Replacing Barley Grain Research Articles

Effect of Replacing Barley Grain by Urea in the Diet of Iraqi Lambs

This study conducted to seeks the effects of partially changing barley grain (BG) with different levels amount of urea on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestion and blood parameters in fattening lambs. Twelve Awassi male lambs were divided according to body weight (BW) into three equal groups (4 lambs per each group) and housed in individual pens and assigned to one of three dietary treatments in a randomized block design: barley grain (BG)were given to animals according to the body weight of lambs (3 % of BW) and (BG) reduced and replace with 0, 10, 20, gm urea. Compared with the control the lambs fed the reduced GB diet plus urea was higher (p < 0.01) concentrations of ruminal ammonia and increased with increasing the urea supplementation. As well as increased the crude protein (CP) intake , blood urea nitrogen (BUN), final BW, dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were observed with the increasing urea addition to the diet, results showed that 10 gm of urea could substitute of 10 gm BG per kg feed DM without any negative effect on health performance of fattening lambs when fed urea.

Ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of developed oat (Avena sativa L.) varieties in comparison with barley grain in dairy cows

This study aimed to evaluate the ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of nutrients of two cultivars of oat grains (CDC Nasser and CDC Seabiscuit) in comparison with a barley grain (CDC Meredith that was considered the control treatment) in dairy cows. Nasser showed higher rumen undegradable protein (RUP; P < 0.01) and intestinal digestible protein ( P < 0.01) than Seabiscuit or control. However, the total digestible protein was not different among grain varieties ( P = 0.25). The in vitro intestinal digestibility of RUP (dIBP) for Nasser was higher than control ( P = 0.02); however, the dIBP in Seabiscuit did not differ from other cultivars. The intestinal digestible rumen bypass starch and total digestible starch were lower in the oat grain varieties than in the control ( P < 0.01). The truly absorbed protein supplied to the small intestine (DVE) was highest for control, intermediate for Seabiscuit, and lowest for Nasser ( P < 0.01). Moreover, control showed a higher estimated feed milk value than oat varieties ( P < 0.01). In conclusion, Seabiscuit shared similar rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility with control suggesting that Seabiscuit oat grain could in some extension replace barley grain in diets for dairy cows.

Ефект от заместването на ечемик със слънчогледов експелер през флъшинг периода и бременността при овце от породата Вакла маришка

An experiment was made to compare some basic productive indexes in sheep of the Pach-head Maritsa breed when replacing barley grain with sunflower expeller in their rations during “flushing – pregnancy”- period. The obtained results indicate a trend of positive influence of feed replacement as follows: body scoring index of sheep at the end of pregnancy - 3.58 (expeller) against 3.25 (barley); percentage of ewes with twins – 28.57 vs. 20%, respectively; average live weight of lambs at birth – 4,110 vs. 3,974 kg; average live weight of lambs at 30 days – 15,060 vs. 14,720 kg. With identical prices for both forages, the authors recommend replacing barley with sunflower expeller.

Evaluation of Partial Replacement of Barley Grain with Heated Potato Processing By-products in the Diet of Dairy Cows Using an In vitro Gas Production Technique

Background: The increasing urban population requires more dairy product (meat and milk) production; therefore, using agricultural sector by-products as animal feedstuffs has found double importance.
 Objective: The effects of replacing barley grain with heated potato slices (HPS) and French fries waste (FFW) in iso-energetic total mixed dairy cow rations on cumulative gas production and in vitro DM degradability were evaluated using in vitro techniques.
 Methods: Seven experimental dairy cow total mixed rations (TMR) were formulated based on partial replacing barley grain with HPS or FFW, including Control: a diet containing 16% (DM basis) barley grain as one of the main sources of non-forage carbohydrates; 5 HPS: a diet containing 11% barley grain and 5% HPS; 10 HPS: a diet containing 6% barley grain and 10% HPS; 15 HPS: a diet containing 1% barley grain and 15% HPS; 5 FFW: a diet containing 11% barley grain and 5% FFW; 10 FFW: a diet containing 6% barley grain and 10% FFW; 15 FFW: a diet containing 1% barley grain and 15% FFW. Two in vitro gas production approaches were conducted separately to measure the production of gas volumes and dry matter (DM) degradability at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours of incubation.
 Results: After 48 h of incubation, the gas production volume varied between 174 and 197 ml/g DM, with the highest value observed with control and the lowest value with FFW treatments (P < 0.05). Also, the gas production rate for the insoluble fraction varied from 0.031 to 0.054 ml/h and was higher for HPS treatments than for control and FFW treatments (P < 0.05). After 48 h of incubation, DM degradability was significantly lower for the control than other treatments. DM effective degradability, with a passage rate of 0.05 h−1, found to be higher for FFW and HPS treatments compared with the control. Moreover, the rate of the B fraction degradation was significantly lower for the control (0.14 % h−1) than for treatments.
 Conclusion: The heated potato processing by-products could be replaced with barley grain by 15% in the diet of dairy cows without having negative effects on ruminal fermentation.

Effects of feeding hybrid rye grain as a replacement for barley grain on dry matter intake, ruminal fermentation, and the site and extent of nutrient digestion in finishing beef heifers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of increasing the inclusion of dry-rolled hybrid rye (HR) as a replacement for dry-rolled barley grain (DRB) on feed intake, ruminal fermentation, and the site and extent of nutrient digestion for finishing cattle. Eight ruminally and duodenally cannulated Hereford-cross heifers were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods including 15 d of dietary adaptation and 6 d of data and sample collection. Dietary treatments included a control diet with 10.00% grass hay, 85.21% DRB, 4.51% of a vitamin and mineral supplement, and 0.28% of urea on a dry matter (DM) basis. Hybrid rye grain replaced 33%, 67%, or 100% of the DRB. Feed ingredients, feed refusals, ruminal pH, ruminal fluid, duodenal digesta, and fecal samples were collected from days 18 to 21 in each period. Data were analyzed using the Proc Glimmix procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) to evaluate the linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of increasing HR inclusion. Increasing HR inclusion as a substitute for DRB linearly decreased (P < 0.01) DM intake, linearly decreased mean ruminal pH (P < 0.01), and increased the duration (P < 0.01) and area (P = 0.02) that ruminal pH was < 5.5. There were no effects of HR inclusion on total short chain fatty acid and lactic acid concentrations in ruminal fluid. Likewise, the molar proportions of acetate and butyrate were not affected by HR inclusion. Propionate was cubically affected by HR inclusion (P = 0.02). Ruminal ash-free neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom) digestibility linearly increased (P = 0.03) with increasing HR, but there was no effect on ruminal starch digestibility averaging 71.1% (SEM = 3.611). Increasing HR inclusion linearly increased intestinal DM digestibility (% of flow to the duodenum; P = 0.03), tended to linearly increase intestinal digestibility of organic matter (P = 0.08), and tended to quadratically affect intestinal digestibility of aNDFom (P = 0.07). Increasing hybrid rye linearly increased apparent total tract DM, organic matter, crude protein, aNDFom, and starch digestibility (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, increasing HR inclusion linearly increased GE digestibility (P < 0.01) and the DE concentration (P < 0.01). Increasing the inclusion rate of HR grain as a substitute for DRB in finishing diets decreased DMI and increased risk for low ruminal pH, which may be influenced by greater digestible energy concentration arising from greater DM, OM, aNDFom, and starch digestibility.

Production and use of dry-rolled hybrid rye grain as a replacement for barley grain on growth performance and carcass quality of feedlot steers.

The objectives were to compare cereal grain and straw yield between barley and hybrid rye (HR) and to evaluate whether the inclusion of dry-rolled HR grain as a replacement for barley grain affected feed intake and growth for growing cattle, and feed intake, growth, and carcass characteristics for finishing cattle. Crop yield was measured by directly weighing harvested grain and straw bales (n = 3 plots/grain type). Three-hundred sixty steers with an initial body weight (BW) of 348 ± 40kg were stratified by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of the 24 pens during the growing phase (n = 8; 65 d). The control diet (BCON) included 60.22% barley grain with HR included by replacing 50 (BMID) or 100% (BHIGH) of the barley grain on a dry matter (DM) basis. Steers were re-randomized for the finishing phase (n = 6; 118 d) and treatments included a control diet containing 88.60% barley grain (FCON) with HR replacing 33 (FLOW), 67 (FMED), or 100% (FHIGH) of the barley grain (DM basis). The grain yield was greater (P = 0.04) and straw yield tended (P = 0.06) to be less for HR than barley. There were no effects of HR inclusion on DM intake (DMI) or G:F during the growing phase, but average daily gain (ADG) responded quadratically (P = 0.02) with cattle fed 50% HR having the greatest gain. During finishing, DMI decreased linearly as HR grain inclusion increased (P < 0.01). ADG initially increased from FCON to FLOW followed by a decrease with increasing HR inclusion (quadratic, P < 0.01), but G:F was not affected. Hot carcass weight was greatest for FCON with the magnitude of difference between FCON and the HR treatments increasing with increasing inclusion of HR (quadratic, P = 0.02). There was a linear increase in dressing percentage (P = 0.02) and a linear reduction in back fat thickness (P = 0.04) with increasing inclusion of HR. Increasing the inclusion of HR during finishing cubically (P < 0.01) affected the proportion of minor and severe liver abscesses with an average of 34.60% severely abscessed livers when HR was included compared to 11.11% for BCON. HR may have greater grain yield than barley, and partial replacement of barley grain with HR may improve ADG without affecting DMI or G:F during the growing phase. However, replacing barley grain in finishing diets with HR decreases DMI, and increases the risk of minor and severe liver abscesses, but does not affect feed conversion, suggesting HR should not replace more than 33% of the barley grain to maintain ADG.

224 Effects of Feeding Hybrid Rye Grain as a Replacement for Barley Grain on Feed Intake, Ruminal Fermentation, and Site of Nutrient Digestion for Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of increasing hybrid rye as a replacement for barley grain on feed intake, ruminal fermentation, and site of nutrient digestion in finishing cattle. Eight ruminally and duodenally cannulated Hereford-cross heifers (starting body weight = 514 ± 25.3 kg) were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design with 21-d periods including 15 d of dietary adaptation and 6 d of sample collection. Dietary treatments included a control diet with 10.0% hay, 85.2% barley grain, and 4.8% of a vitamin and mineral supplement on a dry matter (DM) basis. Hybrid rye grain replaced 33, 67, or 100% of the barley grain. Both cereal grains were dry rolled to 80% processing index. Feed, refusals, ruminal fluid, duodenal digesta, and fecal samples were collected. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Increasing hybrid rye inclusion tended (P = 0.052) to linearly decrease DM intake. Additionally, increasing hybrid rye grain linearly decreased mean and minimum ruminal pH (P &amp;lt; 0.01) and increased the duration (P &amp;lt; 0.01) and area (P = 0.01) that pH was less than 5.5. There was no effect of hybrid rye inclusion on total short chain fatty acid, lactic acid concentrations, or osmolality. Likewise, the molar proportion of acetate and butyrate were not affected by hybrid rye inclusion. Propionate tended to linearly increase with increasing hybrid rye inclusion (P = 0.08). Increasing hybrid rye linearly increased NH3-N concentration (P = 0.03). Ruminal organic matter (OM) digestibility tended to linearly increase (P = 0.08) and ash-free neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom) digestibility linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.01) when increasing hybrid rye. There was no effect on ruminal starch digestibility (71.1 ± 5.12%). Intestinal digestibility of CP linearly decreased (P = 0.050), but there were no effects for other nutrients. Increasing hybrid rye linearly increased apparent total-tract DM, OM, and aNDFom digestibility (P &amp;lt; 0.05) but did not affect starch digestibility (97.4 ± 0.42%). Increasing the inclusion rate of hybrid rye grain at the expense of barley grain in finishing diets may decrease DMI and increase risk for ruminal acidosis; however, hybrid rye inclusion did not influence the site or extent of starch digestion and increased total tract digestibility of DM, OM, and aNDFom.

PSXII-19 Effects of Feeding Hybrid Rye Grain as a Replacement for Barley Grain on Feed Intake, Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of increasing hybrid rye as a replacement for barley grain on feed intake, growth performance, and carcass characteristics for growing and finishing cattle. Commercial steers (n = 360) with an initial body weight (BW) of 348 ± 6.6 kg were stratified by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pens (15 steers/pen) for growing (n = 8; 65 d) phase and re-randomized for the finishing (n = 6; 118 d) phase. The control diet (BCON) for the growing phase included 60.2% barley grain, 28.0% barley silage, 7.0% corn silage, 3.4% oat hulls, with the remainder as mineral, vitamins, and urea. Hybrid rye was then included by replacing 50 or 100% of the barley grain (DM basis). Treatments for the finishing phase included a control containing 10% hay, 85.2% barley grain, with the remainder coming from mineral and vitamins (FCON). Hybrid rye grain was included by replacing 33 (33R), 67 (67R), and 100% (100R) of the barley grain (DM basis). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure for each phase independently with carcass data analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (SAS version 9.4; SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, NC). There was no effect of hybrid rye inclusion on DMI or G:F during the growing phase, but ADG increased quadratically (P = 0.04) with 50% rye having the greatest value. During finishing, DMI decreased linearly as hybrid rye inclusion increased (P = 0.03). Average daily gain was quadratically affected (P = 0.03) with an initial increase from FCON to 33% rye followed by a decrease with increasing rye grain inclusion, but G:F was not affected (0.148 kg BW/kg DMI). There was no effect of hybrid rye inclusion on hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, back-fat thickness, ribeye area, marbling score, and yield score. Increasing the inclusion of hybrid rye quadratically (P &amp;lt; 0.01) increased the proportion of severe liver abscesses with an average of 34.6% severely abscessed livers when hybrid rye grain was included compared with 11.1% for FCON. Partial replacement of barley grain with hybrid rye may improve ADG without affecting DMI or G:F during the growing phase. However, replacing barley grain in finishing diets with hybrid rye decreases DMI, increases risk for severe liver abscesses, but does not affect feed conversion suggesting hybrid rye could replace up to 33% of the barley grain.

Short-season high-moisture shelled corn, snaplage, or corn silage as a partial replacement for dry-rolled barley grain or barley silage in western Canadian beef cattle finishing diets

The objective was to evaluate the replacement of barley-based ingredients with short-season high-moisture corn products on steer growth performance and carcass characteristics. Over 2 years, 320 beef steers (528 ± 36.2 kg initial body weight) were assigned to 32 pens (4 pens/treatment/year). Treatments were finishing diets that contained dry-rolled barley grain and barley silage (BGBS; control), barley grain and corn silage (BGCS), high-moisture shelled corn and barley grain with barley silage (HCBS), or snaplage (included as a silage and grain source) with barley grain (SNAP). Steers were fed for 99 days and 72 days in years 1 and 2, respectively. Steers fed BGCS did not differ ( P ≥ 0.13) from BGBS for dry matter intake, average daily gain, gain:feed, or carcass characteristics. Steers fed HCBS had greater ( P ≤ 0.05) hot carcass weight and dressing percentage than BGBS. A lesser ( P = 0.02) proportion of steers fed SNAP had severe liver abscesses than BGBS. We concluded that corn silage can replace barley silage, 50% replacement of barley grain with high-moisture shelled corn may improve hot carcass weight, and replacement of barley silage and some barley grain with snaplage decreases the proportion of cattle with severe liver abscesses at slaughter.

Digestibility of western Canadian finishing beef cattle diets when short-season, high-moisture shelled corn and snaplage partially replace dry-rolled barley grain and barley silage

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of substituting barley grain with short-season, high-moisture shelled corn, and barley grain and barley silage with snaplage on ruminal fermentation and the site and extent of digestion in beef cattle fed finishing diets. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated heifers (420 ± 16.4 kg body weight) were fed a barley grain and silage finishing diet (BG), a diet where half of the barley grain was replaced with high-moisture shelled corn (HC), or a diet where the barley silage and a portion of grain were replaced with snaplage (SN) in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. While dry matter and starch intake were unaffected, feeding SN resulted in greater ( P = 0.02) ruminal but not total tract starch digestibility than BG. Ruminal pH did not differ between HC and BG, but SN reduced ( P = 0.02) minimum ruminal pH relative to BG. Feeding BG increased ( P = 0.04) ruminal ammonia concentrations over HC. In conclusion, high-moisture shelled corn can partially replace barley grain with minimal impact on nutrient digestibility or ruminal fermentation, but replacement of barley silage and some barley grain with snaplage may increase the risk of ruminal acidosis.

Effects of BLG polymorphism and dietary supplementation with carob pulp on ewe milk traits and fatty acid composition

The current study examined the effect on milk traits and composition of the replacement of barley grain with carob pulp as a supplement for grazing ewes with different genotypes at the β-lactoglobulin (BLG) locus. Forty-six Valle del Belìce lactating ewes were chosen for the feeding trial and split into control and carob groups based on the BLG p.Tyr38His polymorphism. The carob group received a supplement of 250 g/d of carob pulp, whereas the control group received 250 g/g of a barley whole grain-based concentrate. There were no milk yield or gross composition variations related to the BLG genotype. Nevertheless, milk fatty acid composition was influenced by the BLG polymorphism. Compared to the AB genotype, milk from BB sheep had higher concentrations of linoleic, linolenic acids, and total polyunsaturated fatty acids. The addition of carob pulp did not significantly modify fat and protein-corrected milk, whereas reduced protein and urea concentration, increased the fat content but worsened the milk quality in terms of fatty acid composition, increasing saturated and medium chain fatty acids. The genotype × feed interaction had no appreciable effect on milk composition or quality. HIGHLIGHTS Diet, genotype, and their interaction affect the milk traits and quality. Carob pulp reduced protein, urea and worsened fat quality. The genotype positively influenced the milk fat quality.

Effect of physically effective neutral detergent fiber and undigested neutral detergent fiber on eating behavior, ruminal fermentation and motility, barrier function, blood metabolites, and total tract digestibility in finishing cattle.

This study evaluated the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) and undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) on eating behavior, ruminal fermentation and motility, barrier function, blood metabolites, and total tract nutrient digestibility for finishing cattle. Six Simmental heifers (668 ± 28.4 kg BW) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square (21 d periods) balanced for carry-over effects. Treatments included a control (CON; Table 1) with no forage peNDF and minimal uNDF (peNDF: 0.0%, and uNDF: 4.88 ± 0.01; 95.15% barley grain, 4.51% vitamin and mineral supplement, and 0.34% urea on a DM basis). Pelleted wheat straw (PELL) was included at 10% of dietary DM by replacing barley grain to provide added uNDF but no forage peNDF (peNDF: 0.00%, and uNDF: 6.78 ± 0.02%). Finally, chopped wheat straw (STR) was included as a replacement for pelleted wheat straw to provide forage peNDF and uNDF (peNDF: 1.74 ± 0.06%, and uNDF: 6.86 ± 0.03%). Dry matter intake was not affected (P = 0.93) by treatments. Cattle fed CON spent less time ruminating (P = 0.010) and had less meals/d (P = 0.035) when compared with cattle fed STR, with those fed PELL being intermediate but not different from other treatments. Cattle fed CON had lesser ruminal pH (P = 0.020), and a greater duration that pH was < 5.5 (P = 0.020) as compared to cattle fed STR, with those fed PELL being intermediate but not different. Cattle fed CON and PELL had greater total short-chain fatty acid concentration (P = 0.003) and molar proportion of propionate (P < 0.001) when compared with cattle fed STR. Cattle fed STR had greater (P = 0.010) total ruminal pool size when compared with cattle fed CON and PELL. Cattle fed CON had greater (P = 0.043) duration between ruminal contractions when compared with cattle fed STR, with those fed PELL being intermediate. Cattle fed CON had greater serum amyloid A (P = 0.003) and haptoglobin (P < 0.001) concentration when compared with the other treatments. Cattle fed CON had greater dry matter (P < 0.001) digestibility when compared with the other treatments. In conclusion, inclusion of PELL and STR impacted eating behavior, but only STR affected ruminal fermentation, ruminal motility, systemic inflammation, and total tract nutrient digestibility in finishing cattle. These results are interpreted to suggest that the combination of peNDF and uNDF may be better than uNDF alone to adequately capture biological effects of NDF in high-concentrate diets.

307 Effect of Feeding Distilllers Grain from Wheat on Growth Performance of Growing and Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The uniqueness of wheat-based distiller grain (wDG) with high protein and digestible fibre gives great feeding opportunities for cattle as energy, protein or fiber source. This abstract summarizes recent research findings on the use of wDG in beef cattle diets. For growing beef cattle, steers fed diets (forage:concentrate, 55:45) with increasing replacement of barley grain with wDG from 0, 8, 16, 24 to 32% (DM basis) linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.01) increased average daily gain (ADG) from 1.09 to 1.28 kg/d and DM intake (DMI) from 7.26 to 7.94 kg/d without affecting gain:feed (0.158). By comparing protein source of canola meal and corn DG in diets containing 60% of silage and 40% of barley grain, steers fed wDG diet had similar ADG (1.46 kg/d) with corn DG (1.51 kg/d), and had no differences in gain:feed (0.178) with canola meal (0.183). For finishing beef cattle, with increasing wDG from 10, 20 to 40% in the place of barley grain of finishing diets, the DMI linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.01) increased from 10.2 to 10.9 kg/d, whereas, the gain:feed linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.01) decreased from 0.172 to 0.159 without altering the ADG (1.74 kg/d). The wDG was also suggested to be fed as fiber source to replace roughage in finishing diet. Entirely substitution of wDG for roughage of finishing diet decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.01) ruminal pH from 5.95 to 5.75 of beef heifers; however, the ADG and gain:feed of steers were not affected. The results suggested that although substitution of wDG for roughage in finishing diets may increase the incidence of ruminal acidosis, this outcome does not appear to adversely impact the performance of the cattle. The wDG can be successfully incorporated to substitute a portion of grain or roughage within growing and finishing diets with minimal or no adverse impact on cattle growth performance.

Dry matter intake, digestibility, nitrogen utilization and fermentation characteristics of sheep fed Atriplex hay-based diet supplemented with discarded dates as a replacement for barley grain.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of substituting barley grain with discarded dates on intake and digestibility, nitrogen (N) utilization and fermentation characteristics of sheep fed Atriplex hay-based diets. Four Barki sheep (50.9±2.93kg of body weight (BW)) fitted with rumen cannula were used in a 4×4 Latin Square design with 23-day periods. Four isonitrogenous (~140g crude protein (CP)/kg of dry matter (DM)) experimental diets were formulated with Atriplex hay, and dietary sugar content was increased by replacing barley grain with discarded dates (the proportions of discarded dates in the diet were 0, 93, 187 and 280g/kg DM). Nutrient intakes were not influenced by diet. Organic matter, CP and neutral detergent fibre digestibility increased (p<0.05) linearly and DM digestibility tended to increase with increased dates inclusion. Ruminal pH and molar proportion of butyrate increased (p<0.05) linearly with increasing levels of dates inclusion, whereas ruminal ammonia-N decreased (p<0.05) linearly. Total volatile fatty acid concentration was unaffected. Microbial protein synthesis (MCP) increased linearly and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis tended to increase as discarded dates increased. Total N intake was not affected by diets whereas, urinary N, urea-N and total N execrations linearly decreased (p<0.05) with higher amounts of dates in the diets. Blood urea-N tended to decrease with increasing levels of dates. It could be concluded that replacing 100% barley grain with discarded dates as a source of soluble carbohydrates can enhance the utilization of N in Atriplex hay-based diet and consequently improve digestibility and MCP.

Effect of Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles and Red Osier Dogwood Extract on Fermentation Pattern and Microbial Profiles of a High-Grain Diet in an Artificial Rumen System.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and red-osier dogwood (ROD) extract on in vitro fermentation characteristics, nutrient disappearance, and microbial profiles using the rumen simulation technique. The experiment was a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments and four replicates per treatment. A basal diet [10% barley silage, 87% dry-rolled barley grain, and 3% vitamin and mineral supplement, dry matter (DM) basis] and a DDGS diet (as per basal diet with 25% of wheat DDGS replacing an equal portion of barley grain) were supplemented with ROD extract at 0 and 1% (DM basis), respectively. The experimental period was 17 d, consisting 10 days of adaptation and 7 days of data and sample collection. The substitution of wheat DDGS for barley grain did not affect gas production; disappearances of DM, organic matter, and crude protein; total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production; and microbial protein production. However, replacing barley grain with wheat DDGS increased (P = 0.01) fermenter pH and molar proportion of branched-chain VFA, switched (P = 0.06) the fermentation pattern to higher acetate production due to increased (P = 0.01) disappearance of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and decreased (P = 0.08) methane (CH4) production. In the basal barley diet, the ROD extract increased the acetate to propionate (A:P) ratio (P = 0.08) and reduced the disappearance of starch (P = 0.06) with no effect on any other variables. No effects of ROD in the DDGS diet were observed. The number of operational taxonomic unit (OTUs) and the Shannon diversity index of the microbial community had little variation among treatments. Taxonomic analysis revealed no effect of adding the ROD extract on the relative abundance of bacteria at the phylum level with either the basal diet or DDGS diet, while at the genus level, the microbial community was affected by the addition of both DDGS and the ROD extract. Prevotella and Fibrobacter were the most abundant genera in the basal diet; however, Treponema became the most abundant genus with the addition of the ROD extract. These results indicated that the substitution of wheat DDGS for barley grain may mitigate enteric CH4 emissions. The trend of reduced starch fermentability and increased NDF disappearance with the addition of ROD extract suggests a reduced risk of rumen acidosis and an improvement in the utilization of fiber for cattle-fed high-grain diet.

The effects of microcrystalline cellulose as a dietary component for lactating dairy cows

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has several applications in food and pharmaceutical industries but the nutritional value for dairy cows and effects on in vivo digestion are not known. A feeding experiment was conducted using 24 dairy cows. The cows were offered MCC originating from unbleached softwood kraft pulp at 0, 10 or 100 g per kg diet dry matter (DM) to replace barley grain in the diet. The total daily DM intake was on average 25.6 kg and not significantly affected by the diet. Positive effects on rumen fermentation could not be demonstrated in a feeding situation where total mixed ration and a concentrate proportion of 0.50 on DM basis was used. Diet organic matter digestibility was not affected by MCC inclusion but fibre digestibility improved and the additional MCC fibre was virtually completely digested. The production potential of MCC was lower than that of barley grain as daily yields of energy-corrected milk, milk fat and protein, and milk protein concentration decreased when MCC replaced barley grain in the diet. Based on these results, MCC is not recommended as a dietary component for high-yielding dairy cows.

PSIX-11 Impact of a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance, feed intake and carcass traits of finishing steers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a phytogenic feed additive (Digestarom® (DA), Biomin, Getzersdorf, Austria) on growth performance, feed intake, carcass traits, and liver abscesses of finishing beef steers. One hundred and twenty Angus × Charolais crossbred steers (initial BW 488 ± 26.5 kg) were used in a 110-d feeding experiment. Steers were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to 12 pens with 10 steers per pen. Each pen was allocated to 1 of 3 diets. Each diet contained 86.5% barley, 10.0% barley silage and 3.5% vitamin and mineral supplement on a dry matter basis. Digestarom® replaced barley grain in the vitamin and mineral supplement at 1.41 and 2.82 g/kg, to achieve average daily intakes of DA of 0 (Control), 0.5 (LowDA) and 1.0 g (HighDA) per steer. Diets were prepared once daily and offered ad libitum intake. Two pens per treatment were equipped to record individual feed intake ehavior. Steers were weighed every 28 d and carcass traits and liver scores were recorded at slaughter. Dry matter intake (average 9.34 kg/d) and final BW (average 669 kg) did not differ among treatments. Average daily gain (ADG) tended (P &amp;lt; 0.09) to increase in response to DA supplementation (control, 1.82; LowDA, 1.87; and HighDA, 1.95 kg/d), but gain:feed ratio was not affected. Supplementation of DA affected rib-eye area quadratically (P &amp;lt; 0.05) with the largest area observed for LowDA. Total abscessed livers were not affected, whereas proportion of severe liver abscesses was numerically lower (P &amp;lt; 0.15) with DA (31 and 43% for LowDA and HighDA, respectively) compared to the control (50%). The positive effect of DA on ADG and percentage of severely abscessed livers should be validated in larger scale feedlot studies.

Effects of alfalfa particle size and starch content in diets on feeding behaviour, intake, rumen parameters, animal performance and meat quality of growing lambs

Thirty-two crossbred Merino branco male lambs were randomly allocated to eight diets, combining two forms of alfalfa presentation (chopped or ground), with four barley grain levels (0%, 11.2%, 21.3% and 33% dry matter (DM)), balanced by low starch agro-industrial by-products (LSBP). The diets were supplemented with 6% soybean oil and included 40% of alfalfa in DM. The lambs were individually housed and the trial lasted six weeks. Intake of DM, average daily weight gain (ADG) and carcass weight were higher with ground alfalfa (P < 0.01). Replacing barley grain by LSBP reduced linearly DM intake and ADG (P < 0.001) but increased meat tenderness (P = 0.046). Regardless of the treatments, meat showed a healthy biohydrogenation fatty acid (FA) profile, with high proportions of t11-18:1, c9,t11-18:2 and a t10-18:1/t11-18:1 ratio clearly below 1. The reduction of barley in diet had a moderate positive impact on meat FA composition, decreasing t10-18:1, which was enhanced by the increase of forage particle size.

Effect of partial replacement of barley grain with wheat bran in the ration and some feed additive on growth and some carcass traits of Awassi lambs

This study was conducted in animal research department at ministry of agriculture, by using 32 Awassi lambs (4-5 months in aged) and average body weight 23.25 ± 0.39 kg. Lambs were allocated into four groups, the first (T1) control fed on ration consist of 88% of ground barley, barley grain in the ration in second group (T2) lowered by 50% and replaced with wheat bran. The lambs in third (T3) and fourth (T4) groups were fed on the same ration of (T2) with addition 10 g/lamb daily of yeast ( Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ) in T3 and 10 g of yeast + 0.25 g Vitamin E-se in T4. The results were indicated that replacement with wheat bran in T2 led to significant (p<0.05) decrease in average daily and total gain 0.193 and 16.88 kg as compared to T1 0.244 and 21.25 kg and the addition yeast was not improve lamb growth 0.191 and 16.62 kg, but the addition of Vit E-se were led to similar gain as in control 0.248 and 21.63 kg with significant (p<0.05) increase as compared to T2 and T4. Highest feed conversion ratio was recorded in T4, while the lowest in T2, hot carcass weight was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in T2 and T3 18.46 and 18.42 kg compared with (T1) 21.60 kg, dressing percentage based on empty body weigh before slaughter was increased significantly (p<0.05) in T1 56.34 as compared other treatments 53.41, 52.48 and 53.68% respectively.

Biodegradation kinetics by microorganisms, enzymatic biodigestion, and fractionation of protein in seeds of cool-climate-adapted oats: Comparison among oat varieties, between milling-type and feed-type oats, and with barley grain

Recently, cool-climate-adapted varieties of oats as well as milling-type and feed-type of oats have been developed. The objectives of this study were to determine biodegradation kinetics, enzymatic biodigestion, fractionation and intrinsic structure in seeds of oat varieties; compare among oat varieties and between milling-and feed-type; and reveal an interactive association among structure and nutrition in these seeds. The three oat varieties were CDC Nasser, which is a feed-type, CDC Arborg and CDC Ruffian, which are milling-types of oats. CDC Austenson barley, which is a feed-type of barley grain, was used as a control. The seed samples for each variety grown at University Crop Research Fields were obtained from Crop Development Center (CDC). The Attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to reveal intrinsic structural profiles of these seeds. The results showed that different varieties had significant differences in chemical and nutrient profiles, biodegradation kinetics and intestinal digestibility (P < 0.05). Nasser oat, which was bred to possess a higher oil content and lower lignin hull, had a higher energy value compared to other varieties of oat. Nasser oat also showed similar values of digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), net energy for maintenance (NEm), net energy for gain (NEg) and net energy for lactation (NEL) to Austenson barley grain. Austenson barley seeds showed higher (P < 0.05) rumen undegraded protein (BCP) and had an increased biodegradation ratio of available N to energy (ED_N/ED_OM) during longer incubation periods. Uni- and multi-variate (PCA) analyses were applied to reveal structural features. The PCA analysis did not distinguish between Nasser (feed-type) and Ruffian (milling-type) in the amide region. Significant relationship was revealed between protein molecular structures and protein biodegradation kinetics. In conclusion, Nasser oat (feed-type oat grain) is a promising variety with high fat and low hull content which could be used to replace barley grain in ruminant livestock diets.