Nutrient digestibility in sheep fed diets containing Roundup Ready or conventional fodder beet, sugar beet, and beet pulp

The objective of this digestibility assessment was to determine whether there are significant differences in the digestibility of Roundup Ready (glyphosate-tolerant) and conventional sugar beet, fodder beet, and beet pulp produced from sugar beet varieties when fed to sheep (seven wethers per treatment group). Three experiments were conducted in this assessment. Experiment 1 (35 wethers) compared one glyphosate-tolerant fodder beet variety with four conventional varieties, Exp. 2 (42 wethers) compared one glyphosate-tolerant sugar beet variety with five conventional varieties, and Exp. 3 (42 wethers) compared beet pulp derived from glyphosate-tolerant sugar beet with beet pulp from five European locations. The experimental phase consisted of a 2-wk preliminary period followed by a 1-wk collection period for Exp. 1 and 2, and a 1-wk preliminary period followed by a 1-wk digestibility collection period for Exp. 3. Diets were comprised of grass hay at 30, 30, and 20% of DM for Exp. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with the balance being beet components. Urea and sodium sulfate were supplemented (8 and 2.9 g, respectively, for Exp. 1 and 2; and 6 g and 2.16 g, respectively, for Exp. 3) to supply sufficient dietary N and S. Each diet was fed to sheep (96 +/- 0.9 kg) in the three experiments to at or near maintenance energy levels. Treatment differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, and DE for glyphosate-tolerant fodder and sugar beets did not differ from those for commercial fodder and sugar beets in Exp. 1 and 2. There were differences (P < 0.05) in DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, and DE digestibilities influenced by the different varieties of beet pulp in Exp. 3, but these were not unique to just the Roundup Ready sugar beet variety. Digestibilities and feeding values of Roundup Ready fodder beet, sugar beet, and beet pulp produced from Roundup Ready sugar beet varieties were not influenced by the introduction of the Roundup Ready trait compared with conventional varieties.     

Feeding value of dried sugar beet pulp from Egyptian production.

Dried sugar beet pulp was fed to sheep in mixture with molasses (BPM), molasses plus urea (BPMU) or with hay (BPH) in comparison to whole diet of hay (H) in four metabolic trials. There were no significant differences among the four rations although BPMU reflected the highest digestibility of nutrients. The BPH had the highest feeding value (total digestible nutrients "TDN" and metabolizable energy) and caused the highest retention of nitrogen. Blood profile revealed that there were no significant effect of the rations on packed cell volume, haemoglobin, activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase, Mg and Na. Whereas glucose, total N, Ca, P and K significantly affected. The BPMU and BPH were found to be the best mixtures of the four tested rations in respect to the digestibility, feeding value and blood picture. Thus, dried sugar beet pulp could be offered to animals in a mixture with molasses and urea or with hay according to the availability and price of the other ingredients than beet pulp, i.e. molasses and urea or hay.     

Adjustment of the ammonia level in the rumen by sorption on bentonite and dried beet pulp

The effect was studied of bentonite and spent sugar beet pulp on the ammonia level in the rumen juice sheep fed hay, ground barley and a urea supplementation. In comparison with a control trial, the nitrogen supply to the rumen juice proved more continuous, this fact improving the conditions for the microbial protein synthesis at the time fo the strongest fermentation. The interaction of bentonite, beet pectin and ammonium ions is attributed to the ion exchange.     

凋萎和不同添加剂对紫花苜蓿青贮品质的影响

以孕蕾后期至初花期紫花苜蓿为材料,在实验室条件下研究了两种凋萎程度(晾晒3 h和晾晒12 h),对应含水率分别为72.6%和61.8%的苜蓿草分别添加乳酸菌接种剂(LAB)、甜菜粕(SB)、乳酸菌+甜菜粕(LAB+SB)、甲酸钠(SF)、甲酸钠+甜菜粕(SF+SB)五组不同添加剂处理及对照组(CK)对苜蓿青贮发酵品质和主要营养成分含量的影响。青贮65 d开封,对青贮进行了感官评定和实验室评定。结果表明,1)添加剂对苜蓿青贮发酵品质有极显著的影响(P<0.01),各种添加剂均不同程度地提高了苜蓿青贮饲料的发酵品质,显著降低了青贮饲料的pH和氨态氮含量;2)两种凋萎程度下苜蓿青贮的NDF、ADF和干物质回收率均与对照组差异不显著,LAB+SB和SF处理显著提高了青贮饲料WSC的含量(P<0.05),添加SB显著降低了青贮饲料的CP值(P<0.05);3)提高原料的凋萎程度能够改善苜蓿青贮饲料的发酵品质,显著提高青贮饲料的CP和WSC含量(P<0.05)。总体来说,不同添加剂的青贮效果不同,添加LAB+SB的青贮品质最佳。     

Effect of high-carbohydrate diet in the form of sugar beet on glucose and ketone body levels in the blood serum of highly pregnant and freshly lactating cows

In an experiment using 24 high-yielding cows (3rd and 6th lactations), group II was fed sugar beet as carbohydrate source (2 kg DM per animal and day) for 4 weeks before and for 4 weeks after parturition, whilst group I was given the equivalent amount of dried spent beet pulp. Sugar beet feeding during the dry period caused the glucose level in the blood to rise significantly from 48 to 55 mg/100 ml. On the 21st day of lactation the glucose concentration in group II (27 mg) had declined more strongly than in group I (37 mg). Feeding large amounts of easily soluble carbohydrates during the dry period obviously inhibits gluconeogenesis during early lactation. The ketone body level of group II was found to rise to 14 mg/100 ml by the 21st day of lactation (group I--4 mg), a level indicative of ketosis. The ketogenous action (strong formation of butyric acid in the rumen) of sugar beet enhances this effect, too. The daily milk yield did not vary much coming to 26.8 and 27.8 kg in the control and in the experimental group, respectively. The results allow to conclude that feeding fresh sugar beet to high-yielding cows just before and shortly after parturition is not advisable.     

Energetic utilization of sugar beets, dried shreds, sucrose and apple pectin by growing swine. 1. Study overview and composition and digestibility of feed and rations

Total metabolism experiments with a basic ration were carried out over two measuring periods and with a basic ration plus supplements of raw sugar beets, steamed sugar beets, dried sugar beet pulp, sucrose and apple pectin resp. with 4 pigs per test group and 4 test groups (LW 40-135 kg). Live weight gain was approximately equal after the feeding of raw and steamed sugar beets. It amounted to 650 g/animal and day in the first experimental period and to 715 g in the second. After feeding dried sugar beet pulp as supplement the corresponding weight gain was 525 and 565 g/animal and day. In the course of the ontogenetic development up to a live weight of about 70 kg an increase of digestibility could be observed. Adaptation cannot be excluded. This question will be pursued in the following experiments, so that consequences for energetic feed evaluation have to be postponed. For both raw and steamed sugar beets the digestibility of the organic matter was 88%, of NFE 95% and of water soluble carbohydrates 95%.     

Effect of concentrate composition and cubicle bedding on the development of hoof haemorrhages in Holstein heifers after calving

Diseases of the hoof horn are the most common cause of lameness in the UK dairy herd, and diet, particularly starch intake, is commonly implicated in their development. This study assessed whether replacing starch carbohydrate with sugar beet pulp, in a diet containing 50 per cent of the dry matter as forage, would significantly reduce the development of hoof horn haemorrhages in dairy heifers after calving. It also investigated the effect of replacing wood shavings as cubicle bedding with chopped straw. The heifers fed the high-fibre diet had a significantly lower yield of milk protein and a significantly higher yield of milk fat than the heifers fed the high-starch diet, indicating that the change of diet had affected rumen fermentation. However, the change had no significant effect on the development of hoof horn haemorrhages. The change of bedding material also had no significant effect on the development of hoof horn haemorrhages.     

A field study of culling and mortality in beef cows from western Canada

The objectives were to describe the pattern of losses through culling, sales of breeding stock, mortality, and disappearance, and to characterize the causes of mortality of cows and replacement heifers of breeding age from Western Canadian beef herds. Cows and replacement heifers from 203 herds were observed for a 1-year period starting June 1, 2001. Veterinarians examined dead animals on-farm using a standard postmortem protocol. The incidence of culling in cows and replacements heifers was 14.3 per 100 cow-years at risk, and the frequencies of sales for breeding stock, mortality, and cows reported missing per cow-years at risk were 4.0, 1.1, and 0.4, respectively. During the study, 355 animals died or were euthanized, 209 were examined postmortem, and the requested tissues were submitted for histopathologic examination from 184. A cause of death was determined for 70% (128/184) of the cows with complete gross postmortem and histopathologic examinations. Hardware disease (traumatic reticuloperitonitis), malignant neoplasia (cancer), calving-associated injury, rumen tympany (bloat), myopathy, and pneumonia accounted for 56% (72/128) of the animals where a cause of death was determined. Twenty-three other causes of death accounted for the remaining 44% (56/128). Factors relating to cow nutrition accounted for 25% of the deaths, emphasizing the importance of feeding management as a determinant of cow health in western Canada.     

Effects of different types of dietary non-digestible carbohydrates on the physico-chemical properties and microbiota of proximal colon digesta of growing pigs

The effect of different types of fibre on the intestinal digesta and microbial diversity was evaluated in growing pigs. The animals were fed during forty-two days with one of four experimental diets including a control group, a diet enriched with resistant starch type I, by coarse ground corn, and other two diets containing sugar beet pulp (8%) and wheat bran (10%) (as sources of soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides respectively). Body weight (BW) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were assessed at day 7, 21 and 42. Luminal samples of digesta from proximal colon were collected to analyse water retention capacity (WRC), concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and the microbial diversity. Overall, animals fed with higher amounts of non-digestible carbohydrates had lower ADFI and BW. Sugar beet pulp provoked an increase of WRC, a higher concentration of SCFA, and a more stable microbial diversity throughout the experimental period. On the other hand, animals fed with wheat bran presented a lower bacterial diversity.     

甜菜粕在动物生产中的饲用价值和研究进展

甜菜粕是甜菜制糖的副产物,由甜菜渣制粒而成。甜菜粕产量大,作为非粮饲料原料利用潜力巨大。甜菜粕营养丰富、适口性好、果胶含量较高,可在动物生产中用作能量饲料。文章综述甜菜粕的营养价值和在动物生产中的应用研究进展,为甜菜粕进一步的应用和研究提供参考。     

Macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, plasma indicators of protein metabolism and mineral absorption in horses fed a ration rich in sugar beet pulp

In a cross-over study with six mature horses, the effect of iso-energetic replacement of dietary glucose by beet pulp on macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and mineral absorption was studied. The test ration contained 25% beet pulp in the total dietary dry matter. Beet pulp feeding significantly lowered crude fat and non-structural carbohydrate digestibility, but had no significant effect on digestibility of other macronutrients, faecal and urinary nitrogen excretion and the faecal to urinary nitrogen excretion quotient. However, on the beet pulp diet, plasma ammonia and creatinin concentrations were significantly lower than on the glucose diet. No diet effect on magnesium absorption was observed. It is suggested that dietary beet pulp stimulates the conversion of ammonia into urea.     

Serological comparison of French WD-42 enterovirus isolate with bovine winter dysentery in New York State.

Forty-eight acute and convalescent paired serums from 10 dairy cattle herds naturally infected with winter dysentery and 10 paired serums from laboratory infected heifers were tested for antibody to bovine enterovirus WD-42 which reportedly reproduced the disease syndrome in France. Only 3 naturally infected and 1 experimentally infected animals had 2-fold antibody responses. No clinical symptoms were observed in 2 steers inoculated with WD-42. Each had a 4-fold or greater antibody response to the virus. Results indicate that the winter dysentery syndrome observed in New York is produced by an agent other than WD-42 virus and that it is produced by an agent other than an enterovirus.     

Fermentation Pattern in the Bovine Rumen after Feeding Straight Feeds

The influence of straight feeds on the fermentation pattern in the bovine rumen was investigated by feeding with hay, grass pellets, dried beet pulp with molasses and rolled oats. The study comprised 3 rumenfistulated dairy heifers, and the parameters measured were ammonia, pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the rumen fluid, and non-glucogenic/glucogenic ratio (NGGR) in the VFA mixture.Typical differences related to the structure and chemical composition of the diets were demonstrated by the parameters measured. Fermentation of the easily digestible feeds resulted in so extensive variations that representative means could be obtained only by analyzing samples collected frequently throughout the feeding cycle.Rumen pH was found highly correlated to total VFA concentration for all the feeds examined, and the regression coefficients showed that diets, based upon beets and oats, were fermented under low buffering capacity.     

Different concentrations and sources of dietary fibre may improve the welfare of female broiler breeders

1. Broiler breeder females were fed restricted allocations of food to meet target body weights. They were fed on a standard wheat-soy ration or on one of three series of rations containing 50, 100 or 200 g/kg of ground oat hulls, ground unmolassed sugar beet pulp or sunflower meal. Changes in behaviour and heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (HLR) were measured at 5, 10 and 15 weeks of age. 2. Body weight at 15 weeks of age decreased in a linear manner with increasing concentrations of the experimental ingredients. 3. Decreased spot pecking was observed in birds fed on the rations containing 50 g/kg of sugar beet pulp and 200 g/kg of oat hulls. 4. The HLR was higher in birds fed on the control diet and diets containing 50 g/kg of the high fibre ingredients. 5. Rations containing sugar beet pulp were associated with higher water contents in the gastrointestinal tract and it is proposed that this improved satiety and welfare.     

Citrinin as a possible cause of the pruritis, pyrexia, haemorrhagic syndrome in cattle

An outbreak of the pruritis, pyrexia, haemorrhagic syndrome affected eight of a herd of 175 cows which was divided into two groups of 115 and 60 according to yield. There was no difference in management between them but citrus pulp pellets were fed only to the larger group in which the eight cows were affected. Silage, which had been made without the use of additives, was also fed to both groups. The citrus pulp was visibly mouldy and contained 30 to 40 parts per billion of citrinin. Signs of the syndrome occurred within three days of the cows starting to ingest the citrus pulp, which was fed for 21 days, and the last case occurred six days after the feeding of citrus pulp ceased. Five calves whose dams had been fed citrus pulp were subsequently born with superior prognathism. In contrast to the eight cows that developed the syndrome only one out of 68 heifers which were fed larger quantities of citrus pulp for 10 days developed mild signs of the syndrome and then recovered, suggesting that older animals may be more susceptible. The clinical signs, gross pathology and histopathology are described and compared with those of previous outbreaks. Mycotoxins, particularly citrinin, were strongly implicated as the cause of this outbreak.     

Feed intake, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation activities in sheep-fed peanut hulls treated with Trichoderma viride or urea

This study aimed to assess impacts of fungal treatment on the nutritional value of peanut hulls (PH) or urea at the rate of 5 kg/100 g of PH. Fermented sugar beet pulp inoculated with Trichoderma viride was supplemented to PH at rates of 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 g/100 g air dry of PH and mixed well before aerobic incubation for 21 days. Organic matter (OM) content of PH declined with increased levels of fermented sugar beet pulp inoculums, while crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and ash increased. Fiber contents were decreased with both treatments of fermented sugar beet pulp and urea. Total N of PH increased with urea treatment, which reduced the true protein N to total protein N ratio. In sacco degradabilities of dry matter (DM), OM, and CP with urea treatment increased compared with fungal treatment. The DM intake of peanut hulls treated with fungus (PHF) was higher (P?<?0.05) than with peanut hulls treated with urea (PHU). Digestibility of OM, CP, neutral detergent fiber, and non-fiber carbohydrate by native breed Ossimi sheep with PH were higher (P?<?0.05) than with PH or urea treated PH. The intakes, losses, and balance of N increased (P?<?0.01) with PHF versus PH feeding. Feeding PHF increased (P?<?0.01) ruminal concentrations of NH₃-N, acetic acid, butyric acid, and the acetic to propionic acid ratio. Bacterial and protozoal counts increased (P?<?0.05) with feeding PHF or PHU versus PH. Overall, this fungal treatment of peanut hulls created a higher nutritive value feed for ruminants.     

The microflora and concentrations of volatile fatty acids in the rumen of cattle fed on single component rations

The composition of the rumen microflora and the volatile fatty acids were examined in cattle free-grazing on grass or stall-fed on hay, grass pellets, oats or dried beet pulp with molasses. Total and viable counts of anaerobic bacteria were highest on the grass feeding, but viable counts as a percentage of total counts were highest when oats or beet pulp with molasses were fed. Counts of cellulolytic bacteria were lowest on these latter 2 diets, and highest on grass or grass pellet diets. Studies of the anaerobic flora showed that the composition in animals fed on grass pellets resembled more that found in animals free-grazing on grass than in those fed on hay. Counts of aerotolerant bacteria were only a small percentage of the total count, but were highest on the hay diet. On this latter diet and on grass-feeding the streptococci (identified as Streptococcus bovis) were predominant, but contrary to expectation, streptococci were found only in small numbers on the oats diet, where coryneform rods were the major type present. Although a period of 4–6 weeks was allowed for the animals to adapt to the feeds, the 2 periods of feeding on oats and dried beet pulp with molasses markedly affected the composition of the rumen flora in the subsequent periods of feeding grass pellets and hay. Ruinen volatile fatty acid analysis showed a propionogenic effect of oats and the highest percentage of butyric acid when beet pulp with molasses was fed. The expected propionogenic effect of grass pellets was not observed.     

The absorption of lactic acid is more synchronized with the absorption of glucose than with the absorption of short-chain fatty acids — A study with sows fed diets varying in dietary fibre

Sows were fed one of three diets varying in level and type of dietary fibre (DF). A low DF diet (LF; 17% DF) based on wheat and barley and two generic high DF diets (HF1, high in soluble DF and HF2, high in insoluble DF;  41% DF) where the cereals were substituted with co-products (sugar beet pulp, potato pulp, pectin residue, pea hull, brewer's spent grain and seed residue (ray grass)) from the vegetable food and agro industries. Six sows were fitted with a catheter in the portal vein and the mesenteric artery and a flow probe around the portal vein. The sows were fed 2 kg/d of the three experimental diets in a repeated 3 × 3 crossover design. Blood samples were collected the last day in each period at − 120, − 60, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and then at 60-min intervals up to 600 min after feeding. Although lactic acid (LA) is formed by microbial fermentation, the absorption profile of LA was more comparable with the absorption profile of glucose than with that of other SCFA.     

Management practices associated with udder health of first-parity dairy cows in early lactation

This study aimed at investigating associations between management routines including feeding, housing, and milking around calving, and udder health of first-parity cows in early lactation in Swedish large, high producing, low bulk-milk somatic cell count (SCC) dairy herds housed in free stalls. Seventy-two dairy herds participated and data concerning 1189 first-parity cows calving during the study period (October 2005-January 2006) was collected. Multivariable regression analysis were performed with three different outcomes; within-herd number of first-parity cows veterinary treated for clinical mastitis at days -10 to 60 after calving, within-herd number of first-parity cows with a SCC> or =200,000cells/mL at first test-day, and SCC of first-parity cows at first test-day. Cow factors significantly associated with good udder health of first-parity cows (few cases of clinical mastitis and or low SCC) were being of the Swedish Red breed, having a high milk yield at first test-day, and a milk-urea > or =5mmol/L at first test-day. Herd factors significantly associated with good udder health were having mattresses as flooring in the cubicles in the lactating cow housing, and to house the first-parity cows in tie stalls 1 month before calving. Cow factors significantly associated with poor udder health of first-parity cows were having a milk-urea <4mmol/L at first test-day. Herd factors significantly associated with poor udder health of first-parity cows were feeding first-parity cows sugar-beet pulp or corn silage, and to give silage from a different batch to pregnant heifers than to lactating cows. Moreover, to have sawdust or shavings in the calving pen, to be moved from the calving pen > or =2 days after calving, to milk first-parity cows at the calving site instead of in the parlor, and to rinse, clean or disinfect milking units before a first-parity cow was milked were also significantly associated with poor udder health of first-parity cows. The results indicate that different control measures must be taken depending on the nature of the udder health problem.     

Synchrony of nutrient supply to the rumen and dietary energy source and their effects on the growth and metabolism of lambs

The objective of the current series of experiments was to assess the effects of dietary synchrony of OM and N supply to the rumen, achieved by altering the sequence of feeding individual ingredients and in diets with different energy sources, on the metabolism and performance of growing lambs. In Exp. 1, the in situ degradability coefficients of OM and N were determined for five feed ingredients and subsequently was used to formulate two diets, based either on barley or sugar beet pulp, to have a similar predicted nutrient content. Within each diet, specific ingredients were shifted between the 0900 and 1600 feeding to provide either a synchronous, intermediate, or asynchronous supply of OM and N to the rumen. In Exp. 2, these diets were fed at a restricted level to 48 growing lambs with an initial live weight of 25.1 +/- 4.22 kg and a slaughter weight of 41.4 +/- 1.94 kg. There was no significant effect of dietary treatment on live weight gain or feed conversion efficiency. Lambs fed the synchronous diets deposited more kidney knob and channel fat than lambs on the asynchronous or intermediate diets (P < 0.05), whereas lambs fed the barley-based diets deposited more carcass (P < 0.05) and noncarcass (P < 0.001) fat than lambs on the sugar beet-based diets. Lambs fed the asynchronous diets retained less energy over the course of the experiment than lambs on the intermediate or synchronous diets (P < 0.05), and had a lower energy efficiency (0.079, 0.097, and 0.093 MJ retained/ MJ of intake, respectively, P < 0.05). Lambs fed the barley-based diets retained more energy than lambs on the sugar beet-based (P < 0.001) and had a higher energy balance (0.095 vs. 0.084 MJ retained/MJ intake, respectively; P < 0.01). Plasma ammonia concentrations mirrored ruminal ammonia concentrations on the barley-based diets, but not sugar beet-based diets. In Exp. 3, lambs fed the sugar beet-based diets had a higher digestibility of OM and NDF (P < 0.001). By contrast, lambs on the barley-based diets had a higher level of purine derivative excretion and microbial N production (P < 0.001). The results indicate that neither dietary synchrony nor energy source significantly influenced growth rate. However, both the asynchronous and sugar beet pulp-based diets resulted in a lower efficiency of dietary energy use, and the avoidance of asynchronous patterns of nutrient release within the rumen can improve energy efficiency in growing lambs.