Feed Supplement For Ruminants Research Articles

Use of macroalgae as a nutritional supplement for sustainable production of ruminants: A systematic review and an insight on the Colombian Caribbean region

Exploring alternative feed sources that reduce rumen methane production while improving livestock productivity is of importance because of rising global temperatures. Colombia is exposed to extreme climate changes and the consequences of these periods of climate change are drought, erosion, salinization, floods, sedimentation and alteration of ecosystems. As a result, the livestock industry experiences significant losses due to damaged feed and reduction in productivity and reproductivity of agricultural animals. The objective of this work is to determine the global bioprospective potential of macroalgae as nutritional supplements for ruminants and their potential application in the Colombian Caribbean area. For this, a quantitative and longitudinal documentary research design was used. An exploratory bibliographical review was carried out to explain the interactions between the variables applying the PRISMA protocol. The analysis of the changes in production variables of the ruminants supplemented with macroalgae was carried out by comparing the data of the treatment groups with their respective control groups in cattle, goats and sheep. For cattle, data by algal phylum showed that brown and red macroalgae increased average daily weight gain. Data by phylum and family of algae associated with milk production showed a positive impact of dietary supplementation with macroalgae on milk production, particularly with green and red algae. In the present study, it has been confirmed that red macroalgae is the best option to produce feed supplements for ruminants because they increase milk and meat production and show a statistically significant reduction in enteric methane production in cattle. For the Colombian Caribbean region, the red algae families Gigartinaceae and Gracilariaceae are recommended to produce feed supplements for ruminants because of their high prevalence in the marine habitats.

Evaluation of in vitro digestibility of Aspergillus oryzae fungal biomass grown on organic residue derived-VFAs as a promising ruminant feed supplement

BackgroundAs demand for high quality animal feed continues to raise, it becomes increasingly important to minimize the environmental impact of feed production. An appealing sustainable approach to provide feed fractions is to use organic residues from agro-food industry. In this regard, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as acetic, propionic and butyric acids, derived from bioconversion of organic residues can be used as precursors for production of microbial protein with ruminant feed inclusion potential. This study aims to investigate the in vitro digestibility of the Aspergillus oryzae edible fungal biomass cultivated on VFAs-derived from anaerobic digestion of residues. The produced fungal protein biomass, along with hay clover silage and rapeseed meal were subjected to various in vitro assays using two-stage Tilley and Terry (TT), gas, and bag methods to evaluate and compare its digestibility for application in ruminant feed.ResultsThe produced fungal biomass contained a higher crude protein (CP) (41%–49%) and rather similar neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (41%–56%) compared to rapeseed meal. The rumen in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the fungal biomass in the TT method ranged from 82% to 88% (statistically similar to that of the gas method (72% to 85%)). The IVDMD of fungal biomass were up to 26% and 40% greater than that of hay clover silage and rapeseed meal, respectively. The type of substrate and bag method had pronounced effect on the fermentation products (ammonium-N (NH4+-N), total gas and VFAs). Fungal biomass digestion resulted in the highest release of NH4+-N (340–540 mg/L) and the ratio of acetate to propionate ratio (3.5) among subjected substrates.ConclusionThe results indicate that gas method can be used as a reliable predictor for IVDMD as well as fermentation products. Furthermore, the high IVDMD and fermentation product observed for Aspergillus oryzae fungal biomass digestion, suggest that the supplementation of fungal biomass will contribute to improving the rumen digestion by providing necessary nitrogen and energy to the ruminant and microbiota.

Membrane bioreactor assisted volatile fatty acids production from agro-industrial residues for ruminant feed application

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) supplementation in ruminants’ diet as a source of energy and chemical precursors and their effect on animal’s physiology and well-being has long been of scientific interest. Production of VFAs through anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial residues not only creates value but also presents an alternative sustainable approach for ruminant feed supplementation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the bioconversion of agro-industrial residues produced in large quantities such as apple pomace (AP), thin stillage (Ts), and potato protein liquor (PPL) to VFAs, fully complying to regulations set for ruminant feed supplement production. In this regard, batch acidogenic fermentation assays (pH 6–10) and semi-continuous immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR) were applied. In batch assays, at pH 10 the co-digestion of Ts and PPL produced the highest VFAs concentration (14.2 g/L), indicating a yield of 0.85 g CODVFAs/g volatile solids (VS)added. The optimum batch condition was then applied in the iMBR for in situ fermentation and recovery of VFAs at different organic loading rates (OLR). With increasing the OLR to 3.7 gVS/L.day, the highest VFAs concentration of 28.6 g/L (1,2 g CODVFAs /gVSadded) was achieved. Successful long-term (114 days) membrane filtration was conducted in a media with a maximum of 40 g/L of total solids (TS), facing irreversible membrane fouling in the final stages. Acidogenic fermentation using an iMBR has the potential to play an important role in the future of feed additive provision through the biorefining of agro-industrial wastes via the carboxylate platform, given the role of VFAs production from organic residues.

In-vitro assessment of the nutritive value of vegetable wastes as feed supplement for ruminants

The need to optimize livestock production to meet the growing demand for animal products has necessitated the efficient use of available resources, including crop wastes to enhance livestock productivity. Fifteen vegetable waste samples were analyzed to determine their nutritive value as ruminant feed. The chemical composition was determined using standard methods, and a 24-hour in-vitro fermentation was done to determine the dry matter degradability (DMD), short chain fatty acid (SCFA), and enteric methane (CH4) emission of each sample. Talinum triangulare leaf had the highest (p<0.05) crude protein value (31.50%) and Cucumis sativa had the lowest value (11.51%). A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among the values of the proximate composition of the samples. Cucumis sativa had the highest CH4 percentage (36.75%) while the lowest CH4 percentage (10.00%) was observed in Cochorus olitorius stem. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) observed among the DMD values of the samples. The value of SCFA was highest for Daucus carota (0.33) and lowest for Talinum triangulare stem (0.07). The results of the proximate composition, CH4 percentage, and dry matter degradability of the samples observed in this study revealed that they could be further investigated through in-vivo trials to establish their suitability as alternative feedstuffs in ruminant diets. 
 
 
 
 
 La nécessité d’optimiser la production animale pour répondre à la demande croissante de produits animaux a nécessité l’utilisation efficace des ressources disponibles, y compris les déchets de récolte pour améliorer la productivité de l’élevage. Quinze échantillons de déchets végétaux ont été analysés pour déterminer leur valeur nutritive en tant qu’aliments pour ruminants. La composition chimique a été déterminée à l’aide de méthodes standard et une fermentation in vitro de 24 heures a été effectuée pour déterminer la dégradabilité de la matière sèche (DMS), les émissions d’acides gras à chaîne courte (AGCC) et de méthane entérique (CH4) de chaque échantillon. La feuille de Talinum triangulare avait la valeur de protéines brutes la plus élevée (p < 0,05) (31,50 %) et Cucumis sativa avait la valeur la plus faible (11,51 %). Une différence significative (p<0,05) a été observée entre les valeurs de la composition approximative des échantillons. Cucumis sativa avait le pourcentage de CH4 le plus élevé (36,75%) tandis que le pourcentage de CH4 le plus bas (10,00%) a été observé dans la tige de Cochorus olitorius. Aucune différence significative (p < 0,05) n’a été observée entre les valeurs DMS des échantillons. La valeur de AGCC était la plus élevée pour Daucus carota (0,33) et la plus faible pour la tige de Talinum triangulare (0,07). Les résultats de la composition approximative, du pourcentage de CH4 et de la dégradabilité de la matière sèche des échantillons observés dans cette étude ont révélé qu’ils pourraient être étudiés plus avant par des essais in vivo pour établir leur pertinence comme aliments alternatifs dans l’alimentation des ruminants.

Methane emission, intake, digestibility, performance and blood metabolites in sheep supplemented with cupuassu and tucuma cake in the eastern Amazon.

The use of co-products as a feed supplement for ruminants makes livestock sustainable and optimizes the use of available areas and animal performance. Furthermore, when cakes are used, the residual fat composition can influence ruminal metabolism and methane (CH4) production. This study aimed to assess the effects of a diet containing cupuassu (CUP; Theobroma grandiflorum) and tucuma (TUC; Astrocaryum vulgare Mart.) cakes on intake, digestibility, serum metabolites, performance, and CH4 emissions in confined sheep in the Amazon. Approximately 28 animals, Dorper-Santa Inês, castrated, with an average initial live weight (ILW) of 35 ± 2.3 kg, were distributed in metabolic cages, in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and seven replications: (1) Control (C40), without the addition of Amazonian cake and with 40 g of ether extract (EE)/kg of dietary dry matter (DM); (2) CUP, the inclusion of the CUP cake and 70 g of EE/kg; (3) TUC, the inclusion of the TUC cake and 70 g of EE/kg; and (4) Control (C80), without the addition of Amazonian cake and with 80 g of EE/kg of dietary DM, with roughage to concentrate ratio of 40:60. The use of the TUC cake as a feed supplement reduced the intake of DM, crude protein (CP), and EE compared to the inclusion of the CUP cake (p < 0.05); however, it increased the intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by 32% (p < 0.01). The highest averages of DM (732 g/kg) and CP (743 g/kg) digestibility were presented in C40, while the highest digestibility of NDF was presented in TUC (590 g/kg). Albumin levels stayed above and protein levels were below the reference values, and the C40 diet also obtained below results for cholesterol, triglycerides and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.05). Sheep fed CUP (91 g) and TUC (45 g) had lower daily weight gains (DWGs) than those fed with diets without the inclusion of cakes (C40 = 119 g; C80 = 148 g), and feed efficiency (FE) was also lower in CUP (84) and TUC (60) diets than in C40 (119) and C80 (137) diets. CH4 emissions were lower in animals fed TUC (26 L/day) and higher in C40 (35 L/day); however, TUC resulted in higher CH4 emissions in grams/body live weight (BW) gain/day (353 g/BW/day) vs. 183 g/BW/day (C40), 157 g/BW/day (C80), and 221 g/BW/day (CUP). The supplementation with cakes did not improve intake, digestibility and performance, did not compromise blood metabolites and did not reduce the enteric CH4 emission in confined sheep in the Amazon; however, the use of CUP cake showed similar results to the control treatments and did not increase CH4 emissions, as occurred with the inclusion of TUC cake.

Bioprocessing of Two Crop Residues for Animal Feeding into a High-Yield Lovastatin Feed Supplement.

Simple SummaryLovastatin is a fungal secondary metabolite that can mitigate rumen methane production. This work aimed at evaluating the lovastatin production by solid-state fermentation from selected crop residues and A. terreus strains, considering the post-fermented residues as feed supplements for ruminants. Fermented oat straw by A. terreus CDBB H-194 exhibited the highest lovastatin yield (23.8 mg/g DM fed). GC–MS analysis identified only a couple of compounds from the residues fermented by CDBB H-194 (1,3-dipalmitin trimethylsilyl ether in the fermented oat straw) and stearic acid hydrazide in the fermented wheat bran) that could negatively affect ruminal bacteria and fungi.This work aimed to evaluate the lovastatin (Lv) production by solid-state fermentation (SSF) from selected crop residues, considering the post-fermented residues as feed supplements for ruminants. The SSF was performed with two substrates (wheat bran and oat straw) and two A. terreus strains (CDBB H-194 and CDBB H-1976). The Lv yield, proximate analysis, and organic compounds by GC–MS in the post-fermented residues were assessed. The combination of the CDBB H-194 strain with oat straw at 16 d of incubation time showed the highest Lv yield (23.8 mg/g DM fed) and the corresponding degradation efficiency of hemicellulose + cellulose was low to moderate (24.1%). The other three treatments showed final Lv concentrations in decreasing order of 9.1, 6.8, and 5.67 mg/g DM fed for the oat straw + CDBB H-1976, wheat bran + CDBB H-194, and wheat bran + CDBB H-1976, respectively. An analysis of variance of the 22 factorial experiment of Lv showed a strong significant interaction between the strain and substrate factors. The kinetic of Lv production adequately fitted a zero-order model in the four treatments. GC–MS analysis identified only a couple of compounds from the residues fermented by A. terreus CDBB H-194 (1,3-dipalmitin trimethylsilyl ether in the fermented oat straw and stearic acid hydrazide in the fermented wheat bran) that could negatively affect ruminal bacteria and fungi. Solid-state fermentation of oat straw with CDBB H-194 deserves further investigation due to its high yield of Lv; low dietary proportions of this post-fermented oat straw could be used as an Lv-carrier supplement for rumen methane mitigation.

Bacillus subtilis Produces Amino Acids to Stimulate Protein Synthesis in Ruminal Tissue Explants via the Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase Catalytic Subunit Beta-Serine/Threonine Kinase-Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Pathway.

BackgroundBacillus subtilis is a probiotic strain that is widely used as a feed supplement for ruminants. In this study, one B. subtilis strain isolated from the ruminal fluid of Holstein dairy cows was used for an ex vivo study with ruminal tissue explants. The main goal was to assess the potential endosymbiotic links between B. subtilis and the ruminal epithelium using molecular analyses and amino acid profiling. The explant culture protocol was first optimized to determine the ideal conditions in terms of tissue viability before performing the actual experiments involving active and inactive bacteria with or without protein synthesis inhibitors, such as LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) or rapamycin [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor].ResultsThe mRNA levels of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta (PIK3CB), serine/threonine kinase (AKT), mTOR, P70S6K1, and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 were the highest (p < 0.01), while those of programmed cell death 4 were the lowest when the tissue was incubated with 107 of B. subtilis. Compared with the inactivated bacteria, the expression levels of PIK3CB and AKT, and overall changes in mTOR and P70S6K1 were greater in rumen explants with living bacteria (p < 0.05). With an increase in B. subtilis concentration, the trends of protein and corresponding gene changes were consistent. There were differences in the concentrations of individual amino acids in the supernatants of living and inactivated bacterial culture groups, with most amino acids enriched in pathways, such as aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis, cyanoamino acid metabolism, monobactam biosynthesis, or glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. The addition of psilocybin upregulated the expression levels of PIK3CB and AKT. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in PIK3CB and mTOR protein expression levels was detected after the addition of LY294002 and rapamycin. In addition, These responses were associated with the downregulation (p < 0.05) of AKT and P70S6K protein expression levels.ConclusionsWe confirmed that the in vivo ruminal tissue culture system is a suitable model for studying probiotic-induced alterations in tissue function. As such, this study provides a means for future mechanistic studies related to microbial regulation and the dietary supply of proteins. In addition, living and inactivated B. subtilis can promote protein synthesis in ruminal tissue explants by altering the expression levels of related factors in the PIK3CB–AKT–mTORC1 pathway, which could further aid in optimizing the feed efficiency and increasing the use of inactivated bacteria as additives in dairy cow farming.

Groundnut Shells as a Potential Feed Supplement for Ruminants on Pastures: A Review

Communal grazing does not offer adequate forage for ruminants throughout the year. This problem is exacerbated during the dry season when grazing is scarce and of poor nutritional quality. Mineral shortages are common in communal grazing environments and yet they are nutritional requirements for optimal development, physiologic functioning and productivity in animals, as well as for cattle growth, reproduction and health. However, the use of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) shell (GNS) that are readily available but have no direct nutritional benefit in humans, have not been extensively investigated as a potential source of animal feed. This paper investigates the potential of GNS as feed supplement for ruminants on pasture and its use in other industries. After extracting the seed, the groundnut shell, accounts for roughly 21-29 per cent of the total weight of the nut. Despite the high lignin content of the shell that necessitates adequate processing before use in animal feed, groundnut shell includes 0.50 per cent crude protein, 59.0 per cent crude fiber, 2.50 per cent ash and 4.43 per cent carbs. Sodium (42.00 mg/100 g), potassium (705.11 mg/100 g), magnesium (3.98.00 mg/100 g), calcium (2.28 mg/100 g), iron (6.97 mg/100 g), zinc (3.20 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (10.55 mg/100 g) are all abundant in groundnut shells. In view of this, GNS, a by-product of industrial processing of groundnuts is a rich source of nutrients and can be used to supplement ruminants on pastures during times when pastures are in short supply and of poor quality. Studies are needed to investigate their use to supplement cattle on pasture grazing during times of feed shortage. However, its use as animal feed supplement is likely to face challenges from other industries such as biofuel production.

Constraining bioavailable polyaromatic hydrocarbons effectively during the production and application of biochar

Biochar has substantial potential as a globally significant negative emissions technology (NET) provided that it can be deployed economically at a sufficiently large scale without introducing unintended negative impacts. The generation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the production of biochars has been identified as a potential risk. A commonly applied risk management and certification mechanism is to set an upper limit on the total PAH loading of the produced biochar. However, this simple metric does not take into account the strong affinity for biochar to bind PAHs, which can significantly reduce their bioavailablity and associated potential risks to health and the environment. Nor does reflect the fact that not all PAHs are the same, and that the distribution of more and less toxic species within the total is influenced by a number of feedstock and production factors. The capacity for biochar to adsorb potential toxins, not only PAHs, but also heavy metals and other organic pollutants from contaminated soils and aqueous media is an important and affordable mechanism to help reduce the uptake of such pollutants and their associated risks to health. Elevated concentrations of PAHs are often to be found in soils located in the vicinity of roads, heavy industries and crop-burning activities. The addition of suitably prepared biochar in such situations can result in a net reduction in bioavailable PAHs. Whilst the imposition of tight constraints is justifiable for certain applications, such as when used as a ruminant feed supplement, adherence to excessively tight constraints in general may unintentionally inhibit the generation of biochar by more affordable processes that would otherwise be sufficient to deliver net environmentally positive benefits, local and global. By managing overall risk on a more class-by-class basis, the potential for large-scale deployment of biochar as a NET may be realised effectively and safely. • Biochar is a negative emission technology but its potential is largely untapped. • Historic uncertainty concerning biochar–soil interactions has inhibited uptake. • Regarding PAH specifications, recent research significantly improves understanding. • Biochar applications can be segmented into categories with shared risks/benefits. • Linking specifications to categories may help increase uptake by providing clarity.

Maternal and direct dietary polyphenol supplementation affect growth, carcass and meat quality of sheep and goats

The beneficial effects of polyphenol intake such as improved nitrogen retention make them interesting feed supplements for ruminants. In contrast, dietary polyphenols may have adverse effects on the bioavailability of nutrients and palatability of the feed which might impair growth performance. The beneficial and adverse effects might differ between different ruminant species as well as between direct intake and intake of polyphenol metabolites via suckling when supplemented to lactating dams. This study investigated the effects of maternal and direct polyphenol supplementation via grape seed extract in sheep and goats on growth, slaughter performance, meat quality and fatty acid profile. The diet of lactating East Friesian Dairy sheep (n = 11) and Saanen goats (n = 9) and of their lambs (n = 16) and kids (n = 13), respectively, was supplemented either with grape seed extract (dams: 7.4% and offspring: 5.6%, P) or without (C). This resulted in four groups per species, namely maternalC/offspringC, maternalC/offspringP, maternalP/offspringC, and maternalP/offspringP. In lambs but not in goats, maternalP increased average daily gain and improved slaughter performance whereas offspringP had no effect. Maternal and offspring diet did not affect physicochemical meat quality in lambs, but direct intake of grape seed extract increased rancid aroma of burger patties. In goat kids, both maternal and offspring diets slightly affected meat colour. While groups of meat fatty acids (FAs) were not affected by diet in both species, maternalP in lambs as well as maternalP and offspringP in goat kids increased the meat n–6 to n–3 FA ratio compared to the respective control groups. In goat kid but not in lamb meat, direct intake of polyphenols affected the proportions of several rumen biohydrogenation intermediates. In conclusion, grape seed extract can be applied in both the maternal and offspring diets in sheep and goats while maintaining or even improving offspring growth performance and carcass quality. Only few species-specific effects of grape seed extract supplementation were observed, and additive effects were scarce. Larger studies are required to confirm the observed species-specific growth response to maternalP during lactation. The underlying reasons for this differential response need to be further evaluated.

Evaluation of nutrient content andin Vitrogas fermentation of some crop residues as feed supplements for ruminants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of Yam peel (YP), Maize chaff (MC) and Rice straw (RS). Evaluation of the nutrient and anti-nutrient content of the crop residues involved determination of the proximate, mineral and phytochemical contents of YP, MC and RS. In vitro gas production (IVGP) of crop residues was carried out over a period of 24 hr incubation to predict Metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Methane (CH4) wasmeasured by introducing 10 M NaOH into the inoculums after incubation. Result revealed significant (p&lt;0.05) differences in the values of the proximate composition. The dry matter ranged between 85.55 and 92.18 g/100 g in YP and MC respectively. The highest crude protein (5.01 g/100 g) was obtained in MC, while the lowest (4.00 g/100 g) was recorded for YP. The crude fibre ranged between 25.05 g/100g and 41.49 g/100g (YP). The mineral content of YP, MC and RS were not significantly different from each other, but within acceptable limit for optimum metabolism. YP, MC and RS were implicated for anti-nutrients, though no significant. The IVGP varied significantly (p&lt; 0.05) with the MC recording the highest (30.10ml) value, while the lowest (23.96ml) value was obtained in YP. Same trend was observed for ME, OMD, SCFA and CH4ranging from 5.32–11.12 MJ/Kg DM; 35.13 –64.14 %; 0.50-1.12 μmol and 9.05 –11.00ml respectively.It can be concluded that YP, MC and RShas potential in livestock nutrition. Also the problem associated with disposal of crop residues can be conveniently reduced by incorporating them into ruminant feed.

Intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance of sheep fed bambara groundnut haulm as supplement to a maize stover basal diet

In order to maximise the use of underutilised feed resources as ruminant feed supplement in the Sub-Saharan African region, the haulm of bambara groundnut was evaluated for its chemical nutrients, intake potential, digestion and nitrogen balance of sheep fed maize stover as a basal diet.Four cultivars of Bambara groundnut were selected based on their agronomic and nutritional characteristics for metabolism studies using four Djanllonke rams with an average weight of 15.0 ± 0.5 kg. The animals were adjusted to the diets for 14 days after which they were weighed and assigned randomly to one of the four test diets: T1 (Maize stover [MS] only, the basal diet); T2 (MS+ 150 g Bambara groundnut haulm [BSG]); T3 (MS+ 300 g [BHG]) and T4 (MS + 450 g BGH) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The animals had an ad libitum access to water. Dry matter intake of the basal diets increased as the supplement level increased (p < 0.05). The total feed intake did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. Digestibility co-efficient was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for T1 which had no BGH supplementation compared to the other treatment groups supplemented with BGH which were also statistically (p > 0.05) similar. Generally, faecal, urine and nitrogen balance values did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatment groups. Bambara groundnut haulm could therefore be used as a supplement to poor quality roughages to increase the productivity of ruminant livestock in tropical regions.

Air-Dried Brown Seaweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, Alters the Rumen Microbiome in a Manner That Changes Rumen Fermentation Profiles and Lowers the Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogens.

The use of Tasco (air-dried Ascophyllum nodosum) as a feed supplement for ruminants has been reported to affect rumen fermentation and reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding in feces, but the mode of action behind this phenomenon is unclear. In this study, the effects of four Tasco levels (0, 1, 3, and 5%) on rumen microbiota and rumen/fecal E.coli O serogroups in rams were investigated. Rumen total bacteria and archaea were linearly reduced (P < 0.001) and protozoa were linearly increased (P < 0.001) by increasing levels of Tasco. The relative abundances of seven bacterial species and one protozoal species differed among Tasco levels. With Tasco, 14 predicted metabolic pathways were enriched while only 3 were suppressed. A lower ruminal butyrate concentration is possibly associated with enrichment of the "butanoate metabolism" pathway in Tasco-fed rams. The ruminal total E.coli population was linearly reduced (P < 0.001) by Tasco. Supplementation with Tasco only completely eliminated O121 in the rumen and feces, and higher levels of Tasco (3 and 5%) reduced fecal shedding of serogroups O45, O103, and O111 even though these serogroups were present in the rumen. Our results suggest that Tasco effectively reduced pathogenic E.coli but had only minimal impacts on rumen fermentation in rams. IMPORTANCE Maintaining product safety and reducing the carbon footprint of production are two sustainability goals of the livestock industry. The objective of this study was to study the impact of Tasco, a product derived from the brown macroalga Ascophyllum nodosum, on the rumen microbiome and its function. The inclusion of Tasco altered both rumen and fecal microbiota levels without affecting rumen fermentation. Tasco reduced fecal Escherichia coli populations and specifically reduced the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli O45, O103, O111, and O121 in feces. The findings of this study highlight the application of Tasco as a potential feed additive to reduce pathogen shedding in rams without interfering with ruminal metabolism.

Calcium soap from palm fatty acid distillate for ruminant feed: Ca(OH)2 as calcium source

PFAD can be utilized as raw material for producing calcium soap, a kind of ruminant feed supplement. It gives benefits to the ruminants’ health and increases the quantity and quality of cattle’s milk. This research evaluated the effect of stoichiometric mole ratio of Ca(OH)2 to PFAD and water temperature on calcium soap production using PFAD and calcium hydroxide as raw materials by applying modified fusion method. The result showed that the acid value of products decreased as the mole ratio of Ca(OH)2 to PFAD increased and the low water temperature lowered the acid value of products. The highest fatty acid conversion (98%) was achieved at the stoichiometric mole ratio of 3. However, the use of such high mole ratio is not preferable because the product will have excessive calcium, which may disturb the absorption of other minerals in ruminant’s digestion. Thus, further research related to operating condition and the use of other calcium sources in the calcium soap production is still required.

ПОТЕНЦИАЛ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОГО РЫНКА ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКИХ КОРМОВЫХ ДОБАВОК ДЛЯ ВЫСОКОПРОДУКТИВНЫХ ЖИВОТНЫХ

Goal. Conduct market research and determine market demand in the Penza region in the energy feed supplements for farm animals. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of data of register of feed additives to the Russian Federation, as well as Internet sites and commercial offers producers of feed additives and energy. The definition of market capacity and energy feed supplements in Penza region was based on statistics and authors ‘ calculations. Results. The results showed that about 81% of the market feed additives of the Russian Federation are imported. The range was in Russia energy supplementation has 64 names, of whom only produced in Russia. The existing energy feed supplements for ruminants used palm oil, and the rest is additives based on propylene glycol. Raw materials for the proposed energy feed additive is a mixture of waste production of oils – sunflower, Flaxseed and others that determines its lower price in comparison with analogues. Conclusion. Thus, the calculations show that in the Penza region there is a substantial potential market for energy feed additives. In addition, the importance of good balanced feeding of animals come to the fore, as this is one of the primary reserves increase animal productivity and net profit per unit of output.

Effects of Spent Craft Brewers’ Yeast on Fermentation and Methane Production by Rumen Microorganisms

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a key component of beer brewing and a major by-product. The leftover, spent brewers’ yeast from large breweries has been used as a protein supplement in cattle; however the possible advantages of spent yeast from smaller craft breweries, containing much higher levels of bioactive hop acids, have not been evaluated. Hops secondary metabolites from the hops (Humulus lupulus L.) used to make beer are concentrated in the yeast during brewing, and have antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Uncultivated suspensions of bovine rumen microorganisms produced less methane during fructose fermentation when exposed to inactivated, and freeze-dried spent craft brewers’ yeast than a bakers’ yeast control. The experiment was repeated with caprine rumen microorganisms and ground grass hay as the substrate. Likewise, in the presence of craft brewers’ yeast less methane was produced (2.7% vs. 6.9% CH4). Both experiments also revealed a decrease in acetic acid production, but not propionic acid production, when craft brewers’ yeast was included. These results indicated that spent yeast could represent a co-product for craft breweries, and a feed supplement for ruminants that has a favorable impact on methane production.

Evaluation of nutritive value and in vitro rumen fermentation gas accumulation of de-oiled algal residues.

BackgroundAlgae are widely recognized for their high oil content and for exponentially accumulating biomass with particular potential to provide single cell protein for human consumption or animal feed. It is believed that along with biodiesel from algae, the high protein de-oiled algal residue may become an alternative feed supplement option in the future. This study was conducted to investigate de-oiled algal residue obtained from the common Chlorella species, Thalassiosira weissflogii, Selenarstrum capricornutum, Scenedesmus sp., and Scenedesmus dimorphus for assessment as potential feed supplements for ruminants by comparing with soybean (Glycine max) meal and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay.ResultsWith the exception of T. weissflogii, algal residue had higher concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn and lower concentration of Ca, Mg, and K than soybean meal and alfalfa hay. The algal residue CP (crude protein) concentrations ranged from 140 to 445 g/kg DM and varied among the de-oiled residues. In vitro rumen fermentation gas accumulation curves indicated that algal biomass degradation potential was less than that of soybean meal or alfalfa hay by up to 41.7%.The gas production curve, interpreted with a dual pool logistic model, confirmed that the fraction sizes for fast fermenting and slow fermenting of de-oiled algal residues were smaller than those in soybean meal and alfalfa hay, and the fermenting rate of the fractions was also low.ConclusionsInferior in vitro rumen gas accumulation from the five de-oiled algal residues suggests that these algal byproducts are less degradable in the rumen.

Bioavailability of quercetin from its aglycone and its glucorhamnoside rutin in lactating dairy cows after intraduodenal administration

Because of their health-promoting properties, flavonoids are used in feed supplements for ruminants, although scientific evidence for their efficacy in vivo is limited. It has been shown recently that bioavailability of quercetin is low after ruminal administration in cows because of degradation by the ruminal microbiota. It is unknown whether quercetin could be absorbed from the small intestine in ruminants if degradation is prevented; therefore, we investigated the bioavailability of quercetin after duodenal administration in 6 German Holstein cows. On 88±3d in milk, each cow received equivalent doses of quercetin [9, 18, or 27mg of quercetin equivalents (QE)/kg of body weight] either as quercetin aglycone (QA) or as its glucorhamnoside rutin (RU). In addition, 2 control studies with duodenal administration of NaCl solution (0.9%) were conducted per cow to examine concentrations of flavonoids in plasma during regular feeding. Blood samples were collected at defined time intervals over a period of 24h before and after administration of the test compounds. A washout period of 2d was applied between the runs to avoid possible carryover effects. Concentrations of plasma quercetin aglycone and its metabolites isorhamnetin, tamarixetin, and kaempferol were measured after treatment with glucuronidase/sulfatase by HPLC with fluorescence detection. After administration of RU, levels of plasma quercetin did not increase above baseline, irrespective of dose administered. After duodenal administration of QA, the plasma concentration of QA and its methylated metabolites clearly increased above baseline. The maximal plasma concentrations of total flavonols (about 2h after application) increased in a dose-dependent manner but showed high interindividual variability (range 368.8 to 983.3nmol/L at 27mg of QE/kg of body weight) but peak time did not differ. Preadministration baseline values of total flavonols were reached again 3 to 4h after QA administration. The bioavailability of quercetin and its metabolites, as measured by the area under the concentration–time curve, was affected by the quercetin source applied, whereby quercetin from RU was unavailable. Taken together, duodenal administration enhanced bioavailability of QA almost to values previously reported in pigs after oral administration of QA. In contrast to findings in monogastrics or after oral administration in cows, quercetin from RU seems to be unavailable when administered duodenally.

Effects of age and species on agronomic performance, chemical composition and in vitro gas production of some tropical multi-purpose tree species

SUMMARYFive tropical multi-purpose tree species (MPTS), Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Moringa oleifera, Millettia griffoniana, Pterocarpus santalinoides and Treculia Africana, and one exotic species (Leucaena leucocephala), which acted as the control, planted in a randomized complete block design, were selected to evaluate the potentials as feed supplements for herds in dry seasons of south-western Nigeria. Samples of the MPTS leaves were collected in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, weighed, dried and milled for estimation of biomass production, chemical analysis and measurement of in vitro gas production. Results showed significant differences (P &lt; 0·001) in the biomass production of the MPTS. E. cyclocarpum consistently recorded the highest biomass production, height and collar diameter throughout the experimental period. There were also differences (P ⩽ 0·001) in dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and ash contents of the MPTS across species and years after planting. M. oleifera recorded the highest CP content of 240 g/kg DM. Interactions were observed between species and year for neutral detergent fibre (NDFom), acid detergent fibre (ADFom) and lignin contents of the MPTS. M. griffoniana and M. oleifera had lower tannin contents, whereas E. cyclocarpum, P. santalinoides, T. africana and L. leucocephala had higher tannin contents. The values reported for mineral contents showed that their levels in the MPTS were adequate for ruminants and there were no differences in the contents of most minerals. In vitro gas production results showed that the potential gas production ‘b’ was highest in M. griffoniana and lowest in P. santalinoides and there were species and year interactions (P ⩽ 0·001) for volatile fatty acid profiles of the supernatant after 96 h incubation. The estimated organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) of the MPTS were generally high. The high biomass production, CP and low fibre contents, as well as in vitro fermentation characteristics found for the MPTS evaluated in the current study suggest that these are better alternatives in comparison with L. leucocephala. It can be concluded that the MPTS evaluated have potential as sources of feed supplements for ruminants in dry seasons, especially in south western Nigeria.

A New Family of Biuret Hydrolases Involved in S-Triazine Ring Metabolism.

Biuret is an intermediate in the bacterial metabolism of s-triazine ring compounds and is occasionally used as a ruminant feed supplement. We used bioinformatics to identify a biuret hydrolase, an enzyme that has previously resisted efforts to stabilize, purify and characterize. This newly discovered enzyme is a member of the cysteine hydrolase superfamily, a family of enzymes previously not found to be involved in s-triazine metabolism. The gene from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain 3841 encoding biuret hydrolase was synthesized, transformed into Escherichia coli, and expressed. The enzyme was purified and found to be stable. Biuret hydrolase catalyzed the hydrolysis of biuret to allophanate and ammonia. The k(cat)/K(M) of 1.7 × 10(5) M(-1)s(-1) and the relatively low K(M) of 23 ± 4 μM together suggested that this enzyme acts uniquely on biuret physiologically. This is supported by the fact that of the 34 substrate analogs of biuret tested, only two demonstrated reactivity, both at less than 5% of the rate determined for biuret. Biuret hydrolase does not react with carboxybiuret, the product of the enzyme immediately preceding biuret hydrolase in the metabolic pathway for cyanuric acid. This suggests an unusual metabolic strategy of an enzymatically-produced intermediate undergoing non-enzymatic decarboxylation to produce the substrate for the next enzyme in the pathway.