Utilization by fattening sheep of the energy and nitrogen in fresh herbage and in hay made from it

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 974 ◽  
Author(s):  
N McCGraham

Balances of energy, carbon, and nitrogen were measured with fresh herbage cut at 28 days' regrowth, and with hay made from it. Measurements were made on four wether sheep at fasting and at four levels of feeding. The herbage contained paspalum grass and white clover in proportions ranging from 0.6 : 1 to 1.2 : 1, with dry matter between 11 and 17%. It contained (dry matter basis) : 10% ash, 3% soluble sugars, 25% cellulose, 23% crude protein, and 9% lignin; crude fibre was 22% and nitrogen-free extractives 42%. The hay had the same composition. Digestibility of organic matter was 75% for the fresh material and 73% for the hay; digestible energy values were 73 and 70% respectively. The difference between fresh herbage and hay was due entirely to a decrease in the digestibility of protein, from 82% to 73%, in drying. Efficiency of utilization of digested protein was not affected. Digestibility of both materials decreased by 2 to 4 units between the lowest and highest feeding levels. One other difference was found, viz. the ratio methane production/kcal digestible energy was 1–2% greater with the hay. Metabolizable energy was 82–84% of digestible energy for both materials. Heat production bore a linear relation to metabolizable energy above maintenance. Net availability of metabolizable energy was 75% between fasting and maintenance, and 52% above maintenance, for both the fresh and dry food. These quantities were predictable to within 8% from metabolizable energy or fibre digestibility; the normally used starch equivalent factors underestimated the correct values by some 25%.

Author(s):  
Molly L. McGhee ◽  
Hans H. Stein

The metabolizable energy (ME) in corn was greater (P < 0.05) than in hybrid rye when fed to sows in mid-gestation, although the difference between the two grains was less than the difference previously observed in growing pigs. An exogenous enzyme mixture did not increase apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter or gross energy in corn or hybrid rye fed to gestating sows. Likewise, digestible energy and ME in corn and hybrid rye were not increased by the enzymes.


1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham N McC

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Clare) was harvested before flower emergence and dried rapidly without heating. Each of four adult sheep was given the dried clover at rates of 200, 600, 1000, and 1400 g/day in four successive fortnights and was finally fed ad libitum for 1 month. Energy, nitrogen, and carbon balances and body weight changes were measured. The fasting energy losses of the sheep were determined at the end of the experiment. The hay contained approximately 27% crude protein, 14% crude fibre, and 3% lignin (dry matter basis) and was eaten avidly by the sheep. Voluntary consumption ranged from 1400 to 2100 g dry matter/day, and maximum balances were 2080 kcal and 17 g nitrogen/day. Digestibility of energy was 78% at the lowest level of feeding and 74% at the highest. Cell wall and cell contents were respectively 74 and 82% digestible. Energy losses in methane were unusually low (7–11% of digestible energy) whereas losses in urine were unusually high (12–21%). The net result was that metabolizable energy was a lower fraction of digestible energy than for most forages, e.g, it was c. 77% at maintenance instead of the normal 82%. Net availability of metabolizable energy was 84% between fasting and half maintenance, 69% between fasting and maintenance, and 54% above maintenance. The value of this clover per gram was in keeping with its chemical composition and digestibility; its exceptional value as a feed was due to the large amounts of digestible energy which the sheep took in when fed ad libitum.


1972 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Raven

SUMMARYA 6 x 6 Latin Square balance experiment was carried out using six Friesian steers, each of which initially weighed about 304 kg. The six treatments studied were an all-hay diet and five other diets containing 20,40,60,80 and 100 % of rolled barley fortified with mineral and vitamin supplements, accompanied by correspondingly reduced proportions of hay. Each diet was fed at an estimated maintenance level of feeding.The progressive increase in the proportion of concentrate gave a significantly linear increase (P < 0·001) in both digestible and calculated metabolizable energy. The actual increase in digestible energy was from 2·62Mcal/kg dry matter (59·3% of the gross energy) on the all-hay treatment to 3·42 Mcal/kg dry matter (79·5% of the gross energy) on the all-concentrate treatment. Use of the determined digestible energy values for the all-hay and fortified barley diets to calculate the digestible energy of the four mixed diets gave results in reasonably good agreement with the determined values, the maximum difference being 0·12 Mcal/kg dry matter, which represented 3·83 % of the determined value. The losses of energy in the urine expressed as percentages of the gross energy of the diets showed a small but significantly linear decrease (P < 0·01) with increase in proportion of barley in the diet. The molar proportions of steamvolatile acids in samples of rumen fluid taken from two animals on each treatment indicated that increase in the proportion of concentrate was associated with tendencies for increase in acetic acid, decrease in propionic acid and little change in butyric acid. The mean digestibility of the organic matter was 62·6 % on the all-hay treatment and 81·8 % on the all concentrate treatment. The progressive increase in the proportion of concentrate gave a significantly linear increase (P < 0·001) in digestibility of the organic matter. Although intakes of nitrogen decreased with increase in the proportion of concentrate due to a decrease in the amount of dry matter fed, the weights of nitrogen retained were well maintained and when expressed as percentages of intake showed a significantly linear increase (P < 0·01).


1978 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-284
Author(s):  
Maija-Liisa Salo

61 samples of barley with a volume weight of 38—75 kg/hl, and 49 oat samples with a volume weight of 40—65kg/hl were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics. The approximate metabolizable energy (ME) value was calculated from the composition. The physical characteristics varied more, but the starch content less, in barley than in oats. There was also a negative correlation between starch and crude protein, and ether extract level in barley, but not in oats. Therefore the difference between the ME values of the best and the poorest samples was only 12% for barley, but 27 % for oats. Both the starch and the crude protein content predicted the ME value well: R2 of starch was 78—94 %, and that of crude fibre 55—84 %. The volume weight still gave a good indication for barley, but not at all for oats.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-172
Author(s):  
U. Okah ◽  
E. A. Anita

A study was conducted to evaluate nutrient intake and digestibility of Panicum maximum fed in combination with selected browse plants to West African dwarf (WAD) bucks. Four intact West African dwarf (WAD) bucks of mean body weight 17.50kg were used to conduct digestibility study in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design experiment. Four forage combinations, diets A, B, C and D were fed to the goats. Diet A, the control, was 100% Panicum maximuni, while diets B, C and D contained 60% Panicum maximum each plus 40% of Alchornea cordifolia, Manniophyton fulvum and Gmelina arborea, respectively. The study lasted 56 days in a 14 day x 4 change over periods. Data were collected on dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient intake and digestibility. Simple linear regression and correlation were used to assess the degree of relationship between some of the digestion components. The result of proximate analysis indicated that the diets (P. max + browse) B, C and D had significantly (p<0.05) higher dry matter (%DM) contents of 81.12, 81.09 and 80.68%, respectively, than the 75.71% for diet A (sole P.max). Crude protein content of 17.56, 15.62 and 17.52%, respectively were also higher (p<0.05) than the 8.38%for diet A. There was higher (p<0.05) ether extract content of 2.43, 2.38 and 2.32%, for diets B, C, and D, respectively than the 1.32% for diet A. The ash content of 10.71, 9.78 and 9.76% for diets B, C and D respectively, were also higher (p<0.05) than the 7.83% for diets A. Metabolizable energy (MJKg-1) values of 1.41, 1.42 and 1.42 for diets B, C and D were also higher (p<0.05) than the 1.31 for diet A. However, the crude fibre value of the diet A (27.26%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the 18.30, 19.30 and 18.58% for diets B, C and D. respectively. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in DMI among treatment means. Vitro significantly (p<0.05) higher for animals fed diets B(15.04). C(13.12 ) and D(14.48 ) wherein P.max was fed in combination with browse plants than in the diet A( 6.28) group fed sole Pmax. Faecal nitrogen showed no significant (p>0.05) difference among treatment means. Urinary nitrogen was significantly (p<0.05) higher in diet A group (0.39) than in diets B (0.30), C (0.34) and D (0.43) groups. There was positive nitrogen balance for all in the treatment groups. Apparent nitrogen digestibility (%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in diets B (92.37). C (90.51) and D (97.63) groups than in diet A (79.49). Nitrogen intake (g/d) could not reliably predict faecal nitrogen (g/kgDM) in diets C and D groups. Absorbed nitrogen (g/d/WKg0.75) could not predict urinary nitrogen (g/d/WKg0.75) in any of the diets. Biological value (BV) of the diets were A (55), B (45), C (81) and D (97). The result of this study shows that the animals fed P. max + browse recorded higher DMI, nutrient intake and digestibility than the sole P.max diet. These evaluation indices were, however, mostly better in the diet B group (60% P.maximum + 40% Alchornea cordifolia). The combination of 60% P. maximum + 40% Alchornea cordifolia is therefore recommended for West African dwarf (WAD) goats reared in the humid tropics of Nigeria for optimum intake and improved nutrient utilization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-191
Author(s):  
V. A. Oyenuga ◽  
B. L. Fetuga

The proximate and mineral constituents of six plantain forms, raw green plantain (RGP), cooked green plantain (CGP), raw ripe plantain (RRP), cooked ripe plantain (CRP), green plantain meal (GPM) and ripe plantain meal (RPM) were determined by chemical analysis. 24 large white barrows, weighing initially, between 40-45 kg., were used to study the apparent digestibility of nutrients, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen retention (ME(n) and total digestible nutrients when the plantains served as the only source of nutrients. In a second experiment ME and ME(n) were measured for the plantain forms using 28 Large White barrows, with diets in which the plantains replaced 50% of maize in a basal diet. All the plantain forms had low fat, crude fibre and crude protein content but high in nitrogen-free extract, phosphorus, potassium and Iron. Identically high dry matter (D.M.) and nitrogen-free extract (N.F.E.) digestion coefficients were obtained for all the plantain forms except RPM, which had significantly lower values. Digestion coefficients for crude protein (46.9, 53.6, 51.8, 34.3,-32.7 %), crude fibre, (46.6, 49.5, 58.7, 62.6, 56.9, 39.6 %), ether extract (55.9, 56.6, 66.9, 69.2, 54.7 and 34.6 %) for RGP, CGP, RRP, CRP, GPM and RPM respectively were considerably lower than for D.M. and N.F.E. The DE, ME ME(n) and TDN values were comparable for all plantain forms except RPM, which had significantly lower values in most cases. The fresh green plantains and green plantain meals had slightly higher energy values than the ripe plantains, even though the nutrients in the ripe plantains were better digested than in the green forms. The results are discussed in relation to variations in the relative proportions of the simple and more complex carbohydrates during ripening.


1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (53) ◽  
pp. 610 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Nottle

In pen feeding trials with eight Merino wethers, digestion coefficients were estimated for rations of cereal chaff-wheat grain-oat grain mixture, and wheat grain and oat grain fed separately at two levels of intake. Digestion coefficients for wheat and oat grain fed at 675 g/day in a double crossover experiment were dry matter 89.4, 80.8 per cent, organic matter 90.1, 82.6 per cent, protein 82.3, 77.6 per cent, ether extract 84.1, 90.9 per cent, crude fibre 33.2, 59.9 per cent, nitrogen free extractives 93.2, 85.8 per cent, energy 88.1, 81.0 per cent, total digestible nutrients 91.6, 87.1 per cent, and starch equivalents 90.7, 85.7. When these grains were fed at 785 g/day there was about 10 per cent improvement in crude fibre digestibility for both grains and 1-2 per cent improvement for other estimations with oats but not with wheat. The gross energy content of the wheat and oat grains when fed at 675 g/day was 4407 and 4700 calories/g dry matter. The digestible energy of the wheat in calories/g dry matter and organic matter was 3869 � 30, 3933 � 30 and for oats 3791 � 59, 3910 � 61. When fed at 785 g/day these values for wheat were 3850 � 50,3911 � 51 and for oats 3796 � 34, 3913 � 51. A highly significant relationship was found between energy and dry matter digestibility which for wheat diets was Y = 1.074x 7.840. r = 0.993 (P<0.001), and for oats and the mixed diet of cereal chaff-oat grain-wheat grain, Y = 0.983x + 1.550. r = 0.996 (P<0.001) where Y = energy and X = dry matter digestibility and r = the coefficient of correlation. Because of the similar digestible energy content of, and the body weight gains of sheep on, these two grains it was concluded that under the present conditions these grains were equivalent weight for weight.


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Dunaway ◽  
Sunday A. Adedokun

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate adaptation length (AL) and composition of reference diets on nitrogen (N)-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) in 22-d-old broilers. Birds were allocated to nine treatments (n = 6) consisting of wheat – soybean meal (SBM) (reference diet), corn–wheat–SBM, and wheat middlings (WM)–wheat–SBM (exp. 1), or oats–SBM (reference diet), corn–oats–SBM, and WM–oats–SBM (exp. 2) in conjunction with three AL (12, 8, and 4 d) in a factorial arrangement of treatments (3 × 3). Dry matter (DM), N, energy (En) utilization, and AMEn of corn and WM were determined using the difference method. In exp. 1, birds on the WM–wheat–SBM-based diet had the lowest (P < 0.05) DM, N, and En utilization, as well as AMEn compared with the other two diets. Additionally, AMEn for corn was higher (P < 0.05) compared with that of WM. In exp. 2, N utilization in birds on the corn–oats–SBM-based diet was lower (P < 0.05) compared with birds on the oats–SBM-based diet; however, AMEn of corn and WM was not different. In both experiments, AL was not significantly different. Based on these results, the composition of the reference diet could influence AMEn values of corn and WM in 22-d-old broilers.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. PANG ◽  
E. A. PAUL

A two-compartment growth chamber in which the aboveground plant materials were exposed to 14CO2 and the belowground portion was exposed to 15N2 under normal atmospheric pressure was designed for carbon and nitrogen transfer studies. Vicia faba infected with vesicular-arbuscular fungus Glomus mossae and non-mycorrhizal plants fixed similar quantities of N2 at an age of 6½ wk. Approximately 0.10 mg N was fixed∙g−1 dry plant materials∙day−1 and 40 mg C∙g−1 dry matter day−1 were synthesized by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal fababeans during 48 h exposure to 14CO2 at 6½ wk with no apparent difference in yield of dry matter. The non-mycorrhizal plants transferred 37% of the fixed 14C beneath ground. The mycorrhizal ones transferred 47% of the fixed 14C beneath ground. Most of the difference could be accounted for in the belowground respiration. The 14CO2 produced by root-microbial systems of the mycorrhizal fababeans was twice as great as that of the nonmycorrhizal; both contained active rhizobium.


1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Crabtree ◽  
G. L. Williams

SUMMARYFour levels of a proprietary concentrate (0, 100, 200 and 400 g/day) were offered to Welsh Mountain ewe lambs receiving hay or straw ad libitum for 14 weeks. The apparent digestibility of the energy and nitrogen in the various diets was determined in a concurrent digestibility trial.The voluntary intakes of the straw and hay dry matter when given alone were 242 and 451 g/day respectively (28·4 and 49·2 g/kg W0·73 per day). Straw intake increased with an increase in concentrate feeding up to a level of 25% concentrate in the total dry matter and then declined. Hay intake declined linearly with increasing concentrate level (3 g/day decline per unit increase in the percentage of concentrate). In each case the total intake of dry matter and digestible energy increased with an increase in concentrate level.There was a positive within-treatment relationship between initial live weight and voluntary intake, an additional 0·019 Meal ME/day being consumed per kg increase in live weight. Within treatment groups lambs consuming relatively more food also made relatively higher weight gains. Estimates based on published standards of the metabolizable energy intakes required to produce the live weight changes observed on each treatment were considerably higher than the intakes recorded in the trial.


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