Effects of substituting agro-industrial by-products for soybean meal on beef cattle feed utilization and rumen fermentation

Effect of cassava pulp treated with Lactobacillus casei TH14, urea, and molasses on gas kinetics, rumen fermentation, and degradability using the in vitro gas technique

This study focused on examining the gas dynamics, rumen fermentation, and digestibility of ensiled cassava pulp (CSVP) using Lactobacillus casei TH14, urea, and molasses in the context of a laboratory experiment. All data in this study were analyzed using treatments arranged in 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangements using a completely randomized design. The L.casei TH14 additive (L) was factor A. Factor B was the molasses additive (M), while factor C was urea (U). There was no interaction effect of L, U, and M on gas production, volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, pH value, or ammonia-nitrogen level (P<0.05). The interaction of L, U, and M influenced in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) at 12 h (P < 0.05), and the CSVP fermented with the additions of L, U, and M together (LUM) was higher than the additions of CON, M, U, UM, and L on IVDMD (P < 0.05). However, the IVDMD values of adding LUM were higher in the control group (CON), M, U, UM, and L additive groups (P < 0.05). There was an interaction effect of L, U, and M on the protozoal count at 8 h (P<0.05), which had a lower protozoal count in the control group. In addition, acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations at 4 h and 8 h (P<0.05) were increased during the fermentation of CSVP using L and M combinations. Furthermore, the combination of U and M enhanced (P<0.05) average acetic acid, propionic acid, and pH at 4 h and 8 h while reducing (P<0.05) the gas generation from the insoluble portion (b). It was suggested that utilizing L. casei TH14 together with urea and molasses can enhance nutrient contents and improve the in vitro dry matter digestibility of CSVP, although it has no effect on ruminal fermentation or gas production.

Peach palm shells (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) bioconversion by Lentinula edodes: Potential as new bioproducts for beef cattle feeding

This paper aims to develop and assess the in vitro effects on ruminal fermentation and greenhouse gas parameters of new bioproducts for beef cattle diets, carried out by solid-state fermentation of peach palm shells colonized by Lentinula edodes (SSF) and after Shiitake mushroom cultivation in axenic blocks (SMS). In vitro experiments were performed to assess the in vitro gas production, digestibility, and fiber degradation of formulated total diets. Bioproducts presented high β-glucans (9.44---11.27 %) and protein (10.04---8.35 %) contents, as well as similar digestibility to conventional diets. SMS diet had the lowest methane and carbon dioxide (19.1 and 84.1 mM/g OM) production, and the SSF diet presented lower carbon dioxide production (98.9 mM/g OM) than other diets, whereas methane was similar. This study highlighted a sustainable use of byproducts for beef cattle diets, promising for digestibility, nutritional value, β-glucans incorporation, and environmental impact mitigation, favoring the circular bioeconomy.

Ruminal degradation characteristics of bagasse with different fermentation treatments in the rumen of beef cattle

This experiment aimed to study the degradation characteristics of bagasse after three fermentation treatments in beef cattle. Bagasse 1 was treated with 0.3% lactic acid bacteria (w/w). Bagasse 2 was treated with 0.3% mixed strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, and lactic acid bacteria at 2:1:1:1). Bagasse 3 was treated with 0.1% cellulase and 0.1% xylanase in addition to 0.3% mixed strains of bagasse 2. The dry matter (DM), crude ash (ASH), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the bagasses were determined. Compared to the control bagasse (without the strain and enzyme treatments), three fermented bagasses showed higher DM after 4 h fermentation. The CP and ASH contents in fermented bagasse 3 were the highest, while the contents of NDF and ADF in fermented bagasse 3 were the lowest among all the groups. The effective degradability of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF was highest in fermented bagasse 3 among the evaluated bagasse feed, followed by fermented bagasse 2 > fermented bagasse 1 > bagasse. Overall, fermented bagasse 3 was better than the control and other treated bagasses, thus fermented bagasse 3 is a hopeful source for ruminant diet of beef cattle.

Feeding Pellets Containing Agro-Industrial Waste Enhances Feed Utilization and Rumen Functions in Thai Beef Cattle

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of citric waste fermented with yeast waste pellet (CWYWP) supplementation on feed intake, rumen characteristics, and blood metabolites in native Thai beef cattle that are fed a rice-straw-based diet. Four native male Thai beef cattle (1.0-1.5 years old) with an initial body weight (BW) of 116 ± 16 kg were held in a 4 × 4 Latin square design within 21-day periods. The animals were assigned to receive CWYWP supplementation at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of the total dry matter (DM) intake per day. The results indicate that feeding beef cattle with CWYWP leads to a linear increase in the total intake as well was the intake of crude protein (CP) and the digestibility of CP, with the maximum levels observed at 6% CWYWP supplementation (p < 0.05). Rumen characteristics, including pH, blood urea-nitrogen concentration, and protozoal population, showed no significant alterations in response to the varying CWYWP dosages (p > 0.05). In addition, the CWYWP supplementation resulted in no significant changes in the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen, remaining within an average normal range of 10.19-10.38 mg/dL (p > 0.05). The inclusion of 6% CWYWP resulted in the highest population of ruminal bacteria (p < 0.05). Additionally, the CWYWP supplementation led to a statistically significant increase in the mean propionic acid concentration as compared to the group that did not receive the CWYWP supplementation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this experiment demonstrates that supplementing Thai native beef cattle with CWYWP at either 4% or 6% DM per day can enhance their total CP intake as well as the CP digestibility and rumen bacterial population, and can increase propionate concentration.