Post-rumen Digestion Research Articles

Understanding the Impact of Sheep Digestion on Seed Germination in the Cold Desert Annual Diptychocarpus strictus with Emphasis on Fruit and Seed Heteromorphism.

This study aimed to investigate the morphological characteristics of fruits and seeds from Diptychocarpus strictus, a plant species inhabiting the cold desert pastoral area of China. Furthermore, this study sought to evaluate the germination potential of these seeds following digestion by sheep. This study employed the sheep rumen fistula method to simulate rumen digestion at various time intervals. Subsequently, an in vitro simulation method was utilized to simulate true gastric and intestinal digestion after rumen digestion. Paper germination tests were then conducted to assess the impact of the digestive process on the heteromorphic seed morphology and germination. During rumen digestion, the seeds were protected by wide wings. The results revealed a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between seed wing length and digestion time. Post-rumen digestion, variations in the germination rate among seeds from fruits at different locations were observed. Indicators, such as germination rate, exhibited a highly significant negative correlation with rumen digestion time (p < 0.01). In vitro simulated digestion tests demonstrated that Diptychocarpus strictus seeds retained their ability to germinate even after complete digestion within the livestock's digestive tract. The polymorphic nature of Diptychocarpus strictus seeds, coupled with their capacity to survive and germinate through the digestive tract, facilitates the spread of these seeds. This finding has implications for mitigating desert grassland degradation and promoting sustainable ecological development.

Enhancing physicochemical, rheological properties, and in vitro rumen fermentation of starch with Melastoma candidum D. Don fruit extract.

The utilization of polyphenol-modified starch in ruminants has not undergone extensive exploration. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the complex formed between starch and Melastoma candidum D. Don fruit extract on physicochemical properties, phenol release kinetics in various buffers simulating the gastrointestinal tract, methane production, and post-rumen digestibility. The interaction between starch and M. candidum D. Don fruit extract significantly (p < 0.001) increased resistant starch and particle size diameter. The maximum phenolic release from complex between starch and M. candidum D. Don fruit extract, due to gastrointestinal tract-simulated buffers, ranged from 22.96 to 34.60 mg/100 mg tannic acid equivalent. However, rumen and abomasum-simulated buffers released more phenolic content, whereas the intestine-simulated buffer showed higher antioxidant activity (ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power). Furthermore, complex between starch and M. candidum D. Don fruit extract significantly decreased dry matter rumen digestibility (p < 0.001) and maximum methane gas production (p < 0.001).

Physicochemical, thermal properties, and in vitro rumen fermentation of four different underutilized fruit by-products

Abstract. Fidriyanto R, Priadi G, Ridwan R, Nahrowi N, Jayanegara A. 2023. Physicochemical, thermal properties, and in vitro rumen fermentation of four different underutilized fruit by-products. Biodiversitas 24: 2416-2425. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential use of selected agricultural wastes consisting of Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) Peel (MGP), pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel (PGP), kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix DC.) Peel (KLP), and Melastoma candidum D.Don Fruit (MCF) as ruminant feeds and enteric methane mitigation. The samples were analyzed for proximate, phytochemical, enzyme inhibition activity, XRD, FTIR, TGA, and in vitro rumen fermentation. The study found that MCF had the highest protein content (105.69 g/kg DM), while KLP had the lowest crude fiber (115.89 g/kg DM). MCF extract had the highest total phenol and flavonoid, and PGP extract had the highest enzyme inhibition activity. XRD analysis showed that KLP had the highest crystallinity (18.23%), followed by MCF (17.95%). KLP had the highest potential gas production (147.78 mL), followed by PGP (62.20 mL), MCF (27.86 mL), and MGP (4.46 mL). In addition, rumen digestibility, post-rumen digestibility, and VFA followed a similar pattern. The lowest methane production was observed in MGP and MCF. In conclusion, kaffir lime peel is potentially used as ruminant feed due to its higher digestibility and VFA production. Although MCF has lower digestibility, it is potentially used as a source of phenolic compounds to reduce methane production due to its higher phenolic and flavonoid content.

Effect of Combination of Protected and Non-Protected Corn Oil Supplementation on In Vitro Nutrient Digestibility

This research was done to study the effect of supplementation of the combination of corn oil (CO) and protected corn oil (PCO) using formaldehyde on in vitro nutrient digestibility in the rumen and post rumen. Protection of corn oil is carried out by mixing skim milk powder and corn oil (2:1) using formaldehyde 1,5%. Feed for fermentation substrate consists of Penissetum purpureum and wheat pollard (60:40). The combination of CO and PCO in several rations was added as the supplement to feed substrate (dry matter basis). The ratios of CO: PCO supplementation that given were T0 (0%:0%) as a control, T1 (5%:0%), T2 (3.75%:1.25%), T3 (2.5%:2.5%), T4 (1.25%:3.75%), and T5 (0%:5%). Their effects on dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), crude protein digestibility (CPD) and crude fiber digestibility (CFD) digestibility were studied using the two-stage in vitro digestibility method of Tilley and Terry (1963) modified by Utomo (2012). Data were statistically analyzed using oneway analysis of variance continued by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed that T1 and T2 significantly (P<0.05) decreased DMD, OMD and CFD at 48 h and 96 h incubation and did not affect rumen CPD. In conclusion, the supplementation of corn oil 1.25% combined with protected corn oil 3.75% had no negative effect on DMD, OMD, CPD and CFD on rumen and post-rumen digestibility.

In vitro digestibility of ruminant diet in response to protected feed substitution

Excessive degradation high protein feed in the rumen can reduce nutrient utilization efficiency of feed in post rumen. Protected feed is expected to increase the undegraded proteins that enter and absorbed in the intestine. In vitro study was conducted to determine whether the protected feed can reduce rumen degradability as well as improving post-rumen degradability of feed. The protected feed used in this study was soybean meal and crude palm oil mixture (4: 1), added with 0.3% Agromix. Independent sample t-test was used to compare 2 treatments (T1/control = commercial ration; T2 = commercial ration with 4.4% protected feed substitution). Each dietary treatment was done in 6 replications. Both dietary treatments were tested for their digestibility using a 2-stage in vitro technique. Results showed that pH of rumen did not change. Compared to the T1, T2 showed lower (P<0.05) digestibility of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), and crude protein (CPD) in the rumen. In the post rumen, T2 showed greater (P<0.05) DMD, OMD and CPD than T1. It concluded that protected feed substitution effectively decreases digestibility in the rumen and increases post-rumen digestibility, imply that protected feed substitution can improve the nutrient utilization in the post rumen.

In situ, in vitro and in vivo nutritive value assessment of Barberry leaf as a roughage for goat feeding

This study was carried out to evaluate nutritive value of Berberis vulgaris leaf (BVL) by in situ and in vitro experiments and to investigate the effects of replacing alfalfa hay with BVL on performance, milk composition, blood metabolites and antioxidant capacity of lactating crossbred goats. Rumen dry matter (DM) degradability of BVL was assessed using two fistulated mature goats and incubation of BVL samples at specified times in the rumen. Modified 3-step procedure (TSP) was performed for determination of post-rumen DM digestibility. For the in vivo experiment (during six weeks), 21 lactating crossbred goats (55±15 DIM and 26±2.8kg BW) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments of BVL at levels of 0, 17 and 34% of DM. The results of in situ and in vitro experiments indicated that rumen DM degradability, post-rumen digestibility of DM undigested in the rumen and total tract DM digestibility of BVL were 65.46%, 12.84% and 69.90%, respectively. In vivo results revealed that DMI increased (P<0.05) as BVL level in the diet raised. Also, milk fat increased (P<0.05) with increasing BVL level in the diets, but milk protein, SNF and lactose content were not affected by the diets (P>0.05). Goats fed BVL showed greater antioxidant capacity than goats fed control diet (P<0.05) and no significant difference was found in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P>0.05). Results of this study revealed that BVL has high nutritional value and might be utilised in diet of lactating goats as an inexpensive alternative roughage.

Nutritional, technological and managerial parameters for precision feeding to enhance feed nutrient utilization and productivity in different dairy cattle production systems.

Abstract Increased future demand of animal products as well as competition between food, feed and fuel, require efficient utilization of feed resources to strengthen environmental, economic and social sustainability of livestock systems. The objective of this review is to summarize current knowledge on precision feeding (PF) and the relevance of PF approaches in dairy cattle production systems in developing countries. The concept of PF aims at achieving balanced nutrition (matching animal requirements with nutrient supply, preferably from locally available feed resources) to improve animal productivity and to reduce both the cost of production and environmental pollution. In addition to the supply of proper amounts of nutrients to the dairy cow using various methodologies and tools, approaches that enhance overall nutrient digestion and availability to the animal are also discussed as an integral part of PF. These approaches involve improved analyses of feed ingredients, nutrient requirement determination, formulation of a balanced ration, individual feeding, optimization of rumen and post rumen digestion, and optimization of metabolism of absorbed amino acids and other nutrients. Based on identified and analysed PF approaches, processing and treatment of forage, including conservation through ensiling, is promising to improve feed intake and productivity of the cow and to reduce excretion of environmental pollutants per unit milk. Experiments with rumen protected nutrients for both fat and protein gave a wide range of results. Inconsistent effects of the use of enzymes such as cellulases and xylanases on feed efficiency have been observed. Plant extracts need more research to get tangible results but have a broad scale of potential (indirect) advantages on production and health. Similarly more research is needed for probiotics and acidifiers, which have shown inconsistent results. Medicinal or hormonal approaches have proven to be effective in animal performance and feed efficiency. Feeding concepts, such as ration balancing programmes or the use of feed blocks, resulted in improved feed efficiency and substantially increased farmer income. In view of large variation in forage quality, rapid determination of nutrient composition of forage on site is indispensable in PF of dairy cattle. The relevance of application of the elaborate approaches for intensive, mixed crop-livestock, mixed extensive and extensive systems have been discussed. The focus of PF in developing countries should be on using feed resources that do not compete with human food, and in amounts that meet the nutrient requirements for production from the targeted animal. Policy and institutional building options are needed to realize the potential of PF for sustainable dairy production systems.

Evaluasi nilai nutrisi bungkil inti sawit yang difermentasi dengan kapang sebagai sumber protein ruminansia

The objective of the research was to improve the nutritive value of PKC through fermentation and to evaluate its degradation characteristics in the rumen and post rumen digestibility as a protein feed source for ruminants. PKC was fermented using Aspergillus niger , Trichoderma viridae and Aspergillus oryzae . To evaluate the in sacco rumen degradability, 2 rumen fistulated females Fries Holstein 3.5 years old were used. Samples were incubated in the rumen for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Determination of dry matter (DM) degradation characteristics value and crude protein (CP) in the rumen was calculated based on formula y = a + b (1 - e -ct ). The experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design with four replicates. The results showed that fermentation increased protein content of the PKC by 79.21% with the highest increase from fermentation using Aspergillus oryzae (88.34%). DM and CP degradability ​in the rumen and post rumen of fermented PKC was affected by type of mold used for fermentation. Fermentation increased the amount of water soluble DM (a) of fermented PKC with average of 46.7%, but the value of insoluble but degradable fraction in the rumen (b) was decreased. Fermentation by molds resulited in the reduction of fraction of insoluble CP but degradable (b) in the rumen by 50.42%. PKC fermentation by Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the higest CP degradability in the rumen and post rumen. It can be concluded that PKC has a high content of degradable CP in the rumen even without fermentation. Protein source from PKC fermented using Aspergillus oryzae categorized as the best source of feed protein in terms of increasing CP content and digestibility. Key Words : Palm Kernel Cake, Fermentation, Protein, Digestibility

III. Quantitative aspects of phosphorus excretion in ruminants.

Ruminant phosphorus excretion and metabolism were studied through a database. Faecal endogenous phosphorus is the main pathway of phosphorus excretion and averages 0.85 of total faecal phosphorus. The remaining 0.15 is unabsorbed dietary phosphorus. Faecal endogenous phosphorus is mainly unabsorbed phosphorus, with saliva being the major source, and is correlated to factors influencing saliva secretion (DM intake, physical dietary characteristics and dietary phosphorus content). Another source of faecal endogenous phosphorus is rumen microbial phosphorus that escaped solubilisation during post-rumen digestion. All factors stimulating microbial growth would increase phosphorus uptake by the rumen microbes and consequently the faecal endogenous phosphorus. Understanding the determinants of faecal endogenous phosphorus flow will help to precise the determination of net phosphorus requirements for maintenance. The role of plasma phosphorus in urinary phosphorus loss is discussed.

Comparative digestive ability and microbial population of Sistani (bos indicus) and Holstein (bos taurus) cattle fed different roughage diets

There is conflict regarding the relative abilities of Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle to digest the feedstuffs. Part of this conflict may have arisen because a wide variety of diets have been fed at different range of intakes and only digestibility in whole tract measured. Generally no attempts have been made to partition rumen and post-rumen digestion or to assess the relative importance of rumen digestion and clearance between diets and between genotypes. Nitrogen (N) is frequently a major limiting nutrient for ruminants specially when they are given diets of mature herbage. On the other hand the extent to which cattle are able to recycle urea-N from blood to rumen for utilization in production of microbial protein could have an important influence on animal survival under condition of severe N limitation. The present experiment was designed to compare rumen microbial population and the end products of rumen fermentation between Sistani (Bos indicus) and Holstein (Bos taurus) breeds.

The effects of quebracho tannins on rumen degradation and post-rumen digestion of pea and lupin seeds

The use of alternative protein sources in ruminant diets is of interest because of restrictions on the use of animal proteins, loss of nitrogen (N) compounds to the environment and efforts to reduce costs of systems. A problem of some protein-rich-ingredients is that they degrade rapidly in the rumen. The use of tannins has been proposed as a means of reducing the extensive dietary protein degradation in the rumen. However, condensed tannins have been reported to exert detrimental effects on gut microflora and on the gastrointestinal tract, and they can affect post-rumen digestion. The two experiments reported here aimed to study the influence of quebracho tannins (QTs) on ruminal degradation of peas (Pisum sativum) and sweet lupins (Lupinus luteus), and to investigate the effect of QTs on postrumen digestibility of these feeds using a poultry model.

A critique of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System with emphasis on dairy cattle. 2. The post-rumen digestion model

A critique of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System with emphasis on dairy cattle. 2. The post-rumen digestion model

Rumen and post-rumen digestion in lactating dairy cows fed fat from three sources

Whole oil seeds represent an alternative to many commercial rumen-protected fat sources as energy supplements in rations for lactating dairy cows. Rumen protection reduces the potential for negative effects of unsaturated fatty acids on fibre digestion, but the structure of many whole oil seeds are thought to reduce the reactivity of their fat in the rumen. Cotton seed is often imported for inclusion in UK dairy rations, but rape seed represents a home grown oil seed which has potential as an economical fat and protein source in UK dairy rations. However, the seed must be crushed or chemically treated to be digested effectively and crushing may liberate oil to the extent that rumen digestion is altered. In a 20 week lactation study, supplemental fat from rumen-protected fat, cotton seed and rape seed fed at 25 g/kg dry matter (DM) in a grass-silage based total mixed ration (TMR) increased milk yield to a similar extent. However, DM intake was reduced by cotton seed and milk protein was reduced by rumen-protected fat (Reynolds et al., 1998). These responses may reflect alterations in digestive function, thus the objective of the present study, conducted simultaneously to the lactation study, was to evaluate the effects of the same diets on rumen, postrumen and total digestion in lactating dairy cows.

Biological and chemical assessment of feed proteins before and after rumen exposure

Samples of six concentrate feedstuffs (soya-bean meal, sunflower meal, fish meal, maize gluten meal, cottonseed cake and linseed cake) were incubated in the rumens of four mature cows for 14 h. The residues and non-incubated feedstuffs were used to make 12 diets for a biological assay in golden hamsters. The intestinal digestibility of the feed samples and residues was determined with a mobile nylon bag technique. Samples were also analysed for their amino acid content to calculate essential amino acid indexes for milk and meat. The biological value (BV) measured in hamsters varied with feed and rumen exposure (feed × incubation effect P < 0.01). The correlations between hamster BV and essential amino acid index (EAAI) were significant but low (0.64 and 0.65 for milk and meat respectively, P < 0.05). Nitrogen digestibility was significantly ( P < 0.001) lower in the hamsters than in the mobile bags. The amino acid profiles of the six feeds before and after rumen incubation varied only slightly and the EAAI was not affected by rumen exposure. The golden hamster cannot be considered an adequate model animal for determining post rumen digestibility and BV but it does provide a useful comparative indicator for the changes which feeds undergo in the rumen.

Rumen degradation and intestinal digestion of crambe and other oilseed by-products in dairy cows

The by-products of several oilseeds ( Crambe abyssinica, Euphorbia lagascae, Dimorphotheca pluvialis and Limnanthes alba) were analysed for their chemical composition, and studied for in vitro digestibility, rumen degradation and post-rumen digestion in dairy cows. In situ nylon bag and mobile bag techniques were employed for rumen and intestine incubations. Rapeseed and soya-bean meals were used as reference feeds. The results indicated that some of these oilseed by-products were potentially useful feed ingredients. Properly dehulled and defatted crambe meal showed the highest potential degradability of the samples examined. Potential rumen degradabilities (100 minus the undegradable fraction) of organic matter for crambe meal, crambe cake, crambe hulls, euphorbia meal, dimorphotheca meal, limnanthes cake, rapeseed and soya-bean meals were 96%, 73%, 43%, 62%, 67%, 84%, 85% and 95%, respectively. The intestinal digestibility of rumen-undegraded nutrients was largely dependent on their rumen residence time, but the fraction of undigestible protein was not. The total tract digestibilities of sample protein (100 minus undigestible fraction) were determined as 98%, 95%, 97%, 88%, 79% and 92% for crambe meal, crambe cake, euphorbia meal, dimorphotheca meal, limnanthes cake and rapeseed meal, respectively.

The role of condensed tannins in the nutritional value of Lotus pedunculatus for sheep. 4. Sites of carbohydrate and protein digestion as influenced by dietary reactive tannin concentration.

1. Vegetative secondary growth Lotus pedunculatus was cut daily, and fed fresh at hourly intervals (600 g dry matter (DM)/d) to three groups each of three sheep fitted with permanent cannulas into the rumen and duodenum. Lotus fed to two of the groups was sprayed with low and high rates of polyethylene glycol (PEG; molecular weight 3350), which specifically binds the condensed tannins (CT). Nutrient intake and faecal excretion were measured directly, duodenal flows estimated from continuous intraruminal infusion of inert ruthenium phenanthroline (Ru-P) and CrEDTA markers, and rumen pool sizes measured at slaughter. 2. Dietary concentrations of total reactive CT (i.e. that not bound to PEG) were 95, 45 and 14 g/kg DM, whilst the corresponding values for free CT were 15, 5 and 2 g/kg DM. 3. Increasing dietary reactive CT concentration linearly increased duodenal flows of non-ammonia nitrogen, but linearly decreased the apparent digestibility of energy and organic matter, and rumen digestion of hemicellulose but not of cellulose. Rumen digestion as a proportion of total digestion was increased by the higher PEG rate for organic matter, energy, pectin and lignin. 4. High dietary CT concentration was associated with increased N retention. Rumen ammonia concentration and pool size showed only a slight decline on this diet, indicating that there must have been increased recycling of N into the rumen. 5. Increasing dietary reactive CT concentration had no effect on the rate at which carbohydrate constituents were degraded in the rumen per unit time (FDR), but increased the rate at which their undegraded residues (FOR) left the rumen per unit time. The latter appeared to be the principal mechanism by which rumen digestion as a proportion of total digestion was reduced at high dietary CT concentrations. From a comparison of FDR and FOR of carbohydrate components in lotus and Brassica oleracea diets, it was concluded that hemicellulose digestion was rate-limiting for rumen cell-wall digestion, probably due to bonding with lignin. However, the considerable post-rumen digestion of hemicellulose was not associated with post-rumen lignin digestion. 6. It was concluded that a desired concentration of CT in Lotus sp. should represent a balance between the positive effect of CT in improving the efficiency of N digestion and their negative effect in depressing rumen carbohydrate digestion. A recommended concentration is 30-40 g/kg DM.