The effect of grain species, processing and time of feeding on the efficiency of feed utilization and microbial protein synthesis in sheep

This study investigated the effect of cereal grain species (sorghum, wheat, oats and barley), extent of processing (cracked barley, finely ground barley, and wet whole barley) and time of feeding (barley grain mixed with ryegrass hay or fed 2 h before hay was fed), on whole tract dry matter digestibility (WTDMD), and microbial protein synthesis (MPS), as a supplement to ryegrass hay when fed to rumen-cannulated sheep.Expected dry matter digestibility (EDMD) in mixtures of cereal grain and ryegrass hay was calculated by interpolation between in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD) of each grain and the ryegrass hay. These were compared with measured actual WTDMD to detect positive or negative associative effects. Among grain species, the percentage difference in digestibility between actual WTDMD and EDMD was negative at − 6.6% units for wheat but positive at + 2.3%, + 4.3% and + 5.7% units for sorghum, oats, cracked or finely ground barley, respectively.As expected, the supplementation of sheep fed ryegrass hay with different sources of carbohydrates increased urinary allantoin output (as an indicator of MPS) when compared to sheep fed ryegrass hay alone. The concentration of urinary allantoin was significantly higher in sheep supplemented with sorghum (1916 mg/sheep/day) than wheat, oats or cracked barley ([mean ± S.E.M.] 1451 ± 24 mg/sheep/day) grain. There was a significantly higher urinary allantoin concentration in sheep fed cracked barley compared to finely ground barley or wet whole barley (1479 vs. 1095 vs. 1031 mg/sheep/day, respectively). There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in urinary allantoin output, expressed as output/kg DM intake, when cracked barley was mixed and fed with the hay or fed 2 h before hay. However, in terms of total output of allantoin this was significantly higher (P < 0.05) (1479 vs. 1209 mg/sheep/day).In sacco degradability characteristics of organic matter and nitrogen for sorghum, oats, wheat, barley at different levels of processing and for ryegrass hay were also measured in the rumen of cannulated sheep.Among grain species, wheat had the highest effective organic matter degradability in the rumen (78.1%) while sorghum had the lowest. The effective degradability of protein of finely ground barley in the rumen was found to be higher than cracked barley or wet whole barley.Wheat grain, being highly degradable in the rumen, had a negative effect on WTDMD. In contrast, sorghum grain, being more slowly degradable in the rumen, would be expected to provide a substantially increased supply of energy to microbes over time in the rumen for MPS.Both cracked barley and finely ground barley also had a positive associative effect on WTDMD when fed with ryegrass increasing it by 5.7% units. The MPS was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in sheep fed cracked barley compared to finely ground barley or wet whole barley. This supports the hypothesis that slowly degrading carbohydrate sources synchronise more closely with available N from degradation of forage in the rumen.     

Indigestion in Young Calves. II. The Influence Of Ground Barley,Coarse and Fine Hay

Four experiments comprising 86 calves have been carried out in order to examine the influence of ground barley, coarse and fine hay, when raising young calves on a high lactose milk replacer causing diarrhoea. The frequency of diarrhoea decreased when feeding barley (P < 0.01) or fine hay (P < 0.001), but increased when feeding coarse hay (P<0.01). Barley increased (P < 0.01) live weight gain and carcass weight, reduced (P < 0.001) rumen pH, favoured gram-positive cocci and rods in the rumen, caused hyperkeratosis and gave increased (P < 0.01) empty reticulo-rumen weights, the latter being supposed to be enhanced by hyperkeratosis. The calves ate more (P < 0.001) fine than coarse hay, fine hay being superior (P < 0.01) in promoting growth of the rumen. All hay maintained a predominantly gram-negative rumen flora, but somewhat different from that on the milk replacer, and counteracted (P < 0.01) low pH in the rumen and apparently also hyperkeratosis due to barley. The results with barley indicated no relationship between diarrhoea and hyperkeratosis.     

Ruminal protein metabolism and intestinal amino acid utilization as affected by dietary protein and carbohydrate sources in sheep.

Eight wether lambs fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design to study the effects of carbohydrate and protein sources on ruminal protein metabolism and carbohydrate fermentation and intestinal amino acid (AA) absorption. Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial. Carbohydrate sources were corn and barley; protein sources were soybean meal (SBM) and fish meal (FM). Diets contained 15.5% CP, of which 40% was supplied by SBM or FM. Corn or barley provided 39% of dietary DM that contained equal amounts of grass hay and wheat straw. Fish meal diets produced a lower (P less than .05) ruminal NH3 concentration and resulted in less CP degradation and bacterial protein flow to the duodenum than did SBM diets. Replacing SBM with FM increased (P less than .05) ruminal digestion of all fiber fractions. In addition, cellulose and hemicellulose digestibilities in the rumen tended to increase (P greater than .05) when barley replaced corn in the FM diets. Carbohydrate x protein interactions (P less than .05) were observed for OM digestion in the rumen and AA absorption in the small intestine (percentage of AA entering); these interactions were highest for the barley-FM diet. These results suggest that feeding FM with barley, which is high in both degradable carbohydrate and protein, might benefit ruminants more than feeding FM with corn, which is high in degradable carbohydrate but relatively low in degradable protein.     

Preliminary study of the effects of condensed barley distillers soluble on rumen fermentation and plasma metabolites in Japanese Black cows

In Japan, condensed barley distillers soluble (CBDS) is a widely known liquor byproduct that contains a high level of protein and is used as a supplementary protein feed for cattle. The present study evaluated the effects of CBDS feed on rumen fermentation and plasma metabolites in Japanese Black cows. Applying a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, nine cows were offered CBDS and hay (CBDS‐t), soy bean meal and hay (Soybean‐t) and only hay (Hay‐t) over 35 days. We collected ruminal fluid and plasma just before feeding and at 3 h after feeding. The concentrations of propionate and butyrate in the rumen before feeding were lower in the CBDS‐t than in the Soybean‐t group (P < 0.05). However, after 3 h, the concentrations were higher in the CBDS‐t than in the Soybean‐t and Hay‐t groups (P < 0.05). Although, there were no differences in the compositions (% mol) of propionate and butyrate in the rumen and the concentration of plasma β‐hydroxybutyric acid before feeding between treatments, after 3 h they were significantly higher in the CBDS‐t than in the Soybean‐t and Hay‐t groups (P < 0.05). These results indicate that feeding CBDS promotes rumen fermentation and butyrate metabolism.     

The effect of copper and cobalt supplementation on the digestibility of fibrous feed in sheep]

The effects of an addition of copper, cobalt, and copper + cobalt on the in vitro digestibility of hay, treated beech sawdust and cellulose by the rumen fluid of sheep fed a complete food ration, complete food ration with 15% treated beech sawdust and a diet consisting of 80% hay and 20% barley were investigated, respectively. The rumen fluid obtained from animals fed a complete food ration showed the significantly higher digestibility of hay (Tab. I) when Cu (P less than 0.05), Co, or Cu + Co (P less than 0.001) had been added into the rumen. The cellulose digestibility increased only after Co application (P less than 0.05). The microelements supplementation in all three forms had a very significant effect on the digestibility of treated beech sawdust by the rumen fluid of sheep fed a diet with 15% sawdust content, although the initial digestibility by the rumen fluid in the control animals (without microelements) was only 44.9%. A similar trend was also observed in the cellulose digestibility, but after Co application this increase was not significant. The rumen fluid of animals fed hay (80%) and barley (20%) showed the highest digestibility. The digestibility of sawdust reached 60% and the of cellulose 95.9% without microelements supplementation (control). In this case the effect of microelement supplementation on the sawdust digestibility was manifested only in the case of cobalt by the digestibility decrease (P less than 0.001). The cellulose digestibility also decreased after administration of Cu (P less than 0.01) and Co (P less than 0.05). The Cu + Co supplementation did not influence its digestibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sulfur influences on rumen microorganisms in vitro and in sheep and calves

When continuously cultured ruminal microbes were given orchardgrass hay and sufficient sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to maintain a pH of 5.5, fermentation and numbers of protozoa were reduced compared with cultures whose pH was controlled with phosphoric acid. Likewise, when sulfur-deficient, purified diets were supplied to cultures, less methane (mmol X liter-1 X d-1), 3.2 vs 32.6, was produced and fewer cellulolytic bacteria (log10/ml), 5.8 vs 7.2 were present than when cultures were given the same diet supplemented with .3% elemental sulfur. The rumen of sheep fed the .04% sulfur diet had reduced digesta weights (1.69 vs 3.2 kg) compared with sheep fed the diet with .34% sulfur at the same intake. There also was reduced methanogenesis 12.3 vs 25.8 mmol X liter-1 X d-1) and reduced numbers of cellulolytic bacteria (7.4 vs 8.4 log10/ml) in sulfur-deficient sheep in comparison to sulfur-supplemented sheep. In growing calves, the same types of bacteria predominated in the rumen, but more facultative anaerobic bacteria were isolated from calves fed .04% sulfur than from calves fed diets with .34 to 1.72% sulfur. None of the dietary levels of sulfur appeared toxic. Regardless of treatment, volatile fatty acids were more predominant than lactic acid as end-products of fermentation of ruminal microbes in fermenters, sheep and calves. The greater methanogenesis and the greater cellulolytic bacterial numbers of sulfur-supplemented sheep compared with sulfur-deficient in vitro cultures, is interpreted to be the result of recycling of sulfur to the rumen in sheep where it is efficiently scavengered by ruminal bacteria.     

Effects of nutrient supply and dietary bulk on O2 uptake and nutrient net fluxes across rumen,mesenteric- and portal-drained viscera in ewes

We assessed the effects of nutrient supply and dietary bulk, both increasing with hay intake, on O2 uptake and nutrient net fluxes across the portal-(PDV) and mesenteric- (MDV) drained viscera, and the rumen in adult ewes. Four ewes, fitted with a ruminal cannula, with catheters in the mesenteric artery, the portal, mesenteric and right ruminal veins, and with a blood flow probe around the right ruminal artery, were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of 500 g DM/d hay (LL, low bulk and low nutrient supply), 500 g DM/d hay + infused nutrients (LH, low bulk and high nutrient supply), 750 g DM/d hay + infused nutrients (MH, medium bulk and high nutrient supply), and 1,000 g DM/d hay (HH, high bulk and high nutrient supply). Infused nutrients consisted of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and casein dissolved in salts and infused continuously in the rumen to provide the same amount of metabolizable energy (7.6 MJ/d) and digestible protein (63 g/d) for LH, MH, and HH. Both increases in bulk and nutrient supply increased O2 uptake in the MDV and PDV. Dietary bulk stimulated mainly blood flow, whereas nutrient supply stimulated mainly O2 extraction rate. The O2 uptake by the rumen was not significantly affected by hay intake, although blood flow increased due to nutrient supply. Increase in hay intake had no effects on portal net release of lactate and net uptake of glucose but increased VFA, 3-D-hydroxybutyrate, ammonia, and amino acids (AA) net release and urea net uptake across PDV. The increase in portal nutrient net fluxes with hay intake was entirely related to the increase of nutrient supply for VFA, 3-D-hydroxybutyrate, ammonia, and urea, irrespective of the amount of casein infused for AA. Dietary bulk had no effect on total energy net release in the portal vein. We conclude that despite the increase in portal O2 uptake, increasing dietary bulk had no significant impact on portal recovery of energy. In ruminal tissues, which were the main site of energy absorption, O2 uptake appeared low and was not sensitive to dietary manipulation. In contrast, in mesenteric tissues, which contribute poorly to energy absorption with forage diets, O2 uptake appeared high and very sensitive to dietary manipulation.     

Indigestion in Young Calves: I. Different Lactose Levels in Milk Diets and Milk Replacers

Increasing the lactose content of different milk replacers or milk diets by approx. 30 % of the dry matter increased the frequency of diarrhoea the first 10–12 days in young calves on all occasions in 5 experiments comprising 120 calves. For all diets taken together, this effect was highly significant. Total daily intakes of lactose amounted to 200–480 g. When lactose was given on top of the milk rations, the growth rate increased significantly, whereas the growth rate was usually insignificantly reduced when lactose replaced other nutrients in milk diets or milk replacers, their levels of protein and fat becoming low. Albumin and total protein in blood plasma were significantly lower when the dietary protein level was low. Milk replacers with 20 or 40 % whey powder, replacing skim milk powder, performed equally well, but gave significantly less growth than the old-fashioned feeding of whole milk-skim milk. Intake of hay and barley and a number of clinical and histological or pathological parameters did not vary consistently with dietary level of whey powder or lactose. Feeding whole milk all the time resulted in low intake of hay and barley and poorly developed forestomachs, but high dressing-out %. Substituting soya for part of the skim milk powder in milk replacers gave abomasal content with no curds. In most cases, pH in the rumen appeared to be nearly up to neutral until the calves ate ground barley, about 1 month old.     

Cell deletion as a factor in the regulation of rumen epithelial populations

When the feed of sheep was changed from hay to barley, there were hyperplastic changes in the ruminal epithelium. These were characterised by an increase in the rate of mitosis and by a very low incidence of single cell death (apoptosis). A subsequent abrupt change of diet from barley to hay resulted in atrophy of the ruminal epithelium. Atrophy was associated with a fall in the rate of mitosis, and a rise in the incidence of apoptosis which together caused regression of epithelial pegs. It is suggested that apoptosis may play an important role in the regulation of rumen epithelial cell populations and in the control of epithelial cell kinetics.     

Rumen fermentation and degradability in buffalo and cattle using the in vitro gas production technique

An in vitro trial was conducted to investigate the effect of different inoculum sources (buffalo vs. cattle) on rumen fermentation and degradability. Incubations were carried out using rumen fluid obtained from buffalo or cattle fed the same diet [60% grass hay and 40% concentrate; 18 kg dry matter (DM)/day]. The fermentation kinetics of eight feeds commonly used in ruminant nutrition (alfalfa hay, barley meal, beet pulp, corn meal and silage, ryegrass hay and silage and soya bean meal s.e.) were studied with the in vitro gas production technique and rumen fermentation parameters (substrate disappearance, pH and volatile fatty acids production) were determined after 120 h of incubation. The linear relationship indicates that the microbial metabolic pathways of the two inocula for all the substrates were qualitatively similar, albeit often quantitatively different. In this in vitro study, a significant influence of rumen inoculum (buffalo vs. cow) on fermentation and degradability of the examined substrates was found. The differences in buffalo and cattle rumen fermentation can be explained with a different microbial activity of the two ruminant species, because of different amount of microbial population or microbial population constituted by different species of bacteria and protozoa.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Ruminal and total tract phosphorus release from feedstuffs in cattle measured using the mobile nylon bag technique

Phosphorus (P) excretion in manure is a concern for dairy and beef producers. Excess P released into surface water runoff can lead to eutrophication and algal blooms in streams and lakes. One approach to reducing P excretion is to reduce dietary P. Data regarding P release from feedstuffs is limited and more precise formulations based on specific feed P release in the digestive tract may be one way to lower excreted P. In this experiment, the mobile nylon bag technique was used to determine the disappearance of P in corn silage, alfalfa hay, Coastal bermudagrass hay, and Tifton‐85 bermudagrass hay in steers after ruminal (24 h), ruminal + pepsin/HCl (rumen + PHCl), and ruminal + pepsin/HCl + intestinal (rumen + PHCl + I) incubation. Ruminal disappearance of P differed (p < 0.05) between feedstuffs and by site of incubation. Total tract (rumen + PHCl + I) P disappearance for corn silage, alfalfa hay, Coastal bermudagrass hay, and Tifton‐85 bermudagrass hay were 90.6%, 93.7%, 83.8% and 84.0% respectively. The range in P release (approximately 7%) indicates that considering P availability when balancing rations could have a measurable impact on subsequent P excretion from ruminants. More data concerning P availability as affected by other feed ingredients or plant species, maturity, and/or quality are needed to more accurately define P release from ruminant feeds.     

Metabolism of microbial nitrogen in ruminants with special reference to nucleic acids

Characteristically the metabolism of microbial nitrogen (N) compounds in ruminants involves the degradation of dietary N and synthesis of microbial protein (MP), compounds including a small amount of peptides and free amino acids, which may account for 75–85% of total N and the remainder are nucleic acids (NA: DNA and RNA). Generally rumen microbes contain 10–25% NA‐N of the total N while 70–80% is in the form of RNA. This paper describes the degradation and synthesis of NA in the rumen and their fate in the lower digestive tracts. Their physiological and nutritional significance in different types of ruminant animals is also discussed. The research works on NA metabolism in ruminants has been mainly on metabolism of purines after rumen microbial digestion and absorption in the lower gut. Subsequently, the fate of absorbed purines has been intensively investigated to assess the extent of MP synthesis in the rumen. The method for predicting ruminal synthesized MP and subsequently digested MP has been proposed using urinary purine derivative (PD) excretion in sheep and cattle fed on ordinary feed. The latter approach has now been adopted for calculation of protein supply in some feeding standards, although there are still difficulties in predicting representative samples of rumen microbes, and also uncertainties in variations of non‐renal and endogenous purine losses.     

Adjustment of the ammonia level in the rumen by sorption on bentonite and dried beet pulp

The effect was studied of bentonite and spent sugar beet pulp on the ammonia level in the rumen juice sheep fed hay, ground barley and a urea supplementation. In comparison with a control trial, the nitrogen supply to the rumen juice proved more continuous, this fact improving the conditions for the microbial protein synthesis at the time fo the strongest fermentation. The interaction of bentonite, beet pectin and ammonium ions is attributed to the ion exchange.     

Feeding and microbial disorders in horses: 2: Effect of three hay:grain ratios on digesta passage rate and digestibility in ponies

Digesta passage rate and digestibility of diet components (dOM, dNDF and dADF) were measured in the entire digestive tract of six ponies to determine the effects of the dietary hay:grain ratio on the efficiency of fiber digestion. Three diets based on chopped meadow hay and rolled barley were tested in a 3×3 Latin square experiment: 100% hay (100:0, 114gDM/KgBW^0.75/day), 70% hay—30% barley (70:30, 69gDM/KgBW^0.75/day) and 50% hay—50% barley (50:50, 58gDM/KgBW^0.75/day). Particles markers (Europium for hay and Ytterbium for barley) and a solute marker (Cr-EDTA) were used for passage rate measurements. As the proportion of barley in the diet increased, DM intake decreased and mean retention time (MRT) of all markers increased significantly. Even if the barley meal was fed before the hay, excretion rates of all markers were similar. The digestibility of OM increased linearly (P<0.05) whereas that of NDF and ADF decreased (P<0.05). Although the MRTs increased when grain was fed, the efficiency of fiber utilization decreased. Further investigation on fibrolytic microbial ecosystem are required to explain these observations.     

Stability of ivermectin in rumen fluids

To determine whether ivermectin is metabolized in the rumen, in vitro studies were conducted with the tritium-labelled H₂B_1a component of ivermectin in rumen fluid from sheep and cattle. No detectable metabolism occurred over 24 h in in vitro incubations at 38°. The viability of the microbes in the rumen fluids was demonstrated by the conversion of 17% and 11% of [¹⁴C]cellulose to ¹⁴CO₂ in 24 h in the incubations with sheep and steer rumen fluids respectively. The results indicate that ivermectin is not metabolized in the rumen. Based on the lack of in vitro metabolism of ivermectin in rumen fluid, the similarity of in vitro liver microsomal metabolism with in vivo metabolism of the avermectins and the physicochemical properties of the avermectins, any disappearance of ivermectin in vitro from rumen fluid is probably a result of binding to solids or surfaces. Apparent discrimination by dung beetles, where observed, between control faeces and faeces from cattle or sheep treated with ivermectin or abamectin therefore must be attributable to chance, to factors unrelated to treatment or to factors such as changes in amino acid composition rather than the production of volatile metabolites of ivermectin.     

Changes in the viscoelastic behaviour of the rumenal digesta mat of sheep fed on pasture or chaffed lucerne hay

We examined the changes in the physical properties of the digesta mat over a period of 24 h after cessation of feeding, in sheep that had been maintained on pasture or fed chaffed lucerne hay. The dry matter content of the digesta mat declined at similar rates in both dietary groups, although it was generally higher in sheep fed lucerne. Median particle size declined in the digesta mats of both dietary groups at similar rates in samples taken after 8 h, but median particle size was significantly greater in sheep fed chopped lucerne hay than in those fed grass. Thus, particles were not reduced to a common size suggesting that factors in addition to particle size governed the rate of breakdown of the rumen mat. The relationship between the elastic and loss moduli was of a consistent pattern in all samples taken from the rumen mat indicating that it behaved as a weak gel. The elastic and loss moduli of the digesta mats of sheep that had been fed pasture or chopped lucerne hay converged to similar values after 12 h and declined broadly at similar rates after this. The relationship between these two moduli and the dry matter content of the rumen mat were of similar curvilinear form for sheep on both diets. These findings suggest that the rate of breakdown of the rumen mat is more likely to be governed by its composite behaviour than by the size of the constituent particles.     

Effect of imbalance between energy and nitrogen supplies on microbial protein synthesis and nitrogen metabolism in growing double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls

Six double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls (initial weight: 345 +/- 16 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in two juxtaposed 3 x 3 Latin squares to study the effect of a lack of synchronization between energy and N in the rumen on microbial protein synthesis and N metabolism by giving the same diet according to three different feeding patterns. The feed ingredients of the diet were separated into two groups supplying the same amount of fermentable OM (FOM), but characterized by different levels of ruminally degradable N (RDN). The first group primarily provided energy for the ruminal microbes (14.6 g of RDN/kg of FOM), and the second provided N (33.3 g of RDN/kg of FOM). These two groups were fed to the bulls simultaneously or alternately with the aim of creating three different time periods of imbalance (0, 12, or 24 h) between energy and N supplies in the rumen. The introduction of imbalance affected neither microbial-N flow at the duodenum (P = 0.65) nor efficiency of growth (P = 0.69), but decreased (P = 0.016) the NDF degradation in the rumen 12.2% for a 12-h period of imbalance. N retention was not affected by imbalance (P = 0.53) and reached 57.8, 58.5, and 54.7 g/d, respectively, for 0-, 12- and 24-h imbalance. It seems that the introduction of an imbalance of 12 or 24 h between energy and N supplies for the ruminal microbes by altering the feeding pattern of the same diet does not negatively influence microbial protein synthesis or N retention by the animal. Nitrogen recycling in the rumen plays a major role in regulating the amount ofruminally available N and allows for continuous synchronization of N- and energy-yielding substrates for the microorganisms in the rumen. Therefore, a lack of synchronization in the diet between the energy and N supplies for the ruminal microbes is not detrimental to their growth or for the animal as long as the nutrient supply is balanced on a 48-h basis. Thus, these dietary feeding patterns may be used under practical feeding conditions with minimal effect on the performance of ruminant animals.     

Effect of flow parameters of rumen digesta on effective degradability and microbial yield in sheep

The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of rumen digesta flow parameters on effective degradability (EDG) and microbial nitrogen (MBN) yield in sheep fed diets of identical provision of both metabolizable energy and rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN). Ruminal degradation parameters of early‐harvested perennial ryegrass hay (EH), late‐harvested perennial ryegrasses hay (LH) and winter sown barley straw (BS) were determined by a nylon bag technique. Subsequently, three experimental diets (EHD, LHD and BSD) were formulated using the tested forages, sucrose and urea as supplements. An in vivo feeding study was conducted using four rumen cannulated sheep in a partial Latin square design. Digestibility, rate constants of rumen particle breakdown and passage, ruminal fermentation parameters and MBN supply to the small intestine were determined. Animals thoroughly consumed the forages fed at a restricted level. Digestion coefficients were greater for EHD than for LHD and were lowest for BSD (P < 0.05). The rate constant of large particle breakdown was 4.3, 5.9 and 6.7 %/h, respectively, and small particle passage was 5.3, 4.7 and 6.3 %/h for EHD, LHD and BSD, respectively. The estimates differed (P < 0.05) between the diets. The overall passage rate constant of total rumen particles was estimated to be higher for BSD than that for EHD or LHD (P < 0.05). Ruminal fermentation parameters were unaffected by dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Intake levels of rumen degradable organic matter (RDOM) and RDN were estimated to be greater for LHD than that for EHD or BSD (P < 0.05). Although dietary arrangements were made to give identical microbial efficiency, the estimated value was higher for EHD than that for LHD or BSD (P < 0.05); and the MBN yield for BSD was estimated to be lower than that for EHD or LHD (P < 0.05). Rumen kinetic parameters of degradation and particle flow of forage affected EDG values and MBN yield from forage‐related RDN intake, although those had little effect on the efficiency of MBN yield from forage‐related RDOM intake.     

不同精料补饲水平对藏绵羊瘤胃内环境参数的影响

选择1.2岁左右藏绵羊30只,随机分3组,采用单因子分组设计,以青干草为基础日粮,按每只150,300,450 g/d 3种精料水平补饲,研究不同精料补饲水平对藏绵羊瘤胃代谢参数变化规律的影响。结果表明;随精料补饲水平提高,藏绵羊瘤胃液pH值下降,NH3-N浓度、NH3-N浓度平均值、总挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)浓度显著增加(P<0.05)。在本试验条件下,从藏绵羊瘤胃内环境的稳定方面考虑,藏绵羊每日补饲精料300 g效果最佳。     

Effects of diets containing alfalfa hay or barley flour mixed alfalfa silage on feeding behavior, productivity, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in lactating cows

The effects of barley flour on the fermentation parameters of alfalfa silage and on the productivity of dairy cows were investigated. Alfalfa forage was ensiled either with or without barley flour. Barley flour was soaked in water for 24 h before being mixed with alfalfa (12 kg: 100 kg dry matter bases) at ensiling. Eighteen multi-parous cows were assigned to three equal treatment groups using a completely randomized design. Three isocaloric and isonitrogenous total mixed rations containing alfalfa hay, ordinary alfalfa silage or barley flour mixed alfalfa silage were then prepared. The concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, acetic acid and butyric acid were lower in barley flour mixed alfalfa silage compared to that in ordinary alfalfa silage but the concentration of lactic acid was lower in the ordinary alfalfa silage. Feeding behavior, milk yield and composition, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites were measured. Although dry matter intake and milk production were not affected, the effect of preparation of alfalfa influenced feeding behavior and rumen fermentation parameters. Cows on alfalfa silage diets spent longer ruminating compared to those fed alfalfa hay. The ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea were affected by ensiling (alfalfa hay versus alfalfa silages) while both parameters were lower in cows fed on barley flour mixed alfalfa silage than those fed on ordinary silage. Although similar blood glucose was recorded for cows fed on alfalfa silages, it was higher in cows fed on alfalfa hay. It is concluded that the addition of barely flour when making alfalfa silage may improve both the fermentation process during ensilage and the ruminal ammonia nitrogen utilization with no significant effects on productivity.