• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.289-298
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• 2024

The objective of this study was to the effect of four medicinal plants (Rheum palmatum, Pharbitidis semen, Reynoutria japonica, Tribulus semen) supplementation on methane reduction and ruminal fermentation in in vitro batch culture method. Each medicinal plant was supplemented 5% on a substrate basis in the bottle, then filled with buffered rumen fluid. Incubation was conducted for 24 hours in a shaking incubator (39℃, 120 rpm). The ruminal pH values were not significantly different between the control and treatment groups. However, the digestibility of the feed was significantly higher in the group supplemented with medicinal plants than control group. Methane production (mL/g of digested dry matter) and total gas production (mL) was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to the control group in Tribulus semen group. Total volatile fatty acids concentration were significantly higher in all treatment groups than control group, and acetate concentration was significantly higher in all treatment groups than control group except for Rheum palmatum group. Propionate concentration was significantly higher in all treatment groups than control group, while butyrate concentration was significantly higher in Rheum palmatum group than control group. Ammonia nitrogen concentration was significantly higher in all treatment groups than control group. In conclusion, the addition of medicinal plants did not negatively impact rumen fermentation, and the results indicate that Tribulus semen has potential as a feed additive for reducing methane emissions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1248-1254
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• 2012

The effect of silage additives on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silages was studied. Napier grass silages were made with no additive, fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), molasses or cassava meal. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling Napier grass silages in airtight plastic pouches for 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 45 d. The effect of Napier grass silages treated with these additives on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial rumen fermentation was determined in 4 fistulated cows using $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The pH value of the treated silages rapidly decreased, and reached to the lowest value within 7 d of the start of fermentation, as compared to the control. Lactic acid content of silages treated with FJLB was stable at 14 d of fermentation and constant until 45 d of ensiling. At 45 d of ensiling, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of silage treated with cassava meal were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. In the feeding trial, the intake of silage increased (p<0.05) in the cow fed with the treated silage. Among the treatments, dry matter intake was the lowest in the silage treated with cassava meal. The organic matter, crude protein and NDF digestibility of the silage treated with molasses was higher than the silage without additive and the silage treated with FJLB. The rumen parameters: ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bacterial populations were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, these studies confirmed that the applying of molasses improved fermentative quality, feed intake and digestibility of Napier grass.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2018

Purpose: In this study, the potential for biogas production, degradation rates, and lag-phase of diauxic growth of carbohydrate-based material, which is one of the proximate compositions, were investigated. Methods: This study was conducted using starch as a carbohydrate-based material. In experimental condition 1, the biogas potential of carbohydrate-based material was measured. In experimental condition 2, the effect of feed to microorganism ratio (F/M ratio) on lag-phase of diauxic growth from carbohydrate-based material was tested. Biochemical methane potential tests were performed at five different feed to microorganism ratios (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) under mesophilic conditions. The biogas production patterns, lag-phase, total volatile fatty acids to total alkalinity ratio (TVFA/TA ratio), and time required for 90 percent biogas production were used to evaluate biogas production based on the biochemical methane potential tests. Results: In experimental condition 1, unlike previous studies, biogas was produced in the TVFA/TA ratio ranging from 1.131 to 2.029 (approximately 13-19 days). The methane content in the biogas produced from the digesters was 7% on day 9 and increased rapidly until approximately day 27 (approximately 72%). In experimental condition 2, biogas yield was improved when the feed to microorganism ratio exceeded 0.6, with an initial lag-phase. Conclusions: Even if the TVFA/TA ratio was greater than 1.0, the biogas production was processed continuously, and the $CO_2$ content of the biogas production was as high as 60%. The biogas yield was improved when the F/M ratio was increased more than 0.6, but the lag-phase of carbohydrate-based material digestion became longer starting with high organic loading rate. To clarify the problem of the initial lag-phase, our future study will examine the microbial mechanisms during anaerobic digestion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2015

Cocoa pod is among the by-products of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. The aim of this study was to apply a number of treatments in order to improve nutritional quality of cocoa pod for feeding of ruminants. Cocoa pod was subjected to different treatments, i.e. C (cocoa pod without any treatment or control), CAm (cocoa pod+1.5% urea), CMo (cocoa pod+3% molasses), CRu (cocoa pod+3% rumen content) and CPh (cocoa pod+3% molasses+Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculum). Analysis of proximate and Van Soest's fiber fraction were performed on the respective treatments. The pods were then subjected to an in vitro digestibility evaluation by incubation in rumen fluid-buffer medium, employing a randomized complete block design (n = 3 replicates). Further, an in vivo evaluation of the pods (35% inclusion level in total mixed ration) was conducted by feeding to young Holstein steers (average body weight of $145{\pm}3.6kg$) with a $5{\times}5$ latin square design arrangement (n = 5 replicates). Each experimental period lasted for 30 d; the first 20 d was for feed adaptation, the next 3 d was for sampling of rumen liquid, and the last 7 d was for measurements of digestibility and N balance. Results revealed that lignin content was reduced significantly when cocoa pod was treated with urea, molasses, rumen content or P. chrysosporium (p<0.01) with the following order of effectiveness: CPh>CAm>CRu>CMo. Among all treatments, CAm and CPh treatments significantly improved the in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility (p<0.05) of cocoa pod. Average daily gain of steers receiving CAm or CPh treatment was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.01) with an increase of 105% and 92%, respectively. Such higher daily gain was concomitant with higher N retention and proportion of N retention to N intake in CAm and CPh treatments than those of control (p<0.05). It can be concluded from this study that treatment with either urea or P. chrysosporium is effective in improving the nutritive value of cocoa pod.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1449-1457
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• 2018

Objective: The objective was to evaluate feed intake, digestibility, body weight change and carcass characteristics of sheep fed a basal diet of hay supplemented with banana leaves and silver leaf desmodium. Methods: Thirty yearling lambs with an average initial body weight of $15.85{\pm}1.6kg$ were grouped into six blocks of five rams in each block. The treatments were: hay alone (T1), hay+100% banana leaf (T2), hay+67% banana leaf+33% desmodium leaf (T3), hay+33% banana leaf+67% desmodium leaf (T4), andhay+100% desmodium leaf (T5). Three hundred grams of treatment diets were offered daily on as fed basis. The feeding and digestibility trials lasted for 84 and 7 days, respectively, followed by carcass evaluation. Results: The total dry matter (DM) intake for T3, T4, and T5 were greater (p<0.05) than those fed T1 and T2 diets. The lowest (p<0.05) organic matter (OM) intake was recorded in rams reared on T1 diet. The total crude protein (CP) intake was in the following order: T5>T4>T3>T2>T1. Ram lambs receiving supplementary diets had higher (p<0.05) DM, OM, CP, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility compared with the control diet. The empty body weight and slaughter weight was highest (p<0.05) in rams receiving T3, T4, and T5 diets. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency was highest (p<0.05) in rams receiving the supplementary diets. The dressing percentage on the basis of hot carcass weight linearly increased with increasing levels of desmodium. Rams reared on supplementary diet had higher (p<0.05) rib eye area compared with the control diet. Conclusion: In conclusion, when banana leaf is used as a supplement to poor quality grass, better body weight gain was obtained when fed in combination with desmodium.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.825-831
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritive value of some legume species in salt-affected soils of South-East Anatolian region using chemical composition and in vitro gas production kinetics. In this study, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium alexandrinum, Medicago sativa were sown and tested in four different locations. A 3 by 4 factorial design with 3 legume species and 4 salt levels (non salty electrical conductivity (EC)<4 dS/m; low salt: 4 dS/m>EC<8 dS/m, medium saline: 8 dS/m>EC<16 dS/m and high salt: 16 dS/m>EC) was used in the study. Results indicated that salinity and plants had no significant effect on ash and ether extract. Dry matter (DM), acid detergent fiber, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake (DMI) were affected by plant, salinity and plant${\times}$salinity interaction. On the other hand neutral detergent fiber, relative feed value (RFV), and DMI were affected by salinity and plant${\times}$salinity interaction. Mineral contents were affected by plant species, salinity and salinity${\times}$plants interactions. In vitro gas production, their kinetics and estimated parameters such as were not affected by salinity whereas the gas production up to 48 h, organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy lactation ($NE_L$) were affected by plant and plant${\times}$salt interaction. Generally RFVs of all species ranged from 120 to 210 and were quite satisfactory in salty conditions. Current results show that the feed value of Medicago sativa is higher compared to Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium alexandrinum.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out to the effects of population density and C/N ratios of feed on the growth, reproductive effciency and cast producation of the earthworm(Eisenia foetida). The population densities of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 individuals of the earthworm fed with different C/N ratios of 25, 35, 45 and 55 cow manures were studied in rearing box($6,400cm^3$), and at the fertility stage during a period of 60 days. The results were summarized as follows; The survial rate(SR), increasing rate(IR), reproductive efficiency(RE) and cast production of the earthworms showed highest values in C/N ratio of 25. These results may indicate that C/N ratio of 25 is a very favourable feed for the growth of the earthworms. The survial rate(SR) indicated significant positive correlation with reproductive efficiency(RE) in different C/N ratios of feeds. The survial rate(SR) showed highest values in population densities of $50{\sim}100$ worms/$6,400cm^3(64.0{\sim}128.0cm^3/worm$). On the contrary, increasing rate(IR) tended to decreased with the increased population densities. The survival rate(SR) indicated significant negative correlation with reproductive efficiency(RE) in different population densities of the earthworms. The cast production estimated were $31.6mg{\sim}67.4mg/day/worm$ grown in optimum population densities($50{\sim}100\;worms/6,400cm^3$). The earthworm casting are an excellent soil conditioning material or organic fertilizer sources with a high chemical composition and their physical properties.

• Clean Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2004

Benzene adsorption experiment was carried out for activated carbon and zeolite 13X adsorbents. Single column and dual column packed with two adsorbents were used to investigate the dynamic adsorptive characteristics. Effect of feed flow rate on the breakthrough curve was not significant. Specific adsorption amount of benzene for activated carbon was larger than that for zeolite 13X. On the contrary, adsorption amount per column volume was larger for zeolite 13X column because the density of zeolite 13X was larger. In the dynamic experiment using dual adsorbents column, length of mass transfer zone was changed by the feed direction. Breakthrough time was longer and breakthrough curve was sharper when activated carbon was packed in feed inlet and zeolite 13X was packed in column outlet. Also breakthrough time and breakthrough curve slope were affected by the packing ratio of the two adsorbents.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1007-1014
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentation characteristics under low mesophilic temperature of spent instant coffee ground (SICG) and to estimate the effect of fermented SICG (FSICG) as alternative feed ingredient on milk productivity of dairy cows. Methods: In the fermentation trial, fermentation of SICG was performed to investigate changes in characteristics using the microbial mixture (Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus subtilis = 1:1:1) for 21 days at $20^{\circ}C$ under anaerobic conditions. Molasses was added at 5% of dry mass. In the animal trial, eighteen Holstein Friesian cows were used to evaluate the nutritive value of the FSICG which was fermented for 14 days under the same condition as the fermentation trial. Results: In the fermentation trial, the dry matter (DM) and organic matter content linearly decreased with fermentation time (p<0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). The acid detergent insoluble nitrogen content linearly decreased with fermentation time (p = 0.037). The microorganism counts linearly increased for Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus subtilis across fermentation time (p<0.001). In the animal trial, the DM intake of the control and FSICG treatment were not significantly different, as were milk yield, 4% fat corrected milk, fat-protein corrected milk, and feed to milk conversion content. Fat, protein, lactose, non-fat solids, milk urea nitrogen, and somatic cell counts were also not significantly different in milk composition between treatments. Conclusion: FSICG should be considered a sufficient substitute for cottonseed as a feed component, and 5% DM of a dietary FSICG level was appropriate for dairy cow diets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.613-620
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed at studying the potential use of Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) as a protein source fodder to improve nutrients digestibility and ruminal fermentation efficiency in beef cattle. Methods: Four, Thai native beef cattle were randomly assigned in a 4×4 Latin square design. Four levels of Flemingia hay meal (FHM) were used to replace soybean meal (SBM) in the concentrate mixtures in four dietary treatments replacing levels at 0%, 30%, 60%, and 100% of SBM. Results: The experimental findings revealed that replacements did not effect on intake of rice straw, concentrate and total dry matter (DM) intake (p>0.05). However, the apparent digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber were linearly increased up to 100% replacement levels. Moreover, the production of total volatile fatty acids, and propionate concentration were enhanced (p<0.05) whereas the concentration of acetate was reduced in all replacement groups. Consequently, the CH4 production was significantly lower when increasing levels of FHM for SBM (p<0.05). Furthermore, rumen bacterial population was additionally increased (p<0.05) while protozoal population was clearly decreased (p<0.05) in all replacement groups up to 100%. In addition, microbial nitrogen supply and efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis were enhanced (p<0.05), as affected by FHM replacements. Conclusion: The findings under this experiment suggest that 100% FHM replacement in concentrate mixture enhanced rumen fermentation efficiency, nutrients digestibilities, bacterial population, microbial protein synthesis, and subsequently reduced CH4 production in beef cattle fed on rice straw.