Voluntary Intake Of Silage Research Articles

Ensiling characteristics of silages of Stylo legume (Stylosanthes guianensis), Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and their mixture, treated with fermented juice of lactic bacteria, and feed intake and digestibility in goats of rations based on these silages

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ensiling characteristics of silages prepared from Guinea grass, Stylo legume or Stylo legume mixed with Guinea grass (50:50w/w). Guinea grass and Stylo legume were harvested 45 and 60 days after regrowth, respectively and treated with a fermented juice of lactic acid bacteria (FJLB) prior to being ensiled. After 45 days, selected ensiling characteristics were determined. The nutritive value of rations based on the experimental silages was evaluated using six male, rumen cannulated crossbred Anglo Nubian×Native goats in a replicated 3×3 Latin square design study. Concentrate was provided at 0.9% body weight and experimental silages ad libitum. Apparent fecal macronutrient digestibility was determined. The pH values, NH3-N and lactic acid contents were not different between the silages but greater contents (P<0.05) of acetic and butyric acid were found in the silage prepared from Guinea grass. Voluntary silage intake was similar for the three silages. Digestibility of dry and organic matter did not differ between treatments. However, the digestibility of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber was greater (P<0.05) when the rations contained silage from Stylo legume instead of Guinea grass. In conclusion, the process of fermentation of silages is similar for Stylo legume and Guinea grass. The feeding of rations based on silage from Stylo legume versus Guinea grass can enhance animal production due to its higher nutritive value.

Effects of application of microbial inoculants on fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and voluntary intake of silage of native tropical grasses

Se realizaron dos experimentos para determinar el efecto de la aplicación de dos inóculos de bacterias productoras de ácido láctico (BAL), sobre las características fermentativas, estabilidad aeróbica (EA) y consumo voluntario (CV) de ensilaje de gramíneas tropicales naturalizadas (GTN). Antes de ensilarse, 6 a las GTN se les trató o no con el inóculo correspondiente, aplicado a razón de 106 ufc/g de materia fresca para el Inóculo Comercial 1 y 1010 ufc/g de materia fresca para el Inóculo Comercial 2. Se aplicaron los inóculos a porciones pesadas de GTN, manualmente mezcladas, y se envasaron en silos PVC de laboratorio para determinar las características fermentativas. Se analizaron ensilajes de cada tratamiento luego de siete períodos de fermentación (0, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, y 35 d) para pH y contenidos de productos de fermentación (ácidos orgánicos y amoníaco). Para la determinación de la EA, se abrieron silos por triplicado por cada tratamiento después de 35 días de ensilamiento; se colocaron muestras de ensilaje en recipientes de poliestireno envueltos parcialmente con bolsas de plástico y se expusieron al aire durante cinco días. Usando termómetros incrustados en la superficie del ensilaje expuesto, se tomaron lecturas de la temperatura cada seis horas durante los cinco días; el pH se determinó después de 0,1, 3, y 5 d de exposición aeróbica. Para uso en las pruebas de CV, las GTN se fermentaron, con o sin el inoculo de BAL correspondiente, durante 35 días en bolsas de plástico de 208 L (55 galones) de capacidad. Para cada prueba se alimentaron seis ovinos criollos tipo carne, tres de ellos con cada una de las dos dietas experimentales, durante cinco días. Las dietas tenían en común 50% de heno de GTN y 50% de GTN fermentada con o sin adición de BAL, y se ofrecieron diariamente a 3% del peso vivo en base seca (PV/BS). Ninguno de los dos inóculos de BAL añadidos logró mejorar las características fermentativas de las GTN, las cuales resultaron ser aceptables en los ensilajes control. En ambos experimentos, los ensilajes con y sin inóculo fueron estables a condiciones aeróbicas durante cinco días. Se observó un efecto positivo de la inoculación con Inóculo Comercial 1 sobre el CV, en el primer experimento, pero no así con el Inóculo Comercial 2 en la segunda oportunidad.

Consumo y valor nutritivo del ensilado de "Calamagrostis antoniana" y "Avena sativa" asociada en diferentes proporciones en alpacas ("Vicugna pacos")

The experiment aimed to assess the nutritional value of the silage Calamagrostis antoniana and Avena sativa in different proportions (treatments): chemical composition in terms of dry matter (%), crude protein (%), crude fiber (%) and intake voluntary (gr.MS / day) in alpaca tuis lower in 6 treatments: T1 (100% Calamagrostis antoniana T2 (80% and 20% Calamagrostis antoniana and Avena sativa ), T3 (60% Calamagrostis antoniana and 40% Avena sativa ), T4 (40% and 60% Calamagrostis antoniana and Avena sativa ), T5 (20% and 80% Calamagrostis antoniana and Avena sativa ) and T6 (100% Avena sativa ). Obtaining microsilos held in silage (4 replicates per treatment). Voluntary intake was assessed in 24 male alpacas, tuis smaller breed huacaya (4 replicates per treatment) for 21 days. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. The Calamagrostis antoniana and Avena sativa silage as associated in different proportions (treatments), varies statistically (p <0.05) in the content of MS (%), PT (%) and FC (%) recorded higher values silage, for T1 (55.60% MS), T6 (11.02% PT) and T1 (33.18% FC). Regarding the voluntary intake of silage and Avena sativa and Calamagrostis antoniana in alpacas, silage that had greater treatment acceptance was T4 and T5, consuming an average of voluntarily: 307.18 and 226.87 (gr. MS / day / animal), respectively.

Effects of harvest date of timothy (Phleum pratense) on its nutritive value, and on the voluntary silage intake and liveweight gain of lambs

AbstractThe effects of harvest date of timothy on the chemical composition of herbage and silage, and on the voluntary intake, liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency by finishing lambs, were evaluated. The herbage was harvested and ensiled on three dates: 16 June (before heading), 20 June and 26 June. The silages were analysed for chemical composition and degradation characteristics by an in vitro gas production (GP) technique with end‐point measurements (72 h) of degradability of organic matter (OM) and neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF). There were clear effects of later dates of harvest increasing the concentration of NDF, and reducing the degradability of OM and NDF, and the rate of GP, of silages made from this herbage. The silages were fed ad libitum to lambs in a feeding experiment using a Latin square design. Later harvest dates decreased the voluntary intake of silage, liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Lambs fed the early‐cut silage had a liveweight gain of 152 g d−1 and those fed the silage harvested 10 d later had a liveweight gain of 76 g d−1. Changes in the chemical composition of herbage and silage and in in vitro degradation characteristics of silages with later harvests were associated, to a large extent, with the reduction in voluntary intake and liveweight gain of lambs.

재배방식과 예취시기가 수수 X 수단그라스 교잡종의 생육특성, 건물수량 및 사일리지 채식성에 미치는 영향

This experiments were carried out to determine growth characteristics, dry matter yield and voluntary intake of silage according to growth stage of Sorghum<TEX>$\times$</TEX>sudangrass(SSH) hybrid in mono-cropping and inter-cropping(C; com, T1; cutting of SSH at milk stage. T2; cutting of SSH at dough stage, T3; cutting of SSH at yellow ripe stage, T4; cutting of SSH and soybean at milk stage, T5; cutting of SSH and soybean at dough stage, T6: cutting of SSH and soybean at yellow ripe stage). Results obtained from these experiments are as follows; Plant length and leaf length of SSH(T2, T3, T4. T5 and T6)) were higher than C. T1 treatment was lower than it. C showed <TEX>$2.3\~2.9$</TEX> times higher stem diameter as 29.5mm compare to SSH(T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6). soybean(T4, T5 and T6) was lower in <TEX>$4.3\~5.4$</TEX> times. But SSH of inter-cropping treatment(T4, T5 and T6) showed highly comparing with mono-cropping(T1, T2 and T3) at the same maturity. Leaf rate and stem hardness of SSH(T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6) were lower than C. The fresh yield was high line with T2(72,320kg/ha), T1(69,103kg/ha), T3(68,333kg/ha) and C(57,988kg/ha), dry matter yield was high in line with T3(22.413kg/ha), T2(21,479kg/ha), C(19,252kg/ha) and T6(18,175kg/ha), (P<0.05). Protein dry matter yield was higher in T3(1,434kg/ha), C(1,386kg/ha)T5 and T6(1,345kg/ha) it was lower in T1(872kg/ha), (P<0.05). Crude protein of silage of T4 and T5 was higher than C, T2 and T3 were lower than it(P<0.05), while NDF content was not different. ADF content of T6 was higher than those of the other treatment. The highest hemi-cellulose among treatments was shown in T1 whereas T6 showed the lowest. Fresh intake of silge was 160.4, 155.8, 168.7, 172.9, 132.9, 158.7 and 185.2 g/BW for C, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. Dry matter intake was high in line with T6(60.3g), C(153.8g), T3(53.6g), T5(47.8g), T2(46.8g), T4(35.2g) and T1(34.48g/BW), (P<0.05). Crude protein intake was high in line with T6(3.9g), T5(3.4g), C(3.4g), T2(2.9g), T3(2.9g), T4(2.6g) and T1(2.3g/BW), (P<0.05). As mentioned above the results, mono-cropping(T3) and inter-cropping(T5 and T6) could be recommended as increasing method of sorghum <TEX>$\times$</TEX> sudangrass hybrid silage utilization when silage intake of dry matter and crude protein were considered.

Estimation of Nutritive Value of Whole Crop Rice Silage and Its Effect on Milk Production Performance by Dairy Cows

The nutritive value and utilization of whole crop rice silage (WCRS), Hamasari, at yellow mature stage was determined by three studies. In first study, chemical composition, in vivo digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME) content of WCRS was determined by Holstein steers. WCRS contains 6.23% CP, its digestibility is 48.4% and estimated TDN is 56.4%. Its ME content was 1.91 Mcal/kg DM. Gross energy (GE) retention (% of GE intake) in steers is only 22.7% most of which was lost through feces (44.7% of GE intake). It takes 81 minutes to chew a kg of WCRS by steers. In another study, the effect of Hamasari at yellow mature stage at three stages of lactation (early, mid and late lactation) and two levels of concentrate (40 or 60%) on voluntary intake, ME content and ME intake, milk yield and composition using lactating Holstein dairy cows were investigated. Total intake increased with the concentrate level in early and mid lactation, but was similar irrespective of concentrate level in late lactation. WCRS intake was higher with 40% concentrate level than with 60% concentrate. ME intake by cows increased with the concentrate level and WCRS in early lactating cows with 40% concentrate can support only 90% of the ME requirement. Milk production in accordance with ME intake increased with the increase in concentrate level in early and mid lactating cows but was similar in late lactating cows irrespective of concentrate level. Fat and protein percent of milk in mid and late lactating cows were higher with for 60% concentrate than 40%, but reverse was in early lactating cows. Solids-not-fat was higher with for 60% concentrate than 40% concentrate. Finally in situ degradability of botanical fractions such as leaf, stem, head and whole WCRS, Hamasari at yellow mature stage was incubated from 0 to 96 h in Holstein steers to determine DM and N degradability characteristics of botanical fractions and whole WCRS. Both DM and N solubility, rate of degradation and effective degradability of leaf of silage was lower, but slowly degradable fraction was higher compared to stem and head. Solubility of DM and N of stem was higher than other fractions. The 48 h degradability, effective degradability and rate of degradation of leaf were always lower than stem or head. In conclusion, voluntary intake of silage ranged from 5 to 12 kg/d and was higher with low levels of concentrate, but milk yield was higher with high levels of concentrate. Fat corrected milk yield ranged from 19 to 37 kg per day. For consistency of milk, early lactating cows should not be allowed more than 40% whole crop rice silage in the diet, but late lactating cows may be allowed 60% whole crop rice silage.

Addition of rice straw or/and wheat bran on composition, ruminal degradability and voluntary intake of bamboo shoot shells silage fed to sheep

This study investigated the quality of bamboo shoot shell silage prepared with or without rice straw (RS) or/and wheat bran (WB), and to evaluate their nutritive value in terms of chemical composition, ruminal degradation characteristics, and voluntary intake by lambs. The bamboo shoot shells silages were prepared in experimental silos to create four treatments: (1) 100% (fresh basis) bamboo shoot shells (control); (2) 90% bamboo shoot shells+10% RS (RS10); (3) 90% bamboo shoot shells+5% RS and 5% WB (RS5WB5), and (4) 90% bamboo shoot shells+10% WB (WB10). Voluntary intakes of the silages were determined in a 4×4 Latin square design with four lambs. The bamboo shoot shell silage alone was of poor quality with moulding and seepage to the bottom of the silo. Addition of RS or/and WB improved silage quality, but addition of WB was superior to that with RS. The DM loss was very high in control silage (>17%), but addition with RS increased DM recovery, with little effect on quality of silage. Recovery of DM further increased in both WB-added groups and was higher than that in the RS-added silage. Adding WB improved the quality of silage, judged by a lower pH value, decreased NH 3-N concentration and increased content of lactic and total acids. While adding RS decreased the ruminal degradation of DM and crude protein of bamboo shoot shells silage, WB addition increased both rapidly and slowly degraded fractions of bamboo shoot shells silage, and ruminal degradability of DM and crude protein at 48 h was increased. Voluntary DM intake of bamboo shoot shells silage was 32, 67 and 120% higher for groups RS10, RS5WB5 and WB10 than for the control. The CP intake was 18, 55, and 232% higher with addition of 10% RS, 10% RS plus 5% WB, and 10% WB, compared to the control. Improved performance of lambs may be expected from bamboo shoot shell silage prepared with RS or/and WB, but improvements are substantively higher for WB.

Effect of suckler cow breed type on voluntary silage intake, body reserves mobilisation, milk yield and calf performance

The increased retention of within herd replacements will inevitably result in an increasing proportion of continental breed (mainly Charolais) in the suckler cow herd. Due to the high costs of silage production, winter feeding of suckler cows is expensive and thus cows are generally allowed to mobilise body reserves in winter. The objective of this study was to compare the voluntary intake of grass silage and performance of spring calving Charolais (CH) and Beef x (Hereford and Limousin) Friesian (BF) suckler cows and their progeny during the winter period.

Effect of suckler cow breed type on voluntary silage intake, body reserves mobilisation, milk yield and calf performance

The increased retention of within herd replacements will inevitably result in an increasing proportion of continental breed (mainly Charolais) in the suckler cow herd. Due to the high costs of silage production, winter feeding of suckler cows is expensive and thus cows are generally allowed to mobilise body reserves in winter. The objective of this study was to compare the voluntary intake of grass silage and performance of spring calving Charolais (CH) and Beef x (Hereford and Limousin) Friesian (BF) suckler cows and their progeny during the winter period.

Feeding Value of Barley Plants as Related to Stage of Maturity: 2.In VivoDigestibility and Voluntary Intake of Silage

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the energetic feeding potential of whole-crop barley silage as related to maturation in order to determine an optimum maturity stage to harvest. Barley was harvested in transition to dough stage (TD), middle/end of dough stage (MED) and yellow ripeness (YR), and ensiled. Digestibility of dietary organic matter (OM) by sheep fed at maintenance decreased by 3.5% as a result of maturation (silage mean 67%). In contrast, voluntary intake of OM increased by 5.5% from TD to MED (diet mean 28.5 g kg−1 body weight). The energetic feeding potential, calculated as intake of digestible OM, was not affected by stage of maturity. The main neutral cell wall sugars were β-glucose (23%) and xylose (12%) followed by arabinose (2%). The digestibilities of all cell wall fractions except β-glucose decreased with advancing maturity. The strongest effect was observed for mannose followed by arabinose, galactose and xylose. It is recommended to harvest barley for whole-crop silage ...

Effect of wilting silage on intake and growth of weaned suckler bulls

It is widely accepted that the fermentation characteristics of grass silages will affect the voluntary intake of animals offered silage. Relationships between voluntary silage intake and various parameters measurable in silage have beei demonstrated and they provide, with varying degrees of accuracy, methods of predicting voluntary silage intake. The objective of this study was to compare the voluntary intake and animal performance supported by two grass silages with similar ME contents but differing FME: ME ratios.

Effect of wilting silage on intake and growth of weaned suckler bulls

It is widely accepted that the fermentation characteristics of grass silages will affect the voluntary intake of animals offered silage. Relationships between voluntary silage intake and various parameters measurable in silage have beei demonstrated and they provide, with varying degrees of accuracy, methods of predicting voluntary silage intake. The objective of this study was to compare the voluntary intake and animal performance supported by two grass silages with similar ME contents but differing FME: ME ratios.

Prediction of silage intake by cattle

Efficient production of high quality milk and beef is dependent on dairy cows and beef cattle receiving the correct intake of nutrients. However the intake of grass silage is very variable and consequently an effective method for predicting the voluntary intake of silage is essential if animals are to be allocated the correct amount of concentrates to provide the optimum input of nutrients. Two changeover design experiments have been carried out with the aim of providing an effective method for predicting silage intake by cattle.

Prediction of silage intake by cattle

Efficient production of high quality milk and beef is dependent on dairy cows and beef cattle receiving the correct intake of nutrients. However the intake of grass silage is very variable and consequently an effective method for predicting the voluntary intake of silage is essential if animals are to be allocated the correct amount of concentrates to provide the optimum input of nutrients. Two changeover design experiments have been carried out with the aim of providing an effective method for predicting silage intake by cattle.

Effects of intraruminal infusions of sodium acetate and sodium chloride on silage intake by lactating cows

Lactating dairy cows prepared with rumen fistulas were fed on grass silage and concentrates and used in two experiments to compare the effects of sodium acetate and sodium chloride infused over 3 h into the rumen on the voluntary intake of silage. Silage intake was depressed in an approximately linear manner by increasing amounts (6–15 mol) of sodium acetate (NaOAc) and 15 mol NaCl had an effect similar to that of 12 mol NaOAc. Sodium in rumen fluid was significantly correlated with intake as was osmolality. 5.5, 7.4 or 9.1 mol of NaOAc significantly depressed silage intake, while 7.4 and 9.1 mol NaCl had significant effects. There were significant negative relationships between intake and the level of NaOAc or NaCl. It is concluded that the major effect of either salt was via the elevation of osmolality of rumen fluid and the relevance to normal control of feeding is discussed.

Some factors related to the voluntary intake of silage by individual dairy cows housed as a group during two winter-feeding periods

ABSTRACTThe consumption of grass silage by each individual cow in a group housed during two consecutive winter-feeding periods was continuously recorded. During the first winter, one of two concentrates, containing high starch or high fibre, were offered on a sliding scale and half the cows were injected with bovine somatotropin (bST). During the second winter, one of two concentrates, containing high or low rumen-undegradable protein were offered at a flat rate ivith two-thirds of the cows receiving bST. The cows injected with bST had significantly greater yields of milk but their consumption of silage was similar to that of cows not treated with bST. The type of concentrate offered had no significant effect on silage consumption. Although there were significant variations in the consumption of silage from day to day, there were highly significant variations in consumption attributable to individual cows. This individuality of intake persisted in a consistent manner throughout a feeding period and could not be explained on the basis of milk production, body weight, age or parity. In 24 of the cows which were used in both years, their individual intakes for the two periods were significantly correlated. The possibility that this individuality may be of economic importance is discussed.

The effect of short term intra-ruminal infusions of lactic acid on the voluntary intake of silage and hay fed steers

Lactic acid is the predominant organic acid found in well preserved silages, accounting for up to 150 g/kg dry matter. However, lactic acid has been shown to have a depressive effect on the voluntary intake of hay and silage by cattle (Thomas et al, 1980; Montgomery et al, 1963). The objective of the present study was to investigate how the response of cattle to short term intra-ruminal infusions of lactic acid might be mediated, using fistulated steers adapted to diets of chopped hay or silage by measuring the patterns of feed consumption during the day, together with changes In the concentration of metabolites within the rumen.

Prediction of voluntary intake of grass silage by lactating cows

Prediction of voluntary food intake is Important in the formulation of rations for dairy cows. There are a number of prediction models which perform relatively well for diets based on dry forages but not for silage based diets (Neal, Thomas and Cobby, 1984). Prediction of intake of silage based diets is particularly important in the UK where 0.85 of the conserved forage fed to dairy cows is silage. A large and increasing proportion of herds are fed silage ad-libitum and concentrates at a flat rate. This study was an attempt to produce better prediction models for voluntary intake of silage by dairy cows under this feeding regime.

The in sacco degradation of crude protein and cell wall constituents in grass, alfalfa and maize silages.

Degradation of crude protein (CP) and cell wall constituents (CWC) in grass, lucerne and maize silages were estimated after incubation for 48 h in nylon bags in the rumen of 2 Dutch Friesian cows fed daily on hay 10 kg and concentrates 1 kg. Estimation of fractional rates of degradation was based on a single exponential degradation model. Fractional degradation rates of CP in grass, lucerne and maize silages were 5.2, 5.0 and 6.3% per h respectively. Corresponding values for CWC were 4.3, 4.0 and 2.8% per h. The non-degradable CWC fraction was higher in lucerne silage (52.1%) than in grass and miaze silages (20.4 and 24.6%, respectively). Extent of degradation of lucerne CWC was lower than that of maize and grass silages but voluntary intake of lucerne silage by steers was higher. Voluntary intake of silages cannot be explained by content, composition and degradation of CWC only; the physical structure may also be involved. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Eating behaviour, social dominance and voluntary intake of silage in group‐fed milking cattle

AbstractThe relationships between eating behaviour, social dominance and voluntary intake of silage were examined in three experiments. Small groups of Friesian cattle were offered forage as a group in several different situations which caused different degrees of competition for silage. Restriction of the number of mangers available to the cows and of the amount of silage offered encouraged a marked increase in rate of eating silage. In Experiment I when the cows were changed from individual mangers to group feeding their mean eating rate of silage increased from 43 to 71 g silage dry matter min−1. Results from the second experiment provided confirmation. In both experiments submissive cows increased their rate of eating to a greater extent than dominant animals. When group‐fed there was no significant correlation between degree of dominance and variation between cows in voluntary intake of silage, but milk yield and live weight were often directly correlated with silage intake. In Experiment 3 cows and heifers ate similar amounts of silage per unit live weight when group‐fed.