Two experiments were conducted to evaluate digestion, performance, and physiological responses to Acremonium coenophialum-infected tall fescue straw offered to vary ergovaline concentrations. In Exp. 1, 16 Hereford x Angus ruminally cannulated steers (370 +/- 12 kg BW, mean +/- SE) were blocked by age and BW and, within block, randomly assigned to one of four treatments containing graded concentrations of ergovaline in the diet: 1) 0 ppb, 2) 158 ppb, 3) 317 ppb, and 4) 475 ppb. Alkaloid concentrations were produced using various mixtures of two varieties of tall fescue straw that had similar genetic and phenotypic characteristics but differed in degree of endophyte incidence and associated concentrations of alkaloids. In the 36-d digestion study, feed intake, apparent DMD, and total tract NDF digestion were not influenced by alkaloid concentration (P > .10). Differences were observed with digesta kinetics; specifically indigestible ADF (IADF) fill and outflow decreased linearly with increasing alkaloid concentration (P < .10). These differences, however, may be attributed to differences in IADF concentration of the diets. Physiological variables (heart rates, respiration rates, and rectal, ear, and tailhead skin surface temperatures) were not influenced by alkaloid concentration (P > .10). Concentration of serum prolactin measured weekly tended (P < .10) to decrease with increasing alkaloid concentration of the diet. At the conclusion of the study, each steer was injected with 100 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). All steers responded to the TRH challenge (P < .10); however, responses did not differ (P > .10) between alkaloid concentrations of the basal diet (P > .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To compare the effects of time of daily protein supplementation on grazing behavior, forage intake, digesta kinetics, ruminal fermentation, and serum hormones and metabolites, 12 ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (449 and 378 kg average initial and final BW, respectively) were allotted to three groups. Treatments consisted of CON = no supplement, AM = cottonseed meal (.25% of BW) at 0600, and PM = cottonseed meal (.25% of BW) at 1200. Steers grazed a dormant (1.1% N) intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium Host) pasture. Sampling trials occurred in December, January, and February. Supplementation altered (P = .01) time spent grazing; CON steers grazed approximately 1.5 h longer than supplemented steers. Supplemented steers lost less (P = .02) BW (-40 kg) than CON steers (-75 kg) did. Supplementation did not alter (P greater than .15) forage OM intake; however, total OM intake was greater (P = .01) for supplemented steers (22.3 g/kg of BW) than for CON (18.4 g/kg of BW) steers. Supplementation did not affect (P greater than .15) digesta kinetics. Extent of in situ NDF (96 h) and rate (%/h) of disappearance for supplemented steers was greater (P = .01) than for CON steers. Across all periods, ruminal NH3 N and total VFA concentrations were lower (P = .01) for CON steers than for supplemented steers. Serum insulin (ng/mL) concentration was lower (P = .03) and concentration of serum growth hormone (ng/mL) was higher (P = .02) for CON steers than for supplemented steers. Cottonseed meal supplementation enhanced utilization of intermediate wheatgrass; however, supplementation time had minimal effects on the variables measured.

Six digestion trials were conducted using eight Suffolk rams (four/trial; two trials run concurrently) to determine the ability of 11 techniques to estimate in vivo apparent DM digestibility (DMD). Diets (trials) were as follows: 1) ad libitum access to chopped fescue hay, 2) ad libitum access to alfalfa hay, 3) limit-fed fescue hay, 4) limit-fed alfalfa hay, 5) 25% soybean meal and 75% fescue hay and 6) 40% rolled corn and 60% alfalfa hay. Total feces were collected for 7 d following a 21-d adaptation to each diet. Digestibility methods evaluated were the following: 1) in vitro disappearance (INVITRO); 2) 48 h and 3) 72 h in situ nylon bag (48NB, 72NB); 4) 48NB followed by a 48-h acid pepsin digestion; 5) 96 h and 6) 144 h in vitro fermentation followed by NDF analysis (INDF96 and INDF144) 7) 96 h and 8) 144 h in vitro fermentation followed by ADF analysis (IADF96 and IADF144); 9) ADL ratio; 10) alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment before ADL analysis (APFPRE) and 11) alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment after ADF extraction of ADL (ADLPST). Apparent in vivo DMD was accurately estimated (P greater than .10) by INVITRO, ADL and APLPST with Diet 1. However no marker accurately estimated in vivo DMD when fescue was limit-fed. Apparent DMD of Diet 2 was accurately predicted (P greater than .10) by INVITRO, but when Diet 2 was limit-fed, only 48NB and 72NB predicted (P greater than .10) DMD accurately. In vivo DMD coefficients for Diet 5 followed a pattern similar to that of Diet 1. Diet 6 was predicted by INVITRO, 48NB, INDF96, INDF144 and IADF96 (P greater than .10). Results suggest that caution should be exercised when using these techniques, because no single technique provided accurate estimates across all diets and feeding conditions.

Eight ruminally cannulated ewes (four control and four bred; average BW = 85.7 kg), limit-fed alfalfa hay (1.86% BW), were used in two experiments to determine the effects of pregnancy and lactation on digestive function and serum metabolites. Seven-day sampling periods were used starting on d 102, 118 and 132 of gestation (Exp. 1) and d 14 and 32 of lactation (Exp. 2). Particulate (6.8 vs 4.9%/h; PPR) and fluid passage rates (13.9 vs 10.9%/h) were greater (P less than .05) and gastrointestinal mean retention time (28.9 vs 35.7 h) and fluid turnover time (FTT, 7.5 vs 9.5 h) were lesser (P less than .05) in pregnant than in nonpregnant ewes, respectively. Isobutyrate concentration was lower (P less than .05) in pregnant (1.7 mol/100 mol) than in nonpregnant (1.9 mol/100 mol) ewes. No differences (P greater than .10) were noted for any other ruminal fermentation measures between pregnant and nonpregnant ewes. In Exp. 2, no differences (P greater than .10) were noted in digesta kinetics or ruminal fermentation measures except for isobutyrate and isovalerate molar proportions and serum urea N (SUN) concentration. Isobutyrate, isovalerate and SUN concentrations (21.8 vs 26.1 mg/dl) were lower (P less than .05) in lactating ewes than in nonlactating ewes. Gastrointestinal fill (5.7 vs 7.7 g/kg BW) and FTT (9.3 vs 12.7 h) were lesser and DM digestion (66.7 vs 57.4%) was greater (P less than .05) in lactating than in nonlactating ewes. Data suggest that, during pregnancy, passage rate increases occur without affecting DM digestion and that, during lactation, PPR is not affected when ewes are limit-fed.

Four heifers (British x British; average BW 372 kg) cannulated at the rumen and duodenum and consuming a grass hay (fescue-orchardgrass) diet were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square and supplemented with four levels (0, 20, 40, and 60 g.head-1.d-1) of supplemental four- and five-carbon VFA (BCFA). Forage OM, ADF, NDF and N intakes and digestibilities were not affected (P greater than .10) by BCFA supplementation. Likewise, duodenal N (microbial, feed and ammonia) flows and microbial efficiency were not altered (P greater than .10) by BCFA supplementation. Neither particulate and fluid passage rate nor in situ rate of NDF digestion was affected (P greater than .10) by treatment. Ruminal pH, ammonia concentrations and total VFA concentrations were similar (P greater than .10) among treatments. Ruminal proportions of acetate and propionate were not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment; however, butyrate responded in a cubic (P less than .05) fashion to BCFA, with the lowest proportion of butyrate at the 40 g BCFA feeding level. A time x treatment interaction (P less than .05) was noted for isobutyrate, isovalerate and valerate proportions; they were increased as a function of BCFA dosage at 2 to 8 h postdosing. Supplemental four- and five-carbon VFA had no effect on digestion and fermentation of grass hay. Supplementation of low-quality roughages with BCFA is not justified.

Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (average BW 303 kg) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design digestion trial to study the influence of daily cottonseed meal (CSM; 1.6 g of CP/kg of BW) supplementation time on forage intake and ruminal fluid kinetics and fermentation. Steers were housed individually in tie stalls and were fed chopped fescue hay on an ad libitum basis at 0600 and 1400. Treatments were 1) control, grass hay only (CON) and grass hay and CSM fed once daily at 2) 0600 (EAM) 3) 1000 (MAM), or 4) 1400 (PM). Ruminal NH3 N concentrations reflected a time of supplementation x sampling time interaction (P less than .05); CON steers had the lowest (P less than .05) ruminal NH3 N concentrations at all times other than at 0600, 1000, 1200, and 2400, when they did not differ (P greater than .05) from at least one of the supplemented groups. Forage intake, ratio of bacterial purine:N, rate of DM and NDF disappearance, and ruminal fluid kinetics were not influenced (P greater than .05) by supplementation time. Total ruminal VFA differed (P less than .05) between CON and supplemented steers, as well as among supplemented steers (linear and quadratic effects P less than .05). Acetate, propionate, and valerate proportions were influenced (P less than .05) by a sampling time X supplementation time interaction. Under the conditions of this study, greater peak ammonia concentrations with morning supplementation than with afternoon supplementation did not stimulate ruminal fermentation or rate of NDF disappearance.

Twelve artificially reared, male Holstein calves, ruminally cannulated at 53 d of age, were used in a split-plot design to study the effects of no milk replacer reduction (CON), or reduction by 30% (30R) or 60% (60R) of this value on alfalfa hay intake and digestibility, ruminal fermentation and digestive kinetics. Milk replacer reduction began at 53 d of age and continued until 135 d of age, after which no milk replacer was fed. All calves had ad libitum access to long-stemmed alfalfa hay from birth. Five collection periods were conducted at average calf ages of 72, 87, 108, 129 and 151 d. Reducing the amount of milk replacer fed resulted in a linear increase (P less than .05) in forage OM intake; however, total OM intake (forage + milk) was not different (P greater than .10) among milk reduction groups. Size of particles in feces exhibited quadratic effects in response to milk replacer reduction (P less than .05) but only in the small (less than 150 microns) size groupings. Ruminal pH and ammonia and individual VFA concentrations (except isobutyrate) were not altered by milk reduction (P greater than .10) but increased (P less than .01) with calf age. Milk replacer reduction had a quadratic effect (P less than .05) on fluid outflow rate from the rumen, increasing as milk replacer was reduced. Other fluid and particulate kinetic data, as well as NDF digestion rate and DM digestion showed no effects (P greater than .10) from milk replacer reduction but changed with calf age. Milk replacer reduction increased forage intake but had minimal effects on digestive variables evaluated, suggesting that intake of milk replacer by calves can be reduced by up to 60% without disturbing forage fermentation and passage.

To investigate the interaction between Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis), its parasitoid Microctonus hyperodae, fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) and its grass host, four endophyte-ryegrass (Lolium perenne) treatments were established on four farms in Wairarapa in autumn 2003. A diploid ryegrass contained either wild-type or AR1 endophyte or was endophytefree, while a tetraploid ryegrass contained AR1 endophyte. Wild-type, AR1 and endophyte-free ryegrasses average 52%, 91% and 2% endophyte-infected tillers for the 3 years of measurement. Moderate increases over time in the proportion of wild-type infected tillers indicated selection pressures favoured endophyte-infected tillers. Endophyte-free tiller populations were 11% lower than AR1 or wild-type but not significantly so. L. bonariensis populations were highest in endophyte-free and wild-type pastures and 80% lower in AR1 pastures. Mean rates of parasitism in L. bonariensis were lower in spring (9%) than autumn (35%), tended to be higher in wild-type than in AR1 diploid ryegrass, and only had a weak relationship with percent endophyte-infection. Keywords: endophyte, Neotyphodium lolii, Lolium perenne, dry matter yields, plant persistence, Listronotus bonariensis, Microctonus hyperodae