Crude Protein Production Research Articles

In vitro gas and methane production of two mixed rations influenced by three different cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACTThe current study aimed to evaluate if the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) on in vitro fermentation can be affected with the crude protein (CP) content of the ration. Three commercial SC cultures of Biocell F53®, Procreatin 7®, and Biosaf SC47® were evaluated at 0 (SC0), 2 (SC2), and 4 (SC4) mg/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Two rations with 13% (low crude protein [LCP]) and 16% CP (high crude protein [HCP]) were used as substrates. Rumen gas (gas production [GP]) and methane (CH4) productions were recorded. The HCP ration had increased (P = .05) asymptotic GP, CH4 production, and fermentation parameters. Biocell F53® and Biosaf SC47® increased the asymptotic GP (P < .05) in HCP and LCP rations with better effect for the dose of 2 mg/g DM substrate HCP (P < .05) and dose of 4 mg yeast/g DM substrate with the LCP ration. The highest CH4 production was observed (P < .05) with Procreatin 7®. It could be concluded that HCP ration improved GP than LCP ration. Moreover, addition of Biocell F53® and Biosaf SC47® at rate of 2 mg/g DM improved fermentation kinetics and nutrients degradability.Abbreviations:b: the asymptotic gas production; c: the rate of gas production; CH4: methane; GY24: gas yield at 24 h of incubation; L: the initial delay before gas production begins; MCP: microbial CP production; PF24: partitioning factor at 24 h of incubation.

Effects of dietary supplementing tannic acid in the ration of beef cattle on rumen fermentation, methane emission, microbial flora and nutrient digestibility.

Four adult Simmental male cattle (376±9.0kg initial BW), fitted with permanent rumen cannulas, were used in a 4×4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of dietary supplementing tannic acid (TA) on rumen fermentation, methane (CH4 ) production, rumen microbes, nutrient digestibility and plasma biochemical parameters. Four levels of TA, that is 0, 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0g/kg dry matter (DM), were added to the basal ration (composed of corn silage and concentrate mixture) as experimental treatments respectively. Each experimental period consisted of a 12-day adaptation phase followed by a 3-day sampling phase. The results showed that supplementing TA at 26.0 g/kg DM decreased the relative abundance of protozoa, methanogens and Ruminococcus albus to the total ruminal bacterial 16S rDNA in beef cattle (p<0.05). The results also showed that supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0g/kg DM decreased (p<0.01) the CH4 production (l/kg DM intake) by 11.1%, 14.7% and 33.6% respectively. Supplementing TA at 13.0 or 26.0g/kg DM decreased the ratio of acetate to propionate and ammonia nitrogen (NH3 -N) (p<0.05) and tended to decrease the total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration of rumen fluid (p=0.07). Supplementing TA at 26.0g/kg DM decreased DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility (p<0.05), supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0g/kg DM decreased (p<0.01) crude protein (CP) digestibility by 5.0%, 8.6% and 15.7%, respectively, and supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0g/kg DM increased (p<0.05) the plasma total antioxidant capability. It was concluded that supplementing TA in the ration of beef cattle decreased the CH4 production and digestibility of CP of beef cattle. Supplementing TA could be an effective option to mitigate CH4 emission form cattle, further research is necessary to study the effects of TA on the performance of cattle.

Growth, Biomass and Nutrient Production of Brown Midrib Sorghum Mutant Lines at Different Harvest Times

Brown midrib sorghum (BMR) is a potential crop as forage because of lower lignin content than that of non-BMR sorghum. The aim of this research was to observe the growth and production of brown midrib sorghum mutant lines at different harvest times. This research was conducted at SEAMEO BIOTROP, Bogor, Indonesia using factorial in completely randomized block design (7 x 3) with three replicates. The first factor was the BMR sorghum mutant lines of Patir 3.1 (non-BMR/control), Patir 3.2, Patir 3.3, Patir 3.4, Patir 3.5, Patir 3.6 and Patir 3.7, the second factor was the harvest times (flowering, soft and hard dough phases). Measurement on agronomic parameters were fresh and dry matter biomass production, plant height, stem diameter, leaf width length and ratio of leaves, stems and panicles. While nutrient parameters were crude protein, crude fiber, ash dan crude fat production. Analysis of variance followed by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was done. The results showed that the BMR of P 3.7 and P 3.2 produced the highest fresh and dry matter production among the BMRs, but their dry matter production were lower than P 3.1 (control). Harvesting at hard dough phase produce the highest fresh and dry matter production and as well as produced the highest crude protein, ash and crude fat production (p<0.01).

Influence of cellulase or xylanase on the in vitro rumen gas production and fermentation of corn stover

In vitro gas production (GP) technique was used to investigate effect of exogenous enzymes cellulase (CEL) or xylanase (XYL) at different doses on in vitro fermentation characteristics of corn stover. Enzymes were supplemented at 0 (control), 10, 20, 40 and 80 µg/g DM. Gas production was determined at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h of incubation. After 72 h, the incubation was stopped and supernatant pH was determined, and filtered to determine dry matter (DMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD) and acid detergent fiber (ADFD) degradabilities. Interaction effects occurred for enzyme type and dose for all measured gas parameters with exception of the lag time, DMD, organic matter degradability (OMD), NDFD, metabolizable energy (ME), short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbial crude protein (MCP) production. Cellulase and XYL increased GP (P&lt;0.05) at different incubation hours with better results at the dose of 40 µg/g DM. The dose 80 µg XYL/g DM had the lowest GP compared to other doses. In addition, CEL and XYL decreased pH with increasing OMD, ME, SCFA and MCP production at 40 µg/ g DM of corn stover. The present results suggested that the level of CEL and XYL at 40 µg/g DM have higher GP than other levels of enzymes, imply this level can be more effectively to improve rumen fermentation; however, the difference of XYL between treatments and control was less than that of CEL.

CARACTERÍSTICAS AGRONÓMICAS, COMPOSICIÓN BROMATOLÓGICA, DIGESTIBILIDAD Y CONSUMO ANIMAL EN CUATRO ESPECIES DE PASTOS DE LOS GENEROS Brachiaria Y Panicum

&lt;p&gt;In order to select the most productive grass specie, four grasses were evaluated in terms of field performance, nutritive value and intake preference by sheep. The grasses were: &lt;em&gt;Brachiaria brizantha&lt;/em&gt; cv Mulato, &lt;em&gt;Brachiaria brizantha&lt;/em&gt; cv Toledo, &lt;em&gt;Panicum maximum&lt;/em&gt; cv Tanzania and &lt;em&gt;Panicum maximum&lt;/em&gt; cv Mombaza. Evaluation lasted 120 days, plant height every 30 days and at the end dry matter (DM), fiber fractions, crude protein (CP), &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; digestibility and &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; gas production were evaluated. A preference test was also carried out using male sheep (19 ± 3 kg). The main results were: Plant height was different (P&amp;lt;0.05), in each one of the sampling dates, being higher Toledo with 139.93 cm at 120 days; Mulato and Mombaza resulted in 8353 and 7903 Kg DM ha&lt;sup&gt;-1 &lt;/sup&gt;(P&amp;lt;0.05). Animal preference was higher for Mombaza with an intake of 299.43 g DM día&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; (P&amp;lt;0.05). Higher values for NDF were registered in Mulato and Mombaza (66.32 and 68.45 %) (P&amp;lt;0.05). ADF was content was lower for Mulato (40.55 %); Tanzania presented the lowest value for organic matter (84.86 %) while the remaining species contained more than 87 % (P&amp;lt;0.05). CP was higher in Tanzania, Toledo and Mombaza (10.68, 9.55 and 9.33 % respectively) (P&amp;lt;0.05). Higher CP production was found in Mombaza (709.71 kg CP ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) (P&amp;lt;0.05). Toledo and Tanzania presented lower &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; digestibility (64.19 and 56.99 %) (P&amp;lt;0.05). &lt;em&gt;In vitro&lt;/em&gt; gas production at 72 hours was higher in Mulato and Mombaza (129.12 and 125.04 ml g&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; DM) (P&amp;lt;0.05). It was concluded that &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;em&gt; maximum &lt;/em&gt;cv. Mombaza is the grass with better agronomic performance, &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; digestibility and higher preference by sheep.&lt;/p&gt;

English

The increase in broiler production in Brazil has increased the production of poultry litter. Thus, the management and adequate disposal of this waste is recommended. Agricultural use is a promising solution. This study evaluated the productivity of corn for silage with different fertilizations of poultry litter. The production of Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), Mineral Matter (MM) and Organic Matter (OM), and microbial activity of the soil such as Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC), Metabolic Quotient (qCO2) and Microbial Quotient (qMIC), were evaluated. There were treatments composed of a control that received mineral fertilization (33 Kg N, 80 Kg P2O5 and 80 Kg K2O) and treatments with poultry litter Rice Straw (RS) and Wood Shavings (WSH) (doses of 2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10.0 Mg ha-1). The treatments with poultry litter received, at sowing, 1/3 of the mineral fertilization. The evaluation of the production of corn for silage was carried out in the R4-R5 phase, and soils collected in the 0 to 10 cm layer in the post-poultry litter (A) and post-herbicide (B) periods. The microbial communities were influenced by anthropic activity in every treatment, with fall in MBC and the significant increase in the qCO2 in the control and the qMIC in the treatments that received poultry litter, demonstrating greater efficiency in mineralization of nutrients. As regards DM productivity, there was no difference in the treatments; however, treatments 7.5 RS and 10 WSH presented higher levels of protein and ether extract similar to the control treatment. This study concluded that the treatments with poultry litter favored the use of soil OM, which had less impact on microbial activity, and proposed that the substitution of 2/3 of the fertilization would not cause losses or decrease in the production or characteristics of the corn silage. Key words: Zea mays, organic fertilization, organic matter and poultry waste.

PRODUKTIVITAS TANAMAN KALIANDRA (Calliandra calothyrsus) SEBAGAI HIJAUAN PAKAN PADA UMUR PEMOTONGAN YANG BERBEDA

&lt;p&gt;This research aimed to determine the production and nutrient content of calliandra (Caliandra calothyrsus) as a forage for ruminant in the different defoliation time. This research was conducted for 48 weeks (June 2012–June 2013) at Kaligesing forage feed area, Animal Science Department, Purworejo, Central Java. Design of the research was Completely Randomized Block Design. Soil slope was used as block. The research treatments were 6 (P1), 8 (P2), 12 (P3) and 16 (P4) weeks of cutting age. The grass of all treatment groups were cut together at the same day prior to experiment. Caliandra calothyrsus was cut at edible portion. Parameters measured were fresh forage, dry matter, organic matter and crude protein production and also nutrient content namely dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, extract ether, crude fiber, BETN and TDN. The result showed that the highest dry matter content was found in P3 (31.25%) and was different from P1 (26.51%) and P4 (28.12%). The highest crude protein content was found in P2 (21.10%) and was not different with P1 (21.09%) and P3 (19.20%), and the lowest crude protein was found inP4 (18.04%). The highest extract ether was at P3 (2.84%) and different from P1 (1.51%). The highest crude fiber was at P4 (22.56%) different with P1 (15.80%) and P2 (18.46%). Organic matter, BETN and TDN were not different among the different defoliation time. The highest fresh forage, dry matter, organic matter and crude protein production were at P4 and different (P&amp;lt;0.05) from P1, P2 and P3. The lowest dry matter was at P2. It is concluded that the best quality of grass was found in P3 group and the highest harvesting quantity was found in P4 group.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(Key words: Calliandra calothyrsus, Cutting age, Nutrient content, Production)&lt;/p&gt;

Using Black Liquor from the Soda Pulping Process for Protein Production by Candida utilis

Black liquor produced from pulping with a high value of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) is highly harmful if discharged into the environment directly. One possible way to decrease the damage to the soil and water is to reuse the organic substances contained in it to cultivate yeasts for producing single-cell proteins (SCP) while reducing the COD. With this in mind, this study is devoted to treatment technology and the comprehensive utilization of black liquor. Various parameters were evaluated, and the COD of black liquor, initial pH, and nitrogen sources had significant influences on biomass and crude protein production. The research resulted in the maximum values of COD removal rate and crude protein production with 78.78 ±3.21% and 1.18 ±0.02 g/L achieved, respectively, under the optimized condition of black liquor concentration (60%), the recruitment of urea (0.5 g/L), initial pH (6.0), temperature (34 °C), shaking speed (180 rpm), and incubation time (36 h). Furthermore, this study provided a potential viable treatment of black liquor and revealed a feasible way to make full use of black liquor for the economical production of SCP.

Forage potential and water productivity in alternativecropping patterns

Los sistemas de producción de forrajes se pueden mejorar con la incorporación de especies alternativas con altos atributos nutricionales. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el potencial forrajero y productividad del agua (PA) en patrones de cultivos forrajeros que incluyeron canola (Brassica napus L.), chícharo (Pisum sativum L.) y soya (Glycine max L.) como cultivos alternativos. Se compararon los patrones alternativos maíz-maíz-canola, sorgo-sorgo-canola, maíz-maíz-chícharo y soya-maíz-avena con los patrones convencionales, alfalfa, maíz-avena y maíz-maíz-avena. El estudio se realizó de abril de 2009 a abril de 2011 en Matamoros, Coahuila, México. Se determinó la composición química del forraje, los rendimientos de materia seca (MS), nutrientes y PA en la producción de MS, proteína cruda (PC) y energía neta para lactancia (ENL). La incorporación de canola en los patrones con maíz o sorgo en primavera y verano incrementó el rendimiento de PC (34.4 %) y la PA (33.3 %), sin disminuir los rendimientos de MS y ENL, al compararse con el patrón convencional maíz-maíz-avena. Los patrones que incluyeron canola registraron mayores rendimientos de MS y ENL, utilizando el 83 % del volumen de agua requerido por alfalfa, pero con menor rendimiento de PC (19 a 25 %). La PA y el rendimiento de PC se incrementaron en el patrón soya-maíz-avena, pero con menores rendimientos de MS y ENL. En los patrones maíz-maíz-chícharo y maíz-maíz-avena los rendimientos de MS y nutrientes y PA fueron similares. Los resultados indican que la incorporación de canola y soya en los sistemas de producción de forrajes incrementa la productividad del agua.

Effects of increasing rates of molasses supplementation and forage quality on the productivity of steers

This study consisted of several experiments that investigated the feed intakes, and growth rates of steers fed low-quality Angleton grass (Dichanthium aristatum) supplemented with urea and sulfur (dry matter (DM) digestibility, 45%) and medium-quality Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) (DM digestibility, 58%) when fed either alone or with molasses mixtures (MM, molasses plus nitrogen and phosphorus). Some digestion characteristics of the basal forage diets were also measured. Addition of MM at 1.2 times calculated maintenance energy requirements (M) was associated with about a four-fold increase in microbial crude protein production and a 42% decrease in neutral detergent fibre digestibility. In the first growth experiment, MM at 0M, 0.45M, 0.90M and 1.35M was offered and mostly consumed before forage was offered ad libitum. The initial mean weight of the steers was 240 kg. Consumed MM comprised 0%, 21%, 38% and 50% of the total DM intake for Angleton grass and 0%, 19%, 33% and 41% for Rhodes grass. The corresponding mean liveweight (LW) gains were 0.06, 0.31, 0.73 and 0.83 kg/day for steers fed Angleton grass and 0.61, 0.90, 1.02 and 1.13 kg/day for steers fed Rhodes grass. In a second experiment, MM was offered to steers (initially 370 kg) at the same time as forage. Offered MM comprised 0, 0.40, 0.80 and 1.20M of the calculated metabolisable energy (ME) requirements for maintenance. Consumed MM comprised 0%, 20%, 36% and 48% of the total DM intake for Angleton grass diets and 0%, 18%, 28% and 32% for Rhodes grass diets. The corresponding mean LW gains were –0.09, 0.36, 0.58 and 0.70 kg/day for Angleton grass diets and 0.63, 0.67, 0.80 and 0.94 kg/day for Rhodes grass diets. The method of presentation of the MM had only minor effects on the amounts and proportions of forage and the MM consumed and on the LW gains of the steers, expressed as g/kg0.75 LW per day to allow for differences in initial LW between experiments. Using modifications to the scheme of SCA (1990) to predict maintenance energy requirements, a value for efficiency of use of ME for growth was calculated from growth rates of steers fed Rhodes grass. When MM with an assumed content of 11 MJ ME/ kg DM was added to the forage diets, the calculated ME content of forage decreased with increased MM content, consistent with depression of fibre digestion. The relationships for the separate experiments indicated that at 50% MM in the diet, the magnitudes of the depression in the calculated ME content of the forages were 20–37% for Rhodes grass and 18–33% for Angleton grass.

Optimization of pine pollen fermentation conditions using Lactobacillus paracasei

To improve the nutritional value of pine pollen, a statistical experimental design strategy was applied to optimize the fermentation conditions of pine pollen using Lactobacillus paracasei Lc-3. Influence of the inoculum size, temperature, and initial pH on viable counts and crude protein production was evaluated using a Plaackett-Burman design using the steepest ascent method to approach the experimental design space. Factors were optimized using a Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. A quadratic model was found to fit the viable counts and crude protein amounts. Optimum values of the tested variables for production of viable counts and crude protein were an inoculum size of 11.92%, temperature=39.60°C, and an initial pH of 7.22. Under optimized conditions, the viable count was 4.24×109 CFU/mL and the crude protein amount was 15.35% (dry matter). A single factor experiment as preliminary research for fermentation product treatment was performed.

Effects of cellulase and xylanase enzymes mixed with increasing doses of Salix babylonica extract on in vitro rumen gas production kinetics of a mixture of corn silage with concentrate

An in vitro gas production (GP) technique was used to investigate the effects of combining different doses of Salix babylonica extract (SB) with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EZ) based on xylanase (X) and cellulase (C), or their mixture (XC; 1:1 v/v) on in vitro fermentation characteristics of a total mixed ration of corn silage and concentrate mixture (50:50, w/w) as substrate. Four levels of SB (0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 mL g−1 dry matter (DM)) and four supplemental styles of EZ (1 μL g−1 DM; control (no enzymes), X, C and XC (1:1, v/v) were used in a 4×4 factorial arrangement. In vitro GP (mL g−1 DM) were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h of incubation. After 72 h, the incubation process was stopped and supernatant pH was determined, and then filtered to determine dry matter degradability (DMD). Fermentation parameters, such as the 24 h gas yield (GY24), in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME), short chain fatty acid concentrations (SCFA), and microbial crude protein production (MCP) were also estimated. Results indicated that there was a SB×EZ interaction (P<0.0001) for the asymptotic gas production (b), the rate of gas production (c), GP from 6 to 72 h, GP2 (P=0.0095), and GP4 (P=0.02). The SB and different combination of enzymes supplementation influenced (P<0.001) in vitro GP parameters after 12 h of incubation; the highest doses of SB (i.e., 1.8 mL g−1 DM), in the absence of any EZ, quadratically increased (P<0.05) the initial delay before GP begins (L) and GP at different incubation times, with lowering b (quadratic effect, P<0.0001) and c (quadratic effect, P<0.0001; linear effect, P=0.0018). The GP was the lowest (P<0.05) when the highest SB level was combined with cellulose. There were SB×EZ interactions (P<0.001) for OMD, ME, the partitioning factor at 72 h of incubation (PF72), GY24, SCFA, MCP (P=0.0143), and pH (P=0.0008). The OMD, ME, GY24 and SCFA with supplementation of SB extract at 1.8 mL g−1 DM were higher (P<0.001) than the other treatments, however, PF72 was lower (quadratic effect, P=0.0194) than the other levels. Both C and X had no effect (P>on OMD, pH, ME, GY24, SCFA and MP. The combination of SB with EZ increased (P<0.001) OMD, ME, SCFA, PF72 and GP24, whereas there was no impact on pH. It could be concluded that addition of SB extract, C, and X effectively improved the in vitro rumen fermentation, and the combination of enzyme with SB extract at the level of 1.2 mL g−1 was more effective than the other treatments.

Effects of urea supplementation on rumen fermentation characteristics and protozoa population in vitro

Cotton straw is used as a roughage source in conjunction with maize in draught prone regions in the world for animal production. However, this diet generally contains relatively low rumen degradable protein compared with its supply of fermentable metabolizable energy; therefore leading to a suboptimal animal performance and high methane production. Although urea supplementation is known to improve microbial crude protein (MCP) production and animal production, the recommended levels of urea supplementation range between 1% and 6.7% according to literatures. This in vitro study was conducted as a preliminary investigation to determine the impact of urea supplementation up to 3% (as dry matter in the diet) on rumen fermentation characteristics and protozoa population, on typical maize meal and cotton straw-based diet used for sheep production in XinJiang province, China. MCP production was improved by 64% when urea increased from 0% to 2% in the diet, with no additional benefit observed at 3% urea in the diet. On the other hand, methane production was reduced when urea increased from 0% to 3% in the diet. These results indicated that 2% urea supplemented under the current feeding condition may improve MCP production and reduce methane production. However, further in vivo study is needed to confirm that 2% urea in the diet would not cause adverse effects on animal health.

&lt;b&gt;Performance evaluation and adaptability of lactating dairy cows fed soybean and its by-products

Aiming to evaluate the lactation performance and adaptability of confined dairy cows fed diets containing soybean and its by-products, this study used 12 Holstein cows with initial production of 30 kg milk -1 day -1 in feedlot system distributed in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. The experimental period lasted 84 days. The dry matter intake (DMI) and meteorological variables were recorded daily. Milk production was measured from the 15 th to the 21 st day, with milk analysis twice in each period, and physiological variables collected on the 15, 17 th and 21 st days of each experimental period. The thermal comfort indices and rectal temperature were considered normal, however the respiratory frequency and heart rate were different between the periods. Total milk production and percentage of crude protein were not affected. The thermal environment had influence on the CMS and on the percentage of milk fat in warmer periods, but the mechanism of heat dissipation was efficient for the animals to maintain homeothermy without affecting milk production.

PENINGKATAN PRODUKSI DAN KUALITAS JERAMI SORGUM MANIS DENGAN PEMBERIAN PUPUK ORGANIK DAN FOSFAT DARI SUMBER YANG BERBEDA

Sorghum is an alternative crop for food and feed. The use of sorghum as food includes seeds and sorghum juices. Sorghum plants by products can be used ruminant feed like's sorghum straw. The use of fertilizer in the planting is a major factor in deciding the production. The high price of fertilizer for example SP36 makes constraints in sorghum planting. The use of alternative fertilizers such as rock phosphate can be used instead of SP36. Phosphate rock has an acid soluble, that its use needs to be done a certain process to increase the solubility in water. Decomposition process in the manufacture of manure produce organic acids. Mixed phosphate rock with manure during the decomposition process can increase the solubility of phosphate (P). The use of biochar is used as land amandement, because of its improved physical properties soil. The study was conducted in March 2013-January 2014 at the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture land, Laboratory of Ecology and Crop Production Livestock and Agriculture Faculty Diponegoro University. Research materials to be used are seeds of sweet sorghum SEAMEO BIOTROP Bogor, 220m2 land area used consists of 30 plots each measuring 3mx2m with a spacing of 50cmx25cm. The use of manure and manure plus with a dosseges of 20 tonnes/ha, and the biochar from coconut 8 tonnes/ha, as well as dosage and BP SP36 respectively 66kgP/ha. Amunium sulfate giving 100 Kg N/ha, and KCl 70kgK/ha. The experimental design used was a randomized block design with three replications as a group.Treatment consisted of T0 = Control, T1 = SP36, T2 = BP, T3 = Manure, T4 = Plus T5 = biochar, T6 = BP + biochar, T7 = SP36 + biochar, T8 = Manure + biochar , T9 = Manure Plus + biochar. Fertilization treatment is able to increase the production of dry matter and crude protein in the first cutting, but not in the second cutting. Production of phosphate and levels have not improved results both first and second cuts due to the inconsistency.

Effect of Crude Protein Levels in Concentrate and Concentrate Levels in Diet on In vitro Fermentation.

The effect of concentrate mixtures with crude protein (CP) levels 10%, 13%, 16%, and 19% and diets with roughage to concentrate ratios 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, and 20:80 (w/w) were determined on dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility, and fermentation metabolites using an in vitro fermentation technique. In vitro fermented attributes were measured after 4, 24, and 48 h of incubation respectively. The digestibility of DM and OM, and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) increased whereas pH decreased with the increased amount of concentrate in the diet (p<0.001), however CP levels of concentrate did not have any influence on these attributes. Gas production reduced with increased CP levels, while it increased with increasing concentrate levels. Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration and microbial CP production increased significantly (p<0.05) by increasing CP levels and with increasing concentrate levels in diet as well, however, no significant difference was found between 16% and 19% CP levels. Therefore, 16% CP in concentrate and increasing proportion of concentrate up to 80% in diet all had improved digestibility of DM and organic matter, and higher microbial protein production, with improved fermentation characteristics.

Nutritive value of cattle manure vermicast and its effect on in vitro ruminal gas production

Introduction The use of non-conventional feedstuffs is gaining recognition especially in developing countries. Ensiled cattle manure with other feedstuffs has been used in ruminant feeding. Vermicomposting, a tool for manure management can be employed as a means for manure treatment with the aim of enhancing nutritive value of forage. The objectives of the study were to determine the nutritive value of cattle manure vermicast (CMV) and to observe gas production in vitro due to CMV inclusion on rice straw at different proportions. Results Vermicomposting of cattle manure at 2, 4 and 6 weeks linearly increased (P 0.05) significantly crude protein and ash, while it linearly decreased (P 0.05) significantly organic matter, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre. The result showed that, gas production decline with an increased in CMV content (P 0.05). CMV addition to rice straw had no significant (P [ 0.05) effect on rumen pH and microbial crude protein production in vitro. CMV inclusion reduced dry matter degradability and increased partitioning factor at 48 h. 5 % inclusion level of CMV gave the highest results while 30 % CMV had the least results. Conclusion Vermicomposting of cattle manure increased its nutritive value, with increase in crude protein content and decrease in NDF and ADF. Results of in vitro gas production and rumen fermentation profiles from this study indicated that inclusion of CMV reduced gas production and DMD; however, it increased PF48 ,w ith no significant changes in MCP. Vermicomposting has the potential of being used as another tool for forage treatment and addition of CMV could be expected to reduce ruminant gas production, increase ME and microbial protein synthesis.

Fertilizer and irrigation effects on forage protein and energy production under semi-arid conditions of Pakistan

Fertilizer and irrigation water are major inputs for forage production in semi-arid areas, and to ensure sustainability, nutrient and water efficient crop species should be used. The major objectives of the present study were to (i) evaluate the effect of crop species, fertilizer and irrigation on nutritive value and (ii) determine irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) in terms of crude protein (CP) and metabolizeable energy (ME) production per unit of land. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Faisalabad, Pakistan, with a four times replicated completely randomized design in a split-plot arrangement of a combination of fertilizer treatment (control, farm yard manure (FYM) and mineral fertilizer (MIN)) and irrigation (recommended irrigation (RI), half recommended irrigation (HRI)) as main-plots. Sub-plots were assigned to two cropping systems Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) followed by corn (Zea mays L.) (common cropping system, CCS) and the drought-adopted cropping system (DACS) oat (Avena sativa L.) followed by sudangrass (Andropogon sorghum subsp. drummondii). Crude protein concentration and IWUE of CP production per unit of land in CCS was 44 and 13% higher than in DACS, whereas ME contents and IWUE of ME production in DACS was 9.5 and 38% higher than in CCS. In view of ME as the major limiting nutritive property in roughages for feeding dairy cows, it is concluded that the tested DACS may be more suitable for sustainable forage production under water and nutrient limited conditions in semi-arid areas of Pakistan.

Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) algae supplementation increases microbial protein production and feed intake and decreases retention time of digesta in the rumen of cattle

Cattle consuming pastures low in protein have low liveweight gain due to low rumen degradable protein (RDP) supply and thus low microbial crude protein (MCP) production and efficiency of MCP production [EMCP, g MCP/kg digestible organic matter (DOM)]. Nitrogen supplements can increase MCP production and EMCP of cattle grazing low protein pastures. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of supplementation with a non-protein-N source (NPN), in this case urea and ammonium sulfate (US), with a single-cell algal protein source (Spirulina platensis), on intake, microbial protein supply and digestibility in cattle. Nine cannulated Bos indicus steers [initial liveweight 250.1 ± 10.86 (s.d.) kg] were fed Mitchell grass hay (Astrebla spp; 6.1 g N, 746 g NDF/kg DM) ad libitum and were supplied with increasing amounts of US (0, 6, 13, 19 and 33 g US DM/kg hay DM) or Spirulina 0, 0.5, 1.4, 2.5 and 6.1 g Spirulina DM/kg W.day in an incomplete Latin square design. The response of MCP production and EMCP to increasing amounts of the two supplements was different, with a greater response to Spirulina evident. The MCP production was predicted to peak at 140 and 568 g MCP/day (0.64 and 2.02 g MCP/kg W.day) for the US and Spirulina supplements, respectively. The highest measured EMCP were 92 and 166 g MCP/kg DOM for the US and Spirulina treatments at 170 and 290 g RDP/kg DOM, respectively, or a Spirulina intake of 5.7 g DM/kg W.day. Increasing RDP intake from US and Spirulina resulted in an increase in Mitchell grass hay intake and rumen NH3-N concentration and reduced the retention time of liquid and particulate markers and digesta DM, NDF and lignin in the rumen with greater changes due to Spirulina. Total DM intake peaked at a Spirulina supplement level of 4.6 g Spirulina DM/kg W.day with a 2.3-fold higher DOM intake than Control steers. Rumen NH3-N concentrations reached 128 and 264 mg NH3-N/L for the US and Spirulina treatments with a significant increase in the concentration of branched-chain fatty acids for the Spirulina treatment. The minimum retention time of liquid (Cr-EDTA; 23 and 13 h) and particulate (Yb; 34 and 22 h) markers in the rumen were significantly lower for Spirulina compared with US and lower than unsupplemented animals at 24 and 34 h for Cr-EDTA and Yb, respectively. Spirulina could be provided safely at much higher N intakes than NPN supplements. The results suggest that, at an equivalent RDP supply, Spirulina provided greater increases than US in MCP production, EMCP and feed intake of Bos indicus cattle consuming low protein forage and could also be fed safely at higher levels of N intake.

Effect of varying the proportion of molasses in the diet on intake, digestion and microbial protein production by steers

The present experiment was conducted to determine the efficiency of microbial protein production in the rumen and intake by cattle fed high-molasses diets. Intake and microbial crude protein (MCP) production were measured along with the concentration of rumen ammonia-nitrogen (N) and volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH and the rate of digestion of roughage in the rumen. Eight Brahman crossbred steers weighing 211 ± 19.3 (± s.d.) kg were used in a double 4 × 4 Latin square design. Steers were allocated to one of four total mixed rations: control (pangola hay only), 25M (25% molasses/urea mix + 75% hay), 50M (50% molasses/urea + 50% hay), and 75M (75% molasses/urea + 25% hay). The production and efficiency of production of MCP (EMCP) of the diet increased quadratically as the level of molasses in the diet increased. The EMCP from the molasses/urea mix was estimated as 166 g MCP/kg digestible organic matter (DOM), a relatively high value. Intake of dry matter (DM) and DOM increased quadratically, reaching a peak when molasses was ~50% (as fed) of the ration. Digestibility of DM increased quadratically and that of neutral detergent fibre decreased linearly with increasing level of molasses in the diet. Molasses inclusion in the diet had no effect on rumen pH, ammonia and VFA concentration in the rumen fluid, plasma urea-N, urine pH or ruminal fractional outflow rate of ytterbium-labelled particles and Cr-EDTA. It was concluded that a diet with a high level of molasses (&gt;50%) and supplemented with adequate N had high EMCP, and that low MCP production was not a factor limiting intake or performance of cattle consuming high-molasses diets.