The determination of digesta particle size in some herbivores

Methods for determining and describing digesta and faecal particle size were studied. Higher mean particle size values were demonstrated for wet sieving as compared to dry sieving. Equines had larger faecal particle size than ruminants and rabbits. Particle size decreased with body weight in rumen-reticulum and facese for the ruminants. The fibre particle size was the same in rabbit hard and soft faeces and similar to sheep and goat faeces.The excretion pattern of Cr-mordanted fibre in sheep was shown to be influenced by the fraction that was labelled in the rumen. Retention time in the rumen and whole tract increased with increasing particle size.In rabbits, <75 μ or > 300 μ Cr-mordanted fibre particles gave similar marker retention times.     

Effects of quebracho tannin extract (Schinopsis balansae Engl.) and activated charcoal on nitrogen balance,rumen microbial protein synthesis and faecal composition of growing Boer goats

Under irrigated arid conditions, organic fertiliser rich in slowly decomposable nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) is needed for soil fertility maintenance. Feeding ruminants with condensed tannins will lower ruminal protein degradation, reduce urinary N excretion and might increase the faecal fraction of slowly decomposable N. Supplementation with activated charcoal (AC) might enrich manure with slowly degrading C. Therefore, we investigated the effects of feeding quebracho tannin extract (QTE) and AC on the N balance of goats, the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen (EMPS) and the composition of faeces. The feeding trial comprised three periods; in each period, 12 male Boer goats (28 ± 3.9 kg live weight) were assigned to six treatments: a Control diet (per kg diet 500 g grass hay and 500 g concentrate) and to further five treatments the Control diet was supplemented with QTE (20 g and 40 g/kg; diets QTE2 and QTE4, respectively), with AC (15 g and 30 g/kg, diets AC1.5 and AC3.0, respectively) and a mixture of QTE (20 g/kg) plus AC (15 g/kg) (diet QTEAC). In addition to the N balance, EMPS was calculated from daily excretions of purine derivatives, and the composition of faecal N was determined. There was no effect of QTE and AC supplementation on the intake of organic matter (OM), N and fibre, but apparent total tract digestibility of OM was reduced (p = 0.035). Feeding QTE induced a shift in N excretion from urine to faeces (p ≤ 0.001) without altering N retention. Total N excretion tended to decrease with QTE treatments (p = 0.053), but EMPS was not different between treatments. Faecal C excretion was higher in QTE and AC treatments (p = 0.001) compared with the Control, while the composition of faecal N differed only in concentration of undigested dietary N (p = 0.001). The results demonstrate that QTE can be included into diets of goats up to 40 g/kg, without affecting N utilisation, but simultaneously increasing the excretion of slowly decomposable N and C fractions. Feeding AC up to 30 g/kg of the diet increases slowly degradable faecal C concentration, without negative effects on N metabolism of goats.     

Contributions of animal nutrition research in rostock to energetic feed evaluation

The Rostock research in animal nutrition has underlain in continuation and progressive development of Kellner's starch value system, net energy fat as measuring unit for energetic feed evaluation. Net energy‐fat was used as an uniform unit of measure for all farm animals with different performances. The scientific basis for the net energy‐fat system was created by numerous studies on energy retention and utilisation efficiency of pure nutrients and nutrients of feedstuffs and rations. For the estimation the energy content of feedstuffs and rations, multiple regression equations were derived on the basis of experimental results of the energy research group. The regressions for the estimation of energy values are used directly and modified in feed evaluation systems for practical use. The Rostock research group in energy metabolism created also essential contributions to factorial derivations of energy requirement of farm animals. In the presented paper selected results on maintenance energy requirement in relation to partial energy requirement values and utilisation efficiencies in growing, pregnant and lactating animals, especially cattle and pigs, are comprised. The Rostock results are compared to those from literature.     

Efficiency of energy utilisation and voluntary feed intake in ruminants

Energy requirements of animals are most readily expressed in terms of net energy (NE), while the energy yield of feed is, at least initially, expressed in terms of metabolisable energy (ME). Energy evaluation systems 'translate' NE requirements into ME requirements (ME systems) or assign NE values to feeds (NE systems). Efficiency of ME utilisation is higher for maintenance than for production and the NE yield of a feed varies, therefore, with ME intake. In addition, energetic efficiency for maintenance and production is thought to be different for lactating and non-lactating animals and to be affected by diet quality. As a result, there are currently many national energy evaluation systems that are complex, differ in their approach and are, as a result, difficult to compare. As ruminants in most production systems are fed ad libitum, this is also the most appropriate intake level at which to estimate energetic efficiency. Analyses of older as well as more recent data suggest that ad libitum feeding (i) abolishes the effects of diet quality on energetic efficiency (almost) completely, (ii) abolishes the differences between lactating and non-lactating animals (almost) entirely and (iii) results in overall energetic efficiencies that are always close to 0.6. The paper argues that there is now sufficient information to develop an international energy evaluation system for ad libitum fed ruminants. Such a system should (i) unify ME and NE systems, (ii) avoid the systematic bias and large errors that can be associated with current systems (iii) be simpler than current systems and (iv) have as a starting point a constant efficiency of ME utilisation, with a value of around 0.6. The remarkably constant efficiency of ME utilisation in ad libitum fed ruminants could be the result of energetic efficiency as well as feed intake regulation being affected by the same variables or of a direct role of energetic efficiency in feed intake regulation. Models to predict intake on the basis of the latter hypothesis are already available for non-reproducing ruminants but remain to be developed for reproducing animals.     

Gastrointestinal nematodes and dietary fibre: Two factors to consider when using FN for wildlife nutrition monitoring

Faecal nitrogen (FN) – the combination of metabolic nitrogen and residual food nitrogen – has been used as a proxy for diet quality in wild and domestic ruminants for over half a century. However, a common misconception in some of these studies is that FN is a direct proxy for dietary N, in spite of experimental evidence that links FN to general diet digestibility. Additionally, gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) can alter N metabolism and increase FN by various mechanisms. To clarify the role of dietary N, fibre and GIN as a factor in FN excretion, 10 naturally parasitised sheep were fed two different isocaloric diets (LPF: low-protein, low-fibre; HPF: high-protein, high-fibre). One month after these diets began, a single anthelmintic treatment was applied to remove GIN, after which the sheep were kept on the same diet for an additional 2 weeks. Throughout the experiment, individual faecal samples were obtained to estimate both FN and GIN intensity (using faecal egg counts, FEC). In addition, two blood samples were taken before and after deworming to measure serum total protein concentrations (TP) as a proxy for protein absorption. In spite of the difference in dietary protein, FN was higher on an LPF diet, supporting the overall digestibility concept. The influence of GIN on FN was later revealed by the anthelmintic treatment, which led to a decrease of FEC and FN in both dietary groups. Serum total protein showed a slight but non-significant increase in both groups after the anthelmintic treatment. Our study supports not only the concept that FN is a proxy for diet digestibility, and not directly for dietary N, but also that gastrointestinal nematodes limit its use as a proxy for diet quality in ruminants, especially under high parasite loads (e.g., 1000 faecal eggs per gram of faeces). Such limitations should be considered before using FN for wildlife nutrition monitoring. Some recommendations are given to avoid misinterpretations.     

Losses in the conservation and utilisation of grass and forage crops*

Losses occur during the conservation of forage crops as a result of plant respiration post-cutting and post-harvest; as a result of fermentation, surface deterioration, and (in the case of wet crops) effluent production whilst in store. Further losses occur when conserved forages are given to ruminants; the largest being that of undigested material voided in faeces. Losses during conservation and utilisation can be reduced by minimising the period of field drying and using chemical additives to improve preservation or digestibility.     

Evaluation of green forage intake and digestibility in ruminants using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS): Developing a global calibration

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), applied to forage and/or faeces, to estimate the in vivo organic matter digestibility (OMD) and the organic matter voluntary intake (OMVI, g/kg metabolic weight [BW^0.75]) for a wide range of temperate forages. Two different databases, in terms of forage species and development stages were studied. The first one included two grass species and two forage mixtures for which OMD and OMVI were continuously measured during the grass-growing seasons (spring and summer). The second one contained a large set of grass and legume species and forage mixtures (142 trials) for which OMD and OMVI were measured.Forage and faeces samples were submitted to NIRS analysis and predictive calibrations were developed from forage spectra, faeces spectra, forage and faeces subtracted spectra, and faeces and forage concatenated spectra. Working on faecal spectra (alone or concatenated) enabled us to develop the best calibration equations for both OMD and OMVI estimation. The coefficient of determination (R²) was greater than 0.8. The standard error of cross validation (SECV) for OMD and OMVI was 0.021 and 4.51 g/kg BW^0.75, respectively, and the accuracy was similar to that obtained with other predictive methods. With regard to the faecal spectra (second derivative mode), the fat absorbency at wavelengths of 1730, 2310 and 2350 nm was higher when the corresponding forage was highly digestible and ingestible.In conclusion, applying NIRS to faeces is a rapid and easy analytical method that could be an interesting tool for managing grazing ruminants and optimising their performance.     

Insulin regulation of amino-acid metabolism in the mammary gland of sheep in early lactation and fed fresh forage

Insulin plays an important role in regulating the partitioning of nutrients to the mammary gland, particularly in lactating ruminants fed concentrate-based diets. There is evidence that the nutritional status of the animals might also affect their response to insulin. This is largely untested in early lactating ruminants fed fresh forage. To investigate nutritional effects on insulin response, 12 lactating sheep, housed indoors, were allocated to one of two treatment groups (hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp (HEC) or control) in a randomised block design and fed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture. Mammary amino acid (AA) net uptake from plasma and utilisation for milk protein synthesis was measured during the 4th day of the HEC using arterio-venous concentration differences, and 1-13C-leucine was used to estimate whole body and mammary gland leucine kinetics. There was no change in feed intake, milk protein output and mammary blood flow during the HEC (P > 0.1). The HEC decreased (P < 0.1) the arterial concentrations of all essential AA (EAA) except histidine. The mammary net uptake of some EAA (isoleucine, leucine, methionine and phenylalanine) was reduced by the HEC (P < 0.1). Leucine oxidation in the mammary gland was not altered during the HEC (P > 0.1) but mammary protein synthesis was reduced by the HEC (P < 0.05). These results show that sheep mammary gland can adapt to changing AA precursor supply to maintain milk protein production during early lactation, when fed fresh forage. How this occurs remains unclear, and this area deserves further study.     

Effects of lowering crude protein supply alone or in a combination with essential oils on productivity,rumen function and nutrient utilization in dairy cows

Lowering dietary protein concentration is known to decrease urinary nitrogen (N) losses and increase milk N efficiency in dairy cows, but it may negatively affect animal productivity. Plant-derived essential oils (EO) may alleviate these negative effects by improving the efficiency of rumen fermentation in cows fed reduced feed protein diets. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of lowering crude protein (CP) supply alone or in a combination with an EO product on feed intake, milk production and composition, rumen fermentation, total tract digestibility and N utilization in dairy cows. Twenty-one Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment. Each period consisted of 14 days for adaptation and 14 days for data collection and sampling. Cows were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets: a 165 g/kg CP diet (control), a 155 g/kg CP diet (LCP) and LCP supplemented with 35 g/day per cow EO (LCPEO). The dry matter (DM) intake was decreased by LCP and LCPEO compared with the control; there was no effect of EO on DM intake. Milk yield and composition and feed efficiency were similar among treatments. Ruminal pH, lactate, ammonia and volatile fatty acids concentrations were not affected by treatment, except increased valerate concentration by LCPEO compared with LCP. The supplementation of EO tended to decrease protozoal counts. The LCP and LCPEO increased total tract digestibility of DM and organic matter and decreased CP digestibility compared with the control. Supplementation with EO did not affect total tract digestibility of dietary nutrients compared with the control or LCP. The LCP and LCPEO decreased urinary and fecal N excretions and increased milk N efficiency; nitrogen losses were not affected by EO. In this study, lowering dietary CP by 10 g/kg decreased urinary and fecal N excretion without affecting productivity. The supplementation of EO to LCP had only minor effects on rumen fermentation and did not affect productivity, digestibility and N excretion in lactating dairy cows.     

Utilisation of phytate phosphorus by rumen bacteria in a semi-continuous culture system (Rusitec) in lactating goats fed on different forage to concentrate ratios

Experimental data on phytate phosphorus utilisation by ruminants are scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the phytase activity of rumen micro-organisms when phytate phosphorus supply is high. A semi-continuous culture system fermentor (RUSITEC) was used. The inoculum was obtained from eight goats fed on either high or low forage level diets. Experimental buffers only differed by the nature of phosphorus monosodium phosphate vs. corn sodium phytate. The nylon bags containing 15 g DM of substrate were removed after a 48-hour incubation period. The system was maintained for 15 days: 5 days for adaptation, in order to obtain a steady state, and 10 days for sampling and recording. No significant differences were observed for DM digestibility, gas production, pH, N-NH3, and SCFA for the different treatments. Bacterial efficiency of phytate phosphorus utilisation was significantly higher (p < 0.001) with organic P, but remained lower than the data usually reported in the literature. These results may be explained by the relative saturation of bacterial phytase activity when the buffer contains a high level of phytate phosphorus.     

Foraging behavior of bay anchovy larvae, Anchoa mitchilli

We investigated the food digestibility of East Pacific green turtles, Chelonia mydas agassizii, at tropical coral reefs of Gorgona National Park in the Colombian Pacific and calculated the intake passage time (IPT) of 3 different diets. We collected 150 faecal samples from turtles (mean straight carapace length 61.3 ± 4.12 cm and mean mass 32.3 ± 6.67 kg) to determine digesta composition and for measurement of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), sulphuric acid lignin and protein. The mean (± S.D) IPT to recover at least 73% of external markers (plastic beads) in the faeces was 23.3 ± 6.6 days. The true NDF digestibility and dry matter digestibility were determined for high protein (fish), plant (fresh leaves of Araceae, Moraceae and Bombaceae) and mixed (combination of both high protein and plant) diets. NDF values obtained for digestibility of the protein, plant and mixed diets were 1%, 63% and 49% respectively. There was a large amount of undigested plant material in the faeces, dominated by fruits of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). We considered the relationships between the type of food, IPT and apparent digestibility in the context of the nutritional contribution of an omnivorous diet. Our results suggest that for juvenile green sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific combined diets are an opportunistic strategy responding to habitat features and supply to maximise energy acquisition in transitional habitats such as Isla Gorgona.     

Evaluation of methodological aspects of digestibility measurements in ponies fed different haylage to concentrate ratios

Methodological aspects of digestibility measurements were studied in four Welsh pony geldings consuming haylage-based diets with increasing proportions of a pelleted concentrate according to a 4×4 Latin square design experiment. Ponies were fed four experimental, iso-energetic (net energy (NE) basis) diets (i.e. 22 MJ NE/day) with increasing proportions of a pelleted concentrate (C) in relation to haylage (H). The absolute amounts of diet dry matter fed per day were 4.48 kg of H (100H), 3.36 and 0.73 kg of H and C (75H25C), 2.24 and 1.45 kg of H and C (50H50C) and 1.12 and 2.17 kg of H and C (25H75C). Diets were supplemented with minerals, vitamins and TiO₂ (3.7 g Ti/day). Voluntary voided faeces were quantitatively collected daily during 10 consecutive days and analysed for moisture, ash, ADL, acid-insoluble ash (AIA) and Ti. A minimum faeces collection period of 6 consecutive days, along with a 14-day period to adapt the animals to the diets and become accustomed to the collection procedure, is recommended to obtain accurate estimations on dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility (OMD) in equids fed haylage-based diets supplemented with concentrate. In addition, the recovery of AIA, ADL and Ti was determined and evaluated. Mean faecal recovery over 10 consecutive days across diets for AIA, ADL and Ti was 124.9% (SEM 2.9), 108.7% (SEM 2.0) and 97.5% (SEM 0.9), respectively. Cumulative faecal recovery of AIA significantly differed between treatments, indicating that AIA is inadequate to estimate the OMD in equines. In addition, evaluation of the CV of mean cumulative faecal recoveries obtained by AIA, ADL and Ti showed greater variations in faecal excretion of AIA (9.1) and ADL (7.4) than Ti (3.7). The accuracy of prediction of OMD was higher with the use of Ti than ADL. The use of Ti is preferred as a marker in digestibility trials in equines fed haylage-based diets supplemented with increasing amounts of pelleted concentrate.     

粪便收集时间和饲料中肉骨粉含量对异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio) 消化率的影响

本研究探讨了通过收集器不同粪便收集时间和饲料中肉骨粉(MBM)含量对异育银鲫干物质、蛋白、能量、磷的表观消化率 (ADC) 影响.不同梯度(0, 20, 40, 60, 80 ,100%)的肉骨粉替代鱼粉(FM) 蛋白配制成六种等氮 (粗蛋白: 410 g/kg) 等能 (总能: 18 kJ/g) 的饲料,通过11周的饲养实验,实验开始后2周开始收集粪便,收集时间分别是:排粪后 1 min, 投喂后4h和16h. 结果表明,干物质、蛋白、能量、磷的消化率明显随粪便收集时间增加而升高(p<0.05),但在高肉骨粉替代饲料中差异不显著(p>0.05). 干物质、蛋白、能量、磷的消化率随饲料中肉骨粉含量的增加呈线性或近线性下降.因此,在消化率测定中应该尽快收集排出的粪便以保证消化率的真实性.消化率是影响肉骨粉利用一个因素.     

Effect of niacin supplementation on digestibility,nitrogen utilisation and milk and blood variables in lactating dairy cows fed a diet with a negative rumen nitrogen balance

The aim of the present experiment was to determine if a niacin supplementation of 6 g/d to lactating dairy cow diets can compensate negative effects of a rumen nitrogen balance (RNB) deficit. A total of nine ruminally and duodenally fistulated lactating multiparous German Holstein cows were successively assigned to one of three diets consisting of 10 kg maize silage (dry matter [DM] basis) and7 kg DM concentrate: Diet RNB– (n = 6) with energy and utilisable crude protein at the duodenum (uCP) according to the average requirement of the animals but with a negative RNB (–0.41 g N/MJ metabolisable energy [ME]); Diet RNB0 (n = 7) with energy, uCP and a RNB (0.08 g N/MJ ME) according to the average requirement of the animals and, finally, Diet NA (n = 5), which was the same diet as RNB–, but supplemented with 6 g niacin/d. Samples of milk were taken on two consecutive days, blood samples were taken on one day pre- and post-feeding and faeces and urine were collected completely over five consecutive days. The negative RNB reduced milk and blood urea content and apparent total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Also N excretion with urine, the total N excreted with urine and faeces and the N balance were reduced when the RNB was negative. Supplementation of niacin elevated plasma glucose concentration after feeding and the N balance increased. Supplementing the diet with a negative RNB with niacin led to a more efficient use of dietary N thereby avoiding the negative effects of the negative RNB on the digestibility of DM, OM and NDF.     

Nitrogen supply in cattle coupled with appropriate supply of utilisable crude protein at the duodenum,a precursor to metabolisable protein

The overall objective of this study was to calculate the amount of nitrogen (N) that cattle feed must contain in order to utilise the potential supply of utilisable crude protein at the duodenum provided by their energy intake without incurring a negative N balance, that is, without having to break down body protein. For this purpose, the literature was screened for measurements of net degradation and renal excretion of urea as well as N balances (N intake, faecal N and urinary N) in ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) fed diets with varying N concentrations. Irreversible loss of N from the body urea pool increased with increasing N intake, but net degradation of urea as a proportion of irreversible loss decreased concurrently. Faecal N appeared not to be influenced by N intake and exceeded 11 g/kg dry matter intake (DMI) only in 7% of the data sets available. Urinary non-urea-N rarely exceeded 4 g/kg DMI and appeared independent of N intake. Urinary urea-N showed a clear dependence of N intake, and it is concluded that 1 g N/kg DMI is sufficient for compensating inevitable N losses in the form of urinary urea. In conclusion, ruminant rations should contain the following N concentrations (per kg DM) to account for obligatory losses: 11 g for compensating losses as faecal N, 4 g for compensating losses as urinary non-urea-N and 1 g for compensating inevitable losses as urinary urea-N. The derived recommendations should be helpful for limiting N excretion where this is desirable for ecological reasons.     

Effect of niacin supplementation on digestibility, nitrogen utilisation and milk and blood variables in lactating dairy cows fed a diet with a negative rumen nitrogen balance

The aim of the present experiment was to determine if a niacin supplementation of 6 g/d to lactating dairy cow diets can compensate negative effects of a rumen nitrogen balance (RNB) deficit. A total of nine ruminally and duodenally fistulated lactating multiparous German Holstein cows were successively assigned to one of three diets consisting of 10 kg maize silage (dry matter [DM] basis) and 7 kg DM concentrate: Diet RNB- (n = 6) with energy and utilisable crude protein at the duodenum (uCP) according to the average requirement of the animals but with a negative RNB (-0.41 g N/MJ metabolisable energy [ME]); Diet RNB0 (n = 7) with energy, uCP and a RNB (0.08 g N/MJ ME) according to the average requirement of the animals and, finally, Diet NA (n = 5), which was the same diet as RNB-, but supplemented with 6 g niacin/d. Samples of milk were taken on two consecutive days, blood samples were taken on one day pre- and post-feeding and faeces and urine were collected completely over five consecutive days. The negative RNB reduced milk and blood urea content and apparent total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Also N excretion with urine, the total N excreted with urine and faeces and the N balance were reduced when the RNB was negative. Supplementation of niacin elevated plasma glucose concentration after feeding and the N balance increased. Supplementing the diet with a negative RNB with niacin led to a more efficient use of dietary N thereby avoiding the negative effects of the negative RNB on the digestibility of DM, OM and NDF.     

粪便收集方式对异育银鲫表观消化率测定的影响

消化率的高低是评价饲料营养价值的重要指标,但是粪便的不同收集方式会影响消化率的测定结果。研究观察了异育银鲫摄食后的排粪高峰以及排粪持续时间,探讨了粪便的不同收集方式对异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)(约100 g)表观消化率(Apparent digestibility coefficient,ADC)测定结果的影响。饲料中加入1%三氧化二铬(Cr2O3)作为指示剂,实验采用3种粪便收集方法(积粪器法、虹吸法和后肠取粪法),并且在积粪器法和虹吸法中设置了不同的收粪时间。结果表明,正常投喂的异育银鲫摄食后的排粪高峰出现在摄食结束后的5—10h;饥饿2d的异育银鲫恢复摄食后的排粪高峰出现在摄食结束后的7—9h;饲料的干物质表观消化率(ADC of dry matter,ADCd)和蛋白表观消化率(ADC of protein,ADCp)在排粪初始阶段较低,随着排粪高峰的出现而升高。粪便的不同收集方法和不同收集时间对ADCd和ADCp的测定结果均存在显著影响(P<0.05)。采用虹吸法收集粪便测得的ADCd与在排粪高峰时段内积粪器法的测定值相当;后肠取粪法收集粪便测得的ADCd低于积粪器法排粪高峰期的测定值。采用虹吸法收集粪便测得的ADCp略低于在排粪高峰时段内积粪器法的测定值;后肠取粪法收集粪便测得的ADCp低于积粪器法各时间段内的测定值。因此,在选择挑选新鲜完整粪便的前提下,在排粪高峰期采用虹吸法收集粪便用于ADC的测定是一种方便可靠的方法,反而后肠取粪法由于操作误差容易带来更大偏差。     

Effect of starch application into the proximal duodenum of ruminants on starch digestibility in the small and total intestine

Four Slovakian Black‐and‐white bulls (LW 410 ± 12 kg; Exp. 1) and four Slovakian Black‐and‐white non lactating dairy cows (LW 475 ± 14 kg; Exp. 2) with permanent ruminal cannulas, duodenal T‐cannulas and ileal re‐entrant cannulas were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to determine the postruminal capacity of starch digestion.

In Exp. 1 bulls received 5.4 kg DM from corn silage and 3.6 kg DM from alfalfa hay, in Exp. 2 cows consumed only 2.1 kg DM corn silage and 1.9 kg DM alfalfa hay. Additionally, either 750 or 1500 g (Exp. 1) or resp. 1000 or 2000 g (Exp. 2) gelatinized corn or wheat starch per animal and day were applied as pulse doses or as infusion into the proximal duodenum.

In both experiments the duodenal and ileal nutrient flow, as well as the faecal excretion without starch application, were measured in a pre‐period. After starting starch application ileal digesta and faeces were sampled over 120 h after 9 or 23 days of adaptation respectively. Cr₂O₃ was used as a flow marker.

It was shown, that the capacity of starch utilisation in the small intestine was limited. The effect of different doses of bypass‐starch was more pronounced than the effect of different starch sources. Starch digestibility decreased with increasing amounts of starch in the intestine (Exp. 1: corn starch: from 74.3 to 68.0%, P < 0.001; wheat starch: from 76.7 to 67.4%, P <0.001; Exp. 2: corn starch: from 71.4 to 50.3%, P <0.001; wheat starch: from 73.8 to 53.1%, P <0.001). Corn starch was 0.6 to 2.4% units (P <0.05) and 2.4 to 2.8% units (P < 0.001) less digested than wheat starch in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively.

The decreased starch digestibility in the small intestine with increasing amounts of starch at the duodenum was not totally compensated in the large intestine. The starch digestibility in the total intestine for the low and high amounts of applied starch was: 83.7 and 81.0% (P < 0.001, corn starch, Exp. 1), 86.0 and 81.7% (P < 0.001, wheat starch, Exp. 1), 95.5 and 79.1% (P < 0.001, corn starch, Exp. 2), 99.8 and 81.7% (P < 0.001, wheat starch, Exp. 2).

Corn starch was 0.7 to 2.3% units (P <0.001) and 2.6 to 4.3% units (P <0.001) less digested than wheat starch in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively.

Model calculations were used to quantify the efficiency of starch utilisation. The recommended maximal amount of bypass‐starch is supposed to be 1.3 to 1.8 kg per animal and day.     

The prospects of poop: a review of past achievements and future possibilities in faecal isotope analysis

What can the stable isotope values of human and animal faeces tell us? This often under-appreciated waste product is gaining recognition across a variety of disciplines. Faecal isotopes provide a means of monitoring diet, resource partitioning, landscape use, tracking nutrient inputs and cycling, and reconstructing past climate and environment. Here, we review what faeces are composed of, their temporal resolution, and how these factors may be impacted by digestive physiology and efficiency. As faeces are often used to explore diet, we clarify how isotopic offsets between diet and faeces can be calculated, as well as some differences among commonly used calculations that can lead to confusion. Generally, faecal carbon isotope (δ¹³C) values are lower than those of the diet, while faecal nitrogen isotope values (δ¹⁵N) values are higher than in the diet. However, there is considerable variability both within and among species. We explore the role of study design and how limitations stemming from a variety of factors can affect both the reliability and interpretability of faecal isotope data sets. Finally, we summarise the various ways in which faecal isotopes have been applied to date and provide some suggestions for future research. Despite remaining challenges, faecal isotope data are poised to continue to contribute meaningfully to a variety of fields.     

Composition and digestibility of untreated and chemically treated animal excreta for ruminants—A review

The paper reports on the crude nutrient content and the mineral profile, as well as the apparent digestibility by ruminants, of faeces of poultry, pigs and cattle, poultry litter and solid matter of poultry, pig and cattle slurries. The second part of the paper deals with chemical treatment of pig and cattle slurry solids with NaOH, KOH and urea.Nutrient and mineral content as well as digestibility of animal excreta are greatly influenced by species, age and type of feeding, the bedding material used and the method of solid-liquid separation of slurries.The digestibility of poultry excreta is higher than that of pig waste. Cattle faeces are unsuitable as feeds even after chemical treatment.In sacco degradability, apparent digestibility, energy content and intake of pig slurry solids were increased by treatment with urea, NaOH and KOH. Level of chemicals used and temperature influenced the effect of treatment. Wet pig-slurry solids may be preserved with urea.