Eight ruminally, duodenally, and ileally fistulated sheep were used to study the effects of protozoa on ruminal fermentation and starch digestion in the rumen and intestines. The experimental diet (75% grain DM basis) was based on a mixture of 67% high-moisture corn (HMC) and 33% dry-rolled grain sorghum (DRGS). Protozoa were reduced from 51,286 to 13,987 organisms/mL of ruminal fluid by feeding a diet (13 d) containing 9% tallow and monensin at 27 mg/kg (DM basis). Three sheep were defaunated by intraruminal infusions of lactic acid (20 to 30 g/d) and one sheep by washing the rumen and heating ruminal contents (60 degrees C for 20 min). No differences were observed in DM or starch intake, ruminal fluid pH, lactate concentration, or total tract starch digestibility. Molar proportion of acetate was reduced (48.6 vs 58.3%; P < .01) and propionate was increased (32.2 vs 23.4%; P < .03) by defaunation. Total VFA tended (P = .20) to be lower in faunated sheep (118.5 vs 139.2 mM). In situ rate of starch digestion of HMC (22.3 vs 14.7 %/h; P < .02) and DRGS (5.1 vs 3.3 %/h; P < .009) was increased by defaunation. Starch digestibility (percentage of intake) in the rumen was increased (P < .001) by defaunation (84.2 vs 93.7%) and was reduced (P < .002) in the small intestine (5.2 vs 13.6%). Defaunation increased (P < .03) amylolytic activity (.40 vs .17 units/mg of protein; P < .03) and osmotic pressure (321 vs 245 mOsm/kg; P < .006).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eight Holstein steers with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a split-plot design experiment to evaluate the interaction of body weight (175 vs. 370 kg) and level of fat supplementation (0, 3, 6, and 9% yellow grease) on characteristics of digestion and feeding value of fat in finishing diets. Dry matter intake was restricted to 2% of BW. There were no interactions between BW and level of fat supplementation (P > 0.10) on ruminal or total-tract digestion. Level of supplemental fat decreased (linear, P < 0.01) ruminal digestion of OM and NDF, and increased (linear, P < 0.05) ruminal N efficiency. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.10) on postruminal digestion of OM, NDF, and N. There tended to be an interaction (P < 0.10) between BW and level of fat supplementation on postruminal starch digestion. Increasing level of fat supplementation increased postruminal digestion of starch in heavier steers but did not affect starch digestion in lighter steers. There were no interactions (P > 0.10) between BW and level of fat supplementation on postruminal fatty acid digestion. Increasing level of fat supplementation decreased (linear, P < 0.01) postruminal fatty acid digestion, which was due to a decreased (linear, P < 0.01) postruminal digestion of C16:0 and C18:0. Supplemental fat decreased (linear, P < 0.01) total-tract digestion of OM and NDF. The estimated NEm (Mcal/kg) of yellow grease averaged (linear, P < 0.01) 6.02, 5.70, and 5.06 for the 3, 6, and 9% of level supplementation, respectively. We conclude that intestinal fatty acid digestion (FAD, %) is a predictable function (r2 = 0.89; P < 0.01) of total fatty acid intake per unit body weight (FAI, g/kg BW): FAD = 87.560 - 8.591FAI. Depressions in fatty acid digestion with increasing level of intake were due primarily to decreased intestinal absorption of palmitic and stearic acid. Level of fatty acids intake did not appreciably affect intestinal absorption of unsaturated fatty acid. Changes in intestinal fatty acid digestion accounted for most of the variation in the NE value of supplemental fat.

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of a directly fed exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on intake and digestion of DM, OM, protein, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose of alfalfa and ryegrass hay by sheep. Four diets were randomly assigned to four ruminally cannulated lambs using a 4 x 4 Latin square design, repeated in time, with a factorial arrangement (2 x 2) of diets: 1) alfalfa hay; 2) alfalfa hay + exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (enzyme); 3) ryegrass hay; and 4) ryegrass hay + enzyme. Lambs consumed more DM and OM from alfalfa than from ryegrass hay (P < 0.001). The ADF intake was not different between the hays, but NDF intake was lower for alfalfa (P < 0.001). For both hays, the enzyme increased intake of DM (P < 0.01), as well as OM and CP (P < 0.05); however, NDF and ADF intake were not changed. Alfalfa hay had higher apparent digestibility of DM, OM, and CP (P < 0.001), but lower digestibility for NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose. The enzyme increased apparent digestibility of CP, hemicellulose (P < 0.05), and NDF (P < 0.10) for alfalfa. Also, for both hays, the enzyme improved N balance because lambs retained more N (P < 0.05). The enzyme increased (P < 0.05) total VFA concentration (3 and 6 h) for both hays. Results from this trial indicate that directly fed exogenous fibrolytic enzymes may change ruminal fermentation, intake, and digestibility of forages with different nutritive value.

No abstract

We evaluated current uses of wild mammals by indigenous and mestizo communities in Mexico by extracting data from 59 sources published or produced between 1987–2017, covering data from 240 localities and 3,905 questionnaires. We then calculated a Cultural Value Index (CVI) previously applied to plants to quantify resource use and assess the cultural significance of each mammal. A total of 82 species were reported, and the animals with the highest cultural importance according to their CVI (in brackets) were two species of deer (Odocoileus virginianus [18.32] and Mazama temama [10.04]), as well as the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus [14.18]), white-nosed coati (Nasua narica [14.75]), collared peccary (Pecari tajaccu [11.90]), northern raccoon (Procyon lotor [11.28]) and spotted paca (Cuniculus paca [9.84]). The most common uses were for food, to reduce the damage or harm they cause, and for medicinal purposes, with O. virginianus, P. lotor, N. narica, and D. novemcinctus frequently hunted for all these reasons. Our analysis also highlighted the hunting of rarer species of national conservation concern, including commercial trading of body parts of the felids Panthera onca, Leopardus pardalis, and Leopardus wiedii. By quantifying the ethnozoological significance of wildlife to indigenous communities, indices such as CVI provide a robust measure of the extent of use and preference for particular species or taxa. This adds to the body of evidence used to develop effective regulations and laws related to harvesting and hunting, and helps promote a more sustainable and long-term approach to the use of natural resources.

Jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) diets in Quintana Roo, Mexico. A study was carried out for two years in Northwest Quintana Roo, México, using scat analysis to determine the diet and prey preferences of pumas and jaguars. Cat species and gender were determined using molecular techniques (rapid classificatory protocol: polymerise chain reaction, RCP-PCR), and prey abundance was estimated from camera trapping. The scats contained remains from 16 wild mammal species, but there was no evidence of livestock or other taxa. The diet breadths of jaguar (0.32) and puma (0.29) indicated a high degree of prey specialization, which combined with their dietary overlap (Pianka index 0.77) suggested competition between them. However, both felids showed a preference for red brocket deer Mazama temama, and frequently consumed collared peccaries Pecari tajacu. The importance of such large ungulates in the felids' diets is similar to the expected patterns of wild meat consumption in rural areas of the Northern Yucatan Peninsula. Therefore, future conservation management plan initiatives should involve local rural communities in the management of sustainable hunting, considering these ungulates are also the felid prey species.

Summary. Semen was collected from six mature and sexually rested Angora bucks at one-hour intervals five times a day on each of 5 consecutive days in the breeding season. There was a marked decline in semen volume (P < 0\m=.\001),sperm concentration (P < 0\m=.\05) and number of spermatozoa (P < 0\m=.\001) on consecutive days. Successive ejaculates within days differed only in number of spermatozoa (P < 0\m=.\001). The following year at the beginning of the breeding season, the weights of testes and epididymides and the reserves of spermatozoa in these parts were examined after slaughter of the six bucks. The mean number of spermatozoa in the paired testes, capita, corpora and caudae of the epididymides were (22\m=.\8 \m=+-\ 1\m=.\24) \m=x\ 109, (9\m=.\4\ m=+-\1\m=.\19) \m=x\109, (3\m=.\4 \ m=+-\ 0\m=.\22) \ m=x\ 109 and (35\m=.\0\ m=+-\ 2\m=.\21)\ m=x\109, respectively. Epididymal reserves of spermatozoa were correlated with testicular weight (r = 0\m=.\50, P = 0\m=.\01) and number of spermatozoa in the testes (r = 0\m=.\42,P = 0\m=.\07), but not with epididymal weight. The daily production of spermatozoa per animal in the breeding season was estimated to be 4\m=.\0\p=n-\6\m=.\4\m=x\109.

Twenty-four lambs (Pelibuey x East Friesian), weighing 22.7 ± 3.2 kg, were fed a basal diet of corn silage, oat hay, alfalfa hay, and concentrate (60% forage and 40% concentrate). Treatments consisted of oral doses of rumen-protected methionine (RPM) (0 and 1.5 g/day) and herbal choline (biocholine) (0 and 4 g/day) in a completely random block design with factorial arrangement of treatments, where lambs were blocked by sex. The experiment was conducted for 60 days, and measurements of live weight and dry matter intake were obtained. No effects of the treatments were observed on performance variables (lamb growth, consumption and feed conversion). Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were increased by biocholine and unaffected by methionine (Met). Biocholine increased glucose and cholesterol, whereas methionine increased triglycerides, albumin and plasma protein. The dietary supplementation with biocholine and RPM did not improve lambs' growth; however, biocholine and Met showed a lipotropic effect by mobilizing NEFA and stimulating glucose and cholesterol synthesis. ______________________________________________________________________________________