• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.821-827
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of protected fat and heat-extruded soybean meal on the lactation performance of Holstein cows. Twenty-four cows, consisting of 20 lactating cows and 4 rumen-fistulated dry cows, were randomly allocated into four groups with 5 lactating cows and 1 fistulated cow in each group. A replicated 4${\times}$4 Latin square design with four 21 day periods, including 14 days of adaptation and 7 collection days within each period was employed. The experiment was a 2${\times}$2 arrangement, with or without heat-extruded soybean meal and protected fat inclusion. The dietary treatments consisted of supplements of (a) soybean meal (the control), (b) heat-extruded soybean meal, (c) protected fat, and (d) heat-extruded soybean meal and protected fat. The results showed that there were no significant differences in feed intake, milk yield, milk protein content, milk lactose content and body weight change between the dietary treatments. However, cows supplemented with protected fat showed a significantly increased (p<0.05) milk fat yield, 3.5% FCM and total solid yield. The increase in undegradable intake protein (UIP) via heat extruded soybean meal supplement significantly decreased the urea nitrogen concentration in the blood (p<0.05). Dietary fat inclusion significantly increased the blood cholesterol concentration (p<0.01) and decreased the ruminal pH value (p<0.01). Increased dietary UIP significantly decreased the ammonia nitrogen concentration in the rumen (p<0.01), but did not significantly influence the pH and VFA molar percentage in the rumen. It appears that dietary protected fat inclusion could improve milk fat and solid content. Increased dietary undegradable intake protein through heat extruded soybean meal did not improve milk yield. But it could alleviate the adverse effect of decreased milk protein due to dietary fat supplementation. Increased UIP could also decrease the ammonia nitrogen concentration in the rumen and plasma urea nitrogen concentration in the blood.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.1125-1128
• /
• 2001

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding undegradable intake protein (VIP) on body weight changes and the return to estrus of Awassi ewes during the early postpartum period. Twenty multiparous Awassi ewes $(BW=57.4{\pm}3.0kg)$ were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment (10 ewes per treatment) for 4 weeks in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and were formulated to contain either 20% (CON) or 35% (SBM) of the dietary CP as UIP. On day $9{\pm}3$ postpartum (day 0=parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens. Feed intake was recorded daily. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), crude protein intake (CPI), undegradable protein intake (UPI) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) were higher (p<0.05) for ewes on SBM diets compared with ewes on CON diet. Ewes receiving SBM diet gained more (p<0.05) weight than the controls (5.3 vs 0.5 kg). There was a tendency (p>0.10) for SBM ewes to have more luteal activity than the controls. Ewes in the SBM group came into estrus 4 days earlier than CON ewes (p<0.10). These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate nutrition are capable of returning to estrus one month postpartum thus posing the possibility of being able to lamb every 6 months.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.1549-1554
• /
• 2001

The application of rumen undegradable intake protein (UIP) on lactating dairy goats was studied. Thirty 2-year-old lactating dairy goats were selected and assigned to dietary treatments begun from the third week to the fourth month postpartum. Experimental diets were formulated into three, low (32% CP), med (35% CP) and high (38% CP), iso-nitrogenous (16% CP) and iso-energetic ($NE_L$ 1.68 Mcal/kg) UIP levels. Results showed that feed intake was not significantly different among the treatment groups. The milk yield in the High UIP group (3.17 kg) was significantly higher than the med (2.95 kg) and low UIP (2.45 kg) groups (p<0.05). The milk compositions, milk fat, milk lactose and milk solids-non-fat (SNF) showed no significant differences among the three treatment groups. The milk protein however was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the low UIP than in the other treatment groups. The milk urea-N was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the low UIP than in the other treatment groups. The mean serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), urinary-N and total protein concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the high and the med UIP groups than in the low UIP group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.9
• /
• pp.1307-1311
• /
• 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
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.637-642
• /
• 2005

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary undegradable protein (UP) level on body weight change, nutrient intake, milk production and postpartum reproductive performance of Awassi ewes. Twenty-seven multiparous Awassi ewes (initial body weight = 53.3${\pm}$1.6 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (9 ewes/treatment) for 62 days using a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous (15.5% CP), isocaloric, and were formulated to contain 17.9 (LUP), 27.1 (MUP), and 34.0% (HUP) of the dietary CP as UP. On day 10${\pm}$3 (day 0 = parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens for 5 weeks. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. At the end of this period, animals were removed from their pens and combined into 3 separate groups (LUP, MUP and HUP). One fertile, harnessed ram was allowed with each group for 34 days. Rams were rotated every 2 days among the three groups. Each group was offered the corresponding experimental diet. Organic matter, CP, UP and metabolizable energy intakes were higher (p<0.05) for ewes fed the HUP diet compared with ewes fed the LUP and MUP diets. Ewes fed the HUP diet gained more (p<0.05) weight compared with ewes fed the MUP diet (7.3 vs. 2.1 kg), while ewes fed the LUP diet lost an average of 2.1 kg. Pregnancy rate of ewes fed the HUP diet was 100%, compared with 66 and 33% for ewes fed the MUP and LUP diets, respectively. Lambing rate was greater (p<0.05) for ewes fed HUP (8/9) diet compared with ewes fed the MUP (4/9) and LUP (3/9) diets. These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate dietary UP level consume more feed and are capable of returning to estrus shortly after parturition and are capable of producing two lamb crops per year.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.1374-1382
• /
• 2001

Fifteen Inner Mongolian wethers with permanent ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to study the effects of dietary rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) to rumen-degradable protein (RDP) ratios or protein sources on fiber digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and ruminal fluid characteristics. Fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary RUP to RDP ratios (from 1.54 to 0.72). Soybean meal supplementation improved ruminal digestion. Fish meal supplementation increased (p<0.05) the ruminal degradability of fiber. The different RUP to RDP ratios (from 1.54 to 0.72) did not influence (p>0.05) ruminal fluid pH, but there were differences (p<0.05) in ruminal fluid $NH_3-N$ concentration because of urea replacement. Soybean meal as a dietary protein source decreased (p<0.05) ruminal fluid pH and increased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) $NH_3-N$, acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations in the rumen. Fish meal as a dietary protein source decreased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) ruminal $NH_3-N$ and acetate concentrations and increased (p<0.05) ruminal propionate concentration. It can be concluded that dietary protein sources have more significant effect on fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation than different dietary RUP to RDP ratios, when the dietary crude protein requirements of growing sheep are satisfied.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.155-158
• /
• 1996

Seventy two Black Bengal goats on road side grass based diet were fed on 0, 20, 40, 80, 100 or 120 g of fish meal (FM)/goat/day with or without ad libitum access to urea molasses block(UMB). The purpose was to assess the interaction of undegradable protein (UDP) and fermentable nitrogen(N) supplementation on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and growth of goats. Live weight gain of goats increased linearly with the increasing of dietary fish meal as an undegradable protein source. With the increasing level of fish meal the live weight gain(g/day) was 17, 23, 46, 48, 48 and 52 with urea molasses block and 12, 21, 31, 49, 47 and 47 without urea molasses block. It was concluded that the beneficial effects of urea molasses feeding to accelerate the dry matter intake, TDN intake and nutrient digestibility observed could not be exploited in terms of live weight gain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.659-666
• /
• 2009

Metabolizable protein (MP) supply and amino acid balance in the intestine were manipulated through selection of highly digestible rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) sources and protected methionine (Met) supplementation. Four ruminallycannulated, multiparous Holstein cows averaging 193${\pm}$13 days in milk were used in a 4${\times}$4 Latin square design to assess N utilization and milk production responses to changes in RUP level, post-ruminal RUP digestibility and protected Met supplementation. Treatments were A) 14.0% crude protein (CP), 8.0% rumen degradable protein (RDP) and 6.0% RUP of low intestinal digestibility (HiRUP-LoDRUP); B) 14.1% CP, 8.1% RDP and 6.0% RUP of high intestinal digestibility (HiRUP-HiDRUP); C) 13.1% CP, 7.9% RDP and 5.2% RUP of high intestinal digestibility (LoRUP-HiDRUP), and D) 13.1% CP, 7.9% RDP and 5.2% RUP of high intestinal digestibility plus rumen escape sources of Met (LoRUP-HiDRUP+Met). Experimental diets were formulated to have similar concentrations of RDP, net energy of lactation ($NE_L$), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium, phosphorus and ether extract using the NRC model (2001). Results showed that dry matter intake (DMI), production of milk fat and protein were similar among treatments. Milk production was similar for diet HiRUP-LoDRUP, HiRUP-HiDRUP and LoRUP-HiDRUP+Met, and significantly higher than diet LoRUP-HiDRUP. Milk fat and protein percentage were higher for cows receiving HiDRUP treatments, with the greatest increases in the diet LoRUP-HiDRUP+Met. There was no significant change in ruminal pH, $NH_3g-N$ and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration among all treatments. Apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), CP, NDF and ADF and estimated bacterial CP synthesis were similar for all treatments. Nitrogen intakes, blood and milk urea-N concentrations were significantly higher for cows receiving HiRUP diets. Urine volume and total urinary N excretion were significantly lowered by LoRUP diets. Lowering dietary RUP level while supplementing the highly digestible RUP source with rumen escape sources of Met resulted in similar milk production, maximal milk fat and protein concentration and maximum N efficiency, indicating that post-ruminal digestibility of RUP and amino acid balance in the small intestine can be more important than total RUP supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.7
• /
• pp.974-978
• /
• 2001

The effect of three varying ratios (high, medium and low) of Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP) to Undegradable Dietary Protein (UDP) of 37:63, 52:48 and 70:30 in iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric concentrate mixtures on rumen fermentation profile was studied using rumen fistulated Jersey crossbred cows. Rumen pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration were found to be lower with a concentrate mixture containing a higher UDP level of 63.38% when compared with those having medium and low UDP levels of 47.55 and 29.75%, respectively, at all post feeding intervals. Total volatile fatty acid concentration as well as concentrations of individual fatty acids viz., acetate, propionate and butyrate were also found higher in animals fed concentrate mixture with the highest UDP level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.10
• /
• pp.1395-1399
• /
• 2004

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary fat inclusion on nutrient intake, body weight, milk production, return to estrus, pregnancy and lambing of winter-lambing, postpartum Awassi ewes. Thirty multiparous, winter-lambing Awassi ewes (body weight=51${\pm}$7.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n=10) for 62 days using a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, and were formulated to contain 0 (CON), 2.5 (MF), and 5% (HF) added fat, and 33% of the dietary crude protein (CP) as undegradable intake protein (UIP). On day 26 postpartum (day 0=parturition), ewes and their lambs were housed in individual pens for 28 days. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. At the end of this period, ewes and their lambs within each treatment were combined into one group and fed their respective diet ad libitum. One fertile Awassi ram fitted with a marking harness was allowed with each group for 34 days. No significant (p>0.05) differences in dry matter intake, organic matter intake, and crude protein intake were observed for ewes fed the three experimental diets. No difference was observed in metabolizable energy intake (MEI) for ewes fed the CON and the MF diets (average 8.3 Mcal/d) diet. However, ewes fed the HF diet had greater(p<0.05) MEI compared with the rest of the treatments. Ewe body weights increased throughout the study, unaffected by the experimental diets. No significant differences in milk production were found among ewes fed the three experimental diets. No significant differences were observed in pregnancy rate (6/10, 5/10, 6/10 for CON, MF and HF diets, respectively), lambing rate and the number of lambs per ewe among the three treatments. postpartum reproductive performance of well-fed, winter-lambing Awassi ewes.