• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1276-1284
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• 2014

In southeastern regions of the US, herbage systems are primarily based on grazing or hay feeding with low nutritive value warm-season perennial grasses. Nutritious herbage such as annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) may be more suitable for preserving as baleage for winter feeding even with more intensive production inputs. Emerging in-line wrapped baleage storage systems featuring rapid wrapping and low polyethylene film requirements need to be tested for consistency of storing nutritive value of a range of annual ryegrass herbage. A ryegrass storage trial was conducted with 24-h wilted 'Marshall' annual ryegrass harvested at booting, heading and anthesis stages using three replicated in-line wrapped tubes containing ten round bales per tube. After a six-month storage period, nutritive value changes and fermentation end products differed significantly by harvest stage but not by bale location. Although wilted annual ryegrass exhibited a restricted fermentation across harvest stages characterized by high pH and low fermentation end product concentrations, butyric acid concentrations were less than 1 g/kg dry matter, and lactic acid was the major organic acid in the bales. Mold coverage and bale aroma did not differ substantially with harvest stage or bale location. Booting and heading stage-harvested ryegrass baleage were superior in nutritive value to anthesis stage-harvested herbage. Based on the investigated nutritive value and fermentation characteristics, individual bale location within in-line tubes did not significantly affect preservation quality of ryegrass round bale silages.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1386-1398
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• 2010

Soybean contains a high concentration of carbohydrates that consist mainly of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and oligosaccharides. The NSP can be divided into insoluble NSP (mainly cellulose) and soluble NSP (composed mainly of pectic polymers, which are partially soluble in water). Monogastric animals do not have the enzymes to hydrolyze these carbohydrates, and thus their digestion occurs by means of bacterial fermentation. The fermentation of soybean carbohydrates produces short chain fatty acids that can be used as an energy source by animals. The utilization efficiency of the carbohydrates is related to the chemical structure, the level of inclusion in the diet, species and age of the animal. In poultry, soluble NSP can increase digesta viscosity, reduce the digestibility of nutrients and depress growth performance. In growing pigs, these effects, in particular the effect on gut viscosity, are often not so obvious. However, in weaning piglets, it is reported that soy oligosaccharides and soluble NSP can cause detrimental effects on intestinal health. In monogastrics, consideration must be given to the anti-nutritive effect of the NSP on nutrient digestion and absorption on one hand, as well as the potential benefits or detriments of intestinal fermentation products to the host. This mirrors the needs for i) increasing efficiency of utilization of fibrous materials in monogastrics, and ii) the maintenance and improvement of animal health in antibiotic-free production systems, on the other hand. For example, ethanol/water extraction removes the low molecular weight carbohydrate fractions, such as the oligosaccharides and part of the soluble pectins, leaving behind the insoluble fraction of the NSP, which is devoid of anti-nutritive activities. The resultant product is a high quality soy protein concentrate. This paper presents the composition and chemical structures of carbohydrates present in soybeans and discusses their nutritive and anti-nutritive effects on digestion and absorption of nutrients in pigs and poultry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1429-1437
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• 2003

Browse tree legume leaves from Acacia spp (A. nilotica, A. tortilis, A. polyacantha), Dichrostachys sp, Flagea villosa, Piliostigma thonningii, Harrisonia sp were evaluated for nutritive potential (chemical compositions and degradability characteristics) compared to Gliricidia sepium. Effect of tannins anti-nutritive activity on digestibility was also assessed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) tannin bioassay. Crude protein (CP), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) differed (p<0.05) between legume foliages. Mean CP, ash, NDF, ADF and ADL for fodder species tested were 158, 92, 385, 145, and 100 g/kg DM, respectively. CP ranged from 115 (P. thonningii) to 205 g/kg DM (G. sepium). Acacia spp had moderate CP values (g/kg DM) of 144 (A. nilotica), to high CP in A. tortilis (188) and A. polyacantha (194) comparable to G. sepium. The forages had relatively lower fiber compositions. A. nilotica had (p<0.05) lowest NDF, ADF and ADL (182, 68 and 44) compared to P. thonningii (619, 196 and 130) g/kg DM, respectively. Except G. sepium, all fodder species had detectable high phenolic and tannin contents greater than 5% DM, an upper beneficial level in animal feeding and nutrition. Mean total phenolics (TP), total tannins (TT) and condensed tannins (CT) (or proanthocyanidins) for fodder species tested were 139, 113 and 43 mg/g DM, respectively. F. villosa had (p<0.05) lowest TP and TT of 65 and 56 mg/g DM, respectively, compared to A. nilotica (237 and 236 mg/g DM, respectively). The CT varied (p<0.05) from 6 (F. villosa) to 74 mg/g DM (Dichrostachys sp). In vitro organic matter (OM) degradability (OMD) differed (p<0.05) between fodder species. G. sepium had (p<0.05) high degradability potential compared to A. polyacantha that had (p<0.05) the lowest OMD values. Forage degradability ranked: G. sepium>A. nilotica>P. thonningi>F. villosa>Dichrostachys sp>A. tortilis>A. polyacantha. Addition of PEG resulted to (p<0.05) improvement in in vitro OM digestibility (IVD). Increase in IVD was mainly due to binding action of PEG on tannins; and represents potential nutritive values previously depressed by tannins anti-nutritive activity. Browse fodder has potential as sources of ruminal nitrogen especially for ruminants consuming low quality roughages due to high protein, lower fiber compositions and high potential digestibility. However, utilization of browse supplements in ruminants is hampered by high phenolic and tannin contents. Deactivation of tannin anti-nutritive activity, possibly by feeding tanniniferous browse with other readily available nitrogen sources to dilute tannin anti-nutritive activity could improve utilization of browse fodder supplements. Further studies are needed to assess browse fodder palatability and intake, and their effect on growth performance in ruminants.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 2001

The object of this experiment was to evaluate nutritive value of roughage which was collected by Woosung Feed Co., Ltd. in Korea in 1999-2000. Nineteen kinds of roughage(l32 samples) were collected by Woosung Feed Co., Ltd. and their chemical composition, ADF, NDF, Ca and P. were analysed. In addition, their DMD, DMI, WV and hay grades were calculated based on analysed values. The CP content of roughage was ranged from 17.35%(alfalfa hay) to 4.00%(Italian ryegrass hay), and ten kinds of roughage under six percentages were observed. The NDF content of roughage was ranged from 47.50%(sugarcane leaf) to 78.84%(orchardgrass hay), and eight kinds of roughage above seventy percentages were observed. The DMD of roughage was ranged from 66.38%(beet pulp) to 50.95%(orchardgrass hay). The WV of roughage was ranged from 60.1 l(orchardgrass hay) to 125.07(sugarcane leaf). In hay grade of roughage, the first grade was assigned to sugarcane leaf only and the third grade and fourth grade were assigned to four kinds of roughage each. Bermudagrass straw received the fifth grade, and the nine kinds of roughage received the poor grades. As shown in the above results, nineteen kinds of roughage were mostly low in crude protein contents and dry matter digestibility, but they were high in fibrous contents. Futhermore, while only one kind of roughage was evaluated as obtaining the first grade, nine kinds of roughage were evaluated as the poor grade. Hence, we know that roughage which was collected in Korea was mostly low in their quality and that there was significant difference in their feed value among those roughage(P<0.05). Therefore, it is necessary to mark the hay quality for purpose of distributive circulation of roughage. (Key words : Roughages, Nutritive value, DMD. RFV. Hay grade)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1374-1380
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• 2012

The changes in yields and nutritive composition of whole crop wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during maturation and effects of maturity stage and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability were investigated under laboratory conditions. Whole crop wheat harvested at three maturation stages: flowering stage, milk stage and dough stage. Two strains of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum: LAB1, Lactobacillus parafarraqinis: LAB2) were inoculated for wheat ensiling at $1.0{\times}10^5$ colony forming units per gram of fresh forage. The results indicated that wheat had higher dry matter yields at the milk and dough stages. The highest water-soluble carbohydrates content, crude protein yields and relative feed value of wheat were obtained at the milk stage, while contents of crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were the lowest, compared to the flowering and dough stages. Lactic acid contents of wheat silage significantly decreased with maturity. Inoculating homofermentative LAB1 markedly reduced pH values and ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) content (p<0.05) of silages at three maturity stages compared with their corresponding controls. Inoculating heterofermentative LAB2 did not significantly influence pH values, whereas it notably lowered lactic acid and $NH_3$-N content (p<0.05) and effectively improved the aerobic stability of silages. In conclusion, considering both yields and nutritive value, whole crop wheat as forage should be harvested at the milk stage. Inoculating LAB1 improved the fermentation quality, while inoculating LAB2 enhanced the aerobic stability of wheat silages at different maturity stages.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.517-522
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• 1994

Three experiments were carried out to evaluate the fermentation process and subsequent nutritional quality of silage made from dried and fresh barley straw with and without the addition of wet brewers' grains. The treatments were: 1 kg of dried straw with 600 g of water but no wet brewers' grains (I - 0) as a control, and the same straw mixed with 2 kg (I - 2), 3 kg (I - 3), 4 kg (I - 4), or 5 kg (I - 5) of wet brewers' grains as treatments in Experiment I; and 2 kg of fresh straw without wet brewers' grains (II - 0) as a control, and the same fresh straw mixed with 2 kg (II - 1), 4 kg (II - 2), 6 kg (II - 3), or 8 kg (II - 4) of wet brewers' grains as treatments in Experiment II. Each material prepared was ensiled in 5 L (vinyl) bag silos, and the silos placed in a chamber of $21^{\circ}C$ for 10 (Exp. I) or 7 (Exp. II) months. The fermentation quality and nutritive value of the barley straw silages produced were markedly improved by mixing them with wet brewers' grains. Increasing levels of wet brewers' grains caused on increase in fermentation quality. The in vitro dry matter digestibility of silages was also increased by adding wet brewers' grains. Two semi scale pilot silages, experiment III, prepared from dried and fresh barley straw mixed with wet brewers' grains were fed to wether sheep. These silages, which contained 50% barley straw and 50% wet brewers' grains by dry weight, were moderate apparent digestibility and supplied of about 50% TDN and DCP.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 1998

This study was conducted to evaluate the forage yield and quality of Fesrulolium bmunii(Festuca prafensis Huds. x Lolium multiflomm Lam.) as a forage sources. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with four replications from Sep. 1995 to May 1998 at Chungnam University. Treatments consisted of two forage species, Festulolium bmunii(Pau1ita) and Dactylis glomerc;d4Potomac). The dry matter yields, nutritive value, N and energy balance were observed. The yields of DM, CPDM and DDM per area(ha) were higher for Potomac (P< 0.01) than for Paulita. The content of CP showed no difference between Potomac and Paulita, but NDF, ADF and lignin contents of Paulita were absolutly lower than those of Potomac (P<0.05). The retained N and energy were also high for Paulita compare to for Potomac. It could be suggested that Paulita has higher potential for improvement of the forage quality than Potomac and it have a potential to provide as a forage sources.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.366-377
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• 2013

We examined the nutritive value of common grass species in the semi-arid rangelands of Borana in southern Ethiopia using local experience based herbage preference (LEBHP) perception and laboratory techniques. Local pastoralists in the study area were asked to identify common grass species and rank them according to the species' preferences and palatability to cattle. The pastoralists listed a total of 15 common grass species which were then sampled during the main rain and cold dry seasons and analyzed for crude protein (CP), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and ash content to verify pastoralists' claim regarding the quality of individual species. The relative feed value (RFV) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) were also calculated using NDF and ADF contents. Spearman's rank correlation was used to examine possible relationships between laboratory results and pastoralists' experience on grass quality. Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon aucheri, Digitaria milanjiana, Eragrostis papposa and Panicum maximum were the top five species based on LEBHP perception. There were indications of inconsistency in terms of LEBHP perception among the different pastoral communities. The chemical composition of all grass species showed significant (p<0.05) variation between sites, seasons and species. The results showed that the CP values for the Borana rangelands were in the range of 8.7% in the main rain season to 5.1% for the cold dry season. The fiber constituents were relatively low in the main rain season compared to the cold dry season. Overall, Digitaria milanjiana had the highest CP (16.5%) content, while the least was recorded with Heteropogon contortus (10.8) and Aristida adoensis (9.8%) during the main rain season. It seems that the spatial variability of landscapes within the wider geographical regions, soil properties and texture, and land-use patterns probably contributed to site differences in species quality. Generally, the RFV of individual grass species was significantly (p<0.05) varied between and within sites. The ranking of species by pastoralists according to their preferences by cattle was highly correlated with the chemical composition of laboratory results of individual grass species with 'r' values for CP (0.94), ash (0.95), NDF (-0.98), ADF (-0.93) and ADL (-0.93). We suggest the complimentary use of LEBHP and laboratory techniques in evaluating the nutritive quality of rangeland forage species for sustainable animal production.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2013

To determine the relative importance of two main factors, diet or culture environment, that affect the proximate composition and main nutritive ingredients (vitamin A, vitamin E, cholesterol, fatty acid composition) in cultured eels, we analyzed the composition of eels fed diets of formula feed (FF) produced by four different companies and of eels cultured at five different eel farms that provided only one of the four different FFs. The four commercial eel FFs did not markedly differ in proximate composition or major nutritive compounds, and consequently, these variables did not significantly differ in cultured eels fed the different FFs. The FF imported from Japan was marginally superior to the two domestic commercial FFs and the FF imported from Taiwan in terms of the proximate composition and main nutritive ingredients of both the FF itself and the eels cultured on it. However, proximate composition and main nutritive ingredients significantly differed among eels cultured at the five farms that used a different FF and among eels fed the four different FFs at the same farm. In conclusion, the difference in quality between domestic and Japanese FFs in terms of eel culture was small, whereas physical or chemical environmental differences among farms during eel culture may more strongly affect the proximate composition and levels of the main nutritive ingredients in cultured eels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1377-1385
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• 2011

This study was conducted to determine the nutritive value of live yeast culture (RumiSacc, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and to investigate its effects on milk yield, milk composition and some blood parameters in lactating cows. Six multiparous Holstein cows were allocated to two groups of three cows and assigned randomly to one of two diets in a cross-over experiment. Daily 50 g RumiSacc was top dressed at the p.m. feeding for the treatment group. RumiSacc supplied a high protein and energy with high organic matter digestibility values (83.35%) determined by in vitro enzymatic analysis. Yeast culture supplementation significantly increased milk yield, tended to increase fat yield, protein yield and lactose yield of milk. Methylated fatty acid level of 18:3 (n-3) in milk fat was increased by yeast culture supplementation. The concentrations of methionine, phenyalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and taurine were significantly increased with dietary inclusion of yeast culture. Live yeast culture supplementation did not affect other performance characteristics, milk quality characteristics and blood parameters. As a conclusion live yeast culture (RumiSacc, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) had high nutritive value and positive effects on milk production and some milk quality characteristics in lactating cows under field conditions.