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Feeding Behavior of Fattening Bulls Fed Six Times per Day Using an Automatic Feeding System.

ABSTRACT: The usage of automatic feeding systems (AFS) in cattle offers multiple advantages, mostly due to the possibility of an increased feeding frequency. While it is gaining more and more importance in dairy farming, there is still a lack of experience and scientific knowledge regarding its use in fattening cattle. The aim of this study was to describe the behavior of 56 Simmental bulls fed with an AFS six times daily a total mixed ration. The animals arrived at the farm with an average age of 148 ± 11 days. They were housed in four straw-bedded pens in groups of 14 animals each. Their average slaughter age was 558 ± 20 days. Behavioral observations were made during three observation periods (OP) at an average of 11, 14, and 16 months of age. Using scan sampling, feeding, and lying behavior of all animals and the order of bulls feeding after feed delivery were recorded. Furthermore, body condition and health status were monitored and complemented with the carcass weights. Body condition, health status, and carcass weights of the bulls were found to be satisfactory: Mean body condition score increased from 2.8 ± 0.3 in OP1 to 3.0 ± 0.1 in OP3 and mean carcass weight was 432.71 ± 40.82 kg. No severe health problems occurred. The feeding activity of the bulls was spread out over the course of the day with peaks in the afternoon and evening. Percentages of bulls feeding per pen never exceeded 20%, animals feeding mostly alone (during 28.04 ± 2.15% of total observation time) or in groups of two to three (16.61 ± 2.00% and 6.74 ± 1.90%). The order of bulls feeding after feed delivery varied indicating that all animals had similar access to fresh feed. These results emphasize the importance of constant feed availability and quality at any time of the day, thus indicating the ability of an AFS with six daily feedings to ensure such a consistency.

SUBMITTER: Schneider L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7012782 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Feeding Behavior of Fattening Bulls Fed Six Times per Day Using an Automatic Feeding System.

Schneider Laura L Volkmann Nina N Kemper Nicole N Spindler Birgit B

Frontiers in veterinary science 20200205

The usage of automatic feeding systems (AFS) in cattle offers multiple advantages, mostly due to the possibility of an increased feeding frequency. While it is gaining more and more importance in dairy farming, there is still a lack of experience and scientific knowledge regarding its use in fattening cattle. The aim of this study was to describe the behavior of 56 Simmental bulls fed with an AFS six times daily a total mixed ration. The animals arrived at the farm with an average age of 148 ± 1 ...[more]

PMID: 32118066

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Project description:In this randomized clinical trial, we aimed to determine whether increasing the frequency of in-center hemodialysis would result in beneficial changes in left ventricular mass, self-reported physical health, and other intermediate outcomes among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.Patients were randomly assigned to undergo hemodialysis six times per week (frequent hemodialysis, 125 patients) or three times per week (conventional hemodialysis, 120 patients) for 12 months. The two coprimary composite outcomes were death or change (from baseline to 12 months) in left ventricular mass, as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and death or change in the physical-health composite score of the RAND 36-item health survey. Secondary outcomes included cognitive performance; self-reported depression; laboratory markers of nutrition, mineral metabolism, and anemia; blood pressure; and rates of hospitalization and of interventions related to vascular access.Patients in the frequent-hemodialysis group averaged 5.2 sessions per week; the weekly standard Kt/V(urea) (the product of the urea clearance and the duration of the dialysis session normalized to the volume of distribution of urea) was significantly higher in the frequent-hemodialysis group than in the conventional-hemodialysis group (3.54±0.56 vs. 2.49±0.27). Frequent hemodialysis was associated with significant benefits with respect to both coprimary composite outcomes (hazard ratio for death or increase in left ventricular mass, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46 to 0.82; hazard ratio for death or a decrease in the physical-health composite score, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.92). Patients randomly assigned to frequent hemodialysis were more likely to undergo interventions related to vascular access than were patients assigned to conventional hemodialysis (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.73). Frequent hemodialysis was associated with improved control of hypertension and hyperphosphatemia. There were no significant effects of frequent hemodialysis on cognitive performance, self-reported depression, serum albumin concentration, or use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.Frequent hemodialysis, as compared with conventional hemodialysis, was associated with favorable results with respect to the composite outcomes of death or change in left ventricular mass and death or change in a physical-health composite score but prompted more frequent interventions related to vascular access. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00264758.).

Project description:This study aimed to determine feeding behavior, water intake (WI), and energy requirements of high- and low-residual feed intake (RFI) Nellore bulls. Data were collected from 42 weaned Nellore bulls (initial body weight [BW] 260 ± 8.1 kg; age 7 ± 1.0 mo) housed in a feedlot in group pens that contained electronic feeders, waterers, and a scale connected to the waterers. The individual dry matter intake (DMI), WI, and BW were recorded daily. The indexes of average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (gain to feed ratio), and RFI were calculated based on the data collected. The number of feeder and waterer visits and the time spent feeding or drinking water per animal per day were recorded as feeding behavior measures. Energy requirements for maintenance and gain were calculated according to the BR-CORTE system. Low-RFI bulls had lower DMI (P < 0.01) than high-RFI bulls, and no differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the two groups regarding WI, performance, and feeding behavior measurements. The net energy requirements for maintenance, metabolizable energy for maintenance, and efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization were 63.4, 98.6 kcal/metabolic empty body weight (EBW)0.75 daily, and 64.3%, respectively, for low-RFI bulls, and 78.1, 123.9 kcal/EBW0.75 daily, and 63.0%, respectively, for high-RFI bulls. The equations obtained for net energy for gain (NEg) were: NEg (Mcal/EBW0.75) daily = 0.0528 × EBW0.75 × EBG0.5459 for low-RFI and 0.054 × EBW0.75 × EBG0.8618 for high-RFI bulls, where EBG is the empty body gain. We did not observe any difference (P > 0.05) regarding the composition of gain in terms of protein or fat deposition between the two groups. Both groups also presented similar (P > 0.05) carcass and non-carcass traits. Therefore, our study shows that low-RFI Nellore bulls eat less, grow at a similar rate, and have lower maintenance energy requirements than high-RFI bulls. We also suggest that the lower feed intake did not compromise the carcass traits of more efficient animals, which would reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of the Brazilian beef sector on the world market.

Project description:ObjectiveChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is mainly treated pharmaceutically with bronchodilators. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefits of two-times-per-day aclidinium bromide (Acli-BID) compared with once-a-day tiotropium bromide hydrate (Tio-QD) in patients with COPD.DesignThis study was a multicentre, open-label, randomised study.SettingFourcentres in Kagawa prefecture, Japan.ParticipantPatients who were diagnosed to have COPD Grade 2-3 according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2015 criteria were enrolled.InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to receive Acli-BID or Tio-QD at a 1:1 ratio, and followed for 8 weeks. Acli-BID was administered in the morning and night, and Tio-QD was administered in the night.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcome was forced expiratory volume in one second area under the curve (FEV1AUC0-3), and secondary outcomes were pulmonary function, physical activity, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), the 8-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) and COPD exacerbations. Adverse events were evaluated during the study.Results44 patients were included in this study. FEV1AUC0-3 at week 8 was 4.62±1.43 L·hour in Acli-BID and 4.73±1.60 L·hour in Tio-QD (mean difference (MD) -0.11 L·hour; 95% CI), -1.04 to 0.83). Significant improvement was observed in activity-related subscales of SGRQ (MD -7.78; 95% CI -14.61 to -0.94) and SF-8 (MD 4.01; 95% CI 0.37 to 7.65), mMRC (MD -0.66; 95% CI -1.19 to -0.13) and rate ratio (0.52, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.99) of exacerbations in the Acli-BID compared with the Tio-QD. Acli-BID and Tio-QD significantly improved sedentary behaviour (MD -35.20 min; 95% CI -67.41 to -2.94 and MD -55.40 min; 95% CI -98.15 to -12.77) within each group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups.ConclusionAcli-BID as with Tio-QD could be one of the therapeutic options for patients with COPD to improve pulmonary function. Also, our results suggest that intervention with bronchodilators enhanced physical activity in patients with COPD.Trial registration numberUMIN 000020020.

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Feeding Behavior of Fattening Bulls Fed Six Times per Day Using an Automatic Feeding System.

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Feeding Behavior of Fattening Bulls Fed Six Times per Day Using an Automatic Feeding System.

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