• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.529-533
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• 2003

The intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility, total mean retention time (TMRT) and weight changes were investigated in four fat tailed and four Dorper sheep fed on a maize stover crop residue. Animals were subjected to five dietary treatments, which were: 90, 135 and $180g\;DM/kgBW^{0.75}/day$ of chopped maize stover offered with urea, and in subsequent dietary treatments $180g\;DM/kgBW^{0.75}/day$ of stover supplemented with either dried bean husks or poultry manure. Although not statistically different (p>0.05) fat tailed sheep had higher maize stover intake than the Dorper sheep when expressed per metabolic body weight. The DM intake and digestibility increased significantly (p<0.001) in both sheep breeds when the maize stover offer levels were increased from 90 to $135g/kgBW^{0.75}/day$. Dorper sheep had significantly (p<0.001) higher DM digestibility and longer total mean retention times for both the liquid and solid matter than the fat-tailed sheep. Fat-tailed sheep gained 4.75 kg while Dorper sheep gained 3.75 kg over the entire experimental period. The weight change per dietary treatment was affected by the amount of maize stover and the type and amount of supplement consumed. The higher DM digestibility and longer total mean retention time in Dorper sheep shows that the breed has adapted to utilize the low quality roughage diets. An indigenous fat tailed, has the potential to ingest high volumes of fibrous feed and has higher voluntary intakes relative to its body size. The two sheep breeds are a valuable genetic resource in sub Saharan Africa that is characterized by long dry season with no readily available and affordable conventional feeds for small ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1619-1624
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• 2003

The effect of maize hybrid (Suco and Dekalb 765, DK 765), maturity stage (milk, $R_3$ and 1/2 milk line, $R_5$) and animal diet (Diet 1: 70% lucerne hay+30% maize silage; Diet 2: 50% maize silage+20% sunflower meal+30% maize grain) on ruminal stover dry matter (DM) degradability was studied. Additionally, morphological and chemical plant composition was evaluated. Fodder samples ground at 2 mm were incubated in three Holstein steers (400 kg body weight) using the in situ technique. Ruminal degradation kinetics was studied and the effective degradability (ED) was estimated for an assumed kp of 5%/h. The in situ data was analyzed in a complete randomized block design with the animals as blocks. Significant interactions between hybrid${\times}$diet and maturity${\times}$diet on kinetic digestion parameters were detected. In Diet 1, hybrids did not differ in degradable fraction, kd or ED, although a minor difference (p<0.05) in the soluble fraction was found (25.5 and 23.2% for Suco and DK 765, respectively). In Diet 2, the DK 765 had greater degradable fraction (p<0.001) but smaller (p<0.01) kd than Suco, without differences in the soluble fraction or in ED. Anticipating the harvest increased ED of stover from 37.5% in $R_5$ to 44.6% in $R_3$ (average values across hybrids and diets) due to the increase (p<0.001) in the soluble fraction ($R_5$: 22.6%, $R_3$: 28.8%). It is concluded that hybrids had similar stover in situ DM degradability and that soluble fraction represent the main proportion of degradable substrates. Advancing the date of harvesting may not improve the in situ DM degradability of whole maize plant silage since the increase in stover quality is counteracted by the depression in the grain-to-stover ratio. The diet of the animal consuming silage might not improve stover utilization either.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.781-790
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• 2011

The effects of seedtime and maturity stage on nutritive value of five maize stover varieties, including conventional maize (Kexiangyu 11, CM), fodder maize (Huqing 1, FM), high oil maize (Gaoyou 115, HOM), sweet maize (Kexiangtianyu 1, SM) and waxy maize (Kexiangluoyu 1, WM), were examined based on chemical composition, in vitro gas production and in situ incubation techniques. Maize stover was sampled at d 17 and d 30 after tasseling, and designated as maturity stage 1 and stage 2, respectively. The average dry matter (DM) organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and fiber contents were the greatest for HOM, SM and FM, respectively. CM had the highest in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. The highest ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) concentration in the incubation solution, and effective degradability of DM ($ED_{DM}$) and neutral detergent fiber ($ED_{NDF}$) were observed in SM. Advanced maturity stage increased (p<0.05) DM content, $ED_{DM}$ and $ED_{NDF}$, but decreased (p<0.05) OM and CP contents, and decreased (p<0.05) b and a+b values, IVOMD and molar proportion of valerate in the incubation solution for maize stover. Maize sown in summer had greater (p<0.05) OM content, but lower DM, CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content compared with maize sown in spring. Maize sown in summer had greater (p<0.001) IVOMD, $NH_3$-N concentration in the incubation solution and $ED_{NDF}$, but lower (p<0.01) ratio of acetate to propionate compared to maize sown in spring. The interaction effect of variety${\times}$seedtime was observed running through almost all chemical composition, in vitro gas production parameters and in situ DM and NDF degradability. The overall results suggested that SM had the highest nutrient quality, and also indicated the possibility of selecting maize variety and seedtime for the utilization of maize stover in ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.992-996
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• 2006

A study was carried out to examine the effect of supplementing urea-sprayed maize stover with incremental levels of Tithonia diversifolia (Tithonia) forage on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and live weight changes. Fifteen crossbred bucks were used in a completely randomised design for a duration of 7 weeks. The treatments comprised of a control: the basal diet (maize stover sprayed with 1% urea) plus 100 g maize germ offered alone or supplemented with: 10 (T1), 20 (T2), 30 (T3) or 40% (T4) Tithonia on a dry matter basis. All animals were allowed ad libitum access to water and mineral lick. Supplementing maize stover with Tithonia resulted in increased total DM intake (p<0.05) from 376.7 (control), to 444.1 (T1), 533.1 (T2), 519.7 (T3) and 578.9 g/day (T4) but did not significantly (p>0.05) influence the intake of stover. Diet DM digestibility increased with supplementation with T3 recording the highest value of 66.5% which was 10.6% higher than the control. Supplementation significantly increased daily weight gains (p<0.05). T4 had the highest ADG (43.7 g/day), even though there was no difference between T4 and T3 (35.7 g/day). In goats, Tithonia should be included up to 30% of ration on a DM basis for optimum production. The higher level of inclusion (40%) may be used for higher total output in terms of meat and milk but with few animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.755-762
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the influence of varying fibrous diets on fecal characteristics of growing pigs. Methods: A total of 104 pigs (initial weight $18{\pm}2.0kg$) were used in the study. They were housed in individual pens and fed on diets containing maize cob, grass hay, lucerne hay, maize stover, and sunflower husk. These fibers were included at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg. Fecal and urine samples were collected. Results: Fecal output was largest amongst pigs fed on diets containing grass hay and maize stover (p<0.05). Nitrogen content was highest in feces from pigs fed on sunflower husk (p<0.05). Pigs fed on diets containing maize stover and maize cobs produced the largest concentrations of short chain fatty acids. Acetate concentration was high in feces of pigs fed maize stover than those fed grass hay and lucerne hay (p<0.05). As the level of fiber inclusion increased, fecal consistency and nitrogen content increased linearly (p<0.05). Urea nitrogen decreased as the inclusion level increased across all the fibers (p<0.05), with maize cobs containing the largest content of urea nitrogen. As dietary fiber content increased, fecal nitrogen content also increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that different fiber sources influence fecal characteristics, thereby having different implications on pig waste management. It is vital to monitor fiber inclusion thresholds so as to easily manage environmental pollutants such as butyrate that contribute to odors.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.945-951
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• 2013

In vitro studies were undertaken to develop an appropriate fibrolytic enzymes cocktail comprising of cellulase, xylanase and ${\beta}$-D-glucanase for maize stover with an aim to increase its nutrient utilization in sheep. Cellulase and xylanase added individually to ground maize stover at an increasing dose rates (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200, 6,400, 12,800, 25,600, 32,000, 38,400, and 44,800 IU/g DM), increased (p<0.01) the in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro sugar release. The doses selected for studying the combination effect of enzymes were 6,400 to 32,000 IU/g of cellulase and 12,800 to 44,800 IU/g of xylanase. At cellulase concentration of 6,400 IU/g, IVDMD % was higher (p<0.01) at higher xylanase doses (25,600 to 44,800 IU/g). While at cellulase doses (12,800 to 32,000 IU/g), IVDMD % was higher at lower xylanase doses (12,800 and 25,600 IU/g) compared to higher xylanase doses (32,000 to 44,800 IU/g). At cellulase concentration of the 6,400 to 32,000 IU/g, the amount of sugar released increased (p<0.01) with increasing levels of xylanase concentrations except for the concentration of 44,800 IU/g. No effect of ${\beta}$-D-glucanase (100 to 300 IU/g) was observed at lower cellulase-xylanase dose (cellulase-xylanase 12,800 to 12,800 IU/g). Based on the IVDMD, the enzyme combination cellulase-xylanase 12,800 to 12,800 IU/g was selected to study its effect on feed intake and rumen fermentation pattern, conducted on 12 rams (6 to 8 months; $20.34{\pm}2.369$ kg body weight) fed 50% maize stover based TMR. The total volatile fatty acids (p<0.01) and ammonia-N concentration was higher in enzyme supplemented group, while no effect was observed on dry matter intake, ruminal pH and total nitrogen concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2014

This study investigated the chemical composition and ruminal degradability of corn stover in three maize-planting regions in Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang Province, China. The whole stover was separated into seven morphological fractions, i.e., leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem rind, stem pith, stem node, ear husk, and corn tassel. The assessment of nutritive value of corn stover and its fractions was performed based on laboratory assays of the morphological proportions, chemical composition, and in situ degradability of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The chemical composition of corn stover was significantly different from plant top to bottom (p<0.05). Among the whole corn stover and seven morphological fractions, leaf blade had the highest crude protein (CP) content and the lowest NDF and ADF contents (p<0.05), whereas stem rind had the lowest CP content and the highest ADF and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents (p<0.05). Ear husk had significantly higher NDF content and relatively lower ADL content than other corn stover fractions. Overall, the effective degradability of DM, NDF, and ADF in rumen was the highest in leaf blade and stem pith, followed by ear husk. The results indicate that leaf blade, ear husk, and stem pith potentially have higher nutritive values than the other fractions of corn stover. This study provides reference data for high-efficiency use of corn stover in feeding ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2008

Measurement of gas produced during in vitro fermentation was used to investigate the fermentation characteristics and interactions of rice straw, wheat straw or maize stover mixed with alfalfa or clover at proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, respectively. Cumulative gas production was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 48 h of incubation, and the Gompertz function was used to describe the kinetics of gas production. In vitro dry matter and organic matter disappearances (IVDMD and IVOMD) were determined after 48 h incubation. The rate of gas production of clover was higher (p<0.05) than that of rice straw, wheat straw, maize stover and alfalfa when straws and hays were incubated separately. Increasing the proportion of alfalfa in the straw-alfalfa mixtures increased (p<0.05) the rates, but not the maximum volume of gas production. However, both rate and the maximum volume of gas production were increased (p<0.01) as the proportions of clover increased in the straw-clover mixtures. The cumulative gas production at 48 h, IVDMD and IVOMD showed no consistent interaction effects between different mixtures of cereal straws and hays. The extent of interactive effects was affected by the types of cereal straw, legume hay and their proportions in the mixture. The appropriate combination for the mixture of rice straw or maize stover with leguminous hays was 75:25 and 25:75, respectively. The better combination occurred at a proportion of 50:50 for the mixture of wheat straw and alfalfa. We conclude that the suitable proportion of low-quality straw and high quality legume hay combination should be considered in the ration formulation system of ruminants according to the extent of positive interactive effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.733-741
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• 2007

The effects of intra-duodenal infusion of methionine (Met), lysine (Lys) and leucine (Leu) on dry matter intake (DMI), the concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH) and insulin in plasma, and liver IGF-I mRNA level were investigated in two experiments for Liuyang Black growing wether goats. In Experiment 1, three goats ($10.0{\pm}0.1$ kg) were fitted with ruminal, proximal duodenal and terminal ileal fistulaes to determine the infusion amounts of Met, Lys and Leu at the duodenum according to essential amino acid flows into the duodenum and their apparent digestibility. The infusion amounts were 0.77 g/d, 0.91 g/d and 0.58 g/d respectively. In Experiment 2, 4 groups of goats (($10.0{\pm}0.2$ kg) for each group, were cannulated at the duodenum, and were infused with a mixture of Met, Lys and Leu (Control), or mixtures with 21% Met, Lys or Leu replaced with glutamate respectively on a nitrogenous basis. The replacement of 21% Met, Lys or Leu with glutamate did not affect intakes of maize stover, concentrate or both (p>0.05) when compared with the control. The replacement of 21% Met or Lys significantly (p<0.05) reduced plasma GH, insulin and IGF-I concentrations and liver IGF-I mRNA level. The replacement of 21% Leu with glutamate reduced (p<0.05) plasma IGF-I concentration only, but not plasma insulin and GH, as well as liver IGF-I mRNA level (p>0.05). The close relationships between supplying Met and Lys in the lumen of the duodenum and plasma IGF-I, GH and insulin concentrations, as well as liver IGF-I mRNA level in this study indicate that the effects of the limiting amino acids on nutrition of animals are likely intermediated via their effects on these hormones, and these hormone profiles could be used as intermediate markers for the limiting order of amino acids.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2022

This study was conducted in 2021 using Kwangpyeongok and Gangdaok, that showed good yield performance both under upland and lowland conditions in the previous year. The experiments were carried out by sowing on April 22, May 14, May 30, June 19, and July 10, with aim to determine optimum sowing date in central region of Korea. The growing degree days (GDD) required to read the flowering stage were 1375.5-1725.3℃ for upland and 1582.7-1982.4℃ for lowland condition. The lowest GDD was observed in July 10 sowing regardless of ridge formation both under lowland and upland conditions for Kwangpyeongok. However, Gangdaok showed the lowest GDD under no-ridge in lowland and high-ridge in upland, both of which were sown on June 19. The difference in GDD between no-ridge and high-ridge treatment was little depending on the sowing date. In both lowland and upland, there was no significant difference between no-ridge and high-ridge treatments in stover dry matter, ear dry matter, and TDN between no-ridge and high-ridge treatments. Under upland condition, no significant difference in biomass and TDN was observed among sowing date treatments and between varieties. Under lowland condition, biomass production was severely reduced in May 30 sowing treatment, whereas no varietal difference was observed. Reduced biomass in May 30 sowing treatment may be due to excess waterlogging and lodging by rainfall.