• Title/Summary/Keyword: Intake design

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Effect of Dietary Oligosaccharides on the Performance, Intestinal Microflora and Serum Immunoglobulin Contents in Laying Hens (Oligosaccharides 계열 생균제가 산란계의 생산성, 장내 미생물 및 혈청 면역 글로불린 함량에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, C.H.;Shin, K.S.;Woo, K.C.;Paik, I.K.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.125-131
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    • 2009
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on the performance, immune response and small intestinal microflora in laying hens. A total of 960 Hy-Line $Brown^{(R)}$ laying hens of 27 wks old, housed in 2 bird cages, were assigned in a completely randomized block design into one of the following 6 dietary treatments: control, antibiotic (6 ppm avilamycine), 0.025% MOS, 0.05% MOS, 0.25% FOS, and 0.5% FOS. Each treatment had 4 replicates of 40 birds and was fed ad libitum for 6 wks under 16 h lighting regimen. There were significant differences among treatments in hen-day and hen-housed egg production. Hen-day egg production in 0.025% MOS was significantly higher than that of control. Hen-housed egg production in antibiotic-treated group was significantly higher compared with control. Egg weight, feed intake and feed conversion were not significantly different among treatments. Egg shell thickness was highest in 0.25% FOS, but was not significantly different among the rest of treatments. There were no significant differences among treatments in egg shell strength, egg shell color, egg yolk color and Haugh unit. IgG concentrations in serum were not significantly different among treatments. On the other hand, IgA concentrations of the treated birds tended to be increased compared with control. Dietary treatments tended to decrease Cl. perfringens and E. coli, and to increase Lactobacillus spp. The result of this experiment showed that dietary supplementation of MOS and FOS in laying hens tended to improve egg production comparable to the supplementation of antibiotics. The level of serum IgA and small intestinal microflora were also significantly affected by the treatments.

The Research of Storage Capacity & Sedimentation of Reservoirs in HONAM Province (호남지방에 저수지의 매몰상황과 저수량에 관한 조사연구(농학계))

  • 이창구
    • Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.2262-2275
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    • 1971
  • Fourteenes rervoirs maintained by the local land improvement associations in the province of Chullabuk-Do and 20 reservoir maintained by thos in the province of Chullanam-Do, were surveyed in connection with a correction between storage capacity and sediment deposit. In addition to this survey, 3,347 of small reservoir, that lie scattered around in the above-mentioned two provinces were investigated by using existing two provinces were investigated by using existing records pertaining to storage capacity in the office of City and country, respectively. According to this investigation the following comclusions are derived. 1. A sediment deposition rate is high, being about $10.63m^3/ha$ of drainage area, and resulting in the average decreasc of storage capaity by 27.5%. This high rate of deposition coule be mainly attributed to the serve denudation of forests due to disorderly cuttings of trees. Easpecially, in small reservoir, an original average design storage depth of 197mm in irrigation water depth is decreased to about 140mm. 2. An average unit storage depth of 325.6mm as the time of initial construction is decreased to 226mm at present. This phenomena causes a greater shortage irrigation water, since it was assumed that original storage quantity was already in short. 3. Generally speaking, seepage rates through dam abutment intakepipe, etc, are high due to insufficient maintenance and management of reservoir. 4. It is recommended that sediment deposit should be dredged when a reservoir is dry in drought. 5. Farmers usually waste excessive irrigation water. 6. Water saving methods should be practiced by applying only necessary water for growing stage of rice. 7. In are as where water defficiency for irrigation is severe, a soil moisture content should be kept at about 70% by applying water once in several days. 8. Tube wells should be provided so as to exploit ground water and subsurface current below stream bed as much as possible. 9. If an intake weir was constructed, a water collection well should be built for the use in drought. 10. Water conservation should be forced by converting devastated forests contained in the drainage area of reservoir to protected forests so as to take priority of yrefor estation, gully control, the prohibition of disorderly cutting of trees, etc. 11. Collective rice nurseries should be adopted, and it should be recommended that irrigation water for rice nurseries is supplied by farmer themselves. 12. Sediment desposit in reservoir should be thoroughly dreged so as to secure a original design storage capacity. 13. The structure of overflow weir should be automatic so as to freely control flood level and not to increase dam height.

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Evaluation of Metal-Amino Acid Chelates and Complexes at Various Levels of Copper and Zinc in Weanling Pigs and Broiler Chicks

  • Lee, S.H.;Choi, S.C.;Chae, B.J.;Lee, J.K.;Acda, S.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.14 no.12
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    • pp.1734-1740
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    • 2001
  • Feeding trials using weanling pigs and broiler chicks were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different metal-amino acid chelates and complexes at various levels of copper and zinc on the performance and fecal excretions. A total of 200 weanling pigs (Large White ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc, $11.20{\pm}0.81kg$) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments following a randomized complete block design. Each treatment was replicated 4 times with 10 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were designated as : A-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 120 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, B-diet containing 85 ppm Cu from Cu-amino acid chelate (CAC) and 60 ppm Zn from Zn-amino acid chelate (ZAC), C-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from CAC and 120 ppm Zn from ZAC, D-diet containing 85 ppm Cu from Cu-lysine complex (CL) and 60 ppm Zn from Zn-methionine complex (ZM), and E-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from CL and 120 ppm Zn from ZM. On the other trial, 144 of one day old broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 6 dietary treatments following a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 8 chicks per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1-diet with 60 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 40 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, 2-diet with 120 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 80 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, 3-diet with 60 ppm Cu from CAC and 40 ppm Zn from ZAC, 4-diet with 120 ppm Cu from CAC and 80 ppm Zn from ZAC, 5-diet with 60 ppm Cu from CL and 40 ppm Zn from ZM, and 6-diet with 120 ppm Cu from CL and 80 ppm Zn from ZM. In Exp. 1 with pigs, there was no difference on average daily gain and average daily feed intake observed among treatments. There was improvement (p<0.05) on the overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) of pigs fed diet containing 120 ppm Zn and 170 ppm Cu from metal-amino acid chelates relative to those fed diet containing inorganic sources of Cu and Zn but equally efficient as those fed diet containing metal-amino acid complexes. Pigs fed diet containing either metal-amino acid chelates or complexes as sources of Cu and Zn had higher (p<0.05) Cu and Zn concentration in serum and lower (p<0.05) in feces than those receiving diet with inorganic sources. In Exp. 2 with broiler chicks, the overall FCR was not different among treatments. Higher (p<0.05) Cu and Zn concentration in serum was obtained from birds fed diet with 60 ppm Cu and 40 ppm Zn from metal-amino acid chelates compared to those fed diet with inorganic sources of Cu and Zn. Also, the feces collected from birds fed diet with either metal-amino acid chelates or complexes contained generally lower Cu and Zn than those birds fed diet with inorganic sources. The higher the dietary level of Cu and Zn the higher the Cu and Zn concentration in the feces. Based on the results, both metal-amino acid chelates and complexes of Cu and Zn at low levels (Zn 60 ppm, Cu 85 ppm for weanling pigs and Zn 40 ppm, Cu 60 ppm for broiler chicks) are not different from that of high levels of inorganic sources in maintaining growth performance and serum concentration. The fecal excretions for Cu and Zn were greatly reduced when organic sources were used.

Determination of Crude Protein Requirements for Maintenance of Prepubertal Hanwoo Heifers (한우 암송아지의 성성숙 전 유지 단백질 요구량 결정)

  • Nam, In-Sik;Oh, Young-Kyoon;Jang, Sun-Sik;Kim, Do-Hyung;Seol, Yong-Joo;Kim, Kyoung-Hoon
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.171-176
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    • 2011
  • Two trials at different body weights of Hanwoo heifers (average body weight of 143 and 257 kg, respectively) were conducted to determine crude protein requirements for maintenance (CPm). Six Hanwoo heifers in each trial were used in two 3 ${\times}$ 3 Latin square design with three diets containing three levels of CP, 14 days in each period. In trial 1, the diets were based on 2.8 kg fresh wt./day/heifer timothy hay (LCP) with supplements of either 250 g ground corn and 150 g corn gluten meal (MCP) or 500 g ground corn and 300 g corn gluten meal (HCP). In trial 2, the diets were based on 4.8 kg fresh wt./day/heifer timothy hay (LCP) with supplements of either 350 g ground corn and 250 g corn gluten meal (MCP) or 700 g ground corn and 500 g corn gluten meal (HCP). In trial 1, CP intakes were 236.6, 340.1, and 459.8 g/d for LCP, MCP, and HCP, respectively. Crude protein balances were 0.51, 1.87 and 3.20g/$BW^{0.75}$/d for LCP, MCP, and HCP, respectively. In trial 2, CP intakes were 415.2, 606.9 and 793.0g/d for LCP, MCP and HCP, respectively. Crude protein balances were 0.67, 1.03, 2.99 g/$BW^{0.75}$/d for LCP, MCP, and HCP, respectively. The maintenance requirements for CP from the regression equation between CP intake and CP balance were 4.58g/$BW^{0.75}$/d (trial 1) and 5.02 g/$BW^{0.75}$/d (trial 2) and lower than the value (5.56 g/$BW^{0.75}$/d) adopted by Korean Feeding Standards for Hanwoo (2007).

Operating Status and Improvement Plans of Ten Wetlands Constructed in Dam Reservoirs in Korea (국내 10개 댐저수지 인공습지의 운영현황 및 개선방안)

  • Choi, Kwangsoon;Kim, Sea Won;Kim, Dong Sup;Lee, Yosang
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.431-440
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    • 2014
  • To propose the improvement and management plans to strengthen the pollutant removal efficiency of dam reservoir's constructed wetlands(CWs), the operation status and configuration of CWs (including water depth, operational flow, water flow distribution, residence time, and pollutant removal efficiency, aspect ratio, open water/vegetation ratio etc.) were analyzed in 10 major wetlands constructed in dam reservoirs. The pollutant concentrations in the inflows of the studied CWs were lower than those of American and European constructed wetlands. Especially, organic matter concentrations in all of inflows were below 3 mg/L(as BOD) due to advanced treatment of sewage disposal plant and an intake of low concentration water during dry and normal seasons. The average removal efficiency of total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorus(TP) for 10 CWs ranged from 7.6~67.6%(mean 24.9%) and -4.9~74.5%(mean 23.7%), respectively, showing high in wetlands treating municipal wastewater. On the other hand, the removal efficiency of BOD was generally low or negative with ranging from -133.3 to 41.7%. From the analysis of the operation status and configuration of CWs, it is suggested that the low removal efficiency of dam reservoir's CWs were caused by both structural (inappropriate aspect ratio, excessive open water area) and operational (neglecting water-level management, lack of facilities and operation for first flush treatment, lake of monitoring during rainy events) problems. Therefore, to enable to play a role as a reduction facility of non-point source(NPS) pollutants, an appropriate design and operation manuals for dam reservoir's CW is urgently needed. In addition, the monitoring during rainy events, when NPS runoff occur, must be included in operation manual of CW, and then the data obtained from the monitoring is considered in estimation of the pollutant removal efficiency by dam reservoir's CW.

Numerical Analysis of Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) Behavior at Korean Reference Disposal System (KRS) Using TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D Simulator (TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D를 이용한 한국형 기준 처분시스템에서의 열-수리-역학적 복합거동 특성 평가)

  • Lee, Changsoo;Cho, Won-Jin;Lee, Jaewon;Kim, Geon Young
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.183-202
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    • 2019
  • For design and performance assessment of a high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal system, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior. However, in previous studies for the Korean Reference HLW Disposal System (KRS), thermal analysis was performed to determine the spacing of disposal tunnels and interval of disposition holes without consideration of the coupled THM behavior. Therefore, in this study, TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D is used to conduct THM modeling for performance assessment of the Korean Reference HLW Disposal System (KRS). The peak temperature remains below the temperature limit of $100^{\circ}C$ for the whole period. A rapid rise of temperature caused by decay heat occurs in the early years, and then temperature begins to decrease as decay heat from the waste decreases. The peak temperature at the bentonite buffer is around $96.2^{\circ}C$ after about 3 years, and peak temperature at the rockmass is $68.2^{\circ}C$ after about 17 years. Saturation of the bentonite block near the canister decreases in the early stage, because water evaporation occurs owing to temperature increase. Then, saturation of the bentonite buffer and backfill increases because of water intake from the rockmass, and bentonite buffer and backfill are fully saturated after about 266 years. The stress is calculated to investigate the effect of thermal stress and swelling pressure on the mechanical behavior of the rockmass. The calculated stress is compared to a spalling criterion and the Mohr-Coulumb criterion for investigation of potential failure. The stress at the rockmass remains below the spalling strength and Mohr-Coulumb criterion for the whole period. The methodology of using the TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D simulator can be applied to predict the long-term behavior of the KRS under various conditions; these methods will be useful for the design and performance assessment of alternative concepts such as multi-layer and multi-canister concepts for geological spent fuel repositories.

The Effects of Supplemental Bacterial Phytase to the Calcium and Nonphosphorus Levels in Feed of Laying Hens (산란계 사료 내 칼슘 및 무기태 인 수준에 따른 Bacterial Phytase 급여 효과)

  • Kang, H.K.;Park, S.Y.;Yu, D.J.;Kim, J.H.;Kang, G.H.;Na, J.C.;Kim, D.W.;Suh, O.S.;Lee, S.J.;Lee, W.J.;Kim, S.H.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.143-151
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    • 2008
  • This study was conducted to identify the correlation of bacterial phytase ($Transphos^{(R)}$) to the calcium level in feed. Of all 21-week-old 720 HyLine brown laying hens, 2 birds of similar weight were placed on each individual cage. The experiment was conducted by $3{\times}2{\times}3$ factorial design with including 3 different levels of phytase (0, 300, and 1,000 DPU/kg), 2 different levels of calcium (3.5% and 4.0%), and 3 different levels of no NPP addition 0% (0.095 NPP), 0.5% (0.185% NPP), and 1.0% (0.275% NPP). The feeding trial maintained the ME level of 2,800 kcal/kg and 16% for crude protein. The diet was fed ad libitum and 17 hours of lighting was provided throughout the experimental period. Egg production seemed to increase, in the 300 DPU of bacterial phytase added group and the cracked egg tended to reduce in Transphos added group. The egg productivity between treatment groups did not show significant difference by dietary calcium level, whereas non NPP added group (0.095% NPP) was found to be low compared to NPP added groups (P<0.05). The highest mean egg weight and the highest daily egg mass were detected in 300 DPU phytase added group. Although the mean egg weight was significantly higher in treatment groups fed with 3.5% calcium containing feeds (P<0.05), daily egg mass was no among treatment groups. The mean egg weight and daily egg mass were the lowest in non NPP added group (0.095% NPP) compared to other treatment groups (P<0.05). The feed intake showed similar pattern regardless of the bacterial phytase and calcium levels in the diet. However, the treatment groups fed diets containing NPP level of 0.275% and 0.165% showed significantly higher feed intake than the group fed with 0.095% NPP (P<0.05). Although the feed conversion was not affected by calcium and NPP levels in the diet, the most improved result was obtained from 300 DPU phytase added group (P<0.05). The eggshell breaking strength and thickness increased as dietary calcium level increase the level of calcium increases in diet. The treatment groups fed diet containing 0.275% and 0.165% NPP revealed to show improvement in eggshell breaking strength and yolk color index compared to the NPP non added (0.095% NPP) treatment group. The result of the present study suggests that the appropriate level of microbial phytase is 300 DPU and at this level, tricalciumphosphate supplementation in feed can be reduced to 40% of NRC recommendation. Higher calcium level in feed fail to show synergistic effect by adding microbial phytase.

Effect of Dietary Bacillus subtilis on Growth Performance, Immunological Cells Change, Fecal NH3-N Concentration and Carcass Meat Quality Characteristics in Finishing Pigs (비육돈 사료내 Bacillus subtilis의 첨가가 성장, 면역세포 변화, 분내 암모니아태질소 함량 및 도체 특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Cho, J.H.;Chen, Y.J.;Min, B.J.;Kim, H.J.;Shon, K.S.;Kwon, O.S.;Kim, J.D.;Kim, I.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.47 no.6
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    • pp.937-946
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    • 2005
  • This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immunological cells change, fecal noxious gas and carcass meat quality characteristics in finishing pigs. The dietary treatments were 1) CON(basal diet), 2) BS0.1(basal diet+ 0.1% Bacillus subtilis) and 3)BS0.2(basal diet+0.2% Bacillus subtilis). Sixty crossbred(Landrace$\time$ Yorkshire$\time$Duroc) pigs(89.5$\pm$0.11kg average initial body weight) were used in a 42 days growth trial. The pigs were assigned to the treatments according to body weight and each treatment had 5 replicates of 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Through the entire experimental period, average daily gain(ADG) and average daily feed intake(ADFI) were not significantly different among the treatments. Pigs fed BS0.1 diet significantly increased their gain/feed compared to pigs fed CON and BS0.2 diets(P<0.05). Also, dry matter(DM) and nitrogen(N) digestibilities were greater in the pigs fed BS0.1 diet than those fed CON diet(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in fecal NH3-N concentration among the treatments. In blood assay for immunological cells change investigations, red blood cells(RBC) counts increased in the pigs fed BS0.2 diet compared to pigs fed CON and BS0.1 diets. There were no significant differences in carcass pH, drip loss, marbling and firmness. However, sensual color and a*(redness) value of meat in the pigs fed BS0.2 diet were higher than in pigs fed CON diet(P<0.05). Therefore, this experiment suggested that Bacillus subtilis supplementation could improve nutrient digestibility, RBC counts and carcass meat color of pigs.

Effect of Dietary Concentrate:forage Ratios and Undegraded Dietary Protein on Nitrogen Balance and Urinary Excretion of Purine Derivatives in Dorper×thin-tailed Han Crossbred Lambs

  • Ma, Tao;Deng, Kai-Dong;Tu, Yan;Jiang, Cheng-Gang;Zhang, Nai-Feng;Li, Yan-Ling;Si, Bing-Wen;Lou, Can;Diao, Qi-Yu
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.161-168
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    • 2014
  • This study aimed to investigate dietary concentrate:forage ratios (C:F) and undegraded dietary protein (UDP) on nitrogen balance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) in lambs. Four Dorper${\times}$thin-tailed Han crossbred castrated lambs with $62.3{\pm}1.9$ kg body weight at 10 months of age were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of two levels of C:F (40:60 and 60:40) and two levels of UDP (35% and 50% of CP), according to a complete $4{\times}4$ Latin-square design. Each experimental period lasted for 19 d. After a 7-d adaptation period, lambs were moved into individual metabolism crates for 12 d including 7 d of adaption and 5 d of metabolism trial. During the metabolism trial, total urine was collected for 24 h and spot urine samples were also collected at different times. Urinary PD was measured using a colorimetric method and creatinine was measured using an automated analyzer. Intake of dry matter (DM) (p<0.01) and organic matter (OM) (p<0.01) increased as the level of UDP decreased. Fecal N was not affected by dietary treatment (p>0.05) while urinary N increased as the level of UDP decreased (p<0.05), but decreased as dietary C:F increased (p<0.05). Nitrogen retention increased as dietary C:F increased (p<0.05). As dietary C:F increased, urinary excretion of PD increased (p<0.05), but was not affected by dietary UDP (p>0.05) or interaction between dietary treatments (p>0.05). Daily excretion of creatinine was not affected by dietary treatments (p<0.05), with an average value of $0.334{\times}0.005$ mmol/kg $BW^{0.75}$. A linear correlation was found between total PD excretion and PDC index ($R^2$ = 0.93). Concentrations of creatinine and PDC index in spot urine were unaffected by sampling time (p>0.05) and a good correlation was found between the PDC index (average value of three times) of spot urine and daily excretion of PD ($R^2$ = 0.88). These results suggest that for animals fed ad libitum, the PDC index in spot urine is effective to predict daily excretion of PD. In order to improve the accuracy of the spot sampling technique, an appropriate lag phase between the time of feeding and sampling should be determined so that the sampling time can coincide with the peak concentration of PD in the urine.

Influence of Wheat Straw Pelletizing and Inclusion Rate in Dry Rolled or Steam-flaked Corn-based Finishing Diets on Characteristics of Digestion for Feedlot Cattle

  • Manriquez, O.M.;Montano, M.F.;Calderon, J.F.;Valdez, J.A.;Chirino, J.O.;Gonzalez, V.M.;Salinas-Chavira, J.;Mendoza, G.D.;Soto, S.;Zinn, R.A.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.29 no.6
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    • pp.823-829
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    • 2016
  • Eight Holstein steers ($216{\pm}48kg$ body weight) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to evaluate effects of wheat straw processing (ground vs pelleted) at two straw inclusion rates (7% and 14%; dry matter basis) in dry rolled or steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets on characteristics of digestion. The experimental design was a split plot consisting of two simultaneous $4{\times}4$ Latin squares. Increasing straw level reduced ruminal (p<0.01) and total tract (p = 0.03) organic matter (OM) digestion. As expected, increasing wheat straw level from 7% to 14% decreased (p<0.05) ruminal and total tract digestion of OM. Digestion of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and starch, per se, were not affected (p>0.10) by wheat straw level. Likewise, straw level did not influence ruminal acetate and propionate molar proportions or estimated methane production (p>0.10). Pelleting straw did not affect ($p{\geq}0.48$) ruminal digestion of OM, NDF, and starch, or microbial efficiency. Ruminal feed N digestion was greater (7.4%; p = 0.02) for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets. Although ruminal starch digestion was not affected by straw processing, post-ruminal (p<0.01), and total-tract starch (p = 0.05) digestion were greater for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets, resulting in a tendency for increased post-ruminal (p = 0.06) and total tract (p = 0.07) OM digestion. Pelleting wheat straw decreased (p<0.01) ruminal pH, although ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and estimated methane were not affected ($p{\geq}0.27$). Ruminal digestion of OM and starch, and post-ruminal and total tract digestion of OM, starch and N were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for dry rolled corn-based diets. Ruminal NDF digestion was greater (p = 0.02) for dry rolled than for steam-flaked corn, although total tract NDF digestion was unaffected (p = 0.94). Ruminal microbial efficiency and ruminal degradation of feed N were not affected (p>0.14) by corn processing. However, microbial N flow to the small intestine and ruminal N efficiency (non-ammonia N flow to the small intestine/N intake) were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for dry rolled corn-based diets. Ruminal pH and total VFA concentration were not affected ($p{\geq}0.16$) by corn processing method. Compared with dry rolled corn, steam-flaked corn-based diets resulted in decreased acetate:propionate molar ratio (p = 0.02). It is concluded that at 7% or 14% straw inclusion rate, changes in physical characteristics of wheat straw brought about by pelleting negatively impact OM digestion of both steam-flaked and dry-rolled corn-based finishing diets. This effect is due to decreased post-ruminal starch digestion. Replacement of ground straw with pelleted straw also may decrease ruminal pH.