• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1770-1778
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to reveal potential metabolic differences of dairy cows fed corn stover (CS) and rice straw (RS) instead of alfalfa hay (AH) as main forage source. Methods: Thirty multiparous mid-late lactation Holstein dairy cows were selected and randomly assigned to three diets, AH, CS, or RS (n = 10). After 13 weeks of the feeding trial, coccygeal arterial and superficial epigastric venous plasma samples were collected before morning feeding for gas chromatography time-of-flight/mass spectrometry analyses. Results: In the artery, 8 and 13 metabolites were detected as differential metabolites between AH and CS, and between AH and RS, respectively. The relative abundance of phenylpropanoate (log₂fold change [FC]) = 1.30, 1.09), panthenol (log₂FC = 2.36, 2.20), threitol (log₂FC = 1.00, 1.07), and 3,7,12-trihydroxycoprostane (log₂FC = 0.79, 0.78) were greater in both CS and RS than in AH, and tyrosine (log₂FC = -0.32), phenylalanine (log₂FC = -0.30), and pyruvic acid (log₂FC = -0.30) were lower in RS than in AH. In the vein, 1 and 7 metabolites were detected as differential metabolites between AH and CS, and between AH and RS, respectively. By comparing AH and RS, we found that metabolic pathways of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism were enriched by integrative artery and vein analysis. Furthermore, AH and RS, arterial phenylpropanoate and 4-hydroxyproline were positively, and phenylalanine was negatively correlated with milk urea nitrogen. Finally, in AH and CS, arterial panthenol was negatively correlated with feed efficiency. Conclusion: Arterial metabolic profiles changed more than those in the veins from animals on three forage diets, differing in amino acids. We found that phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism were restricted when cows were fed low-quality cereal straw diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.471-477
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• 1997

A study detennined whether certain biochemical and physiological variables were altered during marginal Zn deficiency. Ten weaned crossbred Hereford Angus heifer calves, weighing $163{\pm}2kg$, were utilized. Five calves were fed a Zn - deficient (- Zn) brome-alfalfa hay diet containing 17 mg Zn/kg diet DM, and five calves were fed a Zn-adequate (+Zn) diet with 23 mg Zn/kg diet DM from $ZnSO_4$ added to the - Zn diet (total diet, 40 mg Zn/kg diet DM), for 32 d. At 21 d the - Zn calves had a reduction (p < .05) in feed efficiency. By 25 d, plasma Zn and alkaline phosphatase concentrations were reduced (p < .05) in the - Zn calves. Blood urea nitrogen, glucose, insulin, IGF-I, Cu plasma concentration and Zn and Cu concentrations of red blood cell (RBC) and liver were not altered (p > .05) by the - Zn diet through 25 d. In response to a single i. m. injection of dexamethasone (20 mg) on d 25, calves fed the two dietary Zn amounts showed no changes (p > .05) in plasma or RBC Zn and Cu concentrations, serum IGF-I, insulin, and glucose when measured at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after injection. In response to an intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin on d 30, cell mediated immune (CMI) response was reduced (p < .05) in the - Zn calves. These observations indicate that during a marginal Zn deficiency in calves, there was a decrease in feed efficiency, plasma Zn, serum alkaline phosphatase, and CMI response.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.113-122
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• 2015

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of Kalopanax pictus Nakai (Kalopanax) on in vitro rumen fermentation and methane (CH4) reduction. Kalopanax trunk was extracted with 70% ethanol and 70% methanol. Rumen fluid, alfalfa hay and buffer (control: C) supplemented with 0.3% Kalopanx juice (T1), 0.3% ethanol extract (T2) and 0.3% methanol extract (T3) in the total volume of culture medium were incubated at $38^{\circ}C$ for 24h and 48h. Rumen pH was lower in all Kalopanax treatments during all incubations than that in control (p<0.05). Total VFA and total gas production in T2 and T3 was significantly higher than that in C at 48h incubation (p<0.05). Ammonia-N was decreased in all treatments compared with C during the incubation periods (p<0.05). At 24h incubation, $CH_4$ contents were significantly reduced by both alcohol extracts. It is concluded that supplementing Kalopanax extracts can stimulate ruminal fermentation of rumen microorganisms and inhibit methanogenesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1439-1447
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary incorporation of tanninrich woody species on meat oxidative stability, carcass traits and meat quality in goats. Methods: Two tannin-rich species were tested using a three-treatments feeding trial, where treatments consisted of: Larrea divaricata and Acacia aroma both at 12.5% in dry matter basis of the diet and a control diet (alfalfa hay). All feeding diets were iso-protein and iso-energy. Carcass conformation, carcass compactness, carcass fatness and subcutaneous fat deposition were evaluated. Intake, liveweigh, Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscles of goats were analyzed in order to evaluate quality parameters such as pH value, instrumental color evaluation, water holding capacity, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, meat oxidative stability and fatty acid profiles in meat. Results: Feed intake, liveweight gain, carcass, and meat traits did not differ among treatments. Changes in meat lipid profile among treatments were observed for oleic and elaidic acid contents. Meat total phenolic content and antioxidant activity did not differ among treatments; although, meat oxidative status after storage at room temperature, as well as under refrigerated and frozen conditions were different between control and both supplemented groups. Conclusion: The inclusion of Acacia aroma and Larrea divaricata leaves in goat diet enhanced meat oxidative stability. Modulation of the ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids produced by condensed tannins of these plant species need to be further investigated.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.1433-1442
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• 2021

In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture fluid (SCCF) has been added to a diet of lactating dairy cows to attempt to improve the ruminal fermentation and potentially increase the dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of SCCF on the milk yield and blood biochemistry in lactating cows during the summer. Twenty-four Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: (1) total mixed ration (TMR-1) (Control); (2) TMR-1 supplemented with SCCF (T1); (3) TMR-2 (containing alfalfa hay) (T2); and (4) TMR-2 supplemented with SCCF (T3). SCCF (5 ml/head, 2.0×10⁷ CFU/mL) was mixed with TMRs daily before feeding to dairy cows. The mean daily temperature-humidity index (THI) during this trial was 76.92 ± 0.51 on average and ranged from 73.04 to 81.19. For particle size distribution, TMR-2 had a lower >19 mm fraction and a higher 8-9 mm fraction than TMR-1 (p < 0.05). The type of TMR did not influence the DMI, body weight (BW), milk yield and composition, or blood metabolites. The milk yield and composition were not affected by the SCCF supplementation, but somatic cell counts were reduced by feeding SCCF (p < 0.05). Feeding SCCF significantly increased the DMI but did not affect the milk yield of dairy cows. The NEFA concentration was slightly decreased compared to that in the control and T2 groups without SCCF. Feeding a yeast culture of S. cerevisiae may improve the feed intake, milk quality and energy balance of dairy cows under heat stress.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.355-372
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• 2004

In vitro experiments were conducted to determine the formation of fatty acid soaps (FAS) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) disappearance rate. The substrates were a basal alfalfa hay containing 1) no oil, 2) 10% soybean oil, 3) 10% com oil, on a weight basis. All the substrates were incubated in triplicate for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48h in each experiment. After the incubation in the first experiment serum bottles (6oml) were analyzed for nonesterified, esterifed and fatty acid soaps contents. The serum bottles (120mI) from the second experiment were analyzed for pH, $NH_3-N$ and VFA concentration, and dry matter and NDF disappearance rate. pH decreased and the concentration of NH3-N increased significantly with longer incubation time (P<0.0001). The disappearance rates of dry matter and NDF significantly varied with feed, incubation time and oils (P<0.05). The molar concentration of total VFA increased and proportion of acetate significantly decreased with incubation time (P<0.0001), but the proportion of propionate significantly increased with longer incubation time (P<0.0001). Addition of oils to diet lowered the ratio of acetate:propionate (P<0.05). The esterified fatty acids (EFA) decreased with increasing incubation time (P<0.0001), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased due to lipolysis of EFA, NEFA then reacted with cations to increase formation of FAS. The formation of FAS increased significantly at 48h of incubation time (P<0.0001). Especially, formation of stearic acid soaps was 27.5 and 32.5 folds with soybean oil and com oil supplements, respectively, by 48h of incubation time (P<0.0001). Alfalfa hay had higher cation contents, particularly Ca, which react with NEFA and FAS can be formed with longer incubation time. Saturated fatty acids had a higher proportion of FAS than did unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting that the former may react more extensively with cations. FAS contents increased with increasing chain length of the fatty acids. Since added vegetable oils fonned FAS, it might decrease negative effects on in vitro fermentation characteristics and NDF disappearance rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.812-818
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• 2009

This study evaluated the effects of live yeast and yeast cell-wall mannan-oligosaccharide supplementation onperformance and nutrient digestibility during early lactation in cows fed a diet based on a mixture of corn silage and alfalfa hay as forage sources. Eight multiparous Holstein dairy cows (average days in milk, 27${\pm}$6) were used in a replicated 4${\times}$4 Latin square design. Diets contained 45% forage and 55% concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis and treatments were: i) basal diet without additive (Control), ii) basal diet with 32 g/d of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), iii) basal diet with $1.2{\times}10^{10}$ colony forming units per day (cfu/d) of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM 1-1077; SC), and iv) basal diet with a mixture of MOS (32 g/d) and SC ($1.2{\times}10^{10}$ cfu/d; MOS+SC). Treatments had no effect (p>0.05) on DM intake and yields of milk, 3.5% fat-(FCM) and energy-corrected milk (ECM), and on milk fat percentage, body condition score and blood metabolites. Compared with the Control, only supplementation of SC resulted in numerically higher yields of FCM (41.9 vs. 40.1 kg/d) and ECM (41.8 vs. 40.3 kg/d), and milk fat percentage (3.64 vs. 3.43%). While the MOS diet had no effects on performance compared to the Control, the combination treatment MOS+SC increased milk protein percentage (p<0.05). Also, the MOS supplementation, both alone or in combination with SC, numerically increased milk fat percentage. The SC supplementation increased apparent digestibility of DM and crude protein while the MOS supplementation did not affect digestibility. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ruminal pH were similar across treatments. Overall results indicated that supplementation of MOS produced variable and inconsistent effects on rumen metabolism and performance, whereas SC supplementation improved nutrient digestibility and numerically increased FCM and ECM yields, which could not be enhanced by the combined supplementation of MOS+SC. According to our experimental condition, there was no effect of MOS alone or in combination with SC on dairy cow performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.966-975
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• 2015

Heat production in ruminants follows a diurnal pattern over the course of a day peaking 3 hours following afternoon feeding and then gradually declining to its lowest point prior to morning feeding. In order to clarify the cooling period most effective in reducing decreases in feed intake and milk production, experiments were carried out based on the diurnal rhythm of heat production and heat dissipation. In experiment 1, the effects of hot environment on milk production were investigated. The animals were kept first in a thermoneutral environment ($20.0^{\circ}C$, 80.0%) for 12 days, they were then transitioned to a hot environment ($32^{\circ}C$, 80.0%) for 13 days before being returned to second thermoneutral environment for a further 12 days. In experiment 2, the effectiveness of daytime cooling or nighttime cooling for improving milk production in hot environment was compared. While ten lactating Japanese Saanen goats (aged 2 years, weighing 41.0 kg) during early lactation were used in experiment 1, ten lactating goats (aged 2 years, weighing 47.5 kg) during mid-lactation were used in experiment 2. The animals were fed 300 g of concentrated feed and excessive amounts of crushed alfalfa hay cubes twice daily. Water was given ad libitum. The animals were milked twice daily. When exposed to a hot environment, milk yield and composition decreased significantly (p<0.05). Milk yield in the hot environment did not change with daytime cooling, but tended to increase with nighttime cooling. Compared to the daytime cooling, milk components percentages in the nighttime cooling were not significantly different but the milk components yields in the nighttime cooling were significantly higher (p<0.05). The results indicate that nighttime cooling is more effective than daytime cooling in the reduction of milk production declines in lactating goats exposed to a hot environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1174-1183
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• 2010

In goats fed on dry forage twice a day, an esophageal fistula was used to investigate the physiological factors present in the marked suppression of dry forage intake that occurs after 40 min of feeding. The animals used in this study were five large-type male esophageal- and ruminal-fistulated goats. Roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes with any large remaining chunks removed were used as feed for this research. The study was conducted under both normal feeding conditions (NFC) and sham feeding conditions (SFC). In the NFC control, the esophageal fistulae were closed by plugs and the animals ate dry forage in the normal manner. In the SFC treatment, before starting the experiment the plugs for closing the esophageal fistula were removed and the cannulae for collecting boluses were fitted into the fistulae. Therefore, the esophageal boluses were removed via an esophageal fistula before they entered the rumen. In the NFC control, eating rates sharply decreased in the first 40 min of feeding and were subsequently maintained at low levels. However, eating rates in the SFC treatment remained high after 40 min of the feeding period had elapsed and the goats ate continuously during the 2 h feeding period. In comparison with the NFC control ($1,794{\pm}203.80\;g$/2 h), cumulative dry forage intake in the SFC treatment ($3,182{\pm}381.69\;g$/2 h) was 77.4% greater (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. In the SFC treatment, cumulative bolus output ($6,804{\pm}469.92\;g$/2 h) was about twofold the cumulative dry forage intake due to cumulative salivary secretion volume ($3,622{\pm}104.13\;g$/2 h) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. The result indicates that large amounts of secreted saliva during dry forage feeding act in conjunction with consumed feed to form the ruminal load responsible for ruminal distension. The increased plasma total protein concentrations were higher in the SFC treatment than in the NFC control. However, plasma and ruminal fluid osmolalities increased in the NFC control during and after feeding but were mostly unchanged in the SFC treatment. In comparison with the NFC control ($3,440{\pm}548.04\;g$/30 min), thirst level in the SFC treatment ($1,360{\pm}467.02\;g$/30 min) was 60.5% significantly less (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 30 min drinking period. The results of the present study indicate that In the second hour of the 2 h feeding period, dry forage intake is regulated by factors produced when boluses enter the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1118-1125
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• 2003

Research was carried out to clarify whether a suppression of dry forage intake during the early stages of feeding in ruminants is caused by feeding induced hypovolemia which is produced by the accelerated secretion of parotid saliva. Goats with a parotid fistula were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, commercial ground concentrate feed and $NaHCO_3$ twice daily (10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00). The animals were free access to drinking water all day prior to, during and after experiments. The animals were intraruminally infused every day prior to the morning feeding period with parotid saliva collected from the parotid fistula over a 24 h period. The present experiment consisted of two treatments, non-infusion (RNI) and intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva (RSF). In the RSF treatment, 4-5 kg of parotid saliva (280-290 mOsm/l) collected over a 24 h period was intraruminally infused 1 h prior to the commencement of the morning feeding. During feeding, eating and parotid saliva secretion rates were measured. Blood samples were also periodically collected from the jugular vein. During and after 2 h feeding, water intakes were measured, respectively. These measurements were used to define thirst levels. It is thought that rumen fill in the RSF treatment was higher than the RNI treatment. Plasma osmolality in the RSF treatment increased in the first half of the 2 h feeding period due to the intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva. Therefore, parotid saliva secretion rates in the RSF treatment were lower than the RNI treatment for 30 min period from 30 to 60 min after the commencement of feeding. On the other hand, plasma total protein concentration and hematocrit in the RSF treatment decreased by 3.2 and 3.3% prior to the commencement of feeding due to the intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva. In the first half of the 2 h feeding period, plasma total protein concentration and hematocrit in the RSF treatment showed a tendency to decrease compared to the RNI treatment. Thirst level in the RSF treatment during feeding was approximately 31.3% less than the RNI treatment. Upon the completion of the 2 h feeding period, cumulative feed intake in the RSF treatment was significantly larger (19.7%) than the RNI treatment. The results suggest that a suppression of dry forage intake during the early stages of feeding in goats is partly caused by feeding induced hypovolemia, which is produced by the accelerated secretion of parotid saliva.