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Effect of a non‐forage fiber of red bean hulls on ruminal mat characteristics, chewing activity and milk production in dairy cows
Author(s) -
Izumi Kenichi,
Miwa Junpei,
Ishizuka Kenta
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.12131
Subject(s) - rumination , forage , rumen , neutral detergent fiber , biology , dry matter , zoology , agronomy , fermentation , food science , cognition , neuroscience
Abstract The evaluation of red bean hulls ( RBH ) as a non‐forage fiber source on ruminal mat formation, chewing activity and milk production was determined using two experiments. In experiment 1, four non‐lactating, rumen‐cannulated H olstein cows were offered a control diet of 60.1% forage, and an RBH diet of 51.6% forage and 9.4% RBH . Although the neutral detergent fiber ( NDF ) intake was higher with the RBH diet than the control diet, the physically effective NDF (pe NDF ) intake was lower. The rumination period tended to be longer with the RBH diet than with the control diet and the ruminal mat was formed even when the RBH diet was consumed. Ruminal fermentation parameters were not affected by treatment. In experiment 2, 40 lactating cows were fed a control diet of 53.4% forage or an RBH diet of 50.3% forage and 8.1% RBH . Dry matter intake, chewing activity and milk production were not affected by diet. Cows sorted against NDF in the control diet, but not in the RBH diet. It is concluded that normal ruminal function can be maintained because the ruminal mat was stratified and rumination activity was not reduced even when a low pe NDF diet that contained RBH was given to dairy cows.