• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.130-136
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• 2011

Methane is known to be one of the major greenhouse gases. On a global scale, livestock farming may contribute 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Though methane contribution is less than 2% of all the factors leading to global warming, it plays an important role because it is 21 times more effective than carbon dioxide. Methane emission is a direct result of the fermentation process performed by ruminal microorganisms and, in particular, the archael methanogens. Reducing methane emission would benefit both ruminant production and the environment. Methane generation can be reduced by electron-sink metabolic pathways to dispose of the reducing moieties. An alternative way for methane control in the rumen is to apply inhibitors against methanogens. Generating methane from manure has considerable merit because it appears to offer at least a partial solution to two pressing problems-environmental crisis and energy shortage. An obvious benefit from methane production is the energy value of the gas itself. Control of methane emission by rumen microbes in Korea has mainly been focused on application of various chemicals, such as BES and PMDI, that inhibit the growth and activity of methanogens in the rumen. Alternatives were to apply long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and oils with or without organic acids (malate and fumarate). The results for trials with methane reducing agents and the situation of biogas production industries and a typical biogas plant in Korea will be introduced here.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of VFA composition of rumen fluid and heat exposure (30${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$) on the general clinical view and insulin secretory response to glucose in sheep. The total infusion of nutrients was examined in sheep via the technique of continuous alimentation. Four adult Suffolk sheep fitted with a permanent ruminal cannula and a simple T-shaped duodenal cannula were used. A peristaltic pump was used to infuse the solutions of volatile fatty acid triglycerides (VFA-TG) consisting of 70 triacetin : 20 tripropionin : 10 tributyrin (low propionin division: LP) and 50 triacetin : 40 tripropionin : 10 tributyrin (high propionin division: HP) on the basis of energy and minerals into the rumen, and casein solution into the duodenum. The effects of heat exposure and type of the levels of VFA-TG solutions on the insulin secretory response to glucose in sheep were investigated by using hyperglycemic clamp (HGC) technique. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. During the heat exposure (latter half of the infusion period), respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature increased (P＜0.01, P＜0.01, P＜0.05), but the levels of VFA-TG solutions (LP and HP division) did not affect the general clinical view except for the heart rate. 2. In the HGC technique, glucose infusion rate (GIR) and mean plasma insulin increments (MPII) tended to be ower in the heat exposure than in the thermoneutral environment, but no significant difference was found among the treatments. GIR and MPII remained unchanged between the levels of VFA-TG solutions. 3. In the HGC technique, ratio of MPII to GIR (MPII/GIR) which represents pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell response to glucose stimulation remained unchanged among the treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1755-1762
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to determine effects of particle size in total mixed ration (TMR) on performance of lactating cows. Three rumen cannulated Holstein cows were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design for the metabolic experiment. The particle size of the diets was determined using the Penn State Particle Size Separator (PSPSS) and weighing the proportion of sample remaining on the top screen (19 mm diameter). The 3 treatments were short, medium or long diets (4.9, 24.2 and 27.8% of sample remaining on the top screen of the PSPSS, respectively). Nine farms in the Edmonton area were surveyed and the farms were placed into groups based on the particle size of the ration fed. The groups were short ${\leq}6%$, medium 7-12% and long ${\geq}13%$ of sample weight remaining on the top screen of the PSPSS. Dry matter intake was greater (p=0.07) for the medium diet than the long diet in the metabolic study and resulted in a higher (p=0.07) efficiency of milk production. On the commercial farms, a significantly (p=0.002) lower milk fat percentage was observed for the long diet compared to the short diet. The results of these studies confirm that forage particle size influences milk composition and milk fat was negatively correlated to TMR particle size.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1289-1294
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• 2013

This study evaluated the in vitro effect of medicinal plant extracts on ruminal methanogenesis, four different groups of methanogens and ruminal fermentation characteristics. A fistulated Holstein cow was used as a donor of rumen fluid. Licorice and mugwort extracts (Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Artemisia capillaris, 0.5% and 1% of total substrate DM, respectively), previously used as folk remedies, were added to an in vitro fermentation incubated with buffered-rumen fluid. Total gas production in Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract treatment was not significantly different between treatments (p<0.05) while total gas production in the Artemisia capillaris extract treatment was lower than that of the control. Artemisia capillaris extract and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract reduced $CH_4$ emission by 14% (p<0.05) and 8% (p<0.05), respectively. Ciliate-associated methanogens population decreased by 18% in the medicinal plant extracts treatments. Medicinal plant extracts also affected the order Methanobacteriales community. Methanobacteriales diversity decreased by 35% in the Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract treatment and 30% in the Artemisia capillaris extract treatment. The order Methanomicrobiales population decreased by 50% in the 0.5% of Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract treatment. These findings demonstrate that medicinal plant extracts have the potential to inhibit in vitro ruminal methanogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.327-343
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• 2012

In order to develop a high cellulolytic direct-fed microorganism (DFM) for ruminant productivity improvement, this study isolated cellulolytic bacteria from the rumen of Holstein dairy cows, and compared their cellulolytic abilities via DM degradability, gas production and cellulolytic enzyme activities. Twenty six bacteria were isolated from colonies grown in Dehority's artificial (DA) medium with 2% agar and cultured in DA medium containing filter paper at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24h. 16s rDNA gene sequencing of four strains from isolated bacteria showed that H8, H20 and H25 strains identified as Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and H23 strain identified as Fibrobacter succinogenes. H20 strain had higher degradability of filter paper compared with others during the incubation. H8 (R. flavefaciens), H20 (R. flavefaciens), H23 (F. succinogenes), H25 (R. flavefaciens) and RF (R. flavefaciens sijpesteijn, ATCC 19208) were cultured in DA medium with filter paper as a single carbon source for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 days without shaking at $39^{\circ}C$, respectively. Dry matter degradability rates of H20, H23 and H25 were relatively higher than those of H8 and RF since 2 d incubation. The cumulative gas production of isolated cellulolytic bacteria increased with incubation time. At every incubation time, the gas production was highest in H20 strain. The activities of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) and Avicelase in the culture supernatant were significantly higher in H20 strain compared with others at every incubation time (p<0.05). Therefore, although further researches are required, the present results suggest that H20 strain could be a candidate of DFM in animal feed due to high cellulolytic ability.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2012

During the manufacturing process of chestnut, 50% of biomass is produced as chestnut shell (CS) or chestnut hull (CH), a forestry by-product. Due to its high fiber content and economic benefit, there is a possibility of using chestnut hull as a supplement for a ruminant diet. Few studies, however, have been conducted on evaluating nutritive value of chestnut hull for ruminant animals. The objective of this study were thus to analyze chemical composition of CS, a by-product after the first processing of chestnut, and CH, a by-product after the second processing, and access in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics of them. For the in vitro fermentation using strained rumen fluid obtained from a fistulated Hanwoo steer, commercial total mixed ration (TMR) for dairy goat was used as a basal diet and was replaced with different proportions of chestnut shell and hull. A total number of 13 treatments were carried out in this study: 100% TMR, 100% CS, 100% CH, a mix with 50% CS and 50% of CH (MIX), TMR replaced with 5%, 10%, or 15% of CS, CH, or MIX, respectively. For each treatment, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and pH after 48 hours of rumen fermentation were measured. Gas production at 6, 12, 24, 48 hours of incubation was also analyzed. Compared to CH, CS contains higher level of fiber (NDF, ADF, lignin) and consequently has a lower amount of non-fiber carbohydrate, but no difference was observed in the other nutrients (i.e. crude protein, crude fat, and ash). IVDMD was significantly (p<0.05) the highest in 100% CH (71.97%) and the lowest in 100% CS (42.80%). Addition of CH by replacing TMR did not affect IVDMD, while an increase in the proportion of CS tended to decrease IVDMD. The total gas production after 48 hours of incubation and the rate of gas production were also the highest in 100% CH and the lowest in 100% CS (P<0.05). Likewise, the pH after 48 hours of fermentation was significantly (p<0.05) the lowest in 100% CH (6.33) and the highest in 100% CS (6.50), and no significant difference in gas production was observed when TMR was replaced with CS or CH up to 15% (P>0.05). In conclusion, CH may successfully be used for a supplement in a ruminant diet. The nutritive value of CS is relative low, but can replace, if not 100%, low quality forage. This study provides valuable information about the nutritive value of CS and CH. An in vivo trials, however, is needed for conclusively accessing the nutritive value of CS and CH.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.384-385
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• 1989

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1366-1376
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• 2009

Effect of sulfur (S) on utilization efficiency of fresh cassava foliage and cassava hay in dairy cows was evaluated using thirty-two $1^{st}-2^{nd}$ lactation Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows. The experimental treatment was a 2${\times}$2 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using two roughages (rice straw+fresh cassava foliage (FCF) and rice straw+cassava hay (CH)) and two elemental sulfur (S) levels (0.15 and 0.4% S of dry matter (DM)), respectively. Four dietary treatments (FCF+0.15, FCF+0.4, CH+0.15 and CH+0.4) were offered ad libitum in the form of a total mixed ration (TMR) with concentrate to roughage (chopped rice straw+chopped cassava foliage) ratio at 60:40. Fresh cassava foliage or cassava hay resulted in similar dry mater intake, rumen ecology parameters, total tract digestibility, blood chemistry, milk production and composition. However, HCN intake, blood and milk thiocyanate concentration were significantly higher (p<0.01) in cows fed fresh cassava foliage with no sign of potential toxicity. Dry matter intake, body weight changes, molar percentage of propionate in rumen, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention of cows tended to be increased while DM digestibility (65.6, 72.7, 68.6 and 72.1% of total DM intake for the respective treatments), rumen bacteria population (1.4, 1.7, 1.6 and $1.7{\times}10^{11}$ cell/ml for respective treatments), fungal zoospore population (0.4, 0.6, 0.4 and $0.5{\times}10^{6}$ cell/ml for respective treatments), urinary allantoin (25.3, 28.0, 26.3 and 27.6 g/d for respective treatments), microbial N yield (136.0, 154.6, 142.8 and 151.3 g N/d for respective treatments) and milk protein content (3.4, 3.5, 3.2 and 3.5% for respective treatments) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in cows fed on supplemented sulfur at 0.4% of DM in comparison with 0.15% S-supplemented diets. Based on these results, it is concluded that cassava foliage could be used as a portion of roughage for dairy cows and supplementation of S would be nutritionally beneficial.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.517-522
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• 2013

The effect on methanogens attached to the surface of rumen ciliate protozoa by the addition of plant extracts (pine needles and ginkgo leaves) was studied with particular reference to their effectiveness for decreasing methane emission. The plant extracts (pine needles and ginkgo leaves) were added to an in vitro fermentation incubated with rumen fluid. The microbial population including bacteria, ciliated-associated methanogen, four different groups of methanogens and Fibrobacter succinogenes were quantified by using the real-time PCR. Gas profiles including methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and runinal fermentation characteristics were observed in vitro. The methane emission from samples with an addition of individual juices from pine needles, ginkgo leaves and 70% ethanol extract from ginko leaves was significantly lower (p<0.05, 27.1, 28.1 and 28.1 vs 34.0 ml/g DM) than that of the control, respectively. Total VFAs in samples with an addition of any of the plant extracts were significantly lower than that of the control (p<0.05) as well. The order Methanococcales and the order Methanosarcinales were not detected by using PCR in any incubated mixtures. The ciliate-associated methanogens population decreased from 25% to 49% in the plant extacts as compared to control. We speculate that the supplementation of juice from pine needles and ginkgo leaves extract (70% ethanol extract) decreased the protozoa population resulting in a reduction of methane emission in the rumen and thus inhibiting methanogenesis. The order Methanobacteriales community was affected by addition of all plant extracts and decreased to less than the control, while the order Methanomicrobiales population showed an increase to more than that of the control. The F. succinogenes, the major fibrolytic microorganism, population in all added plant extracts was increased to greater than that of the control. In conclusion, pine needles and ginkgo leaves extracts appear to have properties that decrease methanogenesis by inhibiting protozoa species and may have a potential for use as additives for ruminants.