Proportion Of Acetic Acid Research Articles

Combination of Phytoactives in the Diet of Lactating Jersey Cows: Effects on Productive Efficiency, Milk Composition and Quality, Ruminal Environment, and Animal Health.

This study's objective was to evaluate whether adding a combination of phytoactive (microencapsulated essential oils, minerals, turmeric extract, tannin, prebiotic, and probiotic) to the feed of lactating Jersey cows positively affects the production, composition, and quality of milk, rumen environment, and animal health. Fourteen Jersey cows were divided into two groups (control and phytogenic) for an experiment with two lactation phases of 45 days each (early lactation and mid-lactation). During the experiment, milk production was higher at various times in cows that consumed phytoactive, and these animals had the best feed efficiency. In mid-lactation, phytoactive intake increased nutrient digestibility. The number of lymphocytes in the blood is reduced when cows consume phytoactive substances. Globulin levels increased in these cows fed with the additive, which may be related to a higher concentration of immunoglobulins, especially IgA. Cows fed phytoactives had lower ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin concentrations. Lower serum lipid peroxidation, associated with greater glutathione S-transferase activity, is a good health indicator in cows that consume phytoactive substances. The higher concentration of volatile fatty acids was due to the higher proportion of acetic acid in the ruminal fluid combined with lower butyric acid. Somatic cell counts in milk were lower in cows that consumed phytoactives during mid-lactation, as well as the effect of the treatment on Streptococcus spp. (lower in cows that consumed the additive). We conclude that consuming the additive benefits cows' health modulates rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility, and positively affects milk production and quality.

Nicotinamide benefited amino acid metabolism and rumen fermentation pattern to improve growth performance of growing lambs.

Nicotinamide (NAM) is easily degraded in the rumen, the rumen-protected NAM (RPN) supplementation might enable the use of NAM in ruminants. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of RPN supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status and AA metabolism in growing lambs. A total of 128 healthy and similar lambs (21.3 ± 0.28 kg, 70 ± 6.3 days of age) were allotted to 1 of 4 groups. The treatments were 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/d RPN supplementation. The RPN products (50% bioavailability) were fed at 0700 h every day for 12 weeks. All lambs were fed the same pelleted total mixed rations to allow ad libitum consumption and had free access to water. The RPN tended to increase the average daily gain and feed efficiency. The tendencies of RPN × Day interaction were found for dry matter intake during the entire study (P = 0.078 and 0.073, respectively). The proportions of acetic acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid were decreased, whereas the proportions of propionic acid and valeric acid were increased (P < 0.05). The ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid was decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, the antioxidative status was enhanced and the glucose concentration was increased by RPN (P < 0.05). In addition, 17 amino acids (AAs) were detected in plasma, of which 11 AAs were increased by RPN (P < 0.05). Plasma metabolomics analysis identified 1395 compounds belonging to 15 classes, among which 7 peptides were significantly changed after RPN supplementation. Overall, the results suggested that RPN supplementation favoured the rumen fermentation pattern to propionic acid-type with benefited glucose metabolism, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and changed the AA and small peptide metabolism. This study provides a new perspective for studying the relationship between vitamin and AA metabolism.

Impact of Seasonal Variation in Pasture on Rumen Microbial Community and Volatile Fatty Acids in Grazing Yaks: Insights from High-Altitude Environments.

The environment is one of the most important factors influencing the variation and diversity of the host gut microbiome in plateau areas. It is well-established that dietary variations substantially alter the rumen microbiota. However, there is limited research on the response of the rumen microbiota of grazing yaks to changes in seasonal diet composition under high-altitude environments. This study investigates the seasonal variations in rumen fermentation parameters, bacterial, and fungal communities in yaks, with a focus on the cold and warm seasons. Quantitative data revealed that in the cold season, yaks had an increased acetic acid proportion (p < 0.05) and acetic acid/propionic acid ratio (p < 0.05) compared to the warm season. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were 64.67% and 25.82% in the cold season, respectively, and 66.77% and 26.87% in the warm season. The fungal community showed a higher abundance of Ascomycetes (58.72% to 76.91%) and Neocallimastigomycota in the cold season. These findings highlight the adaptation mechanisms of yaks to seasonal dietary changes and their implications for optimizing yak husbandry practices.

Strategies for regulating crystallinity and surface quality based on solvent multistage volatilization

In this paper, Bi2212 superconducting thin films were prepared with metal acetate as salt source and a mixture of acetic acid and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent. The volatilization process of the solvent was regulated by changing the ratio of the mixed solvent, which in turn achieved the regulation of the surface morphology and crystallinity of the Bi2212 superconducting films. The mechanism of the mixed solvents on the crystallinity and surface quality of Bi2212 superconducting films was systematically investigated. The results showed that the Bi2212 superconducting films were all (00l) epitaxial growth. The grain size of Bi2212 increased continuously with the increase of the proportion of acetic acid in the solvents. The grain size of the largest grain size was 43.8 nm when the proportion of acetic acid was 80 %. However, the high proportion of acetic acid in the mixed solvents reduced the surface quality of Bi2212 thin films. The minimum surface roughness was 15.0 nm at 40 % acetic acid. All the samples exhibited good superconducting properties. This work provides a research basis for the systematic preparation of multicomponent oxide thin films.

In vitro fermentation end-products and rumen microbiome as influenced by microencapsulated phytonutrient pellets (LEDRAGON) supplementation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of microencapsulated bioactive compounds from lemongrass mixed dragon fruit peel pellet (MiEn-LEDRAGON) supplementation on fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradability, methane production, and the microbial diversity using in vitro gas production technique. The study was carried out using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five levels of MiEn-LEDRAGON supplementation at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% of the total dry matter (DM) substrate. Supplementation of MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet at levels of 3 or 4% DM resulted in increased (p < 0.05) cumulative gas production at 96 hours (h) of incubation time, reaching up to 84.842 ml/ 0.5 g DM. Furthermore, supplementation with 3% MiEn-LEDRAGON resulted in higher in vitro nutrient degradability and ammonia–nitrogen concentration at 24 h of the incubation time when compared to the control group (without supplementation) by 5.401% and 11.268%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, supplementation with MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet led to an increase in the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes at 24 h and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens at 12 h, while decreasing the population of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Methanobacteriales (p < 0.05). Moreover, supplementation of MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet at levels of 2 to 4% DM resulted in a higher total volatile fatty acids (VFA) at 24 h, reaching up to 73.021 mmol/L (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was an increased proportion of propionic acid (C3) and butyric acid (C4) at 12 h (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, there was a decrease in the proportion of acetic acid (C2) and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (C2:C3), along with a reduction of methane (CH4) production by 11.694% when comparing to the 0% and 3% MiEn-LEDRAGON supplementation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing MiEn-LEDRAGON at 3% of total DM substrate could be used as a feed additive rich in phytonutrients for ruminants.

Natural deep eutectic solvents pretreatments for sludge dewaterability improvement and subsequent volatile fatty acids production: Insights of sludge disintegration and metagenomic characterization

Higher economic returns and carbon–neutral benefits drive research shifting to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) recovery from sludge treatment. The novel natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) based pretreatments of waste activated sludge (WAS) were proposed, focusing on sludge dewaterability, organics dissolution, and subsequent production of VFAs via anaerobic fermentation. Three different pretreatment methods, i.e., NADES treatment alone, NADES with 80 °C thermal treatment, and NADES with 180 °C hydrothermal treatment were systematically compared. The dewaterability of sludge significantly improved only when NADES assisted by thermal treatments, which was interpreted by a substantial decline in capillary suction time (CST) and water-holding capacity. All three pretreatments boosted the VFAs production from sludge (1.40–2.33 times compared with control), and increased the proportion of acetic acid by about 10%. Results showed that the highest VFAs yield of 2728.71 mg COD/L was obtained from NADES combined with 180 °C hydrothermal treatment, which was increased by 133 % compared with the control. Such performance is much higher than a surfactant assisted hydrothermal treatment recently reported in the literature (increased by 27 %). Mechanistic studies elucidated that NADES stimulated sludge solubilization, enhancing the release of organic substrates for VFAs production. Further metagenomic analysis demonstrated that the hydrolytic-acidogenic bacteria were enriched after NADES treatments. Moreover, glycosyl transferases (GTs) and carbohydrate esterases (CEs) were the primary carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) enhanced by NADES addition. This study provides new insights into green solvents simultaneously enhanced sludge dewatering and resource recovery.

PSI-12 Dietary isoacids modulate nutrient digestibility and fermentation products in ileal digesta and feces of growing pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets

Abstract Branched-chain fatty acids, or isoacids, are the product of branched-chain amino acid fermentation and have been associated with benefits on the productivity of ruminants, primarily by positively modulating gut microbes and promoting gastrointestinal health. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal inclusion level of isoacid blend product based on apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, and fermentation products in growing pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets. Twelve cannulated pigs [body weight (BW) = 20.9 + 0.6 kg] were used in a 5-period switch-back design with 6 diets and 2 replicate pigs in each period (n = 10 observations per dietary treatment). Experimental diets consisted of increasing levels (0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, and 1.5%) of an isoacid blend (isobutyrate, isovalerate, and 2-methyl butyrate, 1:1:1) added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. Each experimental period lasted 14 d: 10 d for acclimatization to the diets, 2 d for fecal collection, and 2 d for digesta collection. Diets, fecal, and ileal digesta samples were analyzed for gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), fiber composition, amino acids (AA), and titanium. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids and ammonia were analyzed in digesta and fecal samples. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effects of increasing levels of isoacids. Dietary supplementation of isoacids improved (P &amp;lt; 0.1, linear and/or quadratic) AID of crude fiber and hemicellulose and most of the indispensable AA (except Met+Cys, Trp, and Val) as well as ATTD of CP, GE, neutral detergent fiber, and hemicellulose. In addition, ATTD of Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Met+Cys, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val increased quadratically (P &amp;lt; 0.1). Collectively, 1% isoacid inclusion promoted the greatest responses in most measured variables (% increase: unsupplemented vs. 1%): AID of Lys (9.3%), Met (5.7%), Thr (17.8%), Leu (7.4%), Ile (9.2%), Phe (7.8%), His (5.9%), Arg (4.9%); ATTD of CP (2.1%), GE (1.3%), NDF (3.9%), hemicellulose (&amp;gt;50%), overall indispensable AA (9.5%), overall dispensable AA (8.6%). On the other hand, the inclusion of isoacids quadratically increased (P = 0.071) the concentration of ammonia and decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.1) the concentration of acetic acid, iso-valeric acid, and total VFA in ileal digesta samples. In fecal samples, the proportion of acetic acid decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) quadratically while the proportion of propionic, valeric, and caproic acids increased (P &amp;lt; 0.1). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of isoacids at 1% can improve dietary nutrient digestibility, particularly ileal AA digestibility. Based on the changes in fermentation products, the modulation of intestinal microbiota through the gastrointestinal tract could be potentially related to the effects of isoacids on nutrient digestibility. However, the effects of isoacids supplementation on intestinal microbiota must be determined.

Sainfoin can be included up to 40% in the concentrate of finishing lambs without impairing their performance, rumen fermentation, and carcass quality

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is an excellent forage legume to be included in sheep diets as fresh forage, but its inclusion in concentrates fed to indoor lambs reared has been scarcely studied. This study evaluated the effects of including different levels of dehydrated sainfoin in the concentrates fed to light lambs during the finishing period on animal performance, ruminal fermentation, and carcass traits. Twenty–six weaned male Rasa Aragonesa lambs (14.0 ± 0.49 kg body weight) were randomly grouped and individually fed ad libitum with isoproteic and isoenergetic pelleted concentrates containing 0% (0SF; n=9), 20% (20SF; n=9) or 40% sainfoin (40SF; n=8) for 40 days, from weaning to slaughter. In addition, an in vitro assay was carried out to evaluate the concentrates. The 40SF lambs had a higher dry matter intake (P < 0.01) and tended to show an improvement in average daily gain (P < 0.10). The diet had no effect on carcass weight, dressing percentage, rectus abdominis color or subcutaneous caudal fat color (P > 0.05). Regarding the rumen study, the diet did not affect most ruminal fermentation parameters (P > 0.05), except for pH, which was greater in 40SF lambs than in 20SF lambs (P < 0.05), and the proportion of acetic acid and the acetic:propionic ratio, both of which were higher in 40SF and 20SF lambs than in 0SF lambs (P < 0.01). The results from the in vitro assay showed that the 40SF diet decreased the in vitro dry matter degradability, increased propionic, and decreased butyric proportion compared to 0SF concentrate (P < 0.05), but no effect was obtained for gas, methane, total volatile fatty acids, and ammonia formation among diets (P > 0.05). The lack of detrimental effects on lamb performance and carcass traits suggests that the inclusion of up to 40% sainfoin in the concentrate of light lambs reared indoors would be advisable to promote the use of local forages.

Effect of Replacing Corn Meal with Winged Bean Tuber (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) Pellet on Gas Production, Ruminal Fermentation, and Degradability Using In Vitro Gas Technique

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of replacing corn meal in ruminant diets with winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) tubers (WBT) on ruminal fermentation, gas production parameters, and in vitro degradability. The study employed a completely random design (CRD) in its execution. The experimental design employed was a completely randomized design (CRD), featuring eleven levels of corn meal substitution with winged bean tubers pellet (WBTP) at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%. The levels were grouped into four categories of replacement: control (0% in the diet), low levels (10%, 20%, and 30% in the diet), medium levels (40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% in the diet), and high levels (80%, 90%, and 100% in the diet). The experimental results indicated that substituting corn meal with WBTP at moderate and high levels in the diet could improve the performance of the fermentation process by increasing the gas production rate constant from the insoluble fraction (p &lt; 0.01). The IVDMD exhibited a higher degree of in vitro degradation after 12 h (h), with the mean value being higher in the high group compared to the medium until the high group (p &lt; 0.05). At the 4 h mark, the groups that substituted corn meal with WBTP exhibited a decrease in pH value (p &lt; 0.05) in comparison to the control group. The substitution of corn meal with WBTP resulted in the lowest protozoal count after 8 h in the median group (p &lt; 0.05). A significant difference in the effect of WBTP on total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration was observed at 8 h after incubation (p &lt; 0.05). The medium and high levels of WBTP replacement resulted in the lowest TVFA concentration at 8 h (p &lt; 0.05). The mean proportion of acetic acid (C2) linearly declined and was lowest when a high level of WBTP replaced cornmeal (p &lt; 0.05). The concentration of propionic acid (C3) at 8 h after incubation and average values were linearly significantly different when various levels of WBTP were utilized. Replacing corn meal with WBTP at a high level showed the highest concentration of C3. Moreover, substituting medium and high concentrations of WBTP for corn meal resulted in a significant reduction in both the C2:C3 ratio at 8 h and the mean value (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, WBTP exhibits a nutritional composition that is advantageous and may be an energetic substitute for corn meal.

Influence of Pre-Treatment on the Seasonal Variation of Smoked Baltic Sprat Texture and Color

The seasonal variation of Baltic sprat chemical composition leads to a change in smoked fish texture and color, which may pose challenges for industrial processing. This research aimed to evaluate the dependence of smoked sprat texture and color on the catching season and pre-treatment applied before the smoking of fish, following one year of frozen storage. Various proportions of sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and acetic acid were used in the solution for fish pre-treatment. The introduction of salts during the pre-treatment process for late-season fish has been found to enhance the texture of the smoked product. The color components of the lightness (L*) and redness (a*) measured on the smoked fish surface remained consistent throughout the catching season, whereas the yellowness (b*) showed a tendency to decrease towards the end of the season. Moreover, when acetic acid was applied to late-season fish, the yellowness of the smoked sprat surface increased compared to that of the sample without this pre-treatment. These findings suggest that the choice of pre-treatment methods can significantly improve the texture and color attributes of the smoked sprat, which is crucial for maintaining quality standards, especially in the context of industrial processing.

Hawthorn pectin plays a protective role in myocardial ischaemia by regulating intestinal flora and short chain fatty acids

Studies have shown that there is a close relationship between acute myocardial ischaemia (AMI) and intestinal flora imbalance. And pectin has a protective effect on AMI and regulates intestinal flora. Raw hawthorn pectin from hawthorn (RHP) is high methoxyl pectin, which is able to protect injury induced by AMI. After stir-frying of hawthorn, pectin from stir-fried hawthorn (FHP) transformed to low methoxyl pectin, the protective mechanisms against AMI is not well-understood. In this study, the protective effects of RHP and FHP against AMI rats were explored. The results revealed that FHP regulated myocardial enzymes including CK, CK-MB and CTn-1, oxidative stress-related indicator SOD more significantly than RHP. According to the determination of proportion of different kinds of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and abundance of microbiota producing SCFAs, it was speculated that RHP and FHP were fermented by these microbiota. RHP increased the proportion of acetic acid and butyric acid, while FHP increased the proportion of acetic acid in feces. Pretreatment with RHP and FHP enriched the beneficial microbiota and maintained the levels of SCFAs, which significantly increased after modeling. These results revealed that RHP and FHP played a protective role in myocardial ischaemia by regulating intestinal flora and SCFAs.

The Influence of Tannins, Saponins, and Direct Fed Microbials on In Vitro Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Microbiota

In-vitro experiments were conducted to determine the impact of tannins, saponins, and DirectFed-Microbials (DFM) on rumen fermentation characteristics. Rumen fluid was collected 2h post feeding from three cannulated crossbred (Angus x Hereford) feedlot steers (450±12.2 kg), adjusted to finishing diet. Rumen fluid from all steers were filtered, combined, and mixed with buffer. Vaccine bottles containing ground finishing diet and appropriate treatments were incubated with rumen fluid mixture (39 ˚C). Treatments consisted of 1) Control; 2) Commercial Tannin (TCH); 3) Hydrolysable Tannin (HT); 4) saponin; 5) TCH+DFM; 6) HT+DFM; and 7) Saponin+DFM. At 12 h post incubation, HT+DFM and Saponin+DFM had lesser (P&lt;0.05) molar proportions of acetic acid when compared to all other treatments. Saponin+DFM had greater (P&lt;0.05) molar proportions of propionic acid and a lesser (P&lt;0.05) acetate: propionate ratio when compared to treatments not containing DFM. Dry matter digestibility and pH were greater (P&lt;0.05) for saponin, TCH+DFM, HT+DFM and saponin+DFM, whereas pH was greater in treatments containing DFM compared to the controls. Percent CO2 was lesser (P&lt;0.05) in saponin and THC+DFM in vitro vessels compared to controls. At 18 h post fermentation total VFA concentrations, molar proportions of butyric and valeric acid, and gas cap N2 percentage were greater (P&lt;0.05) in in vitro vessels containing HT+DFM compared to controls. The percentage of CO2 was lesser in in vitro vessels containing HT compared to control and in vitro vessels containing saponin, HT+DFM and Saponin+DFM. At 12 h, alpha and beta diversity of the microbial community between treatments differed (P&lt;0.05). Across all samplesat 18 h of fermentation the genera Sharpea and Dialister were present, however Saponin+DFM and TCH+DFM treatments demonstrated the greatest relative abundance. While Sharpea contribute to rumen biohydrogenation, the presence of genus Dialister indicates association with energy harvesting bacteria and suggests that the inclusion of several of these feed additives allowed shifts of certain bacteria to occur.

Evaluating the effects of wilting, mixing with timothy and silage additive application on red clover silage quality

Red clover is typically produced as a mixed stand with grasses, which may lead to suboptimal fertilization and harvest time practices, resulting in poor survival of red clover. Further, unknown proportions of red clover in mixed swards complicate ration formulation for livestock. Thus, producing red clover as pure stands could offer benefits, but it may be difficult to ensile. The objective of the current study was to evaluate major management possibilities such as wilting, inclusion of timothy grass and different types of additives in optimizing the ensilage of red clover. Low DM silages were poorly preserved with high pH, elevated acetic acid concentrations and proportions of ammonia-N in total N, as well as depleted water-soluble carbohydrate levels. Moderate wilting clearly improved the fermentation quality of silages. Further, the use of formic acid-based additives improved the fermentation quality of the silages, the effect being more pronounced in the low than medium dry matter silages. The composition of red clover and timothy were rather similar regarding dry matter content and ensilability. This was probably the reason why clear benefits in silage quality from timothy inclusion could not be demonstrated.

Composition of the rumen archaeal community of growing camels fed different concentrate levels.

Understanding the rumen fermentation and methanogenic community in camels fed intensively is critical for optimizing rumen fermentation, improving feed efficiency, and lowering methane emissions. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR, and high-performance liquid chromatography, this study evaluates the influence of different concentrate supplement levels in the diet on rumen fermentation as well as the diversity and structure of the rumen methanogenic community for growing dromedary camels. Twelve growing camels were divided into three groups and given three levels of concentrate supplement, 0.7% (C1), 1% (C2), and 1.3% (C3) based on their body weight. All animals were fed alfalfa hay ad libitum. The levels of total volatile fatty acid, rumen ammonia, and methanogen copy number were unaffected by the supplementation level. Increasing the concentrate supplement level increased the proportion of propionic acid while decreasing the proportion of acetic acid. Increasing the level of concentrate in the diet had no effect on alpha diversity metrics or beta diversity of rumen methanogens. Methanobrevibacter and Methanosphaera predominated the methanogenic community and were declined as concentrate supplement level increased. This study sheds new light on the effect of concentrate supplement level in growing camels' diet on rumen fermentation and methanogenic community, which could help in the development of a strategy that aimed to reduce methane emissions and enhance feed efficiency.

Impacts of seasonal variation on volatile fatty acids production of food waste anaerobic fermentation

This study aims to investigate the influence of seasonal variations on Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production from food waste (FW) and to quantify their impact. Results of batch experiments with external pH control indicated that the properties of FW exhibited significant seasonal variations and were markedly different from kitchen waste (KW). The spring group demonstrated the highest VFA concentration and VFA/SCOD, at 31.24 g COD/L and 92.20 % respectively, which were 1.22 and 1.27 times higher than those observed in the summer season. The combined proportion of acetic acid and butyric acid accounted for 81.10 % of the total VFAs in spring, suggesting the highest applicability to the carbon source. The VFA content of all seasonal groups in descending order was butyric acid, propionic acid and acetic acid. Carbohydrates, along with spicy and citrusy substances, promoted the conversion of total VFA and butyric acid, while proteins and lipids favored the production of acetic acid and propionic acid.

PSV-12 The Influence of Trace Mineral Source on Rumen Trace Mineral Solubility and In-Vitro Fiber Digestion in Steers Fed a Lactating Dairy Diet

Abstract Eight individually fed fistulated steers (410 ± 10 kg) were used to investigate the impact of trace mineral source on rumen trace mineral solubility and in vitro fermentation characteristics. Steers were sorted by body weight, into two trace mineral (TM) treatment groups (n = 4/treatment). Treatments consisted of TM supplementation at 10 mg Cu, 40 mg Mn, and 60 mg Zn/kg DM from either sulfate TM (STM) or hydroxy TM (HTM) sources. Steers were fed a diet balanced to meet the nutrient requirements (TMR) for lactation dairy cow. Dietary TM treatments were mixed with dried distillers grains and top dressed daily. Rumen contents were collected at 0, 2, and 4 h post feeding on d 1 and 14 of the experiment. Rumen samples were centrifuged at 1,500 × g for 15 min. The supernatant and the digesta pellet were frozen, separately, at −20°C for TM analysis. On d 15 of the experiment, approximately 500 g (wet weight) of rumen contents were collected from each steer 2 hours post-feeding. Strained ruminal fluid (SRF) was obtained by squeezing the rumen contents through 2 layers of cheese cloth. The retained digesta (150 g wet weight) was washed with 2.2 L pre-warmed McDougall’s buffer to remove particle associated microorganism (PAO). The SRF and the PAO were then filtered through 8 layers of cheesecloth, separately, and mixed at a ratio of 1:2 (SRF:PAO). The SRF:PAO mixture for each steer was incubated with the TMR containing HTM and a separate incubation with the TMR containing STM for 0, 12, and 24 h (3 replicate in vitro tubes/animal/TMR treatment) at 39°C under anaerobic conditions. After each incubation time, samples were centrifuged at 1,500 x g. The supernatant was removed and frozen at -20°C for VFA analysis. The digesta pellet was dried at 60°C and DM, NDF, and ADF digestibility determined. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized block design with individual animal as the experimental unit. There was a treatment x day x sample type interaction for rumen Zn (P &amp;lt; 0.04) and Mn (P &amp;lt; 0.03) concentrations. Zinc and Mn concentrations were greater in digesta and lesser in supernatant in STM compared with HTM supplemented animals. Rumen distribution of Cu was not impacted by TM source. In vitro molar proportions isobutyric acid were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in HTM compared with STM supplemented animals, while the molar proportion of propionic acid were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in STM supplemented animals. Total VFA concentration, molar proportions of acetic and propionic acid, and DM, NDF, and ADF digestibility were not impacted by dietary trace mineral source or rumen fluid source. These data may indicate that the source of trace mineral can influence trace mineral solubility in the rumen.

The feasibility of partial replacement of berseem hay by spent mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) substrate in rabbit diets on growth performance, digestibility, caecum fermentation, and economic efficiency

ABSTRACTNowadays, agricultural by-product disposal is a major concern. The mushroom by-products could be used as an alternative feed source in rabbit diets. Therefore, partial replacement of berseem hay (BH) with spent mushroom substrate (SMS) was conducted in four experimental groups as follows: 0, 20, 40, and 60% of SMS. Forty weaned New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits at 6th weeks of age with an initial body weight of 520.25 ± 70.01 g were fed the experimental diet for 8 weeks. The results showed that ash content and cell wall constituents in SMS were higher than in BH, while the other nutrient compounds in SMS were lower than in BH. Dietary SMS at a level of 60% increased the final body weight (p = 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (p ≤ 0.05). However, average daily gain and total feed intake were not affected by treatments. The replacement of SMS at levels of 40 and 60% significantly improved nutrient digestibility and total digestible nutrient value. SMS 60% decreased (p = 0.040) faecal N and improved (p = 0.006) retained nitrogen. The SMS replacement increased caecum length (p = 0.001), and full and empty caecum weight (p = 0.001 and 0.021, respectively) compared to the control. The SMS inclusion caused a decrease (p = 0.021 and 0.007) in the pH and NH3-N concentrations, respectively. Total VFA, acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid proportions increased with the dietary inclusion of SMS in a level-dependent manner. Using SMS as a replacement for BH in growing rabbit diets reduced the total feed cost, and consequently improved net revenue, economic efficiency, and relative economic efficiency.

Micellar Effect on the Oxidation of Anisaldehyde by Quinolinium Dichromate in Aqueous Acidic Media: A Kinetic Study

Aims: Oxidation of p-anisaldehyde by Quinolinium dichromate (QDC) in the aqueous acetic acid medium in the presence of sulphuric acid using surfactants. Background: The oxidation studies of anisaldehyde is very important as the oxidized products are used as a synthetic intermediate for the preparation of a variety of drugs. Quinolinium dichromate (QDC) has emerged as a very useful and versatile oxidant. Micellar medium enhances the reaction rate. Objective: 1. To study the kinetics of the reaction, which includes the determination of order, rate, and activation parameters. 2. Spectral characterization of QDC by NMR and the kinetic study of the reaction mechanism is done through UV – A visible spectrophotometer. 3. Solvent effect for the oxidation of anisaldehyde by QDC. 4. Determination of critical micelle concentration (CMC) of used surfactants (CTAB and SDS). Methods: The reactions were followed at constant temperature and were followed by monitoring the UV – Visible spectrophotometer (Double Beam – 2203) in a quartz cuvette of 1 cm path length by following the absorbance decay of Cr (VI) at 440 nm. Result: KINETIC RESULTS: 1. The reaction follows first-order dependence on panisaldehyde and QDC. 2. The reaction is found to be acid-catalysed. A plot of log [k] versus log [H+] was found to be a straight line with a slope of 1.07. EFFECT OF SOLVENT: The rate of reaction increases with the increase in acetic acid proportion in the medium, which suggests that the reactions were of the ion–dipole type. MICELLAR EFFECT: 1. Experimental results demonstrated that anionic surfactant SDS catalysed and accelerated the study more effectively than CTAB, which is a cationic surfactant, and the rate of reaction increases with an increase in the concentration of the SDS while in the case of CTAB, the rate decreases with an increase in its concentration. 2. CMC values of CTAB and SDS were 3.9 mM and 8.2 mM, respectively. Conclusion: The value of negative ΔS (entropy of activation) and positive ΔH (enthalpy of activation) suggests the formation of more ordered activated complexes, and the transition state is highly solvated. SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS 1.NMR characterisation of synthesised QDC shows a resemblance with pure QDC. 2. Effect of oxidant QDC, panisaldehyde and acid was studied by considering the spectra of the reaction mixture and varying their concentration.

Calcium peroxide mediated sustainable microalgal-bacterial consortium system: Role and significance of configured anaerobic fermentation

Microalgal-bacterial consortium (MBC) is an effective way to meet increasingly stringent standards in wastewater treatment, with advantages in nutrient removal, resource recovery, and energy conservation. The efficient and stable operation of the MBC sewage treatment system is generally limited by the insufficient and unstable carbon source in the influent. In this study, a calcium peroxide-mediated anaerobic fermenter was configured to transfer the MBC sludge into the preferred carbon source, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in-situ, to alleviate the limitations. Experimental results showed that after 4-day 0.15 g/g VS calcium peroxide mediated anaerobic fermentation, the production of SCFAs and the proportion of acetic acid reached 514.8 mg COD/g VS and 59 %, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy, COD mass balance analysis, and lactate dehydrogenase assays jointly showed that calcium peroxide effectively promoted the breakdown of MBC sludge cells, which led to the release of large amounts of organic matter and could be attributed to the released OH–, ·OH and ·O2– from calcium peroxide, thereby providing more bioavailable substrates for SCFAs production. Microbial community analysis indicated that the anaerobes associated with hydrolysis and degradation of refractory organic matters were enriched in the mediated fermenter and had positive correlation with SCFAs production. Using such fermentation liquid as an additional carbon source for influent sewage, the MBC process performance was significantly promoted, with phosphorus and COD removal and sludge settleability reaching 84.7 %, 96.1 %, and 33 %, respectively. Configuring calcium peroxide-mediated anaerobic fermentation may thus become a sustainable strategy to strengthen the MBC sewage treatment system, thus providing new ideas for wastewater treatment to reduce inputs and improve performance.

Impact of thermal hydrolysis time on volatile fatty acids production from sludge fermentation: Insights into dissolved organic matter transformation and microbial succession

While thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) represents a promising technology for enhancing the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), the specific impact mechanisms of the THP duration on the acidogenic fermentation process have yet to be fully understood. This study addresses this gap by investigating the influence of various THP times on biochemical processes, microbial components, and genetic mechanisms during the fermentation process. The results indicate that extending the THP duration from 10 to 30 min is advantageous for achieving higher VFAs production and an increased proportion of acetic acid (2876.5 and 28.9% versus 4523.8 mg COD L−1 and 44.6%). Mechanism investigations revealed that longer THP durations are particularly effective in enhancing hydrolysis and solubilization. Notably, The PN and PS concentrations at THP time of 30 min was 68.6% and 83.6% higher than that at THP time of 10 min at 2nd d. Additionally, extended THP durations led to the enrichment of VFAs-producing and hydrolysis functional microorganisms (e.g., Comamonas, Fonticella, Bacillus and Romboutsia), along with the specialized functional genes (e.g., accA, accC, accD and bccA), which are crucial for elevated VFAs production. Collectively, this study provides comprehensive insights into the impact mechanisms of varying THP durations on VFAs production and offers valuable contributions to the field of sludge management and resource recovery research.