SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “ALFALFA”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1984

Minimizing the saponin content of alfalfa sprouts and leaf protein concentrates.

Biologically active saponins were found to be concentrated in the white and green alfalfa leaf protein fractions at levels higher than in the original alfalfa. Coagulation and washing of the leaf protein at pH 8.5 resulted in a fourfold decrease in saponin compared to the protein coagulated at pH 6.0 and washed at pH 4.5. The press cakes from high and low saponin alfalfa retained 65 and 87% of the saponin. Protein fractions prepared from a low saponin alfalfa contained saponin levels less than 0.07%, compared to a saponin level of 1.33% in leaf protein prepared form a high saponin alfalfa. The saponin contents of three varieties of alfalfa sprouts ranged from 1.55 to 7.27% depending upon the maturity of the sprouts. The saponin content rapidly increased after sprouting and reached a maximum after eight days' growth. Both starch and total sugar decreased with the age of the sprouts while fiber increased from 8 to 18.7%.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Alfalfa as a single dietary source for molt induction in laying hens.

Molting is a process by which a hen's reproductive tract is rejuvenated prior to the beginning of a laying cycle. This process is often artificially induced in commercial settings in order to extend the productive life of a flock of hens. The most common method for the induction of molt is feed withdrawal for a period of several days. It has been noted that feed withdrawal, while effective in inducing molt and allowing an adequate reproductive rest period for the hen, may cause deleterious effects on the animal. This has prompted the investigation of alternatives to feed deprivation for the induction of molt in commercial laying hens. This study involved feeding alfalfa to hens to assess its ability to induce molt. Results show that alfalfa meal and alfalfa pelleted diets were equally effective as feed withdrawal in causing ovary weight regression in birds. Molted hens induced by alfalfa diets exhibited postmolt levels of egg production over a twelve week period that were similar to that of hens molted by feed withdrawal. The postmolt eggs laid by hens molted by alfalfa were of comparable quality to eggs from feed deprived hens. Alfalfa, a fibrous feed with low metabolizable energy, may be provided to hens on an ad libitum basis for an effective molt induction that retains comparable egg quality and production.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

Potential of alfalfa as an alternative molt induction diet for laying hens: egg quality and consumer acceptability.

Dietary molt induction to initiate additional egg laying cycles in commercial laying hen flocks is a wide spread practice in the United States. Feed deprivation is the most commonly used method but this practice has generated several concerns which has lead to research for viable alternative approaches. From a management standpoint a single ingredient molting diet consisting of high fiber-low energy represents an easily adaptable diet for large laying hen production units. Alfalfa meal is readily available in most commercial locations and possesses many of the desirable properties of an ideal laying hen molt diet. In the current study hens at a commercial laying facility were molted by both alfalfa and feed deprivation. After the hens had reentered post-molt commercial egg production, eggs were examined for egg quality performance. Egg shell strength, albumen height, yolk height, weight, length, and yolk color were all tested using various mechanical techniques. The eggs were also sampled for testing by consumer sensory panels that assessed the desirability of the eggs' color and flavor/texture. Eggs laid by hens molted by alfalfa had a significantly lower (p<0.05) "a*" level of colorimetry. Eggs laid by hens molted with alfalfa also exhibited significantly higher (p<0.05) egg weights and length. In the consumer sensory test, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in color or flavor/texture scores in eggs from either feed deprived or alfalfa molted hens. The consumer sensory and mechanical quality attributes indicates that alfalfa shows promise as an alternative molt induction diet by providing a single diet option for extending egg production into a second egg laying cycle.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1999

Effects of chemical competition for multi-metal binding by Medicago sativa (alfalfa).

Alfalfa shoot biomass has demonstrated the ability to bind an appreciable amount of cadmium(II), chromium(III), copper(II), lead(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) separately from aqueous solutions. Since most heavy metal contaminated waters contain more than one heavy metal ion, it was necessary to determine the binding abilities of the alfalfa biomass with multi-metal solutions. Batch laboratory experiments were performed with a solution containing 0.1 mM of each of the following metal ions: cadmium(II), chromium(III), copper(II), lead(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II). We determined the pH profile, time dependency, and binding capacity by the alfalfa biomass of each metal ion under multi-elemental conditions. For all the metal ions studied, the alfalfa biomass showed to have a high affinity for metal binding around pH 5.0 within a time period of approximately 5 min. The binding capacity experiments showed that there was a preferential binding of the metal ions from the multi-elemental solution with the following amounts of metal ion bound per gram of biomass: 368.5 micromol/g for copper(II), 215.4 micromol/g for chromium(III), 168.0 micromol/g for lead(II), 56.9 micromol/g for zinc(II), 49.2 micromol/g for nickel(II), and 40.3 micromol/g for cadmium(II). Reacting the biomass from the capacity experiments with 0.1 M HCl resulted in 90% or greater recovery of bound cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. However, only 44% of the bound chromium was recovered. These experiments show the ability of Medicago sativa (alfalfa) to bind several metal ions under multi-contaminant conditions. Similar results were obtained when the experiments were performed under flow conditions using silica-immobilized alfalfa biomass. Chromium bound on the silica-immobilized biomass was also difficult to be desorbed with 0. 1 M HCl. The information obtained will be useful for the future development of an innovative technology to remove heavy metal contaminants from polluted ground waters.

Binding, Competitive↗

PubMed2001

Extracts of Flourensia cernua reduce consumption of alfalfa pellets by sheep.

Effects of three extracts (hexanes, ether, and ethanol) from tarbush (Flourensia cernua) on intake of alfalfa pellets by lambs were examined. Forty-five ewe lambs were fed one of five treatments for five days (randomized complete block, three lambs per block on each treatment). Treatments were alfalfa pellets (CON) or alfalfa pellets plus ethanol carrier (CAR), hexanes extract (HEX), ether extract (ETH), or ethanol extract (ETOH). Extracts were applied to alfalfa pellets at the same concentration as in an equivalent amount of tarbush (as fed basis) in experiment 1 and at 10-fold dilutions of that concentration in experiment 2. Treatments were isolated from tarbush leaves by using a sequential extraction with hexanes, diethyl ether, and 100% ethanol. Lambs received 640 g of alfalfa pellets (dry matter basis) each morning and intake was monitored during a 20-min interval. Lambs were maintained and fed alfalfa pellets (4.7% of body weight) as one group except during this interval. In experiment 1, mean intake by lambs during the 20-min interval was 361, 393, 204, 212, and 228 g for CON, CAR, HEX, ETH, and ETOH, respectively (SEM = 28.9). All three extracts decreased intake (P < 0.001) compared to CON or CAR. Intake did not differ among the three extracts (HEX, ETH, and ETOH) or between the two controls (CON and CAR). Mean intake did not differ among treatments in experiment 2 (468, 455, 389, 381, and 431 g for CON, CAR, HEX, ETH, and ETOH, respectively; SEN = 30.5; P = 0. 187). Several compounds are probably responsible for the low palatability and differential use of tarbush typically exhibited by livestock.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2003

The over-expression of an alfalfa RING-H2 gene induces pleiotropic effects on plant growth and development.

The alfalfa MsRH2-1 gene encodes a small protein with a RING-H2 motif and an N-terminal transmembrane domain. The transcript can be found in all tested plant organs, but roots and nodules show the highest levels of RH2-1 mRNA accumulation. Promoter-GUS fusion studies demonstrate that the activity of this gene is closely correlated with development of lateral roots (in alfalfa and Arabidopsis) and symbiotic nodules (in alfalfa). Although antisense-expressing alfalfa plants did not show a significantly different phenotype from the control plants, by contrast, when the level of the MsRH2-1 RNA was raised by introducing the coding part of the gene under the control of the CaMV promoter, both the transgenic alfalfa and Arabidopsis lines exhibited dramatic alterations in plant morphology, including shorter stature, increased apical dominance, leaf hyponasty, and inhibition of leaf venation and lateral root development. Moreover, nodulation of transgenic alfalfa roots was delayed and partially inhibited, and some of the Arabidopsis lines showed abnormal floral development. The nature of pleiotropic developmental phenotypes suggests a hormonal basis. The possible connection between MsRH2-1 function and substrate specific degradation via the ubiquitin pathway involved in auxin signaling is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Identification of lumichrome as a sinorhizobium enhancer of alfalfa root respiration and shoot growth.

Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteria produce a signal molecule that enhances root respiration in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and also triggers a compensatory increase in whole-plant net carbon assimilation. Nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet-visible absorption identify the enhancer as lumichrome, a common breakdown product of riboflavin. Treating alfalfa roots with 3 nM lumichrome increased root respiration 21% (P < 0.05) within 48 h. A closely linked increase in net carbon assimilation by the shoot compensated for the enhanced root respiration. For example, applying 5 nM lumichrome to young alfalfa roots increased plant growth by 8% (P < 0.05) after 12 days. Soaking alfalfa seeds in 5 nM lumichrome before germination increased growth by 18% (P < 0.01) over the same period. In both cases, significant growth enhancement (P < 0.05) was evident only in the shoot. S. meliloti requires exogenous CO2 for growth and may benefit directly from the enhanced root respiration that is triggered by lumichrome. Thus Sinorhizobium-alfalfa associations, which ultimately form symbiotic N2-reducing root nodules, may be favored at an early developmental stage by lumichrome, a previously unrecognized mutualistic signal. The rapid degradation of riboflavin to lumichrome under many physiological conditions and the prevalence of riboflavin release by rhizosphere bacteria suggest that events demonstrated here in the S. meliloti-alfalfa association may be widely important across many plant-microbe interactions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Canavanine analysis of alfalfa extracts by high performance liquid chromatography using pre-column derivatization.

The purpose of this project was to isolate and quantitate canavanine in three different alfalfa samples because it has been hypothesized that alfalfa and therefore canavanine ingestion may exacerbate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans. Ten alfalfa tablets were ground into a fine powder, and 100 mg was extracted for canavanine. The extracted canavanine was derivatized prior to quantitation by high performance liquid chromatography. The canavanine content of alfalfa tablets averaged 25.3 and 33.8 micrograms/g depending on lot number and extraction method. Because ten alfalfa tablets are recommended daily, this would provide approximately 0.18 mg of canavanine. Whether daily ingestion of canavanine exacerbated SLE in two patients consuming 15 and 8 alfalfa tablets (0.27 and 0.15 mg, respectively) is uncertain and warrants further investigation.

Canavanine↗

PubMed1983

Effect of feeding alfalfa and refined plant fibers on the toxicity and metabolism of T-2 toxin in rats.

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary fibers on T-2 toxicosis in rats. Weanling rats were fed varying levels of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and pectin with and without T-2 toxin (3 micrograms/g feed) for 2 weeks. Only lignin showed promise of overcoming feed refusal and growth depression in animals fed T-2 toxin. Further experiments feeding alfalfa meal (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25%) with and without T-2 toxin indicated that this lignin-rich feedstuff could largely overcome feed refusal and growth depression caused by the toxin. There was no effect of diet, however, on the activity of hepatic esterase, the enzyme believed to catabolize T-2 toxin. Rats were fed diets containing 0, 5, 12.5 or 20% alfalfa for 2 weeks and then dosed orally with [3H]T-2 toxin. Dietary alfalfa increased fecal excretion of 3H, whereas urinary excretion was unaffected. Residual 3H in kidney and muscle was reduced with alfalfa feeding when [3H]T-2 toxin was administered orally. Residual 3H in the digesta in the intestinal lumen increased. Alfalfa feeding was found to reduce intestinal transit time. It was concluded that the feeding of alfalfa reduced T-2 toxicosis in rats by binding the toxin in the intestinal lumen thereby promoting fecal excretion.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Alfalfa root nodule carbon dioxide fixation : I. Association with nitrogen fixation and incorporation into amino acids.

In vivo CO(2) fixation activity and in vitro phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity were demonstrated in effective and ineffective nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and in the nodules of four other legume species. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity was greatly reduced in nodules from both host and bacterially conditioned ineffective alfalfa nodules as compared to effective alfalfa nodules.Forage harvest and nitrate application reduced both in vivo and in vitro CO(2) fixation activity. By day 11, forage harvest resulted in a 42% decline in in vitro nodule phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity while treatment with either 40 or 80 kilograms nitrogen per hectare reduced activity by 65%. In vitro specific activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and glutamate synthase were positively correlated with each other and both were positively correlated with acetylene reduction activity.The distribution of radioactivity in the nodules of control plants (unharvested, 0 kilograms nitrogen per hectare) averaged 73% into the organic acid and 27% into the amino acid fraction. In nodules from harvested plants treated with nitrate, near equal distribution of radioactivity was observed in the organic acid (52%) and amino acid (48%) fractions by day 8. Recovery to control distribution occurred only in those nodules whose in vitro phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity recovered.The results demonstrate that CO(2) fixation is correlated with nitrogen fixation in alfalfa nodules. The maximum rate of CO(2) fixation for attached and detached alfalfa nodules at low CO(2) concentrations (0.13-0.38% CO(2)) were 18.3 and 4.9 nanomoles per hour per milligram dry weight, respectively. Nodule CO(2) fixation was estimated to provide 25% of the carbon required for assimilation of symbiotically fixed nitrogen in alfalfa.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Diversity of a stable enrichment culture which is useful for silage inoculant and its succession in alfalfa silage.

Alfalfa is a kind of forage that is difficult to ensile for good quality. Therefore, inoculants are always used to enhance the preservation of alfalfa silage. Through continuous restricted subcultivation, a lactic acid bacteria community (Al2) was selected from well-fermented alfalfa silage, which sharply decreased the pH level and produced a large amount of lactic acid. The adding of Al2 to alfalfa at ensiling resulted in a more rapid drop in pH and higher levels of lactic acid, and it also reduced the ammonia-nitrogen content significantly (P < 0.01). Plate isolation, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and the construction of a 16S rRNA gene clone library were used to identify the composition diversity of the Al2 community; seven strains were detected in the community, the predominant strain belonging to Lactobacillus plantarum. Samples of alfalfa silages of duration 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 days were studied with DGGE analysis. The DGGE band patterns of Al2-treated and non inoculated were rather different, and the components of Al2 were the dominant bacteria in Al2-treated silages, especially L. plantarum, while Pediococcus pentosaceaus was predominant in naturally fermented alfalfa silage.

Comet Assay↗

PubMed1994

An overview of a feasibility study for the production of industrial enzymes in transgenic alfalfa.

The overall aims of the research are to develop genetically engineered alfalfa producing high levels of industrially important enzymes and to develop rapid methods for extracting and purifying these enzymes from alfalfa juice. Using a reporter gene beta-glucuronidase (GUS) as a model system, we were able to demonstrate production of a foreign protein in alfalfa and gain valuable insight into the molecular approaches required for the expression and accumulation of foreign proteins in leaf tissue. GUS activity varied among individual transformants, and GUS was expressed in all plant tissues. GUS activity was shown to segregate in sexual progeny. There was no correlation between copy number of the GUS gene and activity. We have recently demonstrated the production of Mn-dependent lignin peroxidase and alpha-amylase in transgenic alfalfa. Concurrent research in the agricultural engineering aspects of this feasibility study focused on extraction strategies for the recovery of alfalfa juice, and on an evaluation of methods for processing and concentrating the juice. Thus, we are in a position to use plants expressing enzymes that have current or potential industrial importance to complete a feasibility study, and determine whether we can indeed economically recover target enzymes from field-grown transgenic alfalfa plants. The technology developed for these enzymes can be used to extract other value-added products from plants in the future.

Bacillus↗

PubMed1994

Alfalfa yield response to inoculation with recombinant strains of Rhizobium meliloti with an extra copy of dctABD and/or modified nifA expression.

The construction of rhizobial strains which increase plant biomass under controlled conditions has been previously reported. However, there is no evidence that these newly constructed strains increase legume yield under agricultural conditions. This work tested the hypothesis that carefully manipulating expression of additional copies of nifA and dctABD in strains of Rhizobium meliloti would increase alfalfa yield in the field. The rationale for this hypothesis is based on the positive regulatory role that nifA plays in the expression of the nif regulon and the fact that a supply of dicarboxylic acids from the plant is required as a carbon and energy source for nitrogen fixation by the Rhizobium bacteroids in the nodule. These recombinant strains, as well as the wild-type strains from which they were derived, are ideal tools to examine the effects of modifying or increasing the expression of these genes on alfalfa biomass. The experimental design comprised seven recombinant strains, two wild-type strains, and an uninoculated control. Each treatment was replicated eight times and was conducted at four field sites in Wisconsin. Recombinant strain RMBPC-2, which has an additional copy of both nifA and dctABD, increased alfalfa biomass by 12.9% compared with the yield with the wild-type strain RMBPC and 17.9% over that in the uninoculated control plot at the site where soil nitrogen and organic matter content was lowest. These increases were statistically significant at the 5% confidence interval for each of the three harvests made during the growing season. Strain RMBPC-2 did increase alfalfa biomass at the Hancock site; however, no other significant increases or decreases in alfalfa biomass were observed with the seven other recombinant strains at that site. At three sites where this experiment was conducted, either native rhizobial populations or soil nitrogen concentrations were high. At these sites, none of the recombinant strains affected yield. We conclude that RMBPC -2 can increase alfalfa yields under field conditions of nitrogen limitation, low endogenous rhizobial competitors, and sufficient moisture.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Role of the glandular trichomes in resistance of perennial alfalfa to the potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae).

Experiments were performed to elucidate resistance of glandular-haired alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., to the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris). The primary objective was to examine the potential role of the glandular trichomes and stem lignification for imparting resistance to this pest. During free-choice foliar discoloration experiments, the resistant alfalfa clone FGplh13 expressed lower levels of injury than the susceptible P5373 after 13 d. No-choice tests performed using nymphal potato leafhoppers showed higher levels of mortality associated with the resistant glandular-haired clone FGplh13, and no nymphs survived after 48 h. Additional no-choice experiments using FGplh13 and P5373 alfalfa with the glandular and nonglandular trichomes intact or removed show that mortality of nymphs and adults decreased after removal of the glandular trichomes from FGplh13. Nymphal and adult mortality and nymphal development time did not differ on FGplh13 with the trichomes removed and P5373 with the trichomes intact or removed. Firstinstar, and possibly second-instar, potato leafhoppers were entrapped by an exudate produced by the glandular trichomes on the FGplh13 alfalfa. Stem lignification and the number of vascular bundles did not differ between FGplh13 and P5373 alfalfas. The glandular trichomes on FGplh13 alfalfa appeared to provide the major host resistance factor, with resistance to adults being chemically based and resistance to nymphs being chemically and mechanically based. To maintain levels of potato leafhopper resistance, breeders would appear to benefit by continuing to select for the expression of the glandular trichome phenotype.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Alfalfa and escape protein supplements for grazed corn residues.

Two calf corn-residue grazing trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing with two alfalfa hays (Medicago sativa), varying in their amount of CP and ADF, with and without escape protein (EP). In Trial 1, heifers (204 kg) grazed (1.36 heifers/ha) non-irrigated fields for 92 d. No difference (P > .05) in ADG was found when medium-protein (16.3% CP) and high-protein (18.0% CP) alfalfa hays were provided at 2.7 kg of DM.heifer-1.d-1. In Trial 2, 60 steers (257 kg) were supplemented individually with medium-protein (17.6% CP) alfalfa hay, 1.86 (MPL) and 2.27 kg DM (MPH), and one level of high-protein (18.7% CP) alfalfa hay, 1.86 kg DM (HPL). In a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments, steers were fed with or without EP (113 g.steer-1.d-1 from blood meal and corn gluten meal). Steers grazed a non-irrigated corn residue field (2.58 steers/ha) for 57 d and were watered and individually supplemented overnight. Diet quality and composition was estimated by collecting extrusa samples twice each week using four esophageally fistulated steers. No effects of alfalfa protein content or level (P > .05) were reflected in gain: 357, 309, and 326 g.steer-1.d-1 for steers receiving MPL, MPH, or HPL alfalfa treatments, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1994

Performance and carcass characteristics of weaned lambs either grazed on orchardgrass, ryegrass, or alfalfa or fed all-concentrate diets in drylot.

Four-paddock rotational grazing of orchardgrass, ryegrass, or alfalfa was compared to an all-concentrate diet fed in drylot using 202 weaned lambs. Comparisons of animal performance ended in each of the 3 yr (1983, 1984, 1985) for all animals when drylot lambs reached a subjective body condition score of 12 (range 1 to 15) and estimated fat depth over the rib was 5.5 to 7.0 mm. A total of 84 representative lambs were slaughtered over the 3 yr for carcass evaluation. Mature put-and-take ewes were used to maintain forages in the vegetative stage. Average daily gain and total gain of lambs were in the order of drylot > alfalfa > grasses; performance of lambs grazing alfalfa approached performance of those fed the drylot diet. Better performance (P < .01) of lambs grazing alfalfa than of those grazing grasses is atributed to more CP (P < .01) and less NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose (P < .01) in alfalfa. Lambs grazed on grasses had smaller carcasses with less muscle, fat, and bone (P < .01) than either of the other two treatments. Although carcasses of lambs grazed on alfalfa were lighter, they had the same muscle mass as concentrate-fed lambs, indicated by leg conformation, longissimus muscle area, and by physically separated absolute muscle weight. However, these carcasses contained less fat (P < .01) and had more desirable yield grades (P < .01) than the carcasses of concentrate-fed lambs.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1994

Ruminal digestion and glycosyl linkage patterns of cell wall components from leaf and stem fractions of alfalfa, orchardgrass, and wheat straw.

Samples of alfalfa, orchardgrass, and wheat straw were hand-separated into leaf and stem fractions that were subjected to in situ ruminal fermentation for various lengths of time to assess the rate and extent of degradation of cell wall neutral monosaccharides, uronic acids, acetyl groups, and hydroxycinnamic acids. A second objective was to measure the glycosyl linkage patterns of leaf and stem fractions of substrates before and after ruminal fermentation. Samples were fermented for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 192 h in each of two ruminally cannulated steers. In situ disappearance data were fitted to a first-order exponential equation to estimate the following substrate parameters: insoluble, potentially digestible fraction (fd), indigestible fraction (fi), and fractional rate constant of degradation of the potentially digestible fraction (k). Leaves contained larger concentrations of crude protein and smaller concentrations of cell wall components than did stem fractions. Estimates of fi were 7.3, 39.2, 22.1, 49.3, 27.7, and 36.3 for dry matter disappearances for alfalfa leaf, alfalfa stem, orchardgrass leaf, orchardgrass stem, wheat straw leaf, and wheat straw stem, respectively. Averaged across substrates, estimates of fi for arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, uronic acids, acetyl groups, and p-coumaric acid were 16.5, 11.4, 14.8, 31.2, 12.8, 25.3, and 22.6% in leaf fractions and 29.5, 19.9, 37.5, 56.2, 35.0, 52.4, and 44.6% in stem fractions. Rates of digestion of all monomeric components except galactose and xylose were greater (P < .05) for alfalfa than for orchardgrass or wheat straw. Differences in digestibility of cell wall components from leaf and stem fractions were greater in alfalfa and orchardgrass than in wheat straw. Glycosyl linkage analysis indicated that xylans in leaf and stem fractions of alfalfa, orchardgrass leaf, and wheat straw stem that resisted degradation had a lower degree of substitution with acid-labile constituents (i.e., other monosaccharides) than was found in original substrates. Different rates and extents of digestion of leaf and stem fractions of forages explain part, but not all, of the observed differences in digestibilities of cell wall monomers by ruminants.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Influence of feeding Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract (Amaferm) on in situ fiber degradation, ruminal fermentation, and microbial protein synthesis in nonlactating cows fed alfalfa or bromegrass hay.

Daily additions of 3 g of Amaferm to alfalfa (13% CP) and bromegrass (6% CP) diets were evaluated for effects on ruminal and postruminal fiber and organic matter digestion, fermentation profile, and duodenal bacterial nitrogen flow. Eight beef cows were fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas. Two experiments were conducted. Eight cows were fed bromegrass hay, four received Amaferm and four served as controls; later, seven cows received alfalfa hay with three receiving Amaferm and four serving as controls. Each experiment lasted 28 d: d 1 to 14 for adaptation, d 15 to 21 for measurement of feed intake, and d 22 to 28 for ruminal and duodenal sampling. Dacron bags containing NDF substrate from alfalfa or bromegrass were used to determine ruminal fiber degradation at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. There were no Amaferm effects (P > .15) on rate or extent of fiber degradation in situ when bromegrass of alfalfa was fed. There were no Amaferm effects (P > .10) on concentrations or molar proportions of ruminal VFA, pH, or NH3 or on feed intake in either experiment. There were no effects (P > .10) of Amaferm on site or extent of organic matter or fiber digestion, or duodenal nitrogen flow in cows fed either bromegrass or alfalfa. Amaferm increased (P < .10) the number of ruminal anaerobic bacteria in cows fed bromegrass but not in those fed alfalfa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗