• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1183-1196
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• 2018

Objective: This study ascertained effects of roughage quality, period of day at meal termination and time lapse after feeding on digesta load in the rumen. Methods: Veld hay was untreated (poor roughage quality, PRQ), improved (improved roughage quality, IRQ) by treating with urea or semi-improved by spraying with urea (semi-improved roughage quality, SIRQ). Experiment 1a used four rumen fistulated sheep to determine in-sacco degradability. Twelve sheep ($56.3{\pm}4.59kg$) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 6) and PRQ (n = 6) to determine solid and liquid passage rates. In experiment 1b, nine sheep ($37.6{\pm}9.34kg$) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 4) and PRQ (n = 5) to determine digestibility. Sixteen sheep ($36.47{\pm}9.46kg$) were blocked by body weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 8) and PRQ (n = 8). Two sheep were slaughtered for each sampling time in each treatment (IRQ and PRQ) at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h after feeding to determine rumen load. In experiment 2, eighteen goats ($25.4{\pm}9.08kg$) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to IRQ (n = 6), SIRQ (n = 6), and PRQ (n = 6). Then all 18 goats were slaughtered soon after meal termination in the morning; afternoon and evening to determine the effect of period of day on rumen fill. Results: Rate of degradation and effective degradability were enhanced by improvement of roughage quality. Roughage quality had no effect on digestibility, but digestibility was higher in goats than sheep. Fractional passage rate of particles was higher for IRQ than PRQ, but similar for liquids. Digesta fractional clearance rates at 24 h after feeding were 0.018/h (IRQ) and 0.006/h (PRQ). Period of day had an influence on rumen load. Neutral detergent fibre load for goats were above 2.03 kg/100 kg body weight for all diet treatments. Conclusion: Following starvation, passage rate had negligible effects on emptying of rumen load.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.777-783
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• 2004

Samples of 13 species of forest tree leaves fed to livestock in the semi-hilly arid zone of Punjab State in India were collected at 30 d interval for 12 months, in order to assess their nutritional worth for livestock. The ground samples were pooled for 4 different seasons viz. dry hot, hot humid, fall and winter. The chemical composition irrespective of the season revealed that CP content varied between 8.9 (Carrisa) to 22.0% (Leucaena). Globulin was the major protein fraction in most of the leaves. The lowest concentration of cell wall constituents was observed in Morus alba and Grewea. The leaves in general became fiberous and lignified during winter and fall as compared to summer season. The leaves of Grewea, Morus alba, Leucaena, Carrisa and Acacia were rich in Ca, P and most of the trace elements. The total phenolics ranged between 1.88% (Azardirachta) to 15.82% (Acacia). The leaves of Acacia had the highest concentration of hydrolysable tannins (14.6%) whereas that of Carrisa had that of condensed tannins (5.9%). The condensed tannins (more than 3%) were negatively correlated to the digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude protein (CP). The digestion kinetic parameters for DM, NDF and CP revealed that leaves of Morus alba, Zizyphus and Ehretia had highest insoluble but potentially degradable fraction. The minimum rumen fill values also revealed that leaves of Grewea, Azardirachta, Morus, Ehretia and Leucaena had great potential for voluntary DM intake. The leaves of Ougeinia, Malha, Dodenia and Carrisa had significantly higher rumen fill value indicating poor potential for voluntary DM intake. Season did not have any significant impact on digestion kinetic parameters except that most of the leaves had low potentially degradable fraction, which was degraded at slow rate during winter. It was concluded that the leaves of Morus, Ehretia, Grewea and Leucaena had great potential as livestock feed, while feeding of Ougeinia, Malha and Dodonea leaves should be avoided.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1307-1311
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• 2002

Twelve dietary combinations were prepared using 70 parts of fermented wheat straw (FWS) as the sole roughage supplemented with 30 parts of either the low protein concentrate mixture (Conc.-I), high protein concentrate mixture (conc.-II), maize grains (M), solvent extracted mustard cake (DMC), deoiled rice bran (DRB), uromol bran mixture (UBM), deep stacked poultry litter (DSPL), dried poultry droppings (DPD), M-DMC mixture (50:50), M-UBM mixture (50:50), M-DPD mixture (50:50) or M-UBM-DPD mixture (50:25:25) and evaluated by in-sacco technique. The above dietary combinations were also evaluated by changing the roughage to concentrate ratio to 60:40. The digestion kinetics for DM and CP revealed that FWS:DPD had the highest, whereas, the FWS:M-DMC had the lowest rapidly soluble fraction. The potentially degradable fraction was found to be maximum in FWS:M and minimum in FWS:DPD dietary combinations. The higher degradation rate of FWS:DRB and FWS:UBM combinations was responsible for their significantly (p<0.05) higher effective degradability as compared to other combinations. The highest undegradable fraction noted in FWS:M-UBM-DPD followed by FWS:DMC was responsible for high rumen fill values. The FWS:DRB, FWS:UBM and FWS:DPD combinations had higher potential for DM intake. The dietary combination with higher concentrate level (60:40) was responsible for higher potentially degradable fraction, which was degraded at a faster rate resulting in significantly higher effective degradability as compared to the corresponding dietary combination with low concentrate level (70:30). The low undegradable fraction in the high concentrate diet was responsible for low rumen fill values, which predicted of high potential for DM intake. Out of 24 dietary combinations, FWS with either of UBM, DRB, DMC, Maize, M-DMC or DPD in 70:30 ratio supplemented with minerals and vitamin A in comparison to conventional feeding practice (roughage and concentrate mixture) could be exploited as complete feed for different categories of ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1738-1746
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• 2002

Research was carried out to ascertain whether or not the volume of saliva flowing into the rumen regulates dry forage intake in ruminants. Goats with a parotid fistula were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, concentrated beef cattle feed and $NaHCO_3$ wice daily (10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00). Except for the days on which experiments were conducted, the animals were free access to drinking water. The animals were intraruminally infused every day prior to the morning feeding period with parotid saliva collected from the parotid fistula over a 24 h period. The present experiment consisted of three treatments, non-infusion (NI), intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva (RSI), and intraruminal infusion of warm water (RWI). In the RSI treatment, approximately 4-5 kg of parotid saliva (280-290 mOsm/l) collected over a 24 h period was intraruminally infused 1 h prior to the commencement of morning feeding. In the RWI treatment, parotid saliva was substituted for warm water ($36^{\circ}C$). After infusions, the animals were fed on roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes for 2 h. During feeding, eating and saliva secretion rates were measured. Blood samples were also periodically collected from the jugular vein. After 2 h feeding, water intake was measured for 30 min. These measurements were used to define thirst levels. On the day of the experiment, the animals were not access to drinking water during the morning feeding. It is thought that rumen fill in RSI and RWI treatments was higher than the NI treatment. In comparison with the NI treatment however, cumulative feed intake increased by 39.3% with RSI treatment and by 45.9% with RWI treatment after completion of the 2 h feeding period. After 2 h feeding, thirst level in the RSI treatment showed only a 10% decrease compared to the NI treatment, but thirst level in the RWI treatment decreased 49.8%. Despite the significant differences in thirst levels between RSI and RWI treatments, the cumulative feed intake in both treatments was similar. When comparing accumulated saliva secretion volumes 2 h after feeding, volumes in the RSI treatment were significantly 35.9% lower than the NI treatment while volumes in the RWI treatment were unchanged. However, the volumes of saliva and fluid flowing into the rumen were greater in both RSI and RWI treatments when compared to the NI treatment. The results indicate that the amount of saliva flowing into the rumen is a factor regulating feed intake in ruminants fed on dry forage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1594-1599
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• 2005

The effects of long-term feeding of diets based on bermudagrass hay supplemented with lucerne hay cube (LH) or fermented bagasse feed (FBF) on the growth rate, feed efficiency, behaviour, gut development, carcass characteristics and meat quality of goats were investigated. Six spring-born 8-month-old male crossbred (Japanese Saanen${\times}$Tokara native goats) bucks weighing mean 21.6 kg were allotted to 2 treatment groups (3 animals each) and each animal had ad libitum access to feeds, i.e. bermudagrass hay (basal diet)+LH or FBF throughout the experiment. The FBF was produced by the solid-state fermentation of substrates containing dried sugarcane bagasse mixed with wheat bran in a ratio of 1:3 (w/w DM) with Aspergillus sojae. The live body weight, final weight and average daily gain were not different between treatments. Average basal diet intake of goats fed FBF diet was significantly higher than that fed LH diet (p<0.05), but average dry matter intake (DMI; g/day and g/$W^{0.75}$), feed conversion ratio, digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake of experimental diets were not significantly different between treatments. Goats fed on LH and FBF diets had similar eating, rumination, resting and drinking behaviours, and blood constituents except for phosphorus content. Slaughter and carcass weights, net meat percentage [(total meat/carcass weight)${\times}$100], loin ratio [(loin/total meat)${\times}$100] and rib-eye area were not different between treatments. However, goats fed FBF diet had lower dressing percentage and higher bone/muscle ratio compared with goats fed LH diet (p<0.01). Empty gut and guts fill of goats fed FBF diet were significantly greater (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) than those fed LH diet. The weights of rumen and abomasum were also significantly heavier in goats fed FBF diet (p<0.05), but the length and density of papillae of rumen in goats were not different between treatments. Although meat composition of loin was not different in both groups, the meat of goats fed FBF diet was superior to that of LH diet in flavor, aroma and overall quality of loin (p<0.01). In conclusion, the nature of the diet consumed voluntarily did not affect subsequent growth, nutrient intake and behaviour of goats but had an influence on carcass traits and sensory evaluation of meat partly, when either of LH or FBF was fed with bermudagrass hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1118-1125
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• 2003

Research was carried out to clarify whether a suppression of dry forage intake during the early stages of feeding in ruminants is caused by feeding induced hypovolemia which is produced by the accelerated secretion of parotid saliva. Goats with a parotid fistula were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, commercial ground concentrate feed and $NaHCO_3$ twice daily (10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00). The animals were free access to drinking water all day prior to, during and after experiments. The animals were intraruminally infused every day prior to the morning feeding period with parotid saliva collected from the parotid fistula over a 24 h period. The present experiment consisted of two treatments, non-infusion (RNI) and intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva (RSF). In the RSF treatment, 4-5 kg of parotid saliva (280-290 mOsm/l) collected over a 24 h period was intraruminally infused 1 h prior to the commencement of the morning feeding. During feeding, eating and parotid saliva secretion rates were measured. Blood samples were also periodically collected from the jugular vein. During and after 2 h feeding, water intakes were measured, respectively. These measurements were used to define thirst levels. It is thought that rumen fill in the RSF treatment was higher than the RNI treatment. Plasma osmolality in the RSF treatment increased in the first half of the 2 h feeding period due to the intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva. Therefore, parotid saliva secretion rates in the RSF treatment were lower than the RNI treatment for 30 min period from 30 to 60 min after the commencement of feeding. On the other hand, plasma total protein concentration and hematocrit in the RSF treatment decreased by 3.2 and 3.3% prior to the commencement of feeding due to the intraruminal infusion of parotid saliva. In the first half of the 2 h feeding period, plasma total protein concentration and hematocrit in the RSF treatment showed a tendency to decrease compared to the RNI treatment. Thirst level in the RSF treatment during feeding was approximately 31.3% less than the RNI treatment. Upon the completion of the 2 h feeding period, cumulative feed intake in the RSF treatment was significantly larger (19.7%) than the RNI treatment. The results suggest that a suppression of dry forage intake during the early stages of feeding in goats is partly caused by feeding induced hypovolemia, which is produced by the accelerated secretion of parotid saliva.