• Title/Summary/Keyword: protein digestibility

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Feed Evaluation of Whole Crop Rice Silage Harvested at Different Mature Stages in Hanwoo Steers Using In Situ Technique (In situ 방법을 이용한 수확시기별 총체벼 사일리지의 한우 생체 사료가치 평가)

  • Choi, Chang-Weon;Chung, Eui-Soo;Hong, Seong-Koo;Oh, Young-Kyoon;Kim, Jong-Geun;Lee, Sang-Cheol
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.143-150
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    • 2010
  • Three Hanwoo steers (BW $623{\pm}18.5kg$) with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used to investigate nutrients degradability and total digestible nutrient (TDN) of whole crop rice silage (WRS) harvested at different mature stages using in situ technique. Crude protein content (mean 4.81%) decreased with progressed maturity at harvest except for WRS harvested at yellow stage. Ruminal dry matter degradability of WRS at milk stage tended to be slightly lower than that of the other stages during the entire incubation time from 12 h post-incubation. The rapidly degradable N (a-fraction) of WRS harvested at milk stage was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of WRS at dough stage whereas the slowly degradable N (b-fraction) of WRS harvested at yellow and dough stages were statistically (p<0.05) higher than those of the other WRS. Effective protein degradability (EPD) of WRS harvested at yellow stage was numerically (compared with dough and milk stages) and statistically (compared with mature stage) higher than EPD of the other WRS. Protein digestibility of WRS at different gastric tracts did not differ (p>0.05) between the harvest stages. TDN of WRS harvested at yellow stage in Hanwoo steers was statistically (compared with milk stage) and numerically (compared with dough and mature stages) higher than TDN of the other WRS. Overall, taking present feed evaluation into consideration, WRS harvested at yellow stage may be recommended for Hanwoo steers. Further studies on in vivo rumen fermentation pattern and minimizing nutrients loss during harvest should be required for accurate feed evaluation.

Effect of Rice Straw Heated in Water or 0.25N-NaClO$_2$ on the Nutrient Utilization of Diets in Chicks (증류수 혹은 0.25N NaClO$_2$에서 가열한 볏짚의 가금에서의 영양소이용성에 미치는 영향)

  • 고태송;김해수;김성규;라채영
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.25-30
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    • 1985
  • In order to observe an effect of the components of rice straw on the utilization of nutrient in chicks, the rice straw of 100g were digested in 800$m\ell$ of distilled water or 0.25N NaClO$_2$ at 135 C and in the pressure of 3.2kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ by autoclave during 30, 60 and 120 minutes (water or NaClO$_2$-30, 60 and 120- RS). The contents of neutral detergent fiber(NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin were analysed in the washed and dried rice straw meal. Hatched single comb white Leghorn male chicks were fed with a commercial chick mash for the first 10 days and five kinds of experimetal diets for the next 8 days which contained 17.0% of wheat bran (basal), cellulose(cotton meal), nontreated RS, water-30-RS and NaClO$_2$ 30-RS, respectively. The water-30, 60 and 120-RS baa leased 9.7, 12.1 and 13.3% of dry matter, respectively, while NaClO$_2$-30-RS had similar contents of dry matter loss with those of water-30-RS, and NaClO$_2$-60 and 120-RS had tossed 1.5 times of dry matter comparing with those of water-60 and 120-RS, respectively. And the dry matter loss of the water-RS or NaClO$_2$-RS was mainly originated front the extractable cell contents and hemicellulose of the non-treated RS. Birds fed water-30-RS diets had higher body weight gain and lower feed conversion than those of birds fed non-treated and NaClO$_2$-30-RS diets during 8 days of experimental feeding. Also nitrogen balance and retention rate of birds fed water -30-RS was higher comparing with those of birds non-treated and NaClO$_2$-30-RS. And digestibility of crude fat had been shown a highering trend in birds water-30-RS. The rate of metabolizable energy (MEn) to gross energy (GE) of birds fed non-treated RS, water-30-RS and NaClO$_2$30-RS diets were 71.9, 72.9 and 70.4%, respectively, and energy intake per metaboic body size (kg 0.75) were reached to 307.3, 296.2 and 291.4 kcal per day, respectively. And daily protein retention per kg 0.75 were 1.647, 1.969 and 1.560g, respectively. Then 30.56kcal of MEn required for 1 g of protein retention in birds fed water-30-RS, which was lower thu 36.90 and 37.56 kcal of birds fed non-treated and NaClO$_2$-30- RS, respectively. The results seems to indicate that non-treated rice straw had a substance or characters which affect the energy unilization or protein retention of diets and which will be eliminated by boiling in water.

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Physicochemical Characteristics and Varietal Improvement Related to Palatability of Cooked Rice or Suitability to Food Processing in Rice (쌀 식미 및 가공적성에 관련된 이화학적 특성)

  • 최해춘
    • Proceedings of the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition Conference
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    • 2001.12a
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    • pp.39-74
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    • 2001
  • The endeavors enhancing the grain quality of high-yielding japonica rice were steadily continued during 1980s∼1990s along with the self-sufficiency of rice production and the increasing demands of high-quality rices. During this time, considerably great, progress and success was obtained in development of high-quality japonica cultivars and qualify evaluation techniques including the elucidation of interrelationship between the physicochemical properties of rice grain and the physical or palatability components of cooked rice. In 1990s, some high-quality japonica rice caltivars and special rices adaptable for food processing such as large kernel, chalky endosperm aromatic and colored rices were developed and its objective preference and utility was also examined by a palatability meter, rapid-visco analyzer and texture analyzer. The water uptake rate and the maximum water absorption ratio showed significantly negative correlations with the K/Mg ratio and alkali digestion value(ADV) of milled rice. The rice materials showing the higher amount of hot water absorption exhibited the larger volume expansion of cooked rice. The harder rices with lower moisture content revealed the higher rate of water uptake at twenty minutes after soaking and the higher ratio of maximum water uptake under the room temperature condition. These water uptake characteristics were not associated with the protein and amylose contents of milled rice and the palatability of cooked rice. The water/rice ratio (in w/w basis) for optimum cooking was averaged to 1.52 in dry milled rices (12% wet basis) with varietal range from 1.45 to 1.61 and the expansion ratio of milled rice after proper boiling was average to 2.63(in v/v basis). The major physicochemical components of rice grain associated with the palatability of cooked rice were examined using japonica rice materials showing narrow varietal variation in grain size and shape, alkali digestibility, gel consistency, amylose and protein contents, but considerable difference in appearance and torture of cooked rice. The glossiness or gross palatability score of cooked rice were closely associated with the peak. hot paste and consistency viscosities of viscogram with year difference. The high-quality rice variety “Ilpumbyeo” showed less portion of amylose on the outer layer of milled rice grain and less and slower change in iodine blue value of extracted paste during twenty minutes of boiling. This highly palatable rice also exhibited very fine net structure in outer layer and fine-spongy and well-swollen shape of gelatinized starch granules in inner layer and core of cooked rice kernel compared with the poor palatable rice through image of scanning electronic mcroscope. Gross sensory score of cooked rice could be estimated by multiple linear regression formula, deduced from relationship between rice quality components mentioned above and eating quality of cooked rice, with high Probability of determination. The ${\alpha}$ -amylose-iodine method was adopted for checking the varietal difference in retrogradation of cooked rice. The rice cultivars revealing the relatively slow retrogradation in aged cooked rice were Ilpumbyeo, Chucheongbyeo, Sasanishiki, Jinbubyeo and Koshihikari. A Tongil-type rice, Taebaegbyeo, and a japonica cultivar, Seomjinbyeo, shelved the relatively fast deterioration of cooked rice. Generally, the better rice cultivars in eating quality of cooked rice showed less retrogiadation and much sponginess in cooled cooked rice. Also, the rice varieties exhibiting less retrogradation in cooled cooked rice revealed higher hot viscosity and lower cool viscosity of rice flour in amylogram. The sponginess of cooled cooked rice was closely associated with magnesium content and volume expansion of cooked rice. The hardness-changed ratio of cooked rice by cooling was negatively correlated with solids amount extracted during boiling and volume expansion of cooked rice. The major physicochemical properties of rice grain closely related to the palatability of cooked rice may be directly or indirectly associated with the retrogradation characteristics of cooked rice. The softer gel consistency and lower amylose content in milled rice revealed the higher ratio of popped rice and larger bulk density of popping. The stronger hardness of rice grain showed relatively higher ratio of popping and the more chalky or less translucent rice exhibited the lower ratio of intact popped brown rice. The potassium and magnesium contents of milled rice were negatively associated with gross score of noodle making mixed with wheat flour in half and the better rice for noodle making revealed relatively less amount of solid extraction during boiling. The more volume expansion of batters for making brown rice bread resulted the better loaf formation and more springiness in rice bread. The higher protein rices produced relatively the more moist white rice bread. The springiness of rice bread was also significantly correlated with high amylose content and hard gel consistency. The completely chalky and large gram rices showed better suitability for fermentation and brewing. Our breeding efforts on rice quality improvement for the future should focus on enhancement of palatability of cooked rice and marketing qualify as well as the diversification in morphological and physicochemical characteristics of rice grain for various value-added rice food processings.

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The Use of Alfalfa Hay for Starter Diet of the Korean Native Goats (한국재래산양의 이유 후 초기 사료로 알팔파 건초의 이용)

  • 조익환;황보순;전하준;안종호;이주삼;한태호
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.115-122
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    • 2002
  • In this study, the effects of alfalfa hay included in different ratios of 60%(A), 50%(B), 40%(C) and 30%(D) for the diets of young weaned Korean native goats were investigated on feed intake, digestibilities of nutrients, nitrogen retention, average daily gain and feed efficiency. Crude protein contents of experimental diets were 18% in all treatments. The contents of ADF, NDF and crude ash were higher in A as 26.1, 37.0 and 9.0% compared to the lowest values in D of 20.3, 30.4 and 6.6%. However the contents of non-structural carbohydrates was in the opposite tendency. Daily feed intake (DM) was highest in A (414.4g) and B (417.7g) and significantly (p<0.05) lower in D(362.6g). Dry matter intake per metabolic basal weight (DM g/kg of $BW^{0.75}$ ) were highest in A(73.9g) and lowest in D(64.0g). Average daily gain and feed efficiencies were in the range of 33.3~48.7g and 8.1~13.4% respectively with no statistical differences, however with the increasing trends according to higher percent of roughage in the diets. Digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ADF, NBF, crude ash (CA) and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) were in the tendency of becoming higher according to higher ratios of concentrate but becoming lower according to higher ratio of alfalfa hay in the diets fed to Korean native goats. Nitrogen retention was lowest in A (1.8g, 15.5%) and highest in D (2.7g, 25.7%). In overall, inclusion of 30~40% alfalfa hay as a roughage in the diets of weaned Korean native goats was superior to the higher rates of inclusion of alfalfa hay in aspects of average daily gain and feed efficiency. The fixed 18% of crude protein content in the diets was efficient for the growth of weaned goats.

Analysis of Ruminal Dry Matter and Crude Protein Digestibility on Major Roughage, Wormwood and Green Tea (주요 조사료원과 쑥, 녹차의 반추위 건물 및 조단백질 소화율에 대한 분석)

  • Lee, Shin Ja;Lee, Su Kyoung;No, Jin Gu;Kim, Do Hyung;Lim, Jung Hwa;Moon, Yea Hwang;Lee, Sung Sill
    • Journal of agriculture & life science
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    • v.50 no.5
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    • pp.139-152
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    • 2016
  • The comparative in vitro and in situ analysis were conducted to evaluate the rumen degradability and physical structure of domestic roughage as rice straw, timothy, alfalfa, wormwood and green tea. The feedstuffs incubated with rumen fluid and was used to determine gas production, microbial growth rate and pH changes in an in vitro experiment. The gas production was increased during incubation times and was significantly(p<0.05) lower in green tea than other feedstuffs. The microbial growth rate in the feedstuffs was increased during incubation times. However, microbial growth rate was significantly(p<0.05) lower in wormwood and green tea than other feedstuffs. Ruminal pH was decreased during incubation times, and timothy was the lowest, and rice straw was the highest among feedstuffs. The disappearance rate of dry matter(DM) and crude protein(CP) in all feedstuffs were increased during incubation times and green tea was the highest(p<0.05) compared with other feedstuffs. In effective degradability, when rumen out-flow rate was assigned to 4%, wormwood showed the highest in DM, and alfalfa was the highest in CP. Whereas, green tea was the highest in both in situ DM and CP degradability. Many cilia on the surface and stoma of wormwood and stoma in green tea were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Microbes breaked down the cilia at the beginning and then degraded the surface in wormwood. In case of green tea, microbes attached to stoma. Therefore, wormwood and green tea have a potential value as ruminal feed stuffs.

The Effect of Stage of Maturity on the Composition and Feeding Value of Silage (생육시기가 Silage의 사용가치에 미치는 영향)

  • 신정남;윤익석
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.41-60
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    • 1983
  • Experiments were conducted to study the effect of stage of maturity at harvest on the quality of silage. Herbage samples taken from the barley plant, rye plant, wheat plant, oat plant, Orchardgrass, Italian ryegrass, a mixed grass sward of Orchardgrass and Italian ryegrass and corn plant at different stages of maturity and ensiled in order to evaluate the effect of maturity on the chemical composition and feeding value as well as digestibility using sheep. Forage material were ensiled in small concrete silo. 1. The dry matter yield per 10a increased with advancing the maturity. Yield of brarley plant was 404, 635 and 900 kg at heading, milk and milk dough stage, respectively. Rye plant yield was 279, 589, 708, 10,000, 1,265, 1,376 and 1,492 kg at booting, before heading, early heading, late heading, early flowering, late flowering and after flowering stage, respectively. Italian ryegrass yield was 355, 613, 844 and 1,109 kg at vegetative, booting, heading and flowering, respectively. Orchardgrass/Italian ryegrass production was 477, 696, 891 and 1,027 kg at before was 458, 1,252, 1,534, 1,986 and 2,053 kg at tassel, early milk, yellow ripe and ripe stage, respectively. 2. Dry matter content increased with advancing maturity, but crude protein declined markedly. The NFE content decreased with advancing maturity of all the herbages except corn plant where NFE content increased, but corn plant increased. The content of crude fiber increased with advancing maturity except corn plant. The content of crude ash decreased with advancing maturity. In the rye plant, the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose increased with advancing maturity. 3. In vitro dry matter digestibilities of the rye plant was 53.6, 54.1, 50.7, 47.1, 44.9, 40.1 and 38.9% booting, before hcading, early heading, late heading, early flowering, late flowering and after flowering stage, respectively. The regression equation was $Y=56.22-0.74X+0.009X^2$ (X=cutting date from the first cut, Y=dry matter digestibilities). 4. In vitro digestible dry matter yield (kg/10a) of rye plant increased with advancing maturity, but declined from the flowering stage. The regression equation was $Y=168.88+26.09X-0.41X^2$ (X=cutting date from the first cut). 5. In vitro digestibility of dry matter in the corn plant was 69.2, 71.5, 69.8 and 69.9% at tassel, early milk, milk and yellow ripe stage, respectively. 6. The digestibility of crude protein and crude fiber of all plants decreased with advancing matuity, but NFE of the barley and corn generally increased. 7. The TDN contents on the dry matter basis decreased, but those of barley and corn silage were not different. TDN content of barley was 57.8, 57.1 and 57.9% at heading, milk and milk dough stage, respectively. That of rye silage was 50.0, 27.2 and 43.7% at early flowering, after flowering and milk stage, respectively. Italian ryegrass silage was 67.9, 63.7, and 54.9% at before heading, early heading and after heading, respectively. In case of Orchardgrass silage the TDN was 54.8, 52.9 and 46.1% at after heading, after flowering and milk, respectively. Corn shows TDN value of 59.5, 62.8 and 61.6% at milk, yellow ripe and ripe, respectively. 8. The pH value increased slightly by advancing maturity. 9. the content of organic acid decreased by advancing maturity and also increasing the DM content.

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Effect of Different Rumen-degradable Carbohydrates on Rumen Fermentation, Nitrogen Metabolism and Lactation Performance of Holstein Dairy Cows

  • Khezri, A.;Rezayazdi, K.;Mesgaran, M. Danesh;Moradi-Sharbabk, M.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.22 no.5
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    • pp.651-658
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    • 2009
  • Four multiparous lactating Holstein cows fitted with rumen cannulae were fed diets varying in the amount and source of rumen-degradable carbohydrates (starch vs. sucrose) to examine their effects on rumen fermentation, nitrogen metabolism and lactation performance. A $4{\times}4$ Latin square with four diets and four periods of 28 days each was employed. Corn starch and sucrose were added to diets and corn starch was replaced with sucrose at 0 (0 S), 2.5 (2.5 S), 5.0 (5.0 S) 7.5% (7.5 S) of diet dry matter in a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 60% concentrate and 40% forage (DM basis). Replacing corn starch with sucrose did not affect (p>0.05) ruminal pH which averaged 6.41, but the ruminal pH for 7.5 S decreased more rapidly at 2 h after morning feeding compared with other treatments. Sucrose reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$) ruminal $NH_3-N$ concentration (13.90 vs. 17.09 mg/dl) but did not affect peptide-N concentration. There was no dietary effect on total volatile fatty acids (110.53 mmol/L) or the acetate to propionate ratio (2.72). No differences (p>0.05) in molar proportion of most of the individual VFA were found among diets, except for the molar proportion of butyrate that was increased ($p{\leq}0.05$) with the inclusion of sucrose. Total branched chain volatile fatty acids tended to increase ($p{\geq}0.051$) for the control treatment (0 S) compared with the 7.5 S treatment. Dry matter intake, body weight changes and digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were not affected by treatments. Sucrose inclusion in the total mixed ration did not affect milk yield, but increased milk fat and total solid percentage ($p{\leq}0.05$). Sucrose tended ($p{\geq}0.063$) to increase milk protein percentage (3.28 vs. 3.05) and reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$) milk urea nitrogen concentration (12.75 vs. 15.48 mg/dl), suggesting a more efficient utilization of the rapidly available nitrogen components in the diet and hence improving nitrogen metabolism in the rumen.

Evaluation of Microbially Ensiled Spent Mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) Substrates (Bed-Type Cultivation) as a Roughage for Ruminants (균상재배 느타리버섯부산물 생균발효사료의 반추동물 조사료원으로서의 가치 평가)

  • Kim, Young-Il;Seok, Jun-Sang;Kwak, Wan-Sup
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.52 no.2
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    • pp.117-124
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    • 2010
  • An in situ ruminal disappearance trial and an in vivo sheep metabolism trial were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of spent mushroom substrate (SMS, originated from Pleurotus osteratus bed-type cultivation). The raw SMS was ensiled (ESMS) for 30 days with 5% (w/w, DM basis) molasses, 0.5% (v/w) yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and 0.5% (v/w) lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum). Two ruminally cannulated Holsteins (average BW 620 kg) were used to evaluate in situ disappearance. Six sheeps (average BW 48 kg) were fed, in $3{\times}3$ Latin square design, rice straw alone (Control), 25% (ESMS-25) and 50% (ESMS-50) of rice straw were replaced with ensiled SMS. For an in situ trial, ruminal DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) disappearance of SMS were increased after ensiling (P<0.05). For a sheep trial, protein and fiber (NDF, acid detergent fiber, crude fiber) digestibilities were decreased (P<0.05), crude ash digestibility was increased (P<0.001), and nitrogen retention was not affected (P>0.05) as rice straw was replaced with ensiled SMS. Ruminating time was decreased by an average of 28% by feeding ensiled SMS (P<0.05). Ensiled SMS (Bed-type cultivation) had 76% of energy value of rice straw. Consequently, ensiled SMS (Bed-type cultivation, 100% cotton waste) could be used as a roughage source appropriate for maintenance type rations for ruminants.

Optimal Lysine:DE Ratio for Growing Pigs of Different Sexes

  • Chang, W.H.;Kim, J.D.;Xuan, Z.N.;Cho, W.T.;Han, In K.;Chae, B.J.;Paik, In K.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.31-38
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    • 2000
  • This study was conducted to evaluate changes in the lysine to digestible energy (DE) ratio on performance, apparent ileal and fecal nutrient digestibilities as well as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and to estimate optimal lysine:DE ratios for growing pigs of different sexes. A total of 150 pigs ($(Landrace{\times}Yorkshire){\times}Duroc$, 16.78 kg average body weight, 75 barrows and 75 gilts) was randomly allotted into a $2{\times}3$ (sex by diet) factorial design. Three diets were formulated to contain a crude protein level of 19%, a DE level of 3.5 Mcal/kg with three lysine:DE ratios of 3.2 (low), 3.5 (middle) and 3.8 (high) g lysine/Mcal DE per kg diet for both barrows and gilts throughout the study. With increasing dietary lysine:DE ratio, the average daily gain (ADG) of barrows decreased but there was no significant difference among treatments (p>0.05). However, ADG was significantly higher in gilts fed the diet containing the high lysine:DE ratio (p<0.05), followed by the middle and low lysine:DE ratio dietary groups. No significant effects of lysine:DE ratios on feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion (F/G) were observed for barrows and gilts during overall period (p>0.05), while the optimal F/G was found in barrows fed diets of low and in gilts fed high lysine:DE ratio. Blood urea nitrogen had a positive relationship with growth rate. The results showed that the optimal lysine:DE ratios were 3.2 and 3.8 g lysine/Mcal DE per kg diet for barrows and gilts of 16 to 57 kg body weight, respectively.

The Effect of Harvesting Interval on Herbage Yield and Nutritive Value of Napier Grass and Hybrid Pennisetums

  • Manyawu, G.J.;Chakoma, C.;Sibanda, S.;Mutisi, C.;Chakoma, I.C.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.16 no.7
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    • pp.996-1002
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    • 2003
  • A 6 (accession)${\times}$5 (cutting interval) factorial experiment was conducted over two years to investigate the effect of stage of growth on herbage production, nutritive value and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content of Napier grass and Napier grass${\times}$Pearl millet hybrids (hybrid Pennisetum). The purpose of the experiment was to determine the optimum stage of growth to harvest the Pennisetums for ensilage. Two Napier accessions (SDPP 8 and SDPP 19) and four hybrid Pennisetum (SDPN 3, SDPN 29, SDPN 38 and Bana grass) were compared at five harvest intervals (viz. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks). Basal fertilizers were similar in all treatment plots, although nitrogen (N) top-dressing fertilizer was varied proportionately, depending on the harvesting interval. The application was based on a standard rate of 60 kg N/ha every six weeks. Stage of growth had significant effects on forage yield, WSC content and nutritive value of the Pennisetums. Herbage yields increased in a progressively linear manner, with age. Nutritive value declined as the harvesting interval increased. In particular, crude protein content declined rapidly (p<0.001) from $204g\;kg^{-1}$ DM at 2 weeks to $92g\;kg^{-1}$ DM at 8 weeks of growth. In vitro dry matter digestibility decreased from 728 to $636g\;kg^{-1}$ DM, whilst acid and neutral detergent fibre contents increased from 360 and 704 to 398 and $785g\;kg^{-1}$ DM, respectively. Rapid changes in nutritive value occurred after 6 weeks of growth. The concentration of WSC increased in a quadratic manner, with peaks ($136-182g\;kg^{-1}$ DM) at about 6 weeks. However, the DM content of the forage was low ($150-200g\;DM\;kg^{-1}$) at 6 weeks. Therefore, it was concluded that Pennisetums should be harvested between 6 and 7 weeks, to increase DM content and optimize herbage production without seriously affecting nutritive value and WSC content. Accessions SDPN 29 and SDPP 19 appeared to be most suited for ensilage. It was suggested that WSC content should be incorporated as a criterion in the agronomic evaluation and screening of Pennisetum varieties.