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N; -. · » _ .,._ ·,:;__;;~c_· · ig. -_ __,_¤£*:<.. tg·—,?2e.‘- .;* · .; - ‘ A .r;viEf — _ ·;; · T '?_·Y ; ~··’ »_` '* `,`E,;2t’· . ` · , · V _· ·- i.·_;`p_,!'·<:1‘x2 V ,' iv rv . · ·'1`·".={fj§1‘; . · - _ * ·¤f**'§a; ‘ »=‘ . . · v—, ·. ~ ; V · °`°" "?·' ·' ""`7 "'" T "" · A an . VERSITY OF KENTUCKY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION PROGRESS REPORT 150 ` / PROGRAM FOR l965 ANNUAL LIVESTOCK FIELD DAY LEXINGTON PRINCETON I July I4, l965 July I6, l965 I l Morning Morning g Chairman ··· C. Frank Buck Chairman ·· Paul P. Appel Coldstream Farm ·· Conducted tours Livestock Farm West Kentucky showing beef, sheep and swine Substation. Conducted tours - research will start at regular showing beef and swine intervals, beginning at 9 a.m. research will start at regular I (EST). Last tour starts at intervals beginning at 9 a.m. l IO a.m. (CST). Last tour starts at IO a .m . Noon Noon 4 Lunch Lunch ’ Courtesy of G. W. Gardner, Bluegrass Courtesy of Farmers Elevators, Inc. I Stockyards, Lexington and Field Packing Com- pany, Owensboro Afternoon y Chairman ·' W. P. Garrigus l:l5 Address ·· "Livestock and C. B. Cox, Vice President, . Meat Trends" Armour and Company KENTUCKY ANIMAL SCIENCE RESEARCH REPORTS 1965 PROGRESS REPORT 150 July 1965 _ UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION CONTENTS ‘ Page BEEF CATTLE SECTION Sources of Nitrogen for Supplementing Ground Ear Corn Rations . . 7 V Supplementation of Corn - Corn Silage Rations for Feedlot Cattle .................... 8 - Tylosin for Beef Steers on Pasture ............ 9 Measurement and Selection of Economically Important Traits in Beef Cattle - 1965 ............... 12 ANIMAL NUTRITION SECTION Concentrations of Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Folic Acid and — Vitamin Blz in Ruminal Fluid of Steers Fed Different Levels and Forms of Hay and Grain .......... 15 B- Vitamin Synthesis In Vitro: Effect of Source of Rumen Microorganisms and Substrate ............ 16 ‘ Utilization of Glucose and Starch by Wethers When Given Orally or Into the Abomasum ............. 18 Starch Digestion in Steers as Influenced by Dietary Level ..... 20 Non-protein Nitrogen Sources for In Vitro Starch Digestion by Rumen Microorganisms ............. 22 Conversion of Zein to Microbial Protein in Lambs Fed Two ‘ Cellulose: Starch Ratios .............. 23 Influence of Dietary Nitrate on Pre-intestinal Destruction of Vitamin A by Steers .............. 24 Carotenoid Balance of Vitamin A Depleted Sheep ........ 25 Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations in Ruminal Fluid of · Steers Fed Neomycin and Bacitracin ____,,,,,, 27 Amino Acid Composition and Biological Value of Ruminal Fluid Proteins From Steers Fed Roughage or Concentrate Levels . . 29 (Continued on ncxt page) Page (ANIMAL NUTRITION continued) Distribution of Radioactivity in Lambs Receiving C14 — Labeled ` Carotene ................... 30 SHEEP SECTION l · Three Levels of Protein for Early - Weaned Lambs Sired by Either Hampshire or Southdown Rams ......... 33 t GENETICS SECTION Effectiveness of Different Oral Progestogens in Synchronizing I Estrus and Ovulation in Ewes ............ 34 _ Effect of Short- Time Exposure to Continuous Light on Ovulation , Rate and Fertility of Ewes ............. 35 Selective Breeding for Earlier Lambing in a Purebred Flock of Southdown Sheep ................ 36 Semen Traits of Yearling Southdown Rams During July ...... 37 Maintenance of Induced Corpora Lutea in Anestrous Ewes by · Hysterectomy .................. 39 MEATS SECTION Relationship of Retail Yield and Edible Portion to Meatiness . Characteristics of Kentucky Spring Lambs ........ 41 The Effect of Muscle Quality on Quick—Aged, Dry-Cured Hams . . . 43 The Effects of Pancreatic Lipase and Papain on Quick-Aged, Dry-Cured Hams ................. 45 Partial Pumping of Hams ............... 47 ` The Effects of Texture and Color of Muscle on Beef Rib _ A Desirability .................. 49 · Quality Comparisons and Chemical Composition of the Loineye ( From Three Different Weight Groups of Hampshire Barrow and Gilt Littermates ............... 52 (Continued on next page) Page SWINE SECTION _ Effect of Sulfonamide Supplementation of Feed on the Performance of Pigs .................... 55 _\ Protein Supplements for Growing-Finishing Pigs on Concrete . . . 57 Progress Report on Artificial Insemination of Swine ....... 58 The Use of Corn Silage and Rye Pasture for Bred Sows ....... 59 Antibiotics for Early Weaned Pigs ............. 61 7 - BEEF CATTLE SECTION SOURCE OF NITROGEN FOR SUPPLEMENTING GROUND EAR CORN RATIONS N. W. Bradley, J. Ralph Overfield, C. O. Little and G. E. Mitchell, Jr. University of Kentucky . Two previous experiments showed that a simple ration of ground ear corn, . distillers dried grains with solubles (DDG/ S), ground limestone, salt and vitamin A was excellent for fattening yearling steers in drylot. Replacing one—half of the DDG/ S with urea resulted in a depressed rate of gain one year and had no effect the next year. Additions of trace minerals, alfalfa meal, molasses or a complex supplement contain- ing B vitamins, lysine, and increased levels of calcium and phosphorus did not improve steer performance. Because of the variable results with additions of urea, 120 steers were used in replicated lots of 10 steers each to test each of the following treatments: 1. Ground ear corn + DDG/S 2. Ground ear corn + DDG/S + urea 3. Ground ear corn + soybean meal (SBM) 4. Ground ear corn + SBM + urea 5. Ground ear corn + corn gluten meal (CGM) 6. Ground ear corn + CGM + urea The urea in treatment 2 replaced one-half of the nitrogen in the DDG/S in treatment 1. Rations used in the other treatments were formulated to contain nitrogen equivalent to that in rations 1 and 2. Ration ingredients for all six rations are given in Table 1. All lots of steers were fed their respective rations for a 133-day feeding period. Results of the feedlot trial are given in Table 2. Statistical analysis of the data reveal- ed the following: 1. DDG/S gave a highly significant increase in rate of gain over corn gluten meal, corn gluten meal + urea and soybean meal + urea. DDG/S also increased average daily gain 0. 19 lb. over soybean meal. This value approached significance at the 5 percent level. 2. DDG/S + Urea gave a highly significant increase in rate of gain over corn gluten meal and corn gluten meal + urea, also a significant increase in rate of gain over soybean meal + urea. 3. Soybean meal gave a highly significant increase in rate of gain over corn gluten meal, also a significant increase in rate of gain over corn gluten meal + urea and soybean meal + urea. In this experiment DDG/S was the best of the supplements used, and corn gluten meal was the least desirable in respect to rate of gain and feed efficiency. Interest- ingly enough, replacing one—half of the protein in DDG/S or CGM did not significantly depress rate of gain. However, when urea replaced one—half of the protein in soybean meal, rate of gain was significantly depressed. These results confirm a previous conclusion that substituting urea and corn for a part of natural protein supplements sometimes, but not always, depresses performance. Obviously, this area of ruminant nutrition needs further research to define more clearly conditions under which depressed performance can be expected when urea is used in beef cattle rations. 8 . Table 1. —Ration Ingredients (lb/ ton) Ingredients 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ground shelled corn 1 , 291 1, 423 1, 430 1, 498 1, 418 1, 492 Ground corn cobs 323 356 358 375 355 373 DDG/S 359 179 --- —-— --— -—— SBOM —-- —-- 186 85 ~·—- --— . Urea -—- 18 --— 15 —-— 15. 3 Corn gluten meal —-- —-- —-- —-— 201 93 _ Ground limestone 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 Salt 20 20 20 20 20 20 Vitamin A, I.U. 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 , Table 2. —Steer Performance Corn DDG SBM Gluten . + + Corn + . DDG Urea SBM Urea Gluten Urea Days on Expt. 133 133 133 133 133 133 No. steers 20 20 20 20 19 19 Initial Wt 741 743 742 742 744 737 A Final Wt 1074 1062 1050 1021 1008 1011 _ Total gain 333 319 308 279 264 274 A.D.G. 2.51 2.40 2.32 2.10 1.98 2.06 , Feed/Hd/day 22.2 21.6 21.5 20.5 19.6 19.7 Feed/cwt gain 887 899 930 977 1078 1047 Carcass Gradea 11.6 11.0 11.0 10.7 10.8 10.5 2/ 10 = average good, 11 = high good, 12 = low choice. SUPPLEMENTATION OF CORN—CORN SILAGE RATIONS FOR FEEDLOT CATTLE J. T. Thompson, J. R. Overfield, N. W. Bradley and C. O. Little I University of Kentucky The potential of high corn yields in certain areas of Kentucky and the demand 9, for fed cattle in the state have increased the interest in practical feedlot rations for beef cattle. Reports from this station have included work with ground ear corn rations and various protein supplements. The results have verified that urea can be used efficiently for supplementing ear corn rations; however, only limited information is available on the effectiveness of urea supplements in silage rations. This experiment was conducted to obtain information on the feedlot performance of yearling steers fed different levels of corn silage and corn supplemented with soybean meal or urea. 9 . Fifty yearling steers averaging 757 lb each were allotted to 5 groups of 10 and placed on the following rations: Lots 1 and 2 - Ground shelled corn and supplement fed at 1. 5% body weight, corn silage ad lib. Lots 3 and 4 - Ground shelled corn and supplement fed at 1. 0% - body weight, corn silage ad lib. Lot 5 - Ground shelled corn and supplement fed at 0. 5% body weight, corn silage ad lib. Lots 1 and 3 received a soybean meal supplement, and lots 2, 4 and 5 received a urea supplement. Composition of the supplements is given in Table 1. Before feeding, the supplements were mixed with the ground shelled corn portion of the ration, and this corn-supplement mixture was fed as a top dressing on the silage. All steers were implanted with 24 mg diethylstilbestrol at the beginning of the 125-day feeding period. At the end of the feeding period, the steers were slaughtered and various carcass measurements made. The results of this experiment are summarized in Table 2. With both supple- ments, a reduction in the level of shelled corn in the ration from 1. 5% to 1. 0% of body weight and an increase in corn silage intake gave decreased rates of gain. These decreases were 0. 19 lb per day with soybean meal supplement and 0. 17 lb daily with urea supplement. Further reduction of corn intake to 0. 5% of body weight with urea supplement decreased gain an additional 0. 06 lb per day. These differences in rate of gain were accompanied by changes in dry feed intake. Feed required per 100 lb gain was not affected by corn-corn silage changes with the soybean meal supplement; how- ever, with the urea supplement, less feed was required when corn was decreased and silage was increased. At each level of corn-corn silage feeding that a comparison could be made, the steers fed soybean meal gained at a faster rate and required less feed than the urea—fed steers. The economy of these rations is shown by the feed cost figures. The feed costs per unit of gain for steers on the same silage levels were slightly larger with the urea supplement than with the soybean meal supplement in this experiment; however, this could change with changes in prices of soybean meal and urea. It should be pointed out that the rations which gave the fastest rate of gain were not necessarily the most eco- nomical. As the level of corn silage in the rations was increased the cost of gains was reduced. There were little differences in the various carcass measurements. Although only a small number of animals was involved in this experiment, the results suggest that urea can be efficiently utilized in corn silage rations and high quality beef can be produced economically with corn silage. TYLOSIN FOR BEEF STEERS ON PASTURE D. B. Herd, N. W. Bradley, D. E. McKechnie and G. E. Mitchell, Jr. University of Kentucky Results of two years' work at this station suggest that administration of the antibiotic tylosin in a sustained release bolus may improve gains of grazing steers. Preliminary investigations indicated that the effective life of the boluses being used was approximately 40 days; however, in the first year's work, treated steers gained 10 Table 1. —Composition of Soybean Meal and Urea Supplements Mixed with Ground Shelled Corn and Fed with Corn Silage. Soybean meal Urea . Supplement Supplement . Soybean meal (44%) 85. 0 -- Urea (262 equiv.) -— 33.0 ‘ Ground shelled corn —— 34.0 Dicalcium phosphate 8. 5 20. 0 Limestone 6. 0 12. 0 Trace mineral premixa 0. 5 1. 0 Vitamin Ab + + 2/ Composition of trace mineral premix in parts per thousand: manganese, 90; zinc, 80; iron, 30; copper, 5.5; iodine, 1. 8; and cobalt, 1.0. 9/ Vitamin A was included to provide 20, 000 I. U. per steer daily. Table 2. —Feed—lot Results and Carcass Data from Steers Fed Soybean Meal or Urea Supplements with Different Levels of Corn and Corn Silage (125-day Feeding Experiment) Supplement Soybean Meal Urea Level of Corn as % Bd Wt 1. 5% 1. 0% 1. 5% 1. 0% 0.5% Initial wt, lb 757 757 757 757 757 Final wt, lb 1056 1031 1041 1020 1012 Total gain, lb 299 274 284 263 255 · ADG, lb 2.39 2.20 2.27 2.10 2.04 Ration intake, lb /hd /day Corn silage (wet) 23. 9 32. 5 24. 6 32. 3 37. 7 _. Corn silage (air dry wt) 8.0 10.8 8.2 10.7 12.6 Shelled corn 12.0 7.3 12.8 8.1 3.7 Supplemental 1 . 55 1. 63 0. 77 0. 84 0. 76 Total air dry feed 21.5 19.7 21.7 19.6 17.0 Feed/cwt gain 901 900 958 938 833 Feed cost/cwt gainb 19. 87 17. 77 20. 57 18. 14 13. 87 · Dressing % 63. 9 64. 9 64. 9 64. 8 62. 9 Carcass gradec 13.1 12.5 12.3 12.6 12.4 Rib eye, sq in. 11.65 12.83 11.88 12.95 11.93 Fat over rib eye, cm 1.63 1.61 1.90 1.49 1.57 Selling price/cwt 24. 47 24. 73 24. 49 24. 84 23. 78 2/ Supplements were thoroughly mixed with the ground shelled corn before feeding. LY Feed costs calculated from the following: corn silage, $8. 00 per ton; ground shelled corn, 52. 00 per ton; soybean meal supplement, 86. 80 per ton; and urea supplement, 97. 20 per ton. 9/ Grade on scale of 12 = low choice, 13 = average choice. , g/ Price per cwt of live weight on grade—yield basis. 11 faster during the first two weeks after bolusing, but not from 14 to 42 days, suggesting a shorter—than-expected bolus life. The following year, bolusing at 14-day intervals . was compared with 42-day intervals. Both treatments gave a substantial increase in gain over control animals, but the differences were not statistically significant. The V 42-day bolus treatment was slightly more effective in increasing gains than the 14-day bolus treatment, suggesting that the boluses were effective for at least 42 days. The following experiment was conducted to obtain additional information concern- ing the influence of tylosin boluses on the gains of grazing steers. Fifty-one 550—pound yearling Angus steers were randomly allotted to a control group and a group receiving single tylosin boluses at the beginning of the experiment 2 and at 42-day intervals thereafter. The boluses weighed 64 j O. 5 grams and contained 6 grams of tylosin activity as tylosin phosphate. Each steer was implanted with 24 mg of stilbestrol. All steers grazed together on bluegrass—white clover pastures for 168 days beginning May 19, 1964. Weights were taken every 14 days. The steers were held off feed overnight before each period weight and off feed and water before initial and final weights were taken. Rumen samples were taken by stomach tube 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the start of the experi- ment for determination of the tylosin activity present in ruminal fluid. Performance of the steers is summarized in Table 1. The use of tylosin boluses gave a small but nonsignificant increase in average daily gain. Once again, it appeared that the bolus release rate was not uniform over the 42-day periods. It can be seen in Table 2 that the tylosin—treated steers consistently gained faster than did the control steers during the first 2 weeks after each bolus, but gained slower during the second and third 2-week periods. This large difference in gain during different periods after bolusing suggests that the tylosin was not being released at a uniform rate. This was further supported by a limited number of rumen assays which showed that the level of tylosin present in the ruminal fluid decreased progressively with time after bolusing and was essentially gone by the end of 4 weeks. This latter evidence was obtained during the first 42-day period only. Under these conditions, where the tylosin was not uniformly released through- out the bolusing period, it was not possible to evaluate the growth—promoting properties of the antibiotic. Some other method of administration or an improved bolus with a more uniform release rate is needed before a fair analysis of the value of tylosin for grazing steers can be made. 12 Table 1. —Effect of Antibiotics on Grazing Steer PerformanceE/ Control TylosinP./ Number of steers 25 26 l Initial weight, lb 542 549 V Final weight, lb 770 789 · Total gain, lb 228 240 Total ADG, lb 1 . 36 1. 43 §/ All steers were implanted with 24 mg of stilbestrol at the beginning of the experiment. ti/ Tylosin boluses (one bolus per steer) were administered at the beginning of the experiment and repeated at 42-day intervals. Table 2. —Average Daily Gain of Steers at Different Times After Bolusing Time After Bolusing 0-14 days 14-28 days 28-42 days (:2/ 1**;/ c&/ TW c2/ Tl9/ First bolus, lb 3.37 3.95 2.74 2.39 .21 .14 Second bolus, lb 1.69 2.14 .79 .30 1.27 1.30 i Third bolus, lb 1.67 2.01 4.06 3.65 .59 .51 Fourth bolus, lb 1.00 1.87 -.70 -.61 -.41 -.48 Average of the four boluses, lb 1.93 2.49 1.72 1.43 0.42 0.37 . 2/ Control. I pj Tylosin at 42-day intervals. MEASUREMENT AND SELECTION OF ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT TRAITS IN BEEF CATTLE — 1964 N. W. Bradley, J. Ralph Overfield, J. D. Kemp and J. T. Thompson University of Kentucky The objectives of this long-range breeding project are to use rate of gain, · efficiency of gain, conformation and carcass characteristics in an overall selection experiment and, also, to develop a method of estimating a bull's transmitting ability for carcass characteristics as well as rate of gain and conformation. 13 The herd of Hereford cattle being used in this project has increased steadily to a total of 349 head of varying ages. During the first three months of 1965, 93 calves were born. At present 176 cows and heifers are being bred to calve during _ January, February and March of 1966. A postweaning performance test has been completed with 20 selected bulls from the 1963 calf crop. Three of these bulls were kept for progeny testing during the 1964-65 breeding season. The other 17 bulls were slaughtered to obtain carcass measurements. A summary of the performance data is given in Table 1, and a ‘ summary of the carcass measurements is given in Table 2. The data are summarized according to the sire of the bulls. Progeny test data for these two sires (SP 194 and A HP RS 15) may be found in the 1963 Kentucky Animal Science Research Reports. Bulls sired by HP RS 15 gained 0. 18 lb per head daily more than did the sons of SP 194. The progeny of HP RS 15 had an increase in fat thickness over the rib of 0. 08 inch, an increase in dressing percent of 1. 3, an increase in yield grade of 0. 5 and an increase of almost 4% in the fat content of the rib. Growth rate of calves sired by the first three herd sires selected for use in this project has been disappointing. Seven additional herd sires have been obtained. Preliminary growth data from calves sired by these bulls seems to be much improved. Complete results will be reported as they are collected and compiled. Table 1. —Preweaning and Postweaning Performance of Bulls by Two Different Sires Sire Item SP 194 HP RS 15 Preweaning Number 8 12 Age, days 221 234 Weaning Wt, lb 424 431 ADG, lb 1. 56 1. 59 Adj. ADG, lb 1.68 1.68 Type§/ 11.5 12.2 Index 106 110 Postweaning Number 8 12 Age in days 432 433 Final wt. , lb 789 815 ADG, lb 2.15 2. 33 Wt./Day of age, lb 1-. 83 1. 88 Type9~/ 12.0 12. 4 1¤deXE/ 115 ll9 Feed/cwt gain 816 813 E/ 11 = high good, 12 = low choice, 13 = average choice. h/ (Wt /day of age x 40) + (Type x 5) - 18 = Postweaning index. 14 Table 2. —Carcass Data of Bulls by Two Different Sires Sire Item SP 194 HP RS 15 Number 7 10 Wt at slaughter, lb 889 913 Cold carcass wt, lb 509 536 Dressing % 57. 3 58.6 Hide wt, lb 75.6 77.5 Conformation2/ 12.1 13. 2 Marbling scorepj 3. 9 3. 9 — Ribeye area, sq in. 12. 3 12. 1 Fat thickness, in. 0. 34 0. 42 Kidney fat % 2 2 _ Quality§ 10. 0 10.1 Yield grade9/ 1 . 7 2. 2 Carcass grad/e§/ 10.0 10.1 Color of fatg 2 2 Color of leanS/ 6.0 7.3 Wt. of rib, lb 22.0 22. 8 % fat 26. 7 30 . 6 % lean 57. 9 54. 5 . % bone 15. 4 15. 9 W—B shear force, lb 16.1 16. 5 PalatabilityE./ V flavor 7. 56 7. 47 juiceness 7. 45 7. 33 tenderness 7. 37 7. 19 overall satisfaction 7. 46 7. 37 V 2/ 10 = average good, 11 = high good, 12 = low choice, 13 = average choice. · _ W 3 Z traces, 4 = slight- 9/ The lower the yield grade the greater the estimated percent lean cuts. g/ 2 : creamy white. y 9/ The higher the number the darker the lean. £/ 1" cores roasted at 3250 to an internal temperature of 1600 in an electric oven. ££/ Average of 3 scores. The higher the number the more desirable. 15 ANIMAL NUTRITION SECTION i CONCENTRATIONS OF PANTOTHENIC ACID, NIACIN, FOLIC ACID AND VITAMIN B12 IN RUMINAL FLUID OF STEERS FED DIFFERENT LEVELS AND FORMS OF . HAY AND GRAIN A B. W. Hayes, CG. E. Mitchell, Jr. , C. O. Little and N. W. Bradley University of Kentucky It has been well established that changes in the level of concentrates in the » ration and different types of feed processing produce major changes in the microbial activity in the rumen. Investigation concerning the possible effects of such changes on microbial B-vitamin synthesis, which occurs in the rumen, has been limited. Results reported last year in the Kentucky Animal Science Research Reports showed that ration effects on levels of thiamine and riboflavin in ruminal fluid from steers were significant (P <. 05) but that levels of biotin were not significantly (P). 05) affected by the various rations studied. The present report is a continuation of that study to include pantothenic acid, niacin, folic acid and vitamin B12. Procedure Samples of ruminal fluid from 48 yearling Angus steers, weighing approxi- mately 397 kg (875 lb) were assayed microbiologically for the 4 B-vitamins. All steers were fed a groimd ear corn and soybean meal ration for I4 days before 8 steers were assigned to each of the following treatments: I. Flaked corn IV. Ground corn and long hay II. Ground corn V. Flaked corn and ground hay III. Flaked corn and long hay VI. Ground corn and ground hay Corn was self-fed and alfalfa hay was fed at the rate of 1. 8 kg (4 lb) per head per day. In rations III and IV, corn and hay were fed separately, while in rations V and VI the corn and hay were combined in a complete mixture. Soybean meal, vitamins A and D, and minerals were mixed with the corn at appropriate levels to balance the rations according to NRC requirements. Rations were adjusted at frequent intervals to equal- ize intake of these components and to regulate ground hay intake. Ruminal samples were taken via stomach tube on the first and 56th days of the experiment. Results and Discussion Initial and average vitamin concentrations at 56 days (mcg/ 100 ml ruminal fluid) are presented in Table 1. The largest concentrations of all 4 B-vitamins were foimd in ruminal fluid of steers fed the all-concentrate rations (I and II). Pantothenic acid and niacin values for steers receiving ground corn (II) were significantly greater than those for steers receiving flaked corn (I), and these values were significantly greater than the values for steers receiving hay. Ruminal fluid from steers fed ground corn and either ground or long hay (IV and VI) contained significantly more niacin than ruminal fluid from steers fed flaked corn and ground hay (V). Folic acid values for steers receiving the all-concentrate rations (I and II) were significantly greater than the values for steers receiving the other rations. Vitamin B12 data show that steers maintained on flaked corn (I), ground corn (I I) or ground corn and long hay (IV) had significantly more vitamin B12 in their ruminal fluid than steers fed ground hay and either flaked or ground corn (V and VI). 16 These data further demonstrate that ration changes can produce wide fluctu- ations in the levels of B-vitamins in ruminal fluid. Further research is needed to determine the practical implications of these findings. · Table 1. —B-vitamin Levels in Ruminal Fluid of Steers (mcg/ 100 ml ruminal fluid) Igzmil Concentration after 56 Days on Respective Ration n . I II III IV V VI centration Pantothenic 71 246b 354a 65 77 115 112 acid Niacin 146 649b 8503 222°· d 375C 141d 324C b Folic acid 7.6 18.63 18.03 8.0 8.3 9.1b d 14.% d vitamin B12 8.0 6.43,C 8.8a 4.8b·°·d 5.83»° 2.2 · 2.1 t 3· b» C· d Means in the same line, excluding initial concentration, that have different superscript letters are significantly different (P( . 05). » B-VITAMIN SYNTHESIS IN VITRO; EFFECT OF SOURCE OF RUMEN MICRO- ORGANISMS AND SUBSTRATE B. W. Hayes, G. E. Mitchell, Jr., C. O. Little, G. D. Potter and C. R. Acord University of Kentucky ‘ Cellulose-digesting microorganisms are prevalent in the rumen when high roughage rations are fed to beef cattle and when the major component of the ration is — grain there is an increase in ruminal amololytic activity. Thus, it seems possible that some of the differences in ruminal B-vitamin synthesis when animals are fed different rations may be due to the presence of different microbial populations in the rumen. The present E vitro study was designed to furnish information on this subject. Procedure I Washed cell suspensions were prepared from ruminal fluid obtained from each of three steers that were fed daily rations shown in Table 1. Microbial cells from two volumes of ruminal fluid were suspended in one volume of a basal medium buffered with phosphate and bicarbonate. Series of flasks containing 150-ml aliquots of washed cell suspensions from each steer were incubated in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks with finely ground substrates given in Table 2. Amounts of substrate in each flask per 150 ml of the washed cell suspension were based on a ratio of the amounts of hay, corn and soybean meal in each steer's ration to an assumed ruminal ingesta volume of 75 liters. Each flask was fitted with a two-hole rubber stopper and glass tubing so that carbon dioxide could be bubbled through the mixture during incubation to provide anaerobiosis and agitation. Flasks were incubated in a constant temperature water bath at 390C. . After an 8-hour incubation period, contents in each flask were centrifuged at 20, 000 X G. The resulting supernatant was assayed for individual B-vitamins by standard microbiological techniques. 17 Table 1. —Steer Rations (kg/ steer/ day) » ‘ Alfalfa Ground Soybean Hay Shelled Corn Meal Steer 1 6. 80 -— —- Steer 2 1.36 6.63 0.68 ` Steer 3 —— 6. 63 0. 68 Table 2. —Substrates for Washed Ruminal Microorganisms (g/150 ml) Alfalfa Shelled Soybean Substrate Hay Corn Meal Control -— —- -— Hay 13. 5 —- -- Mixed 2. 7 7. 2 0. 9 Concentrate -- 7. 2 0. 9 Results and Discussion Results of this study are presented in Table 3. When microorganisms from the steer receiving the hay ration were used, apparent synthesis of riboflavin, niacin, folio acid, pantothenic acid and vitamin B12 was less as hay was removed from the substrate. Thiamine synthesis was greatest when the substrate was a mixture of hay, corn and soybean meal. Microorganisms from the steer fed the mixed ration synthesized more ribo- flavin, niacin and pantothenic acid on the hay or mixed substrates than on the concentrate substrate. The mixed substrate favored the greatest synthesis of thiamine, folic acid and vitamin B12, while the smallest amounts of these vitamins were synthe- sized when hay was the substrate. Feeding the all—concentrate ration resulted in a rumen microbial population which synthesized less of all vitamins studied in the hay substrate than on either the concentrate or the mixed substrate. There was little difference between the concentrate and mixed substrates in promoting B-vitamin synthesis by these microorganisms. Summary With some exceptions, B-vitamin synthesis was greater when the E vitro substrates corresponded to rations of steers from which ruminal microorganisms were obtained. In general, larger amounts of B-vitamins were synthesized by micro- organisms obtained from steers receiving the all-concentrate and mixed rations than by microorganisms from the steer receiving the hay ration. 18 Table 3. —-Influence of Source of Ruminal Microorganisms and Substrate on &Vitro _ Synthesis of B-vitaminsa Meg/100 M1. Washed Cell Suspension . Final Ribo- Thia— Folic Pant. Substrate pH flavin mine Niacin Acid Acid B12 Microorganisms obtained from steer fed hay Control 6.65 52 1.9 30 2.3 0.9 0.5 Hayb 5.40 880 2.5 150 8.7 5.0 1.0 Mixedc 5.70 380 3.8 120 4.7 1.5 0.8 Concentrated 6.10 200 2. 5 80 3. 5 1.0 0. 6 ` Microorganisms obtained from steer fed mixed ration Control 6.70 80 1.2 70 2.3 1.0 1.0 A Hayb 5.50 310 2.5 240 6.0 2.5 1.5 Mixedc 4.90 300 6.2 280 9.7 3.0 2.3 Concentrated 5. 25 180 3. 8 150 7. 0 1. 1 1. 8 Microorganisms obtained from steer fed all concentrate ration Control 6.70 140 2.5 150 16.3 2.0 1.4 1 Hayb 5.70 320 3.8 320 20.3 3.0 1.6 ` Mixedc 4.50 380 5.0 840 23.2 5.5 2.1 Concentrated 5. 30 360 6. 2 840 23.0 5. 5 2. 5 V &Aliquots of 150 milliliters of washed cell suspensions were adjusted to pH 6. 9 and incubated with appropriate substrates in 250—milliliter Erlenmeyer flasks at 39OC for 8 hours. b13.5 grams hay. CMixture of 2. 7 grams hay, 7. 2 grams corn and 0. 9 gram soybean meal. » dMixture of 7. 2 grams corn and 0. 9 gram soybean meal. UTILIZATION OF GLUCOSE AND STARCH BY WETHERS WHEN GIVEN ORALLY OR INTO THE ABOMASUM C. O. Little, G. E. Mitchell, Jr. and J. W. McAtee Much of the carbohydrate material fed to ruminants is digested in the rumen and converted by microbial activity to short chain fatty acids. These acids form the major source of energy for tissue metabolism. This is in contrast to non—ruminants in which glucose plays a major role in energy metabolism. Because of the microbial conversion of carbohydrates into fatty acids in the rumen, it is generally believed that insignificant quantities of hexose sugars are actually absorbed from the ruminant digestive tract. Blood and tissue carbohydrates presu