Evaluation of Forest Tree Leaves of Semi-hilly Arid Region as Livestock Feed

Browse or browsing: Investigating goat preferences for feeding posture, feeding height and feed type

Goats naturally browse different forages in various postures; this differs from typical farm practice, thus there are opportunities to improve goat welfare by understanding what and how they like to eat. We investigated if feeding preference was related to posture, feeder height relative to the ground, and type of feed. Sixteen adult, Saanen cross females participated in two experiments comparing a floor-level feeder (grazing posture; farm standard), with an elevated feeder (browsing posture; Exp1) and a platform-level feeder (raised, grazing posture; Exp2), when two forages (leaves, grass) were offered. Measurements included feed intake (g of DM/feeder), feeder switching frequency, first feeder visited, latency to visit first feeder and exploration and non-feeding activity time. Effects of posture (Exp1), height (Exp2) and feed type were analyzed. Type of feed affected preference for feeding posture and height. All goats consumed leaves over grass (Exp1: POP: 188 ± 6.52 g, GRA: 20.3 ± 7.19 g; Exp2: POP: 191 ± 6.15 g, GRA: 0.231 ± 6.91 g; P < 0.001), and the feeder containing leaves was often visited first (Exp 1: GRA/POP: 94% of visits, P < 0.001, POP/GRA: 53%, P = 0.724; Exp 2: GRA/POP: 91%, P < 0.001; POP/GRA: 69%, P = 0.041). When goats received only leaves, they consumed more from the floor-level (162 ± 22.2 g) vs. elevated level (102 ± 21.9 g) feeder (P = 0.039). When goats received only grass, there was no posture or height preference; however, they changed feeders more frequently (at least 4x (Exp1) and 2x (Exp2) more than other combinations; P > 0.01). Feed intake was negatively affected by exploring time (Exp1 only: r = −0.541; P < 0.001) and performing non-feeding activities (Exp1: r = −0.698; P < 0.001; Exp2: r = −0.673; P < 0.001). We did not identify a preference for elevated feeding posture; however, we suggest that our short test (compared to previous work) encouraged goats to make choices based on line-of-sight and also that the elevated feeder design (replicated from previous work) made leaf access harder. Nonetheless, we highlight that some goats actively used the elevated feeder; this coupled with the clear preference for leaves over grass, suggests that offering feed type and presentation diversity would allow individuals to express their natural feeding behavior more fully.

Cattail (Typha domingensis) silage improves feed intake, blood profile, economics of production, and growth performance of beef cattle

Sixteen Rahaji breed beef cattle (112.00 ± 0.15 kg body weight (BW)) were randomly assigned to one of four rations differing in the degree of substitution of sorghum straw with Cattail (Typha domingensis) silage. Growth performance, feed intake, blood profile, and economics of production were evaluated. Completely randomized design was used, and the feeding trial lasted for 42 days. Cattle were fed a total mixed ration of roughage:concentrate (400:600) g/kg dry matter and gamba hay free choice. The control diet (T0) contained 400 g/kg sorghum straw, expressed on a dry matter basis (DM). For additional treatments, Typha silage (TS) was included at 100 (T10), 200 (T20), and 300 (T30) g/kg of the mix replacing an equal DM weight of sorghum straw. Growth rate was similar (P > 0.05) regardless of the TS level. DM (5160.77–5524.96 g/d) and crude protein (846.36–955.82 g/d) intakes were higher (P < 0.05) in T20 and T30 diets, while the acid detergent fiber intake (471.27–512.46 g/d) reduced (P < 0.05) in TS-based diets. Red blood cell concentrations of cattle fed TS-based diets increased (P < 0.05). The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations of cattle fed T20 diet decreased (P < 0.05) in comparison with the control. Sodium and albumin concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in cattle fed TS-based diets. Total cost of feeding ($ 49.60–61.62) decreased (P < 0.05) in TS-based diets, while the gross benefit of cattle fed 300 g/kg TS diet ($ 74.98) was enhanced relative to cattle fed T0 and T10 diets. TS can be considered a new resource of feed for cattle.

Baby corn production and utilization of remaining fodder in total mixed ration of buffalo calves

This study was taken up to find out suitable maize variety cultivated with or without fertilizer for baby corn ear production and evaluation of leftover fodder/green stalks as livestock feed. Experiment-1: Six varieties of hybrid maize [PMH-1 grain (V1), Bulland (V2), African Tall (V4), Dekalb 7074 Monsanto (V5), Proagro 4640 (V6), Egyptian variety G-5414 (V7)] and one composite maize variety J1006 (V3) were cultivated without fertilizer (F1), with either Azotobacter treated seed (F2), recommended dose of fertilizer (F3), or F2 + F3 (F4) at the University Farm. Experiment-2: The leftover fodder of the best baby corn hybrid variety and that from V3 were evaluated in total mixed ration (TMR) as feed for buffalo calves. In Experiment-1 the weight of edible cob without husk and fodder yield were the highest (P<0.01) in V2. The in vitro net gas production, digestibility of nutrients and ME availability from the fodder was the highest in V7 comparable to V2, but higher than other varieties. The fodder from baby corn G-5414 was considered as the best. In Experiment-2 the chemical composition and in vitro evaluation of TMRs containing either conventional maize fodder (TMR-1; J-1006) or baby corn fodder (TMR-2; Baby corn G-5414) were comparable. Both the TMRs were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The digestibility of proximate and a cell wall constituent was considerably higher in calves fed TMR-2 than those fed TMR-1. The efficiency of nitrogen utilization, blood profile and excretion of purine derivatives in the urine were comparable in both groups. It was concluded that fresh baby corn fodder can be utilized efficiently by the ruminants without any adverse effect on the health of animals.

Performance and hemtochemical parameters of buck-kids fed concentrate partially replaced with tropical Piliostigma thonningii foliage

Fifteen 5-month-old Red Sokoto buck-kids, (6.6 ± 0.71 kg body weight (BW)) randomly distributed into three groups of five animals per group, were used to study the effects of supplementary concentrate partially replaced with Piliostigma thonningii (PT) foliage on the growth performance, economic benefit and blood profile in a completely randomized design using analysis of variance. The goats in group 1 received 100% supplementary concentrates (PT0), groups 2 and 3 received 25% (PT25) and 50% (PT50), respectively, of concentrate replaced with an equal amount (dry matter basis) of Piliostigma foliage. The goats were fed a basal diet of threshed sorghum top (TST). Intake of concentrate, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, total feeding cost and cost/kg BW were greater (P < 0.05) for PT0 than for PT25 and PT50. Consumption of P. thonningii foliage was greater (P < 0.05) for PT50 relative to PT25. Tannin consumption of the treatment diets were greater (P < 0.05) than that of the control concentrate diet. Serum urea N reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing level of concentrate replacement, while serum glucose was higher (P < 0.05) in PT0 than in PT50. However, means of all blood measurements were within normal ranges for goats. Net benefit showed this rank order: PT0 < PT50 < PT25 (all P < 0.05). Both differential and relative benefits were higher (P < 0.05) for PT25 than for PT50. P. thonningii foliage can replace 50% of supplemental concentrate without impairing feed intake, growth performance and health of buck-kids.

Effects of season, browse species and polyethylene glycol addition on gas production kinetics of forages in the subhumid subtropical savannah, South Africa

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of season, species and polyethylene glycol addition on gas production (GP) and GP kinetic parameters by in vitro incubation (72 h) of five plant species from the subhumid subtropical savannah, South Africa. Plant species used were Acacia natalitia, Acacia nilotica, Dichrostachys cinerea, Scutia myrtina and Chromolaena odorata, leaves of which were harvested during the dry (June/July), early wet (November/December) and late wet (February/March) seasons. An automated in vitro gas production technique was used in two experiments carried out with nine replicates. The first experiment was to test the effect of season and species, while the second experiment tested the effect of tannins using polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG). The PEG treatment was applied to samples in the early wet and late wet seasons.

RESULTS

There were wide variations among seasons and species in crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and condensed tannin (CT). Season and species affected the maximum GP and GP kinetic parameters. During the three seasons, C. odorata had the highest CP (186-226 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM)) and GP (87-104 mL g(-1) DM) and S. myrtina had the lowest CP (105-129 g kg(-1) DM), while A. nilotica, A. natalitia, D. cinerea and S. myrtina had similar and low GP (23-50 mL g(-1) DM). The maximum GP, its degradation rate and GP from the soluble fraction were positively correlated with CP both without and with PEG. With PEG, GP from the soluble fraction was negatively correlated with NDF, ADL and CT; without PEG, it was negatively correlated with CT.

CONCLUSION

Both season and species affected the GP parameters. The addition of PEG emphasises that the inhibitory effect of tannins on rumen microbes was greater for all but C. odorata, confirming that these browse species can be used as feed supplements.

Nutritional composition of three fodder species browsed by camels (Camelus dromedarius) on arid area of Tunisia

Browsing camels have access to different plant species in relation to the kind of pasture they can reach. A study was conducted in an arid region of Southern Tunisia to determine the dietary preference and forage quality of free ranging camels. Foliage consisting of leaves from Limonium pruinosum, Retama raetam and Stipa tenacissima, was collected during the dry season to evaluate the chemical characteristics and nutritional value of these browse fodder species. The dietary preference was studied using 15 adult camels which were selected from a herd of 50 animals appropriately marked for identification. There was a significant difference in the chemical composition and nutritional value of plant species collected. Based on crude protein (CP) content and nutritional value, the three fodder species browsed can be recommended as good-quality food source for camels under pastoral management.