• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.556-562
• /
• 2010

The objective of the present study was to compare feed and water intakes, growth performance and carcasscharacteristics of indigenous lamb fed diets containing various levels of halophyte Sporobolus grass hay. Forty male and female lambs were randomly and equally allotted with 5 lambs of each sex per treatment to four dietary treatment groups, which were initially formulated to have 100, 70, 30 or 0.0% Sporobolus grass hay, as a source of forage replacement for conventional Rhodes grass commonly used in the region. The lambs receiving 0.0% Sporobolus grass hay (100% Rhodes grass hay) served as the control. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Male lambs were slaughtered at the end of the feeding trials. The average daily feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher for the animals fed different levels of Sporobolus grass hay than for the control animals. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), i.e., kg feed/kg BW, was similar in all treatment groups. Although lambs fed the diet with 70% Sporobolus grass hay had heavier carcass weights, the differences were not significant. In conclusion, growth performance or carcass characteristics of fattening indigenous lambs were not influenced by the inclusion of different levels of Sporobolus grass hay in the diet. Because of this, Sporobolus grass hay represents an alternative forage resource for sustaining small ruminant production in the saline coastal and subcoastal areas of the world.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2005

To evaluate the possibility of predicting a specific nutrient component, which nay be difficult in analysis, from a component of nutrient relatively easy to analyze, six grass roughage sources (bermuda grass hay, klein grass hay, oat hay, orchard grass straw, tall fescue straw and timothy hay) mainly used in Korea were analyzed for the heat-stable $\alpha-amylase$ treated neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP) and acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP) as well as proximate analytical components, and correlation coefficients between nutrient components were calculated. Some chemical components appeared to have significant correlation (p<0.05) through Pearson's correlation coefficients (i.e. between crude protein (CP) and NDICP in oat hay, orchard grass straw and tall fescue, between CP and ADICP in oat hay and timothy hay, between crude fiber (CF) and aNDF in klein grass hay, tall fescue straw and timothy hay, between CF and ADF in oat hay, tall fescue straw and timothy hay, and between CF and ADL in orchard pass straw and timothy hay). It is therefore suggested that it would be worthy to predict a specific nutrient component, which may be difficult in analysis such as aNDF, ADF, ADL, NDICP and ADICP, from a component of nutrient relatively easy to analyze such as CP and CF. However, it would be needed to improve the correlation coefficients, more samples should be measured.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.163-166
• /
• 1988

Water turnover and consumption of steers fed either fresh cut grass or hay and water turnover of steers grazed in summer or in fall were determined using 18 Holstein steers weighing 226 to 382 kg. Steers consumed 7.0 or 7.5 kg of dry-matter from hay or fresh cut grass. Animals fed hay drank significantly more water than those given fresh cut grass (P<0.01). Total water consumption, however, was greater in steers fed fresh cut grass than those given hay (P<0.05). Water turnover was about the same as total water consumption with a tendency for slightly higher values in water turnover irrespective of feeding regimes. Steers grazed in summer had greater water turnover than those grazed in fall. Water turnover was about the same in steers fed fresh cut grass and grazed in summer but decreased in steers on the dry ration or grazing in a cool season of the year.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.561-567
• /
• 1993

Twenty Korean native bulls averaging 181 kg body weight were fed a fixed amount (1.5% of live weight) of concentrate and free choice roughage cubes which had four ratios of rice straw and orchard grass hay; 100:0, 85:15, 70:30 and 55:45 on a weight basis. Five bulls were assigned to each treatment and fed for 98 days in a confinement house. Nutrient digestibility and available energy content of mixed rations (40% concentrate and 60% roughage cubes) was determined in a digestion trial with twelve wethers. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in situ dry matter disappearance of the roughage cubes were also determined. The ratio of grass hay to rice straw did not influence dry matter intake. Significant improvements in body weight gains and feed/gain ratios were obtained as grass hay levels increased. Average daily gain and feed/gain for each treatment was 0.83, 0.88, 0.98 and 0.99 kg; 7.63m 7.59, 6.83 and 6.41, respectively. Digestibility of the nutrients was improved with increasing levels of grass hay in the cubes. The IVDMD of roughage samples having a ritio of 100:0, 85:15, 70:30 and 55:45 between rice straw and orchard grass hay were 31.0, 37.1, 41.8 and 43.4%, respectively. Grass hay improved the IVDMD of rice straw diets in a linear manner up to 30%. In situ dry matter disappearance rate was also increased as the level of orchard grass hay increased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.1280-1284
• /
• 2003

The number of protozoa and VFA content in the rumen fluid, in situ disappearance and turnover rate were examined with four rumen-fistulated cattle given either sugarcane stalk or Ruzi grass hay in order to clarify the manner of rumen digestion of sugarcane stalk. Cattle were given either sugarcane stalk or Ruzi grass hay at 1.0% of body weight level with commercial concentrate feed. Feeding sugarcane stalk reduced acetate content and increased propionate and butyrate contents in rumen fluid. While rapidlysoluble fraction of sugarcane stalk was 42%, the insoluble but potentially degradable fraction was only 17%. This clearly showed that sugarcane stalk mainly consisted of water soluble fraction (i.e. sugar) and tough fiber (i.e. bagasse). The ruminal degradation rate of both Ruzi grass hay and sugarcane stalk was lower in the animal given sugarcane stalk in comparison with those given Ruzi grass hay. While the turnover rate of liquid phase was about 50% higher in the animals given sugarcane stalk than in the animals given Ruzi grass hay, that of the solid phase was about 40% lower in the animals given sugarcane stalk. The effective degradability of DM of sugarcane stalk was higher than that of Ruzi grass hay. Sugarcane would be a promising roughage for ruminants in the tropics especially, in the dry season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.725-732
• /
• 2007

The effects of supplementing Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) with varying levels of hay from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and dried cassava root chip on growth and diet digestibility were studied using local male goats with an average initial body weight of 14.0 kg. Thirty-two animals were allocated to a completely randomized $2{\times}2$ factorial design with eight animals per treatment. The factors were two levels of cassava hay (25% and 35% of an expected dry matter (DM) intake of 3% of body weight) and cassava root chips (0 or 1% of body weight) on an individual basis with grass offered ad libitum. Another four animals were assigned to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to study digestibility, and were given the same four diets as in the growth experiment. Total DM intake was significantly higher in the group fed diets with cassava hay and root while the DM intake of Gamba grass was not significantly different between treatments. The supplementation with cassava hay and root increased the apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter and N and resulted in a higher N-retention. The apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fiber was not affected significantly. The average daily gain of animals fed diets supplemented with both cassava hay and root was significantly higher than for the animals supplemented with cassava hay alone. The highest daily gain recorded was 70 g/day. In conclusion, supplementing a basal diet of Gamba grass with cassava hay and root chips improved DM intake, digestibility, N-retention and weight gain. In order to minimize the waste of cassava hay, the inclusion level of cassava hay can be recommended to be 25% of expected DM intake, which would give acceptable intake and growth performance when cassava root is included in the diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.7
• /
• pp.1005-1015
• /
• 2009

Two experiments were carried out to determine the utility of sainfoin hay, a temperate tanniferous forage legume, as a dietary supplement for grass-fed cows. The condensed tannins (CT) of sainfoin might counteract the typical metabolic ammonia load of cows in intensive grazing systems. Furthermore, the physical fibrousness of sainfoin might improve ruminal pH stability. In the preliminary experiment, the eating rate of non-lactating Holstein cows of two tanniferous hays, sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil, was compared to that of a grass-clover hay after specific periods of time (n = 4). The eating rate of sainfoin was superior to that of the other forages. In the main experiment, designed as a replicated 3${\times}$3 Latin square, six ruminally-cannulated, lactating Red Holstein cows received grass, concentrate and either no supplementation, 3 kg/d of grass hay or 3 kg/d of sainfoin hay (n = 6). Measured intakes of the grass hay and the sainfoin hay were 2.0 and 1.5 kg DM, and two cows entirely refused to eat the sainfoin hay and had to be excluded from data analysis. Grass DMI was similar for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay and cows fed only grass whereas intake of concentrate was higher (p<0.01) for the latter treatment. Continuous measurement of ruminal pH showed that the minimum pH at night tended to be lower (p<0.10) with grass-only feeding compared to sainfoin supplementation, but pH did not decline below the threshold of subacute acidosis for a longer period of time. The slightly higher intake of nitrogen (N) for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay (413 g/d) compared to cows fed only grass (399 g/d) was accompanied by an increased (p<0.05) fecal N excretion and a tendency for an increased (p<0.10) urinary N excretion. Ruminal ammonia concentration, as well as plasma and milk urea, were not affected by sainfoin supplementation. In conclusion, the lack of positive effects typical for CT might be explained either by the limited CT content of this plant species (55 g/kg DM) or the relatively low proportion of sainfoin in the total diet or both. Moreover, due to the unexpected low grass quality, the general ammonia load might have been too low for CT to have an impact.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.1109-1112
• /
• 2000

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of mechanical and chemical conditioning at mowing on field drying rate and quality of grass hay in 1996. Mower conditioner and/or chemical drying agent $(K_2CO_3)$ were used at different harvest stages (late boot, heading and bloom stages) for hastening hay-making. After field drying, square bales were made by hay baler, and the visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. In mower conditioning, the duration of field drying was shortened by 0.5 to 1 day compared with drying agent, and by 1 to 2 days compared with control. The drying matter loss of hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical conditioning. The visual score (leafiness, green color, odor and softness), and acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro dry matter digestibllity (IVDMD), and relative feed value (RFV) of hay were improved with mechanical conditioning, but chemical alone had little effect on quality. The quality of hay harvested at bloom stage was much lower than that of hay harvested at late boot and heading stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of grass hay, however the drying efficiency of chemical drying agent is very low. Also the effects of chemical/mechanical combined conditioning are very similar compared with mechanical conditioning alone. Harvesting at late boot to heading stage is recommended for the production of high quality hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.33-37
• /
• 1992

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) harvested at an early growth stage was ensiled with 4% of molasses in a polyethylene bag silo which contained 15 kg of chopped forage each. Dry matter (DM) content of the silage was so low as 14.75%, although chemical quality of the silage was very high. Ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen was 6.59%, and the pH value of the silage was 3.79. Nutritive value of the silage was estimated using goats and compared to that of a timothy hay as a reference ration. Feeding level of each rations was adjusted to a level of nitrogen (N) recommendation. DM and N digestibilities of the silage were 65.0 and 54.5%, respectively, but those of the timothy hay were 37.6 and 37.2%. Feeding of the napier grass silage maintained body weight and kept positive N retention. Ammonia N concentration in the rumen fluid in goats fed the napier grass silage increased after feeding, but blood urea concentration was constant. Feeding of the timothy hay did not increase ammonia N concentration in the rumen fluid, but increased blood urea concentration. These facts indicated that the napier grass silage had enough digestible DM and N for maintenance ration to goats.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.6.1-6.6
• /
• 2017

Background: This study was aim to observe the effects of feeding mixed local hay (MH) consisted of 55% orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.), 35% tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and 10% red clover (Trifolium pratense) to Hanwoo steers on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality (longissimus thoracis) compared with feeding imported timothy hay (TH) and local rice straw (RS). Results: Although no significant effects were found on animal performance and carcass yield grade, the carcasses of MH group had higher marbling score and quality grade than those of RS and TH group (P < 0.05). Therefore, higher fat content (P < 0.001), lower shear force and hardness value in the beef of MH group than that of other groups were observed. Furthermore, the beef of MH group had higher CIE $a^*$ value (redness) than that of other groups and feeding MH to Hanwoo steers lowered n-6 to n-3 fatty acids ratio in beef. Conclusions: Mixed hay provided benefits on meat quality and could be used for Hanwoo fattening program.