Rumen Fermentation Efficiency Research Articles

Effects of Sunflower Oil Supplementation in Cassava Hay Based-diets for Lactating Dairy Cows

Twenty-four, lactating dairy cows were randomly assigned according to a Rrandomized complete block design (RCBD) to investigate the effect of sunflower oil supplementation (SFOS) with cassava hay based-diets on feed intake, digestibility of nutrients, rumen fermentation efficiency and milk production. The treatments were as follows: Tl = Control, using commercial concentrate as a supplement (CON); T2 = Concentrate with cassava hay (CHSO-0); T3 = Concentrate with cassava hay and 2.5% sunflower oil (CHSO-2.5); T4 = Concentrate with cassava hay and 5% sunflower oil (CHSO-5). The cows were offered concentrate feed at a ratio of concentrate to milk production of 1:2 and urea-treated rice straw was fed ad libitum. The results revealed that feed intake, digestibility of nutrients and ruminal pH were similar among all treatments, while ruminal NH 3 -N was lower (p<0.05) with SFOS. Blood urea-N (BUN) and milk urea-N (MUN) were not significantly affected by SFOS. The ruminal concentrations of volatile fatty acids were significantly different among the treatments. Sunflower oil supplementation significantly increased concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, and ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids in the milk, particularly the conjugated fatty acids, was significantly enhanced. Furthermore, production costs of treatments with sunflower oil supplementation were lower than for the control. Based on this study, SFOS in cassava hay based-diets improves rumen ecology, milk yield and milk quality, especially in terms of conjugated linoleic acids.

Effects of Sesbania sesban and Carduus pycnocephalus leaves and Fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds and their extracts on partitioning of nutrients from roughage- and concentrate-based feeds to methane

The leaves of Carduus and Sesbania and seeds of Fenugreek and their extracts in water, methanol/water (1:1 and 0.95:0.05, v/v) were evaluated for their effects on methane production and partitioning of nutrients in hay or concentrate-hay (68:32)-based diets. When incubated alone, all the three test plants had higher (P<0.05) partitioning factor (PF), expressed as mg truly degraded substrate/ml gas produced (from 3.35 to 4.86) compared to the basal substrate hay (PF = 3.11) or concentrate-hay mixture (PF = 3.16), indicating increased efficiency of microbial mass production. The lowest net methane production of 0.120 ml/ml of net gas and 0.0283 ml/mg on truly degraded substrate basis was obtained for Carduus when rumen liquor was taken from hay fed animal; and when rumen liquor was taken from concentrate fed animal these values for Carduus were 0.116 ml/ml of net gas and 0.0253 ml/mg truly degraded substrate. These values were lower when compared for hay or concentrate-hay mixture as a substrate (0.176–0.185 ml/ml of net gas and 0.0565–0.0587 ml/mg truly degraded substrate) (P<0.05). These values for Fenugreek and Sesbania were intermediate between those for hay and Carduus. On supplementation to the basal diets, Carduus reduced methane level by 20–21.5% on substrate-degraded basis (P<0.05) for both the basal diets. Saponin rich Fenugreek and Sesbania did not show any methane inhibition on volume basis despite decrease in the protozoal numbers by nearly 50% in both the basal diets. On the other hand, supplementation of Fenugreek and Sesbania to hay or concentrate-hay mixture increased the PF and decreased methane production per unit substrate degraded, suggesting that these supplements enhanced the efficiency of rumen fermentation. The methanol/water (1:1, v/v) extract of Carduus reduced methane level by 7.6–7.8% (P<0.05) while no reduction was observed for Fenugreek and Sesbania extracts. No change in methane levels on addition of a tannin inactivating agent, polyethylene glycol (MW 6000) or of saponin rich fraction from Carduus leaves to the in vitro incubations containing Carduus leaves together with very low saponin content in these leaves showed that the active moiety(ies) in Carduus is non-tannin and non-saponin. The efficacy of the supplements studied in this study in vitro should be investigated in vivo. The supplementation of Carduus leaves could be effective for both roughage and concentrate fed animals; whereas, Fenugreek seeds and Sesbania leaves are expected to be more effective for concentrate fed animals.

The effect of different level of feed intake on the urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Yellow cattle

1. Effects of level of feed intake and season on digestibility of dietary components, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, rumen fermentation and ruminal microbiota in yaks F.Y. Shi, N. Guo, A.A. Degen, J.H. Niu, H.Y. Wei, X.P. Jing, L.M. Ding, Z.H. Shang, R.J. Long Animal Feed Science and Technology CrossRef

Effect of Levels of Supplementation of Concentrate Containing High Levels of Cassava Chip on Rumen Ecology, Microbial N Supply and Digestibility of Nutrients in Beef Cattle

The object of this study was to determine the influence of supplementation of concentrate containing high levels of cassava chip on rumen ecology, microbial protein and digestibility of nutrients. Four, rumen fistulated crossbred beef steers with initial body weight of 400±10 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4x4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were concentrate cassava chip based offering at 0, 1, 2 and 3% BW with urea-treated rice straw fed ad libitum. It was found that ruminal pH was significantly decreased with increase of concentrate. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration in the rumen was significantly different among treatments. In addition, a molar proportion of propionate was higher in supplemented groups at 2 and 3% BW (p<0.05), leading to significantly decreased acetate:propionate ratio. Furthermore, microbial N supply was significantly improved and was highest at 2% BW supplementation. The efficiency of rumen microbial-N synthesis based on organic matter (OM) truly digested in the rumen was highest in level of concentrate supplementation at 2% BW (80% of cassava chip in diets). Moreover, bacterial populations such as amylolytic bacteria was linearly increased, while cellulolytic bacteria was linearly decreased (p<0.01) when cattle received concentrate supplementation in all levels. The total protozoal counts were significantly increased, while fungal zoospores were dramatically decreased in cattle receiving increased levels of concentrate. In conclusion, cassava chip can be use as energy source at 80% in concentrate and supplementation of concentrate at 2% BW with urea-treated rice straw as roughage could improve rumen fermentation efficiency in beef cattle.

Increased concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Evaluation in dairy cows in early lactation

AbstractTwelve multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows in early lactation were used to investigate the potential of using perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with a high concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) to increase the efficiency of milk production. Ad libitum access to one of two varieties of zero‐grazed herbage was given continuously for 3 weeks: treatment High Sugar (HS), an experimental perennial ryegrass variety (Ba11353) bred to contain a high concentration of WSC, harvested in the afternoon; or Control, a standard variety of perennial ryegrass (cv. AberElan), harvested in the morning. All dairy cows also received 4 kg d−1 of a standard dairy concentrate. Dairy cows given the HS diet treatment consumed 2·8 kg dry matter (DM) d−1 more than Control dairy cows (P &lt; 0·01), and the DM digestibility of the diet on the HS treatment was significantly greater than that of the diet on the Control treatment (0·75 vs. 0·72; s.e.d. 0·010; P &lt; 0·05). Excretion of urinary purine derivatives (PD) tended (P &lt; 0·1) to be higher from dairy cows on the HS treatment, implying increased microbial protein flow to the duodenum, although there was no significant difference in the apparent efficiency of rumen fermentation of either dietary nitrogen (N) or DM expressed as a ratio to urinary PD. Milk yields and milk composition were not significantly affected by dietary treatment, although true protein yields of milk were higher (P &lt; 0·05) from dairy cows given the HS treatment. The proportion of dietary N excreted in urine was significantly lower from HS cows, although the values were low for both treatments (0·20 g g−1 vs. 0·27 g g−1; s.e.d. 0·020; P &lt; 0·05). It is concluded that increased DM intakes by dairy cows given the HS treatment led to increased milk protein outputs. With a proportional decrease in urinary N excretion, the use of perennial ryegrass with a high WSC concentration, in the context of the harvesting regime used in this study, may help to reduce N pollution from dairy systems into which it is incorporated.

Effect of Levels of Sodium DL-malate Supplementation on Ruminal Fermentation Efficiency of Concentrates Containing High Levels of Cassava Chip in Dairy Steers

Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design to investigate effects of supplementation levels of sodium dl-malate in concentrates on rumen ecology, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen balance, feed intake and digestibility of nutrients and ruminal microbial protein synthesis. The dietary treatments were cassava concentrate-based, containing sodium dl-malate supplementation at 0, 9, 18 and 27 g/hd/d with urea-treated rice straw (UTS) fed ad libitum. The experiment was conducted for four periods, each period lasting 21 days. Ruminal pH increased with incremental addition of malate (p<0.05). Additionally, molar proportions of propionate were higher in supplemented groups and was highest at 18 g/hd/d of malate supplement (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis tended to be higher in dairy steers receiving sodium dl-malate supplements and also was the highest at 18 g/hd/d. Variable bacterial populations, such as amylolytic, proteolytic and cellulolytic species were increased (p<0.05). Furthermore, protozoal populations were decreased significantly (p<0.05), while fungal zoospores were dramatically increased in dairy steers receiving sodium dl-malate supplement (p<0.05). These results suggested that supplementation of concentrate containing a high level of cassava chip at 18 g/hd/d with UTS in dairy steers could improve rumen fermentation efficiency and rumen microbial protein synthesis. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 3 : 368-375)

Monensin supplementation of lactating cows fed tropical grasses and cane molasses or grain

Effects of monensin (Mon) on performance of Holstein–Friesian cows fed tropical grasses and cane molasses (M) or cereal grain were examined in three experiments. In experiment 1 (incomplete 4 × 4 Latin square), three rumen-fistulated cows [188 ± 11 days in milk (DIM)] were fed mixed diets based on rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana cv. Callide) hay where M was substituted for wheat grain (W) at rates of 0 (M0), 125 (M125) or 250 (M250) g/kg dry matter (DM). A fourth diet contained M250 plus 0.02 g Mon/kg DM (M250 + Mon). Substituting M for W tended ( P < 0.10) to decrease the ratio of rumen molar proportions of acetate + butyrate (Bu):propionate (Pr) (4.3 versus 3.8 and 4.0 for M0, M125 and M250, respectively). There were no treatment effects ( P > 0.10) on intake, organic matter digestibility, milk production or liveweight (LW) change. In experiment 2, 48 cows (173 ± 28.3 DIM) grazing kikuyu ( Pennisetum clandestinum cv. common) pastures and supplemented with maize silage and a grain-based concentrate were offered either M (2.6 kg DM/(cow day)) or barley grain (B) (2.7 kg DM/(cow day)). Within each supplement type, half were fed 0 or 320 mg of Mon/(cow day). There were Mon × supplement interactions (Mon × S; P < 0.05) on the rumen molar proportion of Pr and Bu at 15:00 h, with B + Mon having the highest value for Pr (0.259 mmol/mmol) and lowest value for Bu (0.121 mmol/mmol). A Mon × S effect ( P < 0.05) on milk fat content was noted with Mon causing a lower value regardless of energy source (31 and 36 g/l versus 40 and 38 g/l for B + Mon, M + Mon, B − Mon and M − Mon, respectively). As a main effect, M as opposed to B, reduced yields of milk ( P < 0.05; 16.2 l/(cow day) versus 18.0 l/(cow day)) and protein ( P < 0.05; 479 g/(cow day) versus 538 g/(cow day)). Monensin reduced milk fat yield ( P < 0.05; 669 g/(cow day) versus 562 g/(cow day)), raised milk protein concentration ( P < 0.05; 31 g/l versus 29 g/l) and caused LW gain rather than loss ( P < 0.05; +0.06 kg/(cow day) versus −0.30 kg/(cow day)). No treatment effects on pasture intake were noted. In experiment 3, 48 cows (91 ± 16.1 DIM) grazing kikuyu pasture and supplemented with grain-based concentrate, sugar cane silage and 2.7 kg DM/(cow day) of M were supplemented with either 0 or 320 mg Mon/(cow day). Monensin reduced ( P < 0.05) milk fat content (33 g/l versus 30 g/l) and tended ( P < 0.10) to reduce milk protein content (29 g/l versus 28 g/l). No effects of Mon on other milk production parameters, LW change or pasture intake were noted. Feeding monensin to mid-lactation Holstein–Friesian cows offered diets based on tropical grasses, and cane molasses or grain, improves rumen fermentation efficiency, thereby improving energy efficiency resulting in higher LW gain. Monensin had no effect on milk yield, but reduced milk fat concentration.

Effect of monensin sodium on fermentation efficiency in sheep rumen (short communication)

Abstract. The efficiency of rumen fermentation was studied in lambs and wethers using 14 experimental rations with and without monensin sodium. The 7 pairs of rations (the first a control diet, the second a monensin treated one) consisted of hay and concentrate at ratios of 60:40, 40:60, 100:0, 50:50 (lambs), 100:0, 75:25 and 50:50 (wethers), respectively. The molar % of acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric acids were taken into stoichiometric calculations of rumen fermentation. In most of the rations monensin increased rumen fermentation efficiency. Of all lamb and wether rations the highest efficiency was recorded in the monensin treated ones consisting of 40 % hay and 60 % concentrates and 50 % hay and 50 % concentrates, respectively. The high fermentation efficiency was probably due to the lowest methane production observed with these rations. This means that monensin increased the amount of metabolizable energy by decreasing methane energy losses. The increase in fermentation efficiency is associated with a high production of propionic acid and in wethers also with an increase in the gross efficiency of feed conversion.

Level of urea in high grain diets: nutrient digestibility, microbial protein production, and rumen metabolism (1994)

Four ruminally and duodenally fistulated steers (1228 lb) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to evaluate the effects of dietary urea level on nutrient digestion, microbial protein production, and rumen metabolism of steers fed a rolled corn diet without urea or with .5, 1.0, or 1.5% urea (dry matter basis) and no other supplemental protein. Rumen digestibilities increased 33% for organic matter and 25% for starch with the first increment (.5%) of urea, but little or no improvement occurred with subsequent urea additions. Apparent rumen nitrogen digestibility decreased linearly, whereas total tract and true ruminal nitrogen digestibility increased linearly with increased urea. Duodenal nitrogen flow and microbial protein production were not affected by treatment. Rumen pH decreased and total volatile fatty acids increased as dietary level of urea increased. Molar proportions of propionate increased and butyrate decrease d linearly with the addition of urea, suggesting increased efficiency of rumen fermentation. Rumen NH3 increased 63% following 1.0% urea addition to the diet. Urea improved ruminal digestibility and increased efficiency of fermentation but did not increase metabolizable protein to the small intestine.

Rice polishings as an alternative to sugar cane molasses as a supplement with urea to low-quality forage diets for ruminants

AbstractThe effect of including 14 g urea with either 75 g dry matter (DM) from sugar cane molasses (UM) or Colombian rice polishings (RP) at three levels, 68 (RP1), 137 (RP2) or 203 (RP3) g DM on grass hay DM intake and on rumen fermentation was investigated. An incomplete Latin-square design was used and each experimental period was divided into 12 days for adaptation to each diet followed by 9 days in metabolism cages when all measurements were made using five adult sheep.Pooled mean values for rumen metabolites (five samples per day) were calculated. Rumen pH was not affected by the nature of the supplements. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) (UM 92·8, RP1 84·2, RP2 86·4, and RP3 84·0 (s.e.d. 3·4) mmol/l) and lactate (UM 2·0, RP1 1/6, RP2 1/7, RP3 1/8 (s.e.d. 0·014) mmol/l) (UM v. RP, P &lt; 0·05 and P &lt; 0·10 respectively) were lower when RP were given, while concentration of branched and longer chain VFA (26·5, 34·0, 31·1 and 33·5 (s.e.d. 1·6) mmol/mol total VFA, UM v. RP, P &lt; 0·01) and ammonia (98, 131, 141, 137 (s.e.d. 16·1) mg/l, UM v. RP, P &lt; 0·05) were increased. Numbers of rumen protozoa (1·6, 3·2, 2·7, 3·3 (s.e.d. 0·75) × 105 per ml, UM v. RP, P &lt; 0·20) tended to be higher 2 h after feeding when RP rather than UM were given. However, hay DM intake (1050, 960, 960, 880 (s.e.d. 45·3) g/day, UM v. RP, P &lt; 0·05), and microbial protein supply (11·7, 9·3,11·1,10·8 (s.e.d. 0·59) g N per day, UM v. RP, P &lt; 0·05), estimated from urinary purine excretion were reduced by feeding RP instead of UM.At the levels of inclusion tested RP did not increase the efficiency of rumen fermentation and were not as effective a supplement with urea as was molasses for a low-quality forage diet.

Elaiophylin as a rumen fermentation efficiency enhancer.

Elaiophylin as a rumen fermentation efficiency enhancer.

Conjugal transfer of a shuttle vector from the human colonic anaerobe Bacteroides uniformis to the ruminal anaerobe Prevotella (Bacteroides) ruminicola B(1)4

Prevotella ruminicola (formerly Bacteroides ruminicola) is an anaerobic, gram-negative, polysaccharide-degrading bacterium which is found in the rumina of cattle. Since P. ruminicola is thought to make an important contribution to digestion of plant material in rumina, the ability to alter this strain genetically might help improve the efficiency of rumen fermentation. However, previously there has been no way to introduce foreign DNA into P. ruminicola strains. In this study we transferred a shuttle vector, pRDB5, from the colonic species Bacteroides uniformis to P. ruminicola B(1)4. The transfer frequency was 10(-6) to 10(-7) per recipient. pRDB5 contains sequences from pBR328, a cryptic colonic Bacteroides plasmid pB8-51, and a colonic Bacteroides tetracycline resistance (Tcr) gene. pRDB5 was mobilized out of B. uniformis by a self-transmissible Bacteroides chromosomal element designated Tcr Emr 12256. pRDB5 replicated in Escherichia coli as well as in Bacteroides spp. and was also mobilized from E. coli to B. uniformis by using IncP plasmid R751. However, direct transfer from E. coli to P. ruminicola B(1)4 was not detected. Thus, to introduce cloned DNA into P. ruminicola B(1)4, it was necessary first to mobilize the plasmid from E. coli to B. uniformis and then to mobilize the plasmid from B. uniformis to P. ruminicola B(1)4.

Production and Metabolism of Volatile Fatty Acids, Glucose and CO2 in Steers and the Effects of Monensin on Volatile Fatty Acid Kinetics

A study was conducted to determine effects of monensin supplementation on production and interconversion rates of rumen acetate, propionate, and butyrate and plasma acetate. Measurements were made by isotope dilution techniques in four Holstein steers fed a 70% alfalfa hay, 30% corn ration. In addition, a general kinetic method for solution of open systems has been applied to quantify metabolism of the rumen volatile fatty acids and glucose and the production of CO2. Dietary monensin increased rumen propionate production at the expense of rumen acetate production so that total volatile fatty acid production was unchanged. Butyrate production tended to increase, indicating that decreased acetate production may result in diversion of hexose to propionate and butyrate production and direction of reducing equivalents away from methane production. These changes were calculated to increase rumen fermentation efficiency by 6%. Oxidation of the rumen volatile fatty acids and systemic plasma glucose accounted for only 35% of CO2 production.

A series of pyromellitic diimides that improve the efficiency of rumen fermentation

A series of pyromellitic diimides that improve the efficiency of rumen fermentation

ルーメン発酵の効率と飼料のルーメン&amp;bull;バイパス

ルーメン発酵の効率と飼料のルーメン&amp;bull;バイパス

Effect of Monensin or Lasalocid, with and without Niacin or Amicloral, on Rumen Fermentation and Feed Efficiency

Effect of Monensin or Lasalocid, with and without Niacin or Amicloral, on Rumen Fermentation and Feed Efficiency

Using Plant Source as a Buffering Agent to Manipulating Rumen Fermentation in an In vitro Gas Production System.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of banana flower powder (BAFLOP) supplementation on gas production kinetics and rumen fermentation efficiency in in vitro incubation with different ratios of roughage to concentrate in swamp buffalo and cattle rumen fluid. Two male, rumen fistulated dairy steers and swamp buffaloes were used as rumen fluid donors. The treatments were arranged according to a 2×2×3 factorial arrangement in a Completely randomized design by using two ratios of roughage to concentrate (R:C; 75:25 and 25:75) and 3 levels of BAFLOP supplementation (0, 2 and 4% of dietary substrate) into two different kinds of rumen fluid (beef cattle and swamp buffalo). Under this investigation, the results revealed that the rumen ecology was affected by R:C ratio. The pH declined as a result of using high concentrate ratio; however, supplementation of BAFLOP could buffer the pH which led to an improvement of ruminal efficiency. BAFLOP supplementation affected acetic acid (C2) when the proportion of concentrate was increased. However, there were no effect on total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) and butyric acid (C4) by BAFLOP supplementation. The microbial community was affected by BAFLOP supplementation, especially the bacterial population. As revealed by real-time PCR, the populations of F. succinogenes and R. albus were reduced by the high concentrate treatments while that of R. flavafaciens were increased. The populations of three dominant cellulolytic bacteria were enhanced by BAFLOP supplementation, especially on high concentrate diet. BAFLOP supplementation did not influence the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration, while R:C did. In addition, the in vitro digestibility was improved by either R:C or BAFLOP supplementation. The BAFLOP supplementation showed an effect on gas production kinetics, except for the gas production rate constant for the insoluble fraction (c), while treatments with high concentrate ratio resulted in the highest values. In addition, BAFLOP tended to increase gas production. Based on this study, it could be concluded that R:C had an effect on rumen ecology both in buffalo and cattle rumen fluid and hence, BAFLOP could be used as a rumen buffering agent for enhancing rumen ecology fed on high concentrate diet. It is recommended that level of BAFLOP supplementation should be at 2 to 4% of total dry matter of substrate. However, in vivo trials should be subsequently conducted to investigate the effect of BAFLOP in high concentrate diets on rumen ecology as well as ruminant production.

Indices of Efficiency of Rumen Fermentation of Sheep Grazing Desert Range Forage as Influenced by Supplements of Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Indices of Efficiency of Rumen Fermentation of Sheep Grazing Desert Range Forage as Influenced by Supplements of Nitrogen and Phosphorus