Efficiency Of Food Utilization Research Articles

A mosaic pattern of apple orchards and farmland affects the distribution of soil water and nutrients in their adjacent areas on the Chinese Loess Plateau

With the vigorous promotion of apple tree planting on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), a mosaic pattern of apple orchards and traditional farmland has emerged in the region. However, the interaction between adjacent farmland and apple orchards in terms of soil water and nutrient migration remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of the soil water content (SWC) and soil nutrients, as well as their interactions, in 0–10 m soil layers of apple orchards of different stand ages and adjacent farmland under the orchard-farmland land use pattern. The results revealed a significant decrease in average-depth SWC in the orchards in the 0–10 m soil profile (R2 = 0.90) with increasing orchard age, accompanied by a significant increase in soil water deficit (SWD, R2 = 0.94). The annual growth rate of SWD was found to be as high as 5.94 mm·m−1·y−1. Deep soil and surrounding farmland were identified as important sources of soil water for apple tree growth, particularly in older orchards; a 25-year-old orchard absorbed approximately 10.8 % of soil water towards farmland with a horizontal distance of 7 m. The distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the 0–10 m soil profile exhibited a similar pattern, decreasing and then stabilizing with increasing depth. However, the peak depth and accumulation of soil nitrate (NO3–-N) significantly increased with orchard age. The migration and accumulation of NO3–-N in the soil provided a scientific basis for the transport of soil water, with NO3–-N accumulation (405.32 mg kg−1) observed in the deep soil (3–6 m) of farmland located 5 m away from a 30-year-old orchard, confirming the exchange of soil water and nutrients between the orchard and the farmland. The stand age of the orchards was identified as the main environmental factor influencing soil water transport under the orchard-farmland land use pattern. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the interaction between apple orchards and farmland under the mosaic pattern, which can contribute to a more rational layout of apple orchards and farmland in the future, promoting the efficient utilization of soil water and nutrients on the CLP.

Influence of phytobiotics and organic acid on nutrient utilization efficiency and carcass characteristics of broiler

A total of 120-day old straight run broiler chicks (cobb 500) were randomly assigned into four groups having three replications in each. In control group (To) only mash feed (ME- 3028 kcal/kg, CP- 22.72%) was supplied and in other groups (TN, TM, TC), control + 1% dried Neem leaf powder, Control + 1% dried Moringa leaf powder and control + 1% Citric acid were supplied respectively. The entire period for feeding trial was 28 days. At last day of the feeding trial blood and meat samples were collected. The body weight gain of broilers was observed as the highest in Tc group (p<0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and Metabolizable energy (ME) intake per gram gain (4.63) was lower (p < 0.05) in TM than the other groups of birds. Energy efficiency ratio in TM and protein efficiency ratio in TN was higher (p < 0.05) than other groups of birds. CP content was high (p < 0.05) in TN. Drip loss and cooking loss was lower (p < 0.05) in TM than other groups. Based on the findings of the present experiment, it could be concluded that, supplementation of dried Moringa leaf powder has stimulating effect on nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics of broiler and useful phytobiotics for safe and high-quality broiler meat production.

Ecological stoichiometry of C, N, P and Si of Karst Masson pine forests: Insights for the forest management in southern China

Ecological stoichiometry is an effective method to study the stoichiometric relations and laws of elements in biogeochemical cycle, widely used in studies on nutrient cycles, limiting elements and nutrient utilization efficiency in ecosystems. To explore C, N, P, and Si stoichiometric characteristics and reveal these nutrient cycle processes and mechanisms in the karst Masson pine forests, the typical Masson pine forests of the three different stand ages in southern China were selected as the research objects and the C, N, P, and Si stoichiometric characteristics of soil-plant-litter continuum were studied. The followed results and conclusions were obtained: 1) Content range of TOC (total organic carbon), TN (total N), TP (Total P) and TSi (total Si) of the Masson pine forests was 288.31–334.61, 0.34–6.66, 0.11–1.05, and 0.76–11.4 g·kg−1, respectively. And the ratio range of C:N, C:P, C:Si, N:P, N:Si, and P:Si was 49.95–913.57, 99.98–2872.18, 22.48–429.31, 1.85–6.33, 0.17–6.01, and 0.04–0.91, respectively. 2) The significant differences in C, N, P, and Si stoichiometric characteristics were present between different organs or different forest ages. Leaves had the highest N and P content, while roots were the best enriched organ of Si element. Si content and C:Si were obviously correlated with forest age. 3) Significant N limitation was present in the Masson pine forests. And in the young and middle-aged forests, N limitation was more obvious. 4) The litter nutrients mainly came from branches. And the litter decomposed fast, which played an important role in the nutrient return of barren karst soil. The present results not only revealed the stoichiometric characteristics and cycling processes of C, N, P, and Si elements in the Masson pine forests, but also provided important scientific bases for the artificial management of Masson pine plantations in southern China.

Using low-protein diet in egg production for win-win of productivity and environmental benefits should be prudent: Evidence from pilot test

A shortage of feed protein resources restricts poultry productivity. Key strategies to alleviate this problem include improvements to the structure of the gut microbiota by the appropriate intake of high-quality protein, improvements to the comprehensive protein utilization rate, and reducing the consumption of protein raw materials. In addition, damage to the environment caused by nitrogen emissions needs to be reduced. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of dietary protein levels on laying performance, host metabolism, ovarian health, nitrogen emissions, and the gut microbial structure and function of laying hens. In total, 360 hens at the age of 38 weeks were randomly allotted four treatments. Each of the groups consisted of nine replicates, with 10 birds per replicate, used for 12 weeks of study. Dietary protein levels of the four groups were 13.85 %, 14.41 %, 15.63 %, and 16.30 %. Results revealed that, compared with the 13.85 % crude protein (CP) group, the 15.63 % CP group experienced significantly enhanced final body weight, average daily gain, egg production, and egg mass. Compared with the 16.30 % CP group, the other groups' serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were significantly reduced. Compared with the 16.30 % CP group, the 13.85 % and 15.63 % groups had increased CP utilization rates but reduced nitrogen emission rate, and daily per egg and per kilogram egg nitrogen emissions rose with increased dietary protein levels. Compared to the 13.85 % and 14.41 % CP groups, the 16.30 % CP group exhibited a significant increase in the expression of genes related to amino acids and carbohydrate metabolic pathways. According to the linear discriminant analysis effect size diagram, the predominant bacteria in the 15.63 % CP group (e.g., Subdoligranulum, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013) were significantly related to CP utilization. The results of this study emphasize that production performance is significantly reduced when protein levels are too low, whereas too high protein levels lead to gut microbiota imbalance and a reduction in the utilization efficiency of nutrients. Therefore, on the premise of ensuring the health of hens, the structure of the gut microbiota can be improved by appropriately reducing protein levels, which helps to balance the relationships among host health, productivity, resources, and the environment.

Genotypic variation of tomato to AMF inoculation in improving growth, nutrient uptake, yield, and photosynthetic activity

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) promote water and mineral nutrients uptake by plant roots, which can reduce the chemical fertilizer inputs in crop production. To gain better insight into the comparative effect of different strains of AMF in improving tomato performance at morphological and physiological levels, seedlings of two tomato cultivars (i.e., Better Boy and Roma) were inoculated with four strains of Glomus mosseae (i.e., HS 1–2, BEG 12, BEG 55, and BEG 54) under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that tomato growth and yield varied largely depending on the mycorrhizal strain and tomato cultivar, with wide variations in root colonization ranging from 5.30 to 78.63%. Overall, mycorrhization with BEG 54 showed significantly better tomato performance when compared to the BEG 55, HS 1–2 and BEG 12 strains. In the case of cultivars, Better Boy performed better than Roma cultivar in terms of growth, physiological traits, yield, and fruit quality. The highest plant height, dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, AMF colonization, yield, fruit juice, ascorbic acid, and titratable acidity contents were recorded in Better Boy cultivar while the highest stem diameter was found in Roma cultivar. Taken together, AMF colonization suggested a promising approach for large-scale tomato production by efficient absorption and utilization of nutrients, and encouraging plants’ symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms.

Carbon Catabolite Repressor UvCreA is Required for Development and Pathogenicity in Ustilaginoidea virens

The rice false smut disease, caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, has emerged as a significant global threat to rice production. The mechanism of carbon catabolite repression plays a crucial role in the efficient utilization of carbon nutrients and enzyme regulation in the presence of complex nutritional conditions. Although significant progress has been made in understanding carbon catabolite repression in fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans and Magnaporthe oryzae, its role in U. virens remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we identified UvCreA, a pivotal component of carbon catabolite repression, in U. virens. Our investigation revealed that UvCreA localized to the nucleus. Deletion of UvCreA resulted in decreased growth and pathogenicity in U. virens. Through RNA-seq analysis, it was found that the knockout of UvCreA led to the up-regulation of 514 genes and down-regulation of 640 genes. Moreover, UvCreA was found to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of pathogenic genes and genes associated with carbon metabolism in U. virens. In summary, our findings indicated that UvCreA is important in fungal development, virulence, and the utilization of carbon sources through transcriptional regulation, thus making it a critical element of carbon catabolite repression.

Extraction and cycling of nutrients in eucalyptus sp plantations in uruguay and its effect on the sustainability of the system of production : Doctoral thesis abstract

To ensure the sustainable management of the production of Eucalyptus sp. in low fertility soils in Uruguay, it is necessary to quantify nutrient exports with the harvest, as well as characterize the decomposition of residues and the recycling of nutrients to the soil. The objectives were: a) to quantify the concentration and distribution of nutrients in the aerial biomass harvested from E. dunnii, E. grandis and E. globulus in soils suitable for forestry; b) to compare the nutrient use efficiencies of the species in the different soil types, as a criterion to evaluate the sustainability of the production system; c) to quantify the characteristics that affect the decomposition rates of residues and identify indicators that can explain the process, and d) to quantify the potential recycling of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) to the soil from the remains and in relation to quantitative and qualitative differences of the species. In each plantation (29), the soil was characterized and trees of average size were harvested, quantifying the aboveground biomass and the extraction of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in commercial wood and harvest residues. In 5 plantations, covering the three species, the decomposition of residues was studied for two years. Nutrient utilization efficiency was lower in E. dunnii in relation to the other two species, for all nutrients and regardless of the planting site. The biological utilization coefficient showed lower values for cations (K, Ca and Mg) in E. dunnii compared to the other two species, and, also, for N and P, compared to E. grandis. E. dunnii exerts greater pressure on the soil resource, which must be considered for sustainable management. Decomposition rates of the residues depended on their chemical constitution, particle size and the species, with the contents of total N and C (total and soluble) being good predictive tools to estimate their half-life. After two years, most of the K was released (91 %), a little more than half of the Mg and P, and a third of the N and Ca. The release patterns depended more on its structural complexity in the plant and the fraction where they were present than of the species itself, this recycling being essential to ensure sustainability in the medium and long term.

Effects of nanocarbon and nano‐calcium carbonate on soil enzyme activities and soil microbial community in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rhizosphere soil

AbstractBackgroundNanofertilisers can enhance the efficiency of nutrient utilization in crop production. Nevertheless, it is unclear how soil microbial and enzyme activities are affected by the application of nanofertilisers to wheat inter‐root soil.AimsThe study aims to investigate the influences of nanocarbon (NC) and nano‐calcium carbonate (NCC) on soil enzyme activities and microbial community in the open field setting.MethodsThe effects of nanofertilisers on soil wheat rhizosphere soil were studied through the evaluation of soil microbial quantity, enzyme activity, and microbial diversity.ResultsThe findings revealed that the combined utilization of nanofertilizers and compound fertilizers (CF) led to an augmentation in the diversity of the soil microbial community. When comparing the effects of 100% composite nanofertilizers (100% CF + 50% NC + 50% NCC) with the control (CK) (100% CF), it was observed that the activities of urease (EC 3.5.1.5), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), sucrase (EC.3.2.1.26), as well as the number of fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria, increased by 22.4%, 7.7%, 17.8%, 9.3%, 35.9%, 27.7%, and 26.0%, respectively. Similarly, the employment of 70% composite nanofertilizers (70% CF + 35% NC + 35% NCC) also resulted in an enhancement of these aforementioned indicators. The magnitude of increase over the 100% CF was 19.0%, 6.6%, 13.6%, 6.2%, 26.8%, 21.3%, and 23.5%, respectively. Notably, there was no significant difference observed between 100% CF + 50% NC + 50 % NCC and 70% CF + 35% NC + 35% NCC within the 0–35 d after anthesis. Furthermore, both 100% CF + 50% NC + 50% NCC and 70% CF + 35% NC + 35% NCC contributed to an improvement in the species uniformity and operational taxonomic unit abundance of wheat rhizosphere microorganisms, while also increasing the abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria compared to the CK. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria was found to be elevated in the nanomaterials‐treated groups, both at 0–7 d and 14–21 d after anthesis, and positively correlated with soil enzyme activities and soil microbial populations.ConclusionsThese results indicate that the application of composite nanofertilizers can enhance the soil microenvironment in wheat fields, particularly under reduced fertilization conditions.

A facile strategy to fabricate lignocellulose-based slow-release fertilizers via a high-performance treatment of rice straw using deep eutectic solvents

Lignin-based slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) have attracted widespread attention due to their ability to enhance nutrient utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution in agricultural production. However, the extraction and separation processes of lignin from biomass sources are intricate, involving substantial quantities of non-reusable toxic reagents. Here, a sustainable and eco-friendly approach using deep eutectic solvents (DES) was employed to treat rice straw, effectively dissolving the lignin present. Subsequently, the in-situ lignin regeneration was facilitated through the addition of a zinc chloride solution. The regenerated lignin was tightly wrapped around and connected to cellulose micro/nanofibers, forming a homogeneous slurry. A simple coating technique was employed to uniformly coat urea particles with the lignocellulosic slurry, yielding lignocellulose-based SRFs. Results revealed that the nutrient release of the lignocellulose-based coated fertilizers in water exceeded 56 days. A pot trial demonstrated that the application of lignocellulose-based SRFs significantly promoted the growth of rice and improved grain yield (by 10.7 %) and nitrogen use efficiency (by 34.4 %) compared to the urea treatment in rice production. Furthermore, the DES demonstrated consistently high efficiency in biomass processing even after four cycles of reuse. This green strategy offers a novel approach for the preparation of SRFs coating materials, promoting agricultural sustainability.

Potential Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers in Agriculture

Some of the major challenges associated with current agricultural practices include inefficient delivery and utilization of agrochemicals; fertilizers, pesticides, and pheromones; to crops. This results in low nutrient utilization efficiency with respect to applied fertilizers which leads to a greater economic burden to farmers to maintain crop yields at optimum levels. In addition, plant diseases by various pathogens also pose a threat to agriculture. In an effort to address some of the aforementioned challenges, electrospun nanofibers have emerged as a potential class of one-dimensional nanomaterials for use in agricultural applications. Unique characteristics of electrospun nanofibers such as enhanced surface area: volume ratio, high porosity distribution, and increased specific surface area pave the potential for agricultural applications that will be elaborated in this review. These applications include slow-release of fertilizers, pheromones and insecticides, seed and fruit coatings, plant protection, and nanofiber fabricated sensors. In addition, this review also focuses briefly on other preparation methods of nanofibers, and most importantly on the parameters that govern the electrospinning process; solution parameters, processing parameters, and ambient parameters. Furthermore, many more unexplored applications in the field of agriculture employing nanofiber usage exist, and it is believed that a greater understanding of the current nanofiber research and practices of green electrospinning will enable the upliftment of current boundaries to enable agricultural applications of nanofibers on a commercial scale.
 Keywords: nanofiber - agriculture - electrospinning - slow-release – sensor

Effect of low-glucosinolate crambe meal in diet on lactational performance, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and hepatic function of crossbred Holstein × Zebu and Jersey cows.

Crambe meal (CM) is a potential dietary protein source for ruminant, but its effects in diets for lactating dairy cows remains unknown. We evaluated the effects of inclusion of the low-glucosinolates (GIs) CM (450 mg GIs/kg DM) in partial total mixed ration (pTMR) on performance, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and hepatic function of crossbred Holstein × Zebu and Jersey cows. Eight crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows and four Jersey cows were blocked by breed and days in milk, and randomly assigned in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design, and distributed in one of four isonitrogenous TMRs (130 g CP/kg DM): 0, 45, 90, and 135 g CM/kg DM pTMR. Crambe meal was included in pTMR replacing soybean meal (SBM) and ground corn grain (GCG). The pTMRs were offered ad libitum between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Cows were kept on pasture of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça (90.4 g CP/kg DM) between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Pasture intake was measured from external and internal fecal excretion marker. Inclusion of CM did not affect (P ≤ 0.05) the DM intakes of pTMR and pasture, apparent total-tract digestibilities of organic matter, CP and NDF, ruminal outflow microbial protein, milk yield, milk composition, urinary N excretion, milk N efficiency, and level of plasm hepatic enzymes. The effects of CM inclusion in pTMR were independent of breed. Low-glucosinolates CM can be incorporated up to 135 g/kg DM in pTMR in replacement of SBM and GCG without affecting performance, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and hepatic function of crossbred Holstein × Zebu and Jersey cows.

Appraising the phycoremediation potential of cyanobacterial strains Phormidium and Oscillatoria for nutrient removal from textile wastewater (TWW) and synchronized biodiesel production from TWW-tolerant biomass

In this study, phycoremediation of textile wastewater (TWW) by freshwater cyanobacterial strains such as sp., Oscillatoria sp. F01 and Oscillatoria sp. F02 was evaluated, and lipids were simultaneously extracted from biomass for biodiesel production. Onset of the study, Phormidium sp. and Oscillatoria sp. F01 has better growth rates, increased biomass production, high chlorophyll content, and efficient nutrient utilization in TWW compared to Oscillatoria sp. F02. Phormidium sp. showed 1.41 g/L dry weight, followed by Oscillatoria sp. F01 with 1.39 g/L and Oscillatoria sp. F02 with 1.02 g/L biomass. Both strains demonstrated their capability to elevate the pH level while reducing TDS and eliminating/reducing several nutrients such as nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, sulphates, sulphides, chlorides, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Further, the total lipids extracted from the TWW-grown Phormidium sp., Oscillatoria sp. F01 and Oscillatoria sp. F02 was estimated to be 8.20, 13.70 and 11.20 %, respectively, on day 21, which was higher than the lipid content obtained from control cultures. Further, biodiesel produced from the lipids of all strains showed higher levels of C12:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 among all the fatty acids. Therefore, they can potentially offer a valuable source of lipids and diverse fatty acids for high-quality biodiesel production. This integrated system not only offers a solution for TWW treatment but also provides a feedstock for renewable fuel production simultaneously.

Effects of Long-Term Exclosure on Main Plant Functional Groups and Their Biochemical Properties in a Patchily Degraded Alpine Meadow in the Source Zone of the Yellow River, West China

This study aimed to understand the response of vegetation community characteristics in the degraded alpine meadow of the Source Zone of the Yellow River to exclosure of various lengths. Artificial fences were erected to prevent livestock grazing and let the degraded meadow recover naturally as a means of restoration. The research focused on a typical degraded alpine meadow in which four plots were fenced off for three periods of 1 year (E1), 4 years (E4), and 10 years (E10), plus a freely grazed plot as the control. The study compared and analyzed the differences in plant community characteristics, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) reserves, as well as the stoichiometric characteristics of main functional groups in the alpine meadow over different exclosure durations. The results indicated that E10 long-term exclosure significantly increased the aboveground biomass of gramineous plants but reduced the aboveground biomass of miscellaneous grasses. However, when compared to E4 short-term exclosure, E10 resulted in a reduction in the aboveground biomass of Cyperaceae plants. On the other hand, E4 medium-term exclosure significantly increased the aboveground biomass of Gramineae and Cyperaceae. Exclosure significantly increased the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) reserves of the aboveground plant communities. Among these communities, the plant communities in the E10 long-term exclosure had the highest N and P reserves. However, this exclosure length also led to a significant reduction in plant diversity. Furthermore, except for Cyperaceae, all functional groups were observed in E10 and E4 plots. The carbon–nitrogen ratio and carbon–phosphorus ratio of these groups were significantly lower than those of groups G and E1. Medium-term exclosure (E4) has a positive impact on the aboveground biomass as well as plants’ nitrogen and phosphorus reserves. However, long-term exclosure (E10) has been observed to decrease species diversity and nutrient utilization efficiency of alpine meadow vegetation, which can be detrimental to the sustainable development of the alpine meadow ecosystem. Therefore, it is not recommended to implement long-term exclosure. Instead, a moderate level of grazing should be adopted after 4 years of exclosure.

PSXII-26 Effect of Different Supplements Plus Phytogenic Additives on Ruminal Bacterial Community of Grazing Beef Cattle

Abstract Changes in ruminal microbial community can affect animal productivity, nutrient utilization efficiency, and environmental impact. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two levels of supplementation plus a blend of phytogenic additives (essential oils, saponins, and spices) on the ruminal bacterial community in beef cattle grazing tropical pastures. The experiment was conducted at the Beef Cattle Sector of UNESP, Jaboticabal-BR, and lasted 84 days. Nine castrated Nellore steers (body weight of 262 ± 31.2 kg) cannulated in the rumen were assigned to 3 simultaneous 3 × 3 Latin square designs. Animals were kept on pasture of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu during the rainy season. The treatments included ad libitum mineral supplementation (MS) as the control group, added mineral supplementation of 0.1% of body weight per day plus Cargill phytogenic blend (AMSP), and energetic-protein supplementation, 0.3% of body weight per day plus Cargill phytogenic blend (EPSP). Ruminal samples were collected on day 26 of each experimental period. A mix of liquid and solid rumen content (6 mL) was taken before supplementation and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total genomic DNA was extracted using the Quick-DNA Fecal/Soil Microbe kit. The V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were amplified using universal primers 341F and 806R. The PCR fragments were submitted to sequencing on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 PE 250 platform. The sequences were processed using mothur, grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using a similarity cut-off value of 97%, and the bacterial OTUs were classified using the SILVA database. Bacterial community composition was compared between treatments using a Kruskal–Wallis test and Wilcoxon’s post-hoc test using Rstudio. A total of 27 phyla, 224 families, and 577 genera were assigned by the taxonomic analysis of the ruminal bacterial community (Figure 1). The phyla Bacteroidetes (44.45 ± 9.43) and Firmicutes (42.50 ± 7.18) represent over 86% of the total relative abundance in the rumen of Nellore steers and were not influenced by the supplementation (P ≥ 0.250). The relative abundances of the Spirochaetes phylum, Spirochaetaceae family, and Treponema genus decreased in the rumen of AMSP supplemented animals (P ≤ 0.037) and were similar between MS and EPSP (Figure 2). Additionally, the EPSP supplementation resulted in decreased relative abundances of TM7, TM7 family Incertae sedis, and TM7 genus Incertae sedis relative abundances compared with those in MS (P = 0.031) but not between AMSP and EPSP supplementations. The addition of phytotherapy blend in the supplements led to decreased SR1, SR1 family Incertae sedis, and SR1 genus Incertae sedis abundances in the rumen (P ≤ 0.012). This study indicates that the relative abundance of the dominant phyla was not affected by the supplementation levels, but the addition of the phytogenic blend in the supplement decreased the relative abundances of specific bacterial phyla, families, and genera,

89 Physiological Mechanisms Related to Feed Efficiency of Beef Cattle

Abstract Improving feed efficiency is essential for the sustainability of the US beef production system. However, achieving this goal is challenging due to various factors such as diet types, genetics, environments, and industry segmentation. To address these difficulties, it is critical to have a fundamental understanding of what contributes to efficient nutrient utilization and feed resources, which can guide future genetic selection and production practices. Despite recent progress, the regulation of feed intake in growing and finishing cattle remains incompletely understood, hindering advances in feed efficiency. Recent research has aimed to advance the hepatic oxidation theory to growing and finishing cattle fed high-concentrate diets and explored the control of appetite by gut peptide hormones. Other factors contributing to variation in feed efficiency include nutrient metabolism and hormonal control of metabolism. Previous research is limited by a lack of in-depth analysis of metabolism due to the inability to time sample collection relative to feed consumption and account for correlations among metabolites. The role of fat metabolism in the rumen has been associated with epithelial inflammation, while inflammation of the gut has been identified as a contributing factor to inefficiencies in nutrient utilization. However, there is still a need to further understand the role of fatty acid metabolism in the induction of inflammation. An issue that limits the further understanding of efficiency is that a wide variety of feedstuffs are utilized by the industry and small changes in the nutrient composition of a diet can have large impacts on efficiency. Therefore, it is important to consider the utilization efficiency of specific nutrients rather than general feed efficiency. Nitrogen utilization efficiency is becoming increasingly important due to the significant economic and environmental ramifications of inefficiencies in nitrogen utilization. There is growing evidence that precision feeding of protein to match requirements can reduce nitrogen excretion without compromising growth and efficiency. In conclusion, a better understanding of the underlying biology contributing to nutrient utilization is crucial for improving feed utilization efficiency in the US beef production system, which will enhance the sustainability of the US beef production system.

Gut microbiota response to in vitro transit time variation is mediated by microbial growth rates, nutrient use efficiency and adaptation to in vivo transit time

BackgroundTransit time is an important modulator of the human gut microbiome. The inability to modify transit time as the sole variable hampers mechanistic in vivo microbiome research. We singled out gut transit time in an unprecedented in vitro approach by subjecting faecal microbial communities from six individuals with either short, medium or long in vivo transit times, to three different colonic transit times of 21, 32 and 63 h in the validated human gut in vitro model, SHIME.ResultsTransit time was identified as the single most important driver of microbial cell concentrations (52%), metabolic activity (45%) and quantitative (24%) and proportional (22%) community composition. Deceleration of transit was characterised by a significant decrease of specific Bifidobacterium and Veillonella spp. and increase of specific fibre degrading bacteria and nutrient specialists, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bilophila and Akkermansia spp. These microbial communities reached a higher population density and net carbohydrate fermentation, leading to an increased SCFA production at longer transit times. In contrast, the carbohydrate-to-biomass production efficiency was increased at shorter transits, particularly in well-adapted faecal microbiomes from donors with short in vivo transit. Said adaptation was also reflected in the carbohydrate-to-SCFA conversion efficiency which varied with donor, but also colon region and SCFA chain length. A long transit time promoted propionate production, whereas butyrate production and butyrate producers were selectively enriched in the proximal colon at medium transit time.ConclusionMicrobial growth rates and nutrient utilisation efficiency mediate the species-specific gut microbiota response to in vitro transit time variation, which is the main driver of in vitro microbial load, metabolism and community composition. Given the in vivo transit time variation within and between individuals, the personalisation of in vitro transit time based on in vivo data is required to accurately study intra- and inter-individual differences in gut microbiome structure, functionality and interactions with host and environmental modulators.1MQXL3e8MgVLC8CZ9wex6EVideo

Rapeseed NTL4 transcription factor positively regulates leaf senescence and resistance against bacterial pathogen via controlling transcription of ROS and SA biosynthetic genes

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is widely planted for both edible oil and biodiesel. However, its growth is frequently affected by adverse environmental factors such as pathogens. Moreover, rapeseed shows significant falling of leaves during the whole growth period, making it important to control leaf senescence for better nutrient utilization efficiency and improved growth. Membrane-tethered transcription factors (MTTF) constitute a special group of proteins, which facilitate rapid response to adverse conditions. However, the role of MTTFs in rapeseed has seldomly been reported. Here BnaNTL4 was functionally characterized to transcriptionally regulate leaf senescence and resistance towards a bacterial pathogen in rapeseed. BnaNTL4 encodes a member-associated transcription factor and its expression was induced by several stimuli including salicylic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Both stable and transient expression demonstrated BnaNTL4 could induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and leaf chlorosis. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay of differentially expressed genes in BnaNTL4 overexpression lines and control plants uncovered that several genes related to programmed cell death (γVPE, BFN1), ROS production (RbohF), salicylic acid (SA) synthesis (PBS3) and senescence (SEN4) were induced by BnaNTL4 overexpression. Further, a dual luciferase reporter assay revealed BnaNTL4 transactivated the activities of the promoters of putative target genes. At last, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay discovered that BnaNTL4 directly bound to promoters of BnaRbohF, BnaPBS3 and BnaSEN4. Overexpression of BnaNTL4 also enhances resistance towards a bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000. Thus, the results uncovered a dual role of BnaNTL4 in leaf senescence and disease resistance in rapeseed.

Water retention and sustained release of magnesium-based biochar modified hydrogel composite materials

In recent years, the low utilization efficiency of fertilizers and the scarcity of freshwater resources caused by globalization have received widespread attention. To address these issues, this study used an in-situ polymerization method to prepare a magnesium-based biochar modified hydrogel slow-release fertilizer (Mg-NBC/PAA) by combining magnesium-based biochar slow-release fertilizer (Mg-NBC) with polyacrylic acid hydrogel. The composition and properties of the material were characterized using various techniques, including FT-IR, SEM, XPS, and CA. The results show that the Mg-NBC successfully entered the network structure of the hydrogel material, and the hydrogel with added biochar exhibited higher water absorption performance than the pure hydrogel, with an improvement of 47.12%. Under the optimal synthesis conditions, the maximum water absorption capacity of the material was 1395.12 ± 35.45 g/g, which can increase soil water retention and holding capacity after being added to the soil. Moreover, the material also significantly promoted the growth of maize seedlings. Therefore, Mg-NBC/PAA has the potential to be widely used in sustainable agriculture, especially in dry and semi-arid areas, due to its ability to maintain soil moisture, reduce irrigation water use, and improve nutrient utilization efficiency.

PSIII-12 A Preliminary Evaluation on Novel Tryptophan Additive on Apparent Total Tract and Ileal Digesta of Nutrients in Growing Pigs Using Cannulation Technique

Abstract Amino acids (AA) are the primary structure of proteins. Earlier studies proved that AA contents in the diet are closely related to efficiency of nutrient utilization in pigs. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the effect of tryptophan [(Trp), Trp-proline and calcium-Trp)] supplementation on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), energy (GE), and amino acids (AAs) in eight growing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc)]. Pigs with average body weights of 25 kg were surgically inserted with post-valve T-caecum cannulation approximately 15 cm anterior to the ileo-cecal junction and randomly assigned to the following diets: CON (corn- soybean meal-distillers dried grain soluble -based basal diet), Trp Pro (CON + 20g/kg Trp Pro), Ca-Trp (CON+ 20g/kg Calcium Trp), and N-free diet using a 4× 4 Latin squares design in duplicates. The novel Trp supplements did not exhibit any significant difference in ATTD and AID of DM, GE, and N digestibility. However, the ATTD of essential AAs such as valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and tryptophan and some non-essential AA like serine, glutamic acid, and glycine was increased (P < 0.05) in novel Trp group. The inclusion of the novel Trp to the diet reduced (P > 0.05) ATTD of threonine but increased the AID of threonine. While other AAs showed the least response to the Trp supplementation. Also, ATTD of methionine tended to be greater in Trp group compared with the CON. In short, the inclusion of 20 g/kg modified form of novel Trp supplementations showed beneficial effects to enhance the AA deposits in the tissue of pigs without any adverse effect.

Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Garlic (Allium Sativum) on Feed Intake, Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Efficiency in Goat Kids

Background: With the ban on the use of antibiotics as feed additives and growth promoters in animal nutrition, livestock scientists are now shifting their attention towards natural and safe products like organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics and herbal growth promoters. Plants containing essential compounds can be a cost-effective means of improving efficiency of nutrient utilization and growth performance of animals. The medicinal properties of garlic may have beneficial effects on nutrient utilization and health of animals. However, very few studies have been reported whereby garlic has been fed to ruminants. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of garlic (Allium sativum) on feed intake, growth performance and feed conversion efficiency in goat kids. Methods: Twelve kids of similar age were randomly allotted to two equal groups (n=6) on basis of body weight. All animals were maintained on common feeding regime consisting of required concentrate mixture and roughage as per requirement given by ICAR (2013). Kids in experimental group were supplemented with garlic @ 250 mg per kg body weight whereas; the control group was remaining unsupplemented. The study was conducted for 90 days. Animals were weighed fortnightly in the morning before offering feed and water. The data on growth rate in terms of body weight, average daily gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency were analysed as per standard procedures. Result: The results indicated that overall mean body weight and average dry matter intake were statistically (P greater than 0.05) similar in both the groups. No significant difference was observed in feed conversion efficiency between the treatment groups. The average daily gain was statistically similar in both the groups, but numerically 5.31 per cent increased ADG was observed in garlic fed group. From the results it can be deduced that the garlic supplementation improves average daily gain by 5.31%. However, it has no effect on feed intake and feed conversion efficiency of goat kids.