The efficiency of utilization of forage oats in relation to the quantity initially available

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Hedges ◽  
JL Wheeler ◽  
WT Williams

Two experiments on the efficiency of utilization of oats by Merino sheep are reported. In the first experiment eight plots with a range from 2730 to 4850 kg dry matter per ha were stocked at c. one sheep per 40 kg of forage. In the second, five plots with approximately equal quantities of forage oats were stocked at c. one sheep per 18, 29, 38, 44, and 50 kg of forage. The data were analysed by regression, ordination, and canonical analysis. Over the range of availabilities examined in experiment I there was no indication that increased dry matter availability reduced the efficiency of utilization. In experiment II, however, increased grazing pressure was associated with an increase in the total liveweight gain and metabolizable energy harvested from a constant quantity of forage; this implied lower efficiency at the lower stocking pressures. The higher digestibility of the forage on some plots in the first experiment was associated with an increased rate of dry matter intake and a reduction in wastage; this effect appeared to be independent of the original planned comparison. It was concluded that within the range of availability studied, forage digestibility and stocking pressure were probably more important determinants of the efficiency of utilization of oats than was the quantity of forage available.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Hatungimana ◽  
Tess C Stahl ◽  
Peter S Erickson

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth performance and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of Holstein heifers limit-fed diets containing different amounts of wet brewer’s grains (WBG). A 12-wk randomized complete block study was conducted using 30 yearling Holstein heifers [378 ± 27 d of age, and body weight (BW) of 357.8 ± 27.6 kg (mean ± SD)]. Treatments were 0%, 10% and 20% of WBG on a dry matter (DM) basis and diets were formulated to be limit-fed for dry matter intake (DMI) at 2.35% of BW and provided 15% crude protein (CP) and 2.27 Mcal metabolizable energy/kg of DM. Dry matter intake was recorded daily, while BW and skeletal measurements were measured every 2 wk. During week 12, fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum over four consecutive days and composited by heifer to determine apparent total tract nutrient digestibility using acid detergent insoluble ash as a marker. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Dry matter intakes, BW, and average daily gain were not different among treatments (P = 0.2, P = 0.4, and P = 0.6, respectively). Dry matter intakes ranged from 8.6 to 9.0 kg/d. Average BW were 404.4, 411.5, and 409.3 kg for heifers fed the 0%, 10%, and 20% WBG diets, respectively. Average daily gains were 1.03, 1.04, and 0.96 kg/d for heifers fed the 0%, 10%, and 20% WBG diets respectively. Skeletal measurements and body condition scores (BCS) were not different among treatments except for the change in heart girth (P < 0.01) and initial BCS (P < 0.01). Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, organic matter, CP, fat, and hemicellulose were greater or tended to be greater in heifers fed 0% and 20% WBG treatments than heifers fed 10 % WBG (P = 0.04, P = 0.04, P = 0.06, P = 0.06, and P = 0.01, respectively). Neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and fat digestibilities were similar among treatments (P = 0.2, P = 0.3, and P = 0.3, respectively). During the digestibility phase, DMI tended to be greater (P = 0.08) for the 10% WBG treatment. These results demonstrate that limit-feeding heifers with diets containing up to 20% WBG could replace soybean- and corn-based concentrates in diets without adverse consequences to the heifer growth performance.


Author(s):  
Eric Hatungimana ◽  
Tess C Stahl ◽  
Peter S Erickson

Abstract Objectives of this study were to evaluate apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility and purine derivative (PD) excretion in dairy heifers limit-fed diets containing wet brewer’s grains (WBG) treated with salt. A 12-wk replicated 4×4 Latin square was conducted using 8 Holstein heifers of 224.5 ± 19.4 d of age, and body weight (BW) of 219.2 ± 28.1 kg (mean ± SD). Fresh WBG were treated with 0%, 0.8%, 1.6%, and 2.4% salt and stored for 4 d before being fed. Salt was added either to the WBG or separately to equalize the amount of salt in the diet. The diet contained 9% grass silage, 47% corn silage, 19% corn meal, 17.6% WBG and salt, 2% soybean meal (SBM), and 3% mineral mix. Diets were formulated to be limit-fed at 2.15% of BW, provide 14% crude protein (CP) and 2.27 Mcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg of dry matter (DM). Heifers were adapted to diets for 14 d followed by a 7-d collection period. Dry matter intake (DMI) was recorded daily during the collection week while BW was recorded once a week. Urine and fecal samples were collected during the last 4 d of the collection period. Acid insoluble ash was used as an internal marker to determine apparent nutrient digestibility. Weight loss of WBG during storage was determined from d 1 to d 11 and initial and final yeast and mold counts were determined. Final yeast counts were similar among treatments while final mold counts tended to be lesser (P = 0.07) for the 0.8 and 1.6% salt treatments. Urinary volume was similar among treatments while allantoin (P = 0.14), and uric acid (P < 0.01) and total PD excretion tended to increase (P = 0.13) quadratically. Dry matter intake was varied by treatment (linear, quadratic, and cubic effects P < 0.01). Heifers fed the 0.8% treatment had the least DMI. Non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) digestibility linearly decreased (P < 0.04) as salt increased. Digestibilities of DM, and organic matter (OM), tended to decrease (P < 0.10) with increasing levels of salt added to WBG. Fat digestibility was quadratic with the greatest value for the 1.6% treatment. Treating WBG with salt reduced its deterioration based on lesser mold counts for the 0.8 and 1.6% treatments. These treatments had resulted in greater fat digestibility and tended to have increased PD excretion suggesting improved microbial protein synthesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-792
Author(s):  
E. K. Okine ◽  
D. H. McCartney ◽  
J. B. Basarab

The accuracy of predicted CowBytes® versus actual dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) of 407 Hereford × Angus and Charolais × Maine Anjou (445.6 ± 36 kg) feeder cattle using digestable enery acid detergent fiber (DE) estimated from the (ADF) content [Laboratory analysis method (LAB)] and from values determined in vivo (INVIVO method) was examined. The diet consisted of a 73.3% concentrate diet, 22.0% barley silage, 1.6% molasses, and 3.1% feedlot supplement fed ad libitum (as-fed basis). The calculated DE values of the feed were used to predict the metabolizable energy (ME), net energy of maintenance (NEm), and net energy of gain (NEg) of the diet. These energy values were then used in CowBytes® to predict dry matter intake (DMI), ADG, and days on feed (DOF) necessary to meet targeted quality grade of AA and weights of 522 and 568 kg for the heifers and steers, respectively. There was no effect of gender and prediction method interaction (P > 0.10) on any of the variables measured. There were no (P > 0.05) differences in predicted DMI by either the INVIVO or LAB method but both methods underestimated DMI actually consumed by the cattle by 6.8 and 4.9% (P = 0.007), respectively. Indeed, regression values from these predictive methods and actual DMI were (P < 0.05) different from the one-to-one relationship expected by definition. In spite of the higher actual DMI, the actual ADG of the cattle was 14 and 11% (P = 0.0004) lower than was predicted by either the INVIVO or LAB methods. A possible reason for the lower ADG could be an overestimation of DE of the diet. Thus, if available, users of CowBytes® should use actual DMI from their experience in ration formulation. In addition, the effects of environmental temperature on digestibility of diets should be taken into consideration when using the DE of the diet as determined from in vivo digestibility trials or calculated from chemical analyses in determining the DMI of feedlot cattle. Key words: Beef cattle, performance, CowBytes®, National Research Council


1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Aston ◽  
J. C. Tayler

ABSTRACT1. Experiment 1. Six treatment groups of one British Friesian and four South Devon × British Friesian bulls, initially 432 kg mean live weight and aged 491 days, were offered individually maize or grass silage ad libitum plus 0, 5 or 10g barley dry matter per kg live weight daily for 80 days. The silages had similar digestible dry matter and estimated metabolizable energy contents but the grass silage contained more ammonia and acetic, propionic and butyric acids. Mean values for groups receiving respectively maize and grass silage diets were for dry-matter intake 17·7, 20·3, 20·4 and 13·0, 16·6, 18·7 g/kg live weight and for live-weight gain 1·00, 1·32, 1·46 and 0·65, 0·98, 1·22kg/day. Significantly more maize than grass silage dry matter was eaten when the silages were given alone and dry-matter intakes, live-weight and carcass gains were greater for maize silage diets. Dry-matter intake, live-weight and carcass gains, efficiency of feed use and carcass quality significantly improved when barley was given.2. Experiment 2. Six groups of five British Friesian bulls, initially 418 kg mean live weight and aged 474 days, were offered individually maize silage ad libitum with either urea or one of two quantities of aqueous ammonia mixed in at the time of feeding, plus 0 or 5 g barley dry matter per kg live weight daily for 90 days. The urea and ammonia-treated silages contained 125, 124 and 148 g crude protein per kg dry matter respectively, with pH values of 3·8, 3·9 and 4·3, and when given alone or with barley mean daily intakes (g dry matter per kg live weight) were 17·1, 18·6 for urea-treated silage diets, and 17·8, 18·8 and 16·9, 19·1 respectively for ammoniatreated silage diets. Live-weight gains were 0·69, 0·94, 0·63, 1·09, 0·64 and 1·07 kg/day. Ammonia treatment had no effect on intake or live-weight gain. Live-weight and carcass gains and carcass quality improved when barley was given.3. The maize silage offered in Experiment 1 contained similar metabolizable energy but more starch than that in Experiment 2 and was used more efficiently for live-weight gain.


1982 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Tudor ◽  
D. J. Minson

SUMMARYThe net energy values for growth and fattening of two artificially dried tropical grasses-, pangola (Digitaria decumbens) and setaria (S. sphacelata var. sericea cv. Nandi), of similar estimated metabolizable energy content (8·07 and 7·96 MJ/kg D.M.) were determined with cattle using a slaughter technique. Growing cattle with a mean initial weight of 175 kg were given equal quantities of dry matter of the two grasses at each of three planes of nutrition above maintenance for a period of 152 days.The initial energy, fat and protein content of the total body of the 24 test animals was estimated from regressions relating fasted live weight to theśe components, derived from 12 similar cattle slaughtered at the beginning of the feeding period. The final energy, fat and protein content of the test animals was determined directly by chemical analysis. The metabolizable energy (ME) content of the grasses was estimated from the level of digestible energy (DE) determined with eight cattle, assuming that ME = 0·815 DE.The cattle fed pangola gained more live weight, empty-body weight, fat, protein and energy than animals fed similar quantities of setaria. The net energy value for growth and fattening (NEf) was determined using regressions relating energy retention to the quantity of dry matter eaten. NEf in MJ/kg dry matter was 2·27 for pangola and 1·31 for setaria.Efficiency of utilization of ME for growth and fattening (kf) was.27·7% for pangola and 16·9% for setaria. These values for tropical grasses are lower than any values reported for temperate pasture species. Thus the lower efficiency of utilization of ME may cause the lower production of cattle which graze tropical grasses.It was concluded that as the kf values of different tropical grasses are not constant, kf values should be measured on a wider range of tropical grasses so that this factor can be taken into account when evaluating grasses in animal production systems.


1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Hinks ◽  
I. E. Edwards ◽  
A. R. Henderson

SUMMARY1. Herbage was ensiled, fresh at 17% DM or wilted to 32% DM, with and without the addition of formic acid (19·2 kg/tonne DM). The silages were fed individually ad libitum to 36 fifteen-month-old British Friesian steers of about 280 kg initial live weight (nine animals per treatment).2. Wilting and the application of formic acid both inhibited fermentation, resulting in silages with higher levels of water-soluble carbohydrates, lower concentrations of volatile nitrogen and lower organic acid contents.3. There were no significant dry matter × formic acid interactions in dry-matter intake or daily live-weight gain.4. Treatment with formic acid did not enhance significantly either dry-matter intake or daily live-weight gain. Furthermore, it had little effect on digestibility, nitrogen retention or metabolizable energy (ME) concentration.5. Wilting before ensiling increased dry-matter intake from 5·0 to 8·3 kg/head per day with consequent marked increases in ME intake, nitrogen retention and live-weight gain. Wilting, however, had little effect on digestibility, ME concentration, or the efficiency with which dietary nitrogen intake was retained.


1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (86) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
DS Gillespie ◽  
JW McLaughlin

An experiment at Hamilton in western Victoria from June to October 1972 examined the feasibility of fattening two-year-old Corriedale wethers from 30 to 50 kg liveweight when fed simple rations in feedlots. Using a factorial design, treatments compared were mid-season or late cut pasture hay offered ad libitum and oat grain fed at 0, 0.25, 0.50 kg head-1 day-1 or ad libitum. Two additional groups were set stocked on green pasture; one of them was offered oat grain ad libitum. Performance of sheep in the feedlot (intake, liveweight and carcase gain, feed conversion and wool production) was influenced by hay type and level of oat feeding. Liveweight gain over the period of feeding increased linearly until oats comprised about 50 per cent of the daily dry matter intake, but the highest liveweight gain in the feedlot (127 g day-1) occurred when sheep were given a ration consisting of 25 per cent mid-season hay and 75 per cent oats. Sheep on pasture gained at an average of 146 g day-1. Irrespective of composition of the ration, liveweight gain increased by 20 g day1, carcase weight by 15 g day-1 and wool by 1.7 g day -1 for each additional MJ of metabolizable energy intake.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
U. J. Ikhatua ◽  
F. O. Olubajo

Two feeding and digestibility trials were carried out to investigate the effects of groundnut cake (GNC) supplementation on feed intake, DM digestibility, nutrient utilization and liveweight gain of three breeds of cattle fed on all-roughage rations (hay and fresh grass) of Cynodon nlemfuensis var robustus. The results showed a decrease in mean DM intake of the basal ration by approximately 13.14%; 1.9% and 6.4% and an increase in total dry matter intake (basal + GNC supplement) of approximately 0.42%), 11.56% and 11.04% for the indigenous, crosses and exotic animals respectively. The results also showed non-significent increases in the apparent digestibilities of the nutrients. Both the total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) kg/W0.75 and Metabolizable Energy (ME) Kcal/W0.75 intake by the three breeds of cattle were increased with supplementation and mean daily liveweight increased by 18.92%, 13.15% and 16.27% respectively.


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 723-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. GIRARD

A mathematical analysis of heat production by growing ruminants was used to assess the physiological importance of assimilation and digestion of dry matter intake. Energy retention (ER) was calculated according to National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) (1984) for 300- and 600-kg cattle fed hay or corn silage with approximately 0, 25, 50 and 75% oat or corn grain. Protein synthesis was calculated for each ER using NAS-NRC (1984) standards for medium- and large-frame bulls, steers and heifers. Fat retention was then estimated by removing the caloric value of protein from ER and dividing the result by the caloric value of fat. Heat production (Y, MJ), obtained as the difference between metabolizable energy (ME) intake and energy retention, was related to the animal's metabolic weight (X1, kg), to the protein (X2, kg) and fat (X3, kg deposited and to the dry matter intake (X4, kg):[Formula: see text]This equation explained 99.9% of the variation of individual heat productions predicted by the California net energy system (NAS-NRC 1984). Heat production per kilogram dry matter intake (3.85 MJ) ranged from 38% at maintenance to 48% above maintenance of the total heat produced, which is similar to values reported in the literature from physiological studies. Metabolizable energy efficiency for fasting, gain of protein and gain of fat was respectively 102, 63 and 64%, whatever feed-stuffs were used. The proposed energy system can be summarized and used as follows: ME requirement = ME for fasting + ME for gain of fat + ME for gain of protein + ME for dry matter intake. In this form, ordinary ME values for feedstuffs are used. Key words: Ruminant, growth, protein fat efficiency, system, intake energy


1980 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. D. Greenhalgh ◽  
G. W. Reid

SummaryTwo experiments were made, each with 35 autumn-calving cows fed on complete diets containing 40–70% hay and 60–30% concentrates. In both experiments, cows fed to appetite on a diet containing 11 MJ metabolizable energy/kg D.M. for weeks 7–24 of lactation ate about 20% more than cows rationed according to yield, but produced only about 3% more milk. The cows fed to appetite gained more in live weight, but lost their weight advantage during the subsequent grazing season.In Expt 1, a further group of cows were fed to appetite on diets progressively reduced in metabolizable energy content from 11·0 to 9·2 MJ/kg. Dry-matter intake decreased by about 1·2 kg/day per 1 MJ reduction in energy content. The lower dry-matter and energy intakes of cows on this treatment did not significantly reduce their milk yield, but their response when turned out to grass suggested under-nutrition in late winter. In Expt 2, increasing the energy content of the diet in early lactation (weeks 7–12) and reducing it thereafter had no significant effect on milk yield.Within each treatment group there were reasonably close relationships between energy intake and energy requirement. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the efficiency of feed utilization of cows fed on complete diets will be low unless intake is controlled by energy dilution.


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