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Introduction: Over the last half century, the shortage of animal feed in many parts of the world, including Iran, has increased the feed costs of animal husbandry and it also has affected revenues from the production of livestock products. Therefore, any improvement in nutritional management and increasing the feed use efficiency in this sector will increase productivity and production. Adding water to ruminant diets is inexpensive physical processing method that has had a positive effect on efficiency of ruminant production. Traditionally, adding water to total mixed diets has been a useful management practice to reduce feed selection behavior by livestock. It has been shown that adding water to the feed of adult cows (decreasing dietary dry matter (DM) from 81% to 64%) reduced the choice of fine components over long particles and also to reduce the preferential consumption of concentrate components (Leonardi et al., 2005). Recent studies have shown that adding water to the starter diet of suckling calves up to 25% during the winter has improved their growth performance (Beiranvand et al., 2018). These positive responses are probably due to the increased adhesion of feed particles, which has led to a reduction of diet dust, condensation of fine particles and increased palatability and consumption.Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted in animal house and laboratories of Lorestan University. Twenty-eight Lori male-fattening lambs with120 ± 6 days old and 33.4 ± 3.4 kg of live weight were used in completely randomized design experiment with 4 treatments and 7 lambs per treatment. Dietary treatments in which water was used at levels 10 (control), 20, 30 and 40 % were fed to the lambs for 56 days. Blood and ruminal samples were taken from all of lambs at day 45 and 50 respectively 3 h after morning feeding. A completely randomised design was used to determine the effect of different levels of water on the measured traits. All data were analyzed using the GLM procedure in SAS. Linear (L) and quadratic (Q) contrast statements were included in the model to test the effect of increasing amounts of water. Differences among means were tested using Duncan method.Results and Discussion: Results showed that increasing the level of dietary moisture up to 30% linearly increased (P0.05). Increasing the level of dietary moisture up to 30% linearly increased (P0.05). Intake of dry matter (DM) and average daily gain increased linealrly (P0.05).Conclusion: Results of present study showed that adding water to the total mixed ration of fattening lambs up to 30% improved ruminal parameters, feed intake and growth performance.

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of corn processing index (CPI)—particularly at 70% and 85%—in starter feed in combination with the provision of forage, either alfalfa hay (AH) or wheat straw (WS), on feed intake, growth performance, rumen pH, and blood metabolites of dairy calves. Forty-eight male Holstein calves (43.0 ± 1.5 kg body weight) were randomly assigned (n = 12 calves per treatment) to one of four dietary treatments: (1) a textured starter diet containing 70% CPI and AH (70CPIAH), (2) a textured starter feed containing 70% CPI combined with WS (70CPIWS), (3) a textured starter feed containing 85% CPI and AH (85CPIAH), (4) a textured starter feed containing 85% CPI combined with WS (85CPIWS). Intake of starter feed (TMR) and milk was individually monitored and recorded daily, while body weight was measured weekly. On days 30 and 65, blood samples were collected from all calves 3 h after morning feeding. No interaction was detected between the CPI of starter feed diets and forage provision for starter intake, dry matter intake (DMI), metabolizable energy intake (MEI), feed efficiency (FE), average daily gain (ADG), and body weight (BW). The preweaning and overall DMI, preweaning, postweaning and overall FE and ADG, preweaning and overall starter intake, preweaning and overall ME intake, and postweaning and overall BW were greater for calves fed 85CPI than those fed 70CPI starter diets. Postweaning and overall ADG and postweaning FE were greater in calves fed WS than those fed AH. Body length and hip width were greater for calves offered 85CPI than in fed 70CPI. Wheat straw supplementation increased rumen pH at day 65 in calves fed 70CPI, but not in those fed 85CPI. No interaction was found between the CPI in the starter feed diet and the forage source for starter intake and DMI, MEI, FE, and BW. The results showed that including corn with 85% processing index in dairy calf starters improved their growth performance.

Introduction[1] The provision of nutrients during the late gestation not only affects maternal status and reproductive performance, but also affects prenatal and postnatal litter growth and offspring’s health. Although trace elements are needed by the body in small amounts, they are essential nutrients for several metabolic functions such as growth, development, reproduction, and immunity. Copper (Cu) is often one of the most limiting trace elements for the fetus and neonate for normal development and copper play a major etiologic role in decrease of fetal growth and development. Deficiency of copper impairs fetal growth and causes serious consequences and can cause death. When intakes of Cu are deficient, maternal transfer of Cu to the fetus is insufficient for normal development, and abnormalities to the central nervous system, skeleton, and metabolism result. In ruminants, newborn animals are dependent on their dams for transferring nutrients via the placenta and mammary glands. To our knowledge, little information is available on the effects of maternal supplementation of copper via intra-ruminal administration of slow-release bolus at the late gestation on the copper status of ewes and their lambs. Because the slow-release ruminal bolus cannot be used in the newborn lambs until weaning, this study aimed to determine the effects of maternal supplementation of copper via intra-ruminal administration of slow-release boluses at the late gestation (8 weeks prepartum) on performance and some blood metabolites of ewes and their lambs until weaning.Materials and Methods To evaluate the performance and changes in some blood parameters of lambs born from ewes receiving slow-release boluses of copper, 80 Lori-Bakhtiari ewes (The fourth pregnancy with a body condition score 3 to 3.5) were divided into two groups of 40 heads each in a completely randomized design. Treatments were 1) control ewes and 2) ewes received slow-release boluses of copper, 60 days prepartum. After parturition, birth weight, sex, and the birth status of lambs (singlet or twin) were recorded. Lambs were weighed at birth and weaning at age 90 days. On the first day, days 10 and 60 postpartum, blood samples were taken from the ewes, while the blood samples of their lambs were taken at age 10 and 60 days. Serum samples were used to determine copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations in the ewes and their lambs, while iron, zinc, hematocrit, red blood and white cells, and hemoglobin were only determined in the born lambs.Results and Discussion The serum concentration of copper in the ewes were within the normal physiological range of 0.55 to 0.95 mg/l. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations of ewes at the first day of experiment were lower compared to days 10 and 60 postpartum (P0.05). Lambs born from ewes receiving slow-release bolus of copper had higher weaning weight, average daily weight gain, copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations, hematocrit percentage, red and white blood cell counts, and hemoglobin concentration compared to those born from control ewes (P

The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between milk feeding quantity (FL) and feeding frequency (FF) on intake, growth performance, rumen development and blood metabolites in dairy calves. A total of 48 Holstein calves (n = 12 calves per treatment: 6 males and 6 females) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments, including (1) two low plane of milk feeding (2 meals/d, LPM-2×; 3 meals/d, LPM-3×; total milk intake = 210 L) and two high plane of milk feeding (2 meals/d, HPM-2×; 3 meals/d, HPM-3×; total milk intake = 371 L). Calves fed HPM had higher BW, ADG, blood glucose and triglycerides concentration during the preweaning. Calves fed HPM received more ME, total DMI and ate less starter than LPM calves during preweaning. Regardless of the milk feeding quantity, with increasing FF, starter intake, total DMI and ME were reduced without a negative effect on ADG. Calves fed 3 times/d compared with 2 times/d had a lower final hip width. Calves fed HPM had higher ruminal pH and molar proportion of acetate and acetate to propionate ratio, but less molar proportion of propionate and butyrate and total VFA compared with calves fed LPM on d 35 of the study. Interaction between milk feeding level and feeding frequency was observed for plasma glucose concentration with HPM-3× calves having the greatest value at d 35 of study. In conclusion, at both levels of milk feeding, calves did not benefit from the increased feeding frequency, but calves benefitted from HPM.Highlights Calves did not benefit from increased milk feeding frequency at either low or high plane of milk feeding. The performance of calves on low plane of milk feeding was constrained by the low nutrient intake and not the feeding frequency. Regardless of plane of milk feeding, feeding 3 meals/d reduced total DM and starter intake with no detrimental effects on overall average daily gain.

Forty pregnant dairy goats were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of prepartum supplementation of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) as slow-release boluses. The boluses were administered four weeks prior to the expected kidding time to supply daily amounts of (1) 0 mg Se and 0 mg I, (2) 0 mg Se and 0.40 mg I, (3) 0.25 mg Se and 0 mg I and (4) 0.25 mg Se and 0.4 mg I. Milk production, milk fat percentage, daily production of milk components, milk selenium and iodine concentrations were greater in goats received 0.25 mg Se/day than no supplemental Se (p

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different sources of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) in the dairy cow diet supplemented with small peptides of cottonseed (Fortide C) on in vitro ruminal gas production (GP), fermentation parameters, substrate disappearance and microbial enzyme activity. Four iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets were fed, containing 1) maize, 2) barley, 3) wheat or 4) a maize+barley mixture as the main sources of NFC. Each diet was supplemented with 7.05 g Fortide C/kg dry matter (DM) and incubated with media containing rumen liquor for 96 h in vitro. Dietary supplementation of the Fortide C in the wheat grain diet yielded greater gas production (GP) at 16 h of incubation, total GP and potential GP (b) than those containing maize (P<0.05), but similar to barley-containing diet (P>0.05). Other GP parameters including GP at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation and constant rate of GP (c) were similar among the experimental diets. The highest and lowest DM disappearance, apparently degraded substrates, organic matter disappearance, estimated metabolizable energy, short chain fatty acids and microbial protein synthesis (MPS) were observed in the Fortide C-supplemented wheat and maize diets, respectively (P<0.05). Using wheat in the diet decreased NH3-N compared to the maize diet (P<0.05). Inclusion of wheat in the diet supplemented with Fortide C increased carboxymethyl cellulase and α-amylase activities compared to the maize diet (P<0.05), while it was similar to the barley diet (P>0.05). However, microcrystalline cellulase and filter paper-degrading activities were unchanged among the dietary treatments. Overall, using wheat as the main source of NFC in the dairy cow diet supplemented with Fortide C improved in vitro ruminal fermentation profile, substrate disappearance, MPS and microbial enzyme activity compared to the maize or maize+barley-based diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The provision of nutrients during the late gestation not only affects maternal status and reproductive performance, but also affects prenatal and postnatal litter growth and offspring's health. Although trace elements are needed by the body in small amounts, they are essential nutrients for several metabolic functions such as growth, development, reproduction, and immunity. Copper (Cu) is often one of the most limiting trace elements for the fetus and neonate for normal development and copper play a major etiologic role in decrease of fetal growth and development. Deficiency of copper impairs fetal growth and causes serious consequences and can cause death. When intakes of Cu are deficient, maternal transfer of Cu to the fetus is insufficient for normal development, and abnormalities to the central nervous system, skeleton, and metabolism result. In ruminants, newborn animals are dependent on their dams for transferring nutrients via the placenta and mammary glands. To our knowledge, little information is available on the effects of maternal supplementation of copper via intra-ruminal administration of slow-release bolus at the late gestation on the copper status of ewes and their lambs. Because the slow-release ruminal bolus cannot be used in the newborn lambs until weaning, this study aimed to determine the effects of maternal supplementation of copper via intra-ruminal administration of slow-release boluses at the late gestation (8 weeks prepartum) on performance and some blood metabolites of ewes and their lambs until weaning. Materials and Methods To evaluate the performance and changes in some blood parameters of lambs born from ewes receiving slow-release boluses of copper, 80 Lori-Bakhtiari ewes (The fourth pregnancy with a body condition score 3 to 3.5) were divided into two groups of 40 heads each in a completely randomized design. Treatments were 1) control ewes and 2) ewes received slow-release boluses of copper, 60 days prepartum. After parturition, birth weight, sex, and the birth status of lambs (singlet or twin) were recorded. Lambs were weighed at birth and weaning at age 90 days. On the first day, days 10 and 60 postpartum, blood samples were taken from the ewes, while the blood samples of their lambs were taken at age 10 and 60 days. Serum samples were used to determine copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations in the ewes and their lambs, while iron, zinc, hematocrit, red blood and white cells, and hemoglobin were only determined in the born lambs. Results and Discussion The serum concentration of copper in the ewes were within the normal physiological range of 0.55 to 0.95 mg/l. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations of ewes at the first day of experiment were lower compared to days 10 and 60 postpartum (P<0.05), but similar between days 60 and 10 postpartum (P>0.05). Lambs born from ewes receiving slow-release bolus of copper had higher weaning weight, average daily weight gain, copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations, hematocrit percentage, red and white blood cell counts, and hemoglobin concentration compared to those born from control ewes (P<0.05). The serum concentration of ceruloplasmin was higher in lambs born from ewes receiving two boluses than those born from ewes receiving only one bolus (P<0.05). Ceruloplasmin concentration is also a reliable indicator of copper deficiency as it carries between 60-95 percent of serum copper, and changes in serum copper concentration usually parallel the ceruloplasmin concentration in the blood. Lambs born from ewes in the control group had lower serum copper concentrations, and 3 lambs in this group showed the symptoms of paralysis, especially in their hind legs, imbalances, dog sitting, and lost appetite. Adequate maternal intake of Cu is essential for development of the central nervous system (CNS) of the embryonic lamb. Consequences of Cu deficiency during intrauterine life may include gross brain lesions, with affected lambs born dead or dying shortly after birth. Conclusion Overall, serum copper concentrations of ewes were in the normal range, but lambs born from ewes received slow-release copper bolus had greater weaning weight, average daily weight gain, serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations, hematocrit percentage, hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell count compared to those born from control ewes. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that lambs were benefited from copper supplementation of their dams via intra-ruminal administration of slow-release boluse of copper in the late gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]