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

ABSTRACT:The objective was to evaluate the effect of different levels of selenium with two levels of grain corn in the diets on ruminal, postruminal, and total tract digestion of nutrients, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and selenium balance in lambs. A split-plot design was used in four periods with repeated Latin square using eight Suffolk × Dorset male lambs with four levels of selenium (sodium selenite, Na 2 SeO 3 ), without adding selenium, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mg of selenium/kg dry matter (DM) with 70 and 50% of corn grain in the diet. The four selenium levels affected organic matter as follows: starch, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen and selenium excretion; selenium ruminal digestion; organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen and selenium postruminal digestion; and organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen and selenium total tract digestion (P < 0.05). Starch and organic matter flow decreased with 0.6 and 0.9 mg of selenium with the 70% grain diet (P < 0.05). Selenium flow increased linearly with selenium levels (P < 0.01) with both levels of grain. Selenium supplementation increased linearly selenium concentration in ruminal fluid (P < 0.01), but did not affect other ruminal characteristics. Also, selenium absorption and retention was increased by selenium concentrations (P < 0.01). The apparent absorption of selenium increased (31%, P < 0.01) with the 70% grain diet. In conclusion, the high content of nonstructural carbohydrates improved the availability of selenium and 0.9 mg of selenium/kg DM improved the absorption and availability of selenium.

Objective This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of Agave tequilana inulin and Lactobacillus casei ( L. casei ) on growth performace, hematological variables, serum metabolites, and total coliforms in nursing lambs. Methods The experimental design was completely randomized; treatments were T1, control (pre-starter concentrate, PC), T2: T1+2% inulin, and T3: T1+2% inulin+ L. casei ; treatments were compared with Tukey test (p≤0.05); and 45 new born Kathadin×Dorset lambs (4.8±0.8 kg birth weight) were the experimental units (15 per treatment). The variables were daily weight gain (DWG), dry matter intake and diarrheas incidence (%) during 56 d. Twenty-four hours after birth and at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to evaluate hematological variables and serum metabolites. Besides, the populations of total coliforms and lactobacilli were estimated in fecal samples. Results Addition of agave inulin and L. casei increased (p≤0.05) DWG 356, 384, and 415 g/d, weaning weight 24.92, 26.18, and 28.07 kg, as well as lactobacilli population 5.79, 6.32, and 6.48 Log 10 cfu/g, for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Lambs fed L. casei had decreased (p≤0.05) populations of total coliforms (T1 = 6.18, T2 = 5.77, and T3 = 5.07 Log 10 cfu/g), diarrheas incidence (T1 = 11.67%, T2 = 8.33%, and T3 = 5.0%), and serum cholesterol concentration (11% in T2 and 13% in T3, compared to control). Conclusion The combination of Agave tequilana inulin and L. casei increases weight gain and improves intestinal health by reducing coliforms and diarrheas incidence in Katahdin× Dorset lambs during the pre-weaning period.

Effect of species and age an nutrient content and digestibility a€ Opuntia spp. J.