The effect of mechanical processing of wheaten straw on intake and rumen parameters following grain feeding in sheep
B. H. White A , E. H. Clayton B C and M. A. Friend A C DA School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
C Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (NSW DPI and Charles Sturt University), Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: mfriend@csu.edu.au
Animal Production Science 54(9) 1455-1459 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14323
Submitted: 13 March 2014 Accepted: 10 June 2014 Published: 23 July 2014
Abstract
While the effect of roughage chop length on decreasing the risk of acidosis in cattle is well established, there is limited information on the effect of roughage processing on intake and rumen parameters in sheep. Intake and rumen parameters were assessed in 10-month-old crossbred wethers (n = 24, 48.4 kg ± 5.3) offered wheaten straw as finely chaffed (6 mm), coarsely chaffed (15–20 mm) or unprocessed (40 mm) lengths, along with barley grain. Animals were offered 300 g/head of barley grain on the first day of grain introduction, 450 g/head.day for Days 2–3, 550 g/head.day for Days 4–6, 650 g/head.day for Days 7–9 and 750 g/head on Day 10. Rumen fluid was collected 3 h post-feeding from each animal the day before grain introduction and on Days 1–3 of grain introduction. During Days 1–3 of grain introduction, roughage intake within 3 h of feed being offered was greater (P < 0.05) in sheep offered finely chaffed (0.20 kg ± 0.03) than those offered either coarsely chaffed (0.09 kg ± 0.03) or unprocessed (0.08 kg ± 0.03) straw. Rumen pH did not differ between treatments, but increased grain feeding significantly (P < 0.001) reduced pH. Sheep offered finely chaffed straw had a greater (P < 0.05) daily straw intake (0.59 kg ± 0.06) than sheep offered coarsely chaffed straw (0.37 kg ± 0.06), while sheep offered unprocessed straw had an intermediate intake (0.49 kg ± 0.06); sheep consumed all grain offered. Shorter straw particle lengths may have a role in reducing the risk of acidosis during grain introduction.
Additional keywords: chop length, fibre intake, subacute rumen acidosis.
References
Beauchemin KA, Yang WZ, Morgavi DP, Ghorbani GR, Kautz W, Leedle JAZ (2003) Effects of bacterial direct-fed microbials and yeast on site and extent of digestion, blood chemistry, and subclinical ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 81, 1628–1640.Bhandari SK, Li S, Ominski KH, Wittenberg KM, Plaizier JC (2008) Effects of the chop lengths of alfalfa silage and oat silage on feed intake, milk production, feeding behavior, and rumen fermentation of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 1942–1958.
| Effects of the chop lengths of alfalfa silage and oat silage on feed intake, milk production, feeding behavior, and rumen fermentation of dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXltlWmtbc%3D&md5=8cce3c124447c43f422ed9de7b550843CAS | 18420626PubMed |
Bramley E, Lean IJ, Fulkerson WJ, Stevenson MA, Rabiee AR, Costa ND (2008) The definition of acidosis in dairy herds predominantly fed on pasture and concentrates. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 308–321.
| The definition of acidosis in dairy herds predominantly fed on pasture and concentrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhsVGisg%3D%3D&md5=bc592a3e72e83af0e66d1a3f17584eccCAS | 18096953PubMed |
Clayton EH, Hanstock TL, Kable CJ, Hirneth SJ, Garg ML, Hazell PL (2008) Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood of children and adolescents with juvenile bipolar disorder. Lipids 43, 1031–1038.
| Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood of children and adolescents with juvenile bipolar disorder.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtlSgsb3J&md5=00686e4ca472ef9143ff90b5c4006c9cCAS | 18781353PubMed |
DEPI (2014) Feedlotting lambs. Available at http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/livestock/sheep/victorias-sheep-meat-and-wool-industry/feeding-and-nutrition/feedlotting-lambs [Verified 12 March 2014]
Deswysen A, Vanbelle M, Focant M (1978) The effect of silage chop length on the voluntary intake and rumination behaviour of sheep. Grass and Forage Science 33, 107–115.
| The effect of silage chop length on the voluntary intake and rumination behaviour of sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Einarson MS, Plaizier JC, Wittenberg KM (2004) Effects of barley silage chop length on productivity and rumen conditions of lactating dairy cows fed a total mixed ration. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 2987–2996.
| Effects of barley silage chop length on productivity and rumen conditions of lactating dairy cows fed a total mixed ration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXntlGjsbY%3D&md5=7f376aa6aa820bb426e4f6b08fa1939aCAS | 15375060PubMed |
Galyean ML, Defoor PJ (2003) Effects of roughage source and level on intake by feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 14, E8–E16.
Hadjigeorgiou IE, Gordon IJ, Milne JA (2003) Intake, digestion and selection of roughage with different staple lengths by sheep and goats. Small Ruminant Research 47, 117–132.
| Intake, digestion and selection of roughage with different staple lengths by sheep and goats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kenney PA, Black JL, Colebrook WF (1984) Factors affecting diet selection by sheep 3. Dry-matter content and particle length of forage. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 831–838.
| Factors affecting diet selection by sheep 3. Dry-matter content and particle length of forage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krause KM, Oetzel GR (2006) Understanding and preventing subacute ruminal acidosis in dairy herds: a review. Animal Feed Science and Technology 126, 215–236.
| Understanding and preventing subacute ruminal acidosis in dairy herds: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xht1Orurs%3D&md5=f4fc93c7ffe6e7336b806d147f63fa4aCAS |
Littell RC, Henry PR, Ammerman CB (1998) Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science 76, 1216–1231.
NHMRC (2004) ‘Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.’ 7th edn. (Australian Government: Canberra)
O’Grady L, Doherty ML, Mulligan FJ (2008) Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in grazing Irish dairy cows. Veterinary Journal (London, England) 176, 44–49.
| Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in grazing Irish dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Packer EJ, Clayton EH, Cusack PMV (2011) Rumen fermentation and liveweight gain in beef cattle treated with monensin and grazing lush forage. Australian Veterinary Journal 89, 338–345.
SAS Institute Inc (1997) ‘SAS/STAT software: changes and enhancements through release 6.12.’ (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC)
Wang Z, Goonewardene LA (2004) The use of MIXED models in the analysis of animal experiments with repeated measures. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 84, 1–11.
| The use of MIXED models in the analysis of animal experiments with repeated measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang WZ, Beauchemin KA (2006) Effects of physically effective fiber on chewing activity and ruminal pH of dairy cows fed diets based on barley silage. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 217–228.
| Effects of physically effective fiber on chewing activity and ruminal pH of dairy cows fed diets based on barley silage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XisVSkug%3D%3D&md5=fe28b664507d12556d353a5db2a9a30eCAS | 16357285PubMed |
Yansari AT, Valizadeh R, Naserian A, Christensen DA, Yu P, Shahroodi FE (2004) Effects of alfalfa particle size and specific gravity on chewing activity, digestibility, and performance of Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 3912–3924.
| Effects of alfalfa particle size and specific gravity on chewing activity, digestibility, and performance of Holstein dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXptVOktro%3D&md5=05c66c3e6e0f35ef3ffe97aa5000c82eCAS |
Zebeli Q, Tafaj M, Weber I, Dijkstra J, Steingass H, Drochner W (2007) Effects of varying dietary forage particle size in two concentrate levels on chewing activity, ruminal mat characteristics, and passage in dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 1929–1942.
| Effects of varying dietary forage particle size in two concentrate levels on chewing activity, ruminal mat characteristics, and passage in dairy cow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXjs1ahsLs%3D&md5=a2501704faaf945c5ac866be19adaf7cCAS | 17369233PubMed |
