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PubMed2004

Effect of low level monensin supplementation on the production of dairy cows fed alfalfa silage.

Effectiveness of low level monensin supplementation on N utilization in lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa silage was assessed using 48 multiparous Holsteins. Cows were fed a covariate diet [% of dry matter (DM): 56% alfalfa silage, 39% ground high moisture corn, 3% soybean meal, 1% ground corn, 1% vitamin-mineral supplements] for 2 wk, then grouped by days in milk into blocks of 4. Cows were randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of 4 diets that were fed for 10 wk: 1) control (covariate diet), 2) control plus 3% fish meal (replacing DM from high moisture corn), 3) monensin (10 mg/kg DM), and 4) monensin plus 3% fish meal. Diets 1 and 3 averaged 16.7% crude protein (25% from free AA in alfalfa silage); diets 2 and 4 averaged 18.5% crude protein. Monensin intake averaged 16 mg/d on diets 1 and 2 (due to contamination) and 248 mg/d on diets 3 and 4. There was no effect of fish meal or monensin on DM intake. However, weight gain and yield of milk, protein, and SNF increased with fish meal feeding, indicating metabolizable protein limited production. Feeding monensin increased blood glucose but reduced yield of 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk fat content and yield, and milk protein content and yield. Apparent N efficiency was greatest on monensin (diet 3) but lowest on monensin plus fish meal (diet 4). Fish meal reduced blood glucose concentration and apparent N efficiency, and increased concentrations of milk and blood urea. Monensin increased ruminal propionate concentration and decreased concentration of acetate and butyrate and acetate:propionate in ruminally cannulated cows fed the experimental diets. However, these changes were small, suggesting that too little monensin was fed. Fish meal reduced ruminal total amino acid (AA) but monensin did not alter ruminal NH(3) or total AA. Both fish meal and monensin increased NH(3) formation from casein AA using ruminal inoculum from the cannulated cows. There was no evidence from this trial that feeding 250 mg of monensin per day to lactating cows improved N utilization by reducing ruminal catabolism of the large amounts of free AA in alfalfa silage.

Acetates↗

PubMed2006

Short communication: effect of number of extractions on percentage of long-chain fatty acids from fresh alfalfa.

Accurate determination of fatty acids in fresh forage is very important when studying biohydrogenation. Fatty acids from fresh alfalfa were extracted by hexane:isopropanol (H:IP, 3:2 vol/vol) in 3 sequential extractions. The percentage and profile of fatty acids from each of the 3 extractions were evaluated by a randomized complete block design with repeated measures in space. Samples of fresh alfalfa were randomly harvested and immediately submerged in liquid nitrogen. For the first extraction, approximately 5 g of the frozen alfalfa was mixed with 18 mL of H:IP per gram of material. Samples were then centrifuged and the supernatant was collected. The second and third extractions were done by adding H:IP to the pellet (3 mL/g of the original sample weight), mixing for 2 min, and then centrifuging. Samples were submerged in H:IP and stored in the dark at 8 degrees C at all times. The solvent from each extraction was partially evaporated and the fatty acids methylated by methanolic HCl. Repeated extractions increased the percentage of total fatty acids recovered from the samples. The concentration of fatty acids in the alfalfa after 3 extractions was 4.0%. The first, second, and third extractions resulted in 92.7, 4.8, and 2.6% of the total fatty acids extracted, respectively. There was no effect of extraction on the proportion of 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, and 18:2 fatty acids. However, the proportion of 18:3 in the extract decreased from the first to the second extraction and the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acid increased from the first to the second extraction. The results of this experiment revealed that the profile of fatty acids can vary with the number of extractions performed. The higher amount of 18:3 in the first extraction may reflect the higher proportion of linolenic acid in the more easily extracted plant fractions.

2-Propanol↗

PubMed1979

Calcium-containing crystals in alfalfa: their fate in cattle.

The fate of crystals in the parenchymatous sheaths around vascular bundles in alfalfa leaves was followed through the bovine digestive tract by scanning electron microscopy. The bundle and sheath pass from the rumen largely intact. Most crystals are released from the bundle sheath postruminally. In feces, some crystals appear partially eroded and others are intact. By energy-dispersive x-ray analysis calcium is the primary crystal cation. Intact cyrstals isolated from alfalfa leaves by low-temperature ashing and from bovine feces by washing and differential specific gravity were subjected to Raman microprobe analysis. Most crystals were calcium oxalate, a few were potassium oxalate, and some contained both compounds. From 20 to 33% of calcium in alfalfa is in the form of oxalate and apparently unavailable to ruminants. Carbonate is probably in partially eroded crystals from feces. Data presented account for the poorer utilization by cattle of calcium from alfalfa than that from inorganic sources.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Effects of sampling site on passage rate estimates in heifers fed alfalfa hay or a high concentrate diet.

Rate of passage from the rumen was estimated from samples from the rumen, duodenum, ileum, and rectum after four crossbred heifers were dosed with cobalt ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ytterbium-labeled alfalfa or corn grain as digesta markers. Diets consisted of chopped alfalfa hay or an 80% concentrate mixture fed twice daily at 2.0% of body weight (dry matter per day) in two trials. Rates of particulate passage were calculated by two mathematical models, and influence of site of sampling on rate of ruminal passage was appraised. Rate of fluid passage calculated from ruminal samples was more rapid than rates from samples at the duodenum, ileum, and rectum for both the alfalfa diet (10.6 versus 6.3, 5.6, and 5.6% X h-1) and the 80% concentrate diet (10.3 versus 6.8, 7.2, and 6.1% X h-1). With the alfalfa diet, rates of fluid passage estimated from ruminal and rectal samples were correlated .98 despite the marked disparity of means. Rates of passage of particulates estimated from samples from the duodenum, ileum, and rectum were not correlated. Estimates of rate of digesta passage from the rumen differed with postruminal site of sampling.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1985

Effect of additive on alfalfa silage fermentation characteristics and feedlot performance of steers.

In each of two trials four large plastic bags were filled with approximately 72 mt of first cutting, early bloom alfalfa (35% dry matter). Fresh alfalfa in two bags was treated with .5 kg/metric ton of a commercial silage additive (Silo-Best). Two bags were left untreated. When compared with steers fed untreated alfalfa silage, weight gains, intakes, and feed efficiencies were not significantly (P greater than .05) altered for steers fed treated silage. However, laboratory analysis showed silage treatment increased in vitro dry matter digestibility (57.0 versus 60.6%) and decreased silage pH (4.98 versus 4.83). Concentrations of propionic and butyric acid were decreased by the additive. Data suggest that anaerobic fermentation was enhanced with the additive. Slight but significant improvements of silage in vitro dry matter digestibility, obtained by treating alfalfa silage with the inoculant-type preservative, did not result in improved performance in feeding trials.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1987

Alteration of fermentation in continuous culture of mixed rumen bacteria by isolated alfalfa saponins.

Saponins isolated from alfalfa by ethanol extraction and acid hydrolysis were incorporated into protein-free purified diets at 0, .5, 1, 2, and 4% of dietary dry matter to investigate the effect of saponins on fermentation by mixed rumen bacteria maintained in continuous culture. Inoculum was obtained from a lactating dairy cow fed alfalfa hay and a 13% crude protein grain mixture with forage to grain ratios of 33:67, 67:33, or 100:0. Outflow of microbial protein was lower in fermenters fed purified diet containing 1% saponins. Accumulation of ammonia was observed in fermenters fed purified diets containing alfalfa saponins. Total volatile fatty acid production was reduced by addition of isolated alfalfa saponin fraction at .5, 1, 2, and 4% concentrations. Acetate to propionate ratios were reduced from 1.93 in control to 1.37 in fermenters with 1% saponins. Extent of change in fermentation was not proportional to the concentration of added saponins.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Effects of dry matter concentration and ammonia treatment of alfalfa silage on digestion and metabolism by heifers.

Alfalfa was harvested as second-cutting regrowth herbage, ensiled either at low DM (direct-cut) or high DM (wilted), untreated or treated with .82 or .66% anhydrous NH3 (percentage of DM), respectively, and offered to four Holstein heifers. Silages low in DM had more gross energy and more NDF in DM than silages high in DM. Ammonia treatment increased total, soluble, rumen-insoluble, and NH3 N fractions in treated silages compared with those fractions in untreated silages. Ammonia treatment of low DM silage reduced digestible energy intake but increased intake of high DM silage. Digestibility of DM was lower by heifers fed low than high DM silages, but hemicellulose digestibility was higher. Tissue N retention was lower by heifers fed low than high DM silage. Dry matter and cell solubles digestibilities decreased for NH3-treated silages compared with digestibilities for untreated silages. Digested DM contained more digested NDF and cellulose for NH3-treated silages compared with untreated silages. Retained N was higher for heifers fed NH3-treated alfalfa than untreated alfalfa, particularly for the low DM silages. Wilting alfalfa was more effective in improving nutrient use by heifers than treatment with NH3, which improved preservation of plant protein through ensiling.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1991

Digestion of cell wall components by dairy heifers fed diets based on alfalfa and chemically treated oat hulls.

Four Holstein heifers were used in a 4 X 4 Latin square design to measure total tract digestion of cell wall components from diets based on alfalfa haylage and alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated oat hulls. Diets contained 90% forage and 10% concentrate. Treatments were diets containing 90, 70, 50, or 30% alfalfa haylage with treated oat hulls supplying the remainder of the forage portion. Total tract digestion of cell wall-associated uronic acids, arabinose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose, and lignin were not affected by forage source. Digestibilities of cell wall glucose and xylose increased with increasing level of dietary treated oat hulls, reflecting the positive effect of alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment on cell wall digestion. Cellulose (ADF minus acid detergent lignin) digestibilities were similar to those for cell wall glucose, whereas hemicellulose (NDF minus ADF) digestibilities were similar to those for cell wall arabinose plus xylose. Low digestibilities of alfalfa cell wall xylose indicate that some cell wall structure inhibits the degradation of alfalfa xylans. Low degradabilities of core lignin, esterified p-coumaric acid, and esterified acetyl groups suggest that these components may be involved primarily in depressing fermentation of cell wall polysaccharides.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1991

Effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration and alfalfa hay quality on chewing, rumen function, and milk production of dairy cows.

Six ruminally fistulated Holstein cows (80 d postpartum) were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square to evaluate the effects of dietary NDF concentration and alfalfa hay quality on chewing activities, digestive parameters, and productivity of dairy cattle. Cows received one of six diets formulated to provide three concentrations of dietary NDF (31, 34, and 37%) and two sources of first-cutting, long alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay was harvested either in early bloom (19.4% CP, 38.8% NDF) or midbloom (16.7% CP, 47.6% NDF) stages of maturity. Dietary NDF concentrations were achieved by adjusting the forage to concentrate ratios. Mean ad libitum DMI was 22.3 kg/d. Increased NDF concentration of the diet corresponded to a linear decrease in milk production (from 26.5 to 24.8 kg/d) and a linear increase in the fat content of milk (from 2.68 to 3.30%). Hay quality had no effect on milk production and composition when diets were formulated for specific NDF concentrations. Total chewing time increased from 767 to 796 and 853 min/d as fiber content of the diet increased from 31 to 34 and 37%, mainly because of increased time spent eating. Rumination time adjusted for fiber intake decreased linearly from 59.0 to 54.2 min/kg NDF as fiber intake increased, and it was higher for the early bloom than for the midbloom hay (57.3 vs. 55.5 min/kg NDF). Effects of decreased forage quality because of the increased maturity of the alfalfa hay can be minimized by formulating diets for specific NDF concentration. For diets formulated with barley-based concentrates, dietary NDF concentrations should be higher than currently recommended with allowance for greater proportions of NDF from concentrates.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1992

Effect of formic acid or formaldehyde treatment of alfalfa silage on nutrient utilization by dairy cows.

Third-cutting alfalfa with 37% DM was ensiled untreated or treated with either 2.8 g of formic acid/100 g of DM or .31 g of formaldehyde/100 g of DM and fed to lactating dairy cows in two experiments. Silage treated with formic acid had the lowest pH and concentrations of NPN, NH3, and total free AA. Both treatments decreased rumen in vitro protein degradability but did not affect in vitro rumen plus pepsin digestibility. In trial 1, part 1, 22 Holstein cows received a standard diet for 18 d postpartum and then were fed for 6 wk one of three diets containing 98% alfalfa silage DM. Although DMI was comparable, yields of milk, SCM, fat, protein, lactose, and SNF were higher when treated silages were fed. Plasma concentrations of branched-chain, essential, and total AA increased when formic acid-treated silage was fed. Rumen pH and concentrations of NH3 and VFA were similar for all diets. Rumen escape protein, estimated using 15N as a microbial protein marker, was increased more by formic acid than by formaldehyde treatment. In trial 1, part 2, supplementation with 4.8% fish meal increased concentration of milk protein and yields of milk, protein, lactose, and SNF. Milk urea concentration was higher on the untreated silage diet. Total tract apparent DM and N digestibilities were not affected by silage treatment, although fish meal decreased apparent DM digestibility. In trial 2, 80:20 alfalfa silage:ground corn diets were fed to 12 midlactation cows in a 3 x 3 Latin square study. Milk production was unaffected, but milk protein concentration and DMI were higher when treated silages were fed. Feeding treated silages increased plasma concentrations of branched-chain AA, essential AA, and total AA. Formaldehyde and especially formic acid treatment effectively improved utilization of nutrients in alfalfa silage by lactating dairy cows.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1992

Ruminal in vitro degradability of protein in alfalfa harvested as standing forage or baled hay.

Eighty-nine samples, 45 of standing forage and 44 of baled hay, were collected from alfalfa harvested at various maturities over three cuttings each during 2 yr. Alfalfa was cut and conditioned mechanically; samples of standing forage were collected by removing bunches of forage from windrows and freeze-drying them. Forage was allowed to field cure and was harvested at an average 80% DM as small rectangular bales; samples of baled hay were collected by coring bales after storing for 3 to 6 mo. Samples were analyzed for DM, ADF, total N, fractions of total N present as ADIN, N degraded at 0 h, and potentially degradable protein N. Ruminal protein degradation rates and escapes were estimated using an inhibitor in vitro system, assuming that ADIN was unavailable and that ruminal passage rate was .06/h. Standing forage contained smaller fractions of ADIN and N degraded at 0 h, contained a larger fraction of potentially degradable N, and had more rapid degradation rates and lower estimated protein escapes than baled hay. Mean degradation rates and estimated escapes were .171/h and 24% for standing forage and .075/h and 40% for baled hay. There were no differences in degradation rate or estimated escape because of harvest year, and neither was significantly related to maturity or to ADF concentration. Results indicate a significant advantage in ruminal protein escape, compared with grazed alfalfa, for alfalfa harvested and stored as hay.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1992

Effect of microbial inoculant on quality of alfalfa hay baled at high moisture and lamb performance.

The effectiveness of a microbial hay inoculant in high moisture alfalfa hay was evaluated. Alfalfa (third cutting) was baled at 72% DM without or with inoculant and at 82% DM without inoculant during yr 1. In yr 2, alfalfa (second cutting) was baled at 75% DM without or with inoculant and at 82% DM without inoculant. Application rate of inoculant was 3.8 L/.98 tonne each year. At this application rate, 90 billion cfu were applied per .98 tonne of forage. Hays were core sampled at 0, 14, 30, and 60 d after baling to determine chemical composition. By d 30, all hays had DM content of 89%. In yr 2, 12 wether lambs were assigned to three treatments in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square. Treatments were chopped, low moisture hay plus corn; chopped, inoculated high moisture hay plus corn; and chopped, high moisture hay plus corn. All diets contained 63% alfalfa hay, 35% ground corn, and 2% minerals and vitamins. In yr 1, inoculated and low moisture hays were not different in chemical composition but were higher in CP and lower in NDF than high moisture hay. Neither NDF nor CP were different among the three hays in yr 2. Average daily gain was not different on the three diets. The feed to gain ratio was lowest for the inoculated hay, intermediate for the low moisture hay, and highest for the high moisture hay diet. Daily gain and feed to gain ratio were not different for lambs fed the inoculated hay baled at 75% DM compared with lambs fed untreated hay baled at 82% DM.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1994

Effects of cereal grain silages versus alfalfa silage on chewing activity and reticular motility in early lactation cows.

Four early lactation Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment to determine the effects of whole crop barley, oat, and triticale silages substituted for alfalfa silage in the forage portion of diets on chewing behavior and the relationships between attributes of reticular contractions and voluntary intake and digesta passage from the reticulorumen. Mean ad libitum DMI was 18.3 kg/d and was affected by diet. Duodenal flows of DM, NDF, and OM were not affected by diet. The frequency and duration of reticular contractions during eating, rumination, and resting were not influenced by diet. Amplitude of reticular contractions during eating was lower for cows fed alfalfa than for those fed barley silage. The NDF of alfalfa was transferred less efficiently than that of cereal silages at the duodenum. Cows fed alfalfa and barley silage diets transferred less NDF per unit of duration than cows fed oat and triticale silage diets. However, an equal amount of NDF was transferred per unit of amplitude of contraction, regardless of diet. Changes in DMI and digesta passage could be explained only partially by changes in chewing activity and attributes of reticular contractions required to transfer each unit of digesta from the reticulorumen.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1994

Initial rates of degradation of protein fractions from fresh, wilted, and ensiled alfalfa.

Initial rates of in vitro degradation of alfalfa proteins were studied. Fresh, 24-h wilted, and ensiled forages were homogenized before analysis for total proteins. Some of the homogenates were fractionated by differential solubility in 10 and 40% ammonium sulfate, followed by ultrafiltration of the 40% salt-saturated solution. The protein fractions obtained were chloroplast membrane proteins (fraction 3), soluble proteins from plant cell cytoplasm and the chloroplast (fraction 2), and proteins remaining soluble in the extracted 40% salt-saturated solution (fraction 2B), respectively. Total and fraction 3 silage proteins were degraded faster than the respective fresh and wilted proteins. There were no treatment effects on the rates of degradation of the soluble proteins of fractions 2 and 2B. Protein fractions from fresh and 24-h wilted alfalfa degraded, from greatest to least, in the following order: fractions 2, 2B, and 3. Degradation rates for fractions 2 and 2B of ensiled forages were similar but greater than that of fraction 3. Alfalfa proteins were degraded rapidly in the rumen, and soluble proteins were degraded faster than the chloroplast membrane proteins. Ensiling of alfalfa increased the rate of degradation of chloroplast membrane proteins, but neither wilting nor ensiling affected degradation rates of the soluble protein fractions 2 and 2B.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

PubMed1997

Components of growth in Holstein heifers fed either alfalfa or corn silage diets to produce two daily gains.

Growth components were compared in an experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial design. Eight replicates of Holstein heifers were fed diets based on either alfalfa or corn silage for daily gain of either 725 or 950 g from 181 to 334 kg of body weight (BW). Mean daily gains from corn diets were greater than gains from alfalfa diets for BW, udder, empty body, fat, fat-free matter, protein, H2O, C, and energy but were less than gains from alfalfa for gut contents and ash. High daily gain produced higher mean values for all of these variables than did lower daily gain. The percentage of protein in fat-free matter was not affected by either main effect. The percentage of fat in empty body gain was increased as daily gain increased. Energy concentration of fat-free matter that was gained was not affected by either diet or daily gain. Energy concentration of empty body gain increased as daily gain increased. The percentage of gut contents in daily BW gain was higher for heifers fed the alfalfa diet than for those fed the corn diet. Energy concentration in daily BW gain was affected by diet and daily gain. Variations of fat and gut contents in daily BW gain must be considered when requirements or expected growth are described.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1997

Effect of anionic salts in prepartum diets based on alfalfa.

This study compared prepartum diets based on grass, alfalfa, or alfalfa and anionic salts to investigate their effect on Ca metabolism, acid-base status, endocrine response, disease incidence, and lactational performance of periparturient dairy cows. Forty-five nonlactating Holstein cows in their last 3 wk of gestation were fed a control diet based on grass hay with a dietary cation-anion difference [expressed as milli-equivalents of ((Na + K) - (Cl + S))/100 g of dietary dry matter] of +30 or diets based on alfalfa with a dietary cation-anion difference of either +35 or -7. Cows fed the diet with the dietary cation-anion difference of -7 had the lowest urine pH prepartum and had the highest concentrations of ionized Ca in blood and total Ca in serum at parturition. Increases in 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D per unit decrease in total Ca in serum were greatest for cows fed the diet with a dietary cation-anion difference of -7. Also, cows fed this same diet consumed the most dry matter postpartum. Incidences of health disorders were 13% (10 of 75), 12% (9 of 75), and 5% (4 of 75) for cows fed the diets with dietary cation-anion differences of +30, +35, and -7, respectively. Results indicate that alfalfa, when supplemented with anionic salts, is a viable forage for prepartum dairy cows.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

PubMed1986

Reexamination of canavanine disappearance during germination of alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

It was proved that the canavanine present during germination of alfalfa both in the dark and in the light does not decrease and in fact increases a little, despite earlier papers having described the disappearance of canavanine during germination of alfalfa. The presence of canavanine in alfalfa sprouts was confirmed by isolation and comparison with an authentic specimen. Deaminocanavanine was also isolated from both seeds and sprouts of alfalfa, but it is not clear whether this canavanine derivative is a natural product or an artifact formed from canavanine during isolation procedures.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2004

Strain-specific differences in the attachment of Listeria monocytogenes to alfalfa sprouts.

Contamination of fresh produce with Listeria monocytogenes has resulted in outbreaks of systemic listeriosis and febrile gastroenteritis. Recalls of alfalfa sprouts have occurred due to contamination with L. monocytogenes. Alfalfa sprouts were used as a preharvest model to study the interaction with this human pathogen. Seventeen strains were assessed for their capacity to colonize alfalfa sprouts, and strain-specific differences (not related to source, serotype, or lineage) were revealed when the sprout irrigation water was changed daily. Two of the strains colonized and attached to the sprouts very well, reaching levels of more than 5 log CFU per sprout. The remaining strains varied in their final levels on sprouts between less than 1 to 4.7 log CFU per sprout. All of the L. monocytogenes strains grew to equivalent levels on the sprouts when the irrigation water was not changed, suggesting the differences observed with regular changing of the water resulted from differences in attachment. Further analysis of the best colonizing strains indicated that only between 0.3 and 1 log CFU per sprout could be removed by additional washing of the sprout, and the presence of normal sprout bacteria did not compete with the L. monocytogenes strains on the sprouts. The poorest colonizing strain was able to grow in the irrigation water during the experiment but could not attach to the sprouts. Microscopic examination of the sprouts with L. monocytogenes expressing the green fluorescent protein indicated that L. monocytogenes was associated with the root hairs of the sprouting alfalfa, with few to no cells visible elsewhere on the sprout.

Bacterial Adhesion↗