Effect of mid-term oral administration of the Caesalpinia coriaria extract on the sustainable mitigation of equine fecal methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide productions

Nano-encapsulation of essential amino acids: ruminal methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and fermentation

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nano-encapsulation of four essential amino acids (AA), threonine, methionine, tryptophan, and lysine on in vitro ruminal total gas, methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide production as well as the rumen fermentation profile in cattle. The highest (P < 0.001) rate and asymptotic gas production after 48 h of incubation was observed in the diets that had threonine, followed by lysine, methionine, and tryptophan. Asymptotic methane gas production decreased in the following order: threonine > lysine > tryptophan > methionine (P < 0.0001) and the rate of production per hour followed the same trend (P = 0.0259). CH4 parameters showed that in 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h of incubation the lowest methane production was obtained in the diet with methionine (P < 0.05) and the highest one in diet supplemented with threonine. Methane fractions showed that methionine-containing diets resulted in more (P < 0.05) metabolizable energy versus methane, followed by tryptophan-containing, and then lysine-containing diets. Methionine-fortified diets seem to be the most eco-friendly among those studied regarding methane output. However, based on methane, CO, and H2S output as well as the rumen fermentation profile nano-encapsulated lysine is recommended for use in ruminant nutrition.

Deciphering the role of Moringa oleifera seeds and probiotic bacteria on mitigation of biogas production from ruminants

Maintaining cleaner and more sustainable ecosystems by mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock through dietary manipulation is in demand. This study was aimed to assess the effect of Moringa oleifera seeds and probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici BX-B122 and Bacillus coagulans BX-B118) as feed supplements on GHG production and fermentation profile from steers and sheep. The treatments included diets containing 0, 6, 12, and 18% of M. oleifera seeds meal and a mixture of probiotic bacteria (0.2 ml/g of diet). Total biogas production, CH4, CO, and H2S emission from animals (up to 48 h), rumen fermentation profile, and CH4 conversion efficiency were recorded using standard protocols. Results showed interaction among M. oleifera seeds and probiotics on asymptotic biogas production and total biogas production up to 48 h (P < 0.05). The rate of CH4 emission in steers was reduced from 0.1694 to 0.0447 ml/h using 6 and 18% of M. oleifera seeds (P < 0.05). Asymptotic CO and the rate of CO production were increased (P < 0.05) by supplementing different doses of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics. Adding 12% of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics reduced H2S production from 0.0675 to 0.0112 ml H2S/g DM (at 48 h of fermentation) in steers. In sheep, the additives mitigated H2S production from 0.0364 to 0.0029 ml H2S/g DM (at 48 h of fermentation), however there were not interaction (P = 0.7744). In addition, M. oleifera seeds and probiotics reduced the pH level and dry matter degradability (DMD) in steers and sheep (P < 0.0001) showing a positive impact on CH4:ME and CH4:OM (in steers) and CH4:SCFA (in sheep), while the interaction was not significant (P > 0.05) for CH4:SCFA (in steers) and CH4:ME and CH4:OM (in sheep). In conclusion, the interaction of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics in the feeding diet reduced GHG emissions and affected the fermentation profile of steers and sheep.

Dietary water fly (Notonecta sp.) meal as an alternative protein source for sheep: Effects on performance, nutrient intake, nitrogen balance, and fermentation parameters

In this study, the inclusion of water fly (Notonecta sp., NT) meal was compared with conventional protein sources such as soybean meal (SBM) and fish meal (FM) in diets destined for sheep, with specific reference to growth performance, nutrient intake, nitrogen balance, and in vitro rumen fermentation parameters. For 21 days, 18 male Suffolk lambs were randomly assigned to three experimental diets fed: (1) SBM at 130 g/kg dry matter (DM), as a plant-based protein diet; (2) FM at 50 g/kg DM, as an animal-based protein diet; and (3) NT at 60 g/kg DM, as an insect-based protein diet, for ad libitum feed intake. DM intake was similar among the treatments. The digestibility of DM (p = 0.006) and organic matter (p = 0.002) in the NT group was lower than that of SBM. In vitro rumen fermentation data showed that there were no differences between the treatments for DM degradation and the production of microbial crude protein. No differences were observed among the treatments in terms of enteric methane production. The NT diet produced the lowest NH3-N at hours 12 and 24 (p = 0.032 and 0.021, respectively). Overall, the dietary inclusion of NT for fattening lambs could be an alternative feeding strategy without deleterious effects on animal performance.

Marine Microalgae as a Nutritive Tool to Mitigate Ruminal Greenhouse Gas Production: In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Fresh and Ensiled Maize (Zea mays L.) Forage

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of marine microalgae (Dunaliella salina) as a food additive on biogas (BG), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production kinetics, as well as in in vitro rumen fermentation and the CH4 conversion efficiency of different genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) and states of forage. The treatments were characterized by the forage of five maize genotypes (Amarillo, Montesa, Olotillo, Tampiqueño, and Tuxpeño), two states of forage (fresh and ensiled), and the addition of 3% (on DM basis) of microalgae (with and without). The parameters (b = asymptotic production, c = production rate, and Lag = delay phase before gas production) of the production of BG, CH4, CO, and H2S showed an effect (p < 0.05) of the genotype, the state of the forage, the addition of the microalgae, or some of its interactions, except for the time in the CO delay phase (p > 0.05). Moreover, the addition of microalgae decreased (p < 0.05) the production of BG, CH4, and H2S in most of the genotypes and stages of the forage, but the production of CO increased (p < 0.05). In the case of fermentation characteristics, the microalgae increased (p < 0.05) the pH, DMD, SCFA, and ME in most genotypes and forage states. With the addition of the microalgae, the fresh forage from Olotillo obtained the highest pH (p < 0.05), and the ensiled from Amarillo, the highest (p < 0.05) DMD, SCFA, and ME. However, the ensiled forage produced more (p < 0.05) CH4 per unit of SFCA, ME, and OM, and the microalgae increased it (p < 0.05) even more, and the fresh forage from Amarillo presented the highest (p < 0.05) quantity of CH4 per unit of product. In conclusion, the D. salina microalga showed a potential to reduce the production of BG, CH4, and H2S in maize forage, but its effect depended on the chemical composition of the genotype and the state of the forage. Despite the above, the energy value of the forage (fresh and ensiled) improved, the DMD increased, and in some cases, SCFA and ME also increased, all without compromising CH4 conversion efficiency.

Effect of Dietary Guanidinoacetic Acid Levels on the Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Production and the Rumen Fermentation Profile of Alfalfa-Based Diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different percentages of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay (AH) and doses of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) in the diet on the mitigation of greenhouse gas production, the in vitro rumen fermentation profile and methane (CH4) conversion efficiency. AH percentages were defined for the diets of beef and dairy cattle, as well as under grazing conditions (10 (AH10), 25 (AH25) and 100% (AH100)), while the GAA doses were 0 (control), 0.0005, 0.0010, 0.0015, 0.0020, 0.0025 and 0.0030 g g-1 DM diet. With an increased dose of GAA, the total gas production (GP) and methane (CH4) increased (p = 0.0439) in the AH10 diet, while in AH25 diet, no effect was observed (p = 0.1311), and in AH100, GP and CH4 levels decreased (p = 0.0113). In addition, the increase in GAA decreased (p = 0.0042) the proportion of CH4 in the AH25 diet, with no influence (p = 0.1050) on CH4 in the AH10 and AH100 diet groups. Carbon monoxide production decreased (p = 0.0227) in the AH100 diet with most GAA doses, and the other diets did not show an effect (p = 0.0617) on carbon monoxide, while the production of hydrogen sulfide decreased (p = 0.0441) in the AH10 and AH100 diets with the addition of GAA, with no effect observed in association with the AH25 diet (p = 0.3162). The pH level increased (p < 0.0001) and dry matter degradation (DMD) decreased (p < 0.0001) when AH was increased from 10 to 25%, while 25 to 100% AH contents had the opposite effect. In addition, with an increased GAA dose, only the pH in the AH100 diet increased (p = 0.0142 and p = 0.0023) the DMD in the AH10 diet group. Similarly, GAA influenced (p = 0.0002) SCFA, ME and CH4 conversion efficiency but only in the AH10 diet group. In this diet group, it was observed that with an increased dose of GAA, SCFA and ME increased (p = 0.0002), while CH4 per unit of OM decreased (p = 0.0002) only with doses of 0.0010, 0.0015 and 0.0020 g, with no effect on CH4 per unit of SCFA and ME (p = 0.1790 and p = 0.1343). In conclusion, the positive effects of GAA depend on the percentage of AH, and diets with 25 and 100% AH showed very little improvement with the addition of GAA, while the diet with 10% AH presented the best results.

Impact of Co-Ensiling of Maize with Moringa oleifera on the Production of Greenhouse Gases and the Characteristics of Fermentation in Ruminants

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of maize co-ensiling with increasing percentages of MOL forage on the kinetics of biogas, methane (CH₄), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production, as well as the characteristics of ruminal fermentation and CH₄ conversion efficiency, using steers (STI) and sheep (SHI) as inoculum sources. With the STI, the inclusion of MOL reduced (linear: p ≤ 0.0199; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0267) biogas production (mL g^-1 DM incubated and degraded), CH₄ (mL g^-1 DM degraded), CO (mL g^-1 DM degraded), and H₂S (mL g^-1 DM incubated and degraded), without affecting (p > 0.05) the parameters (b = asymptotic gas, c = rate of gas production and Lag = initial delay time before gas production) of CH₄ and H₂S, and the proportion and production of CH₄ per kg of dry matter (DM). In addition, with this inoculum, pH, and dry matter degradation (DMD) increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0060), and although short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME) decreased (linear: p < 0.0001; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0015), this did not affect (p > 0.05) the CH₄ conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, with the SHI, the inclusion of MOL only decreased (linear: p ≤ 0.0206; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0003) biogas per dry matter (DM) degraded and increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0293; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0325) biogas per DM incubated, as well as the production (mL g^-1 DM incubated and degraded and g^-1 kg DM) and proportion of CH₄, and CO per DM incubated and degraded. In addition, it did not impact (p > 0.05) on the CH₄ and H₂S parameters, and in the H₂S by DM incubated and degraded, and although it increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0292; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0325) the DMD, SCFA, and ME, it was inefficient (quadratic: p ≤ 0.0041) in CH₄ conversion. It is concluded that regardless of the percentage of MOL, the STI presented the highest values in the production of biogas, CH₄, H₂S, DMD, SCFA, and ME, and the lowest pH, so it turned out to be the most efficient in CH₄ conversion, while with the SHI only the highest production of CO and pH was obtained, and the lowest DMD, SCFA, and ME, so it was less efficient compared to STI.

Influence of Azadirachta indica and Cnidoscolus angustidens dietary extracts on equine fecal greenhouse gas emissions

The present study was conducted to investigate the flavonoid extracts of Azadirachta indica (AZN), Cnidoscolus angustidens (CNA), and their combination at dosages (MIX) of 0, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mL for their ability to reduce greenhouse gases and fermentation profiles in an in vitro study using horse feces and a nutrient-dense diet (as substrate). The quantity of greenhouse gas and fermentation profiles and were determined in in vitro incubation for 48 h. Extracts of AZN, CNA, and MIX reduced total gas production in the incubated and degraded substrates in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Production of CH₄ was reduced (P <0.05) by 4.41-54.54% in the incubated substrates and by 1.16 - 61.82% in the degraded substrates. However, AZN and MIX reduced (P <0.05) CO by 4.43 - 12.85% in the incubated substrates and by 0.70 - 16.78% in the degraded substrates. In like manner, the plant extracts and combination reduced (P <0.05) H₂S gas emission in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner by 18.37-67.35% in the incubated substrates and by 8.51-67.23% in the degraded substrates. Extracts maintained pH within the normal range (6.05-7.05), reduced dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy, and improved (P <0.05) concentration of short chain fatty acids. Overall, extracts of AZN and CNA and their combinations had a positive effect on reducing the greenhouse gas production with no deleterious effect on cecal horses' fermentation activities.