• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.510-521
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• 1998

The effects of two types of protein, soybean meal (SBM) and fish meal (FM); and two types of energy supplements, corn flour (CF) and paper pulp (PP), on intake of guinea grass (Panicum maximum), fibre digestion and microbial activities in four Merino rams with an average weight of $54.4{\pm}4.5kg$ were studied. Each animal was fitted with a ruminal cannula and a duodenal cannula at the proximal position. The animals were fed twice daily with chopped guinea grass (5 cm) ad libitum and one of the four dietary supplements: 170 g FM+268 g PP; 170 g FM+268 g CF; 200 g SBM+200 g PP or 200 g SBM+200 g CF. All the supplements were mixed with 100 g molasses. In sacco and in vivo digestibilities, digesta flow rates, fermentation and microbial population were studied in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design with a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. The effects of energy or protein sources were not significant on grass intake of sheep. The potential degradabilities of NDF and ADF were not significantly affected by any of the supplements. However, the energy and protein sources had significant efects on disappearance rate of NDF and ADF. The disappearance rate of both NDF and ADF were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in animals fed PP when compared to animals fed CF. Animals fed FM also showed significantly (p < 0.03) higher disappearance rate of ADF than those fed SBM. Animals fed PP showed better digestion in the rumen and total tract. Total flow of NDF and ADF through the duodenum was not significantly affected by the various supplements. The mean rumen pH values (5.8-6.1) were not significantly different among the four different diets. The concentration of rumen ammonia was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in animals fed SBM (235-266.4 mg N/L) supplement than in animals fed FM (174.9-179.7 mg N/L), while total VFA concentration was not significantly affected by both energy and protein supplements. Mean values of total VFA ranged from 72.5-82.3 mM. Molar proportions of acetate, propionate and butyrate were typical of a roughage type fermentation. Molar proportion of acetate was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in sheep fed PP when compared to sheep fed CF. Animals fed FM had higher total viable bacterial counts, while animals fed CF showed higher protozoal numbers. Proportions of cellulolytic bacteria were only slightly higher in animals fed SBM or PP.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2001

The effect of dietary supplementation of sodium salt of isobutyric acid in low protein (10% CP) wheat straw based diet on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation was studied in ruminally fistulated male crossbred cattle. The study included a 7 day metabolism and a 3 day rumen fermentation trials. The cattle were distributed into two equal groups of 4 each. The animals of control group were fed a basal diet consisting of wheat straw, concentrate mixture and green maize fodder in 40:40:20 proportion whereas branched chain volatile fatty acid (BCFA) supplemented group received a basal diet + isobutyric acid at 0.75 percent of basal diet. The duration of study was 36 days. The feed intake between experimental groups did not differ significantly and the average total DMI (% BW) was 2.01 and $2.28kg\;day^{-1}$ in control and BCFA supplemented diets. The dietary supplementation of BCFA improved (p<0.05) the DM, OM, NDF and cellulose digestibility by 4.46, 6.63, 10.57 and 11.31 per cent over those fed control diet. The total N retention on BCFA supplementation was improved (p<0.01) due to decreased (p<0.05) urinary N excretion. The concentrations of ruminal total N was 37.07 and $34.77mg\;100ml^{-1}$ in control and BCFA fed groups, respectively. Dietary supplementation BCFA significantly (p<0.01) reduced the ruminal ammonia N concentration as compared to control and the mean values ($mg\;100ml^{-1}$) were 13.18 and 9.42 in control and BCFA fed groups. The total VFA concentration was higher (p<0.01) in BCFA supplemented group (101.14 mM) than the control (93.05 mM). Among the VFAs, the molar proportion of acetate was higher (p<0.01) in BCFA supplemented group (71.07 mM) as compared to control (64.98 mM). However, the concentration of propionate and butyrate remained unchanged. Amino acids composition of bacterial hydrolysates was similar in both the groups. Ruminal outflow rate of liquid digesta was higher (p<0.01) in BCFA fed group ($67.56l\;day^{-1}$) than control ($52.73l\;day^{-1}$). It is concluded that the dietary supplementation of Na-salt of isobutyric acid in low protein diet improved the nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1659-1666
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) and Gliricidia sepium (gliricidia) supplementation on intake, digestion, outflow rates, microbial protein yield and live-weight changes in sheep fed with ammoniated rice straw (ARS). In experiment 1, three rumen cannulated Japanese Corriedale wether (mean body weight of 35.6 kg) in $3{\times}3$ Latin Square Design were used. Animals were fed ad libitum ARS alone, or supplemented with 200 g of either leucaena or gliricidia. In experiment 2, twenty-four growing native Philippine sheep with average body weight of $13.5{\pm}0.25kg$ were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) and offered similar diets to those of experiment 1. Supplementation increased total dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility except for fiber (p<0.05) without affecting ARS consumption. Nitrogen balance revealed that absorbed and retained N was significantly higher in leucaena and gliricidia. The significant improvement in N utilization and more digestible OM intake brought about by the inclusion of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS resulted in increased (p<0.05) microbial N yield. Efficiency of microbial N supply in supplemented group was not significantly different, but higher (p<0.05) than the 24.92 g N/kg DOMR for ARS group. Liquid outflow rate was 7.8 and 6.8 %/h, while the solid phase of rumen digesta was 4.4 and 3.8 %/h for the leucaena and gliricidia group respectively, which were significantly higher than 5.30 and 2.50 %/h in the control diet. The increase in total DMI resulted to higher (p<0.01) growth performance and efficient feed utilization. Average daily gain (ADG) was 19.3, 34.6 and 33.9 g/d for the ARS, leucaena and gliricidia respectively. It is therefore concluded that addition of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS in could increase nutrient intake and digestibility, subsequently improving N utilization and livestock performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.273-277
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• 1994

A $3{\times}3$ latin square design experiment was conducted to study eating and rumination behavior in sheep fed rice straw (RS) supplemented with soybean meal (SBM) and barley at three different levels of crude protein: low (40 g CP/d, LCP), medium (67 g/d, MCP) and high (94 g/d, HCP). In addition, all the supplements were formulated to contain the same amount of total digestible nutrients (TDN; 275 g). Daily time spent eating and eating rate of RS were not affected by any supplementation. However, time spent ruminating in sheep fed HCP diet was markedly shorter (p<0.05) than in those fed LCP and MCP diets. Rumination index (ruminating time/100 g DM intake) was also significantly reduced (p<0.05) by increasing level of protein supplementation. Although no significant differences were observed, the daily number of rumination periods tended to be lower, while daily number of boli regurgitated was considerably higher in sheep fed HCP diet than in those fed LCP and MCP diets. Increasing level of protein supplementation did not affect the number of chews per bolus, bolus time and rate of chewing during rumination. It is suggested that increasing level of protein supplementation was associated with more effective microbial reduction of rumen digesta particle size and consequently reduced the time spent ruminating.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1374-1388
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• 2007

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the hypothesis that cows grazing on pasture produce the highest proportion of c-9 t-11 CLA in milk fat and no further increase can be achieved through supplementation of diets rich in linoleic acid, such as full-fat extruded soybeans or soybean oil. In experiment 1, 18 lactating Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design with measurements made from wk 4 to 6 of the experiment. In experiment 2, three cannulated lactating Holstein cows were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. Each period was 4 wk with measurements made in the final wk of each period. Cows in both experiments were assigned at random to treatments: a, conventional total mixed ration (TMR); b, pasture (PS); or c, PS supplemented with 2.5 kg/cow per day of full-fat extruded soybeans (PES). In both experiments, feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, and fatty acid profile of milk and blood serum were measured, along with fatty acid composition of bacteria harvested from rumen digesta in experiment 2. In experiment 3, 10 cows which had continuously grazed a pasture for six weeks were assigned to two groups, with one group (n = 5) on pasture diet alone (PS) and the other group (n = 5) supplemented with 452 g of soy oil/cow per day for 7 d (OIL). In experiment 1, cows in PS treatment produced 350% more c-9, t-11 CLA compared with cows in TMR treatment (1.70 vs. 0.5% of fat), with no further increase for cows in PES treatment (1.50% of fat). Serum c-9, t-11 CLA increased by 233% in PS treatment compared with TMR treatment (0.21 vs. 0.09% of fat) with no further increase for cows in PES treatment (0.18% of fat). In experiment 2, cows in PS treatment produced 300% more c-9 t-11 CLA in their milk fat compared with cows in TMR treatment (1.77 vs. 0.59% of fat), but no further increase for cows in PES treatment (1.84% of fat) was observed. Serum c-9, t-11 CLA increased by 250% for cows in PS treatment compared with cows in TMR treatment (0.27 vs. 0.11% of fat), with no further increase for cows in PES treatment (0.31% of fat). The c-9, t-11 CLA content of ruminal bacteria for cows in PS treatment was 200% or more of TMR treatment, but no further increase in bacterial c-9, t-11 CLA for cows in PES treatment was observed. Supplementation of soy oil in experiment 3 also did not increase the c-9 t-11 CLA content of milk fat compared with cows fed a full pasture diet (1.60 vs. 1.54% of fat). Based on these findings, it was concluded that supplementing with feeds rich in linoleic acid, such as full-fat extruded soybeans or an equivalent amount of soy oil, to cows grazing perennial ryegrass pasture may not increase milk fat c-9 t-11 CLA contents.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.387-396
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• 2003

This experiment was carried out to compare the effects of feeding commercial formula feed and rice straw separately (control) versus a total mixed ration (TMR) on productivity of Hanwoo steers in late stage of fattening and on ruminal fermentation characteristics and digestibilities. Ruminal digesta from the cannulated cattle were sampled at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 hour after feeding. The steers fed TMR consumed 7.4kg per day and there was no difference between feeding systems. Daily weight gain was not significantly (P>0.05) between feeding systems, however, TMR group showed lower daily gain than control group. The amount of feed consumption per kg weight gain was higher in TMR group than control group (10.5kg and 9.7kg, respectively), resulting in a greater efficiency of feed utilization for gain. In the result of appearance rates of quality grade A were 33% higher for TMR group than those in control group. Appearance rates of grade 1 showed 56% and 75% when fed the control and TMR, respectively. Digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and gross energy for TMR treatment were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those of control. Prior to feeding (0 h) and each subsequent hour, the TMR resulted in higher rumen pH (P<0.05) when compared with control ration. The concentration of NH3-N for TMR treatment maintained at higher level up to 8hr after feeding, especially increased up to 28.2mg/$d\ell$ during 1-2 hour which was two times (P<0.05) more than control. The amount of total VFA showed same trends between feeding systems. However, the ratios of branched chained fatty acid such as iso-butyric acid and iso-valeric acid for TMR treatment were significantly(P<0.01) higher than control for 3-5hr. Results showed that TMR in these trials is effective feeding system for fattening Hanwoo steers in the respect of ruminal characteristics, total tract digestibility and productivities.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.20-34
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• 2002

This study was conducted to examine the effects of an Aspergillus oryzae fermentation culture on the in vitro digestibilities of dry matter, crude fiber, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein, and pH in in vitro experiment of diets for dairy cows. A fungal species, Aspergillus oryzae was supplied by Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea (KCTC 1229). The experimental diets were commercial compound feed (concentrate) and total mixed ration (TMR) for lactating cows, of which chemical analyses were determined at Research and Development Institute, Woosung Feed Co., Ltd., while the digestibilities were done at the laboratory of Chungnam National University. Aspergillus oryzae culture products were added to compound feed and TMR at the rate of 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0% respectively. The experimental diet with the rumen fluid sampled from Holstein fresian milking cows were used and digested for 24 hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs in the shaking incubator. The residues of the digesta were digested for 48hrs in the incubator in which put 30ml of 0.1N HCl with 0.2% pepsin at $39^{\circ}C$. The final precipitates were dried for 48hrs in the drier at $60^{\circ}C$. These experimental procedures were triplicated to determine the in vitro digestibility of dry matter, crude fiber, ADF, NDF, crude protein and pH. Compared to control diet, not added Aspergillus oryzae, the DM digestibility of fungal diets were improved 2.1%(63.1%), 9.7%(68.5%) and 9.0%(68.0%) for 24 hour fermentation in compound feed while 4.8%(60.0%), 6.4%(61.1%) and 2.9%(58.8%) in TMR. On the contrary, for 48 hour and 72 hour digestibilities, the effects of Aspergillus oryzae culture on the digestibility of dry matter were relatively lowered compared to 24 hour digestibility. Referring to the digestibility of dietary fiber, Aspergillus oryzae was believed to significantly improve digestibilities of crude fiber, ADF and NDF. Those were increased up to 13.3%(53.3%) for 24 hour fermentation, while 2.4%(54.6%) for 3.0% added for 72 hour fermentation in compound feed. However, there were no significant differences among the treatments for the inclusion rate of Aspergillus oryzae, even though the more inclusion rate, the better digestibility. The protein digestibilities were significantly improved from 0.4%(79.7%) to 9.4%(71.8%) by adding Aspergillus oryzae into compound feed. However, there were no significant differences between the two experimental diets, 2.0% and 3.0% Aspergillus oryzae included diets. In case of TMR, the protein digestibilities were significantly improved from 4.0%(70.4%) to 6.3%(65.1%) by adding Aspergillus oryzae. However, there were no significant differences between the two experimental diets, 2.0% and 3.0% Aspergillus oryzae included diets. In this study, there were no significant differences among the treatments in pH. On the contrary, there were slightly decrease in pH by adding Aspergillus oryzae into experimental diets but not significant. Summarizing the results of this examination, Aspergillus oryzae fermentation culture is believed to improve the digestibilities of dry matter, fiber and crude protein in cattle diets. However, more detailed research for the mechanism of the fungal culture is required to improve ruminal environment.