis): 163 ash, 201 crude protein, 120 crude fibre, 37 ether extracts, 479 nitrogen-free extracts, 268 neutral detergent fibre, 148 acid detergent fibre, 41 acid detergent lignin, 121 cellulose and 107 hemicellulose, while the in vitro true digestibility of dry matter was 89.8%. The nitrogen (N) solubility, determined using: a) McDougall’s buffer, b) 0.02 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and c) 0.15 N sodium chloride (NaCl) as solvents, ranged from 11.6 to 14.9% of total N. In addition, the soluble non-protein nitrogen contributed a substantial part of total N (26.1%), the total true protein was 14.4% and the protein fractions evaluated after classical protein fractionation, were: albumins 11.1, globulins 9.7, prolamins 44.1, glutelins 8.5 and insoluble (or structural) proteins 26.6% of total N. In a digestibility trial, where mulberry leaves partially replaced lucerne hay and concentrates in wether sheep diets, there were no significant differences in dry matter, crude protein or crude fibre digestibility of the total diet. It was concluded that mulberry leaves have an appreciable potential as a protein source in sheep feeding.     

Intake and Apparent Digestibility of Permanent Meadow Hay and Haylage in Ponies

The aim of this article was to study the conservation quality, chemical composition, gross energy, voluntary intake, and apparent digestibility of permanent meadow haylage and hay, fed to ponies at maintenance. The forages were from the same swath and harvested at early flowering stage. The apparent digestibility of the hay and haylage, which contained about 61% neutral detergent fiber and 38% acid detergent fiber, as fed, was determined by means of two in vivo digestibility trials, each performed on six ponies, weighing, on average, about 335 ± 80 kg and 334 ± 41 kg, respectively, over a 6-day feces collection period after a previous 14-day adaptation period. The voluntary intake was measured and the digestibility coefficients were calculated for dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, using acid-insoluble ash as the internal marker. The haylages were evaluated for dry matter, pH, alcohols, lactic acid, and monocarboxylic acid. The conservation quality of the haylage was good and its chemical composition was similar to that of hay, except for the crude protein and gross energy contents, which were higher (P < .05) as compared with those of the hay. No differences were found between the hay and haylage with regard to the voluntary intake and digestibility coefficients.     

玉米秸秆微贮营养价值的变化及对肉羊生长性能影响的研究

本试验将玉米秸秆进行微贮,检测了微贮后营养价值的变化及其对肉羊生长性能的影响。研究表明,玉米秸秆微贮后,湿润、具酒香味、质地柔软、适口性好,中性洗涤纤维（NDF）、干物质（DM）及酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）值显著下降,粗蛋白（CP）值显著升高。结果显示,微贮玉米秸秆后,营养价值得到有效的改善;玉米秸秆微贮后饲喂肉羊,试验组肉羊日增重较对照组增加21.76 %。     

平菇处理水稻秸秆在乳山羊上的应用潜力

文章旨在评估用平菇和水稻秸秆混合培养的饲料原料替代常规牧草资源苜蓿草对乳山羊泌乳性能、养分消化、瘤胃发酵及乳成分的影响。试验选择产后5?d,平均体重为（24.21±0.23）kg的泌乳山羊36头,随机分为3组,每组4个重复,每个重复3头。对照组饲喂60%浓缩料+40%苜蓿草,T1和T2组用40%和80%平菇发酵水稻秸秆替代苜蓿草,试验为期4周。结果：对照组乳山羊牧草采食量较T2组显著提高了10.74%（P＜0.05）,T1组干物质和中性洗涤纤维表观消化率分别较对照组显著提高了7.49%和7.23%（P＜0.05）,而对照组有机物、粗蛋白质表观消化率分别较T2组显著提高了14.71%和13.44%（P＜0.05）。对照组血清球蛋白、肌酸酐、葡萄糖和胆固醇浓度最高（P＜0.05）,而T1组血清白蛋白浓度最高（P＜0.05）。处理组瘤胃pH较对照组显著提高了2.94%和3.10%（P＜0.05）。对照组瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸、氨氮、总氮和非蛋白氮浓度均显著高于处理组（P＜0.05）。T2组乳中脂肪含量较对照组显著提高了13.62%（P＜0.05）,对照组与T1组乳山羊的饲料效率（能量校正乳/采食量）较T2组显著提高了32.29%和36.46%（P＜0.05）。结论：乳山羊日粮中用40%平菇发酵水稻秸秆可以提高干物质和中性洗涤纤维表观消化率,改善瘤胃微生物蛋蛋白的合成。 [关键词]平菇|水稻秸秆|乳山羊     

A comparative study of feeding behavior and digestive function in dairy goats, wool sheep and hair sheep

An intake and digestibility study was conducted with three groups (six animals per group) of yearling wether dairy goats (four Toggenburg, two Alpine), wool sheep (Targhee X Dorset) and hair sheep (St. Croix). Body weight (BW) ranged from 42 to 52 kg, averaging 47 kg. All animals were penned individually and given ad libitum access to a mixture of alfalfa-smooth bromegrass hay in pelleted, chopped or long form. Each group contained three ruminally cannulated animals. There were no apparent differences in the composition of feed consumed among goats, wool sheep and hair sheep, and no significant animal type X forage form interactions for any of the variables evaluated. Significant differences were observed in dry matter intake (DMI) between wool sheep, hair sheep and goats: 3.17%, 2.66% and 2.23% of BW, respectively (P less than .05). Daily water intake (WI) was greatest for wool sheep (P less than .05), but not different between hair sheep and goats. Total digestibility of dry matter (DM) and all fiber fractions were similar among animal types. For the cannulated animals, ruminal content weight and total ruminal volume were greatest for wool sheep (P less than .05). Ruminal acid detergent lignin (ADL) turnover was greater in wool and hair sheep than goats (P less than .05), but no differences were apparent for dry matter or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) turnover. For all animals, DMI, DMI/BW, digestible DMI and WI were greater for pelleted than chopped and long hay (P less than .05). Total ruminal volume, contents weight (on an absolute or BW basis) and fluid volume were lower in the cannulated animals consuming pelleted hay (P less than .05). Ruminal DM turnover rate was faster on pelleted than long hay, while DM turnover rate on chopped hay was intermediate. Turnover of ADL was faster on pelleted than chopped or long hay (P less than .05), but there were no differences among forage forms in NDF turnover rate. Fluid turnover rate was faster on pelleted and chopped than on long hay (P less than .05). Under the conditions of this study, no apparent differences were observed among animal types in the nutrient composition of feed consumed, ruminal or total tract digestibilities or rate of passage for dry matter. However, feeding behavior or selectivity differences under natural grazing conditions may deviate from what has been observed in confinement.     

Comparison of in situ techniques to evaluate the recovery of indigestible components and the accuracy of digestibility estimates

Indigestible components, including indigestible dry matter (iDM) and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), play an integral role as internal markers for determining ruminal kinetics and digestibility estimations. However, the accuracy of internal markers is dependent upon the incubation technique utilized as bag type (BT) and incubation length (IL) can be significant sources of error. Previous studies have primarily focused on iDM and iNDF as digestibility markers, but few studies have compared digestibility estimates to those of acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA). Therefore, our objective was to investigate the effect of BT (F57, F58, and Dacron) and IL (288 and 576 h) on iDM and iNDF residues, DM and NDF digestibilities, and fecal recoveries when using in situ incubations. Additionally, we evaluated the accuracy of digestibility estimates when using iDM, iNDF, and ADIA. For iDM and iNDF, feed residues demonstrated a BT × IL interaction (P < 0.01). However, fecal residues were only influenced by the main effects of BT and IL (P < 0.01), with the F58 BT and 288-h IL having the greatest residues for both iDM and iNDF. The variation in residues was greatly reduced when using iNDF compared with iDM. Fecal recovery estimates most closely approximated 100% recovery when utilizing ADIA and iDM using the F57 × 576 h incubation method (P < 0.01), although recovery was overestimated for all incubation combinations. Fecal NDF recovery estimates better represented the excretion profiles when the F57 × 576 h combination was used with iDM as the internal marker (P < 0.01). Estimates of DM and NDF digestibility were the most accurate when utilizing ADIA (P < 0.01) relative to all other treatments. Our results indicate that the proper methodological application is specific to the purpose of the inferences. When evaluating fecal recoveries and digestibility, ADIA or iDM with F57 at 576-h in situ incubation provides the greatest accuracy.     

Effects of supplemental feed with or without ionophores on lambs and Angora kid goats on rangeland

Effects of supplemental feed and of ionophore concentration in supplemental feed on gastrointestinal rate parameters, forage intake and weight gain were measured in individually supplemented grazing lambs and Angora kid goats. The 12 dietary treatments included negative control (NC; grazed forage only), positive control (PC; grazing plus 13.6 g supplement DM/kg.75), and PC plus monensin or lasalocid, each at 33, 66, 99, 132 or 165 mg/kg in the supplement. Gastrointestinal fill, retention time, turnover rate and fecal output were estimated by applying a single-compartment model to the fecal excretion of a single dose of ytterbium. Forage digestibility was estimated from forage and fecal concentrations of indigestible fiber. Supplemental feed increased digestibility of forage and total intake in sheep but had no effect on forage intake. In goats, supplemental feed did not increase digestibility of forage but decreased forage intake. Supplemental feed increased weight gain in both species. Increasing the monensin concentration in supplemental feed reduced supplement intake greatly in sheep and slightly in goats. Lasalocid did not affect intake of supplement by either sheep or goats. Overall, ionophores had minimal effects on the response criteria. Because feed intake and digestibility were not affected, any increase in gain or efficiency in lambs or kid goats on rangeland from consumption of ionophores must be a result of their therapeutic value or of improved physiological efficiency.     

Intake and ruminal digestion determined using omasal and reticular digesta samples in cattle fed diets containing sugar cane in natura or ensiled sugar cane compared with maize silage

Sugar cane is widely used in an in natura forage in tropical countries, but the adoption of silage methods facilitates the preservation of its nutritional value and improves the logistics of its use. To explain differences in performance using alternative forages, it is important to conduct studies that evaluate the various digestion sites for the nutrients provided in diets. However, considering that the collection of omasal digesta is quite laborious and requires the use of a vacuum pump, reticular sampling has been suggested as a promising alternative. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and ruminal digestibility obtained from samples of digesta collected in the reticulum and omasum of cattle fed different diets. Five rumen-fistulated crossbred cattle with an average initial live weight of 336±16.6 kg were used, being distributed in a 5×5 Latin square design. Five diets were evaluated, which contained 60% forage and 40% concentrate on dry matter basis using different forages: maize silage (CS); sugar cane in natura (SCIN); sugar cane silage (SCS0%); sugar cane silage treated with 0.4% calcium oxide (SCS0.4%) or 0.8% calcium oxide (SCS0.8%) on wet basis. The percentage of crude protein (CP) in all of the forages was corrected to 11% based on dry matter (DM) using a mixture of urea/ammonium sulfate (9:1). Six collections of reticular and omasal digesta were obtained over three days at 12 h intervals. To calculate the flow of reticular and omasal nutrients, a double marker system was employed, using cobalt–EDTA and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDFi) as markers. The reticular and omasal digesta were similar (P>0.05) to estimate ruminal digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC). However, the ruminal digestibility of ether extract (EE) and the intestinal digestibility of CP and EE differed (P<0.05) between sampling sites. The results indicate that the omasal digesta is more suitable than the reticular digesta for measuring the ruminal digestion of diet components.     

Apparent digestibility,fecal particle size,and mean retention time of reduced lignin alfalfa hay fed to horses

Reduced lignin alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has the potential to provide a higher-quality forage source for livestock by improving forage digestibility. This study was conducted to evaluate apparent digestibility when feeding reduced lignin and nonreduced lignin alfalfa hay to adult horses, and to examine mean fecal particle size (MFPS) and mean retention time (MRT) between alfalfa forage types. In 2017, reduced lignin (“54HVX41”) and nonreduced lignin (“WL355.RR”) alfalfa hay was harvested in Minnesota at the late-bud stage. Alfalfa hays were similar in crude protein (CP; 199 g/kg), neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 433 g/kg), and digestible energy (2.4 Mcal/kg). Acid detergent lignin concentrations were lower for reduced lignin alfalfa hay (74 g/kg) compared to nonreduced lignin alfalfa hay (81 g/kg). Dietary treatments were fed to six adult, stock-type horses in a crossover study. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-d dietary adaptation phase followed by a 5-d total fecal collection phase, during which horses were housed in individual boxstalls and manure was removed on a continuous 24-h basis. At 12-h intervals, feces were thoroughly mixed, subsampled in duplicate, and used for apparent digestibility and MFPS analysis. On day 2 of the fecal collection phase, horses were fed two indigestible markers, cobalt (Co) and ytterbium (Yb), which were fed as Co-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and Yb-labeled NDF residue, respectively. Additional fecal samples were taken at 2-h intervals following marker dosing until 96-h post-dosing to evaluate digesta MRT. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with statistical significance set at P ≤0.05. Dietary treatment (i.e., alfalfa hay type) was included as a fixed effect, while experimental period and horse were considered random effects. Dietary treatments were similar in dry matter intake (1.6% bodyweight) and time to consumption (7.6 h). Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) was greater for reduced lignin alfalfa (64.4%) compared to nonreduced lignin alfalfa (61.7%). Apparent CP and NDF digestibility did not differ between dietary treatments, averaging 78% and 45%, respectively. Dietary treatments were similar in MFPS (0.89 mm) and MRT for both liquid (23.7 h) and solid (27.4 h) phase material. These results indicate an improvement in DMD for reduced lignin alfalfa hay when fed to adult horses, with no change in forage consumption, fecal particle size, or digesta retention time.     

饲料型小黑麦品系的秸秆产量及其营养品质研究

为筛选秸秆产量高、品质好的小黑麦品系,本试验以2个小黑麦品种为对照,研究了18个饲料型小黑麦品系2年（2015,2016年）的秸秆产量及营养品质。结果表明,不同小黑麦种质中Z12的平均秸秆产量最高;2015年的平均秸秆产量显著高于2016年;从种质和年份交互作用看,2015年Z12的秸秆产量最高。不同小黑麦种质中,平均粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量及消化率最高的分别是Z36、Z9和Z8,平均酸性洗涤纤维和中性洗涤纤维含量最低的分别是Z6和Z8;2015年的平均粗蛋白和中性洗涤纤维含量显著低于2016年,而平均粗脂肪含量和消化率显著高于2016年,年份间平均酸性洗涤纤维含量差异不显著;从种质与年份交互作用看,2016年Z6的粗蛋白含量最高,酸性洗涤纤维含量最低,2015年Z9的粗脂肪含量最高,Z8的中性洗涤纤维含量最低,消化率最高。综合分析,Z9,Z12,Z55的综合性状较好,可作为优质粗饲料饲喂家畜。     

Supplementation strategies for Nellore female calves in creep feeding to improve the performance: nutritional and metabolic responses

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation strategy on performance, nutritional and metabolic characteristics of Nellore suckling female calves, on grazing Urochloa decumbens during the rainy-dry transition period. Forty-four Nellore female calves, averaging 147.6?±?1.34 kg (4 months), were used. A single supplement 20% of crude protein of dry matter was provided, consisting of daily supplement at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6% of body weight. A positive linear effect (P?<?0.05) on final body weight and average weight gain of female calves was observed with increased supplementation. Supplementation increased consumption, in kilograms per day, of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), digested dry matter, and total digestible nutrients (TDN), all calculated as % of dry matter. There was no effect of supplementation on the consumption in kilograms per day of neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (apNDF) (P?>?0.05). Supplementation increased, in a quadratic way, the total apparent digestibility coefficient of DM, OM, CP, apNDF, and TDN (P?<?0.05). There was no effect of supplementation (P?>?0.05) on non-esterified fatty acid concentrations. There was a positive linear effect (P?<?0.05) of supplementation on insulin concentrations. In this study, it is concluded that linearly increasing the feeding level of a supplement with 20% crude protein (% of DM) in the range of 0.2–0.6% of body weight improves the performance, nutritional and metabolic characteristics of the animals, considering these pasture characteristics.     

Nitrogen Retention and Nutrient Digestibility in Geldings Fed Grass Hay,Alfalfa Hay,or Alfalfa Cubes

This study was conducted to determine whether feeding different physical forms of hay alters nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention (NR). Six Quarter Horse geldings were assigned to any one of three different dietary treatments in three 14-day periods. The diets included long-stem Bermuda grass hay (G), long-stem alfalfa hay (A), and alfalfa cubes (C). In the final 4 days of each period, horses were fitted with harnesses for total collection of urine and feces. Samples of feed, orts, feces, and urine were analyzed for dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nitrogen (N). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and N was greatest for A, intermediate for C, and smallest for G (P < .05). Digestibility of acid detergent fiber was greater (P < .05) for A than G or C, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility was greater (P < .05) for A or G than C. Nitrogen intake (NI) was greatest for A, intermediate for C, and smallest for G (P < .05). Fecal N excretion was not different between diets, but urine N excretion was greater (P < .05) for A and C as compared with G. When expressed as a percentage of NI, NR did not differ among diets. We concluded that NR in mature horses increases with NI, but N utilization is not significantly influenced by the physical form or crude protein content of the hay fed. Potential differences in fiber digestibility and daily fecal output are factors to consider when incorporating processed forages into feeding programs of horses.     

Effect of feeding different levels of foliage from Erythrina variegata on the performance of growing goats

The effect of feeding different levels of foliage from Erythrina variegata on the performance of growing goats was studied using a local breed (Ma T'ou) with an average initial body weight of 11.2?kg (SD?=?0.9). Twenty-four animals were allocated to a randomized design, with six animals (three males and three females) per treatment. The treatments were four different levels of replacement of the diet crude protein (CP) with CP from Erythrina foliage (EF) at 0?% (E-0), 20?% (E-20), 40?% (E-40), and 60?% (E-60). There were no significant differences in the dry matter (DM) intake between treatments, but total CP intake was significantly higher in the goats fed the diet E-60 compared to E-20 (61.1 and 51.4?g/day, respectively). The average daily liveweight gain of the goats did not differ between treatments and ranged from 51 to 63?g/day. Sixteen animals were kept in metabolism cages for a digestibility study and given with the same four diets as in the main experiment. The digestibility of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber was significantly higher for diet E-60 than for E-0. Neither the apparent digestibility of CP and N retention nor carcass characteristics (16 animals) differed with an increase in the level of CP from EF in the diets. In conclusion, CP from EF can replace up to 60?% of CP from a mixed diet with soybean meal without any negative effect on the growth in goats.