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K A Beauchemin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • digestibility and growth performance of sheep fed Alfalfa Hay treated with fibrolytic enzymes and a ferulic acid esterase producing bacterial additive
    Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2015
    Co-Authors: J P Lynch, I A Aboagye, J S Church, John Baah, K A Beauchemin
    Abstract:

    Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of fibrolytic enzymes applied at baling, with or without ferulic acid esterase (FAE) producing bacterial inoculant, or to Hay at feeding on digestibility and growth performance of lambs. Prior to starting the animal studies, two runs of replicated 24- and 48-h batch culture in vitro incubations were conducted using control Alfalfa Hay to select a suitable enzyme and dose. Eleven replicate bales of Alfalfa-grass (93.8:6.2) Hay (∼500 kg) were produced with the application of one of three treatments: control (water), enzyme applied at baling (Eb; Econase RDE-L, AB Vista, Wiltshire, UK) and enzyme plus ferulic acid esterase producing bacterial additive applied at baling (EIb; 11 GFT, Pioneer HI-Bred Ltd., Chathan, ON, Canada). The mean internal bale temperature after 50 days of storage was greater (P vs. others; OM, 0.658 vs. 0.646). However, neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) and hemicellulose digestibilities were greatest (P 0.05) of treatment on OM intakes. Average daily gain (ADG, g/d) of lambs in the performance study was greater (P=0.048) for EIb (233) than control (192) and Ef (202), and intermediate for Eb (206). Feed efficiency tended to be affected (P=0.07) by treatment; gain:feed for EIb was 18% greater than control and Eb and Ef were similar to the control. This study showed that applying enzymes to Alfalfa Hay at baling decreased aerobic stability, and increased fiber content and its digestibility, but ADG and gain:feed of lambs were not improved. Adding FAE producing bacterial inoculant with enzymes at baling improved aerobic stability of Hay and ADG and gain:feed of lambs were increased relative to lambs fed control and enzymes applied at feeding. Applying enzymes at feeding increased apparent OM digestibilities but not fiber digestibilities, and had no effect on animal performance. We conclude that fibrolytic enzyme application with FAE producing bacterial inoculant at baling was the most promising method for enhancing performance of lambs fed baled Alfalfa Hay.

  • effects of exogenous enzymes on ruminal fermentation and degradability of Alfalfa Hay and rice straw
    Asian-australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2010
    Co-Authors: H E Yang, Yongsuk Son, K A Beauchemin
    Abstract:

    This study was conducted to evaluate the use of exogenous enzymes as a potential means of improving the ruminal digestion (i.e., degradability) of Alfalfa Hay and rice straw. Twenty six enzyme-additives were examined in terms of protein concentration and enzymic activities on model substrates. The exogenous enzymes contained ranges of endoglucanase, xylanase, -glucanase, -amylase, and protease activities. Six of the enzyme additives were chosen for further investigation. The enzyme additives and a control without enzyme were applied to mature quality Alfalfa Hay substrate and subsequently incubated in rumen batch cultures. Five of the enzyme additives (CE2, CE13, CE14, CE19, and CE24) increased total gas production (GP) at 48 h of incubation compared to the control (pCE24 compared to the control, although individually, CE14 and CE24 acetate concentrations were not different from the control. Increases (p

  • relationship between enzymic activities and in vitro degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage
    Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin
    Abstract:

    A meta-analysis of data from in vitro studies was performed to identify the key enzymic activities in feed enzyme additives, and their dose rates, that improve degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage. All studies were conducted in our laboratory using similar in vitro procedures and all enzyme assays used the same conditions (pH 6.0 and temperature 39°C) and substrates. Data from 8 research studies with 83 enzyme treatments using 45 enzyme products were summarized for Alfalfa Hay, and data from 6 research studies with 61 enzyme treatments using 23 enzyme products were included for corn silage. Added endoglucanase, exoglucanase, xylanase and protease activity, in addition to endoglucanase:xylanase ratio, were included in the analyses as candidate key enzymic activities. Incremental gas production (IGP) and improvement of dry matter degradability (IDMD) and neutral detergent fibre degradability (INDFD) were included as response variables. Initially, relationships between added enzymic activities and response variables were determined by linear regression analysis. Then, a mixed model analysis accounting for the random effect of study and linear and quadratic effects of added enzymic activities was used to describe the relationships. For Alfalfa Hay, simple linear regression analysis showed low, but significant, relationships between IGP and added endoglucanase, xylanase or exoglucanase (r 2 ≤ 0.09, P<0.05) with no relationships between enzymic activities and IDMD or INDFD. In contrast, mixed model analysis showed a positive linear relationship (P<0.05) between IGP and added protease activity (r2 = 0.50) and between INDFD and exoglucanase activity (r 2 = 0.75). For corn silage, simple linear regressions showed low, but positive relationships (P<0.05), for IDMD with endoglucanase (r2 =0.08), exoglucanase (r2 = 0.12), or endoglucanase:xylanase ratio (r2 = 0.23) and for INDFD with added endoglucanase (r2 =0.09), exoglucanase (r=0.34), endoglucanase:xylanase ratio (r 2 =0.08), and protease (negative effect, r2 = 0.06). Mixed model analysis confirmed linear relationships (P<0.05) with these activities, but improved predictions (IDMD: R 2 = 0.39-0.49; INDFD: R 2 = 0.36-0.56). For both forages, quadratic effects of added enzymic activities only marginally improved the prediction equations in most cases. Overall, added activities of exoglucanase had the strongest, positive, association with fibre degradation for both forages.

  • use of an in vitro fermentation bioassay to evaluate improvements in degradation of Alfalfa Hay due to exogenous feed enzymes
    Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2007
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin, H Schulze
    Abstract:

    Abstract An in vitro batch culture assay was used to determine the efficacy of five developmental feed enzyme products in terms of improving ruminal degradation of Alfalfa Hay. A second objective was to establish whether the length of time that Alfalfa Hay was incubated with ruminal fluid and buffer in a batch culture in vitro system influenced enzyme efficacy. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in four replications with treatments arranged as a 3 (incubation times) × 5 (enzyme products) factorial. Two of the enzyme products (P1 and P2) were proteases, while the other three products (F1, F2, and F3) contained differing proportions of endoglucanases and xylanases. Milled Alfalfa Hay was incubated with buffer, ruminal fluid and enzyme product (1.5 mg/g of dry matter; DM). Gas production (GP) and degradability of DM and fibre were measured after terminating the incubation at 12, 18 and 24 h. At all incubation times, P1 increased GP by 5.6–7.9%, but GP was not affected by P2. Of the polysaccharidases evaluated, F1 and F2 increased GP by 3.7–10.6% at all incubation times, while F3 had no effect. Improvements in fibre degradability depended upon enzyme product and incubation time. Degradation of neutral detergent fibre (aNDF) was increased at 12 h of incubation using F1 and F2 (12–13% increase), at 18 h of incubation using P1 (11%) and F1 (7%), and at 24 h by F1 (10.5%), F2 (16.5%), and F3 (11.3%). Improvements in acid detergent fibre degradation ranged from 17.5 to 44.4% for these enzymes, depending upon incubation time. Three of the enzyme products (F1, F2 and F3) decreased acetate to propionate ratio, suggesting that improvements in fibre degradation would increase availability of glucose precursors to the animal. Larger improvements in degradability of Alfalfa Hay occurred for enzyme products containing mainly fibrolytic, rather than proteolytic, activity. An in vitro bioassay that consists of incubating forage samples in the presence of ruminal fluid, buffer and enzyme can be a useful means of screening efficacy of exogenous feed enzymes for ruminants. Cost and labour of the assay can be reduced by using a single incubation time of 24 h to assess enzyme effects on GP and degradability of DM and fibre.

  • enhancing in vitro degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage using feed enzymes
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2007
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin
    Abstract:

    A series of in vitro fermentation experiments was performed to assess the effects of 4 feed enzyme products (FE) that varied in enzymatic activities on the degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage. The FE contained a range of endoglucanase, exoglucanase, xylanase, and protease activities, and a range of dose rates (DR) was used. The objective of the study was to identify effective formulations and optimum DR, and to establish if combining FE would further improve fiber degradation. For Alfalfa Hay, quadratic increases in gas production and degradation of dry matter (DM) and fiber were observed for all FE, with maximum responses at low to medium DR. For corn silage, none of the FE increased gas production or DM degradation, but all FE increased NDF degradation, with optimum DR in the low to medium range. The proteolytic enzyme papain improved fiber degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage in a manner similar to that observed for polysaccharidase FE. Among the polysaccharidase FE, added activities of endoglucanase and exoglucanase were positively correlated with improvement in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability of corn silage, whereas only added endoglucanase activity tended to be correlated with improvement in NDF degradability of Alfalfa Hay. Combining effective polysaccharidase FE further improved fiber degradation of both forages, with greater improvements for corn silage. Combining polysaccharidase and proteolytic FE further improved NDF degradation of corn silage, but not Alfalfa Hay. Combination treatments generally resulted in additive effects with increases in fiber degradation equal to the sum of the improvements for the individual enzyme components. Improved fiber degradation of corn silage was associated with decreased acetate to propionate ratios. Enzyme products that improve in vitro degradation of forages may have the potential to improve lactational performance of dairy cows.

J L Firkins - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • dairy cows fed equivalent concentrations of forage neutral detergent fiber from corn silage Alfalfa Hay wheat straw and corn stover had similar milk yield and total tract digestibility
    Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2017
    Co-Authors: M.l. Eastridge, E R Oelker, R A Starkey, P N Gott, A R Sewell, B Mathew, J L Firkins
    Abstract:

    Abstract The aim for this research was to determine if corn stover and wheat straw can be efficiently added to lactating dairy cow diets as physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) sources. A 5 × 5 Latin square design was used with 5 multiparous rumen cannulated Holstein cows. The treatments were: 1) corn silage as sole forage source [441 g/kg of total-mixed ration (TMR); CS], 2) corn silage and 115 g/kg Alfalfa Hay (455 g/kg of forage in TMR; ALF), 3) corn silage and 50 g/kg wheat straw (390 g/kg of forage in TMR; STW-5), 4) corn silage and 100 g/kg straw (462 g/kg of forage in TMR; STW-10), and 5) corn silage and 55 g/kg corn stover (395 g/kg of forage in TMR; STV). All diets were formulated to contain 180 g/kg forage aNDF except that the diet with 100 g/kg straw contained 230 g/kg forage aNDF. Dry matter intake (DMI) was highest for STW-5, except for it being similar with ALF. Body weight (734 kg) and body condition score (3.18) were similar among treatments. Milk (35.6 kg/d), milk fat (35.6 g/kg), milk protein (28.7 g/kg), and milk urea nitrogen (17.4 mg/dL) also were similar among treatments. The different forage sources resulted in similar total tract digestibilities of dry matter (0.757), organic matter (0.769), and aNDF (0.635). Rumen pH (6.12), acetate:propionate (3.10), and ruminal concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and proportions of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate were similar among treatments. Proportion of isovalerate and isobutyrate were highest for STW-10 compared to the other diets, and isovalerate was lower for ALF than for STW-5 and STW-10. Feeding 5% wheat straw resulted in the highest DMI, but increasing wheat straw to 10% lowered DMI, possibly caused by rumen fill. Feeding similar forage aNDF concentrations with corn silage based diets using corn stover, Alfalfa Hay, and wheat straw can result in similar animal performance and ruminal fermentation with adequate formulation of dietary non-fiber carbohydrates and peNDF.

  • interaction of molasses and monensin in Alfalfa Hay or corn silage based diets on rumen fermentation total tract digestibility and milk production by holstein cows
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2009
    Co-Authors: E R Oelker, C Reveneau, J L Firkins
    Abstract:

    Sugar supplementation can stimulate rumen microbial growth and possibly fiber digestibility; however, excess ruminal carbohydrate availability relative to rumen-degradable protein (RDP) can promote energy spilling by microbes, decrease rumen pH, or depress fiber digestibility. Both RDP supply and rumen pH might be altered by forage source and monensin. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate interactions of a sugar source (molasses) with monensin and 2 forage sources on rumen fermentation, total tract digestibility, and production and fatty acid composition of milk. Seven ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows were used in a 5 x 7 incomplete Latin square design with five 28-d periods. Four corn silage diets consisted of 1) control (C), 2) 2.6% molasses (M), 3) 2.6% molasses plus 0.45% urea (MU), or 4) 2.6% molasses plus 0.45% urea plus monensin sodium (Rumensin, at the intermediate dosage from the label, 16 g/909 kg of dry matter; MUR). Three chopped Alfalfa Hay diets consisted of 1) control (C), 2) 2.6% molasses (M), or 3) 2.6% molasses plus Rumensin (MR). Urea was added to corn silage diets to provide RDP comparable to Alfalfa Hay diets with no urea. Corn silage C and M diets were balanced to have 16.2% crude protein; and the remaining diets, 17.2% crude protein. Dry matter intake was not affected by treatment, but there was a trend for lower milk production in Alfalfa Hay diets compared with corn silage diets. Despite increased total volatile fatty acid and acetate concentrations in the rumen, total tract organic matter digestibility was lower for Alfalfa Hay-fed cows. Rumensin did not affect volatile fatty acid concentrations but decreased milk fat from 3.22 to 2.72% in corn silage diets but less in Alfalfa Hay diets. Medium-chain milk fatty acids (% of total fat) were lower for Alfalfa Hay compared with corn silage diets, and short-chain milk fatty acids tended to decrease when Rumensin was added. In whole rumen contents, concentrations of trans-10, cis-12 C(18:2) were increased when cows were fed corn silage diets. Rumensin had no effect on conjugated linoleic acid isomers in either milk or rumen contents but tended to increase the concentration of trans-10 C(18:1) in rumen samples. Molasses with urea increased ruminal NH(3)-N and milk urea N when cows were fed corn silage diets (6.8 vs. 11.3 and 7.6 vs. 12.0 mg/dL for M vs. MU, respectively). Based on ruminal fermentation characteristics and fatty acid isomers in milk, molasses did not appear to promote ruminal acidosis or milk fat depression. However, combinations of Rumensin with corn silage-based diets already containing molasses and with a relatively high nonfiber carbohydrate:forage neutral detergent fiber ratio influenced biohydrogenation characteristics that are indicators of increased risk for milk fat depression.

Jongsu Eun - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • effects of feeding brown midrib corn silage with a high dietary concentration of Alfalfa Hay on lactational performance of holstein dairy cows for the first 180 days of lactation
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2013
    Co-Authors: M S Holt, Jongsu Eun, C R Thacker, Allen J Young, Xin Dai, K E Nestor
    Abstract:

    Abstract This experiment was conducted to test a hypothesis that lactating dairy cows fed 35% brown midrib (BMR) corn silage and 25% Alfalfa Hay (dry matter (DM) basis) would consume more DM around peak lactation compared with those fed conventional corn silage (CS), resulting in longer peak milk production. Twenty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were used starting at the onset of lactation through 180 d in milk (DIM). Treatments were formulated to maintain a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 60:40, differing only in the CS hybrids used. Two dietary treatments were assessed in a completely randomized design: total mixed ration based on conventional CS (CCS) and total mixed ration based on BMR silage. Through peak lactation (1–60 DIM), DM intake was not different between dietary treatments, whereas DM intake post-peak lactation (61–180 DIM) tended to increase by feeding the BMR diet compared with the CCS diet (25.8 vs. 24.7 kg/d). Cows fed the BMR diet tended to lose less body weight through peak lactation compared with those fed the CCS diet (−0.22 vs. −0.52 kg/d). Although milk yield was not different between dietary treatments through peak lactation, milk yield post-peak lactation increased by feeding the BMR diet compared with the CCS diet (41.0 vs. 38.8 kg/d). Yield of 3.5% fat-corrected milk was similar between dietary treatments throughout the experiment (41.4 kg/d, on average), but milk fat concentration decreased by feeding the BMR diet compared with the CCS diet post-peak lactation (3.47 vs. 3.80%). Overall milk protein concentration was similar between dietary treatments throughout the experiment (2.96%, on average), whereas milk protein yield tended to be higher for the BMR diet post-peak lactation compared with the CCS diet (1.19 vs.1.13 kg/d). Feeding BMR silage with a high dietary concentration of Alfalfa Hay maintained more body weight, but did not affect milk production through peak lactation; however, cows fed the BMR diet post-peak lactation consumed more feed and maintained longer peak milk yield, leading to greater overall milk production and milk protein yield.

  • relationship between enzymic activities and in vitro degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage
    Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin
    Abstract:

    A meta-analysis of data from in vitro studies was performed to identify the key enzymic activities in feed enzyme additives, and their dose rates, that improve degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage. All studies were conducted in our laboratory using similar in vitro procedures and all enzyme assays used the same conditions (pH 6.0 and temperature 39°C) and substrates. Data from 8 research studies with 83 enzyme treatments using 45 enzyme products were summarized for Alfalfa Hay, and data from 6 research studies with 61 enzyme treatments using 23 enzyme products were included for corn silage. Added endoglucanase, exoglucanase, xylanase and protease activity, in addition to endoglucanase:xylanase ratio, were included in the analyses as candidate key enzymic activities. Incremental gas production (IGP) and improvement of dry matter degradability (IDMD) and neutral detergent fibre degradability (INDFD) were included as response variables. Initially, relationships between added enzymic activities and response variables were determined by linear regression analysis. Then, a mixed model analysis accounting for the random effect of study and linear and quadratic effects of added enzymic activities was used to describe the relationships. For Alfalfa Hay, simple linear regression analysis showed low, but significant, relationships between IGP and added endoglucanase, xylanase or exoglucanase (r 2 ≤ 0.09, P<0.05) with no relationships between enzymic activities and IDMD or INDFD. In contrast, mixed model analysis showed a positive linear relationship (P<0.05) between IGP and added protease activity (r2 = 0.50) and between INDFD and exoglucanase activity (r 2 = 0.75). For corn silage, simple linear regressions showed low, but positive relationships (P<0.05), for IDMD with endoglucanase (r2 =0.08), exoglucanase (r2 = 0.12), or endoglucanase:xylanase ratio (r2 = 0.23) and for INDFD with added endoglucanase (r2 =0.09), exoglucanase (r=0.34), endoglucanase:xylanase ratio (r 2 =0.08), and protease (negative effect, r2 = 0.06). Mixed model analysis confirmed linear relationships (P<0.05) with these activities, but improved predictions (IDMD: R 2 = 0.39-0.49; INDFD: R 2 = 0.36-0.56). For both forages, quadratic effects of added enzymic activities only marginally improved the prediction equations in most cases. Overall, added activities of exoglucanase had the strongest, positive, association with fibre degradation for both forages.

  • use of an in vitro fermentation bioassay to evaluate improvements in degradation of Alfalfa Hay due to exogenous feed enzymes
    Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2007
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin, H Schulze
    Abstract:

    Abstract An in vitro batch culture assay was used to determine the efficacy of five developmental feed enzyme products in terms of improving ruminal degradation of Alfalfa Hay. A second objective was to establish whether the length of time that Alfalfa Hay was incubated with ruminal fluid and buffer in a batch culture in vitro system influenced enzyme efficacy. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in four replications with treatments arranged as a 3 (incubation times) × 5 (enzyme products) factorial. Two of the enzyme products (P1 and P2) were proteases, while the other three products (F1, F2, and F3) contained differing proportions of endoglucanases and xylanases. Milled Alfalfa Hay was incubated with buffer, ruminal fluid and enzyme product (1.5 mg/g of dry matter; DM). Gas production (GP) and degradability of DM and fibre were measured after terminating the incubation at 12, 18 and 24 h. At all incubation times, P1 increased GP by 5.6–7.9%, but GP was not affected by P2. Of the polysaccharidases evaluated, F1 and F2 increased GP by 3.7–10.6% at all incubation times, while F3 had no effect. Improvements in fibre degradability depended upon enzyme product and incubation time. Degradation of neutral detergent fibre (aNDF) was increased at 12 h of incubation using F1 and F2 (12–13% increase), at 18 h of incubation using P1 (11%) and F1 (7%), and at 24 h by F1 (10.5%), F2 (16.5%), and F3 (11.3%). Improvements in acid detergent fibre degradation ranged from 17.5 to 44.4% for these enzymes, depending upon incubation time. Three of the enzyme products (F1, F2 and F3) decreased acetate to propionate ratio, suggesting that improvements in fibre degradation would increase availability of glucose precursors to the animal. Larger improvements in degradability of Alfalfa Hay occurred for enzyme products containing mainly fibrolytic, rather than proteolytic, activity. An in vitro bioassay that consists of incubating forage samples in the presence of ruminal fluid, buffer and enzyme can be a useful means of screening efficacy of exogenous feed enzymes for ruminants. Cost and labour of the assay can be reduced by using a single incubation time of 24 h to assess enzyme effects on GP and degradability of DM and fibre.

  • enhancing in vitro degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage using feed enzymes
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2007
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin
    Abstract:

    A series of in vitro fermentation experiments was performed to assess the effects of 4 feed enzyme products (FE) that varied in enzymatic activities on the degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage. The FE contained a range of endoglucanase, exoglucanase, xylanase, and protease activities, and a range of dose rates (DR) was used. The objective of the study was to identify effective formulations and optimum DR, and to establish if combining FE would further improve fiber degradation. For Alfalfa Hay, quadratic increases in gas production and degradation of dry matter (DM) and fiber were observed for all FE, with maximum responses at low to medium DR. For corn silage, none of the FE increased gas production or DM degradation, but all FE increased NDF degradation, with optimum DR in the low to medium range. The proteolytic enzyme papain improved fiber degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage in a manner similar to that observed for polysaccharidase FE. Among the polysaccharidase FE, added activities of endoglucanase and exoglucanase were positively correlated with improvement in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability of corn silage, whereas only added endoglucanase activity tended to be correlated with improvement in NDF degradability of Alfalfa Hay. Combining effective polysaccharidase FE further improved fiber degradation of both forages, with greater improvements for corn silage. Combining polysaccharidase and proteolytic FE further improved NDF degradation of corn silage, but not Alfalfa Hay. Combination treatments generally resulted in additive effects with increases in fiber degradation equal to the sum of the improvements for the individual enzyme components. Improved fiber degradation of corn silage was associated with decreased acetate to propionate ratios. Enzyme products that improve in vitro degradation of forages may have the potential to improve lactational performance of dairy cows.

  • use of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes to enhance in vitro fermentation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2007
    Co-Authors: Jongsu Eun, K A Beauchemin, H Schulze
    Abstract:

    Two in vitro experiments were performed to identify promising exogenous fibrolytic enzyme products (EFE) and optimum dose rates (DR) for improving the degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage. The relationship between enzymatic activity and fermentation responses was examined to identify optimum formulations. In experiment 1, 5 EFE containing mainly endoglucanase and xylanase activities, with different ratios between the 2 activities, were assessed at a DR of 0.7, 1.4, and 2.1 mg/g of DM forage. Milled Alfalfa Hay or corn silage was incubated in an in vitro batch culture with buffer, ruminal fluid, and EFE. Gas production (GP) was measured during 24 h of incubation, and degradabilities of DM and fiber were measured after terminating the incubation at 24 h. Two (E1 and E3) EFE substantially improved GP and degradation of Alfalfa Hay and corn silage fiber. The optimum DR of these EFE was 1.4 mg/g of DM for both forages with improvements in NDF degradability up to 20.6% for Alfalfa Hay and up to 60.3% for corn silage. Whereas added activities of endoglucanase and exoglucanase were positively correlated with improvement in NDF degradability for Alfalfa Hay and corn silage, there was no relationship between added xylanase activity and NDF degradability. The 2 most promising EFE from experiment 1 were reevaluated in experiment 2, alone and in combination with a high xylanase EFE, to determine whether their effectiveness could be enhanced by decreasing the endoglucanase to xylanase ratio. The 2 EFE improved GP and fiber degradation in a manner similar to that observed in experiment 1, but the combination treatments resulted in no further beneficial effects. Exogenous fibrolytic enzyme products can greatly improve forage utilization, but DR and the activities supplied are critical for achieving this response. Products used with Alfalfa Hay and corn silage should contain high endoglucanase activity, with an ideal ratio of endoglucanse to xylanase.

M Kanani - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • reconstituted versus dry Alfalfa Hay in starter feed diets of holstein dairy calves effects on feed intake feeding and chewing behavior feed preference and health criteria
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: S Kargar, M Kanani
    Abstract:

    We investigated the effect of reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay on feeding and chewing behavior, sorting activity, and health status using 20 neonate Holstein male calves (3 d of age; 40.3 ± 1.30 kg of body weight) that were assigned randomly to 2 treatments, a starter feed containing either 10% dry (AH) or reconstituted Alfalfa Hay (RAH), each consisting of 10 calves. Alfalfa Hay was reconstituted with water 24 h before feeding to achieve a theoretical dry mater (DM) content of 20%. Both starter diets had the same ingredients and nutrient compositions but differed in their DM content (90.9 vs. 66.6% DM for AH vs. RAH, respectively). Calves were weaned on d 50 and remained in the study until d 70. Reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay increased the percentage of particles retained on 8- and 1.18-mm sieves, but reduced feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Feeding RAH tended to increase meal frequency (preweaning) and increased meal duration (pre- and postweaning), and thereby increased time devoted to eating without affecting nutrient intake. Calves fed RAH tended to have lower eating rate during the pre- and postweaning periods. Tendencies to concurrent increase in rumination frequency and rumination duration in calves fed RAH increased time devoted to ruminating during the preweaning period; however, a tendency to longer rumination duration did not affect ruminating time during the postweaning period. Calves fed RAH spent less time resting and standing and more time drinking during the postweaning period. Non-nutritive oral behaviors were not affected by treatment during the pre- and postweaning period. Feeding RAH decreased sorting of particles retained on 8-mm sieve compared with AH; however, calves in both treatment groups sorted for particles retained on 8- and 1.18-mm sieves and against the feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber intakes of particles retained on the both 8- and 1.18-mm sieves increased in calves fed RAH versus AH, with no changes in intake of nutrients retained on the bottom pan. Calves fed AH were more susceptible to develop diarrhea (odds ratio = 2.02) and pneumonia (odds ratio = 4.74) and thereby had lower chances of being treated. We found no difference between treatment groups for frequency and medication days of diarrhea; however, calves fed RAH experienced fewer days with diarrhea. Furthermore, frequency and number of days with pneumonia and administration of medication were greater for calves fed AH compared with calves fed RAH. Blood concentrations of total protein and globulin tended to be higher in calves fed RAH compared with calves fed AH. Overall, feeding RAH increased time devoted to eating by increasing meal frequency and meal duration but did not affect feed intake due to lower eating rate. Calves in both treatment groups exhibited feed sorting at the extent to which they balanced intake of nutrients and met their nutritional needs. Calves, in general, were healthy, but it seems that feeding a diet containing reconstituted Alfalfa Hay has a potential health-promoting effect, possibly through reducing diet dustiness and improving immune status.

  • reconstituted versus dry Alfalfa Hay in starter feed diets of holstein dairy calves effects on growth performance nutrient digestibility and metabolic indications of rumen development
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: S Kargar, M Kanani
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT We investigated the effect of reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay on starter feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation, selected blood metabolites, and health criteria of dairy calves during the pre- and postweaning periods. A total of 20 newborn male Holstein calves (3 d of age; 40.3 ± 1.30 kg of body weight; ±SE) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments, a starter feed containing either 10% dry (AH) or reconstituted Alfalfa Hay (RAH), each consisting of 10 calves. Alfalfa Hay was reconstituted with water 24 h before feeding to achieve a theoretical dry matter content of 20%. Both starter feeds had the same ingredients and nutrient compositions but differed in their dry matter content (91.2 and 83.8% dry matter for AH and RAH, respectively). Calves were weaned on d 50 and remained on the study until d 70. All calves had free access to fresh and clean drinking water and the starter feed at all times. During the study period, the average maximum temperature-humidity index was 73.8 units, indicating no degree of environmental heat load for dairy calves. Starter feed dry matter intake, total dry matter intake, and body weight (at weaning and at the end of the trial) were unaffected by treatment. Nutrient intake (except for total ether extract intake) increased during the postweaning period compared with the preweaning period. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were unchanged between treatments. Calves had higher average daily gain and skeletal growth during the postweaning period; however, feed efficiency was lower during the post- versus preweaning period. Calves fed RAH gained more hip width and body barrel compared with calves fed AH during the preweaning and all studied periods, respectively. Rectal temperature was similar between treatments, but feeding RAH decreased fecal score and general appearance score during the preweaning period. Apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility was not affected by reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay; however, reconstitution increased total-tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber during the postweaning period. Ruminal fluid pH, and concentrations and profile of total volatile fatty acids were unchanged between treatments. Molar concentration of propionate and acetate to propionate ratio increased and decreased, respectively, during the postweaning period. Reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay did not affect concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, blood urea N, and albumin, and albumin to globulin ratio during the studied periods; however, reconstitution increased concentration of blood total protein during the overall period. Calves had higher concentrations of blood glucose and globulin during the preweaning and β-hydroxybutyrate during the postweaning period. Overall, reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay did not interact with calf phase (pre- vs. postweaning) to affect dry matter intake, growth performance, and metabolic indications of rumen development (measured as ruminal volatile fatty acids and selected blood metabolites), but improved health-related variables (fecal score and general appearance score) during the preweaning period.

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  • reconstituted versus dry Alfalfa Hay in starter feed diets of holstein dairy calves effects on feed intake feeding and chewing behavior feed preference and health criteria
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: S Kargar, M Kanani
    Abstract:

    We investigated the effect of reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay on feeding and chewing behavior, sorting activity, and health status using 20 neonate Holstein male calves (3 d of age; 40.3 ± 1.30 kg of body weight) that were assigned randomly to 2 treatments, a starter feed containing either 10% dry (AH) or reconstituted Alfalfa Hay (RAH), each consisting of 10 calves. Alfalfa Hay was reconstituted with water 24 h before feeding to achieve a theoretical dry mater (DM) content of 20%. Both starter diets had the same ingredients and nutrient compositions but differed in their DM content (90.9 vs. 66.6% DM for AH vs. RAH, respectively). Calves were weaned on d 50 and remained in the study until d 70. Reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay increased the percentage of particles retained on 8- and 1.18-mm sieves, but reduced feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Feeding RAH tended to increase meal frequency (preweaning) and increased meal duration (pre- and postweaning), and thereby increased time devoted to eating without affecting nutrient intake. Calves fed RAH tended to have lower eating rate during the pre- and postweaning periods. Tendencies to concurrent increase in rumination frequency and rumination duration in calves fed RAH increased time devoted to ruminating during the preweaning period; however, a tendency to longer rumination duration did not affect ruminating time during the postweaning period. Calves fed RAH spent less time resting and standing and more time drinking during the postweaning period. Non-nutritive oral behaviors were not affected by treatment during the pre- and postweaning period. Feeding RAH decreased sorting of particles retained on 8-mm sieve compared with AH; however, calves in both treatment groups sorted for particles retained on 8- and 1.18-mm sieves and against the feed materials retained on the bottom pan. Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber intakes of particles retained on the both 8- and 1.18-mm sieves increased in calves fed RAH versus AH, with no changes in intake of nutrients retained on the bottom pan. Calves fed AH were more susceptible to develop diarrhea (odds ratio = 2.02) and pneumonia (odds ratio = 4.74) and thereby had lower chances of being treated. We found no difference between treatment groups for frequency and medication days of diarrhea; however, calves fed RAH experienced fewer days with diarrhea. Furthermore, frequency and number of days with pneumonia and administration of medication were greater for calves fed AH compared with calves fed RAH. Blood concentrations of total protein and globulin tended to be higher in calves fed RAH compared with calves fed AH. Overall, feeding RAH increased time devoted to eating by increasing meal frequency and meal duration but did not affect feed intake due to lower eating rate. Calves in both treatment groups exhibited feed sorting at the extent to which they balanced intake of nutrients and met their nutritional needs. Calves, in general, were healthy, but it seems that feeding a diet containing reconstituted Alfalfa Hay has a potential health-promoting effect, possibly through reducing diet dustiness and improving immune status.

  • reconstituted versus dry Alfalfa Hay in starter feed diets of holstein dairy calves effects on growth performance nutrient digestibility and metabolic indications of rumen development
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: S Kargar, M Kanani
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT We investigated the effect of reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay on starter feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation, selected blood metabolites, and health criteria of dairy calves during the pre- and postweaning periods. A total of 20 newborn male Holstein calves (3 d of age; 40.3 ± 1.30 kg of body weight; ±SE) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments, a starter feed containing either 10% dry (AH) or reconstituted Alfalfa Hay (RAH), each consisting of 10 calves. Alfalfa Hay was reconstituted with water 24 h before feeding to achieve a theoretical dry matter content of 20%. Both starter feeds had the same ingredients and nutrient compositions but differed in their dry matter content (91.2 and 83.8% dry matter for AH and RAH, respectively). Calves were weaned on d 50 and remained on the study until d 70. All calves had free access to fresh and clean drinking water and the starter feed at all times. During the study period, the average maximum temperature-humidity index was 73.8 units, indicating no degree of environmental heat load for dairy calves. Starter feed dry matter intake, total dry matter intake, and body weight (at weaning and at the end of the trial) were unaffected by treatment. Nutrient intake (except for total ether extract intake) increased during the postweaning period compared with the preweaning period. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were unchanged between treatments. Calves had higher average daily gain and skeletal growth during the postweaning period; however, feed efficiency was lower during the post- versus preweaning period. Calves fed RAH gained more hip width and body barrel compared with calves fed AH during the preweaning and all studied periods, respectively. Rectal temperature was similar between treatments, but feeding RAH decreased fecal score and general appearance score during the preweaning period. Apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility was not affected by reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay; however, reconstitution increased total-tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber during the postweaning period. Ruminal fluid pH, and concentrations and profile of total volatile fatty acids were unchanged between treatments. Molar concentration of propionate and acetate to propionate ratio increased and decreased, respectively, during the postweaning period. Reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay did not affect concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, blood urea N, and albumin, and albumin to globulin ratio during the studied periods; however, reconstitution increased concentration of blood total protein during the overall period. Calves had higher concentrations of blood glucose and globulin during the preweaning and β-hydroxybutyrate during the postweaning period. Overall, reconstitution of Alfalfa Hay did not interact with calf phase (pre- vs. postweaning) to affect dry matter intake, growth performance, and metabolic indications of rumen development (measured as ruminal volatile fatty acids and selected blood metabolites), but improved health-related variables (fecal score and general appearance score) during the preweaning period.

  • interactions of Alfalfa Hay and sodium propionate on dairy calf performance and rumen development
    Journal of Dairy Science, 2014
    Co-Authors: H Beiranvand, M Khorvash, G R Ghorbani, Abolghasem Nabipour, M Dehghanbanadaky, A Homayouni, S Kargar
    Abstract:

    The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different levels of Alfalfa Hay (AH) and sodium propionate (Pro) added to starter diets of Holstein calves on growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics, and rumen development. Forty-two male Holstein calves (40±2kg of birth weight) were used in a complete randomized design with a 3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) control = concentrate only; (2) Pro = concentrate with 5% sodium propionate [dry matter (DM) basis]; (3) 5% AH = concentrate + 5% Alfalfa Hay (DM basis); (4) 5% AH + Pro = concentrate + 5% Alfalfa Hay + 5% sodium propionate (DM basis); (5) 10% AH = concentrate + 10% Alfalfa Hay (DM basis); and (6) 10% AH + Pro = concentrate + 10% Alfalfa Hay + 5% sodium propionate (DM basis). All calves were housed in individual pens bedded with sawdust until 10wk of age. They were given ad libitum access to water and starter throughout the experiment and were fed 2L of milk twice daily. Dry matter intake was recorded daily and body weight weekly. Calves from the control, 10% AH, and 10% AH + Pro treatments were euthanized after wk 10, and rumen wall samples were collected. Feeding of forage was found to increase overall dry matter intake, average daily gain, and final weight; supplementing sodium propionate had no effect on these parameters. Calves consuming forage had lower feed efficiency than those on the Pro diet. Rumen fluid in calves consuming forage had higher pH and greater concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and molar acetate. Morphometric parameters of the rumen wall substantiated the effect of AH supplementation, as plaque formation decreased macroscopically. Overall, the interaction between forage and sodium propionate did not affect calf performance parameters measured at the end of the experiment. Furthermore, inclusion of AH in starter diets positively enhanced the growth performance of male Holstein calves and influenced both the macroscopic and microscopic appearances of the rumen wall. These benefits, however, were small when only sodium propionate was offered.