Unnawong Narirat, Cherdthong Anusorn, Chankaew Sompong, Rakvong Teppratan, Suriyapha Chaichana, Suntara Chanon, Chanjula Pin, Gunun Pongsatorn, Gunun Nirawan, Polyorach Sineenart
Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 Mar 31;21(1):230. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04684-1.
In times of high feed costs and severe feed competition, it is crucial to explore alternative feedstuffs. Identifying alternative feed sources is essential for developing cost-effective and sustainable solutions to address challenges in livestock production and economic constraints. This study evaluates the effects of replacing corn with different levels of winged bean tuber (WBT) in concentrate mixtures on feed intake, feed utilization, and rumen fermentation in Thai native beef cattle. Animals were randomly assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, with WBT replacing corn in the concentrate mixture at levels of 0, 33, 67, and 100%.
Replacing corn with WBT (0-100%) in the concentrate diet did not affect (p > 0.05) dry matter, organic matter, or crude protein intake. However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake increased linearly (p < 0.05) at 67% and 100% replacement levels. Although nutrient digestibility remained unchanged, ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen concentration, and protozoal population increased linearly (p < 0.05) at 67% and 100% WBT replacement levels. However, WBT replacement did not significantly affect blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations. As the level of WBT increased in the concentrate diet, the concentration of propionic acid (C3) increased, but the amount of acetic acid (C2) and the ratio of C2 to C3 decreased linearly (p < 0.05) without shifting the acetic concentration. Additionally, replacing corn with WBT in the concentrate diet had no effect on nitrogen balance.
The WBT can be used as an alternative for corn grain up to 100% in ruminant diets without changing feed digestibility, the BUN, and nitrogen balance. It can also improve the fermentation characteristics in the rumen.
在饲料成本高昂且竞争激烈的时期，探索替代饲料原料至关重要。确定替代饲料来源对于开发具有成本效益和可持续的解决方案以应对畜牧生产中的挑战和经济限制至关重要。本研究评估了在泰国本地肉牛的精料混合物中用不同水平的四棱豆块茎（WBT）替代玉米对采食量、饲料利用率和瘤胃发酵的影响。动物被随机分配到4×4拉丁方设计中，WBT在精料混合物中替代玉米的水平分别为0%、33%、67%和100%。
在精料日粮中用WBT（0 - 100%）替代玉米对干物质、有机物或粗蛋白采食量没有影响（p > 0.05）。然而，在替代水平为67%和100%时，中性洗涤纤维（NDF）和酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）采食量呈线性增加（p < 0.05）。尽管养分消化率保持不变，但在WBT替代水平为67%和100%时，瘤胃pH值、氨氮浓度和原生动物数量呈线性增加（p < 0.05）。然而，WBT替代对血尿素氮（BUN）浓度没有显著影响。随着精料日粮中WBT水平的增加，丙酸（C3）浓度增加，但乙酸（C2）含量和C2与C3的比例呈线性下降（p < 0.05），且乙酸浓度未发生变化。此外，在精料日粮中用WBT替代玉米对氮平衡没有影响。
在反刍动物日粮中，WBT可作为玉米谷物的替代物，替代比例高达100%，且不会改变饲料消化率、BUN和氮平衡。它还可以改善瘤胃发酵特性。
