Effects of the inclusion of Moringa oleifera seed on rumen fermentation and methane production in a beef cattle diet using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec)

Moringa leaf meal exerts growth benefits in small ruminants through modulating the gastrointestinal microbiome

This study investigated the impact of feeding 17% moringa leaf meal (MLM) on the ruminal and fecal microbial composition and body weight gain (BWG) performance of lambs (Ovis aries) and kids (Capra hircus). A total of n = 28 lambs (n = 14, no-moringa, n = 14, 17% moringa) and 24 kids (n = 12, no-moringa, n = 12, 17% moringa) were involved in the experiment and body weight was recorded fortnightly. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing was performed on 28, 22, and 26 ruminal solid, liquid fraction, and fecal samples from lambs, and 23, 22, and 23 samples from kids. Moringa supplementation significantly increased BWG in lambs (21.09 ± 0.78 to 26.12 ± 0.81 kg) and kids (14.60 ± 1.29 to 18.28 ± 1.09 kg) (p-value ≤ 0.01). Microbiome analysis revealed an elevated Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio in the moringa diet group. Moringa-fed animals exhibited increased microbial genera associated with volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production (Prevotella, Anaerovibrio, Lachnospiraceae, Butyrivibrio, Christensenella) and starch and fiber digesters (Proteobacteria, Ruminococcus). The increase in the bacterial genus Sharpea suggested possible methane reduction and decreased proportion of pathogens, Aliarcobacter_ID28198, Campylobacter_ID194 and Campylobacter_ID1660076 suggest health benefits. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis demonstrated significant alterations in microbial gene pool and metabolic pathways related to carbohydrate, protein, lipid and energy metabolism, indicating potential improvements in animal health. Overall, moringa feeding showed higher energy recovery, improved growth, and potential benefits in methane reduction and reduced pathogenic bacteria.

Anthelmintic activity of Carica pubescens aqueous seed extract and its effects on rumen fermentation and methane reduction in Indonesian thin-tailed sheep: An in vitro study

Background and Aim

Seeds from Carica pubescens were observed to be abundant as waste. This waste contains active plant compounds whose utilization has not been studied in the livestock sector. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of an aqueous seed extract of Carica pubescens (ASE) as an anthelmintic agent during rumen fermentation and methane reduction.

Materials and Methods

Aqueous seed extract of Carica pubescens was prepared from C. pubescens cultivated in Wonosobo, Indonesia. Phytochemical analyses were performed to quantify the secondary metabolite content of ASE. In vitro adult worm mortality tests, scanning electron microscopy, and gas production tests were conducted to evaluate rumen characteristics, methane reduction, and the potential of ASE as an anthelmintic against Haemonchus contortus. Adult worms and ruminal fluid were collected from Indonesian thin-tailed sheep. Two-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® 21.0 software to detect significant differences.

Results

In vitro study results showed that 1-5% ASE inhibited H. contortus after the 1st h of incubation, and 5% ASE suppressed 100% of adult H. contortus worms in the 5th h. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of ASE-treated worms ASE revealed damaged cuticle structures. ASE had no significant effect on pH, NH3, volatile fatty acid, acetate, propionate, butyrate, acetate: propionate, or microbial protein in rumen fluid (p > 0.05). The in vitro feed fermentation results showed that ASE significantly affected methane reduction.

Conclusion

The inclusion of up to 5% ASE in sheep diets may serve as a potential alternative anthelmintic against H. contortus as well as a methane reduction agent, without deleterious effects on rumen fermentation.

Moringa oleifera and Propolis in Cattle Nutrition: Characterization of Metabolic Activities in the Rumen In Vitro

Moringa oleifera by-products such as seed cake and leaves are protein-rich ingredients, while raw propolis has the potential to influence ruminal protein metabolism. These substances are also known to be sources of functional compounds. With these properties, they could modulate ruminal fermentation activities. Using the rumen simulation technique, we investigated ruminal fermentation and the antioxidant properties of four dietary treatments. These included a control diet (CON) without supplementation; the CON diet top-dressed on a dry matter (DM) basis, either with moringa seed cake (MSC, containing 49% crude protein (CP)), moringa leaf powder (ML, containing 28% CP), or raw propolis (PRO, 3% CP). MSC, ML, and PRO accounted for 3.8, 7.4, and 0.1% of the total diet DM, respectively. Both ML and MSC resulted in 14 and 27% more ammonia concentration, respectively than CON and PRO (p < 0.05). MSC increased the propionate percentage at the expense of acetate (p < 0.05). Both ML and MSC decreased methane percentages by 7 and 10%, respectively, compared to CON (p < 0.05). The antioxidant capacity of the moringa seed cake, moringa leaf powder, and raw propolis were 1.14, 0.56, and 8.56 mg Trolox/g DM, respectively. However, such differences were not evident in the fermentation fluid. In conclusion, the supplementation of moringa seed cake desirably modulates rumen microbial activities related to protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

Metabolic Benefit of Bulls Being Fed Moringa Leaves Twigs and Branches as a Major Concentrate Ingredient

The study was conducted to investigate nutrient metabolism and semen quality of bulls fed with moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves, twigs, and branches as a major concentrate ingredient. Twenty-one Red Chittagong bulls of about 204 (±50) kg initial live weight (LW) were randomly divided into three equal LW groups. They were fed maize silage as a basal feedstuff for 65 days with the supplementation of concentrate mixtures at 1% of LW, consisting of either 0, 25, or 50% moringa mash on a fresh basis. Moringa mash was a sun-dried ground preparation of leaves, twigs, and branches of moringa. The results indicated that different levels of moringa in concentrate mixtures (0, 25, and 50%) did not change daily DM intake, digestibility, and LW gain of bulls (p &gt; 0.05). However, increasing dietary moringa (up to 203 g/kg DM) significantly decreased production cost of methane (CH4) (methane emission [kg/kg gain] = 1.6422—[0.0059 × moringa intake, g/kg DM], n = 12, R2 = 0.384, P = 0.032) in a similar metabolizable energy intake level (0.21 ± 0.01 MJ/kg LW). Also, higher dietary moringa significantly reduced urinary nitrogen loss (urinary nitrogen [% digested nitrogen] = 43.0 – 0.069 × moringa intake [g/kg DM]; R2 = 0.3712, P = 0.034). Thus, increasing moringa by 1 g/kg DM decreased CH4 emission by 6 g/kg gain and absorbed nitrogen loss by 0.069 %. Also, progressive motility of sperm increased significantly (33.0, 51.0, and 60.1%, respectively; p = 0.03) in bulls fed with concentrate mixtures containing moringa at 0, 25, or 50%. It may be concluded that feeding moringa mash at 203 g/kg DM may decrease energy loss as methane and urinary nitrogen loss without impacting the production of beef cattle. Feeding moringa mash to beef cattle may abate dietary energy and nitrogen loss and consequently decrease the environmental pollution.

Effects of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, ruminal enzyme activities and growth performance of buffalo calves

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MLM) as a substitution for soybean meal on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, rumen enzyme activity, blood metabolites, growth-related hormones, and growth performance of buffalo calves. Thirty buffalo calves eight to nine months of age with an average body weight of approximately 153.7 ± 0.97 kg were randomly distributed through three dietary treatments (ten calves/treatment). MLM inclusion rates were 15% (M15) and 20% (M20), replacing soybean meal by 50 and 75% in the concentrate mixture, respectively. The results indicated that, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter (OM), and crude fiber (CF) increased significantly (p < 0.05) with MLM inclusion, while the digestibility of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) with MLM addition. Dietary supplementation with MLM significantly affected (p < 0.001) rumen fermentation by reducing ruminal enzymes, ruminal ammonia-N, total protozoa, and acetate/propionate ratio and increasing acetic, propionic, and butyric acids and total volatile fatty acid concentrations (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 15% MLM significantly improved (p < 0.001) final body weight, dry matter intake of feed, daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, blood metabolites, and plasma insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I). It can be concluded that MLM is a multi-purpose protein supplement that provides some nutritional and therapeutic advantages when replacing 50% of soybean meal. Dietary supplementation of 15% MLM improved rumen fermentation, growth performance, blood metabolites, plasma IGF-I and mitigated ammonia and methane without any adverse effects in growing buffalo calves.

Camelina sativa L. Oil Mitigates Enteric in vitro Methane Production, Modulates Ruminal Fermentation, and Ruminal Bacterial Diversity in Buffaloes

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Camelina sativa oil (CO) on fermentation kinetics and methane (CH₄) production in rations with different roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratios. Three total mixed rations (TMRs) were used as substrates (R70:C30, R50:C50, and R30:C70) supplemented with different levels of CO (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% on dry matter basis) in an in vitro batch culture system. The enteric CH₄ production was determined at different times of incubation while fermentation parameters were measured at the end of incubation. Results revealed that CO significantly decreased (P < 0.05) CH₄ production at 48 h in medium (R50:C50) and low- (R30:C70) roughage diets than control. Camelina oil at all levels significantly (P < 0.05) affected ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and microbial protein (MCP) in all rations. Propionate concentration was increased by supplementing 8% CO to R70:C30 TMR, but it decreased with increasing levels of CO for low- and medium-roughage diets. Acetate concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 4% CO supplementation, but it decreased with 8% CO level in R30:C70 TMR. For all rations, CO decreased (P < 0.001) total bacteria, protozoa, and methanogens. Total fungi counts were affected by CO in all rations, especially with a 6% level in two rations (R30:C70 and R50:C50) and 8% level with high-roughage ration (R70:C30). Supplementation of CO in medium-roughage ration (R50:C50) showed a linear (P < 0.05) decrease in bacterial richness and evenness indices along with Shannon diversity as compared to the control. Moreover, CO also increased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio in all TMRs more effectively at higher levels. Camelina oil also affected the relative abundance of Prevotella in both low- and medium-roughage diets while increasing the abundance of Ruminobacter and Pseudobutyrivibrio. The present study concluded that CO enhanced fermentation kinetics while decreasing enteric in vitro CH₄ production from fibrous diets. Thus, it may be considered as a potentially effective and environmentally friendly way of mitigating CH₄ emission from livestock.

Moringa Oleifera Oil Modulates Rumen Microflora to Mediate In Vitro Fermentation Kinetics and Methanogenesis in Total Mix Rations

This study was conducted to evaluate potential of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOSO) to modulate rumen microflora to mitigate methane (CH₄) production in different total mixed rations (TMRs). Three TMRs with different roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio were used as substrates (R70:C30, R50:C50 and R30:C70) for in vitro fermentation study using batch culture technique. Results revealed that supplementation of MOSO in different rations with variable roughage to concentrates ratio altered (P < 0.05) CH₄ production and fermentation parameters. M. oleifera seed oil at 3 and 4% increased (P < 0.01) microbial protein (MCP) and propionate concentration for all rations but decreased acetate concentration in R70:C30 TMR. Two levels of MOSO (3 and 4%) quadratically increased (P = 0.001) MCP and decreased acetate in R30:C70 while all levels increased propionate. For R30:C70 and R50:C50 rations, MOSO linearly and quadratically decreased (P < 0.001) protozoa and methanogen counts; however, protozoa, methanogens and bacteria were significantly increased in R70:C30 ration without any change in fungal counts. Supplementation of higher level of MOSO (4%) in high roughage ration (R70:C30) showed negative effects on diversity (Shannon index) and evenness of bacterial species as compared to control and lower oil level. Moreover, it also decreased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio in high roughage rations more obviously at lower levels. Moringa oil also stimulated Prevotella in both high and low roughages diets that indicates its potential to mediate rumen acidosis. Conclusively, MOSO enhanced fermentation kinetics and decreased CH₄ production through effective modulation of rumen microbiome.

Dietary dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) peel powder improved in vitro rumen fermentation and gas production kinetics

Plant phytophenols especially condensed tannins (CT) and saponins (SP) have been demonstrated to impact on rumen fermentation. Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) peel powder (DFPP) contains both CT and SP. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of DFPP and varying levels of concentrate and roughage ratios on gas production kinetics, nutrient degradability, and methane production "using in vitro gas production technique." The dietary treatments were arranged according to a 3 × 5 Factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. The two experimental factors consisted of the roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio (100:0, 70:30, and 30:70) and the levels of DFPP supplementation (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% of the substrate) on DM basis. The results revealed that the R:C ratio at 30:70 had the highest cumulative gas production when compared to other ratios (P < 0.01). The in vitro true dry matter degradability at 12 and 24 h was affected by R:C ratio (P < 0.01). Furthermore, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and propionate (C3) were significantly increased by the levels of DFPP, while acetate (C2) and C2:C3 ratios were decreased (P < 0.05). The rumen protozoal population was significantly decreased by DFPP supplementation (P < 0.05). Rumen methane production was significantly impacted by R:C ratios and decreased when the level of DFPP increased (P < 0.01), while NH₃-N and ruminal pH were not influenced by the DFPP supplement. It could be summarized that supplementation of DFPP resulted in improved rumen fermentation kinetics and could be used as a dietary source to mitigate rumen methane production, hence reducing greenhouse gas production.