title: Digestibility, nitrogen utilization, and voluntary intake of ensiled crab waste-wheat straw mixtures fed to sheep.
abstract: Crab waste and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw mixtures, ensiled with different additives, were evaluated in metabolism and palatability trials. Crab waste and straw were mixed in proportions of 1:1, wet basis, with 20% water and different additives, and ensiled in 210-L metal drums double-lined with polyethylene bags. Thirty crossbred wethers (40 kg initial BW) were fed a 1) basal diet consisting of 75% orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) hay and 25% concentrate, 2) ensiled crab waste-wheat straw, with 16% (vol/wt) added glacial acetic acid, 3) crab waste-wheat straw ensiled with 20% dry molasses, 4) crab waste-wheat straw ensiled with 20% dry molasses and a microbial inoculant, and 5) ensiled wheat straw supplemented with urea. Apparent digestibility of DM and CP was lower (P < .05) for acetic acid-treated silages than for silages containing molasses. Nitrogen retention was higher (P < .05) for molasses-inoculant-treated silage than for the molasses-treated silage (5.4 vs 3.9 g/d). Ruminal NH3 N and blood urea N were higher (P < .05) for lambs fed the molasses-treated silages than for those receiving the acetic acid-treated crab waste mixture. Among the wethers fed crab waste silages, intake was lower (P < .01) for wethers receiving the acetic acid-treated silage than for those fed the molasses-treated mixtures. Treatment of crab waste-straw mixtures with molasses produced a palatable silage that was efficiently utilized by wethers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061-0306.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Abazinge
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fontenot
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004063:Digestion; D004435:Eating; D008297:Male; D008965:Molasses; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011897:Random Allocation; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D012820:Silage; D014908:Triticum
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen; D019342:Acetic Acid