• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1864-1872
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia stolonifera (E. stolonifera) extract addition on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, methanogenesis and microbial populations. Methods: One cannulated Holstein cow ($450{\pm}30kg$) consuming timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (60:40, w/w) twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) at 2% of body weight with free access to water and mineral block were used as rumen fluid donors. In vitro fermentation experiment, with timothy hay as substrate, was conducted for up to 72 h, with E. stolonifera extract added to achieve final concentration 1%, 3%, and 5% on timothy hay basis. Results: Administration of E. stolonifera extract to a ruminant fluid-artificial saliva mixture in vitro increased the total gas production. Unexpectedly, E. stolonifera extracts appeared to increase both methane emissions and hydrogen production, which is contrasts with previous observations with brown algae extracts used under in vitro fermentation conditions. Interestingly, real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that as compared with the untreated control the ciliate-associated methanogen and Fibrobacter succinogenes populations decreased, whereas the Ruminococcus flavefaciens population increased as a result of E. stolonifera extract supplementation. Conclusion: E. stolonifera showed no detrimental effect on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial population. Through these results E. stolonifera has potential as a viable feed supplement to ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.1635-1642
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Rhus succedanea extract addition on in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbial growth. Methods: Two ruminally-fistulated steers consuming 600 g/kg timothy- and 400 g/kg cracked corn-based concentrate with free access to water and mineral block were used as rumen fluid donors. In vitro batch fermentation, with timothy as a substrate, was conducted for up to 72 h, with Rhus succedanea extracts added to achieve final concentrations of 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 mg/L. Results: Effective dry matter (DM) degradability rate linearly decreased (p = 0.046) depending on extract dosing levels. Total gas production after 24 to 72 h incubation tended to decrease following extract addition, beginning with 50 mg/L starting dose (significance of quadratic effects: p = 0.006, p<0.001, and p = 0.008 for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively). Methane production decreased depending on dosing levels following 24 h (p<0.05) and 48 h (p<0.005) incubations and was the lowest with the 50 mg/L dose. The Rhus succedanea extracts increased the abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes (p<0.05) and Ruminococcus flavefaciens (p = 0.0597) and decreased the abundance of methanogenic archaea (p<0.05) following 24 h incubation. Conclusion: Rhus succedanea was shown to reduce methane production and increase cellulolytic bacteria without any signs of toxic effects and with a minor effect on DM degradability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권10호
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• pp.1416-1424
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of alfalfa flavonoids on the production performance, immunity, and ruminal fermentation of dairy cows. Methods: The experiments employed four primiparous Holstein cows fitted with ruminal cannulas, and used a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Cattle were fed total mixed ration supplemented with 0 (control group, Con), 20, 60, or 100 mg of alfalfa flavonoids extract (AFE) per kg of dairy cow body weight (BW). Results: The feed intake of the group receiving 60 mg/kg BW of AFE were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the group receiving 100 mg/kg BW. Milk yields and the fat, protein and lactose of milk were unaffected by AFE, while the total solids content of milk reduced (p = 0.05) linearly as AFE supplementation was increased. The somatic cell count of milk in group receiving 60 mg/kg BW of AFE was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the control group. Apparent total-tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein showed a tendency to increase (0.05<$p{\leq}0.10$) with ingestion of AFE. Methane dicarboxylic aldehyde concentration decreased (p = 0.03) linearly, whereas superoxide dismutase activity showed a tendency to increase (p = 0.10) quadratically, with increasing levels of AFE supplementation. The lymphocyte count and the proportion of lymphocytes decreased (p = 0.03) linearly, whereas the proportion of neutrophil granulocytes increased (p = 0.01) linearly with increasing levels of dietary AFE supplementation. The valeric acid/total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) ratio was increased (p = 0.01) linearly with increasing of the level of AFE supplementation, the other ruminal fermentation parameters were not affected by AFE supplementation. Relative levels of the rumen microbe Ruminococcus flavefaciens tended to decrease (p = 0.09) quadratically, whereas those of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens showed a tendency to increase (p = 0.07) quadratically in response to AFE supplementation. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that AFE supplementation can alter composition of milk, and may also have an increase tendency of nutrient digestion by regulating populations of microbes in the rumen, improve antioxidant properties by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, and affect immunity by altering the proportions of lymphocyte and neutrophil granulocytes in dairy cows. The addition of 60 mg/kg BW of AFE to the diet of dairy cows was shown to be beneficial in this study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

Objective: Gelidium amansii (Lamouroux) is a red alga belonging to the family Gelidaceae and is commonly found in the shallow coasts of many East Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. G. amansii has traditionally been utilized as an edible alga, and has various biological activities. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation of G. amansii could be useful for improving ruminal fermentation. Methods: As assessed by in vitro fermentation parameters such as pH, total gas, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, gas profile (methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and ammonia), and microbial growth rate was compared to a basal diet with timothy hay. Cannulated Holstein cows were used as rumen fluid donors and 15 mL rumen fluid: buffer (1:2) was incubated for up to 72 h with four treatments with three replicates. The treatments were: control (timothy only), basal diet with 1% G. amansii extract, basal diet with 3% G. amansii extract, and basal diet with 5% G. amansii extract. Results: Overall, the results of our study indicate that G. amansii supplementation is potentially useful for improving ruminant growth performance, via increased total gas and VFA production, but does come with some undesirable effects, such as increasing pH, ammonia concentration, and methane production. In particular, real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that the methanogenic archaea and Fibrobacter succinogenes populations were significantly reduced, while the Ruminococcus flavefaciens populations were significantly increased at 24 h, when supplemented with G. amansii extracts as compared with controls. Conclusion: More research is required to elucidate what G. amansii supplementation can do to improve growth performance, and its effect on methane production in ruminants.

• 동물자원연구
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2019

생물학적 평가 방법 중 in situ와 in vitro 평가 방법은 비용 및 시간을 절약할 수 있으며 동물 복지 측면에서 제약이 적어 주목되고 있는 방법이다. In vitro 실험에서 사용되는 사료 접종법으로 배양병에 직접 사료를 담는 dispersion 방법은 실제 반추위 발효 상황에 근접한 조건에서 실험할 수 있는 장점이 있지만, 시간과 노동력이 많이 소모된다. 반대로 사료 주머니를 이용한 방법은 실험 수행의 편이성이 있지만 첨가제 실험 수행의 제약이 있으며, 미생물 활성과 섬유소 소화율이 저하되는 단점이 있다. 본 실험은 dispersion 방법과 사료 주머니 방법을 조합하여 보다 편리한 방법으로 dispersion 에 가까운 높은 재현성의 발효 성상과 소화율 평가 가능할 것이라고 생각하여 in vitro 발효 성상과 미생물 조성을 비교하였다. Dispersion 방법과 nylon bag 을 조합한 실험에서 건물 소화율은 세척 과정에서 미생물 및 사료 입자의 유실로 과대평가될 수 있지만 이론적 최대 가스 발생량 V_max, 가스 발생량에 대한 분해 속도 상수 K_g 에서 유의적 차이가 나타나지 않으며, IVNDFD, pH, NH₃-N, total VFA 발생량 그리고 VFA 조성에서도 유의적 차이가 나지 않았다. Real-time PCR 을 이용한 미생물 조성 분석에서는 general bacteria의 절대량에서 유의적 차이가 나지 않았다. 상기의 결과를 종합해 볼 때, in vitro 실험에서 사료 주머니의 사용은 충분히 적용가능하며 일반적인 방법인 dispersion과 비교해 볼 때, 영양소 이용에 있어 반추미생물의 사료 접촉을 방해하지 않을 것으로 생각된다. 하지만 in vitro bach culture 방법은 배양조건에서 제약이 있어, 향후 연속 배양 방법과 in situ의 실험을 통해 본 실험의 실험결과에 대한 추가적인 규명이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.