Hay Feeding Research Articles

Effects of brewery by-products based silage on productive performance of crossbred dairy cows.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an increasing levels of brewery by-products based silage on productive performances of 3/4 Friesian x Boran mid-lactating cows. Experimental cows had similar in initial milk yield (11.7 ± 1.0), average days in milk (81.7 ± 6.1) and live weight (LW, 430.7 ± 40.3kg) but different in parities (2-5).The dietary treatments were arranged randomly in 4 × 4 Latin Square Design that included ad libitum natural pasture hay feeding for all treatments as a roughage source plus a commercial dairy concentrate mix supplemented at 0.5kg DM (dry matter)/liter of milk produced/day for cows in the control group (T1) and 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7kg DM of brewery by-products based silage per liter of milk yield/cow/day for cows in T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. The study revealed that the daily milk yield of experimental cows was influenced by dietary treatments with relatively higher daily milk yield being recorded (P < 0.05) for cows in the T4 (13.9l) followed by T3 (13.8l). Milk composition of cows remained unchanged (P > 0.05) except for fat percentage of the milk that showed a declining trend (P < 0.05) with incremental inclusion levels of brewery by-products based silages. The highest net income (NI, 437.9 Eth. Birr) and marginal rate of return (MRR, 800.7%) was obtained for cows receiving brewery by-products based silage at the rate of 0.7kg/liter of milk yield as compared to cows in the other treatment groups. Further study is required on the long term effect of brewery by-products based silage supplementation on productive, reproductive performance, and milk microbial qualities.

The Value of Hay Provided in Different Phases of Alfalfa Development

This article presents the results of research on the study of the chemical composition, digestibility, energy value of hay from alfalfa-rump grass mixture, harvested by the method of active aeration in different phases of alfalfa development, the productive properties of hay of different quality when fattening bulls in the dry steppe zone of the Nakhchivan. The amount of digestible energy decreased as the plants aged. Its highest concentration (12.8 MJ per 1 kg of dry matter) was observed during the budding phase. Then a decrease in this indicator was recorded by 0.8 MJ in the flowering phase and by 1.5 MJ during seed formation. The same pattern was noted for the content of metabolic energy in hay. Thus, the greatest amount was in hay harvested during the budding phase — 8.3 MJ per 1 kg. During the flowering phase, the amount of metabolic energy in 1 kg of hay decreased by 0.4 MJ, and seed formation by 1.2. Thus, the coefficient of digestibility of dry matter was higher than similar indicators during later harvesting by 4.01 and 7.05%, respectively. Crude protein in early harvested hay was digested better than in hay prepared in the phase of flowering and the beginning of alfalfa seed formation, by 11.83 and 18.03%, crude fiber — by 3.0-3.26%. A significant difference was also noted in digestion of raw fat. The digestibility of this substance decreased noticeably as plants aged. A decrease in the digestibility of nitrogen-free extractives was observed in hay during the seed formation phase. Calculations carried out on the basis of actual material obtained in the experiment show that when feeding hay harvested at the beginning of alfalfa budding, the yield of bull calves (increase in live weight) per 1 hectare of harvested area increases by 27.6% compared with harvesting in the flowering phase and 3.1 times in the seed formation phase.

Feeding behaviour related to different feeding devices.

Slow feeding devices (SFDs) are useful tools in order to improve the horse well-being and to reduce wastage, but their use may result in unnatural posture during feeding and frustration behaviours. Moreover, it may be important to evaluate the laterality during feeding. The aim of the study was to investigate ponies' feeding behaviour (i.e., lateralisation, frustration, postural eating style) with different hay feeding methods: on the ground (G), a fully filled hay net (HF), a partially filled hay net (HL), and a slow feeder hay box (HB). Nine ponies of two different breed types (Shetland and Welsh/Cob) were evaluated. Video recordings were obtained and then behavioural analysis was conducted. Data were analysed statistically using k-means cluster analysis, repeated measurement mixed model procedure, principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Head tilting was more often performed during feeding from HF and HL compared to G and HB. Forelimb forward, referring to the position that ponies assumed during feeding, was performed less frequently with the hay nets. Ponies, in particular Welsh/Cobs, tended to be more left-lateralized and performed more backward ears when feeding from the hay nets. Blink rate was observed to be greater when ponies were fed from G. No head pushing, striking with forelimb and pawing while feeding was seen. Animals fed from HF tended to eat from the top of the hay net and consequently showed an arched neck; while HL and HB showed for elongated neck an intermediate pattern between G and HF. From our results, HB seemed to be a useful compromise between natural feeding on the ground and the use of hay nets.

PSIV-A-8 Effects of meal frequency on heart rate in horses

Abstract In humans, meal size has been shown to affect heart function with meal ingestion being associated with an increase in heart rate (HR) and cardiac output lasting significantly longer when larger meals are consumed. In horses, HR spikes at the sight of feed due to anticipation, but no studies have specifically evaluated the effect of meal frequency or size on HR. Heart rate has also been used as a measure both positive and negative stress. Domesticated horses are often meal fed, with small frequent meals requiring more labor than large infrequent meals. Fewer larger meals may have negative welfare implications for a grazing species. As part of a larger project investigating the effects of meal frequency on the behavior and metabolism of horses, the objective of this study was to evaluate equine HR in response to feeding frequencies commonly practiced in the field [once (1x), twice (2x), or thrice (3x) per day]. Feeding times were at 0800 (1x, 2x, and 3x), 1300 (3x), and 1800 (2x and 3x) h. The 12 adult clinically healthy horses [average ± SD; 14 ± 6 yr and 572 ± 32 kg body weight (BW)] were separated into two equal groups before completing a 14-d acclimation period to the diet during which they were fed 2x. The diet was provided at 2% BW on a dry matter (DM) basis (1.55% BW grass hay in a slow feed hay net plus 0.45% BW complementary fortified feed). During the study the same diet was fed but the meal frequency, and therefore meal size, differed between the treatments. The order of treatments, lasting 1 wk each, was decided at random for each group. On d 6 of each treatment HR was measured using individual H10 Polar HR monitors, which recorded every second from 0700 to 1900 h yielding 1,514,799 data points. During this time the aisleways housing the stalled horses were blocked off to minimize exposure to human presence other than at feeding time(s). After removing outliers, the mode was calculated for HR of each horse, which was considered to be the resting HR for that horse and ranged from 31 to 46 beats/min. The percentage of data above, below, or at the mode was calculated for each horse over the 12 h period and evaluated using Chi Square tests for statistical significance. The proportion of HR values above, below, or at the mode differed between treatments (P = 0.02). When fed 1x, 69 ± 14% of the HR readings were above the mode on average, as compared with 42 ± 18% and 44 ± 18% for 2x and 3x, respectively. These results suggest that the increase in HR was more than anticipatory and that there may be sustained stress when horses are fed at fewer frequency, such as once daily.

Pony feeding management: the role of morphology and hay feeding methods on intake rate, ingestive behaviors and mouth shaping.

In the last decade, haynets and slow feeders have been promoted as sustainable tools to improve the feeding management of horses and reduce forage waste, but little is known about their effects on ponies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different hay feeding methods on the ingestive behaviors, intake rate and mouth shaping of ponies belonging to two breed types, which are characterized by different head morphologies. Shetland type (SH, n = 5) and Welsh/Cob type (WC, n = 4) ponies were fed hay using four feeding methods: on the ground (G), a fully filled haynet (HF), a partially filled haynet (HL), and a slow-feeder hay box (HB). Head morphology was measured for each pony. Video recordings were then made to apply geometric morphometrics and to perform behavioral analysis. The intake rate was measured for each pony and each feeding method. Data obtained with geometric morphometrics were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical variate analysis (CVA). Behavioral data and intake rate measurements were analyzed using a mixed model, a post-hoc Tukey's test, a Pearson's correlation test, and a stepwise regression model. The geometric morphometrics results demonstrated that feeding method influenced mouth shaping (36% for G, 78% for HB, 77% for HF, 83% for HL, considering the total variance of shape) and affected the intake rate. Differences in mouth shaping and ingestive behaviors in SH and WC ponies also confirmed the role of morphology in feeding management. The HL proved to be the most effective tool to increase feeding consumption time when needed (5 h/kg for SH ponies and 3 h/kg for WC ponies, considering the intake time), although the HB may be the optimal choice to reduce the intake rate while maintaining a more natural posture. Future studies are suggested to fully understand how body size and morphology influence feeding in equine species.

Effects of diet on the bacterial and eukaryotic microbiota across the gastrointestinal tract of healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

This study aimed to characterize the bacterial and eukaryotic microbiota of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in domestic rabbits and to evaluate the effect of different diet characteristics, such as pelleting, extrusion, and hay supplementation. 30 New Zealand White rabbits (15 male and 15 female; 6 to 7 months old) were fed 1 of 6 diets (5 rabbits per diet) for 30 days after an initial acclimation period. At the end of the trial, samples were collected from the stomach, small intestine, cecum, large intestine, and hard feces. The samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer 1 region-targeted amplicon sequencing. The bacterial microbiota was distinct between the foregut and hindgut. The most abundant bacterial genera included an unclassified genus in the Bacteroidales order and Alistipes. Candida was the most abundant genus in the eukaryotic dataset. In the bacterial dataset, diet No Hay/Pellet E was shown to have lower diversity (Shannon diversity, P < .05) compared to all diet groups except for No Hay/Pellet M. Few significant differences in alpha-diversity indexes between diet groups were detected in the eukaryotic dataset. Our findings demonstrated that feeding hay had a significant effect on the beta diversity of the bacterial microbiota. Given the prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in the domestic rabbit population, furthering our understanding of what constitutes a healthy rabbit microbiota and the effects of different diets on the microbial community can help veterinarians implement better intervention strategies and allow pet owners to provide the best level of care.

Root‐zone enrichment of soil organic carbon and nitrogen under grazing and other land uses in a humid‐temperate region

AbstractGrazing lands can be considered a conservation land use providing value to farmers and society. An underappreciated value of these lands may be in C and N storage and cycling. However, soil organic C (SOC) and total soil N (TSN) storage under humid‐temperate zone pastures have not been well characterized. A survey of 31 farms in Virginia USA characterized SOC and TSN depth distributions under a diversity of grassland management scenarios, as well as in comparison with long‐term no‐till cropland and woodland uses on the same farms. Root‐zone enrichment calculations separated management‐controlled SOC and TSN stocks from a baseline condition characterized at 30‐cm depth. Total stock of SOC at 0–30‐cm depth varied from 46 to 88 Mg C ha−1 (5%–95% range from 304 soil profiles) across all land uses. Root‐zone enrichment of SOC was maximized under mature pastures (≥20 years old) at 38.3 ± 1.6 Mg C ha−1, which was not different from that under woodland (39.8 ± 1.2 Mg C ha−1), but was greater than under no‐till cropland (28.3 ± 1.3 Mg C ha−1) and conventional‐till cropland (15.1 ± 5.1 Mg C ha−1). Root‐zone enrichment of TSN was optimized at stocking rate of ~1 Mg live weight ha−1, but was not affected by stocking method, N fertilization history, or low levels of hay feeding. These results suggest that grazed pastures in Virginia are storing significant amounts of SOC and TSN, with at least half due to management‐induced compared with pedogenic‐controlled accumulation.

Relationship between stable management practices and ocular disease in horses

SummaryBackgroundOcular diseases are common in horses and their occurrence is frequently associated with trauma.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate how stable management practices, such as environment, feeding or use of fly masks, are related to the development of eye diseases, primarily corneal ulceration, in horses.Study designA survey of horse owners in the state of North Carolina was conducted and owners were asked how they managed their horses and the types of eye diseases the horses experienced.MethodsData collected included the primary environment of the horse (stable or pasture), type and method of feeding of hay, use of fly masks and eye diseases that the horses have developed. Correlations between management practices and eye disease were then performed.ResultsOf 446 horses, 161 (36% of total) had been diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, 44 (10%) had multiple occurrences of corneal ulcers, 65 [15%] horses had uveitis and 15 (3%) had immune‐mediated keratitis. Horses that were kept at pasture exclusively were significantly less likely to have had a corneal ulcer than horses kept in a combination of pasture and stalls (p = 0.04). Horses that wore the fly masks year‐round (p &lt; 0.0001) and wore fly masks in both the pasture and stall (p = 0.01) were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with multiple occurrences of corneal ulcers. There was no significant correlation between types of hay (p = 0.59) or how hay was fed (p = 0.49) with the occurrence of corneal ulceration or other ocular diseases.Main limitationsResults were based on horse owner responses and not medical professionals.ConclusionsHorses kept primarily at pasture have fewer ocular diseases, likely because they sustain less ocular trauma compared to horses kept in stables. How hay is fed does not correlate with the incidence of corneal or other ocular disease.

145 The effect of a plant secondary metabolite blend on energy metabolism and nutrient balance of beef cattle consuming low-quality warm season grass hay

Abstract Plant secondary metabolites (PSM) such as condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins, saponins and essential oils purportedly impact rumen fermentation at low inclusion rates in beef cattle diets. Twelve steers (347 ± 23 kg BW) of British and continental influence were allocated to 1 of 4 replicated 3 x 3 Latin squares. Latin squares each had 14 d periods (10 d adaptation and 4 d for sample collection). All cattle were fed ground warm-season hay (89.5% DM, 92.8% OM, 65.9% NDF, 43.6% ADF, 6.70% CP) at 1.5% of BW (DM-basis) and supplemented with soybean meal at 0.18% of BW (DM-basis) once daily. Treatments consisted of a blend of tannins, saponins and essential oils provided at 0% (Control), 0.1% (Low) and 0.3% (High) of hay offering. Treatments were mixed with daily soybean meal allotment and provided before feeding of hay. Urine and feces were completely collected from d 11 through 14 at 0730 h and daily amounts of urine and feces produced were measured gravimetrically. Measures of gaseous exchange were determined via indirect calorimetry on d 13 and 14. Open-circuit respiration calorimeters (91.4 × 91.4 × 191.2 cm) were used to collect respired gas and ruminal methane production. Total oxygen consumption and production of carbon dioxide and methane were calculated from the difference in concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane from air exhausted from each calorimeter and concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane in ambient air and multiplied by amounts of air flowing from each calorimeter standardized for temperature, pressure, and humidity. Data were analyzed for a Latin square using the MIXED procedure of SAS with fixed effect of treatment, period and square and random effect of steer. Linear and quadratic contrast coefficients were assigned using PROC IML for uneven spacing of treatments. Significance was declared when P ≤ 0.05. Per experimental design, forage N and OM intake did not differ (P ≥ 0.77). Apparent total tract digestion of OM, NDF and ADF did not differ (P ≥ 0.66) among treatments. Fecal nitrogen excretion, and the percentage of N excreted in feces increased linearly (P = 0.01). N balance tended (P = 0.08) to decrease linearly with increasing PSM supplemented. Methane (L/kg DMI) was not affected (P = 0.28) by treatments. Methane, GE, DE, and ME (mcal/kg DMI) was unaffected (P = 0.19) by treatment. Under the conditions of this experiment, a blend of PSM had little effect on rumen fermentation or energy metabolism in beef steers.

162 Nutritive value and dry matter yield of stockpiled tall fescue across plant hardiness zones 7 and 8

Abstract Pastures in Tennessee comprise mainly tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], a cool-season perennial grass. Given that producers in Tennessee feed hay for an average of 143 d per year, there is interest in utilizing the practice of stockpiling to extend the grazing season. Although this practice has been proven to reduce hay needs (Freeman et al., 2019), it is vital to maintain up-to-date recommendations using data from across the southeastern US to inform grazing decisions. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritive value and dry matter yield of stockpiled tall fescue across plant hardiness zones 7 and 8. Fourteen farms across Tennessee and Alabama were identified as sampling sites. In September 2021, three exclusion cages (1.3 m × 1.3 m) were constructed at each site, forage was clipped to a 5-cm height, and plots were fertilized at a rate of 67 kg N/ha. During years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, samples were clipped at a 5-cm height from a 0.1-m2 quadrat monthly from October through February. Samples were collected from a different location within the plot each month to ensure there was no overlap. Samples were dried and weighed to determine dry matter yield and then ground for NIRS analysis to determine nutritive value. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX for a completely randomized design. Independent variables were stockpile period length and plant hardiness zone. Results indicate that plant hardiness zone did not have a significant effect on forage yield (P = 0.2098). Dry matter yield increased over the length of the stockpiling period (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) from 2,637 to 4,922 kg DM/ha. Crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) concentrations decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.0001 and P = 0.0358, respectively) throughout the stockpiling period; however, ranges were still within those needed to support the nutritional needs of a lactating cow with CP ranging from 15 to 17% and TDN ranging from 68 to 70%. As expected, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations increased over the stockpiling period (P = 0.0029 and P = 0.0145, respectively) as plants matures. There were no significant changes in ash and fat concentrations due to stockpiling length. Results from this study conclude that stockpiled tall fescue in plant hardiness zones 7 and 8 can support the nutritional requirements of mature cows at all stages of production through the winter months. Results will be used to inform Extension recommendations to assist producers in making management decisions that increase grazing days and reduce supplemental feed input costs.

The seroprevalence and risk factors for exposure to Neospora caninum and Neospora hughesi in Ontario broodmares

The seroprevalence and risk factors for exposure to Neospora caninum and Neospora hughesi in broodmares in Ontario were investigated. Sixty of the 219 (27.4%) study broodmares were seropositive for N. caninum and 65/219 (29.7%) for N. hughesi with cut-offs of ≥1:40 and ≥1:160, respectively. Thirty-one of 63 participating farms (49.2%) had at least 1 broodmare seropositive for N. caninum. Thirty-three of the 63 (52.4%) participating farms had at least 1 broodmare positive for N. hughesi. Risk factors for N. caninum included presence of farm dogs (OR = 6.70; 95% CI = 2.14–20.97; p = 0.001), and high stocking density (OR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.27–6.30; p = 0.011). Presence of livestock, excluding cattle, was associated with reduced risk of exposure (OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.06–0.53; p = 0.002). The only risk factor for exposure to N. hughesi was feeding hay on the ground in the paddock (OR = 4.31; 95% CI = 1.65–11.22; p = 0.003). This study demonstrated widespread exposure to Neospora spp. in broodmares in Ontario.

Modernization of calf rearing technology elements in cattle breeding

The purpose of the research is to establish the timing of technological operations when feeding hay into feeders of different designs and the growth characteristics of calves with different growing technologies during the dairy period. On the 3rd day after birth, a control and experimental group of bull calves of the Simmental breed of 15 heads each were formed. Before reaching the age of 7 months, the calves of the control group were raised according to the technology adopted on the farm using manual milk feeding and hay consumption from a common feeder together with adult livestock. The eponymous peers of the experimental group were raised under nursing cows with full suction, rolled hay was fed to them in a coarse feed feeder designed for all age and gender groups of cattle, which was located in a common paddock with limited access to adult livestock (patent for invention RU 2810529 C1, 12/27/2023). The experimental groups of calves were provided with the same amount of coarse feed. The use of a new feeder ensured greater hay consumption than by individuals who consumed this feed from a feeder common to calves and adult animals with differences of 11.2 abs.%. Feeding hay from a common feeder meant filling it daily throughout the entire dairy period, which required 15 seconds of daily time, whereas according to the developed feeder – five times a day, the duration of each filling is on average 55 seconds, which indicates the obvious advantage of the new design. At the age of 7 months, the calves of the suckling group were superior in body weight (by 19.4 kg, P&gt;0.999) to their peers of the traditional (economic) cultivation technology adopted in dairy cattle breeding, which were fed coarse feed from a common feeder. The differences in profitability obtained between the compared groups of calves amounted to 10.2 abs.% and turned out to be in favor of the experimental group individuals, which confirms the effectiveness of the implemented solutions in the practice of raising calves.

How neonatal diet affects the long-term development of rumination behavior, rumen fermentation and feed digestion in dairy calves fed a high milk level?

This study was to investigate growth performance, rumination development, rumen fermentation and feed digestion in young calves provided high volumes (about 20% of calf birth weight) of milk with or without forage inclusion and how these parameters correlate with each other. Immediately after birth, 160 newborn Holstein female calves (41.6 ± 4.2 kg of initial BW) were randomly divided into 2 treatments: 1) starter (CON, only starter) and 2) starter and hay (HAY, both starter and hay). The calves were fed their respective experimental diets from d 4 to 84, after which they were all introduced to similar diets until the end of the experiment on d 196. Treatment had no effect on growth and structural measurements throughout the experimental period. However, treatment had an effect on the other parameters, mainly during the post-weaning period. Forage supplementation tended to reduce starter dry matter intake (P = 0.05), while increasing the forage intake (P < 0.01) and the feed-to-gain ratio (P < 0.01). HAY calves had increased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and physically effective NDF (peNDF) intakes (P < 0.05) and tended to lower (P < 0.01) starch intake compared to CON calves. The HAY calves had a higher rumination time (P < 0.01), ruminal pH (P < 0.01), and acetate-to-propionate ratio (P = 0.05) compared to the CON calves. Spearman correlation analysis showed that rumination time was positively related to the ruminal pH at d 84 (P = 0.01) and 196 (P = 0.02). The HAY calves had similar apparent total-tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), NDF and ether extract (EE), but lower digestibility of organic matter (OM, P = 0.03), crude protein (CP, P < 0.01) and starch (P < 0.01) compared to those of the CON calves at week 12. Furthermore, there were no positive relationships between rumination time and nutrient digestibility or between rumination time per kilogram DM and nutrient digestibility. In conclusion, feeding hay to calves fed a high milk level improved rumination during the post-weaning period only, without a concomitant effect on growth performance throughout the experimental period, suggesting no detrimental effect of feeding forage in calves fed high milk level.

Early concentrate starter introduction induces rumen epithelial parakeratosis by blocking keratinocyte differentiation with excessive ruminal butyrate accumulation

IntroductionRumen epithelial parakeratosis, a common disease in ruminants caused by abnormalities in the ruminal stratified squamous epithelial keratinization process, negatively impacts ruminant health and performance. However, we still lack a comprehensive perception of the underlying mechanisms and the predisposing factors for this disorder. ObjectivesHere, we investigated rumen epithelial cell heterogeneity, differentiation trajectories, and cornification to clarify the rumen epithelial keratinization process and discern the key ruminal metabolites contributing to rumen epithelial parakeratosis. MethodsTwenty-four 14-day-old lambs were divided into three groups, including only milk feeding, milk plus alfalfa hay feeding, and milk plus corn-soybean concentrate starter feeding. At 42 days of age, the lambs were slaughtered, and rumen tissues were collected for single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. Ruminal fluid samples were collected for metabolomic analyses. Rumen epithelial organoid was used to verify the key ruminal metabolites contributing to parakeratosis. ResultsAs expected, we observed that concentrate starter introduction resulted in rumen epithelial parakeratosis. Moreover, scRNA-seq analysis revealed a developmental impediment in the transition from differentiated keratinocytes to terminally differentiated keratinocytes (TDK) in lambs with concentrate starter introduction. Immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR analyses further verified the location and expression of marker genes of TDK. Metabolomic analysis showed a robust positive correlation between ruminal butyrate levels and rumen epithelial keratinization. More importantly, we successfully established a rumen organoid model capable of facilitating the study of the keratinization process in the rumen epithelia and further confirmed that high dose butyrate indeed contributed to rumen epithelial parakeratosis. ConclusionCollectively, concentrate starter introduction induces ruminal epithelial parakeratosis by blocking keratinocyte differentiation with excessive ruminal butyrate accumulation in a neonatal lamb model. These findings enhance our understanding of rumen epithelial keratinization and provide valuable insights for addressing rumen epithelial parakeratosis using early nutritional intervention strategies.

Effects of the Oat Hay Feeding Method and Compound Probiotic Supplementation on the Growth, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Rumen Bacteria Community of Dairy Calves.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the oat hay feeding method and compound probiotics (CMP) on the growth, health, serum antioxidant and immune indicators, rumen fermentation, and bacteria community of dairy calves from 3 to 5 months of age. Forty-eight female Holstein calves (80 ± 7 days of age, 93.71 ± 5.33 kg BW) were selected and randomly divided into four groups. A 2 × 2 factorial design was adopted for the experiment, with the factors of the oat hay feeding method (fed as free-choice or 16.7% in the diet) and compound probiotics (CMP) inclusion (0.15% or 0%) in the pelleted starter. The results showed that, compared with giving oat hay as free-choice, feeding a diet of 16.7% oat hay increased the pelleted starter intake at 1-84 d (p < 0.05), with an average daily gain (ADG) at 61-84 d (p = 0.02); adding CMP to the pelleted starter did not significantly affect body weight, and reduced the fecal index (p < 0.05). Feeding 16.7% oat hay increased the concentration of IgA, IgG, and IgM (p < 0.01), while adding CMP increased the catalase (p < 0.01) and decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (p < 0.01) in serum. Feeding 16.7% oat hay increased the ruminal concentration of propionic acid (p < 0.05) and isobutyric acid (p = 0.08), and decreased the ruminal pH (p = 0.08), the concentration of acetic acid (p < 0.05), and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p < 0.01). Feeding 16.7% oat hay reduced the relative abundance of ruminal Firmicutes, Unidentified-Bacteria, Actinobacteria, Prevotella, NK4A214-group, Olsenella, and Actinobacteriota (p < 0.05); adding CMP increased the relative abundance of ruminal Prevotella, Rikenellaceae-RC9-gut-group, Ruminococcus, NK4A214-group, and Ruminococcus (p < 0.05), and decreased the abundance of Desulfobacterora, Prevotella-7, and Erysipelotricaceae-UCG-002 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding a diet of 16.7% oat hay increased the pelleted starter intake and average daily gain, while slightly reducing the ruminal pH values; adding CMP to the pelleted starter resulted in reduced diarrhea incidence, increased serum antioxidant capacity and immunity, as well as ruminal richness and diversity of microorganisms in dairy calves from 3 to 5 months of age.

Improving some growth characteristics, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass meat of male Awassi lambs by using palm oil

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of adding palm oil (PO) to the treatments on the growth and quantitative characteristics of the meat of male Awassi lambs. As (12) Awassi males were used locally, their ages ranged between 4-4.5 months, with an average live weight of 22.16 ± 0.85 kg. Throughout the characteristics, the animal weights were noted weekly (120 days). Up to the conclusion of the study period, all lambs were killed, skinned, and hollowed out. These were the outcomes: The amount of total intake of concentrated feed was substantially higher (P &lt; 0.01) in the treatments containing 4 and 6% (PO) and T1 than in the treatment containing 2%. (PO). In the same context, the treatment containing 6% (PO) and T1 also outperformed the treatment containing 2% (PO) highly significantly (P &lt; 0.01) in the daily intake of concentrated feed, While the (PO) treatments recorded a highly significant decrease (P &lt; 0.01) in the total intake of hay feed when compared to (T1), In the same context, the (PO) treatments recorded a highly significant decrease (P &lt; 0.01) in the total and daily intake of concentrated and (T1). When compared to T1, the end weight, daily weight gain, and overall weight gain all showed extremely significant superiority (P &lt; 0.01) for the fourth treatment. All study criteria have seen an improvement in feed conversion efficiency. • When compared to T1, the treatments (PO) (the third and fourth) significantly outperformed (P &lt; 0.01) T1 In terms of average final weight, empty body weight, and the percentage of dressings based on hot and cold carcass weight. In the same vein, the fourth treatment significantly outperformed (P &lt; 0.01) T1 and the other (PO) treatments in terms of carcass weight based on hot and cold weight. • The treatment containing 6% (PO) had a highly significant superiority (P &lt; 0.01) in the thickness of the fat layer compared to the other study treatments, and the treatment containing 6% (PO) had a highly significant superiority (P &lt; 0.01) in the characteristic of ocular muscle area, including control, compared to the treatment containing 4% (PO).

Classifying Chewing and Rumination in Dairy Cows Using Sound Signals and Machine Learning.

This research paper introduces a novel methodology for classifying jaw movements in dairy cattle into four distinct categories: bites, exclusive chews, chew-bite combinations, and exclusive sorting, under conditions of tall and short particle sizes in wheat straw and Alfalfa hay feeding. Sound signals were recorded and transformed into images using a short-time Fourier transform. A total of 31 texture features were extracted using the gray level co-occurrence matrix, spatial gray level dependence method, gray level run length method, and gray level difference method. Genetic Algorithm (GA) was applied to the data to select the most important features. Six distinct classifiers were employed to classify the jaw movements. The total precision found was 91.62%, 94.48%, 95.9%, 92.8%, 94.18%, and 89.62% for Naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbor, support vector machine, decision tree, multi-layer perceptron, and k-means clustering, respectively. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the nutritional behavior and dietary patterns of dairy cattle. The understanding of how cows consume different types of feed and the identification of any potential health issues or deficiencies in their diets are enhanced by the accurate classification of jaw movements. This information can be used to improve feeding practices, reduce waste, and ensure the well-being and productivity of the cows. The methodology introduced in this study can serve as a valuable tool for livestock managers to evaluate the nutrition of their dairy cattle and make informed decisions about their feeding practices.

Effect of pony morphology and hay feeding methods on back and neck postures.

The application of hay feeding devices, such as the use of hay nets or slow feeders, can help with the management of weight in ponies; however, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding their effect on equine posture. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effect of different feeding devices on the posture of ponies using morphometric analysis. Two different breed types, Shetland type (SH, n = 5) versus Welsh Cob type (WC, n = 4), were fed the same forage in four different ways: on the ground (G), using a fully filled haynet (HF), using a partially filled haynet (HL)and using a slow-feeder hay box (HB). Video recordings were obtained and then geometric morphometric analysis was applied. Breed morphology was confirmed by body morphometric measurements. Data were analysed statistically usingone-way ANOVA, canonical variate analysis (CVA), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares (PLS) analysis andmultivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Moreover, a mixed model was performed to study differences in mandibular angle. SH and WC ponies were shown to have significantly different body morphometric measurements. The geometric morphometric analysis results showed that ponies arch their back and modify their neck shape differently according to the feeding method and their morphological group. For the neck, the SH and WC ponies adapted similarly to the use of small-holed hay nets, but their posture varied when feeding from the ground or hay box. The back postures consistently differed according to the breed type and feeding method. The mandibular angle for both breed types was reduced with all the feeding devices compared to feeding from the ground. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of slow-feeding devices on posture and mandibular angle, taking into consideration animals with different morphologies.

Feed Utilization and Growth Performance of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu Fed Untreated or Urea Treated Rice Straws as Hay Replacement in Traditional Feedlot System

This study evaluated the effects of complete or partial replacement of <i>Cenchrus ciliaris </i>hay with untreated or urea treated rice straws on feed intake, growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross margin of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSHZ) cattle under feedlot condition. A total of 50 bulls with age of 2.5 - 3.0 years and mean initial weight of 132.4 ± 26.7 kg were assigned randomly to five treatments <i>i.e.</i> 100% <i>Cenchrus ciliaris </i>hay (CCH), 100% untreated rice straws (URS), 100% urea treated rice straws (TRS), 50% untreated rice straw + 50% <i>C. ciliaris </i>hay (URH) and 50% treated rice straw + 50% <i>C. ciliaris </i>(TRH). All animals were supplemented with a diet comprised of 53% maize bran, 25% molasses, 20% sunflower seed cake, 1.5% mineral premix and 0.5% table salt. The results show that average daily gain and weight gain did not differ (p > 0.05) among the treatments. However, animals on TRH showed the highest growth rate (770.0 ± 0.1 g/day) and weight gain (64.7 ± 4.4 kg), followed by those on TRS (growth rate = 725.0 ± 0.1 g/day, weight gain = 60.9 ± 4.4 kg) while those on URS had the lowest growth rate (599.0 ± 0.1 g/day) and weight gain (50.3 ± 4.4 kg). Animals fed TRS (9.8 ± 0.1) and TRH (8.9 ± 0.1) had lower (p ≤ 0.001) FCR than those fed CCH (10.3 ± 0.1), URS (11.9 ± 0.1) and URH (10.4 ± 0.1). The highest gross margin was obtained on animals under TRS (TZS 154,293.00) while the lowest was found on animals under CCH (TZS 120,450.00). Partial or complete replacement of hay with treated or untreated rice straws resulted into higher growth performance than feeding hay alone. Feeding animals with urea treated rice straws resulted into higher growth performance and better feed utilization compared to feeding hay or untreated rice straws. It is concluded that complete replacement of hay with urea treated rice straws resulted into high growth rate, lower FCR and high gross margin, hence, it is recommended as the best basal diet for fattening of TSHZ under traditional feedlot system.

Feeding concentrate with hay of different qualities modulates rumen histology, development of digestive tract as well as slaughter performance and meat quality of young dairy calves

ABSTRACT Concentrate-rich starter diets are commonly fed to dairy calves to stimulate growth performance. However, feeding high amounts of starter feed with low inclusion of forage fibre may jeopardise the development of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Moreover, studies investigating the effects of feeding on carcass and meat quality of young calves at rearing are rare. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of hay quality and concentrate inclusion on the traits of GIT development, slaughter performance and veal quality of young dairy calves. The feeding trial covered the first 14 weeks of life. Seventeen male and three female Holstein calves (n = 20) were randomly allocated to four experimental groups, which received besides acidified whole milk different solid feeds: (1) 100% medium-quality hay (MQH), (2) 100% high-quality hay (HQH), (3) 30% medium-quality hay and 70% concentrate (MQH+C) and (4) 30% high-quality hay and 70% concentrate (HQH+C). The acidified whole milk was fed in the first 12 weeks of life, and calves had ad libitum access to solid feed and water from birth till slaughter. Calves were kept in individual boxes equipped with straw and slaughtered at the end of week 14. After slaughter, gut development traits, rumen histology, slaughter performance and meat quality were assessed. Overall, both concentrate inclusion and hay quality showed major effects on rumen histology and development of the GIT in dairy calves with minimal effects on most carcass cuts and meat quality traits. Concentrate-fed calves had significantly higher average daily gains, final body weights, blood amounts and proportions of organs from the circulatory and respiratory systems. Proportions of liver and kidneys were lowest in MQH-fed calves. The proportion of GIT was significantly lower in groups fed concentrates, but the weight of the reticulorumen was unaffected by solid feed. Concentrate feeding led to thicker keratin layer and epithelium as well as wider papillae in the rumen. Hay quality particularly affected the width of the papilla and epithelium thickness, while feeding hay without concentrate enhanced the thickness of submucosa and muscularis, as well as the size of parotid glands. In conclusion, the type of solid feed affects the development of the GIT with concentrate feeding holding the risk to induce keratinisation of rumen epithelium while enhancing performance and carcass traits.