• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.774-780
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• 2011

Inadequate supply of glucose or glucogenic substrates to the body tissues can affect metabolism of absorbed acetogenic metabolites from the gut and therefore, influence feed intake in ruminants. This study investigated the effect of energy supplementation on rumen kinetics in the gut, and the acetate clearance rate in the body tissues of sheep fed low quality basal roughage. A basal diet consisting of urea-treated mixture of wheaten chaff and barley straw (3:1 DM) containing 22.2 g N/kg DM was used. Four Merino cross wethers weighing $45{\pm}4.38\;kg$ fitted with permanent rumen and abomasal cannulae were allocated to four treatments in a $4{\times}4$ LSD. The treatments were basal diet ($E_0$), or basal diet supplemented with sucrose (112.5 g/d) administered intraruminally ($E_R$), abomasally ($E_A$), or via both routes (50:50) ($E_{RA}$). There was no difference (p>0.05) in the rumen liquid kinetics parameters between the four dietary treatments. However, there was a trend of animals supplemented with sucrose wholly or partly through the abomasum having lower faecal DM and therefore poor pellet formation, and low pH. Although the glucogenic potential of the fermentation products absorbed from the rumen was increased (p<0.001) by intra-ruminal supplementation with sucrose ($E_R$ and $E_{RA}$), there was no significant difference (p<0.05) in acetate clearance rate between the four dietary treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 1991

Sixteen Holstein heifer calves were used in an 112-day trial to study the effects of probiotic supplementation on growth performance and rumen metabolism. Calves were divided into four groups of four calves each, with two groups receiving the probiotic supplement and two groups serving as controls. Calves were limited to 1.6 kg dry matter of a corn-barley based grain mix per day. Long-stem bromegrass hay was fed as forage the first 56 days and bromegrass silage the last 56 days of the trial. Probiotic (28 g/d/calf) was fed along with the grain mix twice daily. Data were analyzed for the entire trial and also for the separate hay and silage feeding periods. Total weight gain and average daily gain were not affected (p>.05) by probiotic supplementation. Dry matter intake was lower (p<.05) and feed efficiency (kg feed/kg weight gain) was improved slightly during the hay feeding period for the probiotic-supplemented calves. Wither height gain was greater (p<.05) during the hay period and lower (p<.05) during the silage period for probiotic-supplemented calves. Heart girth gain was improved (p<.07) by probiotic supplementation, particularly during the hay feeding period (p<.05). Total rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration was higher (p<.05) with the probiotic-supplemented calves. Molar proportions of individual VFA were not affected (p>.05). Rumen ammonia-N and plasma urea-N concentration were lower (p<.05) for probiotic-supplemented calves during the hay feeding period. Total tract nutrient digestibility was not affected (p>.05). Some improvements in animal performance and changes in rumen and blood metabolites were observed when calves were supplemented with probiotic. Effects due to probiotic supplementation were most pronounced during the hay feeding period.

• 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.5
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• pp.672-676
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• 2018

Objective: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of a blend of essential oils (BEO) on enteric methane emission and growth performance of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Methods: Twenty one growing male buffaloes (average body weight of $279{\pm}9.3kg$) were divided in to three groups. The animals of all the three groups were fed on a ration consisting of wheat straw and concentrate mixture targeting 500 g daily live weight gain. The three dietary groups were; Group 1, control without additive; Group 2 and 3, supplemented with BEO at 0.15 and 0.30 mL/kg of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively. Results: During six months feeding trial, the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients (organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre) were similar in all the groups. The average body weight gain was tended to improve (p = 0.084) in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Feeding of BEO did not affect feed conversion efficiency of the animals. The calves of all the three groups were in positive nitrogen balance with no difference in nitrogen metabolism. During respiration chamber studies the methane production (L/kg DMI and L/kg digestible dry matter intake was significantly (p<0.001) lower in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Conclusion: The results indicated that the BEO tested in the present study have shown potential to reduce enteric methane production without compromising the nutrient utilization and animal performance and could be further explored for its use as feed additive to mitigate enteric methane production in livestock.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.98-108
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• 2019

Four Korean native steers ($511{\pm}17.2kg$; $2{\times}2$ replicated crossover design) fitted with duodenal cannulas were used to investigate the influence of oral administration of soluble whey protein (WP; 82.29% crude protein) on ruminal fermentation, gastrointestinal (GI) hormone secretion in the blood, pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase activity in the duodenum, and disappearance rate in each segment of the GI tract. Steers were orally fed the basal diet (control; TMR [total mixed ration] 9 kg/d) or the basal diet with enriched WP (400 g/d) for 14 days. The apparent crude protein disappearance rate in the rumen of the WP was higher than in control (p < 0.05). However, no difference between groups was observed in the apparent crude protein disappearance rate in the intestine and the apparent starch disappearance rates in the rumen, GI tract. The level of cholecystokinin, secretin, and ghrelin in serum and pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase activity in the duodenum of the WP also did not change. The changes in the level of blood urea nitrogen related to protein metabolism were higher in the WP than in the control (p < 0.05). However, the levels of total protein, lipid, carbohydrate and mineral metabolites did not change. Consequently, we suggest that the oral administration of WP in steers assisted in ruminal fermentation due to the population increase of microbes in the rumen but did not improve the starch digestion rate in the small intestine because GI hormone secretion in the blood and pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase activity did not change.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.217-233
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• 1998

Milk yield and its composition is governed by level of nutrition and the composition of diet. Higher concentrate input improves milk yield, whereas its input at moderate levels improves yield of milk fat. High level of dietary protein improves dry matter intake and milk production, however, CP content above 14% has less advantage. Milk yield is enhanced by the feeding of cottonseed and soyabean meal, whereas milk fat increases by the supplementation of cottonseed. Dietary fat increases energy intake, production of milk and milk fat. Quality and quantity of feeds consumed affect fermentation patterns in rumen. Among the rumen metabolites, volatile fatty acids (VFA) content and propionate proportion have been related positively with milk yield, whereas proportion of acetate and butyrate have been related positively with milk fat content. Dietary carbohydrates through the source of sugar, starch, roughage and fibre affect VFA concentration in rumen. Therefore, concentration of volatile fatty acids could be altered to the advantage of consumer through judicious manipulation of diet.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.379-386
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• 2016

Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (BW $482.9{\pm}8.10kg$), fed low protein TMR (CP 11.7%) as a basal diet, were used to investigate changes in rumen fermentation and blood metabolism according to protein fraction, cornell net carbohydrates and protein system (CNCPS), and enriched feeds. The steers, arranged in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design, consumed TMR only (control), TMR supplemented with rapeseed meal (AB1), soybean meal (B2), and perilla meal (B3C), respectively. The protein feeds were substituted for 23.0% of CP in TMR. Ruminal pH, ammonia-N, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) in rumen digesta, sampled through ruminal cannula at 1 h-interval after the morning feeding, were analyzed. For plasma metabolites analysis, blood was sampled via the jugular vein after the rumen digesta sampling. Different N fraction-enriched protein feeds did not affect (p > 0.05) mean ruminal pH except AB1 being numerically lower 1 - 3 h post-feeding than the other groups. Mean ammonia-N was statistically (p < 0.05) higher for AB1 than for the other groups, but VFA did not differ among the groups. Blood urea nitrogen was statistically (p < 0.05) higher for B2 than for the other groups, which was rather unclear due to relatively low ruminal ammonia-N. This indicates that additional studies on relationships between dietary N fractions and ruminant metabolism according to different levels of CP in a basal diet should be required.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.34.1-34.7
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• 2021

Anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibody administration has the potential benefits of neutralizing and consequently controlling rumen-derived LPS during subacute ruminal acidosis. Four Holstein bulls were used in this crossover study with a 2-week wash-out period. Anti-LPS antibody (0 or 4 g) was administered once daily for 14 days. Significantly lower ruminal LPS and higher 1-h mean ruminal pH were identified in the 4 g group. However, blood metabolites, acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and hepatic transcriptomes were not different between the two groups. Therefore, anti-LPS antibody administration mitigated ruminal LPS release and pH depression without accompanying responses in acute-phase inflammation or hepatic transcriptomic expression.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2011

Six male crossbred (Thai Native${\times}$Anglo Nubian) goats, with an average initial weight of $22{\pm}2\;kg$, were randomly assigned according to a $3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a $6{\times}6$ Latin square design with a 21-d period to evaluate the effect of feeding rubber seed kernel (RSK) and palm kernel cake (PKC) in combination on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation characteristics, and nitrogen utilization. The dietary treatments were as follows: i) concentrate containing 0% RSK and 20% PKC ($T_1$), ii) 0% RSK and 30% PKC ($T_2$), iii) 20% RSK and 20% PKC ($T_3$), iv) 20% RSK and 30% PKC ($T_4$), v) 30% RSK and 20% PKC ($T_5$), and vi) 30% RSK and 30% PKC ($T_6$). During the experiment, signal hay was given on an ad libitum basis as the roughage. It was found that RSK levels and PKC levels had no interaction effects on feed intake, apparent digestibility, $NH_3$-N, blood metabolites, VFA concentrations, and nitrogen utilization, but there were interactions between RSK levels and PKC levels with respect to total DMI (kg/d) and total VFA concentrations, and goats receiving 30% RSK had lower values (p<0.05) than those receiving 0 and 20% RSK, respectively. Feeding different PKC levels did not affect (p>0.05) feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation patterns, blood metabolites, and nitrogen utilization. However, increasing RSK levels (>20%) resulted in a slightly lower daily DMI (% BW and g/kg $BW^{0.75}$), apparent digestibility (NDF and ADF), total N intake, and N excretion than in goats fed on 0 and 20% RSK. BUN, blood glucose, and propionate were variable among treatment and were highest in 0% RSK with the 20% PKC fed group having values which were higher than those in other groups. However, there were no differences (p>0.05) among treatments with respect to N retention, PD output, and microbial N supply. Based on this study, RSK levels up to 20% and PKC at 20-30% in concentrate could be efficiently utilized for goats fed on signal hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.479-482
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• 2005

The nutritional worth of Sarson Saag Waste (SSW), a cannery waste, was assessed in comparison with conventional complete diet as a total mixed ration (TMR), and a conventional green fodder, Avena sativa. Each diet was offered ad libitum, supplemented with mineral mixture and common salt, to 4 male murrah buffaloes. The control TMR was made iso-nitrogenous to SSW. Simultaneously, each diet was offered to 3 rumen fistulated male buffaloes for assessing the biochemical changes in the rumen. The nutrient digestibility of unconventional SSW was comparable to that of conventional green fodder-A. sativa but significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of control TMR. The tri-chloro acetic acid (TCA) precipitable-N in the strained rumen liquor of animals fed SSW was considerably higher than that of animals fed A.sativa. The urinary excretion of total purine derivatives was comparable in animals fed SSW and conventional green fodder but significantly (p<0.05) higher than those fed conventional control TMR. The significantly (p<0.05) lower purine nitrogen index (PNI) in animals fed control TMR resulted in significantly (p<0.05) lower microbial protein synthesis than that in animals fed SSW and conventional green fodder. The N-excretion as per cent of nitrogen intake was significantly (p<0.05) lower in animals fed SSW as compared to either of the conventional feeds tested, resulting in significantly (p<0.05) higher Nretention and apparent biological value. SSW supplemented with mineral mixture could serve as an excellent source of nutrients for ruminants.