Effect of conventional and extrusion pelleting on in situ ruminal degradability of starch, protein, and fibre in cattle

Effect of pelleted cereal-based feed used in the diet on feed intake, eating behaviour, rumination and nutrient digestibility in antelope sitatunga (<i>Tragelaphus spekii</i>)

“…It may also affect feed disintegration in the rumen and in consequence nutrient digestion (Bertipaglia et al, 2010;Gimeno et al, 2015), and indirectly eating and ruminating behaviour. Furthermore, pelleting of cereal-based feeds, as it was a case in this study, affects starch gelatinization and its fermentability in the rumen (and also protein and cell wall constituents degradation in the rumen; Bertipaglia et al, 2010;Razzaghi et al, 2016), and in consequence the rumen environment and nutrient digestion, at least shortly after feed intake, due to a higher fermentation rate of processed cereals (Bertipaglia et al, 2010;Razzaghi et al, 2016). Because rumen fermentability of cerealbased feed may vary greatly depending on its final composition and processing prior (e.g., extrusion) or during pelleting (e.g., grinding intensity) (Castrillo et al, 2013;Górka et al, 2015;Razzaghi et al, 2016), the different pelleted compound feeds may differently affect the feed intake, and also eating and ruminating behaviour of ruminants (Castrillo et al, 2013;Gimeno et al, 2015).…”

Effect of processing method of cereals on feed intake, eating behaviour, rumination and nutrient digestibility in nyala antelope (<i>Tragelaphus angasii</i>)

“…This is mostly due to easier storage and handling of pelleted feed. However, pelleted feed is eaten faster and less frequently than not pelleted feed (e.g., ground concentrates; Górka et al, 2016) and pelleting increases the fermentation rate of starch in the rumen, due to starch gelatinization during the pelleting process (Bertipaglia et al 2010;Razzaghi et al, 2016). This can increase the postprandial shortchain fatty acids concentration in the rumen and ruminal digesta acidity (Castrillo et al, 2013;Górka et al, 2015;Razzaghi et al, 2016); the latter having many negative consequences for the animal (Plaizier et al, 2008;Schilcher et al, 2013).…”

“…However, pelleted feed is eaten faster and less frequently than not pelleted feed (e.g., ground concentrates; Górka et al, 2016) and pelleting increases the fermentation rate of starch in the rumen, due to starch gelatinization during the pelleting process (Bertipaglia et al 2010;Razzaghi et al, 2016). This can increase the postprandial shortchain fatty acids concentration in the rumen and ruminal digesta acidity (Castrillo et al, 2013;Górka et al, 2015;Razzaghi et al, 2016); the latter having many negative consequences for the animal (Plaizier et al, 2008;Schilcher et al, 2013). To support this view, cereal-based feed in our previous studies was shown to decrease nutrient digestibility (especially digestibility of fibre) and feed intake when compared to a non-pelleted feed of similar nutrient composition in sitatunga and addax antelopes (Górka et al, 2016;Przybyło et al, 2017).…”

“…In contrast to pelleted cereal-based feed, ground cereals are eaten at a slower rate than pelleted ones (at least when mixed with fruits and vegetables; Górka et al, 2016) and grinding does not lead to starch gelatinization and associated more rapid starch fermentation in the rumen (Bertipaglia et al 2010;Razzaghi et al, 2016). On the other hand, flaking of cereals offers an opportunity for selective intake of diet components, especially when a mixture of different pelleted cereals is fed, and thus may at least partially contribute to better coverage of natural behavioural needs of at least some ruminant species in captivity; however, when feed is properly balanced the selective intake may lead to deficient or excessive intake of nutrients, and, therefore, may be considered also as negative.…”

Empirical Attributes and Limitations of Methodologies for Predicting the Degradability of Ruminal Protein

“…The prediction of protein degradability in the rumen is basic information that is necessary to optimize the food resources used for ruminant nutrition (e.g., synchronization of the availability of N and energy in the rumen), and an accurate prediction also assists in ensuring animal welfare and reducing the environmental impact generated by the excretion of nitrogenous compounds into the environment (Van Duinkerken et al, 2005;Kaswari et al, 2007;Riasi et al, 2008;Rezaei et al, 2015). Feed protein degradation in the rumen is highly unpredictable because, on the one hand, feeds contain different nitrogenous compounds with widely varying molecular compositions and spatial structures at the histological and cell levels; on the other hand, they are subjected to an enzymatic digestion environment that is diverse and difficult to predetermine (Van Soest, 1994;Stern et al, 1997;Encinias et al, 2005;Razzaghi et al, 2016). Skewed information on the actual degradability of proteins in the rumen can lead to errors in ruminant feeding.…”