Effect of beet pulp and citrus pulp on rumination activity

The effects of barley replacement by dehydrated citrus pulp on feed intake, performance, feeding behaviour and serum metabolic indicators in lambs

The citrus industry produces a wide amount of citrus pulp which can represent an alternative feed resource for feeding ruminants. However, citrus pulp also contains chemicals such as polyphenols, which can cause toxicity, limiting its use. We investigated the potential of replacing barley by dehydrated citrus pulp (DCP), at two levels of inclusion (24% and 35% on an as-fed basis), in a lamb fattening diet and monitored the performance, feeding pattern and serum parameters of the experimental lambs. The consumption of a diet containing up to 35% of DCP resulted in equivalent performance, feed efficiency and carcass weight and yield as compared with animals ingesting a cereal-based diet (control). The daily feed consumption pattern was slightly affected by the inclusion of citrus pulp in the diet. In terms of serum haematochemical profile, DCP ingesting animals had similar levels to control lambs. Pertaining to the serum protein profile, DCP addition had minor effects. A significant increase in the albumin content and in the albumin to globulin ratio was observed in the animals ingesting 35% DCP compared with the control-fed ones; but the values were not at a level to cause metabolic distress. The use of high levels of DCP in small ruminant fattening can ensure equivalent animal performances and metabolic welfare while providing a value addition to a local by-product.

Dried sugar-beet pulp as a roughage substitute for pregnant ewes

In 1968-69 for a mean period of 101 days before lambing, 72 cross-bred ewes, and in 1969-70 for a mean period of 88 days, 107 ewes were given roughage daily in the form of (a) 0·91 kg field-cured hay (b) 0·45 kg of hay plus 0·23 kg dried sugar-beet pulp nuts, or (c) 0·45 kg of pulp nuts. Each diet was supplemented by a concentrate allowance. From the 6th week before lambing was due to start, this allowance was progressively and uniformly increased.

There was no evidence that the dried sugar-beet pulp had adversely affected performance in terms of ewe body-weight change, lamb numbers, litter weight at birth or 4 weeks of age, fleece weight or general health. It is therefore concluded that dried sugar-beet pulp can be used safely as a replacement for hay in supplying up to 67% of the energy needed for maintenance by ewes.

Citrus pulp for cattle

Citrus pulp is classified as an energy concentrate by-product feed. Citrus by-products fed to beef cattle include citrus molasses, citrus meal, wet citrus pulp, dried citrus pulp, and pelleted citrus pulp; however, in current production systems, pulp (wet, dry, and pelleted) is the only by-product commonly used. Citrus pulp production in the United States is limited to specific subtropical regions, of which south central Florida remains the largest with additional production in California and Texas.

[Eating and ruminating behavior of sheep. 2. Experiments in pregnant and lactating ewes fed with a straw-concentrate mixture]

Fertility oriented ewes in the late stage of gestation and during the lactation period received 19 feeding regimes on the basis of straw-concentrate mixtures, which essentially differed in the feedstuff structure. The ewes fed ad libitum on average used between 5 and 6 hours per day feed intake in the 86 measuring periods. The average daily ruminating time ranged from 398 to 502 minutes. An increasing straw content resulted in significantly longer ruminating periods and a higher number of masticatory movements, additional quotas of long straw had non effect. But even the most unfavourable feeding variants (straw-concentrate mixtures with 40% straw meal treated with NaOH) elicited 21 100 ruminating masticatory movements in 5 hours of ruminating. There were no significant differences between the absolute consumption and ruminating activities in the late stage of gestation and the lactation period; with reference to feed and crude fibre intake the ruminating expenditure in the late stage of gestation was always significantly higher. Rations with a low structural effect resulted in a more unbalanced distribution of consumption and ruminating activities in the course of the day than well structured rations.