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Jaramillo DM, Ruiz-Moreno M, Vendramini JMB, Sollenberger LE, DiLorenzo N, Queiroz LMD, Santos ERS, Garcia L, Abreu DS, Dubeux JCB. Methane emissions and 13C composition from beef steers consuming binary C3-C4 diets. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad181. [PMID: 37279326 PMCID: PMC10276642 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Improvements in forage nutritive value can reduce methane emission intensity in grazing ruminants. This study was designed to evaluate how the legume rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata; RP) inclusion into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) hay diets would affect intake and CH4 production in beef steers. We also assessed the potential to estimate the proportion of RP contribution to CH4 emissions using δ13C from enteric CH4. Twenty-five Angus-crossbred steers were randomly allocated to one of five treatments (five steers per treatment blocked by bodyweight): 1) 100% bahiagrass hay (0%RP); 2) 25% RP hay + 75% bahiagrass hay (25%RP); 3) 50% RP hay + 50% bahiagrass hay (50%RP); 4) 75% RP hay + 25% bahiagrass hay (75%RP); 5) 100% RP hay (100%RP). The study was laid out using a randomized complete block design, and the statistical model included fixed effect of treatment, and random effect of block. Methane emissions were collected using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) technique, and apparent total tract digestibility was estimated utilizing indigestible neutral detergent fiber as an internal marker. A two-pool mixing model was used to predict diet source utilizing CH4 δ13C. Inclusion of RP did not affect intake or CH4 production (P > 0.05). Methane production per animal averaged 250 g CH4/d and 33 g CH4/kg dry matter intake, across treatments. The CH4 δ13C were -55.5, -60.3, -63.25, -63.35, and -68.7 for 0%RP, 25%RP, 50%RP, 75%RP, and 100%RP, respectively, falling within the reported ranges for C3 or C4 forage diets. Moreover, there was a quadratic effect (P = 0.04) on the CH4 δ13C, becoming more depleted (e.g., more negative) as the diet proportion of RP hay increased, appearing to plateau at 75%RP. Regression between predicted and observed proportions of RP in bahiagrass hay diets based on δ13C from CH4 indicate δ13C to be useful (Adj. R2 = 0.89) for predicting the contribution of RP in C3-C4 binary diets. Data from this study indicate that, while CH4 production may not always be reduced with legume inclusion into C4 hay diets, the δ13C technique is indeed useful for tracking the effect of dietary sources on CH4 emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Jaramillo
- Institute for Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management, USDA-ARS U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield, WI 54449, USA
| | - Martin Ruiz-Moreno
- Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
| | - Joao M B Vendramini
- Agronomy Department, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, FL 33865, USA
| | | | - Nicolas DiLorenzo
- Department of Animal Sciences, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
| | - Luana M D Queiroz
- Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
| | - Erick R S Santos
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2R3
| | - Liza Garcia
- Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
| | - Daciele S Abreu
- Department of Animal Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, MG 37200, Brazil
| | - Jose C B Dubeux
- Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
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Niyigena, Coffey KP, Coblentz WK, Philipp D, Althaber C, Diaz Gomez J, Rhein RT, Pruden MC. Intake, digestibility rumen fermentation and nitrogen balance in lambs offered alfalfa and tall fescue-mixtures harvested and ensiled after a frost. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Mwangi FW, Suybeng B, Gardiner CP, Kinobe RT, Charmley E, Malau-Aduli BS, Malau-Aduli AEO. Effect of incremental proportions of Desmanthus spp. in isonitrogenous forage diets on growth performance, rumen fermentation and plasma metabolites of pen-fed growing Brahman, Charbray and Droughtmaster crossbred beef steers. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0260918. [PMID: 34982779 PMCID: PMC8726496 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmanthus (Desmanthus spp.), a tropically adapted pasture legume, is highly productive and has the potential to reduce methane emissions in beef cattle. However, liveweight gain response to desmanthus supplementation has been inconclusive in ruminants. This study aimed to evaluate weight gain, rumen fermentation and plasma metabolites of Australian tropical beef cattle in response to supplementation with incremental levels of desmanthus forage legume in isonitrogenous diets. Forty-eight Brahman, Charbray and Droughtmaster crossbred beef steers were pen-housed and fed a basal diet of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay supplemented with 0, 15, 30 or 45% freshly chopped desmanthus forage on dry matter basis, for 140 days. Varying levels of lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay were added in the 0, 15 and 30% diets to ensure that all diets were isonitrogenous with the 45% desmanthus diet. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Model procedures of SAS software. Results showed that the proportion of desmanthus in the diet had no significant effect on steer liveweight, rumen volatile fatty acids molar proportions and plasma metabolites (P ≥ 0.067). Total bilirubin ranged between 3.0 and 3.6 μmol/L for all the diet treatments (P = 0.67). All plasma metabolites measured were within the expected normal range reported for beef cattle. Rumen ammonia nitrogen content was above the 10 mg/dl threshold required to maintain effective rumen microbial activity and maximize voluntary feed intake in cattle fed low-quality tropical forages. The average daily weight gains averaged 0.5 to 0.6 kg/day (P = 0.13) and were within the range required to meet the target slaughter weight for prime beef markets within 2.5 years of age. These results indicate that desmanthus alone or mixed with other high-quality legume forages can be used to supplement grass-based diets to improve tropical beef cattle production in northern Australia with no adverse effect on cattle health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felista W Mwangi
- Animal Genetics and Nutrition, Veterinary Sciences Discipline, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Benedicte Suybeng
- Animal Genetics and Nutrition, Veterinary Sciences Discipline, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher P Gardiner
- Animal Genetics and Nutrition, Veterinary Sciences Discipline, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert T Kinobe
- Animal Genetics and Nutrition, Veterinary Sciences Discipline, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Edward Charmley
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Mail Bag Aitkenvale, Australian Tropical Sciences and Innovation Precinct, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bunmi S Malau-Aduli
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aduli E O Malau-Aduli
- Animal Genetics and Nutrition, Veterinary Sciences Discipline, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Schulz D, Pšenková-Profousová I, Červená B, Procter M, Neba TF, Modrý D, Petrželková KJ, Qablan MA. Occurrence and diversity of anaerobic gut fungi in wild forest elephants and buffaloes inhabiting two separated forest ecosystems in Central West Africa. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.21033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Schulz
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ilona Pšenková-Profousová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Červená
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miranda Procter
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; e-mail: ,
| | - Terence Fuh Neba
- World Wildlife Fund, Primate Habituation Project, Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Bangui, Central African Republic; e-mail:
| | - David Modrý
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: ,
| | - Klára J. Petrželková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: ,
| | - Moneeb A. Qablan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; e-mail: ,
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Proportion and digestibility of tree legumes in diets of grazing cattle in a tropical silvopastoral system. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Joy M, Rufino-Moya P, Lobón S, Blanco M. The effect of the inclusion of pea in lamb fattening concentrate on in vitro and in situ rumen fermentation. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2021; 101:3041-3048. [PMID: 33205461 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the proportion of pea (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%), as a partial replacement for soybean meal (SBM) in the fattening concentrate, on ruminal fermentation in lambs. Gas and methane (CH4 ) production, in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD), ammonia (NH3 -N), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production after 24 h of incubation were evaluated. The concentrates were also incubated in the rumen of the wethers for 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h to evaluate the effects of pea inclusion on in situ dry matter degradability (DMD), organic matter degradability (OMD), nitrogen degradability (ND), NH3 -N, and VFA production. RESULTS In the in vitro assay, the inclusion of pea only affected gas production (mL day-1 degraded dry matter), CH4 production (mL day-1 degraded dry matter), and IVDMD (P < 0.05), and tended to affect NH3 -N content (P < 0.10) without affecting VFA production. In the in situ assay, the inclusion of pea increased DMD, OMD, and ND linearly (P < 0.001), whereas pea inclusion decreased NH3 -N content linearly (P < 0.05). Neither total VFA production nor the proportion of acetic acid were affected by pea inclusion (P > 0.05), but the propionic proportion increased with the proportion of pea included. CONCLUSIONS The best level of pea inclusion in the concentrate could not be established based on the results of this study. However, the results showed that the inclusion of pea provides a good alternative protein source. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margalida Joy
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Rufino-Moya
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sandra Lobón
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mireia Blanco
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
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Novel Crabtree negative yeast from rumen fluids can improve rumen fermentation and milk quality. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6236. [PMID: 33737628 PMCID: PMC7973541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85643-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Upgrading the nutritive value of rice straw (RS) is necessary to increase its contribution to enhancing meat and milk production. Present work verified whether novel Crabtree negative yeast inoculant could promote RS utilization, rumen fermentation, and milk quality in tropical crossbred lactating Holstein cows. The new stain of Crabtree negative yeasts (Pichia kudriavzevii KKU20 and Candida tropicalis KKU20) was isolated from the rumen of dairy cattle. This study used 6 multiparous crossbreds between Holstein Frisian × Zebu dairy cows in their mid-lactation period. Dairy cows were randomly allocated to three ensiled RS with various yeast stains including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, P. kudriavzevii KKU20, and C. tropicalis KKU20 according to a 3 × 3 replicated Latin square design. Crabtree-negative yeast (P. kudriavzevii and C. tropicalis) increased the apparent digestibility of dry matter by about 6.9% when compared with Crabtree-positive yeast (S. cerevisiae). Bacterial populations were highest with ensiled RS by C. tropicalis KKU20. Ensiled RS with Crabtree-negative yeasts were significantly increased with total volatile fatty acids, but they did not affect volatile fatty acid profiles. Milk protein precentage was highest at 35.6 g/kg when C. tropicalis was fed, and lowest when applied with S. cerevisiae and P. kudriavzevii KKU20 in ensiled RS at 34.5 and 34.1 g/kg, respectively. Thus, feeding ensiled RS with novel Crabtree negative yeast could improve RS digestion, rumen fermentation, and milk protein content in dairy cows.
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Castro-Montoya JM, Goetz K, Dickhoefer U. In vitro fermentation characteristics of tropical legumes and grasses of good and poor nutritional quality and the degradability of their neutral detergent fibre. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/an20136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Tropical legumes are commonly assumed to share all positive attributes known from temperate legumes such as lucerne. However, increasing evidence exists on the differences between those forages, particularly in terms of their ruminal degradability.
Aims
Exploring the 24-h rumen in vitro-fermentation characteristics of tropical legumes, their direct comparison with lucerne, and their interactions with grasses depending on their nutritional quality.
Methods
Arachis and stylosanthes (tropical legumes), pennisetum and andropogon (tropical grasses), and lucerne (lucerne_21 and lucerne_35, harvested 21 and 35 days after emergence respectively) were used for the study. On the basis of the nitrogen and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration, arachis and pennisetum were classified as of good quality, while stylosanthes and andropogon as of poor quality. The following four incubation series were performed: first, forages alone were incubated under iso-nitrogenous conditions; second, forages were incubated under iso-nitrogenous conditions with supplemented starch; third, NDF extract of each forage was incubated alone; fourth, NDF extract of tropical grasses and legumes was incubated combined in grass:legume proportions of 33:67 and 67:33.
Key results
When incubated alone, gas production (GP) and total short chain fatty acids were higher for temperate legumes, intermediate for tropical legumes and lowest for tropical grasses. Similar trends were observed for GP when the forages were incubated with starch, but the differences between arachis and lucerne_35 disappeared; short chain fatty acids did not differ among all tropical forages. Moreover, acetate:propionate ratio was highest for tropical legumes, intermediate for temperate legumes, and lowest for tropical grasses. Gas production of NDF extracts was highest for the lucerne samples and lowest for the tropical legumes. Improvements in GP were found when the NDF from the poor-quality grass (andropogon) was combined with the legumes, particularly the good-quality legume (arachis).
Conclusions
On the basis of the gas production, tropical legumes appear to have lower degradability than do temperate ones, while also showing a different fermentation pattern. Fibre of tropical legumes is less degradable than that of tropical grasses, but when combining both fibre sources, there seems to be a synergistic effect on degradability.
Implications
The current results give important insights on the fermentation characteristics of tropical legumes, helping better understand their role in ruminants’ nutrition, while giving inputs towards improving their utilisation.
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Evaluation of the Associative Effects of Rice Straw with Timothy Hay and Corn Grain Using an In Vitro Ruminal Gas Production Technique. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10020325. [PMID: 32085591 PMCID: PMC7070901 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Rice straw is a widely used forage source for ruminants in most Asian countries; thus, it is important to accurately estimate its nutritional value. Rice straw is typically fed to the animals along with other ingredients, and the associative effects of the combined ingredients may alter the nutritional value of rice straw. We found associative effects on the ruminal fermentability (gas production kinetics and rumen parameters), especially when rice straw was co-fermented with timothy hay and corn grain. We conclude that the nutritional value of rice straw increases when used with timothy hay and corn grain, due to the associative effects among feeds, which should be considered in diet formulations. Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the associative effects of rice straw with timothy hay and corn grain. Using an automated gas production system, in vitro ruminal fermentation was studied for six substrates: 100% rice straw, 100% timothy hay, 100% corn grain, 50% rice straw and 50% timothy hay, 50% rice straw and 50% corn grain, and 50% rice straw, 25% timothy hay, and 25% corn grain. Incubation was performed in three batches with different rumen fluids to assess the in vitro ruminal gas production kinetics and rumen parameters (pH, NH3-N, volatile fatty acid (VFA), and true dry matter digestibility (TDMD)). The associated effects were tested by comparing the observed values of the composited feeds and the weighted means of individual feeds. There was a significant increase in NH3-N when rice straw was fermented with timothy hay, corn grain, or both (p < 0.05). TDMD increased when corn grain was co-fermented, and the total gas and VFA production increased when all three feeds were co-fermented. We conclude that the feed value of rice straw increases when fed to animals along with timothy hay and corn grain.
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Peng K, Gresham GL, McAllister TA, Xu Z, Iwaasa A, Schellenberg M, Chaves AV, Wang Y. Effects of inclusion of purple prairie clover ( Dalea purpurea Vent.) with native cool-season grasses on in vitro fermentation and in situ digestibility of mixed forages. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2020; 11:23. [PMID: 32082566 PMCID: PMC7020374 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0418-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Incorporation of legume species into native North American pastures is considered an effective method to increase native pasture productivity and improve the nutritive value of forage. This study evaluated the effects of inclusion of purple prairie clover (PPC, Dalea purpurea Vent.), a native legume forage, with native cool-season grasses on the in vitro fermentation and in situ digestibility of mixed forages. METHODS Whole plant PPC and mixtures of cool-season grasses were harvested when the PPC reached the vegetative (VEG), full flower (FL) and seedpod (SP) stages, and were combined in ratios (DM basis) of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 at each maturity. In vitro ruminal incubations using these mixtures were conducted for 48 h to determine gas production (GP), in vitro DM disappearance (IVDMD), total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia-N production. Mixtures of forages harvested when the PPC reached the FL stage and 50:50 mixture of forages harvested at VEG, FL and SP stages were incubated in the rumen of three heifers for 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h to determine in situ degradabilities of DM, neutral detergent fibre (aNDF) and crude protein (CP). RESULTS Contents of aNDF and ADF increased (P < 0.01), while CP decreased (P < 0.001) as PPC matured. Concentrations of extractable condensed tannins in PPC ranked as FL > VEG > SP (P < 0.05). Regardless of PPC proportions in the mixture, GP decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing PPC maturity. Increasing PPC proportions linearly increased (P < 0.001) GP, IVDMD and total VFA at VEG, but linearly decreased (P < 0.001) them at SP. Irrespective of PPC maturity, ammonia-N production linearly increased (P < 0.01) with increasing proportions of PPC and the concentration was higher (P < 0.05) at VEG than at FL and SP stages. Increasing proportion of PPC at either maturity linearly increased (P < 0.001) molar percentage of acetate (A) and branched-chain VFA, but linearly decreased (P < 0.001) molar percentage of propionate (P), resulting in a linearly increase (P < 0.001) in the A:P ratio. Increasing FL PPC in the mixture linearly and quadratically (P < 0.01) increased a (soluble fraction), but linearly and quadratically decreased (P < 0.01) b (potentially degradable fraction) for DM and aNDF, resulting in linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic (P < 0.01) increases in DM and aNDF maximum potential degradabilities (a + b). Effective degradabilities of DM and aNDF were also linearly and quadratically increased (P < 0.05), and CP was quadratically increased (P < 0.05) with increasing FL PPC, with the greatest effective degradability being observed with ratios between 50:50 and 75:25. Ruminal maximum potential degradabilities of DM and aNDF decreased (P < 0.001) as the forage matured. Effective degradability of DM ranked as VEG > FL > SP (P < 0.001), whereas the effective degradability of aNDF was similar between VEG and FL and both were greater (P < 0.01) than SP. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of vegetative PPC in a mixed forage diet resulted in the greatest digestibility and incorporation of PPC before seedpod stage with native grasses had a positive effect on ruminal fermentation. Effects of PPC on ruminal digestion depend on both the stage of maturity and its proportion in mixed legume-grass pastures. Pastures containing 50% of PPC in full flower stage would likely provide the greatest quality diet to grazing ruminants subject to potential animal selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Peng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (South China) of Ministry of Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangzhou, 510640 People’s Republic of China
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1 Canada
| | - Gemma L. Gresham
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Tim A. McAllister
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1 Canada
| | - Zhongjun Xu
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1 Canada
| | - Alan Iwaasa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X2 Canada
| | - Mike Schellenberg
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X2 Canada
| | - Alex V. Chaves
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1 Canada
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Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay. Animals (Basel) 2019; 10:ani10010059. [PMID: 31905694 PMCID: PMC7022912 DOI: 10.3390/ani10010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Forages are an essential portion of ruminant rations to maintain rumen function. Exploring how orchardgrass and alfalfa interact in the rumen is necessary to better understand their feed use potential as both hay and silage. This study evaluated in vitro rumen degradation, fermentation characteristics, and methane production responses to different forage ratios of alfalfa and orchardgrass. The results indicate that dry matter and organic matter degradability and methane production were greater for mixed silages compared to mixed hays. A forage ratio of 50:50 for orchardgrass and alfalfa favor the growth of rumen microorganisms without compromising nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation. Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of different forage ratios of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) on in vitro rumen degradation and fermentation characteristics. Orchardgrass and alfalfa were harvested separately and prepared as hay and silage mixtures at ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 (w/w on a dry matter basis) and anaerobically incubated for 48 h with rumen fluid obtained from lactating dairy cows. Fermented residues and cultured fluids were used to determine nutrient degradability, fermentation parameters, and associative effect indices. Increasing the proportion of alfalfa in hay and silage mixtures quadratically increased in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD, up +5.14%) and marginally decreased in vitro neutral detergent fiber disappearance (NDFD, down −1.79%). Meanwhile, increasing the proportion of alfalfa accelerated the rumen fermentation process (e.g., gas production) and remarkably enhanced the growth of rumen microbes as indicated by microbial protein production (MCP, 13.4% increase). Increments of rumen degradability and methane production were more pronounced in silage mixtures than hay mixtures. In combination, a forage ratio of 50:50 for orchardgrass and alfalfa is recommended for both hay and silage in order to improve the feed use potential in ruminants.
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