Effects of fodder beet on rumen metabolism

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out with sheep, to characterize fodder beet in terms of its effects on rumen function. In experiment A, a study was made of the effects of supplementing hay with fodder beet (FB) on rumen pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration compared with two control supplements of either barley/maize (BM) or molassed sugar-beet shreds (SBP). Hay was offered with all three supplements in a 50 : 50 ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis. The mean rumen pH for the fodder beet diet was 6-34 and intermediate between two controls (BM 6-20 and SBP 6-38). There was no significant difference in rumen concentration of total VFA for the three different diets (FB, SBP and BM) but there were highly significant effects due to diet for acetic and propionic acid molar proportions (P < 0-001). Molar proportion of propionic acid for diets FB, BM and SBP were 0-2064, 0-2221 and 01880 respectively. The loss of DM from nylon bags incubated in the rumen of sheep given the test diets was 471, 447 and 486 g/kg for FB, BM and SBP respectively. In experiment B, the rate of in sacco organic matter (OM) disappearance of the three supplements were compared in sheep given a constant high forage diet (900 g/day hay DM + 200 g/day compound food DM). There were highly significant differences in rates of OM disappearances for the supplements (P < 0-001). The losses of OM measured after 3 h incubation in the rumen were 767, 608, 378 and 236 g/kg for fodder beet, barley/maize, molassed sugar-beet shreds and hay respectively.

Periparturient and early lactation performance and metabolism of replacement Holstein‐Friesian heifers out‐wintered on fodder beet or perennial ryegrass compared with winter housing

“…Elevated blood ketone levels are indicative of catabolism of adipose tissue, and in this study, mean BHB concentration over the wintering period was greatest in heifers receiving F and lowest in H, even though the BCS of animals fed F was intermediate between H and G. Fodder beet is typically low in structural carbohydrates and high in soluble carbohydrates which have a rapid rate of disappearance from the rumen (Sabri, Offer, & Roberts, ). Grass silage was included to increase dietary fibre and CP concentration in F, but the composition of the resulting diet nevertheless had a low NDF and high WSC content.…”

“…However, in studies conducted using sheep, Sabri et al. () did not observe an increase in the ruminal proportion of butyric acid when fodder beet was compared with barley/maize or sugar beet pulp‐based diets. Similarly, Keogh et al.…”

“…After this, LW change and BCS change were lower for G. The onset ance from the rumen (Sabri, Offer, & Roberts, 1988). Grass silage was included to increase dietary fibre and CP concentration in F, but F I G U R E 5 BHB concentration in serum of Holstein-Friesian heifers during 12 weeks of out-wintering on fodder beet with grass silage (■), perennial ryegrass with grass silage (▲) or housed for the winter with grass silage and concentrates (•), and in the first 12 weeks of lactation.…”

The prediction of rumen fermentation characteristics in sheep given grass silage diets

“…Rumen VFA were measured by gas chromatography (Sabri et al, 1988) and rumen ammonia by the indophenol method using acid-preserved samples stored at -20°C. Rumen VFA were measured by gas chromatography (Sabri et al, 1988) and rumen ammonia by the indophenol method using acid-preserved samples stored at -20°C.…”

“…The wilting period depended on weather conditions and ranged from less than 2 h to 48 h. Six silages were made without additive, four with a low level (< 3 1/t) of 85% formic acid and five with high levels (5 to 6 1/ t) of either formic acid or Maxgrass ( Construction of the bags and the washing procedure is described by Sabri et al (1988). Eleven were first cut (cutting dates ranged from 19 May to 11 July), seven were second cut (30 June to 10 September) and six were third cut (16 September to 29 September).…”