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Chewing behaviour of Holstein steers fed diets containing different levels of non-forage fibre in a low forage diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

M Mojtahedi*
Affiliation:
Dept. of Animal Science, Exellence centre for Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO Box: 91775-1163, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran
M Danesh Mesgaran
Affiliation:
Dept. of Animal Science, Exellence centre for Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO Box: 91775-1163, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran
A Heravi Moussavi
Affiliation:
Dept. of Animal Science, Exellence centre for Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO Box: 91775-1163, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran
A Tahmasbi
Affiliation:
Dept. of Animal Science, Exellence centre for Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO Box: 91775-1163, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran
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Extract

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) is fed to ruminants as a non-forage fibre source (NFFS) ingredient. Early work by Ronning and Bath (1962) demonstrated that SBP was similar in feeding value to barley grain for lactating dairy cattle, supporting classification of beet pulp as an energy concentrate. Sugar beet pulp contains approximately 40% neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and is unique in its high concentration of neutral detergent soluble fiber, especially pectic substances (~25% of dry matter (DM)). However, the effects of SBP when substituted with different feed sources in ration are variable that depend on chemical composition, types and physical characteristics. The time which cows spent eating and ruminating (total chewing time) is a measure of the physically effective fibre value of a feed. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the effect of substitution of barley grain with SBP as a NFFS on chewing activity of Holstein steers.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Clark, P. W., and Armentano, L. E. 1997. Journal of Dairy Science. 80, 898–904.Google Scholar
Kononoff, PJ. 2002. Ph.D. Thesis. The Pennsylvania State University.Google Scholar
Ronning, M., and Bath, D. L. 1962. Journal of Dairy Science. 45, 854–857.Google Scholar