Fish Meal Supplementation Research Articles

Effect of dietary vitamin E, fishmeal and wood and liquid smoke on the oxidative stability of bacon during 16 weeks' frozen storage

Twelve (Large White×Landrace) gilts were randomly allotted in a 2×2 factorial design with the respective factor being dietary vitamin E (10 or 200 mg/kg feed) and dietary fishmeal (0 or 5%). Bacon was manufactured from the meat obtained from the animals after slaughter using wood smoke only or a combination of liquid and wood smoke. The oxidative stability of the bacon was examined over 16 weeks of frozen storage. Lipid oxidation in the product was measured by means of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and fluorescence shift. Dietary fishmeal supplementation increased lipid oxidation in bacon, while dietary vitamin E supplementation reduced lipid oxidation in the product. Lipid oxidation in frozen bacon was successfully reduced when bacon was manufactured from pigs fed a diet supplemented with or without 200 mg of α-tocopherol per kilogram of feed and processed with a combination of liquid and wood smoke. It is concluded that bacon processed with a combination of liquid and wood smoke was significantly less ( P<0.001) susceptible to lipid oxidation than bacon processed with wood smoke only.

Influence of Urea Alone or Combined with Fish Solubles, Fish Meal, or Feather Meal in Liquid Supplement with and Without L-Carnitine on Performance and Ruminal and Metabolic Parameters of Weanling Calves 121Approved by the director of Louisiana Agric. Exp. Stn. as publication no. 00-11-0001.2Appreciation is extended to Omega Protein Inc. (Hammond, LA) for providing fish products and feather meal, to

Using growing calves (n = 368) grazing mature forage in three 84-d experiments, one objective was to compare the effects of feeding molasses-based liquid supplements containing urea (U) alone or combined with fish solubles (FS), fish meal (FM), or feather meal (FE) on performance, and blood metabolites. Another objective was to evaluate the effects on these criteria of adding carnitine to these supplements to provide 1 g·h−1·d−1 L-carnitine. Including FM or FE in the mixture improved (P<0.05) supplement consumption in two experiments and improved growth rate in all experiments. Carnitine improved the growth rate when U was the only protein source, but reduced growth rate when FM was included in the liquid supplement (P<0.05). During the growth phase, plasma ammonia N (PAN) was higher (P<0.05) when U was the only protein source as compared with FM or FE. Carnitine did not influence these metabolic parameters. During the metabolic phase of each experiment, calves similar to those used in the growth phase were dosed via stomach tube with 3 g liquid supplement/kg BW. Ruminal and blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after dosing. Ruminal ammonia N, PAN, and plasma urea N (PUN) concentrations were higher (P<0.05) when calves were dosed with U or FS supplement than when dosed with FM or FE supplements. Calves dosed with liquid supplement containing carnitine had lower (P<0.05) concentrations of ruminal ammonia N and PAN. Carnitine reduced (P<0.05) PUN in one experiment and increased (P<0.05) PUN in another. Branched-chain volatile fatty acids were increased (P<0.05) by dosing with FS or FM supplements. Including ruminally undegradable protein sources (FM or FE) in liquid supplement improved intake and performance and was related to reduced ruminal ammonia N, PAN, and PUN. Carnitine fed in liquid supplement also reduced ruminal ammonia N and PAN concentrations.

Fishmeal supplementation of steers fed on grass silage: effects on rumen function, nutrient flow to and disappearance from the small intestine

Kim, E. J., Parker, D. S., Scollan, N. D. (2001). Fishmeal supplementation of steers fed on grass silage: effects on rumen function, nutrient flow to and disappearance from the small intestine. Animal Research, 50, (5), 337-348.

Fish-meal supplementation of grass silage offered to young steers: Effects on growth, body composition and nutrient efficiency

Growth and efficiencies of nitrogen and energy utilization for growth by 72 young British Friesian steers (initial live weight (LW) 110 kg) offered a well preserved, formic acid-treated, perennial ryegrass silage with and without supplements of fish meal were examined. Silage was offered either alone or mixed with 50, 100 or 150 g fish meal/kg silage dry matter (DM) and each diet was offered either ad libitum or intakes were restricted to 16, 19 or 22 g dietary DM/kg LW/day. Treatments were imposed over a period of 132 days. Body component weight gains were determined by comparative slaughter.Increasing the level of either feeding or fish meal increased rates of empty body weight gain linearly (P&lt;0·001) and curvilinearly (P&lt;0·05) respectively. Fish-meal supplementation increased rates of ash and crude protein gain (P&lt;0·001) but, in comparison with the curvilinear response to increasing level of feeding (P&lt;0·001), had small linear effects on fat gain (P&gt;0·01). Consequently, in terms of whole body composition, animals given fish meal were leaner than animals offered silage alone. Fish-meal supplementation had no significant effect on the composition of the carcass but increased the concentration of protein in the liver and gastrointestinal tract.The increase in nitrogen intake associated with feeding fish meal resulted in a reduction in the efficiency of nitrogen utilization as level of fish meal increased. Nitrogen intake required for maintenance was estimated to be 1·054 g/kg LW0·75. In spite of marked differences in the composition of the empty body-weight gain, there was no evidence to support an effect of fish meal on the efficiency of metabolizable energy (ME) utilization for growth (kf) which was estimated to be 0·346 on the basis of data scaled by LW0·75. ME intake required for maintenance (MEm) was estimated to be 0·536 and 0·502 MJ/kg LW0·75 for silage alone and the 150 g fish-meal level respectively.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Other Beneficial Fatty Acids in Milk Fat from Cows Fed Soybean Meal, Fish Meal, or Both

Twelve multiparous Holstein cows at 48±8 DIM were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square with 21-d periods to determine the effect of replacing soybean meal with fish meal on feed intake, milk yield, and milk composition. Fish meal substituted for soybean meal on an isonitrogenous basis at 0, 25, 50, and 100% of supplemental protein. Total mixed diets were (DM basis) 25% corn silage, 25% alfalfa hay, and 50% concentrate mix. Intake of DM (27.9, 27.8, 26.1, and 25.8kg/d for diets 1 to 4, respectively) was similar for all diets. Milk yield (37.5, 37.8, 37.2, and 37.7kg/d) was not affected by diets. Milk protein percentages (3.23, 3.24, 3.31, and 3.35) increased with 100% fish meal supplementation and tended to be higher with 50% fish meal supplementation compared with 100% soybean meal diet. Milk fat percentages (3.18, 2.99, 3.04, and 2.87) and yield were lower with the 100% fish meal than with the 100% soybean meal diet. Concentration of n-3 fatty acids in milk fat (0.54, 0.56, 0.63, and 0.72g/100g fatty acids) increased as the proportion of fish meal in the diet increased. Concentrations of c9,t11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 0.39, 0.44, 0.46, and 0.72g/100g fatty acids) and transvaccenic acid (TVA; 1.09, 1.19, 1.28, and 1.54g/100g of fatty acids) were higher with the 100% fish meal diet than with the 100% soybean meal diet. A total replacement of soybean meal with fish meal in the diet of lactating cows increased milk protein percentages and the beneficial fatty acids (CLA, TVA, and n-3 FA) in milk fat.

Blood Amino Acids and Milk Composition from Cows Fed Soybean Meal, Fish Meal, or Both

Twelve multiparous Holstein cows at 48±8 d in milk were used in a 4×4 Latin square with 21-d periods to determine the effect on feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, and blood amino acids when soybean meal was replaced with fish meal. Fish meal substituted for soybean meal on an isonitrogenous basis at 0, 25, 50, and 100% of supplemental protein. Total mixed diets were (dry matter basis) 25% corn silage, 25% alfalfa hay, and 50% concentrate mix. Intake of dry matter (27.9, 27.8, 26.1, and 25.8kg/d for diets 1 to 4, respectively) was similar for all diets. Milk yield (37.5, 37.8, 37.2, and 37.7kg/d) was not affected by diets. Milk protein percentages (3.23, 3.24, 3.31, and 3.35) increased with 100% fish meal supplementation and tended to be higher, with 50% fish meal supplementation compared with 100% soybean meal diet. Milk fat percentages (3.18, 2.99, 3.04, and 2.87) and yields were lower with the 100% fish meal than with the 100% soybean meal diet. Molar proportions of ruminal volatile fatty acids and ammonia were not greatly affected by diet. Fish meal supplementation slightly improved Met status, as shown when blood amino acid data were evaluated. Both extraction efficiency and transfer efficiency of amino acids from the blood by the mammary gland indicated that Met, Lys, and Phe were the most limiting amino acids in all diets. Replacing as much as 50 or 100% of dietary soybean meal with fish meal may improve the amino acid balance and increase the protein content in milk; however, feeding 100% fish meal will likely decrease milk fat percentages.

The effect of dietary fish-meal supplementation on parasite burdens of periparturient sheep

AbstractPregnant ewes were offered 0·80, 1·0 or 1·25 of estimated protein requirement, groups P80, P100 and P125, respectively and trickle infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta (average of 10000 larvae per day) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (average of 7000 larvae per day) for 42 days prior to parturition. Eleven days after lambing half (group TC) received a single challenge infection of 25000 T. circumcincta and 17500 T. colubriformis larvae and the remainder (TO) no further larval challenge. Worm burdens were determined 21 days post partum.Worm burdens were inversely related to dietary protein concentration. Mature worms (L5) of T. circumcincta recovered were (log10 (count + 1)) 4·002, 3·806 and 3·444 in TO sheep and 3·812, 3·633 and 3·113 in TC sheep from P80, P100 and P125 groups, respectively. The corresponding burdens of T. colubriformis were 2·665, 2·893 and 2·029 for TO and 3·985, 2·363 and 1·188 for TC sheep. The numbers of L4 larvae recovered from TC sheep were (log10 (count + 1)) 3·532, 3·288 and 3·127 for T. circumcincta and 3·080, 2·180 and 0·949 for T. colubriformis on P80, P100 and P125 diets, respectively. There was no evidence of inhibition of larval development or egg laying with either worm species suggesting that the major effect of protein supply in enhancing resistance was operating at the larval establishment stage. There was evidence that the post-partum challenge infection affected the fecundity and survival of the established adult worm population of T. circumcincta but not of T. colubriformis.

Studies on blood biochemical constituents and rumen fermentation in growing buffalo calves fed ammoniated straw-based rations supplemented with different protein sources

Studies were done on blood biochemical constituents and rumen fermentation pattern of growing buffalo calves fed ammoniated wheat straw (UAS)-based rations supplemented with three different protein supplements. Eighteen buffalo calves (140kg) were divided into three groups of six calves each and were fed on UAS supplemented with a concentrate mixture (roughage:concentrate ratio 58:42) containing 8% (or 3.5% of total ration) untreated groundnut cake (GNC) (group I), 8% formaldehyde treated GNC (group II) and 8% fish meal (group III), respectively, for 19 weeks. During this growth study, blood biochemistry was studied. Rumen fermentation study was done on three fistulated growing buffalo calves using a 3×3 Latin square switch over design. Blood glucose and ammonia-N did not differ significantly among the treatments. However, blood urea-N of calves in group III was higher (P<0.05) than in groups I and II, but the latter two did not differ from each other in this respect. Total protein in group I was comparable to group II and group III which were significantly different from each other. The rumen pH, total volatile fatty acids, ammonia-N and total protozoal count were similar, however, total N and TCA insoluble N in group II and group III were higher (P<0.01) than in group I. Fish meal containing diet favoured holotrichs, whereas, protected GNC containing diet favoured spirotrichs as indicated by significantly higher count. It was concluded that the beneficial effects of supplementing formaldehyde protected GNC at 8% in the concentrate mixture to the UAS-based diets were greater than supplementation of unprotected GNC or low quality fish meal in ration of buffalo calves growing at 400g because of improved rumen fermentation, absorption and metabolism of nutrients as observed in blood biochemistry.

Fishmeal Supplementation to Grazing Dairy Cows in Early Lactation

Our objectives were to determine if grazing dairy cows would respond to fishmeal supplementation and to determine if responses could be explained by stimulation of adipose tissue lipolysis. Thirty-four multiparous Holstein cows (25±11 DIM) were supplemented with isonitrogenous concentrates containing either fishmeal or pelleted sunflower meal. On a dry matter (DM) basis, concentrates contained fishmeal (14.5%) or sunflower meal (24.2%), corn grain (55.6% and 50.6%), wheat bran (26.7% and 22%), a mineral-vitamin complex (2.9%) and a flavoring agent (0.3%). Concentrates were consumed at a rate of 5kg/cow per day. Herbage allowance averaged 49.8±6.1kg of DM/cow per d. Milk (26.8 vs. 25.2kg/d), fat-corrected milk (23.9 vs. 22.2kg/d) and milk protein yields (0.90 vs. 0.81kg/d) were increased by fishmeal. Milk protein percentage was similar among treatments. Milk fat yield and milk and plasma urea nitrogen tended to be higher in cows fed fishmeal. Plasma glucose and nonesterified fatty acids concentrations and differences in concentrations between jugular and mammary veins were increased by fishmeal. The in vivo lipolytic response to a β-adrenergic agent or the antilipolytic + hypoglycemic action of insulin were not affected. The higher milk production observed with fishmeal can be explained by the quantity and quality of the absorbed protein, higher glucose availability to the mammary gland, and increased lipid mobilization without change in responsiveness of the adipose tissue to lipolytic stimuli.

Marked enhancement by fish meal of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis in Mongolian gerbils.

In a search for dietary factors influencing Helicobacter pylori‐induced gastritis, the effects of fish meal in the diet were examined in Mongolian gerbils. When a conventional diet containing 10% fish meal was given to Mongolian gerbils for 4 weeks after inoculation of H. pylori, edematous thickening with severe neutrophil and mononuclear cell infiltration in both the mucosa and submucosa was observed in the glandular stomach of 19 out of the 20 animals, and hemorrhagic spots were evident in 11 cases. These gastric lesions were enhanced by a 20% fish meal supplement, and edema and hemorrhage in the gastric mucosa were observed in 19 and 17 out of 20 animals, respectively. Although almost the same levels of viable bacteria were detected independent of the diet, edema and hemorrhage were seen in only 2 and 1 of 20 gerbils fed a diet containing 10% casein, instead of 10% fish meal, respectively. Neither edema nor hemorrhage was observed in 10% beef diet animals. These results suggest that fish meal contains factors which greatly enhance H. pylori‐induced gastritis in Mongolian gerbils. Since the incidences of gastritis and gastric cancer are very high throughout the world, it is very important to identify these gastritis‐enhancing factors.

Effects of energy and protein supplementation on microbial-N synthesis and allantoin excretion in sheep fed guinea grass

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of two types of protein, soybean meal (SBM) and fish meal (FM); and two types of energy supplements, corn flour (CF) and paper pulp (PP) on in vivo digestibility of organic matter (OM), rumen fermentation pattern and dilution rate, rumen microbial-N synthesis and flow of organic matter and nitrogenous compounds through the duodenum in four Merino rams with an average weight of 54.4±4.5 kg. The relationships between duodenal purine flow and urinary allantoin and duodenal protein/energy (MJ rumen VFA per day) ratio were also investigated. The experiment was conducted in a 4×4 Latin square design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. The animals, fitted with both rumen and duodenal cannulae were housed in individual crates and fed chopped fresh guinea grass ad libitum twice daily, 100 g molasses and one of the four dietary supplements: (i) 170 g FM+268 g PP (FM+PP); (ii) 170 g FM+268 g CF (FM+CF); (iii) 200 g SBM+200 g PP (SBM+PP); and (iv) 200 g SBM+200 g CF (SBM+CF). Each supplement, at varying rates of rumen degradability, was formulated to provide similar amount of N and gross energy. The results showed that rumen pHs were similar, ranging from pH 5.8 to 6.0, for all animals fed the different dietary supplements. Rumen ammonia concentration was significantly ( p<0.05) higher in animals fed SBM (170.2–190.7 mg N l −1) than in animals fed FM supplement (166.8–170.2 mg N l −1). Rumen VFA concentrations were similar (94–103 mM) but molar proportions of acetate and propionate were respectively lower and higher in treatment SBM+CF, leading to a significantly decreased acetate:propionate ratio in this treatment (3.6) compared to SBM+PP (4.3). There were no significant differences between treatments in rumen fluid dilution rate and rumen volume. Duodenal OM flow was similar in PP supplemented diets, but differed significantly ( p<0.05) between protein supplements in the CF diets. Organic matter digestibility in the rumen was significantly ( p<0.05) higher in the CF+FM diet. Moreover, animals fed SBM supplement showed higher total tract OM digestibility than animals fed FM supplement. The flow of nitrogenous compounds to the duodenum, i.e., total-N, non-ammonia-N and rumen-undegradable-N were not significantly affected by either protein or energy supplements. Microbial-N flow tended ( p<0.08) to be higher in sheep fed CF supplement (average of 10.2 g per day) than in those fed PP supplement (average of 8.1 g per day). Urinary allantoin excretion was low (0.30–0.42 mmol per day/kg BW 0.75). A positive linear correlation ( r=0.73, p<0.005) between urinary allantoin (μmol per day/kg BW 0.75) and duodenal purines (μmol per day/kg BW 0.75) was observed. The efficiency of rumen microbial-N synthesis based on OM truly digested in the rumen was significantly ( p<0.02) higher in sheep fed CF supplement (15.2–16.6 g N kg −1 OMTDR) than in those fed PP supplement (12.2–12.8 g N kg −1 OMTDR). Differences in microbial protein:energy ratio or total duodenal protein:energy ratio among dietary treatments were not significant.

Protein and sulphur amino acid nutrition of hair fibre-producing Angora and Cashmere goats

The results from a number of studies are presented which investigated responses in fibre production of British Cashmere and Angora goats to variation in protein and sulphur amino acid nutrition under conditions of active fibre growth. Requirements for amino acids were considered in the context of the concentration of amino acids, including cysteine and methionine, in rumen microbial protein and in dietary protein supplements compared with the amino acid composition of hair fibre. Increases in fibre yield and diameter were consistently observed in Angora goats given good quality protein supplements or rumen-protected intestinally-available methionine (Smartamine™M, Rhône-Poulenc). Cashmere yield was not influenced by urea or white fishmeal supplementation but responded positively (in contrast to other studies in the literature) to additional dietary methionine. While responses in cashmere production have been recorded in response to protein supplementation at sub-maintenance levels of nutrition, it is suggested that one component of the absent or reduced response at above maintenance may be the smaller quantitative synthesis of this fibre compared with mohair production by Angora goats. The results are considered in the context of studies from the sheep literature in which protein and amino acid supplementation were shown to stimulate proliferation of hair forming cells in the wool follicle and to increase deposition of protein fractions containing high concentrations of sulphur-containing amino acids. Results from an in vitro study suggested that methionine could support cashmere fibre growth (approximately 0.75) in the absence of cysteine and cystine, providing evidence that methionine is essential for fibre production and that transulphuration occurs in isolated hair follicles. However, cysteine and cystine were also required to produce maximum growth. In the context of competition between the hair follicle and other body tissues, data are presented which illustrate the increases in nitrogen retention and/or anabolic growth response to protein or protected-methionine supplementation in non-integumental tissues of Cashmere and Angora goats also, despite the presence of lower concentrations of sulphur-containing amino acids in these tissues. The results confirm the value of a good quality protein supplement or more targeted supply of rumen-protected intestinally-available methionine to correct a frequently apparent deficiency in sulphur amino acid supply for (a) growth of hair fibre by Angora goats and, less consistently, by Cashmere goats and (b) other body tissues in both genotypes.

Effects of intraruminal infusions of propionate and butyrate with two different protein supplements on milk production and blood metabolites in dairy cows receiving grass silage‐based diet

Four cows were used in a balanced 4×4 Latin square with 2 week experimental periods to investigate the effects of intraruminal infusions of volatile fatty acids and protein source on milk production and blood metabolites. The four treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement were isoenergetic intraruminal infusions of propionate (500 g day−1) or butyrate (417 g day−1) each given with isonitrogenous protein supplementation of fish meal (FM) or barley protein (BP). The cows were fed restrictively with 9 kg dry matter day−1 of formic acid treated grass silage and 8 kg day−1 of concentrate. Propionate infusion increased milk yield (24·9 vs 23·4 kg day−1; P<0·05), milk protein yield (832 vs 778 g day−1; P=0·05) and milk lactose content (44·7 vs 43·5 g kg−1; P<0·05) and yield (1113 vs 1023 g day−1; P<0·01), whereas butyrate infusion was associated with a higher milk fat content (44·7 vs 39·4 g kg−1; P<0·01) and yield (1033 vs 974 g day−1; P<0·01). FM tended (P<0·10) to increase milk yield, but had no significant effects on milk composition or milk component yields compared with BP. Butyrate infusion increased blood ketones, plasma non-esterified fatty acids and glycine relative to propionate infusion. The concentrations of ammonia N in rumen fluid and urea in plasma and milk were similar for both protein supplements. The profile of amino acids in plasma was similar for both protein supplements except for the higher concentrations of phenylalanine, proline and tyrosine with BP. The results show that protein utilisation can be improved by increasing the supply of propionate from rumen fermentation in cows given a grass silage-based diet. © 1998 SCI.

Effects of intraruminal infusions of propionate and butyrate with two different protein supplements on milk production and blood metabolites in dairy cows receiving grass silage-based diet

Four cows were used in a balanced 4 x 4 Latin square with 2 week experimental periods to investigate the effects of intraruminal infusions of volatile fatty acids and protein source on milk production and blood metabolites. The four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement were isoenergetic intraruminal infusions of propionate (500 g day -1 ) or butyrate (417 g day -1 ) each given with isonitrogenous protein supplementation of fish meal (FM) or barley protein (BP). The cows were fed restrictively with 9 kg dry matter day -1 of formic acid treated grass silage and 8 kg day -1 of concentrate. Propionate infusion increased milk yield (24.9 vs 23.4 kg day -1 ; P < 0.05), milk protein yield (832 vs 778 g day -1 ; P = 0-05) and milk lactose content (44.7 vs 43.5 g kg -1 ; P < 0.05) and yield (1113 vs 1023 g day -1 ; P < 0.01), whereas butyrate infusion was associated with a higher milk fat content (44.7 vs 39.4 g kg -1 ; P < 0.01) and yield (1033 vs 974 g day -1 ; P < 0.01). FM tended (P < 0.10) to increase milk yield, but had no significant effects on milk composition or milk component yields compared with BP. Butyrate infusion increased blood ketones, plasma non-esterified fatty acids and glycine relative to propionate infusion. The concentrations of ammonia N in rumen fluid and urea in plasma and milk were similar for both protein supplements. The profile of amino acids in plasma was similar for both protein supplements except for the higher concentrations of phenylalanine, proline and tyrosine with BP. The results show that protein utilisation can be improved by increasing the supply of propionate from rumen fermentation in cows given a grass silage-based diet.

泌乳牛の窒素排泄量に及ぼす魚粉給与と環境温度の影響

In order to clarify the effects of fish meal supplementation and environmental temperature on nitrogen excretion in feces and urine, nitrogen balance trials were conducted by L 16 table of orthogonal array with 8 Holstein lactating cows in environmental controlled rooms (18°C 60% relative humidity (RH), 28°C 40% RH and 28°C 80% RH). The results obtained were as follows; 1) there was no difference in fecal nitrogen excretion by fish meal supplementation. However, urinary nitrogen excretion decreased significantly and milk nitrogen and retained nitrogen tended to increase. 2) Nitrogen intake in 28°C was less than in 18°C, but urinary nitrogen increased and the efficiency of nitrogen utilization decreased as temperature increased.

Effects of fish meal and sodium bentonite on daily gain, wool growth, carcass characteristics, and ruminal and blood characteristics of lambs fed concentrate diets.

We evaluated the effects of replacing some soybean meal (SBM) protein with fish meal (FM) protein in diets adequate and slightly deficient in CP, with or without .75% sodium bentonite (NaB) on performance and ruminal and blood metabolites of individually fed Suffolk lambs. Diets were based on corn, SBM, and cottonseed hulls. In Exp. 1, five lambs were assigned to each of the three dietary treatments (11% CP with 3% FM, 13% CP with 0 or 3% FM). Lambs fed diets that contained 11% CP with 3% FM or 13% CP with 0% FM had similar DMI and ADG. Gain and feed efficiency were slightly improved (P = .18) by the 13% CP diet with 3% FM. In Exp. 2, 32 lambs were assigned to four dietary treatments (13.5% CP of DM) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (0 or 3% FM, and 0 or .75% NaB on an as-fed basis). The DMI and ADG were increased (P < .05) by FM and NaB supplementation. Interactions (P < .05) revealed that NaB increased DMI, ADG, gain per feed (g/kg of DMI), and plasma urea N concentration in the absence of FM but not in the presence of FM in the diet. Neither FM nor NaB influenced (P = .25) wool growth. Total ruminal VFA were increased (P < .06) by FM and NaB. Differences in mineral content of phalanx bone, liver, and kidney were small and may be related to the mineral content of diets and the effect of NaB on mineral solubilities. Similar DMI and ADG of lambs fed FM and NaB separately and in combination suggest that their beneficial effect is not additive.

An evaluation of ruminally degradable intake protein and metabolizable amino acid requirements of feedlot calves.

Ruminally degradable intake protein (DIP) and metabolizable indispensable amino acid (MIAA) requirements of feedlot steers were evaluated. Dietary treatments consisted of isocaloric 80% concentrate steam-flaked corn-based diets containing either .8% urea, 1.5% fish meal (FM), 3.0% FM, 4.5% FM, or 4.5% soybean meal (SBM). Treatment effects on characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion were evaluated using four Holstein steers (249 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum. Ruminal digestibility of OM (RDOM; P < .05) and feed N (P < .01) and microbial N flow (MNF; P < .01) to the small intestine were greater with urea as the supplemental N source. The level of DIP was closely associated (R2 = .89) with MNF. Postruminal digestibility of OM was greater (P < .05) for FM than for urea-supplemented diets, compensating for lower RDOM. There were no treatment effects (P > .10) on DOM. As the level of FM was increased, MIAA increased linearly (P < .01). Intestinal MIAA were similar (P > .10) for urea- and SBM-supplemented diets. Treatment effects on 56-d growth performance were evaluated using 100 medium-framed crossbred steers (231 kg). Daily weight gain (linear effect; P < .01), DM intake (linear effect; P < .10), feed efficiency (linear effect; P < .05), and diet NE (linear effect; P < .05) increased with level of FM supplementation. Daily weight gain (P < .10) and DM intake (P < .05) were greater for urea- than for SBM-supplemented diets. Using bovine tissue as the reference protein, the biological value (based on chemical score) of the intestinal chyme protein averaged 73%; methionine was first-limiting. There was a close association (R2 = .99) between methionine supply to the small intestine and observed/expected dietary NE. The metabolizable methionine requirement (MMETR, g/d) of medium-framed feedlot steers can be reliably predicted from measures of BW and ADG (MMETR = 1.565 + .0234ADG[268 - (29.4 x .0557BW(.75)ADG(1.097))/ADG] + .0896BW(.75)). There was a very close association (R2 = .89) between DIP and MNF (MNF = 13.7DIP - .66DIP(2) + 25.9). At maximal observed synthesis, DIP accounted for 76% of the MNF. A minimum of 100 g DIP/kg of total tract digestible OM was required to maximize RDOM and MNF.

The nutritive value of canola, heat-treated canola and fish meals as protein supplements for lambs fed grass silage

Twenty-eight lambs (23.4 ± 4.7 kg BW, 59 days old) were used to compare fish meal to canola and heat-treated canola meals as protein supplements to grass silage and their effects on the performance and apparent digestibility of diets. Silage was fed ad libitum, assuring 20% orts. In addition to silage, lambs received daily a fixed quantity of one of four supplements: C, a control supplement supplying 6.78 g kg −1 BW of a commercial diet (73.5% barley, 14.7% dry molasses and 11.8% minerals, vitamins and Bovatec); CM, control supplement + 8.05 g kg −1 BW of canola meal; HCM, control supplement + 7.52 g kg −1 BW of heated-canola meal (105 min at 150°C) and FM, control supplement + 4.0 g kg −1 BW of fish meal. Heating decreased the effective degradability of canola meal protein from 78.5% to 19.8%. Silage dry matter (DM) intake was not affected by protein supplementation. Supplementation with CM and FM improved the average daily gains (ADG) by 60.2% and 49.7%, respectively, when compared to lambs that were fed with C diet ( P < 0.01). Heated CM had little effect on ADG (233 and 191 g for HCM and C, respectively; P > 0.10). Feed efficiency was 32.4% higher in lambs fed with CM and FM than in those receiving the C and HCM treatments ( P < 0.05). Carcass yield and classification were not affected by the treatments. Fish meal supplementation did not affect the apparent digestibility of the diets, but CM and HCM decreased the digestibility of DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) ( P < 0.05). The heating of canola meal resulted in decreased apparent digestibility of DM, energy, protein and NDF ( P < 0.05) when compared to lambs fed with CM. Nutritive value (intake × digestibility) of the diets was lower for lambs fed with HCM than for those fed with CM and FM. Protein supplementation improved the efficiency of ME utilization for growth when compared to lambs fed with C diet. Canola meal was as good as fish meal as a protein supplement for lambs fed with high-silage diets. The heat-treatment applied to canola meal resulted in a decrease in protein availability, thus decreasing its nutritive value.

Use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict and compare the composition of carcass samples from young steers

AbstractThe aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of level of feeding and level offish-meal supplementation on the carcass composition of young steers and in doing so, to assess the potential for employing near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in such studies. In addition to wet chemical techniques, NIRS was used to examine carcass samples from animals offered silage-based diets at one of four levels of feeding ranging from near maintenance to ad libitum and with one of four levels offish meal (0, 50,100 or 150 g/kg silage dry matter).Wet chemical data indicated an increase in fat concentration (P &lt; 0·001) and decrease in crude protein concentration (P &lt; 0·05) in the fresh carcass in response to increasing level of feeding but no statistically significant effect of level of fish meal. Ash concentration was not affected significantly by either level of feeding or level of fish-meal supplementation. Ground, freeze-dried samples were scanned in the wavelength range 1100 to 2498 nm. Calibration equations for ash, fat and crude protein concentration (g/kg carcass) were derived using a modified partial least-squares regression technique. Equations were found to be superior for fat compared with those for crude protein and ash. Standard errors of calibration (g/kg carcass) and multiple correlation coefficients of 6·96 and 0·42, 6·61 and 0·95 and 4·36 and 0·61 were obtained for ash, fat and crude protein respectively with corresponding standard errors of cross validation of 7·71, 7·82 and 4·96 g/kg carcass respectively. Qualitative analysis of spectral information using multivariate techniques and difference spectra clearly showed differences in carcass composition resulting from the different levels of feeding and less so the different levels offish-meal supplementation.It is shown, that NIRS can be used both quantitatively and qualitatively to study the effects of nutrition on carcass composition.

The effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. I. The composition and evaluation of the digestibility of dietary protein from different sources

Four rations that differed in their crude protein and essential amino-acid content were compiled. Digestibility of the crude protein and essential amino-acid contents were determined biologically in a feeding trial using 4 Anglo-Arab stallions. Their respective daily diets were: Diet 1:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay (Eragrostis tef); Diet 2:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay (Medicago sativa); Diet 3:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay, 200 g fishmeal; Diet 4:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay, 200 g fishmeal. The concentrations of the amino-acids threonine, iso-leucine, leucine and arginine were increased in the total ration when lucerne hay replaced the tef hay while fishmeal supplementation increased the methionine and lysine contents, which provided a wide-range of concentrations of digestible amino-acids in each of the 4 rations.