Type Of Hay Research Articles

Comparative Evaluation of Enzymatic Crude Protein Degradation in Selected Legume Forages

For protein evaluation of feedstuffs for ruminants, the Streptomyces griseus protease test offers a purely enzymatic approach to estimate ruminal protein degradation. This study was conducted to determine the enzymatic crude protein (CP) degradability of alfalfa, sainfoin, and common vetch hays, which are commonly used in ruminant nutrition. To estimate CP degradation, fifteen samples from each type of hay were incubated in vitro with a commercial protease extracted from Streptomyces griseus. The incubation was carried out for 1, 4, 24, and 48 hours in a borate-phosphate buffer at pH 8. Significant differences in CP degradability values were found among all three types of hay across all incubation periods. For all incubation periods, sainfoin had the lowest CP degradability values (P < 0.05), due to its high content of cell wall components and condensed tannins (CTs). For incubation periods longer than 1 hour, common vetch had the highest CP degradability values, followed by alfalfa and sainfoin, respectively (P < 0.05). As a result, the use of the protease enzyme extracted from Streptomyces griseus was confirmed as an effective method for estimating the CP degradability of selected legume forages in the laboratory, eliminating the need for animal testing. However, since plant proteins are often embedded within carbohydrate complexes, it is recommended that future tests consider the combined use of protease and carbohydrase, particularly for sainfoin, which is rich in cell wall components and condensed tannins.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Presence of Gastric Ulcers in Pleasure and Breeding Horses in Italy.

Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) are two terms used to indicate the presence of lesions of the squamous and glandular mucosa of the stomach. Prevalences, pathophysiology, and risk factors are different, and the latter have been investigated in different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ESGD and EGGD in a cohort of pleasure, breeding, and retired horses in Italy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate such a diverse population of animals and the first one that includes a large number of animals in Italy. Gastroscopies were performed in 316 animals, with and without clinical signs of gastric ulcers, and a questionnaire about signalment, management, activity, and health was given to the owners or caretakers. Prevalence of ESGD was similar to the current literature reports in comparable populations, and the disease was associated with signalment, time with the current owner or caretaker, management (time and type of paddock, hay, and supplementary feed administered), and activity performed. In this population, EGGD was present in a lower percentage of animals and, of the parameters evaluated, was associated only with the signalment, while management does not seem to influence the development of lesions in the glandular mucosa in this population.

179 Survey of equine veterinarians: Part 2—Hay feeding practices and horse health

Horse owners often consider veterinarians to be an important source of information about equine nutrition. The objective of this survey was to learn about the perspectives of veterinarians on the relationship between hay feeding practices, horse health and behavior. A survey link (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was sent to members of Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and distributed by equine practices located in Lexington, KY. Descriptive statistics were performed in SPSS V28. The majority of veterinarians thought time spent eating hay was extremely (56%) or moderately important (33%) to health when pasture is not available. Ninety 2 percent of veterinarians said time spent eating is important for increasing saliva production and decreasing the risk of gastric ulcers. When asked about factors that may affect rate of hay consumption, 44% of veterinarians strongly agreed that physical form was important, while only 14% of veterinarians strongly agreed that fiber content was an important factor. Nutrition scenarios for performance and sedentary horses were presented to gauge concern about amount of hay offered. The amount of hay fed to performance and sedentary horses was considered of extreme or moderate concern by 97% and 86% of veterinarians, respectively. Most veterinarians considered the minimum amount of hay forperformance and sedentary horses to be 1.5 lb per 100-lb bodyweight and 1 lb per 100-lb bodyweight, respectively. Supporting digestive function was the most frequently selected reason for recommending a minimum amount of hay for performance (83%) and sedentary (66%) horses. For horses with underweight, overweight, and digestive health issues, the percentage of veterinarians who would discuss hay type with their clients was 97, 90, and 87%, respectively. For these same categories of horses, the percentage of veterinarians who would discuss hay amount with their clients was 92, 80, and 69%, respectively. Only 46% of veterinarians agreed they would discuss hay type and 59% agreed they would discuss hay amount for horses with undesirable oral behaviors or other undesirable behaviors. This survey suggests veterinarians view the type and amount of hay as having important roles in weight management and digestive health compared with affecting equine behavior. In addition, although veterinarians are often considered to be an important nutrition resource, veterinarians in this survey reported clients rarely (51%) or occasionally (37%) asked for feeding advice.

Dietary and management factors influence the equine gastric microbiome.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the relationship of diet and management factors with the glandular gastric mucosal microbiome. We hypothesize that the gastric mucosal microbial community is influenced by diet and management factors. Our specific objective is to characterize the gastric mucosal microbiome in relation to these factors. 57 client-owned horses in the southern Louisiana region with and without equine glandular gastric disease. Diet and management data were collected via a questionnaire. Gastroscopy was used for evaluation of equine gastric ulcer syndrome and collection of glandular mucosal pinch biopsies. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used for microbiome analysis. Similarity and diversity indices and sequence read counts of individual taxa were compared between diet and management factors. Differences were detected in association with offering hay, type of hay, sweet feed, turnout, and stalling. Offering hay and stalling showed differences in similarity indices, whereas hay type, sweet feed, and turnout showed differences in similarity and diversity indices. Offering hay, hay type, and sweet feed were also associated with differences in individual sequence read counts. This study provides preliminary characterization of the complex relationship between the glandular gastric microbiome and diet/management factors. The ideal microbiome to promote a healthy glandular gastric environment remains unknown.

94 Feeding behavior and preference of horses fed rhizoma peanut hay

Rhizoma peanut has been used as an alternative legume hay for horses; however, feeding behavior and preference of horses fed this hay warrants investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the feeding behavior and preference of mature horses with maintenance requirements fed rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata cv Florigraze) hay compared with alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L. cv Legendary XHD) and bermudagrass (CB, Cynodon dactylon L. cv Coastal) hays. Six mature Quarter Horse geldings (593 ± 40 kg; mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to one of the hays in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square with 21-d periods. After a 14-d diet adaptation, 24-h behavioral observations were conducted using scan sampling. Time spent feeding, at leisure, and at other activities were recorded every 10 min. Number of chews and bites were counted for 5 consecutive 1-min intervals. Preference tests were conducted on d 20 and 21 for a 2-h duration by simultaneously feeding 1 kg (as-fed basis) of each hay in separate trays twice a day (n = 4 observations/period). Horses’ first choice, hay consumption, and number of times each hay was smelled or tasted but left in favor of another hay were recorded. Hays were analyzed for chemical composition before the start of the study. Preference data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while behavioral data and hay consumption were analyzed using repeated measures mixed model ANOVA. A hay x time of day effect was observed on feeding time ( P = 0.0393), whereas no hay x time effect was observed on time spent at leisure and other activities. When considering the total hours spent on each behavior, horses fed CB spent more time ( P = 0.0092) feeding compared with ALF (11.7 vs. 8.9 h/d) and less time ( P = 0.0037) at leisure compared with both legume hays. Hay type did not affect total time spent on other activities (1.8 ± 0.23 h/d; mean ± SE). Type of hay had no effect on bite rate (10.7 ± 2.2 bites/min), while horses fed CB had lower ( P = 0.0035) chew rate (71 chews/min) compared with RP and ALF (80 and 81 chews/min). Hay consumption was greatest ( P = 0.0425) with ALF (996 ± 17 g as-fed/test; mean ± SE), followed by RP (935 ± 30 g), and lowest with CB (792 ± 18 g). Digestible energy (Mcal/kg DM) in ALF was 2.58, while in RP was 2.53, and CB was 1.94. Crude protein concentrations in ALF, RP, and CB were 22, 16, and 13.6%, non-structural carbohydrates were 11.4, 10.1, and 7.8%, and neutral detergent fiber was 32.9, 40.4, 66.4%, respectively. Horses show preference for legumes, which might be associated with the nutrient profile of the hays. Rhizoma peanut provides time spent on feeding and chew rates similar to alfalfa.

Effects of supplemental feeding on the fecal bacterial communities of Rocky Mountain elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Supplemental feeding of wildlife is a common practice often undertaken for recreational or management purposes, but it may have unintended consequences for animal health. Understanding cryptic effects of diet supplementation on the gut microbiomes of wild mammals is important to inform conservation and management strategies. Multiple laboratory studies have demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome for extracting and synthesizing nutrients, modulating host immunity, and many other vital host functions, but these relationships can be disrupted by dietary perturbation. The well-described interplay between diet, the microbiome, and host health in laboratory and human systems highlights the need to understand the consequences of supplemental feeding on the microbiomes of free-ranging animal populations. This study describes changes to the gut microbiomes of wild elk under different supplemental feeding regimes. We demonstrated significant cross-sectional variation between elk at different feeding locations and identified several relatively low-abundance bacterial genera that differed between fed versus unfed groups. In addition, we followed four of these populations through mid-season changes in supplemental feeding regimes and demonstrated a significant shift in microbiome composition in a single population that changed from natural forage to supplementation with alfalfa pellets. Some of the taxonomic shifts in this population mirrored changes associated with ruminal acidosis in domestic livestock. We discerned no significant changes in the population that shifted from natural forage to hay supplementation, or in the populations that changed from one type of hay to another. Our results suggest that supplementation with alfalfa pellets alters the native gut microbiome of elk, with potential implications for population health.

The n-alkane technique does not accurately predict the nutrient digestibility of mixed diets fed to horses

This study was conducted to determine the fecal recovery rate of n-alkanes and compare the precision and accuracy of the n-alkane technique and the conventional total fecal collection method in estimating the apparent nutrient digestibility of mixed hay diets fed to horses. Six castrated male adult horses (361 ± 12 kg body weight) were fed diets composed of different proportions of Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Treatments were as follows: T100, 100% Tifton hay; T80, 80% Tifton hay and 20% alfalfa hay; T60, 60% Tifton hay and 40% alfalfa hay; T40, 40% Tifton hay and 60% alfalfa hay; T20, 20% Tifton hay and 80% alfalfa hay; and T0, 100% alfalfa hay. The n-alkane detected at the greatest (P < 0.05) mean concentration in feed was n-hexatriacontane (C36H74), followed by n-hexacosane (C26H54), n-heptacosane (C27H56), n-nonacosane (C29H60), n-hentriacontane (C31H64), n-tritriacontane (C33H68), and n-pentatriacontane (C35H72). A strong correlation (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) was found between carbon chain length and fecal recovery. The n-Hentriacontane, n-tritriacontane, n-pentatriacontane, and n-hexatriacontane had the greatest fecal recovery (mean = 0.91, P < 0.05) and were therefore used to estimate nutrient digestibility. None of the n-alkanes provided consistent results. Fecal recovery was incomplete, and fecal recovery rates above 100% were obtained regardless of the proportion of Tifton and alfalfa hay in diets. Dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and mineral matter digestibility estimated using n-alkanes differed (P < 0.05) from digestibility values obtained by the reference method (total fecal collection). The simplest explanation for these results would be that horses preferred one type of hay over the other and had an uneven intake of each diet. Because Tifton and alfalfa hay differ greatly in composition, their uneven intake makes estimation of nutrient digestibility by fecal recovery of n-alkanes unreliable. Even after correction for fecal recovery, n-alkanes were inaccurate markers of nutrient digestibility.

Značaj izbora sorte u intenzivnoj proizvodnji lucerke

Alfalfa is an autotetraploid, perennial forage crop adapted to different environments and management systems. Trial with 12 alfalfa populations was established in spring of 2014. The research involved 9 commercial alfalfa varieties from IFVCNS, Serbia, and included 3 experimental populations in the final phase of breeding program. The main objectives of this paper were to examine the impact of variety selection on alfalfa yield and plant height in intensive cutting management in order to define harvesting strategies (using 6 and 5 cuts per season), with main goal to maximize profit on alfalfa farms in Serbia and Southeast Europe. Our study clearly demonstrates that there is genetic potential in some Serbian varieties (NS Sila, Nera, NS Jelena, and Banat VS) for use in intensive cutting systems with 6 cuts per year that can meet farmers' needs in conventional or organic type of alfalfa hay production.This research represents an initial guideline for the alfalfa variety selection in intensive cutting management systems in Serbia and Southeast Europe.

Effects of haying on vegetation communities, taxonomic diversity and sward properties in mediterranean dry grasslands: A preliminary assessment

In the last years, the use of haying is increasing in Southwest Iberia. However, information on its effects on grassland diversity or productivity is missing for Mediterranean dry environments. We examined the short-medium term effects of haying in Alentejo region, South Portugal. Our hypotheses were: (1) haying influences plant taxonomic diversity, floristic composition, herbage productivity and quality; (2) haying effects act both at the field and surrounding of a field levels, and depend on yearly weather conditions and on the type of hay produced. Floristic inventories were conducted from 2012 to 2015 (121 fields). Vegetation samples were collected from 2012 to 2014 (130 fields) and analyzed in laboratory for determination of above-ground biomass and crude protein content. GLMMs and model averaging were used to model the relationship between vegetation parameters and grassland management variables. Redundancy analysis was used to analyse compositional changes with a special focus on the species with agronomical interest. Annual variation and land use were generally better predictors of vegetation parameters than haying management variables, with the exception of β-diversity. Fields with higher area of haying in forage crops in the previous years presented significantly lower γ-diversity and in less extent, lower α-diversity, β-diversity and leguminous richness. β-diversity was positively influenced by haying in fallow land in the surrounding of the field. Leguminous richness and proportion were lower in fields with higher area of haying in fallow land in the previous years. Crude protein content depended on the interaction between year and area of haying in fallow land. In general, communities tended to be highly similar in their species composition, but most species of agronomical interest were negatively influenced by haying. We conclude that haying has an overall moderate effect in Mediterranean dry grasslands, and that it is difficult to design management practices that simultaneously conciliate plant diversity, leguminous richness/proportion and herbage quality.

Intake of different hays with presence of Colchicum autumnale by rabbits

&lt;p&gt;The ingestion of 3 hay types by growing rabbits and the consequences on animal performance were studied in a first part. Two kinds of hay from high nature value grasslands [CFP (&lt;em&gt;Colchico-Festucetum pratensis&lt;/em&gt;) and SBR (&lt;em&gt;Senecioni-Brometum racemosi&lt;/em&gt;)] differentiated by their botanical composition were compared to a classical agricultural hay (control). The 3 hays, offered &lt;em&gt;ad libitum&lt;/em&gt;, were ingested at 30.6, 34.8 and 36.1 g/kg body weight (BW) respectively for SBR, CFP and the control, where the consumption of SBR hay was significantly lower. (P&amp;lt;0.01). The type of hay distributed did not affect the consumption of commercial feed or growth (44 g/kg BW and 36 g/d, respectively). The effect of meadow saffron concentration (&lt;em&gt;Colchicum autumnale&lt;/em&gt;) in CFP hay was tested at 3 doses (absence, 2.75 and 15% of the distributed hay mass) with respect to their effect on ingestion and animal health. Again, no effect of the presence of meadow saffron (MeS) in the hay on these parameters was observed, even at the highest dose. However, during this second part, rabbits preferred to consume meadow saffron instead of the rest of the distributed hay (hardly any MeS was refused by rabbits at the representative dose, whereas 12% of the rest of the hay was refused, and 3.4 and 20% respectively at the maximal dose). The intake of the toxic alkaloid colchicine corresponded to 30 to 44% of the median lethal doses (LD&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt;) at the representative and maximal doses respectively. The real exposure of the rabbits was probably lower, as the absorption of ingested colchicine is reported to be around 50% of the LD&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; values which are established after an intravenous injection. Nevertheless, the absence of any effect should be interpreted with caution. The colchicine content of MeS varied greatly depending on the time of harvest and the parts of the plant taken into consideration. A late harvest (mid-June or later) would ensure (very) low concentrations of colchicine in the aerial parts of MeS. The presence of cloves on this plant should be completely avoided, due to the very high concentration of colchicine in the seeds. Moreover, long term exposure of the animals to this toxic plant may increase the risk of adverse effects. The study shows that hay distribution can aid digestion without altering the animal’s performance. Moreover, the valorisation of hay from high nature value grasslands would not only add real value to the commercialisation of rabbit meat by commercial breeders, but also to pet owners on the condition that hay quality would be guaranteed.&lt;/p&gt;

Effect of Type of Hay and Concentrate Level in Intake and Digestibility in Diets for Goats

Effect of Type of Hay and Concentrate Level in Intake and Digestibility in Diets for Goats

Comportamento ingestivo de novilhas Pantaneiras mantidas em regime de confinamento

ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de novilhas da raça Pantaneira (Bos taurus taurus) confinadas e alimentadas com diferentes tipos de feno e ração concentrada, com uma relação na matéria seca de 60:40%, respectivamente. Quinze animais, com peso médio inicial de 298kg e idade de 30 meses, foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em três lotes, com cinco repetições. Os fenos utilizados foram: feno deBrachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã, feno de Panicum maximum cv. Massai, e feno de Stylosantes capitata/macrocephala cv. Campo Grande. Todas as dietas possuíam teores energéticos e proteicos semelhantes, de 63,3% de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e 12,5% de proteína bruta (PB), e eram fornecidas duas vezes ao dia, à vontade. As observações de comportamento ingestivo foram efetuadas em três baterias de 48 horas cada, em intervalos de 28 dias, totalizando 144 horas. Os dados foram interpretados por meio de análise de variância e teste de Tukey. Não foram observadas influências das forrageiras nos tempos de alimentação, ruminação, ócio, interagindo e dormindo, tampouco nas eficiências de alimentação e de ruminação, na ingestão de água e nas excreções de urina e fezes, sendo todas as variáveis estatisticamente iguais. A utilização de qualquer um dos tipos de feno na dieta de novilhas Pantaneiras é recomendada.

Price Characteristics at a Hay Auction

Hay is a major crop, though the market values are not often studied. The purpose of this research is to quantify relative price relationships due to a wide range of measurable hay characteristics of a specific hay auction reflecting supply and demand preferences. A time series data set was developed based on USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) reporting of the Colorado Centennial Hay Auction 2006 to 2011. All bale characteristics were gleaned from the reports including the number of tonnes offered at auction, hay type, grade, size, year, month, and the number of tonnes offered of a specific hay type, grade, size, year, and month combination. The data set was used to create a hedonic statistical price model for three hay types: alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), mixed alfalfa/grass, and grass hay. Time trend variables, grade, size, and the number of tonnes offered all proved to significantly impact price. The largest price increases were associated with specific grade size combinations, such as supreme quality small square bales. The biggest price reductions were associated with larger sized bales and lower quality grades. Alfalfa prices were the highest in this auction; the largest price variability was in grass hay. Results are largely applicable to a market area which includes buyers of hay for all types of livestock. Hay producers should carefully consider quality, type of hay (e.g., alfalfa), and bale characteristics in their production decisions.

Inclusão de fenos de folha de leucena e de cunhã na ração de poedeiras

The effects of including leucena leaf (FFL) or cunha (FC) hay into diet on performance and egg quality of 100 Hisex Brown (64 weeks old) laying hens were compared. Birds were distributed into a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replicates of 4 birds each. The treatments were designed in a factorial 2 x 2 + 1, which evaluated the factors energy source (corn or sorghum) and type of hay (leucena or cunha) and an a control diet based on corn and soybean meal without inclusion of hay. The trial lasted 63 days (three periods of 21 days), during which the birds received feed and water ad libitum. Treatments did significantly affect, neither production, weight, mass, component proportion and Haugh units of eggs, nor feed conversion. However, laying hens fed ration without hay (control diet) had the lowest consumption. The inclusion of FFL, in the diet containing corn or sorghum, resulted in higher yolk pigmentation than inclusion of FC. The inclusion of FFL or FC, independent of the grain utilized as an energy source, results in a similar performance, but FFL increased yolk pigmentation capacity.

Corn silage hybrid type and quality of alfalfa hay affect dietary nitrogen utilization by early lactating dairy cows

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn silage (CS) hybrids and quality of alfalfa hay (AH) in high-forage dairy diets on N utilization, ruminal fermentation, and lactational performance by early-lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in a duplicated 4×4 Latin square experiment with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. The 8 cows (average days in milk=23±11.2) were surgically fitted with ruminal cannula, and the 2 squares were conducted simultaneously. Within square, cows were randomly assigned to a sequence of 4 diets: conventional CS (CCS) or brown midrib CS (BMR) was combined with fair-quality AH [FAH: 46.7% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 18.4% crude protein (CP)] or high-quality AH (HAH: 39.2% NDF and 20.7% CP) to form 4 treatments: CCS with FAH, CCS with HAH, BMR with FAH, and BMR with HAH. Diets were isonitrogenous across treatments, averaging 15.9% CP. Each period lasted a total of 21d, with 14d for treatment adaptation and 7d for data collection and sampling. Intake of DM and milk yield did not differ in response to CS hybrids or AH quality. Although feeding BMR-based diets decreased urinary N output by 24%, it did not affect fecal N output. Feeding HAH decreased urinary N output by 15% but increased fecal N output by 20%. Nitrogen efficiency [milk N (g/d)/intake N (g/d)] tended to increase for BMR treatments. Ruminal ammonia-N concentration was lower for cows fed BMR-based diets than for those fed CCS-based diets but was not affected by quality of AH. Feeding BMR-based diets or HAH decreased milk urea N concentration by 23 or 15%, respectively, compared with CCS-based diets or FAH. Total volatile fatty acid concentration increased with HAH but was not influenced by CS hybrids. Feeding BMR-based diets decreased urinary N-to-fecal N ratio (UN:FN), and it was further reduced by feeding HAH. Although cows fed the BMR-based diets tended to increase milk N-to-manure N ratio, the quality of AH did not affect the ratio. The lower ratio of UN:FN with a higher ratio of milk N-to-manure N ratio for the BMR-based diets indicates that feeding BMR may reduce manure ammonia-N by reducing excretion of urinary N and increasing secretion of milk N per unit of manure N excreted.

Voluntary Intake of Four Hay Types by Horses

Alfalfa, teff, oat, and wheat hays were fed to eight mature horses to determine voluntary intake of each hay type. After a 2-week adaptation period during which each horse was offered all four hay types each day, a 4-week study was conducted in which two horses were offered each type of hay each week, usually at the rate of 2.2% of initial body weight. Refused feed was collected and weighed the last 5 days of each week to calculate voluntary intake. Horses consumed significantly more alfalfa hay than the other hays. Wheat and teff hays were consumed in significantly lower amounts than alfalfa, but significantly more than oat hay. Across the 5 days during which voluntary intake was measured each week, hay consumption increased each day, reaching levels significantly greater than day 1 by day 4, when measured as a percentage of body weight, and day 5 when measured as a percentage of feed offered. Only alfalfa hay, at the amount consumed, met 100% of nutrient requirements for digestible energy, crude protein, lysine, calcium, and phosphorus for horses in maintenance condition. Teff hay met all nutrient requirements except digestible energy. Neither wheat nor oat hays met 100% of any of these nutrient requirements. Alfalfa and teff hays averaged about 12% nonstructural carbohydrate content (NSC), whereas wheat and oats hays contained about 30% NSC. The lower NSC content of the alfalfa and teff hays makes these more suitable for horses with problems related to carbohydrate metabolism or for refeeding starving horses.

Energy expenditure for chewing in sheep fed timothy or sudangrass hay at the same intake level

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate the energy expended in chewing during eating and rumination in sheep fed timothy or sudangrass hay at the same intake level, the energy expenditure of the head was measured using the arterial‐venous difference technique and that of the whole body was measured using an open‐circuit, indirect respiration calorimeter. There was no difference in the per‐chew energy expenditure between timothy hay and sudangrass hay during eating and rumination, but for both types of hay there was a difference in energy expenditure between eating (0.25 J per chew per kilogram body weight) and rumination (0.18 J per chew per kilogram body weight). There was no effect of time period after feeding on the energy expended in one chew during eating and rumination. On average, for a given type of hay, the energy expended in chewing during eating + rumination accounted for 4.9% of the daily energy expenditure of the whole body.

Feeding behaviour of Comisana rams as affected by crude protein level of concentrate

Two groups of 10 Comisana rams at maintenance were fed hay and two concentrates characterized by different CP levels (20% H and 13% L). During two experimental periods, two types of hay were given: a poor-quality mixed hay from a weedy vetch and barley sward, and a good-quality sorghum hay. Dry matter intake was higher with the low-quality hay (on average: 2494.7 g per day versus 2133.1 g per day). The protein level of concentrates gave rise to different reactions in the animals in relation to the type of hay administered: with the mixed hay, no significant differences in intake were observed between the two groups (2505.0 and 2484.5 g per day, respectively, for H and L groups); with the sorghum hay, the group receiving the higher protein concentrate significantly reduced intake (2094.3 g per day versus 2171.9 g per day; P<0.05). The variations in intake caused by the two concentrates and the two hays did not result in similar variations in the ram performance.

Response of Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion in Sheep Fed Different Type and Amount of Hay

Response of Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion in Sheep Fed Different Type and Amount of Hay

The effect of altering the hay to concentrate ratio and concentrate composition on the rumen fermentation of dry sheep and milk production of lactating dairy ewes

AbstractIn order to examine the effects of diets, with two hay to concentrate ratios and two forms of concentrates on the rumen fermentation of dry sheep and milk production of lactating ewes, three trials were conducted.In the first trial, four wether sheep, each fitted with a rumen cannula, were used in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design, by allocating them to one of four diets with different hay to concentrate ratio and concentrate type. The diets consisted of 0·5 kg hay and 0·75 kg either starchy (HRSC) or fibrous (HRFC) concentrates, or 0·25 kg hay and 1·0 kg either starchy (LRSC) or fibrous (LRFC) concentrates. The diets were designed to provide similar intakes of energy and crude protein. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia concentrations, pH values and number of protozoa were determined in wether rumen fluid.Total VFA concentration was not significantly affected by diet but acetate and n-butyrate proportions were higher (P &lt; 0·002) on the higher forage diets and propionate higher (P &lt; 0·002) on the lower forage diets. pH values and number of protozoa in sheep rumen fluid were unaffected by treatment, while ammonia concentration was lower (P &lt; 0·05) on the HRFC diet.In the second trial, 60 lactating dairy ewes were allocated to one of four diets for weeks 11 to 15 of lactation (period 1). Ewes were given food daily: 0·87 kg hay and 1·3 kg either HRFC or HRSC concentrates, or 0·4 kg hay and 1·6 kg either LRFC or LRSC concentrates. During weeks 16 to 20 of lactation (period 2), the ewes were given the same amount and type of concentrates but hay was supplied ad libitum and this period formed the third trial.Milk yield and milk composition were affected significantly by hay to concentrate ratio with the lower hay to concentrate ratio resulting in a significant increase in milk yield, milk protein efficiency, protein content and protein and lactose yields. Milk fat content and yield were reduced. Hay intake was proportionately greater (P &lt; 0·002) by 0·15 to 0·20 with starchy than with fibrous concentrate diets in period 2. Problems such as acidosis or ‘off-food’ periods in ewes given the low hay to concentrate ratio diets were not observed, irrespective of concentrate type.