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PubMed1992

Effect of microbial fermentation on functional specific gravity of small forage particles.

Two experiments were designed to determine the effect of gas production during in vitro digestion on functional specific gravity (FSG) of forage particles. In Exp. 1, FSG of ground alfalfa hay decreased from 1.123 to 1.049 between 3 and 9 h of incubation and increased thereafter to reach a plateau at 1.309 after 30 h of incubation. Gas production peaked at 6 h, but gas associated with particles increased until 9 h of incubation. Gas associated with solid residue was correlated to gas production (r = -.67) but also was influenced by gas holding capacity and rate of escape from the particles. In Exp. 2, measurements were performed on ground alfalfa hay, alfalfa silage, and bromegrass hay containing 42.6, 35, and 66.4% NDF, respectively. Gas production seemed to be related to the amount of readily available substrate. Although at 9 h of incubation more gas was produced by alfalfa silage (.235 mL.min-1.g of DM-1) than by bromegrass hay and alfalfa hay (.087 and .187 mL.min-1.g of DM-1, respectively), gas associated with particles was greater for alfalfa hay (.416 mL/g of DM) than for bromegrass hay and alfalfa silage (.256 and .281 mL/g of DM, respectively). The increase in FSG was more rapid for alfalfa silage than for the hays. After 27 h of digestion, gas associated with particles (milliliters per gram of DM) and FSG were .164, 1.226; .147, 1.235; and .001, 1.467 for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively. Gas produced during fermentation delayed the increase in specific gravity of forage particles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Nutritional management of replacement sheep utilizing southern forages: a review.

Intensive sheep production systems seem to be an appropriate means of fully using the available resources, particularly the forages, of the southern region. In such systems, ewes should lamb first at approximately 1 yr of age. Programs to accomplish this goal must be well-planned and carefully integrated and executed. The primary goal is to achieve two-thirds of the ewe's projected mature weight before exposure for breeding. General management must reduce heat stress and parasitism. Forage quality must be maintained at a level consistent with National Research Council requirements for energy and protein. Protein is not normally a limiting factor. Energy supplementation and grazing pressure can be used to maintain growth without over-condition, which reduces subsequent performance.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Forage quality and grazing steer performance from Tifton 85 and Tifton 78 bermudagrass pastures.

A new high-yielding bermudagrass hybrid, Tifton 85, produced 26% higher DM yield (P = .05) with 11% higher IVDMD (P = .05) than Coastal in two 3-yr yield trials. Tifton 78 and Tifton 85 were established in duplicate .81-ha pastures in 1988 and were grazed during 1989, 1990, and 1991 using a variable stocking rate method. Four tester steers per pasture with 269 kg initial BW grazed continuously for 169 d/yr beginning in April. Forage mass, targeted at 2,800 kg of DM/ha, was maintained by adjusting stocking rates at 14-d intervals to correspond with ground-level forage samples taken at 14-d intervals. Pastures received 84 kg of N/ha in March, June, and August of each year. Nutritive value was assessed using whole masticate samples from two esophageal cannulated steers grazing each pasture in late May, mid-July, or early September. The 3-yr mean masticate analyses revealed similar CP for Tifton 78 and Tifton 85 in May and July, but higher (P < .05) CP for Tifton 85 than for Tifton 78 in September. The IVDMD was higher (P < .05) in May and September for Tifton 85 than for Tifton 78; and, mean and medium particle sizes were greater (P < .05) for Tifton 85 than for Tifton 78 in May, July, and September samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Effects of high-forage diets with added palm oil on performance, plasma lipids, and carcass characteristics of ram and ewe lambs.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of high-forage diets with and without added dietary palm oil (high in palmitic acid) fed at equalized ME intakes on performance, plasma lipids, and carcass characteristics of growing ram and ewe lambs. Thirty-one Hampshire or Suffolk lambs (35.7 kg BW) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of the following treatments: 1) rams, no palm oil (R-NPO); 2) ewes, no palm oil (E-NPO); 3) rams, 10.7% dietary palm oil (R-PO); and 4) ewes, 10.7% dietary palm oil (E-PO). Both diets consisted of 77% forage and 23% concentrate. Diet DM contained 15.0% CP and 2.14 Mcal of ME/kg (NPO) or 2.62 Mcal of ME/kg (PO). Lambs were fed individually specified amounts of diet based on BW to equalize ME intake (.20 Mcal of ME/kg of BW.75) for both dietary treatments. Lambs were weighed and feed intakes were adjusted weekly. Lambs were bled by jugular venipuncture on d 28, 56, and 84 and were slaughtered after they had been fed the diets for 90 d. Lambs fed PO had greater (P < .01) ADG and efficiency (ADG/ME intake) than lambs fed NPO. Plasma concentrations of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids were increased (P < .01) by feeding PO. Lambs fed PO were fatter than lambs fed NPO, as evidenced by greater subcutaneous fat thickness and kidney and pelvic fat. Ewes had greater (P < .01) subcutaneous fat than did rams.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1994

The effects of high-forage diets with added palm oil on performance, plasma lipids, and carcass characteristics of ram lambs with initially high or low plasma cholesterol.

The objectives of this study were to examine the interaction between added palm oil in high-forage diets and initial concentration of plasma cholesterol on performance, plasma lipids, and carcass characteristics of growing ram lambs. Thirty-two Hampshire-Suffolk ram lambs (initial BW = 34.4 kg) were assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial design consisting of diet (basal [NPO] or 10.7% added palm oil [PO]) and initial plasma cholesterol concentration (high mean = 50 mg/dL [HC] or low mean = 38 mg/dL [LC]; SEM = 2; P = .01). The lambs were individually fed diets (77% forage-23% concentrate) that contained 16.0% CP, 2.14 Mcal of ME/kg (NPO), and 2.62 Mcal of ME/kg (PO). Metabolizable energy intakes were adjusted to .20 Mcal/kg of BW.75 for both dietary treatments. Lambs were weighed and feed intakes adjusted weekly. Lambs were bled via jugular venipuncture on d 28, 56, and 84 and lambs were slaughtered after they had been fed the diets for 90 d. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids were increased (P = .01) by feeding PO. Lambs fed PO were fatter than lambs fed NPO, as indicated by greater subcutaneous fat thickness and kidney and pelvic fat. Initial plasma cholesterol concentration had little effect on any of the parameters measured. Lambs fed PO had fatter carcasses than lambs fed NPO at calculated equalized ME intakes, which indicates that energy deposition is more efficient in palm oil-supplemented diets.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1994

Forage level and particle size effects on orchardgrass digestion by steers: II. Ruminal digestion kinetics of cell wall components.

Four steers (502 +/- 49 kg) with ruminal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experimental design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine the effects of the dietary forage:concentrate ratio (96:4 and 60:40) and forage particle size (long hay and coarsely ground hay) on in situ ruminal digestion kinetics of orchardgrass hay DM and cell wall neutral monosaccharides, uronic acids, acetyl groups, and hydroxycinnamic acids. Dacron in situ bags containing orchardgrass hay were fermented for 0, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 96 h. Digestion profiles of DM and cell wall monomers in undigested residues recovered from the rumen were analyzed using a first-order, exponential equation to estimate the indigestible fraction (fi), the insoluble, potentially digestible fraction (fd), and the fractional rate constant (kd) of digestion of fd. Initial results indicated that fi was not consistently influenced by diet fed to the steers; thus, in situ digestion profiles were analyzed to estimate single fi and fd values common to all steers and diets and different estimates of kd for each steer x diet combination (16 total). Estimates of fi (percentage of original) for cell wall components were ranked in the following order: galactose (12.6), ferulic acid (13.9), arabinose (14.5), total uronic acids (15.4), glucose (19.8), xylose (28.4), p-coumaric acid (34.6), and acetyl groups (35.8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

Calf production by Angus-Hereford and Brahman-Hereford cows on two native rangeland forage systems.

Calf birth weights, weaning weights, and preweaning gain of Simmental-sired calves from Angus-Hereford (AH) and Brahman-Hereford (BH) F1 cows grazing native rangeland (NR) or native rangeland-complementary forage (NRCF) systems in the southern Great Plains mixed prairie were evaluated. Calves from AH dams were heavier (P < .001) at birth than calves from BH dams in both forage systems (40 and 37 kg, respectively). However, birth weights of calves from BH dams were 2 kg heavier (P < .001) in the NRCF fall-calving system. Calves in the NRCF system were 122 d older and heavier (P < .001) than the NR calves at weaning (343 and 256 kg, respectively). During the preweaning period, the NR calves gained faster (P < .001) than the NRCF calves. When calves from both systems were evaluated at 200 d of age, NR calves were heavier (P < .001) than NRCF calves. Calves from BH cows were 8 to 16 kg heavier (P < .001) that calves from AH cows at 200 d of age and at weaning. The increased age at weaning associated with the NRCF did not reduce reproductive efficiency. The NRCF system requires less land than a traditional NR system to support a cow-calf pair and seems to be more economically efficient.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

Endogenous toxins and mycotoxins in forage grasses and their effects on livestock.

Plant toxins are the chemical defenses of plants against herbivory. Grasses have relatively few intrinsic toxins, relying more on growth habit to survive defoliation and endophytic fungal toxins as chemical defenses. Forage grasses that contain intrinsic toxins include Phalaris spp. (tryptamine and carboline alkaloids), sorghums (cyanogenic glycosides), and tropical grasses containing oxalates and saponins. Toxic effects of these grasses include neurological damage (Phalaris staggers), hypoxia (sudangrass), saponin-induced photosensitization (Brachiaria and Panicum spp.), and bone demineralization (oxalate-containing grasses). Endophytic toxins in grasses include ergot alkaloids in tall fescue and tremorgens (e.g., lolitrem B) in perennial ryegrass. Lolitrems cause neurological effects, producing the ryegrass staggers syndrome. Annual ryegrass toxicosis is caused by corynetoxins, which are chemically similar to tunicamycin antibiotics. Corynetoxins are produced by Clavibacter bacteria that parasitize a nematode, Anguina agrostis, that may infect annual ryegrass. Corynetoxins inhibit glycoprotein synthesis, causing defective formation of various blood components of the reticulo-endothelial system. Another mycotoxin in ryegrass is sporidesmin, which causes liver damage and secondary photosensitization (facial eczema). Fusarium toxins such as zearalenone and trichothecenes also occur in forage grasses. Kikuyugrass poisoning results in severe damage to the ruminal epithelium and omasal mucosa, and neurological signs. The causative agent, which may be associated with army worm predation of the grass, has not been identified. The properties and significance of these toxins are reviewed.

Acremonium↗
PubMed1995

Protein supplementation of ammoniated wheat straw: effect on performance and forage utilization of beef cattle.

We studied the effects of supplement CP concentration on performance and forage use of cattle allowed ad libitum access to ammoniated wheat straw. During two consecutive winters, crossbred beef cows in late gestation (n = 87 in 1990-1991, n = 84 in 1991-1992) were used in a randomized complete block design with three pens per treatment. Cows were stratified by weight, body condition score (BCS), age, and breed and randomly assigned within strata to 1) control (C, no supplement), or 2 kg/d of 2) low-protein (LP) supplement (12% CP), 3) moderate-protein (MP) supplement (20.1% CP), or 4) high-protein (HP) supplement (31.7% CP) (DM basis). The feeding period was 84 d in 1990-1991 and 60 d in 1991-1992. Supplementation (C vs LP, MP, or HP) increased (P < .01) cow weight gains (32.7 vs 60.7, 62.8, and 72.4 kg, respectively) and improved (P < .01) BCS. Calf birth weights, weaning weights, and ADG were not affected by treatment (P > or = .20). Average calving date, percentage of cows cycling at the start of the breeding season and percentage pregnant after a 60-d breeding season were also similar (P > .20) among treatments. Sixteen ruminally fistulated steers (482 kg, four steers per treatment) were blocked by weight and assigned to the same four supplements in a 30-d digestion trial. Supplementation increased (P < .01) digestible DMI and forage DMI (P < or = .04) and tended (P = .09) to increase digestible NDF intake but did not alter (P > or = .15) apparent DM or NDF digestibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ammonia↗
PubMed1996

Interactions between Fibrobacter succinogenes, Prevotella ruminicola, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens in the digestion of cellulose from forages.

The synergistic and inhibitory interactions observed between Fibrobacter succinogenes A3c, Prevotella ruminicola H2b, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens B34b in the digestion of forage cellulose were studied in detail. Orchardgrass and alfalfa hays, both at two maturity stages, were used as substrates. Sequential inoculation procedures were developed whereby a second inoculation was made after the initial fermentation was killed. Total cellulose digestion from sequential addition of the organisms was then compared to values obtained in simultaneous co-culture. When the noncellulolytic P. ruminicola was co-cultured with either of the two cellulolytic species (F. succinogenes or R. flavefaciens) forage cellulose digestion numerically increased over that of the cellulolytic species alone. In contrast, decreases from co-culture values were noted with sequential addition of the organisms. When F. succinogenes and R. flavefaciens were co-cultured, cellulose digestion was reduced compared to F. succinogenes alone. However, no such reduction was observed when the organisms were added sequentially. Further experiments indicated that this inhibitory activity is only produced when the organisms are co-cultured and is stable to autoclaving at 121 degrees C for 20 min. Inhibition of this type could be the result of bacterocin production by one of the organisms; however, most bacterocins are destroyed by autoclaving.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1997

Effect of forage quality and monensin on the ruminal fermentation of fistulated cows fed continuously at a constant intake.

A ruminal fermentation study was used to investigate the relationship between forage quality and monensin-dependent amino acid-sparing. Two fistulated cows were fed three concentrations of chopped (2.5 to 5.0 cm in length) timothy and alfalfa hays (100:0, 50:50 and 0:100) and two levels of monensin (0 and 350 mg.cow-1.d-1). The diets were offered 12 times per day (9 kg of DM/d), and the rumen reached a steady-state, reducing animal and day variation. Alfalfa hay had 1.4 times more CP and 1.4 times less NDF than timothy hay, and the substitution of timothy with alfalfa increased (P < .05) ruminal ammonia. Monensin had no effect on total ruminal ammonia when timothy hay was present in the diet, and it increased total ruminal ammonia with the 100% alfalfa diet. Effects on ruminal ammonia were, however, confounded by monensin-dependent decreases in ruminal pH (P < .05). Dissociated ammonia, the species most likely to be adsorbed from the rumen, declined when monensin was added to the 100% timothy diet (P < .05). Monensin had no effect on dissociated ammonia if alfalfa was 50% or 100% of the forage, but it counteracted alfalfa-dependent decreases in bacterial protein (P < .05). The idea that monensin could spare amino acids was supported by the observation that monensin decreased (P < .001) the specific activity of deanimation and increased bacterial protein at all combinations of alfalfa and timothy. Increases in bacterial protein could be explained by monensin-dependent increases in total VFA.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1997

Ardacin for steers grazing endophyte-free fescue pasture: effects on live weight gain, forage intake, nitrogen and fiber digestion, ruminal fluid kinetics, ruminal fermentation, and serum hormones and metabolites.

Growth and digestion studies were conducted to evaluate the use of ardacin as a feedgrade antibiotic for enhancing digestive function and growth in grazing steers. In Exp. 1, 90 yearling steers (average initial BW of 248 kg) used in a randomized complete block design (block = weight group) grazed fescue pasture without supplementation (CON) or with daily supplements (DM basis) of .4% of BW supplemental ground corn (CRN) or .4% of BW supplemental corn supplying 120 mg of ardacin (ARD). In Exp. 2, 12 ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers and three ruminally cannulated steers (Hereford x Angus; average BW of 347 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of the same supplements used in Exp. 1 on ruminal fermentation and digestion. In Exp. 1, ARD-supplemented steers weighed more (P < .01) at the conclusion of the study than CRN steers, which together weighed more (P < .01) than CON steers. Average daily gain was greater (P < .10) in supplemented than in CON steers; ARD steers had greater (P < .01) ADG than CRN steers. In Exp. 2, forage intake and harvesting efficiency did not vary (P > .10) with supplementation or type of supplement, but total intake reflected (P = .03) the addition of corn to the forage diet. Addition of ardacin increased (P = .02) ruminal pH compared with CRN steers. Ardacin decreased ruminal molar proportions of acetate and increased (P = .01) propionate proportions when compared with CRN steers. Total tract N digestibility was affected (P < .10) by supplementation and by addition of ardacin to the diet. Addition of ardacin to the ground corn supplement increased ADG, in part by enhancing acetate:propionate ratios and increasing N digestion.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1997

Changes in forage quality, ingestive mastication, and digesta kinetics resulting from switchgrass maturity.

Five maturities of switchgrass hay harvested at 14-d intervals (vegetative through 20% heading) were fed to Hereford steers (297 kg) in a 5 x 5 Latin square. Relationships with switchgrass maturity were negative and quadratic (P < .05) for DMI and cubic (P < .05) for digestible DMI. Declines in apparent digestibilities of DM, ADF, and cellulose were cubic (P < .05), whereas these were quadratic (P < .05) for NDF, hemicellulose, and CP. Whole masticates from the least, mid, and most mature hays showed linear (P < .05) declines in DM concentration and IVDMD with increasing maturity, whereas NDF concentrations increased linearly (P < .05). Mean retention time of gastrointestinal DM increased linearly (P < .01) from 64 to 94 h from the least to the most mature hay, and the associated rate of passage declined linearly (P < .01) from 3.3 to 2.1%/h. Sieving of masticate DM showed a reduced proportion of large particles (> or = 2.8 mm) and an increased proportion of small particles (< or = .5 mm) with advancing forage maturity. More than 94% of the sieved fecal DM passed a 1.0-mm sieve, but particle sizes showed the same relationship with forage maturity as noted for masticate DM. This occurred despite the comminution from the rumination and digestive processes.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Effect of ruminal cellulolytic bacterial concentrations on in situ digestion of forage cellulose.

To evaluate the effects of ruminal cellulolytic bacterial concentrations on in vivo cellulose digestion, varying percentages of flaked soybean hulls were substituted for orchardgrass hay in high-forage diets fed to sheep. In two experiments, total and cellulolytic ruminal bacterial concentrations were not affected by diet. No differences were found for in situ digestion of forage cellulose in the first experiment; however, in Exp. 2, ruminal pH and in situ cellulose digestion were lower (P<.01) with a 40% soybean hull diet. In Exp. 3 with four sheep, two diets were compared, one containing 19.6% cellulose from alfalfa meal and the other 64.3% purified wood cellulose. Ruminal pH was lower (P<.02), 9 and 24 h after feeding, for the high-cellulose diet. Total bacterial concentrations did not change with diet; however, the concentration of cellulolytic bacteria increased (P<.05) when the higher cellulose diet was fed. In situ cellulose digestion was not different between diets. In Exp. 4, 3% sodium bicarbonate was added to the high-cellulose diet, and it was fed twice a day. No differences were observed in pH between diets (P>.42). However, the concentration of total ruminal bacteria increased (P<.06), the concentration of cellulolytic bacteria increased (P<.03), and the percentage of cellulolytic bacteria increased (P<.04) when the buffered high-cellulose diet was fed. In situ digestion of alfalfa cellulose at 30 h was not different between diets (P>.60). These data indicate that the concentration of cellulolytic bacteria is not the limiting factor in the digestion of cellulose in the rumen.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Fibrolytic enzyme treatment of barley grain and source of forage in high-grain diets fed to growing cattle.

We conducted a study to determine the effects of treating barley grain with a fibrolytic enzyme mixture on chewing activities, ruminal fermentation, and total tract digestibility in cattle. We also investigated the potential benefits of using barley straw rather than barley silage as a roughage source in high-grain diets for feedlot cattle. Steers were given ad libitum access to one of four diets that consisted of 95% barley-based concentrate and 5% forage (DM basis). The concentrate was either control or enzyme-treated, and the forage was either barley silage or barley straw. Applying the enzyme mixture onto the barley lowered the concentrations of dietary ADF and NDF. However, it is not certain when this fiber hydrolysis occurred relative to feed consumption because the fiber analyses were conducted after the study was completed. Enzyme treatment of barley increased total tract dietary ADF digestibility by 28% (P<.05). Acetate-to-propionate ratio tended to decrease, which suggests that enzymes may have increased ruminal starch digestion as a result of enhanced digestion of barley hulls. Replacing silage with straw increased ADF intake (P<.05) and resulted in 1-h/d increase in rumination time (P<.05). Even though there was no effect of diet on ruminal pH, replacing silage with straw increased ruminal acetate, as a percentage of total VFA, and total tract ADF digestion (P<.01). This study demonstrates that using a fibrolytic enzyme mixture in high-grain diets that contain mainly barley grain can improve fiber digestion and grain utilization, but the mode of action is unclear. Straw can be used rather than silage to increase the effective fiber content of a high-grain feedlot diet.

Amylases↗
PubMed1998

The effect of in vitro fermentation on specific gravity and sedimentation measurements of forage particles.

Dry matter degradability (DMD), gas production (GP), functional specific gravity (FSG), volume of gas associated (GA), water-holding capacity (WHC), and sedimentation measurements of orchard-grass (OG) and alfalfa (AA) hays (ground through a 8-mm screen) were studied before and after in vitro incubation with ruminal fluid for 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. The DMD was higher for AA than for OG (P < .001), but GP did not differ. The FSG of unfermented OG and AA was .59 and .73, respectively (P < .01). During fermentation, the FSG of OG increased more than did that of AA (from .93 to 1.39 for OG and from .97 to 1.27 for AA after 2 and 72 h, respectively), and GA decreased more rapidly (from .94 to -.04 mL/g DM and from .74 to .15 mL/g DM, respectively). The DMD was positively correlated with FSG (r = .83; P < .001) and, therefore, negatively with GA (r = -.72; P < .01). The WHC increased similarly in the two forages with fermentation time. Unfermented and fermented samples were incubated in sedimentation columns filled with distilled water for 19, 37, 75, 150, and 300 s. After 300 s of sedimentation time, the unfermented AA and OG samples tended to float (91.1 and 72.7% of DM, respectively). In contrast, fermented samples tended to sediment (90.7 and 90.9% of DM, respectively). There were only small effects of forage species and fermentation time on sedimentation tendency. Correlations between sedimentation measurements and DMD and FSG were not significant, with the only exception of DM recovered in the lower section of sedimentation columns after 75 s, which was particularly correlated with DMD (P < .01) and FSG (P < .05). The results suggest that degradation rate of fibrous particles is related to changes in FSG and GA and, therefore, could influence ruminal transit. However, FSG was unable to predict accurately the sedimentation behavior of samples.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Relationships among ewe milk production and ewe and lamb forage intake in Suffolk and Targhee ewes nursing single or twin lambs.

Suffolk and Targhee ewes (30 each) with single or twin lambs were used in four periods beginning in late gestation and continuing through weaning to evaluate breed differences in milk production, lamb BW, and DMI by ewes and lambs. In Periods 1 (late gestation) and 2 (early lactation), ewes (Period 1) and ewes with lambs (Period 2) were individually penned, fed .45 kg of barley x ewe(-1) x d(-1) and allowed ad libitum access to chopped alfalfa. Ewes and lambs grazed native range in Periods 3 and 4. Grazed forage DMI was estimated using chromic oxide. Estimates of milk production were obtained by handmilking. Average lamb age was 4, 45, and 73 d at the beginning of Periods 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Milk production tended (P = .20) to be greater for Suffolk than for Targhee ewes. Targhee ewes produced 85% more (P = .001) wool than Suffolk ewes. From 33 d prepartum to 89 d postpartum, Suffolk ewes consistently weighed more (P = .001) than Targhee ewes. Suffolk ewe BW loss (-.15 kg/d) was greater (P = .01) than Targhee ewe BW loss (-.02 kg/d) from 33 d prepartum to 6 d postpartum. From 6 to 89 d postpartum BW gain did not differ (P = .69; .05 kg/d) between breeds. From birth to 89 d postpartum, Suffolk lambs consistently weighed more than Targhee lambs (P = .003). From birth to 89 d postpartum, ADG was greater for Suffolk than for Targhee lambs (P = .006). Targhee ewes consumed 25% more (P = .01) feed over the course of the study than did Suffolk ewes. Grazed forage DMI by Targhee lambs was 26% greater (P = .01) than DMI by Suffolk lambs. When meat production is the primary income from sheep, one potential advantage of Suffolks compared with Targhees is more rapid gain with less feed intake.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Effects of frequency of supplementation on dry matter intake and net portal and hepatic flux of nutrients in mature ewes that consume low-quality forage.

Our objective was to determine the effects of frequency of soybean meal (SBM) supplementation on forage intake and net portal-drained viscera (PDV) and hepatic flux of nutrients in ewes that consume low-quality forage. Six Polled Dorset ewes (BW+/-SD = 82+/-9 kg) fitted with hepatic venous, hepatic portal, abdominal aortic, and mesenteric venous catheters were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Ewes consumed bromegrass hay (7.5% CP; DM basis). Treatments were no supplement (control), SBM fed once every 24 h, or SBM fed once every 72 h. In the SBM treatments, SBM was fed to provide 80 g/d of CP. Blood flow and net flux measurements were made on the 3rd d of each period so that ewes supplemented every 72 h were sampled the day of, the day after, and 2 d after supplementation. Arterial concentrations of alpha-amino N (AAN) and ammonia N were lower (P < .01) when SBM was fed, whereas arterial concentrations of urea N and oxygen were higher (P < .01). Feeding SBM increased net PDV release of AAN and ammonia N, net PDV removal of urea N, and oxygen consumption. A SBM x sampling day interaction (P < .05) occurred and resulted in greater net PDV absorption of AAN and ammonia N on the day after SBM supplementation when ewes were fed SBM on a 72-h interval. Net hepatic removal of AAN, ammonia N, and oxygen, and net hepatic release of urea N were greater (P < .01) with feeding SBM. The results indicate that the interval of SBM supplementation may affect the pattern of absorption without affecting the net absorption of nutrients.

Amines↗