Cattle Fed Research Articles

Livestock wastewater bioremediation through indigenous microalgae culturing as a circular bioeconomy approach as cattle feed

Growing human population demands the enhancement intensive livestock activities, which lead to severe environmental issues like water pollution. Cattle wastewater is rich in some inorganic pollutants, mainly nitrogen and phosphorous, which might constitute a risk to water bodies. Considering this scenario, microalgae's capacity to develop within manure wastewater is attracting interest, mainly for simultaneous wastewater bioremediation and biomass production. The aim of this work was evaluating the response of several microalgae strains to increasing percentages of unsterilized cattle farm wastewater. Moreover, this study also analyses the possibility of enhancing the development of indigenous native microalgal strains, to create a bioremediation system based on previously adapted species, which specific diversity was determined through taxonomic techniques. Two monospecific Chlorophyceae strains were used: Chlorella sp. and Coelastrella cogersae; and one Cyanobacteria strain: Arthrospira platensis. Experimental assays were conducted in 6 groups and triplicates with increasing percentages of Livestock wastewater (LW): control, 15, 25, 35, 50 and 70 %. All the strains tested showed that cattle wastewater represented a source of metabolic stress for microalgae development. Nevertheless, the autochthonous microalgal bloom showed better results in terms of tolerance to wastewater percentage and development under same conditions Laboratory scale results showed that microalgae could develop with optimum results in presence of 15 % of wastewater, reaching absorbance values close to 90 % of the achieved by control cultures. Moreover, indigenous microalgae cultures were scaled up to open type industrial systems (raceways) and influence of their growth on wastewater composition was evaluated. Results showed a severe reduction of the concentration of nitrates to 43.4 (mg·L−1) (20 % of initial measurements). Moreover, the obtained biomass showed a biochemical profile similar to traditional crops, in terms of proteins and carbohydrates (48 and 41 % respectively), suggesting that this biomass could be further valuated into cattle feed as a circular economy approach.

Screening and selection of essential oils for an intranasal spray against bovine respiratory pathogens based on antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antibiofilm activities.

The rise in antibiotic resistant pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) poses a serious challenge, particularly to the beef feedlot industry, as they currently depend on antibiotics to prevent BRD to mitigate the financial burden (approx. $1 billion annual loss) inflicted by BRD-associated high mortality and morbidity in feedlot cattle. Thus, there is an impetus need for the development of antimicrobial alternative strategies against BRD. This study aimed to screen and select candidate essential oils (EOs) for the development of an intranasal EO spray that can inhibit BRD pathogens and promote microbiota-mediated respiratory health. The effects of selected EOs (ajowan, cinnamon leaf, citronella, grapefruit, fennel, and thyme) on a bovine nasopharyngeal microbiota culture were evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The microbiota culture was enriched by incubating nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from finishing beef heifers in brain heart infusion broth with and without EOs (0.025%, v/v). These EOs were then also evaluated for their immunomodulatory effects on bovine turbinate (BT) cells by analyzing the concentrations of 15 cytokines and chemokines in cell culture after 24 h incubation. The crystal violet assay was done to assess the antibiofilm activity of EOs against Escherichia coli UMN026 strain. Finally, 15 EOs were screened for their antiviral activity against the bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1) using BT cells and a fluorescence-based method. Ajowan, fennel, and thyme resulted in a moderate reduction of overall nasopharyngeal microbiota growth with significant alterations of both alpha and beta diversity, and the relative abundance of predominant bacterial families (e.g., increasing Enterobacteriaceae and decreasing Moraxellaceae) compared to the control (p < 0.05). Co-incubation of BT cells with selected EOs resulted in minimal alterations in cytokine and chemokine levels (p > 0.05). Ajowan, thyme, fennel, and cinnamon leaf exhibited antibiofilm activity at concentrations of 0.025 and 0.05%. Reduction of BVDV-1 replication in BT cells was observed with thyme (strong), and ajowan and citronella (moderate) at 0.0125% concentration. Accordingly, ajowan, thyme, fennel, cinnamon leaf, and citronella EOs were selected for further development as an intranasal EO spray to prevent and control of BRD pathogens in feedlot cattle.

ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR CATTLE BASED ON FEED RESOURCES IN MANDAILING NATAL DISTRICT, NORTH SUMATRA

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; This research aims to analyze the potential and strategy for developing livestock based on feed resources in Man- dailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra. The method used in this research is the SWOT analysis survey method. The results of the research show that the potential feed resources in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra come from intercrop forage (orange, oil palm) forage in galengan rice fields, agricultural crop waste and agricultural/ agricultural processing waste with a total feed production of 41,028,554 Kg Dry Ingridients/year and can accommo- date 14,987 Livestock Unit. The cattle development strategy based on SWOT analysis is to build a cattle feed proces- sing industry by utilizing feed resources, industrial raw materials, geographical location and government support.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Sustainable Innovation in the Canadian Agrifood Sector: Past, Present &amp; Future

In order to remain globally competitive with sustainable innovations in agri-food, both the public and private sectors in Canada must increase investment and in the industry. Studies reveal that both sectors’ support for agri-food innovation has declined in recent years. To spur innovation and growth public funding should revert to previous levels, ideally reaching 0.10 per cent of GDP. Incentives such as tax relief, matching funds and enhanced protection of intellectual property rights could spur increased levels of private sector investment in innovation. In the past 50 years, innovation in agriculture has brought tremendous benefits to producers, processors and consumers. Successful innovations include genetically modified crops, large-scale cattle feeding operations and the adoption of no-till farming, which has reduced the traditional practice of summerfallowing fields. Still, with the demand for a secure global food supply and growing concerns about the environmental impacts of large-scale farming, the need for sustainable innovation in the agri-food sector is pressing. This paper offers three recommendations for policy-makers. First, public funding for agricultural research and development should be increased to prior levels. Next, the private sector needs more favourable conditions to foster investment in the agri-food industry. Last, if intellectual property rights are strengthened, innovating firms will be reassured that they can capture the economic benefits innovation creates.

Improving Bali Cattle Productivity Through the Application of Combination Feeding "Healthy Herbs and Probiotics" in Feed for Cattle Farmers At DLT-UNJA Pudak Village, Kumpeh Ulu Subdistrict Muaro Jambi Regency

Currently, the level of knowledge among cattle farmers in raising cattle is still low, as evidenced by the conventional nature of the farming system, resulting in low productivity. The optimal utilization of appropriate technology to improve the productivity of cattle has not been achieved. The community service activities conducted involve technology transfer to enhance innovation and creativity among farmers through the application of herbal medicine and probiotics in the provided feed. The technology is implemented using the "Learning By Doing" method to ensure that innovation can be directly conveyed and easily understood by the farmers. The application of herbal medicine and probiotics in cattle feed is carried out directly for approximately 1.5 months, with cattle being weighed every 15 days. The results of this activity indicate that the implementation of appropriate technology through the use of herbal medicine and probiotics in cattle feed among a group of cattle farmers in DLT-UNJA, Pudak Village, Kumpeh Ulu District, Muaro Jambi Regency, has increased the productivity of Bali cattle with a body weight gain of 0.59 kg/head/day.

Alternatives to conventional antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of commonly occurring diseases in feedlot cattle.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a problem in human medicine. The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in feedlot cattle could have negative effects on their health and welfare and there is a theoretical possibility of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from food animals to humans. Alternatives to conventional antibiotics in feedlot health management could reduce the selective pressure for the development of antibiotic resistance. This review assesses the evidence supporting potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics in the prevention and treatment of diseases in feedlot cattle, including nitric oxide, plant extracts, supplemental yeast or yeast products, bacterial probiotics, organic acids, bacteriophages and non-specific immunostimulants. Further research is warranted with lactate utilising bacteria, the organic acid malate, bacteriophages and the non-specific immunostimulants β-1,3 glucan and those based on pox viruses. However, none of the alternatives to conventional antibiotics investigated in this review have sufficient supporting evidence to date to justify their use with feedlot cattle. Frequently, statistically weak results and studies without negative controls are cited as support for similar studies. The health and welfare of feedlot cattle are dependent on the use of products that have robust supporting data to ensure efficacy and to avoid adverse outcomes.

Measuring motivation for alfalfa hay in feedlot cattle using voluntary interaction with an aversive stimulus

Typical diets for finishing cattle are concentrate-rich and low in roughage, which may limit species-specific feeding behaviours and increase the risk of digestive disorder. Our objective was to measure how motivated finishing steers are to access alfalfa hay compared with nothing or more of the finishing ration through their willingness to interact voluntarily with an electrified barrier. Twenty-four 13-mo-old steers, fed a high-concentrate finishing ration ad-libitum, had access to one of three treatments (n=8 steers/treatment) behind the barrier: 1) 1.5 L (200 g) of alfalfa hay (AF), 2) 1.5 L (∼600 g) of the finishing ration (TMR), or 3) an empty bin (E). The primary diet (finishing ration) was fed 2x/d while the treatments (AF and TMR) were delivered only in the morning. The steer voluntarily pushed his muzzle against a barrier which rose out of his way, allowing free access to the treatment. The electrical current on the barrier increased exponentially every 48 h (0, 156, 312, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000 µA) until the animal ceased accessing the bin. Visits to the bin were video recorded 24 h/d. The final sample size was five AF, eight TMR, and four E, largely because animals did not continue to participate in the study, particularly in the AF and E treatments. Of those that remained in the study, animals with access to an empty bin were less likely to advance to the next current than AF and TMR animals (P<0.01). They also stopped accessing the treatment rapidly while AF and TMR animals continued to interact with the electrified barrier, up to likely aversive maximum currents (195±39, 1000±153 and 977±138 μA, respectively; P=0.01). Animals with access to alfalfa ate more of it as a percentage of the amount offered (P=0.03) and visited more (P<0.02) than TMR animals as they approached the highest current they were willing to touch. We found no evidence of differences in latency to approach either the TMR or AF, except 48 h before their highest current pushed, when AF animals tended to be quicker (P=0.07). The electrified barrier distinguished differences in motivation for food resources versus access to an empty feeder, indicating that finishing cattle are motivated to access alfalfa and additional offerings of TMR. Despite the limitations of a small sample size, this is the strongest evidence to date that these cattle are motivated to contrafreeload. The rationale behind these results, be it exploration or other benefits associated with each feed type, remain unclear, as forage was not clearly preferred over TMR as predicted.

Integrated microbiota-host-metabolome approaches reveal adaptive ruminal changes to prolonged high-grain feeding and phytogenic supplementation in cattle.

Diets rich in readily fermentable carbohydrates primarily impact microbial composition and activity, but can also impair the ruminal epithelium barrier function. By combining microbiota, metabolome, and gene expression analysis, we evaluated the impact of feeding a 65% concentrate diet for 4 weeks, with or without a phytogenic feed additive (PFA), on the rumen ecosystem of cattle. The breaking point for rumen health seemed to be the second week of high grain (HG) diet, with a dysbiosis characterized by reduced alpha diversity. While we did not find changes in histological evaluations, genes related with epithelial proliferation (IGF-1, IGF-1R, EGFR, and TBP) and ZO-1 were affected by the HG feeding. Integrative analyses allowed us to define the main drivers of difference for the rumen ecosystem in response to a HG diet, identified as ZO-1, MyD88, and genus Prevotella 1. PFA supplementation reduced the concentration of potentially harmful compounds in the rumen (e.g. dopamine and 5-aminovaleric acid) and increased the tolerance of the epithelium toward the microbiota by altering the expression of TLR-2, IL-6, and IL-10. The particle-associated rumen liquid microbiota showed a quicker adaptation potential to prolonged HG feeding compared to the other microenvironments investigated, especially by the end of the experiment.

Characterization of the hoof bacterial communities in feedlot cattle affected with digital dermatitis, foot rot or both using a surface swab technique

BackgroundLameness is defined as altered or abnormal gait due to dysfunction of the locomotor system, and is a health issue of feedlot cattle, having major economic, labour, and welfare implications. Digital dermatitis (DD—a lesion of the plantar surface of the foot) and foot rot (FR—affects the interdigital cleft) are common infectious causes of lameness in feedlots. These hoof lesions can occur alone or in combination (DD + FR) in the same hoof. A total of 208 hoof swabs were collected from three commercial feedlots located in southern Alberta. Every lesion sample was matched with a corresponding control skin sample taken from a healthy contralateral foot. Control skin samples were also collected from cattle with no lesion on any feet. Bacterial communities of three types of hoof lesions (DD, DD + FR, FR) and healthy skin were profiled using 16S amplicon sequencing.ResultsAlpha diversity analysis revealed a lower bacterial diversity on DD and FR lesions compared to control skin. Beta diversity analysis showed that bacterial communities of DD, FR, and DD + FR lesions were distinct from those of the control skin. While the impact of feedlot was minimal, lesion type contributed to 22% of the variation observed among bacterial communities (PERMANOVA-R = 0.22, P < 0.01). Compared to the corresponding control skin, there were 11, 12, and 3 differentially abundant (DA) bacterial genera in DD, DD + FR, and FR lesions, respectively.ConclusionsThe bacterial community description of a DD + FR lesion is a novel finding. Not only did lesions lead to altered bacterial communities when compared to healthy skin, but the composition of those communities also differed depending on the hoof lesion. The 16S amplicon sequencing of surface swabs has significant value as a research tool in separating different hoof lesions and can provide additional insights to the polybacterial etiology of DD and FR in feedlot cattle.

Megasphaera elsdenii: Its Role in Ruminant Nutrition and Its Potential Industrial Application for Organic Acid Biosynthesis.

The Gram-negative, strictly anaerobic bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii was first isolated from the rumen in 1953 and is common in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Its ability to use either lactate or glucose as its major energy sources for growth has been well documented, although it can also ferment amino acids into ammonia and branched-chain fatty acids, which are growth factors for other bacteria. The ruminal abundance of M. elsdenii usually increases in animals fed grain-based diets due to its ability to use lactate (the product of rapid ruminal sugar fermentation), especially at a low ruminal pH (<5.5). M. elsdenii has been proposed as a potential dietary probiotic to prevent ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle and high-producing dairy cows. However, this bacterium has also been associated with milk fat depression (MFD) in dairy cows, although proving a causative role has remained elusive. This review summarizes the unique physiology of this intriguing bacterium and its functional role in the ruminal community as well as its role in the health and productivity of the host animal. In addition to its effects in the rumen, the ability of M. elsdenii to produce C2-C7 carboxylic acids-potential precursors for industrial fuel and chemical production-is examined.

Enterosorbent from modified glauconite concentrate in the feeding of young cattle

Currently, the fi rst place is taken by the qualities of feed additives used in feeding highly productive cattle, such as biological and sorption activity, harmlessness and bioavailability. For this reason, recently there has been a significant increase in scientific and practical interest in the use of feed additives that help not only increase the productivity of farm animals, but also improve their health. The purpose of the work was to study enterosorbent from a modifi ed glauconite concentrate in feeding young cattle. A study of glauconite from the Bondar deposit in the Tambov region as a feed additive in the ratrions of young cattle was carried out. New knowledge has been obtained about the sorption properties of this mineral, its eff ect on the absorption and excretion of various metals from the body of animals, including micro- and macronutrients, as well as metal pollutants. Safe eff ective doses of its introduction into animal rations have been determined. It was experimentally fed to older replacement young animals as part of a mono feed. It has been established that the use of enterosorbent based on a modifi ed glauconite concentrate in the ration of young cattle at a dose of 0,2 g/kg of live weight helped to remove nickel from the body of animals up to 60 %, and lead up to 36 % of the total amount, which on average was excreted in feces. The sorbent showed average effi ciency in relation to copper approximately 13 % of its amount is bound and excreted in feces. In this case, the mineral accumulated in the digestive tract of animals for 3–4 days. Under conditions of copper defi ciency in feed, sorbent retention promoted better absorption of inorganic forms of this nutrient consumed with mineral additives.

Communally established cattle feedlots as a sustainable livelihood option for climate change resilience and food security in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture and livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa, a region heavily reliant on livestock for smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. This systematic review investigates the potential of communally established cattle feedlots as a sustainable strategy to address the interconnected challenges of climate change resilience and food security in the area. The review focuses on the intensification of climate change, marked by rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, posing a direct threat to the livelihoods of millions in the region. Conducting a systematic literature review, we meticulously analyzed 72 articles that centered on communally established cattle feedlots in sub-Saharan Africa. The inclusion criteria considered studies within the context of climate change resilience and food security, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Published articles, grey literature, and relevant reports were systematically sourced from academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science, complemented by manual searches of journals, conference proceedings, and organizational websites. The synthesis of findings reveals a nuanced landscape of successes and challenges associated with communal feedlots. Through a narrative synthesis, studies were categorized based on key themes, unraveling the impact of communal feedlots on livestock health, economic viability, and socio-economic dynamics. The review highlights the role of communal feedlots in mitigating climate-related shocks, enhancing livestock productivity, and fostering economic opportunities for smallholder farmers. However, challenges related to land tenure, community engagement, and resource allocation emerged as critical considerations. In conclusion, communally established cattle feedlots offer a holistic and sustainable approach to address climate change challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.

Energy Recovery Efficiency of Integrating Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Pig Slurry and Feedlot Cattle Manure and Hydrothermal Carbonization of Anaerobic Sludge Cake

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a technology designed to improve the efficiency of bioenergy recovery by subjecting biomass to high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. By integrating this technical feature with anaerobic digestion (AD), enhanced energy recovery efficiency is achieved in treating anaerobic digestate (AD-T). The study investigates enhancing bioenergy recovery efficiency through an integrated process, combining AD of livestock manure and HTC. The primary objective is to improve the energy conversion efficiency of biomass characterized by varying solid contents and chemical compositions. Shortening the hydraulic retention time (HRT) in AD of livestock manure resulted in decreased degradation rate efficiency within the AD-T. This led to increased solid material accumulation, which was crucial for the subsequent HTC reaction. The HTC reaction exhibited its maximum bioenergy recovery at 160 °C. The input energy of the livestock manure, obtained by mixing pig slurry and feedlot cattle manure in a 1:1 (w/w) ratio, was 171,167 MJ/day. Under different HRT conditions (40, 30, and 20 days), recoverable energy from AD of livestock manure ranged from 60,336 to 68,517 MJ/ton. Integration of HTC increased net bioenergy recovery to 106,493 to 130,491 MJ/day under corresponding HRT conditions, highlighting the potential of integrating HTC with AD from livestock manure for enhanced bioenergy recovery efficiency.

Utilization of Geospatial Software for Map-Based Cattle Feed Information: A Case of ICCIS, Indonesia

Utilization of Geospatial Software for Map-Based Cattle Feed Information: A Case of ICCIS, Indonesia

Enhancing Smart Farming Capabilities for Small-Scale Cattle Farmers in Chiang Rai, Thailand

This research aims to develop an IoT-driven smart farming system for beef cattle management in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The system empowers small-scale farmers by enabling precise criteria for cattle care, optimized feeding, growth monitoring, breeding analysis, and cost estimation through WSN and cloud-based platforms. The sensors gather raw data on consumption from the feeding troughs and then transmit it to the cloud-based platform. Consumption data is then analyzed using Linear Regression Analysis. Key findings indicate a substantial correlation (0.995) between feed quantity and cattle weight gain, with a predictive capability of 99%. This system enhances precision and decision-making in cattle farming, offering significant benefits to small-scale farmers in the region.

The effect of ultrasound on the feed mixture of sunflower cake and whey

At present, secondary products of the main production in the form of cake, oil meal, bran and whey are widely used for feeding cattle. Despite the presence of protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and fiber in their composition, there is a problem of low assimilability of these nutrients. Moreover, secondary products are often unsafe in terms of microbiological parameters. To solve this problem, various physical and mechanical impacts are used. The paper presents the results of the study of an ultrasound effect on the feed mixture of sunflower cake and whey. Ultrasound is wave oscillations with frequencies higher than 20 kHz. Ultrasound waves propagate in solid, liquid and gas media, have a high mechanical energy and cause several physical, chemical and biological phenomena. When ultrasound impacts a mixture, bubbles are formed and large amounts of energy are emitted upon their collapse. This energy is expended on destruction of large particles of cake with particle sizes of 1370.8–2776.6 µm in the dry cake and up to 1.8–300.0 µm in the suspension. The overwhelming majority (60–75%) of particles have sizes of 11 to 30 µm when duration of the ultrasound treatment is 20–30 min. This can be seen in the photographs of the mixture under a microscope. With that, the homogeneous gel-like mass containing protein, fat, fiber and sugars is formed from a simple mixture of components, which significantly improves the process of assimilation of structured nutrients of cake by animals. A decrease in the protein content from 10.20% to 6.65% has been revealed in the suspension with a component ratio of 1:4 to 1:8. Temperature-time regimes for ratios of the cake/whey components have been established. The optimal temperature was 60–70°C, treatment time was 20 min. A temperature was lower in the mixture with a ratio of 1:8 for all time periods due to a decrease in viscosity of the formed suspension. Microbial inactivation occurs under the impact of ultrasound, which is important for animal health and productivity. As a result of the statistical processing of process indicators, a range was established for optimal values of variable factors at which a decrease in the microbiological contamination of the mixture takes place.

Pasteurella multocida ST20 is widespread in Australian poultry farms and may infect wild waterbirds

The bacterial agent that causes fowl cholera, Pasteurella multocida, was isolated from two deceased wild waterbirds in Victoria, Australia, in 2013. Whole genome sequence analysis placed the isolates into ST20, a subtype described in farmed chickens from Queensland, Australia and more recently in feedlot cattle and in pigs across a broader area of the continent. This study also found ST20 between 2009 and 2022 on three chicken farms and two turkey farms located in four Australian states. The sequences of 25 of these ST20 isolates were compared to 280 P. multocida genomes from 23 countries and to 94 ST20 Illumina datasets from Queensland that have been deposited in public databases. The ST20 isolates formed a single phylogenetic clade and were clustered into four sub-groups with highly similar genomes, possessing either LPS type 1 or type 3 loci. Various repertoires of mobile genetic elements were present in isolates from farmed, but not wild birds, suggesting complex histories of spill-over between avian populations and gene acquisition within farm environments. No major antimicrobial resistance was predicted in any of the ST20 isolates by the genomic analysis. The closest relative of these isolates was a ST394 bovine respiratory tract isolate from Queensland, which differed from ST20 by only one allele and carried beta-lactam and tetracycline resistance genes. These findings underline the importance of understanding the role of wild and commercial birds in the maintenance of fowl cholera, and of implementing regular epidemiological surveillance and biosecurity management programmes in wildlife, as well as free-range poultry farms.

Cultivation of forage maize in boreal conditions – Assessment of trade-offs between increased productivity and environmental impact

The cultivation of whole crop forage maize (Zea mays L.) for cattle feed has a potential for increased forage yield while reducing nitrogen (N) fertilisation compared to perennial grass-based systems. However, the possible environmental trade-offs of forage maize cultivation remain unknown in the boreal region due to the short growing season which limits cultivation practices. The aim of this study was to compare the environmental impact of forage maize with more widely cultivated forage crops in Finland that include perennial silage grass mixtures and whole crop spring cereal harvested as silage. The use of plastic mulch film in forage maize cultivation was included in the assessment as well. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted including impact categories for global warming potential; marine and freshwater eutrophication; terrestrial acidification; freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecotoxicity; land use; and fossil resource depletion. Additionally, soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes under long-term cultivation of the studied forage crops were simulated with the C-TOOL and Yasso20 models with methodological comparisons. The only clear differences between the studied crops were that the land use was lower (−26–48%) for forage maize, and the freshwater eutrophication (+59–67%) and terrestrial acidification (+10–57%) were higher for perennial grasses compared with other forages. A risk for decreased SOC stock under continuous forage maize cultivation was observed. Forage maize could be used to supplement perennial grass cultivation without major associated environmental risks. Future research shall be conducted on the effect of forage choices on the environmental impact of boreal dairy milk production and on decreasing the current high uncertainty associated with nitrous oxide (N2O) emission factors and SOC stock modelling choices.

A single intranasal dose of essential oil spray confers modulation of the nasopharyngeal microbiota and short-term inhibition of Mannheimia in feedlot cattle: a pilot study

Five essential oils (EOs) were previously characterized in vitro and identified as candidate EOs for the development of an intranasal EO spray to mitigate bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogens. In the present study, these EOs were evaluated for their potential to (i) reduce BRD pathogens, (ii) modulate nasopharyngeal microbiota, and (iii) influence animal performance, feeding behavior and immune response when a single dose administered intranasally to feedlot cattle. Forty beef steer calves (7–8 months old, Initial body weight = 284 ± 5 kg [SE]) received either an intranasal EO spray (ajowan, thyme, fennel, cinnamon leaf, and citronella) or PBS (Control; n = 20/group) on day 0. Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were collected on days (d) -1, 1, 2, 7, 14, 28, and 42 and processed for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, qPCR, and culturing. Significant effects of EO on community structure (d1), microbial richness and diversity, relative abundance of some dominant phyla (d1, d2, and d14), and the overall interaction network structure of the nasopharyngeal microbiota were detected. The relative abundance of Mannheimia was lower in the EO calves (4.34%) than in Control calves (10.4%) on d2, and M. haemolytica prevalence on d7 as compared to control calves. Feed intake, average daily gain, feeding behavior, and blood cell counts were not affected by EO treatment. Overall, a single intranasal dose of EO spray resulted in moderate modulation of nasopharyngeal microbiota and short-term inhibition of Mannheimia while not influencing animal performance, feeding behavior or immune response. Our study, for the first time, shows the potential use of intranasal EO to mitigate BRD in feedlot cattle.

Peach palm shells (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) bioconversion by Lentinula edodes: Potential as new bioproducts for beef cattle feeding

This paper aims to develop and assess the in vitro effects on ruminal fermentation and greenhouse gas parameters of new bioproducts for beef cattle diets, carried out by solid-state fermentation of peach palm shells colonized by Lentinula edodes (SSF) and after Shiitake mushroom cultivation in axenic blocks (SMS). In vitro experiments were performed to assess the in vitro gas production, digestibility, and fiber degradation of formulated total diets. Bioproducts presented high β-glucans (9.44–––11.27 %) and protein (10.04–––8.35 %) contents, as well as similar digestibility to conventional diets. SMS diet had the lowest methane and carbon dioxide (19.1 and 84.1 mM/g OM) production, and the SSF diet presented lower carbon dioxide production (98.9 mM/g OM) than other diets, whereas methane was similar. This study highlighted a sustainable use of byproducts for beef cattle diets, promising for digestibility, nutritional value, β-glucans incorporation, and environmental impact mitigation, favoring the circular bioeconomy.