Increasing sodium bicarbonate level in high-concentrate diets for heifers. II. Effects on chewing and feeding behaviors

Blanch

et al. 2011

Animal

Self Cite

Two experiments were conducted to ascertain the effects of feeding an all-concentrate diet to growing heifers on performance, ruminal fermentation, behaviour and welfare. In experiment 1, eight tethered rumen fistulated Holstein heifers (143 6 8.7 kg, initial BW) were used to study the effects of treatment on intake, ruminal changes and behaviour. In experiment 2, 48 Friesian female calves (initial BW 5 84.5 6 1.37 kg) were used to study the effects of treatment on performance, behaviour and welfare in feedlot conditions. In both experiments, treatments consisted of concentrate with barley straw (BS) or without barley straw (NBS) and feed was offered at 0830 h on an ad libitum basis. Experiment 1 was performed in four 42-day periods, and sampling was carried out in the last week of each period. Ruminal samples were collected over 3 days at 0, 4, 8 and 12 h post-feeding to measure pH, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and NH 3 -N concentrations. Maintenance behaviour was video-recorded for 24 h over three consecutive days of each experimental period and feed intake pattern was studied by means of feed bunks mounted on digital platform scales. There were no statistical differences in average daily gain (ADG), concentrate dry matter (DM) intake or CP intake. In contrast, NDF intake and ADF intake were greater in heifers fed BS than NBS. Average ruminal pH was lower, whereas total VFA was greater, in heifers fed NBS diet. There were no differences in NH 3 -N, and in D-and L-lactate concentrations. Time spent in ruminating was shorter, and stereotypies were more frequent in heifers fed diet NBS compared with those fed BS. In experiment 2, nine 28-day periods were established, in which DM intake and ADG were measured, blood and faecal samples were taken for haptoglobin and glucocorticoid metabolites determination, respectively, as welfare indicators, and behaviour was monitored by video recording. Concentrate intake was similar in both treatments, but total feed intake was greater in heifers fed BS diet. As there were no differences in ADG between treatments, gain efficiency was lower in those fed BS than those fed NBS. Blood haptoglobin and faecal glucocorticoids metabolites were not different between treatments. In these competitive conditions, rumination was also reduced and stereotypic behaviour increased by straw exclusion. In conclusion, performance was either not affected or improved by straw exclusion, but animal behaviour was affected, suggesting a negative effect on animal welfare.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance, ruminal changes, behaviour and welfare of growing heifers fed a concentrate diet with or without barley straw

Faleiro

Blanch

et al. 2011

Animal

Self Cite

“…To register water consumption, individual water bowls with direct reading flow meters were used (B98.32.50, Invensys model 510 C; Tashia SL, Artesa de Segre, Spain), which allowed a Gonzá lez, Ferret, Manteca and Calsamiglia minimum water measurement of 20 ml. Water was available at all times and consumption was read three times on each day of the sampling period at 0830, 1230 and 2030 h. The water consumption-to-DMI ratio for these intervals was calculated because continuous recording of feed intake was available (Gonzá lez et al, 2008).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An increase of rumen fluid and solid passage rates, which results from increased water consumption Gonzá lez, Ferret, Manteca andCalsamiglia Davis, 1982a and1982b), is thought to be the main factor increasing ruminal pH when using mineral buffers, because of reduced substrate availability for fermentation (Russell and Chow, 1993). More recently, however, there has been renewed support for the BICARB effect on ruminal pH through hydrogen neutralization (Kohn and Dunlap, 1998).…”

Section: Ruminal Phmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing sodium bicarbonate level in high-concentrate diets for heifers. I. Effects on intake, water consumption and ruminal fermentation

Ferret

Manteca

et al. 2008

Animal

Self Cite

Four ruminally fistulated Holstein heifers (BW 5 264 6 12 kg) were used in a 4 3 4 Latin square design experiment to determine the effect of increasing levels of sodium bicarbonate (BICARB; 0%, 1.25%, 2.50% and 5%, on concentrate dry matter (DM) basis) on DM intake (DMI), water consumption and ruminal fermentation. Sampling was carried out in the last week of each four 21-day experimental periods. Heifers were offered concentrate (13.4 6 0.04% crude protein (CP), 13.3 6 0.44% NDF, 51.7 6 0.97% starch) and barley straw once daily at 0830 h ad libitum. There was a linear decrease in concentrate DMI and a linear increase in straw DMI with increasing buffer level in the diet, resulting in a tendency towards a linear decrease in total DMI. Intake of concentrate was 6.89, 7.66, 6.72 and 5.72 6 0.83 kg/day, whereas straw intakes were 0.73, 0.84, 0.94 and 1.06 6 0.14 kg/day, for the 0%, 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% BICARB, respectively. Water consumption was not affected by treatments when expressed as l/day or percentage of BW, but increased linearly when expressed as l/kg of DMI. The percentage of total daily water drunk in the morning (from 0830 to 1230 h) increased linearly with the level of buffer. Mean ruminal pH and total area under the pH curve were not affected with increasing buffer level. The lowest daily pH (5.65 6 0.09) was not affected by treatments. A quadratic tendency (P < 0.10) was observed in the number of hours and the area under the pH curve in which ruminal pH was below 5.8, with high values only at the 0% BICARB. Additionally, increasing bicarbonate level caused a linear increase in the ruminal pH at 2 and 4 h after feeding. Daily average NH 3 N (2.4 6 0.9 mg N/100 ml) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) (143 6 12 mM) concentrations were not affected by treatments. Daily average molar proportion of propionate decreased linearly, and acetate proportion and the acetate-to-propionate ratio were increased with increasing buffer level in the diet. Molar percentage of butyrate, isobutyrate and isovalerate, and branched-chain VFA concentration increased linearly as the level of bicarbonate increased in the diet. Results indicate that high levels of BICARB to finishing heifers fed high-concentrate diets may result in a decreased DMI without significant effects on mean ruminal pH, which may affect animal performance. All individual VFA proportions, except valerate, were changed by the addition of bicarbonate.

“…An automated system was used to record feeding behavior as described previously by Robles et al (2007) and González et al (2008b). Briefly, feed bunks (120 L capacity) were mounted on waterproof digital platform scales for each stall (model HW-60KV-WP, A & D Company Ltd., Tokyo, Japan).…”

Section: Animals Housing and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intake, water consumption, ruminal fermentation, and stress response of beef heifers fed after different lengths of delays in the daily feed delivery time

Journal of Animal Science

Correa

Ferret

et al. 2009

Self Cite

Four rumen-fistulated Holstein heifers (134 +/- 1 kg initial BW) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to determine the effects of delaying daily feed delivery time on intake, ruminal fermentation, behavior, and stress response. Each 3-wk experimental period was preceded by 1 wk in which all animals were fed at 0800 h. Feed bunks were cleaned at 0745 h and feed offered at 0800 h (T0, no delay), 0900 (T1), 1000 (T2), and 1100 (T3) from d 1 to 21 with measurements taken during wk 1 and 3. Heifers were able to see each other at all times. Concentrate and barley straw were offered in separate compartments of the feed bunks, once daily and for ad libitum intake. Ruminal pH and saliva cortisol concentrations were measured at 0, 4, 8, and 12 h postfeeding on d 3 and 17 of each experimental period. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were measured on d 17. Increasing length of delay in daily feed delivery time resulted in a quadratic response in concentrate DMI (low in T1 and T2; P = 0.002), whereas straw DMI was greatest in T1 and T3 (cubic P = 0.03). Treatments affected the distribution of DMI within the day with a linear decrease observed between 0800 and 1200 h but a linear increase during nighttimes (2000 to 0800 h), whereas T1 and T2 had reduced DMI between 1200 and 1600 h (quadratic P = 0.04). Water consumption (L/d) was not affected but decreased linearly when expressed as liters per kilogram of DMI (P = 0.01). Meal length was greatest and eating rate slowest in T1 and T2 (quadratic P < or = 0.001). Size of the first meal after feed delivery was reduced in T1 on d 1 (cubic P = 0.05) and decreased linearly on d 2 (P = 0.01) after change. Concentrate eating and drinking time (shortest in T1) and straw eating time (longest in T1) followed a cubic trend (P < or = 0.02). Time spent lying down was shortest and ruminating in standing position longest in T1 and T2. Delay of feeding time resulted in greater daily maximum salivary cortisol concentration (quadratic P = 0.04), which was greatest at 0 h in T1 and at 12 h after feeding in T2 (P < 0.05). Daily mean fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were greatest in T1 and T3 (cubic P = 0.04). Ruminal pH showed a treatment effect at wk 1 because of increased values in T1 and T3 (cubic P = 0.01). Delaying feed delivery time was not detrimental for rumen function because a stress response was triggered, which led to reduced concentrate intake, eating rate, and size of first meal, and increased straw intake. Increased salivary cortisol suggests that animal welfare is compromised.