• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2011

Six male crossbred (Thai Native${\times}$Anglo Nubian) goats, with an average initial weight of $22{\pm}2\;kg$, were randomly assigned according to a $3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a $6{\times}6$ Latin square design with a 21-d period to evaluate the effect of feeding rubber seed kernel (RSK) and palm kernel cake (PKC) in combination on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation characteristics, and nitrogen utilization. The dietary treatments were as follows: i) concentrate containing 0% RSK and 20% PKC ($T_1$), ii) 0% RSK and 30% PKC ($T_2$), iii) 20% RSK and 20% PKC ($T_3$), iv) 20% RSK and 30% PKC ($T_4$), v) 30% RSK and 20% PKC ($T_5$), and vi) 30% RSK and 30% PKC ($T_6$). During the experiment, signal hay was given on an ad libitum basis as the roughage. It was found that RSK levels and PKC levels had no interaction effects on feed intake, apparent digestibility, $NH_3$-N, blood metabolites, VFA concentrations, and nitrogen utilization, but there were interactions between RSK levels and PKC levels with respect to total DMI (kg/d) and total VFA concentrations, and goats receiving 30% RSK had lower values (p<0.05) than those receiving 0 and 20% RSK, respectively. Feeding different PKC levels did not affect (p>0.05) feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation patterns, blood metabolites, and nitrogen utilization. However, increasing RSK levels (>20%) resulted in a slightly lower daily DMI (% BW and g/kg $BW^{0.75}$), apparent digestibility (NDF and ADF), total N intake, and N excretion than in goats fed on 0 and 20% RSK. BUN, blood glucose, and propionate were variable among treatment and were highest in 0% RSK with the 20% PKC fed group having values which were higher than those in other groups. However, there were no differences (p>0.05) among treatments with respect to N retention, PD output, and microbial N supply. Based on this study, RSK levels up to 20% and PKC at 20-30% in concentrate could be efficiently utilized for goats fed on signal hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1573-1578
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of diets that contained different levels of fungal treated wheat straw on the intake, digestibility and performance of lactating cows. Eight primiparous Holstein cows, in late lactation ranging from $170{\pm}10$ days in milk and yielding $14.3{\pm}1.3$ kg/d of fat corrected milk (FCM) were allocated into four diets with 0, 10, 20 and 30% fungal (Pleurotus ostreatus coded P-41) treated wheat straw in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square experiment. The daily intake of DM, OM, DOM, CP and TDN were not affected by substitution of alfalfa hay with fungal treated wheat straw. Inclusion of the treated straw at different levels in the diet did not affect the digestibility of nutrients, except for the ADF that was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the diet contained 30% treated straw. The types of the diet did not significantly affect daily milk and FCM production. The milk composition including fat, protein, lactose, solid non-fat (SNF) and total solid (TS) were not statistically (p>0.05) different among the diets. All cows gained weight, but the inclusion of treated straw to the diet significantly (p<0.05) increased the body weight gain and the highest amount was obtained in the diet containing 20% treated. Inclusion of fungal treated wheat straw up to 30% of the diet of lactating cows supplemented with a protein source such as cottonseed meal had not affected the nutrients intake and lactation performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.457-463
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• 2000

Fifty mid-lactation Holstein cows were used in a six-week feeding trial to study effects of high-forage, high-fat diets on dry matter intake and production performance. Cows were divided into 10 replicates, each consisting of five cows. Each cow was assigned to a control (diet 1) or one of the four experimental diets (high-forage (75%), high-fat (7.5%) (diet 2); high-forage, medium-fat (5%) (diet 3); medium forage (65%), high-fat (diet 4); medium-forage, medium-fat (diet 5)), or a control diet containing about 50% forage and 2% fat. All diets were isonitrogenous (17.7% crude protein). The forage mixture consisted of 20% alfalfa hay, 40% alfalfa haylage, and 40% com silage. Supplemental fat included 80% rumen-protected fat and 20% yellow grease. Dry matter intake was decreased (p<0.01) in cows fed experimental diets (18.4, 20.9, 19.9, and 22.6 kg for cows fed diets 1-4, respectively vs. 27.5 kg for cows fed the control diet). Daily milk production was lower (p<0.05) for cows consuming experimental diets (30.5, 31.3, 31.0, and 32.5 kg for cows fed greater for cows consuming experimental diets (1.74, 1.55, 1.60, and 1.53 kg milk/kg dry matter intake for cows fed diets 1-4, respectively, vs. 1.26 kg milk/kg dry matter intake for cows fed the control diet).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.546-555
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• 1982

To evaluate the digestibility and absorbability of proteins, and the rates of energy and nitrogen(N) metabolism of the Korean native goats, studies were carried out with open type respiration apparatus based on the nitrogen-carbon method. The results on the nitrogen retention and the metabolic rate of energy, which was obtained with one male (10-month-old) and one female (24-month-old) goats, both weighing ${\simeq}20kg$, are summarized as follows. 1. When the goats were fed ad libitum the medium quality orchard grass hay, they consumed hay about 0.66 to 0.92% of body weight per day. The hay intake was remained the same even when high quality hay was provided. This amount of hay intake was relatively lower than that of dairy goat and sheep. It was believed to be partly due to the change in feeding enviroment. When fed with hay and soybean meal together, the goats ate hay about 1.06% and soybean meal about 0.60% of body weight, corresponding to 1.66% of body weight as fed basis. 2. The $CO_2$ gas produced from the goat in the open type respiration chamber and absorbed with KOH solution was estimated to be 99~117g/day. The difference in feed intake did not influence the $CO_2$ production; however, these seems to be a linea relationship between body weight and $CO_2$ production. 3. When fed orchard grass hay only, the goats showed protein digestibility of 24~41%. The protein digestibility incresed to 58.2% when fed hay and soybean meal together. A negative nitrogen balance(-0.16g N/day) was observed with goats fed 11.53g N originated from 212g hay and 150g soybean meal. Converting that nitrogen ingested to a crude protein, the amount of crude protein intake by the goats per day was 77.9g compared to 40~45g N known to be required in a day by goat weighing 20kg, indicating that the extra protein ingested was metabolized to provide energy. 4. When the male and female goats comsumed 624 kcal gross energy and 824 kcal gross energy by consuming 158g and 213g of hay, respectively, the digestible energy intake was calculated to be 260kcal for the male and 199kcal for the female goat. The daily heat production of male and female goats were 338kcal and 334kcal, respectively, when fed hay only. However, the female goat fed 212g hay and 150g soybean meal produced about 591kcal per day. Consequently, the energy requirment of the Korean native goats weighing ${\simeq}20kg$ was concluded to be $${\geq_-}$$600kcal net energy per day. 5. The fasting heat product ion of a male goat weighing 27.7kg was 412kcal per day when fasted for 2~3 days. When fasted for 3~4 days, the value decresed to 240kcal. The enviromental temperatures during the expreimental period were ranged from 19 to $34.5^{\circ}C$. The goats seemed to be panting when the chamber temperature rose to $32^{\circ}C$ or above. 6. When fed low levels of dietary protein, serum protein levels of the goats were decresed slightly ($${\leq_-}$$10%); however, urea content in the serum was observed to decrese to a great extent (3X).

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1415-1424
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• 2021

Objective: Portable laser methane detectors (LMDs) may be an economical means of estimating CH₄ emissions from ruminants. We validated an LMD-based approach and then used that approach to evaluate CH₄ emissions from indigenous dairy cows in a dryland area of Ethiopia. Methods: First, we validated our LMD-based approach in Simmental crossbred beef cattle (n = 2) housed in respiration chambers and fed either a high- or low-concentrate diet. From the results of the validation, we constructed an estimation equation to determine CH₄ emissions from LMD CH₄ concentrations. Next, we used our validated LMD approach to examine CH₄ emissions in Fogera dairy cows grazed for 8 h/d (GG, n = 4), fed indoors on natural-grassland hay (CG1, n = 4), or fed indoors on Napier-grass (Pennisetum purpureum) hay (CG2, n = 4). All the cows were supplemented with concentrate feed. Results: The exhaled CH₄ concentrations measured by LMD were linearly correlated with the CH₄ emissions determined by infrared-absorption-based gas analyzer (r² = 0.55). The estimation equation used to determine CH₄ emissions (y, mg/min) from LMD CH₄ concentrations (x, ppm m) was y = 0.4259x+38.61. Daily CH₄ emissions of Fogera cows estimated by using the equation did not differ among the three groups; however, a numerically greater milk yield was obtained from the CG2 cows than from the GG cows, suggesting that Napier-grass hay might be better than natural-grassland hay for indoor feeding. The CG1 cows had higher CH₄ emissions per feed intake than the other groups, without significant increases in milk yield and body-weight gain, suggesting that natural-grassland hay cannot be recommended for indoor-fed cows. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of using LMDs to valuate feeding regimens rapidly and economically for dairy cows in areas under financial constraint, while taking CH₄ emissions into consideration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.61-63
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• 1988

A total of 38 energy balance trials were done for calves fed a liquid milk replacer, calf starter and second cut mixed hay. Milk replacer supplied 81% of the total dietary energy. Live weight of calves averaged 54.1 (S.D 6.2) kg and daily gain 0.37 (${\pm}0.23$)kg. The metabolizability of gross energy averaged 0.822. A regression was calculated relating energy retention (ER, $kJ/kg^{0.75}$) to the intake of metabolizable energy (IME, $kJ/kg^{0.75}$): ER = 0.72 (${\pm}0.12$) IME - 330, r = 0.702, P < 0.01, $S.E.{\pm}18.0$. Metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm) was calculated to be $458kJ/kg^{0.75}$ when ER = 0. The amount of IME over MEm for an individual animal (Meg, $kJ/kg^{0.75}$) was regressed on averaged daily gain (ADG, kg): Meg = 413 (${\pm}91$) ADG + 0.2, r = 0.650, P < 0.01, $S.E.{\pm}21$. The amount of ME requirement for suckling calves was estimated using values obtained above.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.717-722
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• 1992

An experiment was conducted to examine the feasibility of producing multiple calves using embryo transfer in Japanese Black cattle. Milk yield of cows and forage intake of calves were measured for 11 cows with single calves, 14 cows with twins and one cow with triplets. The means of 26 weeks cumulative milk yield were 854, 1028 and 1271 kg for cows having singles, twins and triplets, respectively. Male birth weights for single calves, twins and triplet were 34.9, 26.6 and 19.9 kg, and female ones were 31.7, 24.1 and 22.1 kg, respectively. Weight and daily gain of calves were affected by weeks (W), sex (S), the number of calves (N), parity, birth season, $W{\times}N$, $S{\times}N$ and regression on milk yield. Growth rate was higher for single calves than for twins until about 9 weeks of age, then weights increased at a similar rate. Male calf weaning weights for singles, twins and triplets were 207.0, 177.1 and 162.2 kg, and those for females were 185.4, 151.6 and 180.4 kg, respectively. Average regression coefficients of calf growth on milk yield were significant, and single calf was affected more than twin calves by increment of milk yield. As the number of calves per cow increased, hay intake of calves decreased and concentrate intake tended to increase between 6 and 13 weeks of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.601-605
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• 1993

This study was purposed to investigate the efficiency of protein utilization of rapeseed meal (RSM) and formaldehyde-treated RSM (TRSM) by sheep, and their influence on performance of growing heifers. Experiment 1 was conducted according to a double $3{\times}3$ Latin square design involving sex yearling Hu Sheep and three experimental diets. All diets contained 600 g ammoniated rice straw and 200 g concentrate mixture. Three dietary treatments were: (1) 100 g RSM + 40 g soybean meal (URUS), (2) 100 g TRSM + 40 g soybean meal (TRUS) and (3) 100 g TRSM + 40 g treated soybean meal (TRTS). Apparent nitrogen digestibility was significantly higher for diet TRUS than that for URUS or TRTS (p<0.05), but with no significant difference between URUS and TRTS (p>0.05). Proportion of nitrogen retention (NR) to the digestible nitrogen intake for diet TRUS and TRTS was 25.57 (p<0.05) and 23.44% (p<0.05) higher than that for URUS respectively. As a result, proportion of NR to nitrogen intake for diet TRUS and TRTS was 34.74 (p<0.05) and 23.78% (p<0.05) higher than that for URUS respectively. Experiment 2 was conducted with 59 Holstein heifers. They were 12-20 months of age at the start of the trial. The experiment was a $2{\times}2$ factorial trial in which the heifers were given the ammoniated rice straw ad libitum and 1.5 kg hay, and supplemented with either RSM or TRSM at a daily allowance of 1.2 or 1.8 kg per day. The live weight gains for heifers receiving 1.2 and 1.8 kg/d of RSM or TRSM were 0.491 and 0.556 or 0.564 and 0.665 kg/d, respectively. The results suggest that formaldehyde treatment can effectively improve the efficiency of protein utilization of rapessed meal and cattle's performance.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2008

This study was conducted to compare the effects of feeding high protein and low energy milk replacer (HPR; CP 25%, ME 3.6 Mcal/kg DM) with low protein and high energy milk replacer (HPR; CP 21%, ME 4.2 Mcal/kg DM) on feed consumption, body weight (BW) gain, health and selected blood metabolites in Holstein calves during the pre-weaning period. At each feeding, each milk replacer (MR) was prepared by mixing 0.125 kg of dry MR in 1L of warm ($60^{\circ}C$) water. The calves were fed either HPR (n = 10) or HER (n = 10) using mobile plastic bottles fitted with soft rubber nipples. All calves received 1.8L diluted MR at each feeding 3 times daily during the first 4 weeks of age; feeding frequency was reduced to 2 times daily for the next 2 weeks of age and then to once daily during the last week of the experiment. Jugular blood was sampled in calves at day 7, 14, 21, 35 and 49 of age to enumerate selected metabolites. Daily MR, starter and hay intake during the pre-weaning period were similar in calves fed HPR and HER. Consumption of starter, MGH and total DM steadily increased with the age of calves. Final BW, daily BW gain and feed efficiency of calves were not affected by treatments. Serum glucose, cholesterol, creatinine were decreased (p<0.05) and blood urea N was increased (p<0.05) in calves fed HER or HPR as they grew older. Serum glucose, total protein and albumin concentrations in calves were not affected by treatments. Serum GPT and GOT concentrations were higher (p<0.05) in calves on HPR than on HER. Scouring score, days scoured, respiratory score, rectal temperature and general appearance were similar in calves fed HPR and HER. Poor general appearance (dullness and droopy ears) of calves fed either HPR or HER reflected nutritional insufficiency and stress. In conclusion, energy and protein concentrations in MR did not affect feed intake and BW gain in Holstein calves during the pre-weaning period. Poor general appearance and lower BW gain of calves compared to those reported in the literature for milk fed calves prompt a demand for further research to improve the daily nutrient supply to MR-fed calves.