• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.520-527
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• 2009

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) is a high-quality forage for ruminants and the main stem is the dominant morphological component contributing to the forage nutritive value in mature alfalfa forage. Shearing force, a fracturing property of plant stem, is an important indictor of forage value. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of morphological characteristic on shearing force, the relationship between shearing force and chemical composition, and the relationship between shearing force and in situ digestibility of alfalfa stem. The results showed that linear density (weight per unit length of stem) was more important than chemical composition in affecting shearing force. There was a positive relationship between lignin content and shearing force (r = 0.78). Correlations were not found between shearing force and other chemical components such as neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose and hemicelluloses. In situ digestibility (of dry matter and NDF) was related to shearing force. A negative correlation was found between shearing force and dry matter (DM) digestibility (r = -0.70), and there was also a negative correlation between shearing force and NDF digestibility (r = -0.87). When shearing force was standardized for stem diameter or stem linear density, the relationship between shearing force and digestibility was consistent regardless of stem diameter and stem linear density. Shearing force was significantly correlated with lignin content and in situ digestibility (of DM and NDF), and was a more direct indicator for estimating forage nutritive value related to animal performance, so it can be used to predict the forage value of alfalfa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.807-817
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• 2008

Steers with ad libitum access to rice straw were assigned to four diets to evaluate the effects of maize or soybean hull supplementation on intake, in vivo digestibility, ruminal pH, VFA, ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) and in situ ruminal disappearance of feed nutrients by cattle consuming rice straw. Supplement treatments were: no supplement (RS); soybean meal at 0.127% BW (SBM); cracked maize at 0.415% BW plus 0.044% BW soybean meal (MAIZE); or soybean hulls at 0.415% BW plus 0.044% BW soybean meal (HULLS). The MAIZE and HULLS diets were formulated to provide approximately 4 MJ of $NE_m$ per kg of diet. Rice straw DMI was not affected (p = 0.34) by supplement. Apparent dry matter (DM) digestibility was greater (p<0.001) for MAIZE and HULLS (56.6 and 60.0%, respectively) than for steers consuming SBM or RS (51.8 and 44.4%, respectively). Apparent NDF digestibility was greater (p<0.0004) for HULLS than MAIZE (61.7 vs. 58.0%, respectively) and apparent ADF digestibility was greater (p<0.0008) for HULLS than MAIZE (61.1 vs. 49.2%, respectively). There was no difference in apparent hemicellulose digestibility (p = 0.43). Analysis of ruminal fluid collected 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post-feeding revealed ammonia-nitrogen was greatest (p<0.05) for steers on SBM and HULLS diets at 2 h (24.08 and 22.57 mg/dl, respectively) and total volatile fatty acids was greatest (p<0.05) for HULLS at 4 h (230 mM/L). In situ disappearance, measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16 and 24 h, indicated that SBM, MAIZE and HULLS tended to enhance the digestibility of DM and fiber components of rice straw. In situ disappearance of rice straw DM was greatest for SBM and/or HULLS from 4 to 24 h (p = 0.03). Rice straw NDF and ADF disappearance was enhanced by supplementation from 16 to 24 h (p<0.02). Rice straw DM, NDF and ADF disappearances at 24 h were similar for MAIZE and HULLS treatments. When feeding cattle rice straw diets, energy and protein-based supplements are essential. This study showed that fiber-based supplements are just as, if not more, effective as starch-based supplements in rice straw utilization. This study shows that soybean hulls, in spite of their high fiber content, are as efficient as maize for supplementing rice straw primarily because fiber in soybean hulls is highly digestible as shown by in vivo digestibility and in situ disappearance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1018-1033
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• 2021

In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of flaking on the nutrient digestibility of corn grain in ruminants. In this regard, in vitro rumen fermentation, in situ rumen degradability, and in vivo metabolic experiments were performed. The automated gas production technique was used for the in vitro fermentation experiments. Six types of corn flakes with various degrees of gelatinization (32%, 41%, 48%, 66%, 86%, and 89%) were ground and incubated in rumen fluid to measure rumen fermentation characteristics and digestion rate. The in situ degradability of ground corn, whole corn, and corn flakes with 62% and 66% gelatinization was measured by incubation in the rumen of two cannulated Holstein cows. In vivo metabolic experiments were performed using 12 crossbred goats (29.8 ± 4.37 kg) using a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The dietary treatments consisted of ground corn and flaked corn with 48% or 62% gelatinization. In vitro experiments showed that as the degree of gelatinization increased, the digestion rate increased linearly, while the discrete lag time decreased linearly (p < 0.05). The effective rumen dry matter degradability, determined by in situ fermentation, was 37%p lower in corn flakes than ground corn, assuming a passage rate of 6%/h (p < 0.01), and there was no difference between the two flakes. In the in vivo experiment, there was no difference in dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and nitrogen utilization among the treatment groups (p > 0.05); however, the crude fat digestibility was lower for corn flakes than for ground corn (p < 0.05). To summarize, the rate of fermentation of corn flakes increased as the degree of gelatinization increased. However, non-ground corn flakes had lower rumen digestibility and did not improve in vivo apparent nutrient digestibility, compared with ground corn. In contrast to the assumption that flaked corn provides more energy to ruminant animals than ground corn, we conclude that the digestibility and energy value of corn flakes are lower than those of ground corn if mastication does not sufficiently reduce the particle size of corn flakes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 1991

The overall objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of spraying sulfuric acid solution, and adding corn meal or molasses to reed canarygrass silage on digestibility of dry matter (DM) and fibrous components in ruminant. DM content of molasses or corn meal treated silages were higher than control. Whereas, sulfuric acid treated silage showed lower DM content compared with untreated control. Acid detergent fiber content was similar among treatments, but neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and hemicellulose concentration were higher in treated silages than those of control. Organic acids content were also increased in treated silages. In contrast, silage pH were lower in treated silages. Treated silages increased both rate and extent of DM and NDF in situ digestibility compared to control at all incubation times. Especially, 7 % molasses and 0.4 % sulfuric acid treated silages increased DM and NDF digestibility significantly after 12 hours of incubation compared with control. In nitro DM and NDF digestibility showed similar trend to in situ incubation. Also treated silages(mo1asses or sulfuric acid treated) incubated in situ had higher particle-associated carboxymethylcellulase activity throughout the incubation except 72 hours.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

In vitro and in situ incubation studies were conducted to determine effects of yeast culture supplements (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on cellulolytic bacterial function and fiber digestion in rice straw. In vitro dry matter digestibility of rice straw gradually increased according to supplemental levels of yeast culture (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0%). Digestibility of rice straw started to increase apparently when yeast culture was added more than 0.6% level (p<0.05). Also, we reconfirmed that in vitro dry matter digestibility was significantly increased by 0.6% of yeast culture addition in 4% NaOH treated and non-treated rice straws (p<0.05). When in situ dry matter digestibility was tested in Korean native goats fed basal diet or experimental diet which contained 1.0% of yeast culture, the yeast culture feeding improved in situ dry matter digestibility in both 4% NaOH treated and non-treated rice straws (p<0.05). In case of real-time PCR monitoring cellulolytic bacterial function, the bacterial population attached on rice straw showed the increasing trends with higher level of yeast culture spraying on rice straw. F. succinogenes and R. flavefaciens were significantly increased in accordance to spraying levels of yeast culture (0.0, 0.1 and 0.3%) at both 12 and 24 hrs of in situ incubation (p<0.05). R. albus was significantly higher population in yeast culture spraying than non-soraying at 12 hrs of in situ incubation (p<0.05). These bacterial populations were showed the increasing trends with digestibility enhancement of rice straw according to the higher levels of yeast culture supplement. Overall, these results clearly suggest that the presence of yeast culture result in noticeable increase of rice straw digestion, which is modulated via good effect on cellulolytic bacterial attachment to fiber substrates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

Ruminal digestion of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of processed (ensiled, deepstacked or composted) broiler litter (BL) was determined in situ and in vitro, and compared with rice straw (RS). DM disappearances at 24 and 48 h and digestion of differently processed BL were higher than those of RS. Compared with RS, processed BL was low in NDF disappearance at 72 h incubation, digestion rate ($K_dB$) and digestibility at 0.025 of passage rate; however, deepstacked BL was similar in these NDF characteristics. Processing of BL affected ruminal digestion of nutrients such as DM and NDF adversely. NDF of composted BL, especially, was the most indigestible. This in situ nutritional evaluation indicated that deepstacked BL, the most widely used form of BL, was superior in DM characteristics (fractions, ruminal disappearance and digestibility) and similar in NDF characteristics (ruminal disappearance and digestibility) to RS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.851-858
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine effects of whole (intact), coarsely-ground (4 mm), finely-ground (1 mm), steam-flaked and steam-flaked-ground (1 mm) corns on in vitro and in situ DM digestibilities and also in vitro fermentation characteristics. After 48 h incubation, in vitro dry matter digestibilities of whole, steam-flaked, coarsely-ground, steam-flaked-ground, and finely-ground corns were 6.79, 61.68, 76.48, 85.72 and 90.31%, respectively. Steam-flaked-ground corn showed the highest digestibility until 24 h incubation (p<0.01). After 48 h incubation, pH of whole corn decreased with a small range. However the values of pH of other media significantly decreased (p<0.01). The gas productions of finely-ground and steam-flaked-ground corns were higher than those of the other corns (p<0.01). After 24 h incubation, $NH_3$-N concentration of finely-ground and steam-flaked-ground corns increased rapidly. Total VFA was the highest in finely-ground corn, followed by steam-flaked-ground, steam-flaked, coarsely-ground and whole corns. Incorporating steam-flaked corn resulted in the highest propionate concentration (p<0.01) and the lowest acetate : propionate value (p<0.05). Finely-ground corn showed the highest in situ DM digestibility throughout the incubation period (p<0.01), followed by coarsely-ground, steam-flaked and whole corns, respectively. Overall, DM of whole corn was merely digested in vitro as well as in situ.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1559-1567
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in hempseed cake (HC) that were moist heat treated at different temperatures. Samples of cold-pressed HC were autoclaved for 30 min at 110, 120 or $130^{\circ}C$, and a sample of untreated HC was used as the control. Ruminal degradability of CP was estimated, using the in situ Dacron bag technique; intestinal CP digestibility was estimated for the 16 h in situ residue using a three-step in vitro procedure. AA content was determined for the HC samples (heat treated and untreated) of the intact feed, the 16 h in situ residue and the residue after the three-step procedure. There was a linear increase in RUP (p = 0.001) and intestinal digestibility of RUP (p = 0.003) with increasing temperature during heat treatment. The $130^{\circ}C$ treatment increased RUP from 259 to 629 g/kg CP, while intestinal digestibility increased from 176 to 730 g/kg RUP, compared to the control. Hence, the intestinal available dietary CP increased more than eight times. Increasing temperatures during heat treatment resulted in linear decreases in ruminal degradability of total AA (p = 0.006) and individual AA (p<0.05) and an increase in intestinal digestibility that could be explained both by a linear and a quadratic model for total AA and most individual AA (p<0.05). The $130^{\circ}C$ treatment decreased ruminal degradability of total AA from 837 to 471 g/kg, while intestinal digestibility increased from 267 to 813 g/kg of rumen undegradable AA, compared with the control. There were differences between ruminal AA degradability and between intestinal AA digestibility within all individual HC treatments (p<0.001). It is concluded that moist heat treatment at $130^{\circ}C$ did not overprotect the CP of HC and could be used to shift the site of CP and AA digestion from the rumen to the small intestine. This may increase the value of HC as a protein supplement for ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of common fodder tree leaves with goats fed at 50% of total ration. In experiment 1, leaves from six fodder tree species i.e., Ailanthus aitissima, Elaeagnus angustifolic, Morus alba (Mulberry), Populus spp, Robina pseudoacacia and Salix babylonia were harvested in spring and winter from northern areas of Pakistan. Chemical composition and apparent in situ dry matter digestibility (DMD) of fodder tree leaves were measured. Results showed that crude protein (CP) values were higher (p<0.05) in all the species during spring compared to winter (17.9% vs 12.0%). The concentration of NDF in Elaeagnus and Robinia was higher in spring, whereas no seasonal difference was found in other species. In situ DMD was higher (p<0.05) in Ailanthus and Populus at spring while it was higher (p<0.05) in Elaeagnus, Mulberry and Robinia at winter. There was no (p<0.05) seasonal effect on in situ DMD of Salix. In experiment II, four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric rations viz., A, B, C and D were prepared containing 50% (winter harvested) sun dried leaves of Salix, Robinia, Mulberry and Elaeagnus, respectively and 50% concentrate. Dry matter and crude protein intakes were higher (p<0.05) given ration A (Salix) whereas DM and CP digestibility was lowest (p<0.05) given ration B. Nitrogen retention was higher (p<0.05) given ration A. Goats fed on fodder tree leaves and concentrate showed moderate intake and digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.371-375
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• 1999

The present study was conducted to evaluate the mottgrass alone and in combination with berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) at different intake levels to determine the lag time, rate and extent of digestion of DM and NDF of mottgrass. Four ruminally cannulated buffalo calves were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square Design with $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments. The two factors were forage intake levels (ad libitum versus restricted) and forage source (mottgrass versus mottgrass plus 25% berseem). Four dietary treatment consisted of 1) ad libitum mottgrass, 2) restricted feeding of mottgrass, 3) ad libitum mottgrass plus berseem with a ratio of 3:1 and 4) restricted mottgrass plus berseem in a ratio of 3:1 Calves fed ad libitum mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem consumed 25% more DM and 15 % more NDF than those fed mottgrass only. The in situ DM digestibility, the lag time and extent of digestion were not affected by intake level. However, rate of disappearance was greater in restricted fed animals than those fed ad libitum. This increased rate could be due to greater concentration of fibrolytic bacteria in restrict fed animals. The DM digestibility was greater (64.1%) in calves fed mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem than those fed mottgrass only (57.7%). The reduced mottgrass DM digestion may be due to its higher NDF contents. The NDF digestibility, the lag and extent of NDF digestion were not affected by varying intake levels. However, rate of digestion of NDF was higher in restricted fed animals than those of ad libitum fed animals. The NDF digestibility was greater (58.4%) in calves fed mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem than those fed mottgrass (48.7%) only.