The effect of supplementing a mixed rice straw and tropical grass diet with legume as a nitrogen (N) source on intake, digestibility, rumen ammonia and microbial protein production was evaluated in Bos indicus cattle. Four rumen-cannulated steers were used in a crossover design with two diets and two periods. The diets were T1 = 40% rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw + 60% grass (Brachiaria spp. cv. Mulato II hybrid) and T2 = 40% rice straw + 30% grass + 30% legume (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. CIAT 184) on DM basis. Supplementation with legume doubled (P < 0.01) rice straw and total N intake, and increased total DM intake by 32%. It did not affect the DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibility (P > 0.05) but did increase (P < 0.05) N digestibility. Faecal N and total N outputs from T2 cattle were higher (P < 0.05) than T1 cattle, but urinary N output did not differ between diets (P > 0.05). N retention in T2 cattle was improved by 83% (P < 0.05) compared with T1 cattle. Rumen ammonia concentration, microbial protein production and efficiency of microbial protein production were improved (P < 0.05) when the legume forage was included in the straw–grass diet. We conclude that when a mixed rice straw and fresh grass diet is supplemented with ~30% legume (DM basis), significant improvements in DM and N intake can be achieved.
SU MMARYGrassland forbs are important constituents of swards under low-input management. The hypothesis tested was that herbage from unfertilized swards consisting of a mixture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), white clover (Trifolium repens), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) (treatment GCF) would exert a significant effect on the composition and quality of silage for rumen microbes compared with herbage from nitrogen-fertilized (50 kg N/ha/cut) pure ryegrass swards (treatment GN) or unfertilized ryegrass white clover swards (treatment GC). GCF had average proportions of clover and forb of 0 . 21 and 0 . 58, respectively. The crude protein and fibre fractions declined and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) increased from GN over GC to GCF. Irrespective of cutting date (spring and summer), GN showed extremely high ammonia (NH 3 ) concentrations, whereas GCF resulted in the highest concentrations of lactic acid coinciding with the lowest contents of butyric acid and ethanol. The ratios between the soluble and less soluble N fractions decreased in the order GN>GC>GCF. A similar sequence was observed in RUSITEC for the apparent disappearance rates of crude protein and fibre fractions. The concentration of NH 3 -N in the fermenter fluid declined in the order GN>GC>GCF. GCF produced less short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) than GN and GC. Microbial nitrogen (MN) flow was not significantly different between treatments but tended to decline in the order GN>GC>GCF, whereas the proportion of MN originating from NH 3 -N increased inversely. The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was unaffected by the different silages. It is concluded that forb-rich swards are suitable for the preparation of high quality silages. There is a need for further investigation into postruminal availability and suitable supplementation for such silages in order to fully exploit their potential for improving the efficiency of nitrogen utilization in ruminant nutrition.
The survey was conducted in the target provinces, Kampong Cham and Pursat province, of Beef for Market Project funded by ACIAR, Australia, in January and July 2016. Survey was designed with three different types of farmers such as adopted farmer, exposed farmers and non-exposed farmers. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the introducing forage on cattle production of smallholder farmers supported by the project. The adopted farmers, who have involved in the project, planted the forage to supplement their cattle, got higher BCS (Body Condition Scoring) and total income than exposed and non-exposed farmers. However, the BCS varied with season and gender of cattle as well, when in the raining season male cattle produced higher BSC than dry season and female cattle respectively. However, further study on impact of converting cropland into forage planting should be deeply analyzed, since there was competition of land use.
The survey was conducted four times between September 2015 and June 2016 with an interval of three months. Each survey lasted for 7 days at two main slaughterhouses in Phnom Penh city: Chroy Chongva and Beung Salang slaughterhouses. The objective of this study is to evaluate the perceptions of cattle traders on their business and the BCS (Body Condition Score) of cattle arriving slaughterhouses. Results have shown that the interviewed traders started their business between 1995 and 2013. Most of them bought 3 to 4 cattle per time and slaughtered one head of cattle each day with an interval of one day transit. The buying of cattle relied on collectors and during of the time of study cattle were purcahsed from 13 different provinces. The supply of cattle was high from July to August and low from March to April. When arriving gathering areas nearby slaughterhouse, cattle were sent to slaughterhouse within one day and could be maintained with one week. Beef was mostly sold by themselves and to their relatives for retailing. They also sold beef to outside retailer, distributor and sold at market. The price of beef was high from March to April. High percentage of male cattle were found in slaughterhouses than female cattle with the age of 3 to 6 years old. High distribution of cattle were found to have BCS between 2 and 3 scores, and it is found that male cattle had higher BCS than female cattle. The amount of meat varies with BCS, e.g. up to 57.56% of total liveweight when BCS was 4 scores. The price of live cattle varies with cattle BCS and meat proportion of animal.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.