Potential Use of Nonconventional Silages in Ruminant Feeding for Tropical and Subtropical Areas

The conventional silage uses crops such as corn, sorghum or other forages for this specific objective. The nonconventional silages use by-products, co-products and other materials obtained during the harvest or during the processing in the industry of sugarcane, juice extraction of citrus, pineapple, cassava, pumpkin and others. These products are available in high amounts during a short period of time. These by-products can be ensiled to maintain their nutritive value during longer period in the year and then used as feed for animals. These by-products have adequate characteristics for ensiling, i.e., moisture content and fermentable carbohydrates. Forages reduce their crude protein (CP) concentration in a period of the year (dry season or in winter), which may limit animal production. Most by-products used for silage have low CP concentration; some additives may help increase the nutritive value of these silages. These by-products (sugarcane, juice extraction of citrus, pineapple, cassava, pumpkin and others) can be mixed and ensiled with other by-products as poultry excreta or forage rich in protein to obtain silage with greater CP concentration. The research shows the feasibility of obtaining good quality silages from sugarcane tops, by-products of citrus, cassava and pumpkin; the particularities of each are discussed in detail in this chapter

Influence of methionine supplementation of growing diets enriched with lysine on feedlot performance and characteristics of digestion in Holstein steer calves.

ObjectiveTwo trials were conducted in order to examine the effects of level of supplemental methionine on productive performance, dietary energetic, plasma amino acid concentration, and digestive function.MethodsDietary treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based diet containing urea as the only source of supplemental nitrogen supplemented with no supplemental amino acid (control), or control plus 1.01% lysine and 0.032%, 0.064%, 0.096%, or 0.128% methionine. In Trial 1, 150 Holstein steer calves (127±4.9 kg) were utilized to evaluate the influence of treatments on growth-performance, dietary energetic, plasma amino acid concentration during the first 112 days of growing period. During the initial 56-d period calves received the 5 experimental diets. During the subsequent 56-d period all calves were fed the control diet.ResultsDuring the initial 56-d period, methionine supplementation increased (linear effect, p<0.01) plasma methionine. In the presence of supplemental lysine, increases on level of methionine in diet did not affect average daily gain. However, increased gain efficiency (quadratic effect, p = 0.03) and estimated dietary net energy (NE; linear effect, p = 0.05). Estimated metabolizable methionine supply was closely associated (R2 = 0.95) with efficiency NE utilization for maintenance and gain. During the subsequent 56-d period, when all calves received the control diet (no amino acid supplementation), plasma amino acid concentrations and growth performance was not different among groups. However, the effects of methionine supplementation during the initial 56-period carried over, so that following a 56-d withdrawal of supplementation, the overall 112-d effects on gain efficiency (quadratic effect, p = 0.05) dietary NE (linear effect, p≤0.05) remained appreciable. In Trial 2, 5 cannulated Holstein steers were used to evaluate treatment effects on characteristics of digestion and amino acid supply to the small intestine. There were no treatment effects on flow of dietary and microbial N to the small intestine. Postruminal N digestion increased (p = 0.04) with increasing level of supplemental methionine. Methionine supplementation linearly increased (p<0.01) duodenal flow of methionine. Likewise, lysine supplementation increased an average of 4.6% (p = 0.04) duodenal flow of lysine. In steers that received non-supplemented diet, observed intestinal amino acid supply were in good agreement with expected.ConclusionWe conclude that addition of rumen-protected methionine and lysine to diets may enhance gain efficiency and dietary energetics of growing Holstein calves. Observed amino acid supply to the small intestine were in good agreement with expected, supportive of NRC (2000, Level 1)

Yeasts as Dietary Additives to Manipulate Ruminal Fermentation: Effect on Nutrient Utilization and Productive Performance of Ruminants

There is considerable interest in the use of microbial additives such as yeasts in the nutrition of ruminants. The prohibition of the antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feeds increased the interest to investigate the effects of yeasts as natural additives on the gastrointestinal ecosystem and animal productive behavior. The effect of yeast-based preparations on the rumen environment and on the growth performance of ruminants has been well documented and has generated considerable scientific attention in the last two decades. However, the precise action modes by which the yeast cultures improve nutrient utilization and livestock production are still under study. Therefore, the objective of this chapter is to deepen into the action mechanisms of the yeasts at the ruminal level and at the productive level for their use as additives in animal feeding

Effect of energy density and virginiamycin supplementation in diets on growth performance and digestive function of finishing steers.

ObjectiveThis study was determined the influence of virginiamycin supplementation on growth-performance and characteristics of digestion of cattle with decreasing dietary net energy value of the diet for maintenance (NEm) from 2.22 to 2.10 Mcal/kg.MethodsEighty crossbred beef steers (298.2±6.3 kg) were used in a 152-d performance evaluation consisting of a 28-d adaptation period followed by a 124-d growing-finishing period. During the 124-d period steers were fed either a lesser energy dense (LED, 2.10 Mcal/kg NEm) or higher energy dense (HED, 2.22 Mcal/kg NEm) diet. Diets were fed with or without 28 mg/kg (dry matter [DM] basis) virginiamycin in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Four Holstein steers (170.4±5.6 kg) with cannulas in the rumen (3.8 cm internal diameter) and proximal duodenum were used in 4×4 Latin square experiment to study treatment effects on characteristics of digestion.ResultsNeither diet energy density nor virginiamycin affected average daily gain (p>0.10). As expected, dry matter intake and gain efficiency were greater (p<0.01) for LED- than for HED-fed steers. Virginiamycin did not affect estimated net energy value of the LED diet. Virginiamycin increased estimated NE of the HED diet. During daylight hours when the temperature humidity index averaged 81.3±2.7, virginiamycin decreased (p<0.05) ruminal temperature. Virginiamycin did not influence (p>0.10) ruminal or total tract digestion. Ruminal (p = 0.02) and total tract digestion (p<0.01) of organic matter, and digestible energy (p<0.01) were greater for HED vs LED. Ruminal microbial efficiency was lower (p<0.01) for HED vs LED diets.ConclusionThe positive effect of virginiamycin on growth performance of cattle is due to increased efficiency of energy utilization, as effects of virginiamycin on characteristics of digestion were not appreciable. Under conditions of high ambient temperature virginiamycin may reduce body temperature

Influence of ruminal degradable intake protein restriction on characteristics of digestion and growth performance of feedlot cattle during the late finishing phase.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of supplemental urea withdrawal on characteristics of digestion (Trial 1) and growth performance (Trial 2) of feedlot cattle during the last 40 days on feed. Treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet supplemented with urea to provide urea fermentation potential (UFP) of 0, 0.6, and 1.2%. In Trial 1, six Holstein steers (160 ± 10 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Decreasing supplemental urea decreased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) ruminal OM digestion. This effect was mediated by decreases (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) in ruminal digestibility of NDF and N. Passage of non-ammonia and microbial N (MN) to the small intestine decreased (linear effect, P = 0.04) with decreasing dietary urea level. Total tract digestion of OM (linear effect, P = 0.06), NDF (linear effect, P = 0.07), N (linear effect, P = 0.04) and dietary DE (linear effect, P = 0.05) decreased with decreasing urea level. Treatment effects on total tract starch digestion, although numerically small, likewise tended (linear effect, P = 0.11) to decrease with decreasing urea level. Decreased fiber digestion accounted for 51% of the variation in OM digestion. Ruminal pH was not affected by treatments averaging 5.82. Decreasing urea level decreased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) ruminal N-NH and blood urea nitrogen. In Trial 2, 90 crossbred steers (468 kg ± 8), were used in a 40 d feeding trial (5 steers/pen, 6 pens/ treatment) to evaluate treatment effects on final-phase growth performance. Decreasing urea level did not affect DMI, but decreased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.03) ADG, gain efficiency, and dietary NE. It is concluded that in addition to effects on metabolizable amino acid flow to the small intestine, depriving cattle of otherwise ruminally degradable N (RDP) during the late finishing phase may negatively impact site and extent of digestion of OM, depressing ADG, gain efficiency, and dietary NE

Uso de Levaduras Activas en Nutrición de Camarón

La acuacultura de camarón es una industria que usa harina de pescado en las dietas, el cual es un ingrediente difícil de obtener a bajo costo y es cada vez más escaso. Es importante encontrar estrategias que ayuden a la nutrición del camarón mediante el uso de ingredientes alternativos que reemplacen o complementen a la harina de pescado y ayuden a desarrollar una industria más amigable para el medio ambiente. Las levaduras se pueden añadir a las dietas para los organismos acuáticos y son un producto microbiano generado por sistemas biotecnológicos o un subproducto de las industrias agroalimentarias. Este estudio determinó el uso potencial de levaduras activas (Candida insectorum, C. parapsilosis, C. sake, C. utilis, Debaryomyces hansenii, Rhodosporidium paludigenum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, y Yarrowia lipolytica) en camarones juveniles y postlarvas de Litopenaeus schmitt, Fenneropenaeus indicus y L. vannamei. Los resultados muestran que las levaduras activas pueden ser empleadas a diferentes dosis como un sustituto parcial de la harina de pescado y/o harina de soya e incorporarse a dietas de camarones juveniles o usarse directamente en dietas para postlarvas. Sin embargo, es necesario realizar estudios que determinen las estrategias más eficientes para que la levadura activa sea ingerida por el camarón

Effect of a calcified-seaweed extract as rumen buffer on ruminal disappearance and fermentation in steers

In the last 3 decades, steers with elevated daily weight gains have been fed diets with a relatively high concentration of grain Laving high concentration of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates that reduce rumen pH, degradation of structural carbohydrates, feed intake, and productivity (Soto-Navarro et al. 2000). The effects of ruminal buffers (salt, weak acid, oxide or hydroxide) able to neutralize acids and reduce drastic changes of rumen pH (Staples and Lough 1989) were variable, mostly due to the wide variety of conditions in which these were tested (Erdman 1988). Rumen buffers seem to improve feed efficiency of ruminants fed diets with highgrain concentration (Kennelly et al. 1999). In the last decade, new ruminal buffers have emerged such as calcified-seaweed extracts (CSE). Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CSE on ruminal disappearance and fermentation of steers fed diets with 30% forage and 70% concentrate

Influencia del selenio orgánico o inorgánico en dietas sobre la degradabilidad in situ de la material seca y cinética ruminal en ovinos

El presente estudio valoró la degradabilidad in situ de la material seca (MS) y cinética ruminal de las fracciones sólida y liquida de dietas con dos fuentes de selenio (inorgánico y orgánico), usando tres ovinos Pelibuey (45 ± 2 Kg) con cánulas permanentes de rumen. Se usaron dos tratamientos: dieta basal mas selenio inorgánico (SI), y dieta basal mas selenio orgánico Sel-Plex 50* (SO). Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el modelo de dos compartimentos y dos tasas independientes (G4G1) con regresión no lineal (PROC NLIN de SAS) y comparación de medias. Los resultados no mostraron diferencia (P>.05) para la degradabilidad de MS, sin embargo los parámetros de degradación (a, b y a+b) fueron diferentes (P<.05) en favor de SI. En contraste, la tasa de degradación (c) fue mayor para SO. La cinética de la fracción sólida mostró diferencias (P<.05) en las tasas de pasaje lenta (k1) y rápida (k2); también se encontraron diferencias estadísticas en la salida de material fecal (MF) en favor de SO, pero no se observaron diferencias (P>.05) en el tiempo medio de retención en los compartimentos lento (TMRC1) y rápido (TMRC2). La cinética de la fracción líquida mostró diferencias (P<.05) en todos los parámetros en favor de SO. En conclusión, La fuente de selenio modifica los parámetros ruminales, los cuales fueron mejores para selenio orgánico

Use of Pleurotus pulmonarius to change the nutritional quality of wheat straw. I. effect on chemical composition

The effect of Pleurotus pulmonarius on the chemical composition of wheat straw was evaluated. Wheat straw, treated and untreated with P. pulmonarius, was obtained from a commercial facility. Ten samples plastic bags of wheat straw used previously as substrate to culture edible fungus were collected at random. The negative control group consisted of the pasteurized wheat straw untreated with P. pulmonarius. All samples were analyzed to determine dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose of each wheat straw. Data were analyzed by mean comparison using a t-Student test. No differences (P>0.05) between treatments were found for dry matter, crude protein and hemicellulose; however, straw treated with P. pulmonarius showed higher percentages (P<0.05) of organic matter, neutral and acid detergent fiber. It is concluded that growing P. pulmonarius in wheat straw improves the chemical composition of the straw by increasing its organic matter content and modifies the fiber structure, which increases the soluble carbohydrates content