Influence of three microbial feed additives of Megasphaera elsdenii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus sp. on ruminal methane and carbon dioxide production, and biofermentation kinetics

Effects of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) and papaya (Carica papaya) leaf powder on production performance, ruminal methanogen levels, gut parameters, and meat quality in goats

Background and Aim

Several approaches have been employed to mitigate methane emissions from livestock, with varied results. This study evaluated the effects of shade-dried ground garlic leaf (GL) powder and papaya leaf (PL) powder as crop waste on feed intake, growth performance, ruminal microbial counts, gut epithelial barrier functions, and meat quality in goats.

Materials and Methods

Forty male adult Beetal goats were randomly divided into five treatment groups: (1) Control (basal diet only); (2) basal diet supplemented with 6% bromodichloromethane (BCM); (3) basal diet supplemented with 30% GL powder; (4) basal diet supplemented with 26% PL powder; and (5) basal diet supplemented with 30% GL powder and 26% PL powder (GP).

Results

Average weight gain, feed conversion ratio, fecal score, and albumin improved in the GP. Aspartate transferase increased significantly in BCM, GL, and PL and was insignificant in the GP group compared with the C group. There was a 13% decrease in methanogen count in PL compared with C, but this difference was not significant between BCM and GP. Ruminal bacteria and protozoa were lowest in GL. Ruminal papilla height and surface area increased in the supplemented groups compared with C (p < 0.05). In vitro experiments using isolated ruminal epithelia revealed a 39% increase in short-circuit current in GP compared with C (p < 0.05). For meat parameters, the pH 24 h decreased significantly in GL compared to BCM.

Conclusion

Dietary supplementations with GL and PL alone or in combination improved growth parameters and gut performance and reduced rumen methanogen levels without altering meat quality parameters. Proper diet formulation and further research on other ruminants may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

Essential oils improve nursery pigs' performance and appetite via modulation of intestinal health and microbiota

Optimal intestinal health and functionality are essential for animal health and performance, and simultaneously intestinal nutrient transporters and intestinal peptides are also involved in appetite and feed intake control mechanisms. Given the potential of essential oil (EO) in improving animal performance and improving feed palatability, we hypothesized that dietary supplementation of cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol could improve performance and appetite of nursery pigs by modulating intestinal health and microbiota. Cinnamaldehyde (100 mg/kg), carvacrol (100 mg/kg), and their mixtures (including 50 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde and 50 mg/kg carvacrol) were supplemented into the diets of 240 nursery pigs for 42 d, and data related to performance were measured. Thereafter, the influence of EO on intestinal health, appetite and gut microbiota and their correlations were explored. EO supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of piglets, and reduced (P < 0.05) diarrhea rates in nursery pigs. Furthermore, EO increased (P < 0.05) the intestinal absorption area and the abundance of tight junction proteins, and decreased (P < 0.05) intestinal permeability and local inflammation. In terms of intestinal development and the mucus barrier, EO promoted intestinal development and increased (P < 0.05) the number of goblet cells. Additionally, we found that piglets in the EO-supplemented group had upregulated (P < 0.05) levels of transporters and digestive enzymes in the intestine, which were significantly associated with daily gain and feed utilization. In addition, EO supplementation somewhat improved appetite in nursery pigs, increased the diversity of the gut microbiome and the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and there was a correlation between altered bacterial structure and appetite-related hormones. These findings indicate that EO is effective in promoting growth performance and nutrient absorption as well as in regulating appetite by improving intestinal health and bacterial structure.

Evaluating the effects of direct-fed microbial supplementation on the performance, milk quality and fatty acid of mid-lactating dairy cows

BACKGROUND

The objective of the experiment was to investigate the effect of a mixture of direct-fed microbial (DFM) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield and composition, milk fatty acid and blood parameter in crossbred mid-lactating cows.

METHODS

Twenty-four crossbred Holstein cows (body weight = 650±15 kg; days in milk = 100±20; daily milk yield = 25±3 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with three treatments: (1) CON, without DFM; (2) LS, inoculation with Lactobacillus fermentum (4.5 × 108 CFU/day) plus Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1.4×1010 CFU/day); and (3) LSM, inoculation with LS plus Megasphaera elsdenii (4.5 × 108 CFU/day). All animals received the same ration with 45.7% forage and 54.3% concentrate.

RESULTS

Results showed that the highest feed intake was observed in treatments LS and LSM (p = 0.02). Compared with the CON, milk production, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, fat (kg/day), protein (kg/day) and lactose (kg/day), FE and percent of fat were increased (p<0.05) by LSM, but unaffected by LS. Also, compared with the CON, both LS and LSM increased antioxidant activity (p<0.05). The concentration of C18:2c n-6 increased significantly in treatment LSM compared with the CON (p = 0.003). The concentration of C20:0 increased significantly in treatment LS compared with the CON (p = 0.004). The highest concentrations of insulin, glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol were observed by LSM (p<0.05). Compared with the CON, both LS and LSM increased blood monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil (p<0.05), and blood lymphocyte was increased (p = 0.02) only by LSM.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the research showed that the use of DFMs had no effect on the digestibility, microbial load and the major part of fatty acids in milk. However, it improved feed intake, milk yield and antioxidant activity of milk and also increased the milk concentration of C18:2 n-6.

Effect of probiotic supplementation on growth performance of Osmanabadi kids

The present experiment was conducted for 90 days to assess the effect of probiotic supplementation on performance of Osmanabadi kids at Osmanabadi goat unit of Red Kandhari Research and Instructional Farm, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, Maharashtra. Eighteen male or female kids of 3-6 months age were selected and randomly divided on equal weight basis into three treatment groups viz. T0 (control) with basal ration, T1 group with basal ration plus probiotics (Aspergillus oryzae and Lactobacillus), T2 group with basal ration plus probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus). The averages for weekly body weight (kg) of kids in different treatment groups (T0, T1 and T2) at the end of experiment were 12.69±0.27, 13.78±0.48, 14.94±0.34 kg, respectively. The weekly body weight gain was 0.35±0.01, 0.50±0.01, 0.58±0.01 kg, respectively while the average daily gain was 50.33±1.45, 70.83±0.70, 83.33±1.65 g, respectively, for T0, T1 and T2 groups. At the end of 13th week, FCR for T2 group was significantly lower (6.14±0.01) as compared to T1 (7.14±0.04) and T0 (9.20±0.28) groups. Highly significant differences were observed for weekly body weight, weekly body weight gain, average daily gain, weekly and daily feed intake. It can be concluded that Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus supplemented group (T2) exhibited better performance in terms of growth and FCR as compared to Aspergillus oryzae and Lactobacillus supplemented group (T1) and control (T0).

Impact of orange essential oil on enteric methane emissions of heifers fed bermudagrass hay

In this study, the effects of orange essential oil (OEO) on the rumen fermentation, nutrient utilization, and methane (CH₄) emissions of beef heifers fed a diet of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) were examined. In addition, in vitro and in situ experiments were conducted. The in vitro experiment consisted of three treatments: control (CTL, no OEO), OEO1 (0.25% OEO), and OEO2 (0.5% OEO). The forage to concentrate ratio was 70:30 (dry matter [DM] basis) in all treatments. No changes in pH, proportions of volatile fatty acids, and the acetate:propionate ratio were observed (P > 0.05). The addition of 0.25% OEO resulted in a reduction in CH₄ production (mL/g) relative to the control (P < 0.05). In the in situ experiment, 5 g of total mixed ration (CTL, OEO1, and OEO2) were incubated for 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Potential and effective degradability were not affected by OEO supplementation (P > 0.05). In the in vivo study, six crossbred beef heifers (Bos indicus × Bos taurus), fitted with rumen cannulas, were assigned to three different treatments: no additive (CTL), 0.25% OEO (OEO1), and 0.5% OEO (OEO2) in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square (21-day periods). Heifers were fed at 2.8% body weight. In vivo CH₄ production was measured in open-circuit respiration chambers. Reductions in gross energy consumption, apparent total tract digestibility, and rumen valerate concentration were observed for OEO2 compared to the control (P < 0.05). Additionally, decreases in CH₄ emissions (g/day; P < 0.05) and CH₄ (MJ gross energy intake/day; P < 0.05) were observed in response to supplementation of 0.5% OEO as compared to the CTL treatment. Thus, supplementation of 0.5% OEO reduced CH₄ emissions (g/day) by 12% without impacting the DM intake of heifers fed bermudagrass hay as a basal ration.

Superiority of Microencapsulated Essential Oils Compared With Common Essential Oils and Antibiotics: Effects on the Intestinal Health and Gut Microbiota of Weaning Piglet

Essential oils (EOs) have long been considered an alternative to antibiotics in the breeding industry. However, they are unstable and often present unpleasant odors, which hampers their application. Microencapsulation can protect the active gradients from oxidation and allow them to diffuse slowly in the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of microencapsulation technology on the biological function of EOs and the possibility of using microencapsulate EOs (MEEOs) as an alternative to antibiotics in weaning piglets. First, we prepared MEEOs and common EOs both containing 2% thymol, 5% carvacrol and 3% cinnamaldehyde (w/w/w). Then, a total of 48 weaning piglets were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments: (1) basal diet; (2) 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline; (3) 100 mg/kg common EOs; (4) 500 mg/kg common EOs; (5) 100 mg/kg MEEOs; and (6) 500 mg/kg MEEO. The trial lasted 28 days. The results showed that piglets in the 100 mg/kg MEEOs group had the lowest diarrhea index during days 15–28 (P < 0.05). In addition, 100 mg/kg MEEOs significantly alleviated intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation (P < 0.05), whereas 500 mg/kg common EOs caused intestinal oxidative stress (P < 0.05) and may lead to intestinal damage through activation of inflammatory cytokine response. MEEOs (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the ratio of the relative abundance of potential pathogenic and beneficial bacteria in the cecum and colon (P < 0.05), thus contributing to the maintenance of intestinal health. On the other hand, chlortetracycline caused an increase in the ratio of the relative abundance of potential pathogenic and beneficial bacteria in the colon (P < 0.05), which could potentially have adverse effects on the intestine. The addition of a high dose of MEEOs may have adverse effects on the intestine and may lead to diarrhea by increasing the level of colonic acetic acid (P < 0.05). Collectively, the results suggest that microencapsulation technology significantly promotes the positive effect of EOs on the intestinal health of weaning piglets and reduces the adverse effect of EOs, and 100 mg/kg MEEOs are recommended as a health promoter in piglets during the weaning period.

Lactobacillus plantarum as feed additive to improvement in vitro ruminal biofermentation and digestibility of some tropical tree leaves

AIM

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) on the in vitro gas production (GP) kinetics and ruminal fermentation parameter of three species of tropical forage Ziziphus mauritiana, Acacia victoriae and Moringa oleifera.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Treatments were (i) Z. mauritiana (Z) without LP (-ZLP), (ii) Z. mauritiana (Z) with LP (+ZLP), (iii) A. victoriae (A) without LP (-ALP), (4) A. victoriae (A) with LP (+ALP), (5) M. oleifera (M) without LP (-MLP) and (6) M. oleifera (M) with LP (+MLP). The LP was used at 0·5 Mcfarland (1·5 × 10⁸ colony-forming unit per millilitre (CFU per ml)). Kinetic of GP (GP from the fermentable fraction [b], GP rate [c] and lag phase [L]) and GP were affected (P < 0·05) by plant species and LP. The highest value of b, c and GP were observed in +MLP treatment compared with other treatments. The lowest value of L was observed for the +ZLP treatment compared with other treatments. The GP and fermentation parameter included organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) content, microbial CP (MCP) and truly degraded substrate (TDS) were affected by plant species and LP supplementation. The highest OMD, ME, TDS and MCP values were observed in +MLP treatment. At different incubation times, the highest amount of ammonia-N was observed in treatment +MLP compared with other treatments. Under the influence of experimental treatments (effect of plant species and LP), the highest concentrations of total volatile fatty acids, acetate and acetate to propionate ratio were observed in treatments +MLP, +ALP and +ALP, respectively. Concentrations of propionate, iso-butyrate, n-valerate and iso-valerate were affected by plant species, and the highest levels were observed in -ZLP, +MLP, -MLP and +MLP tretments, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of LP as a microbial additive had a positive effect on the in vitro digestibility and ruminal fermentation of tannins-rich tropical plants. Results suggest that dietary LP inclusion could be an option to improve ruminant energy utilization efficiency of tannins-rich tropical plants.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Regardless the effect of the forage species, the use of LP as a microbial additive improved GP and kinetics and also increased OMD, TDS, MCP and enhanced the total in vitro ruminal VFAs production.