Treatment of Rice Stubble with Pleurotus ostreatus and Urea Improves the Growth Performance in Slow-Growing Goats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the fungal treatment (Pleurotus ostreatus) of urea-treated rice stubble on growth performance in slow-growing goats. Eighteen crossbred Thai-native x Anglo-Nubian male goats (average body weight: 20.4 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three experimental total mixed rations containing 35% rice stubble (RS) that were either untreated (URS), urea treated (UTRS), or treated with urea and fungi (UFTRS). URS and UTRS were cultivated and harvested from an aseptically fungal spawn, incubated at 25-30 °C for 25 days. Indicators of growth performance were monitored, and feces were collected quantitatively to assess nutrient digestibility, during a 12-week feeding trial. All goats remained healthy throughout the experiment. The goats fed UFTRS had a lower feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg growth) compared to goats fed URS or UTRS. Compared to URS, dietary UFTRS increased the nutrient digestibility of slow-growing goats, such as organic matter (OM) (+8.5%), crude protein (CP) (+5.5%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (+39.2%), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (+27.4%). Likewise, dietary UFTRS tended to increase rumen ammonia concentrations, but rumen pH and volatile fatty acids were not affected by UFTRS. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the fungal treatment of RS is an effective tool to improve the growth performance of slow-growing goats.

Nitrate supplementation of rations based on rice straw but not Pangola hay, improves growth performance in meat goats.

OBJECTIVE: Supplemental nitrate is known to be an effective tool to mitigate methane emission by ruminants. Based on theoretical considerations, supplemental nitrate can improve but also deteriorate the growth performance. The overall effect of supplemental nitrate on growth performance, however, is not yet known. The objective of the current study was therefore to evaluate the effect of a higher dose of NO3- on overall growth performance when feeding either Pangola grass hay or rice straw. METHODS: Thirty-two crossbred, 3-month-old Thai native×Anglo-Nubian crossbred male goats were used. The experiment had a 2×2 factorial design with an experimental period of 60 days. Eight goats were randomly allocated to each dietary treatment, i.e. a ration containing either Pangola hay (Digitaria eriantha Steud) or rice straw (Oryza Sativa) as a source of roughage, supplemented with a concentrate containing either 3.2% or 4.8% potassium nitrate. The rations were formulated to be isonitrogenous. The animals were weighed at the start of the experiment and at days 30 and 60. Feces were collected during the last five days of each 30-day period. RESULTS: High-nitrate increased overall DM intake by approximately 3%, irrespective the source of roughage, but only the goats fed a rice straw-based ration responded with an increase in body weight (BW). Thus, the overall feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg BW gain) was influenced by roughage source ×nitrate and decreased by almost 60% when the goats were fed rice straw in combination with a high versus a low dietary nitrate content. The digestibility of macronutrients was only affected by the source of roughage and the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fibre was greater when the goats were fed Pangola hay. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the replacement of soybean meal by nitrate improves the growth performance of meat goats fed rations based on rice straw, but not Pangola hay.

Isolipidic replacement of krabok oil by whole krabok seed reduces in vitro methanogenesis, but negatively affects fermentation.

The background of the current in vitro study involves the issue of methane (CH4 ) production inherent to rumen fermentation. One of the dietary strategies to reduce enteric CH4 production by ruminants involves the supplementation of medium-chain fatty acids in diets. As such, oils containing high amounts of MCFA, such as coconut, palm kernel and krabok oil, are of much interest to formulate energy efficient and environmentally friendly rations for ruminants. Krabok oil (KO) reduces methanogenesis, but the appropriate inclusion level of dietary KO is unclear. We therefore investigated the dose-response relationship between krabok oil and CH4 production. In practice, the use of whole krabok seed (WKS), instead of KO, is easier, but the efficacy of WKS to inhibit methanogenesis was hitherto unknown. Thus, we also investigated whether WKS provides an alternative tool to inhibit CH4 production. The experimental substrates contained either KO, WKS, the residue of WKS after fat extraction residue (FER) or FER + KO. Appropriate amounts of WKS or its derivatives were added to a basal substrate so as to attain either a low, medium or high content of KO, that is, 37-46, 90-94 and 146-153 g/kg dry matter respectively. The experimental substrates were formulated to keep the amounts of incubated fat-free OM, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre constant in order to avoid biased results through potential differences in fermentability between WKS and its derivatives, and the basal substrate. The latter resembled the ingredient composition of a total mixed ration commonly used in Thai dairy cows. Fully automated gas production (GP) equipment was used to measure gas- and CH4 production. Irrespective of the type of substrate (p ≥ .115), both the absolute (ml/g fat-free OM) and relative (% of total GP) CH4 production was reduced at the highest inclusion level of WKS or its derivatives (p ≤ .019). Total GP (ml/g fat-free OM), however, was reduced after incubation of FER, FER + KO, and WKS, but not KO, at the highest inclusion level of the respective substrates (p = .019). Volatile fatty acids were likewise affected (p ≤ .001). Krabok oil can inhibit CH4 production but only when the dietary KO content is at least 9.4% (DM). Supplementation of KO in the form of WKS, however, is considered not opportune because the fat extracted residue of WKS is poorly degraded during fermentation.

Enhanced conjugated linoleic acid and biogas production after ruminal fermentation with Piper betle L. supplementation / Aumento na produção de ácido linoléico conjugado e biogás após fermentação ruminal com suplementação com Piper betle L

ABSTRACT: Piper betle L. is edible plant richer in polyphenols that might improve feed utilization in rumen diet. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of various Piper betle L. powder (PL) doses on in vitro rumen microorganisms, ruminal biogas and fermentation end-product production, and biohydrogenation including lipolysis-isomerization. The completely randomized design used five levels of PL supplementation (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg DM) incubated with 400 mg of a basal substrate of Pangola hay and concentrate (50:50). The matrix compounds (g/kg DM) of 0.27 catechin, 0.11 rutin, 3.48 quercetin, 0.41 apigenin, 0.04 myricetin, 0.27 kaempferol, 0.76 eugenol and 0.22 caryophyllene derived from PL altered the fermentation pattern, with an increase in degradable nutrients and total volatile fatty acids and acetogenesis without shifting pH during fermentation. These values promoted in vitro gas production, with higher carbon dioxide and lower methane production. Although, hydrogen recovery from lipolysis-isomerization in biohydrogenation was limited, PL successfully promoted stearic acid (C18:0) accumulation by changing the biohydrogenation pathway of fatty acids, causing more C18:1 trans-11 rather than C18:2 trans-11, cis-15. Consequently, this resulted in more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) cis-9, trans-11, CLA trans-10, cis-12 and CLA trans-11, cis-13. Enhanced PL supply increased total bacteria and fungal zoospores due to a reduction in rumen protozoa. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PL is a feed additive with potential for ruminants, promising improved ruminal fermentation and biohydrogenation, while reducing methane production.

RESUMO: Piper betle L. é uma planta comestível rica em polifenois que podem melhorar a utilização de alimentos na dieta de ruminantes. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito de várias doses de Piper betle L em . pó (PL) sobre microrganismos do rúmen in vitro, biogás ruminal e produção de produtos finais de fermentação e bio-hidrogenação, incluindo lipólise e isomerização. O delineamento inteiramente casualizado utilizou cinco níveis de suplementação de PL (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 mg de MS) incubados com 400 mg de um substrato basal do feno de Pangola e concentrado (50:50). Os compostos da matriz (g / kg MS) de 0,27 catequina, 0,11 rutina, 3,48 quercetina, 0,41 apigenina, 0,04 miricetina, 0,27 kaempferol, 0,76 eugenol e 0,22 cariofileno derivado de PL, alteraram o padrão de fermentação com o aumento de nutrientes degradáveis e voláteis totais, ácidos graxos e acetogênese sem alterar o pH durante a fermentação. Esses valores promoveram a produção de gás in vitro, com maior dióxido de carbono e menor produção de metano. Embora a recuperação de hidrogênio da lipólise-isomerização na bio-hidrogenação tenha sido limitada, o PL promoveu com sucesso o acúmulo de ácido esteárico (C18: 0) alterando a via de bio-hidrogenação dos ácidos graxos, causando mais C18: 1 trans-11 do que C18: 2 trans-11, cis -15. Consequentemente, isso resultou em mais ácido linoléico conjugado (CLA) cis-9, trans-11, CLA trans-10, cis-12 e CLA trans-11, cis-13. O suprimento aprimorado de PL aumentou o total de bactérias e zoósporos de fungos devido a uma redução no número de protozoários do rúmen. Em conclusão, nossos resultados demonstram que o PL é um aditivo alimentar com potencial para ruminantes, prometendo fermentação ruminal e bio-hidrogenação aprimoradas, enquanto reduz a produção de metano.

Effects of Antidesma thwaitesianum Muell. Arg. pomace as a source of plant secondary compounds on digestibility, rumen environment, hematology, and milk production in dairy cows.

Mao pomace meal (MPM) contains condensed tannins and saponins at 92 and 98 g/kg, respectively, and these substances can be used to manipulate ruminal fermentation in ruminant. Four multiparous lactating Holstein cows with 45 ± 5 days in milk were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to receive four different levels of MPM supplementation at 0, 100, 200, and 300 g/head/day, respectively. Cows were fed with concentrate diets at 1:1.5 of concentrate to milk yield ratio and urea-treated (3%) rice straw was fed ad libitum. The results revealed that feed intake, nutrient digestibility, blood urea nitrogen, and hematological parameters were not affected by MPM supplementation (p > 0.05). However, ruminal pH and propionate were increased quadratically (p < 0.05) in cows receiving MPM whereas acetate, acetate to propionate ratio and estimate methane production were decreased (p < 0.05). Supplementation of MPM linearly decreased ruminal ammonia nitrogen and protozoal population at 4 hr postfeeding (p < 0.05). Milk production and milk composition were similar among treatments (p > 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of MPM at 200 g/head/day could modify ruminal fermentation and reduce methane production without adverse effect on feed intake, digestibility, hematological parameters, and milk production in dairy cows.

The effects of additives in napier grass silages on chemical composition, feed intake, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation.

The effect of silage additives on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silages was studied. Napier grass silages were made with no additive, fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), molasses or cassava meal. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling Napier grass silages in airtight plastic pouches for 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 45 d. The effect of Napier grass silages treated with these additives on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial rumen fermentation was determined in 4 fistulated cows using 4×4 Latin square design. The pH value of the treated silages rapidly decreased, and reached to the lowest value within 7 d of the start of fermentation, as compared to the control. Lactic acid content of silages treated with FJLB was stable at 14 d of fermentation and constant until 45 d of ensiling. At 45 d of ensiling, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of silage treated with cassava meal were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. In the feeding trial, the intake of silage increased (p<0.05) in the cow fed with the treated silage. Among the treatments, dry matter intake was the lowest in the silage treated with cassava meal. The organic matter, crude protein and NDF digestibility of the silage treated with molasses was higher than the silage without additive and the silage treated with FJLB. The rumen parameters: ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bacterial populations were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, these studies confirmed that the applying of molasses improved fermentative quality, feed intake and digestibility of Napier grass.

An attempt to define the sodium requirement of lactating dairy cows in a tropical environment.

BACKGROUND: Lactating dairy cattle in the tropics may require more sodium (Na) owing to the hot and humid climatic conditions. It is unknown whether the current recommendations on Na for lactating cows can be quantitatively used in tropical countries. This study attempted to define the Na requirement of lactating dairy cows under tropical conditions by measuring Na levels in saliva, milk and faeces. RESULTS: The concentrations of Na and potassium (K) in milk, faeces and serum were not affected by dietary treatments. The amount of Na absorbed by cows fed the basal (low-Na) diet containing 0.4 g Na kg(-1) dry matter (DM) was equal to the amount of Na lost in the milk, showing that these animals were fed an Na-deficient ration. This observation was corroborated by salivary Na and K levels, with the cows on the low-Na diet having salivary Na concentrations below 120 mmol L(-1) in combination with salivary K concentrations above 20 mmol L(-1) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Consumption of a daily ration formulated to contain the current Na requirement set by the NRC appears to provide too much Na for lactating cows under tropical conditions. A tentative value of 1.2 g kg(-1) DM is proposed as the Na requirement for dairy cows under tropical conditions.

Increasing magnesium intakes in relation to magnesium absorption in dry cows.

Earlier studies with temporarily isolated rumen of heifers show saturation kinetics of Mg efflux across the rumen wall. Therefore, we hypothesized that high Mg intakes would not further increase the rate of Mg absorption in cows. To test our hypothesis, six ruminally fistulated non-pregnant dry cows were given diets with different Mg concentrations in a 6 x 6 Latin square design. Desired concentrations of Mg were attained by adding MgO to the basal diet and the Mg concentrations in the total rations were 3.8, 6.4, 9.1, 11.8, 14.1 and 173 g Mg/kg dry matter, which provided Mg intakes of 27.1, 44.6, 64.6, 83.5, 100.4 and 124.3 g/d, respectively. Increasing Mg intakes were associated with increased (P<0.001) faecal Mg excretion. However, apparent Mg absorption expressed as g/d was not significantly different for Mg intakes from 100.4 to 124.3 g/d while Mg absorption expressed as a proportion of intake was not significantly different for Mg intakes ranging from 64.6 to 124.3 g/d. Mg concentrations in rumen fluid after feeding increased (P<0.001) with increasing Mg intakes. Apparent absorption of Mg appeared to become saturated at a ruminal Mg concentration of 17.5 mM (Mg intake of 83.5 g/d). Group-mean post-feeding concentrations of Mg and Na in rumen fluid were significantly correlated (Pearson's r=-0.96; P=0.003, n=6). This study showed that under conditions of practical dairy cow feeding, Mg absorption was maximal at Mg intakes > or = 84 g/d.

High intake of magnesium in relation to the ruminal transmural potential difference and magnesium absorption in wethers.

High potassium (K) intakes are known to decrease magnesium (Mg) absorption in ruminants by increasing the transmural potential difference (PDt, serosal side = positive). High Mg intakes are known to increase the amount of Mg absorbed, which may be explained by increasing the ruminal Mg concentration, but an effect on the PDt cannot be excluded. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not Mg intake affects the PDt. In a 3 x 3 Latin square design, six ruminally fistulated wethers were fed a low-Mg, low-K ration (3.88 g Mg/kg dry matter (DM); 30.7 g K/kg DM), a high-Mg, low K-ration (16.79 g Mg/kg DM; 30.7 g K/kg DM), and a low-Mg ration high-K (3.88 g Mg/kg DM or 62.1 g K/kg DM). When compared with the low-Mg, low-K ration, the high-Mg, low-K ration raised the absolute apparent Mg absorption (g/day) by 421% and the low-Mg, high-K ration decreased it by 20%. The intake of extra K produced a significant increase in the PDt. The intake of extra Mg did not change the PDt across the rumen wall but produced a significant increase of the ruminal Mg concentrations. On the basis of the individual values for three rations, the mean post feeding ruminal Mg concentrations were found to be unrelated to the PDt (Pearson's r = -0.329, p = 0.183, n = 18). Thus, it is concluded that the observed increase in Mg absorption after a high Mg intake can be explained by an increase in the ruminal Mg concentration rather than by a change in PDt.