Chewing Behavior Research Articles

Substitution of wheat straw with sugarcane bagasse in low-forage diets fed to mid-lactation dairy cows: Milk production, digestibility, and chewing behavior

Sugarcane bagasse (SB) is a low-quality roughage source that is often plentiful during times of forage shortage. It is generally less costly compared with other conventional sources of forage. We hypothesized that SB could be used as a source of roughage for dairy cattle by replacing wheat straw (WS), another low-quality forage. This study evaluated the effects of replacing WS with SB in diets offered to mid-lactation dairy cows on milk production and fatty acid profile, intake, digestibility, chewing activity, and ruminal fermentation. Nine multiparous Holstein cows averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 105 ± 12 d in milk, 42.1 ± 2.9 kg of milk/d, and 617 ± 59 kg of body weight were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square with 21-d periods. Treatments were (% of dietary dry matter, DM): (1) 0SB, diet containing 0% SB and 27% WS, (2) 9SB, diet containing 9% SB and 18% WS, and (3) 18SB, diet containing 18% SB and 9% WS. Sugarcane bagasse had greater organic matter (OM; 94.1 vs. 85.1% of DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 86.2 vs. 76.4% of DM), acid detergent fiber (ADF; 62.9 vs. 45.2% of DM), and lignin (19.9 vs. 10.3% of DM) concentration, but less crude protein (CP; 2.63 vs. 3.72% of DM) concentration than WS. Sugarcane bagasse also had greater physically effective NDF (total dietary NDF multiplied by % of TMR on the 8-mm + 19-mm sieves, peNDF8; 63.2 vs. 40.6% of DM) and undegraded NDF after 288 h of incubation (uNDF288; 35.5 vs. 21.2% of DM) contents than WS. The undegraded NDF after 30 h of incubation (uNDF30) content was similar for all diets; however, peNDF8 concentration and proportion of long particles (retained on a 19-mm sieve) increased linearly as SB inclusion in the diets increased. Cows increasingly sorted against long particles as SB replaced WS. Intakes of DM (26.53 kg/d) and NDF (8.58 kg/d) did not differ among the treatments, but intakes of OM and CP decreased, whereas ADF and uNDF288 intakes increased with SB inclusion level. Total-tract digestibilities of OM, CP, and NDF decreased linearly as SB replaced WS. Milk yield (37.0 kg/d), energy-corrected milk yield (ECM; 38.2 kg/d), feed efficiency (1.44 kg ECM yield/kg DM intake), and milk composition (fat, 3.89%; true protein, 2.90%) did not differ among diets. Increasing SB concentration of the diet linearly increased rumination time, but ruminal pH (ruminocentesis, 4 h after feeding) decreased. Total volatile fatty acid concentration increased linearly, whereas acetate:propionate decreased linearly, as SB replaced WS. The results indicate that replacement of WS with increasing levels of SB in low-forage diets with similar uNDF30 concentrations did not affect performance of mid-lactation dairy cows. We conclude that SB can be used as a fiber source in diets fed to dairy cows in mid-lactation; however, the decrease in total-tract digestibility of diets may decrease lactational performance when fed to high-producing dairy cows.

Associations of Food-Chewing Discomfort with Health Behaviors and Cognitive and Physical Health Using Pooled Data from the Korean Health Panel (2010-2013).

Using 4 years of pooled data from the Korean Health Panel (2010–2013), the prevalence of food-chewing discomfort in adults over the age of 19 was investigated and the cross-sectional relationship between food-chewing discomfort and health behaviors and cognitive and physical health was identified. The prevalence of food-chewing discomfort was 31%: young adults (<40 years), 17.9%; middle-aged adults (40–64 years), 28.9%; and older adults (≥65 years), 57.1% (p < 0.0001). When food-chewing discomfort was sometimes, often, or always rather than never, odds ratios (ORs) were analyzed after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Significant OR results of target variables were smoking (OR 1.15, 1.37, 1.50), drinking (1.08, 0.87, 0.73), problem drinking (1.87, 1.67, 1.34), abstinence from drinking (1.23, 1.34, 1.42), nonphysical activity (OR 0.87 only significant, 0.94 nonsignificant, 1.10 nonsignificant), memory decline (2.07, 2.56, 3.31), decision-making difficulty (1.76, 2.78, 4.37), limitation of daily life due to illness (2.29, 3.60, 3.92), and the presence of a chronic disease (1.28, 1.62, 1.73), respectively. In conclusion, there were associations of food-chewing discomfort with increased smoking and decreased alcohol consumption, with increased difficulty in decision-making and memory decline, limitations in daily life due to disease, and the presence of chronic diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the causal relationship between chewing and health behaviors and cognitive and physical health through longitudinal studies.

Reduced Cortical Thickness in the Right Caudal Middle Frontal Is Associated With Symptom Severity in Betel Quid-Dependent Chewers.

BackgroundFindings from brain structural imaging studies on betel quid dependence have supported relations between betel quid chewing and alterations in gray matter volume and white matter integrity. However, the effect of betel quid chewing on cortical thickness and the link between cortical thickness and symptom severity remains unascertained.MethodsIn this observational study, we compared cortical thickness measures from 24 male betel quid-dependent chewers with 27 male healthy controls. Using FreeSufer, we obtained three-dimensional T1-weighted images that were used to compute the thickness of the cerebral cortex throughout the cortical layer.ResultsCompared to healthy controls, betel quid dependent chewers displayed significant decreased cortical thickness in the precuneus, entorhinal, right paracentral, middle temporal, and caudal middle frontal gyri. Betel quid dependence scale scores negatively correlated (r = -0.604; p = 0.002) with reduced cortical thickness in the right caudal middle frontal of betel quid-dependent chewers.ConclusionThe findings provide evidence for cortical thickness abnormality in betel dependent chewers and further propose that the severity of betel quid symptoms may be a critical aspect associated with the cortical alterations. The observed alterations may serve as potential mechanisms to explain why BQ chewing behavior is persistent among individuals with betel quid dependence.

Distinct responses in feed sorting, chewing behavior, and ruminal acidosis risk between primiparous and multiparous Simmental cows fed diets differing in forage and starch levels

During early lactation, both primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) cows are commonly fed diets rich in starch and low in forages to support their high energy requirements. Yet, the PP cows experience this dietary challenge for the first time, which might result in higher odds for them to develop rumen and systemic health disorders. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of decreasing the amount of forages in the diet on chewing and sorting behaviors and rumen and systemic health variables in PP and MP dairy cows. Twenty-four lactating Simmental cows [8 PP, average dry matter intake (DMI) of 19.1 ± 1.1 kg/d; 16 MP, average DMI of 22.5 ± 1.1 kg/d] with a body weight of 737 ± 90 kg and 50 ± 22 days in milk were used in this study. Cows were first fed a total mixed ration with 60% forage and 40% concentrate [on a dry matter (DM) basis] considered marginal in forages for 2 wk. Then, cows were switched to a diet low in forages with 40% forage and 60% concentrate (on a DM basis) for 4 wk. Reticular pH was measured continuously with wireless pH-sensors inserted into the reticulum to calculate the subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) index. Chewing activity was measured with noseband-sensor halters, and feed sorting was measured weekly. Blood samples were collected weekly and analyzed for metabolic and inflammation markers. Switching PP and MP cows from a marginal to low-forage diet decreased the time spent eating and ruminating per kilogram of DM. Primiparous cows chewed longer per kilogram of DMI than MP cows. Also, the PP cows sorted more pronounced for longer particles and against fine particles than MP cows did. Despite higher rumination activity per kilogram of DMI and the adaptive sorting behavior, the PP cows spent on average 4.6 h/d longer below a pH of 5.8 and had a higher SARA index (i.e., area pH <5.8/DMI) than MP cows, especially during the first week of the low-forage diet (9.5 vs. 4.8). The concentration of liver enzymes increased with the low-forage diet, which was especially pronounced in the PP cows. In conclusion, this study demonstrated greater susceptibility of PP cows to SARA and liver damage than MP cows fed the same diets. Although PP cows demonstrated greater chewing and ruminating activity per kilogram of DMI, as well as adapted sorting behavior in favor of large particles during the low-forage high-starch feeding, they developed more severe signs of SARA. This suggests higher forage fiber requirements for PP cows and the need for improved feeding strategies to mitigate rumen fermentation disorders during early lactation in these cows.

The Contribution of Interleukin-12A Genotypes to Oral Cancer Risk in Taiwanese.

Oral cancer incidence is highest worldwide in Taiwan, and practical markers for personalized therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapies, is lacking. Interleukin-12 (IL12) is a cytokine that is reported to exhibit potent tumoricidal effects, however, its genotypic contribution to oral cancer is still largely unknown. We aimed to examine whether IL12A rs568408 and rs2243115 genotypes are associated with oral cancer risk in Taiwan. Genotypic characteristics of IL12A were determined among 958 oral cancer cases and age- and gender-matched individuals via typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. The variant genotypes of IL12A rs568408 and rs2243115 were not found to be significantly associated with elevated oral cancer risk (all p>0.05). Moreover, there was no interaction between IL12A genotypes and personal smoking, alcohol drinking and betel quid chewing behaviors (all p>0.05). IL12A rs568408 and rs2243115 genotypes may not serve as good predictors for oral cancer risk.

Effect of food hardness on chewing behavior in children

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of food hardness on chewing behavior in children compared with adults.Materials and methodsHealthy children (3–17 years) were equally divided into five groups based on their dental eruption stages. Each participant ate soft and hard viscoelastic test food models (3 each), while the three-dimensional jaw movements and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the bilateral masseter muscles were recorded. The data from the children were compared with a control group of healthy adults (18–35 years). The data were analyzed with nonparametric tests.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the number of chewing cycles and the duration of the chewing sequence between children groups and adults. Children with primary dentition (3–5 years) showed shorter lateral jaw movement and higher muscle activity at the end of the chewing sequence, compared with adults. Further, children’s age-groups (3–14 years) failed to adapt their jaw muscle activity to food hardness. However, at the late-permanent dentition stage (15–17 years), children were capable of performing adult-like chewing behavior.ConclusionsOverall, it seems that children as young as 3-year-old are quite competent in performing basic chewing function similar to adults. Yet, there are differences in the anticipation or adaption of jaw muscle activity and jaw kinematics to food hardness.Clinical relevanceThe study may have clinical implication in the diagnosis and management of children with chewing impairment associated with dental malocclusions and other orofacial dysfunctions.

Comparing the effects of silage and hay from similar parent grass forages on organic dairy cows’ feeding behavior, feed intake and performance

While ensiling is globally the predominant forage preservation method, feeding hay as the sole source of forage has re-emerged in alpine, grassland-based dairying. Studies have shown that many factors could modulate the effects of the forage conservation method on cows’ responses, such as plant species, stage of maturity, cutting and wilting time, and forage cut length. In the present study, forages were obtained from the same fields (grass-dominated swards), mowed at the same time, and treated equally during wilting (roughly for 28 h; 56% DM at harvest). Windrows were harvested alternately using a loading wagon set to a specific cut length (8 cm), either for ensiling in a horizontal silo or barn-drying using an air dehumidifier. Nine months later, 2 feeding groups, with 9 cows each, were offered either one or the other of the conserved forages ad-libitum along with a fixed allocation of concentrate per cow (3.6 kg/d; DM basis) over a period of 34 d. Assignment of cows to groups was based on previous milk yield, body weight, DIM, and parity. Data collection started after a 14-d adaptation period. Data for covariate adjustment of chewing behavior, feed intake, milk performance parameters, and body weight were collected during a period of 9 d, prior to experimental feeding.Results revealed that the cows fed hay tended to increase forage DM intake (18.3 versus 17.8 kg/d; P = 0.07) and ingested a higher amount of water-soluble carbohydrates (+1.2 kg/d; P < 0.01). Hay-fed cows showed a trend towards a greater milk energy output (30.1 versus 28.5 kg energy corrected milk/d; P = 0.09) mainly due to an elevated milk fat yield (1.26 versus 1.16 kg/d; P = 0.02). The total chewing times in both groups were equal, suggesting that the physical effectiveness of fiber was the same, but the fact that cows on hay shortened rumination times per kg of ingested DM (P = 0.02) and NDF (P = 0.01) indicates a greater particle breakdown while eating. Cows on silage tended to sort against CP (P = 0.06) and had a significantly (P = 0.01) looser consistency of feces, but the DM contents did not differ (P = 0.15) when compared with those of hay-fed cows.It can be concluded that grass forages conserved as hay, rather than silage, were more attractive for cows and led to a higher milk energy output. Besides the preferential intake aspects, it can be assumed that the higher content of water-soluble carbohydrates in hay enhanced ruminal fermentation processes, which in turn provided cows with additional amounts of nutrients and energy.

Effect of Feed Delivery Rate and Pellet Size on Rearing Performance, Feed Wastage and Economic Profitability in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus Aurata) Ongrowing

Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) displays a particular eating behaviour that involves considerable oral manipulation and feed waste. We assess the influence of feed delivery rate and pellet size on seabream growth and size variability, feed wastage and economic profitability for a full production cycle. Batches of seabream were fed twice a day according to three different treatments (T1, T2, T3). T1 and T2 fish were fed with the same regime of pellet sizes: 2 mm pellets until the fish reached 0.1 kg, and 4 mm pellets from then on; the feeding rate in T1 was twice that of T2 (20 and 10 g min−1, respectively). T3 fish were fed with pellets of 2 mm until they reached 0.07 kg, with pellets of 4 mm until the fish reached 0.22 kg, and with 6 mm pellets from then on, with a feeding rate of 10 g min−1. T2 showed increased growth, low variability in fish size during the ongrowing and at harvest, less feed wastage both related to the delivery and the chewing behaviour, lower feed costs and improved profitability. Seabream wasted more feed during the second meal. Controlling the feeding process is essential to reduce wastage and increase profitability, which can be achieved by process monitoring and suitable feed pellet management.

Rationale and design of a randomized, controlled, superiority trial on areca nut/betel quid cessation: The Betel Nut Intervention Trial (BENIT)

BackgroundAreca nut (AN) is the seed endosperm of the Areca catechu L. palm and a Group 1 carcinogen chewed by 10–20% of the world population. AN is often chewed with Piper betle L. leaf, slaked lime, and tobacco to form a betel quid (BQ). The negative health effects associated with AN/BQ consumption warrant the need for an evidence-based cessation program. However, systematic research on AN/BQ cessation is rare. Methods/designThe Betel Nut Intervention Trial (BENIT; trial #NCT02942745) is a randomized controlled trial designed to test the efficacy of an intensive AN/BQ cessation program. The trial is ongoing in Guam and Saipan with adult chewers who include tobacco in their BQ. Enrolled participants are assessed for their primary (chewing status) and secondary (saliva bio-verification) outcome at baseline, 22 days, and 6 months. Participants randomized into the control arm receive an educational booklet while those randomized into the intervention arm receive the educational booklet and a 22-day cessation program modeled after a smoking cessation program and led by trained facilitators. Information on chewing behavior (history, reasons for chewing, and AN/BQ composition and dependency) are collected. The intervention effectiveness is assessed using the logistic mixed model to compare cessation status between randomization groups. DiscussionAN/BQ chewing affects a large population of people, many of whom live in low and moderate income countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Although the BENIT focuses on chewers in Guam and Saipan, it has the potential for greater regional and global importance.

Symposium review: Nutrition strategies for improved health, production, and fertility during the transition period

Dairy cow nutritional programs are a major determinant of the profitability of dairy farms. Despite this, the sustainability of the dairy enterprise is beyond just cow nutrition. For almost 50 yr, the NC-2042 project (Management Systems to Improve the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Dairy Enterprises) has been addressing most of these components as individual research units and in integrated ways. This review has the objective to report the body of research developed by members of the group in connection with the existing literature on dietary formulation and feeding management during the dry period, peripartal period, and early postpartum (fresh) period. Peak disease incidence (shortly after parturition) corresponds with the time of greatest negative energy balance (NEB), the peak in blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, and the greatest acceleration of milk yield. Decreased fertility in the face of increasing milk production may be attributable to greater severity of postpartal NEB resulting from inadequate transition management or increased rates of disease. The depth and duration of NEB is highly related to dry matter intake. Periparturient diseases can result from adverse ruminal conditions caused by excessive grain in the precalving or fresh cow diet, perhaps aggravated by overcrowding, heat stress, or other stressors. Others have also implicated inflammatory responses in alterations of metabolism, occurrence of health problems, and impaired reproduction. Providing controlled-energy and negative dietary cation-anion difference diets prepartum may improve dairy cow performance during the transition period. A major area of concern in the fresh cow period is a sudden increase in dietary energy density leading to subacute ruminal acidosis, which can decrease dry matter intake and digestibility of nutrients. Adequate physical form of the diet, derived from either forage neutral detergent fiber content or a mixing strategy of different ingredients in a total mixed ration, must be present to stimulate ruminal activity and chewing behavior. In conclusion, formulation and delivery of appropriate diets that limit total energy intake to requirements but also provide proper intakes of all other nutrients (including the most limiting amino acids Met and Lys) before calving can help lessen the extent of NEB after calving. Effects of such diets on indicators of metabolic health are generally positive, suggesting the potential to lessen effects of periparturient disease on fertility.

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries among Workers in Microscale and Small-Scale Woodworking Enterprise in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background Microscale and small-scale industries have been widely expanded in low-income countries, including Ethiopia, as a job opportunity for young workers, which makes workers vulnerable to injury. Woodworking is one of the high-risk jobs in this sector due to the use of hazardous tools and machineries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of injury and associated contributing factors of this sector. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 634 workers selected from 194 microscale and small-scale woodworking enterprises in Addis Ababa. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire and observation checklist from February to March 2016. Occupational injuries were documented according to the ILO operational definition. Descriptive statistics and multivariable analyses were used to characterize the data and to identify the factors associated with injury at a p value <0.05, respectively. Result A total of 625 (98.6%) workers were interviewed. The prevalence of occupational injury was 92 (14.7%) in the past 12 months. Workers with khat chewing behavior (AOR: 2.25, 95% CI (1.04, 4.85)), job dissatisfaction (AOR: 2.89, 95% CI (1.75, 4.76)), work-related stress (AOR: 4.79, 95% CI (1.69–13.58)), job categories (AOR: 3.52, 95% CI (1.08, 11.41)) and workplace characteristics such as unguarded machines (AOR: 3.32 (1.21, 9.11)), and inadequate work space (AOR: 3.85 (1.14, 13.04)) were significantly associated with occupational injury. Conclusion The prevalence of nonfatal occupational injuries among workers in this study was substantially high. Workers' behavior, psychosocial issues, and work-related characteristics played a causal role in the occurrence of occupational injury. Therefore, workers' safety protection and behavioral intervention should be initiated.

Interaction of Interleukin-16 Genotypes With Betel Quid Chewing Behavior on Oral Cancer in Taiwan.

Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is reported to play an important role in inflammation, carcinogenesis and tumoricidal processes, however, the contribution of IL-16 genotype to oral carcinogenesis is still largely unrevealed. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the contribution of IL-16 genotypes to Taiwan oral cancer risk. The genotypes of IL-16 rs4778889, rs11556218, and rs4072111 were revealed among 958 oral cancer cases and 958 control subjects by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). First, the distributions of genotypic (p=0.0004) and allelic (p=0.0001) frequencies of IL-16 rs11556218 were significantly different between the case and control groups. In detail, the frequencies of IL-16 rs11556218 TG and GG were 28.1 and 5.8%, respectively, among oral cancer patients, significantly higher compared to those among controls (25.0% and 2.7%, respectively). Second, no difference was observed regarding IL-16 rs4778889 or IL-16 rs4072111. Last, there was a synergistic effect of betel quid chewing behavior and risky IL-16 rs11556218 genotype on oral cancer risk. The study indicates that the IL-16 rs11556218 G allele synergistically interacts with betel quid chewing behavior, contributing to increased risk of oral cancer in Taiwanese.

360 Awardee Talk - weight loss strategies in horses

Abstract Almost half of the American horse population is reported to be overweight, with approximately 20% reported as obese. Excessive adiposity is associated with potential health consequences including joint disease, heat intolerance, insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, and laminitis. Health management for affected horses includes strategies that not only decrease fat mass but also improve insulin dynamics, as insulin resistance is closely associated with the development of laminitis. Negative energy balance to achieve fat loss can result from decreased caloric intake, increased energy expenditure, or a combination of both. Decreased calorie intake can be achieved by limiting feed intake by reducing the amount of feed offered, limiting pasture intake (through the use of grazing muzzles or limiting time at pasture), and by selecting lower energy density feeds. Weight-loss research has suggested feeding forages at a rate of 1.5% of body weight (90% DM), balanced with appropriate amounts of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as needed. Some horses appear to be “weight loss resistant” and may require further restrictions under veterinary supervision (closer to 1.0 - 1.2% of body weight). Strict feed restriction may increase the risk of hyperlipidemia, colic, gastric ulcers, the onset of wood chewing behavior and/or the consumption of bedding. Several studies have reported significant weight loss with restricted dietary energy intake, though effects on insulin dynamics are varied. Forced exercise not only increases energy expenditure, but also results in more pronounced improvements on insulin dynamics. Light, moderate and heavier exercise protocols have resulted in improvements in insulin sensitivity, with greater benefits along with fat loss being associated with higher workloads. However, lameness may compromise weight-bearing exercise efforts. It is recommended that weight loss strategies for horses incorporate both dietary energy restriction and increased exercise when possible.

Discrimination of biting and chewing behaviour in sheep using a tri-axial accelerometer

The aim of the current studies was to evaluate the capability of a tri-axial accelerometer, attached to the under-side of a halter and positioned on the under-jaw of a sheep, to discriminate biting and chewing activities of sheep during grazing. Two studies were conducted, the first study evaluated the effect of two diverse pasture species on feeding behaviour using micro-sward boxes: forage oats (Avena sativa cv Eulabah) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv Wimmera). Two, 4-year old Merino ewes grazed each species for approximately four, two minute sessions over two separate days, one week apart. In the second study, the effect of sward height was investigated using nine plots of ryegrass with three different sward heights (mean ± se 4.0 ± 0.15, 6.2 ± 0.17 and 10.3 ± 1.05 cm; P = 0.005) grazed by three 3-year old Merino ewes for 10 min each. Video recordings of behaviours from both studies were visually assessed and annotated into Bite, Chewing and Other. They were then manually synchronised in time with accelerometer output to create annotated data files which were partitioned into three time intervals (1 s, 3 s and 5 s). Forty-four features were calculated from the acceleration signals and used to classify behaviours using a decision tree to determine model accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and precision. For the micro-sward study, Bite activity was classified with a precision of 90.5% for the evaluation data set, whereas for the validation data set it was classified with a precision of 98.1% for the 5 s time interval. Accuracy of the decision-tree model increased as time interval increased for both data sets. For the sward height study, as time interval increased model sensitivity for Bite and Chewing activity improved from 91.2% to 95.5% and from 75.0% to 93.0%, respectively, while model specificity improved from 88.1% to 98.2% and from 92.1% to 95.9%, respectively in the evaluation data set. The same pattern occurred when the model was applied to the validation data set. The accuracy of the decision-tree algorithm to classify Bite, Chewing and Other activities increased as time interval length increased for both data sets. These two studies have shown that tri-axial accelerometers can successfully discriminate feeding behaviours in sheep when placed under the jaw.

Unsafe Chewing: Choking and Other Risks

Unsafe Chewing: Choking and Other Risks

Betel quid chewing and cessation in the sociocultural context of Paiwan people from Taiwan: a qualitative study

Although recent medical studies have found a significant correlation between betel quid chewing and oral cancer, some Taiwanese aboriginal people continue the traditional betel quid culture. Using the transtheoretical model framework, we conducted a qualitative study to examine the stages of behavioral change in betel quid chewing in the Paiwan sociocultural context. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 aboriginal chewers of betel quid. Results of a content analysis showed significant patterns in the precontemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance stages, but none in the preparation stage. Relapse was most likely to occur between the contemplation and action stages. In the precontemplation stage, interviewees showed no motivation to change their chewing behavior due to shared positive attitudes of psychosocial benefits and cultural identity. In the contemplation stage, dependent-type chewers were aware of oral damage and pain caused by chewing betel quid but could not resist their cravings; social-type chewers showed approach–avoidance conflicts between social needs and cessation. Chewers entered the action stage once they decided to quit; “to stop immediately” or “reduce quantity” were the most frequent strategies reported. In this stage, chewers endured withdrawal symptoms and refused betel quid from others but tended to relapse easily. Participants entering the maintenance stage were not affected by withdrawal symptoms and did not have ulcers or pain. Future research should identify ways to preserve traditional aboriginal culture while encouraging aboriginal people to quit betel quid chewing to promote the prevention and treatment of oral cancer.

Lactation performance of dairy cows fed rehydrated and ensiled corn grain differing in particle size and proportion in the diet

Rehydrated and ensiled mature ground corn has high ruminal starch digestibility, but particle size (PS) and dietary starch proportion (ST) can affect starch digestion and lactating cow performance. We evaluated the effect of rehydrated and ensiled corn (REC), PS, and ST on intake, lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation profile, and chewing behavior of dairy cows. Kernels from an 84% vitreousness hybrid were finely (FN) or coarsely (CS) ground, yielding geometric mean particle sizes of 1,591 and 2,185 µm, respectively. Ground kernels were rehydrated [60% dry matter (DM)] and ensiled in 200-L buckets for ≥205 d. The grinding rate (t/h) was 3.9 for FN and 11.7 for CS. The PS did not affect DM loss (11.3% of ensiled) or silage pH (3.8). Samples of each bucket (n = 15/PS) before and after silage fermentation were incubated in situ for 0, 3, 6, 18, and 48 h in 4 rumen-cannulated lactating cows. Ensiling increased the effective ruminal in situ DM degradation (63.7 vs. 34.1%), regardless of PS. Sixteen Holstein cows (152 ± 96 d in milk) in 4 × 4 Latin squares (21-d periods) were individually fed a 2 × 2 factorial combination of low (LO) or high (HI) starch diets with FN or CS. Cows were fed the same REC incubated in situ. Varied concentration of starch in the diet (29.2 vs. 23.5% of DM) was achieved by partial replacement of REC (22.0 vs. 14.2% of DM) with citrus pulp (0 vs. 8.2% of DM). Milk, protein, fat, and lactose yields did not differ. Milk fat percentage was reduced and protein percentage was increased by HI. Treatment FN increased feed efficiency (energy-corrected milk/digestible organic matter intake) when fed with HI. Total-tract starch digestibility tended to be reduced by CS (96.4 vs. 97.2% of starch intake). Serum β-hydroxybutyrate was increased by LO. High-starch diet reduced the molar proportions of acetate and butyrate in ruminal fluid and increased propionate and isoacids. Particle size did not affect ruminal fermentation profile. Coarse grinding reduced plasma d-lactate concentration with HI. Diet HI reduced the proportion of daily intake from 1900 to 0700 h and induced preferential intake of feed particles <8 mm and greater refusal of particles >19 mm in the morning. Fine REC reduced rumination time per day and increased eating time per DM intake. Milk and plasma urea-N did not differ. Ensiling of mature flint corn for >200 d largely eliminated the effect of the PS of REC on the studied outcomes. The proportion of REC in the diet affected ruminal fermentation profile and milk solids concentration, but did not affect short-term performance and digestibility. Coarse grinding of REC may allow increasing the grinding rate and thus save labor and energy during ensiling.

Influence of a novel bm3 corn silage hybrid with floury kernel genetics on lactational performance and feed efficiency of Holstein cows

Dry matter intake, lactation performance, and chewing behavior of multiparous Holstein cows (n = 15) fed diets containing a novel bm3 corn silage hybrid with floury kernel genetics were compared with cows fed diets containing commercially available conventional and bm3 hybrids using a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Cows were housed in tiestalls, milked 3 times/d, and fed a total mixed ration containing 49.0% (dry matter basis) of (1) a conventional corn silage hybrid (CONV); (2) a brown midrib bm3 hybrid (BMR); or (3) a bm3 hybrid with floury kernel genetics (BMRFL). All diets contained 6.3% hay crop silage and 44.7% concentrate. Dietary nutrient composition averaged 32.7% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 26.3 starch (% of dry matter). Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The dry matter intake was greater for cows fed BMR (28.0 kg/d) compared with CONV (26.8 kg/d), whereas dry matter intake for cows fed BMRFL was intermediate (27.6 kg/d). Energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield was greater for cows fed BMR (50.3 kg/d) and BMRFL (51.8 kg/d) compared with CONV (47.2 kg/d). Milk fat yield was higher for cows fed BMRFL (1.87 kg/d) compared with CONV (1.74 kg/d) and BMR (1.80 kg/d). Milk protein yield was greater for cows fed BMR (1.49 kg/d) and BMRFL (1.54 kg/d) compared with CONV (1.36 kg/d). Milk urea-N was reduced for cows fed BMR (11.61 mg/dL) and BMRFL (11.16 mg/dL) compared with CONV (13.60 mg/dL). Feed efficiency (ECM/dry matter intake) was higher for cows fed BMRFL (1.87) compared with CONV (1.76) and BMR (1.79). Milk N efficiency was greatest for cows fed BMRFL (40.4%) followed by BMR (38.1%) and finally CONV (35.3%). Cows fed CONV chewed 5 min more per kilograms of NDF consumed than cows fed either of the BMR hybrids. No differences were observed among diets in apparent total-tract digestibility of NDF (58.1%) or starch (99.3%). Overall lactational performance was enhanced for cows fed diets containing both BMR and BMRFL hybrids versus CONV. In addition, feeding the BMRFL corn silage improved efficiency of component-corrected milk production and milk N efficiency compared with the CONV and BMR silages.

The effect of flavour modulators on chewing gum flavour duration

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of flavour modulators on dynamic flavour perception, salivation and chewing behaviour of chewing gum. Thirty‐nine participants chewed gum for 15 min while assessing flavour intensity, chewing patterns and saliva flow rate. Four flavour modulators (Cooling, Tingling, Salivating and Warming) were added to a citrus‐flavoured gum and compared with a control gum, citrus flavour only. Flavour modulators increased flavour duration as measured by flavour intensity half‐time; the time needed to reduce the flavour intensity by half. The ‘Salivation’ modulator had the smallest effect and ‘Warming’ had the largest effect on flavour duration. Salivary flow rate was significantly increased by the flavour modulators and was highly correlated with the flavour duration. Chewing behaviour was not affected by the modulators. We conclude that the interaction between the citrus flavour, saliva and flavour modulators (Intensates® flavours) increased the perceived flavour duration during chewing by up to 86% compared with Control.

Reciprocal combinations of alfalfa hay and corn silage in the starter diets of Holstein dairy calves: Effects on feed sorting, meal pattern, and ingestive behavior

We investigated the effects of replacing alfalfa hay (AH) with corn silage (CS) in the starter diet on feed intake, feeding and chewing behavior, and sorting activity using 30 newborn male Holstein calves which were assigned randomly to 3 groups receiving starter diets containing chopped AH [100.00 g/kg on dry matter (DM) basis; AH), CS (100.00 g/kg; CS), or their equal combination (AHCS). The starter diets had the same nutrient composition but differed in DM content (P = 0.001) and thereby, particle size distribution. Feeding AHCS or CS tended to increase day time meal duration (pre-weaning; P = 0.09) and meal frequency (post-weaning; P = 0.08) and tended (P = 0.08) to decrease inter-meal interval (post-weaning), and thereby, tended to increase (P = 0.09) and increased (P = 0.04) day time eating time during the pre- and post-weaning periods, respectively, without affecting nutrient intake or body weight. Calves fed AHCS or CS had lower eating rate during the pre-weaning period (P = 0.03). Concurrent increase in day time rumination frequency (P = 0.04) and duration (P = 0.04) together with a decrease in rumination bout interval (P = 0.03) in calves fed AHCS or CS increased ruminating time (P = 0.001) during the post-weaning period. Time devoted to standing and lying decreased (P = 0.002) and tended (P = 0.06) to decrease, respectively, as the amount of CS increased in the starter diets during the post-weaning period. Calves fed AH or AHCS sorted for the particles retained on second (P = 0.001) and third (P = 0.001) sieves of the Penn State Particle Separator (PSPS) and against the feed materials retained on the bottom pan (P = 0.001); however, calves fed CS sorted against the particles retained on second sieve of the PSPS and for the particles retained on third sieve of the PSPS and feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber intakes of particles retained on the both 8.00- and 1.18-mm sieves increased and tended to increase, respectively, in calves fed AHCS or CS compared with calves fed AH. Blood concentration of albumin was higher in calves fed AHCS compared with calves fed AH or CS during the pre-weaning period (P = 0.001). Overall, replacing AH with CS increased day time eating time by increasing meal frequency and duration or decreasing inter-meal interval but did not influence feed intake due to lower eating rate. Finally, calves exhibited feed sorting at the extent to which they balanced intake of nutrients and met their nutritional needs.