Nutritive Value For Ruminants Research Articles

Incubation temperature affects growth and efficacy of white-rot fungi to improve the nutritive value of rice straw

Context A great body of evidence is available on the in vitro efficacy of white-rot fungi (WRF) to degrade lignin in fibre-rich biomass (e.g. wheat straw, wood chips and rice straw (RS)) and improve the biomass’ nutritive value for ruminants. Aims Determining the impact of incubation temperature of three WRF to improve the nutritional value of rice straw. Methods Growth of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus eryngii on RS for 26 days at the following six temperature regimes: continuous at 24°C, 30°C, 35°C and 40°C, and 3 days at 35°C and 40°C, with subsequent days at 24°C. In a follow-up experiment, improvement in fermentability in buffered rumen fluid of RS treated by the three WRF at 24°C and 30°C for up to 8 weeks was investigated. Key results All three fungi grew at temperatures up to 35°C, with no growth observed at 40°C, with C. subvermispora being more temperature sensitive. There were significant differences in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin degradation of RS at 24°C and 30°C, with C. subvermispora degrading 69% and 90% of the hemicellulose and lignin respectively at 30°C, greater than at 24°C (55% and 80% respectively). For L. edodes, there were significant differences in cellulose degradation between 24°C and 30°C, with 12% more degradation at 30°C, but not for hemicellulose and lignin. In vitro gas production showed no significant differences between the two incubation temperatures for either of the two fungi. Pleurotus eryngii treatment did not show any improvement in terms of in vitro gas production. Conclusions Treatment of RS with L. edodes and C. subvermispora, but not P. eryngii, is robust and temperature changes will not have a major impact on their efficacy as long as the temperature remains below 30°C. Implications Temperature during the incubation of WRF with rice straw needs to be below 30°C for this biotechnology to be applied in practice.

Nutritional Assessment of Setaria sphacelata and Cleome gynandra as Potential for Ruminant Feed

Setaria sphacelata is a high and most prevalent tropical grass, while Cleome gynandra is a tropical annual herb which commonly used as vegetables in Africa and Asia. Both plant samples were found to be high in nutritive value especially in protein and very appetizing in ruminants. The main objectives of the study were to measure and compare the nutritional composition of Setaria sphacelata and Cleome gynandra as a function of their nutritional value for ruminants. The two plant samples were collected near the Tembila area, Besut Terengganu. The samples were dried in a furnace below 60 - 70 ˚C and crushed prior to further analysis using proximate analysis. Proximate analysis was used to measure values for moisture, dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EF) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). The result of this analysis shows that Cleome gynandra had much higher crude protein (CP) (p < 0.05) at 36.86% and ether extract (EF) at 5.50%. Crude protein (CP) is one of the most essential nutrients that ruminants need. Therefore, this study found that Cleome gynandra contains a higher nutritional value in terms of crude protein (CP) than Setaria sphacelate, which can be used as a feed for ruminants.

Investigation on the variation of chemical composition and in vitro nutritive value of spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta) for ruminants.

Spelt has gained growing interest in Europe in human and animal nutrition. Data on the chemical composition of spelt and its variations, especially their nutritional value for ruminants, are scarce. Therefore, hulled kernels, dehulled kernels and hulls of six spelt cultivars grown on three different locations were analysed for their chemical composition and nutritive value for ruminants using the Hohenheim Gas Test. Most of the analysed constituents varied considerably and were significantly affected by the cultivars or location, or both. Hulled spelt and spelt kernels of more recent cultivars had higher starch and energy concentrations and lower concentrations of crude protein and fibre fractions than those of traditional cultivars. Significant differences between cultivars were found in the energy values for ruminants for hulled spelt but not for fractionated kernels. Spelt hulls of different cultivars and locations showed a high variation in chemical composition with overall high concentrations of fibre fractions and crude ash. The nutritive values for ruminants of hulled spelt and spelt kernels were similar to those of oats and wheat respectively. Pure spelt hulls cannot be recommended for use in ruminant feeding because of their high concentrations of fibre fractions and crude ash. However, when some part of the kernel (~20%) or small kernels remain with the hull in the dehulling process, the resulting hull fraction has a metabolizable energy value for ruminants that is similar to that of wheat straw.

Nutritional value of baled rice straw for ruminant feed

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of cultivation and hay making factors on chemical composition, protein fractionation, and digestibility in rice straw, as well as to identify the chemical fractions that contribute to the variation in its nutritional value for ruminants. Statistical procedures were performed in a model that included rice crop cycle, sowing season, baling season, soil classification, fertilizer application, and productivity (kg/ha) as fixed effects and the hay bale as random effect. Chemical composition, protein fractionation, and digestibility data were subjected to multivariate analyses including factor, cluster, and discriminant. Considering the cultivation and haymaking factors, development cycle, baling season, and grain production explained the most variation in the rice straw nutritional value. Straws derived from early maturing cultivars showed the lowest levels of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen, and C nitrogen fraction in comparison with straw originating from mid cycle cultivars. Rice straw from more productive cultivars had lower levels of lignin and C fraction as well as higher levels of crude protein and B3 fraction compared with straws from less productive cultivars. However, the main variation in the nutritional value between the samples of rice straw was related to the baling season. The bailing seasons were grouped in two clusters. Straws with better nutritional value were those with lower levels of cell wall fractions, from more productive crops, with early development cycle and baled until March. Rice crop cycle, baling season, and grain production effects explain the variation in the nutritional value of rice straws. Straws with better nutritional value have lower levels of fractions related to secondary cell wall and lignification.

Nutritive value for ruminants of winter oats–legume intercrops in organic cultivation

Winter oats were grown according to European organic farming regulations in monoculture (oats) and in intercropping with bard vetch (BAV), bitter vetch (BIV) or both legumes (MIX) to evaluate the effects of intercropping on forage yield and nutritive value for ruminants. The experiment was carried out as a randomised complete block design with four replications, and whole forage samples were obtained at two harvest dates (June and July). For both harvest times, all intercrops increased (P < 0.05) forage yield compared with oats, but forage crude protein content was only increased (P < 0.05) for BAV and MIX. Compared with oats, intercropping with BAV increased (P < 0.05) in vitro rate of gas production and total volatile fatty acid production, indicating a higher rate and extent of rumen degradation of BAV forage. In contrast, BIV forage harvested in June had lower (P < 0.05) rate of gas production and total volatile fatty acid production than June oats, but in general no differences in the in vitro rumen fermentation were detected between oats and BIV samples harvested in July. The results indicate that forage yield and quality can be enhanced by intercropping oats with BAV; however, intercropping with BIV increased yield but decreased nutritive value of the forage.

A modified method for assessment of the morphological stage of development as a predictor of alfalfa herbage chemical composition and nutritive value

SUMMARYThe aim of the current work was to investigate the possibility of modifying the existing mean stage by weight (MSW) system for evaluating the average development stage in alfalfa. The modification was performed with the aim of providing a simplified system that may be used to evaluate the alfalfa development stage and to predict its nutritive value for ruminants. The suggested modification consists of designating an MSW value on the basis of the fresh weight of all morphological stages in a fresh green plant, as opposed to the original method which is based on weighing all morphological stages dried at 65 °C. The investigation was done on 141 samples of one alfalfa cultivar, collected from the same location during the first three growth cycles: spring growth, the first and the second regrowth. On all collected samples the following characteristics were determined: MSW, modified MSW (mean stage by fresh weight (MSFW)), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), crude ash (CA) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). For these characteristics of chemical composition (apart from CA) and nutritive value the regressions were calculated for their prediction based on MSW and MSFW. The regressions were derived for individual growth cycles and all cycles combined. A trend for an increase in the coefficient of determination (R2) was identified as well as a decrease in root-mean-square error (RMSE) for all equations derived for all investigated characteristics from the spring growth to the second regrowth. A deviation from this trend was observed only in equations derived for IVOMD. A very high correlation was observed between MSW and MSFW (r=0·999). The determined R2 and RMSE were very similar within the same growth cycle in all regressions for prediction of chemical composition and nutritive value derived for MSW and MSFW. Based on the results of this investigation the MSFW appears to be a quick and accurate method for determining the average development stage in alfalfa which can therefore be recommended for both scientific research and practical field use, as well as for prediction of its chemical composition and nutritive value.

Effect of processing conditions on the nutritive value of canola meal and presscake. Comparison of the yellow and brown‐seeded canola meal with the brown‐seeded canola presscake

Canola, unlike traditional rapeseed, contains low levels of 'erucic acid' and 'glucosinolates'. Canola's industrial processing generally involves separation of the seed into an oil and a meal fraction whereas the intermediate product is called presscake. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of processing conditions on the nutritive value for ruminants and compare the yellow (Brassica juncea) (CM_Y) and the brown-seeded (B. napus) (CM_B) canola meal and the brown-seeded (B. napus) (CPC_B) canola presscake. Either extract was higher (P<0.05) for CPC_B than for CM_Y and CM_B. CM_Y had a higher (P<0.05) PB2 and PC compared to CM_B. Truly digestible fractions, except fatty acid, were lower (P<0.05) for CPC_B. Effective protein degradability of CM_Y was lower (P<0.05) compared to CM_B or CPC_B. In vitro protein intestinal digestibility for CM_Y was higher (P<0.05) than for CM_B or CPC_B. CPC_B had lower protein but higher oil content than canola meal and is a potential high-energy supplement source for ruminants. CM_Y had higher crude protein, digestible and metabolizable energy values and low fiber than CM_B. In plant breeding, selection programs are geared towards yellow-seeded varieties in order to improve the nutritive value of canola meal.

Improving the nutritive value of madake bamboo, Phyllostachys bambusoides, for ruminants by culturing with the white-rot fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Culturing bamboo with the white-rot fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora improved its nutritive value for ruminants. The bamboo substrate was prepared by grinding madake bamboo ( Phyllostachys bambusoides) culm into a fibrous powder, mixing it with rice bran at an air-dry weight ratio of 19:1, then sterilizing the mixture at 118 °C for 40 min. After inoculating wheat grain spawn of C. subvermispora, the bamboo substrate was cultured at 28 °C for 10 and 15 weeks. For in vivo digestion, mixed bamboo substrate (MBS) cultured for 10 or 15 weeks was used. Three sheep were each assigned to a diet group in a 3 × 3 Latin square experiment and fed either a basal diet composed of alfalfa hay cubes, wheat bran and soybean meal (699:201:100, on dry basis), 303 g/kg of a basal diet replaced with bamboo or MBS. Organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber excluding residual ash (NDFom), acid detergent fiber excluded residual ash (ADFom), and lignin(sa) content of the bamboo substrate before inoculation decreased ( P<0.05) following culture with C. subvermispora. The OM, NDFom and lignin(sa) content of the bamboo substrate cultured with C. subvermispora for 10 weeks were higher ( P<0.05) than that of bamboo substrate cultured for 15 weeks. However, there was no difference in ADFom content of bumboo substrate between 10 and 15 weeks. The in vitro OM digestibility (IVOMD), in vitro NDFom digestibility (IVNDFomD), and in vitro gas production during 48 h of incubation (IVGP) increased ( P<0.05) in the bamboo substrate following culturing with C. subvermispora. NDFom and lignin(sa) content of bamboo used in in vivo digestion were 905 g/kg DM and 198 g/kg DM, respectively. NDFom and lignin(sa) content of MBS were 703 g/kg DM and 106 g/kg DM, respectively. The IVGP and IVOMD of bamboo were 19 ml/g OM and 0.133, respectively, while those of MBS increased to 150 ml/g OM and 0.671. The coefficients of apparent OM, NDFom and ADFom digestibility of bamboo were 0.129, 0.127 and 0.149, respectively, while those of MBS increased ( P<0.05) to 0.447, 0.495 and 0.527, respectively. We suggest that C. subvermispora is capable of improving the nutritive value of bamboo that can then be used as a ruminant feed.

Ruminal Protein Degradation Characteristics of Cell Mass from Lysine Production

Chemical analysis and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the nutritive value for ruminants of cell mass from lysine production (CMLP) which is a by-product of the lysine manufacturing process. Proximate analysis, protein fractionation, and in vitro protein degradation using protease from Streptomyces griseus and strained ruminal fluid were carried out to estimate ruminal protein degradability of CMLP with two reference feedstuffs-soybean meal (SBM) and fish meal (FM). Amino acid composition and pepsin-HCl degradability were also determined to evaluate postruminal availability. CMLP contained 67.8% crude protein with a major portion being soluble form (45.4% CP) which was composed of mainly ammonium nitrogen (81.8% soluble CP). The amount of nucleic acids was low (1.15% DM). The total amount of amino acids contained in CMLP was 40.60% DM, which was lower than SBM (47.69% DM) or FM (54.08% DM). CMLP was composed of mainly fraction A and fraction B2, while the protein fraction in SBM was mostly B2 and FM contained high proportions of B2 and B3 fractions. The proportion of B3 fraction, slowly degradable protein, in CP was the highest in fish meal (23.34%), followed by CMLP (7.68%) and SBM (1.46%). CMLP was degraded up to 51.40% at 18 h of incubation with Streptomyces protease, which was low compared to FM (55.23%) and SBM (83.01%). This may be due to the insoluble portion of CMLP protein being hardly degradable by the protease. The in vitro fermentation by strained ruminal fluid showed that the amount of soluble fraction was larger in CMLP (40.6%) than in SBM (17.8%). However, because the degradation rate constant of the potentially degradable fraction of CMLP (2.0%/h) was lower than that of SBM (5.8%/h), the effective ruminal protein degradability of CMLP (46.95%) was slightly lower than SBM (53.77%). Unavailable fraction in the rumen was higher in CMLP (34.0%) compared to SBM (8.8%). In vitro CP degradability of CMLP by pepsin was 80.37%, which was lower than SBM (94.42%) and FM (89.04%). The evaluation of protein degradability using different approaches indicated that soluble protein in CMLP may supply a large amount of ammonia in the rumen while insoluble protein can be by-passed from microbial attacks due to its low degradability. The results from this study suggest that CMLP can be used as a protein supplement to ruminants for supplying both non-protein nitrogen to rumen microbes and rumen undegradable protein to the host animal.

In vitro gas production of pomegranate peel treated with urea, with and without PVP

Pomegranate by-products (peel and seed) contain about 40-45 percent of the fruit’s weight. The rind of the fruit (peel),when dried, is brown outside, yellow inside, hard, dry, brittle, in irregular fragments, inodorous, and with a very astringent, somewhat bitter taste. Analysis of pomegranate peel (PP) is shown that it contains 18.8 percent of tannin, 17.1 of mucilage, 10.8 of extractive matter, 30 of lignin, a trace of resin, and 29.9 of moisture. However, little information is available on PP nutritive value for ruminants. It is poor in protein and rich in tannins. Tannins components of the peel prevents its optimal use. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different levels of urea (U) on in vitro gas production with and without added polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVP) to ensiled pomegranate peel (EPP).

Management system and mineral nitrogen rate impact on the barley grain composition and its nutritional value for ruminants

Many factors, most notably climate, soil, genotype and fertilising, can influence barley grain composition and its nutritive value. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of mineral N rate in different management systems in the static long-term experiment with three years field rotation of grain maize, wheat and barley on the chemical composition of winter barley and its nutritive value for ruminants. Crude protein content and metabolizable crude protein content were increasing with increased mineral N rates. Higher yield meant lower crude protein and metabolizable crude protein content in all mineral N rates. The average crude protein content of barley grain, presented in DLG tables (1997), which is 12.4%, was in MM and SM reached by fertilising rate 110 kg N/ha. A&amp;nbsp;significant impact of mineral N fertilising on crude ash, ether extract and crude fibre content could not be confirmed, nitrogen-free extract content was decreasing with increased mineral N rates. A&amp;nbsp;significant impact of the management system on the Weende analysis parameters, net energy for lactation, metabolizable energy and metabolizable crude protein could not be confirmed. At both analyses a&amp;nbsp;significant impact of the season was confirmed on crude protein content and nitrogen-free extract content. Although the protein content was increasing with increased mineral N rate from 9.2&amp;ndash;14.2% (for 35%) ME content and NEL content did not significantly differ considering mineral N rate; ME/ha&amp;nbsp;and NEL/ha&amp;nbsp;increasing with increased mineral N rates was the result of the yield increasing with increased mineral N rates.

The nutritive value for ruminants of thin stillage and distillers' grains derived from wheat, rye, triticale and barley

The nutritive value for ruminants of thin stillage and distillers' grains derived from wheat, rye, triticale and barley

Increased efficiency of wool growth and live weight gain in Merino sheep fed transgenic lupin seed containing sunflower albumin

The aim of this experiment was to assess, using sheep, the nutritive value of lupin seed transgenically modified to contain sunflower seed albumin. Eighty Merino wether sheep of mean live weight 32.3 kg were divided into two groups and fed 796 g dry matter (DM) day−1 of a cereal hay-based diet containing 350 g kg−1 of either the transgenic or parent (unmodified) lupin seed for 6 weeks. Measurements were made of wool growth and live weight gain. After 6 weeks, half the sheep in each group were selected for a urine and faeces balance study in which organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N) and urinary purine metabolites were measured. Blood samples were taken from all sheep at the beginning and end of treatment and analysed for amino acids and plasma metabolites. A comprehensive chemical analysis of the grains showed that there was little difference between them in terms of most nutritional components, but the transgenic lupin seed contained a 2.3-fold higher methionine concentration and 1.3-fold higher cysteine than did the parent. There were no significant differences between grains in OM digestibility, rumen microbial protein synthesis or in sacco degradability of dry matter. Sheep fed the transgenic lupin grain had an 8% higher rate of wool growth (P 0.1). Plasma urea N was lower in the sheep fed the transgenic grain than those fed the parent grain (6.5 vs 6.8 mmol l−1, P < 0.05). The results show that genetic modification of a feed grain can improve its nutritive value for ruminants. The size and nature of the responses were consistent with the transgenic lupins providing more methionine to the tissues, a first-limiting amino acid for sheep. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Maize silage genotype and ruminant digestion

Maize breeding objectives have for a long time been limited to agronomic criteria, but a high variability in nutritive value for ruminants is also observed among hybrids. Nowadays breeding takes into account the effect of chemical composition in the modification of maize nutritional value. The amount and composition of whole plant cell walls, especially their lignification, influences both digestibility and voluntary intake when maize is given as silage. Starch, the main constituent of grain, is degraded slowly in the rumen, and differences among genotypes exist. Among normal maize hybrids, the differences are mainly related to grain vitreousness.

Effect of different drying systems for the conservation of olive leaves on their nutritive value for ruminants

Des feuilles d'olivier (Olea europaea L) ont ete stockees dans differentes conditions durant des periodes allant jusqu'a 42 mois. La duree du stockage a eu d'importants effets sur la digestibilite chez le mouton des matieres azotees des feuilles. Les matieres azotees des feuilles stockees pendant 24 mois ou plus n'ont plus ete utilisees par les animaux. Les effets du stockage sur la digestibilite de la matiere organique ont ete moins dramatiques et sont dus surtout a la perte du contenu cellulaire soluble (r = 0,97). Il en a resulte que la proportion de lignine et de matiere seche insoluble dans l'eau presente dans les feuilles a augmente avec la duree du stockage, tandis que le materiel soluble dans l'eau ou en melange (60:40 v/v) acetone-eau a diminue. Les proteines des feuilles stockees, quoique non utilisables in vivo, ont ete liberees des residus insolubles dans l'eau par une cellulase en quantites plus grandes que celles qui ont ete liberees des feuilles fraiches sechees. Il est probable que les proteines liberees par les feuilles stockees font partie d'un complexe inutilisable par l'animal. Les tanins hydrolysables et condenses n'ont pu etre detectes dans les feuilles fraiches ou seches et n'ont donc pas agi comme agent complexant. La glycoside seco-iridoide oleuropeine a ete trouvee dans les tissus frais seches (69,9 g kg -1 ) mais les concentrations ont diminue proportionellement avec le diminution de la digestibilite des proteines (r = 0,80) durant le stockage.

Forages with condensed tannins - their management and nutritive value for ruminants

Temperate forage legumes that contain condensed tannins (CT) have been evaluated under experimental conditions and some have demonstrated significant benefits for sheep, cattle and deer. Condensed tannins can significantly improve productive performance, as well as lessen our dependence on anthelmintic drenches. However, not all CT are equal and some may not benefit production at all. This paper summarises the performance responses of ruminants to CT in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), lotus (Lotus pedunculatus), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and erect dorycnium (Dorycnium rectum), and indicates the requirements for successful establishment and management of these swards. All require specialist care, and few will compete with common pasture species in high-fertility situations, but the potential benefits of reduced anthelmintic requirements when sheep are fed sulla, and the lowered incidence of flystrike and improved weight gain, wool growth, milk production and ovulation rate attributable to the CT in birdsfoot trefoil, makes these attractive options for farmers. Lotus is a high quality feed for wet, acid, low-fertility soils and sainfoin may result in very good stock performance in dry regions. Annual dry matter yields of the five species outlined here range from about 10 to 25 t/ha and some of these forages will benefit producers who are prepared to manage these forages correctly. Keywords: birdsfoot trefoil, condensed tannin, dorycnium, forage legume, lotus, ruminant nutrition, sainfoin, sulla

Relationship between in vitro gas production and in situ degradability for forage components

Recently in vitro and in situ techniques have been used for assessing forage nutritive value for ruminants instead of laborious in vivo trials. Although, Blummel and Ørskov (1993) have shown that an in vitro gas production technique gives reliable estimates of forage nutritive value, whether the estimates could be correlated with in situ degradation are not well established. There is little known about the differences in degradation characteristics of neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and cellular contents (CC: soluble carbohydrates, lipids and crude protein) in the rumen, and also about the relationships between component degradation rate in the rumen and gas production rate for different forages. This is because most in situ kinetic studies have followed the disappearance of insoluble cell wall constituents and comparative studies of in vitro and in situ estimates was not performed sufficiently.The objective of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between in situ degradation of forage components and in vitro gas production rate for the three forages.

Urea-ammonia treatment of rice straw to improve its nutritive value for ruminants

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of urea as a source of ammonia in an ‘ensiling’ process for improving the nutritive value of chopped rice straw. In Experiment 1 rice straw treated with six levels of urea was ensiled in sealed polythene bags for periods varying from 1 to 6 weeks. In vitro digestibility increased significantly with increasing level of urea but ensiling beyond 3–4 weeks had no further effect. The optimum level of treatment appeared to be around 4% urea with an ensiling period of 3–4 weeks. In Experiment 2 two levels of urea (4% and 8%) were used to ensile rice straw for 4 weeks. These two treatments were compared with a control treatment having 4% urea sprinkled over the straw prior to feeding, using growing sheep fed ad libitum on straw with 100 g concentrate mixture per animal per day. The ensiling process had a significant effect on digestibility. Doubling the quantity of urea had no effect on digestibility but voluntary dry matter (DM) intake increased by 25%. In Experiment 3 the loss of urea as ammonia, on exposure of ensiled straw to the atmosphere, was estimated as 25% over a period of 2h. It is concluded that rice straw can be successfully upgraded in feeding value by urea-ensiling for 3–4 weeks. More research is, however, required before the method is extended to the farmer.

The nutritive value for ruminants of a complete processed diet based on barley straw

SUMMARYCalorimetric experiments were made with a complete extruded diet for ruminants, ‘Ruminant Diet A’ prepared by Messrs U.K. Compound Feeds Ltd. Twelve determinations of energy and nitrogen retention were made using sheep and it was found that the diet had a metabolizable energy value of 2–32 kcal/g organic matter, and the net availabilities of its metabolizable energy were 42–7 % for fattening and 68–0 % for maintenance. These values agreed well with those predicted from equations published by the Agricultural Research Council. On a dry basis the starch equivalent was 38–3 %.