Neutral Detergent Fiber Fraction Research Articles

PSIV-28 Determination of the extent and rate of nutrient degradation of potato and other byproducts by rumen microorganisms in vitro

Abstract Byproducts in livestock diets have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of food production and the cost of animal feeding. The objective was to evaluate the extent and rate of nutrient degradability of potato and other byproducts by rumen microorganisms in vitro. Byproducts included barley malt sprouts, fries, dry peel, and hopper, which were supplied by Performix Nutrition Solutions (Nampa, ID). Two in vitro incubators (DAISYII, ANKOM Technology) each with four incubation jars were used to evaluate ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Each jar contained 1,600 mL buffer solution (ANKOM Technology), 400 mL rumen contents (collected from two ruminally cannulated cows), 14 filter bags (F57, ANKOM Technology) with 0.5 g of ground byproduct, 14 filter bags with 0.5 g of ground corn (standard), and 14 blank bags. Each jar was purged with CO2 and filter bags were incubated at 39°C for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h, then removed, rinsed, dried at 55˚C for 48 h, weighed, and analyzed for DM and NDF. Each byproduct was incubated in 3 jars on two different d (6 replicates). Degradation of DM was separated into fractions A (disappearance at 0 h), C (DM remaining after 48 h) and B (100%-A-C). Rate of degradation for fraction B was the slope of the natural logarithms of the DM disappearance. All byproducts were compared with standard corn grain as the control. Fraction A for DM was not different (P > 0.40) for barley malt sprouts (35.4%) and hopper (33.7%), and less (P < 0.05) for dry peel (27.8%) and fries (13.2%) when compared with corn grain (33.4%). Fraction B for DM was greater (P < 0.05) for fries (74.0%), not different (P = 0.44) for hopper (56.1%), and less (P < 0.05) for dry peel (43.6%) and sprouts (37.0%) when compared with corn grain (53.9%). Rate of DM degradation for fraction B was greater (P < 0.05) for fries (9.9%/h) and hopper (7.0%/h), and not different (P > 0.16) for dry peel (4.6%/h) and sprouts (3.0%/h) when compared with corn grain (3.8%/h). Fraction C for DM was greater (P < 0.05) for dry peel (28.6%) and sprouts (27.6%), and not different (P = 0.20) for fries (12.9%) and hopper (10.3%) when compared with corn grain (12.7%). The indigestible fraction of NDF after 48 h of incubation was greatest for dry peel (58.5%), intermediate for sprouts (40.1%) and hopper (36.7%), and least for fries (25.4%; P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the extent and rate of ruminal DM degradability of various potato and other byproducts differ and may be more or less degradable in the rumen compared with corn grain.

Enhancing the nutritional quality and digestibility of citronella waste (Cymbopogon nardus) for ruminant feed through ammoniation and fermentation techniques.

Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) waste, produced by distilling citronella to produce essential oil, has a high potential for use as animal feed. However, the presence of high lignin content could limit its digestibility, prompting the need for treatment to improve its quality. This study aimed to improve the nutritional value and in vitro digestibility of ammoniated and fermented citronella waste (CW). The treatments of CW included CW without treatment as a control (T0), ammoniation of CW with urea (T1), fermentation of CW with Trichoderma harzianum (T2), and a combination of ammoniation and fermentation (amofer) of CW (T3). This study employed a randomized block design with five replicates for each of the four treatments. If there was a significant effect (p < 0.05), a post hoc Duncan's multiple range test was performed to analyze the variance of the data. The process of ammoniation and fermentation led to a notable increase in crude protein (2%-6%) while decreasing crude fiber (2%-6%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (5%-14%), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (5%-9%), lignin (4%-9%), and cellulose (2%-10%). The treatments enhanced the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter (OM), NH3, and total volatile fatty acid by 4%-12%, 6%-19%, 0.9-10 mM, and 35-142 mM, respectively. The decrease in NDF, ADF, acid detergent lignin (ADL), and cellulose fractions was accompanied by an improvement in dry matter and OM digestibility in CW. Ammoniated-fermented (amofer) CW, followed by fermentation with T. harzianum and ammoniated urea treatment, significantly enhanced the nutritional content and in vitro digestibility. The decrease in NDF, ADF, ADL, and cellulose fractions led to an improvement in dry matter and OM digestibility in CW. The application of amofer treatment with T. harzianum maximizes CW's nutritional value and digestibility, making it the most efficient preservation method. Research is needed to explore the potential use of Aspergillus spp. and Pleurotus spp. for fermenting CW as ruminant fodder.

Appraisal of Spatial Distribution and Fibre Degradability of Cereal–Legume Fodders to Enhance the Sustainability of Livestock Feed Supply in Sub-Tropics

Fodder scarcity, inadequate nutritional quality, and lack of degradation kinetics research are among the serious concerns hindering sustainable development of livestock globally. Rumen degradation kinetics data on neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in buffaloes are lacking for most tropical forage species. This study evaluated the effect of forage species, family, and growing location on NDF concentration and in situ degradability of six tropical cereal and four legume fodder crops. The fodder crops were grown following uniform recommended agronomic practices at three different agroecological locations and harvested at the appropriate growth stage: cereals at booting and legumes at 50% flowering. Later, the dried ground forage samples were incubated in the four rumen-cannulated Nili-Ravi buffalo cows in a four × two × three split-plot design for 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 96, and 168 h. The degradation fractions and degradability, expressed either on an NDF or dry matter basis, were considerably affected by forage family (cereal vs. legume) and growing locations and their interaction. Legume fodders degraded more rapidly but to a lesser extent than cereal fodders. The chemical components, notably the NDF, showed a significant but moderate negative relationship with the effective NDF degradability. Among studied fodders, the legumes had a significantly lower NDF concentration and subsequent degradability than the cereals. Although the cereals showed a slower rate of NDF degradation, their overall degradability was higher. The agro-climatic variability among three locations strongly impacted the NDF concentrations and fractions in the tropical forages. Effective NDF degradability was also correlated with the fodders’ NDF concentration, especially in cereals where the nature of the correlation was negative. In conclusion, the nutritional composition and NDF degradation parameters of the fodders were significantly affected by the species, family, and location of growth and their interactions. These results will help to improve agronomy and usage of these important fodder crops.

Effects of Sprouted Barley with Different Cultivation Stages on Fermentation Characteristics and Degradation Kinetics in the Rumen

The present study investigated the effects of sprouted barley (SB) with different cultivation stages on fermentation characteristics and degradation kinetics in the rumen. The SB was cultivated in three different stages as follows: 0, 4, and 8 days. Dried samples from each cultivation stage of SB were incubated in the rumen buffer at 39 °C for 48 h in quadruplicate with three blanks. Dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent soluble carbohydrate concentrations of SB decreased linearly (p = 0.001) by increasing the cultivation stage, while crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose concentrations increased linearly (p ≤ 0.001). Total volatile fatty acid and butyrate in the rumen decreased linearly (p ≤ 0.020) by increasing the cultivation stage, while pH and propionate increased linearly (p &lt; 0.001). The total degradation fraction of DM and NDF increased quadratically (p ≤ 0.003). The fraction degradation rate of DM and NDF decreased linearly (p ≤ 0.001) by increasing the cultivation stage, while the lag phase increased linearly (p ≤ 0.010). The present study concluded that cultivated SB at 4 days was recommended for animal feed due to the highest nutrient degradation in the rumen without any adverse effects on fermentation characteristics.

Nutritional Status of Wood Melick (Melica uniflora Retz.) in a Natural Forest Stand in South-Western Poland

Melica uniflora Retz., commonly known as wood melick, is a grass species that is native to most of Europe. Melica uniflora grows in hardwood forests near Fagus species, providing vital food and shelter for forest wildlife. The nutritional status of wood melick is not sufficiently recognized. The study aims to identify the intrapopulation variability of Melica uniflora plants collected from natural forest habitats in Poland in terms of nutritional status variability in relation to stage development and the course of weather conditions. The research was conducted for two consecutive years: 2021 and 2022, in the area of the Ślęża Massif, near the town of Sobótka in Lower Silesia voivodeship (Poland). The material for analyses was collected from 10 natural forest sites twice: in July (I) and October (II). The content of nutritive components: crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) was evaluated. Relative feed value (RFV), dry matter digestibility (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), cellulose (CL), and hemicellulose (HCL) content were calculated based on ADF and NDF. Melica uniflora plants contained 75.2 g·kg−1 DM of CP, 290.6 g·kg−1 DM of CF, 120.0 g·kg−1 DM of CA, and 25.9 g·kg−1 DM of WSC. The content of NDF was 637.6 g·kg−1 DM, ADF 407.5 g·kg−1 DM, and ADL 58.0 g·kg−1 DM. The nutritional status of wood melick depended on the course of weather conditions in the following years and its location, which changed during the growing season. Plants collected in the first year of the study contained more CL, NDF, and ADF fractions and less CA, ADL, and WSC. Melica uniflora plants harvested in June were characterized by higher CP (102.1 g·kg−1 DM) and WSC (30.1 g·kg−1 DM) content and lower content of remaining nutrients. It can be concluded that Melica uniflora plants can be a valuable source of these nutrients in the forage of forest animals.

Application of solid-state fermentation using mushrooms for the production of animal feed.

The increasing growth of agroindustrial activity resulting in excessive amounts of agriwaste has led to the accumulation of a large quantity of lignocellulosic residues all over the world, in particular in deforestation initiatives for the removal of invasive trees in South Africa. These lignocellulosic residues are rich in energy resources and consist of a mixture of natural polymers based on lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The use of lignolytic fungi such as mushrooms in solid-state fermentation could sufficiently degrade the indigestible lignocellulosic components and add medicinal and nutritional value to otherwise unusable, high-energy waste material, which in turn could yield a new method of producing energy-rich fodder for ruminant animals. The digestive type of animal for which the potential feed is developed must be identified and considered before deciding on the bioconversion method and process, as the outcomes for obtaining potentially high-quality feeds for nonruminant and ruminant animals are different. The current study presents data on the bioconversion of lignocellulosic substrate using solid-state fermentation with edible and medicinal mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidumand Pleurotus ostreatus, and a possible new species, to increase digestibility and nutritional value to be applied as ruminant animal feed. The solid-state fermentation process was optimized and the resulting product was analyzed for the degradation of the lignocellulosic components. Results indicated that the solid-state fermentation duration and mushroom species were key components in achieving significant degradation. Data obtained after 18 weeks of degradation indicated a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and neutral detergent fiber fractions of the biomass, with up to a 20% reduction in indigestible components. This increase in digestibility could contribute to increased energy availability for ruminant animals.

Bio-processing Plantation by-products with White Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) to Improve Fermentability and Digestibility Based on Substrate Type and Fermentation Time

Plantation by-products can be used as livestock feed with proper processing, optimizing the feed efficiency of palm kernel cake (PKC), empty oil palm bunch (EOPB), and acacia sawdust (AS). This study aimed to improve the usability of the byproducts as alternative feed through the Pleurotus ostreatus fermentation process. To this end, a 3×3 factorial, completely randomized design was applied. Factor A was the type of substrate, P1 = PKC, P2 = EOFB and P3 = AS. Factor B was the fermentation period, T1 = 0 d, T2 = 30 d and T3 = 60 d. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the significantly different result was further tested using Duncan Test. The observed variables include Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, pH value, dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), N-NH 3 , and volatile fatty acids (VFA). The study result showed that P.ostreatus mushroom in various substrate types did not significantly affect the fiber fraction of NDF, ADF, and Hemicellulose. This study also found that the interaction of substrate type and fermentation duration significantly affects dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility, N-NH 3 production, and VFA values. This study concluded P. ostreotus increased the nutritional value and digestibility of the by- product from plantation processing. The best fermentation duration was 60 d PKC was found to have the highest digestibility value, and the best interaction was found in PKC with 60 d of fermentation.

Investigating the potential of Andean lupin as a lignocellulosic feedstock for Europe: First genome‐wide association study on Lupinus mutabilis biomass quality

AbstractThe development of multipurpose crops will drive the transformation of agricultural “waste” into added‐value products, helping to meet biomass demands without competing with food production or increasing environmental pressure. Lupinus mutabilis, has been proposed not only as a valid source of protein and oil for Europe but also as a possible source of lignocellulosic feedstock for the biorefinery industry. In this study, the quality of L. mutabilis lignocellulosic biomass and its genetic architecture are investigated for the first time, using a panel of 223 accessions planted across three locations in two different European cropping conditions. Biomass quality was evaluated based on the estimation of neutral detergent fiber, cellulose, hemicellulose and acid detergent lignin fractions, and on the basis of the monosaccharide composition of cell wall polysaccharides. The broad variation in yield and composition of biomass encountered in the panel confirms the potential of L. mutabilis as lignocellulosic feedstock and points out the value of this panel as a breeding tool for the improvement of biomass quality. A genome‐wide association study was conducted to identify single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with biomass quality, both across locations and per specific location. Scanning of 16,781 SNPs across the whole genome identified 46 unique quantitative trait loci for biomass quality, 4 of which were detected as common either among traits or GWAS models. For each of the traits analyzed, between 3 and 10 SNPs were detected, explaining 2.7%–15.9% of the phenotypic variation. Underlying these loci, 28 genes were proposed as candidate genes for biomass quality. Important genes involved in cellulose and sucrose synthesis (CESA4, SPP1,WRKY33, GONST2), monolignol biosynthesis (SKIP31, WAT1, CCR‐SNL6) and pectin degradation (RAV1, PE) were identified and will require validation to confirm their value for application in L. mutabilis breeding.

Variability among Animals and Incubation Protocols for Ruminant In Situ Degradation Studies with Tropical Feeds.

Simple SummaryThe knowledge on the nutritive value of feeds is essential to feed animals with adequate diets and to optimize production with minimal environment impact. In situ degradation is an important tool for nutritionists because it is a reliable, cheap, and fast way to assess information on feed digestion in ruminants. However, the lack of standards procedures for in situ trials with cattle in the tropics may compromise the reliability of information obtained from those studies. Thus, we aimed to generate useful information for animal scientists on how to perform that kind of study using adequate and minimal resources yet keeping accuracy to interpret feed characteristics. Our findings indicated an important variation among animals on the estimates of the rumen degradation rate of feeds, and taking into account that variation can allow for a more adequate comparison among feeds. On the other hand, we also found that an in situ trial cannot be performed using fewer than three animals, otherwise the risk of obtained biased and imprecise information increases. Minimum sets of incubation times were defined and evaluated. They can be used to decrease the costs and the labor when tropical feeds are evaluated through in situ trials with cattle.Our objectives were to evaluate the variability among animals regarding to the degradation rate of the potentially degradable fraction of dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber, as well as to establish the minimum number of animals and provide a standardized design of sampling times for in situ ruminal degradation assays of tropical feeds with cattle. Seven feeds were evaluated, four concentrates and three forages. The incubations were performed using five rumen-cannulated Nellore heifers (328 ± 9.8 kg of body weight). The complete sets of incubation sampling times encompassed 16 time points for forage samples (0–240 h) and 13 time points for concentrate samples (0–144 h). The profiles were adjusted using both fixed and mixed model approaches. When the variation among animals on the degradation rate was considered using the mixed model approach, the precision of the adjusted degradation profiles was increased. Moreover, the utilization of a low number of animals increases the probability to obtain biased estimates of degradation rate and increased random variances. A minimum of three animals is recommended for in situ trials with cattle. Minimum designs of sampling times regarding number and position of incubation times were proposed, discussed, and recommended to assess the dynamics of tropical feed degradation.

Evaluation of Stockpiled Perennial Forage Compared to Grass-legume Hay for Chemical Composition and Rumen Degradation Kinetics

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and in situ degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of stockpiled perennial forage (SPF) or sun-cured hay (HAY) when collected at the start or end (October vs. December) of fall grazing. Selected 6, 4-ha paddocks consisting of meadow bromegrass and alfalfa, were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 replicated (n = 3) winter feeding systems (SPF and HAY). Sampling was done twice per year at the beginning (October) and end (December) from (a) stockpiled perennial forage (SPF) in field paddocks and from (b) harvested round bale hay (HAY) over 2 consecutive years. Selected 6, 4-ha paddocks consisting of meadow bromegrass and alfalfa, were randomly assigned two winter feeding systems (SPF (n=3) and HAY (n=3)). Sampling were done twice per year at the beginning (October) and end (December) from (a) SPF (b) HAY over 2 consecutive years. To evaluate in situ degradability, duplicate nylon bags from each experimental unit were incubated for 0, 3, 6, 10, 13, 25, 48, 72, and 96 h in five Hereford heifers fitted with rumen cannula. Relative to HAY, SPF had greater (p = 0.01) OM (906 vs. 916 g/kg DM) and NDF (653 vs. 631 g/kg DM) concentrations. Sampling date had no effect (p &amp;gt; 0.05) on CP, OM, and ADF in both forages, whereas the NDF was greater (p = 0.01) in forages sampled in December. The in situ soluble fraction (S) of DM was greater (p = 0.01) for SPF collected in October, HAY collected in October, and HAY collected in December s (156, 138, and 152 g/kg DM, respectively) relative to SPF collected in December (106 g/kg DM). The potentially degradable fraction (D) of CP was less (p &amp;lt; 0.05) for HAY December samples compared to SPF December and HAY October samples (257 vs. 522 and 523 g/kg CP, respectively). The SPF had a greater (p &amp;lt; 0.05) potentially degradable ADF (749 vs. 587 g/kg ADF) and potentially degradable NDF (770 vs. 591 g/kg NDF) compared to HAY. The effect of forage type and sampling date did not affect (p &amp;gt; 0.05) effective degradability of NDF. Regardless of the forage type the potentially degradable fraction of NDF decreased from October to December (SPF: 770 to 730 g/kg NDF) (HAY: 680 g/kg to 491 g/kg NDF). These findings suggest SPF grazing is a robust substitute to hay feeding systems for beef cows.

Comparison of Ruminal Degradability, Indigestible Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Total-Tract Digestibility of Three Main Crop Straws with Alfalfa Hay and Corn Silage.

Simple SummaryCorn straw (Zea mays, CS), rice straw (Oryza sativa, RS), and wheat straw (Triticum aestivum, WS) are the three main crop straws worldwide. Few studies on indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and total-tract digestibility (TTD) of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of these crop straws are available, which limits their utilization in dairy diets. Here, we compared the ruminal degradability, iNDF288 content, intestinal digestibility, and TTD for the CP, NDF, and ADF of these three crop straws with alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa, AH) and corn silage (Zea mays, CSil). The results showed that CS, RS, and WS had higher ruminal potential NDF degradation, intestinal digestible CP, and lower iNDF288 content compared to AH. Greater accuracies for regression equations capable of predicting the iNDF288 content and TTD were also generated based on chemical composition and ruminal degradation kinetics. Incorporating this information into rations could improve our ability to optimize the utilization of main crop straws in balanced dairy diets.Three main crop straws including corn straw (Zea mays, CS), rice straw (Oryza sativa, RS), and wheat straw (Triticum aestivum, WS), and two forages including alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa, AH) and corn silage (Zea mays, CSil) were analyzed in order to compare their ruminal degradability, indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), intestinal digestibility (ID), and their total-tract digestibility (TTD) of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) using both an in situ nylon bag technique and a mobile nylon bag technique. The forage samples were incubated in the rumen for 6, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 288 h, respectively, to determine their ruminal degradability. Prior to intestinal incubation, forage samples were incubated in the rumen for 12 h and 24 h to determine the ruminal degradable content of CP, NDF, and ADF, respectively, and for 288 h to determine their iNDF288 content. Residues from the ruminal undegradable fractions (12 h for CP, 24 h for NDF and ADF) were subsequently inserted into the duodenum through a cannula to determine their intestinal digestible content. Here, the TTD of CP, NDF, and ADF were determined as the ruminal degradable content + intestinal digestible content. The results showed that AH had the highest iNDF2.4 (calculated as acid detergent lignin content × 2.4) and iNDF288 values (379.42 and 473.40 g/kg of NDF), while CS and CSil had the lowest iNDF2.4 values (177.44 and 179.43 g/kg of NDF). The ruminal degradability of CP, NDF, and ADF for CS, RS, and WS were lower than those of AH and Csil during the first 48 h of incubation. The potential degradation fraction of CP, NDF, and ADF for CSil was the highest; CS, RS, and WS were intermediate; and AH was the lowest (p < 0.05). CS, RS, and WS had a lower intestinal digestibility with respect to their rumen undegradable content of NDF (p < 0.05), and lower TTD of CP, NDF, and ADF (p < 0.05) compared to AH and CSil. General regression equations with satisfactory accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.828) were derived to predict iNDF288 and TTD based on their chemical compositions and the ruminal degradation kinetics of different forages. Incorporating this information into rations could improve our ability to optimize main crop straws utilization and milk production.

Effects of neutral detergent fiber digestibility estimation method on calculated energy concentration of canola meals from 12 Canadian processing plants.

Our aim was to determine whether the method used to estimate truly digestible neutral detergent fiber (tdNDF) affects calculated concentrations of total digestible nutrients (TDN1x) and net energy of lactation (NEL3x) of canola meal (CM). Samples were collected from 12 CM processing plants in Canada over 4 yr (2011 to 2014, n = 47) and analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (ADL), and neutral detergent insoluble CP (NDICP). Ruminal in situ incubation of CM samples was performed at 0, 24, 48, 96, and 288 h to determine NDF fractions (A, B, and C), effective ruminal NDF digestibility (ERNDFD), and indigestible NDF (iNDF) of CM. Three tdNDF-estimation methods were evaluated: 1) National Research Council (NRC) = 0.75 × (NDF - NDICP - ADL) × {1- [ADL/ (NDF - NDICP)]0.667}; 2) iNDF = 0.75 × (NDF - NDICP - NDF remaining after 288 h in situ); and 3) ERNDFD estimated from in situ NDF digestion kinetics. Resulting tdNDF values were used for calculation of TDN1x and NEL3x according to NRC (2001) equations. Data were analyzed with MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 to determine the effect of processing plant on chemical composition, NDF degradation kinetics and NEL3x of CM. Effect of tdNDF estimation method on calculated TDN1x and NEL3x of CM was also evaluated. Model for analysis of processing plant included the fixed effect of plant and the random effect of year (plant) as replication, while analysis of tdNDF methods included the fixed effect of tdNDF estimation method and the random effects of processing plant and of year(plant) as replication. There was an effect of processing plant on DM (P = 0.03), CP (P < 0.01), EE (P < 0.01), and NDF (P < 0.01) of CM. Processing plant also had an effect on NDF fractions A (P < 0.01) and B (P = 0.02) but did not affect fraction C and ERNDFD. The tdNDF estimation method had an effect on tdNDF (P < 0.01), TDN1x (P < 0.01), and NEL3x (P < 0.01) of CM, yielding average NEL3x values of 1.72, 1.87, and 2.07 Mcal/kg for NRC, iNDF, and ERNDFD, respectively. Our results indicate that calculated energy concentration of CM according to NRC (2001) equations varies depending on the method used for estimation of tdNDF. Further research will be needed to determine the most accurate estimation method.

Bacterial Communities in Alkaline Saline Soils Amended with Young Maize Plants or Its (Hemi)Cellulose Fraction.

We studied three soils of the former lake Texcoco with different electrolytic conductivity (1.9 dS m−1, 17.3 dS m−1, and 33.4 dS m−1) and pH (9.3, 10.4, and 10.3) amended with young maize plants and their neutral detergent fibre (NDF) fraction and aerobically incubated in the laboratory for 14 days while the soil bacterial community structure was monitored by means of 454-pyrosequencing of their 16S rRNA marker gene. We identified specific bacterial groups that showed adaptability to soil salinity, i.e., Prauseria in soil amended with young maize plants and Marinobacter in soil amended with NDF. An increase in soil salinity (17.3 dS m−1, 33.4 dS m−1) showed more bacterial genera enriched than soil with low salinity (1.9 dS m−1). Functional prediction showed that members of Alfa-, Gamma-, and Deltaproteobacteria, which are known to adapt to extreme conditions, such as salinity and low nutrient soil content, were involved in the lignocellulose degradation, e.g., Marinimicrobium and Pseudomonas as cellulose degraders, and Halomonas and Methylobacterium as lignin degraders. This research showed that the taxonomic annotation and their functional prediction both highlighted keystone bacterial groups with the ability to degrade complex C-compounds, such as lignin and (hemi)cellulose, in the extreme saline-alkaline soil of the former Lake of Texcoco.

In situ ruminal degradability and fermentation characteristics of novel mixtures of winter cereal and Italian ryegrass plus winter cereal silages

This study was conducted using three multiparous non-lactating rumen-cannulated Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, with the objective of evaluating the in situ ruminal degradability and fermentation characteristics of novel mixtures of winter cereal and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) plus winter cereal silages (mixture A: triticale, oats, barley and wheat; mixture B: triticale, barley and wheat; mixture C: Italian ryegrass and oats; mixture D: Italian ryegrass, oats, triticale, barley and wheat). The rumen fermentation study was conducted replacing the ensiled mixtures (experimental diets) with vetch-triticale haylage in a total mixed ration (control diet). It was found that the effective protein degradability at 0.08 rumen outflow rates was 80.6% (mixture A), 66.2% (mixture B), 79.7% (mixture C) and 79.3% (mixture D). The effective neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) effective degradability at 0.08 rumen outflow rates was 18.0% and 17.7% (mixture A), 19.7% and 20.5% (mixture B), 19.1% and 17.0% (mixture C), and 15.2% and 14.6% (mixture D), respectively. Different dietary treatments did not change (P &amp;gt; 0.05) the rumen fermentation characteristics as there was no difference (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between control and experimental diets, and the inclusion of 40–55% Italian ryegrass (mixture C and D) did not cause any difference. These results suggest that the mixture of winter cereals and Italian ryegrass plus winter cereal-based silages had good potentially degradable dry matter, effective dry matter and effective protein degradability at 0.01, 0.05 and 0.08 rumen outflow rates without affecting the rumen environment maintaining neutral pH. The ensiled mixtures had a moderate level of potentially degradable NDF and ADF fractions.

Rapid and Cost-Effective Assessment of the Neutral and Acid Detergent Fiber Fractions of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) by Combining Modified PLS and Visible with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

The near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with modified partial least squares (modified PLS) regression was used for determining the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and the acid detergent fiber (ADF) fractions of the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed. Fifty chickpea accessions (24 desi and 26 kabuli types) and fifty recombinant inbred lines F5:6 derived from a kabuli × desi cross were evaluated for NDF and ADF, and scanned by NIRS. NDF and ADF values were regressed against different spectral transformations by modified partial least squares regression. The coefficients of determination in the cross-validation and the standard deviation from the standard error of cross-validation ratio were, for NDF, 0.91 and 3.37, and for ADF, 0.98 and 6.73, respectively, showing the high potential of NIRS to assess these components in chickpea for screening (NDF) or quality control (ADF) purposes. The spectral information provided by different chromophores existing in the chickpea seed highly correlated with the NDF and ADF composition of the seed, and, thus, those electronic transitions are highly influenced on model fitting for fiber.

Biogas production from high-protein and rigid cell wall microalgal biomasses: Ultrasonication and FT-IR evaluation of pretreatment effects

Microalgal biomass is a valuable feedstock for biogas production, but the high protein content and the rigid cell wall are the main causes of disturbances in the methane fermentation process.In the paper, the influence of ultrasonic pretreatment of biomass of Chlorella vulgaris and Parachlorella kessleri, i.e. high-protein and rigid cell wall microalgal species, on their suitability for biogas production, was investigated. The ultrasonication effect was evaluated for the first time using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of biomasses, and the fraction of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) isolated from the biomasses was analyzed. The results showed that the ultrasonic pretreatment of carbohydrate-rich biomass of P. kessleri caused a significant decrease in the content of structural complex carbohydrates and positive changes in the course of the methane fermentation process. On the contrary, the pretreatment of high-protein biomass of C. vulgaris negatively influenced its methane fermentation due to the aggregation of proteins and formation of a free NH2 group.

In vitro ruminal fermentation and enteric methane production of tropical forage added nitrogen or nitrogen plus starch

The aim was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogen and nitrogen plus starch in tropical grass hay (TGH) on neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dry matter (DM) in vitro digestibility, pH, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acids (VFA), methane (CH4), and CO2 emissions. The study was divided into two sets, first, evaluating the level of nitrogen to be supplemented: control (CON -TGH, 68 g CP/kg DM), low nitrogen (LN- TGH +90 g CP/kg DM), and high nitrogen (HN- TGH + 130 g CP/kg DM). The second set aimed to evaluate the level of nitrogen and starch to be supplemented: low nitrogen and low starch (LNLS - TGH + LN + 10% forage weight in starch supplementation-SS), high nitrogen and low starch (HNLS- TGH + HN + 10% SS), low nitrogen and high starch (LNHS - TGH + LN + 20% SS) and high nitrogen and high starch (HNHS - TGH + HN + 20% SS). Samples were incubated in serum bottles (50 mL) and each run was replicated 4 times. The measurements of NDF and DM digestibility, NH3-N concentration, and pH were performed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h, and CH4, CO2, and VFA were evaluated after 24 h. All data were analyzed using a completely randomized design in factorial scheme. Differences across treatments were investigated using five contrasts. In the first set, two contrasts were used to evaluate the nitrogen effect (linear and quadratic). In the second set, three contrasts were used to evaluate the effects of nitrogen, starch, and interaction between them. In the first set, there was linear nitrogen effect on NDF digestibility (p = 0.037), pH (p = 0.001), NH3-N (mg/dL; p = 0.001) and CO2 (g/g digestible DM; p = 0.042). Quadratic nitrogen effect was observed on CO2 production (mL, g/g DM and g/digestible DM; p < 0.050). In the second set, nitrogen supplementation improved undegradable NDF fraction, pH and NH3-H (mg/dL; p < 0.050) levels. The starch supplementation increased propionate, butyrate (mmol/d; p < 0.050), and CO2 production (mL and g/g DM; p = 0.004). There was no nitrogen and nitrogen plus starch effect on CH4 production. In conclusion, nitrogen supplementation increased NDF digestibility, NH3-N concentration, and pH. Moreover, the supplementation with nitrogen (130 g/kg DM) plus starch (20% of TGH) provided greater VFA production. However, despite the benefits of nitrogen or nitrogen plus starch supplementation on nutritional parameters, they were not effective to reduce CH4 and CO2 production.

In vitro degradation dynamics of neutral detergent fiber and silage quality of waste from production of heart of palm of peach palm

ABSTRACT The objective of the present work was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation profile, and degradation parameters of the neutral detergent fiber of three silages made with the waste from production of heart of peach of palm, which consisted of leaf, leaf sheath, and their compound (55% leaf and 45% leaf sheath). The waste was packed in experimental silos and open after sixty days of fermentation; silage samples were collected for determination of chemical composition and degradation parameters of neutral detergent fiber at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h of incubation in vitro. A difference was detected in the dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin contents between the three types of silage. The leaf silage showed a higher fractional degradation rate and a higher potentially digestible fraction of neutral detergent fiber over the 96 h of incubation. As for the fermentative parameters, silage made with the leaf showed a higher pH (3,79) and lactic acid (1,18%), acetic acid (0,39%) and propionic acid (0,24%). The butyric acid was higher for compound silage (0,012%) and ammoniacal nitrogen was higher for sheath silage (0,94%). The leaf silage displayed better chemical characteristics, fermentation parameters and in vitro degradability properties, proving to be the silage with best nutritional value for feeding ruminants.

Novel mixtures of Italian ryegrass and winter cereals: influence of ensiling on nutritional composition, fermentation characteristics, microbial counts and ruminal degradability

The study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the nutrient content, fermentation characteristics, microbial counts, and ruminal degradability of two mixtures of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and winter cereal silages. Two mixtures (mixture A: Italian ryegrass, triticale, oats, wheat and barley; and mixture B: Italian ryegrass and oats) were wilted and ensiled in laboratory‐scale silos without additives. At the end of 90 d fermentation mixture B silage had higher (p < .05) dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents than mixture A silage. The pH value of mixture B was higher (p < .05) than mixture A silage. Mixture A had higher lactate, acetate and ethanol contents than mixture B. However, mixture B had higher NH3-N (day 14) than mixture A silage. The mould and yeast count (Log10 CFU g−1) was higher (p < .05) for mixture A than mixture B at opening day 7. The in situ incubation revealed that potentially degradable fraction (b) of DM, CP and NDF was 39.41%, 43.59%, 80.23% (mixture A) and 39.16%, 32.39%, 94.35% (mixture B). The effective protein degradability (EPD) at 0.08 rumen outflow rates was 67.26% (mixture A) and 67.19% (mixture B). These results suggest that with the proper stage of harvesting, Italian ryegrass and winter cereal mixtures were fermented well. This kind of mixtures can be ensiled without additives in the future. The high potentially degradable NDF and effective protein degradability implies that this mixture could be included successfully in high-yielding dairy cattle diets. Highlights Italian ryegrass and winter cereal mixtures are well preserved without additives and it saves the cost of additives for dairy farmers. The ensiled mixtures have high potentially degradable NDF and effective protein degradability, which improve dry matter intake, milk production and increase the net return of farm. The mixture forage can be double-cropped with corn for silage making, which can have both environmental and economic benefits if the ensiled mixture yields are enough to cover expenses.

Chemical composition of tropical forages and their acceptability by the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The suitability of seven forages (Moringa. oleifera, Ficus thonningii, Leucaena. leucocephala, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, G Gliricidia sepium, Albizia saman and Azadirachta indica) as feed resources for feeding domestic rabbits was studied. The acceptability, chemical analysis and crude fiber fractions were determined. The acceptability of the forages was assessed by cafeteria method using coefficient of preference (CoP). Five adult rabbits weighing 720±20.5g were used. The acceptability of the forages was best inM. oleifera (CoP &gt; 1) followed by F. thoninngii. G. sepium, L. leucocephala and E. cyclocarpum had similar acceptability while A. indica and A. Saman had low acceptability. The order of acceptability was:M. oleifera &gt; F. thonningii &gt; L. leucocephala &gt;E. cyclocarpum &gt;G. sepium &gt;A. indica and &gt;A. saman. The chemical analysis of the five most acceptable forages showed that F. thoninngii had the least crude protein (CP) of 10.3% compared to the others forages that had CP ranging from 24 -30%.M. oleifera also had the least crude fibre (CF) of 9.0% compared to the other forages CF which ranged 14 -19% F. thonningii and L. leucocephala also had low ether extract (EE) of 6.0 and 8.0%respectively. The acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) fractions of the five most acceptable forages fell within the same range. In conclusion all the five most acceptable forages namely: M. oleifera, F. thonningii, L .leucocephala, E. cyclocarpum, G. sepium are possible legume feed resource for rabbits especially during the dry season.