Amounts Of Barley Research Articles

Relationships between barley consumption and gut microbiome characteristics in a healthy Japanese population: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundBarley contains abundant soluble beta-glucan fibers, which have established health benefits. In addition, the health benefits conferred by the gut bacteria have attracted considerable interest. However, few studies have focused on the barley consumption and gut bacteria of the Japanese population. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between the barley consumption and gut bacteria composition of the Japanese population.MethodsIn total, 236 participants were recruited in Japan, and 94 participants with no complications of diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia were selected for the study. We analyzed fecal samples from the participants, their medical check-up results, and responses to questionnaires about dietary habits. The participants were grouped according to their median barley consumption. Then, we assessed the relative abundance of 50 genera. Characteristic bacteria were evaluated for their relationship with barley consumption by multiple regression analysis, adjusted for disease and dietary habits, in all participants. We also analyzed the networks and clustering of the 20 selected genera.ResultsAccording to the comparison between barley groups, Bifidobacterium, Butyricicoccus, Collinsella, Ruminococcus 2, and Dialister were characteristic candidate bacterias of the group that consumed large amounts of barley (P < 0.05). The relationship between barley consumption and Bifidobacterium remained after adjusting for disease and dietary habits, and that of Butyricicoccus remained after adjusting for disease. Furthermore, network and cluster analyses revealed that barley consumption was directly correlated with Bifidobacterium and Butyricicoccus.ConclusionsBarley consumption generates changes in the intestinal bacteria of the Japanese population. We found that Bifidobacterium and Butyricicoccus abundance was positively associated with barley consumption.

Effects of using processed barley and supplemented multi-enzymes in laying hen rations on egg production, egg quality, and egg fatty acids

In this study, we have observed different technological processes, which are commonly used in poultry production. Rations contained different amounts of barley and multi-enzyme, egg weight, egg mass, egg yield, feed intake, egg weight. The rations of the control groups were as follows: 0% barley (based of corn) (K), 15% untreated barley (A1), 15% pellet barley (A2), 15% flaked barley (A3), 30% untreated barley (A4), 30% pelleted barley (A5), 30% flaked barley (A6), 30% untreated barley + enzyme (0. 025%) (A7). In the research, 64 brown laying hens ATAK-S for 36 weeks were divided into 8 different treatments for egg hens. Thirty-week-old laying hens were divided into 8 groups of 8 animals each with a similar live weight. Each treatment consisted of 8 animals in individual cages. Animals were completely randomly determined, grown in individual cages, and kept under a 16:8 h light: dark lighting period. Feed and water were given as ad-libitum. The highest egg weight was obtained from chickens fed with A2 group (62.98 g), and those chickens fed with A1 group (56.45 g) showed lowest egg weight (p ≤ 0.01) In terms of total egg mass, the statistical differences between the experimental groups were very important, but A2 had the highest value and A4 group had the highest value. (p ≤ 0.01). When considering the average feed consumption, feed consumption of A2 fed chickens was higher than the other groups (p ≤ 0.001). Feed consumption of chickens fed A4 and A7 groups were significantly less than that of A1 group and K group feed consuming groups (p ≤ 0.001). There was no significant difference in mean egg yield between treatments. When egg weight average was examined, it was found that egg weight was higher than A4 group's weight ratios when A7 group's added weighted ratio was considered (p ≤ 0.01). When we examined the omega- 6 (n- 6) and omega-3 (n- 3) fatty acids in the trial, linolelaidic acid, one of the omega 6 fatty acids, was found to differ between treatments (p ≤ 0.05). The lowest value for linolelaidic acid ranged from 0.022 in A3 group, while the highest value was 0.046 in A2 group.

Intercropping fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with and without biochar: Tests along a competition gradient

AbstractIntegrating soil amendment biochar to legume‐based intercropping systems may amplify the intercropping benefits and lead to more sustainable production due to its positive effects on the soil physicochemical and biological environment. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum) is a legume used in an intercropping system in several countries in Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. A barley cultivar and an Iranian fenugreek ecotype were studied in two replacement series experiments to find the best combination of the two species as well as the effect of adding biochar to the soil. Fenugreek and barley were grown in 4‐L pots in five density combinations (20:0, 15:5, 10:10, 5:15, 0:20) with and without application of biochar in sandy loam soil. The biomass, nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) amount of the two crops were measured fifty days after sowing, and the Relative Yield Total (RYT) was estimated. Our results showed that biochar application resulted in a higher total biomass, N and C amount in all combinations of fenugreek and barley. Total biomass was increased by biochar 19.2% when fenugreek was grown alone and 8.1 and 12.9% in series with 25 and 50% barley when biochar was added, respectively. Biochar increased dry matter, N and C accumulation in both crop species in the mixtures. An exception was the C amount of barley which was not influenced by biochar in intercropping. RYT values were largest for biomass, C and N amount in mixtures with 15 fenugreek plants per pot and 5 barley plants per pot corresponding to approximately 400 fenugreek plants per m mixed with 130 barley plants per m2. Biochar application increased RYT of the total dry weight by 2.7 and 5.5% in mixtures of 25 and 50% barley plants, RYT of the total nitrogen by 0.8% in mixtures with 25% barley plants, and RYT of the total carbon by 2.7 and 6.6% in mixtures with 25 and 50% barley plants. The RYT values declined with increasing number of barley plants as a result of a less competitive ability of fenugreek when growing in high barley densities. The yield was highest with intercropping but monoculture of barley also resulted in high yields. The total highest yield was found when approximately 130 fenugreek plants per m2 were mixed with 400 barley plants per m2. Mixtures with 75% fenugreek and 25% barley obtained RYT values larger than 1 for biomass, carbon and nitrogen percentages.

Cooking Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Rice-Barley Mix at Different Cooking Method and Mixing Ratio.

This study aimed to compare the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of barley at different proportion (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%), and using different cooking methods. The grains used in this experiment are barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Huinchalssal) and Samkwang rice. The rice-barley mixture was cooked using general and high pressure cooking methods with and without fermented alcohol. The quality characteristics such as water binding capacity, pasting characteristic, water solubility, and swelling power of different proportions of barley were evaluated. The antioxidant characteristics evaluated are total polyphenol, flavonoid contents, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) diammonium salt radical scavenging activities. Results showed that peak [195.0~184.0 rapid visco units (RVU)], trough (130.0~116.2 RVU), final (252.0~221.8 RVU), and setback viscosity (57.0~37.5 RVU) decreased correspondingly with the increase in the amount of barley. Water binding capacity (187.31~136.01%) and swelling power (162.37~127.58%) decreased as amounts of barley increases, however the water solubility (5.35~6.89%) increased. Moreover, the total polyphenol and flavonoid, and the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities contents increased as the amounts of barley in the mixture increases. This study generally aims to provide useful information for the manufacturing of processed products.

The effect of feeding barley or hay alone or in combination with molassed sugar beet pulp on the metabolic responses in plasma and caecum of horses

Highly fermentable fibre sources like sugar beet pulp (SBP) might be fed as an alternative to starch rich concentrate to horses. However, including soluble fibre from SBP in a meal of concentrate might delay gastric emptying and increase viscosity in the small intestine, altering or impairing glucose absorption, hence affect the metabolic responses measured in plasma and the hindgut. Four diets with different carbohydrate composition were investigated in a 4×4 Latin square design experiment in four periods using four caecum cannulated Norwegian coldblooded trotter horses. The diets were hay only (HAY), hay and molassed SBP (HAY+SBP), hay and pelleted barley (BAR), and hay, pelleted barley and molassed SBP (BAR+SBP). The amount of barley (2g starch/kg body weight (BW)) fed in the test meals was similar for the BAR and BAR+SBP diets. Each diet was fed for 16days followed by data collection, then each horse changed to a new diet in the next period. Caecum pH and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles and the metabolic responses measured in plasma at rest were followed for 9h after the test meal. Caecum pH decreased more (P<0.001) after feeding BAR and BAR+SBP than after HAY and HAY+SBP. Diet also affected the proportions of acetate (P<0.001) and propionate (P<0.001) with less acetate and more propionate measured on the BAR and BAR+SBP diets than on the HAY and HAY+SBP diets, reflecting differences in the substrates fermented by the caecal microbes. Feeding barley resulted in a postprandial increase in plasma glucose (P=0.030) and insulin (P<0.001) whereas these values remained almost stable when the fibre-based diets were fed. The total SCFA concentration in the caecum was greater (P<0.001) on the BAR and BAR+SBP diets than on the HAY and HAY+SBP diets. However, the plasma concentrations of SCFA were differently affected with greater (P<0.001) levels of SCFA (mainly acetate) in horses fed the HAY and HAY+SBP diets than in the BAR and BAR+SBP fed horses, reflecting a shift in the provision of carbohydrate derived nutrients from the small to the large intestine in response to the dietary carbohydrate composition. In conclusion, there was no effect of adding molassed SBP to a meal of barley compared to feeding barley alone, and fluctuations in plasma and caecal variables were more stable when feeding hay and molassed SBP than feeding barley.

Due tavolette neo-sumeriche di ricevute di orzo e di argento

The two Neo-Sumerian texts from the British Museum published here have to be added to the dossier of Ur-Bau, a moneylender of unknown origin. In the first tablet a certain Seskalla receives silver for one-month harvest work as well as barley on loan. In the second text, the same Seskalla receives from Ur-Bau an amount of barley, in this case probably also on loan, at the unusually high value of 210 sila for 1 shekel of silver, the usual value being 300 sila for 1 shekel.

Plasma fatty acids, prostaglandin F2alpha metabolite, and reproductive response in postpartum heifers fed rumen bypass fat.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether feeding rumen-protected fatty acids (FA) to postpartum heifers would increase plasma concentrations of linoleic acid and PGF2, metabolite (PGFM), shorten the interval from calving to first increase in plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4), and increase pregnancy rate relative to controls. Hereford x Angus heifers (346 kg) were assigned randomly to treatments containing either lipid or barley supplemented diets for the first 30 d postpartum. Lipid was .23 kg.heifer(-1).d(-1) of calcium salts of FA (CSFA; n = 20), and an isocaloric amount of barley served as the control (n = 19). Supplements, with .23 kg of barley as a vehicle, and a basal diet of meadow and alfalfa hays were pen fed to heifers (5/pen). Heifers were bled on alternate days (d1 to 30) and twice weekly (d 30 to 2 wk after first estrus) for RIA of plasma PGFM and P4, respectively. Weight percentage of major FA in plasma on d1 and 7 was determined with gas chromatography. First behavioral estrus was detected by use of intact bulls and confirmed by an increase in plasma P4. On d 7, but not d 1, plasma from heifers fed CSFA had altered proportions of major FA (P < .01), including an increase in linoleic acid compared with those of controls (29.1 vs 25.6% of total FA; SE = .75; P < .01). Analysis of variance of contrast variables revealed an effect of treatment on direction of change in PGFM from d 3 to 5 (P < .01). By d 7 and on d 9, plasma concentrations of PGFM were greater in heifers fed CSFA than in controls (P = .02 and P = .06, respectively). There was no difference in plasma concentration of PGFM between treatments on d 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, and 15 postpartum (P = .80, .17, .52, .82, .46, and .77, respectively). Days to first estrus with ovulation, pregnancy rate, and calving interval were not affected by treatments (P = .58, .52, and .24, respectively). Although supplemental lipid fed to primiparous beef heifers increased plasma levels of linoleic acid and production of PGFM in the early postpartum period, it did not improve the fertility of these heifers in the subsequent breeding season.

Variation in food selection among lambs: effects of basal diet and foods offered in a meal.

In studies of behavior and nutrition, we typically determine nutritional needs and formulate diets for the average member of the herd, not for specific individuals within a herd. Nevertheless, variation among individuals could affect productivity of the group if the diet diverges too much from what individuals at the extremes prefer to eat. Thus, it is important to determine the degree to which individuals within a group vary in their food preferences when offered alternatives. Our first objective was to determine the degree to which lambs differed in preference for foods high in energy (barley) or protein (alfalfa) (Exp. 1). When we offered lambs barley and alfalfa for ad libitum consumption for 25 d, individuals varied in the amounts of barley (range: 221 to 991 g/d) and alfalfa (range: 51 to 558 g/d) they consumed (P < .0001). At one extreme, individuals preferred a diet of 6% alfalfa and 94% barley; at the other extreme, individuals preferred a diet of 70% alfalfa and 30% barley. Our second objective was to determine whether lambs from Exp. 1 compensated, when fed a basal diet that was lower in alfalfa than they preferred, by ingesting foods higher in alfalfa when offered a meal (Exp. 2). Lambs were ranked according to the percentage of alfalfa (range from 6 to 70%) and barley (range from 94 to 30%) they ate during Exp. 1 and then assigned alternately to two treatments: 1) basal diet with similar proportions of alfalfa and barley consumed ad libitum (preferred diet) or 2) basal diet with 10% less alfalfa than consumed ad libitum (low-alfalfa diet). We then conducted three trials in which lambs fed the different basal diets were offered a meal for 15 min/d for 2 d of two foods that differed in barley and alfalfa. During Trial 1, when we offered barley and alfalfa, lambs in both groups preferred barley (138 g) to alfalfa (46 g) (P < .05). During Trial 2, when the test foods (barley and alfalfa) were diluted with grape pomace (20%), lambs fed the preferred basal diet ate more barley (116 vs 64 g) and less alfalfa (48 vs 87 g) than lambs fed the low-alfalfa basal diet (P < .05). During Trial 3, when we offered a food high in barley (80% barley and 20% pomace) and a food high in alfalfa (70% alfalfa, 14% cornstarch, and 16% pomace), lambs fed the preferred basal diet ate more of the high-barley food (124 vs 73 g) and less of the high-alfalfa food (45 vs 98 g) than lambs fed the low-alfalfa basal diet (P < .05). Collectively, these results illustrate that lambs varied greatly in their preferences for foods that differ in energy (barley) and protein (alfalfa), and that when their preferred basal diet was altered, lambs compensated by ingesting food that complemented their basal diet during a daily meal. The addition of grape pomace in Trials 2 and 3 reduced the protein content of the high-barley and high-alfalfa foods such that the high-barley food was only marginally adequate to meet needs compared with the high-alfalfa food. Lambs fed the low-alfalfa basal diet compensated by eating more of the high-alfalfa food than lambs fed the preferred basal diet.

Eating barley too frequently or in excess decreases lambs' preference for barley but sodium bicarbonate and lasalocid attenuate the response.

We conducted experiments to determine whether preference for barley was affected when lambs ate various amounts of barley and whether lambs ate more barley when it contained lasalocid and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), both of which attenuate acidosis. In Exp. 1, lambs were assigned to two treatments (six lambs/treatment). For 2 d, lambs in two treatments were offered either 400 or 1,200 g of rolled barley from 0600 to 0700 as a preload meal. A preference ratio [PR = barley ingested/(total amount of alfalfa + barley ingested)] was calculated based on lambs' intake when offered a choice of 200 g each of rolled barley and alfalfa pellets hourly from 0700 to 1100. After the preload meal, lambs in Treatment 1 (400 g preload) showed equal preference for barley (.52) and alfalfa (.48) for 4 h on d 1 (P > .05); their preference for barley was less after the meal of barley on d 1 (.52) than on d 2 (.72), but their preference for barley declined between h 3 (.81) and 4 (.55) of d 2 (P = .11). Lambs in Treatment 2 (1,200 g preload) showed a low preference for barley on d 1 (.29) and 2 (.19) (P < .001). In Exp. 2, lambs were assigned to four treatments (six lambs/treatment): 1) rolled barley + NaHCO3 (2%) + lasalocid (33 ppm); 2) rolled barley + NaHCO3 (2%); 3) rolled barley + lasalocid (33 ppm); or 4) rolled barley. Intake of barley by lambs offered NaHCO3 + lasalocid (Treatment 1) was greater (P = .07) than that by lambs offered NaHCO3 (Treatment 2), whereas intake by lambs offered lasalocid (Treatment 3) was similar (P > .05) to that by controls. We conclude that eating barley too frequently or in excess caused a decrease in lambs' preference for barley and that NaHCO3 and lasalocid attenuated the aversion.

How herbivores track variable environments: Response to variability of phytotoxins

The concentration of toxins in plants can vary with plant phenology and environmental factors. Changes in toxicity may or may not be associated with changes in plant flavor. These factors may make it difficult for herbivores to avoid toxic plants. We conducted three experiments concerning animals' ability to detect toxins. In experiment 1, we examined whether animals familiar with a tastable toxin on food would adjust intake when toxin concentrations changed. Lambs were initially offered oats with either a low, medium, or high concentration of lithium chloride (LiCl; a salty-tasting toxin). Later, when all lambs were offered oats with the medium concentration of LiCl, lambs that were conditioned with the low LiCl concentration decreased intake while lambs conditioned with the high LiCl concentration increased intake. In experiment 2, we examined flavor aversions formed when animals sampled food with two flavor levels prior to illness. Lambs initially ate the same amount of barley with a low and with a high concentration of either sodium saccharin (a sweet flavor) or aluminum sulfate (a bitter flavor). Lambs then received a mild dose of LiCl. Later, when lambs were offered a choice between barley with either a low or high flavor concentration, lambs preferred the barley with the low flavor concentration. Experiment 3 examined how variable toxicity affected intake when the flavor remained constant. Lambs were initially offered oregano-flavored barley and then received a dose of LiCl. Lambs received either a medium dose, a high dose, or a dose that varied randomly among low, medium, or high amounts of LiCl. Lambs in the medium dose group ate more oregano-flavored barley at the end of the trial than did lambs in either of the other groups.

Performance of growing steers fed either hay or silage supplemented with canola or fish meal

One hundred and eighty-six crossbred steers (194.4 ± 1.5 kg) were used to determine the effect of protein supplementation of medium-quality grass hay or silage on performance during wintering and compensatory growth during the grazing period. All steers received the hay or the silage ad libitum during the 182-d wintering period. They were also fed fixed quantities of one of three supplements: C, a control with no supplemental protein; CM, a canola meal; and FM, a fish meal containing supplements. Daily amounts of supplementation were fixed to supply to each steer the same amount of barley (85 g 100 kg−1 BW), of dry molasses (15 g 100 kg−1 BW) and of minerals, vitamins and Bovatec (10 g 100 kg−1 BW). The protein supplements CM and FM supplied the equivalent of 95 g of crude protein daily 100 kg−1 BW compared with 15 g 100 kg−1 BW for the control. Expressed as g kg−0.75, forage DM intake was 13.3% higher when fed as hay than as silage (P &lt; 0.0001). Protein supplementation increased forage DM intake when fed as hay (P &lt; 0.02) but not when fed as silage. Average daily gains (ADG) tended to be 5.8% higher for steers fed hay than for those fed silage (P = 0.06). Protein supplementation markedly improved ADG (P &lt; 0.0001). When hay was fed, no differences were found in ADG between CM and FM supplementation; however, FM supplementation produced higher ADG than CM when silage was fed (P &lt; 0.001). Feed efficiency was not affected by the type of forage fed, but it was higher for steers receiving protein supplementation (P &lt; 0.001), the effect being more evident when the forage was fed as silage (P &lt; 0.001) than when fed as hay (P = 0.07). Compensatory gains were obtained when the steers were taken out to pasture in early spring; steers fed silage, which obtained smaller ADG during wintering, showed higher ADG in pasture (P &lt; 0.01). After 62 d grazing, the effect of protein supplementation during winter on body weight had almost disappeared. Key words: Protein supplementation, forages, cattle, growth

Feeding Barley to Poultry: A Review

Barley is utilized to best advantage in poultry diets when consideration is given to the class of bird being fed and the desired level of performance. As with other cereal grains barley must be ground to achieve maximum utilization when used in poultry diets. The β-glucans inherent to most barleys can create problems for young birds and birds raised on litter. The amount of barley in broiler diets can gradually by increased as the birds become adapted to it. When poultry are fed barleybased diets, reduced variability in performance and improved growth can be obtained through the use of enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementation is not required in iayer diets that contain barley. However, during peak production periods barley should not be used as the sole grain components. Young turkeys responded to enzyme supplementation of barley diet with improved average daily gains and feed efficiencies.

Milk production and concentrations of blood metabolites as influenced by the level of wet distiller’s solubles in dairy cows receiving grass silage-based diet

Twelve Finnish Ayrshire cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 4-week experimental periods to study the effects of replacing increasing amount of barley with wet distiller’s solubles (WDS) on feed intake, milk production, digestibility and blood constituents. The four dietary treatments consisted of grass silage ad libitum and 7.8 kg dry matter (DM)/d of barley, of which 0 (WDSO), 1 (WDS1), 2 (WDS2) and 3 kg DM/d (WDS3) was replaced with WDS. Mainly because of a greater intake of concentrate with WDS containing diets silage DM intake varied quadratically (P

UTILIZATION OF GRASS SILAGE BY CATTLE: FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF FISHMEAL

Following weaning at 6–7 mo of age, 48 beef calves were used to determine growth response when two grass silages of contrasting nutritive value were supplemented with small amounts of barley or fishmeal. The silages were fed ad libitum for 112 d either alone or supplemented with 500 g barley or 500 g fishmeal per day. Both silages had similar cell wall and organic acid contents but silage 1 had higher nitrogen, 3.1 vs. 2.4% of dry matter (DM), and lower soluble sugar levels, 3.7 vs. 7.7% of DM, compared with silage 2. Animals fed silage 2 alone grew faster (P &lt; 0.01) than calves fed silage 1 alone, 1.25 vs. 0.88 kg d−1. Supplementation with barley had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on liveweight gain; however, fishmeal substantially increased growth rate on both silages (P &lt; 0.01), 0.49 and 0.3 kg d−1 for silages 1 and 2 respectively. Fishmeal tended to increase total DM intake of the silage 1 diet by an amount equivalent to the quantity of supplement offered but had no effect on DM intake of either silage (P &gt; 0.05). Fishmeal supplementation also resulted in improved (P &lt; 0.05) feed efficiency with both silages. Key words: Cattle, grass silage, fishmeal, growth

A comparison of long and shredded cereal straw for beef cattle

ABSTRACTThirty Hereford × Friesian steers initially weighing 320 kg were used in two experiments, to compare the effects of mechanical processing of barley straw and the amount of rolled barley offered on intake and live-weight gain. The straw was offered ad libitum either in the long form or shredded through a 40 mm screen and supplemented with 20, 35 and 50 g barley DM per kgW"75 per day (L, M and H respectively). A solution providing 12 g urea per kg straw dry matter (DM) was sprayed onto the straw and all the animals were offered daily 480 g of soya bean meal with minerals and vitamins. In the first experiment, which had a change-over design, the animals were weighed at the beginning and the end of each period. The daily consumption of shredded straw (kg DM) was L 3·38, M 3·29 and H 3·00 and of long straw L 3·94, M 4·02 and H 3·56 (s.e. of difference, 0·29). There were significant differences in straw intake between steers offered the long and the shredded straw (P &lt; 0·001) but no differences in intake when different amounts of barley were offered within the same physical form of straw. The mean daily live-weight gains for treatments L, M and H respectively were 0·25, 0·66 and 0·80 kg for steers given shredded straw and 0·32, 0·62 and 0·87 kg (s.e. of difference, 0·1) for those offered long straw. At the end of the first experiment the same animals were kept for a further 10 weeks on the same straw treatment but only treatments L and H were continued, the steers from treatment M being distributed between L and H. The straw intakes and live-weight gains were in agreement with those observed in the first experiment

Effects of protein concentration in the diet on milk yield, change in body composition and the efficiency of utilization of body tissue for milk production in ewes

ABSTRACTTwenty-five mature Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes, each suckling two lambs, were used to measure the effects of dietary concentration of crude protein on food intake, milk yield and changes in body composition during the first 6 weeks of lactation. Diets were complete mixes of milled hay and concentrates, and the amounts of barley and fish meal were altered to give crude protein concentrations of 116 and 143g/kg dry matter. Ten ewes were slaughtered at 5 to 7 days of lactation and the remaining ewes were slaughtered at 40 to 43 days of lactation.The higher concentration of crude protein in the diet did not alter food intake or digestion. Milk yield was not altered in the first 3 weeks of lactation but was increased in weeks 4 and 5 (P&lt;0·05). Production of milk protein was increased by a higher protein concentration in the diet (P&lt;0·01) and this effect was evident from the 2nd week of lactation. Weight of chemically determined fat in the body decreased from 179 to 13-0kg from 6 to 42 days of lactation (P&lt;0·001) for ewes on diets of both concentrations of crude protein.It was concluded that the higher level of protein intake during early lactation increased yields of milk and milk protein. The data suggest that the energy lost from the body was used more efficiently by ewes given the diet of high, rather than low, protein content.

The voluntary intake of oat straw by adult cattle as affected by the method of dietary presentation of a concentrated solution of urea, minerals and vitamins

SUMMARYThree experiments were conducted to assess the effects of several methods of dietary presentation of 250 g/day of a fully soluble liquid supplement (LS) on the voluntary intake of oat straw by non-productive cows fitted with a rumen fistula (Expt 1), pregnant beef cows (Expt 2) and lactating beef cows (Expt 3). In each case the cows received fixed daily amounts of barley (2 kg for Expts 1 and 2; 3 kg for Expt 3). LS contained (g/kg) about 1100 crude protein (as urea), 30 calcium, 15 phosphorus and 50 salt plus trace elements and vitamins. In Expt 1, provision of LS in either the drinking water, or via the rumen fistula or sprayed on to the straw increased voluntary straw intake by about 12%. In Expt 2, provision of LS, whether by spraying on the straw or in a molasses lick, increased straw consumption, but giving LS in the drinking water did not. In both Expts 1 and 2 the digestibility of the oat straw was not significantly affected by the dietary supplement, any increases in metabolizable energy intake being reflexions of increased intakes. In Expt 3 there was no difference in the voluntary intake of oat straw by group-fed lactating beef cows offered LS in either the drinking water or as a molasses lick.Giving LS sprayed on the straw, or incorporating it into a molasses lick to housed animals, are convenient and practical methods of supplementing ruminant diets to increase their voluntary straw consumption. Inclusion of LS in drinking water gave inconsistent results, but the method warrants further investigation.

Dehydrated Mink Manure as a Protein Source for Growing Pigs

The use of dehydrated mink manure as a protein source for growing pigs was studied by substituting 7.5 and 15 % (w/w) of the complete feed with manure and a corresponding amount of barley. The manure used had a poor feed value as compared to the values obtained earlier in digestibility tests in minks. The crude protein content was 21.3 %. The addition of mink manure to the feed did not adversely affect the feed consumption, nor were any effects on the health of the pigs observed. The differences in daily gain and feed efficiency recorded between the experimental groups were not statistically significant. The number of experimental animals was small, and a large variation occurred within the groups. The addition of mink manure to the diet resulted in lower weight gain, apparently due to a lower energy supply. The groups given mink manure received less feed units than the controls. No harmful effects of the manure feeding on carcase quality was observed and organoleptic tests revealed no changes in the smell or taste of the meat. No changes were found in the digestive tracts, livers or kidneys of the pigs.

FEEDING VALUE OF SILAGE FROM A TILLERING AND A NONTILLERING HYBRID CORN

Whole-plant silages made from a tillering corn hybrid (Zea mays L.) and a nontillering corn hybrid had similar digestibilities of dry matter, energy, and protein as assessed with wether sheep. When the silages were fed as the only feed for 56 days to yearling Hereford steers weighing an average of 370 kg, the intake of silage from the nontillering corn tended to be low and the steers only maintained their weight. Steers fed silage from the tillering corn gained 0.45 kg/day. However, with supplemental steamed, rolled barley being given for the remainder of the 112 days, average weight gains for the total period did not differ significantly (P &lt; 0.05) between steers on the two silages. When barley was fed with each of the silages at 0.5% of body weight, the average daily gain of steers for 112 days was the same for the two silages (0.79 kg/day). The digestible energy consumed per unit of gain did not differ significantly (P &lt; 0.05) between the two silages. We conclude that, when fed with a limited amount of barley, silages of equal feeding value could be made from tillering and nontillering corn hybrids grown in southern Alberta.