• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1557-1566
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• 2007

Ten male crossbred (Thai $Native{\times}Anglo$ Nubian) goats with average live weight of $27{\pm}2$ kg were randomly assigned according to a $5{\times}5$ replicated Latin square design to receive five diets, $T_1$ = concentrate with 0% cassava chip (CC), $T_2$ = 25% CC, $T_3$ = 50% CC, $T_4$ = 75% CC and $T_5$ = 100% CC. Fresh elephant grass (FEG) was offered ad libitum as the roughage. A metabolism trial lasted for 21 days during which liveweight changes and feed intakes were measured. Based on this experiment, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among treatment groups regarding DM intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients (DM, OM, NDF and ADF), except for $T_5$ (100% CC) which was lowest (p<0.05) in digestion coefficient of CP than $T_1$ and $T_3$. Rumen parameters (ruminal pH, $NH_3$-N and volatile fatty acids), blood urea nitrogen, blood glucose and packed cell volume were similar among treatments. Moreover, rumen microorganism populations were not affected (p>0.05) by cassava inclusion. The amount of N absorption and retention were similar among treatments, except for $T_5$ which tended to be slightly lower. Based on this experiment, it could be concluded that the optimal level of cassava inclusion to replace corn in goat diets was in the range of 25-75% of CC when fed with FEG and it was a good approach in exploiting the use of local feed resources for goat production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.86-91
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• 2012

An in vitro rumen batch culture study was completed to compare effects of common grasses, leguminous shrubs and non-leguminous shrubs used for livestock grazing in Australia and Ghana on $CH_4$ production and fermentation characteristics. Grass species included Andropodon gayanus, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Pennisetum purpureum. Leguminous shrub species included Cajanus cajan, Cratylia argentea, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Stylosanthes guianensis and non-leguminous shrub species included Annona senegalensis, Moringa oleifera, Securinega virosa and Vitellaria paradoxa. Leaves were harvested, dried at $55^{\circ}C$ and ground through a 1 mm screen. Serum bottles containing 500 mg of forage, modified McDougall's buffer and rumen fluid were incubated under anaerobic conditions at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Samples of each forage type were removed after 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h of incubation for determination of cumulative gas production. Methane production, ammonia concentration and proportions of VFA were measured at 24 h. Concentration of aNDF (g/kg DM) ranged from 671 to 713 (grasses), 377 to 590 (leguminous shrubs) and 288 to 517 (non-leguminous shrubs). After 24 h of in vitro incubation, cumulative gas, $CH_4$ production, ammonia concentration, proportion of propionate in VFA and IVDMD differed (p<0.05) within each forage type. B. ruziziensis and G. sepium produced the highest cumulative gas, IVDMD, total VFA, proportion of propionate in VFA and the lowest A:P ratios within their forage types. Consequently, these two species produced moderate $CH_4$ emissions without compromising digestion. Grazing of these two species may be a strategy to reduce $CH_4$ emissions however further assessment in in vivo trials and at different stages of maturity is recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 1994

The effect of soybean meal and barley supplementation of the utilization of rice straw was investigated. Balance trials were conducted with three Japanese Corriedale wethers fed rice straw supplemented with soybean meal and barley at three different levels of protein: low (40 g CP/d, LCP), medium (67 g/d, MCP) and high (94 g/d, HCP). In addition, all the supplements were formulated to contain the same amount of TDN (275 g/d). Voluntary intake of rice straw was not affected by any supplementation, while digestibility of organic matter in sheep given HCO diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those on LCP diet. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibilities of MCP and HCP diets were significantly improved (p<0.05) over the LCP diet. Average daily gain of the animals under MCP and HCP diets were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those under LCP diet. Differences of rumen pH among the treatments were not significant, while concentration of rumen $NH_3-N$ was significantly higher (p<0.05) for HCP diet than for LCP and MCP diets. Total volatile fatty acids ($VFA_s$) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.05) in sheep fed MCP and HCP diets than those fed LCP diet, while plasma total protein concentration was not affected by any supplementation. Sheep fed MCP diet had a higher nitrogen retention than those fed LCP and HCP diets. It was concluded that rice straw was utilized better by sheep when SBM and barley were supplemented at the medium level of protein.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.330-341
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• 2014

Andropogon gayanus is an important grass due to its high biomass production, drought tolerance and favorable growth on low fertility acidic soils. Currently, there is little research on the impact of growth stage on the nutritional quality or the degree of $CH_4$ production that may arise from this forage during ruminal fermentation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of regrowth stage of A. gayanus on its chemical composition, in vitro production of gas and CH4, as well as in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility when grown under tropical Brazilian conditions and conserved as hay or as silage. The nutritional value of A. gayanus grass declined with increasing maturity; however digestible DM yield linearly increased. After 112 d of regrowth, A. gayanus produced higher quality silage (higher lactate and lower pH and butyrate content) and higher DM yield. However, the low levels of crude protein at this time would make protein supplementation a necessity for proper rumen fermentation. No differences in $CH_4$ kinetic parameters were found with advancing maturity or preservation method (hay or silage).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

Objective: The present study explored the effects of grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) on rumen fermentation, methane production and archaeal communities in vitro. Methods: A completely randomized experiment was conducted with in vitro incubation in a control group (CON, no GSPE addition; n = 9) and the treatment group (GSPE, 1 mg/bottle GSPE, 2 g/kg dry matter; n = 9). The methane and volatile fatty acid concentrations were determined using gas chromatography. To explore methane inhibition after fermentation and the response of the ruminal microbiota to GSPE, archaeal 16S rRNA genes were sequenced by MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. Results: The results showed that supplementation with GSPE could significantly inhibit gas production and methane production. In addition, GSPE treatment significantly increased the proportion of propionate, while the acetate/propionate ratio was significantly decreased. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Methanomassiliicoccus was significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter decreased significantly in the GSPE group. Conclusion: In conclusion, GSPE is a plant extract that can reduce methane production by affecting the structures of archaeal communities, which was achieved by a substitution of Methanobrevibacter with Methanomassiliicoccus.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.127-137
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate effect of corn flake and corn ground on nutrient digestibility and fermentation characteristics of rumen in Hanwoo. The animals used were three Hanwoo cows implanted with ruminal fistula. Corn were categorized in 2 groups based on the corn processing method: Ground and Flake. The rumen digestibility of dry matter, starch, nitrogen free extract and non fiber carbohydrates were increased in flake compared to ground from 3 to 24 hours of incubation(P<0.05). The pH of rumen was lower in the flaked treatment than ground treatment at 3 hours after incubation, but average pH was no significantly difference between treatments. The average acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid were significantly increased in the flaked treatments compared to the ground treatment (P<0.05). Thus, flake processing can improve the carbohydrate availability of corn in the rumen and increase feed value.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.659-665
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• 2016

The effects of three different feeding systems on beef cattle production performance, rumen fermentation, and rumen digesta particle structure were investigated by using 18 Limousin (steers) with a similar body weight ($575{\pm}10kg$) in a 80-d experiment. The animals were equally and randomly divided into three treatment groups, namely, total mixed ration group (cattle fed TMR), SI1 group (cattle fed concentrate firstly then roughage), and SI2 group (cattle fed roughage firstly then concentrate). The results showed that the average daily gain was significantly higher in cattle receiving TMR than in those receiving SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05). Consumption per kg weight gain of concentrate, silage, and combined net energy (NEmf) were significantly decreased when cattle received TMR, unlike when they received SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05), indicating that the feed efficiency of TMR was the highest. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was significantly decreased when cattle received TMR compared with that in cattle receiving SI1 (p<0.05), whereas there was no difference compared with that in cattle receiving SI2. Ammonia nitrogen concentration was significantly lower in cattle receiving TMR than in those receiving SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05). The rumen area of cattle that received TMR was significantly larger than that of cattle receiving SI1 (p<0.05), but there was no difference compared with that of cattle receiving SI2. Although there was no significant difference among the three feeding systems in rumen digesta particle distribution, the TMR group trended to have fewer large- and medium-sized particles and more small-sized particles than those in the SI1 and SI2 groups. In conclusion, cattle with dietary TMR showed increased weight gain and ruminal development and decreased BUN. This indicated that TMR feeding was more conducive toward improving the production performance and rumen fermentation of beef cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of protein sources and roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio on in vitro fermentation parameters using a gas production technique. The experimental design was a $2{\times}5$ factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor A was 2 levels of protein sources yeast fermented cassava chip protein (YEFECAP) and soybean meal (SBM) and factor B was 5 levels of roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio at 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100, respectively. Rice straw was used as a roughage source. It was found that gas production from the insoluble fraction (b) of YEFECAP supplemented group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in SBM supplemented group. Moreover, the intercept value (a), gas production from the insoluble fraction (b), gas production rate constants for the insoluble fraction (c), potential extent of gas production (a+b) and cumulative gas production at 96 h were influenced (p<0.01) by R:C ratio. In addition, protein source had no effect (p>0.05) on ether in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic (IVOMD) while R:C ratio affected the IVDMD and IVOMD (p<0.01). Moreover, YEFECAP supplanted group showed a significantly increased (p<0.05) total VFA and $C_3$ while $C_2$, $C_2:C_3$ and $CH_4$ production were decreased when compared with SBM supplemented group. In addition, a decreasing R:C ratio had a significant effect (p<0.05) on increasing total VFA, $C_3$ and $NH_3$-N, but decreasing the $C_2$, $C_2:C_3$ and CH4 production (p<0.01). Furthermore, total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus populations in YEFECAP supplemented group were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in the SBM supplemented group while fungal zoospores, methanogens and protozoal population remained unchanged (p>0.05) as compared between the two sources of protein. Moreover, fungal zoospores and total bacteria population were significantly increased (p<0.01) while, F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens, R. albus, methanogens and protozoal population were decreased (p<0.01) with decreasing R:C ratio. In conclusion, YEFECAP has a potential for use as a protein source for improving rumen fermentation efficiency in ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.358-365
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• 2013

A series of in vitro studies were carried out to determine i) the effects of enzyme and formaldehyde treatment on the degradation characteristics of carbohydrate and protein sources and on the synchronicity of these processes, and ii) the effects of synchronizing carbohydrate and protein supply on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in in vitro experiments. Untreated corn (C) and enzyme-treated corn (EC) were combined with soy bean meal with (ES) and without (S) enzyme treatment or formaldehyde treatment (FS). Six experimental feeds (CS, CES, CFS, ECS, ECES and ECFS) with different synchrony indices were prepared. Highly synchronous diets had the greatest dry matter (DM) digestibility when untreated corn was used. However, the degree of synchronicity did not influence DM digestibility when EC was mixed with various soybean meals. At time points of 12 h and 24 h of incubation, EC-containing diets showed lower ammonia-N concentrations than those of C-containing diets, irrespective of the degree of synchronicity, indicating that more efficient utilization of ammonia-N for MPS was achieved by ruminal microorganisms when EC was offered as a carbohydrate source. Within C-containing treatments, the purine base concentration increased as the diets were more synchronized. This effect was not observed when EC was offered. There were significant effects on VFA concentration of both C and S treatments and their interactions. Similar to purine concentrations, total VFA production and individual VFA concentration in the groups containing EC as an energy source was higher than those of other groups (CS, CES and CFS). The results of the present study suggested that the availability of energy or the protein source are the most limiting factors for rumen fermentation and MPS, rather than the degree of synchronicity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.228-239
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of the experiment was to study yeast supplementation (yeast, Y) and dried kratom leaves (DKTL) on the digestibility, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and nitrogen balance in goats. Methods: Four of 7 to 8 months old male crossbred (50% Thai Native-Anglo Nubian) goats with average liveweight 20±0.13 kg were randomly assigned according to a 2×2 factorial arrangement in a 4×4 Latin square design to receive four diets ad libitum basis. The study investigated the effects of two levels of yeast (Y) supplementation (Y, 0 and 0.5g/kg dry matter [DM]) along with two levels of DKTL supplementation (DKTL, 0 and 4.44g/kg DM). The experimental groups were as follows: T1 = control group with 0Y+0DKTL, T2 = 0Y+4.44 DKTL, T3 = 0.5Y+0DKTL, and T4 = 0.5Y+4.44 DKTL. Results: The results showed that there were no interactions between Y levels and DKTL levels with respect to total DM intake, but there were significant effects (p<0.05) by levels of Y; goats receiving 0.05 g/kg DM Y had higher than goats fed 0.0 g/kg DM on average (kg/d). A percentage of body weight (% BW) and grams per kilogram of metallic weight (g/kg w^0.75) had no influence on yeast levels and DKTL, but there was a difference (p<0.05) by yeast level Y at 0.5 g/kg DM, being higher compared to the non-supplemented group. Apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrition in the form of (DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber) was an increased trend in the Y-level complementary group at 0.5 g/kg DM and DKTL at 4.44 g/kg DM, respectively. Protozoa populations decreased in the group receiving Y levels at 0.5 g/kg DM and DKTL levels at 4.44 g/kg DM when compared to group T1. The acetic acid concentration and methane gas generation decreased (p<0.05) in the group receiving Y levels of 0.5 g/kg DM and DKTL levels of 4.44 g/kg DM, while the amount of propionic acid increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: Effects of feeding combinations of Y and DKTL supplementation on feed showed no interaction effect (Y×DKTL) on feed intake, rumen fermentation, bacterial and fungi population. The effect on protozoal populations was lower in the group that was supplemented with DKTL at 4.44 g/kg DM related to synthetic CH₄ was reduced.