[Effect of various sources of phosphorus on the apparent digestibility of crude nutrients, growing and slaughtering performance as well as selected parameters of metabolism in fattening bulls]. / Einfluss unterschiedlicher Phosphorgaben auf die scheinbare Verdaulichkeit der Rohnährstoffe, Mast- und Schlachtleistung sowie ausgewählte Stoffwechselparameter von Jungmastbullen.

Two long-term individual feeding experiments (336 and 307 days) were carried out with 52 (experiment I; Black and White dairy cattle) and 22 (experiment II; Yellow cattle) growing bulls. Rations varied in P-content. In experiment I straw: concentrate-mixture (1:2.5) were fed, phosphorus content of rations amounted to 2, 3 or 4 g/kg DM. In experiment II maize silage was fed ad lib. supplemented with 2.4 kg concentrate per animal per day. P-content of rations amounted to 3 and 4 g/kg DM. Apparent digestibility of rations was determined during experiments. Blood samples were taken to analyse selected parameters of metabolism. Various P-supply did not significantly influence apparent digestibility of organic matter and crude nutrients in both experiments. Bulls fed 2 g P/kg DM decreased DMI in experiment I already after 50 days of experiment. After 168 experimental days daily weight gain of bulls fed with 2 g P/kg DM was 124 or 132 g lower than that of bulls fed with 3 or 4 g P/kg DM respectively. P-concentration of inorganic P in serum decreased to < 2 mmol/l, bone mineralisation was reduced. There exist no significant differences in feed intake, weight gain and metabolic parameters of bulls fed with 3 or 4 g P/kg DM. Increase of P-supply from 2 to 3 or 4 g/kg DM compensated partially the lower weight gain. Application of 3 or 4 g P/kg DM in experiment II effected daily weight gains of > 1200 g and did not significantly influence all investigated criterions.

[The vitamin A requirement and the vitamin A status of growing cattle. 1. Studies of calves]. / Untersuchungen zum Vitamin-A-Bedarf und zum Vitamin-A-Status wachsender Rinder. 1. Mitteilung. Untersuchungen an Kälbern.

Five experiments with 18 to 36 male calves each of the black and white dairy cattle breed (age: 14-21 days, initial live weight: approximately 45 kg per animal) were carried out in order to investigate the influence of various vitamin A supply (0-80,000 IU per 100 kg LW and day) on dry matter intake and weight gain as well as the vitamin A status of liver and blood plasma over 84 days. The calves consumed a diet free of carotene and vitamin A consisting of milk replacer, concentrate and chopped wheat straw. The calves were fed in three experiments for a longer time in order to observe the further vitamin A depletion. Nine animals consumed an unsupplemented ration, nine other one got 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg LW and day. Biopsies of liver and plasma samples were taken from 4 animals per group every four weeks. The various vitamin A supplementation did not significantly influence the dry matter intake (Mean: 1.67; 1.48 to 1.80 kg DM per animal and day) and the weight gain of calves (Mean: 702, 599 to 770 g per animal and day). First vitamin A deficiency symptoms (reduced feed intake, decreased weight gain, diarrhoea etc.) were observed in animals of unsupplemented group after 100 days of experiments. After 84 days the vitamin A concentration of liver of animals of unsupplemented groups decreased to 1.3-32.2% compared with the begin of experiments (60.6-155.7 mumol/kg fresh matter). Up to 51% of initial concentration were found when 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg LW and day were fed. About 25,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg LW and day were required in order to keep the initial level of vitamin A concentration of liver. The plasma vitamin A concentration is unsuitable for estimation of vitamin A status of calves. The concentration of vitamin A of liver and plasma amounted to 114 mumol per kg and 0.25 mumol per litre at the begin of experiments. The vitamin A concentration of liver of unsupplemented group decreased to 20 mumol per kg, that of plasma increased to 0.28 mumol per 1 at the end. A strong vitamin A deficiency (liver concentration: less than 10 mumol/kg) may cause a decrease of vitamin A concentration of blood.

[Effect of the polyether antibiotic "monensin" on fattening and slaughtering performance as well as protein and energy retention in bulls]. / Untersuchungen zum Einfluss des Polyäther-Antibiotikums "Monensin" auf Mast- und Schlachtleistung sowie Protein- und Energieansatz von Bullen.

In an individual feeding experiment (150-500 kg live weight) the influence of the polyether antibiotic Monensin on the fattening, slaughtering and retention performances of crossbreeding dairy bulls (genotype 31) and fattening hybrids (genotype 61) was ascertained. The supplementation of the polyether antibiotic on average resulted in a decrease by approximately equal to 11% of the dry matter and energy expenditure per kg weight gain due to a lower feed intake and a higher live weight gain. The slaughtering parameter investigated and the chemical composition of the empty body remained uninfluenced. The daily nutrient retention values were positively influenced by the Monensin supplementation since the fattening bulls of the test group required 30 days less to achieve the attempted fattening weight. The additional retention of protein, fat and energy per animal and day in the dairy bulls approximately equal to 10.9; 13.5 and 16.4% and in the fattening hybrids 1.9; 3.2 and 2.6%. Due to a higher energy retention at a lower level of feed and energy intake after Monensin supplementation an average of approximately equal to 11.3 and 15.4% resp. more of the consumed digestible protein and the digestible energy resp. were retained in the empty bodies. One can conclude that Monensin improved the utilisation of feed energy; obviously the effect of the polyether antibiotic is due to its influence on processes in the rumen or directly or indirectly on metabolism.

[Effect of the polyether antibiotic monensin on rumen fermentation in fattening bulls during the feeding of rations rich in sugar beets]. / Einfluss des Polyäther-Antibiotikums "Monensin" auf die Pansenfermentation von Mastbullen beim Einsatz von zuckerschnitzelreichen Rationen.

In an experiment with six fattening bulls the influence of the polyether antibiotic "Monensin" (200 mg/animal and day) on the rumen physiologic parameters before and one, two, three and six hours resp. after the feeding of rations rich in dried sugar beet was investigated. The parameters of rumen fermentation are significantly influenced by the time of rumen fluid sampling and by the quota of dried sugar beet in the concentrated feed (40 and 80% resp.). The effect of "Monensin" supplementation was a narrowing of the acetate: propionate proportion in the rumen fluid over the complete period of the experiment. The molar butyrate quota was distinctly diminished in comparison with earlier feeding experiments with fattening bulls. This effect is caused by the relatively higher values of the butyric acid content in the rumen fluid, which is due to the high quota of dried sugar beet in the concentrated feed.

[Composition and food value of the flat pea (Lathyrus sylvestris L.)]. / Untersuchungen zu Inhaltsstoffen und zum Futterwert der Waldplatterbse (Lathyrus sylvestris L.).

Flat pea (Lathyrus sylvestris L.) is suitable as 'pioneer plant' for the recultivation of slag heaps and mining areas for agricultural production. Flat pea contains between 20 and 30% crude protein in the dry matter and is richer in protein than other feed legumes. It is comparable to foxtail clover and lucerne as regards the content of amino acids (g/16 g N) and minerals. The digestibility of the crude nutrients of various dried products of flat pea was ascertained in seven experiments with five rams. The digestibility of the organic matter of the hay (before budding) was 66.2%, energy concentration 526 EFU/kg DM; 55% and 410 EFU/kg DM were ascertained for seed straw. The protein digestibility for hay and dried green fodder varied between 72.3 and 75.8%. Since there have been no reports lathyrogenous substances in the vegetative parts of flat pea, its use as green fodder or dried green fodder for feeding sheep, cattle or wild ruminants is possible.

[Effect of the polyether antibiotic "monensin" on the rumen fermentation and fattening results of crossbreeding bulls of dairy cattle and fattening hybrids]. / Der Einfluss des Polyätherantibiotikums "Monensin" auf Pansenfermentation und Mastergebnisse von Milchrindkreuzungsbullen und Masthybriden.

The influence of the polyether antibiotic Monensin on the rumen fermentation and the fattening results of fattening hybrids (genotype 61) and crossbreeding bulls of dairy cattle (genotype 19) was ascertained in two feeding experiments (E1 and E2). Caused by the supplementation of the antibiotic, the molar acetate quota decreased (1.9 to 4.8 Mol %) and the molar propionate concentration increased (0.2 to 2.9 Mol %) in the rumen fluid of crossbreeding bulls of dairy cattle and of fattening hybrids, it is, however, below the range described in literature. With the exception of the fattening hybrids in E1, the supplementation of Monensin resulted in the diminished intake of dry matter, the daily increase of the live weight of all groups of fattening bulls was higher (E1: fattening hybrids: 1106 resp. 1199g; crossbreeding bulls of dairy cattle: 1037 resp. 1058 g; E2: 997 resp. 1024 g; 895 resp. 981 g without resp. with Monensin). After the Monensin supplementation the crossbreeding bulls of dairy cattle showed a distinctly bigger decrease of the feed intake and a rise of the live weight increase than the fattening hybrids. For this reason the genotypes of dairy cattle showed in both experiments after the Monensin supplementation a bigger decrease of expenditure (0.8 resp. 7.1% and 5.6 resp. 11.3% in experiments 1 and 2) than the fattening hybrids.

[The use of decanted solids from swine manure in the nutrition of fattening calves]. / Untersuchungen zum Einsatz von dekantierten Feststoffen der Schweinegülle in der Mastrinderernährung

3 feeding trials were carried out in which dried and decanted solids from pig faeces were used in varying proportions. A total of 55 fattening bulls were slaughtered at the end of the trial period. Additionally, a number of characteristic data on ruminal physiology were determined in these trials. The molar proportions of acetate and propionate found with the feeding of rations containing faecal solids were intermediate between those observed in concentrate feeding and those established with the feeding of commercial food pellets containing 40% or 50% straw. Slight increases in the molar proportion of butyrate were noticed when rations were fed containing faecal solids. Nonfasted animals fed rations containing a higher proportion of coarse fodder had a significantly lower slauglitered bady mass (0; 50% straw; 25% straw + 25% faecal solids; 50% faecal solids: 55.7%; 51.9%; 51.1%; or 52.2% of the final fattening weight). They developed a lower proportion of flesh and contained a higher proportion of digesta in the stomach and intestines (11.4%; 18.4%; 17.0%; or 16.3% of the final fattening weight). The proportion of fat contained in the stomach & bowels decreased with the feeding of straw or faecal solids. Other organs and tissues were not affected by the different types of feeding used. An analysis of the results of slaughtering showed that the feeding of faecal solids did not produce any specific effect.

[Excessive oral administration of iron to sheep. 1. Digestibility of rations, results of fattening and carcass yields]. / Uberhöhte orale Eisengaben an Schafe. 1. Mitteilung Verdaulichkeit der Ration, Mast- und Ausschlachtungsergebnisse

4 digestibility trials (4 male sheep per group) and 2 growth trials were carried out with 24 (V 1) and 32 (V 2) fattening lambs to investigate the effect of abundant oral Fe doses on the digestibility of crude nutrients in a ration of barley + dried green feed and on the results of fattening and carcass yields. Fe supplementation (less than 1400 mg per sheep/day) did not significantly change the digestibility coefficients of crude nutrients. Increasing Fe levels in the concentrates decreased the rates of liveweight increase and food consumption in both growth trials. Well-established statistical evidence was provided for the decline in absolute carcass yields resulting from the lower weight of the lambs at the end of the fattening period after Fe supplementation.

[Studies in male sheep on the feeding value of excreta from young hens and broilers]. / Untersuchungen an Hammeln zum Futterwert von Broiler- und Junghennenexkrementen

5 digestibility trials were carried out, each with 4 male sheep, to investigate the excreta of young hens and broilers produced as litter in hen batteries for rearing and fattening stock. Data on the digestibility of organic matter and energy of broiler excreta were 76.0% and 76.4%; i.e. these values were only slightly lower than those for the basal ration (barley + dried green lucerne: 76.6% and 76.8%). Digestibility coefficients for organic matter and energy content in the excreta of young hens were 69.4% and 70.4%, respectively. The protein digestibility of excreta of broilers and young hens was 82.3% and 84.3%; that is to say, the investigated dropping contained 330 g and 260 g of digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter. Due to the high ash content of the samples the energy content of the analyzed excreta was only 474 EFr and 421 EFr per kg of dry matter.