Feed Intake, Nutrient Digestibility, Antioxidant Activity in Plasma, and Growth Performance of Male Dairy Cattle Fed Black Rice and Purple Corn Extracted Residue

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of black rice and purple corn extracted residue (BPER) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and antioxidant activity in male dairy cattle. The residue after extraction of anthocyanin from black rice and purple corn contains anthocyanin and phenolic acids. Several researchers found that anthocyanins and phenolic acids had antioxidant and antimicrobial functions in animals. Sixteen male dairy cattle (with average body weight of 160 ± 10.6 kg) were allotted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 levels of black rice and purple corn extracted residue (BPER) at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% dry matter (DM) in total mixed ration (TMR). The TMR diets were fed ad libitum for 125 days. The daily DM intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and plasma metabolites were measured. The results showed that BPER up to 6% had no effect on intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Intake of ether extract (EE) increased with higher levels of BPER (p<0.05). The DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF digestibility were similar among treatments. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed per gain were similar among treatments. There was no effect of BPER on the concentrations of glucose, urea, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), protein carbonyl, and antioxidant activity in the plasma. However, the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the plasma decreased (p<0.05) with the increased level of BPER, indicating that lower lipid oxidation compared to 0% BPER. It was concluded that BPER can be used up to 6% to reduce oxidative stress, without any negative effect on feed intake and nutrient digestibility

Utilization of Low Quality Broken Rice for Culled Buffalo Feed

The objectives of this research were to substitute broken rice for corn in buffalo diet. Sixteen buffaloes were randomly allotted according to the Completely Randomize Design. Diets was formulated to contain 16% of CP and 70% of TDN using broken rice at 0 (0BR), 20 (20BR), 40 (40BR) or 60% (60BR). Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were determined. Loin and round muscles were collected and determined for chemical composition, meat quality, and consumer acceptance. The results showed that feed intake and daily weight gain were similar (P>0.05). Dressing percentage and carcass composition and appearance of fresh meat were also similar among treatments (P>0.05). However, chilled loin from 60BR had higher redness than 0BR and 20BR groups. Yellowness score was also higher than 0BR group. There were no different (P>0.05) on appearance of fresh and chilled round among treatments. Consumer acceptance of loin and round meat were not different (P>0.05). Chemical compositions were similar (P>0.05) in both loin and round meat. Broken rice could be substituted for corn in buffalo diet without any major effects on the performance, carcass composition and eating quality of meat

Effects of vitamin E supplementation on loin (Longissimus dorsi) quality in Brahman x Thai native cattle

This experiment was conducted to study effects of vitamin E supplementation on physical, chemical and eating quality of longissimus dorsi muscle of Brahman x Thai native cattle. Four groups of three Brahman x Thai native steers, weighing 150-160 kg, were fed with concentrate supplemented with vitamin E at 0, 100, 200, 400 ppm before and after grazing in the pasture. The experiment lasted 120 days. At the end of the feeding trial all cattle were slaughtered and longissimus dorsi muscles were collected to determine various meat quality aspects. The results showed that the lowest shear force value of meat in the 400-ppm group indicated a more tender in comparison to the others. All supplementation levels had no effect on pH of the meat. Water holding capacity of the meat (after chilled for 24 hours) from the 100-ppm group, was significantly different (P0.05) either triobarbituric acid (TBA) value or eating quality (tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall acceptability)

Enhancing Mulberry Leaf Meal with Urea by Pelleting to Improve Rumen Fermentation in Cattle

Four, ruminally fistulated crossbred (Brahman×native) beef cattle with initial body weight of 420±15 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were mulberry leaf pellet (MUP) supplementation at 0, 200, 400 and 600 g/hd/d with rice straw fed to allow ad libitum intake. All steers were kept in individual pens and supplemented with concentrate at 5 g/kg of body weight daily. The experiment was 4 periods, and each lasted 21 d. During the first 14 d, all steers were fed their respective diets ad libitum and during the last 7 d, they were moved to metabolism crates for total urine and fecal collection. It was found that increasing MUP levels resulted in linearly increasing rice straw and total intakes (p<0.05). Ruminal temperature and pH were not significantly affected by MUP supplementation while NH3-N concentration was increased (p<0.05) and maintained at a high level (18.5 mg/dl) with supplementation of MUP at 600 g/hd/d. Similarly, viable total bacteria in the rumen and cellulolytic bacteria were enriched by MUP supplementation at 600 g/hd/d. However, the rumen microbial diversity determined with a PCR-DGGE technique showed similar methanogenic diversity between treatments and sampling times and were similar at a 69% genetic relationship as determined by a UPGMA method. Based on this study, it could be concluded that supplementation of MUP at 600 g/hd/d improved DM intake, ruminal NH3-N, and cellulolytic bacteria thus iimproving rumen ecology in beef cattle fed with rice straw