2019 Volume 11 Issue 1 Pages 21-31
Two experiments were conducted for effective practice use of extract residue of dwarf bamboo (Sasa veitchii (Carr.) Rehder) (ERDB). In Exp.1, chemical composition, nutritive value and palatability of the ERDB were measured. In addition, the ERDB was ensiled together with no substrate (intact), 10% rice bran (RB) or 10% polished rice bran (PRB) to examine the fermentative quality, nutritive value and palatability. They were allocated 3 treatments, i.e. control, RB and PRB. In Exp.2, feed utilization, behaviour and health condition were investigated on goats fed ERDB ensiled with no substrate (intact), 10% RB or 10% PRB. Three does were assigned to four treatments: control (lucerne hay cube: HC), ERDBS-HC (80% HC+20% ERDB silage in a DM basis), RB-HC (80% HC+20% RB silage) and PRB-HC (80% HC+20% PRB silage), respectively.
Exp.1: The crude protein and crude fat of the ERDB were 10.4 and 7.4%, respectively, which were more than twofold of those of rice straw. Crude fiber was also higher in the ERDB than in rice straw, showing a value of 45.7%. Although chemical composition was very different between ERDB and rice straw, total digestible nutrients (TDN) of the former was 45.5%, which approximated that of the latter. However, it was verified that the ERDB was less palatable than rice straw and imported grass hays for goats and cows. The Flieg scores of the RB and PRB silages were significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.05). All silages got over 62 points, indicating that they had good quality. Palatability was significantly increased in the RB and PRB silages comparing the ERDB and control (P<0.05).
Exp.2: There were no significant differences in DM, CP and TDN intakes per metabolic body size, daily maintenance behaviour of the goats, and roughage value index among the control, ERDB-HC, RB-HC and PRB-HC groups. Blood constituents exclusive to the total bilirubin concentration did not differ among the treatments, and all haematological and blood biochemical parameters were within standard range.
In conclusion, the addition of RB and PRB to the ERDB improved fermentative quality, nutritive value and palatability, though ensiling of only ERDB was feasible. However, it was suggested that RB and PRB silages should be offered to ruminants in combination with other feedstuff in feeding, because both silages contained more than 7% crude fat. It was also concluded that the feed utilization and health condition of goats were not influenced by substituting RB or PRB silage for 20% (DM basis) of ordinary ration (HC). Therefore, both RB and PRB silages can be used as feed for ruminants.
