Grains are often substituted for forage in ruminant diets to increase feed intake, diet fermentability, and animal growth rate. However, greater dietary starch concentration can lead to digestive disorders, such as ruminal acidosis and reduce performance (Owens et al., 1998). Adding non-forage fibre source, such as sugar beet pulp (SBP), to low-forage diets might reduce the negative effects of increased starch fermentation without increasing the filling effect of the diet to the same extent as forage fibre. So, substituting SBP for barley grain in a diet with moderately low forage content should alter ruminal fermentation and might increase mean or minimum ruminal pH. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the substitution of barley grain with SBP on ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration in Holstein steers.

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.

An experiment investigated the effects of using ensiled alternative forages compared with ensiled ryegrass on lamb productivity, nutrient use efficiency and total excreta losses in a lamb finishing system. Lambs offered alternative forages had a higher liveweight gain and nitrogen use efficiency than lambs offered ryegrass silage (P < 0.001) (Marley et al., 2007). However, balancing the input and output of nutrients within the farm system is critical to ensure both short-term productivity and long-term sustainability, as producers aim to establish whole-farm nutrient balance plans and reduce reliance on bought-in fertilisers. Here we present the findings of the effects of feeding ensiled red clover (Trifolium pratense), lucerne (Medicago sativa), pea (Pisum sativum), kale (Brassica oleracea) compared with ensiled hybrid ryegrass (Lolium hybridicum) on excreta losses from these growing lambs and, therefore, the potential impact of incorporating these forages on nutrient budgets within livestock systems.

Due to binding tannin with protein and cellulose, it was hypothesized that pistachio hull tannin can decrease the digestibility of protein and cellulose. Pistachio Hull (PH) is the main pistachio by-product produced from the pistachio dehulling process. PH contained 12.7, 5.7, 16.6, 25, and 20% ash, EE, CP, NDF, and ADF, respectively. The nutritional responses to high levels of dried pistachio by-product in the diet have not been clearly researched. The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of feeding pistachio Hull at high levels on feed intake, ruminal pH, N-NH3 and blood metabolites in Balochi sheep.

Homolactic bacteria have been used to inoculate silages and improve their fermentation. Inoculation with these microbes has increased the rate and extends of lactic acid production in silage and decreased proteolysis and production of volatile organic acid. Wilting of high moisture forages prior to ensiling usually enhances preservation and intake responses of cattle fed silage. Wilting creates an ensiling environment that is conducive to a restricted proteolysis and fermentation, and the resulting silage is typically higher in water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and lower in fermentation acids. The microorganisms used in silage inoculants depend on a high level of moisture for growth. Pahlow and Weissbach (1996) reported that only 10% of the total population of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on grasses grew on modified, selective agar with an water activity (aw) of 0.952 (forage with a DM content of 50%), suggesting that epiphytic LAB were not very osmotolerant. However, Lucerne is often wilted to concentrations above 30% DM before ensiling to reduce the chances of clostridial fermentation and In these silages, it may be speculated that use of osmointolerant inoculants can include two Excellences of wilting and inoculants to make better silage. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of wilting and inoculants on Lucerne silage quality.

The weight of lamb carcass produced per hectare is one of the major factors influencing the efficiency of lamb production and is influenced by the litter size and subsequent lamb growth rate (Keady and Hanrahan, 2006). On many sheep farms ewes are housed during the winter to facilitate increased stock carrying capacity. Ewes are normally shorn once yearly, usually in early summer. Previous studies at Athenry (Keady et al., 2007, Keady and Hanrahan, 2008, 2009) have shown that shearing ewes at housing increased subsequent lamb birth and weaning weights by up to 0.6 and 2.5 kg, respectively. Therefore as a consequence of reducing age at slaughter by approximately 2 weeks, whilst increasing price received per kg of carcass. However, shearing at housing may increase management inputs as ewes are normally housed in smaller groups and need to be dry prior to shearing. Shearing in the autumn, prior to mating, enables the flock to be assembled under more favourable conditions. A previous study at this centre (Keady and Hanrahan, 2008) showed that shearing prior to mating tended to increase subsequent lamb birth weight (+0.3 kg) but did not alter litter size or lamb viability relative to lambs born from ewes which were shorn in late May. The aim of this study was to further evaluate the effects of season of shearing on fertility of March -lambing ewes and on subsequent lamb performance.

There is about 430000 hectares of pistachio garden in Iran and annual dry pistachio production is 688000 tones. There are some problems with this by-product are including: 1) deterioration in less than 24 hours so it could not stored for long term. 2) Pistachio epicarp contains high level of tannins and other phenolic compounds, and there is little information about its effects in ruminants. 3) This by-product is potentially an environmental pollutant and cost effective for disposal. A study was conducted to investigate possibility of different levels replacement of ensiled pistachio epicarp (EPE) with corn silage and its effects on growth rate and carcass composition of lambs.

A major physiological effect of cobalt deficiency is loss of appetite (Smith, 1997). Rumen micro-organisms require cobalt for the synthesis of Vitamin B12, which acts as a cofactor for protein and energy metabolism enzymes, namely methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase and methionine synthase (Kennedy et, al. 1992). Cobalt deficiency, therefore, impairs the energy and protein metabolism and thus growth and development of the deficient animal, which can be defined as changes in the weight, shape and size of the body. Sheep tend to be extremely susceptible to Co deficiency and develop a normocytic and normochromic anaemia, anorexia, reduced weight gains and photosensitivity (Vellema et al., 1996). The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary Co level on performance of Mehraban male lambs.

Growing concern over the use of antibiotics and other growth stimulation in the animal feed industry has increased interest in evaluating the effects of Direct-fed Microbial (DFM) on animal performance (Sullivan and Martin, 1999). Some bacterial direct-fed microbials also seem able to function in the rumen. Depending on the species or combination of species, they can increase digestibility. Modes of action are variable and include native rumen microbiota enhancement through increased substrate breakdown, enhancement of nutrient uptake, stabilising rumen pH and provision of growth factors. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of DFM supplementation on total tract digestibility.

Approximately 80% of all production costs are related to the purchase of forages and other feeds in dairy enterprises in Mexico. Resource poor, smallholder (campesino) systems are heavily reliant on the use of maize stover, noncultivated/cultivated grass species and weeds to feed their dairy cattle, thus a nutritional understanding of local forage resources would be of considerable economic benefit. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritive value of non-cultivated pastures (NcP) during one productive year.

There are several different models for describing the nutrient ruminal degradation of feeds. The use of a particular model in fitting a given degradability data set and estimating the degradability parameters implies the holistic examination of model goodness-of-fit, otherwise the validity of estimated parameters may be controvertible. One of the criteria for evaluating goodness-of-fit is model behaviour analysis. In the present work, the behaviour of a first-order model when fitting whole soybean ruminal degradability data was investigated.

In situ procedure is a direct method of measuring the rumen degradation kinetic of a feed nutrient. Data obtained by this technique are generally analysed using an exponential curve (Ørskov and McDonald, 1979). However, very low attention has been paid to choice of mathematical model to fit the curves and goodness-of-fit of the model. Lopez et al. (1999) pointed out that the disappearance of some feed components, particularly structural carbohydrates, exhibits a larger variety of forms than for crude protein (CP). In the present study, two different mathematical models of a straight line or a negative exponential (France et al., 1990; and Ørskov and McDonald, 1979) were selected to evaluate in situ degradation kinetics of protein fractions including true protein (TP), neutral-detergent insoluble protein (NDIP) and acid-detergent insoluble protein (ADIP) of various oilseed meals (cottonseed meal (CSM), soyabean meal (SM) and rapeseed meal (RM)).

The in situ technique has been used widely for estimating ruminal nutrient degradation and to provide estimates of both the rate and extent of disappearance of feed constituents (Mehrez and Ørskov, 1977), because it is a relatively simple, low-cost method compared with methods involving intestinally cannulated animals. This technique provides a useful means to estimate rates of disappearance and potential degradability of feedstuffs and feed constituents. The technique involves suspending bags containing different feedstuffs in the rumen and measuring nutrient disappearance at various time intervals. Hence, it also may provide an advantage compared with laboratory methods because it involves digestive processes that occur in the rumen of a living animal; however, several factors affect estimates of nutrient digestion and need to be controlled for this technique to be standardised. Feeding by-products to dairy cows and other livestock will probably continue to increase in the future. By-product feeds fed to dairy cows and other livestock prevents a waste disposal problem for industry and reduces the amount of concentrate that must be included in the diet to ensure maximum animal performance. The object of this study was to estimate in situ crude protein degradability of dried grape by-product (DGB), noodle waste (NW), tomato pomace (TP), apple pomace (AP) and grape pomace (GP) using the in situ technique.

Ruminal ciliated protozoa are similar to bacteria in that their numbers increase in response to increased substrate availability. Moderate increases in grain intake result in large increases in the numbers of ciliated protozoa (Dennis et al., 1983). In contrast, high-or all grain diets have variable effects, including total elimination of protozoa in some animals (Franzolin and Dehority, 1996). Ciliated protozoa are believed to be much more sensitive than bacteria to fluctuations and reductions in ruminal pH; hence, ruminal pH is a critical factor in the maintenance of ciliated protozoa in the rumen. The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of fluctuation in ruminal pH on the population of protozoa in rumen fluid.

Rumen fungi produce a wide range of polysaccharide degrading enzymes during growth on cell walls and can degrade 0.25 -0.65 of plant tissue dry weight in pure cultures (Orpin, 1983). It has been proposed that sodium hydroxide may break-down hemicellulose and cellulose and expose them to microbial attachment and improve digestibility (Goto et al., 1993). The aim of the present study was to determine in vitro rumen fungal growth using a quantitative competitive PCR assay (QC-PCR) and dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) disappearance from a medium containing untreated (US) or sodium hydroxide treated wheat straw (TS).

The rumen anaerobic fungi are primary colonizers of fibrous plant materials that degrade lignin-containing plant cell walls. With the advancement of molecular enumeration methods, in particular 18S rDNA gene probing methods, researchers were able to monitor fungal species within the rumen (Stahl et al., 1998). Quantitative competitive PCR (QCPCR) techniques play an important role in nucleic acid quantification because of their significant lower cost of equipment and consumables (Franz et al., 2001). The aim of this study was to use the QC-PCR assay to evaluate the relative quantitative comparison of anaerobic fungi population in medium containing sunflower meal, either untreated or treated with formaldehyde (3 and 6 g/kg DM) or sodium hydroxide (40 g/kg DM).

In situ incubation of feeds in the rumen serves as a basic procedure in many feed evaluation systems. The formulation of hypotheses concerning underlying biological concepts of ruminal degradability has led to development of different mathematical models describing the resultant time course disappearance curves of feed fractions. The use of models allows comparison of parameter estimates (or combinations thereof), which ideally reflect these biological concepts, between feeds or feeding systems. Among different factors affecting the experimental measurements of in situ ruminal disappearance of feeds, less attention has been paid to choice of mathematical model to fit the curves and the goodness-of-fit of the model. The objective of the present work, therefore, was to evaluate the ability of a zero-order mathematical model to describe in situ disappearance curves obtained with whole soybean, and to give adequate estimates of the parameters needed to determine extent of ruminal degradation.

Ruminal cellulose digestion is a complex microbial process that involves adhesion of microbial cells to cellulose, cellulose hydrolysis, and fermentation of the resulting cellodextrins to volatile fatty acid, methane, and CO2 (Weimer, 1996). Information about how cellulose digestion and fermentation are affected by different ruminal environmental conditions is necessary to understand ruminant performance (Mourino, 2001). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the impact of type of supplemental non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) (starch and/or sucrose) on invitro first order disappearance kinetic of commercial cellulose (Cell).

Genetic trends can be readily calculated from national genetic evaluation data. However, these reflect the combined decisions of all owners of recorded dairy cattle rather than a single policy followed on one farm over a long period of time. The Langhill herd maintained by SAC at its Crichton Royal Farm allows the study of the genetics of cows of average merit over a twenty-four year period.

Dairy sheep production is an important industry in Greece and other Mediterranean countries. The traditional system of lambing once a year, as well as the size of the flocks and the extended lactation period has been an obstacle to implement accelerated breeding systems that could capitalise on the full potential of the ewe (Fahmy and Lavallee, 1990). The objective of this study was to develop a management system which combines an accelerated breeding scheme and grouping of ewes in relation to their milk yield, for large, intensively reared, dairy flocks.