Comparative Study of the Nutritional Value and Degradation Characteristics of Amaranth Hay in the Rumen of Goats at Different Growth Stages

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the rumen degradation characteristics of grain amaranth hay (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) at four different growth stages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of grain amaranth hay at different growth stages by chemical composition, in vivo digestibility, and in situ degradability. Three Boer goats with permanent ruminal fistulas were selected in this study. Amaranthus hay at four different growth stages (squaring stage (SS), initial bloom stage (IS), full-bloom stage (FS) and mature stage (MS)) was crushed and placed into nylon bags. Each sample was set up with three replicates, and two parallel samples were set up in fistulas at each time point. The rumen degradation rates of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were determined at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. The results were as follows: (1) The concentration of CP in SS was the highest and was significantly higher than that in other stages (p < 0.05), whereas the contents of NDF and ADF gradually increased with the extension of the growing period and reached a maximum in MS; (2)The degradation of CP in the rumen at 72 h of SS and IS was more than 80%. Compared with other stages, the effective degradability of CP was highest in SS (p < 0.05) and reached 87.05% at 72 h, and the degradation rate was the lowest in MS; and (3) The effective degradability of NDF in IS was the highest (p < 0.05) and reached 69.326% at 72 h. The effective degradability of ADF in MS was the highest (p < 0.05) and reached 65.728% at 72 h. The effective degradability of DM and CP in SS was the highest. In conclusion, among the four stages, IS was superior in chemical composition and rumen degradability characteristics.

Lactic Acid Bacteria and Cellulase Improve the Fermentation Characteristics, Aerobic Stability and Rumen Degradation of Mixed Silage Prepared with Amaranth and Rice Straw

“…Likewise, the CP degradation rate in the rumen of the LBC group displayed the maximum value. Previously, a study found that higher CP content in roughage was beneficial for improving ruminal CP degradation [44], which is in line with our findings. The ruminal CP degradability is related to the true protein content of the roughage, and the amino acid composition of CP in roughage can also influence the ruminal CP degradation rate [45].…”

Analysis of Rumen Degradation Characteristics, Attached Microbial Community, and Cellulase Activity Changes of Garlic Skin and Artemisia argyi Stalk

“…The degradation of CP in the rumen is influenced by various factors, including the structural composition of fiber and protein in roughage [29], as well as the capacity of the host's rumen microbiota to utilize roughage [30]. Research has shown that feeds with high CP content usually led to higher rumen degradability [31]. However, in this study, we…”

“…The degradation of CP in the rumen is influenced by various factors, including the structural composition of fiber and protein in roughage [ 29 ], as well as the capacity of the host’s rumen microbiota to utilize roughage [ 30 ]. Research has shown that feeds with high CP content usually led to higher rumen degradability [ 31 ]. However, in this study, we found that CP content of GS was significantly higher than that of AS, but the ED of CP and the degradation rate of 36 to 72 h in AS were significantly higher than those in GS.…”

Replacing alfalfa hay with amaranth hay: effects on production performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and antioxidant ability in dairy cow

“…Therefore, it is urgent to develop roughage resources which can replace alfalfa in the ration of dairy cows under modern large-scale intensive dairy farming. A previous study used Boer goats with permanent ruminal fistulas as experimental animals and found that the ruminal effective degradability of dry matter (DM) and CP were approximately 67% and 75%, respectively [ 9 ]. However, the information of amaranth hay replacing alfalfa hay in the diet of dairy cows remains scarce.…”