Intake and milk production of cows fed diets that differed in dietary neutral detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber digestibility

The objectives of this study were to determine how feeding diets that differed in dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration and in vitro NDF digestibility affects dry matter (DM) intake, ruminal fermentation, and milk production in early lactation dairy cows. Twelve rumen-cannulated, multiparous Holstein cows averaging 38 ± 15 d (±standard deviation) in milk, and producing 40 ± 9 kg of milk daily, were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Treatment diets were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with 28 or 32% dietary NDF (DM basis) and 2 levels of straw NDF digestibility: 1) LD, untreated wheat straw (77% NDF, 41% NDF digestibility) or 2) HD, anhydrous NH₃-treated wheat straw (76% NDF, 62% NDF digestibility). All 4 diets consisted of wheat straw, alfalfa silage, corn silage, and a concentrate mix of cracked corn grain, corn gluten meal, 48% soybean meal, and vitamins and minerals. Wheat straw comprised 8.5% DM of the 28% NDF diets and 16% DM of the 32% NDF diets. Cows fed 28% NDF and HD diets produced more milk, fat, and protein than those consuming 32% NDF or LD diets. Dry matter intake was greater for cows consuming 28% NDF diets, but intakes of DM and total NDF were not affected by in vitro NDF digestibility. Intake of digestible NDF was greater for cows consuming HD diets. Ruminal fermentation was not affected by feeding diets that differed in NDF digestibility. Ruminal NDF passage rate was slower for cows fed HD than LD. No interactions of dietary NDF concentration and in vitro NDF digestibility were observed for any parameter measured. Regardless of dietary NDF concentration, increased in vitro NDF digestibility improved intake and production in early lactation dairy cows.     

Effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration and alfalfa hay quality on chewing, rumen function, and milk production of dairy cows.

Six ruminally fistulated Holstein cows (80 d postpartum) were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square to evaluate the effects of dietary NDF concentration and alfalfa hay quality on chewing activities, digestive parameters, and productivity of dairy cattle. Cows received one of six diets formulated to provide three concentrations of dietary NDF (31, 34, and 37%) and two sources of first-cutting, long alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay was harvested either in early bloom (19.4% CP, 38.8% NDF) or midbloom (16.7% CP, 47.6% NDF) stages of maturity. Dietary NDF concentrations were achieved by adjusting the forage to concentrate ratios. Mean ad libitum DMI was 22.3 kg/d. Increased NDF concentration of the diet corresponded to a linear decrease in milk production (from 26.5 to 24.8 kg/d) and a linear increase in the fat content of milk (from 2.68 to 3.30%). Hay quality had no effect on milk production and composition when diets were formulated for specific NDF concentrations. Total chewing time increased from 767 to 796 and 853 min/d as fiber content of the diet increased from 31 to 34 and 37%, mainly because of increased time spent eating. Rumination time adjusted for fiber intake decreased linearly from 59.0 to 54.2 min/kg NDF as fiber intake increased, and it was higher for the early bloom than for the midbloom hay (57.3 vs. 55.5 min/kg NDF). Effects of decreased forage quality because of the increased maturity of the alfalfa hay can be minimized by formulating diets for specific NDF concentration. For diets formulated with barley-based concentrates, dietary NDF concentrations should be higher than currently recommended with allowance for greater proportions of NDF from concentrates.     

Effect of dietary acid detergent fiber on responses to high environmental temperature.

Twenty-seven multiparous Holstein cows averaging 120.7 DIM, 9 per diet, were assigned at random to 20, 17, or 14% ADF diets of corn, corn silage, and soybean meal, following a covariant period when all cows received the 14% ADF diet. An 18-d period (period 1) of cool weather preceded the onset of high environmental temperature from June 1988 to the end of July 1988 (period 2). Mean daily maximum air temperatures were 35.2, 36.8, and 34.7 degrees C for the covariant period and for periods 1 and 2, respectively. Minimum temperatures were 14.5, 16.0, and 21.5 degrees C. Milk production during both periods was higher, and the decrease in milk production associated with the onset of hot weather was lower, in cows fed the 14% ADF diet. Intake was not affected by diet during period 1 but was lower in cows fed the 17 and 14% ADF diets in period 2 relative to period 1. At any given environmental temperature, DMI was higher in cows fed lower ADF diets. Although DMI declined more rapidly with increasing daily minimum temperature with lower ADF diets, milk production was less sensitive to daily minimum temperature in cows fed the 14% ADF diet.     

Effect of partial replacement of forage neutral detergent fiber with by-product neutral detergent fiber in close-up diets on periparturient performance of dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of partial replacement of forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with by-product NDF in close-up diets of dairy cattle on periparturient metabolism and performance. Holstein cows (n = 45) and heifers (n = 19) were fed corn silage-based diets containing 1) 30% oat hay, or 2) 15% oat hay and 15% beet pulp from d −21 relative to expected parturition until parturition. After parturition, all animals received the same lactation diet. Animals were group-fed from d −21 to −10 relative to expected parturition and fed individually from d −10 until 14 d in milk. Animals were required to have at least 5 d of prepartum dry matter intake (DMI) data to remain on the study. Data were analyzed as a randomized design and subjected to ANOVA using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Close-up diet did not affect DMI, total tract nutrient digestibility, energy balance, or serum content of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate during the last 5 d prepartum. Prepartum body weight and body condition score were similar between treatments. There was no carryover effect of close-up diet on DMI, energy balance, milk yield, body weight, body condition score, or serum content of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate during the first 14 d in milk. In summary, partial replacement of forage NDF (oat hay) with by-product NDF (beet pulp) did not affect periparturient metabolism or performance.     

Effects of spontaneous heating on fiber composition, fiber digestibility, and in situ disappearance kinetics of neutral detergent fiber for alfalfa-orchardgrass hays

During 2006 and 2007, forages from 3 individual hay harvests were utilized to assess the effects of spontaneous heating on concentrations of fiber components, 48-h neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (NDFD), and in situ disappearance kinetics of NDF for large-round bales of mixed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Over the 3 harvests, 96 large-round bales were made at preset bale diameters of 0.9, 1.2, or 1.5 m, and at moisture concentrations ranging from 9.3 to 46.6%. Internal bale temperatures were monitored daily during an outdoor storage period, reaching maxima (MAX) of 77.2°C and 1,997 heating degree days >30°C (HDD) for one specific combination of bale moisture, bale diameter, and harvest. Concentrations of all fiber components (NDF, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) increased in response to spontaneous heating during storage. Changes in concentrations of NDF during storage (poststorage - prestorage; ΔNDF) were regressed on HDD using a nonlinear regression model (R² = 0.848) that became asymptotic after ΔNDF increased by 8.6 percentage units. Although the specific regression model varied, changes (poststorage - prestorage) in concentrations of acid detergent fiber, cellulose, and lignin also increased in nonlinear relationships with HDD that exhibited relatively high coefficients of determination (R² = 0.710 to 0.885). Fiber digestibility, as determined by NDFD, was largely unaffected by heating characteristics except within bales incurring the most extreme levels of HDD or MAX. In situ assessment of ruminal NDF disappearance kinetics indicated that disappearance rate (K_d) declined by about 40% within the range of heating incurred over these hay harvests. The change in K_d during storage (ΔK_d) was related closely to both HDD and MAX by nonlinear models exhibiting high R² statistics (0.907 and 0.883, respectively). However, there was no regression relationship between changes (poststorage - prestorage) in effective ruminal disappearance of NDF and spontaneous heating, regardless of which heating measure was used as the independent variable. The close regression relationship between ΔK_d and measures of spontaneous heating indicates clearly that ruminal NDF disappearance was altered negatively by some direct or indirect aspect of spontaneous heating. However, it was equally apparent that these effects were offset by an expanding pool of dry matter recovered as potentially degradable NDF.     

非淀粉多糖在动物营养上的研究进展

本文综述了谷物饲料中非淀粉多糖的分类，结构，理化性质及其抗营养作用与机制，提出消除非淀粉多糖的抗营养作用，提高饲料利用率的几种可行办法，如添加酶制剂，水处理和添加抗生素等。     

Effects of choline chloride on the ruminal microbiome at 2 dietary neutral detergent fiber concentrations in continuous culture

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of unprotected choline chloride (Cho) on the ruminal microbiome at 2 dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations. We hypothesized that the effects of Cho on ruminal bacterial populations would depend on NDF. Eight dual-flow continuous-culture fermentors were arranged in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square as a 2 × 2 factorial with the following treatments: (1) 30% NDF-control (30% NDF diet, no supplemental choline); (2) 30% NDF-Cho (30% NDF diet plus 1.9 g of choline ion per kg of dry matter); (3) 40% NDF-control (40% NDF diet, no supplemental choline); and (4) 40% NDF-Cho (40% NDF diet plus 1.9 g of choline ion per kg of dry matter). We did 4 fermentation periods of 10 d each and used the last 3 d for collection of samples of solid and liquid digesta effluents for DNA extraction. Overall, 32 solid and 32 liquid samples were analyzed by amplification of the V4 variable region of bacterial 16S rRNA. Data were analyzed with R (R Project for Statistical Computing) and SAS (SAS Institute Inc.) to determine effects of Cho, NDF, and NDF × Cho on taxa relative abundance. The correlation of propionate molar proportion with taxa relative abundance was also analyzed. At the phylum level, relative abundance of Firmicutes in the liquid fraction tended to be greater when Cho was supplemented with a 30% NDF diet. At the order level, Cho increased Coriobacteriales in solid fraction and decreased Fibrobacterales in liquid fraction. Moreover, Cho decreased abundance of Clostridiales and increased Selenomonadales in the solid fraction, only with the 30% NDF diet. For genera, lower abundance of Pseudobutyrivibrio resulted from Cho in solid and liquid fractions. Greater abundance of Succinivibrio in solid and Selenomonas and Selenomonas 1 in liquid resulted from Cho with the 30% NDF diet. Propionate molar proportion was positively correlated with relative abundance of order Selenomonadales in solid and liquid fractions, and with genus Succinivibrio in solid and genera Selenomonas and Selenomonas 1 in liquid. Our results indicate that Cho primarily decreases abundance of bacteria involved in fiber degradation and increases abundance of bacteria mainly involved in nonstructural carbohydrate degradation and synthesis of propionate, particularly when a diet with 30% NDF is provided.     

Comparison of alternative neutral detergent fiber methods to the AOAC definitive method

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is the most commonly reported metric for fiber in dairy cattle nutrition. An empirical method, NDF is defined by the procedure used to measure it. The current definitive method for NDF treated with amylase (aNDF) is AOAC Official Method 2002.04 performed on dried samples ground through the 1-mm screen of a cutting mill with refluxing and then filtration through Gooch crucibles without (AOAC−; reference method) or with (AOAC+) a glass fiber filter filtration aid. Other methods in use include grinding materials through the 1-mm screen of an abrasion mill, using filtration through a Buchner funnel with a glass fiber filter (Buch), and use of the ANKOM system (ANKOM Technology, Macedon, NY) that simultaneously extracts and filters samples through filter bags with larger (F57) or smaller (F58) particle size retentions. Our objective was to compare the AOAC and alternative methods using samples ground through the 1-mm screens of cutting or abrasion mills. Materials analyzed were 2 alfalfa silages, 2 corn silages, dry ground and high-moisture corn grains, mixed grass hay, ryegrass silage, soybean hulls, calf starter, and sugar beet pulp. Samples were run in duplicate in replicate analytical runs performed on different days by experienced technicians. Compared with cutting mill–ground samples, the aNDF% of dry matter results from abrasion mill–ground samples were or tended to be lower for 8 of 11 samples. Method affected aNDF% results for all materials, with method × grind interactions for 6 of 11 samples. For ash-free aNDF% assessed with cutting mill–ground materials, a priori selected contrasts showed that the number of materials for which methods differed or tended to differ from the AOAC methods were 4 (Buch), 8 (F57), and 3 (F58); and 3 for AOAC– versus AOAC+. However, statistically different does not necessarily mean substantially different. For a given feed and grind, a positive value for the absolute difference between the AOAC– mean and an alternative method mean minus 2 times the standard deviation of AOAC− suggests that values for the alternative method fall outside of the range of results likely to be observed for the reference method. The number of observed positive values for materials processed with cutting and abrasion mills, respectively, were 0 and 2 (AOAC+); 2 and 2 (Buch); 8 and 10 (F57); 4 and 7 (F58); and 0 and 4 (AOAC−). With the materials tested, methods in order of agreement with the reference method were Buch, F58, and F57, which often gave lower values. The AOAC+ gave results similar to AOAC−, substantiating it as an allowed modification of AOAC−. Best agreement between the reference method and variant NDF methods was achieved with the 1-mm screen cutting mill grind. The 1-mm abrasion mill grind produced more aNDF% results that were lower than the reference method but with fewer differences when filter particle retention size was smaller. The use of filters that retain finer particles could be explored to improve comparability of variant NDF methods and grinds. Further evaluation with an expanded set of materials is warranted.     

Beef lipids in relation to animal breed and nutrition in Argentina

Fatty acid (FA) composition of intramuscular fat (IMF) in M. Longissimus dorsi (LD) was measured in 72 steers from Angus (A), Charolais×Angus (CHA×A) and Holstein Argentine (HA) breeds. The steers were allotted to four dietary treatments of six animals each: T1, steers grazed on pasture; T2, steers supplemented with cracked corn grain (0.7% of live-weight) daily and free access to pasture; T3, steers supplemented with cracked corn grain (1% of live-weight) daily and free access to pasture; and T4, feedlot (concentrate based on corn, alfalfa hay and soybean meal without access to pasture). At slaughter weight, samples of LD at the 11th rib were used for intramuscular lipid analysis. The diet was shown to be more important than breed in determining FA composition. Pasture beef had higher percentages of saturated fatty acids (SFA), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and lower percentages of IMF, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), n-6 PUFA and n-6/n-3 ratios than feedlot beef. HA beef presented lower percentages of SFA and more MUFA with a higher n-6/n-3 ratio than A and CHA×A. Comparing grass and feedlot beef the amounts of FA in muscle (mg/100g) were, respectively 18:3 n-3 (44 vs. 11mg), CLA (20 vs. 12mg), 20:5 n-3 (20 vs. 11mg), 22:5 n-5 (20 vs. 11mg), 22:6 n-3 (12 vs. 6mg) and n-3 PUFA (84 vs. 32mg). Feedlot beef has more SFA (1372 vs. 1081mg), MUFA (1574 vs. 1078mg), PUFA (350 vs. 227mg) and n-6 PUFA (318 vs.143mg).     

An alternative method to assess 24-h ruminal in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility

Interassay error caused by the inconsistent nature of rumen fluid inoculum confounds comparisons of forage in vitro neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (NDFD) analyzed in different repetitions or laboratories. Our objective was to determine if priming rumen fluid and allowing it to produce a standard amount of gas before inoculating samples improved assay repeatability. In 2 experiments, we compared interassay error of NDFD estimates between several in vitro assays. In both experiments, dried, ground (1 mm) alfalfa samples (0.5 g) sealed in bags were placed in 125-mL Erlenmeyer flasks and incubated with in vitro media and 10 mL of rumen fluid. In experiment A, rumen fluid was collected from a cannulated cow fed a high forage diet and prepared one of 2 ways; rumen fluid was either used immediately after it was collected and strained through cheese cloth (GVA), or strained fluid was combined with buffer, reducing solution, and 12.5 mg of cellulose/mL of rumen fluid and allowed to produce a consistent amount of gas before inoculation (RPA). The assay was repeated 5 times, with 13 samples per method. In experiment B, inoculum was prepared one of 3 ways; RPA, GVA except rumen fluid was collected and pooled from 2 cows (GVB), or RPA with fluid pooled from 2 cows. The in vitro assays were repeated 5 times with 8 samples per method. Neutral detergent fiber was analyzed using a forage fiber analyzer and 24-h NDFD was determined as: NDFD (% of NDF) = 100 × [(NDF_0h − NDF_residue)/(NDF_0h)]. Data for each experiment were analyzed using a mixed model procedure and repetition sum of squares for each technique was determined and compared with an F-test to assess technique interassay error. In both experiments, rumen fluid priming significantly reduced repetition sums of squares, 51.2 versus 503 and 23.3 versus 164, compared with the respective GVA or GVB. However, priming significantly decreased NDFD values, 22.5 versus 24.8 and 23.9 versus 26.6%, compared with GVA and GVB, respectively. Priming rumen fluid with cellulose improved in vitro NDFD assay precision, but depressed in vitro NDFD.     

Effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber and starch ratio on rumen epithelial cell morphological structure and gene expression in dairy cows

This study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary neutral detergent fiber to starch ratio on rumen epithelial morphological structure and gene expression. Eight primiparous dairy cows including 4 ruminally fistulated cows were assigned to 4 total mixed rations with neutral detergent fiber to starch ratios of 0.86, 1.18, 1.63, and 2.34 in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. The duration of each period was 21 d including 14 d for adaptation and 7 d for sampling. Rumen epithelial papillae were collected from the ruminally fistulated cows for morphological structure examination and mRNA expression analysis using quantitative real-time PCR of several genes related to volatile fatty acid absorption and metabolism, and cellular growth. Increasing dietary neutral detergent fiber to starch ratio resulted in a linear increase in the thickness of the stratum spinosum and basale. In contrast, expression of HMGCS2 (encoding the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of ketone bodies) decreased linearly, whereas the expression of MCT2 (encoding a transporter of volatile fatty acid) increased linearly with increasing dietary neutral detergent fiber to starch ratio. As dietary neutral detergent fiber to starch ratio increased, expression of IGFBP5 (a gene related to the growth of rumen epithelial papillae) decreased, whereas IGFBP6 expression increased. Both of these IGFBP genes are regulated by short-chain fatty acids. Overall, the data indicate that dietary neutral detergent fiber to starch ratio can alter the thickness of the rumen epithelial papillae partly through changes in expression of genes associated with regulating volatile fatty acid absorption, metabolism, and cell growth.     

Effects of dietary physically effective neutral detergent fiber content on the feeding behavior,digestibility, and growth of 8- to 10-month-old Holstein replacement heifers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content on the feeding behavior, digestion, ruminal fermentation parameters, and growth of 8- to 10-mo-old dairy heifers and to predict the adequacy of dietary fiber in growing dairy heifers. Twenty-four Holstein dairy heifers (245 ± 10.8 d of age, 305.6 ± 8.5 kg initial live weight) were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 6 replicates as a completely randomized design. During the 60-d period with a 10-d adaptation, heifers were offered 1 of 4 diets, which were chemically identical but included different peNDF_8.0 (particle size is >8 mm and <19 mm) content (% DM): 10.8, 13.5, 18.0, or 19.8%, which was achieved by chopping forage into different lengths (fine = 1 cm, short = 3 cm, medium = 5 cm, and long = 7 cm). The concentrate and silage were mixed and fed restrictedly and exclusive of forage (Chinese ryegrass hay) were offered ad libitum. The body weight and frame size of the heifers were measured every 15 d during the experimental period. Samples of the rumen content (2 h after the morning feeding) were taken for pH, ammonia, and volatile fatty acid determination. The dry matter intake and average daily gain of the heifers were not significantly affected by peNDF_8.0 content. The body frame size (including withers height, body length, and heart girth) of the heifers was not increased significantly by enhanced peNDF_8.0 content. Ruminal pH and ammonia concentration were both increased with increasing dietary peNDF_8.0 content. The ruminal total volatile fatty acid concentration and percentage of acetate and butyrate profiles were not significantly affected by dietary peNDF_8.0 content. However, the enhanced peNDF_8.0 content led to a decrease in the propionate percentage. The ratio of acetate to propionate in the 13.5% treatment was highest among the treatments. Increasing the particle size and dietary peNDF_8.0 content resulted in increased eating and chewing time but had no effect on rumination time. Heifer total eating and chewing time and eating and chewing time per kilogram of dry matter intake were increased with increasing dietary peNDF_8.0 content. The apparent digestibility of acid detergent fiber and crude protein was improved with an increasing content of dietary peNDF_8.0. The results suggest that an optimal or advisable dietary particle size and peNDF_8.0 content improves chewing activity, rumen fluid pH, and ruminal fermentation. The data based on feeding behavioral and growth responses of heifers as well as rumen fermentation and digestion by improving total eating and chewing time indicate that 18.0% dietary peNDF_8.0 content is the most suitable for 8- to 10-mo-old Holstein heifers.     

Effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration and supplementary long hay on chewing activities and milk production of dairy cows

Effects of dietary NDF concentration on chewing and productivity were assessed using silage-based diets with and without supplemental long hay. Twelve Holstein cows (125 d postpartum) were used in a double 6 x 6 Latin square to evaluate six diets formulated using high moisture shelled corn and alfalfa silage (37% DM, 23% CP, 48% NDF) to provide three concentrations of NDF: 26, 30, and 34%. At each concentration, an alternative diet was formulated by substituting 15% of the silage DM with an equivalent amount of long alfalfa grass hay (14% CP, 61% NDF). Cows were fed at 85% of ad libitum intake, and ingredients were allocated separately. Increasing NDF decreased milk yield from 20.8 to 19.9 and 19.1 kg/d, for 26, 30, and 34%, respectively. Supplementing diets with hay increased milk production by .7 kg/d, although milk fat content was not affected. Increasing NDF resulted in a quadratic increase in ruminating and total chewing time from 344 and 558 for 26% NDF, to 413 and 651 for 30%, and 414 and 674 min/d for 34%, respectively. Added hay did not increase daily ruminating and chewing time; ruminating time per unit of NDF intake was reduced by hay supplementation (75.3 vs. 69.4 min/kg).     

Conditions stimulating neutral detergent fiber degradation by dosing branched-chain volatile fatty acids. II: Relation with solid passage rate and pH on neutral detergent fiber degradation and microbial function in continuous culture

To support improving genetic potential for increased milk production, intake of digestible carbohydrate must also increase to provide digestible energy and microbial protein synthesis. We hypothesized that the provision of exogenous branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) would improve both neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. However, BCVFA should be more beneficial with increasing efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis associated with increasing passage rate (k_p). We also hypothesized that decreasing pH would increase the need for isobutyrate over 2-methylbutyrate. To study these effects independent from other sources of variation in vivo, we evaluated continuous cultures without (control) versus with BCVFA (0 vs. 2 mmol/d each of isobutyrate, isovalerate, and 2-methylbutyrate), low versus high k_p of the particulate phase (2.5 vs. 5.0%/h), and high versus low pH (ranging from 6.3 to 6.8 diurnally vs. 5.7 to 6.2) in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Diets were 50% forage pellets and 50% grain pellets administered twice daily. Without an interaction, NDF degradability tended to increase from 29.7 to 35.0% for main effects of control compared with BCVFA treatments. Provision of BCVFA increased methanogenesis, presumably resulting from improved NDF degradability. Decreasing pH decreased methane production. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and acetate production were decreased with increasing k_p, even though true organic matter degradability and bacterial nitrogen flow were not affected by treatments. Decreasing pH decreased acetate but increased propionate and valerate production, probably resulting from a shift in bacterial taxa and associated VFA stoichiometry. Decreasing pH decreased isobutyrate and isovalerate production while increasing 2-methylbutyrate production on a net basis (subtracting doses). Supplementing BCVFA improved NDF degradability in continuous cultures administered moderate (15.4%) crude protein diets (excluding urea in buffer) without major interactions with culture pH and k_p.     

Effects of unprotected choline chloride on microbial fermentation in a dual-flow continuous culture depend on dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration

Choline is usually supplemented as ruminally protected choline chloride to prevent its degradation in the rumen, but the effects of unprotected choline on ruminal fermentation are unclear. Some research indicates a possible role of dietary fiber on microbial degradation of choline; therefore we aimed to evaluate the effects of unprotected choline chloride on ruminal fermentation and to investigate whether those effects depend on dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration. Our hypothesis was that dietary NDF concentration would influence choline chloride effects on microbial ruminal fermentation. We used 8 fermentors in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, combining 2 factors: (1) dietary NDF concentration and (2) unprotected choline chloride supplementation. Resulting treatments are (1) 30%NDF/Ctrl [30% NDF control diet without supplemental choline (Cho)]; (2) 30%NDF/Cho [30% NDF diet plus 1.9 g of choline ion per kg of dry matter (DM)]; (3) 40%NDF/Ctrl (40% NDF control diet without supplemental choline); and (4) 40%NDF/Cho (40% NDF diet plus 1.9 g of choline ion per kg of DM). Four 10-d periods were completed, each consisting of 7 d for adaptation and 3 d for collection of samples for estimation of nutrient disappearance and daily average concentrations of volatile fatty acids and NH₃-N. In addition, kinetics of pH, acetate, and propionate were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after morning feeding. On the last day of each period, bacteria pellets were harvested for ¹⁵N analysis and N metabolism. Fixed effects of dietary NDF concentration, unprotected choline chloride supplementation, and their interaction (NDF × Cho) were tested using the MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Choline tended to increase total volatile fatty acid concentrations and decreased acetate molar proportion regardless of dietary NDF concentration, but it increased propionate molar proportion and decreased acetate to propionate ratio only with the 30% NDF diet. Supplementing choline decreased NDF disappearance regardless of dietary NDF; however, organic matter disappearance tended to be reduced only when choline was added to 40% NDF. Our data indicate that unprotected choline chloride effects on ruminal fermentation depend on dietary NDF concentration, allowing for a greater propionate synthesis without decreasing organic matter disappearance when fed with a 30% NDF diet.     

Wheat straw or alfalfa hay in diets with 30% neutral detergent fiber for lactating Holstein cows.

Twenty-four Holstein cows near peak lactation were fed diets formulated to contain 30% NDF with forage NDF from chopped wheat straw or chopped alfalfa hay in proportions of 0:3, 1:2, 2:1, and 3:0 in an 8-wk trial to evaluate effects of fiber source on lactational performance. Concentrate was based on highly degradable carbohydrate in steam-flaked sorghum grain. Forage to concentrate ratio decreased from 49:51 to 28:72 when straw was substituted for alfalfa hay. Milk yield (38.4 kg/d) and DMI (23.1 kg/d) were not influenced by forage source. Milk fat percentage decreased and milk protein percentage increased linearly with increasing straw. Yields of 3.5% FCM and fat showed linear and quadratic responses, because they appeared to be reduced only on the 0:3 diet, and protein yield showed a quadratic response and was highest for the 1:2 diet. Digestibility of NDF averaged 43.5, 45.4, 40.7, and 31.2%, and acetate to propionate ratio was 3.0, 2.4, 2.2, and 1.9 with increasing dietary straw. Passage rates were not influenced by diet and averaged 9.3, 7.6, 6.1, and 4.7%/h for fluid, grain, alfalfa hay, and wheat straw, respectively. It is suggested that the ratio of forage NDF to ruminally degradable starch be maintained greater than or equal to 1:1 when diets based on low quality forage are fed to cows in early lactation.     

Technical note: Effects of filter bags on neutral detergent fiber recovery and fiber digestion in vitro

Filter bags facilitate the measurement of amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) and in vitro (IV) undigested aNDF (uNDF) by eliminating the transfer of residues from beakers into filtration crucibles. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine effects of filter bags on recovery of aNDF and (2) evaluate effects of filter bags on IV uNDF. For study 1, 6 samples each of grass hay (GR), alfalfa (AL), and corn silage (CS) were selected. Large standard deviations (SD) of ash-free aNDF (aNDFom) for samples in each forage type indicated compositional diversity (15.1, 7.45, and 12.9% of DM for GR, AL, and CS, respectively), and starch SD for CS was 16.4% of DM. Samples were weighed into Berzelius beakers or filter bags [25-µm pores (F57) or 6-µm pores (F58); Ankom Technology, Macedon, NY] for measurement of aNDF and aNDFom. All samples were extracted with neutral detergent, thermostable α-amylase, and sodium sulfite, and then soaked in boiling water and then acetone. Residues from beakers were filtered through a sea sand–covered GF/D filter (Whatman, Marlborough, MA) in Gooch crucibles (CR). Filter bags were extracted in a pressurized chamber at 100°C. The aNDF values did not differ between F57 and CR, but F58 was greater than CR for CS and AL. For GR, F58 was greater than CR for aNDFom. For study 2, diverse samples with large SD of aNDFom (20.7, 7.45, and 12.9% of DM for GR, AL, and CS, respectively) were weighed as loose powder into medium bottles (LS) or F57 bags, which were weighted to prevent floating. Blended ruminal fluid from 3 steers fed a 30% aNDFom diet was used as inoculum. Three samples of 1 forage type were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 IV runs using both treatments (LS and F57), and 3 bottles of each sample–treatment combination were removed after 12 h and 2 were removed after 120 h to measure uNDF. For LS, residues were extracted as in study 1 for CR. For F57, bags were rinsed in cold water and extracted as described in study 1. After 12 h, uNDF of F57 was greater than LS in CS, AL, and overall types. Ash-free uNDF (uNDFom) after 12 h of F57 was greater than LS in CS and overall types. After 120 h, F57 was greater than LS for uNDF of CS, but no differences were detected for uNDFom. The SD of uNDFom, but not uNDF, was higher after 12 and 120 h for F57 compared with LS. From 6 to 96 h, overall gas production of F57 was less than LS, and F57 was less than LS for CS from 3 to 96 h. Overall, LS gave greater maximum and faster rates of gas production than F57, as did AL and CS, but lag did not vary. Results indicate that filter bags affected aNDF and aNDFom measurement and inhibited fermentation for some materials.     

Recent progress in dietary fiber (plantix) in human nutrition.

Dietary fiber was extensively discussed in an article by G.A. Spiller and R.J. Amen in this journal in 1975 (Volume 7 Issue 1). The progress in this field has been tremendous in the past 2 years. What was an uncertain field in 1975 and what at that time to some investigators still appeared as a hypothesis or fad without much proof has turned into a much more respected part of nutritional sciences. The scientific quality of recent studies on dietary fiber in human nutrition shows a great deal of sophistication and care. Improved analytical methodologies are being used more extensively. Many nutritionists and clinicians have accepted the fact that a reasonable increase in the dietary fiber intake in the U.S. and U.K would be advisable. In this article, the possible beneficial effects of dietary fiber on health, the possible harmful side effects, and the food science aspects are carefully discussed after an update on chemistry, analytical procedures, and nomenclature. Undoubtedly, dietary fiber has found a new niche in the sciences of nutrition, medicine, epidemiology, and foods.     

Modification of a rumen fluid priming technique for measuring in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility

Recently, we developed an alternate method to measure in vitro neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (ivNDFD) based on a primed rumen fluid inoculum. Pretreating rumen fluid inoculum with cellulose and holding the inoculum until it generated 0.3 mL of gas/mL of rumen fluid before inoculating forage samples improved ivNDFD assay repeatability but depressed ivNDFD means. Our objective in this study was to determine if pretreating rumen fluid with a mixture of carbohydrates and urea would affect the ivNDFD mean and variance. We also used the modified procedure as a reference assay to calibrate near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict 24-, 30-, and 48-h ivNDFD. Two experiments were completed. In experiment A, 3 ivNDFD assays modified from the method of Goering and Van Soest were evaluated over 24, 28, 48, 54, and 72 h by using dried, ground alfalfa (1 mm) or wheat straw (0.5 g) sealed in Ankom F57 forage fiber bags. Bags were placed individually in 125-mL Erlenmeyer flasks and incubated with Goering and Van Soest media and 10 mL of rumen fluid. Rumen fluid was collected before feeding from 2 cannulated cows fed a high-forage diet and was prepared in 1 of 3 ways: 1) pooled rumen fluid was strained and used immediately to inoculate flasks (modified Goering and Van Soest method); 2) strained, pooled fluid was combined with buffer, reducing solution, and 1.25 mg of primer/mL of rumen fluid and allowed to produce 0.12 mL of gas/mL of rumen fluid before sample inoculation [Combs-Goeser (CG) method]; or 3) the CG method was used without the primer mixture (unprimed method). The assay was repeated 5 times, with 5 time points (24, 28, 48, 54, and 72 h) and 2 subsamples per time point for each method. Neutral detergent fiber was analyzed using an Ankom²⁰⁰ forage fiber analyzer and ivNDFD was determined as follows: ivNDFD (% of NDF) = 100 × [(NDF_0h - NDF_residue)/(NDF_0h)]. Results were analyzed using a mixed model procedure, and data were blocked by method to obtain repetition sums of squares, which were compared by an F-test to assess interassay error. Repetition sums of squares were reduced with the CG method compared with the Goering and Van Soest method (19 vs. 228), and mean ivNDFD estimates were similar at 28, 48, and 54 h. In experiment B, 24-, 30-, and 48-h ivNDFD data for 54 feeds were determined in triplicate using the CG method, and corresponding samples were then scanned with an NIRS instrument. Calibrations were computed using partial least squares regression techniques. The NIRS calibration equation R² values were 0.93, 0.93, and 0.89 for 24-, 30-, and 48-h ivNDFD. Results suggest that the modified ivNDFD method using rumen fluid primed with a mixture of carbohydrate and urea (CG method) reduced interassay error.