One possible explanation might be the higher amount of βG in barley-based diets, compared with corn-based diets, which is found to enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria at the cost of harmful bacteria.
Efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis was greater for herbage-based diets compared with haylage-based diets, with no effect of supplementation.
Concentration of ammonia-N decreased when cultures were offered BFT-based diets compared with orchardgrass-based diets (P < 0.01), whereas supplementing ground barley or specifically designed mixed ration did not affect ammonia-N concentration, regardless of type of forage.
Duodenal bacterial N flow, estimated using urinary purine derivatives and the amount of N retained, increased in cows fed CS-based diets compared with those fed AS-based diets.
For grass silage (the same trend for beet pulp), inocula adapted to R- and H-based diets compared with S- and L-based diets resulted in a lower CH4 production (36.1 vs. 44.8 ml/g of incubated OM, R vs. S; and 37.4 vs. 43.4 ml/g of incubated OM, H vs. L; P<0.001).
An increase in ADFI was obtained with cottonseed meal-based diets compared with control ones in both starter and grower phases.
The lower N intake in the silage diets compared with the UM diet is a direct response to the higher DM intake in the UM diet compared with the rest of the silages; the N retained in lambs fed diets with the inclusion of PW and SM silage was numerically lower (P = 0.34) than UM, which provided more efficient N retention in the animals.
Total-tract starch digestion was increased in cows fed RS diets compared with those fed NS diets (96.9 vs. 94.6%) and in cows fed FG diets compared with those fed CG diets (98.0 vs. 93.5%).
Concentrations of milk urea nitrogen were greater for cows fed RS diets compared with the NS− diet.
Ruminal ammonia concentration was reduced in cows fed the HCG and LCS diets compared with the HCS diet.
Total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of dry matter decreased (P<0.001) in all lupin diets compared with the control diet.
