Effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber content on dry matter intake, digestibility, and chewing activity in Korean native goats (Capra hircus coreanae) fed with total mixed ration.

OBJECTIVE: This experiment was to determine proper physical traits in the diet for goats by investigating the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content on dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility, and chewing activity in black goats fed with total mixed ration (TMR). METHODS: Six growing wethers of Korean native black goats (Capra hircus coreanae) aged 8 months and weighing between 26.9 kg and 27.1 kg (27.03±5.05 kg) were used in this experiment. Three diets of varying peNDF content were obtained by original TMR (T1), 12,000 rpm grinding (T2), and 15,500 rpm grinding (T3) of the same TMR diet. The peNDF1.18 content of the experimental diets was 23.85%, 21.71%, and 16.22% for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. RESULTS: Average daily gain (ADG) was higher in T2 group compared to those of the control and T3 groups, but ADG and DMI were not affected by the dietary particle size and peNDF content. Also, there was no difference between apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, crude fiber, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber. Although there was no significant difference, rumination and total chewing time were associated with decreased peNDF content. CONCLUSION: The feeding of peNDF-based TMR showed no impact on apparent nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance. Further studies are required with a wider range of dietary peNDF level and particle size to better identify the effect of dietary peNDF and particle size on chewing activity and performance in goats.

Effects of Physically Effective Neutral Detergent Fiber Content on Intake, Digestibility, and Chewing Activity in Fattening Heifer Fed Total Mixed Ration.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content in total mixed ration (TMR) on dry matter intake, digestibility, and chewing activity in fattening Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) heifers. The experiment was designed as a replicated 3×3 Latin square using 12 heifers. Fattening heifers were offered one of three diets [high (T1), medium (T2), and low (T3) peNDF] obtained by different mixing times (3, 10, and 25 min) for the same TMR feed. The peNDF content of TMR was determined by multiplying the proportion of dry matter retained by a 1.18 mm-screen in a Penn State Particle Separator by the dietary NDF content. The peNDF1.18 content was 30.36%, 29.20%, and 27.50% for the T1, T2, and T3 diets, respectively (p<0.05). Dry matter intake was not affected by peNDF content in TMR. Total weight gain in T1 group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in T2 and T3 groups. However, weight gain did not differ between T2 and T3 groups. The feed conversion ratio decreased with an increase in the peNDF content (T1: 12.18, T2: 14.17, and T3: 14.01 g/g). An increase in the peNDF content of TMR was associated with a linear increase in the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber (p<0.05). Also, an increase in peNDF content of the TMR resulted in a linear increase in the number of chews in eating and ruminating (p<0.05), and consequently in the number of total chews (p<0.05). These results indicate that peNDF content affects digestibility and chewing activity. Consequently, the peNDF content of TMR should be considered for improving feed efficiency, digestibility, body weight gain, and performance in fattening heifers.

Predictors and outcome of acute symptomatic cerebral infarctions following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The leading cause of unfavorable outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is cerebral infarction. In this 3-year retrospective study, we have retrospectively evaluated 172 hospitalized patients with aneurysmal SAH, and compared those who developed a complicated cerebral infarction with those who did not. In this study, acute symptomatic cerebral infarctions accounted for 22.6% (39/172) of all episodes. Significant statistical analysis between the two patient groups included age at onset, hypertension as the underlying disease, presence of symptomatic vasospasm, mean hospitalization days and Glasgow Outcome Score at the time of discharge. After a minimum 1.5-year follow-up period, the median (interquantile range) Barthel index score was 75 (6-85) for those patients who had cerebral infarctions, and 80 (0-90) for those who had no cerebral infarctions. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of symptomatic vasospasm was independently associated with the presence of acute symptomatic cerebral infarctions. The presence of symptomatic vasospasm implies the danger of acute symptomatic cerebral events after aneurysmal SAH. Although our study demonstrates a worse short-term outcome and longer duration of hospitalization in this special group of patients, the functional outcome for patients with cerebral infarction was not inferior to those patients without cerebral infarction after a follow-up of at least 1.5-years.