Effects of Aspergillus oryzae Inclusion on Corn Silage Fermentation

Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Ku, Hsiao-Che,Chen, Chao-Ren,Yu, Bi Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.11

This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract (AFE) on corn silage fermentation characteristics. Trial included two groups of treatments, with or without AFE inclusion in corn ensilage. Sixty corn silage containers, including two treatments with thirty replicates each, were processed in a laboratory scale mini-silo of 21 cm radius by 45 cm height. Three replicate containers were opened and sampled for analysis at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 18 and 34 days after being ensiled. One silage container from each treatment was installed with a remote controlled electronic thermometer to record the temperature changes. Analysis included silage temperature, pH, fermentation acids, the water-soluble carbohydrates and chemical compositions and the silage protein fractions. Results showed that on the first day, the temperature of the ensiled corn was slightly higher than room temperature, but returned to room temperature on the second day. The pH and concentrations of WSC, ADF, lignin and acetic acid in the AFE treated silage were significantly lower than the control groups (p<0.05). The lactic acid and crude protein on the other hand were significantly higher in the AFE treated silage as compared to the control (p<0.05) at the end of the ensilage period. The DM content was significantly higher (p<0.05) whereas the butyric acid content of the AFE treated silage was significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control at the end of the 34 day ensilage period. Titratable acid and buffering capacity in the corn silage were not significantly different between treatment groups (p>0.05). Ammonia N concentration in the AFE treated silage showed a trend of decrease (p>0.05). NPN and the protein fraction A in both groups increased during the conservation period, but fraction A in the AFE treated corn silage was significantly higher than the control silage (p<0.05). During the conservation period, the AFE treated corn silage showed a trend toward a decrease in fractions $B_1$, $B_3$ and C (p<0.05). The protein fraction B2 showed a trend toward increase in the control group and an inconsistent trend in the AFE treated silage during the ensiling period. The AFE treated silage showed a better Flieg score over the control silage (97 vs. 75) as calculated from the concentrations of lactic acid, acetic acid and butyric acid.

Application of Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System to Lactating Cows in Taiwan

Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Chuang, Chi-Hao,Yu, Bi,Hwang, Sen-Yuan,Chen, Chao-Ren Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.6

The aim of this study was to apply the Cornell net carbohydrate and protein system (CNCPS) in subtropical Taiwan. This was done by means of 3 trials, viz, in situ, lactation and metabolic trials, the latter using the urinary purine derivatives (UPD) to estimate the ruminal microbial yield. Dietary treatments were formulated according to different nutrient requirement systems including, (1) a control NRC78 group on NRC (1978), (2) a NRC88 group on NRC (1988), and (3) a CNCPS group on Cornell Net carbohydrate and protein system model. Results from the lactation trial showed that DM intake (DMI) was higher (p<0.05) in the NRC78 than the other treatment groups. The treatments did not significantly influence milk yield, but milk yield after covariance adjustment for DMI was higher in the CNCPS group (p<0.05). The FCM, milk fat content and yield were greater in both the NRC78 and the NRC88 group over the CNCPS group (p<0.05). The treatments did not significantly influence the DMI adjusted FCM. The solid-non-fat and milk protein contents were higher in the CNCPS group (p<0.05) with or without DMI covariance adjustment. Lactating efficiency was higher in the CNCPS group (p<0.05) compared to the other groups. The significantly lowest milk urea-N (MUN) with better protein utilization efficiency in the CNCPS group (p<0.05) suggested that less N would be excreted into the environment. Cows in the CNCPS group excreted significantly more and the NRC88 group significantly less urinary purine derivatives (UPD) implying that more ruminal microbial protein was synthesized in the CNCPS over the NRC88 group. The CNCPS could become the most useful tool in predicting the trends in milk yield, microbial yield and MUN.

Effects of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on Performance of Lactating Cows in the Summer and Winter in Taiwan

Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Chen, Chao-Ren,Yu, Bi Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.3

The aims of this study is to evaluate the effect of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract (AFE) on the performance of lactating cows in summer (May to July) and winter (December to February). The experiment was a completely randomized design (CRD) and dietary treatments were 1) basal diet without AFE, 2) basal plus 3 g/d AFE into the basal total mixed ration (TMR), 3) basal plus 45.4 mg AFE/kg the ensiling corn silage and 4) AFE inclusion in silage and TMR. Twenty-eight cows from each trial were selected and randomly allocated into the four treatment groups, confined in individual pens, and fed ad libitum for 8 weeks in both seasons of feeding trials. Results showed that AFE inclusion in corn silage significantly improved DM intake by 4.4% and milk yield by 3.1% (p<0.05) during summer. In the winter season, AFE inclusion in the diet significantly improved milk yield by 10%. Direct addition of AFE to the TMR even further significantly improved milk yield over the addition through corn silage by 7.4% in winter (p<0.05). An additive effect of AFE inclusion into TMR and through corn silage was also demonstrated in the winter-feeding. AFE inclusion however, did not improve DM intake during the winter trial. In the summer trial, inclusion of AFE showed an adverse effect on the percentage of milk fat, but did not impact on the milk fat yield. Adding AFE through corn silage showed a trend towards alleviating the negative effects of milk fat from direct AFE inclusion in TMR. The similar trend occurred in the winter trial. The inclusion of AFE through corn silage significantly lowered the milk protein content over direct AFE addition, but did not significantly impacted the milk protein yield in summer. AFE supplementation during the winter season significantly increased milk protein content. Adding AFE to the corn silage significantly increased milk protein content over direct AFE addition in winter although inclusion of AFE significantly decreased total milk solid content in the summer (p<0.005). During the winter season, inclusion of AFE required less DM to produce a unit of milk. Inclusion of AFE into corn silage required less DM, energy and protein to produce a unit of milk. But inclusion of AFE did not alleviate heat stress on the lactating cows.

Comparison of Digestive Function Among Rabbits, Guinea-Pigs, Rats and Hamsters. I. Performance, Digestibility and Rate of Digesta Passage

Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Yu, Bi,Kuo, Chung-Yi Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.11

This trial was to compare the digestive function of laboratory animals, which included omnivores (rats) and herbivores (rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters). Ten weanling rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamster were randomly allocated in individual metabolic cages for a performance and a digestibility trial. Results showed that guinea pigs were significantly best in digestion of dietary crude protein and fiber. Rabbits, however, had the poorest nutrient digestion among the herbivores. Crude fiber digested significantly less by rats than by the herbivores (p<0.05). The digesta retention in the GI tract was longest in rabbits followed by guinea pigs, rats and hamsters. The relative length of the large intestine was significantly shorter in rats as compared to guinea pigs or hamsters. Both the weight and length ratio of the caecum or colon-rectum to the large intestine reflected the major site for fermentation that was the caecum in rabbits and the colon-rectum in guinea pigs. 10% of crude fiber diet did not result in damaged mucosa in any of the experimental animals in this trial.

Comparison of Digestive Function Among Rabbits, Guinea-Pigs, Rats and Hamsters. II. Digestive Enzymes and Hindgut Fermentation

Yu, Bi,Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Kuo, Chung-Yi Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.11

The aim of this trial was to study the response of laboratory animals including omnivores (rats) and herbivores (rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters) to the same level of dietary fiber on their digestive enzymes and hindgut fermentation. Ten weanling animals of each of four species, rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and Syrian hamster, were fed a basal diet of 18% crude protein and 10% crude fiber for six weeks. The digesta and tissue of each intestinal segment were collected to measure the activity of digestive enzymes. Rabbits contained the highest secreted pepsin activity in the stomach, whereas rats contained the highest protease and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activity in the small intestine, and lower fibrous hydrolases in the hindgut than rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. The total VFA productions in the caecum and colon were highest in rats, followed by hamsters and rabbits, while the guinea pigs contained the lowest VFA and a different pattern of VFA molar ratio from the other laboratory animals. The degree of hindgut fermentation in these laboratory animals was in reverse to the trend for their fiber digestion.

Feeding Value of High-oil Corn for Taiwan Country Chicken

Lin, Min-Jung,Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Chang, Shen-Chang,Croom, Jim,Fan, Yang-Kwang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.9

The feeding value of high-oil corn fed to Taiwan Country (TC) chicken was examined by measuring apparent metabolizable energy (AME), growth performance, sexual maturity, carcass characteristics, and plasma pigmentation. In a completely randomized design, 870 sex-intermingled one-wk-old chicks were assigned to one of 30 floor pens, 29 birds per pen, and each pen randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments. The experiment was ended when birds were 16 wk of age. The five dietary treatments varied in main fat sources, which were corn oil (CO), high-oil corn (HOC), lard (LRD), whole soybean (WSB) and yellow corn (YC), respectively. All the diets were formulated isonitrogenously, isocalorically, and of equal lysine and methionine contents except YC, in which equal amounts of YC replaced HOC. The results indicated that feed conversion in HOC was 8% higher (p<0.05) than YC whereas the calculated AME of HOC was only 3.5% to 4.0% higher than that of YC. No significant differences were observed in body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and ME efficiency for body weight gain among CO, HOC, LRD, and WSB. No significant differences existed in both skin and muscle pigmentation of breast among the five dietary treatments. No significance differences existed in plasma carotenoid content measured at various ages among the five dietary treatments except that birds fed with HOC had less (p<0.05) plasma carotenoids at 16 wk-old. The results indicate that if the price of high-oil corn is no more than 1.05 times that of yellow corn, the dietary cost per kg of body weight gain for TC chickens fed diets containing high-oil corn will be less, although their body weight may be lighter compared to chickens fed diets formulated with other fat sources.

Effects of Xylanase Supplementation to Wheat-based Diet on the Performance and Nutrient Availability of Broiler Chickens

Chiang, Chia-Chun,Yu, Bi,Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.8

A trial was conducted to evaluate the level of wheat substituted for corn in a traditional corn-soy diet and the xylanase supplementation effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestion of broiler chickens. This experiment was a randomized design with a 4${\times}$2 factorial arrangement with four levels of wheat substitution and two levels of enzyme inclusion in the diet. Wheat replaced 0, 25, 50 or 100% corn with or without 1 g/kg xylanase supplementation in iso-nitrogenous and iso-calorific experimental diets. The results showed that in the growing period, broilers attained the highest (p<0.05) body weight gain, feed intake, and relative small intestine weight when wheat was substituted at 25% for corn. The relative caecum weight increased (p<0.05) linearly with increasing levels of wheat substitution for corn. However, during the finishing period and entire experimental period from 0 to 6 weeks, no significant difference was shown in the growth performance among all treatments. Xylanase inclusion significantly improved the body weight gain, fat availability (p<0.01) and diet metabolisable energy (p<0.1) but decreased (p<0.05) the relative GI tract weight during the growing period. The digesta viscosity of 6-week old broilers was also decreased (p<0.05). It appears that wheat substituted for corn did not affect the growth performance, nutrient digestion, and the digesta viscosity of chickens. It is acceptable to completely substitute wheat for corn. Xylanase supplementation improved performance.

Effects of Dietary Heat Extruded Soybean Meal and Protected Fat Supplement on the Production, Blood and Ruminal Characteristics of Holstein Cows

Chen, Kuen-Jaw,Jan, Der-Fang,Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg,Yang, Der-Wei Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.6

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of protected fat and heat-extruded soybean meal on the lactation performance of Holstein cows. Twenty-four cows, consisting of 20 lactating cows and 4 rumen-fistulated dry cows, were randomly allocated into four groups with 5 lactating cows and 1 fistulated cow in each group. A replicated 4${\times}$4 Latin square design with four 21 day periods, including 14 days of adaptation and 7 collection days within each period was employed. The experiment was a 2${\times}$2 arrangement, with or without heat-extruded soybean meal and protected fat inclusion. The dietary treatments consisted of supplements of (a) soybean meal (the control), (b) heat-extruded soybean meal, (c) protected fat, and (d) heat-extruded soybean meal and protected fat. The results showed that there were no significant differences in feed intake, milk yield, milk protein content, milk lactose content and body weight change between the dietary treatments. However, cows supplemented with protected fat showed a significantly increased (p<0.05) milk fat yield, 3.5% FCM and total solid yield. The increase in undegradable intake protein (UIP) via heat extruded soybean meal supplement significantly decreased the urea nitrogen concentration in the blood (p<0.05). Dietary fat inclusion significantly increased the blood cholesterol concentration (p<0.01) and decreased the ruminal pH value (p<0.01). Increased dietary UIP significantly decreased the ammonia nitrogen concentration in the rumen (p<0.01), but did not significantly influence the pH and VFA molar percentage in the rumen. It appears that dietary protected fat inclusion could improve milk fat and solid content. Increased dietary undegradable intake protein through heat extruded soybean meal did not improve milk yield. But it could alleviate the adverse effect of decreased milk protein due to dietary fat supplementation. Increased UIP could also decrease the ammonia nitrogen concentration in the rumen and plasma urea nitrogen concentration in the blood.

Monitoring Nutritional Status of Dairy Cows in Taiwan Using Milk Protein and Milk Urea Nitrogen

Hwang, Sen-Yuan,Lee, Mei-Ju,Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.12

The climate and marketing system of raw milk in Taiwan create problems in balance feeding of protein and energy in lactating cows in Taiwan. Level of urea nitrogen both in bulk milk and serum reflects ruminal protein degradation and post-ruminal protein provision, whereas milk protein concentration responds to dietary energy intake and bacterial protein production in the rumen. Establishment of a range of reference standards in milk protein and urea nitrogen levels can be applied as a noninvasive economical feeding guide to monitor the balance of protein and energy intake. Standard reference levels of 3.0% milk protein and 11-17 mg/dL milk urea nitrogen (MUN) were established. Level of milk protein below 3.0% is regarded as indicating inadequate dietary energy whereas MUN below or above the range is regarded as a deficiency or surplus in dietary protein. Results from analysis of bulk a milk samples collected from 174 dairy herds over Taiwan showed that only one quarter (25.29%) of the herds received a balanced intake of protein and energy, 33.33% adequate protein with energy inadequate, 22.99% herds in protein surplus with energy inadequate, 10.35% herds in protein surplus with energy adequate, 4.6% protein deficiency with energy adequate, and 3.45% herds with both protein and energy inadequate. Energy inadequate herds accounted for 60% of the total dairy herds in Taiwan with 56% adequate, 38% surplus and 6% inadequate in protein. In comparing milk sampled from bulk milk on different seasons from Lee-Kang area in the southern Taiwan, the concentrations of milk fat and milk protein were significantly higher in the cool season (February) than in the warm season (August) (p<0.05), whereas the urea nitrogen in the milk was significantly lower in the cool season than in the warm season (p<0.05). This indicated that lactating cows had excess protein and/or inadequate energy intake in the warm season in this area. It appears that the major problem feeding in lactating cows is energy intake shortage, especially during the warm season in Taiwan.

Caponization Effects on Growth Performance and Lipid Metabolism in Taiwan Country Chicken Cockerels

Chen, Kuo-Lung,Hsieh, Tseng-Yueh,Chiou, Peter Wen-Shyg Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.3

This trial was designed to study the caponization effects on the appearance, carcass characteristics, blood constituents and lipid metabolism of Taiwan country chicken cockerels. Cockerels were caponized at 8 weeks of age. Sixteen-week-old chickens, including 10 capons, 5 slips (incomplete caponized male chickens) and 20 normal chickens of equal sexes were selected for a 10 week ad libitum feeding trial. Results showed that the testosterone concentrations in the capons and females were lower (p<0.05) than that of intact males. The comb length, height and weights were also lower (p<0.05). The weight of the slips was between that of the capons and intact males, but was heavier (p<0.05) than that of the capon. The live-weight, carcass weight and shank perimeter in the capons were higher than those of the other groups (p<0.05). Hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity analyses showed that NADP-malic dehydrogenase (MDH) activity in the capons and female chickens was higher than that in intact male chickens (p<0.05). The MDH activity in the slips was between that for the capon and intact male chickens (p>0.05). The abdominal fat weight and relative abdominal fat weight of the capons and females were heavier than that for intact males (p<0.05); the slips were between the capons and intact males. The blood lipid content results showed that the triacylglycerol and cholesterol in the capons were higher than that for intact males (p<0.05). However, the percentage of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was lower than that in intact male chickens (p<0.05). It appears that the increase in lipid accumulation in caponized male chickens is attributed mainly to an increase in MDH activity and the changes in lipid transportation in the capons.