Responses to various protein and energy supplements by steers fed low-quality tropical hay. 1. Comparison of response surfaces for young steers

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. McLennan ◽  
M. J. Bolam ◽  
J. F. Kidd ◽  
K. A. Chandra ◽  
D. P. Poppi

Response curves were established for different supplements, offered at intakes ranging from 0 to 20 g/kg liveweight (W).day to young Bos indicus crossbred steers fed low-quality Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay ad libitum in two pen experiments. Supplements included protein meals of varying rumen-degradability (cottonseed meal (CSM) or fishmeal), as well as ‘energy sources’ comprising grains of high and low ruminal starch degradability (barley and sorghum) and a highly fermentable sugar source (molasses), with all diets adjusted for rumen-degradable nitrogen and mineral content. Unsupplemented steers gained 0.08 and 0.15 kg/day, in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Growth of steers increased linearly with intake of ‘energy source’ supplements in increasing order of molasses, sorghum and barley (all differences P < 0.05). Steer growth rate also increased linearly with fishmeal, albeit over a narrow intake range (0–4.1 g/kg W.day), whereas the response with CSM was asymptotic, showing a steep response at low intake before levelling at ~1.2 kg/day. All supplement types were associated with a linear reduction in hay intake by the steers (energy substitution) where the reduction was greater (P < 0.05) for barley and molasses (not different) than for sorghum (P < 0.05), and for fishmeal compared with CSM (P < 0.05). In concurrent metabolism studies with the same rations, organic matter digestibility of the total ration (561–578 g/kg DM, unsupplemented) was increased linearly by barley and molasses (both P < 0.05) but was unaffected by CSM and sorghum supplements. The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in steers increased linearly, from 91 g microbial crude protein/kg digestible organic matter (unsupplemented), in both molasses and CSM-supplemented steers, with the trend for a higher response to molasses (P = 0.05), and appeared most closely related to digestible organic matter intake. The response curves from these studies provide the practical framework upon which to formulate rations for cattle grazing low-quality forages.

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. W. Karda ◽  
G. McL. Dryden

Tarramba leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala cv. Tarramba) foliage had per kilogram dry matter, 169 g protein and 29.8 g condensed tannins. Its value as a supplement, given either with or without urea, to sheep given a low-quality Callide Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana cv. Callide) hay was studied. Six rumen fistulated sheep (mean s.d. liveweight, 34 1.4 kg) were used to compare 6 dietary treatments in an incomplete latin square design. Rhodes grass hay was given ad libitum either alone, or with urea 7 g/day (U), or with leucaena 150 g/day (L150), or leucaena with urea (L150U), or leucaena 300 g/day (L300), or leucaena with urea (L300U). Digestible organic matter intake was increased significantly by leucaena supplementation although digestibility of the whole diet did not alter. Rumen fluid ammonia-N was not altered by leucaena supplementation, but was increased by urea. This suggests that Tarramba foliage protein has some resistance to ruminal degradation. Liquid and solids passage rates were not affected by the treatments. Microbial nitrogen supply to the intestine (g/day), and the efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis (g/kg organic matter apparently digested in the rumen), were increased by leucaena supplementation (P<0.01). Microbial protein synthesis was the only response in which 300 g/day air-dry Tarramba foliage gave improved results over 150 g/day.


1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Flores ◽  
T. H. Stobbs ◽  
D. J. Minson

SummaryTwenty-four lactating Jersey cows, grazing a 3-week regrowth of nitrogen-fertilized Chloris gayana cv. Pioneer pastures selected a diet containing 18% crude protein and were given 0, 2 or 4 kg/day of fresh Leucaena leucocephala or 250 g/day of formal-casein. The effect of the treatments on milk production was measured in a 4 × 4 latin-square design experiment with experimental periods of 14 days.Mean milk yield of unsupplemented cows was 9·6 kg/day, 10·1 kg/day when cows were supplemented with formal-casein and 10·3 kg/day when fed 2 or 4 kg Leucaena/day. Yields of solids-not-fat, protein, casein, butterfat and short and medium-chain (C4–C16) fatty acids in milk fat were higher when cows were fed supplements (P < 0·01). Intake of digestible organic matter was lowest on the unsupplemented diets although feed in excess of 40 kg D.M./cow/day was offered and cows had little difficulty harvesting feed with a mean bite size of 350 mg organic matter/bite and mean grazing time of 507 min/24 h.It was concluded that a tropical grass diet containing 18% crude protein was deficient in protein for lactating cows and that small quantities of the legume Leucaena can alleviate such a deficiency.


1989 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Droushiotis

SUMMARYTwo small-grained cereals, Mulga oats and a triticale line, and two legumes, local vetch and local peas, were grown in pure stands and in mixtures at various cereal: legume seed ratios (20:80, 40:60, 60:40 and 80:20) for three successive cropping years, 1981/82 to 1983/84, at Laxia and Dromolaxia, Cyprus, in each year.The cereal pure stands produced, on average, more dry matter, 8·40 t/ha, and more digestible organic matter, 4·12 t/ha, than the legume pure stands, 3·68 and 2·18 t/ha, respectively. On average, total dry matter production decreased linearly as the seed proportion of the legume component in the mixture increased. The proportion of the legume in the harvested material was much lower than expected from the seed ratios. The highest proportion of legume was seen in the mixtures of peas with triticale and ranged from 8·1 to 35·5% at the various sowing rates. Digestibility and crude protein content were highest in the mixtures of triticale and peas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-86
Author(s):  
Fathi I. A. Brima ◽  
◽  
Awad Abusuwar ◽  

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2007 at the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat, Sudan, to investigate the effect of seed rate and NPK fertilization on yield and quality of Rhodes grass forage (Chloris gayana L. Kunth) cv. Finecut. The treatment consisted of three seed rates (SDR1, SDR2 and SDR3) namely 5, 10 and 15 kg/ha and three NPK fertilizer levels (F0, F1 and F2) namely 0, 120 and 240 kg/ha respectively. NPK fertilizer components were N17 P17 K17. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial CRBD with four replications. The results showed that seed rate significantly increased forage fresh and dry yield. NPK fertilization significantly increased forage fresh and dry yield. Neither seed rate nor NPK fertilization were significantly affected crude protein and fiber content of leaves and stems of Rhodes grass, but the increase in seed rate and fertilizer levels slightly increased crude protein and decreased fiber percentage. Seed rate ×NPK fertilization interaction showed significant effect on crude protein and crude fiber contents. The highest protein percentage obtained under SDR2 (10kg/ha) with highest NPK fertilization level F2 (240 kg/ha), and lowest value obtained under SDR1(5kg/ha) with NPK fertilization F1(120kg/ha) and SDR1(5kg/ha) under control of fertilizer treatment (F0). Regarding crude fiber, highest value obtained under SDR2(10 kg/ha) with NPK fertilization F1 (120kg/ha) and SDR3 (15 kg/ha) under control treatments of fertilization (F0).


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
Abuye Tulu ◽  
Mekonnen Diribsa ◽  
Worku Temesgen

Ten Napier grass genotypes (accessions) were assessed across 3 locations, Bako, Boneya Boshe and Gute, for forage dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) concentration, leaf:stem ratio, nutrient composition and digestibility characteristics during 2016 and 2017. The genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Mean DM yield was higher for accession ILRI 16804 across all locations followed by ILRI 16801 and ILRI 16800. Leaf:stem ratio, CP concentration and CP and digestible organic matter (OM) yields also varied significantly among genotypes with the highest values obtained for accession ILRI 16804 across all locations, followed by ILRI 16800 and ILRI 16801. Yields of DM, CP and digestible OM and leaf:stem ratio were higher at Boneya Boshe and Gute than at Bako and higher during 2017 than during 2016. The consistently superior performance of ILRI 16804, ILRI 16801 and ILRI 16800 in both years across the 3 sites suggests that these genotypes should be studied further on farms and in differing environments before being recommended for general cultivation in this area. Examining performance with more frequent harvests and feeding studies with livestock would confirm the benefits to be obtained from planting these new accessions.


Author(s):  
Heather J Black ◽  
D H B Chestnutt

Winter clipping of breeding ewes has given variable increases in lamb birth weight associated mainly with increased ewe voluntary food intake (Rutter, Laird and Broadbent, 1972; Vipond, King, Inglis and Hunter, 1987). The requirement for energy is greatest during the last six weeks of pregnancy but increasing uterine occupation of rumen volume may limit the ewe's ability to increase intake after clipping in late pregnancy. The additional influence of forage quality on intake after clipping is not clear. The present experiment was designed to study the independent and interacting effects of clipping regime and silage quality on lambing performance.Sixty Greyface ewes of uniform age were individually penned 14 weeks before lambing. Precision chop silage offered ad libitum was either early cut [188.3 g dry matter (DM)/kg, 155.7 g crude protein (CP)/kg DM, 740 g digestible organic matter (DOM)/kg DM] or late cut (184.5 g DM/kg, 100.9 g CP/kg DM, 689 g DOM/kg DM). For all treatments concentrate feeding was introduced 7 weeks before lambing, on an increasing scale to provide a total of 21 kg/ewe. Silage type was factorially arranged with 6 clipping regimes.


1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1111-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. KNIPFEL ◽  
J. A. KERNAN ◽  
E. C. COXWORTH ◽  
R. D. H. COHEN

A trial was conducted to determine the nutritive value for sheep of kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad) grown on saline soil and harvested at the early seed stage and the full bloom stage of maturity. There was a significant decrease in digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) with increasing kochia maturity (31.6 vs. 23.2 g DOMI kg−0.75 (SE = 0.6; P < 0.05) and 4.22 vs. 1.41 g DCPI kg−0.75 (SE < 0.001; P < 0.05)). Early cut kochia appears to be at least equivalent in digestible energy to alfalfa, but lower in digestible protein. Key words: Kochia, maturity, nutritive value, sheep


1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 925 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Hogan ◽  
RH Weston ◽  
JR Lindsay

A study was made of the composition, intake, and digestion of dried Phalaris tuberosa forage that had been harvested at three stages of maturity. Advancing maturity was associated with: (i) decreased food intake; (ii) increased expenditure of time and energy in chewing activities; (iii) decline in the rate of flow of digesta from the abomasum though not from the rumen; (iv) decline in digestibility in the whole tract of organic matter, nitrogen, and the structural carbohydrates; (v) decline in the digestion of fibre in the rumen relative to that occurring in the whole tract; (vi) decline in the quantities of volatile fatty acids and amino acids made available to the animal. By contrast only small differences attributable to maturity were observed in: (i) the distribution of digestion of organic matter between stomach and intestines; (ii) the digestibility of nitrogen other than ammonia in the intestines; (iii) the proportions of digestible organic matter derived from volatile fatty acids and amino acids; (iv) the proportions of individual amino acids in the digesta passing to the intestine. It was calculated that microbial piotcin contributed 33, 38, and 47% of the protein passing from the stomach to the intestincs with the diets of advancing maturity. Most of the remaining protein was presumably of dietary origin. About 80% of the crude protein in the digesta was present in the form of amino acids, and the quantities of amino acids released in the intestines were calculated to be equivalent to 64–66 g/100 g crude protein intake. With advancing maturity of the diets the plasma levels of the essential ammo acids except lysine, histidine, and arginine declined; there was little effect of diet on the plasma levels 01 non-essential amino acids. However, relative to total essential amino acids, the ratios of valine and leucine decreased with advancing maturity of the diet while those of lysine, histidine, glutamate, glycine, alanine, and serine increased. * Part 111, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 1969, 20, 347.


1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Garnsworthy ◽  
D. T. Stokes

SUMMARYThe production of biomass and its partitioning into stem, leaf, ear and dead material were monitored weekly in crops of wheat and oats from 16 May 1990, which corresponded approximately to ear emergence in the wheat, until ensilage on 29 June, 7 July and 19 July 1990 using the Ag-Bag system. An enzyme/inoculant additive was used on both crops on each ensilage date, although a portion of oats was ensiled without additive on the first two cutting dates, giving a total of eight silages. Changes in rumen degradability of dry matter were assessed for both crops throughout the monitoring period using the synthetic fibre bag technique. The digestibilities of gross energy, modified acid detergent fibre, organic matter and crude protein were determined in vivo using sheep.Over the total period of monitoring, the daily rates of increase in dry matter (DM) yield were 15·1 (± 1·6) and 16·5 (±1·9) g DM/m2 for wheat and oats respectively. From 29 June to 19 July the rates of increase were 11·3 (± 3·1) and 23·1 (±6·0) g DM/m2. The increase in weight of the ears accounted for almost all of this increase and, by the end of the monitoring period, the ears contributed approximately half of the dry matter of each crop. In both crops the portion of dead material was small until 19 July, when there was a rapid increase in the amount of dead stem. The DM content of both crops remained < 30% up to day 33 (18 June) but increased from c. 33% to c. 52% between days 53 and 65 (8–20 July). Rumen degradability of both crops decreased rapidly from c. 66% on 16 May until 16 June, when it was c. 56% for wheat and 55% for oats; it remained constant at these values thereafter.For silages made on the three successive ensilage dates, there was an increase in DM and starch contents but decreases in digestible energy, digestible fibre and digestible crude protein contents. Digestible organic matter was similar for the first two ensilage dates but lower in silage made on the third date.The use of an additive with the oat crop resulted in decreases in the digestible energy, digestible organic matter and digestible crude protein contents of the silages compared with untreated oats.Maximum yield of DM from wheat (18·6 t/ha) was obtained with the third cutting date, but optimum yield of energy (170 GJ/ha) and digestible crude protein (746 kg/ha) were found at the second cutting date. For oats, maximum yield of DM (17·3 t/ha) was again found with the third cut and maximum yield of energy (159 GJ/ha, untreated; 140 GJ/ha with additive) with the second cut. Digestible crude protein yield was greatest with the second cut of oats when no additive was used (708 kg/ha) but with additive it was greatest with the first cut (661 kg/ha).It was concluded that, under these conditions, the optimum date for ensilage of wheat or oats was 7 July and that the use of the additive was detrimental to the quality of the oat silage.


1977 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Tagari ◽  
D. Ben-Ghedalia

SUMMARYDigestibility trials were carried out to study the digestibility of Rhodes grass fed alone and in mixed concentrate diets. Twelve Awassi rams were used to examine the seasonal effect on the digestibility of Rhodes grass harvested at 21-day intervals.A consistent increase in the content of crude protein up to the 6th harvest was observed, being accompanied by an increase in crude protein digestibility and voluntary feed intake.In the second experiment Rhodes grass and concentrate mixed diets were examined. Sixteen Awassi rams were allocated to four diets which included 16, 32, 52 and 100% Rhodes grass. Dry-matter digestibility was found significantly different between the all-grass diet and the rest. The digestibility of crude fibre in the whole diet decreased significantly with the increase in concentrate content. The digestibility of crude fibre of Rhodes origin was calculated. It appears that the detrimental effect of concentrate on the digestibility of crude fibre of Rhodes grass origin is limited. This finding is supported by the high C2/C3 ratios in rumen liquor which were maintained up to 68% concentrate in the diet.This study indicates that Rhodes grass may serve as a highly efficient roughage component in dairy rations.


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