• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.642-647
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• 2012

Eight continuous culture fermenters were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate various nutritional values of Kochia (Kochia scoparia) compared with Atriplex (Atriplex dimorphostegia). Dried and pelleted samples (leaves and stems) provided substrate for metabolism by ruminal microbes maintained in a continuous culture fermentation system. Results indicated that there were no differences (p>0.05) in dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility between the two halophytic plants. Atriplex had higher (p<0.05) organic matter (OM) digestibility compared with Kochia. Neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) digestibility of Atriplex (411 g/kg) was higher (p<0.05) than that of Kochia (348 g/kg), however acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility was higher (p<0.05) in Kochia compared with Atriplex (406 vs. 234 g/kg). There were no differences (p>0.05) between the two halophytic plants in molar proportion of acetate and propionate, but the concentration of butyrate and valerate in Kochia were about two fold of Atriplex (p<0.05). When Kochia provided substrate to the microbes, protein synthesis was higher (p<0.05) compared with feeding Atriplex (5.96 vs. 4.85 g N/kg of OM truly digested). It was concluded that Kochia scoparia and Atriplex dimorphostegia had similar digestibility of DM and CP. It appears that these halophytic plants may not have enough digestible energy for high producing ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1634-1641
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• 2003

In vivo digestion and metabolism trials were conducted with 10 wethers equipped with ruminal, abomasal, and ileal cannulae to evaluate digestion of ensiled broiler litter (EBL), deepstacked broiler litter (DBL), and composted broiler litter (CBL). Wethers were fed a low protein (6.3% CP) basal diet alone or supplemented to 10.3% CP with EBL, DBL, CBL or soybean meal (SBM). All diets were formulated to be isoenergetic (56% TDN, DM basis). Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, and ADF were not affected (p<0.05) by diet, but digestibility of CP was improved (p<0.05) by N supplementation. Apparent digestibility of CP was lower (p<0.05) for diets supplemented with CBL and DBL than for diets supplemented with SBM and EBL. Ruminal $NH_3$ concentration was 20 to 24 mg/dl at 2 h after feeding litter-supplemented diets compared with 13 mg/dl for SBM. Abomasal N, $NH_3$ N, and nonammonia N flows were increased (p<0.05) by N supplementation, whereas microbial N flow was not influenced (p<0.05) by diet. Compared with SBM and EBL, undegraded dietary CP flow to the abomasum tended to be greater (p<0.1) when wethers were fed DBL and CBLsupplemented diets. Retention of N (g/d) also was greater (p<0.05) due to greater (p<0.05) N intake and lower (p<0.05) urinary N excretion when wethers were fed diets supplemented with litter (especially EBL) vs. SBM. Overall, characteristics of ruminal fermentation and digestion indicated that broiler litter N was utilized efficiently by wethers, but ensiling may be preferable to deepstacking or composting.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1384-1392
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• 2023

Objective: Replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) meal pellets (CMP) in concentrate diets was investigated for feed efficiency, ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in Thai native beef cattle. Methods: Four male beef cattle were randomly assigned to treatments using a 4×4 Latin square design with four levels of SBM replaced by CMP at 0%, 33%, 67%, and 100% in concentrate diets. Results: Results revealed that replacement of SBM with CMP did not affect dry matter (DM) consumption, while digestibilities of crude protein, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber were significantly enhanced (p<0.05) but did not alter digestibility of DM and organic matter. Increasing levels of CMP up to 100% in concentrate diets increased ruminal ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentrations, blood urea nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids and propionate concentration (p<0.05), whereas production of methane and protozoal populations decreased (p<0.05). Efficiency of microbial nitrogen protein synthesis increased when SBM was replaced with CMP. Conclusion: Substitution of SBM with CMP in the feed concentrate mixture at up to 100% resulted in enhanced nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation efficiency, with increased volatile fatty acids production, especially propionate and microbial protein synthesis, while decreasing protozoal populations and mitigating rumen methane production in Thai native beef cattle fed a rice straw-based diet.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.409-418
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• 2005

This study was conducted to examine the nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation characteristics in sheep fed dried mugwort and mugwort silage for 5% levels of rice straw in the basal diet, and mugwort pellet for 5% levels of concentrate in the basal diet. For the experiment, they were given a basal diet containing of rice straw and concentrate mixed at a 3: 7 ratio (DM basis). The treatments were designed as a 4 ${\times}$ 4 Latin square design with four sheep (50.2 kg body weight). The digestibility of crude protein was increased (p < 0.05) to 4.6 - 6.2 % in sheep fed mugwort silage treatments (60.23 %) compared with those of control (54.08 %) and dried mugwort treatment (55.67 %). That of ether extract was iicreased (p < 0.05) to 4.8 - 8.8 % in sheep fed mugwort silage treatments (80.22 %) compared with those of control (71.47 %) and dried mugwort treatment (75.46 %). In the dry matter intake, mugwort silage treatment (904.44 g) was the hightest and mugwort pellet treatment, dried mugwort treatment and control were 810.66 g, 780.66 g and 742.18 g, respectively. The ruminal pH in all treatments were rapidly decreased (p < 0.05) at 0.5 and 1 hour after feeding and slowly increased at 2, 4 and 8 hours after feeding, especially mugwort silage treatment. The ammonia nitrogen concentrations were the highest (p < 0.05) in sheep fed mugwort silage treatment (11.24 - 12.05mg / 100 rnz) at 0.5 and 2 hours after feeding. The ruminal concentrations of acetic acid (6.06 mmol /100 $m\ell$) and propionic acid (2.35 mmol/ 100 mz) were an increased (p < 0.05) at the mugwort silage treatments at 1 and 2 hours after feeding. Purine derivatives out put (13.41 mmol / d) and microbial protein production (11.61 mmol / d) were increased (p < 0.05) compared with those of control (5.42 and 4.93 mmol / d).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 1990

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of processing and method of ensiling on the digestion and utilization of high moisture barley (HMB) in cattle. In experiment 1, four Holstein heifers were assigned in a Latin square design to diets containing 70% barley, 25% alfalfa hay and 5% supplement on a dry matter (DM) basis. Diets differed only in the type of barley fed: rolled dry barley (R-DB), rolled HBM (R-HMB), ground HMB (G-HMB) or unprocessed HMB (U-HMB). In experiment 2, three Holstein steers were fed 85.2% barley, 10.2% whole plant barley silage and 4.6% supplement on a DM basis. Again, diets differed only in the type of barley fed: R-DB, rolled HMB from a pit silo (Pit-HMB) or rolled HMB from a Harvestore silo (HAV-HMB). In experiment 1, digestibility coefficients for animals fed R-HMB were significantly higher than observed for U-HMB. While not significant, a similar trend for decreased digestibility was observed for R-DB and G-HMB. Animals fed HMB had significantly lower ruminal propionate concentrations. In addition, the rate of degradation of the degradable DM and crude protein (CP) fractions was slower for HMB than for dry barley. In experiment 2, a trend to lower digestibility coefficients was observed for animal fed R-DB compared to those fed Pit-HMB or HAV-HMB. Ruminal propionate concentrations for animals fed R-DB also tended to be higher than for those fed the HMB diets. Dry matter and CP disappearances from nylon bags was substantially lower for Pit-HMB than for R-DB or HAV-HMB. The results suggest that replacement of dry barley by rolled or unprocessed HMB in the diet of animals fed high grain diets may contribute to a more stable rumen environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1098-1106
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• 2004

In a split-unit design, 12 Javan rusa (Cervus timorensis russa) stags (6 castrated and 6 entire) were used to investigate seasonal (winter, spring and summer) effects on intake, digestibility of food constituents, volatile fatty acid profile, and nitrogen retention, when given lucerne (Medicago sativa) or rhodes grass (Chloris guyana) hays. Entire stags ate 9% more dry matter (DM) than castrates (p<0.05). Both castrated and entire stags exhibited seasonal changes in DM intake, these being higher (p<0.05) in winter (62.3 g/kg $W^{0.75}$) than spring (56.9 g/kg $W^{0.75}$) or summer (55.3 g/kg $W^{0.75}$). Intakes of lucerne hay (211 g protein/kg DM) were significantly higher than of rhodes grass hay (49 g protein/kg DM) in all seasons (p<0.05). Digestibilities of DM (0.58), neutral detergent fibre (0.59) and acid detergent fibre (0.47) were similar between castrates and entires. DM digestibility was higher (p<0.0001) for lucerne (0.66) than rhodes grass (0.55), and was higher (p<0.05) in winter (0.60) than spring (0.58) or summer (0.57). The ruminal acetate concentrations were higher (p<0.001) in spring than summer (78 and 73 molar % respectively). Apparent digestibility of protein was significantly less (p<0.0001) for rhodes grass (0.37) than lucerne (0.75). N retention was positive for lucerne (15.2 g/d) but negative for rhodes grass (-2.8 g/d) (p<0.0001), and was higher (p<0.001) in summer (12.0 g/d) than spring (4.3 g/d) or winter (2.4 g/d). The tropical rusa deer exhibits seasonal variations in feed intake, food constituent digestibilities, VFA profile and N retention. Castration did not alter these traits. The results do not support the view that rusa deer can thrive on low-quality pastures. The productivity and commercial exploitation of rusa deer could be optimised if they are given high-protein feed during spring and summer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.485-493
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• 2015

This study evaluated the in situ ruminal degradability, and subsequent small intestinal digestibility (SID) of dry matter, crude protein (CP), and amino acids (AA) of cottonseed meal (CSM), sunflower seed meal (SFSM) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) by using the modified three-step in vitro procedure. The ruminal degradability and subsequent SID of AA in rumen-undegradable protein (RUP-AA) varied among three protein supplements. The result show that the effective degradability of DM for SFSM, CSM, and DDGS was 60.8%, 56.4%, and 41.0% and their ruminal fermentable organic matter was 60.0%, 55.9%, and 39.9%, respectively. The ruminal degradable protein (RDP) content in CP for SFSM, CSM, and DDGS was 68.3%, 39.0%, and 32.9%, respectively, at the ruminal solid passage rate of 1.84%/h. The SFSM is a good source of RDP for rumen micro-organisms; however, the SID of RUP of SFSM was lower. The DDGS and CSM are good sources of RUP for lambs to digest in the small intestine to complement ruminal microbial AA of growing lambs. Individual RUP-AA from each protein source was selectively removed by the rumen microorganisms, especially for Trp, Arg, His, and Lys (p<0.01). The SID of individual RUP-AA was different within specific RUP origin (p<0.01). Limiting amino acid was Leu for RUP of CSM and Lys for both RUP of SFSM and DDGS, respectively. Therefore, different protein supplements with specific limitations should be selected and combined carefully in growing lambs ration to optimize AA balance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.533-538
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• 1996

The rate and extent of digestion of dietary carbohydrates has a tremendous impact on ruminal fermentation and the productivity of the animals. The objective of the study was to determine the dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradabilities and rate and extent of feed byproducts (cotton seed cake, wheat bran), legumes [berseem (Egyptian clover), lucern (Medicago sativa), cowpeas (Vigna sinensis)], grasses [maize (Zea mays), millet (Panicum miliaceum), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare)] and wheat straw in ruminally fistulated male buffalo calves. By using nylon bags, 10 grams sample was exposed to the ruminal fermentation for 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 24, 36, 48 and 96 hours. Dry matter and NDF degradability was measured at 48 hours. Extent of DM and NDF disappearance was determined at each time point. Rates of disappearance of DM and NDF were determined by regressing the natural logarithm of the percentage of original DM and NDF remaining in the bags between 1 and 96 hours. The dry matter digestibility (DMD) of the feed byproducts (FBP) and legume forages when incubated in the rumen of male buffalo calves were greater (p < 0.05) than grasses. Extent of digestion followed similar pattern as DMD. Rate of DMD was higher in FBP than in legumes and was the lowest in the wheat straw. The NDF degradability (NDFD) of FBP, legumes and grasses did not differ, however, wheat straw had the lowest NDFD from all the feeds tested. The lowest NDFD of wheat straw may have been due to the depressing effect of lignin on fiber digestion. The FBP and legumes had higher (p < 0.05) rates and lower extents of NDF digestion than grasses.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2005

This study was conducted to study the effect of fiber sources on ruminal pH and buffering capacity and whole digestive tract digestibility with five ruminally fistulated sheep. Evaluated fiber sources were alfalfa hay cube (AHC), corn cob (CC), com silage (CS), cotton seed hull (CSH), peanut hull (PHL), rice straw (RS), and sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Sheep were fed consecutively a diet containing each tested fiber source $(45\%)$ with a corn-based concentrate diets $(55\%)$ during each experimental period. Ruminal pH showed no difference among fiber sources except the significantly lower pH at 8h (p<0.05) with RS (pH; 5.78) than those in other sources. Buffering capacity showed significant differences at 0h (p<0.05) and 2h (p<0.05) after feeding in CS compared to those from SCB and CC, while there was higher in PHL (p<0.01) at 12h post feeding except AHC than CC, CS, SCB, and RS. Dry matter digestibility was significantly higher in CS (p<0.001) than in other sources. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was higher in CC, CS, CSH, and RS than other fiber sources (p<0.001). These results suggest that ruminal pH and buffering capacity and whole digestive track digestibility were significantly affected by fiber sources in ruminant diet, and, therefore, should be took those effects into account for TMR formulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.534-541
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation (${\gamma}$-irradiation) at doses of 15, 30 and 45 kGy on chemical composition, anti-nutritional factors, ruminal dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradibility, in vitro CP digestibility and to monitor the fate of true proteins of full-fat soybean (SB) in the rumen. Nylon bags of untreated or ${\gamma}$-irradiated SB were suspended in the rumens of three ruminally-fistulated bulls for up to 48 h and resulting data were fitted to a nonlinear degradation model to calculate degradation parameters of DM and CP. Proteins of untreated and treated SB bag residues were fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Digestibility of rumen undegraded CP was estimated using the three-step in vitro procedure. The chemical composition of raw and irradiated soybeans was similar. Results showed that phytic acid in ${\gamma}$-irradiated SB at dose of 30 kGy was eliminated completely. The trypsin inhibitor activity of 15, 30 and 45 kGy ${\gamma}$-irradiated SB was decreased (p<0.01) by 18.4, 55.5 and 63.5%, respectively. From in sacco results, ${\gamma}$-irradiation decreased (p<0.05) the washout fractions of DM and CP at doses of 30 and 45 kGy, but increased (p<0.05) the potentially degradable fractions. Gamma irradiation at doses of 15, 30 and 45 kGy decreased (p<0.05) effective degradability of CP at a rumen outflow rate of 0.05 $h^{-1}$ by 4.4, 14.4 and 26.5%, respectively. On the contrary, digestibility of ruminally undegraded CP of irradiated SB at doses of 30 and 45 kGy was improved (p<0.05) by 12 and 28%, respectively. Electrophoretic analysis of untreated soybean proteins incubated in the rumen revealed that ${\beta}$-conglycinin subunits had disappeared at 2 h of incubation time, whereas the subunits of glycinin were more resistant to degradation until 16 h of incubation. From the SDS-PAGE patterns, acidic subunits of 15, 30 and 45 kGy ${\gamma}$-irradiated SB disappeared after 8, 8 and 16 h of incubation, respectively, while the basic subunits of glycinin were not degraded completely until 24, 48 and 48 h of incubation, respectively. It was concluded that ${\gamma}$-irradiated soybean proteins at doses higher than 15 kGy could be effectively protected from ruminal degradation.