Rumen Volatile Fatty Acid Profile Research Articles

Finisher lamb growth and rumen fermentation responses to the plane of nutrition and naturally occurring coccidiosis.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interaction of plane of nutrition and naturally occurring coccidiosis on finisher lamb growth performance, FAMACHA score, and rumen volatile fatty acid profile. The study included 30 Suffolk, Dorset or Suffolk x Dorset lambs and were divided into 2 groups based on their initial body weight and assigned to 2 feeding groups differing in dietary energy intake to create lambs representing divergent growth curves due to differing nutritional management. Lambs with naturally occurring coccidiosis and healthy lambs were present in both feeding groups making a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, (a) high plane of nutrition (HPN) lambs with no clinical coccidiosis diagnosis (HPNH), (b) HPN lambs with clinical coccidiosis (HPNC), (c) low plane of nutrition (LPN) lambs with no clinical coccidiosis diagnosis (LPNH), (d) LPN lambs with clinical coccidiosis (LPNC). Body weight and FAMACHA scores were recorded once every 2 weeks. On d 65 of feeding, lambs were slaughtered, and rumen fluid samples were collected and analyzed for volatile fatty acid concentrations. All response variables were analyzed statistically using a linear mixed effects model with fixed effects for plane of nutrition, health status, and a random effect for initial body weight nested within the pen. The total and average weight gain were not associated with planes of nutrition, health status, or the interaction. Health status had an impact on FAMACHA© score (P = 0.047) and concentration of isobutyrate (P = 0.037) and tended to affect total VFA (P = 0.085) and acetate (P = 0.071) concentrations. The interaction between the plane of nutrition and the health status tended to affect butyrate concentration (P = 0.058). These data support the conclusion that coccidiosis infection impacted on rumen fermentation in a manner independent of the plane of nutrition; however, the translation of these rumen level impacts did not translate to the production responses.

Phytogenic blend in the diet of growing Holstein steers: Effects on performance, digestibility, rumen volatile fatty acid profile, and immune and antioxidant responses

The present study determined whether adding the phytogenic blend to the diet of growing steers would improve weight gain, the apparent digestibility of nutrients, volatile fatty acid profiles, and alter immune and antioxidant responses. The experiment included 24 Holstein calves, with an average weight of 149.6 ± 5 kg maintained in a semi-confinement system. The animals were divided into two groups (treated and control). In the concentrate of the treated group, the test product was a phytogenic blend composed of micro-encapsulated cinnamon and oregano essential oils, free turmeric extract, and tannic acid. The animals in the treated group showed more significant weight gain than the control on day 30; there was a trend toward more significant weight gain from 1 to 60 days (P = 0.07). Butyric acid concentrations were higher in the rumen, and there was an interaction between treatment and day (day 30) in the treated group. The ruminal acetic and propionic acid concentrations were higher in animals in the treated group on day 30. The intake of the phytogenic blend increased the apparent digestibility coefficient of neutral detergent fiber but did not affect the apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, crude protein, or mineral matter. There were significantly fewer lymphocytes in the treated group on day 30. There was a treatment effect and interaction between treatment and day for cholesterol levels, with lower levels in the treated group than in the control group. Serum glucose concentrations were lower in animals in the treated group. There was an effect of the treatment on the concentration of total proteins and globulins, with the highest levels of these proteins in the animals in the treated group. Protein electrophoresis revealed that IgA and ceruloplasmin levels showed a treatment effect and interaction, with higher levels in the treated group (P < 0.05). Heavy chain immunoglobulin levels were lower in steers in the treated group at day 90. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels were lower in the treated group, indicating less lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). We found that the levels of reactive oxygen species were lower in the treatment group at day 30, and glutathione S-transferase activity and protein thiol levels were higher in this group. These findings suggest that adding the phytogenic blend to the animals' diet was critical in the initial phase, as it modulates volatile fatty acids, stimulates immunological biomarkers, and has antioxidant activity.

Evaluating Ruminal and Small Intestinal Morphology and Microbiota Composition of Calves Fed a Macleaya cordata Extract Preparation.

The objective was to determine the impact of feeding MCE on ruminal and intestinal morphology and microbiota composition of calves. A total of 10 male and 10 female crossbred (dairy × beef) calves (6 d of age) were assigned randomly to control (CTL; n = 10) or MCE-supplemented (TRT; n = 10) groups. The MCE was fed in the milk replacer and top-dressed on the calf starter during pre-weaning (6 to 49 d) and post-weaning (50 to 95 d) periods, respectively. Calves were slaughtered at 95 d to collect rumen and intestinal samples to determine volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile, mucosal morphology, and microbiota composition. The effects of MCE were analyzed by accounting for the sex and breed effects. Feeding MCE increased rumen papillae length (p = 0.010) and intestinal villus height: crypt depth (p < 0.030) compared to CTL but did not affect rumen VFA profile. The TRT had a negligible impact on microbial community composition in both the rumen and the jejunum. In conclusion, feeding MCE from birth through weaning can improve ruminal and small intestinal mucosa development of calves despite the negligible microbiota composition changes observed post-weaning.

Plasma Metabolites, Productive Performance and Rumen Volatile Fatty Acid Profiles of Northern Australian Bos indicus Steers Supplemented with Desmanthus and Lucerne.

The hypothesis tested was that tropical steers supplemented with the Desmanthus legume and lucerne, a widely characterized temperate legume of high nutritive value, would elicit similar responses in plasma metabolite profiles, productive performance, nitrogen retention, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). The tannin-binding compound, polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG), was added to the diets (160 g/kg Desmanthus dry matter) with the objective of further exploring nitrogen (N) utilization in the animals supplemented with Desmanthus relative to lucerne. From February to June 2020, sixteen yearling Brangus steers (average liveweight of 232 ± 6 kg) were fed a background diet of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay for 28 days, before introducing three Desmanthus cultivars (Desmanthus virgatus cv. JCU2, D. bicornutus cv. JCU4, D. leptophyllus cv. JCU7) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) at 30% dry matter intake (DMI). Relative to the backgrounding period, all supplemented steers exhibited similar growth performance. Steers supplemented with Desmanthus recorded a lower DMI and animal growth performance, but higher fecal N concentration than animals supplemented with lucerne. Among the three Desmanthus cultivars, there were no significant differences in N concentrations, VFA, and plasma metabolite profiles. The addition of PEG induced higher rumen iso-acid concentrations and fecal N excretion. However, feeding Desmanthus spp. to tropical Bos indicus steers could be a valuable means of increasing N utilization, which is attributable to the presence of tannins, and, consequently, improve animal productive performance. Since supplementation with lucerne resulted in higher liveweight, daily liveweight gains, and overall animal performance than supplementing with Desmanthus, the tested hypothesis that both supplements will elicit similar animal performance does not hold and must be rejected. Further in vivo investigation is needed to better understand the impact of tannins in Desmanthus on N utilization.

Effects of an artificial hay aroma and compound feed formulation on feed intake pattern, rumen function and milk production in lactating dairy cows

The Kempen system is a dairy feeding system in which diet is provided in the form of a compound feed (CF) and hay offered ad libitum. Ad libitum access to CF and hay allows cows in this system to achieve a high DM intake (DMI). Out of physiological concerns, the voluntary hay intake could be increased and the consumption pattern of CF could be manipulated to maintain proper rumen functioning and health. This study investigated the effects of an artificial hay aroma and CF formulation on feed intake pattern, rumen function and milk production in mid- to late-lactating dairy cows. Twenty Holstein–Friesian cows were assigned to four treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Diet consisted of CF and grass hay (GH), fed separately, and both offered ad libitum, although CF supply was restricted in maximum meal size and speed of supply by an electronic system. Treatments were the combination of two CF formulations – high in starch (CHS) and fibre (CHF); and two GH – untreated (UGH) and the same hay treated with an artificial aroma (TGH). Meal criteria were determined using three-population Gaussian–Gaussian–Weibull density functions. No GH × CF interaction effects on feed intake pattern characteristics were found. Total DMI and CF intake, but not GH intake, were greater (P < 0.01) in TGH treatment, and feed intake was not affected by type of CF. Total visits to feeders per day, visits to the GH feeder, visits to the CF feeder and CF eating time (all P < 0.01) were significantly greater in cows fed with TGH. Meal frequency, meal size and meal duration were unaffected by treatments. Cows fed CHF had a greater milk fat (P = 0.02), milk urea content (P < 0.01) and a greater milk fat yield (P < 0.01). Cows fed TGH had a greater milk lactose content and lactose yield (P < 0.05), and milk urea content (P < 0.01). Cows fed TGH had smaller molar proportions of acetic acid and greater molar proportions of propionic acid compared with UGH. In conclusion, treatment of GH with an artificial aroma increased CF intake and total DMI, but did not affect hay intake. Additionally, GH treatment increased the frequency of visits to both feeders, and affected rumen volatile fatty acid profile. Type of CF did not affect meal patterns, ruminal pH, nor fermentation profiles.

Variability in susceptibility to acidosis among high producing mid-lactation dairy cows is associated with rumen pH, fermentation, feed intake, sorting activity, and milk fat percentage

The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the variation in susceptibility to subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) among high producing, mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows fed a high-grain diet and to characterize animals that are rumen pH-tolerant to high-concentrate diets. Lactating dairy cows (n=78, days in milk=103±26.5; body weight=630±76.8kg) were fed a high-concentrate diet consisting of 35% forage and 65% concentrate. Cows were adapted for 14 d and then were sampled for 10 d. Rumen pH was measured by rumenocentesis for all cows at approximately 4h after the morning feeding, and reticuloruminal pH was measured for 14 cows via indwelling sensors. Although all cows were fed the same diet, rumenocentesis pH and minimum reticuloruminal pH values ranged from 5.05 to 6.98 and 4.78–6.08, respectively, and the acidosis index ranged from 0 to 28 pH×min/kg of dry matter intake (DMI). Cows were classified according to rumenocentesis pH as tolerant (pH≥6.0; n=26), marginal (5.8≤pH<6; n=21), and susceptible (pH<5.8; n=31). Cows were also classified according to reticuloruminal pH as susceptible if duration of an acidotic condition (pH<5.8) exceeded 330min/d (an average of 920min/d; n=9) and tolerant if the acidotic condition persisted <330min/d (an average of 78min/d; n=5). The classification based on rumenocentesis pH revealed that DMI during first 2h after morning feeding decreased with increasing SARA susceptibility (6.32 vs. 5.87 and 5.47kg/d±0.28 for tolerant, marginal, and susceptible cows, respectively; P<0.01). This result was associated with greater daily DMI of tolerant cows which also were of greater body weight, so intake per kg of body weight was not different among tolerant, marginal, and susceptible groups. Sorting against long particles and in favor of fine particles during the morning feeding (0–6h) also increased with increasing SARA susceptibility (P<0.01). However, when cows were classified according to reticuloruminal pH, DMI and sorting activity were not significant. Milk fat percentage was greater in tolerant cows, whereas total yield and yield of other components were not significant (P≤0.01). The proportions of isovalerate and valerate were correlated with increased SARA susceptibility in cows classified according to rumenocentesis pH (P=0.03), but the rumen volatile fatty acid profile was not affected by SARA susceptibility when cows were classified by reticuloruminal pH. We conclude that DMI during the first 2h after feeding, milk fat percentage, and valerate proportion in the ruminal fluid were the variables with the greatest correlation with ruminal pH (P≤0.05). These results indicate that substantial variation exists in SARA susceptibility among high producing, mid-lactation dairy cows, and that cows characterized as tolerant to the high-grain diet exhibit greater DMI and milk fat percentage, but decreased sorting behavior and proportion of isovalerate in the rumen.

Aspergillus oryzae α-amylase supplementation on rumen volatile fatty acid profile and relative abundance of mRNA associated with nutrient absorption in ruminal and duodenal tissue from beef steers

ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of Aspergillus oryzae α-amylase (AAM) supplementation on rumen VFA profile and relative abundance of mRNA associated with nutrient absorption in ruminal and duodenal tissue from beef steers. Nine crossbred beef steers (BW 622 ± 50 kg), fitted with rumen and duodenal fistulas, were used in this experiment. Steers were housed in individual stanchions and fed a high-concentrate finishing diet (6% forage NDF) twice daily for 8 d. Treatments included (1) control (corn meal; n = 5) and (2) AAM (fungal α-amylase 750 units/g; n = 4). Dietary treatment supplements were manufactured before each feeding by mixing 3 g of α-amylase or corn meal into 150 g of dried distillers grains for the morning feeding and 2 g of α-amylase or corn meal into 100 g of dried distillers grains for the afternoon feeding. Supplements were applied as a top dress for every feeding and thoroughly mixed by hand. On d 5, rumen fluid samples were obtained every 4 h for 24 h and analyzed for VFA. On d 9, rumen papillae and duodenal mucosal tissue samples were collected. Total tissue RNA was extracted for real-time PCR analysis. Sodium/potassium ATPase pump α1; glucose transporter 2 and 5; putative anion transporter isoform 1; sodium/hydrogen antiporter isoforms 1, 2, and 3; 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase isoform 2; downregulated in adenoma; monocarboxylate cotransporter isoform 1; and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA were tested. No treatment differences (P > 0.21) were detected for any of the genes analyzed in ruminal or duodenal tissue. Concentrations of VFA and the acetate-to-propionate ratio did not differ (P > 0.22) among treatments. However, the acetate-to-propionate ratio and molar percentages of butyrate were numerically greater (P = 0.17) in AAM steers compared with controls. Under the conditions of this experiment, AAM supplementation had no effect on relative expression of mRNA associated with nutrient absorption and minimal effects on molar proportions of VFA.

Subacute ruminal acidosis and total mixed ration preference in lactating dairy cows

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a condition where the pH of the rumen becomes abnormally acidic because of increased and altered production of volatile fatty acids. The objective of this experiment was to determine how a SARA challenge affects total mixed ration selection in dairy cows. In this study, 8 multiparous, lactating, ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were given a choice between a long-forage-particle-size diet with slow-fermenting starch (LC) and a short-forage-particle-size diet with fast-fermenting starch in a crossover design. Cows were allowed to adapt to this feeding scheme and were then subjected to a rumen challenge to induce a bout of SARA. The rumen challenge successfully decreased rumen pH and altered rumen volatile fatty acid profiles. Daily average rumen pH decreased from 6.02 to 5.77, and average minimum rumen pH decreased from 5.59 to 5.28. In addition, following the rumen challenge, concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and valerate, and acetate-to-propionate ratio increased. In response to the rumen challenge, intake of LC increased from the baseline level of 18.1% of total daily dry matter intake to 38.3% for that day. During the first recovery day after the rumen challenge, LC intake moderated to 28.0% of total daily dry matter intake. On the second recovery day, LC intake returned to baseline levels at 18.6%. These results indicate that cows are able to alter their diet preference for higher physically effective fiber and slower starch fermentability during a bout of SARA and that they can effectively fully recover from this type of SARA within 72h when appropriate diets are available.

Quantifying the effect of monensin dose on the rumen volatile fatty acid profile in high-grain-fed beef cattle1

Monensin is a common feed additive used in various countries, where 1 of the associated benefits for use in beef cattle is improved efficiency of energy metabolism by the rumen bacteria, the animal, or both. Modeling fermentation-altering supplements is of interest, and thus, it is the purpose of this paper to quantify the change in VFA profile caused by monensin dose in high-grain-fed beef cattle. The developmental database used for meta-analysis included 58 treatment means from 16 studies from the published literature, and the proportional change in molar acetate, propionate, and butyrate (mol/100 mol) as well as total VFA (mM) with monensin feeding dose (mg/kg DM, concentration in the feed) was evaluated using the MIXED procedure (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) with the study treated as a random effect. The mean monensin dose in the literature database was 30.9 ± 3.70 mg/kg DM and ranged from 0.0 to 88.0 mg/kg DM. Mean DMI was 7.8 ± 0.26 kg DM/d, mean concentrate proportion of the diet was 0.87 ± 0.01, and mean treatment period was 42 ± 5.6 d. Results produced the following equations: proportional change in acetate (mol/100 mol) = -0.0634 (± 0.0323) × monensin (mg/kg DM)/100 (P = 0.068), proportional change in propionate (mol/100 mol) = 0.260 (± 0.0735) × monensin (mg/kg DM)/100 (P = 0.003), and proportional change in butyrate (mol/100 mol) = -0.335 (± 0.0916) × monensin (mg/kg DM)/100 (P = 0.002). The change in total VFA was not significantly related to monensin dose (P = 0.93). The results presented here indicate that the shift in VFA profile may be dose dependent, with increasing propionate and decreasing acetate and butyrate proportions (mol/100 mol). These equations could be applied within mechanistic models of rumen fermentation to represent the effect of monensin dose on the VFA profile in high-grain-fed beef cattle.

Quantifying the effect of monensin dose on the rumen volatile fatty acid profile in high-grain fed beef cattle

Quantifying the effect of monensin dose on the rumen volatile fatty acid profile in high-grain fed beef cattle

The effect of dietary concentrate and soya oil inclusion on microbial diversity in the rumen of cattle

Methane emissions from ruminants are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas production. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of diet on microbial communities in the rumen of steers. The effects of dietary alteration (50 : 50 vs 90 : 10 concentrate-forage ratio, and inclusion of soya oil) on methanogenic and bacterial communities in the rumen of steers were examined using molecular fingerprinting techniques (T-RFLP and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis) and real-time PCR. Bacterial diversity was greatly affected by diet, whereas methanogen diversity was not. However, methanogen abundance was significantly reduced (P = 0.009) in high concentrate-forage diets and in the presence of soya oil (6%). In a parallel study, reduced methane emissions were observed with these diets. The greater effect of dietary alteration on bacterial community in the rumen compared with the methanogen community may reflect the impact of substrate availability on the rumen bacterial community. This resulted in altered rumen volatile fatty acid profiles and had a downstream effect on methanogen abundance, but not diversity. Understanding how rumen microbial communities contribute to methane production and how these microbes are influenced by diet is essential for the rational design of methane mitigation strategies from livestock.

Influência do balanço cátion-aniônico da dieta no rúmen e no desempenho de ovinos

Estudou-se o efeito do balanço cátion-aniônico da dieta (BCAD) no desempenho animal e na fermentação ruminal, utilizando-se 25 carneiros machos, da raça Santa Inês, durante 75 dias. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos. Para a manipulação do BCAD, foram adicionados sulfato de amônio e bicarbonato de sódio, obtendo-se os seguintes tratamentos: -160, -40, 140, 250 e 500 mEq/kg de matéria seca. O aumento do BCAD resultou em aumentos da ingestão de matéria seca, do ganho diário, da eficiência alimentar e do pH ruminal (P&lt;0,05). O perfil de ácidos graxos ruminais não foi afetado pelo BCAD.

Maize silage for the pasture-fed dairy cow. 1. Effect of level of silage feeding, and responses to cottonseed meal while grazing perennial pastures in the spring

Dairy cows in early lactation were fed a maize-silage-based supplement at either 3 or 8 kg DM/cow.day, while grazing irrigated perennial pastures at 45 or 30 kg pasture DM/cow.day. The supplement consisted of maize silage, alone or with 16% DM replaced by cottonseed meal. A fifth group grazed at the higher pasture allocation with no supplements. Milk yield and composition, liveweight and body condition, and pasture intake were monitored over 10 weeks during late spring-early summer. Samples of pre- and post-grazed pasture, supplement, rumen fluid, and faeces were collected for chemical analyses. Supplemention increased total feed intake and milk yield of grazing cows, except at the higher level of silage without cottonseed meal. From data on nitrogen content of the grazed pasture and the supplement, together with rumen ammonia concentrations, it was concluded that low dietary protein levels limited milk yield in cows supplemented with 8 kg maize silage DM/day without the additional cottonseed meal. Liveweight and body condition score increases were greater in supplemented animals, while their rumen volatile fatty acid profiles suggested greater partitioning of nutrients towards lipogenesis in body tissue. Pasture was substituted at the rate of 0.67 kg DM for every kg maize silage DM consumed.

Effects of ammoniation of brome-alfalfa and alfalfa hay, stored as large round bales on preservation and feed quality

Feeding trials with growing steers and digestibility trials with sheep were conducted during each of 3 yr in a split-split plot design, to compare the effects of anhydrous ammonia (2% wt wt−1, in plastic-covered stacks of large round bales) on preservation of brome-alfalfa and alfalfa hay harvested at &lt; 20 and at 30% moisture with respective field cured (&lt; 20% moisture) nonammoniated hays. Even after 14 wk of storage, the ammoniated high-moisture hays were free of visible molds. Dry matter (DM) recovery varied from 93.9 to 98.7% but was not affected by either moisture content or ammoniation. Ammoniation increased (P &lt; 0.05) acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN, % total N) in high-moisture brome-alfalfa hay to 16.8 from 9.7% in nonammoniated hay. Within each type of hay, dry matter intake and average daily gain of growing steers were not affected by treatment. Feed efficiency was reduced (P &lt; 0.05) in animals fed ammoniated high-moisture brome-alfalfa (11.2) but was improved (P &lt; 0.05) in those fed ammoniated high-moisture alfalfa (9.8) when compared with the respective field cured hay (10.1 and 11.4). Compared to nonammoniated hay, ammoniating high-moisture brome-alfalfa hay had no effect on digestibilities of DM and acid detergent fiber (ADF) but decreased and increased (P &lt; 0.05) digestibility of nitrogen (N) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), respectively. With alfalfa, ammoniation did not affect digestibilities of either low- or high-moisture hay. Rumen volatile fatty acid profiles were not influenced but rumen fluid pH was elevated in sheep fed ammoniated hays. Results indicate that anhydrous ammonia treatment effectively preserved high-moisture alfalfa without adversely affecting nutritional quality parameters. Key words: Ammonia, brome-alfalfa, alfalfa, cattle, sheep, digestibility