Phytogenic feed additives mixture enhances the lactational performance, feed utilization and ruminal fermentation of Friesian cows.

The assay aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding a recently developed phytogenic feed additives mixture in diets of lactating Friesian cows (n = 30; 514 ± 10.1 kg body weight) for 3 months. Cows were stratified into three groups of 10 cows each and fed a control diet alone or the control diet supplemented with the additives mixture at 3 g (PHY3) or 6 g (PHY6)/cow daily. Menthol, levomenthol, ß-linaloolm, anethole, hexadecanoic acid and p-menthane were the principle compounds identified in the additives mixture. The PHY3 increased (p < 0.01) intake and nutrient digestibility. PHY3 and PHY6 increased (p < 0.01) ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids, propionate and acetate. PHY3 and PHY6 improved serum total protein and antioxidant capacity and decreased the concentrations of serum urea-N, triglycerides, total lipids, cholesterol and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). PHY3 increased milk production and milk content of total solids, protein, lactose and fat. Both PHY3 and PHY6 did not affect mineral concentrations in blood or milk. It is concluded that the inclusion of 3 g/cow/d of feed additives mixture in the lactating Friesian cows diet enhanced milk production and feed utilization, with negative effects observed with increasing the dose of additives mixture to 6 g/cow daily.

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of anise extract nanoemulsion and its bioactivity against different pathogenic bacteria.

The present work aimed to characterize the nanoemulsion of anise seed extract and to compare its efficacy with the bulk extract against pathogenic bacteria. The anise seeds extract was prepared by cold solvent extraction method using ethanol. Nanoemulsion of anise extract was formulated using ultrasound assisted method and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoemulsion was tested against seven foodborne pathogenic bacterial species. Results showed that the extract contained anethole (37%), naringenin (21%), and taxifolin (13%) as the major phytochemical components. The average droplet size of the nanoemulsion droplets was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confirmed by transmission electron microscope to be about 400 nm. Anise extract nanoemulsion showed higher antimicrobial activity against most of the tested pathogens. Anise extract nanoemulsion performed better than bulk extract as an antimicrobial agent against some foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Effect of replacement of antibiotics with thyme and celery seed mixture on the feed intake and digestion, ruminal fermentation, blood chemistry, and milk lactation of lactating Barki ewes.

The study investigated the effect of in-feed administration of dried thyme leaf and celery seed mixture (at 1 : 1 DM basis) compared with salinomycin ionophore on milk production and milk nutritive value of Barki ewes. Thirty ewes (37.5 ± 1.8 kg), divided into 3 treatment groups, were fed: (1) a complete control diet comprising concentrates and fodder maize (Zea mays L.) at 60 : 40 dry matter basis, (2) the control diet plus 20 g of thyme and celery mixture supplementation and (3) the control diet supplemented with 1 g of salinomycin per ewe daily for 90 days. Inclusion of thyme-celery treatment increased (P < 0.05) weight gain, average daily gain, milk yield, milk component yields, and feed efficiency, without affecting milk composition. In addition, the thyme-celery treatment enhanced (P < 0.05) nutrient intake and digestibility, total ruminal volatile fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids, and acetate proportions and decreased ammonia-N concentration. Thyme-celery treatment increased (P < 0.05) serum glucose, thyroxine, and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase concentrations. It is concluded that the thyme and celery mixture (1 : 1 DM basis) at 20 g per lactating ewe daily can replace the salinomycin ionophore. Enhanced feed utilization and lactational performance as well as milk nutritive value for human consumption were observed with the natural additive mixture supplementation.

Concentrate replacement with Daniellia oliveri foliage in goat diets.

To evaluate the effect of partial replacement of a concentrate with Daniellia oliveri (DO) foliage on voluntary intake, digestibility, nitrogen utilization, ruminal fermentation, and growth performance, twenty-four male goats (11.50 ± 0.52 kg live weight (LW)) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment diets in a completely randomized design. Increased levels of DO foliage (0, 250, and 500 g/kg on dry matter (DM) basis) were used to substitute the concentrate diet (control). Intakes of DM, crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM) and condensed tannins, nutrient digestibility, digestible OM fermented in the rumen, microbial protein supply, purine derivative excretion, ruminal pH, N retention, and average daily gain were greater (P < 0.05) for the DO diets than for the control diet. Cost/kg LW gain, DM digestibility, digestible DM, ruminal NH3-N and total N, and fecal, urinary, and total N excretion were greater (P < 0.05) in the control than in the DO diets. Digestible OM was lower (P < 0.05) for 250 g/kg concentrate replacement relative to 0 and 500 g/kg replacements. Digestible CP, energy concentrations, and volatile fatty acids were greater for 500 g/kg concentrate replacement compared with 0 and 250 g/kg concentrate replacements. In conclusion, concentrate replacement with 500 g/kg DO foliage improved goat performance.

Effects of replacement of Moringa oleifera for berseem clover in the diets of Nubian goats on feed utilisation, and milk yield, composition and fatty acid profile.

Replacement of conventional feedstuffs with cheap non-conventional ingredients may improve livestock performance and the quality of their products, particularly milk. The study considered the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) foliage in replacement of berseem clover (BC) on feed utilisation and lactational performance in Nubian goats. A total of 16 lactating Nubian does, weighing 36.2±0.8 kg, were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments containing 0, 125, 250 and 375 g of MO per kg diet to replace 0 (M0), 25 (M25), 50 (M50) and 75% (M75) of BC (on dry matter (DM) basis) in a quadruplicated 4×4 Latin square design. The MO diets increased (P<0.01) feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Feeding MO diets improved (P<0.01) ruminal volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate but reduced (P<0.01) valerate and iso-butyrate. Moringa diets increased (P<0.01) serum total protein, albumin and glucose but decreased (P<0.05) cholesterol and triglycerides. Milk yield and energy corrected milk, and milk total solids, fat and energy content were increased (P<0.01) in MO diets. Yields of milk components and energy were greater (P<0.05) for MO diets than for control diet. Milk total saturated fatty acids and athrogenicity index were lower (P<0.01), and unsaturated fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids and UFA/SFA ratio higher (P<0.05) for MO diets. It is concluded that feeding MO to replace 75% DM of BC improved feed utilisation, ruminal fermentation, and milk yield and quality in lactating Nubian goats.

Oral administration of Sauce llorón extract to growing lambs to control gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp.

OBJECTIVE: To explore anthelmintic effects of oral administration of aqueous extract of Sauce llorón (Salix babylonica; SB) against gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. METHODS: Sixteen Pelibuey male lambs of 3-4 months of age and (23.7 ± 3.3) kg body weight were used in a completely randomized design to be fed a total mixed ration (Control; SB0), or Control plus SB extract using 20 (SB20), 40 (SB40) and 60 (SB60) mL/lamb(/)day for 45 days. Lambs had a natural gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. infection and had never been treated with chemical anthelmintic drugs. Individual faecal samples were collected for ova counting using McMaster procedure after 0, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 45 days post extract administration. RESULTS: No extract dose × day interactions for both gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. egg count were found. Administration of SB extract had a higher effect (quadratic effect, P = 0.006 4) at dose of 20 mL SB/lamb/day for gastrointestinal nematode eggs during the first 21 days; however, the dose of SB40 tended (linear effect, P = 0.089 7) to be more effective than the others for Moniezia spp. egg during the first 7 days. Sampling day had a linear (P = 0.043 6) effect on Moniezia spp. egg count. CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous extract of SB could be more effective against nematodes at 20 and at 40 mL/lamb/day for Moniezia spp. The use of the SB extract could represent a promising alternative to synthetic anthelmintics for the treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. in small ruminants from organic and conventional production systems.

Influence of Sunflower Whole Seeds or Oil on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Production, Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile in Lactating Goats.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance.

Nutrient Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation Activities, Serum Parameters and Milk Production and Composition of Lactating Goats Fed Diets Containing Rice Straw Treated with Pleurotus ostreatus.

The study evaluated replacement of Egyptian berseem clover (BC, Trifolium alexandrinum) with spent rice straw (SRS) of Pleurotus ostreatus basidiomycete in diets of lactating Baladi goats. Nine lactating homo-parity Baladi goats (average BW 23.8±0.4 kg) at 7 d postpartum were used in a triplicate 3×3 Latin square design with 30 d experimental periods. Goats were fed a basal diet containing 0 (Control), 0.25 (SRS25) and 0.45 (SRS45) (w/w, DM basis) of SRS. The Control diet was berseem clover and concentrate mixture (1:1 DM basis). The SRS45 had lowered total feed intake and forages intake compared to Control. The SRS25 and SRS45 rations had the highest digestibilities of DM (p = 0.0241) and hemicellulose (p = 0.0021) compared to Control which had higher (p<0.01) digestibilities of OM (p = 0.0002) and CP (p = 0.0005) than SRS25 and SRS45. Ruminal pH and microbial protein synthesis were higher (p<0.0001) for SRS25 and SRS45 than Control, which also had the highest (p<0.0001) concentration of TVFA, total proteins, non-protein N, and ammonia-N. All values of serum constituents were within normal ranges. The Control ration had higher serum globulin (p = 0.0148), creatinine (p = 0.0150), glucose (p = 0.0002) and cholesterol (p = 0.0016). Both Control and SRS25 groups had the highest (p<0.05) milk (p = 0.0330) and energy corrected milk (p = 0.0290) yields. Fat content was higher (p = 0.0373) with SRS45 and SRS25 groups compared with Control. Replacement of BC with SRS in goat rations increased milk levels of conjugated linoleic acid and unsaturated fatty acids compared with Control. It was concluded that replacing 50% of Egyptian berseem clover with SRS in goat rations improved their productive performance without marked effects on metabolic indicators health.