• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.615-624
• /
• 2005

The cPCR technique was used to monitor rumen fermentation and attachment of Fibrobacter succinogenes to cellulose at different pH in the in vitro culture medium. The target fragments of 16S rDNA(445 bp) were amplified from genomic DNA of F. succinogenes with specific primers and internal controls(205 bp) were constructed. Cell counts were estimated from the amounts of genomic DNA, which was calculated from cPCR results. F. succinogenes in pH 6.8 and 6.2 showed apparently higher attachment than in pH 5.8 during all incubation time. There were some difference between pH 6.8 and 6.2 in the degree of attachment, but the different was not significant (P>0.05). Cellulose degradation increased in process of incubation time and the increasing rate was higher when initial pH was higher. The pH in culture medium decreased regardless of initial pH in course of incubation time. After 24 h of incubation, medium pH was dropped by 0.24, 0.58 and 0.16 units from original medium pH 6.8, 6.2 and 5.8, respectively. More gas was produced at higher initial pH in the same manner as in cellulose degradation. In summery, Initial pH of rumen culture in vitro significantly influenced cellulose digestion, gas production, pH change and bacterial attachment. Especially, low pH(5.8) resulted in much lower bacterial attachment and fiber digestion compared to higher medium pH.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.373-390
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the effect of coated feed using mixed oil on rumen fermentation characteristics. Two experiments were conducted based on materials that were mixed. First, cashew nut and soybean oils were mixed with white mineral oil. And second, different plant extracts were mixed with white mineral oil. At first experiment, inclusion levels of mixed oil on diet (0.03%, 0.1%, 0.5%) were applied as variables. A coated diet was fermented with rumen inoculum according to in vitro rumen fermentation and its parameters were investigated. In the result of first experiment, no negative effects on rumen pH were found. Significantly decreased dry matter digestibility was detected at 0.5% treatment (P<0.05). Total gas productions in control and 0.03% were significantly greater than those of others (P<0.05). Significantly reduced methane productions were found in all treatments compared to the control (P<0.05). Inclusion of mixed oil did not affect on ammonia production. Total volatile fatty acid production was also not influenced by coating with mixed oils. Rumen fermentation parameters were greatly changed according to introduced plant extracts at second experiment. The significantly lowest and greatest ammonia productions were found at treatments with Ixeris dentata and Plantago asiatica, respectively (P<0.05). The significantly greatest acetate and propionate productions were detected at treatments with Crucuma longa and Zizyphus vulgaris 1, respectively (P<0.05). All treatments, except Chrysanthemum idicum, Euyale ferox seed, Moringa leaf and fruit and Zizyphus vulgaris 1, showed significantly increased total volatile fatty acid production compared to the control (P<0.05). Only Paeonia lactiflora showed significantly lesser gas production than the control (P<0.05). In methane production, Ceramium, Zizyphus, Paeonia, Agrimonia, Torilis, Mugwort, Foeniculum, Euphorbia, Taraxacum, Artemisia, Momordica, Curcuma and Moringa reduced methane significantly compared to the control (P<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.966-976
• /
• 2019

Objective: The methane mitigating potential of various plant-based polyphenol sources is known, but effects of combinations have rarely been tested. The aim of the present study was to determine whether binary and 3-way combinations of such phenol sources affect ruminal fermentation less, similar or more intensively than separate applications. Methods: The extracts used were from Acacia mearnsii bark (acacia), Vitis vinifera (grape) seed, Camellia sinensis leaves (green tea), Uncaria gambir leaves (gambier), Vaccinium macrocarpon berries (cranberry), Fagopyrum esculentum seed (buckwheat), and Ginkgo biloba leaves (ginkgo). All extracts were tested using the Hohenheim gas test. This was done alone at 5% of dry matter (DM). Acacia was also combined with all other single extracts at 5% of DM each, and with two other phenol sources (all possible combinations) at 2.5%+2.5% of DM. Results: Methane formation was reduced by 7% to 9% by acacia, grape seed and green tea and, in addition, by most extract combinations with acacia. Grape seed and green tea alone and in combination with acacia also reduced methane proportion of total gas to the same degree. The extracts of buckwheat and gingko were poor in phenols and promoted ruminal fermentation. All treatments except green tea alone lowered ammonia concentration by up to 23%, and the binary combinations were more effective as acacia alone. With three extracts, linear effects were found with total gas and methane formation, while with ammonia and other traits linear effects were rare. Conclusion: The study identified methane and ammonia mitigating potential of various phenolic plant extracts and showed a number of additive and some non-linear effects of combinations of extracts. Further studies, especially in live animals, should concentrate on combinations of extracts from grape seed, green tea leaves Land acacia bark and determine the ideal dosages of such combinations for the purpose of methane mitigation.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.139-152
• /
• 2016

The comparative in vitro and in situ analysis were conducted to evaluate the rumen degradability and physical structure of domestic roughage as rice straw, timothy, alfalfa, wormwood and green tea. The feedstuffs incubated with rumen fluid and was used to determine gas production, microbial growth rate and pH changes in an in vitro experiment. The gas production was increased during incubation times and was significantly(p<0.05) lower in green tea than other feedstuffs. The microbial growth rate in the feedstuffs was increased during incubation times. However, microbial growth rate was significantly(p<0.05) lower in wormwood and green tea than other feedstuffs. Ruminal pH was decreased during incubation times, and timothy was the lowest, and rice straw was the highest among feedstuffs. The disappearance rate of dry matter(DM) and crude protein(CP) in all feedstuffs were increased during incubation times and green tea was the highest(p<0.05) compared with other feedstuffs. In effective degradability, when rumen out-flow rate was assigned to 4%, wormwood showed the highest in DM, and alfalfa was the highest in CP. Whereas, green tea was the highest in both in situ DM and CP degradability. Many cilia on the surface and stoma of wormwood and stoma in green tea were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Microbes breaked down the cilia at the beginning and then degraded the surface in wormwood. In case of green tea, microbes attached to stoma. Therefore, wormwood and green tea have a potential value as ruminal feed stuffs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.802-809
• /
• 2016

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of commercial compound feeds for late finishing Hanwoo steers using detailed chemical analysis and an in vitro rumen fermentation trial. A total of 4 different feeds were selected and used to conduct a chemical analysis for their nutrient contents. The largest variation in nutrients contents among experimental feeds was found in ether extract and the smallest one was found in total digestible nutrients. Commercial feeds C and D had a higher energy value than the others. Even if C and D had a similar feed energy value, the components used to increase energy differed between them (non-fiber carbohydrate [NFC] for C; ether extract for D). In the in vitro trial, no significant difference was observed in dry matter in vitro digestibility and gas production between treatments. However, the highest ammonia concentration (p < 0.05) was observed in C and D feeds. The low acetate to propionate ratio observed in C feeds (p < 0.01) suggested that this feed had high starch based carbohydrates that NFC degrading bacteria used to produce more propionate. It is important to provide nutritional information to farmers so that they can select the appropriate commercial feeds to suit their own feeding strategies. This study might give supporting information to farmers for a more educated, and better, selection of feeds. Further in vivo studies should be conducted to evaluate the effects of different commercial feeds on growth performances in late finishing Hanwoo steers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.102-109
• /
• 2021

In this study, the effect of forage sources in the total mixed ration (TMR) on in vitro goat rumen fermentation was investigated. Rice straw (RS), Italian ryegrass (IRG), timothy (TIM), and alfalfa (ALF) were used as forage sources. Each forage source was mixed with a commercial goat concentrate diet in the ratio of 1:1. Total 4 TMR were prepared. Rumen simulated in vitro fermentation using goat rumen fluid collected from the slaughterhouse was conducted until 72^th. For fermentation parameters, gas production (GP), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) were examined. All assays were performed at 24^th, 48^th, and 72^th h of incubation individually. Contents of crude protein and non-fibrous carbohydrate were greater in the order of RS < IRG < TIM < ALF. Significant treatment effects were found in valerate and NH₃-N at 24^th h of incubation (p<0.05). ALF showed the greatest contents of them and RS was the lowest. At 48^th incubation, a significant effect was detected at GP (p<0.05) and RS was greater than others. However, GP of RS was lower than others at 72^th. Significant effects on Total VFA, butyrate, and valerate productions were found at 72^th h of incubation (p<0.05). ALF showed the greatest production. Methane production from all treatments was not significantly different for each incubation time (p>0.05). The present study provided primary information on how goat rumen fermentation responds to different nutrient contents and forage sources of TMR. And the information could be used for the design or optimizing economical diet formulation for goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.66-74
• /
• 2008

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of replacing a conventional concentrate with mixed cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage and legume (Phaseolus calcaratus) foliage. In Exp. 1, three rumen fistulated crossbred cows were used for in sacco rumen degradability studies. In vitro gas production was also studied. In Exp. 2, 11 crossbred F2 heifers (Red Sindhi$\times$Holstein Friesian), with initial live weight of $129{\pm}6kg$ and aged six months, were allocated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to evaluate a mixture (ratio 3:1) of cassava and legume foliage (CA-LE feed) as a protein source compared to a traditional concentrate feed (Control) in diets based on fresh elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and urea treated rice straw ad libitum. The Control feed was replaced by the CA-LE feed at levels of 0% (Control), 40% (CA-LE40), and 60% (CA-LE60) based on dry matter (DM). The in sacco degradation of CA-LE feed was higher than Control feed (p<0.05). After 48 h incubation the degradation of CA-LE feed and Control feed was 73% vs. 58% of DM and 83% vs. 65% of CP, respectively. The gas production of CA-LE feed was also significantly higher than of Control feed during the first 12 h of incubation. The results of the performance study (Exp. 2) showed that the level of CA-LE feed in the concentrate had no effect on total dry matter intake (p>0.05), but live weight gains (LWG) in CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 were significantly higher (551 and 609 g/d, respectively) than in the Control group (281 g/d). The intake of CP was higher (p<0.05) for the treatments CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 (556 and 590 g/d, respectively) compared to that of Control (458 g/d), while there was no significant difference in ME intake. The feed conversion ratio was 16.8, 9.0 and 7.9 kg DM/kg LWG in Control, CA-LE40 and CA-LE60, respectively. The feed cost of CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 corresponded to 43% and 35%, respectively, of the feed cost of Control feed. The best results were found when CA-LE feed replaced 60% of DM in Control feed and considerably decreased feed cost. It is concluded that feeding cassava foliage in combination with Phaseolus calcaratus legume as a protein supplement could be a potentially valuable strategy which leads to reduced feed costs and a more sustainable system in smallholder dairy production in Vietnam.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.446-455
• /
• 2020

Objective: Our recent series of laboratory- and large-scale experiments confirmed that under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, sodium metabisulfite (SMB) was effective in preserving nutrients and antioxidant capacity of highly perishable fruit and vegetable discards (FVD). Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine how partial inclusion of SMB-treated FVD in total mixed ration (TMR) influences in vitro ruminal fermentation, whole-tract digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, blood metabolites, and voluntary feed intake of sheep. Methods: The FVD were mixed thoroughly with 6 g SMB/kg wet biomass and kept outdoors under aerobic conditions for 7 days. Four TMRs including four levels of SMB-treated FVD (as-fed basis) at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% (equaling to 0%, 1.9%, 3.8%, and 5.7% on dry matter basis, respectively), were prepared as replacement for corn grain. The ruminal fermentation metabolites were studied using an in vitro gas production test. Four mature male Corriedale sheep were assigned at random to the 4 diets for two separate sub-experiments; i) digestibility trial with four 21-d periods, and ii) voluntary feed intake trial with four 28-d periods. Results: Inclusion of SMB-treated FVD in the TMR tended to quadratically increase partitioning factor. No effect was seen on total-tract digestibility of organic matter, ether extract, crude protein, and acid detergent fiber, except for neutral detergent fiber digestibility that tended to linearly increase with increasing SMB-treated FVD in the TMR. The progressive increase of FVD preserved with SMB in the diet had no effect on nitrogen metabolism. Treatment had no effect on serum antioxidant capacity and blood metabolites assayed. Voluntary feed intake was not impaired by inclusion of SMB-treated FVD in the TMR. Conclusion: It appears that FVD preserved with SMB can be safely incorporated into TMR as replacement of corn grain without impairment of nutrient metabolism and feed intake.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.637-647
• /
• 2019

Objective: The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods: Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results: Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion: Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.743-748
• /
• 2020

Sulfate is a reductant that competes for electrons and may lower CH₄ production in the rumen. This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effect of detoxified sulfur powder supplementation on in vitro rumen fermentation and methane mitigation. A ruminally cannulated Holstein Friesian cow was used as a rumen fluid source, and commercial pelleted concentrate was used as a substrate at 1 g dry matter. Treatments included the addition of detoxified sulfur powder at the rate of 0% (Control), 0.2% (T1), 0.4% (T2), 0.6% (T3), 0.8% (T4), and 1.0% (T5) as dry matter (DM) basis. The pH, total gas (TG), methane (CH₄) production, DM digestibility, organic matter (OM) digestibility, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were analyzed after 12 hr of incubation. The results showed that CH₄ production was significantly lowest in T1 (13.78 ml) but highest in the control (20.16 ml). Insignificantly higher total VFA was observed in control and T1 (64.99 and 64.28 mM, respectively) compared to other treatments after 12 hr of incubation. After 12 hr of incubation, the significantly lowest acetate:propionate was observed in T1 (1.90) while the highest was observed in T4 (2.44). However, no significant differences were recorded for pH, TG, DM digestibility, OM digestibility, acetate, propionate, and butyrate between the control and T1. Total number of bacterial DNA copies was significantly lower in the treatment group than the control. Therefore, it can be concluded from this study that detoxified sulfur at 0.2% inclusion level is optimal for production performance and ruminal CH₄ mitigation.