The effect of crude protein content of the diet on renal energy losses in horses

Renal energy losses of horses are high in comparison with other species. In the present study, more data were obtained on this parameter to improve predictive equations for renal energy losses. Four adult ponies (247-344 kg body weight [BW]) were fed with eight different diets based on first cut hay, second cut hay, early first cut fresh grass, late cut herbs-grass mix, early cut clover-grass mix, sugar beet pulp, rice bran and straw. Feed intake was measured, and urine and faeces were quantitatively collected for 3 x 12 hr at daytime and afterwards 3 x 12 hr at nighttime. Feed was analysed for crude nutrients, gross energy, amino acids and neutral-detergent-insoluble crude protein (NDICP);faeces were analysed for crude nutrients and gross energy;and urine was analysed for nitrogen (N) and gross energy. Renal energy losses per gram dry matter (DM) intake (y;kJ/g DM) were strictly correlated to protein content in DM (x;g/kg DM): y = 0.325 + 0.00431x;r(2) = .81;n = 38;p < .001. The data suggest that the intercept represents energy losses by detoxification products such as hippuric acid and the regression coefficient by protein metabolites such as urea

Cassava root peel as a replacement for maize in diets for growing pigs: effects on energy and nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate cassava root peel (CRP) as diet component for fattening pigs. In the first experiment, ten male pigs were used to investigate the nutrient digestibility and the nutritive value of CRP as replacement for maize in the diet at 0 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 % and 60 %, while supplementing free amino acids (fAA). During two experimental periods, faeces were quantitatively collected and analysed for chemical composition. In the second experiment, 40 pigs received the same diets as in Experiment 1, and daily feed intake and weekly weight changes were recorded. Four pigs per diet were slaughtered at 70 kg body weight to evaluate carcass traits. Digestibility of dry and organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and gross energy were depressed (p0.05) at 60 % CRP; digestible energy content (MJ kg^(−1) DM) was 15.4 at 0 % CRP and 12.7 at 60 % CRP. In the second experiment, CRP inclusion had only a small impact on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (p0.05) as well as on the length of the small intestine and the Longissimus dorsi muscle area. The missing correlation of daily weight gain and feed-to-gain ratio up to a CRP inclusion of 40 % indicates that negative effects of CRP on pig growth can be avoided by respecting upper feeding limits. Hence, a combined use of CRP and fAA can reduce feeding costs for small-scale pig farmers in countries where this crop-by product is available in large amounts

Linking metabolites in eight bioactive forage species to their in vitro methane reduction potential across several cultivars and harvests

An in vitro Hohenheim gas test was conducted to analyze the fermentation end-products from 17 cultivars of eight polyphenol containing forage species. The polyphenol composition and proanthocyanidin (PA) structural features of all the cultivars were analyzed with UPLC-MS/MS in leaves of vegetative or generative plants. The samples were incubated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG, a tannin-binding agent) to separate the tannin-effect on methane (CH4, ml/200 mg DM) production from that of forage quality. Sulla and big trefoil, two particularly PA rich species, were found to have the highest CH4 reduction potential of up to 47% when compared to the samples without PEG. However, concomitant reduction in gas production (GP, ml/200 mg DM) of up to 44% was also observed. An increase in both GP and CH4 production under PEG treatments, confirms the role of tannins in CH4 reduction. Moreover, PA structural features and concentration were found to be an important source of variation for CH4 production from PA containing species. Despite having low polyphenol concentrations, chicory and plantain were found to reduce CH4 production without reducing GP. Additionally, interspecies variability was found to be higher than intraspecies variability, and these results were consistent across growth stages, indicating the findings' representativeness

Assessing the Potential of Diverse Forage Mixtures to Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions In Vitro

Methane emissions from ruminants are a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, eight different forage species were combined in binary mixtures with Lolium perenne in increasing proportions, in vitro, to determine their methane reduction potential in ruminants. Species were sampled in two consecutive years where possible. The aims were: a) to determine if mixtures with specific forages, particularly those rich in plant specialized metabolites (PSM), can reduce methane emissions compared to ryegrass monocultures, b) to identify whether there is a linear-dose effect relationship in methane emissions from the legume or herb addition, and c) whether these effects are maintained across sampling years. Results showed that all dicot species studied, including the non-tannin-containing species, reduced methane production. The tannin-rich species, Sanguisorba minor and Lotus pedunculatus, showed the greatest methane reduction potential of up to 33%. Due to concomitant reductions in the forage digestibility, Cichorium intybus yielded the lowest methane emissions per digestible forage unit. Contrary to total gas production, methane production was less predictable, with a tendency for the lowest methane production being obtained with a 67.5% share of the legume or herb partner species. Thus, linear increments in the partner species share did not result in linear changes in methane concentration. The methane reduction potential differed across sampling years, but the species ranking in methane concentration was stable

Linking metabolites in eight bioactive forage species to their in vitro methane reduction potential across several cultivars and harvests

An in vitro Hohenheim gas test was conducted to analyze the fermentation end-products from 17 cultivars of eight polyphenol containing forage species. The polyphenol composition and proanthocyanidin (PA) structural features of all the cultivars were analyzed with UPLC-MS/MS in leaves of vegetative or generative plants. The samples were incubated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG, a tannin-binding agent) to separate the tannin-effect on methane (CH4, ml/200 mg DM) production from that of forage quality. Sulla and big trefoil, two particularly PA rich species, were found to have the highest CH4 reduction potential of up to 47% when compared to the samples without PEG. However, concomitant reduction in gas production (GP, ml/200 mg DM) of up to 44% was also observed. An increase in both GP and CH4 production under PEG treatments, confirms the role of tannins in CH4 reduction. Moreover, PA structural features and concentration were found to be an important source of variation for CH4 production from PA containing species. Despite having low polyphenol concentrations, chicory and plantain were found to reduce CH4 production without reducing GP. Additionally, interspecies variability was found to be higher than intraspecies variability, and these results were consistent across growth stages, indicating the findings' representativeness

Relationship of Milk Odd- and Branched-Chain Fatty Acids with Urine Parameters and Ruminal Microbial Protein Synthesis in Dairy Cows Fed Different Proportions of Maize Silage and Red Clover Silage

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of milk odd- and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA) with urinary purine derivates and estimated ruminal microbial crude protein (MCP) synthesis. Forty-four lactating Holstein cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-day periods comprised of a 13-day adaptation phase to diet followed by an 8-day sampling phase. Differences in estimated MCP yield and milk OBCFA composition were found by feeding total mixed rations containing forage (maize silage, MS; red clover silage, RCS) and concentrates (0.75:0.25) with targeted proportions of RCS to MS of 0.15:0.60, 0.30:0.45, 0.45:0.30, and 0.60:0.15 on a dry matter basis. The MCP was estimated from the total urinary purine derivate (PD) excretion (MCPPD) and intakes of metabolizable energy (MCPME) or digestible organic matter (MCPdOM). The Pearson correlations of individual OBCFA with urinary parameters (uric acid, allantoin, PD and nitrogen) were generally weak (r = -0.37 to 0.55). Yields of individual OBCFA correlated positively with MCPME and MCPdOM (r = 0.21 to 0.55). The prediction of urinary PD concentration was moderate (R2 = 0.64) when including the proportion of iso-C17:0. The prediction of total PD excretion was low (R2 = 0.21) with yields of iso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C16:0. The prediction of MCPPD was high (R2 = 0.99) when including the iso-C16:0 and cis-9 C17:1 concentrations, while those of MCPME and MCPdOM were low (R2 = 0.37 and 0.36, respectively) when including yields of iso-C15:0, cis-9 C17:1, and iso-C18:0. The correlations and regression analyses demonstrate that the estimated MCP synthesis and urinary PD excretion can be only moderately predicted by yields and concentrations of individual or total OBCFA in cow's milk. However, milk OBCFA can still be seen as a promising, non-invasive method for predicting rumen function and microbial protein supply in dairy cows because MCP flow was not directly measured in this study but instead indirectly estimated probably comprising considerable deviations of the assumed values from the true ones

Feed value of enzyme supplemented cassava leaf meal and shrimp meal in pigs

Ten crossbred male pigs of 49.3±3.97 kg body weight were used to evaluate the digestibility, energy value and N (nitrogen) retention of two unconventional protein sources, i.e. cassava leaf meal (CLM) and shrimp meal (SM), with or without the addition of a nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme complex (β-glucanase and xylanase). During two trial periods, each lasting 7 days, two pigs each were fed the following five experimental diets: Basal diet (BD), BD+cassava leaf meal with (CLM+E) and without enzyme addition (CLM) and BD+shrimp meal with (SM+E) and without enzyme (SM) supplementation.Total tract digestibility of Dry matter (DM) was general depressed in pigs fed diets containing the alternate protein sources. Crude protein (CP) and Gross energy (GE) digestibility were depressed in pigs fed cassava leaf meal (CLM) diet. Enzyme supplementation did not improve the digestibility of the energy and other proximate constituents. Faecal N output increased in pigs fed the alternate protein sources while Urine N and N retention were not affected (P&gt;0.05) by the use of the alternate protein sources in the diets of pigs. There was reduced (P&lt;0.05) conversion to ME in pigs fed diets containing the alternate protein sources. The ratio of DE/GE was lower in pigs fed diets containing CLM as compared to the basal diet. The digestibility energy values obtained for CLM, CLM+E, SM and SM+E were 10.2, 8.8, 10.1 and 10.0 MJ/kg DM respectively. Corresponding metabolizable energy were 9.8, 8.3, 9.0 and 9.3 MJ/kg DM, respectively. It was concluded that SM and CLM can be use individually be use in feeding growing pigs as partial substitute for the more expensive conventional plant protein feedstuffs, such as soybean; and can replace up to 23% of the diet of growing pigs.Keywords: Cassava leaf meal, shrimp meal, digestibility, N-retention, pig