Controlling voluntary intake of molasses-based supplements in grazing cattle

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Phosphoric Acid ◽  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Urea Content ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake

Molasses-based liquid supplements fed ad libitum are widely used to provide additional metabolisable energy, non-protein N (NPN) and other nutrients to grazing cattle, but it is often difficult to achieve target intakes of supplementary nutrients. Experiments examined the effects of increasing concentrations of phosphoric acid, urea and ammonium sulfate on the voluntary intake (VI) of molasses-based supplements offered ad libitum to heifers grazing tropical pastures. In Experiment 1, the VI of a supplement containing 78 g urea/kg and 26 g phosphoric acid/kg as-fed (M80U+PA) was 3.61 g DM/kg liveweight (LW) per day, and provided 181 mg NPN and 32.4 mg phosphorus (P)/kg LW per day. Increasing the urea content of the supplement to 137 g/kg (M140U+PA) or 195 g/kg (M200U+PA) reduced VI of supplement DM, NPN and P by up to 76%, 44% and 80%, respectively. VI of supplement containing ammonium sulfate (M140+AS+PA) was lower (P < 0.05) than that of M140U+PA supplement, and tended (P > 0.05) to be lower than that of M200U+PA supplement. In experiment 2, the VI by heifers of a supplement containing 200 g urea/kg (M200U) was 1.53 g supplement DM/kg LW per day, which provided 186 mg NPN/kg LW per day. Inclusion of 49 g phosphoric acid/kg as-fed in this supplement (M190U+50PA) reduced (P < 0.05) VI of supplement DM and NPN by 33% and 36%, respectively, while inclusion of 97 g phosphoric acid/kg (M180U+100PA) reduced (P < 0.05) VI of supplement DM and NPN by 43% and 48%, respectively. The M190U+50PA and M180U+100PA supplements provided 16 and 26 mg P/kg LW per day, respectively. Heifers not fed supplements gained 0.07 kg/day, and the M200U supplement increased (P < 0.05) LW gain to 0.18 kg/day. LW gain was further increased (P < 0.05) by the M190U+50PA to 0.28 kg/day, indicating a growth response to supplementary P. No adverse effects of the supplements on animal health were observed in any of the experiments. In conclusion, addition of urea and/or phosphoric acid to molasses supplements effectively reduced VI of supplementary DM, NPN and P, and in the circumstances of Experiment 2, both molasses-urea and P supplements increased heifer LW.

Nitrate is safe to feed ad libitum in molasses roller drums as a source of non-protein nitrogen

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Goopy ◽  
R. S. Hegarty
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Protein Nitrogen ◽  
Angus Cattle ◽  
Methane Production Rate ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake

We investigated voluntary intake, growth and safety of cattle offered low-quality forage diets plus isonitrogenous molasses-based liquid supplements containing either urea (U) or a calcium nitrate-containing compound (NO3). We hypothesised that changing the nitrogen source from U to calcium nitrate would not jeopardise animal health or affect intake. Angus cattle (n = 24) were allocated to six pens, with three pens each receiving a molasses supplement containing U or a molasses supplement containing NO3 for 31 days. There was a trend (P = 0.06) for the NO3 treatment group to consume more of the (oaten chaff) basal diet than the U treatment group. The U group consumed more supplement than did the NO3 group (1.31 vs 0.40 kg DM/head.day s.e.m. = 0.094, P &lt; 0.0001), but total DM intake was not different (6.45 vs 6.10 kg/head.day, P = 0.15). Mean final animal liveweight was not different between treatments. Methaemoglobin levels were higher in the NO3 group (2.1 vs 1.3%, P &lt; 0.001). Low consumption of nitrate was also reflected in there being no effect of nitrate on the methane production rate when assessed in open-circuit calorimetry chambers (7.1 vs 7.0 g/head.2 h, P = 0.898). It is confirmed that nitrate may be safely provided to cattle when dissolved at 154 g/kg in a molasses-based liquid supplement available ad libitum, but may not be an effective methane mitigant due to low NO3 intake. It is speculated that nitrate may be a useful tool to limit voluntary intake of non-protein nitrogen supplements.

scholarly journals Inclusion of cottonseed meal into loose mineral mix supplements increases the voluntary intake of the supplement by grazing heifers

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 315
Author(s):  
R. M. Dixon ◽  
A. Anderson ◽  
J. C. Petherick
Keyword(s):  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Lithium Sulfate ◽  
Protein Meal ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Supplement Intake

Loose mineral mix (LMM) supplements based on ingredients such as salt, urea and minerals offered ad libitum are widely used to provide additional nutrients to grazing cattle, but it is often difficult to achieve target intakes. An experiment with heifers grazing mature tropical pasture examined the effects of substituting 80, 160 or 320 g/kg of the salt in a LMM supplement with cottonseed meal on the voluntary intake of the LMM supplements by paddock groups of heifers over 10 weeks. Average voluntary intake of a LMM containing (g/kg) 640 salt, 300 urea and 60 ammonium sulfate (40.2 g DM and 6.14 g total nitrogen/day) was increased linearly (P < 0.001) to 50.8 g DM and 8.88 g total nitrogen/day when up to 320 g/kg cottonseed meal was substituted for salt in the LMM. This increase in intake of nitrogen in LMM was due to the increase in voluntary intake of the supplement rather than the increased nitrogen concentration of supplement. The distribution of daily intake of supplement within paddock groups of heifers was estimated during Weeks 5 and 10 using supplements labelled with lithium sulfate. Neither the coefficient of variation within paddock groups of heifers in supplement intake (mean 96%), nor the proportion of non-consumers of supplement (mean 17%), was changed (P > 0.05) by substitution of salt with cottonseed meal. In conclusion, the inclusion of a palatable protein meal into LMM increased the voluntary intake of this type of supplement.

Effects of nutrition in late pregnancy on subsequent milk production in Ewes

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. T. Treacher
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Lower Content ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Total Birth ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SUMMARY1. Scottish Half-bred ewes carrying twin foetuses were fed individually to make live-weight gains in the last six weeks of pregnancy of (1) 20%, (2) 10% and (3) 0% of their live weight in week 14 of pregnancy. In lactation the ewes were fed ad libitum. The lambs were removed 12 to 16 hr after parturition and the ewes were machine-milked twice daily for the first six weeks of lactation.2. Total birth weights per ewe of twin lambs from the treatments were (1) 10·10 kg, (2) 9·44 kg and (3) 8·18 kg and differed significantly.3. The level and pattern of voluntary intake in lactation did not differ significantly between the treatments. Total dry-matter intakes in the six weeks of lactation were (1) 121·9 kg (2) 105·9 kg and (3) 109·5 kg.4. The pregnancy treatments affected the level of milk production and the shape of lactation curves. The total yields in the first six weeks of lactation were (1) 58·8 kg, (2) 43·5 kg and (3) 26·9 kg. Higher contents of fat and protein and the lower content of lactose in the milk from treatment-3 ewes on days 1 and 3 of lactation indicated a slower onset of lactation in these ewes. Between days 7 and 35 of lactation the contents of fat and SNF were lowest on treatment 3 but the differences were not significant.5. The live-weight changes in lactation, which were in inverse order to the gains in late pregnancy, were (1) 3·4 kg, (2) 5·5 kg and (3) 9·5 kg.

scholarly journals NUTRITIVE VALUE OF FRESH AND DRIED MARROW-STEM KALE HARVESTED AT TWO DIFFERENT PERIODS

1973 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. PELLETIER ◽  
E. DONEFER
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Oleracea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Plant Constituents ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake

Three yearling Cheviot × Suffolk ewes and three Columbia wethers were confined in metabolic cages and fed ad libitum fresh and dried marrow-stem kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala D.C.) harvested in mid- and late October. Chemical analyses of the forages indicated no marked effects on any of the plant constituents due to drying or advancing maturity. Digestibility measurements demonstrated that marrow-stem kale (MSK) was a highly digestible material with an average dry matter digestibility of 78%. The fresh forages had higher (P < 0.05) dry matter and gross energy digestibility values than the dried form. Dry matter digestibility coefficients were higher (P < 0.05) for late October as compared with the earlier harvest. A trend toward higher (P > 0.05) voluntary intake values due to drying maturity was observed with an average relative intake of 80%. The nutritive value index averaged 65, thus indicating a digestible energy intake similar to a high-quality (legume) forage.

Effect of sward structure of two tropical grasses with contrasting canopies on light distribution, net photosynthesis and size of bite harvested by grazing cattle

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Ludlow ◽  
TH Stobbs ◽  
R Davos ◽  
DA Charles-Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Growth Regulators ◽  
Light Distribution ◽  
Trimethylammonium Chloride ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Bite Size ◽  
Leaf Area Density ◽  
Grazing Cattle

Our aim was to determine whether increasing the sward density of tropical pastures, for the purpose of enhancing the size of bite harvested by grazing cattle, would reduce yield by affecting light distribution andcanopy photosynthesis. The growth regulators (2-chloroethy1)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) and gibberillic acid (GA) were used to alter the leaf area density of the tussock-forming grass Setavia sphacelata and of the sward-forming grass Digitaria decumbens. GA increased plant height, the length of stem internodes, and the size of bite harvested by cattle. On the other hand, CCC decreased canopy height, and increased leaf area density and bite size. The variation of leaf area density, investigated experimentally by using growth regulators (5-25 m-1) and theoretically by simulation modelling (5-40 m-1), had no significant effect on either leaf or canopy photosynthetic characteristics. Hence we believe that there would be a negligible reduction in yield of these tropical grasses if their leaf area densities were increased up to a value of 40 m-1, which exceeds those of temperate pastures. Such increases in leaf area density may increase animal production from tropical pastures where bite size limits daily intake of forage. The agricultural implications of the findings are discussed.

The relations between the apparent digestibility of roughages in the rumen and lower gut of sheep, the volume of fluid in the rumen and voluntary feed intake

1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ulyatt ◽  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
I. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Glycol ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Volume Of Fluid ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Hind Gut ◽  
Volumes Of Distribution

Three sheep with permanent fistulas of the rumen were each given dried grass and two hays, each in three different amounts, and the apparent digesti-bility of the roughages in the rumen and distal to the rumen was determined. A lignin ratio method was used to measure digestibility.With increase in the amount of the poorest hay given, the proportion digested in the rumen fell and that distal to the rumen increased. With the second hay this effect was also noted but was not statistically significant. The voluntary intakes ofdry matter varied from 1·94 kg/day for the dried grass to 1·28 for the poorest hay. The volumes of distribution of polyethylene glycol in the rumen when feed was offered ad libitum, however, were the same, irrespective of the type of feed, at between 14·1 and 15·2 litres. These observations were confirmed at slaughter. The results support the hypothesis that sheep voluntarily consume roughages of different qualities to achieve constant fill of their rumens, and that little regulation of voluntary intake can be attributed to distension of the hind gut.

Growth of lambs given different allowances of digestible crude protein and metabolisable energy

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 174-174
Author(s):  
M.R. Cropper ◽  
D.P. Poppi ◽  
A.M. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Proximate Composition ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Digestible Crude Protein ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
Composition Changes

In a market where high levels of fat on lamb carcases are not favoured, the supposition that a lamb, given adequate feeding, will grow protein preferentially to gaining lipid, holds interest. However, this idea runs counter to the evidence that body composition is not manipulable in sheep. Therefore, an experiment was undertaken to implement extreme treatments of protein and energy supply to determine to what extent the contrasting views on body composition changes in growing lambs are justified.Seventy-two Coopworth ram lambs (mean liveweight, (LW) 30.4, s.d. 1.1 kg) were given one of the three feeds of different digestible crude protein (DCP) content at one of three allowances (ad libitum (AL), 1.2 (H) or 0.8 (L) kg/day). The feeds (H, M and L) were formulated as shown in Table 1. Feed M was a mixture of 0.55 Feed H and 0.45 Feed M. The proximate composition, measured DCP and estimated metabolisable energy (ME) content of the feeds is given in Table 1. ALH and ALM lambs were also choice-fed with ad libitum access to feed L. 8 lambs at the start of the experiment and 4 lambs per treatment at 6 and 12 weeks were slaughtered for analysis of body protein (PR), lipid (LP) and wool protein (WP).

The assessment of a crop husbandry technique in terms of animal production

1963 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Blaxter ◽  
R. S. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Crop Husbandry ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SUMMARY1. The energy value of three hays cut at three stages of maturity was. measured by calorimetric methods and, in addition, the amounts of the hays consumed voluntarily by sheep were measured. Voluntary intake was alsa measured when 200, 500, 800 and 1,200 g. of pelleted concentrates were given.2. The metabolisable energy values of the three hays measured at the-maintenance level were 2·45, 2·26 and 2·16 kcal./g. for cuts 1, 2 and 3-respectively (cut 1 being the earliest). The net energy values for fat production were 0·96, 0·85 and 0·68 kcal./g. respectively.3. The apparent digestibility of the hays fell with increasing intake, but supplementation with concentrates increased their apparent digestibility.4. The voluntary intake of the hays given as the sole food was 70, 62 and 57 g./kg. W0·73 for the three cuts, respectively. When concentrates were given in increasing amounts, the intake of cuts 2 and 3 increased to maxima of 65 g. and 64 g./kg. W0·73 respectively and thereafter declined. With cut 1, intake of hay declined even with the smallest intake of concentrates. Voluntary intake of the hays was maximal when the protein content of the whole ration was 8·5%.5. When no supplement was given the digested energy per sheep per day supplied by cut 1 was 64% greater than that supplied by cut 3. When 800 g. concentrates were given, however, the ration including the early cut of hay provided only 2% more energy than that including the late cut.6. It is shown that if hay were given as the sole food cut 3, which produced 57% more weight of crop per acre, would provide 38% more metabolisable energy/acre and 11% more net energy (starch equivalent)/acre than would cut 1. The late cut would also enable 92% more sheep to be kept feeding to maximal appetite on an acre of produce. However, the total live-weight gain per acre would be only 25% of that obtained with thefirstcut.7. Comparable calculations have been made for the experiments in which concentrates were given. It is shown that here too optimal times of cutting can only be assessed in terms of estimates of animal production.

Effect of reproductive state and concentrate supplementation on liquid and particulate turnover in the rumen of ewes given ammonia treated straw

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Perez ◽  
J Gasa ◽  
C Castrillo ◽  
JA Guada
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Reproductive State ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Breeding Status

Rates of passage of liquid and particulate markers (Co-EDTA, Cr mordanted fibres and Yb) were measured in ewes at late pregnancy, lactation and non-breeding status. Animals were given ammonia treated barley straw ad libitum supplemented daily with 250 and 550 (pregnancy), 550 and 850 (lactation) and 250, 550 and 850 (non-breeding) g of concentrate. The effect of the reproductive state was analysed only on ewes fed on 550 g of concentrate. Lactating ewes showed a higher voluntary straw intake (970 g/day) than pregnant or non-breeding ewes (720 and 790 g/day respectively), but there were not significant differences in the OM digestibility (OMD) among reproductive states. Increasing concentrate supplementation promoted significant decreases in the voluntary intake of straw, associated with an enhanced OMD ( P < 0.05). Fractional outflow rates (FOR/h) were higher in pregnant and non-breeding than in lactating ewes, although differences were only significant ( P < 0.01) for Chromium derived values. Ewes given 250 g of concentrate showed lower ( P < 0.05) FOR than those given 550 and 850 g/day. Results support the idea that in ruminants fed on low quality roughages, voluntary dry matter intake is mainly restricted by rumen capacity, although the energy status of the animals might influence the extent of this restriction.

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