Morphological fractions, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of stover of four common vetch varieties grown on the Tibetan plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
pp. 1646-1656
Author(s):  
Yafeng Huang ◽  
Cory Matthew ◽  
Zhixin Zhang ◽  
Zhibiao Nan
Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yafeng Huang ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Jeffrey A. Coulter ◽  
Zhixin Zhang ◽  
Zhibiao Nan

Four varieties of common vetch, three improved varieties and one local variety, were evaluated for grain chemical composition, rumen protein degradability, and intestinal protein digestibility over two cropping years on the Tibetan Plateau. This study also examined correlations of grain chemical composition with rumen degradability parameters of grain protein and with intestinal digestibility of grain protein. Results of this study showed that grain quality attributes varied (p < 0.05) among varieties and cropping years. Significant intra-species variation was observed for concentrations (g/kg dry matter) of crude protein (CP; range = 347–374), ether extract (range = 15.8–19.6), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF; range = 201–237), acid detergent fiber (range = 58.2–71.6), ash (range = 27.6–31.0), effective CP degradability (EDCP; range = 732–801 g/kg CP), and intestinally absorbable digestible protein (IADP; range = 136–208 g/kg CP). The relationship between grain chemical composition and IADP was best described by the linear regression equation IADP = –0.828CP + 8.80ash + 0.635aNDF + 70.2 (R2 = 0.891), indicating that chemical analysis offers a quick and reliable method for IADP of common vetch grain. In terms of EDCP and IADP of grain, common vetch varieties, Lanjian No.2 and Lanjian No. 3, have the greatest potential among varieties tested for supplementing ruminant diets when grown on the Tibetan Plateau.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huang ◽  
Zhou ◽  
Nan

Four varieties of common vetch, including three improved varieties (Lanjian No. 1, Lanjian No. 2, and Lanjian No. 3) and one local variety (333A), were evaluated for varietal variations in grain yield, straw yield and straw quality attributes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Crops were harvested at pod maturity to determine grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, and potential utility index (PUI). Straw quality was determined by measuring chemical composition, carbohydrate and protein fractions, in vitro gas production and in situ ruminal degradability. Results showed a significant effect (p < 0.01) of variety on the grain yield [875.2–1255 kg dry matter (DM)/ha], straw yield (3154–5556 kg DM/ha), harvest index (15.6–28.7%) and PUI (53.3–63.2%). Variety also had a significant effect on chemical composition, carbohydrate and protein fractions (p < 0.05) except non-structural carbohydrates and rapidly degradable sugars. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the varieties in potential gas production [188–234 mL/g DM], in vitro organic matter (OM) digestibility (43.7–54.2% of OM), and metabolizable energy (6.40–7.92 MJ/kg DM) of straw. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were also observed among the varieties in rapidly degradable DM fraction and effective DM degradability of straw; however, no difference was observed in other DM degradation parameters and neutral detergent fiber degradation parameters. In conclusion, based on straw yield and quality, Lanjian No. 1 has the greatest potential among the tested varieties as a crop for supplementing ruminant diets for smallholder farmers on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1441
Author(s):  
Youssef Chebli ◽  
Samira El Otmani ◽  
Mouad Chentouf ◽  
Jean-Luc Hornick ◽  
Jean-François Cabaraux

Forest rangelands contribute largely to goat diets in the Mediterranean area. Information about browsed plant quality is essential for adequate feeding management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal changes in chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of the main plant species selected by goats in the Southern Mediterranean forest rangeland during two consecutive years; these were very contrasted (dry and wet). The browsed species were composed of herbaceous, eleven shrubs, and four tree species. Overall, large variability in chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and metabolizable energy (ME) was observed among species, grazing season (spring, summer, and autumn), and years within each species. Crude protein (CP) content varied from 60 to 240 g/kg dry matter (DM). The fiber fractions, except for Quercus suber, increased significantly by advancing maturity. Due to the water stress, the lignin level presented a higher value during the spring of the dry year. Condensed tannin (CT) content varied from 2 to 184 g/kg DM. CP, IVOMD, and ME showed a negative correlation with lignin and CT. Based on the results presented herein, it is concluded that the nutritive value of the browsed plant species was highest in the spring and lowest during the summer and autumn of both studied years. With a good grazing management strategy, the selected plant species by goats could guarantee high-quality feeding resources throughout the year.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 406
Author(s):  
Alexandre M. Dias ◽  
Luís C. V. Ítavo ◽  
Júlio C. Damasceno ◽  
Camila C. B. F. Ítavo ◽  
Geraldo T. Santos ◽  
...  

Sugarcane is a source of roughage in animal feeding. It presents high production per unit of cultivated area, relatively easy cultivation and low cost of production per hectare, and better quality and a high dry matter (DM) yield in periods when forage is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in sugarcane forage on chemical composition, in vitro digestibility values of DM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), and kinetics of thermal decomposition processes of weight loss and heat flow. Sugarcane was collected close to the ground and 50-kg heaps of the fresh material were formed and mixed with four doses of Ca(OH)2 (0, 8, 16 and 24 g kg–1 sugarcane). Concentrations of NDF and ADF decreased linearly with increasing amount of Ca(OH)2, whereas concentration of hemicellulose increased linearly. In vitro digestibilities of DM, NDF and ADF were enhanced in a quadratic manner with increasing amounts of Ca(OH)2. The release of heat, measured by ΔH, increased linearly with increased Ca(OH)2 levels, likely due to enhanced digestibility of the fibre components. Weight loss decreased linearly between 272.2°C and 397.7°C with increased amounts of Ca(OH)2 added to sugarcane, likely due to changes in cellulose structure, which became denser and thermodynamically more stable than native cellulose following the alkaline treatment. Calcium hydroxide changed chemical composition and digestibility of the fibrous fraction of sugarcane, resulting in better nutritional value. The greatest release of heat and highest in vitro digestibility of fibre were observed when adding 15.2 g Ca(OH)2 kg–1 sugarcane; therefore, this dose is recommended to enhance the nutritive value of sugarcane as ruminant feed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e49951
Author(s):  
Fabiellen Cristina Pereira ◽  
Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho ◽  
Daniele Cristina da Silva Kazama ◽  
Roberto Guimarães Júnior

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cultivating a combination of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) with black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.) on the chemical composition of forage and the grazing behavior of heifers. To accomplish this, two paddocks 2500m2 each from a Voisin Rational Grazing management system were divided into three blocks each and then into thirds (278m²) characterizing a randomized block design. Three different forage compositions were distributed into these thirds: oats grown alone, vetch grown alone, and oats grown with vetch. Forage samples were collected after 65 days through the square method. Right after collection, three groups of four heifers each grazed the plots for two hours in a 3x3 double Latin Square design for behavioral observation, grazing simulation through the hand-plucking method, and biting rate determination. Forage samples collected either by hand-plucking or the square method, were analyzed for chemical composition and “in vitro” degradability.  Statistical analyses were performed using the R package lme4. Data were evaluated with linear mixed-effects models. The inclusion of common vetch significantly increased forage production and oat protein content, but decreased the fiber content, which promoted better “in vitro” degradability. Grazing frequency was higher in pasture where oats were grown with vetch, but the biting rate was similar in all the three forage compositions evaluated. Forage collected by the square method did not differ from forage consumed by the heifers, probably meaning low herbage selectivity by heifers.  Furthermore, no interaction of investigated variables occurred between forage compositions and the method of collection. The inclusion of common vetch with black oats increased forage chemical composition, “in vitro” degradability, and forage production, thus having positive effects on the time cows spent grazing.


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