• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.271-280
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aspergillus niger-derived multi-enzyme complex supplementation to feedrestricted lactating sows on performances, milk yield, blood profiles, and manure excretion as compared with ad libitum-fed sows without supplementation of enzyme. Fifty multiparous lactating Berkshire sows were allotted to 5 treatments of 10 sows per treatment during a 28-d lactation period and litter per sow was standardized to 9 suckling piglets. Treatments were ad libitum-fed sows without enzyme and feed-restricted sows supplemented with four increasing levels (0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08%) of multi-enzyme complex derived from Aspergillus niger. Blood samples from all sows were collected to determine serum metabolite concentrations before the morning feeding on d 27 of lactation. Litter body weight and a piglet weight at weaning, and litter weight gain significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex, but there was no significant difference between ad libitum-fed sows without enzyme and feed-restricted sows supplemented with multi-enzyme complex. Body condition score and backfat depth at weaning significantly (P<0.05) increased as multi-enzyme complex level increased. Lactational backfat depth tended (P>0.05) to less decrease with increasing levels of enzyme complex. Serum inorganic phosphorus and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing levels of enzyme complex. Daily milk yield was not significantly different across treatments, but milk fat yield significantly (P<0.05) increased as multi-enzyme complex level increased. Manure output was significantly (P<0.01) higher for ad libitum-fed sows than for feed-restricted sows, but there was no significant difference among feed-restricted sows supplemented with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex. Fecal phosphorus amount significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex. Feed costs of sows per litter weight gain were reduced by 1.25% to 9.67% with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex as compared with ad libitum-fed sows without enzyme. The results indicated that multi-enzyme supplementation to feed-restricted lactating sows not only increased litter performances, but also was comparable to ad libitum-fed sows, resulting in reduced feed costs. Moreover, the reduction of fecal phosphorus amount with increasing levels of enzyme complex would contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.254-259
• /
• 2004

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemented diets with Malty Culture(MC) during lactation on sow and litter performance. Eighteen lactating sows were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments(basal diet, basal diet+MC0.5%, basal+MCl.0%). Average daily feed intake of sow was not affected by dietary treatments with treatment means ranging from 4.49 to 4.58kg(p>0.62). All sows lost their backfat thickness during lactation with no difference among the treatments(p>0.25). Fecal moisture was similar for sows fed the control and MC treatments with 70% moisture content. The growth rate of piglets was not significant difference among the treatments ranging from 47 to 48kg. Day to estrus postweaning was not affected by supplementation of MC with treatment means ranging from 5 to 7 days. There was not significant difference in the milk production(i.e, 8.9kg/d for control, 9.18kg/d for MC0.5 and 9.20kg/d for MC1.0). Survivability of piglet was affected by feeding added MC during lactation. There was no significant difference in the digestibility of DM, but the digestibility of N tended to increase in sows fed the MC0.5 and MC1.0 supplemented diets compared to the basal diet(linear effect, p<0.10; quadratic effect. p<0.08). Digestibility of P tended to increase by the treatment of supplemented MC. However, there was no significant difference among the treatments. In conclusion, the results of experiment suggest that lactation diet of supplemented MC could be a beneficial feeding for digestibility in sow and litter performance.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.1666-1684
• /
• 2023

Objective: Our objective was to examine the relationships of supplemental rumen-protected lysine (RPL) or lysine + methionine (RPLM) on lactational performance, plasma amino acids (AA) concentration, and nitrogen use efficiency of lactating dairy cows by using a meta-analysis approach. Methods: A total of 56 articles comprising 77 experiments with either RPL or RPLM supplementation were selected and analyzed using a mixed model methodology by considering the treatments and other potential covariates as fixed effects and different experiments as random effects. Results: In early lactating cows, milk yield was linearly increased by RPL (β₁ = 0.013; p<0.001) and RPLM (β₁ = 0.014; p<0.028) but 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) and energy-corrected milk (ECM) (kg/d) was increased by only RPL. RPL and RPLM did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) but positively increased (p<0.05) dairy efficiency (Milk yield/DMI and ECM/DMI). As a percentage, milk fat, protein, and lactose were unchanged by RPL or RPLM but the yield of all components was increased (p<0.05) by feeding RPL while only milk protein was increased by feeding RPLM. Plasma Lys concentration was linearly increased (p<0.05) with increasing supplemental RPL while plasma Met increased (p<0.05) by RPLM supplementation. The increase in plasma Lys had a strong linear relationship (R² = 0.693 in the RPL dataset and R² = 0.769 in the RPLM dataset) on milk protein synthesis (g/d) during early lactation. Nitrogen metabolism parameters were not affected by feeding RPL or RPLM, either top-dress or when supplemented to deficient diets. Lactation performance did not differ between AA-deficient or AA-adequate diets in response to RPL or RPLM supplementation. Conclusion: RPL or RPLM showed a positive linear relationship on the lactational performance of dairy cows whereas greater improvement effects were observed during early lactation. Supplementing RPL or RPLM is recommended on deficient-AA diet but not on adequate-AA diet.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.83-91
• /
• 2024

We compared the reproductive performance, non-productive performance, and milk composition performance of two groups of lactating cows that were either rice straw or tall fescue. We also compared and analyzed these parameters after the first parturition during the breeding period. The calving interval, artificial insemination, and duration from calving to conception were longer in the rice straw group than in the tall fescue group. The 305-day and peak milk yields were significantly higher in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group (p<0.01). Milk fat content was significantly higher in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group (p<0.001), but milk protein content was the same between the feeding groups. The difference in raw milk sales income between rice straw and tall fescue groups tended to increase as the number of lactations increased, but there was no effect of reduced feed costs. Analysis of the milk production and raw milk sales income of the surveyed farms revealed that the average milk production per head was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group, and raw milk sales income showed a similar tendency. Overall, these results provide important details to be considered when selecting feed as a way to reduce milk production and heifer raising costs. However, there remains a need for future follow-up studies exploring the relationship between feed choice and the management of heifers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.2.1-2.10
• /
• 2016

Background: Heat stress adversely affects the physiological and metabolic status, and the productive performance of buffalo. Methods: The present study was conducted to explicate the effect of misting and wallowing cooling strategies during heat stress in lactating Murrah buffalo. The study was conducted for three months (May-July) of which first two months were hot dry and last month was hot humid. Eighteen lactating buffaloes, offered the same basal diet, were blocked by days in milk, milk yield and parity, and then randomly allocated to three treatments: negative control (no cooling), cooling by misting, and cooling by wallowing. Results: The results showed higher (P < 0.05) milk yield in buffaloes of misting and wallowing group compared to control during the experimental period however wallowing was found more (P < 0.05) effective during July (hot humid period). Both the treatments resulted into significant (P < 0.05) reduction in rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) compared to control animals during study period whereas wallowing was found to be effective on pulse rate (PR) only during July. Both treatments were resulted in mitigating the heat stress mediated decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), lymphocytopnoea and neutrophilia whereas decrease in total erythrocyte count (TEC) and monocytes was only mitigated by wallowing. Heat load induced alteration in serum creatinine and sodium concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated by misting and wallowing whereas aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase activity, and reactive oxygen species concentration could be normalized neither by misting nor by wallowing. The significant (P < 0.05) increment in serum cortisol and prolactin levels observed in June and July period in control animals was significantly (P < 0.05) prevented by misting and wallowing. Conclusions: It can be concluded that misting and wallowing were equally effective in May and June (hot dry period) whereas wallowing was more effective during hot humid period in preventing a decline in milk production and maintaining physiological, metabolic, endocrine and redox homeostasis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.1529-1534
• /
• 2004

The nutritive value of lentil straw (Lens culinaris) relative to 4% urea treated wheat straw (w/w) was assessed in adult bucks and milking buffaloes on-station and on-farm, respectively. A digestion-cum-nitrogen balance experiment was conducted with three bucks (24.35 kg) fed ad libitum lentil straw (LS), urea treated wheat straw (UTS) and a 1:1 (w/w DM basis) mixture of LS and UTS (LS:UTS) in a 3$\times$3 Latin square design. Though daily dry matter intake (g kg $W^{0.75}$ or % LW) of bucks fed LS and UTS did not differ significantly, that of LS:UTS was significantly (p<0.05) low. Similarly, digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM and CP) and nitrogen balance (g/day) did not differ significantly for bucks given LS or UTS although a significant positive improvement was evident in these parameters for LS:UTS. The digestibility of fibre fractions (NDF and ADF) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in LS as compared to UTS or LS:UTS. Except for the significantly (p<0.05) lower intake of DCP (g kg$W^{0.75}$), the bucks fed LS had statistically similar nutrient intake as compared to UTS. Feeding of LS:UTS resulted in significantly higher nutrient (DCP, TDN) intake by bucks. The important blood-biochemical parameters (haemoglobin,packed cell volume, glucose, urea nitrogen, total protein) and activity of serum enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) did not differ significantly in goats irrespective of dietary treatment. In the onfarm study, eighteen multiparous milking buffaloes were randomly assigned into three equal groups to assess the relative effect of feeding untreated wheat straw (WS), UTS and LS:UTS ad libitum as basal feed with a supplement. The study continued for 3 months and revealed that daily dry matter intake and average milk production (liters/day) by buffaloes offered LS:UTS and UTS was statistically similar but it was significantly higher compare to WS. However, milk composition did not differ significantly among the dietary treatments. It may be concluded that the nutritive value of lentil straw appeared to be no different to UTS, however, a positive synergistic effect was evident by feeding a mixture of LS and UTS on performance of goats and lactating buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.357-364
• /
• 2014

The study evaluated replacement of Egyptian berseem clover (BC, Trifolium alexandrinum) with spent rice straw (SRS) of Pleurotus ostreatus basidiomycete in diets of lactating Baladi goats. Nine lactating homo-parity Baladi goats (average BW $23.8{\pm}0.4$ kg) at 7 d postpartum were used in a triplicate $3{\times}3$ Latin square design with 30 d experimental periods. Goats were fed a basal diet containing 0 (Control), 0.25 (SRS25) and 0.45 (SRS45) (w/w, DM basis) of SRS. The Control diet was berseem clover and concentrate mixture (1:1 DM basis). The SRS45 had lowered total feed intake and forages intake compared to Control. The SRS25 and SRS45 rations had the highest digestibilities of DM (p = 0.0241) and hemicellulose (p = 0.0021) compared to Control which had higher (p<0.01) digestibilities of OM (p = 0.0002) and CP (p = 0.0005) than SRS25 and SRS45. Ruminal pH and microbial protein synthesis were higher (p<0.0001) for SRS25 and SRS45 than Control, which also had the highest (p<0.0001) concentration of TVFA, total proteins, non-protein N, and ammonia-N. All values of serum constituents were within normal ranges. The Control ration had higher serum globulin (p = 0.0148), creatinine (p = 0.0150), glucose (p = 0.0002) and cholesterol (p = 0.0016). Both Control and SRS25 groups had the highest (p<0.05) milk (p = 0.0330) and energy corrected milk (p = 0.0290) yields. Fat content was higher (p = 0.0373) with SRS45 and SRS25 groups compared with Control. Replacement of BC with SRS in goat rations increased milk levels of conjugated linoleic acid and unsaturated fatty acids compared with Control. It was concluded that replacing 50% of Egyptian berseem clover with SRS in goat rations improved their productive performance without marked effects on metabolic indicators health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.677-684
• /
• 2008

Accurate estimation of dry matter intake (DMI) is a prerequisite to meet animal performance targets without penalizing animal health and the environment. The objective of the current study was to evaluate some of the existing models in order to predict DMI when lactating dairy cows were offered a total mixed ration containing a high level of concentrates and locally produced agricultural by-products. Six popular models were chosen for DMI prediction (Brown et al., 1977; Rayburn and Fox, 1993; Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, 1999; National Research Council (NRC), 2001; Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), Fox et al., 2003; Fuentes-Pila et al., 2003). Databases for DMI comparison were constructed from two different sources: i) 12 commercial farm investigations and ii) a controlled dairy cow experiment. The model evaluation was performed using two different methods: i) linear regression analysis and ii) mean square error prediction analysis. In the commercial farm investigation, DMI predicted by Fuentes-Pila et al. (2003) was the most accurate when compared with the actual mean DMI, whilst the CNCPS prediction showed larger mean bias (difference between mean predicted and mean observed values). Similar results were observed in the controlled dairy cow experiment where the mean bias by Fuentes-Pila et al. (2003) was the smallest of all six chosen models. The more accurate prediction by Fuentes-Pila et al. (2003) could be attributed to the inclusion of dietary factors, particularly fiber as these factors were not considered in some models (i.e. NRC, 2001; CNCPS (Fox et al., 2003)). Linear regression analysis had little meaningful biological significance when evaluating models for prediction of DMI in this study. Further research is required to improve the accuracy of the models, and may recommend more mechanistic approaches to investigate feedstuffs (common to the Asian region), animal genotype, environmental conditions and their interaction, as the majority of the models employed are based on empirical approaches.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.1104-1113
• /
• 2014

The effects of feeding pelleted citrus pulp (PCP) as a natural antioxidant source on the performance and milk quality of dairy cows fed highly polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) diets were evaluated. Four lactating Holstein cows were assigned to a $4{\times}4$ Latinsquare. Treatments, on a dry matter (DM) basis, were i) control diet; ii) 3% soybean oil; iii) 3% soybean oil and 9% PCP and; iv) 3% soybean oil and 18% PCP. When cows fed on citrus pulp, the DM intake tended to decrease. The total tract apparent digestibility of DM and ether extract decreased when cows fed on the control diet compared to other diets. Cows fed PCP had higher polyphenols and flavonoids content and higher total ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) in milk compared to those fed no pelleted citrus pulp. Cows fed 18% PCP showed higher monounsaturated FA and lower saturated FA in milk fat compared with cows fed the other diets. The lowest n-6 FA proportion was in milk fat from cows fed control. The present study suggests that pelleted citrus pulp added to 9% to 18% DM increases total polyphenols and flavonoids concentration, and the FRAP in milk.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of dried and ground foliage of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) on feed intake and utilization, and production performance of crossbred lactating cows. Methods: Eighteen lactating crossbred (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) cows (body weight $330.93{\pm}10.82kg$) at their second and mid lactation (milk yield $6.77{\pm}0.54kg/d$) were randomly divided into three groups of six each in a completely randomized block design. Three supplements were formulated by quantitatively replacing 0, 50, and 100 per cent of dietary wheat bran of concentrate mixture with dried and ground foliage of black gram. The designated supplement was fed to each group with basal diet of rice straw (ad libitum) to meet the requirements for maintenance and milk production. Daily feed intake and milk yield was recorded. A digestion trial was conducted to determine the total tract digestibility of various nutrients. Results: The daily feed intake was increased (p<0.05) with the supplementation of black gram foliage. Although the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and ether extract did not vary (p>0.05), the fibre digestibility was increased (p<0.05), which ultimately improved (p<0.05) the total digestible nutrients content of composite diet. Although, the average milk yield (kg/animal/d) and composition did not differ (p>0.05) among the groups, milk yield was increased by 10 per cent with total replacement of wheat bran in concentrate mixture with of black gram foliage. The economics of milk production calculated as feed cost per kg milk yield (INR 10.61 vs 7.98) was reduced by complete replacement of wheat bran with black gram foliage. Conclusion: Black gram foliage could be used as complete replacement for wheat bran in concentrate mixture of dairy cows in formulating least cost ration for economic milk production in small holders' animal production.