• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.86-91
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• 2012

An in vitro rumen batch culture study was completed to compare effects of common grasses, leguminous shrubs and non-leguminous shrubs used for livestock grazing in Australia and Ghana on $CH_4$ production and fermentation characteristics. Grass species included Andropodon gayanus, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Pennisetum purpureum. Leguminous shrub species included Cajanus cajan, Cratylia argentea, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Stylosanthes guianensis and non-leguminous shrub species included Annona senegalensis, Moringa oleifera, Securinega virosa and Vitellaria paradoxa. Leaves were harvested, dried at $55^{\circ}C$ and ground through a 1 mm screen. Serum bottles containing 500 mg of forage, modified McDougall's buffer and rumen fluid were incubated under anaerobic conditions at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Samples of each forage type were removed after 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h of incubation for determination of cumulative gas production. Methane production, ammonia concentration and proportions of VFA were measured at 24 h. Concentration of aNDF (g/kg DM) ranged from 671 to 713 (grasses), 377 to 590 (leguminous shrubs) and 288 to 517 (non-leguminous shrubs). After 24 h of in vitro incubation, cumulative gas, $CH_4$ production, ammonia concentration, proportion of propionate in VFA and IVDMD differed (p<0.05) within each forage type. B. ruziziensis and G. sepium produced the highest cumulative gas, IVDMD, total VFA, proportion of propionate in VFA and the lowest A:P ratios within their forage types. Consequently, these two species produced moderate $CH_4$ emissions without compromising digestion. Grazing of these two species may be a strategy to reduce $CH_4$ emissions however further assessment in in vivo trials and at different stages of maturity is recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.617-622
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• 1992

Four rumen-fistulated swamp buffaloes steers were used in a change-over experiment. This experiment was designed to provide a comparison of the effect of urea-ammonia treatment of rice straw with untreated rice straw. Nitrogen, mineral and trace elements were supplied at adequate levels to both diets in order to overcome deficiencies which may have otherwise confounded a direct comparison. There was a 46% increase in the intake of digestible organic matter (OM) with the urea-ammonia treated diet. This was contributed by a 17% increase in the digestibility of OM and a 25% increase in the voluntary intake of OM. Of the cell wall fraction, the digestibility of hemicellulose increased by the greatest amount (26%). There was an increased rate of passage of particulate matter out of the rumen for the treated straw, along with the increased rate of OM fermentation resulted in a 9% decrease in the amount of digesta dry matter (DM) contained in the rumen. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) pool in the rumen was 24% higher for the treated diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.615-623
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• 1989

Three sheep fitted with rumen cannulae and abomasal cannulae were given daily 750 g (DM) of three diets consisting of straw-manure silage and barley mixture in the ratios of 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75. As the proportion of barley in the diet increased, there was an increase in the amount of OM apparently digested in the rumen and thole tract (P<.01). But ADF digestion was decreased. For the 25:75 diet the $NH_3-N$ content in the rumen showed the highest value, but the total VFA was the lowest. The rumen volume and dilution rate increased with increasing ratio of silage in diets. There were no significant differences between diets in abomasal NAN flow, and the bacterial-N for the 25:75 diet was 7.3 g N as compared with 9.2-9.6 g N for the other diets (P<.01). Rates of bacterial nitrogen synthesis in the rumen were 30.5, 24.1 and 14.9 g N per Kg OM apparently digested in the rumen for the 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 diets, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2016

An in vitro trial was conducted to examine the effects of total mixed rations (TMR) on fermentation characteristics and effective degradability (ED) by rumen microbes. Three TMR diets were growing period TMR (GR-TMR, 67% TDN), early fattening period TMR (EF-TMR, 75.4% TDN) and late fattening TMR (LF-TMR, 80% TDN). Three TMR diets (3 g of TMRs in each incubation bottles) was added to the mixed culture solution of stained rumen fluid with artificial saliva (1:1, v/v) and incubated anaerobically for 48 hours at $39^{\circ}C$. The pH in all incubation solutions tended to decrease up to 48h, but the opposite results were found in concentration of total gas production, ammonia-N and total VFA in all incubations.The total gas production (p<0.05) in LF-TMR was highest compared with those of other diets. Also, concentration of total VFA was tended to increase in LF-TMR compared with other TMR diets in all incubations. The EDDM in both EF-TMR and LF-TMR was tended to high compared with GR-TMR (p=0.100). In this in vitro trials, concentration of propionate in all incubation solution was not affected by increased concentration of TDN. The results of the present in vitro study indicate that TMR may provide more favorable condition for nutrient digestion both in the rumen.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.419-427
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• 2018

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of Korean corn grain on in vitro ruminal fermentation with total mixed ration (TMR) as a basal feed. Three ruminal cannulated Holstein steers (Body Weight $479{\pm}33.0kg$) were used as rumen fluid donors. Treatments for in vitro fermentation were TMR only (control, 3.0 g), TMR substituted partially with high level (HC, TMR 1.5 and corn 1.5 g), and with low level of Korean corn grain (LC, TMR 2.25 and corn 0.75 g), respectively. To measure in vitro ruminal pH, gas production, ammonia N and volatile fatty acids (VFA), the in vitro fermentation incubation was triplicated at $39^{\circ}C$, 120 rpm for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Mean ruminal pH was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for HC than control. Changes in rumen pH was rather similar between the groups till 6 h after incubation, but the lowest pH for HC (pH 5.10) appeared at 48 h compared with control and LC. Total gas production was tended (p < 0.09) to be higher and ammonia N was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for HC than control and LC. Total VFA was higher (p < 0.05) for HC and LC than control but no differences appeared between HC and LC. Overall, the present data indicate that feeding different levels of Korean domestic corn grain may lead to high and sustainable starch degradation in the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1424-1432
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• 2007

Two male, rumen fistulated crossbred Brahman-Thai native beef cattle (body weight = $400{\pm}50$ kg), fed on rice straw as a source of roughage, were used as rumen fluid sources. The treatments were $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangements; two roughages (fresh cassava foliage and cassava hay) and three sulfur levels (elemental sulfur) at 0.2 (control), 0.5 and 1% of DM, respectively. The experiment revealed that the rates (c) of gas production, ammonia-nitrogen concentration, true digestibility, total concentration or molar proportions of VFA and microbial biomass were not significantly different between cassava hay and fresh cassava foliage. However, all parameters for cassava hay were higher than for fresh cassava foliage. The supplementation of 0.5% sulfur to fresh cassava foliage resulted in a significant increase in the rate of gas production, true digestibility, total concentration of VFA, microbial biomass, rate of HCN disappearance, thiocyanate appearance and cyanide percentage conversion into thiocyanate. However, there were no effects of sulfur supplementation at 0.2, 0.5 and 1% to cassava hay. The finding suggests the utilization of cassava foliage for rumen microorganisms in terms of fermentation and HCN detoxification could be improved by sulfur supplementation of 0.5% of DM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.832-840
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the effects of storage duration and temperature on the characteristics of wet brewers grains (WBG) as feeds for ruminant animals. Four storage temperatures ($5^{\circ}C$, $15^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $35^{\circ}C$) and four durations (0, 1, 2, and 3 d) were arranged in a $4{\times}4$ factorial design. Surface spoilage, chemical composition and microorganism density were analyzed. An in vitro gas test was also conducted to determine the pH, ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations after 24 h incubation. Surface spoilage was apparent at higher temperatures such as $25^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. Nutrients contents decreased concomitantly with prolonged storage times (p<0.01) and increasing temperatures (p<0.01). The amount of yeast and mold increased (p<0.05) with increasing storage times and temperatures. As storage temperature increased, gas production, in vitro disappearance of organic matter, pH, ammonia nitrogen and total VFA from the WBG in the rumen decreased (p<0.01). Our results indicate that lower storage temperature promotes longer beneficial use period. However, when storage temperature exceeds $35^{\circ}C$, WBG should be used within a day to prevent impairment of rumen fermentation in the subtropics such as Southeast China, where the temperature is typically above $35^{\circ}C$ during summer.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2006

These studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of spent bleaching clay (SBC) as a feed resource for ruminants. Three Holstein dairy cows, surgically fitted with ruminal cannula, were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin Square design. Dietary treatments were 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet plus 2% of SBC and 3) basal diet plus 4% of SBC. Rumen fluid was sampled at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours following the start of the morning feeding. Nylon bags containing experimental diets were used to determine ruminal nutrient disappearance at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. The values of ruminal pH in cows receiving 4% of SBC was lower than those of the control and 2% SBC supplement. The $NH_3-N$ concentration in the rumen was higher at the 3 hour than for cows of control and 2% of SBC supplement. Total VFA concentrations in the rumen were not affected by the addition of SBC. Dry matter and organic matter disappearance in the rumen was lower at the 6 hours than the control and 2% SBC treatment, but no difference at the end of the 24 hour.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.643-647
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• 2004

An in vitro experiment was carried out to investigate effects of solid associated (SAB) and liquid associated bacteria (LAB) and the type of incubation substrate on ruminal fermentation and gas production profiles. Bacterial fraction did not influence total numbers of bacteria. Gas production degradation parameters were significantly influenced by bacterial fraction and type of substrate (p<0.05). There was significant interaction between bacterial fraction and type of substrate in gas production (p<0.01). Total VFA concentration and acetic and propionic acid ratio were also influenced by bacterial fraction and type of substrate with little differences in individual VFA concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1482-1486
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• 2003

In order to compare effects of feeding systems on rumen fermentation characteristics and nutrient digestion, steers were fed either total mixed ration (TMR) or separate concentrate-roughage ration (CR). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was higher in steers receiving TMR. Especially, DM, ADF and NDF in TMR were digested to a greater extent than those in CR. Rumen pH was not influenced by the feeding systems. Holstein steers on TMR had higher ruminal $NH_3$-N than those on CR. Feeding system did not alter VFA production but TMR feeding resulted in lower A/P ratio. TMR feeding tended to increase the number of bacteria and protozoa in the rumen fluid. Also steers fed TMR generally had higher fiber degrading enzyme activities, which might be the result of increased number of cellulolytic microbes in the rumen of animals on TMR. Our results indicate that TMR may provide more favorable condition for nutrient digestion both in the rumen and in the total tract of steers.