• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.376-380
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of temperature and pH on in vitro nutrient degradability, volatile fatty acid profile and methane production. The fermenter used was the semi-continuous system, known as the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Sixteen cylinders were used at one time with a volume of 800 ml, the dilution rate was set at 3.5%/hour, the infused buffer being McDougall's artificial saliva. Basal diet (9.6 g DM) used in RUSITEC consisted of (DM) 6.40 g Timothy hay, 1.86 g crushed corn and 1.34 g soybean meal. The food for the fermentation vessel was provided in nylon bags, which were gently agitated in the liquid phase. The experiment lasted for 17 d with all the samples taken during the last 5 d. Treatments were allocated at random to four vessels each and were (1) two temperature levels of $39^{\circ}C$ and $41^{\circ}C$ (2) two pH levels of 6.0 and 7.0. The total diet contained ($g\;kg^{-1}$ DM) 957 OM, 115 CP and $167MJ\;kg^{-1}$ (DM) GE. Although increase in temperature from $39^{\circ}C$ to $41^{\circ}C$ reduced degradation of major nutrients in vitro, it was non-significant. Interaction effect of temperature with pH also reflected a similar trend. However, pH showed a significant (p<0.05) negative effect on the degradability of all the nutrients in vitro. Altering the in vitro pH from 7 to 6 caused marked reduction in DMD from 60.2 to 41.8, CPD from 76.3 to 55.3 and GED from 55.3 to 35.1, respectively. Low pH (6) depressed total VFA production (61.9 vs. 34.9 mM) as well as acetate to propionate ratio in vitro (from 2.0 to 1.5) when compared to pH 7. Compared to pH 7, total gas production decreased from 1,841 ml to 1,148 ml at pH 6, $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ production also reduced from 639 to 260 ml and 138 to 45 ml, respectively. This study supported the premise that pH is one of the principal factors affecting the microbial production of volatile fatty acids and gas. Regulating the ruminal pH to increase bacterial activity may be one of the methods to optimize VFA production, reduce methane and, possibly, improve animal performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 1989

The present experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of heat exposure on water metabolism and the passage of indigestible particles in sheep. Water intake, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and pH of ruminal fluid and urine were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the hot environment ($32\;^{\circ}C$) than in the control environment ($20\;^{\circ}C$). Urine osmolality and blood volume were increased, while glomerular filtration rate was decreased, in the hot environment. The liquid flow rate from reticulo-rumen and the excretion of indigestible particles of specific gravity 0.99 (but not 1.27 or 1.38) were increased in the hot environment. From these findings, it is suggested that an increased water intake evoked by heat exposure might affect the flow rate of digesta in sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.538-546
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• 2008

Large-type goats eating dry forage secreted large volumes of saliva which resulted in the loss of $NaHCO_3$ from the blood and decreased plasma volume (hypovolemia). This research investigated whether or not the loss of $NaHCO_3$ from the blood and hypovolemia brought about by dry forage feeding actually depresses feed intake in large-type goats under free drinking conditions. The present experiment consisted of three treatments (NI, ASI, MI). All treatments in this experiment were carried out under free drinking conditions. In the NI control (NI), a solution was not infused. In the ASI treatment, i.v. infusion of artificial saliva was initiated 2 h before feeding and was continued for a total of 3 h concluding 1 h after the commencement of the feeding perod. In the MI treatment, mannitol solution was infused to replenish only water lost from the blood in the form of saliva. The hematocrit and plasma total protein concentrations during feeding in the NI control were observed to be higher than pre-feeding levels. This indicated that dry forage feeding-induced hypovolemia was caused by the accelerated secretion of saliva during the initial stages of feeding in freely drinking large-type goats. Increases in hematocrit and plasma total protein concentrations due to dry forage feeding were significantly suppressed by the ASI treatment. While hematocrit during feeding in the MI treatment was significantly lower than the NI control, plasma total protein concentrations were not different. From these results, it is clear that the MI treatment was less effective than the ASI treatment in mitigating the decreases in plasma volume brought about by dry forage feeding. This indicates that plasma volume increased during dry forage feeding in the ASI treatment which inhibited production of angiotensin II in the blood. The ASI treatment lessened the levels of suppression on dry forage feeding, but the MI treatment had no effect on it under free drinking conditions. The results indicate that despite the free drinking conditions, increases in saliva secretion during the initial stages of dry forage feeding in large-type goats caused $NaHCO_3$ to be lost from the blood into the rumen which in turn caused a decrease in circulating plasma volume and resulted in activation of the renin-angiotensin system and thus feeding was suppressed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1174-1183
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• 2010

In goats fed on dry forage twice a day, an esophageal fistula was used to investigate the physiological factors present in the marked suppression of dry forage intake that occurs after 40 min of feeding. The animals used in this study were five large-type male esophageal- and ruminal-fistulated goats. Roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes with any large remaining chunks removed were used as feed for this research. The study was conducted under both normal feeding conditions (NFC) and sham feeding conditions (SFC). In the NFC control, the esophageal fistulae were closed by plugs and the animals ate dry forage in the normal manner. In the SFC treatment, before starting the experiment the plugs for closing the esophageal fistula were removed and the cannulae for collecting boluses were fitted into the fistulae. Therefore, the esophageal boluses were removed via an esophageal fistula before they entered the rumen. In the NFC control, eating rates sharply decreased in the first 40 min of feeding and were subsequently maintained at low levels. However, eating rates in the SFC treatment remained high after 40 min of the feeding period had elapsed and the goats ate continuously during the 2 h feeding period. In comparison with the NFC control ($1,794{\pm}203.80\;g$/2 h), cumulative dry forage intake in the SFC treatment ($3,182{\pm}381.69\;g$/2 h) was 77.4% greater (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. In the SFC treatment, cumulative bolus output ($6,804{\pm}469.92\;g$/2 h) was about twofold the cumulative dry forage intake due to cumulative salivary secretion volume ($3,622{\pm}104.13\;g$/2 h) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. The result indicates that large amounts of secreted saliva during dry forage feeding act in conjunction with consumed feed to form the ruminal load responsible for ruminal distension. The increased plasma total protein concentrations were higher in the SFC treatment than in the NFC control. However, plasma and ruminal fluid osmolalities increased in the NFC control during and after feeding but were mostly unchanged in the SFC treatment. In comparison with the NFC control ($3,440{\pm}548.04\;g$/30 min), thirst level in the SFC treatment ($1,360{\pm}467.02\;g$/30 min) was 60.5% significantly less (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 30 min drinking period. The results of the present study indicate that In the second hour of the 2 h feeding period, dry forage intake is regulated by factors produced when boluses enter the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1414-1420
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• 2005

The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not feeding induced hypovolemia (decreases in plasma volume) and decreases in plasma bicarbonate concentration caused by loss of $NaHCO_3$ from the blood, act to suppress feed intake and saliva secretion volumes during the initial stages of feeding in goats fed on dry forage. The animals were fed twice a day at 10:30 and at 16:00 for 2 h each time. Prior to the morning feeding, the collected saliva (3-5 kg) was infused into the rumen. During the morning 2 h feeding period (10:30 to 12:30), the animals were fed 2-3 kg of roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes. At 16:00, the animals were fed again with 0.8 kg of alfalfa hay cubes, 200 g of commercial ground concentrate and 20 g of sodium bicarbonate. In order to compensate for water or $NaHCO_3$ lost through saliva during initial stages of feeding, a 3 h intravenous infusion (17-19 ml/min) of artificial mixed saliva (ASI) or mannitol solution (MI) was begun 1 h prior to the morning feeding and continued until the conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. The physiological state of the goats in the present experiment remained unchanged after parotid gland fistulation. Circulating plasma volume decreases caused by feeding (estimated by increases in plasma total protein concentration) were significantly suppressed by the ASI and MI treatments. During the first 1 h of the 2 h feeding period, plasma osmolality in the ASI treatment was the same as the NI (non-infusion control) treatment, while plasma osmolality in the MI treatment was significantly higher. In comparison to the NI treatment, cumulative feed intake levels for the duration of the 2 h feeding period in the ASI and MI treatments increased markedly by 56.6 and 88.3%, respectively. On the other hand, unilateral cumulative parotid saliva secretion volume following the termination of the 2 h feeding period in the ASI treatment was 50.7% higher than that in the NI treatment. MI treatment showed the same level as the NI treatment. The results of the present experiment proved that the humoral factors involved in the suppression of feeding and saliva secretion during the initial stages of feeding in goats fed on dry forage, are feeding induced hypovolemia and decrease in plasma $HCO_3^-$ concentration caused by loss of $NaHCO_3$ from the blood.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.502-514
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• 2012

When ruminants consume dry forage, they also drink large volumes of water. The objective of this study was to clarify which factor produced when feed boluses enter the rumen is mainly responsible for the marked increase in water intake in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period in large-type goats fed on dry forage for 2 h twice daily. Six large-type male esophageal- and ruminal-fistulated goats (crossbred Japanese Saanen/Nubian, aged 2 to 6 years, weighing $85.1{\pm}4.89kg$) were used in two experiments. In experiment 1, the water deprivation (WD) control and the water availability (WA) treatment were conducted to compare changes in water intake during and after dry forage feeding. In experiment 2, a normal feeding conditions (NFC) control and a feed bolus removal (FBR) treatment were carried out to investigate whether decrease in circulating plasma volume or increase in plasma osmolality is mainly responsible for the marked increase in water intake in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period. The results of experiment 1 showed that in the WA treatment, small amounts of water were consumed during the first hour of feeding while the majority of water intake was observed during the second hour of the 2 h feeding period. Therefore, the amounts of water consumed in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period accounted for 82.8% of the total water intake. The results of experiment 2 indicated that in comparison with the NFC control, decrease in plasma volume in the FBR treatment, which was indicated by increase in hematocrit and plasma total protein concentrations, was higher (p<0.05) in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period. However, plasma osmolality in the FBR treatment was lower (p<0.05) than compared to the NFC control from 30 min after the start of feeding. Therefore, thirst level in the FBR treatment was 82.7% less (p<0.01) compared with that in the NFC control upon conclusion of the 30 min drinking period. The results of the study indicate that the increased plasma osmolality in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period is the main physiological stimulating factor of water intake during and after dry forage feeding in large-type goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1449-1453
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• 2015

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of feeding pelletized broccoli byproducts (PBB) on milk yield and milk composition in dairy cows. In Trial 1, an in vitro gas test determined the optimal replacement level of PBB in a concentrate mixture in a mixed substrate with Chinese wild ryegrass hay (50:50, w/w) at levels of 0, 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% (dry matter basis). When the concentrate was replaced by PBB at a level of 20%, no adverse effects were found on the gas volume or its rate constant during ruminal fermentation. In trial 2, 24 lactating cows (days in milk = $170.4{\pm}35$; milk yield = $30{\pm}3kg/d$; body weight = $580{\pm}13kg$) were divided into 12 blocks based on day in milk and milk yield and randomly allocated to two dietary treatments: a basic diet with or without PBB replacing 20% of the concentrate mixture. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days; the first week allowed for adaptation to the diet. The milk composition was analyzed once a week. No significant difference in milk yield was observed between the two groups (23.5 vs 24.2 kg). A significant increase was found in milk fat content in the PBB group (p<0.05). Inclusion of PBB did not affect milk protein, lactose, total solids or solids-not-fat (p>0.05). These results indicated that PBB could be included in dairy cattle diets at a suitable level to replace concentrate mixture without any adverse effects on dairy performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1389-1394
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• 2012

Sheanut cake (SNC), expeller (SNE) and solvent extractions (SNSE) samples were evaluated to determine their suitability in animal feeding. The CP content was highest in SNSE (16.2%) followed by SNE (14.7%) and SNC (11.6%). However, metabolizable energy (ME, MJ/kg) was maximum in SNC (8.2) followed by SNE (7.9) and SNSE (7.0). The tannin phenol content was about 7.0 per cent and mostly in the form of hydrolyzable tannin (HT), whereas condensed tannin (CT) was less than one per cent. The in vitro gas production profiles indicated similar y max (maximum potential of gas production) among the 3 by-products. However, the rate of degradation (k) was maximum in SNC followed by SNE and SNSE. The $t^{1/2}$ (time taken for reaching half asymptote) was lowest in SNC (14.4 h) followed by SNE (18.7 h) and SNSE (21.9 h). The increment in the in vitro gas volume (ml/200 mg DM) with PEG (polyethylene glycol)-6000 (as a tannin binder) addition was 12.0 in SNC, 9.6 in SNE and 11.0 in SNSE, respectively. The highest ratio of $CH_4$ (ml) reduction per ml of the total gas, an indicator of the potential of tannin, was recorded in SNE (0.482) followed by SNC (0.301) and SNSE (0.261). There was significant (p<0.05) reduction in entodinia population and total protozoa population. Differential protozoa counts revealed that Entodinia populations increased to a greater extent than Holotricha when PEG was added. This is the first report on the antimethanogenic property of sheanut byproducts. It could be concluded that all the three forms of SN byproducts are medium source of protein and energy for ruminants. There is a great potential for SN by-products to be incorporated in ruminant feeding not only as a source of energy and protein, but also to protect the protein from rumen degradation and suppress enteric methanogenesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1399-1406
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• 2000

A continuous culture study was conducted to determine the impact of ruminal degradable soy protein (S-RDP) level and dilution rate (D) on growth of ruminal non-structural carbohydrate-fermenting microbes. Corn starch, urea and isolated soy protein (ISP) were used to formulate three diets with S-RDP levels of 0, 35 and 70% of total dietary CP. Two Ds were 0.03 and $0.06h^{-1}$ of the fermenter volume in a single-effluent continuous culture system. As S-RDP levels increased, digestibilities of dietary dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) linearly (p=0.001) decreased, whereas digestion of dietary starch linearly (p=0.001) increased. Increasing D from 0.03 to $0.06h^{-1}$ resulted in decreased digestibilities of dietary DM and OM, but had no effect on digestibilities of dietary starch (p=0.77) and CP (p=0.103). Fermenter pH, the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and daily VFA production were unaffected (p=0.159-0.517) by S-RDP levels. Molar percentages of acetate, propionate and butyrate were greatly affected by S-RDP levels (p=0.016-0.091), but unaffected by D (p=0.331-0.442). With increasing S-RDP levels and D, daily bacterial counts, daily microbial N production (DMNP) and microbial efficiency (MOEFF; grams of microbial N produced per kilogram of OM truly digested) were enhanced (p=0.001). The increased microbial efficiency with increasing S-RDP levels is probably the result of peptides or amino acids that served as a stimulus for optimal protein synthesis. The quantity of ruminal degradable protein from soy proteins required for optimum protein synthesis of non-structural carbohydrate-fermenting microbes appears to be equivalent to 9.5% of dietary fermented OM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1100-1111
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• 2011

Two experiments under sham feeding conditions were conducted to determine whether or not ruminal distension brought about by feed boluses entering the rumen is a factor in the marked suppression of feed intake after 40 min of feeding. In experiment 1, a comparison was made between the intraruminal insertion of a water filled balloon (RIB) treatment and normal control (non-insertion of a balloon, NIB). In experiment 2, saliva lost due to sham feeding conditions was replenished via an intraruminal infusion of iso-osmotic artificial saliva. A comparison of dry forage intake was then conducted between the intraruminal replenishment of iso-osmotic artificial saliva and insertion of a balloon (RRIAS-RIB) treatment, and the intraruminal replenishment of iso-osmotic artificial saliva and non-insertion of a balloon (RRIAS-NIB) control. In experiment 1, eating rates in the RIB treatment 30 min after the commencement of feeding tended to be lower than those in the NIB control. In comparison with the NIB control, cumulative dry forage intake in the RIB treatment was 29.7% less (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. The secreted saliva weight in the NIB control and the RIB treatment during the 2 h feeding period was 53.2% and 60.9% total weight of the boluses, respectively. In experiment 2, eating rates in the RRIAS-RIB treatment 30 min after the commencement of feeding was significantly lower (p<0.05) than those in the RRIAS-NIB control. Cumulative dry forage intake in the RRIAS-RIB treatment was a significant 45.5% less (p<0.05) compared with that in the RRIAS-NIB control upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. The secreted saliva weight in the RRIAS-NIB control and the RRIAS-RIB treatment during the 2 h feeding period was 54.1% and 64.2% total weight of the boluses, respectively. The level of decrease in dry forage intake in the RRIAS-RIB treatment of experiment 2 was larger than that in the RIB treatment of experiment 1. In the present experiments, due to the sham feeding conditions, the increases in osmolality of ruminal fluid and plasma, and a decrease in ruminal fluid pH which are normally associated with feeding were not observed. The results indicate that the marked decrease in feed intake observed in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period is related to ruminal distension caused by the feed consumed and the copious amount of saliva secreted during dry forage feeding.