No abstract

No abstract

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

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a slow-release coated urea product (CU, 1% as dry matter of diet) on ruminal disappearance and fermentation, as well as on growth performance of beef steers. Soybean meal in control diet was replaced by CU and steam-rolled corn. For the growth performance trial, 20 beef steers (330±20 kg) were used. For the ruminal trial, four ruminally cannulated steers (230±20 kg) were used. Dry matter intake, daily gain, feed efficiency and carcass dressing were not affected (P> 0.05) by CU. Ruminal ammonia N was higher (P<0.05) with CU than control diet. Potential disappearance and total ruminal disappearance of dry matter were increased, while the potential disappearance rate of neutral detergent fibre was reduced with CU. Slow coated urea at 1% of total diet did not affect growth performance and carcass dressing of beef steers