Advertisement
Article| Volume 81, ISSUE 5, P1331-1344, May 1998

Proportions of Volatile Fatty Acids in Relation to the Chemical Composition of Feeds Based on Grass Silage

Open ArchiveDOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(98)75696-6
Proportions of Volatile Fatty Acids in Relation to the Chemical Composition of Feeds Based on Grass Silage
Previous ArticleThe Effect of Preservatives Based on Propionic Acid on the Fermentation and Aerobic Stability of Corn Silage and a Total Mixed Ration1
Next ArticleEffect of Yeast on Feed Intake and Performance of Cows Fed Diets Based on Corn Silage During Early Lactation1
      This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.

      Abstract

      This experiment was designed to quantify the relationships between feed chemistry and the proportions of rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) across a wide range of feedstuffs. In an experiment using 11 rumencannulated sheep, 16 test feeds were fed at three different inclusion rates in rations that were based on grass silage. The 17 periods of the experiment were each 14 d long. Eight rumen samples were taken every 24 h on d 13 and 14 of each period from which the mean daily proportions of VFA were derived. The effects of an increase in the proportion of test feed in the total feed on proportions of VFA were significant. The observed proportions of VFA were related to the chemical composition of the total feed by principal component regression. The inclusion of the amount of feed offered and the ratio of test feed to total feed in these regressions did not improve their precision; these terms were not significant. The significant terms in the regressions were crude protein, starch, sugar, and cellulose (calculated by difference). The R2 values achieved for the regressions between acetate, propionate, and butyrate (molar proportions) and feed composition were 77.5, 68.0, and 87.3%, respectively. These regressions provided an apparently robust basis for predicting molar proportions of VFA from feed chemistry in feeds based on grass silage.

      Key words

      Abbreviation key:

      AHEE (acid-hydrolyzed ether extract)

      References

        • Association of Official Analytical Chemists
        Official Methods of Analysis.
        10th ed. AOAC, Washington, DC1965
        • Balch D.A.
        • Rowland S.J.
        Volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in the rumen of dairy cows receiving a variety of diets.
        Br. J. Nutr. 1957; 11: 288-298
        • Baldwin R.L.
        • Bywater A.C.
        Modelling Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism.
        in: Proc. 2nd Int. Workshop, Univ. California, Davis. Univ, California, Davis1984
        • Baldwin R.L.
        • Thornley J.H.M.
        • Beever D.E.
        Metabolism of the lactating dairy cow II. Digestive elements of a mechanistic model.
        J. Dairy Res. 1987; 54: 107-131
        • Bannick A.
        • De Visser H.
        • Klop A.
        • Dijkstra J.
        • France J.
        Causes of inaccurate prediction of volatile fatty acids by simulation models of rumen function in lactating cows.
        J. Theor. Biol. 1997; 189: 353-366
        • Bath I.H.
        • Rook J.A.F.
        The evaluation of cattle foods and diets in terms of ruminal concentration of volatile fatty acids II. Roughages and succulents.
        J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.). 1965; 64: 67-75
        • Bines J.A.
        • Broster W.H.
        • Sutton J.D.
        • Broster V.J.
        • Napper D.J.
        • Smith T.
        • Siviter J.W.
        Effect of amount consumed and diet composition on the apparent digestibility of feed in cattle and sheep.
        J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.). 1988; 110: 249-259
        • Bosch M.W.
        • Tamminga S.
        • Post G.
        • Leffering C.P.
        • Muylaert J.M.
        Influence of stage maturity of grass silages on digestion processes in dairy cows. 1. Composition, nylon bag degradation rates, fermentation characteristics, digestibility and intake.
        Livest. Prod. Sci. 1992; 32: 245-264
        • Chamberlain D.G.
        • Thomas P.C.
        • Anderson F.J.
        Volatile fatty acid proportions and lactic acid metabolism in the rumen in sheep and cattle receiving silage diets.
        J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.). 1983; 101: 47-58

      10. Danfær, A. 1990. A dynamic model of nutrient digestion and metabolism in lactating dairy cows. Ph.D. Diss., Natl. Inst. Anim. Sci., Foulum, Denmark.

        • de Visser H.
        • Van der Togt P.L.
        • Huisert H.
        • Tamminga S.
        Structural and non-structural carbohydrates in concentrate supplements of silage-based dairy cow rations. 2. Rumen degradation, fermentation and kinetics.
        Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 1992; 40: 431-445
        • Dewar W.A.
        • McDonald P.
        Determination of dry matter in silage by distillation with toluene.
        J. Sci. Food. Agric. 1961; 12: 790-795
        • Dewhurst R.J.
        • Hepper D.
        • Webster A.J.F.
        Comparison of in sacco and in vitro techniques for estimating the rate and extent of rumen fermentation of a range of dietary ingredients.
        Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 1995; 51: 211-229
        • Dijkstra J.
        • Neal H.D.S.C.
        • Beever D.E.
        • France J.
        Simulation of nutrient digestion, absorption and outflow in the rumen: model description.
        J. Nutr. 1992; 122: 2239-2256
        • Dijkstra J.
        • Tamminga S.
        Simulation of the effects of diet on the contribution of rumen protozoa to degradation of fibre in the rumen.
        Br. J. Nutr. 1995; 74: 617-634
        • Eadie J.M.
        • Mann S.O.
        Development of the rumen microbial population: high starch diets and instability.
        in: Phillipson A.T. Physiology of Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant. Oriel Press, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom1970: 335-347
        • Esdale W.J.
        • Broderick G.A.
        • Satter L.D.
        Measurement of ruminal volatile fatty acid production from alfalfa hay or corn silage rations using a continuous infusion isotope dilution technique.
        J. Dairy Sci. 1968; 51: 1823-1830
        • Forbes J.M.
        • France J.
        Quantitative Aspects of Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism.
        CAB Int., Wallingford, United Kingdom1993

      19. Genstat™ Version 5.3.2. 1994. Lawes Agricultural Trust, Rothamsted Exp. Stn., Rothamsted, United Kingdom.

        • Hungate R.E.
        The Rumen and its Microbes.
        Acad. Press, New York, NY1966
        • Jaakkola S.
        • Huhtanen P.
        The effects of forage preservation method and proportion of concentrate on nitrogen digestion and rumen fermentation in cattle.
        Grass Forage Sci. 1993; 48: 146-154
        • Krzanowski W.J.
        Principles of Multivariate Analysis: A User's Perspective.
        Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, United Kingdom1988
        • Leng R.A.
        Formation and production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen.
        in: Phillipson A.T. Physiology of Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant. Oriel Press, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom1970: 406-421
        • Lescoat P.
        • Sauvant D.
        Influence de la proportion de concentre dans la ration sur le profil ruminal des agv.
        Ann. Zootech. (Paris). 1994; 43: 28S
        • Lescoat P.
        • Sauvant D.
        Development of a mechanistic model for rumen digestion validated using the duodenal flux of amino acids.
        Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 1995; 35: 45-70
        • MacRae J.C.
        • Armstrong D.G.
        Enzyme method for the determination of α-linked glucose polymers in biological materials.
        J. Sci. Food Agric. 1968; 19: 578-581
        • Martin P.A.
        • Chamberlain D.G.
        • Robertson S.
        • Hirst D.
        Rumen fermentation patterns in sheep receiving silages of different chemical composition supplemented with concentrates rich in starch or in digestible fibre.
        J. Agric. Sci. 1994; 122: 145-150
        • Mayne C.S.
        • Gordon F.J.
        The effect of concentrate and level of concentrate feeding on milk production.
        Anim. Prod. 1984; 39: 65-76
        • McAllan A.B.
        • Sutton J.D.
        • Beever D.E.
        • Napper N.J.
        Rumen fermentation characteristics and duodenal nutrient flow in lactating cows receiving two types of grass silage and two levels of concentrates.
        Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 1994; 46: 277-291
        • Mehrez A.Z.
        • Ørskov E.R.
        A study of the artificial fibre bag technique for determining the digestibility of feeds in the rumen.
        J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.). 1977; 88: 645-650

      31. Minitab® Version 9. 1992. Minitab Inc., State College, PA.

        • Morgan C.A.
        • Edwards R.A.
        • McDonald P.
        Intake and metabolism studies with fresh and wilted silages.
        J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.). 1980; 94: 287-298

      33. Munoz, L. S. 1995. Influence de la nature des glucides des aliments concentres sur la digestion des ruminants. Ph.D. Diss., Inst. Natl. Agron., Paris Grignon, France.

        • Murphy M.R.
        Modelling production of volatile fatty acids in ruminants.
        in: Davis R.L. Baldwin Bywater A.S. Modelling Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism. Proc. 2nd Int. Workshop, Univ. California. Univ., California, Davis1984: 59-62
        • Murphy M.R.
        • Baldwin R.L.
        • Koong L.J.
        Estimation of stoichometric parameters for rumen fermentation of roughage and concentrate diets.
        J. Anim. Sci. 1982; 55: 411-421
        • Murphy M.
        • Khalili H.
        • Huhtanen P.
        The substitution of barley by other carbohydrates in grass silage based diets to dairy cows.
        Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 1993; 41: 279-296
        • Olsen M.A.
        • Moen R.
        • Mathieson S.D.
        The effect of silage and hay of regrowth timothy on the cellulytic bacterial population in the rumen of reindeer.
        Ann. Zootech. (Paris). 1995; 44: 165
        • Robertson J.B.
        • Van Soest P.J.
        Dietary fiber estimation in concentrate animal feedstuffs.
        J. Anim. Sci. 1977; 45 (Abstr.): 254
        • Robinson P.H.
        • Tamminga S.
        • van Vuuren A.M.
        Influence of declining level of feed intake and varying the proportion of starch in the concentrate on rumen fermentation in dairy cows.
        Livest. Prod. Sci. 1986; 15: 173-189
        • Rogers J.A.
        • Davis C.L.
        Effects of intraruminal infusions of mineral salts on volatile fatty acid production in steers fed high grain and high roughage diets.
        J. Dairy Sci. 1982; 65: 953-988
        • Rooke J.A.
        • Borman A.J.
        • Armstrong D.G.
        The effect of inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum on fermentation of herbage low in water soluble carbohydrate when ensiled in laboratory silos.
        Grass Forage Sci. 1990; 45: 143-152
        • Siciliano-Jones J.
        • Murphy M.R.
        Production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen and caecum-colon of steers are affected by forage concentrate and forage physical form.
        J. Dairy Sci. 1989; 72: 485-492

      43. Statutory Instruments. 1982. No. 1144. The Feedingstuffs (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, United Kingdom.

        • Sutton J.D.
        Digestion and absorption of energy substrates in the lactating cow.
        J. Dairy Sci. 1985; 68: 3376-3393
        • Sutton J.D.
        • Johnson V.W.
        Fermentation in the rumen of cows given rations containing hay and flaked maize or rolled barley in widely different proportions.
        J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.). 1969; 73: 459-468
        • Theodorou M.K.
        • France J.
        Rumen micro-organisms and their interactions. Chapter 7.
        in: Forbes J.M. France J. Quantitative Aspects of Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism. CAB Int., Wallingford, United Kingdom1993
        • Thomas P.C.
        • Robertson S.
        • Chamberlain D.G.
        • Livingstone R.M.
        • Garthwaite P.M.
        • Dewey P.J.S.
        • Smart R.
        • Whyte C.
        Predicting the metabolizable energy content of compound feedstuffs for ruminants.
        in: Haresign W. Cole D.J.A. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition. Butterworths, London, United Kingdom1988: 126-146
        • Thomas P.C.
        • Rook A.J.F.
        Manipulation of rumen fermentation.
        in: Haresign W. Cole D.J.A. Recent Developments in Ruminant Nutrition. Butterworths, London, United Kingdom1981: 157-183
        • Van Soest P.J.
        • Wine R.H.
        Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. 4. Determination of plant cell wall constituents.
        J. AOAC. 1967; 50: 50-55

      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: December 3, 1997
      Received: March 19, 1997

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(98)75696-6

      Copyright

      © 1998 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc.

      User license

      Elsevier user license |
      How you can reuse Information Icon
      Elsevier user license

      Permitted

      For non-commercial purposes:

      • Read, print & download
      • Text & data mine
      • Translate the article

      Not Permitted

      • Reuse portions or extracts from the article in other works
      • Redistribute or republish the final article
      • Sell or re-use for commercial purposes

      Elsevier's open access license policy

      ScienceDirect

      Access this article on ScienceDirect

      The content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals.


      We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. To update your cookie settings, please visit the Cookie Preference Center for this site.
      Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. except certain content provided by third parties.


      RELX