• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.7
• /
• pp.986-993
• /
• 2001

In balance experiments with rats either 25 or 50% of the casein protein in the control diet was replaced with one of the following eight sun-dried tropical biomass products: water spinach plants (WS) (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk), leucaena leaves (LL) (Leuceana leucocephala), duckweed plants (DW) (Lemma minor L.), groundnut foliage (OF) (Arachis hypogaea L.), trichantera leaves (Tric) (Trichantera gigantea), indicago leaves (Ind) (Indigofera hirsuta), mungbean foliage (Mb) (Phaseolus aureus), and cassava leaves (CL) (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The experiment included 102 rats with six individuals per treatment group. In three of the 16 biomass treatment groups, feed intake and weight gain of the rats were unacceptably low, and therefore they were excluded from the statistical evaluation, The crude protein (CP) content of the biomass products varied between 20.9% (Tric) and 33.2% (DW), whereas the content of NDF varied between 18.5% (Ind) and 32.2% (DW) of dry matter (DM). The total content of essential amino acids (g/16 g N) was comparable with that of alfalfa meal, except for GF and Tric, which were inferior. Between plant species, differences in dietary digestibility of organic matter (dOM) and CP (dCP) were observed (p<0.001). Also, the replacement level negatively influenced dOM and dCP (p<0.001). The lowest values for dOM (p<0.001) were observed for diets including biomass products with the highest content of NDF (OF, Tric, Mb, LL). Digestibility of CP was negatively affected by level of protein replacement. Significant (p<0.001) differences were found in N-retention and biological value among diets with different biomass products. The most favourable overall results were obtained for DW, WS and CL. The main factors affecting the nutritive value of the diets tested were their NDF content, dCP and AA profile of the biomass. Also antinutritive component(s) may have influenced the process of digestion and metabolism of some of the biomass products.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.9
• /
• pp.1166-1173
• /
• 2010

Sixteen Mediterranean pluriparous buffaloes were subdivided into two uniform groups of eight animals. The average weight of the two groups at the start of the trial was 671.2 and 656.7 kg. The number of days from calving were 33.4 and 33.3, and the average milk production was 12.73 and 12.33 kg/d. The trial lasted for 114 days, and was divided into two sub-periods of 58 and 56 days. The two diets, administered ad libitum, had the same forage/concentrate ratio (53/47) but in their formulation the percentage of the two forages varied. Diet 1: alfalfa hay = 10%, maize silage = 43%, concentrate 1 = 47% (6.63 MJ/kg DM of net energy; 179.5 g/kg DM of crude protein). Diet 2: alfalfa hay = 20%, maize silage = 33%, concentrate 2 = 47%, (5.99 MJ/kg DM of net energy; 155.4 g/kg DM of crude protein). For the overall trial period (33-146 days in milk), the intake of dry matter was 17.23 kg/d for Group 1 and 17.29 kg/d for Group 2 and corresponded to 2.50 and 2.58% (p<0.01) of live weight. There was no significant difference between the average weight (689.7 and 669.4 kg) and the body condition score (6.49 and 6.42) of the two groups of buffaloes. Group 1 produced a greater quantity of milk (11.89 vs. 10.90 kg/d, p<0.10) of better quality both for its higher fat content (82.32 vs. 77.29 g/kg, p<0.10) and its protein content (47.36 and 46.38 g/kg). The milk produced by the buffaloes receiving Diet 1 had a better clotting ability, lower values of r (15.98 and 16.42 min) and K20 (1.66 and 1.75 min) and a higher value of A30 (54.45 and 52.73 mm). Taking into consideration the two sub-periods, milk production was significantly different only in the first sub-period (33-90 DIM), in favour of Group 1 (13.08 vs. 11.56 kg/d, p<0.05), while the positive effect of Diet 1 was cancelled out (10.71 and 10.24 kg/d) in the second part of the trial (91-146 DIM).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.12
• /
• pp.1763-1769
• /
• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to examine the production and quality of cassava hay and its utilization in diets for dairy cows. In experiment I, a $2{\times}2$ Factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications was carried out to determine the effects of different initial (IC) and subsequent cutting (SC) on yield and composition of cassava plant. The results revealed that cassava could produce from 4 to 7 tonne of DM and 1.2 to 1.6 tonne of CP for the first six months after planting. CP content in cassava plant ranged from 20.8 to 28.5% and was affected by different SC regimes. Condensed tannin in cassava foliage ranged from 4.9 to 5.5%. Initial cutting at 2 months with subsequent cutting at 2 month intervals was the optimal to obtain high dry matter and protein yield. In the second experiment, five crossbred Holstein-Friesian cows in mid lactation with an initial live-weight of 505${\pm}6.1kg$ and average milk yield of 10.78${\pm}1.2kg/d$ were randomly assigned in a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design to study the effects of 2 levels of CH (1 and 2 kg/hd/d) and concentrate (1 to 2 kg of milk and 1 to 3 kg of milk) on milk yield and milk composition. The results showed that cassava hay increased rumen $NH_3-N$ and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) (p<0.05). Cassava hay tended to increase milk production and 4% FCM. Milk protein increased in cows fed cassava hay (p<0.05). Moreover, cassava hay could reduce concentrate levels in dairy rations thus resulting in increased economic returns. Cassava hay can be a good source of forage to reduce concentrate supplementation and improve milk quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1725-1733
• /
• 2016

Recent findings have shown that microbial nitrogen flow and digestible energy of diets are increased when urea is combined with a slow-release urea (SRU) in diets with a starch to acid detergent fibre ratio (S:F) 4:1. This affect is attributable to enhanced synchrony between ruminal N availability for microbial growth and carbohydrate degradation. To verify the magnitude of this effects on lamb performance, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of combining urea and a SRU in diets containing S:F ratios of 3:1, 4:1, or 5:1 on performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs. For that, 40 Pelibuey${\times}$Katahdin lambs ($36.65{\pm}3kg$) were assigned to one of five weight groupings in 20 pens (5 repetition/treatments). The S:F ratio in the diet was manipulated by partially replacing the corn grain and dried distiller's grain with solubles by forage (wheat straw) and soybean meal to reach S:F ratios of 3:1, 4:1 or 5:1. An additional treatment of 4:1 S:F ratio with 0.8% urea as the sole source of non-protein nitrogen was used as a reference for comparing the effect of urea combination vs. conventional urea at the same S:F ratio. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake (DMI). Compared the urea combination vs urea at the same S:F ratio, urea combination increased (p<0.01) average daily gain (ADG, 18.3%), gain for feed (G:F, 9.5%), and apparent energy retention per unit DMI (8.2%). Irrespective of the S:F ratio, the urea combination improved the observed-to-expected dietary ratio and apparent retention per unit DMI was maximal (quadratic effect, $p{\leq}0.03$) at an S:F ratio of 4:1, while the conventional urea treatment did not modify the observed-to-expected net energy ratio nor the apparent retention per unit DMI at 4:1 S:F ratio. Urea combination group tended (3.8%, p = 0.08) to have heavier carcasses with no effects on the rest of carcass characteristics. As S:F ratio increased, ADG, G:F, dietary net energy, carcass weight, dressing percentage and longissimus thoracis (LM) area increased linearly ($p{\leq}0.02$). Combining urea and a slow-release urea product results in positive effects on growth performance and dietary energetics, but the best responses are apparently observed when there is a certain proportion (S:F ratio = 4:1) of starch to acid detergent fibre in the diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.1705-1714
• /
• 2019

Objective: Reducing roughage feeding without negatively affecting rumen health is of interest in ruminant nutrition. We investigated the effects of roughage sources and concentrate types on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolite levels in growing cattle. Methods: In this 24-week trial, 24 Hanwoo cattle ($224{\pm}24.7kg$) were fed similar nitrous and energy levels of total mixed ration formulated using two kinds of roughage (timothy hay and ryegrass straw) and two types of concentrate mixes (high starch [HS] and high fiber [HF]). The treatments were arranged in a $2{\times}2$ factorial, consisting of 32% timothy-68% HS, 24% timothy-76% HF, 24% ryegrass-76% HS, and 17% ryegrass-83% HF. Daily feed intakes were measured. Every four weeks, blood were sampled, and body weight was measured before morning feeding. Every eight weeks, rumen fluid was collected using a stomach tube over five consecutive days. Results: The mean dry matter intake (7.33 kg) and average daily gain (1,033 g) did not differ among treatments. However, significant interactions between roughage source and concentrate type were observed for the rumen and blood parameters (p<0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentration was highest (p<0.05) in timothy-HF-fed calves. With ryegrass as the roughage source, decreasing the roughage inclusion rate increased the molar proportion of propionate and decreased the acetate-to-propionate ratio; the opposite was observed with timothy as the roughage source. Similarly, the effects of concentrate types on plasma total protein, alanine transaminase, Ca, inorganic P, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine concentrations differed with roughage source (p<0.05). Conclusion: Decreasing the dietary roughage inclusion rate by replacing forage neutral detergent fiber with that from non-roughage fiber source might be a feasible feeding practice in growing cattle. A combination of low-quality roughage with a high fiber concentrate might be economically beneficial.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.458-465
• /
• 2010

To investigate the growth and nutrient uptake response of sorghum${\times}$sudangrass ($S{\times}S$) hybrid to different rate of livestock manure compost, a field experiment was conducted in the experimental grassland of Chonnam National University. Six treatments were laid out in a randomized block design with triplicates; control (no input), synthetic fertilizer (20 g N $m^{-2}$ and 20 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), compost 1 (3.4 g N $m^{-2}$ and 3.6 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), compost 2 (6.8 g N $m^{-2}$ and 7.2 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), compost 4 (13.4 g N $m^{-2}$ and 14.4 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), and compost 6 (20.2 g N $m^{-2}$ and 21.6 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$). Ninety days after treatment, above-ground parts of the plants were harvested and measured for dry matter yield (DMY) and amounts of nutrients (N and P) uptake. Synthetic fertilizer application achieved the greatest DMY (2.4 kg $m^{-2}$) and nutrient uptake (38.3 g N $m^{-2}$ and 15.3 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$). Increasing compost application rate tended to enhance DMY accumulation and nutrient uptake (P<0.01), but DMYs of compost 4 (1.9 kg $m^{-2}$) and 6 (1.8 kg $m^{-2}$) treatments were not different. Therefore, it was suggested that application compost alone may not achieve DMY of $S{\times}S$ hybrid compatible to synthetic fertilizer application. As nutrient uptake efficiency data showed that availability of compost P could be better than SF, it might be a strategy to apply compost as P source with supplementary N application such as liquid manure, SF or green manure if necessary considering availability of N input and the yield goals.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.205-214
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ground corn as an additive to ginseng residue silages. The silages were made with corn (CS), red ginseng (GS), red ginseng residue +0.5% ground corn (GS0.5), w/w bases, red ginseng residue+1.0% ground corn (GS1.0) and red ginseng residue+silage inoculant, lactic acid bacteria (GSL). The raw materials were cut only for corn forage in 2cm length. The ginseng residue without cutting were mixed without or with additives, ground corn and inoculant, and ensiled each into two 2,000ml glass bottles. The bottles with silages were stored at a dark place at room temperature and formented for 60 days. The crude protein contents were higher for all red ginseng silages as 17.7, 18.8, 18.3 and 17.8% for GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL than that of corn silage as 8.8% (p<0.05). The calcium content were higher in GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 0.99, 1.13, 0.99 and 1.03% than that in CS as 0.31% (p<0.05). The pH of silages fermented for 60 days was similar each other; CS, GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 3.8, 3.7, 3.3, 3.5 and 3.7, respectively. However the pH of GS0.5 was the lower than that of corn silage. The total concentration of volatile fatty acids were higher for CS as 87.3 mM/dl than those of GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 44.7, 37.8, 46.3 and 47.2 nM/dl. However, the percentage of lactic acid concentration of ginseng silages such as GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL, 60.2, 77.2, 83.4 and 77.3% was higher than that in CS, 53.7% (p<0.05). The in vivo dry matter digestibilities for 72hr fermentation was higher in ginseng silages (GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 76.5, 75.8, 72.9 and 77.3%, respetively) than that in for CS as 52.1% (p<0.05). It can be concluded that silage added with ground corn (GS0.5 and GS1.0) and lactic acid inoculant were high in its quality, and the GS0.5 can be suggested as a practical method for red ginseng residues silage making.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of application of cattle slurry on forage productivity and environmental pollution in rice paddy land. Cropping systems used in this study consisted of two designs, such as whole crop rice applied with standard fertilizer (MWRS) and whole crop rice applied with cattle slurry (MWRC). The field experiments were conducted on the clay loam at Backsanmyun, Kimje, Chunlabukdo province in Korea for three years (May 2006 to Apr. 2009). This study was arranged in completely randomized design with three replicates. The yield of dry matter of whole crop rice in MWRS was similar as compared with that of MWRC. The contents of crude protein of whole crop rice in MWRS significantly increased as compared with those of MWRC (P<0.05). However, the contents of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) of whole crop rice were hardly influenced by cattle slurry application. The pH, and contents of T-N, $P_2O_5$ and organic matter (OM) in soil samples collected at the end of the experiment increased as compared with those at the beginning of the experiment. After the end of experiment, the concentrations of exchangeable cations (Ca, Na, Mg and K) in soil samples collected at the end of the experiment were remarkably higher than those at the beginning of the experiment (P<0.05). The concentrations of $NO_3$-N and $NH_4$-N in discharge water in MWRS, MWRC and DWBRC were higher in 2008 than those in 2007. But the concentration of $PO_4$-P in discharge water was hardly influenced by the cropping system during experimental period. The concentrations of $NO_3$-N, $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P in leaching water were hardly influenced by application of cattle slurry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.670-677
• /
• 2004

Sixteen multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows in mid-lactation were blocked according to days in milk (DIM) and previous lactation and randomly assigned according to a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with four replications to receive four dietary treatments. The dietary treatments consisted of T1: No cassava hay (CH) or stylo 184 hay (SH) supplementation, supplementation of concentrate to milk yield at 1:2 (control), T2: Supplementation of 1 kg of CH/hd/d, supplementation of concentrate to milk yield at 1:2, T3: Supplementation of 1 kg of CH+SH/hd/d, supplementation of concentrate to milk yield at 1:2, T4: Supplementation of 2 kg of CH+SH/hd/d, supplementation of concentrate to milk yield at 1:3. All animals received Ruzi grass from a cut-and-carry system as roughage source. The feeding trial lasted for 9 weeks. The results revealed that DMI of concentrate of supplemented treatments were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those in the control, but there was no significant difference between T2 and T3. There was no significant difference in forage DM intake between the control and supplemented treatments. CP and NDF digestibility of supplemented treatments were significantly (p<0.05) greater than the control and there were no significant differences among supplemented treatments. Milk yield and 3.5% FCM (14.3, 14.5, 14.7 and 14.8; 13.9, 14.3, 14.3 and 14.6 kg/hd/d, respectively) were not significantly different among treatments. Milk protein percentage of supplemented treatments was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control, but there were no significant differences among supplemented treatments. There was no significant difference in milk fat percentage between the control and supplemented treatments. However, milk fat percentage tended to be higher for supplemented animals as compared to the control group. There were also no significant differences in lactose, solids-not-fat and total solids percentages among treatments. Cows in supplemented treatments gave incomes over supplement cost (IOSC) of 2.72, 2.74 and 2.93 US$/hd/d, respectively which were greater than for cows on control treatment. Furthermore, IOSC were greatest for cows in T4 as compared to other treatments. Based on this study it was concluded that, feeding cassava hay solely or in combination with stylo 184 hay as a supplemental protein source could be a potential valuable strategy in small-holder dairy farming systems in the tropics. This strategic supplementation significantly reduced concentrate use, which resulted in improved milk yields and milk quality for the supplemented cows. Moreover, it resulted in higher economical returns through increased productivity and lower ratios of concentrate to milk yield, from 1:2 to 1:3.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.1262-1270
• /
• 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with calcium salts of soybean oil fatty acids (CaSO) and linseed oil fatty acids (CaLO) on c9,t11-CLA production in ruminal fluid and milk fat from Holstein dairy cows. Rumen fermentation, lactational performances and fatty acid profiles in ruminal fluid and milk fat were also investigated. Twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were allotted randomly into two groups consisting of ten cows in each group according to calving date and average milk yield. The first group of cows was fed a control (without calcium salts) diet and a treatment as 1.0% of CaSO (on DM basis) for 30 days in each period. In the second group, cows were fed the same control diet and 1.0% of CaLO as a treatment in the same manner. The forage: concentrate ratio was 52:48, and diets were formulated to contain 17% crude protein (DM basis) for both groups. Ruminal pH, protozoal numbers and the concentration of total volatile fatty acids were unchanged, however, the ruminal ammonia-N decreased by feeding CaSO or CaLO treatment compared to the control diet. The vaccenic acid (trans-11 C18:1; VA) in rumen fluid increased (p<0.01) by 169% and 153%, and the c9,t11-CLA content of rumen fluid increased (p<0.01) by 214% and 210% in the CaSO and CaLO treatments, respectively, compared to the control diet. In milk fatty acids, the VA content increased by 130% and 132% in the evening and morning milking times, respectively, and the c9,t11-CLA content increased by 125% in both milking times for the CaSO supplementation than that of control diet. In the case of CaLO supplementation, the VA increased by 117% and 114%, and the c9,t11-CLA increased by 96% and 94% in the evening and morning milking times, respectively, compared to the control diet. The contents of VA and c9,t11-CLA of milk fatty acids were numerically higher in the evening milking time compared to the morning milking time for control and both treatments. Finally, these results indicated that the supplementation of CaSO or CaLO treatment increased the VA and the c9,t11-CLA in both ruminal fluid and milk fat of Holstein dairy cows.