• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.107-114
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• 1988

Six steers of each breed type, Hereford ($H{\times}H$), Brahman ($B{\times}B$) and Brahman $\times$ Hereford ($B{\times}H$) were ranked on liveweight and allocated to three treatments, basal hay diet (Basal), Basal plus 1 kg/head/day of cottonseed meal (Basal + CSM) and Basal plus 1 kg/head/day of formaldehyde-treated sunflower meal, $Norpro^{(R)}$ (Basal + NPO). The hay was made from a pasture based predominantly on carpet grass (Axonopus affinus) growing in subtropical New South Wales, and had an estimated organic matter digestibility of 52% and a nitrogen (N) content of 7.8 g/kg dry matter (DM). The steers were accustomed to the Basal diet over 15 days and supplements offered over 42 days. Intake of the basal hay diet by steers was not increased by supplementation. When intakes were adjusted for differences between breed types in liveweight the $B{\times}H$ steers ate 25% (P<0.01) more hay than $H{\times}H$ steers (6.3 V 5.0 kg/head/d) and $B{\times}B$ steers ate 8% less hay than $H{\times}H$ steers. Supplementation significantly (P<0.01) increased liveweight gain during the experiment, being ($g/head/d\;{\pm}\;s.e.d.$) 290, 770 and $795{\pm}118$ respectively for Basal, Basal + NPO and Basal + CSM. There was no difference between supplements in the liveweight gain of steers nor between steers of different genotypes. However, there was a significant interaction (P<0.01) between breeds and treatments such that $B{\times}B$ steers gained most on the basal diet but least of the breed types when supplemented. The estimated non-degradeable fraction of N in the protein meals was 58.5 and 44.5%, respectively for NPO and CSM. Both meals increased (P<0.01) plasma urea N and rumen ammonia N concentrations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.600-604
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• 2000

Exp. I, the study was conducted to examine the supplementation levels of cassava hay (CH) in dairy cows. Six multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbreds were paired and randomly assigned in a change-over design to receive three levels of CH supplement at 0, 0.8 and 1.7 kg DM/hd/d. Concentrate was supplemented at the same level (1:2; concentrate:milk yield) while urea-treated (5%) rice straw was offered on ad libitum basis. The results revealed that supplementation of CH could significantly reduce concentrate use resulting in similar milk yield (12.5, 12.12 and 12.6 kg/hd/d) and significantly enhanced 3.5% FCM (14.21, 15.70, 14.9 kg/d, respectively). Moreover, CH supplementation significantly increased milk fat and milk protein percentages especially at 1.70 kg/hd/d. Concentrate use could be significantly reduced by 27% at 1.7 kg/hd/d CH supplementation. Exp. II, supplementation of cassava hay to replace concentrate use was studied in lactating-Holstein Friesian crossbreds grazed on Ruzi grass. Six multiparous cows in mid-lactating periods were paired and randomly assiged according to a change-over-design to receive three dietary treatments, $T_1=0kg$ cassava hay (CH) in 1:2 concentrate supplementation (CS) to milk yield (MY), $T_2=1.0kg$ DM CH/hd/d in 1:3 CS to MY, $T_3=1.7kg$ DM CH/hd/d in 1:4 CS to MY, respectively. The results were found that milk yield were similar among treatments while protein, lactose and solids-not-fat percentages were highest (p<0.05) in cows receiving CH at 1.0 kgjhd/d. Most significant improvement from CH supplementation was the ability to reduce concentrate use by 42% which could provide a higher income for small-holder dairy farmers. In addition, milk thiocyanate was enhanced from 5.3 to 17.8 ppm (p<0.05) in the control and in the CH supplemented group (1.7 kg/hd/d), respectively. Moreover, CH supplementation could significantly reduce concentrate level for diary feeding thus resulted in more economical return. Cassava hay demonstrated as a potential and high-quality on-farm feed resource especially for dry season feeding in the tropics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.66-74
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• 2008

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of replacing a conventional concentrate with mixed cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage and legume (Phaseolus calcaratus) foliage. In Exp. 1, three rumen fistulated crossbred cows were used for in sacco rumen degradability studies. In vitro gas production was also studied. In Exp. 2, 11 crossbred F2 heifers (Red Sindhi$\times$Holstein Friesian), with initial live weight of $129{\pm}6kg$ and aged six months, were allocated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to evaluate a mixture (ratio 3:1) of cassava and legume foliage (CA-LE feed) as a protein source compared to a traditional concentrate feed (Control) in diets based on fresh elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and urea treated rice straw ad libitum. The Control feed was replaced by the CA-LE feed at levels of 0% (Control), 40% (CA-LE40), and 60% (CA-LE60) based on dry matter (DM). The in sacco degradation of CA-LE feed was higher than Control feed (p<0.05). After 48 h incubation the degradation of CA-LE feed and Control feed was 73% vs. 58% of DM and 83% vs. 65% of CP, respectively. The gas production of CA-LE feed was also significantly higher than of Control feed during the first 12 h of incubation. The results of the performance study (Exp. 2) showed that the level of CA-LE feed in the concentrate had no effect on total dry matter intake (p>0.05), but live weight gains (LWG) in CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 were significantly higher (551 and 609 g/d, respectively) than in the Control group (281 g/d). The intake of CP was higher (p<0.05) for the treatments CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 (556 and 590 g/d, respectively) compared to that of Control (458 g/d), while there was no significant difference in ME intake. The feed conversion ratio was 16.8, 9.0 and 7.9 kg DM/kg LWG in Control, CA-LE40 and CA-LE60, respectively. The feed cost of CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 corresponded to 43% and 35%, respectively, of the feed cost of Control feed. The best results were found when CA-LE feed replaced 60% of DM in Control feed and considerably decreased feed cost. It is concluded that feeding cassava foliage in combination with Phaseolus calcaratus legume as a protein supplement could be a potentially valuable strategy which leads to reduced feed costs and a more sustainable system in smallholder dairy production in Vietnam.