Supplementary feeding with grain improves the performance of sheep grazing saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) in autumn

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 912 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Franklin-McEvoy ◽  
W. D. Bellotti ◽  
D. K. Revell

Merino wethers aged 1.5 years grazed a saltland pasture comprising old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) with an inter-row of senesced grasses and medic for 6 weeks in autumn, in a cereal–livestock zone with a Mediterranean-type environment in South Australia. The experimental treatments were a control (old man saltbush, SB), supplementation with 250 g/sheep.day barley straw (SB + S), supplementation with 250 g/sheep.day barley grain (SB + G) and supplementation with 250 g/sheep.day barley straw + 250 g/sheep.day barley grain (SB + S + G). The sheep in SB + G finished the experimental period significantly heavier (53.6 kg, P < 0.001) than SB (51.0 kg), SB + S (50.5 kg) or SB + S + G (51.1 kg) animals. Feeding grain also increased length of wool grown daily by 16% and would have increased the value of the sheep by being able to sell them ‘out of season’ when prices are higher. Sheep supplemented with grain alone had a higher liveweight than those provided with grain and straw, a result that cannot be explained but may be associated with altered grazing behaviour. It appears that, while old man saltbush provides sheep with an acceptable intake of protein and minerals, the addition of a cereal grain supplement improves energy balance and optimises rumen protein capture to improve liveweight and wool growth performance.

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 811 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Dixon ◽  
A. R. Egan

The intake and growth responses of lambs fed barley straw to a range of supplements provided on a 3- or 4-day cycle were examined. Supplements were urea and sulfur (N/S) added to the straw, or 3 increments of each of 3 approximately isonitrogenous supplements consisting of barley grain mixed with urea and sulfur (Bar/N), cottonseed meal (CSM), and a 0.4 : 0.6 mixture of fishmeal and lucerne hay (FM/L). Lambs fed straw alone consumed 38.3 g dry matter (DM)/kg W0.75 day of straw and an estimated 2.54 MJ metabolisable energy (ME)/day, and lost 20 g liveweight (LW)/day. Supplementation with N/S increased estimated ME intake by 32%. Substitution rates of Bar/N, FM/L, and CSM supplements for straw were 0.50, 0.36, and 0.25 g/g, respectively, but these rates did not differ (P > 0.05) between supplements. Digestibilities of organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were affected differently depending on both the type and amount of supplement. Estimated ME intake was increased 7.1, 7.9, and 8.6 kJ/g supplement DM by Bar/N, FM/L, and CSM, respectively. LW gain and wool growth were increased (P < 0.01) by consecutive increments of each of the supplements, and were increased more (P < 0.01) by the FM/L and CSM than by the Bar/N supplement. The slopes of the linear relationships between LWgain and estimated ME intake were greater (P < 0.05) for CSM and FM/L than for Bar/N supplement, ingested ME being used with about twice the efficiency for LW gain when the protein meal supplements rather than the cereal grain–urea supplement was fed. However, across all supplement treatments, LW gain was correlated (r = 0 .9 1 ; P < 0.001) with the absorbed amino acid supply as estimated from feeding standards. In conclusion, although supplements based on either cereal grain or protein meals increased LW gain in these young lambs, there were much greater responses to the protein meals due principally to more efficient utilisation of ingested ME for LW gain.


Author(s):  
J. Balcells ◽  
M. Fondevila ◽  
J.A. Guada ◽  
J. A. Carriedo

Utilization of low quality roughages is limited fundamentally by the low energy cont and low DM intake when fed to the ruminant animal. Supplementation with concentrates can al improved energy supply although their inclusion can lead to a negative effect upon rough intake and ruminal cellulolitic activity. Urinary excretion of purine derivatives, urea and may constitute a suitable index to detect possible effects on rumen fermentation.The objective of this study was to determine the effect of changes in rumen fermentat: upon urinary excretion of these compounds induced by dietary supplementation of straw v differents sources of carbohydrates.Twelve Rasa Aragonesa ewes (44±0.45 Kg) were fed “ad libitum” with urea-supplemer barley straw and allocated at random to 3 groups of 4 animals. Each group was supplemented barley grain, sugar beet pulp and grass hay, respectively, at 4 levels of supplementation (: 300, 450 and 600 g/d) in a 4 x 4 latin square design. Each 42-d experimental period compr: 35 days of adjustment period followed by a 7 days measurement period.


1974 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-306
Author(s):  
Gotfred Uhlen

In a greenhouse pot experiment lasting five years, 14 tons per hectare of calcium silicate (12 % Ca) were compared with an equivalent calcium hydroxide application, 3.2 t/ha, on a loam soil (»A»). Also, the experiment included excess liming with 16 t Ca(OH)2/ha, with and without the addition of the 14 tons of the calcium silicate material. A two year experiment with silicate and lime was conducted on another loam soil (»B»), The silicate application produced higher yields of barley grain and straw; the effect being proportionately higher than that of an equivalent Ca(OH)2 application. Neither a yield depression caused by an excess lime excess potassium treatment nor a yield reduction due to boron application in the low lime series could be counteracted by silicate application (soil »A»), Significant yield increases for silicate and for lime were found in the 4th and 5th years after application, although the effects were reduced compared to the responses during the first 3 years. The silica content of barley grain and straw increased considerably after silicate application. In the first year, for example, the percent of SiO2 on straw dry matter rose from less than 1 percent to 7 percent. The silica treatments and the large SiO2 uptake, apparently had no direct effects upon the phosphorus, calcium, potassium or the magnesium content of the barley crops, although the silicate seemed to improve the soil phosphorus availability. In the high-lime series, potassium applications in the first two years of the experimental period roughly doubled the silica content of barley straw and grain, whereas such an effect by the potassium fertilizers was absent in the low-lime series for both soil (»A») and (»B»). After the five year cropping period, lime and silicate were found to have influenced the soil aggregate size distribution percentages, and had markedly improved the water stability of the soil aggregates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 175-176
Author(s):  
Joaquin J Sanchez Zannatta ◽  
L F Wang ◽  
Eduardo Beltranena ◽  
Aaron D Beattie ◽  
Rex N Newkirk ◽  
...  

Abstract Barley grain containing more fermentable starch or fiber might be an attractive energy source in weaned pig diets due to benefits on gut health. Barley rapidly-fermentable carbohydrates may serve as prebiotic and slowly-fermentable fiber may decrease diarrhea in weaned pigs. Steam-explosion processing may disrupt the fiber matrix of hulls, increasing slowly-fermentable fiber of barley. To explore, 220 pigs were fed 1 of 5 diets containing 60% cereal grain: 1) low-fermentable hulled barley (LFB); 2) LFB steam-exploded (LFB-E; 1.2 MPa, 120 s); 3) high β-glucan (10% DM) hull-less barley (HFB); 4) high amylose (17% DM) hull-less barley (HFA); or 5) low-fermentable wheat (LFW). Diets were fed starting 1-week post-weaning and formulated to provide 2.4 and 2.3 Mcal net energy (NE)/kg, 5.5 and 5.1 g standardized ileal digestible lysine/Mcal NE for phase 1 (day 1–14) and phase 2 (day 15–35), respectively. For the entire trial (day 1–35), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of pigs did not differ among diets. Gain:feed (G:F) did not differ between LFB and LFW diets, but steam-explosion of hulled barley reduced (P &lt; 0.05) G:F. Feces consistency did not differ between LFB and LFW diets, but was better (P &lt; 0.05) for LFB than HFB, HFA and LFB-E diets. For phase 1, G:F of pigs was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for LFB-E diet than LFW diet. For days 22–28, LFB-E diet had greater (P &lt; 0.01) ADFI than HFA diet and tended (P = 0.09) to have a greater ADG than HFB diet. In conclusion, hulled or hull-less barley grain replaced wheat grain without affecting growth performance in weaned pigs. Hulled barley increased feces consistency. Steam-explosion of hulled barley did not increase growth performance of weaned pigs. Barley grain is an attractive energy source for weaned pigs for managing growth and feces consistency.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (66) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Entwistle ◽  
G Knights

The performance of unsupplemented Merino ewes grazing dry season semi-arid tropical pastures was compared with that of other sheep supplemented with either urea-molasses or molasses. Over the experimental period from September 1970 until late January 1971 mean daily intakes per head of urea and molasses respectively were: low urea group, 11.7 g and 35.1 g; high urea group, 15.2 g and 45.6 g; molasses, 38.9 g. Monthly estimates of the proportions of animals consuming the supplement over the period September to January varied from: urea-molasses-71 per cent to 97 per cent; molasses-75 per cent to 96 per cent. Unsupplemented sheep lost significantly more liveweight than did supplemented groups in the period September to February. However, during the period of greatest nutritional stress from December to February, sheep recewing molasses lost significantly more weight than did those supplemented with urea-molasses, and liveweight loss was greater in the low urea group than in the high urea group. Wool growth rates were significantly higher in groups receiving urea-molasses, with highest wool growth rates in animals on the high level of urea. Total fleece weights were unaffected by treatment as were the reproductive factors examined. Faecal nitrogen levels declined until the onset of pasture regrowth in February and were associated with low digestibility of the available forage. Compensatory liveweight gains following pasture regrowth outweighed any advantage of the dry season supplementation. It was concluded that urea-molasses supplements were of little direct benefit to sheep grazing these pastures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-618
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Krzysiak ◽  
Waldemar Samociuk ◽  
Janusz Zarajczyk ◽  
Karolina Beer-Lech ◽  
Grzegorz Bartnik ◽  
...  

Highlights Cleaning cereal grain after harvest is very important for the quality of the product. Technological progress enables the design of new equipment for cleaning cereal grain. Grain segregation allows selecting the best grain to increase yields. The quality of segregation depends on the technological parameters of the device. Abstract. This article presents the results of laboratory tests of a new rotary cleaning device used for the separation and cleaning of barley grain. This device has the characteristics of a multi-stage screen assisted by an air stream (i.e., pneumo-separation). The prototype was constructed at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland. The tests were conducted on a test stand, which allowed changes in the operating parameters of the cleaning device and their measurement. The tests included determining the influence of the sieve drum inclination angle (a) on the effectiveness and efficiency of barley grain cleaning. The tests were carried out using two drum rotational speeds: 5 rpm and 75 rpm. The quality of the separation and cleaning of barley grain was evaluated using six cleaning process parameters: plump grain separation coefficient (Spg), fine grain separation coefficient (Sfg), fine impurities separation coefficient (Sfi), chaff separation coefficient (Sch), total coefficient of cleaning effectiveness (E), and plump grain cleaning efficiency (qpg). The results showed significant effects of the sieve drum inclination angle on the efficiency and effectiveness of barley grain cleaning. Keywords: Barley grain, Conical sieve, Grain separation, Rotary cleaning device.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 497 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Masters ◽  
G. Mata ◽  
S. M. Liu

There is limited evidence that the response in wool growth resulting from feeding protected protein supplements continues after the feeding has stopped. Feeding such proteins, alternated with traditional supplements, may increase wool growth as much as continuous feeding but at a lower cost. This experiment aimed to determine whether the response to protected protein continued after the sheep were switched to a cereal supplement. Over a 2-month experimental period, 56 weaners (5 months old, weighing 26 kg) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment. Half were fed a diet containing 25% canola meal [partially protected protein with high concentrations of sulfur amino acids (SAA)] mixed with oaten hay, urea, and minerals. The other half were fed the same diet but with lupin seed (highly degradable protein with low concentrations of SAA) replacing the canola meal. Within each of the 2 dietary treatments and in each of 2 months, half of the weaners were fed the diet continuously, the other half were fed the diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks of a barley, oats, hay, urea, and minerals diet. Another group of 8 weaners was fed the oats–barley diet continuously for 2 months. All sheep were fed to lose 35 g liveweight/day. Weaners fed canola meal grew 11% more wool during the experiment and had a higher rate of protein synthesis in the skin than weaners fed lupins. The response to canola meal of wool and skin was the same whether feeding was continuous or alternated with oats–barley, indicating that the benefits from feeding partially protected proteins continues after feeding has stopped.


1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 527
Author(s):  
JC Spragg ◽  
RC Kellaway ◽  
TJ Kempton

Effects of cottonseed meal and cereal grain supplements on intake and utilisation of alkali-treated wheat straw were studied with 45 Friesian heifers (250 kg liveweight) in individual pens. Responses were measured in terms of feed intake and growth rate over 60 days. The basal diet fed ad libitum was coarsely milled wheat straw which was alkali-treated, sprayed with a solution containing urea, sulfur, copper and cobalt and sprinkled with dicalcium phosphate. Animals were also fed 800 g/day of 1 of 5 supplements: cottonseed meal (CSM), whole barley (WB), cracked barley (CB), ammonia-treated whole barley (NB) and extruded barley (EB). Intakes of the basal diet did not differ significantly between groups. Digestible organic matter in dry matter (%) was 53.1, 51.7, 47.2, 47.7, and 48.7 with supplements CSM, CB, WB, NB and EB, respectively; values for CSM and CB were significantly higher than for the other supplements (P< 0.05). Liveweight gains were 891,761,639, 657 and 784 g/day with the respective supplements, and did not differ significantly between CSM, CB and EB. We concluded that CSM did not stimulate intake of roughage more than supplements of barley grain, and that growth of the cattle was limited primarily by intake of energy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1667-1673
Author(s):  
David Roque Hernández ◽  
Carlos Hernán Agüero ◽  
Juan José Santinón ◽  
Alfredo Oscar González ◽  
Sebastián Sánchez

<p>The pacu (<bold>Piaractus mesopotamicus</bold>) is a neotropical freshwater fish. It is one of the most important species farmed in areas of the Parana and Paraguay Rivers basins. The effects of different rearing protocols on growth, survival and incidence of skeletal malformations in pacu larvae were analyzed. A total of six experimental treatments were considered, consisting of: a semi-intensive larviculture (L<sub>S</sub>) in ponds; intensive larviculture (L<sub>In</sub>) in laboratory (both L<sub>S</sub> and L<sub>In</sub> until 60 days of life); and mixed larviculture, with 20 days of semi-intensive larviculture into cages in ponds after 14 (L<sub>1</sub>), 21 (L<sub>2</sub>), 33 (L<sub>3</sub>) or 40 (L<sub>4</sub>) days of laboratory larviculture. At the end of the experimental period, L<sub>S</sub>larvae showed higher growth rate, with average weight values (2.28g) and total length (TL-48.20mm) statistically higher than the rest (P<0.05). L<sub>1</sub> to L<sub>4</sub> treatments showed intermediate growth values, without differences between them (P>0.05), while L<sub>In</sub> presented the lowest growth (P<0.05). Survival was around 75% in all experimental groups, except L<sub>S</sub>, that presented a significantly lower value (17.5%, P<0.05). Skeletal abnormalities were detected in all experimental treatments, but L<sub>In</sub> and L<sub>1</sub> presented the lowest incidence. In no case, visible morphological alterations were found. This study shows that prolonging pacu rearing under laboratory conditions at high densities improves temporal availability and survival of juvenile without affecting growth or subsequent osteological development of fish.</p>


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. El-Meadaway ◽  
Z. Mir ◽  
P. S. Mir ◽  
M. S. Zaman ◽  
L. J. Yanke

Three experiments were conducted to study the effects of substituting rumen fluid (RF) with faecal suspension (FS) as an inoculum for determination of in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD, experiment 1) and gas production (exp. 2). Barley grain (BG), Persian clover (PC), alfalfa (ALF), bromegrass (BR) and barley straw (BS) were used to evaluate the efficacy of the two inocula. In exp. 1, IVDMD was determined using RF or FS containing 3, 6 and 9% fresh cattle faeces as inocula. Except for BS, IVDMD values obtained with either RF or FS containing 3% faeces were not different (P > 0.05). In contrast, FS containing 6 or 9% faeces resulted in lower (P < 0.05) IVDMD than those obtained with RF. Total VFA, butyric and valeric acids of in vitro supernatant were higher (P < 0.05) in RF than FS incubated buffers. Molar proportions of acetic and propionic acids were variable among feeds. Mean acetic:propionic ratio was similar (except for BG) for RF or FS. In exp. 2, substitution of RF with FS containing 6, 11 or 16% cattle faeces as inoculum generally resulted in an increased lag time for four feeds (PC was not included). The rate of gas production was lower when FS was used instead of RF for ALF and BR. For BG however, use of FS resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) rate of gas production than when RF was used. Total gas production values were similar within all the feeds regardless of the source of inoculum. In experiment 3, the relative size of the total and cellulolytic populations were higher for RF than for FS, with a greater diversity of genera of bacteria isolated from RF. Results from this study indicate that FS has the potential to be used instead of RF to obtain IVDMD and gas production for BG and forage hay but not for poor quality roughages such as BS. However, more research with FS is required to confirm these findings. Key words: IVDMD, gas production, rumen fluid, faecal suspension


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