A comparative analysis of rumen pH, milk production characteristics, and blood metabolism of Holstein cattle according to the forage ratio for the establishment of objective indicators of the animal welfare certification standard

Substituting effects of winged bean tuber-modified starches for cassava chip in concentrate diets on rumen fermentation, nutrient utilization, and blood metabolites in Thai native beef cattle

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the effects of substituting winged bean tuber steam (WBTS) modified starches for cassava chips (CSC) in the concentrate diet on rumen fermentation, nutrient utilization, and blood metabolites in Thai-native beef cattle.

METHODS

Four Thai-native bulls were assigned randomly as a 4×4 Latin square design, which represents the amount of CSC replaced with WBTS in the concentrate mixture diets at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%.

RESULTS

Increasing levels of WBTS replacement for CSC in the concentrate diets had a quadratic effect on total dry matter (DM) intake (p<0.05). Replacement of WBTS at 20% and 30% for CSC did not alter total DM intake compared to 0% WBTS, whereas 10% WBTS replacement could significantly increase total DM intake by 0.41 kg DM/d compared to the control group. In addition, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility showed a quadratic increase (p<0.05) when CSC was substituted at various levels of WBTS in the concentrate diet (p<0.05). Replacement of CSC with WBTS at 10% and 20% showed higher NDF digestibility when compared to 0% replacement. There was a quadratic increase in blood glucose at 4 h post-feeding, and the average blood glucose value was significantly lower (p<0.01) when substituting CSC with WBTS. Substituting WBTS for CSC at 10% in the concentrate diet showed the highest blood glucose concentration when compared to other treatments. Replacing CSC with WBTS at 10% and 20% shows a higher concentration of C3 than those of other treatments (0% or 30%). The nitrogen (N) intake increased linearly (p<0.05) when substituting WBTS for CSC at all levels in the diet. Additionally, N retention and the ratio of N retention to N intake increased (p<0.05) when substituting WBTS for CSC at 10%, 20%, and 30% compared to 0%. The gross energy intake (GEI), digestible energy intake (DEI), and energy efficiency (DEI/GEI) were quadratically increased when substituted with various levels of WBTS for CSC in the concentrate diet.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that substituting 10% of CSC in the concentrate diet with WBTS may be sufficient as an alternative feed resource for improving nutrient utilization and metabolic efficiency in beef cattle diets.

Wheat silage partially replacing oaten hay exhibited greater feed efficiency and fibre digestion despite low feed intake by feedlot lambs

This study aimed to investigate the feeding effect of wheat silage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbiota composition in feedlot lambs. Sixty-four male crossbred Chinese Han lambs (BW = 27.8 ± 0.67 kg, 3 months of age) were randomly assigned to four ration groups with wheat silage replacing 0% (WS0), 36% (WS36), 64% (WS64), and 100% (WS100) of oaten hay on forage dry matter basis. The concentrate-to-forage ratio was 80:20 and the feeding trial lasted 52 d. Increasing wheat silage inclusion linearly decreased dry matter intake by 4% to 27% (P < 0.01). However, increasing the wheat silage replacement of oaten hay by no more than 64% improved the feed efficiency by 14% as noted by the feed-to-gain ratio (P = 0.04). Apparent digestibility of organic matter (P < 0.01), neutral detergent fibre (P = 0.04) and acid detergent fibre (P < 0.01) quadratically increased. Ammonia nitrogen (P = 0.01) decreased while microbial protein production (P < 0.01) increased with the increase of wheat silage inclusion. Total volatile fatty acids concentration increased quadratically with the increase of wheat silage inclusion (P < 0.01), and the highest occurred in WS64. The molar proportion of acetate (P < 0.01) and acetate-to-propionate ratio (P = 0.04) decreased while butyrate (P < 0.01) and isovalerate (P = 0.04) increased. Increasing wheat silage inclusion increased the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio by 226% to 357%, resulting in Firmicutes instead of Bacteroidota being the most abundant phylum. The relative abundance of cellulolytic Ruminococcus numerically increased but that of amylolytic Prevotella (P < 0.01) decreased as increasing wheat silage inclusion. Taken together, increasing wheat silage replacement of oaten hay by no more than 64% exhibited greater feed efficiency and fibre digestion despite low feed intake by feedlot lambs due to the change of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio in the rumen.

Impact of Inclusion of Multicomponent Synbiotic Russian Holstein Dairy Cow's Rations on Milk Yield, Rumen Fermentation, and Some Blood Biochemical Parameters

The purpose of this study was to appraise the effect of the inclusion of multicomponent synbiotic “Kormomix® Rumin” in feeding lactating Holstein cows on milk productivity, indicators of rumen fermentation metabolism, and some hematological and biochemical parameters of the blood. For this study, 40 highly productive Russian Holstein cows were selected according to their productivity, physiological condition, live weight, and age. They were divided into four groups (10 heads/each). All animals received the basal total mixed ration (TMR), which was balanced and corresponded to the nutritional requirements for cows during the milking period with a milk yield of 36 kg/daily. The first group (control) fed basal (TMR) only while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th group fed the basal (TMR) supplemented with a multicomponent synbiotic “Kormomix® Rumin” in amounts 25, 50, and 75 g/head/day, respectively, which was administered manually and individually after morning feeding daily and mixing carefully together with the concentrates directly after calving until 120 DIM. Milk, ruminal fluid, and blood samples were collected for studying the studied parameters. The highest values in all studied milk parameters were recorded in the 2nd experimental group but the differences were not significant. The inclusion of “Kormomix® Rumin” increased significantly the synthesis of volatile fatty acids in the 2nd experimental group (9.38 vs. 7.04 mmol/100 ml) in the control group. The level of serum α-Amylase (total) decreased significantly in the 2nd experimental group compared with other groups. The urea level recorded the lowest value in the control group, while the urea/creatinine ratio recorded the lowest value in the 4th group and the differences were significant when compared with the 2nd group. Accordingly, the inclusion of synbiotic “Kormomix® Rumin” in the diets of lactating cows has no impact on milk production. Whereas, it improves the intensity of rumen fermentation, which contributes to more efficient utilization of feed without any harmful effects on blood traits. Moreover, the recommended dose for use in their diets is 25 g/head/day.