Daalkhaijav Damiran

Chemical profile, rumen degradation kinetics, and energy value of four hull-less barley cultivars: comparison of the zero-amylose waxy, waxy, high-amylose, and normal starch cultivars.

The objective of this study was to compare three new Canadian hull-less barley cultivars with altered starch characteristics (zero-amylose waxy, CDC Fibar; waxy, CDC Rattan; and high-amylose, HB08302) with conventional normal starch hull-less barley (HB) cultivar (CDC McGwire) in terms of ruminant feed value. The study revealed that altered starch HB cultivars possessed several desirable feed characteristics, distinct from conventional normal starch HB, although they were similar in some respects: (1) basic chemical and carbohydrate subfraction profiles varied; (2) starch degradation kinetics showed altered starch HB containing higher soluble starch, rumen undegraded starch, lower degradable starch, and slower degradation rate; (3) all altered starch HB cultivars had similar soluble and degradable starch, different from that of conventional normal starch HB; (4) two waxy HB cultivars were lower, whereas the high-amylose cultivar was similar in effective degradability of the starch as compared to conventional normal starch HB; (5) zero-amylose waxy HB had the greater effective degradability of protein among HB cultivars; and (6) amylopectin in HB had a positive relationship with protein supply (increasing amylopectin was correlated with increased effective degradability of protein). Overall, these results demonstrate that the alteration of starch structure in granule affects not only starch fermentation and utilization but also protein value in hull-less barley. In summary, the HB cultivars with modified starch might be a better feed grain for ruminants than the normal starch HB.

Effect of winter feeding system on beef cow performance, reproductive efficiency, and system cost1

A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of winter feeding systems on beef cow performance, reproductive efficiency, and system cost. Winter feeding systems were (i) swath grazing (SG) windrowed whole-plant barley [TDN = 62.4, CP = 13.4 (% DM)] in field paddocks; (ii) bale grazing (BG) barley hay round bales [TDN = 66.6, CP = 13.1 (% DM)] in field paddocks; (iii) straw-chaff grazing (STCH) barley crop residue piles [TDN = 46.8, CP = 9.8 (% DM)] in field; and (iv) drylot feeding (DL) barley hay round bales [TDN = 67.9, CP = 13.0 (% DM)] in bale feeders in pens. The study was conducted over 3 production cycles with spring-calving beef cows [yr 1 (78 d), n = 180, BW = 630.5 ± 3.9 kg; yr 2 (21 d), n = 180, BW = 598.6 ± 7.7 kg; yr 3 (36 d), n = 120, BW = 644.0 ± 5.0 kg]. Cows were allocated swaths, bales, and crop residue piles on a 3-d basis to manage DMI and feed waste. Dry matter and TDN intakes were 17 and 23% lower (P 0.05) on cow reproductive performance. In yr 1, in the first 21 d, cows maintained BW and BCS with DL compared with SG, BG, and STCH cows. However, SG, BG, and STCH cows gained BW linearly (r = 0.58, P = 0.09) from d 22 to 76 of the feeding trial. Cows in drylot pens fed round bale hay gained more BW than did cows in field paddocks grazing either round bales (P < 0.05; yr 3) or swaths (P < 0.05; yr 2, yr 3). In yr 1 after 78 d, SG cows had lower BW and BCS (P < 0.05) than did DL cows; however, cows in all systems gained BW in yr 2 and 3. Averaged over 3 yr, winter feeding system costs were 8 and 29% lower for BG and SG, respectively, compared with the DL system. This research indicates that bale grazing or swath grazing systems can be effective alternatives to reduce winter feeding costs.

Molecular basis of structural makeup of hulless barley in relation to rumen degradation kinetics and intestinal availability in dairy cattle: A novel approach.

To date, no study has been done of molecular structures in relation to nutrient degradation kinetics and intestinal availability in dairy cattle. The objectives of this study were to (1) reveal molecular structures of hulless barley affected by structural alteration using molecular spectroscopy (diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform) as a novel approach, and (2) quantify structure features on a molecular basis in relation to digestive kinetics and nutritive value in the rumen and intestine in cattle. The modeled feeds in this study were 4 types of hulless barley (HB) cultivars modified in starch traits: (a) normal starch cultivar, (b) zero-amylose waxy, (c) waxy, and (d) high-amylose. The molecular structural features were determined using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region (ca. 4,000-800 cm(-1)) of the electromagnetic spectrum. The items assessed included infrared intensity attributed to protein amide I (ca. 1,715-1,575 cm(-1)), amide II (ca. 1,575-1,490 cm(-1)), α-helix (ca. 1,648-1,660 cm(-1)), β-sheet (ca. 1,625-1,640 cm(-1)), and their ratio, β-glucan (ca. 1,445-1,400 cm(-1)), total carbohydrates (CHO; ca. 1,188-820 cm(-1)) and their 3 major peaks, structural carbohydrates (ca. 1,277-1,190 cm(-1)), and ratios of amide I to II and amide I to CHO. The results show that (1) the zero-amylose waxy was the greatest in amide I and II peak areas, as well as in the ratio of protein amide I to CHO among HB; (2) α-helix-to-β-sheet ratio differed among HB: the high-amylose was the greatest, the zero-amylose waxy and waxy were the intermediate, and the normal starch was the lowest; (3) HB were similar in β-glucan and CHO molecular structural makeup; (4) altered starch HB cultivars were similar to each other, but were different from the normal starch cultivar in protein molecular makeup; and (5) the rate and extent of rumen degradation of starch and protein were highly related to the molecular structural makeup of HB. In conclusion, the molecular structural makeup on a molecular basis was related to rumen degradation kinetics and intestinal availability in dairy cattle. The alteration of starch structure in barley grain affects starch structure and the magnitude of protein and β-glucan contents, as well as the protein molecular structure of HB.

Protein Molecular Structures and Protein Fraction Profiles of New Coproducts from BioEthanol Production: A Novel Approach

The objectives of this study were to determine the protein molecular structures of the new coproducts from bioethanol production, quantify protein structure amide I to II and alpha-helix to beta-sheet spectral peak intensity ratio, and illustrate multivariate molecular spectral analyses as a novel research tool for rapid characterization of protein molecular structures in bioethonal bioproducts. The study demonstrated that the grains had a significantly higher ratio of alpha-helix to beta-sheet in the protein structure than their coproducts produced from bioethanol processing (1.38 vs 1.03, P < 0.05). There were significant differences between wheat and corn (1.47 vs 1.29, P < 0.05) but no difference between wheat dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn DDGS (1.04 vs 1.03, P > 0.05). The grains had a significantly higher ratio of protein amide I to II in the protein structure than their coproducts produced from bioethanol processing (4.58 vs 2.84, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between wheat and corn (4.61 vs 4.56, P > 0.05), but there were significant differences between wheat DDGS and corn DDGS (3.08 vs 2.21, P < 0.05). This preliminary study indicated that bioethanol processing changes protein molecular structures, compared with original grains. Further study is needed with a large set of the new bioethanol coproducts to quantify protein molecular structures (alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratio; amide I to II ratio) of the bioethanol coproducts in relation to nutrient supply and availability in animals.

Detecting molecular features of spectra mainly associated with structural and non-structural carbohydrates in co-products from bioEthanol production using DRIFT with uni- and multivariate molecular spectral analyses.

The objective of this study was to use DRIFT spectroscopy with uni- and multivariate molecular spectral analyses as a novel approach to detect molecular features of spectra mainly associated with carbohydrate in the co-products (wheat DDGS, corn DDGS, blend DDGS) from bioethanol processing in comparison with original feedstock (wheat (Triticum), corn (Zea mays)). The carbohydrates related molecular spectral bands included: A_Cell (structural carbohydrates, peaks area region and baseline: ca. 1485–1188 cm−1), A_1240 (structural carbohydrates, peak area centered at ca. 1240 cm−1 with region and baseline: ca. 1292–1198 cm−1), A_CHO (total carbohydrates, peaks region and baseline: ca. 1187–950 cm−1), A_928 (non-structural carbohydrates, peak area centered at ca. 928 cm−1 with region and baseline: ca. 952–910 cm−1), A_860 (non-structural carbohydrates, peak area centered at ca. 860 cm−1 with region and baseline: ca. 880–827 cm−1), H_1415 (structural carbohydrate, peak height centered at ca. 1415 cm−1 with baseline: ca. 1485–1188 cm−1), H_1370 (structural carbohydrate, peak height at ca. 1370 cm−1 with a baseline: ca. 1485–1188 cm−1). The study shows that the grains had lower spectral intensity (KM Unit) of the cellulosic compounds of A_1240 (8.5 vs. 36.6, P < 0.05), higher (P < 0.05) intensities of the non-structural carbohydrate of A_928 (17.3 vs. 2.0) and A_860 (20.7 vs. 7.6) than their co-products from bioethanol processing. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in the peak area intensities of A_Cell (structural CHO) at 1292–1198 cm−1 and A_CHO (total CHO) at 1187–950 cm−1 with average molecular infrared intensity KM unit of 226.8 and 508.1, respectively. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in the peak height intensities of H_1415 and H_1370 (structural CHOs) with average intensities 1.35 and 1.15, respectively. The multivariate molecular spectral analyses were able to discriminate and classify between the corn and corn DDGS molecular spectra, but not wheat and wheat DDGS. This study indicated that the bioethanol processing changes carbohydrate molecular structural profiles, compared with the original grains. However, the sensitivities of different types of carbohydrates and different grains (corn and wheat) to the processing differ. In general, the bioethanol processing increases the molecular spectral intensities for the structural carbohydrates and decreases the intensities for the non-structural carbohydrates. Further study is needed to quantify carbohydrate related molecular spectral features of the bioethanol co-products in relation to nutrient supply and availability of carbohydrates.

Comparison of alternative backgrounding systems on beef calf performance, feedlot finishing performance, carcass traits, and system cost of gain1

A 3-yr experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of swath grazing forage barley (Hordeum vulgare; cv. Ranger) or foxtail millet (Setaria italica; cv. Golden German) compared with grass-legume hay fed in drylot pens on

Spectroscopic impact on protein and carbohydrate inherent molecular structures of barley, oat and corn combined with wheat DDGS

The objectives of this experiment were to use non-invasive and non-destructive infrared molecular spectroscopy as a novel approach to explore and identify protein and carbohydrate molecular structure spectral features of DDGS (dried distillers grain solubles from wheat, Triticum aestivum) and its combinations with barley (Hordeum vulgare), corn (Zea mays) and oat (Avena sativa). The spectral parameters assessed in this study included amides, protein molecular structures of α-helix and β-sheet, lignin, cellulosic compounds (CeC) and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). The results of the study show that the combinations of DDGS with cereal grains significantly changed (P < 0.05) protein and carbohydrate structures and protein secondary structure. The use of FT/IR molecular spectroscopy in terms of identification of inherent structural changes was remarkable. The combination of DGGS with different grains alters the constituents and intrinsic molecular structures. This change would improve the nutritional quality and digestive characteristics of the feed. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the effect on digestibility, availability and its structural correlation.

Heat-induced changes to lipid molecular structure in Vimy flaxseed: spectral intensity and molecular clustering.

Autoclaving was used to manipulate nutrient utilization and availability. The objectives of this study were to characterize any changes of the functional groups mainly associated with lipid structure in flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum, cv. Vimy), that occurred on a molecular level during the treatment process using infrared Fourier transform molecular spectroscopy. The parameters included lipid CH(3) asymmetric (ca. 2959 cm(-1)), CH(2) asymmetric (ca. 2928 cm(-1)), CH(3) symmetric (ca. 2871 cm(-1)) and CH(2) symmetric (ca. 2954 cm(-1)) functional groups, lipid carbonyl CO ester group (ca. 1745 cm(-1)), lipid unsaturation group (CH attached to CC) (ca. 3010 cm(-1)) as well as their ratios. Hierarchical cluster analysis (CLA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were conducted to identify molecular spectral differences. Flaxseed samples were kept raw for the control or autoclaved in batches at 120°C for 20, 40 or 60 min for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Molecular spectral analysis of lipid functional group ratios showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the CH(2) asymmetric to CH(3) asymmetric stretching band peak intensity ratios for the flaxseed. There were linear and quadratic effects (P<0.05) of the treatment time from 0, 20, 40 and 60 min on the ratios of the CH(2) asymmetric to CH(3) asymmetric stretching vibration intensity. Autoclaving had no significant effect (P>0.05) on lipid carbonyl CO ester group and lipid unsaturation group (CH attached to CC) (with average spectral peak area intensities of 138.3 and 68.8 IR intensity units, respectively). Multivariate molecular spectral analyses, CLA and PCA, were unable to make distinctions between the different treatment original spectra at the CH(3) and CH(2) asymmetric and symmetric region (ca. 2988-2790 cm(-1)). The results indicated that autoclaving had an impact to the mid-infrared molecular spectrum of flaxseed to identify heat-induced changes in lipid conformation. A future study is needed to quantify the relationship between lipid molecular structure changes and functionality/availability.

C omparison of grazing oat and pea crop residue versus feeding grass-legume hay on beef- cow performance, reproductive efficiency, and system cost 1

Spring-calving nonlactating pregnant Angus (Bos taurus) cows (yr 1, n = 90, BW = 637.6 ± 5.8 kg; yr 2, n = 78, BW = 671.2 ± 8.1 kg; yr 3, n = 68, BW = 669.4 ± 6.6 kg) were managed in 1 of 3 replicated (n = 3) wintering systems: (i) grazing oat residue [OATG; TDN = 58.6, CP = 6.7 (% DM)] piles in field paddocks; (ii) grazing pea residue [PEAG; TDN = 50.9, CP = 11.1 (% DM)] piles in field paddocks; and (iii) drylot (DLPF) pen feeding grass–legume round bales [TDN = 54.5, CP = 10.4 (% DM)] in bale feeders. The study was conducted over 3 production cycles, and cows were allocated crop residue and bales on a 3-d basis to manage utilization and feed waste. Forage utilization was less (P < 0.05) in PEAG (33.4 ± 4.3%) and OATG (44.9 ± 5.9%) systems than in the DLPF (90.0 ± 1.63%) wintering system. Dry matter intake of cows varied (P < 0.05) among systems; cows consuming PEAG or OATG had less (P < 0.01) DMI compared with DLPF cows. Nutrient (CP, TDN) intake was greatest (P < 0.05) for DLPF cows and least for cows in the PEAG system. Cows grazing PEAG residue lost BW (11 kg) from d 1 to 20; however, BW change during the entire trial period (63 d) was positive (4 kg) for PEAG cows but less (P = 0.01) than OATG (27 kg) or DLPF (66 kg) cows. Calf birth weight was least (P = 0.03) for OATG cows than DLPF cows, 39 vs. 42 kg, respectively. On average, total costs for the OATG and PEAG winter feeding strategies were

Effect of development system on growth and reproductive performance of beef heifers

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