Thermal decomposition,chemical composition,in vitro digestibility and gas production and in situ degradability of oilseed residues from the biofuel industry

Thermal analysis could rapidly and easily predict nutritional value of ruminant feeds. The hypothesis is that crambe meal (CM) has a quality similar to that of soybean meal (SM), and the objective of this study was to determine the nutritional characteristics of CM and compare them to those of SM. CM had greater concentrations of phytic acid (26.3 vs. 16.0 g/kg) and phenol compounds (615 vs. 393 mg gallic acid (GAE)/kg) than SM. In vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility was lower for CM than SM (752 vs. 975 g/kg DM). Cumulative in vitro gas production at 48 h of incubation (14.1 vs. 19.4 mL/100 mg substrate DM), and energy release (4.5 vs. 5.7 kJ/g substrate DM) were lower for CM than SM. CM had a higher concentration of low digestible fiber, hence degradability of DM was lower and the proportion of indigestible fraction was greater for CM than SM. High concentrations of indigestible compounds were likely responsible for lower gas production of CM compared to SM. These results suggest CM quality is lower than that of SM and that thermal analysis is a useful tool to precisely determine the nutritive value of oilseed residues.     

Puncture of the Equine Embryonic Capsule and Its Repair In Vivo and In Vitro

Vitrification of embryos >300 µm in diameter requires puncture of the glycoprotein capsule, although the size of the hole compatible with embryo survival is unknown. Forty-five day-7 or -8 embryos were punctured using a 30-µm glass biopsy pipette mounted on a micromanipulator (n = 20) or manually with either an acupuncture needle (∼100-µm diameter -hole; n = 10) or a microneedle with a <1 µm tip to produce a ∼30-µm diameter hole (n = 15) before transferring to recipient mares; further 12 embryos were punctured with either the acupuncture needle or microneedle before being cultured in vitro for 48 hrs (n = 3 per puncture group) or transferred to recipient mares and recovered 48 hrs later (n = 3 per puncture group). No pregnancies resulted from the 10 embryos punctured with the acupuncture needle, whereas 15 of 20 (75%) and 10 of 15 (67%) punctured on the micromanipulator or manually with the microneedle resulted pregnancies. Neither acupunctured nor microneedle-punctured embryos repaired their capsules in vitro. The acupunctured embryos also failed to repair their capsule after 48 hrs in vivo and subsequent uterine flushing yielded numerous capsular vesicles. The microneedle-punctured embryos did repair their capsule in vivo. Puncture with the microneedle opens the way for development of a manual method to vitrify equine embryos.     

Digestible energy intake, dry matter digestibility and mineral status of grazing New Zealand Thoroughbred yearlings

AIM: To measure the nutritive value of pasture in terms of digestible energy intake (DEI) and dry matter (DM) digestibility, and to determine the effect of Ca, P, Cu, Zn, and Se supplementation on growth rate and degree of physeal swelling in Thoroughbred yearlings grazed on pasture. METHODS: Fourteen yearling horses were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups and rotationally grazed on a ryegrass/white clover pasture for 7 months. One group was supplemented daily with a mineral mix. Liveweight changes were recorded at fortnightly intervals and pasture mineral composition determined at monthly intervals. The DM intake (DMI) was determined from daily faecal DM outputs divided by the indigestible DM fraction (1 - digestible DM) determined from a digestibility study. The DEI was determined from the difference between the gross energy intake and the gross energy faecal output. The DM, gross energy content, crude protein (CP), soluble carbohydrate, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), lipid and mineral composition of pasture offered and faeces were analysed and their digestibility or apparent absorption calculated. RESULTS: The DM digestibility of pasture averaged 0.64 while the daily DMI and DEI of a 350 kg yearling, gaining 0.6 kg liveweight/day, averaged 6.9 kg DM/day and 78 MJ DE/day, respectively. The mineral supplement had no significant effect on the growth of yearlings grazing pasture that had a mineral composition of (g/kg DM) Na 0.17, K 32.8, Ca 3.6, P 3.4, Mg 2.1, S 3.0, and (mg/kg DM) Cu 7.9, Fe 177, Mn 83, Zn 28 and Se 0.016. Plasma Se was elevated (e.g. 40-218 microg/l) by Se supplementation while Cu supplementation had no effect on plasma and liver Cu concentrations. Physeal swelling was observed in all horses, regardless of treatment. CONCLUSION: Good quality ryegrass/white clover pasture that had a DE content of 11.3 MJ/kg DM and adequate mineral composition (as observed in this study, with the possible exception of Se) will provide an adequate intake of nutrients to ensure good growth in yearling horses.     

Determination of the digestible energy intake and apparent absorption of macroelements in pasture-fed lactating Thoroughbred mares

AIM: To measure the nutritive value of pasture in terms of digestible energy (DE) intake (DEI) and dry matter (DM) digestibility, and to determine the apparent absorption of macroelements in lactating Thoroughbred mares grazed on pasture. METHODS: DM intake (DMI) and DEI were determined from daily faecal DM output measured in grazing mares, divided by the DM indigestible fraction (1-digestible DM), measured in a digestibility trial using pasture-fed mares. Eight lactating mares and their foals, that had a mean age of 40 days, were grazed separately on 50x100 m areas of pasture and daily faecal DM outputs were recorded for 8 days. Five mares and their foals were then placed in individual bare 20x20 m corrals containing custom-made feeding stations for 14 days to determine the indigestible DM fraction. DM, gross energy content, crude protein (CP), soluble carbohydrate, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), lipid, and macroelement composition of the pasture offered and faeces were determined and their digestibility and/or apparent absorption calculated. RESULTS: DM digestibility of the pasture was 0.6 and the DMI and DEI of a grazing 560 kg mare in early lactation nursing a foal growing at 1.34 kg/day was 13.6 (SE 0.8) kg/day and 146.9 (SE 8.4) MJ DE/day, respectively. Apparent absorptions of the macroelements measured were: Ca 0.75, P 0.43, Mg 0.63, Na 0.78, and K 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: Good quality ryegrass-white clover pasture that had a DE content of 10.8 MJ/kg DM, and a macroelement composition (g/kg) of Ca 3.33, P 3.0, Mg 1.67, Na 1.67, and K 24.2, will provide adequate DMI, DEI, and macroelement intake to lactating Thoroughbred mares.     

Influence of Feeding Horses a High Fiber Diet With or Without Live Yeast Cultures Supplementation on Feed Intake,Nutrient Digestion,Blood Chemistry,Fecal Coliform Count,and In Vitro Fecal Fermentation

Sixteen Quarter Horse mares (body weight: 450–500 kg) were used in a complete randomized design to determine the effects of feeding horses a high fiber diet with or without yeast cultures addition on nutrient intake and digestion, blood chemistry, fecal coliform count, and in vitro fecal fermentation. The treatments were (1) a basal diet without yeast cultures addition (control treatment), (2) control diet plus Procreatin 7 at 15 g/mare/d (P7 treatment), (3) control diet plus Biocell F53 at 11 g/mare/d (F53 treatment), or (4) control diet plus Biosaf SC47 at 15 g/mare/d (SC47 treatment). The basal concentrate diet consisted of a mixture of 50% commercial concentrates and 50% wheat bran fed at 4 kg/mare and offered twice daily at 04:00 and 16:00 hours, while oat straw was offered ad libitum at 05:00 and 17:00 hours. The mares fed the F53 had higher (P < .05) oat straw and total nutrient intakes compared to the control diet. Addition of Biocell F53 and Biosaf SC47 yeast cultures increased (P < .05) all nutrients' digestibilities. Feeding the yeast cultures resulted in higher crude protein (P = .029), neutral detergent fiber (P = .042), and acid detergent fiber (P = .035) digestibilities compared to the control diet. The SC47 treatment had lower blood total protein (P = .014) than the control treatment. Higher (P < .05) asymptotic in vitro fecal gas production was obtained with F53 treatment compared to SC47 treatment without differences between F53, P7, and control treatments. Increased methane production was obtained (P < .05) with F53 and SC47 treatments compared to the control treatment. It can be concluded that daily addition of Biocell F53 yeast culture at 11 g/mare/d resulted in higher feed intake and nutrients digestibility without affecting the mare's health.     

Phosphorus excretion by mares post-lactation

Across the equine literature, estimates of true P digestibility range from −23% to 79%. This large range cannot be explained by differences in P intake or phytate-P intake alone. However, differences in endogenous P secretion into the GI tract may explain the variation. In horses, excess absorbed P is not excreted in the urine but is re-secreted into the GI tract, increasing faecal P and leading to estimates of low P digestibility. Thus, accurate estimates of P digestibility can only be obtained if absorbed P is retained in the horse. The objective of this study was to examine P digestibility in post-lactational mares and control mares that were fed similar amounts of P. It was hypothesized that post-lactational mares would have greater P retention and higher apparent P digestibility than control mares. Prior to the study, four lactating and four non-lactating mares were fed a diet that provided 100% of the control mares’ P requirement, but only 55% of the lactating mares’ P requirement. During the study, both groups were fed P at the rate recommended for non-lactating mares. Post-lactational mares did not retain more P than control mares but tended to excrete more P than control mares (p = .082), presumably due to differences in endogenous P secretion into the GI tract. Metabolic changes occurring during mammary gland involution may have contributed to the increase in P excretion. However, faecal P excretion exceeded P intake in both groups (p = .08) and both groups lost weight during the study. Tissue mobilization during weight loss may have influenced P secretion into the GI tract.     

Comparison of Nutrient Digestibility Between Adult and Aged Horses

There is little published work comparing digestibility in healthy adult versus healthy aged horses. Researchers hypothesized that there would be no differences in macronutrient digestibility between eight adult (5–12 years) and nine aged (19–28 years) horses fed three diets in a Latin square design. Seventeen stock-type mares were randomly assigned for a 5-week period to one of three diets: hay only (HAY), hay plus a starch- and sugar-rich concentrate (CHO), or hay plus a fat- (oil) and fiber-rich concentrate (FF). Each diet period comprised 3 weeks of outdoor group drylot feeding, 2 weeks of indoor stalled individual feeding, followed by a 72-hour digestibility trial including total urine and fecal collection. Feed, fecal, and/or urine samples were analyzed to determine dry matter, crude protein, fat, energy, calcium, and phosphorus apparent retention as well as apparent digestibility. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was also determined. Mean body weight was lower in aged than in adult horses (455 ± 12 kg vs. 500 ± 13 kg; P = .02), but body condition score (BCS) did not differ between groups (aged horses, 4.8 ± 0.2 BCS and adult horses, 5.1 ± 0.2 BCS; P = .20). No age differences in digestibility, apparent digestibility, or apparent retention were seen for any of the variables measured. Based on the results of this study, total tract macronutrient digestibility appears to be similar between healthy adult and aged horses.     

Effect of ensiling whole crop oat with lucerne in different ratios on fermentation quality,aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility on the Tibetan plateau

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ensiling different ratios of whole crop oat to lucerne on fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of silage on the Tibetan plateau. Four experimental treatments were produced varying in the ratio of forages on a fresh matter (FM) basis: 1) 100% oat (control, dry matter (DM) content: 317 g/kg), 2) 90% oat + 10% lucerne (OL10, DM content: 316 g/kg), 3) 80% oat+ 20% lucerne (OL20, DM content: 317 g/kg) and 4) 70% oat+ 30% lucerne (OL30, DM content: 318 g/kg). All treatments were packed into laboratory‐scale silos and ensiled for 60 days and then subjected to an aerobic stability test for 15 days. Further, the four experimental treatments were incubated in vitro with buffered rumen fluid to study the nutrient digestibility. All silages were well preserved with low pH and NH₃‐N contents, and high lactic acid contents and V‐scores (evaluation of silage quality). Increasing the lucerne proportion increased (p < 0.05) crude protein (CP) content of silage, whereas neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fibre contents were not affected. Under aerobic conditions, the control silage showed higher (p < 0.05) yeast counts (>10⁵ cfu/g FM) followed by OL10 silage, and OL10 silage improved aerobic stability for 74 h. OL20 and OL30 silages showed fewer (p < 0.05) yeasts (<10⁵ cfu/g FM) and markedly (p < 0.05) improved the aerobic stability (>360 h). After 48‐h incubation, OL30 silage increased (p < 0.05) in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (IVNDFD) compared with the control silage. These results suggest that replacing oat with lucerne had no unfavourable effects on fermentation quality of silage, but improved CP content, aerobic stability IVDMD and IVNDFD. OL30 silage was the best among the three mixed silages.     

Digestibility,ruminal fermentation,blood metabolites and antioxidant status in ewes supplemented with DL‐methionine or hydroxy‐4 (methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester

The effects of supplementing ewe diets with either DL‐methionine (DL‐Met) or 2‐hydroxy‐4 (methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) were investigated on ruminal in situ degradability of grain and forage diets, in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and antioxidant status. Six ruminally cannulated ewes were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28‐day periods. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) no supplemental Met (control; CON), (ii) DL‐Met at 1.2 g/kg DM intake and (iii) HMBi at 1.8 g/kg dry matter (DM) intake. Corn grain, barley grain and alfalfa hay were evaluated for their ruminal degradability by both in situ incubation and effective degradability measurements of DM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). Compared to other treatments, HMBi supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein and NDF and also tended (p = 0.08) to increase the digestibility of DM and ADF. Moreover, HMBi supplementation increased (p < 0.01) total VFA concentrations, the molar proportions of valerate and iso‐butyrate in the rumen. Compared to the CON treatment, DL‐Met and HMBi treatments tended (p = 0.08) to increase the molar proportion of acetate but decreased (p < 0.05) ruminal ammonia‐N concentration. Ewes supplemented with HMBi and DL‐Met recorded greater (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase than the CON treatment. Serum concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin, high‐density lipoprotein and very low‐density lipoprotein were greater (p < 0.01) and serum urea nitrogen (p < 0.05), malonyl dialdehyde and triglyceride were lower (p < 0.02) in the HMBi and DL‐Met animals than in the CON ewes. The results concluded that HMBi is a very effective form of dietary Met supplementation for ewes with a positive effect on digestion, rumen fermentation and serum antioxidant function.     

Influence of fibrolytic enzymes in total mixed ration containing urea-molasses-treated sugarcane bagasse on the performance of lactating Holstein–Friesian crossbred cows

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different levels of fibrolytic enzyme on nutrient utilization and milk production in dairy cows. Four multiparous early-to-mid-lactation Holstein–Friesian crossbred cows were randomly allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Cows were fed a balanced total mixed ration (TMR) on a dry matter (DM) basis containing 0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme in TMR, where the TMR comprises 60% concentrate supplemented with a fibrolytic enzyme at 0, 2, 4, and 6 g/kg DM of concentrate, and 40% urea-molasses-treated sugarcane bagasse (UMSB) was used as a roughage source. Fibrolytic enzyme supplementation in TMR containing UMSB did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows (p > 0.05). There was a quadratic effect of fibrolytic enzyme levels on the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p < 0.05), and the maximal response was reached at 1.2–2.4 g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme added in the TMR. Furthermore, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk fat, total volatile fatty acids, and propionic acid were greater in a cow fed with 1.2–2.4 g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme, resulting in a lower ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p < 0.05). In conclusion, adding a fibrolytic enzyme in TMR containing UMSB improved nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, and milk production of lactating dairy cows.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Impact of feeding level on digestibility of a haylage‐only diet in Icelandic horses

Eight mature Icelandic geldings were used in an experiment arranged as a change‐over design to evaluate the effect of feeding level on the digestibility of a high‐energy haylage‐only diet. The horses were fed a low feeding level 10.7 g dry matter (DM)/kg body weight (BW) (maintenance) and a high feeding level 18.1 g DM/kg BW (1.5 × maintenance) during two 23 days experimental periods. Total collection of faeces was performed for 6 days at the end of each period to determine the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD). The CTTAD for DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre and energy was higher in horses fed at the low level of feed intake, while feeding level did not affect the CTTAD of crude protein. The largest difference in CTTAD between feeding levels was found for NDF. The content (/kg DM) of digestible energy in the haylage was 11.3 MJ at the low level of feed intake and 10.6 MJ at the high level of feed intake. It can be concluded that feeding level has a large impact on the digestibility and energy value of early cut haylage in Icelandic horses.     

Effect of Partial Replacement of Steam Rolled Corn With Soybean Hulls or Prickly Pear Cactus in the Horse's Diet in the Presence of Live Saccharomyces cerevisiae on In Vitro Fecal Gas Production

The aim of the study was to evaluate the fecal fermentation of partial replacing steam rolled corn with soybean hulls (SH) or prickly pear cactus (PC) as energy source in horse diets, in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Steam rolled corn was replaced with SH at 0% (control), 7.5% (SH75), and 15% (SH150) in the first trial, whereas it was replaced with PC at 0% (control; the same of the first trial), 7.5% (PC75), and 15% (PC150) in the second trial. Yeast of S. cerevisiae was added at 0, 2, and 4 mg/g dry matter (DM) of incubated substrates. Fecal inoculum was obtained from four adult English Thoroughbred horses fed on an amount of commercial concentrate and oat hay ad libitum. Interactions observed between PC rations and yeast doses for the asymptotic gas production (GP), the rate of GP and carbon dioxide (CO₂) production during some incubation hours. Moreover, with no effect due to SH rations (P > .05), increased (P < .05) rate of GP was observed with the ration PC75 compared with other rations. Besides, PC75 and PC150 rations with 0 mg yeast/g DM linearly decreased (P < .05) CO₂ production at some incubation hours. However, SH75 and SH150 ration had increased (P = .005) DM degradability (DMD). Yeast addition at 2 mg/g DM increased the asymptotic GP (P = .048) with the SH75 and PC150 rations. The level of 4 mg yeast/g DM increased the asymptotic GP (P = .048) from the SH150 ration. Yeast addition at 2 and 4 mg/g DM increased (P < .05) ​the asymptotic GP from PC75 and PC150 rations, respectively, with increasing DMD with the both doses. Yeast addition increased (P < .05) CO₂ production from SH75, SH150, PC75, and PC150 rations. It could be concluded that SH and PC can replace steam rolled corn at levels of 7.5% to 15% without negative effect of fermentation kinetics and with better fermentation performance in the presence of yeast at 2 mg/g DM of substrates.     

In Vitro Production of Equine Embryos

The development of methods to produce embryos in vitro in the horse has been delayed compared with other domestic species. Oocytes can be collected from excised ovaries or from the small or preovulatory follicles of live mares. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is the only reliable method to fertilize equine oocytes in vitro. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection-produced embryos can be transferred into the oviducts of recipient mares or cultured to the morula or blastocyst stage of development for nonsurgical embryo transfers into recipients' uteri. Embryos cultured in vitro have some morphological differences compared with embryos collected from the mares' uteri. Most notably, the embryonic capsule does not form in culture, and the zona pellucida fails to expand completely. However, embryo produced in vitro can result in viable pregnancies and healthy offspring.     

Effect of NDF/undegradable crude protein ratio on in vivo digestibility, particle passage rate in riverine buffaloes compared with sheep

In vivo digestibility (eight animals) and solid particles passage rate measured by faecal Cr (four animals fistulated at the rumen) were determined on riverine buffalo bulls and Delle Langhe rams, given four diets at maintenance level (50 g/kg M^0.75 per day of dry matter), according to a Latin square design, composed of a factorial combination of high and low NDF and of high and low protein undegradability. The diets were: L-30 = low NDF (530.0 g/kg DM), low undegradability of protein (29.6%, CP = 138.0 g/kg DM); L-40 = low NDF (537.0 g/kg DM), high undegradability of protein (41.0%, CP = 139.0 g/kg DM); H-30 = high NDF (583.0 g/kg DM), low undegradability of protein (28.3%, CP = 128.0 g/kg DM); H-40 = high NDF (NDF = 580.0 g/kg DM), high undegradability of protein (40.0%, CP = 128.0 g/kg DM). The digestibility of organic matter (66.68% vs. 64.32%, P < 0.05) and of the other analytical fractions (NSC, NDF, cellulose and hemicelluloses) was significantly higher in buffaloes with the exception of that of crude protein which was similar for the two species. Considering the diets within the species, the increased undegradable protein in the small intestine produces different effects: in the buffalo, it does not positively influence the digestibility of NSC but does increase that of cellulose, on the other hand in sheep it influences the digestibility of NSC. The post-ruminal digestibility of the undegraded protein, both in buffalo and sheep, is higher than that from protein of microbial origin. The passage rate of the marker of the solid particles, through the first compartment, k₁ (2.86% h^− 1 and 2.54% h^− 1 for the buffalo and the sheep) and through the entire intestinal tract, MRT (57.50 and 58.88 h for the buffalo and the sheep) does not show significant differences in the two species. The passage rate of the marker of the solid particles in buffalo rumen, at variance with the structural carbohydrates of the diet, is more variable compared with that of the sheep.     

Effect of supplementation of Simada sheep with graded levels of concentrate meal on feed intake,digestibility and body-weight parameters

The experiment consisting of 7 days of digestibility and 90 days of feeding trial was conducted at Wogda (Ethiopia) to determine the effect of supplementation of graded levels of concentrate mix (CM) on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight (BW) change in hay-based feeding of Simada sheep. Twenty-yearling Simada sheep with a mean initial BW of 17.9 ± 0.81 kg (mean ± SD) were used in randomized complete block design arranged into five blocks of four animals. The four dietary treatments that consisted of hay alone (T1), hay +150 g dry matter (DM; T2, low), hay +250 g DM (T3, medium), and hay +350 g DM (T4, high) CM were randomly assigned to each sheep within a block. The CM consisted of wheat bran (WB), noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) meal and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seed meal at the ratio of (2:1:1), respectively. Supplementation with T2 and T3 increased (P < 0.001) total DM and organic matter intake than the control treatment. Overall, supplementation improved (P < 0.001) crude protein intake, digestibility, feed conversion efficiency, BW gain, and profitability compared to the control, whereas sheep on the high than the low and medium level of supplementation performed better in these parameters among the supplemented treatments. From the results of this study, T4 is recommended as the best level of supplementation since it resulted in better nutrient utilization, animal performance, and profitability.     

Effects of cooked molasses blocks and fermentation extract or brown seaweed meal inclusion on intake, digestion, and microbial efficiency in steers fed low-quality hay

Five ruminally, duodenally, and ileally cannulated steers (376 +/- 8.1 kg of initial BW) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square to evaluate effects of cooked molasses block supplementation and inclusion of fermentation extract (Aspergillus oryzae) or brown seaweed meal (Ascophyllum nodosum) on intake, site of digestion, and microbial efficiency. Diets consisted of switchgrass hay (6.0% CP; DM basis) offered ad libitum, free access to water, and one of three molasses blocks (0.341 kg of DM/d; one-half at 0600 and one-half at 1800). Treatments were no block (control), block with no additive (40.5% CP; POS), block plus fermentation extract bolused directly into the rumen via gelatin capsules (2.0 g/d; FS), fermentation extract included in the block (2.0 g/d; FB), and seaweed meal included in the block (10 g/d; SB). Steers were adapted to diets for 14 d followed by a 7-d collection period. Overall treatment effect on hay OM intake tended (8.1 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.5 kg/d; P = 0.14) to increase with block supplementation. Total OM intake (8.4 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.5 kg/d; P = 0.01) increased in steers consuming block compared with control. Apparent and true ruminal OM digestibility increased (P = 0.05) with block consumption. Steers fed SB had greater (P = 0.10) true ruminal OM digestibility compared with steers fed POS (61.0 vs. 57.9 +/- 1.6%). True ruminal CP digestibility increased (P = 0.01) with block supplementation compared with control (37.5 vs. 23.6 +/- 3.7%). Addition of fermentation extract did not affect intake or digestion. Treatments did not alter ruminal pH, total VFA, or individual VFA proportions; however, ruminal ammonia increased (P = 0.01) with block supplementation. In situ disappearance rates of hay DM (3.14 +/- 0.44 %/h), NDF (3.18 +/- 0.47 %/h), and ADF (3.02 +/- 0.57 %/h) were not altered by treatment. Seaweed block increased (P = 0.01) slowly degraded CP fraction compared with POS (39.5 vs. 34.0 +/- 2.07%). Similarly, SB increased (P = 0.01) the extent of CP degradability (74.2 vs. 68.9 +/- 1.81%). No treatment effects (P = 0.24) were observed for microbial efficiency. Block supplementation increased intake, and use of brown seaweed meal seemed to have beneficial effects on forage digestibility in low-quality forage diets.     

Effect of dried Sesbania sesban leaves supplementation on milk yield,feed intake,and digestibility of Holstein Friesian X Zebu (Arado) crossbred dairy cows

This experiment was conducted to investigate effect of dried Sesbania sesban leaves supplementation on milk yield, feed intake and digestibility of Holstein Frisian X Zebu (Arado) crossbred dairy cows. Twelve cows at midlactation (155.83?±?4.49 days of lactation), second parity, and 442.21?±?3.40 kg average live body weight were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments according to a randomized complete block design. Cows were blocked according to their daily milk yield into three blocks of four animals each. Cows were fed a basal diet (control) or a basal diet supplemented with 1.25 kg/day dried Sesbania sesban leaves, 2 kg/day dried Sesbania sesban leaves and 2.75 kg/day dried Sesbania sesban leaves on a dry matter basis for 8 weeks. Total dry matter intake, nutrient intake, milk yield, dry matter digestibility, and nutrient digestibility showed significant variation among treatments. Cows supplemented with the highest level of Sesbania sesban (2.75 kg/day) had higher total dry matter and nutrient intake. Similarly, cows supplemented with 2 and 2.75 kg/day had higher milk yield than the nonsupplemented cows (up to 11.3 and 16.2%, respectively). Digestibility was lower for the nonsupplemented cows compared to cows supplemented with 2 and 2.75 kg/day dried Sesbania sesban leaves but statistically similar to the cows supplemented with 1.25 kg/day dried Sesbania sesban leaves. Supplementation with 2.75 kg/day Sesbania sesban resulted in higher organic matter digestibility (OMD) compared to the control. Crude protein digestibility (CPD), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), and acid detergent fiber digestibility (ADFD) were significantly affected by Sesbania sesban supplementation. The nonsupplemented cows had lower CPD, NDFD, and ADFD. These results indicate that dried Sesbania sesban leaves supplementation to dairy increases total DM intake, digestibility, and milk yield.

     

Growth performance,apparent digestibility,and N balance in Mongolian lambs and hoggs fed diets supplemented with a Chinese traditional herbal medicine complex

We evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Chinese traditional herbal medicine (CTHM) on the growth performance, apparent digestibility, and nitrogen balance in Mongolian lambs and hoggs. The CTHM used as a dietary supplement consisted of 30% pine needles, 20% mugwort, 40% garlic, and 10% Astragalus mongholicus on a dry matter (DM) basis. The basal diet was prepared from corn stover, corn grain, wheat bran, rapeseed meal, shell meal, dicalcium phosphate, salt, vitamin premix, and mineral premix. In total, 16 Mongolian lambs (20.75 kg initial body weight [BW]) and 16 hoggs (33.81 kg initial BW) were allocated randomly to one of two treatments, the basal diet without and with CTHM, with the group receiving CTHM fed 98.5% basal diet + 1.5% CTHM complex on a DM basis. Lamb and hogg growth trials showed that CTHM supplementation improved the final live weight, gain, and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.01). A digestibility trial showed that the diet with CTHM improved the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber in lambs and hoggs. Finally, CTHM supplementation decreased (p < 0.0001) fecal and urinary nitrogen and increased (p = 0.0004) nitrogen (N) retention. Overall, the addition of CTHM to the diets of lambs and hoggs has beneficial effects on growth.     

Copper, zinc and manganese concentrations in equine liver, kidney and plasma

Five groups of horses were fed different diets of known trace mineral concentration for a minimum of six months. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) concentrations were measured in livers of 125 yearling horses and kidneys of 81 yearling horses as an assessment of trace mineral status. Plasma Cu and Zn determinations were made for all horses.

Mean hepatic Cu concentrations of horses fed diets containing 6.9 to 15.2 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) feed were 0.27 to 0.33 μmol/g DM tissue. Plasma Cu concentrations ranged between 22.8 to 28.3 μmol/L. There was no simple mathematical relationship between plasma and hepatic Cu concentrations. Mean hepatic Zn concentrations in horses fed diets containing 25.6 to 52.2 mg Zn/kg DM feed were determined to be between 2.75 to 2.91 μmol/g DM tissue. Mean plasma Zn concentrations in groups of horses were between 11.7 to 13.5 μmol/L. Plasma Zn concentrations were not indicative of hepatic Zn concentration. Hepatic Mn concentrations ranged between 0.13 and 0.14 μmol/g DM tissue.

Renal Zn concentrations ranged between 1.55 to 1.63 μmol/g DM tissue and did not differ with diet. Mean renal Mn concentrations were 0.09 μmol/g DM tissue for all groups of horses. Renal Cu concentrations ranged from 0.36 to 0.47 μmol/g DM tissue and differed with diet.

     

Effects of dietary supplementation of spices on forage degradability,ruminal fermentation,in vivo digestibility,growth performance and nitrogen balance in Black Bengal goat

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of spices on forage utilization and nitrogen (N) emission using in vitro and in vivo approach. A 6 × 5 factorial triplicate arrangement was used to assess the in vitro degradability of rice straw with control (without spices) and individual (40 mg/g rice straw) spices (cumin, coriander, clove, black cumin, turmeric) at five different incubation times. In vitro dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability of rice straw were highest in presence of spices except for clove. Clove significantly reduced the total volatile fatty acids concentration, molar proportion of acetate and propionate ratio, but increased propionate production. Acetate and butyrate production were not affected by treatments. The ammonia‐nitrogen concentration was lowest for clove and turmeric compared to other spices. Rumen pH was unchanged but gradually decreased over the incubation period. For in vivo study, 12 bucks with average live weight 7.65 ± 0.19 kg were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replicates for a 28‐day period. Bucks were fed a total mixed ration without (0 g/kg DM) or with (2.5, 7.5 g/kg DM) clove supplementation. DM intake, body weight and apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were not affected by increasing dietary doses of clove but tended (p = .09) to increase DM and OM digestibility. The urinary N and urine urea N concentration of bucks decreased linearly with incremental doses of clove diet. In contrary, clove supplementation had positive effects on plasma urea N and retained N in bucks. We concluded that though some spices had positive effects on ruminal digestion and fermentation, the dosage level assessed in the current study (up to 7.5 g/kg DM clove) can be promoted as an effective dietary approach to mitigate N losses in bucks.