Effect of varying dietary starch and fiber levels and inoculum source (mule deer vs. dairy cow) on simulated rumen fermentation characteristics

Abstract

This study measured starch and fiber digestion and microbial fermentation of three commercial exotic animal feeds using mule deer (MD) or dairy cow (DC) rumen inoculum. Diets were formulated to provide either high starch/low fiber (based on neutral detergent fiber fraction; NDF) with either alfalfa (diet A) or grain and oilseed byproducts (diet B) as the major fiber sources or low starch/high NDF (diet C). An initial batch culture incubation was run with diets inoculated with each rumen inoculum (n = 6; N = 36) over a 48 hr period with samples taken at different hour points for ammonia, pH, lactate, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). A second experiment was conducted where two continuous culture incubations (MD or DC) were run with six single-flow polycarbonate fermentation vessels per dietary treatment. Diets were fed two times a day over an 8-day period and sampled for ammonia, pH, and VFA before and after feeding on the last 3 days. On day 8, fermenter and effluent contents were collected and analyzed for nitrogen, dry matter digestibility (DMD), and organic matter digestibility (OMD). OMD was greater in MD (P = 0.02) and DMD tended to do the same (P = 0.06), but there were no differences due to diet (P > 0.05). Ammonia concentration was greater in DC (P < 0.01), and diets A and B had greater concentrations than diet C (P < 0.01). The greater digestibility, higher acetate:propionate (A:P) ratio and increased lactate levels prior to feeding likely led to diet C having a lower pH than diet A (6.59 vs. 6.66, respectively; P < 0.01) and led the tendency of A to be lower than C after feeding (P = 0.08). A:P ratio was greater in DC than MD before and after feeding (P < 0.01) and was greater in diet C than diets A or B (P < 0.01). Total VFA production tended to be greater in diets B and C in DC (P = 0.06). Rumen fluid source did affect fermentation. Increasing fiber level did not negatively affect fermentation and may increase OMD by removal of negative associative affects by starch on cellulolytic bacteria.

Assessment of Chemical Composition of Grain Crops Depending on Vegetative Stage for Feeding

“…Moreover, indices of crop quality assume significance: relationship between soluble carbohydrates and gas production (Coblentz et al, 2013), fiber and chemical composition (Jancik et al, 2008), influence of maturity on fiber quality (Palmonari et al, 2014). Eventually, chemical composition of plants influences on nutrition of animals: digestibility of nutrients taking into account fiber from fodder (Sousa et al, 2014), influence of dietary fiber on health (Gidenne, 2015), on ruminal digestion (Brooks et al, 2014). The objective of this work is assessment of chemical composition grain crops taking into account vegetative phases under conditions of steppe are of the South Urals.…”

The effect of ensiled paulownia leaves in a high-forage diet on ruminal fermentation, methane production, fatty acid composition, and milk production performance of dairy cows

“…Besides changes in pH, PLS diet increased ammonia concentration (P < 0.01), both in vitro and in vivo. This observation can be explained by higher ruminal CP degradation compared to the control with non-synchronization of available energy and ammonia in the ruminal fluid [4,31]. On the other hand, the CP total-tract degradability was reduced (P < 0.01) in the PLS cows.…”

“…2, four multiparous cannulated Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (625 ± 20 kg body weight; 4-5 th month of lactation) were assigned to two dietary treatments (CON vs. PLS60) with two cows in each treatment in a replicated 2 × 2 crossover design. Based on Table 1 Ingredients and chemical composition of experimental diets (n = 4) used in Rusitec system and in vivo experimets a and chemical composition of paulownia leaves silage (PLS; n = 4) and alfalfa silage (AS; n = 4) a In the in vitro experiments the diets were as a total mixed ration (TMR) b CON control diet, PLS paulownia leaves silage diet, PLS was used at 20, 40 and 60 g/kg DM of diet replacing alfalfa silage c Declared to contain (as g/kg of DM in concentrate) OM (910), aNDFom (240), CP (17.5), and EE (31) d Declared to contain (g/kg of DM) Na (123), Ca (100), Mg (45), P (42), K (20), S (18), Co (14), Cu (5.0), Zn (2.8), Mn (1.4), Fe (1.05), F (0.42), I (0.028), Se (0.018), biotin (0.008); (IU/kg), vitamin A (200,000), vitamin D 3 (40,000), and vitamin E (1200) e DM dry matter, OM organic matter, aNDF neutral detergent fiber analyzed with α-amylase, CP crude protein, EE: ether extract. Additionally, in the case of PLS and AS, the following fermentation parameters were performed: pH, 4.75 vs. 4.50; NH 3 -N, 79.4 vs. 32.3 g/kg total nitrogen; lactic acid, 21.2 vs. 34.9 g/kg DM; acetic acid, 7.04 vs. 19.1 g/kg DM; propionic acid, 1.29 vs. 1.09 g/kg DM; butyric acid, 1.19 vs. 2.43 g/kg DM, respectively f The content of total phenolic compounds have been calculated based on previous study of Huang et al [4] g VEM = feed unit net energy lactation; calculated using the FeedExpert software the results from Exp.…”

“…The two groups (8 CON and 8 PLS60) had separated access (gate with access control) to a computer-controlled feeder station (De Laval, type FP 204, Tumba, Sweden). The concentrate supplement, contained (as g/kg of DM in concentrate) OM (910), aNDFom (240), CP (17.5), and EE (31), was supplied in both groups at 2.75 kg/d/cow (5 times a day). The rest of the diet was offered twice a day (at 06:00 and 18:00 h) as a partial mixed ration (PMR) in individual feeding boxes located on the feeding table.…”

Red deer (Cervus elaphus). Some biological and production aspects of maintenance – an overview

“…Для жуйних копитних, включаючи північного, благородного і біло-чорнохвостого оленів притаманним є те, що збільшення в кормі клітковини (складної сполуки, яка становить основу клітинної стінки рослин і включає целюлозу, геміцелюлозу, лігнін та інші компоненти) призводить до зниження її перетравлюваності (Schilcher et al, 2013;Brooks et al, 2014).…”