Decreasing dietary NFC concentration during mid-lactation of dairy ewes: Does it result in higher milk production?

Cannas, Antonello; Cabiddu, A.; Bomboi, Giovanni Cristoforo; Ligios, S.; Floris, B.R.; Molle, G.

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.09.009

Cited by 27 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In addition, because soybean hulls have NFC contents lower than that found in corn, as well as high NDF levels (Table 1) and are constituted basically by structural carbohydrates, their inclusion in the diet also contributed to the reduced NFCI, resulting in an increased NDFI. Results similar to those in the present study are commonly reported in the literature when SH is included in diets that present high energy contents [28, 29]. This occurs because SH inclusion usually reduces the proportion of foods, such as corn and sorghum, which present high NFC contents and low NDF ratios.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Effect of diets containing whole or ground corn with and without soybean hulls on feeding calves during the suckling phase

Santana

Neiva

Bozorg

et al. 2018

Preprint

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24This work evaluated the use of soybean hulls and whole or ground corn in the diets of 25 suckling calves. Diets containing two levels of soybean hull inclusion (0 and 400.1 g/kg) and 26 corn in different physical forms (whole or ground) were evaluated in the diets of newborn 27 crossbred dairy calves that were housed and received experimental diets plus four liters of 28 milk per day over 56 days. Weekly samples of food, diets and leftovers were taken to 29 determine dry matter and nutrient intake. To evaluate the apparent digestibility, samples were 30 taken from the diets, leftovers and feces for three consecutive days using titanium dioxide as 31 an indicator. Blood samples were also collected to evaluate the blood indicators. Including 32 soybean hulls in the diet increased the consumption of neutral detergent fiber but reduced the 33 consumption of non-fibrous carbohydrates, which was also reduced by using whole corn in 34 the diet. Total digestible nutrient consumption did not vary, although its value was reduced by 35 using whole corn and including soybean hulls. The apparent digestibilities of the dry matter 36 and crude protein were similar, resulting in similar performances between the animals, 37 regardless of the factors analyzed. Using soybean hulls or whole corn did not affect blood 38 indicators or feeding costs. Soybean hull or whole corn usage did not affect the performance 39 of crossbred dairy calves during rearing. 41 Although milk producers are efficient at producing heifers, male cattle production is 42 typically neglected. In Brazil, the number of cows milked corresponds to 23 million animals 43 [1] with a birth rate of 50% male; thus, 11.5 million calves are produced annually. Although 44 no official data exist on the number of calves slaughtered shortly after birth in Brazil, 45 approximately 40% of these calves are slaughtered in their first days of life, representing 46 approximately 4.6 million calves. This occurs because producers consider that these calves 47 will increase their production costs without favorable financial returns; however, these 48 animals can yield good productive results when their nutritional and hygiene requirements are 49 fulfilled [2], mainly during the first days of the animal's life (0 to 60 days). 50This period is the most costly in the production system; thus, solutions are needed to 51 balance these costs, such as using palatable solid foods, which stimulate the animals to eat. 52This allows the animals' weaning age to be reduced because they benefit from more efficient 53 use of the nutrients in solid food [3,4], which reduces the problems caused by weaning the 54 animals early [5][6][7], increases the amount of milk available for sale and reduces the demand 55 for labor. 56However, the use of feedstuff, such as corn and soybeans meal, which are traditionally 57 used in animal feed, in the biofuel production, has increased the price of these inputs [8]. 58Thus, alternatives to these foods are needed to reduce feed costs, such as by-produ...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Effect of diets containing whole or ground corn with and without soybean hulls on feeding calves during the suckling phase

Santana

Neiva

Bozorg

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…This contrasts with previous findings on dairy cattle [7] and goats [8]. However, in a later study [9] comparing diets with 1.40 and 1.59 Mcal/kg DM of NE L and 19-20% DM of CP fed to mid-lactation ewes, a significantly lower MUC in the ewes fed the diet with higher energy content was found.…”

Section: Introductioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

Milk Urea Concentration in Dairy Sheep: Accounting for Dietary Energy Concentration

Giovanetti

Boe

Decandia

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple Summary: In this paper, we show that milk urea concentration (MUC) of dairy ewes is markedly affected not only by dietary protein concentration, as evidenced by previous research, but also by dietary energy concentration. Thus, to avoid misleading interpretations, the utilization of MUC as indicator of the protein status of ewes should account for the dietary energy concentration. Minimal, optimal, and maximal MUC values for different combinations of dietary energy and protein are proposed. Because frequent bulk tank MUC analysis is easy to perform and cost-effective, the reference values proposed here can be used for optimizing sheep milk and reproductive performances while curbing N release from excreta. Abstract:In dairy sheep milk urea concentration (MUC) is highly and positively correlated with dietary crude protein (CP) content and, to a lesser extent, with protein intake. However, the effect of dietary energy and carbohydrate sources on MUC of lactating ewes is not clear. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of diets differing in energy concentration and carbohydrate sources on MUC values in lactating dairy ewes. Two experiments were conducted (experiment 1, E1, and experiment 2, E2) on Sarda ewes in mid and late lactation kept in metabolic cages for 23 d. In both experiments, homogeneous groups of five ewes were submitted to four (in E1) or three (in E2) dietary treatments, consisting of pelleted diets ranging from low energy (high-fiber diets: 1.2-1.4 Mcal of net energy for lactation (NE L )) to high energy (high-starch diets: 1.7-1.9 Mcal of NE L ) contents, but with a similar CP concentration (18.4% dry matter (DM), on average). Each diet had a different main ingredient as follows: corn flakes, barley meal, beet pulp, or corn cobs in E1 and corn meal, dehydrated alfalfa, or soybean hulls in E2. Regression analysis using treatment means from both experiments showed that the best predictor of MUC (mg/100 mL) was the dietary NE L (Mcal/kg DM, MUC = 127.6 − 51.2 × NE L , R 2 = 0.85, root of the mean squared error (rmse) = 4.36, p < 0.001) followed by the ratio CP/NE L (g/Mcal, MUC = −14.9 + 0.5 × CP/ NE L , R 2 = 0.83, rmse = 4.63, p < 0.001). A meta-regression of an extended database on stall-fed dairy ewes, including the E1 and E2 experimental data (n = 44), confirmed the predictive value of the CP/ NE L ratio, which resulted as the best single predictor of MUC (MUC = −13.7 + 0.5 × CP/NE L , R 2 = 0.93, rmse = 3.30, p < 0.001), followed by dietary CP concentration (MUC = −20.7 + 3.7 × CP, R 2 = 0.82, rmse = 4.89, p < 0.001). This research highlights that dietary energy content plays a pivotal role in modulating the relationship between MUC and dietary CP concentration in dairy sheep.

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“…The substitution of maize with a source of digestible fibre, such as dehydrated sugar beet pulps or soybean hulls, could have resulted in a better digestibility and performance (Cannas et al ., ), at least in the 2H ewes. Furthermore, a different timing of the access to pasture could have improved, at least marginally, the nutrition and milk performance reported above.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Grazing behaviour, intake and performance of dairy ewes with restricted access time to berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) pasture

Molle

Decandia

Giovanetti

et al. 2016

Grass and Forage Science

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The effects of restricted access time to pasture (2, 4 or 6 h d À1 ; 2H, 4H or 6H) on ingestive behaviour and performance were assessed on four occasions per target grazing day (D1, initial day; D4, intermediate day; and D7, final day) in dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover with a 7-day grazing period and a 21-day recovery period. A randomized block design with two replicates per treatment was used. All ewes were supplemented daily with 700 g per head of concentrates and 700 g per head of ryegrass-based hay. Pasture subplot and animal group data were analysed by a factorial model including access time (AT), grazing day (D) and their interaction as fixed factors. Sward height decreased from D1 (P < 0Á001) and green leaf mass from D4 (P < 0Á001) onwards during the grazing period. Grazing time as a proportion of AT was higher in 2H than in 4H and 6H ewes on D1 and D4 but not on D7 (P < 0Á05 for AT 9 D). Herbage intake rate was higher in 2H than in 4H and 6H ewes (P < 0Á001). Herbage and total intakes were higher in 4H and 6H than in 2H ewes (P < 0Á001), with herbage intake varying non-linearly during the grazing period (P < 0Á05). Milk yield was higher in 4H and 6H than in 2H ewes (P < 0Á01). To conclude, despite the evidence of compensatory behaviour, restricting access time to 2 h d À1 constrained intake and performance of dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover.

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Decreasing dietary NFC concentration during mid-lactation of dairy ewes: Does it result in higher milk production?

Cited by 27 publications

References 30 publications

Effect of diets containing whole or ground corn with and without soybean hulls on feeding calves during the suckling phase

Effect of diets containing whole or ground corn with and without soybean hulls on feeding calves during the suckling phase

Milk Urea Concentration in Dairy Sheep: Accounting for Dietary Energy Concentration

Grazing behaviour, intake and performance of dairy ewes with restricted access time to berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) pasture

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