• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.332-339
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• 2005

The effect of transinoculation of goat rumen liquor into sheep rumen on mimosine toxicity was studied. One adult Kutchi male goat having higher mimosine degradation capacity than sheep was gradually adapted to Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena) leaves by feeding increasing level of eucaena leaves supplementation for 1 month. Six Bharat Merino rams (12-18 months of age) were divided into two equal groups with (group I) or without (group II) infusion of 200 ml of goat rumen liquor per animal. The mimosine degradation in groups I and II were 3.04 and 2.31; 3.90 and 3.73 mg per day per 10 ml rumen liquor respectively after 1 and 2 weeks of leucaena feeding leaves. Total rumen bacterial population in RGCA medium and in a selective medium containing iron showed an increasing trend in both groups, while the bacterial population growing in the presence of cellulose showed a decreasing trend. Animal performance data did not show any adverse effect. Results revealed that transinoculation of rumen liquor from leucaena leaves adapted goat to sheep rumen did not help to improve mimosine degradation in the sheep. The sheep transinoculated with goat rumen liquor displayed no in vivo improvements in nutrient utilization vis-a-vis mimosine metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.665-670
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• 2002

The expediency of replacing cost prohibitive and often inaccessible traditional protein supplements prompted the monitoring of hematological parameters was carried out in female goats at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days post feeding. Rumen environment was (3), respectively fed supplements containing either a leaf meal mixture (LMTM) of Leucaena leucocephala-Morus alba-Tectona grandis (2:1:1) or traditional protein supplements groundnut cake (GNC) or soybean meal (SBM) and wheat straw as basal diet. The periodic monitoring of hematological parameters was carried out in female goats at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days post feeding. Rumen environment was studied in bucks in a $3{\times}3$ switch over design. Rumen liquor was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post feeding after 4 weeks of feeding. The goats fed on LMTM or GNC had similar dry matter intake (g/kg $W^{0.75}$), which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than SBM. Except for packed cell volume (PCV), none of the blood biochemical constituents (Hemoglobin, serum glucose, total protein, serum albumin (A) and globulin(G), A:G ratio, alkaline phosphatase, transaminases) varied significantly due to replacement of 50% dietary protein by LMTM throughout the experiment. GNC group had significantly higher level of PCV than other treatments. However, the level of serum total protein (p<0.01) tended to increase from 60th day onwards irrespective of dietary treatments. The average rumen pH was significantly higher (p<0.001) on SBM followed by LMTM and GNC, respectively. Total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) production was comparable in goats given LMTM or GNC supplements, the corresponding values were significantly different (p<0.001) when compared with SBM. The ammonical-N, total-N and TCA-precipitable-N (mg/100 ml SRL) did not differ significantly among dietary treatments. It may be concluded that supplementing wheat straw with LMTM based concentrate had no adverse effect on voluntary intake, blood biochemical profile and rumen fermentation pattern of the goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Six total mixed rations (TMR) containing 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12% tannin (TMR I-VI), using Accacia nilotica pods as a source of tannin, were used to study the effect of Acacia tannin on in vitro nutrient digestibility and gas production in goats. This study also investigated the degraded products of Acacia nilotica tannin in goat rumen liquor. Degraded products of tannins were identified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at different hours of incubation. In vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD) were similar in TMR II, and I, but declined (p<0.05) thereafter to a stable pattern until the concentration of tannin was raised to 10%. In vitro crude protein digestibility (IVCPD) decreased (p<0.05) with increased levels of tannins in the total mixed rations. Crude protein digestibility was much more affected than digestibility of dry matter and organic matter. In vitro gas production (IVGP) was also reduced (p<0.05) with increased levels of tannins in the TMR during the first 24 h of incubation and tended to increase (p>0.05) during 24-48 h of incubation. Gallic acid, phloroglucinol, resorcinol and catechin were identified at different hours of incubation. Phloroglucinol and catechin were the major end products of tannin degradation while gallate and resorcinol were produced in traces. It is inferred that in vitro nutrient digestibility was reduced by metabolites of Acacia nilotica tannins and ruminal microbes of goat were capable of withstanding up to 4% tannin of Acacia nilotica pods in the TMR without affecting in vitro nutrient digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.948-956
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• 2000

The effect of high and low level of feed intakes on nutrient digestibility, nutrient losses through methane, energy and protein utilization by goats fed on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pellets based diets was investigated in this study. Twelve castrated Japanese goats were employed in two subsequent digestion and metabolism trials. The goats were divided into three groups, offered three diets. Diet 1 consisted of 100% alfalfa pellet, Diet 2 was 70% alfalfa pellet and 30% corn, and Diet 3 was 40% alfalfa pellet and 60% corn. The two intake levels were high (1.6 times) and low (0.9 times) the maintenance requirement of total digestible nutrients (TON). Rumen ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) level of Diet 1 was lower (p<0.001) compared to Diets 2 and 3, but the values were always above the critical level (I50 mg/liter), The pH values of rumen liquor ranged from 6.02 to 7.30. Apparent digestibility of nutrient components did not show differences (p>0.05) between the two intake levels but inclusion of corn significantly altered the nutrient digestibility. Diet 3 had highest (p<0.001) dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen fee extract (NFE) digestibility followed by the Diet 2 and Diet 1. The crude protein (CP) digestibility values among the three diets were in a narrow range (70.1 to 70.8%). Crude fiber (CF) digestibility for Diet 3 was slight higher (p>0.05) than that for other two diets. When alfalfa was replaced by corn, there were highly significant (p<0.001) increases in DM, OM, EE and NFE apparent digestibility and a slight increase in the CF digestibility (p>0.05). There were no differences (p>0.05) in energy losses as methane ($CH_4$) and heat production among the diets but energy loss through urine was higher for the Diet 1. The total energy loss as $CH_4$ and heat production were higher for the high intake level but the energy loss as $CH_4$ per gram DM intake were same (0.305 kcal/g) between the high and low intake level. Retained energy (RE) was higher for Diet 3 and Diet 2. Nitrogen (N) losses through feces and urine were higher (p<0.001) for Diet 1. Consequently, N retention was lower (p>0.05) for Diet 1 and higher in Diets 3 and 2. It is concluded that inclusion of corn with alfalfa increased the metabolizable energy (ME) and RE, and retained N through reducing the energy and N losses. The high level of intake reduced the rate of nutrient losses through feces and urine.