Effect of Feeding Date Pits on Milk Production, Composition and Blood Parameters of Lactating Ardi Goats

Twenty Ardi lactating goats were used to investigate the effect of substituting 10%, 15%, and 20% of concentrate feed with date pits on milk production, composition, and blood parameters. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments were used. Four levels (0% [control], 10%, 15%, and 20%) of date pits were used to replace concentrate feed. The forages to concentrate ratio used was 60 to 40. Dry matter intake (DMI) of goats fed diets containing 10% and 15% date pits was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those fed diets containing 0% and 20%. However, goats fed a diet containing 20% date pits were significantly (p<0.05) lower in DMI compared to those fed control diet. The protein percent was significantly higher for goats fed control diet compared to the other dietary treatments. Total solids percent was significantly the lowest for goats fed diet supplemented with 10% date pits. Goats fed a diet containing 20% date pits was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the total protein compared to those fed a diet containing 10%. In addition, goats fed a diet containing 15% date pits exhibited no significant differences in the total protein percent compared to those fed a diet containing 20% date pits. Triglyceride was significantly higher for goats fed diets containing 10% and 20% date pits compared to those fed 15% date pits. Results obtained in the present study suggest that date pits can be added up to 20% of the concentrate feeds into lactating Ardi goat diets without negative effects on their productive performance

Evaluation of nonenzymatically browned sunflower seeds for lactating dairy cows

Two forms of nonenzymatically browned sunflower seeds were evaluated in two lactating dairy cow trials to determine their effect on animal performance and ruminal fermentation. In the first experiment, eight lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square with 3-wk periods. Four treatments were used: (1) control diet with no added lipid, (2) sunflower oil (SFO), (3) untreated, ground sunflower seeds (GSF), and (4) nonenzymatically browned, ground sunflower seed (NEBS). In the second trial, thirty cows were assigned to one of three diets for a period of 6 wk. Diets were fed as total mixed rations that contained 40% of a 1:1 mixture of alfalfa and corn silage and (1) wet corn milling product (CMP) with no added lipid, (2) CMP + nonenzymatically browned sunflowers (NEBS), and (3) CMP + tallow. Our objective was to investigate the effect of supplementing a diet containing high amounts of wet corn milling product with RUP and RUL from nonenzymatically browned sunflowers on efficiency of fat-corrected milk production and composition of milk fatty acids. The results of these studies indicate that the oil in NEBS was partially protected from ruminal biohydrogenation and successfully elevated the desirable poly- and monounsaturated fatty acid content of milk fat, reduced saturated fatty acids, and increased CLA content in milk fat. The experiments also demonstrated that NEBS accomplish the positive alterations in milk fatty acid composition without reducing the output of milk fat. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

Utilization of Distillers Grains form the Fermentation of Sorghum or Corn in Diets for Finishing Beef and Lactating Dairy Cattle

Beef finishing and dairy lactation experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of distillers grains (DG) from sorghum or corn fermentation, in both wet (35.4% DM) and dry (92.2% DM) form (dairy trial only). In the finishing experiment, 60 yearling steers were used in a completely randomized design with three diets that were fed for 127 d: 1) control diet with 86% (DM basis) dry-rolled corn and no DG; 2) 30% of ration DM as wet corn DG in place of dry-rolled corn; and 3) 30% of ration DM as wet sorghum DG in place of dry-rolled corn. All diets contained a minimum of 6.8% degradable intake protein and 13.0% CP. Steers fed DG had 10% greater ADG (\u3c 0.01) and 8% greater efficiency of gain (P \u3c 0.01) than steers fed the control diet. Wet corn and sorghum DG resulted in similar ADG and efficiency of gain. Hot carcass weights, fat thickness, and yield grades were greater for steers fed DG than for controls (P \u3c 0.07). Improvements in ADG and feed efficiency observed when DG replaced dry-rolled corn indicated that the NEg content of wet DG is approximately 29% greater than that of dry-rolled corn. In the dairy lactation experiment, 16 lactating Holstein cows (eight multiparous, including four fistulated) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 4-wk periods. Corn and sorghum DG were fed at 15% of the ration DM in either wet or dry form. Diets were fed as total mixed rations that contained 50% of a 1:1 mixture of alfalfa and corn silages, 24.3% ground corn, and 9.1% soybean meal (DM basis). There was no effect of source or form of DG on DMI, ruminal pH and VFA, or in situ digestion kinetics of NDF from DG. Efficiency of milk production was unaffected by diet. Corn and sorghum DG resulted in relatively similar performance when fed to beef or dairy cattle in this study

Utilization of dry distillers grains and charcoal as nitrogen fertilizer in corn

Citation: Shroyer, K. J., S. A. Staggenborg, and J. L. Propheter. “Utilization of Dry Distillers Grains and Charcoal as Nitrogen Fertilizer in Corn.” Agronomy Journal 103, no. 5 (2011): 1321–28. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2010.0447.Increasing bio-energy production will result in increased by-products which will need proper disposal methods to prevent economic and/or ecological problems. Land application has potential for disposal and/or nutrient cycling if these by-products have crop nutritive value. Our objective was to compare the fertilizer effects of two by-products of bio-energy production, dry distillers grains with solubles (DDGs) and charcoal with urea in corn (Zea mays L.) and evaluate nutrient uptake. Treatments were DDGs under no-till and tilled at four location-years and charcoal under no-till and tilled at three location-years. No-till urea was used as a baseline at all location-years. Nitrogen rates ranged from 0 to 180 kg N ha[superscript]−1. All materials were spring applied before tillage and planting. Corn yields for DDGs and urea were similar across tillage treatments and locations. Corn yields over all charcoal rates and tillage treatments were the same as 0 kg N ha[superscript]−1. The charcoal, because of immobilization or lack of decomposition, did not contribute to the corn N nutrition. Neither material showed any negative effects on the corn yields. Stalk N, P, K, and grain N followed expected trends and had few effects compared with those from urea. Land application of DDGs and charcoal has merit for disposal/N cycling with DDGs being preferred for its N contribution

Effect of an Essential Oil Blend on Dairy Cow Performance during Treatment and Post-Treatment Periods

Essential oils (EOs) and their active components are attracting a lot of attention as sustainable feed additives due to their known antimicrobial properties against a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. They also have biological therapeutic, antioxidant, and flavor properties. They can be used for modifying the rumen environment and improving animal productivity. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of supplementation with 2.5 and 5 g/head/day of an essential oils blend (EOB) of clove, oregano, and juniper in equal proportions on milk production and quality, and physiological status of early lactating Holstein dairy cows for 8 weeks of treatment followed by 8 weeks of posttreatment. The results revealed an improvement in milk yield (p &le; 0.02) and feed efficiency (p &le; 0.001) with EOB at a dose of 2.5 g/head/day. The percentages of milk protein and lactose were increased (p &le; 0.03) with a high dose of EOB inclusion during the treatment period as compared with the control group. Milk fat percentage, fat-corrected milk, and energy-corrected milk were not significantly affected by EOB supplementation. The supplementation of EOB tended to decrease milk total bacterial and somatic cell counts when compared to the control group. The supplementation of EOB at both doses increased serum total protein (p &le; 0.02) and globulin (p &le; 0.05), and decreased cholesterol level (p &le; 0.001) and creatinine (p &le; 0.001) as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the results show that the low dose of EOB had more desirable effects on milk yield, milk total bacterial count, milk somatic cell count, and feed efficiency than the high dose, suggesting that lower doses may not inhibit rumen microbial populations. Moreover, the low doses of EOB could be used as sustainable natural alternatives to antibiotics in livestock diets