Omasal Flow Research Articles

Rumen degradable protein levels on fatty acid profile of rumen bacteria and milk fat of dairy cows supplemented with calcium salts of fatty acids.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) from soybean oil in diets with different levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) on bio-hydrogenation extent, and fatty acid (FA) profile intake, omasal digesta, rumen bacteria, and milk fat. Eight Holstein lactating cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with two CSFA levels (0 or 33.2g/kg DM of CSFA) and two RDP levels (98.0 or 110 g/kg DM). There was RDP and CSFA interaction effect on the omasal flow of total FA and some specific FA. Only in -CSFA diets, the higher RDP level increased omasal flow of total FA. Dietary RDP levels did not affect the FA profile of bacteria and milk fat. Feeding CSFA reduced or tended to reduce the bacterial proportion of C15:0, C16:0, C16:1, C17:0, and C18:0 FA and decreased the concentrations of short- and medium-chain FA (<18C) and increased the concentrations of unsaturated and long-chain FA (≥18C) in milk fat. Feeding CSFA of soybean oil increases the intake and omasal flow of FA and augments unsaturated FA content in bacteria pellets and milk fat.

PSVI-3 Effects of Different Concentrate Inclusion Levels in Diets Containing Agri002E Sorghum Silage on Intake and Digestibility in Growing Nellore Bulls

Abstract The sorghum hybrid, AGRI002E, sorghum was developed for high dry matter (DM) production per area. However, there are no reports in the literature evaluating the use of this silage with different inclusion levels of concentration on the ingestive and digestive variables of beef cattle. Therefore, this study aimed to access the effects of different concentrate levels in diets containing AGRI002E sorghum silage (SS) on feed intake, ruminal and apparent total tract digestibilities of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber corrected for contaminant ash and protein (apNDF), and starch. Nellore rumen-cannulated bulls (n = 5; BW = 242 ± 5 kg) were used in a 5×5 Latin square design. The experimental treatments consisted of five concentrate levels (0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 g of concentrate/kg of diet DM) in SS-based diets. The concentrates used in the experimental diets were based on corn, soybean meal, sulfated urea, virginiamycin, and mineral supplement. The diets were formulated to provide approximately 120 g of crude protein per kg dietary DM. In the 0% concentrate diet, the protein level was adjusted with sulfated urea. All diets contained the same amount of virginiamycin and mineral supplement. Each experimental period lasted 24 d, with 17 d adaptation, 4 d of total feces collection, and 3 d collection to obtain omasal flow using a double marker technique (indigestible NDF and Co-EDTA). Data were analyzed using MIXED-SAS. Starch and OM intake linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.001) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Intake of apNDF decreased linearly (P = 0.018) and tended to be quadratically influenced (P = 0.022) with increasing concentrate inclusion (Table 1). Ruminal digestibility of OM increased linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.001) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Starch ruminal digestibility decreased linearly (P = 0.003) and tended to be influenced quadratically (P = 0.0015) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Ruminal digestibility of apNDF tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.057) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Total apparent digestibility of OM increased linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and apNDF and starch total apparent digestibility decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.002) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Increasing inclusion of concentrate in AGRI002E sorghum silage-based diets increased OM and starch intake, and ruminal and total apparent OM digestibility and decreased apNDF intake and ruminal and apNDF and starch total apparent digestibility.

Effects of faba bean, blue lupin and rapeseed meal supplementation on amino acid metabolism of dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets.

Information about the amino acid (AA) supply of locally produced protein supplements to dairy cow metabolism is needed to design sustainable diets for milk production. In this dairy cow experiment, grass silage and cereal-based diets supplemented with isonitrogenous amounts of rapeseed meal (RSM), faba beans (FB) and blue lupin seeds (BL) were compared with a control diet (CON) without protein supplementation. The diets were arranged as a 4×4 Latin Square using periods of 21days, and four rumen-cannulated Nordic Red dairy cows were used in the experiment. The intake of all AAs increased in response to protein supplementation and was for many individual AAs higher when RSM rather than the grain legumes FB and BL were fed. The total AA flow at the omasal canal was 3026, 3371, 3373 and 3045g/day for cows fed CON, RSM, FB and BL, respectively, but only RSM resulted in higher milk protein output. This may be explained by the higher provision of essential AA for milk protein synthesis when RSM was fed. The cows fed FB showed some positive features such as a tendency for greater omasal flow of branched-chain AA compared with BL. Overall, low plasma methionine and/or glucose concentrations in all treatments suggest that their supply was possibly limiting further production responses under the dietary conditions of the current study. It seems that the benefits of grain legume supplementation are limited when high-quality grass silage and cereal-based diets are used as the basal diet, but higher responses in amino acid supply and subsequent production responses can be expected when RSM is used.

Effect of inclusion of distillers grains with solubles and crude glycerin in beef cattle finishing diets on ruminal fermentation and fatty acid biohydrogenation.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of feeding bio-fuel co-products on ruminal fermentation characteristics and composition of omasal digesta flow. Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (371 ± 5 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Omasal sample collection and triple marker technique was used to quantify fatty acid omasal flow. Treatments were applied as a 2 × 2 factorial where a steam flaked corn (SFC) basal diet (DGS-N CG-N) was replaced with 40% of diet DM as corn distillers grains (DGS; DGS-Y CG-N) or 10% of diet DM as crude glycerin (DGS-N CG-Y) or 40% of diet DM distillers grains and 10% of diet DM as crude glycerin (DGS-Y CG-Y). No effects were observed for the interaction of DGS and glycerin on measured rumen characteristics. Dietary inclusion of glycerin decreased (P = 0.05) ruminal content 4-h post feeding on a DM basis but did not influence DMI (P = 0.64). Feeding DGS had no effect (P = 0.34) on particulate passage to the omasum (kg/d) in spite of greater (P = 0.04) DMI. Feeding DGS reduced flow rate (% of rumen volume/h) (P = 0.05) but did not affect total VFA concentration (P = 0.46) or average ruminal pH (P = 0.72). No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in ruminal parameters when feeding glycerin, besides ruminal particulate content (kg) on DM basis (P = 0.05). An interaction of DGS and glycerin affected intake of stearic (P < 0.01), linoleic (P < 0.01), and linolenic acid (P < 0.01). An interaction of DGS and glycerin did not affect individual fatty acid flow with respect to intake for stearic (P = 0.17), linoleic (P = 0.18), or linolenic acid (P = 0.66). Dietary inclusion of glycerin had no impact on g of linolenic (P = 0.16) or linoleic (P = 0.32) acid transformed. A trend was identified for cattle fed diets with glycerin to have increased (P = 0.07) grams of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; C18:2 cis-9, trans-11) per gram of linoleic acid intake, with no impact on the percent of saturated fat (P = 0.44) or unsaturated fat (P = 0.43) in omasal flow. For cattle fed diets with DGS, fewer grams of linoleic (P < 0.01) and linolenic (P < 0.01) were present in digesta flow per gram of intake. Inclusion of DGS in the treatment diets also increased (P < 0.01) stearic acid flow (g) and CLA flow (g) per gram of stearic and linoleic acid intake, respectively. Observed differences in CLA proportion post fermentation may indicate interrupted biohydrogenation when glycerin is fed.

Effect of vitamin blend supplementation on the ingestive, digestive, and ruminal parameters of Nellore cattle

Rumen cannulated Nellore bulls (n = 4) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, with a 2 × 2 factorial scheme to evaluate the effects of vitamin supplementation on: (1) ingestive, digestive, and ruminal parameters; (2) serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D); and (3) in situ degradability of complete diets. The factors consisted of two fat-soluble vitamin blend (ADE) supplementation levels (ADE− or ADE+) and two B vitamin blend (biotin, niacin, and thiamine) supplementation levels (B-blend− or B-blend+). Thus, the treatments evaluated consisted of no vitamin supplementation (ADE− B-blend−), supplementation of a B vitamin blend (ADE− B-blend+), supplementation with a fat-soluble vitamin blend (ADE+ B-blend−), or a combination of these two blends (ADE+ B-blend+). Nutrient intake and DM, as well as ruminal digestibility were not affected (P > 0.05) by any of the vitamin supplementations. The apparent total-tract digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber corrected for residual ash and protein (apNDF), crude protein (CP), and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) were not influenced by the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Furthermore, an increase in starch total-tract digestibility was verified with ADE supplementation in the diets (P = 0.031). None of the in situ parameters were affected (P > 0.05) by vitamin supplementation. Further, the treatments did not affect ruminal kinetics (ki, kp, and kd,) of DM, OM, and starch (P > 0.05). The omasal flow of total N, NH3-N, non-ammonia N, microbial N, and non-ammonia non-microbial N (P > 0.05) or the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (P > 0.05) were not affected by vitamin blend supplementation. The total fat volatile acid (VFA) concentrations, as well lactate concentration were not affected (P > 0.05) by vitamin blend supplementation. Bulls that consumed the combination of ADE and B-blend supplementation had lower ruminal NH3-N concentrations (P = 0.008). B-blend vitamin supplementation decreased ruminal pH (P = 0.003). As expected, concentrations of serum 25(OH)D increased (P = 0.001) in Nellore bulls fed diets with the combination of fat-soluble vitamin (ADE) and B-blend supplementation. Supplementing Nellore bulls with a vitamin blend containing 25(OH)D3 was a successful strategy for increasing circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D. The B vitamin blend (biotin, niacin, and thiamine) supplementation did not improve ruminal fermentation, ingestive or digestive parameters. However, the fat-soluble vitamin blend (ADE) supplementation increased total-tract starch digestibility.

Omasal flow of nonstructural carbohydrates and nitrogenous compounds in lactating dairy cows fed diets containing timothy cut in the afternoon or morning

Shifting the cutting of grass from morning to afternoon has been shown to increase the concentration of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) in forages. We compared the effects of diets (66:34, forage:concentrate ratio) containing a mix (% of the diet dry matter) of baleages (46.5%) and silages (19.3%) harvested from timothy cut in the afternoon (p.m.-cut TIM diet) or morning (a.m.-cut TIM diet) on omasal flows of NSC and nitrogenous fractions, ruminal and total-tract digestibilities of nutrients, plasma concentration of AA, and milk yield and composition. Eight ruminally cannulated Holstein cows averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 31.4 ± 6.13 kg/d of milk, 136 ± 17.0 d in milk, and 611 ± 66.4 kg of body weight in the beginning of the experiment were used in a crossover design with 21-d periods (14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for data and sample collection). Intake of total ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (TESC; +150 g/d), starch (+129 g/d), and total NSC (TESC plus starch = +278 g/d) was greater with feeding the p.m.- than the a.m.-cut TIM diet. Likewise, the apparent ruminal digestibilities of TESC (+149 g/d), starch (+167 g/d), and total NSC (+316 g/d) increased in the p.m.-cut TIM diet. Diets, however, had no effect on the omasal flows and apparent ruminal and total-tract digestibilities of dry matter and organic matter. Intake of N increased in cows fed the p.m.- versus the a.m.-cut TIM diet (562 and 528 g/d, respectively) despite no effect of diets on dry matter intake. Diets did not affect the omasal flows of total nonammonia N, total bacterial nonammonia N, nonammonia and nonbacterial N, and individual AA, and the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. Contrarily, supply of rumen-degradable protein increased (+9.2%) in cows fed the p.m.-cut TIM diet, with this response driven by the 6.4% increase in N intake. Plasma concentrations of essential and nonessential AA followed the omasal flow of AA and were not changed by diets. Feeding the p.m.- versus the a.m.-cut diet significantly increased yields of 4% fat-corrected milk and milk fat, and tended to increase energy-corrected milk, milk true protein, and milk lactose yields. Overall, feeding the p.m.-cut TIM diet to mid-lactation dairy cows did not improve microbial protein synthesis and omasal flow of AA, and these responses were in line with the lack of a treatment effect on dry matter intake.

Effect of increasing dietary protein with constant lysine:methionine ratio on production and omasal flow of nonammonia nitrogen in lactating dairy cows

Eight lactating cows were fed 4 diets in which dietary crude protein (CP) was increased in steps of approximately 2 percentage units from 11 to 17% of DM by replacing high-moisture corn with soybean meal supplemented with rumen-protected Met to maintain a Lys:Met ratio of 3:1 in metabolizable protein. Trial design was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square; experimental periods lasted 28 d, with data and sample collection being performed during wk 3 and 4 of each period. Digesta samples were collected from the rumen as well as the omasum to measure metabolite concentrations and ruminal outflow of N fractions using infusion of 15N-enriched ammonia to quantify microbial nonammonia N (NAN) and nonmicrobial NAN. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). There were linear increases in the yields of milk and true protein and concentration of milk urea N, and a linear decrease in N efficiency, with increasing dietary CP. Apparent ruminal and total-tract N digestibility increased linearly with increasing dietary CP, but estimated true total-tract N digestibility was not affected. Apparent digestibility of the other macronutrients was not influenced by diet. Ruminal ammonia, total AA and peptides, and branched-chain VFA also increased linearly with dietary CP. The 15N enrichment of liquid- and particle-associated microbes linearly declined with increasing dietary CP due to decreasing 15N enrichment of the ammonia pool. Although no effect of dietary CP on nonmicrobial NAN flow was detected, total NAN flow increased linearly from 525 g/d at 11% CP to 637 g/d at 17% CP due to the linear increase in microbial NAN flow from 406 g/d at 11% CP to 482 g/d at 17% CP. Under the conditions of this study, when dietary CP was increased by adding soybean meal supplemented with rumen-protected Met, improved milk and protein yields were driven not by RUP supply but by increased ruminal outflow of microbial protein.

Effect of dietary lipid inclusion from by-product-based pellets on dry matter intake, ruminal fermentation, and nutrient digestion in finishing beef heifers

This study was designed to evaluate dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal fermentation, ruminal digesta outflow, omasal flow of N constituents, and ruminal and total-tract digestibility in response to increasing dietary lipid content derived from high-lipid by-product-based pellets for finishing beef cattle. Five ruminally cannulated heifers were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Dietary treatments were iso-nitrogenous with increasing ether extract (EE) concentrations resulting in dietary concentrations of 3.5%, 4.2%, 4.7%, 5.1%, and 5.9% of dry matter. Periods were 28 d in duration with the first 19 d used for dietary adaptation and the last 9 d for sample and data collection. Dry matter intake, ruminal pH, omasal flow of N constituents, and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were not affected by increasing dietary EE content (P ≥ 0.10). Increasing dietary EE content increased outflow of EE from the rumen (P &lt; 0.001). Apparent ruminal and total-tract digestibility of EE increased linearly (P ≤ 0.03) with increasing dietary EE levels. Results indicate that increasing dietary EE content from 3.5% up to 5.9% of DM by including high-lipid by-product-based pellets does not alter site of nutrient digestibility with no negative effects on nutrient intake, ruminal fermentation, or apparent ruminal, and total-tract digestibility.

Microbial composition and omasal flows of bacterial, protozoal, and nonmicrobial amino acids in lactating dairy cows fed fresh perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) not supplemented or supplemented with rolled barley

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rolled barley supplementation on microbial composition and omasal flows of bacterial, protozoal, and nonmicrobial AA in cows fed fresh perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG). Ten ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 49 ± 23 d in milk and 513 ± 36 kg of body weight were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a switchback design. The treatment diets were PRG only or PRG plus 3.5 kg of dry matter rolled barley (G+RB). The study consisted of three 29-d periods where each period consisted of 21 d of diet adaptation and 8 d of data and sample collection. A double-marker system was used to quantify nutrient flow entering the omasal canal along with 15N-ammonium sulfate to label and measure the microbial and nonmicrobial omasal flow of AA. Overall, rolled barley supplementation had no effect on the AA composition of the omasal liquid-associated and particle-associated bacteria. Rolled barley supplementation affected the AA concentrations of omasal protozoa; however, the differences were nutritionally minor. Particle-associated bacteria AA flow was increased for all AA, except for Trp and Pro, in cows fed the G+RB diet. Rolled barley supplementation had no effect on protozoal AA flow. On average, protozoa accounted for 23% of the microbial essential AA flow, which ranged from 17 to 28% for Trp and Lys, respectively. The flow of all AA in omasal true digesta increased in cows fed the G+RB diet compared with the PRG-only diet, resulting in a 228 g/d increase in total AA flow in cows fed the G+RB diet. This increase in total AA flow in cows fed the G+RB diet was due to an increase in microbial AA flow. Rolled barley supplementation had no effect on nonmicrobial AA flow. The nonmicrobial AA flow modestly contributed to total AA flow, accounting for 15.6% on average. These results indicated that extensive ruminal degradation of PRG AA occurred (83.5%), and we demonstrated that cows consuming PRG-based diets exhibit a large dependence on microbial AA to support metabolizable AA supply. Rolled barley supplementation can increase the omasal flow of microbial AA in cows consuming PRG-based diets. However, further research is required to elucidate if this increased AA supply can support higher milk yield under such dietary conditions.

Rumen metabolism, omasal flow of nutrients, and microbial dynamics in lactating dairy cows fed fresh perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) not supplemented or supplemented with rolled barley grain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rolled barley grain (RB) supplementation on rumen metabolism, omasal flow of nutrients, and microbial dynamics in lactating dairy cows fed fresh perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG)-based diets. Ten ruminally cannulated Holstein cows averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 49 ± 23 d in milk and 513 ± 36 kg of body weight were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a switchback design. The treatment diets were PRG only (G) or PRG plus 3.5 kg of dry matter RB (G+RB). The study consisted of three 29-d periods where each period consisted of 21 d of diet adaptation and 8 d of data and sample collection. A double marker system was used to quantify nutrient flow entering the omasal canal along with labeled 15N-ammonium sulfate to measure bacterial, protozoal, and nonmicrobial N flow. Rumen evacuation techniques were used to determine nutrient and microbial pool size, allowing the calculation of fractional rates of digestion and microbial growth. There was no difference in daily milk yield or energy-corrected milk yield between treatments. Milk fat concentration and milk urea N decreased, whereas milk protein concentration increased in cows fed the G+RB diet. During the omasal sampling phase, dry matter intake was higher in cows fed the G+RB diet. Ruminal and total-tract neutral detergent fiber digestibility was lower in G+RB cows; however, no difference was observed in reticulorumen pH. The rumen pool size of fermentable carbohydrate was increased in cows fed the G+RB diet; however, the fractional rate of digestion was decreased. Flow of nonammonia N and bacterial N at the omasal canal increased in cows fed the G+RB diet compared with the G diet. Protozoa N flow was not different between diets; however, protozoa appeared to supply a much larger amount of microbial N and exhibited shorter generation time than previously considered. Feed N ruminal digestibility, corrected for microbial contribution, was similar for both treatments (88.4 and 89.0% for G and G+RB, respectively). In conclusion, RB supplementation did not benefit overall animal performance; however, it reduced ruminal neutral detergent fiber digestibility and increased bacterial N flow. The results demonstrate the large dependence of cows consuming PRG-based diets on microbial N as the main source of nonammonia N supply. Additional quantitative research is required to further describe the supply of nutrients and microbial dynamics in cows consuming PRG-based diets in an effort to determine most limiting nutrients.

Evaluation of 15N and purine bases as microbial markers to estimate ruminal bacterial nitrogen outflow in dairy cows

The present study aimed to evaluate 15N and purine bases (PB) as markers for ruminal bacterial nitrogen (N) outflow in dairy cows. Additionally, the effects of calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) in diets with different levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) on PB omasal flow, urinary recovery of purine derivatives (PD), and endogenous excretion of PD were evaluated. Eight ruminal cannulated Holstein cows, with 207 ± 23.6 (mean ± SD) days in milk, 618 ± 39.0 kg of body weight, and 33.4 ± 2.45 kg/d of milk yield were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Four treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design to evaluate the following factors: CSFA addition [-CS: basal diet without CSFA; and + CS: with 33.2 g/kg dry matter (DM) of CSFA]; and the level of RDP (LRDP: low RDP, with 98 g/kg DM of RDP; and HRDP: high RDP, with 110 g/kg DM of RDP). Particle-associated bacteria (PAB) showed lower (P ≤ 0.008) 15N enrichment and purine N to total bacterial N ratio than liquid associated bacteria (LAB). Increasing RDP concentration reduced (P = 0.007) 15N enrichment and tended (P ≤ 0.095) to reduce PB concentration in bacterial pellets. Purine bases overestimated (P ≤ 0.002) LAB-NAN and total microbial flow but, regarding PAB-NAN flow, there was a trend of interaction (P = 0.067) between marker and fat supplementation effects. In the absence of fat supplementation, PB underestimated (P ≤ 0.05) the flow of PAB-NAN compared to 15N and failed to detect the negative effect of fat supplementation evidenced by 15N labeling. Omasal PB flow tended to increase (P = 0.061) in low protein degradability diets, but PD excretion was constant (322 ± 5,9 mmol/d, mean ± SE) regardless of diet and, as a result, urinary recovery of PB decreased (P = 0.007). Daily excretion of creatinine and endogenous PD was also unaffected by the diet and averaged 0.262 mmol/kg BW and 0.640 mmol/kg BW0.75, respectively. In conclusion, the response of PB and its urinary derivatives to variation in diet composition compared to 15N reveals their weaknesses in the estimation of microbial synthesis.

Nitrogen utilization, whole-body urea-nitrogen kinetics, omasal nutrient flow, and production performance in dairy cows fed lactose as a partial replacement for barley starch

The objective of this study was to determine whether the partial replacement of barley starch with lactose (fed as dried whey permeate; DWP) affects N utilization, whole-body urea kinetics, and production in dairy cows. Eight lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Four cows in one Latin square were ruminally cannulated and used to determine dietary effects on whole-body urea kinetics and N utilization. Cows were fed a barley-based diet that contained 3.6% (dry matter basis) total sugar (TSG; designated control), or diets that contained 6.6, 9.6, or 12.6% TSG. Dietary TSG content was increased by the replacement of barley grain with DWP (83% lactose). Diets were isonitrogenous (∼17.3% crude protein), and starch contents of the control, 6.6, 9.6, and 12.6% TSG diets were 24.3, 22.2, 21.2, and 19.1%, respectively. Whole-body urea kinetics were measured using 4-d infusions of [15N15N]-urea with concurrent total collections of feces and urine. Dry matter intake (mean = 26.7 kg/d), milk yield (mean = 34.9 kg/d), and milk protein and fat contents were unaffected by diet. Ruminal ammonia-N concentration decreased linearly as TSG content increased, whereas ruminal butyrate concentration increased linearly as TSG content increased. Urinary excretion of total N and urea-N changed quadratically, whereas urinary excretion of total N (% of N intake) tended to change quadratically as TSG content increased. Fecal N excretion linearly increased as TSG content increased. A quadratic response was observed for total N excretion as TSG content increased. Milk N and retained N were not affected by diet. As TSG content increased, we observed quadratic responses in the omasal flow of fluid-associated and total bacterial nonammonia N, endogenous production of urea-N, urea-N recycled to the gastrointestinal tract, and urea-N returned to the ornithine cycle. Dietary TSG content did not affect the anabolic utilization of recycled urea-N or the proportion of recycled urea-N that was used for bacterial growth. Our results indicate that feeding DWP did not influence dry matter intake, milk yield, or milk composition. Feeding DWP decreased ruminal ammonia-N concentration, but this did not result in positive responses in milk protein secretion or N balance. The quadratic response in omasal flow of total bacterial nonammonia N indicated that including TSG beyond 9.6% of diet dry matter might depress ruminal microbial protein synthesis.

Effects of a commercial fermentation byproduct or urea on milk production, rumen metabolism, and omasal flow of nutrients in lactating dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fermentation byproduct on rumen fermentation and microbial yield in high producing lactating dairy cattle. Eight ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 60 ± 10 d in milk and 637 ± 38 kg of body weight were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment sequences in a switchback design. Treatment diets contained (dry matter basis) 44% corn silage, 13% alfalfa silage, 12% ground corn, and 31% premix containing either a control mix of urea and wheat middlings (CON) or a commercial fermentation byproduct meal (Fermenten, Arm and Hammer Animal Nutrition, Princeton, NJ) at 3% diet inclusion rate (EXP). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, with similar levels of neutral detergent fiber and starch. The trial consisted of three 28-d experimental periods, where each period consisted of 21 d of diet adaptation and 7 d of data and sample collection. Omasal nutrient flows were determined using a triple-marker technique and double-labeled 15N15N-urea. The EXP diet provided 18 g/d more nonammonia N versus the CON diet, representing 3.0% of total N intake. Energy-corrected milk yield (41.7 and 43.1 kg/d for CON and EXP, respectively), milk fat, and protein yield and content did not differ between treatments. Total dry matter intake was similar between treatments (25.5 and 26.4 kg/d for CON and EXP, respectively). Ammonia N concentration and pool size in the rumen was greater in cows fed the EXP diet. No differences were observed in rumen or total-tract dry matter, organic matter, or neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Ruminal degradation of feed N was 15% lower in cows fed EXP diets, resulting in differences in omasal N flows. Results demonstrated the fermentation byproduct meal had a sparing effect on degradable feed protein, but did not increase microbial N flow from the rumen.

Rumen digestion kinetics, microbial yield, and omasal flows of nonmicrobial, bacterial, and protozoal amino acids in lactating dairy cattle fed fermentation by-products or urea as a soluble nitrogen source

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a fermentation by-product on rumen function, microbial yield, and composition and flows of nutrients from the rumen in high-producing lactating dairy cattle. Eight ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 60 ± 10 d in milk and 637 ± 38 kg of body weight were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment sequences in a switchback design. Treatment diets contained (dry matter basis) 44% corn silage, 13% alfalfa silage, 12% ground corn, and 31% protein premix, containing either a control mix of urea and wheat middlings (CON) or a commercial fermentation by-product meal (Fermenten, Arm and Hammer Animal Nutrition, Princeton, NJ) at 3% diet inclusion rate (EXP). The trial consisted of three 28-d experimental periods, where each period consisted of 21 d of diet adaptation and 7 d of data and sample collection. A triple-marker technique and double-labeled 15N15N-urea were used to were used to measure protozoal, bacterial, and nonmicrobial omasal flow of AA. Rumen pool sizes and omasal flows were used to determine digestion parameters, including fractional rates of carbohydrate digestion, microbial growth, and yield of microbial biomass per gram of degraded substrate. Fermentation by-product inclusion in EXP diets increased microbial N and amino acid N content in microbes relative to microbes from CON cows fed the urea control. Microbial AA profile did not differ between diets. Daily omasal flows of AA were increased in EXP cows as a result of decreased degradation of feed protein. The inclusion of the fermentation by-product increased nonmicrobial AA flow in cows fed EXP versus CON. Average protozoal contribution to microbial N flow was 16.8%, yet protozoa accounted for 21% of the microbial AA flow, with a range of 8 to 46% for individual AA. Cows in this study maintained an average rumen pool size of 320 g of microbial N, and bacterial and protozoal pools were estimated at 4 different theoretical levels of selective protozoa retention. Fractional growth rate of all microbes was estimated to be 0.069 h-1, with a yield of 0.44 g of microbial biomass per gram of carbohydrate degraded. Results indicated that fermentation by-product can increase omasal flow of AA while maintaining adequate rumen N available for microbial growth and protein synthesis. Simulations from a developmental version of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System indicated strong agreement between predicted and observed values, with some areas key for improvement in AA flow and bacterial versus protozoal N partitioning.

418 Effects of maturity at harvest of Eragrostis tef (Moxie) on nutrient intake, digestibility and omasal flow in beef cattle.

418 Effects of maturity at harvest of Eragrostis tef (Moxie) on nutrient intake, digestibility and omasal flow in beef cattle.

Predicting omasal flow of nonammonia N and milk protein yield from in vitro-determined utilizable crude protein at the duodenum

This study evaluated the relationship between utilizable crude protein (uCP) at the duodenum estimated in vitro and omasal flow of crude protein (CP; omasal flow of nonammonia N × 6.25) measured in lactating dairy cows. In vivo data were obtained from previous studies estimating omasal digesta flow using a triple-marker method and 15N as microbial marker. A total of 34 different diets based on grass and red clover silages were incubated with buffered rumen fluid previously preincubated with carbohydrates for 3 h. The buffer solution was modified to contain 38 g of NaHCO3 and 1 g of (NH4)HCO3 in 1,000 mL of distilled water. Continuous sampling of the liquid phase for determination of ammonia-N was performed at 0.5, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 30 h after the start of incubation. The ammonia N concentrations after incubation were used to calculate uCP. The natural logarithm of uCP [g/kg of dry matter (DM)] at time points 0.5, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 30 h of incubation was plotted against time to estimate the concentration of uCP (g/kg of DM) at time points 16, 20, and 24 h using an exponential function. Fixed model regression analysis and mixed model regression analysis with random study effect were used to evaluate the relationships between predicted uCP (supply and concentration) and observed omasal CP flow and milk protein yield. Residual analysis was also conducted to evaluate whether any dietary factors influenced the relationships. The in vitro uCP method ranked the diets accurately in terms of total omasal CP flow (kg/d) or omasal CP flow per kilogram of DM intake. We also noted a close relationship between estimated uCP supply and adjusted omasal CP flow, as demonstrated by a coefficient of determination of 0.87, although the slope of 0.77 indicated that estimated uCP supply (kg/d) was greater than the value determined in vivo. The linear bias with mixed model analysis indicated that uCP supply overestimated the difference in omasal CP flow between the diets within a study, an error most likely related to study differences in feed intake, animals, and methodology. Predicting milk protein yield from uCP supply showed a positive relationship using a mixed model (coefficient of determination = 0.79), and we observed no difference in model fit between the time points of incubation (16, 20, or 24 h). The results of this study indicate that the in vitro method can be a useful tool in evaluating protein value of ruminant diets.

Effect of dietary supplementation with heat-treated canola meal on ruminal nutrient metabolism in lactating dairy cows

An experiment was conducted to quantify the effects of incremental levels of heat-moisture-treated canola meal (TCM) fed to dairy cows on the relationship between ruminal nutrient digestion and milk production. Experimental diets were fed to 4 multiparous rumen-cannulated Nordic Red cows, averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 681 ± 54.8 kg of body weight, 111 ± 16 d in milk, and 29.1 ± 9.1 kg of milk/d at the start of the study, in a Latin square design with four 21-d periods. The 4 experimental dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet of grass silage and crimped barley, and 3 diets in which the crimped barley was replaced with TCM, giving 3 incremental levels of protein supplementation. Nutrient flow was quantified by the omasal sampling technique using 3 markers (Cr, Yb, and indigestible neutral detergent fiber). Continuous infusion of 15N was used to label bacterial crude protein. Additionally, ruminal sampling and evacuations and measurements of total-tract digestibility were conducted. The experimental diets provided 132, 148, 164, and 180 g of crude protein/kg of dry matter. The increased level of TCM linearly increased dry matter intake from 15.1 to 16.6 kg/d and energy-corrected milk yield from 21.0 to 25.6 kg/d. The increased proportion of TCM when substituting barley with TCM was associated with greater total-tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber, which could be explained by increased digestion rate of potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber. Omasal flow of nonammonia N naturally increased with greater dietary TCM inclusion, but the increased intestinal supply of rumen-undegradable protein was partly offset by diminished microbial protein synthesis when feeding more TCM. This was also reflected in a decreased proportion of milk protein from ruminal bacterial protein when TCM supplementation increased.

647 Comparison of ruminal protected versus non-protected live yeast on omasal flows, site and extent of digestion in the digestive tract of beef heifers fed high-grain diet

647 Comparison of ruminal protected versus non-protected live yeast on omasal flows, site and extent of digestion in the digestive tract of beef heifers fed high-grain diet

Effect of organic grass-clover silage on fiber digestion in dairy cows

There are differences in grass-clover proportions and chemical composition between herbage from primary growth (PG) and regrowth (RG) in grass-clover leys. Mixing silages made from PG and RG may provide a more optimal diet to dairy cows than when fed separately. We tested the hypotheses that increasing dietary proportions of grass-clover silage made from RG compared with PG would increase digestion rate of potentially degradable NDF (pdNDF), and increase ruminal accumulation of indigestible NDF (iNDF). Eight rumen cannulated Norwegian Red cows were used in two replicated 4×4 Latin squares with 21-day periods. Silages were prepared from PG and RG of an organically cultivated ley, where PG and RG silages were fed ad libitum in treatments with RG replacing PG in ratios of 0, 0.33, 0.67 and 1 on dry matter basis in addition to 8 kg concentrate. We evaluated the effect of the four diets with emphasis on rumen- and total tract fiber digestibility. Increasing RG proportions decreased silage intake by 7%. Omasal flow of pdNDF decreased, whereas iNDF flow increased with increasing RG proportions. Increasing RG proportions decreased rumen pool sizes of NDF and pdNDF, whereas pool sizes of iNDF and CP increased. Increasing RG proportions increased digestion rate of NDF, which resulted in greater total tract digestion of NDF. Pure PG diet had the highest calculated energy intake, but the improved rumen digestion of NDF by cows offered 0.33 and 0.67 of RG leveled out milk fat and protein yields among the three PG containing diets.

1404 Effects of replacing soybean meal with canola meal or treated canola meal on ruminal digestion, and omasal nutrient flow in lactating dairy cows

1404 Effects of replacing soybean meal with canola meal or treated canola meal on ruminal digestion, and omasal nutrient flow in lactating dairy cows