Effects of replacing soybean meal with xylose-treated soybean meal on performance of nursing Awassi ewes and fattening lambs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal with xylose-treated soybean meal (soypass meal; SPM) on performance of nursing Awassi ewes and fattening lambs. In Experiment 1, lasting for eight weeks, 39 Awassi ewes and their lambs were randomly assigned to three diets. Diets were formulated by replacing soybean meal from the basal diet (CON-SBM; n=13) with 50% (50% SPM; n=13) and 100% (100% SPM; n=13) SPM. Initial and final weights of the ewes were not different (P>0.55) among diets. Total gain and average daily gain (ADG) of lambs were similar (P=0.44) among diets. Ewes fed the CON-SBM diet tended (P<0.09) to have lower milk yields than those fed the 50% SPM and 100% SPM diets. No differences (P>0.38) in milk component percentages among diets were observed. In Experiment 2, lasting for 63 days, twenty weaned lambs were used to determine the effects of replacing soybean meal with SPM on growth performance. Diets were either soybean meal (SBM; n=10) or SPM (SPM; n=10). Nutrient intake and digestibility were not different between diets. However, rumen undegradable protein intake was greater (P<0.05) for the SPM diet than for the SBM diet. Final body weight, ADG and the feed conversion ratio were similar (P>0.05) between the diets. Results suggest that replacement of soybean meal with soypass meal is not likely to produce any production benefits in nursing Awassi ewes and fattening lambs except for the slight improvement of milk yield

Lactational evaluation of recombinant bovine somatotropin with corn and barley diets.

Forty-eight Holstein cows were randomly assigned to receive diets containing corn or barley as the primary energy concentrate from wk 4 through 44 postpartum. During wk 14, cows from each grain source group were randomly assigned to receive 0 (control), 10.3, 20.6, and 30.9 mg/cow per d of recombinant bST injected wk 15 through 44 postpartum. Grain source exerted no significant effect on production parameters and efficacy of bST, although milk production tended to be higher with corn diets. Milk production (24.2, 29.2, 31.7, and 29.5 kg/d) and 4% FCM (21.9, 26.2, 28.1, and 28.0 kg/d) were higher for cows injected with bST, and DM intakes (20.9, 22.8, 22.0, and 23.3 kg/d) increased slightly. Percentages of milkfat (3.47, 3.28, 3.39, and 3.52) and protein (3.48, 3.44, 3.44, and 3.38) varied. Lactose, SCC, and body weights were similar for bST and dietary treatments. Diet or bST had no detectable affect on health or reproduction. Injection of bST wk 15 through 44 increased milk production 21 to 31% relative to control animals. Limiting bST use to the latter two-thirds of lactation resulted in an 8 to 17% increase in total yield with only a 0 to 5% increase in lactational DM intake

Inoculação microbiana da alfafa para silagem sobre a digestibilidade total e ruminal em bovinos Microbial inoculation of alfalfa for silage on ruminal and total digestibility in bovines

Doze vacas (640 kg de PV) não-gestantes e não-lactantes foram distribuídas em um delineamento em blocos, em que os tratamentos corresponderam à silagem pré-secada de alfafa (60,0% de MS e 19,5% de PB) controle ou inoculada com o produto Silobac® (Lactobacillus plantarum e Pediococcus pentosaceus), com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da inoculação microbiana da silagem de alfafa sobre a digestibilidade total e ruminal em bovinos. A dieta experimental continha 50% de silagem de alfafa e 50% de concentrados, com base na matéria seca. O experimento teve duração total de 21 dias, sendo os dez últimos destinados à administração do marcador óxido crômio e os cinco últimos destinados à coleta de fezes e incubação dos sacos de náilon. A inoculação da silagem de alfafa não alterou a digestibilidade total da MS (inoculada = 70,0% vs. controle = 71,2%), PB (72,3% vs. 73,0%), EE (77,0% vs. 76,8%), FDN (61,2% vs. 55,9%), FDA (66,8% vs. 61,8%), EB (72,5% vs. 73,7%) ou NDT (70,6% vs. 71,8%) da dieta. Também não alterou o consumo de MS digestível (12,2 vs. 11,4 kg/animal/dia ou 1,7% vs. 1,8% do PV) ou o consumo de NDT (12,4 vs. 11,4 kg/animal/dia ou 1,8% vs. 1,8% do PV). Entretanto, a inoculação diminuiu a degradabilidade efetiva da MS da silagem de alfafa para taxas de passagem de 2%/h (61,2% vs. 65,1%), 5%/h (54,1% vs. 58,6%) e 8%/h (50,0% vs. 54,4%), bem como reduziu a degradabilidade efetiva da PB da Alfafa para taxas de passagem de 2%/h (84,8% vs. 86,8%) e 5%/h (79,9% vs. 82,5%).<br>Twelve non pregnant dry cows (640 kg LW) were assigned to a randomized block design, provided that the treatments were alfalfa haylage (60.0% DM and 19.5% CP) control or inoculated with Silobac® product (Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus), with the objective to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculation of alfalfa silage on ruminal and total digestibility in bovines. Experimental diet was composing by 50% of alfalfa silage and 50% of concentrate as dry matter basis. The experimental period had duration of 21 days, the last ten was used for chromic oxide addition and the last five was used for feces sampling and nylon bags incubation. Inoculation of Alfalfa silage did not influence the total digestibility of DM (inoculated = 70.0% vs. control = 71.2%), CP (72.3% vs. 73.0%), EE (77.0% vs. 76.8%), NDF (61.2% vs. 55.9%), ADF (66.8% vs. 61.8%), GE (72.5% vs. 73.7%) or TDN (70.6% vs. 71.8%) of diet. Also, did not influence digestible DM intake (12.2 vs. 11.4 kg/anim./day or 1.7% vs. 1.8% LW) or TDN intake (12.4 vs. 11.4 kg/anim./day or 1.8% vs. 1.8% LW). However, inoculation decreased the effective degradability of alfalfa silage DM for passage rate of 2%/h (61.2% vs. 65.1%), 5%/h (54.1% vs. 58.6%) and 8%/h (50.0% vs. 54.4%), and effective degradability of alfalfa silage CP for passage rate of 2%/h (84.8% vs. 86.8%) and 5%/h (79.9% vs. 82.5%)