Influence of amount and frequency of protein supplementation to steers consuming low-quality,cool-season forage: intake,nutrient digestibility,and ruminal fermentation

This experiment evaluated the influence of protein supplementation frequency (SF) and amount offered on intake, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation by rumen-fistulated beef steers consuming low-quality [2.9% crude protein (CP); dry matter (DM) basis], cool-season forage. Seven Angus × Hereford steers (300 ± 27 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulas were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 treatments in an incomplete 7 × 4 Latin square. Treatments, in a 2 × 3 factorial design plus a non-supplemented control (CON), consisted of 2 levels of supplemental soybean meal, 100% (F) or 50% (H) of the estimated rumen-degradable protein requirement, provided daily (D), once every 5 d (5D), or once every 10 d (10D). Experimental periods were 30 d and dry matter intake (DMI) was measured from days 19 to 28. On days 21 (all supplements provided) and 30 (only daily supplements provided; day immediately prior to supplementation for 5D and 10D treatments) ruminal fluid was collected for ruminal pH, ammonia-N (NH₃), volatile fatty acids (VFA), and determination of ruminal fermentation variables. Forage and total DM, organic matter (OM), and nitrogen (N) intake increased with supplementation (P ≤ 0.04). However, a linear effect of SF × amount of supplement interaction was observed for forage and total DM, OM, and N intake (P ≤ 0.04), with each variable decreasing as SF decreased, but the decrease being greater with F vs. H. Apparent total tract DM, OM, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility was not affected by supplementation or amount of supplement provided (P ≥ 0.10). In contrast, N digestibility increased with supplementation and for F vs. H (P < 0.01). Digestibility of DM, OM, and N increased linearly as SF decreased (P ≤ 0.03). When all supplements were provided, ruminal NH₃, total VFA, and molar proportions of all individual VFA increased with supplementation (P ≤ 0.04), whereas acetate:propionate ratio decreased (P < 0.01). When only daily supplements were provided, none of the aforementioned fermentation parameters were affected (P ≥ 0.09). In summary, reducing the amount of supplemental CP provided to ruminants consuming low-quality forages, when supplementation intervals are >5 d, can be a management tool to maintain acceptable levels of DMI, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation while reducing supplementation cost.     

Influence of amount and frequency of protein supplementation to ruminants consuming low-quality cool-season forages: efficiency of nitrogen utilization in lambs and performance of gestating beef cows

We evaluated the influence of amount and crude protein (CP) supplementation frequency (SF) on nitrogen (N) use by wethers and the performance of late-gestation beef cows. In exp. 1, seven Western whiteface wethers (31.8 ± 1.4 kg) were used in an incomplete 7 × 4 Latin square to evaluate intake and N use. Wethers received one of the seven treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial design containing two levels of supplemental soybean meal offered at a rate of 100% (F) or 50% (H; 50% of F) of the estimated CP requirement daily, once every 5, or once every 10 d, plus a non-supplemented control (CON). Low-quality cool-season forage (4.9 % CP; dry matter [DM] basis) was provided daily for ad libitum intake. Experimental periods lasted 30 d. In exp. 2, 84 Angus × Hereford cows (560 ± 35 kg) were stratified by age, body condition score (BCS), and expected calving date and allocated to 1 of the 21 feedlot pens (three pens per treatment). Pens were randomly assigned to receive the same treatments as in exp. 1 and cows had free access to low-quality cool-season forage (2.9% CP; DM basis). Cow body weight (BW) and BCS were measured every 14 d until calving and within 24 h after calving. In exp. 1, supplementation did not alter total DM and organic matter (OM) intake (P ≥ 0.26), but both parameters linearly decreased as SF decreased (P = 0.02). Supplementation increased DM, OM, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (P ≤ 0.02). Additionally, F feeding linearly increased DM, OM, and NDF digestibility as SF decreased (P ≤ 0.04). Digestibility of N, N balance, and digested N retained were greater with supplementation (P < 0.01), and N digestibility linearly increased as SF decreased (P = 0.01). Mean plasma urea-N concentration was not only greater (P < 0.01) for supplemented vs. CON wethers but also greater (P = 0.03) for F vs. H. In exp. 2, pre-calving BCS change was greater (P = 0.03) for supplemented cows. A linear effect of SF × supplementation rate for pre-calving BCS change was noted (P = 0.05), as F-supplemented cows lost more BCS compared with H as SF decreased. When considering supplementation intervals greater than 5 d, reducing the quantity of supplement provided, compared with daily supplementation, may be a feasible management strategy to maintain acceptable nutrient use and animal performance while reducing supplement and labor costs.     

A review of factors influencing litter size in Irish sows

Many factors influence litter size. These include genetics, gilt management, lactation length, parity distribution, disease, stress and boar fertility. In the past 20 years, litter size in Irish sows has increased by only one pig. Born alive figures now average at 11.2 pigs per litter. In this regard, Ireland is falling behind our European competitors who have made significant advances over this time. Denmark, for example, has an average figure of 12.7 pigs born alive per litter and France an average of 12.5. The single area that could be improved immediately is sow feeding. It is important that sows are fed correctly throughout pregnancy. If over-fed during pregnancy, sows will have depressed appetite during lactation. If underfed in pregnancy, sows will be too thin at farrowing. The correct way to feed a pregnant sow is to match her feed allocation to her requirement for maintenance, body growth and growth of her developing foetuses. During lactation, sows should be given as much feed as they can eat to prevent excessive loss of body condition. Liquid-feed curves should be such that lactating sows are provided with a minimum mean daily feed supply of 6.2 kg. A small proportion of sows will eat more and this could be given as supplementary dry feed. Where dry feeding is practised in the farrowing house, it is difficult to hand-feed sows to match their appetite. Ideally ad libitum wet/dry feeders should be used. From weaning to service, sows should once again be fed ad libitum. If liquid feeding, this means giving at least 60 MJ DE (digestible energy) per day during this period. If dry feeding, at least 4 kg of lactation diet should be fed daily. The effort spent perfecting sow feeding management on units should yield high dividends in the form of increased pigs born alive per litter.     

基于距离反比法的土壤盐分三维空间插值研究

以新疆兵团一块面积约70 hm2的盐碱地为研究对象,采用EM38与土钻取样相结合的方法得到了126个点不同土层(0~200 cm)的1 386个土壤盐分数据,应用三维距离反比法(3D-IDW)对土壤盐分进行了空间插值,探讨了垂向坐标扩大倍数和搜索点数对插值结果精度的影响。结果表明,研究区0~140 cm土层盐分平均含量较高,为1.84~2.11 g/kg,盐分变异较大,而140~200 cm土层盐分平均含量较低,为1.74~1.79 g/kg。所有土层盐分含量的统计特征值(平均值、标准差和变异系数等)均随土层加深而呈现递减的趋势。土壤盐分实测值和估计值的均方根误差随垂向坐标扩大倍数的增大而减小,随搜索点数的增加而增大,其值在0.1~0.4 g/kg范围内变化,当垂向坐标扩大300倍、搜索点数为6个时,插值效果较优。采用确定的参数对研究区的土壤盐分进行了三维空间插值,结果表明土壤盐分空间分布特征与实测值比较吻合,大部分区域土壤盐分含量小于2.5 g/kg,靠近北部和南部边界区土壤含盐量较低,属于非盐化土区,而大于4 g/kg盐化土主要分布在中间和南部局部区域。研究区80%土壤为非盐化土和轻度盐化土,20%为中度和重度盐化土。影响该区盐化土分布的主要因素有灌溉、局部地形、粘土层位置、地下水埋深和矿化度。当不同方向的取样间距相差很大时,选取合适的垂向坐标扩大倍数和搜索点数对保障3D-IDW法的插值结果精度至关重要。     

祁连山东段六种灌丛降雨再分配特征

基于2018 年6?9 月野外采集的数据,采用野外观测与统计分析相结合的方法,研究了祁连山天祝地区金强河流域典型灌丛:山生柳(Salix oritrepha)、硬叶柳(Salix sclerophylla)、绣线菊(Spiraea salicifolia)、头花杜鹃(Rhododendron ca pitatum)、金...     

降水、氮沉降及放牧对草地生态系统凋落物分解的影响研究进展

草地生态系统对我国建设生态文明、提供生态系统服务、保障食品安全和维护边疆稳定有举足轻重的作用。全球气候变化和过度的人为干扰打破了草地生态系统原有的平衡及稳定性,造成草地退化、沙化和盐渍化现象严重。草地生态系统结构、功能与过程的稳定是保证草地生态系统稳定的基础。凋落物分解过程是草地物质循环的重要环节,对维持草地生态系统稳定性具有重要作用。草地生态系统凋落物分解对降水格局变化、大气氮沉降增加及放牧干扰的响应已有较多的研究。对目前国内外相关研究进行了梳理和总结,发现降水、氮沉降和放牧对草地生态系统凋落物分解的影响,因地理位置和气候变化以及草地类型的异质性而不同,也有针对同一地区开展的研究呈现不同结果的现象。目前对这三种干扰因素中的两因素或三因素交互作用对草地生态系统凋落物分解过程的影响研究较少,而研究气候变化及人为干扰对草地生态系统凋落物的影响对正确理解草地生态系统结构与功能,以及可持续利用与保护草地生态系统具有重要的意义。     

青藏高原低云量的年际变化及其稳定性

利用青藏高原80个测站1961-2000年1～12月低云量资料,分析了青藏高原低云量的年际变化规律.结果表明:青藏高原的低云量从东南向西北减少,云量的稳定性夏季高于冬季,南部高于北部.江河上游区域、藏东谷地、川西高原、甘南高原和祁连山区是青藏高原低云量多,且比较稳定的地区;青藏高原西部低云量月变化振幅大,尤以西南部为最,夏季云量最多;高原东南部江河上游区和藏东谷地3～9月低云量多,且起伏变化小,6月和9月出现峰值;高原东南部低云量稳定性较好;低云量的年际变化总体呈下降趋势, 江河上游区和高原东南部的低云量变化缓慢,高原西北部有显著上升趋势;变化趋势在季节上表现为冬、春、夏、秋西北上升西南下降,春、秋季中东部持平,夏、冬略降.     

甘氨酸锌在动物生产中的应用研究

锌是动物体内的必需微量元素之一,在动物生长发育和健康方面起着关键作用.甘氨酸锌作为有机微量元素具有生物利用率高、减排环保等优势.综述了甘氨酸锌对动物的生长性能、繁殖性能、免疫能力及肠道健康的影响,探讨了动物对甘氨酸锌的需要量,旨在为动物生产中科学利用甘氨酸锌改善动物健康,促进动物生长提供理论依据.