Co-occurrence of phytoestrogens, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and other plant secondary metabolites in rations of dairy cattle in Punjab, Pakistan

Performance of dairy cows fed diets formulated at 2 starch concentrations with either canola meal or soybean meal as the protein supplement

After India and the USA, Pakistan is the third country leading in global dairy production, a sector of very high socioeconomic relevance in Asia. Mycotoxins can affect animal health, reproduction and productivity. This study analysed a broad range of co-occurring mycotoxins and fungal secondary metabolites derived from Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and other fungal species. To complete this, a validated multi-metabolite liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI–MS/MS) method was employed, detecting 96 of > 500 tested secondary fungal metabolites. This first preliminary study demonstrated that total mixed rations (TMRs) (n = 30) from big commercial dairy cattle farms (> 200 lactating cows) in Punjab, Pakistan, presented ubiquitous contamination with mixtures of mycotoxins. The mean of mycotoxins per sample was 14, ranging from 11 to 20 mycotoxins among all TMR samples. Metabolites derived from other fungi and Fusarium spp. showed the highest levels, frequency and diversity among the detected fungal compounds. Among the most prevalent mycotoxins were Fusarium toxins like fumonisins B1 (FB1) (93%), B2 (FB2) (100%) and B3 (FB3) (77%) and others. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was evidenced in 40% of the samples, and 7% exceeded the EU maximum limit for feeding dairy cattle (5 µg/kg at 88% dry matter). No other mycotoxin exceeds the EU guidance values (GVs). Additionally, we found that dietary ingredients like corn grain, soybean meal and canola meal were related to increased contamination of some mycotoxins (like FB1, FB2 and FB3) in TMR from the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Among typical forage sources, the content of maize silage was ubiquitous. Individually, the detected mycotoxins represented relatively low levels. However, under a realistic scenario, long-term exposure to multiple mycotoxins and other fungal secondary metabolites can exert unpredictable effects on animal health, reproduction and productivity. Except for ergot alkaloids (73%), all the groups of metabolites (i.e. derived from Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and other fungi) occurred in 100% of the TMR samples. At individual levels, no other mycotoxins than AFB1 represented a considerable risk; however, the high levels of co-occurrence with several mycotoxins/metabolites suggest that long-term exposure should be considered because of their potential toxicological interactions (additive or synergistic effects).

Impacts of substitution of canola meal with soybean meal, with and without ruminally protected methionine, on production, reproduction and health of early lactation multiparous Holstein cows through 160 days in milk

This study investigated the effects of replacing soybean meal (SM) with canola meal (CM) and decreasing crude protein (‎CP) levels in CM based diets on performance of dairy cows when different sources of processed grains and CM were used. Canola meal was untreated or roasted at 130°C for 30 minutes and grains sources (corn and barley) were either ground or steamed-flaked. Eight Holstein cows (‎2nd lactations; 42 ± 2 d in milk; 600‎±‎20 kg body weight) were used in a 4×4 Latin square design with 4 treatments. Treatments were‎ a control diet based on SM containing 16.5% CP (SM), or 1 of 3 diets based on CM as (1) untreated CM + ground grain sources containing 17.7% dietary CP (CM-17.7), 2) treated CM + ‎ground grain sources containing 16.5 % dietary CP (CM-16.5), and 3) treated CM + steam ‎flaked grain sources containing 15.3 % dietary CP (CM-15.3). Diets were iso-energetic, however, the estimated metabolizable protein (MP) and Lys: Met ratio were the highest in the SM diet but both values were gradually decreased with reducing dietary CP in the CM diets‎. Feeding CM diets led to similar intake, milk yield and efficiency, as well as nitrogen (N) efficiency (milk N/N intake) as compared to SM diet. However, milk fat content tended to be lower in SM diet than in CM diets. Digestibility of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was lower in cows fed CM-17.7 than those fed either SM, or CM-16.5, CM-15.3 diets. Decreasing dietary CP in the CM diets had no significant effects on DM intake, milk production or milk composition, whereas N efficiency was linearly increased. Different diets or dietary CP level had no significant effect on plasma parameters. In conclusion, the present study indicated that replacing SM with CM resulted in similar milk yield and efficiency. Decreasing dietary CP from 17.7 to 15.3 % by feeding a mixture of treated CM and steam flaked grain sources did not affect milk production but improved N efficiency of dairy cows in early lactation.

Effects of soybean meal or canola meal on milk production and methane emissions in lactating dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets

Protein fractionation byproduct from canola meal for dairy cattle

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to reveal the magnitude of the differences in protein structures at a cellular level as well as protein utilization and availability among soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM), and rapeseed meal (RSM) as feedstocks in China.MethodsExperiments were designed to compare the three different types of feedstocks in terms of: i) protein chemical profiles; ii) protein fractions partitioned according to Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System; iii) protein molecular structures and protein second structures; iv) special protein compounds-amino acid (AA); v) total digestible protein and energy values; vi) in situ rumen protein degradability and intestinal digestibility. The protein second structures were measured using FT/IR molecular spectroscopy technique. A summary chemical approach in National Research Council (NRC) model was applied to analyze truly digestible protein.ResultsThe results showed significant differences in both protein nutritional profiles and protein structure parameters in terms of α-helix, β-sheet spectral intensity and their ratio, and amide I, amide II spectral intensity and their ratio among SBM, CM, and RSM. SBM had higher crude protein (CP) and AA content than CM and RSM. For dry matter (DM), SBM, and CM had a higher DM content compared with RSM (p<0.05), whereas no statistical significance was found between SBM and CM (p = 0.28). Effective degradability of CP and DM did not demonstrate significant differences among the three groups (p>0.05). Intestinal digestibility of rumen undegradable protein measured by three-step in vitro method showed that there was significant difference (p = 0.05) among SBM, CM, and RSM, which SBM was the highest and RSM was the lowest with CM in between. NRC modeling results showed that digestible CP content in SBM was significantly higher than that of CM and RSM (p<0.05).ConclusionThis study suggested that SBM and CM contained similar protein value and availability for dairy cattle, while RSM had the lowest protein quality and utilization.

Impacts of incremental substitution of soybean meal for canola meal in lactating dairy cow diets containing a constant base level of corn derived dried distillers’ grains with solubles

To assess the effect of inclusion of camelina expeller in beef cattle diets, 24 Simmental heifers were used. Two experiments were carried out. In the first, two free-choice tests, one without and another with molasses, were conducted to know the preference of animals for a total mixed ration (TMR) made with a 90 to 10 concentrate to barley straw ratio, where canola meal (CM) or camelina expeller (CE) was used in the concentrate as a protein source. Heifers were allotted in four pens with two independent feedbunks, one for each diet. In the second, a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design was used to assess the effects of the replacement of CM with CE on intake, digestibility, and sorting and animal behavior. The experiment was performed in four 28-d periods during which groups of three animals were allotted in each pen of 12.5 m2. Diets were formulated with a 90 to 10 concentrate to barley straw ratio and fed as TMR, and they were designed to contain 1) CM as main protein source and 0% of CE (0CE), 2) 3% of CE replacing CM (3CE), 3) 6% of CE replacing CM (6CE), and 4) 9% of CE replacing CM (9CE). In the free-choice test without molasses, heifers showed a greater preference for CM than for CE (38.6 vs. 8.7 kg/d; P < 0.001). When molasses were added to the diet, the preference for CM was maintained (39.1 vs. 9.8 kg/d; P < 0.001). Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was unaffected by the level of replacement of CM by CE (P > 0.10), and there was no effect of this replacement on DM, OM, CP, and NDF apparent digestibility (P > 0.10). Intake of long particle size increased lineally as CE proportion increased (P = 0.015). In addition, extension of sorting behavior for long particle size tended to increase lineally (P = 0.07), and sorting against this particle size was detected in 0CE and 3CE, but not in 6CE and 9CE (P < 0.05). However, the results recorded for long particle size intake and for sorting behavior against these particles did not translate into more time spent ruminating in heifers fed diets with higher proportion of CE. In conclusion, when canola meal was replaced with camelina expeller at more than 14% of inclusion, heifers preferred the canola meal diet. However, replacing canola meal with camelina expeller up to 9% of inclusion in diets for beef cattle did not affect intake and digestibility but promoted a greater intake of long particle size of barley straw.

Brassica napus and Brassica juncea canola meal (CM) may replace soybean meal (SBM) in pig diets, but differ in fiber, glucosinolates content and profile. Preference of weaned pigs provided double-choice selections to diets containing 20% SBM, B. napus CM, or B. juncea CM was evaluated in two studies. In experiment 1, 216 pigs (9.4 ± 1.6 kg initial BW) were housed in 27 pens of 8 pigs (four gilts and four barrows). In experiment 2, 144 pigs (8.9 ± 1.1 kg) were housed in 36 pens of 4 pigs (two gilts and two barrows). Pigs were offered three dietary choices: B. napus CM with SBM as reference (B. napus CM [SBM]), B. juncea CM with SBM as reference (B. juncea CM [SBM]), and B. juncea CM with B. napus CM as reference (B. juncea CM [B. napus CM]) in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square. Diets were formulated to provide 2.4 Mcal NE/kg and 4.5 g standardized ileal digestible Lys/Mcal NE and were balanced using canola oil and crystalline AA. Each pair of diets was offered in two self-feeders per pen as mash (experiment 1) or pellets (experiment 2) during three test-periods of 4-d, followed by a 3-d non-test period when a common diet was offered in both feeders. Feeders with different diets were rotated daily among pens during preference periods for both experiments, and feeder positions (right or left) were switched daily in experiment 2. Prior to the study and between periods, pigs were fed non-test diets containing SBM (experiment 1) or without test feedstuffs (experiment 2). Overall in both experiments, pigs preferred (P < 0.001) SBM over B. napus and B. juncea CM diets, and preferred (P < 0.001) B. napus over B. juncea CM diet. Dietary choice did not affect (P > 0.05) growth performance in both experiments, except for greater G:F (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the B. juncea CM [B. napus CM] diets than pigs fed the B. napus CM [SBM] or B. juncea CM [SBM] diets in experiment 1. In conclusion, weaned pigs preferred SBM over CM diets when given a choice, and preferred B. napus over the B. juncea diet that contained more total glucosinolates especially gluconapin. Weaned pigs fed the B. juncea CM [B. napus CM] diets in the double-choice selection did not reduce feed intake, weight gain, and G:F compared to pigs fed the B. napus CM [SBM] or B. juncea CM [SBM] diets.

Effects of replacing soybean meal with canola meal or treated canola meal on ruminal digestion, omasal nutrient flow, and performance in lactating dairy cows

Replacing dietary soybean meal with canola meal improves production and efficiency of lactating dairy cows

Rumen degradability characteristics of xylose treated canola and soybean meals

In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted with six commercial enzyme preparations (SP249, Energex, Rohament CW, Novozyme 230 and crude α ‐galactosidase) to determine their effectiveness in hydrolysing galactooligosaccharides from soya bean and canola meal in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry. The use of the enzyme invertase to enhance galactoside hydrolysis was also studied. A wide range of α ‐galactosidase activity was observed in vitro, with crude α‐galactosidase from Mortirella vinacea and Novozyme 230 preparation showing the highest activity values of 4.3 and 1.5 nkat mg−1, respectively. All preparations with the exception of crude α‐galactosidase showed invertase activity which is known to convert raffinose and stachyose to the corresponding di‐and trisaccharide, melibiose and manninotriose. Although the activity of invertase was highest on sucrose, the Novozyme 230 preparation showed activity values of 4.2 and 2.3 nkat mg−1 toward raffinose and stachyose substrates, respectively. De novo synthesis of raffinose was observed when soya bean meal, canola meal or pure sucrose and galactose were incubated with certain enzyme preparations (ie Energex). In general, preparations possessing hydrolytic activity towards galactooligosaccharides showed very little synthesis of raffinose while preparations capable of generating raffinose were very weak in the hydrolysis of galactooligosaccharides. The best result in terms of galactooligosaccharide in vitro hydrolysis of canola and soya bean meal was obtained with a combination of α‐galactosidase and invertase. In the in vivo study with caecectomised hens, hydrolysis of galactooligosaccharides averaged 88% when crude α‐galactosidase (2 g kg−1) and invertase (1 g kg−1) were added to laying, hen diet containing 200 g soya bean meal per kilogram. A problem identified in the current study was that minerals such as calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate common in poultry diets inhibit the hydrolysis activity of α‐galactosidase, indicating that high levels of activity would be required to yield a response in practical poultry feeding.

Impacts of rumen fluid modified by feeding Yucca schidigera to lactating dairy cows on in vitro gas production of 11 common dairy feedstuffs, as well as animal performance