THE EFFECT OF HARVESTING BEFORE AND AFTER FROST ON CORN SILAGE COMPOSITION, AND ITS INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY IN SHEEP

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. NARASIMHALU ◽  
R. P. WHITE ◽  
K. B. McRAE

Early-maturing forage corn (Zea mays L.), DK-22, was harvested in Prince Edward Island twice, 3 and 6 wk before the occurrence of the first killing frost, and twice again, 2 and 4 wk after the first killing frost, and ensiled during each of the three experimental years. Each silage was fed to six sheep in order to measure voluntary intake and digestibility. Magnesium content was severely reduced by ensiling fresh forage from prefrost harvest. The postfrost silages were drier and higher in pH than the other silages. Detergent fiber levels were lower in the prefrost than in the postfrost silages (P < 0.05). Intake was slightly higher for prefrost silages and this was significant in the third year (P < 0.05). The depression in digestibility between prefrost and postfrost silages was highest for nitrogen. Using digestible dry matter intake as a measure of feed value, the silage harvested in mid-September was assigned a relative feed value of 100, and by comparison, the two postfrost silages were 16 and 34% lower in feed value, respectively.Key words: Relative feed value, forage quality, frosted crop

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 799-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. GRIEVE ◽  
J. H. BURTON ◽  
H. E. BRAUN ◽  
R. FRANK

Shredded newsprint is a potential source of bedding for livestock, but because it may contain certain heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls significant voluntary consumption of newsprint by animals would be undesirable. To determine consumption levels, 18 Holstein cows in mid-lactation (average 19 wk) were used in a double latin square design. Squares represented access to shredded newsprint or chopped hay in the feed manger except during feeding time. Within squares, cows were allotted to each of three complete mixed rations over three 6-wk treatment periods. Rations comprised hay crop silage, corn silage, high moisture grain corn and soybean meal with roughage:concentrate ratios of 30:70 (LR), 50:50 (MR) and 70:30 (HR). Mixed rations were fed according to individual cow requirements for energy depending on body weight, milk yield and milk fat percent. Cows were allowed 4 h after each of two feedings per day to consume their allotted mixed ration. Voluntary consumption of newsprint was only 0.3 kg per cow per day or 2% of total dry matter intake while for those offered hay consumption was 2.6 kg∙cow−1∙day−1 or 15% of total dry matter intake. Intakes of mixed rations were unaffected by roughage:concentrate ratio or newsprint versus hay. However, total dry matter consumption (mixed ration plus newsprint or hay) was higher for cows offered hay (17.3 kg∙cow−1∙day−1) than for those offered newsprint (15.1 kg∙cow−1∙day−1). Levels of heavy metals in milk or blood samples of cows with access to newsprint were within normally accepted ranges. PCBs were at undetectable levels in all cases. Bedding cows with newsprint is unlikely to result in significant consumption or contamination of animals or their products. Key words: Lactating cows, newsprint consumption, heavy metals


1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. PELLETIER ◽  
J.-C. ST-PIERRE ◽  
J. E. COMEAU

Chemical analysis, in vivo digestibility and voluntary intake measurements were used to determine the nutritive value of different crops made as silage for sheep. In the first experiment, grass silages contained less N-NH3 than corn–pea silage. Digestible energy intake of grass silage treated with formic acid was higher than that which was untreated. Digestibility, dry matter intake and the nutritive value index were higher for corn–pea silage than for treated or untreated grass silage. In the second experiment, six different silages were made. Corn was harvested at the milk and dough stages of growth and after a frost and was chopped at either 1.3 cm or 0.6 cm. Silage made with corn harvested after a frost and chopped at 1.3 cm and that made with corn harvested at the milk stage and chopped at 0.6 cm had higher N-NH3 content than the others. Fine chopping decreased digestibility of silages harvested at earlier maturity stages but increased the digestible energy of the corn silage harvested after a frost. Voluntary intake was greater with silages harvested at the later dates than with silage harvested at the milk stage.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1121-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. MASON ◽  
P. M. FLIPOT

Five timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars, Clair, Champ, Milton, Climax and Bounty, were harvested at first flower stage during 2 consecutive years and in the regrowth for 1 yr. The forages were each offered as hay to 15 young rams to evaluate voluntary intake. Five animals were used to determine initial harvest dry matter digestibility. The cultivars varied significantly in voluntary intake at first flower stage. The highest intake (g kg−0.75 d−1) averaged for the years was obtained in the early cultivar Champ (65.9), which was 10% more than that of the medium-late cultivar Climax. The cultivars did not differ significantly in dry matter digestibility. In the regrowth, the relative intakes of the cultivars were essentially reversed from that of the initial harvest. The voluntary intake was substantially higher but the differences among forages were less marked. Climax regrowth voluntary intake was higher (P < 0.05) than all cultivars, except Bounty. A 15% range in digestible dry matter intake was present among cultivars. The ranking of the culivars for digestible dry matter was different than for dry matter yield. Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., voluntary intake, dry matter digestibility


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Tjardes ◽  
D. D. Buskirk ◽  
M. S. Allen ◽  
N. K. Ames ◽  
L. D. Bourquin ◽  
...  

1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Rook ◽  
M. Gill

ABSTRACTData on individually recorded silage dry-matter intake (SDMI), concentrate dry-matter intake (CDMI) and live weight of steers and data on silage composition including toluene dry matter (TDM), pH, total nitrogen (N), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) obtained from experiments conducted at three sites were used to obtain simple and multiple linear regressions of SDMI on other variables.Live weight accounted for a high proportion of the variation in intake but this effect could generally be removed by scaling intake by live weight raised to the power of 0·75 (M0·75). CDMI was the most important factor affecting scaled intake in mixed diets. TDM, NH,-N and VFAs all had important effects on SDMI. The relationship of SDMI with TDM was curvilinear suggesting that there is little to be gained in intake terms from wilting to TDM above 250 g/kg. The effect of NH3-N appeared to be related more to its correlation with VFAs than with any other nitrogenous constituent while the VFAs appeared to have a direct effect on SDMI. The effects of N and pH on SDMI were generally small. DOMD and NDF had relatively little effect on SDMI. Significant differences in intercepts between sites were found for most relationships although common slopes were often found.


1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
AR Egan ◽  
RJ Moir

In each of two experiments, single infusions of casein administered to sheep per duodenum produced substantial and rapid increases in voluntary intake of chaffed oaten hay diets of low nitrogen content (0.62–0.70% nitrogen). The effect commenced within 16 hr of completion of the infusion, and occurred before any observed change in the rate of cellulose digestion in the rumen. When urea was infused per duodenum at the same level of nitrogen as with the casein, an increase in intake occurred on the day following infusion in one experiment. In a second experiment no such response occurred. Faster rates of cellulose digestion were observed on the day of infusion, apparently due to recycling of nitrogen to the rumen. Of the 10 g of nitrogen infused, 7.4 g of casein nitrogen and 5 g of urea nitrogen were retained. Propionate, infused in an attempt to reproduce the gluconeogenic properties of casein, did not have any major effect on daily dry matter intake, although it caused a depression in intake during the period of infusion in one experiment. Results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanism of response to the protein supplement. The possibility is suggested that the protein status of the animal is a component of a chemoregulatory mechanism governing the intake of low nitrogen diets by sheep.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Neumann ◽  
Robson Kyoshi Ueno ◽  
Julio Cezar Heker Junior ◽  
Eloize Jaqueline Askel ◽  
André Martins de Souza ◽  
...  

Monensin is an ionophore antibiotic, the inclusion of which in the feed of beef cattle favors the best use of feed nutrients, via ruminal modulation. However, there are concerns regarding the residence of residues in the carcass from metabolism of monensin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, carcass characteristics, serum parameters, tissue residual depletion and economic benefit of finishing of young bulls in confinement with monensin in the ration. Thirty-six animals were confined, and given 50% corn silage feed and 50% more concentrated feed. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments (with or without monensin) and 10 replicates for the control group and eight for the monensin group. The use of monensin reduced the dry matter intake in relation to live weight (2.36% vs 2.55%), and improved feed conversion (8.61 vs 10.06 kg kg?1); the animals presented higher live weight (511 vs 494 kg), higher warm carcass weight (285 vs 272 kg) and an increase in fat thickness (4.97 vs 4.25 mm) compared to control animals. These increases in performance gave higher economic results, with a profit margin of R$ 122.84 per animal. A waiting period of 16 h before slaughter resulted in monensin concentrations below 0.25 µg kg?1 in edible organs and tissues, values well below those permitted by legislation. The use of monensin for young bulls in confinement promoted improvements in productive and economic performance, without leaving residues in edible tissues.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Perez ◽  
J Gasa ◽  
C Castrillo ◽  
JA Guada

Rates of passage of liquid and particulate markers (Co-EDTA, Cr mordanted fibres and Yb) were measured in ewes at late pregnancy, lactation and non-breeding status. Animals were given ammonia treated barley straw ad libitum supplemented daily with 250 and 550 (pregnancy), 550 and 850 (lactation) and 250, 550 and 850 (non-breeding) g of concentrate. The effect of the reproductive state was analysed only on ewes fed on 550 g of concentrate. Lactating ewes showed a higher voluntary straw intake (970 g/day) than pregnant or non-breeding ewes (720 and 790 g/day respectively), but there were not significant differences in the OM digestibility (OMD) among reproductive states. Increasing concentrate supplementation promoted significant decreases in the voluntary intake of straw, associated with an enhanced OMD ( P < 0.05). Fractional outflow rates (FOR/h) were higher in pregnant and non-breeding than in lactating ewes, although differences were only significant ( P < 0.01) for Chromium derived values. Ewes given 250 g of concentrate showed lower ( P < 0.05) FOR than those given 550 and 850 g/day. Results support the idea that in ruminants fed on low quality roughages, voluntary dry matter intake is mainly restricted by rumen capacity, although the energy status of the animals might influence the extent of this restriction.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donato Andueza ◽  
Fabienne Picard ◽  
Philippe Pradel ◽  
Katerina Theodoridou

In mountain areas, hays are the main forage in winter diets for livestock. Barn-dried hays can be an alternative to traditional hays, which are generally characterized by a low feed value. The aim of this study was to compare the feed value of barn-dried hays with that of the fresh forage from a permanent meadow. The study was carried out over three periods during the first growth cycle of the meadow’s vegetation (from 30 May to 3 June, from 13 to 17 June, and from 27 June to 1 July). Fresh forage and barn-dried hays of the same fresh forages were tested for dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and voluntary intake (VI). Both types of forage obtained each period were tested with an interval of 15 days. Chemical composition and OMD of forages did not change (p > 0.05) according to the feeding method. However, the DMD values for barn-dried hays were higher (p < 0.05) than for fresh forages at the end of the cycle. VI and digestible organic matter intake of barn-dried hays were higher (p < 0.05) than that of fresh forages. In conclusion, barn-dried hays obtained from permanent grasslands presented a higher feed value than fresh forages.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. BURGESS ◽  
J. W. G. NICHOLSON

The relative nutritive value of male sterile corn silage (23.7% dry matter) and regular corn silage (26.5% dry matter) was determined with lactating dairy cows during three consecutive crop years. The regular corn hybrid had 25% of the kernels removed by black birds prior to harvesting. Grain was fed according to milk production (1 kg/2.75 kg milk) and silage was offered ad libitum as the only forage. Dry matter, soluble carbohydrate and insoluble nitrogen percentages were lower while crude protein and acid detergent fiber levels were higher in the male sterile corn silage. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, nitrogen and energy determined with sheep were not different between silages. Silage dry matter intake and total dry matter intake were higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed regular corn silage in only one of the three trials. Actual milk, 4% fat-corrected milk yields and milk fat and protein percentages were not affected by silage treatment. Key words: Male sterile corn, silage, dairy cows


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