This study evaluates the potential use of halophyte Spartina alterniflora (SA) as forage for ruminants by detecting the effect of plant maturity on organic and mineral compositions as well as the effect of increasing dietary inclusion of S. alterniflora on rumen fermentation in dairy cattle. Crude...

Three feeding experiments were conducted to determine the feed intake, apparent digestibility and nitrogen retention of growing goats fed with Tithonia diversifolia and supplemented with rumen fermentable protein (cassava root chips and mulberry leaves) and bypass proteins (banana leaves, jackfruit ...

The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a species with great potential for work and for meat and milk production in Colombia. The performance of this species exceeds that of other bovine species in similar conditions of management, differences that have been attributed mainly to the capacity of the...

The objectives were to compare milk production and composition, change in body weight and body condition score, rumen fermentation parameters and grazing patterns by cows when supplemented with different forms and amounts of corn grain. In experiment 1, 36 Holstein cows were supplemented with...

The objective of trial 1 was to compare the effects of virginiamycin (VM; 0, 175, or 250 mg/head daily) and monensin/tylosin (MT; 250/90 mg/head daily) on rumen fermentation products and microbial populations in cattle during adaptation to an all-concentrate diet. Four rumen-cannulated, Holstein...

Six steers fitted with ruminal cannulas were assigned randomly to 2 treatment groups and switched from a 0 to an 85% concentrate diet during a 4-day period. Cattle received this diet, with or without tylosin (90 mg/steer, daily), for 4 weeks. Samples of ruminal contents were collected daily...

Twelve Holstein/Friesian dairy cows in early lactation were offered low (L; 215 g/kg) or high (H; 449 g/kg) dry matter (DM) content silages, prepared using material from the same sward (UK). In addition, all animals received 9.6 kg/day, of supplements based on barley (B), sugar-beet pulp (SB) or a...

Two experiments were carried out to examine the association between cattle slurry application and abundant Rumex obtusifolius populations in grassland. In Experiment 1, the viability of R. obtusifolius seed, collected between June and November 1993, was assessed after being subjected to (i) 100...

The effects on milk yield and milk composition of feeding Erythrina poeppigiana and Gliricidia sepium foliage as protein supplements were studied and compared with urea for cows fed low-quality grass Hyparrhenia rufa hay. 12 cows at days 45 and 60 of lactation were used. Total milk yields for...

The concentrations and compositions of Chinese Yak rumen fluid volatile fatty acids (VFA) were estimated by gas-chromatography under the feeding regimens; maintenance group (MG) roughage group (RG), concentrate group (CG). No difference was seen between MG and RG, but propionic acid concentration...