• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.935-944
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• 2013

Essential oils have been shown to favorably effect in vitro ruminal fermentation, but there are few in vivo studies that have examined animal responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thyme (THY) and cinnamon (CIN) essential oils on feed intake, growth performance, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites in feedlot calves fed high-concentrate diets. Twelve growing Holstein calves ($213{\pm}17kg$ initial BW) were used in a completely randomized design and received their respective dietary treatments for 45 d. Treatments were: 1-control (no additive), 2-THY (5 g/d/calf) and 3-CIN (5 g/d/calf). Calves were fed ad libitum diets consisting of 15% forage and 85% concentrate, and adapted to the finishing diet by gradually increasing the concentrate ratio with feeding a series of transition diets 5 wk before the experiment started. Supplementation of THY or CIN did not affect DMI and ADG, and feed efficiency was similar between treatment groups. There were no effects of additives on ruminal pH and rumen concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and total VFA; whereas molar proportion of acetate and ratio of acetate to propionate decreased, and the molar proportion of propionate increased with THY and CIN supplementation. Rumen molar concentration of butyrate was significantly increased by adding CIN compared to control; but no change was observed with THY compared with control group. No effects of THY, or CIN were observed on valerate, isobutyrate or isovalerate proportions. Plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea-N, ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were not changed by feeding THY or CIN. Results from this study suggest that supplementing a feedlot finishing diet with THY or CIN essential oil might be useful as ruminal fermentation modifiers in beef production systems, but has minor impacts on blood metabolites.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.699-704
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• 2006

Twenty-four cannulated Small-tailed Han${\times}$Poll Dorset wethers (BW $47.5{\pm}2.1kg$) were used to determine the effects of forage to concentrate ratio (40:60 vs. 70:30), monensin supplementation (0, 15 or 30 ppm, DM basis) and interactions of these two factors on cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA) and trans-11 octadecenoic acid (trans11-$C_{18:1}$) concentrations in ruminal contents and plasma in sheep. The experiment was designed as a $2{\times}3$ factorial. The diet contained Chinese wild rye grass hay (Aneurolepidium Chinese), cracked corn, soybean meal, NaCl, limestone and trace mineral premix. Dietary crude fat and linoleic acid ($C_{18:2n-6}$) were adjusted with soybean oil to about 7.0% and 24.0 mg/g (DM basis), respectively. High forage diets increased (p<0.001) the concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in ruminal contents and plasma. Monensin supplementation increased (p<0.001) the concentration of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ in ruminal contents, but had no effect on that of cis-9, trans-11 CLA. Concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ (p<0.019) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA (p<0.022) in plasma increased with dietary monensin levels. Interactions of forage: concentrate ratio and monensin level tended to affect the concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ (p<0.091) and $C_{18:2n-6}$ (p<0.083) in ruminal contents. Increasing forage levels increased the concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in the rumen. Supplementing with monensin increased the ruminal production of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and concentrations of trans11-$C_{18:1}$ and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in plasma.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.962-972
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• 2023

Objective: This study determined the effects of dietary treatments and castration on meat quality, fatty acids (FAs) profiles, and volatile compounds in Korean native black goats (KNBG, Capra hircus coreanae), including the relationship between the population of rumen microbiomes and meat FA profiles. Methods: Twenty-four KNBG (48.6±1.4 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four treatments arranged into a 2×2 factorial structure. The factors were dietary forage to concentrate ratio (high forage [HF, 80:20] and low forage [LF, 20:80]), and a castration treatment (castration [CA] vs non-castration [NCA]). Results: Among meat quality traits, the CA group exhibited a higher percentage of crude fat and water holding capacity (p<0.05). The profiles of the saturated fatty acid (SFA) in meat sample derived from CA KNBG showed a significantly lower percentage compared to NCA individuals, due to the lower proportion of C14:0 and C18:0. Feeding a high-forage diet to KNBG increased the formation of C18:1n7, C18:3n3, C20:1n9, C22:4n6 in meat, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profiles (p<0.05). Consequently, the n6:n3 ratio declined (p<0.05). There was an interaction between dietary treatment and castration for formation of C20:5n3 (p<0.05), while C18:1n9, C22:6n3, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and the MUFA:SFA ratio were influenced by both diet and castration (p<0.05). Nine volatile compounds were identified and were strongly influenced by both dietary treatments, castration (p<0.05), and their interaction. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) revealed distinctly different odor patterns in the NCA goats fed LF diets. Spearman correlation analysis showed a high correlation between rumen bacteria and meat PUFAs. Conclusion: These results suggest the essential effects of the rumen microbial population for the synthesis of meat FAs and volatile compounds in KNBG meat, where dietary intake and castration also contribute substantially.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1044-1052
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• 2015

The aim of this modelling study was to investigate the effect of large herd size (and land areas) on walking distances and milking interval (MI), and their impact on milk yield and economic penalties when 50% of the total diets were provided from home grown feed either as pasture or grazeable complementary forage rotation (CFR) in an automatic milking system (AMS). Twelve scenarios consisting of 3 AMS herds (400, 600, 800 cows), 2 levels of pasture utilisation (current AMS utilisation of 15.0 t dry matter [DM]/ha, termed as 'moderate'; optimum pasture utilisation of 19.7 t DM/ha, termed as 'high') and 2 rates of incorporation of grazeable complementary forage system (CFS: 0, 30%; CFS = 65% farm is CFR and 35% of farm is pasture) were investigated. Walking distances, energy loss due to walking, MI, reduction in milk yield and income loss were calculated for each treatment based on information available in the literature. With moderate pasture utilisation and 0% CFR, increasing the herd size from 400 to 800 cows resulted in an increase in total walking distances between the parlour and the paddock from 3.5 to 6.3 km. Consequently, MI increased from 15.2 to 16.4 h with increased herd size from 400 to 800 cows. High pasture utilisation (allowing for an increased stocking density) reduced the total walking distances up to 1 km, thus reduced the MI by up to 0.5 h compared to the moderate pasture, 800 cow herd combination. The high pasture utilisation combined with 30% of the farm in CFR in the farm reduced the total walking distances by up to 1.7 km and MI by up to 0.8 h compared to the moderate pasture and 800 cow herd combination. For moderate pasture utilisation, increasing the herd size from 400 to 800 cows resulted in more dramatic milk yield penalty as yield increasing from c.f. 2.6 and 5.1 kg/cow/d respectively, which incurred a loss of up to $AU 1.9/cow/d. Milk yield losses of 0.61 kg and 0.25 kg for every km increase in total walking distance (voluntary return trip from parlour to paddock) and every one hour increase in MI, respectively. The high pasture utilisation combined with 30% of the farm in CFR in the farm increased milk yield by up to 1.5 kg/cow/d, thereby reducing loss by up to $0.5/cow/d (c.f. the moderate pasture and 800 cow herd scenario). Thus, it was concluded that the successful integration of grazeable CFS with pasture has the potential to improve financial performance compared to the pasture only, large herd, AMS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1988

In a study about minerals cycling in grassland agro-ecosystem, investigation on relations among two minerals, potassium(K) and magnesium(Mg), and nitrogen(N) was performed. Four kinds of diets different in K and N levels were fed to four goats with a Latin-square method and $2{\times}2$ factorial design. As the basal diet, press cake silage prepared from Italian ryegrass was used because of its uniformity and comparatively low mineral concentrations. Supplementation of K and N were made using potassium bicarbonate and urea. In the experiment, it was clearly shown that high K concentration in the forage crops is the main reason of the low utilization of Mg in ruminant animals. However, high nitrogen intake resulted in the increase of magnesium retention, urinary potassium excretion, water intake and volume of urine and in the decreases of potassium intake minus urinary potassium excretion. The results of high nitrogen intake seemed to be produced in the following order;increase of urine, increase of water intake, increase of urinary potassium excretion, and decrease of intake minus urinary potassium excretion. The amount of potassium intake minus urinary potassium excretion had significantly close relationships with magnesium utilization and serum magnesium concentration. As a conclusion, higher nitrogen intake by ruminants seemed to be preferable for magnesium utilization through increased water intake and urinary potassium excretion, if the sufficient drinking water could be supplied to ruminants.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-181
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• 2020

Data on the crude protein requirements of elk doe are nonexistent and the data are essential for their management in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the crude protein requirement for maintenance of elk doe. Three female elk deer were used in 3 × 3 Latin square design with three diets containing three levels of crude protein (CP) that contained low crude protein (approximately 12%), medium crude protein (15%), and high crude protein (18%). Each three elk doe trials included a 14-day preliminary period and a 5-day collection period. Crude protein intake was 4.83, 6.26, and 9.00 g/d for 12%, 15%, and 18% of CP level, respectively. Crude protein balances were 1.04, 1.41, and 4.14 for 12%, 15%, and 18% of CP level, respectively. The maintenance requirement for CP from the regression equation between CP intake and CP balance were 3.70 g/BW^0.75.

• 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.31 no.10
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• pp.1643-1653
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• 2018

Objective: This study investigated the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) supplementation on nutrient intake, nitrogen (N) utilisation, blood metabolites, ruminal fermentation and growth performance of young Holstein bulls. Methods: Twenty-one young bulls weighing $277{\pm}11.2kg$ were equally divided into three groups and were offered diets formulated with low CP (LCP; 10.21% CP and 4.22% rumen degradable protein [RDP]), medium CP (MCP; 12.35% CP and 5.17% RDP) and high CP (HCP; 14.24% CP and 6.03% RDP). Yellow corn silage was used as a unique forage source and was mixed with concentrate. This mixed feed was given ad libitum to the young bulls included in the study. Results: Results showed that CP intake, blood urea nitrogen, N intake, total N excretion and N balance increased linearly with an increase in dietary CP level (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in nutrient digestibility among the bulls receiving the different diets. Ruminal pH (p<0.05) and ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) concentration (p<0.01) were significantly higher in the bulls receiving the MCP and HCP diets than in those receiving the LCP diet. The bulls receiving the HCP diet showed significantly higher ruminal bacterial protein level, propionate, acetate and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentrations than bulls receiving the LCP diet (p<0.05). Moreover, dietary CP level exerted a significant positive effect on the final body weight, average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio of the bulls (p<0.05). Conclusion: High dietary CP level is optimal for achieving maximum growth and high profitability without exerting a negative effect on the physiology of growing Holstein bulls.

• 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.