Liquid egg as an alternative protein source in calf milk replacers

The use of alternative proteins in milk replacer has been evaluated for their ability to decrease the cost of milk replacers without negatively impacting performance of the calf. Three studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of calves fed milk replacer utilizing liquid egg as an alternative protein and to determine the optimal concentration of liquid egg to include in milk replacers. Calves in trials 1 and 2 were assigned to a control diet of all milk protein replacer (MILK) or a diet formulated to contain 5% of the diet (13.5% of the protein) from liquid egg (5% EGG). Calves in trial 3 were assigned to one of four diets: the control (MILK) and 5% EGG diets fed in trials 1 and 2, or diets formulated to contain either 10 or 15% of the diet (27 or 40.5% of the protein) from liquid egg (10% EGG, 15% EGG). For all experiments, milk replacers were formulated to contain 20% protein, 20% fat and were fed at 454 g/d reconstituted to 12% DM. Production of the diets containing egg protein utilized breaker eggs that were pasteurized during manufacturing. Holstein bull calves (n = 44 for experiment 1, n = 38 for experiment 2, and n = 120 for experiment 3), were purchased from an area sale barn. Calves were housed in individual hutches with water available free choice starting on d 0. A commercially available calf starter was offered free choice beginning on d 7 for experiments 1 and 2 and on d 1 for experiment 3. Feed intake, scour scores, and antibiotic treatments were recorded daily. For experiment 1, calves fed 5% EGG had greater weight gains than calves fed MILK. No differences in average daily feed intake were observed. For experiment 2, weight gains tended to be lower with 5% EGG, whereas feed intakes and gain to feed ratios were similar between calves fed MILK or 5% EGG. For experiment 3, as the amount of egg in the diet increased, weight gain decreased in a linear fashion during the milk replacer feeding period, but the decrease in gain was significant only with the 15% EGG diet. These results indicate that egg is an effective alternative protein source to milk protein in calf milk replacers when fed at levels up to 10% of the diet in a conventional feeding program of 0.45 kg per head per day.     

膨化制粒和环模制粒工艺对饲料制粒加工质量和凡纳滨对虾生长性能的影响

本次研究比较了膨化制粒和环模制粒工艺对饲料制粒加工质量和凡纳滨对虾生长性能、饲料利用、肝胰腺和肠道组织学的影响。设计鱼粉质量分数为20%的基础饲料，分别采用环模制粒和膨化制粒的方式，生产硬颗粒饲料和沉性膨化颗粒饲料，在检测饲料制粒加工质量指标后，饲喂初重为7.72 g的凡纳滨对虾6周。和硬颗粒饲料相比，沉性膨化颗粒饲料的容重、耐久性指数和淀粉糊化度显著增加（P<0.05），硬度和含粉率显著降低（P<0.05）， 但二者在溶失率上没有显著差异（P>0.05）。经过6周养殖后，沉性膨化颗粒饲料组的饲料系数显著低于硬颗粒饲料组（P<0.05），虾体增重率在数值上高于硬颗粒饲料组（P>0.05）；二者在摄食量、成活率、含肉率、全虾组成和肝胰腺消化酶、糖代谢相关酶活性方面均无显著差异（P>0.05）；在肝胰腺和肠道组织学方面，摄食沉性膨化颗粒饲料和硬颗粒饲料的凡纳滨对虾均表现为组织结构清晰完整，未见明显的损伤。综上，沉性膨化颗粒饲料较硬颗粒饲料具有更优的加工性能和更高的饲料利用效率（更低的饲料系数），二者对于凡纳滨对虾肝胰腺消化酶、糖代谢相关酶活性和肝胰腺、肠道组织学方面具有基本一致的影响。     

Nutritive value of diets containing fish silage for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Bonne, 1931)

BACKGROUND: Fish wastes has been used for many years as an alternative in feeds for aquaculture. In the present study weight gain of juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei fed diets including fish waste silage (WS), fish waste silage with soybean meal SBM (WS + S) or fish waste meal (WM) was compared. A conventional acidic silage process was applied to obtain from wastes (skin, heads, bones and viscera) of snapper (Lutjanus spp.), grunt (Haemulon plumieri), and grouper (Epinephelus spp.) an ingredient rich in protein. RESULTS: After 3 days ensilage more than 90% protein was hydrolysed. Waste material processed at pH 3.8 lost about 24% tryptophan. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) prevented lipid oxidation, as shown after 45 days with malonaldehyde production. Shrimp fed WS + S diet gained 0.7 g per week higher than those fed WS and WM diets with 0.3 g per week (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: WS processed with formic acid under conditions of low pH is beneficial for the white shrimp L. vannamei. It sustained reasonable weight gain combined with soybean meal in practical diets. On the other hand, BHT addition was beneficial in preventing oxidative action during silage preparation. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of ratio of corn silage to grass-legume silage with high concentrate during dry period on milk production and health of dairy cows

Four corn silage: gross legume silage: concentrate totally mixed diets 1) 75:25:0; 2) 48.75:16.25:35; 3) 50:50:0; and 4) 32.5:32.5:5.35 were fed to Holsteins in second and third lactation for two complete lactations. Cows fed diets 1 or 2 during dry period were fed diet 2 during lactation. Diets did not affect length of dry period or lactation, calf weight, milk protein percent, or milk fat percent. Feeding concentrate during dry period increased gain from .63 to 1.11 kg/day. Feeding higher grass-legume silage diets 3 and 4 increased gain during lactation from .25 to .35 kg/day. On a mature equivalent basis, cows fed high corn silage diets 1 and 2 produced more milk (7,105 versus 6,663 kg), protein (236 versus 216 kg), fat (267 versus 245 kg), solids-not-fat (612 versus 564 kg), and a higher solids-not-fat percent (8.62 versus 8.50%) than diets 3 and 4. Diets did not alter health or reproduction. Production and weight gains favored feeding diet 1 during dry period and diet 2 during lactation.     

Performance of growing–fattening lambs fed whole cotton seed

Effects of diets containing increasing levels of whole cotton seed (WCS) on feed intake, liveweight gain, feed conversion, feeding margin and carcass characteristics were studied. Diets contained 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30% WCS and were fed ad libitum to growing lambs for 54 days. All diets were approximately isonitrogenous (163–186 g crude protein kg⁻¹ dry matter) and isocaloric (19–20 MJ gross energy kg⁻¹ of dry matter). During the first 28 days, four groups of 10 Karagouniko male lambs with initial liveweights of approximately 17·6 kg were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% WCS and then, for the next 26 days, diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% WCS, respectively. Lambs fed the 15–30% WCS diet ingested about 20 mg kg liveweight⁻¹ day⁻¹ of free gossypol. At 54 days and liveweights of approximately 34·7 kg, five lambs from each treatment were slaughtered and carcass data were collected. There were significant differences in feed intake, liveweight gain, cooler shrink, rumen contents, intestinal fat and liver weight among the lambs fed these diets. Cooler shrink and intestinal fat, and perirenal fat and the combined weight of intestinal and perirenal fat, were significantly (P < 0·05) correlated. Pelleting of the WCS diets reduced the concentration of free gossypol in these diets. It was concluded that WCS was satisfactory as a feed ingredient for growing sheep and can be incorporated into ruminant diets as a source of energy and protein. No indication of gossypol toxicity was detected. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

天然植物复合提取物对凡纳滨对虾生长及抗病力的影响

为研究在饲料中添加天然植物复合提取物对凡纳滨对虾生长、饲料利用、体组成成分以及对虾非特异性免疫指标的影响,设计了5个天然植物复合提取物浓度梯度的等氮等能饲料,饲料中天然植物复合提取物的添加量分别为0、0.05%、0.1%、0.2%和0.3%.实验用对虾初始体重为0.57g,经过8周的投喂实验.结果表明,饲料中添加天然植物复合提取物对凡纳滨对虾的增重率和成活率的影响显著,其中以添加天然植物复合提取物0.2%组的增重率最高,成活率则随着饲料中天然植物复合提取物添加浓度的提高而显著上升.天然植物复合提取物对凡纳滨对虾饲料系数和蛋白质效率的影响显著,其中以添加0.2%组饲料系数最低,蛋白质效率最高.对凡纳滨对虾全虾蛋白质、脂肪、灰分和水分的分析表明,饲料中添加天然植物复合提取物对凡纳滨对虾全虾组成成分的影响不显著.对虾血清溶菌酶活力、酚氧化酶活力以及血浆中红细胞总数受饲料中添加天然植物复合提取物的影响显著,然而血清超氧化物歧化酶活力不受饲料中天然植物复合提取物添加水平的影响.以对虾生长、成活率以及血清中酚氧化酶活力为指标,凡纳滨对虾饲料中天然植物复合提取物的适宜添加量为0.1%～0.2%.     

Performance of lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa or red clover silage as the sole forage

Three Latin square trials, with 20 (two trials) or 24 (one trial) multiparous lactating Holstein cows (four in each trial with ruminal cannulae), compared the feeding value of red clover and alfalfa silages harvested over 3 yr. Overall, the forages contained similar amounts of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber; however, red clover silage contained more hemicellulose, less ash and crude protein (CP), and only 67% as much nonprotein N, as a proportion of total N, as did alfalfa silage. Diets were formulated with equal dry matter (DM) from alfalfa or red clover silage and contained on average 65% forage, 33 or 30% ground high moisture ear corn, and 0 or 3% low soluble fishmeal (DM basis). Diets fed in the Latin squares contained (mean dietary CP): 1) alfalfa (17.8% CP); 2) red clover (15.1% CP); 3) alfalfa plus fishmeal (19.6% CP); and 4) red clover plus fishmeal (16.9% CP). Although performance varied somewhat among trials, overall statistical analysis showed that replacing alfalfa with red clover reduced yields of milk, fat-corrected milk, fat, protein, lactose, and SNF; these effects were related to the 1.2 kg/d lower DM intake for cows fed red clover. Replacing alfalfa with red clover improved body weight gain and reduced concentrations of milk and blood urea and ruminal NH3. Apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose all were greater when red clover was fed. There were no significant forage x fishmeal interactions for DM intake and yield of milk and milk components, indicating that supplementation with rumen undegradable protein gave similar increases in production on both forages. Net energy of lactation (NE(L)), estimated from maintenance, mean milk yield, and body weight change, in alfalfa and red clover silage were, respectively, 1.25 and 1.38 Mcal NE(L)/kg of DM, indicating 10% greater NE(L) in red clover.     

Preparation, nutrient composition and digestibility of fermented shrimp head silage

Raw heads of the river prawn, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, were fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum at 30 °C using molasses or cassava starch as the carbohydrate source. After incubation for 7 days, a desirable and stable pH < 4.5 was attained, and the carbohydrate source did not affect non-protein nitrogen (NPN) content or the proximate composition of the liquid silage after 30 days incubation. Hydrolysed feather meal, poultry by-product meal or soybean meal, used as alternative filler, was blended with the liquid silage (85:15, w/w) and solar-dried. The dried shrimp head silage meals were incorporated as protein supplements into pelleted semi-purified diets for catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, gross energy and essential amino acids in the silage by catfish fingerlings was high (> 70%). It was concluded that dried fermented fish silage is suitable and has a potential as a protein feedstuff in fish diets.     

Ryegrass or alfalfa silage as the dietary forage for lactating dairy cows

Renewed interest exists in using grass forages to dilute the higher crude protein (CP) and lower digestible fiber present in legumes fed to lactating dairy cows. A 3 x 3 Latin square feeding study with 4-wk periods was conducted with 24 Holstein cows to compare ryegrass silage, either untreated control or macerated (intensively conditioned) before ensiling, with alfalfa silage as the sole dietary forage. Ryegrass silages averaged [dry matter (DM) basis] 18.4% CP, 50% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 10% indigestible acid detergent fiber (ADF) (control) and 16.6% CP, 51% NDF, and 12% indigestible ADF (macerated). Alfalfa silage was higher in CP (21.6%) and lower in NDF (44%) but higher in indigestible ADF (26%). A lower proportion of the total N in macerated ryegrass silage was present as nonprotein N than in control ryegrass and alfalfa silages. Diets were formulated to contain 41% DM from either rye-grass silage, or 51% DM from alfalfa silage, plus high moisture corn, and protein concentrates. Diets averaged 17.5% CP and 28 to 29% NDF. The shortfall in CP on ryegrass was made up by feeding 7.6% more soybean meal. Intake and milk yields were similar on control and macerated ryegrass; however, DM intake was 8.3 kg/d greater on the alfalfa diet. Moreover, feeding the alfalfa diet increased BW gain (0.48 kg/d) and yield of milk (6.1 kg/d), FCM (6.8 kg/d), fat (0.26 kg/d), protein (0.25 kg/d), lactose (0.35 kg/d), and SNF (0.65 kg/d) versus the mean of the two ryegrass diets. Both DM efficiency (milk/DM intake) and N efficiency (milk-N/N-intake) were 27% greater, and apparent digestibility was 16% greater for DM and 53% greater for NDF and ADF, on the ryegrass diets. However, apparent digestibility of digestible ADF was greater on alfalfa (96%) than on ryegrass (average = 91%). Also, dietary energy content (estimated as net energy of lactation required for maintenance, milk yield, and weight gain) per unit of digested DM was similar for all three diets. Results of this trial indicated that, relative to ryegrass silage, feeding alfalfa silage stimulated much greater feed intake, which supported greater milk production.     

Rice protein concentrate partially replaces dried whey in the diet for early‐weaned piglets and improves their growth performance

BACKGROUND: Recently, rice protein concentrate (RPC), a much cheaper source of dietary protein, has become commercially available for use in the feed industry. Importantly, dietary supplementation with RPC can increase feed intake by early‐weaned pigs. The objective of this study was to determine whether RPC can replace milk protein in the diet for early‐weaned pigs. RESULTS: Neither average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), nor the feed/gain ratio differed among the treatment groups in weeks 1 and 2. In week 3, the addition of 5 or 10% RPC to diets increased (P < 0.05) ADFI and ADG of pigs compared to those in the control group fed a 60% dried whey diet. During the entire 21‐day trial, ADFI and ADG were greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the 5 and 10% RCP diets than in pigs fed the 60% dried whey and 15% RCP diets. There were no differences in the serum concentrations of growth hormone on days 14 and 21, serum concentrations of insulin growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) on day 14, or IGF‐I gene expression in liver and skeletal muscle on days 14 and 21 among the dietary treatments. Serum concentrations of IGF‐I in pigs fed the 5, 10 and 15% RPC diets were greater than those in pigs fed the 60% dried whey diet. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that up to 10% RPC can be used to replace dried whey in the diet for 7‐ to 21‐day‐old weaned piglets and can improve their growth performance. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

The evaluation of liquefied de-oiled herring silage in diets for growing pigs: Feeding trials

Pens of pigs grown from 30 to 60 kg liveweight (LW) and 30 to 90 kg LW in separate experiments were fed diets containing either 75 or 150 kg t^?1 dietary dry matter of de-oiled herring offal silage stored for up to 8 weeks, and their performance compared with pens of pigs fed control diets based on soya bean meal formulated to contain equivalent levels of total lysine. All pens of pigs were rationed on the same time-based scale of feeding. Pigs in both weight ranges fed herring silage diets grew significantly faster than the control pigs; in the 30–60 kg LW range growth rates were 687 and 529 g day^?1 (P<0.01) and in the 30–90 kg LW range, 670 and 588 g day^?1 (P= 0.05), respectively. The mean feed: gain ratio was also better with pigs fed the herring silage diets. No significant differences were found between treatment and control pigs slaughtered at either 60 or 90 kg LW for back fat probe measurements or killingout percentage. No pigs were down graded by the Meat and Livestock Commission carcass quality classification.     

Nutritional value of diets containing graded levels of wheat distillers grains with solubles fed to broiler chicks

This feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of graded levels of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on nutrient digestibility and performance when fed to broiler chicks. A total of 125, day‐old, male broiler chicks (52.8 ± 0.6 g) were fed wheat/soybean meal‐based diets containing 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20% wheat DDGS. There were five birds per pen and five replicate pens per treatment. Digestibility coefficients for dry matter (P = 0.001), energy (P = 0.001) and phosphorus (P = 0.001) declined in a linear manner with increasing levels of wheat DDGS in the diet. Despite the lower digestibility of nutrients in diets containing wheat DDGS, there were no significant differences in weight gain (P = 0.721), feed intake (P = 0.748) or feed conversion (P = 0.766) due to the incorporation of wheat DDGS in the diet, although weight gain and feed conversion showed a tendency to decline at the highest inclusion level (20%) in the diet. The overall results of this study indicate that wheat DDGS can be successfully incorporated into diets fed to broiler chicks. Potential detrimental factors contained in wheat DDGS, including a low energy and low lysine content, can be compensated for in diet formulation. Therefore, when the price of alternative feed ingredients dictates, wheat DDGS can be incorporated into diets at levels as high as 15% without detrimental effects on broiler performance. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of low level monensin supplementation on the production of dairy cows fed alfalfa silage

Effectiveness of low level monensin supplementation on N utilization in lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa silage was assessed using 48 multiparous Holsteins. Cows were fed a covariate diet [% of dry matter (DM): 56% alfalfa silage, 39% ground high moisture corn, 3% soybean meal, 1% ground corn, 1% vitamin-mineral supplements] for 2 wk, then grouped by days in milk into blocks of 4. Cows were randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of 4 diets that were fed for 10 wk: 1) control (covariate diet), 2) control plus 3% fish meal (replacing DM from high moisture corn), 3) monensin (10 mg/kg DM), and 4) monensin plus 3% fish meal. Diets 1 and 3 averaged 16.7% crude protein (25% from free AA in alfalfa silage); diets 2 and 4 averaged 18.5% crude protein. Monensin intake averaged 16 mg/d on diets 1 and 2 (due to contamination) and 248 mg/d on diets 3 and 4. There was no effect of fish meal or monensin on DM intake. However, weight gain and yield of milk, protein, and SNF increased with fish meal feeding, indicating metabolizable protein limited production. Feeding monensin increased blood glucose but reduced yield of 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk fat content and yield, and milk protein content and yield. Apparent N efficiency was greatest on monensin (diet 3) but lowest on monensin plus fish meal (diet 4). Fish meal reduced blood glucose concentration and apparent N efficiency, and increased concentrations of milk and blood urea. Monensin increased ruminal propionate concentration and decreased concentration of acetate and butyrate and acetate:propionate in ruminally cannulated cows fed the experimental diets. However, these changes were small, suggesting that too little monensin was fed. Fish meal reduced ruminal total amino acid (AA) but monensin did not alter ruminal NH(3) or total AA. Both fish meal and monensin increased NH(3) formation from casein AA using ruminal inoculum from the cannulated cows. There was no evidence from this trial that feeding 250 mg of monensin per day to lactating cows improved N utilization by reducing ruminal catabolism of the large amounts of free AA in alfalfa silage.     

Corn silage management III: effects of hybrid,maturity, and processing on nitrogen metabolism and ruminal fermentation

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of maturity and mechanical processing of two hybrids of whole plant corn silage on DM and OM digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, ruminal fermentation, and milk production and composition in lactating Holstein cows. In the first experiment, Pioneer hybrid 3845 whole plant corn was harvested at hard dough, one-third milkline, and two-thirds milkline with a theoretical length-of-cut of 6.4 mm. At each stage of maturity, corn was harvested with (1-mm roll clearance) and without (15.9-mm roll clearance) mechanical processing using a John Deere 5830 harvester with an on-board kernel processor. In the second experiment, Pioneer hybrids 3845 and Quanta were harvested at one-third milkline, two-thirds milkline, and blackline stages of maturity with and without mechanical processing. The theoretical length-of-cut was 12.7 mm. Total tract DM and OM digestibilities were lower for cows fed diets containing processed corn silage in experiment 1, and tended to be lower for cows fed diets containing unprocessed corn silage in experiment 2. Ruminal acetate concentrations were greater and ruminal propionate concentrations were lower 2 and 6 h after feeding for cows fed diets containing corn silage harvested at physiological maturity in experiment 2. This was due to decreased digestion of starch at advanced maturities in experiment 2. Ruminal pH tended to decline rapidly after feeding for cows fed hybrid Quanta (2 h) compared to hybrid 3845 (5 h) corn silage based diets. Ruminal acetate concentrations decreased and ruminal propionate concentrations increased 2 and 6 h after feeding for cows fed diets containing hybrid Quanta corn silage compared to hybrid 3845 corn silage. This was related to a greater starch concentration in the corn silage, greater starch intake, and increased rate of starch digestion for cows fed hybrid Quanta corn silage-based diets. Microbial nitrogen flow was lower and feed nitrogen flow was greater for cows fed diets containing hybrid Quanta corn silage. The lower microbial nitrogen flow was due to lower microbial nitrogen concentration and nonammonia nitrogen flow to the duodenum. Milk fat and protein concentrations had a strong quadratic relationship with forage NDF intake as a percentage of body weight. When forage NDF intake as a percentage of body weight dropped below 0.70%, there was a rapid decline in milk fat and protein concentrations.     

Effects of feeding alfalfa stemlage or wheat straw for dietary energy dilution on nutrient intake and digestibility,growth performance,and feeding behavior of Holstein dairy heifers

Feeding high-quality forage diets may lead to excessive weight gains and over-conditioning for dairy heifers. Restriction of energy density and dry matter intake by using low-energy forages, such as straw, is a good approach for controlling this problem. Alfalfa stems contain high fiber and moderate protein content and have the potential to be used to replace straw to reduce dietary energy. The objective of this study was to compare nutrient intakes, digestibilities, growth performance, and feeding behaviors of dairy heifers offered an alfalfa silage/corn silage high-energy diet (HE; 13.1% crude protein, 65.4% total digestible nutrients, 39.7% neutral detergent fiber) with 2 energy-diluted diets that replaced various proportions of the corn or alfalfa silages with either alfalfa stemlage (STM; 12.6% crude protein, 59.1% total digestible nutrients, 46.4% neutral detergent fiber) or chopped wheat straw (WS; 12.6% crude protein, 61.9% total digestible nutrients, 43.7% neutral detergent fiber). Seventy-two pregnant Holstein heifers (16.8 ± 1.3 mo) were stratified into 3 blocks (24 heifers/block) by initial body weight (light, 440 ± 18.0 kg; medium, 486 ± 18.6 kg; heavy, 534 ± 25.1 kg), with each block composed of 3 pens (8 heifers/pen), with diets assigned randomly to 1 pen within the block. Diets were offered in a 56-d feeding trial. Both dry matter intake and energy intake were decreased with the addition of low-energy forages to the diets, but no differences in dry matter intake were observed across diluted diets. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and apparent N were greater for HE compared with diluted diets, and for WS compared with STM. Total body weight gain (74 vs. 56 kg) and average daily gain (1.32 vs. 1.00 kg/d) were greater for heifers offered HE compared with diluted diets. Feed efficiency tended to be less for heifers offered the diluted diets compared with HE (10.7 vs. 8.6 kg of feed/kg of gain). Heifers did not sort for or against particles when offered HE. However, increased sorting behavior was observed for diluted diets. Compared with ad libitum feeding dairy heifers a diet with high nutrient content forages (corn silage and alfalfa silage), use of diet diluted with alfalfa stemlage or wheat straw is an effective feeding management strategy to control total daily dry matter and energy intake by increasing gut fill, and maintain desirable body condition and growth rates, even though the diluted diets had greater sortability.     

Effect of cottonseed oilcake inclusion on ostrich growth performance and meat chemical composition

This study investigated the effect of replacing dietary soybean oilcake meal with increasing levels of cottonseed oilcake meal (CSOCM) on the growth performance and meat (Iliofibularis muscle) chemical composition of ostriches in order to decrease total feed costs. A total of 105 ostriches were divided into five feeding groups according to the CSOCM inclusion level in the whole diet: Control (0% CSOCM), 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% CSOCM (of the whole diet), and fed with experimental diets from 6 to 13 months of age. As a result of feeding CSOCM, the final live weight and the average daily gain significantly increased in the 12% CSOCM group. The proximate composition, cholesterol content, mineral and fatty acid profile of the meat remained unaffected. Thus CSOCM may be used as an alternative protein source to the more expensive soybean oilcake meal in ostrich nutrition.     

Effect of dietary protein on muscle collagen,collagenase and shear force of farmed white shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis>)

The effect of three protein sources (sardine-based diet, squid-based diet and commercial diet) in feed on white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) growth, muscle collagen, collagenase activity and shear force was determined. Shrimp fed on diets with squid and sardine protein exhibited greater growth (p<0.05) than those fed with commercial feed. Shrimp muscle collagen obtained from each treatment group showed similar molecular weight to that of bovine collagen type I as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Denaturation thermograms by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for shrimp collagen showed a transition peak at 47 °C, whereas that for bovine collagen type I was 65 °C. The lowest enthalpy of transition was detected in collagen from shrimp fed on squid. The highest muscle collagenase activity was detected in shrimp fed with commercial feed. After 10-day ice storage, muscle from shrimp fed commercial feed required somewhat less shear force than those fed with sardine-based and squid-based meal. The results suggest that the source of protein influences the enthalpy of transition of collagen from shrimp muscle, collagenase activity, and texture in shrimp tail meat as well as growth rate.     

Influence of colostrum preservation and sodium bicarbonate on performance of dairy calves

Forty-eight Holstein calves were fed one of four liquid diets from 3 to 30 days of age to compare sodium benzoate, propionic acid, and formaldehyde as preservatives for colostrum. Colostrum batches were fermented at temperatures of 20 degrees C or higher. Diets were 2.73 kg of 1) naturally fermented colostrum, or colostrum treated with 2) sodium benzoate (.5% by weight), 3) propionic acid (1.0% by weight), or 4) formaldehyde (.05% by weight). Colostrum diets were diluted with .91 kg water. Prior to feeding, 25 g. sodium bicarbonate was added to liquid diets of one-half the calves on each treatment. Liquid diets were fed once daily. Water and a 15% crude protein complete starter were offered for ad libitum consumption. Calves were weaned abruptly at 30 days of age and received only water and starter from 31 to 44 days of age. Daily gain from 0 to 4 wk and 0 to 6 wk favored calves fed colostrum treated with sodium benzoate or propionic acid. Gains from 0 to 6 wk were .33, .44, .45, and .32 kg/day for the four diets, and feed efficiencies (kg dry matter intake/kg gain) were 3.23, 2.36, 2.76, and 2.89 during the same period. Addition of sodium bicarbonate to colostrum diets improved intake during the 1st wk of feeding. Gain and feed efficiency were similar during wk 0 to 4 but favored slightly calves not receiving sodium bicarbonate during the overall study, wk 0 to 6. Daily gain and efficiencies during wk 0 to 6 were .41 and 2.53 for calves without .36 and 3.01 with sodium bicarbonate added to colostrum diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Feeding value of glycerol as a replacement for corn grain in rations fed to lactating dairy cows

Growth of the corn ethanol industry has created a need for alternatives to corn for lactating dairy cows. Concurrent expansion in soydiesel production is expected to increase availability and promote favorable pricing for glycerol, a primary co-product material. The objective of this study was to determine the feeding value of glycerol as a replacement for corn in diets fed to lactating dairy cattle. Sixty lactating Holstein cows housed in individual tie stalls were fed a base diet consisting of corn silage, legume forages, corn grain, soyhulls, roasted soybeans, and protein supplements. After a 2-wk acclimation period, cows were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10, or 15% refined glycerol for 56 d. Cows were milked twice daily and weekly milk samples were collected. Milk production was 36.3, 37.2, 37.9, and 36.2 ± 1.6 kg/d and feed intake was 23.8, 24.6, 24.8, and 24.0 ± 0.7 kg/d for 0, 5, 10, and 15% glycerol treatments, respectively, and did not differ except for a modest reduction in feed intake during the first 7 d of the trial for 15% glycerol (treatment × time effect). Milk composition was not altered by glycerol feeding except that milk urea nitrogen was decreased from 12.5 ± 0.4 to 10.2 ± 0.4 mg/dL with glycerol addition. Cows fed diets containing 10 and 15% glycerol gained more weight than those fed rations containing 0 or 5% glycerol but body condition scores did not differ with glycerol feeding. The data indicate that glycerol is a suitable replacement for corn grain in diets for lactating dairy cattle and that it may be included in rations to a level of at least 15% of dry matter without adverse effects on milk production or milk composition.     

Partial replacement of corn silage with whole-plant soybean and black oat silages for dairy cows

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially replacing corn silage (CS) with whole-plant soybean silage (SS) or black oat silage (OS) on nutrient intake and digestibility, in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradability of silages, feeding behavior, rumen fermentation, and performance of dairy cows. Twenty-four lactating Holstein cows (6 of which were rumen-cannulated) with 32.5 ± 4.92 kg/d milk yield, 150 ± 84.8 days in milk, and 644 ± 79.0 kg of body weight were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design to evaluate the following treatments: (1) corn silage diet (CSD): using corn silage as the only forage source in the diet [48% dietary dry matter (DM)]; (2) whole-plant soybean silage diet (SSD): SS replacing 16% of corn silage from CSD; and (3) black oat silage diet (OSD): OS replacing 16% of corn silage from CSD. The inclusion of OS and SS decreased intakes of DM, organic matter, and crude protein. Corn silage had the greatest in vivo effective degradability of DM, and SS had the least effective degradability of neutral detergent fiber. The OSD treatment decreased milk and protein yields, whereas SSD increased rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration compared with the other diets. Cows fed OSD exhibited a greater preference for feed with small particles (<4 mm) compared with those fed SSD. Cows fed treatments containing either SS or OS at the expense of CS had increased rumination and chewing activities. Although replacing CS with OS and SS reduced feed intake, SS had no effect on productive performance of dairy cows.