• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of eucalyptus (E. Camaldulensis) crude oils (EuO) supplementation on voluntary feed intake and rumen fermentation characteristics in swamp buffaloes. Four rumen fistulated swamp buffaloes, body weight (BW) of $420{\pm}15.0$ kg, were randomly assigned according to a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were untreated rice straw (RS) without EuO (T1) and with EuO (T2) supplementation, and 3% urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) without EuO (T3) and with EuO (T4) supplementation. The EuO was supplemented at 2 mL/h/d in respective treatment. Experimental animals were kept in individual pens and concentrate mixture was offered at 3 g/kg BW while roughage was fed ad libitum. Total dry matter and roughage intake, and apparent digestibilites of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber were improved (p<0.01) by UTRS. There was no effect of EuO supplementation on feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Ruminal pH and temperature were not (p>0.05) affected by either roughage sources or EuO supplementation. However, buffaloes fed UTRS had higher ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen as compared with RS. Total volatile fatty acid and butyrate proportion were similar among treatments, whereas acetate was decreased and propionate molar proportion was increased by EuO supplementation. Feeding UTRS resulted in lower acetate and higher propionate concentration compared to RS. Moreover, supplementation of EuO reduced methane production especially in UTRS treatment. Protozoa populations were reduced by EuO supplementation while fungi zoospores remained the same. Total, amylolytic and cellulolytic bacterial populations were increased (p<0.01) by UTRS; However, EuO supplementation did not affect viable bacteria. Nitrogen intake and in feces were found higher in buffaloes fed UTRS. A positive nitrogen balance (absorption and retention) was in buffaloes fed UTRS. Supplementation of EuO did not affect nitrogen utilization. Both allantoin excretion and absorption and microbial nitrogen supply were increased by UTRS whereas efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was similar in all treatments. Findings of present study suggested that EuO could be used as a feed additive to modify the rumen fermentation in reducing methane production both in RS and UTRS. Feeding UTRS could improve feed intake and efficiency of rumen fermentation in swamp buffaloes. However, more research is warranted to determine the effect of EuO supplementation in production animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of the study was to isolate gossypol-degrading bacteria and to assess its potential for gossypol degradation. Methods: Rumen liquid was collected from fistulated cows grazing the experimental pasture. Approximately 1 mL of the rumen liquid was spread onto basal medium plates containing 2 g/L gossypol as the only source of carbon and was then cultured at $39^{\circ}C$ to isolate gossypol-degrading bacteria. The isolated colonies were cultured for 6 h and then their size and shape observed by microscope and scanning electron microscope. The 16S rRNA gene of isolated colonies was sequenced and aligned using National Center for Biotechnology Information-Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. The various fermentation conditions, initial pH, incubation temperature, inoculum level and fermentationperiod were analyzed in cottonseed meal (CSM). The crude protein (CP), total gossypol (TG), and free gossypol (FG) were determined in CSM after fermentation with isolated strain at $39^{\circ}C$ for 72 h. Results: Screening results showed that a single bacterial isolate, named Rumen Bacillus Subtilis (RBS), could use gossypol as a carbon source. The bacterium was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as being 98% homologous to the sequence of Bacillus subtilis strain GH38. The optimum fermentation conditions were found to be 72 h, $39^{\circ}C$, pH 6.5, moisture 50%, inoculum level $10^7cell/g$. In the optimum fermentation conditions, the FG and TG content in fermented CSM decreased 78.86% and 49% relative to the control. The content of CP and the essential amino acids of the fermented CSM increased respectively, compared with the control. Conclusion: The isolation of a gossypol-degrading bacterium from the cow rumen is of great importance for gossypol biodegradation and may be a valuable potential source for gossypol-degradation of CSM.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.132-148
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• 2023

Ruminants are the main contributors to methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas emitted by livestock, which leads to global warming. In addition, animals experience heat stress (HS) when exposed to high ambient temperatures. Organic trace minerals are commonly used to prevent the adverse effects of HS in ruminants; however, little is known about the role of these minerals in reducing enteric methane emissions. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary organic trace minerals on rumen fermentation characteristics, enteric methane emissions, and the composition of rumen bacteria and methanogens in heat-stressed dairy steers. Holstein (n=3) and Jersey (n=3) steers were kept separately within a 3×3 Latin square design, and the animals were exposed to HS conditions (Temperature-Humidity Index [THI], 82.79 ± 1.10). For each experiment, the treatments included a Control (Con) consisting of only basal total mixed rations (TMR), National Research Council (NRC) recommended mineral supplementation group (NM; TMR + [Se 0.1 ppm + Zn 30 ppm + Cu 10 ppm]/kg dry matter), and higher concentration of mineral supplementation group (HM; basal TMR + [Se 3.5 ppm + Zn 350 ppm + Cu 28 ppm]/kg dry matter). Higher concentrations of trace mineral supplementation had no influence on methane emissions and rumen bacterial and methanogen communities regardless of breed (p > 0.05). Holstein steers had higher ruminal pH and lower total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations than Jersey steers (p < 0.05). Methane production (g/d) and yield (g/kg dry matter intake) were higher in Jersey steers than in Holstein steers (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Methanosarcina and Methanobrevibacter olleyae were significantly higher in Holstein steers than in Jersey steers (p < 0.05). Overall, dietary organic trace minerals have no influence on enteric methane emissions in heat-stressed dairy steers; however, breed can influence it through selective alteration of the rumen methanogen community.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.872-883
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• 2021

We evaluated the effects of heat stress on physiological responses and milk production in Holstein and Jersey cows reared in Korea. The mean average temperature-humidity index (THI) increased significantly from May to August and then decreased until October. The mean average rectal temperature (RT) was increased in Holstein cows compared with Jersey cows, as the THI values increased from 61 to 85. The average respiratory rate (RR) was increased in Jersey cows compared with Holstein cows when the THI value increased from 61 to 85. The average surface temperature of the rumen and udder was higher in Jersey cows than in Holstein cows when the THI value increased from 61 to 85. No significant difference was noted with respect to relative serum volumes between the breeds and THI ranges, but we measured significant changes in serum pH in Holstein and Jersey cows when the THI value increased from 61 to 85. Milk production was not significantly changed in Holstein cows when the THI increased from 61 to 85, but milk production and milk protein content were significantly altered in Jersey cows when the THI increased from 61 to 85. Current study suggests that Holstein cows still have an advantage in terms of the economic returns of dairy farms in Korea. Therefore, further research is required regarding the heat tolerance of Jersey cows in Korean climatic conditions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2013

This study was conducted in order to develop slaughterhouse rumen content (SRC) as a potential feed additive. The moisture content of SRC can reach 80%, and therefore an appropriate dewatering process is required before it can be used. In this study, the effects of heating temperature, heating time, and filler content during the dewatering process on the activity of various enzymes in SRC were investigated. The Box-Behnken experimental design was employed, involving a total of 45 experimental runs, consisting of three variables (heating time, heating temperature, and filler content) with three levels per variable (12, 30 and 48 hr; 60, 75 and $90^{\circ}C$; 12, 22.5 and 33% for heating time, heating temperature, and filler content, respectively). For enzyme activities, xylanase, cellulase, and amylase were examined, and the results were subjected to an analysis of variance. Heating time, heating temperature and filler content had significant effects on the activity of each enzyme (p<0.05). Cellulase and amylase activities decreased (p<0.05) at elevated heating temperatures, whereas xylanase was reasonably stable around $90^{\circ}C$. The activities of all enzymes decreased (p<0.05) with increased heating time. Optimum filler contents for xylanase, cellulase, and amylase activities were 22.5, 12 and 33%, respectively. However, optimum conditions for all variables that simultaneously maximize the activity of all three enzymes could not be ascertained in this study. Nevertheless, the results from the current study can be useful as basic information for the development of SRC as a feed additive enriched with improved major enzymes for livestock feed digestion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.937-945
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• 2014

Green and black tea by-products, obtained from ready-made tea industry, were ensiled at $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $30^{\circ}C$. Green tea by-product silage (GTS) and black tea by-product silage (BTS) were opened at 5, 10, 45 days after ensiling. Fermentation characteristics and nutrient composition, including tannins, were monitored and the silages on day 45 were subjected to in vitro ruminal fermentation to assess anti-nutritive effects of tannins using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a tannin-binding agent. Results showed that the GTS and BTS silages were stable and fermented slightly when ensiled at $10^{\circ}C$. The GTS stored at $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$ showed rapid pH decline and high acetic acid concentration. The BTS was fermented gradually with moderate change of pH and acid concentration. Acetic acid was the main acid product of fermentation in both GTS and BTS. The contents of total extractable phenolics and total extractable tannins in both silages were unaffected by storage temperatures, but condensed tannins in GTS were less when stored at high temperature. The GTS showed no PEG response on in vitro gas production, and revealed only a small increase by PEG on $NH_3$-N concentration. Storage temperature of GTS did not affect the extent of PEG response to both gas production and $NH_3$-N concentration. On the other hand, addition of PEG on BTS markedly increased both the gas production and $NH_3$-N concentration at any ensiled temperature. It can be concluded that tannins in both GTS and BTS suppressed rumen fermentation, and tannins in GTS did more weakly than that in BTS. Ensiling temperature for both tea by-products did not affect the tannin's activity in the rumen.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of VFA composition of rumen fluid and heat exposure (30${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$) on the general clinical view and insulin secretory response to glucose in sheep. The total infusion of nutrients was examined in sheep via the technique of continuous alimentation. Four adult Suffolk sheep fitted with a permanent ruminal cannula and a simple T-shaped duodenal cannula were used. A peristaltic pump was used to infuse the solutions of volatile fatty acid triglycerides (VFA-TG) consisting of 70 triacetin : 20 tripropionin : 10 tributyrin (low propionin division: LP) and 50 triacetin : 40 tripropionin : 10 tributyrin (high propionin division: HP) on the basis of energy and minerals into the rumen, and casein solution into the duodenum. The effects of heat exposure and type of the levels of VFA-TG solutions on the insulin secretory response to glucose in sheep were investigated by using hyperglycemic clamp (HGC) technique. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. During the heat exposure (latter half of the infusion period), respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature increased (P＜0.01, P＜0.01, P＜0.05), but the levels of VFA-TG solutions (LP and HP division) did not affect the general clinical view except for the heart rate. 2. In the HGC technique, glucose infusion rate (GIR) and mean plasma insulin increments (MPII) tended to be ower in the heat exposure than in the thermoneutral environment, but no significant difference was found among the treatments. GIR and MPII remained unchanged between the levels of VFA-TG solutions. 3. In the HGC technique, ratio of MPII to GIR (MPII/GIR) which represents pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell response to glucose stimulation remained unchanged among the treatments.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.869-879
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• 2016

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary formulated feed additive on growth performance and carcass traits of Hanwoo steers. A formulated feed additive reported to reduce heat load in the rumen in our previous research was used (Cho et al., 2014). Total 32 herds of Hanwoo steers were assigned into two groups of control and treatment. Total mixed ration was provided as basal diet for cattle and 100 g of additive was supplemented on diet for treatment. Feeding trial was performed during 120 days before slaughter. For growth performance, 3 periods (0~90 days; 90~120 days; 0~120 days) were allotted and average daily gain, feed requirement and final body weight were determined. Loin meat between $12^{th}$ and $13^{th}$ rib was used for meat quality analysis after slaughtering. Only $1^{st}$ period showed significantly improved growth performance of treatment (P<0.05) and there were no significant difference in other periods. At $3^{rd}$ periods (overall), a trend of increased average daily gain was found at treatment (P=0.075). Carcass performance and quality did not show significant differences between treatment and control (P>0.05). In meat quality, treatment showed significant increment in all measured meat colors (P<0.05) and significantly less sharing force compared to the control (P<0.05). Although no significant difference in growth performance and carcass yield were found, remarkably improved economic status was detected in treatment group. In conclusion, it could be suggested that application of a formulated feed additive specialized in reduction of heat load in the rumen was able to increase economical balance through enhancing heat stress condition of ruminant and growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1576-1584
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• 2016

Acetyl xylan esterase (AXE), which hydrolyzes the ester linkages of the naturally acetylated xylan and thus known to have an important role for hemicellulose degradation, was isolated from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontatlis PMA02, heterologously expressed in Escherichi coli (E.coli) and characterized. The full-length cDNA encoding NfAXE1 was 1,494 bp, of which 978 bp constituted an open reading frame. The estimated molecular weight of NfAXE1 was 36.5 kDa with 326 amino acid residues, and the calculated isoelectric point was 4.54. The secondary protein structure was predicted to consist of nine ${\alpha}$-helixes and 12 ${\beta}$-strands. The enzyme expressed in E.coli had the highest activity at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 8. The purified recombinant NfAXE1 had a specific activity of 100.1 U/mg when p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NA) was used as a substrate at $40^{\circ}C$, optimum temperature. The amount of liberated acetic acids were the highest and the lowest when p-NA and acetylated birchwood xylan were used as substrates, respectively. The amount of xylose released from acetylated birchwod xylan was increased by 1.4 fold when NfAXE1 was mixed with xylanase in a reaction cocktail, implying a synergistic effect of NfAXE1 with xylanase on hemicellulose degradation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 2019

This study was performed to investigate the effect of heat-stressed environment on rumen microbial diversity in Holstein cows. Rectal temperature and respiration rate were measured and rumen fluid was collected under normal environment (NE; Temperature humidity index (THI)=64.6) and heat-stressed environment (HE; THI=87.2) from 10 Holstein cows (60±17.7 months, 717±64.4 kg) fed on the basis of dairy feeding management in National Institute of Animal Science. The rumen bacteria diversity was analyzed by using the Illumina HiSeq^TM 4000 platform. The rectal temperature and respiratory rate were increased by 1.5℃ and 53 breaths/min in HE compared to that in NE, respectively. In this study, HE exposure induced significant changes of ruminal microbe. At phylum level, Fibrobacteres were increased in HE. At genus level, Ruminococcaceae bacterium P7 and YAD3003, Butyrivibrio sp. AE2032, Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium NK3D112, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Lachnospiraceae bacterium FE2018, XBB2008, and AC2029, Eubacterium celulosolvens, Clostridium hathewayi, and Butyrivibrio hungatei were decreased in HE, while Choristoneura murinana nucleopolyhedrovirus, Calothrix parasitica, Nostoc sp. KVJ20, Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047, Fibrobacter sp. UWB13 and sp. UWB5, Lachnospiraceae bacterium G41, and Xanthomonas arboricola were increased in HE. In conclusion, HE might have an effect to change the rumen microbial community in Holstein cows.