The effect of selenium (Se) supplementation, by ad libitum salt-mineral mixture (SMM) and/or Se injection, on bovine immune response was evaluated in three experiments. Sixty weaned beef calves, with marginal blood Se (67 μg Se/1), were allotted to one of six Se treatment groups in a 70-day experiment. Antibody responses to lysozyme were lower in calves fed 20 ppm Se salt-mineral mixture (SMM) ad libitum as compared to calves fed 20 ppm Se SMM and injected with 0.1 mg Se + 1.0IU vitamin E/kg body weight, IM, or with calves ad libitum fed 80, 120, 160, or 200 ppm Se SMM. Blood Se on day 70 was higher in calves fed 80, 120, 160, or 200 ppm Se SMM than calves fed 20 ppm Se and injected with 0.1 mg Se + 1.0 IU vitamin E/kg of body weight, IM. An ad libitum 120 ppm Se SMM was compared to Se injection in 80 mid-gestation beef cows that were Se-deficient (50 μg Se/l blood). Supplementation with 120 ppm Se SMM increased blood Se in cows and calves to > 100 μg/l, increased IgG concentrations in colostrum, and increased IgG concentrations in serum of post-suckle calves. Calves from Se-adequate dams had higher Se concentrations in blood and higher average daily gains at 60 days than Se-deficient calves injected with Se at birth. An ad libitum 120 ppm Se SMM was compared to Se injection in 60 Se-deficient (41 μg Se/l blood) weaned beef calves in a 56-day experiment. Calves fed 120 ppm Se SMM and unsupplemented control calves had higher antibody responses to lysozyme than calves injected with 0.1 mg Se + 1.0 IU vitamin E/kg body weight. Blood Se concentrations increased in calves fed 120 ppm Se SMM, did not change in calves injected with 0.1 mg Se/kg body weight, and decreased in control calves. Se treatment did not affect IgA response in tears of calves. / Ph. D.

A series of experiments were conducted to measure the mode of action by which fishmeal exerts its effect on milk composition of dairy cows. Production Study One measured the effect of increased fishmeal intake on milk production and milk composition in dairy cattle. Milk fat percentage and yield were decreased by increased fishmeal intake. This decrease was not associated with changes in ruminal fermentation patterns. Plasma long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were increased with increased fishmeal intake. Mammary slices from lactating bovine mammary gland were incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid. Changes in ¹⁴C-acetate metabolism were measured. Acetate oxidation and incorporation into milk lipid were not changed by eicosapentaenoic acid. However, tissue from mammary gland of cows milked 6 to 8 h prior to slaughter had 2 fold higher activity than tissue milked 1 h before slaughter. Disappearance of dry matter, crude protein, and lipid in fish meal from undegradable bags in the rumen was measured. Dry matter and crude protein degradation of fish meal were similar to published values. Lipid escaped rapidly with greater than 70% removed by 8 h. A subsequent fish oil infusion study revealed that intraruminal fish oil treatment did not significantly alter ruminal fermentation, or change fatty acid profiles in duodenal digesta, plasma, or milk. Duodenal infusion increased plasma concentrations of n-3 fatty acids but did not affect milk lipid fatty acid composition. A second production study compared the effects of fish meal versus fish oil on milk production and composition, and changes in fatty acids in plasma and milk. Fish meal significantly increased plasma n-3 fatty acids compared to the fish oil treatment. Residual fatty acids contained in fish meal seemed to be protected from rumen degradation and probably remained intact for digestion and absorption since plasma n-3 fatty acid concentrations increased. No changes in milk yield or composition were due to the experimental treatments. Fat in fish meal and fish oil source differed significantly in their ability to alter milk composition and plasma fatty acid profiles. / Ph. D.

Cottonseed hulls (CSH), chopped orchardgrass (OG) or alfalfa (ALF) hays were added to corn silage-based rations to determine effects on dry matter intake (DMI), nitrogen balance (NB), rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA), and rumen fluid (RFD) and solids (RSD) dilution rates. DMI was highest for added fiber rations and higher for CSH than hay rations. Digestibility of DM was depressed for added fiber rations with lowest for CSH. Most favorable NB was for CSH rations. Rumen VFA were not altered by fiber additions. Highest RFD was for 0% rations and lowest for 9% rations, however CSH had greatest positive influence on RFD. RSD trend was similar to that for RFD. In Experiment II, 4 corn silage-based rations containing 9% OG, ALF, or CSH plus a Control (9% OG) were compared for effect on DMI, rumen VFA, chewing time (CT), RSD, and RFD. Ration density decreased with OG and ALF whereas CSH had no effect compared to Control. DMI was higher for CSH compared to OG and ALF. Total CT (min/d) and Roughage Value Index (CT/kg DMI) were reduced for ALF compared to OG. Total VFA were lower for added fiber rations compared to Control. Acetate:propionate (APR) and non-glucogenic (NGR) ratio were not affected by fiber additions. RFD was reduced for ALF compared to OG whereas CSH was higher than OG and ALF. Reduced RFD was associated with reduced total CT for ALF. RSD was not affected by fiber additions. Chopped OG was supplemented at 0, 9, or 18% of ration DM in a finely chopped corn silage-based ration. Analysis of covariance was performed using 18 lactating Holsteins. Ration density decreased with each increment of OG. DMI was highest for 18% OG ration. Cows on 0% showed decreased DMI whereas cows on 9 and 18% rations increased DMI from covariate period. Rumen acetate, APR and NGR increased while propionate and total VFA decreased with increasing OG. RFD and RSD increased with increasing OG supplementation. Response to 9 and 18% supplementation of OG, ALF, or CSH to corn silage-based rations appears to follow similar pattern as when all-forage rations were compared to all-concentrate rations for lactating dairy cows. A more quantitative evaluation of physical form is needed for dairy rations and feedstuffs leading to an acceptable routine evaluation procedure. / Ph. D.

The farmer that fed silage made a profit of $606.20 for the twenty-six years or had received an average profit of $23.31 each year per steer. The farmer that fed hay and straw made a profit of $298.76 for the twenty-six years or an average profit of $11.49 each year per steer. The farmer that fed stover and corn meal made a profit of $140.56 for the twenty-six years or an average profit each year of $5.40 per steer. From a survey of seventy farms and 4,380 head of cattle, we find that the average carload shipment is about three care per cattlemen in Southwest Virginia allowing twenty head to the car, this would mean sixty per year. At this rate the farmer that fed silage would have made $36,372.00. The farmer that fed hay and straw would have made $17,925.00 and the farmer that fed stover and corn meal would have made $8,433.60. The cost of silage for the twenty-six years was $412.04, for hay and straw $521.54, and for stover and corn meal $439.70. / M.S.

Two feeding trials were conducted involving diets supplemented with soybean meal, dried brewers, and wet brewers grains. The first trial involved 24 first-calf heifers averaging 82 d postpartum. After a 20 d protein depletion period in which a 9.4% CP diet was fed, cows were randomly assigned to a 2 x 3 factorial where pelleted (P) or unpelleted (UP) soybean meal supplemented corn diets to 12.2% (L), 15.4% (M), and 18.1% (H) crude protein. During depletion, milk production, dry matter intake, and yields of milk protein, fat, and solids decreased in the range of 15 to 25%. However, these all increased to pre-depletion levels after 26 d of repletion. Considering repletion response separately resulted in no significant differences between P and UP for milk production and constituents, feed intake, and plasma urea. However, using depletion to covariably adjust means resulted in P diets favoring greater milk production (P < .01) than UP as well as protein, fat, and solid yields. This response may be caused by a significant increase in feed intake for P diets. Use of a depletion period did increase precision of results but its use in practical feeding trials is controversial. Results in milk, milk protein, fat, and solid yields, and plasma urea were linear with protein level (L vs H). The second trial involved 44 multiparous cows averaging 114 d postpartum. Eight cows remained on a control (CON) diet of 11.7% CP while all others were randomly assigned in a 3 x 3 factorial in which dried (DBG) and wet brewers grains (WBG), and soybean meal (SBM) supplemented the CON to 14.8 (L), 16.3 (M), and 18.0% (H) CP. Diet composition varied in corn silage and ensiled ground-corn but alfalfa silage was constant on a dry matter basis. All diets were superior to CON in milk production and constituent yield. Brewers diets were superior to SBM for milk yield, protein, and solid yields. Part of this response may be related to superior intake for diets containing brewers and lower rumen ammonia and plasma urea. Cows receiving brewers diets have higher intakes than SBM and brewers appear to be utilized more efficiently. For mid-lactating cows an increase in milk at 18.0% CP resulted from brewers diets but not SBM. The H level resulted in a significant increase in milk yield and protein (kg) but also had the highest plasma urea and rumen ammonia level. / M.S.

Ruminant animals consuming low N-diet have been reported to have increased urea reabsorption with the Nguni being categorized as N-recycling ruminant. The enzymes associated with N-cycling are hypothesized to contribute to survival of the Nguni in harsh conditions. Enzymes responsible for such a function needed to be characterized in order to determine their effect in the functioning of the Nguni as opposed to Hereford breed. Crude enzymes from both breeds were separated from most or some contaminants by sephadex G-25, DEAE sephacel, and different affinity column chromatography. CPS and GDH were successfully purified and characterized by LC-MS/MS and further analysed by ProteinPilot™, blasted and matched >95% with those of Bos Taurus. Comparison of characterized enzymes and those which failed to ionise such as ARG, GS and GA was done using kinetics and graphs annotating specific activities. Partial purification and characterization was in part achieved. / Life & Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Ruminant animals consuming low N-diet have been reported to have increased urea reabsorption with the Nguni being categorized as N-recycling ruminant. The enzymes associated with N-cycling are hypothesized to contribute to survival of the Nguni in harsh conditions. Enzymes responsible for such a function needed to be characterized in order to determine their effect in the functioning of the Nguni as opposed to Hereford breed. Crude enzymes from both breeds were separated from most or some contaminants by sephadex G-25, DEAE sephacel, and different affinity column chromatography. CPS and GDH were successfully purified and characterized by LC-MS/MS and further analysed by ProteinPilot™, blasted and matched >95% with those of Bos Taurus. Comparison of characterized enzymes and those which failed to ionise such as ARG, GS and GA was done using kinetics and graphs annotating specific activities. Partial purification and characterization was in part achieved. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 W365 / Master of Science

Two meta-analysis of effects of yeast culture and monensin in lactating dairy cows were first performed. Secondly, two experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of live yeast (LY) or monensin (M) or both (LY+M) on gas production and fermentation by rumen micro-organisms in vitro in low (40 %) and high (60 %) concentrate diets of dairy cows. Rumen contents were collected from one cannulated lactating Holstein cow. Gas production was measured from 0 to 48 h of incubation. Volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen concentrations were measured after 48 h. Meta-analysis of monensin indicated decrease dry matter intake (DMI) and increasing milk yield, consequently improving feed efficiency. Meta-analysis of yeast culture did not show improved performance. These results highlighted the importance of the meta-analysis as a useful tool that can be employed to both summarize effects across studies and to investigate factors explaining potential heterogeneity of response. The batch fermentation showed that in high concentrate diet, M significantly increased ammonia nitrogen, decreased acetate, but tended to increase propionate concentration (7.9, 63.2, 18.6 vs. 6.3, 66.8, 14.2 mmol/l; respectively). Addition of LY increased acetate concentration (64.2 vs 66.8 mmol/l). Supplementation with M, LY and LY+M reduced total gas production by 37.1, 22.5 and 26.9 %, respectively, compared to control at 48 h. In low concentrate diet, M and LY+M decreased and increased acetate (60.1 and 69.7 vs. 7.1 mmol/l; respectively). Adding LY and LY+M produced 8.6 % less gas, and M treatment 3.4 % more gas than the control. Overall, at 48 h, high concentrate resulted in less gas than low concentrate diets. High concentrate diets showed increased ammonia (7.9 and 6.4 vs. 5.21 and 4.7 mmol/l) decreased acetate (63.0 and 63.2 vs. 67.0 and 69.7 mmol/l) with a tendency to increased propionate (18.6 and 18.9 vs. 14.6 and 14.1 mmol/l) compared to low concentrate in M and LY+M treated diets. These results indicate that the effects of M and LY on rumen fermentation are substrate dependent, the high-concentrate diet showing the greatest response / Agriculture / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: CPM Dairy was developed to maintain amino acid balance. because the correct amino acid relationship has an influence on milk production and milk composition (Schwab e/ af. 1992, Rulquin e/ af. 1993). Rulquin e/ af. (1993) found that an increase in lysine and methionine concentration in the diet had no meaningful effect on milk production and milkfat production. However, milk protein production is described as a function of lysine and methionine concentration. In order to balance the amino acid relationships, the CNCPS model has been adopted, using the following guidelines: I. a dairy cow feed characteristic scheme, described by Van Soest e/ af. (1991) and Sniffen e/ aI. (1992), II. a model for rumen fermentation and bacterial growth in the dairy cow, described by Russel e/ af. (1992), Ill. feed val ues for dairy cow feeds, described by Sniffen e/ af. (1992). IV. a set of formulas describing the feeding needs of dairy cows under different circumstances, assembled by Fox e/ af. (1992). Bateman e/ af. (2001) studied the accuracy of formulation models according to crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA)-flow to the duodenum in lactating dairy cow diets. CPM Dairy does not calculate direct flow of CP to the duodenum, but the following adjustment was made: the change-over of metabolizable protein (MP) to CP is done by increasing bacterial protein from 60% to 100% of bacterial-CP. Intestinal digestion of fraction B3-protein is increased from 80% to 100%, whereas fraction C-protein is increased from 0 to 100% to change feed-MP to feed-CP. CP from feed and microbes are summed to indicate total CP-flow to the duodenum. AA-flow, as calculated by CPM Dairy, is used without adjustments. A rise in MUN-Ievels are typical to spring and summer months. which can be ascribed to high soluble protein and low soluble carbohydrates in grasses and legumes. This gives rise to an excess N-uptake in the bloodstream. Grass silage, when fed as primary feeding source. has the same reaction. Blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) is the amount of urea-N found in the blood of the cow. MUN is the fraction ofN in the milk in the form of urea. MUN is normally 85% the concentration of BUN. Studies show that an increase in BUN/MUN levels leads to a negative effect on the reproductive ability of the cow. An increase in BUN-levels leads to an increase in urea in the reproductive tract of the animal. Urea passes between the blood plasma and the reproductive tract. It is therefore obvious that a high BUN-concentration leads to high levels of urea in the reproductive tract. In order to eradicate this problem. the use of deodorise in the supplemental feed of the lactating dairy cow \vas recommended. Deodorise is a natural product manufactured by Alltech. The product is derived from the Yuccha Schidigera plant. Two glycocomponents (CI and C II) of this plant binds gasses such as N1-I3. (Alltech information sheet) During .June to August 2002 data were collected regarding the effect of deodorise on lactating dairy cows. No meaningful difference between the two groups in this experiment was found. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: CPM Dairy is ontwikkel am aminosuurbalans te handhaaC aangesien die korrekte aminosuurvcrhoudings 'n invloed op melkproduksie en mclksamcstelling het. (Schwab el al. 1992, Rulquin el al. 1993). Rulquin el al. (1993) hct gcvind dat 'n tacname in die konsentrasic van lisien en mctionien in dic rantsoen gccn nocmenswaardigc cffek op melkproduksie en meIkvctproduksie het nie. MelkproteYcnproduksie word cgtcr beskryf as 'n funksie van !isien- cn metionienkonscntrasie. Ten einde die aminosuurvcrhoudings te balanseer. is die CNCPS model aangcneem. wat die volgcndc riglyne gebruik : I. 'n Melkbees vocdingskarakteriseringskema, soos bcskryf deur Van Soest el 01. (1991) en Sniffen el 01. (1992). II. 'n Model van rumcnfermentasie en bakteriele groei in die melkbces, soos deur Russel e/al. (1992) beskryf. Ill. Voedingswaardes vir melkbeesvoedingstowwe, soos bcskryf deur Sniffen e/ 01. ( 1992). IV. 'n Stcl vergelykings wat die voedingsbehoeftcs van mclkbcestc onder vcrskillende omstandighede beskryf, saamgestel deur Fox e/ 01. (1992). Bateman e/ 01. (200 I) bestudeer die akkuraatheid van formulasiemodelle ten opsigte van RP- en aminosuur (AA)-vloei na die duodenum in lakterende melkkoeirantsacne. CPM Dairy bcreken nie dirckte vloei van RP na die elunderm nie. elus is dic volgenele aanpassing gcmaak : Die omskakeling van Metaboliseerbare proteYen (MP) na RP word gedoen deur bakteriele prote"len te verhoog vanaf 60% tot 100% van baktcriCle-RP. Dermkanaalvertering van ti'aksie B3 proteYen is verhoog vanaf 80% tot IOO(/j), terwyl fraksie C protc'len vanaf 0 tot 100% verhoog is ten einde voer-M P om te skakcl na voer- RP. RP vanafvoer en mikrobes word gesommeer en verskafvoorspellings vir totale RPvioei na dic duodenum. Die AA-vloei. so os deur CPM Dairy bereken word, is sonder wysigings gebruik. n Styging in MUN-vlakke word tipies in die lente- en somermaande ondervincL wat toegeskryl' kan word aan hoc oplosbare protc"ien en lae oplosbare koolhidrate in grasse en peulgewasse. Dit gee aanleiding tot 'n oonnaat N wat in die bloedstroom opgeneem word. Graskuilvoer, wanneer gevoer word as die primcre voedingsbron, het dieselfde uitwerking. Bloed-ureumstikstof (BUN) is die hoeveelheid ureum-N teenwoordiu: in die bloed van die koei. MUN is die fraksie N in melk in die vonn van ureum. MUN is gewoonlik 85% van die konsentrasie van BUN. Navorsing toon dat 'n toe name in BUN/MUN vlakke 'n nadelige uitwerking het op die reproduktiewe vermoc van die koei. 'n Toename in BUN-vlakke veroorsaak 'n toename in ureum in die dier se reproduksiekanaal. Ureum beweeg tussen die plasma en die reproduksiekanaal. Dit is dus duidelik dat 'n hoc BUN-konsentrasie sal lei tot hoc vlakke van ureum in die reprod uksiekanaal. Ten einde hierdie probleem uit te wis, is die gebruik van De-Odorase in die kragvoer van die lakterende koeie aanbeveel. De-Odorase is 'n natuurlike produk wat deur Alltech vervaardig word. Die produk is at1(omstig van die Yucca schidigera plant. Twee glikokomponente (CI en CII) van hierdie plant bind gasse so os Nl-h (Alltech inligtingstuk). Gedurende .Iunie tot Augustus 2002 is data ingesamel aangaande die uitwerking van De- Odorase op melkbeeste. Daar is geen betekenisvolle verskil tussen die twee groepe met hierdie ekspcriment waargeneem nle.