Growth response of post weaned F1 Friesian × Borena (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) crossbred growing heifers fed on wheat straw-based densified complete feed block.

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of feeding wheat-straw based densified complete feed block (DCFB) on daily weight gain, feed intake, digestibility and feed conversion rate in growing heifer calves. Eight weaned F1 Frisian*Borena (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) crossbred calves (92.5 ± 27.5 kg body weight) and 5 months of age were randomly distributed into four groups, each with two animals evaluated under 4 × 4 double Latin Square Design for 240 days. The control treatment was natural pasture hay (NPH) and concentrate mix (CM) fed conventionally in a way that covers 50:50% requirements on dry matter (DM) bases and DCFB prepared by mixing wheat straw (WS) to concentrates mixture in the ratio of 50:50 (T2), 40:60 (T3) and 30:70 (T4), respectively. Each heifer group was fed on each diet for 60 days. At the end of each period the last 7 days were used to collect feed and feacal samples. However, the heifers were weighed each 15 days to estimate daily growth performances. It was found that significant (P < 0.05) differences among groups in average daily gain, feed conversion rate, feed intake and digestibility. The densification of WS and feeding in the form of feed block generally improved feed DM and nutrient intake and digestibility. The increase in the proportion of CM in the DCFBs also increased the DM and nutrient intake and digestibility. Heifer growth rate was higher (P < 0.05) in T1, T3 and T4 diets than T2 groups. Feed conversion ratio was higher (P < 0.05) both in T3 and T4 compared to T1 and T2. The total cost of production per each gram body weight gained was recorded higher (P < 0.05) for calves in the T2 group compared to calves in T1, T3 and T4. In conclusion, maintaining post weaned F1 heifer calves on DCFB composed of wheat straw and a commercial calf's concentrate based diet in the ratio of 40 to 60 would both biologically and economically feasible.

Effects of brewery by-products based silage on productive performance of crossbred dairy cows.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an increasing levels of brewery by-products based silage on productive performances of 3/4 Friesian x Boran mid-lactating cows. Experimental cows had similar in initial milk yield (11.7 ± 1.0), average days in milk (81.7 ± 6.1) and live weight (LW, 430.7 ± 40.3 kg) but different in parities (2-5).The dietary treatments were arranged randomly in 4 × 4 Latin Square Design that included ad libitum natural pasture hay feeding for all treatments as a roughage source plus a commercial dairy concentrate mix supplemented at 0.5 kg DM (dry matter)/liter of milk produced/day for cows in the control group (T1) and 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 kg DM of brewery by-products based silage per liter of milk yield/cow/day for cows in T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. The study revealed that the daily milk yield of experimental cows was influenced by dietary treatments with relatively higher daily milk yield being recorded (P < 0.05) for cows in the T4 (13.9 l) followed by T3 (13.8 l). Milk composition of cows remained unchanged (P > 0.05) except for fat percentage of the milk that showed a declining trend (P < 0.05) with incremental inclusion levels of brewery by-products based silages. The highest net income (NI, 437.9 Eth. Birr) and marginal rate of return (MRR, 800.7%) was obtained for cows receiving brewery by-products based silage at the rate of 0.7 kg/liter of milk yield as compared to cows in the other treatment groups. Further study is required on the long term effect of brewery by-products based silage supplementation on productive, reproductive performance, and milk microbial qualities.

Nutritional and logarithmic fungal count of brewery spent grain in different conservation techniques and brewery factories'.

The higher moisture level (70-80%) in wet brewer's grain (WBG) poses two major difficulties when using it as a feed for different classes of animals. Firstly, transport of WBG is costly. Secondly, the rich polysaccharide and protein content and the high moisture content of WBG make it susceptible to microbial growth and spoilage. Therefore this study was planned to examine the effect of soaking, sun drying and ensiling on nutritional and fungal load dynamics of wet brewers' grain. Wet brewers' grain was collected from Meta Abo, Habesha, Dashen and Bedele breweries, Ethiopia. The sample was labeled and kept in a separate sterile bag and stored under - 20 °C. For soaking, 2 kg sample was uniformly treated with salt (3% on dry matter basis), placed in plastic container and covered with a lead for partial aerobic condition. Wet brewers' grain (2 kg) was exposed to sun drying for the consecutive three days, eight hours per day. The sample (2 kg) with molasses (3% on dry matter basis) was ensiled in a plastic bottle. All samples except sun dried, were subjected to oven drying at 55 °C for 72 h. To evaluate insacco degradability, samples were incubated for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in nylon bags (6.5 × 14 cm, 50 µm pore size) placed in ventral sac of three cannulated Boran-Friesian steers (550 ± 15 kg live weight). The samples (25 g) were dissolved in 225 ml of peptone water. Potato Dextrose agar medium was injected with 1 ppm per each 100 ml of agar with chloramphenicol and streptomycin to restrict bacterial growth. Plates were incubated aerobically at 28 ± 1 °C for 3 day and growing molds and yeast colonies were directly counted. The sample received from Meta Abo brewery factory had the higher (p < 0.05) acid detergent fiber, lignin and digestible organic matter but comparable dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber with other breweries. The minimal loss on DM and other nutrients, lower fungal, yeast and mold colony counts and the higher CP digestion kinetics was observed in ensiling techniques. If supply is not a constraint under local conditions, ensiling can be recommended as the best conservation practice.

Effects of brewer's spent yeast inclusion level and ensiling duration on fermentative, fungal load dynamics, and nutritional characteristics of brewer's spent yeast-based silage.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of brewer's spent yeast (BSY) inclusion level and ensiling duration (ED) on fermentative, fungal load dynamics, and nutritional characteristics of brewer's spent-yeast based silage. Materials and methods: To prepare the silages materials, 4 BSY inclusion levels (0, 10, 20, and 30%) to replace BSG and 3 ED (2,4 and 6 weeks) were arranged in 4 × 3 factorial combination using a completely randomized design (CRD) in 5 replications. The ratio of brewery spent grain (BSG) to wheat bran (WB) used majorly as protein and energy sources, respectively was 30:69 with a 1% salt addition. Parameters measured include observation for surface spoilage, yeast and mold colony count, silage temperature, pH, total dry matter loss (TDML), major proximate, detergent fractions and permanganate lignin, in-vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and estimated metabolizable energy (EME) values. Results: The study revealed that at any BSY inclusion level and ED, extensive mold growths and discolorations were not observed. However, slightly higher values of 6.5, 5.7, and 12.2 colonies forming unit (CFU)/g DM yeast, mold, and total fungal counts (TFC), respectively were recorded only at the 6 weeks of the fermentation period with 30% BSY inclusion level. Brewer's spent yeast inclusion level and ED had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on silage temperature (mean = 18.05 °C) and pH (mean = 4.16). Among proximate and detergent values, crude protein (mean CP g/kg DM = 204.5), neutral detergent fiber (mean NDF g/kg DM = 552.9), and acid detergent fiber (mean ADF g/kg DM = 115.9) responded significantly (P < 0.05) to both BSY inclusion levels and ED. Conclusion: Among nutritional quality, CP, IVOMD, and EME of silage samples were subjected to substantial improvements when silage masses were prepared from 20% BSY inclusion levels and when the same silage materials were allowed to ferment for four weeks. In addition, the lab-based experiment should be supported with additional silage quality parameters like volatile fatty acid content of the silage materials and supplementation of ruminant livestock under both on-station and on-farm conditions using either a pilot and/or target animals.

Dairy farmer's perception on feeding, conservation, and constraints of brewery by-products utilization in selected districts of Ethiopia.

A survey was conducted in Ada'a, Sululta, and Debre Birhan districts. The districts are located in the vicinity of brewery factories. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from purposively selected dairy farmers (160). Data were analyzed with a statistical package for social sciences (Version 21). The majority of farmers (69.4%) used wet brewery-spent grain (WBSG), whereas 30% of them used both WBSG and wet brewery spent yeast (WBSY). Farmers obtained WBSG and WBSY only in fresh form from the distributors. The majority of farmers (66.67%) blended WBSG and WBSY with concentrate and roughage feed before feeding it to their animals, while 14.47% fed the by-products alone to their animals. Several farmers (60.1%) responded that the key reason for providing WBSG and WBSY to their livestock was higher production (increased milk and growth rates). The majority (82.78%) of farmers used common salt to extend the shelf life of WBSG and WBSY. Out of 128 (80%) farmers who reported spoilage in WBSG, 49 (38.28%) farmers observed sever mold development, while the remaining 12 (9.38%) and 28 (21.88%) saw change in colour and unpleasant odor. According to 68 (53.13%) of the farmers who experienced in WBSG spoiling, the amount of spoilt was less than 9% and 10-20% of the total purchased. The majority of farmers (87.8%) reported that storage time and storage conditions (temperature, moisture, and humidity) were the primary reasons of WBSG spoilage, whereas 12.2% of the farmers reported that inadequate sanitation of feeding troughs, transportation, and storage facilities were the primary causes of spoilage. The key restrictions of brewery by-product utilization were found as scarcity and high purchasing costs. Farmers (44.38% and 41.86%) believed that feeding WBSG and WBSY to dairy cattle have negative health effect, respectively. In conclusion, insufficient and irregular supply, rising cost of material and transport, spoilage, and health-related hazards are the main constraints of WBSG and WBSY usage. It is suggested that there is a dire need for consistent supply, staying away from the brokers, and preserving the brewery by-products through sun drying, and ensiling. Additionally, more research is required to determine the negative health impact of feeding brewer by-products for dairy cattle.

Nutritional and fungal load dynamics of fresh brewers' grain stored under aerobic conditions.

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is the amplest by-product of the brewing process. The fresh BSG is currently used as low-cost cattle feed due to its microbiological instability and high perishability. While recent research looked at the effects of storage time and temperature on the characteristics of wet brewers grains (WBG) as ruminant feeds. Three storage temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C) and periods (2, 4 and 6 days) were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design. Surface spoilage was not apparent at 15 °C throughout the storage periods. Deterioration was not also observed at 20 °C until the fourth day of storage where slight mold growth was apparent. Extensive mold growth was detected late in the sixth day at 20 °C and continued manifestations up until the last day of storage at 25 °C. Changes in major nutrients, DM losses, and yeast and mold colony count were significantly affected by the interaction of storage temperatures and durations (P < 0.05). Except for samples stored at 15 °C, nutrients contents decreased concomitantly (exceptions are ADF, lignin, and loss in DM) with prolonged storage times (p < 0.05) and increasing temperatures (p < 0.05). Contrast analysis indicated that it would be safe to store under aerobic storage conditions and feed the WBG for dairy cattle.