• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 1995

This study was conducted to determine the influence of alfalfa supplementation on intake, digestibility nitrogen and energy utilization in Korean native goats fed oak browse. This experiment was conducted by total collection method in laboratory, 1994. Diets included 100% oak bmwse(control), 75% oak browse+ 25% alfalfa and 50% oak browse + 50% alfalfa. Alfalfa supplemented diets were slightly higher CP(PO.O5). lignin (P<0.05) and tannin(P<0.05) contents than those control diets. Increasing levels of alfalfa supplementation, dry matter intake slightly increased, but no differences were observed in all diets. Digestibility for dry matter and cellular constituents showed higher for alfalfa supplemented diets than control diets(P<0.05), but NDF and ADF digestibility were similar for all diets. Alfalfa supplemented diets furnished higher dietary N, apparently digested N and retained N than did the control diets(P<0.05). Consumed energy slightly increased with increasing levels of alfalfa supplementation(P>0.05). DE was high(P<0.05) in alfalfa supplemented diets. but ME was similar for all diets. As above results, oak browse diets alone did not supply N and energy in excess of NRC recommended allowance for goats. Hence, goats fed oak browse with supplementation of protein sources such as alfalfa will be need to provides adequate nutrients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.925-932
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• 2007

This study was designed to measure the effect of regrowth age of Digitaria decumbens (D. decumbens) on the intake and dynamics of digesta in the rumen of rams. Six Black-belly rams (mean liveweight: 51.6 (s.d. 0.68) kg) fitted with rumen cannulae were fed twice daily a 14-, 28-, 42- and 56-day old fresh D. decumbens successively for 4 experimental periods. The daily dry matter intake decreased curvilineary from 75.2 to 48.5 (s.e. 2.0) g/kg $BW^{0.75}$ as the age of the D. decumbens grass increased from 14 to 56 days. Dry matter intake for the first 3 h after the morning meal was 863.6, 598.3, 576.4 and 401.5 (s.e. 55.6) g for the 14-, 28-, 42- and 56-day old grasses respectively. The pool of NDF in the rumen at the end of the 3-h feeding period did not vary significantly among the four diets. Twelve hours after the beginning of the morning meal, the pool of NDF increased with the forage regrowth age. Within the total pool of NDF, the pool of large particles tended to increase with the regrowth age. It was concluded that high intake was associated with fast evacuation of NDF from the rumen. Moreover, digestion (cellulolysis) rate and degree of particle reduction by rumination are highly correlated, though speed of physical degradation of forage seems to be the driving force behind intake.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1738-1746
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• 2002

Research was carried out to ascertain whether or not the volume of saliva flowing into the rumen regulates dry forage intake in ruminants. Goats with a parotid fistula were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, concentrated beef cattle feed and $NaHCO_3$ wice daily (10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00). Except for the days on which experiments were conducted, the animals were free access to drinking water. 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 three treatments, non-infusion (NI), intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva (RSI), and intraruminal infusion of warm water (RWI). In the RSI treatment, approximately 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 morning feeding. In the RWI treatment, parotid saliva was substituted for warm water ($36^{\circ}C$). After infusions, the animals were fed on roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes for 2 h. During feeding, eating and saliva secretion rates were measured. Blood samples were also periodically collected from the jugular vein. After 2 h feeding, water intake was measured for 30 min. These measurements were used to define thirst levels. On the day of the experiment, the animals were not access to drinking water during the morning feeding. It is thought that rumen fill in RSI and RWI treatments was higher than the NI treatment. In comparison with the NI treatment however, cumulative feed intake increased by 39.3% with RSI treatment and by 45.9% with RWI treatment after completion of the 2 h feeding period. After 2 h feeding, thirst level in the RSI treatment showed only a 10% decrease compared to the NI treatment, but thirst level in the RWI treatment decreased 49.8%. Despite the significant differences in thirst levels between RSI and RWI treatments, the cumulative feed intake in both treatments was similar. When comparing accumulated saliva secretion volumes 2 h after feeding, volumes in the RSI treatment were significantly 35.9% lower than the NI treatment while volumes in the RWI treatment were unchanged. However, the volumes of saliva and fluid flowing into the rumen were greater in both RSI and RWI treatments when compared to the NI treatment. The results indicate that the amount of saliva flowing into the rumen is a factor regulating feed intake in ruminants fed on dry forage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.692-696
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• 1998

An experiment was conducted with eight growing sheep (average initial weight 20.6 kg and average final weight 23.7 kg) in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to study the effect of type of forage supplementation to a basal diet of rice straw (ad libitum) and cassava (Manihot esculanta, approximately 9 g of dry matter $(DM).kg^{-0.75}{\cdot}day^{-1}$) on voluntary intake, digestion, rumen microbial protein synthesis and daily weight gain. Forages used were Leucaena (L, Leucaena leucocephala), Gliricidia (G, Gliricidia maculata) and Tithonia (T, Tithonia diversifolia, wild sunflower) at a DM supplementation level of approximately $13g.kg^{-0.75}.day^{-1}$. Organic matter intake was 40.4, 55.5, 55.0 and $54.9g{\cdot}kg.^{-0.75}{\cdot}day^{-1}$ for control (C, ad libitum straw and cassava), L, G and T. respectively, significantly lower for C than for the supplemented diets. Intake of supplementary forage had also a significantly positive effect on voluntary rice straw intake. All forage supplemented diets showed a significantly higher whole diet organic matter digestion than C ($488g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), while T ($557g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) differed significantly from L ($516g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) but not from G ($526g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$). Daily weight gain was -1.7, 5.2, 5.4 and $4.7g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$, for C, L, G and T. respectively, significantly lower for C than for the forage-supplemented diets. Efficiency of microbial protein synthesis estimated from urinary excretion of purine derivatives was lower for C (3.8 g microbial N. (kg digestible organic matter intake $(DOMI))^{-1}$ than for the forage supplemented diets (11.3, 9.0 and 9.4 g microbial $N.(kg\;DOMI)^{-1}$ for L, G and T. respectively).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 2005

The study was conducted to compare the dry matter intake and digestibility of Atriplex halimus (AH) and Atriplex nummularia (AN) and determine the proper proportion of saltbushes for partial replacement of alfalfa hay in the diets of Awassi sheep. The foliage of AH and AN were hand-plucked, air-dried in shade and then chopped mechanically similar to alfalfa hay. Two trials were conducted separately to determine voluntary feed intake and digestibility of saltbush browse. In the first trial, fifteen 8 month old Awassi lambs were distributed into 3 equal groups, and each animal was housed in individual pen. Each group received one of three dietary treatments: chopped alfalfa hay (H), dried foliage of Atriplex nummularia or foliage of Atriplex halimus. In the second trial, twentyseven 12 months old Awassi male lambs were randomly selected, distributed into nine equal groups, and housed into metabolic crates. Each group of animals received one of nine dietary treatments: alfalfa hay, AN, AH and different proportions (25, 50 and 75%) of AN or AH mixed with alfalfa hay. Forage type had a significant (p<0.001) effect on dry matter intake (DMI) and growth rate of lambs of the voluntary feed intake trial. Lambs receiving the alfalfa hay diet showed high DMI and high growth rate compared to those fed the diets containing saltbush. In the digestibility trial, dietary treatments had significant (p<0.05) effect on DMI, dry matter digestibility (DMD) (p<0.01) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) (p<0.01). The inclusion of AN in the diet up to 50% had no significant effect on DMI and DMD, whereas the inclusion of AH above 25% reduced DMI, DMD and OMD. The treatments had significant (p<0.05) effect on water intake and on live weight changes of lambs. Except for the diet containing 25% of AN browse, all lambs fed diets containing the saltbushes exhibited loss in body weight. The nutritive value of Atriplex nummularia foliage is better than that of A. halimus and it is possible to replace up to 50% of alfalfa hay by A. nummularia without negative effects on intake and digestibility of dry matter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.680-684
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• 1998

The effect of feeding heifers young Napier grass (7-weeks regrowth) or old Napier (16-weeks regrowth) supplemented with either wilted Desmodium intortum, Sesbania sesban or dried Calliandra calothyrsus leaves on intake and live weight changes was evaluated in a 67-day trial. Thirty-two Friesian heifers with an average live weight of 271 kg and 16.8 months old were randomly allocated to the four diets. The diets were either ad libitum young Napier grass or old Napier grass supplemented with 25% of either Sesbania, Desmodium or Calliandra. There was significant difference in chemical composition between the young and old Napier grass. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed on intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre. The total dry matter intake was 2.77, 2.86, 2.62 kg/100 kg live weight (LW) for Desmodium, Calliandra and Sesbania supplemented diets, respectively. A dry matter intake of 3.11 kg/100 kg LW was observed on the heifers fed young Napier grass. The mean daily gains were 638, 732, 606, and 1,001 g/day for Desmodium, Calliandra, Sesbania supplemented and young Napier grass diets respectively. Low level supplementation rate (1-1.5 kg DM/day) was adequate to maintain good growth rate when the heifers were fed old Napier grass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.281-287
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• 1995

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different inclusion levels of urea treated whole-crop wheat silage (UWCWS) in grass silage based rations on the performance of growing beef cattle. The winter wheat (variety, Riband) was harvested (in the summer of 1991) at a dry matter proportion of 520 g/kg and treated with feed grade urea at the rate of 37 kg/tonne crop dry matter and preserved in a heavy duty plastic bag using a silo press. The urea treated whole crop wheat silage (UWCWS) was mixed with grass silage to replace 0.00 (S100), 0.33 (S33) and 0.67 (S67) parts of the forage dry matter and fed ad libitum in a cross over design to 18 Simmental X Holstein Friesian growing beef animals. Two energy sources {one high in starch, rolled barley (RB) and one high in digestible fibre, sugar beet pulp (SBP)} were fed to supply sufficient energy for the efficient use of nitrogen by the rumen micro-organisms. The data on DMIF (dry matter intake of forage), TDMI (total dry matter intake), DLWG (daily live weight gain), FCR (feed conversion ratio) were recorded and faecal samples were collected to determine the digestibility coefficients. Results revealed that with the inclusion of UWCW in the animals' diets the DMI of the forage was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The highest DMIF was found in the treatment "S33" ($6.28{\pm}0.25kg$) where 67% of the silage dry matter was replaced with the UWCW and the lowest value for DMIF was observed in the control treatment ($5.03{\pm}0.23kg$). The DLWG did not differ significantly between the treatments. However, treatment "S100" showed a trend towards a superior DLWG. Feed conversion ratio in the control treatment differed significantly from "S67" and "S33". The addition of the UWCW in the animals' diet resulted in the lower FCR There was no effect of type of energy supplement on any aspect of performance either overall or in interaction with grass silage: UWCWS ratio. The regression and correlation coefficients for DMIF (r = 5.22 + 0.0184x*), DLWG (r = $1.04-0.00086x^{NS}$) and FCR (r = 4.78 = 0.022x*) on the inclusion of UWCW in the diet were calculated. The effect of the inclusion of UWCW on the overall digestibility coefficients was significant (p < 0.05). The addition of the UWCWS in the diet decreased the digestibility of the DM, OM, ADF and NFE but effect on the protein digestibility was non significant. The results of present study suggests that a DLWG slightly over 1 kg can be achieved with UWCW during the store period (period in which animal performance targets are low especially during winter) and the prediction of ME was overestimated as the high intake of DM did not reflect in improved animal performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1736-1744
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• 2008

Two experiments were conducted in central Vietnam to test the hypothesis that supplementation with a concentrate, comprising rice bran (45% fresh basis), maize (49%), fish meal (3%), urea (2%) and salt (1%), up to 2% of live weight (LW)/d (dry matter (DM) basis) would linearly increase digestible organic matter intake and LW gain of yellow cattle. In both experiments, there were five treatments, namely a basal diet of fresh grass fed at 1.25% of LW (experiment 1, elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum; experiment 2, native grass) and rice straw (Oryza sativa) fed ad libitum or this diet supplemented with concentrate at about 0.3, 0.7, 1.3 or 2.0% LW. There were 4 male growing cattle per treatment in experiment 1 and 3 in experiment 2. Diets were fed for 44 (experiment 1) or 49 (experiment 2) days, with feed intake recorded daily, LW measured about weekly and digestibility measurements made over 7 days commencing on day 24 (experiment 1) or day 10 (experiment 2). The elephant grass and native grass had neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations of 82 and 73% DM, and nitrogen concentrations of 1.3 and 1.8% DM, respectively. The rice straw used had a NDF concentration of 79-84% DM and nitrogen concentration of 0.8% DM. The concentrate had NDF and nitrogen concentrations of 33 and 2.8% DM. In both experiments, DM intake increased (p<0.001) linearly as the amount of concentrate consumed increased. Rice straw intake declined (p<0.001) (experiment 1: 1.24 to 0.48 kg DM/d; experiment 2: 0.95 to 0.50 kg DM/d) as concentrate intake increased. Grass intake was not significantly affected by concentrate intake in either experiment. The lowest amount of concentrate supplement increased forage intake, after which substitution rate increased as the amount of concentrate consumed increased. However, substitution rates at the highest amount of concentrate consumed were modest at 0.3 to 0.5 kg DM reduction in forage intake/kg DM supplement consumed. In both experiments, digestible organic matter intake increased linearly (p<0.001) (experiment 1: 1.16 to 2.38 kg/d; experiment 2: 1.30 to 2.49 kg/d) as the amount of supplement consumed increased, as did LW gain (experiment 1: 0.15 to 0.81 kg/d; experiment 2: 0.15 to 0.77 kg/d). This was associated with significant (p<0.01) linear increases in organic matter intake and apparent organic matter digestibility. Neutral detergent fibre digestibility declined as concentrate intake increased, but the effect was not significant (p = 0.051) in experiment 2. These results are discussed in relation to existing literature and potential to improve the profitability of cattle fattening in central Vietnam.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 2002

This experiment was conducted to examine possibility and suitability of forest by-product as a roughage source of deer. As a experimental diet, forest by-product silage(FPS) and commercial mixed ration(CMR) were prepared to compare dry matter intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and feeding behavior in feeding trials with spotted deer. The digestibility of dry matter was higher(P<0.05) in CMR than in FPS. The digestibility of crude protein was higher in CMR than in FPS and there was significant difference(P＜0.05). CMR had more digestibility of crude fiber than FBS but the difference was not significant. Dry matter intake were similar in both diets. Digestible dry matter intake was higher in CMR than FPS, however, there was no significant difference between experimental diets. Nitrogen intake, urinary and digestible nitrogen were significantly higher(P<0.05) in CMR than FPS. The efficiency of nitorgen utilization was higher for FPS than for CMR. Feeding behavior were similar in FPS and CMR. Consequently. It would be expected that FPS that composed with various feed sources can be used as a good roughage source of deer. Because it has high digestibility, dry matter intake and internal availability of nitrogen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.666-673
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• 2016

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the level of corn dry distillers grains with solubles (CDDGS) supplementation on growing performance, blood metabolites, digestion characteristics and ruminal fermentation patterns in steers grazing dormant forage. In Exp. 1, of growth performance, 120 steers ($204{\pm}5kg$ initial body weight [BW]) were distributed randomly into 3 groups (each of 40 steers), which were provided with the following levels of CDDGS supplement: 0%, 0.25%, or 0.50% BW. All groups of steers were grazed for 30 days in each of 3 grazing periods (March, April, and May). Approximately 1,000 ha of the land was divided with electric fencing into 3 equally sized pastures (333 ha in size). Blood samples were collected monthly from 20 steers in each grazing group for analysis of glucose (G), urea-nitrogen (UN) and non-esterified fatty acids. Final BW, average daily gain (ADG) and supplement conversion (CDDGS-C) increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05).The CDDGS supplementation also increased the plasma G and UN concentrations (p<0.05). In Exp. 2, of digestive metabolism, 9 ruminally cannulated steers ($BW=350{\pm}3kg$) were distributed, following a completely randomized design, into groups of three in each pasture. The ruminally cannulated steers were provided the same levels of CDDGS supplementation as in the growing performance study (0%, 0.25%, and 0.50% BW), and they grazed along with the other 40 steers throughout the grazing periods. The dry matter intake, crude protein intake, neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADDM), crude protein (ADCP) and neutral detergent fiber (ADNDF) increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). The ruminal degradation rates of CP (kdCP), NDF (kdNDF) and passage rate (kp) also increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). Ruminal ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) and propionate concentrations also increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). However, acetate concentrations decreased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). Liquid dilution rate increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation but ruminal liquid volume decreased (p<0.05). On the basis of these findings, we can conclude that CDDGS supplementation enhanced the productive performance of cattle grazing native rangeland without negatively affecting forage intake, glucose and urea-nitrogen blood concentrations, ruminal degradation and ruminal fermentation patterns.