Energy evaluation of extruded compound foods for dogs by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the chemical composition, apparent digestibility and digestible nutrients and energy content of commercial extruded compound foods for dogs. Fifty-six foods of known chemical composition and in vivo apparent digestibility were analysed overall and 51 foods were used to predict gross energy digestibility and digestible energy content. Modified partial least square calibration models were developed for organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), nitrogen free extracts (NFE) and gross energy (GE) content, the apparent digestibility (OMD, CPD, EED, NFED and GED) and the digestible nutrient and energy content (DOM, DCP, DEE, DNFE and DE) of foods. The calibration equations obtained were evaluated by the standard error and the determination coefficient of cross-validation. The cross-validation coefficients of determination (R) were 0.61, 0.99, 0.91, 0.96, 0.94 and 0.92 for OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE and GE, the corresponding standard error of cross-validation (SECV) being 5.80, 3.51, 13.35, 3.64 and 16.95 g/kg dry matter (DM) and 0.29 MJ/kg DM respectively. The prediction of apparent digestibility was slightly less accurate, but NIRS prediction of digestible nutrient (g/kg DM) and DE (MJ/kg DM) gave satisfactory results, with high R (0.93, 0.97, 0.93, 0.83 and 0.93 for DOM, DCP, DEE, DNFE and DE respectively) and relatively low SECV (11.55, 6.85, 12.14 and 22.98 g/kg DM and 0.47 MJ/kg DM). It is concluded that the precision of NIRS in predicting the energy value of compound extruded foods for dogs is similar or better than by proximate analysis, as well as being faster and more accurate.     

Prediction of digestible energy content of extruded dog food by in vitro analyses

The aim of this study was to develop a simple and reproducible in vitro method for predicting the apparent energy digestibility of dry extruded dog foods. The proposed method is based on the two-step multienzymatic incubation assay described by [Boisen, S., 1991: In Vitro Digestion for Pigs and Poultry, M. F. Fuller (ed.). CAB International, Wallingford, 135-146], with some modifications adapted to dogs' digestion characteristics. The method consisted in two consecutives incubations, first one during 2 h with pepsin (10 mg/g of food sample) in acid pH and second one during 4 h with pancreatin (100 mg/g of food sample). The undigested residue obtained was collected in a filtration unit and then dried and ashed. The in vitro percentage of organic matter disappearance (in vitro dOM) of 54 dry extruded commercial dog foods was determined and used as predictor of the in vivo apparent organic matter (in vivo dOM) and energy digestibility (in vivo dE) and digestible energy (DE) content. There was a close linear relationship between the in vivo dOM and dE [r(2) = 0.95, residual standard deviation (RSD) = 1.05 and coefficient of variation (CV) = 1.2%] and also between the in vitro and in vivo dOM (r(2) = 0.92, RSD = 1.38 and CV = 1.6%), even if the in vitro dOM overestimated on average by 4% the in vivo dOM. When the in vitro dOM was used to predict the in vivo dE, the relationship between both variables was defined by the equation: in vivo dE (%) = -2.45 + 0.98 +/- 0.04x in vitro dOM (%), (r(2) = 0.92, RSD = 1.25 and CV = 1.5%). In addition, a close relationship between the in vivo and predicted DE (estimated dE x gross energy determined calorimetrically) was found (r(2) = 0.97, RSD = 0.26 and CV = 1.4%). The accuracy of DE content prediction using the proposed in vitro method was higher than that obtained when the DE content of the same set of samples was predicted by the equation proposed by the NRC (1985) (r(2) = 0.76, CV = 4.5%) and also slightly higher than that obtained when using the equation proposed by NRC (2006) (r(2) = 0.95, CV = 2.1%).     

Urinary energy losses in dogs fed commercial extruded foods

Energy and nitrogen losses in the urine were recorded in 134 individual balances with adult (1- to 2-year-old) female Beagles that were fed 23 dry extruded dog foods ranging in crude protein (CP) content from 242 to 360 g/kg dry matter. The energy equivalent of urinary nitrogen was estimated as 33.9 kJ/g N. Both energy losses in the urine corrected for the nitrogen balance, and the metabolizable energy (MEn): digestible energy (DE) ratio were found to be closely related to diet CP content (r : 0.851 and 0.820). The MEn content of extruded dog foods can be accurately calculated from the DE content, either by subtracting 4.59 MJ/kg CP or estimating the MEn/DE ratio from the food CP content by the following equation: MEn/DE=0.98 – 3.44 ± 0.517 × CP (kg/MJ DE).     

The effect of crude fibre on apparent digestibility and digestible energy content of extruded dog foods

The apparent digestibility of nutrients and energy of 38 commercial dry extruded dog foods was measured using six adult (2 to 3 year-old) female Beagles. Diets contained [in g/kg dry matter (DM)]: 164–360 crude protein (CP); 79–261 ether extracts (EE); 8–33 crude fibre (CF) and 318–585 nitrogen free extracts (NFE). Apparent energy digestibility ranged from 77.3 to 91.6%, and was closely related to CF content ( r =–0.85), yielding the resultant equation: GED (%)=94.00 – 4.04 × CF (% DM). The estimation of digestible energy content of foods from digestibility coefficients predicted from the above equation and gross energy measured or estimated from the Weende fractions, provides a more accurate prediction of experimental values than the Atwater approach followed by the National Research Council and the Association of American Feed Control Officials.     

Prediction of digestible protein content of dry extruded dog foods: comparison of methods

The aim of this study was to check the accuracy of laboratory methods to predict the apparent protein digestibility (CPd, %) and digestible protein content (DP, g/kgDM) of dog foods, avoiding the use of experimental animals in digestion trials. Twenty‐eight commercial dry extruded dog foods were tested by three different methodologies: an adaptation of the in vitro incubation method described by Hervera et al. (J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 2007, 91 : 205) for estimation of digestible energy of commercial dog foods, a modification of the pH drop methodology proposed by Hsu et al. (J Food Sci 1977, 42 : 1269) for protein evaluation of human foods and the Near Infra Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. All the methods assessed revealed very good, similar accuracy in the prediction of DP content either using the in vitro method (r = 0.99; RSD = 6.76; CV = 2.31%), the pH drop method (r = 0.99; RSD = 6.94; CV = 3.02%) or the NIRS (R2 = 0.96; SECV = 10.50) method, although the in vitro digestion method showed the highest accuracy approach of in vivo crude protein apparent digestibility: CPd in vitro (r = 0.81; RSD = 2.01; CV = 2.41%); CPd pH‐drop (r = 0.78; RSD = 2.48; CV = 2.98%) and NIRS (r²cv = 0.53; SECV = 2.37).     

Energy utilization by swine of nutritive fiber-rich by-products from the milling and food industry

Growing pigs (from 20 to 80 kg body weight) were fed diets containing equal amounts of soybean, pea (pisum sativum), millet and barley hulls as well as a mixture of these fibre sources. The effects of these fibrous components on the digestibility of energy and nutrients were investigated. Although some rations had a similar nutrient composition, important differences in the digestibility of energy could be observed: e.g. soybean hulls and pea hulls had a similar content in crude fibre but differed in the digestibility of energy by a factor 1:2. The difference in the digestibility of energy was even more pronounced between the rations with soybean hulls and millet hulls (factor 1:11, respectively) although the crude fibre and ADF fibre content were similar. Therefore the magnitude of the difference in digestibility of energy shows a considerable variation between the fibre sources. This seems to be caused partially by differences in the chemical nature of the fibrous by-products. Soybean hulls and barley hulls proved to be very well suited for growing pigs (11.4 MJ DE/kg DM and 10.0 MJ DE/kg DM, respectively). The pea hulls showed a mean content of digestible energy (5.6 MJ DE/kg DM) whereas the millet hulls (1.1 MJ DE/kg DM) didn't contribute significantly to the energy supply of the pigs.     

Influence of extrusion of corn and broken rice on energy content and growth performance of weaning pigs

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of extrusion on the energy content of corn and broken rice and on growth performance of weaning pigs. In experiment 1, 24 barrows (28 days old, 7.28 ± 0.90 kg body weight (BW)) were used to compare the effects of extrusion of corn and broken rice on the values of digestible energy (DE) in weaned pigs. The DE content in extruded corn (17.45 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) by 5.54% compared with that in corn (16.48 MJ/kg DM), while no significant difference in DE content was observed between extruded broken rice (17.66 MJ/kg DM) and broken rice (17.76 MJ/kg DM). In experiment 2, 120 weanling pigs (21 days old, 5.76 ± 0.07 kg BW) were used to evaluate the influence of substitution corn and extruded corn by different proportions of raw and extruded broken rice on growth performance of pigs. The inclusion of broken rice in the diets improved (P < 0.05) growth performance of pigs during the first week and the 2 weeks post‐weaning but not thereafter. However, there was no significant difference in growth performance between treatments in other periods. Overall, this study indicates that feeding weaning pigs with broken rice has beneficial results.     

Prediction of in vivo apparent total tract energy digestibility of barley in grower pigs using an in vitro digestibility technique

The DE content within cereal grains can vary 25% mainly due to changes in apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy. In vitro digestibility techniques have been developed to predict the DE value among feedstuffs. However, these techniques have not been tested properly for their suitability to predict the variation in energy digestibility and DE content within a cereal grain. The objective of the present study was to establish and evaluate an in vitro digestibility technique to predict in vivo ATTD of energy of barley in grower pigs. Barley grain samples (hulled, n = 21) with a large range in quality were collected; the ADF and CP content ranged from 4.5 to 11.4% and 10.0 to 16.4% (DM basis), respectively. The ATTD of energy was determined using barrows (n = 63, 33 +/- 2.1 kg of initial BW) in 2 periods with 6 observations per sample and ranged from 51.9 to 78.5%, with relative errors between 0.4 and 5.0%. A preliminary study, comparing a 2- and a 3-step in vitro digestibility technique using 3 barley samples, indicated that R(2) between in vivo and in vitro energy digestibility was greater using the 3- than the 2-step technique (0.92 vs. 0.76). Therefore, the 3-step in vitro digestibility technique was used solely in subsequent analyses. Briefly, ground barley was subsequently incubated with pepsin for 6 h, pancreatin for 18 h, and cellulase for 24 h. The DM and GE content of samples and residues were measured to calculate digestibility. The in vitro energy digestibility of the 21 barley samples with duplicate measurements ranged from 63.7 to 82.2%, with relative errors between 0.1 and 2.6%. In vitro energy digestibility was strongly related (y = 1.25 x - 25.22; R(2) = 0.81) to in vivo energy digestibility. Finally, a subset of 7 barley samples was analyzed in quadruplicate using the 3-step in vitro technique. The relationship between in vitro and in vivo energy digestibility was very strong (y = 1.23 x - 25.33; R(2) = 0.97) with relative errors between 0.5 and 2.7%. In vitro DE and energy digestibility were perfectly related (R(2) = 1.00). In summary, the 3-step in vitro energy digestibility technique can accurately predict the ATTD of energy in barley in grower pigs. The 3-step in vitro digestibility technique, thus, might be useful as the reference laboratory procedure to calibrate analytical equipment to rapidly predict the ATTD of energy in barley.     

Nutritional evaluation of commercial dry dog foods by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the nutritional value of dog foods sold in Chile. Fifty-nine dry foods for adult and growing dogs were collected, ground and scanned across the visible/NIR range and subsequently analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), total fat, linoleic acid, gross energy (GE), estimated metabolizable energy (ME) and several amino acids and minerals. Calibration equations were developed by modified partial least squares regression, and tested by cross-validation. Standard error of cross validation (SE(CV)) and coefficient of determination of cross validation (SE(CV)) were used to select best equations. Equations with good predicting accuracy were obtained for DM, CF, CP, GE and fat. Corresponding values for and SE(CV) were 0.96 and 1.7 g/kg, 0.91 and 3.1 g/kg, 0.99 and 5.0 g/kg, 0.93 and 0.26 MJ/kg, 0.89 and 12.4 g/kg. Several amino acids were also well predicted, such as arginine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine-tyrosine (combined), threonine and valine, with values for and SE(CV) (g/kg) of 0.89 and 0.9, 0.94 and 1.3, 0.91 and 0.5, 0.95 and 0.9, 0.91 and 0.5, 0.93 and 0.5. Intermediate values, appropriate for ranking purposes, were obtained for ME, histidine, lysine and methionine-cysteine. Tryptophan, minerals or linoleic acid were not acceptably predicted, irrespective of the mathematical treatment applied. It is concluded that NIR can be successfully used to predict important nutritional characteristics of commercial dog foods.     

Factors affecting digestibility and in-vivo energy content of cat foods

Apparent digestibility and digestible energy (DE) content of 43 canned and 28 packeted samples of commercial cat foods were determined using panels of six adult domestic cats. Metabolizable energy (ME) content was also measured with 22 of the canned and 14 of the packeted foods. Mean apparent crude protein (CP), acid ether extract (AEE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) digestibility percentages of all foods (N = 71) were 78, 77 and 69. Apparent AEE and CP digestibility percentages increased in a curvilinear manner with intake; logarithmic regression curves explained 50 and 24 per cent of the variation in AEE and CP digestibility by intake. The use of modified Atwater factors over-estimated ME content of canned and packeted foods by 21 and 27 per cent respectively, compared with in vitro values. Twenty-one single or mulitple regression equations were generated predicting in-vivo DE or ME content of foods from laboratory analyses. The use of such equations in the practical definition of energy content of cat foods is discussed.     

Effects of spray-dried animal plasma on intake and apparent digestibility in dogs

Effects of spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) on intake and apparent digestibility of major dietary components were determined using 22 adult Beagles. Trials 1 and 2 used six and eight dogs, respectively, in a switchback design using 10-d periods. Trial 3 used eight dogs in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 15-d periods. The final 5 d of each period were used for measurement of intake and fecal collections. In Trial 1, dry extruded dog food kibbles were coated with 5% tallow, 2% commercial flavor, and 0 or 2% SDAP (as-fed basis). In Trial 2, commercially available dry dog food, previously coated with fat and flavor were coated with 0 or 2% SDAP. In Trial 3, SDAP (0, 1, 2, or 3%) was blended with other ingredients and extruded (as-fed basis). Kibbles were subsequently coated with 5% poultry fat and 1% commercial flavor. Intake, fecal consistency, and apparent digestibility of nutrients were determined. Addition of SDAP did not markedly affect chemical composition of diets and did not affect intake. Digestibility of DM was improved (P < 0.04) an average of 3.2% when 2% SDAP was included in the diet for all trials. Organic matter digestibility was improved (P < 0.01) in Trials 2 and 3 by an average of 2.9%. Also, digestibility of crude fiber (Trials 1 and 2) or total dietary fiber (Trial 3) was increased with addition of SDAP to the diet (P < 0.01). Fecal DM excretion was decreased by an average of 15% across all trials with the addition of SDAP. Spray-dried animal plasma was an acceptable ingredient in dry dog food preparations, resulting in improved digestion and decreased fecal output. Changes in digestion that occurred with addition of SDAP suggested alteration in digestive capacity in dogs.     

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.     

Prediction of chemical composition and peroxide value in unground pet foods by near‐infrared spectroscopy

The massive development of the pet food industry in recent years has lead to the formulation of hundreds of canine and feline complete extruded foods with the objective of meeting both the needs of the animals and numerous demands from pet owners. In the meantime, highly variable raw material compositions and the industry's new production techniques oblige manufacturers to monitor all phases of the extrusion process closely in order to ensure the targeted composition and quality of the products. This study aimed at evaluating the potential of infrared technology (visible and near‐infrared spectrophotometer; 570–1842 nm) in predicting the chemical composition and peroxide value (PV) of unground commercial extruded dog foods. Six hundred and forty‐nine commercial extruded dog foods were collected. For each product, an unground aliquot was analysed by infrared instrument while a second aliquot was sent to a laboratory for proximate analysis and PV quantification. The wide range of extruded dog food typologies included in the study was responsible for the wide variability observed within each nutritional trait, especially crude fibre and ash. The mean value of the 208 pet foods sampled for PV quantification was 17.49 mEq O₂/kg fat (min 2.2 and max 94.10 mEq O₂/kg fat). The coefficients of determination in cross‐validation of NIRS prediction models were 0.77, 0.97, 0.83, 0.86, 0.78 and 0.94 for moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash and nitrogen‐free extract (NFE) respectively. PV prediction was less precise, as demonstrated by the coefficient of determination in cross‐validation (0.66). The results demonstrated the potential of NIRS in predicting chemical composition in unground samples, with lower accuracy for moisture and ash, while PV prediction models suggest use for screening purposes only.     

陕北白绒山羊羯羊能量和蛋白质需要量

本试验旨在研究陕北白绒山羊羯羊能量和蛋白质的需要量,为制定其饲养标准提供数据。选取36只体重相近、健康状况良好的陕北白绒山羊周岁羯羊,按3×3(能量×蛋白质)完全随机设计分为9组,每组4个重复,每个重复1只。各组饲粮消化能和粗蛋白质水平分别参照NRC(1981)推荐量的100%、110%、120%和90%、110%、130%设定。预试期7 d,正试期46 d。结果表明:1)饲粮能量水平对周岁羯羊的干物质采食量和平均日增重都有极显著影响(P0.01),蛋白质水平对干物质采食量影响显著(P0.05);饲粮能量和蛋白质水平对干物质采食量有显著的互作效应(P0.05)。2)低能量水平组的可消化氮显著低于中能量水平组与高能量水平组(P0.05);低蛋白质水平组的进食氮、可消化氮、沉积氮、氮表观消化率均极显著低于中蛋白质水平组和高蛋白质水平组(P0.01)。3)总能消化率和总能代谢率均随着能量水平的提高而极显著地升高(P0.01);高蛋白质水平组的总能代谢率和消化能代谢率显著低于低蛋白质水平组(P0.05);能量和蛋白质水平对总能消化率、总能代谢率和消化能代谢率均产生显著或极显著的互作效应(P0.05或P0.01)。本试验得到了陕北白绒山羊周岁羯羊能量和蛋白质需要量的回归方程,饲粮的消化能和代谢能分别以8.80~10.61 MJ/kg和7.34~8.76 M J/kg较为适宜,粗蛋白质和可消化粗蛋白质分别以10.00%和7.34%为宜。     

Protein, energy and dry matter consumption by racing standardbreds: A field survey

A field survey involving 112 Standardbred race horses in 14 stables at a Detroit racetrack was conducted to determine feeding practices of the Standardbred trainers, to estimate crude protein (CP), digestible energy (DE), and dry matter (DM) consumption by racing Standardbreds, and to compare those intakes with 1989 recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC), “Nutrient Requirements of Horses.” Trainers were interviewed regarding: 1) the age and sex of the horses; 2) their feeding practices, and 3) the horse's training and racing schedule. Only adult horses which were actively racing and continuously stabled at the track were included.

Body weights (BW) estimated using a chest girth measurement resulted in an overall mean BW of 449 kg. Body condition scores were established for each horse with an overall mean score of 5.7 which indicated average body condition for a racing Standardbred at this track. Typical rations from each stable were weighed, and feed samples of hays and concentrates were analyzed at a commercial laboratory to determine CP, DM, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and estimated energy density. A computer program calculated CP, DE, and DM values for each horse's ration based on amounts fed. The software program included with the 1989 NRC publication was used to compare estimated nutrient intakes with current NRC recommendations for a horse of a given BW.

All trainers fed a variety of hays and commercial grain mixes, and five trainers fed oats separately. The mean total intake of feed for all horses on an “as fed” basis was 16.1 kg. The estimated mean DM intake for all horses was 14.4 kg vs. NRC recommended 10.6 kg. The mean percentage of rough-age in the ration for all stables was 64% vs. a NRC recommendation of 35%. The mean CP% on a DM basis for all stables' rations was 14.5% vs. the NRC recommendation of 11.4%. The mean daily CP and estimated DE intakes for all horses were 2113 g and 37.6 Meal, respectively, in contrast to current NRC recommendations of 1189 g CP and 29.7 Meal DE. These data indicate that estimated CP, DE, and DM consumption are above the recommendations of NRC in 1989.     

Raw mechanically separated chicken meat and salmon protein hydrolysate as protein sources in extruded dog food: effect on protein and amino acid digestibility

Protein quality was evaluated for mechanically separated chicken meat (MSC) and salmon protein hydrolysate (SPH), and for extruded dog foods where MSC or SPH partially replaced poultry meal (PM). Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in the protein ingredients and extruded foods was determined with mink (Neovison vison). The extruded dog foods included a control diet with protein from PM and grain, and two diets where MSC or SPH provided 25% of the dietary CP. Nutrient composition of the protein ingredients varied, dry matter (DM) was 944.0, 358.0 and 597.4 g/kg, CP was 670.7, 421.2 and 868.9 g/kg DM, crude fat was 141.4, 547.8 and 18.5 g/kg DM and ash was 126.4, 32.1 and 107.0 g/kg DM for PM, MSC and SPH respectively. The content of essential AA (g/100 g CP) was more than 10.0 percentage units lower in SPH than in PM and MSC. The ATTD of CP differed (p < 0.001) between protein ingredients and was 80.9%, 88.2% and 91.3% for PM, MSC and SPH respectively. The ATTD of total AA was lowest (p < 0.001) for PM, and similar (p > 0.05) for MSC and SPH. In the extruded diets, the expected higher ATTD of CP and AA from replacement of PM with MSC or SPH was not observed. The ATTD of CP was determined to be 80.3%, 81.3% and 79.0% for the PM, MSC and SPH extruded foods respectively. Furthermore, the ATTD of several AA was numerically highest for the PM diet. Possibly, extrusion affected ATTD of the diets differently due to different properties and previous processing of the three protein ingredients.     

花生秧作为肉用绵羊单一粗饲料有效能值的测定与估测

本试验旨在用套算法和插值法测定与估测肉用绵羊花生秧有效能值,确定替代法中饲粮中适宜花生秧替代比例,为单一秸秆饲料有效能值的测定与估测提供方法学上的参考。选用体重为(45.00±1.96)kg的体况良好的杜泊×小尾寒羊F1肉用成年羯羊54只,采用随机区组设计,分为9组,饲粮分别为基础饲粮、全花生秧饲粮和分别以10%、20%、30%、40%、50%、60%、70%花生秧替代基础饲粮的试验饲粮,每组6个重复,每个重复1只羊。预试期10 d,正试期9 d,其中气体代谢试验3 d,消化代谢试验6 d。结果表明:1)全花生秧饲粮组花生秧干物质(DM)表观消化率与20%、30%、40%组间差异不显著(P0.05),显著高于其他各组(P0.05)。全花生秧饲粮组花生秧有机物(OM)表观消化率与20%组差异不显著(P0.05),但显著高于其他各组(P0.05)。全花生秧饲粮组花生秧总能(GE)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、粗脂肪(EE)表观消化率显著高于10%组(P0.05),粗蛋白质(CP)表观消化率显著低于10%组(P0.05),与其他各组间差异不显著(P0.05)。2)花生秧消化能(DE)、代谢能(ME)均具有相同的规律,即全花生秧饲粮组DE、ME(8.57、6.69 MJ/kg DM)与20%(8.22、6.58 M J/kg DM)、30%(8.02、6.50 M J/kg DM)、40%组(8.10、6.52 M J/kg DM)差异不显著(P0.05),但显著高于其他组(P0.05)。3)插值法求得花生秧M E"真值"为6.62 M J/kg DM,接近于套算法得到的花生秧ME。综合得出,套算法可以用于肉用绵羊估测花生秧(单一粗饲料)的DE和M E;用套算法测定花生秧秸秆类粗饲料有效能值,其在饲粮中的适宜替代比例为20%~40%。     

直接法和回归法测定玉米青贮对肉牛有效能值的研究

旨在应用直接法和回归法测定肉牛玉米青贮的消化能、代谢能和净能值,并探讨精料回归法用于估测肉牛单一粗饲料原料能值的可行性。试验选取12头体况良好、体重相近[(259±14.08)kg]的生长期公牛,随机分为3组,每组4头牛。分两期试验进行,试验一按试验牛自由采食量的95%、80%和60%3个水平饲喂全玉米青贮日粮;试验二在固定玉米青贮投喂量的基础上,各组分别按青贮饲喂量的15%、25%和50%(干物质基础)添加精料补充料。试验每期14d,其中前10d为预饲期,后4d为正试期。正试期消化代谢和呼吸代谢试验同期进行,测定玉米青贮对肉牛能量代谢规律。结果表明:1)肉牛对全玉米青贮日粮的各种营养物质消化率和能量消化率及代谢率随饲喂水平的提高总体逐渐降低;肉牛能量采食量(总能、消化能、代谢能和净能)随饲喂水平的提高逐渐升高,组间差异显著(P0.05)。2)玉米青贮对肉牛的消化能、代谢能和净能值随着饲喂水平的提高呈下降趋势,各有效能值变化范围分别为10.58~11.48 MJ/kg,8.33~9.44 MJ/kg和5.20~6.21 MJ/kg。3)添加精料补充料显著提高了肉牛对日粮的干物质采食量和粗蛋白消化率(P0.05),而洗涤纤维消化率精料添加比例组间差异不明显(P0.05);随着精料添加比例的增加,肉牛对日粮的能量采食量(总能、消化能、代谢能和净能)和能量消化率及代谢率逐渐上升,消化能代谢率各组之间无显著差异(P0.05)。4)根据试验日粮有效能值与精料添加量之间的关系建立线性回归方程后,外推估测得玉米青贮的消化能、代谢能和净能值分别为10.53 MJ/kg、8.29 MJ/kg和5.35MJ/kg,与95%饲喂水平组直接测定结果(10.58 MJ/kg、8.33 MJ/kg和5.20 MJ/kg)差异不显著(P0.05)。综上所述,回归法测定玉米青贮对肉牛的有效能值与直接法测定结果差异不明显,精料回归法可以用于估测肉牛单一粗饲料的有效能值。     

Protein, energy and dry matter consumption by racing thoroughbreds: A field survey

A field survey involving 109 horses in 9 stables at a Detroit racetrack was conducted to determine feeding practices and to estimate crude protein (CP), digestible energy (DE), and dry matter (DM) consumption by racing Thoroughbreds, and to compare those intakes with 1989 recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC), "Nutrient Requirements of Horses." Trainers were interviewed regarding: 1) the age and sex of the homes; 2) their feeding practices; and 3) the horse's training and racing schedule. Only adult homes who were actively racing and continuously stabled at the track were included. Body weights (BW) were estimated using a chest girth measurement. The horses had an overall mean body condition score of 5 which indicated average body condition for a racing. Thoroughbred at this track. Feed samples of hay and concentrate from each stable were weighed and analyzed at a commercial laboratory to determine CP, DM, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and estimated energy density. A computer program calculated CP, DE, and DM values for each horse's ration based onamounts fed. The software program included with the 1989 NRC publication was used to compare estimated nutrient intakes with current NRC recommendations for a horse of a given BW. Trainers fed a variety of hays. Eight trainers fed oats and only one fed corn. All trainers fed commercial sweet feeds. The mean total amount of feed for all homes on an "as fed" basis was 13.7 kg. The mean estimated DM intake for all horses was 12.3 kg vs. NRC recommended 11.6 kg. The mean for percentage of roughage in the ration for all stables was 53% vs. a NRC recommendation of 35%. The mean CP% ona DM basis for all stables' rations was 13.8% vs. a NRC recommendation of 11.4%. The means for actual CP and DE intakes for all horses were 1678 g and 33.3 Meal compared with current NRC recommendations of 1324 g CP and 33.1 Meal DE. Protein amounts were above those recommended due to the common practice of feeding relatively higher CP% in the rations than necessary for racehorse performance. These data appear to be more consistent with the recommendations of NRC in 1989 than previous recommendations in 1978.     

Effects of xylanase supplementation on the apparent digestibility and digestible content of energy, amino acids, phosphorus, and calcium in wheat and wheat by-products from dry milling fed to grower pigs

Wheat by-products are feedstuffs that vary in nutritional value, partly because of arabinoxylans that limit nutrient digestibility. Millrun is a byproduct from dry milling wheat into flour and contains varying amounts of the bran, middlings, screening, and shorts fractions. The digestible nutrient content of mill-run is not well known. Effects of xylanase supplementation (0 or 4,000 units/kg of diet) on energy, AA, P, and Ca digestibilities were studied in a wheat control diet and 5 diets containing 30% of a by-product (mill-run, middlings, shorts, screening, or bran) in a 2 x 6 factorial arrangement of treatments. The wheat control diet was formulated to contain 3.34 Mcal of DE/kg and 3.0 g of standardized ileal digestible Lys/Mcal of DE. Diets contained 0.4% chromic oxide. Each of 12 ileal-cannulated pigs (32.5 +/- 2.5 kg) was fed 6 or 7 of 12 diets at 3 times the DE requirement for maintenance in successive 10-d periods for 6 or 7 observations per diet. Feces and ileal digesta were each collected for 2 d. Xylanase tended to increase (P < 0.10) ileal energy digestibility by 2.2 percentage units and the DE content by 0.10 Mcal/kg of DM and increased (P < 0.05) ileal DM digestibility by 2.8 percentage units; a diet x xylanase interaction was not observed. Xylanase increased (P < 0.05) total tract energy and DM digestibilities and the DE content. A diet x xylanase interaction was observed; xylanase increased (P < 0.05) total tract energy digestibility of the millrun diet from 72.1 to 78.9%, DE content from 3.19 to 3.51 Mcal/kg of DM, and DM digestibility from 71.5 to 78.6%. Diet affected (P < 0.05) and xylanase improved (P < 0.05) digestibility and digestible contents of some AA in diets and by-products, including Lys, Thr, and Val. Xylanase increased (P < 0.05) Lys digestibility by 13.8, 5.0, 5.2, 6.0, and 14.1 percentage units in millrun, middlings, shorts, screening, and bran, respectively. Diet affected (P < 0.01) total tract P and Ca digestibilities. Xylanase increased (P < 0.05) digestible P and Ca contents. In summary, nutrient digestibility varies among wheat by-products. Millrun contained 2.65 Mcal of DE/kg of DM, which xylanase increased to 3.56 Mcal of DE/kg of DM. Xylanase improved nutrient digestibility and DE content in wheat by-products; and the extent of improvement depended on the by-product. Xylanase supplementation may maximize opportunities to include wheat byproducts in swine diets and ameliorate reductions in nutrient digestibility that may be associated with arabinoxylans.