Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal Research Articles

Effects of feeding zearalenone to sows on rebreeding and pregnancy.

Two trials were conducted with a total of 91 lactating sows fed 0, 5 or 10 ppm dietary zearalenone (Z) and 0 or 15% dietary alfalfa in a factorial arrangement to evaluate their influence on reproductive performance to 40 d postbreeding. Feeding of Z did not alter the proportion of sows returning to estrus; however, the weaning-to-estrus interval increased when increased dietary Z was fed in Trial 2, with a similar trend at the highest level in Trial 1. The average number of fetuses per sow with fetuses tended to decrease (P less than .05) with increasing dietary Z in Trial 2, but not in Trial 1. Embryonic mortality did not appear to increase when the ratio of fetuses to corpora lutea was compared in sows with fetuses in Trial 1, but it did increase in Trial 2. The trend to increased numbers of bred sows that were non-pregnant at slaughter when dietary Z increased in Trial 1 was not observed in Trial 2. Dietary dehydrated alfalfa meal did not appear to modify the effects of Z in these trials.

Animal Fat Effects on Nutrient Utilization

Laying hens were employed to study the effects of carrier on the true metabolizable energy (TME) of tallow using corn, milo, soybean meal, wheat bran, and dehydrated alfalfa meal with tallow at 0, 2, 4, or 6%. In addition to bomb calorimetry measurements on feed and excreta samples, tallow TME values were calculated from absorbability data.Estimates of TME for tallow varied with carrier feedstuff from 7.19 kcal/g in soybean meal to 13.62 kcal/g when wheat bran was fed. For the corn, milo, and soybean meal series only fat retentions were significantly affected by tallow supplementation. Calculated tallow absorbabilities were 101.8% with corn, 95.8% with milo, and 107.3% with soybean meal. Highest tallow TME values were obtained with wheat bran and dehydrated alfalfa meal, apparently due to increased protein retention from wheat bran and to both improved protein retention and starch absorption with dehydrated alfalfa meal.

Responses to dietary additions of fiber (alfalfa meal) in growing pigs housed in a cold, warm or hot thermal environment.

Five trials involving 112 individually-penned animals were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber additions (0 or 10% dehydrated alfalfa meal) on the rate and efficiency of growth and carcass characteristics of growing pigs housed in a cold (10 C), thermoneutral (22.5 C) or hot (35 C) thermal environment. Cold exposure (10 C) depressed efficiency of feed and energy utilization, carcass length, backfat, cold carcass dressing percentage and percentage lean cuts. Exposure to the hot environment resulted in depressed live weight gains but did not alter the efficiency of feed utilization. Dietary additions of alfalfa meal depressed daily gains by 1, 3 and 5% in pigs housed in the cold, warm and hot environments, respectively, and gain:feed ratios by 1, 7 and 10%. Ingestion of the fibrous alfalfa meal depressed cold carcass dressing percentage in the 10 and 22 C environments as compared with the basal diet. Based on these data, the nutritional value of fibrous feedstuffs (15% total dietary neutral detergent fiber or less) for growing pigs allowed to consume feed ad libitum is greater in animals housed in a moderately cold vs a warm or hot thermal environment.

Intensive Feeding of Grass Carp in Ponds

Abstract Growth and feed consumption were determined for yearling grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) stocked at a rate of 8,000/hectare in earthen ponds and fed either a practical-type catfish diet or diets in which dehydrated alfalfa meal comprised either 19 or 38% of the formula. The diets were formulated to be approximately equal in estimated digestible energy (2.9 kcal/g) and digestible protein (27.7-28.4%) and to meet all nutritional requirements for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The fish grew from an average stocking size of 63 g to an average harvest size of 192 g with an average feed conversion of 2 g feed per gram of weight gain in 84 d. Fish fed the diet containing 19% alfalfa meal had faster weight gain and lower feed conversion (P < 0.05) than fish fed the other two diets. Analyses of digestive tract contents, before and after feeding, showed that natural pond foods accounted for only about 5% of the ingesta, by volume, indicating that supplemental feed provided most of the nutrient...

COMPARISONS OF WHEAT CULTIVARS AS ENERGY AND PROTEIN SOURCES IN DIETS FOR GROWING AND FINISHING PIGS

Wheat cultivars Neepawa, Glenlea, Norquay, Inia-66, Pitic-62 and Springfield were compared with a commercial 3CW grade hard red spring wheat and with Bonanza cult, barley in feeding trials with 80 crossbred pigs (Yorkshire × Lacombe) from 23 to 91 kg. The grower diets, fed from 23 to 54 kg, contained the test cereal supplemented with soybean meal, lysine, methionine, minerals and vitamins to provide recommended nutrient levels. Digestible energy and crude protein in these diets ranged from 12.10 to 13.45 MJ/kg and from 16.2 to 17.8%, respectively. During the finishing period (54–91 kg), diets using each test cereal were formulated using either the test cereal as the only grain in the diet or modified to reduce the digestible energy contents by replacing half of the test cereal with Fergus cultivar barley and approximately 8% dehydrated alfalfa meal. Digestible energy and crude protein in the finisher diets ranged from 11.51 to 13.44 MJ/kg and from 13.0 to 16.7%, respectively. During the growing period, gains and feed intakes of pigs fed wheat were equal to or lower than those of pigs fed barley. Growth rates and feed intakes during the finishing period showed no differences (P &gt; 0.05) but pigs fed wheat had fatter carcasses. Reductions of digestible energy in wheat diets achieved by including barley and alfalfa were insufficient to affect carcass quality significantly. Key words: Wheat cultivars, pigs, feeding trials, carcass quality

A Modified Voluntary Feed Intake Bioassay for Determination of Metabolizable Energy with Leghorn Roosters

A rapid voluntary feed intake bioassay for the determination of metabolizable energy with Single Comb White Leghorn roosters was evaluated. Roosters were trained to maintain their normal daily feed consumption within a 4-hr period. In Experiment 1, a 24-hr preexperimental fasting period was found to be sufficient for intestinal clearance of dietary residues from the roosters on this feeding regimen. The metabolizable energy (ME) and true metabolizable energy (TME) contents of ground yellow corn, dehulled soybean meal, menhaden fish meal, and corn fermentation solubles were determined by feeding roosters these ingredients alone for 6-hr in Experiments 2 through 5. Excreta were quantitatively collected at 30 and 54 hr after initiation of the feeding period. This method was also used in Experiment 6 to evaluate dehydrated alfalfa meal except that this ingredient was mixed with a stock layer ration to attain adequate intake.During the 30 to 54-hr collection period, energy output (kcal/hr) by roosters fed all ingredients used in Experiment 2 to 5 was greater than that of fasted roosters. Length of excreta collection had less effect on ME values corrected to nitrogen equilibrium than on uncorrected ME values. A reduction in determined true dry matter digestibility and TME values of all ingredients resulted when these values were corrected to nitrogen equilibrium (TMEn). The TME and TMEn values (kcal/g of dry matter) for the 54-hr collection period were 3.834 ± .018 and 3.683 ± .014 for ground yellow corn, 3.027 ± .037 and 2.804 ± .029 for dehulled soybean meal, 3.413 ± .035 and 2.993 ± .020 for menhaden fish meal, 2.752 ± .074 and 2.650 ± .066 for corn fermentation solubles, and 1.762 ± .143 and 1.710 ± .120 for dehydrated alfalfa meal, respectively. The results of this study indicated that both dry matter digestibility and TME values should be corrected to nitrogen equilibrium to obtain accurate and reproducible values with this type of bioassay.

IN SITU DRY MATTER AND PROTEIN DEGRADATION OF VARIOUS PROTEIN SOURCES IN DAIRY CATTLE

In situ dry matter and protein degradation of various protein sources in the rumen of Holstein steers and cows were studied. The effective degradability of each feed protein was estimated from nonlinear parameters and an assumed constant outflow rate of solids. Protein sources tested were soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM) and dehydrated alfalfa meal (Dehy), in exp. 1, and fish meal (FM), CM, CM treated with formalin (FCM) and whole pig blood (BCM) in exp. 2. Nitrogen disappearance, estimated from nylon bags suspended in the rumen, of SBM was less than that of CM; disappearance of Dehy was less than that observed for both oil seed meals. The disappearance of FM was significantly less than all other feed proteins. Formalin treatment of CM was very effective in reducing both dry matter and nitrogen disappearance from the bags, but blood treatment was not effective. Protein degradability estimated from disappearance data was 53.6, 65.8, 41.4, 28.9, 65.5, 22.2, 71.2 and 70.8% for SBM, CM, Dehy, FM, CM, FCM, 30% BCM and 50% BCM, respectively. Key words: In situ, dry matter degradation, nylon bags, rumen, protein degradation, cattle

Site of protein digestion in steers: predictability.

The nature and predictability of protein digestion in steers were examined in a series of experiments. Bypass and intestinal digestion of supplemental proteins were measured with Angus steers (203 to 254 kg) fitted with dual reentrant intestinal cannulas. Daily feed intakes were 1.8 to 1.9% of body weight. Two trials were conducted with soybean meal, cottonseed meal, a hardened casein, meat meal and two different sources of dehydrated alfalfa meal fed with an 80% concentrate diet. In the third trial, digestion of soybean meal and cottonseed meal were measured with a 60% prairie hay diet. Estimates of ruminal escape or bypass were 43, 50, 36, 76, 57, 62, 24 and 43%, respectively. Results suggest that roughage level alters bypass. A standard reference system for predicting bypass based on measurements of N solubility and in situ disappearance rates was compared with measured bypass. The correlation between observed bypass to the small intestine and bypass predicted by this system was high (r = .91, P less than .01). Combining pepsin solubility, an indicator of true intestinal digestibility, with bypass estimated by the standard reference system, allowed us to predict N disappearance from the small intestine. Predicted and measured N disappearance of fed N from the small intestine were very close.

Comparison of Two Direct Bioassays Using Young Chicks and Two Internal Indicators for Estimating the Metabolizable Energy Content of Feedingstuffs

The apparent metabolizable energy (AME) values of samples of corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, and of fish, feather, meat, soybean, sunflower, rapeseed, and dehydrated alfalfa meals were measured by two chick bioassays. For the AMES bioassay, each test feedingstuff was mixed with a basal diet at four levels of inclusion. For the AMEH bioassay, glucose monohydrate was replaced in a basal diet by each of the 12 test feedingstuffs. Chromium sesquioxide (Cr2O3) was added to all diets; Cr2O3 and acid insoluble ash were used as internal indicators. The AMES results were calculated by regression analysis and by solution of simultaneous equations.The AME results showed that AMES values were larger than AMEH values (P<.05) for barley and protein supplements. The method of calculation of AMES results had a big effect on the values for meat, feather, and fish meals; there was a lack of linearity between level of inclusion of test material and AMES values of these feedingstuffs. The AME data appeared to be independent of the internal indicator measured during the bioassay. A comparison of the AME results presented here with TME and AME data reported elsewhere cast doubt upon the usefulness of published AME values.

Nutritional Value of Proso Millet in Layer Diets ,

Two experiments were conducted involving 144, 13-month-old hens and 72, 7-month-old pullets housed in cages and continuing for 10 to 12 weeks, respectively. Nutritional value of the “Dawn” (D ) cultivar of proso millet relative to corn and commercial milo for layers was determined . In each experiment, proso millet was compared with corn and milo on an equal weight basis, either ground or unground (whole), and on a protein equivalent basis. Alfalfa meal was either added or omitted in these diets. All diets in each experiment were made isonitrogenous and isocaloric by varying the levels of soybean meal, cerelose (dextrin-glucose), or fat and solka floe.All millet diets except one that contained dehydrated alfalfa meal supported equivalent egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, and feed efficiency in both experiments, as compared to the corn and milo diets. Supplementation of the millet diet with 2.5% alfalfa meal significantly depressed (P<.05) egg weight in hens and egg weight and feed efficiency in pullets. Hens and pullets fed the whole millet diets showed slight depressions in egg production but tended to lay larger eggs. Pullets fed millet diets had body weight gains similar to those fed the corn diet, but greater, although not significantly so in all cases, than pullets fed the milo diet. Proso millet D gave yolk color scores significantly (P<.05) greater than milo but less than corn in both experiments. The specific gravity of eggs from pullets did not differ greatly among diets.

The Effect of Dietary Alfalfa of Varying Saponin Content on Yolk Cholesterol Level and Layer Performance

An experiment was carried out for five 28-day periods to determine the effects of feeding rations containing 10% of three alfalfa meals involving varying levels of saponin on the levels of yolk cholesterol and the performance of Single Comb White Leghorn pullets. A corn-soy ration and similar rations with 10% dehydrated alfalfa meal and low (.03%) and high (.62%) saponin suncured alfalfa meal were fed.No significant differences were found in the level of yolk cholesterol, mean hen-day egg production, Haugh units, specific gravity, and incidence of blood spots among the dietary treatments. Pullets fed the low and high saponin suncured alfalfa diets gained significantly (P≤.05) more weight during the experiment than pullets fed the corn-soy diet with dehydrated alfalfa. Mean feed conversions and egg weights were significantly higher and heavier (P≤.05), respectively, for pullets fed the alfalfa diets than pullets fed the corn-soy diet. Daily feed consumption was significantly more (P≤.05) for pullets fed the high saponin alfalfa diet than the corn-soy diet. These differences may be attributed to the lower energy in the alfalfa diets or the inadequate daily methionine intake per layer on the corn-soy diet.

Comparison of Metabolizable Energy Methods on Identical Ingredient Samples

Individual samples of corn, dehydrated alfalfa meal, and menhaden fish meal were assayed for nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy (MEn) and for true metabolizable energy (TME) on identical samples. The MEn values were 3.51, 1.43, and 3.18 kcal/g dry matter, respectively. The TME values were 4.08, 1.60, and 3.66 kcal/g dry matter, respectively. These resulted in the following TME:MEn ratios: 1.16, 1.12, and 1.15, respectively.

Variability in Metabolic Plus Endogenous Energy Losses of Adult Cockerels and in the True Metabolizable Energy Values and Rates of Passage of Dehydrated Alfalfa

An experiment with four groups of 12 adult cockerels allowed true metabolizable energy (TME) to be estimated in several ways. The birds were alternately fed one of two samples of dehydrated alfalfa meal or starved to serve as a negative control for the measurement of metabolic and endogenous energy loss (FEm + UEe). Each bird was fed twice and served as a control twice. The correction for FEm + UEe, therefore, could be estimated from the same bird, at a different period, or from a different bird at the same period.The FEm + UEe was largely characteristic of the bird. The correlation of the first observation with the second observation for each bird was .744 (44 DF). Variation in body weight did little to explain variation in FEm + UEe (r = .069, 90 DF).The most precise TME estimates were obtained by using each bird as its own negative control. A group mean value for FEm + UEe was somewhat inferior but the decrease in precision may be offset by reduced time and cost. The TME values provided additional evidence that the FEm + UEe output is characteristic of the bird.Although some birds consistently voided alfalfa residues more slowly than other birds, the pattern was not sufficiently consistent between birds to be significant.

Evaluation of Turfgrass Clippings as a Dietary Ingredient for the Growing Chick

Dried turfgrass clippings (TGC) were evaluated as a potential source of nutrients for poultry diets. Two groups of 168 male crossbred chicks were fed 23% crude protein (CP) corn-soybean meal diets with and without 5% TGC from hatching to 23 days of age. Weight gains were not reduced by the TGC addition, but gain/feed ratio was decreased slightly. Visual appraisal indicated considerably greater pigmentation of the skin and shanks in chicks fed TGC. Using corn gluten meal as a standard, TGC was found to have a bioavailable xanthophyll content roughly 4 times that of corn gluten meal. True metabolizable energy assessment of TGC was also carried out and a value of 2098 kcal/kg dry matter arrived at.The protein quality of TGC was evaluated in two assays. In the first assay 90 male crossbred chicks were fed isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets (10% CP; 3100 kcal ME/kg) containing either methionine-supplemented soybean meal (SBM), or TGC as the sole source of protein from 8 to 16 days posthatching. Weight gain and feed consumption were greater in chicks fed methionine-supplemented SBM than in those fed TGC, but gain/feed ratio and protein efficiency ratio (gain ÷ protein intake) were uninfluenced by source of protein. In the second protein quality assay, TGC, SBM, and dehydrated alfalfa meal were each fed at three levels of CP (3, 6, and 9%). Weight gain and gain/feed ratio were greatest in chicks fed TGC as the source of protein. Also, PER and net protein ratio (NPR) were greater for TGC than for dehydrated alfalfa meal at all levels of protein studied. However, PER and NPR values for TGC were greater than those for SBM only at 3 and 6% CP. It is apparent, therefore, that TGC has potential in poultry diets, not only for its xanthophyll content but also for its contribution of high-quality protein.

Effect of the Age of Chickens on the True Metabolizable Energy Values of Feed Ingredients

White Leghorn male 4-week-old chicks and adult roosters were used to determine the effect of age on the true metabolizable energy (TME) and nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy (TMEn) value of ground yellow corn, dehulled soybean meal, wheat shorts, high-glucosinolate rapeseed meal, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. The TME and TMEn values of each ingredient were calculated from its gross energy value and the regression of energy voided as excreta on the weight of feed consumed. Variable intakes of corn and soybean meal were obtained with chicks by feeding different amounts of the feedstuffs and with roosters by varying the duration of the feeding period. Variable intakes of the other ingredients were obtained by the force feeding of the birds.The TME values of the feedstuffs in kcal/g of dry matter for chicks and roosters, respectively, were as follows: corn, 3.93 and 3.98; soybean meal, 3.24 and 3.11; wheat shorts, 3.12 and 3.07; rapeseed meal, 2.24 and 2.50; alfalfa meal, 1.22 and 1.38. The TMEn values of the feedstuffs for chicks and roosters, respectively, were as follows: corn, 3.76 and 3.88; soybean meal, 2.85 and 2.87; wheat shorts, 2.92 and 2.94; rapeseed meal, 1.99 and 2.24; alfalfa meal, 1.14 and 1.28. The TME values of soybean meal and rapeseed meal for chicks were 104% (P<.05) and 90% (P<.05), respectively, of the values obtained with roosters. The TMEn values of corn and rapeseed meal for chicks were 97% (P<.05) and 89% (P<.01), respectively, of the values for roosters. The TME and TMEn values of the other feedstuffs were not affected (P>.05) by the age of the bird.It appears that, with the exception of high-glucosinolate rapeseed meal, TME values obtained with adult roosters can be used in the formulation of diets for young growing birds.

Performance of Lambs Fed Rations Containing Formaldehyde Treated Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal1

Three feeding experiments were conducted with finishing lambs to determine whether formaldehyde treatment of dehydrated alfalfa meal, intended as a protein protectant, would affect the lambs' performance. The treated alfalfa meals comprised 25% of the lamb's diets, the rest of which was 62% corn meal, 10% molasses, 2% minerals and vitamins and 1% urea. In two experiments, rate of gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were not affected (P>.05) by formaldehyde levels of .33 to 2% of meal weight. In a third experiment, 1% formaldehyde treatment increased feed consumption, but rate of gain was unaffected and feed efficiency was reduced. A substantial part of the total formaldehyde recoverable from the treated meals by phosphoric acid hydrolysis and distillation was also recoverable by merely slurrying the meal in water and incubating for 18 hr at 37 C or for 30 min at room temperature. Moreover, acid-detergent insoluble nitrogen, a measure of heat damage in hays and silages, was increased by formaldehyde treatment. The chemical similarities of the nonenzymatic browning reaction, to which heat damage in forage is largely attributed, and the reaction of formaldehyde with protein is briefly discussed. The conclusions are that formaldehyde treatment of dehydrated alfalfa meal mimics the effects of heating or overheating and, as the feeding experiments demonstrated, is not likely to be a useful method for protecting dehydrated alfalfa protein from rumen microbial attack.

Relative Acceptability of Supplemental Magnesium Oxide by Beef cows2

Four experiments were conducted with mature beef cows to determine the relative acceptability of different supplemental magnesium oxide mixtures. In the first experiment the mixtures were offered in a cafeteria arrangement to lactating beef cows on pasture, and in three additional experiments, the supplemental mixtures were offered singly, ad libitum, to gestating cows in dry lot and lactating cows on pasture. In the first three experiments the four supplemental magnesium oxide mixtures were magnesium oxide with trace mineralized salt (1:1 ratio), and magnesium oxide, trace mineralized salt and either cottonseed meal, dry sugarcane molasses or steamed bone meal (1:1:1 ratio). In the first experiment, magnesium consumption was 8.4 g/head/day for the dry molasses mixture, higher (P<.05) than for the other mixtures. In the second experiment magnesium intake was highest (30.7 g/head/ day) for the cottonseed meal mixture (P<.05). For the third experiment, consumption of magnesium was 23.2 g and 20.1 g per head per day for the cottonseed meal and dry molasses mixtures, respectively. These two levels were not significantly different from each other, but were higher (P<.05) than for the other two mixtures. Blood serum calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus measured in experiments 1, 2 and 3 were normal, with no significant differences due to magnesium consumption. Supplemental magnesium oxide mixtures tested in experiment 4 contained trace mineralized salt, magnesium oxide and either dehydrated alfalfa meal, corn distillers dried grains, ground shelled yellow corn or cottonseed meal. Magnesium consumption was 19.5 g, 23.9 g, 21.3 g and 23.6 g per head per day for the four mixtures, respectively.

Nutritive Value of Aquatic Plants for Chicks

Five different species of dried ground aquatic plants were tested for their nutritive value in egg-strain male chicks against controls comprising a corn, soybean meal diet containing graded levels of dehydrated alfalfa meal. The experimental diets met N.R.C. requirements for all nutrients and were kept isonitrogenous. An attempt was also made to keep calcium and available phosphorus levels at about 1.0% and 0.5%, respectively. The test plant materials and alfalfa were included at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0% levels in the diets. The diets were fed ad libitum to the chicks from day-old to four weeks of age. Weight gain and feed efficiency were used as criteria for comparison of nutritive value between the controls and the test groups.No diet containing any level of dehydrated alfalfa or aquatic plant meal gave results which were statistically significantly superior to the corn, soybean meal diet with no added green feed supplement. On the other hand, only diets containing 5.0 and 10.0% pondweed, and 5.0 and 10.0% milfoil produced weight gains at 4 weeks of age which tended to be lower than the corn, soybean meal control diet, statistically so in the case of the 10.0% milfoil diet. There were no real significant weight or feed efficiency effects of vallisneria or duckweed as compared with dehydrated alfalfa. Alfalfa was considerably lower in ash content as compared to the water plants. The gross energy of the green plants had a high negative correlation with the ash content (r = −0.99).

Effect of dehydration, processing and storage on biological availability of carotenoids in alfalfa

1. There were no differences in the total carotenoid retention between groups fed on diets containing fresh (as freeze‐dried) or dehydrated alfalfa meal but in the former group there were significant increases in the serum, liver and skin carotenoids. 2. It is suggested that the isomers formed during dehydration processing and storage are not completely available for skin pigmentation.

Digestion and Utilization of Formaldehyde Treated Alfalfa Meal by Sheep

Dehydrated alfalfa meal that had been treated with formaldehyde3 at levels of 0, 1 or 2% of meal weight was blended with molasses, starch and minerals and then fed to sheep in experiments to determine digestibility, ruminal metabolite concentrations and digesta formaldehyde residue. Each increment of formaldehyde decreased (P< .01) the digestibility of dietary dry matter (67.4, 60.5 and 56.1% digestibility for the 0, 1 and 2% treated diets, respectively), of crude protein (63.1, 41.1 and 29.3%) and of fiber (60.0, 48.8 and 41.4% for neutral detergent fiber). Sheep fed treated alfalfa had lower ruminal volatile fatty acid concentrations and tended to have a higher ruminal pH during the first 4 hr after feeding. There was no significant effect on the molar percentages of volatile fatty acids nor on the ammonia concentration in ruminal fluid of sheep fed the treated meal. Formaldehyde, expressed as a percentage of digesta dry matter or of digesta crude protein, was greater (P< .05) in omasal and ileal contents, but not in duodenal contents, of sheep fed treated alfalfa meal than in those fed the untreated meal.