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C D Lu

Publications and source records attributed to C D Lu.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Feed intake and weight gain of growing goats fed diets of various energy and protein levels.

Growing goats, 45 Alpine and 45 Nubian, were used in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement to quantify the influence of dietary energy and protein levels on daily DM intake and nutrient utilization for growth. Goats had ad libitum access to complete mixed diets containing either 2.46, 2.77 or 3.05 Mcal/kg ME plus 11.2, 12.7 or 15.1% CP for 16 wk. Dry matter intake decreased curvilinearly as dietary ME density increased (P less than .001). Dry matter intake increased linearly (P less than .05) as dietary CP level increased during all growth intervals except wk 25 to 28 of age. Average daily gain was 115, 113 and 99 g/d for goats fed diets containing 2.46, 2.77 and 3.05 Mcal/kg ME, respectively. Average daily gain was 104, 106 and 117 g/d for goats fed diets with 11.2, 12.7 and 15.1% CP, respectively. Dry matter intake was higher (P less than .01) for Alpine than for Nubian goats, whereas ADG was similar between breeds. Intake of ME was 248, 260 and 198 kcal/(kg.75.d) for goats fed the low- medium- and high-energy diets, respectively. Intake of CP was 9.1, 10.7 and 13.2 g/(kg.75.d) for goats fed low-, medium- and high-protein diets, respectively. Average requirements for growth derived from regression analysis of all data points were 4.6 kcal ME and .26 g CP/g ADG. The prediction equation for intake of growing goats of 4 to 8 mo of age was: DMI, g/d = 1,749 - 496 DE, kcal/g + 18 live weight, kg + 3 ADG, g/d; r2 = .73 (Sy.x = 127, P less than .0001, n = 90). The requirement of ME for growth was 33% lower than the value recommended in 1981 by the National Research Council.

Animals↗

Performance of dairy goats fed soybean meal or meat and bone meal with or without urea during early lactation.

Use of meat and bone meal for early lactation rations was studied. In Experiment 1, 18 Alpine goats were used in a 15-wk lactation trial. Isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were fed (15% CP and 2.3 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy) containing soybean meal, meat and bone meal with urea, or meat and bone meal without urea. Dry matter intake was 2.21, 2.30, and 2.34 kg/d for does fed soybean meal, meat and bone meal with urea, and meat and bone meal without urea, respectively. Milk production was 2.50, 2.67, and 2.66 kg/d in the same sequence. Rumen ammonia N (mg/dl) and total VFA (mM) were 12.9 and 81.5, 21.4 and 76.3, and 12.2 and 81.6 for does fed soybean meal, meat and bone meal with urea, and meat and bone meal, respectively. Serum urea N was higher in does fed meat and bone meal with urea, and no differences were observed in serum total protein and plasma glucose concentrations. In Experiment 2, 4 mature, castrated male goats were used to estimate digestibilities and retention of nutrients in three diets. Digestibilities of NDF and P and retention of P were higher in goats fed the meat and bone meal diet. Allowance of absorbed protein for milk production was calculated to be 81 to 83 g/kg 4% FCM. Meat and bone meal may be utilized efficiently by lactating does as a protein less degradable in the rumen, Ca, and P source; and may be beneficial for higher milk production during early lactation.

Animal Feed↗

Pyrimidine regulation of tandem promoters for carAB in Salmonella typhimurium.

The carAB operon of Salmonella typhimurium encodes the two subunits of the enzyme carbamoylphosphate synthetase. Transcription of the operon is initiated at tandem promoters that are subject to control by pyrimidines and arginine. Pyrimidine regulation was examined by quantitative primer extension experiments under conditions in which densitometric measurements of the transcripts were linear with the amount of RNA. RNA was obtained from mutant strains that permit manipulations of pyrimidine nucleotide pools. The data showed that a uridine nucleotide repressed the upstream promoter (Pl), whereas arginine repressed the downstream promoter (P2). Exogenous cytidine, which increased the intracellular CTP pool in certain mutant strains, did not affect either promoter. However, CTP limitation resulted in derepression of the pyrimidine-specific promoter as well as the downstream arginine-specific promoter. The effect of pyrimidines on P2 was confirmed in a carA::lacZ transcriptional fusion in which the activity of the pyrimidine-specific promoter was abolished. Primer extension experiments with an argR::Tn10 derivative showed that repression of Pl by uridine nucleotides did not require a functional arginine repressor and that repression of P2 by arginine did not interfere with elongation of transcripts initiated at the upstream Pl promoter.

Arginine↗

Nucleotide sequence of the carA gene and regulation of the carAB operon in Salmonella typhimurium.

The carAB operon of Salmonella typhimurium encoding carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (CPSase) has been cloned, and the nucleotide sequence of the first gene of the operon, carA, together with 760 base pairs of the 5'-flanking region was determined. The product of the carA gene is the small subunit of CPSase. It catalyzes the transfer of the amide group from glutamine to an NH3-site on the heavy subunit. Primer extension and S1 nuclease mapping of in vivo carAB transcripts revealed that transcription is similar to that of Escherichia coli [Piette, J. et al. (1984) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 81, 4134-4138] in its initiation at two promoters, P1 and P2, controlled by pyrimidines and arginine, respectively. The arginine control is mediated through binding to the arginine repressor (argR). The involvement of titratable regulatory elements is indicated by the escape from both arginine and pyrimidine control, when the operon is present in multicopies on a plasmid. Measurements of CPSase levels in mutants which allows independent manipulation of the intracellular uracil and cytosine nucleotide pools show, that both uracil and cytosine nucleotides are required for full repression and that limitation of either nucleotide results in derepression of CPSase synthesis. Deletion analyses indicate that regions upstream of the P1 promoter are required for normal expression from this promoter but not from P2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Site and extent of nutrient digestion in lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa protein concentrate or soybean meal.

In vivo and in situ trials were conducted to investigate the utilization of alfalfa protein concentrate as a protein supplement for lactating dairy cows. In the in vivo trial, four Holstein cows fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulae were used in a crossover experiment to measure site and extent of nutrient digestion. Isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing alfalfa protein concentrate or soybean meal were fed four times daily. Sixty percent of dietary total N was provided by the test proteins. Ruminal ammonia and total VFA concentrations were lower in cows fed alfalfa protein concentrate. Fractional digestion coefficient of organic matter (52 vs. 43%) and degradation of dietary protein (57 vs. 47%) in the rumen were slightly lower in cows fed alfalfa protein concentrate. The ratio of amino acid flow to the small intestine to dietary intake of amino acid was higher in cows fed alfalfa protein concentrate. In the in situ trial, rate of N disappearance (2.4 vs. 9.5%.h-1) and potential protein degradability (35 vs. 68%) were lower for alfalfa protein concentrate. Results suggest that alfalfa protein concentrate may be more resistant to ruminal degradation than soybean meal and could be utilized as a relatively undegradable protein source for milk production.

Animal Feed↗

Alfalfa saponins affect site and extent of nutrient digestion in ruminants.

Alfalfa saponins isolated by ethanol extraction and partial acid hydrolysis were intraruminally administered to sheep to investigate the biological activities and nutritional implications in ruminants. Mature wethers fitted with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas were fed a concentrate or roughage diet formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Microbial fermentation and nutrient degradation in the rumen were reduced by saponins. Total protozoal count in the rumen was reduced 34 and 66% by saponins at levels of 2 and 4% dietary dry matter, respectively. Bacterial nitrogen flow to the duodenum was reduced 20 and 30% in the same sequence. Apparent digestion coefficients of organic matter, hemicellulose and cellulose in the total digestive tract were increased by saponins in sheep fed concentrate diets. Fractional digestion coefficients of organic matter, hemicellulose, cellulose and nitrogen were reduced in the stomach while they were increased in the small intestine by saponins in both diets. Saponins inhibited microbial fermentation and synthesis in the rumen and altered the sites of nutrient digestion in sheep.

Animal Feed↗

Alteration of fermentation in continuous culture of mixed rumen bacteria by isolated alfalfa saponins.

Saponins isolated from alfalfa by ethanol extraction and acid hydrolysis were incorporated into protein-free purified diets at 0, .5, 1, 2, and 4% of dietary dry matter to investigate the effect of saponins on fermentation by mixed rumen bacteria maintained in continuous culture. Inoculum was obtained from a lactating dairy cow fed alfalfa hay and a 13% crude protein grain mixture with forage to grain ratios of 33:67, 67:33, or 100:0. Outflow of microbial protein was lower in fermenters fed purified diet containing 1% saponins. Accumulation of ammonia was observed in fermenters fed purified diets containing alfalfa saponins. Total volatile fatty acid production was reduced by addition of isolated alfalfa saponin fraction at .5, 1, 2, and 4% concentrations. Acetate to propionate ratios were reduced from 1.93 in control to 1.37 in fermenters with 1% saponins. Extent of change in fermentation was not proportional to the concentration of added saponins.

Animals↗

Implication of forage particle length on chewing activities and milk production in dairy goats.

Twenty-four primiparous Alpine does fed a high concentrate ration were utilized to study the effect of forage particle length on chewing activity, ruminal components, and milk composition. Treatments were Bermudagrass hay with mean particle length of 2.38 and 3.87 mm. Forage particle length was determined with an oscillating screen particle separator. Feeding forage with 3.87-mm mean particle length to lactating dairy goats resulted in higher total chewing and rumination times, slightly higher milk fat content, and fat-corrected milk production. Results from this experiment support the hypothesis that forage particle length affects chewing activities and production of milk fat precursors in the rumen and alters milk fat content and output of fat-corrected milk. Forage particle length appeared to be an important index for forage quality and a quantitative approach could be feasible to establish a system relating forage particle length to milk production in dairy goats.

Animal Feed↗

Quantitative studies of amino acid flow in the digestive tract of sheep fed alfalfa protein concentrates.

Mature wethers fitted with duodenal and ileal cannulae were fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing alfalfa protein concentrate (APC) prepared by various methods. Amino acid concentrations in digesta at the proximal duodenum and distal ileum were influenced by processing method used for preparation of ACP (P less than 0.05). Amino acid pattern at the proximal duodenum was not affected by treatment. Methionine and lysine concentrations were lower in mixed bacteria isolated from the rumen of sheep fed APC prepared by anaerobic fermentation and spray dried when compared to other treatments. Apparent ruminal degradability of individual amino acid was influenced by method of preparation for APC (P less than 0.05). Bacteria contributed 55-74% of total amino acids flowing to the duodenum. Approximately 72% of the amino acids reaching the duodenum disappeared in the small intestine regardless of treatment. Amino acid pattern of residual proteins differed from respective dietary proteins. Results reveal that not all proteins entering the small intestine of ruminants are of equal quality.

Amino Acids↗

Intake, digestibility, and rate of passage of silages and hays from wet fractionation of alfalfa.

Fibrous products of alfalfa from various steps of the wet fractionation process were either ensiled or dried artificially. Two 4 X 4 Latin square digestion trials for silages and hays were to determine the effect of cell maceration and pressure fractionation on characteristics and acceptability of these products by ruminants. Silage treatments consisted of field wilted, chopped, and ensiled; direct cut and cell macerated; direct cut, cell macerated, and pressed; and repressed silage. Dry matter intake averaged 971, 914, 796, and 763 g/day, respectively. Digestion coefficients were: dry matter 60.1, 56.0, 55.6, and 54.3; cell wall constituents 49.8, 49.4, 49.9, and 50.8 for the treatments. Hay treatments were processed in the same manner as were silages but artificially dried. Dry matter intake averaged 1021, 990, 1025, and 980 g/day; digestibility of cell wall constituents was 44.6, 46.5, 51.4 and 52.7%; total mean retention time was 31.5, 41.8, 45.8, and 46.6 h for the hay treatments. When the fibrous residues were handled as hay, digestibility of fiber components was increased by cell maceration and pressure fractionation, while intake was maintained.

Animal Feed↗