Pelleted Straw Research Articles

PSV-B-20 Effect of Physically Effective Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Undigested Neutral Detergent Fiber on Eating Behavior, Ruminal pH, Ruminal Motility, and Total Tract Permeability for Finishing Cattle

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF), and undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) on dry matter intake (DMI), eating behavior, ruminal fermentation, and total tract permeability for finishing cattle. Simmental heifers (n=6; 667.8±28.4 kg) were used in a replicated 3×3 Latin square (21-d periods) balanced for carry-over effects. Barley grain-based diets were formulated to provide treatments with: low peNDF and low uNDF (95% barley and supplement, and 0% straw; 0FOR); low peNDF but high uNDF (85% barley and supplement, 10% pelleted straw; PEL); or high peNDF with high uNDF (85% barley and supplement, 10% chopped straw; ST). Treatment did not affect DMI (P=0.93). Heifers fed 0FOR spent less (P< 0.01) time eating vs. ST, where PEL was intermediate. Time spent ruminating was greater (P=0.01) for ST than 0FOR, with PEL not differing. Heifers fed 0FOR had fewer meals/d than ST (P< 0.01) and meal size was greater for 0FOR than PEL and ST (P< 0.01). Feeding 0FOR reduced (P=0.02) mean ruminal pH (5.65 vs. 6.07) and increased (522 vs. 288 min/d, P=0.02) the duration that pH was < 5.5 relative to ST with PEL being intermediate (5.82 and 504 min/d, respectively). Heifers fed 0FOR had greater (112.5 vs. 59.9 sec, P=0.05) time between contractions and lesser (61.45 vs. 94.58 mmHg′sec, P=0.05) contraction area compared with cattle fed ST, while PEL remained intermediate (76.73 sec and 73.29 mmHg×sec, respectively). Permeability of the gastrointestinal tract to Cr-EDTA and intestine to Co-EDTA did not differ (P≥0.11) among treatments. The data suggest that increasing uNDF improved ruminal function, but increasing uNDF with peNDF is needed to decrease the risk of ruminal acidosis in finishing cattle. The results further suggest that the use of uNDF and peNDF may provide useful information over NDF inclusion when evaluating fiber adequacy of finishing diets.

Effects of physical form and wheat straw level in the diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen papillae morphometry, and carcass characteristics in Lohi lambs

Context To achieve maximum growth and decrease fattening periods farmers tend to use a high concentrate diet in the total mixed ration (TMR). A larger particle size of straw may increase the concentrate level in the TMR and improve the performance without affecting the rumen health of lambs. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical form (PF) and wheat straw levels (SL) in the diet on growth performance, rumen health, and carcass characteristics of lambs. Methods Thirty-two male Lohi lambs (31.5 ± 2.5 kg, age 6–7 months) were randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two physical forms [pelleted, conventional mashed] and two levels of straw (15% and 25%). The experiment lasted for 16 weeks including 2 weeks for dietary adaptation, 13 weeks for growth data collection, and 1 week for digestibility. Key results Lambs fed pelleted and 15% straw diets had greater dry matter intake than those offered mashed and 25% straw diets. Lambs fed 15% pelleted straw TMR displayed a greater final bodyweight, average daily gain, and feed efficiency than the other treatments. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were higher in lambs fed on the pelleted and 15% straw diets compared to those fed on the mashed and the 25% straw diets. However, neutral detergent fibre digestibility was higher in the lambs fed 15% straw than those fed 25% straw diets. Lambs fed pelleted and 15% straw diets had longer papillae (P < 0.05), covering greater surface area than those fed on the mashed and 25% straw diets. Lambs fed on the pelleted and 15% straw diets had greater (P < 0.05) marbling score, rib eye area, empty live weight, hot carcass weight, and fat content than the lambs fed mashed and 25% straw diets. Conclusion Greater digestibility and feed intake of lambs fed a 15% pelleted straw TMR led to better growth performance, and improved carcass quality. Implications Feeding wheat straw-based pelleted TMR with 15% straw ground at 8 mm shows great potential to enhance the sustainable lamb production system in Pakistan.

Potential of pelleted wheat straw as an alternative bedding material for broilers

Broiler chickens are commonly placed on wood shavings as litter, but alternative litter sources are required due to the scarcity of wood shavings in many parts of the world. This study aimed to compare pelleted straw, chopped wheat straw, wood shavings, rice hulls, and shredded paper as litter candidates. Three-hundred-sixty Ross 308 one-day-old male chicks were used in this study. There were 5 litter treatments with 6 replicate pens, each with 12 birds. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of birds reared on pelleted straw was improved compared (P < 0.05) to that of birds raised on rice hulls, whereas it did not differ for birds placed on wood shavings, rice hulls, chopped straw, or shredded paper. It was observed that the birds reared on wood shavings had higher relative gizzard weight at d 24 compared to those reared on pelleted straw (P < 0.05). Gizzard pH and measured cecal bacterial groups were not affected by the type of bedding material. Cecal bacterial groups measured at d 10 were not affected by bedding material. Birds reared on pelleted wheat straw had a lower incidence of footpad lesions than those on chopped straw and shredded paper on d 24 (P < 0.001) and 29 (P < 0.01). Litter source did not affect the occurrence of breast blisters at d 24, 29, or 35. On d 24, 29, and 35, pelleted straw litter was less caked than chopped straw and shredded paper (P < 0.001) whereas no significant differences were observed among pelleted straw, wood shavings, and rice hulls. The study demonstrated the potential benefits to using pelleted wheat straw as a bedding material. Further assessment of pelleting of wheat straw and other materials on broiler health, performance, and welfare are needed to determine the economic benefits of pelleted litter.

Hindgut fermentation in the wombats: two marsupial grazers.

The wombats Vombatus ursinus and Lasiorhinus latifrons have a capacious proximal colon with only a vestigial caecum. The pattern of microbial fermentation in the hindgut of both species was studied in captive animals fed a pelleted straw diet and in wild wombats feeding on their natural winter diets. Digesta pH was low in the stomach but near neutrality along the hindgut, indicating effective absorption and/or buffering of the colonic contents. Initial proportions and production rates of short chain fatty acids in vitro reflected the fermentation of plant cell walls. Proportions of isobutyrate, isovalerate and n-valerate increased towards the distal colon indicating proteolysis and subsequent fermentation of amino acids. The low ammonia content of digesta fluid suggested that ammonia released from these amino acids was absorbed and utilized by the wombats and their gut microbes. Wild wombats had higher concentrations and production rates of short chain fatty acids than captive animals, which was consistent with the higher apparent digestibility of their natural diet. The energy from short chain fatty acids in captive animals was 30-33% of digestible intake. Energy intakes were low and similar to resting metabolic rates estimated for marsupials. Actual resting metabolic rates of the wombats are probably lower than these estimates, and the proportion of energy derived from fermentation substantially higher than the 53-61% estimated in wild wombats. The energy from fermentation clearly enables wombats to utilize diets high in fibre.

Untersuchungen zum Vitamin-A-Bedarf und zum Vitamin-A-Status wachsender Rinder

Three long time individual feeding experiments (greater than 258 days) with 48 beef cattle each (dairy breed and beef breed, 50% each) were carried out in order to measure the influence of various vitamin A supply (0, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg body weight and day) on fattening and slaughtering performance, vitamin A concentration of liver and serum as well as carotene concentration of serum. The bulls consumed corn silage (experiments 1 and 2; 9.4 and 18.3 mg carotene per kg dry matter) or NaOH-treated and pelleted straw (experiment 3; no carotene). The roughages were supplemented with 2 (exp. 1 and 2) and 3 kg (exp. 3) concentrate per day. The vitamin A supply of corn silage diet did not significantly influence the dry matter intake (exp. 1: means: 6.95; 6.91 to 7.05; exp. 2: means: 6.54; 6.53 to 6.54 kg dry matter per animal and day) and the daily weight gain of bulls (exp. 1: means: 1076; 1028 to 1157; exp. 2: means: 1058; 1041 to 1057 g per animal). The bulls consumed 8.87 kg dry matter per day, the daily weight gain amounted to 1030 g per animal and day in experiment 3. The bulls of unsupplemented group reduced feed intake and weight gain after 150 days, an additional vitamin A supply was necessary. At the end of experiments 1 and 2 the liver vitamin A concentration of unsupplemented groups amounted to 38.8 and 65.9 mumol/kg, it increased after vitamin A supply (up to 153.4 mumol/kg). Feeding of pelleted straw effected a liver vitamin A concentration lower than 10 mumol/kg except the group supplemented with 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg body weight and day (35.7 mumol per kg fresh matter of liver). The vitamin A concentration of blood is unsuitable for evaluation of vitamin A status of cattle. The carotene content of feeds and level of vitamin A supply determined the carotene concentration of blood. Recommendations for a suitable vitamin A supply of ration of growing cattle were given depending on body weight and type of diet.

A comparison of two methods of NaOH treatment of spring barley straw with untreated straw and hay

SUMMARYSpring barley straw treated with NaOH, either chopped and ensiled or ground and pelleted, was compared with long untreated straw and hay, in mixed diets of compound and forage fed to yearling dairy heifers. Protein allowance and source were varied by the inclusion of either fishmeal, soya-bean meal or urea in the diet.Growth rate was improved in two out of three trials by chopped ensiled straw treated with NaOH, compared with long untreated straw, and equalled that supported by hay. Dry-matter intake and digestibility were also improved, although rumen NH3-N concentrations were low. With ground pelleted straw treated with NaOH the effects were less decisive: growth rate was increased once and reduced once compared with long untreated straw, but dry-matter intake was substantially increased. Digestibility remained similar to that of long untreated straw, and was unchanged by rate of feeding. NaOH treatment resulted in small changes in molar proportions of VFA. Digestibility of hay fell when concentrates were added to the diet.Fishmeal increased growth rate with all forms of straw and hay and was more efficient in this respect than either soya-bean meal or urea.

The effect of straw in ground and pelleted form on the rumen fermentation and protozoa

Cows possessing a large ruminal fistula were fed straw meal and pelleted wheat straw to investigate its effect on ruminal fermentation (concentration of NH3 and volatile fatty acids (FFS), pH, molar proportions of FFS, rates of FFS production) and on the protozoa population. The straw-concentrate mixture used in the present trial contained 40% of straw. The feeding of pelleted straw produced a significant rise in FFS concentrations (from 8.8. to 12.3 mMole/100 ml) and a corresponding decline of pH (from 6.7 to 6.1). With high molar proportions of acetate (72 mole%) the influence of the straw diet on molar FFS proportions was low. The NH3 peak observed 1 hr after feeding was higher with the pelleted straw than with the straw meal. The feeding of finely gound straw produced a higher level of FFS production (by 10%) than that of straw pellets. (3.88 and 4.29 mMole per gm DM). The number of protozoa (per ml of ruminal fluid) was 335,000 (straw meal) and 121,833 (pellets). The number of large infusorial cells (Isotricha, Diplodinium, Ophryoscolex) decreased correspondingly from 70,000 (straw meal) to 18,870 per ml (pellets). These results suggest that the feeding of pelleted straw-concentrate mixtures to cows as sole feed will not bring about optimum conditions for ruminal fermentation (FFS formation, protein synthesis) and for the layering of ruminal contents.