Effects of Forage:Concentrate Ratio on Growth Performance, Ruminal Fermentation and Blood Metabolites in Housing-feeding Yaks

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of forage: concentrate ratio (F:C) on growth performance, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites of housing-feeding yaks. Thirty-two Maiwa male yaks (initial body weight = 207.99±3.31 kg) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (8 yaks per treatment). Experimental diets were: A, B, C, D which contained 70:30, 60:40, 50:50 and 40:60 F:C ratios, respectively. Dry matter intake and average daily gain in yaks fed the C and D diets were greater (p<0.05) than yaks fed the A and B diets. No differences were found in ruminal NH3-N, total volatile fatty acids, acetate, butyrate, valerate, and isovalerate concentrations. The propionate concentration was increased (p<0.05) in the C and D groups compared with the A and B diets. In contrast, the acetate to propionate ratio was decreased and was lowest (p<0.05) in the C group relative to the A and B diets, but was similar with the D group. For blood metabolites, no differences were found in serum concentrations of urea-N, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase (p>0.05) among treatments. Treatment C had a higher concentration of total protein and high density lipoprotein (p<0.05) than A and B groups. In addition, there was a trend that the globulin concentration of A group was lower than other treatments (p = 0.079). Results from this study suggest that increasing the level of concentrate from 30% to 50% exerted a positive effect on growth performance, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in yaks.

Effect of Dietary Types on Feed Intakes, Growth Performance and Economic Benefit in Tibetan sheep and Yaks on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during Cold Season

“…Dietary with higher CP obtained better feed efficiency and animals’ growth performance, which was agreed with Chen in yaks [47], and Li in Dorper × Thin-tailed han crossbred weaning lambs [52]. The reasonable forage/concentrate ratio, stable feed value and proper feed moisture of TMR diet could increase rumen microbial activity and protein synthesis rate, maintaining normal fermentation, digestion, absorption and metabolic activities of domestic livestock, resulting in better growth performance and feed efficiency.…”

“…TMR was an advanced technology produce dietary with balanced nutrition and good palatability [42], promoting domestic animals’ DM intakes and feed efficiency [43–45]. In this study, TMR worked best in promoting feed and nutrient intakes in both Tibetan sheep and yaks (Table 2); the reasons could be related to its palatability, higher CP content, balanced nutrition [46], and low rumen fill effect of TMR [47]. During current experiment, TMR was full mixed from oats hay, concentrate feeds, pre-mix, salt and water.…”

Rumen Fermentations and Rumen Ciliate Protozoa of Goat Kids Fed Diets With Different Concentrate: Roughage Ratio

“…Compared with other livestock species, relatively few studies have examined the use of high-concentrate diets for goat production. long-term feeding a high-concentrate diet causes a decreased ruminal pH value due to the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid, and a chronic digestive disorder known as subacute ruminal acidosis may occur (Chen et al, 2015). Therefore, determining the appropriate concentrate level is one of the most important factors to ensure the growth and health of house-fed yaks.…”

Performance and hemtochemical parameters of buck‐kids fed concentrate partially replaced with tropical Piliostigma thonningii foliage

“…concentration of the control diet suggests greater Fe levels of the concentrate and thus intake compared to the treatment diets. The lower serum urea N of PT diets, therefore, indicates the superiority of its protein relative to the concentrate, since serum urea N is a product of protein and amino acid catabolism in the body and negatively correlates with nitrogen deposition and protein or amino acid utilization (Olafadehan 2011a;Chen et al 2015). Determination of erythrocytic indices such as MCV, MCH and MCHC is helpful in classifying certain anemias.…”

“…The reduced serum urea N level of the PT based diets is an indication of a decreased degradability of the protein of the forage and the beneficial effect of its CT. Condensed tannins at low levels bind the dietary protein and prevent its excessive degradation by rumen microbes. The lower serum urea N of PT diets, therefore, indicates the superiority of its protein relative to the concentrate, since serum urea N is a product of protein and amino acid catabolism in the body and negatively correlates with nitrogen deposition and protein or amino acid utilization (Olafadehan 2011a;Chen et al 2015). The serum urea N levels were within the normal established range (3.5-10.7 mmol/L) for goats (Sirois 1995).…”