Chilling of whole rumen contents prior to preparation of strained rumen fluid enriched with particle-associated microorganisms resulted in rumen inoculum with the highest microbial dry weight, total bacterial counts, and degradation rates for casein and soybean meal. Strained rumen fluid, whole rumen contents blended with strained rumen fluid, chilled strained rumen fluid, and strained rumen fl...

Alfalfa was labeled in the field with 99 atom % 13CO2 and cut either the same day (C1) or 30 d after labeling (C30). The C1 alfalfa contained 84% of the 13C label in cell contents, whereas C30 alfalfa contained 47% of the 13C label in cell contents. In two separate trials, C1 and C30 alfalfa were dosed to two or four Suffolk ewes fed natural abundance alfalfa diets. Carbon isotope ratios (13C/1...

Factors affecting forage production, quality, marketing, and utilization include urbanization; availability of crop production resources; approaches to environmental stewardship; and other social and economic forces. Two factors of particular interest are 1) availability of pesticides for use in alfalfa and other forage crops; and 2) new laboratory procedures for predicting forage nutritional v...

Sixteen rams (mean age: 13 mo; mean live weight: 40.0 ± 2.4 kg) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (4 rams per treatment). Diets (dry matter basis) contained 65% concentrate and 35% alfalfa hay (control diet, T1), 35% wheat straw (T2), 35% barley straw (T3) or 35% maize straw (T4). Total-tract apparent digestibility for dry matter, organic matter...

sixteen rams (mean age: 13 mo; mean live weight: 40.0 ± 2.4 kg) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (4 rams per treatment). diets (dry matter basis) contained 65% concentrate and 35% alfalfa hay (control diet, t1), 35% wheat straw (t2), 35% barley straw (t3) or 35% maize straw (t4). total-tract apparent digestibility for dry matter, organic matter...

This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of alfalfa replacement with fenugreek hay for ruminants, using in vitro gas production parameters and some of rumen fermentation characteristics. For this propose, five different total mixed rations were formulated to meet nutrient requirements of 35 kg growing lambs with gradually replacement of alfalfa in control diet (T1) with different le...

Effects of varying bulk densities of steam-flaked corn (SFC) and level of inclusion of roughage in feedlot diets were evaluated in 3 experiments. In Exp. 1, a total of 128 beef steers were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate the effects of bulk density of SFC (335 or 386 g/L) and roughage concentration (6 or 10% ground alfalfa hay, DM basis) on performance and carcass characterist...

A survey of alfalfa hay producers was conducted to characterize vertebrate pest problems in Nevada alfalfa hay and help attract research funding. Damage to alfalfa hay by pocket gophers (Thomomvs spp), ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp), black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) and meadow voles (Microtus montanus) was assessed. Presence of vertebrate pests along with a ranking of cost-rel...

Extensive DM contamination was found on Dacron bags that were incubated for prolonged periods of time in the rumen of steers fed alfalfa hay. The ash content of the contaminant was high, and most of it was acid-soluble X-ray analysis indicated the presence of hydroxylapatite and synthetic calcium magnesium phosphate or whitlockite. The contaminant appeared as a smooth coating on the Dacron fibe...