Effect of feeding Pleurotus pulmonarius-treated empty fruit bunch on nutrient digestibility and milk fatty acid profiles in goats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding P. pulmonarius-treated empty fruit bunch (FTEFB) on the nutrient intakes, digestibility, milk yield and milk profiles of lactating Saanen goats. A total of nine lactating Saanen goats were used in an incomplete cross-over experimental design. The balanced dietary treatments contain different replacement levels of Napier grass with FTEFB at 0% (0-FT), 25% (25-FT) and 50% (50-FT). The FTEFB contained crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) at 4.10, 94.6, 70.8 and 19.4% DM, respectively. The replacement of FTEFB in 25-FT did not alter dry matter, NDF, hemicellulose, ADL, ether extract and gross energy intakes when compared to the control fed group (0-FT). The ADF and cellulose intake was higher in 25-FT than in the others (P < 0.001). The digestibility of hemicellulose, cellulose and ADL were not changed in 25-FT compared to the control group (P < 0.05) whereas when 50% FTEFB was incorporated to the diet, intermediate digestibility was decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Milk yield and protein content did not differ between the goat received 25-FT and the control group (P > 0.05). There are no differences in milk fatty profiles between dietary treatments (P > 0.05), except for OCFA. Goat fed with 25-FT had the lowest OCFA (P < 0.01) and significantly reduced the lauric acid concentration (P < 0 .05) when compared to the control group. Thus, replacement of NG in 25-FT does not adversely affect nutrient intake, fibre digestibility (cellulose and hemicellulose), milk yield, milk composition and milk fatty acid profiles. Overall, FTEFB may have potential to be used in the dairy goat diet as a roughage source to replace Napier grass.

Study of sexual behaviours with different types of estrus synchronization protocols in Boer goats.

There is still a lack of information on estrus synchronization in goats. Understanding the estrus synchronization protocols and the subsequent effects is important to improve the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and subsequently would improve the breeding procedures. This study will help in determining the most suitable estrus synchronization protocol and understand better the effect on the sexual behaviour and hormonal effects in goats. A total of 127 Boer does were used and divided into three groups with different duration of CIDR insertion intravaginally either for 14 (two groups) or 9 days (one group). Approximately 0.5 ml Estrumate® (PG) was administered intramuscularly to all groups at CIDR removal, and only groups PMSG14 and PMSG9 were administered with 200IU of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) intramuscularly. Estrus signs were observed at 4 h intervals and blood samples were collected for progesterone and luteinizing hormone determination. The percentage of does in estrus within 24 to 72 h post CIDR removal was significantly higher (P<0.05) in groups with PMSG compared to the group without the PMSG. The numbers of does display estrus signs within 24 to 28 h post CIDR removal were significantly higher (P<0.05) in group shorter period (9 days) compared to groups with 14 days CIDR. The P4 concentrations at 24 hours post CIDR removals and LH concentration was not significantly different (P>0.05) in all groups. The time of the LH peak in the group without the PMSG was significantly delayed (P<0.05) when compared to group 9 days CIDR and administered with PMSG. It is recommended to use the treatment for 9 days CIDR since the estrous cycle can be shortened.

Effects of vegetable oil supplementation on rumen fermentation and microbial population in ruminant: a review.

Understanding the nature of ruminant nutrition and digestion is essential to improve feeding management and animal production. Among many approaches, manipulating ruminant nutrition and fermentation through feed supplementation is being practised and researched. Over the last decade, the utilization of vegetable oils in feed formulation and their effects on various aspects of ruminants have been reported by many researchers. It is important to understand the lipid metabolism in ruminants by microorganisms because it affects the quality of ruminant-derived products such as meat and milk. Majority of vegetable oil supplementation could reduce rumen protozoa population in ruminants due to the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (FAs). However, vegetable oil also contains unsaturated FAs that are known to have a negative effect on cellulolytic bacteria which could show inhibitory effects of the fibre digestion. In this paper, the physiology of nutrient digestion of ruminants is described. This paper also provides a current review of studies done on improvement and modification of rumen fermentation and microbial population through vegetable oil supplementation.

Influence of Nigella sativa seeds, Rosmarinus officinalis leaves and their combination on growth performance, immune response and rumen metabolism in Dorper lambs.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa L. seeds, Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaves and their combination on rumen metabolism, nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, immune response and blood metabolites in Dorper lambs. Twenty-four entire male Dorper lambs (18.68 ± 0.6 kg, 4-5 months old) were randomly assigned to a concentrate mixture containing on a dry matter basis either, no supplement (control, T1), 1% R. officinalis leaves (T2), 1% N. sativa seeds (T3) or 1% R. officinalis leaves +1% N. sativa seeds (T4). The lambs had ad libitum access to urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) and were raised for 90 days. Supplemented lambs had greater (P < 0.05) intake of DM and UTRS than the control lambs. The T4 lambs had lower (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibility than those fed other treatments. Total and daily weight gain was greater (P < 0.05) in T2 lambs than those fed other diets. The T3 and T4 lambs had greater (P < 0.05) ruminal pH than the T1 and T2 lambs. Supplemented lambs had lower (P < 0.05) ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate, propionate, NH3-N and C18:0 than the control lambs. The T4 lambs had lower (P < 0.05) population of Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, methanogens and total protozoa compared with those fed other diets. Supplemented lambs had lower (P < 0.05) neutrophils, basophils and serum urea and greater (P < 0.05) serum IgA and IgG compared with the control lambs. The current results emphasised the variation in the efficacy of medicinal plants in ruminant nutrition.

Effect of feeding palm oil by-products based diets on muscle fatty acid composition in goats.

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of feeding palm oil by-products based diets on different muscle fatty acid profiles in goats. Thirty-two Cacang × Boer goats were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: (1) control diet (CD), (2) 80% decanter cake diet (DCD), (3) 80% palm kernel cake diet (PKCD) and (4) CD plus 5% palm oil (PO) supplemented diet (CPOD). After 100 days of feeding, four goats from each group were slaughtered and longissimus dorsi (LD), infraspinatus (IS) and biceps femoris (BF) were sampled for analysis of fatty acids. Goats fed the PKCD had higher (P<0.05) concentration of lauric acid (C12:0) than those fed the other diets in all the muscles tested. Compared to the other diets, the concentrations of palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) were lower (P<0.05) and that of linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) was higher (P<0.05) in the muscles from goats fed the CD. It was concluded that palm kernel cake and decanter cake can be included in the diet of goats up to 80% with more beneficial than detrimental effects on the fatty acid profile of their meat.

Effect of feeding palm oil by-products based diets on total bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria and methanogenic archaea in the rumen of goats.

Rumen microorganisms are responsible for digestion and utilization of dietary feeds by host ruminants. Unconventional feed resources could be used as alternatives in tropical areas where feed resources are insufficient in terms of quality and quantity. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the effect of diets based on palm oil (PO), decanter cake (DC) or palm kernel cake (PKC) on rumen total bacteria, selected cellulolytic bacteria, and methanogenic archaea. Four diets: control diet (CD), decanter cake diet (DCD), palm kernel cake diet (PKCD) and CD plus 5% PO diet (CPOD) were fed to rumen cannulated goats and rumen samples were collected at the start of the experimental diets (day 0) and on days 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24 and 30 post dietary treatments. Feeding DCD and PKCD resulted in significantly higher (P<0.05) DNA copy number of total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefeciens, and Ruminococcus albus. Rumen methanogenic archaea was significantly lower (P<0.05) in goats fed PKCD and CPOD and the trend showed a severe reduction on days 4 and 6 post experimental diets. In conclusion, results indicated that feeding DCD and PKC increased the populations of cellulolytic bacteria and decreased the density of methanogenic archaea in the rumen of goats.

Free radical scavenging activity of conjugated linoleic acid as single or mixed isomers.

CONTEXT: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) are a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid (LA) and believed to have many positive biological activities. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to assess the antioxidant activity of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 as single or mixed CLA isomers at two ratios, 1:6 and 1:13 (trans-10, cis-12/cis-9, trans-11). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A microplate reader was used to determine the free radical scavenging properties of CLAs against DPPH radical in ethanol. RESULTS: The kinetic reactions of CLA-DPPH(•) showed that all tested CLAs have exerted radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner and observed to immediately react and quench DPPH radicals at all tested levels and no lag phase was noticed in CLA-DPPH(•) reactions. The median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for cis-9, trans-11 CLA was observed to be more effective than other tested CLA. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of all tested CLAs were less effective radical scavengers as compared to vitamin E and butylated hydroxytoluene, although all tested CLAs were quenched a high amount (P < 0.05) of DPPH free radicals. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: All tested CLAs have the ability to directly react and quench DPPH free radicals in ethanol. Furthermore, trans-10, cis-12 CLA has greater maximal efficacy than other tested CLAs as free radical scavenger, while cis-9, trans-11 CLA is the most potent isomer to directly react and quench free radicals at low concentrations in the system, suggesting that the free radical scavenging activity of CLA isomers may contribute to their diverse biological activities.

Epigenetic modification does not determine the time of POU5F1 transcription activation in cloned bovine embryos.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of epigenetic modification on pattern, time and capacity of transcription activation of POU5F1, the key marker of pluripotency, in cloned bovine embryos. METHODS: Bovine fibroblasts were stably transfected with POU5F1 promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). This provided a visible marker to investigate the effect of post-activation treatment of cloned bovine embryos with trichostatin A (TSA) on time and capacity of POU5F1 expression and its subsequent effect on in vitro development of cloned bovine embryos. RESULTS: Irrespective of TSA treatment, POU5F1 expression was not detected until 8-16 cell stage, but was detected in both inner cell mass and trophectoderm at the blastocyst stage. TSA treatment significantly increased POU5F1 expression, and the yield and quality of cloned embryo development compared to control. CONCLUSION: The POU5F1 expression of cloned embryos is strictly controlled by the stage of embryo development and may not be altered by TSA-mediated changes occur in DNA-methylation and histone-acetylation of the genome.