Go to Top Go to Bottom
Anim Biosci > Volume 31(6); 2018 > Article
Wei, Chen, Wei, Geng, and Yan: Comparison among methods of effective energy evaluation of corn silage for beef cattle

Abstract

Objective

This study was conducted to compare different methods on effective energy evaluation of corn silage for beef cattle.

Methods

Twenty Wandong bulls (Chinese indigenous yellow cattle) with initial body weight of 281±15.6 kg, were assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 4 animals per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Five dietary treatments included group 1 with corn silage only diet, group 2 with corn silage-concentrate basal diet (BD) and 3 groups with 3 test diets, which were the BD partly substituted by corn silage at 10%, 30%, and 60%. The total collection digestion trial was conducted for 5 d for each block after a 10-d adaptation period, and then an open-circuit respiratory cage was used to measure the gas exchange of each animal in a consecutive 4-d period.

Results

The direct method-derived metabolizable energy and net energy of corn silage were 8.86 and 5.15 MJ/kg dry matter (DM), expressed as net energy requirement for maintenance and gain were 5.28 and 2.90 MJ/kg DM, respectively; the corresponding regression method-derived estimates were 8.96, 5.34, 5.37, and 2.98 MJ/kg DM, respectively. The direct method-derived estimates were not different (p>0.05) from those obtained using the regression method. Using substitution method, the nutrient apparent digestibility and effective energy values of corn silage varied with the increased corn silage substitution ratio (p<0.05). In addition, the corn silage estimates at the substitution ratio of 30% were similar to those estimated by direct and regression methods.

Conclusion

In determining the energy value of corn silage using substitution method, there was a discrepancy between different substitution ratios, and the substitution ratio of 30% was more appropriate than 10% or 60% in the current study. The regression method based on multiple point substitution was more appropriate than single point substitution on energy evaluation of feedstuffs for beef cattle.

INTRODUCTION

Forage is generally the principle ingredient in feedlot diets for growing cattle, and can constitute up to 60% of the diet’s dry matter (DM) [1]. Corn (Zea mays L.) silage is a major forage source for ruminants around the world. Energy is crucial to dietary provision for animal production, and determining the energy available to beef cattle is partly dependent on knowledge of the metabolizable energy (ME) and net energy (NE) contents of feedstuffs formulated into diets. Therefore, a need exists to better understand the ME and NE values of corn silage.
For the energy evaluation of feedstuffs for ruminants, mathematical models of energy utilization are based on chemical composition of feedstuffs and influenced by the methodology followed by in vitro [2] or in situ [3,4] techniques to determine energy utilization are generally used around the world. However, the limitation of these conventional models is that neither in vitro nor in situ methods reflect the true metabolic physiology of animals as reported by Birkett and de Lange [5]. Thus, an in vivo technique containing direct method and indirect method is always preferred and commonly used for non-ruminant species [68]. More recently, this approach has been applied to ruminants in China [9,10]. The published study has summarized methods of energy evaluation of feed ingredients and their accuracy [11], and also compared the nutritional evaluation of dietary ingredients rabbits among methods in a collaborative study carried out in four laboratories [12]. However, there is a dearth of methodological studies on feedstuffs evaluation for beef cattle. Therefore, this study, involving a corn silage only diet for direct method and different ratios of corn silage substitution into basal diet (BD) for substitution and regression methods, aimed to compare different methods on ME and NE evaluation of corn silage for beef cattle.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted from mid-November to mid-December in 2016 at a beef cattle farm in Fengyang county, Anhui province, China. The animals were treated as approved by the Humane Animal Care and Ethics Committee of the Nanjing Agricultural University, China (SYXK2011-0036).

Animals, experiment design, and diets

Twenty Wandong bulls (Chinese indigenous yellow cattle; 281±15.6 kg) were allocated to five groups in a randomized complete block design according to the initial body weight (BW), and each group was assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments. The 5 dietary treatments included group 1 fed only a corn silage diet for the direct method of energy evaluation, group 2 with corn silage-concentrate BD and 3 groups with 3 test diets (TD) for substitution and regression methods. In the 3 TD, the energy-yielding ingredient from BD was partly replaced by corn silage at 3 substitution ratios (10%, 30%, and 60%). Animals were housed in individual stalls, and fed twice daily (08:00 and 16:00 h) with free access to water. The ingredient composition and nutrient content of experimental diets are presented in Table 1. The experimental period was 19 d, with the first 10-d as an adaptation period and the last 9-d as the test period. Total collection of feces and urine for each bull was carried out for consecutive 5-d from day 11 to 15. Then, gas exchange measurement was conducted for consecutive 4-d (day 16 to 19) followed by the digestion trial. For gas exchange trial, the heat production (HP) and methane emission of each bull was measured using an open-circuit respiratory head cage (details as follows). The measurement process was repeated for 4 times daily for each bull with the following schedule: 06:00 h (represented pre-feeding 1 h), 12:00 h (represented diurnal rest), 18:00 h (represented post-feeding 1 h), and 24:00 h (represented nocturnal rest), each 8 to 12 min in duration. The all-day HP and methane emission of each bull were given as the mean values extrapolated from the 4 repeated measurements daily.

Open-circuit respiratory head cage

The structure of the open-circuit respiratory cage was similar to that described by Suzuki [13]. The system was mainly comprised of a head cage, flow meter, gas analyzer, blower and air filter and dryer. The head cage with total capacity of 895 L (80× 80×140 cm3) was made of wood structure and rigid transparent plastic. The head cage was equipped with an axial fan on the ceiling of the cage to mix the air, and two copper-constantan thermocouples on the sides to measure the dry and wet bulb temperature. The oxygen concentration of inlet and outlet air from the head cage was measured with a paramagnetic analyzer (8000M, resolution 0.01%; Signal Instrument, Camberley, UK), and methane concentration was measured with a photoacoustic multigas monitor (INNOVA 1412; LumaSense Technologies, Ballerup, Denmark). Measurements of oxygen concentration (%), methane concentration (mg/m3), dry-wet bulb temperature of the room and chamber were collected in 1-min periods by a digital logger (TR2723; Advantest Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The ventilation rate was approximately 400 L/min, and was measured by a flow meter (Model FWH-N-S; Nippon Flow Cell Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The air flow rate was read every minute, and was almost constant. The calorimetric system was calibrated using the pure nitrogen (99.99%) injection method of releasing a pre-weighed quantity of nitrogen gas into the system [14]. The HP was calculated according to McLean and Tobin [15]: HP = 20.47× ΔFO2×V×STPf×Nf×60/BW0.75, where HP = the rate of HP (kJ/kg0.75 per h); 20.47 = the coefficient of energy expenditure of per oxygen consumption (kJ/L); ΔFO2 = the difference in the percentages of oxygen concentration between the inlet and outlet air of the head cage (%); V = the air flow rate of the respiratory head cage (L/min); STPf = the standard temperature and barometric pressure factor; Nf = the nitrogen calibration factor; BW0.75 = metabolic body weight (kg). The methane emission was considered as the difference in methane concentration between the inlet and outlet air of the head cage multiplied by the ventilation volume.

Sampling, measurements, and analyses

The representative samples of feeds were collected weekly, and were dried to a constant weight in a forced-air oven at 60°C to 65°C. Total collection of feces was carried out daily during the 5-d period. Feces were weighed daily and individually homogenized, and then a 10% sample of the total weight of feces was also dried in a forced-air oven at 60°C to 65°C. All feed and fecal samples were ground to pass a 0.5-mm screen using a mill grinder (Retsch ZM 100; Retsch GmbH and Co. K.C., Haan, Germany), and then were stored at 4°C until analysis. Total urine was collected daily during the 5d collection period using a rubber funnel, which was fitted tightly over the animal’s penis. Urine was collected in a bucket containing 100 mL of 10% H2SO4 to maintain a pH below 3. The total volume was measured, and a sample (10 mL/L of total volume) was stored at −20°C for subsequent analysis.
The DM (method 934.01), ash (method 967.05), crude protein (CP; method 984.13), ether extract (EE; method 920.39), Ca (method 968.08), and P (method 985.01) of dried samples (feeds and feces) were analyzed according to AOAC [16]. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were determined by an Ankom 200 Fiber Analyzer (F57 Filter Bags; Ankom Technology, NY, USA) following the procedures of Goering and Van Soest [17] and Goering and Van Soest et al [18]. The gross energy (GE) was determined using a bomb calorimeter (C200; IKA Works Inc., Staufen, Germany). For urine samples, total nitrogen (N) and GE were determined as described above. Before combustion for GE measurements, a 10mL sample of urine was absorbed by two pieces of quantitative filter paper of known weight (Wohua filter paper Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, China) and ovendried at 60°C. The caloric concentration of the quantitative filter paper was also determined, and the urinary GE calculated as the difference in GE value of between the quantitative filter paper with urine and the quantitative filter paper.

Data calculations

The DE and ME were calculated as follows:
DE=GE-fecal energy (FE),ME=DE-urinary energy (UE)-methane energy (CH4-E)
The CH4-E was calculated as the methane emission (L/d) multiplied by the caloric value of methane (39.54 kJ/L). The fasting heat production (FHP) was estimated as the antilog of the intercept confidence interval (95%) of the linear regression between the log of HP and ME intake [19], and the retained energy (RE) was calculated by deducting the loss of HP from the ME. Consequently, NE was expressed as the sum of FHP and RE.
The nutrient apparent digestibility and effective energy value of test ingredients were calculated as previously described by Adeola [20]:
Ingredient nutrient digestibility (ID,%)=100×[TDD-(1-X)×BDD]/X,Ingredient energy value (IE,MJ/kg DM)=100×[TDE-(1-X)×BDE]/X
Where ID, TDD and BDD are the nutrient apparent digestibility of ingredient, TD and BD, respectively (%); IE, TDE, and BDE are the energy value of ingredient, TD and BD, respectively (MJ/kg DM); X is the substitution ratio of ingredient. Alternatively, the effective energy in test ingredient can also be estimated by the regression of energy contribution of test ingredient correcting the substitution ratio to the total dietary energy (test ingredient-associated energy intake) against the test ingredient DM intake as described by Adeola and Ileleji [21]. The test ingredient-associated energy intake was calculated as:
Test ingredient-associated energy intake (MJ/d)=TDintake-(1-X)×BDintake,
Where TDintake and BDintake are the TD energy intake (MJ/d DM) and BD energy intake (MJ/d DM). The net energy requirement for maintenance (NEm) and gain (NEg) of feedstuff was calculated as the following formulas described by NRC [22]:
NEm(Mcal/kg)=1.37ME-0.138ME2+0.0105ME3-1.12,NEg(Mcal/kg)=1.42ME-0.174ME2+0.0122ME3-1.65
Where ME is ME concentration in feedstuff (Mcal/kg DM).

Statistical analyses

Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using IBM SPSS Statistics software (Ver. 20.0 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results were presented as means and standard error of the mean. Comparisons of means were performed by Duncan’s comparison test of one-way analysis of variance, and the level of significance was evaluated at p< 0.05. Linear regressions were conducted with a general linear model procedure in SPSS. Test ingredient-associated DE, ME, or NE intake (MJ) was regressed against the test ingredient intake (kg, DM basis) for each block, and slopes generated from regressions were equal to the DE, ME, and NE concentrations in megajoule per kilogram DM of test ingredient. The slope data from 4 blocks also were analyzed as a one-way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design.

RESULTS

The chemical composition of corn silage

The analyzed chemical composition of corn silage used in this study is presented in Table 2.

Nutrients digestibility and energy balance of diets for bulls determined by direct and substitution methods

Results from the dietary nutrient digestibility for bulls determined by direct and substitution methods are shown in Table 3. Obviously, the apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, NDF, and ADF decreased linearly (p<0.05) with the increased corn silage substitution ratio. The lowest nutrients apparent digestibility occurred in the corn silage only diet group compared to other groups.
Results from the dietary energy intake, energy outputs and efficiency of utilization for bulls determined by direct and substitution methods are shown in Table 4. As corn silage substitution into the BD increased from 0% to 60%, the intake of GE, DE, ME, and NE decreased linearly (p<0.05). The corn silage only diet group obtained the lowest value compared with other corn silage substitution diet groups. The daily output of UE and CH4-E were not affected (p>0.05) by corn silage substitution but there was a linearly increase (p<0.05) in the daily FE output. In addition, the energy digestibility (DE/GE) and metabolizability (ME/GE) also decreased significantly (p<0.05) with the increasing of corn silage substitution.

Comparison of nutrients digestibility and energy values of corn silage following different methods

As shown in Table 5, the apparent digestibility of NDF and ADF of corn silage were similar (p>0.05) among groups, whereas the DM, OM, and CP apparent digestibility of corn silage determined by direct method (corn silage only diet group) were greater than those obtained in 60% group (p<0.05) but no significant difference compared with 10% group and 30% group (p>0.05). In addition, the energy efficiency of digestibility and metabolizability of corn silage in the corn silage only diet group were lower than that in 10% group (p<0.05) but similar to those obtained in 30% group and 60% group (p>0.05).
The effective energy values of corn silage can be estimated by direct and substitution methods. Alternatively, the energy values of corn silage can also be estimated by extrapolation using multiple point substitution. Strong regressions were found between the energy intake associated with corn silage substituted portion in the BD and the DM intake of substituted corn silage (Figure 1). Regression equations for DE, ME, and NE were Y = 10.80X+0.34 (R2 = 0.98, p<0.001), Y = 8.98X+ 0.31 (R2 = 0.97, p<0.001) and Y = 5.60X+0.19 (R2 = 0.99, p<0.001), which generated the DE, ME, and NE values of 10.80, 8.98, and 5.60 MJ/kg DM for corn silage.
Comparative direct method-, substitution method- and regression method-derived DE, ME, NE, NEm, and NEg values of corn silage are presented in Table 6. Obviously, direct method-derived estimates were not different from regression method-derived estimates (p>0.05). There was significantly discrepancy (p<0.05) in the energy estimates of corn silage calculated by different substitution ratios when using single substitution method. In addition, the energy estimates of corn silage derived at the substitution ratio of 30% were more similar to direct method- and regression method-derived estimates (p>0.05).

DISCUSSION

Dietary nutrient digestibility and energy value

Nutrient apparent digestibility has served as the base for evaluating the utilization efficiency of individual feedstuff and diet for animals. The variability of nutrient digestibility was primarily attributed to the composition of diet. Traditionally, concentrate was usually more digestible than forage, resulting in that total diet digestibility generally depended on concentrate to forage ratio in the mixed diet [23]. In our study, the proportion of forage in the experimental diet increased linearly with the increasing of corn silage substitution into the BD, therefore, the nutrient digestibility decreased successively. Similar results were reported by Huhtaneii and Jaakkola [24] for cattle offered complete diets with different forage proportions on a DM basis. In addition, it has been well demonstrated that the crude fiber or NDF content showed a high negative correlation with nutrient digestibility [25,26]. The NDF content in diet increased gradually as corn silage substitution into the BD increased from 0% to 60%, and the highest NDF content occurred in the corn silage only diet in the current study. Consequently, in response to dietary NDF content, the nutrient digestibility decreased correspondingly. The energy utilization efficiency of diet was also affected by the composition of diet, including the digestible protein content and indigestible fiber content. The current study demonstrated that dietary effective energy was positively correlated to CP content but negatively correlated to NDF content, which was similar to the result as reported by Mc Geough et al [27].

Nutritional evaluation of corn silage for beef cattle by different methods

The nutritional value of feedstuffs for animals can be determined directly with a diet formulated with sole test ingredient such that all of the energy is supplied by the test ingredient (direct method) or indirectly with diets formulated with basal ingredient and test ingredient in given proportion such that energy supplied by other feed ingredients is proportionally substituted (substitution and regression method).
Direct method is commonly used for evaluating complete diets, but, for individual feedstuff, its use has been confined merely to some palatable forage whose chemical composition is relatively balanced [12]. The analyzed chemical compositions of corn silage in this study were 226.8 g/kg DM and 941.7 g OM, 74.3 g CP, 23.5 g EE, 661.7 g NDF, 376.3 g ADF, and 17.62 MJ GE per kilogram DM, being palatable for beef cattle. Furthermore, previous feeding study confirmed that cattle fed the corn silage only with premix diet had a positive performance in feed intake and growth, all of which indicated that corn silage can be evaluated using direct method for cattle. However, there is a situation where the feed ingredients have an unbalanced nutritional composition and are not suitable for direct method. Thus, substitution method is proposed to overcome the flaws in the direct method by feeding the test ingredient in conjunction with a suitable BD of known dietary energy value.
For the substitution method, the substitution ratio is directly related to the accuracy in the precision of estimation of feedstuff evaluation. Villamide [12] pointed out that the standard error of ingredient energy value estimated by substitution method is 13.4, 6.4, and 2.9 times higher than the SE of diets for 10%, 20%, and 40% substitution ratios, respectively. In the current study, a significant difference was observed in nutrients apparent digestibility (DM, OM, CP, DE/GE) and effective energy values of corn silage (DE, ME, NE) among three substitution ratios when using substitution method. This observation is consistent with the report of Zhao et al [28], who determined the energy value of Leymus chinensis for sheep by direct and substitution methods. Direct method-derived nutritional estimates of corn silage were different from those derived by substitution method in the 10% or 60% group. Nevertheless, direct method-derived estimates did not differ with the result obtained in 30% group in the current study. Maertens and De Groote [29] compared the substitution and direct method for evaluating alfalfa hay in rabbits and obtained similar results.
Given the variability of single point substitution, the regression method based on multiple point substitution is more reliable to evaluate the energy value of feedstuffs as reported by Villamide et al [13]. In this study, corn silage energy value was estimated by establishing the regression of energy intake associated with corn silage substituted portion and the DM intake of substituted corn silage. Recently, Adeola et al [7] determined the ME of corn distillers grains for broiler chickens by the foregoing regression of energy intake. In the same way, Bolarinwa and Adeola [8] determined the DE and ME of wheat for pigs. Regression and direct methods did not give different estimates of effective energy values of corn silage in our study, which was consistent with the report of Bolarinwa and Adeola [9]. In addition, the DE, ME, NE as well as NEm and NEg based on ME values estimated by regression method were close to substitution method-derived estimates at 30% of substitution ratio.
In summary, the effective energy values of corn silage for beef cattle evaluated by direct method were not different from those evaluated by regression method. In determining the energy value of corn silage using substitution method, the substitution ratio of 30% was more appropriate than 10% or 60% in the current study. Furthermore, the regression method based on multiple point substitution is more robust than single point substitution to estimate the energy value of corn silage.

Notes

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

We certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the Public Welfare Industry (Agriculture) Scientific Research Projects (grant number 201303145), National Key R&D Plan (grant number 2016YFD0500508) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501930).

Figure 1
Regression of digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), or net energy (NE) intake (Y, MJ) associated with the test ingredient (corn silage) against the dry matter (DM) intake of test ingredient (X, kg). Regression equations were Y = 10.80X+0.34, n = 16, R2 = 0.98, p<0.001 for DE, Y = 8.98X+0.37, n = 16, R2 = 0.97, p<0.001 for ME and Y = 5.60X+0.19, n = 16, R2 = 0.99, p<0.001 for NE, respectively.
ajas-31-6-851f1.gif
Table 1
Ingredients and nutrient content of the experimental diets for bulls
Item Corn silage only diet Corn silage substitution ratio (%)

0 10 30 60
Ingredients (%)
 Corn 0.00 20.58 18.52 14.41 8.23
 Soybean meal 0.00 8.82 7.94 6.17 3.53
 Corn silage 98.00 68.60 71.54 77.42 86.24
 CaHPO4 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
 NaHCO3 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35
 Salt 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
 Premix1) 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65
 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Nutrient levels (% DM)2)
 Organic matter 94.07 94.89 94.81 94.64 94.40
 ME (MJ/kg DM) 8.62 9.87 9.75 9.50 9.12
 Crude protein 7.35 11.33 10.93 10.14 8.94
 Ether Extract 2.38 2.87 2.82 2.72 2.57
 Neutral detergent fiber 66.40 51.57 53.05 56.02 60.47
 Acid detergent fiber 37.23 27.98 28.90 30.75 33.53
 Ca 0.52 0.41 0.42 0.44 0.48
 P 0.21 0.26 0.25 0.24 0.23

DM, dry matter; ME, metabolizable energy.

1) The premix provided the following per kg of concentrate: Vitamin A 500,000 IU, Vitamin D 150,000 IU, Vitamin E 3,000 IU, Cu 3 g, Zn 12 g, Fe 30 g, Mn 10 g, Se 60 mg, I 200 mg, Co 100 mg.

2) ME value was calculated according to the National Research Council [22], while the other nutrient levels were measured values.

Table 2
Chemical compositions of corn silage used in this study
Item1) Content
Dry matter (%) 22.68
Organic matter (% of DM) 94.17
GE (MJ/kg DM) 17.62
Crude protein (% of DM) 7.43
Ether extract (% of DM) 2.35
Neutral detergent fiber (% of DM) 66.17
Acid detergent fiber (% of DM) 37.63
Ca (% of DM) 0.49
P (% of DM) 0.20

DM, dry matter; GE, gross energy.

1) All the nutrient levels were measured values.

Table 3
Dietary nutrient apparent digestibility for bulls determined by direct and substitution methods
Item Corn silage only diet Corn silage substitution ratio (%) SEM p value

0 10 30 60
DM digestibility (%) 54.34d 60.30a 59.82ab 58.39b 56.46c 1.15 <0.001
OM digestibility (%) 60.39d 67.03a 66.53ab 64.69bc 63.52c 0.92 <0.001
CP digestibility (%) 47.37c 52.95a 53.36a 51.45ab 50.15b 0.98 <0.001
NDF digestibility (%) 51.61b 53.97a 53.49a 53.36a 52.60ab 0.86 0.044
ADF digestibility (%) 35.73b 40.45a 39.47a 37.39a 35.73b 1.02 <0.001

SEM, standard error of the mean; DM, dry matter; OM, organic matter; CP, crude protein; NDF, neutral detergent fiber; ADF, acid detergent fiber.

a–d Different letters in the same row mean significant difference between the treatments (p<0.05).

Table 4
Dietary energy utilization efficiency for bulls determined by direct and substitution methods
Item Corn silage only diet Corn silage substitution ratio (%) SEM p value

0 10 30 60
GE intake (MJ/d) 87.99d 89.50a 89.34a 89.03b 88.57c 0.56 <0.001
FE output (MJ/d) 36.05a 30.31cd 29.91d 31.55c 33.45b 1.05 <0.001
UE output (MJ/d) 2.25 2.55 3.00 2.75 2.68 0.11 0.178
CH4-E output (MJ/d) 6.29 6.34 6.47 6.67 6.52 0.08 0.627
DE intake (MJ/d) 51.95d 59.19a 59.44a 57.48b 55.03c 1.66 <0.001
ME intake (MJ/d) 43.41d 50.30a 49.97a 48.06b 45.83c 0.96 <0.001
HP (kJ/kg0.75/d) 632.26bc 665.65a 652.60ab 649.23ab 622.90c 21.14 0.014
NE intake (MJ/d) 25.37d 29.83ab 30.10a 28.70bc 28.35c 1.15 <0.001
DE/GE (%) 59.04d 66.13a 66.53a 64.56b 62.13c 0.76 <0.001
ME/GE (%) 49.34d 56.12a 55.94a 53.98b 51.74c 0.66 <0.001

SEM, standard error of the mean; GE, gross energy; FE, fecal energy; UE, urinary energy; CH4-E, methane energy; DE, digestible energy; ME, metabolizable energy; HP, heat production; NE, net energy; DE/GE, GE digestibility; ME/GE, GE metabolized.

a–d Different letters in the same row mean significant difference between the treatments (p<0.05).

Table 5
Nutrient apparent digestibility of corn silage for bulls determined by direct and substitution methods
Item Direct method Corn silage substitution ratio (%) SEM p value

10 30 60
DM digestibility (%) 55.45a 52.27ab 54.60a 49.81b 1.36 0.038
OM digestibility (%) 61.62a 62.03a 60.22ab 57.18b 1.04 0.041
CP digestibility (%) 48.34a 51.58a 49.10a 42.61b 1.77 0.029
NDF digestibility (%) 52.66 49.12 51.92 50.68 0.84 0.618
ADF digestibility (%) 36.46 38.93 37.56 35.46 0.86 0.336
DE/GE (%) 60.24b 70.13a 60.91b 59.46b 1.37 0.001
ME/GE (%) 50.35b 53.55a 50.80b 48.77b 1.32 0.069

SEM, standard error of the mean; DM, dry matter; OM, organic matter; CP, crude protein; NDF, neutral detergent fiber; ADF, acid detergent fiber; DE, digestible energy; GE, gross energy; ME, metabolizable energy; DE/GE, GE digestibility; ME/GE, GE metabolized.

a,b Different letters in the same row mean significant difference between the treatments (p<0.05).

Table 6
Comparison on effective energy evaluation of corn silage for bulls by different methods
Item Direct method Corn silage substitution ratio (%) Regression method SEM p value

10 30 60
DE (MJ/kg) 10.61b 12.67a 10.80b 10.48b 10.81b 0.31 <0.001
ME (MJ/kg) 8.86a 9.05a 8.68a 7.55b 8.96a 0.25 0.001
NE (MJ/kg) 5.15b 6.23a 5.13b 5.45b 5.34b 0.14 0.067
NEm (MJ/kg) 5.28a 5.45a 5.10a 4.03b 5.37a 0.24 0.001
NEg (MJ/kg) 2.90a 3.04a 2.74a 1.74b 2.98a 0.23 0.001

SEM, standard error of the mean; DE, digestible energy; ME, metabolizable energy; NE, net energy; NEm, net energy requirement for maintenance; NEg, net energy requirement for gain.

a,b Different letters in the same row mean significant difference between the treatments (p<0.05).

REFERENCES

1. ZoBell DR, Olson K, Wiedmeier R, et al. Effects of processed corn silage on its digestibility and production of growing beef replacement heifers. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2002; 96:221–8.
crossref
2. Krishnamoorthya U, Rymerb C, Robinsonc PH. The in vitro gas production technique: limitations and opportunities. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2005; 123–124:1–7.
crossref
3. Orskov ER, Hovell FD, DeB Mould F. The use of the nylon bag technique for the evaluation of feedstuffs. Trop Anim Health Prod 1980; 5:195–213.

4. Vanzan ES, Cochran RC, Titgemeyer EC. Standardization of in situ-techniques for ruminant feedstuff evaluation. J Anim Sci 1998; 76:2717–29.
crossref pmid
5. Birkett S, de Lange K. Limitations of conventional models and a conceptual framework for a nutrient flow representation of energy utilization by animals. Br J Nutr 2001; 86:647–59.
crossref pmid
6. Adeola O, Jendza J, Southern L, Powell S, Owusu-Asiedu A. Contribution of exogenous dietary carbohydrases to the metabolizable energy value of corn distillers grains for broiler chickens. Poult Sci 2010; 89:1947–54.
crossref pmid pdf
7. Bolarinwa OA, Adeola O. Direct and regression methods do not give different estimates of digestible and metabolizable energy of wheat for pigs. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:Suppl 4390–2.
crossref pmid pdf
8. Bolarinwa OA, Adeola O. Regression and direct methods do not give different estimates of digestible and metabolizable energy values of barley, sorghum, and wheat for pigs. J Anim Sci 2016; 94:610–8.
crossref pmid pdf
9. Qu ZT. Determination of crude feed composition and production levels of net energy impact of L. Chinensis and different varieties of corn net. master’s thesis. Harbin, China: Northeast Agricultural University; 2012.

10. Zhao MM, Ma T, Ma JN, et al. Prediction and equation of effective energy values of common roughages for mutton sheep. Chn J Anim Nutr 2016; 28:2385–95.

11. Villamide MJ. Methods of energy evaluation of feed ingredients for rabbits and their accuracy. Anim Feed Sci Technol 1996; 57:211–23.
crossref
12. Villamide MJ, García J, Cervera C, et al. Comparison among methods of nutritional evaluation of dietary ingredients for rabbits. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2003; 109:195–207.
crossref
13. Suzuki T, Phaowphaisal I, Pholsen P, et al. In vivo nutritive value of pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha) hay by a novel indirect calorimeter with a ventilated hood in Thailand. Jpn Agric Res Q 2008; 42:123–9.
crossref
14. Young BA, Fenton TW, McLean JA. Calibration methods in respiratory calorimetry. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 1984; 56:1120–5.
crossref pmid
15. McLean JA, Tobin G. Animal and human calorimetry. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2007. p. 108–11.

16. AOAC. Official methods of analysis of the AOAC International. 18th ednGaithersberg, MD: AOAC International; 2006.

17. Goering HK, Van Soest PJ. Forage fiber analysis (apparatus, reagents, procedures and some applications). Washington, DC, USA: USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 379; 1970. p. 1–20.

18. Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB, Lewis BA. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J Dairy Sci 1991; 74:3583–97.
crossref pmid
19. Lofgreen GP, Garrett WN. A system for expressing net energy requirements and feed values for growing and finishing beef cattle. J Anim Sci 1968; 27:793–806.
crossref
20. Adeola O. Digestion and balance techniques in pigsLewis DJ, Southern LL, editorsSwine nutrition. 2nd ednNew York, USA: CRC Press; 2001. p. 903–16.

21. Adeola O, Ileleji K. Comparison of two diet types in the determination of metabolizable energy content of corn distillers dried grains with solubles for broiler chickens by the regression method. Poult Sci 2009; 88:579–85.
crossref pmid pdf
22. National Research Council (NRC). Subcommittee on beef cattle nutrition. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle. 7th rev. edWashington, DC, USA: National Academy Press; 2000.

23. Valdes C, Carro MD, Ranilla MJ, González J. Effect of forage to concentrate ratio in complete diets offered to sheep on voluntary food intake and some digestive parameters. Anim Sci 2000; 70:119–26.
crossref
24. Huhtanen P, Jaakkola S. The effects of forage preservation method and proportion of concentrate on digestion of cell wall carbohydrates and rumen digesta pool size in cattle. Grass Forage Sci 1993; 48:155–65.
crossref
25. Nousiainen J, Rinne M, Hellämäki M, Huhtanen P. Prediction of the digestibility of primary growth and regrowth grass silages from chemical composition, pepsin-cellulase solubility and indigestible cell wall content. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2003; 110:61–74.
crossref
26. Owens FN, Sapienza DA, Hassen AT. Effect of nutrient composition of feeds on digestibility of organic matter by cattle: a review. J Anim Sci 2010; 88:151–69.
crossref pdf
27. Mc Geough EJ, O’Kiely P, Hart KJ, et al. Methane emissions, feed intake, performance, digestibility, and rumen fermentation of finishing beef cattle offered whole-crop wheat silages differing in grain content. J Anim Sci 2010; 88:2703–16.
crossref pmid pdf
28. Zhao MM, Yang KL, Deng KD, et al. A comparison on metabolizable energy of Leymus Chinensis in mutton sheep determined by direct and substitution methods. Chn J Anim Nutr 2016; 28:436–43.

29. Maertens L, De Groote G. The digestible energy of alfalfa meal determined by digestibility tests with rabbits. Rev Agric 1981; 34:79–92.



Editorial Office
Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies(AAAP)
Room 708 Sammo Sporex, 23, Sillim-ro 59-gil, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08776, Korea   
TEL : +82-2-888-6558    FAX : +82-2-888-6559   
E-mail : editor@animbiosci.org               

Copyright © 2024 by Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies.

Developed in M2PI

Close layer
prev next