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Alfalfa hay is a commonly used and important feed ingredient in dairy production. To better expand the alfalfa supply market, it is of great significance to explore the impact of alfalfa hay from different sources on dairy cow production performance. This study compared the effects of imported alfalfa hay from America (AAH) and Spain (SAH) on lactation performance and rumen microbiota of cows. Three hundred and sixty healthy mid-lactation Holstein cows with similar body weight, milk yield, and parity were randomly divided into two groups fed diets based on AAH or SAH for a 70-day experimental period. Each group was composed of four pens, with 45 cows in each pen. Daily records were kept for MY per cow and dry matter intake per pen. Twelve randomly selected cows per group were sampled to collect milk, feces, rumen fluid, and blood. The findings revealed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of production performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indices, or rumen fermentation parameters. However, rumen microbial composition differed significantly between the two groups of cows based on β-diversity. On the genus level, the relative abundance of Prevotella , Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-002 increased while that of NK4A214_group , Ruminococcus , norank_f_F082 and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group decreased in the SAH group compared with AAH group. There was no significant correlation between these core differential bacteria and the molar proportions of acetate and propionate, the concentration of total volatile fatty acids, and milk yield. In conclusion, the feeding effects of SAH were similar to those of AAH. These findings provided a reference for the application of alfalfa hay from different sources and for the improvement of the economic benefit of dairy farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) and chitinase combinations on the conservation and nutritive value of alfalfa high-moisture hay (HMH). P. pentosaceus [1012 colony forming unit/g fresh forage] combined with (g/tonne of fresh forage) 1.5 (PP + LC), 7.5 (PP + MC), or 15.0 (PP + HC) g of LANiHay01 chitinase (Exp. 1) or with LANiHay02 (PP + Fe; 1.5 g), LANiHay01 (PP + Pe; 1.5 g), or Sigma (PP + Si; 55 mg) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 2) were used in 2016. In 2017, PP was applied alone or in combination with LANiHay01 at 1.5 g (PP + LC) or 7.5 g (PP + MC) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 3 and 4). Deionized water and propionic acid (4.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 1 and 2 and at 6.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 3 and 4) were applied as neutral (CON) and positive control (CON+), respectively. The maximum temperature (r2 = 0.66) and NH3-N concentration (r2 = 0.80) of the HMH were positively related to total microbial populations. PP + MC had lower (p ≤ 0.05) yeast and mold counts than CON in Exp. 3 and 4 while the neutral detergent fiber degradability was greater (p < 0.01) for PP + MC and PP + LC than CON in Exp. 1 and 3, respectively. P. pentosaceus in combination with chitinase has the potential in conserving the nutrient quality of alfalfa HMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Beef cattle in the Northern Great Plains of the United States of America are normally kept in open dry lot pens in winter. Practices such as bale grazing, swath grazing, stockpiling, and corn residue grazing, can be used to extend the grazing season and minimize dry lot use. Extending the grazing season has several advantages over dry lot use but arguably the most important benefit is cost savings due to lower labor and input costs. Strategies selected to supplement cattle in extended grazing systems should maintain cost savings while providing required nutrients to cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate supplementing strategies for beef cattle in a bale grazing system using grass hay during variable winter conditions. The study was conducted across variable winter conditions that are encountered in winters in the US Northern Great Plains. Methods: The study extended over four years. Each year, non-lactating pregnant beef cows (n = 64, year 1; n = 80, year 2, 3, 4) were divided into eight groups of similar average body weight and randomly assigned to one of four bale grazing treatments as follows: a) bale grazing grass hay, b) bale grazing grass hay treated with a liquid supplement, c) bale grazing grass hay and alfalfa hay, and d) bale grazing grass hay and plus 1.8 kg corn DDGS/head/day. Animal performance was assessed from two-day body weights and body condition scores taken at the start and end of the study. Data analysis considered the fixed effects of treatment, year, and treatment x year interaction. Results: Final BW tended (P = 0.09) to be greatest following corn DDGS supplementation and lowest when grass hay was offered. The treatment strategy x year interaction (P = 0.026) for ADG showed that corn DDGS supplementation resulted in positive ADG across the years regardless of environmental conditions. Liquid or alfalfa hay supplementation resulted in positive ADG when environmental conditions were favorable. Final BCS (P = 0.005) and BCS change (P = 0.004) were greater following corn DDGS supplementation, intermediate following alfalfa hay or liquid supplementation and lowest when grass hay was fed. Supplementation costs ranged from $1.33 to $1.90/head/day, the highest cost occurred with corn DDGS supplementation mainly due to cost of corn DDGS and labor required to deliver corn DDGS to cattle on pasture. Discussion: Alfalfa hay or molasses-based liquids increased diet CP content but did not supply adequate energy in severely cold winters. Despite relatively higher supplement costs, high energy supplements such as corn DDGS may be required in severely cold winters where cattle require extra energy. Supplement selection should consider supplement effectiveness to meet animal nutrient requirements particularly in adverse winter conditions such as those encountered in the US Northern Great Plains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of quinoa straw combined with alfalfa hay and corn straw on the in vitro fermentation characteristics of sheep rumen. Six diets with a ratio of concentrate, quinoa straw, alfalfa hay, or corn straw at 40: 20: 40, 40: 30: 30, and 40: 40: 20 were set for in vitro fermentation. The gas production (GP) of fermentation was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours. After fermentation, the supernatant and residues were collected for pH, dry matter degrada tion rate (DMD), organic matter degradation rate (OMD), and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) content measure ment, and which were used for calculating the single combined effect index (SFAEI) and multicombined effect index (MFAEI). The results showed that the rapid gas production part (a), 48 hour gas production (GP48 h), OMD, and NH3-N of the combination of concentrate + quinoa straw + alfalfa hay were higher than those of the combination of concentrate + quinoa straw + corn straw. The corresponding index and comprehen sive combination effect index of the combination of concentrate + quinoa straw + alfalfa hay were higher than those of the combination of concentrate + quinoa straw + corn straw. The optimal combination ratio of concentrate + quinoa straw + alfalfa hay was 40: 20: 40, and the optimal combination ratio of concentrate + quinoa straw + corn straw was 40: 20: 40. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of hemp as a forage source in livestock diets has been less studied because bioactive residues in animal tissues may pose a risk to consumers. This study investigated the effects of partial substitution of alfalfa hay (AH) with hemp forage (HF) in growing goat diets on growth performance, carcass traits, ruminal fermentation characteristics, rumen microbial communities, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant indices. Forty Xiangdong black goats with body weight (BW) 7.82 ± 0.57 kg (mean ± SD) were grouped by BW and randomly assigned into one of the four treatment diets (n = 10/treatment) in a completely randomized design. The goats were fed ad libitum total mixed rations containing 60% forage and 40% concentrate (DM basis). The diets included control (CON; 60% AH and 40% concentrate), 55% AH and 5% HF (HF5), 50% AH and 10% HF (HF10), and 40% AH and 20% HF (HF20). Increasing the substitution of HF for AH linearly decreased (P = 0.004) DM intake and improved feed conversion efficiency. However, final BW, average daily gain, carcass traits, meat quality, and most blood biochemistry indices did not differ among treatments. The ruminal NH3-N concentration (P = 0.003) and blood urine nitrogen (P = 0.050) linearly increased (P

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding starter diets containing either chopped wheat straw (WS), chopped alfalfa hay (ALF) or their mixture (WA), and forage free starter diet (CO) on feed and water intakes, growth rate, blood metabolites, feeding behavior, ruminal pH, and structural body characteristics of Holstein calves. Sixty newborn Holstein calves (30 males and 30 females) were blocked based on sex and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. The treatments included feeding dry starter diets with 1) no forage (CO), 2) chopped wheat straw (WS), 3) chopped alfalfa hay (ALF), or 4) a 50:50 mixture of wheat straw and alfalfa hay (WA). The dietary inclusion rate of forage was 5% from d 3 to 21 and 10% from d 22 until weaning and 2 weeks post-weaning. The starter diets were offered as totally mixed rations. Feed intake of individual calves was measured daily and body weight (BW) was monitored biweekly. Jugular blood samples were taken to measure serum metabolites on d 21 and 63. The calves in the WS group had greater (P<0.05) starter DM (1327 vs. 902 (g/d]), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (233 vs. 98 (g/d]) intakes than calves in the CO group. Calves fed forage had greater acid-detergent fiber (ADF) intake than calves fed CO diet (P<0.01). The total starter intake preweaning (100 vs. 76 and 73 (kg]) and dry matter intake (DMI) post-weaning (63 vs. 43 and 42 (kg]) were greater (P<0.05) for WS compared with ALF and CO calves, respectively. The average daily gain (average daily gain (ADG), 727 vs. 633 (g/d]) and average BW (65 vs. 60 (kg]) tended to be greater for WS relative to others (P<0.10). The average final body weight (BW) (97.7 vs. 85.3 (kg]) and total post-weaning weight gain (13.4 vs. 9.5 (kg]) were greater in WS compared with ALF (P<0.05), but was similar among WS, CO and WA groups. Ruminal pH tended to be greater (P=0.09) for WS (6.28) and WA (6.36) than for CO (5.61) and ALF (5.88). There was a tendency to decrease in non-nutritive oral behaviors for WS (21 min/d) compared with CO (59 (min/d]). Overall, findings suggest that forage in calf starter diets (mashed) could improve DMI and growth, with chopped WS being more effective than ALF under the conditions of this study. To imply, the indigestible and physically effective fiber of WS was able to stabilize rumen conditions and successfully stimulate greater starter intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality detection of alfalfa hay is crucial for the development of animal husbandry. In this study, a method for quality detection of alfalfa hay based on the fusion of multisource information including near-infrared spectroscopy, image processing techniques, and electronic nose is proposed. After SG convolution smoothing, feature wavelengths were extracted using Competitive Adaptive Re-weighting Scheme and Successive Projections Algorithm from the spectral data. The image data were denoised using adaptive wavelet thresholding, and color and texture features were extracted using color histograms and random forest algorithms, respectively. Electronic nose data using principal component analysis was used for data dimensionality reduction. Support Vector Machine, Extreme Learning Machine, and Multi-Layer Perceptron were employed to establish quality detection models of alfalfa hay based on spectroscopy, image, gas information, and their combination, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that the fusion of near-infrared spectroscopy, image data, and gas information effectively enhances the classification accuracy of the model. The accuracy of the test set reaches 100%, with root mean square error and determination coefficient values of 0.1728 and 0.9239, respectively, surpassing prediction models established solely on individual information. This study provides new insights into alfalfa hay quality detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ruminants and their products play an important role in providing food for many people. They are able to convert plants that cannot be digested by humans into usable protein for humans. New animal feed has been commonly developed for long years. To improve food production from ruminants, it is important to explore new feed sources. New or less exploited types of feed can replace or supplement traditional feeds in ruminant diets. Sesbania is a multipurpose plant that is cultivated for consumption as fodder and green manure. As a fast- growing plant, Sesbania has been mentioned as a food source to reduce feed costs. The food value of some of its species is equal to alfalfa and several other valuable plants. Due to proper digestibility, low fiber, and relatively high protein, it is possible to replace it with hay for livestock, especially small ruminants. In addition, as a tropical legume, Sesbania can easily withstand temperatures above 35°C, which are limiting for most legume plants, and grow well under salinity stress conditions if there is sufficient moisture in the soil. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the nutritional value of Sesbania sp. L. for ruminants. Methods: The present research was carried out in the laboratories and teaching-research station of animal husbandry at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. The experimental treatments included a control diet (without the Sesbania plant), 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacements of the Sesbania plant with alfalfa. The chemical compositions of the Sesbania plant, alfalfa hay, treatments, and other experimental samples, including crude protein, dry matter, ash, acid detergent fiber, and total tannin, were measured by standard methods. The neutral detergent fiber was quantified with the usual method without using the alpha-amylase enzyme and sodium sulfite by removing ash. The amount of gas produced by the samples was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after incubation, and gas production parameters, digestibility of organic matter, their metabolizable energy, ammonia nitrogen concentration, pH, and protozoa population of culture medium were estimated in the treatments. In the gas production experiment, rumen fluid was taken from the rumen of three male sheep fed with a forage-based diet at the maintenance level and before morning feeding using a stomach tube. Ruminal fluid was filtered with a four-layer cheesecloth, mixed, and transferred to the laboratory in a flask containing hot water at 39 °C. To count protozoa at the end of 24 hours, a sample was prepared from the gas culture medium and mixed with 10 ml of 10% formaldehyde, and protozoa were counted using a hemocytometer slide. The resulting data were analyzed with a completely randomized design. In the present experiment, the chemical composition, digestion, and fermentation of the Sesbania plant were also compared with alfalfa hay. Results: Compared to the control, Sesbania-containing diets replaced with alfalfa had significantly the lowest potential and gas production rate at all levels (P < 0.05). The comparison of the Sesbania plant and alfalfa hay showed that the potential and gas production rate of alfalfa were higher than that of the Sesbania plant. In the experimental diets, the partitioning factor, microbial biomass production, and microbial biomass production efficiency were higher at all levels of Sesbania replaced with alfalfa than the control diet, and the levels of 75% and 100% of Sesbania replaced with alfalfa had a significantly higher partitioning factor than the control and other treatments (P < 0.05). However, the truly degradable organic matter was not affected by the experimental treatments. The results of the comparison of the Sesbania plant and alfalfa hay showed that the partitioning factor, microbial biomass production, and microbial biomass production efficiency of the Sesbania plant were significantly higher than alfalfa (P < 0.05). The results of fermentation parameters after 24 hours of incubation showed that the pH of the rumen culture medium was not affected by the experimental treatments, but the ammonia nitrogen concentration was affected by the experimental treatments (P < 0.05), and the control treatment contained the highest ammonia nitrogen concentration. In the comparison of the Sesbania plant with alfalfa hay, the pH of the rumen culture medium was not affected by the experimental treatments, and the ammonia nitrogen concentration of the Sesbania plant was significantly lower than that of alfalfa hay (P < 0.05). The helotrich, entodinomorph, and cellulolytic protozoa population, and the total rumen protozoa population were the highest in the control treatment (29.33) and the lowest in the 100% replacement of the Sesbania plant with alfalfa hay (9.66). The results of the comparison of the Sesbania plant with alfalfa hay showed an increase in the population of Helotrich, Entodinomorph, and Cellulolytic protozoa and the total population of rumen protozoa in alfalfa hay, with a decrease in the population of the Sesbania plant. The results of in vitro digestibility indicated the highest digestibility of dry matter, NDF, and, ADF in the control treatment. The comparison of the Sesbania plant with alfalfa hay revealed that the digestibility of dry matter, NDF, and ADF of alfalfa was higher than that of the Sesbania plant. Conclusion: In general, the results of the present experiment demonstrate that the chemical composition and digestibility of the Sesbania plant are similar to alfalfa hay. Therefore, the Sesbania plant can be considered a suitable substitute for alfalfa hay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high nutritional value of alfalfa hay makes it a widely utilized component in animal feed. However, the current prevalent drying methods for forage have a significantly detrimental impact on the quality of alfalfa during the drying process. This study investigates the effects of high-voltage corona discharge (HVCD) treatment on post-cut alfalfa. Gradient experiments are conducted by adjusting the air-gap spacing at a voltage of 25 kV. The results demonstrate that as the distance decreases, there is an observed increase in the drying rate, rehydration rate, and color intensity of the HVCD-treated material. HVCD treatment significantly enhances crude protein content, which increases with decreasing air-gap spacing. Meanwhile, it negatively affects lignin, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) levels. The relative forage quality (RFQ) of alfalfa reaches its peak at an air-gap spacing of 7 cm. The application of HVCD disrupts the fiber structure and induces significant electroporation effects in cells. Minimal changes in functional groups preserve nutrient integrity. Furthermore, HVCD exhibits lower energy consumption compared to hot air dryers. The HVCD treatment is a highly efficient and effective method, with a gradual improvement in alfalfa hay quality as the air-gap distance decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa hay is a commonly used and important feed ingredient in dairy production. To better expand the alfalfa supply market, it is of great significance to explore the impact of alfalfa hay from different sources on dairy cow production performance. This study compared the effects of imported alfalfa hay from America (AAH) and Spain (SAH) on lactation performance and rumen microbiota of cows. Three hundred and sixty healthy mid-lactation Holstein cows with similar body weight, milk yield, and parity were randomly divided into two groups fed diets based on AAH or SAH for a 70-day experimental period. Each group was composed of four pens, with 45 cows in each pen. Daily records were kept for MY per cow and dry matter intake per pen. Twelve randomly selected cows per group were sampled to collect milk, feces, rumen fluid, and blood. The findings revealed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of production performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indices, or rumen fermentation parameters. However, rumen microbial composition differed significantly between the two groups of cows based on β-diversity. On the genus level, the relative abundance of Prevotella, Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-002 increased while that of NK4A214_group, Ruminococcus, norank_f_F082 and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group decreased in the SAH group compared with AAH group. There was no significant correlation between these core differential bacteria and the molar proportions of acetate and propionate, the concentration of total volatile fatty acids, and milk yield. In conclusion, the feeding effects of SAH were similar to those of AAH. These findings provided a reference for the application of alfalfa hay from different sources and for the improvement of the economic benefit of dairy farms.

In this study, a quantitative model was developed using near-infrared spectroscopy to analyze protein content in dried purple alfalfa, employing preprocessing methods (SG, SNV, MSC, FD) and variable selection algorithms (CARS, IRIV) to optimize spectra. Models using ELM, PLSR, SVM, and LSTM were tested; the MSC-CARS-PLSR-SVM model achieved the highest accuracy, with a calibration determination coefficient (R²) of 0.9982 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1088, and a prediction R² of 0.9645 with RMSE of 0.5230, offering a precise and reliable method for protein content prediction.

The establishment of the rumen microbiota plays an important role in the rumen development. However, little is known about the effects of alfalfa supplementation time on rumen microbiota establishment. Here, a total of 42 Hu lambs, sevenday-old, were chosen for the study. After a week of adjustment, six lambs were sacrificed to establish a baseline. The remaining 36 lambs were randomly split into two groups: one receiving alfalfa hay at 14 days (EAF), the other at 42 days (LAF), both groups received milk replacer and starter pellets. Introducing alfalfa at 14 days of age significantly improved total dry matter intake between 28 and 42 days (p = 0.04) and average daily gain from both 14 to 28 days (p = 0.04) and 28 to 42 days (p < 0.01), but this effect disappears from 56 to 70 days (p > 0.05). At 42 days, the abundances of Naganishia, Ascochyta, and Neosetophoma in the EAF group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the LAF group (17.8% vs. 3.97, 10.89% vs. 1.77, and 1.27% vs. 0.09%, respectively). At 56 days, the abundances of Ascochyta, Wallemia, and Aspergillus in the EAF group were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the LAF group (3.53% vs. 16.40, 8.78% vs. 18.89, and 2.14% vs. 4.69%). At 70 days, Aspergillus abundance in the EAF group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the LAF group (2.69% vs. 0.85%). The LEfSe analysis showed that Methanobrevibacter_smithii was the archaeal biomarker at 14 days in both groups. Methanobrevibacter_sp_AbM4 was enriched at 56 days in the LAF group. Compared to the LAF group, the specific fungal biomarkers in the EAF group included Sporobolomyces and Bullera at 14 days, Naganishia, Didymella, Cleistothelebolus, and Alloleptosphaeria at 42 days, Ascochyta, Neoascochyta, and Alfaria at 70 days. Correlation analysis results showed strong patterns of association both within and between archaea and fungi, which were influenced by alfalfa supplementation time. In summary, alfalfa supplementation at 14 days of age promotes the growth performance of lambs before weaning, and alfalfa supplementation timing significantly affects rumen archaeal and fungal communities and dynamical changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an economically important commodity in the Intermountain Western United States. A major concern for alfalfa producers in this region is the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal). Insecticide resistance development coupled with regulatory changes in pesticide use has resulted in renewed interest by producers in non-chemical control methods such as cultural control. One such cultural control method is early harvest, which consists of producers timing their harvests early in the season to decrease alfalfa weevil damage. This method is thought to be effective by exposing weevil larvae to adverse conditions before significant damage occurs. Still, early harvest can be difficult to employ because recommendations are often vague. To better understand how early harvest impacts both alfalfa weevils and their natural enemies and how producers are using this method across the Intermountain Western United States, we conducted a study in alfalfa production fields in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming over three growing seasons. We determined that the timing of the initial alfalfa harvest spanned more than 1 month across fields, and alfalfa plant stage at harvest ranged from late vegetative to early bloom. Harvest was more impactful on reducing alfalfa weevil densities the earlier it was implemented. Removing windrows in a timely manner is likely useful to further decrease alfalfa weevil densities. Harvest timing was not associated with parasitism rates of alfalfa weevil, but higher parasitism rates were associated with lower post-harvest alfalfa weevil densities. This work has increased our understanding of early harvest in an on-farm setting and to improve recommendations for producers across the Intermountain Western United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to determine the chemical composition, digestibility and fermentation of red Alternanthera sessilis and compare its nutritional value with alfalfa either individually or in the form of rations of fattened lamb diets. Four experimental treatments included 1: control (without Alternanthera sessilis), 2: ration containing 3% (20% alfalfa substitution), 3: 6% (40% alfalfa substitution) and 4: 9% (60% alfalfa substitution) Alternanthera sessilis. Digestibility and fermentation of experimental samples were measured by gas production and two-step digestion test. In terms of chemical composition, there was a great relationship between Alternanthera sessilis and alfalfa hay. Adding Alternanthera sessilis to feed of lambs significantly increased the amount of truly degraded organic matter, metabolizable energy, and apparent digestibility of organic matter, so that these parameters were highest in treatment containing 9% of Alternanthera sessilis plant. On the other hand, by using Alternanthera sessilis plant, dry matter digestibility tended to increased. The amount of microbial biomass production and microbial biomass production efficiency were not affected by experimental diets. Rations containing Alternanthera sessilis were cheaper than control diets. Therefore, it can be stated that the nutritional value of Alternanthera sessilis is comparable to alfalfa hay and can be replaced by alfalfa by up to 60% in the ration of fattening lambs. In vivo experiments are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionBeef cattle in the Northern Great Plains of the United States of America are normally kept in open dry lot pens in winter. Practices such as bale grazing, swath grazing, stockpiling, and corn residue grazing, can be used to extend the grazing season and minimize dry lot use. Extending the grazing season has several advantages over dry lot use but arguably the most important benefit is cost savings due to lower labor and input costs. Strategies selected to supplement cattle in extended grazing systems should maintain cost savings while providing required nutrients to cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate supplementing strategies for beef cattle in a bale grazing system using grass hay during variable winter conditions. The study was conducted across variable winter conditions that are encountered in winters in the US Northern Great Plains.MethodsThe study extended over four years. Each year, non-lactating pregnant beef cows (n = 64, year 1; n = 80, year 2, 3, 4) were divided into eight groups of similar average body weight and randomly assigned to one of four bale grazing treatments as follows: a) bale grazing grass hay, b) bale grazing grass hay treated with a liquid supplement, c) bale grazing grass hay and alfalfa hay, and d) bale grazing grass hay and plus 1.8 kg corn DDGS/head/day. Animal performance was assessed from two-day body weights and body condition scores taken at the start and end of the study. Data analysis considered the fixed effects of treatment, year, and treatment x year interaction.ResultsFinal BW tended (P = 0.09) to be greatest following corn DDGS supplementation and lowest when grass hay was offered. The treatment strategy x year interaction (P = 0.026) for ADG showed that corn DDGS supplementation resulted in positive ADG across the years regardless of environmental conditions. Liquid or alfalfa hay supplementation resulted in positive ADG when environmental conditions were favorable. Final BCS (P = 0.005) and BCS change (P = 0.004) were greater following corn DDGS supplementation, intermediate following alfalfa hay or liquid supplementation and lowest when grass hay was fed. Supplementation costs ranged from $1.33 to $1.90/head/day, the highest cost occurred with corn DDGS supplementation mainly due to cost of corn DDGS and labor required to deliver corn DDGS to cattle on pasture.DiscussionAlfalfa hay or molasses-based liquids increased diet CP content but did not supply adequate energy in severely cold winters. Despite relatively higher supplement costs, high energy supplements such as corn DDGS may be required in severely cold winters where cattle require extra energy. Supplement selection should consider supplement effectiveness to meet animal nutrient requirements particularly in adverse winter conditions such as those encountered in the US Northern Great Plains.

This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) and chitinase combinations on the conservation and nutritive value of alfalfa high-moisture hay (HMH). P. pentosaceus [1012 colony forming unit/g fresh forage] combined with (g/tonne of fresh forage) 1.5 (PP + LC), 7.5 (PP + MC), or 15.0 (PP + HC) g of LANiHay01 chitinase (Exp. 1) or with LANiHay02 (PP + Fe; 1.5 g), LANiHay01 (PP + Pe; 1.5 g), or Sigma (PP + Si; 55 mg) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 2) were used in 2016. In 2017, PP was applied alone or in combination with LANiHay01 at 1.5 g (PP + LC) or 7.5 g (PP + MC) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 3 and 4). Deionized water and propionic acid (4.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 1 and 2 and at 6.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 3 and 4) were applied as neutral (CON) and positive control (CON+), respectively. The maximum temperature (r2 = 0.66) and NH3-N concentration (r2 = 0.80) of the HMH were positively related to total microbial populations. PP + MC had lower (p ≤ 0.05) yeast and mold counts than CON in Exp. 3 and 4 while the neutral detergent fiber degradability was greater (p < 0.01) for PP + MC and PP + LC than CON in Exp. 1 and 3, respectively. P. pentosaceus in combination with chitinase has the potential in conserving the nutrient quality of alfalfa HMH.

This study investigated the effects of harvest time, cellulase, lactic acid bacteria, and ensiling with alfalfa hay on the chemical parameters, bacterial community composition, and fermentation of corn stalk silage. Corn stalks were ensiled after the ear harvest at 0 days (D0) and 20 days (D20). Each harvest was treated with alfalfa hay [AL, 5% of fresh matter (FM)], Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) (1 × 106 CFU/g of FM), Trichoderma cellulase (TC) (100 mg/kg of FM), or both Lp and TC (Lp+TC). The silos were opened after 60 days of fermentation. The dry matter (DM) content of raw materials increased from 18.79% to 28.32% with the harvest time. The acid detergent fiber (ADF) content also significantly increased (p < 0.05), while water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). After 60 days, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ADF contents increased, and all chemical composition and fermentation state parameters of silages had significant differences (p < 0.05) with the harvest time. Compared with the control group, the AL treatment resulted in higher (p < 0.05) DM and crude protein (CP) contents, and the Lp+TC treatment resulted in a lower NDF (p < 0.05) content. For D0, the TC and Lp+TC treatments resulted in a higher WSC content and lower NDF and ADF contents than in D20. Meanwhile, the ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) content in each treatment was less than 10% of the DM. The pH values were all approximately 3.70. The AL treatment significantly increased the lactic acid (LA) content and lactic/acetic acid ratio (LA/AA). Additionally, the silages had a similar microbial environment before and after fermentation. We recommend harvesting corn stalks for silage immediately after the corn ear harvest. Adding cellulase improved the corn stalk feed value, and ensiling with alfalfa hay improved its fermentation quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to assess the in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, methane production, and biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids of diets with two protected fat (PF) sources from soybean or linseed oil, two levels of PF (0 and 6%) and two forage sources (canola silage (CS) or alfalfa hay (AH)) in a factorial 2x2x2 completely randomised design. Only fatty acids content at final incubation was affected (P<0.05) by triple interaction, where C18:2 was highest with AH plus 6% soybean PF (4.41mg/g DM), while C18:3 was with CS plus 6% linseed oil protected (1.98mg/g DM). C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 had high concentration (308 mg/g DM; P<0.05) with AH plus 6% PF regardless PF type, and C18:1 trans-11 was higher with 6% PF than without PF (13.41 vs 7.89 mg/g DM). Cumulative methane production was not affected by treatments (0.9973 ± 0.1549 mmol/g DM; P>0.05). Gas production and in vitro NDF digestibility were lower with 6% PF of linseed than soybean (160.88 vs 150.97 ml; and 69.28vs 62.89 %, respectively P<0.05). With linseed PF the NH3-N concentration was highest in CS than AH (41.27 vs 27.95 mg/dL; P<0.05) but IVDMD had the opposite result (78.54 vs 85.04). In conclusion, although methane production was not affected and in vitro digestibility and gas production were reduced with linseed PF, the concentration of C18:3 and C18:1 trans-11 was increased, which could improve the lipid profile of milk. The negative effects on digestibility were less with AH than of CS regardless of PF type and level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high nutritional value of alfalfa hay makes it a widely utilized component in animal feed. However, the current prevalent drying methods for forage have a significantly detrimental impact on the quality of alfalfa during the drying process. This study investigates the effects of high-voltage corona discharge (HVCD) treatment on post-cut alfalfa. Gradient experiments are conducted by adjusting the air-gap spacing at a voltage of 25 kV. The results demonstrate that as the distance decreases, there is an observed increase in the drying rate, rehydration rate, and color intensity of the HVCD-treated material. HVCD treatment significantly enhances crude protein content, which increases with decreasing air-gap spacing. Meanwhile, it negatively affects lignin, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) levels. The relative forage quality (RFQ) of alfalfa reaches its peak at an air-gap spacing of 7 cm. The application of HVCD disrupts the fiber structure and induces significant electroporation effects in cells. Minimal changes in functional groups preserve nutrient integrity. Furthermore, HVCD exhibits lower energy consumption compared to hot air dryers. The HVCD treatment is a highly efficient and effective method, with a gradual improvement in alfalfa hay quality as the air-gap distance decreases.

Alfalfa hay plays a decisive role in the quality and safety of livestock products. Chemical analytical methods for alfalfa hays are laborious, time-consuming, and costly. Therefore, suitable methods are required for rapid and accurate detection of alfalfa hay. This study evaluated the feasibility of infrared spectroscopy (IR) in identifying different alfalfa hays. 105 alfalfa hay samples under three different drying methods were analysed. Results indicated that the full spectra model constructed through standard normal variable transformation (SNV), first-derivative (FD), and second-derivative (SD) preprocessing by BP and SVM had the best performance. The accuracies were all up to 100%. Under the same preprocessing method, the accuracy of BP neural networks was better than that of support vector machine models in most cases. The characteristic wavelength-based SNV-SD-SPA by BP exhibited better performance than the other pretreatment methods, such as: SNV-SPA, SNV-FD-SPA, and SNV-GA, etc. The classification accuracy of moldy-dried alfalfa, sun-dried alfalfa, and shade-dried alfalfa in the training set were 100%, 100%, and 99.5%, respectively, and the accuracy of the prediction set reached 100%, 97.6%, and 97.4%, respectively. Thus, a better theoretical basis was obtained for the grading and online monitoring of alfalfa hay.

ABSTRACTRuminal microbiota is gradually established after birth, while microbiota maturation could be highly diverse because of varied solid dietary accessibility. However, how the ruminal microbiota accreted from postnatal hay diets alters rumen epithelial development, and how this affects animal health remains largely unknown. Here, neonatal lambs were introduced to starchy corn-soybean starter or corn-soybean starter + alfalfa hay (AH) to investigate the influences of early life ruminal microbiome on rumen epithelial development using integrated 16s rRNA sequencing-metagenome-transcriptome approaches. The results showed that AH introduction elevated average daily weight gain, rumen weight and volume, rumen epithelial papillae length, and rumen muscle layer thickness. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of fibrolytic bacteria (Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Prevotellaceae UCG-001, and Succinivibrio), acetate producer (Acetitomaculum and Mitsuokella), and propionate producer Succiniclasticum was increased in the rumen content by AH supplementation (P < 0.05). Moreover, AH introduction decreased the relative abundance of total CAZymes, CBM, and GH and increased the abundance of KO genes related to volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation in the rumen content. AH lambs had a higher relative abundance of Succiniclasticum, Megasphaera, Succinivibrio, and Suttonella (P < 0.05), while a lower relative abundance of Cloacibacillus, Desulfovibrio, Dialister, Intestinimonas, Parabacteroides, and Pseudoscardovia (P < 0.05) in the rumen epithelial samples. Furthermore, these alterations in ruminal microbial structure and function resulted in ruminal epithelial cell proliferation and development pathways activation. In summary, AH introduction benefited ruminal fiber degradation and VFA generation bacteria colonization and promoted ruminal epithelial development. These findings provide new insights into ruminal microbial–host interactions in the early life.IMPORTANCEWhile it is established that a fiber-rich diet promotes rumen development in lambs, further research is needed to investigate the precise response of rumen microbiota and epithelium to high-quality alfalfa hay. Here, we observed that the inclusion of alfalfa hay led to a discernible alteration in the developmental trajectory of the rumen. Notably, there was a favorable shift in the rumen's volume, morphology, and the development of rumen papillae. Furthermore, ruminal microbial structure and function resulted in ruminal epithelial cell proliferation and development pathways activation, collectively provide compelling evidence supporting the capacity of alfalfa hay to enhance rumen development and health through ruminal micrbiota-host crosstalks. Our findings elucidate the functional response of the rumen to alfalfa hay introduction, providing new insights into strategies for promoting healthy development of the rumen in young ruminants.

Drought and climate change have decreased water availability for agriculture, especially in the desert of southwestern USA. Efficiency enhancements in irrigation management aimed at conserving water are key to adjust to limits in water supply, improve profitability and sustainability of alfalfa production in arid and semiarid areas. This study intended to conduct a field-scale analysis to develop yield and ET estimation tools for the effective use of irrigation water in a desert alfalfa production system. Extensive data collection and trials were carried out over three years in nine fully irrigated commercial alfalfa fields in the low deserts of California. The seasonal crop water consumption measured using the residual of energy balance method varied from 1381 mm to 1596 mm across the experimental sites and crop seasons. Variable seasonal dry mater (DM) yields ranged from 23.01 Mg ha−1 to 29.90 Mg ha−1. The results indicated that the first five cuttings each year were the most productive cuttings with a mean DM value ranged between 3.29 (cut 1) and 4.21 (cut 4) Mg ha−1 but declined in later cuttings. An average annual water productivity (WP) value of 17.0 kg ha−1 mm−1 was determined across the sites varying from 15.5 to 18.9 kg ha−1 mm−1. The findings suggested that one may lose up to 1.44 Mg ha−1 alfalfa yields with moderate summer deficit irrigation strategies, using 40% less water applied than full irrigation practices over the summer period of July–September. A more severe summer water deficit, with no irrigation event over the summer period of July–September may result in a potential water savings of 0.234–0.246 (ha·m) ha−1 and 19–21% seasonal yield losses in the desert environment. This study describes the seasonal yield pattern, the crop water use-production function, and the crop coefficient values for various harvest cycles over the crop season. These tools may assist farmers to quantify water savings and estimate yield losses for more accurate and effective irrigation management strategies to meet water conservation objectives and for the resiliency of alfalfa production in the desert region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare the effects of Leymus chinensis hay and alfalfa hay as the roughage on the rumen bacterial and the meat metabolomics in lambs.MethodsFourteen male lambs were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (one group was fed with concentrate and Leymus chinensis hay; another was fed with concentrate and alfalfa hay) with seven replicates per treatment. The feeding experiment lasted for 60 days. Lambs were slaughtered at the end of the feeding experiment. Growth performance, carcass performance, and weights of various viscera were determined. The longissimus dorsi and rumen contents were collected for untargeted metabolomics and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing analysis, respectively.ResultsThe lambs fed with alfalfa hay showed a significantly increased in average daily gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage, loin-eye area, and kidney weight. Feeding Leymus chinensis hay and alfalfa hay diets resulted in different meat metabolite deposition and rumen bacterial communities in the lambs. The relative abundance of phyla Fibrobacteres, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes were greater in the Leymus Chinensis hay group, while, the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia were greater in the alfalfa hay group. Based on untargeted metabolomics, the main altered metabolic pathways included alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism. Several bacteria genera including BF31, Alistipes, Faecalibacterium, Eggerthella, and Anaeroplasma were significantly correlated with growth performance and meat metabolites.ConclusionAlfalfa hay improved growth performance and carcass characteristics in lambs. Leymus chinensis hay and alfalfa hay caused different meat metabolite deposition by modifying the rumen bacterial community. These findings will be beneficial to future forage utilization for sheep growth, carcass performance, and meat quality improvement.

The use of high-quality roughage to improve beef quality has become an important issue in China, as the country has become the world's largest beef consumer. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different forage qualities (wheat straw vs alfalfa hay) on Simmental crossbreed cattle's meat quality, rumen fermentation and microbiota. AHG (Alfalfa hay group) improved the ADFI (Average daily feed intake) and ADG (Average daily gain) of the beef cattle, meat-to-bone ratio and EE (Ether extract). The C18:3n3 and C20:3n3 composition of LD in AHG was significantly higher than WSG. An increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidetes was observed. AHG resulted in higher relative abundance of Saccharomonospora, Streptomyces. A negative correlation between Treponema and muscle PUFA was noticed. Prevotella was negatively correlated with starch and sucrose metabolism. In conclusion, current study demonstrates that feeding alfalfa hay can raise meat quality by altering the rumen microbiota, providing valuable information for the application of alfalfa hay in beef cattle breeding.

ABSTRACTDietary alfalfa hay could improve carcass and meat characteristics of lambs, however, information on hair breeds according to consumer demands is incomplete. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary alfalfa hay and gender on carcass characteristics and physico-chemical properties of Katahdin × Pelibuey lmabs (F1). Thirty-six male and twenty-four female lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: two diets, with or without alfalfa hay (AH) and two genders (male and female). Dry matter Intake (DMI) of male lambs was higher than females (1.360 vs 1.267 kg/d), daily weight gain (DWG) (0.262 vs 0.212 g), live slaughter weight (40.2 vs 37.8 kg), hot carcass weight (HCW) (20.0 vs 18.8 kg), temperature (9.57 vs 5.98°C) and highest pentadecanoic (1.42 vs 0.74%), linoleic (4.86 vs 3.04%) and tricosanoic acid content (2.43 vs 1.26%) in Longissimus lumborurm muscle (LLM). The meat pH ranged from 5.1 to 6.0. Protein and lipid average values were 19.2 and 5.1%, respectively. Lambs fed alfalfa diet had similar physicochemical characteristics than those fed concentrate feed, indicating the possibility of producing lamb meat using alfalfa. Meat of male lambs had the highest linoleic acid content, which provides positive health benefits to the consumers.

Knowledge of the chemical composition of animal feed is important for the normal health of dairy cows and the high production of quality milk. The research presents an examination of the chemical composition of animal feed shown in percentage such as: fodder crop - alfalfa hay and straw - which are a by-product of wheat and two types of fodder mixes (FM). As for the research the following nutrients were examined: protein, crude fiber, fat, moisture, ash and their total values, as well as nitrogen-free extractive substances (NES) in 3 samples of each animal feed from 3 different farms (A, B, C). The highest total value for all nutrient compounds was obtained in alfalfa, at farm A =65.91%. The lowest total value was obtained in straw used in farm A=53.78%. The total value of NES in all three farms was 34.78%. Namely, according to the results farm A=38.54% used FM2, however farm B=39.13%, and farm C=42.15 % used FM1. Analyses of chemical composition of the milk (dry matter, fat, protein, lactose and density) provide a conclusion indicating that the values from the three farms appear to be similar, the milk sample from farm B has the highest value of dry matter with 8.22% and fat 3.65%. The milk sample from farm C appears to have the highest value of protein with 3.20% and a density of 28.56%. The aforesaid refers to the fact that the feed mixture used for dairy cows contain at least 18-22% protein, which is ideally balanced feed in order to obtain a daily production of over 30 liters. The use of alfalfa and straw enriches the animal feed with proteins and influences the milk quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay and urea molasses block on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight change of yearling local sheep fed with grass hay as a basal diet. The rationale for supplementation of alfalfa hay with urea molasses block 1) high-producing animals protein need cannot exclusively met from rumen microbial sources; 2) protein is the most expensive nutrient of ruminant animal feed. Twenty-four yearling intact male local sheep with a mean initial body weight of 23.9±1.9 (Mean ± SD) were used in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were 1% of live weight alfalfa hay (1A), 1.5% of live weight alfalfa hay (1.5A), 2.0% of live weight alfalfa hay (2A), and all three treatments offered with 100g/head/day of Urea-molasses-block (UMB). The control treatment was supplemented with concentrate mix at 2.0% of live weight (C). In addition, all treatments were fed grass hay ad libitum. The study period consisted of 84 days of feeding and 7 days of digestibility tests. Total dry matter intake was 1015.65, 925.41, 956.16, and 1078.13 (SE=± 19.4) for C, 1A, 1.5A, and 2A, respectively and 1A was lower than 2A and similar with 1.5A and C. Apparent crude protein digestibility and Crude protein intake of 2A was statistically similar to C. But, higher than 1A and 1.5A. Average daily gain was 109.33, 54.76, 55.36, and 63.1 (SE=± 6.13) g/day for C, 1A, 1.5A, and 2A, respectively and the values were the highest for C. The study showed that concentrate supplementation at 2% body weight resulted in greater body weight gain, crude protein intake and apparent crude protein digestibility. Additionally, the weight gain achieved at all grade levels of alfalfa plus in combination with the same amount of urea molasses block was commendable. But, considering the accessibility and cost of conventional concentrate mixture, 2% of Live Weight Alfalfa hay with 100g/head/day urea molasses block is recommended as an alternative supplement regime for better sheep performance.

This study investigated the effects of harvest time, cellulase, lactic acid bacteria, and ensiling with alfalfa hay on the chemical parameters, bacterial community composition, and fermentation of corn stalk silage. Corn stalks were ensiled after the ear harvest at 0 days (D0) and 20 days (D20). Each harvest was treated with alfalfa hay [AL, 5% of fresh matter (FM)], Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) (1 × 106 CFU/g of FM), Trichoderma cellulase (TC) (100 mg/kg of FM), or both Lp and TC (Lp+TC). The silos were opened after 60 days of fermentation. The dry matter (DM) content of raw materials increased from 18.79% to 28.32% with the harvest time. The acid detergent fiber (ADF) content also significantly increased (p < 0.05), while water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). After 60 days, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ADF contents increased, and all chemical composition and fermentation state parameters of silages had significant differences (p < 0.05) with the harvest time. Compared with the control group, the AL treatment resulted in higher (p < 0.05) DM and crude protein (CP) contents, and the Lp+TC treatment resulted in a lower NDF (p < 0.05) content. For D0, the TC and Lp+TC treatments resulted in a higher WSC content and lower NDF and ADF contents than in D20. Meanwhile, the ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) content in each treatment was less than 10% of the DM. The pH values were all approximately 3.70. The AL treatment significantly increased the lactic acid (LA) content and lactic/acetic acid ratio (LA/AA). Additionally, the silages had a similar microbial environment before and after fermentation. We recommend harvesting corn stalks for silage immediately after the corn ear harvest. Adding cellulase improved the corn stalk feed value, and ensiling with alfalfa hay improved its fermentation quality.

Simple Summary: The nutrient contents and rumen degradation of alfalfa hay rely highly on cultivars and grown regions. Moreover, the evaluation of alfalfa hay with respect to nutritional components in conjunction with the selection of feed resources according to local condition is necessary and essential for dairy farms to obtain an efficient and economic formula. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the variations of different alfalfa hay cultivars grown in China and the US in terms of nutritional components, ruminal degradation characteristics and feed value. The results showed that the cultivar of American Golden Empress (GE) had the greatest rumen degradation characteristics; meanwhile, the indicators of total digestible nutrients (TDN), dry matter intake (DMI), digestible dry matter (DDM), relative feed value (RFV) and relative forage quality (RFQ) of GE were better than China Zhongmu No. 1 (ZM1) and China Gongnong No. 1 (GN1) cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cultivars of alfalfa hay, including American Anderson (AA), American Golden Empress (GE), China Zhongmu No. 1 (ZM1) and China Gongnong No. 1 (GN1), on conventional nutrient composition, rumen degradation characteristics and feed value. Four healthy Holstein cows (137 ± 14 days in milk, 2.40 ± 0.50 parity) equipped with permanent ruminal cannulas were examined for the nylon-bag technique. The alfalfa hay samples were incubated in the rumen for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h according to the "gradual in/all out" schedule to detect the ruminal nutrients' degradability. Our results showed that various cultivars of alfalfa hay from different planting regions had significant differences on nutrient contents, rumen degradability and feed value. For nutritional components of alfalfa hay, the highest dry matter (DM) content was found in GE and the lowest in GN1 (p < 0.001); however, GN1 had the greatest concentration of ether extract (EE, p = 0.01), Ca (p < 0.001) and the lowest Ash (p < 0.001). Additionally, the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and highest starch contents were observed in AA and GE (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the cultivar of ZM1 represented the highest NDF, ADF and Ash contents, in conjunction with minimal CP and P concentrations (p < 0.001). In terms of rumen degradation characteristics, the effective degradation rate (ED) of DM in GE and ZM1 was significantly higher than that in AA and GN1 (p = 0.013). The NDF effective degradation was lower in ZM1 than the other three cultivars (p = 0.002), and in addition ZM1 also showed lower CP and ADF effective degradation than GE (p < 0.001). As far as feed value was concerned, the cultivar of alfalfa hay imported from the US, including AA and GE, exhibited higher relative feed value (RFV) and relative forage quality (RFQ) than Chinese alfalfa based on ZM1 and GN1 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results suggested that the cultivar of GE exhibited greater rumen degradable characteristics and feed value, while ZM1 showed the opposite status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different source forages fed to preweaning yak calves on growth performance, pancreatic morphology, and functional development. In the experiment, we performed three different sets of experimental treatments by feeding tests, collected pancreatic tissues and recorded their organ indices at the end of the experiment, collected pancreatic tissue samples to observe morphological structures by tissue sectioning, determined the activity of main digestive enzymes and hormone levels in the pancreas by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and obtained metabolic pathways and their small-molecule differential metabolites by nontargeted metabolomics techniques. The endocrine and exocrine divisions of the pancreas, which functions as a metabolic organ, are involved in the control of glucose and the organism's digestive metabolism. We discovered that feeding preweaning yak calves a combination of oat hay and alfalfa hay was better for the morphological and functional development of the pancreas than feeding either hay alone. This is essential for the early development of the pancreas in yak calves and serves as a critical resource for their healthy growth and scientific feeding. In this study, we used a combination of animal nutrition and nontargeted metabolomics to investigate the effects of feeding different sources forages rations on the morphology and function of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, providing theoretical guidance and important references for the healthy and high-quality rearing of yak calves. At 45 days old, 21 yak calf males were divided into OP, AP, and AOP groups, with seven animals in each group, which were fed with oat hay, alfalfa hay, and mixed oat and alfalfa hay, respectively. Five calves from each group were selected randomly to slaughter after a pretest period of 21 days and the official period of 120 days, when the average daily feed intake reached 1 kg. During the test, the growth and pancreas weight of yak calves were recorded, and the morphology and function of the pancreas tissues were determined using tissue sectioning methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and nontargeted metabolomics strategies. The results showed that the body weight and pancreatic organ index of yak calves in the AOP group were significantly higher than those of the AP and OP groups. Compared to the AP and OP groups, the AOP group had considerably lower ratios of the area of the pancreatic endocrine component and overall percentage of that section of the organ, and the AOP group increased pancreatic amylase activity and a higher concentration of growth inhibitor. The AP group had significantly higher levels of the differential metabolites L-ascorbic acid, spermidine, spermine, and dopaquinone in the glutathione, β-alanine, and tyrosine metabolic pathways than the OP group. The AOP group had significantly lower levels of the differential metabolites spermine and phenylacetylglycine in the glutathione and phenylalanine metabolic pathways than the AP group. In summary, compared to feeding oat or alfalfa hay alone, combined feeding oat hay and alfalfa hay is more beneficial to promote the morphological and functional development of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, so as to enhance the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the diet and maintain the positive regulation of blood glucose levels. This provides an important basis for the optimized forage supply of healthy and high-quality rearing in preweaning yak calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oat hay and alfalfa hay are important roughage resources in livestock production. However, the effect of the mixture of oat hay and alfalfa hay on the meat quality of Albas goats is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of feeding different proportions of oat hay and alfalfa hay on the growth performance and meat quality of Albas goats. Therefore, 32 goats were fed for 70 days and randomly divided into four treatment groups on the principle of similar weight: whole oat group (OAT), oat alfalfa ratio 3:7 group (OA73), oat alfalfa ratio 7:3 group (OA37) and whole alfalfa group (Alfalfa), with eight goats in each group. Daily feed intake records, feces, feed samples, and rumen fluid collection were made throughout the trial. The goats were weighed on the last day of the trial, and four goats per group were randomly selected for slaughter. Cecum contents, meat samples, and hot carcass weight were collected, and data were recorded. Furthermore, the relationship between the rumen and cecal microbes on performance and meat quality was clarified by analyzing the rumen and hindgut microbiomes. The results showed that feeding alfalfa could significantly reduce the daily weight gain of fattening goats. Compared with the highest group (OA37), the daily weight gain decreased by 19.21%. Although there was no significant change in feed intake in the four treatments, the feed conversion rate of the alfalfa group significantly decreased by 30.24– 36.47% compared to the other groups. However, with the increased alfalfa content, MDA decreased significantly, T-AOC was up-regulated, and the antioxidant activity of the fattened goat meat fed with the high alfalfa group was significantly higher than that of the low alfalfa group. Notably, the abundance of Bacteroidales_unclassified and Clostridium were strongly correlated with T-AOC and MDA. Therefore, increasing the proportion of alfalfa in the diet can affect the antioxidant activity of goat meat by improving the gut microbiota, while an oat-hay mixture can improve the growth performance of livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary alfalfa hay could improve carcass and meat characteristics of lambs, however, information on hair breeds according to consumer demands is incomplete. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary alfalfa hay and gender on carcass characteristics and physico-chemical properties of Katahdin × Pelibuey lmabs (F1). Thirty-six male and twenty-four female lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: two diets, with or without alfalfa hay (AH) and two genders (male and female). Dry matter Intake (DMI) of male lambs was higher than females (1.360 vs 1.267 kg/d), daily weight gain (DWG) (0.262 vs 0.212 g), live slaughter weight (40.2 vs 37.8 kg), hot carcass weight (HCW) (20.0 vs 18.8 kg), temperature (9.57 vs 5.98°C) and highest pentadecanoic (1.42 vs 0.74%), linoleic (4.86 vs 3.04%) and tricosanoic acid content (2.43 vs 1.26%) in Longissimus lumborurm muscle (LLM). The meat pH ranged from 5.1 to 6.0. Protein and lipid average values were 19.2 and 5.1%, respectively. Lambs fed alfalfa diet had similar physicochemical characteristics than those fed concentrate feed, indicating the possibility of producing lamb meat using alfalfa. Meat of male lambs had the highest linoleic acid content, which provides positive health benefits to the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Baling alfalfa hay at greater than optimal moisture (18% to 25%) can shorten wilting time and reduce field losses due to precipitation and leaf separation, but plant cellular respiration and the growth of spoilage microorganisms can reduce the nutritional value of baled hay. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674 (PP) with various sources and concentrations of chitinase on conservation and nutritive value of alfalfa high-moisture hay (HMH). P. pentosaceus (1012 colony forming unit/tonne) combined with 1.5 (PP+LC), 7.5 (PP+MC) or 15.0 (PP+HC) g of chitinase/tonne fresh weight of 1st cut alfalfa (Exp. 1) or PP with chitinase from three different suppliers (PP+Fe, PP+Pe and PP+Si) were applied to 2nd cut alfalfa (Exp. 2) in 2016. In 2017, PP was applied alone or in combination with chitinase at 1.5 (PP+LC) or 7.5 (PP+MC) g/tonne of 1st cut (Exp. 3) and 2nd cut (Exp. 4) alfalfa. In all experiments, deionized water and propionic acid (PA) were applied as neutral (CON) and positive control (CON+), respectively. Bale temperatures were measured at 4-h intervals over the initial 60-d storage. Core hay samples were collected on d 30, 60, 90, and 120 of storage for chemical and microbial evaluation. Samples collected after 120-d storage were used to measure in situ dry matter and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Ambient-adjusted bale temperature was positively correlated (r² = 0.44) to the moisture content of HMH at baling. The maximum temperature (Tmax) during 60-d storage was positively related (r² = 0.66) to total microbial populations (bacteria + mold + yeast) with mold being the largest factor. The NH3-N concentration of the HMH increased with the total microbial population (r² = 0.80) with mean bacterial numbers during d 30 to 120 being the main contributing (r² = 0.83) factor. Treatments had no effect on total bacteria or lactic acid bacteria counts, while PP+MC had decreased yeast counts than CON after 60-d in Exp. 4 (P = 0.01) and after 120-d in Exp 3 (P < 0.001). Mold populations for bales treated with PP+HC at d 60 and PP+LC, PP+MC, and PP+HC at d 90 in Exp. 1, PP+MC at d 120 in Exp. 3 and CON+ at d 30 in Exp. 4 were all less (P < 0.05) than CON. The NDF digestibility after 72-h ruminal incubation was greater (P < 0.01) for PP+LC, PP+MC, and PP+HC than CON+ in Exp.1 and for PP+LC than CON in Exp 3 (P < 0.001). Combination of P. pentosaceus and chitinase have potential as additives to reduce microbial spoilage and to increase NDF digestibility of HMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and climate change have decreased water availability for agriculture, especially in the desert of southwestern USA. Efficiency enhancements in irrigation management aimed at conserving water are key to adjust to limits in water supply, improve profitability and sustainability of alfalfa production in arid and semiarid areas. This study intended to conduct a field-scale analysis to develop yield and ET estimation tools for the effective use of irrigation water in a desert alfalfa production system. Extensive data collection and trials were carried out over three years in nine fully irrigated commercial alfalfa fields in the low deserts of California. The seasonal crop water consumption measured using the residual of energy balance method varied from 1381 mm to 1596 mm across the experimental sites and crop seasons. Variable seasonal dry mater (DM) yields ranged from 23.01 Mg ha−1 to 29.90 Mg ha−1. The results indicated that the first five cuttings each year were the most productive cuttings with a mean DM value ranged between 3.29 (cut 1) and 4.21 (cut 4) Mg ha−1 but declined in later cuttings. An average annual water productivity (WP) value of 17.0 kg ha−1 mm−1 was determined across the sites varying from 15.5 to 18.9 kg ha−1 mm−1. The findings suggested that one may lose up to 1.44 Mg ha−1 alfalfa yields with moderate summer deficit irrigation strategies, using 40% less water applied than full irrigation practices over the summer period of July–September. A more severe summer water deficit, with no irrigation event over the summer period of July–September may result in a potential water savings of 0.234–0.246 (ha·m) ha−1 and 19–21% seasonal yield losses in the desert environment. This study describes the seasonal yield pattern, the crop water use-production function, and the crop coefficient values for various harvest cycles over the crop season. These tools may assist farmers to quantify water savings and estimate yield losses for more accurate and effective irrigation management strategies to meet water conservation objectives and for the resiliency of alfalfa production in the desert region.

In an experiment with twenty four lactating Greek buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cows, effects of total replacement of alfalfa hay (AH) with corn silage (CS) on productivity and milk composition were determined. In the experiment, which started on week 10 postpartum, buffalo cows were allocated, after equal distribution relative to milk yield and lactation number (i.e., 2 or 3), into 2 treatments being AH and CS of 12 buffalo cows each. For a period of 8 weeks (i.e., weeks 10-18 postpartum), buffalo cows were individually fed a concentrate mixture (7.3 kg dry matter – DM/buffalo cow/day), wheat straw (1.8 kg DM/buffalo cow/day) and alfalfa hay (treatment AH; 5.4 kg DM/buffalo cow/day) or corn silage (treatment CS; 5.6 kg DM/buffalo cow/day). In the 8-week experimental period, there were no differences (P>0.05) between AH and CS treatments in milk fat (81.0 g/kg), protein (46.1 g/kg), lactose (51.2 g/kg) or ash (8.1 g/kg) contents, as well as in somatic cell counts (SSC; 108.8 ×1000 SSC/ml) and colony forming units (CFU; 53.6 ×1000 CFU/ml) of milk. Moreover, average milk yield (5.8 kg/day), and fat (0.47 kg/day), protein (0.26 kg/day), lactose (0.29 kg/day) and ash (0.047 kg/day) yields, was not affected (P>0.05). Thus, total replacement of alfalfa hay with corn silage as the main forage source in diets of lactating Greek buffalo cows resulted in similar productive performance.

A 25-day trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary mixture alfalfa hay: peas powder as partial replacement of sunflower meal (SFM) on plasma energetic profile and microbial populations of growing pigs. Ten barrows (30.28±0.53 kg, body weight; 81±3 aged) were allocated to two diets. Control (C) based on corn-SFM and soybean meal, and experimental (LP) where the dietary mixture partially replaces the SFM. At 7 and 25-days, the blood samples (N=10) were used to determine the plasma energetic profile (Spotchem EZ SP-4430, Arkray, Japan). The feed and faeces microbial populations were established by counting the colonies on selected media for each microorganism. Results showed that the LP diet maintains appropriate glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol content to C diet (P>0.05) while improved the HDL-Cholesterol (13%, P=0.91) and LDL-Cholesterol (9%, P=0.08) content vs. C diet. In the pig's faeces, the LP diet increased the Lactobacillus (+23.33%; P

：试验旨在探究苜蓿青贮替代苜蓿干草对瘤胃体外发酵参数的影响。采用单因子重复设计, 将全株玉 米青贮（WCS）、小麦秸秆（WS）、苜蓿干草（AH）、苜蓿青贮（AS） 比例分别设置为60∶20∶20∶0 （A 组）、 60∶20∶16∶4 （B 组）、60∶20∶12∶8 （C组）、60∶20∶10∶10 （D组）、60∶20∶8∶12 （E组）、60∶20∶4∶16 （F 组）、60∶20∶0∶20 （G 组）, 每组3 个重复, 测定不同饲料组合的体外产气量（GP）、人工瘤胃培养液pH 值、 干物质降解率（IVDMD）、氨态氮（NH3-N）、微生物蛋白（MCP） 和挥发性脂肪酸（VFA） 含量。结果显示： 随着AS 替代AH 比例升高, 各组瘤胃培养液的GP、IVDMD、NH3-N、MCP、VFA 呈先升后降的趋势, D 组瘤 胃培养液的GP、IVDMD、NH3-N、MCP、VFA 含量均高于其他组。研究表明, AS 替代AH 可以改善瘤胃培养 液的发酵参数, AH∶AS 的适宜比例为10∶10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment investigated the effect of AS instead of AH on the rumen fermentation performance of beef cattle. The experiment was a single factor repeated design, with eight groups and three replicates in each group. The ratios of C, SH, AH and AS in group B, group C, group D, group E and group F were 40:25:30:5, 40:25:25:10, 40: 25:20:15, 40:25:15:20, 40:25:10:25, 40:25:5:30, respectively. The ratio of C, SH and AH in group A was 40:25:35. The ratio of C, SH and AS in group H was 40:25:35. The in vitro GP, pH value of artificial rumen culture medium, IVDMD, NH3-N, MCP and VFA concentrations of each group were determined. The results showed that when the ratio of C, SH, AH to AS was 40:25:20:15, the concentrations of GP, IVDMD and NH3-N, MCP and VFA in combination were significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05). The study indicates that when the ratio of SH, AH, AS was 40:25:20:15, the test effect was relatively best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to investigate the effect of different roughage combinations replacing part of alfalfa on growth performance and serum biochemical indexes of fattening rams. 45 four-month-old Altay rams with similar body weight were randomly divided into five groups, with nine replicates in each group and one ram in each replicate. Control group (group A) was alfalfa group. In group B and group C, reed and wheat straw were used to replace 75% alfalfa. In group D and group E, 75% alfalfa was replaced with reed and wheat grass at 2∶1 and 1∶2, respectively. The experiment lasted for 60 d. The results showed that ADG and DMI of fattening sheep were extremely lower than those of group A (P<0.01), and F/G increased. The serum GLU content of fattening sheep in group C and group E was extremely higher than that in group A (P<0.01), and that in group B and group D was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05). The serum ALB content of fattening sheep in group C was extremely higher than that in group A (P<0.01), and that in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05). The content of BUN in serum of fattening sheep in group C was significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05). The activity of AST in serum of fattening sheep in group E was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05), and the activity of ALT in serum was extremely higher than that in group A (P<0.01). The T-AOC, the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in serum of fattening sheep in group B, group C, group D and group E were extremely lower than those in group A (P<0.01), and the content of MDA was extremely increased (P<0.01). The study indicates that different roughage combinations replacing alfalfa doesn't affect protein metabolism, fat metabolism and calcium and phosphorus metabolism of fattening sheep, but the antioxidant capacity of the body is weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein grass hay (PGH) was used as a new feed source for lambs to study its effect on fattening performance and meat quality. Fifty-six male lambs were allotted to four experimental groups and fed for eight weeks either alfalfa hay (AH)-based diet (control) or diets in which AH was replaced with 33 %, 66 %, or 99 % PGH. The inclusion of PGH did not affect final body weight, dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, or carcass weight. Moreover, substituting AH with PGH at any level did not influence the ruminal fermentation or serum biochemical parameters, meat color, water holding capacity, shear force, or amino acid profile. However, relative liver weight was increased with 66 % substitutions. Furthermore, replacing 99 % AH with PGH decreased the meat's pH at 24 h. Higher levels of C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3, and total n-3 PUFA and a lower ratio of n-6: n-3 PUFA were also observed in meat from lambs fed PGH at 99 %. These findings suggest that PGH could be incorporated into the lamb's diet up to 99 % without compromising fattening performance and body health while improving their meat n-3 PUFA deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate different roughages on fatting performance, muscle fatty acids, rumen fermentation and rumen microbes of steers. Seventy-five Simmental crossbred steers were randomly divided into wheat straw group (WG), peanut vine group (PG) and alfalfa hay group (AG), with 5 replicates of 5 steers each. The results showed a highest average daily gain and lowest feed/gain ratio in AG group (P = 0.001). Steers fed alfalfa hay had the highest muscle marbling score and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and also the rumen NH3-N and microbial protein (MCP) concentration among the three groups (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that ruminal NH3-N and MCP were negatively correlated with muscle saturated fatty acid (SFA), while ruminal MCP was positively correlated with muscle PUFA and n-3 PUFA (P < 0.05). 16S rRNA analysis indicated that fed alfalfa hay decreased the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-001(P = 0.005). More importantly, muscle SFA deposition were positively correlated to the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-001 (P < 0.05), while the muscle PUFA and n-3 PUFA deposition were negatively correlated to it (P < 0.01). Therefore, alfalfa hay provides a better fattening effect on steers. Alfalfa rich in n-3 PUFA would reduce the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-001 involved in hydrogenation, increase the rumen protective effect of C18:3 n−3, which is beneficial to the deposition of muscle n-3 PUFA and PUFA.

Simple Summary: Behaviors such as feather pecking and cannibalism have resulted in several problems in the poultry industry. Owing to animal welfare concerns, the practice of beak trimming and use of cage systems have gradually reduced, and housing systems are currently being applied such as barn, floor, and aviary systems; however, the identification and control of feather peckers among many individuals is difficult in these systems. For this purpose, research is being conducted to observe the effect of improving the environment by providing various pecking materials. Our study investigated the environmental enhancing effects of providing pumice stone and alfalfa hay to laying hens in the aviary system. These materials were effective in improving egg production, maintaining health, and alleviating stress. The findings of this study could be useful in environmental management to improve the welfare of the poultry industry in the new rearing system. This study aimed to determine the effects of providing environmental enrichment materials—pumice stone and alfalfa hay—to laying hens in the aviary system. A total of 2196 40-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to three treatment groups: (1) no enrichment (control; CON), (2) enrichment with pumice stone (PS), and (3) enrichment with alfalfa hay (HAY). Each treatment comprised four replicates of 183 hens each, and four of the same materials were provided per replicate. The experiment lasted for 26 weeks. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. As a result, the PS and HAY groups demonstrated increased egg production (p < 0.001). The HAY group showed a reduced rate of mislaid eggs (p < 0.01) and produced low egg weight and pale-yellow yolk (p < 0.05). Both enrichment materials decreased blood creatinine (CRE) or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood and resulted in a significantly lower corticosterone (CORT) level (p < 0.05). However, the feather condition scores for the laying hens were similar across all treatments (p > 0.05). In summary, although pumice stone and alfalfa hay are effective in alleviating stress and improving the production of laying hens, additional environmental improvement studies are needed to contribute to reducing pecking behaviors in poultry farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined changes in the oxidative state and the concentrations of vitamin C, glucose, and cholesterol in the serum of ewes and goats fed on alfalfa hay-based diet (AHD) supplemented with 25% Moringa oleifera (MOD) or Moringa peregrine (MPD) leaves. Thirty ewes (2 years old and 50-60 kg BW) and 30 goats (2 years old and 35-40 kg BW) were randomly allocated to 3 experimental groups, consisting of 10 ewes and 10 goats each. The 3 experimental groups of either ewes or goats were fed on one of the experimental diets (AHD, MOD, or MPD) for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected every 2 weeks throughout the experimental period. Vitamin C concentration and the total antioxidant capacity of serum increased by > 33% in animals fed on Moringa-supplemented diets. Dietary supplementation with Moringa enhanced serum catalase activity by > 9% as a function of feeding period. Animals fed on Moringa-supplemented diets also showed reduced serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) by > 45% compared with AHD-fed animals. Reductions in the serum concentrations of glucose by 14 to 41%, and that of cholesterol by 18 to 40% were observed in animals fed on Moringa-supplemented diets. It is worth mentioning that MOD supplementation showed the greatest positive effect on all tested blood parameters. The results of the present study indicate the importance of dietary supplementation of Moringa on the general animal health and immunity, which might be reflected in the improvement of shelf life of animal products (milk or meat). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty newborn Holstein female calves (BW = 39.9 ± 2.1 kg) were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups (each consisting of 10 animals) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of supplemental soybean oil [0 vs. 3% soybean oil (SBO) on dry matter basis] and forage level [0 vs. 15% alfalfa hay (AH) on dry matter basis] to evaluate the interaction effect of supplemental fat and forage feeding level in starter feed of dairy calves. Treatments were; (1) neither SBO supplementation nor AH inclusion (NSBO-NAH); (2) SBO supplementation but no AH included (SBO-NAH); (3) no SBO supplementation but AH included (NSBO-AH); and (4) SBO supplementation with AH (SBO-AH). Calves had ad-libitum access to water and starters throughout the study and weaned on day 63 of age but remained in the study until day 73 of age. The results showed that SBO supplementation reduced starter intake, average daily gain (tendency) and faecal consistency compared to un-supplemented diets. The lowest digestibility for neutral detergent fibre and crude protein, as well as the lowest wither height and volatile fatty acid production, were found for SBO-AH diet among experimental treatments. Moreover, the lowest urinary purine derivatives excretion but the highest urinary nitrogen excretion found in SBO-AH diet indicated the lowest nitrogen utilisation efficiency among experimental treatments. In summary, based on the current study condition, because the negative effects of SBO supplementation were exacerbated when AH was incorporated in the starter feed, concurrent feeding of SBO and AH is not recommendable in young calves.HIGHLIGHTS Supplemental soybean oil and alfalfa hay inclusion in starter feed of dairy calves was evaluated. Supplementation of SBO reduced crude protein digestibility and ruminal propionate concentration and caused looser faecal consistency. The inclusion of AH exacerbated the negative effects of SBO supplementation on ruminal fermentation and microbial activity. Concurrent supplementation of SBO and AH inclusion is not recommendable in dairy calves.

The objective of this trial was to determine the amount of alfalfa hay (AH) in low forage diets that could be replaced with dried corn gluten feed (DCGF) without negatively altering eating behaviour, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and performance of lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment. Treatments included (dry matter [DM] basis): 18.81% AH without DCGF (0DCGF,); 12.53% AH and 6.26% DCGF (6DCGF); 6.26% AH and 12.53% DCGF (12DCGF); and 0% AH and 18.81% DCGF (18 DCGF). Diet particle size and physically effective neutral detergent fibre declined linearly (p

Aim: This study was made to determine the quality classification of alfaalfa hays produced in Turkey according to their protein and fiber levels and use in national feed tables. Materials and Methods: The nutrient analysis results of 210 alfalfa hays were used. Results: The crude protein (CP) levels in the dry matter (DM) ranged from 8,79 to 22,96%, with an average of 16,83%. The mean of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) level was 47,25% (28,39-69,30%) and the acid detergent fiber (ADF) level was 37,01% (22,76-52,57%). According to the CP, 6 quality classes were created. Alfalfa hays containing more than 21% CP were considered as 1st quality, 19-21% as 2nd, 17-19% as 3rd, 15-17% as 4th, 13-15% as 5th, and less than 13% CP as 6th quality. It was seen that about 23% of the samples were in 3rd quality range, 26% in 4th, 19% in 5th and only 9,5% of samples were in 1st quality range. It was determined that ADF (r = -0,67) could be used for quality classification when the correlations between CP and NDF or ADF were examined. In the quality classification of 1st to 6th, it was found that for ADF, the classification from 1st to 6th would be 46%, respectively. When alfalfa hays evaluated according to the average protein, energy and fiber levels, all samples were found in 4th quality. Conclusion: Cultivation of extra leafy alfalfa in country, revision of drying methods and reduction of leaf loss should be emphasized.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cultivars of alfalfa hay, including American Anderson (AA), American Golden Empress (GE), China Zhongmu No. 1 (ZM1) and China Gongnong No. 1 (GN1), on conventional nutrient composition, rumen degradation characteristics and feed value. Four healthy Holstein cows (137 ± 14 days in milk, 2.40 ± 0.50 parity) equipped with permanent ruminal cannulas were examined for the nylon-bag technique. The alfalfa hay samples were incubated in the rumen for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h according to the “gradual in/all out” schedule to detect the ruminal nutrients’ degradability. Our results showed that various cultivars of alfalfa hay from different planting regions had significant differences on nutrient contents, rumen degradability and feed value. For nutritional components of alfalfa hay, the highest dry matter (DM) content was found in GE and the lowest in GN1 (p < 0.001); however, GN1 had the greatest concentration of ether extract (EE, p = 0.01), Ca (p < 0.001) and the lowest Ash (p < 0.001). Additionally, the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and highest starch contents were observed in AA and GE (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the cultivar of ZM1 represented the highest NDF, ADF and Ash contents, in conjunction with minimal CP and P concentrations (p < 0.001). In terms of rumen degradation characteristics, the effective degradation rate (ED) of DM in GE and ZM1 was significantly higher than that in AA and GN1 (p = 0.013). The NDF effective degradation was lower in ZM1 than the other three cultivars (p = 0.002), and in addition ZM1 also showed lower CP and ADF effective degradation than GE (p < 0.001). As far as feed value was concerned, the cultivar of alfalfa hay imported from the US, including AA and GE, exhibited higher relative feed value (RFV) and relative forage quality (RFQ) than Chinese alfalfa based on ZM1 and GN1 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results suggested that the cultivar of GE exhibited greater rumen degradable characteristics and feed value, while ZM1 showed the opposite status.

In this study, we used a combination of animal nutrition and nontargeted metabolomics to investigate the effects of feeding different sources forages rations on the morphology and function of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, providing theoretical guidance and important references for the healthy and high-quality rearing of yak calves. At 45 days old, 21 yak calf males were divided into OP, AP, and AOP groups, with seven animals in each group, which were fed with oat hay, alfalfa hay, and mixed oat and alfalfa hay, respectively. Five calves from each group were selected randomly to slaughter after a pretest period of 21 days and the official period of 120 days, when the average daily feed intake reached 1 kg. During the test, the growth and pancreas weight of yak calves were recorded, and the morphology and function of the pancreas tissues were determined using tissue sectioning methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and nontargeted metabolomics strategies. The results showed that the body weight and pancreatic organ index of yak calves in the AOP group were significantly higher than those of the AP and OP groups. Compared to the AP and OP groups, the AOP group had considerably lower ratios of the area of the pancreatic endocrine component and overall percentage of that section of the organ, and the AOP group increased pancreatic amylase activity and a higher concentration of growth inhibitor. The AP group had significantly higher levels of the differential metabolites L-ascorbic acid, spermidine, spermine, and dopaquinone in the glutathione, β-alanine, and tyrosine metabolic pathways than the OP group. The AOP group had significantly lower levels of the differential metabolites spermine and phenylacetylglycine in the glutathione and phenylalanine metabolic pathways than the AP group. In summary, compared to feeding oat or alfalfa hay alone, combined feeding oat hay and alfalfa hay is more beneficial to promote the morphological and functional development of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, so as to enhance the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the diet and maintain the positive regulation of blood glucose levels. This provides an important basis for the optimized forage supply of healthy and high-quality rearing in preweaning yak calves.