• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.401-414
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• 2006

Twenty eight Holstein steers 12 months old and weighing about 300kg were andomly allotted into one of four groups being fed ammoniated rice straw(ARS) and substituted 30%, 40% and 50% crushed bamboo chip for ARS to determine the effects of different levels of bamboo chip on performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics. Daily weight gain was reduced as the substitution levels of bamboo chip for ARS as a roughage source increased but there were no differences in daily weight gain between steers fed ARS alone and 30% bamboo chip for ARS. Concentrates intakes were not different between treatments by the substitution levels of bamboo chip for the whole fattening period. Roughage intake tended to increase as the substitution levels of bamboo chip increased. Total feed intake was not affected by the substitution levels of bamboo chip. However, feed efficiency got worse with increasing levels of bamboo chip. Animals fed the roughage substituting 30% bamboo chip for ARS were higher in profit by 13% than animals fed ARS alone as a roughage source. Digestibilities of Dry matter(DDM) and crude fiber(DCF) were highest in animals fed ARS alone as a roughage source. DDM's were lower in higher substitution levels of crushed bamboo chip but there were no differences in DCF among animals fed different levels of bamboo chip as a roughage source. Crude protein digestibility was not affected by ammoniated rice straw or by the different levels of bamboo chip. Dressing percentage and backfat thickness were not affected by ammoniated rice straw or by the levels of bamboo chip but ribeye area was narrowed as the levels of bamboo chip increased. Beef color, fat color, texture, maturity and marbling score were not affected by feeding of ammoniated rice straw or by the levels of bamboo chip. According to these results, it may be concluded that profit can increase when Holstein bulls are castrated and roughage containing ammoniated rice straw plus 30% bamboo chip is offered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1659-1666
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) and Gliricidia sepium (gliricidia) supplementation on intake, digestion, outflow rates, microbial protein yield and live-weight changes in sheep fed with ammoniated rice straw (ARS). In experiment 1, three rumen cannulated Japanese Corriedale wether (mean body weight of 35.6 kg) in $3{\times}3$ Latin Square Design were used. Animals were fed ad libitum ARS alone, or supplemented with 200 g of either leucaena or gliricidia. In experiment 2, twenty-four growing native Philippine sheep with average body weight of $13.5{\pm}0.25kg$ were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) and offered similar diets to those of experiment 1. Supplementation increased total dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility except for fiber (p<0.05) without affecting ARS consumption. Nitrogen balance revealed that absorbed and retained N was significantly higher in leucaena and gliricidia. The significant improvement in N utilization and more digestible OM intake brought about by the inclusion of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS resulted in increased (p<0.05) microbial N yield. Efficiency of microbial N supply in supplemented group was not significantly different, but higher (p<0.05) than the 24.92 g N/kg DOMR for ARS group. Liquid outflow rate was 7.8 and 6.8 %/h, while the solid phase of rumen digesta was 4.4 and 3.8 %/h for the leucaena and gliricidia group respectively, which were significantly higher than 5.30 and 2.50 %/h in the control diet. The increase in total DMI resulted to higher (p<0.01) growth performance and efficient feed utilization. Average daily gain (ADG) was 19.3, 34.6 and 33.9 g/d for the ARS, leucaena and gliricidia respectively. It is therefore concluded that addition of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS in could increase nutrient intake and digestibility, subsequently improving N utilization and livestock performance.