Graduation date: 2004

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of daily (D) vs alternate day (AD) supplementation of soybean meal (SBM) or wheat middlings (WM) on forage organic matter intake (OMI), ruminal digesta kinetics, total tract digestibility, and ADG of steers consuming low quality forage. In Exp. 1, five Angus x Hereford steers (403 �� 32 kg) fitted with rumen cannulas were utilized in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. Steers were individually fed low-quality (5.3% CP) fescue hay ad libitum and were randomly assigned to one of five treatments: no supplement (CON); WM fed daily (WMD); WM fed every other day (WMAD); SBM fed daily (SBMD); and SBM fed every other day (SBMAD). Supplements were formulated to meet 100% of degradable intake protein (DIP) and metabolizable protein (MP) requirements. Supplementation increased (P<0.05) hay and total OMI (g���kg��������BW�����) and total OM digestibility (%) compared to CON. Daily supplementation increased (P<0.05) hay and total OMI and hay and total OM digestibility when compared with AD supplementation. Hay OMI and hay OM digestibility was greater (P<0.01) for SBM compared to WM, but total OMI and total OM digestibility was not different (P>0.38). In Exp. 2, 96 Angus crossbred steers (280 �� 32 kg) were blocked by weight (three groups) into 12 pens in a randomized complete block design. Steers were fed low-quality (6.2% CP) fescue straw ad libitum, and one of four supplements formulated to meet 100% of the DIP requirements: WM fed daily (WMD); WM fed 3d/week (WMAD); SBM fed daily (SBMD); and SBM fed 3d/week (SBMAD). Straw OMI was greater (P<0.03) for D compared with AD supplemented treatments and for SBM compared with WM supplemented treatments. Total OMI was greater (P<0.01) for D compared with AD supplemented treatments, however, SBM had similar total OMI when compared with WM supplemented treatments. Daily supplemented steers had greater (P=0.03) ADG when compared with AD supplemented steers. Despite having lower forage intake and similar total OMI, steers consuming WM had higher (P<0.01) ADG when compared to steers consuming SBM. / Graduation date: 2003

Graduation date: 1998

The goal of these experiments was to ensile combinations of shrimp or crab waste with perennial ryegrass straw and analyze it for silage quality and ruminal degradability. The rapid deterioration of seafood wastes required initial preservation prior to ensiling to minimize odor production and protein breakdown. Eight experiments were conducted to preserve, ensile and test the ruminal degradability of shrimp and crab waste. The first three experiments attempted to preserve crab waste with the addition of 0 to 15% molasses for 14 days or shrimp waste with molasses at 0 to 25% for 6 or 21 days. In all three experiments, the addition of molasses decreased crude protein, crude protein loss, and pH, and improved odors. Although a lactic acid fermentation began, the high pH and acetic and butyric acid concentrations indicate fermentation was not completed. The crude protein loss and odor production warrants a quicker method of preservation. In Experiments 4 and 5, shrimp or crab waste were combined with 6 levels of salt from 0 to 12.5% for 6 days. The addition of salt decreased crude protein percentage, crude protein loss and all volatile fatty acid concentrations while increasing the pH and improving the odors. The 7.5% salt-preserved shrimp and crab wastes had 29.9 and 30.7% crude protein, respectively. Experiments 6 and 7 ensiled the salt-preserved shrimp and crab waste with grass straw, molasses and an inoculant in 15 L mini-silos for 40 days. Shrimp waste was combined at 37, 47 or 52% dry matter while crab waste was combined at 43, 46 or 52% dry matter. Molasses at 0, 10, or 20% and an inoculant were added to both silages. The 47% dry matter, 20% molasses non-inoculated shrimp silage had the following analysis on a dry matter basis: crude protein, 16.1%, acid detergent fiber. 27.0%. acetic acid, 1.37%. butyric acid, .01%, lactic acid, 7.17%, and a pH of 7.0 and a good silage odor. The 46% dry matter, 10% molasses, inoculated crab silage had the following analysis on a dry matter basis: crude protein. 21.1%, acid detergent fiber, 19.6%, acetic acid, 1.68, butyric acid, .00%, lactic acid, 2.86% and a questionable odor score. In Experiment 8, the ruminal degradability of shrimp and crab waste and shrimp and crab silage were tested using two fistulated steers and sampled at nine time points ranging from 0 to 96 hr. Shrimp waste had a ruminally available DM%, CP%, ADF%, and %ADIN of 36.9, 43.0, 44.2, and 43.6% respectively. Crab waste had a ruminally available DM%, CP%, ADF%, and %ADIN of 38.9, 53.3, 41.0, and 33.0% respectively. Ensiling the shrimp and crab wastes improved the percentage of ruminally available DM and CP and lowered the percentage of ruminally available ADF and ADIN. This indicates that ensiling promotes the degradation of chitin and the release of nitrogen to the rumen. Effective preservation of shrimp and crab waste with salt and then adequate fermentation of the wastes with grass straw, molasses and inoculant has increased the ruminal degradability of the wastes and led to successful transformation of the waste into a dairy heifer feedstuff. / Graduation date: 1995

No description available.

No description available.

Three duodenally cannulated lactating Holstein cows fed cotton-seed meal (CSM), corn gluten meal (CGM) or blood meal (BM) as protein supplement were used in a 3 x 3 Latin Square experiment to determine microbial crude protein (MCP) in duodenal digesta. Diets, formulated to contain 15% crude protein (CP) on a dry matter basis, consited of 60% concentrate, 31% corn silage and 9% alfalfa hay. Chromium oxide was employed as flow marker. Microbial protein fraction of digesta CP (MCP/DCP) was estimated by three microbial markers: ¹⁵N, diaminopimelic acid (DAP) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The isotopic method gave the most reliable results. Variability was higher with DAP and RNA. Results from RNA were lower (P < .01) and unreasonable. Based on ¹⁵N, MCP/DCP differed among treatments (P < .10) with means of 61.5, 59.4, and 50.0% for CSM, CGM, and BM, respectively, but differences were not significant for absolute amounts of total CP and MCP in duodenal digesta.

No description available.

No description available.

Five studies were conducted to determine the effect of inoculating (Pioneer Sila-Bac 11H50RTM) on the silage quality and the feeding value of high DM (55.3 %) alfalfa silage. The inoculant contained multi strains of Lactobacillus plantarum developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred Inc. In the first study, the effects of inoculation on ensiling characteristics of alfalfa were determined in a completely randomized design using 30 mini-silos. In the 2nd study, 9 containers were used in a completely randomized design to determine the effect of inoculation on the aerobic stability of alfalfa silage. In the 3d study, 2 ruminally fistulated cows were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the effects of inoculation on ruminal degradation of alfalfa silage. In the 4th study, 4 ruminally fistulated cows were used in a switch back experiment to determine the effects of feeding inoculated alfalfa on total tract nutrient utilization. In the last study, 27 Holstein cows in early lactation were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the effects of feeding inoculated alfalfa on intake, milk yield, and milk composition.