• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.356-364
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• 2009

The current ruminant feeding models require parameterization of the digestion kinetics of carbohydrate fractions in feed ingredients to estimate the supply of nutrients from a ration. Using an automated gas production technique, statistically welldefined digestion rate of carbohydrate, including soluble carbohydrate, can be estimated in a relatively easy way. In this study, the gas production during in vitro fermentation was measured and recorded by an automated gas production system to investigate degradation kinetics of carbohydrate fractions of a wide range of ruminant feeds: corn silage, rice straw, corn, soybean hull, soybean meal, and cell mass from lysine production (CMLP). The gas production from un-fractionated, ethanol insoluble residue and neutral detergent insoluble residue of the feed samples were obtained. The gas profiles of carbohydrate fractions on the basis of the carbohydrate scheme of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (A, B1, B2, B3 and C) were generated using a subtraction approach. After the gas profiles were plotted with time, a curve was fitted with a single-pool exponential equation with a discrete lag to obtain kinetic parameters that can be used as inputs for modern nutritional models. The fractional degradation rate constants (Kd) of corn silage were 11.6, 25.7, 14.8 and 0.8%/h for un-fractioned, A, B1 and B2 fractions, respectively. The values were statistically well estimated, assessed by high t-value (>12.9). The Kd of carbohydrate fractions in rice straw were 4.8, 21.1, 5.7 and 0.5%/h for un-fractioned, A, B1 and B2 fractions, respectively. Although the Kd of B2 fraction was poorly defined with a t-value of 4.4, the Kd of the other fractions showed tvalues higher than 21.9. The un-fractioned corn showed the highest Kd (18.2%/h) among the feeds tested, and the Kd of A plus B1 fraction was 18.7%/h. Soybean hull had a Kd of 6.0, 29.0, 3.8 and 13.8%/h for un-fractioned, A, B1 and B2, respectively. The large Kd of fraction B2 indicated that NDF in soybean hull was easily degradable. The t-values were higher than 20 except for the B1 fraction (5.7). The estimated Kd of soybean meal was 9.6, 24.3, 5.0%/h for un-fractioned, A and B1 fractions, respectively. A small amount of gas (5.6 ml at 48 ho of incubation) was produced from fermentation of CMLP which contained little carbohydrate. In summary, the automated gas production system was satisfactory for the estimation of well defined (t-value >12) kinetic parameters and Kd of soluble carbohydrate fractions of various feedstuffs that supply mainly carbohydrate. The subtraction approach, however, should be applied with caution for some concentrates, especially those which contain a high level of crude protein since nitrogen-containing compounds can interfere with gas production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1049-1056
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• 2007

This study was conducted to compare the methane ($CH_4$) production estimated by in vivo (sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique ($SF_6$)) with that of two in vitro rumen simulation (RUSITEC) and gas production (IVGPT)) techniques. Four adult dry Holstein cows, aged $7.4{\pm}3.0$ years and weighing $697{\pm}70$ kg, were used for measuring methane production from five diets by the $SF_6$ technique. The experimental diets were alfalfa hay ($D_1$), corn silage + soybean meal (SBM) (910: 90, $D_2$), Italian rye grass hay +SBM (920: 80, $D_3$), rice straw +SBM (910: 90, $D_4$) and Sudan grass hay +SBM (920: 80, $D_5$). Each diet was individually fed to all 4 cows and 5 feeding studies of 17 d each were conducted to measure the methane production. In the RUSITEC, methane production was measured from triplicate vessels for each diet .In vitro gas production was measured for each of the diets in triplicate syringes. The gas produced after 24 and 48 h was recorded and gas samples were collected in vacuum vials and the methane production was calculated after correction for standard temperature and pressure (STP). Compared to the $SF_6$ technique, estimates of methane production using the RUSITEC were lower for all diets. Methane production estimated from 24 h in vitro gas production was higher (p<0.001) on $D_1$ as compared to that measured by $SF_6$, whereas on $D_2$ to $D_5$ it was lower. Compared to $SF_6$, methane production estimated from 48 h in vitro gas production was higher on all diets. However, methane estimated from the mean of the two measurement intervals (24+48 h/2) in IVGPT was very close to that of $SF_6$ (correlation 0.98), except on $D_1$. The results of our study confirmed that IVGPT is reflective of in vivo conditions, so that it could be used to generate a database on methane production potential of various ruminant diets and to examine strategies to modify methane emissions by ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1120-1126
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• 2006

Dry matter (DM) degradation of leaves from Quercus cercis, Quercus libari, Quercus branti, and Quercus coccifera was determined using two different techniques: (i) in vitro gas production and (ii) the nylon bag degradability technique. In vitro gas production in the presence or absence of PEG and in situ DM disappearance were measured at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. In situ and in vitro DM degradation kinetics were described using the equation y = a+b ($1-e^{-ct}$). At all incubation times leaves from Quercus branti incubated with or without PEG gave significantly higher gas production than the other oak leaves except for 3 and 6 h incubation when leaves from Quercus branti without PEG supplementation only gave higher gas production than Quercus cercis and Quercus coccifera. At all incubation times except at 3, 6 and 12 h the DM disappearance from Quercus branti was significantly higher than the other species. Generally, PEG supplementation considerably increased the gas production at all incubation times and estimated parameters such as gas production rate ($c_{gas}$), gas production (ml) from the quickly soluble fraction ($a_{gas}$), gas production (b) from the insoluble fraction, potential gas production (a+b). However, all oak leaves did not give the same response to the PEG supplementation. Although the increase in gas production at 96 h incubation time was 8.9 ml for Quercus libari the increase was 5.5 ml for Quercus coccifera. It was concluded that except at early incubation times the relationships between the two methodologies seem to be sufficiently strong to predict degradability parameters from gas production parameters obtained in the presence or absence of PEG.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.380-383
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• 2003

The gas dilution technique was used to evaluate the possibility of estimating the volume of gaseous phase in the rumen from its composition in sheep given rice whole crop silage (RWS) or dent corn silage (DCS) at a level of maintenance (M) or 2 M, and in the course of fasting. The rumen gas composition was determined at 2 and 7.5 h after morning feeding. Nitrogen gas was injected by using an airtight syringe into the rumen immediately after collecting the rumen gas sample as a control. Then rumen gas samples were collected at 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60 min. after injection. Dry-matter intakes were $42g/kg^{0.75}$ and $57g/kg^{0.75}$ for DCS, and $36g/kg^{0.75}$ and $59g/kg^{0.75}$ for RWS, at 1 M and 2 M levels, respectively. Animals ingested both silages about 20% less than expected at 2 M level. The rumen gas composition did not differ significantly between 2 h and 7.5 h after feeding except for $N_2$. Content of $CO_2$ in gas composition was significantly higher at 2 M level than at 1 M (p<0.05) for both RWS and DCS, whereas $CH_4$ showed no significant difference between feeding levels. At both feeding levels, $CO_2$ showed a higher (p<0.05) percentage in DCS than RWS. A dilution technique by using $N_2$ injection is not appropriate for the determination of gas production in vivo, unless the rate of rumen gas turnover is considered. Changes in composition at fasting indicate that the rumen fermentation may reach the lowest level after 72 h fasting for sheep given silage as their sole diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

In order to provide recommendations on the most useful forage species to smallholder farmers, eleven grass and eleven legume forages grown in Abomey-Calavi in Republic of Benin were investigated for nutritive value (i.e. chemical composition and energy content) and fermentation characteristics (i.e. gas and volatile fatty acid production, organic matter degradability). The in vitro gas production technique was used, incubating the forages for 120 h under anaerobic condition with buffalo rumen fluid. Compared to legume, tropical grass forages showed lower energy (8.07 vs 10.57 MJ/kg dry matter [DM]) and crude protein level (16.10% vs 19.91% DM) and higher cell wall content (neutral detergent fiber: 63.8% vs 40.45% DM), respectively. In grass forages, the chemical composition showed a quite high crude protein content; the in vitro degradability was slightly lower than the range of tropical pasture. The woody legumes were richer in protein and energy and lower in structural carbohydrates than herbaceous plants, however, their in vitro results are influenced by the presence of complex compounds (i.e. tannins). Significant correlations were found between chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics. The in vitro gas production method appears to be a suitable technique for the evaluation of the nutritive value of forages in developing countries.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of protein sources and roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio on in vitro fermentation parameters using a gas production technique. The experimental design was a $2{\times}5$ factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor A was 2 levels of protein sources yeast fermented cassava chip protein (YEFECAP) and soybean meal (SBM) and factor B was 5 levels of roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio at 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100, respectively. Rice straw was used as a roughage source. It was found that gas production from the insoluble fraction (b) of YEFECAP supplemented group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in SBM supplemented group. Moreover, the intercept value (a), gas production from the insoluble fraction (b), gas production rate constants for the insoluble fraction (c), potential extent of gas production (a+b) and cumulative gas production at 96 h were influenced (p<0.01) by R:C ratio. In addition, protein source had no effect (p>0.05) on ether in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic (IVOMD) while R:C ratio affected the IVDMD and IVOMD (p<0.01). Moreover, YEFECAP supplanted group showed a significantly increased (p<0.05) total VFA and $C_3$ while $C_2$, $C_2:C_3$ and $CH_4$ production were decreased when compared with SBM supplemented group. In addition, a decreasing R:C ratio had a significant effect (p<0.05) on increasing total VFA, $C_3$ and $NH_3$-N, but decreasing the $C_2$, $C_2:C_3$ and CH4 production (p<0.01). Furthermore, total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus populations in YEFECAP supplemented group were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in the SBM supplemented group while fungal zoospores, methanogens and protozoal population remained unchanged (p>0.05) as compared between the two sources of protein. Moreover, fungal zoospores and total bacteria population were significantly increased (p<0.01) while, F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens, R. albus, methanogens and protozoal population were decreased (p<0.01) with decreasing R:C ratio. In conclusion, YEFECAP has a potential for use as a protein source for improving rumen fermentation efficiency in ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.526-532
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, in vitro DM degradability, ME and OMD of alfalfa-maize silage mixtures in comparison to pure maize and alfalfa silages, and to test the existence of associative effects of ensiling alfalfa forage with whole-crop maize using the in vitro gas production technique. Ensiling alfalfa with whole-crop maize had a significant (p<0.001) effect on chemical composition, pH, in vitro DM degradability, OMD and estimated ME values of mixtures. DM content of the resultant silages significantly increased with increasing proportion of whole-crop maize in the mixtures, whereas the pH value, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and ash contents of mixtures decreased due to the dilution effect of whole-crop maize which was low in CP, ADF and ash. The pH values of all alfalfa-maize silage mixtures were at the desired level for quality silage. Gas production of alfalfa-maize silage mixtures at all incubation times except 12 h increased with increasing proportion of whole-crop maize. When alfalfa was mixed with whole-crop maize in the ratio 40:60, ME and OMD values were significantly (p<0.001) higher than other silages. Maximum gas production ($A_{gas}$) ranged from 65.7 to 78.1 with alfalfa silage showing the lowest maximum gas production. The results obtained in this study clearly showed that maximum gas production increased with increased percentage of whole-crop maize in the silage mixtures (r = 0.940, p<0.001). It was concluded that ensiling alfalfa with whole-crop maize improved the pH, OMD and ME values. However, trials with animals are required to see how these differences in silage mixtures affect animal performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1649-1657
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• 2006

In order to find an alternative source of inoculum to caecal content for studying the fermentation activity of rabbit hindgut, caecal content and faeces of 25 hybrid Hyla rabbits were used as inocula for an in vitro gas production trial. About 1 g of three substrates (dehydrated alfalfa meal, dehydrated beet pulp, barley) was weighed, in quadruplicate per inoculum, in 120 ml bottles; 75 ml of anaerobic medium and 4 ml of reducing solution were added and bottles were placed at $39^{\circ}C$. Caecal content and faeces were diluted respectively 1:2 (CI) and 1:8 (FI) with anaerobic medium and were introduced in the respective bottles (10 ml). Gas production was recorded 20 times at 2-24 h intervals throughout fermentation (96 h). The fermentation characteristics (i.e. degraded organic matter, OMd; potential gas production, A; fermentation rate, Rmax; time at which it is reached, Tmax; pH, volatile fatty acid, VFA) were studied by inoculum and feedstuffs. The feedstuffs, according to their chemical composition, showed very different fermentation characteristics. In particular, OMd, A and Rmax allowed feedstuff classification as follows: barley>beet pulp>alfalfa. The inocula differ (p<0.05) in Tmax, were higher for CI (15.53 vs. 11.96 h) and in VFA production. In particular, CI produced higher levels of acetate (38.9 vs. 33.4 mM/g OM incubated, p<0.01) and isobutyrate (0.72 vs. 0.42, p<0.01) but less propionate (7.1 vs. 10.3, p<0.01) and butyrate (11.3 vs. 14.0, p<0.01). However, the trend of gas production, similar for the inocula according to the fermented substrate, and the good regression equation to estimate some caecal fermentation parameters from faeces suggest that, after standardisation, the faeces could be used as an alternative inoculum for gas tests in rabbit.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.325-334
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio with rain tree pod meal (RPM) supplementation on in vitro fermentation using gas production technique. The experiment design was a 6${\times}$4 factorial arrangement in a CRD. Factor A was 6 levels of R:C ratio (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) and factor B was 4 levels of RPM (0, 4, 8 and 12 mg). It was found that gas kinetic, extent rate (c) was linearly increased (p<0.01) with an increasing level of concentrate while cumulative gas production (96 h) was higher in R:C of 40:60. In addition, interaction of R:C ratio and RPM level affected $NH_3-N$ and IVDMD and were highest in R:C of 0:100 with 0, 4 mg of RPM and 40:60 with 8 mg of RPM, respectively. Moreover, interaction of R:C ratio and RPM level significantly increased total volatile fatty acids and propionate concentration whereas lower acetate, acetate to propionate ratios and $CH_4$ production in R:C of 20:80 with 8 mg of RPM. Moreover, the two factors, R:C ratio and RPM level influenced the protozoal population and the percentage of methanogens in the total bacteria population. In addition, the use of real-time PCR found that a high level of concentrate in the diet remarkably decreased three cellulolytic bacteria numbers (F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens and R. albus). Based on this study, it is suggested that the ratio of R:C at 40:60 and RPM level at 12 mg could improve ruminal fluid fermentation in terms of reducing fermentation losses, thus improving VFA profiles and ruminal ecology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.103-108
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• 2002

The gas injection molding technique(GIT) is a special injection molding process and has been an established and acknowledged process technique for many years. GIT has proved successful in cases where warpage has to be minimized, sink marks avoided and material input reduced. The classic field of application for GIT, however, is the production of thick-walled, rod shaped parts or hollow articles. Through this application, the handle part for automobile is molded and this part is consequently used as a insert for the additional injection molding process encapsulated with PVC.