EFFECTS OF COLD EXPOSURE AND PLANT SPECIES ON FORAGE INTAKE, CHEWING BEHAVIOR AND DIGESTA PARTICLE SIZE IN SHEEP

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. CHAI ◽  
L. P. MILLIGAN ◽  
P. M. KENNEDY ◽  
G. W. MATHISON

Three closely shorn sheep were allotted to each of three diets of chopped hay prepared from red clover, reed canarygrass and bromegrass, respectively. The animals were housed at 25, 10 and −5 °C during three periods of 28 days. For the final 8 days of each period, each individual sheep was restricted to 90% of its voluntary feed consumption and hay was given at intervals of 2 h. Eating and chewing behavior, rumen fluid kinetics and digesta particle size were determined. Voluntary intake of clover hay was greater, but chews during eating and rumination were less than for sheep consuming grass hay. The small particle fractions present in the duodenum and rumination activity were greater in the sheep fed grasses. Feed intake, rumination chews and duration, and digesta particle size in the duodenum were increased in sheep housed at −5 °C. Eating duration and chews, particle size of rumen digesta and rumen fluid volume were not affected by cold stress, but fluid retention time was reduced, while daily fluid flow from the rumen tended to increase. Key words: Forage intake, cold stress, chewing behavior, digesta particle size, fluid passage

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. CHAI ◽  
L. P. MILLIGAN ◽  
G. W. MATHISON

Two experiments were completed using four esophageal-fistulated sheep (two per experiment) to study the breakdown of rumen particles of grass hay (bromegrass or reed canarygrass) when rumination was either allowed to occur normally or was restricted by means of a muzzle. When the sheep were muzzled during the nonfeeding portion of the day, there was a distinct limitation of voluntary hay intake. Muzzled sheep chewed more often than unmuzzled sheep (P < 0.01) during eating and, presumably as a result, the particles in their mastication boluses were smaller (P < 0.05). During rumination the regurgitated and chewed boluses from sheep that had been muzzled were larger (P < 0.05) than those from unmuzzled sheep. The proportion of large particles (LP, particles retained on a 1.00-mm screen) of the regurgitated bolus, rumen contents and feces were greater (P > 0.05) for muzzled than unmuzzled sheep. The effectiveness of breakdown of LP retained for chewing during the rumination cycle increased (P < 0.005) with time after feeding (33% at 3 h postfeeding for bromegrass; 57% at 11 h postfeeding). This increase was eliminated by muzzling. The specific fragility (LP breakdown per chew per unit of LP in mouth) of particles from unmuzzled sheep was consistently greater (P > 0.05) than that of particles from muzzled animals. Muzzling markedly reduced the extent to which specific fragility increased with time after feeding and increased (P > 0.01) rumen fluid retention time from 7.4 to 17.4 h. The rumen input-output balance for hay particles was estimated. It is concluded that rumination is the major factor in decreasing the size of forage particles in the rumen, thereby exposing greater surface area to microbial attack and facilitating passage along the intestinal tract. Key words: Sheep, rumination, muzzle, particle breakdown, specific fragility, rumen retention time


1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
MO Etheridge ◽  
CR Stockdale ◽  
PD Cranwell

This experiment measured the voluntary intake and rate of eating of sheep fed lucerne (Medicago sativa) that had been conserved as sun-dried material or as silage at 3 different DM contents (29.2, 33.1, and 51.2%). Changes in rumen osmolality and palatability due to diet were measured. Palatability was assessed by introducing feed directly into the rumen and measuring the subsequent oral intake. Eight sheep with rumen fistulae were used in two 4 x 4 latin squares, which allowed for adjustment for carryover effects. There was no significant (P<0.05) difference between voluntary intakes of lucerne conserved as sundried material and as silages of various DM contents (mean intake 1189 g DM/day). The lack of difference in intake was attributed to the high quality of fermentation of the silages. Rate of eating was also generally similar for all diets. Evidence from measurements of palatability and rumen osmolality support these observations. Palatability appeared not to influence the voluntary intake of any of the diets, because the sheep reduced their daily oral intake by an amount similar to that introduced into the rumen. Under normal feeding conditions, rumen osmolality was also similar for all feeds and was relatively consistent for the 9 h immediately after the start of feeding. While rumen osmolality per se may affect voluntary intake, the lack of response reported here for changes in osmolality due to diet support the lack of response reported for feed consumption.


1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. PEIRIS ◽  
R. ELLIOTT ◽  
B. W. NORTON

Sorghum grain was included in a basal diet of molasses (molasses 505, urea 21, sunflower meal 191, pangola grass hay 250, minerals 31 g/kg as fed) at rates of 0, 202, 391 and 707 g/kg, generating diets in which grain replaced 0 (diet A), 33 (diet B), 66 (diet C) and 100% (diet D) of the molasses and hay. The four diets were fed to groups of four Hereford steers (293–334 kg liveweight) over a 96-day period. One half of each treatment group was implanted with a growth promotant (zeranol), and all were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir at the end of the trial. The inclusion of 33% grain increased voluntary feed consumption, digestible dry matter (DM) intake (from 57·6 to 82·0 g digestible DM/kg0·75 per day and significantly increased liveweight gain from 592 to 900 g/day. Zeranol implantation also increased liveweight gain but not feed intake. Steers given only grain (diet D) had the highest liveweight gains (1127 g/day). The addition of grain to molasses diets decreased urinary N excretion and increased ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in rumen fluid. Molar proportions of propionic acid in total VFA increased from 0·15 to 0·20, and butyric acid decreased from 0·36 to 0·29 when 33% of the molasses was replaced by sorghum grain. The fat content (depth at sacral position) of the carcasses of steers given grain only (diet D) was significantly greater (14 mm) than that of steers given the basal diet of molasses (4 mm), and carcass fat contents were intermediate (10 and 11 mm) for steers given diets B and C respectively. It was concluded that the inclusion of small amounts of grain in molasses-based diets increased cattle growth principally by increasing digestible energy intake without decreasing molasses intake, thus improving the efficiency of utilization of molasses in molasses-based diets.


2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (7) ◽  
pp. 1308-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael RF Lee ◽  
Lorna J Parfitt ◽  
Nigel D Scollan ◽  
Frank R Minchin

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 123-123
Author(s):  
H. Khalili ◽  
P. Huhtanen ◽  
S. Jaakkola ◽  
T. Varvikko

Enhanced cellulolytic activity in the rumen and improved balance between amino acids and energy have been suggested to increase silage dry matter intake in cows given high quality protein supplements. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of casein infused continuously into the rumen, duodenum or both on forage intake, milk yield, milk composition and microbial protein production.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Risdianto ◽  
N. Suthama ◽  
E. Suprijatna ◽  
S. Sunarso

This study was conducted to evaluate the combination of ginger and turmeric extracts added with Lactobacillus spp. (GTL) on body resistance and productivity of broilers. 576 broilers with an initial body weight of 36 ± 0.99 g were used and were observed for 35 days. GTL containing ginger extract (0.2 g/liter), turmeric extract (0.4 g/liter) and Lactobacillus spp. (2,997 x 107 cfu/ml), and was given since 1-day old. Parameters observed were bursa fabriscius, spleen, and thymus weights, gluthationine peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Lactobacillus spp., Coliform, and Eschericia coli, feed consumption, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). A completely randomized design (CRD) was assigned with 3x4 factorial pattern (3 types of feed, 4 levels of GTL), with 4 replications (12 birds each). First factor, types of feed (A): self-formulated feed (A1), combination of self-formulated and commercial feed with 50 portion each (A2) and commercial feed (A3). Second factor, levels of GTL (B): 0 ml (B0), 2 ml (B2), 4 ml (B4) and 6 ml (B6) per litre drinking water. Data were subjected to ANOVA and continued to Duncan test at 5% probability. Results indicated that self-formulated feed with inclusion of GTL at 4 ml (A1B4) improve body resistance and increase production performance of broilers.


1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gasa ◽  
K. Holtenius ◽  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
M. S. Dhanoa ◽  
D. J. Napper

Four lactating Friesian cows with permanent cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were given early (EC)- or late (LC)-cut grass silage ad lib., each with either 3 or 9 kg concentrate dry matter (DM)/d in a 4 x 4 Latin square design starting about 10 weeks after calving. Feed was offered twice daily at 08.30 hours and 15.30 hours. Periods lasted 5 weeks and measurements were made in the last 15 d. The higher amount of concentrates increased total DM intake but reduced silage DM intake and the fractional rate of degradation of silage-fibre DM. Later cutting date of silage had no effect on DM intake or the fractional rate of degradation of silage-fibre DM but reduced potential degradability of silage fibre. Dilution rate of CoEDTA in rumen fluid was greater during the day (eating period) than during the night (resting period). Dilution rates measured at the duodenum were lower than those measured in the rumen, but neither was affected by diet. Silage-particle passage rates were measured by use of ytterbium-labelled silage fibre (Yb-fibre) and chromium-mordanted faecal particles (Cr-faeces) and samples were taken at the duodenum and in the faeces. Values for slower rate constant (k1) and transit time were higher and for faster rate constant (k2) were lower for Yb-fibre than for Cr-faeces, but differences in total mean retention time were inconsistent. Values for k1 for both markers and k2 for Yb-fibre only were similar at both sampling sites, but values for k2 for Cr-faeces were lower in the faeces. No diet effects were established with Yb-fibre but, with Cr-faeces, k1 was reduced by more concentrates and EC-silage. Daily mean weights of wet digesta, liquid, neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and indigestible NDF in the rumen were greater with LC-silage but were unaffected by the amount of concentrates whereas weight of rumen DM was increased by the amount of concentrates only. Maximum rumen fill occurred at 18.00 hours with all diets. Particle-size distribution of rumen contents did not vary markedly during the day. Mean particle size was generally greater with LC-silage than EC-silage. Very small particles, passing through the 0.3 mm screen, constituted about half the rumen DM. It is concluded that rumen fill could have limited intake of LC-silage but not EC-silage. The reduced silage intake with greater concentrate intake was associated with a reduction in fibre degradation rate and an increase in rumen DM fill but no other consistent effects on weight or kinetics of rumen fractions were established.


1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. JONES ◽  
L. P. JACOBS ◽  
L. J. MARTIN

Four groups of five Holstein heifer calves were fed calf starter ad libitum from the 5th through the 16th wk. Diets differed in crude protein (CP) content (9.3, 17.8, and 22.2% CP) and were compared to a 21% CP, high-fat milk replacer (HFMR) during 28-day periods. Voluntary intake was not affected by starter CP content. However, increasing dietary CP content increased gains and feed efficiency. Gains were similar between the high-protein starter and the HFMR. When calves in one group received a different starter each day, voluntary consumption of the low-protein starter was reduced. In the second experiment, the HFMR and a starter containing either 10.6, 15.3, or 22.8% CP were fed to Holstein bull calves from wk 2 through 4. The starters were each fed for 21-day periods to each group of calves after weaning from HFMR. A fourth group received a starter of different CP content each day. A fifth group received only HFMR for the entire period. After the 4th wk, calves fed HFMR consumed less dry matter (DM) but gained weight most rapidly. Average daily gains were increased by the medium- and high- over the low-protein calf starter (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency was subsequently reduced by this diet. A ration containing no more than 18% CP was satisfactory for dairy-replacement heifers. However, additional studies should examine the feasibility of marketing 136-kg calves on high-energy calf starters.


1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1501-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-J. Cheng ◽  
R. Hironaka ◽  
D. W. A. Roberts ◽  
J. W. Costerton

Megasphaera elsdenii, an anaerobic rumen bacterium, produced intracellular polysaccharide granules varying in size from 0.05 to 0.15 μm during growth in batch culture. This polysaccharide material was purified and was found to contain D-glucose as the only reducing sugar. The polyglucose polymer was highly opalescent in aqueous solution and formed a strong reddish-brown iodine complex with a maximum absorbance at 493 nm. Its infrared spectrum had characteristic absorption bands at 8.70, 9.25, and 9.75 μm and was identical with that of the glycogen of enteric bacteria and beef liver. When these polysaccharide granules were observed with an electron microscope, they resembled the glycogen granules produced by Arthrobacter globiformis and Escherichia coli. These properties indicate that the polysaccharide was a type of glycogen. The yield of crude glycogen was 16.82% of the dry weight of late log-phase cells (14-h).The lysis of cells of M. elsdenii and other rumen bacteria that store polysaccharide granules inside the cells, in the rumen of cows fed a feed of fine-particle size (344 μm, geometric mean particle size) and high-energy content, may contribute to the high-carbohydrate level and high viscosity of the cell-free rumen fluid of these cows. Cows fed a coarse feed (519 μm, geometric mean particle size) of the same composition have rumens that contain few bacteria with polysaccharide granules. The cell-free rumen fluid of these cows has low viscosity and low-carbohydrate content.


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