Impact of severity of ruminal acidosis on feed-sorting behaviour of beef cattle

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. DeVries ◽  
T. Schwaiger ◽  
K. A. Beauchemin ◽  
G. B. Penner

The objective of this study was to determine how feed sorting changes in response to the severity of an induced episode of acute ruminal acidosis. Sixteen Angus heifers (261 ± 6.1 kg; bodyweight (BW) ± s.e.m.) were adapted to a high-grain diet (9% forage) before a ruminal acidosis challenge. Ruminal acidosis was induced by restricting feed to 50% of dry matter intake (DMI) as a proportion of BW for 24 h, followed by an intra-ruminal infusion of ground barley at 10% of DMI as a proportion of BW. Ruminal pH and feed sorting were monitored for 8 days (Base) before the challenge and on the challenge (CH) day. Ruminal pH data (duration (min) and area above the curve (min × pH) of pH <5.5) were recorded using an indwelling measurement system. To assess feed sorting, feed and orts were sampled daily and subjected to particle-size analysis. The particle separator had three screens (19, 8, 1.18 mm) and a bottom pan, resulting in four fractions (long, medium, short, fine). Sorting (%) was calculated as the actual intake/predicted intake of each particle fraction. During the Base period and the CH day, heifers sorted for long, medium and short particles, and sorted against fine particles. During the Base period, heifers experienced ruminal pH <5.5 for 489 ± 73 min/day with an area of 154 ± 29 (pH × min)/day; on the CH day, the duration increased to 1020 ± 75 min/day with an area of 631 ± 102 (pH × min)/day. A greater change in duration of pH <5.5 was associated with a greater increase in sorting for long and medium particles. A greater change in the area of pH <5.5 was associated with a greater increase in sorting for long particles and against fine particles. Overall, results show that cattle that experienced a greater degree of acidosis partially coped by sorting their ration more to consume a greater proportion of long, fibrous particles.

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
E K Miller-Cushon ◽  
T J DeVries

The objective of this study was to determine whether feed sorting behavior in dairy cattle is influenced by the amount of feed provided. Six lactating Holstein cows, individually fed a total mixed ration once daily, were exposed to two treatments in a crossover design with 7-d periods. The treatments were: (1) lower feed amount (LFA; target 10% orts), and (2) higher feed amount (HFA; target 20% orts). Dry matter intake (DMI) was monitored daily for each animal. On the final 4 d of each treatment period, fresh feed and orts were sampled for particle size analysis. The particle size separator had three screens (19, 8, 1.18 mm) and a bottom pan, resulting in four fractions (long, medium, short, fine). Sorting was calculated as the actual intake of each particle size fraction expressed as a percentage of the predicted intake of that fraction. Actual orts percentage averaged 11.5% for the LFA and 18.0% for the HFA treatments. When on the HFA cows sorted for the medium particles to a greater extent than on the LFA (103.0 vs. 101.1%). Further, when on the HFA treatment cows sorted against short particles to a greater extent than on the LFA (95.2 vs. 98.6%). Despite greater sorting on the HFA treatment, the concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 29.6%) and starch (27.1%) in the feed consumed were similar between treatments. Given this, and that DMI was greater on the HFA treatment compared with the LFA treatment (29.7 vs. 26.5 kg d-1), greater intakes of NDF (8.7 vs. 7.8 kg d-1) and starch (8.0 vs. 7.2 kg d-1) were also observed on the HFA treatment. The results suggest that, despite causing greater feed sorting, increasing the feeding amount for lactating dairy cows promoted higher DMI and did not prevent the consumption of a ration balanced to meet their nutritional requirements.Key words: Feeding amount, sorting behavior, dairy cow


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Lourdes Llonch Fernández ◽  
Lorena Castillejos Velázquez ◽  
Alfred Ferret Quesada

Abstract To assess the effect of physically effective fiber (peNDF) on ruminal pH, 8 Simmental heifers with 258±5.7kg BW were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a replicated 4x4 Latin square design. Diets were formulated with an 83 to 17 concentrate to straw ratio, and offered ad libitum as total mixed ration. Barley straw was chopped with a feeder wagon, and then processed either by: a) sifting with the 3-screen Penn State Particle Separator to obtain straw particle size greater than 4 mm, or b) grinding in a hammer mill through a 2-mm screen to obtain straw particle size lesser than 4 mm. Treatments after mixing the processed straws to obtain different peNDF proportions were: 5%, 7%, 9%, and 11%. Concentrate was ground through a 3-mm screen and manually mixed with the straw. The study was performed in 4 3-wk periods: 2-wk diet adaptation and 1-wk sampling. A ruminal bolus (smaXtec, Graz, Austria) was orally inserted in each heifer to measure ruminal pH every 10 min. Dry matter intake was individually measured. Data were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS. No significant effects were found in average and minimum pH (6.66 and 5.87 on average, respectively). Time under pH lesser than 5.8 was significantly longer (P &lt; 0.01) in 5% (134 min/d) than 7%, 9% and 11% (63 min/d on average). Time under pH lesser than 5.6 tended to be longer (P = 0.074) in 5% (65 min/d), and shorter in 9% and 11% (25 min/d on average). Time under pH lesser than 5.5 was unaffected by treatment (23 min/d on average). Intake of DM was greater (P &lt; 0.001) in 5% and 7% than 9% and 11%. These results suggest that the risk of subclinical acidosis decreases from 7 to 11% of peNDF, but DMI also decreases in 9% and 11%.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Natalia Sato Minami ◽  
Rejane Santos Sousa ◽  
Francisco Leonardo Costa Oliveira ◽  
Mailson Rennan Borges Dias ◽  
Débora Aparecida Cassiano ◽  
...  

We evaluated the clinical aspects and feeding behavior of cattle with subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) caused by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Ten healthy Nelore heifers were subjected to an adjusted SARA induction protocol using citrus pulp (CP). Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 h intervals after induction, with ruminal fluid, blood, and feces sampling. The animals’ feeding behavior was evaluated on, before, and for 3 days after SARA by observing the animals every 5 min for 24 h. The dry matter intake (DMI) was recorded daily. The ruminal pH during SARA was always lower than baseline, with an acidotic duration of 547 ± 215 min, a minimum pH of 5.38 ± 0.16, and an average pH of 5.62 ± 0.1. SARA was mainly caused by SCFAs (maximum 118.4 ± 9.3 mmol/L), with the production of l-lactic acids (7.17 mmol/L) and d-lactic acids (0.56 mmol/L) 6 h after the experiment began. The DMI was reduced by 66% and 48% on days 1 and 2, respectively, and returned to normal levels on day 3. SARA caused a reduction in feed intake and rumination time, as well as an increase in the time spent in decubitus on days 1 and 2. These results were influenced by the ruminal pH, ruminal movement, and osmolarity. Furthermore, SARA caused different degrees of depression, which became more pronounced with higher ruminal lactic acid concentrations.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1727
Author(s):  
Viktoria Neubauer ◽  
Renee M. Petri ◽  
Elke Humer ◽  
Iris Kröger ◽  
Nicole Reisinger ◽  
...  

Starch-rich diets can cause subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in dairy cows with potentially different susceptibility according to lactation number. We wanted to evaluate the bacterial community and the fermentation end products in feces to study susceptibility to hindgut acidosis and dysbiosis. Sixteen dairy cows received a medium-concentrate diet (MC, 40% concentrate, 18.8% starch) for one week and a high-concentrate diet (HC, 60% concentrate, 27.7% starch, DM) for four weeks. Milk yield, dry-matter intake, chewing activity, ruminal pH, milk constituents, and fecal samples for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), pH, and 16S rRNA-gene sequencing were investigated. The HC feeding caused a reduction in fecal pH, bacterial diversity and richness, an increase in total SCFA, and a separate phylogenetic clustering of MC and HC samples. Ruminal and fecal pH had fair correlation (r = 0.5). Cows in the second lactation (2ndL) had lower dry matter intake (DMI) than cows of third or fourth or more lactations (3rdL; ≥4 L), whereas DMI/kg body weight was lower for ≥4 L than for 2ndL and 3rdL cows. The mean ruminal pH was highest in ≥4 L, whereas the time spent below the SARA threshold was highest for 3rdL cows. The latter also had higher total SCFA in the feces. Our results suggest that hindgut dysbiosis is caused by increased substrate flow to the hindgut, but further investigations are needed to define hindgut acidosis. The 3rdL cows were most susceptible to rumen acidosis and hindgut dysbiosis due to high DMI level, but missing counter regulations, as suggested happening in 2ndL and ≥4 L cows.


Author(s):  
M. Arangsri ◽  
V. Pattarajinda ◽  
M. Duangjinda ◽  
J. Mungkalasiri ◽  
W. Angthong ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding two fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) on methane production in dairy heifers. Four Holstein Friesian dairy heifers with mean body weight (BW) of 301.1 ± 42.2 kg were used in a simple cross-over design trial. Treatments consisted of 2 FTMR formulated to yield either low (LMD) or high CH4 production (HMD). No differences were observed in dry matter intake (DMI; 6.49 and 6.19 kg/d), BW change (-3.37 and -7.25 kg), or DM digestibility (50.64 and 46.99%) between diets. Ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and molar proportions of acetate, propionate and butyrate were not different among diets. Concentrations of blood glucose were higher (P=0.05) for HMD compared with LMD at 2 h post feeding; however, blood urea nitrogen was not different. Methane emissions were 236.32 L/d for LMD and 273.70 L/d for HMD and not different. Feeding the FTMR differing in CH4 potential did not affect DMI, digestibility, ruminal TVFA production or molar proportions of VFAs in dairy heifers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1664-1679
Author(s):  
Aoxiang Zhang ◽  
Daiyong Cao ◽  
Yingchun Wei ◽  
Thomas E Rufford

Coal fines produced during drainage of coalbed methane reservoirs can affect the permeability of the coal reservoir and damage production facilities such as downhole pumps, shafts, and valves. Thus, to clarify the mechanism of coal fines output is very important to high production of coalbed methane. The characteristics of coal fines can be used to identify the sources of the coal fines and to develop reasonable means of controlling coal fines output. In this study, different coal fines characteristics were investigated to reveal the output mechanism of coal fines. The coal fines samples were collected from 16 coalbed methane wells, which located in Eastern Ordos Basin of China. And the wells are in different drainage stages. The coal fines samples were analyzed by using transmission light microscopy, reflection polarized optical microscopy, laser particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X. The results show that the concentration of coal fines is in the range of 3–8% (volume percent). The sizes of the coal fine particles tended to be below 200 µm. The main components of pulverized coal are vitrinite and inorganic minerals and the average content of inorganic minerals account for 50.56% and the standard deviation is 0.0685. The morphology analysis results show that the shape of coal fines is different in different parts of the coalbed methane wells. The coal fines concentration increases with the increase in the thickness of the deformed coal, and decreases with the increase in the burial depth. The concentration of coal fines becomes higher with the increase of casing pressure and coal fines concentration increases with the increase of the variation of bottom hole pressure.


2013 ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Angie Poliquit ◽  
Serena Sanchez

Twelve male growing lambs were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the effects of feeding liquid acid whey (LAW) on the performance of the animal, its dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, weight gain and ruminal pH. Animals received a diet consisting of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schumacher). Treatments were Napier grass plus concentrate, Napier grass plus LAW and Napier grass plus concentrate plus LAW. Individual dry matter intake (DMI), biweekly weight gain (WG) and ruminal pH were measured. Diet digestibility was determined using the total collection method. Results showed that LAW increased (p<0.05) WG and diet digestibility (dry matter, organic matter and crude protein). Liquid acid whey had an average digestibility of 54.41% for dry matter, 83.94% for organic matter and 87.56% for crude protein. Ruminal pH two hours after feeding was stable for animals with LAW alone. However, DMI was similar (p>0.05) among treatments. It can be concluded that including LAW in the diet significantly improved WG, diet digestibility and ruminal pH without affecting DMI.


2002 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Aoyama ◽  
P. Bhattarai ◽  
M. Fukuda ◽  
J. Oku ◽  
T. Sakai

Fence-type defensive structures are very common on highway hillsides in Japan. They are constructed to protect the highway mainly from snow avalanche. Initially, these structures behave well. However, as the time lapses, the foundation of these well designed structures weakens and collapses. The situation is further aggravated by the static load of accumulated thick snow cover behind them. As mudstone is the dominant rock type in the Niigata Prefecture, it is a challenging task for geotechnical engineers to cope with such a severe geo-environmental problem. Although the mudstone exhibits a high strength while it is dry and fresh, it becomes quite unstable after sometime. When it comes in contact with water and atmosphere repeatedly, it starts weathering. Consequently, its shear strength is reduced and cannot resist the imposed shear stress and moment, and ultimately fails. For the laboratory investigation, mudstone blocks of various sizes were collected from the two typical mudstone areas: the Matsunoyama area and Nagaoka area in the Niigata Prefecture. These samples were sub merged and then dried alternately for several cycles. The particle size analysis of the weathered material showed that the proportion of fine particles increased with the degree of weathering. The laboratory tests of these samples exhibited a decrease in shear strength with an increasing degree of saturation. The periodic swelling and contraction of the clay fraction leads to volume change of foundation inducing its further weathering.


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