Browsing by Author "Chandler, Paul T."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Composition and in vivo and in vitro digestibility of cattle fecal waste
    Lucas, Donald Montgomery (Virginia Tech, 1974-04-05)
    Three digestion trials were conducted with six yearling steers to study apparent digestibility of fecal waste from steers fed a ground, high roughage finishing ration. In the first trial steers were fed a basal ration containing approximately 50% roughage. The ration contained 14.3% crude protein and 22.8% crude fiber, dry basis. Apparent digestibility was 65% for dry matter and 66% for crude protein. The feces collected during this trial were dried in a forced air oven at 120 C and ground. The chemical composition of the feces was 13.2% crude protein, 31.4% crude fiber, 2.8% ether extract, 5.4% ash, 38.8% NFE, 70.9% cell walls and 44.8% ADF, dry basis. For trials 2 and 3 a switch-back design was used. In each trial one-half of the steers were fed the basal and the remainder were fed a ration in which dried cattle feces collected during trial 1 were substituted for 20% of the basal ration.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Fermentation, utilization and palatability of broiler litter ensiled at different moisture levels and with high moisture corn grain
    Caswell, Larry Forrest (Virginia Tech, 1975-02-11)
    The feasibility of ensiling broiler litter alone, with added water or with high moisture corn grain was evaluated. Wood shaving based broiler litter was ensiled in small laboratory silos (about 4 liters) at moisture levels of 15.6 (no water added), 20, 30, 40 and 50%. Maximum fermentation was approached at 40% moisture as measured by silage pH and levels of lactic and acetic acids and water-soluble carbohydrates. Coliform bacteria were eliminated by ensiling at 20 to 50% moisture. In a subsequent study, litter was ground and 545 kg were ensiled alone (22% moisture) or with added water to elevate the moisture to 40%. Active fermentation occurred, and coliforms were eliminated in the silage containing 40% moisture. Twenty-four wethers and 12 steers were used in a metabolism study and a palatability study, respectively. Four rations were supplemented with: (1) dry heat processed litter [260 C at a depth of 1.3 cm for 30 min.]; (2) 22% moisture litter silage; (3) 40% moisture litter silage; or (4) soybean meal. Supplements supplied 50% of the dietary nitrogen in the metabolism trial. Nitrogen retention was lower (P<.01) for the ration supplemented with processed litter than for the other rations. Apparent digestibility was not significantly different among the three rations supplemented with litter, but digestion coefficients for dry matter and crude fiber were lower (P<.05) for the ration supplemented with soybean meal. Litter supplied 50% of the total ration dry matter in the palatability study. Dry matter intakes by cattle were similar for the two rations containing litter silage and were significantly (P<.01) lower than for cattle fed the conventional soybean meal supplemented ration. In another study, ground high moisture (26%) corn grain was ensiled alone or with ground litter in a 2 to 1 ratio in approximate 1 metric ton masses. The extent of fermentation in the corn-litter mixture was less than in corn ensiled alone. Twenty-four wethers were used in a metabolism trial and 12 steers were individually fed in two 15-day palatability trials. The four rations tested in both studies contained: (1) ensiled corn; (2) ensiled corn-litter mixture; (3) ensiled corn and dry heat processed litter [260 C at a depth of 1.3 cm for 30 min.]; or (4) ensiled corn and soybean meal. Nitrogen intake was similar for the three supplemented rations (2, 3, 4) fed in the metabolism study. Nitrogen retention was lowest (P<.01) for the unsupplemented ration (1). Retention was significantly higher (P<.01) for the soybean meal than for the litter-containing rations. This can be attributed mainly to lower fecal nitrogen excretion. Coefficients of apparent digestibility were usually significantly lower for the unsupplemented than for the supplemented rations. Apparent digestibility of crude protein was lower (P<.01) for both litter-containing rations than for the soybean meal supplemented ration. Digestion coefficients for dry matter, crude fiber, and NFE were not significantly different among rations 2, 3 and 4. Dry matter intakes tended to be higher for cattle fed litter than for those fed the soybean meal supplemented ration. Intake was lowest (P<.01) for the unsupplemented ration.
  • Thumbnail Image
    How Much Are Your Forages Worth?
    Jones, Gerald M.; Chandler, Paul T.; Wagner, Philip E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, 1980-04)
  • Thumbnail Image
    Methionine, lysine, and phenylalanine infusion and the effect on plasma amino acid concentrations and mammary uptake
    Norman, Alfred W. (Virginia Tech, 1975-05-03)
    Ten cows were used in 4 x 4 Latin squares with an extra period for estimation of carry-over effects to study plasma amino acid responses to jugular infusion of amino acids at early, mid, and late lactation. Methionine (M), methionine + lysine (ML), and methionine + lysine + phenylalanine (MLP) in a balance with glutamic acid (C) were infused at 25% of the amino acid content of pretreatment milk via the jugular vein. Rations were formulated at 16, 15, and 14% crude protein and 15, 18, and 21% crude fiber for 30, 120, and 240 day lactational groups. Carry-over effects were present only in arterial blood at 240 days. Differences in milk production were not significant, although production increased on M, ML, and MLP at 30 days. Plasma amino acid responses of nonruminants were utilized to aid in evaluation. Arterial and venous plasma amino acid concentrations were lowest on ML at 30 days, while amino acid uptake was significantly increased by M. At 120 days plasma responses were inconclusive and non-significant. The amino acid uptake trend followed that observed at 30 days. At 240 days plasma amino acid concentrations were lowest with ML, while uptake was increased on MLP. Essential amino acids were ranked in potential orders of limitation by amino acid extraction and utilization for milk protein by the mammary gland. Order of limitation differed between calculation methods but was similar for all three stage.s of lactation. Orders of limitation were as follows: Amino acid extraction - methionine~ lysine, arginine, leucine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, and histidine. Amino acid utilization - phenylalanine, threonine or histidine, valine, leucine, methionine, lysine, isoleucine, and arginine. Since there was no substantial change in order of limitation with infusion, either protein intakes were above requirements or amino acids not infused are candidates for limitation. However, among amino acids infused, the parameters observed suggested lysine or methionine at 30 days, methionine at 120 days, and no apparent choice at 240 days.