Experiments were conducted to determine: 1) the fermentation characteristics and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of corn (<i>Zea mays</i>) stover treated with different sources of N; 2) digestibility, N utilization and palatabi1ity in sheep fed corn stover treated with different N sources; and 3) fermentation characteristics and nutrient utilization by sheep of sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> L., Moench) forage treated with urea an poultry litter. In a small silo study, corn stover was ensiled untreated or after treatment with 3% aqueous NH₃, 50% and 75% poultry litter, 5.8% urea alone or with 10% cattle waste, 1.5% urease powder or 5% soybeans (<i>Glycine max</i>), DM basis. All treatments resulted in substantial increases (P < .01) in CP of corn stover. Lactic acid was detected in substantial levels only in the stover which was untreated and treated with 50% poultry litter. Ammonia and urea treatments decreased NDF content of stover by 4 to 7 percentage units. Increases (P < .01) of IVDMD of 9 to 14 percentage units resulted from treatment with NH₃ or urea. Use of urease sources did not enhance IVDMD. / Ph. D.

The effects of quantity of dietary starch and type of dietary protein on hindgut fermentation were evaluated. Thirty-two Holstein bull calves were fed diets containing variable amounts of orchardgrass hay and a grain mixture. The amount of starch and types of protein were: [L1] low starch, soybean meal (SBM); [L2] low starch, fishmeal plus dried brewers' grains (FBG); [Hl] high starch and SBM; [H2] high starch, FBG. The percentages of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude protein were: [L1] 19.2%, 15.1%; [L2] 18.0%, 15.6%; [H1] 9.5%, 14.9%; [H2] 9.6%, 15.4%. After calves were fed the diets for 17 days, they were slaughtered to obtain their intestinal tracts. Ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta and feces of calves fed Hl and H2 versus Ll and L2 contained less water and ADF. Concentration of nitrogen in digesta and feces did not differ. Ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta from calves fed H1 and H2 had significantly greater numbers of viable anaerobic bacteria and lower pH._ Cecal digesta from calves fed high fiber diets (L1 and L2) had lower total VFA, propionate, and buytrate concentrations than calves fed high starch diets. Colonic and cecal digesta of calves fed diets H1 and H2 contained less ammonia. Acetate and propionate flux across cecal epithelium ro vrtro was faster for diets H1 and H2. Results indicate that high dietary starch stimulated anaerobic bacterial growth and fermentation in the hindgut, and enhanced acetate and propionate flux across the cecal epithelium. Acetate and propionate transport across the cecal wall probably is not due solely to passive diffusion, but it may involve a carrier. Replacement of SBM by FBG also altered cecal fermentation to a lesser extent. Calves fed H2 had significantly greater numbers of viable anaerobic bacteria in cecal and ileal digesta and 2 to 10 times the number of bacteria associated with cecal epithelium than calves fed the other diets. Butyrate cecal concentration and production was significantly increased when calves were fed diets containing FBG. Cecal VFA production may account for approximately 3 to 5% of digestible energy intake. / Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata

This study evaluated degradable nutrient supply effects on VFA concentrations, fluid flux and pool sizes, rumen epithelial metabolic and absorptive genes, and post-absorptive muscle and blood responses. Six ruminally cannulated Holstein heifers (BW=330 ± 11.3 kg) were used in a partially replicated Latin Square experiment with four treatments consisting of beet pulp or timothy hay and barley or corn grain. Periods were18 d with 3 d diet adaptation and 15 d of treatment. During each period, d 10 to 14 was used for in situ nutrient degradation assessment, d 16 to 18 was used for rumen fluid sampling, and d 18 was used for rumen papillae and skeletal muscle biopsies and blood sampling. In situ ruminal starch disappearance rate (barley 7.61 to 10.5 %/h vs corn 7.30 to 8.72%/h; P = 0.05) and extent of fiber disappearance (timothy hay 22.2 to 33.4 % DM vs beet pulp 34.4 to 38.7 % DM P=0.0007) differed significantly among diets. Acetate (P = 0.02) and isovalerate (P = 0.008) molar percentages (% mol) were increased by timothy hay, but propionate (P = 0.06) and valerate (P = 0.10) molar percentages were decreased. Corn increased propionate (P = 0.02) and valerate (P = 0.049) molar percentage, but decreased butyrate (P = 0.04) molar proportion. Fluid volume and fluid passage rate, and individual VFA pool sizes were not influenced by diet (P > 0.05). Four epithelial genes, two metabolic and two absorptive, had increased expression on timothy hay diets (P < 0.15). Blood acetate concentration was influenced by treatment (P = 0.067) but no other blood metabolites were. Skeletal muscle metabolic rate was significantly increased on corn diets (P = 0.023). The results of this study provide a whole-system snapshot of how the rumen environment changes on diets differing in nutrient degradability and how the post-absorptive system adapts in response. / Master of Science / Over the last 50 years, dairy cattle have been bred to optimize milk production to meet growing population demands for milk and dairy products. The world population continues to grow and is projected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050. Because of this growing population, there is an overwhelming need for dairy nutritionists to optimize the conversion of human inedible fibers into human edible food. The ruminant animal accomplishes this conversion through microbial fermentation of feedstuffs into volatile fatty acids (VFA), which account for approximately 70% of total energy available for meat, milk, and fiber production. Because rumen fermentation is a complex biochemical system, it is influenced by myriad factors including the substrate provided, the pH of the environment, and the absorptive and metabolic capacity of the rumen wall, among others. Although we understand how diet influences individual aspects of rumen fermentation, few studies have concurrently evaluated how diet influences the rumen chemical environment, the epithelium, and the resulting shifts in postabsorptive metabolism. Our study sought to understand the impacts of feedstuffs with different expected ruminally available starch and fiber supplies on these aspects of ruminant physiology. Six ruminally cannulated Holstein heifers were fed four different diets which used either beet pulp (low fiber ingredient) or timothy hay (high fiber ingredient), and ground corn (low starch ingredient) or ground barley (high starch ingredient). Heifers were fed each diet for a period of 18 days. From day 10 to day 14 of the period, nutrient degradability was assessed by incubating bags of feed in the rumen and conducting feed analysis after removed from the rumen. During the last four days of each period, rumen fluid samples, blood samples, muscle biopsies, and rumen papillae biopsies were collected. Feed analysis indicated that the starch sources differed in degradation rates (i.e. the speed of degradation) and fiber sources different in extent of rumen degradation (i.e. the percentage of feed degraded). Timothy hay caused greater concentrations of Total VFA, Total branched-chain VFA, acetate isobutyrate, and isovalerate. Timothy hay caused greater molar proportions of acetate and isovalerate. Corn caused greater molar proportions of propionate and valerate when barley caused greater molar proportions of butyrate. Rumen papillae biopsies were used to evaluate gene expression. Out of 14 genes, four were impacted by diet. Two rumen transporters responsible for the absorption of VFA had greater expression when animals were fed timothy hay diets versus beet pulp diets. Two metabolic genes also had greater expression due to timothy hay. The changes of both absorptive genes and metabolic genes is likely connected to the increased presence of VFA in the rumen. Lastly, blood acetate was increased, but there was not a specific ingredient or combination that caused the change. These results provide an overall snapshot of rumen fermentation characteristics and how changes in the rumen affect other biology.

[Truncated abstract] Antimicrobial growth promoters are added to feed to prevent lactic acidosis in ruminant animals by selectively inhibiting rumen bacteria that produce lactic acid. However, recently imposed or impending bans on the use of antimicrobial growth promoters in animal production have lead to a critical need to find practical alternatives that are safe for the animal and consumer and that obtain similar production benefits. I investigated bioactive plants of Australia for their potential to prevent lactic acidosis in ruminants. The unifying hypothesis tested was that plants would be identified that selectively inhibit lactic acid-producing bacteria and consequently protect against lactic acidosis. This hypothesis was tested in a three phase process: phase 1, plant selection and collection; phase 2, a three stage protocol for screening plants and essential oils; phase 3, in vivo experiments and chemical fractionation of the most promising plant. I developed an in vitro bioassay that simulated acidosis by adding glucose to rumen fluid in Bellco tubes and incubating for 5 h (Chapter 4). The pH and gas production were used as indicators of acidosis and fermentation activity. I used this bioassay to screen ninety-five plants (dried and ground material from 79 species) and ten essential oils and included a negative control (oaten chaff) and a positive control (virginiamycin). One plant, Eremophila glabra, produced a similar pH (5.63) to the positive control (5.43) although it inhibited gas production to a moderate extent (P < 0.05). ... Seven serrulatane diterpenes were identified to be the major secondary metabolites in E. glabra. The metabolites were screened using a broth dilution and microtitre spectrophotometry method and were selective against S. bovis at between 320 and 1077 [mu]g/ mL. The serrulatanes from E. glabra were probably responsible for the activity against acidosis that I observed in vitro, because they selectively inhibited lactateproducing bacteria. It is also possible that a synergy between serrulatanes and possibly other metabolites are responsible for the activity observed in vitro. The results from my experiments support the role that bioactive plants may have to replace the antibiotics that are added to livestock feed. Australian plants were identified containing compounds that were active against the bacterial processes responsible for ruminant acidosis. To my knowledge this is the first work undertaken to identify bioactive plants of Australia for their potential to prevent acidosis. I developed in vitro screening bioassays that targeted key indicators of acidosis. These bioassays enabled me to identify 5 plants from the 104 screened that could potentially control acidosis. One of these plants in particular, E. glabra, showed a level of activity in vitro that was comparable to antibiotic protection against acidosis. The exciting in vitro results were not demonstrated in vivo but only one dose level of E. glabra was used, which was based on the in vitro work. In contrast to the in vitro system the rumen is a continuous flow system with greater complexity and it is possible that the concentration of E. glabra that I used in vivo was not optimum. This places importance on future dose response experiments to confirm the efficacy of E. glabra in vivo.

Azidotische Belastungen des Pansens gelten bei Milchkühen besonders in der Frühlaktation als weit verbreitet. Sie werden als subakute Pansenazidosen (SARA) für die häufigen Produktionskrankheiten verantwortlich gemacht. Ziele : dieser Untersuchungen waren a) die Kontrolle des Säure-Basen-Haushalt (SBH) bei HF- Hochleistungskühen im peripartalen Zeitraum zum Vorkommen von SARA, b) die Prüfung bewährter sowie neuer Methoden zur Pansensaftanalyse, c) die Analyse von SBH-Harnparametern sowie d) die Prüfung möglicher Beziehungen von Stoffwechselparametern im Blut zu SBH-Parametern im Pansensaft. Versuchsanordnung : In 10 Betrieben Niedersachsens wurden an je 10 Kühen Verlaufsuntersuchungen mit vier Proben/Tier durchgeführt: 1. Trockenstehperiode/Färsen -30 Tage ante partum (d a.p.) bis zur Kalbung; 2. 2 bis 7 Tage post partum (d p.p.); 3. in der Frühlaktation 8 bis 30 d p.p. und 4. in der Mittellaktation 80 bis 150 d p.p. Pansensaft vormittags mit Geishauser- Sonde gewonnen, Blut aus der V. jugularis externa sowie Harn per Blasenkathederisierung. Analysiert wurden im Pansensaft der pH-Wert, die Pufferkapazität als Titrationsbilanz über die Titrationsazidität und - alkalität, die Methylenblauprobe sowie die Sedimentaktivitätszeit (SAT), im Harn der pH-Wert, die Netto-Säure-Basen-Ausscheidung (NSBA) sowie der Basen-Säure-Quotient (BSQ) und im Blutserum Glukose, freie Fettsäuren (FFS), Betahydroxybutyrat (BHB), L-Laktat, Cholesterol, Protein, Albumin, Bilirubin, Harnstoff, Kreatinin, Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, Mg, ALP, ASAT, GLDH sowie die CK. Ergebnisse: Zwischen Kühen und Färsen wurden bei den gemessenen Parametern keine gesicherten Unterschiede festgestellt. Es gab auch keine Unterschiede zwischen den Betrieben. Die Pansen-pH-Werte bewegten sich von x= 6,8 (6,43/7,0;1./3. Quartil) zu Beginn des Trockenstehens über minimal x = 6,3 (5,9/6,7) 30 bis 60 d p.p. bis x = 6,6 (6,2/6,8) in der Mittellaktation. Sie lagen alle im physiologischen Bereich. 20 Kühe hatten Pansen-pH-Werte von < 5,8, 6 Kühe von < 5,5 und 21 Kühe von > 7,2. Damit kamen die Kühe der SARA-Definition, bezogen auf das einmalige Auftreten von pH-Werten < 5,8 bei einer Kuh, nahe; bezogen auf alle gemessenen Pansen-pH-Werte betrug der Anteil < 5,8 aber nur 9,8 %. Die Titrationsbilanz war in der Trockensteherperiode ausgeglichen; bei allen drei Kontrollen p.p. bestand ein Basendefizit. Die Pufferkapazität war in der 1. Woche p.p. und in der Frühlaktation vermindert. Panse-pH-Werte und Titrationsbilanz korrelierten sehr eng (r=0,98,p<0,001). Die Methylenblauprobe war a.p. mit x = 3:37 (2:22/4:59) Minuten am längsten, in der Mittellaktation mit 3:01 (2:25/4:30) Minuten am kürzesten und ingesamt physiologisch. Es gab keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Kontollzeiträumen. Die SAT war physiologisch und schwankte zwischen zwei und fünf Minuten ohne signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den Entnahmezeiträumen. Im Harn lagen die NSBA mit x = 70 mmol/l (20/122 = 1./3.Quartil) und der BSQ mit x = 2,2 (1,6/2,8) nur bei den Frischmelkern unter den unteren Grenzwerten und deuteten die Gefahr von SARA an. Der Harn-pH-Wert war mit x = 7,98 (7,7/8,2) physiologisch. Von der Gesamtheit alle NSBA-Werte waren 37% < 83 mmol/l sowie 28,9% < 25 mmol/l; beim BSQ waren es 52,6% < 2,5 sowie 27,4% < 1,5. Die für die NSBA, den BSQ und den Harn-pH-Wert berechneten Sensivitäten und Spezifitäten für einen Pansen-pH-Wert < 5,8 liegen mit 44,8% und 64,5% (NSBA), 55,8% und 47,9% (BSQ) sowie 2,3% und 97% (Harn-pH-Wert) unter den diagnostischen Erfordernissen.Sie können somit keine sicheren Rückschlüsse auf den Pansenzustand geben. Bei den Blutbefunden wurden Kühe mit Pansen-pH-Werten < 5,8 (SARA) und >5,8 gegenüber gestellt. Die Korrelationskoeffizienten, die Sensitivität und die mittels Receiver-Operating-Characteristics Analysen ermittelten Flächen unter der Kurve zwischen Pansen-pH-Wert und den Blutparametern waren niedrig ( p> 0,05). Schlussfolgerung: Hochleistende HF-Kühe haben peripartal nicht zwangsläufig eine SARA. Die Titrationsbilanz ergänzt den Pansensaft-pH-Wert, ist routinemäßig aber nicht nötig. Im Harn liegen die NSBA und BSQ häufiger unter den Grenzwerten und korrelieren nicht gesichert mit dem Pansen-pH-Wert. Auch Blutparameter erlauben keine sichere Aussage über den Pansenzustand. Die Diagnose von SARA muss mit direkter Messung des Pansen-pH-Wertes gestellt werden.

Azidotische Belastungen des Pansens gelten bei Milchkühen besonders in der Frühlaktation als weit verbreitet. Sie werden als subakute Pansenazidosen (SARA) für die häufigen Produktionskrankheiten verantwortlich gemacht. Ziele : dieser Untersuchungen waren a) die Kontrolle des Säure-Basen-Haushalt (SBH) bei HF- Hochleistungskühen im peripartalen Zeitraum zum Vorkommen von SARA, b) die Prüfung bewährter sowie neuer Methoden zur Pansensaftanalyse, c) die Analyse von SBH-Harnparametern sowie d) die Prüfung möglicher Beziehungen von Stoffwechselparametern im Blut zu SBH-Parametern im Pansensaft. Versuchsanordnung : In 10 Betrieben Niedersachsens wurden an je 10 Kühen Verlaufsuntersuchungen mit vier Proben/Tier durchgeführt: 1. Trockenstehperiode/Färsen -30 Tage ante partum (d a.p.) bis zur Kalbung; 2. 2 bis 7 Tage post partum (d p.p.); 3. in der Frühlaktation 8 bis 30 d p.p. und 4. in der Mittellaktation 80 bis 150 d p.p. Pansensaft vormittags mit Geishauser- Sonde gewonnen, Blut aus der V. jugularis externa sowie Harn per Blasenkathederisierung. Analysiert wurden im Pansensaft der pH-Wert, die Pufferkapazität als Titrationsbilanz über die Titrationsazidität und - alkalität, die Methylenblauprobe sowie die Sedimentaktivitätszeit (SAT), im Harn der pH-Wert, die Netto-Säure-Basen-Ausscheidung (NSBA) sowie der Basen-Säure-Quotient (BSQ) und im Blutserum Glukose, freie Fettsäuren (FFS), Betahydroxybutyrat (BHB), L-Laktat, Cholesterol, Protein, Albumin, Bilirubin, Harnstoff, Kreatinin, Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, Mg, ALP, ASAT, GLDH sowie die CK. Ergebnisse: Zwischen Kühen und Färsen wurden bei den gemessenen Parametern keine gesicherten Unterschiede festgestellt. Es gab auch keine Unterschiede zwischen den Betrieben. Die Pansen-pH-Werte bewegten sich von x= 6,8 (6,43/7,0;1./3. Quartil) zu Beginn des Trockenstehens über minimal x = 6,3 (5,9/6,7) 30 bis 60 d p.p. bis x = 6,6 (6,2/6,8) in der Mittellaktation. Sie lagen alle im physiologischen Bereich. 20 Kühe hatten Pansen-pH-Werte von < 5,8, 6 Kühe von < 5,5 und 21 Kühe von > 7,2. Damit kamen die Kühe der SARA-Definition, bezogen auf das einmalige Auftreten von pH-Werten < 5,8 bei einer Kuh, nahe; bezogen auf alle gemessenen Pansen-pH-Werte betrug der Anteil < 5,8 aber nur 9,8 %. Die Titrationsbilanz war in der Trockensteherperiode ausgeglichen; bei allen drei Kontrollen p.p. bestand ein Basendefizit. Die Pufferkapazität war in der 1. Woche p.p. und in der Frühlaktation vermindert. Panse-pH-Werte und Titrationsbilanz korrelierten sehr eng (r=0,98,p<0,001). Die Methylenblauprobe war a.p. mit x = 3:37 (2:22/4:59) Minuten am längsten, in der Mittellaktation mit 3:01 (2:25/4:30) Minuten am kürzesten und ingesamt physiologisch. Es gab keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Kontollzeiträumen. Die SAT war physiologisch und schwankte zwischen zwei und fünf Minuten ohne signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den Entnahmezeiträumen. Im Harn lagen die NSBA mit x = 70 mmol/l (20/122 = 1./3.Quartil) und der BSQ mit x = 2,2 (1,6/2,8) nur bei den Frischmelkern unter den unteren Grenzwerten und deuteten die Gefahr von SARA an. Der Harn-pH-Wert war mit x = 7,98 (7,7/8,2) physiologisch. Von der Gesamtheit alle NSBA-Werte waren 37% < 83 mmol/l sowie 28,9% < 25 mmol/l; beim BSQ waren es 52,6% < 2,5 sowie 27,4% < 1,5. Die für die NSBA, den BSQ und den Harn-pH-Wert berechneten Sensivitäten und Spezifitäten für einen Pansen-pH-Wert < 5,8 liegen mit 44,8% und 64,5% (NSBA), 55,8% und 47,9% (BSQ) sowie 2,3% und 97% (Harn-pH-Wert) unter den diagnostischen Erfordernissen.Sie können somit keine sicheren Rückschlüsse auf den Pansenzustand geben. Bei den Blutbefunden wurden Kühe mit Pansen-pH-Werten < 5,8 (SARA) und >5,8 gegenüber gestellt. Die Korrelationskoeffizienten, die Sensitivität und die mittels Receiver-Operating-Characteristics Analysen ermittelten Flächen unter der Kurve zwischen Pansen-pH-Wert und den Blutparametern waren niedrig ( p> 0,05). Schlussfolgerung: Hochleistende HF-Kühe haben peripartal nicht zwangsläufig eine SARA. Die Titrationsbilanz ergänzt den Pansensaft-pH-Wert, ist routinemäßig aber nicht nötig. Im Harn liegen die NSBA und BSQ häufiger unter den Grenzwerten und korrelieren nicht gesichert mit dem Pansen-pH-Wert. Auch Blutparameter erlauben keine sichere Aussage über den Pansenzustand. Die Diagnose von SARA muss mit direkter Messung des Pansen-pH-Wertes gestellt werden.

Thesis (MScAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ruminants have a compound stomach system that enables them to utilize forages more efficiently than monogastric animals. However, forages alone do not contain sufficient nutrients to meet the requirements of high producing dairy cows. Forages are high in fibre and their nutrient availability depends on the degree of cell wall degradability. Improvements in forage fermentation would increase energy intake and subsequently milk production and performance by dairy cows. It is therefore important to find ways to improve forage degradation and utilization in the rumen. The use of different non-fibre carbohydrate (NFC) sources has different effects on animal performance. Supplementing forage based diets with energy sources containing sugar, starch or pectin results in variation in performance measurements such as milk yield, milk composition and dry matter intake (DMI). This thesis reports on two studies in which the effect of energy supplementation on forage fermentation and digestion parameters was investigated. In the first study an in vitro gas production protocol was used to determine the effect of sugar (molasses), starch (maize meal) and pectin (citrus pulp) on total gas production and rate of gas production of different forages. The forage substrates included wheat straw (WS), oat hay, (OH) lucerne hay (LUC), ryegrass (RYE) and kikuyu grass (KIK). The three energy sources, as well as a control (no energy source) were incubated in vitro with each of the above mentioned forages. Rumen fluid was collected from two lactating Holstein cows receiving a diet consisting of oat hay, lucerne, wheat straw and a concentrate mix. Forages alone (0.25 g DM) and/or together (0.125 g DM) with either molasses (0.1412 g DM), citrus pulp (0.1425 g DM) or maize meal (0.125 g DM) were weighed into glass vials and incubated for 72 hours. The weights of the energy sources were calculated on an energy equivalent basis. Blank vials, that contained no substrates, were included to correct for gas production from rumen fluid alone. The substrates were incubated in 40 ml buffered medium, 2 ml of reducing solution and 10 ml rumen fluid. Gas pressure was recorded automatically every five minutes using a pressure transducer system and the method based on the Reading Pressure Technique (Mauricio et al., 1999). Gas pressure was converted to gas volume using a predetermined regression equation. In the first gas production trial, the gas production included gas produced by the energy sources, while in the second gas production trial, the energy source gas production was deducted from the total gas production to determine the effect of energy source on gas production of respective forage substrates per se. Data were fitted to two non-linear models adapted from Ørskov and McDonald (1979). Significant forage x energy interactions were observed for the non-linear parameter gas production (b) in Model 1 and for b and lag phase (L) in Model 2 in both trials. In the first gas production trial, the higher fermentability of the energy sources supplemented to forage substrates, increased b (Model 1 & 2) of the LUC and WS. The gas production rate was affected in different ways for different forages, with the most noticeable effect on WS when it was supplemented with energy sources. All the energy sources increased c of WS irrespective of the model used. Energy sources had no effect on the L of LUC, OH or RYE, but decreased the L of WS and KIK. In the second trial, maize meal had no effect on b for any of the forages (Model 1 & 2), while molasses (Model 1 & 2) decreased b for all forage substrates, and citrus pulp (Model 1 & 2) decreased b of OH and RYE, to lower values than those of the control treatments. Gas production rate was not affected by molasses for any of the forage substrates, while citrus pulp (Model 1 & 2) increased c of OH and maize meal increased c of OH and KIK. Lag phase was only affected by energy sources in WS and KIK, where all the energy sources had lower L values than the control treatment. It was concluded that forage fermentability is affected differently by different energy sources. These observations may have important implications, in practice, on rumen health and milk production, and the data obtained can potentially be used as guidelines in feed formulations. In the second study, in vitro digestibility trials were undertaken to determine the effect of sugar (molasses and sucrose), starch (maize meal and maize starch) and pectin (citrus pulp and citrus pectin) on neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and dry matter (DM) degradability of forages. Forage substrates used included wheat straw, oat hay, lucerne hay, ryegrass and kikuyu grass. Rumen fluid was collected from two lactating Holstein cows receiving a diet consisting of oat hay, wheat straw and a concentrate mix. In vitro degradability was done with an ANKOM Daisy II incubator and forage substrates were incubated with or without the respective energy sources for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The substrates were incubated in 1076 ml buffered medium, 54 ml of reducing solution and 270 ml rumen fluid. The residues were washed, dried and analyzed for NDF. In the study with the applied energy sources (molasses, maize meal and citrus pulp) there were a forage x energy source interactions. Supplementation with the applied energy sources all improved dry matter degradability (DMD) of forages (24 and 72 hours), when compared to the control treatment, except for RYE supplemented with maize meal and citrus pulp at 24 hours. Molasses seemed to have had the biggest effect on DMD in all forage substrates. Supplementation with maize meal had no effect on neutral detergent fibre degradability (NDFD) of any forage substrate, except for an improvement in NDFD of LUC at 72 hours. Molasses improved NDFD of LUC at 24h, but had no effect on the other forage substrates. Citrus pulp improved NDFD of OH (72 hours), as well as LUC and WS (24 and 72 hours). It is postulated that the NDF of the energy sources was more digestible than that of the respective forages, and that the improved NDFD values could be ascribed to the contribution of the energy source NDFD. Overall, pasture grasses had a higher NDFD than the hays and straw, and appear to be more readily fermentable by rumen microbes than the low quality hays and straw explaining the higher NDFD. In the study involving the purified energy sources (sucrose, maize starch and citrus pectin), forage x energy source interactions were observed. In general, supplementation with these energy sources improved DMD at 24 and 72 hours except for RYE and KIK (72 hours). Pasture grasses (RYE and KIK) had a higher NDFD than LUC, OH and WS. At 72 hours, NDFD was 37.1% for LUC, 42.5% for OH and 40.3% for WS, compared to 70.5% for KIK and 64.9% for RYE. A possible explanation is that KIK and RYE samples came from freshly cut material, harvested after a 28d re-growth period. In general, sucrose (24 and 72 hours) and citrus pectin (72 hours) had no effect on NDFD of forage substrates. However, supplementing oat hay (24 hours) with starch and citrus pectin, and wheat straw (24 and 72 hours) with starch lowered NDFD, when compared to the control treatment. It is hypothesized that microbes fermented the easily fermentable energy sources first, before attacking forage NDF. The study suggested that forage NDFD values are not fixed, and may be altered by type of energy supplementation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die meervoudige maagsisteem van herkouers stel hulle in staat om ruvoer meer effektief te benut as enkelmaagdiere. Ruvoere alleen bevat egter nie genoeg voedingstowwe om die behoeftes van hoogproduserende melkbeeste te bevredig nie. Ruvoere is ryk aan vesel en hul voedingstofbeskikbaarheid word bepaal deur die graad van selwand degradeerbaarheid. ‘n Verhoging in ruvoerfermentasie sal energieinname verhoog en gevolglik ook melkproduksie en prestasie. Dit is dus belangrik om maniere te vind om ruvoerdegradeerbaarheid en -verbruik in die rumen te verbeter. Die gebruik van verskillende nie-vesel koolhidraat (NFC) bronne het verskillende uitwerkings op die prestasie van diere. Energie-aanvullings soos suiker, stysel en pektien tot ruvoer-gebasseerde diëte, beïnvloed prestasiemaatstawwe soos melkproduksie, melksamestelling en droëmateriaalinname (DMI) op verskillende maniere. Hierdie tesis lewer verslag oor twee studies waar die invloed van energie-aanvullings op ruvoerfermentasie en verteringsmaatstawwe ondersoek is. In die eerste studie is ‘n in vitro gasproduksieprotokol gebruik om die invloed van suiker (melasse), stysel (mieliemeel) en pektien (sitruspulp) op totale gasproduksie (b) en tempo van gasproduksie (c) van verskillende ruvoersubstrate te bepaal. Ruvoersubstrate wat gebruik is, was koringstrooi (WS), hawerhooi (OH), lusernhooi (LUC), raaigras (RYE) en kikuyugras (KIK). Die drie energiebronne, sowel as ‘n kontrole (geen energiebron), is in vitro geïnkubeer saam met elk van die genoemde ruvoere. Rumenvloeistof is verkry van twee lakterende Holsteinkoeie, wat ‘n dieet ontvang het bestaande uit hawerhooi, koringstrooi en ‘n kragvoermengsel. Ruvoere is alleen en/of in kombinasie met melasse (0.1412 g DM), sitruspulp (0.1425 g DM) of mieliemeel (0.125 g DM) in glasbottels afgeweeg en vir 72 uur geïnkubeer. Die massas van die energiebronne is op ‘n energie-ekwivalente basis bereken. Leë bottels wat geen substraat bevat het nie, is ingesluit om te korrigeer vir gasproduksie afkomstig vanaf rumenvloeistof alleen. Substrate is in 40 ml van ‘n buffermedium, 2 ml reduserende oplossing en 10ml rumenvloeistof geïnkubeer. Gasdruk is elke vyf minute outomaties aangeteken deur gebruik te maak van ‘n drukmetersisteem en die metode is gebasseer op die Reading gasdruktegniek. Gasdruk is omgeskakel na gasvolume deur gebruik te maak van ‘n voorafbepaalde regressievergelyking. In die eerste proef het totale gasproduksie die gas wat deur die onderskeie energiebronne geproduseer is, ingesluit. In die tweede proef is gasproduksie afkomstig van die energiebronne afgetrek van totale gasproduksie, om sodoende die invloed van die energiebronne per se op die gasproduksie van die onderskeie ruvoersubstrate, te bepaal. Data is met behulp van twee nie-liniëre modelle gepas. Betekenisvolle ruvoer x energie-interaksies is in albei proewe waargeneem vir die nie-liniëre parameter b (gasproduksie) in Model 1, en vir b en L (sloerfase) in Model 2. In die eerste proef het die energiebronne se hoë fermentasie gelei to ‘n verhoging in b (Model 1 & 2) van LUC en WS. Energie-aanvullings het die c-waarde van die onderskeie ruvoere verskillend beïnvloed, met WS wat die mees opvallende effek gehad het. Al die energiebronne het die c-waarde van WS verhoog, ongeag watter model gebruik is. Energiebronne het geen invloed op die L-waarde van LUC, OH of RYE gehad nie, maar het wel die L-waarde van WS en KIK verlaag. In die tweede proef het mieliemeel geen invloed op die b-waarde van enige van die ruvoere gehad nie (Model 1 & 2), terwyl melasse (Model 1 & 2) die b-waarde van alle ruvoere verlaag het, en sitruspulp (Model 1 & 2) OH en RYE se b waardes verlaag het tot laer as die kontroles. Melasse het geen invloed op die c-waarde van die onderskeie ruvoersubstrate gehad nie, terwyl sitruspulp (Model 1 & 2) die c-waarde van OH, en mieliemeel die c-waarde van OH en KIK, verhoog het. Energiebronne het slegs ‘n invloed op die sloerfase in WS en KIK gehad, waar dit L verlaag het tot laer waardes as dié van die kontroles. Daar is gevind dat ruvoer-fermenteerbaarheid verskillend beïnvloed word deur verskillende energiebronne. Bogenoemde resultate kan in die praktyk betekenisvolle invloede hê op rumengesondheid en melkproduksie en die data wat verkry is, kan potensieël gebruik word as riglyne in voerformulerings. In die tweede studie is in vitro verteerbaarheidsproewe gedoen om die effek van suiker (molasse en sukrose), stysel (mieliemeel en mieliestysel) en pektien (sitruspulp en sitrus-pektien) op neutraalonoplosbare vesel (NDF) en droë materiaal (DM) degradeerbaarheid van ruvoere, te bepaal. Ruvoersubstrate wat gebruik is, was WS, OH, LUC, RYE en KIK. Rumen vloeistof is verkry van twee lakterende Holstein koeie, wat ‘n dieet ontvang het bestaande uit hawerhooi, koringstrooi en ‘n konsentraat mengsel. Die in vitro degradeerbaarheidsproef is gedoen met ‘n ANKOM Daisy II inkubator. Ruvoersubstrate is geïnkubeer met of sonder die onderskeie energiebronne vir 24, 48 en 72 uur. Die substrate is geïnkubeer in 1076 ml buffer medium, 54 ml reduserende oplossing en 270 ml rumen vloeistof. Residue is gewas, gedroog en geanaliseer vir NDF. In die proef met toegepaste energiebronne (molasse, mieliemeel en sitruspulp), was daar ruvoer x energiebron interaksies. Toegepaste energiebron aanvullings het almal DMD van ruvoersubstrate (24 en 72 uur) verbeter, uitsluitend vir RYE wat aangevul is met mieliemeel (24 uur) en sitruspulp (24 uur). Van al die ruvoersubstrate het molasse die grootste effek gehad op DMD. Mieliemeel aanvullings het geen effek gehad op neutraal-onoplosbare vesel degradeerbaarheid (NDFD) van ruvoersubstrate nie, behalwe vir ‘n verbetering in NDFD van LUC by 72 uur. Molasse het NDFD van lucern by 24 uur verbeter, maar geen effek gehad op ander ruvoersubstrate nie. Sitruspulp het NDFD van OH (72 uur), asook LUC en WS (24 & 72 uur) verbeter. Daar word beweer dat die NDF van energiebronne meer verteerbaar is as die van ruvoersubstrate, en dat die verbetering in NDFD waardes toegeskryf kan word aan die bydraes van energiebronne se NDFD. Weidingsgrasse (RYE & KIK) het oor die algemeen ‘n hoër NDFD as hooie en strooi gehad. Rumen mikrobes blyk ook om dié grasse vinniger te verteer as lae kwaliteit hooie en strooi, wat gevolglik die hoër NDFD verduidelik. In die proef met suiwer energiebronne (sukrose, mieliestysel en sitrus-pektien) is ruvoer x energiebron interaksies waargeneem. Energiebronaanvullings het DMD by 24 en 72 uur verbeter, buiten vir RYE en KIK (72 uur). Weidingsgrasse het hoër NDFD as LUC, OH en WS. By 72 uur was die NDFD van LUC 37.1%, OH 42.5%, WS 40.3%, in vergelyking met 70.5% vir KIK en 64.9% vir RYE. ‘n Moontlike verklaring vir die hoër NDFD van KIK en RYE, is omdat dit vars gesnyde material is, geoes na slegs 28 dae hergroei. Oor die algemeen het sukrose (24 & 72 uur) en sitrus-pektien (72 uur) geen effek gehad op NDFD van ruvoersubstrate nie, terwyl stysel en pektien aanvullings tot OH (24 uur), en stysel aanvullings tot WS (24 & 72 uur) NDFD verlaag het. Daar word hipotetieseer dat mikrobes eers die vinnig fermenteerbare energiebronne fermenteer, voordat hulle ruvoer NDF aanval. Hierdie studie beweer dat ruvoer NDFD waardes nie vas is nie, en dat dié waardes beïnvloed mag word deur energiebron aanvullings.

Thesis (MScAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the variation that exists between maize samples regarding particle size separation, in vitro fermentation kinetics and in vitro dry matter (DM) disappearance. A second objective was to quantify possible relationships between the Roff Milling Index (RMI) of maize and any of the measured in vitro parameters. Three trials were conducted: a particle size distribution trial, a gas production trial and an in vitro DM degradability and starch disappearance trial. Overall, nine maize samples, which differed in terms of cultivar and endosperm type, were collected from different origins for the study. The samples were selected in terms of their Milling Index (MI). Three of the nine samples had a high MI that ranged between 109 and 118, three had a low MI that ranged between 67 and 71 and the other three samples had a medium MI that ranged between 85 and 92. Although the MI is not a direct indication of the hardness or softness of the endosperm, it was believed to be indirectly associated with vitreousness. In the first trial, the different maize samples were milled through a 1 mm screen and sieved through a series of three sieves 150, 125 and 106 μm, respectively. It was found that RMI was not a reliable indicator to predict particle size distribution, especially in terms of the coarse (>150 μm) and very fine (<106 μm) particles. In the gas production trial, the nine different maize samples were subjected to a gas production system for a duration of 48 hours. Here gas production and rate of gas production of the different maize types in buffered rumen liquor were measured during incubation. After fitting the gas volume data to the respective models, the non-linear parameters b, c and L were subjected to a main effects ANOVA with the aid of Statistica, version 9 (2009). Main effects were treatment and repetition. Means were separated by means of a Scheffé test and significance was declared at P < 0.05. The results were compared to the RMI of the different maize types and it was concluded that RMI was not a reliable predictor of gas production or rate of gas production of different maize types. In the third trial, in vitro DM degradability and starch disappearance of the different maize types were measured. In vitro DM degradability was conducted in the Ankom DAISYII incubator apparatus and the incubation times were 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours. Starch disappearance was measured on residues of the samples incubated for 0, 2 and 4 hours. After fitting the DM disappearance data to the respective models, the non-linear parameters a, b, c and L were subjected to a main effects ANOVA with the aid of Statistica, version 9 (2009). Main effects were treatment and repetition. Means were separated by means of a Scheffé test and significance was declared at P<0.05. The results indicated variation between maize samples, especially in terms of the a-, b- and L-values. The RMI did not appear to be a reliable predictor of digestibility parameters. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die variasie tussen mieliemonsters te ondersoek ten opsigte van die skeiding van partikelgroottes, in vitro-fermentasiekinetika en in vitro-droëmateriaalverdwyning. ‘n Tweede doel was om te bepaal of daar moontlike verwantskappe tussen die Roff Milling Index (RMI) van mielies en enige van die ander in vitro-parameters bestaan. Drie proewe is gedoen: verspreiding van partikelgrootte, ‘n gasproduksieproef en ‘n droëmateriaal degradeerbaarheid- en stysel verdwyningsproef. Nege mieliemonsters, wat van mekaar verskil ten opsigte van kultivar en endospermtipe, is van verskillende lokaliteite versamel. Die monsters is gekies in terme van hul maal-indeks (MI). Drie van die nege monsters het ‘n hoë MI gehad wat gewissel het tussen 109 en 118, drie het ‘n lae MI gehad wat gewissel het tussen 67 en 71 en die ander drie monsters het ‘n medium MI gehad wat gewissel het tussen 85 en 92. Alhoewel die MI waardes nie ‘n direkte indikasie van ‘n endosperm se hardheid- of sagtheidsgraad is nie, is dit aanvaar dat daar ‘n indirekte verwantskap tussen MI en glasagtigheid van die mielie bestaan. In die eerste proef is die nege verskillende mieliemonsters deur ‘n 1 mm sif gemaal en daarna deur ‘n reeks van drie siwwe met groottes van onderskeidelik 150, 125 en 106 μm gesif. Daar is bevind dat die RMI nie ‘n betroubare voorspeller is om partikelgrootte-verspreiding aan te dui nie, veral nie ten opsigte van growwe (> 150 μm) en baie fyn (< 106 μm) patikels nie. Tydens die gasproduksieproef is die nege mieliemonsters vir 48 ure blootgestel aan ‘n gasproduksiesisteem, waar gasdruk outomaties aangeteken is. Gasproduksie en tempo van gasproduksie van die verskillende mieliemonsters is gemeet en aangeteken gedurende inkubasie met ‘n gebufferde rumenvloeistofmedium. Nadat die gasvolumedata met behulp van relevante modelle gepas is, is die nie-linêre parameters b, c en L onderwerp aan ‘n hoof-effek ANOVA met die gebruik van Statistica weergawe 9 (2009). Hoof-effekte was behandeling en herhaling. Gemiddeldes is deur ‘n Scheffé-toets geskei en betekenisvolheid is verklaar by P<0.05. Die resultate verkry is vergelyk met die RMI van die verskillende mielietipes. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat Roff MI nie ‘n betroubare voorspeller van totale gasproduksie of gasproduksietempo is nie. Tydens die derde proef is droëmateriaaldegradeerbaarheid en styselverdwyning van die verskillende mielietipes bepaal. In vitro droëmateriaal (DM) degradeerbaarheid is gedoen in die Ankom DAISYII inkubator met inkubasietye van 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 en 24 ure. Styselverdwyning is bepaal deur styselanalises op die residue van die monsters wat geïnkubeer is vir 0, 2 en 4 ure. Nadat die DM-degradeerbaarheid met behulp van relevante modelle gepas is, is die nie-lineêre parameters a, b, c en L onderwerp aan ‘n hoof-effek ANOVA met die gebruik van Statistica weergawe 9 (2009). Hoof-effekte was behandeling en herhaling. Gemiddeldes is deur ‘n Scheffé toets geskei en die betekenisvolheid is verklaar by P<0.05. Die resultate het aangedui dat daar groot variasie tussen mielies bestaan, veral ten opsigte van die a-, b- en L-waardes. Dit het verder geblyk dat die RMI van die verskillende mielietipes nie ‘n betroubare voorspeller van DM-degradeerbaarheid was nie.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Consumer awareness of the link between dietary fats and health outcomes has led to increased demand for food products enriched with bioactive fatty acids (FA). Ruminant-derived fats, such as dairy fats, contribute significantly to the American diet and contain many unique beneficial FA, such as short- and medium-chain FA, n-3 FA, conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), vaccenic acid (VA), as well as odd-and branched-chain FA (OBCFA). Increasing these FA in dairy products by altering farm management practices, such as breed, lactation stage, and nutrition, may improve human health without a change to the diet. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to evaluate on-farm strategies to increase the content of bioactive FA in bovine milk. The first objective was to enrich milk fat with bioactive FA via supplementation with echium oil, a terrestrial oil rich in n-3 FA. Treatments were 1.5% and 3.0% dry matter as lipid encapsulated echium oil (EEO) which were compared to a control (no EEO). Milk fat contents of n-3 FA increased with EEO supplementation but the transfer of n-3 FA from EEO into milk fat was rather low (< 5%). In a subsequent trial, ruminal protection of EEO and post-ruminal release of EEO-derived FA was examined. EEO-derived FA were preferentially incorporated into plasma lipid fractions unavailable to the mammary gland. Moreover, fecal excretion of EEO-derived FA ranged from 7-14% of intake, and VA and CLA, the biohydrogenation and metabolism products of n-3 FA, increased in milk and feces with EEO supplementation. Therefore, lipid-encapsulation provided inadequate digestibility and low transfer efficiency of n-3 FA into milk. The second objective was to compare the bacterial community structure and unique bioactive FA in bacterial membranes and milk fat between Holstein (HO), Jersey (JE), and HO x JE crossbreeds (CB) across a lactation. Lactation stage had a prominent effect on rumen bacterial taxa, with Firmicutes being most abundant during early lactation. The FA composition of bacterial cells was affected by both lactation stage and genetics, and OBCFA in bacterial cells were positively correlated with several bacteria of the Firmicutes phylum. HO and CB exhibited greater contents of various bioactive FA in milk than JE. The highest content of all bioactive FA occurred at early lactation, while OBCFA were highest at late lactation. The third objective was to determine the effects of grazing a monoculture vs. a diverse pasture on rumen bacterial and protozoal taxa, their membrane FA composition, and milk FA. Microbial communities shifted in response to grazing regime accompanied with changes in their membrane FA profiles. Rumen microbiota from cows grazing a diverse pasture had higher contents of n-3 FA and VA, but lower contents of OBCFA. Microbial membrane FA correlated with microbial taxa, the contents of ALA and n-3 FA were positively correlated with the bacterial genus Butyrivibrio and the protozoal genus Eudioplodinium. Milk contents of CLA and n-3 FA increased when cows grazed a diverse pasture, while grazing a monoculture led to greater milk contents of OBCFA. In conclusion, grazing cows on a diverse pasture, when compared to genetic effects and lipid supplementation, was the most efficacious strategy to increase the content of bioactive FA in milk.