Chromic oxide and acid‐insoluble ash as markers in digestibility studies with growing pigs and sows

The results of three experiments, focused on the determination of endogenous ileal flow (EIF) of amino acids (AA) and nitrogen (N) (Exp. 1), apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA and N (Exp. 2), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), N, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) (Exps. 2 and 3), were used to compare chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) and acid‐insoluble ash (AIA) as digestibility markers. In Exps. 1 and 2, a total of six gilts fitted with T‐cannula in terminal ileum, and in Exp. 3, a total of 24 pregnant sows were used. In Exps. 1 and 2, the pigs were assigned into four dietary treatments according to 4 × 6 crossover design (Exp. 1; diets with 0%, 4%, 8% and 12% of casein; Exp. 2 basal diet with different levels of phytase). In Exp. 3, the sows were assigned to four dietary treatments (basal diet with different levels of phytase) of six sows. In Exps. 1 and 2 ileal digesta and in Exps. 2 and 3 faeces were collected for the determination of EIF, AID and ATTD. Differences in EIF of AA determined by Cr₂O₃ and AIA ranged (p ? 0.05) from ?4.62 to 4.54%. The lowest EIF was for methionine and the greatest one for proline, determined by both markers. Apparent ileal digestibility determined by Cr₂O₃ was slightly greater (p ? 0.05) in comparison with AIA. Differences ranged from 1.88% (Arg) to 7.08% (Gly). The greatest AID was for arginine and the lowest one for glycine, determined by both Cr₂O₃ and AIA. Similarly for ATTD of DM, OM, N, Ca and P, there were no differences in digestibility determined by Cr₂O₃ and AIA. Both, Cr₂O₃ and AIA, are suitable and comparable markers for digestibility studies in pigs.     

Nutritional strategies to cope with reduced litter weight gain and total tract digestibility in lactating sows

Twelve lactating sows were used to evaluate the effects of reducing dietary crude protein (CP) (14% vs. 12%) and increasing neutral detergent fibre (NDF) levels (18% vs. 22%) on litter performance, total tract apparent digestibility and manure composition in a 4 × 4 latin square arrangement during a 36‐day lactation period. Diets were isoenergetic (2.9 Mcal ME/kg) and had similar total lysine content (0.9%). In addition, a second aim was to compare a reference external marker method (Cr₂O₃) with an internal feed marker [acid‐insoluble ash (AIA)] for the calculation of apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients in lactating sows. The reduction of dietary CP level in lactating sows had no effect on either live‐weight or backfat thickness or apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients. However, the piglets' average daily gain (ADG) was reduced in low dietary CP diets, which suggests that sows reduced milk production due to an underestimation of certain essential amino acid requirements (e.g. valine). The increase of dietary NDF level did not affect sow and litter performance. Nevertheless, the total tract apparent digestibility of organic matter, CP and carbohydrates was reduced, and ether extract digestion was increased in high NDF compared to normal NDF diets equally balanced for ME and lysine content. The coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility of nutrients in lactating sows were greater when using AIA compared to Cr₂O₃ marker, regardless of dietary CP or NDF level, but their coefficients of variation were lower in the former than in the latter. In lactating sows, a trade‐off between litter performance and nutrient digestion is established when reducing dietary CP or increasing NDF levels while maintaining similar lysine content through synthetic amino acids and balancing metabolizable energy through dietary fat sources.     

Responses in dairy cows to increased inclusion of wheat in maize and grass silage based diets

Abstract

The effects of including wheat in the total mixed rations of dairy cows were evaluated using a 4×4 Latin square dose response experiment with 28 dairy cows (Swedish red). The animals were averaging 150 days in milk at the start of the experiment. Diets consisted of mixtures of maize and grass silage with wheat grain at four levels (8, 16, 24 and 32% of dry matter (DM)). The animals consumed 17.8, 19.7, 21.1 and 23.8 kg of DM and produced 28.1, 29.1 29.6 and 30.2 kg of energy corrected milk, respectively. Digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was determined using indigestible NDF (iNDF) as a marker. DM digestibility, feed intake and milk and protein yields increased with increasing wheat content while the milk fat concentration, the digestibility of NDF and the feed efficiency of the diets decreased.     

Effects of a selection of additives on in vitro ruminal methanogenesis and in situ and in vivo NDF digestibility

The effects of 18 essential oils, yeast, Quebracho tannin and Quillaja saponin on ruminal methane and gas production (GP) were studied in vitro. A lactating cow diet was incubated with rumen inoculum. Doses of the additives (mg/L) were: essential oils = 500; tannin = 67; yeast = 8.35 and 16.7; and saponin = 300. Lemongrass, estragole, eugenol, geraniol, limonen, thyme oil and thymol produced less gas (overall mean 33.8 mL/200 mg dry matter (DM)) than control (43.6 mL/200 mg DM; P < 0.001). Methane produced (mL/200 mg DM) by guaiacol (10.7), lemongrass (9.6), limonene (11.4), thyme oil (10.9) and thymol (2.1) was lower than control (12.5) (P < 0.001). Methane percentage on total GP was lower (P < 0.001) for cinnamic alcohol (25.4), guaiacol (24.5), thymol (19.7) and vanillin (26.3) than control (28.8). In a second experiment, thymol, guaiacol and yeast were added to the diet of dry fistulated cows to determine in situ neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) of six forages and in vivo dietary NDFD. Thymol and yeast decreased in situ NDFD after 24 h (33.9% and 33.5% vs. 38.1%; P = 0.008). Thymol decreased in vivo total tract NDFD (40.8% vs. 51.4%; P = 0.02). Differences in GP and methane levels were registered within classes of additives. A careful selection of additives may allow for the manipulation of ruminal fermentation.     

Use of fibrolytic enzymes additives to enhance in vitro ruminal fermentation of corn silage

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of four enzyme additives on ruminal fermentation of corn silage using a 48 h batch culture in vitro assay with buffer and ruminal fluid. Experiment 1 (Exp. 1) and Experiment 2 (Exp. 2) were conducted as completely randomized designs each with two runs and four replicates. The enzyme additives (E1, E2, E3, and E4) were commercial products that provided a range in endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and xylanase activities. For both xylanase (birch wood and oat spelt substrate) and endoglucanase (carboxymethylcellulose substrate), the enzyme products (per ml) were ranked E4>E1>E2>E3. In Exp. 1, the four enzymes were added at 0, 2, 4, and 8 μl/g of corn silage dry matter (DM), whereas in Exp. 2 enzymes were added at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 μl/g DM. Gas production (GP) was measured at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h after incubation. Disappearance of DM (DMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), and acid detergent fiber (ADFD), and volatile fatty acid concentrations (VFA; total and individual molar proportions) were determined after 24 and 48 h. In Exp. 1, E1 and E2 had higher NDFD and ADFD at 24 and 48 h of incubation (P<0.001) compared with E3 and E4. Increasing dose rate increased NDFD and ADFD for all enzymes (except ADFD for E4 at 48 h), with the optimum dose rate dependant on the enzyme additive (dose×enzyme; P<0.01). There were some treatment effects on DMD and total GP at 24 and 48 h, but these responses were not consistent with responses in NDFD and ADFD. Experiment 2 was conducted to confirm the effects and optimum dose rate of each enzyme additive. In Exp. 2, DMD was not affected by enzyme after 24 and 48 h incubation. There were no enzyme×dose interactions for DMD, NDFD, or ADFD after 24 or 48 h of incubation (except for ADFD at 48 h). After 24 h, DMD, NDFD, and ADFD increased linearly with increasing dose (P<0.05); after 48 h DMD increased linearly, whereas NDFD increased quadratically with increasing enzyme dose (P<0.05). The ADFD increased linearly after 48 h for E3 and E4, but after 48 h ADFD increased quadratically for E1 and E2. Total GP was consistently lowest for E4 at both incubation times (P<0.05). There were no enzyme×dose interactions (P>0.05) for any of the fermentation variables at either 24 or 48 h of incubation in Exp. 2. There were differences amongst the additives for total VFA at 24 and 48 h (P≤0.05); increasing enzyme dose decreased total VFA after 24 h but increased total VFA at 48 h, such that all doses were higher than the control (P<0.001). Overall, the enzyme additives increased NDFD and ADFD of corn silage in vitro; however, E1 and E2 were more effective than E3 or E4. Responses to increasing dose of enzyme were generally linear or curvilinear, and the optimum dose rate differed amongst the products evaluated. Evaluation of the enzymes at 24 and 48 h generally led to the same ranking of the additives, and the degradation of NDF and ADF was more useful in differentiating the enzymes compared with DM and total GP.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibility by cattle offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Background:The potential for acid-detergent insoluble ash(ADIA),alkaline-peroxide lignin(APL),and acid-detergent lignin(ADL) to predict fecal output(FO) and dry matter digestibility(DMD) by cattle offered bermudagrass[Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers.]hays of different qualities was evaluated.Eight ruminally cannulated cows(594 ± 35.5 kg) were allocated randomly to 4 hay diets:low(L),medium low(ML),medium high(MH),and high(H) crude protein(CP)concentration(79,111,131,and 164 g CP/kg on a DM basis,respectively).Diets were offered in 3 periods with 2 diet replicates per period and were rotated across cows between periods.Cows were individually fed 20 g DM/kg of body weight in equal feedings at 08:00 and 16:00 h for a 10-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection.Actual DM intake(DMI),DMD,and FO were determined based on hay offered,ort,and feces excreted.These components were then analyzed for ADL,APL,and ADIA concentration to determine marker recovery and marker-based estimates of FO and DMD.Results:Forage DMI was affected by diet(P = 0.02),and DMI from MH and H was greater(P 0.05) than from L.Apparent DMD tended(P = 0.08) to differ among diets while FO(P = 0.20) was not affected by diet treatments.Average ADL recovery(1.16) was greater(P 0.05) than that of ADIA(1.03) and APL(1.06),but ADIA and APL did not differ(P = 0.42).Estimates of FO and DMD derived using APL and ADIA were not different(P 0.05) from total fecal collection while those using ADL differed(P 0.05).There was no diet by marker interaction(P 0.22)for either FO or DMD.Conclusion:Acid-detergent insoluble ash and APL accurately predicted FO and DMD of cattle fed bermudagrass hay of varying nutrient composition.These internal markers may facilitate studies involving large numbers of animals and forages.Results from such studies may be used to develop improved equations to predict energy values of forages based on the relationship of dietary components to digestibility across a wide range of forages.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibility by cattle offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Camelina sativa is an oil seed crop which can be grown on marginal lands. Camelina seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (>35%) and γ-tocopherol but is also high in erucic acid and glucosinolates. Camelina meal, is the by-product after the oil has been extracted. Camelina meal was fed to 28 d old weaned pigs at 3.7% and 7.4% until age 56 d. The camelina meal supplements in the soy based diets, improved feed efficiency but also significantly increased the liver weights. Gene expression analyses of the livers, using intra-species microarrays, identified increased expression of phase 1 and phase 2 drug metabolism enzymes. The porcine versions of the enzymes were confirmed by real time PCR. Cytochrome 8b1 (CYP8B1), aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2), and thiosulfate transferase (TST) were all significantly stimulated. Collectively, these genes implicate the camelina glucosinolate metabolite, methyl-sulfinyldecyl isothiocyanate, as the main xeniobiotic, causing increased hepatic metabolism and increased liver weight.     

日粮不同纤维水平和精粗比对绒山羊瘤胃内中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维消失率的影响

选用18只、2.5岁、体重25kg左右的安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊羯羊,用尼龙袋法测定了3个精粗比(30∶70、20∶80、10∶90)6个中性洗涤纤维(NDF)水平(49%、52%、59%、55%、62%和65%)日粮中的中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)2、4、6、8、12、24、48和72h的消失率。结果表明:NDF水平为52%时,绒山羊日粮中的NDF和ADF消失率较高。精粗比例为30∶70、20∶80和10∶90时,绒山羊日粮中的中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维消失率受影响不同,精粗比20∶80日粮组2～72hNDF和ADF消失率较高,其中2h和72h时NDF和ADF消失率明显高于30∶70和10∶90日粮组。由此可以得出,绒山羊配合饲料中纤维素水平为52%,精粗比例为20∶80较适宜。     

Effects of the ruminal comminution rate and microbial contamination of particles on accuracy of in situ estimates of ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of feedstuffs

Effects of considering the comminution rate (k_c) and the correction of microbial contamination (using ¹⁵N techniques) of particles in the rumen on estimates of ruminally undegraded fractions and their intestinal digestibility were examined generating composite samples (from rumen‐incubated residues) representative of the undegraded feed rumen outflow. The study used sunflower meal (SFM) and Italian ryegrass hay (RGH) and three rumen and duodenum cannulated wethers fed with a 40:60 RGH to concentrate diet (75 g DM/kgBW^0.75). Transit studies up to the duodenum with Yb‐SFM and Eu‐RGH marked samples showed higher k_c values (/h) in SFM than in RGH (0.577 vs. 0.0892, p = 0.034), whereas similar values occurred for the rumen passage rate (k_p). Estimates of ruminally undegraded and intestinal digestibility of all tested fractions decreased when k_c was considered and also applying microbial correction. Thus, microbial uncorrected k_p‐based proportions of intestinal digested undegraded crude protein overestimated those corrected and k_c?k_p‐based by 39% in SFM (0.146 vs. 0.105) and 761% in RGH (0.373 vs. 0.0433). Results show that both k_c and microbial contamination correction should be considered to obtain accurate in situ estimates in grasses, whereas in protein concentrates not considering k_c is an important source of error.     

Effect of dietary lignocellulose on ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids in broiler chickens

The study was conducted to determine the effect of a lignocellulose supplemented diet on apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids (FA) in broiler chickens. A total of 48 21‐day‐old male Ross 308 chickens were divided into four treatment groups (n = 12) with six replicates per treatment. From 21 to 42 days of age, the broilers were fed experimental diets varied in the amount of lignocellulose: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%. Total excreta were gathered during the last 3 days of the feeding trial and digesta was collected from the ileum at 42 days of the bird age. Digestibility was determined by the indicator method. The ether extract content in diet/digesta/excreta was determined by the gravimetric method, and fatty acid methyl esters were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fat digestibility measured to the end of the small intestine and in the whole gastrointestinal tract in birds was high and exceeded 90% and 87% respectively. Addition of lignocellulose (1%) increased (p < 0.05) ileal fat digestibility but had no significant effect on total tract fat digestion. Absorption of total fatty acids (TFA) as well as myristic (C14:0), palmitoleic (C16:1) and α‐linolenic (C18:3n?3) acids, estimated by both methods, was significantly higher in birds fed the diets supplemented with lignocellulose, especially at a dose of 1%. Total tract absorption of some dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (C20:2, C20:4n?6) was significantly lower from diet supplemented with 0.5% and 0.25% lignocellulose. There was observed a decrease in apparent digestibility of fat and most examined fatty acids, when measured between terminal ileum and total gastrointestinal tract. The results suggest that lignocellulose can affect digestion and FA absorption in broilers but, as the effect of lignocellulose was not studied previously, further investigations are necessary to confirm the results of the present experiment.     

Effects of maturity stage and feeding strategy of whole crop barley silage on intake, digestibility and milk production in dairy cows

Five diets containing concentrate, grass silage and whole crop barley silage (WCBS) harvested at different maturity stages were fed to 15 multiparous dairy cows in an incomplete change-over design over three periods. Three diets contained 10.7 kg dry matter (DM) concentrate, 4 kg DM grass silage, and ad libitum access to WCBS harvested at either the heading stage (B1), the early milk stage (B2) or the early dough stage (B3) of maturity. The other two diets contained 10.7 kg DM concentrate, whereas grass silage and WCBS at heading were mixed at two different ratios with a DM content of WCBS of either 0.30 (M1) or 0.70 (M2), and the mixtures were fed ad libitum. Intakes of DM (kg day^− 1: B1 = 21.0, B2 = 20.6 and B3 = 20.0) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF; kg day^− 1: B1 = 7.0, B2 = 6.4 and B3 = 6.3) decreased, whereas starch intake increased (kg day^− 1: B1 = 3.1, B2 = 3.5 and B3 = 4.0) with increasing maturity at harvest. The apparent organic matter (OM) digestibility (g kg^− 1: B1 = 800, B2 = 774 and B3 = 729) decreased with increasing maturity stage, and consequently so did the digestible OM intake. Milk (kg day^− 1: B1 = 27.2, B2 = 26.1 and B3 = 25.9) and energy corrected milk (ECM; kg day^− 1: B1 = 31.0, B2 = 29.4 and B3 = 28.2) yields, and protein concentration (g kg^− 1: B1 = 37.1, B2 = 36.4 and B3 = 36.0) decreased with increasing maturity stage of the WCBS. When cows were fed diet B3 the milk fat concentration decreased (46.4 g kg^− 1) compared to diets B1 (49.3 g kg^− 1) and B2 (49.4 g kg^− 1). The difference in ECM yield between diets B1 and B3 was due to a combined effect of lower milk yield, and lower protein and fat concentrations. This was caused by the higher starch and lower NDF intakes with diet B3, which decreased the milk fat concentration. Moreover, a lower energy intake of diet B3 due to lower OM digestibility decreased milk protein concentration and milk yield. Mixing WCBS at the heading stage with grass silage (M2) decreased digestibility, compared to feeding the forages separately (B1). However, the differences were small and may be a result of soil contamination at harvest of some of the silages, which made the method with using incomplete faecal collection and internal marker acid insoluble ash less reliable. Including WCBS at the heading stage at 0.30 or 0.70 of forage DM did not affect DM intake or diet digestibility, probably because the grass silage in the study was very similar in energy content to the WCBS harvested at heading.     

Effects of rice straw particle size on digesta particle size distribution,nitrogen metabolism,blood biochemical parameters,microbial amino acid composition and intestinal amino acid digestibility in goats

Effects of rice straw particle size and physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) on particle size distribution of different digestive tract, nitrogen (N) metabolism, blood biochemical parameters, microbial amino acid (AA) composition and intestinal AA digestibility in goats were investigated. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was employed using four mature Liuyang black goats fitted with permanent ruminal, duodenal, and terminal ileal fistulae. During each of the four periods, goats were offered one of four diets that were similar in chemical composition, but varied in particle sizes and peNDF through alteration of the theoretical cut length of rice straw (10, 20, 40 and 80 mm, respectively). Dietary peNDF contents of four diets were 17.4, 20.9, 22.5 and 25.4%, respectively. Results showed that increasing particle size of rice straw and dietary peNDF significantly affected the particle size distributions of digesta in rumen, duodenum and ileum, except feces. However, increasing particle size of rice straw and peNDF did not affected N metabolism in goats, except the increased apparent N digestibility in rumen and large intestine, and the decreased apparent N digestibility in small intestine. Furthermore, increasing particle size of rice straw and peNDF showed little influence on the profile of blood biochemical parameters, microbial AA composition and intestinal AA digestibility in goats.     

不同方法测定反刍动物饲料NDF、ADF和木质素含量的比较

采用传统抽滤、ANKOM滤袋和CAU滤袋技术测定16种反刍动物饲料的中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)和木质素(PL,高锰酸钾法)含量。结果表明:3种方法测定的大部分饲料的NDF、ADF和PL含量间没有差异(P>0.05),但在测定谷物性饲料NDF含量时,ANKOM滤袋技术测定值明显低于其他2种方法(P<0.05);在测定动物性蛋白质饲料时,CAU滤袋测定的NDF值明显高于其他2种方法(P<0.05)。3种方法测定的NDF、ADF和木质素含量均具有显著的线性相关关系(R2=0.990～0.996),其中2个滤袋技术测定值之间的相关程度最高(R2=0.992～0.996);2个滤袋技术测定值的变异系数(CV=2.20%～3.96%)均小于传统抽滤(CV=3.21%～4.91%)。     

Vegetation-type effects on performance and meat quality of growing Engadine and Valaisian Black Nose sheep grazing alpine pastures

Lambs of two Swiss mountain breeds, Engadine Sheep (ES; n=55) and Valaisian Black Nose Sheep (VS; n=55), were fattened in 2010 and 2011 on one lowland and three alpine pastures. Groups of six to seven lambs per breed were allocated to pastures of a size allowing ad libitum intake on the following four vegetation types: (i) species-poor and nutrient-rich lowland (400 m a.s.l.) ryegrass–clover ley on flat terrain (‘lowland-rich’); (ii) alpine, species-rich and nutrient-rich vegetation type on a flat terrain (1950 m; ‘alpine-rich’); (iii) alpine, species-rich vegetation type, moderate in nutrients on steep terrain (2150 m; ‘alpine-moderate’); and (iv) alpine, species-rich and nutrient-poor vegetation type on steep terrain (2150 m; ‘alpine-poor’). Lambs were slaughtered after 9 weeks of grazing in a commercial slaughterhouse. Carcasses were subjected to the Swiss CH-TAX classification grid. Meat quality was analysed on the Musculus longissimus dorsi (LD) in the segment of Musculus longissimus lumborum. Forage quality varied among vegetation types as anticipated. Across all sites, ES were superior (P<0.001) to VS in dressing percentage (43.9 vs. 38.4), carcass weight (18.4 vs. 16.4 kg), meat conformation and fat cover scores, even though daily gains had been lower (105 vs. 122 g/d; P<0.05). Meat of ES contained more dry matter, protein, total ash (P<0.001) and fat (P<0.05). Their meat was darker and more intensive red, had lower cooking losses (23.0 vs. 25.1%) but was less tender (65.6 vs. 58.1 N) compared to VS (P<0.001). Vegetation types offering good quality forage (lowland-rich and alpine-rich) enhanced average daily gains, dressing percentage, meat conformation and fat cover scores (mostly P<0.05 against alpine-moderate and -poor). Similarly, a higher vegetation quality promoted a higher intramuscular fat and lower cooking losses. Meat from lowland-rich was darkest and had the lowest shear force (P<0.05). Almost no breed×site interactions occurred in growth performance as well as carcass and meat quality. It was therefore concluded that both breeds are similarly well adapted to the extensive pasture production system in alpine regions. Still, ES seem to be the more efficient one of the two sheep breeds. The results also indicate that growth performance and meat quality clearly vary between vegetation types in animals grazing alpine pastures.     

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。     

Effect of fructo‐oligosaccharides on nutrient digestibility and digesta retention time in adult guinea pigs

A previous study suggested that addition of fructo‐oligosaccharides (FOS) to the diet improved nitrogen (N) utilization and decreased acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility in guinea pigs. The present study was conducted to clarify the relationship between ADF digestibility and gastrointestinal mean retention time (MRT) in guinea pigs under FOS supplementation. Adult male guinea pigs were fed a commercial diet (50 g/day) with either 5% glucose (glucose group) or 5% FOS (FOS group) for 12 days in individual metabolism cages. Unlike the glucose group, N utilization improved, but ADF digestibility significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the FOS group. MRT of solid digesta also significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the FOS group compared with that in the glucose group. We concluded that reduction of MRT of solid digesta containing FOS decreased ADF digestibility in guinea pigs.     

Effect of dietary fiber on methane production in Chinese Lantang gilts

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary fiber on methane (CH₄) production in pigs using the Chinese native Lantang gilts as study model. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first, 12 Lantang gilts (58.7±0.37 kg), individually housed in open-circuit respiration chambers were randomly divided into two groups (six replicates per dietary group) and fed either with low fiber diet [LFD; neutral detergent fiber (NDF)=201.5 g/kg] or high fiber diet (HFD; NDF=329.7 g/kg). Wheat bran was the main source of fiber for the LFD while ground rice hull (mixture of rice bran and rice hull) was used in the HFD. Results of the study showed that gilts fed LFD recorded higher (P<0.05) digestibility coefficients for dry matter (DM), total organic carbon (TOC), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose than those in the HFD. However, digestibility coefficient for NDF did not differ between treatments but that for hemicellulose was higher for HDF than for LDF. Because of the higher NDF and hemicellulose contents in the diet, pigs in the HFD recorded higher (P<0.05) amount of digested NDF (126.1 vs. 83.6 g/d) and hemicellulose (38.7 vs. 11.9 g/d) than those fed LFD. The higher amount of digested NDF and hemicellulose recorded for the HFD treatment was inconsistent with the lower (P<0.01) daily CH₄ production from gilts fed the HFD compared to that fed LFD (2.46 vs. 3.90 L/pig). To better explain for the unexpected higher CH₄ production from pigs fed LFD, an in vitro fermentation study was conducted using a factorial design comprised of two inocula (collected from low fiber and high fiber diets) and eight substrates (LFD, HFD, wheat bran, ground rice hull and their respective NDF residues). Results of the in vitro trial seems to suggest that the low CH₄ production from the HFD animals was primarily the results of low fermentation rates of HFD and the ground rice hull. However, the calculated CH₄ productions based on the molar percentage of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in both, in vivo and in vitro experiments reaffirmed the in vivo result, that is, CH₄ production from pigs fed HFD was lower than that fed LFD. Although there is a lack of scientific data from this study to fully explain for the unexpected lower CH₄ production from pigs fed the HFD, our results seems to suggest that quantity of digested fiber (including NDF) was not the sole factor affecting enteric CH₄ production in pigs.     

各种加工副产品的化学成分及其对瘤胃内In situ消化率的影响

为了开发TMR饲料的原料资源,对10余种副产品的化学成分、重金属含量及In situ DM消失率进行了研究,结果表明：酒精粕、麦芽皮、柑橘渣可作为能量饲料;木炭、咖啡粕、灵芝粕可作为粗纤维饲料,芝麻粕可作为蛋白质饲料,而啤酒糟可以成为反刍动物良好的蛋白质和粗纤维来源。同时所有测定的副产品的Cr、Hg、Pb和Cd等重金属的含量都在安全范围之内。另外,饲料在瘤胃内的分解常数“a”值以木炭和酒精粕最高,咖啡粕、麦芽皮及芝麻粕等次之,而灵芝粕和啤酒糟最低。“b”值以羽扇豆皮和啤酒糟最高,其次是酒精粕、麦芽皮和芝麻粕,木炭最低。ED值以酒精粕最高,其次是麦芽皮、木炭、羽扇豆皮及咖啡粕,而灵芝粕最低。     

北京地区规模化牛场玉米青贮和TMR颗粒度评价及常规营养成分研究

针对我国粗饲料资源较差以及广泛存在的青贮铡切较长等现实问题,本研究旨在为制定适合于中国饲料资源条件的青贮以及不同生长和泌乳阶段奶牛的TMR分级标准提供基础数据。本试验对北京地区规模化奶牛场的玉米青贮和TMR样品进行颗粒度筛分和常规营养成分测定,并与美国宾州颗粒度分级筛（PSPS）的TMR颗粒度和日粮NDF推荐值进行比较。通过比对发现我国玉米青贮的饲料颗粒度普遍偏大,第一层筛网上的饲料比例远超过宾州筛3%～5%的推荐值。新产牛和高产牛TMR样品位于第一层筛网上的饲料比例绝大多数超过了8%,第二层筛网上的饲料比例比美国推荐值要低15%～25%,这可能是由于粗饲料（青贮和干草）颗粒度过长造成的。高产牛和新产牛日粮NDF含量处于35%～42%,基本上在美国宾州筛推荐的中低产奶牛日粮的NDF范围,这与我国的粗饲料资源有限、质量不高、粗饲料铡切长度有关。因而,我国牧场不能照搬美国宾州筛的TMR分级标准,而应根据我国粗饲料的国情,制订适合于中国饲料资源条件的青贮与不同生长和泌乳阶段奶牛的TMR分级标准。