The effect of crude protein reduction on performance and nitrogen metabolism in piglets (four to nine weeks of age) fed two dietary lysine levels1.

Lowering the CP level in piglet diets reduces the risk of postweaning diarrhea and N excretion to the environment. The question remains at what point CP becomes limiting. An experiment was designed with 2 standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys levels (10 and 11 g) and 6 CP levels (140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 g/kg) in a 2 × 6 factorial design (with 6 pens of 6 animals each per treatment).

Exploring the methanogen and bacterial communities of rumen environments: solid adherent, fluid and epimural.

The rumen microbiome occupies a central role in animal health and productivity. A better understanding of the rumen ecosystem is essential to increase productivity or decrease methane production. Samples were collected from the three main rumen environments: the solid-adherent fraction, the liquid fraction and the epithelium.

Maintenance Energy Requirements of Double-Muscled Belgian Blue Beef Cows.

Sixty non-pregnant, non-lactating double-muscled Belgian Blue (DMBB) cows were used to estimate the energy required to maintain body weight (BW). They were fed one of three energy levels for 112 or 140 days, corresponding to approximately 100%, 80% or 70% of their total energy requirements. The relationship between daily energy intake and BW and daily BW change was developed using regression analysis.

Reducing nitrogen excretion and soybean meal use by feeding a lower rumen degradable protein balance and protected soybean meal to dairy cattle.

To reduce N pollution by dairy cows, two levels of rumen degradable protein balance (RDPB) and the use of protected protein sources were studied in two feeding trials. Trial 1 investigated if the effect of lowering the RDPB, at a constant DPI (digestible protein in the intestine) supply, could be compensated by using protected protein sources (formaldehyde treated (= formolated) soybean meal (FSBM) or a combination of FSBM and formolated rapeseed meal at a ratio of 60:40). Trial 2 studied if FSBM is as effective as soybean meal (SBM) at a low RDPB level.

Feeding measures to reduce nitrogen excretion in dairy cattle.

Feeding measures with a potential to improve N efficiency in dairy cattle husbandry were studied at two levels of undegradable protein balance (OEB). In each of the two experiments, two simultaneous Latin squares were conducted, each with three treatments and three lactating Holstein cows. Decreasing the OEB of the diet improved N efficiency and resulted in lower N excretion per kg milk.

Effect of daily concentrate intake at weaning on performance of Belgian Blue double-muscled rearing calves.

Weaning at a different daily concentrate intake was investigated during a 140-d experimental period, using 54 male and 68 female newborn Belgian Blue double-muscled animals. They were divided into three comparable groups and received milk at 10% of their birth weight up to weaning. Concentrate was levelled off at a maximum daily intake of 3 kg, while grass hay was freely available.