Digestion of Eucalyptus Andrewsii Foliage by the Common Ringtail Possum, Pseudocheirus Peregrinus.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Chilcott ◽  
ID Hume

Mature common ringtail possums, Pseudocheirus peregrinus, maintained body weight when offered Eucalyptus andrewsii foliage as their sole diet. The ringtails consumed 30.9 g.d-� or 41.8 g.kg-0.75.d-� of dry matter, with a mean apparent digestibility of 59%. Mean digestibilities of E. andrewsii foliage fibre fractions were 45% (neutral-detergent fibre), 44% (acid-detergent fibre), 48% (hemicellulose), 59% (cellulose) and 26% ('lignin'). The significant digestibility of the 'lignin' of E. andrewsii foliage means that lignin cannot be used as an indigestible marker in nutritional studies of arboreal folivores consuming eucalypt leaf diets. The apparent digestibility of energy was 50%. The mean intake of digestible energy was 436 kJ.kg-0.75.d-� and of metabolizable energy 345 kJ.kg-0.75.d-�. Urinary energy loss averaged 23% of digestible energy intake or 12% of gross energy intake. These results are discussed in relation to the likely energy requirements of captive and free-living ringtail possums and the importance of Eucalyptus foliage in the field diet of free-living ringtails.

1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ivan ◽  
L. R. Giles ◽  
A. R. Alimon ◽  
D. J. Farrell

SUMMARY1. A split-plot design was used to study apparent digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and nitrogen of a whole grain wheat diet and processed (hammermilled, rolled or hammermilled and then steam-pelleted) wheat diets by eight small (33·9 ± 0·1 kg) and eight large (70±1·7 kg) pigs. Metabolizable energy and nitrogen retention were also studied with the small pigs.2. The processed wheat diets were superior to the whole grain wheat diet in all the parameters measured.3. There were no significant differences between the performance of pigs given the differently processed wheat diets.4. Apparent digestibility of dietary components particularly in the whole wheat diet was significantly higher when diets were given to small pigs than when given to large pigs.


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).


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Bachmann ◽  
Christian Kuhnitzsch ◽  
Paul Okon ◽  
Siriwan D. Martens ◽  
Jörg M. Greef ◽  
...  

Pea grains may partially replace soybean or rapeseed meals and cereals in ruminant diets, but substitution by unprocessed peas is limited by high ruminal protein solubility. The effect of combined ensiling and toasting of peas using a mobile toaster (100 kg/h throughput rate, 180 to 190 °C supplied air temperature) on rumen-undegraded protein (RUP) was tested in vitro using the Streptomyces griseus protease test. The effects of ensiling plus toasting on apparent digestibility of organic matter (OM), gross energy (GE), and proximate nutrients were examined in a digestion trial. Concentrations of metabolizable energy (ME) and net energy lactation (NEL) were calculated. Native peas had 38 g RUP/kg dry matter (DM), which was 20% of crude protein (CP). Rumen-undegraded protein increased three-fold after ensiling plus toasting (p < 0.001). Acid detergent insoluble protein increased five-fold. Apparent digestibility was 0.94 (OM), 0.90 (CP), and above 0.99 (nitrogen-free extract, starch, and sugars) and was not altered by the treatment. The ME (13.9 MJ/kg DM) or the NEL (8.9 MJ/kg DM) concentration was similar in native and ensiled plus toasted peas. This technique can easily be applied on farms and may increase RUP. However, it needs to be clarified under which conditions pea protein will be damaged.


1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Herd

The rate of 22Na turnover was measured in 4 captive emus each fed on 3 diets. There was a close relationship between 22Na turnover and the intake of dietary sodium (r = 0.92), DM (r = 0.93), gross energy and metabolizable energy (r = 0.94). DM intake, estimated from 22Na turnover, accounted for 89% of the variation in actual DM intake, and suggested that 22Na turnover could provide a reliable method for estimating food consumption by populations of free-living emus. However, estimates of food consumed by individual animals may not be reliable.


1999 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. FERRIS ◽  
F. J. GORDON ◽  
D. C. PATTERSON ◽  
M. G. PORTER ◽  
T. YAN

Sixty Holstein/Friesian dairy cows, 28 of high genetic merit and 32 of medium genetic merit, were used in a continuous design, 2 (cow genotypes)×4 (concentrate proportion in diet) factorial experiment. High and medium merit animals had Predicted Transmitting Abilities for milk fat plus protein yield, calculated using 1995 as the base year (PTA95 fat plus protein), of 43·3 kg and 1·0 kg respectively. Concentrate proportions in the diet were 0·37, 0·48, 0·59 and 0·70 of total dry matter (DM), with the remainder of the diet being grass silage. During this milk production trial, 24 of these animals, 12 from each genetic merit, representing three animals from each concentrate treatment, were subject to ration digestibility, and nitrogen and energy utilization studies. In addition, the efficiency of energy utilization during the milk production trial was calculated.There were no genotype×concentrate level interactions for any of the variables measured (P>0·05). Neither genetic merit nor concentrate proportion in the diet influenced the digestibility of either the DM or energy components of the ration (P>0·05). When expressed as a proportion of nitrogen intake, medium merit cows exhibited a higher urinary nitrogen output and a lower milk nitrogen output than the high merit cows. Methane energy output, when expressed as a proportion of gross energy intake, was higher for the medium than high merit cows (P<0·05), while urinary energy output tended to decrease with increasing proportion of concentrate in the diet (P<0·05). In the calorimetric studies, neither heat energy production, milk energy output and energy retained, when expressed as a proportion of metabolizable energy intake, nor the efficiency of lactation (kl), were affected by either cow genotype or concentrate proportion in the diet (P>0·05). However when kl was calculated using the production data from the milk production trial the high merit cows were found to have significantly higher kl values than the medium merit cows (0·64 v. 0·59, P<0·05) while k l tended to fall with increasing proportion of concentrate in the ration (P<0·05). However in view of the many assumptions which were used in these latter calculations, a cautious interpretation is required.


2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342
Author(s):  
R.C. Mulley ◽  
G.W. Asher ◽  
J.S. Flesh ◽  
K.T. O’Neill ◽  
J. Ferguson

AbstractEuropean (no. = 36) and hybrid (¼ Mesopotamian, ¾ European; no. = 36) fallow deer (Dama dama) were evaluated for weight gain and energy intake from 10 to 21 months of age. Twelve each of bucks, does and castrated males (haviers) were tested for each genotype, in both concentrate-fed and pasture-based feeding systems. Based on weekly weighing hybrids (H) in each of the sex classes grew more rapidly (5 g/day across all groups) than the European (E) fallow deer (P < 0·05). Haviers given concentrates grew significantly faster than pasture-fed haviers (P < 0·01), whilst does grown on pasture grew significantly faster than those given concentrates (P < 0·01). There was no significant difference in pattern of growth between bucks on pasture and those given concentrates (P > 0·05). Does grew significantly less (P < 0·01) than bucks and haviers in spring, summer and winter but environmental differences between years could not be accounted for in the analysis.Animals of all sexes and genotypes experienced rapid growth from 10 to 12 months of age (spring) and this was associated with energy intakes according to metabolic body weight (M0·75) these ranging between 0·8 and 1·1 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg M0·75 per day. There were significantly (P < 0·01) higher levels of energy consumed by H does and haviers in the summer, compared with their E counterparts but this was not associated with greater growth rates. However, H does had significantly higher (P < 0·01) dressing proportions at slaughter than E does. The energy intake on a metabolic body weight basis for most groups declined to between 0·7 and 0·8 MJ ME per kg M0·75 per day from 12 to 21 months of age, except for the does, which declined even further to between 0·5 and 0·6 MJ ME per kg M0·75 per day from 17 months of age.There were no significant differences between E and H deer for energy intakes per M0·75, and H deer were slightly more energy efficient than their E counterparts in terms of growth rate in relation to annual gross energy intake. The food intake : weight gain ratio increased considerably for both genotypes after 14 months of age, indicating the desirability for slaughtering as soon as animals reach the target live weight. It was concluded that the crossbreeding system described is production efficient and produced offspring that reached slaughter weight sooner than E fallow deer and thereby produced carcasses with a greater wholesale value than their E counterparts of the same age.


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Eugène ◽  
D. Massé ◽  
J. Chiquette ◽  
C. Benchaar

A meta-analysis was conducted to statistically determine the effects of lipid supplementation on methane (CH4) production, milk production, and milk composition of lactating dairy cows. For this purpose, a data base was built using seven scientific publications (25 diets) available in the literature and reporting the effects of lipid supplementation on CH4 production, milk production, and milk composition. Lipid supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake (DMI) by 6.4% compared with control diets, whereas production of milk and 4% FCM and milk composition were not changed (P > 0.05). Lipid supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) CH4 production by 9%, either expressed as MJ d-1 or as a percentage of gross energy intake (GEI), digestible energy intake (DEI), or metabolizable energy intake (MEI). This reduction was mainly a consequence of a decreased DMI. Key words: Meta-analysis, lipid supplementation, methane, dairy cows, lactating


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 769-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Keiver ◽  
K. Ronald ◽  
F. W. H. Beamish

Assimilation efficiency of energy in juvenile harp seals was 92.5–95.0% of gross energy intake when fed Atlantic herring and 72.2% when fed shrimp. Faecal energy losses increased directly with intake. Metabolizable energy (ME) ranged from 85.5 to 88.7% of gross energy intake for a diet of herring. Urinary energy losses increased directly with apparent digestible nitrogen intake. Faecal and urinary losses were not affected significantly by feeding frequency. Urine excretion indicated that feeding causes a diuresis, associated with increased energy, nitrogen, and ash excretion. A significant interaction was found for rate of weight change between feeding frequency and energy intake. Seals lost more weight at energy intakes below their maintenance level when fed four meals rather than two meals per day. Differences in rate of weight change with feeding frequency were not observed at other levels of energy intake. Maintenance energy requirements were estimated at 2658 kcal ME daily for seals fed two meals per day and 3514 kcal ME daily when fed four meals per day. Seals required approximately 3 times as much shrimp as herring of high lipid content to meet their energy requirements.


1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 1767-1771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darin C. Bennett ◽  
Leslie E. Hart

The efficiency with which the gross energy content of herring (Clupea harengus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus), and trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is metabolized was determined for 11 captive Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias). There was a linear relationship between apparent metabolized energy and gross energy intake for the mackerel and trout. This relationship was lower and more variable for herring. Estimates of the apparent metabolizable energy coefficient for mackerel and trout were affected by the level of energy intake. Correcting for endogenous energy losses in the excreta yielded estimates of true metabolizable energy coefficients that were independent of gross energy intake. The true metabolizable energy coefficient of mackerel and trout did not differ and averaged 0.866 (SD = 0.014, n = 3 diets). Correcting for nitrogen retention did not improve the estimate of the metabolizable energy coefficient. The metabolizable energy coefficient of herring was highly variable and showed no consistent pattern in relation to energy intake.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2128-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott R. Decker ◽  
Peter J. Pekins ◽  
William W. Mautz

Red oak acorns (Quercus rubra), fruits of multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), common juniper (Juniper communis), winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), and barberry (Berberis spp.), fertile fronds of sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), corn, and apples were fed as mixed rations to eight eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris). Crude protein content of the foods ranged from 2 (apples) to 19% (sensitive fern). Red oak acorns and juniper berries were 14% fat; other foods were 1–7% fat. Apples were lowest in gross energy content (3.9 kcal/g dry matter (1 cal = 4.1868 J)), and sensitive fern was highest (5.5 kcal/g). Little variation existed in nutrient composition and energy content of the mixed diets. Metabolizable energy values of the diets ranged from 65 to 84% of gross energy intake and from 3.1 to 4.0 kcal/g. Solution of simultaneous equations based on the mixed-diet data yielded metabolizable energy values of individual foods; juniper had the highest metabolizable energy (4.6 kcal/g) and sensitive fern the lowest (2.1 kcal/g); other foods ranged from 3.3 to 4.1 kcal/g. Acorns, corn, and shrubs with persistent fruits (juniper, winterberry, barberry, and multiflora rose) were the most nutritious foods. Metabolizable energy intake of the mixed diets, excluding the juniper-dominated diet, approximated or exceeded the predicted daily energy expenditure of wild turkeys.


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