Low-quality Forage Research Articles

Enhancing rumen microbial diversity and its impact on energy and protein metabolism in forage-fed goats.

This study explores if promoting a complex rumen microbiota represents an advantage or a handicap in the current dairy production systems in which ruminants are artificially reared in absence of contact with adult animals and fed preserved monophyte forage. In order to promote a different rumen microbial diversity, a total of 36 newborn goat kids were artificially reared, divided in 4 groups and daily inoculated during 10 weeks with autoclaved rumen fluid (AUT), fresh rumen fluid from adult goats adapted to forage (RFF) or concentrate (RFC) diets, or absence of inoculation (CTL). At 6 months of age all animals were shifted to an oats hay diet to determine their ability to digest a low quality forage. Early life inoculation with fresh rumen fluid promoted an increase in the rumen overall microbial diversity which was detected later in life. As a result, at 6 months of age RFF and RFC animals had higher bacterial (+50 OTUs) and methanogens diversity (+4 OTUs) and the presence of a complex rumen protozoal community (+32 OTUs), whereas CTL animals remained protozoa-free. This superior rumen diversity and presence of rumen protozoa had beneficial effects on the energy metabolism allowing a faster adaptation to the forage diet, a higher forage digestion (+21% NDF digestibility) and an energetically favourable shift of the rumen fermentation pattern from acetate to butyrate (+92%) and propionate (+19%) production. These effects were associated with the presence of certain rumen bacterial taxa and a diverse protozoal community. On the contrary, the presence of rumen protozoa (mostly Entodinium) had a negative impact on the N metabolism leading to a higher bacterial protein breakdown in the rumen and lower microbial protein flow to the host based on purine derivatives urinary excretion (-17% to -54%). The inoculation with autoclaved rumen fluid, as source of fermentation products but not viable microbes, had smaller effects than using fresh inoculum. These findings suggest that enhancing rumen microbial diversity represents a desirable attribute when ruminants are fed forages in which the N supply does not represent a limiting factor for the rumen microbiota.

Alimentación de rumiantes a pastoreo y producción de metano

Climate change limits the release of radiation from the earth's atmosphere, a product of the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as CO2, methane, ammonia, among others. Ruminants contribute methane to the atmosphere when fed with low quality forage diets, which in the light of different conservationist organizations, qualifies them as major pollutants. When Venezuela signed the Kyoto Protocol in 2004, it undertook to establish a GHG measurement system, as well as scientific research on the subject; however, there are still no research groups in the country dedicated to the permanent measurement of GHG contributions from these production systems. Grazing pastures and forages of medium to low quality, with high contents of cell wall of low degradability, produce a positive balance towards the generation of methane of enteric origin, which could be mitigated if these feeding schemes are improved, tending to improve the digestibility of basic diets. Methane production by these production systems in the state of Zulia is calculated at 209 Gg, 7.1 % of the total inventoried at the national level; however, the lack of research in this area, as well as of systematic inventories of local herds, prevents obtaining accurate data in this regard.

Genome-wide association study of early liveweight traits in fat-tailed Akkaraman lambs.

Small ruminants, especially sheep, are essential for sustainable agricultural production systems, future food/nutrition security, and poverty reduction in developing countries. Within developed countries, the ability of sheep to survive on low-quality forage intake could act as buffer against climate change. Besides sheep's importance in sustainable agricultural production, there has been less ongoing work in terms of sheep genetics in Near East, Middle East and in Africa. For lamb meat production, body weight and average daily gain (ADG) until weaning are critical economic traits that affects the profitability of the industry. The current study aims to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are significantly associated with pre-weaning growth traits in fat tail Akkaraman lambs using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). A total of 196 Akkaraman lambs were selected for analysis. After quality control, a total of 31,936 SNPs and 146 lambs were used for subsequent analyses. PLINK 1.9 beta software was used for the analyses. Based on Bonferroni-adjusted p-values, one SNP (rs427117280) on chromosome 2 (OAR2) had significant associations with weaning weight at day 90 and ADG from day 0 to day 90, which jointly explains a 0.8% and 0.9% of total genetic variation respectively. The Ovis aries natriuretic peptide C (NPPC) could be considered as a candidate gene for the defined significant associations. The results of the current study will help to increase understanding of the variation in weaning weight and ADG until weaning of Akkaraman lambs and help enhance selection for lambs with improved weaning weight and ADG. However, further investigations are required for the identification of causal variants within the identified genomic regions.

Performances of Some Perennial Legume and Grass Mixtures under Rainfed Conditions of a Continental Climate Region

Forage yield and the quality of the pastures in Turkey, especially in Central Anatolia, where the continental climate is dominant, are very low, and their vegetation is degraded to a great extent due to use without proper management practices. The inadequacy of the forage crop production in agricultural land and the low yield and quality of forage are among the main problems of husbandry. The present study aimed to determine perennial legume and grass mixtures with high forage yield and quality under rainfed conditions of the continental climate region in Turkey. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. In the experiment, smooth brome (SB), intermediate wheatgrass (IW), alfalfa (A), sainfoin (S), and lesser burnet (LB) were sown as pure and mixed in different ratios. Two years averaged values of dry matter yield and crude protein, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) contents of dry matter varied between 2613 and 6268 kg ha-1;118 and 205 g kg-1; 249 and 424 g kg-1, 416 and 558 g kg-1, respectively. Higher dry matter yields were obtained from A+S+IW+SB, S+LB+IW+SB, A+LB+IW+SB, S+IW, and A+IW+SB mixtures. The pure sowings of the SB, IW, and LB gave lower dry matter yields than the mixtures. Crude protein contents of alfalfa and sainfoin were higher than other pure sowings and mixtures. The ADF and NDF contents of mixtures were higher than those of pure sown of alfalfa, sainfoin, and lesser burnet, they were lower than those of IW and SB. In terms of dry matter yield, crude protein yield, ADF and NDF content, A+S+IW+SB, A+LB+IW+SB, and S+LB+IW+SB mixtures were superior to other mixtures and pure sowings. Alfalfa may be predominant in mixtures over time, and animal health problems may occur under grazing conditions. Therefore, the mixtures of A+S+IW+SB and A+LB+IW+SB can be recommended for mowing, while the S+LB+IW+SB mixtures can be recommended for grazing.

PSII-22 Effect of Protein Supplementation Level and Degradability on N Balance By Steers Consuming Low-Quality Forage: I.Bos Taurus Taurus

Abstract Globally, cattle convert low-quality forage to beef and milk; therefore, understanding protein utilization in Bos taurus taurus is critical to enhancing sustainability as over and under-supplementation of protein are economically and environmentally costly. Low-quality forage lacks the N necessary for proper utilization and metabolic function. Supplemental protein improves low-quality forage utilization and is expected to increase N absorption and retention. Accordingly, our objective was to determine the effect of ruminal degradability and level of protein supplementation on N balance in Bos taurus taurus steers. To achieve this objective, six ruminally cannulated Angus steers (BW 294 ± 37.7 kg) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square to evaluate the interaction between level and degradability of protein supplementation when consuming King Ranch Bluestem hay (3.5% CP, 71.0% NDF). Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial steers receiving protein supplements (43% CP) with two ruminal degradable protein levels; 35% RDP (35%; 58% corn gluten meal and 42% soybean hulls) and 70% RDP (70%; 100% soybean meal). Supplements were fed at two levels, providing 1.26 or 2.53 g of supplement/kg BW (LOW and HIGH, respectively). A control (CON) provided no supplement. Five, 14-d periods, consisted of 9 d adaptation and 4 d to measure intake, digestion, and N balance, and 1 d for ruminal fermentation. No significant (P ≥ 0.14) degradability × level interactions were detected for any measures of N balance. Although forage organic matter intake increased (P < 0.01) in response to supplementation, forage N intake was not improved. Supplemental N intake increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increased supplementation, as designed, resulting in a significant linear (P < 0.01) increase in total N intake. In addition, 70% RDP supplement resulted in greater supplemental N intake than the 35% RDP supplement. Fecal N excretion increased linearly with supplementation. Supplementation at the HIGH level increased (P < 0.01) fecal N excretion 90% compared with CON. There was no significant (P = 0.94) effect of ruminal degradability. Urinary N excretion was greater (P < 0.01) when the 70% RDP supplement was fed than the 35% RDP. Nitrogen absorption linearly increased with supplementation (P < 0.01). Similarly, nitrogen retention linearly increased (P < 0.01) with level of supplementation but was not significantly affected by degradability (P = 0.87). In conclusion, providing supplemental N to Bos taurus taurus increased N intake, excretion, absorption, and retention. Level of ruminal degradability did not affect N retention or absorption suggesting that protein supplementation regardless of ruminal N degradability improves N balance in Bos taurus taurus consuming low-quality forage.

363 Effect of Protein and Starch Supplementation Level on Intake and Digestibility By Steers Consuming Low-Quality Forage: I. Bos Taurus Taurus

Abstract A deficiency of ruminally available N (RAN) caused by a basal diet of low-quality forage depresses forage utilization. Supplemental protein improves forage utilization by increasing RAN, resulting in increased intake and potentially improving digestion. Addition of starch to a supplement can increase total digestible OM intake (TDOMI); however, too much starch decreases RAN creating competition between fiber and starch fermenting bacteria potentially decreasing forage utilization. Our objective was to determine the effect of starch supplementation on intake and digestion in Bos taurus taurus steers. Accordingly, five ruminally cannulated Angus steers (BW 375 ± 45 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square to evaluate the effect of decreasing supplemental starch when consuming King Ranch Bluestem hay (3.5% CP, 73% NDF). Steers received four isonitrogenous (130 mg N/ kg BW) supplements providing increasing levels of starch (2% starch = 100% soybean meal; 20% starch = 26.3% corn, 73% soybean meal, 0.7% urea; 38% starch = 51.6% corn, 47% soybean meal, 1.4% urea; 56% starch = 78.6% corn, 19% soybean meal, 2.4% urea). Five 14-d periods were conducted, consisting of 9 d adaptation and 4 d to measure intake and digestion, and 1 d for ruminal fermentation. As designed, supplement OM intake (SOMI) increased linearly (P < 0.01) as starch level increased. Forage OM intake (FOMI) decreased linearly with increasing starch (P < 0.01). Increases in SOMI and decreases in FOMI combined to result in no significant (P ≥ 0.14) differences in total OMI (TOMI) between starch levels. Total digestible OMI (TDOMI) responded quadratically (P = 0.05) to increasing starch and was 45.8, 49.4, 48.4 and 41.9 g TDOMI/kg BW0.75 for 2, 20, 38, and 56% starch, respectfully. Total DOMI was 18% greater when steers were provided 20% starch supplement compared with 56% starch. Similarly, total digestible NDF intake responded quadratically (P = 0.05) and was maximized with 20% starch. Total tract OM digestion and NDF digestion were not significantly affected (P ≥ 0.15) by starch level in the supplement. In conclusion, providing supplemental starch over 20% decrease forage utilization. Decreases in FOMI with starch inclusion may be attributed to competition for RAN between fiber fermenting and starch fermenting bacteria.

PSII-23 Effect of Protein Supplementation Level and Degradability on N Balance in Steers Consuming Low-Quality Forage: Ii.Bos Taurus Indicus

Abstract Low-quality forage lacks the nitrogen (N) necessary for optimal forage utilization and animal performance. Supplemental protein improves forage utilization by increasing ruminally available N and energy supply to the animal. Together these two are expected to increase N absorption and balance. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effect of ruminal degradability and level of protein supplementation on N balance in Bos taurus indicus steers. Accordingly, six ruminally cannulated Brahman steers (BW 369 ± 51 kg) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square to evaluate the interaction between level and degradability of protein supplementation when consuming King Ranch Bluestem hay (3.5% CP, 71.0% NDF). Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with steers receiving protein supplements (43% CP) with two ruminal degradable protein levels; 35% RDP (35%; 58% corn gluten meal and 42% soybean hulls) and 70% RDP (70%; 100% soybean meal). Supplements were fed at two levels, providing 1.26 or 2.53 g of supplement/kg BW (LOW and HIGH). A control (CON) provided no supplement. Five, 14-d periods, consisted of 9 d adaptation and 4 d to measure intake, digestion, and N balance, and 1 d for ruminal fermentation. No degradability × level interactions were significant (P > 0.10) for any measures of N balance. Forage organic matter intake increased (P < 0.01) in response to supplementation, forage N intake tended to increase (P = 0.06). Supplemental N intake increased with increased supplementation, as designed, (P < 0.01) resulting in a significant increase in total N intake (P < 0.01). Degradability tended (P = 0.09) to affect supplement N intake with 70% RDP being greater than 35% RDP. Fecal N excretion increased 50% for LOW and 68% for HIGH (P < 0.01) compared with CON but did not differ (P = 0.24) between RDP levels. Urinary N excretion increased with increasing level (P < 0.01) and degradability (P < 0.01) of the protein supplement. Urinary N excretion increased 250% for the 70% HIGH supplement and 84% for the 35% HIGH supplement. Nitrogen absorption increased from -3.8 g N/d for unsupplemented steers to 38.8 and 48.8 g N/d for the 35% HIGH and 70% HIGH, respectfully (P < 0.01). Nitrogen retention increased (P = 0.03) with level of supplementation from -19.1 g N/d for unsupplemented steers to 10.6 and 9.7 g N/d for 35% HIGH and 70% HIGH, respectfully. Providing supplemental N to Bos taurus indicus increased N intake, excretion, absorption, and retention. Level of ruminal degradability did not affect the amount of N retained or absorbed suggesting that protein supplementation regardless of ruminal N degradability will improve N balance in Bos taurus indicus consuming low-quality forage.

PSV-13 Characterization of the Relative Abundance of Duodenal Mrna Related to Genes Involved in Copper Absorption in Different Breeds of Sheep

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to characterize relative expression of mRNA related to genes involved in Cu absorption in the duodenum of different breeds of sheep. Opportunistic liver and small intestine samples were collected from three harvested market weight Lincoln and Suffolk wether lambs (3 to 4 months of age) fed a low-quality forage based diet. A 5 cm sample of the duodenum (15 cm aboral from the pyloric sphincter) was collected from each lamb at the time of slaughter. Samples were immediately excised, sliced open, and washed with a PBS solution. The mucosal lining of the intestine was scraped with a scalpel blade to collect enterocytes. The scraped enterocytes were placed into a conical tube containing RNAlater. Furthermore, a one cm cubed sample from the center of the right lobe of the liver was collected from each lamb, washed with PBS solution, and stored in a conical tube until liver Cu concentrations could be determined. All intestinal and liver samples were stored at 4°C until transported back to the laboratory. Total enterocyte RNA was extracted and purified using TRI reagent and RNeasy. Primers for antioxidant 1 (ATOX1), Cu transporting alpha-polypeptide Atpase (ATP7A), Cu transporting beta-polypeptide Atpase (ATP7B), and Cu transporter1 (CTR1), were designed for real time PCR analysis. Liver Cu concentrations were decreased (P < 0.05) in Lincoln (225.3 ± 23.1 mg Cu/kg DM) compared with Suffolk lambs (342.1 ± 31.2 mg Cu/kg DM). The relative mRNA expression of ATOX1 (P < 0.05), ATP7B (P < 0.01), and CTR1 (P < 0.04) in duodenal enterocytes were decreased in Lincoln compared with Suffolk lambs. These data indicate that Cu absorption from the duodenum may be different in these breeds of sheep. Further research examining the impact of dietary Cu dose on genes involved in Cu absorption in different breeds of sheep as well as identification and quantification of proteins involved in Cu absorption, is warranted.

362 The Influence of Supplemental Protein Level on the Intake, Digestion, and Metabolism of Beef Cattle Consuming Low-Quality, High-Fiber Roughages

Abstract Two studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of graded levels of supplemental protein on the intake, digestion, ruminal fermentation, and metabolism of beef cows consuming low-quality forage base diets (6% CP and 74% NDF). For both studies, 15 ruminally cannulated cows (4/5 yrs age, 803 and 757 kg = avg BW for study 1 and 2, respectively) were stratified by BW and, within stratum, randomly assigned to three supplemental treatment groups (n = 5). In study 1, cows were assigned to the following treatments: 1) control, no supplement; 2) 0.25 % BW of a 20% CP supplement; and 3) 0.25 % BW of a 40% supplement. Both supplements were composed of soybean meal and ground corn with the composition adjusted to hit the target CP level. In study 2, cows were assigned to the following alfalfa pellet supplement treatments: 1) control, no supplement; 2) 0.20 % BW of alfalfa pellets, and 3) 0.40 % BW of alfalfa pellets. In study 1, forage intake, DM fill, liquid fill and total tract digestibility were not influenced by supplemental treatment (P ≥ 0.49). However, total DM intake increased linearly (P = 0.02) with increasing supplemental protein, with the 40% CP supplemented cows consuming 39% more DM than control cows. No treatment differences (P ≥ 0.97) were observed for heart rate or surface temperature just before feeding (hour 0) nor 5 hours post-feeding averaging 46.0 bpm, 15.3°C, and 35.2°C, respectively. In study 2, both forage intake and total intake increased linearly (P ≤ 0.02) with increasing amounts of supplemental alfalfa. Cattle supplemented alfalfa pellets at 0.4% of BW had 33 and 71% greater forage and total DM intake compared with non-supplemented control cows, respectively. In contrast, there were no treatment effects (P ≥ 0.11) on DM fill and total tract digestibility averaging 15.73 kg and 44.99%, respectively. In contrast, liquid fill tended to increase (P = 0.08) linearly with increasing levels of supplemental alfalfa. Heart rate nor surface temperature prior to feeding and 5-hours post feeding were influenced (P ≥ 0.83) by the addition of supplemental alfalfa averaging 51.91 bpm, 15.05°C and 31.75°C, respectively. In summary, overall total DM intake was enhanced with the addition of supplemental protein, however, only modest effects were observed in ruminal fill and total tract digestion. Additionally, heart rate and surface body temperatures were not influenced by supplemental treatments under the conditions of these studies.

439 Identifying Forage Efficient Cows

Abstract In recent years, substantial progress has been made in understanding the sources of biological variation and genetic components of feed efficiency in growing animals consuming energy-dense mixed diets during the post-weaning phase. Much less is known about within-animal variation of feed efficiency for beef cows consuming moderate to low-quality forage diets common to most cow/calf production systems and where > 74% of the total feed energy required to produce beef is consumed. Considerable evidence indicates the existence of a genetic by environment interaction for feed efficiency. Therefore, more rapid progress in forage utilization efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the cow herd could be made by studying feed efficiency when cattle consume moderate quality, unprocessed forage diets. Phenotype for feed intake and feed efficiency are most practically and cost effectively determined during the post-weaning growing stage. However, due to the additional nutrient sinks associated with gestation and lactation, little is known about the repeatability of forage utilization efficiency between growing heifers and beef cows. An update of recent advancements to identify forage-efficient cows will be provided during the presentation.

Response of moose to forest harvest and management: a literature review

Moose are an iconic symbol of northern forests. In many jurisdictions, the management of moose has focused on regulating harvest with less emphasis on understanding moose–habitat relationships. We reviewed the literature and summarised the effects of forest harvest and management on the ecology of moose. Greater than 50 years of scientific studies document both positive and negative effects of forest harvest and associated activities such as silviculture and road building. Moose require spatially adjacent patches of younger plant communities for forage and older forests for thermal and security cover. Extensive and rapid forest harvest can result in the prevalence of young forest with a corresponding reduction in the fitness of moose populations. A warming climate likely will exacerbate the negative effects associated with the broad-scale removal of forest cover. Resource roads can create edge habitat that may serve as forage, but those features result in increased hunting and collisions with vehicles and facilitate the movement of predators. Post-harvest silviculture, including the application of herbicides, can create stand conditions that provide very little or low-quality forage. The ecological and societal benefits of moose are dependent on forest management that provides a mix of old and young forest, employs silviculture that retains adequate cover and forage plants, and minimises the development of roads.

Nitrogen Utilization in Goats Consuming Buffelgrass Hay and Molasses-Based Blocks with Incremental Urea Levels.

The use of goats for meat production faces challenges from environmental and nutritional factors. Urea is an affordable non-protein nitrogen source commonly utilized in ruminant nutrition. The objective of this study was to investigate nitrogen utilization in goats fed low-quality hay supplemented with molasses blocks containing urea. Twenty Anglo-Nubian doelings were individually housed in metabolic cages and provided with chopped Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay ad libitum. Goats were randomly assigned to four urea levels (0, 2, 4, and 6%; n = 5 per treatment) in molasses blocks for a duration of 30 days. A negative nitrogen balance (-2.458 g/day) was observed in doelings consuming blocks without urea, compared with a positive balance (0.895 g/d) for those consuming the 6% urea blocks. Block nitrogen intake significantly increased with urea level, but urea supplementation did not affect dry matter (DM) or neutral detergent fiber (NDFom) intake or digestibility. A minimum crude protein (CP) requirement of 8% for maintenance in doelings consuming low-quality forage with a urea-based supplement was determined through regression analysis between CP intake (% of DM) and N balance (r2 = 0.479; p < 0.002). The value of 8% of CP obtained in this study is similar to several previous studies reported in the literature, but in this case, the increments in CP came exclusively from urea. In this study, increasing the urea content of molasses blocks up to 6% significantly increased nitrogen intake, retention, and balance in goats. These results contribute to a better understanding of nitrogen utilization in goats fed low-quality hay with urea supplementation.

High genetic merit dairy heifers grazing low quality forage had similar weight gain and urinary nitrogen excretion to those of low genetic merit heifers.

Climate variability and increasing drought events have become significant concerns in recent years. However, there is limited published research on body weight (BW) change of dairy heifers with different genetic merit when grazing on drought impacted pastures in southern Australia. Achieving target body weight (BW) is vital for dairy heifers, especially during critical stages like mating and calving. This study aimed to assess dry matter (DM) intake, BW change, urinary nitrogen excretion, and grazing behaviours of high vs. low genetic dairy heifers grazing pasture during a 43-day experimental period in a drought season. Forty-eight Holstein Friesian heifers grazed on ryegrass-dominant pasture and were divided into two groups based on their high and low Balanced Performance Index (HBPI and LBPI, respectively). Each group was further stratified into six plots, with similar BW, resulting in four heifers per replication group. Data from the five measurement days were averaged for individual cows to analyse the dry matter intake, nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion. The statistical model included the treatment effect of BPI (H and L) and means were analysed using ANOVA. The pasture quality was poor, with metabolizable energy 9.3 MJ/Kg DM and crude protein 5.9% on a DM basis. Nitrogen intake and urinary nitrogen excretion were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in HBPI compared to the LBPI. However, despite these differences, the study did not find any advantages of having HBPI heifer grazing on low quality forage in terms of BW performance.

Efficiency of Amino Acid Utilization in Nellore Cattle Grazing Low-Quality Forage Supplemented with Different Sources of Nitrogen.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with non-protein nitrogen (NPN) or ruminal undegradable protein (RUP) on intake, digestibility, and amino acid (AA) use efficiency of Nellore cattle grazing during the dry season. Eight Nellore steers (12 ± 2 months old) were used in quadruplicate Latin squares (2 × 2). The animals were placed on Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés under continuous grazing. The treatments included the following: (1) urea supplementation (NPN) and (2) supplementation of corn gluten meal 60 (CGM, RUP). Animals supplemented with CGM showed higher intakes of dry matter (DM) supplement, total AA, essential AA, and individual AA. The supplementation did not affect the total AA digestibility, total AA flux, and the AA fluxes of microbial origin and RUP from the diet (p > 0.05). The ruminal microorganism origin flux of total AA to the duodenum was 44.5% and 52.7% for animals supplemented with NPN and CGM, respectively. Animals supplemented with CGM showed an increase in blood concentrations of isoleucine (+19.09 μmol/L), cystine (+27.29 μmol/L), and albumin (+0.11 g/dL) (p < 0.05), but this increase was not accompanied by an improvement in N use efficiency of steers (p > 0.05). RUP supplementation via CGM can be an efficient nutritional strategy to enhance the intake and absorption of AA by Nellore cattle grazing low-quality forage during the dry season.

The diversity and quality of forages and their potency as herbal anthelmintic for swamp buffalo in Brebes District, Central Java.

Swamp buffaloes play an important role in the rural economy of Indonesia. They consume various forages during their grazing time, including those with anti-parasitic potential. However, the information about the type and quality of forages and their potential as a natural anthelmintic for swamp buffalo is very limited. This study aimed to identify the diversity, quality, and anthelmintic potency of forages consumed by swamp buffaloes reared in Bantarkawung Subdistrict, Brebes District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Samples of forages were obtained during three observation periods of the study, with a 12-week interval between each period. Forage diversity was evaluated by identifying its consumption by swamp buffaloes during their grazing activity in the field and feeding time in their shed. The quality of forages was analyzed using proximate analysis to measure their dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CFat), and ash contents. This is followed by the calculation of their total digestible nutrient based on the proximate analysis results. Botanical composition analysis was then conducted to measure the predominance of forages consumed by the livestock during their grazing activity. Literature reviews were carried out to explore forage's anthelmintic activity. The results showed that swamp buffaloes consume nine species of forage in the shed and 47 in the grazing area, including nine legumes, 18 grass, and 20 others. Swamp buffaloes consumed forages of lower quality, which contained high CF contents and varying levels of other nutrients below their daily nutritional needs. The grazing activity allowed swamp buffaloes to consume a higher variety of forages with better nutritional quality, thereby enabling them to meet their nutritional needs. Legumes and other forages served as the major protein sources, providing CP of 20.03% DM and 11.53% DM, and CF levels of 17.01% DM and 20.35% DM, respectively. The results also showed that the consumption of these forages increased during the rainy season. The predominant species of legumes consumed were Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia spp., while Alternanthera sessilis and Merremia umbellata were the predominant species of other forages. A total of 13 of the 47 species could potentially be used as natural anthelmintic due to their secondary metabolites, namely, tannin, flavonoid, saponin, terpenoid, diterpenoid, and mimosine. These compounds exert anthelmintic effects by inhibiting egg-hatching and larval development, as well as damaging the surface structure of both larvae and adult worms, ultimately leading to the death of the parasites. Overall, swamp buffaloes consumed more variety of forages during grazing compared to when they were kept in sheds. While the low-variety and low-quality forages provisioned for swamp buffaloes in their shed resulted in a low nutrient intake below their daily requirement. Furthermore, daily grazing activities allowed swamp buffaloes to fulfill and supplement their need by consuming a variety of grasses, legumes, and other forages in their respective grazing areas. Some of these forages also have the potential to become natural anthelmintic because they contain secondary metabolites, such as tannins, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, diterpenoids, and mimosine.

Rumen microbiome response to sustained release mineral bolus supplement with low- and high-quality forages

IntroductionLimited forage quantity and quality are challenges faced in livestock production systems in semi-arid rangelands of the western United States, particularly when livestock face stressors such as cold weather or have increased nutritional requirements such as during pregnancy and lactation. To meet livestock nutrient requirements, producers frequently provide supplemental nutrition, however there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of these practices on the rumen microbiome in these environments.MethodsA study was conducted to evaluate changes in the rumen microbiome in response to high- and low- quality forage with sustained release mineral boluses. The study consisted of 16 ruminally-cannulated 2–3-year-old black angus cows fed high quality grass alfalfa hay or low-quality grass hay with a 90 or 180 day sustained release mineral bolus. Rumen samples were collected pre-feeding and 8 hours post feeding and bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons were sequenced from the rumen fluid.ResultsAlpha diversity as measured by Shannon’s diversity index decreased significantly over time (p&amp;lt;0.01) and averaged 5.6 pre-feeding and 5.4 post- feeding and was not significantly different between high- and low-quality forages or between mineral bolus types (p&amp;gt;0.05). Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) of the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix showed distinct grouping by feed quality and time but not by mineral bolus type. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in all treatments and significant increases (p&amp;lt;0.05) in the relative abundance of the family Lachnospiraceae and the genus Prevotella were observed in high quality forage diets. Rumen VFA and NH3-N concentrations were also strongly associated with the high-quality forage diet. Predictive functional profiling indicated that functions associated with methanogenesis were negatively correlated with feed quality.DiscussionThe results of this study suggest that mineral bolus type is unlikely to affect rumen bacterial community structure or function while forage quality can significantly alter community structure and predicted functions associated with methanogenesis and VFA production.

Ensiling Typha (Typha latifolia) Forage with Different Additives for Ruminant Feeding: In Vitro Studies

Typha is a wild plant with invasive growth that causes environmental problems in different areas worldwide. This study investigated the ensiling potential of typha (Typha latifolia) to be preserved and used for ruminant feeding. Four silage treatments were evaluated: typha with no additives (CON); with formic acid (FA; 4 mL/kg); with urea and molasses (UM; 19 and 24 g/kg, respectively); and with formic acid, urea, and molasses (FAUM; all at previous concentrations). Three bags of each silage were prepared and stored for 4 months before being analysed and fermented in vitro with ruminal fluid from sheep. All of the silages were well preserved, and their pH was greater (p &lt; 0.05) for UM and FAUM (8.50 and 7.70, respectively) compared with CON and FA (5.39 and 4.75). The high concentrations of volatile fatty acid and ammonia−nitrogen in the UM and FAUM silages indicated undesirable fermentations and precluded their use in practice. However, neither CON nor FA silages improved the in vitro ruminal degradability of pre-ensiling typha (61.7, 58.2, and 65.2%, respectively), which was lower than that of a medium-quality triticale hay (68.0%). The results indicate that typha silage could replace low-quality forages in ruminant diets, being adequate especially for low-producing animals or for those under maintenance conditions. More studies with different doses of additives are needed to identify the optimal conditions for ensiling typha and increasing its nutritive value.

Functional adaptive resources for large herbivores in African savannas: an ecological-gradient based framework

The viability of large herbivore populations in the face of climate change, environmental variability, disease and predation will be determined by their freedom to assess and respond to these factors through access to a range of functional seasonal resources and habitats. Their responses will be contingent upon various organismal traits, such as body size, mouth and digestive anatomy, which also facilitate coexistence among sympatric species. In this paper we develop a functional adaptive forage resource framework based on plant biomass, quality and phenology responses on ecological productivity gradients. We show how large herbivores coexist and respond to environmental variability, disease and predation by their foraging responses in relation to functional adaptive resources, as mediated by their anatomical traits. Below a critical body size, where predation limits population size, large herbivores adopt a variety of predation avoidance strategies, which are linked to their anatomical traits and foraging strategies. Mouth anatomy, and its interaction with body size, appears to be the major anatomical trait determining large herbivore selection for grass height. Body size is the major trait determining vulnerability to predators. Ecological productivity gradients underlain by variation in soil moisture availability over the annual cycle support high quality forage in the least productive (driest) regions, which promote growth and reproduction (a fecundity resource). Reserves of adequate quality forage in moderate productivity regions and buffers of low-quality forage in wetter and more productive regions of the gradient prevent loss of body stores over the dry season and starvation during droughts. Fire and grazing contribute towards providing high quality forage by removing old, low-quality material and preventing forage maturation. Consuming a high diversity of plant species distributed across ecological gradients promotes phytochemical diversity in the diet, which functions as medicinal resources to promote health while combating disease and parasites. Large herbivores are becoming increasingly restricted by ecosystem fragmentation in their access to the full range of these functional resource classes. The negative consequences for large herbivore populations of reduced access to these resource classes is compounded by climate change, where conditions are hotter and drought frequency and intensity is expected to be higher.

25 Effect of Cyclic Monensin Feeding onin Situ Degradability of Low-Quality Forage Fed to Ruminally Cannulated Beef Steers

Abstract Effects of cyclic monensin feeding on in situ disappearance kinetics of low-quality forage (LQF; 4.9% CP) were evaluated. Ruminally cannulated steers (n = 12; Bos taurus; 260 kg BW) consuming LQF were randomly assigned to of 3 treatments in a completely randomized design: CON (0 mg∙animal-1∙day-1 monensin; Rumensin 90, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN), 2) MON (200 mg∙animal-1∙day-1 monensin), or 3) CYC (200 mg∙animal-1∙day-1 monensin for 4 d and 0 mg∙animal-1∙day-1 monensin for subsequent 4 d). Steers were fed dried distillers’ grains with solubles (1 kg∙animal-1∙day-1) for monensin inclusion. Four 28-d replicated cycles were used allowing 9 days for treatment adaptation, 4 days for sampling, and 4 days for withdrawal of monensin within the CYC treatment group. Low-quality forage samples were weighed into 0 × 20 cm polyester bags in replicates of four for each sampling hour. On d 0, all replicates were placed into the ventral area of the rumen and replicates were removed 0, 4, 8,6, 24, 48, and 72 hours post feeding. Upon removal, bags were rinsed in ice water, and frozen until final replicates were removed. Subsequently, bags were washed utilizing a commercial washing machine, dried at 55°C to a constant weight and dried residues were analyzed for DM. Ruminal in situ DM degradation data over time were fitted to the first-order exponential model with discrete lag using the NLIN procedure of SAS 9.4, then model parameters were compared with PROC GLIMMIX model to compare dietary treatments with period included as a random variable. There was no effect of treatment (P ≥ 0.22) on potentially degradable DM, rate of DM degradation, DM residue, DM lag, or wash loss of DM. Results are consistent with findings in the concurrent in vivo study conducted by Hook et al. (2022). Further evaluation of NDF degradability is required to determine a clear effect of cyclic monensin feeding on steers consuming an LQF.

Equid nutritional physiology and behavior: an evolutionary perspective.

Like other members of the even-toed ungulates (the perissodactyls), equids once had a higher species diversity in the fossil record than they have today. This is generally explained in comparison to the enormous diversity of bovid ruminants. Theories on putative competitive disadvantages of equids include the use of a single toe as opposed to two toes per leg, the lack of a specific brain cooling (and hence water-saving) mechanism, longer gestation periods that delay reproductive output, and in particular digestive physiology. To date, there is no empirical support for the theory that equids fare better on low-quality forage than ruminants. In contrast to the traditional juxtaposition of hindgut and foregut fermenters, we suggest that it is more insightful to sketch the evolution of equid and ruminant digestive physiology as a case of convergence: both evolved a particularly high chewing efficacy in their respective groups, which facilitates comparatively high feed and hence energy intakes. But because the ruminant system, less based on tooth anatomy but more on a forestomach sorting mechanism, is more effective, equids depend more on high feed intakes than ruminants and may well be more susceptible to feed shortages. Arguably, the most under-emphasized characteristic of equids may be that in contrast to many other herbivores including ruminants and coprophageous hindgut fermenters, equids do not use the microbial biomass growing in their gastrointestinal tract. Equids display behavioral and morphophysiological adaptations to high feed intakes, and their cranial anatomy that facilitates the cropping of forage while performing grinding chewing at the same time might be unique. Rather than looking for explanations how equids are better adapted to their present niches than other organisms, considering them remnants of a different morphophysiological solution may be more appropriate.