• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2015

Cocoa pod is among the by-products of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. The aim of this study was to apply a number of treatments in order to improve nutritional quality of cocoa pod for feeding of ruminants. Cocoa pod was subjected to different treatments, i.e. C (cocoa pod without any treatment or control), CAm (cocoa pod+1.5% urea), CMo (cocoa pod+3% molasses), CRu (cocoa pod+3% rumen content) and CPh (cocoa pod+3% molasses+Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculum). Analysis of proximate and Van Soest's fiber fraction were performed on the respective treatments. The pods were then subjected to an in vitro digestibility evaluation by incubation in rumen fluid-buffer medium, employing a randomized complete block design (n = 3 replicates). Further, an in vivo evaluation of the pods (35% inclusion level in total mixed ration) was conducted by feeding to young Holstein steers (average body weight of $145{\pm}3.6kg$) with a $5{\times}5$ latin square design arrangement (n = 5 replicates). Each experimental period lasted for 30 d; the first 20 d was for feed adaptation, the next 3 d was for sampling of rumen liquid, and the last 7 d was for measurements of digestibility and N balance. Results revealed that lignin content was reduced significantly when cocoa pod was treated with urea, molasses, rumen content or P. chrysosporium (p<0.01) with the following order of effectiveness: CPh>CAm>CRu>CMo. Among all treatments, CAm and CPh treatments significantly improved the in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility (p<0.05) of cocoa pod. Average daily gain of steers receiving CAm or CPh treatment was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.01) with an increase of 105% and 92%, respectively. Such higher daily gain was concomitant with higher N retention and proportion of N retention to N intake in CAm and CPh treatments than those of control (p<0.05). It can be concluded from this study that treatment with either urea or P. chrysosporium is effective in improving the nutritive value of cocoa pod.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1297-1302
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• 2003

To determine whether the feeding of different species of hay affects the dry-matter intake and the serum cortisol level of sheep, 6 non-pregnant, non-lactating ewes were offered alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay (Al), oats (Avena sativa) hay (Ot) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) hay (Pr) under 6 kinds of treatment including 1) change from Al to Ot, 2) Al to Pr, 3) Ot to Al, 4) Ot to Pr, 5) Pr to Al, and 6) Pr to Ot. The experimental design was a 6${\times}$6 Latin square with a 14 day period of which 9 days were a preliminary period and 5 days as a digestion trial period. The change in hay feeding was done abruptly on the first day of each period without an adaptation period. The blood from the jugular vein was collected on the first, third and the last day of each period through a sterile catheter for the analysis of cortisol. The dry-matter intake was recorded daily throughout the period. The mean daily intake of dry matter (DM, g/kg live weight) was significantly different among the 3 species of hay (Al>Ot>Pr; p<0.05). The digestibility of DM for Al and Ot was the same, but that for Pr was significantly lower than Al and Ot (p<0.05). The mean serum cortisol levels were significantly different among the hays (p<0.05). The level for Pr was the highest and that for Al was the lowest. The abrupt change of hay feeding of 6 treatments produced a significant change in the serum cortisol levels. The DM intake was inversely related to the change of the cortisol level. It is suggested that the animal' intake response to different species of hay may be partly motivated by the psychological feelings toward the hay offered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1326-1333
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• 2002

Studies were conducted with nine barrows, average initial body weight $44.5{\pm}2.1kg$, fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum, to determine the apparent ileal (and true) digestibility (AID and TID) of CP and AA in different cultivars of rapeseed meals and soybean meal. The barrows were fed either a casein diet or one of eight corn starch-based semipurified diets, formulated to contain 17.0% CP (DM basis) with one of seven different cultivars of rapeseed meal or soybean meal as the sole source of dietary protein, according to a six-period, nine-treatment, incomplete Latin Square. Chromic oxide (0.5%) was used as a digestibility marker. The pigs were fed of 4% of body weight twice daily, at 08:00 and 20:00 h. Ileal digesta were collected at 2 h intervals daily from 5 d to 7 d. The AID or TID values of CP and most AA (Cysteine excluded) were significantly lower in the rapeseed meals than in soybean meal (p<0.05). There were significant differences in the AID or TID values of CP and AA among the seven different cultivars rapeseed meals (p<0.05); the seven rapeseed meals were arranged according to the size of the AA digestibility values of the rapeseed meals from the greatest to the least, as Zayou 59, Youyan 7, Ganyou 16, Qingyou 2, Huaza 3, Ningza 1 and Lianglou 586; differences in CP, AA, NDF and ADF contents in the rapeseed meals were mainly responsible for the variation in the AID or TID values of AA among rapeseed meals. The AID value of CP can be used as an index of the AID or TID values of most AA in rapeseed meals. However, the AID value of CP was less appropriate as a direct indicator of the AID or TID values for cysteine, methionine, tryptophan, phenylalanine and proline.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.1040-1046
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• 2006

Studies were carried out with a repeated $4{\times}4$ Latin square design with eight cannulated pigs fed four experimental diets to investigate the effect of dietary fiber and starch sources on apparent ileal and fecal amino acid digestibility. Each period lasted 15 d, with diet acclimation from d 1 to 7, feces collection for 48 h on d 8 to 9 and ileal sample collection for 12 h on d 13 to 15. The four experimental diets consisted mainly of cooked rice with the addition of protein sources (CON), partial replacement of cooked rice with either potato starch (PS), sugar beet pulp (SBP) or wheat bran (WB). Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. With the exception of histidine, lysine and tryptophan, no differences were observed in the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids between diets. The inclusion of potato starch did not affect the ileal and fecal amino acid digestibility. In comparison with diet CON, a decreased (p<0.05) ileal digestibility of histidine was found in pigs fed diet SBP, while the ileal digestibilities of histidine, lysine and tryptophan were decreased (p<0.05) by the inclusion of wheat bran. Inclusion of fiber sources (sugar beet pulp and wheat bran) caused a reduction (p<0.05) in the fecal amino acid digestibility and the net disappearance of amino acids in the large intestine. Of the indispensable amino acids, there was a 'net synthesis' for methionine in the large intestine of pigs when diets were supplemented with dietary fiber. The decrease in fecal amino acid digestibility with the addition of dietary fiber indicates an increase in the synthesis of bacterial protein in the large intestine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.1004-1009
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• 2006

Four male crossbred native beef cattle (average body weight of 427.7 kg) were randomly allocated to four types of cassoy-urea pellet as a source of protein in concentrate according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to determine effect of diets on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility. The four types of cassoy-urea pellets contained cassava hay, soybean meal, urea and binding agent at 79.2:19.8:0:1 (27.9% CP dry matter), 78.4:19.6:1:1 (30.4% CP), 77.6:19.4:2:1 (33.0% CP) and 99:0:0:1 (23.8% CP) for dietary treatments; 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. All four concentrate mixtures contained similar crude protein levels (11% CP) and were fed to animals in two equal parts (0.5% of body weight per day) while urea-treated rice straw (5% urea) was given ad libitum. The experiment revealed that dietary concentrate treatments had no effect on dry matter intake while digestibilities of neutral-detergent fiber and crude protein were higher (p<0.05) in cattle fed dietary treatments 1, 2 and 3 than in cattle fed dietary treatment 4. Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), was higher and acetic acid concentration (C2) and ratio of C2 to propionic acid (C3) were lower (p<0.05) in cattle fed dietary treatments 1, 2 and 3 than in those on treatment 4. It is concluded that use of cassoy-urea pellet as a protein source in concentrates for cattle resulted in improvement of digestibility, ruminal fermentation and rumen ecology. Further research using cassoy-urea pellet in feeding trials with milking cows and fattening beef should be undertaken.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.551-556
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• 1996

Selenium (Se) apparent absorption and retention in sheep as influenced by diets differing in protein content through soybean meal supplementation was studied. A $3{\times}3$ Latin square design was used with three Japanese Corriedale wethers (45 kg average body weight), three periods, and three dietary treatments. In each period, 7 d dietary adjustment was followed by 5 d total collection of urine and feces. The three dietary treatments were : Diet 1, without soybean meal supplementation (14% crude protein, CP); Diet 2, with 10% soybean meal supplementation (16.5% CP); and Diet 3, with 20% soybean meal supplementation (19% CP). All the diets had a Se supplementation in the form of sodium selenite at 0.2 mg Se/kg dietary DM. The dietary DM intake of the animals was 2% of their body weight. No significant differences were obtained among the three dietary treatments of the Se balance of the animals. However, as percent of Se intake, only urinary Se concentration of Diet 3 was markedly lower (p < 0.05) than the other diets. Fecal Se as percent of Se intake followed the trend of Diet 3> Diet 2 > Diet 1 resulting a Se absorbed as percent of Se intake of 58.9%, 62.3% and 68.2% for Diets 3, 2 and 1, respectively but their differences among each other were insignificant. No significant differences that were observed either on Se retained as percent of intake (Diet 1, 48.2%; Diet 2, 45.2%; Diet 3, 46.0%) or Se retained as percent of Se absorbed (Diet 1, 70.7%; Diet 2, 72.4%; Diet 3, 77.9%). Significant correlation coefficients among the various measures of Se utilization were also observed. Regression analysis showed the following equation: Y = 93.8 - 1.86X (p <0.05, $r^{2}=0.48$), where Y is the Se absorbed as percent of Se intake (%) and X is the dietary protein content (%). This study concludes that Se requirement in sheep is greater when dietary protein content is high.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1608-1613
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effects of supplementation of spent mushroom substrates (SMS) on rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in Hanwoo steers. The experiment was conducted as a duplicated Latin square design with six Hanwoo steers ($600{\pm}47\;kg$), each permanently fitted with a ruminal cannula. There were three treatments; i) control (concentrates 4.8 kg +rice straw 1.2 kg/d), ii) Pleurotus eryngiia (PE) treatment (concentrates 4.8 kg+rice straw 0.73 kg+Pleurotus eryngiia 1.20 kg/d) and iii) Pleurotus osteratus (PO) treatment (concentrates 4.8 kg+rice straw 0.73 kg+Pleurotus osteratus 1.20 kg/d). There were no major effects of different dietary treatments on rumen parameters such as pH, ammonia-N, individual and total VFA production. Parameters of N utilization, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein and albumin levels, were not significantly different among the treatments, except for creatinine. Thus, the present results indicated that protein utilization was mostly unaffected by SMS treatments such as PE and PO, even though creatinine concentration was lower in PE compared with control and PO treatments (p<0.05). The present results indicate that Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus osteratus could be used as a forage source to replace 40% of rice straw without any negative effects on rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in Hanwoo steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.452-461
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• 2012

Four, ruminally fistulated crossbred (Brahman${\times}$native) beef cattle with initial body weight of $420{\pm}15kg$ were randomly assigned according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were mulberry leaf pellet (MUP) supplementation at 0, 200, 400 and 600 g/hd/d with rice straw fed to allow ad libitum intake. All steers were kept in individual pens and supplemented with concentrate at 5 g/kg of body weight daily. The experiment was 4 periods, and each lasted 21 d. During the first 14 d, all steers were fed their respective diets ad libitum and during the last 7 d, they were moved to metabolism crates for total urine and fecal collection. It was found that increasing MUP levels resulted in linearly increasing rice straw and total intakes (p<0.05). Ruminal temperature and pH were not significantly affected by MUP supplementation while $NH_3$-N concentration was increased (p<0.05) and maintained at a high level (18.5 mg/dl) with supplementation of MUP at 600 g/hd/d. Similarly, viable total bacteria in the rumen and cellulolytic bacteria were enriched by MUP supplementation at 600 g/hd/d. However, the rumen microbial diversity determined with a PCR-DGGE technique showed similar methanogenic diversity between treatments and sampling times and were similar at a 69% genetic relationship as determined by a UPGMA method. Based on this study, it could be concluded that supplementation of MUP at 600 g/hd/d improved DM intake, ruminal $NH_3$-N, and cellulolytic bacteria thus iimproving rumen ecology in beef cattle fed with rice straw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1689-1697
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• 2013

This study was designed to determine the effect of physical form and urea treatment of rice straw on rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and nutrient digestibility. Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 2 (2 factorial arrangement in a 4 (4 Latin square design to receive four dietary treatments. Factor A was roughage source: untreated rice straw (RS) and urea-treated (3%) rice straw (UTRS), and factor B was type of physical form of rice straw: long form rice straw (LFR) and chopped (4 cm) rice straw (CHR). The steers were offered the concentrate at 0.5% body weight (BW) /d and rice straw was fed ad libitum. DM intake and nutrient digestibility were increased (p<0.05) by urea treatment. Ruminal pH were decreased (p<0.05) in UTRS fed group, while ruminal ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased (p<0.01) by urea treatment. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations increased (p<0.01) when steers were fed UTRS. Furthermore, VFA concentrations were not altered by treatments (p>0.05), except propionic acid (C3) was increased (p<0.05) in UTRS fed group. Nitrogen (N) balance was affected by urea treatment (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis (MCP) synthesis were greater by UTRS and CHR group (p<0.05). The efficiency of microbial N synthesis was greater for UTRS than for RS (p<0.05). From these results, it can be concluded that using the long form combined with urea treatment of rice straw improved feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and efficiency of microbial N synthesis in crossbred dairy steers.