Body weight and sex effects on digesta mean retention time in growing Saanen goats.

Despite the important role of digesta mean retention time (MRT) on digestive efficiency of ruminants, it is poorly investigated in total gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of growing ruminants, especially in goats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of body weight (BW) and sex on GIT MRT of particles and solutes in growing Saanen goats. A dataset from two studies, comprising 103 individual records of castrated males ( = 36), females ( = 34), and intact males ( = 33) Saanen goats slaughtered at 15, 22, 30, 37, and 45 kg BW, was used.

Inhibition of methanogenesis by nitrate, with or without defaunation, in continuous culture.

Within the rumen, nitrate can serve as an alternative sink for aqueous hydrogen [H(aq)] accumulating during fermentation, producing nitrite, which ideally is further reduced to ammonium but can accumulate under conditions not yet explained. Defaunation has also been associated with decreased methanogenesis in meta-analyses because protozoa contribute significantly to H production. In the present study, we applied a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to dual-flow continuous culture fermentors (n = 4).

Energy requirements and efficiency of energy utilization in growing dairy goats of different sexes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sex on the requirements for maintenance and efficiency of energy utilization in growing Saanen goats. A database from 7 comparative slaughter studies that included 238 Saanen goats was gathered to provide information for the development of prediction equations of energy requirements for maintenance and efficiency of energy utilization. The experimental design provided different levels of metabolizable energy intake (MEI) and empty body weight (EBW).

Altering the ratio of dietary C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 interacts with production level in dairy cows: Effects on production responses and energy partitioning.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of altering the dietary ratio of palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (cis-9 C18:1) acids on nutrient digestibility, energy partitioning, and production responses of lactating dairy cows. Cows were blocked by milk yield and assigned to 3 groups (12 cows per group) in a main plot: low (45.2 ± 1.