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The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different levels of dried cassava leaf top (DCT) and fresh cassava leaf top (FCT) fermented with cassava pulp (CS) on the nutritional value of silage, gas kinetics, rumen characteristics, and in vitro degradability. Dietary treatments were administered using a completely randomized design (CRD) with eight treatments and three replicate runs. The eight treatments were as follows: 1) CS fermented no additive (nA), 2) CS fermented with additives (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, urea, molasses, and sugar) (CSA), 3) 95% CSA fermented with 5% DCT (5DCT), 4) 90% CSA fermented with 10% DCT (10DCT), 5) 85% CSA fermented with 15% DCT (15DCT), 6) 95% CSA fermented with 5% FCT (5FCT), 7) 90% CSA fermented with 10% FCT (10FCT), 8) 85% CSA fermented with 15% FCT (15FCT), respectively. After 21 days of fermentation, samples of the silages were taken for chemical analysis and utilized to examine the in vitro gas production and degradability. The results show that fermented CS with DCT at 5% to 10% DM had the highest increase in CP when compared to nA or CSA (p0.05). However, the gas production from the immediately soluble fraction (a) was maximum when CS was fermented with 15DCT (p

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of carbohydrate source and cottonseed meal level in the concentrate on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in swamp buffaloes. Four, 4-yr old rumen fistulated swamp buffaloes were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 2×2 factorial arrangement in a 4×4 Latin square design. Factor A was carbohydrate source; cassava chip (CC) and CC+rice bran at a ratio 3:1 (CR3:1), and factor B was level of cottonseed meal (CM); 109 g CP/kg (LCM) and 328 g CP/kg (HCM) in isonitrogenous diets (490 g CP/kg). Buffaloes received urea-treated rice straw ad libitum and supplemented with 5 g concentrate/kg BW. It was found that carbohydrate source did not affect feed intake, nutrient intake, digested nutrients, nutrient digestibility, ammonia nitrogen concentration, fungi and bacterial populations, or microbial protein synthesis (p>0.05). Ruminal pH at 6 h after feeding and the population of protozoa at 4 h after feeding were higher when buffalo were fed with CC than in the CR3:1 treatment (p0.05). Based on this experiment, concentrate with a low level of cottonseed meal could be fed with cassava chips as an energy source in swamp buffalo receiving rice straw.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of levels of cottonseed meal with various carbohydrate sources in concentrate on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in dairy bulls. Four, 6 months old dairy bulls were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 2×2 factorial arrangement in a 4×4 Latin square design. Factor A was carbohydrate source; cassava chip (CC) and cassava chip+rice bran in the ratio of 3:1 (CR3:1), and factor B was cotton seed meal levels in the concentrate; 109 g CP/kg (LCM) and 328 g CP/kg (HCM) at similar overall CP levels (490 g CP/kg). Bulls received urea-lime treated rice straw ad libitum and were supplemented with 10 g of concentrate/kg BW. It was found that carbohydrate source and level of cotton seed meal did not have significant effects on ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration, microbial protein synthesis or feed intake. Animals which received CC showed significantly higher BUN concentration, ruminal propionic acid and butyric acid proportions, while dry matter, organic matter digestibility, populations of total viable bacteria and proteolytic bacteria were lower than those in the CR3:1 treatment. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids was higher in HCM than LCM treatments, while the concentration of butyric acid was higher in LCM than HCM treatments. The population of proteolytic bacteria with the LCM treatments was higher than the HCM treatments; however other bacteria groups were similar among the different levels of cotton seed meal. Bulls which received LCM had higher protein digestibility than those receiving HCM. Therefore, using high levels of cassava chip and cotton seed meal might positively impact on energy and nitrogen balance for the microbial population in the rumen of the young dairy bull.

Four Thai - rumen fistulated male swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), about four years old with 400±20 kg liveweight, were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design to receive dietary treatments. The treatments were: ground corn cob (GCC) replacement for cassava chip (CC) in concentrate at 0% (T1); GCC replacement at 33% (T2); GCC replacement at 67% (T3); and GCC replacement at 100% (T4), respectively. During the experiment, concentrate was offered at 0.5% BW while 5% urea-treated rice straw was given at ad libitum. The result revealed that there was no effect of GCC replacement on DMI among treatments. In addition, digestibilities of DM, OM and CP were not different while aNDF linearly increased with an increasing level of GCC replacement. However, GCC replacement did not affect rumen fermentation such as ruminal pH, NH3-N and VFA concentration; except C3 proportion which was the highest at 33% replacement while the lowest was at 100% replacement. All replacements of GCC resulted in similar protozoal and bacterial populations and microbial protein synthesis (MPS). Purine derivatives (PD) concentration in urine and PD to creatinine (PDC) index were varied with time of urination and among treatments at 0 to 8 and 8 to 16 h post feeding and higher values were shown among the GCC replacement groups. However at 16 to 24 h-post feeding, it was untraceable. In addition, creatinine concentration was similar among all treatments at every sampling time. Based on the above results, GCC can be used as an energy source for swamp buffalo fed with rice straw. Spot sampling of urine can be used for purine derivatives determination.

Four, ruminally fistulated crossbred (Brahman×native) beef cattle with initial body weight of 420±15 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were mulberry leaf pellet (MUP) supplementation at 0, 200, 400 and 600 g/hd/d with rice straw fed to allow ad libitum intake. All steers were kept in individual pens and supplemented with concentrate at 5 g/kg of body weight daily. The experiment was 4 periods, and each lasted 21 d. During the first 14 d, all steers were fed their respective diets ad libitum and during the last 7 d, they were moved to metabolism crates for total urine and fecal collection. It was found that increasing MUP levels resulted in linearly increasing rice straw and total intakes (p

Research articles about the effects of rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on metabolic response, and reproductive and productive performances in transitional dairy cows were reviewed and presented. Analysis was conducted on 32 research papers that were published. The papers examined treatments without RPC supplementation and RPC supplementation levels varying from 10 to 100 gm/day. The feeding duration of RPC started from 40 to 140 days prepartum and continued until 20 to 140 days postpartum in multiparous dairy cows. Studies indicated that adding herbal choline (Cho) to the diet of transition dairy cows resulted in increased milk production and improved milk quality, leading to enhanced energy balance and reduced oxidative stress. The concentration and yield of IgG in colostrum provide passive immunity to dairy newborns and can be enhanced by dietary Cho supplementation. The inconsistent effects of RPC supplementation on reproduction may be due to several factors such as heat stress, genetics, and management. RPC supplementation improved the transition dairy cows' milk yield and quality, but dosage response was not observed as in the prior publication. Remarkably, the length of RPC supplementation had a positive correlation with an increase in milk yield. Based on this review, 45-50 gm/day dietary RPC supplementation between 3 weeks pre-calving to 8 weeks post-calving is suggested to increase at least 10% milk yield in dairy cows., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© The authors.)

Objective: The objectives were to determine the appropriate level of dried cassava top (DCT) in total mixed ration (TMR) based on production performance and carcass characteristics of fattening Charolais crossbred steers., Materials and Methods: Fifteen fattening Charolais crossbred steers were randomly assigned to a randomized complete block design with initial body weight to receive three treatments, including without DCT, 15% DCT, and 30% DCT in TMR, on a dry matter (DM) basis. The production trial lasted 120 days; then, the fattened steers were slaughtered to study the carcass characteristics., Results: The in vitro gas production from the immediately soluble fraction of TMR containing 30% DCT was higher than the others ( p < 0.05). However, in vitro DM and organic matter degradability were not significantly different among treatments. Feed intake, final weight, feed cost per gain, and carcass characteristics such as warm carcass percentage, marbling score, and loin eye area of feedlot steers were not affected by the inclusion of DCT in TMR. Although steers fed TMR containing 15% DCT had body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio lower than the control ( p < 0.05); however, the use of DCT at 30% DM in TMR reduced the feed cost of feedlot beef production ( p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Using local ingredients such as cassava tops can increase profit margins for farmers without sacrificing product quality, but they must closely look at growth performance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research.)

The effect of protein intake on nutrient metabolism and growth performance of female ≥ 50% Boer crossbred goats was investigated, along with protein requirements for their maintenance. Sixteen does were divided into four groups that were fed different levels of crude protein relative to the level recommended for purebred Boer by NRC (2007): 85% (0.85 M), 100% (1.00 M), 115% (1.15 M), and 130% (1.30 M). The experiment was conducted with does at 4-9 months of age. Feed intake, growth rate, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis of the does were determined. The relationship between crude protein intake (g/kg 0.75 BW) and average daily gain (g/day) was tested using linear regression. It was found that crude protein intake, average daily gain, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein supply increased with dietary crude protein. Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen excreted via urine were not affected by treatments. At 4-6 months of age, Boer crossbred does require crude protein for maintenance to be ingested and absorbed at levels of 3.81 and 1.99 g/kg 0.75 BW, respectively, while at 7-9 months of age, does require 4.68 g/kg 0.75 BW ingested crude protein. Overall, growing does require 4.26 g/kg 0.75 BW ingested crude protein for maintenance during 4-9 months of age, which is 6.78% lower than the recommendation of NRC (2007)., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different levels of fibrolytic enzyme on nutrient utilization and milk production in dairy cows. Four multiparous early-to-mid-lactation Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows were randomly allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Cows were fed a balanced total mixed ration (TMR) on a dry matter (DM) basis containing 0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme in TMR, where the TMR comprises 60% concentrate supplemented with a fibrolytic enzyme at 0, 2, 4, and 6 g/kg DM of concentrate, and 40% urea-molasses-treated sugarcane bagasse (UMSB) was used as a roughage source. Fibrolytic enzyme supplementation in TMR containing UMSB did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows (p > 0.05). There was a quadratic effect of fibrolytic enzyme levels on the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p < 0.05), and the maximal response was reached at 1.2-2.4 g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme added in the TMR. Furthermore, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk fat, total volatile fatty acids, and propionic acid were greater in a cow fed with 1.2-2.4 g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme, resulting in a lower ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p < 0.05). In conclusion, adding a fibrolytic enzyme in TMR containing UMSB improved nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, and milk production of lactating dairy cows., (© 2021 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

This study aimed to compare growth performance of Lowline Angus crossbred with Thai native cattle under a grazing system with supplementation of fermented cassava starch residue. Three Ruzi grass sub-fields were used for twenty heads of beef cattle for a 7-month experiment from February to August 2017. Yeast, molasses, and urea-fermented cassava starch residue was offered at 1.50% BW of animal. Blood metabolite and fecal composition were determined for health and nutritional stage assessment. The temperature-humidity index was highest (75.6-84.6) in April. Overall growth rate of beef cattle was not significantly different among breeds except in the first month when the native had greater weight gain than the crossbred. Average daily gain was 353 and 345 g for Thai native and its crossbred with Lowline Angus, respectively. Blood triglyceride concentration sampled at 7 months of the native was higher than that of the crossbred; in contrast, blood cholesterol of the crossbred tended to be higher than that of the native. Other blood metabolites including glucose, cholesterol, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, and globulin were comparable between breeds. The native and the crossbred were similar in fecal composition, ruminal fermentation end-products (ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids), and microbial population. Therefore, under grazing condition with low-quality feed supplementation, Thai native beef cattle and its Lowline Angus crossbred had similar growth rate, health, and nutritional status.

Thai native cattle (Bos indicus) have high fertility rates and strong mothering abilities; however, their slight size, slow growth rate and low meat quality have not proved suitable for a commercial fattening system. Their progeny from crossbreeding with exotic sire particularly the Bos Taurus could present greater production performance. Lowline Angus sires and frozen semen were used to produce Lowline Angus x Thai native crossbreds. All cattle were raised in the same condition which was mainly through a grazing system. Throughout 5 years of data collection, calves' gender, birth weight, and weight gains were recorded until 1 year of age. There was no interaction effect between calves' gender, breed, and birth season on weight at birth and yearling, as well as growth rate. The birth weight of male calves (14.0 kg) were greater than female calves (13.3 kg). The calves' birth weights did not differ between levels of Lowline Angus blood, but all crossbred males were found to be significantly bigger than indigenous females. It must be noted that yearling weight did not differ between breeds. However, females 75% Lowline Angus, 25% Thai native crossbred (139.3 kg) weighed significantly higher than Thai native purebred females (115.9 kg). The calves' birth weights had positive correlation with Lowline Angus blood levels: birth weights increased when Lowline Angus blood levels were increased. The sharpness in the growth curve of Lowline Angus crossbreds was higher than purebred Thai indigenous cattle. Moreover, the 25% Lowline Angus crossbred had the highest graph slope as opposed to the 50% or 75% Lowline Angus crossbred. The growth performance of Lowline Angus x Thai native crossbred was shown unsuccessful under low-quality grazing situation. Additive effect of the crossbred presented quite low but well adapted to tropical environment. Greater productivity performance of the crossbred possibly will be excess with a higher quality feedlot condition.

Ten Thai native × Lowline Angus crossbred (50:50) steers were used in a completely randomized design to receive two treatments including concentrate containing cassava chips (Control) and fermented cassava starch residue (FCSR) as major carbohydrate sources. FCSR was prepared as yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) inoculates with exogenous enzyme addition. All steers received ad libitum rice straw and concentrate in equal proportions (1:1). Replacement of cassava chip with FCSR increased neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber intakes but decreased non-protein nitrogen intake of steers. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein were decreased with replacement of cassava chip by FCSR; however, digested nutrients were similar between groups. Replacement of cassava chip in the concentrate with FCSR resulted in comparable growth performance and feed efficiency of the feedlot steers. Moreover, carcass characteristics in terms of yield and meat quality of the steers were not affected by cassava chips replaced by FCSR as a major carbohydrate source in the concentrate. In conclusion, replacement of cassava chip in the concentrate with FCSR decreased feed digestibility; however, it did not impact negatively on growth performance and carcass traits of feedlot Thai native × Lowline Angus crossbred steers.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of concentrate/milk yield ratios on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation efficiency, and milk production in dairy cows fed with a basal diet of whole crop rice silage (WCRS). Sixteen crossbred cows (75 % Holstein-Friesian (HF) and 25 % Thai cows) in mid-lactation were assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments corresponding to four concentrate/milk yield ratios (0, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 (kg/kg)) were used. All cows were offered WCRS (with 1.5 % urea and 3 % molasses) ad libitum. Silage and concentrate were fed individually twice a day. Results revealed that dry matter intake (12.8-14.5 kg/day), nutrient digestibility (62.5-68.7 %), and rumen fermentation efficiency were not significantly affected by concentrate supplementation. Milk yield (10.2-11.5 kg/day) and milk composition were similar between cows fed with sole WCRS and those supplemented with concentrate mixture, although milk fat tended to increase in cows fed with sole WCRS. In conclusion, sole WCRS fed to dairy cows without concentrate supplementation resulted in similar feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and milk production as compared to those supplemented with concentrate in lactating dairy cows. These results suggest that in tropical areas where rice crop is surplus, WCRS could sustain reasonable levels of milk production among dairy cows with little or no concentrate supplementation provided that urea and molasses are included in the silage.

Whole crop rice was harvested 120 days after planting and chopped to 2-3-cm length for silage making. The whole crop rice silage (WCRS) was supplemented with different levels of molasses and urea to study nutritive value and in situ rumen degradability. The ensiling study was randomly assigned according to a 6 × 5 factorial arrangement, in which the first factor was molasses (M) supplementation at M0, M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 %, and the second was urea (U) supplementation at U0, U0.5, U1.0, U1.5, and U2.0 % of the crop dry mater (DM), respectively. After 45 days of ensiling, temperature, pH, chemical composition, and fermentation end products of the silages were measured. Ten U and M treatment combinations of WCRS were subsequently selected to study rumen degradability by nylon bag technique. The results showed that temperature and pH of the silages linearly increased with U supplementation level, while total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), acetic acid (C2) and propionic acid (C3) decreased. In contrast, increasing level of M supplementation decreased WCRS temperature and pH, whereas TVFA, C2, and C3 concentrations increased dramatically. Both M and U supplementation increased concentration of butyric acid (C4). Dry matter, organic matter (OM), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of the silages were not influenced by either M or U supplementation. Increasing U supplementation increased crude protein (CP) content, while M level did not show any effect. Furthermore, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content in silage was decreased by both M and U supplementation. The results of the in situ study showed that M and U supplementation increased both ruminal DM and OM degradation. The water-soluble fraction (a) was the highest in WCRS U1.5M3 and lowest in U0M0. Increasing M and U supplementation levels increased the potentially degradable fraction (b) of both DM and OM. Total rumen degradable fraction (a + b) was highest in WCRS U1.5M3, whereas OM degradability was highest in U0M3. However, effective degradation of both DM and OM were the highest in WCRS U1.5M3 and the lowest in U0M0. We conclude that supplementation of U and M increases WCRS quality and rumen degradability. Supplementation of U at 1.5 and M at 3-4 % of the crop DM is recommended for lactating dairy cows and fattening beef cattle.

Four, rumen fistulated swamp buffalo bulls were used to study microbial populations in the rumen when supplemented with coconut oil and mangosteen peel. Animals were randomly assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Four treatments were un-supplemented (Control), supplementation with coconut oil at 50 g/kg (CO5), supplementation with mangosteen peel at 30 g/kg (MP3) and supplementation with CO5 and MP3 (COM), of total DM intake. Animals received concentrate at 10 g/kg of BW, and rice straw was given ad libitum. Abundance of total bacteria was increased by CO5 supplementation, whereas populations of protozoa and Fibrobacter succinogenes were reduced by CO5 and COM supplementation. Dietary supplementation did not affect methanogen, Ruminococcus flavefaciens or Ruminococcus albus abundances. Dietary treatments changed denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) band patterns of methanogens and protozoa when compared with the control group, especially when supplemented with MP3. Supplementation of COM resulted in the greatest difference in pattern of DGGE bands for total bacteria compared with the control. Coconut oil and mangosteen peel supplementation resulted in changing of rumen microbial abundances and communities; however, combination of them could be more benefit to improve rumen fermentation of swamp buffalo fed on rice straw., (© 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Four early-lactation crossbred cows (82.5 % Holstein) were selected to investigate the effect of carbohydrate source and cottonseed meal level in the concentrate on rumen fermentation and milk production. Cows were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Factor A was carbohydrate source: cassava chip (CC) and CC + rice bran at a ratio 3:1 (CR3:1), and factor B was variation in the level of cottonseed meal (CM): low (LCM) and high (HCM) in isonitrogenous diets (180 g CP/kg DM). It was found that carbohydrate source did not affect feed intake, dry matter digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbial population, milk yield and composition, or economic return (P > 0.05). However, cows fed with CC had a higher population of amylolytic bacteria than cows fed with CR3:1 (P < 0.05). Cows fed with HCM had a higher total feed intake, milk yield and composition, and milk income when compared with cows fed on LCM although the concentrate and roughage intakes, dry matter digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbial populations were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). In addition, the carbohydrate source and cottonseed meal level interactions were not significant for any parameter. It could be concluded that cassava chip and high level of cottonseed meal could usefully be incorporated into concentrates for dairy cows without impacting on rumen fermentation or milk production.

A number of experiments have been conducted to investigate effects of tropical plants containing condensed tannins and/or saponins present in tropical plants and some plant oils on rumen fermentation and ecology in ruminants. Based on both in vitro and in vivo trials, the results revealed important effects on rumen microorganisms and fermentation including methane production. Incorporation and/or supplementation of these plants containing secondary metabolites have potential for improving rumen ecology and subsequently productivity in ruminants.

Four, rumen fistulated crossbred (Brahman × native) beef cattle steers were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Factor A was carbohydrate source; cassava chip (CC) or CC + rice bran at a ratio 3:1 (CR3:1) and Factor B was cotton seed meal level (CM); and 109 g CP/kg (LCM) and 328 g CP/kg (HCM) at similar overall CP levels (490 g CP/kg). The animals were fed 5 g concentrate/kg BW, and urea-treated rice straw (UTS) (50 g urea/kg DM) was fed ad libitum. Carbohydrate source did not affect feed intake, nutrient digestibility, blood urea nitrogen, rumen fermentation, or microbial protein synthesis; however, animals fed with CC had a higher population of total viable bacteria than the CR3:1 treatment (P<0.05). Animals that received HCM had a lower total feed intake while ruminal pH was higher than the LCM fed treatment (P<0.05). The population of total viable and cellulolytic bacteria in animals that received HCM were lower than the LCM fed treatment (P<0.05). Moreover, use of HCM in beef cattle diets resulted in lower microbial protein synthesis when compared with the LCM fed treatment (P<0.05) although efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was nonsignificantly different among treatments. Therefore, cassava chip combined with rice bran can be used in a concentrate diet for beef cattle. It is also noted that a high level of cotton seed meal in the concentrate may impact rumen fermentation and animal performance.