• 제목/요약/키워드: DM degradability

검색결과 138건 처리시간 0.024초

Comparison of Indigenous Browses and Sunflower Seed Cake Supplementation on Intake and Growth Performance of Dual-purpose Goats Fed Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) Hay

  • Komwihangilo, D.M.;Chenyambuga, S.W.;Lekule, F.P.;Mtenga, L.A.;Muhikambele, V.R.M.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제18권7호
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    • pp.966-972
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    • 2005
  • A study to compare the effects of supplementing Delonix elata, Grewia similis, Tamarindus indica and sunflower seed cake on intake and growth rate of dual-purpose goats fed low quality Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay was carried out. Twenty-eight male goats aged five to seven months (mean weight 12.93${\pm}$3.94 kg) were randomly allocated to four dietary groups in a completely randomised design. The diets were hay plus Grewia similis, hay plus Delonix elata, hay plus Tamarindus indica and hay plus sunflower seed cake. All diets were supplemented with maize bran. The experimental period was 90 days. Voluntary dry matter intake of the supplements was higher for Tamarindus indica (275.5 g/day) and Grewia similis (201.8 g/day) and lowest for sunflower seed cake (81g/day). Goats supplemented with Grewia similis had the highest hay intake (183.8 g/day) while those supplemented with sunflower seed cake had the lowest hay intake (98.9 g/day). Animals fed browse supplements gained significantly more weight (p<0.001) than those with sunflower seed cake. There were no significant differences in live weight change between goats fed the different browses. However, those fed Tamarindus indica gained an average of 20.79 g/d which was slightly higher than the gains for those on Grewia similis and Delonix elata while those fed sunflower seed cake lost weight. Correspondingly, goats supplemented with browse leaf meals had higher feed conversion ratios than those supplemented with sunflower seed cake and required 23.91 to 35.06 g DM of feed to produce one g of weight gain per day. In a separate study, the DM disappearance pattern indicated that Grewia similis and Delonix elata were highly degradable compared to Tamarindus indica. At 24 h of incubation, DM degradability was 627, 588 and 345 g/kg DM for Grewia similis, Delonix elata and Tamarindus indica, respectively. In another study in vivo DM digestibility ranged from 46.1% (for hay alone) to 56.2% (for hay plus Grewia similis). It was concluded that the addition of Tamarindus indica, Grewia similis and Delonix elata leaf meals to Cenchrus ciliaris hay resulted in increased total DM intake, in vivo digestibility and growth rate. Therefore, leaf meals of indigenous browses particularly Tamarindus indica and Grewia similis could be used as supplementary feeds for small ruminants grazing on poor quality roughages during the dry season rather than use of expensive, less effective and intermittently available sunflower seed cake.

Chemical Composition, In vitro Gas Production, Ruminal Fermentation and Degradation Patterns of Diets by Grazing Steers in Native Range of North Mexico

  • Murillo, M.;Herrera, E.;Carrete, F.O.;Ruiz, O.;Serrato, J.S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제25권10호
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    • pp.1395-1403
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    • 2012
  • The objective of the study was to quantify annual and seasonal differences in the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, in situ degradability and ruminal fermentation of grazing steers… diets. Diet samples were collected with four esophageal cannulated steers ($350{\pm}3$ kg BW); and four ruminally cannulated heifers ($342{\pm}1.5$ kg BW) were used to study the dry matter degradation and fermentation in rumen. Data were analyzed with repeated measurements split plot design. The crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy were higher during the first year of trial and in the summer (p<0.01). The values of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper were higher in summer (p<0.05). The gas produced by the soluble and insoluble fractions, as well as the constant rate of gas production were greater in summer and fall (p<0.01). The ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3N$) and total volatile fatty acids concentrations in rumen, the soluble and degradable fractions, the constant rate of degradation and the effective degradability of DM and NDF were affected by year (p<0.05) and season (p<0.01). Our study provides new and useful knowledge for the formulation of protein, energetic and mineral supplements that grazing cattle need to improve their productive and reproductive performance.

Effects of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on In Situ Degradation of Feedstuffs

  • Chiou, P.W.S.;Chen, C.;Yu, B.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제13권8호
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    • pp.1076-1083
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    • 2000
  • The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract (AFE) on in situ degradation of the various concentrates, forages and by-products in Taiwan. The in situ trial was conducted to determine the effect of AFE on the rate of ruminal degradation of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of the various local available feedstuff commonly used for dairy cattle. Two ruminal fistulated cows were arranged into a two by two switchback trial. Two dietary treatments were control without AFE inclusion diet and diet with 3 g of AFE (Amaferm) added daily into the total mixed ration (TMR). Results showed that effect of AFE inclusion on the ruminal degradability of concentrates vary; soybean meal is the most responsive feedstuff, corn is the next, whereas full-fat soybean did not response the AFE inclusion at all. The inclusion of AFE significantly depressed most of the nutrient degradation of the concentrates of soybean meal in the first 12-hour in situ incubation. The effect declined in the next 12 hours. Rapeseed meal showed a different trend of response: addition of AFE improved its NDF degradation. The inclusions of AFE significantly improved ADF degradation of roughage after 24 or 48 hours of incubation. However, corn silage and peanut-vines showed a different trend. Effects of AFE inclusion on the by-products degradability were inconsistent. Most of nutrients in rice distillers grain and some in beancurd pomace did show increased degradation by the AFE inclusion.

Estimation of Ruminal Degradation and Intestinal Digestion of Tropical Protein Resources Using the Nylon Bag Technique and the Three-step In vitro Procedure in Dairy Cattle on Rice Straw Diets

  • Promkot, C.;Wanapat, Metha;Rowlinson, P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제20권12호
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    • pp.1849-1857
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    • 2007
  • The experiment was carried out using fistulated multiparous Holstein Friesian crossbred (75% Holstein Friesian and 25% Red Sindhi) dairy cows in their dry period fed on untreated rice straw to evaluate the nutritive value of local protein feed resources using the in sacco method and in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. Experimental feeds were cottonseed meal (CSM); soybean meal (SBM); dried brewery's grains (DBG); palm kernel meal (PSM); cassava hay (CH); leucaena leaf meal (LLM). Each feedstuff was weighed into duplicate nylon bags and incubated in each of the two rumen fistulated cows for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. Rumen feed residues from bags of 16 h incubation were used for estimation of lower gut digestibility by the technique of in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) concentrations did not differ between treatments or time with a mean of 5.5 mg%. Effective degradability of DM of CSM, SBM, DBG, PSM, CH and LLM were 41.9, 56.1, 30.8, 47.0, 41.1 and 47.5%, respectively. Effective degradabilities of the CP in feedstuffs were 49.6, 59.2, 40.9, 33.5, 47.3 and 65.0% for the respective feedstuffs. The CP in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestibility as ranked from the highest to the lowest were SBM, CSM, LLM, CH, DBG, PSM, respectively. The intestinal and total tract digestion of feedstuffs in the current study were relatively lower than that obtained from previous literature. The results of this study indicate that SBM and LLM were highly degradable in the rumen, while CH, CSM and DBG were less degradable and, hence resulted in higher rumen undegradable protein. Soybean meal and LLM could be used to improve rumen ecology whilst CH, CSM and DBG could be used as rumen by-pass protein for ruminant feeding in the tropics.

Effects of Protein and Carbohydrate Supplements on Feed Digestion in Indigenous Malaysian Goats and Sheep

  • Darlis, N. Abdullah;Halim, R.A.;Jalaludin, S.;Ho, Y.W.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제13권4호
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    • pp.464-469
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    • 2000
  • Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of soybean meal (SBM) as a source of protein and sago meal (SM) as a source of carbohydrate on in situ and in vivo digestibility of dietary components in four male goats (Kambing Katjang) and four male sheep (Malin) weighing 25-35 kg. Rumen volume, as well as rumen fluid dilution rate were also determined. The animals were housed in single pens with individual feeding and drinking troughs and each animal was fitted with a rumen fistula. They were fed two diets : chopped rice straw+200 g soybean meal (SBM), and chopped rice straw+190 g soybean meal+300 g sago meal (SBM+SM). Rice straw was offered ad libitum. The supplements were isonitrogenous (80 g crude protein/animal/d), but the proportions of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were lower in the SBM supplement (191, 165, 11, 40, 15 g/animal/d for DM, OM, CF, NDF and ADF, respectively) than in the SBM+SM supplement (445, 423, 25, 102, 38 g/animal/d for DM, OM, CF, NDF and ADF, respectively). Two animals from each species were fed either supplement in a cross-over design in two periods. Each period lasted for four weeks. In situ and in vivo digestibility studies were carried out, followed by the determination of rumen volume and rumen fluid dilution rate. The results showed that straw DM and total DM intakes of goats (average of $48.7g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, $72.7g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, respectively) were significantly (p<0.01) higher than sheep (average of $3.56g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, $61.6g/kg\;W^{0.75}$, respectively), but OM, N and GE intakes were not significantly different between the two animal species. When the effect of supplements was compared, animals fed SBM+SM supplement had significantly (p<0.001) higher DM, OM and GE intakes than animals fed SBM supplement. Potential degradabilities of rice straw DM were significantly (p<0.01) higher in goats (average of 48.8%) than in sheep (average of 46.1 %). The supplements had no significant effect on the potential degradabilities of DM, OM and NDF, but they had a significant (p<0.05) effect on the degradation rates of DM and NDF. The addition of sago meal in the diet reduced the degradation rates of DM and NDF of rice straw in the rumen. Potential degradability of DM of soybean meal was not significantly different between animal species as well as between supplements. Sago meal was highly degradable. At 24 h of incubation in the rumen, 90-95% of DM loss was observed. There was a significant interaction between animal species and supplements in the in vivo digestibility of ADF and GE. In animals fed SBM supplement, the in vivo digestibility of ADF was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats ($50.6{\pm}4.22%$) than in sheep ($44.4{\pm}3.21%$), but digestibility of GE was significantly (p<0.05) higher in sheep ($70.2{\pm}1.93%$) than in goats ($63.0{\pm}3.07%$). The digestibility values of CP and OM were significantly (p<0.05) higher in sheep when compared to goats. Animals fed SBM+SM supplement showed significantly (p<0.05) higher DM and OM digestibility values than animals fed SBM supplement, but digestibility values of CP were significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals fed SBM supplement. Differences in in vivo digestibility values of CF and NDF were not significantly different between animal species or supplements. Water intake, rumen volume ($1/kg\;W^{0.75}$), rumen fluid dilution rate and mean retention time were similar between the two animal species. However, rumen fluid dilution rate and mean retention time was significantly (p<0.01) affected by supplements. Animals fed SBM+SM had faster rumen fluid dilution rate and consequently shorter mean retention time.

옥수수의 steam flake 처리가 in situ 건물소화율 및 저장기간별 aflatoxin과 ochratoxin 함량에 미치는 영향 (Effects of Steam Flaking on In situ DM Digestibility and Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin Contents during Storage of Corns)

  • 이신자;이지훈;신년학;현종환;문여황;이상석;이성실
    • 생명과학회지
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    • 제18권11호
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    • pp.1561-1569
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    • 2008
  • 본 연구는 옥수수 수입원과 steam flake 처리에 따른 in situ 건물 분해율 및 보관기간별 mycotoxins 함량을 조사하기 위하여 수행되었다. 미국과 인도산 옥수수(yellow dent corn)를 공시재료로 하여, steam flake 처리 효과에 대해 조사하였다. 시험구는 총 4개의 처리구(USCW, 미국산 무처리 옥수수; USCF, 미국산 steam flaking 옥수수; IDCW, 인도산무처리 옥수수; IDCF, 인도산 steam flaking 옥수수)를 두고, 각 처리구당 보관기간(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8주)별 4반복으로 수행되었다. In situ 시험을 위해서 반추위 누관이 장착된 Holstein 수소 2두가 이용되었고, 공장환경분야 표준상태 (STP, standard temperature and pressure, $25^{\circ}C$ 1 atm.)에서 보관기간 동안 매주, 곰팡이 독소인 aflatoxin과 ochratoxin의 농도를 측정하였다. 옥수수의 반추위 내 발효시간별 in situ 건물 소실율은 무처리구에서는 미국산이 인도산보다 약 $3.0{\sim}44.1%$ 높았으나, steam flaking 처리를 함으로써 건물소실율의 차이가 없어졌다. 미국산 옥수수는 무처리 알곡의 건물 분해율이 높은 편이었으나, flake처리에 의한 영향이 적은 반면, 인도산 옥수수는 무처리 알곡의 건물 분해율은 낮은 편이지만 flake 처리를 하였을 때, 분해율이 크게 증가되었다. 미국산 옥수수와 flake 처리 옥수수의 aflatoxin 함량은 보관기간 동안 매우 낮은 수준이었으나, 인도산 옥수수 알곡을 6주 이상 보관할 경우, 허용기준치를 초과하였다. 따라서 인도산 옥수수 알곡을 장기보관 해야 할 경우, steam flake 처리를 하는 것이 aflatoxin 오염방지를 위해서 필수적이며, 알곡으로 보관할 경우는 6주 이상을 넘기지 않는 것이 중요할 것으로 사료된다.

옥수수 가공방법이 In vitro 건물소화율 및 In sacco 건물 분해율에 미치는 영향 (The Effects of Processing Methods of Corn on In vitro DM Digestability and In sacco Degradability in Rumen)

  • 손근남;김용국;이수기;김현섭
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • 제45권3호
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    • pp.433-442
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    • 2003
  • 본 연구는 옥수수 알곡의 가공방법(통 옥수수, 분쇄, flake 3.8mm, 2.8mm 및 1.5mm)이 in vitro 상의 건물 소화율 및 in sacco 방법에 있어 반추위 내에서의 건물 분해율에 미치는 영향를 규명하기 위해 반추위에 캐뉼라(cannulae)가 장착된 홀스타인 건유우 3두를 공시축으로 하여 수행하였는데 그 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 옥수수 가공형태별 in vitro 소화율은 in sacco 방법에서와 비슷한 경향을 보였다. 48시간 배양시에 1.5mm flake 및 분쇄한 옥수수가 각각 92.3, 91.2%로서 가장 높았다, 다음으로 2.8mm 및 3.8mm flake가 각각 83.9, 83.4%이였다. 특히, 통 옥수수는 가장 낮았으며, density가 낮은 통 옥수수가 높은 것보다 2배 이상 빠르게 분해되었다. In sacco 방법에 의한 건물 분해율은 48시간대에서 1.5mm flake, 분쇄 옥수수 및 2.8mm flake가 각각 94.4, 88.0 및 87.0%로서 가장 높았고, 3.8mm flake는 61.8%로서 이들보다 유의적으로 낮았다. Density가 낮은 통 옥수수가 높은 것보다 12시간대까지는 많이 분해되는 경향을 보였으나, 유의적인 차이가 없었고, 24, 48시간대에서는 유의하게 높아졌다. 본 연구의 결과를 종합하면, 옥수수를 분쇄하거나, flaking 처리를 하면 통 옥수수에 비하여 반추위 내에서 건물 분해율이 유의하게 증가되었다. 또한 flake의 가공정도를 증진시킬수록 건물 분해율이 유의하게 증가되었으며, 1.5 mm로 얇게 가공한 flake는 반추위 내에서 급속하게 분해되는 경향이었다. 한편, 같은 통 옥수수에서도 density가 낮은 것이 빠르게 분해되었다.

Determination of Optimal Conditions of Pressure Toasting on Legume Seeds for Dairy Deed Industry : I. Effects of Pressure Toasting on Nutritive Values of Lupinus albus in Lactating Dairy Cows

  • Yu, P.;Goelema, J.O.;Tamminga, S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제12권8호
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    • pp.1205-1214
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    • 1999
  • Whole lupinus albus seeds were pressure toasted at temperatures of 100, 118 and $136^{\circ}C$ for 3, 7, 15 and 30 min to study rumen degradation and post-rumen digestion and to determine optimal heating conditions for the Dutch dairy feed industry. In sacco nylon bag and mobile bag techniques were employed for rumen and intestine incubations to determine ruminal degradation characteristics and intestinal digestion of crude protein (CP) in 4 lactation rumen cannulated and 4 lactating intestinal cannulated Dutch dairy cows fed 47% hay and 53% concentrate according to Dutch dairy requirements. Measured rumen degradation characteristics were soluble fraction (S), undegradable fraction (U), potentially degradable fraction (D), lag time (T0) and rate of degradation (Kd) of insoluble but degradable fraction. Percentage bypass feed protein (BCP), ruminal microbial protein synthesized based on available nitrogen (N_MP) and that based on available energy (E_MP), true protein supplied to the small intestine (TPSI), truly absorbed BCP (ABCP), absorbed microbial protein (AVP) in the small intestine, endogenous protein losses in the digestion (ENDP), true digested protein in the small intestine (TAP or DVE in Dutch) and degraded protein balance (PDB or OEB in Dutch) were totally evaluated using the new Dutch DVE/OEB System. Pressure toasting decreased (p<0.001) rumen degradability of CP. It reduced S (p<0.05) and Kd (p=0.06), increased D (p<0.05) and U (p<0.01) but did not alter T0 (p>0.05), thus resulting in dramatically increased BCP (p<0.001) with increasing time and temperature from 73.7 (raw) up to 182.5 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). Although rumen microbial protein synthesized based on available energy (E_MP) was reduced, true protein (microbial and bypass feed protein) supplied to the small intestine (TPSI) was increased (p<0.001) from 153.1 (raw) to 247.6 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). Due to digestibility of BCP in the intestine not changing (p>0.05) average 87.8%, the absorbed BCP increased (p<0.001) from 62.3 (raw) to 153.7 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). Therefore DVE value of true digested protein in the small intestine was significantly increased (p<0.001) from 118.9 (raw) to 197.0 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$) and OEB value of degraded protein balance was significantly reduced (p<0.001) from 147.2 (raw) to 63.1 g/kg DM ($136^{\circ}C/15min$). It was concluded that pressure toasting was effective in shifting degradation of CP of lupinus albus from the rumen to small intestine without changing intestinal digestion. Further studies are required on the degradation and digestion of individual amino acids and on the damaging effects of processing on amino acids, especially the first limiting amino acids.

한우 및 산양의 장내 섬유소 분해 혐기 곰팡이의 분리 및 특성 구명 (Isolation and Characterization of Cellulolytic Anaerobic Fungi from the Guts of the Hanwoo Cattle and the Korean Native Goat)

  • 김창현;이성실
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • 제45권6호
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    • pp.1019-1030
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    • 2003
  • 본 연구는 국내의 재래 반추동물인 재래산양과 한우의 장내에 서식하며 강력한 섬유소를 분해하는 혐기 곰팡이를 탐색하고 분리하여 섬유소 분해 특성을 구명하고자 실시되었다. 산양의 반추위로부터 16종과 한우의 십이지장 소화물로부터 5종의 혐기 곰팡이를 분리하여 총 21종의 혐기성 곰팡이가 분리되었다. 섬유소 분해효소의 활력을 측정하여 그 중 섬유소 분해력이 높은 4종의 곰팡이에 대하여 광학현미경에 의한 형태학적 관찰을 기초로 동정 작업을 수행하였다. NLRI-M003은 monocentric 성장형태, 구형의 포자낭, filamentous rhizoid 및 유주자의 flagella가 다수인 Neocallimastix sp., NLRI-M014는 monocentric 성장형태, 방추형의 포자낭, filamentous rhizoid 및 유주자의 flagella가 단수인 Piromyces sp.로, NLRI-T004는 monocentric 성장형태, 난형의 포자낭, filamentous rhizoid 및 유주자의 fagella 수가 다수인 Neocallimastix sp.로 각각 확인되었다. NLRI-M001은 Orpinomyces sp. 와 유사한 것으로 추측되나 지금까지 밝혀진 곰팡이 이외에 다른 밝혀지지 않은 곰팡이가 존재할 가능성이 있을 것으로 평가되어 더욱 더 세부적인 조사가 필요하다고 사료되었다. 혐기 곰팡이의 섬유소 분해 특성을 조사하기 위해 산양의 반추위로부터 분리된 NLRI-M003 혐기 곰팡이 배양액을 2% 첨가하여 혼합 반추위 미생물의 in vitro 건물 분해율을 볏짚과 filter paper를 기질로 하여 조사하였다. 모든 처리구에서 혐기 곰팡이 배양액을 첨가한 첨가구가 무첨가구에 비하여 볏짚의 경우 약 4%이상(p〈0.05) 그리고 filtre paper를 기질로 사용시 11% 이상(p〈0.001)의 분해율이 증가하였다. 또한 CMCase와 xylanase 효소의 활력도 첨가구에서 증가하였으며 특히 반추위 곰팡이는 강력한 xylanase 효소활력이 높음을 보여주었다.

Effect of Urea-Molasses Cake Supplementation of Swamp Buffaloes Fed Rice Straw or Grasses on Rumen Environment, Feed Degradation and Intake

  • Van Thu, Nguyen;Uden, Peter
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제14권5호
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    • pp.631-639
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    • 2001
  • Two experiments were carried out concerning the effects of urea-molasses cake (UMC) and its separate components as supplements on rumen environment, in sacco feed degradability and intake of swamp buffaloes fed rice straw, grasses or a mixture of grasses and rice straw. Experiment 1 was a change-over design with 4 animals and 6 treatments. The buffaloes were fed rice straw ad libitum, and the experimental treatments were: no supplementation (R); 700 g of the complete urea-molasses cake (RUMC); 53.2 g urea (RU); 276 g rice bran and 52.5 coconut meal (RRC); 26.6 g salt, 26.6 g bone meal and 2.1 g trace minerals (RMi); and 25 g molasses (RMo). Experiment 2 was a Latin square design with four diets and four animals. The treatments were: rice straw ad libitum and mixed grass (RG) at 2.5 g dry matter per kg live weight (LW); RG plus 700 g urea-molasses cake (RGUMC); mixed grass ad libitum (G); and G plus 700 g cake (GUMC). In both experiments the supplements were fed once daily. In Exp. 1 although the rumen pH was significantly different (p<0.05) among diets, it varied only from 6.90 to 7.06. The ruminal ammonia was also significantly (p<0.05) different among the diets with RUMC significantly higher than R. Total bacterial and protozoal counts were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RUMC, RU, RMo and RRC diets. Total feed and rice straw intakes were highest for RUMC (p<0.05) and lowest for the RMi and RMo diets, but in sacco degradability of four different roughages were not significantly different among diets. In Exp. 2, rumen pHs of the diets differed significantly and (p<0.01) ranged from 7.04 - 7.19. Ruminal $NH_3-N$ concentrations (mg/100 ml) were also significantly different (p<0.05), and higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets. The total counts of bacteria and protozoa were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets. The total feed intake and roughage intake were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets compared to the RG diet. Correspondingly, LW changes also differed among treatments (p=0.06). It was concluded that there were significant increases in rumen $NH_3-N$ concentration, microbial populations and feed intake in the buffaloes by UMC supplementation, whereas the significant difference in in sacco DM degradation was not found by any type of supplementation. There seemed to be a need of a combination of urea, molasses, minerals and other protein nitrogen sources to enhance rice straw intake. Adding grass to the rice straw diet at 0.25% LW (DM) should also be considered to maintain buffalo rumen function and production with UMC supplementation, when rice straw is the main roughage.