• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.493-499
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to find the way to prolong the storage time of sawdust-based oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) spent substrate (OMSS) by fermenting with potential probiotic microorganisms to recycle the otherwise waste of mushroom farms. To this purpose, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened to select the best lactic acid-producing strains. Three strains of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum Lp1', Pediococcus acidilacticii Pa193, L. plantarum Lp2M) were selected and in mixture they lowered the pH of the fermented OMSS to 3.81. fOMSS (fermented sawdust-based oyster mushroom spent substrate) could be stored at room temperature for at least 17 days without any deterioration of feed quality based on the pH, smell, and color. In dry matter disappearance rate in situ, commercial TMR (total mixed ration), OMSS and OMMM (oyster mushroom mycelium mass) showed no significant differences between the samples after 6, 12 and 24 h incubation except for 48 h. Two separate field studies were performed to test the effects of fOMSS supplement on the growth performance of postweaning Holstein calves. Field trials included groups of animals feeding calf starter supplemented with: Control (no supplement), AB (colistin 0.08% and oxyneo 110/110 0.1%), fOMSS (10% fOMSS) and fConc (10% fermented concentrate) and DFM (direct-fed microbials, average $10^9$ cfu for each of three LAB/d/head). Growth performance (average daily gain and feed efficiency) of the fOMSS supplement group was higher than that of AB followed by fConc and DFM even though there was no statistically significant difference. The Control group was lower than any other group. Various hematological values including IgG, IgA, RBC (red blood cell), hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured every 10 days to check any unusual abnormality for all groups in trial I and II, and they were within a normal and safe range. Our results suggest that sawdust-based OMSS could be recycled after fermentation with three probiotic LAB strains as a feed supplement for post-weaning calves, and fOMSS has the beneficial effects of an alternative to antibiotics for a growth enhancer in dairy calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2018

Objective: The impact of forage feeding strategy on growth performance, ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility in post-weaning calves was investigated. Methods: Forty-five female Holstein calves (body weight [BW] = $79.79{\pm}0.38kg$) were enrolled in the 35-d study at one week after weaning and randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments. All diets were fed as total mixed ration containing 60% (dry matter [DM] basis) of basal starter feed and 40% (DM basis) of forage, but varied in composition of forage source including i) alfalfa (40% DM, AH); ii) alfalfa hay (26.7% DM)+oat hay (13.3% DM; OH); iii) alfalfa hay (26.7% DM)+corn silage (13.3% DM; WS). Results: Dry matter intake was not different among treatment groups (p>0.05). However, BW (p<0.05) and average daily gain (p<0.05) of calves fed AH and OH were greater than WS-fed calves, whereas heart girth was greater in OH-fed calves than those fed AH and WS (p<0.05). Ruminal fermentation parameters including proportion of butyric acid, acetated-to-propionate ratio, concentration of total volatile fatty acid, protozoal protein, bacterial protein, and microbial protein in rumen were the highest in OH (p<0.05) and the lowest in WS. Compared with the AH and WS, feeding oat hay to postweaning calves increased crude protein digestibility (p<0.05), and decreased duration of diarrhea (p<0.05) and fecal index (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggested that partially replacing alfalfa hay with oat hay improved ruminal fermentation, nitrogen utilization, and reduced incidence of diarrhea in post-weaning dairy calves.