• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1466-1473
• /
• 2013

This experiment was conducted to study the variation laws and correlations of shearing force and feed characteristics including morphological characteristic, chemical composition and in situ degradability of wheat straw. Feasibility of evaluating the nutritional value of wheat straws with shearing force values was analyzed in this study. Six hundred wheat straw plants (Jimai 22) were randomly selected and placed in a cool and ventilated place. Samples were collected in the 1st, 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th d after harvest to measure shearing force, morphological characteristic, nutritional composition. Rumen degradation of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of wheat straws were determined by the nylon bags method. The results demonstrated that linear and quadratic effects of storage time on all the tested morphological characteristics were significantly correlative (p<0.01). As storage time goes on, all the tested nutrients and their rumen degradations of wheat straw was linearly (p<0.01) and quadratic (p<0.01) correlative except ADF content and rumen degradation of ADF. Significant correlations were determined in linear effect of shearing force on morphological characteristics (p<0.01), and linear density and diameter were a more sensitive predictor than stem thickness for shearing force. There were strong correlations between storage time and all the measured physical characteristics (shearing force, morphological characteristics and shearing force standardized by morphological characteristics) (p<0.01). Nutrition compositions were linearly correlative with shearing force and standardized shearing force (p<0.01). The linear correlation between rumen degradation of DM and NDF and shearing force and standardized shearing force were evident (p<0.01). In conclusion, shearing force, nutrition compositions and their rumen degradation of wheat straw were still dynamic with storage time after harvest. Correlation could be found between shearing force and nutritional characteristics of wheat straw. Nutrient content, morphological index and rumen degradation of DM and NDF could be predicted by changes in shearing force. Shearing force should be applied according to a standardized storage time when it is used to forecast the feed value of wheat straws.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.323-327
• /
• 1992

An experiment was conducted to determine whether there were any apparent differences in the microbial population, colonization pattern and digestion of guinea grass in situ, between cattle and swamp buffalo. Percentage losses in dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of guinea grass were significantly (p<0.01) higher when incubated in the rumen of buffalo than in cattle. Buffalo also showed significantly (p<0.05) faster degradation rates than cattle for each grass component (DM, N, DNF). Light microscopy and SEM examination of the incubated grass materials showed that there were no apparent differences in the pattern of bacterial and fungal invasion and colonization of the grass materials between cattle and buffalo. Attachment of bacteria and fungal zoospores on the grass fragments occurred at 15 min after rumen incubation. After 3 h of rumen incubation, dense population of bacteria was observed in the thin-walled mesophyll and parenchyma tissues, whereas root-like fungal rhizoids were observed in both thin-walled and thick-walled cells. By 6 h, eroded zones were apparent in the thin-walled tissues and in thick-walled tissues with profuse rhizoids. After 24. 48 and 72 h of rumen incubation, most thin-walled tissues were degraded leaving mostly the thick-walled tissues. The predominant bacteria were the curved rods resembling Butyrivibrio sp., the thick rods resembling Fibrobacter sp., the diplococcoids resumbling Ruminococcus sp. And spirochetes. Fungi were predominantly those with spherical or oval sporangia. Fusiform sporangia with acuminate apices which resembled Ruminomyces sp. Were of lesser occurrence. Few protozoa were found on the grass fragments at all incubation times.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 1996

A series of in vitro experiments was conducted to investigate response of rumen bacterial deamination to the ionophore salinomycin. Addition of salinomycin to the inoculum, strained rumen fluid, depressed ammonia production from casein, while increased accumulation of ${\alpha}$-amino acids. This suggests an inhibitory effect of salinomycin on ruminal deamination. When the effect in washed bacterial suspension was monitored with individual amino acid, aspartic acid degradation was markedly inhibited by salinomycin. This inhibition was not observed when the mixed rumen bacteria were ultrasonically disrupted and used as the enzyme source. Extent of the inhibition tended to be higher in the bacteria source from sheep on a high roughage diet. From these results it was speculated that the inhibition of deamination with salinomycin is caused by a decreased transport of amino acid into the bacterial cells as well as a decreased proportion of deaminating bacteria in the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.922-928
• /
• 2000

The effects of animal species and supplements on rumen fluid characteristics, plasma urea-N (PUN) concentration, plasma urea-N pool size, urea-N degradation in the gut and urea-N net flux (urea-N synthesis rate) were studied in goats and sheep, with some minor differences detected. The animals were fed either chopped rice straw ad libitum+200 g soybean meal (SBM), or chopped rice straw ad libitum+190 g soybean meal+300 g sago meal (SBM+SM) for 14 days. The supplements were isonitrogenous (80 g crude protein/animal/d). [$^{14}C$]-urea was used as the marker for urea metabolism studies. Two animals from each species were fed either supplement in a cross-over design in two periods. The results showed that rumen pH was significantly (p<0.001) lower in animals fed SBM+SM than those fed SBM supplement. The ammonia concentrations of rumen fluid were significantly (p<0.01) higher in sheep (382.9 mg N/L) than goats (363.1 mg N/L) when fed SBM supplement but lower (282.5 mg N/L) than that of goats (311.0 mg N/L) when fed SBM+SM supplement. Total VFA concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals fed SBM+SM supplement than those fed SBM supplement. Goats had significantly (p<0.01) higher molar proportions of acetate (79.1, 77.7%, respectively) than sheep (75.8, 74.0%, respectively) in both supplements. The molar proportion of acetate was significantly (p<0.05) higher, while that of butyrate lower in animals fed SBM supplement than those fed SBM+SM supplement. In animals fed SBM supplement, the molar proportion of propionate was significantly (p<0.01) higher in sheep (18.0%) than in goats (15.6%), but in animals fed SBM+SM, the molar proportion of butyrate was significantly (p<0.01) higher (9.6%) in sheep than in goats (7.2%). Plasma urea-N concentration, plasma urea-N pool size, urea-N degradation in the gut, urea-N net flux and the fraction of urea-C from the blood entering the rumen were not significantly different between goats and sheep fed either supplement. However, PUN concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower in animals fed SBM+SM supplement (average of 13.8 mg N/100 ml) than in those fed SBM supplement (average of 16.5 mg N/100 ml). The urea net flux was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats (average of 14.5 g N/d) than sheep (average of 12.9 g N/d), and animals fed SBM supplement showed higher (average of 14.9 g N/d) urea net flux than animals fed SBM+SM supplement (average of 12.9 g N/d). A significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was observed between urea-N net flux and urea-N degradation; urea-N net flux and pool size; urea-N net flux and urea excretion in the urine; and PUN and rumen ammonia in goats. While in sheep, significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was observed between urea-N net flux and urea excretion in the urine; and PUN and rumen ammonia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.637-642
• /
• 1996

This experiment was conducted to determine RDP values of locally available feedstuffs that are commonly used in ruminant rations in Bangladesh. Four cattle were fistulated in the rumen for the in situ nylon bag studies. Seventeen different feedstuff sample (9 roughages and 8 concentrates) were evaluated in $4{\times}14cm$ nylon bags and incubated in the rumen for different periods of time (2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h). The variation in crude protein (CP) contents reflected on the average CP disappearance value throughout the rumen incubation. Soluble fraction (a), insoluble but degradable fraction (b) along with the rate of degradation also varied widely among the various feedstuffs. Under 2% of rumen outflow rate, the percentages of the calculated protein degradabilities of roughages were rice straw, 16.7; maize grass, 70.6; oat grass, 70.8; dhal grass, 71.1; sunhemp, 78.4; napier grass, 62.4; matikalai grass, 72.1; khesarikalai grass, 76.9 and daincha browse, 78.4, respectively. The results in the protein degradabilities (%) in 8% ruminal outflow rate of concentrates were wheat bran, 61.6; rice polish (red), 61.3; rice polish (auto), 30.9; mustard oil cake, 71.8; sesame oil cake, 74.2; coconut oil cake, 57.9; soybean meal, 49.2 and fish meal, 37.9, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1580-1587
• /
• 2006

Several researchers have demonstrated that the rumen microbial community rapidly adapts to saponins and proposed interval feeding to prevent this rapid adaptation. An in vivo experiment was carried out to examine the effect of daily versus application every third day (interval feeding) of Sapindus rarak saponins (SE) on rumen fermentation end products, protozoal counts and nutrient digestibility. Thirty sheep were allocated into 5 groups. Sheep were fed daily or every third day with two levels of SE (0.48 and 0.72 g/kg body mass). One group received no saponin and served as control. All sheep received the same diet, a mixture of elephant grass and wheat pollard (65:35 w/w). Independent of the feeding regime and the level of inclusion, the addition of SE decreased protozoal counts and rumen ammonia concentrations (p<0.01). Microbial N supply and N retention were not affected by the high feeding regime. Daily feeding negatively influenced rumen xylanase and cellulase activity, but only when the high level of saponins was fed. However, these negative effects on rumen cell wall degradation were not reflected in decreasing total tract digestibility of the organic matter or the plant cell walls. Our results show that rumen microorganisms do not rapidly adapt to S. rarak saponins.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.1435-1439
• /
• 2005

Bacterio-mineral water (BMW) produced from manure has been known to exert a number of positive effects on animal production and odor control. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of BMW produced from bio-reacted swine manure on in vitro gas production, cellulose degradation, microbial growth and fibrolytic enzyme activities of mixed rumen microorganisms. The five levels of 0, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 and 1.0% BMW were supplemented into serum vials containing mixed rumen microorganisms. Incubations were carried out anaerobically at $39^{\circ}C$ without shaking for 0, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences among the treatments for the initial rate of gas production. At 72 h incubation, the gas production tended (p<0.1) to be increased by the 0.01 and 1.0% BMW treatments compared with control and the 0.001% BMW treatment. At the end of incubation (96 h), the sample supplemented with 0.01% BMW was higher (p<0.05) than control (0% BMW) in the gas production. The microbial growth rate was increased by all the BMW treatments, while 0.01% BMW was most effective in stimulating the growth rate. Although the addition of BMW on the filter paper DM degradation was not significantly influenced throughout the incubation period except the 48 h incubation, DM degradation tended to be increased by all BMW treatments compared with control. The addition of both 0.005 and 0.01% BMW highly increased (p<0.05) CMCase activity compared with control after 24 h and 48 h incubation, while at the 72 h incubation the 0.01% BMW addition only significantly increased (p<0.05). After 72 h incubation, the xylanase activity was significantly (p<0.05) increased with the addition of 1.0% BMW compared with the addition of 0.001 and 0.005% BMW, while at the other incubation times, the xylanase activity was not different among the treatments. In conclusion, the 0.01% BMW of supplementation level would be the suitable addition level to stimulate rumen fermentation increasing microbial growth and cellulose degradation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.631-639
• /
• 2001

Two experiments were carried out concerning the effects of urea-molasses cake (UMC) and its separate components as supplements on rumen environment, in sacco feed degradability and intake of swamp buffaloes fed rice straw, grasses or a mixture of grasses and rice straw. Experiment 1 was a change-over design with 4 animals and 6 treatments. The buffaloes were fed rice straw ad libitum, and the experimental treatments were: no supplementation (R); 700 g of the complete urea-molasses cake (RUMC); 53.2 g urea (RU); 276 g rice bran and 52.5 coconut meal (RRC); 26.6 g salt, 26.6 g bone meal and 2.1 g trace minerals (RMi); and 25 g molasses (RMo). Experiment 2 was a Latin square design with four diets and four animals. The treatments were: rice straw ad libitum and mixed grass (RG) at 2.5 g dry matter per kg live weight (LW); RG plus 700 g urea-molasses cake (RGUMC); mixed grass ad libitum (G); and G plus 700 g cake (GUMC). In both experiments the supplements were fed once daily. In Exp. 1 although the rumen pH was significantly different (p<0.05) among diets, it varied only from 6.90 to 7.06. The ruminal ammonia was also significantly (p<0.05) different among the diets with RUMC significantly higher than R. Total bacterial and protozoal counts were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RUMC, RU, RMo and RRC diets. Total feed and rice straw intakes were highest for RUMC (p<0.05) and lowest for the RMi and RMo diets, but in sacco degradability of four different roughages were not significantly different among diets. In Exp. 2, rumen pHs of the diets differed significantly and (p<0.01) ranged from 7.04 - 7.19. Ruminal $NH_3-N$ concentrations (mg/100 ml) were also significantly different (p<0.05), and higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets. The total counts of bacteria and protozoa were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets. The total feed intake and roughage intake were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets compared to the RG diet. Correspondingly, LW changes also differed among treatments (p=0.06). It was concluded that there were significant increases in rumen $NH_3-N$ concentration, microbial populations and feed intake in the buffaloes by UMC supplementation, whereas the significant difference in in sacco DM degradation was not found by any type of supplementation. There seemed to be a need of a combination of urea, molasses, minerals and other protein nitrogen sources to enhance rice straw intake. Adding grass to the rice straw diet at 0.25% LW (DM) should also be considered to maintain buffalo rumen function and production with UMC supplementation, when rice straw is the main roughage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.1569-1574
• /
• 2005

The in situ nylon bag degradation and in vitro intestinal digestibility of dry matter (DM), and crude protein (CP) of mulberry (Morus alba) plant fractions was studied at four harvest stages, 3 (W3), 5 (W5), 7 (W7) and 9 (W9) weeks. Degradability of DM and CP of the whole plant and stem fractions declined significantly (p<0.01) with advancing plant maturity in the order W3>W5 and W7>W9 and W3>W5>W7>W9, respectively. The degradation of DM and CP of the leaf fraction was also influenced by plant maturity but no trend was observed. The degradation of DM and CP of the whole plant and leaves increased rapidly during the first 48 and 24 h of incubation, respectively, when maximum degradation was reached. In vitro intestinal digestibility of CP was more influenced by the residence time in the rumen than by plant maturity. This study showed that mulberry is suitable as a supplement, particularly to low-quality roughages, in providing a source of rapidly available nitrogen to the rumen microbes, hence improving the roughage degradability and intake.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.65 no.3
• /
• pp.652-663
• /
• 2023

The rumen fluids contain a wide range of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. The various ruminal microorganisms in the rumen provide nutrients by fermenting the forage they eat. During metabolic processes, microorganisms present in the rumen release diverse vesicles during the fermentation process. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed the function of rumen extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their interaction with the host. We confirmed the structure of the rumen EVs by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the size of the particles using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Rumen EVs range in size from 100 nm to 400 nm and are composed of microvesicles, microparticles, and ectosomes. Using the Caenorhabditis elegans smart animal model, we verified the interaction between the host and rumen EVs. Exposure of C. elegans to rumen EVs did not significantly enhance longevity, whereas exposure to the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus significantly increased lifespan. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis showed gene expression alterations in C. elegans exposed to rumen EVs, with significant changes in the metabolic pathway, fatty acid degradation, and biosynthesis of cofactors. Our study describes the effect of rumen EV interactions with the host and provides novel insights for discovering biotherapeutic agents in the animal industry.