• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.650-657
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of forage:concentrate ratios and feeding principles on milk yield, milk composition, body weight change, postpartum oestrus and feed cost. A total of 36 crossbred F1 cows (Holstein Friesian${\times}$Local Yellow) in the 8th week of lactation were used. In each experiment, animals were divided into three groups using a randomized block design according to the milk yield of the previous eight weeks. Cows were fed 30, 50 and 70% concentrate in the diet based on DM. In experiment 1 (Fc), cows were given the same amount of DM with constant ratios of forage and concentrate within treatments. In experiment 2 (Fa), cows were given the same constant amounts of concentrate as in experiment 1 and ad libitum forage. The forage consisted of a natural grass mixture based on 5 species of grasses with high nutritive values. There was no difference in total DM intake between treatments within experiments. However, cows fed forage ad libitum had higher DM intakes compared to cows fed constant forage (1.6, 4.5 and 9.5% for cows fed 70, 50 and 30% forage, respectively). Daily milk yield of cows fed forage ad libitum was higher than that of cows fed constant forage:concentrate ratio. Within experiment, milk yield was highest for cows fed 30% DM forage, followed by cows fed 50% and then cows fed 70% forage (11.17, 10.98 and 10.71 for the 30Fc, 50Fc and 70Fc cows; 11.73, 11.16 and 10.81 kg for the 30Fa, 50Fa and 70Fa cows, respectively). Decreased forage ratio in the diets resulted in decreased milk fat content and tended to increase milk protein. Increased concentrate ratio in the diet and feeding forage ad libitum increased body weight gain. The effect of forage:concentrate ratio on postpartum oestrus was not significant. The feed cost per kg milk produced was lowest for the cows fed 70% forage. It is concluded that increased ratio of concentrate resulted in increased body weight gain, milk yield, milk protein, and decreased milk fat. Feeding forage ad libitum increased feed intake, milk yield and body weight gain. The ratio of 50% forage is more suitable for milk production and animal condition, but in terms of feed cost and under the conditions of small dairy farmers, the 70% ad libitum forage feeding is recommended.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 1999

This study was conducted to evaluate the dry matter yield, quality and utilization of nutrients of crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.) dominant swards as a roughage sources. Dry matter yield of stages, chemical composition, DM digestibility was obserbed, and DM intake, digestibility and utilization of nitrogen and energy by Korean native goats was determined. Average DM yield of crabgrass dominant swards was obtained 8,473kg/ha, and average contents of CP, NDF, ADF and lignin was 13.0%, 74.1%, 38.6% and 10.4%, respectively. DM intake by Korean native goats was lower for crabgrass dominant swards than for sown grass swards(P>0.05). Digestibility of DM, celluar constituents, NDF and ADF by Korean native goats was significantly lower for crabgrass dominant swards than for sown grass swards(P<0.05). Utilization of nitrogen and energy by Korean native goats was significantly lower for crabgrass dominant swards than for sown grass sward(P<0.05). Above the results, although crabgrass dominant swards was lower than in DM yield, digestibility, and utilization of N and energy, but the DM yield of crabgrass dominant swards was obtained 8,471kg/ha without fertilizer. Therefore it appears that crabgrass dominant swards have a potential to provide roughage sources.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2016

The goats raised in the barn are usually fed on fresh grass. As dry forage can be stored for long periods in large amounts, dry forage feeding makes it possible to feed large numbers of goats in barns. This review explains the physiological factors involved in suppressing dry forage intake and the cause of drinking following dry forage feeding. Ruminants consume an enormous amount of dry forage in a short time. Eating rates of dry forage rapidly decreased in the first 40 min of feeding and subsequently declined gradually to low states in the remaining time of the feeding period. Saliva in large-type goats is secreted in large volume during the first hour after the commencement of dry forage feeding. It was elucidated that the marked suppression of dry forage intake during the first hour was caused by a feeding-induced hypovolemia and the loss of $NaHCO_3$ due to excessive salivation during the initial stages of dry forage feeding. On the other hand, it was indicated that the marked decrease in feed intake observed in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period was related to ruminal distension caused by the feed consumed and the copious amount of saliva secreted during dry forage feeding. In addition, results indicate that the marked decreases in dry forage intake after 40 min of feeding are caused by increases in plasma osmolality and subsequent thirst sensations produced by dry forage feeding. After 40 min of the 2 h dry forage feeding period, the feed salt content is absorbed into the rumen and plasma osmolality increases. The combined effects of ruminal distension and increased plasma osmolality accounted for 77.6% of the suppression of dry forage intake 40 min after the start of dry forage feeding. The results indicate that ruminal distension and increased plasma osmolality are the main physiological factors in suppression of dry forage intake in large-type goats. There was very little drinking behavior observed during the first hour of the 2 h feeding period most water consumption occurring in the second hour. The cause of this thirst sensation during the second hour of dry forage feeding period was not hypovolemia brought about by excessive salivation, but rather increases in plasma osmolality due to the ruminal absorption of salt from the consumed feed. This suggests the water intake following dry forage feeding is determined by the level of salt content in the feed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2008

The object of this experiment was to investigate the food habits of sika deer fed with various roughage sources. The feeding trials were conducted at Chungnam National University and Unbong Animal Genetic Resources Station in 2007. The experimental roughages sources were five including 25 species in all; grass sources; 5 species(Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Poa pratensis, Agrostis alba and mixed grass), legume sources; 5 species(Trifolium pratense, Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, Melilotus officinalis and Vicia villosa), browse sources; 5 species(Quercus serrata Thunb., Prunus jamasakura Sieb., Quercus aliena Blume, Robinia pseudoaccacia and Pinus densiflora), weed sources; 5 species(Artemisia princeps Pampanini, Erigeron canadensis, Alopecurus aegualis Sobolewski, Echinochloa crusgalli var. frumentacea(Roxb.) Wight and Rumex crispus), and native grass sources; 5 species(Zoysia japonica Steudel, Agropyron tsukushiense var. transiens(Hack) Ohwi., Arundinella hirta(Thunb.) Tanaka, Miscanthus sinensis Anderss and Phragmites comunis Trin). Five sika deer were selected which had nearly the same body weight(average 92.5kg) as experimental animal. Experimental roughages were prepared by 0.5kg(DM basis) per 1 species fed to sika deer, and the experiment was carried out from 08:00 to the next day 06:00. The chemical composition and dry matter digestibility of each roughage source and species were significantly different at the sampling area, plant species, growth stages and cutting period. The sika deer ate more roughages which had low fibrous contents, but high dry matter digestibility. Among all the 25 species of roughages, the favorite intake species ranking by sika deer was observed like this: Quercus aliena Blume, Prunus jamasakura Sieb, Quercus serrata Thunb. and Trifolium pratense, respectively, and the lower intake species was Phragmites comunis Trin. On the other hand, compared to each roughage source, total intake amount by sika deer was showed as browse(36.5%), Legumes(34.2%), grasses(14.0%), native grasses(13.5%) and weeds(1.8%), respectively. Based on the result, the food habits of sika deer seems to be closer to typically browser type.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

Ninety lactating goats (Bachthao, Barbary, Beetal and Jamnapary breeds) were used in an experiment to investigate the replacement value of the tree fodders Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) and Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). The foliages were used to replace the concentrate in diets based on chopped whole sugar cane (Sacharatum sp.), Para grass (Brachiaria mutica) and dried cassava root (Manihot esculanta). The concentrate was replaced by foliage of Jackfruit or Flemingia at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% based on the crude protein (CP) content in the concentrate and foliages, respectively. Average milk yield was 1,617 g/day for goats fed Jackfruit compared to 1,532 g/day for those fed Flemingia. Increasing amounts of Flemingia foliage resulted in reduced dry matter intake and decreased milk yield but milk composition (CP, casein and fat content) was similar up to 60% replacement. Flemingia showed a poor potential as a supplement for lactating goats and replacement levels should not exceed 20% of the protein in the concentrate or 7.5% of the dry matter in the diet. With respect to the combination of milk production and net return over the control a CP replacement rate of 20% was the most promising. For Jackfruit there was similar feed intake and milk yield at a replacement level of 20% of CP in the concentrate (9.2% of DM intake) compared to the control diet. Milk yield at the level of 40% replacement (15% of the DM) in the diet was slightly reduced. Up to a level of CP replacement rate of 60% (21% DM in the diet) can be suggested for on-farm testing as a higher net return over the control was obtained on station.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.445-452
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• 2011

The object of this experiment was to investigate the food habits of Korean native goats fed with various roughage sources. The experimental trials were conducted at Unbong Animal Genetic Resources Station in 2008. The experimental roughages include five sources and 25 species in all; grasses and legumes: 5 species (mixed grasses, orchardgrass, tall fescue, alfalfa, white clover), native grasses and weeds: 5 species (mixed native grasses, Miscanthus sinensis Anderss, Arundinella hirta (Thunb.) Tanaka, Barnyard grass, short awn, forage crops and straw: 5 species (barley + hairy vetch, wheat + hairy vetch, rye silage, barley silage, baled rice straw), browse and fallen leaves: 5 species (Mixed browse, Oriental white oak, Quercus serrta Thunb., Oriental cherry fallen leaves, Japanese chestnut fallen leaves), and imported hay and straw: 5 species(timothy hay, tall fescue straw, annual ryegrass straw, klinegrass hay, alfalfa hay). Ten Korean native goats were selected which had nearly the same body weight (average $24{\pm}2.8$ kg). The chemical composition and dry matter digestibility of each roughage source and species were significantly different at the sampling area, plant species, growth stages and cutting period (p<0.05). Among all the 25 species of roughages, the favorite intake species order by Korean native goat was observed like this: Quercus aliena, Querancas serrta Thunb and Mixed browse, which was a lower intake compared to other domestic herbivores. The Korean native goats ate more roughages which had low fibrous contents, but high dry matter digestibility. The Korean native goats ate more roughages which had low fibrous contents, but high dry matter digestibility. On the other hand, compared to each roughage source, total intake amount by Korean native goats was showed as browse and fallen leaves (33.1%) among trials roughage sources. Based on these results, the food habit of Korean native goats seems to be closer to the browser.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1221-1227
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• 2001

Young lambs (Suffolk wethers, n=18), which were 22 to 26 kg average BW, were chronically exposed to temperatures of +1 to +$4^{\circ}C$ (cold) or +21 to +$24^{\circ}C$ (warm) during 10 wk experimental periods. The sheep were closely shorn and were housed in individual metabolism crates in controlled environment rooms. Sheep consumed pelleted diets ad libitum, which consisted of mainly barley grain and brome grass, and contained 7, 11, or 14% CP. The experimental design consisted of a $2{\times}3$ factorial with a single crossover of environment treatment. Feed intake, BW, feces, and urine excretion were measured. Apparent digestibilities were not affected by diet CP concentration or temperature treatments; however, voluntary intake per kg BW was increased (p<0.05) by diet CP content in both environments. Growing lambs gained weight slightly faster in a cold environment when N intake was above 27 g/d. Nitrogen excretion and N balance were positively related (p<0.01) with diet CP content, and fecal N excretion was significantly increased (p<0.05) in the cold environment. Therefore, dietary CP content strongly influenced N metabolism; however, cold exposure did alter only fecal N excretion. The higher DM intake per kg BW at 11% CP diet in the cold environment permitted ADG comparable to 14% CP diet in the warm environment. The results of this study do support the hypothesis that lambs are better able to utilize a moderate reduction in the CP content of the diet in a cold environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2004

Nutrient utilization and plasma level of minerals were studied in lactating crossbred cows fed diet supplemented from different source of minerals. Twelve crossbred cows of first to third lactation during their mid stage of lactation were distributed equally under two groups and were fed concentrate mixture, green fodder (para grass) and finger millet straw as per requirement. Cows in group I were fed concentrate mixture supplemented with 1% mineral mixture whereas cows in group II were not supplemented with mineral mixture in the concentrate mixture but were offered additional quantity of green fodder (1 kg DM/cow/day) to compensate for the requirement of minerals. Balance study conducted towards the end of 120 days of feeding experiment indicated that the total dry matter intake in both the groups did not differ significantly. The cows in group II offered additional quantity of green fodder consumed significantly (p<0.05) more of green fodder (5.11 vs. 4.51 kg /animal/day) and the cows in group I consumed significantly (p<0.01) more of finger millet straw (1.71 vs. 0.92 kg/animal/day). The digestibility of major nutrients did not differ between the groups except for ether extract which was significantly (p<0.05) lower in cows fed additional green fodder. The total daily intake of P, Cu, Fe and Co did not differ significantly in both the groups whereas significantly higher intakes of Ca, Mg, Zn and Mn were observed in cows supplemented with inorganic source of minerals. However, supplementation through both the sources could meet the mineral requirement in group I and group II. The gut absorption (%) of all the minerals was comparable between the groups except for Mg which was significantly (p<0.05) higher in cows supplemented mineral mixture. The net retention of all the minerals was significantly more in the group supplemented with inorganic source of minerals. Except for P, Mg and Co the retention as percentage of total intake was comparable for all minerals in both the groups. Irrespective of source of mineral supplementation the average monthly blood plasma mineral levels (Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe) were within the normal range and comparable between the groups. Lower level of Cu observed at the start of the experimental feeding in both the groups increased with the advancement of supplemental feeding. The plasma Zn and Fe content in cows of both the groups did not vary. The blood plasma level of some minerals (Ca, P, Mg and Cu) was significantly higher towards the end of experimental feeding as compared to the initial values due to the reduction in milk yield with advancement of lactation or due to supplemental effect of minerals. It could be concluded that supplementation of minerals through inorganic source is better utilized in terms of retention as compared to green fodder (para grass), which is a moderate source of most nutrients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.522-527
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• 2002

The experiment was conducted for a period of 56 days with twelve Bangladeshi bull calves of average body weight of $127.20{\pm}11.34$ kg. The calves were divided into 3 groups having 4 animals in each. The animals were fed urea-treated rice straw designated as A) 4% urea-treated rice straw, B) 4% urea+4% soybean-treated rice straw and C) 4% urea+6% soybean-treated rice straw. In addition, all the animals were supplied 2 kg green grass, 350 g Til-oil-cake and 100 g common salt per 100 kg body weight of animals. Straw was treated with 4% urea solution and soybean meal at 4 and 6% were added to treated straw and kept for 48 h in double layer polythene bags under anaerobic condition. Urea treatment improved crude protein (CP) content of rice straw from 2.68 to 8.70% and it was further increased by 10.74 and 12.12% with the addition of 4 and 6% soybean meal. Dry matter (DM) intake (kg) was higher (p<0.05) in C (4.2) followed by B (4.1) and A (4.0). Crude protein intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group B and C than group A. Total live weight gains were 20.2, 24.8 and 25.6 kg for calves of group A, B and C respectively (p<0.01). The addition of soybean meal to treated rice straw did not affect the coefficients of digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE. However, CP and CF digestibility were significantly higher in group B and C (p<0.05). The values for digestible crude protein (DCP), digestible ether extract (DEE), digestible nitrogen free extract (DNFE) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in diet C and B in comparison to diet A, but there were no significant difference in digestible organic matter (DOM) and digestible crude fibre (DCF) value among the groups. It may be concluded that 4% urea treated rice straw can be fed to growing bull calves with 2 kg green grass and a small quantity of concentrate without any adverse effect on feed intake and growth. Moreover, soybean meal at 4 and 6% can be added to urea treated rice straw at the time of treatment for rapid hydrolyzing of urea, which resulted an improvement in nutrient digestibility and better utilization of rice straw for growth of growing bull calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.968-973
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• 2002

To evaluate the chewing activity of ruminant feeds, four Holstein steers (average body weight $742{\pm}15kg$) were employed. Experimental feeds were four roughages ($NH_3$-treated rice straw, alfalfa hay, corn silage, orchard grass hay) and four concentrate ingredients (cotton seed hull, beet pulp pellet, barley grain, oat grain). Regarding palatability for each experimental feeds which was overviewed during the adjustment period, animals were fed roughages alone, but with 50% $NH_3$-treated rice straw ($NH_3$-RS) for concentrate ingredients. Therefore, all the data for concentrate ingredients was derived by extracting the result per unit obtained from steers fed $NH_3$-RS alone. The experiment was conducted using a 4${\times}$4 Latin square designs for roughages and concentrate ingredients. Experimental feeds were fed during a 10 d adaptation and 2 d chewing data collection during each experimental period. Animals were gradually adjusted to the experimental diet. Dry matter intake (DMI) was restricted at a 1.4% of mean body weight (10.4 kg DM/d). Time spent eating and eating chews per kilogram of DMI were greatest for beet pulp pellet, and lowest for barley grain (p<0.05). Time spent rumination per kilogram of DMI was greatest for $NH_3$-RS, cotton seed hull and orchard grass, but rumination chews were greatest for cotton seed hull and orchard grass except $NH_3$-RS (p<0.05). Roughage index value (chewing time, minute/kg DMI) was 58.0 for cotton seed hull, 56.1 for beet pulp pellet, 55.5 for $NH_3$-RS, 53.1 for orchard grass hay, 45.9 for corn silage, 43.0 for alfalfa hay, 30.0 for oat grain, and 10.9 for barley grain. The ratio of rumination time to total chewing time (eating plus ruminating) was about 72% for the roughages except corn silage (66.9%), and followed by cotton seed hull (69.5%), and ranged from 49.5% to 52.9% for other feeds. Higher percentages of rumination in total chewing time may be evidently indicate the characteristics of roughage. Therefore, this indicate that the chewing activity of concentrate ingredients can be more fully reflects by the ruminating time than total chewing time (RVI), although it is reasonable to define the RVI for roughages.