HYDROPONICALLY SPROUTED CEREAL GRAINS AS A MECHANISM FOR FERTILITY IMPROVEMENT AND INCREASED CONCEPTION RATES, FEED EFFICIENCY, AND POSTPARTUM ENERGY IN RUMINANTS
Processes and methods for hydroponically sprouted cereal grains are disclosed as a mechanism for increasing fertility rates, postpartum milk production, postpartum energy balance and maintaining a healthy pregnancy in ruminants by administering to a ruminant a feed ration having at least one feed component having one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains.
1 . A method for hydroponically sprouted cereal grains as a mechanism for increasing fertility rates in ruminants, the method comprising:
administering to a ruminant a feed ration having at least one feed component comprising one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains for increasing fertility rates in a ruminant.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing dry matter intake of the ruminant with the feed ration.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing ovulation rates of the ruminant with the feed ration.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reducing dihydrogen concentrations within the rumen with the feed ration;
lowering the acetate to propionate volatile fatty acid ratio; and
increasing glucose within the feed ration.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing metabolic energy in the ruminant with the feed ration.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing milk production after calving.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
decreasing a length of time between calving and a first ovulation cycle of a ruminant after calving.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing gluconeogenesis in the ruminant with the feed ration, wherein the increased gluconeogenesis improve energy balance in the ruminant.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing efficiency of the feed ration having the at least one feed component comprising the one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains.
10 . A method for increasing conception rates in a ruminant, the method comprising:
hydroponically sprouting one or more cereal grains for at least one feed component for ruminants;
feeding the ruminant a feed ration having the at least one feed component comprising the one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains for increasing conception rates in the ruminant;
increasing insulin levels in the ruminant with the feed ration; and
wherein the increase in insulin levels supports the development of reproductive structures within the ruminant.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
increasing concentration of hexoses within the rumen with the feed ration.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
increasing rates of gluconeogenesis within the rumen with the feed ration.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
reducing dihydrogen concentrations within the rumen with the feed ration.
14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
maintaining a health pregnancy of the ruminant with the feed ration.
15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
decreasing a ratio of acetate to propionate within the rumen with the feed ration.
16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
increasing dry matter intake of the ruminant with the feed ration.
17 . A system for hydroponically sprouted cereal grains as a mechanism for increasing fertility rates of a ruminant, the system comprising:
a grower for hydroponically sprouting one or more cereal grains for growing at least one feed component for ruminants;
a feed ration having the at least one feed component comprising the one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains for increasing fertility rates in the ruminants.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the feed ration having the at least one feed component comprising the one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains increases postpartum milk production.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the feed ration having the at least one feed component comprising the one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains increases progesterone levels in the ruminants.
20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the feed ration having the at least one feed component comprising the one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains improves maintenance of a healthy pregnancy.