• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.356-362
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• 2006

This study aimed to assess the effects of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from rice straw on blood metabolites and productivity of dairy cows in the tropics. Eight Holstein ${\times}$ indigenous (75-87.5% Holstein) were randomly allocated to dietary treatments according to a double $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Contents of roughage NDF from rice straw were 12.8, 14.8, 16.8 and 18.8% dry matter (DM) and concentrate NDF content was 10.2% DM, so that levels of dietary NDF were 23, 25, 27 and 29% DM. Dietary treatments were isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. The average maximum and minimum temperature humidity index during the experimental period were 85.6 and 76.9, respectively. Plasma glucose (p<0.05), dry matter intake and 4% fat corrected milk (p<0.01) decreased with increasing contents of roughage NDF from rice straw, while rectal temperature, serum urea, cortisol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p<0.05), serum total protein and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate (p<0.01) increased. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were not affected (p>0.05). Decreased rectal temperature and concentrations of serum cortisol were associated with decreasing levels of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate and serum urea, but with increased concentrations of plasma glucose, DMI and 4% fat corrected milk indicating that lactating cows fed lower fiber diets were in lower oxidative stress. Therefore higher intake and metabolic efficiency in dairy cows fed diets lower in roughage NDF from rice straw would be of an advantage in productive systems under tropical conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2006

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of synchronizing the rate of dietary energy and nitrogen release on: ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, blood urea nitrogen, and nutrient digestibility in beef cattle. Four, two-and-a-half year old Brahman-Thai native crossbred steers were selected for the project. Each steer was fitted with a rumen cannula and proximal duodenal cannula. The steers were then randomly assigned in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to receive four dietary treatments. Prior to formulation of the dietary treatments, feed ingredients were analyzed for chemical composition and a nylon bag technique was used to analyze the treatments various ingredients for degradability. The treatments were organized in four levels of a synchrony index (0.39, 0.50, 0.62 and 0.74). The results showed that dry matter digestibility trend to be increased (p<0.06), organic matter and acid detergent fiber digestibility increased linearly (p<0.05), while crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were not significantly different (p>0.05). Higher concentration and fluctuation of ruminal ammonia and blood urea were observed in the animal that received the lower synchrony index diets. As the levels of the synchrony index increased, the concentrations of ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen, at the 4 h post feeding, decreased linearly (p<0.05). Total volatile fatty acid and bacteria populations at the 4 h post feeding increased linearly (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis trend to be increase (p<0.08). The results of this research indicate that synchronizing the rate of degradation of dietary energy and nitrogen release improves ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and feed utilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three herb supplementations on blood metabolites, hormones, antioxidant activity, immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration, and ruminal fermentation in steers. Four Holstein steers in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design received four herb treatments. The treatments consisted of the steers' regular diets with addition of: 1) nothing (control), 2) peppermint, 3) clove, and 4) lemongrass at 5% of the diet (DM basis). Clove supplementation increased the plasma concentration of cholesterol by about 10% (from 79 to 87 mg/dl). Peppermint and lemongrass feeding resulted in an increase in the concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen (from 5.9 to 6.9 and 6.4 mg/dl, respectively). The three herb treatments had no effect on other metabolites and hormones. Steers receiving clove supplementation showed a higher plasma antioxidant activity. The three herb treatments caused lower concentrations of IgG in the blood. Peppermint and lemongrass feedings increased, and clove feeding decreased ruminal concentrations of ammonia. There were no significant differences in VFA concentrations among herbal treatments, except for the decrease in propionate concentration in steers receiving clove treatment. This study suggested that clove feeding changed cholesterol metabolism and increased antioxidant activity in plasma, and feeding of three herbs affected immunity system and ruminal fermentation in steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 1992

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was fractionated into leaf nutrient concentrate, fiber and deproteinised juice (DPJ). The fresh and fermented DPJs were concentrated and referred to as fresh deproteinised juice concentrate (FDPJC) and fermented deprotenised juice concentrate (FMTD DPJC). The FDPJC and FMTD DPJC were separately mixed with dried fiber and ensiled. Wilted crop silage and fresh fiber silage were also prepared from the same material crop. The nutritive value of these four silages were compared using four goats by $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Green crop fractionation resulted lesser amount of crude protein and ash, and higher amount of neurtal detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose in fresh fiber. The pH of fresh fiber silage was lower than that of the other silages. Addition of FDPJC or FMTD DPJC to the dried fiber at ensiling did not improve the silage qualities; but all the silages were satisfactorily preserved. Goats fed these silages showed similar ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations. But addition of FMTD DPJC was effective on increasing ruminal acetic acid concentration reducing propionic acid concentration. Ruminal n- and iso- butyric acid concentrations were proportional to that of propionic acid. High ammonia content of the silage containing FMTD DPJC was reflected to the ruminal ammonia concentration, urinary nitrogen excretion and serum urea level of goats. Inclusion of FDPJC or FMTD DPJC added 15 to 25% dry matter to the fiber silages with a little reduction in the digestibilities of most components of the silages.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1437-1445
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding increasing proportions of corn grain on concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the rumen fluid and the subsequent alterations in immune responses as reflected by plasma concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) in goats. Nine goats were assigned to three diets (0%, 25%, and 50% corn grain) in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square experimental design. The results showed that as the proportion of dietary corn increased, the ruminal pH decreased (p<0.001), and the concentrations of propionate (p<0.001), butyrate (p<0.001), lactic acid (p = 0.013) and total volatile fatty acid (p = 0.031) elevated and the ruminal LPS level increased (p<0.001). As the proportion of dietary corn increased, the concentration of SAA increased (p = 0.013). LPS was detectable in the blood of individual goats fed 25% and 50% corn. A real-time PCR analysis showed that the copy number of phylum Bacteroidetes (p<0.001) was reduced ($4.61{\times}10^9$ copies/mL to $1.48{\times}10^9$ copies/mL) by the increasing dietary corn, and a correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the number of Bacteroidetes and rumen LPS levels. Collectively, these results indicated that feeding goats high proportions (50%) of corn grain decreased the ruminal pH, increased LPS in the rumen fluid and tended to stimulate an inflammatory response.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1590-1597
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• 2017

Objective: This study aims to identify the relationship between odd- and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFAs) and microbial nucleic acid bases in the rumen, and to establish a model to accurately predict microbial protein flow by using OBCFA. Methods: To develop the regression equations, data on the rumen contents of individual cows were obtained from 2 feeding experiments. In the first experiment, 3 rumen-fistulated dry dairy cows arranged in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square were fed diets of differing forage to concentration ratios (F:C). The second experiment consisted of 9 lactating Holstein dairy cows of similar body weights at the same stage of pregnancy. For each lactation stage, 3 cows with similar milk production were selected. The rumen contents were sampled at 4 time points of every two hours after morning feeding 6 h, and then to analyse the concentrations of OBCFA and microbial nucleic acid bases in the rumen samples. Results: The ruminal bacteria nucleic acid bases were significantly influenced by feeding diets of differing forge to concentration ratios and lactation stages of dairy cows (p<0.05). The concentrations of OBCFAs, especially odd-chain fatty acids and C15:0 isomers, strongly correlated with the microbial nucleic acid bases in the rumen (p<0.05). The equations of ruminal microbial nucleic acid bases established by ruminal OBCFAs contents showed a good predictive capacity, as indicated by reasonably low standard errors and high R-squared values. Conclusion: This finding suggests that the rumen OBCFA composition could be used as an internal marker of rumen microbial matter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of corn grain particle size on ruminant fermentation and blood metabolites in Holstein steers fed total mixed ration (TMR) as a basal diet to explain fundamental data of corn grain for cattle in Korea. Methods: Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (body weight $592{\pm}29.9kg$) fed TMR as a basal diet were housed individually in an auto temperature and humidity modulated chamber ($24^{\circ}C$ and 60% for 22 h/d). Treatments in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design were TMR only (control), TMR with whole corn grain (WC), coarsely ground corn grain (CC), and finely ground corn grain (FC), respectively. The corn feeds substituted for 20% energy intake of TMR intake. To measure the ruminal pH, ammonia N, and volatile fatty acids (VFA), ruminal digesta was sampled through ruminal cannula at 1 h intervals after the morning feeding to determine ruminal fermentation characteristics. Blood was sampled via the jugular vein after the ruminal digesta sampling. Results: There was no difference in dry matter (DM) intake between different corn particle size because the DM intake was restricted to 1.66% of body weight. Different corn particle size did not change mean ammonia N and total VFA concentrations whereas lower (p<0.05) ruminal pH and a ratio of acetate to propionate, and higher (p<0.05) propionate concentration were noted when the steers consumed CC compared with WC and FC. Concentration of blood metabolites were not affected by different particle size of corn grain except for blood triglyceride concentration, which was significantly (p<0.05) increased by FC. Conclusion: Results indicate that feeding CC may increase feed digestion in the rumen, whereas the FC group seemed to obtain inadequate corn retention time for microbial degradation in the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1738-1746
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of increasing amounts of Leucaena leucocephala forage on dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), enteric methane production, rumen fermentation pattern and protozoa population in cattle fed Pennisetum purpureum and housed in respiration chambers. Methods: Five crossbred heifers (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) (BW: $295{\pm}6kg$) were fed chopped P. purpureum grass and increasing levels of L. leucocephala (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of dry matter [DM]) in a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design. Results: The voluntary intake and methane production were measured for 23 h per day in respiration chambers; molar proportions of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were determined at 6 h postprandial period. Molar concentration of VFAs in rumen liquor were similar (p>0.05) between treatments. However, methane production decreased linearly (p<0.005), recording a maximum reduction of up to ~61% with 80% of DM incorporation of L. leucocephala in the ration and no changes (p>0.05) in rumen protozoa population were found. Conclusion: Inclusion of 80% of L. leucocephala in the diet of heifers fed low-quality tropical forages has the capacity to reduce up to 61.3% enteric methane emission without affecting DMI, OMI, and protozoa population in rumen liquor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1728-1736
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• 2006

The effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) waste silage and supplemental polyethylene glycol (PEG) on rumen fermentation and blood components were studied in cattle. Six Holstein steers were fed three diets in a 3${\times}$3 Latin square design, replicated twice. One diet was a control with no added silage, and the other two diets were supplemented (20% of the dry matter) with green tea waste silage either with (PEG) or without PEG (tea). Most of the fermentation parameters including major volatile fatty acids (VFA) were not affected by the diet treatments. The concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the PEG group and urea nitrogen in the tea and PEG groups were greater than those in the control before morning feeding. The plasma 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid equivalent concentration was not different before morning feeding, but 3 h after morning feeding, its concentrations in both the tea and PEG groups were higher than in the control. Although the concentration of plasma vitamin A in the animals was not affected by feeding green tea waste silage, the concentrations of plasma vitamin E were significantly higher in the tea and PEG groups than in the control, both before and 3 h after morning feeding. The results from the present study suggest that feeding diets containing 20% of the dietary dry matter as green tea waste silage to Holstein steers has no negative impact on their ruminal fermentation, and increases their plasma antioxidative activity and concentration of vitamin E.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.379-385
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• 2004

Two trials in vivo and in vitro were conducted, in vivo to determine the apparent digestibility of gross energy, crude protein, dry matter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and apparent digestible energy in 10 corn by-products. In vivo the diets included one basal corn diet, four corn gluten meal diets, four corn distillers dried grains with solubles diets and two corn distillers dried grains diets using the different methods, 12 crossbred barrows weigh $40{\pm}$1.6 kg were allocated into individual metabolic crate, according to a $6{\times}6$ Latin square design. In vitro using flask technique, filter bag technique and dialysis tubing technique, the digestibilities of gross energy, crude protein and dry matter in corn gluten meal and corn distillers dried grains with solubles were investigated. Pepsin, pancreatin, intestinal fluid, rumen fluid and cellulase were used in incubation. The results showed that correlation coefficient was 0.73 in corn distillers dried grains with solubles between the digestibility of crude protein and acid detergent fiber in vivo (p<0.01); and correlation coefficient was 0.68 in corn distillers dried grains with solubles between the digestibility of gross energy and neutral detergent fiber in vivo (p<0.01). Apparent digestible energy (DE) of corn by-products in pig total tract was predicted by the percentage of crude protein (CP) and the content of gross energy (GE) in feedstuff. The equation: DE=5,601.09+26.69$\times$CP %-0.5904$\times$GE, ($R^2=0.72$). In vitro, filter bag technique was more convenient; furthermore, the digestibility for the treatments (pepsin+pancreatin+rumen fluid and pepsin+pancreatin+cellulase) was better.