• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2018

Objective: The impact of forage feeding strategy on growth performance, ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility in post-weaning calves was investigated. Methods: Forty-five female Holstein calves (body weight [BW] = $79.79{\pm}0.38kg$) were enrolled in the 35-d study at one week after weaning and randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments. All diets were fed as total mixed ration containing 60% (dry matter [DM] basis) of basal starter feed and 40% (DM basis) of forage, but varied in composition of forage source including i) alfalfa (40% DM, AH); ii) alfalfa hay (26.7% DM)+oat hay (13.3% DM; OH); iii) alfalfa hay (26.7% DM)+corn silage (13.3% DM; WS). Results: Dry matter intake was not different among treatment groups (p>0.05). However, BW (p<0.05) and average daily gain (p<0.05) of calves fed AH and OH were greater than WS-fed calves, whereas heart girth was greater in OH-fed calves than those fed AH and WS (p<0.05). Ruminal fermentation parameters including proportion of butyric acid, acetated-to-propionate ratio, concentration of total volatile fatty acid, protozoal protein, bacterial protein, and microbial protein in rumen were the highest in OH (p<0.05) and the lowest in WS. Compared with the AH and WS, feeding oat hay to postweaning calves increased crude protein digestibility (p<0.05), and decreased duration of diarrhea (p<0.05) and fecal index (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggested that partially replacing alfalfa hay with oat hay improved ruminal fermentation, nitrogen utilization, and reduced incidence of diarrhea in post-weaning dairy calves.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2013

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of conditioning methods and tedding frequency on the drying rate and quality of Italian ryegrass hay. Italian ryegrass was cut with three types of mower conditioners (un conditioned, impeller, roller) and tedded with rake-tedder once or twice daily during field curing. The field drying rate of Italian ryegrass hay was the highest in roller conditioner. Conditioning treatment shorten the date from 1 to 1.5 compare with unconditioned. Drying rate of Italian ryegrass plant had been affected by tedding frequency within 3 days after it was cut, but it was ineffective after 3 days. There is no effect on acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) but effect crude protein (CP) and relative feed value (RFV) by conditioning treatment in nutritive value of Italian ryegrass hay.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.212-217
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• 2006

Effects of feeding high quality roughage (timothy hay) in growing period on growth performance and carcass characteristics during 24 month (5 month from 28 month to) in twenty of Hanwoo steers were investigated. The hanwoo steers were randomly allotted to 2 treatments (10 heads/treatment) ; rice straw group (control) and timothy hay group (treatment). The final body weights of rice straw group and timothy hay group on 28 month were 667.70 kg and 681.75kg, respectively. The daily gain of total period was slightly higher in timothy hay group (0.83kg ) than in rice straw group (0.81 kg). The daily roughage intake in the growing period was tended to be higher in timothy hay group (4.27kg ) than rice straw group (3.80 kg). The carcass grades (yield grade and quality grade) and Longissimus dorsi area were significantly higher in timothy hay group ($85.62 cm^2$, 2.02 and 2.20 point) than in rice straw group ($81.29 cm^2$, 2.00 and 1.60 point respectively) (p<0.05), and were affected by the feeding with high quality roughage in the growing period.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 1998

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of chemical drying agents at mowing on the field drying rate of alfalfa (cv. Vernal) and rye (cv. Koolgrazer) for hastening hay manuf8cture. In alfalfa; chemicals ($K_2CO_3$ 2% $K_2CO_3$ 3% $Na_2CO_3$ 2% $CaCO_3$, 2% $K_2CO_3$2% + $Na_2CO_3$, 1% only water spray and control) were treated at early bloom stage in 1995. Chemicals ($K_2CO_3$, 2%, $Na_2CO_3$, 2% $CaCO_3$, 2% and control) were applicated at different harvest stages (early heading, heading and bloom) in rye, 1996. The drying rate of alfalfa by $K_2CO_3$ treatment among chemicals was higher than control, and the duration of field dry was shortened by one day with $K_2CO_3$ application, but there was no difference in drying efficiency between $K_2CO_3$ 2% and $K_2CO_3$ 3%. In rye, however, no moisture reduction by chemicals was observed. The days required for field dry were 6, 4, and 3 days at warly heading heading and bloom stage respectively; regardless of chemical drying agents and conbol. The nutritive value of rye hay with chemicals at baling was very slightly higher than control, but there was no significant difference. Also, no difference of hay quality was found among drying agents. In conclusion, $K_2CO_3$can enhance the field drying rate of alfalfa hay, but the drying efficiency was not high, particularly in rye hay. Harvesting at early heading to heading stage was desirable for manufacture of high quality rye hay.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2000

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate chemical composition, dry matter(DM) digestibility, DM intake, relative feed value(RFV) and hay grade of imported roughage which was collected by wholesale dealer at Chungnam province in 1999. Experimental roughages includes 8 kinds of imported hays(com stover bale, tall fescue straw, green cell, bermudagrass straw, reed camarygrass straw, alfalfa bale, sugarcane bale and oat hay) and mixture hay(contro1) which was harvested at Chungnam National University experimental field. Compared with mixture hay(contro1) except for alfalfa bale, crude protein of most imported roughage was low, but NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin compound were high. Futhermore, DM digestibility, DM intake, RFV and hay grade of imported roughage except for alfalfa bale was significantly lower than those of mixture hay(control)(P<0.05). Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the economic value in the aspect of quality for the imported roughages. (Key words : Imported roughage, RFV, Hay grade, Nutritive value)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 1999

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of chemical /mechanical treatments at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of rye (Secale cereale L.). The chemical drying agent/mower conditioner ($K_2CO_3$ 2%, conditioning, $K_2CO_3$ 2% + conditioning and control) were treated at different harvest stage (late boot, heading and bloom stage) for hastening hay-making in the spring of 1996. After field dry, square bales were made by hay baler, and the dry matter(DM) loss, visual estimation and nutritive value of rye hay were evaluated after storing two months. The field drying rate of rye was higher with delayed stage of harvest, and mechanical and chemical + mechanical treatment, but the effectiveness of chemical alone was very low. With mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 1.5 to 2 days compared with control. The DM loss of rye hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical, and chemical + mechanical combined treatment, but the efficiency by chemical alone was very low. The visual score (Ieafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay after storing was high in mechanical and chemical + mechanical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. The nutritive value (ADF, NDF, digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical and chemical + mechanical, but the quality by chemical alone was similar compared with control. The quality of hay was very low when harvested at bloom stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of rye, but the drying effectiveness of chemical drying agent was very low. The effect of chemical/mechanical combined treatment was very similar when compared with mechanical alone. Harvest at early heading to heading stage was recommended for high quality rye hay.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1196-1203
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• 2024

Objective: A study was conducted to quantify the performance differences of the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration models developed with different degrees of hay sample preparations. Methods: A total of 227 imported alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and another 360 imported timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hay samples were used to develop calibration models for nutrient value parameters such as moisture, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, crude protein, and in vitro dry matter digestibility. Spectral data of hay samples prepared by milling into 1-mm particle size or unground were separately regressed against the wet chemistry results of the abovementioned parameters. Results: The performance of the developed NIRS calibration models was evaluated based on R², standard error, and ratio percentage deviation (RPD). The models developed with ground hay were more robust and accurate than those with unground hay based on calibration model performance indexes such as R² (coefficient of determination), standard error, and RPD. Although the R² of calibration models was mainly greater than 0.90 across the feed value indexes, the R² of cross-validations was much lower. The R² of cross-validation varies depending on feed value indexes, which ranged from 0.61 to 0.81 in alfalfa, and from 0.62 to 0.95 in timothy. Estimation of feed values in imported hay can be achievable by the calibrated NIRS. However, the NIRS calibration models must be improved by including a broader range of imported hay samples in the modeling. Conclusion: Although the analysis accuracy of NIRS was substantially higher when calibration models were developed with ground samples, less sample preparation will be more advantageous for achieving rapid delivery of hay sample analysis results. Therefore, further research warrants investigating the level of sample preparations compromising analysis accuracy by NIRS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 1989

Twenty-four Hereford steers, 22 months old and a mean liveweight (${\pm}\;s.e.$) of $250\;{\pm}\;7\;kg$ were used in an experiment to evaluate over 42 days two rates of copra meal supplementation to cattle on a low N ($8.6\;{\pm}\;0.9$ g N/kg dry matter (DM)), low digestible ($45\;{\pm}\;5.2%$ DM) native pasture hay. Steers given the two rates (500, 1000 g/steer/day; i.e. 500C, 1000C) were compared to steers on a non-supplemental diet and to the effects on steers of supplemental urea (30g/steer/day; 30U) or with copra meal (500 g/steer/day; 500C.U), or of cottonseed meal (500 g/steer/day; 500S). Liveweight change was increased (P<0.01) by all of the supplements except by supplemental urea. The most effective treatment, 1000C, increased significantly (P<0.01) liveweight change (946 g/day) in steers above all supplements except those steers given 500C.U (718 g/day). Hay intake per unit liveweight was increased (P<0.05) by 7% by the 30U and 500C.U treatment, and by 9% by 500C; this group having the highest supplements, being greatest (P<0.05) for the 1000C group (6.0 g feed intake/g gain) and least for the 500S supplemented group (11.5 g/g gain). Efficiency was lowest (18.6 g/g gain) for the non-supplemented steers on the basal hay diet. Copra meal N was less degradable (i.e. 29%) in nylon bags over 15 hours in the rumen than was cottonseed meal N (37%), and rumen ammonia concentrations were lower (P<0.05) in cattle supplemented with copra meal (25, 27 mg N/L) than in cattle given urea (36 mg N/L) or cottonseed meal (39 mg N/L). It is concluded that copra meal at a daily rate of 500 g/head, and with rumen soluble nitrogen from urea, is an effective supplement for improving growth of cattle on a low quality forage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.463-472
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• 2003

Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz), an annual tropical tuber crop, was nutritionally evaluated as a foliage for ruminants, especially dairy cattle. Cultivation of cassava biomass to produce hay is based on a first harvest of the foliage at three months after planting, followed every two months thereafter until one year. Inter-cropping of leguminous fodder as food-feed between rows of cassava, such as Leucaena leucocephala or cowpea (Vigna unculata), enriches soil fertility and provides additional fodder. Cassava hay contained 20 to 25% crude protein in the dry matter with good profile of amino acids. Feeding trials with cattle revealed high levels of DM intake (3.2% of BW) and high DM digestibility (71%). The hay contains tannin-protein complexes which could act as rumen by - pass protein for digestion in the small intestine. As cassava hay contains condensed tannins, it could have subsequent impact on changing rumen ecology particularly changing rumen microbes population. Therefore, supplementation with cassava hay at 1-2 kg/hd/d to dairy cattle could markedly reduce concentrate requirements, and increase milk yield and composition. Moreover, cassava hay supplementation in dairy cattle could increase milk thiocyanate which could possibly enhance milk quality and milk storage, especially in small holder-dairy farming. Condensed tannins contained in cassava hay have also been shown to potentially reduce gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants and therefore could act as an anthelmintic agent. Cassava hay is therefore an excellent multi-nutrient source for animals, especially for dairy cattle during the long dry season, and has the potential to increase the productivity and profitability of sustainable livestock production systems in the tropics.