Effect of the addition of cellulolytic bacteria to ruminal bacteria on in vitro fermentation characteristics / Efecto de la adición de bacterias celulolíticas a bacterias ruminales sobre las características fermentativas in vitro / Efeito da adição de bactérias celulolíticas às bactérias ruminais nas características de fermentação in vitro

Abstract Background: Digestibility of fiber in the rumen is not due to enzymatic activity of individual bacteria, but rather to their interaction, which complements their enzymatic functioning. Thus, efficiency of fiber digestion depends on the diversity and density of cellulolytic bacteria. Objective: To estimate in vitro production of biogas, methane, and fermentative characteristics of cobra grass (Brachiaria hibrido) inoculated with ruminal bacteria (RB) in coculture with isolated cellulolytic bacteria (ICB) from bovine (ICBbov) or water buffalo (ICBbuf). Methods: ICBbov and ICBbuf were isolated from ruminal cellulolytic bacteria consortia using specific culture media for cellulolytic bacteria. Both were morphologically characterized and a Gram stain was performed. In the in vitro gas production test, the substrate was cobra grass and the inocula were ruminal bacteria (RB), ICBbov, ICBbuf, Coculturebov (RB + ICBbov) and Coculturebuf (RB + ICBbuf). Biogas and methane (CH4) production, as well as dry matter degradation (DMD) and neutral detergent fiber degradation (NDFD) were measured. A completely randomized design was used. Results: The ICB obtained were Gram positive cocci. Accumulated biogas production at 72 h from ICBbov and ICBbuf was on average 42.11% of that produced by RB. The Coculturebov produced 14.24% more biogas than RB. The CH4 production was lower in ICBbov and ICBbuf than in RB, Coculturebov and Coculturebuf. The DMD and NDFD were not different among RB, Coculturebov and Coculturebuf. The ICBbov degraded 37.10 and 96.34% more DMD and NDFD than ICBbuf (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of ICB from bovine or water buffalo in coculture with RB does not improve in vitro production of biogas, DMD or NDFD with respect to RB alone.

Resumen Antecedentes: La digestibilidad ruminal de la fibra no se debe a la actividad enzimática individual de las bacterias sino a su interacción para complementar su funcionamiento enzimático. Así, la eficiencia de digestión de la fibra depende de la diversidad y la densidad de las bacterias celulolíticas. Objetivo: Estimar la producción de biogás, metano, y las características fermentativas in vitro del pasto cobra (Brachiaria hibrido) inoculado con bacterias ruminales (BR) en cocultivo con bacterias celulolíticas aisladas (BCA) de bovino (BCAbov) o búfalo de agua (BCAbuf). Métodos: BCAbov y BCAbuf se aislaron de consorcios bacterianos celulolíticos ruminales usando medios de cultivo específicos para bacterias celulolíticas. Ambas se caracterizaron morfológicamente y realizó tinción de Gram. En la prueba de producción de gas in vitro, el sustrato fue pasto cobra y los inóculos fueron bacterias ruminales (BR), BCAbov, BCAbuf, Cocultivobov (BR + BCAbov) y Cocultivobuf (BR + BCAbuf). Se midió la producción de biogás y metano (CH4), así como la degradación de la materia seca (DMS) y de la fibra detergente neutro (DFDN). El análisis estadístico se basó en un diseño completamente al azar. Resultados: Las BCA resultantes se identificaron como cocos Gram positivos. La producción de biogás acumulada a las 72 h por BCAbov y BCAbuf fue en promedio 42,11% del producido por BR. El cocultivobov produjo 14,24% más biogás que BR. La producción de CH4 fue menor en BCAbov y BCAbuf que en BR, cocultivobov y cocultivobuf. Las DMS y DFDN no mostraron diferencias entre BR, cocultivobov y cocultivobuf. La BCAbov degradó 37,10 y 96,34% más DMS y DFDN que BCAbuf (p<0,05). Conclusión: El uso de BCA de bovino o búfalo de agua en cocultivo con BR no mejora la producción de biogás, DMS o DFDN in vitro respecto a BR.

Resumo Antecedentes: A digestibilidade da fibra no rúmen não se deve à atividade enzimática individual das bactérias, mas sim à sua interação para complementar o seu funcionamento enzimático. Assim, a eficiência da digestão das fibras depende da diversidade e densidade das bactérias celulolíticas. Objetivo: Estimar a produção in vitro de biogás, metano e características fermentativas da gramínea de cobra (Brachiaria hibrido) inoculada com bactéria ruminal (BR) em cocultura com bactérias celulolíticas isoladas (BCI) de bovino (BCIbov) ou búfalo de água (BCIbuf). Métodos: BCIbov e BCIbuf foram isolados a partir de consórcios de bactérias celulolíticas ruminais utilizando meios de cultura específicos para bactérias celulolíticas. Ambos foram caracterizados morfologicamente, e foi realizada uma coloração de Gram. No teste de produção de gás in vitro, o substrato era erva de cobra e os inóculos eram bactérias ruminais (BR), BCIbov, BCIbuf, Cocultivobov (BR + BCIbov) e cocultivobuf (BR + BCIbuf). Foram medidas a produção de biogás e metano (CH4), bem como a degradação da matéria seca (DMS) e a degradação da fibra em detergente neutro (DFDN). Foi utilizado um desenho completamente aleatório. Resultados: BCIs eram cocos Gram positivos. A produção acumulada de biogás a 72 h de BCIbov e BCIbuf foi em média 42,11% da produzida por BR. O cocultivobov produziu 14,24% mais biogás do que o BR. A produção de CH4 foi menor em BCIbov e BCIbuf do que BR, cocultivobov e cocultivobuf. DMS e DFDN não eram diferentes entre BR, cocultivobov e cocultivobuf. O BCIbov degradou 37,10 e 96,34% mais DMS e DFDN do que o BCIbuf (p<0,05). Conclusão: A utilização de BCI de bovino ou búfalo de água em cocultura com BR não melhora a produção in vitro de biogás, DMS ou DFDN no que diz respeito a BR.

Performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets supplemented with different levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, apparent digestibility, and carcass and longissimus dorsi muscle characteristics of lambs fed diets supplemented with four levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thirty-two male Hampshire lambs (25.82±1.95 kg body weight) were distributed in four treatments: basal diet (20:80, forage:concentrate), and the inclusion of 0, 3, 5, and 10 g animal−1 d−1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The variables evaluated were dry matter intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion, apparent digestibility, dorsal fat thickness, longissimus dorsi muscle area, and physicochemical characteristics of carcass and muscle. We used a completely randomized design and orthogonal polynomials to test the linear and quadratic effects of the inclusion levels of the yeast. Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed a quadratic effect on lamb performance. Dry matter intake decreased with yeast in response to a better feed conversion and body weight gain; however, at the highest Saccharomyces cerevisiae dose, daily weight gain and final weight were lower than with the basal diet treatment. Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not affect apparent digestibility or carcass and muscle physicochemical characteristics. Supplementation with 3 and 5 g d−1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae improves productive performance of lambs fed high concentrate diets without affecting the physicochemical characteristics of the carcass or muscle.(AU)

Inclusion of ripe mango as a source of energy in diets for Creole lambs in the dry tropics.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the use of ripe mango as a source of energy in an integral diet consisting of regional products for fattening lambs. Twenty-seven Creole lambs were used and given a 10-day period to adapt to the diet. Three treatments were evaluated: T1 = 40% mango; T2 = 50% mango; and T3 = control diet. In the in vitro analysis, partial and accumulated production of biogas and methane, degradation of dry matter, and neutral detergent fiber were determined. In the in vivo analysis, dry matter intake (DMI), daily weight gain (DWG), apparent digestibility of nutrients, and ruminal characteristics were estimated. The experimental design was completely random. The in vitro results helped hypothesize that the diets with low fiber content would not affect potential dry matter intake. With the exception of the protozoa count, ruminal characteristics were not different among diets (p > 0.05). In productive response, T3 was 13.73% higher DMI than T1, which was 32.24% higher than T2. T3 promoted 61.22% more DWG than T1 and T2. T2 displayed better digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein than T3 (p < 0.05). Fattening lambs fed rations that contain 40% and 50% mango reduces the dry matter intake and daily weight gain relative to the control, although apparent digestibility is higher than for the control diet.

Evaluation of an herbal choline feed plant additive in lamb feedlot rations

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of an herbal choline feed plant additive on the productive parameters and blood metabolites of finishing lambs. Forty male Hampshire × Suffolk lambs (initial body weight of 30.36±3.75 kg) were assigned according to a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of the herbal additive BioCholine at 0, 3, 6, and 9 g/kg dry matter for 56 days. A linear response for herbal choline dose was observed for daily gain, final body weight, feed conversion, blood glucose, and blood phosphatidylcholine as herbal choline level was increased in the diet. Total protein, globulins, and low-density lipoproteins showed a quadratic effect, and there were no effects on intake, Longissimus dorsi area, back fat, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, or albumins. The inclusion of the herbal choline feed plant additive improved daily gain and feed efficiency of finishing lambs. The choline feed plant additive is a source that can be used to meet choline requirements in small ruminants, as demonstrated by blood phosphatidylcholine and lamb performance.(AU)