Fatemeh Esmaeili Lima; Mohammad Moradi Shahr Babak; Hossain Moradi Shahrbabak; Ali Jalil Sarghale
Abstract
Objective: Methane is a greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential of 27.2 times than of carbon dioxide. The ruminant gut produces methane a through a strong fermentation process, making methane a potent greenhouse gas. This research sought to identify genomic regions associated with methane ...
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Objective: Methane is a greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential of 27.2 times than of carbon dioxide. The ruminant gut produces methane a through a strong fermentation process, making methane a potent greenhouse gas. This research sought to identify genomic regions associated with methane emission in Holstein dairy cattle using a genome-wide association method and volatile fatty acid (VFA) ratios of acetate to propionate and propionate to butyrate.
Methods: Samples of Hair and rumen fluid (via an esophageal tube) were collected from 150 animals that were selected from an industrial Holstein dairy cattle herd based on the breeding values (EBV) of the bidirectional milk yield trait, using related standards for sampling. After measuring the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in rumen fluid, we measured the concentration of these acids to determine methane emission for each animal. Hair cards samples were sent to the Gene Seek company (country of America), and the DNA samples were genotyped using SNP panel of GGP-LD v4' (30,108 SNPs). Genotyping results were quality controlled using Plink2.0 software. A total of 29888 SNPs were estimated and after quality control 5723 of them were culled due to quality control criteria. GWAS Analysis: Genomic regions associated with methane emission were identified by GWAS, and least squared analysis of variance with proc GLM (Generalized linear model) in SAS (2002-v 9.1) software was used to identify significant fixed effect factors related to methane emission. The relationship between genotypes and methane emission traits was analyzed by a mixed linear model in Plink (19) software.
Results: The least square analysis variance (P<0.05) for predicted methane emission trait was significant for effect of age and barnyard. Five and two SNPs were found to be significant for acetate to propionate and propionate to butyrate traits, respectively, which were located on chromosomes 3, 28 and 10, 11, respectively. Some of these SNPs were located close to the QTLs identified using annotation for methane emission, body weight, milk production traits, and remaining lactation period.
Conclusion: Results of this research demonstrate that genetic selection may be an effective way to reduce methane emissions per animal, because the improvement achieved through genetic selection is both heritable, accumulative, and permanent.
Soheil mirhabibi; Hossein Emrani; Hamed Asadolahi; Mojtaba Haghighat
Abstract
Objective: The first foreign breed of cattle imported to the United States to cross with the native cattle was the Brown Swiss breed, which has a high tolerance to climate change and little change in milk yield with environmental conditions. This breed is known for having higher quality milk than the ...
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Objective: The first foreign breed of cattle imported to the United States to cross with the native cattle was the Brown Swiss breed, which has a high tolerance to climate change and little change in milk yield with environmental conditions. This breed is known for having higher quality milk than the Holstein breed. So far, little research has been conducted on the production and reproductive characteristics of the Brown Swiss breed and its genetic loci. The results of recent studies show that in addition to phenotypic and pedigree information, molecular marker information can be used as an auxiliary tool in the selection of domestic animals. Milk caseins are one of the most important proteins in milk, whose natural role is to interfere in the formation of micelles and curdling of cheese. Kappa casein is one of the most important caseins, which is very important in the quality of the produced cheese and the efficiency of turning milk into cheese. Several reports have shown the polymorphism of the kappa casein gene locus with milk production traits. The kappa casein gene is the most important major gene that influence the milk production related traits. The aim of this study was investigate the association of this gene with production related traits breeding value in Brown Swiss cattle in Iran.Method: The present investigation was undertaken on the data of Brown Swiss cattle of Golpayegan dairy farm. Genomic DNA was extracted from 150 blood sample by modified salting out method. The PCR-RFLP method was carried out to amplify and digests the interested sequence. The HinfI restriction enzyme was used to digest of 350 bp of kappa casein gene. To estimate allelic and genotypic frequencies in this population and also calculate Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the chi-square test (XT2) and the likelihood ratio test (Gr 2) were used.Results: The results of enzymatic digestion of the 350 bp fragment of kappa casein gene showed that the frequencies of genotypes AA, AB and BB for this gene are 0.20, 0.61 and 0.19 respectively and the allele frequencies are 0.505 and 0.495 for allele A and B respectively. Genotypes were not distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The average milk production, length of lactation days, birth weight and age at first calving were 7302±2438 kg, 346±76.89 days, 41.89±4.7 kg and 832±74 days, respectively. Genetic parameters were estimated by REML method and WOMBAT software. Heritability and repeatability for milk yield were estimated 0.154 and 0.309 respectively.Conclusion: The association of the breeding value of milk yield traits, with detected genotype of each animal, was used in statistical analysis based on the General Linar Models and no significant effect was observed for this gene.
Tahere Amirabadi Farahani
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding a close-up premix on the incidence of retained placenta and other metabolic disorders, as well as milk yield and reproductive performance, in Holstein dairy cows.
Method: A total of 190 multiparous Holstein cows (Farm 1= 94 ...
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Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding a close-up premix on the incidence of retained placenta and other metabolic disorders, as well as milk yield and reproductive performance, in Holstein dairy cows.
Method: A total of 190 multiparous Holstein cows (Farm 1= 94 cows; Farm 2= 96 cows) with similar parity, body condition score, and previous lactation milk yield were enrolled in the study 21 days before the expected calving date. Cows were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments: a control group fed the herd’s close-up diet, and a treatment group receiving a premix that replaced 7.5% of the basal diet dry matter (Power Close). The premix contained protein supplements, macro- and microminerals, vitamins, and feed additives. Calf sex and birth weight were recorded immediately after calving, and colostrum yield at the first milking was measured. Milk yield and composition were recorded monthly at each milking up to 150 days in milk (DIM), with monthly milk samples collected for compositional analysis. The incidence of metabolic disorders—including dystocia, retained placenta, milk fever, ketosis, displaced abomasum, metritis, clinical endometritis, and culling—was recorded within 60 DIM. Reproductive performance indicators, including the interval from calving to first insemination, pregnancy rates at first and second inseminations, overall pregnancy rate, number of inseminations per pregnancy, and days open, were also recorded.
Results: The results of this study indicated that feeding Power Close during the close-up period significantly reduced the incidence of retained placenta (P<0.05) and ketosis (P<0.05). In addition, the incidence of metritis and culling tended to be lower in cows fed Power Close than in control cows. The incidence of other metabolic disorders, including dystocia, milk fever, displaced abomasum, and endometritis, was not significantly affected by dietary treatment. Colostrum yield at the first milking (P<0.05), milk yield (P<0.05), and 4% fat-corrected milk yield (P<0.05) were greater in cows fed Power Close compared with those fed the control diet. However, milk fat content was lower in the Power Close group than in the control group (P<0.05). Calf birth weight and most reproductive parameters, including the number of inseminations per conception, conception rate at the first and second inseminations, and pregnancy rate up to 150 days in milk, were not affected by Power Close supplementation. Nevertheless, the interval to first insemination and days open were reduced in cows fed Power Close compared with control cows (P<0.05).
Conclusion: he findings of this study indicate that feeding Power Close during the transition period effectively reduced the incidence of retained placenta, metritis, and culling within the first 60 days of lactation, while increasing colostrum yield and milk production. However, despite its positive effect on reducing days open, Power Close supplementation did not significantly affect pregnancy rate.
alireza aghashahi; alireza Ashkvari; Hasan Fazaeli; Hasan Khamisabadi; Mehdi Eftekhari
Abstract
Objective: Selecting the right method for making silage from high-moisture feed materials, such as fodder beet, is critical in animal nutrition and the results should be properly evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to qualitatively assess fodder beet silage as a total mixed (TMR) and partial ...
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Objective: Selecting the right method for making silage from high-moisture feed materials, such as fodder beet, is critical in animal nutrition and the results should be properly evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to qualitatively assess fodder beet silage as a total mixed (TMR) and partial mixed ration (PMR) and investigate their effect on the diet of fattening calves.
Method: Cultivation and harvesting of fodder beet were performed at the proper time (root bulking stage – before the start of reproductive growth or seed production), and TMR and PMR silages were produced based on nutritional requirements of fattening calves (Holstein and Holstein- Montbéliard crossbreeds). Twenty fattening male calves (average weight of 287±25 kg) were equally assigned to two groups fed one of the experimental treatments (TMR and PMR silages). The experiment lasted 110 days (90 days’ main period) and the animals were weighed and samples of feed, feed residue, and feces were taken every 30 days after adaptation period to assess daily weight gain, feed intake, and digestibility.
Results: Silages were visually and qualitatively evaluated, which indicated that fodder beet silage as a PMR had lower pH and Fleig point compared to TMR; however, there was no difference between the two treatments in the color, odor, and texture of silage. The crude protein (CP) and ammonia nitrogen content showed that better conditions existed in in the PMR silage (P<0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI) and CP intake were higher for PMR silage than TMR (P<0.05). Nutrient digestibility in calves fed the PMR was superior and significantly different from that of TMR (P<0.05). Initial and final weights of calves were not affected by the two treatments; however, average daily weight gain was higher in the PMR (P<0.05), due to the higher DMI, but the feed conversion ratio was not significantly different. Economic analysis of diets and performance of the fattening male calves showed that income and profit from rearing male calves fed fodder beet silage as a PMR was higher compared to TMR (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The qualitative and visual conditions of silage showed that although both methods of preparing silage as TMR and PMR were adequate and can be used to preserve high-moisture forages in livestock farming, the qualitative performance of silage production was better in the PMR mode; nutrient intake and digestibility in the lambs fed PMR was higher than that with TMR silage, and given that fattening male calves gained more weight per day in this group and that they achieved more profit in this treatment, it appears that, if labor is available, PMR silage can be used instead of TMR silage. In general, because of the lack of available research, further complementary studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to assess the effects of these findings on other livestock species.
Ali Asadi; Ali Kiani; Ayoub Azizi; Ali Forouharmehr; Amir Fadayifar
Abstract
Objective: Soybean meal is the most commonly fed protein source in ruminant nutrition. Soybean meal protein has moderate ruminal degradability (45-70%) and is deficient in methionine,. which negatively impacts the efficiency of nitrogen utilization in the diet and the environmental impact ...
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Objective: Soybean meal is the most commonly fed protein source in ruminant nutrition. Soybean meal protein has moderate ruminal degradability (45-70%) and is deficient in methionine,. which negatively impacts the efficiency of nitrogen utilization in the diet and the environmental impact of excess nitrogen in the urine. This combination of problems, plus market shortages, has spurred the search for suitable replacements for soybean meal. Alternative protein sources such as corn gluten meal and fish meal have a higher rumen-undegradable protein fraction and greater methionine and lysine content than soybean meal. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of replacing soybean meal partially by corn gluten meal and fish meal on performance, physicochemical characteristics (pH and water-holding capacity, cooking loss) and fatty acid profile of meat in fattening male lambs.
Method: A completely randomized design was used to study the effect of three experimental treatments (7 lambs per treatment on feed intake, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 21 male Lori-Bakhtiari lambs (age: 120±15 days, initial weight: 33±2.5 kg) fed individually for 75 days (including a 15-day adaptation period) with diets containing 13% soybean meal, 5% soybean meal + 3.5% corn gluten meal, or 5% soybean meal + 2% corn gluten meal + 2% fish meal. All diets had aratio of rumen-degradable protein (63%) to rumen-undegradable protein (37%). After slaughter,the physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of the meat were determined.
Results: There was no effect of replacing soybean meal with corn gluten and fish meal ondry matter intake. The final weightm daily weight gain and FCR were all significantly better (P<0.05) for lambs fed a diet containing a mixture of three protein sources (soybean meal+corn gluten+fish meal) compared to other lambs.. Replacing of soybean meal with corn gluten and fish meal did not affect the moisture, fat, and mineral percentages of the lamb meat, but it decreased the protein percentage of the lamb meat (P< 0.05). The physicochemical characteristics of the lamb meat were also not affected by the replacement of soybean meal with corn gluten and fish meal. Generally, partial replacement of soybean meal by corn gluten and fish meal did not significantly affect the concentration of fatty acids in the meat (as a percentage of total fatty acids) in male lambs, but, the percentages of arachidic acid (C20:0) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) were higher in the meat of lambs fed a diet containing corn gluten + fish meal compared to those fed soybean meal (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Results of the present study revealed that replacing soybean meal with a mixture of corn gluten and fish meal improved growth performance without affecting the physicochemical characteristics and the fatty acid profile of the meat in fattening lambs.
mehran beheshti; Mohsen Hajipour; Vahid Rezaeipour
Abstract
Objective: Bacterial resistance and chemical residues in chicken meat prohibited the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in in humans. Therefore, essential oils, extracts, and powders of medicinal plants as antibiotic alternatives in poultry feed have been of interest in recent years. These include cinnamon ...
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Objective: Bacterial resistance and chemical residues in chicken meat prohibited the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in in humans. Therefore, essential oils, extracts, and powders of medicinal plants as antibiotic alternatives in poultry feed have been of interest in recent years. These include cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and carvacrol), garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris L) (carvacrol and thymol), clove (Caryophillium aromaticus) (eugenol), and turmeric (rhizome of the Curcuma Longa plant) (curcuminoids), all of which are plant-based products with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Considering the substantial scientific evidence regarding the positive effects of plant extracts on improving broiler chickens performance, and considering that has climatic diversity in the growth of medicinal plants, using beneficial natural additives in broiler chickens nutrition is justified.
Method: In this study, the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of mixed herbs on performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters, antioxidant activity, and antibody titers in broiler chicks were examined using 240 one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks with an average initial weight of 44±2 grams using a completely randomized design with four treatments, six replications, and 10 chicks per replication over 42 days. The treatments were 1-control group (no hydroalcoholic extract), 2-treatment one liter of hydroalcoholic extract in 1000 liters of drinking water, 3-treatment two liters of hydroalcoholic extract in 1000 liters of drinking water, and 4-treatment three liters of hydroalcoholic extract in 1000 liters of drinking water. The chicks were weighed, and feed intake was measured during the periods of 1 to 10 days, 11 to 24 days, and 25 to 42 days of age. At the end of the experiment, two chicks from each replicate with body weights close to the average weight of the replicate were selected for carcass characteristics.They were weighed again and slaughtered by the halal neck-cutting method. At 42 days of age, two birds were randomly selected from each experimental unit, and after blood collection from their wing veins, they were tested for blood parameters.
Results: In the starter, finisher and total periods, feed intake in birds that received the herbal hydroalcoholic extract mixture at the level of one and two liters per 1000 liters of drinking water was higher than other treatments (P<0.05). During the grower period, feed conversion ratio in birds that received the herbal hydroalcoholic extract mixture at the level of one liter per 1000 liters of drinking water was lower than other treatments (P<0.05). Carcass percentage, breast percentage, thigh percentage, meat pH, malondialdehyde concentration and cooking loss were significantly affected by experimental treatments (P<0.05). Birds receiving the herbal hydroalcoholic extract mixture at the level of two liters per 1000 liters of drinking water showed increased glucose concentration, decreased cholesterol concentration, decreased uric acid concentration, decreased ALT concentration and increased blood catalase concentration (P<0.05). Birds that received the mixed treatment of plant hydroalcoholic extract at the level of one and two liters per 1000 liters of drinking water had antibody titer levels against infectious bronchitistreatments (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the current results, one liter of hydroalcoholic extract per 1000 liters of drinking water is recommended under the conditions of this experiment because of the improved feed conversion ratio during the grower period, better quantitative carcass traits, and higher antibody titer against infectious bronchitis in broiler chickens.
Hadis Heydari; Ali Khatibjoo; Hassan Shirzadi; Mohammad-Amir Karimi-Torshizi; Jabbar Jamali
Abstract
Objective: During the first week of life, body weight increases 2- to 3-fold, and there are significant changes in the weight and morphology of the gut and muscles. Gastrointestinal development is particularly important in early chick growth and delayed feeding during the first few days of life reduces ...
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Objective: During the first week of life, body weight increases 2- to 3-fold, and there are significant changes in the weight and morphology of the gut and muscles. Gastrointestinal development is particularly important in early chick growth and delayed feeding during the first few days of life reduces final BW and probably affects gut health and immune function. Probiotics are live microbial feed additives and can be considereda functional nutritional approach, whereby adequate amounts of live beneficial microorganisms are administered to establish a healthy microbial environment and improved intestinal function in young chicks, resulting in stimulation of mucosal immunity, pathogen inhibition, improvedperformance, and modulation of intestinal microflora of young or stressed broilers. As such, probiotic seems to influence broiler growth performance and intestinal growth under late feeding challenge.
Method: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of probiotic levels on performance, blood metabolites and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens subjected to late feeding challenge (LFC). The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design and a 3×3 factorial arrangement with 3 levels of probiotic (0, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg feed) and 3 LFD time (0-, 12- and 24-h), 450 Ross-308 broiler chickens (one-d-old, mixed sexes) were allocated to 9 treatments, 5 replicates and 10 birds in each replicate.
Results: The broiler chickens fed greater level of probiotics and immediately access to feed had the highest BW and BWG and those fed with 24h LFC and greater level of probiotic had the lowest BW at the end of the starter period; and at the end of the experiment, broiler chickens fed 0.2 g/kg probiotics with 12h LFC and those fed greater level of probiotics and immediately access to feed had the lowest FI, BW and BWG (P < 0.05). LFC time had no significant effect on the distribution parameters of chickens at 10d age and carcass parameters at 42d age. Broiler chickens fed 0.4 g/kg probiotics with 12- and 24h LFC had the lowest triglyceride and glucose concentration respectively, and at this level of probiotic with 0- LFC the lowest count of E. Coli was observed while 12 and 24h LFC decreased bifidobacteria count (P<0.05). Villous height increased with LFC time in thoese broiler chickens fed diets contatning 0 or 0.2 g/kg probiotic. The greatest villous surface area was observed in broiler chickens fed 0.2 g/kg probiotic diet with 12h LFC (P<0.05).
Conclusions: In conclusion, 12- and 24h DP decreased the performance and intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens, and double recommended probiotic supplementation could not completely ameliorate the negative effects of LFC.
Hormoz Jafari; hossein Moravej; Mehdi Hajarmanesh; Zeinab Boromandnia
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different levels of flaxseed oil and fish oil on productive performance, egg quality, yolk fatty acid pattern, and egg enrichment in laying hens.
Method: Three hundred and twenty-four white Shaver laying hens, 65 weeks old, were randomly ...
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Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different levels of flaxseed oil and fish oil on productive performance, egg quality, yolk fatty acid pattern, and egg enrichment in laying hens.
Method: Three hundred and twenty-four white Shaver laying hens, 65 weeks old, were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments in an 8-week trial using a completely randomized block design with repeated measures. Six dietary treatments were used:: treatment 1: control containing crude soybean oil and no source of flaxseed and fish oil; treatment 2: 1.5% flaxseed oil, treatment 3: 1.5% fish oil, treatment 4: 3% flaxseed oil, treatment 5: 3% fish oil and treatment 6: 1.5% flaxseed oil + 1.5% fish oil. The diets were based on corn and soybean meal and were formulated according to the nutritional requirements of Shaver layers in the late production phase.
Results: This study found that flaxseed oil and fish oil significantly affected egg weight, egg laying percentage and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P<0.05), but did not affect egg mass and feed intake. Egg weight in the 1.5% fish oil treatment was higher than the 1.5% flaxseed oil + 1.5% fish oil treatment (P<0.05), but was not different from other treatments. Egg production in the 3% flaxseed oil treatment was higher than the control and 3% fish oil treatments (P<0.05), but not different from other treatments. The FCR was significantly higher than 1.5% flaxseed oil and 1.5% fish oil (P<0.05) but not different from the control and other experimental treatments. For egg quality traits, only Haugh unit was significantly affected by the experimental treatments. So that in the treatments with 1.5 and 3% flaxseed oil, the Haugh unit was higher than the 3% fish oil treatment (P<0.05); however, no significant difference was observed between other treatments. Yolk fatty acid profile analysis revealed a significant difference between experimental treatments. The 3% fish oil treatment had the highest sum of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (182.14 mg/100 g of egg contents). whereas the 3% flaxseed oil treatment showed the highest level of alpha-linolenic acid (269.7 mg/100g egg) and the lowest ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (P<0.05). The 1.5% fish oil treatment was the most cost-effective egg enrichment, elevating the level of EPA plus DHA by approximately 35% compared to the Iranian Veterinary Organization standard.
Conclusions: Overall, vegetable and animal sources of omega-3 did not have the same impact on laying hen egg performance and egg quality; however, flaxseed oil increased alpha-linolenic acid and improved internal egg quality, whereas fish oil, at 3%, produced the highest increase in yolk eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentration, with the lowest omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, which was appropriate for egg enrichment by EPA+DHA from an economic point of view.
Yosef Amjadian; Fardin Hozhabri; Mohmmad nooriyan soroor; Khodabakhsh Rashidi
Abstract
Objectives: Ruminal degradation rates of starch in cereal grains such as barley, corn, and wheat, differ based on starch structure, which influences rumen metabolism, growth, and overall performance of ruminants, and the rate of starch fermentation in the rumen modulates rumen pH, volatile fatty acid ...
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Objectives: Ruminal degradation rates of starch in cereal grains such as barley, corn, and wheat, differ based on starch structure, which influences rumen metabolism, growth, and overall performance of ruminants, and the rate of starch fermentation in the rumen modulates rumen pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, feed intake, growth responses, and rumen development. Because wheat is generally more productive than barley, has a higher starch concentration (approximately 10% higher), and appears to have better digestibility than barley and corn, there is a need to assess the potential of wheat for replacing barley and corn in diets of finishing lambs.
Method: A completely randomized design was used to allocate 24 male Mehraban lambs (mean body weight of 40.3±4.46 kg) to four dietary treatments with the following experimental diets: 1) 58% barley grain, 2) 29% barley grain + 29% corn grain, 3) 58% corn grain, and 4) 58% wheat grain. Growth performance (average daily gain, total body weight gain, and feed intake), nutrient digestibility, Protozoa population, ruminal fermentation parameters (pH, ammonia nitrogen, and VFAs), and post-mortem histomorphometry traits of the small intestine were assessed.
Results: There was no significant difference in lamb growth performance among the four dietary treatments. Dry matter digestibility was greatest in the wheat-based diet and lowest in the barley-based diet, whereas crude protein digestibility was higher in lambs fed the barley-based diet than in those fed corn- or wheat-based diets (P<0.05). The concentration of ammonia nitrogen was higher in the wheat-based treatment than in the other groups (P<0.05). Total VFA concentrations were higher in lambs offered wheat- and barley-based diets than in the remaining treatments, and the lowest values were in the corn-based diet (P<0.05). The proportion of acetic acid was higher in the corn-based diet than in the barley- and wheat-based diets, and lambs fed the wheat-based diet had the lowest percentage of acetic acid (P<0.05). Concentrations of propionic, butyric, and isobutyric acids were reduced in lambs fed the corn-based diet compared to the other treatments, and the highest proportions were found in the wheat or barley-based diets (P<0.05). Total rumen protozoa and Entodinium counts were greater in lambs fed the wheat or barley + corn diets than in the other treatments, and maximal values were found in the wheat-based diet (P<0.05). Duodenal villus length was greater in lambs fed the corn and barley + corn diets (P<0.05), whereas duodenal villus depth was lower in the wheat-fed group (P<0.05). Ileal villus width was highest in the wheat-containing diets and lowest in the barley-based diets (P<0.05), while ileal crypt depth was lower in lambs fed wheat- and corn-based diets than in those fed the other treatments (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicated that lamb growth performance was not significantly different among the diets containing the three different grains; however, apparent digestibility was higher in the wheat-based diet, suggesting that wheat can be replaced by barley or corn in fattening lamb diets without a negative effect on growth.
Nooshin Assadi-Fakhrnejad; Ali Assadi-Alamouti; Behzad Khorrami
Abstract
Objective: The productivity and nutritional quality of ensiled forages, the quality of silage fermentation and its loss are improved by forage harvesting at an appropriate stage of maturity, while, forage intercropping strategies that take the advantage of the additive characteristics of different plant ...
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Objective: The productivity and nutritional quality of ensiled forages, the quality of silage fermentation and its loss are improved by forage harvesting at an appropriate stage of maturity, while, forage intercropping strategies that take the advantage of the additive characteristics of different plant species also enhance the quality of the forage product. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of forage maturity at harvest and intercropping on ensiling characteristics, effluent production, and in vitro (laboratory) digestibility in three small-grain forages (barley, triticale and oat).Method: Whole plant barley was harvested at early heading and hard dough stage of growth; whole plant triticale was harvested at the tillering and soft dough stage, and the oats forage was harvested at the tillering and stem elongation stages. The intercropping treatments consisted of 53% barley, 33% triticale, and 14% oat, harvested at the above-mentioned stages. The experiment was a 2×4 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replicates. Results: Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) yields increased with growth stages in triticale, oat, and the mixed crop. The highest DM (32.1%) was found in the mixed crop in the second harvest stage and the lowest (13.5%) was observed in the first harvest stage in oats (P<0.001), whereas the highest CP (19.3 %) was obtained from oats in the first harvest, and the lowest (10.8%) from barley in the second harvest stage (P<0.001). The lowest NDF content (49.5%) was observed in oats and the highest (58.2%) in barley (P<0.001). The interaction effect of forage type and harvest time on DM, CP, and ADF contents was significant; however, the other chemical components (ash, lignin, acid-, and neutral-detergent insoluble nitrogen, crude fat, and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC)) were similar between the two harvest stages. Overall, late harvesting increased lignin and decreased CP, WSC, and NDF. Intercropping of oats with the other crops increased CP and improved in vitro digestibility, and it reduced silage NDF content. The silages of the second harvest crops produced no effluent, had an appropriate pH (close to 4.2) and an ammonia nitrogen level of less than 10% total nitrogen, highlightimg good fermentation in the silages with higher DM content.Conclusions: Results from this study indicated that the second harvest stage (hard dough in barley, soft dough in triticale, and stem elongation in oats) was the appropriate time for harvesting small grain forages whether ensiled as a sole forage or intercropped as it maximized the yield of OM, CP, energy, and digestible DM per hectare. As the yield performance of triticale was superior to that of barley, it is recommended to include triticale as the main crop in intercropping systems.
Hamed Gholami; Taghi Ghoorchi; Abdolhakim Toghdory
Abstract
Objective: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a forage crop grown in arid and semi-arid regions that can be used to produce green, dry and silage fodder. It is valued for high tillering, broad nutritional value, high yield and high-water use efficiency. Iran is a dry land in the world. It is not possible to ...
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Objective: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a forage crop grown in arid and semi-arid regions that can be used to produce green, dry and silage fodder. It is valued for high tillering, broad nutritional value, high yield and high-water use efficiency. Iran is a dry land in the world. It is not possible to grow forage throughout the year in this country. Therefore, more efficiently water use and tolerating harsh climate are needed. Sorghum is one of the major silo forage crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing corn silage with sorghum silage on digestibility, production performance, blood parameters, and feeding behaviors of Holstein dairy cows in mid-lactation.
Method: Eight lactating cows with average milk production of 34.5 ±3kg/day and average lactation days of (120±22) were assigned in a Latin square experimental design with 4 treatments and 8 replications (repeated in 4 21-day periods). The experimental treatments were zero (control), 33, 66, and 100 percent replacement of Single Cross 704 corn silage with Speedfeed sorghum silage. Cows were milked three times a day and the amount of milk produced for each cow at each milking was recorded.
Results: Dry matter percen of the silage in this experiment was reported to be slightly higher for sorghum silage than corn silage (20.20% for forage corn silage and 20.55% for forage sorghum silage), crude protein was (10.76% for corn silage and 8.17% for sorghum silage and the pH was approximately four.There was no significant difference in dry matter intake between treatments; milk production in the control treatment (100% corn silage) was significantly higher than the other treatments (P<0.05), but milk production efficiency (kilograms of milk produced per kilogram of dry matter consumed) was similar,milk fat percentage and fat to protein ratio were higher in the treatment with 100% sorghum silage than in the other treatments (P<0.05), andcrude protein digestibility, dry matter digestibility and NDF decreased with the replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage (P<0.05). Use of speed-feed sorghum silage increased (P<0.05) the levels of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids (ω6/ω3 and C16:0).
Conclusion: Overall, there wasa reduction in milk production and an increase in milk fat with 100% sorghum replacement, making sweet sorghum a promising forage option for dairy farms where corn is difficult to grow due to water shortages (a characteristic of hot and dry areas).
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