Utilization of clover diets by sheep. 3. Palatability of a mature subterranean clover hay

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 891 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle

Two experiments were conducted using an intra-ruminal feeding technique to investigate the possibility that voluntary intake of a mature subterranean clover hay was limited by its palatability.Intra-ruminal additions of the hay, in a form approximating the physical nature of rumen dry matter, at levels up to 40% of the amounts voluntarily consumed, did not reduce oral feed intake. The additions also had no significant effects on the digestibility of organic matter or cell wall constituents or on the fractional rates of digestion in or passage from the reticula-rumen. Importantly, the amounts of digesta dry matter, and its components, in the rumen were increased in proportion to additional feed given through the fistula.These results indicate that palatability limited the intake of the clover.

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 803 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Mulholland ◽  
KS Nandra ◽  
GB Scott ◽  
AW Jones ◽  
NE Coombes

A study was made over 2 years of the nutritive value of the subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) cultivars, Trikkala, Larisa and Goulburn, in grazing experiments with Border Leicester x Merino lambs. Liveweight gain was similar for all cultivars in the first year and in the second year was higher on Larisa (153 g/day) compared with Goulburn and Trikkala (131 and 103 g/day, respectively). Wool growth was not significantly different between cultivars. Both the digestibility and water-soluble carbohydrate content of the petiole and stem plant fraction were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of the leaf fraction, even though the leaf had a lower level of cell wall organic matter. The ratio of lignin to cell wall organic matter was also higher in the leaf fraction. Samples obtained via oesophageal fistula showed that petioles comprised most of the dry matter in the diet and, thus, were the major contributor to energy supply. Differences were found in the degradability characteristics of the 3 cultivars which led to significant (P<0.05) differences in the concentration of rumen degradable dry matter and effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP). During the vegetative and early flowering stages, the concentration of ERDP exceeded the supply of fermentable metabolisable energy required for microbial protein synthesis. In mature clover, the concentration of ERDP was low and limiting microbial protein synthesis. The degradation characteristics of protein were highly correlated with liveweight gain (r2 = 0.90) and wool growth (r2 = 0.70). It is suggested that increasing the petiole : leaf ratio could increase the efficiency of utilisation of subterranean clover diets.


1999 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. WILMAN ◽  
LIAN WEN ◽  
HONGWEI QIN ◽  
YILUN JI

In order to learn more about the feeding value of stovers and straws, seven diets were compared in one experiment and nine in another. The diets in the first experiment were: the upper and lower parts of lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay, the leaves, upper stem and lower stem of maize (Zea mays) stover and the leaves and stem of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) stover. The diets in the second experiment were: the upper and lower parts of lucerne hay, the leaves, stem and whole stover of millet (Setaria italica), the straw and chaff of wheat (Triticum aestivum), rice (Oryza sativa) straw and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) haulm. The diets were fed to sheep to record rate of intake, voluntary intake and in vivo digestibility. The diets were analysed for cell wall (as neutral detergent fibre), crude protein and lignin. Organic matter degradation and cell wall degradation were recorded in nylon bags in the rumen of cattle.The highest rates of intake (6·8–9·6 g dry matter/min) and voluntary intake (75–103 g dry matter/kg W0·75/day) were with sweet potato haulm and the upper, leafy part of lucerne hay. The voluntary intake of millet leaves, wheat chaff and the lower, stemmy part of lucerne hay was moderately high (46–70 g dry matter/kg W0·75/day). Voluntary intake of leaves was higher than that of stems in the case of millet, sorghum and to a lesser extent maize. The lowest rates of intake were with millet stem, sorghum stem and rice straw (1·8–2·4 g dry matter/min). In vivo digestibility of organic matter was highest (59–67%) for the upper part of lucerne hay, sweet potato haulm, the lower part of maize stem and millet leaves. The leaves of maize were less digestible than the stem, while the reverse was the case with millet. Cell wall content was particularly high (74–78% of dry matter) in millet stem, wheat straw and chaff, rice straw and sorghum stem. Lignin content was low (3·6–4·2% of dry matter) in millet leaves, maize leaves and the upper part of maize stem. Organic matter degradation after 24 h incubation in the rumen was highest (80%) in sweet potato haulm and lowest (39–44%) in millet stem, wheat straw and chaff and rice straw. Cell wall degradation after 96 h in the rumen was highest (76–81%) with the leaves of maize, sorghum and millet and lowest (40–59%) with lucerne hay, millet stem and stover, wheat straw and chaff and rice straw.


1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 871 ◽  
Author(s):  
CE McLaren ◽  
PT Doyle

Nine mature Merino sheep received three clover diets in a randomized block design experiment. The diets were mature subterranean clover (MSC), apparent organic matter digestibility (OMD) 60%; green subterranean clover (GSC), OMD 72%; persian clover (PC), OMD 67070, and were given at 95% of measured ad libitum intake. The voluntary consumption of the MSC was lower than the intakes of the CSC and PC. Consequently, the sheep given MSC lost weight, while those receiving the more digestible diets gained weight. Associated with the different intakes in these clover diets, there there were no differences in the levels of ruminal fill, but there were differences in ruminal loads of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in sheep given MSC, GSC and PC, respectively. The flows of DM and OM through the abomasum were lower for MSC, and with a tendency for the fractional outflow rate of NDF of this diet to be lower (2.3 v. 2.8% h-1) when compared to the GSC and PC hays. The proportions of apparent OM (0.65-0.71), of NDF (0.71-0.82) and of ADF (0.95-140) digestion occurring in the rumen were similar for the three clover hays. The fractional digestion rates of potentially digestible NDF were higher for the more digestible clovers (c. 8.6% h-1) than for the MSC (6.5% h-1). The intake of the higher digestibility clovers may have been more related to the capacity of the sheep to use absorbed nutrients than to constraints imposed by ruminal digesta load, rate of digestion in the rumen or rate of outflow to the omasum. With the MSC the level of ruminal or dry matter load was low. In addition, the fractional rates of digestion and of outflow of cell wall constituents were or tended to be lower for this diet than for the other clovers. Intake of MSC may have been limited not only by these factors, but also by the supply of essential nutrients to the tissues or by other characteristics of the hay influencing its acceptability to sheep.


1989 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Warmington ◽  
G. F. Wilson ◽  
T. N. Barry

SUMMARYThe voluntary feed and water intakes of five llama × guanaco crossbreds (New World camelids) and five sheep, and their abilities to digest various feed components and to utilize nitrogen, were compared using a diet of threshed ryegrass straw in New Zealand in 1987.The camelids ate more than the sheep, but intakes were similar relative to metabolic live weight (mean 37·6 g dry matter/kg W0·75 per day). They drank 0·62 times as much water as sheep per kg W0·75, and 0·57 times as much per g DM intake (P < 0·05). Mean apparent digestibilities of dry matter (47.7%), energy (41·6%) and cell-wall fractions (48·4%) were similar in both species, in spite of the sheep selecting a higher-N component of the diet. Variation in digestibility (e.g. organic matter digestibility) among individual sheep was inversely associated with the percentage of cell-wall constituents consumed. The faeces of camelids contained a significantly higher proportion of particles longer than 0·5mm than those of the sheep (17 v. 11% total DM), indicating a slightly larger threshold to passage from the forestomachs in the camelids.All animals were in negative N balance during the trial, but net loss of N was less in the camelids than in the sheep (27·6 and 49·5 g N/100 g N intake, respectively; P < 0·05), because of lower urinary N excretion (36·5 and 60·3 g N/100 g N intake, respectively; P < 0·05) of the camelids. The results suggest that camelids may be better suited than ruminants for production from poor-quality feeds, especially if water supply is limited.


1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Moir

SUMMARYIn two grasses of low net energy value for growth and fattening of cattle, digestible cell-wall values were close to 40% of forage organic matter (OM), similar to the expected value for grass. A value of 14% of forage OM for apparently undigested cellular contents in both grasses was just outside the range of values for grass. The data supported previous evidence that total cell wall is the only value that can be used at present to define grass in terms of its digestible dry matter.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donato Andueza ◽  
Fabienne Picard ◽  
Philippe Pradel ◽  
Katerina Theodoridou

In mountain areas, hays are the main forage in winter diets for livestock. Barn-dried hays can be an alternative to traditional hays, which are generally characterized by a low feed value. The aim of this study was to compare the feed value of barn-dried hays with that of the fresh forage from a permanent meadow. The study was carried out over three periods during the first growth cycle of the meadow’s vegetation (from 30 May to 3 June, from 13 to 17 June, and from 27 June to 1 July). Fresh forage and barn-dried hays of the same fresh forages were tested for dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and voluntary intake (VI). Both types of forage obtained each period were tested with an interval of 15 days. Chemical composition and OMD of forages did not change (p > 0.05) according to the feeding method. However, the DMD values for barn-dried hays were higher (p < 0.05) than for fresh forages at the end of the cycle. VI and digestible organic matter intake of barn-dried hays were higher (p < 0.05) than that of fresh forages. In conclusion, barn-dried hays obtained from permanent grasslands presented a higher feed value than fresh forages.


1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Gill ◽  
D. E. Beever ◽  
P. J. Buttery ◽  
P. England ◽  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
...  

SummaryThe effect of oestradiol-17β on the response to fishmeal supplementation of grass silage was studied in young growing cattle. Voluntary intake and live-weight gain were recorded over 63 days with 36 British Friesian male castrates (initial live weight (LW) 119 kg) offered silage alone (C) or with 50 (FM1), 100 (FM2), or 150 (FM3) g fishmeal/kg silage dry matter. Twelve calves were allocated to each of treatments C and FM3 and six to treatments FM1 and FM2. Half of the calves on each treatment were ear-implanted with oestradiol-17β (Compudose 365) at the start of the experiment. The calves on treatments C and FM3 were slaughtered after 75 days and chemical analysis conducted on half of each carcass. The silage had an organic-matter digestibility in vivo of 0·794 and was well-fermented, with a pH of 3·7. Intake averaged 24·2±0·42 g D.M./kg LW over all the treatments and live-weight gain was 0·77 kg/day on the silage alone. There was a significant (P < 0·05) interaction between fishmeal and oestradiol-17β, such that response to the hormone was observed only in the presence of fishmeal at 100 or 150 g/kg silage D.M. A similar interaction was apparent between fishmeal at 150 g/kg silage D.M. and oestradiol-17β in the final weights of empty body and carcass. This level of fishmeal also increased protein gain from 96 to 147 g/day and this was further increased to 179 g/day in the implanted animals receiving fishmeal. However, the overall effect of oestradiol-17β on protein gain was not significant. Gross efficiency of energy utilization was significantly (P < 0·01) increased by fishmeal supplementation suggesting an improved balance of nutrients compared with the silage alone diet.


1967 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Minson

1. Experiments were conducted with wether sheep in 1964 and 1965 fed pelleted or chopped mature Digitaria decubemes Stent (pangola grass) bay containing different crude protein contents. The voluntary intake of food, digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen, nitrogen retention and apparent time of retention of feed organic matter in the reticulo-rumen were measured. The different crude protein contents of the grass were obtained by applications of urea to the sward 14 and 28 days before cutting for hay in 1964 and 1965 respectively. This treatment increased the crude protein content of the dry matter from 4.9% to 8.7% in 1964 and from 3.7% to 7.2% in 1965. The size of the particles of the ground hay before pelleting is given.2. The mean voluntary intake of chopped fertilized grass was 10% and 54% greater than that of the unfertilized; the voluntary intake of pellets made from fertilized grass was 35% and 75% greater than of those made from the unfertilized grass in 1964 and 1965 respectively.3. The voluntary intake of pellets of unfertilized grass was 7% and 14% greater than that 30% greater than that of chopped fertilized grass in 1964 and 1965 respectively.4. The digestibility of the pellets was less than that of the chopped grass.5. The apparent digestibility of the feed nitrogen was increased by the fertilizer nitrogen, but grinding and pelleting had no consistent effect. Sheep eating chopped or pelleted fertilized hay were in positive nitrogen balance.6. The apparent retention time of organic matter in the reticulo-rumen was longer when the sheep were eating chopped hay than when they were eating pellets. In 1964 the apparent retention time of organic matter in the reticulo-rumen was shorter for chopped and pelleted unfertilized grass than for chopped and pelleted fertilized grass, but in 1965 the order was reversed.7. The relationship between voluntary intake, apparent retention time of organic matter in the rumen and the protein content of the food is discussed.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
KS Nandra ◽  
VH Oddy ◽  
JF Ayres ◽  
PJ Nicholls ◽  
B Langevad ◽  
...  

The relations of the laboratory measurement of cell wall organic matter (CWOM) components and of the in vitro degradability characteristics of CWOM with in vivo digestibility and voluntary intake for high quality white clover were investigated. The voluntary intake, apparent digestibility and apparent rumen retention time of CWOM of white clover harvested at various stages of maturity were measured in rumen-cannulated Merino wether sheep. The in vitro degradability characteristics of CWOM of these diets were also measured. This study has quantified strong predictive relations between structural fibre constituents or degradation parameters and both digestibility and intake for white clover. The CWOM, cellulose and hemicellulose contents and potential degradability of CWOM of the white clover predicted in vivo organic matter digestibility with good precision (r2 = 0.74, 0.67, 0.72 and 0.72 respectively). The voluntary intakes of organic matter and digestible organic matter of the white clover were strongly related to CWOM, cellulose and hemicellulose contents and to the rate of degradation of CWOM in the rumen and the fits of these relations were at least as good as those predicting organic matter digestibility. The predictive equations based on CWOM: OMD (g/kg) = 97.6-0.081 (� 0.012) CWOM OMI (g/kg) = 83-0.085 (� 0.018) CWOM DOMI (g/kg) = 71.4-0.098 (� 0.015) CWOM are recommended because of the ease of analysis of CWOM in the laboratory.


1992 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sanderson ◽  
C. Thomas ◽  
A. B. McAllan

AbstractSeventy-two, 4-month-old, British Friesian steers were used to investigate the effects of feeding a supplement of fish meal on the voluntary intake and live-weight gain by young growing cattle given a well preserved ryegrass silage. The silage was offered either alone or mixed with 50,100 or 150 g fish meal per kg silage dry matter (DM) and the diets were offered either ad libitum or intakes were restricted to 16, 19 or 22 g dietary DM per kg live weight (LW). Intakes were recorded daily, LW weekly and in vivo apparent digestibility over one 7-day period during the 132-day trial.For animals fed ad libitum, the absolute intake of dietary DM increased linearly with an increase in the level of fish-meal supplementation such that intake when the highest level of fish meal was given was significantly higher (P < 0·01) than when silage was given alone. However, DM intake per unit LW (approx. 24 g DM per kg LW) was not affected significantly (P > 0·05).Inclusion of fish meal in the diet did not affect the apparent digestibility of dietary DM, organic matter, acid-detergent or neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) although there was a trend for slightly higher (P > 0·05) gross energy apparent digestibility when fish meal was given. Increasing the level of feeding reduced NDF digestibility. The coefficients measured at the 22 g and ad libitum levels of intake were lower (P < 0·01 and P < 0·05 respectively) than that measured at the 16 g DM per kg LW level.Animals given silage alone to appetite achieved LW gains of 0·6 kg/day. LW gains increased linearly with increasing level of feeding (P < 0·001) and increasing level offish-meal supplementation (P < 0·001).


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