• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.363-367
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• 2006

The nutritional worth of Phalaris minor seeds was assessed in comparison to conventional cereal grains like maize and wheat. P. minor seeds had higher total ash and cell wall constituents as compared to wheat and maize grains. The CP content of P. minor was comparable to wheat grains but higher than maize grains. The in vitro studies revealed that the net gas production and availability of ME from P. minor was comparable to that of maize but the digestibility of nutrients was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of conventional cereal grains. The digestion kinetic parameters for DM and CP revealed that P. minor had the highest (p<0.05) soluble fraction (a) followed by wheat and maize. Reverse trend was observed for insoluble but potentially degradable fraction (b). The effective and true DM and CP degradability was significantly (p<0.05) higher in wheat grains followed by that in P. minor and maize grains. The digestibility of OM and NDF was not affected by replacing cereal grains in concentrate mixture with P. minor seeds up to 75 per cent level. But the availability of ME from concentrate mixtures was comparable to control only up to 50% level of replacement. Replacement of cereal grains with P. minor did not affect the rapidly soluble fraction and insoluble but potentially degradable fraction of concentrate mixture containing P. minor up to 75 per cent, but it was depressed significantly at 100% replacement level. The effective and true degradability of DM of concentrate mixtures containing P. minor from 50 to 100 per cent was comparable to that of conventional concentrate mixture (CCM). The wheat based concentrate mixtures showed higher net gas production (208 vs. 201 ml/g DM/24 h), digestibility of nutrients and ME availability (9.64 vs. 9.54 MJ/kg DM) as compared to maize based concentrate mixture. The wheat based concentrate mixture had significantly (p<0.05) higher rumen undegradable fraction and effective degradability. The data conclusively revealed that conventional cereal grains could be replaced with P.minor seeds up to 75 per cent without affecting the availability of nutrients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.537-543
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• 1999

Whole horse beans (Vicia faba cv. Alfred) (WHB) were pressure toasted at different temperatures of 100, 118 and $136^{\circ}C$ for 3, 7, 15 and 30 minutes in order to determine an optimal heating conditions to increase bypass starch (BPSt) as glucose source which is usually limiting nutrient in highly producing dairy cows in the Netherlands. Starch (St) Ruminal Degradative Kinetics and Fermentation Characteristics of (SRDC) of WHB were determined using in sacco technique in 4 lactating dairy cows fed 47% hay and 53% concentrate according to Dutch dairy cow requirements. Measured characteristics of St were soluble fraction (S), potentially degradable fraction (D) and rate of degradation (Kd) of insoluble but degradable fraction. Based on measured characteristics, percentage bypass starch (BPSt) was calculated according to the Dutch new feed evaluation system: the DVE/OEB system. Pressure toasting temperatures significantly affected starch gelatinization (p<0.01). Degradability of Starch in the rumen was highly reduced by pressure toasting (p<0.01). S varied from 58.2% in the raw WHB (RWHB as a control) to 19.6% in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. S was reduced rapidly with increasing time and temperature (p<0.01). D varied from 41.8% in RWHB to 80.5% in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. D fraction was enormously increased with increasing time and temperature (p<0.01). Kd varied from 4.9%h in RWHB to 3.4%/h in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. All these effects resulted in increasing %BPSt from 29.0% in RWHB to 53.1% in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. Therefore BPSt increased from 93.5 g/kg in RWHB to 173.5 g/kg in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. The effects of pressure toasting on %BPSt and BPSt seemed to be linear up to the highest values tested. Therefore no optimal pressure toasting conditions could be determined at this stage. But among 10 treatments, The treatment of $136^{\circ}C/15min$was the best with the highest BPSt content. It was concluded that pressure toasting was effective in shifting starch degradation from rumen to small intestine to increase bypass starch.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.503-509
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• 1998

Whole faba beans (WFB) were dry roasted at different temperatures of 110, 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ for 15, 30 and 45 minutes (min) to determine the optimal heating conditions to increase bypass starch as glucose source which may be a limiting nutrient in high producing dairy cattle. Ruminant degradation characteristics of starch (St) of WFB were determined using in sacco method in 6 dairy cows fed 60% hay and 40% concentrate. Measured characteristics of St were soluble (washable) fraction (S), potentially degradation fraction (D) and the rate of degradation (Kd) of the insoluble but degradable St fraction. Based on measurement of these characteristics, percentage bypass starch (%BSt) and bypass starch (BSt) were calculated. Degradability of starch in the rumen was reduced by dry roasting at temperature of 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ and increased at $110^{\circ}C$. S varied from 50.0% in the raw whole faba beans (RWFB) and 53.7% in $110^{\circ}C$/15 min to 18.2% in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. D varied from 49.9% in RWFB and 46.3% in $110^{\circ}C$/15 min to 81.8 % in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. Kd varied from 9.8% in RWFB and 11.0% in the $110^{\circ}C$/30 min to 4.2 in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. All these effects resulted in increasing %BSt from 22.1% in the $110^{\circ}C$/45 min and 23.9% in RWFB to 49.9% in the $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. Therefore BSt increased from 91.4 g/kg and 98.4 g/kg to 199.9 g/kg respectively. Dry roasting at $110^{\circ}C$ increased the starch rumen degradation. Treatment at higher temperature (130 and $150^{\circ}C$) decreased rumen degradation of starch and seemed to be linear up to highest values tested. No optimal dry roasting conditions of treatment could be determined at this stage. It may be concluded that dry roasting at temperatures of 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ was effective in shifting starch degradation from rumen to intestine to increase bypass starch.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1205-1214
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• 1999

Whole lupinus albus seeds were pressure toasted at temperatures of 100, 118 and $136^{\circ}C$ for 3, 7, 15 and 30 min to study rumen degradation and post-rumen digestion and to determine optimal heating conditions for the Dutch dairy feed industry. In sacco nylon bag and mobile bag techniques were employed for rumen and intestine incubations to determine ruminal degradation characteristics and intestinal digestion of crude protein (CP) in 4 lactation rumen cannulated and 4 lactating intestinal cannulated Dutch dairy cows fed 47% hay and 53% concentrate according to Dutch dairy requirements. Measured rumen degradation characteristics were soluble fraction (S), undegradable fraction (U), potentially degradable fraction (D), lag time (T0) and rate of degradation (Kd) of insoluble but degradable fraction. Percentage bypass feed protein (BCP), ruminal microbial protein synthesized based on available nitrogen (N_MP) and that based on available energy (E_MP), true protein supplied to the small intestine (TPSI), truly absorbed BCP (ABCP), absorbed microbial protein (AVP) in the small intestine, endogenous protein losses in the digestion (ENDP), true digested protein in the small intestine (TAP or DVE in Dutch) and degraded protein balance (PDB or OEB in Dutch) were totally evaluated using the new Dutch DVE/OEB System. Pressure toasting decreased (p<0.001) rumen degradability of CP. It reduced S (p<0.05) and Kd (p=0.06), increased D (p<0.05) and U (p<0.01) but did not alter T0 (p>0.05), thus resulting in dramatically increased BCP (p<0.001) with increasing time and temperature from 73.7 (raw) up to 182.5 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). Although rumen microbial protein synthesized based on available energy (E_MP) was reduced, true protein (microbial and bypass feed protein) supplied to the small intestine (TPSI) was increased (p<0.001) from 153.1 (raw) to 247.6 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). Due to digestibility of BCP in the intestine not changing (p>0.05) average 87.8%, the absorbed BCP increased (p<0.001) from 62.3 (raw) to 153.7 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). Therefore DVE value of true digested protein in the small intestine was significantly increased (p<0.001) from 118.9 (raw) to 197.0 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$) and OEB value of degraded protein balance was significantly reduced (p<0.001) from 147.2 (raw) to 63.1 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). It was concluded that pressure toasting was effective in shifting degradation of CP of lupinus albus from the rumen to small intestine without changing intestinal digestion. Further studies are required on the degradation and digestion of individual amino acids and on the damaging effects of processing on amino acids, especially the first limiting amino acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.781-790
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• 2011

The effects of seedtime and maturity stage on nutritive value of five maize stover varieties, including conventional maize (Kexiangyu 11, CM), fodder maize (Huqing 1, FM), high oil maize (Gaoyou 115, HOM), sweet maize (Kexiangtianyu 1, SM) and waxy maize (Kexiangluoyu 1, WM), were examined based on chemical composition, in vitro gas production and in situ incubation techniques. Maize stover was sampled at d 17 and d 30 after tasseling, and designated as maturity stage 1 and stage 2, respectively. The average dry matter (DM) organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and fiber contents were the greatest for HOM, SM and FM, respectively. CM had the highest in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. The highest ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) concentration in the incubation solution, and effective degradability of DM ($ED_{DM}$) and neutral detergent fiber ($ED_{NDF}$) were observed in SM. Advanced maturity stage increased (p<0.05) DM content, $ED_{DM}$ and $ED_{NDF}$, but decreased (p<0.05) OM and CP contents, and decreased (p<0.05) b and a+b values, IVOMD and molar proportion of valerate in the incubation solution for maize stover. Maize sown in summer had greater (p<0.05) OM content, but lower DM, CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content compared with maize sown in spring. Maize sown in summer had greater (p<0.001) IVOMD, $NH_3$-N concentration in the incubation solution and $ED_{NDF}$, but lower (p<0.01) ratio of acetate to propionate compared to maize sown in spring. The interaction effect of variety${\times}$seedtime was observed running through almost all chemical composition, in vitro gas production parameters and in situ DM and NDF degradability. The overall results suggested that SM had the highest nutrient quality, and also indicated the possibility of selecting maize variety and seedtime for the utilization of maize stover in ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1183-1196
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• 2018

Objective: This study ascertained effects of roughage quality, period of day at meal termination and time lapse after feeding on digesta load in the rumen. Methods: Veld hay was untreated (poor roughage quality, PRQ), improved (improved roughage quality, IRQ) by treating with urea or semi-improved by spraying with urea (semi-improved roughage quality, SIRQ). Experiment 1a used four rumen fistulated sheep to determine in-sacco degradability. Twelve sheep ($56.3{\pm}4.59kg$) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 6) and PRQ (n = 6) to determine solid and liquid passage rates. In experiment 1b, nine sheep ($37.6{\pm}9.34kg$) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 4) and PRQ (n = 5) to determine digestibility. Sixteen sheep ($36.47{\pm}9.46kg$) were blocked by body weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 8) and PRQ (n = 8). Two sheep were slaughtered for each sampling time in each treatment (IRQ and PRQ) at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h after feeding to determine rumen load. In experiment 2, eighteen goats ($25.4{\pm}9.08kg$) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 6), SIRQ (n = 6), and PRQ (n = 6). Then all 18 goats were slaughtered soon after meal termination in the morning; afternoon and evening to determine the effect of period of day on rumen fill. Results: Rate of degradation and effective degradability were enhanced by improvement of roughage quality. Roughage quality had no effect on digestibility, but digestibility was higher in goats than sheep. Fractional passage rate of particles was higher for IRQ than PRQ, but similar for liquids. Digesta fractional clearance rates at 24 h after feeding were 0.018/h (IRQ) and 0.006/h (PRQ). Period of day had an influence on rumen load. Neutral detergent fibre load for goats were above 2.03 kg/100 kg body weight for all diet treatments. Conclusion: Following starvation, passage rate had negligible effects on emptying of rumen load.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.965-973
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• 2011

Our objective was to determine the differences in the rate and extent of dry matter digestion between barley subjected to differing agronomic variables. Two malting barley varieties, Copeland and Metcalfe were seeded at rates of 200 and 400 plants/$m^2$. Each of these varieties received nitrogen fertilizer at rates of 0, 30, 60 and 120 kg/ha, resulting in a total of 20 different barley grain samples. Samples were ground through a 6mm screen and approximately 3 g of each weighed into 50 ${\mu}m$ Dacron bags and sealed. The bags were incubated in three ruminally cannulated Holstein cattle for periods of 0, 3, 6 and 24 h. Using the data obtained from these incubations, rates of digestion were able to be predicted. The soluble fraction ranged from 0.229-0.327, the slowly degradable fraction ranged from 0.461-0.656, and the undegradable fraction ranged from 0.038-0.299. The rates of digestion ranged from 0.127-0.165 $h^{-1}$ and the effective degradability ranged from 0.527-0.757. At the Canora location, the Copeland samples which received 120 kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizer had a significantly lower (p = 0.013) soluble fraction than the rest of the samples at that location. A significant interaction (p = 0.009) was seen between the seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer application with samples from the Canora location, as well as significant differences (p = 0.029) between nitrogen application rates in samples from the Indian head location. The rate of digestion of samples from the Indian head location differed (p = 0.020) between the two seeding rates, with samples seeded at 200 seed/$m^2$ having a slightly higher rate of degradation. Differences in the effective degradability were seen between the different nitrogen application rates with samples from both the Canora and Indian head locations, as well as an (p = 0.004) interaction between the seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer application rate. Although there was not a clear correlation between the different variables, both nitrogen application and seeding rate did have a significant effect on the rates and extent of digestion across each of the four locations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.777-783
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• 2004

Samples of 13 species of forest tree leaves fed to livestock in the semi-hilly arid zone of Punjab State in India were collected at 30 d interval for 12 months, in order to assess their nutritional worth for livestock. The ground samples were pooled for 4 different seasons viz. dry hot, hot humid, fall and winter. The chemical composition irrespective of the season revealed that CP content varied between 8.9 (Carrisa) to 22.0% (Leucaena). Globulin was the major protein fraction in most of the leaves. The lowest concentration of cell wall constituents was observed in Morus alba and Grewea. The leaves in general became fiberous and lignified during winter and fall as compared to summer season. The leaves of Grewea, Morus alba, Leucaena, Carrisa and Acacia were rich in Ca, P and most of the trace elements. The total phenolics ranged between 1.88% (Azardirachta) to 15.82% (Acacia). The leaves of Acacia had the highest concentration of hydrolysable tannins (14.6%) whereas that of Carrisa had that of condensed tannins (5.9%). The condensed tannins (more than 3%) were negatively correlated to the digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude protein (CP). The digestion kinetic parameters for DM, NDF and CP revealed that leaves of Morus alba, Zizyphus and Ehretia had highest insoluble but potentially degradable fraction. The minimum rumen fill values also revealed that leaves of Grewea, Azardirachta, Morus, Ehretia and Leucaena had great potential for voluntary DM intake. The leaves of Ougeinia, Malha, Dodenia and Carrisa had significantly higher rumen fill value indicating poor potential for voluntary DM intake. Season did not have any significant impact on digestion kinetic parameters except that most of the leaves had low potentially degradable fraction, which was degraded at slow rate during winter. It was concluded that the leaves of Morus, Ehretia, Grewea and Leucaena had great potential as livestock feed, while feeding of Ougeinia, Malha and Dodonea leaves should be avoided.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.824-830
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• 2008

Sodium hydroxide (SH) or ammonium bicarbonate (AB) were applied to rice straw to investigate the effects on histological change of stem tissue or cell wall before and after in sacco degradation using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The SEM revealed that, the parenchyma and vascular bundles were distorted by treatment with SH at 30 or 45 g/kg straw dry matter. Faultage between phloem of large vascular bundles and parenchyma occurred with further increasing SH to 60 or 75 g/kg. The cell wall in these stem tissues was crimped when observed by TEM. However, only parenchyma and large vascular tissues were slightly distorted in AB-treated stem. For untreated and AB-treated stems, the initiation of observable ruminal degradation of cell wall was prolonged from 12 h for inner parenchyma to 24 h for sclerenchyma and to 48 h for phloem of small vascular bundles, while the outer epidermis was intact even at 72 h. For SH-treated stem, however, the cell wall from all of the investigated tissues, epidermis, small vascular bundles, sclerenchyma, and parenchyma started to be degraded at 12 h incubation. These results indicate that SH treatment contracts rice straw stem leading to an improvement in rumen degradation, and that the degradation of SH-treated stem is bilateral from inner and outer surface simultaneously.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1102-1108
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted as a Latin square design with four rumen fistulated local yellow cattle with a mean live weight of 230 kg. The treatments were: $(CLM_0)$ urea-treated rice straw ad libitum plus 1 kg cassava root meal (basal diet), $(CLM_{500})$ basal diet plus 500 g cassava leaf meal, $(CLM_{1000})$ basal diet plus 1,000 g cassava leaf meal, and $(CLM_{1500})$ basal diet plus 1,500 g cassava leaf meal. The results showed that there were differences in dry matter intake of urea-treated rice straw between treatments (p<0.05). The highest total dry matter intake was observed for treatment $CLM_{1500}$, with 2.62 kg DM/100 kg LWt/day, followed by treatments $CLM_{1000}$, $CLM_{500}$ and $CLM_0$, with 2.42, 2.00 and 1.86 kg DM/100 kg LWt/day, respectively. The ruminal ammonia concentration on treatment $CLM_{1500}$ was greater than on treatments $CLM_{1000}$, $CLM_{500}$ and $CLM_0$. There were non-significant differences in the ruminal pH among the treatments. The in sacco degradability of cassava leaf meal and cassava root meal was high, and on average 75 and 85% respectively of the DM had disappeared after 24 h of incubation. Degradation rate of urea treated rice straw was 64% after 72 h of incubation.