Whole wheat grain feeding of lambs. V.* Effects of roughage and wheat grain mixtures

Abstract

Two slaughter trials were conducted with lambs to evaluate the effects on production and some rumen characteristics of the addition of low quality roughage (wheaten straw) and a high quality roughage (pelletized ground lucerne) to wheat grain diets. In the first trial one group of lambs was given a 1/1 mixture of whole wheat grain and chaffed wheaten straw and another chaffed lucerne hay ad libitum. Lucerne-fed lambs had significantly (P < 0.001) higher dry and organic matter intakes, grew faster and had higher levels of volatile fatty acids in their rumens than lambs offered the mixed ration, although there were no differences between rations in dry and organic matter digestibilities. The apparent nitrogen digestibility of the mixed ration was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of the lucerne ration. Of lambs offered the mixed ration, 46% had extensive lesions on the ventral wall of the rumen at slaughter, and these were associated with marked inappetence and loss in liveweight. In the second trial comparisons were made of diets consisting of lucerne (either alone or mixed with cracked wheat) and whole wheat grain + limestone. The effect of treating the lucerne with formaldehyde was also studied. There were no significant differences in carcass gain with the lucerne diets; parakeratosis developed in some animals on lucerne-wheat diets but did not affect productive performance. The animals offered whole wheat lost weight, two died of wheat poisoning, and several animals developed lesions on the rumen wall. _________________ *Part IV, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 26: 729 (1975).

Relationships of feedlot performance, feeding behavior, rumen morphometrics, and carcass characteristics of Nellore cattle differing in phenotypic residual feed intake1

“…Rumenitis evaluation was performed after cattle evisceration, and all entire washed rumens were scored. Rumen epithelium was classified according to the incidence of lesions (rumenitis) and abnormalities (e.g., papillae clumped) as described by Bigham and McManus (1975) using a scale of 0 (no lesions and abnormalities noted) to 10 (severe ulcerative lesions). All rumens were scored by 2 trained individuals, who were blinded to the treatments, and final data represent the average of the 2 scores.…”

Effects of feeding a spray-dried multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation on feedlot performance, feeding behavior, carcass characteristics, rumenitis, and blood gas profile of Brangus and Nellore yearling bulls1

“…Rumenitis was assessed after bulls were eviscerated and entire rumen contents washed. Rumen epithelium was classified according to the incidence of lesions (rumenitis) and abnormalities (e.g., papillae clumped) as described by Bigham and McManus (1975) using a scale of 0 (no lesions and abnormalities noted) to 10 (severe ulcerative lesions). All rumens were scored by 2 trained individuals who were blind to the treatments, and final data represented the average of the 2 scores.…”

Effects of feeding a multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, rumenitis, and blood gas profile in Bos indicus biotype yearling bulls1

“…Rumenites assessment was accomplished after the cattle had been eviscerated and entire rumen washed. Rumen epithelium was classifi ed according to the incidence of lesions (rumenitis) and abnormalities (e.g., papillae clumped) as described by Bigham and McManus (1975) on a scale of 0 (no lesions and abnormalities noted) to 10 (severe ulcerative lesions). All rumens were scored by 2 trained individuals who were blinded to the treatments, and fi nal data represent the average of the 2 scores.…”