Matua bromegrass hay (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) is a high quality forage, but its value for mares during gestation and lactation is not well known. Intake, rate of passage, performance, and reproduction by gestating and lactating Quarter Horse mares fed the hay was investigated. In this experiment, 12, 2- to 12-yr-old gravid mares (mean BW = 553 kg, SD = 36) were fed Matua hay (CP = 11.5%) or a...

this study was conducted to determine nutritive value of common animal feed sources in east azerbaijan province including second cutting of alfalfa hay ( n=35) and wheat straw (n=26). chemical composition and mineral contents of alfalfa hay and wheat straw were determined according to standard methods. then the average chemical compositions of these samples were compared with those of the gilan...

Alfalfa is usually wilted 15% or less moisture prior to baling for hay. However, harvesting at low moistures increases loss of leaves (protein) during baling and reduces nutritive value. In addition, long wilting times increases the risk for damage from rain. In order to retain more nutrients and prevent rain damage, hay can be baled at higher moistures but the risk of spoilage from undesirable...

The key chemical analysis used to estimate the energy value of alfalfa hay for trading purposes, ADF (acid detergent fiber), has been supplanted by NDF (neutral detergent fiber) as the key chemical analysis used by nutritionists to evaluate the fibrosity and energy value of alfalfa hay for nutritional purposes. It is important that the alfalfa hay trading industry abandon ADF, as it will genera...

When hay is first baled stored, it may go through a “sweat”, an increase in bale temperature. This increase in bale temperature is a combination of plant, bacteria, yeast, and fungi respiration. Plant soluble carbohydrates, principally sugars, are the source of energy for this respiration and increase in heat. As hay storage time increases, the hay loses Dry Matter (DM), and increases in Neutra...

OBJECTIVE To measure pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, and lactate concentrations in stomach contents and determine number and severity of gastric lesions in horses fed bromegrass hay and alfalfa hay-grain diets. ANIMALS Six 7-year-old horses. PROCEDURE A gastric cannula was inserted in each horse. Horses were fed each diet, using a randomized crossover design. Stomach contents ...

OBJECTIVES The balance between interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL4) producing T cells (T1 and T2 cells) seems to be of importance in many (auto)immune disorders. In general, T1 cell activity is important in cellular immunity whereas T2 cell activity plays a part in humoral responses. T1 cell activity predominates in joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) whereas T2 ce...

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of supplementing primiparous heifers based on the metabolizable protein (MP) system during pregnancy and lactation. In Exp. 1, 12 pregnant, March-calving heifers (432 +/- 10 kg) grazing Sandhills range were randomly allotted to one of two treatments: supplementation based on either the MP system (MPR) or the CP system (CPR). Supplements ...