Effects of maize grain and lucerne particle size on ruminal fermentation, digestibility and performance of cows in midlactation

This study evaluated the effects of, and interactions between, maize grain particle size (MPS) and lucerne particle size (LPS) on dry matter intake, milk production, milk composition, ruminal fermentation, microbial yield, chewing activity and nutrient digestibility in midlactation cows. Four multiparous Holstein cows with ruminal cannulas were assigned randomly to a 4 x 4 Latin square design, averaged 595 kg (SD = 52) of body weight and 121 days in milk (SD = 21) at the start of the experiment. Experimental periods were 21 days in length (14 days of treatment adaptation and 7 days of data collection). All diets were fed as total mixed ration and were formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of a 600 kg multiparous cow producing 20 kg milk/day with 4.0% fat. The ratio of concentrate to forage was 39:61 (dry matter basis). Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial design; two levels of LPS (2.54 and 6.22 mm) were combined with concentrates based on either ground maize grain (711 mum) or cracked maize grain (1755 mum). Maize grain and LPS did not affect milk production and milk fat percentage. Milk protein percentage increased when MPS was decreased (p = 0.04). Milk urea nitrogen was lower for cows fed ground maize grain compared with cracked maize grain (118-134 mg/l, p = 0.05). Estimated microbial N supply increased 41.9 g/day for ground maize grain compared with cracked maize grain. Cows fed long lucerne (LL) hay spent more time ruminating compared with cows fed short lucerne (SL) hay ranging from 293 to 336 min/day (p < 0.001). Total time spent chewing by cows increased from 505 to 574 min/day (p = 0.002) for SL and LL respectively. Based on the results from this study, midlactation cows can be fed diets that contain ground maize grain and SL hay without leading to negative effects on ruminal pH and nutrient digestibility.     

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

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

甲酸或绿汁发酵液对苜蓿青贮影响的研究

为探讨添加甲酸和绿汁发酵液对拉伸膜裹包苜蓿青贮发酵品质和营养价值的影响,分别按每吨鲜苜蓿添加6L甲酸或2L绿汁发酵液,并以不使用添加剂而晾晒处理为对照,整株打圆捆,拉伸膜裹包6层青贮,贮藏300d后取样分析测定。添加甲酸和绿汁发酵液苜蓿青贮的pH分别为4．32和4．25,显著低于晾晒处理的5．22（P〈0．05）;而乳酸含量分别为6．26％和6．63％,显著高于晾晒处理的0．24％（P〈0．05）;而晾晒处理苜蓿青贮的氨氮含量显著减少（P〈0．05）。虽然苜蓿青贮的NDF、ADF等营养物质含量没有差异,但添加甲酸可显著提高苜蓿青贮DM、OM、CP、NDF、ADF的有效降解率（P〈0．05）。晾晒处理组CP含量显著降低,而且DM、OM、CP、ADF的有效降解率也显著降低。     

Effects of bismuth subsalicylate and encapsulated calcium-ammonium nitrate on feedlot beef cattle production

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) and calcium-ammonium nitrate (CAN) on in vitro ruminal fermentation, growth, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, liver mineral concentration, and carcass quality of beef cattle. In Exp. 1, four ruminally cannulated steers (520 ± 30 kg body weight [BW]) were used as donors to perform a batch culture and an in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) procedure. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with factors being BSS (0 or 0.33% of substrate dry matter [DM]) and CAN (0 or 2.22% of substrate DM). In Exp. 2, 200 Angus-crossbred steers (385 ± 27 kg BW) were blocked by BW and allocated to 50 pens (4 steers/pen) in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors included BSS (0 or 0.33% of the diet DM) and nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) source (urea or encapsulated CAN [eCAN] included at 0.68% or 2.0% of the diet, respectively) with 0.28% ruminally available S (RAS). A low S diet was included as a positive control containing urea (0.68% of DM) and 0.14% RAS. For Exp. 1, data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with the fixed effects of BSS, CAN, BSS × CAN, and the random effect of donor. For Exp. 2, the MIXED procedure of SAS was used for continuous variables and the GLIMMIX procedure for categorical data. For Exp. 1, no differences (P > 0.230) were observed for IVOMD. There was a tendency (P = 0.055) for an interaction regarding H₂S production. Acetate:propionate increased (P = 0.003) with the addition of CAN. In Exp. 2, there was a NPN source effect (P = 0.032) where steers consuming urea had greater carcass-adjusted final shrunk BW than those consuming eCAN. Intake of DM (P < 0.001) and carcass-adjusted average daily gain (P = 0.024) were reduced by eCAN; however, it did not affect (P = 0.650) carcass-adjusted feed efficiency. Steers consuming urea had greater (P = 0.032) hot carcass weight, and a BSS × NPN interaction (P = 0.019) was observed on calculated yield grade. Apparent absorption of S decreased (P < 0.001) with the addition of BSS. Final liver Cu concentration was reduced (P = 0.042) by 58% in cattle fed BSS, indicating that BSS may decrease Cu absorption and storage in the liver. The results observed in this experiment indicate that BSS does not have negative effects on feedlot steer performance, whereas CAN may hinder performance of steers fed finishing diets.     

亚麻籽木脂素在山羊瘤胃中的转化及其对瘤胃代谢的影响

选用6只(4♂、2♀)装有永久性瘤胃瘘管及临时性颈静脉插管的淮南山羊,进行交叉试验.试验期按体重灌胃50 mg·kg-1质量分数为20%亚麻籽木脂素提取物,分别用高效液相色谱法测定木脂素和挥发性脂肪酸含量,研究亚麻籽木脂素在山羊瘤胃中的转化及其对瘤胃代谢的影响.结果表明,在对照期瘤胃液中存在较低质量浓度的亚麻籽木脂素(0.003 mg·mL-1)、肠内酯(0.007 mg·mL-1)及肠二醇(0.017 mg·mL-1),但血清中未检测出木脂素成分.灌胃木脂素提取物能显著提高瘤胃液及血清中上述3种动、植物木脂素含量;同时,木脂素化合物使总脱氢酶活性升高25.5%(P>0.05),并使瘤胃液pH值和氨氮含量分别降低1.1%(P<0.05)和36.3%(P<0.01),微生物蛋白及总挥发性脂肪酸含量分别升高70.1%(P<0.01)和37.4%(P<0.01).结论:在饲喂青干草及豆粕型精料日粮条件下,瘤胃液中存在植物木脂素和2种最主要的动物木脂素.灌胃亚麻籽木脂素提取物后能显著提高3种木脂素含量,且均能被吸收进入血液.木脂素可以直接或间接影响瘤胃内微生物活性,从而改善瘤胃代谢水平.     

碱性次氯酸钠-苯酚分光光度法测定甲醇处理的瘤胃液中氨态氮浓度

[目的]建立一种适于测定用甲醇处理的瘤胃液中氨态氮浓度的碱性次氯酸钠-苯酚分光光度法方法.[方法]比较加或不加甲醇对标准氨态氮线性回归方程的影响,对比色波长、显色稳定性进行测定,进行回收率、精密度试验,并用建立的方法实际测定甲醇处理的绵羊癌胃液中氨态氮浓度.[结果]反应物在37℃水浴10 min、室温下放置10 min后显色更加稳定,最大吸收波长为650nm;氨态氮浓度在1～32 mg/100 mL时与650nm处吸光度值的相关系数为0.9999,回收率97.2;～103.7;(平均为99.9;);标准溶液和样品溶液的吸光度值日间变异系数、日内变异系数均小于5;.[结论]在样品液中含有50;体积比例的甲醇对碱性次氯酸钠-苯酚分光光度法测定氨态氮浓度没有影响,可用于经甲醇处理的瘤胃液中氨态氮浓度的测定.     

不同淀粉源饲料的瘤胃降解特性研究初探

通过尼龙袋法测定了5种淀粉源饲料在瘤胃的降解率。结果显示,玉米和荞麦在瘤胃的有效降解率(60.0%和61.6%)低于燕麦、小麦和大麦(78.9%、75.4%、69.8%)(P<0.05);燕麦的可溶性淀粉含量比较高,大麦和小麦表现出在9h内已经达到大部分被降解。     

瘤胃乙∶丙酸比例对绵羊血浆胰岛素水平动态变化的影响

胰岛素是调节糖代谢的重要激素。本试验测定了向空腹绵羊瘤胃灌注混合挥发性脂肪酸和改变灌注混合挥发性脂肪酸的乙：丙酸比例之后,颈动脉血浆胰岛素水平的动态变化。结果表明,向空腹绵羊瘤胃灌注高乙：丙酸比例(75：15)的混合挥发性脂肪酸,胰岛紊水平在开始灌注后3．5h内逐渐上升,但未出现胰岛素分泌高峰。将瘤胃灌注混合挥发性脂肪酸的乙：丙酸比例改换为65：25后,血浆胰岛素水平迅速上升。在27～52min之间维持了较高水平,之后迅速下降,出现胰岛素分泌高峰。进一步提高瘤胃灌注混合挥发性脂肪酸的丙酸比例。使乙：丙酸比例达45：45,未出现胰岛素水平的动态变化。本研究结果说明,瘤胃乙：丙酸比例为75：15时。体内糖代谢调节状态与瘤胃乙：丙酸比例为65：25和45：45时不同。胰岛素对体内糖代谢的调节主要依赖于胰岛素水平在短时间的变化,而不是胰岛素水平的高低。     

不同NFC/NDF比对奶山羊瘤胃微生物及瘤胃pH值变化的影响

试验研究了在不同非纤维性碳水化合物/中性洗涤纤维(NFC/NDF)比饲粮条件下诱发奶山羊亚急性瘤胃酸中毒(subacute rumen acidosis,SARA)过程中瘤胃微生物区系和瘤胃pH值的变化。该试验选用6只安装了永久性瘤胃瘘管的泌乳期关中奶山羊为试验动物,采用自身对照试验法,共分4期进行,每期10d,依次饲喂NFC/NDF比为1.02(Ⅰ期)、1.24(Ⅱ期)、1.63(Ⅲ期)、2.58(Ⅳ期)的4种饲粮,以逐渐增加饲粮精料的方法诱导奶山羊发生SARA。结果表明,随着饲粮NFC/NDF比的增大,瘤胃pH值显著降低(P<0.05),并且瘤胃pH值下降幅度也随之加快;随着饲粮NFC/NDF比的增加,淀粉分解菌的数量增幅最显著(P<0.01);饲粮NFC/NDF比为1.63时,瘤胃细菌总数、乳酸杆菌及坏死梭形杆菌的数量显著增加(P<0.05),当该比值为2.58时,埃氏巨型球菌和反刍兽新月单胞菌的数量出现显著增多(P<0.05);原虫数量在Ⅳ期降至最低,而牛链球菌的数量在整个试验期并未出现明显的波动。饲粮NFC/NDF比为1.63时,瘤胃内与碳水化合物分解有关的多数细菌的数量明显增加,SARA期时增幅更为明显,而此时原虫数量为最低。     

Effect of feeding fine maize particles on the reticular pH,milk yield and composition of dairy cows

The particle size of cereal grains has been found to modulate the rate of passage from the rumen and the digestibility of starch and neutral detergent fibre (NDF), but few studies have examined its impact on reticular pH. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding finely ground maize on the risk of ruminal acidosis, milk yield and composition. Twelve Holstein‐Friesian cows were assigned to one of two experimental groups and fed according to a cross‐over design. Diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous and were characterised by the same NDF and ADF, differing only in maize particle size. In the control diet (Ct), the maize meal was ground to 1.0 mm, whereas in the experimental diet, it was finely ground (Fg) to 0.5 mm. The pH and temperature of the reticulum were continuously measured in eight cows throughout the trial using indwelling sensors. Dry matter intake was higher in cows offered Fg diet than in Ct (19.0 vs. 20.3 kg/day; p = 0.067). However, milk yield (p = 0.855) and the 3.5% fat‐corrected milk (FCM) (p = 0.724) did not show any differences between the diets. Casein (2.48 vs. 2.57%; p = 0.035) and crude protein (CP) (3.18 vs. 3.31%; p = 0.021) resulted higher in Fg. Similarly, starch digestibility increased in animals offered Fg diet versus Ct (0.94 vs. 0.98; p = 0.078). Among the reticular parameters, the Fg‐fed cows spent a significantly higher time below the 5.5 pH threshold (15 vs. 61 min/day; p = 0.047) and had an average daily variation in reticular pH characterised by a lower nadir pH (5.95 vs. 5.72; p < 0.001) and a higher pH range (0.79 vs. 0.94; p = 0.003). In this study, grain particle size affected the risk of the onset of ruminal acidosis. Therefore, it should be carefully considered when formulating rations.