Effect of wheat hay particle size and replacement of wheat hay with wheat silage on rumen pH,rumination and digestibility in ruminally cannulated non-lactating cows

This study examined the effects on intake, diurnal rumen pH changes, rumination and digestibility of feeding ruminally cannulated non-lactating cows in a Latin square design (four cows×four periods) with four total mixed rations (TMRs) typical for lactating cows. TMRs were based on: long wheat hay or short wheat hay, wheat silage or wheat silage+1.5% NaHCO₃ buffer, as the sole roughage source (30% of TMR dry matter (DM)). The level of physically effective NDF remaining above the 8 mm screen (peNDF) was similar in the long hay and silage-based TMRs (9.45% to 9.64% of DM) and lower in the short hay TMR (7.47% of DM). The four TMRs were offered individually at 95% of ad libitum intake to avoid orts within 24 h. Cows fed long hay consumed less DM than the short hay and silage groups (9.6 v. 10.5 and 10.8 kg/day, respectively) and sorted against large hay particles at 12 h post-feeding. Under the limitations of this study (non-lactating cows fed at restricted intake) short hay TMR prevented sorting within 12 h post-feeding, encouraged rumination per kg peNDF ingested, and had higher average rumen pH (6.24), whereas preventing sub acute ruminal acidosis (SARA, defined as pH<5.8 for at least 5 h/day). In contrast, the long hay and silage-based groups were under SARA. In vitro methane production of rumen fluid was higher in the hay-fed cows than in their silage-fed counterparts, and in all treatments lower at 1 h pre-feeding than at 6 h post-feeding. In vivo DM and NDF digestibility were similar for the short hay and silage TMRs, and higher than those of the long hay TMR. Under the conditions of this study, addition of 1.5% buffer to the wheat silage TMR had no effect on intake, rumen pH, creation of SARA and digestibility.     

Chemical defense in birch: Inhibition of digestibility in ruminants by phenolic extracts

Summary The biological activity of phenolic extracts originating from winter twigs of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) was measured using the ruminant in vitro method and the nylon bag technique. Different extracts were prepared by extraction with organic solvents, removing phenols of corresponding solubility. The extract of birch twigs (diameter <1.5 mm) contained about 19% phenol equivalents, corresponding to 6% of twig dry matter (DM). Coarse birch twigs (diameter 1.5–5 mm) contained about 3% in the DM Phenolic extracts from the fine birch twigs were added to coarse birch twigs and common timothy (Phleum pratense L.) to mimic natural concentrations of fine birch twigs. Controls and the plant material with phenolic extract added were incubated for different times with rumen inocula taken from a sheep fed browse and a goat fed hay. Nylon bags containing phenolic treated hay were incubated in the rumen of the goat for 6 and 48 h. Phenolic extracts had a considerable negative effect on the organic matter (OM), protein and cell wall (neutral detergent fiber, NDF) digestibility in vitro. The nylon bag OM disappearance was also depressed by the extract. The effects were measurable after 6 h of digestion both in vitro and in sacco.The high inhibitory effect by the extracts on digestibility persisted even after removal of lipophilic fractions. This suggests that some or several water-soluble phenolic substances are responsible for the depression of digestibility. The depression of OM digestibility is linearly related to the concentration of phenols added. However, the inhibition of nylon bag digestibility plateaus at high phenol concentrations, suggesting that some fraction of the substances undergo complex formation with macromolecules of the plant.The results strongly indicate that water-soluble phenols of birch make up an important part of its chemical defense in winter by possessing antinutritional properties. Thus their potential importance in the nutrition of wild herbivores must not be ignored.     

Comparative fibre-degrading capacity in foals at immediate and late post-weaning periods

Total tract apparent digestibility of dietary fibrous components and parameters of the faecal digestive ecosystem were compared at immediate and late post-weaning periods using five foals. The foals were abruptly weaned (day 0) from their mares at 6 months of age. Immediately (day 0 to day 14) and later (day 131 to day 194) after weaning, foals received the same basal diet consisting of hay and pellets. Pellets were fed at 0.36% BW. Hay was offered ad libitum and corresponded to 120% of the average voluntary hay intake measured individually during the immediate (days 1 to 4) and late (days 180 to 183) post-weaning periods. Total feed intake was measured during the two post-weaning periods (from days 7 to 10 and from days 187 to 190). Total tract apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), NDF and ADF was assessed using a 4-day partial collection of faeces (from days 8 to 11 and from days 188 to 191). Major bacterial groups in faeces, Fibrobacter succinogenes, DM, pH and volatile fatty acids were quantified at days −1, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 180. During the post-weaning period, minor changes were observed in the composition and activity of the faecal microbiota. The amylolytic count in faeces decreased immediately after weaning (between days 1 and 7) (P<0.05). Later (from days 14 to 180), the molar proportion of propionate decreased (P=0.03). The limited alteration seen in the hindgut ecosystem was probably due to the fact that the foals had undergone a gradual dietary transition from milk to solid feed before weaning. Such conclusions have also been reported in other animal species. Between the immediate and late post-weaning periods, the average daily feed intake and the digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NDF and ADF increased (P<0.05). These results could suggest an increase in the fibre-degrading capacity of foals after weaning.     

Influence of undegraded intake protein on intake,digestion, serum hormones and metabolites,and nitrogen balance in sheep

In Exp. 1, 20 ewes of mixed breeding were fed grass hay : straw mixtures, assigned to one of four supplemental treatments and evaluated during six collection periods. Supplemental treatments were control (no supplement), and low, medium, and high levels (5.2%, 22.1%, and 41.3% of DM, respectively) of undegraded intake protein (UIP). Supplements were formulated to be similar in degraded intake protein (DIP; 21%). Digestibilities of DM, OM, and CP were increased (P < 0.10) with protein supplementation and in medium and high compared with low UIP supplemented ewes. Digestibility of CP also was increased (P < 0.10) in ewes on high compared with medium treatments. Serum insulin was not influenced (P > 0.10) by UIP treatment, except in collection period four. In contrast, serum glucose and growth hormone were not influenced (P > 0.10) by UIP treatment. In Exp. 2, four wether lambs fed the same treatments as in Exp. 1, were used in two 4 × 4 Latin squares trials. In trial 1 lambs received a grass hay diet (6.7% CP) and in trial 2 lambs were fed 40 : 60 blend (6.6% CP) of grass hay and spring wheat straw. In both trials, N intake, urinary N, N digestion, apparent N absorption, and N retention were increased (P < 0.10) with protein supplementation. In addition, in trial 1, urinary N, N digestion, and apparent N absorption were increased (P < 0.10) in medium and high compared with low UIP and also in high compared with medium UIP treatments. In trial 2 of Exp. 2, total feed intake (g/kg BW), digestibility of DM and OM, BW, and fecal N were increased (P < 0.10) with protein supplementation. Organic matter digestion, BW, N intake, and N retention were increased by medium and high compared with low UIP. Fecal N, BW, N intake, and N retention were increased (P < 0.10) in high compared with medium UIP. These data indicate that increasing levels of UIP supplementation increases DM, OM, and CP (N) digestibility, serum urea N concentration, and N retention in sheep fed low quality forage.     

Effects of hybrid and maturity on performance and nutritive characteristics of forage maize at high latitudes, estimated using the gas production technique

We evaluated effects of hybrid and advancing plant maturity on performance, chemical composition, and nutritional characteristics of whole plant forage maize as well as the relative contributions of its plant fractions at high latitudes. Three maize hybrids, Avenir (FAO 180), Isberi (FAO 190) and Burli (FAO 210), were grown in southern Sweden in a field experiment with a replicated complete randomized block design. Plants were harvested four times during maturation, and dry matter (DM) yield and DM as a proportion of fresh weight were recorded. Whole plants were separated into four morphological fractions representing stems, leaves, kernels and cobs and the contribution of each fraction to the DM of the whole plant was estimated. Plant material was subjected to chemical analysis followed by measurement of in vitro gas production (GP) in buffered rumen fluid and finally, by calculation of in vitro true digestibility of organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom). The GP profiles were fitted to a first order kinetic model with a discrete lag. Parameters describing the GP profiles were used in a recently developed mechanistic two compartment rumen degradation model to estimate in vivo OM digestibility (OMD) and first order rate of degradation in the rumen. Hybrids were compared and effects of maturity were assessed by analysis of variance using DM concentration as covariate. There were differences (P<0.05) among the hybrids in DM yield and relative contributions of the plant fractions. Differences (P<0.05) in modelled in vivo digestibility of OM and rates of degradation also occurred among hybrids. Increased maturity caused a reduction in in vitro digestibility of aNDFom in all plant fractions (P<0.05), but increased the rate of rumen degradation of OM in the whole plant as evaluated from GP results. The DM yield had a quadratic relationship with increasing maturity, with maximum yield at a DM concentration of about 370 g/kg. In vitro GP can describe the nutritive characteristics of forage maize in relation to advancing maturity and increased maturity affected agronomic performance and plant composition as well as the nutritive characteristics of hybrids.     

Assessment of a brown midrib (BMR) mutant gene on the nutritive value of sudangrass using in vitro and in vivo techniques

The brown midrib (BMR) gene has been reported to reduce the lignin concentration in plants, which contributed to increased fiber digestion in ruminants. Three studies were completed to compare the digestibility of a BMR mutant of sudangrass (sorghum bicolor subsp. Drummondii) versus a non-BMR (‘Piper’) variety when included in diets fed to sheep (Study 1), to complete a rumen in vitro assessment of sheep and lactating cow diets (Study 2), and to compare digestibility when included in the diet fed to lactating dairy cows (Study 3). Four wether sheep were used in a 2 × 2 Latin square experiment (Study 1) with total fecal collection to determine total tract apparent digestibility of pelleted Piper (P) and BMR (P-BMR) sudangrass hays. Forage pellets consisted of either P-BMR or P hay with added urea to meet the maintenance crude protein (CP) requirement of the sheep. Digestibility of organic matter (OM; P<0.01), dry matter (DM; P<0.01), acid detergent fiber (ADF; P<0.05), and neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom; P<0.07) was higher for P-BMR than P sudangrass. In vitro rumen digestibility of aNDFom using cattle rumen fluid was higher at 24 (P<0.01), 48 (P<0.01) and 72 h (P<0.01) of fermentation for P-BMR versus P (Study 2). Four lactating Holstein dairy cows (251 ± 30 days in milk) and fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Total mixed rations (TMR) contained 180 g/kg DM shredded sudangrass hay and 180 g/kg sliced alfalfa hay, but the proportion of P to P-BMR sudangrass varied as 100:0, 66:34, 34:66, or 0:100. Yields of milk and milk protein were highest at the 66:34 level (Quadratic: P=0.06 and 0.07, respectively), but composition of milk fat, protein and lactose, as well as DM intake, did not differ (Study 3), probably because forestomach and total tract apparent digestion of aNDFom and OM did not differ due to sudangrass source.     

Effect of feeding long or short wheat hay v. wheat silage in the ration of lactating cows on intake,milk production and digestibility

The objective of this study was to evaluate in lactating cows the effect of either chopping or ensiling of wheat roughage on: intake, digestibility, lactation performance and animal behavior. Three groups of 14 lactating cows each, were fed total mixed rations (TMRs) based on either long wheat hay (HL), short wheat hay (HS) or wheat silage (SI), as the sole roughage source (30% of TMR dry matter (DM)). Parameters examined: sorting behavior, DM intake, milk yield and composition, rumination, recumbence, average daily rumen pH, digesta passage rate, and in-vivo digestibility. Performance data was summarized by day and analyzed using a proc-mixed model. The content of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) was similar in the HL and SI and lower in the HS, resulting in similar differences among the three corresponding TMRs. In vitro DM digestibility of wheat silage was higher than that of the two hays (65.6% v. 62.8%) resulting in higher in vitro DM digestibility of the SI-TMR compared with the hay-based TMRs (79.3 v. 77.0%). HS-TMR was better than HL- or SI-TMRs at preventing feed sorting by cows after 12 or 24 h eating of the diets. Cows fed HS-TMR consumed more DM and NDF but less peNDF than the other two groups. Average daily rumen pH was similar in the three groups, but daily rumination time was highest in the cows fed HS-TMR. Rumen retention time was longest in cows fed HL-TMR. DM digestibility in cows fed SI-TMR was higher than that of HS and HL groups (65.2%, 61.8% and 62.4%, respectively), but NDF digestibility was similar in the three treatments. The highest intake of digestible DM was observed in cows fed SI-TMR, HS cows were intermediate and HL cows were the lowest. Consequently, cows fed SI-TMR had higher yields of milk, 4% fat corrected milk and energy-corrected milk (47.1, 42.9 and 43.2 kg/day, respectively) than cows fed HS-TMR (45.7, 41.0 and 41.0 kg/day, respectively) or HL-TMR (44.1, 40.3 and 40.3 kg/day, respectively). Net energy production (NE_L+M+gain) per kg DM intake was highest in the SI-TMR, lowest in the HS-TMR and intermediate in the HL-TMR (1.52, 1.40 and 1.45, respectively). Animal welfare, as expressed in daily recumbence time and BW gain was similar in the SI and HS groups and higher than the HL cows.     

The effect of supplementing pony diets with yeast on 1. In vivo and in vitro digestibility,faecal pH and particle size

Fibre is essential to maintain healthy gut; however, energy demands of performance horses can be too high to be met by forages alone. Yeast may support the function of cellulolytic bacteria to digest fibre. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of an oral supplement (VistaEQ) containing 4% live yeast on the in vitro and in vivo digestibility of high-starch (HS) and high-fibre diets (HF). Eight ponies were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of 4- × 19-day periods and four diets: HF, HF + yeast (HFY), HS and HS + yeast (HSY). In vivo apparent digestibility (AD) was estimated using total collection technique, and faecal particle size was measured using NASCO digestive analyser. Faeces from the ponies were subsequently used as an inoculum in ANKOM RF gas production system to assess fermentation kinetics in vitro. Each module contained 1 g of feed substrate DM in the following combinations: 50% grass hay and 50% alfalfa (HF_50 : 50) or concentrate (HS_50 : 50), and 75% grass hay and 25% alfalfa (HF_75 : 25) or concentrate (HS_75 : 25) with or without yeast. Yeast was able to induce more gas production from HF_75 : 25, HS_75 : 25 and HF_50 : 50 feed substrates incubated with respective faecal inoculum base. Yeast did not affect pH in vitro when the substrates were incubated in 50 : 50 ratio, while the pH was higher for HF_75 : 25 incubated with correspondent faecal inoculum compared to HS_75 : 25 and HSY_75 : 25. Yeast had no effects on ADF and CP AD of either diet. Yeast addition increased DM (HF: 0.2%, HS: 0.4%), organic matter (HF: 0.7%, HS: 1.3%), NDF (HF: 0.5%, HS: 1.5%), total detergent fibre (HF: 0.7%; HS: 0.4%) (P < 0.05) and also tended to increase hemicellulose AD (HF: 0.9%, HS: 1.2%) (P < 0.10). Faecal pH in vivo was higher for both HF diets compared to HS diet without yeast supplementation (P < 0.001, HF and HFY: 6.8; HS: 6.6, HSY: 6.7). However, no difference was observed in faecal pH when HSY was compared to both HF diets. Yeast had no effect on the size of the faecal particles (P > 0.05). Yeast increased in vitro gas production, suggesting more energy could be extracted from the feed, and the in vivo AD of some of the nutrients when HF and HS diets were fed.     

Digestibility contributes to between-animal variation in feed efficiency in beef cows

Residual feed intake (RFI) is an alternative measure of feed efficiency (FE) and is calculated as the difference between actual and expected feed intake. The biological mechanisms underlying animal-to-animal variation in FE are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the digestive ability of beef cows selected for RFI divergence as heifers, using two contrasted diets. Fifteen 4-year-old beef cows were selected from a total of 69 heifers based on their RFI following the feedlot test. The selected heifers were ranked into high-RFI (+ 1.02 ± 0.28, n = 8) and low-RFI (−0.73 ± 0.28, n = 7), and a digestibility trial was performed after their first lactation. Both RFI groups were offered two different diets: 100% hay or a fattening diet which consisted of a DM basis of 67% whole-plant maize silage and 33% high starch concentrates over four experimental periods (two per diet). A diet effect was observed on feed intake and apparent digestibility, whereas no diet × RFI interaction was detected (P > 0.05). Intake and apparent digestibility were higher in cows fed the fattening diet than in those fed the hay diet (P < 0.0001). DM intake (DMI) and organic matter apparent digestibility (OMd) were repeatable and positively correlated between the two subsequent periods of measurements. For the hay and fattening diets, the repeatability between periods was r = 0.71 and r = 0.73 for DMI and r = 0.87 and r = 0.48 for OMd, respectively. Moreover, both intake (r = 0.55) and OMd (r = 0.54) were positively correlated (P < 0.05) between the hay and fattening diets. Significant differences between beef cows selected for divergence in RFI as heifers were observed for digestive traits (P < 0.05), DM and organic matter (OM) apparent digestibility being higher for low-RFI cows. Overall, this study showed that apparent digestibility contributes to between-animal variation in FE in beef cows.     

Effect of level of sodium hydroxide treatment and volume of solution on the nutritive value of maize cobs

Maize cobs were chosen as a test material as these are produced centrally in home-steads during shelling and therefore collection and transport costs are eliminated. The knowledge gained from the improvement of their nutritive value by the dry NaOH treatment method can be adapted easily.The effect of treatment rates was tested with rams in three experiments. In the first experiment, coarsely ground maize cobs were treated at 1.67, 3.33 and 5.0 kg NaOH/100 kg cobs dry matter (DM) and formed 52% of the rations on an air-dry basis. Digestibility increased significantly (P < 0.05) and a regression equation y = 51.57 + 2.28x was calculated in which y = DM digestibility, and x = kg NaOH/100 cobs DM. In the second experiment, maize cobs treated at 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 kg NaOH/100 kg cobs DM formed 67% of the ration and the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), cell wall constituents (CWC) and crude fibre (CF) were markedly increased from 2.5 to 5.0 kg NaOH treatment levels and no further responses were obtained thereafter. In the third experiment, maize cobs formed 61% of the rations and the material was treated at 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 kg NaOH. Digestibility of DM, OM, CF and energy was significantly (P < 0.05) increased at 5.0 and 7.5 kg NaOH levels. Voluntary feed intake followed the same trend, values for g DM intake per kgW^0.75 per day being 60.5, 83.3, 95.7 and 96.0 in the order of increasing NaOH treatment rates. The total digestibility DM, OM and energy intakes were more closely correlated to voluntary feed intake than to digestibility coefficients. It is concluded that 5 kg NaOH/100 kg DM is optimum for both digestibility and voluntary feed intake.The volume of NaOH solution was varied from 25 to 200 l per 100 kg DM of maize cobs in four experiments and the digestibility of DM, OM and CWC with sheep was not affected by this factor, except that the smallest volume (25 l) depressed digestion slightly, apparently because of the difficulty of getting effective mixing with small volumes. It is concluded that 50 l per 100 kg DM of maize cobs is the minimum volume.     

Impact of barley form on equine total tract fibre digestibility and colonic microbiota

This study aimed at assessing the impact of four barley forms on total tract apparent digestibility of dietary fibre in horses fed a large amount of starch in the morning meal (0.27% BW). Processed barley forms had a greater pre-caecal starch digestibility than the whole form. Based on this result, we hypothesised that using barley-processing methods would limit the potential dumping of undegraded starch in the hindgut of horses and, consequently, the potential negative effect on fibre degradation in the hindgut. In a 4×4 latin square design, four mature geldings fitted with a right ventral colon-fistula were fed a meadow hay : concentrate (62 : 38; dry matter (DM) basis) diet at 1.7% BW. The concentrate was made of 80% barley distributed either as whole grain or as processed forms: 2.5 mm ground, pelleted or steam-flaked. For each period, total tract apparent digestibilities of DM, NDF and ADF were determined over 3 consecutive days by total faecal collection, whereas pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations and cultural functional bacteria counts (total anaerobic, cellulolytic bacteria, lactic acid producers, amylolytic bacteria and lactic acid utilisers) in colonic content were evaluated on 1 day 4 h after the morning meal. Total tract apparent digestibility of DM and dietary fibre was influenced (P<0.05) by barley form. Diets including thermo-mechanically treated barley forms led to a higher (P<0.05) total tract apparent digestibility of NDF than those constituted of ground barley and also led to a greater (P<0.05) total tract apparent digestibility of ADF than those made of whole or ground barley forms. However, no significant difference was observed in colonic pH, VFA concentrations and cultural bacteria concentrations. Owing to a high starch supply in the morning meal, the concentration of the functional bacteria in the colonic content averaged 7.8 log CFU/ml, 5.9 NPM/ml, 6.9 and 7.3 CFU/ml for total anaerobic, cellulolytic, amylolytic and lactic acid-utilising bacteria, respectively. Consequently, providing horses with pelleted or steam-flaked instead of ground barley forms may limit the negative impact of starch on fibre digestibility in horses fed a high level of starch in the morning meal (0.27% BW). Moreover, the fibre-to-starch ratio fed in this experiment did not cause any digestive upset.     

Intake and digestion by lambs of dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Mott) hay or hay supplemented with urea and different levels of cracked corn grain

This study was carried out to evaluate intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen (N) retention and ruminal microbial protein synthesis in lambs fed dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Mott) hay or hay supplemented with urea and 0, 5, 10 or 15 g/kg of live weight (LW) of cracked corn grain. Ten lambs (mean LW of 28 ± 0.9 kg), housed in metabolic cages, were used in a double 5 × 5 Latin Square experiment. Except fibre intake and digestibility, which was higher, the intake and digestibility of the others feed components, as well as ruminal microbial protein synthesis and N retention were lower in non-supplemented lambs. Corn supplementation increased total dry matter (DM) (P<0.05), organic matter (OM), non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and energy intake (P<0.01) but decreased total neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom) (P<0.01) intake, as well as OM and aNDFom intake from the hay (P<0.01). Apparent DM, OM and energy digestibility, as well as OM true digestibility (OMTD) increased (P<0.01), and aNDFom digestibility decreased linearly (P<0.01) as corn supplementation increased. Total N intake was not influenced but, apparent and true N digestibility, as well as urinary N excretion decreased (P<0.01), and ruminal microbial N entering the small intestine increased linearly (P<0.01) as corn supplementation increased. However, the efficiency of ruminal microbial protein synthesis was similar for all treatments. Mean ruminal pH values and ammonia N concentrations decreased linearly (P<0.01) with level of corn supplementation. Ammonia N and amino acid, as well as peptide concentrations in ruminal fluid were quadratically related (P<0.01) with the time after feeding. Corn supplementation had a linear additive effect on total dry matter and digestible energy intake, as well as on N retention, but a linear negative effect on hay intake and on fibre digestibility. However, decreased forage digestibility by animals was probably neither related to lower ruminal pH, which values were always higher than 7.0, nor related to ruminal sugar concentrations, which were similar for all treatments.     

In vitro estimations of the rate and extent of ruminal digestion of starch-rich feed fractions compared to in vivo data

An experiment was conducted to study the rumen digestion characteristics of whole feeds (WF) and the neutral detergent fibre (aNDF) and neutral detergent soluble (NDS) fractions of a range of starch-rich feeds using an automated in vitro gas production (GP) technique. In addition, the ruminal digestibility values predicted from the GP data were compared to previously acquired in vivo data. Nine feeds with starch concentrations ranging from 389 to 712 g/kg dry matter and with known in vivo digestibilities were subjected to neutral detergent extraction. The GP for each WF and the corresponding aNDF fractions were measured in duplicate in buffered rumen fluid during 72 h on two occasions. The fermentation residues were collected and analyzed for aNDF concentration to estimate their true organic matter (OM) and NDF digestibility. The GP from the NDS fraction was calculated by subtracting the GP from the aNDF fraction from the GP of the WF. A three-pool Gompertz model was fitted to the GP profiles (R² = 0.99) and a two compartment, mechanistic and dynamic rumen model was used to predict the digestibility of the potentially digestible feed fraction and the effective digestion rate (k_d). The true OM and NDF digestibility determined for the WF ranged from 0.804 to 1.011 and from 0.362 to 1.107, respectively. The NDF digestibility determined for the aNDF fraction ranged from 0.410 to 0.985. The effective k_d values estimated using GP data varied from 0.118 to 0.282/h for the WF and from 0.123 to 0.301/h for the NDS fraction, and were less (P<0.05) for maize compared to small grains (SG) but did not differ between barley and wheat (P>0.05). The effective k_d values for the aNDF fraction ranged from 0.039 to 0.082/h and did not differ (P>0.05) either between maize and SG or between barley and wheat. The predicted ruminal NDS digestibility determined using GP data closely matched the in vivo data describing starch digestion (R² = 0.81). The effective k_d values for the WF were strongly related (R² = 0.94) to those for the NDS fractions. The results indicate that when measured with the GP technique, the differences in the digestion characteristics of maize and small grains are less than those previously reported in studies using the in situ method. It is concluded that the predicted NDS digestibility determined using GP data corresponded well to the in vivo starch digestibility. Our results also suggest that the first order digestion rates of NDS (starch) in starch-rich feeds can be accurately determined by incubating WF samples in the GP system and using the GP kinetic data in a dynamic, mechanistic rumen model.     

Effect of exercise on apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients and faecal recovery of ADL and TiO2 in ponies

Exercise and physical training are known to affect gastrointestinal function and digestibility in horses and can lead to inaccurate estimates of nutrient and energy digestibility when markers are used. The effect of exercise on apparent nutrient digestibility and faecal recoveries of ADL and TiO₂ was studied in six Welsh pony geldings subjected to either a low- (LI) or high-intensity (HI) exercise regime according to a cross-over design. Ponies performing LI exercise were walked once per day for 45 min in a horse walker (5 km/h) for 47 consecutive days. Ponies submitted to HI exercise were gradually trained for the same 47 days according a standardized protocol. Throughout the experiment, the ponies received a fixed level of feed and the daily rations consisted of 4.7 kg DM of grass hay and 0.95 kg DM of concentrate. The diet was supplemented with minerals, vitamins and TiO₂ (3.0 g Ti/day). Total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, crude fat, NDF, ADF, starch, sugar and energy was determined with the total faeces collection (TFC) method. In addition, DM and OM digestibility was estimated using internal ADL and the externally supplemented Ti as markers. Urine was collected on the final 2 days of each experimental period. Exercise did not affect apparent digestibility of CP, crude fat, starch and sugar. Digestibility of DM (DMD), OM (OMD), ADF and NDF tended to be lower and DE was decreased when ponies received the HI exercise regime. For all treatments combined, mean faecal recoveries of ADL and Ti were 87.8±1.7% and 99.3±1.7%, respectively. Ti was not detected in the urine, indicating that intestinal integrity was maintained with exercise. Dry matter digestibility estimated with the TFC, ADL and Ti for ponies subjected to LI exercise were 66.3%, 60.3% and 64.8%, respectively, while DMD for HI ponies were 64.2%, 60.3% and 65.2%, respectively. In conclusion, physical exercise has an influence on the GE digestibility of the feed in ponies provided with equivalent levels of feed intake. In addition, the two markers used for estimating apparent DMD and OMD indicate that externally supplemented Ti is a suitable marker to determine digestibility of nutrients in horses performing exercise unlike dietary ADL.     

Simplified method for alkali treatment of low-quality roughages for use by small-holders in developing countries

The method described is a modification of the soaking procedure of Beckmann and of Torgrimsby. As the effluent NaOH solution is successively replenished and re-used many times before being discarded, pollution is minimised. Furthermore, the amounts of water and alkali consumed are smaller than with the Beckmann method, and the same container is used for all treatments and washing. The method is adaptable to small-scale farming.In Experiment 1, Cynodon hay was treated with 0, 50 or 100 kg NaOH/tonne dry matter (DM), by a modification of the Beckmann method. Significant (P < 0.01) improvements in digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and cell wall constituents (CWC) were obtained, and voluntary feed intake was raised significantly (P < 0.01).In Experiment 2, both NaOH and Ca(OH)₂ treatments at 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg alkali/tonne DM of maize stover, significantly (P < 0.01) increased DM and OM digestibility, but the response was greater with NaOH. A combination of NaOH and Ca(OH)₂ treatments had no consistent effect on digestibility, but the trend was a decline in digestibility when Ca(OH)₂ was applied at high rates of 100 and 150 kg Ca(OH)₂/tonne DM. The recovery of DM increased with Ca(OH)₂ treatment, but decreased with NaOH.In Experiment 3, the treatment of maize stover with 0, 25 or 50 kg Ca(OH)₂/tonne DM, in combination with 0, 100 or 150 kg NaOH/tonne DM, significantly (P < 0.01) decreased DM, OM, and CWC digestibility below that achieved by NaOH alone.It is concluded that with the modified method an initial allowance of 100–150 kg NaOH/tonne DM of stover and replenishment of 40–60 kg NaOH/tonne DM is optimal.     

Apparent digestibility of wheat bran and extruded flax in horses determined from the total collection of feces and acid-insoluble ash as an internal marker

Several studies have reported data on comparisons between two methods: the total collection of feces and the internal markers method. The aim of this study was to assess the apparent digestibility of two concentrates and to compare the apparent digestion coefficients using the total collection of feces and acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as the internal marker method. In 2009, six adult geldings aged between 3 and 11 years, with an average weight per trial of 543, 540 and 542 kg, respectively, were used to determine the apparent digestibility by means of three in vivo digestibility trials on hay, hay plus wheat bran (60 : 40) and hay plus extruded flax (80 : 20). Feces were collected over a 6-day period with a previous 14-day adaptation period. The three digestibility trials were carried out to determine the digestion coefficients of the three diets and, indirectly, of the two concentrates. The digestion coefficients of the diets were determined for the dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and gross energy, whereas the apparent digestion coefficients of the same parameters were calculated for wheat bran and extruded flax, by calculating the difference from the previous results. The data were analyzed using the Student t-test for paired samples. The digestion coefficients obtained were similar when the total collection of feces and the AIA method were used. Higher data variability, confirmed by a greater standard deviation, was observed using the AIA method to estimate the apparent digestion coefficients. It can be concluded that the use of AIA as an internal marker in digestibility trials on average leads to values similar to those obtained with the total collection of feces and can therefore be considered a less-expensive method to determine apparent digestion coefficients. Nevertheless, the total collection of feces should still be considered the best choice to determine the digestibility of some specific feedstuffs.     

Effect of harvesting period on the nutritive value of rice grass (Echinochloa sp.) hay given as sole diet to lambs

Data regarding the influence of maturity within the vegetative stage of tropical grasses on forage quality are limited and conflicting. The change in chemical composition of rice grass (Echinochloa sp.) hay harvested at 32, 46, 72 and 90 days of regrowth, and its effect on intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, rumen microbial protein synthesis (Experiment 1) and splanchnic oxygen uptake (Experiment 2) by lambs was evaluated. Except intake of indigestible neutral detergent fibre (NDF) which was similar for all treatments, intake of all hay components and the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter (OM), NDF, N, as well as OM and N true digestibility, N retention and rumen microbial protein synthesis decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increased regrowth age. Rumen fluid pH, ammonia N and peptide concentrations were similar for all treatments while sugars and amino acid concentrations decreased linearly with increased regrowth age of rice grass (P < 0.05). Passage rate of particles through reticulum-rumen (PRrr) was quadratically related (P < 0.05) to regrowth age. The highest PRrr and, consequently, the lowest retention time in the reticulum-rumen were obtained at 72 days of regrowth. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on net portal-drained viscera (PDV) flux of oxygen and heat production, while OM intake, portal blood flow and heat production as proportion of digestible energy (DE) intake were not affected by the increased regrowth age of rice grass. The highest means of oxygen uptake and heat production by PDV tissues were in 72 days treatment. In the whole splanchnic metabolism assay neither hay intake nor blood flow, oxygen uptake or heat production were affected by forage regrowth age. In conclusion, the nutritive value of rice grass hay decreased as regrowth age increased from 32 to 90 days due to decrease both OM intake and digestibility.     

Methodical considerations when estimating nutrient digestibility in horses using the mobile bag technique

Total collection of faeces is considered the golden standard for estimating apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) in horses. However, the evaluation of individual feedstuffs is limited and determination of nutrient digestibility in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is excluded. The rationale for performing this study was that the mobile bag technique (MBT) can provide information on individual feedstuffs' degradation, and the use of fistulated animals does provide additionally information regarding degradation in individual segments of the GIT. Recommendations for using the MBT in ruminants are well established, but limited methodical studies have been published with horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the MBT by comparing the ATTD with the nutrient disappearance and degradation kinetics of hay in horses. It was hypothesised that DM degradation as estimated by the MBT is equal to the ATTD of the DM. Furthermore, we hypothesised that bag size has no effect on nutrient disappearance but increasing the feed to surface area (FSA) decreases the DM disappearance. Five caecum cannulated horses were fed a hay-only diet (6.7 kg DM/day) with 14 days of adaptation followed by four consecutive days of total faeces collection. Three bag sizes (height × length × side, cm; 1.2 × 10 × 2, 3 × 4 × 2, 1 × 6 × 2) and three FSAs (10.4, 20.8 and 41.7 mg/cm²) were administrated at each meal (3 meals/day) on days 1 and 2 of the collection. Faeces were checked for bags every 6th h, the collection time was noted and the DM disappearance together with the transit time (TT) for each bag type was estimated. Dry matter disappearance from the individual bags was fitted to degradation profiles, and the effective degradability (ED) and degradation (D_t) were determined. The results of the study showed that the ATTD of DM, organic matter (OM), NDF and ADF can be predicted based on their disappearance from the mobile bags, but that ash and CP are overestimated in comparison to the ATTD. The TT for the bags was 29.2 h, and when using a mean retention time of 30 h to predict ED and D_t, it was clear that ED was underestimated, whereas D_t reflected the ATTD of DM. In conclusion, the MBT can be used to estimate the degradability of DM, OM and fibre as these nutrients resemble the ATTD. The bag size did not affect the DM disappearance, but the FSA should be kept below 20 mg/cm² as higher levels might limit the degradation kinetics.     

Impact of fibre intake and fibre source on digestibility,gut development,retention time and growth performance of indigenous and exotic pigs

The impact of fibre level and fibre source on digestibility, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, total tract mean retention time (MRT) and growth performance was studied in indigenous Mong Cai (MC) and exotic Landrace × Yorkshire (LY) pigs. The diets were based on maize, rice bran, soyabean meal, fish meal and soyabean oil, and cassava residue (CR) or brewer's grain (BG) as fibrous ingredient sources in the high-fibre diets (HF) and were fed ad libitum. A low-fibre diet (LF), containing around 200 g NDF/kg dry matter (DM), was formulated without CR and BG as feed ingredients. The HF diets (HF-CR and HF-BG) were formulated to contain around 270 g NDF/kg DM. The experiment was arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial completely randomized design with six replications, and lasted 27 days. Increased dietary fibre level resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in average daily gain, digestibility of organic matter (OM), CP and gross energy (GE) at the ileum and in the total tract, and in MRT, and an increase (P < 0.05) in the feed conversion ratio and in the weight of the GIT (except for small intestine and caecum). The coefficients of total tract digestibility of fibre fractions were higher in HF diets than in the LF diet, with highest values for diet HF-CR, which had a high proportion of soluble non-starch polysaccharides. MC pigs had longer MRT of digesta than LY pigs (P < 0.05), resulting in higher digestibility at the ileum and in the total tract. Across diets and breeds, the total tract apparent digestibility of OM, CP and GE was positively related (R² = 0.80 to 0.84) to the MRT of solids, whereas the MRT was negatively related to the DM intake (R² = 0.60).