• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1469-1475
• /
• 2010

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of methods of feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) on behavior patterns of growing Hanwoo steers. A total of 15 growing steers (13 months old) were assigned to the control (fed roughage and concentrate mix separately), TMR1 (fed restricted TMR), and TMR2 (fed TMR ad libitum) groups. Individual behaviors of steers were observed for 48 hours. Compared with the control, feeding restricted TMR (TMR1) resulted in short eating time, long ruminating time, short chewing time, high frequencies of defecation, urination, and drinking of water, great numbers of boluses and chews, long ruminating time per bolus, low feed value index, high eating and chewing efficiencies (p<0.05). Compared with feeding restricted TMR (TMR1), feeding TMR ad libitum (TMR2) resulted in 1.2 kg more daily feed DM intake, long eating and chewing times, short resting time, great frequencies of defecation, urination and drinking of water, more numbers of boluses and chews, long ruminating time per bolus, low feed value index, low eating and high ruminating efficiencies (p<0.05) and similar chewing efficiency (p>0.05). Considering all these results, the wet TMR feeding system induced generally more desirable eating and ruminating behaviors of growing Hanwoo steers, but made the barn floor wetter due to more defecation and urination.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.295-305
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Recent research showed that total mixed ration (TMR) feeding for pigs improved the productivity and reduced feed cost and manure odor. An automatic TMR feeding system was developed for this study because the conventional feeder cannot deliver the TMR containing roughage. Methods: Conventional feeding systems and physical properties of TMR were surveyed, and performance tests of the conventional feeder were conducted to develop a TMR feeder. Based on the TMR feeder was developed and installed, driving, measuring weight, radio frequency identification (RFID) reading, and discharging test for feeding were conducted to ensure the performance. Results: Moisture content, density, and angle of repose of the TMR 1 (mixture of 30% cut IRG silage and 70% concentrates) were 31.6%, 387 $kg/m^3$, and $51^{\circ}$, respectively. Moisture content, density, and angle of repose of the TMR 2 (mixture of 45% concentrates, 30% cut IRG silage and by-products, 10% bean curd refuse, 10% others, and 5% fermenter) were 22.2%, 544 $kg/m^3$, and $50^{\circ}$, respectively. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) of conventional concentrate feeding were 1.9~4.1%, and C.V. of TMR containing 1~3% cut IRG roughage feeding by conventional feeder were 9~42%. The conventional disc type feeder was not suitable for TMR feeding because the supply unit was clogged. The C.V. of TMR 1 was 0.6~7.9% when 0.5~10 kg of the TMR supplied, and it was suitable for feeding grow-finish pigs and sows. On the contrary, the C.V. with TMR 2 was 28% when 0.5 kg of the TMR supplied, and it was not suitable for feeding sows. Conclusions: The TMR feeder developed in this study was suitable for feeding grow-finish pigs because the feeder performed stably with over 5.0 kg feed. However, the feeder showed a lack of accuracy for feeding sows because the amount of each feed was more than 0.5 kg per a feeding. Therefore, the improvement of outlet structure for accurate feeding is needed for sow feeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.1482-1486
• /
• 2003

In order to compare effects of feeding systems on rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrient digestion, steers were fed either total mixed ration (TMR) or separate concentrate-roughage ration (CR). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was higher in steers receiving TMR. Especially, DM, ADF and NDF in TMR were digested to a greater extent than those in CR. Rumen pH was not influenced by the feeding systems. Holstein steers on TMR had higher ruminal $NH_3$-N than those on CR. Feeding system did not alter VFA production but TMR feeding resulted in lower A/P ratio. TMR feeding tended to increase the number of bacteria and protozoa in the rumen fluid. Also steers fed TMR generally had higher fiber degrading enzyme activities, which might be the result of increased number of cellulolytic microbes in the rumen of animals on TMR. Our results indicate that TMR may provide more favorable condition for nutrient digestion both in the rumen and in the total tract of steers.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.433-450
• /
• 2002

The daily food intake for dairy cows has to be effectively controlled to breed a sound group of cows as well as to enhance the productivity of the cows. But, feed stuffs are fed in the common bulk for a group of cows in most cases despite that the individual food intake has to be varied. To obtain the feed for each cow, both the nutrient requirements and the nutrient composition of fred have to be provided in advance, which are based on the status of cows such as weigh marginal weight amount of milk, fat concentration in milk, growth and milking stages, and rough feed ratio, etc. Then, the mixed ration fur diet would be computed by the nutrient requirements constraints. However, when TMR (Total Mixed Ration) is conventionally supplied for a group of cows, it is almost impossible to get an optimal feed mixed ration meeting the nutrient requirements of each individual cow since the constraints are usually conflicting and over-constrained although they are linear. Hence, addressed in this paper is a simulated annealing (SA) technique to find the food intake for dairy cows, considering the characteristics of individual or grouped cows. Appropriate parameters fur the successful working of SA are determined through preliminary experiments. The parameters include initial temperature, epoch length. cooling scheduling, and stopping criteria. In addition, a neighborhood solution generation method for the effective improvement of solutions is presented. Experimental results show that the final solution for the mixture of feed fits the rough feed ratio and some other nutrient requirements such as rough fiber, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber, with 100 percent, while fulfilling net energy for lactating, metabolic energy, total digestible nutrients, crude protein, and undegraded intake protein within average five percent.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.741-748
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of total mixed rations (TMR) containing rice grain in an in vitro rumen fermentation system. Three types of grains (corn, wheat, and rice), timothy, and soybean meal (SBM) were used to prepare the experimental TMR: Corn TMR, Wheat TMR, and Rice TMR. The rumen fermentation characteristics of all the experimental TMRs were evaluated by an in vitro anaerobic system using rumen fluid for 24 and 48 h. The digestibility of the nutrients (dry matter [DM], crude protein [CP], and neutral detergent fiber [NDF]), pH, ammonia ($NH_3-N$), and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were determined. Rice TMR showed a higher DM digestibility than that of the Corn TMR at 48 h (p < 0.05). In all treatments, the CP digestibility was more than 80% at 48 h, but no significant differences were observed among the treatments. The NDF digestibility tended to be the lowest in the Wheat TMR (p = 0.06), and the pH tended to be the lowest in the Rice TMR (p = 0.09) among the treatments for the 48 h incubation. The Wheat TMR had the highest $NH_3-N$ concentration among the treatments (p < 0.01). Rice TMR had a lowest total VFA concentration among the treatments (p = 0.05) at 24 h, but no significant differences were observed at 48 h. Based on this in vitro result, it was considered that a rice grain has the potential to replace conventional grain ingredients when the TMR was formulated.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.375-383
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of sex, environmental factors, and feeding system on the carcass traits of Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle). Data were collected from 7,866 heads slaughtered in Chungnam province during one-year period. Using the collected carcass traits data which greatly influence a Hanwoo's carcass grade, the effects of sex class, slaughter season, and feeding system were estimated. Backfat thickness of steers was significantly higher than that of bulls (p < 0.05). Marbling score was also the highest in steers when compared with cows and bulls (p < 0.05). Live weight and carcass weight were significantly higher in winter than in summer (p < 0.05). However, backfat thickness was significantly lower in summer than in other seasons (p < 0.05). Marbling score was higher in spring and fall than in summer and winter (p < 0.05). In terms of feeding systems, TMR (Total mixed ration) and TMF (Total mixed fermentation feed) fed groups showed the highest carcass grade (p < 0.05). However, the group fed TMR and formula feed at the final fattening period showed the lowest performance (p < 0.05) and it is assumed that some stress was associated to the feed change. The results reconfirm that castration may be recommended in order to improve meat quality and marbling scores in bulls. There was no consistent trend of seasonal effects of slaughter on carcass traits although some traits were significantly affected. Regarding the feeding system, either TMR or TMF can be supplied to achieve high feed efficiency and good carcass characteristics in Hanwoo.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.119-127
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Fermented feedstuffs have been found to improve productivity, reduce manure odor, and increase immunity. However, because there is not a commercialized pelletizing system for fermented total mixed ration (TMR) for pig feeding in Korea, a pelletizing system using TMR fermented feed was developed. Methods: The particle size, density, and volumetric density of the TMR feeds used in the test were measured. The pellet durability index (PDI, %) value of the pelletized TMR feed based on its moisture content, and the amount of pellet production based on the rotation speed of the compression roller were measured. Results: The test materials, TMR1 and TMR2, were approximately compressed to 387 kg/m3 with 18.2% (w.b.) and 544 kg/m3 with 22.2% (w.b.), respectively. Throughout this pellet molding test, the moisture content from 15 to 20% (w.b.) of mixture feedstuffs, including fermented forage, could be used for pellet molding. Based on the results, a small-scale pellet molding system of fermented TMR was designed and manufactured for pig farms. As rotation speed increased, the throughput increased, whereas the moisture content decreased by approximately 2% (w.b.) because of pellet molding. The best yield of pellets with 94.2% PDI was of 536 kg/h at 135 rpm rotation speed. Conclusions: Although the throughput of the prototype increased as the rotation speed increased, it was difficult to operate because of the greater noise and the lower PDI (%) at the higher rotation speed of the pellet molding rotor. It was found that the best production of pellets using the prototype was 536 kg/h having a PDI of 94.2% or more at a rotation speed of 135 rpm.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.607-616
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding a total mixed ration(TMR) of broiler litter(BL) and bakery by-product(BB) with additional BL or rice straw incorporated at 10% of dietary DM as a roughage source on behavior pattern, nutrient intake, digestibility, digestible nutrient intake, ruminal and blood parameters, and N balance of sheep. All the treatment diets were formulated to be isoenergetic[total digestible nutrients(TDN) 66.9%]. Compared with the conventional formulated feed - rice straw feeding system(control), feeding TMR with BL(T1) or rice straw(T2) at 10% of dietary DM resulted in reduced eating, ruminating and total chewing time(P<0.05), similar DM intake, low(P<0.05) digestible DM, OM, fiber and total nutrients intake, low(P<0.05) nutrients digestibilities except EE, similar ruminal characteristics(pH, VFA concentrations and ratios, efficiency of carbohydrate fermentation, NH3-N), and favorable N digestion and retention. There were no differences in the above parameters between T1 and T2 with the exception of increased(P<0.05) eating, ruminating and total chewing time for T2. These results suggested that a TMR of BL and BB with or without rice straw may replace the conventional formulated feed and rice straw in ruminant diets successfully and furthermore feeding the TMR with rice straw made sheep behavior pattern more favorable.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.63 no.4
• /
• pp.841-853
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Kimchi cabbage by-products either treated or untreated with calcium oxide (CaO) and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) as substitutional ingredient of total mixed ration (TMR) on in vitro fermentation, in situ disappearance and growth performance of Holstein steers. Cannulated Holstein (600 ± 47 kg) was used for both the in vitro and in situ experiments. The treatments used were TMR only (CON), TMR + 30% Kimchi cabbage by-products fresh matter (FM) basis (TC), TMR + 30% Kimchi cabbage by-products FM basis + 5% CaO FM basis (TCC), and TMR + 30% Kimchi cabbage by-products FM basis + 5% CaO FM basis + 3.22% AHP FM basis (TCCA). For in vivo experiment, thirty-four Holstein steers (273 ± 45 kg) were subjected to a 150-day feeding trial, divided into two groups: CON and TC. In the in vitro experiment, pH of TCCA was greatest (p < 0.05) among other treatments at all incubation times. Ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acid concentrations were not significantly different for each treatment. However, butyrate was greater (p < 0.05) in TCC and CON than in both TC and TCCA. During in situ experiment, the dry matter (DM) disappearance was greatest (p < 0.05) in TCCA among other treatments. Also, disappearance of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were observed greatest (p > 0.05) in TCCA treatment. In the in vivo experiment, average daily gain (ADG) did not differ between CON and TC. In blood profile analysis, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total protein concentration were not significantly different between treatments. But, creatinine concentration was greater (p < 0.05) in TC than in CON. Overall results suggest that Kimchi cabbage by-products either treated or untreated with CaO and AHP can be used as substitutional ingredient in TMR for Holstein steers.

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