Fit of Wood's function to weekly records of milk yield, total digestible nutrient intake and body weight changes in early lactation of multiparous Holstein cows in Japan

The aim of this study was to determine the interrelationships between milk yield, total digestible nutrient (TDN) intake and body weight. A total of 14,900 records of weekly (from the 1st week to 20th week after calving) weights of milk yield and TDN intake and body weight from 745 multiparous Holstein cows in Japan were used. In addition, attempts were made to predict energy requirement in early lactation of dairy cows using metabolizable energy (ME) system. The Wood's function (y_t = at^be^− ct) was fitted to each animal record to derive secondary traits (parameters, weeks at peak or bottom, maximum–minimum values and predicted daily body weight gain). The average goodness of fit, as assessed by the R² value, was highest for TDN intake (0.82) and lowest for body weight (0.59). The weeks at peak milk yield and TDN intake and minimum weight were 6.0, 10.0 and 5.5, respectively. Phenotypic correlations within the same trait were negative between parameters a and b and positive between b and c. Relatively large correlations between traits were obtained for a values and maximum–minimum traits (maximum milk yield and TDN intake and minimum body weight). In addition, the phenotypic correlations between predicted daily gain and a value for milk yield were negative during the first 5 weeks after calving. A comparison of ME intakes estimated from Wood's function and ME intake predicted from energy systems showed that the mean-square prediction error (MSPE) was largest in the first week and smallest in the fourth week. The results suggest that the Wood's function is inadequate in predicting body weight changes in early lactation.     

Evaluation of total mixed ration silage with brewers grains for dairy buffalo in Tarai,Nepal

To investigate the effects of total mixed ration (TMR) silage, which contained brewers grain and rice straw as a substitute for conventional concentrate on feed intake and milk production in middle‐to‐late lactation buffaloes, four multiparous Murrah buffaloes were assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment. The TMR silage, which had higher neutral and acid detergent fiber contents and digestibility than concentrate (P < 0.05) and similar crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) contents with concentrate were used for the lactation experiment. The treatments were control (CTL) fed concentrate at 0.6% of body weight (BW), and T1 and T2 fed the TMR silage at 0.6 and 1.2% of BW on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively, with rice straw ad libitum. Daily intakes of DM, CP and TDN, and BW change were higher in T2 than in CTL and T1 (P < 0.05). Although milk composition did not differ among the treatments, milk yield (MY) was higher in T2 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in MY/DM intake and MY/TDN intake among the treatments. The increase of BW and MY in middle‐to‐late lactation buffaloes might have been due to high TDN intake from supplementary TMR silage.     

Effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) level on intake,digestion, ruminal fermentation and in vitro gas production in sheep fed maintenance diets

The objective of this study was the characterization of the nutritive value, ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) hay (FPH) by‐product through in situ, in vitro and in vivo tests. A FPH diet was administered ad libitum to four sheep (live weight (LW) 38.0 ± 2.0 kg) at four inclusion levels (0, 25, 50 and 75%) over a conventional sorghum grain/oat straw ration in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The in situ degradability of FPH was 67% dry matter (DM), 71% crude protein and 66% neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The inclusion of FPH did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) the DM (61 ± 0.4 g/LW^0.75/day) and organic matter (OM) intake (56 ± 0.7 g/LW^0.75/day). Total DM digestibility (68 ± 2.5%), OM (70 ± 3%), and NDF (60 ± 3%), were not different (P ≥ 0.05) between control and FPH inclusion diets. The diet had no effect on ruminal pH, ruminal ammonia concentration, total and individual volatile fatty acids. The chemical composition and sheep intake behavior indicate that FPH by‐product is medium quality forage when incorporated in maintenance rations.     

The performance of tropical pastures in the drier phase of the Highland sourveld of Natal

Abstract

Several tropical grasses (Acroceras macrum, Cenchrus ciliaris, Cyndon sp., Digitaria sp. and Pennisetum clandestinum) and legumes (Desmodium uncinatum and Lotononis bainesii) were evaluated at the Kokstad Research Station (Bioclimatic sub‐region 4f of Natal) over a period of seven years. The experiment was repeated on two soil types, a deep Doveton and a shallow Newport/Mispah transition. The yield data were subjected to a multiple regression analysis to assess the influence on yield of factors such as age of pasture, soil type, cutting frequency, N level, rainfall and temperature. The regression models are given and their implications discussed. Seasonal distribution curves using the Richard's function were developed for all species.     

Effect of increasing levels of white mulberry leaves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus alba</Emphasis>) on ruminal dry matter degradability in lambs

A study was conducted to estimate dry matter (DM) degradability in the rumen of lambs offered a basal soybean meal and sorghum grain diet with three levels of white mulberry (WM) leaves (Morus alba). Diets consisted of 90% concentrate and 10% sorghum straw, which was incrementally replaced by WM leaves at 0% (control diet, T1), 2.5% (T2), and 5% (T3) of the total ration. Crude protein (CP) in WM was 21.8% (DM basis). Diets had equal CP (14% DM basis) and metabolizable energy (10.8 MJ/kg DM) content. Three non-castrated Pelibuey male lambs fitted with permanent rumen cannula were utilized in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each experimental period consisted of 10 days of adaptation followed by sampling. DM degradability was determined using the nylon bag technique. Bags contained the experimental diets offered in each period and were incubated in rumen in pairs for 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h. The potential degradation was higher (P < 0.05) for T2, followed by T3 and T1. WM level did not influence the degradation rate or the effective degradation at the three passage rates modeled. It was concluded that WM forage may have useful application in feedlot diets for growing lambs, as this forage increases potential degradation of high-grain diets. The incorporation of WM in diets for feedlot lambs in tropics may reduce the use of expensive conventional protein supplements.     

Laying Performance of Broiler Breeder Chickens Fed Various Millets or Broken Rice as a Source of Energy at a Constant Nutrient Intake

Laying performance, egg quality and carcase traits were recorded in broiler breeders (29–48 weeks of age) fed diets in which pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), foxtail millet (Setaria italica) or broken rice fully replaced yellow maize (50% of the diet) from the reference diet. Constant ratios of metabolizable energy to other nutrients were maintained in all the diets. Each diet provided 1.38 MJ metabolizable energy (ME)/bird per day to 8 replicate groups of 10 layers each, maintained in deep litter pens.The hen-day egg production and the ME required to produce 12 eggs in birds fed pearl millet or broken rice were similar (p>0.05) to those fed on the maize diet, while birds fed foxtail millet or finger millet required more energy to produce the same number of eggs. The egg production and the efficiency of energy utilization were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the birds fed these two cereals. Egg quality was not affected by replacing maize with the different cereals. However, the yolk colour index was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the cereal-fed groups in comparison to the maize-fed birds. The gizzard and giblet weights were heavier (p<0.05) in the birds fed foxtail millet or finger millet than in those fed broken rice. Deposition of abdominal fat and the liver fat content were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the birds fed pearl millet than in the other groups. Depending on the local prices, the cost of feeding may be reduced considerably by using any of the cereals tested as the principal energy source in place of maize in broiler breeder diets.     

Comparative evaluation of effective microbe– and urea molasses–treated finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw on nutritive values and growth performance of Washera sheep in northwestern Ethiopia

An experiment was carried out to comparatively evaluate the effect of effective microbe (EM)– and urea molasses (UM)–treated finger millet straw (EMTFMS and UMTFMS, respectively) on nutrient utilization and growth performance of Washera lambs. Twenty yearling intact male Washera lambs with an initial body weight of 21.13?±?1.77 kg (mean ± SE) were used for feeding and digestibility trial. These lambs were grouped into five blocks of four animals and randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. The four experimental feeds were untreated finger millet straw (control) + 150 g wheat bran (WB) (T1), untreated finger millet straw + 150 g WB + 150 g Noug seed cake (NSC) (T2), UMTFMS + 150 g WB + 150 g NSC (T3), and EMTFMS + 150 g WB + 150 g NSC (T4). The lambs were de-wormed and vaccinated against ecto- and endo-parasites. Data were analyzed using ANOVA procedure of SAS. Results showed that crude protein (CP) content of finger millet straw (FMS) was improved from 2.13 to 9.7% in UM treatment and 2.13 to 2.39% in EM treatments. Total DM, CP, and OM intake were higher in lambs assigned in UMTFMS (P?<?0.01) and EMTFMS (P?<?0.01) than the control groups and significantly highest (P?<?0.01) in UMTFMS. A non-significant (P?>?0.05) difference was observed between treatment technologies in all nutrient apparent digestibility and average daily weight gain. Therefore, it can be concluded that both treatments could serve as an alternative measure to improve nutritive value of finger millet straw, but due to environmental effect, EM treatment could be safe.

     

粗饲料及食品加工副产品的瘤胃有机物降解率的研究

本实验用瘤胃尼龙袋法测定了酱油渣（长营）、酱油渣（豆各庄）、白酒糟（大厂）、白酒糟（围场）、玉米淀粉渣、麦芽根、啤酒糟、麸皮、羊草、稻草、氢化稻草、高梁青贮（豆各庄）、大麦青贮（长营）、高粱青贮（长营）、苜蓿、王米秸、麦秸、氨化麦秸的瘤胃有机物动态降解率（％）分别为４６．５０、４６．０２、２５．４１、１８．５４、３８．５８、５９．０３、３２·８４、６９·１４、４１．１４、３２．０９、３７．７７、３９．８６、３６．３６、３６．７８、４５．１３、３２．８７、２９．５０、３７．１５。前８种饲料营养成份的粗脂肪（ＥＥ）、粗蛋白（ＣＰ）、粗纤维（ＣＰ）、无氮浸出物（ＮＰＥ）与瘤胃有机物动态降解率（ＦＯＭ）的回归方程为：ＦＯＭ＝１９１．４５＋０．８０ＥＥ－２．２０ＣＰ－４．３９ＣＦ－０．９１ＮＦＥ（Ｒ＝０．９１．ｎ＝８）相应后１０种饲料的回归方程为：ＦＯＭ＝－１０．５３－０．４１ＥＥ＋１．８３ＣＰ＋０．４４ＣＦ＋０．５６ＮＦＥ（Ｒ＝０．９０，ｎ＝１０）     

Supplemental soybean oil or corn for beef heifers grazing summer pasture: effects on forage intake, ruminal fermentation, and site and extent of digestion.

Nine Angus x Gelbvieh heifers (average BW = 347 +/- 2.8 kg) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a split-plot designed experiment to determine the effects of soybean oil or corn supplementation on intake, OM, NDF, and N digestibility. Beginning June 8, 1998, heifers continually grazed a 6.5-ha predominantly bromegrass pasture and received one of three treatments: no supplementation (Control); daily supplementation of cracked corn (Corn) at 0.345% of BW; or daily supplementation (0.3% of BW) of a supplement containing cracked corn, corn gluten meal, and soybean oil (12.5% of supplemental DM; Oil). Soybean oil replaced corn on a TDN basis and corn gluten meal was included to provide equal quantities of supplemental TDN and N. Three 23-d periods consisted of 14 d of adaptation followed by 9 d of sample collections. Treatment and sampling period effects were evaluated using orthogonal contrasts. Other than crude fat being greater (P = 0.01) for supplemented heifers, chemical and nutrient composition of masticate samples collected via ruminal evacuation did not differ (P = 0.23 to 0.56) among treatments. Masticate NDF and ADF increased quadratically (P < or = 0.003) and N decreased linearly (P = 0.0001) as the grazing season progressed. Supplementation did not influence (P = 0.37 to 0.83) forage OM intake, total and lower tract OM digestibility, ruminal and total tract NDF digestibility, or total ruminal VFA; however, supplemented heifers had lower ruminal molar proportions of acetate (P = 0.01), higher ruminal molar proportions of butyrate (P = 0.007), and greater quantities of OM digested in the rumen (P = 0.10) and total tract (P = 0.02). As the grazing season progressed, total tract OM and N and ruminal NH3 concentrations and NDF digestibility decreased quadratically (P < or = 0.04). Microbial N flow (P = 0.09) and efficiency (P = 0.04) and postruminal N disappearance (P = 0.02) were greater for Control heifers and declined linearly (P < or = 0.02) as the grazing season advanced. Depressed microbial N flow seemed to be more pronounced for Oil than for the Corn treatment. Although total digestible OM intake increased with supplementation, metabolizable protein supply was reduced in supplemented heifers. Therefore, feeding low levels of supplemental grain with or without soybean oil is an effective strategy to increase dietary energy for cattle grazing high-quality forages, but consideration should be given to reduced supply of metabolizable protein.     

Effect of roughage to concentrate ratio of sweet sorghum (Sorghum biclor L. Moench) bagasse-based complete diet on nutrient utilization and microbial N supply in lambs

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of roughage to the concentrate ratio of complete diets containing sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB), an agro-industrial by product, as sole roughage source on nutrient utilization in ram lambs. Twenty-four Nellore × Deccani cross ram lambs aged about 3?months (average body wt. 10.62?±?0.03?kg) were randomly allotted into four groups fed with CR-I (60R:40C), CR-II (50R:50C), CR-III (40R:60C), and CR-IV (30R:70C) complete diets. The roughage to concentrate ratio did not affect the dry matter intake (in grams/day or grams/kilogram weight(0.75)). The crude protein (P?相似文献   

亚硫酸铵对稻草瘤胃有效降解率的影响

用0%、4%、8%的亚硫酸铵处理稻草,水分调至45%,填紧压实,密封保存于贮罐内1个月,然后用瘤胃尼龙袋法测定稻草有效降解率,分析相关营养指标。试验结果表明:4%、8%的亚硫酸铵可显著提高(P<0.01)稻草中CP、S元素含量,分别提高CP83.80%、174%,S370%、465%;显著降低(P<0.01)NDF、ADF含量,分别降低NDF5.48%、6.98%,ADF3.94%、14.16%。可显著提高(P<0.01)稻草中DM、OM有效降解率,其中8%亚硫酸铵分别提高DM、OM有效降解率12.57%、13.11%,显著降低(P<0.01)NDF有效降解率13.54%。     

Prediction of Forage Energy Content by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and Summative Equations

In livestock nutrition, summative models (SM) are displacing empirical models as a preferred method to predict energy content of forages. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to determine nutrient subcomponents required of SM on overall ability to predict energy content of corn and legume-grass silages. Corn (n = 90) and legume-grass (n = 70) silages were collected and analyzed for CP, ADF CP, NDF, NDF CP, in vitro (IV) digestible (d) NDF, ash, and fat by standard laboratory techniques. Samples were scanned on a Model 6500 NIRS, and calibration equations were developed for each nutrient. The TDN contents of corn and legume-grass silages were then estimated using a SM, where the model nutrients were determined by laboratory or NIRS methods. The predicted TDN content of corn and legume-grass silages was compared to IV d OM to assess overall utility. The NIRS calibrations were adequate (R² > 0.90) for CP and NDF for both corn and legume-grass silages with standard errors of calibration (SEC) < 0.55 for CP and < 1.09 for NDF. Near infrared calibrations for ADF CP, NDF CP, fat, and ash were less accurate in both corn and legume-grass silages with R² < 0.75. Calibrations for IV d NDF in corn and legume-grass silages had R² = 0.87 and 0.79, respectively, but possible co-dependency with NDF is speculated. The relationship between corn and legume-grass silage SM TDN and IV d OM was excellent when model nutrients were determined by laboratory procedures. The TDN estimates when NIRS was used to determine all SM nutrients were superior to older empirical models, but SM TDN estimates using NIRS-determined nutrients were less accurate as compared with SM TDN prediction when model nutrients were determined by laboratory procedures. In particular, using NIRS to predict IV d NDF and ash for use in SM lead to the greatest challenge in TDN prediction in both corn and legume-grass silages.     

Nutritive value of forage species grown in the warm temperate climate of Australia for dairy cows: Herbs and grain crops

The objective of this study was to quantify the nutritive characteristics of 6 grain crops and 4 herb forages over 4 seasons, when all species were grown at the same site, under the same climatic and edaphic conditions, and with soil moisture and nutrient availability being non-limiting to growth. The forages grown were maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), millet (Pennisetum americana), wheat (Triticum aestivum), triticale (Triticum × secale), oats (Avena sativa), fodder radish (Raphanu sativa), rape (Brassica rapa), chicory (Cachorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata). The in sacco degradation characteristics of organic matter (OM) and crude protein of herbages were measured in the rumen of cannulated sheep in order to calculate the availability of effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP), rumen by pass protein, metabolisable protein (MP) and the synchrony index (I_s), which describes the efficiency of utilization of degradable nitrogen (N) and OM for microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in the rumen.In this study, all grain crops except maize had a ERDP/fermentable metabolizable energy (FME) ratio varying from 14 for millet to 23 for wheat, well above the ratio of 11 required for optimum MPS in the rumen of dairy cows. In contrast, maize had the lowest ERDP/FME ratio of 3, indicating that ERDP would be limiting MPS in the rumen. The availability of MP varied from 58 g/kg DM in maize to 153 g/kg DM in wheat and all forage species except maize were be able to meet the MP requirement of high-producing dairy cows (30 L/milk/day) provided they were able to consume 11 to13 kg DM/cow/day of the forage.The availability of MP from herbs varied from 95 g/kg DM in fodder radish to 163 g/kg DM in plantain, which would be sufficient for high-producing cows, however, most dairy cows could not consume sufficient forage to achieve these high levels of production due to very high nitrate content in rape (mean of 11.1 g/kg DM) and fodder radish (mean of 8 g/kg DM).     

Replacing corn with sorghum in the diet alters intestinal microbiota without altering chicken performance

Sorghum grain can be used to replace corn in broiler diets. However, the effects related to an abrupt change between these grains are not yet clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and intestinal health of broilers fed diets containing corn and/or sorghum during different periods of rearing. To accomplish this aim, 2100 male chicks were fed the following experimental diets: C100% (corn‐based diet); S100% (sorghum‐based diet); C:S50% (diet based on corn and sorghum 1:1); PC‐S (corn‐based diet in the pre‐starter phase and sorghum‐based diet in subsequent phases); and PS‐C (sorghum‐based diet in the pre‐starter phase and corn‐based diet in subsequent phases). The study was conducted with two simultaneous trials in a randomized block design as follows: a performance trial up to 40 days occurred in floor pens (n = 8), and the metabolism trial occurred in cages (n = 10). Performance, jejunal morphometry, number of goblet cells, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) and the coefficient of apparent metabolizability of dry matter (CMDM) of the diets, and the intestinal microbiota of small intestine and caeca at 10 and 21 days of age (16S gene sequencing) were evaluated. The different experimental diets did not affect performance, jejunal epithelium, AME, AMEn or CMDM. However, the experimental diets altered the percentages of the genera Clostridium, Weissella, Bacillus and Alkaliphilus in the small intestine. In addition, the genera Lactobacillus and Desulfotomaculum in the caeca were altered. The age also affected the microbiota of the intestinal segments. In conclusion, feeding sorghum in place of corn as well as the grain change after the pre‐starter phase does not alter broiler performance. However, sorghum alters the intestinal microbiota, resulting in a lower percentage of Clostridium and a higher percentage of Lactobacillus in the small intestine and caeca, respectively.     

Direct and maternal genetic parameters for measures of feed consumption and feed efficiency in young male Japanese Black cattle

Direct and maternal genetic parameters for measures of feed consumption and feed efficiency were estimated using data recorded on 514 performance tested young male Japanese Black cattle during the period from 1978–2004. Measures of feed consumption were daily feed intake, concentrate intake, ratio of roughage intake to feed intake, total digestible nutrient intake, digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and metabolizable energy intake. Feed efficiency traits included feed conversion ratio (FCR), total digestible nutrient conversion ratio (TCR), digestible crude protein conversion ratio (DCR) and residual feed intake. Data were analyzed using three alternative animal models (including direct and direct plus maternal genetic effects (including or excluding covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects)). The direct heritability estimates for all the measures of feed consumption and feed efficiency were moderate to high, suggesting that sufficient genetic variation exists in these traits which should respond to selection. All the measures of feed consumption were genetically more strongly correlated with residual feed intake than with other measures of feed efficiency. Maternal heritability estimates for DCPI, FCR and TCR were not significantly different from zero, while the corresponding estimates for all the studied traits were low (ranged from 0.07 to 0.24). The estimates of direct heritability for measures of feed consumption were reduced up to 34% when maternal genetic effect was considered in the model. An antagonistic relationship existed between direct and maternal genetic effect (r_am) for FCR and DCR, which biased the estimates of direct heritability downwards. The results indicate that maternal effects play an important role in measures of feed consumption and most of the feed efficiency traits, which should be accounted for these traits in genetic evaluation system.     

不同温度和CO2浓度生长环境下小麦麦秸的消化率研究

本试验以优良中筋小麦“扬麦14”为试验材料,在小麦整个生育期提高CO₂浓度和温度,分为4组:空白组,升温组,CO₂组,升温和CO₂混合组,空白组小麦生长平均温度10.5 ℃,CO₂浓度413 μmol/mol,升温组温度高于空白组2 ℃,CO₂组浓度500 μmol/mol,升温和CO₂混合组同时提高温度与CO₂浓度,收割时采集麦秸用于体内消化试验。用3头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的荷斯坦奶牛,采用尼龙袋法评定温度和CO₂浓度升高环境下小麦秸瘤胃的降解特性。结果显示,与空白组相比,升温组DM快速降解部分显著升高(P<0.05),ADF降解率与ADF慢速降解部分显著降低(P<0.05);CO₂组DM,OM,NDF及ADF降解率均显著降低(P<0.05),且DM,OM与NDF有效降解率显著降低(P<0.05);混合组DM,OM,NDF及ADF降解率均显著降低(P<0.05),DM,OM及ADF慢速降解部分显著降低(P<0.05),DM,OM与NDF有效降解率显著降低(P<0.05)。不同处理后麦秸DM,OM,NDF与ADF瘤胃内降解率从高到低为空白组、升温组、CO₂组和混合组。综合以上结果表明,温度和CO₂浓度升高降低了麦秸DM,OM,NDF及ADF瘤胃内降解率,导致麦秸营养价值降低,温度升高对降解率影响最小,其次为CO₂浓度升高,温度和CO₂浓度同时升高对麦秸营养价值的影响最为显著。     

Effect of exogenous xylanase on rumen in vitro gas production and degradability of wheat straw

The objective of this study was to determine effects of xylanase on in vitro gas production (GP) and in sacco degradability of wheat straw. Rumen fluid was obtained from three Mongolian native goats fitted with permanent rumen cannulas. The trial consisted of five doses (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 μL/g of substrate) of a commercial xylanase (Dyadic^® xylanase PLUS, Dyadic International, Inc., Jupiter, FL, USA). For the in sacco degradability, different levels of xylanase enzyme were added directly onto 2 g of wheat straw in nylon bags and incubated in the rumen for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h to estimate degradability of wheat straw. Total GP increased (P < 0.001) at all times of incubation at intermediate levels of xylanase. Methane production had a similar pattern at 3 and 12 h of incubation; increased linearly at 24 h of incubation, and was unaffected at 6 and 48 h of incubation. Rumen NH₃‐N concentration increased linearly at 3 h and the highest values were observed with intermediate enzyme levels. All ruminal volatile fatty acids increased linearly with intermediate levels of the fibrolytic enzyme. The in sacco rate of dry matter degradation decreased linearly (P = 0.020) with increasing enzymes. Intermediate levels of xylanase improved rumen kinetic fermentation and degradability. The outcome of this research indicated that the application of xylanase enzyme could improve in vitro GP fermentation of wheat straw.     

Nutritive characteristics of pearl millet grain in beef cattle diets

Two trials were conducted to compare pearl millet grain with corn and grain sorghum in cattle diets. Grain portions of diets in metabolism and feedlot experiments contained 73% corn and 6% soybean meal (C); 76.2% grain sorghum and 2.8% soybean meal (GS); and 79% pearl millet (PM). In the metabolism trial (replicated 3 x 3 latin squares; six steers), apparent digestibilities of DM and OM were higher (P less than .05) for C than for GS or PM diets. Ether extract and CP digestibilities were higher (P less than .05) for C and PM than GS. Dietary TDN was higher (P less than .05) for C compared with GS or PM diets. Fecal N was higher (P less than .05) for GS than for C or PM, urinary N was higher (P less than .05) for PM than C or GS, but retained N was similar (P greater than .05) for C, GS and PM diets. In a 90-d feedlot trial (18 individually fed heifers), a trend was observed for higher (P less than .20) ADG on C compared with PM; however, feed/gain was similar for C, GS and PM diets (8.2, 9.1 and 8.5 kg feed/kg gain, respectively). Ruminal fluid acetate:propionate ratios were lower (P less than .05) at 3.5 and 7 h postfeeding for PM compared with C or GS diets on d 83. Pearl millet grain may be used as a feed grain for beef cattle, but diets should be formulated to efficiently utilize the high quantity of protein (about 14% of DM) in this grain as a substitute for supplemental protein.     

7种能量饲料淀粉降解率的研究

以6头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的浏阳去势黑山羊为实验动物,利用瘤胃尼龙袋技术研究大麦、大米、高粱、荞麦、小麦、小米、玉米等7种常用谷物饲料淀粉在羊瘤胃内的降解率规律。结果表明各种饲料淀粉有效降解率(%)顺序为:大麦>小麦>玉米>大米>荞麦>高粱>小米。其中以大麦的淀粉有效降解率最高达97.05%,小米的最小为36.43%,其它依次为96.28%、55.37%、45.23%、44.10%、42.58%。     

三峡水库城区消落带人工草本植被土壤养分含量研究

为研究三峡水库城区消落带人工植被种植后,经不同淹水时间土壤的化学特性变化规律,及探讨城区消落带植被重建对库区水质的潜在影响,分别对2012年6月、2013年3月、2013年5月、2013年7月、2013年9月城区消落带扁穗牛鞭草(Hc)、狗牙根(Cd)、小巴茅(Ss)和裸地土壤的pH值和养分含量进行了调查研究。结果表明,植被类型对土壤pH值、碱解氮(AN)、有效磷(AP)、全磷(TP)含量有显著影响。综合而言,与裸地相比,人工草本植被土壤pH值和养分含量无显著差异。该区土壤pH值在6.5~8.5间波动。不同淹水时间的城区消落带土壤营养元素含量间存在较大差异。随取样时间的延长,裸地和人工植被土壤pH值、有机质含量呈波动变化。AN含量在2013年3月、2013年9月消落带刚开始落干时较高。然而,AP含量在2012年6月最大,此时,裸地、扁穗牛鞭草、狗牙根、小巴茅土壤AP含量分别为(2.62±0.30),(3.92±0.34),(1.08±0.16),(1.24±0.06) mg/kg。土壤全磷、全钾含量则在研究后期有所增加。研究表明,除地表植被、水文因素外,城市污水排放、强烈人为干扰、地表径流带来的点/面源污染等也影响该城区消落带土壤营养元素含量。对于三峡库区长江重庆主城区河段而言,由人工草本植被构建造成的水体富营养化程度有限。