DIGESTIBILITY AND VOLUNTARY INTAKE OF FORAGES FED AS HAY OR WILTED SILAGE TO BEEF STEERS

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 879-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
HELENE V. PETIT ◽  
J. R. SEOANE ◽  
PAUL M. FLIPOT

Thirty-six steers (334 kg avg body wt.) were used to study the nutritive value of alfalfa (cv. Saranac), timothy (cv. Climax) and a mixture of red clover-timothy-Kentucky bluegrass. For 2 wk, the forages were fed ad libitum as either hay or silage. Dry matter (DM) intake was measured during the second week. Digestibility was determined during the fourth week by total collection with DM intake limited to 90% of that obtained previously. DM intake was highest for alfalfa and lowest for the grass mixture (P < 0.05) but was not affected by the method of storage. Total digestible nutrient values were similar for all forages. DM intake was highly correlated with lignocellulose content (r = −0.97, P < 0.01). Digestible protein intake was estimated by an equation previously obtained with sheep (r = 0.94, P < 0.01). Dry matter and energy digestibilities were similar for all treatments. Protein digestibility of alfalfa (67.4%) was higher than for timothy and the grass mixture while the opposite was observed for crude fiber. Comparing silages to hays, silage digestibility of crude fiber was five units higher and that of protein three units lower (P < 0.05). Digestibility of cell constituents was highest for alfalfa and lowest for timothy (70.5% vs 60.9%). Cell wall digestibility was highest for timothy (59.5%) followed by the grass mixture (57.5%) and alfalfa (47.4%). True digestibility of nitrogen was estimated to be 82.7% with a metabolic excretion of 5.74 g of N/kg of DM intake. Summative equations could not predict DM digestibility accurately. Key words: Nutritive value, steer, hay, silage, forage digestibility

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. BELL ◽  
A. SHIRES ◽  
M. O. KEITH

Sixteen simulated barleys, containing combinations of 7.27, 11.27, 15.17 and 19.27 crude protein (CP) (air-dry basis) and 0, 10, 20 and 30% hulls, were made from barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Bonanza') that was finely ground and air-classified into hulls, starch, protein and fines fractions. These barleys were supplemented with vitamins and minerals and fed in four replicates to 16 pigs, of 20 kg initial weight, in a digestibility trial. Energy digestibility was highly correlated with percent hulls and percent crude fiber (r = − 0.9 for both factors; P < 0.01). Digestible energy prediction values were developed whereby barley with 0% hulls was 84% digestible and had 15.73 kJ DE/g dry matter; barley with 30% hulls was 64% digestible and contained 12.01 kJ DE/g. The gross energy of hulls was 17.5% digestible and contained 2.94 kJ/g. Apparent digestibility of protein decreased (P < 0.05) from 75.0 to 72.0% as hulls increased from 0 to 30% and from 82.2 to 62.5% as dietary CP increased from 21.9 to 8.0% (dry matter basis). Metabolic fecal protein (N × 6.25) increased from 1.49 to 2.79 g/100 g dietary dry matter as hulls increased from 0 to 30%. Apparent digestibility of hull protein, when fed in 16% CP diets, was 44% and the corresponding value for nonhull barley protein was about 75%. A tentative monetary evaluation of barleys varying in CP and hull or crude fiber contents relative to prices of a reference barley and soybean meal was presented. Key words: Barley, hulls, protein, digestibility, feeding value, pigs


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. CYMBALUK

Two trials compared digestion of Saskatchewan-grown hays by cattle and horses. In the first study, Altai wildrye (Leysum angustus Trin.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermus Leyss.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), oat hay (Avena sativa L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae L.) hays were fed to six beef steers and six crossbred geldings. The second study compared alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.) to dehydrated alfalfa pellets. Voluntary dry matter intake (VDMI) of hay by cattle was related to neutral detergent fiber content (R2 = 0.66). No single nutrient reliably predicted VDMI by horses. Cattle and horses had the highest VDMI for bromegrass hay in trial 1. Cattle had similar intakes of dehydrated alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay, but horses ate 17% more (P < 0.05) hay than pellets. Cattle digested 28–82% more (P < 0.05) fiber from grass hays than horses which may account for their higher dry matter (DM) digestion of these hays. Cattle and horses utilized legume feeds similarly. Energy intakes of all animals exceeded maintenance except for cattle fed reed canarygrass hay. True crude protein digestibility and metabolic fecal protein of forage-fed cattle and horses were estimated at 83.4 and 80.3%, and 2.67 and 2.17 g 100 g−1 DM intake, respectively. Horses had higher true digestibilities of Ca (75%) than P (33%) but cattle digested more P (76%) than Ca (32%). Endogenous fecal Ca excretion for cattle and horses were assessed at 6.5 and 22.1 mg kg−1 body weight (BW), respectively, while endogenous fecal P excretions were 13.3 and 10.2 mg kg−1 BW, respectively. Key words: Horse, cattle, legume, grass, crude protein, fiber


1947 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. E. Woodman ◽  
R. E. Evans

The wartime expansion in the home production of grass, clover and other seeds raised the question of the value of such seeds as food for livestock, since during the later years of the war, surpluses that had been discarded on account of low germination or other causes were being sold to compound manufacturers for inclusion in cattle foods. During 1944, the writers made determinations of the digestibility and starch equivalents of the following seeds: ryegrass (a mixture of Italian and Perennial), red clover, lucerne and un-milled sainfoin. All the samples were reduced to a fine meal before being submitted to test in the digestion trials.Apart from its lower content of digestible ether extract, ryegrass-seed meal resembles oats in respect of chemical composition, digestibility and starch equivalent. It is a carbohydrate concentrate, containing, on the dry matter basis, 69·4% of starch equivalent, including 7·3% of digestible protein.


2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. RINNE ◽  
A. NYKÄNEN

The effects of partition of growth time between primary growth and regrowth of organically grown mixed (mainly timothy and red clover) leys were studied over two years in Juva, Finland. Primary growth was harvested at three different dates and regrowth on a single occasion from all plots. Dry matter (DM) yield of primary growth increased by 116 kg per ha per day by delaying harvest (P


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
J. A. McKIRDY

Treatment of oilseed meals with formaldehyde (FA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the solubility of protein in 0.02 N NaOH and the production of NH3 in the artificial rumen. Ten Holstein and Holstein × Brown Swiss calves of both sexes were fed two test rations containing either 26% untreated or formaldehyde-treated (5.6 g FA per 100 g protein) rapeseed meal (FA-treated RSM) for 14 weeks. Plasma urea nitrogen (N) and rumen NH3 levels were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in the FA-treated RSM calves compared with the control calves during the first 8 weeks of the growth trial. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in dry matter consumption, daily gain, or feed efficiency was observed. Total volatile fatty acids (VFA) (mmoles/100 ml) concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in rumen fluid from the control calves compared with those receiving treated RSM. Molar percentages of the VFA’s were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the two groups. In the N balance and digestibility trial, dry matter consumption did not differ significantly (P > 0.05); however, the FA-treated RSM resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter and crude protein digestibility. Calves receiving the treated RSM had reduced (P < 0.01) urinary N excretion; however, there was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on N consumption and retention.


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-471
Author(s):  
R. M. TAIT ◽  
C. GASTON ◽  
J. R. HUNT ◽  
G. M. BARTON

Eight sheep were used in two 4 × 4 latin square digestion trials substituting alfalfa meal with unsteamed or steamed muka (foliage) at levels of 20, 40 or 60%. Including muka at all levels depressed (P < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and acid detergent fiber compared with the control alfalfa meal diet. When calculated by difference, the digestibility of muka dry matter and organic matter was not affected (P < 0.05) by either the level of its inclusion in the diets or by steaming. The mean dry matter and organic matter digestibilities of muka were 29.2 and 30.4%, respectively. The protein content of muka was 5.0% and the estimated protein digestibility at the 60% level of inclusion was only 6.6%. With unsteamed muka, the digestibility of acid detergent fiber calculated by difference averaged −11.9%, suggesting the presence of factors which depressed the digestibility of fiber in the basal diet. Steaming appeared to reduce this depression. A growth trial was conducted with lambs where alfalfa meal, as the sole roughage source, was compared to the same diet with 20% of the alfalfa replaced by steamed muka. Growth rates were not different (P > 0.05) being 142 and 138 g/day, respectively. A taste panel evaluation of the carcasses found no adverse effects on flavor due to the inclusion of steamed muka in the diet. Key words: Lodgepole pine muka, nutritive value, sheep


1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-529
Author(s):  
J. A. ROBERTSON ◽  
D. A. COOKE ◽  
S. E. BEACOM

Four systems of animal management were applied to a rotationally grazed mixed sward of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and alfalfa (Medicago media Pers.) for a period of 7 yr using yearling beef steers. The systems included (i) put and take stocking; (ii) set stocking at 2.5 steers/ha with surplus herbage conserved as silage and fed later in the season; (iii) set stocking at 3.7 steers/ha, pasture herbage supplemented with oat soilage and (iv) set stocking as in (iii), pasture herbage supplemented with dry-rolled barley. Nitrogen, at the rate of 90 kg N/ha, was applied each spring during the last 4 yr of the experiment. Forage dry matter production varied from 1760 to 5750 kg/ha between years and was highly correlated with precipitation during the growing season. Average daily gains were similar for treatments i–iii at 1.03 kg/head. Feeding supplementary barley increased rate of gain to 1.19 kg (P < 0.01), produced an additional 20 kg liveweight per steer per season and was utilized with an average efficiency of 6.6 kg dry matter per kilogram gain. Average daily gain varied significantly (P < 0.01) between years and was inversely related to dry matter production. The feeding of oat soilage or barley and the harvesting and feeding of silage reduced the variation in gain both within and between seasons compared to the put and take stocking system. Factors affecting the selection of the most appropriate management system by a producer are discussed.


1966 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. T. Cameron

The dry matter yield of grass forage was increased linearly with nitrogen fertilizer levels of zero, 56, and 112 kg per hectare applied annually in the spring of 1961, 1962, and 1963. Nitrogen levels had little effect on the nutritive value of mature grass forage as indicated by voluntary dry matter intake and body weight gains of beef steers. The apparent digestibility of crude protein increased and that of dry matter and nitrogen-free extract decreased linearly with increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates. Digestibility of crude fiber and ether extract were not altered significantly by nitrogen levels. Forage-carotenes sustained relatively high liver vitamin A levels over a 100-day feeding period. Nitrogen levels had little effect on the rate of liver vitamin A depletion.


1969 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-437
Author(s):  
J. A. Yazman ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú ◽  
R. E. McDowell ◽  
P. J. Van Soest ◽  
H. Cestero

Voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of an artificially dried tropical grass, Cynodon nlemfuensis variety nlemfuensis. was evaluated utilizing Holstein bull calves. Two regrowth ages of grass hays, 30 and 45 days, were fed to two groups of four calves each: 16 and 24 weeks old. The grass hays were analyzed for dry matter and crude protein and for fiber fractions according to Goering and Van Soest. There were no significant differences between means for voluntary intake (g/kg body weight (BW)/day) of the chemical constituents for the four calf-hay groups. However, the trend was for higher intake by the 24-week old calves fed the 30-day hay than by the other three groups. Among the 16- week old calves, there was a higher voluntary intake by those consuming the 45-day hay despite the slightly higher nutritive value of the 30-day hay. When the data were pooled across calf ages, voluntary intake of 30-day hays was greater than for the 45-day ones, although only differences in crude protein intake were significant (P < .05). Pooled across hay ages, voluntary intake by the 24-week old calves was significantly greater (P < .05) than by the 16-week old calves for dry matter and neutral-detergent fiber only, indicating that hay intake was related to reticulo-ruminal capacity. Differences in apparent digestibility were significant (P < .05) only for crude protein with the 24-week old calves fed the 30-day hay, having a greater coefficient of digestibility than the 16- and 24-week old calves fed the 45-day hay. Crude protein digestibility of the 30-day hays (pooled across calf ages) was significantly greater (P < .05) than that of the 45-day hays. Although not significant for all constituents, the values were higher for the 30-day hay than for the 45-day hay (pooled across calf ages) and for the 24- week old calves than for the 16-week old calves (pooled across hay ages).


AGROFOR ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darko UHER ◽  
Zlatko SVEČNJAK ◽  
Dubravka DUJMOVIĆ-PURGAR ◽  
Dario JAREŠ ◽  
Ivan HORVATIĆ

Maize forage is poor in protein content which shows its low quality and nutritive value. Regarding to high feed costs of protein supplementations, legumes can be used in livestock nutrition for their high protein content and, thus, providing cost savings. Since legumes have low dry matter yield, acceptable forage yield and quality can obtained from intercropping cereals and legumes compared with their sole crops. In this study, maize (Zea mays L.) and climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were intercropped in different sowing densities and their monocropping equivalents were tested to determine the best intercropping system on forage yield and quality. Maize was cultivated alone (75 000 plants ha-1) and intercropped with bean as follows: 75 000 plants ha-1 of maize and 37 500 plants ha-1 of bean (MB1), 75 000 plants ha-1 of maize and 50 000 plants ha-1 of bean (MB2) and 75 000 plants ha-1 of maize and 75 000 plants ha-1 of bean (MB3), in rows alternating with maize. The highest dry matter yield was produced by MB3 (20.9 t ha-1), and the lowest by maize (16.9 t ha-1). All intercropped systems had higher crude protein contents, MB1 (92 g kg-1 DM), MB2 (99 g kg-1 DM) and MB3 (110 g kg-1 DM), than the maize (77 g kg-1 DM). Intercropping of maize with bean reduced neutral and acid detergent fiber, resulting in increased forage digestibility. Therefore, maize intercropping with bean could substantially increase forage quantity and quality, and decrease requirements for protein supplements as compared with maize.


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