• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제15권6호
• /
• pp.844-850
• /
• 2002

The potential nutritive value was studied on leaves of seven fodder trees in Central Sudan during dry season at two distinct periods, the early dry and the late. The chemical composition, mineral concentration, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), in situ OM or nitrogen degradability and estimated metabolizable energy showed a wide variation among fodder tree species and between different periods of the dry season. Crude protein (CP) ranged from 285 to 197 g/kg DM at early dry season, with a significant reduction in late dry season. Ziziphus spina-christi and Balanites aegyptiaca showed the least reduction in CP content. The NDF, ADF and lignin were about 200, 160 and 19 g/kg DM, respectively at the early period, and significantly increased at the late period of the dry season, except for lignin of Z. spina-christi. For mineral concentration, all fodder tree leaves were rich in calcium but poor in phosphorus. In situ OM degradability significantly decreased at the late period of dry season, but values remained as high as over 600 g/kg OM. At both periods, Z. spina-christi showed the highest value, while the lowest was recorded in Acacia seyal. The IVOMD showed a similar trend to those of in situ OM degradability, except for A. seyal. The nitrogen degradability was highest in B. aegyptiaca and lowest in Z. spina-christi at both periods. A significant and positive correlation had existed between CP and IVOMD or in situ OM degradability (r=0.68, p<0.05; r=0.77, p<0.05, respectively). Also, a significant but negative correlation was found between condensed tannins and nitrogen degradability (r=-0.87, p<0.01). Results demonstrated that Z. spina-christi potentially has a good nutritive value as dry season feed or supplement, while A. seyal tends to be less promising. A. nubica and B. aegyptiaca may be a useful source for degradable protein, even though it may have a limited supply of energy to animals. A. tortilis, A. mellifera and A. ehrenbergiana may have potential value for a supplementation of energy or protein, if they were harvested in the early dry season or in wet season as preserved feed. It is highly recommended to supplement with an appropriate amount of phosphorus when these fodder trees were used.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제18권7호
• /
• pp.957-965
• /
• 2005

The effect of ammoniation with urea and with soybean meal (SBM) as a source of urease on the nutritive value of wheat straw was evaluated in sheep. Twenty-four male Najdi lambs were used in a 3${\times}$2 factorial design, in which the animals were allocated to three straw treatments: 0% urea-treated (NT), 6% urea-treated (UT) and 2.2% urea-supplemented (US) straws. Each straw treatment was either supplemented or non-supplemented with 70 g SBM $kg^{-1}$ straw during the treatment time with urea, giving a total of six straw treatments. Each of these treatments was individually fed ad libitum to 4 lambs, together with 300 g of barley grain/head/day. Total N content of UT and US straws increased significantly (p<0.001) as compared to NT straw. The degree of urea hydrolysis, either with or without SBM addition, was nearly similar. Lambs fed either UT or US straw based diets had significantly (p<0.01) and numerically (p>0.05) higher straw DM intake (g $d^{-1}$ $kg^{-1}$ $BW^{0.75}$), compared to those fed NT straw based diet. Apparent DM or OM digestibilities increased significantly (p = 0.014) in lambs fed UT diet, and numerically (p>0.05) in lambs fed US diet as compared to those fed NT diet. Fiber (CF, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose) digestibility increased to a similar magnitude, averaging 20.2 (p<0.001) and 7.8% (p<0.07); this corresponds to 35 (p<0.001) and 51% (p<0.001) in N digestibility and approximately 78 (p<0.017) and 105% (p<0.002) in N retention, for UT and US diets, respectively, as compared to NT diet. However, the UT diet had higher (p<0.01) fiber digestibility over the US diet. Addition of SBM tended to improve (p = 0.09) straw DM and digestible OM intakes, while significantly increasing (p<0.001) total and digestible CP intakes across all diets. Lambs fed on US diet had higher ruminal ammonia N than those fed on UT (p<0.05) or NT (p<0.001) diets. However, ruminal pH and molar proportion of the volatile fatty acids did not differ (p>0.05) among the treatment diets. This study suggests that US and UT treatments, particularly the latter, improved straw intake, digestibility and N utilization by lambs compared to NT treatment. On the other hand, addition of SBM as a source of urease had a negligible effect on urea hydrolysis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권3호
• /
• pp.363-367
• /
• 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
• /
• 제26권10호
• /
• pp.1446-1458
• /
• 2013

The study assessed the effect of dietary supplementation of leaf meal mixture (LMM) containing condensed tannins (CT) on feed intake, nutrient utilization and performance of sheep infected with Haemonchus contortus. Eighteen adult sheep of similar age and body weight ($25.03{\pm}1.52$) were included in this study and out of these, 12 sheep were infected with single dose of infective third stage larvae of H. contortus at 2,000 larvae per sheep. The experimental sheep were allocated in three different groups' i.e. negative control (NC; no infection), control (C; H. contortus infected) and treatment (T; H. contortus infected+CT at 1.5% of the DM through LMM) and the experiment was conducted for a period of 90 d. The intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and digestibility of DM, OM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were comparable among three animal groups. However, digestibility of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in NC group as compared to both C and T groups. Nitrogen (N) retention (g/d or % of N intake) was significantly (p = 0.038) lower in C group as compared to T and NC groups. Daily intake (g/kg $W^{0.75}$) of digestible crude protein (DCP), digestible organic matter (DOM) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) did not differ significantly (p<0.05) in the three groups. Haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly (p<0.001) higher in treatment group as compared to control. The level of Hb and PCV reduced (p<0.001) after 30 days of experimental feeding. CT significantly (p<0.001) reduced serum urea in T group as compared to NC and C groups. Serum proteins differed significantly (p<0.01) among the three groups. The activity of serum enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and LDH were also statistically non significant (p<0.05) among treatments. The weight of abomasal lymph nodes (ALN) in T group was higher (p<0.05) than in C group. Treatment group had lower (p<0.05) total worms and fecal egg count compared to control group. It may be concluded that dietary supplementation of CT through LMM significantly improved the N retention, and inhibited the different developmental stages of Haemonchus contortus in experimental sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제26권10호
• /
• pp.1474-1483
• /
• 2013

The objective was to evaluate the use of prediction equations based on the chemical composition of feedstuffs to estimate the values of apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of corn and soybean meal for broilers. For performance and carcass characteristics, 1,200 one-d-old birds (male and female) were allotted to a completely randomised factorial $2{\times}8$ (two genders and eight experimental diets) with three replicates of each sex with 25 birds. In the metabolism trial, 240 eight-d-old birds were distributed in the same design, but with a split plot in time (age of evaluation) with five, four and three birds per plot, respectively, in stages 8 to 21, 22 to 35, and 36 to 42 d of age. The treatments consisted of the use of six equations systems to predict the AMEn content of feedstuffs, tables of food composition and AMEn values obtained by in vivo assay, totalling eight treatments. Means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability and a confidence interval of 95% was used to check the fit of the energy values of the diets to the requirements of the birds. As a result of this study, the use of prediction equations resulted in better adjustment to the broiler requirements, resulting in better performance and carcass characteristics compared to the use of tables, however, the use of energy values of feedstuffs obtained by in vivo assay is still the most effective. The best equations were: AMEn = 4,021.8-227.55 Ash (for corn) combined with AMEn = -822.33+69.54 CP-45.26 ADF+90.81 EE (for soybean meal); AMEn = 36.21 CP+85.44 EE+37.26 NFE (nitrogen-free extract) (for corn) combined with AMEn = 37.5 CP+46.39 EE+14.9 NFE (for soybean); and AMEn = 4,164.187+51.006 EE-197.663 Ash-35.689 CF-20.593 NDF (for corn and soybean meal).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.502-511
• /
• 2005

The effects of different levels of crude protein (CP) and cottonseed meal replacing for soybean meal in cassava chips and rice straw-based diets for mid-lactating cows (100-150 day in milk [DIM]), were studied using 32 multiparous Holstein Fresian crossbred dairy cows. Diets containing 10.5, 12.5, 13.7, 14.4% CP of the rations and 0, 12.1, 14.9, 17.8% cottonseed meal were fed to cows for 60 days. Thirty two cows were randomly divided into four dietary treatments using a Randomized complete block design. Four dietary treatments were offered in the form of total mixed ration (TMR) with concentrate to roughage (chopped rice straw) at 60:40 and offered ad libitum. Dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes tended to linearly increase with increasing dietary CP levels. Intakes and digestibility of crude protein increased linearly with increasing dietary CP level (p<0.01). Crude protein digestibility of the 10.5% CP diet was lower (p<0.05) than that in diets with higher levels of CP, while there were no significant differences among the other three levels of CP (12.5, 13.7 and 14.4%). Daily milk yield tended to increase with increased CP from 10.5 to 14.4%. Income over feed in terms of US$/kg of milk increased with increased CP from 10.5 to 13.7% and decreased when the CP level was higher than 13.7% (quadratic effect p<0.09). Milk composition was not significantly affected by increasing level of CP, however there were relatively high contents of protein and fat among treatments. The proportion of milk-urea N (MUN), ammonia-N ($NH_3$-N) and bloodurea N (BUN) were closely correlated and increased linearly with increasing CP levels (p<0.01). Balanced diet was found in diet containing 12.5 and 13.7% CP of the rations when BUN and MUN were used as indicators of the protein to energy ratio in the diet. Conclusions can be made that increasing dietary CP levels from 10.5 to 13.7% using cottonseed meal as the main source to completely replace soybean meal was beneficial to cows consuming rice straw and cassava chips based-diets. Increasing the CP level above 13.7% of total ration did not additionally improve milk yield and composition or net income.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권12호
• /
• pp.1761-1768
• /
• 2006

In this study, the comparative effects of transgenic corn (Mon 810 and Event 176) and isogenic corn (DK729) were investigated for their influence on in vitro rumen fermentation. This study consisted of three treatments with 0.25 g rice straw, 0.25 g of corn (Mon810/Event176/DK 729) mixed with 30 ml rumen fluid-basal medium in a serum bottle. They were prepared in oxygen free conditions and incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ in a shaking incubator. The influence of transgenic corn on the number of bacterial population, F. succinogenes (cellulolytic) and S. bovis (amylolytic), was quantified using RT-PCR. Fermentative parameters were measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h and substrate digestibility was measured at 12 and 24 h. No significant differences were observed in digestibility of dry matter, NDF, ADF at 12 and 24 h for both transgenic and isogenic form of corns (p>0.05) as well as in fermentative parameters. Fluid pH remained unaffected by hybrid trait and decreased with VFA accumulation as incubation time progressed. No influence of corn trait itself was seen on concentration of total VFA, acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric acids. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) in total gas production, composition of gas (methane and hydrogen) at all times of sampling, as well as in NH3-N production. Bacterial quantification using RT-PCR showed that the population number was not affected by transgenic corn. From this study it is concluded that transgenic corn (Mon810 and Event 176) had no adverse effects on rumen fermentation and digestibility compared to isogenic corn. However, regular monitoring of these transgenic feeds is needed by present day researchers to enable consumers with the option to select their preferred food source for animal or human consumption.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권12호
• /
• pp.1755-1760
• /
• 2006

Studies were carried out at the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, India to determine the effect of feeding chopped paddy straw (Oryza sativa) on the energy expenditure in crossbred cattle. Four crossbred cattle male, aged 5-6 years and weighing about 450 kg were used for this study. Three experimental trials, one each for the feeding of un-chopped paddy straw offered ad libitum (UCA), chopped paddy straw fed at restricted level (CR) and chopped paddy straw offered ad libitum (CA) were conducted. The quantity of un-chopped paddy straw consumed during UCA was assumed as the voluntary intake by the cattle and the same quantity was offered after chopping during CR. Each trial comprised of 21 d preliminary feeding period and 5 d of observation recording period. Expired gas was collected in Douglas bags using a face-mask and three-way valve at 6 hourly intervals i.e., at 09.30, 15.30, 21.30, and 03.30 h throughout the observation period. Expired gas and ambient air inspired by the animals were analyzed for the oxygen content through paramagnetic oxygen analyzer. Energy expenditure (EE) by the animals was calculated by determining the volume of oxygen consumed per minute (STP) and multiplying by 4.825. Paddy straw used in all the three trials contained (g/kg DM) 90.0 CP, 786 OM, 700 NDF, 489 ADF, 357 Cellulose and 60.0 ADL. Metabolizable energy (ME) was 6.9 MJ/kg DM. Dry matter intake (DMI) both in UCA and CR was about 6.8 kg, except that it was chopped in CR. Chopping has resulted in 32% improvement (9 kg) in DMI of CA as compared to that of UCA. Although ME intake was similar in UCA and CR (47.2 MJ/day), energy expenditure (EE) was higher in UCA (23.3 MJ) when compared to that of CR (19.5 MJ). The ME intake (63.3 MJ) as well as EE (27.1 MJ) was highest in CA. Energy expenditure when expressed as MJ/kg DMI was 3.48, 2.90 and 3.12; whereas as per cent of ME intake it was 50, 41 and 44 in UCA, CR and CA respectively. Our study has unequivocally confirmed that chopping of poor quality roughages like paddy straw has definite advantages not only in terms of improving the intake by decreasing the time taken for ingestion but also in reducing the energy cost of eating.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제18권7호
• /
• pp.1029-1035
• /
• 2005

A 3${\times}$4 factorial field experiment with a complete randomised split-plot design with four replicates was conducted from June 2002 to March 2003 at the experimental farm of the Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to determine effects of different harvesting heights (10, 30 and 50 cm above the ground) and cutting intervals (45, 60, 90 and 285 days) on yield of foliage and tubers, and chemical composition of the foliage. Cassava of the variety KM 94 grown in plots of 5 m${\times}$10 m at a planting distance of 30 cm${\times}$50 cm was hand-harvested according to respective treatments, starting 105 days after planting. Foliage from the control treatment (285 days) and all tubers were only harvested at the final harvest 285 days after planting. Dry matter and crude protein foliage yields increased in all treatments compared to the control. Mean foliage dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) yields were 4.57, 3.53, 2.49, and 0.64 tonnes DM $ha^{-1}$ and 939, 684, 495 and 123 kg CP $ha^{-1}$ with 45, 60, 90 and 285 day cutting intervals, respectively. At harvesting heights of 10, 30 and 50 cm the DM yields were 4.27, 3.67 and 2.65 tonnes $ha^{-1}$ and the CP yields were 810, 745 and 564 kg $ha^{-1}$, respectively. The leaf DM proportion was high, ranging from 47 to 65%. The proportion of leaf and petiole increased and the stem decreased with increasing harvesting heights and decreasing cutting intervals. Crude protein content in cassava foliage ranged from 17.7 to 22.6% and was affected by harvesting height and cutting interval. The ADF and NDF contents of foliage varied between 22.6 and 30.2%, and 34.2 and 41.2% of DM, respectively. The fresh tuber yield in the control treatment was 34.5 tonnes $ha^{-1}$. Cutting interval and harvesting height had significant negative effects on tuber yield. The most extreme effect was for the frequent foliage harvesting at 10 cm harvesting height, which reduced the tuber yield by 72%, while the 90 day cutting intervals and 50 cm harvesting height only reduced the yield by 7%. The mean fresh tuber yield decreased by 56, 45 and 27% in total when the foliage was harvested at 45, 60 and 90 day cutting intervals, respectively. It is concluded that the clear effects on quantity and quality of foliage and the effect on tuber yield allow alternative foliage harvesting principles depending on the need of fodder for animals, value of tubers and harvesting cost. An initial foliage harvest 105 days after planting and later harvests with 90 days intervals at 50 cm harvesting height increased the foliage DM and CP yield threefold, but showed only marginal negative effect on tuber yield.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.218-221
• /
• 2002

Whole forage sorghum (saccharatum) cultivar FS5 was harvested at the soft dough ($303{\pm}9g\;kg^{-1}$ DM) stage of maturity. The sorghum was chopped into approximately 20 mm pieces and ensiled under laboratory conditions in 1.5 L Weck glass jars. At ensiling, it was treated with two commercial silage inoculants: Pioneer 1188 (Inoculant A) and Eco-corn (Inoculant B). The inoculant A and B was applied at ca $2{\times}10^5$ or $2{\times}10^4$ colony forming units $g^{-1}$ DM., respectively. Silage with no additives served as a control. Three jars per treatment were opened on days 2, 4, 8, 15 and 60 post-ensiling to study fermentation dynamics. After 60 days of ensiling the silages were analyzed and subjected to an aerobic stability test lasting 5 days. Results showed that both inoculants caused a more rapid rate of pH decrease and a higher amount of lactic acid production. All the silages were well preserved and were stable upon exposure to air. Inoculants did not influence (p>0.05) the ash and total N contents, but tended to reduce acetic acid (p<0.05), butyric acid (p<0.01) and propionic acid (p<0.01) contents, and to increase the lactic acid content (p<0.01). The lower DM content of silages treated with Inoculant A agrees with the greater gas loss resulting from the DM loss, which was in good agreement with the higher yeast counts upon aerobic exposure. Silage treated with inoculant B had the highest DM (p<0.05) and lactic acid contents (p<0.01), and the lowest acetic acid content (p<0.05), which agrees with the rapid reduction of pH and smaller gas loss. Inoculant B reduced the ADF (p<0.01), ADL and NDF (p<0.05) contents, which also indicates smaller losses of organic soluble material. The control silages contained the highest levels of volatile fatty acids but no lactic acid, indicating secondary fermentation. It was concluded that both inoculants may improve the fermentation process, since silages from all treatments were stable upon aerobic exposure, noadvantage could be attributed to any of the inoculants used.