• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2015

Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (BW $401.0{\pm}2.22kg$) fed TMR containing low protein (CP 9.63 %) as a basal diet were used to investigate the effects of cornell net carbohydrates and protein system (CNCPS) fraction enriched protein feeds on rumen fermentation and blood metabolites. The steers used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design consumed TMR only (control), TMR with rapeseed meal (AB1), TMR with soybean meal (B2) and TMR with perilla meal (B3C), respectively. The protein feeds were substituted for 30 % crude protein of TMR intake. For measuring ruminal pH, ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA), ruminal digesta was sampled through ruminal cannula at 1 h-interval after the afternoon feeding. Blood was sampled via the jugular vein after the ruminal digesta sampling. Different CNCPS fraction-enriched proteins did not affect (p>0.05) ruminal pH except B3C being numerically low compared with the other groups. Ammonia-N and VFA were not significantly different among the experimental groups. Numerically low ammonia-N appeared in the steers fed rapeseed meal even though it contained high soluble N composition (A and B1 fractions). The discrepancy is unclear; however this may be related to low protein level in the diet and/or low DM intake. Blood metabolites were not significantly affected by the protein substitution except for blood urea nitrogen that was significantly (p<0.05) increased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1721-1725
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of coconut materials on ruminal methanogenesis and fermentation characteristics, in particular their effectiveness for mitigating ruminal methanogenesis. Fistulated Holstein cows were used as the donor of rumen fluid. Coconut materials were added to an in vitro fermentation incubated with rumen fluid-buffer mixture and timothy substrate for 24 h incubation. Total gas production, gas profiles, total volatile fatty acids (tVFAs) and the ruminal methanogens diversity were measured. Although gas profiles in added coconut oil and coconut powder were not significantly different, in vitro ruminal methane production was decreased with the level of reduction between 15% and 19% as compared to control, respectively. Coconut oil and coconut powder also inhibited gas production. The tVFAs concentration was increased by coconut materials, but was not affected significantly as compared to control. Acetate concentration was significantly lower (p<0.05), while propionate was significantly higher (p<0.05) by addition of the coconut materials than that of the control. The acetate:propionate ratio was significantly lowered with addition of coconut oil and coconut powder (p<0.05). The methanogens and ciliate-associated methanogens in all added coconut materials were shown to decrease as compared with control. This study showed that ciliate-associated methanogens diversity was reduced by more than 50% in both coconut oil and coconut powder treatments. In conclusion, these results indicate that coconut powder is a potential agent for decreasing in vitro ruminal methane production and as effective as coconut oil.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.392-399
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• 2017

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary proteins as fraction-enriched protein, defined by Cornell net carbohydrates and protein system (CNCPS), on in vivo ruminal fermentation pattern and blood metabolites in Holstein steers fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing 17.2% crude protein. Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design consumed TMR only (control) and TMR with rapeseed meal (AB1), soybean meal (B2), and perilla meal (B3C). Each protein was substituted for 23.0% of crude protein in TMR. Rumen digesta were taken through ruminal cannula at 1 h interval during the feeding cycle in order to analyze ruminal pH, ammonia-N, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Plasma metabolites in blood taken via the jugular vein after the rumen digesta sampling were analyzed. Feeding perilla meal significantly (p < 0.05) decreased mean ruminal pH compared with control and the other protein feeding groups. Compared with control, feeding protein significantly (p < 0.05) increased ruminal ammonia-N concentration except for AB1. Statistically (p > 0.05) similar total VFA appeared among control and the supplemented groups. However, control, AB1, and B2 showed higher (p < 0.05) acetate concentrations than B3C, and propionate was vice versa. CNCPS fractionated protein significantly (p < 0.05) affected concentrations of albumin and total protein in blood; i.e. plasma albumin was lower for control and B2 groups than AB1 and B3C groups. Despite lack of significances (p > 0.05) in creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, AB1 and B2 groups were numerically higher than the others.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2000

In order to clarify the inhibitory effects of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) lipids on ruminal fermentation and digestion, two experiments were carried out in vitro. Experiment 1 was carried out using residues of grass hay from which the lipid fraction was removed by ether extraction. To ground grass samples were added 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% lipids and incubated anaerobically at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, with the mixtures of artificial saliva and rumen fluid. Increasing grass lipid levels remarkably reduced DM and NDF disappearances. Volatile fatty acid concentration was significantly reduced at 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% lipid levels. Microbial nitrogen proportion to total nitrogen tended to decrease by the addition of the lipids. These results indicated that grass lipids have a marked inhibitory effect on ruminal fermentation and digestion, especially when to the substrate was added 3% or more grass lipids as ether extracts. Experiment 2 was conducted to study the relationship between changes in the free fatty acids and changes in the fermentation traits. Samples were incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h as a sole substrate. The polyunsaturated fatty acids steadily decreased during incubation, whereas the saturated fatty acid ($C_{18:0}$) increased. It was suggested that the hydrogenation was extended during the initial stage of incubation. The unsaturated fatty acids ($C_{18:2}$, $C_{18:3}$) produced at the initial stage of incubation were negatively correlated with the amount of microbial N and DM disappearance, indicating that polyunsaturated fatty acids had the possibility to show an inhibiting effect on ruminal fermentation and digestion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1256-1266
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• 2009

Effects of particle size and physical effective fibre (peNDF) of rice straw in diets on chewing activities, feed intake, flow, site and extent of digestion and rumen fermentation in goats were investigated. A 4${\times}$4 Latin square design was employed using 4 mature Liuyang black goats fitted with permanent ruminal, duodenal, and terminal ileal fistulae. During each of the 4 periods, goats were offered 1 of 4 diets that were similar in nutritional content but varied in particle sizes and peNDF through alteration of the theoretical cut length of rice straw (10, 20, 40, and 80 mm, respectively). Dietary peNDF contents were determined using a sieve for particle separation above 8 mm, and were 17.4, 20.9, 22.5 and 25.4%, respectively. Results showed that increasing the particle size and peNDF significantly (p<0.05) increased the time spent on rumination and chewing activities, duodenal starch digestibility and ruminal pH, and decreased ruminal starch digestibility and $NH_{3}$-N concentration. Intake and total tract digestibility of nutrients (i.e. dry matter, organic matter, and starch) and ruminal fermentation were not affected by the dietary particle size and peNDF. Increased particle size and peNDF did not affect ruminal fibre digestibility, but had a great impact on the intestinal and total tract fibre digestibility. The study suggested that rice straw particle size or dietary peNDF was the important influential factor for chewing activity, intestinal fibre and starch digestibility, and ruminal pH, but had minimal impact on feed intake, duodenal and ileal flow, ruminal and total tract digestibility, and ruminal fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.541-548
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• 2017

This study was conducted to compare in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics among corn grains imported from America, Brazil, Argentina and Ukraine A and Ukraine B. Two Holstein steers, each surgically fitted with a ruminal cannula, consuming total mixed ration were used as rumen fluid donors. In vitro rumen fermentation experiments were performed in a completely random design which included a control (no corn) and treatments with 3.0 g of corn from different geographical origins, i.e., America, Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine A and Ukraine B, respectively. Ruminal pH, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and total gas production were measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-incubation, respectively. No differences (p > 0.05) in mean ruminal pH appeared among the treated groups, however, ruminal pH patterns differed; i.e. corn treated groups had dramatically lower pH compared with control during the entire incubation period. Similarly, no different patterns between the groups in ammonia-N (p > 0.05) appeared until 6 h post-incubation. Unexpectedly, higher ammonia-N concentration for control than that for the corn treated groups appeared after 12 h post-incubation despite that for all groups increased. Total VFA was similar between the groups until 6 h post-incubation, but VFA after 12 h post-incubation was different (p < 0.05), i.e. VFA for corn from Argentina, Ukraine A, Ukraine B, and Brazil were comparatively higher than for America. Overall, data in this study showed that the corns of different origins may have different feed values to ruminants despite having similar chemical compositions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.419-428
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of replacing dried mugwort (Artemisia montana Pampan) in concentrate a time of preparation pellet. The treatments, arranged in a 4${\times}$4 Latin square design, were four additional levels of mugwort at 0, 3, 5 and 10% in concentrate. Four crossbred (CorriedalexPolwarth, t) sheep with a mean body weight of 41.3 kg were used to evaluate nutrients digestibility, palatability, fermentation characteristics and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. The digestibility of crude protein was improved (p < 0.05) to 6.1 % - 8.6 % in sheep fed 3, 5 and 10% mugwort pellet treatments compared with that of control. That of crude fat and NDF was improved (p < 0.05) to 5.8 % - 7.3 % in sheep fed 3 % compared to other treatments. The ruminal pH was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in sheep fed 3 % mugwort pellet compared to other treatments when observed at 0.5 hour after feeding. The ammonia nitrogen concentrations were the highest in sheep fed all treatments at 1 hour after feeding. The ruminal concentrations of acetic acid and propionic acids were an improvement (p < 0.05) at the 3% and 5% treatments. Retained nitrogen of 3, 5 and 10% treatment with the value of 2.24 - 2.82 g was higher (p < 0.05) than that of the control with 0.78 g and microbial protein production of 10% treatment was higher (p < 0.05) than that of control. This study suggested that the replacing with 3% dry mugwort (Artemisia montana Pampan) in concentrate a time of preparation pellet will improve nutrient digestibility, palatability, ruminal fermentation characteristics and feed value.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three herb supplementations on blood metabolites, hormones, antioxidant activity, immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration, and ruminal fermentation in steers. Four Holstein steers in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design received four herb treatments. The treatments consisted of the steers' regular diets with addition of: 1) nothing (control), 2) peppermint, 3) clove, and 4) lemongrass at 5% of the diet (DM basis). Clove supplementation increased the plasma concentration of cholesterol by about 10% (from 79 to 87 mg/dl). Peppermint and lemongrass feeding resulted in an increase in the concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen (from 5.9 to 6.9 and 6.4 mg/dl, respectively). The three herb treatments had no effect on other metabolites and hormones. Steers receiving clove supplementation showed a higher plasma antioxidant activity. The three herb treatments caused lower concentrations of IgG in the blood. Peppermint and lemongrass feedings increased, and clove feeding decreased ruminal concentrations of ammonia. There were no significant differences in VFA concentrations among herbal treatments, except for the decrease in propionate concentration in steers receiving clove treatment. This study suggested that clove feeding changed cholesterol metabolism and increased antioxidant activity in plasma, and feeding of three herbs affected immunity system and ruminal fermentation in steers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.1270-1289
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• 2023

This study evaluates how different feeding systems impact ruminal fermentation, methane production, and microbiota of Hanwoo steers native to Korea. In a replicated 2 × 2 crossover design over 29 days per period, eight Hanwoo steers (507.1 ± 67.4 kg) were fed twice daily using a separate feeding (SF) system comprising separate concentrate mix and forage or total mixed rations (TMR) in a 15:85 ratio. The TMR-feeding group exhibited a considerable neutral detergent fiber digestibility increase than the SF group. However, ruminal fermentation parameters and methane production did not differ between two feeding strategies. In addition, TMR-fed steers expressed elevated Prevotellaceae family, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and an unidentified Veillonellaceae family genus abundance in their rumen, whereas SF-fed steers were rich in the Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-004, and Succinivibrio. Through linear regression modeling, positive correlations were observed between the Shannon Diversity Index and the SF group's dry matter intake and methane production. Although feeding systems do not affect methane production, they can alter ruminal microbes. These results may guide future feeding system investigations or ruminal microbiota manipulations as a methane-mitigation practice examining different feed ingredients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.885-893
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• 2001

This review summarizes some recent research into ways of improving the productivity of ruminal fermentation by increasing protein flow from the rumen and decreasing the breakdown of protein that results from the action of ruminal microorganisms. Proteinases derived from the plant seem to be of importance to the overall process of proteolysis in grazing animals. Thus, altering the expression of proteinases in grasses may be a way of improving their nutritive value for ruminants. Inhibiting rumen microbial activity in ammonia formation remains an important objective: new ways of inhibiting peptide and amino acid breakdown are described. Rumen protozoa cause much of the bacterial protein turnover which occurs in the rumen. The major impact of defaunation on N recycling in the sheep rumen is described. Alternatively, if the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis can be increased by judicious addition of certain individual amino acids, protein flow from ruminal fermentation may be increased. Proline may be a key amino acid for non-cellulolytic bacteria, while phenylalanine is important for cellulolytic species. Inhibiting rumen wall tissue breakdown appears to be an important mechanism by which the antibiotic, flavomycin, improves N retention in ruminants. A role for Fusobacterium necrophorum seems likely, and alternative methods for its regulation are required, since growth-promoting antibiotics will soon be banned in many countries.