Type Of Roughage Research Articles

Natural degradable protein and roughage type for implanted finishing steers fed dry-rolled corn diets (1996)

Natural degradable protein and roughage type for implanted finishing steers fed dry-rolled corn diets (1996)

Meal patterns of two spanish sheep breeds with different types of food

The intake of fibrous food by ruminants are mainly regulated by physical means. When different forages are offered, intake level is related to rumen fill capacity, being the rate of digestion and disappearance of food particles from the rumen also important factors.On the other hand, there have been some reports on the differences in food intake between sheep breeds (Arnold, 1975). Breeds adapted to different nutritional environments could have developed differences in digestive physiology and intake potential.The aim of this experiment was to study the infuence of the type of roughage offered on meal patterns, as well as the differences in these parameters between two Spanish sheep breeds.Ad libitum food intake of non-pregnant and non-lactating ewes (six Churra and six Merino sheep per food) was daily monitored using an automatic recording device that allowed calculation of meal size and duration.

Comparison of diets based on grass silage, hay or oat straw supplemented with four levels of concentrates in the feeding of growing Ayrshire bulls

This experiment was conducted during three consecutive years with 144 Ayrshire bulls of an initial age of 185 days and live weight of 186kg. The experimental period lasted for 224 days. The ad libitum fed roughages were grass silage, hay and oat straw, each supplemented with four levels of concentrates, the number of treatments thus being 12. Daily supplements of concentrates were 0,1, 2 or 3 kg on grass silage feeding, 1,2, 3 or 4 kg on hay feeding and 2,3, 4 or 5 kg on straw feeding. Barley was used as a concentrate on grass silage feeding, but part of it was replaced by rapeseed meal and urea in the hay and straw feeding groups to balance the nitrogen intake. An increase in concentrate intake was found to decrease the roughage intake with each type of roughage, but the total intake of dry matter (DM) was increased. Increasing the level of concentrates enhanced both the rate of daily live weight gain (LWG) and carcass gain. However, 2 kg more concentrates was needed on hay feeding than on grass silage feeding to obtain similar carcass gain. On straw feeding, 4 kg of concentrates was not sufficient to obtain a comparable carcass gain as with grass silage alone. The response to concentrate supplementation on grass silage feeding indicated, however, that the growth potential of the bulls receiving silage alone or silage with small amounts (1 or 2 kg/day) of concentrates was not completely utilized. The study showed that LWG is an inadequate measure of animal performance when diets with different fill characteristics are compared. With coarse diets, a relatively large proportion of LWG is rumen contents. Comparisons of animal performance and feed conversion should, instead, be done in terms of carcass gain.

Evaluation of alfalfa type as a roughage source in feedlot adaptation and finishing diets containing different corn types

In high grain diets, effects of roughage type or source may depend on diet (adaptation vs. finishing) and grain type fed. In four feedlot trials, alfalfa hay (AH) and alfalfa silage (AS) were compared as roughage types during grain adaptation and finishing phases of production. Roughage types were compared in dry whole corn (DWC), dry rolled corn (DRC), whole high moisture corn (WHMC), and ground high moisture corn (GHMC) diets. Common diets were fed during periods in which direct comparisons of alfalfa or corn types were not made. In adaptation trials, a roughage by corn type interaction ( P < 0.10) was observed for intake when dry corn was fed; steers fed AS with DWC ate more (10.0 kg) than steers fed AS with DRC (9.5 kg), while steers fed AH had similar intakes when fed with DRC (9.7 kg) or DWC (9.6 kg). When high moisture corn diets were fed, greater intakes ( P < 0.05) and gains ( P < 0.10) were observed for steers fed AS than for steers fed AH. Effects of roughage fed in the adaptation period were not carried over into the finishing period, in which high energy diets were fed. In finishing phase trials, effects of roughage type were not observed in steer performance or carcass traits. The data suggest that differences in effects of roughage types are observed only in adaptation diets. Observed performance differences are primarily attributed to differences in quality and/or fiber content between AH and AS.

Changes in Fat and Protein Concentrations in Farms with High Milk Production

Seventy-six dairy farms composed of high producing (6200 to 8800 kg/yr) Montbéliarde cows that were fed hay-based rations were included in a detailed survey involving the herd and the farm structure, quality of forage, winter and summer feeding practices, and genetic characteristics (breeding value and herd effect for milk production, fat concentration, and protein concentration). These data permitted analysis of the variations of milk composition among farms. The mean annual fat and protein concentrations varied greatly among farms in spite of the homogeneity of the farm sample with regard to milk produced, breed, and type of winter roughage. Such variability results essentially from environmental factors. When farms were classified according to their level of herd effect (fat or protein concentrations), 1) protein concentration variations were greater in winter and linked to different feed characteristics (hay quality, type of concentrate), and 2) variations in fat concentration among farm groups were as marked, if not more so, in summer than in winter. These variations are only partly linked to feeding practices that are beneficial or detrimental to fat concentration (presence of sugar beet in the ration, concentrate distribution method). No correlation occurred between fat and protein herd effects. Therefore, these two variables may be controlled independently by manipulating environmental factors (especially feeding factors).

Substitution of roughage by concentrates for dairy cows

Three main variation factors of the substitution rate (SR) between roughage and concentrates have been studied over a course of eight trials: (1) the concentrate supplementation level (low= L, medium=M, high=H, on average 2 kg of dry matter between two consecutive levels); (2) the type of roughage (maize silage, grass silage or hay); (3) the type of concentrate (a high proportion of starch=ST, of fibre of high digestibility=FH, or fibre of low digestibility=FL). In each trial, the three levels of concentrates were compared using a 3 × 3 Latin square design, repeated with three or four groups of Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows in mid-lactation, each period lasting 1 month. The eight trials corresponded to eight different diets according to the type of roughage and the type of concentrate used. The SRs increase systematically with the concentrate supplementation level, on average 0.47 between L and M and 0.67 between M and H. For a given roughage, the increase in the energy concentration of the concentrate corresponds to an increase in the SR values, mainly between L and M. The average SR values observed when using maize silage (0.7) are higher than those observed with grass silage (0.53) and also for the hay (0.44). These trials show, looking at the three variation factors in the study, that in mid-lactation, the higher the energy balance is, the more important the SR values become.

The flow of undigested corn residues through the gastrointestinal tract of cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to measure effects of source and level of roughage on the flow of corn residues through the gastrointestinal tract of cattle. In Exp. 1, steers (195 kg) were fed diets of ground corn with 0, 30 or 60% of ground Coastal bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon) [L.] Pers.) at intakes of 1, 1.5 or 2% of BW in a 9 x 9 Latin square. Experiment 2 consisted of two 4 x 4 Latin squares with either rice hulls (square 1) or ground Coastal bermudagrass hay (square 2) providing 0, 7.5, 15 or 30% of the total diet fed at 1.5% of BW. After a 28-d adjustment period, a portion of the corn in one meal was replaced with cracked corn stained with brilliant green. The concentrations of stained corn residues appearing in the feces subsequent to dosing were fitted to a one-compartment, age-dependent model and compartmental mean residence time (CMRT) and time delay (tau) were estimated. In Exp. 1, increasing the level of intake of the ration from 1% to 1.5 or 2.0% of BW increased (P less than .05) CMRT by 52% and reduced (P less than .05) tau by 41%. In Exp. 2, source of roughage had no effect (P = .95) on CMRT or tau. Combined results of the two experiments indicated that increasing proportion (P) of either roughage was associated with an exponential decline in CMRT of stained corn residues (CMRT = 1211 * e-.0315P) from rations consumed at 1.5 and 2.0% of BW. No consistent effect of roughage type or proportion was noted on time delay in the two experiments collectively. These results indicate that increasing the proportion of roughage in the diet exponentially reduces residence time of corn residues in the ruminoreticulum (CMRT) without affecting residence time in the postgastric segments (tau).

Reticulo-rumen Fermentation in Dairy Cows Fed 12 Times Daily with 3 Types of Roughages Supplemented with Straw and Concentrates

Abstract The aim of this experiment was to compare the effect of the roughage type on the reticulorumen fermentation, when included in rations having nearly the same chewing time and net energy. The design of the experiment was a 3×3 latin-square with 3 types of roughages and 3 dairy cows fed 3 times maintenance. The 3 test-roughages compared were grass silage, finely chopped maize silage and NaOH-treated chopped barley straw. The test-roughages accounted for approx. 6–7 kg DM, which was supplemented with 2–5 kg ammonia-treated barley straw and 6–8 kg concentrates. The cows were fed every second hour. The 3 rations differed significantly in terms of the concentration of isobutyrate, n-valerate, isovalerate and capronate in the rumen fluid. Feeding grass silage resulted in the significantly lowest molar proportion of acetate and the highest molar percentage of propionate (p< 0.05), whereas NaOH-treated chopped straw led to the highest molar proportion of acetate. Feeding grass silage resulted in a 12% lowe...

Reticulo-rumen Fermentation in Dairy Cows Fed 12 Times Daily with 4 types of Roughages Supplemented with Straw and Concentrates

Abstract The aim of the experiment was to compare the effect of the roughage type on the reticulo-rumen fermentation when included in rations having the same physical properties expressed as chewing time and the same content of energy. The design of the experiment was a 4×4 latin square with 4 types of roughages and 4 dairy cows fed 3 times maintenance. The 4 roughages compared, were fodder sugar beet, beet top silage, beet pulp silage and grass silage. Each ration contained about 6 kg dry matter of one of the 4 roughages. The rations were balanced to the same chewing time of 800 min daily with ammonia-treated barley straw and to the same nutrient content by means of selected concentrates. The cows were fed every 2 hours. The rumen fluid samples were taken at 08.00, 12.00 and 18.00 hours for determination of the content of volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen and pH. The four experimental cows differed in terms of the concentration of propionate (p<0.04), isovalerate (p<0.04) and of ammonia nitrog...

Parotid saliva of sheep. 1. Effects of level of intake and type of roughage

In three experiments, quantitative collections of saliva were made from the right parotid duct of six Merino wethers. Experiment 1 assessed the repeatability of the collection techniques and found little difference in salivary parameters measured at intervals over a 6-week period. When chopped lucerne was given at three levels (experiment 2) the secretion rate of parotid saliva (g 19.5h-1) increased (P &lt; 0.01) with increasing lucerne consumption as did the concentrations and amounts of total and urea nitrogen in saliva (P &lt; 0.05 to P&lt; 0.01). Only minor changes in the secretion of total and reducible sulfur occurred. Plasma urea nitrogen (P &lt; 0.05) and blood sulfate sulfur (P &lt; 0.01) concentrations increased with increasing lucerne consumption. Values are given to indicate the variability between sheep in volume and composition of parotid saliva secretions. In experiment 3 the sheep were offered four different roughage diets. The secretion rate of saliva (g 19.5h-1) increased (P &lt; 0.01) when more fibrous roughages were given. The type of roughage also affected (P &lt; 0.01) the concentrations and amounts of total and urea nitrogen in saliva, but there was little effect upon the secretion of total or reducible sulfur. Plasma urea nitrogen and blood sulfate sulfur concentrations were different (P &lt; 0.01) on the various roughage diets. The results are compared with the findings of previous research, and estimates of the amounts of nitrogen and sulfur recycled to the rumen in saliva are made.

Effect of Nicotinic Acid on Microbial Protein Synthesis In Vitro and on Dairy Cattle Growth and Milk Production1,2

The effect of nicotinic acid (niacin) on microbial fermentation was tested in vitro. Microbial protein synthesis was greater with niacin and soybean meal than with niacin and urea. Otherwise, in most instances niacin decreased synthesis with urea. These responses to niacin with soybean meal occurred regardless of roughage type or ratio of roughage to concentrate, except when the substrate contained 50% roughage from alfalfa; then the opposite was true. Adding niacin to urea-containing rations of heifers weighing 375 or 114kg failed to improve the heifers’ weight gain or feed efficiency. In one of two lactation studies with cows in midlactation fed urea-containing rations, a slight increase in milk production was attributable to niacin; in the other, a slight improvement in milk protein production was attributable to niacin. In a third lactation study, but with fresh cows, milk production increased in cows receiving niacin and soybean meal but not in those receiving niacin and urea. In a fourth lactation study with fresh cows fed soybean meal, cows receiving niacin gave slightly more milk than did those receiving none. Response to niacin is greater in fresh cows than in those in midlactation and is greater in cows fed natural protein than in those fed urea.

Effects of Roughage Type and Texture on Milk Fat Secretion and Body Weight Recovery by Lactating Dairy Cows

Twenty-five lactating Holstein cows were fed five rations in which the roughage portions (dry matter) consisted of either 1) baled hay; 2) cubed hay; 3) cubed hay, 90% and corn silage, 10%; 4) cubed hay, 80% and corn silage, 20%; or 5) cubed hay, 60% and corn silage, 40%. Hays were third-cutting alfalfa. Rations were fed in a continuous test during the first 168 days of lactation to determine effects of ration on feed intake, production and composition of milk, and change in body weight.Substituting corn silage for cubed hay depressed intake of roughage dry matter at 20 and 40% substitution and increased milk fat percent at 40%, but had no effect on solids-not-fat percent or production of fat-corrected milk. In early lactation mean milk fat percentages increased linearly as corn silage was substituted for cubed hay at 20 and 40%. Gross efficiencies of milk production of the 20 and 40% corn silage rations exceeded efficiencies of baled hay, cubed hay, or 10% corn silage rations. Rate of body weight recovery after parturition was slower for cows fed baled hay than for those fed cubed hay or mixed cubes and silage.The interrelationships of milk fat tests and rumen volatile fatty acids of cows fed coarse textured hay (baled), fine textured hay (cubed), and cubes supplemented with corn silage indicate milk fat percentages are affected by type as well as texture of forage and that the potential metabolic mechanisms due to type and texture may differ.

The effect of crude fibre level and type of roughage on the yield and quality of milk and fat with Friezian cows

The effect of crude fibre level and type of roughage on the yield and quality of milk and fat with Friezian cows

Types of Roughage and Intermittent Changes of Roughage Types in Beef Cattle Finishing Diets

Two hundred and eighty-eight steers and heifers were used in a series of feeding trials to evaluate the cob and shuck of ground snapped corn, pellets made from mature Coastal bermudagrass, cottonseed hulls, peanut hulls, oyster shells and corn field residue as types of roughage and to study the effects of frequently changing types of roughage in beef cattle finishing diets. All of the roughage types used in these studies were satisfactory when used in high energy finishing diets. Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics for animals fed these diets were similar. Therefore, the main considerations in selecting one of the roughages studied would be availability, price, bulkiness, fineness of grind, ease of handling and adaptability to mechanical feeding.

EFFECT OF PROCESSING METHODS ON THE IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE TREATED ROUGHAGES

The response of roughages to sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment varied with type of roughage. Treatment with NaOH at 23 C for 24 hr increased in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) by 8,5, 39.6 and 21.5 percentage units for alfalfa stem, barley straw and corn stover, respectively. Increased IVDMD values were brought about, in part, by increased water solubility and decreased cell wall constituents. No significant changes occurred in acid detergent fiber, cellulose or lignin content. The IVDMD values of barley straw ranged from 38% at 0% NaOH to 81% with 12% NaOH at 130 C. At all temperatures and durations, IVDMD increased with increase in concentration of NaOH up to the 8% level. Above 8% NaOH, no further increase in IVDMD occurred. Temperature affected the rate as well as the extent of the response to NaOH. Treatments at 100 C for 90 min resulted in IVDMD values approximately 10 percentage units higher than at 23 C for 24 hr.

Valorisation of Ensiled Fodder Beets

Fodder beets (Beta vulgaris L.) are especially respected for their high feeding value and high netto-energy yield per hectare. The price per nutritive value is lowest as compared to other forages. Preservation of fodders beets demands thorough cleaning without damaging and regularly occurs as a whole in well closed piles. In addition, feeding them to the animals is labour demanding. These disadvantages enforce the research towards other preservation methods which may be able to valorise this valuable type of roughage. The preservation of fodder beets in silages using silo bags, either separately or in combination with maize was investigated. Fodder beets were harvested and ensilaged at the ideal moment of maize harvest (October) or fodder beets were harvested at the ideal moment for fodder beet harvest (November) and consequently ensilaged with previously ensilaged maize. Highest energy yields of the silages were recorded at optimal harvest time for fodder beets. Ensilaging fodder beets separately resulted in large energy losses due to effluent and dry matter losses. Using lab scale silage, possible solutions for these large losses were investigated. Addition of 10% maize did reduce the effluent losses but dry matter losses remained at a high level. Addition of 4,5 l propionic acid per ton beets reduced effluent and dry matter losses sufficiently. Ensilaging foliage was another point of interest. This appeared to result in a lowered energy yield at organic and dry matter basis, an increased amount of ashes and doubling of the iron (Fe) concentration

Input-Output Relationships of Cows Fed Two Types of Roughage and Two Levels of Concentrate During Complete Lactations

Total feed input, milk output, and body weight changes were determined on 24 cows fed either alfalfa hay or high-moisture grass silage plus hay in conjunction with concentrates at two levels during full lactation studies. Input-output data were summarized for a prepartum period, ten 28-day and one 25-day lactation periods, and a postpartum period. Although mean forage dry matter intake of hay-fed cows exceeded that of cows fed silage plus hay, cows fed the mixed forage maintained milk production equal to those fed hay and maintained slightly higher body weights during lactation.Although mean fat-corrected milk production was slightly higher by cows fed concentrate at the challenge level than those fed at the ratio of one to four, differences in milk production for levels of concentrate were not significant (P = >0.10). Milk fat tests were significantly higher (P = <0.05) for cows fed silage and hay than for those fed hay as the sole roughage.The estimated mean total digestive nutrient consumptions on all rations were in close agreement with those requirements prescribed by the National Research Council when requirements were adjusted for body weight changes.

Effects of Roughage Type or Added Bentonite in Maintaining Fat Test

Four groups of five cows each were fed the following experimental rations having a grain to dry-roughage ratio of 3 to 1 for an eight-week period: Group I, hay + pelleted concentrate, Group II, same as Group I with addition of 5% sodium bentonite to the pelleted concentrate, Group III, corn silage + pelleted concentrate, Group IV, same as Group III, except for the addition of calcium lactate (equivalent to 5% of silage dry matter as lactic acid) to corn silage.The standard fat-depressing ration based on hay (Ration I) maintained fat test at 50% of normal. Addition of bentonite (Ration II) maintained test at 80% of normal (P<.05). This was accompanied by a higher rumen acetate/propionate ratio and greater mammary uptake of acetate. Rations III (corn silage) and IV (corn silage + lactate) maintained test at 70 and 50% of normal, respectively.

The effect of the type of roughage in the diet on plasma cholesterol levels and aortic atherosis in rabbits

1. Eleven groups of male rabbits (eight to eleven per group) were given adlib. a diet consisting of 61 parts of a low-fat basal ration to which were added: for groups 1–3, 20 parts maize oil; for groups 4–7, 20 parts butterfat; and for groups 8–11, 0.47 parts maize oil and 43.1 parts wheat starch. Different types of roughage were added to the 61 parts of basal ration as follows: for groups 1, 4 and 8, 19 parts ground wheat straw; for groups 2, 5 and 9, 19 parts Solkafioc; for groups 3, 6 and 10, 19 parts of shredded cellophane; and for groups 7 and 11, 14 parts shredded cellophane and 5 parts peat.2. After the rabbits had been given the experimental diets for a period of 40 weeks, the plasma cholesterol levels were determined. The animals were then killed and the degree of atheromatous degeneration was determined after the aortas had been stained with Sudan IV.3. Elevated levels of plasma cholesterol and extensive atheromatous degeneration were observed in the rabbits given the diets containing 20% butterfat (groups 4–7) and in those given the diets containing 48% starch (groups 8–11). Lower levels of plasma cholesterol and only slight atheromatous degeneration were observed in the rabbits given the diets containing 20% maize oil (groups 1–3).4. The levels of plasma cholesterol and the degree of aortic atherosis were influenced very markedly by the nature of the dietary roughage. Plasma cholesterol levels and degrees of aortic atherosis tended to be higher when cellophane was the roughage component than when wheat straw was the roughage component of the diet. The replacement of part of the cellophane of the diet by peat reduced the level of plasma cholesterol and the degree of aortic atherosis.5. The possible mechanisms by which the nature of the dietary roughage influences plasma cholesterol levels are discussed.

The utilization of roughage by sheep and the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus (Desmarest)

Two roughage diets, lucerne hay and oat straw, were given to three Corriedale sheep and three red kangaroos. Dry matter intakes, nitrogen balances, and body weight changes of the animals were compared, and the digestibilities of each diet by each species and the retention times of the food residues in their alimentary tracts were estimated. The kangaroos were less affected by the quality of the diet than were the sheep. The sheep ate nearly the same amount of lucerne hay and less oat straw than the kangaroos, after adjustment for body weight differences. Digestibility coefficients were higher for the lucerne hay when fed to the sheep, but apparent dry matter digestibility coefficients for oat straw were about the same for sheep and kangaroos. The mean retention times of food residues were lower in the kangaroos, and dietary nitrogen was retained to the same or a slightly lesser extent than in the sheep. The kangaroos maintained weight on the poor quality diet and appeared to be even better adapted to utilize this type of roughage than the sheep.