1
|
Foggi G, Terranova M, Daghio M, Amelchanka SL, Conte G, Ineichen S, Agnolucci M, Viti C, Mantino A, Buccioni A, Kreuzer M, Mele M. Evaluation of ruminal methane and ammonia formation and microbiota composition as affected by supplements based on mixtures of tannins and essential oils using Rusitec. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:48. [PMID: 38561832 PMCID: PMC10986001 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-024-01005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dietary supplements based on tannin extracts or essential oil compounds (EOC) have been repeatedly reported as a promising feeding strategy to reduce the environmental impact of ruminant husbandry. A previous batch culture screening of various supplements identified selected mixtures with an enhanced potential to mitigate ruminal methane and ammonia formation. Among these, Q-2 (named after quebracho extract and EOC blend 2, composed of carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol) and C-10 (chestnut extract and EOC blend 10, consisting of oregano and thyme essential oils and limonene) have been investigated in detail in the present study with the semi-continuous rumen simulation technique (Rusitec) in three independent runs. For this purpose, Q-2 and C-10, dosed according to the previous study, were compared with a non-supplemented diet (negative control, NC) and with one supplemented with the commercial EOC-based Agolin® Ruminant (positive control, PC). RESULTS From d 5 to 10 of fermentation incubation liquid was collected and analysed for pH, ammonia, protozoa count, and gas composition. Feed residues were collected for the determination of ruminal degradability. On d 10, samples of incubation liquid were also characterised for bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and 26S ribosomal large subunit gene amplicons. Regardless of the duration of the fermentation period, Q-2 and C-10 were similarly efficient as PC in mitigating either ammonia (-37% by Q-2, -34% by PC) or methane formation (-12% by C-10, -12% by PC). The PC was also responsible for lower feed degradability and bacterial and fungal richness, whereas Q-2 and C-10 effects, particularly on microbiome diversities, were limited compared to NC. CONCLUSIONS All additives showed the potential to mitigate methane or ammonia formation, or both, in vitro over a period of 10 d. However, several differences occurred between PC and Q-2/C-10, indicating different mechanisms of action. The pronounced defaunation caused by PC and its suggested consequences apparently determined at least part of the mitigant effects. Although the depressive effect on NDF degradability caused by Q-2 and C-10 might partially explain their mitigation properties, their mechanisms of action remain mostly to be elucidated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Foggi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
| | | | - Matteo Daghio
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, 50144, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Conte
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Centro Di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali "E. Avanzi", University of Pisa, Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Simon Ineichen
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Monica Agnolucci
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Centro Di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali "E. Avanzi", University of Pisa, Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Carlo Viti
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, 50144, Italy
| | - Alberto Mantino
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Centro Di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali "E. Avanzi", University of Pisa, Pisa, 56122, Italy
| | - Arianna Buccioni
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, 50144, Italy
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Marcello Mele
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Centro Di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali "E. Avanzi", University of Pisa, Pisa, 56122, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Reiche AM, Amelchanka SL, Bapst B, Terranova M, Kreuzer M, Kuhla B, Dohme-Meier F. Influence of dietary fiber content and horn status on thermoregulatory responses of Brown Swiss dairy cows under thermoneutral and short-term heat stress conditions. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:8033-8046. [PMID: 37641257 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
In the present experiment, 10 horned and 10 disbudded mid-lactating Brown Swiss cows were included in a crossover feeding trial with a hay or hay and concentrate diet. The effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content and horn status on thermoregulatory responses under thermoneutral and short-term heat stress conditions were studied, as both are considered to ease the cow's thermoregulation under an environmental heat load. Cows received either ad libitum hay and alfalfa pellets (85:15, C-, NDF content: 41.0%) or restricted amounts of hay and concentrate (70:30, C+, NDF content: 34.5%). The level of restriction applied with the C+ diet was determined from pre-experimental ad libitum intakes, ensuring that both diets provided the same intake of net energy for lactation (NEL). For data collection, cows were housed in respiration chambers for 5 d. The climatic conditions were 10°C and 60% relative humidity (RH), considered thermoneutral (TN) conditions (temperature-humidity index (THI): 52) for d 1 and 2, and 25°C and 70% RH, considered heat stress (HS) conditions (THI: 74), for d 4 and 5. On d 3, the temperature and RH were increased gradually. Compared with TN, HS conditions increased the water intake, skin temperature, respiration and heart rates, and endogenous heat production. They did not affect body temperature, feed intake, or milk production. Lowering dietary fiber content via concentrate supplementation lowered methane and increased carbon dioxide production. It did not mitigate physiological responses to HS. Although the responses of horned and disbudded cows were generally similar, the slower respiration rates of horned cows under HS conditions indicate a possible, albeit minor, role of the horn in thermoregulation. In conclusion, future investigations on nutritional strategies must be conducted to mitigate mild heat stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A-M Reiche
- Ruminant Nutrition and Emissions, Agroscope Posieux, 1725 Posieux, Switzerland.
| | - S L Amelchanka
- ETH Zurich, AgroVet-Strickhof, Eschikon 27, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | - B Bapst
- Qualitas AG, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
| | - M Terranova
- ETH Zurich, AgroVet-Strickhof, Eschikon 27, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | - M Kreuzer
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Eschikon 27, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | - B Kuhla
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - F Dohme-Meier
- Ruminant Nutrition and Emissions, Agroscope Posieux, 1725 Posieux, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Foggi G, Terranova M, Conte G, Mantino A, Amelchanka SL, Kreuzer M, Mele M. In vitro screening of the ruminal methane and ammonia mitigating potential of mixtures of either chestnut or quebracho tannins with blends of essential oils as feed additives. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2022.2130832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Foggi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Conte
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali “E. Avanzi”, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Mantino
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marcello Mele
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali “E. Avanzi”, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Soliva CR, Amelchanka SL, Kreuzer M. The requirements for rumen-degradable protein per unit of fermentable organic matter differ between fibrous feed sources. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:715. [PMID: 26236297 PMCID: PMC4500983 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ruminant feed evaluation systems use constant minimum requirements of rumen-degradable protein (RDP) and often relate this to apparently degradable organic matter (OM). However, studies with tropical forages indicate that RDP: apparently degraded OM might not be constant across high-fiber diets. This was tested with semi-continuous ruminal cultures (Rusitec) using dried contrasting low-protein fiber sources: brachiaria hay (high in fiber, medium lignified), apple pomace (medium in fiber, highly lignified), and sugar beet pulp (medium in fiber and lignification). Each feed was incubated at 14 g dry matter day−1 with 0, 0.85, 1.7, 3.4, 6.8, 13.6, or 27.2 mg g−1 urea. The amount of urea needed to reach a similar basal concentration of ammonia in the incubation fluid was tested for each feed in advance. Apparent fiber and OM degradability were determined after 48 h of incubation. Data was evaluated by regressions and analysis of variance. The response curve of incubation fluid ammonia to urea supplementation was similar in slope in all feeds. Plateaus in apparent OM degradability in relation to ammonia concentration were determined. The ammonia concentration where apparent OM and fiber degradability reached 95% of maximum was approached in the order of pomace < pulp < hay. With regard to fiber degradability, a plateau was reached at ≥ 80 g kg−1 crude protein only with hay and pomace, whilst a linear relationship existed between RDP and OM degradation for pulp. In hay the ratio RDP: OM degraded was equal to 1.6 but was only 1.0 in the other feeds. There was no obvious lack of branched short-chain fatty acids at low RDP. Thus, the hypothesis was confirmed but the demand for RDP seems even higher in tropical forage compared to food industrial byproducts. The efficiency of urea to promote apparent OM and fiber degradation was also variable. Thus, it seems that minimum thresholds of either RDP or ruminal ammonia concentration may not be reflected appropriately by constants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Staerfl SM, Zeitz JO, Amelchanka SL, Kälber T, Kreuzer M, Leiber F. Comparison of the milk fatty acid composition from dairy cows fed high-sugar ryegrass, low-sugar ryegrass, or maize. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13594-013-0107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
6
|
Zeitz JO, Amelchanka SL, Michałowski T, Wereszka K, Meile L, Hartnack S, Kreuzer M, Soliva CR. Effect of the rumen ciliates Entodinium caudatum, Epidinium ecaudatum and Eudiplodinium maggii, and combinations thereof, on ruminal fermentation and total tract digestion in sheep. Arch Anim Nutr 2012; 66:180-99. [PMID: 22724165 DOI: 10.1080/1745039x.2012.676817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The quantitative importance of individual ciliate species and their interaction in the rumen is still unclear. The present study was performed to test whether there are species differences in the influence on ruminal fermentation in vivo and if combinations of ciliates act additive in that respect. Six adult wethers fed a hay-concentrate diet were defaunated, then refaunated either with Entodinium caudatum (EC), Epidinium ecaudatum (EE) or Eudiplodinium maggii (EM) alone, then progressively with all possible species combinations. Feed, faeces, urine, ruminal fluid and gas were sampled for eight days always after at least 21 days of adaptation. With a linear mixed model, accounting for the 2 x 2 x 2 full factorial study design, mean marginal effect sizes, i.e., the magnitude of change in variables as caused by the presence of each ciliate species or of combinations of them, were estimated. The apparent digestibility of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre remained unaffected. The apparent N digestibility increased by 0.054 with EM (0.716 with defaunation). Ruminal ammonia increased by 1.6, 4.0 and 8.7 mmol/l in the presence of EM, EC and EE, respectively, compared to defaunation (6.9 mmol/l). In the EM + EE combination, ruminal ammonia was lower than would have been expected from an additive effect. With EE, total short-chain fatty acids increased by 23 mmol/l (100 mmol/l with defaunation), but not when EE was combined with EM. The acetate-to-propionate ratio decreased by 0.73 units in the presence of EE (4.0 with defaunation), but only when EE was the sole ciliate species in the rumen. In the presence of any ciliate species, the 16S rDNA copies of total Bacteria and major fibrolytic species decreased to 0.52- and 0.22-fold values, respectively of that found without protozoa. Total Archaea were unaffected; however, Methanobacteriales copies increased 1.44-fold with EC. The CH4-to-CO2 ratio of ruminal gas decreased by 0.036 with EM and 0.051 with EE (0.454 with defaunation). In conclusion, individual ciliates affected ruminal fermentation differently and, when different species were combined, sometimes in a non-additive manner. From the ciliates investigated, EE affected ruminal fermentation most and might play a dominant role in mixed ciliate populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna O Zeitz
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|