Storage time and condensed tannin content of high-moisture sorghum grains: Effects on in vitro fermentation and mold populations.

Silage of high moisture sorghum grains is a highly relevant source of energy in cattle production systems in South America. There is little information related to the chemical characteristics, the kinetics of fermentation and the toxic fungal populations of these feedstuffs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of storage time and condensed tannins content of the grain on chemical composition, in vitro fermentation parameters, and toxicogenic fungal populations of moist sorghum grain stored in silo-bags. Samples of 2 varieties of sorghum grains (high-tannin [HT] and low-tannin [LT]), were obtained during the grain harvest before silage making and after 30, 90, and 180 d of storage (n = 16). High-tannin grains had higher acid detergent fiber, tannins, gas production (P < 0.05) and lower starch and rate of gas production (P < 0.01). Interaction variety × storage time were observed for all chemical parameters (P < 0.01), except for neutral detergent fiber assayed with a heat stable amylase and expressed inclusive of residual ash (aNDF) and pH. Starch and protein content increased in both varieties, tannins decreased in HT and LT, and organic matter (OM) increased in HT and declined in LT (P < 0.05). The rate of gas production increased with the storage time for HT and LT (P < 0.01). A linear reduction in the Aspergillus number of colonies in the HT varieties was observed (P < 0.01), whereas a linear increase in Penicillium isolation was detected in the LT sorghums (P < 0.01). The storage time was beneficial in terms of decreasing the condensed tannins, increasing fractional rate of gas production and minimizing fungal contamination, particularly on HT grains.

Addition of citrus pulp and apple pomace in diets for dogs: influence on fermentation kinetics, digestion, faecal characteristics and bacterial populations.

Fermentation kinetics, digestibility, faecal characteristics and bacterial populations (aerobes, anaerobes, lactobacilli, lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, coliforms and clostridia) of dog food mixed with citrus pulp and apple pomace were evaluated. The in vitro gas production of a pre-digested dog food mixed with 0, 30, 50 and 70 g/kg dry matter (DM) of citrus pulp or apple pomace was measured, and also an experiment with dogs fed the same dog food with or without the addition of 70 g/kg of either fresh citrus pulp or apple pomace was conducted. Gas production increased linearly (p < 0.001) and quadratically (p < 0.001) as fibre levels augmented. The inclusion of fibre sources in the diets resulted in higher faecal output (p =0.005) and defecation frequency (p < 0.001), and lower faecal pH (p < 0.001) and digestibility values (p < 0.01). Faecal consistencies and microbial populations did not differ among treatments. The addition of fresh citrus and apple was effective to stimulate the hindgut fermentation, but slightly depressed the digestion.

Digestibility, fecal characteristics, and plasma glucose and urea in dogs fed a commercial dog food once or three times daily.

Digestibility, fecal characteristics, and levels of glucose and urea in the plasma were determined in 8 dogs that received 2 different dog foods once or 3 times daily. One dog food (A) was 5 times more expensive than the other (B). Fecal pH and consistency, digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and crude fiber (CF) were determined. Blood samples were taken from 30 min before to 60 min after a meal. Digestibilities of DM, OM, and CP, and fecal consistency were higher, and daily fecal excretion and fecal pH were lower when dogs were fed food A (P < 0.001). The feeding schedule had no effect on plasma glucose and urea. Neither feeding X frequency nor food 3 frequency interactions was significant for the parameters studied.