Feeds and Ruminants Flashcards
What is acetate a precursor for?
Fat
What is proprionate a precursor for?
Glucose and Lactose
How can cows survive on such a low protein diet?
Microbes build proteins from substrates in the rumen which can be utilized as a source of protein for the cow, and also recycle urea to build more protein
What is butyrate a precursor for?
Ketone bodies
-it mainly feeds the rumen and colonic mucosa
What is the first limiting AA in the diet?
Lysine
What is the best source of lysine to make meat and milk?
Rumen bacteria
What happens when there is too much fat in the diet of ruminants? (>6%)
Soap is created (mix of ash and fat)
What happens to fats in the rumen?
They get saturated
What is mainly fed to feedyard cattle and lambs?
High energy feeds with protein supplement
-corn, milo, corn silage, soybean meal
-70-80% grain with minimal forage
What is the difference between forages and rangeland?
Forages were introduced by humans and rangelands were introduced by mother nature
What do cattle prefer to graze?
Tall grasses in low flat areas
What do sheep prefer to graze?
Clovers and grasses close to the ground in high and dry areas
What do goats prefer to graze?
They don’t, they are browsers and opportunistic grazers
- they like to graze in higher and dryer areas and have a high tolerance for tannins and bitter compounds
What time of day do cattle prefer to graze? what should they be doing when they aren’t grazing?
Dawn and dusk primarily
-when not grazing they should be ruminating
How does eating behavior change with heat stress?
They will graze a lot more during dawn and dusk to avoid being in the sun during the hottest portion of the day
How much forage does a 1000 lb mature cow require per month? Per day?
750 lb a month, 25 lbs per day
What is the main factors that determine how much pasture is required per cow?
The type and amount of grasses available
When is the best time for plants to be harvested to preserve the root?
Halfway to maturity where quality and yield intersect
Where do most of the grasses we grow on the east coast originate?
In the fertile crescent in europe
Describe the differences between cool season and warm season grasses
Cool season: grasses grow well in the spring and the fall. These contain more protein than warm season grasses
-ex: fescue, bluegrass, rye
Warm season: these like the heat and tend to be more efficient with water, but they die at the first frost
-Ex: corn, crabgrass, bermuda
T/F: Energy estimations are a good way to determine the calorie content of hays
False- these are very much an estimation compared to other values on nutrient analysis
What are some of the harmful or beneficial secondary metabolites present in plants?
Harmful: nitrates, cyanogenic glycosides in toxic plants. Phytates bind phosphorus (but rumen bugs can free)
Beneficial: tannins can aid in parasite control, essential oils can protect against pathogenic bacteria
Harmful/Beneficial: saponins- reduce methane but enhance bloat
Why is it so important that feed is stored properly?
To ensure that it is protected from the elements, other animals and microbes
