• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.368-373
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to examine the effects on the composition and rumen degradation in sacco of rice straw treated with animal urine (1 l of 2.9 g N/kg DM straw) and urea plus calcium hydroxide (2% urea plus 0.5% $Ca(OH)_2$/kg DM straw) as a cheap and relatively safe alternative for ammonia (3% ammonia solution/kg DM straw). Mold occurred in urine treated straw, but other treatments were apparently mold-free. All treatments significantly (p<0.05) increased CP content in the straw compared with untreated one. Ammonia-treated straw contained CP at about twice that in urine or urea-calcium hydroxide treated straw. NDF and hemicellulose contents decreased significantly (p<0.05) in all treatments, while ADF and cellulose showed no differences compared with untreated straw. The degradable fraction of DM, CP, NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose was significantly (p<0.05) increased for ammonia and urea-calcium hydroxide treatments than for urine treated or untreated straw except for CP of urine treated straw. Chemical treatment of rice straw increased the readily degradable fraction of CP, while it decreased the slowly degradable fraction for urine or urea-calcium hydroxide treated rice straw. The degradation rate of hemicellulose was significantly (p<0.05) increased for ammonia and urea-calcium hydroxide treatments compared to urine treated or untreated straw. However, no effect on cellulose degradation rate was found by any of the treatments. There was no improvement in the degradation kinetics caused by the urine treatment despite the improvement of the chemical composition. Although the improvement in rumen degradability was less in the urea-calcium hydroxide treatment than in the ammonia treatment, its use may be more desirable because it is less expensive to obtain, less hazardous nature, and readily available. For further improvement it is necessary to investigate the supplementation of slowly degradable nitrogen to ureacalcium hydroxide treated rice straw diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of three categories of supplements on intake and diet induced difference on degradation of straw substrates. Sixteen crossbred cattle fitted with rumen cannula were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. Animals were fed on wheat straw ad libitum without any supplement except mineral mixture (control; $T_1$) or supplemented with concentrate mixture (CS; $T_2$) or green Lucerne (GLS; $T_3$) or urea-molasses block lick (ULS; $T_4$). Total dry matter intake in $T_2$, $T_3$ and $T_4$ was increased by 70, 54 and 49%, respectively compared to $T_1$ which was only 1.55 kg/100 kg B.Wt. Other than control animals, straw intake was less on $T_3$ than $T_2$ or $T_4$. In Sacco degradation of untreated and urea treated wheat or paddy straw in different treatments indicated that the supplements had a significant (p<0.01) impact on rapidly soluble (A) and insoluble but potentially degradable (B) fractions of straw. Urea treatment increased fraction-A but, provision of supplement improved fraction-B also. Effective degradation (ED) of OM was better on $T_2$. Rate of degradation (C) of OM and CWC was dependent on diet and type of straw but hemicellulose and cellulose were related to latter factor only. ED of cell wall carbohydrates (CWC) was similar in $T_2$ and $T_4$ but higher than $T_3$. CS was more effective in improving the degradation of both untreated and urea treated straw while ULS was effective on the former only. CS had more impact on superior quality straw while contrary was true with ULS. Although GLS improved intake and degradability of untreated and urea treated straws, its bulkiness affected the straw intake compared to other supplements.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.421-432
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of processing methods of corn grains on protein and starch degradability in the rumen by three ruminally cannulated dry Holstein cows. The corns for these experiments were untreated; whole corn L(density; 660 g/$\ell$), whole corn H(density; 740 g/$\ell$), and treated by four different types: Ground corn, 3.8 mm, 2.8 mm, and 1.5 mm flaked corn. The results obtained were summarized as follows: For 48 hrs, the protein degradabilities were high in order, ground corn, 1.5 mm, 2.8 mm, and 3.8 mm flaked corn(82.6, 76.5, 64.5, and 33.9%, respectively). Flaked corn grains were degraded lower than ground corn. However, as increasing the processing degree of flaking, the protein degradabilities, from 4 hrs to 48 hrs, were increased. The starch degradabilities on 48 hrs were higher in 1.5 and 2.8 mm flaked corns, ground corn, 3.8 mm flaked corn(99.1, 91.5, 89.5, and 68.9%, respectively) than whole corn L(32.0%) and whole corn H(20.5%)(P<0.05). By increasing the processing degree of flaking, the protein degradabilty between 2.8 mm and 3.8 mm was increased significantly from 68.9% to 91.5%, however, that of 1.5 mm flaked corn, processed thinner, tended to be increased slightly, but was not significantly different. From 12 hrs to 24 hrs, whole corn L was degraded little more than whole corn H in starch, was not significantly different. However, after 48 hr incubation in the rumen, whole corn L was degraded more 50% than whole corn H(P<0.05). The value of degradation parameter “a” of protein was lower in all flaked corns than in ground corn. In contrast, the value of degradation parameter “a” of starch was significantly higher in all flaked corns than in ground corn(P<0.05). It seemed that by flaking the corn grains, starch particles were gelatinized, and then, starch was degraded more rapidly, while protein was degraded more slowly. Referring to these kinds of physical characteristics of grain sources in ruminal degradabilities, it is possible to synchronize the fermentation of nitrogen and carbohydrate sources, in formulating the cattle diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.537-543
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• 1999

Whole horse beans (Vicia faba cv. Alfred) (WHB) were pressure toasted at different temperatures of 100, 118 and $136^{\circ}C$ for 3, 7, 15 and 30 minutes in order to determine an optimal heating conditions to increase bypass starch (BPSt) as glucose source which is usually limiting nutrient in highly producing dairy cows in the Netherlands. Starch (St) Ruminal Degradative Kinetics and Fermentation Characteristics of (SRDC) of WHB were determined using in sacco technique in 4 lactating dairy cows fed 47% hay and 53% concentrate according to Dutch dairy cow requirements. Measured characteristics of St were soluble fraction (S), potentially degradable fraction (D) and rate of degradation (Kd) of insoluble but degradable fraction. Based on measured characteristics, percentage bypass starch (BPSt) was calculated according to the Dutch new feed evaluation system: the DVE/OEB system. Pressure toasting temperatures significantly affected starch gelatinization (p<0.01). Degradability of Starch in the rumen was highly reduced by pressure toasting (p<0.01). S varied from 58.2% in the raw WHB (RWHB as a control) to 19.6% in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. S was reduced rapidly with increasing time and temperature (p<0.01). D varied from 41.8% in RWHB to 80.5% in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. D fraction was enormously increased with increasing time and temperature (p<0.01). Kd varied from 4.9%h in RWHB to 3.4%/h in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. All these effects resulted in increasing %BPSt from 29.0% in RWHB to 53.1% in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. Therefore BPSt increased from 93.5 g/kg in RWHB to 173.5 g/kg in $136^{\circ}C/15min$. The effects of pressure toasting on %BPSt and BPSt seemed to be linear up to the highest values tested. Therefore no optimal pressure toasting conditions could be determined at this stage. But among 10 treatments, The treatment of $136^{\circ}C/15min$was the best with the highest BPSt content. It was concluded that pressure toasting was effective in shifting starch degradation from rumen to small intestine to increase bypass starch.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.503-509
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• 1998

Whole faba beans (WFB) were dry roasted at different temperatures of 110, 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ for 15, 30 and 45 minutes (min) to determine the optimal heating conditions to increase bypass starch as glucose source which may be a limiting nutrient in high producing dairy cattle. Ruminant degradation characteristics of starch (St) of WFB were determined using in sacco method in 6 dairy cows fed 60% hay and 40% concentrate. Measured characteristics of St were soluble (washable) fraction (S), potentially degradation fraction (D) and the rate of degradation (Kd) of the insoluble but degradable St fraction. Based on measurement of these characteristics, percentage bypass starch (%BSt) and bypass starch (BSt) were calculated. Degradability of starch in the rumen was reduced by dry roasting at temperature of 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ and increased at $110^{\circ}C$. S varied from 50.0% in the raw whole faba beans (RWFB) and 53.7% in $110^{\circ}C$/15 min to 18.2% in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. D varied from 49.9% in RWFB and 46.3% in $110^{\circ}C$/15 min to 81.8 % in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. Kd varied from 9.8% in RWFB and 11.0% in the $110^{\circ}C$/30 min to 4.2 in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. All these effects resulted in increasing %BSt from 22.1% in the $110^{\circ}C$/45 min and 23.9% in RWFB to 49.9% in the $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. Therefore BSt increased from 91.4 g/kg and 98.4 g/kg to 199.9 g/kg respectively. Dry roasting at $110^{\circ}C$ increased the starch rumen degradation. Treatment at higher temperature (130 and $150^{\circ}C$) decreased rumen degradation of starch and seemed to be linear up to highest values tested. No optimal dry roasting conditions of treatment could be determined at this stage. It may be concluded that dry roasting at temperatures of 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ was effective in shifting starch degradation from rumen to intestine to increase bypass starch.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2008

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of replacing a conventional concentrate with mixed cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage and legume (Phaseolus calcaratus) foliage. In Exp. 1, three rumen fistulated crossbred cows were used for in sacco rumen degradability studies. In vitro gas production was also studied. In Exp. 2, 11 crossbred F2 heifers (Red Sindhi$\times$Holstein Friesian), with initial live weight of $129{\pm}6kg$ and aged six months, were allocated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to evaluate a mixture (ratio 3:1) of cassava and legume foliage (CA-LE feed) as a protein source compared to a traditional concentrate feed (Control) in diets based on fresh elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and urea treated rice straw ad libitum. The Control feed was replaced by the CA-LE feed at levels of 0% (Control), 40% (CA-LE40), and 60% (CA-LE60) based on dry matter (DM). The in sacco degradation of CA-LE feed was higher than Control feed (p<0.05). After 48 h incubation the degradation of CA-LE feed and Control feed was 73% vs. 58% of DM and 83% vs. 65% of CP, respectively. The gas production of CA-LE feed was also significantly higher than of Control feed during the first 12 h of incubation. The results of the performance study (Exp. 2) showed that the level of CA-LE feed in the concentrate had no effect on total dry matter intake (p>0.05), but live weight gains (LWG) in CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 were significantly higher (551 and 609 g/d, respectively) than in the Control group (281 g/d). The intake of CP was higher (p<0.05) for the treatments CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 (556 and 590 g/d, respectively) compared to that of Control (458 g/d), while there was no significant difference in ME intake. The feed conversion ratio was 16.8, 9.0 and 7.9 kg DM/kg LWG in Control, CA-LE40 and CA-LE60, respectively. The feed cost of CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 corresponded to 43% and 35%, respectively, of the feed cost of Control feed. The best results were found when CA-LE feed replaced 60% of DM in Control feed and considerably decreased feed cost. It is concluded that feeding cassava foliage in combination with Phaseolus calcaratus legume as a protein supplement could be a potentially valuable strategy which leads to reduced feed costs and a more sustainable system in smallholder dairy production in Vietnam.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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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.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.757-768
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• 2002

These study were conducted to determine the effects of a whole or steam-flaked corn based diet on rumen microbial fermentation in vitro and ruminal metabolism in the Korean Native Goat(KNG) in vivo. The experiments consisted of two dietary treatments: control, steam-flaked corn(SFC) based diet(80%) + rice straw mixed(20%)(SFCR); 100% whole corn based diet(WC). The first experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of whole corn on ruminal metabolism in vitro for 0 to 48 h. pH values were optimally maintained during incubation time, and were not significantly different between treatments. Gas production of SFCR was significantly higher than WC(p<0.01). $NH_3$-N concentration tended to increase for WC, but not significantly different between treatments. The mean value of total volatile fatty acid concentration of WC was significantly lower than SFCR(p<0.01), but SFCR and WC linearly increased as the time of incubation approached 48 h. Mean value of acetate concentration of SFCR was significantly higher than WC(p<0.01). Propionate concentration of WC for the total incubation time was significantly higher than SFCR(p<0.01). The digestibility of dry matter was not significantly different between treatments, but SFCR was somewhat higher than WC. The second experiment was conducted to effect of whole shelled corn based diet on rumen metabolism in KNG. pH values tended to decrease through all treatments. There was not a significantly difference between treatments. Microbial protein yield of SFCR was significantly higher than WC(p<0.01). $NH_3$-N concentration of WC was significantly (p<0.01) higher than SFCR. Total VFA and propionate concentration of WC was significantly higher than SFCR(p<0.01), but acetate concentrate of WC was not significantly higher than SFCR. The mean value of total lactate concentration was significantly(p<0.01) different but the value of SFCR and WC were lower than the average concentration of acidosis. In sacco DM disappearance rate of SFC was significantly(p<0.01) higher than WC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.941-947
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• 2000

Three fistulated Malaysian local bulls were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design to determine the effects of different levels of concentrate with oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) frond (OPF) on rumen pH and $NH_3$-N concentration, and DM degradability of different fractions of OPF. Three diets namely, 60% OPF pellet and 40% concentrate (Diet 1), 50% OPF pellet and 50% concentrate (Diet 2) and 40% OPF pellets and 60% concentrate (Diet 3) were used. The levels of concentrate in the diets affected rumen pH and $NH_3$-N concentration. The pH and $NH_3$-N concentration almost in all hourly samples did not show any difference (p>0.05) among the diets except the 6 h and 9 h samples. The highest (p<0.01) $NH_3$-N concentration was obtained on Diet 3 followed by Diet 2 and Diet 1, but there was a slightly higher (p>0.05) pH on Diet 1. The $NH_3$-N concentrations of rumen liquor at 9 h sampling on Diet 1 and Diet 2 were below the critical level (50 mg/liter) required for efficient fermentation of fibrous feeds. The in sacco DM degradation of different fractions of OPF was affected by diets. The DM degradation of fractions of OPF was higher on Diet 3, which showed differences (p<0.01) with the other diets. It was found that a higher level of concentrate (60%) with OPF gave a higher rumen $NH_3$-N concentration that increased the DM degradation of OPF fractions. The results showed that OPF could support an efficient rumen function in terms of $NH_3$-N concentration and pH when ${\leq}50%$ in the diet. A higher level of OPF (>50%) does not support an efficient rumen fermentation in terms of $NH_3$-N concentration, and resulted in lower DM degradation values of the fractions. The results suggested that there is a need to supplement additional nitrogen to OPF based diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 1997

Objective of the present study were to investigate effects of different levels of concentrate in complete rations on nutrient digestibilities and ruminal fermentation in sheep and growth performance in Korean native bulls. Increasing levels of concentrate (35, 50, 65, and 80% of complete rations) improved digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) without affecting digestibility of neutral detergent (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Increasing levels of concentrate decreased ruminal fluid pH but increased concentrations of $NH_3-N$, propionic acid, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA). Both the disappearance rates of DM and nitrogen (N) in an in sacco study were linearly increased as the levels of concentrate in complete rations increased. Meanwhile, increasing levels of concentrate in complete rations improved growth rate and feed conversion ratio in Korean native bulls. In conclusion, the complete rations containing 80% concentrate showed better digestibility and energy supply than those of the lower levels (35, 50 and 65%) of concentrate of the rations, resulting in improved growth performance of Korean native bulls.