Repeated ruminal acidosis challenges in lactating dairy cows at high and low risk for developing acidosis: feeding, ruminating, and lying behavior.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether the susceptibility to ruminal acidosis, as defined through differences in days in milk (DIM), milk production level, and ration composition, influences cow feeding, ruminating, and lying behavior and whether these behaviors change during an acute bout of ruminal acidosis. Eight ruminally cannulated cows were assigned to 1 of 2 acidosis risk levels: low risk (LR, mid-lactation cows fed a 60:40 forage:concentrate ratio diet) or high risk (HR, early lactation cows fed a 45:55 forage:concentrate diet). As a result, diets were intentionally confounded with DIM and milk production to represent 2 different acidosis risk scenarios.

Repeated ruminal acidosis challenges in lactating dairy cows at high and low risk for developing acidosis: feed sorting.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether the susceptibility of cows to ruminal acidosis influences feed sorting and whether feed sorting changes during a bout of ruminal acidosis. Eight ruminally cannulated cows were assigned to 1 of 2 acidosis risk levels: low risk (LR, mid-lactation cows fed a 60% forage diet) or high risk (HR, early lactation cows fed a 45% forage diet). As a result, diets were intentionally confounded with milk production to represent 2 different acidosis risk scenarios.

Repeated ruminal acidosis challenges in lactating dairy cows at high and low risk for developing acidosis: ruminal pH.

The primary objective of this experiment was to determine whether lactating dairy cows that are at high (HR) or low (LR) risk for experiencing ruminal acidosis, because of their diet and stage of lactation, differ in their response to an acidosis challenge. A secondary objective was to determine whether the severity of acidosis changes with repeated challenges. The experiment was a completely randomized design with 2 groups (risk scenarios, HR vs.

Nitrogen and mineral balance of lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus and fed tanniferous sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia).

Tanniferous temperate legumes are assumed to possess anthelmintic properties, but it is unclear whether this is the direct result of condensed tannins (CT) or is mediated indirectly via an improved metabolic protein supply. A metabolism experiment was conducted to differentiate between these factors by feeding the CT plant sainfoin (19.7% CP in DM) to lambs infected with the abomasal blood-sucking nematode Hemonchus contortus.

Palatability in sheep and in vitro nutritional value of dried and ensiled sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and chicory (Cichorium intybus).

Three temperate forages, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil, and chicory, characterized by elevated contents of plant secondary compounds, were compared to a ryegrass-clover mixture (control) in dried (Experiment 1) and ensiled form (Experiment 2) in their palatability and nutritional value. Palatability was measured in adult wethers (n = 6) allowed to choose between the familiar control forage and one of the three test plants. Palatability index was calculated from differences in intake of control and test plants measured after given times.